Title: The Life and Times of Col.

Daniel Boone, Hunter, Soldier, and

Pioneer
With Sketches of Simon Kenton, Lewis Wetel, and !ther Leaders in
the Settlement of the West
"uthor: #dward S$l%ester #llis
&elease Date: 'ul$ (, )*+, -eBook .,/))01
Lan2ua2e: #n2lish
Character set encodin2: 3S!4/,/45S 65S4"SC337
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With
Sketches of Simon Kenton, Lewis Wetel, and !ther
Leaders in the Settlement of the West.
BC!f all men
Who >asses for in life and death most luck$,
!f the 2reat names which in our faces stare,
3s Daniel Boone, ?ackwoodsman of Kentuck$.C
CCrime came not near him44she is not the child
!f solitude. Health shrank not from him, for
Her home is in the rarel$4trodden wild.CB
?$
#DW"&D S. #LL3S,
"uthor of BThe Life of Colonel Da%id Crockett,B B;ed in the
Block4House,B B;ed in the Woods,B etc.
-3llustration1
Philadel>hia:
Porter D Coates.
Co>$ri2ht, +((,,
B$
Porter D Coates.
3;T&!D5CT3!;.
Daniel Boone was the ideal of the "merican >ioneer44?ra%e, cool,
self4reliant, a dead shot with his rifle, a consummate master of
woodcraft, with sturd$ frame, ho>eful at all times, and ne%er
discoura2ed ?$ disasters which caused man$ a weaker s>irit to faint ?$
the wa$. "ll that the >en of romance de>icts in the life of one whose
lot is cast in the Western forests, marked the career of Boone. 3n the
lonel$ solitudes he encountered the wild animal and the fiercer wild
manE and he stood on the ?astions at Boones?orou2h throu2h the flamin2
sun or the solemn hours of ni2ht, e=chan2in2 shots with the treacherous
Shawanoe, when e%er$ ?ullet fired was meant to e=tin2uish a human
lifeE he was ca>tured ?$ 3ndians three times, his com>anions were shot
down at his side, his dau2hter was carried awa$ ?$ sa%a2es and Fuickl$
rescued ?$ himself and a few intre>id comrades, his oldest ?o$ was
shot dead ?efore he set foot in Kentuck$, and another was killed while
?ra%el$ fi2htin2 at Blue LicksE the ?order town named after him was
assaulted and ?esie2ed ?$ o%erwhelmin2 ?odies of British and 3ndians,
his ?rother was slain and he himself underwent all manner of hardshi>
and sufferin2.
Get throu2h it all, he >reser%ed his honest sim>licit$, his unswer%in2
inte2rit$, his >rudence and self4>ossession, and his unfalterin2 faith
in himself, in the future of his countr$, and in :od.
He li%ed throu2h this crucial >eriod to see all his dreams realied,
and Kentuck$ one of the ?ri2htest stars in the 2rand constellation of
the 5nion.
Such a life cannot ?e studied too closel$ ?$ "merican $outhE and in the
followin2 >a2es, we ha%e endea%ored to 2i%e an accurate descri>tion of
its o>enin2, its e%entful >ro2ress and its >eaceful close, when, in the
fullness of time and in a ri>e old a2e, he was finall$ laid to rest,
honored and re%ered ?$ the 2reat nation whose >ossessions stretch from
ocean to ocean, and whose Bland is the fairest that e%er sun shone onHB
C!;T#;TS.
CH"PT#& 3.
P":#
Birth of Daniel Boone449ondness for Huntin244"n "larmin2
"?sence44" Peda2o2ue of the !lden Time44Sudden Termination
of Goun2 BooneIs School #ducation44&emo%al to ;orth
Carolina44BooneIs <arria2e44His Children +
CH"PT#& 33.
Social Distur?ances in ;orth Carolina44#%e of the "merican
&e%olution44BooneIs #=cursions to the West443nscri>tion on
a Tree44#m>lo$ed ?$ Henderson and Com>an$44The B&e2ulatorsB
of ;orth Carolina44Dis>ersed ?$ :o%ernor Tr$on44'ohn
9inle$44&esolution to 2o West ++
CH"PT#& 333.
The Part$ of #=>loration44Daniel Boone the Leader44<ore than
a <onth on the 'ourne$44!n the Border of Kentuck$44"n
#nchantin2 Jiew44" Site for the Cam>445nsur>assed Huntin244"n
3m>ressi%e Solitude44;o Si2ns of 3ndians +K
CH"PT#& 3J.
Boone and Stuart start out on a Hunt44Ca>tured ?$ 3ndians
and Disarmed44StuartIs Des>air and BooneIs Ho>e44" WeekIs
Ca>ti%it$44The #%entful ;i2ht )(
CH"PT#& J.
The #sca>e44The Hunters find the Cam> Deserted44Chan2e of
Luarters44Boone and Kenton44Welcome Jisitors44;ews from
Home443n 5nion there is Stren2th44Death of Stuart44SFuire
Boone returns to ;orth Carolina for "mmunition44"lone in
the Wilderness44Dan2er on #%er$ Hand44&eAoined ?$ his
Brother44Huntin2 alon2 the Cum?erland &i%er44Homeward
Bound44"rri%al in ;orth Carolina44"narch$ and Distress44Boone
remains there Two Gears44"ttention directed towards
Kentuck$44:eor2e Washin2ton44Boone >re>ares to mo%e Westward M,
CH"PT#& J3.
Lea%in2 ;orth Carolina44'oined ?$ a Lar2e Com>an$ at
PowellIs Jalle$44:lowin2 "ntici>ations44"ttacked ?$
3ndians in Cum?erland :a>44Daniel BooneIs #ldest
Son Killed44Discoura2ement44&eturn to Clinch &i%er
Settlement44The Check Pro%idential44Boone acts as a :uide
to a Part$ of Sur%e$ors44Commissioned Ca>tain ?$ :o%ernor
Dunmore, and takes command of Three :arrisons44Battle of
Point Pleasant44"ttends the makin2 of a Treat$ with 3ndians
at Wata2a44#m>lo$ed ?$ Colonel &ichard Henderson44Kentuck$
claimed ?$ the Cherokees44'ames Harrod44The 9irst Settlement
in Kentuck$44Boone leads a Com>an$ into Kentuck$44"ttacked
?$ 3ndians44#rection of the 9ort at Boones?orou2h44Colonel
&ichard Henderson takes Possession of Kentuck$44The &e>u?lic
of Trans$l%ania44His Scheme recei%es its Death4?low44Perils
of the 9rontier44" Permanent Settlement made on Kentuck$ Soil ,/
CH"PT#& J33.
Boone &eAoins his 9amil$ at the Clinch &i%er Settlement44Leads
a Com>an$ of 3mmi2rants into Kentuck$443nsecurit$ of
Settlers44Dawn of the "merican &e%olution44British "2ents
3ncite the 3ndians to &e%olt a2ainst the Settlements /+
CH"PT#& J333.
Com>arati%e Luiet on the 9rontier44Ca>ture of BooneIs Dau2hter
and the <isses Callawa$ ?$ 3ndians44Pursued ?$ Boone and
Se%en Com>anions44Their &escue and &eturn to their Homes /K
CH"PT#& 3N.
:eneral 5>risin2 of the 3ndians44The Border &an2ers44"ttack
u>on Boones?orou2h44&e>ulse of the "ssailants44Second "ttack
?$ a Lar2er 9orce and its 9ailure44"rri%al of 9ort$4fi%e
<en443n%estment of Lo2anIs 9ort44Timel$ "rri%al of Colonel
Bowman with &einforcements44"ttack u>on Harrods?ur2 0K
CH"PT#& N.
" Diner4out44The BHanni?al of the WestB44#lection of :eneral
Clark and :a?riel 'ones as Dele2ates to the Jir2inia
Le2islature44Their 'ourne$ to the Ca>ital44:eneral Clark
o?tains the Loan of a Lar2e Su>>l$ of "mmunition44#rection of
the Count$ of Kentuck$44:eneral Clark attacked and >ursued ?$
3ndians on his Jo$a2e down the !hio44Conceals the "mmunition
and deli%ers it safel$ at the Border Stations44:eneral
Clark marches u>on Kaskaskia and ca>tures the o?no=ious
:o%ernor &oche?la%e44:o%ernor Hamilton of Detroit or2anies
an #=>edition a2ainst the Settlements44:eneral Clark
ca>tures 9ort St. Jincent and takes :o%ernor Hamilton a
Prisoner44Ca>tures a Jalua?le Con%o$ from Canada and 9ort$
Prisoners44Secures the #rection of 3m>ortant 9ortifications
?$ Jir2inia (O
CH"PT#& N3.
Boone leads a Part$ to the Blue Licks to make Salt44Ca>ture
of Boone and Surrender of the #ntire Part$44Conducted to
Detroit44His Ca>tors &efuse to #=chan2e him44He is "do>ted
?$ the Shawanoes44He disco%ers a 9ormida?le #=>edition is
to mo%e a2ainst Boones?orou2h44The "ttack Post>oned44Boone
leads a Part$ a2ainst an 3ndian Town on the Scioto44#ncounter
with a War Part$44&eturns to Boones?orou2h44The State
3n%ested ?$ Ca>tain DuFuesne and a Lar2e 9orce44Boone and the
:arrison determine to Defend it to the Last44Better Terms
!ffered44Treacher$ Sus>ected44The "ttack44The Sie2e &aised K/
CH"PT#& N33.
The Peculiar Position of Boones?orou2h44Boone reAoins his
9amil$ in ;orth Carolina44&eturns to Boones?orou2h44&o??ed
of a Lar2e "mount of <one$443ncreased #mi2ration to the
West44Colonel &o2ers and his Part$ almost "nnihilated44
Ca>tain DenhamIs Stran2e "d%enture ++)
CH"PT#& N333.
Colonel BowmanIs #=>edition443ts Disastrous 9ailure44Death
of BooneIs Son44#sca>e of Boone44Colonel B$rdIs 3n%asion44
Ca>ture of &uddellIs and <artinIs Station44Darin2 #sca>e
of Ca>tain Hinkston +)*
CH"PT#& N3J.
Colonel ClarkIs 3n%asion of the 3ndian Countr$44Boone is
Promoted to the &ank of Colonel44His Brother Killed at
Blue Licks and Boone narrowl$ #sca>es Ca>ture44"ttack
u>on the Shel?$%ille :arrison44;ews of the Surrender of
Cornwallis44"ttack u>on #stillIs Station44Simon :irt$ the
&ene2ade44He ">>ears ?efore Br$antIs Station, ?ut Withdraws +M*
CH"PT#& NJ.
"rri%al of Boone With &e4enforcements44Pursuit of the
3ndian 9orce44BooneIs Counsel Disre2arded44" 9ri2htful
Disaster44&e$noldIs ;o?le and Heroic "ct44His #sca>e +M/
CH"PT#& NJ3.
:eneral ClarkIs #=>edition44" Dark Pa2e in "merican Histor$44
Colonel CrawfordIs Disastrous 9ailure and his own Terri?le
9ate44Simon :irt$ +,,
CH"PT#& NJ33.
"d%entures of the S>ies White and <IClelland44Darin2 Defence of
her Home ?$ <rs. <errill44#=>loits of Kernan the &an2er +OO
CH"PT#& NJ333.
The Three Counties of Kentuck$ united into !ne District44
Colonel Boone as a 9armer44He outwits a Part$ of 3ndians
who seek to ca>ture him44#mi2ration to Kentuck$44!utra2es
?$ 3ndians449ailure of :eneral ClarkIs #=>edition +0)
CH"PT#& N3N.
:eneral HarmarIs #=>edition a2ainst the 3ndians44Colonel
Hardin "m?ushed44Bra%er$ of the &e2ulars44!ut42eneraled ?$
the 3ndians44Harmar and Hardin Court4martialed44:eneral St.
ClairIs #=>edition and its Defeat +(*
CH"PT#& NN.
The Brilliant Jictor$ of <ad "nthon$ Wa$ne ?rin2s Peace to the
9rontier44Boone Loses his 9arm44He &emo%es to <issouri44<ade
Commandant of the 9emme !sa2e District44"udu?onIs "ccount of
a ;i2ht with Colonel Boone44Huntin2 in his !ld "2e44He Loses
the Land 2ranted him ?$ the S>anish :o%ernment44Petitions
Con2ress for a Confirmation of his !ri2inal Claims44The
Petition Disre2arded +(/
CH"PT#& NN3.
Last Da$s of Colonel Boone44&einterment of the &emains of
Himself and Wife at 9rankfort44Conclusion )*+
:#;#&"L S3<!; K#;T!;.
CH"PT#& 3.
Birth of Kenton44Des>erate "ffra$ with a &i%al449lees to the
Kentuck$ Wilderness44He and Two Com>anions attacked ?$
3ndians44!ne is Killed and the Sur%i%ors #sca>e44&escued,
after 2reat Sufferin244Kenton s>ends the Summer alone in the
Woods44Ser%es as a Scout in the Dunmore War44Kenton and Two
9riends settle at 5>>er Blue Lick44'oined ?$ Hendricks, who
meets with a Terri?le 9ate )*0
CH"PT#& 33.
Kenton and his 9riends Jisit Boones?orou2h44Des>erate #ncounter
with 3ndians44Proceeds with Two Com>anions to &econnoitre
an 3ndian Town on the Little <iami44Ca>tured while <akin2
!ff with a ;um?er of Horses44Brutal Treatment44Bound to the
Stake and &uns the :auntlet449riendshi> of Simon :irt$, the
&ene2ade449inall$ Sa%ed ?$ an 3ndian Trader44&emo%ed to
Detroit, and #sca>es44Commands a Com>an$ in :eneral ClarkIs
#=>edition44&ecei%es :ood ;ews44Jisits Jir2inia44Death of his
9ather44&educed to Po%ert$44&emo%es to 5r?ana, !hio44#lected
Bri2adier4:eneral44His Con%ersion44His Last Da$s )))
L#W3S W#TP#L.
Birth of Lewis Wetel44His 9ather Killed ?$ 3ndians, and
Himself and Brother carried off Prisoners44Their &emarka?le
#sca>e44<urder of an 3ndian44Ser%es in CrawfordIs
#=>edition44Pursued ?$ 9our 3ndians, and Kills Three44#sca>e
from the Custod$ of :eneral Harmar44WetelIs Hunts for
3ndians44"ssists a &elati%e to &eco%er his Betrothed from
Sa%a2es44!ld "2e and Death )O+
L39# ";D T3<#S
!9
C!L!;#L D";3#L B!!;#.
CH"PT#& 3.
Birth of Daniel Boone449ondness for Huntin244"n "larmin2 "?sence44"
Peda2o2ue of the !lden Time44Sudden Termination of Goun2 BooneIs
School #ducation44&emo%al to ;orth Carolina44BooneIs <arria2e44His
Children.
Daniel Boone was ?orn in #=eter townshi>, Bucks count$, Penns$l%ania,
on the ++th of 9e?ruar$, +0MO, so that he was Aust three $ears the
Aunior of Washin2ton.
Daniel had si= ?rothers and four sisters, he ?ein2 the fourth child of
SFuire Boone, whose father landed at Philadel>hia from #n2land, !cto?er
+*, +0+0, ?rin2in2 with him two dau2hters and nine sons. The townshi>
of #=eter, as it is now known in Penns$l%ania, was named ?$ the elder
Boone after the cit$ in #n2land near which he was ?orn.
There is 2ood authorit$ for ?elie%in2 that the Boone famil$, when
li%in2 in the mother countr$, were attached to the #sta?lished ChurchE
?ut, when the$ had resided some time amid the >eaceful surroundin2s
and 2entle influences of the friends and followers of :eor2e 9o=, the$
inclined to their reli2ious ?elief, thou2h it will hardl$ ?e claimed
that Daniel Boone continued orthodo= throu2hout his ad%enturous life.
3n those da$s, the educational ad%anta2es 2i%en $outh were %er$ mea2re,
and freFuentl$ none at all. The old4time >eda2o2ue was a man stern and
re>ellin2 to children, knowin2 little of the true means of im>artin2
knowled2e. "?out the onl$ ?ranch he handled with an$ skill was that
which came from the nearest treeE and, had he >ossessed the a?ilit$ to
teach, he lacked, in the 2eneralit$ of cases, the education necessar$.
" centur$ and a half a2o, #=eter townshi> a?ounded with 2ame, and the
town itself was a >ioneer settlement of the most >rimiti%e order,
consistin2 of lo24houses almost entirel$ surrounded ?$ forests, in
whose de>ths roamed ?ears, >anthers, deer, and the smaller 2ame so
attracti%e to s>ortsmen.
3t was these which were to educate $oun2 Boone more than were the crude
means and the ti>>lin2 teacher in whose char2e he was >laced. ;othin2
deli2hted the lad more than to wander for hours throu2h the woods, 2un
in hand, stealin2 amon2 the cool shadows, ?ehind the moss$ rocks and
alon2 the >urlin2 streams, with the soft tread of the 3ndian, while the
keen e$es of the $oun2 hunter searched tree4to> and ?ush for the first
si2ns of 2ame, and his ear was e%er strained to catch the cautious
footste> of the wild ?east as it cre>t faintl$ o%er the lea%es.
Thus in the 2rand school of ;ature was the 2reat >ioneer trained. While
$et a small ?o$, he ?ecame noted for his unerrin2 aim with the rifle,
and the skill with which he read the Bsi2nsB amon2 the trees, that were
as closed %olumes to others.
The >ri%ile2e of wanderin2 with 2un and do2 was all the ha>>iness
he asked, and as an ine%ita?le conseFuence of this mode of life, he
2rew sturd$, stron2, acti%e, and ca>a?le of immense e=ertion without
fati2ue. 3t is in Aust such nurseries as this that the 2reat e=>lorers
and >ioneers of the world are educated.
!ne mornin2, Daniel shouldered his rifle, and whistlin2 to his do2, the
two >lun2ed into the woods for one of their usual hunts. The sun was
Aust risin2 in a clear sk$, the air was cris> and in%i2oratin2, and
the >ros>ect was all that the heart of the $oun2 hunter could wish.
Those of his relati%es who saw him de>art thou2ht nothin2 of it, for
the si2ht was a %er$ common one with him and his ?rothers, and $oun2 as
the$ were, the$ learned amon2 the rudiments of their trainin2 the 2reat
fundamental truth to trust in :od and themsel%es.
"s the shades of ni2ht closed o%er settlement and forest, the ?o$
Daniel was e=>ected home, thou2h the famil$ had no s>ecial mis2i%in2
when the hours >assed without ?rin2in2 him, it ?ein2 su>>osed that he
had >enetrated so far into the wilds that he >referred to encam> for
the ni2ht rather than take the lon2 tram> home.
But, when the second da$ had >assed, and he failed to a>>ear, the
>arents were in 2reat distress, for it seemed certain that some fatal
accident must ha%e o%ertaken their child. The mature and e=>erienced
hunter is alwa$s in >eril from wild ?easts or the wilder human ?ein2s
who >rowl and skulk throu2h the wilderness, and man$ a man who has
?ra%ed the dan2ers of a score of $ears, has fallen a %ictim to the
treacherous ?i>ed or Fuadru>ed, who has sou2ht his life with 2reater
cunnin2 than he has done his own work.
3t was im>ossi?le therefore for them to feel an$thin2 ?ut the most
>ainful an=iet$ for their ?o$, and, una?le to remain idle lon2er, the$
called u>on their nei2h?ors, and a search4>art$ was or2anied.
The trail made ?$ the lad was too faint to ?e followed successfull$,
and the >arties scattered and hunted for traces as ?est the$ could.
Hours >assed ?$, e%er$ man doin2 his utmost to disco%er the fate of the
?o$, who the$ ho>ed was still li%in2 somewhere in the de>ths of the
wilderness, thou2h it would seem scarcel$ >ossi?le that, if ali%e, he
was not in a sufferin2 or hel>less condition.
But the shouts and re>orts of their 2uns remained unanswered, and the$
>ushed forward, ho>in2 a2ainst ho>e. The ?onds of s$m>ath$ are nowhere
stron2er than in such frontier settlements, where a common feelin2
of ?rotherhood e=ists, and the men who were searchin2 for the lost
Daniel, were hardl$ less an=ious concernin2 him than were the >arents
themsel%es.
Suddenl$ someone descried a faint, thin column of smoke risin2 from a
nondescri>t sort of structure, and hurr$in2 toward it, the$ saw one
of the most >rimiti%e of ca?ins, made of lim?s and ?rush and sods of
2rass >iled to2ether. Stealin2 around to the rude entrance, the$ >ee>ed
in, and saw Daniel himself, lookin2 like an old hunter who had settled
down for the season. !n the earth4floor of his structure were strewn
the skins of the 2ame he had shot, while he was cookin2 the choicest
>ieces ?efore the smokin2 fire. He was onl$ three miles from home, ?ut
it mi2ht as well ha%e ?een a hundred, for all the additional comfort it
afforded his friends and >arents.
The lad looked u> with an e=>ression of sur>rise, wonderin2 what all
the e=citement was a?outE and when he found the$ were huntin2 for him,
it was hard to understand the necessit$ for doin2 an$ such thin2.
3t was not the first time he had ?een alone in the woods, and he
thou2ht he was as well a?le to take care of himself as were an$ of the
older >ioneers who came to look for him. Howe%er, as he was a dutiful
son, and had no wish to cause his >arents an$ unnecessar$ alarm, he
2athered u> his 2ame and >eltries, and went ?ack home with the hunters.
;othin2 can ?e more >leasant to the "merican ?o$ than Aust such a life
as that followed ?$ Daniel Boone44wanderin2 for hours throu2h the
wilderness, on the look4out for 2ame, ?uildin2 the cheer$ cam>4fire
dee> in some 2len or 2or2e, Fuaffin2 the clear ic$ water from some
stream, or l$in2 flat on the ?ack and lookin2 u> throu2h the tree4to>s
at the >atches of ?lue sk$, across which the snow$ shi>s of %a>or are
continuall$ sailin2.
But an$ >arent who would allow a child to follow the ?ewitchin2
>leasures of such a life, would commit a sinful ne2lect of dut$, and
would take the surest means of ?rin2in2 re2ret, sorrow, and trou?le to
the ?o$ himself, when he should come to manhood.
The >arents of $oun2 Boone, thou2h the$ were >oor, and had the char2e
of a lar2e famil$, did their utmost to 2i%e their children the
rudiments of a common school education, with the >oor ad%anta2es that
were at their command.
3t is said that a?out the first thin2 DanielIs teacher did, after
summonin2 his ?o$s and 2irls to2ether in the mornin2, was to send them
out a2ain for a recess44one of the most >o>ular >roceedin2s a teacher
can take, thou2h it cannot ?e considered a %er$ 2reat hel> in their
studies.
While the >u>ils were enAo$in2 themsel%es to their fullest ?ent, the
master took a stroll into the woods, from which he was alwa$s sure
to return much more cra??ed than when he went, and with his ?reath
smellin2 %er$ stron2l$ of somethin2 stron2er than water.
"t times he ?ecame so mellowed, that he was indul2ence itself, and at
other times he ?eat the ?o$s unmercifull$. The >atrons of the school
seemed to think their dut$ ended with the sendin2 of their children
to the school4house, without inFuirin2 what took >lace after the$ 2ot
there.
!ne da$ Daniel asked the teacher for >ermission to 2o out4doors, and
recei%in2 it, he >assed into the clear air Aust at the moment that a
?rown sFuirrel was runnin2 alon2 the ?ranch of a fallen tree.
3nstantl$ the athletic lad darted in >ursuit, and, when the nim?le
little animal whisked out of si2ht amon2 a dense clum> of %ine and
?ushes, the ?o$ sho%ed his hand in, in the ho>e of catchin2 it. 3nstead
of doin2 so, he touched somethin2 cold and smooth, and ?rin2in2 it
forth, found it was a whiske$ ?ottle with a 2oodl$ Fuantit$ of the
fier$ fluid within.
BThatIs what the teacher comes out here for,B thou2ht Daniel, as his
e$es s>arkled, Band thatIs wh$ he is so cross when he comes ?ack.B
He restored the ?ottle to its >lace, and returned to the school4room,
sa$in2 nothin2 to an$ one until after dismissal, when he told his
disco%er$ to some of the lar2er ?o$s, who, like all school4children,
were e%er ri>e for mischief.
When such a 2rou> fall into a discussion, it ma$ ?e set down as amon2
the certainties that somethin2 serious to some one is sure to ?e the
result.
The ne=t mornin2 the ?o$s >ut a 2ood char2e of tartar emetic in the
whiske$ ?ottle, and shakin2 it u>, restored it to its former >lace of
concealment. Then, full of ea2er e=>ectation, the$ hurried into school,
where the$ were more studious than e%er44a sus>icious si2n which ou2ht
to ha%e attracted the notice of the teacher, thou2h it seems not to
ha%e done so.
The 3rish instructor took his walk as usual, and when he came ?ack and
resumed la?or, it ma$ ?e ima2ined that the ?o$s were on the ti>4toe of
e=>ectation.
The$ had not lon2 to wait. The teacher 2rew >ale, and 2a%e si2ns of
some re%olution 2oin2 on internall$. But he did not $ield to the
feelin2. "s mi2ht ha%e ?een e=>ected, howe%er, it increased his
fretfulness, and whether he sus>ected the truth or not, he >unished
the ?o$s most cruell$, as thou2h seekin2 to work off his illness ?$
e=ercisin2 himself with the rod u>on the ?acks of the lads, whose onl$
consolation was in o?ser%in2 that the medicine taken unconsciousl$ ?$
the irate teacher was accom>lishin2 its mission.
<atters ?ecame worse and worse, and the whi>>in2s of the teacher
were so indiscriminate and ?rutal, that a re?ellion was e=cited. The
crisis was reached when he assailed Daniel, who stru22led des>eratel$,
encoura2ed ?$ the u>roar and shouts of the others, until he finall$ 2ot
the u>>er hand of the master, and 2a%e him an unFuestiona?le trouncin2.
"fter such a >roceedin2 it was not to ?e e=>ected that an$ sort of
disci>line could ?e maintained, and the rest of the >u>ils rushed
out4doors and scattered to their homes.
The news of the out?reak Fuickl$ s>read throu2h the nei2h?orhood,
and Daniel was taken to task ?$ his father for his insu?ordination,
thou2h the >arent now saw that the teacher >ossessed not the first
Fualification for his >osition. "nd the instructor himself must ha%e
felt somewhat the same wa$, for he made no o?Aections when he was
notified of his dismissal, and the school education of Daniel Boone
ended.
3t was a misfortune to him, as it is to an$ one, to ?e de>ri%ed of the
>ri%ile2e of storin2 his mind with the knowled2e that is to ?e acFuired
from ?ooks, and $et, in another sense, it was an ad%anta2e to the
sturd$ ?o$, who 2ained the ?etter o>>ortunit$ for trainin2 himself for
the 2reat work which la$ ?efore him.
3n the woods of #=eter he hunted more than e%er, educatin2 the e$e,
ear, and all the senses to that wonderful Fuickness which seems
incredi?le when sim>l$ told of a >erson. He ?ecame a dead shot with
his rifle, and laid the foundations of ru22ed health, stren2th and
endurance, which were to >ro%e so in%alua?le to him in after $ears,
when he should cross the !hio, and %enture into the >erilous de>ths of
the Dark and Blood$ :round.
Boone 2rew into a natural athlete, with all his faculties educated to
the hi2hest >oint of e=cellence. He assisted his father as ?est he
could, ?ut he was a ;imrod ?$ nature, instinct and education, and while
$et a ?o$, he ?ecame known for miles around the settlement as a most
skilled, darin2, and successful hunter.
When he had reached $oun2 manhood, his father remo%ed to ;orth
Carolina, settlin2 near HolmanIs 9ord, on the Gadkin ri%er, some ei2ht
miles from Wilkes?oroI. Here, as usual, the ?o$ assisted his >arents,
who were 2ifted with a lar2e famil$, as was 2enerall$ the case with the
>ioneers, so that there was rarel$ an$thin2 like affluence attained ?$
those who hel>ed to ?uild u> our countr$.
While the Boones li%ed on the ?anks of the Gadkin, Daniel formed the
acFuaintance of &e?ecca Br$an, whom he married, accordin2 to the ?est
authorit$ attaina?le, in the $ear +0OO, when he was a?out twent$ $ears
of a2e.
There is a le2end which has ?een told man$ a time to the effect that
Boone, while huntin2, mistook the ?ri2ht e$es of a $oun2 lad$ for those
of a deer, and that he came within a hairIs4?readth of sendin2 a ?all
?etween them with his unerrin2 rifle, ?efore he disco%ered his mistake.
But the le2end, like that of 'essie Brown at Lucknow and man$ others in
which we deli2ht, has no foundation in fact, and so far as known there
was no s>ecial romance connected with the marria2e of Boone to the
e=cellent lad$ who ?ecame his >artner for life.
The children ?orn of this marria2e were 'ames, 3srael, 'esse, Daniel,
;athan, Susan, 'emima, La%inia, and &e?ecca.
CH"PT#& 33.
Social Distur?ances in ;orth Carolina44#%e of the "merican
&e%olution44BooneIs #=cursions to the West443nscri>tion on a
Tree44#m>lo$ed ?$ Henderson and Com>an$44The B&e2ulatorsB of ;orth
Carolina44Dis>ersed ?$ :o%ernor Tr$on44'ohn 9inle$44&esolution to
2o West.
The earl$ >art of Daniel BooneIs married life was une%entful, and the
$ears 2lided ?$ without ?rin2in2 an$ incident, e%ent or e=>erience to
him worth$ the >en of the historian. He toiled faithfull$ to su>>ort
his 2rowin2 famil$, and s>ent a 2oodl$ >ortion of his time in the
woods, with his rifle and do2, sometimes cam>in2 on the ?ank of the
lonel$ Gadkin, or floatin2 down its smooth waters in the stillness of
the deli2htful afternoon, or throu2h the solemn Fuiet of the ni2ht,
when nothin2 ?ut the stars were to ?e seen twinklin2 o%erhead.
But Daniel Boone was li%in2 in stirrin2 times, and there were si2ns
in the >olitical hea%ens of tremendous chan2es a>>roachin2. There was
war ?etween #n2land and 9ranceE there was strife alon2 the frontier,
where the 3ndian fou2ht fiercel$ a2ainst the ad%ancin2 arm$ of
ci%iliation, and the s>irit of resistance to the t$rann$ of the mother
countr$ was 2rowin2 ra>idl$ amon2 the sturd$ colonists. ;orth Carolina
?e2an, throu2h her re>resentati%es in le2islature, those measures of
o>>osition to the authorit$ of :reat Britain, which forecast the acti%e
>art the !ld Pine Tree State was to take in the re%olutionar$ stru22le
for li?ert$ and inde>endence.
Durin2 the few $ears that followed there was constant Fuarrelin2
?etween the ro$al 2o%ernor and the le2islators, and it assumed such
>ro>ortions that the State was ke>t in continual ferment. This unrest
and distur?ance were an$thin2 ?ut >leasin2 to Boone, who saw the
countr$ settlin2 ra>idl$ around him, and who ?e2an to look toward
the West with the lon2in2 which comes o%er the ?ird when it 2aes
$earnin2l$ out from the ?ars of its ca2e at the 2reen fields, cool
woods, and enchantin2 landsca>es in which its com>anions are sin2in2
and re%elin2 with deli2ht.
Boone took lon2 huntin2 e=cursions toward the West, thou2h nothin2
is known with e=act certaint$ as to the date when he ?e2an them.
The Cherokee war which had caused much trou?le alon2 the Carolina
frontier was ended, and he and others must ha%e turned their thou2hts
man$ a time to the ?oundless forests which stretched for hundreds and
thousands of miles towards the settin2 sun, in which roamed countless
multitudes of wild animals and still wilder ?ein2s, who were read$ to
dis>ute e%er$ foot of ad%ance made ?$ the white settlers.
Such a %ast field could not ?ut >ossess an irresisti?le attraction to a
consummate hunter like Boone, and the 2lim>ses which the ;orth Carolina
woods 2a%e of the >ossi?ilities awaitin2 him, and the 2rowth of em>ire
in the West, were sure to >roduce the result that came when he had ?een
married some fifteen or more $ears and was in the >rime of life.
Pre%ious to this date, the well known a?undance of 2ame in Tennessee
led man$ hunters to make incursions into the territor$. The$ sometimes
formed lar2e com>anies, unitin2 for the >ros>ect of 2ain and 2reater
>rotection a2ainst the e%er4>resent dan2er from 3ndians.
3t is mentioned ?$ 2ood authorit$, that amon2 the >arties thus
%enturin2 o%er the Carolina ?order into the wilderness, was one at the
head of which was BDaniel Boone from the Gadkin, in ;orth Carolina, who
tra%eled with them as low as the >lace where "?in2don now stands, and
there left them.B
Some $ears a2o the followin2 descri>tion could ?e deci>hered u>on an
old ?eech4tree standin2 ?etween 'ones?oro and Blounts%ille:
D. B!!;
C3LL#D ". B"& !;
3; TH# T&##
G#"& +0/*.
This inscri>tion is 2enerall$ considered as >roof that Boone made
huntin2 e=cursions to that re2ion at that earl$ date, thou2h the
e%idence can hardl$ ?e acce>ted as >ositi%e on the >oint.
3t was scarcel$ a $ear after the date named, howe%er, that Boone,
who was still li%in2 on the Gadkin, entered the same section of the
countr$, ha%in2 ?een sent thither ?$ Henderson D Com>an$ for the
>ur>oses of e=>loration. He was accom>anied ?$ Samuel Callawa$, a
relati%e, and the ancestor of man$ of the Callawa$s of Tennessee,
Kentuck$, and <issouri. The latter was at the side of Boone when,
a>>roachin2 a s>ur of the Cum?erland mountains, u>on whose slo>es
the$ saw multitudes of ?isons 2rain2, the 2reat >ioneer >aused, and
sur%e$in2 the scene for a moment, e=claimed, with kindlin2 e$es:
B3 am richer than He who owned the cattle on a thousand hills, for 3
own the wild ?easts of a thousand %alle$s.B
The si2ht was indeed one which mi2ht ha%e stirred the heart of a hunter
who could 2ras> the >ossi?ilities of the future of those fa%ored
re2ions.
Daniel Boone ma$ ?e considered as ha%in2 under2one a >reliminar$
trainin2 from his earliest ?o$hood for the work which has identified
his name indissolu?l$ with the histor$ of Kentuck$. He was what ma$ ?e
called a ?orn >ioneer, ?ut there were causes at work in ;orth Carolina
which led to his de>arture for the Kentuck$ wilderness, of which the
2eneral reader is a>t to lose si2ht in stud$in2 his character.
The a>>roach of the "merican &e%olution in the former State, as in
man$ others, was marked ?$ social distur?ances freFuentl$ amountin2
to anarch$. There were man$ Scotch traders, who had accumulated
considera?le wealth without ha%in2 2one throu2h the la?or and >erils
which the nati%es underwent in >ro%idin2 for their families.
These forei2ners ado>ted an e=>ensi%e and show$ st$le of li%in2,
alto2ether out of kee>in2 with the se%ere sim>licit$ that marked that
of the colonists.
;othin2 was more natural than that this assum>tion of su>eriorit$ in
the wa$ of social >osition should roil and e=cite resentment amon2
those less fa%ored ?$ fortune.
The$ were not alone in this offensi%e course: the officers and a2ents
of the &o$al :o%ernment were eFuall$ ostentatious in dis>la$ and manner
of li%in2, and the e=as>eratin2 sno??ishness s>read to the ma2istrates,
law$ers, clerks of court, and ta= 2atherers, who demanded e=or?itant
fees for their ser%ices. The cler2$men of the #sta?lished Church ?ecame
o>>ressi%e in their e=actions, and, as we ha%e stated, societ$ itself
was threatened with re%olution ?efore the rattle of musketr$ at Bunker
Hill Bwas heard around the world.B
Petitions were sent to the Le2islature for relief ?$ the sufferin2
citiens, who were in much the same distressin2 situation in which
3reland has ?een man$ a time since. These >ra$ers were treated with
indifference or o>en contem>t, for there are none more reckless and
?lind than those who are tra%elin2 close to the ed2e of the >olitical
%olcano rum?lin2 at their feet.
There is a limit ?e$ond which it is alwa$s dan2erous to tem>t the
endurance of a >eo>le, who now ?e2an meetin2 to2ether, and formed
themsel%es into associations for correctin2 the e%ils around them.
3t was these >eo>le who recei%ed the name of B&e2ulators,B and who
hel>ed to increase the distur?ances in that >articular section of the
countr$. The$ deli?eratel$ decided Bto >a$ onl$ such ta=es as were
a2reea?le to law, and a>>lied to the >ur>ose therein named, and to >a$
no officer more than his le2al fees.B
The histor$ of the State records man$ acts of %iolence which were
ine%ita?le from this condition of affairs. The final collision ?etween
the B&e2ulatorsB and a stron2 force of the ro$al 2o%ernor Tr$on at
"lamanance, in which the re?els were ?adl$ defeated, occurred in <a$,
+00+, ?ut the distur?ances continued with more or less %iolence until
the ?reakin2 out of the &e%olution, when the mills of :od 2round so
Be=ceedin2 fine,B that the 2rie%ances were remo%ed fore%er.
3t was in such a communit$ as this that Daniel Boone li%ed, and he
and his famil$ were sufferers. What more natural than that he should
cast his e$es lon2in2l$ toward the West, where, thou2h there mi2ht ?e
wild ?easts and wild men, he and his lo%ed ones could ?e free from the
e=as>eratin2 anno$ances which were all around themQ
The >erils from 3ndians were much less alarmin2 to them than were those
of the ta=42atherer. 3ndeed, in all >ro?a?ilit$, it lent an additional
attracti%eness to the %ast e=>anse of %ir2in wilderness, with its
s>lashin2 streams, its rich soil, its a?undance of 2ame and all that
is so enchantin2 to the real s>ortsman, who finds an additional charm
in the knowled2e that the >leasure u>on which he >ro>oses to enter is
s>iced with >ersonal dan2er.
!ne da$ a %isitor dro>>ed in u>on Boone. He was 'ohn 9inle$, who led a
>art$ of hunters to the re2ion adAoinin2 the Louisa &i%er in Kentuck$
in the winter of +0/0, where the$ s>ent the season in huntin2 and
tra>>in2. The hunter called u>on Boone to tell him a?out that land in
which he knew his friend was so much interested.
We can ima2ine the $oun2 man, with his rifle sus>ended on the
deer4>ron2s o%er the fire, with his wife ?us$ a?out her household
duties and his children at >la$, sittin2 in his ca?in and listenin2 to
the 2lowin2 narrati%e of one who knew whereof he was s>eakin2.
9inle$ told him of the innumera?le 2ame, the deer and ?ison, the
m$riads of wild turke$s, and e%er$thin2 so hi2hl$ >ried ?$ the
s>ortsmanE he >ictured the %ast stretches of forest in which the hunter
could wander for hours and da$s without strikin2 a clearin2E of the
numerous streams, some lar2e, some small, and all lo%el$ to the e$e,
and it needed no %er$ far4seein2 %ision to forecast the ma2nificent
future which la$ ?efore this hi2hl$ fa%ored re2ion.
3t must ha%e ?een a winsome >icture drawn ?$ 9inle$44aided as it was ?$
the re>ellin2 colorin2 of the scene of his actual surroundin2s44made
so hateful ?$ the o>>ressi%e a2ents of the forei2n 2o%ernment which
claimed the colonies as her own.
When 9inle$ was throu2h, and he had answered all of his friendIs
Fuestions, and told him of his man$ huntin2 ad%entures in Kentuck$,
Boone announced that he would 2o with him when he should make his ne=t
%isit. He had alread$ ?een drawn stron2l$ toward the re2ion, and he
wished to see with his own e$es the fa%ored land, ?efore remo%in2 his
famil$ thither.
The acFuisition of such a >erson was so desira?le, that he was sure
to ?e a>>reciated ?$ those who knew him ?est, and whether a>>ointed
to that >osition or not, his own matchless resources and natural
>owers were certain to fi= u>on him as the leader of the ad%enturous
characters who had decided to e=>lore the dan2erous wilderness of
Kentuck$.
CH"PT#& 333.
The Part$ of #=>loration44Daniel Boone the Leader44<ore than a <onth
on the 'ourne$44!n the Border of Kentuck$44"n #nchantin2 Jiew44"
Site for the Cam>445nsur>assed Huntin244"n 3m>ressi%e Solitude44;o
Si2ns of 3ndians.
Daniel Boone now entered u>on that e>och in his life, which has
interwo%en his name with the histor$ of Kentuck$, and indeed with
the settlement of the West, for thou2h he was not %enturin2 into the
wilderness with the intention of remainin2 there, $et his >ur>ose
of Bs>$in2 out the landB was sim>l$ the first ste> in his career of
>ioneer of the Dark and Blood$ :round.
The >art$ of e=>loration, or rather of huntin2, num?ered a half doen:
'ohn 9inle$, 'ames <once$, 'ohn Stuart, William Cool, 'ose>h Holden,
and Daniel Boone, who was chosen the leader. 3t was a stron2 com>an$,
for all the men were e=>erienced hunters, unerrin2 rifle4shots, and
well aware of the dan2ers the$ were to encounter.
!n the first of <a$, +0/K, the >art$ set out for Kentuck$ in hi2h
s>irits, and ea2erl$ antici>atin2 the enAo$ment that was to ?e theirs,
?efore the$ should return from the all4im>ortant e=>edition.
The$ had selected the most enchantin2 season of the $ear, and it is
eas$ to ima2ine with what 2lowin2 antici>ation the$ %entured u>on the
Aourne$, which was to ?e more e%entful, indeed, than an$ mem?er of it
ima2ined.
3t was a lon2 distance from ;orth Carolina, across the inter%enin2
stretch of stream, forest and mountain, to Kentuck$, with all the
tem>tations to the hunter to turn aside, tem>tations which it is safe
to conclude o%ercame them man$ a time, for, when a full month had
>assed, not one of the >art$ had ste>>ed within the confines of the
Dark and Blood$ :round.
But, thou2h the$ were mo%in2 slowl$, the$ were steadil$ nearin2 the
>romised land, and on the 0th of 'une the men, ?roned and tou2hened
?$ the e=>osure to which the$ had ?een su?Aected, ?ut still sturd$ and
resolute, ?e2an clim?in2 the >reci>itous slo>e of a mountain on the
?order of Kentuck$.
The si= who had left ;orth Carolina more than a month ?efore were
there, attired in their rou2h huntin2 costume, and with their am?ition
and >ur>ose as stron2 as e%er. #ach wore the huntin24shirt of the
forest ran2er made of dressed deerskins. The le22ins were of the same
material, and the feet were >rotected ?$ stron2, comforta?l$ fittin2
moccasins. There were frin2es down the seams of the le22ins, Aust as
seems to ?e the fa%orite custom with man$ of the red4men in donnin2
their >icturesFue costumes.
"lthou2h these dresses mi2ht ?e attracti%e to the e$e, $et such a
>ur>ose was the last that entered the minds of the wearers, who
constructed them for use onl$. Their under 2arments were of cotton, so
coarse that it would ha%e ?een like sackcloth to man$ a man of modern
da$sE the$ carried, as a matter of course, the >owder4horn, rifle,
hatchet, ?ullet4>ouch, and the other indis>ensa?les of a hunter.
3t was near the close of the da$, and thou2h the >art$ were >rett$ well
e=hausted, $et the$ >ushed on, feelin2 in man$ res>ects like those who,
for the first time in their li%es, are to 2ae u>on the land which is
more enchantin2 to them than all the world ?eside.
#re the sun sank ?ehind the immense e=>anse of wilderness, and Aust
when its s>lendors were illuminatin2 the skies with the 2lories of the
fadin2 da$, the huntin2 >art$ reached the summit of the mountain, and
2aed off o%er Kentuck$.
The >anorama s>read out ?efore them was a most entrancin2 one, their
%ision e=tendin2 o%er hundreds of sFuare miles, with the rich %ales
watered ?$ the ?eautiful streams, the forest alternatin2 with ?road
natural clearin2s, with %ast stretches of le%el countr$ u>on which the
m$riads of mo%in2 s>ecks were reco2nied ?$ the e=>erienced e$e as
?isons, and o%er which the$ knew the deer dashed and other wild animals
roamed with scarcel$ a fear of their natural enem$, man. There was man$
a lea2ue in whose solemn de>ths a human foot had ne%er $et >enetrated,
and whose echoes had ne%er ?een awakened ?$ the shot of the rifle.
There the$ la$ as silent as at BcreationIs morn,B and the deniens of
the woods wa=ed stron2 and wandered at will, without fear of the deadl$
?ullet whistlin2 from ?ehind the tree or moss$ rock.
True, amon2 these cool woods and within man$ of the dark recesses
the red 3ndian %entured, and now and then the shar> whi of his arrow
was heard, and the ?ar?ed wea>on flashed amon2 the 2reen lea%es as it
>ierced the heart of the unsus>ectin2 nati%es of the wood.
But where there were such multitudes of wild ?easts these deaths
were scarcel$ noticea?le, and the white hunters knew that it was a
s>ortsmanIs >aradise that la$ s>read at their feet.
The >icture of these si= >ioneers who >aused on the crest of the
mountain as the sun was settin2, and looked off o%er the Kentuck$
wilderness, is that which has ?een selected ?$ the artist, who has
immortalied the scene on can%as, and all will a2ree that he could not
ha%e chosen a more in%itin2 su?Aect.
The surface u>on which the$ looked down was rollin2, le%el far ?e$ond,
?ut Fuite hill$ nearer the ?ase of the mountain, while it all >ossessed
the indescri?a?le charm of %ariet$, and it could not ha%e ?een more
enchantin2 to the wearied s>ectators.
9inle$ had ?een there ?efore, and, thou2h the$ ma$ ha%e thou2ht that
some of the stories he told were o%erdrawn, the$ could well afford to
?elie%e them now, when the$ came to 2ae u>on the attracti%e countr$.
"$e, the$ stood on the %er$ ?orders of the land, and the$ determined
that the$ would %enture within it on the morrow. "lthou2h the$ had
left home at the most deli2htful season of the $ear, $et the s>rin2
>ro%ed to ?e a se%ere one, and their Aourne$ had ?een dela$ed ?$ storm$
weather, so that the 2lowin2 >anorama at their feet was ro?ed in more
roseate colors from its %er$ contrast to that throu2h which the$ had
>assed so recentl$.
"ssumin2 >ositions of rest, the 2rou> feasted their e$es to the full,
and we can well ima2ine the e=>ressions of deli2ht which esca>ed them,
as the$ constantl$ cau2ht si2ht of new and no%el scenes and >ointed
them out to each other.
There la$ the re2ion in which the$ would >ro?a?l$ make their future
home, whither the$ would ?rin2 their families, and where the$ would
encounter the toil, >ri%ation and dan2er, which in%aria?l$ attend the
>ioneers of e%er$ countr$.
5nder such circumstances, the time, >lace and surroundin2s were
in%ested with a >eculiar interest, which could not ha%e ?een theirs at
an$ other >eriod or under an$ different conditions.
The sun went down ?ehind the wilderness, and ni2ht 2raduall$ o%ers>read
the scene. The hunters had not cau2ht si2ht of a sin2le human ?ein2
?eside themsel%es, and now that darkness had come, the$ made their
>re>arations to encam> for the ni2ht.
The$ were %eterans at this ?usiness, as the$ showed ?$ a%oidin2 such a
cons>icuous >osition as the$ then occu>ied. The flash of a cam>4fire
on the mountain4to> would ha%e ?een seen for man$ miles o%er the
wilderness, and thou2h the$ had disco%ered nothin2 of the red4men, $et
it was reasona?le to su>>ose that man$ of them would look out from the
dark recesses at the unwonted s>ectacle and would sus>ect the true
cause.
"nd so, from a >rudent ha?it the$ had formed, the$ mo%ed down to a
nei2h?orin2 ra%ine, where the$ cam>ed for the ni2ht.
The s>ot was fa%ora?le in e%er$ res>ect, the 2or2e ?ein2 so dee>, and
surrounded ?$ such a dense thicket, that the 2limmer of the cam>4fire
was not likel$ to ?e seen ?$ an$ one, unless he %entured close enou2h
to hear the murmur of the %oices of the hunters as the$ 2athered
to2ether for their e%enin2 meal.
;ear them la$ a tree that had ?een u>rooted ?$ some recent storm, and
which offered the ad%anta2es the hunters could not fail to a>>reciate
at si2ht. The hu2e trunk was used for the rear wall of the cam>, as
it ma$ ?e termed, while lo2s and ?rush were 2athered and >iled on two
sides, lea%in2 the front o>en, where the fire was kindled a2ainst
another lo2. Thus the$ were secured a2ainst an$ chill durin2 the cold
ni2ht, while no wild animal was likel$ to %enture across the ma2ic rin2
of fire, in case he was attracted to the s>ot.
3t was decided not onl$ to make this their restin24>lace for the ni2ht,
?ut their headFuarters durin2 their %isit to Kentuck$.
"ccordin2l$, their cam> was stren2thened, as ma$ ?e said, a roof ?ein2
made more su?stantial than ornamental, ?ut sufficient to kee> out the
rain, and the front was narrowed in, so that no matter how sudden or
%iolent the chan2es of weather, the$ were well >rotected a2ainst them.
Their 2reatest safe2uard, howe%er, la$ in their own hard$ constitutions
and ru22ed health, which the$ had acFuired from their acti%e out4door
life lon2 ?efore %enturin2 into this wild re2ion.
This %isit to Kentuck$ was e=tended all throu2h the summer and autumn
until the dead of winter, durin2 which time the$ made the cam> in the
2or2e their headFuarters.
The$ had man$ a 2lorious hunt, as ma$ well ?e su>>osed, and it would ?e
unsafe to estimate the num?ers of ?isons, deer, wild turke$s, ?ear and
other s>ecies of 2ame that fell %ictims to the unerrin2 marksmen. 3t
is unnecessar$ to sa$ that the$ li%ed like >rinces, and 2rew stron2er,
sturdier, and more ho>eful. "lthou2h se>arated from their families to
which the$ were tenderl$ attached, there was an indescri?a?le charm
a?out this wild out4door life that rendered the social anno$ances to
which the$ were su?Aected at home all the more distasteful.
The$ felt that if a ?and of worth$ colonists could ?e 2athered, and a
%enture made into Kentuck$, the future was sure to ?e all the$ could
wish.
Be$ond Fuestion, this >reliminar$ %isit to Kentuck$ settled the future
not onl$ of Boone himself, ?ut of others who were associated with him.
3t seems an e=traordinar$ statement to make, and $et it is a fact that,
durin2 that entire summer and autumn and a 2oodl$ >ortion of the winter
which the$ s>ent there, the$ ne%er once saw an 3ndian44the %er$ enem$
which it was to ?e su>>osed the$ would alone dread, and who would ?e
the most certain to molest them.
When it is remem?ered that the 3ndians had made so much trou?le on the
Carolina frontiers, this is all the more remarka?le, until we recollect
that Kentuck$ at that da$, and for $ears after, was re2arded ?$ the
red4men as a sort of neutral huntin2 2round, no >articular tri?e la$in2
claim to it. But it was territor$ into which each >ossessed an eFual
ri2ht to %enture and wa2e deadl$ hand4to4hand encounters44while all
united with an und$in2 enmit$ to dri%e ?ack an$ white man who >resumed
to ste> foot u>on the Dark and Blood$ :round. 3t must ha%e ?een, too,
that the 3ndians scattered throu2h the re2ion were not e=>ectin2 an$
%isitors.
Kentuck$ at that time ?elon2ed to the colon$ of Jir2inia. The
Shawanoes, Cherokees, and Chickasaws freFuentl$ %entured into the
re2ion to hunt, ?ut the 3roFuois had ceded all their claim to the
2rounds to :reat Britain at 9ort Stanwi=, in +0/(, so that it will ?e
understood that Boone and his com>anions were not %enturin2 into 3ndian
territor$ at all, thou2h it is not to ?e su>>osed that an$ estra$
red4men whom the$ mi2ht encounter in their hunts would ?e likel$ to
re2ard the e=act status of the matter.
The hunters >referred not to encounter them at all, ?ut were cautious
in their mo%ements, and B>ut their trust in :od and ke>t their >owder
dr$.B
"ccordin2l$, as we ha%e stated, the$ >rosecuted their huntin2 throu2h
the sultr$ summer months, alternatin2 with storm and sunshine, and
enAo$in2 themsel%es to the fullest ?ent of which such s>irits are
ca>a?le.
"utumn came, cool and in%i2oratin2, and winter with its ?itin2 winds
and >iercin2 cold followed, makin2 the >rimiti%e ca?in in the mountain
2or2e a most in%itin2 s>ot in which to s>end their leisure hours. The$
smoked their >i>es after the e%enin2 meal, and held friendl$ con%erse
as the hours wore on, when the$ stretched out and sle>t throu2h the
solemn stillness, ?roken now and then ?$ the mournful cr$ of some wild
animal, until mornin2 a2ain dawned.
<an$ of the e=cursions which the$ made had led them far into the
interior, and, as ma$ ?e su>>osed, the$ ke>t their e$es and ears o>en.
The$ had not onl$ failed to meet an 3ndian, ?ut failed to catch si2ht
of a wi2wam, or the smoke of a cam>4fire other than their ownE so
that, as we ha%e re>eated, the$ were Austified, if an$ one could ha%e
?een, in ?elie%in2 that the last >eril to which the$ were likel$ to ?e
e=>osed, was that from red4men.
"nd $et it was >recisel$ that dan2er which was im>endin2 o%er them, and
which descended when it was least e=>ected.
CH"PT#& 3J.
Boone and Stuart start out on a Hunt44Ca>tured ?$ 3ndians
and Disarmed44StuartIs Des>air and BooneIs Ho>e44" WeekIs
Ca>ti%it$44The #%entful ;i2ht.
!n the mornin2 of Decem?er )), +0/K, Daniel Boone and his friend 'ohn
Stuart left cam>, and started out on a hunt.
3t was the shortest da$ in the $ear, so it is to ?e su>>osed that the$
were desirous of im>ro%in2 it to the utmost, althou2h the$ had ?ecome
so accustomed to such e=cursions, that there was no s>ecial e=>ectation
e=cited ?$ their %enturin2 forth to2ether for a hunt throu2h the woods.
#=>erienced as the$ were in woodcraft, the$ saw nothin2 to cause the
sli2htest mis2i%in2s. Their keen e$es, as the$ roamed around the
horion, detected no faint wreath of smoke stealin2 u>ward throu2h
the tree4to>s, tellin2 where the cam> of the treacherous Shawanoe was
kindledE the listenin2 ear detected no skillfull$ dis2uised ?ird4call
trem?lin2 on the cris> air to warn them of the wil$ red4man skulkin2
throu2h the cane, and waitin2 until the$ should come within reach of
their ?ow or rifle.
"fter lea%in2 cam>, the friends followed one of the numerous B?uffalo
>athsB throu2h the cane, and in a few minutes were out of si2ht of
their comrades left ?ehind. The air was keen and in%i2oratin2, and
the$ tra%eled carelessl$ alon2, admirin2 the s>lendid 2rowth of the
tim?er and cane, showin2 what an unsur>assed soil awaited the >ioneers
who should settle in these %alle$s, and turn u> the sod for the seed of
the har%est.
Where the 2ame was so >lentiful, there was no likelihood of the hunters
sufferin2 from lack of food. The ?uffaloes were so numerous that the$
were a?le to a>>roach the dro%es close enou2h to reach them with the
toss of a stone.
Stuart and Boone enAo$ed themsel%es, as the$ had done on man$ a da$
?efore, until the declinin2 sun warned them that it was time to turn
their faces toward cam>, if the$ e=>ected to s>end the ni2ht with their
friends in the rude ?ut comforta?le ca?in.
The$ did so, and the sun had not $et 2one down ?ehind the line of
western forest, when the$ reached a small hill near the Kentuck$ &i%er,
and ?e2an leisurel$ mo%in2 to the to>.
3t was at this Auncture, that a >art$ of 3ndians suddenl$ s>ran2 u>
from the cane?rake and rushed u>on them with such fierceness that
esca>e was out of the Fuestion. 3t was not often that Daniel Boone was
cau2ht at disad%anta2e, ?ut in this instance he was totall$ outwitted,
and it looked for the moment as if he and his com>anion had walked
directl$ into a tra> set for them.
The >ioneers were too >rudent to attem>t an$thin2 in the nature of
resistance when the result could ?ut ?e their almost instant death,
for the 3ndians outnum?ered them fi%e to one, were fleet as deer, and
understood all the turnin2s and windin2s of the forest. "ccordin2l$,
Boone and Stuart Fuietl$ surrendered, ho>in2 for the ?est, ?ut
e=>ectin2 the worst.
"s mi2ht ?e su>>osed, the 3ndians disarmed the hunters, and made them
>risoners at once. Stuart was terri?l$ alarmed, for he could not see
the sli2htest 2round for ho>e, ?ut Boone, who >ossessed a most eFua?le
tem>erament, told him to kee> u> heart.
B"s the$ ha%enIt killed us,B said the >ioneer, Bit shows the$ intend to
s>are us for a time, at least.B
B!nl$ to torture us to death hereafter,B thou2ht his terrified
com>anion.
