USA > Kentucky > Historical sketches of Kentucky : embracing its history, antiquities, and natural curiosities, geographical, statistical, and geological descriptions with anecdotes of pioneer life, and more than one hundred biographical sketches of distinguished pioneers, soldiers, statesmen, jurists, lawyers, divines, etc. > Part 31
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They pulled on up the river until about eight o'clock, and arrived at a potot eight iniles below the mouth of the Rolling fork, where they drew ine sanoite en the north side of the river. now in Bullitt county, intending to land and cook and eat their hreakfast. As they drew into shore, they heard the gobbhug efterkeys (as they supposed) on the bank where they were going to lund, and as the boat touched, Fossett and another sprang ashore, with their guns in their hands, to
218
FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS.
shoot turkeys. They were cautioned of their danger, but disregarding the admo- nition, hastily ascended the bank. Their companions in the boat had barely lost sight of them, when they heard a volley of rifles discharged all at once on the bank immediately above, succeeded by a yell of savages so terrific as to induce a belief that the woods were filled with Indians. This attack, so sudden and vi- olent, took the boat's company by surprise; and they had barely time to seize their rifles and place themselves in a posture of defence, when Fossett and his companion came dashing down the bank, hotly pursued by a large body of Indi- ans. Crist stood in the bow of the boat, with his rifle in his hand. At the first sight of the enemy, he brought his gun to his face, but instantly perceived that the object of his aim was a white man, and a sudden thought flashed across lis mind, that the enemy was a company of surveyors that he knew to be then in the woods, and that the attack was made in sport, &c., let his gun down, and at the same time his white foeman sunk out of his sight behind the bank. But the firing had begun in good earnest on both sides. Crist again brought his nite to his face, and as he did so the white man's head was rising over the bank, with his gun also drawn up and presented. Crist got the fire on him, and at the crack of his rifle the white man fell forward dead. Fossett's hunting companion plun- ged into the water, and got in safely at the bow of the boat. But Fossett's arm was broken by the first fire on the hill. The boat, owing to the high water. did not touch the land. and he got into the river further toward the stern. and swam round with his gun in his left hand, and was taken safely into the stern. So in- tent were the Indians on the pursuit of their prey, that many of them ran to the water's edge, struck and shot at Fossett and his companion while they were get- ting into the boat, and some even seized the boat and attempted to draw it nearer the shore. In this attempt many of the Indians perished ; some were shot dead as they approached the boat, others were killed in the river, and it required the most stubborn resistance and determined valor to keep them from carrying the boat by assault. Repulsed in their efforts to board the boat, the savages with drew higher up the bank, and taking their stations behind trees, commenced a regular and galling fire, which was returned with the spirit of brave men ren- dered desperate by the certain knowledge that no quarter would be given, and that it was an issue of victory or death to every soul on board.
The boat had a log-chain for a cable, and when she was first brought ashore, the chain was thrown round a small tree that stood in the water's edge, and the hook run through one of the links. This had been done before the first fire was made upon Fossett on shore. The kettles in the boat had been ranked up along the sides, leaving an open gangway through the middle of the boat from bow to stern. Unfortunately, the bow lay to shore, so that the guns of the Indi- ans raked the whole length of the gangway, and their fire was constant and de- structive. Spears and several others of the bravest men had already fallen, some killed and others mortally wounded. From the commencement of the battle, many efforts had been made to disengage the boat from the shore, all of which had failed. The hope was that, if they could once loose the cable, the boat would drift out of the reach of the enemy's guns ; but any attempt to do this by hand would expose the person to certain destruction. Fossett's right arm was broken, and he could no longer handle his rifle. He got a pole, and placing him- self low down in the bow of the boat, commenced punching at the book in the chain, but the point of the hook was turned from him, and all his efforts seeined only to drive it further into the link. He at length discovered where 3 small limb had been cut from the pole, and left a knot about an inch long , 10:5 knot, after a number of efforts, he placed against the point of the hook, and, jerki's the pole suddenly towards him, threw the hook out of the link. The chain fell. and the boat drifted slowly out from the bank ; and by means of an oar worked over head, the boat was brought into the middle of the river, with her side to the shore, which protected them from the fire of the Indians. The battle had now lasted 4,- wards of an hour. The odds against the crew was at least ten to one. The fre had been very destructive on both sides, and a great many of the Indians had ron killed ; but if the boat had remamed much longer at the shore, it was manttes: that there would have been none of the crew left to tell the tale of their disaster.
