COL. DANIEL BOON, OF KENTUCKY, IN THE COSTUME OF A WESTERN HUNTER. ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN DANIEL BOON, exposed daily to perils and death, among savages Comprising an Account of the Wars with the Indians on the Ohio, and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but from 1769 to 1782. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. ourselves. Although many hundred miles from our families, in the howling wilderness, we did not continue in a state of indolence, but hunted every day, and preIt was on the first of May, 1769, that I resigned pared a little cottage to defend us from the winter. ny domestick happiness, and left my family and On the first of May, 1770, my brother returned peaceable habitation on the Yadkin river in North home, for a new recruit of horses and ammunition, Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of leaving me alone, without bread, salt, or sugar, or America, in quest of the country of Kentucky, in even a horse or a dog. I passed a few days unconicompany with John Finley, John Stuart, Joseph fortably. The idea of a beloved wife and family, Holden, James Monay, and William Cool. and their anxiety on my account, would have disOn the seventh of June, after travelling in a west-posed me to melancholy if I had further indulged crn direction, we found ourselves on Red river, the thought. where John Finley had formerly been trading with the Indians, and from the top of an eminence saw with pleasure the beautiful level of Kentucky. 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 reconnoitre the country. We found abundance of wild beasts in this vast forest. The buffaloes were more numerous than cattle on their settlements, browsing on the leaves of the cane, or crossing the herbage on these 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. 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 calin ensued; not a breath shook the tremulous leaf. I had gained the summit of a commanding ridge, and looking around 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 western boundary of Kentucky with inconceivable grandeur. 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 On the twenty-second of December, John Stuart line of a buck which I had killed a few hours beand I had a pleasing ramble; but fortune changed fore. The shades of night soon overspread the the day at the close of it. We passed through a hemisphere, and the earth seemed to gasp after the great forest, in which stood myriads of trees, some hovering moisture. At a distance I frequently heard gay with blossoms, others rich with fruits. Nature the hideous yells of savages. My excursion had was here a series of wonders and a fund of delight. fatigued my body and amused my mind. I laid me Here she displayed her ingenuity and industry in a down to sleep, and awoke not until the sun had variety of flowers and fruits, beautifully coloured, chased away the night. I continued this tour, and elegantly shaped, and charmingly flavoured; and in a few days explored a considerable part of the we were favoured with numberless animals present- country, each day equally pleasing as the first. ing themselves perpetually to our view. In the de- After which I returned to my old camp, which had cline of the day, near Kentucky river, as we as- not been disturbed in my absence. I did not confine cended the brow of a small hill, a number of Indians my lodging to it, but often reposed in thick canerushed out of a canebrake and made us prisoners. brakes to avoid the savages, who I believe frequentThe Indians plundered us, and kept us in confine-ly visited my camp, but fortunately for me, in my abment seven days. During this time, we discovered no uneasiness or desire to escape, which made them less suspicious; but in the dead of night, as we lay by a large fire in a thick canebrake, when sleep had locked up their senses, my situation not disposing me to rest, I gently awoke my companion. We seized this favourable opportunity and departed, directing our course towards the old camp, but found it plundered and our company destroyed or dispersed. sence. No populous city, with all its 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 twenty-seventh of July, I spent my time in an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasures, when my brother, to my great felicity, met me, according to appointment at our old camp. Soon after we left the place, and proceeded to Cumberland river, reconnoitring that part of the country, About this time, as my brother with another adven- and giving names to the different rivers. turer who came to explore the country shortly after In March, 1771, I returned home to my family, us, was wandering through the forest, they acciden-being determined to bring them as soon as possible, tally found our camp. Notwithstanding our unfor- at the risk of my life and fortune, to reside in Kentunate circumstances, and our dangerous situation, tucky, which I esteemed a second paradise. surrounded with hostile savages, our meeting fortunately in the wilderness gave us the most sensible satisfaction. Soon after this my companion in captivity, John Stuart, was killed by the savages, and the man who came with my brother, while on a private excursion, was soon after attacked and killed by the wolves. We were now in a dangerous and helpless situation, On my return, I found my family in happy circumstances. I sold my farm on the Yadkin, and what goods we could not carry with us, and on the twenty-fifth of September, 1773, we took leave of our friends and proceeded