encourage them to engage in agricultural and mechanical pursuits.

In the summer of 1777, small war parties from the northwestern tribes, roused by the effect of the British policy, jealous of the loss of their favorite hunting-grounds, and enraged at the massacre of a distinguished Shawanee chief, began to assail the settlements and forts which had been established by the whites, on the southeastern borders of the river Ohio. In the western parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky, at this era, a fort was not only a place of defense: it was the residence of a small number of families belonging to the same neighborhood; and it consisted of cabins, blockhouses and stockades. "A range of cabins commonly formed one side, at least, of the fort. Divisions, or partitions of logs, separated the cabins from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high; the slope of the roof being turned wholly inward. A very few of these cabins had puncheon floors; the greater part were earthen. The blockhouses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every way larger in dimensions

*Late in the spring of 1777, the chiefs Cornstalk, Redhawk, and another Indian, visited Fort Randolph, which was built in 1775, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha river. At this place a Captain Arbuckle was the commanding officer. "Cornstalk stated to the captain, that, with the exception of himself, and the tribe to which he belonged, all the nations had joined the English, and that, unless protected by the whites, 'they would have to run with the stream.' Captain Arbuckle thought proper to detain the Cornstalk chief and his two companions as hostages for the good conduct of the tribe to which they belonged." Elenipsico, a son of Cornstalk, on going to the fort to inquire after his father, was captured and confined. Soon after this event, two Indians who had concealed themselves in the woods on the bank of the Kanawha, killed a white man as he was returning from hunting. "The dead body was brought over the river," and "there was a general cry among the men who were present, 'Let us kill the Indians in the fort.' Immediately a gang, with a Captain Hall at their head, went to the house where the hostages were confined. The old chief Cornstalk rose up to meet them at the door, but instantly received seven bullets through his body. His son and his other two fellow-hostages were instantly despatched with bullets and tomahawks. Thus fell the Shawanee war chief, Cornstalk, who, like Logan, his companion in arms, was conspicuous for intellectual talent, bravery, and misfortune."-DODDRIDGE, 237.-DRAKE, book v, c. iii, p. 48.

than the under ones-leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under their walls. In some forts, instead of blockhouses, the angles of the fort were furnished with bastions. A large folding gate, made of thick slabs, nearest the spring, closed the fort. The stockades, bastions, cabins, and blockhouse walls, were furnished with portholes at proper hights and distances. The whole of the outside was made completely bulletproof." In many instances these forts were made without the aid of a single nail or spike of iron, because "such things were not to be had. In some places, less exposed, a single blockhouse, with a cabin or two, constituted the whole fort."*

From 1777 to 1784, the rude fortifications of the western settlers were seldom attacked boldly by strong Indian war parties. A credible actor† among the adventurous class of men who first settled in Kentucky, thus described the Indian mode of making war:-"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 where their enemies resort; and when one or more can be taken down, in their opinion, they fire the gun, or let fly the arrow, aimed at the mark. If necessary, they retreat: if 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 gunshot; and then, whoever appears first, gets the fire; while the assailant makes his retreat behind the smoke from the gun. At other times they approach the *Doddridge, 117.

*

+Colonel J. Floyd.-BUTLER'S HIS. KY., 33.

walls or palisades 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 dextrous; 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 of their means. * * 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."

EXPEDITION OF COLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

IN the summer of the year 1778, Colonel George Rogers Clark, a native of Albemarle county, in Virginia, led a memorable expedition against the ancient French settlements about Kaskaskia and Post Vincennes. With respect to the magnitude of its design, the valor and perseverance with which it was carried on, and the momentous results which were produced by it, this expedition stands without a parallel in the

early annals of the valley of the Mississippi. The particulars* of the most interesting events that occurred in the progress of this remarkable enterprise, are here related in the plain style of the commander of the expedition.

"It was at this period," [1775,] says Clark, in his memoir, "that I first had thoughts of paying some attention to the interests of this country. The proprietors, Henderson and Company, took great pains to ingratiate themselves in the favor of the people; but, too soon for their interest, they began to raise on their lands, which caused many to complain. A few gentlemen made some attempts to persuade the people to pay no attention to them. I plainly saw that they would work their own ruin, as the greatest security they had for the country would be that of making it the interest of the people to support their claim. * * *I left the country in the fall of 1775, and returned in the spring following. While in Virginia, I found there were various opinions respecting Henderson and Company's claim. Many thought it was good; others doubted whether or not Virginia could, with propriety, have any pretensions to the country. This was what I wanted to know. I immediately fixed on my plans, viz: that of assembling the people-getting them to elect deputies, and sending them to treat with the assembly of Virginia respecting the condition of the country. If valuable conditions were procured, we could declare ourselves citizens of the State; otherwise, we might establish an independent government; and, by giving away a great part of the lands, and disposing of the remainder, we would not only gain great numbers of inhabitants, but in a good measure protect them. To carry this scheme into effect, I appointed a general meeting at Harrodstown, on the 6th of June, 1776, and stated that something would be proposed to the people that very much concerned their interest. The reason I had for not publishing what I wished to be done, before the day, was that the people should not get into parties on the subject; and as every one would wish to know what was to be done, there would be a more

*Extracted from the MS. "Memoirs of General George Rogers Clark, composed by himself at the united desire of Presidents Jefferson and Madison." + Kentucky.

general meeting. But, unfortunately, it was late in the evening of that day before I could get to the place. The people had been in some confusion-but at last concluded that the whole design was to send delegates to the assembly of Virginia with a petition praying the assembly to accept them as such-to establish a new county, etc. The polls were opened, and before I had arrived, they had far advanced in the election, and had entered with such spirit into it that I could not get them to change the principle-that of delegates with petitions, to that of deputies under the authority of the people. In short, I did not take much pains. Mr. Gabriel Jones and myself were elected; the papers were prepared; and in a few days we set out for Williamsburg, in the hope of arriving before the assembly, then sitting, should rise. * *We proceeded on our journey as far as Bottetourt county, and there learned that we were too late; for the assembly had already risen. We were now at a loss, for some time, to determine what to do, but concluded that we should wait until the fall session-in the meantime, I should go to Williamsburg and attempt to procure some powder for the Kentuckians, and watch their interests. We parted. Mr. Jones returned to Holston to join the forces that were raising, in order to repel the Cherokee Indians, (as they had lately commenced hostilities,) and myself proceeded to the governor of Virginia.

"Mr. Henry, the governor, lay sick at his seat in Hanover, where I waited on him, and produced my vouchers. He appeared much disposed to favor the Kentuckians, and wrote, by me, to the council on the subject. I attended them. My application was for five hundred pounds of powder, to be conveyed to Kentucky as an immediate supply. After various questions and consultations, the council agreed to furnish the supply; but as we were a detached people, and not yet united to the State of Virginia, and uncertain until the sitting of the assembly whether we should be, they would only lend us the ammunition as friends in distress, but that I must become answerable for it in case the assembly should not receive us as citizens of the State. I informed them that it was out of my power to pay the expense of carriage and guards necessary for those supplies-that the British officers on our frontiers were making use of every effort to engage the Indians in the