The adventures of Colonel Daniel Boon, one of the first settlers at Kentucke: containing the wars with the Indians on the Ohio, from 1769 to 1783, and the first establishment and progress of the settlement on that river. / Written by the colonel himself. ; To which are added, a narrative of the captivity and extraordinary escape of Mrs. Francis [sic] Scott, an inhabitant of Washington-County Virginia ...

THE ADVENTURES, OF COL. DANIEL BOON.

IT was on the first of May 1769, that I resigned my domestic happiness, and left my family and peaceable habitation on the Yadkin River, in North-Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of America, in quest of the country of Kentucke, in com|pany with John Finlay, John Stuart, Joseph Molden, James Monay, and William Cool.

On the 7th day of June, after travelling in a west|tern direction, we found ourselves an Red River, where John Finaly had formerly been trading with the Indi|ans, and from the top of an eminence, few with plea|sure the beautiful level of Kentucke. For some time we had experienced the most uncomfortable weather. We now encamped, made a shelter to defend us from the inclement season, and began to hunt and reconnoi|tre the country. We found abundance of wild beasts in this vast forest. The buffaloes were more numer|ous than cattle on other settlements, browzing on the leaves of the cane, or crossing the herbage on those extensive plains, we saw hundreds in a drove, and the numbers about the salt springs were amazing. In this forest the habitation of beasts of every American kind, we hunted with great success until December.

On the 22d of December John Stuart and I had a pleasant Ramble; but fortune changed the day at the close of it. We had passed through a great forest, in which stood myriads of trees, some gay with blos|soms, other rich with fruits. Nature was here a series of wonders and a fund of delight. Here she displayed her ingenuity and industry in a variety of flowers and

fruits, beautifully coloured, elegantly shaped, and charmingly flavoured; and we were diverted with numberless animals presenting themselves perpetually to our view. In the decline of the day, near Ken|tucke river, as we ascended the brow of a small hill, a number of Indians rushed out of a thick cane brake, and made us prisoners. The Indians plundered us, and kept us in confinement seven days. During this we discovered no uneasiness or desire to escape, which made them less suspicious: but in the dead of the night, as we lay by a large fire, in a thick cane brake, when sleep had locked up their senses, my situation not disposing me to rest, I gently awoke my compani|on. We seized this favourable opportunity and de|parted, directing our course towards our old camp, but found it plundered and our people dispersed or gone home.

About this time my brother, Squire Boon, with another adventurer, who came to explore the country shortly after us, was wandering through the forest, and accidentally found our camp. Notwithstanding our unfortunate circumstances, and our dangerous si|tuation surrounded with hostile savages, our meeting fortunately in the wilderness, gave us the most sensible satisfaction.

Soon after this my companion in captivity, John Stewart was killed by the savages, and the man that came with my brother returned home by himself. We were then in a dangerous helpless situation, exposed daily to perils and death, among savages and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but ourselves.

Thus many hundred miles from our families in the howling wilderness, we did not continue in a state of indolence, but hunted every day, and prepared a little cottage to defend us from the winter storms. We met with no disturbance during the winter. On the 1st of May 1770, my brother returned home by himself for a new recruit of horses and amunition, leaving me alone, without bread, salt, or sugar, or even a horse or a dog, I passed a few days uncomfortably. The idea

of a beloved wife and family, and their anxiety on my account, would have disposed me to melancholy, if I had further indulged the thought.

One day I undertook a tour through the country, when the diversity and beauties of nature I met with in this charming season, expelled every gloomy thought. Just at the close of the day, the gentle gales ceased; a profound calm ensued; not a breath shook the tremulous leaf. I had gained the summit of a com|manding ridge, and looking round with astonishing delight, beheld the ample plains and beauteous tracts below. On one hand I surveyed the famous Ohio rolling in silent dignity, and marking the west|ern bounds of Kentucke with inconceivable grandure. At a vast distance I beheld the mountains lift their venerable brows and penetrate the clouds. All things were still. I kindled a fire near a fountain of sweet water, and feasted on the loin of a buck, which a few hours before I had killed. The shades of night soon overspread the hemisphere, and the earth seem to gasp after the hovering moisture. My excursion had fa|tigued my body, and amused my mind. I laid me down to sleep and awoke not until the sun had chased away the night. I continued this tour, and in a few days explored a considerable part of the country, each day equally pleased as the first; after which I re|turned to my old camp, which had not been disturbed in my absence I did not confine my lodgings to it, but often reposed in thick cane brakes to avoid the savages, who I believe, often visited my camp, but fortunately for me in my absence. No populous city with all the varieties of commerce and stately structures, could afford such pleasure to my mind, as the beauties of nature I found in this country.

