USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
30
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction-Doctor Walker touches the northern parts of Kentucky-Explorations of John Finley-His glowing de- scriptions of the country-Boone and others proceed to Ken- tucky-Build a cabin near Red River-Boone and Stuart captured by the Indians-Mysterious fate of their companions -Arrival of Squire Boone-Stuart killed and scalped-Squire Boone returns home-Solitary condition of Daniel Boone -Returns to North Carolina-Colonel Knox and the Long Hunters-Boone sets out for Kentucky with five families-Is attacked by the Indians, and turns back-Leads a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio-Captain Bullitt-The brothers McAfee-The Wataga treaty-Operations of Boone -Attacked by the Indians-Fort at Boonesborough built -Forts of the early settlers-Harrodstown station-Immigra- tion continues-The Transylvania Company form a proprie- tary government-Virginia annuls the treaty of Wataga -Boone brings his family to Kentucky-Arrival of McGary, Hogan, and Denton-Simon Kenton.
No history of any individual state belonging to the North American Confederation presents so graphic a picture of the courage, energy, capacity of endurance, and indomitable tenacity of its peo- ple, as that of Kentucky. The sternest truths, in relation to the difficulties encountered by the bold hunters and hardy pioneers of "the dark and bloody ground," assume the wild charm and
19
20
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
vivid colouring of the most startling romance. In this case, history far transcends fiction, by giving all those minute details of time, place, and circumstance, which stamp all narratives of real adventure with the fascinating impression of per- fect lifelikeness.
As the self-reliant type of the American cha- racter at the epoch of the Revolution, the Ken- tuckian stands pre-eminent. He may even stand for it at the present day. The descendant of the cavaliers of Virginia and Maryland, he carried with him into the wilderness many of the noble qualities for which that brave, high-toned, but reckless class of people were distinguished ; while he left behind him not a few of their vices. Daring even to rashness, he was yet full of all generous impulses ; fierce to his enemies, he was yet hospitable to the stranger ; quick to resent an injury, yet prompt- to forgive it; fertile in stratagem, yet steadfast in resolve ; fiery in pur- suit, yet cool and collected in action ; never re- treating but to fight, Parthian-like, as he fell back ; never stooping to the earth but to gather strength for the rebound ; simple in his tastes and pleasures ; a doer of brave acts and generous deeds-not to gain the applause of others, but from native nobility of soul. "Free even to the verge of lawlessness, time has reversed in him the stigma which Captain John Smith had cast upon his progenitors, who, if they were amenable
21
ITS ABORIGINES.
to the censure of that valiant soldier, as being " more fitted to corrupt than found a common- wealth," have yet the merit of having redeemed their memory in the pure republicanism of their children's children.
Of the original occupants of that splendid coun- try, which, under the modern name of the State of Kentucky, stretches from the thirty-sixth to the thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and from the eighty-second to nearly the ninetieth degree of west longitude, nothing now is known. That they were superior in civilization to the In- dians who subsequently roamed its sylvan aisles, and contested their possession so long and so hardily with the Anglo-American pioneers, is sufficiently attested by the remains of their skil- fully-constructed fortifications, their copper tools for mechanical purposes, their curiously-carved pipes, and the more perfect and ingenious charac- ter of their household utensils. As to who they were, or of what nation, how they came, or whither they departed, antiquarian knowledge has hitherto been at fault, and the traditions of their ruder successors furnish no clue.
Until Dr. Walker touched upon the northern parts of Kentucky, at some time between the years 1747 and 1758, no Anglo-Saxon foot had ever stood upon its soil. Nine years after this latter period, it was partially explored by John Finley, who, on returning home from his adventurous
22
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
excursion, gave such glowing accounts of the rich- ness and fertility of the new country, that the bold and daring frontiersmen of Virginia and North Carolina were stimulated to cross the rug- ged Cumberland Mountains, and view for them- selves the beauty of a land whose genial clime, and flowery meadows, and almost eternal verdure, had animated to such a warmth of enthusiasm the usually calm and practical mind of the sturdy pioneer.
