USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 10
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A few moments after the Cooks were attacked, Martin, in conversation with McAndre near his cabin, was fired upon and wounded in the knee, but not so badly as to disable him. He com-
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ESCAPE OF THE INDIANS.
menced a retreat into his house, when he received a second shot which killed him. McAndre escaped on horseback, and carried with him to the settlement one of Martin's small children.
Dunn, and two of his sons, one aged sixteen, and the other nine years, not having been ob- served by the Indians when the attack commenced, escaped to the woods and separated. The old man made his way safely to the older settlement, but the boys were afterward discovered by the Indians, and both murdered.
One of the negroes at Innis's quarter, being sick, was killed, and the two others taken captive. Of the latter, one died among the Indians, and the other returned to his master. The survivors of this infant colony were taken to the older set- tlements, where they experienced all the kindness and hospitality so characteristic of pioneer life.
The alarm quickly spread, and before night- fall a body of from seventy-five to one hundred men were in hot pursuit of the retreating foe. The main body of the Indians, however, reached the Ohio, and crossed it safely in advance of the Kentuckians. A small party, who had lingered behind and stolen some negroes and horses from another settlement, were overtaken by a party of the whites, a short distance from the river. One of the Indians was shot, but, in falling, level- led his rifle and killed one of the horsemen, who had advanced too rashly toward him.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. -
CHAPTER XII.
St. Clair superseded-Wayne appointed his successor-Colonel Hardin-Sent as a messenger to the Indians-Is murdered -Biographical notice-Hardin serves under Dunmore- Volunteers with Captain Morgan-Is wounded in the thigh -Rejoins Dunmore in an expedition against the Indian towns-Contemplates moving to Kentucky-War between England and the colonies-Hardin enlists men for the de- fence of his country-Is appointed à lieutenant-Offered a majority, but declines - Moves to Kentucky - Appointed colonel of the county militia-His services-Grave charge against Wilkinson -Tecumseh - Kenton's skirmish with him-His stratagem and escape-The last Indian inroad- Kenton forms an ambuscade on the Ohio-Kills four Indians and two white men-Escape of the others.
DEPREDATIONS still continued, and General, Washington, to the great distress of Kentucky, persevered in the employment of a regular force, instead of mounted militia. St. Clair was super- seded, and General Wayne appointed his succes- sor. A regular force was to be organized, and - a final effort made to crush the hostile tribes.
The death of Colonel John Hardin, which oc- curred in May of this year, but which was not confirmed until some time in December, created great sorrow among the people of Kentucky, by whom he was much beloved.
Colonel Hardin had been solicited by General Wilkinson, commanding at Fort Washington, to
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MURDER OF COLONEL HARDIN.
become the bearer of a flag to the hostile tribes northwest of the Ohio, with a view of negotiating terms of peace. The service was known to be dangerous, and many of those who were best acquainted with the Indian character believed it would be fatal to the undertaker. Notwithstand- ing these ominous misgivings, the chivalrous nature of Colonel Hardin would not permit him to decline a commission because of the peril at- tendant upon its performance. He accordingly set out in May, attended by an interpreter.
While on his way to the Miami villages, he ar- rived at an Indian camp, about a day's journey from where Fort Defiance was subsequently built by General Wayne, and nearly the same distance from a town inhabited by the Shawnese and Delawares.
He was well received by the Indians in camp, but had not been long there before five Delawares came in, with whom Hardin proposed to proceed to the town that evening. They, however, de- clined returning until the next day ; and as they appeared peaceably disposed, Hardin concluded to camp with the Indians during the night, which he did without molestation.
In the morning, he was murdered by some of the savages; but whether his death was ac- companied by any circumstances of barbarity, has never been ascertained. They seized his horse, gun, and saddle-bags, expecting doubtless
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
to find money and presents in the latter. His servant they made a prisoner, and taking him with them on the road to Sandusky, murdered him by the way.
Colonel Hardin fell in the thirty-ninth year of his age, after a life, the last twenty years of which had been spent, for the most part, in the service of his country.
