USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians; the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume I > Part 9
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It was afterwards learned that but one of the Indians in this party ever returned to his tribe, which indicates that the firing of the rescuers was more deadly than was supposed by Col. Floyd.
Less than a month after this capture and
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rescue, in fact on August 7th, Samuel Hen- derson and Miss Elizabeth Calloway were married, the ceremony being by Squire Boone, an ordained minister of the Baptist church, and thus in the midst of the forest, in constant danger of death or capture at the hands of the savages who surrounded them, occurred the first marriage in Kentucky. Some time afterwards the other young couples were also married, thus setting a good example to those who were to come after them, and at the same time observing the scriptural exhortation to "multiply and replenish the earth." And they did it. There was no race suicide in the days of our forefathers in Kentucky.
This diversion was for the purpose of stat- ing an interesting incident of the life of the pioneers. Kentucky contains today many good people in whose veins courses the blood of the brave young girls who were the sub- jects of the turning away from the course of the narrative of British intrusion into the af- fairs of the colonists.
Hamilton kept constantly informed as to the stations in Kentucky, selected Harrods- burg for the first attack by his Indian allies. Hamilton was playing a double game, permis- sible in warfare. He was not only retarding the settlement of Kentucky but was, by the active use of his Indian allies, preventing the sending eastward of forces to reinforce the Continental army which sadly needed them.
When his Indian forces, commanded by Chief Blackfish, arrived in the vicinity of Harrodsburg, they came upon one James Ray and his associates who were members of a surveying party, of whom none but Ray es- caped, it would seem almost by the interposi- tion of Divine Providence. Closely pursued by the savages, Ray, who was a noted athlete and superior even to the Indians, as a runner, made his way to the fort and gave the alarm. The proper steps for the protection of the station were at once taken, the fighting force being organized and provisions and water col-
lected. Of the companions of James Ray, who had been left behind when he made his successful run to the station, William Ray was killed, William Coomes escaped capture and afterwards joined his comrades at the fort, while Thomas Shores was captured by the In- dians, who kept him among them for years, but he finally returned to his friends.
The forces who had attacked the fort at Harrodsburg attempted by artifice to draw its occupants without its protection by setting fire to an outlying cabin. When the settlers came out to extinguish this fire the savages swarmed all about them. The whites at once began a retreat, each man for himself, and each protecting himself as far as possible with his trusty rifle without which none ever trust- ed himself outside the stockade. As the re- treating forces drew near, the gates were opened and all passed within to safety.
The savages, knowing the strength of the fort, were not inclined to make a direct at- tack and accordingly withdrew hoping to find some smaller stations less strongly protected. April 15th they appeared at Boonesborough to the number of one hundred, where they began an attack. There were but twenty-two guns in the fort, but they were held and aimed by gallant men and with no thought of surrender the brave fellows fought with such excellent effect that at the end of two days' fighting, the Indians drew off their forces, abandoning the siege and taking with them their dead and wounded.
They next appeared before Logan's Fort, upon which they made an unexpected attack while the women of the fort, guarded by the mnen, were engaged in milking the cows. One man was killed and two wounded in this sud- den attack before the men and women could gain the protection of the stockade. Once within the gates, it was found that one of the wounded men had been left behind and was at the mercy of the savages. This man was seen from the stockade to raise himself with much
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difficulty, from the ground and after stagger- ing a few steps forward, fall again. Not only was he in view of those in the fort, but of the savages as well. The latter held their fire in the expectancy of a party coming out to the relief of the wounded man, upon whom they expected to fire with probably fatal results. The garrison force had been reduced by casu-
and the gate was opened, the two men passing through, but Martin's courage cooled and be- fore the gate was closed he sprang back to safety within the stockade, leaving Logan alone to attempt the rescue. This brave man, undaunted, made his way to the wounded pio- neer, raised him upon his shoulders and. escaping a shower of bullets from the savages.
KENTUCKY'S FIRST FORT, BOONESBOROUG HI, ERECTED IN 1775 BY DANIEL BOONE.
alties to but twelve effective men and, though the sympathy of every one was with the wounded man, it seemed impossible to afford him assistance.
