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 26
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The 29th of the month, the president proclaimed the treaty made by Governor St. Clair with the Indian tribes north- west of the Ohio.
In October an association was formed at Danville, for the institution, and encouragement of internal ma- nufactures-which being premature, perished in its in- fancy.
The legislature of Virginia address the president of the U. States on the 28th of October, recognizing his at- tention to the defence ofthe western frontier ; they repre- sent a continuance of Indian hostility-and recommend an expedition against them.
The 27th of November Colonel Patterson and three men encamped on the head of Eagle Creek, were fired
398
HISTORY OF
on by six Indians, who killed two of the men ; the other, with the Colonel escaped.
A boat descending the Ohio, about the 10th of De- cember, was fired on by Indians, near the three islands #-two men, and a woman, mortally wounded. Five days afterwards, Major M'Millan, and others went to the Flat Lick, to hunt game, and being in the edge of a Cane Brake, the Major's attention was arrested by a ncise, which he supposed, proceeded tron a bear, which he prepared to shoot, when it should appear. Instead of a bear, an Indian appeared, received the fire, and fell. The Major, after charging his rifle, went up to scalp the dead-when, as he stooped to perform the operation, he discovered six Indians, who at the same instant dischar- ged their pieces at him ; he fled, and was so closely pur- sued by one of the savages, that he was forced to shoot him-and escaped unhurt.
In the last of the month, the Indians killed a man,' and took a boy on Slate Creek. The same party soon after fell on a camp near the Upper Blue Lick, which they plundered, after killing one man, and dispersing the rest.
Arriving at the Ohio, in Kennedy's bottom, the same Indians discovered a boat, just putting to land-they bound the boy-fired on the boat, killed five men, and took one woman. In the mean time the boy escaped ; and gave an account of their transactions, upon his rer turn.
Thus ended the year 1789-and that of 1790, sucy ceeded, butto witness a repetition of like scenes.
399
KENTUCKY.
"The 16th of January, the Indians took two men and a lad, near the mouth of Lee's Creek on the Ohio .. A few days afterwards they killed two men on the hanging fork of Dick's river. The 29th of the month, a man was made prisoner opposite the mouth of Kentucky-and the settlement at that place evacuated.
March the Ist, the Indians killed a part, and dispers- ed the rest of the people in Kennedy's bottom.
The 10th of the month, the governor of the common- wealth stating, that he had received information from the governor of the north-western territory, that incursions were made by parties from Kentucky, through that ter- ritory, upon the tribes of Indians in amity with the U. States ; proceeds to reprehend such conduct ; and orders that no party shall in future, under any pretence whate- ver, enter the territory of the United States, or any Indian tribe.
A canoe, ascending the Ohio, about the last of March, was taken by the Indians, near the Sciota, and three men killed. About the same time a boat coming down, was decoyed to shore by a white man, who feigned dis- tress ; when fifty savages rose from concealment, ram into the boat, killed John May, and a young woman ; and took the residue of the passengers prisoners.
Soon after this event, other boats were taken, and the people killed, or carried away captive.
The 2d of April, the Indians attacked three boats on the Ohio, near the mouth of the Sciota-two being a- bandoned, fell into the hands of the enemy, who plun-
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HISTORY OF
dered them : the other being manned with all the ped] ple, made its escape.
Such a series of aggression, roused the people at lengthi -and General Scott, with 230 volunteers, crossed the Ohio at Limestone, and was joined by General Harmer with 100 regulars, who march for the Sciota ; the Indians had however abandoned their camp, and there was no general action. On the mirch a small trace, made by Indians was crossed, thirteen men were detached upon it, they came upon four Indians in camp, the whole of whom were killed by the first fire.
On the 13th of April, the secretary of war wrote to Judge Innes, expressing the anxiety of the president of the United States, to extend the benefits of certain de- fensive regulations, to all the frontiers ; and placing it in the power of the Judge, to authorise the county lieu- tenants to call out the scouts to protect the defenceless in- habitants.
In this month, a company on its way to Kentucky, encamped on Ro k. Castle, were fired on by Indians ; when one white min and a negro were mortally woun- ded. Three children tomahawked, and the rest dis- persed, with the loss of horses, and baggage.
