USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 6
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Another cause of fierce agitation at this time was the subject of the navigation of the Missis-
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
sippi. In consequence of information received from gentlemen of Pittsburg-styling themselves a committee of correspondence-by which the people of Kentucky were advised that John Jay, the American secretary of state, had made a pro- position to Don Gardoqui, the Spanish minister, to cede the navigation of the Mississippi to Spain for twenty years, in consideration of certain commercial advantages to be enjoyed by the eastern states, a fifth convention was called, which met at Danville, on the 17th of September, 1789.
This convention resolved unanimously in favour of separation from Virginia ; adopted an address to Congress asking admission into the Union ; and in conformity to the provisions of the act under which they met, directed the election of a new convention to frame a constitution.
That the application to Congress might be urged with greater effect, the Virginia legisla- ture, at the request of this convention, elected as one of the Virginia delegates to Congress, John Brown, one of the most eminent lawyers of Ken- tucky, and a gentleman of great influence and popularity.
The unavoidable delays which retarded the re- cognition of Kentucky as an independent state by Congress, exasperated the people greatly. In the mean time, Spain was intriguing for the purpose of inducing Kentucky not to enter the
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SPANISH INTRIGUES.
confederacy at all; but to assume the rights of an independent people. Brown held long con- ferences with Gardoqui, the Spanish minister, and in his letters to a friend, spoke of the pecu- liar advantages connected with the navigation of the Mississippi, which Spain would grant to Ken- tucky, if the latter would erect herself into an independent government ; advantages, he added, which could never be conceded by Spain so long as Kentucky remained a member of the Union.
Innis, the attorney-general of Kentucky, also wrote to the executive of Virginia, in July, 1787, giving it as his opinion, that Kentucky would form an independent government in two or three years, as Congress did not seem disposed to pro- tect her, and she could not, under the present system, exert her strength.
But it was by the exertions of General Wilkin- son, that the Spanish party became formidable in the state. Knowing that the navigation of the Mississippi was of primary importance to the people, Wilkinson made a voyage to New Orleans, - and when he returned home, brought with him the intelligence that he had obtained for himself the privilege of shipping tobacco to New Orleans and depositing it in the king's stores at the price of ten dollars per hundred weight. He imme- diately offered to purchase tobacco to any amount, and dilated eloquently upon the advantages that would result to Kentucky even from a partial
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opening of the trade. He intimated that a com- mercial treaty might be formed with Spain, which would throw open their ports to the whole western country, if the West were erected into an independ- ent government capable of treating with a foreign power.
The condition of the general government was at this time embarrassing in the extreme. The old confederation was about to be broken, and the new federal constitution which had been so vigor- ously contested, and so hesitatingly adopted, had not yet been confirmed by the states to whom it had been referred for ratification. Virginia was bitterly opposed to it, and some of the most popular leaders of Kentucky, with an immense majority of her people, were equally anti-fede- ral.
As if to add fuel to the flame, Congress had declined to act upon the petition of Kentucky, and had referred the whole subject to the new government. Thus disappointed, the people of Kentucky grew daily more warmly in favour of declaring a separate independence, and of secur- ing those advantages from Spain, in relation to the navigation of the Mississippi, with which Wilkinson had so glowingly tempted them.
A proposition to form a constitution without further delay was warmly advocated, and it was proposed in convention that the question should be submitted to each militia company in the dis-
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THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.
trict, and that the captain of each company should report the result of the vote.
This proposition was successfully opposed. But the parties in favour respectively of confede- ration and of separate state independence were so equally balanced in convention, that reso- lutions of the most opposite tendency were offered and carried.
A seventh convention was then called, which met at Danville, in November. Previous to this, however, the Kentucky Gazette was established at Lexington by John Bradford, and through the columns of this newspaper the people were enabled to glean a more accurate knowledge of the real condition of things.
As the time for the election of delegates to the seventh convention approached, a concise and clear statement appeared in the Gazette, of the particular clauses in the laws of Virginia, and in the articles of the confederation, which would be violated by the formation of an independent government in the manner proposed by Wilkin- son and his party. This well-written article, which though it appeared under the signature of George Muter, was attributed to the pen of Colonel Thomas Marshall, had an excellent effect in modifying the opinions of many who had hitherto been opposed to the Union.