Until the 27th of July I spent the time in an unin|terrupted scene of sylvan pleasures, when my brother to my great felicity, met me according to appoint|ment, at our old camp. Soon after we left the place, and proceeded to Cumberland River, reconnoitring that part of the country, and giving names to the different rivers.

In March 1771 I returned home to my family, be|ing determined to bring them as soon as possible at the risk of my life and fortune, to reside in Kentucke, which I esteemed a second paradise.

On my return I found my family in happy circum|stances. I sold my farm on the Yadkin, and what goods we could not carry with us; and

On the 25th of September 1773, we bade farewel to our friends and proceeded on our journey to Ken|tucke, in company with five more families, and forty men that joined us in Powell's Valley, which is one hundred and fifty miles from the now settled parts of Kentucke; but this promising beginning was soon overcast with a cloud of adversity.

On the 10th of October the rear of our company was ••••••••ked by a number of Indians; who killed six, and wounded one man. Of these my ••••dest son was one that fell in the action. Though we repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme difficulty, and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles to the settlement on the Clench river. We had passed over two mountains Powell's and Walden's, and were approaching Cumberland mountain, when this ad|verse fortune overtook us. These mountains are in the wilderness, in passing from the old settlements in Virginia to Kentucke, are ranged in a southwest and northeast direction, are of great length and breadth, and not far distant from each other. Over them na|ture has formed passes less difficult than might be ex|pected from the view of such huge piles, The aspect of these cliffs are so wild and ho••••••d, that is impossible to behold them without terror.

Until the 6th of June 1774, I remained with my family on the Clinch, when I and Michael S••oner were solicited by Governor Dunmore of Virginia, to conduct a number of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio. This was a tour of 800 miles, and look us sixty-two days.

On my return, Govornor Dunmore gave me the

command of three garisons, during the campaign a|gainst the Shawnese.

In March 1775, at the solicitation of a number of gentlemen of North-Carolina, I attended their treaty at Wataga, with the Cherokee Indians, to purchase the lands on the south side of Kentucke river. After this I undertook to mark out a road in the best passage from the settlements through the wilderness to Ken|tucke.

Having collected a number of enterprizing men well armed, I soon begun this work, we proceeded until we came within fifteen miles of where Boonsborough now stands, where the Indians attacked us, and killed two and wounded two more.

This was the 2d of March 1775. Three days after they attacked us again, we had two killed and three wounded. After this we proceeded on to Kentucke river without opposition.

On the first of April we began to erect the sort of Boonsborough, at a salt lick 60 yards from the river on the south side.

On the 4th they killed one of our men.

On the 14th of June having finished the fort, I re|turned to my family on the Clinch. Soon after I removed my family to this fort; we arrived safe; my wife and daughter being the first white women that stood on the banks of Kentucke river.

December the 24th. the Indians killed one man and wounded another, seeming determined to perse|cute us for erecting this fort.

July 14th 1776. Two of Colonel Calaway's daugh|ters, and one of mine, were taken prisoners near the fort. I immediately pursued the Indians, with only eight men.

On the 16th I overtook them, killed two of them▪ and recovered the girls.

The Indians had divided themselves into several parties and attacked on the same day all our settle|ments and forts, doing a great deal of mischief. The husbandmen were shot down in the field, and most of

the cattle were destroyed. They continued their hostilities until

The 15th of April 1777, when a party of 100 of them attacked Boonsborough, and killed one man, and wounded four.

