They were poor men, staunch patriots, who had suffered much and done all they could during the Revolution [Footnote: _Do_.]; now, when threatened by the savages they were left to protect themselves, and they did it in their own way.

Sevier led his force down through the Overhill towns, doing their people no injury and holding a peace talk with them.

They gave him a half breed, John Watts, afterwards one of their chiefs, as guide; and he marched quickly against some of the Chickamauga towns, where he destroyed the cabins and provision hoards.

Afterwards he penetrated to the Coosa, where he burned one or two Creek villages.

The inhabitants fled from the towns before he could reach them; and his own motions were so rapid that they could never gather in force strong enough to assail him.