USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, together with historic notes on the northwest and the state of Ohio > Part 40
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The next question was, when and where should the execution take place. Some were in favor of immediate action, and some de- sired to make it a "solemn national sacrifice." It was finally decided, however, that the place should be Waughcotomoco (now Zanesfield, Logan County).
On the way to this place, Kenton determined to make an effort to escape, knowing his fate could be no worse. At a favorable moment he rushed into the woods with such desperate swiftness that had he not stumbled upon a party of red skins on horseback he would have escaped. All hope now left him, and he felt de- serted by God and man. At Piqua he was mockingly tied to the stake. At Waughcotomoco he ran the gauntlet again, and was severely hurt.
While sitting in gloom among his enemies in the council house, the door was opened and Girty, with his prisoners and scalps, ap- peared. The anxious gaze of Kenton was met by scowls of savage hatred. Previous to this, it is related that Kenton, after his at- tempted escape, had been given up to the boys and women, who rolled him in the mud and water until he was nearly suffocated, then he was taken out and his face painted black, signifying his fate. In this condition, Girty, who had formerly been his bosom companion, did not recognize him, until in conversation he reveal- ed his name ; when the hardened wretch, who had murdered men, women, and children, threw himself in his arms, and with tears in
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his eyes, promised to use every effort to save his life. He immedi- ately called a council, and earnestly pleaded for the life of his friend. Speeches for and against were made, and the scale hung doubtful, until the fiery eloquence of Girty prevailed, and Kenton was saved.
He remained with his liberator for some time, until the return of a disappointed war party, which took possession of him again, and despite the appeals of Girty, condemned him to the stake, and compelled him again to run the gauntlet. Girty came to him, and told him he must die. A halter was then placed around his neck, and he was led toward the place of execution. On the road they passed an Indian sitting smoking on a log, directing his wife in her efforts at chopping, who on sight of Kenton, seized the ax, and struck him a severe blow. He was sharply rebuked by the Indian guards, for trying to destroy their material for torture.
On their journey, they stopped at the village of the humane Logan, who immediately sent runners to Sandusky (his intended place of execution), to intercede for his life, but on their return, Logan in- formed him that he must go instantly to Sandusky. Thus was his poor soul harrowed with hope and fear. On his arrival, an Indian agent named Druyer, at the instigation of Logan, purchased him of the Indians, and in a speech, persuaded them to let him go to De- troit, where he remained till the following June, when he, with others escaped from the British. In this perilous adventure, he was forced to run the gauntlet eight times, tied to the stake three times, beaten and kicked, and struck with an ax, rolled and wallowed in the mud, and yet his powerful constitution resumed its wonted vigor when released, and he lived to the age of eighty-one.
About the year 1778, during the investment of Boonesborough, the want of salt created great suffering. Boone selected about thirty companions, and started for the salt springs on the Licking River about a hundred miles north. His narrative is so character- istic, that we subjoin it here.
"On the 7th of February, as I was hunting to procure meat for the company, I met a party of one hundred and two Indians, and two Frenchmen on their march against Boonesborough ; this place being particularly the object of the enemy. They pursued, and took me, and brought me the eighth day to the Licks, where twenty- seven of my party were, three of them having previously returned home with the salt. I, knowing it was impossible for them to
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escape, capitulated with the enemy, and at a distance in their view, gave notice to my men of their situation, with orders not to resist, but surrender themselves captives.
"The generous usage the Indians had promised before in my capi- tulation, was afterwards fully complied with, and we proceeded with them as prisoners to Old Chillicothe, the principal Indian town on the Little Miami (now Oldtown, in this county), where we arrived after an uncomfortable journey in very severe weather, on the 18th of February, and received as good treatment as prisoners could ex- pect from savages."
It is related that Boone told a friend of his, that on this journey their supply of food became exhausted, and that they killed, and devoured all their dogs, and after this lived ten days on a decoction made from the inner white oak bark, which, after drinking, he could travel with any of them. Finally they killed a deer, and with that precaution taught by nature, boiled its entrails to a jelly, and drank it freely to prepare their stomachs for more substantial food. They offered it to Boone, but his stomach revolt- ed, until they forced him to drink about half a pint which acted freely as a cathartic. The grimaces he made in swallowing it afford- ed much amusement to the savages, who we may imagine exclaim- ed. "No like much, heap no good." After his medicine had oper- ated well, they allowed him to eat, informing him, that had he done so before, it would have killed him.
