USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky : including an account of the discovery, settlement, progressive improvement, political and military events, and present state of the country > Part 10
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The town was no sooner approached, than assailed ; a sharp conflict took place, which for a moment sus- pended its fafe ; seventeen of the warriors having fallen, the rest fled, and their residence was reduced to a heap of ashes. Their vegetable gardens, and corn fields, were laid waste, and whatever might conduce to their suste- nance, destroyed. This victory, decisive for the cam- paign, cost Colo. Clark an equal number of lives ; se- venteen of his bravest men fell by the fire of the enemy, and several others were wounded.
From the Pickaway-Colo. Benjamin Logan, was de- tached, by the commander in chief, to reduce a small town, about twenty miles from the Pickaway ; but the alarm being spread, and the Indians receiving intelli- gence of his approach, saved themselves by flight ; leav- ing their habitations, and a store, from which the Picka- way, hadbeen principally supplied with arms and ammu- ...
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nition, unprotected ; these he burnt : the store being the main object of the expedition.
Colonel Clark having thus suceceded, returned ; and resumed his post at the Falls of the Ohio, and the mili- tia their different stations, to take their usual round in the occurrences of the times.
The Indians finding employment for the residue of the year, in re- settling theniselves, and in providing suste- nance for the ensuing winter, gave no further disturb- ance that season.
Daniel Boone, having adjusted some very unpleasant family affairs in North-Carolina, and returned to Ken- tucky, on the 6th of October he and one of his brothers went to the Blue Licks ; and on their return home, were fired on by the Indians, who killed the brother : Daniel fled, and was pursued by the savages aided by adog, who scented his tract for about three miles, when he came up so close to Boone, that he shot him, and made his escape.
The first of November, the county of Kentucky was divided into three parts, each of which composed a new county.
"All that part of the south side of the Kentucky river, which lies West and North of a line beginning at the mouth of Benson's Big Creek (now opposite Frankfort) and running up the same and its main fork to the head ; thence South to the nearest waters of Hammon's Creek, and down the same to its junction with the Townfork of Salt River, thence South to Green River, and down the same to its junction with the Ohio" was to be called, JEFFERSON COUNTY. "All that part of the said
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county, of Kentucky, which lies north of the line begin- ning at the mouth of the Kentucky River, and up the same and its middle fork to the head, and thence south- east to the Washington line" was called " Fayette county." And " all the rest of the said county of Ken- tucky" was called Lincoln county."
From this time, the business of entering and survey- ing land, was suspended until after the new counties were organised.
In this year, Colonel Clark, descended the Ohio, with a part of his regiment, and after entering the Mississippi, at the first high land on the eastern bank, landed the troops, and built, Fort Jefferson.
In a military view, this position was well chosen ; and had it been well fortified, and furnished with cannon, would have commanded the river. Without a doubt, at some future day, it will be a place of great importance in the western country. ,
It is within the limits of Kentucky, and never should be alienated. A suitable garrison at that place, should it ever be necessary, would hold in check, both the upper and lower Mississippi.
The occupation of it by Colonel Clark, for the time, added the Chickasaw Indians to the numerous enemies of Kentucky ; and made it advisable to evacuate it, as a mean of restoring peace. The Fort, was, on their ter- ritory ; it had been erected without their consent ; and those who made it a point of friendship not to invade Kentucky ; resented with a high sense of indignation, this violation of their country.
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The evacuation of the fort, was the signal of peace; which has been faithfully observed, as far as we have any information.
The line of latitude which at thirty-six degrees, thirty minutes north separated Virginia, and North-Carolina, had not been traced between the colonies, farther than the Allegany Mountain.
But the settlements having extended, on both sides much further, very serious inconveniences, and some disputes had ensued between the borderers, as well on the subject of property, as of jurisdiction.
The governments of the two states, were at length in- duced to act on the subject of controversy ; and cach appointed a commissioner, possessed of astronomical, and mathematical science, for the purpose of extending the line to the Ohio, or Mississippi, as the one, or the other, might first be presented. On the part of Virginia was appointed, Doctor Walker ; on the part of North- Carolina, Colonel Henderson.
