USA > Kentucky > A history of the commonwealth of Kentucky > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
To retaliate the mischief's inflicted by the enemy, an expedi- tion against Pickaway, the principal town of the Shawanees, situated on a branch of the Great Miami, was determinad upon by General Clark.
The year 1780, is remarkable for the establishment of Fort Jefferson on the Mississippi, five miles below the junction of' the Ohio with the father of the western waters. Colonel Clark effected this measure. notwithstanding the strong dissatisfaction of the settlers of Kentucky, as a wanton division and dispersion of their little force, in conformity, however, with instructions from Governor Jefferson;t in order to fortify the claim of the United States to the wertern boundary of the Mississippi, south of the Ohio.t It is now well known, that neither the court of France, nor that of Spain was friendly to the extension of the American boundary to the Mississippi.
Every artifice of diplomacy was resorted to on both sides of the Atlantic, to prevent this aggrandizement of the United States. The French minister at Philadelphia. had not not only disgracefully prevailed on Congress to instruct its ministers in France, to "govern themselves by the advice and opin-
· Marshall 1, 109.
t Governor Jedervon's letters, June 28, 1778, and January and April, 1780.
Į Pitkin's United States, 2, 95
-
113
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
ion" of the French government; to increase the number of plenipotentiaries, in order to overrule the elder Adams; but finally obtained, and at the instance of Virginia too, an instruc- tion to Mr Jay, not to insist on the free navigation of the Mis -. sissippi, below latitude thirty-one degrees north. Spain, indeed, and not feebly supported by France, endeavored to limit these States east of the Alleghany mountains, and to divide the coun- try by the Ohio, between Spain and Great Britain. This ap- proach to converting Kentucky into a Spanish province, will merit a further notice in another part of this work; let it re- mind us of the services of that able patriot, John Jay, who so firmly resisted it, under clouds of embarrassment, at the courts of Madrid, and of Paris .* A most elaborate statement of the American claims, was drawn by a committee of Congress on the 17th of October, 1780. In this paper, reference is specially made, among other weighty considerations, to the fact, that the United States had t"obtained possession of all the important posts and settlements on the Illinois and the Wabash, rescued the inhabitants from British dominion, and established civil govern- ment in its proper form over them. They have, moreover, es- tablished a post on a strong and convnanding situation near the mouth of the Ohio." It was in the spring of this year, that this fort was established; and it has been scen that the representa- tion by Congress, which is attributed by Mr. Pitkin, to Mr. Madison, was drawn up in the ensuing October. The express instructions of Governor Jefferson on the 25th June, 1778, now conclusively place the politic measure of establishing this fort on the Mississippi, and below the Ohio, to the comprehensive mind of this statesman.
The increase of counties which has been already mentioned, necessarily gave rise to a proportionate expansion of our mili- tary and civil organization; for each county, according to the laws of Virginia, required a similar municiple system. For these purposes, Jolin Floyd was appointed first county Licuten- ant Colonel, and William Pope, the father of the present Wil- liam Pope, Sen. of Jefferson, Lieutenant Colonel; Benjamin Lo-
* Jay's Life, 1, 237.
t Pitkin's United States, 2, 512. K *
2 .
114
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
gan, Colonel, and Stephen Trigg, Lieutenant Colonel, of Lin- coln; John Todd, Colonel, and Daniel Boone, Lieutenant Colo- nel, of Fayette county. These regiments were formed into a brigade, which was placed under the command of General George Rogers Clark. A commission of "Brigadier General of the forces to be embodied on an expedition westward of the Ohio," is preserved among his papers. It is dated January 22d, 1781, and signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Each county had likewise a court of qualified civil and cri- minal jurisdiction; yet there was no court competent to try capital cases, nearer than Richmond, the seat of government for Virginia. The county courts. however, held quarterly ses- sions, at which they could try and punish misdemeanors, by fine and imprisonment; adjudicate matters at common law and chan- cery, of a civil nature over four dollars and one-sixth; or twenty- five shillings. The rest of the judicial business was transacted at the monthly sessions, or by the magistrates individually; these were conservators of the peace and superintended the local concerns of each county. Fortunately, owing to the simplicity of manners, and the equal and rude state of property, there were few temptations to violence, requiring the interposition of criminal law. The first surveyors in the new counties, were George Mav, in Jefferson. Colonel Thomas Marshall, in Fay- ette, and James Thompson, in Lincoln county. The services of the two latter were loudly, and for some time vainly called for.
