The history of Kentucky, from its earliest settlement to the present time
r: A^% • / *^^-^^- .' ,^^°- V '^. ^-^^ »'4Sl^*. -e^ ^* /. i^.c'i' ," i^ o*"*-^ L^^" .•^" !'• ' '^^-^*'' ' 'M&' ^^-^^*'' -'IK' ' "^"--^^ .« o^ . ^ ♦ ^0 *°-^<*-. -J • ^^'■ ''o. *; V.-i"^ ''^- V ,^-<^ V '.• .^^-v. ^ '>/. THE HISTORY OF KEXTUCKY, (Unrlirsl Irtilrnirnt tn tijr l^kmml €mh BY T. S. ARTHUR W. H. CARPENTER. PHILADELPHIA : — LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO & CO. 1852. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1852, by T. S. ARTHUR AND W. II. CARPENTER, :ht! Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY L. JOH^fSON AND CO. PHILADELPHIA. PRL\TED BT T. K. AND P. 0. COLLIXS. PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. There are but few persons in this country who have not, at some time or other, felt the want of an accurate, well written, concise, yet clear and reliable history of their own or some other state. The want here indicated is now about being sup- plied; and, as the task of doing so is no light or superficial one, the publishers have given into the hands of the two gentlemen whose names appear in the title-page, the work of preparing a series of Cabi- net Histories, embracing a volume for each state in the Union. Of their ability to perform this well, we need not speak. They are no strangers in the literary world. What they undertake the- public may rest assured will be performed thoroughly, and that no sectarian, sectional, or party feelings will bias their judgment, or lead them to violate the integrity of history. The importance of a series of state histories like those now commenced, can scarcely be estimated. Being condensed as carefully as accuracy and interest of narrative will permit, the size and price of the volumes will bring them within the reach of every family in the country, thus making them home-read- ing books for old and young. Each individual will; 1^ 5 6 publishers' preface. in consequence, become familiar, not only with the history of his own state, but with that of other states : — thus mutual interest will be re-awakened, and old bonds cemented in a firmer union. In this series of Cabinet Histories, the authors, while presenting a concise but accurate narrative of the domestic policy of each state, will give greater prominence to the personal history of the people. The dangers which continually hovered around the early colonists ; the stirring romance of a life passed fearlessly amid peril; the incidents of border war- fare; the adventures of hardy pioneers; the keen watchfulness, the subtle surprise, the ruthless attack, and prompt retaliation — all these having had an im- portant influence upon the formation of the American character, are to be freely recorded ; while the progres- sive development of the citizens of each individual state from the rough forest life of the earlier day to the polished condition of the present, will exhibit a pic- ture of national expansion as instructing as it is inte- resting. The size and style of the series will be uniform with the present volume. The authors, who have been for some time collecting and arranging materials, will furnish the succeeding volumes as rapidly as their careful preparation will warrant. PREFACE. The history of Kentucky, here introduced to the reader, is the first of a series of popular state histories, now in course of publication. The aim has been to present a graphic picture of the progress of the state, from its first settlement by Daniel Boone down to the present time. The fierce and incessant inroads by which the savages sought to drive the first settlers from their favourite hunting-grounds ; the capture of Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes, by General Clark; the ex- peditions of Harmar, St. Clair, and "Wayne; the at- tempts made by Spain to sever Kentucky from the Union ; the machinations of Burr and his fellow-con- spirators; the services of the volunteers from Ken- tucky in the war of 1812, and the more recent inva- sion of Mexico, have all been recorded : briefly in some respects, but always fully whenever they came within the scope of state history. Kentucky occupies a peculiar position in relation to her sister states. Previous to the explorations which led to the erection of block-houses and rudely forti- fied stations by the early pioneers, the western In- dians had fondly clung to the hope that the Ohio River would remain the boundary line between the 8 PREFACE. whites and the aborigines. When this hope was over- shadowed by the advance of hardy frontiersmen — few, indeed, at first, but gradually increasing in numbers until they grew to be formidable — the In- dians commenced hostilities, and in their endeavours to force the daring intruders to desert their favourite hunting-grounds, and retrace their steps across the Ohio River, Kentucky became the battle-ground of the West, and by the wonderful endurance and energy of her pioneers, opened a peaceful path to those who came afterward and settled in the territories beyond. From this circumstance, and from the frank-hearted patriotism of her people, Kentucky occupies a high position- among the States of the Union, and exercises a wide influence in the councils of the nation. This volume records briefly, yet, it is believed, with fidelity and clearness, every event of leading interest connected with the progression of the state to its pre- sent position ; at the same time there is presented, as much in detail as possible, a narrative of those thrill- ing adventures of the early settlers which give to the history of Kentucky the fascination of a romance. