Levi Caldwell (Colwell)

The Cherokee gave up their claims to Cataloochee when they signed the Treaty of Holston in 1791. Nevertheless, they continued to hunt and fish in the valley throughout the 19th century. Hattie Caldwell Davis, a descendant of Cataloochee's first Euro-American settlers, recalled that her ancestors spoke "fluent Cherokee," and were always on friendly terms with the natives. Davis' great-grandfather, Levi, is believed to have provided aide to Cherokees hiding in the forest during the Trail of Tears period.[4]

Links

• http://www.smokykin.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I328237&tree=Smo...
• Find A Grave Memorial# 47454395
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jecralnc&...

Sources

1. 4. Hattie Caldwell Davis, Cataloochee Valley: Vanished Settlements of the Great Smoky Mountains (Alexander, N.C.: Worldcomm, 1997), 18, 31.

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"Levi and Hiram served with Colonel Robert Howell in defense of the Cataloochee Turnpike. It was during this service that they were both captured by Union soldiers in late 1863. Their captors took them to Young Bennett's home and tied them to the porch. While their captors were inside, Hiram managed to chew the bindings around Levi's hands. Levi untied Hiram and as they were fleeing, the Bennett house was torched and their captors came outside. The soldiers chased after Levi and Hiram.

The advantage that Levi and Hiram had was that they knew the country. The purposefully ran over rough terrain so as to slow down the soldiers, but despite their best efforts, an exhausted Levi was captured. Fortunately, Hiram escaped and made it safely home to about father's demise.

Levi was marched to Tennessee where he managed to escape. The way home was dangerous. The enemy was everywhere and the going was slow. About a year later, Levi came home to his beloved valley. He was terribly sick and weak. He never regained his health and died about a month later on November 4, 1864."

- http://cataloochee-nc.tripod.com/levi.htm

The advantage that Levi and Hiram had was that they knew the country. The purposefully ran over rough terrain so as to slow down the soldiers, but despite their best efforts, an exhausted Levi was captured. Fortunately, Hiram escaped and made it safely home to about father's demise.

Levi was marched to Tennessee where he managed to escape. The way home was dangerous. The enemy was everywhere and the going was slow. About a year later, Levi came home to his beloved valley. He was terribly sick and weak. He never regained his health and died about a month later on November 4, 1864."

- http://cataloochee-nc.tripod.com/levi.htm