Finally the gallant Col. Benjamin Logan de- cided to make an effort to rescue his suffer- ing comrade, and called for volunteers to aid him. It seemed like going out to certain death and these brave pioneers hesitated to answer Logan's call. One of them, however, (John Martin), at length agreed to accompany him
carried him to safety within the walls of the fort, where he was received with the enthusi- astic cheers of the little garrison. Colonel Logan was a tower of strength to the strug- gling pioneers, and to him is due the highest praise not only for his many courageous acts but for his wisdom in council. The name of Logan is a part of the history of the common- wealth, and those of the name who came after him have worthily upheld the manly traditions of the family.
CHAPTER X.
KENTUCKY ALMOST DESERTED-RAISE SIEGE OF LOGAN'S FORT-CLARK GETS RELIABLE IN- FORMATION-MILITARY AID FROM VIRGINIA-CLARK'S TWO SETS OF INSTRUCTIONS- LAND GRANTS TO VOLUNTEERS-CLARK'S EXPEDITION REACHES LOUISVILLE.
Though failing to reduce any of the sta- tions or to inflict more than temporary dam- age, these Indian attacks had in part accom- plished Colonel Hamilton's purpose, in that they had checked western settlement. In this, however, he had unconsciously worked to the interests of the struggling Colonies, who were battling with England's power on the eastern frontier. The young men of Virginia and North Carolina who, but for this renewal of Indian warfare in Kentucky, might have come out to the new land in search of homes, found an outlet for their youthful enthusiasm in another direction and enlisted in the Conti- mental army, thus becoming important factors in the working out of the destiny which was finally to add a new government and a new world power to history.
But Hamilton had partially succeeded in his efforts to restore Kentucky to the Indians and to the wilderness. By January, 1778, Ken- tucky was practically deserted, save for the three stations of Boonesborough, Logan's Fort and Harrodsburg, whose armament did not exceed one hundred guns, save when oc- casional visits were made by Virginia militia, while the entire population-men, women and children-did not number more than two hun- dred persons. But what splendid souls these were: braving every danger, suffering every hardship, uncomplainingly they wrought at the task they had assigned to themselves, that of laying strongly the foundations of a new
commonwealth; and they never stopped until their high purpose had been accomplished.
Logan's Fort experienced all the horrors of Indian investment which followed, the crafty savages using every device known to their sys- tem of warfare to lure the whites without their gates. Especially did they pretend to re- treat, hoping that the whites would follow into their ambuscades, but in this they were un- successful. Failing in this expedient, they next sought to cut off the supplies of food and water by preventing any of the occupants of the fort from passing out or in. They held the fort in close siege for weeks, but finally in August Colonel Bowman's advance guard came into Kentucky county and began its march to the relief of the beleaguered fort. The Indians, learning of the coming of rein- forcements, raised the siege of Logan's Fort and prepared for a retreat, but in doing this, no doubt under the advice of some British of- ficer with them, they ambuscaded the advance guard of Bowman's forces, firing upon and killing several of them. Upon one of these they placed copies of a proclamation signed by Col. Henry Hamilton, offering protection to all Americans who would subscribe to the oath of allegiance to King George III, and threatening vengeance against all who refused to subscribe to such oath. Many years later, in the War between the States. the descend- ants of these gallant pioneers had offered to them like advantages or punishment, as the
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case might be, which offer many of them bravely declined, preferring to endure impris- onment rather than forswear themselves.
The offer of immunity from Hamilton was found by one of the fellow-soldiers of the dead man who, properly, took it to Col. Lo- gan who concealed it, fearing that his men, worn out by long service, anxiety and priva- tion, might be tempted by the promise of im- munity.
George Rogers Clark, then the only real military genius of the western frontier, searching for the best means of securing the stations in Kentucky from attack, decided that the forts of the British in the northwest should be attacked and reduced. But he must have definite information as to the location and garrison of these several stations before making an effort to capture them. To this end he sent two spies into the Northwestern territory with instructions to thoroughly in- vestigate conditions there and, as soon as pos- sible, make a report to him. On the return of these men, Clark learned the truth of what he had all the time suspected: That the Brit- ish at Detroit were responsible for the Indian attacks. He also conceived the idea, based upon the reports of his scouts, that he could capture these posts without the use of large bodies of troops. He learned that the numer- ous French inhabitants of the territory in question were disposed to be friendly toward the Americans, though the British had used every effort to prejudice them against the Vir- ginia and Kentucky people, whom they repre- sented as more barbarous than the Indians. Clark was encouraged by this information and believed that he could ally the French with the American cause, if they could be removed from the influence of the British emissaries.
