the arrow, aimed at the mark. If necessary they retreatif they dare, they advance upon their killed, or crippled adversary; and take his scalp, or make him prisoner, if possible. They aim to cut off the garrison supplies, by killing the cattle; and they watch the watering places, for those who go for that article of primary necessity; that they may by these means, reduce the place to their possession; or destroy its inhabitants, in detail."

"In the night, they will place themselves near the fort gate, ready to sacrifice the first person who shall appear in the morning: in the day, if there be any cover-such as grass, a bush, a large clod of earth, or a stone as big as a bushel, they will avail themselves of it, to approach the fort, by slipping forward on their bellies, within gun-shot; and then, whosoever appears first, gets the fire; while the assailant makes his retreat behind the smoke, from the gun. At other times they approach the walls, or pallisades, with the utmost audacity-and attempt to fire them, or to beat down the gate. They often make feints, to draw out the garrison on one side of the fort, and if practicable enter it by surprise on the other. And when their stock of provision is exhausted, this being an individual affair, they supply themselves by hunting; and again, frequently return to the siege; if by any means they hope to get a scalp."

"Such was the enemy who infested Kentucky, and with whom the early adventurers had to contend. In the combat, they were brave; in defeat, they were dexterous; in victory, they were cruel. Neither sex nor age, nor the prisoner were exempted from their tomahawk, or scalping knife. They saw their perpetual enemy, taking possession of their HUNTING GROUND; to them, the source of amusement, of supply, and of traffic; and they were determined to dispute it to the utmost extent of their means. Had they possessed the skill which combines individual effort, with a concerted attack; and had they directed their whole force against each of the forts, then few, and feeble, in succession; instead of dissipating their strength, by attacking all at the same time; they could easily have rid Kentucky of its new inhabitants: and again restored it to the buffalo, and

the Indian; the wild game, and its red hunters. But it was ordered otherwise; and after inflicting great distress upon the settlers, without being able to take any of the forts, the approach of winter dispersed them; they having, in the mean time, killed sundry persons; and destroyed most of the cattle round the stations. Of the settlers, however, it is to be said, that they acquired fortitude, and dexterity in proportion to the occasional pressure. In the most difficult times, the Indians were obliged to retire into the woods, sometimes in pursuit of game, sometimes, as to a place of safety: and generally by night they withdrew, to encamp at a distance. In these intervals, the white men would plough their corn, or gather their crop, or get up their cattle, or hunt the deer, the bear, and buffalo, for their own food."

"When traveling, they left the paths; and they frequently employed the night, to get out from, or return to the garrison. In these excursions they often exchanged shots with the Indians: and at times, when they came to the station, found it invested."

In despite of these difficulties and dangers, struggling for life with the wilderness, and so wily and savage a foe, there were, "from a review of the records," more "improvements" (as cultivation or buildings are termed,) "with a view to future settlement," in this year, "than in any other." Nor were these dispersed parties in so wide a territory, so generally exposed to the attacks of the enemy, as the fixed and notorious forts.

CHAPTER III.

First visit of Clark to Kentucky-Visits Harrodstown-Chosen a delegate to the Vir ginia Legislature with Gabriel John Jones-Calls on Governor Henry-Receives gunpowder for Kentucky-Procures the creation of Kentucky county-Brings gunpowder from Fort Pitt-Conceals it on the banks of Limestone creek-Blackfish attacks Harrodstown-Singular escape of Ray---Plans approved by Governor and Council-Spies in Illinois-Arrives at the Falls of Ohio-Eclipse of the Sun-Passes the Falls-Reaches Kaskaskia-Surprises the town-Takes Cahokia.

The year 1775, was memorable for the arrival of that most darin and sagacious officer, George Rogers Clark, who was

soon destined to intertwine his memory with honors, as lasting as the great country, which he, by his genius, brought under the American arms. "The appearance of Clark," says Mr. Marshall, "was well calculated to attract attention; it was rendered particularly agreeable by the manliness of his deportment, the intelligence of his conversation; but above all, by the vivacity and boldness of his spirit for enterprise, and the determination he expressed of becoming an inhabitant of the country. He fixed on no particular residence, was much in the woods; incidentally visiting the forts and ostensible camps; he cultivated the ac.quaintance of the people, and acquired an extensive knowledge of the various objects presented to his curiosity or to his inspection."