These gentlemen with their attendants, and appara- tus met agréeably to appointment, and commenced the business, of their mission. When one, or both of them, making his observations under the influence of state prepossession, they soon disagreed in the result ;- and each adhering to his own opinion, they crossed each other's line, and continued two lines, instead of one line of boundary, as far as the top of Cumberland Mountain. Here, they were some distance apart, and here Hender- son, desisted ; but the Doctor, continued his line, cross- ing the Cumberland River twice, to the Tennessee River,
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st which he stopped. Having inferred, very correctly, that the line when extended, would strike the Mississip- pi.
So far from this essay to adjust the boundary between the states, having produced the desired effect, it servedto increase the inconveniences. previously felt. Notwith- standing which, for many years, the boundary remained unsettled, between those states-and to this day remains unadjusted between their respective offspring, Kentucky, and Tennessee. How long that principle of foresight, and precaution of governments, which ought to actuate them in discerning evils, and in applying suitable reme .. dies, in proper time, will preserve its usual torpor ; or how soon the conflicting interests of the adjacent inhabi- tants, may rouse it from its slumbers, are alike difficult, and unnecessary, for the historian to pronounce.
The approaching winter arrived, and was very severe, which occasioned great distress, among the resident in- habitants, for provisions : as many of the emigrants ar- rived after the expiration of the hunting -season, and moreover were not skilled in killing the wild game, their only resource for meat ; nor was bread to be had in plenty, in the country.
They however hoped for better things the next year. As usual, Indian hostility, was again revived, and several maurauding parties entered Jefferson county as early as March ; Colonel Wm Lynn was killed ; also Captains, Tipton, and Chapman, by small detachments, who way. laid the paths, on Beargrass.
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In pursuit of one of these parties Captain Aquilla Whittaker, with fifteen men, having trailed the Indians to the Ohio at the foot of the Rapids, and supposing they had crossed the river, embarked in a few canoes to follow them, when to the astonishment of the Captain and his company, the Indians fired on them from the rear, and killed and wounded nine of the party ; the re- sidue relanded, and beat the Indians.
In April, a station settled by Squire Boone, near where Shelbyville now stands, became alarmed by the appearance of Indians, and after some consultation a- mong the people, they determined to remove to Bear- grass. In executing this resolution, men, women, and children, encumbered with household goods, and cattle, were overtaken on the road, near Long Run, by a large party of Indians, attacked, an'd defeated, with considera- ble loss and general dispersion.
Intelligence of this disaster reaching Colonel John Floyd, he in great haste, raised a company of twenty- five men, and repaired toward the scene of the late ren- counter ; intent upon administering relief to the suffer- ers, and chastisement to the enemy ; and notwithstand- ing he divided his party, and proceeded with considerable caution, such was the address of the Indians, and the na .- ture of the country, that he fell into an ambuscade, and was defeated, with the loss of half his men ; who it was said killed nine, or ton of the savages. The Indians are believed to have been three times the number of Colonel Floyd's party.
The Colonel narrowly escaped, with the assistance of
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Captain Samuel Wells, who seeing him, on foot pursued by the enemy, mounted him on his own horse, and fled by his side to support him.
This conduct of Captain Wells, was the inore magna- nimous, inasmuch as he and Colonel Floyd, were not friends at the time. This service however was of a nature to subdue all existing animosity, nor was it bestowed on an unworthy object. No man knew better than Floyd, how to requite, so gallant, and disinterested an action- he lived, and died the friend of Wells.
