USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 8
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THE VOYAGERS VICTORIOUS.
mouth, which passed out at the back part of his head, and was almost at the same moment shot through the heart. He fell among the horses that about the same time were killed, and present- ed to his afflicted daughters and fellow travellers, who were witnesses of the awful occurrence, a spectacle of horror which we need not further attempt to describe.
The boat was now providentially and suddenly carried out into the middle of the stream, and taken by the current beyond the reach of the enemy's balls. Our little band, reduced as they were in numbers, wounded, afflicted, and almost exhausted by fatigue, were still unsubdued in spirit, and being assembled in all their strength, men, women, and children, with an appearance of triumph gave three hearty cheers, calling to the Indians to come on again if they were fond of the sport.
Thus ended this awful conflict, in which, out of nine men, only two escaped unhurt. Tucker and Kilpatrick were killed on the spot, Stoner was mortally wounded, and died on his arrival at Limestone, and all the rest, excepting Ray and Plascut, were severely wounded. The women and children were all uninjured, excepting a little son of Mr. Plascut, who, after the battle was over, came to the captain, and with great coolness re- quested him to take a ball out of his head. On examination, it appeared that a bullet, which had
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
passed through the side of the boat, had pene- trated the forehead of this little hero, and re- mained under the skin. The captain took it out, and the youth, observing, "that is not all," raised his arm, and exhibited a piece of bone at the point of his elbow, which had been shot off, and hung only by the skin. His mother ex- claimed, "Why did you not tell me of this ?" " Because," he coolly replied, " the captain di- rected us to be silent during the action, and I thought you would be likely to make a noise if I told you."
The boat made the best of its way down the river ; the object being to reach Limestone that night. The captain's arm having bled profusely, he was compelled to close the sleeve of his coat in order to retain the blood and stop its effu- sion. In this situation, tormented by excruciating pain, and faint through loss of blood, he was under the necessity of steering the boat with his left arm, till about ten o'clock that night, when he was relieved by Mr. William Brooks, who re- sided on the bank of the river, and who was induced by the calls of the suffering party to come out to their assistance. By his aid, and that of some other persons, who were in the same manner brought to their relief, they were enabled to reach Limestone about twelve o'clock that night.
Immediately on the arrival of Mr. Brooks,
131
HUBBELL REACHES LIMESTONE.
Captain Hubbell, relieved from labour and re- sponsibility, sunk under the weight of pain and fatigue, and became for a while totally insensible. When the boat reached Limestone, he found him- self unable to walk, and was obliged to be carried up to the tavern. Here he had his wound dressed, and continued several days, until he acquired sufficient strength to proceed homewards.
On the arrival of Hubbell's party at Lime- stone, they found a considerable force of armed men about to march against the same Indians from whose attacks they had so severely suffered. They now learned that on the Sunday preceding, the same party of savages had cut off a detach- ment of men ascending the Ohio from Fort Wash- ington, at the mouth of Licking River, and had killed with their tomahawks, without firing a gun, twenty-one out of twenty-two men, of which the detachment consisted.
Crowds of people, as might be expected, came to witness the boat which had been the scene of so much heroism and such horrid carnage, and to visit the resolute little band by whom it had been so gallantly and perseveringly defended. On examination it was found that the sides of the boat were literally filled with bullets and with bullet holes. There was scarcely a space of two feet square in the part above water, which had not either a ball remaining in it, or a hole through which a ball had passed. Some persons
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. -
who had the curiosity to count the number of holes in the blankets which were hung up as cur- tains in the stern of the boat, affirmed that in the space of five feet square there were one hundred and twenty-two. Four horses out of five were killed, and the escape of the fifth, amidst such a shower of balls, appears almost miraculous.
The day after the arrival of Captain Hubbell and his companions, the five remaining boats which they had passed on the night preceding the battle reached Limestone. Those on board re- marked, that during the action they distinctly saw the flashes, but could not hear the reports of the guns. The Indians, it appears, had met with too formidable a resistance from a single boat to attack a fleet, and suffered them to pass unmo- lested; and since that time, it is believed that no boat has been assailed by Indians on the Ohio.
