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Welcome to WhiteFeather's LongHunter Page
The
Long Hunter was peculiar to Southwest Virginia only, and nowhere else
on any frontier did such hunts ever originate. Most, if not all of the
long hunts originated on the Holston in the vicinity of present day
Chilhowie, but were made up of hunters who lived on both the Clinch and
Holston rivers...these long hunters were native to the area and were
land owners, or residents along the waters of these two rivers. When
the pioneer settler moved toward the extreme frontier, he had long
since been preceded by the long hunter. There is no braver lot than
these early hunters. Not only did they endure the rigorous winters in
crude shelters but the danger of sickness, privation, exposure, hunting
accidents,etc...
Photo used with permission Early Pre-Colonial Longhunter The
long hunter today would be called a scientist, naturalist, explorer, or
some other high-sounding name, for he had to be master of many arts. He
knew the sky and what a sunset foretold; he knew the wind and could
tell it by smell, as to whether dry or moist, and could wet his finger
with spittle and tell in which direction it was blowing. He could, in
numerous ways, tell the seasons, predict the weather, and by the stars
he could tell the time and direction. He knew the plants and where they
grew, and by feeling the moss and shaggy bark of a tree, determine the
north and find his direction by night. He knew the medicinal properties
of plants and how to treat his wounds and ailments therefrom. He knew
his rifle, how to use it, repair it, and even in some instances how to
make one... The long hunters usually went out in October and returned
the latter part of March, or early in April. The long hunters seldom
hunted in parties larger than two or three men.
Source: Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia: By Emory L. Hamilton. (PUBLICATION 5 - March, 1970) |
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Small Birds
From
"History of Kentucky" by Collins: It says a group of men were great
hunters, among them were, leader Elisha Walden, .....bold "enterprising
and fearless"; Henry Skaggs also came. He and his brothers were noted
hunters, and "nothing but hunters", and it was from the Skaggs men that
Skaggs Creek of Rock castle, crossed and redressed by later travelers
along the Kentucky Road, got its name. Other members of the party were
Charles Cox, William Newman, and WILLIAM HARILSON, another professional
hunter, and like the Skaggs men something of an exception for most
hunters practiced at least one other occupation, usually farming.
Click to View Full Size Map Full View Cumberland Gap MapMany
of these men were hunting land also..... The hunters would go out in
small groups of three or four men with only enough supplies for three
or four days. The station site for Walden's party of 1761 was on
Wallen's Creek in what is now called Lee County, Virginia. Some hunters
were on the Clear Fork, a stream not reached by going through the Gap;
WILLIAM HARRELSON and the Blevins men hunted around the mouth of Obeys
River. Robert Crockett of the same family, as Davy was killed by
Indians in the Roaring River Country on the Plateau, all of which would
indicate that at least some of the hunters went in the same general
direction as had James Smith and all may have taken Tollunteeskee's
Trail up the mountain and over, we do not know. Family Tradition has
long held William 2nd Harrelson as being known as "Long Hunter." |
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