Long hunter James Washington Fisher Jr. and his wife Darcus Levisa Fisher in their golden years

Untamed
and unnamed Transylvania County had a number of men known as “long hunters” in
the 1800s who would make a living by embarking on hunting expeditions for six
months at a time. From October to March, they would travel and hunt, preserving
the meat, tanning the hides, and preparing pelts that they procured along the
way. When they returned to civilization, they would often distribute their
goods to prearranged buyers in larger towns of the area, such as Greenville,
Spartanburg, and Asheville.

One
well-known base camp was situated near Mount Toxaway, then known as “Hogback
Mountain.” From here, the long hunters could replenish supplies and gather a
group when it was time to set out on a long hunt. The animals they hunted
included deer, bear, fox, beaver, and even the occasional panther. Hunting dogs
were usually part of the team and were employed to help bring down the largest
game, such as bear.

Notable
long hunters of what would become Transylvania County included Nathan Lankford,
Aleck Wood, John J. Green, and Jim Fisher.

Part
of the camaraderie of these groups included sitting around a campfire and
telling tall tales of their hunting exploits during their leisure time. These
stories were not expected to be entirely true; in fact, it was a badge of honor
to elaborate and embellish one’s story for the utmost effect. For this reason,
these gatherings of hunters were known as “lying camps.” James “Jim” Washington
Fisher Jr., was one of the most well-known long hunters. He often won these
impromptu competitions and was also renowned for his fiddle music. The winner
got to wield a carved powder horn until a new winner was declared.

The
exploits of the long hunters might have been lost to history if not for the
writings of a Charleston-based author named William Gilmore Simms who
immortalized them in his short stories, essays, and books. Simms was taken out
on an expedition in 1847 that included the notable long hunters of our region.
He glorified their adventures and shared them with a public eager to hear
stories of the untamed frontier lands of the rugged Appalachian mountains.
Their remarkable stories now live on, and it us up to the reader to decide how
much of these tales is true.

Photographs and information
for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room,
Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History
Librarian Laura Sperry Gardner. For more information, comments, or suggestions,
contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.