USA > Kentucky > Livingston County > Chronicles of a Kentucky settlement > Part 2
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slaves were attached to "Missus Jane, an' de chiluns of de fam'ly,"-an almost universal characteristic of their race.
With the three negroes, the lad Joseph Adair had become a great favorite, for he was kind and consider- . ate both to " Uncle Stephen " and " Aunt Matilda "- for so he called them,-while Ben was his companion and friend.
A few hours after the " movers "-for so emigrants were invariably called-had left their old home, they reached the top of a high hill from which they could look back and obtain a view of Hillsboro and the sur- rounding country. A halt was made, and many a long, lingering look was cast back. After a few min- utes of silence, there was a sign from the master, then the crack of a wagon whip was heard, the spell was broken, and the journey resumed.
For several weeks the journey continued without any incident worthy of note. The weather was favorable, and fair progress was made. The Blue Ridge Mount- ains had been passed. Their road had led them near the base of Mitchell's Peak, the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River. The grandeur of the mount- ain scenery filled the mind of the boy Joseph with wonder and amazement. He often wandered from the road to clamber some height, and on one occasion went above the cloud line, and stood in the sunlight while rain was falling below him. The incident made a very vivid impression on his mind.
A few days later the "movers" reached the waters of the French Broad River, then, as yet, one of the most picturesque streams in America. As it was then Octo- ber, most of the leaves of the forest trees had turned
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from emerald-green to purple, or red, or gold, or brown, interspersed with evergreen holly and verdant pine. The rounded hills looked like huge bouquets of flowers, and were enough to have awakened something like a poetic sentiment in the most callous hearts. The lad, Joseph Adair, oft lingered and surveyed the scenes around him, and acquired, during the journey across the mountains, a love for nature which he preserved to the close of his life.
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CHAPTER II.
Joseph Adair and the Indian-The Howard Family-An Attack by Indians Feared-Preparations for Defence-The Signal Gun Fired.
A FEW days later, our " movers," still following the road along the banks of the French Broad River, passed through a defile in the Alleghany Mount- ains, and for the first time trod the soil of the new State of Tennessee.
Before crossing the State line, Joseph Adair, boy though he was, paused and cast a melancholy look towards the home of his childhood and the graves of his loved ones. Then, bidding good-by to the " good old North State," he turned and ran forward. Scarcely had he crossed the State line and overtaken the wagons, when he caught sight of a deer descending a hill to the left of the road, and, judging that it would cross the road a short distance in advance of the foremost wagon, he quickly called Mr. Morris's attention to the chance for a shot. After grasping his rifle, Mr. Morris had but a moment to wait before a ten-antlered stag bounded into the road some seventy yards ahead. In the twinkling of an eye, there was a loud, clear report from the trusty rifle, and the deer, after making a mighty bound, fell dead. This furnished the family
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with a welcome addition to their supply of fresh meat, which at the moment was running rather low. More- over, Stephen and Matilda-who, like most of their race, believed in signs and omens-considered the kill- ing of the deer as an augury of success in the new- State they had just entered.
That same day a much more exciting incident occurred. Late in the afternoon, Joseph, who had fallen some distance behind the teams -- (he had been loitering along " plumping " marbles, a dozen or more of which he had brought with him from Hillsboro), --- was much alarmed on seeing in the road, immediately in front of him, a large, fierce-looking Indian, gun in hand, and otherwise equipped with tomahawk, knife, etc., after the manner of his race. Joseph's first im- pulse-so he afterwards related-was to turn and run for his life; but this he knew, after a moment's consid- eration, would be unavailing, and would, moreover, be not only equivalent to a confession of cowardice, but, possibly, increase his danger. His next thought was to shout aloud for assistance, but then it struck him that he could not probably make himself heard, and, even if he could, the doubt thus expressed, as to the Indian's peaceable intentions, might anger him, in which event, his deadly work-if such he purposed- could be accomplished before Mr. Morris or any one else could come to his assistance. . All of these thoughts ran quickly through the boy's mind : the Indian, mean- while, standing like a statue in the road. It then occurred to Joseph that the Indian was closely observ- ing the marbles, and, thereupon, he determined to resort to a little friendly diplomacy : and, picking up the marbles, and holding them out in the palm of his
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hand, he approached the dusky stranger, and with as calm a voice as he could command-but, it must be confessed, with no little inward trepidation-said, " Marbles ! Do you want one ? May have both ; I have more."
