Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 72

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 72

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Before this they had discovered the upper and lower Blue Licks, and the im- mense herds of buffalo, elk, &c., that frequented those places, covering the hills and valleys of the Licking. The land was a hunters' paradise, and our adven- turers were completely happy in their new and undisputed home. They soon had cause, however, to apprehend that others would contend with them for the mastership of the soil. Happening one day at the lower Blue Licks, they dis- covered two white men. Approaching them with due caution, they found them friendly, and learned that they had wandered without guns and food thus far into the country, their canoe having been upset in a squall on the Ohio. Fitzpat- rick and Hendricks (so these strangers were named) were invited by Kenton to join his station near Washington. Hendricks acceded to the proposal, but Fitz- patrick insisted upon returning to Virginia. Accordingly Kenton and Williams (having left Hendricks at the Licks) accompanied Fitzpatrick to the Ohio, gave him a gun, and took leave of him on the other side from where Maysville now stands. Returning quickly as possible, they were surprised and not a little alarmed to find the camp where they had left Hendricks abandoned and in dis- order. Looking around they observed a smoke in a low ravine, and at once com- prehended the whole affair. They were satisfied that a party of Indians had cap- tured their friend, and they at once fled to the woods. Next morning cautiously approaching the still smoking fire, they discovered that the savages had departed, and with feelings that may be easily imagined, they found, what they did not doubt were the skull and bones of the unfortunate Hendricks. He had been burned to death, while they were so cowardly flying. Filled with shame and re- morse that they had so basely abandoned him to his fate without an effort to res- cue him, they went back to their camp near Washington. They had the good fortune themselves to escape the notice of the Indians who prowled through the country. In the fall, Kenton, leaving Williams at the camp, took a ramble through his rich dornain. Every where he saw abundance of game, and the richest and most beautiful land. At the lower Blue Licks he met with Michael Stoner, who had come to Kentucky with Boone the year before. He now learned that him- self and Williams were not the only whites inhabiting the cane Jand. Taking Stoner to his camp, and gathering up his property, he and Williams accompanied him to the settlements already formed in the interior. Kenton passed the winter of '75-6at Hinkson's station, in the present county of Bourbon, about forty miles from his orn patch. In 1776, the Indians enraged at the encroachments made upon their hunting grounds, and urged on by the British, made frequent incur- sions into Kentucky, and became so troublesome that the weaker stations were abandoned. The settlers at Hinkson's station took shelter in McClelland's fort.

