to move to Kentucky, "in company with five families, and forty men that joined us in Powel's Valley." But on the tenth October, Boone says, "the rear of our company was attacked by a number of Indians, who killed six men and wounded one." This severe repulse deterred the party from prosecuting their daring enterprise, until the time mentioned above.

When McGary's party had arrived at the head of Dick's river, Boone, with twenty-one men, went to Boonesborough, and left his previous associates to find their way as well as they could by his directions, through the pathless forest to Harrodstown. At the time of our narrative, there were but four cabins at this place, one of which was inhabited, and but five old soldiers in them, who had followed James Harrod from the Monongahela country. This distinguished explorer, had likewise settled a place known as Harrod's Station, about six miles east of Harrodsburg, on the present road to Danville.

The families with McGary, having got bewildered, left the horses and cattle with James Ray, John Denton and John Hays, all boys, (the former, now General James Ray, but fifteen years of age,) opposite to the mouth of Gilbert's creek, on the east side of Dick's river, while they attempted the route by themselves. McGary, finding no passage for the families at the mouth of Dick's river, on account of the lofty precipitous cliffs, went by himself to explore the way: by accident he fell on the path between Harrodsburg and Harrod's Station, and taking the eastern end, it brought him to the latter place, where he got Josiah Harlan, of lamented memory, to pilot the families, as well as the three boys into Harrodstown. Thus was formed the first domestic circle of Harrodsburg by Mrs. Denton, Mrs. McGary and Mrs. Hogan, with their families; where is now the resort of the gayest of the gay among the fashionables of the west. These younger woodsmen were not, however, relieved until three weeks had elapsed, instead of three days, as promised by McGary at first, when they were left on this forlorn hope. To add to their distress, they could not forget the fate of three boys, the eldest hopes of three families, who had been killed by the Indians in 1773, under very similar C*

circumstances; while left to collect some stray horses in Powel's Valley, when moving with Boone to Kentucky. One, the eldest son of Boone, had been a playmate of James Ray in North Carolina. During the winter of "75-6, was begun the fort of Harrodstown, of such enduring importance in the early difficulties of Kentucky. It was situated on the hill, now occupied by the seminary building, and included a considerable spring of water at its foot: it was not finished until the ensuing season.

From this period may be dated the permanent settlement of Harrodsburg; about the same time, Colonel Benjamin Logan, of Virginia, established Logan's fort, about a mile west of the present town of Standford, in Lincoln county. The precise date of this establishment cannot be ascertained; but Col. Floyd speaks* of its being known as a station or fortified settlement, in May, 1775. At this time, the title of Henderson & Co., seems to have been generally acknowledged by the settlers in the country. Nor were their numbers so contemptible even at that early day; they are computed by a close observer, to have amounted to three hundred; and to have had about two hundred and thirty acres under cultivation in corn. So perfect at first, was the acquiesence of the people in the title of the company mentioned above, that eighteen delegates assembled in convention at Boonesborough in the course of this year, and after acknowledging Henderson & Co., as proprietors, "established courts of justice, rules for proceeding therein, also a militia law, an attachment law, a law for preserving the game and for appointing civil and military officers." Such was the incipient stage of this great Commonwealth, under what may be called its proprietary government. So eager were settlers to embark under the title of this great land company, that by the 1st of December, 1775, 560,000 acres of land were entered, as it is presumed in their office. Deeds of great formality were issued by this company calling themselves "proprietors of the Colony of Transylvania in America." By these deeds, the grantees under the

*Correspondence of Col. J. Floyd, with Col. William Preston, politely communicated by Nath. Hart, Esq., of Woodford county.

company, bound themselves to pay them, "one moity or half part of all gold, silver, copper, lead or sulphur mines;" and, moreover, to pay the company a rent, as might be agreed on, "yearly and for every year." The penalty for not paying this rent was provided by a covenant, "that if no sufficient distress can be found on the premises whereon it shall be lawful for the said Co., to levy such rent or arrears, with full costs, charges and expenses in making and levying the same, then this present grant and all assignments shall be void and of none effect. The company then reserved a right "to re-enter into the said lands and re-grant the same to any other person or persons whatsoever." Had this company retained its title, Kentucky, would, within their jurisdiction or purchase, have been under a quit rent to those great proprietors forever. It is, however, much to be doubted, whether the high temper of the western people would have submitted to a state of things, which had been a constant source of heart burnings in the elder colonies. Sooner indeed than have been any thing less than fee simple or allodial proprietors, the hunters of the west, (had they not risen in arms,) would have abandoned the country, to these lords proprietors. Symptoms of the slight hold these terms had upon the hearts of the people, at the earliest manifestations of Indian hostilities, may be inferred from the fact; *that three hundred men are said to have left the country by July, 1776. Colonel Clark intimates the same in his memoir. He remarks, that the company "took great pains to ingratiate themselves in the favor of the people; but too soon, for their own interest began to raise upon their lands, which caused many to complain." Some dissatisfaction of this sort, seems to have operated in producing the subsequent mission of Clark and Jones, to the government of Virginia, respecting the regulation and sale of the country.