The survivors had now time to look round upon the havoc that had been made of their little band. Five of their companions lay dead in the gangway-Spears
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BULLITT COUNTY.
Floyd, Fossett and Boyce were wounded-Crepps, Crist and Moore remained unhurt. It was evident that Spears' wound was mortal, and that he could & !!- vive but a few moments. He urged the survivors to run the boat to the opposite side of the river, and save themselves by immediate flight, and leave him to los fate. Crepps and Crist positively refused.
But the boat was gradually nearing the southern shore of the river. At this time the Indians, to the number of forty or fifty, were seen crossing the river above, at a few hundred yards distance, some on logs, and some swimming and carrying their rifles over their heads. The escape of the boat was now hopeless, as there was a large body of Indians on each side of the river. If the boat had been carried immediately to the opposite side of the river as soon as her cable was loosed, the survivors might have escaped ; but to such minds and hearts, the idea of leaving their dying friends to the mercy of the Indian tomahawk was in- supportable. The boat at length touched the southern shore-a hasty preparation was made to bear the wounded into the woods-Floyd. Fossett and Boyee got to land, and sought concealment in the thickets. Crepps and Crist turned to their suffering friend, Spears, but death had kindly stepped in and cut short the savage triumph. The woman now remained. They offered to assist her to shore. that she might take her chance of escape in the woods ; but the danger of her posi- tion, and the scenes of blood and death around her, had overpowered her senses, and no entreaty or rernonstrance could prevail with her to move. She sat with her face buried in her hands, and no effort could make her sensible that there was any hope of escape.
The Indians had gained the south side of the river, and were yelling like blood-hounds as they ran down towards the boat, which they now looked upon as their certain prey. Crepps and Crist seized a rifle apiece, and ascended the river bank : at the top of the hill they met the savages and charged them with a sliout. Crepps fired upon them. but Crist, in his haste, had taken up Fossett's gun, which had got wet as he swam with it into the boat on the opposite side- it missed fire. At this time Moore passed them and escaped. The Indians, when charged by Crepps and Crist, fell back into a ravine that put into the river immediately above them. They parted, and met no more. The Indians, intent on plunder, did not pursue them, but rushed into the boat. Crist heard one long, agonizing shriek from the unfortunate woman, and the wild shouts of the sava- ges, as they possessed themselves of the spoils of a costly but barren vietory.
Crepps, in the course of the next day, arrived in the neighborhood of Long lick, and being unable to travel farther, laid down in the woods to die. Moore alone escaped unhurt, and brought in the tidings of the defeat of the boat. The country was at once roused. Crepps was found, and brought in. but died about the time he reached home. Crist described Crepps as a tall, fair haired. hand- some man : kind, brave, and enterprising, and possessed of all those high and striking qualities that gave the heroic stamp to that hardy race of pioneers amongst whom he had lived and died. He had been the lion of the fight. By exposing himself to the most imminent peril, he inspirited his companions with his own contempt of danger. He and Crist had stood over Fossett, and kept the Indians treed while he disengaged the cable; and his coolness during the long, bloody struggle of the day, had won the admiration of Crist himself-than whom a more dauntless man had never contended with mortal foe. Crepps left a young wife and one son, then an infant. His wife was enceinte at the time of his desid -the posthumous child was a daughter, and is the wife of the Hon. Charles .1. Wickliffe. The son died shortly after he arrived at man's estate.