In the expedition conducted by Governor Dun- more against the Indians, young Hardin served the capacity of ensign in a militia company. During the ensuing August, he volunteered with Captain Zach Morgan, and in an engagement with the savages was wounded while in the act of aiming his rifle at the enemy. The better to support his gun, he had sunk on one knee, and while in this position the ball struck his thigh on the outer side, ranged up it about seven inches and lodged near the groin, whence it was never extracted. The enemy were beaten, and fled.
Before he had recovered from his wound, or could dispense with his crutches, he joined Dun- more on his march to the Indian towns. Soon after the peace which ensued, Hardin turned his attention toward Kentucky, as to a scene for new adventure; and had actually prepared for his journey, when it was abandoned on account of increasing rumours of an approaching war with Great Britain.
The American Congress having determined to
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HARDIN'S MILITARY SKILL.
raise a military force, Hardin applied himself to the business of recruiting, and with such success, that he was soon enabled to join the continental army with the command of a second lieutenant. He was afterward attached to Morgan's rifle corps, which was generally on the lines, and with which he served until his resignation of his com- mission as first lieutenant, in December, 1779. In the mean time, he had acquired and held a high place in the esteem of General Daniel Mor- gan, by whom he was often selected for enter- prises of peril, which required discretion and intrepidity to insure success.
A few anecdotes have been preserved which illustrate very forcibly the coolness, courage, and eminent military talents of Hardin.
While with the northern army, he was sent out on a reconnoitring excursion, with orders to capture a prisoner, for the purpose of obtaining information. Marching silently in advance of his party, he found himself, on rising the abrupt summit of a hill, in the presence of three British soldiers and a Mohawk Indian. The moment was critical; he presented his rifle, and ordered them to surrender. The British immediately threw down their arms; the Indian clubbed his gun.
They remained motionless, while he continued to advance on them ; but none of his men having come to his assistance, he turned his head a little
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
to one side, and called them to come on. At this time, the Indian warrior, observing his eye withdrawn from him, reversed his gun with a rapid motion, with the intention of shooting. Hardin caught the gleam of light which was re- flected from the polished barrel of the gun, and readily divining its meaning, brought his own rifle to a level, and without raising his piece to his face, gained the first fire, and gave the Indian a mortal wound, who, however, was only an in- stant too late, his ball passing through Hardin's hair. The rest of the party were marched into camp, and Hardin received the thanks of General Gates.
Before he left the army he was offered a ma- jor's commission in a regiment about to be raised ; but he declined, alleging he could be of more service where he then was. In 1779 he resigned, and returned home.
The ensuing year he proceeded to Kentucky, and located lands on treasury warrants, for him- self and some of his friends. In April, 1786, he removed his wife and family to Nelson, after- ward Washington county, in Kentucky. In the same year, he volunteered under General Clark for the Wabash expedition, and was appointed quartermaster. In the course of 1789, the In- dians stole all his horses, without leaving him one for the plough. They were pursued, but escaped across the Ohio. In the same year he
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NOTICES OF HARDIN.
was appointed county lieutenant, with the rank of colonel, which gave him command of the mili- tia of the county. As the summer advanced, he determined to cross the Ohio, and scour the coun- try for some miles out, in order to break up any bands of Indians that might be lurking in the neighbourhood.
With two hundred mounted men he crossed the river, and on one of the branches of the Wa- bash fell on a camp of about thirty Shawnese, whom he attacked and defeated with a loss of two killed, and nine wounded.
From these Indians Colonel Hardin recovered two of the horses and some colts which had been stolen in the spring; and it is worthy of remark, that no more horses were stolen from that neigh- bourhood during the war.
There was no expedition into the Indian coun- try after Hardin settled in Kentucky in which he was not engaged, except that of General St. Clair, which he was prevented from joining by an accidental wound received while using a car- penter's adze. His death, which took place in the spring of 1792, has been already narrated.