B3 donIt dou?t that such are their intentions, ?ut ?etween now and the
time, we ma$ find our chance. Be o?edient and watchful44doin2 nothin2
to >ro%oke them, ?ut ?e read$ when the ri2ht minute comes.B
This was 2ood ad%ice, and Stuart was sensi?le enou2h to follow it in
s>irit and letter.
3t mi2ht ha%e ?een e=>ected that if a cou>le of hunters intended to
strike a ?low for li?ert$, the$ would do so >rett$ soon after their
ca>ture44that is, as soon as the darkness of ni2ht was in their
fa%or44?ut it was onl$ characteristic of Boone that a full week >assed
?efore he made the first attem>t to esca>e.
Durin2 those se%en da$s the$ could not fail to catch 2lim>ses, as it
were, of freedom, and to ?e tem>ted to make a des>erate dash, for man$
a time it is the %er$ ?oldness of such efforts that succeeds.
But Boone ne%er lost his >rudence of mind, which ena?led him to a?ide
his time. Stuart, too, acted as he su22ested, and the$ %er$ effectuall$
concealed their ea2erness to esca>e.
Howe%er, it was not to ?e e=>ected that the 3ndians would ?e careless
enou2h to allow them to 2et awa$, and the$ maintained a most %i2ilant
watch u>on them at all hours of the da$ and ni2ht. When tram>in2
throu2h the wilderness or in cam>, when huntin2, or sittin2 around the
smokin2 lo2s, the sus>icious red4men were near them. When the hour
came to slee>, the >risoners were >laced so as to ?e surrounded, while
a stron2 and %i2ilant 2uard was a>>ointed to watch o%er them until
da$li2ht.
Boone and Stuart affected Fuite successfull$ an indifference to their
situation, and, inasmuch as the$ had not sou2ht to take ad%anta2e of
what mi2ht ha%e ?een intended as tra>s in the wa$ of o>>ortunities to
2et awa$, it was onl$ natural for the ca>tors to conclude that the
white men were willin2 to s>end an indefinite time with them.
What the ultimate intentions of these 3ndians were, can onl$ ?e
conAectured, for the$ were a lon2 distance from their lod2es, ?ut those
who %entured u>on huntin2 e=cursions within the Dark and Blood$ :round
were of the fiercest nature, and as merciless as Ben2al ti2ers, as the$
>ro%ed in man$ a des>erate encounter with the settlersE and it is no
more than reasona?le to su>>ose that the$ meant in the end to ?urn them
at the stake, while the$ danced a?out the scene with fiendish 2lee,
Aust as the$ did a few $ears later with Colonel Crawford and other
>risoners who fell into their hands.
"t last the week ended, and at the close of the se%enth da$, the
3ndians encam>ed in a thick cane?rake. The$ had ?een huntin2 since
mornin2, and no o>>ortunit$ >resented that satisfied Boone, ?ut he
thou2ht the time was close at hand when their fate was to ?e decided.
The lon24continued indifference as shown ?$ him and his com>anion had
>roduced its natural effect u>on the 3ndians, who showed less %i2ilance
than at first.
But the$ knew ?etter than to in%ite an$thin2 like that which was reall$
contem>lated, and, when the ni2ht was ad%anced, the maAorit$ of the
warriors stretched out u>on the 2round in their ?lankets, with their
feet toward the fire.
3t had ?een a se%ere da$ with all of them, and the watchful Boone
noticed that the 2uard a>>ointed o%er him and his com>anion were drows$
and inattenti%e, while maintainin2 a sem?lance of >erformin2 their dut$.
B3t must ?e done to4ni2ht,B was the conclusion of the >ioneer, who was
sure the si2ns were not likel$ to ?e more >ro>itious.
He la$ down and >retended slum?er, ?ut did not slee> a wink: his
thou2hts were fi=ed too intentl$ u>on the all4im>ortant ste> he had
resol%ed must ?e taken then or ne%er, and he la$ thus, stretched out
at full len2th ?efore the hostile cam>4fire, >atientl$ awaitin2 the
critical moment.
CH"PT#& J.
The #sca>e44The Hunters find the Cam> Deserted44Chan2e of
Luarters44Boone and Kenton44Welcome Jisitors44;ews from Home443n
5nion there is Stren2th44Death of Stuart44SFuire Boone returns to
;orth Carolina for "mmunition44"lone in the Wilderness44Dan2er on
#%er$ Hand44&eAoined ?$ his Brother44Huntin2 alon2 the Cum?erland
&i%er44Homeward Bound44"rri%al in ;orth Carolina44"narch$ and
Distress44Boone remains there Two Gears44"ttention directed towards
Kentuck$44:eor2e Washin2ton44Boone >re>ared to mo%e Westward.
3t was near midni2ht when, ha%in2 satisfied himself that e%er$ warrior,
includin2 the 2uard, was sound aslee>, Boone cautiousl$ raised his head
and looked towards Stuart.
But he was as sound aslee> as the 3ndians themsel%es, and it was a
difficult and dan2erous matter to awaken him, for the 3ndian slee>s as
li2htl$ as the watchin2 lioness. The sli2htest incautious mo%ement or
mutterin2 on the >art of the man would ?e sure to rouse their ca>tors.
But Boone mana2ed to tell his com>anion the situation, and the two with
infinite care and caution succeeded in 2raduall$ e=tricatin2 themsel%es
from the rin2 of drows$ warriors.
B<ake not the sli2htest noise,B whis>ered Boone, >lacin2 his mouth
close to the ear of Stuart, who scarcel$ needed the caution.
The cam>4fire had sunk low, and the dim li2ht thrown out ?$ the
smoulderin2 lo2s cast 2rotesFue shadows of the two crouchin2 fi2ures as
the$ mo%ed off with the noiselessness of >hantoms. Ha%in2 2ained such
immense ad%anta2e at the %er$ ?e2innin2, neither was the one to throw
it awa$, and Stuart followed the instructions of his com>anion to the
letter.
The forms of the 3ndians in their >icturesFue >ositions remained
motionless, and it need hardl$ ?e said that at the end of a few
minutes, which seemed ten times lon2er than the$ were, the two >ioneers
were outside the cam>, and stood to2ether ?eneath the dense shadows of
the trees.
3t was a clear, starlit ni2ht, and the hunters used the twinklin2 or?s
and the ?arks of the trees to 2uide them in determinin2 the direction
of their cam>, towards which the$ >ushed to the utmost, for ha%in2 ?een
2one so lon2, the$ were naturall$ an=ious to learn how their friends
had fared while the$ were awa$.
Boone and Stuart scarcel$ halted durin2 the darkness, and when the sun
rose, were in a >ortion of the countr$ which the$ easil$ reco2nied as
at no 2reat distance from the 2or2e in which the$ had erected their
ca?in more than si= months ?efore.
The$ >ressed on with renewed ener2$, and a few hours later reached the
cam>, which to their astonishment the$ found deserted. The su>>osition
was that the hunters had 2rown tired or homesick and had 2one home,
thou2h there is no certaint$ as to whether the$ were not all slain ?$
the 3ndians, who seem to ha%e roused themsel%es to the dan2er from the
encroachments of the whites u>on their huntin242rounds.
3t was a 2reat disa>>ointment to Boone and Stuart to find themsel%es
alone, ?ut the$ determined to sta$ where the$ were some time lon2er,
e%en thou2h their su>>l$ of ammunition was runnin2 low, and ?oth were
an=ious to hear from home.
The certaint$ that the 3ndians were in the section a?out them, as the
friends had learned from dear e=>erience, rendered it necessar$ to
e=ercise the utmost caution, for, if the$ should fall into their hands
a2ain, the$ could not ho>e for such a fortunate deli%erance.
3nstead of usin2 the headFuarters esta?lished so lon2 ?efore, the$
mo%ed a?out, selectin2 the most secret >laces so as to a%oid disco%er$,
while the$ were constantl$ on the alert throu2h the da$.
But ?oth were masters of woodcraft, and Boone >ro?a?l$ had no su>erior
in the lore of the woods. 3t is said of him that, some $ears later, he
and the 2reat Simon Kenton reached a ri%er from o>>osite directions at
the same moment, and simultaneousl$ disco%ered, when a?out to cross,
that a stran2er was on the other side.
;either could know of a certaint$ whether he confronted a friend or
enem$, thou2h the su>>osition was that he was hostile, in which e%ent
the sli2htest ad%anta2e 2ained ?$ one was certain to ?e fatal to the
other.
3mmediatel$ the two hunters ?e2an maneu%erin2, like a cou>le of
s>arrers, to disco%er an un2uarded >oint which would ?etra$ the truth.
3t was earl$ mornin2 when this e=traordinar$ duel o>ened, and it was
ke>t steadil$ u> the entire da$. 'ust at ni2htfall the two intimate
friends succeeded in identif$in2 each other.
" man with such #sFuimau4like >atience, and such mar%elous in2enuit$
and skill, was sure to take the ?est care of himself, and durin2 the
few da$s of huntin2 which followed, he and Stuart ke>t clear of all
Bentan2lin2 alliances,B and did not e=chan2e a hostile shot with the
red4men.
3n the month of 'anuar$, the$ were huntin2 in the woods, when the$
cau2ht si2ht of two hunters in the distance amon2 the trees. Boone
called out:
BHallo, stran2ersH who are $ouQB
BWhite men and friends,B was the astonishin2 answer.
The >arties now hastened towards each other, and what was the amaement
and ha>>iness of the >ioneers to find that one of the men was SFuire
Boone, the $oun2er ?rother of Daniel, accom>anied ?$ a nei2h?or from
his home on the far4off Gadkin.
The$ had set out to learn the fate of the huntin2 >art$ that left ;orth
Carolina earl$ in the s>rin2, and that had now ?een so lon2 a?sent that
their friends feared the worst, and had sent the two to learn what had
?ecome of them, Aust as in these later da$s we send an e=>edition to
disco%er the ;orth Pole, and then wait a little while and send another
to disco%er the e=>edition.
;o one could ha%e ?een more welcome to the two >ioneers, for the$
?rou2ht not onl$ a >lentiful su>>l$ of ammunition, ?ut, what was ?est
of all, full tidin2s of the dear ones at home.
SFuire Boone and his com>anion had found the last encam>ment of their
friends the ni2ht ?efore, so the$ were e=>ectin2 to meet them, thou2h
not entirel$ relie%ed of their an=iet$ until the$ saw each other.
3t can ?e ima2ined with what deli2ht the four men 2athered around
their carefull$ 2uarded cam>4fire that e%enin2, and talked of home
and friends, and listened to and told the news and 2ossi> of the
nei2h?orhood, where all their most lo%in2 associations clustered. 3t
must ha%e ?een a late hour when the$ la$ down to slee>, and Daniel
Boone and Stuart that ni2ht could not fail to dream of their friends on
the ?anks of the distant Gadkin.
The stren2th of the >art$ was dou?led, for there were now four skillful
hunters, and the$ had >lent$ of ammunition, so it was decided to sta$
where the$ were some months lon2er.
3t seems stran2e that the$ should not ha%e acted u>on the >rinci>le
that in union there is stren2th, for instead of huntin2 to2ether, the$
di%ided in cou>les. This ma$ ha%e offered ?etter >ros>ects in the
wa$ of securin2 2ame, ?ut it e=>osed them to 2reater dan2er, and a
fri2htful tra2ed$ soon resulted.
Boone and Stuart were huntin2 in com>an$, when the$ were suddenl$
fired into ?$ a >art$ of 3ndians, and Stuart dro>>ed dead. Boone was
not struck, and he dashed like a deer into the forest. Castin2 one
terrified 2lance o%er his shoulder, he saw >oor Stuart scal>ed as soon
as he fell to the earth, >ierced throu2h the heart ?$ the fatal ?ullet.
This left ?ut three of them, and that fearfull$ small num?er was
soon reduced to two. The hunter who came from ;orth Carolina with
SFuire Boone was lost in the woods, and did not return to cam>. The
?rothers made a lon2 and careful search, si2nalin2 and usin2 e%er$
means >ossi?le to find him, ?ut there was no res>onse, and des>airin2
and sorrowful the$ were o?li2ed to 2i%e o%er the hunt. He was ne%er
seen a2ain. Gears afterward the disco%er$ of a skeleton in the woods
was ?elie%ed to indicate his fate. 3t is more than >ro?a?le that the
stealth$ shot of some treacherous 3ndian, hidden in the cane?rake, had
closed the career of the man as that of Stuart was ended.
The su?seFuent action of Boone was as characteristic as it was
remarka?le. 3t is hard to ima2ine a >erson, >laced in the situation of
the two, who would not ha%e made all haste to return to his homeE and
this would ?e e=>ected, es>eciall$, of the elder ?rother, who had ?een
a?sent full$ si= months lon2er than the other.
"nd $et he did e=actl$ the o>>osite. He had fallen in lo%e with the
enchantments of the 2reat Kentuck$ wilderness, with its streams, ri%ers
and rich soil, and its ?oundless 2ame, and he concluded to sta$ where
he was, while SFuire made the lon2 Aourne$ ?ack to ;orth Carolina for
more ammunition.
Daniel reasoned that when SFuire reAoined his famil$ and acFuainted
them with his own safet$, and assured the wife and children that all
was 2oin2 well with him, the 2reat load of an=iet$ would ?e lifted from
their minds, and the$ would ?e content to allow the two to make a still
more e=tended acFuaintance with the >eerless land ?e$ond the Cum?erland
mountains.
"ccordin2l$ SFuire set out for his home, and it should ?e ?orne in mind
that his Aourne$ was attended ?$ as much dan2er as was the residence of
the elder ?rother in Kentuck$, for he was in >eril from 3ndians all the
wa$.
Daniel Boone was now left entirel$ alone in the %ast forests, with
2ame, wild ?easts and ferocious 3ndians, while his onl$ friend and
relati%e was dail$ increasin2 the distance ?etween them, as he
Aourne$ed toward the #ast.
3ma2ination must ?e left to >icture the life of this com>arati%el$
$oun2 man durin2 the three months of his ?rotherIs a?sence. Boone was
attached to his famil$, and $et he chose deli?eratel$ to sta$ where he
was, rather than accom>an$ his ?rother on his %isit to his home.
But he had little time to s>end in 2loom$ retros>ection or
a>>rehensions, for there were >lent$ of 3ndians in the woods, and the$
were continuall$ lookin2 for him.
He chan2ed his cam> freFuentl$, and more than once when he la$ hidden
in the thick cane and crawled stealthil$ ?ack to where he had s>ent
the >re%ious ni2ht, the >rint of moccasins in the earth told him how
hot the hunt had ?een for him.
3ndian trails were all a?out him, and man$ a time the warriors
attem>ted to track him throu2h the forest and cane?rakes, ?ut the
lithe, acti%e >ioneer was as thorou2h a master of woodcraft as the$,
and he ke>t out of their wa$ with as much skill as Tecumseh himself
e%er showed in eludin2 those who thirsted for his life.
He read the si2ns with the same unerrin2 accurac$ he showed in ?rin2in2
down the wild turke$, or in ?arkin2 the sFuirrel on the to>most lim?.
!ften he la$ in the cane?rake, and heard the si2nals of the 3ndians as
the$ >ushed their search for the white man who, as ma$ ?e said, dared
to def$ them on their own 2round.
Boone could tell from these carefull$ 2uarded calls how dan2erous the
hunt was ?ecomin2, and when he thou2ht the warriors were 2ettin2 too
close to his hidin24>lace, he carefull$ stole out and located somewhere
else until >erha>s the >eril >assed.
There must ha%e ?een times when, stretched ?eneath the trees and
lookin2 u> at the twinklin2 stars, with the murmur of the distant ri%er
or the sou2hin2 of the ni2ht4wind throu2h the ?ranches, his thou2hts
wandered o%er the hundreds of miles of inter%enin2 wilderness to the
hum?le home on the ?ank of the Gadkin, where the lo%ed wife and little
ones looked lon2in2l$ toward the western sun and wondered when the
hus?and and father would come ?ack to them.
"nd $et Boone has said, while admittin2 these 2loom$ moments, when
he was wei2hed down ?$ the dee>est de>ression, that some of the most
enAo$a?le hours of his life were those s>ent in solitude, without a
human ?ein2, e=ce>tin2 a deadl$ enem$, within hail.
The >erils which followed e%er$ ste> under the arches of the trees, ?ut
rendered them the more attracti%e, and the >ioneer determined to remo%e
his famil$, and to make their home in the s$l%an land of enchantment
Aust so soon as he could com>lete the necessar$ arran2ements for doin2
so.
!n the )0th of 'ul$, +00*, SFuire Boone returned and reAoined his
?rother, who was 2lad ?e$ond descri>tion to recei%e him, and to hear so
directl$ from his ?elo%ed home. Durin2 the a?sence of the $oun2er, the
other had e=>lored >rett$ much all of the central >ortion of Kentuck$,
and the result was that he formed a 2reater attachment than e%er for
the new territor$.
When SFuire came ?ack, Daniel said that he deemed it im>rudent to sta$
where the$ were an$ lon2er. The 3ndians were so numerous and %i2ilant
that it seemed im>ossi?le to kee> out of their wa$E accordin2l$ the$
>roceeded to the Cum?erland &i%er, where the$ s>ent the time in huntin2
and e=>loration until the earl$ s>rin2 of +00+.
The$ 2a%e names to numerous streams, and, ha%in2 enAo$ed a most
e=traordinar$ huntin2 Aaunt, were now read$ to 2o ?ack to ;orth
Carolina and reAoin their families.
But the$ set out for their homes with not the sli2htest >ur>ose of
sta$in2 there. The$ had seen too much of the >leasures of the wood,
for either to ?e willin2 to 2i%e them u>. 3n ;orth Carolina there
was the most e=as>eratin2 trou?le. The ta=42atherer was omni>resent
and un?eara?l$ o>>ressi%eE the social lines ?etween the different
classes was drawn as if with a two4ed2ed swordE there were murmurs
and mutterin2s of an2er in e%er$ FuarterE :o%ernor Tr$on, instead of
>acif$in2, was onl$ fannin2 the flamesE ominous si2ns were in the
skies, and anarch$, red war and a>>allin2 disaster seemed to loom u> in
the near future.
What wonder, therefore, that Daniel Boone turned his e$es with a
lon2in2 such as comes o%er the wear$ tra%eler who, after clim?in2 a
>reci>itous mountain, looks ?e$ond and sees the smilin2 %erdure of the
>romised land.
He had determined to emi2rate lon2 ?efore, and he now made what mi2ht
?e called the first mo%e in that direction. He and his ?rother >ushed
steadil$ forward without an$ incident worth notin2, and reached their
homes in ;orth Carolina, where, as ma$ well ?e su>>osed, the$ were
welcomed like those who had risen from the dead. The$ had ?een 2one
man$ months, and in the case of Daniel, two $ears had >assed since he
clas>ed his lo%ed wife and children in his arms.
The nei2h?ors, too, had feared the worst, des>ite the return of SFuire
Boone with the 2ood news of the >ioneer, and the$ were entertained as
were those at court when Colum?us, comin2 ?ack from his first %o$a2e
across the unknown seas, related his mar%elous stories of the new world
?e$ond.
Daniel Boone found his famil$ well, and, as his mind was fi=ed u>on his
future course, he ?e2an his >re>arations for remo%al to Kentuck$.
This was a most im>ortant matter, for there was a 2reat deal to do
?efore the remo%al could ?e effected. 3t was necessar$ to dis>ose of
the little >lace u>on which the$ had li%ed so lon2 and ?estowed so much
la?or, and his wife could not ?e e=>ected to feel enthusiastic o%er the
>ros>ect of ?ur$in2 herself in the wilderness, ?e$ond all thou2ht of
returnin2 to her nati%e State.
Then a2ain Boone was not the one to entertain such a rash scheme as
that of remo%in2 to Kentuck$, without takin2 with him a stron2 com>an$,
a?le to hold its own a2ainst the 3ndians, who were certain to dis>ute
their >ro2ress.
3t is eas$ to understand the work which la$ ?efore Boone, and it ma$ ?e
well ?elie%ed that months >assed without an$ start ?ein2 made, thou2h
the 2reat >ioneer ne%er faltered or wa%ered in his >ur>ose.
<atters were not im>ro%in2 a?out him. The trou?le, distress, and
difficulties ?etween the authorities and the >eo>le were continuall$
a22ra%ated, and the &e%olution was close at hand.
"t the end of two $ears, howe%er, Boone was >re>ared to make the
momentous mo%e, and it was done. The farm on the Gadkin was sold, and
he had 2athered to2ether a 2oodl$ com>an$ for the >ur>ose of formin2
the first real settlement in Kentuck$.
Durin2 the few $ears immediatel$ >recedin2, the territor$ was %isited
?$ other hunters, while Boone himself was alone in the solitude. "
com>an$ num?erin2 fort$, and led ?$ Colonel 'ames Kno=, 2athered for
a 2rand ?uffalo hunt in the %alle$s of the Clinch, ;ew &i%er, and
Holston. " num?er of them skirted alon2 the ?orders of Tennessee and
Kentuck$.
While the$ were thus en2a2ed, others >enetrated the %alle$s from
Jir2inia and Penns$l%ania, and amon2 them was a $oun2 man named :eor2e
Washin2ton.
"s is well known, his attention had ?een directed some time ?efore
to the lands alon2 the !hio, and he owned a num?er of lar2e claims.
He clearl$ foresaw the teemin2 future of the %ast West, and he was
es>eciall$ desirous of informin2 himself concernin2 the lands l$in2 in
the nei2h?orhood of the mouth of the Kanawha.
"t that >articular date, the Jir2inians were con%er2in2 toward the
countr$ south of the ri%er, and there were man$ difficulties with
the 3ndians, who then as now are read$ to resist entrance u>on
their huntin242rounds, e%en thou2h the immi2rants are ?acked ?$ the
sti>ulations of a recentl$ si2ned treat$.
CH"PT#& J3.
Lea%in2 ;orth Carolina44'oined ?$ a Lar2e Com>an$ at PowellIs
Jalle$44:lowin2 "ntici>ations44"ttacked ?$ 3ndians in Cum?erland
:a>44Daniel BooneIs #ldest Son Killed44Discoura2ement44&eturn
to Clinch &i%er Settlement44The Check Pro%idential44Boone acts
as a :uide to a Part$ of Sur%e$ors44Commissioned Ca>tain ?$
:o%ernor Dunmore, and takes command of Three :arrisons44Battle of
Point Pleasant44"ttends the makin2 of a Treat$ with the 3ndians
at Wata2a44#m>lo$ed ?$ Colonel &ichard Henderson44Kentuck$
claimed ?$ the Cherokees44'ames Harrod44The 9irst Settlement
in Kentuck$44Boone leads a Com>an$ into Kentuck$44"ttacked
?$ 3ndians44#rection of the 9ort at Boones?orou2h44Colonel
&ichard Henderson takes Possession of Kentuck$44The &e>u?lic of
Trans$l%ania44His Scheme recei%es its Death4?low44Perils of the
9rontier44" Permanent Settlement made on Kentuck$ Soil.
!n the )Oth of Se>tem?er, +00,, Daniel Boone and his famil$ started to
make their settlement in Kentuck$.
He had as his com>an$ his ?rother SFuire, who had s>ent se%eral months
with him in the wilderness, and the$ took with them Fuite a num?er of
cattle and swine with which to stock their farms when the$ should reach
their destination, while their lu22a2e was carried on >ack4horses.
"t PowellIs Jalle$, not %er$ far distant, the$ were Aoined ?$ another
>art$, num?erin2 fi%e families and fort$ a?le4?odied men, all armed and
>ro%ided with >lent$ of ammunition. This made the force a formida?le
one, and the$ >ushed on in hi2h s>irits.
When ni2ht came the$ im>ro%ised tents with >oles and their ?lankets,
and the a?undance of 2ame around them remo%ed all dan2er of sufferin2
from the lack of food, for it was ?ut s>ort to ?rin2 down enou2h of it
to kee> the entire com>an$ well su>>lied.
The e=>erience of the Boones, when the$ >assed throu2h this re2ion
>re%iousl$, tau2ht them to ?e on their 2uard constantl$, for the most
likel$ time for the 3ndians to come is when the$ are least e=>ected,
and the leaders saw to it that no >recaution was ne2lected.
"nd $et it is eas$ to see that such a lar2e com>an$, mo%in2 slowl$, and
encum?ered ?$ women and children and so much lu22a2e and li%e4stock,
was >eculiarl$ e=>osed to dan2er from the dreaded 3ndians.
!n the +*th of !cto?er the$ a>>roached Cum?erland :a>. The cattle had
fallen to the rear, where the$ were >loddin2 leisurel$ alon2, with
se%eral miles se>aratin2 them from their friends in front, when the
latter suddenl$ heard the re>orts of 2uns comin2 to them throu2h the
woods. The$ instantl$ >aused and, lookin2 in each otherIs >ale faces,
listened.
There could ?e no mistakin2 their meanin2, for the re>orts were from
the direction of the cattle in the rear, and the shouts and whoo>s came
from the ?raen throats of 3ndians, who had attacked the weak 2uard of
the li%e4stock.
Boone and his friends, lea%in2 a sufficient 2uard for the women and
children, hurried ?ack to the assistance of the $oun2 men, who were in
such imminent >eril.
There was sore need of their hel> indeed, for the attack, like the
2eneralit$ of those made ?$ 3ndians, was sudden, une=>ected, and of
deadl$ fierceness. When the >antin2 hunters reached the s>ot, the$
found the cattle had ?een stam>eded and scattered irreco%era?l$ in the
woods, while of the se%en men who had the kine in char2e, onl$ one
esca>ed ali%e, and he was ?adl$ wounded.
"mon2 the si= who la$ stretched in death, was the oldest son of Daniel
Boone, slain, as ma$ ?e said, Aust as he was a?out enterin2 u>on the
>romised land.
The disaster was an a>>allin2 one, and it s>read 2loom and sorrow amon2
the emi2rants, who mi2ht well ask themsel%es whether, if the$ were
forced to run the 2auntlet in that fearful fashion, the$ would ?e a?le
to hold their own if s>ared to reach Kentuck$Q
" council was called, and the Fuestion was discussed most seriousl$.
Daniel Boone, who had suffered such an affliction in the loss of his
child, strenuousl$ fa%ored >ushin2 on, as did his ?rother and a num?er
of the other emi2rants, ?ut the maAorit$ were disheartened ?$ the
disaster, and insisted on 2oin2 ?ack to their homes, where, thou2h the
anno$ances mi2ht ?e man$, no such calamit$ was to ?e dreaded.
The sentiment for return was so stron2 that the Boones were com>elled
to $ield, and turnin2 a?out, the$ made their wa$ slowl$ and sadl$
to Clinch &i%er settlement, in the southwestern >art of Jir2inia,
a distance of >erha>s fort$ miles from where the$ were attacked ?$
3ndians.
3t would ?e difficult to look u>on this occurrence in an$ other li2ht
than a most serious check and misfortune, as certainl$ was the case, so
far as the loss of the half doen men was concerned, ?ut the turnin2
?ack of the rest of the >art$ was unFuestiona?l$ a >ro%idential thin2.
3t was a short time >re%ious to this, that the historical Lo2an e>isode
took >lace. The famil$ of that noted chief and orator were massacred,
and the fierce Dunmore War was the conseFuence. This was im>endin2 at
the %er$ time Boone and the others were Aourne$in2 toward Kentuck$, and
?reakin2 out shortl$ afterwards, e=tended to the %er$ section in which
the emi2rants e=>ected to settle, and where in all >ro?a?ilit$ the$
would ha%e suffered much more se%erel$ had the$ not turned ?ack for the
time.
;othin2 could chan2e the >ur>ose of Boone to enter into Kentuck$, and
to make his home there. "lthou2h o?li2ed from the sentiment of his
friends to withdraw for a time, he looked u>on the check as onl$ a
tem>orar$ one, and was confident that ?efore lon2 he would ?e firml$
fi=ed in what he called the Bland of >romise.B
Boone was not to ?e an idle s>ectator of the famous Dunmore War 2oin2
on around him. 3n the month of 'une, +00,, he and <ichael Stoner were
reFuested ?$ :o%ernor Dunmore of Jir2inia to 2o to the falls of
the !hio, for the >ur>ose of 2uidin2 into the settlement a >art$ of
sur%e$ors, sent out some months ?efore.
Boone and his friend >rom>tl$ com>lied, and conducted the sur%e$ors
throu2h the difficult and dan2erous section without accident,
com>letin2 a tour of ei2ht hundred miles in a cou>le of months.
Shortl$ afterward Boone reAoined his famil$ on Clinch ri%er, and was
there when :o%ernor Dunmore sent him a commission as ca>tain, and
ordered him to take command of three conti2uous 2arrisons on the
frontier, durin2 the >rosecution of the war a2ainst the 3ndians.
Boone, who had >ro%en his coolness and intre>idit$ man$ a time, was
eFuall$ >rom>t in dischar2in2 the res>onsi?le dut$ with which the
2o%ernor honored him. 3t is ?elie%ed that the >ioneer was >resent at
the famous ?attle of Point Pleasant, which >erha>s was the most furious
contest e%er wa2ed with the 3ndians on Jir2inia soil.
The Shawanoes, Delawares, <in2oes, W$andots and Ca$u2as, to the num?er
of +O**, and under the leadershi> of such famous chiefs as Lo2an,
Cornstock, #leni>sico, &ed4#a2le and others, made a fi2ht a2ainst
:eneral Lewis and his ?ra%e Jir2inians, not onl$ with ?ra%er$, ?ut with
a skill which came within a hairIs4?readth of annihilatin2 the entire
force of whites as utterl$ as was that of :eneral Custer more than a
centur$ later.
9inall$, howe%er, the san2uinar$ fi2ht terminated in fa%or of the
Jir2inians, ?$ a skillful maneu%re at the >ro>er moment, and the
sa%a2es were com>letel$ routed. ;ot lon2 afterward a treat$ of >eace
was made in which the 3ndians surrendered all claim to Kentuck$. "s the
Si= ;ations had done the same si= $ears ?efore, it ma$ ?e said that all
the a?ori2inal title to Kentuck$ was e=tin2uished when Boone settled
there.
DunmoreIs War ha%in2 terminated with the utter o%erthrow of the
com?ined tri?es, the militia that had ?een called into ser%ice were
dischar2ed, and Boone returned to his famil$ on Clinch &i%er.
He had alread$ ?ecome known as a hunter and e=>lorer >ossessin2 2reat
darin2 and shrewdness, and those were the da$s when such men were
needed in wrestin2 the Western wilderness from the 2ras> of the wild
3ndian, who was sure to fi2ht the ad%ancin2 hosts of ci%iliation with
the treacherous fierceness which the ?ar?arian alwa$s dis>la$s in
defendin2 its $oun2.
Boone, therefore, had ?een home ?ut a short time, when he recei%ed a
reFuest from a com>an$ of ;orth Carolinians, who >ro>osed >urchasin2
a lar2e tract of land l$in2 to the south of Kentuck$ &i%er from the
Cherokee 3ndians, to attend their treat$ to ?e held at Wata2a in
<arch, +00O, with a %iew of ne2otiatin2 with them, and determinin2 the
?oundaries of the >urchase.
This association was known as Colonel &ichard HendersonIs Com>an$, and
it was one of the most e=traordinar$ that was en2a2ed at an$ time in
o>enin2 u> our Western territor$.
When the Boones returned from their first %isit to Kentuck$, it is
scarcel$ necessar$ to sa$ that the$ 2a%e 2lowin2 descri>tions of its
wonderful attracti%eness for the hunter and settler. These accounts
s>read o%er ;orth Carolina and created 2reat e=citement, one of the
direct results ?ein2 the formation of Colonel HendersonIs Com>an$. The
ori2inator was a man of education, wealth and ener2$, and he dis>la$ed
such a?ilit$ and darin2 in its mana2ement, that he fri2htened off most
of his ri%als, or led them to enlist under his ?anner.
"t that time the entire countr$ l$in2 within the natural lines formed
?$ the !hio, Kentuck$ and Cum?erland ri%ers was claimed ?$ the Cherokee
3ndians, who li%ed within the ?oundaries of ;orth Carolina. Pre%iousl$,
howe%er, Jir2inia had 2i%en an im>etus to the e=>loration and ad%enture
in Kentuck$, ?$ >resentin2 to her officers and soldiers Western lands
?$ wa$ of ?ounties for their ser%ices in the British arm$, in the old
war ?etween 9rance and #n2land. 3t was reFuired that these lands should
?e sur%e$ed ?$ the claimants, who were also 2i%en a lar2e discretion in
locatin2 their claims.
The first of these was made u>on the Kanawha in the $ear +00), and the
second was on the south side of the !hio the followin2 $ear.
The ?usiness ha%in2 ?e2un it was >ressed %i2orousl$ forward. #=tensi%e
tracts were sur%e$ed on the north fork of the Lickin2 and numerous salt
licks, and other es>eciall$ desira?le s>ots were taken u>.
The $ear +00, was nota?le for arri%als in Kentuck$ of those who were
entitled to lands, ?esides scores of others who went to indul2e in
s>eculation, and to secure the most %alua?le sections ?efore the$ could
?e taken ?$ others.
"mon2 those darin2 e=>lorers and hunters was 'ames Harrod, at the head
of a >art$ of Kentuckians from the shores of the <onon2ahela. The$
followed the Kentuck$ &i%er into the interior, and left it at a >lace
afterwards known as BHarrodIs Landin2.B <o%in2 further westward the$
located themsel%es in a ?eautiful and attracti%e section, where the$
erected the first lo24ca?in e%er ?uilt in Kentuck$.
This was near the >resent town of Harrods?ur2, in the s>rin2 of +00,,
and this >lace, therefore, ma$ claim to ?e the oldest settlement in
Kentuck$. Harrods?ur2 is now the ca>ital of <ercer count$, and is
thirt$ miles south of 9rankfort, with a >o>ulation of a?out ),O**. 3t
is an attracti%e summer retreat, and enAo$s a fine re>utation for its
mineral waters.
"s we ha%e stated, the most remarka?le of the man$ associations formed
for the settlement of Kentuck$ was that or2anied ?$ Colonel &ichard
Henderson of ;orth Carolina.
3t was intended to o?tain ?$ >urchase from the Cherokee 3ndians their
ri2ht to the same, and then to take >ossession of the immense area.
"s soon as the or2aniation of the com>an$ was effected, Daniel Boone
was fi=ed u>on to conduct the ne2otiations with the Cherokees. "s
mi2ht ha%e ?een antici>ated, he met with >erfect success, and Colonel
Henderson went to Wata2a, a small >lace on the Holston &i%er, where,
in solemn council, on the +0th of <arch, +00O, he deli%ered to them a
consideration in merchandise, for which he recei%ed in return a deed to
Kentuck$, si2ned ?$ all the leadin2 chiefs.
This was a most im>ortant ste> indeed, ?ut another of no less
im>ortance remained to ?e taken, and that was to assume >ossession of
the territor$ claimed ?$ Colonel Henderson.
This 2entleman was too ener2etic and clear4si2hted to dela$ such a
necessar$ measure, and his wisdom was further shown ?$ fi=in2 u>on
Ca>tain Daniel Boone for the carr$in2 out of his intentions.
" small com>an$ of ?ra%e and trustworth$ men were at once selected, who
were sent to Kentuck$ under the direction of Boone, with instructions
to o>en a road from the Holston to the Kentuck$ &i%er, and to erect a
station at the mouth of !tter Creek, on the latter stream.
This was serious ?usiness, and none a>>reciated it more than Boone
and his com>anions, who knew that the treat$ si2ned with the chiefs
would not afford them the sli2htest >rotection a2ainst the treacherous
3ndians. The$ >roceeded with the 2reatest care and caution, kee>in2
their most %i2ilant sentinels on the lookout at ni2ht, while e%er$ man,
it ma$ ?e said, was on 2uard throu2h the da$.
The$ >ushed steadil$ forward, until the$ reached a >oint a?out fifteen
miles from where Boones?orou2h stands, usin2 all the dis>atch >ossi?le,
and esca>in2 molestation u> to that time. But at the >lace named,
the$ were suddenl$ fired u>on ?$ 3ndians, who, s>rin2in2 u> from
their am?ush, attacked them with 2reat ferocit$. Two of the whites
were killed and two wounded, ?ut the$ re>ulsed their assailants a few
minutes later.
Boone and his friends lost no time in >ressin2 aheadE ?ut three
da$s later, the$ were fired u>on ?$ 3ndians a2ain, and two of their
num?er were killed and three wounded. Well mi2ht Kentuck$ ?e named
the Dark and Blood$ :round, for its soil has ?een crimsoned with the
life4current of its earliest >ioneers, from the %er$ hour the$ first
>laced foot within its ?orders.
The settlers, howe%er, had no thou2ht of turnin2 ?ack, ?ut fou2ht their
wa$, as ma$ ?e said, to the Kentuck$ &i%er, which the$ reached on the
+st of ">ril, +00O, and ?e2an the erection of the fort of Boones?orou2h
at a salt lick, a?out two hundred feet from the south ?ank of the ri%er.
" few da$s later, the 3ndians shot one of the men, ?ut the others
>aused in their work onl$ lon2 enou2h to 2i%e their late comrade a
res>ectful ?urial, and to shed a few tears of s$m>ath$ o%er his loss,
when the$ resumed cuttin2 and hewin2 the lo2s and >lacin2 them in
>osition.
The$ continued steadil$ at work, and the fort was finished ?$ the
middle of 'une followin2, when, ha%in2 satisfactoril$ dischar2ed his
dut$, Boone returned to his famil$ at the Clinch &i%er settlement.
Kentuck$ was formall$ taken >ossession of on the )*th of ">ril, +00O,
which, it ma$ ?e stated, was on the %er$ da$ that Colonel &ichard
Henderson reached the a2e of fort$ $ears, there ?ein2 a?out two months
difference ?etween his a2e and that of Daniel Boone.
Henderson was a nati%e Jir2inian, who had ?een a Aud2e in the Su>erior
Court of the Colonial :o%ernment of ;orth CarolinaE ?ut the halls of
Austice were shut u> ?$ the anarch$ occasioned ?$ the &e2ulators, and
he en2a2ed a num?er of the most influential of ;orth Carolinians in
the 5to>ian scheme of foundin2 the &e>u?lic of Trans$l%ania. 3t was
with this 2randiloFuent >roAect in their mind, that Kentuck$ was taken
>ossession of on the date named, and e%er$thin2 considered necessar$
was done for la$in2 the foundation stones of the model re>u?lic in the
heart of "merican territor$.
The death4?low of the 2rand scheme was recei%ed ?efore it was fairl$
?orn. :o%ernor <artin of ;orth Carolina issued a >roclamation,
declarin2 the >urchase of the lands ?$ Colonel Henderson and his
association from the Cherokees ille2alE ?ut, as a matter of eFuit$, the
State su?seFuentl$ 2ranted )**,*** acres to the com>an$.
Jir2inia did the same thin2, 2rantin2 them an eFual num?er of acres
?ounded ?$ the !hio and :reen &i%ers. Tennessee claimed this tract,
?ut 2a%e in com>ensation therefor the same num?er of acres in PowellIs
Jalle$. Thus ended the attem>t to found the Trans$l%ania &e>u?lic, ?ut
the ori2inal >roAectors of the mo%ement acFuired indi%idual fortunes,
and Colonel Henderson himself, when he died, ten $ears later, was the
>ossessor of immense wealth, and was lo%ed and res>ected throu2hout the
entire territor$.
The old fort at Boones?orou2h, ?ein2 the first real foothold 2ained ?$
the >ioneers, was sure to ?ecome most >rominentl$ identified with the
3ndian trou?les that were ine%ita?le. 3t was to ?e a ha%en of safet$ to
man$ a settler and his famil$, when the whoo> of the %en2eful Shawanoe
or <iami ran2 throu2h the forest arches, and the shar> crack of the
warriorIs rifle sent the whiin2 ?ullet to the heart of the white man
who had %entured and trusted his all in the wilderness.
3t was to ?e the li2hthouse on the coast of dan2er, warnin2 of the
>eril that la$ around and ?e$ond, ?ut offerin2 >rotection to those who
fled to its rude shelter, as the cities of the olden times recei%ed and
s>read their arms o%er the >antin2 fu2iti%e esca>in2 from his >ursuers.
The old fort was a most nota?le fi2ure in the histor$ of the West, a
hundred $ears a2o. There ha%e ?een 2athered in the structure of lo2s
and sla?s, the ?ra%est men who e%er trailed the red 3ndian throu2h the
wilderness. There those mi2ht$ 2iants of the ?order, Boone, Kenton,
Wells, <IClelland, the Wetel and <c"fee Brothers, <I"rthur, and scores
of others con%er2ed from their lon2 Aourne$in2s in the ser%ice of the
:o%ernmentE and, closin2 a?out the fire, as the$ smoked their >i>es,
the$ told of the hand4to4hand encounter in the silent de>ths of the
woods, of the maneu%erin2 on the ?anks of the lonel$ mountain stream,
of the >anther4like cree>in2 throu2h the cane?rake on the trail of the
3ndian, of the cam>s at ni2ht, when the Shawanoes were so >lentiful
that the$ did not dare close their e$es throu2h fear that their
?reathin2 would ?etra$ them, of the smokin2 ca?in with the mutilated
forms of hus?and, wife, and ?a?e showin2 that the a?ori2inal ti2ers
had ?een there, of the death4shots, the races for life, and the da$s
of >erils which followed the darin2 scout u> to the %er$ stockades of
Boones?orou2h.
Sometimes one of the ran2ers of the wilderness would fail to come into
the fort when e=>ected. There would ?e mutual inFuiries on the >art of
those who had ?een accustomed to meet him. Perha>s some one would sa$
he was scoutin2 for the :o%ernment, ?ut nothin2 would ?e known with
certaint$, and a sus>icion would ?e2in to sha>e itself that he had
Blain down,B ne%er to rise a2ain.
Perha>s some ran2er in threadin2 his wa$ throu2h the lon2 lea2ues of
trackless forests would sto> to cam> from the snow which was whirlin2
and edd$in2 a?out him, while the wintr$ wind moaned and sou2hed throu2h
the swa$in2 ?ranches o%erheadE and ma$ha>, as he cautiousl$ struck
flint and steel in the hidden 2or2e, he saw diml$ outlined in the
2atherin2 2loom the form of a man, shrunk to that of a skeleton, in
which the s>ark of life had ?een e=tin2uished lon2 ?efore.
The ?ullet4hole in the chest, or the cleft made in the skull ?$ the
fiercel$4dri%en tomahawk, showed wh$ it was the scout had ?een missin2
so lon2, and wh$ his cheer$ %oice and rin2in2 lau2h would ne%er ?e
heard a2ain.
Boones?orou2h, as we ha%e stated, stood a?out )** feet from the
Kentuck$ &i%er, one of its an2les restin2 on its ?anks near the water,
and e=tendin2 from it in the form of a >arallelo2ram. The len2th of the
fort, allowin2 twent$ feet for each ca?in and o>enin2, was )/* with
a ?readth of +O* feet. The houses were ?uilt of rou2h lo2s, and were
?ullet>roof. The$ were sFuare in form, one of the ca?ins >roAectin2
from each corner, the remainin2 s>aces alon2 the sides ?ein2 filled
with ca?ins, constructed more with an e$e to stren2th than ?eaut$.
!n the side facin2 the ri%er was a lar2e stron2 2ate mo%in2 on wooden
hin2es, and a similar one was >laced on the o>>osite side.
The ca?ins alon2 the four sides were connected ?$ >ickets, which
consisted of sla?s, shar>ened at one end and dri%en dee> into the
2round. Such forts would ?e of little account in these da$s, ?ut the$
were effecti%e a2ainst the 3ndians who followed such desultor$ warfare,
and who were thus com>elled, as ma$ ?e said, to transfer the ad%anta2e
which the$ naturall$ sou2ht to their enemies.
" frontier fort like Boones?orou2h did not afford that a?solute
>rotection which would allow the 2arrison to lie down and slum?er in
>eace, certain that all dan2er was remo%ed. The 3ndian was wil$ and
catlike ?$ natureE he knew the ad%anta2e of minin2, and took naturall$
to the most insidious methods of warfareE ?ut the whites, if %i2ilant,
were sure to detect such demonstrations, and the$ >ossessed the >ower
to countermine, and defeat an$ and e%er$ mo%ement of the sa%a2es.
Besides this, and a?o%e all, the 2arrison >ossessed a shelter from
which to aim their deadl$ rifles, and the$ mi2ht well scorn the attem>t
of an$ force of warriors that could ?e 2athered to2ether.
The fort with its ca?ins was com>leted in the earl$ summer of +00,,
includin2 also the ca?ins and ?uildin2s intended for the friends and
families who were e=>ected to Aoin them a few months later. Colonel
Henderson and a cou>le of the >ro>rietors %isited the >lace, and 2a%e
it its name in honor of the 2reat >ioneer who had ?uilt it.
These leaders took with them some fort$ new settlers, a lar2e num?er
of >ack4horses, and a 2oodl$ su>>l$ of such articles as were needed at
a frontier4>ost like Boones?orou2h. "nd now it will ?e admitted that
Boone and his em>lo$ers were full$ warranted in ?elie%in2 that at last
a >ermanent settlement had ?een >lanted on Kentuck$ soil.
CH"PT#& J33.
Boone &eAoins his 9amil$ at the Clinch &i%er Settlement44Leads a
Com>an$ of 3mmi2rants into Kentuck$443nsecurit$ of Settlers44Dawn
of the "merican &e%olution44British "2ents 3ncite the 3ndians to
&e%olt a2ainst the Settlements.
Daniel Boone showed his faith in the success of the enter>rise, ?$
announcin2 his intention of ?rin2in2 his famil$ into Kentuck$ to sta$
as lon2 as the$ li%ed.
"ccordin2l$ he >roceeded to the Clinch &i%er settlement, where he 2a%e
more 2lowin2 accounts than e%er of the ?eauties and attraction of the
new countr$.
The result was ine%ita?le. The stories of forei2n lands ne%er lose an$
of their ?rilliant colorin2 when the$ come from the mouth of one who
has >assed throu2h the enchantin2 e=>eriences of which he tells us.
What thou2h he s>eaks of the deadl$ >eril which lin2ers around the
footste>s of the e=>lorer, is it not one of the laws of this stran2e
nature of ours that the attraction is there?$ rendered the 2reaterQ is
it not a sad fact that the for?idden >leasure is the one that tastes
the sweeterQ
Boone set his nei2h?ors to talkin2, and ?$ the time his famil$ was
read$ to mo%e to Kentuck$, a num?er were full$ as ea2er as he to 2o to
the new countr$.
The >ioneer was chosen to lead them. The$ turned their ?acks fore%er
u>on ;orth Carolina in the autumn of +00O, and facin2 westward, set out
for their destination.
When the$ reached PowellIs %alle$, se%eral other families were awaitin2
them, and, thus re4enforced, the com>an$ num?ered twent$4si= men,
four women, fi%e ?o$s and 2irls44Fuite a formida?le force, when it is
remem?ered the$ were under the leadershi> of Daniel Boone, to whom the
trail had ?ecome so familiar durin2 the >recedin2 $ears.
This little cal%acade wound its wa$ throu2h Cum?erland :a>, all in hi2h
s>irits, thou2h sensi?le of the dan2ers which, it ma$ ?e said, ho%ered
a?out them from the %er$ hour the$ left Clinch &i%er.
:ood fortune attended the %enture, and for the first time of which we
ha%e record, the entire Aourne$ was made without the loss of an$ of
their num?er at the hands of the 3ndians.
;e%er for2ettin2 that the utmost %i2ilance was necessar$ to insure this
e=em>tion, if such insurance ?e considered >ossi?le, Boone >ermitted
nothin2 like ne2li2ence, either when on the march or in cam>.
But, in recallin2 those first e=>editions to the West, one cannot hel>
wonderin2 at their success. Had the 3ndians shown a realiin2 sense
of the stren2th in union, which the$ dis>la$ed at the ?attle of Point
Pleasant, the Thames, and in the defeats of St. Clair, Crawford and
others, the$ could ha%e crushed out these attem>ts at settlement,
and >ost>oned the o>enin2 u> of the countr$ for man$ $ears. What more
eas$ than to ha%e concentrated se%eral hundred of their warriors, and,
waitin2 until the little com>anies of settlers had >enetrated too far
into their territor$ to withdraw, led them into am?ush and annihilated
e%er$ man, woman and childQ
But the$ chose, when not en2a2ed in their rare mo%ements on a lar2e
scale, to fi2ht in a desultor$ fashion, firin2 from ?ehind the tree or
from the co%ert, or watchin2 for the unsus>ectin2 settler to a>>ear at
the door of his ca?in.
This manner of fi2htin2 made the feelin2 of uncertaint$ 2eneral, for no
man could know when the >eril threatened his wife and little ones, nor
when the s>iteful attack would ?e made ?$ some small ?and of warriors,
%enturin2 from the main ?od$ and rel$in2 u>on their own celerit$ of
mo%ement to esca>e ?efore the settlers could rall$ in time to strike
?ack.
This s>ecies of warfare, we sa$, was e=tremel$ >erilous to the settlers
and >ioneers, ?ut it could ne%er ?ecome an effecti%e check to the
ad%ancin2 hosts of ci%iliation, which were ?e2innin2 to con%er2e from
a doen different directions u>on the fair forests and fertile >lains
of Kentuck$.
When Boone and his >art$ reached the headwaters of DickIs &i%er, a halt
was made, and a di%ision took >lace. Se%eral of the families >referred
to settle at Harrods?ur244the ca?in of Harrod ha%in2 ?een erected there
the $ear >re%ious. With mutual 2ood wishes, therefore, the$ se>arated
from the main com>an$, and >ushin2 resolutel$ forward, reached their
destination in safet$.
"s a matter of course, there was ?ut the one ha%en which loomed u>
in%itin2l$ ?efore Daniel Boone,44that was the station named after
himself, and which was now at no 2reat distance awa$. He and the main
?od$ reached it without molestation, and the$ hel>ed to swell the
num?ers that were alread$ makin2 Boones?orou2h the stron2est >ost in
the West.
3t is one of the facts of which the >ioneer was >roud throu2hout
his lon2, e%entful life, that his wife and dau2hter were the first
white women who e%er Bstood u>on the ?anks of the wild and ?eautiful
Kentuck$.B
But, as we ha%e stated, settlers, s>eculators, sur%e$ors, and
ad%enturers were con%er2in2 to the Dark and Blood$ :round, which was
recei%in2 an influ= almost dail$44the most of the new4comers ?ein2 of a
character desira?le and useful to a new countr$.
The latter >art of +00O was s>eciall$ noteworth$ for the num?er of
settlers who entered Kentuck$. The maAorit$ of these made their
rende%ous at Boones?orou2h, which soon ?ecame what mi2ht ?e called
the headFuarters of the >ioneers. <an$ attached themsel%es to BooneIs
colon$, others went to Harrods?ur2, while some, ha%in2 com>leted the
sur%e$ of their lands, returned home.
3t was durin2 these stirrin2 da$s that Boone recei%ed %isits from
Kenton, the <c"fees and other men, who ?ecame so noted afterward as
scouts and ?order ran2ers.
Those were momentous times in the Colonies, for, as the reader will
o?ser%e, our forefathers were on the %er$ %er2e of the "merican
&e%olution. The countr$ was trem?lin2 with e=citement from one end to
the other. 3n the s>rin2 of the $ear occurred the ?attle of Le=in2ton,
when was fired the shot that was Bheard around the world,B and the
war o>ened ?etween :reat Britain and the Colonies. <en left the >low
in the furrow, the sho> and their homes, and hastened to arms, while
Boone and his ?rother colonists were >lantin2 their homes hundreds of
miles ?e$ond the frontiers of the Carolinas. <an$ ?elie%ed the treaties
>re%iousl$ made with the 3ndians would >rotect them from molestation
at their hands, ?ut in this e=>ectation the >ioneers were wofull$
disa>>ointed.
3t was necessar$ for the mother countr$ to >ut forth the most 2i2antic
efforts to su?due her "merican colonies, or she would ?e confronted
with re?ellions amon2 her colonial >ossessions all around the 2lo?e.
Des>ite the treaties with the a?ori2ines, #n2lish emissaries were soon
at work, incitin2 the 3ndians to re%olt a2ainst the intruders u>on
their soil. There is 2ood reason to ?elie%e that more than this was
done, and :reat Britain furnished the tri?es with 2uns and ammunition,
with which to 2i%e >ractical e=>ression to their enmit$ toward the
white settlers in Kentuck$ and Tennessee.
The "merican 3ndian, as a rule, does not reFuire much >ersuasion to
?e2in the work of ra>ine and massacre, as we ha%e found from dealin2
with him oursel%es. When the$ ha%e recei%ed their su>>lies from our
:o%ernment a2ents, and ha%e had their usual B>ala%erB with the >eace
a2ents, the$ are full$ >re>ared to enter u>on the war4>ath.
The student of Western histor$ will reco2nie the date named as the
?e2innin2 of the most trou?lous times on the Kentuck$ frontier. The
settlers had >lanted themsel%es on the soil with the >ur>ose of
remainin2, and the$ were >re>ared to defend their homes a2ainst all
comers. But the most resolute ?ra%er$ and consummate woodcraft cannot
2i%e a?solute >rotection from such a foe as the ori2inal "merican.
The sturd$ settler who >lun2ed into the woods, with his 2litterin2 a=e
in hand, was not secure a2ainst the shot from ?ehind the tree which
?ordered his >ath, and the >lowman who slowl$ 2uided his team to the
o>>osite end of the clearin2, could ha%e no 2uarantee that one of the
>ainted warriors had not ?een crouchin2 there for hours, waitin2 with
his ser>ent4like e$es fi=ed u>on him, until he should reach the s>ot
in order to send a ?ullet throu2h his heartE the mother, ?us$ with her
household duties, was not sure that the leaden messen2er would not
?e aimed, with unerrin2 skill, the moment she showed herself at the
door, nor could she ?e assured that when her little ones %entured from
her si2ht, the$ would not ?e cau2ht u> and s>irited awa$, or that the
tomahawk would not ?e sent crashin2 into their ?rain.
The sounds of what seemed the hootin2 of owls in the dead of ni2ht
were the si2nals which the 3ndians were e=chan2in2 as the$ cre>t like
>anthers from different directions u>on the doomed ca?inE the faint
caw of crows, a>>arentl$ from the to>s of the trees, were the si2nals
of the %en2eful warriors, as the$ a>>roached the house which the$ had
fi=ed u>on as the one that should ?e ?urned and its inmates massacred.
There was the fort known as HarrodIs !ld Ca?in and Boones?orou2h, while
other rude structures were reared in the clearin2s with the intention
of ?ein2 used as a >rotection a2ainst the red4men. These ser%ed their
2ood >ur>ose, and man$ a time sa%ed the settlers from the >eril which
stole u>on them like the insidious ad%ance of the >estilence that
smites at noonda$,44?ut the$ could 2i%e no securit$ to the lonel$
ca?ins with the stretches of forest ?etween and the faint trail
connectin2 them with the fort.
When the Shawanoes and <iamis came, it was like the whirlwind, and man$
a time the$ deli%ered their fri2htful ?lows, withdrew, and were miles
awa$ in the recesses of the woods, where >ursuit was im>ossi?le, ?efore
the 2arrison at the station could answer the call for hel>.
But, as we ha%e said, these fri2htful atrocities and dan2ers could not
turn ?ack the tide of emi2ration that was >ourin2 westward. The trail
which Boone had marked from Holston to Boones?orou2h was distinct
enou2h for the >assa2e of >ack4horses, and the lon2 files which >lodded
o%er the >erilous >ath alwa$s had their heads turned to the westward.
The flat4?oats that swun2 slowl$ with the current down the !hio were
>ierced with ?ullets from the shores, and, in some instances, nearl$
all the occu>ants were >icked off ?$ the 3ndian marksmenE ?ut had it
?een in the >ower of these cum?rous craft to turn ?ack, the$ would not
ha%e done so.
The "merican >ioneer is daunted ?$ no dan2er, ?affled ?$ no difficult$,
and discoura2ed ?$ no ad%ersit$. The time had come for o>enin2 u> the
western wilds, and nothin2 ?ut the hand of Pro%idence himself could
sto> or dela$ the work.
CH"PT#& J333.
Com>arati%e Luiet on the 9rontier44Ca>ture of BooneIs Dau2hter
and the <isses Callawa$ ?$ 3ndians44Pursued ?$ Boone and Se%en
Com>anions44Their &escue and &eturn to their Homes.
3t was the summer of +00/, and the colonies were aflame with war. Those
were the da$s which tried menIs souls, and the skies were dark with
discoura2ement and comin2 disaster. There were man$ hearts that could
onl$ see o%erwhelmin2 failure in the momentous stru22le in which the
countr$ was en2a2ed.
9or a time, com>arati%e Fuiet rei2ned in the nei2h?orhood of
Boones?orou2h. The settlers im>ro%ed the time to the utmost. While
some hunted and fished, others cleared the land, and a >romisin2 cro>
of corn had ?een >ut in the rich soil. !nl$ one of the colon$ had ?een
shot ?$ 3ndians durin2 the >recedin2 winter, the ?and which did it
ha%in2 withdrawn ?efore an$ retaliator$ measures could ?e taken.
