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 73
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" It would be proper, therefore, to do one of two things. Either to await the arrival of Logan, who was now undoubtedly on his march to join them, or if it was determined to at- tack without delay, that one half of their number should march up the river, which there bends in an elliptical form, cross at the rapids and fall upon the rear of the enemy, while the other division attacked in front. At any rate, he strongly urged the necessity of recon- noitering the ground carefully before the main body crossed the river."
"Such was the counsel of Boone. And although no measure could have been much more disastrous than that which was adopted, yet it may be doubted if any thing short of an immediate retreat upon Logan, could have saved this gallant body of men from the fate which they encountered. If they divided their force. the enemy, as in Estill's case, might have overwhelmed them in detail ; if they remained where they were, without advancing, the enemy would certainly have attacked them, probably in the night, and with a certainty of success. They had committed a great error at first, in not waiting for Logan, and nothing short of a retreat, which would have been considered disgraceful, could now repair it.
" Boone was heard in silence and with deep attention. Some wished to adopt the first plan ; others preferred the second; and the discussion threatened to be drawn out to some length, when the boiling ardor of MeGary, who could never endure the presence of an enemy without instant battle, stimulated him to an act, which had nearly proved destructive to his country. He suddenly interrupted the consultation with a loud whoop, resembling the war-cry of the Indians, spur- red his horse into the stream, waved his hat over his head, and shouted aloud :--- " Let all who are not cowards, follow me !" The words and the action together. produced an electrical effect. The mounted men dashed tumultuously into the river, each striving to be foremost. The footmen were mingled with them in che rolling and irregular mass.
" No order was given, and none observed. They struggled through a derp ford as well as they could. MeGary still leading the van, closely followed by Majors Harland and Me Bride. With the same rapidity they ascended the ridre, which, by the tramping of buffalo foragers, had been stripped bare of all vegetatie n. with the exception of a few dwarfish cedars, and which was rendered still in re desolate in appearance, by the multitude of rocks, blackened by the sun, which were spread over its surface. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, they follow. : the buffalo trace with the same precipitate ardor; Todd and Trigg in the rear ; McGary, Harland, McBride, and Boone in front. No scouts were sent in .. . vance ; none explored either flank ; officers and soldiers seemed alike demented by the contagious example of a single man, and all struggled forward, horse atno foot, as if to outstrip each other in the advance.
"Suddenly, the van halted. They had reached the spot mentioned by B. 1 .. where the two ravines head, on each side of the ridge. Here a body of India. . presented themselves, and attacked the van. MeGary's party instantly returts u the fire, but under great disadvantage. They were upon a bare and open ridge : the Indians in a bushy ravine. The center and rear. ignorant of the ground. hur- ried up to the assistance of the van, but were soon stopped by a terrible fire fr al the ravine which flanked them. They found themselves enclosed as if in th- wings of a net, destitute of proper shelter, while the enemy were in a great hier sure covered from their fire. Still, however, they maintained their ground. The action became warm and bloody. The parties gradually closed, the Indians emerged from the ravines, and the fire became mutually destructive. The officers
483
BATTLE OF THE BLUE LICKS.
suffered dreadfully. Todd and Trigg in the rear ; Harland, McBride, and young Boone, in front, were already killed.
" The Indians gradually extended their line, to turn the right of the Kentucki- ans, and cut off their retreat. This was quickly perceived by the weight of the fire from that quarter, and the rear instantly fell back in disorder, and attempted to rush through their only opening to the river. The motion quickly communi -. cated itself to the van, and a hurried retreat became general. The Indians in- stantly sprang forward in pursuit, and falling upon thein with their tomahawks, made a cruel slaughter. From the battle ground to the river, the spectacle was terrible. The horsemen generally escaped, but the foot, particularly the van, which had advanced farthest within the wings of the net. were almost totally de- stroyed. Colonel Boone, after witnessing the death of his son and many of his dearest friends, found himself almost entirely surrounded at the very commence- ment of the retreat.