In 1769, Daniel Boone, in company with five others, of whom Finley was one, left his family upon the Yadkin in North Carolina, and started to examine the new hunting-grounds of which he had heard so favourable an account.
Near to Red River, upon the borders of the present state of Kentucky, Boone and his com- panions built a cabin to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather, and devoted their time to hunting and the chase, in which they were singularly successful.
This course of life remained undisturbed for several months, and it may be they began to think that the Indians who claimed lordship over the soil would suffer a few hunters and trappers to roam over their sylvan territory without moles- tation. If such were indeed their thoughts, the time was near at hand when they were to be fatally undeceived. On the 22d of December, Boone and his companion Stuart, while out on
23
THE BOONE BROTHERS.
one of their usual hunting excursions, were sur- prised and captured by the Indians.
After an imprisonment of seven days, the two woodsmen succeeded in making their escape, and returned to their cabin on Red Riven They found it plundered and deserted. The fate of their companions was never ascertained. A few days after this, Squire Boone, from Carolina, accom- panied by another man, reached the camp of his brother. Cheered by this unexpected reinforce- ment, small as it was, Boone and Stuart resolved to remain in the country, but the determination proved fatal to the latter ; he was soon afterward shot and scalped by the outlying savages. Boone himself escaped, but these disasters so terrified the companion of Squire Boone, that he returned home to North Carolina, leaving the two brothers alone in the wilderness, separated by hundreds of miles from the white settlements, and destitute of every thing but their rifles.
At length, their ammunition being nearly ex- hausted, it was agreed upon between the two brothers, that the younger should return to Caro- lina for a fresh supply ; while Daniel, the elder, remained to take charge of the camp. For a few days after the departure of his last remaining companion, Boone felt lonely and depressed ; but his spirits soon revived, and though the only white man in that portion of the vast wilderness, he continued his customary hunting excursions,
24
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
finding game in abundance, and cheered in his solitary rambles by the great natural beauty of the scenery around him.
Toward the close of July, 1770, the younger Boone returned. From that time until March, 1771, the two brothers continued to range the country without receiving any injury, when they retraced their steps to North Carolina.
Boone had been absent from his family for about three years, during nearly the whole of which time he had never tasted bread or salt, nor beheld the face of a single white man, with the exception of his brother and the friends who had been killed.
But while Boone was traversing singly the northern and middle regions of Kentucky, a band of resolute men from Holston, on the Clinch River, led by Colonel James Knox, and calling themselves the Long Hunters, explored the mid- dle and southern portions of the territory.
The reports brought home by Boone and his brother in relation to the loveliness of the cli- mate, and the unexampled productiveness of the soil, soon attracted other adventurers to place themselves under the leadership of the daring pioneer. Equally eager himself to return to the land which had so won upon his affections, Daniel Boone disposed of all his property, with the exception of such portable articles as he might require, and on the 25th of September, 1771,
25
DANIEL BOONE.
accompanied by his family, once more set out for his destined home. In Powell's valley Boone was joined by five other families and forty men. But though this party commenced their journey in high spirits, they grew depressed as the distance from their old homes gradually increased.
At the foot of the Cumberland Mountains they were attacked by a large body of Indians, whom they succeeded in defeating, though not until after a severe engagement, in which the whites lost six men in killed and wounded. Among the former was Boone's eldest son. Discouraged by this early initiation into dangers which they feared would increase as they advanced, they concluded to proceed no farther on their journey at this time; but to fall back upon the settle- ments on Clinch River, about forty miles from the scene of action. Here they remained until 1774.
But though his companions thus quietly, and perhaps with a sense of relief, ensconced them- selves within the limits of less dangerous territory, Boone himself was of too restless a nature to be content to live in a like calm and equable man- ner. His desire for a change, which would in- volve the exercise of both caution and daring, was soon to be gratified. At the instance of Lord Dunmore, then governor of the province of Vir- ginia, Boone consented to lead a party of survey- ors through the wilderness to the falls of the Ohio, a distance of eight hundred miles.
3
26
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
The able and judicious manner in which this arduous service was performed induced Dunmore to place Boone in command of three frontier stations in western Virginia. He remained in charge of these posts until 1774, and in the in- termediate time was engaged in several affairs with the Indians.