The 23d of May, a collection of men, women, and children, returning fron a sermon on Brashears'- Creek, were fired ön, one man killed, and a woman made prisoner. The Indians being pursued soon after, tomahawked the woman, and escaped.
In June, of two spies, one was killed near the Big Bone Eick : and an Indian shot on Cox's Creek:
40%
KENTUCKY.
The roth of the month, one man was killed and Scalped, another wounded, by Indians at Baker's Stati- on. They fired on nine men at Morgan's Station, the 25th of the month, and wounded three-one of them mortally. The sa ne day, a boat, with families, among whom were six men, was attacked near the three Islands, in the Ohio, by sixteen Indians, in four bark canoes- The Indians approached the boat without firing, the white men fired, but with little effect ; immediately the Indians board the boat, and make the men and families prisoners. The property which could not be carried a- way, was sunk in the river ; and the march commenced for the towns. The following night, one of the women, had a child born, with which she was compelled to tra- vel in the morning. The second day one of the men escaped. The Indians were Towas, and said they in- tended to make slaves of the prisoners.
The 30th Governor St. Clair, arrived at the falls of the Ohio, on his way to meet General Harmer, with whom to concert the means of carrying an expedition in- to the Indian country.
The 2d of July it was resolved, by a meeting of citi- zens at Danville, that the frequent depredations of the Indians on persons and property, made it necessary to march against their towns. And that a conference might be had among the field officers, it was proposed. that they should meet at the same place on the 26th of the month.
Two of the spies for Mason county returning to Cas-
x2
:
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HISTORY OF
saday's fort on the ) 8th, were mistaken for Indians, fred on, ard one ofthem mortally wounded.
On the 26th of the month, the convention met, as had been provided by the act of assen bly. They chose George Muter fortheir presiden'-ard resolved, " thet it was evre ient for and the will of the good people of the district of Kenti chv . that the same be erected into an independent state or the terms, and conditions spe- cified in an act of the Virginia assen bly, passed the 18th day of December 1780, entitled an act concerning the erection of the district of Kentucky into an independent state."
The next step, was a formal acceptance of the terms and conditions specified in the before recited ac -- They declare that on the first day of June 1792, the said dis- trict, shall become a state, separate from, and indepen- dent of the government of Virginia-and that the arti- c'es of separation become a solemn compact, binding on the people of Kentucky.
Mr. Bullitt, prepared an address to the assembly of Virginia, which was agreed to, announcing the accep- tance of the terms of separation-and requesting the aid of the Virginia representation in congress, to obtain from that hody an act of admission, for the new state in- to the federal union.
A men orial to the president of the United States, and to congress, was presented to the convention by Mt. Jarres Marshall, and adopted.
Expressing attachment to the present happy estaba lisiment of the federal government-stating the causes
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KENTUCKY.
and motives for separating fron Virginia-the commpe- tency of the district to sustain government-the time li- mitted for its organization as a state-and praying the congress to sanction the whole proceeding, by an act of admission into the union.
And finally the convention resolved,
" That in the month of December, 1791, on the respective court days of the counties within the said district, and at the respective places of holding courts therein, representatives to continue in appointment for seven months, shall be elected by the free mare innabi- tants of each county, above the age of twenty-one years, in like manner as the delegates to this present convention have been elected in the proportions following :- In the county of Jefferson shall be elected five representatives, in the county of Nelson five representatives, in the county of Mercer five repre- sentatives, in the county of Lincoln nive representatives, in the county o. Madison hve representatives, in the county of Fayette hve representatives, in the county of Woodtora tive representatives, in the county ci Bourbon five representatives, and in the county O. midson five re- presencatives. Provided, that no person shah voic in any county except that in which he resides, and that no person shall be capable of being eiccrea unless he has been resident within the said district At least one year. L.ca of the officers holding such elections shall continue che same from day to day, passing over Sunday, for five days including the first day, and shall cause this resolution to be read each day immediately preceding the opening of
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HISTORY OF
the election at the door of the court-house or other con- venient place. Each of the officers shall deliver to each per- son duly elected a representative, a certificate of his election and shall transmit a general return to the clerk of the su- preme court, to be by him laid before the convention. For every neglect of any of the duties hereby enjoined on such officers, he shall forfeit one hundred pounds, to be recovered by action of debt by any person suing for the same. The said convention shall be held at Danville, on the first Monday in April, and shall and may proceed after choosing a president and other proper officers, and settling the proper rules of proceeding, to frame and es- tablish a constitution or form of government, and also to declare what laws shall remain in force until altered or abrogated by legislative authority acting under the con- stitution so to be framed and established."