The Indian took the marbles and scrutinized one of them-Joseph's favorite white alley-so closely that the boy supposed the savage had never before seen such a toy, and was trying to determine its use ; whereupon he drew two other marbles from his pocket, and casting one some six or eight feet from him, he then properly adjusted the other between his thumb and fingers, and, showing the position to the Indian, took deliberate aim and hit the marble he shot at so plump that it was knocked several yards, while the one shot spun around in almost the same spot from which the other had been knocked. It was a good shot. The Indian, observing the shot, uttered something like a grunt of approval and, placing the marbles given him in his pouch, with- out a word or gesture, stepped from the road and soon disappeared in the forest, which at that point was unusually dense with undergrowth.
A little later the negro boy, Ben, who had stopped his team near a smail stream at the base of a long hill, for the purpose of watering his horses, saw Joseph com- ing down the hill at such a break-neck speed that he cried out, loud enough to be heard by every one of the company :
" My golly ! lookee yonder ! Dar mus' be a bar' or a pant'er arter Mister Josef, way he's runnin'."
" Heigh ho ! what's the matter ?" asked Mr. Mor- ris, coming forward as the panting boy came to a halt. It was some moments before Joseph had sufficient
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breath and composure to relate what had occurred ; and when he had done so, there were several grave faces around him, for this was the first Indian seen upon the journey.
Mr. Morris was the first to speak, and, addressing - Joseph, said : " As soon as you are rested, go ahead until you overtake Mr. Howard, and say to him that I wish him to halt his teams until I come up. And, that he may understand, and be on his guard, you must tell him of your having seen the Indian, that I think it probable there are others in this vicinity, and that I wish to talk with him about it."
Away sped the boy on receiving his message, and as Mr. Howard, with his wagons, was only some half a mile in advance, he soon overtook him, and delivered the message. Mr. Howard at once halted his wagons.
Several days before, Mr. Morris had overtaken Mr. Howard on the road ; and learning that he was from South Carolina, and with his family-which consisted of his wife, six children, and four slaves-was on his way to Knoxville-at that time the capital of the State of Tennessee, -the two men had concluded to journey together for greater security ; for nearly every part of East and Middle Tennessee was, at that early day, occasionally invaded by predatory bands of Creek and Cherokee Indians.
Mr. Howard was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, was somewhat noted as a mathematician, and had gained considerable reputation in his native State as a surveyor. He questioned Joseph particularly about the Indian he had seen, and, after listening with interest to the boy's prompt and intelligent replies, complimented him on his coolness in danger. Then
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turning to one of his daughters-a very pretty, black- haired, blue-eyed girl of about Joseph's age, who had been standing by listening attentively to what had been said :
"Come, Harriet," he said, "you were having a - snack a few minutes ago ; have you nothing left that you can offer our young friend here ? "
The daughter bounded away, like a young fawn, to one of the wagons and soon returned with a sweet potato and some cold slices of broiled venison, portions of the deer which Mr. Morris had that morning killed ; a hind-quarter of which had been sent to Mr. Howard.
Approaching Joseph and handing him the food, "I'm sorry," the girl said rather timidly, "I have no bread to offer you, and that the sweet potato is cold."
"Thank you," Joseph replied. " this is very good. I'm fond of a juicy sweet potato like this ; and, although it is cold, I'm not likely "-he added with a smile-" to choke myself." And, without more ado, he began eating, for, after the excitement and violent exercise of the day, he was indeed hungry.
By this time Mr. Morris had come up with his wagons, and he and Mr. Howard at once walked aside to talk over their situation. Mr. Howard, who had had much experience on the frontier, and more know- ledge of Indian customs and character, was the first speaker.
"I am satisfied," he said, " that the Indian Joseph saw was not so far from the villages of his nation and alone. I have, however, heard of no recent Indian depredations, and am inclined to think the one seen is merely one of a party on a hunting expedition, the
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season being now favorable for preserving any game killed. We should, however, be on our guard. for, whilst there may be no danger to life, so highly do the Indians prize horses, that they may attempt to stam- pede and steal ours."
"You are perhaps right," said Mr. Morris, "and the question is, what should we do ?"