Of the five representatives in convention to which Fayette was entitled, four were elected
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from the party headed by Marshall, while Wil- kinson was the only candidate on the opposite side who was successful.
A series of long, turbulent, and vexatious debates ensued, in which Wilkinson, Brown, and Innis, the leaders of the independent party, were con- spicuous for the boldness of their sentiments, and the daring character of their innuendos.
In the mean time, Virginia sought to allay the feud by passing a third act, requiring the election of delegates to another convention, to assemble at Danville, in July, 1789, and go over the whole ground anew.
In the winter of this year, an English agent from Canada visited Kentucky, and called on Colonel Marshall, and subsequently on General Wilkinson. His object appears to have been to sound the temper of Kentucky, and to ascertain how far she would be willing to unite with Canada in any contingency that might arise. Suspicion having arisen among the people of his being a British spy, he soon found it necessary to seek safety, by retiring from the country with equal speed and secrecy.
The new general government having by this time gone into operation, the executive of Vir- ginia was authorized to inform the convention, that a force of regulars would soon be organized to protect Kentucky from any future Indian in- cursions. This information, acting upon the
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ADMITTED INTO THE UNION.
modified temper of the people, doubtless had its weight upon their representatives. The eighth convention met in July, 1790. They accepted the Virginia act of separation ; drew up a me- morial to Congress praying for admission into the Union, and made provision for the election of a ninth convention, to assemble in April, 1791, and form a state constitution. At the meeting of Congress in December, 1790, Washington strongly urged the recognition of Kentucky as one of the states of the Union; and on the 4th of February, 1791, an act to that effect passed both houses, and received the signature of the president.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER VII.
Indian inroads-Silas Hart pursues the Indians-Is killed- Heroism of young Hart-Captivity, of the family-Judge Rowan sails down the Ohio-Is pursued by Indians-His perilous position-Wonderful presence of mind of Mrs. Rowan -Adventure of Caffree, McClure, and Davis-Meet with an equal number of Indians-Terrible combat-Caffree and Davis killed-Subsequent adventures of McClure-His es- cape-Colonel Marshall descends the Ohio-Is hailed by James Girty-Indian decoys-Captain Ward assaulted by Indians-Death of his nephew-Panic of the others-The search for a stray horse by Downing and Yates-They are followed by Indians-Downing conceals himself-Pursuit -Perilous situation of Downing-His remarkable escape.
IT has been already stated, that after the ex- pedition of Colonel Clark against the Miami towns, the Indians generally preserved pacific relations with the whites. Occasional inroads, however, took place during the period of political ferment into which Kentucky was plunged, by her almost interminable succession of conven- tions. The incidents connected with these in- roads afford instances of presence of mind and heroism equal to any that occurred in the earlier history of the settlement.
Late in the summer of 1782, one of these pre- datory bands of Indians, having committed ex- cesses in Hardin county, Silas Hart, surnamed by the savages for his keen sagacity, "Sharp
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INDIAN MURDERS.
eye," assembled a party of settlers and pursued the marauders. In the pursuit Hart shot their chief, while several others of the party were also killed, only two making good their escape. When the death of the chief was made known to his brother, he declared vengeance on Hart, and collecting a small band of warriors, he secretly made his way to the vicinity of Elizabethtown, and commenced plundering and destroying.
No sooner was the neighbourhood fairly aroused than the Indians decamped. Among the fore- most in pursuit was Hart. Finding it impossible to overtake the savages, the people returned to their homes. In the mean while, the Indians, who had secretly kept a watch upon the movements of their pursuers, turned when they turned, and fol- lowed them back into the settlement.
Hart reached home, some five miles from Eliza- bethtown, about dark in the evening, and having no apprehension of any Indians being near, went to bed and slept soundly. The next morning, while the family were seated at breakfast, the Indians, who had secreted themselves around the house during the night, suddenly appeared at the door, and the brother of the fallen chief shot Hart dead. The son of Hart, a boy of twelve years of age, no sooner saw his father fall, than, grasping a rifle, he sent a bullet through the savage before he could enter the door.
