CHAPTER VII. President Wm. Tafts Visit Xlbc Hatcbcs XIrace. (sic The Natchez Trace) At the foot of Main street, near the intersection of Broadway, and located on the Bluff, is a groat white stone, weighing several tons, bearing the following inscription: THE NATCHEZ TRACE. Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Mississippi. This historic thoroughfare from Natchez to Nashville, Tenn., was usid as a Mail Route, 1776, although it was a well-known Indian Trail in far earlier days. The object of the Daughters of the American Revolution is to teach reverence for the flag of our country, and the preservation of historical spots. The first marker of the Trace was placed at Natchez, 1909, and others will be located, until one by one, the white stones will be placed along the Trace to where it crosses the Mississippi, and Ala- bama line, reclaiming from the dim foot-prints of the half-forgotten period of our history, the first broad highway that opened the lower South to American occupation. — From address, Mrs. C. M. William- son, State Regent of Mississippi, D. A. R. The earliest and most famous of the public highways which traversed the present State of Mississippi was the so- called Natchez Trace. As soon as the Spaniards had finally evacuated the Natchez District, and immediately after the organization of the Territorial Government of Mississippi, the Federal authorities empowered General Wilkinson, then in command of the United States troops at Natchez, to enter into certain negotiations with the Indian tribes south of Tennessee. One of the principal objects of the negotiations with the In- dians was to obtain their consent to the opening of public roads and mail routes, from the settlements of the Natchez District to the frontier settlements of Tennessee and Georgia, thereby facilitating intercourse and trade and promoting emigration to the new Mississippi Territory. All the vast region extending North and East of the Nat- chez District for nearly 500 miles to the distant white settle- ments on the Cumberland River, Tennessee, and to those in Georgia, was undisputed Indian territory. The Natchez District was remote and difficult of access. In- tercourse with the United States was by laborious ascent of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to the Kentucky and Tennessee settlements, or else over the lonely Indian Trace, which led for 500 miles through the lands of the Choctaws and Chickasaws to the Cumberland River. In pursuance of these plans, the Treaty of Chickasaw Bluffs was concluded October 24, 1801, whereby the Chicka- saws conceded to the United States the right to lay out and open, and make a convenient wagon road through their land, and the same shall be a highway for the citizens of the United States and the Chickasaws, In 1806, Congress appropriated the sum of $6,000 for the purpose of opening the road through the Indian country. The Natchez Trace crossed the Tennessee River a few miles below the ^Mussel Shoals, at Colberts Ferry, and thence pursued a southwesterly course to the Grind-stone Ford, on the Bayou Pierre ; thence ran south and west to Nat- chez; it eventually connected with the various roads leading to New Orleans. At Nashville, Tenn., this road connected with the public highway, which ran east to Pittsburg, Penn., via Chilicothe and Zanesville, Ohio. Under the treaties, the Indians expressly reserved the right to establish public houses of entertainment along this route, as well as the control of the numerous ferries. The stations which sprung up along the road between Natchez and Nashville, and the distances (miles), separating each station, were as follows: Washington, 6; Selsertown, 5; Union Town, 8; Huntley (latter Old Greenville), 8; Port Gib- son, 25; Grind-stone Ford, 8; McRavens, Indian line, 18; Brashears, 40; Nortons, 12; Chotas, 30; Laffloes, 34; Folsoms, Pigeon Roost, 30 ; Choctaw Line, 43 ; Indian Agents, 10 ; James Colberts. 10; OKI Fiietors. Jli; .Jairus lirowiis, 17; Bear Creek, 33; Lfvi (olhcrt s. HuzzanI Roost, 5; George Colberts, Tcnn. Kiver. 7; Tuscoinbias, Ki; hactors Sons. 1(>: Indian Line, 20; Dobbins, 5; Stantields, Keg Spring. 10; Duck River, 8; Smiths, 8; Boons. Ki; Franklin, 8; iMcDonalds, 6; Nash- ville. 12. The total distance to Nashville was 501 miles, and to Pittsburg was 1,013 miles. Down this Trace passed a steady stream of travelers, often nuii of wealtli (sic new of wealth). journeying to the South in search of land, or other profitable investments; up it passed, traders and boatmen, from New Orleans, who would make the long return journey over land to their homos l.OOO miles away, and frequently carried with them rich treasures. (Rowland) Many stories are told of the Mason and Murel gangs, ami of Big and Little Harp, notorious bandits who infested this lonesome trail. Mason originally lived in Tennessee, and went from there to the Natchez country and organized his band. Tom Mason weighed some two hundred pounds, and was a fine-looking man; rather modest and unassuming, and no appearance of the brigand. The brothers Harp were even more blood-thirsty than Mason, one of them was a large man and was called Big Harp, and the small one was called Little Harp. The Governor offered a reward of $2,000 for their capture, and directed Colonel Burnett to place himself at the head of fifteen or twenty picked men, and scour the woods from Bayou Pierre to the Yazoo and capture the villians, if possible. Mason usually kept an intelligent man at Natchez to observe the out- fits and give notice of the approach of travelers. After the Governors proclamation. Mason and his gang were closely hunted by the whites and Indians, and they spiit the country. Another account says: Mason and his gang one day robbed a traveler and took fi-om him n copy of the Governors proclamation, lie (Mason) had some words with two of his party (gang), and on one occasion, when ordv (sic only) the chief (Mason) and these two men were in camp, and he was asleep, they shot him, cut off his head and set out with it to claim the reward. Circuit Court was in ses- sion in the old town of Greenville, Jefferson comity,(sic County) when they arrived. They went before the Judge to make their affidavit and get a certificate to the Governor. The head was identified by parties who knew Mason well, but just as the Judge was in the act of making out the certificate, a traveler stepped in the Court House, and requested to have the two men arrested. He had alighted at the Tavern, and repaired to the stable to see his horse attended to, and there saw the horses of the two men who had arrived just before him. He recognized the horses as be- longing to parties who had robbed him and killed one of his companions some two months previously, on the the Natchez Trace, and going into the Court House, he identified the two men. They were tried, convicted and executed at Greenville, Many fully identified the head by certain marks, as that of Mason, except his wife who positively denied it. The Gover- nor had sent his carriage for her expressly to come down and testify, and many believed Mason fled the country and died in his bed in Canada. The two Harps killed and robbed a man near Knoxville, and ran away into Kentucky, where they robbed and commit- ted so many outrages, that a company of men set out to hunt them down. They found and killed Big Harp, the Little Harp making his escape, and was probably one of the men hung at Greenville, Miss. After these gangs were dispersed, other men encouraged by Masons success, tried it, but never got as much money as the Masons.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:37:00 +0000
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