USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 4
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
In the course of a few days, Clark, by his wise and prudent policy, was so successful in dissi- pating the alarm and gaining the affection of the French inhabitants, that they became far more strongly attached to the American government, than they had been previously to that of their British rulers.
Having thus, by his humane conduct, even more than by the success of his arms, secured the safety of his command, he next turned his atten- tion to the reduction of the village of Cahokia, situated about sixty miles up the Mississippi. The capture of this small post was a proceeding of some importance, inasmuch as the village, though a small one, enjoyed a considerable trade with the Indians, and was a depot for the distri-
56
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
bution of arms and ammunition to the latter, many of whom were in the neighbourhood when the Americans approached.
Major Bowman, to whom Clark had intrusted the command of the expedition, reached the vici- nity of the town without detection. The detach- ment was strengthened by the addition of several gentlemen, citizens of Kaskaskia, who had volun- teered their services in the humane hope of being able, by their influence, to secure the surrender of the post without bloodshed. Their hopes were crowned with the most gratifying success. The inhabitants were at first surprised and alarmed, but when they learned of the gentlemen from Kas- kaskia, with what a noble humanity the Americans had acted at the latter place, the general con- sternation was converted into shouts of welcome.
Having secured and sent off his prisoners to Virginia, Clark next turned his attention toward the British post at Vincennes. By the enthu-
siastic agency of a French priest, M. Gibault, the enterprise was achieved with the same ease which had characterized his former ones. On the 1st of August, the inhabitants threw off their alle- giance to the British, the garrison was over- powered and expelled, and the American flag displayed from the ramparts of the fort.
Leaving a small force under Captain Helm for the protection of the place, Clark now retraced his steps to Kaskaskia, where he employed con-
57
HAMILTON RE-CAPTURES VINCENNES.
siderable time in conciliating the various Indian tribes who had hitherto been so fiercely hostile to the Americans. The successes he had achieved, the influence of the great name he had already acquired among savages, joined to his thorough knowledge of the Indian character, enabled him, in the course of a short time, to detach them from the British interest and link them to the cause of the Americans.
In the mean time, Clark, having no tidings from Vincennes, became seriously anxious as to the fate of the small garrison he had left at that place. His fears were not without foundation.
On the 20th of January, 1779, Colonel Vigo brought the information that Governor Hamilton, who commanded the British force in the north- west, had marched from Detroit with a mixed force of British and Indians, had taken prisoners the handful of men left by Clark to garrison Vincennes, and re-established the British power. Colonel Vigo also stated, that the object of Ha- milton was not merely limited to recapturing the forts taken by Clark from the British, but that his intentions were to lay waste Kentucky, and then advance up the Ohio and seize Fort Pitt. The season, however, being so far advanced, he had determined to defer his project until the ensuing spring ; and, in the meanwhile, had con- cluded to employ his Indians in desultory attacks upon the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia.
58
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
Clark now clearly saw that his position at Kaskaskia was a very precarious one. Cut off from all hopes of obtaining reinforcements, he must either extricate himself by a bold and sudden attack upon Hamilton at Vincennes, or wait his approach and then defend himself in the best manner he was able. He decided upon the former. He no sooner learned from his spies that the Indian force under Hamilton had de- parted from Vincennes, to commence their war- fare on the settlements, and that Hamilton lay at Vincennes with his regulars only, than he resolved to proceed against him at once, and capture both the commander and garrison by a coup de main.
He accordingly made immediate preparation for the expedition. On the 7th of February, he commenced his march through the wilderness with a force of one hundred and seventy-five men, having previously despatched Captain Rogers, with a company of forty-six men and two four- pounders in a boat, with orders to force their way up the Wabash, station themselves a few miles below the mouth of White River, suffer, nothing to pass, and wait for further orders.
For seven days the land expedition pursued its toilsome course over the drowned lands of Illinois, exposed to every privation that could exhaust the spirits of men, when it arrived at the Little Wabash ..
1
59
INTREPID PERSEVERANCE.
But now the worst part of the expedition was still before them. At this point the forks of the stream are three miles apart, and the oppo- site heights of land five mile's distant even in the ordinary state of the water. When the expedi- tion arrived, the intervening valley was covered with water nearly three feet in depth.