The force which marched out to disperse this formidable body of savages discovered several Indians dead on the shore, near the scene of ac- tion. They also found the bodies of Captain Greathouse and several others,-men, women, and children,-who had been on board of his boat. Most of them appeared to have beer whipped to death, as they were found stripped, tied to trees, and marked with the appearance of lashes; and large rods, which seemed to have been worn with use, were observed lying near them. 0
133
MAY'S ADVENTURE.
An adventure similar in some respects to the above, and equally tragic in its consequences, occurred about the middle of March, 1790. John May, from whom the city of Maysville derives its name, embarked at Kelly's station, on the Kenawha, for Maysville, in company with his clerk, Charles Johnston, and a Mr. Skyles, a Virginia merchant, who had with him a stock of dry goods for Lexington. They were joined at Point Pleasant by a man named Flinn, and two sisters by the name of Fleming. When near the mouth of the Scioto, they were awakened, on the morning of the 20th, by Flinn, whose turn it was to watch, and informed that danger was at hand. All instantly sprang to their feet, and hastened upon deck, without removing their night-caps or completing their dress. The cause of Flinn's alarm was quickly evident. Far down the river a smoke was seen ascending in thick wreaths above the trees, and floating in thinner masses over the bed of the river. All instantly perceived that it could only proceed from a large fire ; and no one doubted that it was kindled by Indians. As the boat drifted on, it became evident that the fire was on the Ohio shore, and it was instantly de- termined to put over to the opposite side of the river.
Before this could be done, however, two white men ran down upon the beach, and clasping their hands in the most earnest manner, implored the
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
crew to take them on board. They declared they had been taken by a party of Indians in Ken- nedy's bottom a few days before, had been con- ducted across the Ohio, and had just effected their escape.
Fearful of treachery, the party paid no atten- tion to their entreaties, but steadily pursued their course down the river, and were soon considera- bly ahead of the supplicants.
The two white men immediately ran along the bank, parallel with the course of the boat, and changed their entreaties into the most piercing cries and lamentations. The pity of the crew was awakened. Flinn and the two females earn- estly insisted upon going ashore and relieving the white men, and even the incredulity of May began to yield to the persevering obduracy of the supplicants. 'A parley took place. May called to them from the deck of the boat, where he stood in his night-cap and drawers, and demanded the cause of the large fire, the smoke of which had occasioned so much alarm.
The white men positively denied there being any fire near them. This falsehood was so palpa- ble, that May's former suspicions returned with additional force, and he positively refused to ap- proach the shore and take the men on board. In this resolution he was supported by Johnston and Skyles; but Flinn and the females as vehe- mently opposed it.
135
FATAL COMPASSION.
Flinn urged that the men gave every evidence of real distress which could be required, and re- counted too many particular circumstances at- tending their capture and escape, to give colour to to the suspicion that their story was invented for the occasion. He added, that it would be a burn- ing shame to them and theirs for ever, if they should permit two countrymen to fall a sacrifice to the savages, when so slight a risk on their part would suffice to relieve them.
" The boat having drifted by this time nearly a mile below where the men were left standing, Flinn, whose warm heart was touched by their apparent wretchedness, proposed that May should only touch the hostile shore long enough to per- mit him to jump out. If any Indians should ap- pear, the boat could be immediately put out into the stream, and he would run the risk of his own fate. May remonstrated, but to no purpose ; Flinn was inflexible, and in an evil hour the boat was directed to the shore.
The instant it was within reach of the land, Flinn leaped to the bank. At that moment six savages ran up, out of breath, from the adjoining wood, and seizing Flinn, began to fire upon the boat. The fire was immediately returned by Johnston and Skyles, while May attempted to regain the current. Fresh Indians arrived, how- ever, in such rapid succession, that the beach was quickly crowded by them, and May called out to
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
his companions to cease firing and assist him at the oars. This was instantly done, but it was too late. Finding it impossible to extricate them- selves, they all lay down upon their faces and pas- sively awaited the approach of their conquerors. The enemy still stood off and poured in an inces- sant fire, by which all the horses were killed, and which began at length to' prove fatal to the crew. One of the females received a ball in her mouth, and instantly expired. Skyles was se- verely wounded in both shoulders, and as the fire every moment grew hotter, May arose and waved his night-cap in signal of surrender. He instantly received a ball in the middle of the forehead, and fell perfectly dead by the side of Johnston, covering him with his blood.
