USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 3
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Having thus succeeded to a considerable ex-
37
TRANSPORTATION OF GUNPOWDER.
tent in the mission they were delegated to perform, Clark and Jones set out once more for Kentucky. Being advised that the powder was still remaining at Pittsburg, they determined to proceed home by that route and bring it with them. This duty was one of great' danger. The Indians around Pittsburg were both numerous and hostile, and it was requisite to use the utmost secrecy and caution to avoid being intercepted by them. Hastily embarking with the powder, to which had been added a good supply of lead, Clark and Jones, assisted by seven boatmen, moved with great expedition down the Ohio, with the In- dians following vigorously in the rear ; but they finally succeeded in eluding their pursuers for a time by turning in at the mouth of Limestone Creek, at the spot where the city of Maysville now stands.
After ascending the creek a short distance, the cargo was landed and buried, at different places in the woods along its banks. They then turned their boat adrift, and directed their course to the nearest station, with the view of returning, accompanied by an escort sufficient to insure the safe transportation of the stores. The first sta- tion they approached was McClelland's, situated where Georgetown now stands. Finding it too weak in numbers to justify detaching a sufficient party to convey the secret ammunition, Clark, piloted by Simon Kenton-who had broken up his
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
old camp and joined the settlers at McClelland's -set out for Harrodsburg. Unfortunately, du- ring their absence, Jones prevailed on Colonel John Todd and ten men to accompany him to the place where the ammunition was concealed. They accordingly set out, and on the 25th of December, while in the vicinity of the Blue Licks, were encountered by the Indian chief Pluggey and defeated. Jones and William Grayson were killed, and two of the party taken prisoners. The remainder escaped into the station, where Clark and Kenton arrived soon after with a reinforce- ment from Harrodsburg.
On the morning of the 1st of January, 1777, Pluggey and his warriors appeared before the fort. McClelland and his men sallied out to attack them, but were repulsed, McClelland him- self and two of his men being slain, and four others wounded. The Indians soon afterward withdrew, and in a few days the ammunition was brought in safety to the station by a party orga- nized and led by Clark.
This welcome acquisition, by supplying the colonists with an abundance of that ammunition of which they stood in so much need, enabled them subsequently to make a successful defence against the savages, by whom they now began to be constantly beset on all sides. The danger indeed grew so threatening, that McClelland's Fort was abandoned, as the neighbouring station
39
FRAY WITH THE INDIANS.
of Hinckston's had been a short time previous, and the settlers from both places, in great gloom and amidst the lamentations of the women and children, departed for Harrodsburg. Here Ken- ton also took up his abode.
In the spring, Clark, who had now command of the settlements, with the title of major, sent Kenton, John Haggin, and four others, to Hinck- ston's old station, to break out some flax and hemp. Haggin was in front, and observed a party of In- dians encamped around the deserted fort. Ken- ton, who was as prudent as he was brave, advised an immediate retreat ; but when Haggin remarked, that it would be an act of cowardice to run with- out having one fire; Kenton sprang from his horse, and the others, with one sensible exception, followed his example. In the mean time, the In- dians, who had already discovered the approach of the whites, opened a brisk fire upon the latter, which speedily compelled them to seek safety in flight. Directing his party to retreat into Har- rodsburg, Kenton separated from them, to put the garrison at Boonesborough on their guard. Al- though he reached the vicinity of the fort at an early hour, he determined not to enter it before darkness set in, knowing the custom of the In- dians to lie in ambush around the stations, and thus cut off whoever might attempt to enter or depart. This caution saved his life; for when he obtained admittance into the fort, he found
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the men carrying in the bodies of two of their friends who had been killed a few hours before, on the very same path by which he entered.
In March, 1777, while James Ray, his brother, and another man, were engaged in clearing some land about four miles from Harrodsburg, they were attacked by a party of forty-seven Indians, under the command of the celebrated chief Black- fish. The Indians were attracted to the place by the noise of the axes, and rushing in upon the choppers, killed the younger Ray, and took the third man prisoner. The elder Ray-distin- guished afterward as General James Ray-being uninjured by the discharge of rifles, fled in the direction of the fort. Several of the swiftest In- dians followed him, but such was his fleetness and activity, that he distanced them all, and reached the fort in safety.