Through this dreadful country the expedition was compelled to make its way until the 18th, when they arrived so near Vincennes that they could hear the morning and evening guns at the fort. On the evening of the same day they en- camped within nine miles of the town, below the mouth of the Embarrass River. Here they were detained two days, having no means of crossing the river. On the 20th, the guard surprised a boat, in which the men and arms were transported to the opposite shore. There was still, however, an extensive sheet of water to be passed, which, on sounding, proved to be up to the arm-pits. When this discovery was made, the whole detach- ment began to manifest symptoms of alarm and despair, which Colonel Clark observing, took a little powder in his hand, mixed some water with' it, and having blackened his face, raised an In- dian whoop and marched into the water.
The effect of the example was electrical, and the men followed without a murmur. In this manner, and singing in chorus, the troops made their way through the water, almost constantly
60
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
waist deep, until they arrived within sight of the town. The immense exertion required to effect this march may not be described. When the men reached the dry land, they were so exhaust- ed that many of them fell, leaving their bodies half immersed in the water.
Having captured a man who was discovered shooting ducks, Clark sent by him a letter into the town, notifying the inhabitants he should take possession of the place that night.
On the evening of the 23d, the detachment set off to take possession of the town. After march- ing and countermarching around the elevations of the plain, and displaying several sets of colours to give the garrison as exaggerated an idea of their numbers as possible, Clark posted his men on the heights at the rear of the village and opened a spirited fire upon the fort. The men would lie within thirty yards of the fort un- touched by its guns, from the awkward elevation of its platforms, while no sooner was a port-hole opened, than a dozen rifles would be directed at it, cutting down every thing in the way. The garrison became discouraged, and could not stand to their guns, and in the evening of the next day the British commandant, finding his cannon use- less and apprehensive of the result of being taken at discretion, sent a flag asking a truce of three days. This was refused, and on the 24th of February, 1779, the fort was surrendered, and
61
THE FIRST BLOCK-HOUSE.
the garrison became prisoners of war. On the 25th, it was taken possession of by the Ameri- cans, the stars and stripes were hoisted, and thirteen guns fired to celebrate the victory.
CHAPTER IV.
The first block-house built at Lexington-Expedition of Colonel
Bowman against Chillicothe-Bravery of Logan-Singular conduct of Bowman-The attack by Logan-Bowman orders a retreat-Harassed by the Indians-The savages repulsed by Logan and others-Land law of Kentucky-Its obnoxious features-Vexatious law-suits arising from it-Colonel Rogers attacked by the Indians on the Ohio-Dreadful slaughter of the whites-Romantic anecdote of Captain Denham and his companion -Ruddell's station attacked by Canadians and Indians under Colonel Boyd-Ruddell surrenders-Treache- rous conduct of the savages-Indignation of Byrd-Mar- tin's station captured-Byrd retreats down the Ohio -- Es- cape of Captain Hinckston-His ingenuity in discovering the route to Lexington by night-His perilous escapes-Sur- rounded by Indians-Reaches Lexington in safety-Indians retreat with their booty.
LEAVING Clark in possession of Vincennes, let us now turn to Kentucky and watch the progress of events in that quarter.
The first thing for which the year 1779 was distinguished among the frontiersmen, was the building of a block-house by Robert Patterson, upon the spot where the beautiful city of Lexing- ton now stands. This was in the early part of April.
In July of the same year, Colonel Bowman led
6
62
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
an expedition against the Indian town of Chilli- cothe, and as the attack ended disastrously, not- withstanding the bravest spirits of Kentucky marched under Bowman's orders, it may be as well to narrate the affair with some minuteness of detail.
In this expedition Colonel Logan was second in command; while Harrod, Bulger, Bedinger, and others, held subordinate stations.
The detachment consisted of one hundred and sixty men, well accustomed to Indian warfare, and, if we except Bowman, officered by the best men upon the frontier.
So secretly had the measures been taken for a surprise, that from the time they left Harrods- burg until they reached within a mile of Chilli- cothe, they had successfully eluded the vigilance of the enemy, whom the spies reported as utterly unconscious of their approach, and in a state of the most perfect exemption from alarm.