!n the afternoon of the se%enth of 'ul$, <iss Betse$ Callawa$, her
sister 9rances, and a dau2hter of Daniel Boone entered a canoe under
the ?ank of the ri%er, as children would naturall$ do to amuse
themsel%es. Betse$ was a $oun2 lad$, ?ut the other two were a?out
thirteen $ears of a2e,44all ?ri2ht, Ao$ous 2irls, who had no thou2ht
of dan2er, as the$ >addled a?out the rock where the frail ?oat had ?een
moored.
The$ were lau2hin2 and >addlin2, when suddenl$ a rustlin2 amon2 the
o%erhan2in2 ?ushes arrested their attention, and, turnin2 their 2ae,
the$ saw with consternation the >ainted face of an 3ndian warrior.
The 2irls were almost >aral$ed with terror. The sa%a2e warned them
?$ si2ns to make no outcr$, throu2h >enalt$ of ?ein2 ?rained with the
tomahawk 2ri>ed in his hand. The$ could onl$ huddle to2ether in terror
and await his >leasure, whate%er it mi2ht ?e.
The sinew$ 3ndian then ste>>ed cautiousl$ into the canoe, and took u>
the >addle, which he handled with the skill >eculiar to his >eo>le.
With scarcel$ the sli2htest >lash, he silentl$ forced it out from the
under2rowth and started for the other shore.
The terrified 2irls looked a>>ealin2l$ in the direction of the
stockades, ?ut the$ dare make no outcr$. The stalwart sa%a2e di>>ed the
>addle first on one side and then on the other, and the canoe ra>idl$
neared the shore, ?eneath whose o%erhan2in2 ?ushes it 2lided the ne=t
moment like an arrow.
Turnin2 toward the 2irls, the 3ndian si2nified that the$ were to
lea%e the ?oat, and the >oor 2irls could do nothin2 less. Se%eral
other warriors who were in waitin2, Aoined them, and the Aourne$ was
instantl$ ?e2un toward the interior.
;o more unfa%ora?le time for the ca>ti%es could ha%e ?een selected. 3t
was late in the afternoon, and ?efore an$thin2 like >ursuit could ?e
or2anied it would ?e ni2ht, and the trail in%isi?le. The 3ndians would
use all the woodcraft at their command, and dou?tless the mornin2 would
see them man$ miles remo%ed from the settlement.
The ca>tors took the %er$ >recautions of which we ha%e s>oken,
directin2 their ste>s toward the thickest cane, where the$ se>arated
and made their wa$ throu2h it with the utmost caution, with a %iew of
renderin2 their foot>rints so faint that >ursuit would ?e out of the
Fuestion.
Ha%in2 assured themsel%es, so far as the$ could, that their trail was
hidden from the scrutin$ of the settlers, the 3ndians with the three
2irls made another turn, and strikin2 a ?uffalo >ath, >ushed forward
without dela$.
The 2irls had ?een reared in a societ$ where outdoor life and e=ercise
were a >art of their creed, and the$ stood the unwonted task forced
u>on them with much 2reater fortitude than would ha%e ?een su>>osed.
The$ walked nim?l$ alon2, takin2 2reat consolation in each otherIs
com>an$, thou2h the$ were almost heart?roken at the thou2ht that e%er$
mile throu2h the 2loom$ forest was takin2 them so much further awa$
from their lo%ed ones, and lessened in the same de2ree their chances of
rescue ?$ their friends at Boones?orou2h.
3t ?ein2 midsummer, the$ did not suffer from cold, and ?ut for their
terror of their ultimate fate, the$ would ha%e cared nothin2 for the
Aaunt. Still, as children will feel under such circumstances, the$ had
stron2 ho>es that their >arents and friends would soon ?e in close
>ursuit of the 3ndians.
"nd such indeed was the case. 9or it was not lon2 ?efore the 2irls were
missed at Boones?orou2h, and search made for them. Some one had seen
them in the canoe, and when it was disco%ered that the ?oat was left on
the o>>osite side of the ri%er, and when the keen e$es of the >ioneers
were a?le to detect the im>rint of moccasins alon2 the shore where the
craft had ?een moored on their side, there could ?e no dou?t of what it
meant.
The 2irls had ?een ca>tured and carried awa$ ?$ 3ndians.
3t can ?e well understood that 2reat e=citement s>read amon2 the
families of Boones?orou2h, all of whom were drawn to2ether ?$ the
closest ties of friendshi>, and who shared in each otherIs Ao$s and
woes. The whole male force were read$ to start at a momentIs notice to
the rescue.
But that was not the wa$ in which to secure them, for it would ha%e
?een eFuall$ effecti%e for a huntin2 >art$ to 2o in search of the timid
antelo>e with drums and ?anners. What was needed was a small com>an$ of
hunters, ?ra%e, swift of foot, clear4headed and skilled in the wa$s of
the woods.
The$ should ?e men who could trail the red 3ndian where the im>rints of
his moccasined feet were in%isi?le to ordinar$ e$es, and who, when the
critical emer2enc$ should come, were sure to do Aust the ri2ht thin2 at
the ri2ht time.
There were >lent$ such in Boones?orou2h, and there could ?e no
difficult$ in findin2 them. "t the head, of course, stood Daniel Boone
himself, and he selected se%en others who could ?e relied on in an$
emer2enc$E ?ut, ?$ the time the >ursuit could ?e ?e2un, the shades of
ni2ht were settlin2 o%er wood and ri%er, and it was out of the Fuestion
to attem>t an$thin2 like an intelli2ent search for the 2irls.
3n such a case there is no ?asis for reasonin2, for thou2h it ma$ seem
certain to the %eteran hunter that his enem$ has taken a certain course
in order to reach his distant lod2e, $et the mornin2 is likel$ to show
that he has 2one on a different route alto2ether.
The "merican 3ndian, who is educated from his infanc$ in cunnin2 and
treacher$, is likel$ to do that which is least e=>ected and >ro%ided
a2ainstE and Boone, therefore, did not make the mistake of actin2
u>on an$ theor$ of his own which was likel$ to cause him to lose man$
>recious hours of >ursuit.
But it was the season when the da$s were lon2est, and at the earliest
streakin2s of the mornin2 li2ht, the ei2ht >ioneers were on the other
side of the ri%er, lookin2 for the trail of the 3ndians.
The delicate im>rints were disco%ered almost instantl$ ?$ the keen4e$ed
hunters, who started on the scent like ?loodhounds, ea2er to s>rin2 at
the throats of the sa%a2es.
But the >ursuit was scarcel$ ?e2un, when the$ were confronted ?$ the
%er$ difficult$ which the$ antici>ated.
The 3ndians, as we ha%e shown, had se>arated and made their wa$ throu2h
the thickest cane with such e=treme care, that the$ succeeded in hidin2
their trail from the l$n= e$es of e%en Boone himself.
3n such an emer2enc$, the >ursuers could onl$ fall ?ack on their own
resources of calculation and o?ser%ation.
The$ noticed that the tracks all >ointed in one 2eneral direction, and
there was, therefore, a ?asis for decidin2 the side of the cane where
the$ emer2ed. "ctin2 u>on this theor$, the$ made a circuitous Aourne$
of full$ thirt$ miles, and sure enou2h, struck the trail Aust as the$
ho>ed rather than e=>ected.
Boone showed his woodcraft now ?$ formin2 a reasona?le theor$ and
actin2 >rom>tl$ u>on it, for, thou2h he ma$ ha%e ?een ri2ht, still
he would ha%e lost all the ad%anta2e ?$ a failure to follow it u>
instantl$.
&ecallin2 the unusual >recautions taken ?$ the 3ndians to throw their
>ursuers off their trail, Boone was con%inced that the sa%a2es would
?elie%e that these >recautions had accom>lished their >ur>ose, and the$
would therefore rela= their %i2ilance. Their course, as a conseFuence,
would ?e followed more easil$.
"ccordin2l$, Boone and his comrades chan2ed the route the$ were
followin2, with the idea of crossin2 the >ath of the 3ndians. The$ had
not 2one far when the$ disco%ered it in a ?uffalo >ath, where it was
Fuite e%ident that, from the careless manner in which the red4men were
tra%elin2, the$ had no sus>icion of their >ursuers ?ein2 an$where in
the %icinit$.
This was fa%ora?le to Boone and his com>anions, ?ut the$ understood the
delicac$ and dan2er of the situation, which was of that character that
the$ mi2ht well trem?le for its success, e%en with the 2reat ad%anta2e
2ained.
;one knew ?etter than the$ the san2uinar$ character of the "merican
3ndian. The %er$ moment the ca>tors should see that it was im>ossi?le
to retain the >risoners, the$ would sink their tomahawks in their
?rains, e%en thou2h the act increased their own >ersonal >eril tenfold.
3t was all4im>ortant that the >ursuit should ?e %i2orousl$ >ressed, and
at the same time it was eFuall$ im>ortant that the sa%a2es should ?e
ke>t in i2norance of the men who were trailin2 them so closel$.
"s silentl$, therefore, as shadows, the >ioneers, with their 2uns at
a trail, threaded their wa$ throu2h the forest and dense cane?rakes.
Their keen and trained %ision told them the$ were 2ainin2 ra>idl$ u>on
the 3ndians, who were >roceedin2 at that leisurel$ 2ait which was >roof
that the$ held no sus>icion of dan2er.
The settlers had alread$ tra%eled a lon2 distance, and e%en their iron
lim?s must ha%e felt the effects of Aourne$in2 full fort$ miles throu2h
the wilderness,44?ut the$ >ushed on with renewed %i2or, and, as the da$
ad%anced, o?ser%ed si2ns which showed unmistaka?l$ that the$ were close
u>on the ca>tors.
The >ursuers slackened their 2ait and ad%anced with the e=tremest
caution, for onl$ ?$ doin2 so could the$ ho>e to succeed in the rescue
of the $oun2 2irls.
Suddenl$ the fi2ures of the warriors were discerned throu2h the trees a
short distance ahead. The$ had sto>>ed, and were in the act of kindlin2
a fire, e%identl$ meanin2 to encam> for the ni2ht. The 3ndians were
startled at the same moment ?$ si2ht of the whites hurr$in2 toward
them, and not one of the dusk$ red4skins could misunderstand what it
meant. Had it ?een >ossi?le for such a misunderstandin2, the$ were
undecei%ed the ne=t instant.
The >ursuers showed their earnestness ?$ not waitin2 a moment for the
warriors to rall$, ?ut four ?rin2in2 their rifles to their shoulders,
took a Fuick aim and fired into the >art$. The smoke of the >owder had
scarcel$ time to curl u>ward from the mules of the 2uns, when the
whole ei2ht char2ed strai2ht into cam> on a dead run, and with the fur$
of ti2ers.
When the 3ndians saw those fi2ures comin2, the$ had no time to sla$
the amaed ca>ti%es, ?ut, snatchin2 u> onl$ one of their 2uns, the$
scattered >ell4mell for the wood. "s the$ went at headlon2 haste, Boone
and one of his men fired, while still on a dead run. #ach fu2iti%e was
Bhit hard,B ?ut he mana2ed to 2et awa$ in the 2atherin2 darkness, and
it ma$ safel$ ?e concluded that none of the sur%i%ors looked u>on that
>articular e=>edition a2ainst the settlers at Boones?orou2h in an$
other li2ht than a failure.
The Ao$ of the three 2irls o%er the rescue must ?e left to the
ima2ination of the reader. The$ were terrified almost out of their
senses when ca>tured, ?ut the$ knew the$ would soon ?e missed from
home, and their friends would ?e on the trail, ?ut the$ were old enou2h
to understand the %ast disad%anta2es under which the$ would ?e >laced,
knowin2 that no >ursuit could ?e instituted until the morrow.
"nd then, too, the$ knew the meanin2 of the e=treme >recaution taken ?$
the 3ndians in se>aratin2 and walkin2 so carefull$ throu2h the densest
of the cane?rakes. "nd, as mile after mile was >laced ?ehind them,
and the warm summer da$ drew to a close, man$ a mis2i%in2 must ha%e
saddened their hearts, as the$ looked throu2h the 2atherin2 shadows and
failed to see an$thin2 of the lo%ed forms.
But the$ had come, ?urstin2 into cam> like thunder?olts,44the 3ndians
had fled in terror, and the 2irls were restored to their friends
without a hair of their heads ?ein2 harmed.
The >lace where the reca>ture took >lace was thick with cane, and some
of the >ursuers would ha%e ?een 2lad to kee> on and inflict further
chastisement u>on the 3ndians,44?ut that was im>ractica?le, and, as
the 2irls were out of dan2er, the >art$ turned a?out and started ?ack
toward Boones?orou2h, where the$ arri%ed without misha> or further
ad%enture, and where, as ma$ well ?e su>>osed, their return created Ao$
and thanks2i%in2 throu2hout the entire settlement.
This incident, one of the most romantic of the innumera?le occurrences
of the ?order, >ossessed a si2nificance which some of the settlers
failed to see. The >resence of the 3ndians so near Boones?orou2h
and the darin2 a?duction was not done ?$ what ma$ ?e called an
irres>onsi?le com>an$ of warriors. !n the contrar$, the$ were one of
the man$ scoutin2 >arties sent out to make o?ser%ations of all the
settlements alon2 the ?order, with a %iew of or2aniin2 a com?ined
mo%ement a2ainst them.
The a2ents of #n2land, who had ?een so industriousl$ at work for months
with the 3ndians of the West, used means which at last accom>lished
their >ur>ose, and, while hostilities were ?ein2 >ushed with such %i2or
in the #ast a2ainst the stru22lin2 colonies, it threatened to assume a
more des>erate and san2uinar$ character in the West.
The red men had ?een aroused to action, and their manner of warfare was
as fierce and merciless as that >rosecuted ?$ the #ast 3ndia Se>o$s,
nearl$ a centur$ later, a2ainst :reat Britain. 3t was not lon2 ?efore
the dan2er was >lainl$ seen, and so >rofound was the fear e=cited ?$
the suret$ of the comin2 war, attended, as it was certain to ?e, ?$ the
most atrocious massacres, that hundreds of s>eculators made all haste
to lea%e the im>eriled countr$ and return to their former homes in the
#ast.
CH"PT#& 3N.
:eneral 5>risin2 of the 3ndians44The Border &an2ers44"ttack u>on
Boones?orou2h44&e>ulse of the "ssailants44Second "ttack ?$ a Lar2er
9orce and its 9ailure44"rri%al of 9ort$4fi%e <en443n%estment
of Lo2anIs 9ort44Timel$ "rri%al of Colonel Bowman with
&einforcements44"ttack u>on Harrods?ur2.
There was a deli?eration and com>leteness in the >re>arations of the
3ndians a2ainst the settlements alon2 the western ?order which, if
>ossi?le, lent additional terrors to the dan2er that was soon to ?reak
u>on them.
The scouts who came in to Boones?orou2h, Harrods?ur2, and other >oints,
from their lon2 Aourne$s throu2h the forest, re>orted the tri?es
e%er$where makin2 read$ for the war>ath. There were 2atherin2s at
their towns, councils, tur?ulent assem?lies, throwin2 of the tomahawk,
shootin2 matches, runnin2 races, and that 2eneral e=citement which to
the e=>erienced forest ran2er can mean ?ut the one thin2.
The months >assed, the ?reakin2 out of hostilities was dela$ed, and
immi2rants ke>t dro>>in2 in, as ma$ ?e said, until the month of 'ul$,
+000, when nearl$ fift$ men came in one com>an$ and settled in the
immediate %icinit$ of Boones?orou2h.
This was a most welcome addition indeed, for it was e%ident to all that
the hour was at hand when e%er$ arm would ?e needed in the defence of
their homes and firesides.
Boone knew what was 2oin2 on amon2 the surroundin2 tri?es, and he threw
awa$ no chances and ne2lected no >recautions. His %i2ilant sentinels
were alwa$s on dut$, da$ and ni2ht, and nothin2 was more certain than
that the 2arrison could not ?e taken ?$ sur>rise.
Besides this, Kenton, Brad$, <IClelland, the <c"fee Brothers, and other
ran2ers, were constantl$ mo%in2 o%er the lon2 stretches of forest,
makin2 tours of o?ser%ation to the 3ndian %illa2es and 2atherin2
>oints, so that no e=cuse e=isted for the whites ?ein2 sur>rised.
3n the month of ">ril, +000, the sentinels at Boones?orou2h disco%ered
sus>icious si2ns in the woods immediatel$ surroundin2 them. The si2nals
and mo%in2 fi2ures showed that a lar2e ?od$ of 3ndians were 2atherin2
in front of the stockades, and there could ?e no dou?t that an attack
was intended u>on the station.
The settlers were read$, and when the red men o>ened fire, the$
recei%ed such a fierce fusillade in return, that no dou?t could e=ist
as to the inAur$ inflicted. The 3ndian fi2hts from the ?ushes and
hidden >laces, and is at disad%anta2e when he is forced to attack a foe
who is eFuall$ >rotected.
9rom ?ehind the trees the warriors aimed their rifles, and the flashes
of flame here, there, and e%er$where amon2 the 2reen %e2etation, showed
where the$ stood, with their ?lack e$es si2htin2 alon2 the ?arrels,
waitin2 to fire at whate%er >oint showed an$ >ro?a?ilit$ of e=>osin2 a
white enem$ to their accurate aim.
But ?e$ond the stockades and in the ?lockhouses were the Kentuck$
riflemen, whose unerrin2 aim, whose stead$ ner%e and cool coura2e ha%e
ne%er ?een sur>assed, and whose skill in the use of their fa%orite
wea>on has made them renowned throu2hout the world.
Their 2uns were thrust out of the loo>holes, and the >ioneers seied
the first chance offered, no matter how sli2ht.
Perha>s the Aet of fire ?ehind some tree or amon2 some dense ?ushes
disclosed nothin2 of the warrior who caused it, ?ut an instant
later, ma$?e, the ?roned face of the 3ndian was cautiousl$ e=>osed
for a sin2le instant, as he >eered out to see the result of his
carefull$4aimed shot.
That second was enou2h, for the half doen Kentuckians watched for
Aust such an o>>ortunit$, and like li2htnin2 the shar>, whi>like crack
of as man$ rifles ?roke the stillness, and the red skin rolled o%er
?ackward, his skull riddled ?$ ?ullets, while the smoke of his own 2un
was curlin2 u>ward from its mule, and the death4$ell trem?led half
uttered on his co>>er$ li>s.
The 3ndians killed one settler and wounded four others, while it
was ne%er known how man$ of their own num?er were shot. The$ fou2ht
?ra%el$, ?ut soon saw the$ had attem>ted an im>ossi?ilit$ and withdrew.
Boone knew ?etter than to ?elie%e this was the end. !n the contrar$, he
and his comrades were con%inced it >resa2ed more serious dan2er to the
settlement.
3n this su>>osition he was ri2ht, for on the 2reat national anni%ersar$
followin2, the 3ndians rea>>eared with full$ dou?le their former force,
and ?e2an what was intended as a re2ular sie2e of Boones?orou2h.
3t is not to ?e su>>osed the red4men knew or had an$ idea of the
associations connected with that >articular date, for the Declaration
of 3nde>endence was Aust a $ear oldE ?ut the fourth of 'ul$ is not
a fortunate da$ for a foe to assail an "merican force, and so it
>ro%ed in this instance, for the whole attack and its result was ?ut a
re>etition of that of three months >re%ious.
The 3ndians fou2ht with 2reat coura2e, acce>tin2 e%er$ chance offered,
and killin2 one man and woundin2 four, >recisel$ as the$ did in ">ril.
The %i2ilant Kentuckians saw se%en of the warriors dro> ?efore their
fire, and it is not im>ro?a?le that others were slain or at least
wounded. The fi2ht was ke>t u> with little intermission for two da$s
and ni2hts, at the e=>iration of which time the assailants ?ecame
con%inced that no ho>e of success remained to them, and the$ drew off
as ?efore.
Thus it came to >ass that Boones?orou2h, while in its %er$ infanc$,
underwent two fierce attacks from the 3ndians.
3mmediatel$ after the second, came the fort$4fi%e men from the #ast,
and no further distur?ance or molestation took >lace durin2 that
$ear, which was one of 2reat material ad%ancement on the >art of the
settlement. Those who Aoined it continued to ?e of the ri2ht material,
and the$ came with the am?ition to rear themsel%es homes in the western
wilderness, where their families could li%e in comfort and safet$.
The first ste> necessar$, and in fact a?out all the ste>s necessar$,
could ?e summed u> in the sin2le word44CworkC.
"nd the$ >ut forth all their ener2ies toward clearin2 ?road s>aces
of the surroundin2 forest, and >uttin2 the rich %ir2in soil under
culti%ation. 3t was of that fertile, %i2orous nature that it ?ut needed
the o>>ortunit$ to ?rin2 forth, some a si=t$ and some a hundred fold.
3t was like that of the famous :reen 3sle of the sea,44BTickle it with
a straw, and it would lau2h a har%est.B
<eantime the other stations and settlements were 2i%en a taste of
3ndian warfare and >eril. Lo2anIs 9ort was in%ested ?$ a lar2e force
of 3ndians in the month of <a$, +000, and it was >laced in imminent
dan2er, for it was not so stron2 as Harrods?ur2 or Boones?orou2h, and
the in%estin2 red4skins were o%erwhelmin2 in num?ers.
The sie2e continued for se%eral da$s and ni2hts, durin2 which it ?ecame
>lainer and >lainer that the warriors were certain to su?due it, in
which case the 2arrison would ?e >ut to death.
But at the %er$ hour when des>air was settlin2 o%er the hearts of the
?ra%e defenders, Colonel Bowman a>>eared with a re4enforcement, and
the 3ndians were scattered like chaff in the wind.
Two months >re%ious the fort at Harrods?ur2 was attacked, ?ut the
sa%a2es were ?ra%el$ resisted, and the$ retired with a sli2ht loss,
ha%in2 wounded four of the whites, one of whom afterward died.
CH"PT#& N.
" Diner out44The BHanni?al of the WestB44#lection of :eneral Clark
and :a?riel 'ones as Dele2ates to the Jir2inia Le2islature44Their
'ourne$ to the Ca>ital44:eneral Clark o?tains the Loan of a Lar2e
Su>>l$ of "mmunition44#rection of the Count$ of Kentuck$44:eneral
Clark attacked and >ursued ?$ 3ndians on his Jo$a2e down the
!hio44Conceals the "mmunition and deli%ers it safel$ at the
Border Stations44:eneral Clark marches u>on Kaskaskia and
ca>tures the o?no=ious :o%ernor &oche?la%e44:o%ernor Hamilton of
Detroit or2anies an #=>edition a2ainst the Settlements44:eneral
Clark ca>tures 9ort St. Jincent and takes :o%ernor Hamilton
a Prisoner44Ca>tures a Jalua?le Con%o$ from Canada and 9ort$
Prisoners44Secures the #rection of 3m>ortant 9ortifications ?$
Jir2inia.
!ne da$ a ?o$ si=teen $ears old, who li%ed four miles a?o%e
Harrods?ur2, went out in the woods to hunt 2ame. The name of the lad
was &a$, and he afterward ?ecame the :eneral of that name who is so
closel$ identified with the settlement of the West.
Like all ?o$s in Kentuck$ he was a 2ood shot, and he was not out
lon2 ?efore he ?rou2ht down a small ?lue4win2 duck, which he >icked,
dressed, and roasted to a rich, Auic$ ?rown, ?uildin2 his fire on the
?row of a hill, a few rods east of his home.
'ust as $oun2 &a$ had 2otten the ?ird in a sha>e to deli2ht the >alate
of an e>icure, a fine, soldierl$4lookin2 man came out of the woods and
called in a cheer$ %oice:
BHow do $ou do, m$ $oun2 manQB
The ?o$ looked u> in sur>rise and said44
B3 am %er$ well, sir, thank $ou.B
BWhat is $our nameQB
B&a$, and 3 li%e in the house down $onder.B
B"inIt $ou afraid to hunt alone in the woods, when the 3ndians are
makin2 so much trou?leQB
BWell, 3 tr$ to ?e careful, ?ut there is dan2er in these times
e%er$where, as it seems to meE ?ut wonIt $ou hel> me eat this duck
which is now read$ for the ta?leQB
B3Im o?li2ed to $ou, for 3 am Fuite hun2r$.B
"ccordin2l$ he sat down and attacked the duck, which he remarked was
%er$ toothsome, es>eciall$ when a >erson was so a4hun2ered as he, and
com>limentin2 the ?o$ u>on his culinar$ skill, he ke>t at work until
there wasnIt a >article left for $oun2 &a$, who was somewhat astonished
and not alto2ether enthusiastic o%er the st$le in which his %isitor
dis>osed of the ?ird.
BBut,B said :eneral &a$ afterward, Bhe would ha%e ?een welcome to all
the 2ame 3 could ha%e killed, when 3 afterward ?ecame acFuainted with
his no?le and 2allant soul.B
When the meal was finished, the %isitor thanked the lad for his
hos>italit$ and said:
B<$ name is Clark, and 3 ha%e come out to see what $ou ?ra%e fellows
are doin2 in Kentuck$, and to 2i%e $ou a hel>in2 hand if necessar$.B
Goun2 &a$ conducted him to Harrods?ur2, where he s>ent some time in
carefull$ notin2 the ca>acit$ of the station in the wa$ of defence
a2ainst the attacks that were >rett$ certain to ?e made %er$ soon.
The 2entleman was :eneral :eor2e &o2ers Clark, who at the time was a
<aAor in the "rm$, and was en2a2ed in formin2 his 2rand scheme for
the conFuest of the British >osts in the ;orthwest. He was one of the
most cons>icuous fi2ures of the times, and is known in histor$ as the
BHanni?al of the West.B
The first %isit which he made to the frontier was in +00O, when he
s>ent se%eral da$s at Harrods?ur2. His militar$ 2enius was so well
known that the command of the irre2ular troo>s in Kentuck$ was 2i%en
him. He remained in the West until autumn, when he went ?ack to
Jir2inia, ?ut returned to Kentuck$ the succeedin2 $ear, which was the
occasion of his introduction to the em?r$o :eneral &a$, as we ha%e Aust
related.
"t a >u?lic meetin2 of the settlers at Harrods?ur2, held on the /th of
'une, +00O, :eneral :eor2e &o2ers Clark and :a?riel 'ones were chosen
to re>resent the territor$ in the Colon$ of Jir2inia. The all4im>ortant
>oint at that critical Auncture was whether Jir2inia would consider the
colon$ under her >rotection and render her the assistance she needed
a2ainst the com?inations of the 3ndians.
3t will ?e ?orne in mind that Colonel Henderson claimed Kentuck$
?$ %irtue of >urchase from the Cherokees, and if such claim was
reco2nied, then no >rotection could ?e demanded from Jir2inia, no more
than from Penns$l%ania. 3n :eneral ClarkIs Aud2ment the wiser course
was for the >eo>le to a>>oint a2ents with the >ower to ne2otiate with
Jir2inia, and in the e%ent of the State refusin2 to acknowled2e the
claim of the colon$ u>on her, then :eneral Clark >ro>osed to use the
lands of Kentuck$ as a fund with which to o?tain settlers and esta?lish
an inde>endent State. The so%erei2n >eo>le had determined otherwise,
and with man$ mis2i%in2s as to their reco2nition, :eneral Clark and his
collea2ue set out for the ca>ital of Jir2inia.
The wa$ was lon2, and there were no >u?lic con%e$ances of which to
take ad%anta2e. When the$ reached Williams?ur2, the le2islature had
adAourned Csine dieC. Thereu>on :a?riel 'ones made his wa$ to the
settlements on the Holston, while :eneral Clark, with the resolution
to accom>lish somethin2 for the im>eriled settlers on the frontier,
>roceeded to the home of :o%ernor Henr$, who was l$in2 sick in his room.
The :o%ernor was so im>ressed ?$ the statements of Clark, that he
2a%e him a letter to the #=ecuti%e Council of the State, and, with
this document, the officer hastened to that ?od$, and ?riefl$ ?ut
2ra>hicall$ de>ictin2 the needs of the colon$, asked the Council to
loan him fi%e hundredwei2ht of >owder to ?e used in the defence of the
se%eral stations.
The mem?ers of the Council e=>ressed themsel%es as an=ious to do
e%er$thin2 in their >ower for the endan2ered colonists, ?ut there
was a threatened le2al entan2lement, which >re%ented them from
makin2 the loan in the manner desired. !n account of the efforts of
Colonel Henderson and Com>an$, the inha?itants of Kentuck$ had not
$et ?een reco2nied as citiens, and until that im>ortant Fuestion
was settled, the utmost that could ?e done was to loan the ammunition
to the Kentuckians as friends, at the same time holdin2 :eneral Clark
>ersonall$ res>onsi?le, in case of the failure of the State to 2i%e
citienshi> to the colonists.
:eneral Clark lost his >atience with this >ro>osition. He had made his
wa$ to Jir2inia at 2reat >ersonal risk, to o?tain the 2un>owder, and he
was read$ to 2i%e his utmost ser%ices in defendin2 the colon$, ?ut he
could not admit the Austice of ?ecomin2 res>onsi?le for the %alue of
the ammunition so sorel$ needed ?$ the settlements, and he therefore
declined to recei%e it u>on such terms. &ather than do so, he announced
that he would 2o ?ack to Kentuck$, >ut in o>eration his ori2inal
scheme, and use all the resources of the territor$ to erect it into an
inde>endent and so%erei2n State.
This determination :eneral Clark declared in a letter to the Council,
after takin2 time to deli?erate full$ o%er the >ro>osition. 3ts
rece>tion >roduced a result which he hardl$ dared ho>e. The Council
called him ?efore it, reconsidered their action, and ordered that the
>owder ?e sent to Pitts?ur2 at once, where it was to ?e turned o%er to
:eneral Clark to ?e used in the defence of the settlements of Kentuck$.
This took >lace in the latter >art of "u2ust, and in the autumn of
the same $ear the memorial was laid ?efore the Jir2inia Le2islature.
The dele2ates could not ?e admitted to seats, ?ut, ?efore the session
was o%er, the$ secured le2islati%e action that marked an e>och in
the histor$ of the colon$, which was its erection into the count$ of
Kentuck$, ?$ which it was entitled to a se>arate count$ court, two
Austices of the >eace, a sheriff, consta?les, coroners, and militia
officers. Thus to :eneral Clark must ?e 2i%en the credit of securin2
the first >olitical or2aniation of Kentuck$, ?$ which it was entitled
to re>resentation in the Jir2inia "ssem?l$, and to a se>arate Audicial
and militar$ esta?lishment.
Ha%in2 accom>lished this im>ortant >ur>ose, :eneral Clark and :a?riel
'ones made read$ to start to Kentuck$ a2ain. The >owder and a lar2e
Fuantit$ of lead were still at Pitts?ur2, awaitin2 them, and the$
>roceeded to that >oint and took char2e of the su>>lies. With se%en
?oatmen the$ started on their %o$a2e down the !hio.
:eneral Clark felt the im>ortance of makin2 all >ossi?le haste in the
matter, for the 3ndians were sure to attem>t its ca>ture if the$ knew
of the >rie >assin2 throu2h their countr$.
B$ some means or other the$ learned the truth, and the ?oat, with its
small crew, was scarcel$ out of si2ht of Pitts?ur2, when the 3ndians
a>>eared alon2 the ?anks and ?e2an firin2 u>on it with the ho>e of
disa?lin2 the crew. Then the$ entered their canoes and ?e2an a >ursuit
of the ?oat containin2 the ammunition.
Without offerin2 resistance, :eneral Clark de%oted his ener2ies to
fli2ht, and his men >lied their oars with such success that the$ held
the ad%ance all the wa$ to the mouth of Limestone Creek, where :eneral
Clark resorted to strata2em to sa%e the %alua?le >ro>ert$ in his hands.
His men had rowed with such unremittin2 ener2$ that the$ could not hold
out much lon2er. The ?oat was therefore turned u> Limestone Creek,
s>eedin2 alon2 ?etween the ?anks with such swiftness, that it ke>t out
of si2ht of the 3ndians for a lon2 time.
"t the >ro>er >oint, the craft was run ashore, the men s>ran2 out,
and the >owder was concealed in the ?ushes. Then the ?oat was turned
adrift, and the little >art$ started o%erland for Harrods?ur2, where
the$ arri%ed without misha>. " few da$s later, the :eneral returned
with a stron2 force, reco%ered all the ammunition, deli%ered it at
Harrods?ur2, without the loss of a >ound, and shortl$ after it was
distri?uted amon2 all the stations, which were thus >ro%ided with the
indis>ensa?le means of defendin2 themsel%es a2ainst the im>endin2
assaults.
3t will ?e admitted that :eneral :eor2e &o2ers Clark did a most
im>ortant ser%ice for Kentuck$ in thus furnishin2 her with ammunition,
and in securin2 her erection into the Count$ of Kentuck$: ?ut this did
not end his ser%ices, and when it was least e=>ected ?$ his enemies, he
assumed the offensi%e.
:eneral Clark >ossessed rare militar$ 2ifts, as he demonstrated on more
than one im>ortant occasion. The :o%ernor of the Canadian settlements
in the 3llinois countr$ was usin2 his utmost endea%or to incite
the 3ndians to de%astate the "merican frontier. This ?ein2 esta?lished
?e$ond Fuestion, the :o%ernor of Jir2inia >laced two hundred and fift$
men under Clark, with >ermission to march a2ainst the settlements.
He descended the !hio, landed and hid his ?oats, and then started
o%erland for his destination, his soldiers carr$in2 the small amount
of >ro%isions the$ had on their ?acks. These were soon e=hausted, and,
for two da$s, the$ ate nothin2 ?ut roots and a few ?erries, ?ut all the
time >ushed %i2orousl$ forward.
"s silentl$ as >hantoms, and as totall$ une=>ected, it ma$ ?e said,
the$ a>>eared ?efore Kaskaskia in the dead of ni2ht. The >lace was
ca>tured ?efore an$thin2 like resistance could ?e thou2ht of. This
was a noteworth$ e=>loit, for Kaskaskia ?ut a short time ?efore had
resisted a much lar2er force.
:eneral Clark understood the %alue of >rom>tness and celerit$ in
militar$ mo%ements, and without an hourIs unnecessar$ dela$ he sent out
detachments a2ainst three other towns, which in e%er$ instance were
ca>tured, the o?no=ious :o%ernor &oche?la%e himself ?ein2 one of the
>risoners. He was sent to Jir2inia, there ?ein2 found amon2 the >a>ers
on his >erson instructions from Lue?ec to do his utmost to rouse the
3ndians a2ainst the settlers, and e%en to 2o to the e=tent of offerin2
?ounties for the scal>s of "mericans.
The 3llinois settlers transferred their alle2iance to Jir2inia, which
owned the territor$ ?$ ri2ht of charter and conFuest, and, in the
autumn of +00(, erected it into the Count$ of 3llinois44thus sealin2
an act of ?rilliant 2eneralshi> on the >art of Clark, which has few
>arallels in the histor$ of the West.
The dan2er, instead of ?ein2 o%er, onl$ dee>ened, for Hamilton, the
:o%ernor of Detroit, was a resolute official, and, ?urnin2 under
the smart inflicted ?$ the audacious "merican officer, ?e2an the
or2aniation of an o%erwhelmin2 force of British and 3ndians, with
which to mo%e u> the !hio, to 9ort Pitt, ca>turin2 all the settlements
on the wa$, >ur>osin2 also to la$ sie2e to 9ort Kaskaskia itself.
This was alarmin2 tidin2s to Clark, who saw no >ro?a?ilit$ of ?ein2
a?le to hold the countr$, thou2h he resol%ed to make its re4conFuest
dear to the in%aders. The forces which :o%ernor Hamilton was 2atherin2
far outnum?ered his and were eFuall$ e=>erienced, and their march u>
the countr$ >romised to ?e >racticall$ irresisti?le. Besides this,
the :o%ernor 2athered hundreds of 3ndians, who were thirstin2 for the
o>>ortunit$ for massacre and >lunder. Thus, ne%er in the histor$ of the
frontier did a more >ortentous cloud 2ather in its sk$.
3n this hour of 2loom and almost des>air, :eneral Clark learned that
:o%ernor Hamilton, who had reached 9ort St. Jincent44now known as
Jincennes44had di%ided his force, ?$ sendin2 most of the 3ndians
a2ainst the adAoinin2 settlements.
This o>>ortunit$ was similar to those the 2reat ;a>oleon was so Fuick
to >ercei%e, nearl$ a half centur$ later, and which did so much to
esta?lish his mar%elous militar$ 2enius in the e$es of the world.
3t was in the dead of winter, ?ein2 9e?ruar$, +00K, and $et the runner
had scarcel$ come into Kaskaskia with the im>ortant tidin2s, when
:eneral Clark, with one hundred and fift$ >icked men, was threadin2 his
wa$ throu2h the wilderness in the direction of Jincennes. 9ortunatel$
the weather was unusuall$ mild, ?ut when within nine miles of the
enem$, the$ reached the drowned lands of the Wa?ash, where the$ were
com>elled to wade to their arm>its for a lon2 distance, and to use so
much caution in ad%ancin2, that it was fi%e da$s ?efore the entire ?od$
2ot safel$ across.
!n the )Mrd of 9e?ruar$, the "merican force a>>eared ?efore the fort,
and :eneral Clark demanded its surrender. This was >rom>tl$ refused,
and Clark made his >re>arations to take it. "s the 2arrison had not
e=>ected them, he ?e2an a sie2e, carefull$ in%estin2 it as ?est he
could, and confident that it could not hold out lon2.
So it >ro%ed. "t the end of ei2hteen hours it was surrendered ?$
:o%ernor Hamilton, the "mericans not losin2 a man. The 2o%ernor was
sent a >risoner to Williams?ur2, and a lar2e Fuantit$ of stores fell
into the hands of :eneral Clark.
This was a ?rilliant achie%ement indeed, ?ut it was not all. :eneral
Clark ca>tured a con%o$ from Canada on its wa$ to the >ost which had
Aust surrendered, and secured the mail, R,O,***, and fort$ >risoners.
Shortl$ after an e=>ress arri%ed from Jir2inia, thankin2 him and his
2allant com>anions for the reduction of the Kaskaskia countr$E and not
lon2 after, Jir2inia, throu2h the a2enc$ of :eneral Clark, e=tended her
western esta?lishments and erected a num?er of fortifications.
CH"PT#& N3.
Boone leads a Part$ to the Blue Licks to make Salt44Ca>ture
of Boone and Surrender of the #ntire Part$44Conducted to
Detroit44His Ca>tors &efuse to #=chan2e him44He is "do>ted ?$ the
Shawanoes44He disco%ers a 9ormida?le #=>edition is to mo%e a2ainst
Boones?orou2h44His #sca>e and "rri%al at Boones?orou2h44The "ttack
Post>oned44Boone leads a Part$ a2ainst an 3ndian Town on the
Sciota44#ncounter with a War Part$44&eturns to Boones?orou2h44The
State 3n%ested ?$ Ca>tain DuFuesne and a Lar2e 9orce44Boone and
the :arrison determine to Defend it to the Last44Better Terms
!ffered44Treacher$ Sus>ected44The "ttack44The Sie2e &aised.
We ha%e ?een com>elled, in the >recedin2 cha>ter, to carr$ forward
for a few $ears the histor$ of the militar$ and >olitical mo%ements
connected with the earlier histor$ of Kentuck$ in order to 2i%e an
intelli2ent idea of the work >erformed ?$ its 2reat >ioneer Daniel
Boone.
Durin2 the e=citin2 militar$ occurrences to which we ha%e referred,
Boones?orou2h was stirred ?$ a startlin2 disaster.
The settlement was 2reatl$ in need of salt, and, as it was a work
of e=treme difficult$ and dan2er to secure its im>ortation from the
"tlantic States, the much sim>ler method was resorted to of ha%in2 it
manufactured at the Blue Licks, where there was such an a?undance of
?rackish water that the work was easil$ done.
Collectin2 some thirt$ men, Boone set out for the Blue Licks which
were at no 2reat distance, and the$ ?e2an immediatel$ the >rocess of
e%a>oratin2 the water and collectin2 the saline de>osit. Salt is one of
the >rime necessities of life, and the$ were desirous of makin2 enou2h
of it to last them for a lon2 time to come.
The o>eration of salt4makin2 is not a com>licated one, e%en in these
modern da$s, and there was scarcel$ the work to kee> the whole thirt$
men ?us$ all the time. "s mi2ht ?e su>>osed, Boone s>ent man$ hours in
huntin2.
3t is >ro?a?le that the 3ndians, learnin2 of the weakened condition
of Boones?orou2h, had determined on attackin2 it with a force which
>romised to insure its ca>ture. 9or this >ur>ose the$ 2athered two
hundred warriors and started for the settlement, without Boone or an$
of his >art$ sus>ectin2 the dan2er that was mo%in2 down u>on their
friends.
Still further, knowin2 that the unsus>icious white men were en2a2ed
at the Licks, the lar2e force of 3ndians turned in that direction and
ad%anced with the noiselessness of so man$ shadows.
Daniel Boone, at that Auncture, was alone, huntin2 in the woods, when
he came face to face with the two hundred warriors, who a>>eared as
suddenl$ as if cast u> ?$ the earth.
Without sto>>in2 to >arle$, Boone whirled a?out and started on a dead
run, dartin2 in and out amon2 the trees, doin2 his utmost to dod2e the
?ullets that he e=>ected would ?e sent after him, and to >lace himself
?e$ond si2ht of the 3ndians, who were desirous of securin2 so renowned
a man as he.
But Boone was not so $oun2 as when he had his former des>erate
encounters with the red men, and the doen warriors who instantl$ s>ed
after him were amon2 the fleetest of their tri?e.
The >ioneer made 2ood >ro2ress, ?ut as he 2lanced furti%el$ o%er his
shoulder e%er$ few seconds, he saw that the sa%a2es were 2ainin2
ra>idl$ u>on him, and his ca>ture was certain. He held out as lon2 as
there was the sli2htest ho>e, ?ut soon a?ru>tl$ halted and surrendered.
There is somethin2 sin2ular in the consideration which the 3ndians
showed Boone on more than one occasion. 3t will ?e remem?ered that
when he and Stuart were ca>tured, the$ were ke>t da$ after da$, until
the$ 2ained a chance to esca>eE and, in the >resent instance, the
ca>tors conducted him ?ack to the main ?od$, where he was still held a
>risoner, no harm ?ein2 offered him.
This was at a time when the fur$ of the sa%a2es was stirred to the
hi2hest >oint a2ainst the settlers, and when the treacherous ?ullet,
the crashin2 tomahawk, the deadl$ knife and the smoke of the ?urnin2
ca?in were more t$>ical of the manner of warfare, than were an$ of the
amenities of ci%ilied, contendin2 forces.
3t ma$ ha%e ?een the 3ndians reco2nied the im>ortance of the ca>ture
the$ had made in the >erson of the 2reat Daniel Boone, for the$ treated
him kindl$ and conducted him ?ack to the Blue Licks, where the rest of
the settlers were encam>ed.
There, u>on the solemn >romise of the 3ndians to s>are their li%es and
2i%e them 2ood treatment, Boone surrendered the entire command to them.
Boone was court4martialed for this act, and, whether he deser%ed credit
for it or not, is hard to determine. Such a darin2 officer as :eneral
Clark ne%er would ha%e surrendered under such circumstances, and thirt$
frontiersmen of to4da$ would 2i%e a 2ood account of themsel%es a2ainst
an a?ori2inal force of ten times their num?er.
!n the other hand, the >artisans of the >ioneer >lead that he saw
that it was unFuestiona?l$ the ?est thin2 to ?e done, inasmuch as the
maAorit$ of the 3ndians would turn ?ack with their >risoners, and thus
Boones?orou2h would ?e sa%ed from an attack, which, in its weakened
condition, it would scarcel$ ?e a?le to resist.
3t will ?e seen that this is not a conclusi%e ar2ument ?$ an$ means,
for if the war >art$ had a>>eared ?efore the stockades with the thirt$
>risoners and threatened to >ut them to the torture, ?efore the e$es of
their families, the$ could ha%e secured an$ terms the$ chose. !n the
other hand, the two hundred sa%a2es could ha%e e=terminated the little
?and in the woods as utterl$ as did Sittin2 Bull and his warriors the
forces of :eneral Custer nearl$ a hundred $ears later. 3t ma$ ?e set
down, therefore, that the court4martial which acFuitted Boone, %oiced
the so?er second thou2ht of his friends in this much dis>uted matter.
There is reason to ?elie%e that the 3ndians felt a 2enuine admiration
for the >ioneer, for the$ ke>t in s>irit and letter the a2reement the$
made res>ectin2 the treatment of himself and comrades. The ca>ture of
so lar2e a force, includin2 the leader himself, was an achie%ement on
the >art of the 3ndians callin2 for 2reat self4con2ratulation, as the$
started with their ca>ti%es for old Chillicothe, on the <iami.
!ld Chillicothe was the >rinci>al town of the Shawanoes who had taken
Boone, and as it was in the de>th of winter, the march throu2h the
wilderness occu>$in2 three da$s was %er$ se%ere. !n this Aourne$ the
3ndians treated the whites well, sharin2 their food with them, and onl$
showin2 ?$ their unremittin2 %i2ilance that the$ re2arded them in the
li2ht of >risoners.
The$ were ke>t at the Shawanoe %illa2e se%eral weeks, and then the
>ioneer and ten of his men were conducted to Detroit 6which at that
time was a British 2arrison7, and, with the e=ce>tion of Boone, were
>resented to the commandant, who showed them much consideration.
The commandant was desirous of securin2 Boone, and reFuested the
3ndians to ?rin2 him in, ?ut the$ refused. " num?er of >rominent
2entlemen in Detroit, who knew of the >ioneer, Aoined with the officer
in offerin2 a lar2e reward for Boone, with the >ur>ose of e=chan2e, or
of sendin2 him ?ack to his famil$ at Boones?orou2h.
The Shawanoes were deaf to the >roffers, and, to end the anno$ance,
started for their %illa2es on the <iami, takin2 the leader with them.
The truth was, the red4men had formed a feelin2 of stron2 friendshi>
for their famous >risoner, and were determined to ado>t him. 3t was
with such an intention that the$ left Detroit and made their wa$
throu2h the woods to their own towns, occu>$in2 more than two weeks in
the Aourne$.
&eachin2 their destination at last, Boone was formall$ ado>ted into the
Shawanoe tri?e. &es>ectin2 this no%el ceremon$, Peck, the ?io2ra>her of
Boone, sa$s:
BThe forms of the ceremon$ of ado>tion were often se%ere and ludicrous.
The hair of the head is >lucked out ?$ a >ainful and tedious o>eration,
lea%in2 a tuft some three or four inches in diameter on the crown for
the scal>4lock, which is cut and dressed u> with ri??ons and feathers.
The candidate is then taken into the ri%er in a state of nudit$, and
there thorou2hl$ washed and ru??ed, Ito take all his white ?lood out.I
This a?lution is usuall$ >erformed ?$ females. He is then taken to the
council4house, where the chief makes a s>eech, in which he e=>atiates
u>on the distin2uished honors conferred on him. His head and face are
>ainted in the most a>>ro%ed and fashiona?le st$le, and the ceremon$ is
concluded with a 2rand feast and smokin2.B
Boone had now ?een chan2ed from a white to a red manE that is, in the
e$es of the red4men themsel%es, and his nati%e shrewdness and cunnin2
told him that his true course was so to conduct himself as to 2i%e the
Shawanoes the im>ression that he shared their o>inion with them.
Ha%in2 recei%ed the ceremon$ of ado>tion, and well aware of the stron2
friendshi> the mem?ers of the tri?e felt for him, he knew he was in no
>ersonal dan2er, so lon2 as he chose to remain one of them.
But nothin2 could ?e further from his intentions than that of s>endin2
an$ considera?le time with the Shawanoes, ?ut he was well aware that
?ut one o>>ortunit$ of esca>e would ?e offered himE should he fail, no
second chance would >resent itself. 3t will therefore ?e seen that no
>recaution was to ?e ne2lected that >romised to add to the >ros>ect of
success.
He could not ?ut feel an=ious concernin2 his wife and children, and he
was uneas$ o%er the situation of Boones?orou2hE so much so, that he
resol%ed to seie the first o>>ortunit$ of lea%in2, and to >ress his
efforts with such %i2or that he could scarcel$ fail.
He ado>ted his old custom of >retendin2 to ?e satisfied with his
condition, and of holdin2 no thou2ht of runnin2 awa$. "lthou2h little
else was left for him to do, it was not to ?e e=>ected that it would
decei%e the 3ndians or lead them to rela= their %i2ilance to an$
>erce>ti?le e=tent. The$ must ha%e known it was the %er$ strata2em he
had ado>ted successfull$ a few $ears ?efore with their >eo>le, ?esides
?ein2 the one which would naturall$ occur to a >risoner.
3n the month of 'une, +00(, a com>an$ of Shawanoes went to the Sciota
Licks to make salt, takin2 Boone with them. He thou2ht the chance
>romised to ?e a 2ood one for 2ettin2 awa$, and he was on the alert.
But the 3ndians were eFuall$ so, and the$ ke>t him so ?us$ o%er the
kettles that he dared not make the attem>t. 9inall$, ha%in2 secured
all the$ wished of salt, the$ started homeward a2ain, and reachin2 old
Chillicothe, BooneIs heart was filled with consternation at the si2ht
of ,O* warriors in their >aint, full$ armed and read$ to march u>on
Boones?orou2h.
This was a formida?le force indeed, more than dou?le that a2ainst which
the 2arrison had e%er ?een forced to defend themsel%es, and it seemed
to the >ioneer as if the settlement, his famil$ and all his friends
were doomed to destruction.
3t was now or ne%er with Boone: if his esca>e was to >ro%e of an$
?enefit to others than himself, it would not do to dela$ it an$ lon2er.
The settlers were unaware of their dan2er and unless dul$ warned, were
likel$ to fall %ictims to Shawanoe cunnin2 and atrocit$.
Boone determined to lea%e within the succeedin2 twent$4four hours, no
matter how des>erate the chance, and once ?e$ond si2ht of his ca>tors,
he would >ush forward ni2ht and da$ until he could reach Boones?orou2h.
But ea2er as he was to 2o, no o>>ortunit$ >resented itself that da$
or e%enin2. His acti%e ?rain continued ?usil$ at work, and, ?efore he
closed his e$es in snatches of fitful slum?er, he had decided on the
course to >ursue.
He rose earl$ the ne=t mornin2, and started out for a short hunt, as he
had freFuentl$ done, for such a strata2em >romised to 2i%e him more
chance of 2ettin2 a 2ood start of his >ursuers, it ?ein2 naturall$
su>>osed that the hour of a hunterIs return is one of the most
uncertain occurrences in this world.
The >ioneer was one hundred and si=t$ miles from Boones?orou2h, ?ut
he was scarcel$ out of si2ht of the 3ndians, when he headed strai2ht
for the settlement, and ran like a man who realies it is a case of
life and death. 3t was a lon2 distance to tram>, where the need was
so ur2ent, ?ut the fu2iti%e was s>urred on ?$ the stron2est of all
incenti%es.
He did not s>are himself. He had concealed enou2h for one meal a?out
his >erson ?efore startin2, and this was all he ate while makin2
the lon2 Aourne$ occu>$in2 fi%e da$s. He did not dare to sto> lon2
enou2h to shoot an$ 2ame, for fear his >ursuers would ?e u>on him.
He took man$ >recautions to conceal his trail, ?ut was fearful that
the >iercin2 e$es of the Shawanoes would not ?e decei%ed. He was
a>>rehensi%e, too, that if he should fire his 2un, the re>ort would
?rin2 his %en2eful ca>tors u>on him.
Clim?in2 some ele%ation, he looked searchin2l$ ?ack o%er the route
tra%eled, for si2ht of the smoke of the tell4tale cam>4fire, or that of
the mo%in2 fi2ures close on his trail.
But he saw none, and at the close of the fifth da$, tired, hun2r$, and
worn, he made his a>>earance in front of the Boones?orou2h stockade and
was admitted with amaement and deli2ht ?$ his friends, who ?elie%ed
he had ?een killed lon2 ?efore. So 2eneral, indeed, was this ?elief
in his death that his wife and famil$ had mo%ed ?ack to their home in
;orth Carolina some time >re%ious.
'ust as he had feared, he found the station in the %er$ condition
to fall a >re$ to the 3ndians. 3ts immunit$ from attack for months
>re%ious had induced carelessness and indifference, and had the immense
war >art$ of Shawanoes a>>eared at the same time with the >ioneer, the
fort could not ha%e held out an hour ?efore a %i2orous attack.
But BooneIs >resence ins>ired coura2e, and the 2arrison and settlers
set to work instantl$. #%er$thin2 was done to >ut the station in the
?est >ossi?le state for defence. There was not an hour to lose, for
it was su>>osed the sa%a2es would ?e directl$ u>on the heels of the
>ioneer, and a constant and %i2ilant lookout was maintained.
But the hours >assed, and no 3ndians a>>eared: in fact, the esca>e of
Boone >ro%ed the sal%ation of the settlement named after him, in a
manner alto2ether unsus>ected.
Shortl$ after the fli2ht of the >ioneer, another of his friends
succeeded in 2ettin2 awa$, and he came into the station with the
2ratif$in2 news that the march a2ainst Boones?orou2h had ?een >ost>oned
for three weeks on account of the fli2ht of Boone, whose >ur>ose was
di%ined at once ?$ the 3ndians.
This >ost>onement was a most >ro%idential thin2, not onl$ for
Boones?orou2h itself, ?ut for all the stations alon2 the frontier, for
it 2a%e them time in which to make e%er$ >re>aration for the attacks
which were foreshadowed ?$ the 3ndian s>ies that were encountered in
e%er$ direction.
9inall$ Boone determined to make an offensi%e mo%ement, with a %iew
of strikin2 somethin2 like fear into the hearts of the 3ndians who
were meditatin2 these attacks, and e=citin2 a corres>ondin2 de2ree of
confidence amon2 his friends.
!n a ?ri2ht mornin2 earl$ in "u2ust, with nineteen >icked men, he left
the station and started for one of the 3ndian towns on the Sciota,
intendin2 to effect its ca>ture ?efore an$thin2 like an effecti%e
resistance could ?e made.
To accom>lish such a work in an 3ndian countr$, reFuires the utmost
secrec$ and celerit$ of mo%ement. ;o time, therefore, was lost on the
road, when once the start was made, and, threadin2 their wa$ ra>idl$
throu2h the forest, the$ ad%anced strai2ht toward the 3ndian town, and
were within a few miles, when, to their astonishment, the$ encountered
thirt$ of its warriors who were hurr$in2 to Aoin the main ?od$ that at
that moment was marchin2 a2ainst Boones?orou2h.
The instant the forces cau2ht si2ht of each other, a re2ular
?ushwhackin2 fire ?e2an, lastin2 onl$ a few minutes, when the 3ndians
?roke and fled, ha%in2 one ?ra%e killed and two wounded. ;one of the
whites were hurt, and the$ ca>tured se%eral horses and such >ro>ert$ as
the 3ndians could not take awa$ with them.
Two of the swiftest runners were instantl$ sent to the 3ndian town,
and the$ came ?ack with news that it was e%acuated. The flank mo%ement,
therefore, of the settlers had accom>lished nothin2.
!nl$ one thin2 remained to ?e done: the 3ndians were mo%in2 u>on
Boones?orou2h, ?ut there was a >ossi?ilit$ of Boone and his men 2ettin2
there ahead of them. The$ turned a?out and the race ?e2an.
!n the si=th da$, Boone found himself at the same distance from
Boones?orou2h as was the main ?od$E ?$ the e=ercise of 2reat care,
he and his men a%oided o?ser%ation and 2ot ahead of them, reachin2
the station on the se%enth da$, while the formida?le enem$ made their
a>>earance ?efore the town on the ei2hth da$.
The war >art$ was a lar2e one, indeed, and looked irresisti?le. 3t had
the British ?anners fl$in2, and was commanded ?$ Ca>tain DuFuesne, with
ele%en other Canadian 9renchmen and a num?er of the most >rominent
3ndian chiefs, while the woods seemed to ?e literall$ ali%e with
warriors. <an$ a settler, as he looked out u>on the scene, felt that
resistance to such a force was useless and the end of Boones?orou2h was
close at hand.
Ca>tain DuFuesne, with 2reat confidence in his a?ilit$ to ca>ture the
>lace, sent in a demand to Ca>tain Boone to surrender it at once in the
name of his Britannic <aAest$. Boone, in re>l$, asked to ?e allowed
two da$s in which to consider the summons, and DuFuesne 2ranted the
reFuest.
Boone at once summoned his friends to council, and found, when
the$ were 2athered, that there were onl$ fift$E ?ut, after a full
interchan2e of %iews, the$ decided to defend the station to the last
man. The in%estin2 force num?ered at the least calculation full$ ten
times as man$ as the$, and a >rolon2ed resistance would ?e sure to
e=cite them to the hi2hest de2ree of fur$E ?ut the resolution was
unanimous, and there was no falterin2 on the >art of the intre>id
commander or an$ of his comrades.
"t the e=>iration of the two da$s, Boone a>>eared at one of the
?astions and announced his intention of defendin2 the >lace, at the
same time thankin2 the 9rench commander for his courtes$ in 2i%in2 him
the fort$4ei2ht hours in which to make his >re>arations a2ainst attack.