Crist was so disabled by the wound that he could not walk. The bones of his heel were crushed. He crept into a thicket and laid down-his wound bred profusely. He could not remain here long. His feet were now of to use In hon. He bound his moccasins on his knees, and commenced his journey. Piece by piece his hat, hunting shirt, and vest were consumed to shield his hands agatt.st the rugged rocks which lay in his way. He crawled on all day up the river, and at night crossed over to the north side upon a log that he rolled down the bank. He concealed himself in a thicket and tried to sleep-but pain and ex- Faistion and loss of blood had driven sleep from his eyes. His foot and leg Were much swollen and inflamed. Guided by the stars he crept on again-be- tween midnight and day he came in sight of a camp fire, and heard the barking
220
HENRY CRIST.
of a dog. A number of Indians rose up from around the fire, and he crept softly away from the light. He laid down and remained quiet for some time. When all was still again, he resumed his slow and painful journey. He crawled into a small branch, and kept on down it for some distance upon the rocks, that he might leave no trace behind him. At daylight, he ascended an eminence of con- siderable height to ascertain, if possible, where he was, and how to shape his future course ; but all around was wilderness. Ile was aiming to reach Bullitt's lick, now about eight miles distant, and his progress was not half a mile an hour. He toiled on all day-night came on-the second night of his painful journey. Since leaving the small branch the night before, he had found no water-since the day before the battle he had not tasted food. Worn down with hunger, want of sleep, acute pain, and raging thirst, he laid himself down to die. But his suf- ferings were not to end here-guided again by the stars, he struggled on. Every rag that he could interpose between the rugged stones and his bleeding hands and knee (for he could now use but one), was worn away. The morning came --- the morning of the third day ; it brought him but little hope; but the indomi- table spirit within him disdained to yield, and during the day he made what pro- gress he could. As the evening drew on, he became aware that he was in the vicinity of Bullitt's lick; but he could go no further; nature had made her last effort, and he laid himself down and prayed that death would speedily end his sufferings.
When darkness came on, from where he lay he could see the hundred fires of the furnaces at the licks all glowing; and he even fancied he could see the dusky forms of the firemen as they passed to and fro around the pits, but they were more than a half mile off, and how was he to reach them ? He had not eaten a morsel in four days, he had been drained of almost his last drop of blood, the wounded leg had become so stiff and swollen that for the last two days and nights he had dragged it after him ; the flesh was worn from his knee and from the palms of his hands. Relief was in his sight. but to reach it was impossible. Suddenly he heard the tramp of a horse's feet approaching him, and hope sprang up once more in his breast. The sound came nearer and still more near. A path ran near the place where he lay, a man on horse-back approached within a few rods of him. he mustered his remaining strength, and hailed him ; but to his utter surprise and dismay, the horseman turned suddenly and galloped off towards the Licks. Do- spair now seized him. To die alone of hunger and thirst, in sight of hundreds and of plenty, seemed to him the last dregs of the bitterest cup that fate could offer to inortal lips. O! that he could have fallen by the side of his friends in the proud battle ! That he could have met the Indian tomahawk. and died in the strength of his manhood ; and not have been doomed to linger out his life in days and nights of pain and agony, and to die by piecemeal in childish despair. While these thoughts were passing in his mind, the horseman (a negro), regained the Licks and alarmed the people there with the intelligence that the Indians were approaching. On being interrogated, all the account he could give was, that some person had called to him in the woods a half mile off, and called him by the wrong name. It was manifest it was not Indians ; and forthwith a number of men set out, guided by the negro, to the place. Crist's hopes again revived, when he heard voieps, and saw lights approaching. They came near and hailed. Crist knew the voice, and called to the man by name. This removed all doubt, and they approached the spot where he lay. A sad and mournful sight was before them. A man that had Ift them but a few days before, in the bloom of youth. health and buoyant spirits, now lay stretched upon the earth, a worn and manylog skeleton, unable to lift a hand to bid them welcome. They bore hun home. Ile ball was extracted ; but his recovery was slow and doubtful. It was a year before he was a man again.
The woman in the boat was carried a prisoner to Canada. Ten years after- wards, C'rist met her again in Kentucky. She had been redeemed by an Indian trader, and brought into Wayne's camp on the Maumee, and restored to her friends. She informed Crist that the body of Indians which made the attack on the hutt. numbered over one hundred and twenty, of whotu about thirty were killed in the engagement. This account was confirmed by Indians whom Crist mot with afterwards, and who had heen in the battle. They told Crist that the boat's crew fought more like devils than men, and if they had taken one of thein prisoner,
-
221
BUTLER COUNTY.
they would have roasted him alive. Crist was afterwards a member of the Ken- tucky legislature, and in 1805 was a member of Congress. He died at his s- dence in Bullitt county, in August, 1844, aged eighty years.