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situated where Georgetown now stands, Kenton accompanying them. Major George Rogers Clark having prevailed upon the Virginia legislature to afford the pioneers some assistance, arrived in company with a lawyer named Jones, at the Three Islands, late in the winter, with a considerable quantity of powder and lead. They concealed it on the lower island and proceeded to McClelland's sta- tion, in order to obtain a party to bring it off to the settlements. McClelland's station being too weak to furnish a sufficient escort, Clark, piloted by Kenton, set out for Harrodsburg. Unfortunately, during their absence, Jones prevailed on ten men to accompany him to the place where the ammunition was concealed. They set out, and on Christmas day, 1776, they were encountered by the Indian chief Pluggey and defeated. Jones and William Graydon were killed, and two of the party taken prisoners. The remainder escaped into the station, where Clark and Kenton soon arrived with some men from Harrodsburg, who immediately returned on the news of this disaster. On the morning of January Ist, 1777, Pluggey and his warriors appeared before the fort. MeClelland and his men sallied out and were repulsed by the Indians. McClelland himself and two of his men being stain and four wounded, The Indians immediately withdrew, and in a few days the ammunition was safely brought away from its concealment. McClelland's was immediately afterwards abandoned, and the settlers in great gloom, and amidst the lamentations of the women and children, departed for Harrod's station. Here Kenton also took up his abode. In the spring, Major Clark, who now had command of the settlements, sent Kenton, John Haggin, and four others to .Hinkson's to break out some flax and hemp. Haggin was in front, and observed a party of Indians encamped around Hinkson's. He rode back and informed the party of the fact. Kenton, who was as prudent as he was brave, counseled a retreat. Haggin swore that nobody but a coward would run without one fire. Kenton immediately dismounted from his horse, and all the party followed his example but a young Dutchman, who appeared to have more sense than any of his companions. In the meantime the Indians, always wide awake, had seen Haggin, and following him, now opened a fire on the whites, who quickly took to their heels, Haggin valiantly leading the van. and abandoned their horses to the Indians, all but the sensible Dutchman, who having kept his seat, cantered off much at his ease. Kenton directed his party to retreat into Harrodsburg, while he put the garrison at Boone's station on their guard. Arriving before the fort, he determined not to attempt to enter it before dark, knowing the custom of the wily savage to ambush the stations, and thus shoot whoever might attempt to enter or depart. Accident befriends many a man. but the due exercise of one's five wits, is a much more safe reliance. When he did enter the fort, he found the men carrying in the bodies of two of their friends, who had been killed two or three hours before, on the very same path by which he entered. His caution had saved his life. The red man was now furious at the occupation of his beloved Kain-tuck-ee by the long knife. The incursions into the country by the exasperated foe were frequent and bloody, and every station was hotly besieged, Boonesborough sustaining three. To watch the Indians and give timely notice of their approach, six spies were appointed, for the payment of whom Major Clark pledged the faith of Virginia. Boone appointed Kenton, and Thos. Brooks ; Harrod, Samuel Moore and Bates Collier; and Logan, John Conrad and John Martin. These spies performed good service. It was the cus- tom for two each week, by turns, to range up and down the Ohio, and about the deserted stations, looking for Indian signs, &c. By this means the settlers had timely notice during the year of the approach of the enemy, but once. On this occasion, Kenton and two others, early one morning, having loaded their guns for a hunt, were standing in the gate of Boonesborough, when two men in the fields were fired on by the Indians. They immediately fled, not being hurt. The Indians pursued them, and a warrior overtook and tomahawked one of the men within seventy yards of the fort, and proceeded leisurely to scalp him. Kenton shot the daring savage dead and immediately with his hunting companions gave chase to the others. Boone, hearing the noise, with ten men hastened out to the assist- ance of his spies. Kenton turned and observed an Indian taking aim at the party of Boone-quick as thought he brought his rifle to his shoulder, pulled the trig- ger first, and the red man bit the dust. Boone, having advanced some distance, now discovered that his small party, consisting of fourteen men, was cut off

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from the fort by a large body of the foe, which had got between him and the gate There was no time to be lost ; Boone gave the word-"right-about-fire- charge ! " and the intrepid hunters dashed in among their adversaries, in a despe- rate endeavor to reach the fort. At the first fire from the Indians, seven of the fourteen whites were wounded, among the number the gallant Boone, whose leg was broken, which stretched him on the ground. An Indian sprang on him with uplifted tomahawk, but before the blow descended, Kenton, every where present, rushed on the warrior, discharged his gun into his breast, and bore his leader into the fort. When the gate was closed and all things secure, Boone sent for Ken- ton :- " Well, Simon," said the old pioneer, "you have behaved yourself like a man to-day-indeed you are a fine fellow." This was great praise from Boone, who was a silent man, little given to compliment. Kenton had deserved the eu- logium : he had saved the life of his captain and killed three Indians, without having time to scalp any one of them. There was little time to spare, we may well believe, when Kenton could not stop to take a scalp.

The enemy, after keeping up the siege for three days, retired. Boonesborough sustained two other sieges this year, (1777), in all of which the youthful Kenton bore a gallant and conspicuous part.

Kenton continued to range the country as a spy until June, 1778, when Major Clark came down the Ohio from Virginia with a small force, and landed at the Falls. Clark was organizing an expedition against Okaw or Kaskaskia, and in vited as many of the settlers at Boonesborough and Harrodsburg as desired, to join him. The times were so dangerous that the women. especially, in the sta- tions objected to the men going on such a distant expedition. Consequently, to the great mortification of Clark, only Kenton and Haggin left the stations to ac- company him. This expedition, so honorable to the enterprise of Virginia and the great captain and soldiers composing it, and so successful and happy in its results, is elsewhere fully described (see Clark county-life of General Clark). After the fall of Kaskaskia, Kenton returned to Harrodsburg, by way of Vin- cennes, an accurate description of which, obtained by three days' secret observa- tion, he sent to Clark, who subsequently took that post.

Kenton, finding Boone about to undertake an expedition against a small town on Paint creek, readily joined him. Inaction was irksome to the hardy youth in such stirring times; besides, he had some melancholy reflections that he could only escape from in the excitement of danger and adventure.