With this belief in mind, which he kept en- tirely to himself, Clark, on October Ist, set out for Williamsburg, Virginia, where he ar- rived some two months later, and at once met Governor Patrick Henry. When Clark last
met Henry, his modest request was for five hundred pounds of powder, which, as has been seen, lie secured and safely conveyed to the beleaguered colonists in Kentucky. He now came with a more ambitious scheme: A de- scent upon the posts of the enemy north of the Ohio river and the capture or destruction of his forces. To this end, he asked for both men and money to fit out an expedition for the performance of what no one else had dreamed of and which seemed almost impossible.
Clark says, in his memoirs, that Governor Henry was. at first, fond of the scheme, but feared the result of sending a force to so great a distance into the enemy's country. Nothing but secrecy, he claimed, could make it a success, and to lay Clark's proposal before the assembly would be to make it public and ere long the Indians would know of it and would prepare themselves to resist the pro- posed movement in which, of course, they would have the assistance of their British al- lies. But Governor Henry knew Clark and had confidence in his military judgment and sagacity. Therefore he did not decline his proposition, though for the reasons stated, he did not submit it to the assembly. He did better by calling together Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe and George Mason, to whom he requested Clark to submit his views. These stalwart patriots and statesmen consid- ered Clark's plans for several weeks, finally approving them and on January 2, 1778, com- municating them with a favorable decision, to the council, urging the taking of all necessary steps at once and with the utmost secrecy, for their execution.
On the same day Colonel Clark received two sets of instructions, the first being a blind to the enemy, while the second was for his private use and contained his real instructions. For copies of these two sets of instructions thanks are due to McElroy's "Kentucky in the Nation's History." The first paper intended as a blind is as follows :
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"LIEUT. COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK :-- You are to proceed without loss of time to enlist seven com- panies of men, officered in the usual manner, to act as militia under your orders. They are to proceed to Kentucky, and there to cbey such orders and directions as you shall give them, for three months after their arrival at that place ; but to receive pay. etc., in case they remain on duty a longer time.
"You are empowered to raise these men in any county in the commonwealth, and the county lieu- tenants, respectively, are requested to give you all possible assistance in that business.
"Given under my hand at Williamsburg, Jan. 2, 1778. "( Signed ) P. HENRY."
The private instructions, which really meant business, were as follows :
"IN COUNCIL, WILLIAMSBURG, Jan. 2, 1778.
"Col. George Rogers Clark :- Sir :- You are to proceed with all convenient speed to raise seven companies of soldiers to consist of fifty men each, officered in the usual manner and armed most prop- erly for the enterprise, and with this force, attack the British force at Kaskasky.
"It is conjectured that there are many pieces of cannon and military stores to a considerable amount at that place, the taking and preservation of which would be a valuable acquisition to the state. If you are so fortunate, therefore, as to succeed in your expedition, you will take every possible measure to secure the artillery and stores and whatever may advantage the state.
"For the transportation of the troops, provisions, etc., down the Ohio, you are to apply to the com- manding officer at Fort Pitt for boats, etc. During the whole transaction you are to take especial care to keep the true destination of your force secret. Its success depends upon this.
"It is earnestly desired that you show humanity to such British subjects and other persons as fall in your hands. If the white inhabitants of that post and the neighborhood will give undoubted evidence of their attachment to this state, for it is certain they live within its limits, by taking the test prescribed by law and by every way and means within their power, let them be treated as fellow citizens and their per- sons and property duly secured. Assistance and pro- tection against all enemies whatever, shall be afforded them and the commonwealth of Virginia is pledged to accomplish it. But, if the people will not accede to these reasonable demands, they must feel the miseries of war under the direction of that humanity
that has heretofore distinguished Americans, and which it is expected yon will ever consider as the rule of your conduct and from which you are in no instance to depart.
"The corps you are to command are to receive the pay and allowance of militia, and to act under the laws and regulations of this state, now in force, as militia. The inhabitants of the post will be in- formed by you, that in case they accede to the offer of becoming citizens of this commonwealth, a proper garrison will be maintained among them and every attention bestowed to render their commerce ben- eficial, the fairest prospects being opened to the dominions both of France and Spain.