Ca>tain DuFuesne was sur>rised and disa>>ointed o%er this decision,
for he seems to ha%e ?een confident that the settlers, after so?erl$
thinkin2 o%er and discussin2 the matter, would see not onl$ the
uselessness, ?ut the suicidal foll$ of a resistance, which would
e=as>erate the 3ndians, who would ?e irrestraina?le in their %en2eance,
after the fall of the station.
The British commander was so an=ious to secure the surrender of
Boones?orou2h, that he immediatel$ >ro>osed more ad%anta2eous terms,
makin2 them so li?eral, indeed, that Boone and ei2ht of his com>anions
acce>ted the in%itation to 2o outside with a %iew of holdin2 a
conference.
Boone and his escort went forth in 2ood faith, ?ut the$ had not ?een
in the clearin2 lon2 when it ?ecame e%ident that a tra> was set and
treacher$ intended.
B$ a sudden concerted mo%ement, the whites esca>ed from the Shawanoes,
who were seekin2 to surround them, and dashin2 into the 2ates, closed
them and hastened to the ?astions, where the$ stood read$ to answer the
British ca>tain at the mule of the rifle.
The fi2ht commenced at once, a hot fire ?ein2 o>ened from e%er$
direction u>on the fort, ?ut the >ioneers returned it so shar>l$, and
with such >recision, that the 3ndians were forced to shelter themsel%es
?ehind stum>s and trees, from which the$ could dischar2e their 2uns
with less certaint$ of aim.
Ca>tain DuFuesne 2ained a more a>>reciati%e idea of the skill of the
Kentuck$ marksmen than he had e%er held ?efore, for the station was not
onl$ well 2uarded on e%er$ side, ?ut it seemed im>ossi?le for a warrior
to show himself for a second without ?ein2 >erforated ?$ some settler,
whose rifle sent out its shar>, whi>like crack, whene%er an Bo>enin2B
>resented itself.
So ceaseless was the %i2ilance of the whites, and so accurate and
deadl$ their aim, that Ca>tain DuFuesne Fuickl$ >ercei%ed that des>ite
the o%erwhelmin2 num?ers at his command, he would ha%e to tr$ some
other method other than the desultor$ firin2, which >romised to
accom>lish a?solutel$ nothin2 at all.
He therefore determined to undermine and ?low u> the 2arrison.
3t was not Fuite two hundred feet from the fort to the ?ank of the
ri%er, where the Canadians and 3ndians at once ?e2an di22in2 in the
direction of the stockades.
But the dan2erous work of minin2 is alwa$s o>en to defeat ?$
counterminin2, as was >ro%en ?$ the 2allant defenders of 9ort
PresFI3sle, when the$ were so sorel$ >ressed, and Boone instantl$ set
his men at work.
"s the dirt was cast u>, it was also thrown o%er the >ickets, the
>ur>ose ?ein2 that Ca>tain DuFuesne should ?e a>>rised that his scheme
was disco%ered, and the settlers were en2a2ed in the same >roceedin2s.
Boone learned what the ?esie2ers were doin2, ?$ o?ser%in2 that the
water ?elow the fort was mudd$, while it was clear a?o%e.
Ca>tain DuFuesne saw that it was idle to >rosecute this method of
attack, when the enem$ were counterminin2, and he 2a%e it o%er.
But he had with him, as we ha%e shown, the most formida?le force that
in all the histor$ of Boones?orou2h was e%er 2athered ?efore it, and he
dou?ted not that it must fall ?efore a re2ular sie2e.
"ccordin2l$ he in%ested it, intendin2 to star%e the 2arrison into
su?mission, if no other method >resented itself, for there was nothin2
to ?e feared in the wa$ of re4enforcements comin2 to the assistance of
the defenders.
The sie2e lasted nine da$s. Durin2 this time, the settlers had onl$
two men killed, while some of the ?esie2ers were constantl$ fallin2
?efore their deadl$ rifles. The$ could accom>lish nothin2, and Ca>tain
DuFuesne decided to raise the sie2e.
CH"PT#& N33.
The Peculiar Position of Boones?orou2h44Boone reAoins his 9amil$ in
;orth Carolina44&eturns to Boones?orou2h44&o??ed of a Lar2e "mount
of <one$443ncreased #mi2ration to the West44Colonel &o2ers and his
Part$ almost "nnihilated44Ca>tain DenhamIs Stran2e "d%enture.
3t must ha%e caused Ca>tain DuFuesne 2reat mortification to come to
this conclusion, after settin2 out with a force ten times as 2reat as
that a2ainst which he contended, and with e%er$ reason to count u>on
successE ?ut his >ro%isions were almost e=hausted, and nearl$ e%er$
time he heard the shar> crack of a rifle from the defences it meant
that he had one less warrior than ?efore. The >ros>ect of his trium>h
was diminishin2 slowl$, ?ut none the less steadil$, da$ ?$ da$.
5nder such circumstances there was ?ut one thin2 to do, and that was to
raise the sie2e. This was done at the close of the ninth da$ after the
attack, ha%in2 lost, as is stated, thirt$4se%en men, with a much lar2er
num?er wounded.
Boones?orou2h was ne%er a2ain su?Aected to a formida?le assault ?$
3ndians. 3t had 2one throu2h its crucial >eriod, and there was man$ a
da$ and hour when it seemed certain that the ad%anced station in the
wilderness must succum? to the hordes of 3ndians who, like so man$
fierce ?loodhounds, were ?oundin2 a2ainst the stockades.
" >eculiar condition of the settlement of the West now acted as a
shield to Boones?orou2h. Between the site of the station and the !hio
&i%er were continuall$ s>rin2in2 u> smaller stations, and man$ of these
were so weak as to in%ite attack, while Boones?orou2h had >ro%ed her
>owers of resistance.
The 3ndians were too wise to >ass ?e$ond the weaker stations with a
%iew of attackin2 one further awa$ and much stron2er. 3t therefore
came to >ass, as alread$ stated, that the sie2e of which we ha%e made
mention was the last dan2er to which Boones?orou2h was su?Aected.
Somethin2 like >eace and Fuietness came to the station, where e%er$
stockade was >ierced with ?ullets, and the settlers ?e2an more
earnestl$ the work of clearin2 the land for culti%ation.
The o>>ortunit$ ha%in2 >resented itself for the first time, Boone set
out for ;orth Carolina to Aoin his famil$. "s the$ were mournin2 him
for dead, their e=citement and deli2ht >ossi?l$ ma$ ?e ima2ined, when
the hard$ hunter came smilin2l$ out of the woods, and, catchin2 u> his
little ones in his arms, kissed them o%er and o%er a2ain and >ressed
his ha>>$ wife to his heart.
He had a stran2e stor$ to tell them of his ca>ti%it$ amon2 the
3ndians44his esca>e, his tram> throu2h the forest, the attack u>on
Boones?orou2h and the re>ulse of the British and 3ndians, and finall$
his lon2 Aourne$ o%er mountain and wood to reAoin them.
Boone sta$ed in ;orth Carolina all winter with his famil$, who
dou?tless would ha%e ?een 2lad to remain there still lon2erE ?ut the
fires of the &e%olution were flamin2 and ?rin2in2 2reat sufferin2 and
>ri%ation, and the >ioneer showed that Boones?orou2h could ne%er a2ain
?e >laced in serious >eril.
The followin2 summer, therefore, Boone and his famil$ went ?ack to
the station, where he set the 2ood e=am>le of de%otin2 his ener2ies
to the culti%ation of the tract of land which ?elon2ed to him, and to
assistin2 other immi2rants that were >ourin2 into the countr$. This
was a work as su?stantial in its wa$ as roamin2 the woods in search of
2ame, as was his fa%orite custom in his earlier da$s.
"nd $et, while thus en2a2ed, he was su?Aected to a 2reat anno$ance if
not humiliation. He was o>enl$ accused of cowardice for his surrender
of his >art$ at the Blue Licks the >recedin2 $ear. Colonel &ichard
Callawa$ and Colonel BenAamin Lo2an ?rou2ht char2es a2ainst him, which,
as hinted in another >lace, led to his trial ?$ court4martial. His two
friends were induced to do this as an act of Austice to Boone, and with
a %iew of settin2 at rest the accusations continuall$ made in certain
Fuarters.
Without 2i%in2 the >articulars of the court4martial, it is sufficient
to mention as its direct result, Ca>tain BooneIs >romotion to the rank
of maAor and his increased >o>ularit$ with all his citiens.
" misfortune, howe%er, o%ertook the >ioneer, which >ro?a?l$ caused him
more mental sufferin2 than an$thin2 that took >lace durin2 his lon2,
e%entful life.
" commission ha%in2 ?een a>>ointed ?$ le2islature to settle Kentuck$
land claims, <aAor Boone attested his faith in the future of the $oun2
State ?$ 2atherin2 all his funds, with which he started for &ichmond,
with the intention of in%estin2 the entire amount in lands.
!n the road he was ro??ed of e%er$ dollar. Boone makes no mention of
the distressin2 circumstance in his auto?io2ra>h$, and none of the
>articulars are knownE ?ut, as he had a 2reat man$ sums entrusted to
him ?$ friends, it will ?e understood that this misfortune amounted in
realit$ to a >u?lic calamit$.
Howe%er, the ro??er$ did not im>air the confidence which was 2enerall$
felt in BooneIs inte2rit$. Those who knew him ?est, knew he was the
soul of honor,44one who would under2o >ri%ation and sufferin2 at an$
time rather than inflict it u>on others.
The o>inion of the >eo>le is ?est shown in the followin2 letter written
?$ Colonel Thomas Hart, of Le=in2ton, Kentuck$, dated :ra$fields,
"u2ust M, +0(*:
B3 o?ser%e what $ou sa$ res>ectin2 our losses ?$ Daniel Boone. 6Boone
had ?een ro??ed of funds in >art ?elon2in2 to T. and ;. Hart7. 3 had
heard of the misfortune soon after it ha>>ened, ?ut not of m$ ?ein2
>artaker ?efore now. 3 feel for the >oor >eo>le who, >erha>s, are to
lose their >reem>tionsE ?ut 3 must sa$, 3 feel more for Boone, whose
character 3 am told suffers ?$ it. <uch de2enerated must the >eo>le
of this a2e ?e, when amon2 them are to ?e found men to censure and
?last the re>utation of a >erson so Aust and u>ri2ht, and in whose
?reast is a seat of %irtue too >ure to admit of a thou2ht so ?ase and
dishonora?le. 3 ha%e known Boone in times of old, when >o%ert$ and
distress had him fast ?$ the handE and in these wretched circumstances,
3 ha%e e%er found him of a no?le and 2enerous soul, des>isin2 e%er$
thin2 meanE and therefore 3 will freel$ 2rant him a dischar2e for
whate%er sums of mine he mi2ht ha%e ?een >ossessed of at the time.B
There was 2eneral >eace, so to s>eak, alon2 the frontier, and that >art
of our countr$ took immense strides in the march of ci%iliationE and
$et the $ear +00K is noted for the occurrence of one of the ?loodiest
?attles that e%er was fou2ht in that >ortion of the West.
3n the autumn of the $ear, Colonel &o2ers, who had ?een to ;ew !rleans
to >rocure su>>lies for the >osts on the u>>er <ississi>>i, made his
wa$ ?ack until he came o>>osite the >resent site of Cincinnati.
"s he reached that >oint he disco%ered the 3ndians comin2 out of the
mouth of the Little <iami, in a lar2e num?er of canoes, and crossin2
to the Kentuck$ side of the !hio. He determined at once to attem>t a
sur>rise, with a %iew of cuttin2 them off, as the$ effected a landin2.
The !hio was Fuite low at that season, and was %er$ shallow on the
southern shore, a lon2 sand4?ar e=tendin2 alon2 the ?ank. Colonel
&o2ers landed his men, some se%ent$ in num?er, u>on this ?ar, and
started them for a >oint a short distance awa$, where he ho>ed to
effect the ca>ture of the entire >art$ of 3ndians.
But &o2ers had made a most fearful miscalculation.
The$ had scarcel$ started toward the s>ot, when the$ were fiercel$
attacked ?$ a lar2e force of 3ndians, num?erin2 full$ two hundred. The$
first >oured in a terri?le %olle$ and then s>rin2in2 to their feet,
rushed u>on the >anic4stricken whites, with their kni%es and tomahawks.
Before this hurricane4like char2e, Colonel &o2ers and more than fort$
of his men were almost instantl$ killed. Those who were not shot down,
made a frenied fli2ht to the ri%er, with the warriors at their heels.
But the 2uards left in char2e of the ?oats were so terrified ?$ the
disaster, that the$ hurriedl$ rowed out in the ri%er a2ain, without
waitin2 to take their im>eriled comrades a?oard.
Cau2ht thus ?etween two fires, the remnants turned a?out, and, makin2
a des>erate char2e u>on their enemies, succeeded in forcin2 their wa$
throu2h the furious warriors, and those who sur%i%ed mana2ed to reach
Harrods?ur2.
3n this ?attle, or massacre, as it ma$ well ?e called, si=t$ whites,
includin2 the commander, Colonel &o2ers, were killed, a loss onl$
eFualed ?$ that of the Blue Licks some time >re%ious. The disaster
s>read a 2loom o%er the frontier, and awakened a dread in some
Fuarters that the 3ndians would ?e roused to com?ined action a2ainst
the settlements, and that a lon2 series of disasters were likel$ to
follow.
3t was at this ?attle that an incident took >lace, almost too
incredi?le for ?elief, ?ut it is esta?lished u>on the ?est authorit$.
"mon2 those who were wounded ?$ the terrific %olle$ >oured into the
whites was Ca>tain Denham, who was shot throu2h ?oth hi>s in such a
manner that the ?ones were ?roken, and he was de>ri%ed of the use of
his le2s. ;e%ertheless he mana2ed to dra2 himself to the to> of a
fallen tree hard ?$, where he hid himself until the ?attle was o%er and
the 3ndians 2one.
His condition was de>lora?le, for as his friends had fled, he could not
e=>ect an$ assistance, and it looked indeed as if it would ha%e ?een a
merc$ had he ?een killed outri2ht.
Howe%er, he ke>t u> a ?ra%e heart and was a?le to reach the side of
the ri%er to drink, when his consumin2 thirst came u>on him. Thus he
li%ed until the close of the second da$, when he disco%ered that some
one else was hidin2 near him. Whoe%er he was, the ca>tain concluded it
must ?e a wounded >erson and most likel$ one of his own race, inasmuch
as the 3ndians alwa$s take off their wounded when the o>>ortunit$ is
>resented them.
"ccordin2l$ the ca>tain hailed him, and sure enou2h found it was a
comrade, who was wounded in ?oth arms, so as to make them useless.
Both were >luck$ soldiers, and as there seemed to ?e a man B?etween
them,B the$ formed a stran2e >artnershi>.
The ca>tain did the shootin2, while his friend carried him a?out on his
shoulders, from >lace to >lace.
3n this manner the$ e=isted until the )0th of Se>tem?er, when the$
hailed a >assin2 flat4?oat, which took them to Louis%ille, where the$
e%entuall$ reco%ered and li%ed man$ $ears afterward.
CH"PT#& N333.
Colonel BowmanIs #=>edition443ts Disastrous 9ailure44Death of BooneIs
Son44#sca>e of Boone44Colonel B$rdIs 3n%asion44Ca>ture of &uddellIs
and <artinIs Station44Darin2 #sca>e of Ca>tain Hinkston.
"n in%asion of the 3ndian countr$ is alwa$s >o>ular on the frontier,
and when Colonel Bowman, known to ?e a 2ood soldier, issued his call
for %olunteers, shortl$ after the massacre of Colonel &o2ers and his
command, there was no lack of res>onses.
He reFuested them to meet at Harrods?ur2, for the >ur>ose of mo%in2
a2ainst the 3ndian town of Chillicothe, and there in a short time
were 2athered three hundred men, amon2 them ?ein2 the %eteran 3ndian
fi2hters, Harrod and Lo2an, each holdin2 rank as Ca>tain, ?ut Boone was
not a mem?er of the e=>edition.
The com>an$ was a formida?le one, and it started from Harrods?ur2
in the month of 'ul$, >ressin2 forward throu2h the woods with such
celerit$ and skill that it reached the nei2h?orhood of the 3ndian towns
at ni2htfall without its a>>roach ?ein2 sus>ected.
Here a consultation was held, and it was decided to attack the >lace at
the fa%orite hour of the sa%a2es44Aust ?efore the ?reak of da$44and the
>lan of assault was a2reed u>on.
"d%ancin2 close to the 3ndian town, the little arm$ se>arated into two
eFual di%isions, Colonel Bowman retainin2 command of one, while Ca>tain
Lo2an led the other. The latter officer was to mo%e half wa$ round the
town, while the Colonel was to 2o the other wa$, until the$ met, when
the su>erior officer would 2i%e the si2nal for an attack Ball alon2 the
line.B
Ca>tain Lo2an o?e$ed his orders >rom>tl$, and, reachin2 the >oint
a2reed u>on, halted and awaited his su>erior. But unaccounta?l$ Colonel
Bowman did not a>>ear.
Lo2an remained motionless until his im>atience 2a%e wa$ to uneasiness,
as he saw the minutes sli>>in2 ?$, and he determined to find out the
cause of the dela$. His men were concealed in the lon2 2rass, when the
li2ht of da$ ?roke o%er the woods, ?ut Lo2an, mo%in2 here and there,
could learn nothin2 of his su>erior.
Se%eral of his own men, in shiftin2 their >ositions, the ?etter to
hide themsel%es, attracted the attention of some 3ndian do2s, which
instantl$ set u> a ?arkin2. This ?rou2ht out a warrior, who mo%ed
cautiousl$ in the direction where the o?Aect that alarmed the canine
seemed to ?e. He >ro?a?l$ had no thou2ht that white men were near at
hand, and he mi2ht ha%e ?een made >risoner, ?ut, as is often the case,
and as seems to ha%e ?een the rule on the frontier, at the %er$ crisis
the whites committed a fatal >iece of carelessness. !ne of the hunters
fired his 2un.
"s Fuick as li2htnin2 the truth flashed u>on the warrior, and whirlin2
a?out, he ran like a deer to his ca?in. 3n an incredi?l$ short s>ace of
time, the entire %illa2e was alarmed. Lo2an >lainl$ heard the Shawanoes
hurr$in2 the women and children to the woods, throu2h the co%er of a
rid2e stretchin2 ?etween them and the other di%ision of soldiers.
<eantime the warriors >re>ared themsel%es for the attack, ?$ 2atherin2
with their 2uns in a stron2 ca?in, dou?tless intended as a fort or
means of defence, while Lo2an and his men took >ossession of a num?er
of lod2es from which the sa%a2es had withdrawn.
He determined u>on usin2 the material of these sim>le structures as
shields in reachin2 the stron2hold of the Shawanoes, and his men were
a?out to make the ad%ance, confident of success, when orders came from
Colonel Bowman to retreat at once.
The Colonel disco%ered that the 3ndians had not ?een com>letel$
sur>rised, as was intended, and he thou2ht it too dan2erous to %enture
u>on an attack under such conditions44hence the order to Ca>tain Lo2an
to e=tricate his force while there was o>>ortunit$ of doin2 so.
The order was recei%ed with amaement, ?ut there was no choice ?ut to
o?e$, Bthou2h the$ knew some one had ?lundered.B The >osition of the
assailants was such that an orderl$ retreat was difficult, and it soon
?ecame im>ossi?leE the men felt that each must look out for himself,
and the$ ?roke and scattered for the wood, runnin2 the 2auntlet of the
destructi%e fire of the warriors, who shot, as ma$ ?e said, at their
leisure.
"fter the loss of se%eral li%es Lo2anIs force 2ot out of its dan2erous
ad%anced >osition, Aoined the other di%ision under command of Colonel
Bowman, and the retreat was continued in the direction of Harrods?ur2
with some sem?lance of order.
But nothin2 2i%es a foe 2reater coura2e than the si2ht of a retreatin2
o>>onent, and when the Shawanoes saw the stron2 force of %olunteers
hurr$in2 awa$, the$ too rushed from their fort and assailed them. There
were less than fift$ warriors, while the whites num?ered almost si=
times as man$, and $et the retreat was continued in the face of the
insi2nificant num?er of sa%a2es, who fired u>on them from e%er$ >oint
of %anta2e, the settlers continuall$ fallin2 ?ack, as did the British
?efore the 2allin2 shots of the %olunteers at Le=in2ton.
There ha%e ?een those who defended the course of Colonel Bowman in this
distressin2 affair, and who insist that his onl$ course was to retreat
?efore the attack of a much more numerous force than his own, ?ut it
seems clear he lost his head from the moment he came in si2ht of the
%illa2e. He failed to com>l$ with his share of the mo%ement as arran2ed
?$ himself, and when the Shawanoes rallied and >ursued his men, instead
of turnin2 a?out and scatterin2 them, he continued retreatin2 in a
disorderl$ fashion, 2i%in2 no orders, ?ut allowin2 e%er$ one to do as
he thou2ht ?est.
But some of his su?ordinates were ?etter officers than he, and when
the Colonel halted his force in the worst >ossi?le >osition, Lo2an,
Harrod, and se%eral others mounted the >ack4horses and dashed throu2h
the woods in the direction of the 2allin2 shots. The noted Blackfish
was leadin2 the warriors, and unless checked, the indications were that
the whites would ?e cut off to a man.
Ca>tains Lo2an and Harrod, with their ?ra%e comrades, char2ed where%er
the$ cau2ht si2ht of 3ndians, or whene%er the flash of a 2un was seen,
and after some %i2orous work, the$ killed the chief Blackfish and
dis>ersed the rest of his warriors.
The road thus cleared, Colonel BowmanIs cri>>led command continued its
retreat, and finall$ reached Harrods?ur2 without further molestation.
The e=>edition had >ro%en itself one of that lon2 list of failures
and disasters which mark the histor$ of militar$ e=>editions a2ainst
the 3ndians on the frontier from the earliest settlement down to the
massacre of Custer and his command.
The &e%olution was a>>roachin2 its close, it ?ein2 the $ear +0(*, and
hundreds of settlers from the #ast had swarmed into Kentuck$ and taken
u> land. 3n their ea2erness to acFuire >ossession, the$ almost for2ot
the dan2er which hun2 o%er them, la$in2 themsel%es so in%itin2l$ o>en
to attack, that the British and 3ndians took u> the 2auntlet which, it
ma$ ?e said, was thus thrown in their faces.
The conFuest of Kentuck$ was a fa%orite scheme with the British, and in
the summer of +0(*, a formida?le in%asion was made under the direction
of Colonel B$rd, at the head of si= hundred 3ndians and Canadians, and
with si= >ieces of artiller$.
His first demonstration was a2ainst &uddellIs station, on the Lickin2.
This had a weak 2arrison, and when Ca>tain &uddell was confronted with
the formida?le force and summoned to surrender, he saw that it would ?e
foll$ to refuse. The artiller$ at the command of his foe could s>eedil$
?atter the fort to >ieces, and he a2reed to ca>itulate on condition
that his 2arrison should ?e under the >rotection of the British.
Colonel B$rd readil$ a2reed to this reasona?le sti>ulation, and the
2ates were thrown o>en.
The instant this was done, the 3ndians >oured tumultuousl$ in, and
la$in2 hold of the soldiers claimed them as >risoners. Ca>tain &uddell
remonstrated indi2nantl$ with Colonel B$rd at this %iolation of his
a2reement, ?ut the British colonel, althou2h he did his ?est to
restrain his 3ndians, was una?le to do so.
Colonel B$rd seems to ha%e ?een a 2entleman, and, when the 3ndians
>ro>osed to attack <artinIs Station, a short distance off, and which
the$ were confident of ca>turin2, he refused to mo%e and threatened
to withdraw from Kentuck$ alto2ether, unless the chiefs and sachems
should >led2e themsel%es that in e%er$ case the >risoners taken should
?e 2i%en in char2e of him, the 3ndians confinin2 themsel%es entirel$ to
the >lunder and ?oot$ o?tained.
The a2reement was made on the >art of the leaders, and then Colonel
B$rd marched a2ainst <artinIs Station. The artiller$ he took alon2
undou?tedl$ >ro%ed irresisti?l$ >ersuasi%e in almost e%er$ instance,
for he ca>tured the station with little difficult$, and the 3ndian
chiefs com>elled their warriors to adhere to the >led2e the$ had 2i%en.
The 3ndians now ?ecame ea2er to attack Br$antIs Station, ?ut Colonel
B$rd did not seem to ha%e much enthusiasm o%er the in%asion of
Kentuck$, and he declined to 2o further. He collected his stores, and,
>lacin2 them u>on ?oats, retreated to Lickin2 9orks, where his 3ndians
withdrew, takin2 with them the >risoners ca>tured at &uddellIs Station.
"mon2 the ca>ti%es was Ca>tain 'ohn Hinkston, a noted 3ndian fi2hter,
who, as ma$ ?e su>>osed, was on the alert for a chance to 2et awa$ from
his ca>tors, knowin2, as he did, that he was lia?le to suffer torture
at their hands.
!n the second ni2ht, succeedin2 the se>aration of the 3ndians from the
command of Colonel B$rd, the warriors halted close to the ri%er. When
the$ started to ?uild a cam>4fire, the fuel was found to ?e so wet that
it was full$ dark ?efore the$ could 2et the flames 2oin2, and so man$
of the 2uard were called u>on to assist in the difficult work that
Ca>tain Hinkston made a sudden dash, ?roke throu2h the lines, and amid
a storm of hastil$ aimed ?ullets succeeded in reachin2 the shelter of
the woods.
"s ni2ht had Aust settled, Hinkston felt secure in his esca>e, thou2h
the 3ndians immediatel$ scattered and ?e2an such a %i2orous search that
he heard them mo%in2 in all directions a?out him, sometimes so close
that he could almost touch them, and was forced to stand as motionless
as the tree trunks ?eside him, lest the$ should detect his cautious
mo%ements.
But he 2raduall$ worked awa$ from the 3ndian cam>, when the %i2or
of the hunt had rela=ed somewhat, and, startin2 in the direction of
Le=in2ton, ke>t 2oin2 all ni2htE for, as he was confident the Shawanoes
would take his trail at da$li2ht, it was im>ortant that he should make
all >ro2ress while the o>>ortunit$ was his.
His ho>es rose as hour after hour >assed, and he was con2ratulatin2
himself on the 2oodl$ distance made, when to his consternation he came
directl$ u> to the %er$ 3ndian cam> from which he fled lon2 ?efore. He
had committed that error which >eo>le lost in the woods are so >rone to
commit, that of walkin2 in a circle instead of in a strai2ht line.
"s ma$ ?e su>>osed, Hinkston was startled, and he did not stand lon2
sur%e$in2 the smokin2 cam>4fires, with the 2rim warriors 2athered a?out
themE ?ut turnin2 once more, he re4entered the woods, makin2 his wa$
with so much caution, that whate%er mi2ht ha>>en, he was sure of not
re>eatin2 the ?lunder committed.
The ni2ht was so cloud$ and dark, that he was de>ri%ed of the com>ass
of the hunter, the stars in the sk$, and he wet his fin2er and held
it o%er his head. This ena?led him to tell the direction of the wind
which was 2entl$ ?lowin2, and ?$ re>eatin2 the act, he was ena?led to
>ursue su?stantiall$ the same direction throu2h the ni2ht, so that when
da$li2ht came, he was sure of one thin2, he had >laced a 2oodl$ num?er
of miles ?etween him and his enemies.
He was so worn out that he cre>t close to a fallen tree, where he sle>t
se%eral hours. When he awoke he found he was surrounded ?$ a dense
fo2, which shut out o?Aects a doen feet distant. The moisture was
dri>>in2 from the lea%es, and the da$ was as dismal as can ?e ima2inedE
?ut such weather ser%ed to hel> conceal his trail, and he was ho>eful
that none of the keen4e$ed 3ndians would succeed in tracin2 him to his
restin24>lace.
But the Shawanoes were >rosecutin2 a most %i2orous search, and he
ste>>ed alon2 with the 2reatest care, 2lancin2 to the ri2ht and left,
e=>ectin2 e%er$ minute to see some ?rawn$ warrior suddenl$ s>rin2 out
of the fo2 u>on him.
!n the ri2ht he would hear the call of a turke$, answered a moment ?$
another on the left, followed >erha>s ?$ a 2eneral chorus from all
>oints of the com>ass.
Those wild turke$s were 3ndians si2nalin2 to each other, and the$
freFuentl$ a>>roached so close, that more than once Hinkston felt it
im>ossi?le to ?reak throu2h the fier$ rin2 that was closin2 a?out him.
Sometimes the >ursuers %aried their si2nals ?$ imitatin2 the howlin2 of
wol%es, or the ?leatin2 of fawns, and the$ were often so close that
disco%er$ would ha%e ?een ine%ita?le ?ut for the London4like %a>or
which en%elo>ed the trem?lin2 fu2iti%e.
But 2ood fortune waited on Ca>tain Hinkston, and he finall$ e=tricated
himself from the >erilous %icinit$ and reached Le=in2ton without harm.
CH"PT#& N3J.
Colonel ClarkIs 3n%asion of the 3ndian Countr$44Boone is Promoted
to the &ank of Colonel44His Brother Killed at Blue Licks and
Boone narrowl$ #sca>es Ca>ture44"ttack u>on the Shel?$%ille
:arrison44;ews of the Surrender of Cornwallis44"ttack u>on #stillIs
Station44Simon :irt$ the &ene2ade44He ">>ears ?efore Br$antIs
Station, ?ut Withdraws.
This same $ear +0(* was noteworth$ for two memora?le incidents in the
histor$ of Kentuck$. The first was Colonel B$rdIs in%asion, and the
other was the retaliator$ in%asion of the 3ndian countr$ ?$ the 2allant
Colonel Clark, and his attack u>on the Shawanoe towns.
The >risoners taken ?$ the 3ndians at &uddellIs Station were ke>t ?$
their ca>tors, who released a few after the e=>iration of se%eral
$ears, ?ut a 2reat man$ >erished ?$ the tomahawk and knife.
B$rdIs in%asion created 2reat e=citement, and the >ro>osed retaliator$
measure of Colonel Clark was recei%ed with enthusiasm. The ?ra%e
settlers rallied to his standard from e%er$ direction, and in a short
time he had a full thousand men under his command.
Such a force, com>osed of such material, mi2ht well ?e considered
in%inci?le, for no com?ination of 3ndians could ha%e ?een formed on the
frontier ca>a?le of checkin2 its march.
Colonel Clark, at the head, marched directl$ into the 3ndian countr$,
s>readin2 de%astation where%er he went. The towns were ?urned and
the corn4fields laid waste44a >iece of cruelt$, ?ut war is alwa$s
cruel44and ?$ destro$in2 their cro>s, the warriors were 2i%en
somethin2 else to do ?esides formin2 e=>editions a2ainst the frontier
settlements. ;o attem>t was made to check the ad%ance of Colonel Clark,
and his force ha%in2 inflicted an incalcula?le amount of inAur$,
withdrew and dis?anded.
!nl$ one skirmish had taken >laceE that was at an 3ndian %illa2e where
a?out twent$ men were killed on each side.
3n the same $ear the or2aniation of the militia of Kentuck$ was
>erfected. Colonel Clark was a>>ointed ?ri2adier42eneral and
commander4in4chief of all the militia. <aAor Daniel Boone was ad%anced
to the rank of colonel, and with Po>e and Tri22 held second rank,
9lo$d, Lo2an and Todd holdin2 first.
" sin2ular fatalit$ seemed to attach itself to Blue Licks, alread$ the
scene of se%eral disasters to the whites. 3n !cto?er, +0(*, Boone and
his ?rother %isited the >lace, and had scarcel$ reached it when the$
were fired u>on ?$ a num?er of 3ndians in am?ush, and the ?rother fell
dead.
Boone himself dashed into the woods and fled for life, the 3ndians
>ursuin2 with the hel> of a do2. The latter clun2 so close to the heels
of the fu2iti%e, that, when he 2ot a safe distance, he turned a?out and
shot him, then resumin2 his fli2ht, he soon >laced himself ?e$ond all
dan2er from the sa%a2es.
3n <arch, +0(+, a num?er of stra22lin2 3ndians entered 'efferson count$
at different >oints, and hidin2 alon2 the >aths, treacherousl$ shot
down se%eral settlers. This ser%ed as a reminder to the >ioneers that
it was too soon to count u>on an$ de2ree of safet$ from the red men.
3n fact there was a state of continual unrest alon2 the ?order. "mon2
those killed in the manner mentioned, was Colonel William Linn. Ca>tain
Whitaker, with the resol%e to >unish the assassins, started in hot
>ursuit of them.
Strikin2 their trail, he followed it ra>idl$ to the !hio, where he
entered se%eral canoes >ur>osin2 to cross and continue the >ursuit. He
su>>osed that the warriors had alread$ 2one o%er, ?ut such was not the
case, the 3ndians ?ein2 concealed on the Kentuck$ shore.
'ust as Ca>tain Whitaker and his men were >ushin2 off, the sa%a2es
fired, killin2 and woundin2 nine of them, ?ut the others turned with
such fierceness, that the 3ndians were >ut to fli2ht, se%eral of their
num?er ?ein2 left dead.
3n the succeedin2 month a small station near Shel?$%ille, which had
?een founded ?$ Boone, ?ecame so alarmed that the settlers determined
to remo%e to BearIs Creek. While en2a2ed in doin2 so, the$ were
attacked ?$ 3ndians and man$ killed.
Colonel 9lo$d hastil$ 2athered twent$4fi%e men and started in >ursuit,
?ut he was am?ushed, half his >art$ killed, and he himself would ha%e
?een tomahawked, ?ut for the assistance of the noted scout, Ca>tain
Wells, who hel>ed him off the 2round.
Toward the close of +0(+, news reached Kentuck$ that Lord Cornwallis
had surrendered at Gorktown, that the war was ended, and the
3nde>endence of the "merican colonies secured fore%er. 3t is im>ossi?le
to ima2ine the deli2ht which thrilled the countr$ at this Ao$ful
tidin2s. "merica now took her >lace amon2 the nations, and ?e2an that
career of >ro2ress, ad%ancement and ci%iliation which has made her
>eo>le the foremost of the world.
The settlers alon2 the frontier ?elie%ed their da$ of securit$ and
safet$ had come at last, and that now the$ mi2ht 2i%e their whole
attention to the de%elo>ment of the countr$.
But the ho>e was an unsu?stantial one. The "merican 3ndians, as a rule,
are as re2ardless of treaties as are we, and the$ showed no dis>osition
to reco2nie the fact that the war was o%er and the dawn of uni%ersal
>eace had come.
3n <a$, +0(), twent$4fi%e W$andots suddenl$ a>>eared in front of
#stillIs Station, and after killin2 one man, and takin2 a >risoner,
retreated. Ca>tain #still, with an eFual force, started in >ursuit,
and o%ertook them at HinkstonIs, where he sa%a2el$ attacked them. His
lieutenant, <iller, showed the white feather, failed to carr$ out
instructions, and Ca>tain #still and nine of his men were killed and
scal>ed, the 3ndians also losin2 their leader and half their warriors.
Simon :irt$ the rene2ade fi2ures as an actor in the darkest deeds in
the histor$ of the West. He was a soldier at the fierce ?attle of Point
Pleasant, ?ut was so maltreated ?$ his Commander, :eneral Lewis, after
the ?attle, that he forswore his race, and ?ecame one of the leaders of
the 3ndians and the most merciless enem$ of the settlers.
3n the month of "u2ust, a runner arri%ed at Br$antIs Station with
news that :irt$, at the head of a lar2e force of 3ndians, was >ushin2
throu2h the woods with the intention of ca>turin2 the station.
3mmediate >re>arations were made to recei%e them, and when the 3ndians
a>>eared, on the +,th of "u2ust, e%er$thin2 >ossi?le had ?een done to
>ut the >lace in the ?est form of defence.
:irt$ was at their head, as had ?een announced, and he at once ad%anced
to the clearin2 and summoned the settlers to surrender, tellin2 them
that no other course was left, for, ?esides the lar2e force under him
he had a num?er of re4enforcements marchin2 to Aoin him with artiller$.
The sound of the last word was alarmin2 to most of the settlers, ?ut
&e$nolds, one of their num?er, took u>on himself to answer :irt$, who
had assured them of honora?le treatment in case of ca>itulation, and
the tomahawk in the e%ent of their failure to acce>t the terms.
The answer of &e$nolds to this demand was of the most insultin2
nature. He lau2hed at the threats of :irt$ and challen2ed him to make
them 2oodE he said he was the owner of one of the man2iest and most
worthless curs e%er seen, and that he >ut the last crownin2 dis2race
u>on the >oor do2 ?$ namin2 him B:irt$EB that if he had militar$
artiller$ or re4enforcements, he was in%ited to e=hi?it them, and that,
finall$, if :irt$ remained two hours lon2er ?efore the fort, the$ would
2o out and scal> him and all the warriors he had with him.
This was an em>hatic re>l$ to the Fuestion, and :irt$ e=>ressed in turn
his re2ret that the settlers were so ?lind to the fate of themsel%es
and those de>endent u>on themE ?ut he had 2i%en them fair warnin2, and
their ?lood must ?e on their own heads.
The$ had deli?eratel$ chosen to disre2ard the >roffer of >eace and
safet$, and the world could not ?lame him now for carr$in2 out his
threat44that of >uttin2 e%er$ one to death with the tomahawk.
The resistance which the$ had determined to offer would onl$ e=cite
the 3ndians to the hi2hest >oint of fur$, and the$ would now ?e
irrestraina?le.
Thereu>on Simon :irt$ went ?ack to where his 3ndian allies were
awaitin2 him, >laced himself at their head, and then deli?eratel$
turned a?out and marched awa$, without firin2 a shot at the stationH
CH"PT#& NJ.
"rri%al of Boone with &e4enforcements44Pursuit of the 3ndian
9orce44BooneIs Counsel Disre2arded44" 9ri2htful Disaster44&e$noldIs
;o?le and Heroic "ct44His #sca>e.
!n the mornin2 succeedin2 the de>arture of :irt$ and his 3ndians
from the front of Br$antIs Station, Boone reached the >lace with
re4enforcements, amon2 them ?ein2 his son 3srael and his ?rother
Samuel. Before the da$ closed, Colonel Tri22 came in from Harrodstown,
and Colonel Todd from Le=in2ton, each with a similar force, so that the
retreat of the noted rene2ade was the ?est thin2 that could ha%e taken
>lace for his own >ersonal safet$.
The com>an$ that 2athered within the station was a curious
one44num?erin2 a?out two hundred, one4fourth of whom were commissioned
officers. " nois$ consultation was held, and amid much u>roar and
wran2lin2, it was resol%ed to >ursue the 3ndians at once, without
awaitin2 the arri%al of Colonel Lo2an, who was known to ?e a>>roachin2
with a lar2e force, and was certain to arri%e within the succeedin2
twent$4four hours.
"ccordin2l$ the >ursuit was ?e2un without dela$, and it >ro%ed most
eas$ to kee> u>, for the retreat of :irt$ and his 3ndians was marked ?$
such a ?road and >lain trail that there could ?e no mistakin2 it.
The ?ushes had ?een ?ent down, the ?ark was hacked off the trees with
tomahawks, and articles were strewn alon2 the wa$ with most remarka?le
>rodi2alit$.
3ndeed there was so much >ains taken to show the trail that Boone and
his older com>anions were alarmed. The$ ?elie%ed :irt$ had caused it
to ?e done for the %er$ >ur>ose of drawin2 them in >ursuit, and Boone
s>oke to man$ of the officers. But the$ lau2hed at his fears and
>ressed forward with the ardor of Kentuckians who see the certaint$ of
a fierce stru22le close at hand, where the %ictor$ is likel$ to ?e on
their side.
When the settlers reached Blue Licks44an ominous name for them44the$
disco%ered se%eral 3ndians on the other side of the Lickin2, who
leisurel$ retreated into the woods, without showin2 an$ s>ecial alarm
o%er the >ursuit of the Kentuckians.
"s it was certain that :irt$ and his whole force were immediatel$
in front, another consultation was heldE for the >ursuers ?e2an to
feel the need of care and caution in their mo%ements. "fter a lon2
discussion, all turned to Boone, who the$ felt was the ?est Fualified
to ad%ise them in the emer2enc$.
The 2ra%e face and manner of the 2reat >ioneer showed that he
a>>reciated the dan2er.
B!ur situation is a critical one,B said heE B$ou know nothin2 of
the nature of the countr$ on the other side of the Lickin2, and the
3ndians ha%e acted in such a manner that 3Im satisfied the$ ha%e laid
an am?ush for us. 3n m$ o>inion, we ha%e the choice of two courses:
the first is to di%ide our men and send one half u> the ri%er to
cross it at the &a>ids and attack in the rear, while the rest make a
simultaneous assault in front. But the other course and the one which
3 most earnestl$ ur2e is to await the comin2 of Colonel Lo2an and his
re4enforcements. We ha%e a stron2 ?od$ in front of us, and we ha%e ?een
tau2ht more than one lesson ?$ the disasters of the >ast few $ears,
which we cannot afford to for2et to4da$. "t an$ rate, we ou2ht not to
tr$ to cross the ri%er until we ha%e sent forward s>ies to learn the
num?er and dis>osition of the troo>s.B
These were the words of wisdom and >rudence, ?ut the$ fell u>on
unwillin2 ears, and the maAorit$ ?itterl$ o>>osed the ad%ice of the
old >ioneer. The$ insisted that the 3ndians were fleein2 in alarm, and
that such dela$ would 2i%e them time to 2et awa$ unscathed, while the
>ro>osal to di%ide the settlers would so weaken them that the 3ndians
would fall u>on the detachments se>aratel$ and destro$ them. 3t ma$ ?e
said there was reason in the last o?Aection, ?ut none in the former.
3t is >ro?a?le there was little disci>line in this wran2lin2 assem?la2e
which was en2a2ed in discussin2 a most momentous Fuestion, for while
the ar2uments were 2oin2 on, <aAor <c:ar$ s>ran2 u>on his horse,
s>urred him at full 2allo> toward the ri%er, callin2 u>on all those who
were not cowards to follow him.
The ne=t instant he was >lun2in2 throu2h the stream, and the whole
shoutin2 ra??le rushed tumultuousl$ after him. There was no sem?lance
of order as the$ shouted, stru22led, and hurried >ell4mell to their
doom. Simon :irt$, the rene2ade, from the woods on the other side, must
ha%e smiled 2riml$, as he saw his %ictims doin2 e%er$thin2 in their
>ower to hasten their own destruction, Aust as the maAorit$ of the
e=>editions a2ainst the 3ndians did ?efore and ha%e done since.
The soldiers hastened forward, until the$ reached the >oint a2ainst
which Boone had warned them44the headin2 of two ra%ines. The$ had
scarcel$ halted, when a >art$ of 3ndians a>>eared and o>ened fire u>on
them. <c:ar$ returned the fire, ?ut his >osition was disad%anta2eous,
?ein2 on an e=>osed rid2e, while, as usual, the Shawanoes were in a
ra%ine with >lent$ of o>>ortunit$ to conceal themsel%es, while >ickin2
off the whites.
The maAorit$ of the settlers had not $et come u>, ?ut the$ were
hurr$in2 forward in the same wild disorder, and continued rushin2 u>
the rid2e, in time to meet the fire from the 3ndians which 2rew hotter
and more destructi%e e%er$ minute.
"lthou2h >laced at such disad%anta2e, the whites fou2ht with 2reat
?ra%er$, loadin2 and shootin2 ra>idl$, thou2h without an$ attem>t at
disci>line and re2ularit$. The fact was, the whites saw the$ were
entra>>ed, and each and all were fi2htin2 for their %er$ li%es.
Had the warriors ?een 2i%en their choice of 2round, the$ would ha%e
selected in all >ro?a?ilit$ that taken ?$ the res>ecti%e com?atants,
for nothin2 could ha%e ?een more in fa%or of :irt$ and his sa%a2es.
The 3ndians 2raduall$ closed in around the whites, loadin2 and firin2
with 2reat ra>idit$, while the settlers fell fast ?efore the ?ullets
rained in u>on them from e%er$ Fuarter.
"mon2 the officers, Todd, Tri22, Harland and <cBride were soon killed,
and Daniel BooneIs son 3srael, while 2allantl$ doin2 his dut$, fell
>ierced ?$ ?ullets. The sa%a2es 2ainin2 confidence from their success
continued to e=tend their line, so as to turn the ri2ht of the
Kentuckians, until the$ 2ot in their rear and cut off their retreat to
the ri%er.
The soldiers saw what the 3ndians were doin2, for the hea%$ fire
indicated it, and the$ ?ecame >anic4stricken. "t once e%er$ one
thou2ht of sa%in2 onl$ himself, and a tumultuous, headlon2 rush was
made for the ri%er. "s a matter of course, the sa%a2es did not allow
the in%itation to >ass unacce>ted, and the$ swarmed down u>on the
demoralied whites, tomahawkin2 them without merc$.
<ost of the horsemen esca>ed, ?ut the slau2hter of the foot soldiers
was terri?le. ;earl$ all of those who were in <aAor <c:ar$Is >art$
were killed, and at the ri%er the scene ?ecame a>>allin2. Horsemen,
foot soldiers, and >ainted 3ndians were min2led in fierce confusion,
fi2htin2 des>eratel$ in the water, which was crowded from shore to
shore.
" score of soldiers, ha%in2 2ot across, halted and >oured a %olle$ into
the red men, which checked them for a few minutesE ?ut the$ Fuickl$
rallied and resumed the massacre and >ursuit, the latter continuin2
for full$ twent$ miles. <ore than si=t$ Kentuckians were killed, a
num?er made >risonersE and another disaster was added to the lon2 roll
of those which mark the histor$ of the attem>ts at ci%iliation in the
West.
Daniel Boone ?ore himself in this fi2ht with his usual intre>idit$ and
coolness, doin2 his utmost to check the hurricane4like rush of the
3ndians, and endea%orin2 to rall$ those around him into somethin2 like
or2anied resistance. Could this ha%e ?een done, the rene2ade :irt$
and his merciless horde would ha%e ?een routed, for some of those who
fou2ht on his side admitted $ears afterward that the$ were once on the
%er$ >oint of ?reakin2 and fleein2 in disorder.
But Boone saw his son and man$ of his closest friends shot dead, and
himself almost surrounded ?$ 3ndians, ?efore he com>rehended his
imminent >ersonal >eril.
The ford which was looked u>on ?$ most of the settlers as the onl$ door
of esca>e was crowded with fu2iti%es, and se%eral hundred warriors were
?etween him and the ri%er. 3nstead of seekin2 to reach the stream,
he turned toward the ra%ine from which the Shawanoes themsel%es had
emer2ed, and, with se%eral comrades, made a des>erate dash for it.
There was firin2 all alon2 the line at the few who took this
e=ce>tional means, and se%eral small >arties s>ran2 after them. Boone
and his com>anions were fleet of foot, ?ut he succeeded in eludin2
their enemies more ?$ strate2$ than s>eed, and finall$ ?rou2ht his
friends to the ri%er ?ank at a >oint so far ?elow the ford that the$
were in%isi?le to the 3ndians.
Here the$ swam across and then started for Br$antIs Station, which the$
reached without further molestation.
Such an utter rout and irretrie%a?le disaster is alwa$s marked ?$ some
e=traordinar$ incidents. &e$nolds, who made the insultin2 re>l$ to
Simon :irt$, when he demanded the surrender of Br$antIs Station, was in
the ?attle and fou2ht furiousl$ a2ainst the rene2ade and his allies,
?ut was forced ?ack ?$ the tur?ulent tide which, once set in motion,
swe>t e%er$thin2 ?efore it.
&e$nolds was makin2 for the ri%er, when he o%ertook an officer on foot
who was so weak from wounds recei%ed in a former en2a2ement with the
3ndians, that he could not kee> u> with the fu2iti%es, and, indeed, was
so e=hausted, that he was read$ to fall faintin2 to the 2round.
&e$nolds s>ran2 from his horse and hel>ed the officer u>on it, and then
told him to do the ?est he could. The ca>tain did so and sa%ed himself.
&e$nolds was now >laced in 2reat >eril, ?ut he made a >lun2e into the
ri%er, and soon carried himself ?$ >owerful strokes to the other side,
where he was immediatel$ made >risoner.
The Shawanoes, at this Auncture, were so en2a2ed in ca>turin2 and
killin2 the fu2iti%es, that the$ could not lea%e %er$ lar2e 2uards to
kee> those who fell into their hands.
Thus it came a?out that the 2uard >laced o%er &e$nolds was a sin2le
3ndian, ?ut he was tall and muscular, and would ha%e >referred to
tomahawk his >risoner and Aoin in the 2eneral massacre.
&e$nolds did not 2i%e him time to de?ate the matter, ?ut, turnin2
Fuickl$ u>on the warrior, dealt him a ?low which felled him like an o=,
and then, ?efore he could rise, &e$nolds was in the woods, s>eedin2 for
life.
!ne of the first men whom he encountered, after reachin2 the
settlement, was the officer to whom he had 2i%en his horse, when there
was no other means ?$ which he could ?e sa%ed.
The officer a>>reciated the fa%or, and showed it ?$ makin2 &e$nolds a
>resent of two hundred acres of land.
CH"PT#& NJ3.
:eneral ClarkIs #=>edition44" Dark Pa2e in "merican Histor$44Colonel
CrawfordIs Disastrous 9ailure and his own Terri?le 9ate44Simon
:irt$.
Kentuck$ now a>>roached an e%entful >eriod in her histor$. "s we ha%e
stated, the career of Daniel Boone is wo%en in the %er$ war> and woof
of the narrati%e of the earl$ da$s of the West, and in order to reach a
>ro>er understandin2 of the life and character of the 2reat >ioneer, it
is necessar$ to carr$ the two alon2 to2ether.
The defeat and massacre at Blue Licks e=cited a >rofound shock and
indi2nation alon2 the frontier, and the feelin2 was 2eneral that
necessit$ demanded the chastisement of the 3ndians, who would ?e likel$
otherwise to continue their de>redations.
The 2allant and clear4headed officer, :eneral :eor2e &o2ers Clark, the
BHanni?al of the West,B issued a call for %olunteers to assem?le at
Br$antIs Station. The :eneral was so >o>ular, and the confidence in
him so uni%ersal, that hundreds flocked to the rende%ous, where, in a
?rief time, he >laced himself at the head of one of the most formida?le
forces e%er raised in that >ortion of the countr$ durin2 its earl$ da$s.
The 3ndians were too wise to meet this arm$ in an$thin2 like o>en
?attle. The$ carefull$ ke>t out of its wa$, e=>endin2 their ener2ies in
>ickin2 off stra22lers, and occasionall$ sendin2 in a stra$ shot from
some >oint, from which the$ could flee ?efore it could ?e reached ?$
the infuriated soldiers.
:eneral Clark >ushed forward, ?urned se%eral 3ndian towns, and laid
waste man$ fields. " few >risoners were taken, and a few killed, when
the e=>edition returned and dis?anded.
This was the onl$ enter>rise of the kind that was set on foot ?$
Kentuck$ durin2 the $ear +0(), which, howe%er, was marked ?$ one of the
darkest deeds on the >art of white men, which ?lacken the >a2es of our
histor$.
!n the (th of <arch, Colonel Daniel Williamson, with a ?od$ of men,
marched to the <ora%ian town of :nadenhutten, where he o?tained
>ossession of the arms of the Christian 3ndians throu2h treacher$,
and then massacred one hundred of them in as cruel and atrocious
manner as that shown ?$ ;ana Sahi? at Cawn>ore. The har%est of such an
a>>allin2 crime was ra>ine and death alon2 the frontier, as it has ?een
demonstrated man$ a time since.
These outra2es ?ecame so numerous that Colonel William Crawford
or2anied an e=>edition in Western Penns$l%ania, num?erin2 ,O* men,
with which he started a2ainst the W$andot towns on the Sandusk$.
His force in fact was nothin2 ?ut an undisci>lined ra??le, and no one
could >redict an$thin2 ?ut disaster, when it should >enetrate the
3ndian countr$. 3t was this lack of disci>line that had 2i%en the
death4?low to so man$ e=>editions a2ainst the tri?es on the frontier,
and which is the stron2est all$ an enem$ can ha%e.
#arl$ in 'une, Colonel CrawfordIs force reached the >lains of Sandusk$,
stra22lin2 alon2 like the remnants of a defeated arm$, and so mutinous
that num?ers were continuall$ stra$in2 ?ack, desertin2 o>enl$ and
carin2 nothin2 for the wishes or commands of their leader.
Colonel Crawford saw that a crisis was a>>roachin2, and callin2 a
council, it was a2reed that if a lar2e force of 3ndians was not
encountered within the succeedin2 twent$4four hours, the$ would
withdraw alto2ether from the countr$.
" thousandfold ?etter would it ha%e ?een had the$ done so at once.
Within the succeedin2 hour, scouts came in with the news that a lar2e
?od$ of sa%a2es were marchin2 a2ainst them, and at that moment were
almost within rifle4shot.
The >ro=imit$ of dan2er im>ressed itself u>on the soldiers and
officers, who made hurried >re>arations to recei%e the warriors that
a>>eared shortl$ after, swarmin2 throu2h and fillin2 the woods ?$ the
hundred.
The whites were ea2er for ?attle and the$ o>ened u>on them at once,
kee>in2 u> a hot 2allin2 fire until dark, when the 3ndians drew off.
The soldiers sle>t on their arms.
"t da$li2ht the fi2ht was renewed, ?ut it assumed the nature of a
skirmish more than that of a re2ular ?attle. The 3ndians had suffered
se%erel$, and the$ were more careful of e=>osin2 themsel%es. The$
took ad%anta2e of the trees and ?ushes, firin2 ra>idl$ and doin2
considera?le dama2e.
But the soldiers were accustomed to such warfare, and the$ not onl$
held their own 2round, ?ut maintained a destructi%e, thou2h desultor$
fire which was more effecti%e than that of the enem$.
The most alarmin2 fact was that the 3ndians were not onl$ waitin2 for
re4enforcements ?ut were recei%in2 them all throu2h the da$. The s>ies
of Colonel Crawford re>orted that other warriors were continuall$
comin2 in, it ?ein2 e%ident that runners had ?een sent out ?$ the
chiefs to summon all the hel> the$ could command.
This caused a 2reat deal of uneasiness on the >art of the whites,
who saw the >ro?a?ilit$ of an o%erwhelmin2 force 2atherin2 in front
of them, with the awful seFuel of massacre, which had marked so man$
e=>editions into the 3ndian countr$.
"t sunset, when the second da$Is ?attle ceased, an an=ious consultation
was held ?$ the officers of CrawfordIs command, at which the momentous
Fuestion was discussed as to what was to ?e done.
The con%iction was so 2eneral that the$ would ?e attacked ?$ a
resistless force, if the$ remained on the 2round another da$, that
it was a2reed to retreat durin2 the ni2ht. "s the sa%a2e force was
alread$ %er$ lar2e and was hourl$ increasin2, it will ?e understood a
withdrawal could onl$ ?e accom>lished ?$ the utmost secrec$, and amid
the most >rofound silence.
3t was decided, therefore, that the march should ?e2in at midni2ht, in
>erfect silence, and >re>arations were made to carr$ out the decision
of the council of officers.
"t a late hour the troo>s were arran2ed in 2ood order, and the retreat
was ?e2un. " few minutes after, some confusion and the firin2 of 2uns
were noticed in the rear and threatened a >anic, ?ut the soldiers were
s>eedil$ Fuieted, and the withdrawal resumed in an orderl$ manner.
Pro?a?l$ it would ha%e ?een continued as intended, ?ut, at the critical
moment, some terrified soldier called out that the 3ndians had
disco%ered what the$ were doin2 and were comin2 down u>on them in full
force.
The retreat at once ?ecame a rout, e%er$ man feelin2 that scarcel$ a
ho>e of esca>e remained. The ca%alr$ ?roke and scattered in the woods,
and the des>erate efforts of Colonel Crawford, who 2allo>ed ?ack and
forth, shoutin2 and seekin2 to encoura2e them to stand firm, were
thrown awa$.
"s if it was decreed that nothin2 should ?e lackin2 in this 2rotesFue
tra2ed$, the men shouted and $elled like cra$ >ersons, so that the
im>ression went to the astounded 3ndians that Bthe white men had routed
themsel%es and the$ had nothin2 to do ?ut to >ick u> the stra22lers.B
The seFuel can ?e ima2ined. The warriors s>ran2 to the >ursuit and
ke>t it u> with the ferocious tenacit$ of ?lood4hounds, all throu2h
the ni2ht and into the succeedin2 da$. The massacre went on hour
after hour, until o%er a hundred of the soldiers had ?een killed or
ca>tured, and still another fri2htful disaster was added to those which
alread$ marked the histor$ of the de%elo>ment of the West.
"mon2 the >risoners ca>tured were two44Dr. Kni2ht, the sur2eon of the
com>an$, and Colonel Crawford himself.
Dr. Kni2ht and the Colonel were taken at the close of the second da$,
the latter ha%in2 incurred unusual dan2er from his an=iet$ res>ectin2
the fate of his son. Their ca>tors were a small >art$ of Delawares, who
carried them to the old W$andot town. 'ust ?efore reachin2 it, a halt
was made, and the cele?rated chief, Ca>tain Pi>e, >ainted Dr. Kni2ht
and Colonel Crawford ?lack. This meant the$ had alread$ ?een doomed to
death ?$ ?ein2 ?urned at the stakeH
Their immediate e=>erience did not tend to lessen their terrors. "s
the$ mo%ed alon2, the$ continuall$ >assed ?odies of their friends that
had ?een fri2htfull$ man2led ?$ their ca>tors, who were e%identl$
determined that the massacre of the Christian 3ndians should ?e full$
a%en2ed.