Now at last the enemy ventured to board. Throwing themselves into the water with their tomahawks in their hands, a dozen or more swam to the boat and began to climb its sides. John- ston stood ready to do the honours of the boat, and presenting his hand to each Indian in suc- cession, he helped them over the side. Each Indian greeted him with great apparent cordial- ity, by a shake of the hand, and the usual salu- tation of, « How de do ?" in passable English ; while Johnston encountered every visitor with an affectionate squeeze and a forced smile, in which terror struggled with civility. Having shaken hands with all their captives, the Indians pro-
FATE OF THE CAPTIVES. 137
ceeded coolly to scalp the dead. The boat was then drawn ashore, and its contents examined with great greediness. In addition to the pain of his wounds, Skyles was compelled to witness the total destruction of his property by the hands of the spoilers, who tossed his silks, cambric, and broad- cloth into the dirt with the most reckless indif- ference. At length they stumbled upon a keg of whisky. The prize was eagerly seized, and every thing else abandoned. The Indian who had found it, instantly carried it ashore, and was fol- lowed by the rest with tumultuous delight. A large fire was quickly kindled, and victors and vanquished huddled indiscriminately around it.
Flinn was subsequently burned at the stake by his fiendish captors, with all the aggravated tortures that savage cruelty could devise. Skyles, after running the gauntlet, and having been con- demned to death, made his escape to the white settlements. The remaining Miss Fleming was rescued by an Indian chief, at the moment her captors were preparing to burn her alive, and conducted in safety to Pittsburg. Johnston was finally ransomed by a Frenchman for six hundred silver brooches.
On the next morning the Indians arose early and prepared for another encounter, expecting as usual that boats would be passing. It hap- pened that Captain Thomas Marshall, of the Vir- ginia artillery, afterward a citizen of Mason, and
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
son of Colonel Marshall, in company with several other gentlemen, was descending the Ohio, having embarked only one day later than May. About twelve o'clock on the second day after May's disaster, the little flotilla appeared about a mile above the point where the Indians stood. In- stantly all was bustle and activity. The addi- tional oars were fixed to the boat, the savages instantly sprang on board, and the prisoners were compelled to station themselves at the oars, and were threatened with instant death unless they used their utmost exertions to bring them along- side of the enemy. The three boats came down very rapidly, and were soon immediately opposite their enemy's. The Indians opened a heavy fire upon them, and stimulated their rowers to their utmost efforts.
The boats became quickly aware of their dan- ger, and a warm contest of skill and strength took place. There was an interval of one hundred yards between each of the three boats in view. The hind- most was for a time in danger. Having but one pair of oars, and being weakly manned, she was unable to compete with the Indian boat, which greatly outnumbered her both in oars and men. The Indians soon came within rifle-shot, and swept the deck with an incessant fire, which ren- dered it extremely dangerous for any of the crew to show themselves. Captain Marshall was on board the hindmost boat, and maintained his
MARSHALL'S ADVENTURE. 139
position at the steering-oar in defiance of the shower of balls which flew around him. He stood in his shirt sleeves with a red silk handkerchief bound about his head, which afforded a fair mark for the enemy, and steered the boat with equal steadiness and skill, while the crew below relieved each other at the oars.
The enemy lost ground from two circumstances. In their eagerness to overtake the whites, they left the current, and attempted to cut across the river from point to point, in order to shorten the distance. In doing so, however, they lost the force of the current, and soon found them- selves dropping astern. In addition to this, the whites conducted themselves with equal coolness and dexterity. The second boat waited for the hindmost, and received her crew on board, aban- doning the goods and horses, without scruple, to the enemy. Being now more strongly manned, she shot rapidly ahead, and quickly overtook the foremost boat, which, in like manner, received the crew on board, abandoning the cargo as be- fore, and, having six pair of oars, and being powerfully manned, she was soon beyond the reach of the enemy's shot. The chase lasted more than an hour. For the first half hour the fate of the foremost boat hung in mournful sus- pense, and Johnston, with agony, looked forward to the probability of its capture. The prisoners were compelled to labour hard at the cars ; but
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
they took care never to pull together, and by every means in their power endeavoured to favour the escape of their friends.