July 4th they attacked it again with 250 men, and killed us one, and wounded two. They remained 48 hours, during which we killed seven of them. All the settlements were attacked at the same time.

July 19th. Colonel Logan's fort was besieged by 200 Indians; they did much mischief; there were only fifteen men in the fort; they killed two and wounded one of them. Indians loss unknown.

July 25. Twenty five men came from Carolina. About

August 20th, Colonel Bowman arrived with 100 men from Virginia. Now we began to strengthen and had skirmishes with the Indians almost every day.

The savages now learned the superiority of the LONG KNIFE, as they call the Virginians; being out-generaled in almost every battle. Our affairs be|gan to wear a new aspect; the enemy did not now venture open war, but practised secret mischief.

January 1, 1778. I went with thirty men to the Blue Licks on Licking River, to make salt for the different garrisons.

February 7th. Hunting by myself to procure meat for the company, I met a party of 102 Indians, and two Frenchmen marching against Boonsborough. They pursued and took me; and the next day I capi|tulated for my men, knowing they could not escape. They were 27 in number, three having gone home with salt. The Indians according to the capitulation used us generously. They carried us to Old Cheli|cothe, the principal Indian town on Little Miami.

On the 18th of February we arrived there, after an uncomfortable journey in very severe weather.

On the 10th of March I and ten of my men were conducted to Detroit.

On the 30th we arrived there, and were treated by

Governor Hamilton, the British commander at the post, with great humanity.

The Indians had such an affection for me, that they refused 100l. sterling offered them by the Gover|nor, if they would leave me with the others, on pur|pose that he might send me home on parole. Several English gentlemen there, sensible of my adverse for|tune, and touched with sympathy, generously offered to supply my wants, which I declined with many thanks, adding that I never expected it would be it my power to recompence such unmerited generosity. The Indians left my men in captivity with the British at Detroit.

On the 10th of April they brought me towards Old Chelicothe, where we arrived on the twenty-fifth day of the same month. This was a long and very fatiguing march, through an exceeding fertile country, remarkable for fine springs and streams of water. At Chelicothe I spent my time as comfortably as I could expect; was adopted according to their custom, into a family, where I became a son, and had a great share in the affection of my new parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. I was exceedingly familiar and easy with them, always appearing as chearful and satisfied as possible and they put great confidence in me. I often went a hunting with them, and fre|quently gained their applause for my activity at our shooting matches.

I was careful not to exceed many of them in shoot|ing; for no people are more envious than they in this sport. I could observe in their countenances and gestures the greatest expressions of joy when they ex|ceeded me, and, when the reverse happened of envy. The Shawnese king took great notice of me, and treated me with profound respect, and entire friend|ship, often entrusting me to hunt at my liberty. I frequently returned with the spoils of the woods, and as often presented some of what I had taken to him, expressive of my duty to my sovereign. My food and lodging was, in common with them, not so good in|deed

as I could desire, but necessity made every thing acceptable.

I now began to meditate an escape, but carefully avoided giving suspicion.

Until the first day of June, I continued at old Che|licothe, and was then taken to the salt springs on Sciotha, and kept there ten days making salt. Dur|ing this time I hunted with them, and found the land, for a great extent about this river, to exceed the soil of Kentucke if possible, and remarkably well watered.

On my return to Chelicothe 450 of the choicest Indian warriors were ready to march against Boonsbo|rough, painted and armed in a fearful manner. This alarmed me and I determined to escape.

On the 16th of June before sunrise, I went off se|cretly, and reached Boonsborough on the 20th, a jour|ney of 160 miles during which I had only one meal, I found our fortress in a bad state, but we immediately repaired our flanks, gates, posterns, and formed dou|ble bastions, which we completed in ten days. One of my fellow prisoners escaping after me, brought ad|vice that on account of my flight, the Indians had put off their expedition for three weeks.

