william richardson, a presbyterian missionary (and uncle of future north carolina governor william richardson davie), arrived at fort loudoun in late 1758. he baptized a child of one of the soldiers, and delivered sermons on christmas eve and christmas day. he reported the little tennessee river had frozen over on december 19, and noted a persistent rumor of an impending french attack. richardson stated the cherokees were heavy drinkers who were uninterested in his message about the gospel. frustrated, he left the fort on february 6, 1759.