USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 1 > Part 14
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The Ray boys and Shores visited a neighboring sugar-camp to drink of the maple water, leaving Coomes at the clearing. After being alone some time, Coomes suddenly saw a body of fifteen Indians coming toward him from the direction of the sugar-camp. Concealing himself behind the trunk of a tree just felled, he cocked his rifle and awaited developments. For- tunately, the thick cane and undergrowth aided in his concealment as they passed near by in Indian file. Coomes then escaping, started toward the sugar-camp to find what had become of his companions. Discovering no trace of them, he hid himself in the boughs of a fallen tree, the dried leaves of which were nearly the color of his butternut garments. Shortly, he observed forty Indians halt near the sugar-camp, and these to be rejoined by the fifteen whom he had previously seen. They tarried a long time, singing their war-songs and dancing their war -dances. Coomes witnessed all this at a distance of only sixty yards. Other straggling Indians came in, until the number increased to seventy .. 1
From Rev. Dr. Spaulding's sketches, we continue the narrative: " Mean- time, James Ray had escaped, and communicated the alarm to the people. Great was the terror and confusion there. The hot-headed McGary openly charged James Harrod with having been wanting in the precautions and courage necessary for the defense of the fort. These two men, who had a personal enmity against each other, quarreled, and leveled their deadly rifles at each others' bosoms. In this conjuncture, the wife of McGary rushed in and turned aside the rifle of her husband, when Harrod immediately with- drew his, and the difficulty was temporarily adjusted.
"McGary insisted that a party of thirty should be immediately dispatched with him in search of Coomes, Shores, and his other step-son, William Ray. Harrod and Colonel Clark thought this measure rash and imprudent, as all the men were necessary for the defense of the place, liable to be attacked any moment. At length. however, the request of McGary was granted, and thirty men were placed under his command for the expedition. The detachment moved rapidly, and soon reached the sugar-camp, which the Indians had abandoned. Near it, they discovered the mangled remains of William Ray, at sight of which McGary turned pale, and came very near falling from his horse in a faint. At first sight of the lifeless body, one of the men shouted out: 'See there! they have killed poor Coomes.' Coomes just sallying from his hiding-place, overheard the exclamation as he came up, and answered: 'No, they haven't killed me, by Job! I'm safe!' With the burial of young Ray, the party returned about sunset to Harrodstown."
I Collins, Vol. II., p. 611.
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REPULSE OF THE INDIANS.
It seems that the elder brother Ray escaped the fire of the Indians, and ran with wonderful speed toward the fort, four miles away, distancing all the Indians in pursuit, and thus gave a timely warning that probably saved the reduced garrison from a surprise attack.
James Ray became celebrated for his swiftness of foot, and this quality served its valuable uses, not only in saving his person more than once from captivity or death, but by deliverance of the settlements from impending dangers. The remarkable speed with which Ray outran all the warriors of Blackfish on the above occasion elicited the highest admiration of the Indians, and led that noted chief to remark to Boone, after the capture of the latter at Blue Licks, that "some boy at Harrodstown had outrun all his warriors." Thomas Shores, reported dead, years after returned from cap- tivity among the Indians.
The warning was most opportune. The Indians delayed the attack they had meditated on the fort a day or two, still in hope to gain an advantage by strategy or surprise after the warning given by Ray. On the morning of the 7th of March, a cabin, situated a few hundred yards from the fort, was stealthily fired. The garrison, supposing the burning an accident, rushed out to extinguish the flames. The Indians had committed the incendiary act, to decoy the garrison into an exposed position, where they could take them at a disadvantage, and by a sudden flank move they endeavored to intercept their return to their shelter. As usual, the cautious woodsmen went out with loaded rifles in hand, and gradually falling back, after some firing. they reached a piece of woods on an elevation-the same on which the Court-house at Harrodsburg now stands-where each man took a tree, and from this position soon repelled the Indians and made their way back into the fort. Several were killed and wounded on both sides, but it is probable that the Indians suffered the severest loss. They at once withdrew their forces from the vicinity.