Putting the party in motion, Logan was ordered to take a left-hand route, and half encircle the town, while Bowman marched to the right in the same manner. When this was accomplished, and the divided parties had formed a junction in front of the town, the attack was to commence.
Logan performed his part of the service with boldness and secrecy, but after waiting for several hours for the approach of his commander, he was doomed to disappointment. Daylight appeared,
63
ATTACK ON CHILLICOTHE.
and an Indian dog began to bark loudly. This brought out one of the Indians from a cabin hard by, who walked cautiously toward the party, halt- ing frequently, rising on tiptoe and gazing about him.
Logan hoped to have taken him prisoner, but the firing of a gun from one of Bowman's con- cealed party on the other side of the village gave the alarm to the Indians and brought matters to a crisis. Even then if Bowman had dashed forward, the attack would have been successful. Logan's party sprang from the grass and rushed upon the village, while the Indians made for the great cabin in the centre of the town. Here it was that, having collected in great force, they determined to offer an obstinate resistance.
Taking possession of the deserted cabins, Logan and his party worked their way from one house to another, until they were within easy rifle-shot of the Indian redoubt.
While thus occupying a good position from whence they could assail their enemies, they began to grow anxious for the coming of Bow- man and his party; but as the latter still ;re- frained from making any attack, and as Logan, who had pressed with his detachment very near to the redoubt, was now suffering under a galling fire, he found it almost as hazardous to retreat as to advance.
Utterly unconscious of the cause of Bowman's
64
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
inaction, and with his communication cut off by the fierce fire of the warriors who had recovered from the panic into which they were at first thrown, Logan formed the daring project of making a movable breastwork of the planks which formed the floor of the cabins, and under cover of it, to rush upon the stronghold of the enemy, and carry it by main force. Before the necessary steps could be taken to carry out this desperate plan, a messenger arrived from Bow- man with orders to retreat.
In utter astonishment and indignation, Logan asked if Bowman had been overpowered by the enemy ? No ! Had he even beheld an enemy ? No! Why then did he wish to abandon the at- tack ? He did not know, the colonel had ordered a retreat ! Very reluctantly Logan obeyed, and the evil consequences of such an order were soon made manifest.
Hitherto the men, buoyed up with the hope of support, had acted bravely in concert ; now, de- pressed by an order for which they could not ac- count, they lost all firmness, and each one shift- ing for himself, broke from the scene of action, leaving his companions to seek safety in any manner they might think best.
This sudden rout astonished even the Indians, who sallied out and pursued the stragglers until they had united themselves to the party under Bowman, the latter having remained, as if stricken
65
DISORDERLY RETREAT.
suddenly with imbecility, very near to the same spot where Logan had left him the night before.
While the Indians were profiting by their un- expected deliverance from the deadliest peril, the whites were filled with confusion and dismay.
A disorderly retreat commenced, which at length assumed something like regularity by the exertions of the subordinate officers. Bowman himself sat rigidly upon his horse, neither giving an order nor taking any measures to repel the enemy.
With the sharp crack of the Indian rifles the instinctive courage of the men returned. Throw- ing themselves into the form of a hollow square, they kept the enemy at bay until they could cover themselves by trees, and when this was ac- complished, the Indians were speedily repulsed, and the troops recommenced their march.
They had scarcely proceeded half a mile be- fore the enemy reappeared, and opened a fire upon the front, rear, and both flanks. Again a square was formed, and the enemy beaten back.
This was repeated several times, and each time with the same result. But this harassing con- dition of things was beginning to have its usual effect. The men grew unsteady, and wavered at the approach of their enemies. Seeing the panic rapidly spreading, Logan, Harrod, and Bedinger, with a few of the boldest and best mounted of . the troops, charged suddenly and with great 6 **
66
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
daring upon the Indians, broke through the net- work of bushes behind which the latter were sheltered, forced them from their coverts, and, scouring the forest in every direction, cut down as many as they could overtake.
This decisive step completely dispersed the enemy, and the weary and dispirited continued their retreat without further molestation, having suffered, through the incapacity of their com- mander, a loss of nine killed and a few others wounded.
