Monday, April 28, 2014

The Columbian Highway: A military history of the Natchez Trace - part 2


A Federal Road

Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796 and became the nation’s 16th state.  Almost immediately the center of culture, society, wealth, and commerce shifted from Knoxville in the east to Nashville in the middle of the state also known as the western or Mero District.  Nashville was the furthest extent of civilization in the new state of Tennessee at the close of the 18th century and mainly owed it’s growing influence to two main factors. First, it was situated on the Cumberland River which provided a method of transporting goods to market in Natchez, the furthest extent of civilization in Tennessee’s neighbor to the south, the Mississippi Territory.  Second, there was a direct overland route from Natchez back to Nashville, the old Indian trail known as The Natchez Trace.
Thomas Jefferson, President of the
United States 1801 to 1809

Enemies...Foreign and Domestic

When the United States Army was ordered toward Tennessee’s Duck River in 1801, it was mainly for the purpose of developing the Natchez Trace into a Federal Road.  Natchez was an important military and economic site in the early 1800's.  Throughout the administration of President Adams, war with France seemed a certainty.  Though actions flared at sea with the capture of 20 French ships during the Quasi-War, formal hostilities never made it to land before the danger passed with the signing of  the Treaty of Mortefontaine on September 30, 1800.  However, one development that did result from the brief undeclared war was a national realization of the need to establish lines of communication between the seat of Federal government in Washington and the outlying settlements of the nation no matter how remote.   In the Presidential election of 1800, Adam’s Federalist Party was swept from power by the new Republican Party led by Thomas Jefferson.  Whether owing to Providential inspiration or just a shrewd eye to the future, one of the first tasks of the new administration was to begin development of the Natchez Trace from an Indian trail into a Federal Road.  After negotiation to allow passage through Chickasaw land, the Columbian Highway, as it was officially christened, became the lifeline to the farthest reaches of the southern frontier.  Along it’s path travelled the commerce, settlers, governance, and military of the United States seeking to establish itself and secure it borders.  The Natchez Trace had become of vital importance to the immediate future of the country.  It was down this artery of transportation the military advanced to ensure the  firm transfer of the Louisiana Territory sold by Napoleonic France to the United States in 1803.  The area, and the sale, was disputed by Spain who had a military presence there and the Jeffersonian government felt it best to confirm the transfer of ownership by a show of force.  The Natchez Trace had now become a Military Road.
U.S. Army Infantry
ca. 1802

The following is a brief excerpt from the October 1801 Treaty between the United States and the Chickasaw Nation…

The President of the United States of America, by James Wilkinson brigadier general in the service of the United States, Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina and Andrew Pickens, of South Carolina, commissioners of the United States, who are vested with full powers, and the Mingco, principle men and warriors of the Chickasaw nation, have agreed to the following articles.

Period drawing of a
Chickasaw Warrior.
ART. I.  The Mingco, principle men and warriors of the Chickasaw nation of the Indians, give leave and permission to the President of the United States of America, to lay out, open and make a convenient wagon road through their land between the settlements of Mero District in the state of Tennessee, and those of Natchez in the Mississippi Territory, in such way and manner as he may deem proper; and the same shall be a high way for the citizens of the United States, and the Chickasaws.
 



  

 
 


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