The party, consisting of nineteen men, and commanded by Boone, arrived in the neighborhood of the Indian village. Kenton, who, as usual, was in ad- vance, was startled by hearing loud peals of laughter from a cane brake just be- fore him. He scarcely had time to tree, before two Indians, mounted upon a small pony, one facing the animal's tail and the other his head, totally unsuspi- cious of danger and in excellent spirits, made their appearance. He pulled trigger, and both Indians fell, one killed and the other severely wounded. He hastened up to scalp his adversaries, and was immediately surrounded by about forty Indi- ans. His situation, dodging from tree to tree, was uncomfortable enough, until Boone and his party coming up, furiously attacked and defeated the savages. Boone immediately returned to the succor of his fort, having ascertained that a large war party had gone against it. Kenton and Montgomery, however, resol- ved to proceed to the village to get 'a shot ' and steal horses. They lay within good rifle distance of the village for two days and a night without seeing a single warrior ; on the second night, they each mounted a fine horse and put off to Ken- tucky, and the day after the Indians raised the siege of Boonesborough, they can- tered into the fort on their stolen property.

This little speculation, unfortunately, appears to have whetted the appetite of Kenton and Montgomery for horse flesh. Accordingly, in September of the same year, (1778), in company with George Clark, they proceeded to Chillicothe on a similar expedition. Arriving in the night, they found a pound of horses, and succeeded in haltering seven, not without much noise. They mounted in haste, hotly pursued by the enraged savages. Riding all night and next day. they struck the Ohio at the mouth of Eagle creek, a few miles below Maysville. The wind was high and the river exceedingly rough, so that the frightened horses re- fused to cross, after several ineffectual efforts to compel them. Here they rashly waited until the next day, hoping that the wind would abate ; but, although the

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next day the wind did subside, the horses could by no means be forced into the river, owing to the fright they had received the day before. Satisfied that longer delay would be dangerous, they each mounted a horse, abandoning the remaining four. But after turning thein loose, with an indecision unworthy of the leader at least, it was determined that they would have all or none. They now separated to hunt up the horses they had just unhaltered. Kenton had not ridden far before he heard a whoop behind him. Instead of putting spurs to his horse and gallop- ing off like a sensible man, he deliberately dismounted from his horse, tied him, and crept back in the direction of the noise. At the top of the bank he saw two Indians and a white man, all mounted. It was too late to retreat-he raised his rifle, took aim, and-it flashed ! Now, at last, he took to his heels, the Indians dashing after him with a yell. He gained some fallen timber, and thus was in a fair way to elude his mounted pursuers, when, upon emerging into the epen woods, he beheld an Indian galloping around the brush within a few rods of him. The game was up, and for the first time he was a prisoner in the hands of the savages, furious at the attempt to steal their property.

While the Indians were yet beating and upbraiding him as a "hoss steal," Montgomery very foolishly came to his assistance, fired without effect, and fled. Two of the Indians gave chase, and in a few moments returned with his bleeding scalp. Clark, the only one of the three having his five wits in a healthy con- dition, laid whip and escaped.

Bitterly now did Kenton expiate his horse stealing offences. It was a crime not easily to be pardoned by the very virtuous tribe into whose hands he had fallen. After beating him until their arms were too tired to indulge that gratify- ing recreation any longer, they secured him for the night. This was done by first placing him upon his back on the ground. They next drew his legs apart, and lashed each foot firmly to two saplings or stakes driven in the earth. A pole was then laid across his breast, and his hands tied to each end, and his arms lashed with thongs around it, the thongs passing under his body so as to keep the pole stationary. After all this, another thong was tied around his neck, and the end of it secured to a stake in the ground, his head being stretched back so as not entirely to choke him. In this original manner he passed the night, unable to sleep, and filled with the most gloomy forebodings of the future. In the morn- ing he was driven forward to the village.