General Wilkinson was much censured for sending an officer of so much importance as Har- din upon a mission of so dangerous a character, and for which service any other messenger would have answered as well. The enemies of Wilkin- son did not scruple to charge him with having
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
knowingly sent Hardin to his death, from jealousy of the great popularity which the latter had ac- quired in Kentucky. The subsequent murder of Major Trueman, an officer of great merit, who had been despatched by Wilkinson upon a similar errand, and with whom he was known to be at variance, gave additional colour to the charge.
Another Indian warrior now appeared upon the battle-fields of Kentucky; this was the cele- brated Tecumseh. He had already distinguished himself in various skirmishes with the whites, who, in the retaliatory spirit of the times, often carried the war in return into the Indian country.
In the spring of 1793, while Tecumseh and a few of his followers were hunting in the Scioto valley, they were unexpectedly attacked by a . party of whites from Mason county, Kentucky. The circumstances which led to this skirmish were the following :-
Early that spring, an express reached the set- tlement in Mason, who stated that some stations had been attacked and captured on Slate Creek, in Bath county, and that the Indians were re- turning with their prisoners to Ohio.
A party of thirty-three men was immediately raised to cut off their retreat. They were divided into three companies of ten men each; Simon Kenton commanding one, Baker another, and Captain James Ward the third. The whole party crossed the Ohio at Limestone, and aimed to
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ABORTIVE PURSUIT.
strike the Scioto above Paint Creek. After crossing this creek near where the great road from Maysville to Chillicothe now crosses it, evening came on, and they halted for the night. In a short time they heard a noise, and a little examination disclosed to them that they were in the vicinity of an Indian camp. Their horses were promptly taken back some distance and tied, to prevent an alarm. A council was held, and Captain Baker offered to go and reconnoitre, which being agreed to, he took one of his com- pany and made the examination.
- He found the Indians encamped on the bank of the stream, their horses between them and the camp of the whites. After Baker's report was made, the party determined to remain where they were until near daylight the next morning. Cap- tain Baker and his men were to march round and take a position on the bank of the stream in front of the Indian camp ; Captain Ward was to occu- py the ground in the rear ; and Captain Kenton one side, while the river presented a barrier on the other, thus guarding against the retreat of the Indians. It was further agreed that the attack should not commence until it was light . enough to shoot with accuracy.
Before Kenton and Ward had reached the po- sitions they were respectively to occupy, the bark of a dog in the Indian camp was heard, and then the report of a gun. Upon this alarm, Baker's 15*
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
men instantly fired, and Captains Kenton and Ward, with their 'companies, raising the battle cry, rushed toward the camp. To their surprise, they found Baker and his men in the rear instead of the front of the Indians, thus deranging the plan of attack, but whether from design or acci- dent is unknown. The Indians sent back the war-whoop, retreated a few paces, and took to the trees. It was still too dark to fire with pre- cision, but a few random shots were made, and a terrible shouting kept up by the Indians.
While the parties were thus at bay, Tecumseh had the address to send a part of his men to the rear of the Kentuckians for the horses, and when the animals were brought to the front, which was accomplished without discovery, the Indians mounted and effected their escape, car- rying with them John Ward, the brother of Captain James Ward, and the only one of the party who was wounded. One Kentuckian was killed, a member of Baker's company. No pur- suit was made of the Indians, nor did they prove to be of the same party who had attacked the Slate Creek station.
The last inroad made by the Indians into Ken- tucky took place in the course of the summer of this year. The spies, who had been ranging the Ohio below Limestone, discovered where a party of twenty Indians had crossed the river, and sunk their canoes in the mouth of Holt's Creek. The
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LAST INDIAN INROAD.
sinking of their canoes and concealing them was evidence of the intention of the Indians to re- cross the Ohio at the same place.
When Kenton received this intelligence, he despatched a messenger to Bourbon county, to ap- prize them that the Indians had crossed the river and had taken that direction. He immediately proceeded to collect a number of choice spirits, whom he could depend upon in a case of emer- gency.
Among the latter was Cornelius Washburn, a man both daring and sagacious. With this party Kenton crossed the Ohio at Limestone, and pro- ceeded down to opposite the mouth of Holt's Creek, where the Indian canoes lay concealed. Here his party lay ambushed for four days before they saw or heard any thing of the Indians.