Thus was brought to a period, the long saught sepa- ration of Kentucky, and her erection into an Indepen- dent state ; subject only to the assent of congress. About which no 'scrious apprehension was entertained by well disposed men of information.
The president ofthe United States, with that attention to the peace and security of every part of the U. States, which had ever characterised his vigilance, and humani- ty, considering that defensive measures against the In- dians, were not adequate to the protection of an exten- sive and exposed frontier, had ordered an expedition a- gainst thcir towns ; to be carried on by the joint force of regulars, and militia, under the command of General Hammer.
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KENTUCKY.
Suitable preparations being made, 1333 militia from Kentucky, were united with 320 continental troops- 's who on the 30th of September, set out from the Ohio for the town on Miami The march was performed, and the village gained without difficulty-the cabins burnt, and the corn destroyed. But this was not the end of the bu- siness-the Indian warriors, who had evacuated the town on the approach of an army, so much superior to any force they could raise, after receiving some reinforce -. ments, rallied under their chief :- attacked the army of General Harmer-killed 180 of his men, and kept the ground, with a loss as it was supposed, from 100 (0 1 20 pf their own number.
The expedition upon the whole, was one of great loss, and little glory.
Complaints forever attend misfortune, as that is the constant companion of misconduct. On this occasion, Colonel John Hardin, was made the subject of some in- vidious insinuations, and reproaches-conscious of his own integrity, and honor, he demanded a court of en- quiry ; who after a full investigation, rendered nim an unanimous acquittal.
The situation of the country called for some internal regulations, and establishments, calculated to cover, and protect its extensive frontiers, at such points at least, as were most exposed. Those provided consisted of a number of small posts, dispersed among the remote settlers, who . could not be supported by contiguous, and populous neighborhoods.
.
At the Three Islands,
20 mẹn
At Locust Creek,
-
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HISTORY OF
At the Iron Works, 17 meņ-
At the Forks of Licking, 12
At the Big Bone Lick,
At Tanner's Station,
5
At Drennon's Lick, TO
At the Mouth of Kentucky, 9
At Patten's Creek, 10
At the Mouth of Salt River,
19
At Hardin's Settlement, 12
At Russell's Creek,
15
At Severn's Valley,
10
At the Widow Wilson's
5
At Estill's Station,
10
At Stevenson's, 18
At the Knob Lick, 9
Besides similar distributions, at many other places.
On the 8th of December, the president, in his com- munications to congress, strongly recommended the a- doption of the new state of Kentucky into the union, in terms equally affectionate, and honorable.
The Senate, on the 13th, reciprocated this message, and ‹‹ assured him of their disposition to concur in giv- ing the requisite sanction to the admission of Kentucky, as a distinct member of the union."
In doing which they say, " we shall anticipate the happy effects to be expected from the sentiments of at- tachment towards the union, and its present govern- ment, which have been expressed by the patriotic inhay bitants of that district."
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KENTUCKY.
A few days afterwards, the House of Representatives, say, on the same suljec -" we shall bestow on this im- portant subject, the favorable consideration which it me- rit -and with the national policy which ought to gov- ern our decision, shall not fail to mingle the affectionate sentin ents which are awakened, by those expressed, in behalf of our fellow-citizens of Kentucky."
The 4th of February, 1791, each branch of the gov- ernment had ver fied its integrity by passing the act of admission ; which gave the crown of success to the hen- est efforts of those in Kentucky, who had saught to place her among the independent states of the American uni- on, not at the foot of the Spanish monarchy. At this mo- ment, the suspicions excited by Mr. Brown, and the other conspirators, and intriguers, should have vanished -and their aspersions on the atlantic states, should have been rolled back with indignant scørn, on their own heads. But their influence on public opinion had become too powerful, and extensive, for these sensations to pre- dominate in the popular breast.
There was yet the navigation of the Mississippi, and the Indian war, for them to manage. Nor did they cease to apply them to the annoyance of the General Government, and to the purposes of their own ambition, . and disaffection to the federal system-as the sequel will demonstrate.
END OF VOLUME FIRST.
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26-1484
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