The 9th of May in this year (1781) Samuel M'Afee, and another man, had set out from James M'Afee's Sta- tion, to go to a plantation at a small distance ; and when advanced about one-fourth of a mile, they were fired on -the man fell, and Samuel M'Afee, wheeled and ran towards the Fort ; in fifteen steps he met an Indian, they each halt, and present their guns, with muzzles almost touching ; at the same instant, they pull trigger ; M'A- fee's gun makes fire, the Indian falls, with a flash in his pan. M'Afee continues his retreat, but the alarm being given, he meets his brothers Robert M'Afee, and James M'Afee. Robert, though cautioned, ran along the path to see the dead Indian ; by this time several Indians had gotten into the path between him and the Fort. All his dexterity was now put to the test, he flies from tree, to tree, aiming to get into the fort ; an Indian pursues him, he throws himself over a fence one hundred yards from the Fort, the Indian takes a tree ; by this time Ro- bert, was prepared for him, and as he put his head out, by the side of the tree, to look for his object, he caught
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M'Afee's ball in his mouth ; in this he finds his death, , and M'Afee escapes to the Fort .- In the mean time, James M'Afee, was fired on by five Indians lying in ambush, he flies to a tree for safety, and immediately re- ceives a fire from three, or four more, on the other side, which knock up the dust about his feet, without doing him any injury ; he now flies to the fort, and enters un- hurt. Such are the incidents of Indian warfare : and such the providential e cape of the three brothers. By this time, the Indians appeared in all directions, and with horrid yells commenced, a fire on the Fort. It was re- turned with spirit ; the women cast bullets, and the men discharged them at the enemy. This action lasted about two hours. The Indians then retired. The firing had alarmed the neighborhood, and soon after the retreat of the Indians, Major M'Gary with some of his men, and others from different places to the number of forty, ar- rived, and determined to pursue the savages. This was done with celerity, and at the distance of a mile, the enemy were overtaken, attacked, and defeated.
They were pursued for several miles, and completely routed. Six, or seven Indians were seen dead, and others observed to be wounded. One white man was killed, and another died a few days afterwards of his wounds.
The Indians killed all the cattle they found about the station, previous to their retreat. From this time M'A- fee's Station was never more attacked, although it re- mained for some years a frontier.
In the next year, a rumor of Indian sign, had occasi- pred Col. Floyd, to order a party of the militiato scour the
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country on Salt-River, some of whom were from Kinche- loe's Station, consisting of six or seven families, on Simp- · sons Creek; the night of the 1 st of September after they re- turned, the Indians fell upon the place by surprise, and were even ·in thehouses before the people were awake.
They killed several persons, men, women, and chil- dren, and were proceeding to destroy, or eaptivate the rest, when the darkness of the night favored the escape of a few.
Among them was Mrs. Davis, whose husband was killed, and another woman, who flew to the woods, where they were fortunately joined by a boy of twelve years old, by the name of Ash, who conducted then to Cox's Station'.
William Harrison, after placing his wife and a young woman under the floor of the cabin, escaped, as they did also, when the Indians had retired.
Thompson Randolph, defended his family like a hero · - he killed several Indians -- his wife with an infant in her arms, were killed by his side-his remaining child he put into the loft of the cabin, and escaped with it through the roof. When he alighted on the ground, he was af- tacked by two Indians-the one he stabbed, the other he struck with his empty gun -- they both left him, and he secured his retreat.
Several women and children were killed after they were made prisoners, but we omit those details of savage bar- barity, whick shock the senses, and freeze the blood, to attend to the situation of Mrs. Bland, who escaped from" (Trem the second day after her captivity ; and who totally
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ignorant of the country, rambled through the woods, for eighteen days, without seeing a human face, subsisting upon sour grapes, and green walnuts, until she became a mere walking skeleton, without clothes ; when she was found, and taken to Lynn's Station ; where kindness, and cautious nursing, recovered her to life, and her friends.
The situation of Mrs. Polk, another prisoner, with four children, was almost as pitiable ; she was far ad- vanced in pregnancy, and was compelled to walk, until she became almost incapable of motion-when about to be tomahawked by one Indian, another saved her life, treated her kindly, and soon after put her on a horse, with two of her children, and took them safe to Detroit. Here she was treated with civility, and by means of the officers, obtained her other two children from the Indi- ans, wrote to her husband, who was not at home when she was 'made prisoner; he went after her, and brought her, with all her children, five in number, safe to Ken- tucky. The other prisoners, also returned, after some time.
This narrative should be read, in page 170, immedi- ately preceding the paragraph in which General Clark is mentioned to have proposed the expedition.
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CHAPTER IV.
CONTENTS OF CHAPTER IV.