When near the 3ndian town, the$ o%ertook fi%e >risoners who were
surrounded ?$ a mo? that were tormentin2 them ?$ ?eatin2 and tauntin2.
Suddenl$ the 3ndians s>ran2 u>on them with a $ell, and e%er$ one was
tomahawked. Colonel Crawford was turned o%er to a Shawanoe doctor, and
Sur2eon Kni2ht went alon2 with them.
" few minutes >re%ious, Simon :irt$, the rene2ade, rode u> ?eside them
and ?ecame more fiendish in his taunts than the 3ndians. He had ?een
acFuainted with Colonel Crawford $ears ?efore, and had s>ecial cause
for enmit$, ?ecause the Colonel had used his efforts to defeat :irt$
for some militar$ office he was ea2er to o?tain.
He now commented u>on their a>>earance 6?ein2 >ainted ?lack and of
course in 2reat distress of mind7, and he assured them that their death
at the stake was one of the certainties of the immediate future. He
lau2hed and swore and was in hi2h s>irits, as well he mi2ht ?eE for,
ins>ired as he was ?$ the most rancorous hatred of his own race, he
had ?een 2ratified that da$ ?$ assistin2 in one of the most dreadful
disasters to the settlers that had e%er occurred on the frontier.
When the %illa2e was reached, Colonel Crawford seied a forlorn ho>e
of esca>in2 ?$ a>>ealin2 to a Shawanoe chief named Win2enund, who
had freFuentl$ %isited his house, and ?etween whom Fuite a stron2
friendshi> e=isted.
When the chief learned that Colonel Crawford was >ainted ?lack, he knew
that nothin2 could sa%e him, and he withdrew to his own lod2e that he
mi2ht not witness his sufferin2sE ?ut Crawford sent for him, and the
chief could not refuse to 2o to his friend.
Their meetin2 was Fuite affectin2, the chief showin2 some em?arrassment
and >retendin2 to ?e uncertain of the identit$ of the >risoner, throu2h
his >aint.
BGou are Colonel Crawford, 3 ?elie%e.B
BGes, Win2enund, $ou must remem?er me.B
BGes, 3 ha%e not for2otten $ouE we ha%e often drank and eaten to2ether,
and $ou ha%e ?een kind to me man$ times.B
B3 ho>e that friendshi> remains, Win2enund.B
B3t would remain fore%er, if $ou were in an$ >lace ?ut this, and were
what $ou ou2ht to ?e.B
B3 ha%e ?een en2a2ed onl$ in honora?le warfare, and when we take $our
warriors >risoners we treat them ri2ht.B
The chief looked meanin2l$ at the >oor ca>ti%e and said,
B3 would do the most 3 can for $ou, and 3 mi2ht do somethin2, had $ou
not Aoined Colonel Williamson, who murdered the <ora%ian 3ndians,
knowin2 the$ were innocent of all wron2 and that he ran no risk in
killin2 them with their sFuaws and children.B
BThat was a ?ad act44a %er$ ?ad act, Win2enund, and had 3 ?een with
him, 3 ne%er would ha%e >ermitted it. 3 a?hor the deed as do all 2ood
white men, no matter where the$ are.B
BThat ma$ all ?e true,B said the chief, B?ut Colonel Williamson went a
second time and killed more of the <ora%ians.B
BBut 3 went out and did all 3 could to sto> him.B
BThat ma$ ?e true, too, ?ut $ou cannot make the 3ndians ?elie%e it, and
then, Colonel Crawford, when $ou were on the march here, $ou turned
aside with $our soldiers and went to the <ora%ian towns, ?ut found them
deserted. !ur s>ies were watchin2 $ou and saw $ou do this. Had $ou
?een lookin2 for warriors, $ou would not ha%e 2one there, for $ou know
the <ora%ians are foolish and will not fi2ht.B
BWe ha%e done nothin2, and $our s>ies saw nothin2 that $our own >eo>le
would not ha%e done had the$ ?een in our situation.B
B3 ha%e no wish to see $ou die, thou2h $ou ha%e forfeited $our life,
and had we Colonel Williamson, we mi2ht s>are $ouE ?ut that man has
taken 2ood care to kee> out of our reach, and $ou will ha%e to take his
>lace. 3 can do nothin2 for $ou.B
Colonel Crawford ?e22ed the chief to tr$ and sa%e him from the
im>endin2 fate, ?ut Win2enund assured him it was useless, and took his
de>arture.
Shortl$ afterward the 3ndians ?e2an their >re>arations for the
fri2htful e=ecution.
" lar2e stake was dri%en into the 2round, and wood carefull$ >laced
around it. Then CrawfordIs hands were tied ?ehind his ?ack, and he was
led out and securel$ fastened to the stake.
"t this time, Simon :irt$ was sittin2 on his horse near ?$, takin2 no
>art in the >roceedin2s, ?ut showin2 ?$ his looks and manner that he
enAo$ed them full$ as much as did the e=ecutioners themsel%es.
Ha>>enin2 to catch the e$e of the rene2ade, Colonel Crawford asked him
whether the 3ndians reall$ intended to ?urn him at the stake. :irt$
answered with a lau2h that there could ?e no dou?t of it, and Crawford
said no more. He knew that it was useless to a>>eal to him who was of
his own race, for his heart was ?lacker and more merciless than those
of the sa%a2es who were kindlin2 the fa2ots at his feet.
The >articulars of the ?urnin2 of Colonel Crawford ha%e ?een 2i%en ?$
Dr. Kni2ht, his comrade, who succeeded in esca>in2, when he, too, had
?een condemned to the same fate. These >articulars are too fri2htful to
>resent in full, for the$ could onl$ horrif$ the reader.
Colonel Crawford was su?Aected to the most dreadful form of torture,
the fire ?urnin2 slowl$, while the 3ndians amused themsel%es ?$ firin2
char2es of >owder into his ?od$. He ?ore it for a lon2 time with
fortitude, ?ut finall$ ran round and round the stake, when his thon2s
were ?urned in two, in the instincti%e effort to esca>e his tormentors.
The sFuaws were amon2 the most fiendish of the tormentors, until the
misera?le ca>ti%e was dri%en so frantic ?$ his sufferin2s that he
a>>ealed to :irt$ to shoot him and thus end his awful sufferin2s.
This d$in2 reFuest was refused, and at the end of two hours nature 2a%e
out and the >oor Colonel died.
Simon :irt$ assured Dr. Kni2ht that a similar fate was awaitin2 him,
and Kni2ht himself had little ho>e of its ?ein2 a%erted. " son of
Colonel Crawford was su?Aected to the same torture, ?ut, as we ha%e
stated, Dr. Kni2ht effected his esca>e shortl$ afterward.
Simon :irt$, the most notorious rene2ade of the West, remained with the
3ndians until his death. He ?ecame a 2reat drunkard, ?ut took >art in
the defeat and massacre of St. ClairIs arm$ in +0K+, and was at the
?attle of the 9allen Tim?ers, three $ears later. 9earful of returnin2
to his own kindred at the end of hostilities, he went to Canada, where
he ?ecame somethin2 of a trader, until the ?reakin2 out of the war of
+(+), when he once more Aoined the 3ndians and was killed at the ?attle
of the Thames.
CH"PT#& NJ33.
"d%enture of the S>ies White and <IClelland44Darin2 Defence of her
Home ?$ <rs. <errill44#=>loits of Kennan the &an2er.
The ?lock4house 2arrison at the mouth of Hockin2 &i%er was thrown into
considera?le alarm on one occasion ?$ the disco%er$ that an unusual
num?er of 3ndians were swarmin2 in their town in the %alle$. Such a
state of affairs, as a rule, means that the sa%a2es are makin2, or ha%e
made, >re>arations for a serious mo%ement a2ainst the whites.
To ascertain the cause of the >resence of so man$ warriors in that
section, two of the most skillful and darin2 ran2ers of the West
were sent out to s>$ their mo%ements. These scouts were White and
<cClelland, and the season on which the$ %entured u>on their dan2erous
e=>edition was one of the ?alm$ da$s in 3ndian summer.
The scouts made their wa$ leisurel$ to the to> of the well4known
>rominence near Lancaster, !hio, from whose rock$ summit the$ looked
off o%er the >lain s>readin2 far to the west, and throu2h which the
Hockin2 &i%er winds like a stream of sil%er.
9rom this ele%ation, the keen4e$ed scouts 2aed down u>on a curious
>icture44one which told them of the certain comin2 of the 2reatest
dan2er which can ?reak u>on the frontier settlement. What the$ saw, and
the sin2ular ad%entures that ?efell them, are told ?$ the &e%erend '.
B. 9inle$, the well4known missionar$ of the West.
Da$ ?$ da$ the s>ies witnessed the horse4racin2 of the assem?led
thousands. The old sachems looked on with their 3ndian indifference,
the sFuaws en2a2ed in their usual drud2er$, while the children indul2ed
unrestrainedl$ in their >la$ful 2am?ols. The arri%al of a new war
>art$ was 2reeted with loud shouts, which, strikin2 the ston$ face of
<ount Pleasant, were dri%en ?ack in the %arious indentations of the
surroundin2 hills, >roducin2 re%er?erations and echoes as if so man$
fiends were 2athered in uni%ersal le%ee. !n se%eral occasions, small
>arties left the >rairie and ascended the mount from its low and 2rass$
eastern slo>e. "t such times, the s>ies would hide in the dee> fissures
of the rocks on the west, and a2ain lea%e their hidin24>laces when
their unwelcome %isitors had disa>>eared. 9or food, the$ de>ended on
Aerked %enison and corn4?read, with which their kna>sacks were well
stored. The$ dare not kindle a fire, and the re>ort of one of their
rifles would ha%e ?rou2ht u>on them the entire force of 3ndians. 9or
drink, the$ resorted to the rain4water which still stood in the hollows
of the rocksE ?ut, in a short time, this source was e=hausted, and
<cClelland and White were forced to a?andon their enter>rise, or find a
new su>>l$. To accom>lish this, <IClelland, ?ein2 the oldest, resol%ed
to make the attem>t. With his trust$ rifle in hand and two canteens
slun2 o%er his shoulders, he cautiousl$ descended, ?$ a circuitous
route, to the >rairie skirtin2 the hills on the north.
5nder co%er of the hael thicket, he reached the ri%er, and turnin2 the
?old >oint of a hill, found a ?eautiful s>rin2 within a few feet of
the stream now known ?$ the name of Cold S>rin2. 9illin2 his canteens,
he returned in safet$ to his watchful com>anion. 3t was now determined
to ha%e a fresh su>>l$ of water e%er$ da$, and the dut$ was >erformed
alternatel$.
!n one of these occasions, after White had filled his canteens, he
sat watchin2 the water as it came 2ur2lin2 out of the earth, when the
li2ht sound of footste>s fell on his ear. 5>on turnin2 around he saw
two sFuaws within a few feet of him. The eldest 2a%e one of those
far4reachin2 whoo>s >eculiar to 3ndians.
White at once com>rehended his >erilous situation. 3f the alarm should
reach the cam>s or town, he and his com>anion must ine%ita?l$ >erish.
Self4>reser%ation com>elled him to inflict a noiseless death on the
sFuaws, and in such a manner as, if >ossi?le, to lea%e no trace ?ehind.
#%er ra>id in thou2ht and >rom>t in action, he s>ran2 u>on his %ictims
with the ra>idit$ and >ower of the lion, and 2ras>in2 the throat of
each, s>ran2 into the ri%er. He thrust the head of the eldest under the
water, and while makin2 stron2 efforts to su?mer2e the $oun2er 6who,
howe%er, >owerfull$ resisted him7, to his astonishment, she addressed
him in his own lan2ua2e, thou2h in almost inarticulate sounds.
&eleasin2 his hold, she informed him she had ?een a >risoner ten $ears,
and was taken from ?elow Wheelin2E that the 3ndians had killed all
the famil$E that her ?rother and herself were taken >risoners, ?ut
he succeeded, on the second ni2ht, in makin2 his esca>e. Durin2 this
narrati%e, White had drowned the elder sFuaw, and had let the ?od$
float off down the current, where it was not likel$ soon to ?e found.
He now directed the 2irl to follow him, and, with his usual s>eed and
ener2$, >ushed for the mount.
The$ had scarcel$ 2one half wa$, when the$ heard the alarm4cr$, some
Fuarter of a mile down the stream. 3t was su>>osed some >art$ of
3ndians, returnin2 from huntin2, struck the ri%er Aust as the ?od$ of
the sFuaw floated >ast. White and the 2irl succeeded in reachin2 the
mount, where <IClelland had ?een no indifferent s>ectator to the sudden
commotion amon2 the 3ndians. Parties of warriors were seen immediatel$
to strike off in e%er$ direction, and White and the 2irl had scarcel$
arri%ed ?efore a com>an$ of some twent$ warriors had reached the
eastern slo>e of the mount, and were cautiousl$ and carefull$ kee>in2
under co%er. Soon the s>ies saw their foes, as the$ 2lided from tree
to tree and rock to rock, till their >osition was surrounded, e=ce>t
on the west >er>endicular side, and all ho>e of esca>e was cut off. 3n
this >erilous >osition, nothin2 was left ?ut to sell their li%es as
dearl$ as >ossi?le.
This the$ resol%ed to do, and ad%ised the 2irl to esca>e to the 3ndians
and tell them she had ?een taken >risoner. She said, B;oH Death in the
>resence of m$ own >eo>le is a thousand times ?etter than ca>ti%it$ and
sla%er$. 9urnish me with a 2un, and 3 will show 3 know how to die. This
>lace 3 will not lea%e. Here m$ ?ones shall lie ?leachin2 with $ours,
and, should either of $ou esca>e, $ou will carr$ the tidin2s of m$
death to m$ few relati%es.B
&emonstrance >ro%ed fruitless. The two s>ies Fuickl$ matured their
means of defence, and %i2orousl$ commenced the attack from the front,
where, from the %er$ narrow ?ack?one of the mount, the sa%a2es had to
ad%ance in sin2le file, and without an$ co%ert. Be$ond this neck, the
warriors a%ailed themsel%es of the rocks and trees in ad%ancin2, ?ut,
in >assin2 from one to the other, the$ must ?e e=>osed for a short
time, and a momentIs e=>osure of their swarth$ forms was enou2h for the
unerrin2 rifles of the s>ies. The 3ndians, ?ein2 entirel$ i2norant of
how man$ were in am?uscade, 2rew %er$ cautious as the$ ad%anced.
"fter ?ra%el$ maintainin2 the fi2ht in front, and kee>in2 the enem$
in check, the scouts disco%ered a new dan2er threatenin2 them. The
foe made >re>aration to attack them on the flank, which could ?e most
successfull$ done ?$ reachin2 an isolated rock, l$in2 in one of the
>roAections on the southern hill4side. This rock once 2ained ?$ the
3ndians, the$ could ?rin2 the whites under >oint4?lank ran2e without
the >ossi?ilit$ of esca>e. The s>ies saw the ho>elessness of their
situation, which it a>>eared nothin2 could chan2e.
With this im>endin2 fate restin2 o%er them, the$ continued calm and
calculatin2, and as unwearied as the stron2est desire of life could
>roduce. Soon <IClelland saw a tall, swarth$ fi2ure >re>arin2 to
s>rin2 from a co%ert, so near to the fatal rock that a ?ound or two
would reach it, and all ho>e of life would then ?e 2one. He felt that
e%er$thin2 de>ended on one sin2le ad%anta2eous shotE and, althou2h
?ut an inch or two of the warriorIs ?od$ was e=>osed, and that at the
distance of ei2ht$ or a hundred $ards, he resol%ed to fire.
Cooll$ raisin2 his rifle, shadin2 the si2ht with his hand, he drew a
?ead so sure that he felt conscious it would do the deed. He touched
the tri22er with his fin2erE the hammer came down, ?ut, in >lace of
strikin2 fire, it ?roke his flint into man$ >iecesH He now felt sure
that the 3ndian must reach the rock ?efore he could adAust another
flint, $et he >roceeded to the task with the utmost com>osure. Castin2
his e$e toward the fearful >oint, suddenl$ he saw the warrior stretch
e%er$ muscle for the lea>, and with the a2ilit$ of a >anther he made
the s>rin2, ?ut, instead of reachin2 the rock, he uttered a $ell and
his dark ?od$ fell, rollin2 down the stee> to the %alle$ ?elow.
Some unknown hand had slain him, and a hundred %oices from the %alle$
?elow echoed his death cr$. The warrior killed, it was e%ident, was a
>rominent one of the tri?e, and there was 2reat disa>>ointment o%er the
failure of the mo%ement, which, it was considered, would seal the doom
of the darin2 scouts.
!nl$ a few minutes >assed, when a second warrior was seen stealthil$
ad%ancin2 to the co%ert, which had cost the other 3ndian his life in
attem>tin2 to reach. "t the same moment the attack in front was renewed
with 2reat fierceness, so as to reFuire the constant loadin2 and
firin2 of the s>ies to >re%ent their foes from 2ainin2 the eminence.
Still the whites ke>t continuall$ 2lancin2 at the warrior, who seemed
assured of the co%eted >osition.
Suddenl$ he 2athered his muscles and made the s>rin2. His ?od$ was
seen to ?ound outward, ?ut instead of reachin2 the shelf, for which it
started, it 2athered itself like a ?all and rolled down the hill after
his >redecessor.
The unknown friend had fired a second shotH
This caused consternation amon2 the Shawanoes, and ?ra%e as the$
unFuestiona?l$ were, there was no one else who tried to do that which
had cost the others their li%es. 9eelin2 that the$ had no ordinar$ foe
to com?at on the hill, the sa%a2es withdrew a short distance to consult
o%er some new method of attack.
The res>ite came most o>>ortunel$ to the s>ies, who had ?een fi2htin2
and watchin2 for hours and needed the rest.
3t suddenl$ occurred to <IClelland that the 2irl was not with them,
and the$ concluded that she had fled throu2h terror and most >ro?a?l$
had fallen into the hands of the 3ndians a2ain, or what was eFuall$
>ro?a?le, she had ?een killed durin2 the fi2ht.
But the conclusion was scarcel$ formed, when she was seen to come
from ?ehind a rock, with a smokin2 rifle in her hand. &eAoinin2 the
astonished and deli2hted s>ies, she Fuickl$ e=>lained that she was the
unsus>ected friend who shot the two warriors when in the %er$ act of
lea>in2 to the >oint from which the$ e=>ected to command the >osition
of the defenders.
While the fi2ht was at its hei2ht, she saw a warrior ad%ance some
distance ?e$ond the others, when a rifle4?all from the scouts stretched
him lifeless. Without ?ein2 seen, the 2irl ran Fuickl$ out to where he
la$ and >ossessed herself of his 2un and ammunition.
Su?seFuent e%ents showed what 2ood use she made of the wea>on. Her life
amon2 the 3ndians tau2ht her to see on the instant the >oint which
the warriors would stri%e to secure, and, which secured, would >lace
the s>ies at their merc$. She crawled under some ?rush, and carefull$
loadin2 the rifle, held it read$ for the critical moment.
3t was a sin2ular coincidence, in which the 2irl must ha%e >ercei%ed
the hand of Pro%idence, that the second warrior who ad%anced to the
s>ot was reco2nied ?$ her as the identical wretch who led the com>an$
which killed nearl$ all her famil$ and who carried her awa$ a >risoner.
She made sure, when she >ulled tri22er u>on him, that the ?ullet should
2o strai2ht to the markH
<IClelland and White a>>reciated the %alue of the all$ who had Aoined
them, for, without those well4aimed shots of hers, the two must ha%e
fallen ?efore the rifles of the Shawanoes. The$ con2ratulated her on
her ner%e and skill, and assured her, that her achie%ements alone had
>laced them in a >osition in which the$ could feel there was some ho>e
of esca>e.
"s ni2ht a>>roached, dark and tumultuous clouds rolled u> from the
horion, and o%ers>readin2 the skies rendered the ni2ht like that of
#2$>t. "s the s>ies felt that their withdrawal from the dan2erous s>ot
must ?e effected, if effected at all, ?efore the rise of the mornin2Is
sun, the$ saw how much the ink$ ?lackness of sk$ and earth was likel$
to em?arrass them.
Howe%er, as the 2irl was intimatel$ acFuainted with the to>o2ra>h$
of the countr$ immediatel$ surroundin2 them, it was decided that she
should take the lead, the others followin2 close after her.
The 2reat ad%anta2e likel$ to accrue from such an arran2ement was
that, if the$ encountered an$ 3ndians, as the$ were more than likel$
to do, her knowled2e of their ton2ue would ena?le her to decei%e them.
The$ had not 2one a hundred $ards when the wisdom of this course was
demonstrated.
" low BwhistB from the 2uide admonished the s>ies of dan2er, and, as
a2reed ?eforehand, the$ sank flat u>on their faces and waited for the
si2nal that all was ri2ht, ?efore 2oin2 further. Peerin2 cautiousl$
throu2h the dense 2loom, the$ ?ecame aware that the 2irl was missin2,
and she was 2one so lon2 that the$ were filled with serious mis2i%in2s.
9inall$ her shadow$ fi2ure came out of the 2loom, and she told them she
had succeeded in ha%in2 two sentinels remo%ed whose >osition was such
that it would ha%e ?een im>ossi?le for them to 2et ?$ undisco%ered.
3n the same noiseless manner the fli2ht was resumed, and the three
>hantoms, mo%ed alon2 throu2h the 2loom for a half hour, when the$
were startled ?$ the ?arkin2 of a do2 close to them. 3nstantl$ White
and <IClelland cocked their 2uns, ?ut their 2uide whis>ered that the$
were now in the %er$ middle of the %illa2e, and their li%es de>ended
on the utmost silence and secrec$. The$ needed hardl$ to ?e assured
of that, and the$ si2nified that her directions would ?e followed
im>licitl$.
" minute later the$ were accosted ?$ a sFuaw from an o>enin2 in her
wi2wamE the 2uide made a>>ro>riate re>l$, in the 3ndian ton2ue, and
without >ause, mo%ed on. Her %oice and manner disarmed sus>icion, and
the three were not distur?ed.
!nl$ a short distance further was >assed, when the 2irl assured them
the$ were ?e$ond the limits of the %illa2e, and the 2reat dan2er
was ended. She had shown e=traordinar$ wisdom and shrewdness in
leadin2 the s>ies out of their 2reat >eril. She knew the Shawanoes
had their sentinels stationed at e%er$ a%enue of esca>e, and instead
of takin2 those which it would seem most natural to follow under
the circumstances, she ado>ted the ?old >lan of disarmin2 all these
>recautions ?$ >assin2 directl$ throu2h the center of the %illa2e. The
%er$ ?oldness of the >lan >ro%ed its success.
The fu2iti%es now made for the !hio &i%er, and, at the end of three
da$sI hard tra%el, the$ safel$ reached the ?lock4house. Their esca>e
>re%ented the contem>lated attack ?$ the 3ndians, and the ad%enture
itself is certainl$ one of the most remarka?le of the man$ told of the
earl$ da$s of !hio and Kentuck$.
"mon2 the mem?ers of <r. 9inle$Is church was a Fuiet, >lain4lookin2
woman who was mild, 2entle, and consistent in her talk and
con%ersation. "nd $et this <rs. <erril was the heroine of the followin2
wonderful e=>loit:
3n +0K+, the house of <r. <erril, in ;elson count$, was assaulted
?$ 3ndians. He was fired u>on and fell wounded into the room. The
sa%a2es attem>ted to rush in after him, ?ut <rs. <erril and her
dau2hter succeeded in closin2 the door. The assailants ?e2an to hew a
>assa2e throu2h it with their tomahawksE and, ha%in2 made a hole lar2e
enou2h, one of them attem>ted to sFueee into the room. 5ndisma$ed,
the coura2eous woman seied an a=e, 2a%e the ruffian a fatal ?low as
he s>ran2 throu2h, and he sunk Fuietl$ to the floor. "nother, and
still another, followed till four of their num?er met the same fate.
The silence within induced one of them to >ause and look throu2h the
cre%ice in the door. Disco%erin2 the fate of those who had entered,
the sa%a2es resol%ed u>on another mode of attack. Two of their num?er
clam?ered to the to> of the house, and >re>ared to descend the ?road
wooden chimne$. This new dan2er was >rom>tl$ met. <rs. <erril did not
desert her >ostE ?ut directed her little son to cut o>en the feather
?ed, and >our the feathers u>on the fire. This the little fellow did
with e=cellent effect. The two sa%a2es, scorched and suffocated, fell
down into the fire, and were soon dis>atched ?$ the children and the
wounded hus?and. "t that moment a fifth sa%a2e attem>ted to enter the
doorE ?ut he recei%ed a salute u>on the head from the a=e held ?$ <rs.
<erril, that sent him howlin2 awa$. Thus se%en of the sa%a2es were
destro$ed ?$ the coura2e and ener2$ of this heroic woman. When the sole
sur%i%or reached the town, and was asked, BWhat newsQB a >risoner heard
his re>l$: BBad newsH The sFuaws fi2ht worse than lon2 kni%es.B
William Kennan, a noted scout and ran2er, was the hero of man$
e=traordinar$ incidents.
He had lon2 ?een remarka?le for stren2th and acti%it$. 3n the course
of the march from 9ort Washin2ton, he had re>eated o>>ortunities of
testin2 his astonishin2 >owers in those res>ects, and was admitted to
?e the swiftest runner of the li2ht cor>s. !n the e%enin2 >recedin2
the action, his cor>s had ?een ad%anced in front of the first line of
infantr$, to 2i%e seasona?le notice of the enem$Is a>>roach.
"s da$ was dawnin2, he o?ser%ed a?out thirt$ 3ndians within one hundred
$ards of the 2uard4fire, a>>roachin2 cautiousl$ toward the s>ot
where he stood, in com>an$ with twent$ other ran2ers, the rest ?ein2
considera?l$ in the rear. Su>>osin2 it to ?e a mere scoutin2 >art$, and
not su>erior in num?er to the ran2ers, he s>ran2 forward a few >aces in
order to shelter himself in a s>ot of >eculiarl$ rank 2rass, and, after
firin2 with a Fuick aim at the foremost 3ndian, fell flat u>on his
face, and >roceeded with all >ossi?le ra>idit$ to reload his 2un, not
dou?tin2 for a moment that his com>anions would maintain their >osition
and su>>ort him.
The 3ndians, howe%er, rushed forward in such o%erwhelmin2 masses, that
the ran2ers were com>elled to flee with >reci>itation, lea%in2 $oun2
Kennan in total i2norance of his dan2er. 9ortunatel$, the ca>tain of
his com>an$ had o?ser%ed him, when he threw himself in the 2rass,
and suddenl$ shouted aloud: B&un, Kennan, or $ou are a dead manHB He
instantl$ s>ran2 to his feet, and ?eheld the 3ndians within ten feet of
him, while his com>an$ were more than one hundred $ards in front.
;ot a moment was to ?e lost. He darted off, with e%er$ muscle strained
to the utmost, and was >ursued ?$ a doen of the enem$ with loud $ells.
He at first >ressed strai2ht forward to the usual fordin24>lace in the
creek, which ran ?etween the ran2ers and the main arm$E ?ut se%eral
3ndians, who had >assed him ?efore he arose from the 2rass, threw
themsel%es in his wa$ and com>letel$ cut him off from the rest.
B$ the most >owerful e=ertions, he had thrown the whole ?od$ of
>ursuers ?ehind him, with the e=ce>tion of one $oun2 chief, >ro?a?l$
<eeshawa, who dis>la$ed a swiftness and >erse%erance eFual to his own.
3n the circuit which Kennan was o?li2ed to make, the race continued
for more than four hundred $ards. The distance ?etween them was a?out
ei2hteen feet, which Kennan could not increase, nor his ad%ersar$
diminish. #ach for the time >ut his whole soul in the race.
Kennan, as far as he was a?le, ke>t his e$e u>on the motions of his
>ursuer, lest he should throw the tomahawk, which he held aloft in a
menacin2 attitude, and, at len2th, findin2 that no other 3ndian was at
hand, he determined to tr$ the mettle of his >ursuer in a different
manner, and felt for his knife in order to turn at ?a$. 3t had esca>ed
from its sheath, howe%er, while he la$ in the 2rass, and his hair
almost lifted the ca> from his head when he found himself wholl$
unarmed.
"s he had slackened his s>ace for a moment, the 3ndian was almost
within reach of him when he started ahead a2ainE ?ut the idea of ?ein2
without arms lent win2s to his fli2ht, and for the first time he saw
himself 2ainin2 2round. He had watched the motions of his >ursuer too
closel$ to >a$ >ro>er attention to the nature of the 2round ?efore him,
and suddenl$ found himself in front of a lar2e tree, which had ?een
?lown down, and u>on which had ?een hea>ed ?rush and other im>ediments
to the hei2ht of ei2ht or nine feet.
The 3ndian, heretofore silent, now 2a%e utterance to an e=ultant shout,
for he must ha%e felt sure of his %ictim. ;ot a second was 2i%en to
Kennan to deli?erate. He must clear the o?stacle in front or it was
all o%er with him. Puttin2 his whole soul into the effort, he ?ounded
into the air with a >ower which astonished himself, and, clearin2
lim?s, ?rush, and e%er$thin2 else, ali2hted in >erfect safet$ on the
other side. "n e=clamation of amaement ?urst from the ?and of >ursuers
?rin2in2 u> the rear, not one of whom had the hardihood to attem>t the
same feat.
Kennan, howe%er, had no leisure to enAo$ his trium>h. Dashin2 into the
creek, where the hi2h ?anks would >rotect him from the fire of the
enem$, he ran u> the ed2e of the stream until he found a con%enient
crossin2 >lace, and reAoined the ran2ers in the rear of the encam>ment,
>antin2 from the fati2ue of e=ertions which had seldom ?een sur>assed.
But little ?reathin2 time was allowed him. The attack instantl$
commenced, and was maintained for three hours with una?ated fur$.
When the retreat took >lace, Kennan was attached to <aAor ClarkIs
?attalion, which had the dan2erous ser%ice of >rotectin2 the rear. The
cor>s Fuickl$ lost its commander, and was com>letel$ disor2anied.
Kennan was amon2 the hindmost when the fli2ht commenced, ?ut e=ertin2
those same >owers which had sa%ed him in the mornin2, he Fuickl$ 2ained
the front, >assin2 se%eral horsemen in his fli2ht.
Here he ?eheld a >ri%ate in his own com>an$, l$in2 u>on the 2round with
his thi2h ?roken, who, in tones of distress, im>lored each horseman as
he hurried ?$ to take him u> ?ehind. "s soon as he ?eheld Kennan comin2
u> on foot, he stretched out his hands and entreated him to sa%e him.
;otwithstandin2 the imminent >eril of the moment, his friend could not
reAect such an a>>eal, ?ut, seiin2 him in his arms, >laced him u>on
his ?ack, and ran in this manner se%eral hundred $ards.
"t len2th the enem$ was 2ainin2 u>on them so fast, that Kennan saw
their death was certain unless he relinFuished his ?urden. He
accordin2l$ told his friend that he had used e%er$ e=ertion >ossi?le
to sa%e his life, ?ut in %ainE that he must rela= his hold a?out his
neck, or the$ would ?oth >erish. The unha>>$ man, heedless of e%er$
remonstrance, still clun2 con%ulsi%el$ to KennanIs ?ack, until the
foremost of the enem$, armed with tomahawks alone, were within twent$
$ards of them. Kennan then drew his knife from its sheath, and cut the
fin2ers of his com>anion, thus com>ellin2 him to relinFuish his hold.
The wounded man fell u>on the 2round in utter hel>lessness, and Kennan
?eheld him tomahawked ?efore he had 2one thirt$ $ards. Kennan, relie%ed
from his ?urden, darted forward with the acti%it$ which once more
?rou2ht him to the %an. Here a2ain he was com>elled to ne2lect his own
safet$ to attend to that of others.
The late :o%ernor <adison, of Kentuck$, who afterward commanded the
cor>s which defended themsel%es so honora?l$ at the &i%er &aisin,
was at that time a su?altern in St. ClairIs arm$. Bein2 a man of
fee?le constitution, he was totall$ e=hausted ?$ the e=ertions of the
mornin2, and was found ?$ Kennan sittin2 calml$ u>on a lo2, awaitin2
the a>>roach of his enemies. Kennan hastil$ accosted him, and inFuired
the cause of his dela$. <adison, >ointin2 to a wound which had ?led
>rofusel$, re>lied he was una?le to walk further, and had no horse.
Kennan instantl$ ran ?ack to the s>ot where he had seen an e=hausted
horse 2rain2, cau2ht him without difficult$, and ha%in2 assisted
<adison to mount, walked ?$ his side till the$ were out of dan2er.
9ortunatel$, the >ursuit ceased soon after, as the >lunder of the cam>
>resented irresisti?le attractions to the 3ndians. The friendshi> thus
formed ?etween these two $oun2 men continued throu2h life. Kennan ne%er
entirel$ reco%ered from the immense e=ertions he was constrained to
make durin2 this unfortunate e=>edition.
CH"PT#& NJ333.
The Three Counties of Kentuck$ united into !ne District44Colonel
Boone as a 9armer44He outwits a Part$ of 3ndians who seek to
ca>ture him44#mi2ration to Kentuck$44!utra2es ?$ 3ndians449ailure
of :eneral ClarkIs #=>edition.
Kentuck$ now enAo$ed a season of re>ose. The re%olution was ended, the
inde>endence of the colonies reco2nied, and the cession of the British
>osts in the northwest was considered ine%ita?le. The 3ndians had not
the same incenti%es to warfare and massacre as heretofore, thou2h
murder was so con2enial to their nature, and their hatred of the whites
was so intense, that it was unsafe to trust to an$ re2ard of treaties
on their >art.
The $ear +0(M, althou2h marked ?$ few stirrin2 incidents, was an
im>ortant one in the histor$ of Kentuck$.
She still ?elon2ed to Jir2inia, ?ut the su?Aect of se>aration was
discussed amon2 the >eo>le, and it was a>>arent to all that the da$ was
not far distant when she would ?e erected into an inde>endent StateE
?ut she or2anied on a new ?asis, as ma$ ?e said. The three counties
were united in one district, ha%in2 a court of common law and chancer$,
for the whole Territor$. The seat of Austice was first esta?lished at
Harrods?ur2, ?ut was soon after remo%ed to Dan%ille, which continued
the ca>ital and most im>ortant town in the State for a num?er of $ears.
5>on the cessation of hostilities ?etween #n2land and the Colonies, it
was sti>ulated that the former were to carr$ awa$ no sla%es, were to
surrender to the 5nited States her >osts in the ;orthwest, and were
>ermitted to collect the le2al de?ts due her from our citiens.
#ach >art$ %iolated these conditions. Jir2inia >erem>toril$ for?ade
the collection of a sin2le de?t within her territor$ until e%er$
sla%e taken awa$ was returnedE while #n2land, on her >art, refused to
surrender a >ost until all the de?ts due her su?Aects had ?een le2all$
reco2nied and collected. The result of these com>lications was that
#n2land held her >osts in the ;orthwest for ten $ears after the close
of the war.
Colonel Boone, as was his custom, de%oted himself to his farm, and was
en2a2ed in the culti%ation of considera?le to?acco, thou2h he ne%er
used the weed himself. "s a shelter for curin2 it, he had ?uilt an
enclosure of rails which was co%ered with cane and 2rass. The raisin2
of to?acco has ?ecome so common of late in man$ States of the 5nion,
that nearl$ all understand the >rocess. Boone had >laced the >lants so
that the$ la$ in three tiers on the rails, the lowermost one ha%in2
?ecome %er$ dr$. !ne da$, while in the act of remo%in2 the lower >ile,
so as to make room for the rest of his cro>, four stalwart 3ndians
entered, carr$in2 2uns.
When Boone looked down into the 2rinnin2 faces of the warriors, he
understood what it meant: the$ had come to take him awa$ >risoner, as
he had ?een taken ?efore.
BWe 2ot $ou now, Boone,B said one of themE B$ou no 2et awa$E we carr$
$ou to Chillicothe.B
Boone, of course, had no 2un at command, as he was not e=>ectin2 an$
such %isit, while each of the Shawanoes carried a rifle and held it so
as to command him.
When Boone looked more narrowl$ into their faces, he reco2nied one or
two of the Shawanoes who had ca>tured him fi%e $ears ?efore near the
Blue Licks.
He affected to ?e >leased, and called ?ack, with a lau2h,
BHow are $ou, friendsQ 3Im 2lad to see $ou.B
But the$ were not dis>osed to wait, for the$ had %entured, at
considera?le risk, to steal thus close to the settlement, in their
ea2erness to secure such a noted >risoner as Colonel Boone.
The$, therefore, >ointed their 2uns at him in a menacin2 wa$, and
su22ested that the ?est >lan for him to induce them not to >ull the
tri22ers was to descend immediatel$.
B3 donIt see as there is an$ hel> for it,B was the re>l$ of the
>ioneer, B?ut, as 3 ha%e started to shift this to?acco, 3 ho>e $ouIll
wait a few minutes till 3 can shift it. 'ust watch the wa$ 3 do it.B
The four warriors were unsus>icious, and, standin2 directl$ under the
mass of dr$ >un2ent stuff, the$ looked u> at the >ioneer as he ?e2an
mo%in2 the rails. He continued talkin2 to his old acFuaintances, as
thou2h the$ were %alued friends, who had Aust dro>>ed in for a chat,
and the$ turned their ?lack e$es curiousl$ u>on him, with no thou2ht of
the little strata2em he was arran2in2 with such care and skill.
B$ and ?$ Boone 2ot a lar2e >ile of the to?acco in >osition directl$
o%er their heads, and then suddenl$ drew the rails a>art, so as to
allow it to fall.
"t the same instant, with his arms full of the suffocatin2 weed, he
s>ran2 amon2 them and dashed it into their faces. Distri?utin2 it as
im>artiall$ as he could, in the few seconds he allowed himself, he
dashed out of the shed and ran for his house, where he could seie his
rifle, and defend himself a2ainst twice the num?er.
:reat as was his dan2er, he could not hel> sto>>in2, when he had run
most of the distance, and lookin2 ?ack to see how his %isitors were
makin2 out.
The si2ht was a curious one. The e$es of the four warriors were full
of the smartin2 dust, and the$ were 2ro>in2 a?out, una?le to see, and
resem?lin2 a >art$ en2a2ed in ?lind4manIs ?uff. These warriors were
a?le to s>eak #n2lish Fuite well, and the$ used some %er$ em>hatic
e=>ressions in the efforts to >ut their feelin2s into words. 3f the$
e=>ected to find Boone in these aimless 2ro>in2s the$ were mistaken,
for he reached his ca?in, where he was safe from them, had the$ ?een in
the full >ossession of their faculties.
When the Shawanoes had mana2ed to free their e$es to some e=tent from
the ?itin2, >un2ent dust, the$ mo%ed off into the woods and made no
more calls u>on the >ioneer.
#mi2ration to Kentuck$ increased, and new settlements were continuall$
formin2. Stron2, sturd$ settlers erected their ca?ins in e%er$ Fuarter,
and the forests were ra>idl$ cleared. Li%estock increased in num?ers,
and naturall$ a ?risk trade s>ran2 u> in man$ commodities. Trains
of >ack4horses carried 2oods from Philadel>hia to Pitts?ur2h, where
the$ were taken down the !hio in flat4?oats and distri?uted amon2 the
%arious settlements.
"s the e=>ression 2oes, in these later da$s, e%er$thin2 was B?oomin2B
in Kentuck$ durin2 those $ears, and the Territor$ made immense strides
in material wealth and >ros>erit$. <ost of the immi2rants came from
;orth Carolina and Jir2inia, and the$ were hos>ita?le, enter>risin2,
%i2orous and stron2l$ attached to each other.
The time for Buni%ersal >eace,B alon2 the frontier had not $et comeE
small affra$s were continuall$ occurrin2 ?etween the settlers and
3ndians, and in the s>rin2 of +0(,, an incident of a sin2ular nature
took >lace. " <r. &owan, with his own and fi%e other families, was
descendin2 the !hio, one flat4?oat ?ein2 occu>ied ?$ the cattle, while
the emi2rants were in the other. The$ had >ro2ressed a considera?le
distance, when, late at ni2ht, the$ were alarmed ?$ the num?er of
3ndian fires which were ?urnin2 for a half mile alon2 the ?anks. The
sa%a2es called to the whites and ordered them to come ashore, ?ut,
without makin2 an$ re>l$, the settlers continued floatin2 silentl$
down the ri%er. 9indin2 their orders disre2arded, the sa%a2es s>ran2
into their canoes and >addled ra>idl$ toward the ?oatsE ?ut, in this
instance, certainl$ silence >ro%ed 2olden, for the unnatural stillness
which continued seemed to awe the 3ndians, who, after followin2 the
craft awhile, drew off without inflictin2 the sli2htest inAur$. <ost
likel$ the$ were fearful of a sur>rise, in case of an o>en attack.
3n the month of <arch, +0(O, a settler named #lliot was killed and his
famil$ ?roken u>, and while Thomas <arshall was descendin2 the !hio, he
was hailed in the fashion often ado>ted ?$ the deco$s em>lo$ed ?$ the
3ndians. 3n this instance, howe%er, the white man said he was a ?rother
of the notorious Simon :irt$, and he wished to warn the settlers
a2ainst their dan2er. He admonished them to ?e on the watch e%er$ hour
of the da$ and ni2ht, and under no circumstances to a>>roach the shore.
He added the remarka?le information that his ?rother re>ented the
hostilit$ he had shown the whites, and intended to return to them, if
the$ would o%erlook his former enmit$. But, as Simon remained a ?itter
enem$ until his death, nearl$ thirt$ $ears later, his re>entance could
not ha%e ?een %er$ sincere.
" ?rief while after this, Ca>tain Ward was attacked on the ri%er and
all his horses were killed, his ne>hew also fallin2 a %ictim. 3n
!cto?er an emi2rant >art$ was fired into, and si= slain, then another
com>an$ lost nineE and the desultor$ warfare was >ushed with such
>ersistenc$ ?$ the sa%a2es, that the settlers demanded that the 3ndian
countr$ should ?e in%aded and a ?low deli%ered which would >ro%e
effectual in kee>in2 them awa$ for a lon2 time to come.
The situation of affairs ?ecame so e=as>eratin2 that :eneral Clark, in
accordance with the fashion, issued his call for %olunteers, and in a
?rief s>ace of time a thousand %eterans flocked a?out him at the 9alls
of the !hio.
This was an arm$ which, if >ro>erl$ handled, was irresisti?le and could
ha%e marched strai2ht throu2h the 3ndian countr$, la$in2 the fields and
towns waste and dis>ersin2 an$ force the tri?es could com?ine a2ainst
them.
But, from the first, it encountered two most serious difficulties:
:eneral Clark had lost >resti2e from his ha?its of into=ication, which
unfitted him to assume the leadershi> of such an im>ortant enter>rise,
where a man needed to ?e cool, collected, and with the command of e%er$
facult$ of his ?ein2.
But for this one fatal weakness, which has stricken so man$ a 2enius
to the dust, Clark would ha%e risen to far 2reater eminence, and would
ha%e reached and held the >osition throu2h life to which his commandin2
2enius entitled him.
The >ro%isions for the soldiers were sent down the ri%er in keel
?oats, ?ut the o?structions dela$ed them, and, when two weeks >assed
without their arri%al, the dissatisfaction of the men ?roke out in o>en
insu?ordination. Desertions ?e2an, and in one instance, it is said,
three hundred soldiers left in a ?od$. :eneral Clark >rotested, ?e22ed
and entreated, ?ut all in %ain. His force went to >ieces, like snow
meltin2 in the sun, and he was finall$ forced to return to Kentuck$,
humiliated ?e$ond measure.
Whene%er an$ such mo%ement was started ?$ the whites, the 3ndians ke>t
themsel%es informed of e%er$ ste> of its >ro2ress. Their s>ies were out
and allowed no incident, howe%er sli2ht, to esca>e their o?ser%ation.
3t was natural, therefore, that when the$ saw the formida?le force
?reak u> and 2o to their homes, the$ should conclude that the settlers
were afraid to in%ade their territor$, with the lesson of the former
re>eated failures ?efore their e$es.
The 3ndians were stimulated to 2reater audacit$ than e%er, and it ma$
?e said that the whole ?order ?ecame aflame with the most murderous
kind of warfare.
CH"PT#& N3N.
:eneral HarmarIs #=>edition a2ainst the 3ndians44Colonel Hardin
"m?ushed44Bra%er$ of the &e2ulars44!ut2eneraled ?$ the
3ndians44Harmar and Hardin Court4martialed44:eneral St. ClairIs
#=>edition and its Defeat.
The outra2es u>on the >art of the 3ndians ?ecame so alarmin2 that
Con2ress was forced to see that the onl$ wa$ to check them and
to 2i%e an$thin2 like securit$ to the frontier, was to send a
re2ularl$4or2anied arm$ into the countr$, which should so cri>>le the
>ower of the com?ined tri?es that the$ would ?e com>elled to sue for
>eace.
" force of ele%en hundred men was therefore or2anied and >laced under
the command of :eneral Harmar, who was directed to march a2ainst the
3ndian towns of the ;orthwest. 3n the latter >art of Se>tem?er, Harmar,
at the head of this lar2e ?od$, mo%ed a2ainst the %illa2es on the
<iami. The sa%a2es, as a matter of course, knew of their comin2, and
were 2one. :eneral Harmar laid waste their cornfields and a>>lied the
torch to their lod2es, makin2 the destruction as com>lete as >ossi?le.
Disco%erin2 a fresh trail, he detached one hundred and ei2ht$ of his
men, and >lacin2 them under the command of Colonel 'ohn Hardin and
#nsi2n Hartshorn, sent them with orders to mo%e with all s>eed with a
%iew of o%ertakin2 the fu2iti%es.
Pursuit was >ushed with 2reat %i2or, when the whole force ran directl$
into am?ush and were assailed on all sides ?$ a lar2e force of 3ndians.
"t the ?e2innin2 of the attack, the militia, num?erin2 fi%e4si=ths of
the whole force, ?roke and scattered, while the few re2ulars stood
their 2round and fou2ht ?ra%el$, until nearl$ e%er$ man was shot down.
When ni2ht came, the 3ndians held a Aollification dance o%er the
dead and d$in2 soldiers, and the 2reat %ictor$ the$ themsel%es had
a2ain o?tained. "mon2 the witnesses of the curious scene were #nsi2n
Hartshorn 6who, ha%in2 stum?led o%er a lo2 in the tall 2rass, was
>rudent enou2h to lie still where he was unnoticed7 and Colonel Hardin,
who was sunk to his chin in mud and water, where he sta$ed until he
2ained an o>>ortunit$ of crawlin2 out. He and Hartshorn succeeded in
reAoinin2 the main ?od$.
The news of the fri2htful slau2hter so discoura2ed :eneral Harmar
that he ?roke u> his cam> and ?e2an a retro2ade mo%ement toward the
settlements. When a few miles from the 3ndian towns which he had
?urned, he halted and sent out Colonel Hardin with three hundred
militia and si=t$ re2ulars.
The$ were %ictimied more shamefull$ than ?efore. 3t seems
unaccounta?le how men in such circumstances, and with the crimson
lessons of the >recedin2 few $ears ?efore them, could ?e so decei%ed as
were the leaders of the e=>editions in the West.
Colonel Hardin had not ad%anced far, when a small com>an$ of warriors
showed themsel%es and succeeded with little difficult$ in drawin2 off
the militia in >ursuit of them44the %er$ >ur>ose of the strata2em44and
then the main ?od$ of sa%a2es attacked the re2ulars in o%erwhelmin2
force and with ti2er4like ferocit$.
"lthou2h unused to such fi2htin2, the re2ulars stood their 2round like
S>artans, and loaded and fired with 2reat accurac$ and ra>idit$. The
warriors dro>>ed like autumn lea%es, and had there ?een onl$ a few
hundred of them, the soldiers would ha%e routed them %er$ Fuickl$E ?ut
re4enforcements continued to swarm forward, the woods were ali%e, and
e%er$ tree and ?ush seemed to conceal a sa%a2e who aimed with deadl$
effect at the ?ra%e soldiers.
The latter stood and fou2ht until onl$ ten men were left, includin2
their intre>id commander. These esca>ed, while fift$ were killed44the
fi2ht, scarcel$ heard of in this da$, ?ein2 one of the most remarka?le
e=hi?itions of ?ra%er$ e%er 2i%en in the histor$ of our countr$.
'ust a?out the time the little force was >racticall$ annihilated, the
militia came ?ack, so as to take their turn in offerin2 themsel%es as
%ictims to 3ndian treacher$ and ?ra%er$. The warriors were read$ for
them, and the$ were attacked with the same fierceness. The horri?le
massacre went on until two4thirds of the militia were slain, when the
others scattered for the main ?od$.
3t would seem that mismana2ement could not 2o further, and the
indi2nation a2ainst Harmar and Hardin was so intense that the$ were
court4martialed. Hardin o?tained a unanimous acFuittal, as did HarmarE
?ut the latter felt the dis2race so keenl$ that he resi2ned his
commission in the arm$.
!ne of the ine%ita?le results of these re>eated ?lunders on the >art
of the soldiers was the renewal of the 3ndian outra2es, which ?ecame
?older than e%er. The condition of Kentuck$ was so critical that
Con2ress a>>ointed St. Clair, :o%ernor of the ;orthwest Territor$,
<aAor4:eneral, and he was instructed to raise a new re2iment for the
defence of the frontier.
:eneral St. Clair was 2i%en command of the e=>edition, and it was the
crownin2 act of im?ecilit$ and dis2race on the >art of those who had
in char2e the >rotection of the ?order. "rthur St. Clair was ?orn at
#din?ur2h, Scotland, and was in the >rime of life when he assumed
command of the e=>edition a2ainst the western tri?es. 3t was he who
in the month of 'une, +000, was ?esie2ed in Ticondero2a ?$ Bur2o$neIs
troo>s and com>elled to e%acuate the fort with 2reat loss. His career
in the &e%olution had not ?een credita?le to him, and there was no man
in whom the Kentuckians had less confidence than he. When it ?ecame
known that he was to lead the lar2e force a2ainst the 3ndians, the
dissatisfaction was uni%ersal, and the >redictions of failure were
heard in e%er$ Fuarter.
The distrust was so dee> that his call for %olunteers recei%ed no
res>onse. 3t was intended that his command should consist of two
thousand re2ular troo>s, com>osed of ca%alr$, infantr$ and artiller$.
These rende%oused at 9ort Washin2ton, the site of Cincinnati, in
Se>tem?er, +0K+. Kentuck$ finall$ sent forward a thousand of her
militia, ?ut the$ so disliked ser%ice under St. Clair, that the most of
them deserted and returned to their homes.
The chief o?Aect of this formida?le cam>ai2n was to esta?lish a series
of >osts, e=tendin2 from the !hio to the <aumeeE and ?$ lea%in2 a
2arrison of a thousand men on the latter ri%er, it was ?elie%ed that
the nei2h?orin2 tri?es could ?e ke>t in a state of su?mission.
9ort 'efferson was esta?lished close to the >resent ?oundar$ line
?etween !hio and 3ndiana, ?ut the >ro2ress of the arm$ was so
snail4like that desertions ?ecame numerous. " month >assed ?efore the
march was resumed, and the im>atient Kentuckians left ?$ scores. 3n one
instance at least a whole detachment drew off and went home.
The >rinci>al 2uide and scout attached to the e=>edition was a
Chickasaw chief, who saw what was certain to ?e the result of this
wholesale insu?ordination, and he with his few warriors also left. The
wiser course would ha%e ?een for St. Clair to ha%e done the same, for
nothin2 ?ut irretrie%a?le disaster stared him in the face.
St. Clair, howe%er, >ressed forward, and on the Md of ;o%em?er, he
encam>ed u>on a tri?utar$ of the Wa?ash. 3ndians were seen continuall$,
?ut the$ ke>t ?e$ond reach. The re2ulars and le%ies encam>ed in two
lines, co%ered ?$ the stream, while the militia were a Fuarter of a
mile in ad%ance on the other side of the ri%er. Be$ond these, Ca>tain
Clou2h was stationed with a com>an$ of re2ulars, with orders to
interce>t the ad%ance of the enem$. Colonel !ldham was directed to send
out >atrols of twent$4fi%e men each, throu2h the woods to >re%ent the
insidious a>>roach of the 3ndians.
;o attack was made, ?ut durin2 the succeedin2 ni2ht, Ca>tain Clou2h was
rendered uneas$ ?$ the disco%er$ that the woods were full of sa%a2es,
who were e%identl$ carr$in2 out some >re4arran2ed >lan, for the tri?es
had >ro%en lon2 ?efore their a?ilit$ to out2eneral the whites in
fi2htin2 ?attles in the forest.
The ca>tain re>orted his disco%er$ to :eneral Butler, who failed to
notif$ the commandin2 2eneral, and, at sunrise, the 3ndians made a
furious char2e u>on the cam> of the militia. The re2ulars, as usual,
fou2ht with the 2reatest darin2, and the militia, as usual, dis>la$ed
the 2reatest cowardice, ?reakin2 and fleein2 in a >anic. The re2ulars
were ena?led to hold the sa%a2es in check for a short time, ?ut the
>anic of the militia was irretrie%a?le.
There were none Fuicker to >ercei%e this than the 3ndians themsel%es,
who immediatel$ massed and >oured a terri?l$ destructi%e fire into the
ad%ance, the artiller$ and the second line.
The sur>rise was com>lete, ?ut credit must ?e 2i%en St. Clair and his
officers, who were >ersonall$ ?ra%e, and who fou2ht with the utmost
darin2, stri%in2 at 2reat >ersonal risk to rall$ the men.
CH"PT#& NN.
The Brilliant Jictor$ of <ad "nthon$ Wa$ne ?rin2s Peace to the
9rontier44Boone Loses his 9arm44He &emo%es to <issouri44<ade
Commandant of the 9emme !sa2e District44"udu?onIs "ccount of a
;i2ht with Colonel Boone44Huntin2 in his !ld "2e44He Loses the Land
2ranted him ?$ the S>anish :o%ernment44Petitions Con2ress for a
Confirmation of his !ri2inal Claims44The Petition Disre2arded.
While the stirrin2 e%ents recorded in the >recedin2 cha>ter were takin2
>lace, Daniel Boone, like e%er$ one else, was ad%ancin2 in $ears, and
the >rime of his life was >assed ?efore a lastin2 >eace was 2ained ?$
the "merican settlers on the frontier.
Disaster followed disaster, until Con2ress at last did the thin2 which
it ou2ht to ha%e done lon2 ?efore. B<ad "nthon$B Wa$ne, the hero of
Ston$ Point and a doen &e%olutionar$ ?attlefields, was a>>ointed to
assume the militar$ mana2ement of affairs in the West.
This a>>ointment was made in ">ril, +0K), when he ?ecame <aAor4:eneral
and Commander4in4Chief, and he led an e=>edition a2ainst the defiant
com?ination of tri?es, encounterin2 them in "u2ust, +0K,, when he
utterl$ defeated and o%erthrew them. He com>elled the treat$ of
:reen%ille, which ended all dan2er from an$ com?ination of the
a?ori2ines44nothin2 of the kind de%elo>in2 itself, until the 2reat
Tecumseh roused his race a2ainst the "mericans in the war of +(+).
Boone now a>>lied himself with 2reat industr$ to the culti%ation of
his farm near Boones?orou2h. He soon made it one of the finest and
most %alua?le >ieces of land in the countr$E ?ut, like man$ a man in
his >osition, he fell a %ictim to the ra>acious s>eculator, who took
ad%anta2e of the intricacies and elasticit$ of the law.
Boone felt such a dislike of le2al forms, and in fact of e%er$thin2
that >ertained to them, that he failed to secure the title of his land
locations. Before he sus>ected his dan2er, he found himself de>ri%ed
of all his >ossessions, the ri2ht to which he ne%er dreamed would ?e
Fuestioned.
The 2reat >ioneer had reached that >eriod in life when it would ?e
su>>osed that he was too fee?le to ?e2in o%er a2ain, ?ut, althou2h
the misfortune was a 2reat ?low to him, he did not lose coura2e. He
remo%ed to Point Pleasant, on the Kanawha &i%er, in Jir2inia, where he
sta$ed se%eral $ears, tillin2 the 2round with his usual industr$, and
indul2in2 also in his fa%orite >astime of huntin2.
!ne da$, when he returned from huntin2, he recei%ed a call from a
num?er of friends who had ?een on a tour across the <issouri. The$ 2a%e
such fer%id accounts of the richness of the soil and the a?undance of
2ame, that the heart of the old >ioneer was fired a2ain as it was fort$
$ears ?efore. He determined to emi2rate to <issouri with the >ur>ose
of s>endin2 the remainder of his da$s there. "ccordin2l$, with his
household 2oods and famil$, he turned his ?ack fore%er u>on the land of
his earl$ sufferin2s and trium>hs. This remo%al was >ro?a?l$ made in
+0K0, thou2h the >recise date is unknown.