At the same time, in justice to this great company, it must be observed, that it furnished, although for sale, all the supplies of gunpowder and lead, with which the inhabitants defended themselves and their families. Indeed, the books of Henderson & Co., exhibit accounts for these articles with all the inhabi*Correspondence of Colonel Floyd.

tants of the country, in the years 1775-6: while they are credited with various items, as cutting the road to Cantucky, hunting and ranging. The prices of articles in these accounts, afford some curious comparisons with those of the present times. Powder was charged at $2 66 per pound, and lead at 163 cents; while labor was credited at 33 cents or fifty cents per day, for ranging, hunting or working on roads. These accounts remain unclosed upon the books in every instance, shewing a condition of no little indebtedness for the colonists of Transylvania to the great proprietors.

About the 16th July, 1776, it was discovered from the sign, as the marks of the enemy's presence were termed, that a large body of Indians had come into the country with hostile intentions; and had, according to their mode of invasion, dispersed in small bands, infesting the stations, at the same time.

A romantic instance of the insecurity of the times, and the ardent sympathy which knit the people to one another, is beautifully exhibited in the following narrative, in the words of an actor. * "On the 7th of July, 1776, the Indians took out of a canoe which was in the river, within sight of Boonesborough, Miss Betsy Calloway, her sister Frances, and a daughter of Daniel Boone. The last two are about thirteen or fourteen years of age and the other grown. The affair happened late in the afternoon," and the spoilers "left the canoe on the opposite side of the river from us, which prevented our getting over for some time to pursue them; Next morning by daylight we were on the track; but found they had totally prevented our following them by walking some distance apart, through the thickest cane they could find, we observed their course and on which side we had left their sign, and traveled upwards of thirty miles. We then imagined that they would be less cautious in traveling and made a turn in order to cross their trace, and had gone but a few miles, before we found their tracks in a buffalo path; pursued and overtook them on going about ten miles, just as they were kindling a fire to cook. Our study had been more to get the prisoners without giving the Indians time to murder them

* Colonel Floyd

after they discovered us, than to kill them. We discovered each other nearly at the same time. Four of us fired, and all rushed on them, which prevented their carrying any thing away except one shot-gun without any ammunition. Mr. Boone and myself had a pretty fair shoot, just as they began to move off. I am well convinced I shot one through, and the one he shot dropped his gun, mine had none. The place was very thick with cane, and being so much elated on recovering the three little broken hearted girls, prevented our making any further search. We sent them off without their mockasons, and not one of them so much as a knife or a tomahawk." These are the unembellished circumstances of a transaction, which a lively and most interesting writer has, through misinformation, historically disfigured into a beautiful romance.* A continuation of such heart rending depredations and the death of the hunters in every direction, spread a dismay, which may faintly be conceived from the following most honorable extracts from the correspondence: of the same gallant man whose narrative has just been quoted.: "I want to return as much as any person can do; but if I leave the country now, there is scarcely one single man hereabouts, but what will follow the example. When I think of the deplorable condition of a few helpless families are likely to be in; I conclude to sell my life as dear as I can in their defence rather than make an ignominious retreat." Again he says, "I do at the request, and in behalf of all the distressed women and children, and the inhabitants of this place, implore the aid of every leading man, who may have it in his power, to give them any relief."

No place seems more appropriate than the present for detailing the circumstances usually attending an Indian siege. "The Indians in besieging a place are seldom seen in force upon any quarter; but dispersed, and acting individually, or in small parties. They conceal themselves in the bushes or weeds, or behind trees or stumps of trees; or waylay the path, or fields, or other places which their enemies resort; and when one or more can be taken down, in their opinion, they fire the gun, or let fly

* Flint's Life of Daniel Boone, page 89. † Marshall, 1, 43-44,