USA > Massachusetts > Our western border : its life, combats, adventures, forays, massacres, captivities, scouts, red chiefs, pioneer women, one hundred years ago, containing the cream of all the rare old border chronicles > Part 30
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
treated with the utmost affection. One fact is given us which shows his acute observation and knowledge of mankind. At the various shooting matches to which he was invited, he took care not to beat them too often. He knew that no feeling is more painful than that of inferiority, and that the most effectual way of keeping them in a good humor with him, was to keep them in a good humor with themselves. He, there- fore, only shot well enough to make it an honor to beat him, and found himself an universal favorite.
On the Ioth of March, 1778, Boone was conducted to Detroit, when Governor Hamilton himself offered £100 for his ransom; but so strong was the affection of the Indians for their prisoner, that it was positively refused. Several English gentlemen, touched with sympathy for his misfortunes, made pressing offers of money and other articles, but Boone steadily refused to receive benefits which he could never return. The offer was honorable to them, and the refusal was dictated by rather too refined a spirit of independence. Boone's anxiety on account of his wife and children was incessant, and the more intolerable, as he dared not excite the suspicion of the Indians by any indication of a wish to rejoin them.
Upon his return from Detroit, he observed that one hundred and fifty warriors of various tribes had assembled, painted and equipped for an expedition against Boonsborough. His anxiety at this sight became ungovernable, and he determined, at every risk, to effect his escape. During the whole of this agitating period, however, he permitted no symptoms of anxiety to escape him. He hunted and shot with them, as usual, until the morning of the 16th of June, when, taking an early start, he left Chillicothe and directed his route to Boonsborough. The distance exceeded one hundred and sixty miles, but he performed it in four days, during which he ate only one meal. He appeared before the garrison like one rising from the dead. His wife, supposing him killed, had transported herself, children and property to her father's house, in North Carolina ; his men, suspecting no danger, were dis- persed to their ordinary avocations, and the works had been permitted to go to waste. Not a moment was to be lost. The garrison worked day and night upon the fortifications. New gates, new flanks and double bastions, were soon completed. The cattle and horses were brought into the fort, ammunition prepared, and everything made ready for the approach of the enemy within ten days after his arrival. At this time, one of his companions in captivity arrived from Chilli- cothe, and announced that his escape had determined the Indians to delay the invasion for three weeks.
During. this interval, it was ascertained that numerous spies were
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SEVERE SIEGE OF BOONSBOROUGH.
traversing the woods and hovering around the station, doubtless for the purpose of observing and reporting the condition of the garrison. Their report could not have been favorable. The alarm had spread very generally, and all were upon the alert. The attack had been de- layed so long that Boone began to suspect that they had been discour- aged by the report of the spies; and he determined to invade them. Selecting nineteen men from his garrison, he put himself at their head, and marched with equal silence and celerity against the town on Paint Creek, on the Scioto. He arrived, without discovery, within four miles of the town, and there encountered a party of thirty warriors on their march to unite with the grand army in the expedition against Boons- borough. Instantly attacking them with great spirit, he compelled them to give way with some loss, and without any injury to himself. He then halted, and sent two spies in advance to ascertain the con- dition of the village. In a few hours they returned with the intelli- gence that the town was evacuated. He instantly concluded that the grand army was on its march against Boonsborough, whose situation, as well as his own, was exceedingly critical. Retracing his steps, he marched day and night, hoping still to elude the enemy and reach Boonsborough before them. He soon fell in with their trail, and making a circuit to avoid them, he passed their army on the sixth day of his march, and on the seventh reached Boonsborough.
SEVERE SIEGE OF BOONSBOROUGH-INDIAN STRATAGEMS FOILED.
On the eighth the enemy appeared in great force. There were nearly five hundred Indian warriors, armed and painted in their usual manner, and what was still more formidable, they were conducted by a Canadian officer, well skilled in the usages of modern warfare. As soon as they were arrayed in front of the fort, the British colors were displayed, and an officer with a flag was sent to demand the surrender of the fort, with a promise of quarter and good treatment in case of compliance, and threatening " the hatchet," in case of a storm. Boone requested two days for consideration, which, in defiance of all experience and com- mon sense, was granted. This interval, as usual, was employed in preparation for an obstinate resistance.' The cattle were brought into the fort, the horses secured, and all things made ready against the com- mencement of hostilities.