The new system of defending the country by General Clark, may deserve a few words. Spies and scouting parties were scattered over the frontier, who reported to the General, posted at Fort Nelson, in Louisville: to these was added a row galley, constructed for plying up and down the river .* This was built at Louisville, the wreck of which is said to have produced the formation of the point of Beargrass creek, above the present city. This served as a floating fortification; but was confined in its scouting expeditions between the mouth of Beargrass and Licking river. Limited as this sphere of duty was, it is said
* Marshall, 1, 119.
115
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
to have had a good effect in preventing Indian expeditions across its line of operations; and to have once stopped a formi- dable invasion near its upper station. The aversion, however, of the militia to acting on this element, and the reduction of the regular force, compelled the General to lay aside the galley be- fore the end of the year. The plan itself so novel on the wes- tern waters, however, shews the military readiness of its author, who was never at a loss for expedients suited to his situation.
In September, 1781, a station settled by "Squire Boone, (a brother of the great hunter, and unequalled woodsman,) near where Shelbyville is now built, became alarmed at the appear- ance of Indians in its neighborhood; and determined to remove to the stronger settlements on Beargrass. While effecting this purpose, the party encumbered with women, children, and house- hold goods, was attacked by a large body of the enemy near Long Run, defeated and dispersed with considerable loss. Col. John Floyd learning this disaster. repaired with honorable promptitude, with twenty-five men, to relieve the white party, and chastise the Indians. He advanced with commendable caution, dividing his men into two parties; and yet, in spite of his prudence, he fell into an ambuscade of two hundred Indians. He was defeated with the loss of half of his men, and nine or ten of the Indians were killed. While Colonel Floyd was retreating on foot, nearly exhausted and closely pursued by the Indians, Captain Samuel Wells, who retained his horse, dismounted and gave it to Floyd, and ran by his side to support him. The mag- nanimity of the action is enhanced by the previous hostility between these officers, which was, however cancelled forever *- "they lived and died friends."
After this officer had effected the establishment of fort Jef- ferson, on the Mississippi, to be noticed hereafter, he proceeded with two men, Josiah Harland, and Harmar Conolly, on foot, 10 Harrodsburg. The perils of such a march, can scarcely be appreciated at this day. They had painted themselves like In- dians, and had advanced without interruption, as far as the Tennessee river. This they found foaming with high water,
. Colonel Floyd's letters.
116
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
and Indians were hunting on both sides of the river. Our chief and his companions, quickly fastened a raft together, with grape vines, to support their rifles and clothes, and dashed into the ri- ver, in its state of flood. They had got some distance, before- they were perceived by the Indians, owing to the high banks; when the enemy discovered them, they quickly exchanged whoops of intelligence. But our party availing themselves of a deep creek, which put in on the opposite side of the river, placed it between them and their pursuers, by landing below its mouth, while the Indians had to ascend the stream for a passage; the for- mer having landed, dashed on their destination. By this ma- nœuvre, they escaped. Yet to their own countrymen their disguise was so complete, that in approaching a fort on Red river, they were mistaken for Indians; and it was only the name of Clark loudly hallooed out, and the knowledge of his exploits, that removed the impression.
On this route, our party met with a large body of emigrants, forty in number, actually starving from inexperience of the hun- ters among them, in killing buffalo. The high hump of this animal on its shoulder, requires an allowance by a practiced eye, to hit the heart; this source of error was unknown to the new comers, and all their balls missed killing their ob- jects. Clark and his companions soon sot them right with the first herd of buffalo they met, atter their rencounter, by killing fourteen head before they stopped. It seems, that skill- ful hunters can arrange themselves so as to run parallel with a herd of buffalo, killing and loading as far as they can run. This conduct of our hunters struck the group of strangers with such astonishment, when they contrasted the success of the three new hunters, with the failure of their own men, them- selves expert woodsmen, with all other game; that they were ready to look upon Clark and his two coadjutors, as something more than mortals in disguise. A party thus strangely rescued from starvation, in the midst of wild game, might well be disor- dered in their judgments at first.
