In these high fastnesses, inaccessible ravines, and gloomy caverns the Chickamaugas built their towns, and to them they retired with their prisoners and booty after every raid on the settlements.
No sooner had the preliminary treaty been agreed to in the spring of '77 than the Indians again began their ravages.

In fact, there never was any real peace.

After each treaty the settlers would usually press forward into the Indian lands, and if they failed to do this the young braves were sure themselves to give offence by making forays against the whites.

On this occasion the first truce or treaty was promptly broken by the red men.

The young warriors refused to be bound by the promises of the chiefs and headmen, and they continued their raids for scalps, horses, and plunder.