"t the time named, S>ain owned the countr$, then called 5>>er
Louisiana, and the fame of the renowned >ioneer had e=tended to that
com>arati%el$ remote re2ion. The Lieutenant4:o%ernor, residin2 at St.
Louis, >romised him am>le >ortions of land, and Boone took u> his
residence in the 9emme4!sa2e settlement, some O* miles west of St.
Louis. Don Charles D. Delassus, the Lieutenant4:o%ernor, >resented
Boone with a commission, in +(**, as Commandant of the 9emme4!sa2e
District44an office which included ?oth ci%il and militar$ duties.
Boone acce>ted the office, and dischar2ed the duties connected with
it with 2reat credit, u> to the time when the territor$ was >urchased
?$ the 5nited States in +(*,. Boone li%ed with his son, Daniel <.,
until the date named, when he chan2ed his residence to that of his son
;athan, with whom he tarried si= $ears, when he ?ecame a mem?er of the
famil$ of his son4in4law, 9landers Callawa$.
3t was at this >eriod that the 2reat naturalist "udu?on s>ent a ni2ht
with Boone, the account of which is so interestin2, that we %enture to
2i%e it the reader:
BDaniel Boone, or as he was usuall$ called in the Western countr$,
Colonel Boone, ha>>ened to s>end a ni2ht with me under the same roof,
more than twent$ $ears a2o. We had returned from a shootin2 e=cursion,
in the course of which his e=traordinar$ skill in the mana2ement of the
rifle had ?een full$ dis>la$ed. !n retirin2 to the room a>>ro>riated
to that remarka?le indi%idual and m$self, 3 felt an=ious to know
more of his e=>loits and ad%entures than 3 did, and accordin2l$ took
the li?ert$ of >ro>osin2 numerous Fuestions to him. The stature and
2eneral a>>earance of this Wanderer of the Western forests a>>roached
the 2i2antic. His chest was ?road and >rominentE his muscular >owers
dis>la$ed themsel%es in e%er$ lim?E his countenance 2a%e indication of
his 2reat coura2e, enter>rise, and >erse%eranceE and when he s>oke, the
%er$ motion of his li>s ?rou2ht the im>ression that whate%er he uttered
could not ?e otherwise than strictl$ true. 3 undressed, whilst he
merel$ took off his huntin24shirt, and arran2ed a few folds of ?lankets
on the floor, choosin2 rather to lie there, as he o?ser%ed, than on the
softest ?ed. When we had ?oth dis>osed of oursel%es, each after his
own fashion, he related to me the followin2 account of his >owers of
memor$, which 3 la$ ?efore $ou, kind reader, in his own words, ho>in2
that the sim>licit$ of the st$le ma$ >ro%e interestin2 to $ou:
BI3 was once,I said he, Ion a huntin2 e=>edition on the ?anks of the
:reen &i%er, when the lower >arts of this State 6Kentuck$7 were still
in the hands of nature, and none ?ut the sons of the soil were looked
u>on as its lawful >ro>rietors. We Jir2inians had for some time ?een
wa2in2 a war of intrusion u>on them, and 3, amon2st the rest, ram?led
throu2h the woods in >ursuit of their race, as 3 now would follow the
tracks of an$ ra%enous animal. The 3ndians outwitted me one dark ni2ht,
and 3 was une=>ectedl$ as suddenl$ made a >risoner ?$ them. The trick
had ?een mana2ed with 2reat skill, for no sooner had 3 e=tin2uished
the fire of m$ cam>, and laid me down to rest in full securit$, as
3 thou2ht, than 3 felt m$self seied ?$ an indistin2uisha?le num?er
of hands, and was immediatel$ >inioned, as if a?out to ?e led to the
scaffold for e=ecution. To ha%e attem>ted to ?e refractor$ would ha%e
>ro%ed useless and dan2erous to m$ lifeE and 3 suffered m$self to ?e
remo%ed from m$ cam> to theirs, a few miles distant, without utterin2
e%en a word of com>laint. Gou are aware, 3 dare sa$, that to act in
this manner was the ?est >olic$, as $ou understand that ?$ so doin2 3
>ro%ed to the 3ndians at once that 3 was ?orn and ?red as fearless of
death as an$ of themsel%es.
BIWhen we reached the cam>, 2reat reAoicin2s were e=hi?ited. Two sFuaws
and a few >a>>ooses a>>eared >articularl$ deli2hted at the si2ht of me,
and 3 was assured ?$ %er$ uneFui%ocal 2estures and words, that, on the
morrow, the mortal enem$ of the &edskins would cease to li%e. 3 ne%er
o>ened m$ li>s, ?ut was ?us$ contri%in2 some scheme which mi2ht ena?le
me to 2i%e the rascals the sli> ?efore dawn. The women immediatel$ fell
a searchin2 m$ huntin24shirt for whate%er the$ mi2ht think %alua?le,
and, fortunatel$ for me, soon found m$ flask filled with C<onon2ahelaC
6that is, reader, stron2 whisk$7. " terrific 2rin was e=hi?ited on
their murderous countenances, while m$ heart thro??ed with Ao$ at the
antici>ation of their into=ication. The crew immediatel$ ?e2an to ?eat
their ?ellies and sin2, as the$ >assed the ?ottle from mouth to mouth.
How often did 3 wish the flask ten times its sie, and filled with aFua
fortisH 3 o?ser%ed that the sFuaws drank more freel$ than the warriors,
and a2ain m$ s>irits were a?out to ?e de>ressed, when the re>ort of
a 2un was heard in the distance. The sin2in2 and drinkin2 were ?oth
?rou2ht to a stand, and 3 saw, with ine=>ressi?le Ao$, the men walk off
to some distance and talk to the sFuaws. 3 knew the$ were consultin2
a?out me, and 3 foresaw that in a few moments the warriors would 2o to
disco%er the cause of the 2un ha%in2 ?een fired so near their cam>. 3
e=>ected the sFuaws would ?e left to 2uard me. Well, sir, it was Aust
so. The$ returnedE the men took u> their 2uns and walked awa$. The
sFuaws sat down a2ain, and in less than fi%e minutes had m$ ?ottle u>
to their dirt$ mouths, 2ur2lin2 down their throats the remains of the
whisk$.
BIWith what >leasure did 3 see them ?ecomin2 more and more drunk, until
the liFuor took such hold of them that it was Fuite im>ossi?le for
these women to ?e of an$ ser%ice. The$ tum?led down, rolled a?out, and
?e2an to snoreE when 3, ha%in2 no other chance of freein2 m$self from
the cords that fastened me, rolled o%er and o%er towards the fire, and,
after a short time, ?urned them asunder. 3 rose on m$ feet, stretched
m$ stiffened sinews, snatched u> m$ rifle, and, for once in m$ life,
s>ared that of 3ndians. 3 now recollect how desirous 3 once or twice
felt to la$ o>en the skulls of the wretches with m$ tomahawkE ?ut, when
3 a2ain thou2ht u>on killin2 ?ein2s un>re>ared and una?le to defend
themsel%es, it looked like murder without need, and 3 2a%e u> the idea.
BIBut, sir, 3 felt determined to mark the s>ot, and, walkin2 to a
thrift$ ash sa>lin2, 3 cut out of it three lar2e chi>s, and ran off. 3
soon reached the ri%er, soon crossed it, and threw m$self dee> into the
cane?rakes, imitatin2 the tracks of an 3ndian with m$ feet, so that no
chance mi2ht ?e left for those from whom 3 had esca>ed to o%ertake me.
BI3t is now nearl$ twent$ $ears since this ha>>ened, and more than fi%e
since 3 left the whitesI settlements, which 3 mi2ht >ro?a?l$ ne%er ha%e
%isited a2ain had 3 not ?een called on as a witness in a lawsuit that
was >endin2 in Kentuck$, and which 3 reall$ ?elie%e would ne%er ha%e
?een settled, had 3 not come forward and esta?lished the ?e2innin2 of a
certain ?oundar$ line. This is the stor$, sir:
BI<r. 4444 mo%ed from old Jir2inia into Kentuck$, and ha%in2 a lar2e
tract 2ranted him in the new State, laid claim to a certain >arcel of
land adAoinin2 :reen &i%er, and, as chance would ha%e it, took for
one of his corners the %er$ ash4tree on which 3 had made m$ mark, and
finished his sur%e$ of some thousands of acres, ?e2innin2, as it is
e=>ressed in the deed, Iat an ash marked ?$ three distinct notches of
the tomahawk of a white man.I
BIThe tree had 2rown much, and the ?ark had co%ered the marksE ?ut,
somehow or other, <r. 4444 heard from some one all that 3 ha%e alread$
said to $ou, and thinkin2 that 3 mi2ht remem?er the s>ot alluded to in
the deed, ?ut which was no lon2er disco%era?le, wrote for me to come
and tr$ at least to find the >lace of the tree. His letter mentioned
that all of m$ e=>enses should ?e >aid, and, not carin2 much a?out once
more 2oin2 ?ack to Kentuck$, 3 started and met <r. 4444. "fter some
con%ersation, the affair with the 3ndians came to m$ recollection. 3
considered for a while, and ?e2an to think that after all, 3 could find
the %er$ s>ot, as well as the tree, if it was $et standin2.
BI<r. 4444 and 3 mounted our horses, and off we went to the :reen &i%er
?ottoms. "fter some difficulties44for $ou must ?e aware, sir, that
2reat chan2es ha%e taken >lace in those woods443 found at last the s>ot
where 3 had crossed the ri%er, and, waitin2 for the moon to rise, made
for the course in which 3 thou2ht the ash4tree 2rew. !n a>>roachin2
the >lace, 3 felt as if the 3ndians were there still, and as if 3
were still a >risoner amon2 them. <r. 4444 and 3 cam>ed near what 3
concei%ed the s>ot, and waited until the return of da$.
BI"t the risin2 of the sun, 3 was on foot, and after a 2ood deal of
musin2, thou2ht that an ash4tree then in si2ht must ?e the %er$ one
on which 3 had made m$ mark. 3 felt as if there could ?e no dou?t of
it, and mentioned m$ thou2ht to <r. 4444. IWell, Colonel Boone,I said
he, Iif $ou think so, 3 ho>e it ma$ >ro%e true, ?ut we must ha%e some
witnessesE do $ou sta$ herea?out, and 3 will 2o and ?rin2 some of the
settlers whom 3 know.I 3 a2reed. <r. 4444 trotted off, and 3, to >ass
the time, ram?led a?out to see whether a deer was still li%in2 in the
land. But ahH sir, what a wonderful difference thirt$ $ears make in a
countr$H Wh$, at the time 3 was cau2ht ?$ the 3ndians, $ou would not
ha%e walked out in an$ direction for more than a mile without shootin2
a ?uck or a ?ear. There were then thousands of ?uffaloes on the hills
of Kentuck$E the land looked as if it ne%er would ?ecome >oorE and to
hunt in those da$s was a >leasure indeed. But when 3 was left to m$self
on the ?anks of :reen &i%er, 3 dare sa$ for the last time in m$ life, a
few Csi2nsC onl$ of deer were to ?e seen, and, as to a deer itself, 3
saw none.
BI<r. 4444 returned, accom>anied ?$ three 2entlemen. The$ looked u>on
me as if 3 had ?een Washin2ton himself, and walked to the ash4tree,
which 3 now called m$ own, as if in Fuest of a lon24lost treasure. 3
took an a=e from one of them, and cut a few chi>s off the ?ark. Still
no si2ns were to ?e seen. So 3 cut a2ain until 3 thou2ht it was time to
?e cautious, and 3 scra>ed and worked awa$ with m$ ?utcher4knife until
3 CdidC come to where m$ tomahawk had left an im>ression in the wood.
We now went re2ularl$ to work, and scra>ed at the tree with care until
three hacks, as >lain as an$ three notches e%er were, could ?e seen.
<r. 4444 and the other 2entlemen were astonished, and 3 must allow
3 was as much sur>rised as >leased m$self. 3 made affida%it of this
remarka?le occurrence in >resence of these 2entlemen. <r. 4444 2ained
the cause. 3 left :reen &i%er fore%er, and came to where we now areE
and, sir, 3 wish $ou a 2ood ni2ht.IB
8 8 8 8 8
S>ain seemed 2lad to do honor to the 2reat >ioneer, Daniel Boone, who
was so well known at that time, that no less a >oet than Lord B$ron
rendered tri?ute to his darin2 and achie%ements. S>ain 2a%e him a tract
of land, num?erin2 (,O** acres, which was meant as a reco2nition of his
ser%ices to the 2o%ernment. The law as it then e=isted, reFuired, in
order to make his title 2ood, that the 2rant should ?e confirmed ?$ the
re>resentati%e of the crown at ;ew !rleans, and another condition was
that the 2rantee should reside u>on it himself.
"s it would ha%e ?een incon%enient on the >art of Boone to com>l$ with
the latter >ro%ision, the commandant at St Louis, who was his warm
friend, assured him that his title could ?e >erfected without accedin2
to the reFuirement.
BooneIs dear e=>erience in Kentuck$ should ha%e ?een remem?ered,
?ut he left e%er$thin2 to his friends, and when Louisiana came into
the >ossession of the 5nited States, it was found that Boone had
not the shadow of a le2al title to the lands >resented him, and the
commissioners had no choice, accordin2 to their instructions, ?ut to
reAect his claim entirel$.
This was a serious ?low, ?ut the onl$ one who could ?e censured was
Boone himself. Howe%er, there was no fear of his comin2 to want, for he
not onl$ had a lar2e num?er of immediate relati%es, all of whom were
stron2l$ attached to him, ?ut the States of Kentuck$ and <issouri would
ne%er >ermit an$ such dis2race.
Boone liked <issouri, for the >eo>le were kind and hos>ita?le and 2ame
was >lent$. He could ne%er lose his fondness for the woods, and as the
?ea%er were numerous and their furs %alua?le, he made considera?le
mone$ ?$ 2atherin2 and sellin2 the >eltries.
"t the end of se%eral $ears he had amassed enou2h funds to carr$ out an
intention which does him 2reat credit. When he remo%ed from Kentuck$
he was o?li2ed to lea%e se%eral de?ts ?ehind him, the memor$ of which
distur?ed him not a little. He now made a Aourne$ to the State, where
he >aid e%er$ creditor in full, and returned to <issouri with Aust half
a dollar in his >ocket.
B;ow 3 am read$ to die,B said heE B3 ha%e >aid all m$ de?ts, and when 3
am 2one, no one shall ?e a?le to sa$ 3 was a dishonest man.B
3t would scarcel$ ?e e=>ected that in his old a2e, and in the new
countr$ to which he had emi2rated, he would ?e su?Aected to dan2er from
the 3ndians, and $et he was >laced in >eril more than once.
His >rinci>al com>anion on his huntin2 e=cursions was a ?lack ?o$
a?out half 2rown. While thus en2a2ed the$ were attacked ?$ a small
>art$ of !sa2e 3ndians, who, howe%er, were not lon2 in learnin2 that
the old fire still ?urned ?ri2htl$, for the$ were s>eedil$ scattered
without ha%in2 inflicted an$ inAur$ u>on either of the hunters.
!n another occasion, while Boone was huntin2 entirel$ alone, he
disco%ered that a lar2e encam>ment of 3ndians was in the nei2h?orhood,
and he had reason to ?elie%e that a num?er of the warriors were huntin2
for him.
Boone, it will ?e remem?ered, was Fuite an old man, and it must ha%e
recalled the scenes of nearl$ fort$ $ears ?efore, when he alternatel$
hunted and hid in the Kentuck$ wilderness, ?efore the foot of an$ other
white man had >enetrated the solitudes.
9or nearl$ three weeks the >ioneer li%ed that life o%er a2ain, hidin2
in the dee>est recesses of the forest, carefull$ concealin2 his trail
and cookin2 his food onl$ at the dead of ni2ht, so that the smoke
should not ?e seen ?$ the 3ndians, who finall$ took their de>arture,
without ?ein2 a?le to catch a 2lim>se of the old hunter.
His lo%e for the woods knew no a?atement with ad%ancin2 $ears, and
he s>ent hours, da$s, and e%en weeks, in wanderin2 in the 2rand old
forests, ?reathin2 the >ure fresh air, shootin2 the timid deer,
maneu%erin2 a2ainst the 3ndians, who tracked him man$ a mile, and
returnin2 to his home wearied, ?ut with the same 2enial 2ood nature,
which was one of his distin2uishin2 traits in his earl$ da$s.
3n the $ear +(+), Colonel Boone >etitioned Con2ress for a confirmation
of his ori2inal claims, and knowin2 that such >etitions cannot ha%e too
2reat wei2ht, he sent a memorial to the :eneral "ssem?l$ of Kentuck$,
askin2 their assistance in o?tainin2 the desired confirmation from
Con2ress.
That le2islature ?$ a unanimous %ote, >assed the followin2 >ream?le and
resolutions:
BThe Le2islature of Kentuck$, takin2 into %iew the man$ eminent
ser%ices rendered ?$ Colonel Boone, in e=>lorin2 and settlin2 the
Western countr$, from which 2reat ad%anta2es ha%e resulted, not onl$ to
this State, ?ut to his countr$ in 2eneralE and that, from circumstances
o%er which he had no control, he is now reduced to >o%ert$, not ha%in2,
so far as a>>ears, an acre of land out of the %ast territor$ he has
?een a 2reat instrument in >eo>lin2E ?elie%in2, also, that it is as
unAust as im>olitic, that useful enter>rise and eminent ser%ices should
2o unrewarded ?$ a 2o%ernment where merit confers the onl$ distinctionE
and ha%in2 sufficient reason to ?elie%e that a 2rant of ten thousand
acres of land which he claims in 5>>er Louisiana, would ha%e ?een
confirmed ?$ the S>anish 2o%ernment, had not said territor$ >assed, ?$
cession, into the hands of the 2eneral 2o%ernmentE wherefore,
BC&esol%edC, B$ the :eneral "ssem?l$ of the Commonwealth of Kentuck$,
that our senators in Con2ress ?e reFuested to make use of their
e=ertions to >rocure a 2rant of land in said Territor$ to said Boone,
either the ten thousand acres to which he a>>ears to ha%e an eFuita?le
claim, from the 2rounds set forth to this Le2islature, ?$ wa$ of
confirmation, or to such Fuantit$ in such >lace as shall ?e deemed most
ad%isa?le, ?$ wa$ of donation.B
While his memorial was >endin2 in Con2ress, the wife of Boone died at
the a2e of se%ent$4si= $ears. His memorial was stron2l$ su>>orted ?$
the most distin2uished mem?ers from the West, ?ut no action could ?e
secured u>on it until the ),th of Decem?er, +(+M, when the committee
on >u?lic lands made a re>ort, in which the Austice of BooneIs claims
was admitted, and Con2ress was recommended to 2i%e him one thousand
ar>ents, or (O* acres of land.
The act for the confirmation of the title >assed on the +*th of
9e?ruar$, +(+,. "s e%er$ emi2rant to Louisiana was entitled ?$ law
to >recisel$ that num?er of acres, it is difficult to Austif$ the
treatment which Boone recei%ed at the hands of the law4makers of the
countr$.
The >ioneer was ne%er 2i%en an$ other reco2nition of his ser%icesE
and as he was 2rowin2 old, his relati%es, all of whom were tenderl$
attached to him, saw that no want of his was not fulfilled so far as
it was >ossi?le for human kindness to fulfill it. He de%oted himself
mainl$ to huntin2, and, when at home, car%ed >owder4horns and made
trinkets for his descendants, some of whom were to the fourth and fifth
2eneration.
These last he freFuentl$ 2athered around his knees and told of his man$
thrillin2 ad%entures with the 3ndians, lon2 $ears ?efore the$ were
?orn, while he entertained the older friends on the lon2, dismal wintr$
e%enin2s, with his narrati%e of his e=>eriences on the Dark and Blood$
:round, in the da$s that tried menIs souls.
CH"PT#& NN3.
Last Da$s of Colonel Boone44&einterment of the &emains of Himself and
Wife at 9rankfort44Conclusion.
The huntin2 da$s of Colonel Boone at last came to an end. He had >assed
his three score and ten, and the iron lim?s and hard$ frame were
com>elled to ?end ?efore the infirmities of a2e, to which Hercules
himself must succum? in the end.
So lon2 as he was a?le, he ke>t u> his huntin2 e=>editions in the
wood, ?ut on one occasion, he was taken %iolentl$ ill, and made his
>re>arations for death, his onl$ com>anion ?ein2 the ne2ro ?o$, who had
?een with him man$ times ?efore.
He was ?rou2ht to reco2nie at last the dan2er of 2oin2 ?e$ond the
immediate reach of his friends, and for ten $ears he did not do so.
He was held in 2reat affection and res>ect ?$ his numerous friends and
relati%es, and he was a more than welcome %isitor at the hearthstone of
each. The harsh treatment recei%ed at the hands of the 2o%ernment could
not em?itter such a sweet nature as his, and he showed no resentment
o%er the fact that the land u>on which he had toiled in the %i2or of
his earl$ manhood, and whose la?ors had made it e=ce>tionall$ %alua?le,
>assed to the hands of a stran2er without cost or claim.
"s the stream of life neared the 2reat ocean ?e$ond, it assumed a
serene and maAestic flow, which comes onl$ from the assurance that no
storms are awaitin2 the ?ark which has ?een tossed so lon2 on the wa%es
of sufferin2, dan2er and disaster.
3n the summer of +()*, the well known "merican artist, Chester Hardin2,
%isited Boone and >ainted an e=cellent >ortrait of him. The old >ioneer
was so fee?le that he had to ?e su>>orted ?$ a friend while sittin2 for
the likeness.
Boone at this time made his home with his son4in4law, 9landers
Callawa$, and he was continuall$ %isited ?$ distin2uished citiens and
forei2ners, who, ha%in2 heard of the e=>loits of the e=>lorer of the
wilderness, hastened to look u>on him ere the o>>ortunit$ should >ass
fore%er.
Some $ears ?efore his death he had his coffin made, and ke>t it in the
house. His tem>erate ha?its, the acti%e out4door life of his earlier
da$s, and his re2ard for the laws of health, naturall$ resulted in a
ri>e old a2e, marked ?$ the 2radual deca$ of the %ital >owers, and
unaccom>anied ?$ an$ >ain, as should ?e the case with all mankind.
3t was not until the month of Se>tem?er, +()*, that the >remonition of
his comin2 end unmistaka?l$ showed itself. He was attacked ?$ a s>ecies
of fe%er, which did not >ro%e se%ere, for he soon reco%ered, and
afterward %isited his son <aAor ;athan Boone. He was attacked a2ain,
was confined to his ?ed three da$s, and >eacefull$ >assed awa$ on the
)/th of Se>tem?er, in the ei2ht$4si=th $ear of his a2e.
The le2islature of <issouri was in session at the time, and as soon as
the news reached it, adAourned, after >assin2 a resolution that its
mem?ers should wear the usual ?ad2e of mournin2 for twent$ da$s.
He was laid ?$ the side of his wife, who died a num?er of $ears ?efore,
an immense concourse attendin2 the funeral. There the remains of the
two la$ for a Fuarter of a centur$, when an interestin2 ceremon$ took
>lace.
The consent of the famil$ ha%in2 ?een o?tained, the coffins were
disinterred and remo%ed to 9rankfort, Kentuck$, and there >laced in the
new cemeter$.
The ceremonies were touchin2 and im>ressi%e. ;earl$ three Fuarters of
a centur$ had >assed since the darin2 hunter and >ioneer, in the flush
of earl$ manhood, had threaded his wa$ throu2h the trackless forests
from the !ld Pine State, and, crossin2 mountain and stream, ?ra%in2 all
manner of dan2ers, had >enetrated the solitudes of Kentuck$ and laid
the foundation of one of the 2randest States of the 5nion.
There were a few old men who had known Boone, and the$ were >resent
from different >arts of the State, with hundreds of friends,
descendants and relati%es. The hearse was hun2 with lilies and
e%er2reens, and the ceremon$ was one which can ne%er ?e for2otten ?$
those who took >art in or witnessed it.
" stirrin2 and >owerful address was deli%ered ?$ Senator '. '.
Crittenden, in which eloFuent tri?ute was done the darin2 hunter, the
intre>id scout, and matchless >ioneer.
3n closin2 the ?io2ra>h$ of Colonel Daniel Boone, we feel that the
reader of these >a2es, shares with us in our admiration of the stern
inte2rit$, the unFuestioned ?ra%er$, the clear self4>ossession, and the
honest sim>licit$ of the most illustrious t$>e of the "merican >ioneer,
who, lon2 ?efore his death, had fi=ed his >lace hi2h and endurin2 in
the histor$ of our countr$.
Toward the close of the latter >art of the centur$, Colonel Boone
dictated his auto?io2ra>h$ to a friend, and nothin2 can ?e more
a>>ro>riate as an illustration of his character than these few closin2
words, with which we la$ down our >en:
B<$ footste>s ha%e often ?een marked with ?loodE two darlin2 sons and
a ?rother ha%e 3 lost ?$ sa%a2e hands, which ha%e also taken from me
fort$ %alua?le horses and cattle. <an$ dark and slee>less ni2hts ha%e
3 ?een a com>anion for owls, se>arated from the cheerful societ$ of
men, scorched ?$ the summerIs sun, and >inched ?$ the winterIs cold44an
instrument ordained to settle the wilderness.
BWhat thanks, what ardent and ceaseless thanks are due to that
all4su>erintendin2 Pro%idence which has turned a cruel war into >eace,
?rou2ht order out of confusion, made the fierce sa%a2es >lacid, and
turned awa$ their hostile wea>ons from our countr$.
B<a$ the same almi2ht$ 2oodness ?anish the accursed monster, war, from
all lands, with her hated associates, ra>ine and insatia?le am?itionH
BLet >eace, descendin2 from her nati%e hea%en, ?id her oli%es s>rin2
amid the Ao$ful nationsE and >lent$, in lea2ue with commerce, scatter
?lessin2s from her co>ious handHB
:#;#&"L S3<!; K#;T!;.
CH"PT#& 3.
Birth of Kenton44Des>erate "ffra$ with a &i%al449lees to the Kentuck$
Wilderness44He and Two Com>anions attacked ?$ 3ndians44!ne
is Killed and the Sur%i%ors #sca>e44&escued, after 2reat
Sufferin244Kenton s>ends the Summer alone in the Woods44Ser%es as
a Scout in the Dunmore War44Kenton and Two 9riends settle at 5>>er
Blue Lick44'oined ?$ Hendricks, who meets with a Terri?le 9ate.
The fame of Simon Kenton, hunter and >ioneer, is scarcel$ second to
that of Daniel BooneE he was full$ as coura2eous and eFuall$ skilled
in woodcraft, while >ersonall$ more winnin2 in manner. Had the
o>>ortunities of Boone ?een his, he would ha%e achie%ed a fame scarcel$
lessE ?ut such as he was, no histor$ of the West would ?e com>lete
without mention of BooneIs intimate friend, Simon Kenton.
!f the earl$ $ears of Kenton little is known, and it is not likel$ that
the$ were marked ?$ an$thin2 worth$ of mention. He was ?orn in 9auFuier
Count$, Jir2inia, <a$ +Oth, +0OO. His >arents were %er$ >oor, and Simon
led a life of drud2in2 toil on a farm, until he was si=teen, at which
a2e he was una?le to read or write his name.
The $oun2 man, howe%er, was stron2, ro?ust, %er$ athletic, 2ood
lookin2, and with a >leasin2, musical %oice. He was Aust the kind of
$outh to ?ecome >o>ular amon2 the rou2h s>irits of the ?order, and it
was at that time that an incident occurred which marked an era in his
life.
Goun2 as Kenton was, he was a ri%al of another in the esteem of an
attracti%e $oun2 lad$ of the nei2h?orhoodE and, as the lad$ herself
seemed unwillin2 to decide as to who was her >reference, Kenton and his
ri%al a2reed to decide it ?$ a ?out at fisticuffs.
The conflict took >lace, ?ut, throu2h the treacher$ of his ri%al,
Kenton was terri?l$ ?eaten. He had no choice ?ut to su?mit to the
outra2e in silence, ?ut, like Dr. Winshi>, the modern Samson, he
determined to 2et stron2, and then >unish the one who had treated him
so foull$.
Within the $ear or two succeedin2, Kenton reached the stature of si=
feet, and, confident of his own stren2th and skill, he called u>on his
former ri%al and asked him to tr$ conclusions a2ain with him. The other
was also a >owerful man and 2ladl$ acce>ted the challen2e, for he hated
Kenton intensel$, and resol%ed to 2i%e him such a terrific >unishment
that he would ne%er ?e a?le to anno$ him a2ain.
"t first, the ri%al 2ot the ?est of Kenton and inAured him se%erel$E
?ut the future scout was full of 2rit, and he mana2ed to secure the
u>>er hand, when he administered such a chastisement that when he
released his man he seemed to ?e 2as>in2 in death.
Kenton looked at him for a moment, and was so certain he could not li%e
a half hour lon2er, that he was seied with a >anic and fled. He did
not dare e%en to return home for a chan2e of clothin2, ?ut faced toward
the West and ran as thou2h his >ursuers were in si2ht.
9eelin2 no dou?t that his ri%al was dead, he was sure his a%en2ers
would ?e at his heels, and he scarcel$ rested durin2 the da$. When,
howe%er, he reached the nei2h?orhood of the Warm S>rin2s, the
settlements were so s>arse that he drew a si2h of relief, and felt that
he was in no immediate >eril from the officers of the law.
Still Kenton did not dare >ause for an$ len2th of time, and he was
walkin2 forward when he came u>on a 'erse$man named 'ohnson, who was
Aourne$in2 in the same direction.
3t is at such times that the heart cra%es com>anionshi>, and the two
men affiliated at once. 'ohnson was dri%in2 a >ack4horse ?efore him,
and seemed >rett$ well tired outE ?ut he was full of >luck, and it took
?ut a few minutes for the two ad%enturers full$ to understand each
other.
"s a >roof of the fear which Kenton felt that his >ursuers mi2ht
o%ertake him, it ma$ ?e stated at this >oint that he chan2ed his name
to Simon Butler, with a %iew of renderin2 it more difficult to identif$
him.
The new friends >enetrated the wilderness of the "lle2hanies, rel$in2
under hea%en u>on their own >rowess and ?ra%er$. Both were skillful
marksmen, and the$ had no difficult$ in securin2 all the 2ame the$
needed, while the$ ke>t unceasin2 watchfulness a2ainst the >rowlin2
3ndians, who, at that da$, were lia?le to s>rin2 u>on them at an$ time.
The$ >ushed steadil$ forward until the$ reached a small settlement at
the forks of the <onon2ahelaE there the$ se>arated, and, so far as
known, ne%er saw each other a2ain.
"t the settlement was a small com>an$ under the leadershi> of 'ohn
<ahon and 'aco? :reathouse, who had Aust made read$ to e=>lore the
countr$ ?elow them. #m?arkin2 in a lar2e canoe, the$ floated down the
ri%er until the$ reached the Pro%inceIs settlement. Here Kenton formed
the acFuaintance of two $oun2 men, named Ga2er and Strader, the former
of whom had once ?een a ca>ti%e amon2 the 3ndians.
He fired the heart of Kenton ?$ his 2lowin2 accounts of the re2ion of
Kentuck$, which he declared was a hunterIs >aradise.
BThere is no richer soil in the world,B said Ga2erE B%e2etation is so
lu=uriant that it will strike $ou with wonder, and the herds of ?uffalo
and elk which roam throu2h those woods are so immense that $ou wouldnIt
?elie%e me if 3 were to tell $ou the num?ers.B
Kenton was sure there was some foundation for the >ositi%e assertions
of Ga2er, and he listened ea2erl$ to what he had to addE
BThe re2ion has no white men in itE an$ one who chooses to hunt there
can do so. 3 ha%e 2one with the 3ndians man$ a time on their huntin2
e=cursions, and 3 could lead $ou throu2h the same. 3f $ou will 2o with
us, 3 will do so.B
Kenton acce>ted the >ro>osition with 2reat enthusiasm, declarin2 that
he would start at once.
Ga2er and Strader were eFuall$ ho>eful, and in a short time the three
were driftin2 down the !hio in a sin2le canoe.
Ga2er had li%ed amon2 the 3ndians in his childhood, and while he
entertained a %i%id recollection of the incidents, he could not ?e
>ositi%e concernin2 the distances ?etween certain >oints. He was una?le
to sa$ how far down the ri%er the$ would ha%e to 2o to find the >lace
where the 3ndians crossed from !hio into Kentuck$ to hunt, ?ut he was
sure he would reco2nie the s>ot the instant he saw it, for it was %er$
different from an$ other >oint on the stream, and was indeli?l$ fi=ed
in his memor$.
The$ were so an=ious to reach the >romised land, as it seemed to ?e to
them, that the men rowed stron2l$ and continuousl$, kee>in2 at the oars
far into the ni2ht.
There can ?e no Fuestion as to Ga2erIs honest$, ?ut he was led astra$
?$ his own im>ressionsE the crossin2 he was seekin2 was a 2reat deal
further awa$ than he ?elie%ed.
Kenton and Strader ?e2an to think the$ were a lon2 time in arri%in2 at
a >oint so near at hand. When the$ e=>ressed their dissatisfaction,
Ga2er still insisted, and the lust$ arms were >lied a2ain with renewed
%i2or.
But, thou2h the keen e$es scrutinied the shore on either hand with
a watchfulness which could not ?e mistaken, the$ failed to disco%er
an$thin2 resem?lin2 the crossin2, which Ga2er had descri?ed so often
and so %i%idl$ that the others saw it distinctl$ in their mindIs e$e.
Kenton and Strader were not an2ered, ?ut the$ rallied their com>anion
on his error, and su22ested that he was descri?in2 and the$ were
searchin2 for a >lace which ne%er had an e=istence, unless it was in
the ima2ination of the former 3ndian ca>ti%e.
9inall$, Ga2er admitted that he didnIt understand how it was, unless
the$ had >assed the crossin2 in the ni2ht.
BThere CisC such a >lace,B he asserted with 2reat >ositi%eness, Bfor
3 saw it more than once, when 3 was a child with the 3ndians, and 3
remem?er it so well, that 3 would reco2nie it on the instant. 3t must
?e that we went ?$ it in the ni2ht.B
"fter awhile, the$ a2reed to return and e=>lore the countr$ more
thorou2hl$. The$ did so, %isitin2 the land in the nei2h?orhood of Salt
Lick, Little and Bi2 Sand$, and :u$andotte. The$ finall$ wearied of
huntin2 for that which it seemed im>ossi?le to find, and, locatin2 on
the :reat Kanawha, de%oted themsel%es to huntin2 and tra>>in2. The$
found the occu>ation so con2enial, that the$ >ursued it for two $ears,
e=chan2in2 their furs and >eltries with the traders at 9ort Pitt, for
such necessaries as hunters reFuire.
The >eriod >assed ?$ these three men on the Kanawha will ?e reco2nied
?$ the reader as a momentous oneE for not onl$ were the fires of the
&e%olution kindlin2, ?ut the em?ers of war alon2 the ?order were
fannin2 into a ?lae that was to swee> o%er thousands of sFuare miles
of settlement and wilderness, and to ?rin2 a>>allin2 disaster to the
West.
;othin2 2i%es a more %i%id idea of the insecurit$ of the >ioneers of
Kentuck$ and !hio, than the ?loodhound4like >ersistenc$ with which
the red men hunted down all in%aders of their soil. Boone and his
>art$, which mi2ht ha%e ?een considered stron2 enou2h to take care of
themsel%es a2ainst an$ ordinar$ war >art$, were attacked ?efore the$
cau2ht more than a 2lim>se of the fair landE while the settler, who
?uilded his ca?in close to the frownin2 ?lock4house, was shot down on
his own threshold.
Kenton and his two com>anions had s>ent months enAo$in2 their free,
o>en life in the woods, when the red men came down u>on them like the
whirlwind.
3t was in the month of <arch, +00M, while the$ were stretched out in
their rude tent, chattin2 and smokin2, that the dark woods around
them suddenl$ flamed with fire, and a %olle$ was >oured in u>on them,
followed ?$ the fierce shouts of the warriors, who seemed to swarm u>
from the %er$ earth.
Poor Strader was riddled with ?ullets, and scarcel$ stirred, so instant
was his death. B$ wonderful 2ood fortune, neither of the others was
inAured, and, lea>in2 to their feet, the$ ?ounded into the woods
like fri2htened deer, the ?ullets whistlin2 all a?out them and their
ferocious enemies at their heels.
The 2atherin2 darkness and their own fleetness ena?led them s>eedil$ to
>lace themsel%es ?e$ond reach of the sa%a2esE ?ut their >li2ht was a
>itia?le one.
So des>erate was their haste, that neither had time to catch u>
?lanket, 2un or a scra> of >ro%isionsE an instantIs >ause would ha%e
?een fatal. "nd now the$ found themsel%es in the 2loom$ woods, with the
chillin2 wind cuttin2 them to the ?one, and without the means e%en of
startin2 a fire.
The ?ra%e fellows, howe%er, did not des>air. The$ felt that while there
was life there was ho>e, and the$ determined to make for the !hio
without dela$. Had the$ >ossessed their 2uns, it would ha%e ?een an
eas$ matter to secure such 2ame as the$ needed, and to kindle a fire,
?ut with undaunted hearts and with their knowled2e of woodcraft which
ena?led them to determine the direction to the !hio, the$ started for
the ri%er.
Durin2 the first two da$s, the$ alla$ed the >an2s of 2nawin2 hun2er ?$
chewin2 succulent roots, while the ?ark on the trees was a sufficient
2uide to kee> them 2oin2 in the ri2ht direction. The misera?le
nourishment, howe%er, soon told, and the third da$ found them much
weaker, thou2h with their coura2e undiminished.
The$ 2rew fee?le %er$ fast, and ?oth were seied with a %iolent nausea,
caused ?$ the unwelcome su?stances the$ had taken into their stomachs
to satisf$ the >an2s of hun2er. Their condition ?ecame so much worse
on the fourth da$, that, stron2 men as the$ were, the$ felt it was
useless to stri%e lon2er. The$ threw themsel%es on the 2round with
the intention of waitin2 for death, ?ut when the$ assumed the >rone
>osition, the$ seemed to rall$ ?oth in ?od$ and s>irits, and, after
awhile, the$ would rise and >ress forward a2ain.
!n the fifth da$, death a>>eared near to them, and the$ were scarcel$
a?le to crawl. The$ sta22ered and cre>t alon2 for a?out a mile, and,
Aust as the sun was settin2, found themsel%es on the ?ank of the !hio,
which was a Beautiful &i%er indeed to them.
"lmost at the same moment, the$ came u>on a >art$ of traders, and saw
the$ were sa%ed, for the men 2a%e them the >ro%isions the$ needed, and
were an=ious to do all in their >ower for the emaciated and distressed
hunters.
But the stor$ told ?$ the latter filled them with such alarm for their
own safet$, that the$ >re>ared to lea%e such a >erilous section without
dela$. Hastil$ 2atherin2 their effects to2ether, the$ made all haste
to the Little Kanawha, where the$ encountered another e=>lorin2 >art$
under the leadershi> of Dr. Briscoe, who furnished Kenton with a new
rifle and ammunition. Ga2er had had enou2h of the wilderness, and he
sta$ed with his new4found friends. But Kenton, with his 2un and >owder,
felt like a 2iant refreshed, and, ?iddin2 the others 2ood4?$e, >lun2ed
alone into the woods.
He s>ent the followin2 summer in huntin2, Aust as Daniel Boone did
under somewhat similar circumstances, and, toward the close of the
season, made his wa$ ?ack to the little Kanawha. Here he found an
e=>lorin2 >art$ under the direction of Dr. Wood and Hancock Lee, who
were descendin2 the !hio with the >ur>ose of Aoinin2 Ca>tain Bullitt,
whom the$ e=>ected to find at the mouth of the Scioto, with a com>an$
of >ioneers so lar2e that nothin2 was to ?e feared from the 3ndians.
Kenton willin2l$ acce>ted the in%itation to Aoin them, and the descent
of the stream was resumed. The$ mo%ed at a leisurel$ >ace, often
sto>>in2 on the wa$ to e=amine the countr$. The$ were not distur?ed
?$ the 3ndians until the$ reached the Three 3slands. There, to their
disma$, the$ disco%ered such a formida?le ?od$ of warriors, that the$
were com>elled to a?andon their canoes >reci>itatel$, and the$ hurried
across the countr$ in a dia2onal direction for :reen Brier count$,
Jir2inia.
The Aourne$ was a most uncomforta?le one, for the$ were in constant
dan2er from the red men, and were afraid to >ause lon2 enou2h to secure
and >re>are the necessar$ food.
To add to their trou?les, the leader of the >art$, Dr. Wood, while
tram>in2 alon2 was ?itten ?$ a %enomous snake, known as the co>>erhead.
The >h$sician a>>lied all the remedies at his command, ?ut, for se%eral
da$s, he la$ at the >oint of death and una?le to mo%e. Des>ite the
2reat dan2er of >ausin2 on the wa$, the >art$ were com>elled to 2o into
cam> for a cou>le of weeks on account of their leaderIs condition. "t
the end of that time, howe%er, he had so far reco%ered that the Aourne$
was resumed, and the$ reached the settlements without further misha>.
Kenton was so sorel$ trou?led ?$ the recollection of the affra$ with
his ri%al se%eral $ears ?efore, whom he su>>osed to ?e dead, that he
was afraid to remain in Jir2inia. "ccordin2l$, he ?uilt a canoe on the
?anks of the <onon2ahela, >addled to the mouth of the :reat Kanawha,
and resumed his huntin2, which he >rosecuted with 2reat success until
the s>rin2 of +00,.
Then it was that a ?rief ?ut %irulent war ?roke out ?etween the 3ndians
and Colonies, caused, as will ?e remem?ered, ?$ the murder of the
famil$ of the cele?rated <in2o chief, Lo2an. The >art >la$ed ?$ Kenton
in this cam>ai2n was the im>ortant one of scout, in the e=ecution of
which duties he tram>ed o%er the countr$ around 9ort Pitt and a 2reat
deal of the >resent State of !hio.
There still lin2ered in the mind of the darin2 Kenton a stron2 faith
in the statements made to him ?$ Ga2er that there were sections of the
surroundin2 countr$ with a wonderfull$ rich soil, a?undant %e2etation,
and immense num?ers of 2ame. He determined to make search for it, and
met with little difficult$ in >ersuadin2 two friends to Aoin in the
hunt.
" stron2 canoe was constructed and stocked with >ro%isions, and the
trio >addled down the ri%er to the mouth of Bi2 Bone Creek, on which
the famous Bi2 Bone Lick stands. There the$ landed, and s>ent se%eral
da$s in e=>lorin2 the surroundin2 countr$E ?ut the$ were disa>>ointedE
nothin2 answerin2 the re>resentations of Ga2er was disco%ered.
#nterin2 their canoe once more, the$ ascended the ri%er to the
entrance of Ca?in Creek, a short distance a?o%e <a$s%ille. With faith
undiminished, the$ resol%ed u>on a more thorou2h e=>loration. 3n the
>rosecution of this >ur>ose the$ came u>on <a$Is Lick, where the$ saw
that the surroundin2 soil >ossessed unusual richness. Strikin2 the
well4known 2reat ?uffalo track, the$ followed it for a few hours, when
the$ reached the Lower Blue Lick.
The flats u>on each side of the ri%er were swarmin2 with thousands
of ?uffalo that were attracted thither ?$ the salt, while a num?er
of ma2nificent elk were seen u>on the crests of the rid2es which
surrounded the ?rackish s>rin2s.
BThis is the >laceHB e=claimed the deli2hted KentonE Bthis is the
>romised land that Ga2er sawH We need 2o no furtherHB
His com>anions a2reed with him, and the deli2hted >ioneers en2a2ed
in huntin2 at once. The$ could not fail to ?rin2 down a 2reat man$
?uffaloes and elk, when the s>lendid 2ame had scarcel$ seen enou2h of
their 2reat enem$, man, to learn to fear him.
When the$ ?ecame surfeited with the s>ort, the three crossed the
Lickin2, and, after a lon2 tram>, came u>on another ?uffalo trace,
which led them to the 5>>er Blue Lick, where the$ saw the same
?ewilderin2 a?undance of 2ame.
9ull$ satisfied now that the$ had disco%ered the richest and most
>romisin2 section of all the West, the$ returned to their canoes, and
went u> the ri%er as far as :reen Bottom, where the$ had left their
>eltries, some ammunition, and a few a2ricultural im>lements, with the
%iew of culti%atin2 the in%itin2 soil.
The$ lost no time in hurr$in2 ?ack and ?e2innin2 the clearin2 of the
land. "n acre was denuded of trees in the middle of a lar2e cane?rake,
>lanted with 3ndian corn, and a ca?in erected. This was on the s>ot
where Washin2ton now stands.
The >ioneers were in hi2h s>iritsE for after a lon2 search the$ had
found the land the$ si2hed for, and the future looked >romisin2 and
?ri2ht. The$ settled down to hard work, and were confident that the
fertilit$ of the soil would $ield them lar2e returns.
While strollin2 a?out the woods one da$, with no >articular o?Aect
in %iew, the$ were sur>rised to meet two men, named Hendricks and
9it>atrick, who were in a sad >li2ht. 3n descendin2 the !hio, their
canoe had ?een u>set ?$ a sudden sFuall, and the$ were forced to swim
ashore, without ?ein2 a?le to sa%e an$thin2 from the wreck. The$ had
?een wanderin2 thou2h the woods for se%eral da$s, and would ha%e
>erished soon had the$ not come u>on the little >art$ of >ioneers.
Kenton had ?een in a similar >redicament, and could not fail to
s$m>athie with them. He ur2ed them to Aoin the diminuti%e settlement
he had started at Washin2ton, and trust to Pro%idence to ?rin2 them
out ri2ht in the end. Hendricks a2reed to sta$, ?ut 9it>atrick had had
enou2h of the wilderness, and was so homesick that he onl$ asked to 2et
out of the unfriendl$ countr$ and ?ack to the <onon2ahela. Kenton and
his com>anions went with him as far as <a$s%ille, 2a%e him a 2un and
some ammunition, assisted him across the ri%er, and ?ade him 2ood4?$.
Pit$ it was that Hendricks did not accom>an$ him, as the seFuel will
>ro%e.
While Kenton and his two ?rother >ioneers were doin2 this nei2h?orl$
kindness for the one, Hendricks was at the ca?in which had ?een erected
a few da$s ?efore. He had ?een left there without a 2un, ?ut with
>lent$ of >ro%isions, and no one dreamed of his ?ein2 in dan2er.
The three men, ha%in2 seen 9it>atrick off, hastened ?ack to the
clearin2, >leased at the thou2ht of the com>anion the$ had 2ained, and
re2rettin2 that the other man had not consented to Aoin them.
When the$ reached the rou2h ca?in the$ were somewhat alarmed to see
nothin2 of Hendricks, and the Fuick e$es of the hunters o?ser%ed that
somethin2 unusual had taken >lace. " num?er of ?ullet4holes were
noticed in the tim?ers, which were chi>>ed in other >laces ?$ the
leaden missiles, while some of the articles of Hendricks were scattered
around in a wa$ which could lea%e no dou?t he had ?een %isited ?$
3ndians.
The fact that he had no wea>on with which to defend himself, caused his
friends to fear the worst, and with ra>idl$ ?eatin2 hearts the$ ?e2an
an in%esti2ation, not knowin2 how close the >eril was to them.
The$ had not hunted far, when the$ disco%ered a thin column of smoke
risin2 from a ra%ine near at hand. Certain that a lar2e war >art$ of
sa%a2es was near them, the three men were seied with a >anic and fled
in the 2reatest terror.
3t was a curious thin2 for Kenton to do, for he was certainl$ one of
the ?ra%est of men. 3t would ha%e ?een e=>ected that he would insist on
an in%esti2ation ?efore such a >reci>itate fli2ht, and it was alwa$s a
source of dee> re2ret to him in after4life that he did not do so.
Ha%in2 reached a safe >oint, the trio hid themsel%es in the cane until
the e%enin2 of the ne=t da$, when the$ once more %entured ?ack to the
clearin2, and then a>>roached the ra%ine from which the$ had seen the
smoke of a cam>4fire ascendin2.
Smoke was still %isi?le, and when the$ %entured closer the$ were
horrified to find onl$ the charred ?ones of their late com>anionH He
had ?een ?urned at the stake, and in all >ro?a?ilit$ was ali%e when the
others first saw the %a>or on the >re%ious da$.
Had the$ not ?een so terrified ?$ the ?elief that a lar2e war >art$ was
at hand, the$ mi2ht ha%e sa%ed him. "s we ha%e said, it was the source
of the dee>est re2ret to Kenton that he did not reconnoitre the s>ot,
when such a >ossi?ilit$ of rescue e=isted.
CH"PT#& 33.
Kenton and his 9riends Jisit Boones?orou2h44Des>erate #ncounter with
3ndians44Proceeds with Two Com>anions to &econnoitre an 3ndian
Town on the Little <iami44Ca>tured while <akin2 !ff with a ;um?er
of Horses44Brutal Treatment44Bound to the Stake and &uns the
:auntlet449riendshi> of Simon :irt$, the &ene2ade449inall$ Sa%ed
?$ an 3ndian Trader44&emo%ed to Detroit, and #sca>es44Commands a
Com>an$ in :eneral ClarkIs #=>edition44&ecei%es :ood ;ews44Jisits
Jir2inia44Death of his 9ather44&educed to Po%ert$44&emo%es to
5r?ana, !hio44#lected Bri2adier4:eneral44His Con%ersion44His Last
Da$s.
Simon Kenton and his two friends sta$ed at Washin2ton until the
followin2 Se>tem?er, undistur?ed ?$ 3ndians, thou2h the$ were ne%er
entirel$ free from a>>rehension of a %isit from them.
3n the month named the$ %isited the Lick, where the$ encountered a
white man, who told them most im>ortant news. The interior of Kentuck$
had ?een settled in se%eral >laces, and there was a thri%in2 >ioneer
station at Boones?orou2h.
Kenton and his friends were 2lad to learn this, for the$ had seen
enou2h of the >erils of the woods to lon2 for the societ$ of some
of their own race. The$ immediatel$ left their dan2erous home,
and, %isitin2 the smaller settlements, made a >rolon2ed sta$ at
Boones?orou2h, where the$ were most 2ladl$ welcomed. Durin2 the two
sie2es of the >lace which we ha%e descri?ed, Kenton was one of the
2arrison, and ser%ed with 2reat efficienc$ as a s>$ and scout until the
summer of +00(, when Boone came ?ack from ca>ti%it$ and formed the >lan
for the attack u>on the 3ndians at Paint Creek.
This e=>edition, which has alread$ ?een referred to elsewhere, >ro%ed
to ?e a most e%entful one to Kenton, who acted as s>$. "fter crossin2
the !hio, he ke>t a considera?le distance in ad%ance, on the alert for
the first e%idence of 3ndians.
He was suddenl$ startled ?$ hearin2 a loud lau2h from an adAoinin2
thicket, which he was on the >oint of enterin2. Like a flash the scout
s>ran2 ?ehind a tree and with cocked rifle awaited the e=>lanation.
He had ?ut a few minutes to wait, when two 3ndians emer2ed from the
thicket, mounted on a >on$. Both were lau2hin2 and chattin2 in hi2h
s>irits, and with no thou2ht of an$thin2 like dan2er. The$ had ?een on
some maraudin2 e=>edition a2ainst the whites, and had met with such
success that the$ seemed as elated as a cou>le of children.
Kenton held his >lace until the$ a>>roached within eas$ distance, when
he took careful aim and fired. The well4aimed shot killed the first and
?adl$ wounded the second, while the fri2htened >on$ whirled a?out and
dashed into the thicket. Kenton instantl$ ran u> to the slain 3ndian
to scal> him, in accordance with the ?ar?arous >ractice of the ?order,
when a rustlin2 on his ri2ht caused him to look u>. To his amaement,
there were two 3ndians not twent$ $ards distant, ?oth of whom were in
the act of takin2 aim at him.
The scout s>ran2 aside at the instant ?oth fired, and thou2h the
?ullets whied close to his e$es he was uninAured. There could ?e no
dou?t that the nei2h?orhood was a most undesira?le one Aust then, for
other warriors were near ?$, and Kenton lost no time in takin2 to the
shelter of the woods.
9leet as he was, he had no more than reached shelter, when a doen
3ndians a>>eared on the mar2in of the cane?rake and the situation of
the scout ?ecame most seriousE ?ut, at this critical moment, Boone
a>>eared with his >art$, who o>ened a ?risk fire u>on the 3ndians. The
attack was so s>irited that the$ ?roke and scattered, and Kenton was
relie%ed from his >erilous >osition.
Boone, as we ha%e stated elsewhere, immediatel$ returned to
Boones?orou2h, ?ut the intre>id Kenton determined to learn more of the
3ndians, and if >ossi?le to re>a$ them for the attack the$ had made
u>on him.
"ccom>anied ?$ a friend named <ont2omer$, the$ a>>roached the 3ndian
town not far off, and stationed themsel%es near a cornfield, e=>ectin2
the red men would enter it for the >ur>ose of roastin2 the ears. With
that characteristic >atience of the ?order scouts, the$ sta$ed ?eside
the cornfield the entire da$ waitin2 and watchin2 for a shot at some of
the warriors. But durin2 the time not a sin2le one a>>eared, thou2h the
whites could hear the %oices of the children >la$in2 near at hand.
The scouts were 2reatl$ disa>>ointed, for the$ had ?een confident of
seein2 some warrior, ?ut ni2ht came without such an o>>ortunit$ ha%in2
>resented itself, and the$ were forced to ask themsel%es the Fuestion
whether the$ would 2o ?ack em>t$ handed, so to s>eak, or whether
the$ would incur some additional risk for the sake of accom>lishin2
somethin2 ?$ wa$ of retaliation.
"s the ?est the$ could do, the$ stealthil$ entered the 3ndian town late
at ni2ht, >icked out four 2ood horses, made all haste to the !hio,
which the$ crossed in safet$, and on the succeedin2 da$ reached Lo2anIs
fort without distur?ance.
This was an e=traordinar$ achie%ement, for the 3ndians and settlers
were in such o>en hostilit$ that it ma$ ?e said the former were
constantl$ on the alert to >re%ent Aust such sur>rises.
Colonel Bowman, at the fort, reFuested Kenton, <ont2omer$ and a <r.
Clark to undertake a more difficult and dan2erous task for him: that
was a secret e=>edition to one of the 3ndian towns on the Little <iami,
a2ainst which the Colonel meditated an e=>edition, and a?out which, of
course, he was desirous of 2ainin2 all the information >ossi?le.
The dut$ was a con2enial one to the three men, who reached the %illa2e
without disco%er$, made a careful reconnoissance ?$ ni2ht, and were
then read$ to return home.
Well would it ha%e ?een for them had the$ done so, ?ut the su?seFuent
conduct of Kenton shows that his re>eated esca>es and continued
immunit$ at the hands of the sa%a2es, had rendered him reckless, and
caused him to estimate too hi2hl$ >erha>s his own >rowess and skill as
com>ared with theirs.
"t this time, unfortunatel$, the$ disco%ered an enclosure where the
3ndians ke>t their horses. Like all ?orderers the$ dearl$ lo%ed that
kind of >ro>ert$, and could not resist the tem>tation. <ore than that,
instead of selectin2 the ?est, the$ took the whole lot and started for
the !hio.
Such a wholesale >roceedin2 created a 2ood deal of confusion des>ite
the care of the three scouts, and the 3ndians s>eedil$ disco%ered what
was 2oin2 on.
The$ >oured out of their wi2wams and lod2es, in 2reat e=citement, all
ea2er to >re%ent the loss of their >ro>ert$, while the whites showed an
eFual ea2erness to 2et awa$ with it. 3nstead of a?andonin2 the animals
and attem>tin2 to sa%e themsel%es, the$ foolishl$ continued their
effort to esca>e with them all.
!ne rode in front leadin2 the animals, and the other two remained at
the rear and lashed them into a 2allo>, throu2h the woods, while the
e=cited 3ndians came whoo>in2 and shriekin2 after them.
3t was a wild, ?reak4neck >roceedin2, ?ut the scouts ke>t it u> until
the$ reached the ed2e of an im>enetra?le swam>, where, for the first
time since startin2, the$ came to a stand4still and listened for their
>ursuers.
;ot a sound was heard, to indicate the$ were an$where in the
nei2h?orhood, and the whites con2ratulated themsel%es on what looked
like a remarka?le achie%ement. But the$ were certain to ?e >ursued,
and skirtin2 the swam>, the$ continued their fli2ht in the direction of
the !hio, which was a lon2 wa$ distant.
The horses were >ressed to the utmost, the riders freFuentl$ chan2in2
animals, throu2h the ni2ht, the ne=t da$, and most of the followin2
ni2ht. The ne=t mornin2 the$ stood on the northern ?ank of the !hio.
The wind was ?lowin2 stron2l$, and the ri%er was so ?oisterous that
the crossin2 was sure to ?e difficult. "t the same time the$ knew
that their >ursuers would not dela$, and must ?e close ?ehind them. "
hurried consultation was held, and it was a2reed that Kenton should
swim the animals o%er while <ont2omer$ and Clark constructed a raft to
trans>ort the ?a22a2e.