In the mean while, Virginia had directed that the bounty in lands which she had given to the troops engaged in the old French war should be located upon the waters of her western territory ; and in 1773 Captain Thomas Bullitt conducted a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio, where a camp was constructed to protect them from the Indians. It was at this period that many surveys were made, and wide tracts of country explored with a view to future settlement, both by the party encamped at the falls of the Ohio, and by the brothers McAfee, who had ascended to the forks of the Kentucky River.
It was now that the services of Boone were again to be put in requisition. Colonel Richard Henderson, a man who had raised himself from the low condition of a constable to the position of associate chief-judge of North Carolina, finding himself involved in great pecuniary difficulties through his wild speculations and his expensive style of living, resolved to attempt by one bold effort the acquisition of an enormous fortune. Having succeeded in forming a company for the
27
TREATY OF WATAGA.
object he proposed to effect, he availed himself of the knowledge of so experienced a woodsman as Boone, who, at his request, and at the solicita- tion of several gentleman of North Carolina, attended a treaty with the Cherokees, known as the treaty of Wataga, for the purchase of the lands south of the Kentucky River. By this treaty, all that tract of country lying between the Cumberland River, the mountains of the same name, and the Kentucky River, south of the Ohio, was transferred, for the sum of fifty thou- sand dollars, to the company of which Henderson was the chief originator. A few speculators be- came thus the owners of all that territory which now comprises more than one-half of the state of Kentucky. They immediately proceeded to take possession of their newly-acquired purchase. It was now that the assistance of so experienced a man as Boone became peculiarly valuable. His business was to mark out a road for the pack- horses and wagons of Henderson's party. Leav- ing his family on Clinch River, he set out upon this hazardous undertaking at the head of a few men, in the early part of the year 1775, and arrived, without any adventure worthy of note, on the 22d of March in the same year, at a point within fifteen miles of the spot where Boones- borough was afterward built. Here they were attacked on two successive days by the Indians, who were finally beaten off after a severe contest,
28
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
in which the whites sustained a loss of four men in killed and wounded.
On the 1st of April, they reached the southern bank of the Kentucky River, and began to build a fort, afterward known as Boonesborough. By the 16th of the same month the fort was com- pleted, notwithstanding the dangers to which they were exposed from continual interruptions from the Indians, and which occasioned the loss of another of their party.
The forts of the early settlers consisted of cabins, block-houses, and stockades, built in the form of a hollow square. A range of cabins com- monly formed at least one side of the fort. Di- visions, or partitions of logs, separated these rude dwellings from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high, the slope of the roof being invariably inward. A few of these cabins had puncheon floors, which were formed by splitting trees of about eighteen inches in diameter, and hewing the face of them with a broadaxe ; but the greater part of the floors were earthen.
The block-houses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every way larger in dimensions than the under ones, leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from
29
SETTLEMENT OF HARRODSTOWN.
making a lodgment under the walls. A large folding-gate, made of thick slabs, closed the fort on the side nearest the spring. The stockades, cabins, and block-house walls were furnished with apertures at proper heights and distances. The entire extent of the outer wall was made bullet proof. The whole of this work was constructed without the aid of a single nail or spike of iron, as such articles were not to be obtained.
Previous to this, however, another settlement had been commenced between the Kentucky and the Salt Rivers, eight miles from the former, and about one mile from the latter. In May, 1774, Captain John Harrod, with forty-one men, descended the Ohio River, and penetrating the intervening forest, selected, about the middle of June, the site for a town in the vicinity of a fine spring, and erected the usual cabins and block- houses. The settlement thus organized received soon after the name of Harrodstown.
Rendered perfectly furious by these daring en- croachments upon their old hunting-grounds, the Indians subjected the fort of Boonesborough to incessant attacks; but the fierce warriors soon found themselves confronted by a courage and endurance superior to their own, and by a cool deliberate forecast, which, in most instances, circumvented all their stratagems.
The fort was scarcely built before immigrants began to flock into the newly-acquired territory.
