USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 1 > Part 22
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
out of the fort, cultivated their corn during the day, with the hoe in one hand and a gun in the other. A party went one morning to a neighboring plantation to assist in pulling flax, a friendly office always cheerfully tendered, but were unconsciously waylaid by a band of Indians. The wily savages, afraid to make an open attack, cut down bushes and constructed a screen in a fit situation for an ambuscade, so that no one would be able to discover them till within a few yards. Behind this leafy screen they lay, watching for the return of their unsuspecting victims, and anticipating, with savage eagerness, the pleasure of scalping the whole party. One of the young men, John McCoun, Jr., proposed to his companions, on their way homeward, to deviate a little for the purpose of gathering plums, a quantity of which grew at no great distance. As the sun was not yet down, they consented; and in consequence of this suggestion, they reached home by a more circuitous but safer route. We may imagine the mingled amazement and delight with which they discovered next day what an escape they had made from immi- nent danger. The deserted blind. and the spot where the Indians lay, till their impatience and chagrin became insupportable, were objects of curi- osity for several years."
An encounter of memorable fatality took place between a large party of Indians and Colonel David Rogers and Captain Robert Benham, command- ing a couple of keel boats loaded with military stores from New Orleans, and manned by nearly one hundred men. Colonel Rogers, with the keel boats, ascended the Ohio. on his return to Pittsburgh, and took Captain Benham on board at Louisville. The latter was then placed in command of one of the boats, and the little squadron-the second escort of military. supplies procured from New Orleans-moved on its destination up the Ohio. When Colonel Rogers reached the sand bar above the present city of Cin- cinnati, he found it bare more than half the width of the river. He now discovered a number of Indians, on rafts and in canoes, coming out of the mouth of the Little Miami river, which was then high, and shot its waters, and, consequently, the Indians on their crafts, nearly across the Ohio river. On seeing the enemy, Colonel Rogers ordered his men to land and attack, thinking he would be able to surprise them; but on landing and marching through the willows with which the bar was then covered, and before they arrived at the place where they expected to meet the Indians, they were themselves surrounded by nearly five times their number. The enemy quickly despatched the greatest part of the crew with Colonel Rogers. The remainder endeavored to retreat to the boats, but they were pursued too relentlessly with the tomahawk. One of the boats, however, escaped with two men and reached the falls. Not more than nine or ten ever returned to their families and friends. It may be safely affirmed that the annals of Indian or border warfare contain not a bloodier page.
Compared with the battle of the Blue Licks, Rogers' defeat was undoubt- edly the more sanguinary. In both instances, the success of the Indians may
153
CAPTAIN BENHAM WOUNDED.
be attributed more to the nature of the battle-ground than to their numerical superiority. They lay encamped at the foot of the river hill, a few hundred yards from its bank, on which Rogers and his men stood anxiously watching the rafts and canoes mentioned above. In this situation the Indians had only to flank to the right and left from the base of the hill to the river-a maneuver which they always performed with skill and celerity-to secure their prey. Thus hemmed in, surrounded and surprised, it is only astonishing, considering the disparity of numbers, that they were not all massacred. 1
Leonidas in the straits of Thermopyla had not to contend with more discouraging circumstances than the brave and unfortunate Rogers in this bloody horseshoe. The Indians took and plundered one of the boats, by which they got considerable booty, consisting of ready-made clothing and munitions of war, which Colonel Rogers had obtained from the Spaniards for the use of the forts on the frontier of Virginia.
It may be asked, what could have collected on the banks of the Ohio, at so early a period. four or five hundred Indian warriors armed and equipped for battle? They were for a predatory incursion against the white settlements in the interior of Kentucky-an expedition which they had undertaken in the vain expectation of extirpating the settlers. The chief of this daring band of marauders was a Canadian Frenchman of the half blood by the name of Byrd. Born and reared among savages, he was alike distinguished for cunning and ferocity-qualities which are supposed to be somewhat pecul- iar to this mongrel breed. Such, however, was the outline of his character as drawn by Colonel Campbell, whom he carried a prisoner to Detroit, and who was treated by him on the way in a most barbarous manner.