Soon after this, one McConnell and Ray were practicing firing their rifles at a mark-a frequent pastime with Western men-when McConnell was shot dead from ambush. Ray. discovering the Indian, leveled his rifle to shoot him in revenge for the death of his companion, but found himself suddenly beset by a large body of Indians, who had crept up unseen. For nearly two hundred yards. Ray was exposed to their fire in his retreat, which was accomplished at his best speed. But when he neared the fort. with the Indians in hot pursuit, those inside did not dare to open the gate for his admission. In this most critical situation, in range of the guns of the enemy and refused shelter by his friends, Ray had the last alternative to throw him- self flat on the ground behind a stump. just large enough to cover his body. He lay in this position four hours, the bullets of the enemy whistling by and sprinkling his clothes with the torn earth, within but seven yards of the walls, with his mother's anxious voice in his ears. The savages did not dare to draw nearer, nor he to uncover. At last Ray, at the happy suggestion
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
of the moment, called out: "For God's sake, dig a hole under the cabin wall and take me in!" The thought of the expedient was immediately adopted, and the young hunter was introduced in safety to his kindred and friends, to the great relief of all.
During this year the Indians hovered in large numbers around Harrods- town and in the vicinity; it seemed for the purpose of preventing any corn from being raised by the settlers. Not only was this important supply cut off, but of forty horses brought out by Colonel McGary and others, there was but one left to the use of the settlers, and this somewhat the worse for age and hard usage. In this period of distress and peril-the agile and daring boy, James Ray, proved an indispensable arm of relief. His vigilance and fertility of resource seemed to admit of no limit. He often arose before day and left the fort on the old horse which yet remained, in order to replenish the scanty supply of food for the garrison. Cautiously finding his way toward Salt river along some covert path or through the undergrowth, he would ride in the waters of that or some tributary stream, in order to conceal his tracks; and when out far enough to avoid the hearing of his rifle by the savages, he would kill his load of game and bring it in under nightfall. Throughout these frequent adventures he escaped unhurt, while other hunters often per- ished in the undertaking of similar feats.
It was the approach of autumn, and the staple resource, outside of wild meat, of roasting ears, and corn meal, was mainly cut off. The people felt the need of substitutes. The ground was being cleared about two hundred yards north-west of the fort for a turnip patch. An Indian was shot at by one of the guards while the clearing was going on, and the men withdrew. The next day the few cattle left, while grazing in sight, seemed unusually disturbed, and were observed to sniff the air with impatience as the breeze came over a small field that had been left to grow up in high weeds. The presence of concealed Indians there was at once suspected, as this excite- ment of brute instinct was never manifested by the familiar presence of the whites. Colonel Clark resolved to turn the ambuscade on the hostiles. Directing some to continue working in the turnip field, and to occasionally call to their companions in the fort to come on and join them. Clark led a party of men to the rear of the suspected spot, and suddenly attacked them lying in the weeds. Four of the Indians were left dead, one killed by Clark, and one by young Ray. The fleeing foe was pursued but a short distance until within four hundred yards of the fort, down the creek, the whites sud- denly came upon an extensive Indian camp, with two rows of camp lines and poles between for hanging their kettles, that might have accommodated five or six hundred red skins. Here, under the very shadow of the fort, they had fixed their main rendezvous, and kept their camp concealed almost in double rifle shot of the closed gates and reduced garrison, while they spo- liated on the country around. The main body had evidently abandoned this extensive camp, and the Indians last attacked were but a remnant of rear
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KENTON ATTACKED NEAR HINKSON'S.
guards. As this was the first of the foe that young Ray was known to have killed, Major Clark complimented him with a presentation of the gun of his victim. The rest of the Indian property captured was, after the custom, divided by lot among the soldiers.
The organized militia of Kentucky county was early this year put under the general command of Colonel George Rogers Clark, whose presence and heroic spirit at this most critical period served more than all else to inspire confidence and hope to the scattered frontiersmen, whose numbers were so thinned out by the exodus of the last fall and winter.