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Inti-oduction — Doctor Walker touches tlie nortliern parts of Kentucky — Explorations of John Finley — His glowing de- scriptions of the country — Boone and others proceed to Ken- tucky— Builds a cabin near Red River — Boone and Stuart captured by the Indians — Mysterious fate of their com- panions— Arrival of Squire Boone — Stuart killed and scalped — Squire Boone returns home — Solitary condition of Daniel Boone — Returns to North Carolina — Colonel Knox and the Long Hunters — Boone sets out for Kentucky with five fami- lies— Is attacked by the Indians, and turns back — Leads a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio — Captain Bul- litt— The brothers McAffee — The Wataga treaty — Opera- tions of Boone — Attacked by the Indians — Fort at Boones- borough built — Forts of the eai-ly settlers — Harrodstown station — Immigration continues — The Transylvania Com- pany form a proprietary government — Virginia annuls the treaty of Wataga — Boone brings his family to Kentucky — Arrival of McGary, Hogan, and Denton — Simon Kenton... 19 CHAPTER IL George Rogers Clark — Suggests a meeting of the colonists at Harrodsburg — Appointed with Gabriel Jones a member of the Virginia assembly — Applies to the council for ammuni- tion for the colonists — The daughter of Boone and two other females captured within sight of the fort — The Indians pur- sued and the captives retaken — Kentucky erected into a county of Virginia — Clark conveys the powder granted by Virginia down the Ohio — Is pursued by the Indians — Se- cretes the powder at the mouth of Limestone Creek — Colonel Todd defeated near the Blue Licks — Jones and Grayson 10 CONTENTS. killed — MeClellanfl's Fort attacked— Kenton and others at- tacked near Hinckston's station — Harrodsburg invested by the Indians — Fearful situation of James Ray — Major Clark assaults the Indians — Heroism of Logan — A spy company organized — Skirmish at Boonesborough — The life of Boone saved by Kenton 32 CHAPTER III. Border life — Clark sends spies to Kaskaskia — Projects an in- vasion of Hlinois — Submits to the Governor of Virginia a plan of operations against the British outposts — Is appointed to lead the expedition — Boone taken prisoner at Blue Licks — Escapes from Chillicotho and returns to Boonesborough — Is besieged by a large Indian force led by Captain Du Quesne — Artifices of the Indians — The siege raised — Clark captures Kaskaskia and Cahokia — Sends his prisoners to Virginia — Takes Vincennes — His success in conciliating the Indians — Governor Hamilton recaptu.res Vincennes — His ulterior designs — Clark resolves to attack Hamilton — His terrible march through the wilderness — Reaches Vincennes — His stratagem — Fatal accuracy of his rifles — Governor Hamilton surrenders 48 CHAPTER IV. The first block -house built at Lexington — Expedition of Colonel Bowman against Chillicothe — Bravery of Logan — Singular conduct of Bowman — The attack by Logan — Bowman orders a retreat — Harassed by the Indians — The savages repulsed by Logan and others — Land law of Kentucky — Its obnox- ious features — Vexatious law-suits arising from it — Colonel Rogers attacked by the Indians on the Ohio — Dreadful slaughter of the whites — Romantic anecdote of Captain Denham and his companion — Ruddell's station attacked by Canadians and Indians under Colonel Bjrd — Ruddell sur- renders— Treacherous conduct of the savages — Indignation of Byrd — Martin's station captured — Byrd retreats down the Ohio — Escape of Captain Hinckston — His ingenuity in discovering the route to Lexington by night — His perilous escapes — Surrounded by Indians — Reaches Lexington in safety — Indians retreat with their booty 61 CHAPTER V. Clark destroys the Piqua towns on the Miami — Kentucky di- vided into three counties — Indian incursions — Immigration CONTENTS. 11 continues — Transylvania University incorporated by Virgi- nia— Indians invest Estill's station — Are pursued — Defeat of Estill — .Bryant's station attacked by Girty at the head of six hunorecT Indians — Heroism of the women — Arrival ;' of reinforcements — Their perilous situation — Skirmish in the corn-field — Attack on the station — Girty attempts to ne- : gotiate — Answer of Reynolds — The Indians raise the siege — Are pursued by a party under Colonel Todd — Fatal reck- lessness of McGary — The Kentuckians attacked by the In- , dians from an ambush — Desperate conflict — Rout of the \ Kentuckians — Escape of Daniel Boone — Presence of mind ' of Netherland — Retaliation of Clark — Burns the Miami towns 73 CHAPTER VI. Increase of immigration — Prospect of peace with England — Difficulties continue — Indian hostilities cease— Kenton re- claims his settlement in Washington — Brodhead opens a store in Louisville — General James Wilkinson immigrates to Kentucky — New counties laid oif — Proposition to sepa- rate from Virginia — Expedition of Clark against the In- dians on the Wabash — Causes of its failure — Conventions in Kentucky — Difficulties with the general government — The navigation of the Mississippi — Spanish intrigues- Brown has several conferences with Gardoqui — Letter of Innis to the Governor of Virginia — General Wilkinson- goes to New Orleans — Returns — Tempts the Kentuckians by the oifer of an independent treaty with Spain — Animosity of parties — Letter of Marshall — Conventions — Kentucky re- ceived into the Union ; CHAPTER VIL Indian inroads — Silas Hart pursues the Indians — Is killed — Heroism of young Hart — Captivity of the family — Judge Rowan sails down the Ohio — Is pursued by Indians — His joerilous position — Wonderful presence of mind of Mrs. Rowan — Adventure of Caffree, McClure, and Davis — Meet with an equal number of Indians — Terrible combat — Caf- free and Davis kUled — Subsequent adventures of McClure — His escape — Colonel Marshall descends the Ohio — Is hailed by James Girty — Indian decoys — Captain Ward as- saulted by Indians — Death of his nephew — Panic of the others — The search for a stray horse by Downing and Yates — They are followed by Indians — Downing conceals himself — The pursuit — Perilous situation of Downing — His remarkable escape 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. Indians attack the house of widow Shanks — Their stratagem — The house fired — Fearful massacre — Heroic conduct of young Shanks — Pursuit of the Indians — Their singular es- cape— New mode of warfare on the Ohio — Political condi- tion of Kentucky — Adventure of John Lancaster — Taken captive with his companions — His escape and subsequent privations — Floats down the Ohio on a raft — Is rescued at the falls — Ballard's house attacked — Stubborn defence by old Mr. Ballard — Daring conduct of Bland Ballard, the cele- brated spy — Loss of the Indians 110 CHAPTER IX. Captain Hubbell descends the Ohio — Is attacked by Indiana — His desperate defence — The Indians beaten off — Boat of Captain Greathouse captured — Hubbell again attacked — Indians retire with great loss — Heroism of a boy — Num- ber of wounded — Painful condition of Captain Hubbell — The boat reaches Limestone — Unsuccessful pursuit of the savages — John May descends the Ohio — Indian stratagem — Finn urges May to put into the Ohio shore — Finn surprised by the savages — The boat attacked and captured — Skyles wounded — May and Miss Fleming killed — Reception of the Indians by Johnston — Captain Marshall descends the Ohio with three boats — Is pursued by the Indians — The attack and defence — His escape with the loss of two boats 123 CHAPTER X. Indian outrages — Action of the general government — Expedi- tion of General Harmar — Miami villages burned — Hardin detached to follow up the Indians — Falls into an ambush — Is defeated — Painful situation of Captain Armstrong — Har- mar retreats — Hardin again detached — Indian stratagem — • Noble conduct of the regulars — Hardin defeated — Harmar returns home — Harmar and Hardin court-martialled — ^Ac- quittal— Resignation of Harmar — Scott's expedition — De- struction of the villages on the Wabash — Return of the troops — St. Clair's expedition — Rendezvous at Fort Wash- ington— Feeling of the Kentuckians — Object of the cam- paign— Condition of the army — Fort Hamilton built — Erec- tion of Fort Jefferson — The march — Desertion of the militia — Of the Mountain Leader, a Chickasaw chief and his band — St. Clair encamps on one of the tributaries of the Wabash — Furious attack by the Indians, led by Lit- CONTENTS. 13 tie Turtle and Girty— Defeat of St. Clair— Retreat to Fort Washington 140 CHAPTER XL Personal incidents of St. Clair's campaign — William Kennan — His strength and activity — Discovers the Indians — Is pursued by them — A race for life — His extraordinary leap The retreat — Carries a wounded companion — His terrible recourse to relieve himself — Assists Mr. Madison, afterward governor of Kentucky — Excitement in Kentucky — Scott and Wilkinson call for volunteers — Wilkinson marches to the battle-ground — Horrid spectacle — Constitution of Ken- tucky— Its provisions — Legislative acts — Population of the state — Indian disturbances — Settlement on Elkhom attack- ed— The Cooks killed — Resolute conduct of the widows — Escape of Mc Andre — Martin killed — Escape of Dunn — Mur- der of his two sons — Indians pursued 152 CHAPTER XIL St. Clair superseded — Wayne appointed his successor — Colonel Hardin — Sent as a messenger to the Indian;. Commissioners sent to the Indians to treat for peace — Refusal of the savages to treat — The army under Wayne — Fort Greenville built — St. Clair's battle-ground reoecupied — Fort Recovery built — Wayne joined by the Kentucky volunteers — Commences his march — Indian villages abandoned — Builds Fort Adams and Defiance — Intelligence of the In- dians— A flag sent to them — Their answer — Fort Deposit built — The enemy discovered — Battle of Fallen Timbers — Defeat of the Indians — Wayne encamps near the British fort — Altercation with Major Campbell — Conduct of the Kentuckians — Fort Wayne built — Treaty with the Indians — Feeling in Kentucky — Marshall elected to the Senate of the United States— Attempt to remove Judges Muter and Sebastian — Courts of quarter sessions and oyer and termi- ner abolished — Other laws 188 CHAPTER XV. Retrospective — Joe Logston — His character — Leaves the fort in search of cattle — Is fired on by two Indians — His horse killed under him — Wounds one Indian severely — Is attack- ed by the other — Both combatants disarmed — A fearful trial of strength and activity — Kills his antagonist — Re- turns to the fort — Is disbelieved — A search instituted — The story confirmed — An example of savage heroism — The Nickajack expedition — The people of Tennessee caU upon Kentucky for assistance — Colonel Whitley marches with one hundred men — Forms a junction with Colonel Orr — Is appointed to command the troops — Surprise of the Nicka- jack towns — A second expedition organized — The result — Anecdote of Whitley — Proceeds to the southern towns to recover some negroes — Conduct of a half-breed — Friendship of Otter Lifter— His character— Biography of Whitley — His death 200 CHAPTER XVL Final ratification of the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States— Spain agrees to grant the navi- CONTENTS. 