Several hundred Indians were between him and the ford, to which the great mass of the fugitives were bending their flight. and to which the attention of the savages was principally directed. Being intimately acquainted with the ground, he, together with a few friends. dashed into the ravine which the Indians had oc- cupied, but which most of them had now left to join in the pursuit. After sus- taining one or two heavy fires, and baffling one or two small parties, who pursued him for a short distance, he crossed the river below the ford, by swimming, and entering the wood at a point where there was no pursuit, returned by a circuitous route to Bryant's station. In the mean time, the great mass of the victors and vanquished crowded the bank of the ford.
" The slaughter was great in the river. The ford was crowded with horsemen and foot and Indians, all mingled together. Some were compelled to seek a pas- sage above by swimming ; some, who could not swim, were overtaken and killed at the edge of the water. A man by the name of. Netherland, who had for- merly been strongly suspected of cowardice, here displayed a coolness and pres- ence of mind, equally noble and unexpected. Being finely mounted, he had out- stripped the great mass of the fugitives, and crossed the river in safety. Ad- zon or twenty horsemen accompanied him, and having placed the river between them and the enemy, showed a disposition to continue their flight, without regard to the safety of their friends who were on foot, and still struggling with the current.
" Netherland instantly checked his horse, and in a loud voice, called upon his companions to halt, fire upon the Indians, and save those who were still in the stream. The party instantly obeyed ; and facing about, poured a close and fatal discharge of rifles upon the foremost of the pursuers. The enemy instantly foll back from the opposite bank, and gave time for the harassed and miserable foot- men to cross in safety. 'The check, however, was but momentary. Indians were seen crossing in great numbers above and below, and the flight again be- came general. Most of the foot left the great buffalo track, and plunging into the thickets, escaped by a circuitous route to. Bryant's station.
" But little loss was sustained after crossing the river, although the pursuit was urged keenly for twenty miles. From the battle ground to the ford, the kiss was very heavy ; and at that stage of the retreat, there occurred a rare and strik- ing instance of magnanimity, which it would be criminal to omit."
The foregoing account of the battle of the Blue Licks, we copy from MeChong's Sketches, who. we suppose, derived his facts from Marshall. A letter to the i- thor, from a distinguished citizen of Kentucky, far advanced in years, makes the following statement in reference to the battle, which differs, in some important particulars, from Mr. MeClung. The writer says :
" Will you include the battle of the Blue Licks in your notes upon Nichol is county ? If so, and you are not in possession of the true account of that battle, I believe I can supply you, and on information derived from Gen. Clark and Ni- mon Kenton ; and, also, Capt. Samuel Johnson and Judge Twyman. both of whom were in the battle. It substantially varies from Marshall, &e., who have, most erroneously, blamed the conduct of the officers. Johnson was a captain, and Judge wyman a man of high intelligence and perfect veracity. I went over the ground with him, many years since, and was not only shown the spot where the battle began, and where Trigg was killed, but the position of Trigg's, Tedd's and Boone's lines. These statements agreed with Kenton's and Gen. Clark's-
484
NICHOLAS COUNTY.
the latter receiving his information from his friends in the action, and the Indian chief who fought it. Indeed. Boone's short letter. when correctly understood, corroborates my information, and proves Marshall and others to be in error.
" The whole force assembled in the open Lick ground, and formed three lines -Todd commanding the centre. Trigy the right, and Boone the left lines ; while Capt. Harlan, with twenty-five picked men, formed an advance gnard. The whole road from the Lick to the forks was examined by two spies, who reported that they could find no Indians between the two points-the latter, as was soon ascertained. having fallen behind the river hills on either side of the horse-shoe, leaving a few of their number concealed in the grass, in the right hand hollow. As the troops moved on, Trigg's battalion came upon the small number last mentioned, who fired upon his command, and killed him and two or three of his men. This threw Trigg's line into confusion, and, being attacked by the Indians from the right hill side of the river, before order could be restored. the whole battalion broke. This exposed Todd to a fire in flank, while Harlan and his twenty-five men were at. tacked in front. and the whole, with three exceptions, cut down. Todd's line, in consequence, became exposed to the Indian fire in front as well as on his flank. when a large portion of his men gave ground. leaving the left and front ranks ex- posed to the galling fire of the enemy. A general and tumultuous retreat soon followed, &c.
"Equally untrue is the statement, that Todd hurried the pursuit, without wait- ing the arrival of Logan, for fear of being superseded in the command. The fact is, that Todd was then both a militia colonel and a colonel in the State line. and Logan was but a captain .* Logan did not reach Bryant's station until the day after the action. so that. if the battle had been delayed, the Indians would have crossed the Ohio before he reached Lexington."
