It
was Tipton who represented the law; and Tipton carried off the
Governor's slaves to his own estate. When Nolichucky Jack came
home and found that his enemy had stripped him, he was in a
towering rage. With a body of his troops and one small cannon, he
marched to Tipton's house and besieged it, threatening a
bombardment. He did not, however, fire into the dwelling, though
he placed some shots about it and in the extreme corners. This
opera bouffe siege endured for several days, until Tipton was
reinforced by some of his own clique. Then Tipton sallied forth
and attacked the besiegers, who hastily scattered rather than
engage in a sanguinary fight with their neighbors. Tipton
captured Sevier's two elder sons and was only strained from
hanging them on being informed that two of his own sons were at
that moment in Sevier's hands.
In March, 1788, the State of Franklin went into eclipse. Sevier
was overthrown by the authorities of North Carolina. Most of the
officials who had served under him were soothed by being
reappointed to their old positions. Tipton's star was now in the
ascendant, for his enemy was to be made the vicarious sacrifice
for the sins of all whom he had "led astray." Presently David
Campbell, still graciously permitted to preside over the Superior
Court, received from the Governor of North Carolina the following
letter:
"Sir: It has been represented to the Executive that John Sevier,
who style's himself Captain-General of the State of Franklin, has
been guilty of high treason in levying troops to oppose the laws
and government of the State.
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