The Indians then rushed into the house in a
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body, but though the foremost warrior was im- mediately killed by a blow from a hunting-knife in the hands of the resolute boy, the family were speedily overpowered and carried off into captivity. The daughter of Hart, being unable from debility to endure the fatigue of a forced march, was despatched by the Indians at a short distance from the settlement. The mother and son were devoted to a more painful and lingering death.
When the captives reached the Wabash towns preparations were made for their execution ; for- tunately, the extraordinary heroism of the boy touched the heart of an influential woman of the tribe, and at her intercession his life was spared. Mrs. Hart was also saved from the stake, by the interposition of a chief. The mother and son were finally ransomed, and returned to their deso- late homes.
No further adventure with the Indians occur- red until the latter part of April, 1784, when the father of the late Judge Rowan, with his own and five other families, set out from Louisville in two flat-bottomed boats for the long falls of Greene River. The families were in one boat, and their cattle in the other.
After descending the Ohio about a hundred miles, as the boats, which were kept near the ~ centre of the river, were floating quietly along, the yelling of a large body of Indians was heard
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ROWAN'S ADVENTURE.
some two or three miles below, whose fires were discovered soon after upon the northern shore. It was then about ten o'clock at night, and the con- jecture of Rowan and his companions was, that the savages had captured a boat which had passed the flat boats about mid-day, and were massacring their captives.
In order to protect themselves as far as it was possible so to do, the two boats were lashed together, and the men, seven in number, posted by Mr. Rowan in the most favourable positions for resisting an attack. The boats were then rowed closer to the Kentucky shore, and kept silently upon their course. The fires of the In- dians extended at intervals for half a mile. When the boats had reached a point nearly opposite the central fire, they were discovered by the Indians, hailed, and ordered to bring to. In profound stillness the boats kept on their way ; and the In- dians, meeting with no response, gave a terrific yell, sprang into their canoes, and darted in pur- suit. Silently the boats continued to descend the river, borne onward only by the force of the cur- rent. The Indians approached within one hun- dred yards, and every thing on their part indi- cated a determination to board.
At this moment, Mrs. Rowan quietly rose from her seat, collected the axes, and placed one by the side of each man, tapping him slightly with the handle of the axe to make him aware of the
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
proximity of the weapon. She then retired to her seat, retaining a hatchet for her own use.
For three miles the savages continued to hover at a short distance from the rear of the boats, yelling loudly; when, as if awed by the perfect silence maintained by those on board, they re- linquished farther pursuit. Mrs. Rowan, in speak- ing of the incident afterwards, said, in her calm way, " We made a providential escape, for which we ought to feel grateful."
Somewhere about the same time, a party of southern Indians, having stolen some horses in Lincoln county, were pursued by three young men whose respective names were Davis, Caffree, and McClure. Ardent and energetic, the latter determined, if they could not overtake the In- dians, to proceed to their towns on the Tennes- see River and make reprisals. Acting upon this resolution, they had reached within a few miles of the Indian town of Chickamongo, when they fell in with three Indians travelling in the same direction with themselves. They agreed by signs to travel together, though each was evidently sus- picious of the other. The Indians walked on one side of the road and the whites on the other, watching attentively every movement. At length, the Indians beginning to converse among them- selves very earnestly, the whites, convinced of their treacherous intentions, resolved to antici- cipate them. The plan of attack being agreed
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TERRIBLE COMBAT.
to, Caffree, who was a powerful man, sprang on the nearest Indian, hurled him to the ground, and proceeded to tie him. At the same instant Davis and McClure levelled their rifles at the others : McClure fired and killed his man, but the gun of Davis missed fire. Davis, McClure, and the remaining Indian immediately took trees ; while Caffree was left upon the ground with the prostrate Indian, and exposed to the fire of the other. The savage who had sheltered himself fired at Caffree and wounded him mortally. Find- ing himself growing weak, Caffree called upon Davis to assist him in tying the Indian, and in- stantly afterward expired. In the mean time, McClure had shot the other Indian, while the Indian who had been released by the death of Caffree sprang to his feet ; and seizing Caffree's rifle, presented it at Davis. The rifle of the lat- ter being out of order, he darted into the forest, closely pursued by the Indian. McClure, re- loading his rifle, and taking with him the one which Davis had dropped, followed them for some distance, making signals for his friend, but in vain; the latter was never heard of afterward.