The plan of this work forbids a particular account of Kenton's adventures during his long captivity, running through a period of more than eight months. The cru- elties he suffered at the hands of the Indians-his narrow escapes from death in an hundred forms-his alternate good and bad fortune, and his final successful flight, form one of the most romantic adventures anywhere furnished by the inci- dents of real life, seeming more like an invention of the novelist, than a veracious narrative. He was eight times compelled to run the gauntlet, three times tied to the stake, once brought to the brink of the grave by a blow from an axe; and throughout the whole time, with brief intervals, subjected to great hardship and privations. Once his old friend, Simon Girty, the infamous hater of his race, interposed and saved him for a short space from the flames. Being again con- demned to the stake in spite of the influence of Girty, Logan the celebrated Mingo, (whose wrongs had not obliterated the nobility of his nature,) exerted his influence in his behalf, and prevailed upon a Canadian trader, named Druyer to purchase him from his owners. Druyer succeeded in obtaining him as a prisoner of war, upon a promise of returning him, which he of course never intended to fulfil. Kenton was now taken by his new friend and delivered over to the British com- mander at Detroit. Here he remained working for the garrison, on half pay, until the summer of 1779, when he effected his escape, by the assistance of Mrs. Har- vey, the wife of an Indian trader. Kenton, at this time but twenty-four years of age, according to one who served with him, "was fine looking, with a dignified and manly deportment, and a soft, pleasing voice, and was wherever he went a favorite among the ladies." This lady had become interested in him, and upon his solicitation, promised to assist him and two other Kentuckians, prisoners with him, to procure rifles, ammunition, &c., without which a journey through the wil- derness could not be performed. Engaging in their cause with all the enthusiasm of her sex, she only awaited an opportunity to perform her promise. She had not long to wait. On the 3d of June, 1779, a large concourse of Indians assembled

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at Detroit to take "a spree." Preparatory to getting drunk, they stacked then! guns near Mrs. Harvey's house, who as soon as it was dark stole silently out to the guns, selected three of the best looking, and quickly hid them in her garden in a patch of peas. Avoiding all observation, she hastened to Kenton's lodgings and informed him of her success. She told him, at midnight to come to the back of her garden, where he would find a ladder, by means of which he could climb over and get the guns. She had previously collected such articles of food, cloth- ing, ammunition, &c., as would be necessary in their adventure. These she had hid in a hollow tree well known to Kenton, some distance out of town. No time was now to be lost, and the prisoners at once set about getting things in order for their flight. At the appointed hour Kenton with his companions appeared at the de- signated spot, discovered the ladder and climbed into the garden, where he found Mrs. Harvey sitting by the guns awaiting his arrival. To the eyes of the grate- ful young hunter, no woman ever looked so beautiful. There was little time how- ever for compliments, for all around could be heard the yells of the drunken sav- ages, the night was far advanced, and in the morning both guns and prisoners would be missed. . Taking an affectionate leave of him, with many tender wishes for his safety, she now urged him to be gone. Heaping thanks and blessings on her, he left her and re-joined his companions. Kenton never saw her afterwards, but he never forgot her ; for, more than half a century afterwards, when the wil- derness and the savages who peopled it, were alike exterminated before the civi- -lizing march of the Anglo Saxon, the old pioneer, in words that glowed with gratitude and admiration, delighted to dwell on the kindness, and expatiate on the courage and virtue of his benefactress, the fair trader's wife. In his reveries, ho said he had seen her "a thousand times sitting by the guns in the garden."

After leaving Detroit the fugitives, departing from the usual line of travel, struck out in a western direction towards the prairies of the Wabash. At the end of thirty-three days, having suffered incredible hardships, the three adventurers, Kenton, Bullitt and Cofer, safely arrived at Louisville some time in July '79.

Here he stayed but a short time to recruit his strength. He had been long a prisoner and thirsted for action and adventure. Shouldering his rifle he set out through the unbroken wilderness to visit his old companion in arms, Major Clark, then at Vincennes. This post he found entirely quiet, too much so for him. He had been treading the wilderness and fighting the savages since his sixteenth year, and was yet too young and strong to be contented with a life of inaction. He had no family or connection to bind him to a particular spot here in the west, and by a deed utterly repugnant to his generous nature, he was exiled as he yet believed, from his home and friends in the east ; it was therefore his destiny, as it was his wish, to rove. Striking again into the pathless wilderness then lying between Vincennes and the falls of the Ohio, he soon reached the latter place, whence he immediately proceeded to Harrod's station, where he was joyfully wel- comed by his old companions.

The winter of 1779-80 was a peaceful one to the Kentuckians, but in the spring the Indians and British invaded the country, having with them two pieces of can- non, by means of which two stations, Martin's and Ruddle's, fell into their hands ; whereupon the allied savages immediately retreated.

