knoxville, Tenn. lost silver mines

[boomer]

Below is something i found and those in or near knoxville may want to research. I know that the spanish were in the area too. Remember that miners would put there bars or coins and ore close by. if the furnace or where they camped could be found and the old trails? Hmmmmmmm.
Sometimes old state history books can lead to something interesting.

FORT LOUDOUN (Fort Louden) (Monroe Co.)
The British built this fort in 1756, to protect themselves against the French. The Cherokee Indians burned the fort in 1760. off US 411, just north of Vonore, about 33 miles southwest of Knoxville. The fort has been restored.

Part of the story:

Researching the Man Adair may lead to where he found this and where the mines are: Adair was among the first white men to trade
with the Cherokees, having established a profitable trade with the Overhill Cherokees before the English explored the headquarters of the Clinch and Holston rivers to any great extent.

"Within twenty miles of Fort Louden,"
according to a quotation from Adair s writings
reproduced in the history, "there is a great
plenty of whetstones for rezors, of red, white
and black colours. The silver mines are so rich,
that by digging about ten yards deep, some
desperate vagabonds found at sundry times, so
much rich ore as to enable them to counterfeit
dollars to a great amount, a horse load of
which was detected, in passing for the purpose
of negroes of Augusta."
Other historians have recorded the
stories of hunters and traders which tend to
substantiate Adair s statements.
_________________

[Slingshot]

I lived in Knoxville for a couple of my younger years & visited the Ft. Loudoun Museum once. It had (circa 1970) the best Indian arrowhead & artifact display I have ever seen, and I've been to alot of museums. It would take a whole day to really view this site and it's exhibits. Who knows, you might turn up some leads here, as the staff were very helpful when I visited. There are a bunch of caves in this area - BIG caves.