On the fourth day of their ambuscade, they observed three Indians come down the bank, and drive six horses into the river. The horses swam over. The Indians then raised one of the canoes they had sunk, and crossed the Ohio. When the enemy came near the shore, Kenton discovered that of the three men in the canoe, one was a white man. As he thought the latter was probably a prisoner, he ordered his men to 1 fire at the Indians only ; they did so, and the two Indians fell. The headway which the canoe had, ran it upon the shore ; the white man in the canoe picked up his gun, and as Kenton ran
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
down to the water's edge to receive him, he snapped his gun at the whites. Kenton then ordered his men to kill him, and he was imme- diately shot.
About three or four hours afterward two more Indians and another white man came to the river and drove in five horses. The horses swam over, and the Indians, raising another of their canoes, followed across. As soon as the canoe touched the shore, Kenton's party fired upon the Indians and killed them all. The white man who was with them had his ears cut, his nose bored, and all the marks which distinguished the Indians.
Kenton and his men still kept up their ambus- cade, knowing there were more Indians and one canoe behind. Some time during the night the main body of Indians came to the place where their canoes were sunk, and hooted like owls ; but not receiving any answer, they began to think all was not right. The two parties who had been killed, the main body expected to find en- camped on the other side of the Ohio, but as no answer was given to their hootings, one of the Indians must have swum the Ohio and discovered the ambuscade. Standing on a high hill or knoll in the rear of Kenton, the savage gave three long and loud yells ; after which he shouted to his friends on the opposite shore to make their escape.
Not many minutes after he had given them this warning, the Bourbon militia came up. It
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KENTON'S ADVENTURE.
being dark, the Indians broke and run, leaving about thirty horses which they had stolen from the latter neighbourhood. £ The next morning some attempt was made to pursue the savages ; but they had scattered and straggled off in such small parties that the pursuit was soon abandoned.
CHAPTER XIII.
Genet supersedes Ternant as ambassador to the United States -Perplexing position of the government-Washington calls a cabinet council;Proclamation of neutrality resolved upon -High-handed conduct of Genet-His reception by the people-Projects an expedition against the Spanish settle- ments-Despatches agents to Kentucky to raise volunteers- George Rogers Clark commissioned a major-general in the French service- Letter to Governor Shelby from the Secre- retary of State-His reply-Democratic societies formed- Second letter to Shelby-His sympathy with the movement -Shelby's letter to the Secretary of State-Reply of Ed- mund Randolph-Washington issues a proclamation to the people of Kentucky-The recall of Genet solicited-Activity of the democratic associations-Meeting at Lexington-Re- call of Genet-The expedition abandoned-Genet marries and settles in New York.
IN the year 1793, the new republic of France being threatened with a sanguinary struggle against the combined monarchical powers of Europe, despatched Citizen Genet to supersede Ternant as ambassador to the United States.
News of the French declaration of war against
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
England reached New York five days before Genet arrived at Charleston, bringing the same tidings.
While this threatening state of affairs was creating the greatest commotion abroad, the situation of the government of the United States was singularly perplexing. The policy of the government and the interests of the country de- manded the exercise of the strictest neutrality ; but by the treaty of commerce between France and America, French privateers and prizes were entitled to shelter in the American ports-a shel- ter not to be extended to the enemies of France. By the treaty of alliance, also, the United States were bound, in express terms, to guaranty the French possessions in America.
The arrival of Genet, especially as he appeared to be armed with unusual powers, was regarded by the government with great anxiety. Nor did the conduct of the new French ambassador at all tend to decrease the feeling. To counteract the first impulse of the American people, who, retain- ing a grateful remembrance of the assistance which France rendered them in their struggle for liberty, were disposed to espouse the quarrel of their for- mer generous ally, President Washington met the members of his cabinet at Philadelphia, by whom, after an elaborate discussion of the articles of the treaty, it was unanimously agreed, that while a proclamation of neutrality should issue, Genet, as
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GENET'S EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT.
minister of the new French republic, should be re- ceived and recognised. In the mean while, Genet -who had been welcomed with the greatest enthu- siasm by the governor and citizens of South Caro- lina-commenced fitting out privateers from the port of Charleston. Two vessels, manned mostly with Americans, put to sea under the French flag, and soon made numerous captures of home- ward-bound British vessels. Washington and his cabinet, denounced the privateering commissions issued by Genet, as irregular and void ; and de- clared the condemnation of prizes by the French consuls unauthorized by treaty. The French minister, inflated by the popular acclamations with which he had been received, treated the proclamation of neutrality with contempt, and proceeded to organize various military expe- ditions within the United States, as if the lat- ter was already engaged in war as an ally of France.