30
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
The first object of those to whom the territory had been ceded by the Cherokees, was to strength- en their right to it by the establishment of a pro- prietary government.
On the 23d of May, 1775, in obedience to a summons issued by Henderson, a number of per- sons residing in or around Boonesborough met under the shade of a large elm tree near the walls of the fort, and forming themselves into a legis- lative body, elected Henderson president, gave to the new country the name of Transylvania, fixed upon Boonesborough as its capital, and passed nine laws. By the compact entered into during the session of this assembly between the proprie- tors and the colonists, a free, manly, and liberal government was established over the territory. It was further agreed that the election of dele- gates should be annual; that there should be perfect freedom of opinion in matters of religion ; that judges should be appointed by the proprie- tors, but answerable for malconduct to the peo- ple ; and that the convention should elect the treasurer, and have the sole power of raising and appropriating all moneys.
This compact was solemnly executed under the hands and seals of three proprietors acting for the company, and by Thomas Slaughter, chair- man of the convention, acting for the colonists.
But the new province of Transylvania was des- tined to occupy but a brief space in the history
31
FIRST FEMALE SETTLERS.
of the North American colonies. Lord Dunmore speedily issued a proclamation refusing to recog- nise the validity of the cession, and the legisla- ture of Virginia annulled the treaty as being con- trary to the chartered rights of that state. But as some compensation to the proprietors for their services in opening the wilderness and preparing the way for civilization, they were granted a tract of land twelve miles square on the Ohio, below the mouth of Greene River.
Notwithstanding the check thus given to the ambitious schemes of the Transylvania Company, the settlements thus began continued to increase, though but slowly.
In the summer of the same year that witnessed the completion of the fort, Boone returned to Clinch River for his family. He brought them to their new home as soon as the journey could be performed, and Mrs. Boone and her daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the banks of the Kentucky River. They were soon reinforced by the arrival of the three fami- lies of McGary, Hogan, and Denton, with their wives and children.
From this time Boonesborough and Harrods- town, or Harrodsburg as it was soon afterward called, became the nucleus and support of immi- gration to Kentucky. It was during this year, also, that Simon Kenton, subsequently so emi- nently distinguished as a pioneer and Indian
ยท
32
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
fighter, erected a log cabin and raised a crop of corn within a mile of the present town of Wash- ington, in Mason county, where he continued until the autumn, when he removed to Boones- borough.
CHAPTER II.
George Rogers Clark-Suggests a meeting of the colonists at Harrodsburg-Appointed with. Gabriel Jones a member of the Virginia assembly-Applies to the council for ammuni- tion for the colonists-The daughter of Boone and two other females captured within sight of the fort-The Indians pur- sued and the captives retaken-Kentucky erected into a county of Virginia-Clark conveys the powder granted by Virginia down the Ohio-Is pursued by the Indians-Secretes the powder at the mouth of Limestone Creek-Colonel Todd de- feated near the Blue Licks-Jones and Grayson killed- McClelland's Fort attacked-Kenton and others attacked near Hinckstone station-Harrodsburg invested by the Indians- Fearful situation of James Ray-Major Clark assaults the Indians-Heroism of Logan-A spy company organized --- Skirmish at Boonesborough-The life of Boone saved by Kenton.
