Murder At Nickajack Gap?

[Barrycdog]

Southern Recorder, Jun. 30, 1846 -- page 1 Millidgeville Newspaper

A VISIT TO NICKAJACK.

A historical incident induces you to notice more particularly "the narrows" where a wall of solid limestone many feet in height runs parallel to the river for half a mile. Leaving scarcely room for passage of your carriage between it and the waters edge. Here the Cherokees made thier last bold stand against the encroachments of the whites: and after an ineffectual attempt to draw the thier enemy in to an ambuscade in this freightful defile, were defeated and cut to peices by a body of troops from Tennessee and Kentucky commanded by Col. Whitley of the latter state. Teh caverns on the opposite bank contain the bones of some of those slain in battle. By noon you reach Nickajack.


This is a cave with soft chalky walls of limestone. Basically Nickajack was a Chief of the Cherokee

 

[Barrycdog]

Suggest you correct "Leer's tan yard" to "Leet's tan yard."

Sorry about that.

 

[Barrycdog]

NICKAJACK: A creek entering Tennessee river from the south about 15 miles below Chattanooga. Near its mouth is a noted cave of the same name. The Cherokee form is Nïkutse'gï, the name of a former settlement of that tribe at the mouth, of the creek; but the word has no meaning in that language, and is probably of foreign, perhaps Chickasaw, origin. The derivation from a certain "Ni#$%^ Jack," said to have made the cave his headquarters is purely fanciful.

124. Local Legends Of Tennessee

http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/cher/motc/motc124.htm

MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE

By James Mooney

From Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology 1897-98, Part I. [1900]

Scanned at www.sacred-texts.com, January-February 2001

 

[TerryB]

The Battle of Resaca, looming large on the horizon, seems to have shut down all inquiry into the matter of the alleged murders.

 

[TerryB]

I've done some tweaking and rewriting and am much happier with the closing argument. In a future post, I plan to deal with what little evidence there is of Union retaliation. Certainly, no letter of protest was ever written to Wheeler, nor any threat to retaliate made via official channels. Yet there is some evidence that some limited retaliation took place.

http://myrebelroots.blogspot.com/

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

I've done some tweaking and rewriting and am much happier with the closing argument. In a future post, I plan to deal with what little evidence there is of Union retaliation. Certainly, no letter of protest was ever written to Wheeler, nor any threat to retaliate made via official channels. Yet there is some evidence that some limited retaliation took place.

http://myrebelroots.blogspot.com/

Terry,
I am retired now, but I grew up on the farm where this all happened. I remember as a child hearing stories of the
skirmish and wagons falling off the road. I played many times thinking of making war there.
We own the farm from Ala Hwy to the crest of Taylors Ridge on the north side of Nickajack Gap.
I would be glad to discuss this with you and be of any help I could.
I never heard of murder but the older guys would not discuss it with a young boy anyway.
Woods Station (sic) (Woodstation today) were proud people and I heard many stories of how bad Gen. Sherman
was for burning Ringgold and taking all the livestock and provisions over the landscape.
Feel free to email me or even call. John Wayne Childers 813-505-0324

 

[TerryB]

In the final analysis, I can't really say if the Union reports of murdered prisoners were exaggerated and false, as Wheeler claimed, or whether they really happened. I'm still hoping a letter or diary account from the CS side will surface. In the meantime, the letter signed "Gentillus" to the Memphis Daily Appeal, and Wheeler's report to Lt. T.B. Mackall are all I have. There are some vague references in other sources and a few Confederate news accounts, but they don't get very specific, nor do they allege any atrocities.

 

[Barrycdog]

Terry,
I am retired now, but I grew up on the farm where this all happened. I remember as a child hearing stories of the
skirmish and wagons falling off the road. I played many times thinking of making war there.
We own the farm from Ala Hwy to the crest of Taylors Ridge on the north side of Nickajack Gap.
I would be glad to discuss this with you and be of any help I could.
I never heard of murder but the older guys would not discuss it with a young boy anyway.
Woods Station (sic) (Woodstation today) were proud people and I heard many stories of how bad Gen. Sherman
was for burning Ringgold and taking all the livestock and provisions over the landscape.
Feel free to email me or even call. John Wayne Childers 813-505-0324

Welcome from Georgia but I guess you are already here. I would like to add my father was born in Rossville and relatives from Lafayette and Ringgold.

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

Thanks. I also know there's a cave called Nickajack Cave, but not sure exactly where it is.

