Legends of the War of Independence and of the earlier Settlements in the West

Front matter

LEGENDS «r THE (ffiar of Inb^tnsjfnrt, AND OK THE EARLIER SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST. By T. MARSHALL SMITH. • m Innisnillr, Itj. J. F. BRENNAN, PUBLISHER, 1855. Entered, according to Act of Congress, on the 10th day of January, 1855, By J. F. BRBN N AN , In the Clerk's Office of the United States District of Kentucky. AND THE J £o tf)t CHERISHED MEMORY OF THE COMPANION OF MY EARLIEST YOUTU, MY FRIEND THROUGHOUT A SOMEWHAT EXTENDED LIFE. HON. JAMES T. MOREHEAD NOW NO MORE AN INHABITANT OF EARTH. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED, AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THE ADMIRATION, AND JUST APPRECIATION OF HIS LIFE OF ENLIGHTENED AND VIRTUOUS DEVOTION TO THE SERVICE OK HIS COUNTRY.

Preface

. The author of the book here presented to the public, has often heard persons regret that histories, which profess to treat of our revolutionary struggle, or of the no less arduous and dangerous conflicts attend inothe settlement of the vast wilderness of the West, contains so little of the personal history of many of the actors. Historians, for the most part, confine themselves to the notice of what the world calls important events — the movements of armies, the result of battles, the conclusion of treaties, and the general legislation of the State. If they notice individuals at all, it is, generally, only those the most distinguished, the most highly and extraordina rily endowed by nature, the most fortunate in position, or who, attended by fortuitous circumstances, have been enabled to perform some astounding feat or semi-miracle ; while their superiority consists in nothing, in point of real worth or merit, above that of the thousands of faithful and honest cotemporaries around them.

Historians, necessarily, even those most highly esteemed, are but the mere chroniclers of periods, men, and events of nations, generalized. And it is admitted, if all the in cidents of all who have acted and preceded us were recorded in histories, then, indeed, could no man, however long his life might be protracted, read more than one half. But we are persuaded histories would furnish clearer con ceptions of past events and prove more instructive and at

PREFACE.

. VI the same time more interesting, if they indulged more in personal sketches. Biography to the writer has always possessed peculiar charms, and it, indeed, may often be regarded as the most instructive branch of history. From his boyhood and his earliest recollection, to stand or seat himself at the foot of a venerated revolutionary father and listen to his un varnished tales of the War of Independence, the battles in which he participated, and the thrilling scenes he wit nessed, or sit by the side of an old soldier or pioneer of the West, detailing his own and his neighbors adventures, wants, privations, sufferings, and hair-breadth escapes from the furious monsters of the forest, and the no less wily and ferocious savages that everywhere pervaded the vast wilderness around them, he has been entranced, and felt, even then, a young heart expand, and new impulses for manly action result in making him a better and a happier boy, and in riper years a' better and happier man.

Such, we believe, are among the natural and le gitimate effects of history — telling upon the hearts and lives of the young, the middle-aged, and the old in all ranks of society. To accomplish such end has been to a' great extent our aim in this little book, — the chief fruition hoped for during our labors. It is not proposed to make this work a chronological or regular statistical history of the revolution, or of the ear liest emigrations to the West. Very creditable produc tions for this purpose have already appeared. Here are given only sketches of the acts and lives of those as they have stood connected with the facts narrated of, and by the individuals whose biographies are introduced. The facts are vouched for as given by old soldiers, their wives, '

PREFACE.

. VII pioneers aud their cotemporaries ; confided in and of whose narrations memoranda have been made by the author at various times within the last forty years, but who now are believed to be all in their graves. Such memoranda were originally made for his own entertain ment ; but now, as they are believed justly to belong to the history of his beloved country, and would otherwise sleep with the dead in the grave forever, they are freely here recorded. T. M. S. Louisville, January, 1S55. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Col. Davidson sets forth to Charlotte to attend the Convention of the Whigs of Mecklenburg and of other portions of the Colony of North Carolina — Meets with two Scotch Tories, John and William Harpe — Their Conversation and Doctrines — Col. Davidson and Family — The Harpes and Family. - - - 17