"On the 10th of March following," says he, "I and ten of my men were conducted by forty Indians to Detroit, where we arrived the thirteenth day, and were treated by Governor Hamilton, the British commander at that post, with great humanity. During our travels, the Indians entertained me well, and their affection for me was so great, that they utterly refused to leave me there with the others, although the governor offered them one hundred pounds sterling for me, on purpose to give me a parole to go home. Several English gentlemen there being sensible of my adverse fortune, and touched with humane sympathy, generously offered a friendly sup- ply for my wants, which I refused with many thanks for their kind- ness, adding, that I never expected it would be in my power to recompense such unmerited generosity."
By reason of the material aid rendered by the Indians, in their war against the colonies, the British dared not go to a length that would in any way displease them. They had taken a particular
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fancy to Boone, whose peculiarly quiet disposition pleased them, whose prowess as a hunter they admired, whose superior skill in all the artifices of border warfare was fully appreciated by them, and they indulged the hope, that by kind treatment they could in- duce him to live with them.
After remaining ten days in Detroit, having disposed of all their prisoners for a ransom, except Boone, they began the long and weary return, bringing him with them, to Old Chillicothe, on the Little Miami, in this county. In the language of one narrator, " The country they traversed, now so full of wealth, activity, and all the resources of individual and social happiness, was then a vast wilderness, silent and lonely. Still, in its solitude it was very beau- tiful, embellished with fertile plains, magnificent groves, and crystal streams." At Chillicothe he was formally adopted into the family of Blackfish, one of the most noted chiefs of the Shawanoes tribe.
We resume his own narrative. "At Chillicothe," he says, "I spent my time as comfortably as I could expect. I was adopted, according to their custom, into a family where I became a son, and had a great share in the affections of my new parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. I was exceedingly familiar and friendly with them, always appearing as cheerful and satisfied as possible, and they put great confidence in me. I often went hunting with them, and frequently gained their applause for my activity at our shoot- ing niatches. I was careful not to excel them when shooting, for no people are more envious than they in their sport. I could ob- serve in their countenances and gestures the greatest expressions of joy when they exceeded me, and when the reverse happened, of envy. The Shawanoes king took great notice of me, and treated me with profound respect and entire friendship, often trusting me to hunt at my liberty. I frequently returned with the spoils of the woods, and as often presented some of what I had taken to him, expressive of my duty to my sovereign. My food and lodging were in common with them; not so good, indeed, as I could desire, but necessity makes everything acceptable."
The spirit of contentment and friendship manifested by Boone, was not solely the result of artifice; for their kind and generous treatment of him, and his knowledge of the many wrongs they had suffered at the hands of the white man, had implanted a feel- ing of real sympathy for them in his bosom. Yet all this could not make him one of them. His thoughts were of his home, and
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the loved ones there, and his mind was ever active in thinking of escape.
The process of adoption as performed by the Indians was both ludicrous and severe. First, the patient was taken to the water and scrubbed from head to foot, to wash all the white blood out; then all his hair, with the exception of a tuft on the crown, was plucked out by the roots. This was allowed to grow long, and was orna- mented with feathers and ribbons. This was the warriors' banner, and when he lost his colors he was emphatically "snatched bald- headed." IIis fare was painted in the highest style of Indian art, after which he was taken to the council house, and addressed by the chief, who, with great ceremony and earnestness, went through the formalities of adoption.
Boone, now, with his painted face, feathers and ribbons, dress, and Indian toggery, was the "noblest Roman of them all," and with his bronze complexion could hardly be distinguished from a veritable redskin. Notwithstanding all this, his captors kept a con- stant though unobtrusive watch over him. They knew that while he was ostensibly contented, it was not human nature to be so; and while they allowed him to hunt alone, they measured his pow- der and counted his bullets. A five days' journey to Boonesborough could not be made without food, and by preventing him from accu- mulating ammunition, he could not procure food. He, however, circumvented this by cutting his balls in two, and loading with but little powder, thus, little by little, laying away quite a store.