Captain Benham. shortly after breaking through the enemy's line, was dangerously wounded through the hips. Fortunately, a large tree had lately fallen near the spot where he lay, and with great pain he dragged himself into the top. and lay concealed among the branches. The Indians, eager in pursuit of the others, passed him without notice, and by midnight all was quiet. On the following day, the Indians returned to the battle-ground, in order to strip the dead and take care of the boats. Benham, although in danger of famishing, permitted them to pass without making known his condition, very correctly supposing that his crippled legs would only induce them to tomahawk him on the spot, in order to avoid the trouble of carrying him to their town. He lay close, therefore, until the evening of the second day, when, perceiving a raccoon descending a tree near him, he shot it, hoping to devise some means of reaching it, when he could kindle a fire and make a meal. Scarcely had his gun cracked, however, when he heard a human cry, apparently not more than fifty yards off. Supposing it to be an Indian, he hastily reloaded his gun and remained silent, expecting the approach of an enemy. Presently the same voice was heard again, but much nearer. Still Benham made no reply, but cocked his gun, and sat ready to
I Butler, pp. 102-6; McClung's Sketches.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
fire as soon as an object appeared. A third halloo was quickly heard, fol- lowed by an exclamation of impatience and distress, which convinced Ben- ham that the unknown must be a Kentuckian. As soon, therefore, as he heard the expression, "Whoever you are, for God's sake, answer me!" he replied with readiness, and the parties were soon together. Benham, as we have already observed, was shot through both legs. The comrade, John Watson, who now appeared, had escaped from the same battle, with both arms broken! Thus, each was enabled to supply what the other wanted. Benham, having the perfect use of his arms, could load his gun and kill game with great readiness ; while his friend, having the use of his legs, could kick the game to the spot where Benham sat, who was thus enabled to cook it. When no wood was near them, his companion would rake up brush with his feet, and gradually roll it within reach of Benham's hands, who constantly fed him and dressed his wounds, as well as his own, tearing up both of their shirts for that purpose. They found some difficulty in pro- curing water at first; but Benham, at length, took his own hat, and placing the rim between the teeth of his companion, directed him to wade into the Licking, up to his neck, and dip the hat into the water by sinking his head. Watson, who could walk, was thus enabled to bring water by means of his teeth, which Benham would afterward dispose of as was necessary.
In a few days they had killed all the squirrels and birds within reach, and Watson was sent out to drive game within gunshot of the spot to which Benham was confined. Fortunately, wild turkeys were abundant in these woods, and his companion would walk around and drive them toward Ben- ham, who seldom failed to kill two or three of each flock. In this manner they supported themselves for several weeks, until their wounds had healed so as to enable them to travel. They then shifted their quarters, and put up a small shed at the mouth of the Licking, where they encamped until late in November, anxiously expecting the arrival of some boat, which should convey them to the Falls of Ohio.
On the 27th of November, they observed a flatboat moving leisurely down the river. Benham instantly hoisted his hat upon a stick, and hallooed loudly for help. The crew, however, supposing them to be Indians, with inten- tion to decoy them ashore, paid no attention to their signals of distress, but instantly put over to the opposite side of the river, and manning every oar, endeavored to pass them as rapidly as possible. Benham beheld them pass him with a sensation bordering on anguish, for the place was much frequented by Indians, and the approach of winter threatened them with despair, unless speedily relieved. At length, after the boat had passed him nearly half a mile, he saw a canoe put off from its stern, and cautiously approach the Ken- tucky shore, evidently reconnoitering them, with great suspicion. He called loudly upon them for assistance, mentioned his name, and made known his condition. After a long parley, and many evidences of reluctance on the part of the crew, the canoe at length touched the shore, and Benham and
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THE RESTLESS DARING OF ALL MEN.
his friend were taken on board. Their appearance excited much suspicion. They were almost entirely naked, and their faces were garnished with six weeks' growth of beard. Benham was barely able to hobble upon crutches, and Watson could manage to feed himself with one of his hands. They were instantly taken to Louisville, where their clothes, which had been car- ried off in the boat which deserted them, were restored to them, and after a few weeks' confinement, both were perfectly restored.
In this age, and at this distant interval of time, it is difficult for us to realize that there were sufficient inducements to attract immigrants to a coun- try so beset with dangers, and where life and property seem daily to have been at the hazard of savage assault. Yet, we find to-day that the restless spirit of adventure, and the ever insatiate curiosity in man, are alone suffi- cient to incite him to deeds of daring and danger as great as those which beset the early Kentuckians. Though disaster and failure follow upon each vain attempt to reach the North Pole. yet others are ever ready to put their lives in jeopardy again, and hazard their all, when another Arctic expedition is announced. Thus, the restless goings of men explore and reveal to us the mysteries of interior Africa, the antiquated wonders of Corea and China, and the isolated resources and treasures of Mexico and Central America. Besides this mere spirit of unrest and desire for change, there were the pros- pective homes and fortunes, the peace and plenty, and the security and independence that must come at last to the Kentucky pioneer, if not for himself to enjoy, at least for his children.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER XV.