Boone then assembled the garrison and represented to them the con- dition in which they stood. They had not to deal with Indians alone, but with British officers, skilled in the art of attacking fortified places, sufficiently numerous to direct, but too few to restrain their savage
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allies. If they surrendered, their lives might and probably would be saved ; but they would suffer much inconvenience, and must lose all their property. If they resisted, and were overcome, the life of every man, woman and child would be sacrificed. The hour was now come in which they were to determine what was to be done. If they were inclined to surrender, he would announce it to the officer ; if they were [ resolved to maintain the fort, he would share their fate, whether in life or death. He had scarcely finished, when every man arose and in a firm tone announced his determination to defend the fort to the last.
Boone then appeared at the gate of the fortress, and communicated to Captain Duquesne the resolution of his men. Disappointment and chagrin were strongly painted upon the face of the Canadian at this answer; but endeavoring to disguise his feelings, he declared that Gov- error Hamilton had ordered him not to injure the men if it could be avoided, and that if nine of the principal inhabitants of the fort would come out into the plain and treat with them, they would instantly de- part without further hostility. The insidious nature of this proposal was evident, for they could converse very well from where they then stood, and going out would only place the officers of the fort at the mercy of the savages-not to mention the absurdity of supposing that this army of warriors would " treat," but-upon such terms as pleased them, and no terms were likely to do so, short of a total abandonment of the country. Notwithstanding these objections, the word "treat," sounded so pleasantly in the ears of the besieged, that they agreed at once to the proposal and Boone himself, attended by eight of his men, went out and mingled with the savages, who crowded around them in great numbers, and with countenances of deep anxiety.
The treaty then commenced and was soon concluded. What the terms were, we are not informed, nor is it a matter of the least import- ance, as the whole was a stupid and shallow artifice. This was soon made manifest. Duquesne, after many very pretty periods about " bien- faisance and humanite," which should accompany the warfare of civil- ized beings, at length informed Boone, that it was a singular custom with the Indians, upon the conclusion of a treaty with the whites, for two warriors to take hold of the hand of each white man. Boone thought this rather a singular custom, but there was no time to dispute about etiquette, particularly as he could not be more in their power than he already was ; so he signified his willingness to conform to the Indian mode of cementing friendship. Instantly, two warriors ap- proached each white man, with the word " brother " upon their lips, but a very different expression in. their eyes, and grappling him with violence, attempted to bear him off. "Go !" shouted Blackfish tc his
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1
INDIAN STRATAGEMS FOILED.
savages. The whites probably expected such a consummation, and all at the same moment sprung from their enemies. The struggle was vio- lent, but of short duration. Boone and his fellows tossed the savages from them, and in the midst of rifle balls from the fort and of bullets, tomahawks and arrows from the foe, the heroic little band escaped into the fortress and securely barred the gate, all being uninjured save Boone's brother, Squire.
The attack instantly conimenced by a heavy fire against the picket- ing, and was returned with fatal accuracy by the garrison. The Indians quickly sheltered themselves, and the action became more cautious and deliberate. Finding but little effect from the fire of his men, Duquesne next resorted to a more formidable mode of attack. The fort stood on the south bank of the river, within sixty yards of the water. Com- mencing under the bank, where their operations were concealed from the garrison, they attempted to push a mine into the fort. Their ob- ject, however, was fortunately discovered by the quantity of fresh earth which they were compelled to throw into the river, and by which the water became muddy for some distance below. Boone, who had re- gained his usual sagacity, instantly cut a trench within the fort in such a manner as to intersect the line of their approach, and thus frustrated their design. The enemy exhausted all the ordinary artifices of Indian warfare, but were steadily repulsed in every effort. Finding their num- bers daily thinned by the deliberate but fatal fire of the garrison, and seeing no prospect of final success, they broke up on the ninth day of the siege and returned home. The loss of the garrison was two killed and four wounded. On the part of the savages, thirty-seven were killed and many wounded, who, as usual, were carried off. This was the last siege sustained by Boonsborough. The country had increased so rap- idly in numbers, and sc many other stations lay between Boonsborough and the Ohio, that the savages could not reach it without leaving ene- mies in the rear.