On arriving at Harrodsburg, Clark found a concourse of people from every direction, waiting to enter lands in the sur-
1
.
117
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
veyor's office. This was the engrossing subject of all men's thoughts; as eagerly and with as much avidity, amidst these hostile forests, as in any stock market of a commercial city. To propose a military expedition, demanded by the interests of the country, to men under such keen and potent excitement, would have been worse than useless. Should the more generous and gallant engage in it, they would leave the selfish and the grasp- ing speculator behind, to despoil them of the richest fruits of the country, which they were defending. In this predicament, Clark proposed to Mr. G. May, the surveyor of Kentucky county, to shut up his office, and then all would turn their at- tention to the defence of the country. This Mr. May declared he had no authority to do; but if General Clark would issue such an order, he would be the first man to obey it. The Gen- eral accordingly caused a written order to be placed on the door of the surveyor's office, notifying all persons. that the office was shut by an order from Brigadier General Clark, until after *an expedition could be carried on against the enemy. This measure, and the high military popularity possessed by General Clark, commanded any number of volunteers, in addition to his own State regiment, which was garrisoning Fort Nelson at the Falls of Ohio. The expedition commanded by Clark, con- sisted of two regiments, one under command of Colonel B. Logan, and the other under that of Colonel William Linn. The point of rendezvous for both, was the mouth of Licking river, where they assembled with artillery conveyed up the river from the Falls. The force when all assembled, amounted to nearly a thousand men.t
The secrecy and dispatch, which had ever attended the movements of this efficient commander, continued to mark his progress on this occasion; the Indian town was approached without any discovery, and as soon assailed, when a sharp conflict ensued, in which seventeen of the enemy were slain, with an equal loss upon our part. The rest fled, the town was
* When Colone! Clark arrived at the Falls, he received a letter from Governor Juffer- son, advising such an expedition, written 19th of April, but not received till 11th of July, following.
Captain Patton says mine hundred and ninety-eight.
118
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
then reduced to ashes, the gardens and fields laid waste; such are the melancholy means of carrying on war with barbarian tribes, who without the intervention of a large civil body of society, not partakers in the war, can only be made to feel its horrors, by bringing home to themselves the dreadful sufferings which they inflict.
From Pickaway, Colonel Benjamin Logan was detached against another Indian town, about twenty miles distant. This was, however, found deserted, and it was destroyed by our troops, as well as a store (British, it is presumed,) from which the Indians had been supplied with arms and ammunition. This latter object, indeed, formed the principal aim of the party. Owing to these offensive measures, Kentucky enjoyed some breathing time, while the Indians were engaged in rebuilding their habitations, and obtaining provisions by hunting, to supply the loss of their crops.
CHAPTER VIII.
Kentucky county divided into Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson-Erection of Fort Jeffer son on the Mississippi-Spanish and French intrigues at Paris against the wester, boundary of the United States-McKee and Girty-Attack on Bryant's Station-Battt of the Blue Licks-Expedition of General Clark to the Chilicoches in 1782-Eart. manners and state of the arts in Kentucky.
By the first of November of this year, the population of the State had advanced with such rapid strides, that the legisla- ture of Virginia sub-divided the county of Kentucky into three parts; assigning different names to each. They were called Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. The former embraced that part of the old county, which lay south of the river Kentucky, north of Green river, and west of Big Benson and Hammond's creek; the second beginning at the mouth of the Kentucky river, ex- tended up its middle fork to the head, and embraced the north- ern and eastern portion of the present State on that side of the Kentucky; the residue of the primitive county was called Lincoln.
.
