《the adventures》

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with fear; which is vain if no danger comes; and if it does; only

augments the pain。 It was my happiness to be destitute of this

afflicting passion; with which I had the greatest reason to be

affected。 The prowling wolves diverted my nocturnal hours with

perpetual howlings; and the various species of animals in this vast

forest; in the daytime; were continually in my view。

Thus I was surrounded with plenty in the midst of want。 I was

happy in the midst of dangers and inconveniences。 In such a

diversity it was impossible I should be disposed to melancholy。 No

populous city; with all the varieties of commerce and stately

structures; could afford so much pleasure to my mind; as the

beauties of nature I found here。



Thus; through an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasures; I spent

the time until the 27th day of July following; when my brother; to

my great felicity; met me; according to appointment; at our old

camp。 Shortly after; we left this place; not thinking it safe to

stay there longer; and proceeded to Cumberland river; reconnoitring

that part of the country until March; 1771; and giving names to the

different waters。



Soon after; I returned home to my family with a determination to

bring them as soon as possible to live in Kentucke; which I

esteemed a second paradise; at the risk of my life and fortune。



I returned safe to my old habitation; and 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 day of

September; 1773; bade a farewel to our friends; and proceeded on

our journey to Kentucke; in company with five families more; and

forty men that joined us in Powel's Valley; which is one hundred

and fifty miles from the now settled parts of Kentucke。 This

promising beginning was soon overcast with a cloud of adversity;

for upon the tenth day of October; the rear of our company was

attacked by a number of Indians; who killed six; and wounded one

man。 Of these my eldest son was one that fell in the action。 Though

we defended ourselves; and 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 Clench river。 We had passed over two

mountains; viz。 Powel's and Walden's; and were approaching

Cumberland mountain when this adverse fortune overtook us。 These

mountains are in the wilderness; as we pass from the old

settlements in Virginia to Kentucke; are ranged in a S。 west and N。

east direction; are of a great length and breadth; and not far

distant from each other。 Over these; nature hath formed passes;

that are less difficult than might be expected from a view of such

huge piles。 The aspect of these cliffs is so wild and horrid; that

it is impossible to behold them without terror。 The spectator is

apt to imagine that nature had formerly suffered some violent

convulsion; and that these are the dismembered remains of the

dreadful shock; the ruins; not of Persepolis or Palmyra; but of the

world!



I remained with my family on Clench until the sixth of June;

1774; when I and one Michael Stoner were solicited by Governor

Dunmore; of Virginia; to go to the Falls of the Ohio; to conduct

into the settlement a number of surveyors that had been sent

thither by him some months before; this country having about this

time drawn the attention of many adventurers。 We immediately

complied with the Governor's request; and conducted in the

surveyors; compleating a tour of eight hundred miles; through many

difficulties; in sixty…two days。



Soon after I returned home; I was ordered to take the command of

three garrisons during the campaign; which Governor Dunmore carried

on against the Shawanese Indians: After the conclusion of which;

the Militia was discharged from each garrrison; and I being

relieved from my post; was solicited by a number of North…Carolina

gentlemen; that were about purchasing the lands lying on the S。

side of Kentucke River; from the Cherokee Indians; to attend their

treaty at Wataga; in March; 1775; to negotiate with them; and;

mention the boundaries of the purchase。 This I accepted; and at the

request of the same gentlemen; undertook to mark out a road in the

best passage from the settlement through the wilderness to

Kentucke; with such assistance as I thought necessary to employ for

such an important undertaking。



I soon began this work; having collected a number of enterprising

men; well armed。 We proceeded with all possible expedition until we

came within fifteen miles of where Boonsborough now stands; and

where we were fired upon by a party of Indians that killed two; and

wounded two of our number; yet; although surprised and taken at a

disadvantage; we stood our ground。 This was on the twentieth of

March; 1775。 Three days after; we were fired upon again; and had two

men killed; and three wounded。 Afterwards we proceeded on to

Kentucke river without opposition; and on the first day of April

began to erect the fort of Boonsborough at a salt lick; about sixty

yards from the river; on the S。 side。



On the fourth day; the Indians killed one of our men。We were

busily employed in building this fort; until the fourteenth day of

June following; without any farther opposition from the Indians;

and having finished the works; I returned to my family; on Clench。



In a short time; I proceeded to remove my family from Clench to

this garrison; where we arrived safe without any other difficulties

than such as are common to this passage; my wife and daughter being

the first white women that ever stood on the banks of Kentucke

river。



On the twenty…fourth day of December following we had one man

killed; and one wounded; by the Indians; who seemed determined to

persecute us for erecting this fortification。



On the fourteenth day of July; 1776; two of Col。 Calaway's

daughters; and one of mine; were taken prisoners near the fort。 I

immediately pursued the Indians; with only eight men; and on the

sixteenth overtook them; killed two of the party; and recovered the

girls。 The same day on which this attempt was made; the Indians

divided themselves into different parties; and attacked several

forts; which were shortly before this time erected; doing a great

deal of mischief。 This was extremely distressing to the new

settlers。 The innocent husbandman was shot down; while busy

cultivating the soil for his family's supply。 Most of the cattle

around the stations were destroyed。 They continued their

hostilities in this manner until the fifteenth of April; 1777; when

they attacked Boonsborough with a party of above one hundred in

number; killed one man; and wounded fourTheir loss in this attack

was not certainly known to us。



On the fourth day of July following; a party of about two hundred

Indians attacked Boonsborough; killed one man; and wounded two。

They besieged us forty…eight hours; during which time seven of them

were killed; and at last; finding themselves not likely to prevail;

they raised the siege; and departed。



The Indians had disposed their warriors in different parties at

this time; and attacked the different garrisons to prevent their

assisting each other; and did much injury to the distressed

inhabitants。



On the nineteenth day of this month; Col。 Logan's fort was

besieged by a party of about two hundred Indians。 During this

dreadful siege they did a great deal of mischief; distressed the

garrison; in which were only fifteen men; killed two; and wounded

one。 The enemies loss was uncertain; from the common practice which

the Indians have of carrying off their dead in time of battle。 Col。

Harrod's fort was then defended by only sixty…five men; and

Boonsborough by twenty…two; there being no more forts or white men

in the country; except at the Falls; a considerable distance from

these; and all taken collectively; were but a handful to the

numerous warriors that were every where dispersed through the

country; intent upon doing all the mischief that savage barbarity

could invent。 Thus we passed through a scene of sufferings that

exceeds description。



On the twenty…fifth of this month a reinforcement of forty…five

men arrived from North…Carolina; and about the twentieth of August

following; Col。 Bowman arrived with one hundred men from Virginia。

Now we began to strengthen; and from hence; for the space of six

weeks; we had skirmishes with Indians; in one quarter or other;

almost every day。



The savages now learned the superiority of the Long Knife; as

they call the Virginians; by experience; being out…generalled in

almost every battle。 Our affairs began to wear a new aspect; and

the enemy; not daring to venture on open war; practised secret

mischief at times。



On the first day of January; 1778; I went with a party of thirty

men to the Blue Licks; on Licking River;
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