By this fortunate escape of Ray, the garrison at Harrodsburg were enabled to prepare them- selves in time for the expected attack. The militia was immediately organized, ammunition provided, water and provisions secured, and the fort put in the best possible state of defence.
On the morning of the 7th of March, 1777, several days after the escape of Ray, the Indians approached the vicinity of the fort, and, prelimi- nary to an attack, fired an out-cabin on the east side of the town.
The garrison, unconscious of the proximity of
41
RAY'S ADVENTURE.
the enemy, and supposing the fire to be the result of accident, rushed out of the fort with a view to extinguish the flames. The Indians in- stantly attempted to intercept their return. The whites retreated, keeping up a random fire until they reached a piece of woods on the hill, now occupied by the court-house in Harrodsburgh, where each man took a tree, and soon caused the Indians in turn to give back, when the detach- ment from the garrison succeeded in regaining the fort. In this skirmish one Indian was killed, and four of the whites wounded, one of whom subsequently died.
During the same year, while Ray and a man named McConnell were shooting at a mark near the fort, the latter was suddenly shot down by the Indians. Ray instantly glanced his eye in the direction of the shot, and perceiving the ene- my, raised his rifle to avenge the death of his friend, when he was suddenly attacked by a large body of Indians, who had crept near him unseen. His powers as a runner were again called into requisition, and Ray bounded towards the fort, distant a hundred and fifty yards, with the speed of an antelope, amidst showers of bullets from the savages. But when he approached the gates of the fort, he found them closed, and the garri- son. too much under the influence of their fears to open them for his admission. In this critical situation, pursued by the savages, and refused
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
shelter by his friends, Ray threw himself flat upon the ground, behind a stump just large enough to protect his body. Here, within seven steps of the fort wall, in sight of his mother, he lay for four hours, while the Indians kept up an incessant fire, the balls often striking and tear- ing up the ground on either side of him. At last, becoming somewhat impatient, he called out to the garrison, and entreated them to dig a liole under the cabin wall, and take him in. Strange as may have appeared the suggestion, it was im- mediately carried out, and the noble young hunter was speedily within the shelter of the fort, and in the arms of his friends !
Owing to the watchfulness of the Indians, but little corn was raised around Harrodsburg the whole of this season. In order to make up for the deficiency, the people of the fort determined late in the season to make a turnip patch, about two hundred yards northwest of the station. While clearing the ground, an Indian was shot at by the guard, and the men retired. The next day the cattle were perceived to be disturbed, and snuffing the air about a small field in the farthest corner, that had been allowed to grow up in very high weeds. The presence of concealed Indians was instantly suspected, so sure were the cattle to betray their vicinity, either from the sight of the Indians themselves, or from the smell of the paint upon their persons. This indication prompt-
43
INDIANS SURPRISED.
ed Major George Rogers Clark to turn the am- buscade upon the enemy. For this purpose, some men were still kept at work in the turnip patch nearest the fort, and in order to prevent suspicion by the Indians of any movement from within, they occasionally hallooed to their companions to come out to their work, while Clark, with a party of the garrison, sallied out of the fort with great secrecy, and, making a circuit, came up on the rear of the Indians as they lay concealed in the weeds. A volley was discharged at the concealed foe, and four of their number killed-one by Clark and another by Ray. The Indians in- stantly retreated, and were pursued by the whites about four hundred yards down the creek, where they came upon the remains of a deserted Indian encampment, of sufficient extent for the accom- modation of five or six hundred warriors, From this camp the enemy had issued during the pre- ceding summer to assail the stations, which they had kept in a state of constant alarm, and had destroyed the greater portion of their horses and cattle. The Indians had now abandoned their position, and the party which had just been pur- sued was supposed to be the remnant of the In- dian force which had occupied the encampment. Major Clark complimented Ray with the gun of the Indian which he had shot, and which was the first he had ever killed. The property found in the Indian camp, consisting principally of cooking
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
utensils, was, as usual, divided by lottery among the captors.