(1780.)
Distress from the famous " hard winter" of 1780.
Cattle and wild animals perish.
Increased immigration.
Fort Nelson built on the site of Louis- ville.
First land entries on same.
First lands confiscated for disloyalty.
Clark builds Fort Jefferson on the Mis- sissippi.
Intrigues of the French and Spanish ministers.
To control the navigation of the Missis- sippi.
To limit the United States territory.
To make of Kentucky a Spanish prov- ince.
Chickasaw Indians attack Fort Jefferson. Badly defeated.
Colonel Byrd, with five hundred In- dians and some Canadians, captures Rud- dle's and Martin's stations.
Cruel barbarities to the prisoners.
John Hinkson's escape.
His perilous adventures in flight. .
General Clark aroused to retaliation by these aggressions.
Calls out one thousand volunteers to ren- dezvous at the mouth of Licking.
Builds a block house on the site of Cin- cinnati.
The first house built there.
Marches on and captures Chillicothe and Pickaway towns. Indians flee. Towns and crops destroyed. Fight at Pickaway.
Kenton remembers the town where he was to be burned.
Pays the Indians back with his rifle.
Jacob Wickersham baffles an Indian foe with pumpkins.
Stephen Frank killed near the site of Frankfort.
This the origin of the name, Frank- fort.
Capture and escape of Alexander Mc- Connell near Lexington.
Attack on the Montgomery settlement. Bloody work.
Logan's pursuit.
Edward Boone killed near Blue Licks.
Indian dog trails Daniel in pursuit.
Boone shoots it.
Stroud's station attacked.
Thrilling incident of Boone.
First settlements in Hardin county.
First in Logan county.
Induced by survey parties on Tennessee and Kentucky boundary.
Surveyed by Dr. Walker, for Virginia, and Colonel Richard Henderson. for North Carolina.
The latter abandons the survey.
Kentucky divided into three counties, Jefferson, Lincoln. and Fayette.
John Fitch, the inventor of the first passenger steamer, comes to Kentucky.
Daniel Boone loses large sums of money in traveling to Virginia, his own and others. Stephen Trigg and John Todd elected representatives in the Virginia Assembly. Estill station erected.
Also George Boone's, Stephen Han- cock's, David Crew's, and John Tanner's, in Madison county.
Settlements in Clay, Estill, and other counties from these.
The enemies to the colonization and settlement of Kentucky, which as- sumed such a tidal growth, found a new ally in the unprecedented severity
157
THE "HARD WINTER" EXPERIENCES.
of the winter that ushered in the year 1780.1 The increase of population the preceding autumn had consumed the limited supply of the products of the field and garden by the closing of December. It was expected to replenish by transportation, as needed, but the solid ice, the deep snow, and the extreme rigors of the weather, made this impossible. The privations and sufferings consequent were sufficient to make the season ever after remembered as the "hard winter." For months, the creeks or smaller streams were frozen solid. Many families, moving in by river and land, were compelled to encamp and abide the inhospitable elements, and to endure the pains of hunger and cold in the midst of the solitudes of the wilderness. The desolate camp-fires were lit along the banks of the navigable rivers wherever the enfolding ice may have arrested the floating boat; or in the forests, where the swelling snow- drifts forbade further progress of the wearied pack-horse. The diminishing stores of food were doled out with miserly hands, and saved for the ominous future by substituting for the time the spoils of the hunter from the adjacent woods. Some, more destitute, were compelled to depend on the generous sacrifice of neighboring camps to share with them the meager supplies.
In the meantime, both the domestic cattle and the wild animals became so impoverished that many of both kinds died for the want of nourishment where there happened to be no cane, the common winter herbage for the buffalo and deer, as well as for cattle. Such was the extremity to which some emigrants were reduced, that they were forced to eat of the flesh of these dead animals, or accept the alternative of themselves perishing of hunger. The supply of breadstuffs was generally exhausted, and the majority of the people for months lived on meat alone. With rich and poor, master and servant, delicate and robust, one common fate and one common fare were shared together.