AMONG the numerous adventurers who crossed the wilderness and penetrated Kentucky in 1775, was one whose name afterward became peculiarly conspicuous in the annals of the state-George Rogers Clark. He was then a young man of twenty-three years of age, by profession a sur- veyor; a business which appears to have pre- sented to the enterprising young men of that day a most congenial and attractive field for the exer- cise of their energies. How long Clark continued
33
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
in this vocation is unknown. When he visited Kentucky he had already seen service, having, in what was called Dunmore's war, been already engaged at the head of a company in active opera- tions against the Indians. Clark remained in Kentucky during the spring and summer of this year, familiarizing himself with the resources of the country, and from his already well-known and commanding talents, was at once selected to command the irregular militia of the settlements. In the fall he returned to Virginia; but came back again to Kentucky in the spring of the fol- lowing year, with the view of making it his per- manent home. From this time forth his name is closely associated with the progress of western settlements in power and civilization. His mind had been very early impressed with the immense importance of the frontier country to the security of the parent state Virginia, and the necessity of a more regular system of military operations. With the view of accomplishing this design, he suggested to the settlers, on his return, the pro- priety of convening a general assembly of the people at Harrodsburg, for the purpose of form- ing a more definite and certain connection with the government and people of Virginia than as yet existed. Owing to the difficulties and dis- putes arising out of the contested claims of the Transylvania Company, this step was rendered imperatively necessary, in order that the relation
34
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
of the settlement to Virginia might be distinctly ascertained. The proposed meeting was accord- ingly held at Harrodsburg on the 6th of June, 1776, when Clark and Gabriel Jones were chosen delegates to the assembly, which then held its session at Williamsburg, the ancient capital of Virginia. Finding on their arrival that the legis- lature had adjourned, Jones directed his steps to the settlements on Holston, leaving Clark to at- tend alone to the Kentucky mission.
He immediately waited on Governor Henry, then lying sick at his residence in Hanover county, to whom he stated the objects of his journey. Bearing a letter from the governor, Clark next waited on the executive council of the state, and made application for five hundred weight of gunpowder for the defence of the vari- ous stations. To this application the indefinite state of the relations existing between the colo- nists and Virginia interposed a temporary ob- stacle. It was at length, however, overcome by the firmness of Clark, and an order was passed on the 23d of August, 1776, by which the keeper of the magazine was directed to transmit the gun- powder to Pittsburg, to be there delivered to Clark, or to such other persons as he might appoint to receive it, for the use of the people of Kentucky.
This liberal conduct on the part of the council may probably have been hastened by an incident which had already occurred at Boonesborough,
35
CAPTURE OF AMERICAN GIRLS.
-
in the month preceding. On the 7th of July, a daughter of Boone, and two other females by the name of Calloway, were amusing themselves in a canoe within sight from the fort, when a concealed party of Indians suddenly rushed from the surrounding coverts and carried them away captives. The screams of the terrified girls quickly alarmed the families in the garrison ; but, as it was near nightfall, and the canoe on the opposite side of the river, pursuit was not commenced in time to follow more than five miles during the night.
815680
By daylight next morning, a party, consisting of Daniel Boone, Colonel Floyd, and six others, got upon their track, and continued the pursuit. The exceeding caution of the Indians rendered it difficult for the pursuing party to keep on their trail, but they pressed forward notwith- standing in the direction they supposed the In- dians would take, and with almost incredible rapidity. Having travelled about thirty-five miles, they struck a buffalo trace, where they found the tracks quite plain. The pursuit was urged on with great keenness, and at the further distance of ten miles, they came in sight of their foes just as they were kindling a fire to cook.
Both parties saw each other at the same in- stant. Four of the whites fired, and then charged so suddenly and furiously upon the Indians, that they were compelled to retreat, with a single shot-
36
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
gun without ammunition, and without having time to tomahawk their captives. The girls sustained no other injury than excessive fright and fatigue. Two of the Indians were killed. The whites were so much rejoiced at the recovery of their children, that they refrained from continuing the pursuit, and retraced their steps to the fort.
At the fall session of the Virginia legislature, Clark and his associate Jones laid the Kentucky memorial before that body. Though not ad- mitted to take their seats as recognised mem- bers, they were yet able to defeat the endeavours of Colonels Henderson and Campbell, who were still contending for the validity of the Wataga treaty, and to obtain the passage of a law by which the cis-montane territory was recognised as a part of the state of Virginia, and erected into a county, under its previous name of Ken- tucky.
By this act, which was passed on the 6th of December, 1776, Kentucky became entitled to a separate county court, two justices of the peace, a sheriff, constables, coroners, and militia officers. In the spring of 1777, the court of quarter ses- sions held its first sitting at Harrodsburg, at- tended by the sheriff of the county, and his clerk Levi Todd. The first court of Kentucky was composed of John Todd, John Floyd, Benjamin Logan, John Bowman, and Richard Calloway.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.