Chapter II

Col. Davidson meets with and renews his acquaintance with Capt. J. Wood — Spends the night at his house. ' - - 26

Chapter III

Col. Davidson resumes his journey to Charlotte, accompanied by Capt. Wood— Meet with Dr. D. Caldwell, Dr. E. Bavard and other Patriots, destined for the same place and the Mecklenburg Convention — Discussion upon the causes of the Revolution — Brief biographical sketches of Drs Caldwell, Bavard and others. ----------32

Original letters of Presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, on the subject of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in 1775, and as identical in substance with that of 1776. X CONTENTS. 81 91

Chapter VII

Proceedings of the Whigs in the colony of North Carolina — Questions asked and answered as to the causes of the tyranny that overrides the nations of the earth, and how the freedom of a nation can be effected. 6ft

Chapter VIII

A somewhat minute examination of the principles and spirit of the Whig and Tory population in the country, generally, and particularly in North Carolina — The Scenery of North Carolina, &C. ----------

Chapter IX

The Whig women of North Carolina — A few touching biographical sketches of them during the war — Uncle Dan and his colored company, with his old "ooman" at her cabin — Maj. Kidd and his corps on a trip to Maj. John Adair — A hard fought battle between two African slaves, Cæsar and John, servants of Lawrence Smith, against five Tories and one Indian — They effectually defend their mistress and daughters, killing two of the enemy and desperately wounding a third. -

Chapter X

Rev. James Frazier makes appointment to preach— On his way to church rescues Miss Happy Thompson from being precipitated over the Pomonkee bridge — Her acknowledgments of the service — Mr. Frazier's peculiar courting sermon — The return party's comments thereon. - 107

Chapter XI

Thoughts on the designs of Providence in opening up the way from the old world to the new — The almost miraculous preservation and prosperity given to the earlier emigrants from Europe, &c. — Some touches of the history of the revolution in the middle colonies, particularly in North Carolina — The conflicts with the Tories — Their abduction of three young and beautiful Whig ladies— The pursuit and execution of a number by Capt. John Wood and others. - - * - - 116

Chapter XII

The attack upon and murder of Capt. John Wood, by twelve Tories, sent forth by Col. Ferguson, of the British army to destroy him — His burial by bis son. CONTENTS. XI 14.

Chapter XIII

Parson Frazier again — His return to the neighborhood of Elder Brame — His courtship and marriage with the rich, young, and accomplished Virginia lady, Miss Happy Thompson, and their settlement upon a portion of her fine estate at Hillsboro,' North Carolina, together with other interesting touches of Virginia gallantry and courtship in the Old Dominion.

Chapter XIV

Frank Wood, after the burial of his murdered father, endeavors to find his mother and sisters — Uncle Dan and his brave African troops are introduced at his cabin — Frank returns home, and immediately afterwards enters upon his first campaign in the army of the revolution — He joins the command of Gen. Morgan, at Waxaw Bottoms — Is with the Whigs in the battle of Kings Mountain — Kills several of the Tories that assassinated his father, and in that battle, shoots from his horse, the British commander, Col. Ferguson, while the latte1- is rallying his retreating troops — Other details of Frank Woods' adventures in the service of the country, and in fulfillment of his vow of vengeance. -- 160

Chapter XV

Measures taken by Cornwallis — Battle of Kings Mountain — Death of Col. Ferguson, by the hand of Frank Wood — His narrative of the battle and subsequent action. - - - 174

Chapter XVI

Lord Cornwallis encamped at Hillsboro' — Marauding parties of British and Tories sent out to ravage and plunder the inhabitants — Anecdote of Maj. Hinton, in his attempt to rob Mrs. Slocum — Falls into a dry well in her cellar — A love adventure of his lordship with Maria Davidson — His utter overthrow — The Toryism and base treachery of the Rev. Mr. James Frazier toward his wife, and flight to and with the British army, after embezzling his wife's fine estate — The hypocrite's picture. - 185

Chapter XVIII

Frank Wood again at home — Learns the dreadful intelligence of the abduction of his sister Susan and Maria Davidson by the Tories and Indians — Visits with his mother the monu- CONTENTS. 201 ment she had erected over the grave of his father — Visits with his sister Rosa, the family of the Simpsons, and something is told strongly signifying a love match between two young lovers. -----------