In 1775, there was a fort established by Colo- nel Logan at St. Asaph's, in Lincoln county, and within a mile of the present town of Stanford. It was called Logan's Fort. On the 20th of May, 1777, this fort was invested by a force of one hundred Indians; and on the morning of that day, as some of the females were outside of the gate engaged in milking the cows, the men, who acted as the guard for the occasion, were fired upon by a party of Indians concealed in a thick canebrake. One man was shot dead, another mortally wounded, and a third so badly disabled as to be incapable of making his escape ; the remainder made good their retreat into the fort, and closed the gate.
Harrison, the wounded man, by a violent ex- ertion ran a few paces and fell. The garrison strongly sympathized with the exposed sufferer, but the danger was so hazardous that they resist- ed for some time the agonizing appeals of the wretched wife whose husband lay writhing before her eyes. The enemy forbore to fire upon Har- rison, in the hopes of luring a portion of the gar- rison to his assistance. Though there were but twelve effective men within the gates, Logan could not resist the heart-moving appeals made by the family of Harrison, and called upon some of his men to follow him. At length John Martin con-
45
LOGAN'S HEROISM.
sented, and rushed with Logan from the fort; but he had not gone far before he shrank from the imminence of the danger, and sprang back within the gate. Logan paused for a moment, then dashed on alone and undaunted, reached unhurt the spot where Harrison lay, threw him over his shoulders, and amidst a tremendous shower of rifle balls made a safe retreat into the fort.
Subsequent reinforcements obtained by the heroism of Logan compelled the baffled savages to retire.
About this time a regulation was adopted, which subsequently proved of infinite service to the safety of the settlements. To watch the In- dians and give notice of their approach, six spies were appointed; two for each of the only three stations then remaining. For the payment of these spies, Major Clark pledged the faith of Vir- ginia. Boone appointed Kenton and Brooks ; Harrod, Samuel Moore and Bates Collier ; and Logan, John Conrad and John Martin. These men performed good service. It was the custom for two each week, by turns, to range up and down the Ohio, and about the deserted stations, looking for Indian signs. By this means, the settlers had timely notice during the year of the approach of the enemy, with the exception of the occasion following.
Early on the morning of the 4th of July, while
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
Kenton and two others, who had loaded their guns for a hunt, were standing in the gate of the fort at Boonesborough, two men in the fields adjacent were fired on by the Indians. They immediately fled, not being hurt. The Indians pursued them, and a warrior overtook and toma- hawked one of the men within seventy yards of the fort, and proceeded leisurely to scalp him. Kenton shot the daring savage dead, and imme- diately with his hunting companions gave chase to the others.
Boone, hearing the reports of fire-arms, has- tened with ten men to the relief of Kenton. The latter turned, and observed an Indian taking aim at the party of Boone; quick as thought he brought his rifle to his shoulder, pulled the trigger first, and the redman bit the dust.
Boone, having advanced some distance, now discovered that his party, consisting of fourteen men in all, was cut off from the fort by a large body of the enemy, who 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 endeavour to reach the fort.
At the first fire of the Indians, seven of the fourteen whites were wounded, and among the number the gallant Boone, whose leg being bro- . ken, he fell to the ground. An Indian sprang
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EXPLOIT OF KENTON.
on him with an uplifted tomahawk, but before the blow descended, Kenton rushed on the warrior, discharged his gun into his breast, and bore his leader into the fort. When the gate was closed, and all things secure, Boone sent for Kenton, and said to him, « Well, Simon, you have be- haved yourself like a man to-day-indeed, you are a fine fellow." This was great praise from Boone, who was a taciturn man, and little given to compliment. Kenton had certainly fully earned the brief eulogium ; he had saved the life of his captain, and killed three Indians with his own hand. The enemy, after keeping up the siege for three days, retired.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER III.