During this year, the well-known land law of Kentucky, which subsequently created such an immense amount of litigation, was passed by the legislature of Virginia. Though just and liberal in some of its features, its radical defect was in the absence of a provision for a general survey of the country at the expense of the government, and in the permission which it gave to each pos- sessor of a warrant, to locate the same where he pleased. But the survey was required to be made at his own cost, and in such precise terms, that each subsequent locater might recognise the land already taken up, and make his entry else- where. It is needless to state how impossible this was to such rough woodsmen and indifferent surveyors as then and subsequently settled the country. The natural consequence was, that sur- veys, patents, and entries, were piled upon each other in almost inextricable confusion, and are
67
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
the source of many most troublesome and vexa- tious law-suits even to the present time.
The passage of the land law had a remarkable effect upon immigration. People began imme- diately to flock into Kentucky in vast numbers, for the purpose of locating land warrants ; but though they added greatly to the general strength of the territory, their presence only seemed to provoke the Indians to more determined hostili- ties.
In the autumn of 1779, a terrible disaster took place. As two keelboats laden with military stores, under charge of Colonel Rogers, were as- cending the Ohio River, a number of Indians on rafts and in canoes shot out suddenly from the mouth of the Little. Miami, and were carried by the strong current of the latter river nearly across to the opposite shore.
Colonel Rogers, expecting to take the Indians by surprise, immediately landed his crew, to the number of seventy men, and advanced secretly to the attack. Before, however, he could reach the point where he expected to meet the savages, he was himself surrounded by a force of nearly treble his' numbers. The Indians immediately poured in a close discharge of rifles, and then, throwing down their guns, fell upon the survivors with the tomahawk. The panic was complete, and the slaughter awful. Colonel Rogers and forty-five men were killed instantly. The re-
1
68
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
mainder fled to their boats, but the guards who had charge of the latter had already fled with one of them, and the enemy had gained posses- sion of the other. Making one desperate charge, they broke through the lines of savages, and with the loss of several wounded, succeeded in effecting their escape to Harrodsburg.
Among the wounded was Captain Robert Den- ham. Shortly after breaking through the enemy's lines he was shot through both hips, and the bones being shattered, he instantly fell to the ground. Dragging himself into the top of a large prostrate tree which lay near by, he succeeded in eluding the notice of the Indians by concealing himself among its branches. Here he lay until the evening of the second day, when he disco- vered that another person was near him, who was wounded in both arms.
By mutually assisting each other, Denham in killing game for his companion, and the latter in carrying Denham about from place to place, they managed to sustain life until the 27th of Novem- ber, when they were relieved by a flatboat, which they hailed as it floated down the Ohio, and were taken to Louisville, where, after a few weeks' confinement, they perfectly recovered of their wounds.
No further hostilities of any consequence in- terfered with the peace of Kentucky until the summer of 1780, when a formidable force, con-
69
BRITISH AND INDIANS.
sisting of six hundred Indians and Canadians, under the command of Colonel Byrd, an officer of the British army, accompanied by six pieces of artillery, appeared before Ruddell's Station, on the easterly bank of the south fork of Licking River, three miles below the junction of Hink- ston's and Stone's branches of the same stream.
To Colonel Byrd's summons to surrender, Cap- tain Ruddell answered by offering to yield .on certain conditions, one of which was that the garrison should be under the sole protection of the British. To these terms Colonel Byrd agreed ; but immediately the gates were opened, the In- dians rushed in, and seizing all they could lay their hands on, claimed them as their prisoners. The scene which followed was heart-rending. Ruddell remonstrated with the colonel against this barbarous violation of his word; but as the Indians were far more numerous than the Cana- dians, Byrd himself had no power to control his savage allies.
After the prisoners were divided in this sum- mary manner among their captors, the Indians proposed an attack upon Martin's Station, which was five miles from Ruddell's. To this, however, Colonel Byrd, who was heartily ashamed of the conduct of his allies, would not consent until the chiefs pledged themselves in behalf of their fol- lowers that the prisoners should be entirely un- der the control of the British, and that the
70
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
savages would content themselves with the pos- session of the plunder.
When this was agreed upon, Martin's Station was invested and its garrison captured, Colonel Byrd taking sole charge of the prisoners.
