James R. Gilmore (1822–1903)

Privileged, arrogant, and factual account of the "scene" as American settlers invaded Cherokee and Creek homelands. The conceit of "bringing civilization to the savages", as preposterous as it sounds today, was perfectly heroic and even noble to the author.

James Gilmore was described by historian Nancy Isenberg [(2016) White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-312967-7] as a cotton merchant, biographer and novelist who had traveled show more throughout the South. He wrote "histories". His most popular book was "Down in Tennessee". [Published in 1864, he introduced the idea that some White Southerners are "mean" and others are "common", differentiated poor whites into two groups, "mean whites" and "common whites". He admired the latter as law-abiding citizens who were enterprising and productive. The former were white trash, a criminal class of people.]

The another striking part of his writing is that he writes of microhistories of facts projected before a macro-theatre of fictional destiny. He studied the "American State Papers" and the work of historians, added interviews he conducted, collected oral "stories", and here writes of three heroic figures who battled the Natives, the British legions at New Orleans, the "false Spaniard" at Pensacola, and marched into Mexico with Taylor. He unfolds the conflicts between settlers and the tribes, without the slightest feeling of irony or hypocrisy. Americans had to conquer the "others", for the sake of civilization.

"The voyage has no parallel in modern history." [8] The author tells this story of 380 settlers boarded in forty scows launched from Watauga "into the wilds of West Tennessee" in the Winter of 1780.

ISAAC SHELBY obtained the opening through New Orleans for the Mississippi delta, which was occluded by the Spanish.

JAMES ROBERTSON accompanied 380 settlers, following Daniel Boone into Tennessee, establishing what is now the State capitol of Nashville, at that time the first settlement beyond the Alleghenies. He believed he was chosen by Providence to advance Civilization. Leads settlers through rough conditions (starvation, disease, severe weather), leads a handful of Americans against a British attempt to crush the Revolution. Develops a lifelong friendship with the much wiser Chickasaw chief, Piomingo. Facing intractible tribes, in a coalition, he joins David Hood's murderous broken treaties and tricks--"hoodwinks"--to cheat and annihilate them.

Of course, Gilmore shows that Robertson apparently killed many "white trash" and criminal predators, protecting the natives from each other and from some of the worst people on the planet -- "mean whites". It's just not a pretty story, in spite of Gilmore's excitement.

"We are the advance-guard of civilization, and our way is across the continent." -- James Robertson, 1780. He had no time or inclination to debate "libertarians", monopolists, or kings.

JAMES SEVIER - head of a border militia, became first Governor of the State of Franklin carved out of the wilderness of native land recognized by the French, Spanish and British, but not by him. His story is paralleled with an account of a nasty piece of work who tried to monopolize the river trade with Spain, James Wilkinson. A man who betrayed friends and strangers alike and although in the Army, repeatedly committed treason.

An account of extermination of settlers by British forces - 9-10.
By Spanish forces - 84.
By the native Creek nations -- 83, 84.
By assorted native tribes - 39.
And of native tribes by settlers, throughout, especially 39, 280ff.
Many accounts of heroic natives, even women, and slaves , but the focus is always on the "manly" gentlemen. Surprisingly, most were literate and many brought their families with them to face daily life-threatening hardship.

Although flawed, this is a real classic.

Gilmore was a keen observer and loved digging up facts. The complete or real "story" of course is impossible to tell. This work forces us to reflect on the sacrifices and suffering endured by our ancestors of all races and creeds. Our public occasions should thank our ancestors.

I also give Gilmore real credit for clearly showing us what the STANDARD of greatness is. The last sentence reveals what used to be the standard for the GREATNESS of America:

"He was a true man, a pure patriot, a genuine Christian hero; and when we come to measure greatness by the New Testament standard of unswerving fidelity to duty and unselfish devotion to the good of our fellow-men, it will be admitted that there have been few greater men in American history than James Robertson."

Perhaps there are better men than I who can forgive the current illegitimacy who is sullying this standard of true American greatness. In our America today, we are under attack, by a few wealthy men pretending to be leaders, yet they deceive us.

Robertson did not use "bone spurs" to excuse his duty, did not defame his opponents, did not attack the helpless, and did not use trickery to "brand" wretched casinos and worthless products made by slaves in China. I cannot forgive craven greed and liars. Robertson sought to serve for the good of all humanity. I hold Robertson and his allies in reverence, knowing WE are better than the nasty little hate-mongerers among us. show less

I'm not sure why this writer is not better known. Though a Northerner, the author spent time in the South before and after the Civil War. He also wrote popular histories of the region, including the early settlement of Tennessee. This novel is an engaging account of Union sympathizers in the North Carolina mountains during the war. I live near the locations he describes (Madison County, Waynesville, Cherokee, Bryson City, etc.) so his descriptions of the actions that took place there are of show more great interest to me. show less

$495. Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Fine Copy In Green Cloth First Edition 1898/1898. Rare In This Condition. Great Classic On the Civil War.