.Early in June, they took him with them, about sixty miles cast, to a salt "lick" on the Scioto River, for the purpose of making salt. The savages being naturally averse to labor, and Boone having a thorough knowledge of the process, for the double pur- pose of getting the salt and preventing an opportunity of escape, kept him busy over the kettles all the time. After about two weeks' absence, they returned to the Little Miami with a good supply of salt.
On his return, Boone was struck with consternation on learning that during his absence a band of four hundred and fifty of their bravest warriors had been preparing to attack Boonesborough. What must have been that brave man's agony over the impending slaughter of his wife and children ! He knew the post was unpre- pared for an attack, and too weak to resist it. He was compelled to attend their councils with a smiling face, while he was tortured
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with apprehension. He understood every word they said, although he cunningly led them to believe he was ignorant of their language. To allay their suspicions, he seemed to enter into their plans and co-operate with them. The time had come when he must attempt escape at all hazards, and alarm the fort. The least unwary or false move would arouse suspicion and redouble their vigilance; but so adroitly did he conceal his agitation that the Indians, entirely ab- sorbed in their new enterprise, became less watchful.
We copy his biographer: "On the morning of the 16th of June, Boone arose very early to take his usual hunt. With his secreted ammunition, and the amount allowed him by the Indians for the day, he hoped to be able to save himself from starvation during his flight of five days through the pathless wilderness. There was a distance of one hundred and sixty miles between Old Chillicothe and Boonesborough. The moment his flight should be suspected, four hundred and fifty Indian warriors, breathing vengeance, and in perfect preparation for the pursuit, would be on his track. His capture would ahnost certainly result in his death by the most cruel tortures, for the infuriated Indians would wreak upon him all their vengeance.
It is, however, not probable that this silent, pensive man, allowed these thoughts to disturb his equanimity. An instinctive trust in God seemed to inspire him. He was forty-three years of age, and in the knowledge of wood-craft and in powers of endurance no Indian surpassed him. Though he would be pursued by sagacious and veteran warriors, and by young Indian braves,-a pack of four hundred and fifty savages following with keener scent than that of the blood-hound, one poor victim,-yet undismayed he entered upon the appalling enterprise. The history of the world perhaps presents but few feats so difficult, and yet so successfully perform- ed; and yet the only record which this modest man makes in his autobiography, of this wonderful adventure is as follows :
" On the 16th, before sunrise, I departed in the most secret man- ner, and arrived at Boonesborough on the 20th, after a journey of one hundred and sixty miles, during which I had but one meal."
It was necessary, as soon as Boone got out of sight of the village, to fly with the utmost speed, to put as great a distance as possible between himself and his pursuers, before they should suspect his attempt at escape. IIe subsequently learned that as soon as the Indians apprehended that he had actually fled, there was the most
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intense commotion in their camp, and immediately a large number of their fleetest runners and keenest hunters were put upon his trail. He dared not fire a gun. Had he killed any game, he could not have ventured to kindle a fire to cook it. He had secretly pro- vided himself with a few cuts of dried venison, with which he could appease his hunger as he pressed forward by day and by night, scarcely allowing himself one moment for rest or sleep. His route lay through forests and swamps, and across many streams swollen by recent rains.
At length he reached the Ohio River. Its current was swift and turbid, rolling in a majestic flood half a mile in width, filling the bed of the stream with almost fathomless waters from shore to shore. Experienced as Colonel Boone was in wood-craft, he was not a skillful swimmer. The thought of how he should cross the Ohio had given him much anxiety. Upon reaching its banks he fortunately-may we not say providentially ?- found an old canoe which had drifted among the bushes upon the shore. There was a large hole at one end, and it was nearly filled with water. IIe succeeded in bailing out the water and plugging up the hole, and crossed the river in safety. Then for the first time he so far in- dulged in a feeling of security as to venture to shoot a turkey, and kindling a fire, he feasted abundantly upon the rich repast. It was the only meal in which he indulged during his flight of five days.
On his arrival at Boonesborough he was welcomed as one risen from the grave. Much to his disappointment, he found that his wife, with his children, despairing of ever seeing him again, had left the fort and returned to the house of her father, in North Carolina. She supposed the Indians had killed him, and, in the language of Boone, "oppressed with the distresses of the country, and bereaved of me, her only happiness, she had undertaken her long and perilous journey through the wilderness." Continues his biographer, " it is gratifying to record that she reached her friends in safety."