119
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
The establishment, however, of fort Jefferson, formerly men- tioned, provoked an attack upon it by the Chickasaws and Choc- taws, on whose lands it was built, without their consent. A pur- chase had, however, been positively instructed to be made of the. Indians, by the Governor of Virginia; though the circumstances which prevented it are now unknown. In resentment it is sup- posed, of this threatening intrusion, Colbert, a Scotch gentleman who had ingratiated himself with these Indians, and the ancestor of the present chiefs of that name, appeared with all his warriors before fort Jefferson, in the summer of 1781. The attack, it is said by one, who was a boy in the fort at the time, lasted five days. The Indians principally encamped on the island opposite to the fort, now known as island No. 1, just above Mayfield's creek. The garrison not exceeding thirty men, under Captain George, (two-thirds of whom were sick with the ague and fever) were reduced to the lowest extremity. Pumpkins, with the blossom yet on them, afforded their principal food. On the sixth day Colbert and George met under a flag of truce, to agree upon terms of capitulation; but they were unable to effect it. As Colbert was retiring, he received a wound from *some of the Indians, who were with our men in the block- houses, and fell This treachery according to our own usages, enraged the Indians to the utmost pitch of exasperation: at night they collected all their forces, and made a furious assault upon the fort, endeavoring to take it by storm. When the In- dians had advanced in very close order, Captain George Owen, who commanded one of the block-houses, had the swivels load- ed with rifle and musket balls, and fired them in the crowd. The consequent carnage was excessive, and dispersed the ene- my. At the same time General Clark. who was stationed at Kaskaskia, and had been sent for, arrived with provisions and a reinforcement, which effectually raised the siege, to the great relief of the garrison.
This fort was some time afterwards abandoned, from the dif- ficulty of supplying such remote and detached posts. It is wor- thy of remark, that the State of Kentucky, goaded to madness
* Captain Patton'a papers.
120
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
as she has been by Indian outrages; submitted to the occupa- tion of the south-western section of her territory by the Chicka- saws, until their title was peaceably extinguished by the treaty of 1818, with that tribe. The fact offers an exemplary regard for aboriginal claims, which may well dictate a lesson of for- bearance with the tribes of the forest, to all the members of the confederacy.
The opening of 1782 was marked by several successful enter- prises on the part of the enemy, with more than usual fatality to the whites. They were the precursors to misfortunes of deeper dye, and more extensive calamity, than had yet befallen our har- rassed countrymen. Among other calamities of the times Laughery's defeat should not be omitted. This officer was coming down the Ohio river, to join the Kentuckians with one hundred and seven men; he was attacked below the Great Miami, at a creek which still retains the name of the unfortunate commander, and the whole party was killed or captured.
*"In the month of May, a party of about twenty-five Wyan- dots, invested Estill's station, on the south of the Kentucky river, killed one white man, took a negro prisoner, and after destroying the cattle, retreated. Soon after the Indians disap- peared, Captain Estill raised a company of twenty-five men- with these he pursued the Indians; and on Hinkston's fork of Licking, two miles below the Little Mountain, came within gunshot of them. They had just crossed the creek, which in that part is small; and were ascending one side, as Estill's party descended the other, of two approaching hills, of mode- rate elevation. The water course which lay between, had produced an opening in the timber and brush. conducing to mutual discovery; while both hills were well set with trees, interspersed with saplings and bushes. Instantly after discov- ering the Indians, some of Captain Estill's men, tired at them; at first they seemed alarmed-and made a movement like flight: but their chief, although wounded. gave them orders to stand, and fight-on which they promptly prepared for battle, by each man taking a tree, and facing his enemy, as nearly in
+ Marshall, 1, 126.
121
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
a line as practicable. In this position they returned the fire, and entered into the battle, which they considered as inevitable; with all the fortitude, and animation of individual, and concert- ed bravery ; so remarkable in this particular tribe.
"In the meantime. Captain Estill, with due attention to what was passing on the opposite side, checked the progress of his men at about sixty yards distance from the foe, and gave orders to extend their line in front of the Indians, to cover themselves by means of the trees-and to fire, as the object should be seen, with a sure aim. This order, perfectly adapted to the occa- sion, was executed with alacrity, as far as circumstances would admit, and the desultory inode of Indian fighting was thought to require. So that both sides were preparing, and ready, at the same time, for the bloody conflict which ensued: and which proved to be singularly obstinate.