There are few objects of more interest than the struggle of a great mind with all the disadvantages of poverty and obscurity ; nor is there any sight more grand and imposing-more eminently worthy of contemplation-than the ultimate tri- umph of such a mind. Of such struggles and such triumphs, our country affords many bright examples ; though there are few, if any, more illustrious than the subject of this brief memoir.
THOMAS METCALFE was born on the 20th of March, 1780, in the county of Fan- quier and State of Virginia. His parents were poor and humble, aspiring to no distinction saving that of a good name and spotless reputation. At an early day they emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in the county of Fayette.
The necessity growing out of the poverty and misfortunes of his father and family, contributed, in no small degree, to stanip the character of the boy with the elements of greatness, which his natural industry and enterprize subsequently so fully developed. In his early youth he was sent to school only long enough to attain to moderate perfection in the then recognized rudiments of an English education-sufficient, however, to inspire an ardent love for knowledge. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to an elder brother, to learn the trade of a stone mason. Here it was that the character he had displayed in boyhood. shone out in its fullness. The hours which other boys devoted to idleness and unprofitable amusements, were by him assiduously devoted to study and to books. What to other boys was labor, was to him relaxation and repose. At the age of nineteen, his father died, leaving his mother and several children extremely poor. and de- pendent, partially, upon him for sustenance and support. To enable him more effectually to render them the aid their circumstances required, his brother can- celled his indentures, and he was declared free. With his accustomed energy. he set about providing tor his widowed mother and her orphan children ; and pr most faithfully performed his duty towards them .- rearing and educating the children -- protecting and sustaining all of them.
In 1809, he made his first public speech. A requisition had been made upon the State, to vindicate the honor of the nation in the contemplated difficulties with
* The writer of this letter evidently labors under a mistake in relation to the rank of Gen. Login A: this period. In the year 17-0, according to Mr Butler. (History of Kentucky pp. 111 and 115, Hen- jamin Logan was commissioned colonel, and Stopben Frigg lieutenant colonel, of Lincoln: and John Todd colonel. and Daniel Boone heut nant colonel, of Fayette. Marshall, McChung, and Morehead. agree with Butler, as to the rank of Logan.
-
Sim, POR
GOV. METCALFE'S RESIDENCE, FOREST RETREAT, KY.
485
GEORGE NICHOLAS.
old Spain. In the language of one who witnessed this effort of the young sol- dier, " the fire of his language spread through the ranks of the regiment, and im- parted to the men the same noble ardor that animated his own bosom. Nothing could withstand the eloquence of his call ; and volunteers flocked to the standard of this Norval of the Grampian hills, until an overflowing complement proved the success of his undertaking."
His expectations were disappointed,-as indeed they had been on two former occasions, on which he had raised volunteers for the contemplated war. He gni- etly again doffed his title, and betook himself to the labor of his trade. In 1812, he was elected a member of the lower branch of the general assembly of Ken- tncky. Here his worth was as manifest as in the station of a private citizen. In the spring of 1813, he raised a company of volunteers; and, at the memorable battle of fort Meigs, he commanded one of the companies under Boswell, on the left flank of the line on this side of the river, which defeated more than double its number of Indians. He displayed an intrepidity and gallantry which secured him the favorable notice of his commander-in-chief, the lamented Harrison. While absent on the campaign of 1813, he was again elected to the legislature, receiving the suffrage of every voter in the county but thirteen. He served in this body several years; and, in 1518. was elected a member of Congress, under cir- cumstances most gratifying to his friends. He remained in Congress until 1827, when he received the nomination of the national republican party as their candi- date for governor of Kentucky. He resigned his seat in Congress, returned to Kentucky, and accepted the nomination. He entered at once. fearlessly. and with his accustomed energy, upon the duties of the canvass : and though the majority was understood to be in favor of the party of his distinguished competitor, Majer Barry. he overenie every obstacle, and bore his banner proudly and victoriously through the contest.