Early this spring, Colonel Clark sent Kenton, Haggin, and four others on the north side to Hinkson's to break out some flax and hemp left at this abandoned station. 1 They espied some Indians encamped around the sta- tion. Kenton, ever prudent as he was brave, counseled a retreat. Haggin swore that only a coward would run without one fire. Kenton at once dis- mounted, and all followed his example except a young Dutchman, who seems to have kept his head in the midst of the general folly. The alert Indians by this time discovered the whites and opened fire on them, when the latter beat a most timely retreat. Haggin in the lead of all, abandoning their horses, all except the wise Dutchman, who cantered home with his ser- viceable horse. Kenton directed the party to make their way to Harrods- town, while he put the garrison at Boonesborough on guard. He took the precaution not to attempt to enter the fort before dark, knowing well the wiles of the savages. This saved his life, for when he did enter he found the men bearing in the bodies of two men slain but two or three hours before on the same path that he would have trodden.
Colonel Clark now felt the need of organizing a body of spies to traverse the frontier borders, watch the Indians, and give timely notice of their move- ments. Under his order, Boone appointed Simon Kenton and Thomas Brooks; Harrod named Samuel Moon and Bates Collier; and Logan, John Conrad and John Martin. Each week, in turn, they ranged by twos up and down the Ohio and about the deserted stations, looking for Indian signs. This was of great benefit to the harassed settlers, but not uniformly effectual against stealthy approaches, even with the veteran Kenton himself, as nar- rated by Collins : 2
"Kenton and two others, about this time, were standing in the gate of Boonesborough fort one morning with their guns loaded, ready for a hunt, when two men at work in the field near by were fired on by Indians. They immediately fled, not being hurt. The Indians pursued, and a warrior over- took and tomahawked one of the men within seventy yards of the fort. and proceeded to scalp him. Kenton shot the daring savage dead, and imme- diately, with his hunting companions, gave chase to the others. Boone, hearing the firing. with ten men hastened to the assistance of his spies. Kenton turned and observed an Indian taking aim at the party of Boone,
: Collins, Vol. II., p. 445.
¿ Collins, Vol. II., pp. 445-6.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
and, quick as thought, brought his rifle to his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and the red man dropped dead at the report of the gun. Boone, having advanced some distance, now discovered that his small party, consisting of fourteen men, was cut off 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 desperate effort to regain 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, everywhere present in the midst of the strife, rushed on the warrior, discharged his gun into his breast, then lifted up and bore his leader into the fort. When the gate was closed and all secure, Boone sent for Kenton. '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 com- pliment. Kenton well deserved the eulogium. He had saved the life of his captain and killed three Indians, but had been kept too busy to scalp any one of them. The enemy, after keeping up the siege three days, retired."
The Indians, wholly unskilled in the civilized methods of storming or besieging fortified posts, and untrained in that open. daring, and disciplined firmness necessary to carry them by assault, failing to surprise, and despair- ing of success by force, dispersed to the forests again from before Boones- borough, as before Harrodstown, where their skill and numbers gave them the decided superiority. These attacks on the forts must have resulted in losses to themselves, out of all proportion to the killed and wounded of the whites. As it was a point of interest with them to conceal the evidences of injury inflicted in battle, they skillfully removed their dead and wounded, whenever possible, from the view of their enemy.
The elements of aggressive growth and strength in the infant colony had well-nigh disappeared, and the ominous cloud of discouragement veiled its future from the hopeful visions of its best tried and most enduring friends. We have mentioned the general abandonment of all the unfortified stations and settlements, and the concentration of the remaining settlers at the three leading stockade forts, on the south side of the Kentucky river. It will convey an idea of the defensive feebleness of the country when the fact is noted that the regular garrison of Boonesborough was now reduced to twenty-two guns ; of Harrodstown to sixty-fire guns : and of St. Asaph's to fifteen guns, in pioneer phrase. Even these militiamen were temporarily enlisted, and liable to leave at the expiration of their limited engagements. These garrisons, in cases of siege or attack, must depend for re-enforces upon the transient adventurers who might happen to be tarrying with them for the time.
Professor Shaler, in his late learned and interesting generalization of
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DESCRIPTION OF THE FORT.