This distinguished commander, who, amidst deeds of hardihood and times of most gallant adventure, was by the general consent of his compeers, looked up to as their chief, was born in the county of Albermarle, in the State of Virginia, in September, 1773. He, like the great master chief of the revolution, engaged in the business of land surveying, under the unfortunate Colonel Crawford. There seems a fond alliance between this pursuit and many of the attractions of military life; free exercise in the open air, and adventurous exposure, both combine to fasten on a military spirit an attachment to this business, in the frontier woods of North America, requiring, at the times in question, so much fortitude and bravery. Little is known of the early years of George Rogers Clark, but the stirring times and the confined opportunities of that` part of Virginia, though now the seat of the literary monument which consecrated the last days of the great Jefferson, forbid much expectation beyond the elements of his language, and those not taught with the utmost precision. He is said to have been much devoted to several branches of mathematics and was distinguished for his precise and minute knowledge of geography. Like many other of the gallant spirits of his time, he embarked at the head of a company, in Dunmore's war, and was engaged in the only active operation of the right wing against the Indians. After the suspicious haste with which

peace was made by Lord Dunmore, without following up the bloody blows of Point Pleasant, he was offered by the Governor, a commission in the royal service. This, on consultation with his friends, he was induced by the troubled complexion of affairs between his native country and Great Britain, to refuse. Early in 1775, Clark visited Kentucky, as the favorite theatre of romantic adventure at that day; he penetrated to Harrodstown, which after having been abandoned by Colonel Harrod, on the late rupture with the Indians, had been re-possessed by him. In this visit, he either had a commission of Major, or was from his service in Dunmore's war, and prominent talents, voluntarily placed at the head of the irregular troops, then in Kentucky. He himself only speaks of settling in the fall of 1777, the accounts of the Kentucky militia which would confirm the idea of his previous command, besides being known at that time as Major Clark. In the ensuing autumn Clark returned to Virginia, and again came back to Kentucky in the spring of "76.* He reflected deeply on its value to Virginia as a frontier, as well as to the rest of the confederacy. The result of these meditations suggested to him, the importance of assembling the people of the country at Harrodstown, as it was then called, to devise a plan for the public defence. At this time the claim of Henderson and Company, acquired under the treaty of Wa taga, in March, 1775, with the Cherokees, made a great deal of noise, and added no little to the perplexities of the settlers.

In regard to this second visit, the author cannot resist the temptation to narrate an anecdote, which he in substance received from the lips of General Ray. It illustrates the hardy privations of the times, and the free and generous spirit, in which all the little alleviations of these hardships, were shared with a fellow hunter in distress. "I had come down" said the General, "to where I now live," (about four miles north of Harrodsburg,) "to turn some horses out in the range; I had killed a small blue wing duck, that was feeding in my spring, and had roasted it nicely on the brow of the hill, about twenty steps east of my house." After having taken it off to cool, I was much surpised on being suddenly accosted by a fine soldierly looking man, who exclaimed, "How do you do my little fellow? What is your name? An't you afraid of being in the woods by yourself?" On satisfying his inquiries, I invited the traveler to partake of my duck, which he did without leaving me a bone to pick, his appetite was so keen; though he should have been welcome to all the game I could have killed, said Ray, when I afterwards became acquainted with his noble and gallant soul. After satisfying his questions, he inquired of the stranger his own name and business in this remote region. My name is Clark, he answered, and I have come out to see what you brave fellows are doing in Kentucky, and to lend you a helping hand if necesssary. The General, a boy of sixteen, then conducted Clark to Hayrodstown, where he spent his time making the observations on the condition and pros pects of the country, natural to his comprehensive mind, and assisting at every opportunity in its defence.

D

It became uncertain whether the south side of the Kentucky river appertained to Virginia or to North Carolina. These difficulties increased the necessity of ascertaining the disposi tion of the former; on the 6th of June, 1775, at the suggestion of Clark, a general meeting took place in Harrodstown, at which he, and Gabriel John Jones, were chosen members of the Assembly of Virginia. This, however, was not the course intended by Clark; he wanted the people to choose agents, with general powers to negotiate with the government of Virginia, and if abandoned by it, to employ the lands of the country, as a fund to obtain settlers, and establish an independent State. The election had, however, proceeded too far to change its object, when Clark, who had been detained, arrived at the town; the gentlemen elected, although they were aware the choice could give them no seat in the legislature, proceeded to Williamsburg, at that time the seat of Government. They selected the route through the southern wilderness, as it has generally been called, lying between the settlements of Kentucky, and those of Virginia, under most distressing difficulties. Independent of losing one of their horses, the extreme wetness of the season, and the danger of kindling fires, amidst strag gling parties of Indians, the traveling through the mud, and over the mountains, brought on a most painful affliction, called by the hunters, the scald feet. In this complaint, the feet become useless from excessive tenderness, and the skin decays; so that the weight of the body becomes intolerable. While suffering in this manner, "more torment than I ever experienced," says Clark, "before, or since," they found the old stations near the Cumberland Gap, and Martin's fort, where they fondly hoped to have found relief, both abandoned by the inhabitants, owing to fear of the Indians. At the latter place, however, the desperate party determined to stay until their feet were recovered; when this was accomplished, they again prosecuted their journey. On reaching the county of Bottetourt, it was found that the legislature had adjourned: upon which, Mr. Jones returned to the settlement on Holston, and left Clark to attend to the Kentucky mission. He immediately waited on