McClure, now being alone in the enemy's coun- try, resolved to return to Kentucky. He had scarcely retraced his steps more than a mile, be- fore he saw advancing from the opposite direc- tion an Indian warrior, riding a horse with a bell round its neck, and accompanied by a boy on foot.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
Dropping one of the rifles lest it might create suspicion, McClure advanced with an air of con- fidence, and extending his hand, made signs of peace. The Indian replied in a like manner, and dismounting, seated himself upon a log, drew out his pipe, took a few puffs himself, and then handed it to McClure.
In a few minutes another bell was heard at the distance of half a mile, and a second party of Indians appeared on horseback. The Indian now coolly informed his white companion by signs, that when the horsemen arrived McClure must consider himself a prisoner, and consent to have his feet bound by thongs under the belly of the horse. In order to explain it more fully, the Indian got astride of the log and locked his legs beneath it. While he was making these gestures McClure suddenly lifted his rifle, blew out the brains of the Indian, and then darted into the wood.
The Indian boy instantly mounted the horse, and rode off in an opposite direction. A fierce pursuit of McClure was now urged by the In- dians, aided by several small Indian dogs, who frequently ran between the legs of the fugitive and threw him down. After falling five or six times his eyes became so full of dust that he was perfectly blinded. Despairing of success, he doggedly lay upon his face, expecting every in- stant to feel the edge of a tomahawk. To his
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GIRTY'S WARNING.
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astonishment no enemy appeared. Even the In- dian dogs, after worrying him for some time, left him to continue his journey unmolested. Find- ing every thing quiet, he arose in a few moments, and taking up his gun, continued his march to Kentucky, where he arrived in safety.
During this year, another equally characteris- tic incident occurred on the Ohio River. Colonel Thomas Marshall, while descending the river in a flat-boat with a numerous family, was hailed near the mouth of the Kenawha, by a man who an- nounced himself as James Girty, the brother of the notorious renegade Simon Girty. The boat dropped slowly down within one hundred yards of the northern shore, and Girty making a corre- sponding movement on the beach, a conference was kept up for several minutes. Girty said he had been posted there by order of his brother Simon, to warn all boats of the danger of permitting them- selves to be decoyed ashore. The Indians had become jealous of Girty, and he had lost that influence which he formerly held among them. He deeply regretted the injury which he had in- flicted upon his countrymen, and wished to be restored to their society. In order to convince them of the sincerity of his regard, he had di- rected his brother to warn all boats of the snares spread for them. James Girty said, that every effort would be made to draw passengers ashore. White men would appear upon the bank, and
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
children would be heard to supplicate for mercy. " But," continued he, " do you keep the middle of the river and steel your heart against every mournful application you may receive." The colonel thanked him, and continuing on his course reached Maysville without meeting with any further interruption by the way.
As if to corroborate the statement of Girty, Captain James Ward descended the Ohio some- where about the same time. He and six others -one of whom was his nephew-had embarked in an indifferent boat, about forty-five feet long, and eight feet wide, with no other bulwark than a single pine plank above each gunnel. The boat was much encumbered by baggage, and six horses were on board. No enemy having been visible for several days, the voyagers had become secure and careless, and suffered the boat to drift within fifty yards of the Ohio shore. Suddenly, several hundred Indians showed themselves on the bank, and, running boldly to the water's edge, opened a heavy fire.
Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the enemy appeared. The former, well knowing that in gaining the middle of the river lay their only chance of safety, immediately strained every nerve to succeed in doing so ; but his nephew started up, and seizing his rifle, was in the act of firing, when he received a ball in the breast and fell dead. Unfortunately the oar
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DOWNING'S ADVENTURE.
dropped overboard, and the exertions of Captain Ward only urged the boat nearer shore.