The new counties of Jefferson, Lincoln, and Fayette, or- ganised. The Author's arrival in Kentucky-state of the settlements. Rumors of a general peace-The battle, and death of Captain Estill-Defeat of Holder, and "his party. Grand Indian invasion-Siege of Bryant's Station, &' battle of the Blue Licks-Gen. Clark's expe- dition against the' Shawanese-A singular incident near the Crab Orchard-Location of Lands resumed-Speci- mens of Entries-and the cause of interfering claims ex- plained .- Preliminary articles of Peace-incidents of ne- gotiation-Origin of new disputes with Great -Britain. District Court established in Kentucky-Origin of Danville-incidents of population, and improvement in the country.
IN Kentucky, the year 1781, was productive of fewer occurrences of moment, than several of the prece- ding, had been. The destruction of the Indian Town by Colonel Clark the year before, seems to have made a strong impression on the Northern Tribes. Those of R 1
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the Western Towns having been greatly checked and restrained, by the consequences of his success in 1778, and 1779.
Those Indians now found that in defiance of all their secret mischief, and open hostility, the country popula- ted-the number of its forts increased ; and the survey- ors, had again began to measure the land : This latter circumstance had always been peculiarly omenous to them, as was the appearance of honey bees among them. The last expedition had laid waste their towns, destroy .. ed their corn, and distressed their women, and children. They clearly perceived that it was necessary to yield the contest, with the Kentuckians ; or by one united, and grand effort, to recover the country from them. This year was spent by them, in bringing about this general concert: A great council was held among the Shawa- nese, and runners sent to the neighbouring tribes, on the Wabash, and to those bordering on the lakes ; nor was the aid of their good ally, George the third, forgotten, unasked, or denied. They kept Kentucky alarmed in the mean time, without attempting any thing more than predatory warfare ; reserving for the next year, the re- sult of their grand arrangements.
In Kentucky, the increase of counties, had given rise to various interests, by holding out a number of new offices both civil, and military, to be 'filled. For each county was entitled to similar and equal organization. It is believed that John Floyd, was appointed county Lieutenant of Jefferson ; Stephen Trigg, of Lincoln ; and John Todd, of Fayette; and probably Wm. Pope,
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of Jefferson, Benjamin Logan, of Lincoln, and Daniel Boone of Fayette, were commissioned as Colonels of the second grade. But there being no records within our reach, to which we can resort for information, these names are selected, from an association in our memory, as the most probable, without being able to affirm with certainty. The county courts were composed as before of the most respectable citizens, who appointed their own clerks ; while the sheriff, coroner, and surveyor, of each county, were commissioned by the Governor. These courts had only a qualified criminal and civil jurisdiction ; nor was there any criminal court competent to try in ca- pital cases, nearer than the seat of government. But the quarter session courts, could try and punish misdemean- ors, by fine and imprisonment-and the justices of the county courts were respectively conservators of the peace, and could hold courts for examination, and commit, or bail, for further trial, or discharge, in criminal cases.
Such however was the pressure of danger, the simpli- city of manners, the integrity of the people, and the state of property, that there was but little use for crimi- nal law, until a later period.
James Thompson, was appointed Surveyor of Lin- coln county, and opened his office for business. This revived considerable activity in that section ofthe coun- try ; and many tracts of land were surveyed. George May, who had been the Surveyor of Kentucky county, was appointed to the like office in Jefferson. And Col. Thomas Marshall whose regiment had been dissolved in the preceding winter, was appointed Surveyor, for
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Fayette. These latter counties, included the larger portions of fine lands, and considerable anxiety was en- tertained, by those desirous to locate them, as to the opening of the offices. Both Colo. Marshall, and George May, had returned to Virginia in 1780; and did not come out this year ; owing to some uncertainty in their fees, or the depreciated state of the paper money, added to the apprehended danger from the Indians. In the spring of the year, a party fired on Strodes' Station, killed two men, and wounded a third, without any loss on their part. This year Colo. Clark received a Gene- ral's commission, and had the chief command in Ken- tucky. A Row Galley was constructed under his direc- tion, which was to ply up and down the Ohio, as a mo- ving battery for the north-western frontier. And which is supposed to have had a very good effect, in frighten- ing the Indians, for none dared to attack it ; nor were they so free as theretofore in crossing the river : indeed, there is a tradition, that its passage up the Ohio, once as far as the mouth of Licking, had the effect to stop, an expedition, which a formidable party of Indians had commenced against Kentucky.