After the expiration of his term of service as governor. he retired to his farm, in Nicholas county ; but he was not permitted to leave the feld of active service -he was soon recalled to public life. In 1834. he was returned a member of the senate, from the district of Nicholas and Bracken. In 1840, he was appointed president of the board of internal improvements, which office he has ever since filled, -the arduous and responsible duties of which. he has most faithfully and honorably performed. The venerable man is now, as ever. the honored and he- loved of all who know him-a true and worthy specimen of a " fine old Ken- tucky gentleman."
Major GEORGE M. BEDINGER was a pioneer of Kentucky, and an early settler in Nicholas county. In 1779, he acted as adjutant in the unfortunate expedition of Col. Bowman against the Indian town of old Chillicothe; and. in 1762, he was a major at the fatal battle of the Blue Licks. In both the expedition and batile he bore himself gallantly, as a brave and efficient officer. In 1792, he was elected a member of the house of representatives of the first legislature of Ken- tucky, from Bourbon county-the territory of Nicholas then constituting a part of that county. In 1802. he was elected a member of Congress, and served two terms in that body .- retiring to private life in 1807. He lived to an advanced age, and died a few years since, on his farm, near the lower Blue Licks.
Colonel GEORGE NICHOLAS, in honor of whom Nicholas county was named. was an eminent lawyer of Virginia, who served for some years as colonel during the revolutionary war. He came to Kentucky just before it became a State. It> was a prominent and influential member of the Virginia convention, and a ze di- ous advocate in favor of the adoption of the Federal Constitution. He was a prominent, if not the most influential member of the convention which fromned the first constitution of kentucky. He enjoyed in an eminent degree the conti- dence of the people of Kentucky, and contributed largely, by speaking and uni- ting, to influence the course they took in the great political contest of '98. He died when between fifty and sixty years of age, in 1999. As indicating the pone of Colonet Nicholas' moral sentiments, it may be stated that in theory and prac- tive he was opposed to dueling. The following extract from a letter written by him to A. S. Bullitt, in 1792, is honorable alike to his head and his heart. " You ask ' if I expect any further satisfaction from you, on this subject.' I make no seruple to declare, that I have long been of opinion that fighting does no real
486
OHIO COUNTY.
service to the reputation ; that I think it wrong to hazard life in that way contrary both to the laws of God and man ; and that for these reasons I shall never call any person to the field. But I hold myself at full liberty to resent any aspersion that may be cast on ine; and to defend myself against any personal attack that may be made on me.
"Your obedient servant,
"G. NICHOLAS."
OHIO COUNTY.
Omo county was formed in 1798, and named from the Ohio river. It is situated in the west middle portion of the State, lying on the waters of Greene river, which forms its southern and a part of its south-western boundary-Rough creek, quite a considera- ble stream, flowing, in a meandering course, through its north- ern territory : bounded on the north by Hancock ; east by Gray- son ; south-east by Butler ; south-west by Muhlenburg ; and north-west by Daveiss. The soil of this county is considered equal to that of the Greene river lands generally, producing excellent crops of corn, tobacco, oats, potatoes, clover and other grasses, but supposed not to contain sufficient lime for the profit- able growing of wheat. The timber is heavy and of a superior quality. Iron ore abounds in the county, and the beds of excel- lent coal are inexhaustible. The morus multicaulis flourishes here, and the culture of silk might be carried on to any extent. Some specimens of the manufactured article have been pro- nounced equal to the best Italian.
Valuation of taxable property in Ohio county, in 1846, $1,280,- 237 ; number of acres of land in the county, 309,630 ; average value of lands per acre, 82.08; number of white males over twenty one years of age, 1,407 ; number of children between five and seventeen years old, 2,032. Population in 1840, 6,592 -- but supposed to be one-third greater in 1847.
HARTFORD, the seat of justice, is situated on the bank of Rough creek, about twenty-eight miles by water from its junction with Greene river, and one hundred and sixty miles from Frankfort. Its location is pleasant and agreeable, remarkable for its fine water, and the general health of the population, which numbers about 400. It contains a brick court-house and other county buildings, two churches (Methodist and Free,) six lawyers, six phy- sicians, two taverns, fifteen stores and groceries and ten mechan- ics' shops. Established in 1808.