In the Autumn of this year Boone returned to North Carolina for his wife and family, who, as already observed, had supposed him dead, and returned to her father. There is a hint in Mr. Marshall's history, that the family affairs, which detained him in North Carolina, were of an anpleasant character, but no explanation is given. In the Summer of 1780 he returned to Kentucky with his family, and settled at Boons- borough. Here he continued busily engaged upon his farm until the 6th of October, when, accompanied by his brother, he went to the Lower Blue Licks, for the purpose of providing himself with salt. This spot seemed fatal to Boone. Here he had once been taken prisoner by '. the Indians and here he was destined, within two years, to lose his
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
youngest son, and to witness the slaughter of many of his dearest friends. His present visit was not free from calamity. Upon their re- turn, they were encountered by a party of Indians, and his brother, who had accompanied him faithfully through many years of toil and danger, was killed and scalped before his eyes. Unable either to pre- vent or avenge his death, Boone was compelled to fly, and by his supe- rior knowledge of the country, contrived to elude his pursuers. They followed his trail, however, by the scent of a dog, that pressed him closely, and prevented his concealing himself. This was one of the most critical moments of his life, but his usual coolness and fortitude enabled him to meet it. He halted until the dog, baying loudly upon his trail, came within gunshot, when he deliberately turned and shot him dead. The thickness of the wood and the approach of darkness then enabled him to effect his escape.
During the following year Boonsborough enjoyed uninterrupted tranquility. The country had become comparatively thickly settled, and was studded with fortresses in every direction, Fresh emigrants with their families were constantly arriving ; and many young unmar- ried women, (who had heretofore been extremely scarce,) had ventured to risk themselves in Kentucky. They could not have selected a spot where their merit was more properly appreciated, and were disposed of very rapidly to the young hunters, most of whom had hitherto, from necessity, remained bachelors. Thriving settlements had been pushed beyond the Kentucky river, and a number of houses had been built where Lexington now stands.
The year 1781 passed away in perfect tranquility, and, judging from appearances, nothing was more distant than the terrible struggle that awaited them. But during the whole of this year the Indians were meditating a desperate effort to crush the settlements at a single blow. They had become seriously alarmed at the tide of emigration, which rolled over the country and threatened to convert their favorite hunt- ing ground into one vast cluster of villages. The game had already been much dispersed ; the settlers, originally weak and scattered over the south side of the Kentucky river, had now become numerous, and were rapidly extending to the Ohio. One vigorous and united effort might still crush their enemies, and regain for themselves the undisputed pos- session of the western forests. A few renegade white men were min- gled with them, and inflamed their wild passions by dwelling upon the injuries which they had sustained at the hands of the whites, and of the necessity for instant and vigorous exertion, or of an eternal surrender of every hope either of redress or vengeance. Among these the most remarkable was Simon Girty. Runners were dispatched to most of the
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DEFEAT OF CAPTAIN ESTILL.
northwestern tribes, and all were exhorted to lay aside private jealousy and unite in a common cause against these white intruders. In the meantime, the settlers were busily employed in opening farms, marry- ing and giving in marriage, totally ignorant of the storm which was gathering upon the lakes.
DEFEAT OF CAPTAIN ESTILL-A WELL-FOUGHT ACTION.