15 gation of the Mississippi — Intrigues with Kentucky — Power, the Spanish agent, confers with Judge Sebastian — Baron Carondelet's proposition — Views of Sebastian, Innis, and Nicholas — Power visits General Wilkinson at Detroit— His reception — Reply of Wilkinson — Views of Sebastian — Power's own opinion — Power sent to Fort Massac under an escort — Reaches New Madrid — Subsequent revelation con- cerning Sebastian — Adams elected President of the United States — His unpopularity in Kentucky — Meeting of the le- gislature— Proposition to revise the constitution — Votes for and a2;ainst a convention — Decision of the legislature 212 CHAPTER XVII. Garrard elected Governor of Kentucky — Denounces the alien and sedition laws — Nullification resolutions written by Jef- ferson— Endorsed by Kentucky — Denounced by other states — Creation of new counties in Kentucky — Education pro- moted— Various academies established — Appropriations of land for their support — Meeting of convention — New con- stitution adopted — Garrard re-elected governor — An at- tempt made to encourage manufactures — Election of Jef- ferson— Navigation of the Mississippi interrupted — Louisi- ana ceded to France — Excitement in Kentucky — Letter of Jefferson to Livingston — Monroe sent to Paris — Purchase of Louisiana — Claiborne takes possession of New Orleans — Greenup elected Governor of Kentucky — Re-election of Jef- ferson— Kentucky militia discharged 224 CHAPTER XVIIL Aaron Burr — Elected Vice President of the United States — Loses the confidence of his party — Is nominated for Gover- nor of New York — Defeated through the influence of Ham- ilton— Kills Hamilton in a duel — Flees to South Carolina — • Returns to Washington — Sets out for the West — His nomi- nal projects — His association with Wilkinson — Becomes ac- quainted with Blennerhasset — Actual project of Burr — Reaches New Orleans — Returns overland to Kentucky — Spends the spring and summer in Philadelphia and Wash- ington— Attempts to win over Eaton, Truxton, and Decatur — His second journey to the West — Builds boats on the Muskingum — Contracts for supplies and enlists volunteers — Wilkinson at Natchitoches — R>eceives despatches from Burr — Sends a messenger to the president — Orders New Or- leans to be strengthened — Proceeds to Natchez — Despatches a second messenger to Washington — Writes to Claiborne 16 CONTENTS. and the Governor of the Mississippi Territory — Reaches New Orleans — His measures at that place 233 CHAPTER XIX. Conflicting reports concerning the intentions of Burr — Ex- posures made at Frankfort — Energetic conduct of Daviess ■ — His affidavit against Burr — An examination ordered — Burr attends the court — The case postponed — A new grand jury summoned — Second appearance of Burr — Absence of General Adair, the principal witness for the prosecution — The examination pressed — Acquittal of Burr — His false de- claration to Henry Clay — Action of the general government — Jefferson sends an agent to Ohio — Disclosures by Blen- nerhasset — Seizure of ten boats on the Muskingum — Tyler's flotilla — Burr proceeds to Nashville — Meets the volunteers at the mouth of the Cumberland River — Descends the Mis- sissippi to New Madrid — Gains a knowledge of Wilkinson's revelations — Encamps above Natchez — The militia called out by the Governor of the Mississippi Territory — Burr sur- renders himself to the civil authorities — His boats searched — Charges against Sebastian and Innis 245 CHAPTER XX. Critical foreign relations with the United States — Berlin de- crees— Restraint upon commercial enterprise — Attack upon the Chesapeake — Great excitement throughout the Union — Embargo — One hundred thousand militia called for — Re- solutions passed in Kentucky — Declaration of war — Indian difficulties — Tecumseh — His attempts to form a confedera- tion of tribes — Assembling of warriors at Tippecanoe — March of Harrison — Battle of Tippecanoe — Death of Joseph H. Daviess — Return of Tecumseh — His interview with Har- rison— Hull appointed to command the northwestern army ■ — Invades Canada — Returns — General Brock summons De- troit— Surrender of Hull — Indignation of the states — Volun- teers from Kentucky — Hopkins marches against the Illinois Indians — Is deserted by his men — A second northwestern army organized — Harrison commissioned a brigadier-gene- ral— Appointed commander-in-chief. 257 CHAPTER XXL Plan of the fall campaign of 1812 — Harrison appointed com- mander of the northwestern army — Winchester marches from Fort Wayne — Difficulties of the route — Deplorable condition of the troops — Winchester halts at the Rapids — CONTENTS. 