CHAPTER XXIV. - The Mexico and the United States-Annexation of Texas-Gene- 306 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. CHAPTER I. Introduction-Doctor Walker touches the northern parts of Kentucky-Explorations of John Finley-His glowing descriptions of the country-Boone and others proceed to Kentucky-Build a cabin near Red River-Boone and Stuart captured by the Indians-Mysterious fate of their companions -Arrival of Squire Boone-Stuart killed and scalped Squire Boone returns home-Solitary condition of Daniel Boone -Returns to North Carolina--Colonel Knox and the Long Hunters-Boone sets out for Kentucky with five families-Is attacked by the Indians, and turns back-Leads a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio-Captain Bullitt-The brothers McAfee-The Wataga treaty-Operations of Boone -Attacked by the Indians-Fort at Boonesborough built -Forts of the early settlers-Harrodstown station—Immigration continues-The Transylvania Company form a proprietary government-Virginia annuls the treaty of Wataga -Boone brings his family to Kentucky-Arrival of McGary, Hogan, and Denton-Simon Kenton. No history of any individual state belonging to the North American Confederation presents so graphic a picture of the courage, energy, capacity of endurance, and indomitable tenacity of its people, as that of Kentucky. The sternest truths, in relation to the difficulties encountered by the bold hunters and hardy pioneers of the dark and bloody ground," assume the wild charm and 19 vivid colouring of the most startling romance. In this case, history far transcends fiction, by giving all those minute details of time, place, and circumstance, which stamp all narratives of real adventure with the fascinating impression of perfect lifelikeness. As the self-reliant type of the American character at the epoch of the Revolution, the Kentuckian stands pre-eminent. He may even stand for it at the present day. The descendant of the cavaliers of Virginia and Maryland, he carried with him into the wilderness many of the noble qualities for which that brave, high-toned, but reckless class of people were distinguished; while he left behind him not a few of their vices. Daring even to rashness, he was yet full of all generous impulses; fierce to his enemies, he was yet hospitable to the stranger; quick to resent an injury, yet prompt to forgive it; fertile in stratagem, yet steadfast in resolve; fiery in pursuit, yet cool and collected in action; never retreating but to fight, Parthian-like, as he fell back; never stooping to the earth but to gather strength for the rebound; simple in his tastes and pleasures; a doer of brave acts and generous deeds-not to gain the applause of others, but from native nobility of soul. Free even to the verge of lawlessness, time has reversed in him the stigma which Captain John Smith had cast upon his progenitors, who, if they were amenable ITS ABORIGINES. 21 to the censure of that valiant soldier, as being "more fitted to corrupt than found a commonwealth," have yet the merit of having redeemed their memory in the pure republicanism of their children's children. Of the original occupants of that splendid country, which, under the modern name of the State of Kentucky, stretches from the thirty-sixth to the thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and from the eighty-second to nearly the ninetieth degree of west longitude, nothing now is known. That they were superior in civilization to the Indians who subsequently roamed its sylvan aisles, and contested their possession so long and so hardily with the Anglo-American pioneers, is sufficiently attested by the remains of their skilfully-constructed fortifications, their copper tools for mechanical purposes, their curiously-carved pipes, and the more perfect and ingenious character of their household utensils. As to who they were, or of what nation, how they came, or whither they departed, antiquarian knowledge has hitherto been at fault, and the traditions of their ruder successors furnish no clue. Until Dr. Walker touched upon the northern parts of Kentucky, at some time between the years 1747 and 1758, no Anglo-Saxon foot had ever stood upon its soil. Nine years after this latter period, it was partially explored by John Finley, who, on returning home from his adventurous excursion, gave such glowing accounts of the richness and fertility of the new country, that the bold and daring frontiersmen of Virginia and North Carolina were stimulated to cross the rugged Cumberland Mountains, and view for themselves the beauty of a land whose genial clime, and flowery meadows, and almost eternal verdure, had animated to such a warmth of enthusiasm the usually calm and practical mind of the sturdy pioneer. In 1769, Daniel Boone, in company with five others, of whom Finley was one, left his family upon the Yadkin in North Carolina, and started to examine the new hunting-grounds of which he had heard so favourable an account. Near to Red River, upon the borders of the present state of Kentucky, Boone and his companions built a cabin to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather, and devoted their time to hunting and the chase, in which they were singularly successful. This course of life remained undisturbed for several months, and it may be they began to think that the Indians who claimed lordship over the soil would suffer a few hunters and trappers to roam over their sylvan territory without molestation. If such were indeed their thoughts, the time was near at hand when they were to be fatally undeceived. On the 22d of December, Boone and his companion Stuart, while out on |