The history of Kentucky, from its earliest settlement to the present time

Front matter

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THE

HISTORY OF KEXTUCKY,

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 expeditions of Harmar, St. Clair, and "Wayne; the attempts made by Spain to sever Kentucky from the Union ; the machinations of Burr and his fellow-conspirators; the services of the volunteers from Kentucky in the war of 1812, and the more recent invasion 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 fortified stations by the early pioneers, the western Indians 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 overshadowed by the advance of hardy frontiersmen — few, indeed, at first, but gradually increasing in numbers until they grew to be formidable — the Indians 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 present position ; at the same time there is presented, as much in detail as possible, a narrative of those thrilling adventures of the early settlers which give to the history of Kentucky the fascination of a romance.

Chapter I

Inti-oduction — Doctor Walker touches tlie nortliern parts of Kentucky — Explorations of John Finley — His glowing descriptions of the country — Boone and others proceed to Kentucky — Builds 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 McAffee — The Wataga treaty — Operations of Boone — Attacked by the Indians — Fort at Boonesborough built — Forts of the eai-ly settlers — Harrodstown station — Immigration continues — The Transylvania Company 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 ammunition for the colonists — The daughter of Boone and two other females captured within sight of the fort — The Indians pursued 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 — Secretes the powder at the mouth of Limestone Creek — Colonel Todd defeated near the Blue Licks — Jones and Grayson

CONTENTS.

killed — MeClellanfl's Fort attacked— Kenton and others attacked 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 invasion 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 obnoxious 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 surrenders — 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 divided into three counties — Indian incursions — Immigration continues — Transylvania University incorporated by Virginia — 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 recklessness 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 reclaims his settlement in Washington — Brodhead opens a store in Louisville — General James Wilkinson immigrates to Kentucky — New counties laid oif — Proposition to separate from Virginia — Expedition of Clark against the Indians 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 received 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 — Caffree and Davis kUled — Subsequent adventures of McClure — His escape — Colonel Marshall descends the Ohio — Is hailed by James Girty — Indian decoys — Captain Ward assaulted 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

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 escape — New mode of warfare on the Ohio — Political condition 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 celebrated 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 — Number 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 — Expedition of General Harmar — Miami villages burned — Hardin detached to follow up the Indians — Falls into an ambush — Is defeated — Painful situation of Captain Armstrong — Harmar retreats — Hardin again detached — Indian stratagem — • Noble conduct of the regulars — Hardin defeated — Harmar returns home — Harmar and Hardin court-martialled — ^Acquittal — Resignation of Harmar — Scott's expedition — Destruction of the villages on the Wabash — Return of the troops — St. Clair's expedition — Rendezvous at Fort Washington — Feeling of the Kentuckians — Object of the campaign — Condition of the army — Fort Hamilton built — Erection 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 Littie 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 Kentucky — Its provisions — Legislative acts — Population of the state — Indian disturbances — Settlement on Elkhom attacked — The Cooks killed — Resolute conduct of the widows — Escape of Mc Andre — Martin killed — Escape of Dunn — Murder 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;. — Is murdered — Biographical notice — Hardin serves under Dunmore — Volunteers with Captain Morgan — Is wounded in the thigh — Rejoins Dunmore in an expedition against the Indian towns — Contemplates moving to Kentucky — War between England and the colonies — Hardin enlists men for the defence of his country — Is appointed a lieutenant — Offered a majority, but declines — Moves to Kentucky — Appointed colonel of the county militia — His services — Grave charge against Wilkinson — Tecumseh — Kenton's skirmish with him — His stratagem and escape — The last Indian inroad — ■ Kenton forms an ambuscade on the Ohio — Kills four Indians and two white men — Escape of the others 166

CHAPTER XIIL

Genet supersedes Ternant as ambassador to the United States — Perplexing position of the government — Washington calls a cabinet council — Proclamation of neutrality resolved upon — High-handed conduct of Genet — His reception by the people — Projects an expedition against the Spanish settlements — Despatches agents to Kentucky to raise volunteers • — George Rogers Clark .commissioned a major-general in the French service — Letter to Governor Shelby from the Secretary of State — His reply — Democratic societies formed — Second letter to Shelby — His sympathy with the move- 2 ment — Shelby's letter to the Secretary of State — Reply of Edmund Randolph — Washington issues a proclamation to the people of Kentucky — The recall of Genet solicited — Activity of the Democratic associations — Meeting at Lexington — Recall of Genet — The expedition abandoned — Genet marries and settles in New York 177

CHAPTER XIV.