17 The enemy approach Frenchtown — A detachment of Ken- tuckians under Colonel Lewis sent against them — Proctor advances from Maiden — Battle of the River Raisin — Sur- render of the Americans — Inhuman massacre — Reception of the news in Kentucky — Four regiments of volunteers raised — Harrison builds Fort Meigs — Is reinforced from Kentucky — Siege of Fort Meigs by Proctor — Advance of General Clay — Colonel Dudley destroys a part of the Bri- tish batteries — His detachment surrounded by British and Indians — Terrible slaughter of the prisoners — Inhuman conduct of Proctor — Tecumseh — His indignant reply to the British general 269 CHAPTER XXII. Great advantages possessed by the British — Perry ordered to build vessels on the shore of Lake Erie — Extraordinary ac- tivity and despatch — Proctor assaults Fort Stephenson — Croghan's noble defence — Perry's victory on Lake Erie — Harrison advances into Canada — Proctor retreats toward the Moravian towns — Battle of the Thames — Surrender of the regulars and flight of Proctor — Desperate conflict with the Indians — Colonel Johnson severely wounded — Tecum- seh killed — The British forces under Packenham threaten New Orleans — Vanguard of the enemy bivouac on the Mis- sissippi— Night attack by Jackson and Coffee, supported by the schooner Caroline — Arrival of Packenham — His tardy movements — Activity of Jackson — Kentucky reinforcement arrives — Battle of the 8th of January — Terrible slaughter of the enemy — Death of Packenham — Retreat of the enemy.... 281 CHAPTER XXIIL Peace proclaimed between England and the United States — Inflated condition of the currency — Dreadful monetary de- rangement— Banks chartered — Power of replevin extended — Bank of the Commonwealth chartered — Great excitement on account of the relief law — Relief and anti-relief parties organized — Legality of the relief law contested — Decision of Judge Clarke sustained by the court of appeals — Gene- ral alarm and outcry — Unsuccessful attempt of the legisla- ture to remove the judges — The old court of appeals abolish- ed, and a new one established — The constitutionality of the latter contested — The old court sustained — State and gene- ral politics — Suspension of specie payments — Second mone- tary derangement — The legislature again applied to for relief — Wisdom of the measures adopted — Governors of Kentucky — Presidential election 298 2« 18 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIV. Mexico and the United States — Annexation of Texas — Gene- ral Taylor ordered to move to the Rio Grande — Encamps at Corpus Christi — Erects a post at Point Isabel — Marches to a point opposite Matamoras — Builds Fort Brown — The Mexicans cross the Rio Grande in force — Taylor returns to Point Isabel — Again marches to Fort Brown — Battle of Palo Alto — Battle of Resaca de la Palma — Occupation of Matamoras — Reception of reinforcements — March upon Monterey — Storming of Monterey — Great reduction of the force under General Taylor — Is compelled to assume the defensive — Return of Santa Anna to Mexico — Concentrates a large army at San Luis Potosi — Marches against Taylor — Battle of Buena Vista — Conclusion 30 HISTORY OF KEK'TUCKT. CHAPTER I. Introduction — Doctor Walker touches the northern parts of Kentucky — Explorations of John Finley — His glowing de- scriptions of the country — Boone and others proceed to Ken- tucky— Build a cabin near Red River — Boone and Stuart captured by the Indians — Mysterious fate of their companions — Arrival of Squire Boone — Stuart killed and scalped — Squire Boone returns home — Solitary condition of Daniel Boone — Returns to North Carolina — Colonel Knox and the Long Hunters — Boone sets out for Kentucky with five families — Is attacked by the Indians, and turns back — Leads a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio — Captain Bullitt — The brothers McAfee — The Wataga treaty — Operations of Boone — Attacked by the Indians — Fort at Boonesborough built — Forts of the early settlers — HaiTodstown station — Immigra- tion continues — The Transylvania Company form a proprie- tary government — Virginia annuls the treaty of Wataga — Boone brings his family to Kentucky — Arrival of McGary, Hogan, and Denton — Simon Kenton. No history of any individual state belonging to the North American Confederation presents so graphic a picture of the courage, energy, capacity of endurance, and indomitable tenacity of its peo- ple, as that of Kentucky. The sternest truths, in relation to the difficulties encountered by the bold hunters and hardy pioneers of <^ the dark and bloody ground," assume the wild charm and 19 20 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. vivid colouring of the most startling romance. In this case, history far transcends fiction, by giving all those minute details of time, place, and circumstance, which stamp all narratives of real adventure with the fascinating impression of per- fect lifelikeness. As the self-reliant type of the American cha- racter at the epoch of the Kevolution, the Ken- tuckian stands pre-eminent. He may even stand for it at the present day. The descendant of the cavaliers of Virginia and Maryland, he carried with him into the wilderness many of the noble qualities for which that brave, high-toned, but reckless class of people were distinguished ; while he left behind him not a few of their vices. Daring even to rashness, he was yet full of all generous impulses ; fierce to his enemies, he was yet hospitable to the stranger ; quick to resent an injury, yet prompt to forgive it ; fertile in stratagem, yet steadfast in resolve ; fiery in pur- suit, yet cool and collected in action ; never re- treating but to fight, Parthian-like, as he fell back ; never stooping to the earth but to gather strength for the rebound ; simple in his tastes and pleasures ; a doer of brave acts and generous deeds — not to gain the applause of others, but from native nobility of soul. Free even to the verge of lawlessness, time has reversed in him the stigma which Captain John Smith had cast upon his progenitors, who, if they were amenable ITS ABORIGINES. 