" Let us try and find some open spot on a hill-top for our camp," answered Mr. Howard. "We can then arrange our wagons in such a position as to form an inclosure for our animals. We should then surround the inclosure with pine branches, so as to prevent any one, not close up to the inclosure, from seeing within, and obtaining a mark for a rifle."
" All right !" was the prompt response of Mr. Mor- ris ; who, after a short pause, added : " And we had better stand guard to-night. Don't you think so ?"
"Yes," answered Mr. Howard, " for an Indian is a treacherous and cunning foe. Should it come to fight- ing, I am no marksman ; I am very fond of trapping and fishing, but never hunted, and don't think I ever fired a gun a half-dozen times. If any shooting is necessary, I trust to my negro man Peter, who has an old musket, and has occasionally supplied us with game on our journey. I have had, too, so many proofs of Peter's fidelity and courage, that I am sure, should any Indians annoy us to-night, he will render us good service. He is, however, like most of his race, too sleepy-headed to stand guard."
"Stephen, my man, will fight too, if cornered," said Mr. Morris, emphazing the last word.
Little more was said, and an hour later a very advan- tageous spot was found for a camp. The wagons were 2
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arranged as before indicated, and the animals secured as well as possible in the inclosure, in the centre of which a large fire was soon blazing ; and Matilda and Fanny, the negro cooks of the two families, were soon busily employed in preparing supper. In the mean- while, Stephen and his son Ben, and Peter and his son Nelson-a boy of fourteen years,-were employed in cutting and interlacing, around and between the wagons, young bushy-topped pines, which soon formed a satisfactory screen. Mr. Howard and Mr. Morris, after giving instructions how the work should be done, made a careful inspection of the surroundings-in- specting every tree behind which an Indian might skulk. By the time supper was ready the two men had returned, and having inspected the screen, they expressed themselves as well satisfied with their camp and the precautions taken. Harriet Howard and Nora -- a fair-haired, blue-eyed sister some two years younger -had gone with Joseph Adair to a spring near at hand, and they took up so much time chatting, and talking of the old homes and friends left behind them, that supper was ready before they returned with their pails of water. Everything was now in readiness for a much better meal than usual ; for, this being the first occasion of the two families eating together, each of the ladies had selected from her stores some deli- cacy, -- one tea, and dried peaches for stewing ; the other, enough flour to make biscuits for the entire party, and some butter bought at a farm-house on the road. The meal was a hearty one, but, as it pro- gressed, there was very little conversation, and that little carried on in an undertone ; for, while no serious alarm was expressed, nor indeed apprehended, yet
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every one seemed to regard the position as too grave to admit of mirth or levity.
By the time the meal was over the twinkling stars were shining with unusual brilliancy through the clear, dry atmosphere. All around was profound quietude, excepting the roar, soft and subdued, of the French Broad River, not far distant, the rapid current of which was here obstructed by hundreds of huge boulders which had rolled down from the mountain's side.
Preparations were soon made to obtain such rest for the women and children as circumstances would admit of, aroused, as every one was, by the possible danger of their situation. Mr. Howard specially cautioned the entire party to keep as much as possible from the light of the fire, so as not to be seen by any stealthy Indian who might approach in the darkness, and to preserve the utmost silence, since the sound of a voice would indicate the speaker's position in the camp.
It was thought that should the Indians approach to make a survey, or an assault on the camp, they would most likely do so from the south, for on that side the forest was most dense and would afford them a better chance to approach unseen. Mr. Howard insisted on standing sentinel on that side, and said he would take with him his dog Rover, a large brownish- yellow cur ; a grave, sedate dog with the courage of a mastiff, and the scent of a bloodhound. This dog had been Mr. Howard's almost constant companion for sev- eral years, and so well was he trained that he could be kept quiet, and by his master's side by a look or the wave of his hand. Mr. Howard trusted much more to his dog's instinct to warn him of the approach of any stranger, than he did to his own quick ears and keen
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gray eyes. So little confidence had he in his skill as a marksman, and in the efficiency of Peter's old musket, that he proposed to go to his post without that weapon, but he was prevailed upon by his wife to take it. The . dog gave his master such an inquisitive look, as he started off with the gun on his shoulder, that Mr. Howard turned to his wife and said, "See, Sarah, even old Rover is surprised at my strange armament " ; to which she only replied by a smile.