"ccordin2l$ Kenton led the animals into the ri%er, while he swam at
their side, ?ut the stream had ?ecome so rou2h that he was forced awa$
from them, and all he could do was to sa%e himself from drownin2. The
horses ?ein2 left to themsel%es turned a?out and swam ?ack to the shore
the$ had left a short time ?efore.
This e=as>eratin2 >erformance was re>eated until Kenton ?ecame so
e=hausted that he was forced to lie down on the shore until he could
reco%er his stren2th and wind.
" council of war, as it mi2ht ?e called, was then held and the Fuestion
considered was whether the$ should a?andon the animals and attend
to their own safet$, or risk their li%es ?$ waitin2 where the$ were
until the !hio should ?ecome calmer, in the ho>e of 2ettin2 them to
the other side. ;othin2 can show the 2reat admiration of the men of
the ?order for the no?lest of all animals, than their immediate and
unanimous a2reement that the$ would ne%er desert their horses.
The scouts committed the ine=>laina?le ?lunder of sta$in2 where the$
were, knowin2, as the$ must ha%e known, that the infuriated warriors
were ra>idl$ comin2 u> on their trail, and could ?e at no 2reat
distance ?ehind them.
The wind continued churnin2 the water all throu2h the da$, and did
not a?ate until the ne=t mornin2. Then, when the$ tried to force the
steeds into the water, the$ refused and some of them ?roke awa$. The
infatuated scouts lost more %alua?le time in the %ain attem>t to
reca>ture them and, as was ine%ita?le, the 3ndians soon made their
a>>earance.
The$ were in such num?ers, and so well armed, that it was useless
to fi2ht them, and Clark had sense enou2h to take to his heels. He
succeeded in effectin2 his own esca>e. <ont2omer$ was shot down and
scal>ed, while Kenton was seied from ?ehind, when on the %er$ >oint of
assailin2 a warrior in front, and >inioned. !thers s>eedil$ 2athered,
?eat and shook the scout, and >ulled his hair, until he was tortured
almost to death.
BSteal hoss of 3ndian, ehHB the$ e=claimed a2ain and a2ain as the$ ?eat
him o%er the head with their ramrods.
When the$ had >ounded him until the$ were tired, Kenton was thrown
on his ?ack, and his arms stretched out at full len2th. Pieces of
sa>lin2s were then fastened to his arms and le2s in such a manner that
the >oor fellow was literall$ una?le to stir hand or foot.
While thus en2a2ed the$ continued to ?eat and curse him in ?roken
#n2lish. When he was stra>>ed in his immo%a?le >osition he was left
until mornin2. ;o >en can >icture the utter horror and miser$ of such
a ni2ht, with arm and le2s outstretched and with ?od$ inca>a?le of an$
motion e=ce>tin2 a sli2ht turn of the head.
3t was a literal crucifi=ion, without the erection of the cross.
Knowin2 the 3ndians so well, he did not entertain a >article of dou?t
that he would ?e >ut to death with the most fearful torture that can ?e
ima2ined.
The fur$ of the 3ndians a2ainst Kenton seemed to increase rather than
diminish. 3t would ha%e ?een a %er$ eas$ matter to tomahawk or sla$ him
with knife or rifle, when he was so hel>less, ?ut that would ha%e ended
the matter and de>ri%ed them of the enAo$ment the$ counted u>on at such
times.
3n the mornin2 the$ 2a%e a <ae>>a >erformance, ?$ t$in2 Kenton fast
to an un?roken colt and turnin2 him loose. The horse, howe%er, seemed
to ha%e more >it$ than his cruel masters, for after 2allo>in2 a short
distance a?out the others, he came ?ack and reAoined them, continuin2
with the others until ni2htfall, when Kenton was taken off and fastened
?$ ?uffalo thon2s to the stakes of sa>lin2s as ?efore.
9or three da$s the terri?le march continued, when the 3ndian town
of Chillicothe was reached. The arri%al of the >risoner created
2reat e=citement, and the chief Blackfish ?eat Kenton o%er the naked
shoulders with hickor$ sticks until the ?lood flowed, and the >oor
fellow was almost delirious with a2on$.
"ll the cries he heard durin2 this fearful >unishment were those of
fur$. These soon chan2ed to a demand that he should ?e tied to the
stake, and it was done. His clothin2 was torn from his ?od$, his hands
fastened a?o%e his head, and the 3ndians danced a?out him ?eatin2 and
whoo>in2 and Aeerin2 at the >risoner, who e=>ected e%er$ minute that
the fire would ?e kindled at his feet.
!rdinaril$ this would ha%e ?een done, ?ut the desire to continue the
torture was so 2reat that the sa%a2es deferred the last awful tra2ed$,
until the$ should e=tract more s>ort from the %ictim.
He was ke>t in this tr$in2 >osition until late at ni2ht, when he was
released. 3t seemed as if it were intended that Simon Kenton should 2o
throu2h e%er$ form of 3ndian torture, for, on the morrow, he was led
out and forced to run the 2auntlet.
The >re>arations for this were so com>lete, and the 3ndians so numerous
with their clu?s and all sorts of wea>ons, that it can scarcel$ ?e
dou?ted that Kenton would ha%e ?een ?eaten to death, had he undertaken
to s>eed the entire distance ?etween the two lon2 rows of 3ndians.
3nstead of doin2 so, he darted aside and after dou?lin2 u>on his
>ursuers, >lun2ed into the council house, recei%in2 onl$ a few ?lows
from the warriors standin2 near. Within this lod2e was held the council
to determine what course should ?e taken with their >risoner. There
was no thou2ht or releasin2 him, ?ut some mi2ht >refer to dela$ the
enAo$ment of his death ?$ torture no lon2er, while others were inclined
to think it was too >leasant for them to allow the amusement to
terminate so soon.
" com>arison of %iews and a ?allot showed that the maAorit$ were in
fa%or of deferrin2 his takin2 off a short while lon2er. His e=ecution,
therefore, was sus>ended for the time, and it was a2reed to take him to
an 3ndian town on <ad &i%er, known as Wau2hcotomoco.
BWhat is to ?e done with me after we 2et thereQB asked Kenton of the
rene2ade who inter>reted the sentence to him.
BBurn $ou at the stake,B was the re>l$, accom>anied ?$ a ?rutal oath,
as the white sa%a2e strode awa$.
Kenton was 2i%en ?ack his clothin2, and was not ?ound while on the
road, as it was deemed im>ossi?le for him to esca>e from amon2 his
numerous, %i2ilant ca>tors.
But, as there could ?e no dou?t that his death ?$ torture was full$
determined, the >risoner was resol%ed on one des>erate effort to
esca>e, for in no sense could a failure result in makin2 his condition
worse than ?efore.
He deferred the attem>t until the$ were so close to Wau2hcotomoco, that
the >art$ e=chan2ed si2nal whoo>s with the warriors of the town who
?e2an flockin2 thither to see the >risoner.
9eelin2 that it was then or ne%er, Kenton uttered a shout and ?roke
awa$ like a fri2htened deer, the 3ndians followin2 him, some on foot,
and some on horse?ack. His 2reat fleetness mi2ht ha%e ena?led him to
esca>e, ?ut while he was runnin2 from those ?ehind, he came directl$
u>on a >art$ who were ridin2 from the %illa2e to meet the others, and
?efore he was hardl$ aware of his dan2er he was reca>tured.
"fter sufferin2 2reat indi2nities, the$ reached Wau2hcotomoco, where
Kenton was forced to run the 2auntlet a2ain and was ?adl$ hurt. He was
then taken to the council4house, where he sat in des>air, while the
warriors consulted as to the >recise means of his death.
While the$ were thus en2a2ed, Simon :irt$ and three com>anions came in
with a white woman and se%en children as >risoners. Kenton was taken
awa$ to make room for these, and as their fate now ?ecame a matter of
de?ate, the session was >rotracted until a late hour. The %erdict,
howe%er, was ine%ita?le, and on the morrow, Simon :irt$, the notorious
rene2ade, 2a%e himself the e=treme >leasure of communicatin2 the news
to the ha>less >risoner.
Durin2 this inter%iew :irt$ was astounded to disco%er in the >risoner
his former comrade, who had ser%ed with him as a s>$ in DunmoreIs
e=>edition. That was ?efore :irt$ had foresworn his race, and the two
men ?ecame warml$ attached to each other.
:irt$ was 2reatl$ a2itated, and instantl$ set to work to secure the
release of the >risoner. The difficult$ of this task can scarcel$ ?e
ima2ined, for such a reFuest was un>recedentedE ?ut :irt$ >erse%ered,
makin2 the most ardent a>>eals and ?e22in2 and insistin2, until it was
>ut to a %ote, when it was a2reed that the >ra$er, comin2 from one who
had ser%ed them so faithfull$ as had the rene2ade for three $ears,
could not ?e denied, and it was 2ranted.
Kenton now remained a >risoner amon2 the 3ndians for three weeks,
durin2 which :irt$ treated him with un%ar$in2 kindness. 3ndeed his
conduct in this e=traordinar$ matter is the sin2le ?ri2ht s>ot in the
career of one of the most terri?le wretches that e%er li%ed.
"t the end of the time mentioned, howe%er, another council was held,
and des>ite the strenuous efforts of :irt$, Kenton was condemned to
death at the stake. There now seemed no >ossi?le ho>e, and, tellin2 his
friend he had done all he could for him, :irt$ shook his hand and ?ade
him 2ood4?$.
But KentonIs remarka?le 2ood fortune did not desert him. The 2reat
chief Lo2an 2a%e him his friendshi> and did what he could to sa%e him,
when Kenton was ?rou2ht to his %illa2e, which was a short distance
awa$. His interference, howe%er, seemed to ?e una%ailin2, and he was
started for Sandusk$ under a stron2 escort, that ?ein2 the >lace fi=ed
u>on for his final death ?$ torture.
There, howe%er, when Kenton had a?andoned all ho>e, an 3ndian a2ent
?$ the name of Drew$er interested himself in his ?ehalf, and ?$ an
in2enious stata2em secured his remo%al to Detroit.
He thus ?ecame a >risoner4of4war, as Detroit was in the >ossession of
the British, and his situation was immeasura?l$ im>ro%ed. He was sure
to ?e treated in a ci%ilied manner, and in >rocess of time would ?e
set free.
The situation, howe%er, was an$thin2 ?ut a2reea?le to Kenton, who was
continuall$ seekin2 for some wa$ of esca>e. ;one >resented itself for a
lon2 time, and he remained workin2 for the 2arrison on half4>a$ until
the summer of +00K.
3t was at this time that the lon2ed4for o>>ortunit$ >resented itself,
throu2h the kindness of the wife of an 3ndian trader. Kenton knew
well enou2h that it would ne%er do to >lun2e into the wilderness
without rifles and ammunition, and she a2reed to furnish him and two
Kentuckians with the indis>ensa?le articles.
3t was no small task for a lad$ to secure three 2uns and ammunition
without the assistance of an$ one, ?ut she succeeded in doin2 so. 3n
the earl$ summer of that $ear, the 3ndians around Detroit en2a2ed in
one of their >eriodical carousals. 3t was at ni2ht, and ?efore 2i%in2
themsel%es o%er to their ?rutish indul2ence the$ stacked their 2uns
near the house of the lad$.
Without difficult$ she secured three of the ?est, and hid them in her
2arden. Pre%ious to this she had 2athered some e=tra clothin2 and the
reFuired ammunition, which were hidden in a hollow tree outside the
town. She mana2ed to communicate with Kenton, who, at the a>>ointed
time, a>>eared at the 2arden with his friends, 2ot the 2uns, and
thankin2 his >reser%er most fer%entl$ and recei%in2 her ?est wishes in
return, ?ade her 2ood4?$ and hastened awa$ with his com>anions.
There was no difficult$ in stealin2 out of town, which was full of
drunken 3ndians, ?ut it ne%er would ha%e done to waitE ?oth the$
and the 2uns would ?e missed in the mornin2, and search would ?e
immediatel$ made.
The hollow tree was easil$ found, and hastil$ eFui>>in2 themsel%es with
what was stored there, the$ >lun2ed into the wilderness and started on
their lon2 and dan2erous Aourne$ for Louis%ille, Kentuck$.
Lea%in2 the commonl$4tra%eled route, the$ first headed for the >rairies
of the Wa?ash, and >ushed on like %eteran >ioneers who knew the$ were
continuall$ in dan2er of >ursuit. The$ lost no time on the road, nor
did the$ cease to use continual %i2ilance.
The$ were o%er a month makin2 their wa$ throu2h the solitudes, ?ut
finall$ reached Louis%ille, without accident, in the month of 'ul$,
+00K.
Kenton had ?ecome so accustomed to his rou2h, ad%enturous life,
that he chafed under the Fuiet and restraint of the town. Slin2in2
his rifle o%er his shoulder, therefore, he struck into the woods
alone and tram>ed to Jincennes to see his old friend, <aAor Clark.
He was warml$ 2reeted, ?ut he found e%er$thin2 so dull and hum4drum
that he re4entered the wilderness, and after a lon2 Aourne$ reached
Harrods?ur2, where he was recei%ed with as much deli2ht as thou2h he
were Daniel Boone himself.
3n the famous e=>edition of :eneral Clark a2ainst the 3ndians,
descri?ed elsewhere, Simon Kenton commanded a com>an$ of %olunteers
from HarrodIs Station, and was one of the ?ra%est officers of that
formida?le cam>ai2n a2ainst the red men, whose outra2es were ?ecomin2
so serious that the ?low was determined u>on as a means of forcin2 them
to sta$ within their own lines.
3t will ?e remem?ered that the command of :eneral Clark num?ered o%er a
thousand men, and it will ?e understood that it was the most effecti%e
demonstration that, u> to that time, had e%er ?een undertaken on the
frontier. Chillicothe, Pickawa$, and numerous smaller towns were ?urnt
and all the cro>s destro$ed.
3t can well ?e ?elie%ed that when the$ reached Pickawa$ and the 3ndians
made a stand, the arm of Simon Kenton was ner%ed with tenfold >ower,
for it was there, two $ears ?efore, that he had ?een com>elled to run
the 2auntlet and was ?eaten almost to death. 3t was with the memor$
of the terri?le sufferin2s of that time that he led his com>an$ into
action, and he fou2ht, as did the$, like &ichard Coeur de Lion.
The warriors made a ?ra%e resistance, ?ut were una?le to withstand the
furious attack, and soon were scattered like chaff, lea%in2 their dead
and wounded on the field. This cam>ai2n ?rou2ht >eace and Fuietness to
the frontier durin2 the followin2 two $ears. Kenton en2a2ed in huntin2,
or in assistin2 sur%e$in2 >arties, until +0(), when he recei%ed the
most startlin2 news of his life.
9or ele%en $ears he had ?een a wanderer in the woods, oftentimes in
indescri?a?le >eril, sufferin2 almost death o%er and o%er a2ain, and
ne%er free from the remorse caused ?$ that encounter with his ri%al so
lon2 ?efore in Jir2inia, whom he ?elie%ed he left d$in2 u>on the 2round
and from whose >resence he fled like Cain from the %en2eance of men.
But at the time mentioned Kenton recei%ed >roof that the man was not
killed in that des>erate affra$, ?ut had reco%ered, and was then ali%e
and well, as was also the a2ed father of Kenton.
3t can scarcel$ ?e concei%ed how 2reat a ?urden these tidin2s lifted
from the heart of Simon Kenton, who was no lon2er afraid to re%eal his
identit$ and make inFuiries a?out his friends. 3t was like enterin2
u>on a new and Ao$ous life.
Kenton commanded another com>an$ in :eneral ClarkIs cam>ai2n in the
autumn of +0(), and, as ?efore, acted as the 2uide of the arm$, his
knowled2e of the countr$ and his consummate woodcraft renderin2 his
ser%ices indis>ensa?le in that direction.
While this cam>ai2n was onl$ one of the numerous similar ones which
ha%e marked the settlement of the West, and which, sad to sa$, were too
often accom>anied ?$ o%erwhelmin2 disaster, it was rendered memora?le
to Kenton ?$ a sin2ular and im>ressi%e en2a2ement into which he entered.
3t was when the arm$ was on its return, when o>>osite the mouth of the
Lickin2, ;o%. ,th, +0(), that Ca>tain <cCracken, who was d$in2 from
a wound recei%ed in ?attle, su22ested that all the >ioneers of the
e=>edition who mi2ht ?e li%in2 fift$ $ears from that da$, should meet
on the s>ot to cele?rate the semi4centennial of the cam>ai2n.
3t was at the su22estion of the d$in2 soldier that Colonel 9lo$d drew
u> the resolution, and the meetin2 a half centur$ later was a2reed u>on.
The >ur>ose accom>lished, the %olunteers were dis?anded, and Kenton
went ?ack to HarrodIs Station, where he was alwa$s most 2ladl$ welcomed.
He had acFuired considera?le land, which was ra>idl$ increasin2 in
%alue. With a few families he ?e2an a settlement, which >ros>ered
2reatl$. The soil was %er$ fertile, the$ were industrious, and the$
were ?lessed with a?undant cro>s.
The circumstances ?ein2 fa%ora?le, Kenton made a Aourne$ to Jir2inia
to %isit his father and friends. Thirteen $ears had >assed since he
had fled, ?elie%in2 himself a murderer, and now, amon2 the first to
take his hand, after he entered the familiar >lace, was his former
ri%al in lo%e. He and his wife 2reeted the handsome >ioneer with 2reat
cordialit$, and all resentment was ?uried in the ha>>iness of the
meetin2.
Kenton was thankful indeed to find his a2ed father in 2ood health,
thou2h his mother had ?een dead a num?er of $ears. "ccom>anied ?$ his
>arent and the rest of the famil$, he started for Kentuck$, intendin2
that his father should s>end the rest of his da$s with him. Such was
the case, indeed, ?ut the da$s >ro%ed fewer than the affectionate son
su>>osed the$ would ?e.
The >arent was %er$ fee?le, and when &ed Stone 9ort was reached,
he Fuietl$ died. He was ?uried on the ?anks of the <onon2ahela, and
Kenton, with the remainder of the famil$, arri%ed at the settlement in
the winter of +0(,.
Kentuck$ was ra>idl$ fillin2 u> with emi2rants at this time, thou2h,
as is well known, the 3ndians were %er$ trou?lesome. Kenton saw that
the land was certain to ?ecome %alua?le, and he determined to occu>$
the fertile section around his old cam> near <a$s%ille, which he had
occasion to remem?er so well.
He made the %enture in the summer of +0(,, with a com>an$ of >ioneersE
?ut the 3ndians were so dan2erous that the$ were forced to retire for
the time. " few months later Kenton went ?ack with a few friends, ?uilt
a ?lock4house, and soon after was Aoined ?$ se%eral families.
Settlers continued to flock thither, and the countr$ >ros>ered, des>ite
the hostilit$ of the red men. Kenton, ?$ his foresi2ht, had secured
the ri2ht and title to a lar2e Fuantit$ of %alua?le land. !ne thousand
acres of this he 2a%e to "rthur 9o= and William Wood, and on it the$
laid out the town of Washin2ton.
Des>ite the se%ere ?low administered ?$ :eneral Clark, the sa%a2es
committed so man$ de>redations that a retaliator$ cam>ai2n was
determined u>on. Se%en hundred %olunteers 2athered under Colonel Lo2an
and in%aded the 3ndian countr$, inflictin2 much dama2e, and returnin2
with onl$ a triflin2 loss.
The 2uide of this e=>edition was Simon Kenton, who also commanded a
com>an$E ?ut it was scarcel$ home a2ain when the 3ndians renewed their
de>redations with such >ersistenc$ that Kenton a>>ealed to his old
friends to rall$ once more, and to Bcarr$ the war into "frica.B
3t was >rom>tl$ done, he assumin2 the >art of ca>tain and of 2uide as
?efore. Chillicothe was ?urned, and the e=>edition returned without
losin2 a man.
B$ this time Kenton was acknowled2ed as the leader in the frontier
settlement. He >ossessed a 2reat deal of %alua?le land, was a master of
woodcraft, and in all the trou?les with the 3ndians was looked to for
>rotection and assistance.
Durin2 the half4doen $ears followin2, his ser%ices in the latter
res>ect were ?e$ond estimate. He demonstrated his skill in the wa$s of
the woods ?$ am?ushin2 a >art$ of dusk$ marauders who had come down
to de%astate the ?order, and ?$ inflictin2 such se%ere loss that the
others fled in terror and ne%er attem>ted to molest the settlement
a2ain.
But this >eriod will ?e reco2nied ?$ the reader as the e%entful one of
:eneral "nthon$ Wa$neIs e=>edition a2ainst the com?ined 3ndian tri?es
of the West. Disaster had followed disaster, until the 5nited States
:o%ernment saw the necessit$ of endin2 the trou?les ?$ a cam>ai2n which
should ?e resistless, and crushin2 in its effects.
Simon Kenton, at the time of Wa$neIs e=>edition, was a maAor, and with
his ?attalion he Aoined the forces at :reen%ille. 3t ma$ ?e said that
his re>utation at that time was national, and he was reco2nied as one
of the most skillful and intre>id >ioneers of the West. His ?ra%er$,
acti%it$ and knowled2e of Bwood lore,B ins>ired confidence e%er$where,
and linked his name inse>ara?l$ with the settlement of the West.
His foresi2ht in takin2 u> the %alua?le lands was now shown ?$ the
results. The$ a>>reciated so ra>idl$ in %alue with the settlement
and de%elo>ment of the countr$, that he ?ecame one of the wealthiest
settlers in Kentuck$.
But sin2ularl$ 6and $et >erha>s it was not sin2ular either7, the same
misfortune o%ertook him that ?efell Daniel Boone and so man$ others of
the >ioneers.
The ra>acious s>eculators, ?$ their su>erior cunnin2, 2ot all his land
awa$ from him, until he was not worth a farthin2. Worse than that the$
?rou2ht him in de?t, and his ?od$ was taken u>on the co%enants in deeds
to lands, which he had in >oint of fact 2i%en awa$. He was im>risoned
for a full $ear on the %er$ s>ot where he ?uilt his ca?in in +00O,
and >lanted the first corn >lanted north of the Kentuck$ &i%er ?$ a
white man, and where for man$ a time he had ?ra%ed hun2er, death, and
under2one sufferin2 in its most fri2htful forms.
He was literall$ reduced to ?e22ar$ ?$ the cruel ra>acit$ of the land
sharks, and in +(*) he remo%ed to !hio and settled in 5r?ana. KentonIs
remarka?le sweetness of character, des>ite the fact that he was one
of the most terri?le of 3ndian fi2hters, was such that he scarcel$
e%er uttered a word of com>laint. ;o man had endured more than he for
Kentuck$ and !hio, and no one had e%er ?een treated more sha??il$E $et
he lo%ed the BDark and Blood$ :roundB none the less.
His ser%ices and his a?ilit$ were a>>reciated to that e=tent in !hio
that he was elected a ?ri2adier42eneral of militia, three $ears after
his remo%al to the State. 9i%e $ears later, that is, in +(+*, he was
con%erted and Aoined the <ethodist #>isco>al Church.
&e%erend '. B. 9inle$, the well known missionar$ of the West, relates
that his father and Kenton met at a cam> meetin2 on the <ad &i%er. The$
were old friends and the inter%iew was a most >leasant one. The meetin2
was accom>anied ?$ a 2reat awakenin2, durin2 which Kenton took the
elder 9inle$ aside and told him how dee>l$ his heart had ?een touched,
how much he was im>ressed with his own sinfulness, and how desirous he
was of o?tainin2 di%ine >ardon.
He ?ound the minister to kee> the whole matter a secret, and the two
knelt down in >ra$er in the woods. Kenton was s>eedil$ con%erted, and
s>rin2in2 to his feet, ran shoutin2 ?ack to cam> meetin2, with the
minister >antin2 after him.
The old 3ndian fi2hter outran his >astor, and when <r. 9inle$ reached
his con2re2ation, the other had 2athered a 2reat crowd a?out him, and,
with a 2lowin2 face, was tellin2 the news of his con%ersion.
B3 thou2ht this was to ?e a secret,B called out <r. 9inle$, Band here,
:eneral, $ou are >roclaimin2 it to e%er$ one.B
B3tIs too 2lorious to kee>,B was the re>l$ of Kenton.
He continued a de%out and hum?le Christian for the rest of his life.
His %oice was remarka?l$ sweet and musical, and he was fond of sin2in2.
He took >art in man$ reli2ious e=ercises and meetin2s, and entered into
the ser%ice of his di%ine <aster with the same ardor he had shown in
that of his countr$, durin2 his earl$ and mature manhood.
3n +(+M, Kenton Aoined the Kentuck$ troo>s under :o%ernor Shel?$, with
whose famil$ he was a 2reat fa%orite. He was then nearl$ threescore
$ears of a2e, ?ut he was ru22ed, stron2, and as >atriotic as e%er. He
took >art in the ?attle of the Thames, fi2htin2 with the same ?ra%er$
that was natural to him from ?o$hood.
3t was the last en2a2ement in which he ?ore a hand, and res>ectin2 it
the followin2 incident is worth$ of note:
3n the month of <a$, +((+, "$res Lefar2ee, who died at Po>lar Plain,
Kentuck$, was ?uried at Decatur, 3llinois. He was a soldier of the
war of +(+), in the fourth re2iment of Kentuck$ troo>s under :o%ernor
Shel?$, and was >resent at the ?attle of the Thames in which the 2reat
Shawanoe chieftain Tecumseh was killed. "fter the ?attle he went with
Ca>tain <atthews and Simon Kenton to the s>ot where the chief fell.
BTurn the ?od$ o%er,B said Kenton, and, u>on Lefar2ee doin2 so, the$
found se%en ?ullet4holes in it. Lefar2ee alwa$s claimed that Tecumseh
was killed ?$ a soldier named Da%e :ealdin2.
This Fuestion has ne%er ?een satisfactoril$ settled, thou2h the claim
of Colonel &ichard <. 'ohnson seems as 2ood as that of an$ one. His
horse had fallen, and while he was endea%orin2 to e=tricate himself, a
distin2uished lookin2 3ndian who, it was claimed ?$ man$ that knew him,
was Tecumseh, made a rush for Colonel 'ohnson.
B3 didnIt sto> to ask him his name,B said Colonel 'ohnson, when
Fuestioned a?out it afterwards, Bfor there was no time for
e=>lanations, ?ut 3 fired, when, had 3 waited fi%e seconds lon2er, he
would ha%e ?rained me with his u>raised tomahawk.B
The war of +(+) finished, Kenton returned to the o?scurit$ of his
hum?le ca?in, where he li%ed until +()*, when he remo%ed to the
headwaters of <ad &i%er, Lo2an count$, !hio, near the %er$ s>ot where,
man$ $ears ?efore, he had ?een tied to the stake ?$ the 3ndians, when
the$ condemned him to death.
3t seemed im>ossi?le for the old >ioneer to esca>e the anno$ance of the
land4shar>ers. He was still the owner of man$ lar2e mountain tracts of
Kentuck$, ?ut he was Bland >oor,B in its fullest sense, and these were
forfeited for ta=es.
Kenton ?ecame so worn out, and so distressed ?$ >o%ert$, that in
+(),, when nearl$ se%ent$ $ears old, he rode to 9rankfort, while the
Le2islature was in session, to >etition that ?od$ to release these
com>arati%el$ worthless lands from the claims u>on them for un>aid
ta=es.
The old hunter was clothed in dila>idated 2arments, and his ricket$
horse looked so woe4?e2one that the wonder was how he could carr$ such
a lar2e man as he was. But when it ?ecame known that Simon Kenton was
in town, it caused an e=citement like that which the arri%al of the
mena2erie and circus e=cites.
There was no one in the ca>ital of Kentuck$ who had not heard of the
wonderful e=>loits of Kenton, and the tall handsome fi2ure of the
hunter, with his mild >re>ossessin2 features, would ha%e attracted
attention an$where. 3t was hard to ?elie%e that this old 2entleman with
his 2entle ?lue e$es, his soft musical %oice, and his hum?le Christian
?earin2, was the hurricane4like fi2hter, who had torn the reekin2 scal>
from the head of the fierce sa%a2e, who had run the 2auntlet more than
once, who had trailed the red 3ndian throu2h the 2loom$ de>ths of the
forest and who had li%ed in the wilderness in storm and sunshine, week
after week and month after month, when he ne%er closed his e$es with
certaint$ he would not ?e awakened for an instant ?$ the crash of the
tomahawk as it clo%e his skull in twain.
But this was Simon Kenton, and the crowds ?e2an to 2ather. :eneral
Thomas 9letcher reco2nied him and donned him in a 2ood res>ecta?le
suit of clothin2. Then he was taken to the Ca>itol and >laced in the
S>eakerIs chair, where the multitude, in which were the le2islators
and the most >rominent citiens, filed throu2h the ?uildin2, and were
introduced to the 2reat ad%enturer, who smilin2l$ shook their hands,
e=chan2ed a few >leasant words, and ?lushed like a school ?o$.
3t was the >roudest da$ of Simon KentonIs life, and he had e%er$ reason
to look ?ack to it with deli2ht, for it resulted in su?stantial ?enefit
to him.
His >resence called u> so %i%idl$ the 2reat ser%ices he had rendered
the State, and the ?urnin2 inAustice he had suffered, that the
le2islators at once released all his lands from the ta= claims, and
shortl$ after, throu2h the e=ertions of 'ud2e Burnet and :eneral Jance,
of Con2ress, a >ension of two hundred and fort$ dollars a $ear was
o?tained for the old hero, who was thus secured a2ainst want for the
remainder of his life.
Kenton now li%ed a Fuiet life, serene and ho>eful, and Fuietl$
contem>latin2 the end which he knew was close at hand. He was held
in the 2reatest res>ect and the stron2est affection ?$ his numerous
friends, while Kentuck$ itself felt a >ride in the ?ra%e hunter, scout
and >ioneer.
3t will ?e remem?ered ?$ the reader, that on the ,th of ;o%em?er, +0(),
Simon Kenton ?ecame a >art$ to an a2reement of sin2ular and romantic
interest.
Durin2 the e=>edition of :eneral Clark a2ainst the 3ndian towns, Kenton
as usual acted as 2uide to the arm$, which num?ered fifteen hundred
men. !n the return of the force, the >ioneers which com>osed it came to
a halt, o>>osite the Lickin2, and held a conference. Ca>tain <cCracken,
of the Kentuck$ Li2ht Horse, had recei%ed a sli2ht wound in the arm
while fi2htin2, and which caused him little concern at the time. But a
%irulent mortification had set in, and it ?ecame e%ident to all that
he had ?ut a short time to li%e. "t his su22estion, Colonel 9lo$d
?rou2ht forward the resolution ?$ which the >ioneers who mi2ht sur%i%e
a2reed to meet on that same s>ot, a half centur$ later, to talk o%er
old times.
The meetin2 was held in the un?roken wilderness, a?oundin2 with its
2ame and with the fierce red manE and the >ioneers were in the flush
and %i2or of $oun2 manhood, with man$ $ears of hard, >erilous ser%ice
?efore them. The$ all felt that such as should ?e s>ared to see the
closin2 of the half centur$ ?efore them, would witness chan2es and
de%elo>ments in their ?elo%ed countr$, such as awed the ima2ination
when it attem>ted to 2ras> it.
!n that lonel$ s>ot, where <cCracken closed his e$es and was laid
mournfull$ awa$ in his last lon2 rest ?$ his ?ra%e ?rother >ioneers,
was the heart of the ma2nificentl$ 2rowin2 West. His 2ra%e was in si2ht
of the ?eautiful Lueen cit$, and the howlin2 wilderness now ?lossomed
as the rose.
"s the semi4centennial a>>roached, it was looked forward to with a
stron2 interest ?$ the sur%i%ors, who were found to ?e Fuite numerous.
The li%es which these hard$ >ioneers led were conduci%e to lon2e%it$,
>ro%ided alwa$s the wild 3ndians afforded the o>>ortunit$ and failed to
cut them off in their >rime.
B"nd tall and stron2 and swift of foot are the$,
Be$ond the dwarfin2 cit$Is >ale a?ortions,
Because their thou2hts had ne%er ?een the >re$
!f care or 2ainE the 2reen woods were their >ortionsE
;o sinkin2 s>irits told them the$ 2rew 2ra$,
;o fashions made them a>es of her distortions.
Sim>le the$ were, not sa%a2eE and their rifles,
Thou2h %er$ true, were not $et used for trifles.
B<otion was in their da$s, rest in their slum?ers,
"nd cheerfulness the handmaid of their toil.
;or $et too man$ nor too few their num?ersE
Corru>tion could not make their hearts her soilE
The lust which stin2s, the s>lendor which encum?ers,
With the free foresters di%ide no s>oilE
Serene, not sullen, were the solitudes
!f this unsi2hin2 >eo>le of the woods.B
"s the semi4centennial a>>roached, Simon Kenton, who had >assed
his fourscore, was dee>l$ solicitous lest he should not ?e a?le to
?e >resent. He was desirous that e%er$ sur%i%or should ?e at the
2atherin2, and >u?lished an address in which he said:
BC9ellow CitiensC:44Bein2 one of the first, after Colonel Daniel
Boone, who aided in the conFuest of Kentuck$ and the West, 3 am
called u>on to address $ou. <$ heart melts on such an occasionE 3
look forward to the contem>lated meetin2 with melanchol$ >leasureE
it has caused tears to flow in co>ious showers. 3 wish to see once
more ?efore 3 die, m$ few sur%i%in2 friends. <$ solemn >romise, made
fift$ $ears a2o, ?inds me to meet them. 3 ask not for m$selfE ?ut
$ou ma$ find in our assem?l$ some who ha%e ne%er recei%ed an$ >a$ or
>ension, who ha%e sustained the cause of their countr$ eFual to an$
other ser%ice, and who in the decline of their life are >oor. Then,
$ou >ros>erous sons of the West, for2et not those old and 2ra$4headed
%eterans on this occasionE let them return to their families with
some little manifestations of $our kindness to cheer their hearts.
B3 ma$ add m$ >ra$er: ma$ kind Hea%en 2rant us a clear sk$, fair
and >leasant weather, a safe Aourne$, and a ha>>$ meetin2 and a
smile u>on us and our families, and ?less us and our nation on the
a>>roachin2 occasion.
BS3<!; K#;T!;.
B5&B";", !H3!, +(M).B
The $ear +(M) will ?e reco2nied as the terri?le cholera season, when
the >estilence smote the land and the whole countr$ was in mournin2.
<en shrank a>>alled as the multitudes sank on their ri2ht and left, and
?usiness for the time was >aral$ed ?$ the awful scour2e which swe>t
from one end of the land to the other.
Cincinnati was shrouded in dee>est 2loom ?$ the ra%a2es of the fearful
disease, $et when the anni%ersar$ came round a lar2e num?er of the old
>ioneers met, and the Cor>oration %oted them a dinner.
:eneral Simon Kenton, in s>ite of his an=iet$ to ?e >resent, was una?le
to a>>ear, owin2 to his fee?leness and indis>osition of ?od$. His
a?sence was 2reatl$ mourned, for he would ha%e ?een the >rince of all
that no?le ?and, could his %enera?le form ha%e a>>eared amon2 them.
With Kenton the sunset of life was as Fuiet and serene as the close
of a summer da$. 3n the month of ">ril, +(M/, he Fuietl$ died in his
home, surrounded ?$ his affectionate famil$, friends and nei2h?ors,
and su>>orted ?$ the su?lime faith of the meek, de%out Christian, who
Ao$full$ a>>roaches the dark ri%er and launches out for the other
shore.
L#W3S W#TP#L.
Birth of Lewis Wetel44His 9ather Killed ?$ 3ndians, and Himself and
Brother carried off Prisoners44Their &emarka?le #sca>e44<urder
of an 3ndian44Ser%es in CrawfordIs #=>edition44Pursued ?$ 9our
3ndians, and Kills Three44#sca>e from the Custod$ of :eneral
Harmar44WetelIs Hunts for 3ndians44"ssists a &elati%e to &eco%er
his Betrothed from Sa%a2es.
When one reads of the earl$ da$s of the 2reat West and of the
tornado4like encounters in which the ?orderers en2a2ed, he finds that
there are few more >rominent fi2ures than that of Lewis Wetel, who was
?orn on the Bi2 Wheelin2, Jir2inia, a?out the $ear +0/,. He had four
?rothers, <artin, 'aco?, 'ohn and :eor2e, and two sisters, Susan and
Christina. <artin was the onl$ ?rother who e=ceeded Lewis in a2e.
The home of the Wetels e=>osed them to >erils from the 3ndians, for it
will ?e reco2nied ?$ the reader as a s>ot >eculiarl$ o>en to assaults
from the red men.
This was >ro%en ?$ the terri?le fate that o%ertook the famil$. !ne da$
the 3ndians suddenl$ a>>eared and made a fierce attack u>on the house.
Se%eral of the smaller children were a?sent, and durin2 the e=citement
the mother succeeded in 2ettin2 awa$E ?ut the old man was killed and
scal>ed, and Lewis, then thirteen $ears old, and his ?rother 'aco?, two
$ears $oun2er, were taken awa$ >risoners.
3n the fi2ht, Lewis recei%ed a sli2ht wound from a ?ullet, ?ut it did
not inca>acitate him from tra%elin2, and on the second ni2ht after the
ca>ture the 3ndians encam>ed on the Bi2 Lick, twent$ miles distant from
the ri%er, in what is now !hio, and u>on the waters of <c<ahonIs Creek.
The >risoners were so $oun2 that the ca>tors were Austified in
considerin2 them of little account, and the$ did not take the trou?le
to ?ind them when the$ sto>>ed for the ni2ht. Lewis, howe%er, was old
enou2h to watch for a chance to 2et awa$, and when sure all the 3ndians
were aslee>, he touched his ?rother and whis>ered to him to make read$
to follow him.
The$ made their wa$ out of the cam> without difficult$, ?ut had not
>roceeded far when the$ sto>>ed.
B3 donIt like the idea of 2oin2 home ?arefooted,B said Lewis, B$ou sta$
here while 3 2o ?ack and 2et a >air of moccasins for $ou and a >air for
me.B
The darin2 lad succeeded in o?tainin2 the necessar$ articles and soon
reAoined his ?rotherE ?ut as the$ were a?out to start on a2ain he
e=>ressed his dissatisfaction that the$ had no wea>ons.
BWe canIt 2et alon2 without a 2unE wait here a little lon2er and 3Ill
?rin2 one ?ack.B
"nd $oun2 Lewis did as he said he would. ;ow that each had a >air of
moccasins, and the elder carried a 2ood rifle, the$ were >re>ared for
tra%el, and the$ >lun2ed into the woods at once.
Lewis Wetel dis>la$ed a knowled2e of woodcraft on this occasion which
was wonderful in one so $oun2. He disco%ered the trail and followed it
?ack without difficult$, and knowin2 he would ?e >ursued, he ke>t such
unremittin2 watch that he detected the a>>roach of the 3ndians, and he
and his ?rother hid in the ?ushes until the$ >assed.
When the$ were out of si2ht, the ?rothers came ?ack to the trail and
followed after the 3ndians. 3t did not take the latter %er$ lon2 to
find the$ had 2one ?e$ond the lads, and the$ turned a?out to find them.
But, as ?efore, Lewis was on the watch, and he and his ?rother eluded
them. Shortl$ after the$ disco%ered that two of the warriors were
mounted and in hot chase after themE ?ut Lewis 2a%e them the sli> in
the same skilful manner, and reachin2 Wheelin2 the ne=t da$, the$
constructed a raft and crossed the ri%er.
When the$ came to the ruins of their home and found that their father
had ?een killed and scal>ed, the$ were so infuriated that the$ took a
%ow to kill e%er$ 3ndian that was in their >ower to kill, so lon2 as
the$ should li%e.
Such is the account as 2enerall$ 2i%en, thou2h a different %ersion is
entitled to eFual credence. This sa$s that the elder Wetel was shot,
in +0(0, while >addlin2 a canoe near Ca>tina, on his return from
<iddle 3sland Creek, and that $oun2 Lewis recei%ed his first wound
while standin2 in the door of his own home. Be that as it ma$, there
can ?e no dou?t that he and his ?rother took the ?ar?arous oath as
stated, and it is eFuall$ a matter of histor$ that the$ carried it out
in s>irit and letter.
<artin Wetel acted the >art of a wild ?east and committed acts for
which no law human or di%ine can find Austification. ;o red 3ndian
e%er showed 2reater >erfid$ than did he. Durin2 Colonel BrodheadIs
e=>edition in +0(*, <artin Wetel was a %olunteer. "n 3ndian messen2er,
under >romise of >rotection, came into cam> and held an inter%iew with
Brodhead. While the$ were talkin2 in the most friendl$ manner, <artin
Wetel stole u> ?ehind the unsus>ectin2 red man, and Fuickl$ drawin2 a
tomahawk, which he had hidden in his huntin24shirt, struck the 3ndian
in the ?ack of the head a ?low which stretched him lifeless on the
2round.
Colonel Brodhead was e=as>erated at the atrocious act, $et he dared not
>unish Wetel, for three4fourths of the arm$ would ha%e rallied in his
defence.
3n the life of Daniel Boone we 2a%e an account of the cam>ai2n of
Colonel Crawford in +0(). Lewis Wetel ser%ed as a %olunteer, ?ein2
no more than ei2hteen $ears of a2e. The cam>ai2n was one of the most
fri2htful disasters that e%er occurred in the West, Colonel Crawford
?ein2 ca>tured and ?urned to death at the stake.
"mon2 the disor2anied soldiers who mana2ed to esca>e the terri?le
%en2eance of the red men, was one named <ills, who reached a s>rin2
some nine miles from Wheelin2, where he was forced to lea%e his horse
and 2o the rest of the wa$ on foot. 9rom Wheelin2 he >roceeded to Jan
<eterIs fort, where he fell in with Lewis Wetel, whom he >ersuaded to
2o ?ack with him in Fuest of his horse.
Wetel cautioned him a2ainst the dan2er, ?ut <ills was determined, and
the two made their wa$ ?ack to the s>rin2, where the$ saw the horse
standin2 tied to a sa>lin2. The scout knew what this meant, ?ut the
si2ht of his animal drew <ills forward, and runnin2 u> to the tree, he
?e2an unt$in2 him. Before he could finish, there was a dischar2e of
rifles from the wood, and <ills fell fatall$ wounded.
Knowin2 that the warriors were all around him, the fleet4footed Wetel
?ounded off like a deer, with four of the swiftest runners s>eedin2
after him. The chase was a terrific one, and after a half mile, one of
the 3ndians came so close that the fu2iti%e, ?elie%in2 he was on the
>oint of throwin2 his tomahawk, suddenl$ whirled a?out and shot him
dead, resumin2 his fli2ht with the same des>erate e=ertion as ?efore.
The art of reloadin2 his 2un while on a dead run had ?een >ractised ?$
Wetel, until he could do the difficult feat with ease. ;e%er was there
more ur2ent need of that >eculiar skill than on the >resent occasion,
for at the end of another half mile, a second 3ndian was so close that
Wetel turned to fire.
Before he could do so, the warrior 2ras>ed the end of the ?arrel, and
as he was immensel$ >owerful and acti%e, he ?rou2ht Wetel to his
knees, and came within a hairIs4?readth of wrenchin2 the wea>on from
his 2ras>. The white man, howe%er, durin2 the fierce stru22le, mana2ed
to 2et the mule of the 2un turned toward the sa%a2e, when he >ulled
the tri22er, killin2 him instantl$.
The stru22le was %er$ ?rief, ?ut durin2 its continuance the other two
3ndians had a>>roached so ni2h, that Wetel ?ounded awa$ a2ain at
the hi2hest ?ent of his s>eed and soon had his rifle reloaded. Then
he slackened his >ace, so as to allow them to come u>, ?ut the$ were
sus>icious of the white man who alwa$s seemed to ha%e a char2ed rifle
at his ser%ice, and the$ held ?ack. Then Wetel sto>>ed and the$ did
the same. Se%eral times he wheeled a?out and raised his 2un, when the$
immediatel$ dod2ed ?ehind trees. !ne of them did not conceal his ?od$
>erfectl$, and Wetel fired, woundin2 him ?adl$. The remainin2 warrior
ran for life, shoutin2: BCDat white manIs 2un am alwa$s loadedHCB
"ctuated ?$ that intense hate of the 3ndians which marked the career
of Lewis Wetel and se%eral of his ?rothers, there was ?ut the sin2le
thou2ht of re%en2e which ins>ired the muscular arm to deeds as sa%a2e
as the red man himself e%er en2a2ed in. While :eneral Harmar was doin2
his utmost to esta?lish >eace with the 3ndians, Lewis Wetel and a
com>anion hid themsel%es near the fort, and, in >ure wantonness, the
former fired u>on a warrior who was ridin2 ?$. He was so ?adl$ wounded
that he was ?arel$ a?le to reach the fort, where he died that ni2ht.
:eneral Harmar was so indi2nant o%er the murder, which Wetel
un?lushin2l$ a%owed, that he sent Ca>tain Kin2s?ur$ and a sFuad of men
with orders to take Wetel dead or ali%e. "ll considerations called
for the >rom>t >unishment of the murderer, ?ut his ca>ture was an
im>ossi?ilit$, inasmuch as he >ossessed the fullest s$m>ath$ of the
frontiersmen, who would ha%e rallied to a man in his defence.
When Ca>tain Kin2s?ur$ reached the <in2o Bottom, and his errand ?ecame
known, Lewis Wetel and a lar2e num?er of eFuall$ reckless com>anions
formed a >lan for attackin2 the >art$ and massacrin2 e%er$ one of them.
!nl$ ?$ the interference of <aAor <I<ahan, who >ersuaded the Ca>tain of
his dan2er and induced him to withdraw, was the crime a%erted.
Sometime later, howe%er, Wetel was seied while aslee> in a ca?in, >ut
in irons and carried to the 2uard4house. He was 2reatl$ humiliated ?$
the shame of ?ein2 handcuffed, and sent for :eneral Harmar, to whom he
made the characteristic >ro>osal that he should release him amon2 the
lar2e >art$ of 3ndians who were around the fort, and allow him to fi2ht
it out with them. This of course was declined ?$ the officer, who,
howe%er, consented to knock off his irons, ?ut ke>t on the handcuffs,
allowin2 him to walk a?out the fort.
"fter Wetel had loosened his lim?s ?$ some moderate e=ercise, he
suddenl$ made a ?reak for the woods and was soon amon2 them. He was
fired u>on ?$ the 2uards, and :eneral Harmar instantl$ sent a num?er of
his fleetest runners, includin2 se%eral 3ndians, in >ursuit.
The$ almost ca>tured him too, for a cou>le of the warriors sat down
on the lo2, under which he was crouchin2, and Wetel afterwards said
that his 2reat fear was that his >osition would ?e ?etra$ed ?$ the
tumultuous thro??in2 of his heart. The ne=t da$ he came across a friend
who released him from his handcuffs, furnished him with a 2un and
ammunition, and Wetel >addled down the ri%er for Kentuck$, where he
could feel safe from :eneral Harmar.
The latter issued a >roclamation offerin2 a lar2e reward for the
ca>ture of Wetel, ?ut no frontiersman e%er made the dan2erous attem>t
to take him, and soon after he Aoined a >art$ of scouts under <aAor
<I<ahan. The$ num?ered twent$ men, and were or2anied to >unish
the 3ndians for murderin2 a famil$ in the <in2o Bottom. !ne of the
inducements for enlistin2 was the offer of a hundred dollars to the man
who should ?rin2 in the first 3ndian scal>.
The scouts had not >enetrated far into the hostile countr$, when the$
suddenl$ found themsel%es in the >resence of a lar2e war >art$. " hast$
consultation was held and it was deemed ?est to withdraw, ?ut Wetel
refused to return until he should accom>lish somethin2. He announced
that he would ne%er ?e seen at home until he lost his own scal> or
?rou2ht that of an 3ndian with him.
3t was a dan2erous task he had taken on himself, ?ut he >erse%ered
and s>ent se%eral da$s in >rowlin2 throu2h the woods, huntin2 for the
co%eted o>>ortunit$. "t last he found a cou>le of warriors encam>ed ?$
themsel%es, and he watched ?$ them until the ni2ht was far ad%anced.
9inall$ one of them 2ot u> and mo%ed awa$, takin2 a torch with him,
dou?tless with the intention of watchin2 a deer lick. Wetel was so
an=ious to kill ?oth sa%a2es that he waited until da$li2ht for the
return of the other.
He did not show himself, howe%er, and unwillin2 to wait lon2er, the
merciless white man stole u> to where the slee>in2 warrior la$ and slew
him with one furious ?low of his knife.
Wetel reached his home without difficult$ and recei%ed the one hundred
dollars reward for the murder.
" sin2ular occurrence took >lace shortl$ after this. 9rom the fort
at Wheelin2, there had ?een heard on se%eral occasions, cries such
as would ?e made ?$ a wounded turke$, and more than once some of the
men had crossed o%er to ascertain the cause. The fact that se%eral
soldiers were ne%er seen a2ain, did not arouse a sus>icion of the real
e=>lanation in the minds of an$ one e=ce>tin2 that of Lewis Wetel.
He concluded to make an in%esti2ation for himself. Cautiousl$ stealin2
around in the direction of the sound, he a>>roached a dee> ca%ern, the
mouth of which was some twent$ $ards a?o%e the ri%er. 9rom this cre>t
forth an 3ndian warrior, who uttered the >eculiar call that had lured
so man$ to their death. Wetel waited until he 2ained a fair si2ht of
the sa%a2e, when he took careful aim and the deco$ ne%er uttered his
dece>ti%e si2nal a2ain.
Wetel su>>osed that his trou?le with :eneral Harmar would 2raduall$
die out with the la>se of time, ?ut the commander had issued standin2
orders to his officers to arrest him where%er and whene%er he could ?e
found. !n his wa$ down the ri%er toward Kenawha, Wetel landed at Point
Pleasant, where he roamed a?out the town with >erfect unconcern. While
doin2 so he une=>ectedl$ came face to face with Lieutenant Kin2s?ur$,
who had set out to ca>ture him once ?efore.
Wetel e=>ected a des>erate encounter with him, and ?raced himself for
the attackE ?ut Kin2s?ur$, who was >ersonall$ ?ra%e, saluted him with
the order to 2et out of his si2ht, and >assed on. Wetel thou2ht it
wise to lea%e the nei2h?orhood, and, takin2 to his canoe, he >ut off
for Limestone, which >lace, and the count$ town, Washin2ton, he made
his headFuarters for a considera?le time after.
His skill with the rifle, and his reckless ?ra%er$, could not fail to
render him a 2reat fa%orite amon2 the rou2h men of the ?order. Could
his ca>ture ha%e ?een arran2ed with >erfect safet$ to those concerned,
it is not >ro?a?le that an$ one could ha%e ?een induced to undertake it.
!ne da$ Wetel was sittin2 in a ta%ern in <a$s%ille, when Lieutenant
Lawler of the re2ular arm$, who was 2oin2 down the !hio to 9ort
Washin2ton with a num?er of soldiers, landed and disco%ered him.
Without a momentIs unnecessar$ dela$, he ordered out a file of
soldiers, took Wetel a?oard the ?oat, and ?efore the citiens had time
to rall$, he was deli%ered to :eneral Harmar at Cincinnati.
The :eneral >laced him in irons a2ain, >re>arator$ to his trial for
the killin2 of the 3ndian, and then followed a scene of e=traordinar$
e=citement. Petitions for the release of Wetel >oured in u>on :eneral
Harmar from e%er$ Fuarter, and the indi2nation ?ecame so 2reat that
mutterin2s of a 2eneral u>risin2 were soon heard. Serious trou?le for
a time threatened, for >assions were roused to a hi2h >itch, and the
intensit$ dee>ened as the time for the trial a>>roached.
9inall$ 'ud2e S$mmes issued a writ of ha?eas cor>us in the case, and
a?undant securit$ ?ein2 furnished, Wetel was released. He was escorted
in trium>h to Colum?ia, where he was treated to a 2rand su>>er,
includin2 the usual s>eeches and con2ratulations, and where no dou?t
he concluded his friends were ri2ht in lookin2 u>on him as a model of
heroism and chi%alr$ to whom it was an honor to do homa2e.
Lewis Wetel hunted 3ndians as most men hunt the deer and ?uffalo. He
looked u>on the red man as le2itimate 2ame, and man$ a time has he
slun2 his rifle o%er his shoulder and >lun2ed into the woods for the
e=>ress >ur>ose of ?rin2in2 down one of the race a2ainst which he had
%owed eternal %en2eance.
;umerous of his ?ar?arous e=>loits must remain unrecorded, and well
would it ?e could the necessit$ ne%er arise for a histor$ of an$ of
them, for the$ do not show the character of an undou?tedl$ ?ra%e man in
an attracti%e li2ht.
Late one autumn he started out on one of his san2uinar$ hunts and
directed his ste>s toward the <uskin2um &i%er. He had not tram>ed lon2
when he disco%ered a cam> where four 3ndians had esta?lished themsel%es
for the winter. ;ot dreamin2 of an$ dan2er, the red men, contrar$ to
their custom, had not taken their usual >recautions, and ke>t neither
watch nor sentinels.
This was a tem>tin2 o>>ortunit$, ?ut a sin2le white hunter, no matter
how darin2 and skillful, mi2ht well hesitate ?efore attackin2 four
athletic and well4armed warriorsE ?ut the hesitation of Lewis Wetel
was caused onl$ ?$ the necessit$ for reflectin2 on the ?est course to
?e >ursued.
He decided to make his attack on the four in the dead of ni2ht when all
were sound aslee>. He therefore waited >atientl$ in the 2loom until he
saw the$ were wra>>ed in >rofound slum?er. Then he stole forward, and
with his dreadful knife, dis>atched three in Fuick succession, ?ut the
fourth darted into the woods and esca>ed in the darkness.
3t was near Wheelin2, while he was en2a2ed on one of his numerous
scouts, that he came u>on a deserted ca?in. 3t was rainin2 at the time,
and he was 2lad to use the >lace as a shelter. " few >ieces of ?oards
were 2athered to2ether in the loft and used as a ?ed, ?ut ?efore he
fell aslee>, si= 3ndians entered and started a fire, with a %iew of
>re>arin2 their e%enin2 meal.
Had the scout ?een aslee> when the$ entered the$ would ha%e ?een
certain to disco%er him ?$ his hea%$ ?reathin2, and as it was, Wetel
scarcel$ saw how he could esca>e detection. So he 2ras>ed his knife and
held himself read$ for the des>erate encounter which was certain to
follow such a disco%er$.
The 3ndians, howe%er, did not dream of the >resence of the human ti2er
that was 2larin2 down u>on them from the loft a?o%e, and soon the
half doen were unconscious in slee>. 9eelin2 that his Fuarters were
dan2erous, Wetel cautiousl$ stole out durin2 the darkness and hid
himself ?ehind a lo2 which commanded the front of the ca?in.
3n the mornin2 the first warrior who >resented himself at the door was
shot dead. Before the others could com>rehend what had taken >lace the
murderer was fleein2 like a deer throu2h the woods, and was soon safe
from all dan2er of >ursuit.
Such e=>loits as these increased the >o>ularit$ of Wetel, while the
attem>ts made ?$ :eneral Harmar to >unish him for his crimes dee>ened
the dislike felt toward him for what was re2arded as his unAust
>ersecution of a worth$ man.
;ot lon2 after the 3ndian4killer acce>ted the in%itation of a relati%e
to %isit him on Dunkard Creek. 3t was some distance awa$, and the two
men >ursued their walk throu2h the woods at a leisurel$ >ace, talkin2
of their huntin2 ad%entures, chattin2 like a cou>le of school4?o$s, and
with no thou2ht of im>endin2 trou?le.
But when the$ emer2ed from the forest into the clearin2 where the home
of the relati%e stood, a most startlin2 si2ht met their e$es.
The house was a mass of smokin2 ruins. The 3ndians had ?een there and
left this >roof of their ferocit$. Wetel carefull$ e=amined the trail
and found that the >art$ num?ered three warriors and one white man, and
that the$ had taken off a sin2le >risoner.
The last was the ?etrothed of the relati%e of the scout, and, as ma$
well ?e su>>osed, he was wild with e=citement and fur$ and determined
to >ursue them without an instantIs dela$. But Wetel ar2ued him into
somethin2 like calmness, and he saw the necessit$ of >lacin2 himself
under the control of such a wonderfull$ skillful woodman as was his
com>anion.
The wish of Wetel was to o%ertake the >art$ ?efore the$ reached the
!hio, thou2h there could ?e no certaint$ as to how much start the
red men had 2ained. 3t was soon seen, howe%er, that the$ antici>ated
>ursuit, for the$ had taken the 2reatest >ains to hide their trail.
The$ mi2ht ha%e succeeded in the case of ordinar$ >ursuers, ?ut it was
im>ossi?le to conceal the faint ?ut unerrin2 si2ns from the keen e$e of
Wetel, who >ushed forward on their >ath like the ?loodhound trackin2
its %ictim throu2h thicket and morass.
3t soon ?ecame certain that the sa%a2es were makin2 for the ri%er, and
feelin2 Fuite sure of the >articular crossin2 the$ would seek, Wetel
left the trail alto2ether, and with his friend hastened to the same
>lace.
3t was a lon2 distance, ?ut the hunters for the time were tireless,
ne%er throwin2 awa$ a sin2le minute. "s it was reasona?le to ?elie%e
that the 3ndians would take a short route to the stream, it can ?e
understood that the >ursuers could not ho>e to 2ain much in the race
after all.