The advance of the vernal season afforded some relief. The springing cow, feasting on the foliage of leaves and grasses, divided her secretive treas- ury with the friendly family, but too eager to add the items of milk and butter to the short bill of fare so long endured. The indigenous salads and early berries came next, and finally the feast of garden vegetables and the unctuous roasting-ears of corn gave relish to the appetizing hunger of long fasting. Bounteous Providence restored again, and there was plenty in the land; but not yet its adjunct, peace. The sunshine that melted the snows and ice, and which brought to the people these blessings, brought also their old and familiar acquaintances, the Indians.
In the meantime, and despite all discouragements, the inflow of immigra- tion continued, new arrivals were frequent, and new settlements multiplied, until the inchoate Commonwealth began to assume the proportions of an interior colony.2
The Falls of Ohio seemed to attract the especial attention of emigrants, land agents, and adventurers, as well as increase in importance as the center
1 Marshall, Vol. 1, pp. 102-3.
2 Marshall, Vol. I., p. 103.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
for military operations. There were now on the waters of Beargrass, Linn, Sullivan, Hoagland, Floyd, Spring, and Middle stations, besides the Falls. Early in the year, Colonel George Slaughter, with one hundred and fifty State troops, descended the Ohio to the Falls, where Colonel Clark still main- tained headquarters.
Fort Nelson, on the north side of Main, between Seventh and Eighth streets, mentioned before, was much extended and strengthened, and was now, and after, invulnerable to any attack to be made upon it.1 Of the lower part of the plain on which Louisville is built, two thousand acres were patented December 16, 1773, in the name of John Connolly, a surgeon's mate in the hospital of the royal forces, by virtue of the English king's proc- lamation of 1763; and two thousand acres adjoining, and below Connolly's, to Charles de Warrendorff, an ensign in the royal regiment of Pennsylvania. In 1774, the latter conveyed his tract to Connolly and to Colonel John Camp- bell, an Irish gentleman, who settled afterward in Louisville, and became a prominent citizen. Connolly, after this, conveyed half of the first tract to Campbell, and Campbell conveyed half the Warrendorff tract to Connolly, so that they held two thousand acres each, the upper and lower thousands belonging to Connolly, and the middle two thousand to Campbell.
An episode, which is a part of our history, in connection with Dr. Con- nolly's title here, is most interesting. In 1774. James Douglas, deputy for Colonel William Preston, surveyor for Fincastle county, Virginia, surveyed two thousand acres for Alexander McKee, on the headwaters of the south branch of Elkhorn. In 1780, the Virginia Legislature established Transyl- vania Seminary, and one-sixth of the surveyor's fees, together with eight thousand acres of the first land in the then county of Kentucky, which should be confiscated for disloyalty to the American cause, were granted for the endowment of said institution.
On July 1, 1780, the first inquisition of escheat was held at Lexington, by the sheriff of Kentucky county, George May escheator. John Bowman, Daniel Boone, Nat. Randolph, Waller Overton, Robert McAfee, Edward Cather, Henry Wilson, Joseph Willis, Paul Froman, Jere. Tilford, James Wood, and Thomas Gant, gentlemen, jurymen, were empaneled to try whether John Connolly and Alexander McKee be British subjects or not. The ver- dict was duly rendered, that they were British subjects, and after April 19. 1775, of their own free will, departed from the said States and joined the sub- jects of his Britannic majesty, and that on the 4th of July, 1776, said Connolly "was possessed of two thousand acres on the Ohio, opposite the falls," and said McKee " of two thousand acres, on the headwaters of the south branch of Elkhorn, and no more." A large portion of Louisville is therefore built on the confiscated land that formed a part of the first tributory offerings of disloyalty to American liberty.
I Collins, Vol. IL, pp. 359-00; Louisville Directory, 1858.
2 Collins, Vol. II., p. 133.
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FORT JEFFERSON ESTABLISHED.