In the course of this year, the settlers of the preceding, had greatly enlarged and multiplied their fields ; these circumstances added to the extreme fertility of the soil, and the respite which the Indians gave them, to plough and cultivate their corn, produced an abundant crop of that valuable article ..
The autumn of this year introduced, a greater acces- sion of new settlers, and of better description generally,
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than had arrived in any preceding year. Until this period there was a serious deficiency of single females. Nor was it practicable to resort to the stratagem of the Ben- jamites ; nor yet to that of Romulus, to supply the wanted number. The abundant emigrations of this year, silenced all complaint on that subject. And perhaps a licence to marry, was the first process issued by the clerk, of either county court. For it is a pleasingreflection that at that time, a law-suit was hardly known to exist in the country.
Lincoln county, the most populous in its commence- ment, had acquired in the course of this year, a very decided superiority. The stations, in the other coun- ties were better filled than before ; while only a very few new ones were erected.
It was now for the first time, that we saw Kentucky, and had our eyes opened to the prospect of resources, never before contemplated.
We found the people of the country in their stations, inquisitive, cheerful, and hospitable. It was delightful, to see them so delighted, with the brightening prospect of security, arising from their accession of numbers. A determination to return to the old settlement-as the phrase then was for going into the atlantic part of the state, and prepare for a permanent residence in Kentuc- ky-limitted our stay, as it circumscribed our excur- sions ; nor were we at this time beyond the limits of Lincoln county. But that exhibited a complete picture of the country', as in the next year we ascertained.
The first settlers in the country, were enured to dan- ger, to rough living, and to labor. They were mostly
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from frontier settlements, in Virginia, or the neighbor- ing states-and had served an apprenticeship, to their condition, previous to their coming to Kentucky. The women did the offices of the household, milked the cows, cooked the mess -- prepared the flax, spun, wove, and made the garments, of linen, or linscy. The men hunt- ed, brought in the meat, planted, ploughed, and gather- ed in the corn ; grinding it into meal on the hand-mill, or pounding the homany in a mortar, was occasionally the joint labor of both. Much use was made of the deer- skins in dress-while the bear-skin, was consigned to the floor, for a bed. There might incidentally be a few arti- cles brought to the country for sale, in a private way, but there was no store, for supply. Wooden vessels, eitherturned, or coopered, were in common use. Every hunter carried his knife, and not unfrequently the rest of the family had one, or two, in common. A like work- manship composed the table, and the stool ; a slab, hew- ed with the axe, and sticks of the like manufacture set in for legs, supported both. The rest of the furniture was of a correspondent description. These things would not now merit attention, but as they depict the condition, and circumstances of the country. The richest milk, the finest butter, and the best meat, that ever delighted man's palate, were here caten, with a relish which health, and labor only know ; and which were every where o Fered with the most profuse hospitality, in every cabin, where we called to stay any time. No charge was made -it would have given ofence to offer payment. There was some paper money in the country, which had not
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depreciated, more than one-half as much as it had at the Seat of Government. If there was any gold, or silver, its circulation was suppressed, for want of objects to call it forth ; or by the peculiar circumstances of the country. Hats were made of the native furr ; and the buffaloe wool employed in the composition of cloth.
The capture of CORNWALLACE, was reported a- bout this time in Kentucky ; and had there been any tories, this event would have made them all whigs. Butthere was no such distinction at that time, known in the country. No portion ofthe U. States had more cause to fear, or de- test the British war, than the people of this country, for no place was more exposed ; though a part of Pennsyl- vania might have suffered more, than Kentucky ; but even the scenes of WYOMING, might be reacted here, by Indian, and Canadian, tragedians, under the influence of British officers. None were therefore morereally gratifi- ed than the people of Kentucky, at the brilliant success of WASHINGTON, at York. Peace was generally an- ticipated as the consequence. Under this pleasing fasci- nation the winter approached, and passed away, with- out the annoyance of the Indian war-whoop, and as if the war was already over.
The paper-money was called in and funded. A scale of depreciation, commencing at one and a half, Jan. 1777, and ending ar one thousand, for one; Dec. 1781, was established, for the adjustment of private debts.
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