America’s Fight for Independence

In the north-eastern part of what is now the state of Tennessee a battle was fought in July 1776. While counted as part of the fight for independence, it wasn’t between the Colonists and the British. However; you can bet the British were involved.

Ever since settlers began arriving to the “new world” and staking claim to the lands, the native people have tried to stop the flow. In Tennessee the Cherokee fought to drive them out – back across the Appalachian Mountains and the District of Washington from which they had come. Theirs was three-prong attack in the sweltering summer of 1776. It was carried out by Dragging Canoe, a Cherokee War Chief, Oconaostota, a chief who had called this area home for nearly four decades, and Savanukahwn or the Raven, another War Chief and nephew to Oconaostota. Not only had the Colonists made permenante settlements for themselves angering the Indians, they had declared their independence from England.

It seems the settlers had forged an alliance between the British and the Natives in the area. The Indians were already fighting mad. And the British forces did everything possible to encourage the Cherokee’s war against a tratiorist bunch of settlers. The only reason the Cherokee weren’t fighting the British as well was because the British were the ones supplying the guns. No matter, the homesteaders were there to stay.

Just outside Kingsport there are permanent buildings replicating the early settlements to the area. On most weekends volunteers give talks on life as it was in the 1700s, offer demonstrations of firearms and share a deep love for this piece of history.

Additionally visitors can be entertained by a friendly mule who welcomes a good scratch behind the ear. Just don’t be surprised if his corral mate voices loudly her objections. It’s not that the cow is open to attention, she just doesn’t want her mule friend getting any.

When you stand still in the center of the community, and shut out any noise from the nearby roads, you can easily imagine life in the new world. It captivates your imagination if only for a moment.

Upon leaving the Colonial Settlement of Island Flats, we made our way back to “civilization” in the town of Kingsport. There we had an amazing Tex-Mex Lunch, visited a grocery store to do a little price comparison shopping, and discovered an amazing indoor carousel. Every animal on the carousel was hand-carved by volunteers in Kingsport. The magical 4-minute ride costs just a dollar.

Since the entire point of our trip to Tennessee was to do a little reconnaissance work, we spend a couple of hours checking out homes in the area. If we don’t settle in Kingsport, nearby Jonesburg is high on that list, as is the larger community of Clinton.

From the moment we crossed into the Eastern Texas panhandle, across Oklahoma, Arkansas and into Tennessee, the very mood of the country seemed to change. People were friendlier. They greeted one another with warm, genuine smiles. You said mornin’ to everyone you met. Folks would ask what’s the reason for your visit, and were more than willing to share all the finer points of what made their particular community the best in the state. Yeah, we do love Tennessee.

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Tomorrow we head south, to the battlefields of Chattanooga.