ALEXANDER SCOTT BULLITT was born in Prince William county, Virginia, in the year 1761. His father, Cuthbert Bullitt, was a lawyer of some distinction. and practiced his profession with success until he was appointed a judge of the supreme court of Virginia, which office he held at the time of his death. In 17-1. six years before the father's death, the subject of this sketch emigrated to Ken- tucky, then a portion of Virginia, and settled on or near the stream called Buliskin, in what is now Shelby county. Here he resided but a few months, being com- pelled by the annoyances to which he was subjected by the Indians, to seek a less exposed situation. This he found in Jefferson county. in the neighborhood of Sturgus' station, where he entered and settled upon the tract of land on which he continued to reside until his death. In the fall of 1785, he married the daughter of Col. W. Christian, who had removed from Virginia the preceding spring. In . April, 1786, Colonel Christian, with a party of eight or ten men, pursued a small body of Indians, who had been committing depredations on the property of the settlers in the neighborhood of Sturgus' station. Two of the Indians were ever- taken about a mile north of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and finding escape impossible, they turned upon their pursuers, and one of them fired at Colonel Christian, who was foremost in the pursnit, and mortally wounded him. Next to Colonel Chris- tian, was the subject of this sketch and Colonel Jolin O'Bannon, who fired simul- taneously, bringing both Indians to the ground. Under the impression that the Indians were both dead, a man by the name of kelly incautiously approached them, when one of them who, though mortally wounded, still retained soute strength and all his thirst for blood, raised himself to his knees, and fired with the rifle which had not been discharged. killed Kelly, fell back and expired."
In the year 1792, Colonel Bullitt was elected by the people of Jefferson county a delegate to the convention which met in Danville, and framed the constitution of Kentucky. After the adoption of the constitution, he represented the county in the legislature, and was president of the senate until 1799, when he was again chosen a delegate to the convention to amend the constitution, which met in Frankfort. Of this convention he was chosen president. The weer following this convention, ( 1800,) he was elected lieutenant governor of the state, in which capacity he served one term. After this, his county continued to send hen to the legislature, of which body he served either as a representative or senator, unul about 1808, when he retired from public life, and resided on his firm in Jefferson county until his death, which occurred on the 13th of April, 1816.
BUTLER COUNTY.
BUTLER county was organized in the year 1810. It is situated in the south-west part of the State, and lies on both sides of Green river. It is bounded on the north by Ohio and Grayson; east by Warren ; south by Logan, and west by Muhlenburg, The inta- ble property of the county in 1846, as reported by the auditor, i $501,483 ; number of acres of land, 108,141 ; average value for acre, $1,45 ; white males over twenty-one years, 793 ; childlen between the ages of five and sixteen years, 1.162. Population in 1×30, 3,055 ; in 1840, 3,898. The surface is hilly ; the soil second rate, but productive. Besides Barren river, which flows through
. This account, which is hereved to be substantially correct, daders in some parteman from that given in the biograplucal sketch of Colonel Christ.an.
222
CALDWELL COUNTY.
the county, it is watered by a number of fine mill streams. To- bacco is the principal staple.
The towns of the county are-Morgantown, Lockport and Roduster. MORGANTOWN is the seat of justice, and is situated on the left or southern bank of Green river, one hundred and forty- one miles from Frankfort-contains a court-house and jail, post office, one school, two lawyers, three doctors, six different trades, and one hundred and ten inhabitants. Incorporated in 1513. Lockport is a small village, containing thirty inhabitants, situated on the Green river, at lock and dam No. 4. Roduster is also a very small village, containing about thirty inhabitants.
This county received its name in honor of General BUTLER, of Pennsylvania, an officer of the revolutionary war, who distinguished himself, on more than one occasion, in a remarkable manner. He commanded the right wing of the Ameri- can army under General St. Clair, in the memorable and disastrous battle with the Indians on one of the tributaries of the Wabash, near the Miami villages. .. the now state of Ohio. He was wounded early in the action, and before his wounds could be dressed, an Indian who had penetrated the ranks of the regi- ment, ran up to the spot where he lay, and tomahawked him before his attendants could interpose. The desperate savage was instantly killed.