on our journey to Kentucky, in company with five more families, and forty men that joined us in Powel's Valley, which is one hundred and fifty miles from the new settled parts THE FAMILY MAGAZINE. of Kentucky. But this promising beginning was soon overcast with a cloud of adversity. On the tenth of October the rear of our company was attacked by a party of Indians; who killed six, Of these my oldest son and wounded one man. was one that fell in the action. Though we repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our We cattle and brought us into extreme difficulty. returned forty miles to the settlement on Clench river. We had passed over two mountains, Powel and Walden's, and were approaching Cumberland mountain, when this adverse fortune overtook us. These mountains are in the wilderness, in passing from the old settlement in Virginia to Kentucky; are ranged in a southwest and northeast direction; are of great length and breadth, and not far distant from each other. Over them nature has formed passes less difficult than might be expected from the view of such huge piles. The aspect of these cliffs are so wild and horrid, that it is impossible to behold them without horrour. Until the sixth of June, 1774, I remained with my family on the Clench, when myself and another person were solicited by Governour Dunmore, of Virginia, to conduct a number of surveyors to the falls of Ohio. This was a tour of eight hundred miles, and took sixty-two days. On my return, Gov. Dunmore gave me the command of three garrisons during the campaign against the Shawanese. In March, 1765, 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 Kentucky river. After this, I undertook to mark out a road in the best passage from the settlements through the wilderness to Kentucky. Having collected a number of enterprising men well armed, I soon began 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 of our party. This was on the twenty-second of March, 1775. Two days after we were again attacked by them, when we had two more killed and three wounded. After this, we proceeded on to Kentucky river without opposition. On the first of April, we began to erect the fort of Boonsborough, at a salt lick sixty yards from the river on the south side. On the fourth the Indians On the fourteenth of June, killed one of our men. having completed the fort, I returned to my family on the Clench, and whom I soon after removed to the fort. My wife and daughter, were supposed to be the first white women that ever stood on the banks of Kentucky river. On the twenty-fourth of December, the Indians killed one of our men and wounded another; and on the fifteenth of July, 1776, they took my daughter prisoner. I immediately pursued them with eight men, and on the sixteenth overtook and engaged them. I killed two of them and recovered my daughter. The Indians, having divided themselves into several parties, attacked in one day all our infant settlements and forts, doing a great deal of damage. The husbandmen were ambushed and unexpectedly attacked while toiling in the field. They continued this kind of warfare until the fifteenth of April, 1777, when nearly one hundred of them attacked the village of Boonsborough, and killed a number of its inhabitants. On the sixteenth Colonel Logan's fort was attacked by two hundred Indians. There were only thirteen men in the fort, of whom the enemy killed two and wounded one. On the twentieth of August, Colonel Bowman arrived with one hundred men from Virginia, with which additional force we had almost daily skirmishes with the Indians, who began now to learn the superiority of the "long knife," as they termed the Virginians; being outgeneralled in almost every Our affairs began now to wear a better asaction. pect, the Indians no longer daring to face us in open field, but sought private opportunities to destroy us. On the seventh of February, 1778, while on a hunting excursion alone, I met a party of one hundred and two Indians and two Frenchmen, marching to attack Boonsborough. They pursued and took me prisoner, and conveyed me to Old Chilicothe, the principal Indian town on little Miami, where we arrived on the eighteenth of February, after an uncomfortable journey. On the tenth of March I was conducted to Detroit, and while there, was treated with great humanity by Governour Hamilton, the British commander, at that port, and intendant for Indian affairs. The Indians had such an affection for me, that they refused one hundred pounds sterling, offered them by the governour, if they would consent to leave me with him, that he might be enabled to liberate me on my parole. Several English gentlemen then at Detroit, sensible of my adverse fortune and touched with sympathy, generously offered to supply my wants, which I declined with many thanks, adding that I never expected it would be in my power to recompense such unmerited generosity. At On the tenth of April, the Indians returned with me to Old Chilicothe, where we arrived on the twenty-fifth. This was a long and fatiguing march, although through an exceeding fertile country, remarkable for springs and streams of water. Chilicothe I spent my time as comfortable 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 friendly with them, always appearing as cheerful and contented as possible, and they put great confidence in me. I often went a hunting with them, and frequently gained their applause for my activity at our shooting matches. I was careful not to exceed many of them in shooting, 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 exceeded