21 to the censure of that valiant soldier, as being " more fitted to corrupt than found a common- wealth," have yet the merit of having redeemed their memory in the pure republicanism of their children's children. Of the original occupants of that splendid coun- try, which, under the modern name of the State of Kentucky, stretches from the thirty-sixth to the thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and from the eighty-second to nearly the ninetieth degree of west longitude, nothing now is known. That they were superior in civilization to the In- dians who subsequently roamed its sylvan aisles, and contested their possession so long and so hardily with the Anglo-American pioneers, is sufficiently attested by the remains of their skil- fully-constructed fortifications, their copper tools for mechanical purposes, their curiously-carved pipes, and the more perfect and ingenious charac- ter of their household utensils. As to who they were, or of what nation, how they came, or whither they departed, antiquarian knowledge has hitherto been at fault, and the traditions of their ruder successors furnish no clue. Until Dr. Walker touched upon the northern parts of Kentucky, at some time between the years 1747 and 1758, no Anglo-Saxon foot had ever stood upon its soil. Nine years after this latter period, it was partially explored by John Finley, who, on returning home from his adventurous 22 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. excursion, gave such glowing accounts of the rich- ness and fertility of the new country, that the bold and daring frontiersmen of Virginia and North Carolina were stimulated to cross the rug- ged Cumberland Mountains, and view for them- selves the beauty of a land whose genial clime, and flow^ery meadows, and almost eternal verdure, had animated to such a warmth of enthusiasm the usually calm and practical mind of the sturdy pioneer. In 1769, Daniel Boone, in company with five others, of whom Finley was one, left his family upon the Yadkin in North Carolina, and started to examine the new hunting-grounds of which he had heard so favourable an account. Near to Red River, upon the borders of the present state of Kentucky, Boone and his com- panions built a cabin to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather, and devoted their time to hunting and the chase, in which they were singularly successful. This course of life remained undisturbed for several months, and it may be they began to think that the Indians who claimed lordship over the soil would sufier a few hunters and trappers to roam over their sylvan territory without moles- tation. If such were indeed their thoughts, the time was near at hand when they were to be fatally undeceived. On the 22d of December, Boone and his companion Stuart, while out on THE BOONE BROTHERS. 23 one of their usual hunting excursions, were sur- prised and captured by the Indians. After an imprisonment of seven days, the two woodsmen succeeded in making their escape, and returned to their cabin on Ked River. They found it plundered and deserted. The fate of their companions was never ascertained. A few days after this. Squire Boone, from Carolina, accom- panied by another man, reached the camp of his brother. Cheered by this unexpected reinforce-' ment, small as it was, Boone and Stuart resolved to remain in the country, but the determination proved fatal to the latter ; he was soon afterward shot and scalped by the outlying savages. Boone himself escaped, but these disasters so terrified the companion of Squire Boone, that he returned home to North Carolina, leaving the two brothers alone in the wilderness, separated by hundreds of miles from the white settlements, and destitute of every thing but their rifles. At length, their ammunition being nearly ex- hausted, it was agreed upon between the two brothers, that the younger should return to Caro- lina for a fresh supply ; while Daniel, the elder, remained to take charge of the camp. For a few days after the departure of his last remaining companion, Boone felt lonely and depressed ; but his spirits soon revived, and though the only white man in that portion of the vast wilderness, he continued his customary hunting excursions, 24 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. finding game in abundance, and cheered in his solitary rambles by the great natural beauty of the scenery around him. Toward the close of July, 1770, the younger Boone returned^ From that time until March, 1771, the two brothers continued to range the country without receiving any injury, when they retraced their steps to North Carolina. Boone had been absent from his family for about three years, during nearly the whole of which time he had never tasted bread or salt, nor beheld the face of a single white man, with the exception of his brother and the friends who had been killed. But while Boone was traversing singly the northern and middle regions of Kentucky, a band of resolute men from Holston, on the Clinch River, led by Colonel James Knox, and calling themselves the Long Hunters, explored the mid- dle and southern portions of the territory. The reports brought home by Boone and his brother in relation to the loveliness of the cli- mate, and the unexampled productiveness of the soil, soon attracted other adventurers to place themselves under the leadershiprof the daring pioneer. Equally eager himself to return to the land which had so won upon his aifections, Daniel Boone disposed of all his property, with the exception of such portable articles as he might require, and on the 25th of September, 1771, DANIEL BOONE. 