Boone found the fort, as he had apprehended, in a bad state of defense. His presence, his military skill, and the intelligence he brought, immediately inspired every man to his utmost exertion. The gates were strengthened, new bastions were formed, and pro- visions were laid in to stand a siege. Every thing was done that could be done, to repel an assault from, they knew not how many
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savages, aided by British leaders ; for the band from Old Chillicothe, was to be joined by warriors from several other tribes. In ten days Boonesborough was ready for the onset. These arduous labors being completed, Boone heroically resolved to strike consternation into the Indians by showing them that he was prepared for aggres- sive, as well as defensive warfare, and that they must leave behind them, warriors for the protection of their own villages.
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Selecting a small party of but nineteen men, about the first of August, he emerged from Boonesborough, marched boldly to the Ohio, crossed the river, entered the valley of the Scioto, and was within four miles of an Indian town, Paint Creek; which he in- tended to destroy, when he chanced to encounter a party of thirty savages, painted, thoroughly armed, and on the war path to join the band advancing from Old Chillicothe. The Indians were attack- ed with such vehemence by Boone, that they fled in consternation, leaving behind them three horses, and all their baggage. The sav- ages also lost one killed, and two wounded, while they inflicted no loss whatever upon the white men. Boone sent forward some swift runners as spies, and they speedily returned, with the report that the Indians in a panic had entirely abandoned Paint Creek. Aware that the warriors would rush to join the four hundred and fifty from Old Chillicothe, and that they might cut off his retreat, or reach Boonesborough before his return, he immediately commenced a rapid movement towards the fort. Every man would be needed there for an obstinate defense. This foray had extended one hun- dred and fifty miles from the fort, and greatly alarmed the Indians. It emboldened the hearts of the garrison, and gave them intelligence of the approach of their foes. After an absence of but seven days, Boone with his heroic little band triumphantly re-entered the fort. We conclude in the language of Boone:
" On the 8th of August the Indian army arrived, being four hun- dred and fourty-four in number, commanded by Captain Duquesne (Dukane), eleven other Frenchmen, and some of their chiefs, and marched up in view of our fort, with British and French colors flying. And having sent a summons to me in His Britannic Majesty's name to surrender the fort, I requested two days con- sideration, which was granted. It was now a critical period with us. We were a small number in the garrison ; a powerful army before our walls, whose appearance proclaimed inevitable death ; fearfully painted, and marking their footsteps with desolation. Death was
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preferable to captivity ; and if taken by storm, we must inevitably be devoted to destruction. In this situation, we concluded to main- tain our garrison, if possible. We immediately proceeded to col- lect what we could of our horses, and other cattle, and bring them through the posterns into the fort; and in the evening of the ninth I returned the answer 'that we were determined to defend our fort while a man was living." 'Now,' said I to their commander, who stood attentively licaring by statements, 'we laugh at your formidable preparations, but thank you for giving us notice, and time for our defense. Your efforts will not prevail, for our gates will forever deny you admittance.'
" Whether this answer affected their courage or not, I can not tell; but, contrary to our expectations, they formed a scheme to deceive us, declaring it was their orders from Governor Hamilton to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out and treat with them, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peaceably. This sounded grateful in our ears, and we agreed to the proposal."
Boone's intimate knowledge of Indian character aroused his sus- picions of treachery ; therefore, selecting nine of the bravest and strongest men, he appointed the place of meeting within one hundred and twenty feet of the walls of the fort, and arranged the riflemen of the garrison in such a position as to cover the spot, and at the least sign of treachery to fire.
The treaty was made on reasonable terms, and signed, after which Blacktish, Boone's adopted father, rose, and casting a not very an- gelie expression upon his recreant son, began a speech after the most approved style of Indian eloquence. After eulogizing the garrison and the beseigers, he dwelt upon the beauties of brotherly love between them, and closed by saying that on all such occasions it was customary for them to ratify the treaty by two Indians shak- ing hands with each white man. This pitiful device was resorted . to by the Indians with the hope that two of them might overpower the whites, take them prisoners, and by torturing them, compel the surrender of the fort, but the sagacious Boone had foreseen this.