In the Spring of 1782, after a long interval of repose, they were harassed by small parties, who preceded the main body, as the pattering and irregular drops of rain are the precursors of the approaching storm. In the month of May, a party of twenty-five Wyandots secretly approached Estill's station, and committed shocking outrages in its vicinity. Entering a cabin which stood apart from the rest, they seized a woman and her two daughters, who, having been violated with cir- cumstances of savage barbarity, were tomahawked and scalped. Their bodies, yet warm and bleeding, were found upon the floor of the cabin. The neighborhood was instantly alarmed. Captain Estill speedily col- lected a body of twenty-five men, and pursued their trail with great rapidity. He came up with them on Hinkston fork of Licking, imme- diately after they had crossed it, and a most severe and desperate con- flict ensued. The Indians at first appeared daunted and began to fly, but their chief, who was badly wounded by the first fire, was heard in a loud voice, ordering them to stand and return the fire, which was instantly obeyed.
The creek ran between the two parties, and prevented a charge on either side, without the certainty of great loss. The parties, therefore, consisting of precisely the same number, formed an irregular line, within fifty yards of each other, and sheltering themselves behind trees or logs, they fired with deliberation, as an object presented itself. The only manœuvre which the nature of the ground permitted, was to extend their lines in such a manner as to uncover the flank of the enemy, and even this was extremely dangerous, as every motion exposed them to a close and deadly fire. The action, therefore, was chiefly stationary, neither party advancing or retreating, and every individual acting for himself. It had already lasted more than an hour, without advantage or either side or any prospect of its termination. Captain Estill had lost one-third of his men, and had inflicted about an equal loss upon his enemies, who still boldly maintained their ground and returned his fire with equal spirit. To have persevered in the Indian mode of fight- ing, would have exposed his party to certain death, one by one, unless all the Indians should be killed first, who, however, had at least an
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
· equal chance with himself. Even victory, bought at such a price, would have afforded but a melancholy triumph; yet it was impossible to retreat or advance without exposing his men to the greatest danger.
After coolly revolving these reflections in his mind, and observing that the enemy exhibited no symptoms of discouragement, Captain Estill determined to detach a party of six men, under Lieutenant Miller, with orders to cross the creek above, and take the Indians in flank, while he maintained his ground, ready to co-operate as circum- stances might require. But he had to deal with an enemy equally bold and sagacious. The Indian chief was quickly aware of the division of the force opposed to him, from the slackening of the fire in front, and, readily conjecturing his object, he determined to frustrate it by crossing the creek with his whole force, and overwhelming Estill, now weakened by the absence of Miller. The manœuvre was bold and masterly, and was executed with determined courage. Throwing themselves into the water, they fell upon Estill with the tomahawk, and drove him before them with slaughter. Miller's party retreated with precipitation, and even lie under the reproach of deserting their friends and absconding, instead of occupying the designated ground. Others contradict this statement, and affirm that Miller punctually executed his orders, crossed the creek, and, falling in with the enemy, was compelled to retire with loss.
Estill's party, finding themselves furiously charged, and receiving no assistance from Miller, who was probably at that time on the other side of the creek, in execution of his orders, would naturally consider them- selves deserted, and when a clamor of that kind is once raised against a man, (particularly in a defeat,) the voice of reason can no longer be heard. Some scapegoat is always necessary. The broken remains of the detachment returned to the station, and filled the country with con- sternation and alarm, greatly disproportioned to the extent of the loss. The brave Estill, with eight of his men, had fallen, and four were wounded-more than half of their original number.
This, notwithstanding the smallness of the numbers, is a very remark-" able action, and perhaps more honorable to the Indians than any one on record. The numbers, the arms, the courage and the position of the parties were equal. Both were composed of good marksmen and skillful woodsmen. There was no surprise, no panic, nor any particu- lar accident, according to the most probable account, which decided the action. A delicate manœuvre, on the part of Estill, gave an ad- vantage, which was promptly seized by the Indian chief, and a bold and masterly movement decided the fate of the day.
The news of Estill's disaster was quickly succeeded by another, scarcely
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GIKTY'S DESPERATE ATTACK ON BRYANT STATION.
less startling to the alarmed settlers. Captain Holder, at the head of seventeen men, pursued a party of Indians who had taken two boys from the neighborhood of Hoy's station. He overtook them after a rapid pursuit, and in the severe action which ensued, was repulsed with the loss of more than half his party. The tide of success seemed com- pletely turned in favor of the Indians. They traversed the woods in every direction, sometimes singly and sometimes in small parties, and kept the settlers in constant alarm.