CALDWELL COUNTY.
CALDWELL county was formed in 1809, and named in honor of Gen. John Caldwell. It is situated on the waters of the Cumber- land and Tennessee rivers-bounded on the north by Crittenden and Hopkins; east by Christian ; south by Trigg; and west by the Tennessee river. The portion of the county lying between the Twigg and Crittenden lines, is a beautiful plain, being level and productive, except between the Cumberland and Tennessee, which is broken and poor, but abounds with ore; and there are already in operation in that section, five large iron establish- ments, and one furnace for smelting lead. The portion of the county bordering on the Trade water, (a navigable stream.) is generally undulating. Coal has been found on Flinn's fork, but has not yet been worked. The principal exports are tobacco. corn, pork, and iron.
The valuation of taxable property in 1846, was $2.157.206 : number of acres of land, 304,935 ; number of white males over twenty one years of age, 1.935; children between five and - teen years of age, 2,253. Population in 1830, 8,832 -- in leto, 10,365.
The towns of Caldwell are, Princeton, Fredonia, and Eddyville PRINCETON, the county seat, is about 230 miles from Frankfort- contains four churches (Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian), Cumberland college, one academy. two schools, ten stores and groceries, four taverns, seven lawyers. seven doctors, and twenty mechanical shops and manufactories. Incorporated in 1820-population twelve hundred. Fredonia is a
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CALLOWAY COUNTY.
small town, twelve miles west of Princeton, and contains one Presbyterian church, one school, two stores, two doctors, and four mechanical trades-population one hundred. Eddyville is situa- ted on the Cumberland river, at the mouth of Eddy creek, from which it takes its name-contains one church edifice, two schools, ten stores and groceries, four warehouses, two taverns, three dec- tors, and fourteen mechanical shops. Incorporated in 1812-pop- ulation six hundred.
THE CUMBERLAND COLLEGE is located in the vicinity of Princeton, and,under the control and management of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The in- stitution was organized in 1825, as a manual labor school ; but the mode of con- ducting it has been changed, and it is now a literary institution only, the manual labor system not having operated well. Like most institutions of learning in the west, it has had many and trying reverses. In 1842 it was in a great measure abandoned by the church. In 1844, the Green river synod assumed the charge of the college. and undertook to endow and perpetuate it. Its operations, in the mean time, had been carried on by enterprising individuals. The institution is located one mile from the court house. The site is beautiful, and susceptible of the highest degree of improvement. There are two neat and substantial brick buildings, one of them newly erected, for dormitories and public purposes, be- sides a president's house. The college library consists of several hundred vol- umes. There is also a respectable philosophical and chemical apparatus. The faculty of the institution consists of a president, two professors, and a tutor. The average number of students is sixty. The whole number of graduates since the establishment of the college is fitty-two.
Gen. JOHN CALDWELL, in honor of whom this county received its name, was a native of Prince Edward county, Virginia. He removed to Kentucky in 17-1, and settled near where Danville now stands. He took an active part in the comliets with the Indians, and rose by regular steps from the rank of a common soldier to that of a major general in the militia. He served as a subaltern in the campaign against the Indians in 1786, under Gen. George Rogers Clark. He was a prom- inent man of his day-esteemed in private and political, as he was in military life. He was a member, from Nelson county, of the conventions held in Dan- ville in 1787 and 1788. In 1:92, he was elected from the same county a senato- rial elector, under the first constitution ; and in the college of electors, he was chosen the senator from Nelson. He took his seat in the senate at the session of 1792-3. He was elected lieutenant governor of the State in 1904, and during his term of service removed to the lower part of the State. He died at Frank- fort in the year 1807 or 1808, while the legislature was in session.
CALLOWAY COUNTY.
CALLOWAY county was formed in 1821, and is situated in the south-western part of the State, immediately below and on the waters of the Tennessee river-bounded on the north by Mar- shall, east by the Tennessee river, south by the State line of Tennessee, and west by the county of Graves. The surface of' more than half of the county is level bottoms, interspersed with enough timber for farming purposes, though the broken and hilly portion has the densest population. The staple products are to- bacco, corn, and small grain.
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