"The numbers were equal; some have said, exactly twenty- five on each side-others have mentioned, that Captain Estill, upon seeing the Indians form for battle, dispatched one or two of his men, upon the back trail, to hasten forward a small rein- forcement, which he expected was following him; and if so, it gave the Indians, the superiority of numbers, without producing the desired assistance, for the reinforcement never arrived.
"Now were the hostile lines within rifle shot-and the action become warm and general to their extent. Never was battle more like single combat, since the use of fire-arms; each man sought his man-and fired only when he saw his mark- wounds and death were inflicted on either side-neither ad- vancing nor retreating. The firing was deliberate-with cau- tion they looked, but look they would for the foe; although life itself was often the forfeit. And thus both sides firmly stood- or bravely fell-for more than one hour: upwards of one-fourth of the combatants had fallen never more to rise, on either side, and several others were wounded. Never, probably, was the native bravery or collected fortitude of men, put to a test more severe. In the clangor of an ardent battle, when death is for- gotten, it is nothing for the brave to dic-when even cowards die like brave men-but in the cool and lingering expectation L
122
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
of death, none but the man of true courage can stand. Such were those engaged in this conflict. Never was manœuvering more necessary, or less practicable. Captain Estill had not a man to spare from his line, and deemed unsafe anv movement in front, with a view to force the enemy from their ground; be- cause in such a movement he must expose his men, and some of them would inevitably fall, before they could reach the ad- versary. This would increase the relative superiority of the enemy-while they would receive the survivors with the toma- hawk in hand; in the use of which they were practiced and expert. He clearly perceived that no advantage was to be ob- tained over the Indians, while the action was continued in their own mode of warfare. For although his men were probably the best shooters, the Indians were undoubtedly the most ex- pert hiders-that victory itself, could it have been purchased with the loss of his last man, would afford but a melancholy consolation for the loss of friends and comrades; but even of victory, without some manœuvre, he could not assure himself. His situation was critical; his fate seemed suspended upon the events of the minute; the most prompt expedient was demanded; he cast his eyes over the scene; the creek was before him, and seemed to oppose a charge on the enemy-retreat he could not. On the one hand, he observed a valley running from the creek, toward the rear of the enemy's line; and immediately combin- ing this circumstance with the urgency of his situation, ren- dered the more apparently hazardous, by an attempt of the In- dians to extend their line, and take his in flank; he determined to detach six of his men by this valley, to gain the flank or rear of the enemy; while himself, with the residue, maintained his position in front.
"The detachment was accordingly made under the command of Lieutenant Miller; to when the route was shown, and the order given, conformably to the above mentioned determina- tion: unfortunately, however, u was not executed. The Lieu- tenant, either mistaking his way, or intentionally betraying his duty, his honor, and his Captain, did not proceed with the re- quisite dispatch-and the Indians, attentive to occurrences,
123
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
finding out the weakened condition of their adversaries, rushed upon them and compelled a retreat, after Captain Estill and eight of his men were killed. Four others were badly wounded, who, notwithstanding, made their escape; so that only nine fell into the hands of the savages, who scalped and stripped them of course.
"It was believed by the survivors of that action, that one-half of the Indians were killed, and this idea was corroborated by reports from their towns.
"There is also a tradition that Miller, with his detachment, crossed the creek-fell in with the enemy-lost one or two of his men-and had a third or fourth wounded before he retreated.
"This action is said to have lasted two hours, and there seems to be nothing wanted in its circumstances but numbers, with the pomp and tactics of modern war, to make it memora- ble. Memorable it will be to those friends of the brave de- fenders of their country, whose heart received the pang given by the report of this event-memorable it will be to the few who survived it-whether by absconding with the Lieutenant, in a moment of dismay, they forfeited the praise which they had previously merited-or by standing with their Captain until his fall, they yielded to superior numbers, a victory which was due to their courage and fidelity-and which a superior force alone could have extorted from them. Memorable it will also be in the simple annals of Kentucky, for the equality of the opposing numbers-for the great fortitude with which it was maintained-for the unconnnon proportion of the slain- for the error of the Lieutenant-and for the death of the Cap- tain. In grateful remembrance of the personal bravery and good conduct of Captain Estill, a county of the Commonwealth perpetuates his name.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.