Border life-Clark sends spies to Kaskaskia-Projects an in- vasion of Illinois-Submits to the Governor of Virginia a plan of operations against the British outposts-Is appointed to lead the expedition-Boone taken prisoner at Blue Licks -Escapes from Chillicothe and returns to Boonesborough -- Is besieged by a large Indian force led by Captain Du Quesne -Artifices of the Indians-The siege raised-Clark cap- tures Kaskaskia and Cahokia-Sends his prisoners to Vir- ginia-Takes Vincennes-His success in conciliating the Indians-Governor Hamilton recaptures Vincennes-His ulterior designs - Clark resolves to attack Hamilton-His terrible march through the wilderness-Reaches Vincennes -His stratagem-Fatal accuracy of his rifles-Governor Hamilton surrenders.
As the war had hitherto been carried on in Kentucky, the colonists had successfully de- fended themselves in the three principal stations of Boone, Harrod, and Logan, from the nume- rous hordes of Indians by whom they were almost continually surrounded. There appears to have been a fierce excitement in this border life, which with many of those brave and restless spirits grew at length into a passion.
Removed to a distance of several hundred miles from the nearest white settlement, these isolated borderers, whose numbers, in September, 1777, did not exceed eighty-one men capable of bearing arms, speedily acquired that intense love
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BRITISH INSTIGATION.
of freedom and that loathing of restraint which the wild life of a forester so naturally engenders.
Major Clark, though still a very young man, seems to have been endowed naturally with by far the most thoughtful and sagacious mind of all the colonists. He was no sooner enabled to acquire a correct knowledge of the sources from which the Indians derived support and encou- ragement in their hostilities, than he came to the conclusion that the only way to put a stop to their sanguinary inroads, was by striking a direct blow at those points where they were fostered and encouraged.
Casting his eyes toward the British posts of Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia, he saw at once the origin of all the frontier difficulties. It was by the arms and clothing supplied at these military stations, that the merciless ferocity of the Indian warriors was stimulated to the com- mission of those excesses by which the frontiers had been so long deluged with blood.
In order to substantiate the correctness of these views, Clark despatched two spies to recon- noitre the British posts, and report their situa- tion. On their return they brought intelligence of great activity on the part of the garrisons, who omitted no opportunity to encourage the Indian depredations on the settlements in Ken- tucky. They also informed him, that, although the British had sought by means of wilful mis-
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
1
representation to prejudice the French inhabit- ants of those remote stations against the Vir- ginians and Kentuckians, there were many among them affectionately inclined toward the Ameri- cans and their cause. This was in the summer of 1777. In December of the same year, Clark submitted to the executive of Virginia a plan for the reduction of the British posts. The result was in every respect satisfactory. The governor and council, finding that but little was required, and being struck with the great practical sagacity of the young frontiersman, granted him such facilities as he needed. As it was imperative for the success of the expedition that it should be conducted with the utmost secrecy, Clark re- ceived, on the 2d of January, 1778, two sets of in- structions,-one public, directing him to proceed to Kentucky for its defence,-the other private, ordering an attack upon the British post at Kaskaskia in Illinois. Twelve hundred pounds were advanced to defray the necessary expenses, and an order on the Virginia commandant at. Fort Pitt directed the latter to furnish Clark with such boats and military stores as were re- quisite for the object he had in view.
Some time was consumed in organizing the expedition, and in the mean while the colonists of Kentucky experienced a disaster which seriously threatened the entire annihilation of their settle- ments.
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BOONE CAPTURED.
In the month of February, Boone, at the head of thirty men, was at the lower Blue Licks, en- gaged in making salt, when he was surprised by one hundred Indians, on their march to attack Boonesborough, and himself and party taken pri- soners. They surrendered on terms of capitula- tion, which were faithfully observed by the In- dians, and were all carfied to Detroit. Here his companions were delivered over to the English commandant, but Boone was reserved by the Indians and taken to Chillicothe. His captors treated him with great kindness, and permitted him to hunt with but little restraint upon his motions.
He continued to bear his imprisonment with well-assumed cheerfulness until the second week of June, when, observing that a large concourse of warriors had assembled, painted and equipped, for an expedition against Boonesborough, he de- termined to effect his escape at every hazard. He waited until the morning of the 16th of June, when making an early start he left Chillicothe, and after a journey of one hundred and fifty miles in four days, during which time he had partaken of but one meal, he reached Boonesborough, and was received by the garrison as one risen from the dead.