Terry,
Nickajack Cave is now where the lake is on the Tenn River. My high school class was the last public people to go into the cave in 1968. It had a creek running up into the cave. We explored the cave for many
hours and were lucky to escape. Long story. However, on our LYLE FARM issue, I have located someone who
has information on the Cherokee land lottery. I think that will give us the answer to the location. My first
contact said it could be the first owner of our farm. I can research that at our courthouse for ownership information.
I will keep you apprised. It would be interesting to know if the trap was set there. Also, my grandfather owned
the store at the crossroads where a post office one was located as well.
thanks,
John Wayne

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

Welcome from Georgia but I guess you are already here. I would like to add my father was born in Rossville and relatives from Lafayette and Ringgold.

I also have relatives in Lafayette and I moved to Rossville about 3 weeks ago. We bought a house at the
very tip of Missionary Ridge in GA. So, we may have crossed kinship in there somewhere.

JW

 

[Barrycdog]

I also have relatives in Lafayette and I moved to Rossville about 3 weeks ago. We bought a house at the
very tip of Missionary Ridge in GA. So, we may have crossed kinship in there somewhere.

JW

My father lived in the John Ross house once. He also lived near Missionary Ridge Growing up. My name is Colbaugh and I have another ancestor who was sheriff of Lafayette John McCalin. He was also a member of the Rossville OES and his picture is on the wall.

 

[TerryB]

Terry,
Nickajack Cave is now where the lake is on the Tenn River. My high school class was the last public people to go into the cave in 1968. It had a creek running up into the cave. We explored the cave for many
hours and were lucky to escape. Long story. However, on our LYLE FARM issue, I have located someone who
has information on the Cherokee land lottery. I think that will give us the answer to the location. My first
contact said it could be the first owner of our farm. I can research that at our courthouse for ownership information.
I will keep you apprised. It would be interesting to know if the trap was set there. Also, my grandfather owned
the store at the crossroads where a post office one was located as well.
thanks,
John Wayne

Thank you again for all your help John. As far as the trap, it was set where the Old Alabama Road intersected with Nickajack Trace. I located that on a modern map, but forgot what they call Old Alabama Rd now.

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

Thank you again for all your help John. As far as the trap, it was set where the Old Alabama Road intersected with Nickajack Trace. I located that on a modern map, but forgot what they call Old Alabama Rd now.

\]]
.

Still called ALA HWY... and that intersection is the corner of our farm at the time. There was where
my Grandfathers store was located. It was 2 stories and upstairs was the Odd Fellows Lodge. A casket
used in lodge ceremonies, is still in our barn on the farm.
The HWY # is GA 151. You will see on the modern map a fire hall where his store stood and another
rock store next to it that my uncle built about 70 years ago. The community church is across the road.
A white house 1/4 of a mile from that corner is the family farm house. 2 rooms of that house stood before
the war and very well could be Lyles farm house at time. It is more likely that the Lyle farm could be
at the OTHER corner adjacent to our farm. The very first home on our farm was located 50 yards behind
our homestead where a fallen well still stands about 20 yards behind a brick house you may see on sky maps.
E. Nickajack Rd is the name of the "mountain road" now. West Nickajack Rd can be taken to go to Leat's Tanyard.
There is a spring there that many soldiers filled canteens before going into the Chickamauga battle. Leat's Tanyard
is known as headquarters of Braggs for a short time before going over to near by Lee and Gordon's Mill and later
near Jays Mill where he observed what he could of the first days battle on Sept 19th.
Troops from Lafayette marched this West Nickajack Rd toward the battlefield prior to the start of that clash.
This was 10 months before the possible murders. Confederate soldiers under Gen Cleburne camped near
Woodstation on the road north after the fall of Atlanta following Hood into Tenn and the fateful Battle of Franklin
and Nashville.
Also, the Narrows near Tunnel Hill were real and there lies there a Indian silver mine legend that remains today.
There was a blacksmith shop about a half mile from the E. Nickajack corner going south on ALA HWY where
Cherokee would ride to have silver braided on their bridles and saddles. It was never found. People were killed
right before the removable because they were told where it was. This legend is in a Catoosa County history book
by William (Bill) Clark.
I will think of more to give you soon. A very interesting story is after the Battle of Ringgold Gap, Grant spent
what was to be his ONLY night ever in GA, in Ringgold at the Anderson House. It stands today. Gen Grant
offered the lady living there $50 greenback for her troubles. She asked for it in Confederate money and his
officers cheered her as they rode away. This was right before Grant went to VA. There is a marker in front of the home

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

My father lived in the John Ross house once. He also lived near Missionary Ridge Growing up. My name is Colbaugh and I have another ancestor who was sheriff of Lafayette John McCalin. He was also a member of the Rossville OES and his picture is on the wall.

\\

Wow, that John Ross home fascinates me every time I see it. That is great.

 

[Barrycdog]

John McClain is buried at Anderson's Cemetery in Ringgold. We helped with the cemetery cleanup after the tornado. Steve Hall is my friend who lives inRocky Face and works with the Tunnel Hill Historical Society.