About August 1st I set out with 19 men to surprise Point Creek Town on Sciotha. Within four miles we fell in with 40 Indians going against Boonsborough. We fought and the enemy gave way, we suffered no loss. The enemy had one killed and two wounded. We took three horses and all their baggage. The Indians having evacuated their town and gone altoge|ther against Boonsborough we returned passed them on the sixth day, and on the seventh arrived safe at Boonsborough.

On the 8th the Indian army 444 in number, com|manded by Capt. Duquesne and eleven other French|men and their own chiefs, came and summoned the fort. I requested two days consideration which was granted. During this we brought in through the posterns all the horses and other cattle we could col|lect.

On the 9th in the evening, I informed their com|mander, that we were determined to defend the fort while a man was living. They then proposed a trea|ty, and said if we sent out nine men to ratify it, they would withdraw. The treaty was held within sixty yards of the fort, as we suspected the savages. The articles were agreed to and signed; when the Indi|ans told us, it was their custom for two Indians to shake hands with every white man in the treaty as an evidence of friendship. We agreed to this also. They immediately grappled us to take us prisoners, but we cleared ourselves of them, though surrounded by hundreds and gained the fort safe, except one that was wounded by a heavy fire from their army. On this they began to undermine the fort, beginning at the water mark of Kentucke river, which is 60 yards from the fort. We discovered this by the water being made muddy by the clay, and countermined them by cutting a trench across their subterranean passage. The enemy discovering this by the clay we threw out of the fort, desisted.

On the 20th of August they raised the siege.

During this dreadful siege, we had two men killed, and four wounded. We lost a number of cattle. We killed 37 of the enemy, and wounded a great number. We picked up 125 lb. of their bullets, besides what stuck in the logs of the fort.

Soon after this I went into the settlement, and no|thing worthy of notice passed for some time.

In July 1779, during my absence, Col. Bowman with 160 men, went against the Shawnese of Old Chi|licothe. He arrived undiscovered, a battle ensued, which lasted until ten in the morning, when Colonel Bowman retreated 30 miles. The Indians collected all their strength and pursued him, when another en|gagement ensued for two hours, not to Col. Bowman's advantage. Col. Harrod proposed to mount a num|ber of horse and brake the enemy's line; who at this time fought with remarkable fury. This desperate measure had a happy effect, and the savages fled on

all sides. In these two battles we had nine men kill|ed and one wounded. Enemy's loss uncertain, only two scalps being taken.

June 22d 1780, 600 Indians and Canadians under Col. Bird, attacked Riddles and Martain's station, and the Forks of Licking River with six pieces of ar|tillery; they took all the inhabitants captives, and killed one man and two women, loaded the others with the heavy baggage, and such as failed in the journey were tomahawked.

The hostile disposition of the savages caused Ge|neral Clark, the commandant at the falls of Ohio, to march with his regiment and the armed force of the country against Peccaway, the principal town of the Shawanese, on a brach of the Great Niami, which he finished with great success took seventeen scalps, and burned the town to ashes, with the loss of seventeen men.

About this time I returned to Kentucke with my family; for during my captivity, my wife, thinking me killed by the Indians, had transported my family and goods on horses through the wilderness, amidst many dangers to her father;s house in North-Carolina. The History of my difficulties in going and returning is too long to be inserted here.

On the 6th of October 1780, soon after my settling again at Boonsborough, I went with my brother to the Blue Licks and on our return he was shot by a party of Indians, they followed me by scent of a dog, which I shot and escaped.

The severity of the winter caused great distress in Kentucke the enemy during the summer having destroy|ed most of the corn. The inhabitants lived chiefly on Buffaloe's flesh.

In spring 1782, the Indians harrassed us.

In May they killed one at Ashton's station, and took a Negro. Capt. Ashton pursued them with 25 men, and in an engagement which lasted two hours, his party were obliged to retreat, having 8 killed, 4 mortally wounded; their brave commander fell in this action.

August 10th, two boys were carried off from Ma|jor Hoy's station, Captain Holder pursued with 17 men, they were also defeated, and lost 4 and 1 wounded.

Our affairs became more and more alarming. The savages infested the country, killing men at every op|portunity.

In a field near Lexington, an Indian shot a man, and running to scalp him, was himself shot from the fort and fell dead upon his enemy.