The Indians now urged Byrd to precipitate his force upon Bryant's Station and Lexington ; but the latter, giving as a reason for not comply- ing with their wishes, the improbability of success, and the scanty supply of provisions to support the prisoners he had already, countermarched with his force to the forks of the Licking, where he got his military stores and artillery on board of his boats, and moved off with all possible despatch.
At this place the Indians separated from the Canadians, taking with them the prisoners they had captured at Ruddell's Station.
Among the latter was Captain John Hinkston, a brave man and an experienced woodsman. The second night after leaving the forks of the Lick- ing, the Indians encamped near the river ; every thing was very wet, in consequence of which it was difficult to kindle a fire, and before a fire was made it was quite dark.
A guard was placed over the prisoners, and while a part of them were employed in kindling the fire, Hinkston sprang from among them, and was immediately out of sight. An alarm was instantly given, and the Indians ran in every
71
ESCAPE OF HINKSTON.
direction, not being able to ascertain the course he had taken. Hinkston ran but a short distance before he lay down by the side of a log, within the dark shade of a large beech tree, where he remained until the stir occasioned by his escape had subsided, when he moved off as silently as possible. The night was cloudy and very dark, so that he had no mark to steer by, and after travelling some time toward Lexington, as he thought, he found himself close to the camp from which he had just before effected his escape.
In this dilemma he was obliged to tax his skill as a woodsman, to devise a method by which he. should be enabled to steer his course without light enough to see the moss on the trees, or without the aid of sun, moon, or stars. He ultimately adopted this method. He dipped his hand in the water, which almost covered the whole country, and holding it above his head, he instantly felt one side of his hand cold; he immediately knew that from that point the wind came : he, therefore, steered the balance of the night by the cold side of his hand, that being from the west, he knew, and best suited to his purpose. After travelling several hours, he sat down at the root of a tree, and fell asleep.
A few hours before day there came on a heavy dense fog, so that a man could not be seen at twenty yards' distance. This circumstance was of infinite advantage to Hinkston, for as soon as
72
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
daylight appeared, the howling of wolves, the gobbling of turkies, the bleating of fawns, the hoot of owls, and the noises of other wild animals, were heard in almost every direction. Hinkston was too well acquainted with the customs of the savages not to know that it was Indians, and not beasts and birds, that made these sounds ; he, therefore, avoided approaching the places where he heard them, and, notwithstanding he was several times within a few yards of them, with the aid of the fog he escaped, and arriving safely at Lexington, brought the first news of the event which led to his capture and subsequent escape.
The Indians not only collected all the horses at Ruddell's and Martin's stations, but also many around Bryant's and Lexington, and with their booty crossed the Ohio River near the mouth of Licking, and there dispersed.
The British descended Licking River to the Ohio, went down the Ohio to the mouth of the Big Miami, and up the Miami as far as it was then navigable for their boats, when they hid their artillery and marched by land to Detroit.
73
CLARK DESTROYS THE PIQUA TOWNS. 1
CHAPTER V.
( lar) destroys the Piqua towns on the Miami-Kentucky di- vided into three counties-Indian incursions-Immigration continues-Transylvania University incorporated by Virgi- nia-Indians invest Estill's station-Are pursued-Defeat of Estill-Bryant's station attacked by Girty at the head of six hundred Indians-Heroism of the women-Arrival of rein- forcements-Their perilous situation-Skirmish in the corn- field-Attack on the station-Girty attempts to negotiate- Answer of Reynolds-The Indians raise the siege-Are pursued by a party under Colonel Todd-Fatal recklessness of McGary-The Kentuckians attacked by the Indians from an ambush-Desperate conflict-Rout of the Kentuckians -Escape of Daniel Boone-Presence of mind of Nether- land-Retaliation of Clark-Burns the Miami towns.
IN order to retaliate for this daring inroad, Clark, who had now returned to Kentucky, issued a call for volunteers to support his regiment in an expedition against the Indians. It was not long before numbers had joined his standard. When the forces were assembled at the mouth of Lick- ing River, they amounted in all to one thousand men. Marching with great secrecy and celerity, Clark reached the Indian towns before the enemy were aware of his approach.
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.