25 accompanied by his family, once more set out for his destined home. In Powell's valley Boone was joined by five other families and forty men. But though this party commenced their journey in high spirits, they grew depressed as the distance from their old homes gradually increased. At the foot of the Cumberland Mountains they were attacked by a large body of Indians, whom they succeeded in defeating, though not until after a severe engagement, in which the whites lost six men in killed and wounded. Among the former was Boone's eldest son. Discouraged by this early initiation into dangers which they feared would increase as they advanced, they concluded to proceed no farther on their journey at this time ; but to fall back upon the settle- ments on Clinch River, about forty miles from the scene of action. Here they remained until 1774. But though his companions thus quietly, and perhaps with a sense of relief, ensconced them- selves within the limits of less dangerous territory, Boone himself was of too restless a nature to be content to live in a like calm and equable man- ner. His desire for a change, which would in- volve the exercise of both caution and daring, was soon to be gratified. At the instance of Lord Dunmore, then governor of the province of Vir- ginia, Boone consented to lead a party of survey- ors through the wilderness to the falls of the Ohio, a distance of eight hundred miles. 26 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. The able and judicious manner in which this arduous service was performed induced Dunmore to place Boone in command of three frontier stations in western Virginia. He remained in charge of these posts until 1774, and in the in- termediate time was engaged in several affairs with the Indians. In the mean while, Virginia had directed that the bounty in lands which she had given to the troops engaged in the old French war should be located upon the waters of her western territory ; and in 1773 Captain Thomas Bullitt conducted a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio, where a camp was constructed to protect them from the Indians. It was at this period that many surveys were made, and wide tracts of country explored with a view to future settlement, both by the party encamped at the falls of the Ohio, and by the brothers McAfee, who had ascended to the forks of the Kentucky River. It was now that the services of Boone were again to be put in requisition. Colonel Bichard Henderson, a man who had raised himself from the low condition of a constable to the position of associate chief-judge of North Carolina, finding himself involved in great pecuniary difficulties through his wild speculations and his expensive style of living, resolved to attempt by one bold effort the acquisition of an enormous fortune. Having succeeded in forming a company for the TREATY OP WATAGA. 27 object he proposed to effect, he availed himself of the knowledge of so experienced a woodsman as Boone, who, at his request, and at the solicita- tion of several gentleman of North Carolina, attended a treaty with the Cherokees, known as the treaty of Wataga, for the purchase of the lands south of the Kentucky River. By this treaty, all that tract of country lying between the Cumberland Kiver, the mountains of the same name, and the Kentucky River, south of the Ohio, was transferred, for the sum of fifty thou- sand dollars, to the company of which Henderson was the chief originator. A few speculators be- came thus the owners of all that territory which now comprises more than one-half of the state of Kentucky. They immediately proceeded to take possession of their newly-acquired purchase. It was now that the assistance of so experienced a man as Boone became peculiarly valuable. His business was to mark out a road for the pack- horses and wagons of Henderson's party. Leav- ing his family on Clinch River, he set out upon this hazardous undertaking at the head of a few men, in the early part of the year 1775, and arrived, without any adventure worthy of note, on the 22d of March in the same year, at a point within fifteen miles of the spot where Boones- borough was afterward built. Here they were attacked on two successive days by the Indians, who were finally beaten off after a severe contest, 28 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. in which the whites sustained a loss of four men in killed and wounded. On the 1st of April, they reached the southern bank of the Kentucky River, and began to build a fort, afterward known as Boonesborough. By the 16th of the same month the fort was com- pleted, notwithstanding