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and three of the children, were rescued--the other child was murdered by the savages, rather than it should be taken from them. A similar fate would have undoubtedly attended the other prisoners, had they not precipitated themselves into the thick brush, and by so doing, saved their lives, while their captors were too closely pressed to have time to find, and murder them.

From this narrative of the most prominent facts, during a term of five years, it may be perceived that a life of toil and danger, was the lot of the early settlers in Kentucky; and that Logan, took a large share of them to himself. As a consequence of his prompt, zealous, and eminent services, he acquired universal confidence with his fellow adventurers; and thereby became the more extensively useful, in succeeding times; and in various important relations to his friends, and to his country: which will receive due notice in their proper places.

The autumn had introduced, a greater accession of new settlers, and these of better condition, and description, generally, than had arrived in any preceding year. Until this period there had been a serious deficiency of single females. Nor was it practicable to resort to the stratagem of the Benjamites; nor that of Romulus, to supply the wanted numbers. The abundant emigration of the year, silenced all complaint on that subject. And perhaps, a license to marry, was the first process issued by the clerk, of either court. For it is a pleasing reflection, since endeared by the contrast, that there was not a lawsuit known to exist, at that time, in the country. Lincoln county, holding one of the principal avenues into the settlements, and having always possessed a superiority, in point of population; now became conspicuous for new improvements.

It is no reproach to the first settlers in the country, to say, that they were enured to danger, to labour, and to rough living-they were chiefly from frontier settlements, or such as had recently been such, in Virginia, or the neighbouring states-and had served an apprenticeship, to their condition in Kentucky, before they came here. Indeed, it is of such, that

new countries are made. For who else, has that sort of Spartan virtue, necessary to conquer nature, in her most obdurate forms? But Kentucky was destined to ameliorate their condition. And this history, faithful to the transitory pictures of. real life, will exhibit the contrast, of what, they were, and what, they are, after the lapse of forty years.

Then, the women did the offices of the household--milked the cows-cooked the mess-prepared the flax-spun, wove, and made, the garment, of linen, or linsey; the men hunted, and brought in the meat-they planted, ploughed, and gathered in the corn-grinding it into meal, at the hand-mill, or pounding it into hommony, in the mortar, was occasionally the work of either; or the joint labour of both. The men exposed themselves alone to danger; they fought the Indians; they cleared the land; they reared the hut, or built the fort-in which the women were placed for safety. Much use was made of the skins of deer, for dress-while the buffaloe, and bear, skins, were consigned to the floor, for beds, and covering. There might incidentally, be a few articles, brought to the country for sale, in a private way; but there was no store, for supply. Wooden vessels, either turned or coopered, were in common use, as table furniture. A tin cup, was an article of delicate luxury: almost as rare as an iron fork. Every hunter carried his knife; it was no less, the implement of a warrior: Not unfrequently, the rest of the family was left with but one, or two, for the use of all. A like workmanship, composed the table, and the stool-a slab, hewed, with the axe, and sticks of a similar manufacture, set in, for legs, supported both. When the bed, was by chance, or refinement, elevated above the floor, and given a fixed place, it was often laid on slabs, placed across poles, supported on forks, set in the earthen floor; or where the floor was puncheons-the bedstead, was hewed pieces, pinned on upright posts, or let into them by auger holes. Other utensils, and furniture, were of a corresponding description-applicable to the time. These facts depict the condition, and circumstances of the country; therefore they merit notice.

The food was of the most wholesome and nutritive kind. The richest milk; the finest butter; and best meat, that ever delighted man's palate, were here eaten, with a relish, which, health, and labour, only know. Those, were shared by friend, and stranger, in every cabin, with profuse hospitality.

Hats, were made of the native fur; and the buffaloe wool, employed in the composition of cloth: as was also, the bark of the wild nettle.

There was some paper money in the country; which had not depreciated, one half-nor even a fourth, as much as it had, at the seat of government. If there was any gold, or silver, its circulation was suppressed; either upon the hoarding principle, or because there were no objects of sufficient inducement to call it forth. As will generally be the case, when any country labours under the afflicting circumstance of sustaining a depreciated paper currency. The price of a beaver hat, was five hundred dollars.

It was this year, that Cornwallis, was captured at York; the report of which was received in Kentucky, with the most heart-felt pleasure. For no part of the United States, had more cause to fear, or hate, the British, than the people of this section of the state; for no place was more exposed to their Indian allies: ever ready to be put in motion by their influence, and supported by their force. None were, therefore more really gratified, than the people of Kentucky, at the brilliant success of GENERAL WASHINGTON. Peace, so essential to the repose and prosperity of the country, was generally anticipated as the consequence.

Under this pleasing fascination the winter approached, and passed away, without the annoyance of the Indian war-whoop, and as if the war was already over.

At the close of this year, the legislrture called in, and funded the paper money-upon general estimates of depreciation; with regard to the personal contracts, of individuals.

A scale of depreciation, by the year, was established---commencing at one and a half, for one, January, 1777--and ending, at one thousand, for one, December, 1781. The state, to com

pensate her officers and soldiers, proposed to issue a new species of bill of credit---called, certificates of depreciation---which would pay taxes; or buy land warrants---the rates of the latter of which, were fixed at specie value; but so reduced, as to cost less than five dollars the thousand acres--in good money. Or rather it should be said, the paper price of the warrant was brought to the test of the scale of depreciation, which reduced the real value to less than fifty cents per hundred acres. A certain consequence was, to inundate the country, with land warrants. And to this circumstance, may Kentucky trace, many of her present embarrassments. For thus were the means furnished, with which to treble, and quadruple claims through, out the country.

CHAP. VII.

Incidents of the war-Estill, and Holder, defeated-Battle of the lower Blue Licks-Kincheloe's station taken-General Clark's expedition-Other occurrences-Progress of surveying land, &c.

[1782.] THE events of the year 1782 are next to be narrated. However pacific the last winter had been, and much as the expectations of a total cessation of the war had been indulged; the Indians in an early part of the spring, dissipated the illusion by new acts of hostility. A party, fired on Strode's station, and killed two men: It immediately retreated, without loss, or pursuit. Different reports, announced that the country was infested by several of such predatory bands; who fired on travellers, and hunters--killed the cattle, and stole horses, as they met with opportunities. Giving, as it may be said, ample earnest of the approaching campaign. But, all their movements appeared desultory, and there was nothing singular in their present conduct-it gave rise to no anticipation of the future; nor prompted any cautionary measures for safety.

In the month of May, a party of about twenty-five Wyandots,. invested Estill's station, on the south of the Kentucky river, killed one white man, took a negro, prisoner; and after destroying the cattle, retreated. Soon after the Indians disappeared, Captain Estill, raised a company of twenty-five men— with these he pursued the Indians; and on Hinkston's fork of Licking, two miles below the Little Mountain, came within gunshot of them. They had just crossed the creek, which in that part is small; and were ascending one side, as Estill's party, descended the other, of two approaching hills, of moderate elevation. The water course which lay between, had produced an opening in the timber, and brush, conducing to mutual discovery; while both hills, were well set with trees, interspersed with saplings, and bushes. Instantly after discovering the Indians, some of Captain Estill's men, fired at

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