When ni2ht settled o%er the 2reat wilderness, the$ were still a 2ood
distance from the !hio. The$ sto>>ed for a ?rief while until the$ could
swallow a few mouthfuls of food. Then the$ hastened on a2ain 2uided
?$ the stars o%erhead. But e%en this hel> was soon taken from them ?$
the hea%$ clouds which o%ers>read the sk$, and shut out the sli2htest
twinklin2 or? in the firmament.
3t was useless to seek to 2o an$ further, when, with all their cunnin2,
the$ could not >re%ent themsel%es from losin2 their ?earin2s and most
likel$ 2oin2 directl$ ?ack u>on the true course.
So the$ halted where the$ were, until it ?e2an to 2row li2ht in the
#ast, when the$ resumed their hurried Aourne$. The$ had not 2one
far ?efore the$ struck the trail a2ain, and one of the first tracks
reco2nied was the im>rint of the small shoe worn ?$ the affianced of
the $oun2 man.
The 3ndians, howe%er, were still far ahead, and thou2h the two hunters
>ushed forward with all the ener2$ >ossi?le, the$ cau2ht no si2ht of
the enem$, as hour after hour >assed awa$.
But Wetel was con%inced the$ were 2ainin2, and ?oth were in hi2h
ho>e, for as the afternoon wore to its close, the$ reco2nied from the
si2ns around them that the$ were in the nei2h?orhood of the !hio, and
undou?tedl$ were close u>on the 3ndians and their ca>ti%e.
The ni2ht had fairl$ set in when the$ reached the ri%er side, and the$
cau2ht the 2limmer of the cam>4fire of those on the other shore, Aust
?elow the mouth of the Ca>tina. Cautiousl$ the two >ursuers entered the
ri%er and swam across. " few minutes s>ent in reconnoissance ena?led
them to locate each mem?er of the >art$, includin2 the ca>ti%e.
The si2ht of the $oun2 lad$ dro%e her ?etrothed almost frantic, and he
insisted on attackin2 the marauders at onceE ?ut Wetel, who was as
cool and collected as thou2h no enem$ was within a doen miles, would
not >ermit it.
BThe first hour of da$?reak is the time,B said he, Band nothin2 shall
?e done until then.B His com>anion had no choice ?ut to o?e$, thou2h it
dro%e him to madness to remain so near his ?elo%ed, without strikin2 a
?low in her ?ehalf.
The lon2 wearisome hours >assed slowl$, and at last it ?e2an to 2row
li2ht in the #ast. The $oun2 man was Fui%erin2 with e=citement, ?ut
Wetel had ?een en2a2ed in too man$ terrific encounters to lose his
self4>ossession at such a critical time.
The red men are earl$ risers, when on the march, and as soon as it
?e2an to 2row li2ht in the #ast, the$ were astir. Wetel directed his
friend to take sure aim at the rene2ade, >led2in2 him that he would
attend to the 3ndians.
The$ fired simultaneousl$, and each ?rou2ht down his man. The lo%er
dashed into cam> to his affianced, while the two warriors ran amon2 the
trees until the$ could learn the stren2th of the attackin2 >art$. The
dauntless Wetel followed as im>etuousl$ as thou2h he had an entire
com>an$ at his ?ack.
"s was his custom, he reloaded on the run, and after a short >ursuit,
fired his 2un at random, so as to draw out the sa%a2es. 3t >roduced the
effect, for the warriors, su>>osin2 him to ?e defenceless, came rushin2
forth, with u>lifted tomahawks and whoo>in2 in trium>hE ?ut Wetel took
?ut a few seconds to reload his 2un, when he shot the nearest throu2h
the ?od$.
"s there could ?e no dou?t that his rifle was now unloaded, the sin2le
remainin2 3ndian made for him with the fur$ of a >anther. Wetel, who
was no less acti%e and athletic, dod2ed from tree to tree and ran here
and there, ?afflin2 the fatal tomahawk that was on the >oint of ?ein2
hurled more than once, until his terri?le rifle was read$ a2ain, when
he wheeled and ?rou2ht down the 3ndian, who must ha%e wondered in his
last moments at the wonderful 2un carried ?$ the white man.
While Lewis Wetel was en2a2ed in these e=traordinar$ fora$s, se%eral
of his ?rothers were scarcel$ less acti%e. "s the$ were ins>ired ?$
the same intense hate which ner%ed the arms of the more famous scout,
it will ?e readil$ conceded that the murder of the elder Wetel $ears
?efore ?$ the 3ndians was re>aid with more than interest.
"fter Lewis had roamed throu2h the wilderness some time lon2er, he
concluded to make a Aourne$ to the e=treme south, and for that >ur>ose
en2a2ed on a flat4?oat ?ound for ;ew !rleans. While in that cit$ he 2ot
into some serious difficult$, the >recise nature of which is unknown.
The result was he suffered im>risonment for two $ears. 3t is not
im>ro?a?le that he disco%ered the difference ?etween ?reakin2 the law
in the Western wilderness and in the Crescent Cit$.
He finall$ found his wa$ ?ack to Wheelin2, where he resumed his roamin2
throu2h the woods, and soon ?ecame in%ol%ed in his characteristic
ad%entures with the red men.
He was returnin2 one da$ from a hunt, when ha>>enin2 to look u>, he
o?ser%ed a warrior in the %er$ act of le%elin2 his 2un at him. Luick
as a flash Wetel dod2ed ?ehind a tree, the 3ndian doin2 the same, and
the$ stood facin2 each other for a considera?le time.
:rowin2 im>atient of waitin2, the scout resorted to the oft4descri?ed
trick of >lacin2 his ca> on the end of his ramrod and >roAectin2 it a
short distance ?e$ond the trunk. This ?rou2ht the fire of the sa%a2e,
and ?efore he could reload the white man shot him.
Wetel was known so 2enerall$ as a darin2 and skillful scout, that
:eneral Clarke, while or2aniin2 his cele?rated e=>edition to the
countr$ ?e$ond the &ock$ <ountains, used his utmost effort to secure
him as a mem?er of the com>an$. Wetel was not inclined to 2o, ?ut he
was finall$ >ersuaded, and when the$ started, he was one of the most
%alua?le mem?ers. He ke>t with them for three months and then turned
a?out and came home.
Some time later he left on a flat4?oat, and went to the house of a
relati%e, near ;atche, where he died in the summer of +(*(.
ST";D"&D ";D P!P5L"& B!!KS
P5BL3SH#D BG
P!&T#& D C!"T#S, PH3L"D#LPH3", P".
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Whi>>le.C
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#;:L";D, P3CT5&#SL5# ";D D#SC&3PT3J#. B$ '!#L C!!K, author of
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This work, which is >re>ared in ele2ant st$le, and >rofusel$
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arran2ed in con%enient form for the tourist, and at the same time
>ro%idin2 an illustrated 2uide4?ook to a countr$ which "mericans
alwa$s %iew with interest. There are few satisfactor$ works a?out
this land which is so 2enerousl$ 2ifted ?$ ;ature and so full of
memorials of the >ast. Such ?ooks as there are, either co%er a
few counties or are de%oted to s>ecial localities, or are merel$
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There are ,(0 illustrations, >re>ared in the hi2hest st$le of the
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3ts method of construction is s$stematic, followin2 the most
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enou2h of the histor$ and le2end of each of the >laces descri?ed to
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>resented ?$ #n2land and Wales. #=ecuted in the hi2hest st$le of the
>rinterIs and en2ra%erIs art, B#n2land, PicturesFue and Descri>ti%e,B
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H3ST!&G !9 TH# C3J3L W"& 3; "<#&3C". B$ the C!<T# D# P"&3S. With
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morocco, R/.**. Jols. 3, 33, and 333 now read$.
The third %olume em?races, without a?rid2ment, the fifth and si=th
%olumes of the 9rench edition, and co%ers one of the most interestin2
as well as the most an=ious >eriods of the war, descri?in2 the
o>erations of the "rm$ of the Potomac in the #ast, and the "rm$ of
the Cum?erland and Tennessee in The West.
3t contains full accounts of the ?attle of Chancellors%ille, the
attack of the monitors on 9ort Sumter, the sie2es and fall of
Jicks?ur2 and Port HudsonE the ?attles of Port :i?son and Cham>ionIs
Hill, and the fullest and most authentic account of the ?attle of
:ett$s?ur2 e%er written.
8 8 8 8 8
BThe head of the !rleans famil$ has >ut >en to >a>er with e=cellent
result.... !ur >resent im>ression is that it will form ?$ far the
?est histor$ of the "merican war.B44C"thenaeum, London.C
8 8 8 8 8
BWe ad%ise all "mericans to read it carefull$, and Aud2e for
themsel%es if Ithe future historian of our war,I of whom we
ha%e heard so much, ?e not alread$ arri%ed in the Comte de
Paris.B44C;ation, ;ew Gork.C
8 8 8 8 8
BThis is incom>ara?l$ the ?est account of our 2reat second re%olution
that has $et ?een e%en attem>ted. 3t is so calm, so dis>assionate, so
accurate in detail, and at the same time so >hiloso>hical in 2eneral,
that its reader counts confidentl$ on findin2 the com>lete work
thorou2hl$ satisfactor$.B44C#%enin2 Bulletin, Philadel>hia.C
8 8 8 8 8
BThe work e=>resses the calm, deli?erate Aud2ment of an e=>erienced
militar$ o?ser%er and a hi2hl$ intelli2ent man. <an$ of its
statements will e=cite discussion, ?ut we much mistake if it does
not take hi2h and >ermanent rank amon2 the standard histories
of the ci%il war. 3ndeed that >lace has ?een assi2ned it ?$ the
most com>etent critics ?oth of this countr$ and a?road.B44CTimes,
Cincinnati.C
8 8 8 8 8
B<essrs. Porter D Coates, of Philadel>hia, will >u?lish in a few
da$s the authoried translation of the new %olume of the Comte de
ParisI Histor$ of !ur Ci%il War. The two %olumes in 9rench44the fifth
and si=th44are ?ound to2ether in the translation in one %olume. !ur
readers alread$ know, throu2h a ta?le of contents of these %olumes,
>u?lished in the ca?le columns of the CHeraldC, the >eriod co%ered
?$ this new installment of a work remarka?le in se%eral wa$s. 3t
includes the most im>ortant and decisi%e >eriod of the war, and the
two 2reat cam>ai2ns of :ett$s?ur2 and Jicks?ur2.
BThe 2reat ci%il war has had no ?etter, no a?ler historian than the
9rench >rince who, emulatin2 the e=am>le of Lafa$ette, took >art
in this new stru22le for freedom, and who now writes of e%ents, in
man$ of which he >artici>ated, as an accom>lished officer, and one
who, ?$ his inde>endent >osition, his hi2h character and eminent
talents, was >laced in circumstances and relations which 2a%e him
almost uneFualled o>>ortunities to 2ain correct information and form
im>artial Aud2ments.
BThe new installment of a work which has alread$ ?ecome a classic
will ?e read with increased interest ?$ "mericans ?ecause of the
im>ortance of the >eriod it co%ers and the stirrin2 e%ents it
descri?es. 3n ad%ance of a careful re%iew we >resent to4da$ some
e=tracts from the ad%ance sheets sent us ?$ <essrs. Porter D Coates,
which will 2i%e our readers a foretaste of cha>ters which ?rin2 ?ack
to memor$ so man$ half4for2otten and not a few hitherto un%alued
details of a time which "mericans of this 2eneration at least cannot
read of without a fresh thrill of e=citement.B
H"L94H!5&S W3TH TH# B#ST "5TH!&S. With short Bio2ra>hical and
Critical ;otes. B$ CH"&L#S K;3:HT.
;ew Household #dition. With si= >ortraits on steel. M %ols., thick
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The e=cellent idea of the editor of these choice %olumes has ?een
most admira?l$ carried out, as will ?e seen ?$ the list of authors
u>on all su?Aects. Selectin2 some choice >assa2es of the ?est
standard authors, each of sufficient len2th to occu>$ half an hour
in its >erusal, there is here food for thou2ht for e%er$ da$ in the
$ear: so that if the >urchaser will de%ote ?ut one4half hour each da$
to its a>>ro>riate selection he will read throu2h these si= %olumes
in one $ear, and in such a leisurel$ manner that the no?lest thou2hts
of man$ of the 2reatest minds will ?e firml$ in his mind fore%er.
9or e%er$ Sunda$ there is a suita?le selection from some of the
most eminent writers in sacred literature. We %enture to sa$ if the
editorIs idea is carried out the reader will >ossess more and ?etter
knowled2e of the #n2lish classics at the end of the $ear than he
would ?$ fi%e $ears of desultor$ readin2.
The$ can ?e commenced at an$ da$ in the $ear. The %ariet$ of readin2
is so 2reat that no one will e%er tire of these %olumes. 3t is a
li?rar$ in itself.
TH# P!#T&G !9 !TH#& L";DS. " Collection of Translations into #n2lish
Jerse of the Poetr$ of !ther Lan2ua2es, "ncient and <odern.
Com>iled ?$ ;. CL#<<!;S H5;T. Containin2 translations from the
:reek, Latin, Persian, "ra?ian, 'a>anese, Turkish, Ser%ian,
&ussian, Bohemian, Polish, Dutch, :erman, 3talian, 9rench, S>anish,
and Portu2uese lan2ua2es. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, 2ilt ed2es, R).O*E
half calf, 2ilt, mar?led ed2es, R,.**E Turke$ morocco, 2ilt ed2es,
R/.**.
B"nother of the >u?lications of Porter D Coates, called IThe Poetr$
of !ther Lands,I com>iled ?$ ;. Clemmons Hunt, we most warml$
commend. 3t is one of the ?est collections we ha%e seen, containin2
man$ e=Fuisite >oems and fra2ments of %erse which ha%e not ?efore
?een >ut into ?ook form in #n2lish words. We find man$ of the old
fa%orites, which a>>ear in e%er$ well4selected collection of sonnets
and son2s, and we miss others, which seem a necessit$ to com>lete the
?ouFuet of 2rasses and flowers, some of which, from time to time, we
ho>e to re>u?lish in the ICourier.IB44CCincinnati Courier.C
B" ?ook of rare e=cellence, ?ecause it 2i%es a collection of choice
2ems in man$ lan2ua2es not a%aila?le to the 2eneral lo%er of >oetr$.
3t contains translations from the :reek, Latin, Persian, "ra?ian,
'a>anese, Turkish, Ser%ian, &ussian, Bohemian, Polish, Dutch, :erman,
3talian, 9rench, S>anish, and Portu2uese lan2ua2es. The ?ook will
?e an admira?le com>anion %olume to an$ one of the collections
of #n2lish >oetr$ that are now >u?lished. With the full inde= of
authors immediatel$ >recedin2 the collection, and the arran2ement
of the >oems under headin2s, the reader will find it con%enient for
reference. 3t is a 2ift that will ?e more %alued ?$ %er$ man$ than
some of the transitor$ ones at these holida$ times.B44CPhiladel>hia
<ethodist.C
TH# 93&#S3D# #;CGCL!P"#D3" !9 P!#T&G. #dited ?$ H#;&G T. C!"T#S. This
is the latest, and ?e$ond dou?t the ?est collection of >oetr$
>u?lished. Printed on fine >a>er and illustrated with thirteen
steel en2ra%in2s and fifteen title >a2es, containin2 >ortraits of
>rominent "merican >oets and fac4similes of their handwritin2, made
e=>ressl$ for this ?ook, (%o. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, 2ilt
ed2es, RO.**: half calf, 2ilt, mar?led ed2es, R0.O*E half morocco,
full 2ilt ed2es, R0.O*E full Turke$ morocco, 2ilt ed2es, R+*.**E
tree calf, 2ilt ed2es R+).**E >lush, >added side, nickel letterin2,
R+,.**.
BThe editor shows a wide acFuaintance with the most >recious
treasures of #n2lish %erse, and has 2athered the most admira?le
s>ecimens of their am>le wealth. <an$ >ieces which ha%e ?een >assed
?$ in >re%ious collections hold a >lace of honor in the >resent
%olume, and will ?e heartil$ welcomed ?$ the lo%ers of >oetr$
as a deli2htful addition to their sources of enAo$ment. 3t is a
%olume rich in solace, in entertainment, in ins>iration, of which
the >ossession ma$ well ?e co%eted ?$ e%er$ lo%er of >oetr$. The
>ictorial illustrations of the work are in kee>in2 with its >oetical
contents, and the ?eaut$ of the t$>o2ra>hical e=ecution entitles it
to a >lace amon2 the choicest ornaments of the li?rar$.B44C;ew Gork
Tri?une.C
BLo%ers of 2ood >oetr$ will find this one of the richest collections
e%er made. "ll the ?est sin2ers in our lan2ua2e are re>resented,
and the selections are 2enerall$ those which re%eal their hi2hest
Fualities.... The li2hts and shades, the finer >la$ of thou2ht and
ima2ination ?elon2in2 to indi%idual authors, are ?rou2ht out in this
wa$ 6?$ the arran2ement of >oems under su?Aect4headin2s7 as the$
would not ?e under an$ other s$stem.... We are dee>l$ im>ressed with
the keen a>>reciation of >oetical worth, and also with the 2ood taste
manifested ?$ the com>iler.B44CChurchman.C
BC$clo>aedias of >oetr$ are numerous, ?ut for sterlin2 %alue of its
contents for the li?rar$, or as a ?ook of reference, no work of
the kind will com>are with this admira?le %olume of <r. Coates.
3t takes the 2ems from man$ %olumes, cullin2 with rare skill and
Aud2ment.B44CChica2o 3nter4!cean.C
TH# CH3LD&#;IS B!!K !9 P!#T&G. Com>iled ?$ H#;&G T. C!"T#S.
Containin2 o%er O** >oems carefull$ selected from the works of
the ?est and most >o>ular writers for childrenE with nearl$ )**
illustrations. The most com>lete collection of >oetr$ for children
e%er >u?lished. ,to. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, 2ilt side and
ed2es, RM.**E full Turke$ morocco, 2ilt ed2es, R0.O*.
BThis seems to us the ?est ?ook of >oetr$ for children in
e=istence. We ha%e e=amined man$ other collections, ?ut we cannot
name another that deser%es to ?e com>ared with this admira?le
com>ilation.B44CWorcester S>$.C
BThe s>ecial %alue of the ?ook lies in the fact that it nearl$ or
Fuite co%ers the entire field. There is not a 2reat deal of 2ood
>oetr$ which has ?een written for children that cannot ?e found in
this ?ook. The collection is >articularl$ stron2 in ?allads and
tales, which are a>t to interest children more than >oems of other
kindsE and <r. Coates has shown 2ood Aud2ment in su>>lementin2 this
de>artment with some of the ?est >oems of that class that ha%e ?een
written for 2rown >eo>le. " surer method of formin2 the taste of
children for 2ood and >ure literature than ?$ readin2 to them from
an$ >ortion of this ?ook can hardl$ ?e ima2ined. The %olume is richl$
illustrated and ?eautifull$ ?ound.B44CPhiladel>hia #%enin2 Bulletin.C
B" more e=cellent %olume cannot ?e found. We ha%e found within the
co%ers of this handsome %olume, and u>on its fair >a2es, man$ of the
most e=Fuisite >oems which our lan2ua2e contains. 3t must ?ecome a
standard %olume, and can ne%er 2row old or o?solete.B44C#>isco>al
&ecorder.C
TH# C!<PL#T# W!&KS !9 TH!S. H!!D. With en2ra%in2s on steel. , %ols.,
+)mo., tinted >a>er. Poetical WorksE 5> the &hineE <iscellanies
and HoodIs !wnE Whimsicalities, Whims, and !ddities. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R/.**E red cloth, >a>er la?el, 2ilt to>, uncut
ed2es, R/.**E half calf, 2ilt, mar?led ed2es, R+,.**E half &ussia,
2ilt to>, R+(.**.
HoodIs %erse, whether serious or comic44whether serene like a
cloudless autumn e%enin2 or s>arklin2 with >uns like a frost$ 'anuar$
midni2ht with stars44was e%er >re2nant with materials for the
thou2ht. Like e%er$ author distin2uished for true comic humor, there
was a dee> %ein of melanchol$ >athos runnin2 throu2h his mirth, and
e%en when his sun shone ?ri2htl$ its li2ht seemed often reflected as
if onl$ o%er the rim of a cloud.
Well ma$ we sa$, in the words of Tenn$son, BWould he could ha%e
sta$ed with us.B for ne%er could it ?e more trul$ recorded of an$
one44in the words of Hamlet characteriin2 Gorick44that Bhe was a
fellow of infinite Aest, of most e=cellent fanc$.B44D. <. <!3&.
TH# 3L3"D !9 H!<#& &#;D#&#D 3;T! #;:L3SH BL";K J#&S#. B$ #DW"&D, #"&L
!9 D#&BG. 9rom the latest London edition, with all the authorIs
last re%isions and corrections, and with a Bio2ra>hical Sketch
of Lord Der?$, ?$ &. SH#LT!; <"CK#;P3#, D.C.L. With twel%e steel
en2ra%in2s from 9la=manIs cele?rated desi2ns. ) %ols., +)mo. Cloth,
e=tra, ?e%. ?oards, 2ilt to>, RM.O*E half calf, 2ilt, mar?led
ed2es, R0.**E half Turke$ morocco, 2ilt to>, R0.**.
The same. Po>ular edition. Two %ols. in one. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.O*.
B3t must eFuall$ ?e considered a s>lendid >erformanceE and for the
>resent we ha%e no hesitation in sa$in2 that it is ?$ far the ?est
re>resentation of HomerIs 3liad in the #n2lish lan2ua2e.B44CLondon
Times.C
BThe merits of Lord Der?$Is translation ma$ ?e summed u> in one word,
it is eminentl$ attracti%eE it is instinct with lifeE it ma$ ?e read
with fer%ent interestE it is immeasura?l$ nearer than Po>e to the
te=t of the ori2inal.... Lord Der?$ has 2i%en a %ersion far more
closel$ allied to the ori2inal, and su>erior to an$ that has $et ?een
attem>ted in the ?lank %erse of our lan2ua2e.B44C#din?ur2 &e%iew.C
TH# W!&KS !9 9L"J35S '!S#PH5S. Com>risin2 the "ntiFuities of the
'ewsE a Histor$ of the 'ewish Wars, and a Life of 9la%ius 'ose>hus,
written ?$ himself. Translated from the ori2inal :reek, ?$ W3LL3"<
WH3ST!;, ".<. To2ether with numerous e=>lanator$ ;otes and se%en
Dissertations concernin2 'esus Christ, 'ohn the Ba>tist, 'ames the
'ust, :odIs command to "?raham, etc., with an 3ntroductor$ #ssa$
?$ &e%. H. ST#BB3;:, D.D. (%o. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, >lain
ed2es, RM.**E cloth, red, ?lack and 2old, 2ilt ed2es, R,.O*E shee>
mar?led ed2es, RM.O*E Turke$ morocco, 2ilt ed2es, R(.**.
This is the lar2est t$>e one %olume edition >u?lished.
TH# ";C3#;T H3ST!&G !9 TH# #:GPT3";S, C"&TH":3;3";S, "SSG&3";S,
B"BGL!;3";S, <#D#S ";D P#&S3";S, :&#C3";S ";D <"C#D!;3";S.
3ncludin2 a Histor$ of the "rts and Sciences of the "ncients. B$
CH"&L#S &!LL3;. With a Life of the "uthor, ?$ '"<#S B#LL. ) %ols.,
ro$al (%o. Shee>, mar?led ed2es, >er set, R/.**.
C!!K#&G 9&!< #NP#&3#;C#. " Practical :uide for Housekee>ers in the
Pre>aration of #%er$4da$ <eals, containin2 more than !ne Thousand
Domestic &eci>es, mostl$ tested ?$ Personal #=>erience, with
Su22estions for <eals, Lists of <eats and Je2eta?les in Season,
etc. B$ <rs. S"&" T. P"5L. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old,
R+.O*.
3nterlea%ed #dition. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.0O.
TH# C!<P"&"T3J# #D3T3!; !9 TH# ;#W T#ST"<#;T. Both Jersions in !ne
Book.
The >roof readin2s of our Com>arati%e #dition ha%e ?een 2one o%er ?$ so
man$ com>etent >roof readers, that we ?elie%e the te=t is a?solutel$
correct.
Lar2e +)mo., 0** >>. Cloth, e=tra, >lain ed2es, R+.O*E cloth, e=tra,
?e%elled ?oards and carmine ed2es, R+.0OE imitation >anelled calf,
$ellow ed2es, R).**E ara?esFue, 2ilt ed2es, R).O*E 9rench morocco,
lim>, 2ilt ed2es, R,.**E Turke$ morocco, lim>, 2ilt ed2es, R/.**.
The Com>arati%e ;ew Testament has ?een >u?lished ?$ Porter D Coates.
3n >arallel columns on each >a2e are 2i%en the old and new %ersions
of the Testament, di%ided also as far as >ractica?le into com>arati%e
%erses, so that it is almost im>ossi?le for the sli2htest new word
to esca>e the notice of either the ordinar$ reader or the anal$tical
student. 3t is decidedl$ the ?est edition $et >u?lished of the most
interest4e=citin2 literar$ >roduction of the da$. ;o more con%enient
form for com>arison could ?e de%ised either for economiin2 time or
la?or. "nother feature is the foot4notes, and there is also 2i%en
in an a>>endi= the %arious words and e=>ressions >referred ?$ the
"merican mem?ers of the &e%isin2 Commission. The work is handsomel$
>rinted on e=cellent >a>er with clear, le2i?le t$>e. 3t contains
nearl$ 0** >a2es.
TH# C!5;T !9 <!;T# C&3ST!. B$ "L#N";D&# D5<"S. Com>lete in one
%olume, with two illustrations ?$ :eor2e :. White. +)mo. Cloth,
e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
TH# TH&## :5"&DS<#;. B$ "L#N";D&# D5<"S. Com>lete in one %olume, with
two illustrations ?$ :eor2e :. White. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.)O.
There is a ma2ic influence in his >en, a ma2netic attraction in
his descri>tions, a fertilit$ in his literar$ resources which
are characteristic of Dumas alone, and the seal of the master of
li2ht literature is set u>on all his works. #%en when not strictl$
historical, his romances 2i%e an insi2ht into the ha?its and modes of
thou2ht and action of the >eo>le of the time descri?ed, which are not
offered in an$ other authorIs >roductions.
TH# L"ST D"GS !9 P!<P#33. B$ Sir #DW"&D B5LW#& LGTT!;, Bart.
3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.**. "lta
edition, one illustration, 0O cts.
'";# #G&#. B$ CH"&L!TT# B&!;T# 6Currer Bell7. ;ew Li?rar$ #dition.
With fi%e illustrations ?$ #. <. W3<P#&3S. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R+.**.
SH3&L#G. B$ CH"&L!TT# B&!;T# 6Currer Bell7. ;ew Li?rar$ #dition. With
fi%e illustrations ?$ #. <. W3<P#&3S. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.**.
J3LL#TT#. B$ CH"&L!TT# B&!;T# 6Currer Bell7. ;ew Li?rar$ #dition.
With fi%e illustrations ?$ #. <. W3<P#&3S. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R+.**.
TH# P&!9#SS!&, #<<" and P!#<S. B$ CH"&L!TT# B&!;T# 6Currer Bell7. ;ew
Li?rar$ #dition. With fi%e illustrations ?$ #. <. W3<P#&3S. +)mo.
Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.**.
Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, >er set, R,.**E red cloth, >a>er la?el,
2ilt to>, uncut ed2es, >er set, RO.**E half calf, 2ilt, >er set,
R+).**. The four %olumes formin2 the com>lete works of Charlotte Bronte
6Currer Bell7.
The wondrous >ower of Currer BellIs stories consists in their fier$
insi2ht into the human heart, their merciless dissection of >assion,
and their stern anal$sis of character and moti%e. The st$le of these
>roductions >ossesses incredi?le force, sometimes almost 2rim in its
?are se%erit$, then rela>sin2 into >assa2es of meltin2 >athos44alwa$s
direct, natural, and effecti%e in its un>retendin2 stren2th. The$
e=hi?it the identit$ which alwa$s ?elon2s to works of 2enius ?$ the
same author, thou2h without the sli2htest a>>roach to monoton$.
The characters >ortra$ed ?$ Currer Bell all ha%e a stron2l$ marked
indi%idualit$. !nce ?rou2ht ?efore the ima2ination, the$ haunt the
memor$ like a stran2e dream. The sinew$, muscular stren2th of her
writin2s 2uarantees their >ermanent duration, and thus far the$ ha%e
lost nothin2 of their intensit$ of interest since the >eriod of their
com>osition.
C"PT"3; '"CK TH# SC!5TE or, The 3ndian Wars a?out !ld 9ort DuFuesne.
"n Historical ;o%el, with co>ious notes. B$ CH"&L#S <cK;3:HT.
3llustrated with ei2ht en2ra%in2s. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.O*.
" work of such rare merit and thrillin2 interest as to ha%e ?een
re>u?lished ?oth in #n2land and :erman$. This 2enuine "merican
historical work has ?een recei%ed with e=traordinar$ >o>ular fa%or,
and has Bwon 2olden o>inions from all sorts of >eo>leB for its
freshness, its forest life, and its fidelit$ to truth. 3n man$
instances it e%en corrects Histor$ and uses the dra>er$ of fiction
sim>l$ to enli%en and illustrate the fact.
3t is a uni%ersal fa%orite with ?oth se=es, and with all a2es and
conditions, and is not onl$ >ro%in2 a marked and nota?le success in
this countr$, ?ut has ?een ea2erl$ taken u> a?road and re>u?lished
in London, #n2land, and issued in two %olumes in the far4famed
BTauchnet #ditionB of Lei>sic, :erman$.
!&";:# BL!SS!<S, 9&#SH ";D 9"D#D. B$ T. S. "&TH5&. 3llustrated. +)mo.
Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
B!ran2e BlossomsB contains a num?er of short stories of societ$. Like
all of <r. "rthurIs works, it has a s>ecial moral >ur>ose, and is
es>eciall$ addressed to the $oun2 who ha%e Aust entered the marital
e=>erience, whom it >leasantl$ warns a2ainst those social and moral
>itfalls into which the$ ma$ almost innocentl$ >lun2e.
TH# B"& &!!<S "T B&";TL#GE or, The :reat Hotel S>eculation. B$ T. S.
"&TH5&. 3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
B!ne of the ?est tem>erance stories recentl$ issued.B44C;. G.
Commercial "d%ertiser.C
B"lthou2h it is in the form of a no%el, its truthful delineation
of characters is such that in e%er$ %illa2e in the land $ou meet
the ?roken manhood it >ictures u>on the streets, and look u>on sad,
tear4dimmed e$es of women and children. The characters are not
o%erdrawn, ?ut are as truthful as an artistIs >encil could make
them.B44C3nter4!cean, Chica2o.C
#<<". B$ '";# "5ST#;. 3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.)O.
<";S93#LD P"&K. B$ '";# "5ST#;. 3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
R+.)O.
P&3D# ";D P&#'5D3C#E and ;orthan2er "??e$. B$ '";# "5ST#;.
3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.)O.
S#;S# ";D S#;S3B3L3TGE and Persuasion. B$ '";# "5ST#;. 3llustrated.
+)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.)O.
The four %olumes, formin2 the com>lete works of 'ane "usten, in a neat
?o=: Cloth, e=tra, >er set, RO.**E red cloth, >a>er la?el, 2ilt to>,
uncut ed2es, RM.**E half calf, 2ilt, >er set, R+).**.
B'ane "usten, a woman of whom #n2land is Austl$ >roud. 3n her no%els
she has 2i%en us a multitude of characters, all, in a certain sense,
common>lace, all such as we meet e%er$ da$. Get the$ are all as
>erfectl$ discriminated from each other as if the$ were the most
eccentric of human ?ein2s.... "nd almost all this is done ?$ touches
so delicate that the$ elude anal$sis, that the$ def$ the >owers of
descri>tion, and that we know them to e=ist onl$ ?$ the 2eneral
effect to which the$ ha%e contri?uted.B44C<acaula$Is #ssa$s.C
"&T "T H!<#. Containin2 in one %olume House Decoration, ?$ &H!D" and
":;#S :"&&#TTE Plea for "rt in the House, ?$ W. '. L!9T3#E <usic,
?$ '!H; H5LL"HE and Dress, ?$ <rs. !L3PH";T. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
T!< B&!W;IS SCH!!L D"GS "T &5:BG. B$ TH!<"S H5:H#S. ;ew #dition,
lar2e clear t$>e. With M/ illustrations after Caldecott and others.
+)mo., ,** >>. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)OE half calf,
2ilt, R).0O. "lta #dition. !ne illustration, 0O cents.
B3t is difficult to estimate the amount of 2ood which ma$ ?e done ?$
ITom BrownIs School Da$s.I 3t 2i%es, in the main, a most faithful
and interestin2 >icture of our >u?lic schools, the most #n2lish
institutions of #n2land, and which educate the ?est and most >owerful
elements in our u>>er classes. But it is more than thisE it is an
attem>t, a %er$ no?le and successful attem>t, to Christianie the
societ$ of our $outh, throu2h the onl$ >ractica?le channel44heart$
and ?rotherl$ s$m>ath$ with their feelin2sE a ?ook, in short, which
a father mi2ht well wish to see in the hands of his son.B44CLondon
Times.C
T!< B&!W; "T !N9!&D. B$ TH!<"S H5:H#S. 3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth,
e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*E half calf, 2ilt, RM.**.
B9airl$ entitled to the rank and di2nit$ of an #n2lish classic. Plot,
st$le and truthfulness are of the soundest British character. &ac$,
idiomatic, mirror4like, alwa$s interestin2, su22estin2 thou2ht on
the knottiest social and reli2ious Fuestions, now dee>l$ mo%in2 ?$
its unconscious >athos, and anon ins>irin2 u>roarious lau2hter, it
is a work the world will not willin2l$ let die.B44C;. G. Christian
"d%ocate.C
S#;S3BL# #T3L5#TT# !9 TH# B#ST S!C3#TG. B$ <rs. H. !. W"&D. Customs,
manners, morals, and home culture, with su22estions how to word
notes and letters of in%itations, acce>tances, and re2rets, and
2eneral instructions as to calls, rules for waterin2 >laces,
lunches, kettle drums, dinners, rece>tions, weddin2s, >arties,
dress, toilet and manners, salutations, introductions, social
reforms, etc., etc. Bound in cloth, with 2ilt ed2e, and sent ?$
mail, >osta2e >aid, on recei>t of R).**.
L"D3#SI ";D :#;TL#<#;IS #T3L5#TT#: " Com>lete <anual of the <anners
and Dress of "merican Societ$. Containin2 forms of Letters,
3n%itations, "cce>tances, and &e2rets. With a co>ious inde=. B$ #.
B. D599#G. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
B3t is >eculiarl$ an "merican ?ook, es>eciall$ ada>ted to our >eo>le,
and its 2reatest ?eaut$ is found in the fact that in e%er$ line and
>rece>t it inculcates the >rinci>les of true >oliteness, instead
of those formal rules that ser%e onl$ to 2ild the surface without
affectin2 the su?stance. 3t is admira?l$ written, the st$le ?ein2
clear, terse, and forci?le.B44CSt. Louis Times.C
TH# 5;D#&:&!5;D C3TGE or, The Child of the Ca%ern. B$ '5L#S
J#&;#. Translated from the 9rench ?$ W. H. K3;:ST!;. With ,M
illustrations. Standard #dition. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.O*.
"&!5;D TH# W!&LD 3; #3:HTG D"GS. B$ '5L#S J#&;#. Translated ?$ :#!.
<. T!WL#. With +) full4>a2e illustrations. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
"T TH# ;!&TH P!L#E or, The Jo$a2es and "d%entures of Ca>tain
Hatteras. B$ '5L#S J#&;#. With +M* illustrations ?$ &3!5. Standard
#dition. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
TH# D#S#&T !9 3C#E or, The 9urther "d%entures of Ca>tain Hatteras.
B$ '5L#S J#&;#. With +)/ illustrations ?$ &3!5. Standard #dition.
+)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
TW#;TG TH!5S";D L#":5#S 5;D#& TH# S#"SE or, The <ar%ellous and
#=citin2 "d%entures of Pierre "ronna=, Conseil his ser%ant, and
;ed Land, a Canadian Har>ooner. B$ '5L#S J#&;#. Standard #dition.
3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
TH# W&#CK !9 TH# CH";C#LL!&, Diar$ of '. &. Kaallon, Passen2er, and
<artin Pa. B$ '5L#S J#&;#. Translated from the 9rench ?$ #LL#;
9&#W#&. With +* illustrations. Standard #dition. +)mo. Cloth,
e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
'ules Jerne is so well known that the mere announcement of an$thin2
from his >en is sufficient to create a demand for it. !ne of
his chief merits is the wonderful art with which he la$s under
contri?ution e%er$ ?ranch of science and natural histor$, while he
%i%idl$ descri?es with minute e=actness all >arts of the world and
its inha?itants.
TH# 3;:!LDSBG L#:#;DSE or, <irth and <ar%els. B$ &3CH"&D H"&&3S
B"&H"< 6Thomas 3n2olds?$, #sF.7. ;ew edition, >rinted from entirel$
new stereot$>e >lates. 3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.O*E half calf, 2ilt, mar?led ed2es, RM.**.
B!f his >oetical >owers it is not too much to sa$ that, for
ori2inalit$ of desi2n and diction, for 2rand illustration and musical
%erse, the$ are not sur>assed in the #n2lish lan2ua2e. The WitchesI
9rolic is second onl$ to Tam !IShanter. But wh$ reca>itulate the
titles of either >rose or %erse44since the$ ha%e ?een confessed
?$ e%er$ Aud2ment to ?e sin2ularl$ rich in classic allusion and
modern illustration. 9rom the da$s of Hudi?ras to our time the
droller$ in%ested in rh$mes has ne%er ?een so am>l$ or felicitousl$
e=em>lified.B44CBentle$Is <iscellan$.C
T#; TH!5S";D " G#"&. B$ S"<5#L C. W"&&#;, author of BThe Diar$ of a
London Ph$sician.B " new edition, carefull$ re%ised, with three
illustrations ?$ :#!&:# :. WH3T#. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R+.O*.
B<r. Warren has taken a lastin2 >lace amon2 the ima2inati%e writers
of this >eriod of #n2lish histor$. He >ossesses, in a remarka?le
manner, the tenderness of heart and %i%idness of feelin2, as well as
>owers of descri>tion, which are essential to the delineation of the
>athetic, and which, when e=istin2 in the de2ree in which he enAo$s
them, fill his >a2es with scenes which can ne%er ?e for2otten.B44CSir
"rchi?ald "lison.C
TH!<PS!;IS P!L3T3C"L #C!;!<GE With #s>ecial &eference to the
3ndustrial Histor$ of ;ations. B$ Prof. &. #. TH!<PS!;, of the
5ni%ersit$ of Penns$l%ania. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.O*.
This ?ook >ossesses an es>ecial interest at the >resent moment. The
Fuestions of 9ree Trade and Protection are ?efore the countr$ more
directl$ than at an$ earlier >eriod of our histor$. "s a rule the
works and te=t?ooks used in our "merican colle2es are either of
#n2lish ori2in or teach Doctrines of a >olitical econom$ which, as
Walter Ba2ehot sa$s, was made for #n2land. Prof. Thom>son ?elon2s to
the ;ationalist School of #conomists, to which "le=ander Hamilton,
Tench Co=e, Henr$ Cla$, <atthew Care$, and his 2reater son, Henr$ C.
Care$, Ste>hen Colwell, and 'ames "?ram :arfield were adherents. He
?elie%es in that >olic$ of Protection to "merican industr$ which has
had the sanction of e%er$ 2reat "merican statesman, not e=ce>tin2
Thomas 'efferson and 'ohn C. Calhoun. He makes his a>>eal to histor$
in defence of that >olic$, showin2 that where%er a weaker or less
ad%anced countr$ has >racticed 9ree Trade with one more >owerful or
richer, the former has lost its industries as well as its mone$, and
has ?ecome economicall$ de>endent on the latter. Those who wish to
learn what is the real source of 3rish >o%ert$ and discontent will
find it here stated full$.
The method of the ?ook is historical. 3t is therefore no series of
dr$ and a?stract reasonin2s, such as re>el readers from ?ooks of this
class. The writer does not ride the Ca >rioriC na2, and sa$ Bthis
must ?e so,B and Bthat must ?e conceded.B He shows what has ?een
true, and seeks to elicit the laws of the science from the e=>erience
of the world. The ?ook o%erflows with facts told in an interestin2
manner.
TH# #;:L3SH P#!PL# 3; 3TS TH&## H!<#S, and the Practical Bearin2s of
2eneral #uro>ean Histor$. B$ #DW"&D ". 9&##<";, LL.D., "uthor of
the B;orman ConFuest of #n2land.B +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, R+.0O.
H";DG ";DG. " Tale of 3rish Life. B$ S"<5#L L!J#&. ;ew Li?rar$
#dition, with two ori2inal illustrations ?$ :#!&:# :. WH3T#. +)mo.
Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
BDecidedl$ the ?est stor$ of the da$, full of frolic, 2enuine fun,
and e=Fuisite touches of 3rish humor.B44CDu?lin <onitor.C
CH"&L#S !I<"LL#G, The 3rish Dra2oon. B$ CH"&L#S L#J#&. ;ew Li?rar$
#dition, with two ori2inal illustrations ?$ 9. !. C. D"&L#G. +)mo.
Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
H"&&G L!&&#L5#&. B$ CH"&L#S L#J#&. ;ew Li?rar$ #dition, with two
ori2inal illustrations ?$ :#!. :. WH3T#. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack
and 2old, R+.)O.
BThe intense s>irit and frolic of the authorIs sketches ha%e made
him one of the most successful writers of the da$.B44CLondon Literar$
:aette.C
BThe author is >re4eminent for his mirth4mo%in2 >owers, for his acute
sense of the ridiculous, for the ?readth of his humor, and his >owers
of dramatic writin2 which render his ?oldest conce>tions with the
ha>>iest facilit$.B44CLondon "thenaeum.C
BWe hardl$ know how to con%e$ an adeFuate notion of the e=u?erant
whim and droller$ ?$ which this writer is characteried. His works
are a >er>etual feast of 2a$et$.B44C'ohn Bull, London.C
P!P5L"& ;"T5&"L H3ST!&G. B$ the &e%. '. :. W!!D, <.". 9rom entirel$
new electrot$>e >lates, with fi%e hundred illustrations ?$ eminent
artists. Crown (%o. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.0O.
<r. Wood is an amusin2, instructi%e, and sensi?le writer44alwa$s
doin2 2ood work in a 2ood wa$44and his work on ;atural Histor$ is
without dou?t his master>iece.
TH# !D#S !9 H!&"C#. Translated into #n2lish %erse, with Life and
;otes, ?$ TH#!D!&# <"&T3;. With a fine >ortrait of Horace. +/mo.
Cloth, e=tra, R+.**.
<r. <artinIs translation has ?een commended as >reser%in244more than
an$ other44the s>irit and 2race of the ori2inal. 3t is the most
successful attem>t e%er made to render into #n2lish the inimita?le
odes of Horace. The memoir >refi=ed to the %olume is a most charmin2
>iece of ?io2ra>h$.
:&##K <GTH!L!:G SGST#<"T3P#D. With com>lete Ta?les ?ased on HesiodIs
Theo2on$E Ta?les showin2 the relation of :reek <$tholo2$ and
Histor$, arran2ed from :roteIs Histor$ of :reeceE and :ladstoneIs
Homeric Ta?les. With a full 3nde=. B$ S. ". SC5LL. Profusel$
illustrated. +)mo. Cloth, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
B" ?ook which will >ro%e %er$ useful to the student and man of
letters, and of incalcula?le ?enefit as a hand4?ook.B44C&e>u?lic,
Washin2ton.C
B" real want is su>>lied ?$ this ?ook, which is, in fact, a
c$clo>aedia of :reek <$tholo2$, so far as that is >ossi?le in a sin2le
%olume of reasona?le sie and moderate cost.B44C#%enin2 <ail, ;ew
Gork.C
BThis te=t4?ook on <$tholo2$ >resents the su?Aect in a more >ractical
and more attracti%e st$le than an$ other work on the su?Aect with
which we are familiar, and we feel assured that it will at once
take a leadin2 >osition amon2 ?ooks of its class.B44CThe Teacher,
Philadel>hia.C
TH# 3<3T"T3!; !9 CH&3ST. B$ TH!<"S a K#<P3S. ;ew and ?est edition,
from entirel$ new electrot$>e >lates, sin2le column, lar2e, clear
t$>e. +(mo.
Plain #dition, round corners. Cloth, e=tra, red ed2es, O* centsE 9rench
morocco, 2ilt cross, 0O centsE lim> &ussia, inlaid cross, red under
2old ed2es, R).**.
&ed Line #dition, round corners. Cloth, ?lack and 2old, red ed2es, 0O
centsE cloth, ?lack and 2old, 2ilt ed2es, R+.**E 9rench morocco, red
under 2old ed2es, R+.O*E lim> &ussia, inlaid cross, red under 2old
ed2es, R).O*E lim> &ussia, solid 2ilt ed2es, ?o= circuit, RM.**E lim>
calf, red under 2old ed2es, R).O*E lim> calf, solid 2ilt ed2es, ?o=
circuit, RM.**.
TH# W!&DS ";D <3;D !9 '#S5S ";D 9"3TH95L P&!<3S#&. B$ &e%. '. &.
<"CD599, D.D., author of B<ornin2 and ;i2ht Watches.B ;ew and ?est
edition, from entirel$ new electrot$>e >lates, sin2le column,
lar2e, clear t$>e. +(mo.
Plain #dition, round corners. Cloth, e=tra, red ed2es, O* centsE 9rench
morocco, 2ilt cross, 0O centsE lim> &ussia, inlaid cross, red under
2old ed2es, R).**.
&ed Line #dition, round corners. Cloth, ?lack and 2old, red ed2es, 0O
centsE cloth, ?lack and 2old, 2ilt ed2es, R+.**E lim> calf or &ussia,
red under 2old ed2es, R).O*.
" D3CT3!;"&G !9 TH# B3BL#. Com>risin2 its "ntiFuities, Bio2ra>h$,
:eo2ra>h$, ;atural Histor$, and Literature. #dited ?$ W3LL3"<
S<3TH, LL.D. &e%ised and ada>ted to the >resent use of
Sunda$4school Teachers and Bi?le Students ?$ &e%. 9. ;. and <. ".
P#L!5B#T. With ei2ht colored ma>s and o%er MO* en2ra%in2s on wood.
(%o. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R).**E shee>, mar?led ed2es,
RM.**E half morocco, 2ilt to>, RM.O*.
B;o similar work in our own or in an$ other lan2ua2e is for a
moment to ?e com>ared with Dr. SmithIs Dictionar$ of the Bi?le. The
Christian and the scholar ha%e a treasure4house on e%er$ su?Aect
connected with the Bi?le, full to o%erflowin2, and minute e%en to the
tellin2 of mint and cummin.B44CLondon Luarterl$ &e%iew.C
C!<P&#H#;S3J# B3!:&"PH3C"L D3CT3!;"&G. #m?racin2 accounts of the most
eminent >ersons of all a2es, nations, and >rofessions. B$ #. ".
TH!<"S. Crown (%o. Cloth, e=tra, 2ilt to>, R).O*E shee>, mar?led
ed2es, RM.**E half morocco, 2ilt to>, RM.O*E half &ussia, 2ilt to>,
R,.O*.
The aim of the >u?lishers in issuin2 this work is to >resent in
con%enient sie and at moderate >rice a com>rehensi%e dictionar$ of
?io2ra>h$, em?racin2 accounts of the most eminent >ersona2es in all
a2es, countries, and >rofessions.
Durin2 the last Fuarter of a centur$ so man$ im>ortant e%ents
ha%e ?een enacted, such as the Ci%il War in "merica and the
9ranco4Prussian War of +(0*, and such 2reat ad%ances ha%e ?een made
in the line of in%ention and scientific in%esti2ation, that within
that >eriod man$ >ersons ha%e risen ?$ su>erior merit to cons>icuous
>ositionsE and as the >lan of this work em?races accounts of the
li%in2 as well as of the dead, man$ names are included that are not
to ?e found in other dictionaries of ?io2ra>h$.
TH# H!&S# 3; TH# ST"BL# ";D TH# 93#LD. His <ana2ement in Health and
Disease. B$ '. H. W"LSH, 9.&.C.S. 6Stonehen2e.7 9rom the last
London edition. 3llustrated with o%er (* en2ra%in2s, and full4>a2e
en2ra%in2s from >hoto2ra>hs. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?e%. ?oards, ?lack
and 2old, R).**.
B3t sustains its claim to ?e the onl$ work which has ?rou2ht to2ether
in a sin2le %olume, and in clear, concise, and com>rehensi%e
lan2ua2e, adeFuate information on the %arious su?Aects on which it
treats.B44CHar>erIs <a2aine.C
BThis is the ?est #n2lish ?ook on the horse, re%ised and im>ro%ed ?$
com>etent >ersons for >u?lication in this countr$. 3t is the most
com>lete work on the su?Aect, >ro?a?l$, in the #n2lish lan2ua2e, and
that, of course, means the most com>lete in e=istence. #%er$thin2
relatin2 to a horse that histor$, science, o?ser%ation, or >ractical
knowled2e can furnish, has a >lace in it.B44CWorcester Dail$ S>$.C
TH# H!&S#. B$ W3LL3"< G!5"TT, to2ether with a :eneral Histor$ of
the HorseE a dissertation on the "merican Trottin2 Horse, and an
essa$ on the "ss and the <ule. B$ '. S. SK3;;#&. With a ?eautiful
en2ra%in2 on steel of the famous BWest "ustralian,B and O(
illustrations on wood. (%o. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.0O.
B!!K !9 TH# 9"&<. The Hand$4?ook of Hus?andr$. Containin2 Practical
3nformation in &e2ard to Bu$in2 or Leasin2 a 9armE 9ences and 9arm
Buildin2s, 9armin2 3m>lements, Draina2e, Plowin2, Su?soilin2,
<anurin2, &otation of Cro>s, Care and <edical Treatment of the
Cattle, Shee>, and Poultr$E <ana2ement of the Dair$E 5seful Ta?les,
etc. B$ :#!&:# #. W"&3;:, '&., of !2den 9arm, author of BDrainin2
for Profit and for Health,B etc. ;ew edition, thorou2hl$ re%ised ?$
the author. With +** illustrations. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and
2old, R).**.
"<#&3C"; !&;3TH!L!:GE or, The ;atural Histor$ of the Birds of the
5nited States. B$ "L#N";D#& W3LS!; and CH"&L#S L5C3#; B!;"P"&T#.
Po>ular #dition, com>lete in one %olume im>erial octa%o. +)** >a2es
and nearl$ ,** illustrations of ?irds. 9ormerl$ >u?lished at R+**E
now >u?lished at the low >rice: Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old,
R0.O*E half morocco, mar?led ed2es, R+).O*.
This lar2e and handsome %olume, >rinted in a su>erior manner on 2ood
>a>er from the ori2inal stereot$>e >lates of the lar2er edition,
contains the Life of Wilson, occu>$in2 +M) >a2esE a full Catalo2ue
of ;orth "merican Birds, furnished ?$ Professor S>encer 9. Baird, of
the Smithsonian 3nstitutionE Com>lete 3nde=, with the names of o%er
K** ?irds descri?ed in the te=t, and is illustrated with nearl$ ,**
fi2ures of ?irds en2ra%ed on wood. 3t is e=actl$ the same sie as the
lar2er edition, with the e=ce>tion that the en2ra%in2s are reduced
in sie and are not colored, re>roducin2 e%er$ line of the ori2inal
edition. 3t is one of the ?est ?ooks of >ermanent %alue 6strictl$ an
"merican ?ook7 e%er >u?lished, noted for its ?eaut$ of diction and
>ower of descri>tion, >re4eminent as the a?lest work on !rnitholo2$,
and now >u?lished at a moderate >rice, that >laces it within the
reach of all. #%er$ lo%er of ?irds, e%er$ school, >u?lic or famil$
li?rar$ should ha%e this ?ook. We know of no other wa$ in which so
much >leasure, so much information, and so much usefulness can ?e had
for the >rice.
"<#&3C"; CH#SS PL"G#&IS H";D4B!!K. Teachin2 the &udiments of the
:ame, and 2i%in2 an "nal$sis of all the reco2nied o>enin2s.
#=em>lified ?$ a>>ro>riate :ames actuall$ >la$ed ?$ Paul <or>h$,
Harrwit, "nderssen, Staunton, Paulsen, <ont2omer$, <eek, and
others. 9rom the works of Staunton and others. 3llustrated. +/mo.
Cloth, e=tra, R+.)O.
"<#&3C"; :"&D#;#&IS "SS3ST";T. Containin2 com>lete Practical
Directions for the Culti%ation of Je2eta?les, 9lowers, 9ruit Trees,
and :ra>e Jines. B$ TH!<"S B&3D:<";. ;ew edition, re%ised and
enlar2ed, ?$ S. #DW"&DS T!DD. With 0* illustrations. +)mo. Cloth,
e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R).**.
D3S#"S#S !9 TH# H!&S#, ";D H!W T! T&#"T TH#<. " concise <anual
of S>ecial Patholo2$, for the use of Horsemen, 9armers, Stock
&aisers, and Students in "2ricultural Colle2es. B$ &!B#&T CH"W;#&.
3llustrated. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.)O.
'#&S#G, "LD#&;#G, ";D :5#&;S#G C!WS. Their Histor$, ;ature, and
<ana2ement. #dited from the writin2s of #dward P. 9owler, :eor2e
#. Warin2, 'r., Charles L. Shar>less, Prof. 'ohn :am2ee, C. P. Le
Cornu, Col. Le Couteur, Prof. <a2ne, 9r. :uenon, Dr. Twaddell,
and others, ?$ W3LL3S P. H"P"&D. (%o. 3llustrated with a?out M*
en2ra%in2s, dia2rams, etc. Cloth, e=tra, ?lack and 2old, R+.O*.
TH# T&!TT3;: H!&S# !9 "<#&3C". How to Train and Dri%e him, with
&eminiscences of the Trottin2 Turf. B$ H3&"< W!!D&599. #dited ?$
CH"&L#S '. 9!ST#&. 3ncludin2 an 3ntroductor$ ;otice ?$ :#!&:#
W3LK#S, and a Bio2ra>hical Sketch ?$ the #ditor. )*th edition,
re%ised and ?rou2ht down to +(0(, and containin2 a full account
of the famous B&arus.B With a steel >ortrait of the author, and
si= en2ra%in2s on wood of cele?rated trotters. +)mo. Cloth, e=tra,
?lack and 2old, R).O*.
P!&T#& D C!"T#SI 3;T#&#ST T"BL#S. Containin2 accurate calculations of
interest at +@), +, ), M, M4+@), ,, ,4+@), O, /, 0, ( and +* >er
cent, >er annum, on all sums from R+.** to R+*,***, and from one
da$ to si= $ears. "lso some %er$ %alua?le ta?les, calculated ?$
'ohn #. Coffin. (%o. Cloth, e=tra, R+.**.
&#"DG &#CK!;#& 6The 3m>ro%ed,7 9!&< ";D L!:B!!K. The TraderIs,
9armerIs and <erchantIs useful assistant. Containin2 Ta?les
of Jalues, Wa2es, 3nterest, Scantlin2, Board, Plank and Lo2
<easurements, Business 9orms, etc. +(mo. Boards, cloth ?ack,
illustrated co%er, )O cents.
8 8 8 8 8 8
Transcri?ersI note:
Punctuation, h$>henation, and s>ellin2 were made consistent when a
>redominant >reference was found in this ?ookE otherwise the$ were not
chan2ed.
Sim>le t$>o2ra>hical errors were correctedE occasional un>aired
Fuotation marks were retained.
"m?i2uous h$>hens at the ends of lines were retained.
Pa2e )/: Bestra$B was >rinted that wa$.
Pa2e /+: Brendered the 2reaterQ isB was >rinted with a lower4case BisB.
Pa2e /): Bcal%acadeB was >rinted that wa$.
Pa2e /O: Bwofull$B was >rinted that wa$.
Pa2e 0*: Btomahawk 2ri>ed in his handB >ro?a?l$ is a mis>rint for
B2ri>>edBE BWith scarcel$ the sli2htest >lashB >ro?a?l$ is a mis>rint
for Bs>lashB.
Pa2e +OK: Closin2 Fuotation mark added after Im$ few relati%es.I
Pa2e +0): BwarfareB was mis>rinted as Bwar4wareB when s>lit across two
lines, and has ?een chan2ed here.
Pa2e +(+: Bretro2adeB a>>ears to ?e a mis>rint for Bretro2radeB.
Pa2e +((: B2i%e it the readerB ma$ ?e missin2 a BtoB.
Pa2e )+): Brallied their com>anionB ma$ ?e a mis>rint for BrailedBE
closin2 Fuotation mark added after I?$ it in the ni2ht.I
888#;D !9 TH# P&!'#CT :5T#;B#&: #B!!K TH# L39# ";D T3<#S !9 C!L. D";3#L
B!!;#, H5;T#&, S!LD3#&, ";D P3!;##&888
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