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Hello all, Eric Rivenus with the most notorious

podcast here.

Each week I interview an author or historian about a historical true crime, tragedy, or disaster.

Subject matter ranges from gun slingers to gilded age murder to gangsters to to pirates, to wild prison breaks.

My guests spring their incredible knowledge directly to you.

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Cheers and have a safe tomorrow. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

This week episode 249 St. Louis. In our last episode we covered the fall of Charleston, South Carolina, which began the

southern campaign that would occupy most of the fighting for the rest of the war. It's important, however, to remember that fighting remained a constant danger all over the continent, even in other parts of the world. Once Britain was battling France and Spain, colonies and territories of all combatant countries

were up for grabs whenever the opportunity presented itself.

The war also presented an opportunity for Americans to push westward once again.

Under the King, the proclamation of 1763, prevented colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Not only would pioneers have to contend with angry Indian tribes who objected to the

encroachments on their land, London could opt to send regulars to clear out

illegal squatters on Western lands. I recall that back in episode 102 I

discuss the efforts by colonists to establish claims in what would later become Tennessee.

In 1772, the Watauga Association had negotiated a 10-year lease with the Cherokee, and in 1775 made an outright purchase of the land in what became known as the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals.

Now, many of the Cherokee chiefs refused to recognize that treaty and argued that the other chiefs who did sign it had no authority to sell this land.

British officials in London also did not recognize the legality of this purchase and still required

colonists to remain east of the mountains. But since the purchase took place about a month before the Battle of Lexington, British attention was focused elsewhere.

The British did encourage Cherokee attacks, led by Chief Dragon Canoe, the colonists defeated the Cherokee, who were forced

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