Mr. Morris, armed with his long and heavy rifle, after addressing a few words of caution to his wife, quickly moved off in an opposite direction to that taken by Mr. Howard. The two men had, before starting out, agreed upon a signal to be given-the firing of a gun-in the event of discovering any lurking savage, when both were to return immediately to the camp.
As soon as Mr. Howard and Mr. Morris had left, the entire party retired to rest excepting Joseph and the two negro men. The latter lit their cob pipes, and, seated upon a mat of pine straw, exchanged a few words in whispers. Joseph had also collected a mat of pine straws, and with a saddle for a pillow, and a blan- ket wrapped around him, had lain down, but so strained were his ears to catch every sound that he could not sleep.
The wolves, then very numerous in that section, soon surrounded the camp-attracted, it was thought, by the scent of the food which had been cooked, and for some hours they kept up their dismal barking, but this had been of such common occurrence lately that it excited uo alarm or surprise.
About midnight, a sudden cessation in the barking of the wolves, on the hills south of the camp, attracted
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the attention of Peter, who had passed so many days in the forest with his master, when surveying, that he was quite an expert woodman and skilful hunter, attentive to every passing sound from beast or bird. Turning to Joseph, who was near him, in an undertone he said : " If de barkin' of dem wolves has kep' you 'wake, yous ken now go ter sleep."
"No," replied Joseph, "they have not kept me awake ; and I don't feel sleepy."
" Hear dat ? " said Peter, again addressing the boy, " hear dat owl? Dat's a big horn-owl. He's got a full belly, or he w'u'd n't make dat hoot. But, by- hoky, dar's 'nuther on tuther side hootin' back ! Ise bin in de woods many nights, but I neber he-ars dem big-eyed owls hoot dat way dat it don't gib me de col' shivers ! Dar's allers sumfin in dar hoot what sounds like de wail of de departed spiruts of dead folks."
" Why ! uncle Peter, you don't believe-"
But before Joseph could complete his question, the loud report of a gun reverberated through the wood.
"Dat 's my ole gun !" exclaimed Peter, forgetful of the injunction of silence. "I knows dat report, but, by-hoky. I '11 bet Massa haint killed no Injun, nor nuffin else."
A few moments later both Mr. Howard and Mr. Morris entered the camp, and were soon joined by their wives and servants, for all had been aroused by the report of the gun, excepting some of the younger children who, dreaming of no danger, slept more soundly than the rest.
Mr. Howard soon explained that his attention had been attracted by the unusual proceedings of his dog, which, several times, while lying by him, erected his
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bristles angrily, but without making any other sign. " A few minutes later," Mr. Howard continued, "I heard the hooting of an owl-at least, what sounded like it, and knowing that Indians often exchange sig- nals by mimicking the cries of night-birds, my suspi- cions were aroused, when, suddenly, old Rover not only bristled up but uttered a very ferocious growl ; and, looking in the direction indicated by the dog, I caught a glimpse in the darkness of some moving object distant some forty or fifty yards, at which I fired ; but I am quite sure I did not hit it, for my ears told me that it retreated rapidly over the hill. I am satisfied," he added, "that the object I saw was a man, and doubtless an Indian ; for, had it been some beast of the forest, old Rover would not have growled so fiercely, and would, after I had fired, shown some disposition to bound forward to the attack, instead of which he remained close to my side."
" Yes, Mahs Kit, dat wus a Injun you seed," said Peter, who, in an emergency like this, felt that he was warranted in expressing his opinion. " Kase it mus- a-bin a human bein' a comin' down dat hill what made dem wolves over dar stop barkin', jist 'fore you fired. An' de hootin' of dat big horn-owl ! I was a listnin' ter it, an' now I cui ter tho't 'bout it, de hoot wa'n't jist a-cordin' ter natur', tho' 't was mi'ty nigh it, 'cept de las' part o' de hioot, was cut ini'ty short."
As there no longer remained any doubt that hostile Indians were close at hand, Mr. Morris, who was ever a prompt man, and given to few words, turned to Mr. Howard and asked him if he had reloaded his gun.
" No," was the answer. " And here, Peter, you take it," Mr. Howard continued, " for you can handle
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it better than I can. Load it quickly, and if we have to fight, by George ! give it to the imps. And you, Sarah," he said, addressing his wife, "bring me my Jacob-staff, for, pointed and iron-shod as it is, it is just the weapon for me ! And Fanny," he added, - turning to his negro cook, "bring me the large butcher-knife."