The journey of Genet from Charleston to Phila- delphia was like a triumphal procession. He was escorted into the latter city by an enthusiastic crowd, feasted the succeeding day by a large body of citizens, and by his own speeches, and the inflammatory harangues of his adherents, sought to involve the United States in the war which the government so strenuously desired to avoid. Having an eye to the seizure of the Spa- nish possessions in Florida, Genet despatched
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
emissaries to the south and west, to enlist volun- teers in the service of France.
Taking advantage of the feeling in Kentucky in relation to a free navigation of the Missis- sippi River, four agents were sent into the latter state, furnished with commissions, and corre- sponding powers, to raise an army of two thousand men and appoint a generalissimo. The project was, to descend the Ohio and Mississippi in boats, attack the Spanish settlements at the mouth of the Mississippi, and bring the whole of that country under the dominion of the French re- public.
George Rogers Clark, whose distinguished ser- vices in the Illinois country have already been recorded, accepted a commission from Genet, as " Major-general in the armies of France, and commander-in-chief of the French Revolutionary legions on the Mississippi."
Much of the old renown of Clark as a compe- tent military leader had been lost by his dissi- pated habits of life ; but so great was the enthu- siasm of the people, and so strong the temptations offered by Genet, that he found no difficulty in obtaining any number of volunteers.
According to the proclamation issued by Clark, " all persons serving for the expedition were to be entitled to one thousand acres of land; those that engaged for one year were to be entitled to two thousand acres of land ; and if they enlisted
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WASHINGTON'S INTERFERENCE. 181
to serve during the continuance of the war, they were to have three thousand acres of any unap- propriated land that might be conquered. The officers were to receive a like bounty in land in proportion to their rank, while the pay of both officers and privates was to be the same as that of other French troops."
As soon as President Washington heard of the proposed expedition, he caused Governor Shelby to be informed of it, accompanied by the request that the latter would warn the citizens of Ken- tucky against the consequences ; and particularly to assure them that all acts of hostility committed by them against a nation at peace with the United States were forbidden by the laws, and would expose them to punishment.
The governor in his reply, expressed his dis- belief in the existence of any such project, and added, « that the citizens of Kentucky were pos- sessed of too just a sense of the obligations they owed to the general government to embark in any enterprise that would be so injurious to the United States." With this answer the president remained for a time satisfied. In the mean time, democratic societies, somewhat similar to the Jacobin clubs of France, were established in the East, and extended themselves to Kentucky. Two clubs of this character were formed at George- town and Paris, in the latter state. Another at an earlier date was established at Lexington.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
The members of these associations, proclaiming themselves the friends of the people, offered to become the guardians of their rights and liber- ties, against what they were pleased to call the mal-administration of the general government. They openly and bitterly condemned the presi- dent's proclamation of neutrality, abused his de- cisions in relation to Genet, and declared their abhorrence of every thing whatever which bore, the name of federal.
On the 6th of November, another letter from the secretary of state, on the part of the general government, notified the Governor of Kentucky, that Lachaise, Depeau, Mathurin, and Gregnon had left Philadelphia on the 2d of the month, empowered by the French minister to raise volun- teers and fill blank commissions at discretion. The governor was again requested not to permit them to foment within that state any hostilities against the territories of Spain. The secretary of war also wrote a letter to the governor, bear- ing the same date, authorizing Shelby to put down, by means of a military force, if necessary, the expedition projected by Genet ; giving him the assurance that the United States would hold itself responsible for all lawful expenses incurred.
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