When General Clark heard of the disaster, he hastened from Vincennes to concert measures for present retaliation and the future safety of the settlements. Clark was no doubt one of the greatest men ever furnished by the west, of no ordinary military capacity. He believed the best way to prevent the depreda- tions of the Indians, was to carry the war into their own country, burning down their villages and destroying their corn, and thus give them sufficient employ- ment to prevent their incursions among the settlements on the south side of the river. Accordingly an expedition consisting of 1100 of the hardiest and most courageous men that the most adventurous age of our history could furnish, inured to hardships and accustomed to the Indian mode of fighting, assembled at the mouth of the Licking. Kenton commanded a company of volunteers from Har- rod's station, and shared in all the dangers and success of this little ariny. Com- manded by Clark, and piloted by one of the most expert woodsmen and the great- est spy of the west, Simon Kenton, the Kentuckians assailed the savages in their dens with complete success. Chillicothe, Pickaway and many other towns were burnt, and the crops around them destroyed. At Pickaway, the Indians

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were brought to a stand. Here where he had run the gauntlet and afforded the Indian squaws and warriors so much fun, two years before, Kenton now at the head of his gallant company, had the satisfaction of dashing into the thickest of the fight and repaying with usury the blows he had received at their hands. Af- ter an obstinate resistance the savages were defeated and fled in all directions, leaving their killed and wounded on the field. (See life of Clark.)

This was the first invasion of Ohio by the Kentuckians in any force, and the red man long remembered it. For two years the stations enjoyed comparative peace, and Kenton passed away his time as a hunter, or spy, or with surveying par- ties, heavily enough until the fall of 1782. Then for the first time he heard that his old father yet lived, and learned the joyful intelligence that he had not killed his old playmate and friend William Veach. It is impossible to describe his feelings upon hearing this news. For eleven years he wandered in the wilder- ness filled with remorse for his rash, though unpremeditated crime, the brand of murder upon his heart if not upon his brow, isolated from his home and friends, about whom he dare not even inquire, and his very name forbidden to him. At length after expiating his crime by these long sufferings, unexpectedly the weight of murder is removed from his mind-his banishment from home and family revoked, and his long abandoned name restored. Kenton was Simon Butler now no longer, and he felt like a new man.

In the fall of 1782 General Clark, to revenge the disaster of the Blue Licks, led another army 1500 strong against the Indian towns, which spread destruction far and wide through their country. (See life of Clark.) Kenton again com- manded a company on this occasion, and was again the pilot for the army, as his knowledge of the country was unsurpassed, and his skill in woodcraft unequalled. It was upon the return of this expedition opposite the mouth of the Licking, Nov. 4th, 1782, that the pioneers composing it, entered into the romantic engagement, that fifty years thereafter, the survivors "should meet and talk over the affairs of the campaign," and the dangers and hardships of the past. It was first suggested by Capt. V. M'Cracken of the Kentucky light horse, who was then dying* from the mortification of a slight wound received in the arm while fighting, immediately by the side of Kenton in the attack on Piqua town. To carry out the request of the dying soldier, Colonel Floyd, from the Falls of the Ohio, brought forward a resolution, and the semi-centennial meeting was determined upon. All around was the unbroken wilderness; but as they bore the dying M'Cracken down the hill above Cincinnati, the future stood revealed to his fast closing eyes, the cities and villas peopled with tens of thousands, crowning the valley and the hill tops, the noise of abounding commerce in the streets and on the rivers-building rising upon building-palace and temple and all the magnificent panorama of fifty years, passed in review before him. The desire to link one's name with all this great- ness was pardonable in him who had shed his blood in the struggle to achieve it. The interesting day that was to witness the re-union of the surviving heroes of '82, fell upon the 4th of November, 1832. At that time many were still survi- ving, among the rest General Simon Kenton. As the day drew near, the old hero was deeply affected at the prospect of meeting his old brothers in arms, as well as solicitous to keep the solemn appointment. To encourage a large attendance he published an interesting and feeling "address to the citizens of the western country." It is a fair type of his kind heart, dictated to a friend who wrote it for him, and signed with his own hand. The following is the only extract the limits of this work will permit us to make.

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 72

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1654

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654