CAVET MASSACRE
On September 24th, 1793, one thousand Indians were approaching Knoxville with the purpose
of attacking the Fort. They were under the leadership of John Watts and "Double
Head", (Indian Chief), with Pumpkin Boy; 700 were Creeks and the rest, Cherokees.
They had expected to reach Knoxville before day, on the morning of the 25th, but some
detonation at the river had prevented. At daylight, they had reached the head of Stinking
Creek in the Grassy Valley and were in rapid march for Knoxville. The United States troops
at that place, as usual, fired off a cannon at sunrise, which the Indians heard and
understood to be an evidence that their attack was expected. This disconcerted their plans
and led to the abandonment of their meditated assault. The Indian force was halted
immediately...In sight of them was the house or Station of Alexander Cavet, in which there
were only three gun-men and his family, thirteen in number. (This house stood on the
plantation now owned by Mr. Walker, about eight miles west of Knoxville and about six
hundred yards north of the present stage road, where its foundation can yet be seen.)
Disappointed in their hopes of plunder and too cowardly to run the risk of obtaining it by
attacking Knoxville, the Indians determined to wreak their vengeance upon a defenseless
family and marched to and invested Cavet's house.
It was put in the best state of defense which three men could do against a thousand savage
assailants. The fire from the house killed one Cherokee, one Creek and wounded three more.
This held back the Indians for a time and they sent in Bob Benge, a half Creek, who spoke
English, proposing that if the Station were surrendered, the lives of the besieged should
be spared and that they should be exchanged for a like number of Indian prisoners.
These terms were accepted and the house surrendered. Its unfortunate inmates had scarcely
left the door, when "Double Head" and his party fell upon his prisoners and put
them to death, mutilating and abusing the bodies of the women and children especially, in
the most barbarous and indelicate manner possible. Cavet himself was found in the garden,
barbarously murdered and having Seven bullets in his mouth, put there by himself, for the
greater convenience of speedily loading his rifle. John Watts interposed and saved the
life of Alexander Cavet, a lad.
The house and stables were plundered and burnt, and the Indians went off, carrying with
them into captivity the only survivor of a large family. He was afterwards killed in the
Indian towns.