[119] Letter of Secretary of War to Return J. Meigs, in Indian Office records.
[120] Dated October 20, 1802.
[121] Commissioner Meigs mentions that the accompanying plat and field notes of Mr. Freeman, the surveyor, will give more abundant details regarding this survey. After a careful search, however, no trace has been found among the Indian Office records and files of the plat and field notes in question. There is much difficulty in ascertaining the exact point of departure of "Meigs Line" from Great Iron Mountains. In the report of the Tennessee and North Carolina boundary commissioners in 1821 it is stated to be 311/2 miles by the course of the mountain ridge in a general southwesterly course from the crossing of Cataluche Turnpike; 91/2 miles in a similar direction from Porter's Gap; 211/2 miles in a northeasterly direction from the crossing of Equovetley Path, and 331/2 miles in a like course from the crossing of Tennessee River. All of these courses and distances follow the crest of the Great Iron Mountains. It is stated to the author, by General R. N. Hood, of Knoxville, Tenn., that there is a tradition that "Meigs Post" was found some years since about 11/2 miles southwest of Indian Gap. A map of the survey of Qualla Boundary, by M. S. Temple, in 1876, shows a portion of the continuation of "Meigs Line" as passing about 11/2 miles east of Quallatown. Surveyor Temple mentions it as running "S. 50° E. (formerly S. 521/2° E.")
[122] See memorial of Matthew Patterson and others, dated "French Broad, 8th January, 1800," printed in American State Papers, Public Lands, Vol. I, p. 104.
[123] This resolution was reported by Mr. Harper, from the committee to whom it was referred, to the House of Representatives, April 7, 1800, and is printed in American State Papers, Public Lands, Vol. I, p. 103.
[124] February 7, 1803. See Indian Office records.
[125] See report of Agent Return J. Meigs to the Secretary of War, May 5, 1803, on file in the Office of Indian Affairs.
[126] United States Statutes at Large, Vol. VII, p. 228.
[127] United States Statutes at Large, Vol. I, p. 618.
[128] United States Statutes at Large, Vol. II, p. 82.