Kentucky history, says of these rude specimens of fortified retreats: "This ' system of a defensive village differs in certain ways from anything known in other countries. I have been unable to find that it had been used at an earlier period in any other part of America outside of the Southern colonies. It probably never was in Europe. It is likely it is a modification of the Indian stockade already known to the early settlers. It is an admirable adaptation of the defensive quality of the log house to the modern rifle. When defended by a score or two of deliberate and determined men, such a fort can not be taken by escalade, for each block-house is a keep that has to be taken by a special assault. The only risk is from the enemy being able to fire the houses; but with a sufficient supply of water, a fire can readily be extinguished from the inside. Although there was no care in providing these structures with a moat or ditch, they proved remarkably successful forts, and were never carried against a reasonably good resist- ance. This pattern of stronghold became the type of all stations constructed in Kentucky and elsewhere. The weapon of these pioneers-the small- bored, long, heavy-barreled rifle-was the best gun ever used by the fron- tiersman in the forest. Its small charge made the supply of lead and powder less difficult than it would otherwise have been; and up to one hundred and fifty yards, the ordinary limit of forest ranges, it was a marvelously accurate weapon. With one hundred sturdy men for a garrison, it would be very dif- ficult to take such a fortification, even with well-disciplined troops; against Indian attacks it never failed to prove a sufficient defense."
During all this year, Virginia was so deeply involved in the war of the Revolution, that the parent government could take no note of the wants of her distant and suffering child westward of the mountains. Kentucky must survive through self-reliance, or meet the inevitable alternative and perish of exhaustion.
On the 4th of July, the Indians, re-enforced to an army of two hundred warriors, again laid siege to Boonesborough, resolved, if possible, to subdue and destroy the strongholds left of the whites, shrewdly supposing that such achievement would put an end to all further attempts upon the part of the intruding colonists to occupy their favorite hunting-grounds. The more certain to insure success, they had sent out detachments to demonstrate on Harrodstown and St. Asaph's, and to prevent re-enforcements from these neighboring allies. This attack continued for two days, during which time the enemy made close investment and vigorous effort, with all the arts of warfare in ordinary use by them. The garrison were equally vigilant, and sustained themselves in every contest, and with every advantage possible to them. The savages were baffled at every point and in every endeavor, invariably suffering losses under the deadly fire of the unerring rifles in the hunters' hands, from behind the wooden walls. No impression was made and no advantage was gained. At the end of the two days, one of the whites was killed and two wounded; of the Indians, seven were slain in sight of
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the besieged. How many more were killed and wounded, and borne away after the Indian custom of concealment, could not be known. Disheartened, the assaulting savages withdrew and retired to the woods again.
In June, a party of Indians marauding near Boonesborough was followed by Major Smith, with seventeen men, to the Ohio river, where they killed one, the remainder managing safely to cross the river. 1 On returning, about twenty miles from the Ohio, they discovered another party of about thirty savages lying concealed in the bushes, but themselves unobserved. Dis- mounting, they left nine men to guard their horses, while Smith, with the remaining seven, crept forward to the near vicinity of the Indians, when one of the latter passed near the whites in the direction of the horses. At the crack of a single rifle, he gave a loud yell, and fell dead. The Indians, supposing that he had fired his own rifle and brought down some wild ani- mal, gave vent in a noisy fit of laughter. The deception gave the oppor- tunity, and Smith's party fired into the band of savages and charged upon them. The fire was returned, but the surprised enemy gave way in a panic and fled. Only John Martin, of the whites, was wounded.
For prudential reasons, Colonel Logan had placed his wife and family at Harrodstown the previous year. remaining at St. Asaph's with his slaves and. a number of comrade settlers, to extend his improvements and cultivate his land. With more assurance of safety, he removed his household all to his new home, early in 1777. But the horizon soon grew dark with the gather- ing clouds of warning.