"It is in contemplation to establish a post near the mouth of the Ohio. Cannon will be wanted to fortify it. Part of those at Kaskasky will be easily brought thither or otherwise secured as circumstances will make necessary.
"Wishing you success, I am "Sir, "Your humble servant, "P. HENRY."
It will be noted that without naming the alleged colony of Transylvania, Governor Henry in the secret instructions to Clark, asserted authority not only over Kentucky, where the Landed Proprietors had claimed sovereignty, but also over Kaskasky and all the territory thereabout, when in speaking of the inhabitants of that post, and their possible adherence to Virginia, he used the forcible term: "for it is certain they live within its limits." Furthermore, he asserted his inde- pendence and that of Virginia, when referring to it not as a colony but as a "state." The belief in the ultimate success of Clark is cleverly set forth in the concluding paragraph of the secret instructions, wherein the artillery at that time in the possession of the British at Kaskasky is disposed of as a part of the de- fense at the proposed post at the mouth of the Ohio.
On the day following the receipt of his in- structions, Colonel Clark received from Messrs. Jefferson, Mason and Wythe author- ity to use certain inducements as a means of rapidly recruiting the desired forces. Their letter follows :
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"WILLIAMSBURG, Jan. 3. 1778.
"Sir :-- As some Indian tribes to the westward of the Mississippi have lately, without provocation, massacred many of the inhabitants of the frontiers of this commonwealth in the most cruel and bar- barous manner, and it is intended to revenge the injury and punish the aggressors by carrying the war into their own country, we congratulate you upon your appointment to conduct so important an enterprise in which we most heartily wish you suc- eess, and we have no doubt but some future reward in lands in the country will be given to volunteers
There seems even at this early day in the history of our country to have been a confu- sion in the public mind in relation to military titles. In the first set of instructions to Clark, the governor addresses him as "Lieut. Colonel Clark;" in the second and real set, he ad- dresses "Col. Clark," while Wythe, Mason and Jefferson address their congratulatory letter to "George Rogers Clark, Esq." However, it mattered little to Clark one may safely believe.
F RST LOG CABIN IN LOUISVILLE KY
who shall engage in this service, in addition to the usual pay, if they are so fortunate as to succeed. We think it just and reasonable that each volunteer enter- ing as a common soldier in this expedition, should be allowed three hundred aeres of land and the offi- cers in the usual proportion, out of the lands which may be conquered in the country not in the possession of the said Indians, so as not to interfere with the claims of any friendly Indians or any people willing to become subjects of this commonwealth, and for this. we think you may safely confide in the justice and generosity of the Virginia . assembly.
"We are, Sir,
"Your most humble servants, "G. WYTHE, "G. MASON. "TH. JEFFERSON.
"To GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, Esq.
lle, unlike some of the "Colonels" of the pres- ent day, fairly won his rank in actual combat with the enemy, and would have scorned to wear the title of "Major General" in the days of peace, when there was a doubt that he had ever heard a hostile gun amid the perils of warfare. Clark "made good" in war, how- ever he may afterward have been neglected when peace had come to the country he had so gallantly served.
With the official authority of Governor Henry herein quoted and the moral effect of the pledges of Jefferson, Wythe and Mason, three of Virginia's most noted civilian citizens to encourage him, Colonel Clark set to work
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to eniist the force needed for nis enterprise, a difficult task, as secrecy was demanded not alone in securing recruits but in arranging for carrying out the details of his expedition. Finally he secured three companies of fifty men each, one hundred and fifty in all, though it will be recalled that he had authority to en- list seven companies, or three hundred and fif- ty men. Early in May, 1778, he was at the mouth of the Kanawha river ready for the perilous journey down the Ohio. Here he enlisted other volunteers and was joined by a number of immigrants to Kentucky who en- joyed protection by accompanying the military expedition. Without incident of note, the flo- tilla made its way down the Ohio, landing some of the immigrants at different points. May 27. 1778, Clark, his command, and about eighty of the immigrants, arrived at the Falls of the Ohio.