His family, supposing him killed, had returned to North Carolina, and his men, apprehending no
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
danger, had suffered the defences of the fort to fall into decay.
As the enemy might be hourly expected, no time was lost in strengthening the place to the utmost. The garrison laboured night and day, and after ten days' severe exertion, were enabled to rest from their long-continued toil, fully pre- pared for the approach of the savages. Boone learned soon afterward, that in consequence of his escape the Indians had determined to delay their attack for some weeks. The attack was delayed so long, that Boone resolved to carry the war into the Indian country. Marching with nineteen picked men against the town of Paint Creek on the Scioto, he encountered, within four miles of the town, a party of thirty warriors, on their route to join the main army in its attack on Boonesborough. This party he assaulted, and put to the rout without loss or injury to him- self; and then, hastily retracing his steps, suc- ceeded in eluding the Indian force on the sixth day of their march, and reached the fort in safety.
The following day, the Indians, five hundred strong, commanded by Captain Du Quesne and other British Canadian officers, appeared before the gates. The British colours were displayed, and the fort summoned to surrender. Boone re- quested two days for consideration, which were granted. His garrison consisted of only fifty,
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SIEGE OF BOONESBOROUGH.
and he could expect no assistance from Logan or Harrod, as all communication between the sta- tions was cut off by strong detachments of the enemy. At the expiration of the armistice an answer was returned, that the fort would be de- fended to the last.
A proposition was then made to treat, and Boone and eight of the garrison met the Bri- tish and Indian officers on the plain in front of the fort, when an effort being made to detain the Kentuckians as prisoners, they sprang out from the midst of their savage enemies, and succeeded, under a heavy fire of rifles, in gaining the fort, with only one man wounded. The attack was instantly commenced by a heavy fire against the picketing, and was returned by the garrison with fatal accuracy. The Indians then attempted to push a mine into the fort, but their object being discovered by the quantity of fresh earth they were compelled to throw into the river, Boone cut a trench within the fort so as to intersect their line of approach, and thus frustrated their design.
After exhausting all the ordinary artifices of Indian warfare, and finding their numbers daily thinned by the fatal fire from the garrison, they raised the siege on the ninth day from their first appearance, and returned home. The loss on the part of the garrison was two men killed, and four wounded. Of the savages twenty-seven were killed, and many wounded, who, as usual, were
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
carried off. £ This was the last siege sustained by Boonesborough.
Unconscious of the terrible danger with which the frontier stations were menaced, Colonel Clark, with a force of only four companies, furnished by Virginia, and a few scouts and guides, de- scended the Ohio in boats to the falls, where he landed on Corn Island thirteen families, who had accompanied him from Pittsburg as immigrants to Kentucky. It was these immigrants who shortly afterward laid the foundation of Louisville on the opposite shore.
Proceeding on his way, Clark floated down the Ohio until he reached an island at the mouth of the Tennessee. Here he was so fortunate as to encounter a party of hunters, from whom he ob- tained much important intelligence in relation to the state of things at Kaskaskia. They reported that the garrison was under the command of M. Rocheblave, that the militia were well disciplined, and, that in apprehension of an expedition from Kentucky, spies were stationed on the Missis- sippi River, and Indian hunters directed to keep a sharp look-out for the approach of any hostile force. Expressing their belief that the post might be captured by surprise, the hunters offered their services as guides, which being immediately accepted, the party again set out. Concealing their boats at a point on the Illinois shore near old Fort Massac, the little army took up its line
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CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA.
of march through the wilderness ; Clark march- ing at the head of his men, and sharing their con- dition in every respect.
On the evening of the 4th of July, 1778, the expedition arrived in the neighbourhood of the town, where it lay until dark, when the march was resumed. That night the town and fort were surprised and captured, without the effusion of a drop of blood. M. Rocheblave, the British go- vernor, was taken in his bed, but very few of his public papers were secured, as they were secreted or destroyed by his wife, whom the Kentuckians, from honourable motives of delicacy, refrained from molesting.
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