The following story was written in 1854, by Captain John Carr, to Dr. Lyman C. Draper. John Carr was a son of William and Hannah Carr and was born on Carr's Creek in Russell County in 1773. It was for them that the creek was named. His father, William Carr (sometimes spelled Kerr) died on Carr's Creek prior to November 18, 1778 and his widowed mother sometime in the 1780's moved with her children to the Cumberland settlement in Tennessee.
     This family of Carrs were sheltering in Moore's Fort in 1774, for Hannah Carr was one of the women who went out from the fort with Rebecca, wife of Daniel Boone and one of Boone's daughters to shoot off their rifles like Indians to scare the men who had become indolent and careless in defending the fort, then ran into the fort and closed the gates, leaving the careless men outside. The Carrs were sheltering in Houston's Fort in 1776, when the Indians killed Samuel Cowan and attacked the fort. John says that he recalls his father holding him up to a port hole to see the Indians firing on the fort. At that time he would have been a three year old boy. In the story written to Draper, he says:
     "My father settled on the head of Big Moccasin with some 15 or 20 families from Houston's Fort. The Indians became so troublesome that he built a new fort; it was called Tate's Fort, where we stayed in the summer and returned home in the winter. (Note: This was the home of John Tate). There was a fort some 8 or 10 miles from ours, on the water of Clinch River, called Dales Fort, owned by Abraham Dale. (This was Glade Hollow Fort). A circumstance took place there that is worth relating. There was a man by the name of Crabtree who lived in that fort, and had a wife and child. He was a brother of the big Crabtree of Boonesboro.
     A Crabtree lived at Boonesboro. He was the active man in all the country. He was like SAUL among the people.
     He went out hunting one day and as he returned about the middle of the evening, at a place called Elk Garden about 3 miles from the fort, the Indians lay in ambush by the path. They shot his mare out from under him and never touched him. Before he could get clear of his horse, they sprang upon him like tigers, took him a prisoner, and tied his elbows, back. They appeared to be greatly elated at their prize. They viewed him from head to foot, and the largest man would come and stand by him.
     At length, they untied him, stripped him, viewed him again, felt his limbs, patted him on the back, and told him he should have a squaw when they got home. They put on his clothes again, tied him and two of them came to scuffle with him. He said he soon discovered that if his hands were loose, he could handle both of them. He said he became so taken with his new acquaintances, that had it not been for his wife and child, he would have gone with them, but when he thought of them he resolved to make his escape the first opportunity.
     They killed some shoats and skinned part of his mare, and made preparations for a great supper. When the supper was ready, they invited him up to eat. He said he partook with them without either bread or salt. When bedtime came on, they laid him down and tied his feet, guarding him securely all the night. The next morning they had early breakfast and started on toward the fort. He said he knew their intention was to take the fort, there being some 25 or 30 of them. He said no human being could describe his feelings, to think his wife and child were to be murdered and he there a captive.
     They went on to a point on a ridge where they could overlook the fort, it being in a valley, about three quarters of a mile off. There they stopped and the chief gave his men a talk and they kept pointing to the fort. He knew they could take it, for the men were careless; the gate would be open, and the men scattered about.
     At length the Indians laid him down, tied his feet together, left a couple of boys, with one gun, to guard him. They had not gone far before one of the Indians came running back and took the gun, which was a very fine looking gun, from the boys, and gave them a small shot-gun. He said that did him good, for he was determined to make an effort to effect his escape. They had not stopped far from the path that led out from the fort, the Indians had not more than got out of sight, when as Providence would have it, a man came riding along, either going to or from the fort.
     The Indian boys discovered him, although the man was unaware of them. They immediately commenced untying his feet and motioned to him that they must go further. The moment he was on his feet, his hands loose and his elbows tied behind him, he sprang to the boy that had the gun, jerked it out of his hands, broke it over his head and knocked him down. He kicked the other boy heels over head, gave him a stamp, and then started at the top of his speed to get to the fort before the Indians. He was very swift and succeeded in getting there, though tied.
     They had thought it very strange of him staying out at night. He speedily told them (people in the fort) the circumstances. He was untied, the men collected in, the fort closed, and every arrangement made for their defense. 
     It was supposed the Indian boys ran and overtook the company, and they lost their great prize, for no attack was made upon the fort. It was ever viewed as an act of Providence, for if Crabtree had not been taken prisoner, there was no doubt the fort would have been taken. Crabtree was a man of great humor, and it would amuse anyone to hear him tell about the evening and night spent with his new acquaintances.