"And you, Stephen ! you and Ben get your axes," said Mr. Morris. "And look alive !" he exclaimed, seeing their movements were not so quick as he desired,
" Well, Joseph, what are you going to do if we have the Indians upon us ? " asked Mrs. Howard, who had returned with the Jacob-staff, and was apparently as cool and collected as any one of the party, though her heart must have been weighed down by anxiety : for she was not only a loving wife but a most devoted mother, and four of her children were standing by her side, and two others -- the youngest -- were asleep near her.
Joseph, who seemed to think that he should, like good Mrs. Howard, do what he could to dispel any gloom that hung over the party, answered very promptly : " I have a hatchet, and will do all I can to protect your daughters, and particularly your little Laura and our little Mary."
The boy did not aim to make a gallant speechi, nor mean to limit his assistance to the girls alone, but he was thinking at the moment of Harriet and Nora who were before him, and of their two little sisters, Eva and Laura, who were asleep. His reply pleased Mrs. Howard very much and, turning to her daughters, she nodded her head at them and said, "There now !" as
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if she meant to assure them that they would be safe in any event ; and Mr. Howard quietly exclaimed, as he stuck his Jacob-staff in the ground, "Bravo, my lad !" Then turning to his two little sons, Thornton and William, aged seven and five respectively, he added encouragingly, "You chaps keep a sharp look-out through the bushes."
Stephen on returning with his axe, brought with him his long ox-whip, the handle of which was a dry, elastic hickory rod, and the cord, composed of strips of leather braded so as to be round, was tipped with a lash of rawhide. Peter observing this-for what is more attractive in the eyes of a negro wagoner than a good whip ?- said, in a good-humored way, " Look-ee he-ar, nigger ! What's yous goin' ter do wid dat whip ?"
"Just yous keep dat fly-trap o' yourn shut, an' dem eyes o' yourn open," was the jocular, boastful reply of Stephen, "an' yous 'll see what I 's goin' ter do, ef enny o' dem Injuns cum clos' ter dis nig ! Why, see he-ar, Souf Calliner," for so he designated Peter- "gib me a clare swing, an' wid dis he-ar whip Ise c'u'd pick de eyes out'en a Injun at twenty foot ; or Ise c'u'd, wid a twelve-foot reach, wind de whip 'roun' a Injun -- perwided de Injun war' a standin' up-so as ter bind his arms, or trip him up by a jerk, which 'ud gib me time ter spank down on ter him, an' finish de work wid de axe. Humph ! dis nig knows what he's 'bout."
Everything being now in readiness for the defence, the women and children were placed in as secure a place as possible, and the men took their positions at the different small openings made in the screen of pine
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branches, to look and listen for any approaching foe, in which duty Joseph was permitted to share.
Slowly and silently the hours passed, but no attack was made-nothing occurred to alarm the camp. It was thought, however, that the Indians, after their . inspection of the camp, had only been deterred from some sort of depredation by the vigilance of the "movers."
The stars, one by one, faded from the heavens as the rosy dawn lit up the east, and, ere the sun had risen, the journey was resumed.
CHAPTER III.
Arrival in Knoxville -- Joseph Rescues Little Laura-Mr. Morris Leaves for the Cumberland Valley-Hard Work-Jos. Adair a Soldier-His Apprenticeship Ends-Visits his Father, Tom Adair-Revisits Knoxville-His Disappointments and Resolutions-Joined by his Brother, William-Visits Mr. Morris-Gets News of the Howards.
A BOUT a fortnight after the events narrated in the preceding chapter, Mr. Morris and Mr. Howard, with their families, arrived in Knoxville. This, as before stated, was as far as Mr. Howard purposed going ; and he fortunately succeeded in renting a house in which he and his family were soon comfortably domi- ciled. The winter being upon them, and the roads in bad condition, Mr. Morris also concluded to remain there for some months. He succeeded in renting a farm-house near which there was an unoccupied build- ing which could be used as his saddlery shop. The farm and shop were a mile or more from town, but work soon flowed in, and Mr. Morris and his appren- tice, Joseph Adair, had as much as they could do.
During the winter, Joseph had no leisure to visit the Howards excepting on Sundays. He was always received and treated by them with such kindness that his attachment for the family steadily increased. The
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