At length the Indians abandoned the pursuit, and turned their whole attention to the boats which had been deserted. The booty surpassed their most sanguine expectations. Several fine horses were on board, and flour, sugar, and cho- colate, in profusion. Another keg of whisky was found, and excited the same immoderate joy as at first.
CHAPTER X.
Indian outrages-Action of the general government-Expedi- tion of General Harmar-Miami villages burned-Hardin detached to follow up the Indians-Falls into an ambush-Is defeated-Painful situation of Captain Armstrong-Harmar retreats-Hardin again detached-Indian stratagem-Noble conduct of the regulars -. Hardin defeated-Harmar returns home-Harmar and Hardin court-martialled-Acquitted -Resignation of Harmar-Scott's expedition-Destruction of the villages on the Wabash-Return of the troops-St. Clair's expedition-Rendezvous at Fort Washington-Feel- ing of the Kentuckians-Object of the campaign-Condition of the army-Fort Hamilton built-Erection of Fort Jeffer- son-The march-Desertion of the militia-Of the Mountain Leader, a Chickasaw chief and his band-St. Clair encamps on one of the tributaries of the Wabash-Furious attack by the Indians, led by Little Turtle and Girty-Defeat of St. Clair-Retreat to Fort Washington.
THE repeated outrages suffered by Kentucky at length roused the general government to at-
141
HARMAR'S EXPEDITION.
tempt the extirpation of the marauding bands, by organizing an expedition for that purpose. The force, which was composed of one hundred regulars from Fort Washington, and one hundred and thirty Kentucky volunteers, marched against the Indian camp on the Scioto, but finding it de- serted, returned without accomplishing any thing.
A more formidable expedition, consisting of three hundred and twenty regulars, and two quo- tas of militia from Pennsylvania and Kentucky, amounting in the whole to upwards of eleven hundred men, was called out by order of the Pre- sident of the United States, and directed to march against the Indian towns in the northwest.
The command, as before, was intrusted to General Harmar. Colonel John Hardin, an intelligent and gallant soldier, headed the volun- teers from Kentucky.
With these united forces Harmar marched, about the 30th of September, against the Miami villages. The latter being found deserted by the Indians, the army burned them, destroyed the corn, and then encamped on the ground. An Indian trail being discovered soon after, Hardin, with one hundred and fifty militia, properly offi- cered, and thirty regulars, commanded by Captain Armstrong and Ensign Hartshorn, was detached from the main body, in pursuit.
In a prairie, at the distance of six miles, the Indians had formed an ambush on each side of
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
their own trail, having previously confused their footsteps with so much art, that the troops pene- trated the defile without suspicion. The latter were no sooner involved deeply within the snare laid for them, than the enemy poured in a heavy fire from among the bushes and long grass by which they were concealed from view. Greatly to the mortification of their colonel, the militia broke at once and fled, deserting the regulars, who stood firm till nearly all of them were killed.
The Indians remained on the field, and during the night held a dance of victory, exulting with frantic shouts and gestures over their dead and dying enemies. To this ceremony Captain Arm- strong was a constrained and unwilling witness, being sunk to his neck in mud and water, within a hundred yards of the scene.
The life of Ensign Hartshorn was also saved by his having accidentally fallen over a log hid- den among weeds and grass. During the night both these officers eluded the notice of their ene- mies, and arrived in camp.
Apparently disheartened by the result of this skirmish, Harmar broke up his camp in a day or two afterward, and retreated nearer the settle- ments. On the second day of the march, when about ten miles from the ruined villages, the gene- ral ordered a halt, and sent Colonel Hardin back to the main town with some sixty regulars and three hundred militia.
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SUCCESSFUL STRATAGEM.
Hardin had no sooner reached the point to which he had been ordered, than a small body of Indians appeared on the ground. After receiving the fire of the militia, the savages broke into sepa- rate parties, and by seeming to fly as if panic- stricken, encouraged the militia to follow in pur- suit. The stratagem was successful.