In 1780, the Legislature of Virginia passed an act for establishing the town of Louisville at the Falls of Ohio. and appointed John Todd, Stephen Trigg, George Slaughter, John Floyd, William Pope, George Merriwether, Andrew Hynes, and James Sullivan, gentlemen, trustees to lay off the town on a tract of one thousand acres of land. which had been granted to John Connolly by the British Government, and which he had forfeited by adhering to the said Government. Each purchaser was to build on his own lot "a dwelling house, sixteen feet by twenty at least, with a brick or stone chim- ney." The city plat was laid off this year, by William Pope. Subsequently, a new survey was made by William Peyton and Daniel Sullivan, who platted the out-lots. All traces of these surveys, as well as that of Captain Bullitt's, in 1773, have been lost. As far back as 1819, the only plat on record was that of Jared Brookes, adopted in 1812, which is just one-half of the two thousand acres granted to Connolly, the division line having been run in 1784, by Daniel Sullivan. 1
Though the heavy re-enforcement of Colonel Slaughter, with one hundred and fifty men, and the improvements made, rendered Fort Nelson a secure - retreat, the garrison seems to have afforded but little protection to the neigh- boring settlements, and rather to have drawn the attention of the Indians to that quarter. It was probably noticed by them that the folks were less cau- tious in this vicinity than in other places, and this carelessness from fancied security only invited the attacks of the enemy. The vicinity of the Ohio, being the apparent boundary between the hostile parties, offered to the sav- ages some advantages. They could with impunity approach its bank upon their own ground, cross it when convenient, strike the settlement a blow, and recross the river, before a pursuing party could be organized. Under these advantages, soldiers were shot near the fort, lives were lost or prisoners taken among the adjacent settlers, and horses stolen, with frequent impunity and occasional retaliation. Yet, the improvements extended in different directions.
Early in the summer, Governor Thomas Jefferson having sent instructions to establish a post on the Mississippi, with cannon to fortify it, Colonel George Rogers Clark, with about two hundred soldiers, left Louisville and proceeded down the river to a point called the Iron Banks, five miles below the mouth of the Ohio, and there erected a fort, with several block-houses. which he called Fort Jefferson. This division and depletion of the forces for the defense of Kentucky caused some dissatisfaction among its people, who felt that all were needed for frontier safety. The step was thought wise and imperative, however, by the sagacious governor of Virginia." It was well known that both the courts of France and Spain were inimical to the extension of the American boundary to the Mississippi, and that these pow-
I Collins, Vol. II., pp. 371 and 360.
2 Marshall, Vol. I., p. 111; Butler, p. 112; Clark's Memoirs ; Jefferson's Letters, June, 1778, and April, 1780.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
ers in Europe, and their provincial agents in their gulf coast possessions and west of the Mississippi, employed every artifice to prevent this aggrandize- ment by the United States.
The French minister at Philadelphia had prevailed on Congress to instruct its ministers in Paris "to govern themselves by the advice and opinion of the French Government," and finally obtained an instruction to the Ameri- can minister, Mr. Jay, not to insist on the free navigation of the Mississippi below latitude thirty-one degrees north, a point not far from Natchez. 1 The efforts of Spain and France for years after to limit the United States to the territory east of the Alleghanies, and to divide the great West to the Missis- sippi river between Spain and Great Britain, making the Ohio river the line, form an interesting chapter of Kentucky history which will receive attention hereafter. At this time, and subsequently, the aim was, by the arts and intrigues of diplomacy, to make of Kentucky a Spanish province. The sec- ond born infant Commonwealth to the thirteen confederated States of the rev- olution, and with a geographic relation to command the navigation of the Mississippi and its tributaries, and her own political destiny a key to determ- ine the claims of the first powers of Europe and of the United States to the territorial empire of the Mississippi valley, the history of Kentucky embraces in its amplitude the discussion of some of the most important questions of national and international politics in its earliest annals.
The instructions of Governor Jefferson of course were meant to counter- act the intrigues and encroachments of these interested European powers in the great valley of the West. The Chickasaw Indians were at this time the undisputed owners of that part of Kentucky now lying west of the Tennessee river, including the ground at the mouth of Mayfield creek, where Fort Jef- ferson was built. By some misadventure, the instruction of the governor to purchase the site, or get consent of the Indians, was not carried out, thus arousing their fierce resentment. After awhile, they began marauding and murdering individuals of the isolated families that had settled around the fort; among others, the entire family of Mr. Music, excepting himself. They captured a white man, and compelled him to reveal to them the condition of the fort garrison and the families who had sought refuge there. There were but about thirty men in the garrison, under Captain George, and a large proportion of these sick with the ague and fever. They were very much reduced in food supplies from the presence of the refugees, and the destruc- tion of their field and garden crops near by the Indians. In this condition, and under the lead of a Scotchman named Colbert, who had lived with and acquired a great influence over these Indians, they appeared in force, several hundred strong, and began a siege and attack upon the fort in the summer of 1781.2 After resistance of five days, the respective leaders, Colbert and George, met under a flag of truce to try and agree on terms of capitulation.
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