John Donelson River Journey
Jed Griffin
Dr. Bailey- 8th period
October 7, 2014 On my honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received aid on this work.
John Donelson and River Journey The Story of John Donelson and the River Journey exemplifies all the qualities America was built on: resilience, courage, and leadership. Throughout the journey, John Donelson faced major setbacks. Harsh weather, boats crashing, loss of cargo, Indian attacks, and fatigue plagued John Donelson and his fleet. John Donelson, however, was resilient and did not let setbacks, no matter how harsh, prevent him from reaching his destination. He writes in the journal he kept during the trip, “I am DETERMINED TO PURSUE MY COURSE, HAPPEN WHAT WILL.” Because of his efforts, Donelson became a co-founder of Fort Nashborough (now Nashville) and helped colonize and populate new land near the Cumberland. On December 22, 1779, Donelson embarked on his journey to The Big Salt Lick (now Nashville) from Fort Patrick Henry with approximately 30 families. His boat, The Adventure, held families, household goods, slaves, and necessary supplies to sustain life on new land. After significant setbacks from frost, rain, and damaged cargo, he passed the mouth of the Clinch River, where other travellers joined him. He led this squadron of 30 or so canoes, flat boats, and dugouts on a journey traveling across the Holston, Tennessee, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. On the journey they endured multiple hardships such as fatalities, dangerously high waters, violent encounters with natives, hunger, and extreme weariness. They finally reached The Big Salt Lick on Monday, April 24th, 1780 where he and Captain Robertson, the man who led the overland journey of the Cumberland territory, met and settled. John Donelson’s journey is an important event in the development of Nashville and Tennessee as a whole. His journey helped populate the Tennessee-Cumberland area and led to Donelson and Robertson founding Nashville as well as establishing
Dr. Bailey- 8th period
October 7, 2014 On my honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received aid on this work.
John Donelson and River Journey The Story of John Donelson and the River Journey exemplifies all the qualities America was built on: resilience, courage, and leadership. Throughout the journey, John Donelson faced major setbacks. Harsh weather, boats crashing, loss of cargo, Indian attacks, and fatigue plagued John Donelson and his fleet. John Donelson, however, was resilient and did not let setbacks, no matter how harsh, prevent him from reaching his destination. He writes in the journal he kept during the trip, “I am DETERMINED TO PURSUE MY COURSE, HAPPEN WHAT WILL.” Because of his efforts, Donelson became a co-founder of Fort Nashborough (now Nashville) and helped colonize and populate new land near the Cumberland. On December 22, 1779, Donelson embarked on his journey to The Big Salt Lick (now Nashville) from Fort Patrick Henry with approximately 30 families. His boat, The Adventure, held families, household goods, slaves, and necessary supplies to sustain life on new land. After significant setbacks from frost, rain, and damaged cargo, he passed the mouth of the Clinch River, where other travellers joined him. He led this squadron of 30 or so canoes, flat boats, and dugouts on a journey traveling across the Holston, Tennessee, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. On the journey they endured multiple hardships such as fatalities, dangerously high waters, violent encounters with natives, hunger, and extreme weariness. They finally reached The Big Salt Lick on Monday, April 24th, 1780 where he and Captain Robertson, the man who led the overland journey of the Cumberland territory, met and settled. John Donelson’s journey is an important event in the development of Nashville and Tennessee as a whole. His journey helped populate the Tennessee-Cumberland area and led to Donelson and Robertson founding Nashville as well as establishing