GIRTY'S DESPERATE ATTACK ON BRYANT STATION.
At length, early in August, the great effort was made. The allied Indian army, composed of detachments from nearly all the northwestern tribes, and amounting to nearly six hundred men, under the lead ot Simon Girty, the notorious renegade, commenced their march from Chillicothe, under command of their respective chiefs, aided and in- fluenced by Girty, M'Kee, and other renegade white men. With a se- crecy and celerity peculiar to themselves, they advanced through the woods without giving the slightest indication of their approach, and on the night of the 14th of August, they appeared before Bryant's station, as suddenly as if they had risen from the earth, and surrounding it on all sides, calmly awaited the approach of daylight, holding themselves in readiness to rush in upon the inhabitants the moment the gates were opened in the morning. The supreme influence of fortune in war, was never more strikingly displayed. The garrison had determined to march on the following morning, to the assistance of Hoy's station, from which a messenger had arrived the evening before, with the intel- ligence of Holder's defeat. Had the Indians arrived only a few hours later they would have found the fort occupied only by old men, women and children, who could not have resisted their attack for a moment. As it was, they found the garrison assembled and under arms, most of them busily engaged throughout the whole night, in preparing for an early march the following morning. The Indians could distinctly hear the bustle of preparation, and see lights glancing from block-houses and cabins during the night, which must have led them to suspect that their approach had been discovered. All continued tranquil during the night, and Girty silently concerted the plan of attack.
The fort, consisting of about forty cabins placed in parallel lines, stood upon a gentle rise on the southern bank of the Elkhorn, a few
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
paces to the right of the road from Maysville to Lexington. The gar- rison was supplied with water from a spring at some distance from the fort, on its northwestern side-a great error in most of the stations, which, in a close and long-continued siege, must have suffered dread- fully for the want of water. The great body of Indians placed them- selves in ambush within half rifle shot of the spring, while one hundred select men were placed near the spot where the road runs after passing the creek, with orders to open a brisk fire and show themselves to the garrison on that side, for the purpose of drawing them out, while the main body held themselves in readiness to rush upon the opposite gate of the fort, hew it down with their tomahawks, and force their way into the midst of the cabins.
At dawn of day, the garrison paraded under arms, and were prepar- ing to open their gates and march off, as already mentioned, when they were alarmed by a furious discharge of rifles, accompanied with yells and screams, which struck terror to the hearts of the women and chil- dren, and startled even the men. All ran hastily to the picketing, and beheld a small party of Indians exposed to open view, firing, yelling and making the most furious gestures. 'The appearance was so singular, and so different from their usual manner of fighting, that some of the more wary and experienced of the garrison instantly pronounced it a decoy party, and restrained their young men from sallying out and at- tacking them, as some of them were strongly disposed to do. The op- posite side of the fort was instantly manned,. and several breaches in the picketing rapidly repaired.
THE HEROISM OF THE KENTUCKY WOMEN.
Their greatest distress arose from the prospect of suffering for water. The more experienced of the garrison felt satisfied that a powerful party was in ambuscade near the spring, but at the same time they sup- posed that the Indians would not unmask themselves until the firing upon the opposite side of the fort was returned with such warmth as to induce the belief that the feint had succeeded. Acting upon this im' pression, and yielding to the urgent necessity of the case, they sum- moned all the women, without exception, and explaining to them the circumstances in which they were placed, and the improbability that any injury would be offered to them until the firing had been returned from the opposite side of the fort, they urged them to go in a body to the spring, and each to bring up a bucketful of water. Some of the ladies, as was natural, had no relish for the undertaking, and asked why
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THE HEROISM OF THE KENTUCKY WOMEN.
the men could not bring water as well as themselves ! observing that they were not bullet-proof, and that the Indians made no distinction between male and female scalps.
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