Donelson Flotilla - 1A 98 - Kingsport, TN
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 36° 31.682 W 082° 33.373
17S E 360677 N 4043643
A large fleet of flatboards left Kingsport down the Holston and Tennessee Rivers to found what became Nashville
Waymark Code: WM4PQ3
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 09/16/2008
Views: 22
Sign text:
Donelson Flotilla
Early in 1779 Col. John Donelson's group arrived here and built 30 flatboats for 300 people to make the 1000-mile journey to settle Middle Tennessee. They embarked on their boating adventure on December 22, 1779. With an hour they wrecked at the mouth of Reedy Creek, resuming the voyage in February 1780. They arrived in Nashville the following April.
Now for more of the story per a Sullivan County history book: The journey was perilous as the flatboats ran aground and were attacked by Chickamauga indians. One flatboat contained passengers that had smallpox thus had to remain in the rear. Nashborough was founded which later became Nashville.
This historical marker is located on Wilcox Drive/TN126 between Jared Drive and Lincoln Street. There is space to pull off, but Wilcox Drive can be VERY busy at times.
Too see a flatboat, visit the Netherland Inn downstream(find geocache GC14M90). And I have a simple geocache GC1521X here at this historical marker.
Marker Name: Donelson Flotilla
Marker Location: Roadside
Type of Marker: Person
Marker Number: 1A 98
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Tennessee Historical Commission
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Visit Instructions:
At minimum, your visit must consist of a picture of the marker itself or anything referenced on the marker plus additional information you may have learned about the waymark topic. (You and your GPS receiver do not need to be in the picture, but can.)