Battle of Island Flats

The Battle of Island Flats[lower-alpha 1] (also Battle at Long Island of the Holston, Battle of Eaton's Station) was the opening battle of the American War of Independence in the west. The battle was fought in July 1776, and pitted the American regional Patriot militia against the British allied Cherokee forces in the Overmountain region of the American frontier.

Battle of Island Flats
also: Battle of Eaton's Station
Battle at Long Island of the Holston
Part of Cherokee–American wars
DateJuly 20, 1776
Location
Long Island of the Holston
36°32′N 82°33′W
Result American victory
Belligerents
United States Cherokee tribes
Commanders and leaders
  • William Cocke
  • James Thompson
  • John Campbell
  • James Shelby
  • William Buchanan
  • Thomas Madison
Strength
about 160 about 190
Casualties and losses
4 killed 13 killed

War
Main article: Western theater of the American Revolutionary War

In mid-July, Dragging Canoe, Oconostota , and The Raven led a surprise attack on the Overmountain settlements of Eaton's station, Fort Watauga, and Carter's Valley, respectively.[1] The purpose of the coordinated, three-pronged attacks were to drive the settlers of the Washington District back over the Appalachian Mountains. The attacks were made with the knowledge that the British allies of the Cherokee would be escalating their war against the American rebels following their recent Declaration of Independence. The Cherokee were going to war.[2][3]

Eaton's station

Warned ahead of time of the coming assault by messengers sent from Cherokee diplomat Nancy Ward, the areas' militia members, most of whom were battle hardened and experienced from the recent Dunmore's War, were mustered to Eaton's station,[3][4][lower-alpha 2] situated on the ridge just east of Long Island.[5] Under Majors James Thompson[lower-alpha 3] and William Cocke, they readied Eaton's station for battle. Along with a small garrison of soldiers that had been stationed in the area, they rapidly fortified the simple way-station and constructed a stockade fence of logs and rails around it.[5][6][7] Then the frontiersmen waited for the arrival of the war party.[6]

Battle

Both of the opposing forces comprised less than 200 men each: about 170 for the frontiersmen, and approximately 190 for the Indians.[5] The Native American raiders were following Cherokee war chiefs, Oconostota, Dragging Canoe (Tsiyu Gansini) and The Raven (Savanukah), all of whom were skilled and experienced warriors. They started their campaign against the settlers on July 20, 1776. Because of the lack of surprise that they counted on, the Cherokees were quickly routed, and they withdrew after suffering at least 14 fatalities (nearly one-twelfth of their entire force). The Indians also suffered several lesser casualties—including a badly wounded Dragging Canoe.[5][7] The station defenders suffered four casualties.[3]

After being beaten back by the frontiersmen, Cherokee raiding parties continued attacks against the isolated settlements in the region. State militias retaliated, destroying Native villages and crops.[2]

Notes
  1. Also, the "Battle of Long Island Flats"
  2. Named for its founder, Amos Eaton, however, through history it is often referred to as "Heaton's station". Eaton created another stockaded way-station in the Cumberland settlements area that also bears the name when he removed to the vicinity of Fort Nashborough in the early 1780s.[3]
  3. James Thompson had a plantation established on Long Island of the Holston, adjacent to the battle site.[5]

References
  1. Calloway, Colin G.; The American Revolution in Indian Country : Crisis and diversity in Native American communities; Cambridge University Press, (1995); ISBN 0-521-47149-4
  2. Rhoden, Nancy L. (2000). The Human Tradition in the American Revolution. Wilmington, Del.: Scholarly Resources Inc. ISBN 978-0842027489.
  3. Cole, William Samuel; History of Tennessee during the Revolutionary War; pp. 174, 238–239, 286; retrieved March 10, 2023
  4. National Archives : To George Washington from Piomingo, 30 October 1789 [letter not found; created May, 4, 2002; perma-link; National Archives website; "Founders Online;" Source Project: Washington Papers; retrieved March 9, 2023
  5. Store, Lynn; Battle of Island Flats; Discover Kingsport online; retrieved February 2023
  6. Lynch, Wayne; William Cocke at the Battle of Long Island Flats, 1776; "Journal of the American Revolution"; [via WebPage; May 7, 2013; All Things Liberty online]; retrieved March 2023
  7. Roosevelt, Theodore (1917-01-01). The Winning of the West: An Account of the Exploration and Settlement of Our Country from the Alleghanies to the Pacific. G. P. Putnam's sons.

Further reading
  • Alderman, Pat; Dragging Canoe: Cherokee-Chickamauga War Chief; Overmountain Press; Johnson City, Tennessee; (1978)
  • Brown, John P; Old Frontiers; Kingsport: Southern Publishers; (1938)
  • Haywood, W.H.; The Civil and Political History of the State of Tennessee from its Earliest Settlement up to the Year 1796; Methodist Episcopal Publishing House; Nashville; (1891)
  • Moore, John Trotwood; Foster, Austin P.; Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 1; S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.; Chicago; (1923)
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