the dangers to which they were exposed from continual interruptions from the Indians, and which occasioned the loss of another of their party. The forts of the early settlers consisted of cabins, block-houses, and stockades, built in the form of a hollow square. A range of cabins com- monly formed at least one side of the fort. Di- visions, or partitions of logs, separated these rude dwellings from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high, the slope of the roof being invariably inward. A few of these cabins had puncheon floors, which were formed by splitting trees of about eighteen inches in diameter, and hewing the face of them with a broadaxe ; but the greater part of the floors were earthen. The block-houses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories Avere about eighteen inches every way larger in dimensions than the under ones, leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from SETTLEMENT OF HARRODSTOWN. 29 making a lodgment under the walls. A large folding-gate, made of thick slabs, closed the fort on the side nearest the spring. The stockades, cabins, and block-house walls were furnished w^ith apertures at proper heights and distances. The entire extent of the outer wall was made bullet proof. The whole of this work was constructed without the aid of a single nail or spike of iron, as such articles were not to be obtained. Previous to this, however, another settlement had been commenced between the Kentucky and the Salt Rivers, eight miles from the former, and about one mile from the latter. In May, 1774, Captain John Harrod, with forty-one men, descended the Ohio River, and penetrating the intervening forest, selected, about the middle of June, the site for a town in the vicinity of a fine spring, and erected the usual cabins and block- houses. The settlement thus organized received soon after the name of Harrodstown. Rendered perfectly furious by these daring en- croachments upon their old hunting-grounds, the Indians subjected the fort of Boonesborough to incessant attacks ; but the fierce warriors soon found themselves confronted by a courage and endurance superior to their own, and by a cool deliberate forecast, w^hich, in most instances, circumvented all their stratagems. The fort was scarcely built before immigrants began to flock into the newly-acquired territory. 30 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. The first object of those to whom the territory had been ceded by the Cherokees, was to strength- en their right to it by the establishment of a pro- prietary government. On the 23d of May, 1775, in obedience to a summons issued by Henderson, a number of per- sons residing in or around Boonesborough met under the shade of a large elm tree near the walls of the fort, and forming themselves into a legis- lative body, elected Henderson president, gave to the new country the name of Transylvania, fixed upon Boonesborough as its capital, and passed nine laws. By the compact entered into during the session of this assembly between the proprie- tors and the colonists, a free, manly, and liberal government was established over the territory. It was further agreed that the election of dele- gates should be annual ; that there should be perfect freedom of opinion in matters of religion ; that judges should be appointed by the proprie- tors, but answerable for malconduct to the peo- ple ; and that the convention should elect the treasurer, and have the sole power of raising and appropriating all moneys. This compact was solemnly executed under the hands and seals of three proprietors acting for the company, and by Thomas Slaughter, chair- man of the convention, acting for the colonists. But the new province of Transylvania was des- tined to occupy but a brief space in the history FIRST FEMALE SETTLERS. 31 of the North American colonies. Lord Dunmore speedily issued a proclamation refusing to recog- nise the validity of the cession, and the legisla- ture of Virginia annulled the treaty as being con- trary to the chartered rights of that state. But as some compensation to the proprietors for their services in opening the wilderness and preparing the way for civilization, they were granted a tract of land twelve miles square on the Ohio, below the mouth of Greene River. Notwithstanding the check thus given to the ambitious schemes of the Transylvania Company, the settlements thus began continued to increase, though but slowly. In the summer of the same year that witnessed the completion of the fort, Boone returned to Clinch Biver for his family. He brought them to their new home as soon as the journey could be performed, and Mrs. Boone and her daughters were the first white women who ever stood upon the banks of the Kentucky Biver. ' They were soon reinforced by the arrival of the three fami- lies of McGary, Hogan, and Denton, with their wives and children. From this time Boonesborough and Harrods- town, or Harrodsburg as it was soon afterward called, became the nucleus and support of immi- gration to Kentucky. It was during this year, also, that Simon Kenton, subsequently so emi- nently distinguished as a pioneer and Indian 32 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. fighter, erected a log cabin and raised a crop of corn within a mile of the present town of Wash- ington, in Mason county, where he continued until the autumn, when he removed to Boones- borough. CHAPTER 11. 