Chapter XIX

Frank Wood sets out from his home in North Carolina to join his regiment under Gen. Green, according to his furlough — He is transferred and attached to the division of the army then under Gen. Lafayette in Virginia — In course of time, with that division, he was marched to the vicinity of Yorktown, and when joined to the other force of Gen. Washington, marched to entrap and besiege Cornwallis at Yorktown — When Cornwallis capitulated and provisions were made and completed by Gen. Washington, safely and securely, to dispose of the many thousands captured at Yorktown and dispose of the large amount of munitions of war there given up in the capitulation, he obtains leave from Marquis Lafayette to return to his home and his friends in North Carolina — On his way Frank Wood has many thoughts of his country, seeks to look into her future, and prays for her prosperity — Finds and consummates his previous engagement in marriage with Mary Simpson. 216

Chapter XX

Thoughts on the effects of times, surrounding localities, circumstances, physical and metaphysical, climate, topography of country, education, manner of life and action to make the man a giant or a pigmy, a philosopher or an ape, a hero or a poltroon — Capt. Jack Ashby — His feats of activity and bravery — Trip to Kentucky — iiscape from the Indians at the falls of the Ohio. 226

Chapter XXI

Capt. Jack and his companions shoot at the Indian party They kill the principle one, and wound another and the white man — The third Indian dives into the river and escapes Salona Maron, the young French girl's story — She informs the Captain that the white man, Ben. James is from Virginia — Ashby questions him and discovers his knowledge of his family — He gives an account of himself— Porter is taken sick with fever — They start down the Mississippi, taking Ben. CONTENTS. XIII James with them, after sinking the two dead Indians in their canoe — Porter dies and is sunk in the remaining Indian canoe, opposite Chickasaw Bluffs — Ben. James is allowed to depart for his Indian home — Capt. Ashby, Wells and Salona Maron, proceed down the Mississippi — They arrive at New Orleans safely — Are treated well by Miss Maron's aunt and family — Capt. Jack and Wells arrive at San Augustine, where Wells is taken sick and dies — Capt. Jack finally gets home after an absence of two years. ------ 241

Chapter XXII

Thos. McClanahan, another native Virginian — Incidents of his boyhood— His skill and perseverance as a huntsman — Chases a buck on foot six miles — Runs him into a farmer's cellar, where he is found next morning, killed and taken home in triumph — Tom, at the age of eighteen leaves his home, and joins the continental army — Travels one hundred miles on foot to whip a man who insulted his father, and having done so, immediately returns — Is engaged in the battles of Brandywine, Morristown, Monmouth and Trenton — Returns home after the surrender of Cornwallis — Renews his acquaintance with Miss Ann Green — Courts her — Asks the consent of her brother, Col. Robert Green — Is refused. ... - 259

Chapter XXIII

Young McClanahan informs his mother of his determination and requests her assistance — She breaks the subject to her husband, and they agree to provide their son with funds to consummate his object — Miss Nancy and her lover fix upon the course they intend to adopt. ------ 266

Chapter XXIV

The lovers consummate their marriage — A description of the bride's person — Col. Green's chagrin and disappointment — His wife's sensible advice, and the colonel's final reconcilement to what he could not help. 277

Chapter XXV

McClanahan removes to New River — Is famed for his pugilistic encounters and victories — A conspiracy to whip him — Seven men undertake to do so, but after five of them being by him nearly killed, the other two run and leave him victor — He, with his family, emigrate to Kentucky — Reach and reside CONTENTS, XIV 283 303 317 at Boone's Station — McClanahan's intimacy with Daniel Boone — Has several severe combats with Indians — Delights in the occupation — Boone makes him commander of a company of rangers, and sends him to the settlements on the Ohio to watch the Indians— His success.

Chapter XXVI

The party overtakes the Indians — After destroying forty of them, they release Miss Lucy Smith and Harriet Lane, and conduct them in triumph to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati — Lucy Smith is married to one of the Rangers — The first wedding ever celebrated at Cincinnati. ------- 295

Chapter XXVII

McClanahan's account of Harmar's defeat — His own miraculous escape from death — Makes his way back to camp, much to the surprise of his comrades, who had given him up for lost.