On the 20th of May, Logan's fort was invested by about one hundred Indians-no doubt the same body, or a part of the same, that attacked Har- rodstown and Boonesborough .? While some of the women were outside at the morning milking, and several men standing guard, the Indians fired on the latter from an adjacent cane-brake. One man was killed, another mor- tally and a third badly wounded. The rest escaped to the fort, at this time occupied by thirty-five men, women, and children. There were fifteen fight- ing men, and this number was weakened by three just fallen under the fire of the ambushed foe. Harrison, one of the wounded, ran staggering toward the fort, and fell with appealing cries for help. The savages could easily have shot him dead, but withheld their aim in the hope that comrades would venture out to his rescue, and become targets for their ready rifles. The interest of the tragic scene was intensified by the distressing cries of the loving wife, who, from behind the palisades, saw her wounded and writhing husband lying in reach of the deadly weapons of a merciless enemy, and yet within a few steps of the sheltering walls of safety. It was a scene to touch the sympathies of the hardiest and to try the courage of the bravest of the soldiers. Together they had faced the issue of life and death often, but never before had the peril presented where the chances of escape with life hung by such a slender thread. Must Harrison be left to die? or should
I Collins, Vol. I., p. 528.
2 Marshall, p. 49.
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LOGAN'S DARING RESCUE OF HARRISON.
another life sacrifice be offered in an attempt to save? Logan, as sympa- thetic as he was brave, volunteered his services, and called for some of his men to join him in the effort at rescue. All hesitated, until John Martin summoned resolution to go with Logan. Just as they passed out of the fort gate, Harrison raised on his hands and knees, as if he might be able to help himself, when under this pretext Martin withdrew into the fort again. There was too much of the hero in Logan to turn his face away from even certain death in the emergency after he had resolved. He rushed out to the wounded man, took him up in his stalwart arms, and bore him safely within the walls, amidst a continuous shower of bullets which spotted the walls and gate of the fort. but which a directing Providence warded from his person with an approving hand and a rewarding smile of recognition. He had given back a life, counted for dead, to wife and children and friends, at the risk of his own. How much nobler than to destroy a life !
The twelve guns within resolved to defend to the last, under the lead of Logan; but one danger stared them in the face. The powder and ball ran low in supply; and if this siege should be protracted, it was but a question `of time when they must be replenished, or fall into the hands of the merci- less savages. Holston, beyond Cumberland Gap, was the nearest source of supply; and to reach this point, the danger of Indian massacre must be incurred, while the reduced garrison must be weakened by the absence of the defenders. But the alternative was reached-to perish, or procure the ammunition. Logan volunteered to undertake the dangerous, again. With two trusty companions, he set out, leaving but nine guns to defend the thirty occupants of the fort, of whom were the loved of his own household-the dearest of earth to him.
Starting by night, and avoiding beaten paths, the trio safely reached Hol- ston, and obtained the supplies. Directing his men how to bring on these, Logan hastened back, and by night entered the fort, absent only ten days. The siege was yet in progress, and the little band almost at the point of despair, as his return was the first assurance that the expedition to Holston was safely made. In grateful confidence, with spirits reanimated, they re- newed their resolve to resist to the last.
Logan had shown himself the true woodsman and soldier in this advent- ure. Avoiding Boone's trace, where he knew that scouting Indians prowled in ambush, he pursued unbeaten paths through the forests, where no footstep of man had left an imprint before. Avoiding Cumberland Gap. he scaled the mountain sides, and crossed over where no Indians would ever likely waylay his party; clambering the cliffs, through brush and cane, and across rivers, only as a true man, sensible of the importance of the trust he had undertaken, could do. The escort, with the ammunition, arrived safely in due time, and this want was satisfied.
But another want came urgently on the little garrison. The investment and siege by the Indians, begun on the 4th of July, was protracted into
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
September, and the food supply ran low. Every night or two they were compelled to send out, before the break of day, some one to shoot and bring in wild meat, to appease the demands of hunger. They had long been cut off from all neighboring society and succor, and the isolation became painfully oppressive. Of neighbors, only those at Harrodstown and Boonesborough were left, and these too feeble and exposed to render assistance. Unexpected relief was nigh at hand. Colonel Bowman, at the head of one hundred men, marched from Virginia into Kentucky, in September, and fortunately directed his steps to Logan's fort. The first intimation the garrison had of their approach was the firing of the Indians on an advanced detachment of these troops, which they had ambushed, and several of whom they killed. The main body coming up, however, the Indians gave way and allowed them to enter the fort without further fighting. The siege was at once raised, and the Indians dispersed to the woods.
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