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

John McClain is buried at Anderson's Cemetery in Ringgold. We helped with the cemetery cleanup after the tornado. Steve Hall is my friend who lives inRocky Face and works with the Tunnel Hill Historical Society.

I will try to find time to locate Steve

 

[Barrycdog]

[email protected]

 

[TerryB]

\]]
.

Still called ALA HWY... and that intersection is the corner of our farm at the time. There was where
my Grandfathers store was located. It was 2 stories and upstairs was the Odd Fellows Lodge. A casket
used in lodge ceremonies, is still in our barn on the farm.
The HWY # is GA 151. You will see on the modern map a fire hall where his store stood and another
rock store next to it that my uncle built about 70 years ago. The community church is across the road.
A white house 1/4 of a mile from that corner is the family farm house. 2 rooms of that house stood before
the war and very well could be Lyles farm house at time. It is more likely that the Lyle farm could be
at the OTHER corner adjacent to our farm. The very first home on our farm was located 50 yards behind
our homestead where a fallen well still stands about 20 yards behind a brick house you may see on sky maps.
E. Nickajack Rd is the name of the "mountain road" now. West Nickajack Rd can be taken to go to Leat's Tanyard.
There is a spring there that many soldiers filled canteens before going into the Chickamauga battle. Leat's Tanyard
is known as headquarters of Braggs for a short time before going over to near by Lee and Gordon's Mill and later
near Jays Mill where he observed what he could of the first days battle on Sept 19th.
Troops from Lafayette marched this West Nickajack Rd toward the battlefield prior to the start of that clash.
This was 10 months before the possible murders. Confederate soldiers under Gen Cleburne camped near
Woodstation on the road north after the fall of Atlanta following Hood into Tenn and the fateful Battle of Franklin
and Nashville.
Also, the Narrows near Tunnel Hill were real and there lies there a Indian silver mine legend that remains today.
There was a blacksmith shop about a half mile from the E. Nickajack corner going south on ALA HWY where
Cherokee would ride to have silver braided on their bridles and saddles. It was never found. People were killed
right before the removable because they were told where it was. This legend is in a Catoosa County history book
by William (Bill) Clark.
I will think of more to give you soon. A very interesting story is after the Battle of Ringgold Gap, Grant spent
what was to be his ONLY night ever in GA, in Ringgold at the Anderson House. It stands today. Gen Grant
offered the lady living there $50 greenback for her troubles. She asked for it in Confederate money and his
officers cheered her as they rode away. This was right before Grant went to VA. There is a marker in front of the home

Very fascinating! It helps me to visualize the scene so much better. I think that since Scovill and his men ran into the ambush while trying to get away, the Lyle place must have been the second one you mention. Of course, I have no idea what all they tried to do in attempting to escape. And of course, Vincent was familiar with the area because the 1st Ky Cav (CS) had been on picket duty there after Chickamauga and before they were sent to Alabama to rest and refit. I also find it interesting that Vincent had been a surveyor before the war, almost in spooky reference to John. M. King's note that "a rebel with a fieldglass" could easily spy out the Union position without ever being seen. He also says Nickajack trace could not be climbed on horseback. Would you agree with that? One description in the Official Records says something similar.

 

[JohnWayneChilders]

Very fascinating! It helps me to visualize the scene so much better. I think that since Scovill and his men ran into the ambush while trying to get away, the Lyle place must have been the second one you mention. Of course, I have no idea what all they tried to do in attempting to escape. And of course, Vincent was familiar with the area because the 1st Ky Cav (CS) had been on picket duty there after Chickakauga and before they were sent to Alabama to rest and refit. I also find it interesting that Vincent had been a surveyor before the war, almost in spooky reference to John. M. King's note that "a rebel with a fieldglass" could easily spy out the Union position without ever being seen. He also says Nickajack trace could not be climbed on horseback. Would you agree with that? One description in the Official Records says something similar.[/quote

It was difficult for cars to make that road in the early 60's and that was 100 years later.
It was steep and rock slides and mud after heavy rains would make it bad.
It was much more narrow at the time of the Civil War, similar to the Narrows were located on the Eastern side
of the mountain.
I am sure I know where the ledge was located near the crest. It was a dirt road then and as boys we took
a go-cart without a motor and brakes, and would take the dangerous trip down. You would have to power slide
to slow down enough to keep from going off the road and being hurt. We were 13/14 and quite foolish.
I will keep looking for proof of the location of "Lyle Farm".
JW

 

[TerryB]

The ledge is probably what John M. King fell over. He said his friends who saw him fall over it thought he'd been killed. But he also mentions a ledge his squad camped near or under.