Replacing the lost oar by a plank, he succeeded in getting out farther into the river. When he found himself at leisure to examine the condition of his crew, he found his nephew lying in his blood perfectly lifeless, and a German wounded in several places. All the horses were either killed or wounded mortally. None of the other men were hurt, although the whole party were so panic-stricken that they did not fire a single shot.
In August, 1786, a lad by the name of Down- ing, who lived at a fort near Slate Creek, in what is now Bath county, was requested by a com- panion to assist him in hunting for a horse which had strayed away on the preceding evening. Downing readily complied, and the two friends searched in every direction, until at length they found themselves in a wild valley, at a distance of six or seven miles from the fort. Here Down- ing became alarmed, and repeatedly told his companion, Yates, that he heard sticks cracking behind them, and was certain that Indians were dogging them. Yates, an old woodsman, laughed at the fears of the boy, and contemptuously asked him at what price he rated his scalp, offering to insure it for sixpence. Downing, however, was not so easily satisfied. He observed that in whatever direction they turned, the same ominous sounds
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
continued to haunt them, and as Yates continued to treat the matter recklessly, he resolved to take measures for his own safety. Gradually slacken- ing his pace, he permitted Yates to advance twenty or thirty paces ahead, and immediately afterward, as they descended the slope of a gentle hill, Downing slipped aside and hid him- self in a thick cluster of whortle-bushes. Yates proceeded on, singing carelessly some rude song, and was soon out of sight.
Scarcely had he disappeared, when Downing beheld two savages put aside the stalks of a cane- brake, and look out cautiously in the direction which Yates had taken. Fearful that they had seen him step aside, he determined to fire upon them and trust to his heels for safety ; but so unsteady was his hand, that in raising his gun to his shoulder, it went off before he had taken aim. He immediately ran, and after proceeding about fifty yards, was met by Yates, who had hastily retraced his steps. The enemy were then in full view, and Yates, who might have out- stripped Downing, graduated his steps to those of his youthful companion.
The Indians, by taking a shorter path, gained rapidly upon the fugitives, across whose way lay a deep gully. Yates easily cleared it, but Down- ing dropped short and fell at full length upon the bottom. The Indians, eager for the capture of Yates, continued the pursuit without appear-
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CURIOUS INCIDENT.
ing to notice Downing, who, quickly recovering his strength, began to walk slowly up the ditch, fearing to leave it lest the enemy should see him.
He had scarcely emerged into open ground be- fore he saw one of the Indians returning, appa- rently in quest of him. His gun being unloaded, Downing threw it away, and again took to flight ; but the Indian gained on him so rapidly that he lost all hope of escape. Coming at length to a large poplar, which had been blown up by the roots, he ran along the body of the tree on one side, while the Indian followed on the other, ex- pecting to intercept Downing at the root. But
here fortune favoured the latter in a most singu- lar manner. A she-bear which was suckling her cubs in a bed at the root of the tree suddenly sprang upon the Indian, and while the latter was yelling and stabbing his hirsute antagonist with his knife, Downing succeeded in making his escape, and reaching the fort, where he found Yates reposing after a hot chase, in which he also had distanced his pursuers.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Indians attack the house of widow Shanks-Their stratagem -The house fired-Fearful massacre-Heroic conduct of young Shanks-Pursuit of the Indians-Their singular es- cape-New mode of warfare on the Ohio-Political condi- tion of Kentucky-Adventure of John Lancaster-Taken captive with his companions-His escape and subsequent privations-Floats down the Ohio on a raft-Is rescued at the falls-Ballard's house attacked-Stubborn defence by old Mr. Ballard-Daring conduct of Bland Ballard, the cele- brated spy-Loss of the Indians.
ON the night of the 10th of April, 1787, the house of a widow named Shanks, on Cooper's Run, in Bourbon county, was attacked by In- dians. This house, which was a double cabin, con- sisting of two rooms, with an open way between, contained at the time the assault was made, be- sides the widow herself, a widowed daughter, three other daughters, a young girl, and two sons of adult age. Although the hour was near mid- night, one of the young men still remained up, and in the opposite room a sister was busily en- gaged at the loom.
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