Chapter XXVIII

Lord Rawdon's inhuman execution of Col. Isaac Hayne — Death of Hayne's wife and child — Some thoughts on these sad occurrences. ---.. 309

Chapter XXIX

Particulars of the abduction of Susan Wood and Maria Davidson by big Bill and Josh. Harpe — Their treatment of the girls on their journey to the hunter's cave, and from thence to Nickajack on the Tennesseee River, a town of the Cherokee's — Destruction of that town by Gen. Jackson, and flight of the Harpes with their victims to the Cumberland mountains.

Chapter XXX

Rev. William Lambeth's adventure with Big Harpe — The Harpes leave" their camp at the Cumberland Mountain, and start for the Ohio — Meet with, murder and rob two Marylanders— Maria Davidson's account of that horrible crime — They waylay, murder and rob a young Virginian— They are chased and secured in Danville jail — They escape and make their way to Springfield—The two ruined girls their victims, being free, discuss the propriety of seeking the sympathy and protection of the settlers— They decline doing so — The Harpes return to the CONTENTS. XV 325' 334 341 women and start for the neighborhood of Snelling's Station — Again they steal horses and journey towards what is now Columbia, Adair Co., Ky., where they are believed to have murdered Col. Trabue's little son — Continue their journey and operations of murder and robbery into Tennessee, are chased back to the Mammoth Cave, but not captured — Big Harpe murders his own child. - - - . -

Chapter XXXI

The Harpes and Cherokees continue their blood-thirsty journey — At the point of the Clay Lick woods they murder, strip, and mutilate the families and servants of two brothers — They are chased by a party from Russellville and Drumgool's stations — The Harpes, in the meantime, murder Stegall's family near the Double Licks, rob and burn up his home — They are overtaken at the "Lonesome Oak" by the pursuing party — Big Harpe and one Indian is killed, and the head of the former hung on a tree — Stegall attempts to murder Susan Woods — Is restrained and wholly ohecked by Wm. Stewart, of Russellville — Maria Davidson and Susan Woods are taken with the return party to Russellville — Excitement of the populace against them — They are privately conveyed out of town to a place of safety — Maria is subsequently married. -

Chapter XXXII

Further narrative of the adventures of Josh Harpe — His escape — His appearance at Natchez with Peter Alston — They conspire to murder and decapitate Mayerson for the government reward — They do so and while waiting for the reward are recognized and seized, tried, condemned and executed. -

Chapter XXXIII

Major Bland Ballard — His parentage — His father locates at Boonsboro — Removes to Tick Creek — Family locates at Tyler's Station — Maj. Bland marries — The Station becoming crowded, the Ballards remove outside the stockades — Danger from the Indians anticipated — The family of old Mr. Ballard is attacked and nearly all murdered by the Indians — Maj. Bland, hearing the attack, rushes to the door of his cabin to receive the last groan of his murdered mother — Decides to take the open ground aud defend himself and wife — Is heroically assisted by his wife — After shooting seven Indians, he CONTENTS. XVI finds his bullet-pouch exhausted — Is supplied by his wife who melts her spoons for the purpose, and exposes her life to hand the bullets to her husband — He finally triumphs. - - - 345

Chapter XXXIV

'• William Stout "—Thoughts on the adage " Murder will out" — Why Stout came to Kentucky — His dark deeds of blood — His care of his family — Tracks and destroys the murderer of his son — Redresses the widow's wrong — Prevents Jerry Moore's trip to Missouri — Dies. ------ 350

Chapter XXXV

A picture of the earlier settlements in the West — State of Society — Who gave it tone and polish. ------ 362

Chapter XXXVI

Religious revival in the West — Rev's John and William M'Ghee — Their appointments to preach — Preaching at Red River Meeting House — Its results — Preaching at Beech Meeting House — Results, especiallyon those who came to mock, but remained to pray — Meeting at Muddy River Church — The Meeting House too small to accommodate — They go out into the open air — A pulpit is erected — First Camp Meeting — Great results. ... - 370

Chapter XXXVII

State of Western Society — Dr. Gist's story of the honey — Its disastrous results — Is confirmed by Dr. Wilmot — His additional remarks. -- -- 374