On the high authority of Col. R. T. Durrett the statement is made that from the date of this landing, the Falls of the Ohio, or in other words, the city of Louisville, has never been without occupation by white people. It is a matter of the greatest interest that this date should be remembered. While there had been people at the Falls prior to the arrival of Col- onel Clark and his men, they cannot be recog- nized as permanent residents. Those who came with him remained and that Colonel Durrett refers to them as, in the main, perma- nent residents, fixes their status. It may as well be stated here, as elsewhere, that any historical statement as to the early settlement of Kentucky that is made by Colonel Durrett, is accepted as correct by the author of this work.
CHAPTER XI.
EXPEDITION'S OBJECTS MADE KNOWN - LEAVES THE FALLS FOR KASKASKIA -- BLOODLESS CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA - SURPRISING MESSAGE TO THE FRENCH - CAHOKIA AND VIN- CENNES ALSO AMERICANIZED-HAMILTON, THE "HAIR BUYER"-CLARK'S INVADING ARMY, 170 STRONG-BAND OF NATION-BUILDERS-ADVANCE MESSAGE TO VINCENNES-GRAND RE- SULTS OF CLARK'S EXPEDITION-RETURNS TO FALLS OF THE OHIO.
When Clark arrived at the Falls, the offi- cers and men under his command knew noth- ing of the objects of the expedition. They did not know where they were going, nor why they were going. He built at Corn Island on the Falls of the Ohio, a stockade to protect his stores, and as a protection to those upon the mainland. The news of the establishment of this post attracted other adventurous spirits and he soon had volunteers from points as far away as the Monongahela river in Pennsyl- vania.
Colonel Clark had expected to add to his force volunteers from the stations at Boones- borough, Harrodsburg and Logan's Fort, but, as will be seen later, the men at these posts had sufficient to occupy them and could not render that assistance to Colonel Clark which otherwise they would doubtless have been glad to do.
Boonesborough, at this moment, had reason to expect an attack, and could therefore not weaken its forces to assist Clark. The latter had been drilling his raw militia from the time of his arrival at the Falls until June 26th, when he was reinforced by the arrival of a body of men under command of Colonel Bow- man and others, the number of which is not known.
It was at this time that Colonel Clark made Vol. 1-4.
known to his command his intention to lead them against the British stations north of the Ohio. June 27th he set out upon the peril- otis task he had set out to perform, with four companies of men under command of Captains Leonard Helm, Joseph Montgomery, William Harrod and Joseph Bowman, the force consisting of but one hundred and thir- ty-five men, who had started out to win for the country which they served, half a conti- nent. History relates the successes of Col-
onel Clark, but little is told of these adventur- ous captains, who, with their men, aided him in adding the Northwest territory to the map of the Union, and driving back to the Great Lakes the Indians and their English allies. Clark, the intrepid pioneer soldier, said later of his command: "I knew that my case was desperate, but the more I reflected on my weakness, the more I was pleased with the interprise."
There is a difference of opinion as to the date of Clark's departure from the Falls. One authority states that his flotilla departed at sunrise on June 24th, "at the very moment of the sun being in a great eclipse;" another states that he departed June 27th. The impor- tant fact is that, no matter when he started, he succeeded in his undertaking and justified the confidence imposed in him by Governor
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Henry and the three Virginia statesmen who had encouraged him in his great enterprise.
Proceeding down the Ohio, Colonel Clark when near the mouth of the Tennessee river, was joined by a party of six hunters under command of one John Duff, who had left Kaskaskia eight days before and who offered their services as guides. Duff and his men told Colonel Clark that the fort was under the command of M. Rocheblanc, who kept his men in military order and that all spies and In- dians were directed to keep a close watch upon all parties from Virginia, the latter being classed as rebels and included in all parties from Kentucky. John Sanders, the principal guide of John Duff's party, offered himself as guide to Colonel Clark, but refused the assist- ance of others of Duff's party, stating, how- ever, that the capture of the post of Kaskaskia would be easy, as the garrison was sustained more for show on dress parade than for actual defense. Concealing his boats, Colonel Clark then set out upon one of the most desperate enterprises which had characterized the war- fare on the border. The historian Bancroft says of this enterprise that "for the valor of the actors, their fidelity to one another, the seeming feebleness of their means and the great results of their hardihood, remains for- ever memorable in the history of the world."
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