me, and when the reverse happened, of envy. The Shawanese king took great notice of me, and treated me with profound respect and entire friendship, often intrusting 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 duty to my sovereign. My food and lodging were in common with them, not so good indeed as I could desire, but necessity made every thing acceptable. I now began to meditate an escape, and carefully avoided giving suspicion. I continued at Chilicothe until the first day of June, when I was taken to the salt springs on Sciotha, and there employed ten days in the manufacturing of salt. During this time, I hunted with my Indian masters, and found the land for a great extent about this river to exceed the soil of Kentucky. On my return to Chilicothe, one hundred and fifty of the choicest Indian warriours were ready to march against Boonsborough. They were painted and armed in a frightful manner. This alarmed me, and I determined to escape. On the twenty-sixth of June, before sunrise, I went off secretly, and reached Boonsborough on the thirtieth, a journey of one hundred and sixty 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 double bastions, which we completed in ten days. One of my fellow prisoners escaped after me, and brought advice, that on account of my flight, the Indians had put off their expedition for three weeks. About the first of August, I set out with nineteen men, to surprise Point Creek-town on Sciotha, within four miles of which we fell in with forty Indians going against Boonsborough. We attacked them, and they soon gave way without any loss on our part. The enemy had one killed and two wounded. We took three horses and all their baggage. The Indians having evacuated their town, and gone altogether against Boonsborough, we returned, passed them on the sixth, and on the seventh, arrived safe at Boonsborough. On the ninth, the Indian army, consisting of four hundred and forty-four men, under the command of Captain Duquesne, and eleven other Frenchmen, and their own chiefs, arrived and summoned the fort to surrender. I requested two days' consideration, which was granted. During this we brought in through the posterns all the horses and other cattle we could collect. On the ninth, in the evening, I informed their commander, that we were determined to defend the fort while a man was living. They then proposed a treaty, 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 Indians 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 man, who was wounded by a heavy fire from the enemy. and twenty-five pounds of their bullets, besides what stuck in the logs of the fort. In July, 1779, during my absence, Colonel Bowman, with one hundred and sixty men, went against the Shawanese of Old Chilicothe. He arrived undiscovered. A battle ensued, which lasted until ten in the morning, when Colonel Bowman retreated thirty miles. The Indians collected all their strength and pursued him, when another engagement ensued for two hours, not to Colonel Bowman's advantage. Colonel Harrod proposed to mount a number of horses, and break 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 engagements we had nine men killed and one wounded. Enemy's loss uncertain. Only two scalps were taken. The savages now began to undermine the fort, beginning at the watermark of Kentucky river, which is sixty yards from the fort; this we discovered by the water being made muddy by the clay. We countermined them by cutting a trench across their subterraneous passage. The enemy discovering this by the clay we threw out of the fort, desisted. On the twentieth of August, they raised the siege, during which we had two men killed and four wounded. We lost a number of cattle. The loss of the enemy was thirty-seven killed, and a much larger number wounded. We picked up one hundred June twenty-third, 1780, five hundred Indians and Canadians under Colonel Bird, attacked Riddle and Martain's station, and the forks of Licking river, with six pieces of artillery. They took all the inhabitants captives, and killed one man and two women, loading the others with the heavy baggage, and such as failed in the journey were tomahawked. The hostile disposition of the savages caused General 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 branch of the great Miami, which he attacked with great success, took seventy scalps, and reduced the town to ashes, with the loss of seventeen men. About this time, I returned to Kentucky 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. On the sixth of October, 1780, soon after my settling rain at Boonsborough, I went with my brother to the Blue Licks, and on our return he was shot by a party of Indians, who followed me by the scent of a dog, which I shot and escaped. The severity of the winter caused great distress in Kentucky, the enemy during the summer having destroyed most of the corn. The inhabitants lived chiefly on buffalo's flesh. In the spring of 1782, the Indians harassed ús. In May they ravished, killed, and scalped a woman and her two daughters near Ashton's station, and took a negro prisoner. Captain Ashton pursued them with twenty-five men, and in an engagement which lasted two hours, his party were obliged to retreat, having eight killed, and four mortally wounded. Their brave commander fell in the action. August eighteenth, two boys were carried off from Major Hoy's station. Captain Holder pursued the enemy with seventeen men, who were also defeated, with the loss of seven killed and two wounded. Our affairs became more and more alarming. The savages infested the country and destroyed the whites as opportunity presented. 