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 Indians — 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 terminer 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 attacked by the other — Both combatants disarmed — A fearful trial of strength and activity — Kills his antagonist — Returns 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 Nickajack 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 navigation 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 concerning Sebastian — Adams elected President of the United States — His unpopularity in Kentucky — Meeting of the legislature — 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 Jefferson — Endorsed by Kentucky — Denounced by other states — Creation of new counties in Kentucky — Education promoted — Various academies established — Appropriations of land for their support — Meeting of convention — New constitution adopted — Garrard re-elected governor — An attempt made to encourage manufactures — Election of Jefferson — Navigation of the Mississippi interrupted — Louisiana 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 Jefferson — Kentucky militia discharged 224

CHAPTER XVIIL

Aaron Burr — Elected Vice President of the United States — Loses the confidence of his party — Is nominated for Governor of New York — Defeated through the influence of Hamilton — Kills Hamilton in a duel — Flees to South Carolina — • Returns to Washington — Sets out for the West — His nominal projects — His association with Wilkinson — Becomes acquainted with Blennerhasset — Actual project of Burr — Reaches New Orleans — Returns overland to Kentucky — Spends the spring and summer in Philadelphia and Washington — 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 Orleans to be strengthened — Proceeds to Natchez — Despatches a second messenger to Washington — Writes to Claiborne 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 — Exposures 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 declaration to Henry Clay — Action of the general government — Jefferson sends an agent to Ohio — Disclosures by Blennerhasset — 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 Mississippi 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 surrenders himself to the civil authorities — His boats searched — Charges against Sebastian and Innis 245

CHAPTER XX.

Critical foreign relations with the United States — Berlin decrees — Restraint upon commercial enterprise — Attack upon the Chesapeake — Great excitement throughout the Union — Embargo — One hundred thousand militia called for — Resolutions passed in Kentucky — Declaration of war — Indian difficulties — Tecumseh — His attempts to form a confederation of tribes — Assembling of warriors at Tippecanoe — March of Harrison — Battle of Tippecanoe — Death of Joseph H. Daviess — Return of Tecumseh — His interview with Harrison — Hull appointed to command the northwestern army ■ — Invades Canada — Returns — General Brock summons Detroit — Surrender of Hull — Indignation of the states — Volunteers from Kentucky — Hopkins marches against the Illinois Indians — Is deserted by his men — A second northwestern army organized — Harrison commissioned a brigadier-general — Appointed commander-in-chief. 257

CHAPTER XXL

Plan of the fall campaign of 1812 — Harrison appointed commander of the northwestern army — Winchester marches from Fort Wayne — Difficulties of the route — Deplorable condition of the troops — Winchester halts at the Rapids —

The enemy approach Frenchtown — A detachment of Kentuckians under Colonel Lewis sent against them — Proctor advances from Maiden — Battle of the River Raisin — Surrender 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 British 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 activity 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 — Tecumseh killed — The British forces under Packenham threaten New Orleans — Vanguard of the enemy bivouac on the Mississippi — 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 derangement — 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 — General alarm and outcry — Unsuccessful attempt of the legislature to remove the judges — The old court of appeals abolished, and a new one established — The constitutionality of the latter contested — The old court sustained — State and general politics — Suspension of specie payments — Second monetary derangement — The legislature again applied to for relief — Wisdom of the measures adopted — Governors of

Kentucky — Presidential election 298

2«

CHAPTER XXIV.

Mexico and the United States — Annexation of Texas — General 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 descriptions of the country — Boone and others proceed to Kentucky — 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 — Immigration continues — The Transylvania Company form a proprietary 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 people, 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 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 perfect lifelikeness.

As the self-reliant type of the American character at the epoch of the Kevolution, the Kentuckian 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 pursuit, yet cool and collected in action ; never retreating 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 commonwealth," 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 country, 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 Indians 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 skilfully-constructed fortifications, their copper tools for mechanical purposes, their curiously-carved pipes, and the more perfect and ingenious character 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 excursion, gave such glowing accounts of the richness and fertility of the new country, that the bold and daring frontiersmen of Virginia and North Carolina were stimulated to cross the rugged Cumberland Mountains, and view for themselves 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 companions 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 molestation. 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 surprised 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, accompanied 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.