All the indian nations were now united against us.

August 15th▪ five hundred Indians and Canadians came against Briat's station 5 miles from Lexington, they assaulted the fort, killed all the cattle round it; but being repulsed they retired the third day, having about 30 killed their wounded uncertain. The garri|son had 4 killed and 3 wounded.

August 18th, Col. Todd, Col. Trigg, Major Har|land, and myself, speedily collected one hundred and seventy-six men well armed and pursued the savages. They had marchad beyond the Blue Licks to a re|markable bend of the main fork of Licking River, about 43 miles from Lexington, where we overtook them on the 19th.

The savages observing us, gave way, and we, igno|rant of their numbers, passed the river. When they saw our proceedings having greatly the advantage in situation, they formed their line of battle from one end of the Licking to the other, aboat a mile from the Blue Licks. The battle was exceeding fierce for about 15 minutes, when we being overpowered by numbers, were obliged to retreat, with the loss of 67 men 7 of whom were taken prisoners. The brave and much lamented Colonels Todd and Trigg, Major Harland and my second son, were among the dead. We were afterwards told that the Indians, on numbering their dead, finding they had four more killed than we, four of our people they had taken, were given up to their young warriors, to be put to death after their barbar|ous manner.

On our retreat we were met by Col. Logan, who

was hastening to join us, with a number of well arm|ed men. This powerful assistance we wanted on the day of battle. The enemy said one more fire from us would have made them give way.

I cannot reflect upon this dreadful scene, but sorrow fills my heart. A zeal for the defence of their country led these heroes to the scene of action, though with a few men to attack a powerful army of experienced warriors. When we gave way, they pursued us with the utmost eagerness, and in every quarter spread de|struction. The river was difficult to cross, and many were killed in the flight, some just entering the river, some in the water, others after crossing in ascending the cliffs. Some escaped on horseback, a few on foot; and being dispersed every where in a few hours, brought the melancholy news of this unfortunate bat|tle to Lexington. Many widows were now made. The reader may guess what sorrow filled the hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding any thing I am able to des|cribe. Being reinforced, we returned to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed every where, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner. This mourn|ful scene exhibited a horror almost unparalled; some torn and eaten by wild beasts; those in the river eaten by fishes; all in such a putrid condition that no one could be distinguished from another.

When General Clark at the Falls of Ohio, heard of our disaster, he ordered an expedition to pursue the savages, we overtook them within two miles of their towns, and we should have obtained a great victory, had not some of them met us when about two hun|dred poles from their camp. The savages fled in the utmost disorder, and evacuated all their towns. We burned to ashes Old Chelicothe, Peccaway, New Che|licothe, Wills Town, and Chelicothe; entirely de|stroyed their corn and other fruits; and spread deso|lation through their country. We took 7 prisoners, and 5 scalps, and lost only 4 men, 2 of whom were accidentally killed by ourselves.

This campaign damped the enemy, yet they made secret incursions.

In October a party attacked Crap Orchard, and one of them being a good way before the others, boldly entered a house, in which were only a woman and her children and a negro man. The savage used no vio|lence, but attempted to carry off the negro, who hap|pily proved too strong for him, and threw him on the ground, and in the struggle the woman cut of his head with an axe—whilst her little daughter shut the door. The savages instantly came up and applied their tomahawks to the door, when the mo|ther putting an old rusty gun barrel through a crevice, the savages immediately went off.

From that time until the happy return of peace between the United States and Great Britain, the Indians did us no mischief.

Soon after this the Indians desired peace.

Two darling sons, and a brother I have lost by sa|vage hands, which have also taken from me 40 valu|able horses and abundance of cattle. Many dark and sleepless nights have I spent, separated from the cheer|ful society of men, scorched by the summer's sun, and pinched by the winter's cold, an instrument ordained to settle the wilderness.— But now the scene is chang|ed: Peace crowns the sylvan shade.

DANIEL BOON.

Fayette County, Kentucke,

THE END OF Col. DANIEL BOON's ADVENTURES.