Ohio was the first county formed below Hardin, and once included all of the present counties of Ohio. Daveiss and Hancock, with portions of Breckinridge, Grayson and Butler. The immediate vicinity of Hartford was settled at a very early period, and was often the scene of bloody strife and aets of noble dariny. Hartford and Barnett's stations were about two miles apart, and although never regularly besieged, were frequently harassed by straggling parties of Indians, and a number of persons, who imprudently ventured out of sight of the stations.
187
ESCAPE FROM INDIANS.
killed or captured. The following facts we have derived from Mr. Stephen State- ler, a pioneer and venerable and esteemed citizen of Ohio county :
In April, 1790, the Indians waylaid Barnett's station, and killed two of the children of John Anderson. One of the party assaulted Mrs. Anderson with a sword, inflicted several severe wounds upon her person, and while in the art of taking off her scalp, John Miller ran up within about twenty steps, and snapped his rifle at him. The Indian fled, leaving his sword, but succeeded in carrymyr off the scalp of Mrs. Anderson. She however recovered and lived some ten or twelve years afterwards. The same party captured and carried off Hannah Bar- nett, a daughter of Colonel Joseph Barnett, then a girl of about ten years of age. They retained her as a captive until October of the same year, when through the instrumentality of her brother-in-law, Robert Baird, she was recovered and res- tored to her friends.
In August, of the same year, three men were attacked by a party of Indians, near the month of Greene river. John Mellmurray, one of the whites, was Lifted. a man named Faith was wounded, and Martin Vannada was made a prisoner. The Indians immediately crossed the Ohio river, and, after traveling for some days in the direction of their towns, struck, as they supposed, the trail of some white men. In order to pursue them with the umaost celerity and without im- pediment. they tied Vannada to a tree. With the view of rendering his escape hopeless, during their absence, they spread a blanket at the root of a tree, and caused him to sit upon it. with his back against the tree. His hands were then pinioned behind him, and fastened to the tree with one rope; while they tied an- other rope around his neck, and fastened it to the tree above. In this painful po- sition they left him, and commenced the pursuit of their supposed enemies. Bus no sooner had they departed. than he commenced the work of extricating himself. With much difficulty he succeeded in releasing his hands, but his task appeared then only to have begun. He ascertained that he could not reach round the tree so as to get to the knot ; and it was so twisted or tied between his neck and the tree, that it was impossible for him to slip it one way or the other. Withont a knife, he made powerful efforts to get the rope between his teeth, that he might gnaw it in two. Failing in this, he almost regretted having made any effort to effect his escape, as, upon the return of the Indians, the forfeit of his life would, in all probability, be the consequence. At this moment he recollected that there were some metal buttons on his waistcoat. Instantly tearing one off, he placed it between his teeth, and. by great efforts, broke it into two pieces. With the rough edge of one of these, he succeeded in fretting rather than cutting the cord in two which bound his neck to the tree, and was once more free. But in what a condition ! In a wilderness and an enemy's country, with no clothing save a shirt, waistcoat, breeches and moccasins !- no provisions, no gun, no ammunition, no knife, not even a flint to strike fire with ! He did not, however, hesitate or falter, but instantly struck into the trackless forest, in the direction of home,- and, under the direction of a kind Providence, reached Hartford the ninth day after his escape, having subsisted upon such small animals and insects as he could catch and eat raw. He was nearly famished, and greatly emaciated ; but having fallen into good hands, he was soon recruited, and returned to his fanaly uns fue health.
In the year 1996 or 1787, an incident occurred at a fort on Greene river, which displays the dangers which beset the emigrants of that period, and illustrates the magnanimity of the female character.
About twenty young persons-male and female-of the fort. had mike ! 1. flax pulling, in one of the most distant fields. In the course of the frerona .no of their mothers made them a visit, and the younger took along her clubd. about eighteen months old. When the whole party were near the woods. one of the young women, who had climbed over the fence, was fired upon by severn Indrins concealed in the bushes, who at the same time raised the usual war-whoop. She was wounded, but retreated, as did the whole party .- some running with her down the lane, which happened to open near that point. and others see the field. They were hotly pursued by the enemy, who continued to voll and fire upon them. The older of the two mathers who had gone out. reflecting in het flight that the younger, a small and feeble woman, was burthened with her child, turned back in the face of the enemy, they firing and yelling bideously. took the
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