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 the ground. All the Indian nations were now united against us. 7 August fifteenth, five hundred Indians and Cana-way, New Chilicothe, and Willstown; entirely dedians came against Briat's station, five miles from stroyed their corn and other fruits, and spread desoLexington. They assaulted the fort, and killed all lation through their country. We took seven pristhe cattle round it; but being repulsed, they retired oners and fifteen scalps, and lost only four men, two the third day, having about eighty killed; their of whom were accidentally killed by ourselves. wounded uncertain. The garrison had four killed, This campaign damped the enemy, yet they made and nine wounded. August eighteenth, Colonels Todd and Trigg, Major Harland and myself, speedily collected one hundred and seventy-six men, well-armed, and pursued the savages. They had marched beyond the Blue Licks, to a remarkable bend of the main fork of Licking river, about forty-three miles from Lexington, where we overtook them on the nineteenth. The savages observing us, gave way, and we ignorant 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, about a mile from the Blue Licks. The engagement was close and warm for about fifteen minutes, when we being overpowered by numbers, were obliged to retreat, with the loss of sixty-seven men, seven 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 informed that the Indians, on numbering their dead, finding that they had four more killed than we, four of our people they had taken were given up to their young warriours, to be put to death after their barbarous manner. On our retreat, we were met by Colonel Logan, who was hastening to join us with a number of wellarmed 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, without great sorrow. 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 warriours. When we gave way, they pursued us with the utmost eagerness, and in every quarter spread destruction. The river was difficult to cross, and many were killed in the fight, 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 everywhere, in a few hours, brought the melancholy news of this unfortunate battle to Lexington. Many widows were now made. The reader may guess what sorrow filled the hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding any thing that I am able to describe. Being reinforced, we returned to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed everywhere, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner. This mournful scene exhibited a horrour almost unparalleled 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. secret incursions. In October, a party attacked Crab Orchard, and one of them being a good way before the other, boldly entered a house, in which were only a woman and her children, and a negro man. The savage used no violence, but attempted to carry off the negro, who happily proved too strong for him, and threw him on the ground, and in the struggle the woman cut off 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 other putting an old rusty gunbarrel through the crevice, the savages immediately went off. From that time till 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 savage hands, which have also taken from me forty valuable horses, and abundance of cattle. Many dark and sleepless nights have I spent, separated from the cheerful society of men, scorched by the summer's sun, and pinched by the winter's cold, an instrument ordained to settle the wilderness. DANIEL BOON. Fayette county, Kentucky. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. We extract that portion of the Message which refers to our relations with France, which is at the present moment, the all-engrossing topick of conversation in every circle of society. It gives an interesting history of the aggressions and injustice of France, and as such we have deemed it useful to record it.-EDITOR. "Since the last session of Congress, the validity of our claims upon France, as liquidated by the treaty of 1831, has been acknowledged by both branches of her legislature, and the money has been appropriated for their discharge; but the pay ment is, I regret to inform you, still withheld. A brief recapitulation of the most important incidents in this protracted controversy, will show how utterly untenable are the grounds upon which this course is attempted to be justified. On entering upon the duties of my station, I found the United States an unsuccessful applicant to the justice of France, for the satisfaction of claims, the validity of which was never questionable, and has now been most solemnly admitted by France herself. The antiquity of these claims, their high jusWhen General Clark, at the falls of Ohio, heard tice, and the aggravating circumstances out of which of our disaster, he ordered an expedition to pursue they arose, are too familiar to the American people the savages. We overtook them within two miles to require description. It is sufficient. to say, that of their town, and we should have obtained a great for a period of ten years and upwards, our commerce victory had not some of them met us when about was, with but little interruption, the subject of contwo hundred poles from their camp. The savages stant aggressions on the part of France-aggresfled in the utmost disorder, and evacuated all their sions, the ordinary features of which were condemtowns. We burned to ashes Old Chilicothe, Pecca-nations of vessels and cargoes under arbitrary de |