The militia had no sooner disappeared in chase of the fugitives, than the regulars, thus left alone, were suddenly assaulted by large numbers of the foe, who had hitherto remained in concealment.
The Indians precipitated themselves upon the sixty regulars under Major Willis, but were re- ceived with the most inflexible determination. The Indian yell, so appalling even to the bravest hearts, was heard in cool inflexible silence. The hurtling of the tomahawk was met by the thrust of the bayonet.
In vain was Indian after Indian killed; the numbers increased ; as one fell, others fresh from their hiding-places gave additional strength and support to their companions. The destruction of the regulars was complete ; scarcely an indi- vidual escaped ; they all fell, with their major, on the spot they occupied.
In the mean time, the militia came straggling in from their vain and hopeless pursuit. After a hard and murderous struggle, the whites were compelled to give way, leaving their dead and wounded behind them.
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
Of the regulars engaged in this most sanguina- ry battle, only ten escaped back to the camp ; while the militia, under Hardin, lost ninety-eight in killed, and had ten others wounded.
After this unfortunate repulse, Harmar retired without attempting any thing further. The con- duct of Harmar and Hardin did not escape severe criticism and censure. Both demanded a court- martial ; Hardin was unanimously and honourably acquitted. Harmar was also acquitted, but im- mediately afterward resigned his commission.
The repulse of Harmar added greatly to the insecure condition of Kentucky. Elated by their success, the Indians continued their depredations with greater audacity than ever. The earlier movements of the newly-organized federal govern- ment were difficult and embarrassing. With the ~ view, however, to the defence of the western and northwestern frontiers, an act was passed by Congress for increasing the army ; St. Clair, the governor of the northwestern territories, received a commission as major-general, and steps were taken for raising the new regiment and the levies, the command of which was to be given to General Butler.
In the mean time, while these new troops were being organized, an expedition was gotten up in Kentucky under General Charles Scott. The call was no sooner made, than volunteers to the number of between eight and nine hundred
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SCOTT'S EXPEDITION.
flocked to his standard. Wilkinson, though hold- ing no commission from the state, enlisted for the expedition. He was chosen second in com- mand, and assuming the title of colonel, soon rendered himself conspicuous by his activity, at- tention, and address.
The army, all mounted men, marched from the mouth of the Kentucky River on the 23d of May, and after penetrating the wilderness for one hundred and fifty miles, reached at length the villages on the Wabash. Fifty-eight prisoners were taken, and several warriors were killed ; but the greater part of the Indians succeeded in escaping. A detachment under Wilkinson was sent against the Kickapoo village, eighteen miles distant; but there also the inhabitants had escaped. The village, which consisted of about seventy houses, was burned to the ground, and with it a quantity of corn, peltry, and other arti- cles .. Many of the houses, which were well finished, seemed to have been inhabited by Frenchmen, and the books and papers found there indicated a close connection with Detroit. After these acts of retaliation the volunteers re- turned home, pleased with their new commander, and highly elated with the conduct of Wilkinson.
Indian depredations in the southern and north- eastern parts of Kentucky still continuing, Gene- ral Wilkinson published a call in July, for five hundred mounted volunteers, to proceed against
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HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the Indians northwest of the Ohio. As Colonel John Hardin and Colonel James MeDowell both favoured the proposed enterprise, and agreed to serve as majors, an expedition was soon orga- nized. Marching into the Indian country, the army destroyed the village L'Anguille, killed one or two warriors, took a few prisoners, and re- turned home without losing a man.
The government now prepared to strike what was supposed would be a decisive blow. On the 4th of August, General Scott was ordered by the governor of the commonwealth to comply with any requisition made on him by the officer commanding the United States troops on the Ohio.
Washington, who was at this time president, warned by the disastrous defeat of Harmar, de- termined to employ a force sufficient to crush at a single blow all future opposition on the part of the Indians. This force, which was to consist of two thousand regular troops, composed of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, was ordered to move from the several states in which they had been enlisted, toward Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, where the men rendezvoused about September.
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