Says Boone: "They immediately grappled us; but although sur- rounded by hundreds of savages, we extricated ourselves from them and escaped, all safe, into the fort, except one (Boone's brother), who was wounded through a heavy fire from the garrison."
After trying to undermine the fort, in which they were thwarted
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by the vigilance of Boone, and despairing of ever taking it, they, on the 20th of August, raised the siege and departed.
Thus ended a series of adventures, mostly enacted on Greene County soil, the most remarkable, the most perilous, perhaps, ever experienced by any single individual. No active military opera- tions, except Bowman's expedition, in 1779, an account of which will appear in the county history, took place in this vicinity until the summer of 1780, when G. B. Clarke organized about one thou- sand men in Kentucky, crossed the Ohio at the mouth of the Lick- ing, and burnt and destroyed the crops at Old Chillicothe, then passed on to Piqua, on Mad River. The Shawanoes, after receiving this severe castigation, left this part of the country, and emigrated to the Great Miami, on which they built their new Piqua, in phe- nixian commemoration of the ashes of the old, as the meaning of the word is risen out of the ashes.
EARLY SETTLERS.
John and James Stephenson are, by some authorities, said to have settled in this township, a few miles from Xenia, in 1797. They came from Virginia, and bringing with them the aristocratic principles of the "Old Dominion," became influential men. The land on which they settled was formerly owned by John Paul, and sold to Jos. C. Vance at less than one dollar per acre.
According to Mr. Hugh Andrew, who came from Kentucky to this township in 1804, Matthew Quinn came from Kentucky in 1803, and settled about six miles north of Xenia, and was his near- est neighbor, when he and his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, a Methodist preacher, first settled here, near the present site of the powder mills, in 1804, as above stated.
Ezekiel and David Hopkins came from Virginia, and located here in 1803. A man by the name of Spencer came this year, and squatted in Xenia Township, remained a short time, and removed to another township. James Clinsey settled in this county, and owned land partly in this township and partly in Sugar Creek; but this is doubtful. John Gregg made him a home in the woods, on the present site of the road from Oldtown to Clifton. Thomas Simson one-half mile from him on the right of the present road to Clifton. David Laughead on Clark's Run, eight miles cast of Xenia. Also, a man by the name of John Ellis, came this year, cotemporary with
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him. Also, we find John Galloway, James, and George, on the Little Miami, near the present site of the powder mills. A short distance this side, Solomon MeCullough cleared out a little patch and put up a cabin. David Mitchell bought land on Clark's Run, about eight miles east of Xenia, and lived on it till he died. The congregation of Rev. Robert Armstrong entered into a league to come in a body and form a colony in the country, and in pursuance of which they sent commissioners to select a location. Reporting favorably, they all came, except Thomas Scott and a man named Milligan, whose wives would not sign the deed for the conveyance of their land in Kentucky.
Mr. Hugh Andrew, now living in Xenia, emigrated to this town- ship from Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1804. The country then was in a perfect state of nature. The route over which he traveled, with a four-horse team, in company with William Gowdy, who moved his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, was wild and rough; no road nor trails. Camping out every night, they made their beds in the forest, with no house but the canopy of heaven; and while the moon glinted through the waving branches of the forest, they enjoyed that sweet repose, that perfect health, a clear conscience alone can give. Mr. Armstrong selected and cleared out a location near the present site of the powder mills, on the Little Miami. At this time game of all kinds was abundant, such as deer, turkeys, with wolves, wild cats, and an occasional conger. The Indians made their headquarters at Roundhead's town, on Stony Creek, and about the first of May they camped along the Little Miami, and fished and hunted along the stream. One of their favorite methods of capturing deer was to place a large bush in the front part of their bark canoe; immediately back of this fix a torch light, then pushing their light craft noiselessly over the water, from behind this screen they could at night approach within easy shoot- ing distance of the deer that came down to drink. The strange appearance of the light floating on the water would attract, and being very inquisitive animals, they would raise their heads to gaze . upon it, and thus afford the hunter a fair mark, which he seldom missed. It may be a matter of wonder to some how a canoe could : float on the Little Miami, but in 1804 the channel was much nar- rower, deeper, and contained more water, than now. The church used by Reverend Armstrong and his congregation was built of round, peeled hickory logs, without floor or windows.
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