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nearly exhausted, they, on the 20th of August, raised the siege, and abandoned the object of their grand expedition; and with it, the last hopes of the campaign.

During this siege, the most formidable, that had ever taken place in Kentucky-from the number of Indians—the skill of the commanders-the fierce countenances and savage dispositions of the warriors, made even more dreadful by art, than by nature the effect of which, was augmented ten fold by the yell and the war whoop-there were only two men killed, and four wounded in the fort. On the part of the savages, there were thirty-seven killed, and many wounded, who were immediately removed.

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After the siege was raised, the people picked up near the fort walls, one hundred and twenty-five pounds of leaden bullets, which had fallen, besides those which stuck in the logs and palisades.

This seems to have been the last effort ever made by the Indians, against Boonesborough. While it exhibits a striking instance of the imbecility of physical force, destitute of knowledge, and the arts. For what military enterprise could have been easier, to men, knowing only how to make ladders, than scaling a wall of stockades twelve feet high, or mounting on cabin roofs, not even so high, when their numbers were six times greater than those within?—and when, as the case was, the assailants were armed with similar weapons; and especially the tomahawk in their hands, and face to face, most formidable. That no attempt was made to take the place by storm, or escalade, seems the more astonishing, on considering that the commander, Duquesne, must have possessed some of the arts of civilized warfare, and was apparently desirous of conquest. Was it that he had not the requisite tools and artificers -or was he unwilling, that his host of myrmidons, should be let loose among the helpless women and children, that he did not point out to them the certain road to victory; and to an indiscriminate massacre, as the consequence? History, it is true, could gain but little, while humanity might lose much, by a solution of this inquiry. May it therefore ever remaip doubtful.

In the autumn of this year, Captain Boone went to North Carolina, in pursuit of his wife, who, during his captivity with the Indians, despairing of his return, had removed to her father's house.

Again to notice Logan; for several years, there were many particular incidents, affecting him, of a nature to attract attention, and to merit commemoration. His watchful vigilance prompted him to explore the adjacent country, for signs of Indians, and often exposed him to rencounters with them. On one of these excursions in this year, he discovered a camp of Indians, at the Big Flat lick, about two miles from his station, to which he returned, and immediately raised a party; with this he attacked the camp, from which the enemy fled, without much loss on their part, and with none on his. He was again at the same lick,-it being the resort of game, as well as of Indians,-when he received a fire from a party, who were concealed, which broke his right arm, and wounded him slightly on the breast. The savages then rushed upon him, and so near was he falling into their hands, that they at one time, and for a minute, had hold of his horse's tail; but wishing, as it is probable, to take him alive, forbore to kill him-and he escaped. No sooner had his wounds healed, than he resumed his active course of life; nor did he shun danger, when incurring -it could benefit his country, or his friends, either in company, or alone.

CHAP. IV.

Settlement at the Falls of Ohio-Conquest of Kaskaskias, and Ši. Vincennes, by Colonel Clark.

FROM the earliest settlements in Kentucky, her parent, Virginia, had been involved, in the high and mighty contest with Great Britain, on the subject of certain taxes, imposed on the American colonies, without the consent of their local assemblies.

In this attempt of the British parliament, to tax the people of the colonies; and in which they, in fact, affirmed a right to tax them in all cases; the latter could but see the germ of an evil boundless in its growth, as it was endless in its duration. While it was the more likely to be pressed upon them, not merely in proportion to their increase of strength, but as they were disposed to bear; and the more to be apprehended, in its weight, and continuance, inasmuch as they were not represented, in the legislative body; and as, in the ratio, the burthen was laid on them, it would be taken from the shoulders of those who were represented.

The first opposition to these alarming, and unconstitutional measures, was made, as such things always should be, in the form of remonstrance and petition. A war of words ensued; which, in 1775, terminated in blows.

And from that time, a civil war, with its attendant horrors, and devastations, had raged. The question to be decided, had assumed the most important issue, on which the contending parties could place it; and stood before high heaven for judgment, whether Britain should RULE, or America be free. In this situation, which called forth and employed, the best talents, and the greatest energy of Virginia, roused by the warning voice of Patrick Henry, who had called her freeborn spirit into action; she was not altogether inattentive to Kentucky; whose infant struggles she first applauded, and then

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cherished, as exertions in the common cause against a common enemy; who had associated with the Indians, on the whole extent of her western frontiers. It is however, to be acknowledged, that such was the pressure of the war, even in 1775, on the atlantic part of Virginia, that she had but little more than her good will to bestow-accompanied by a cordial fellow feeling for the difficulties, and distresses, of the adventurers, in effecting the early establishments of the country. She might indeed, at the commencement of the war, have thought that her strength was dimished, while her frontiers were imprudently extended; and the more exposed, by the migration of her citizens to the distant regions of Kentucky: and that it was peculiarly impolitic at such a time, to encourage the dispersion of her effective force, to points so remote and defenceless, as those on the waters of Ohio. But in proportion as individual interest accumulated in the country, by the accession of numbers, it made its influence felt, in the atlantic parts of the state. And the more readily, when Kentucky, erected into a county, had her representation in the general assembly.

The firm and manly stand taken by the first emigrants, having been maintained for several years, with but little assistance from the public purse, or military force of the state, against the savages, instigated, and supported by the British power in Canada; it became obvious to the legislature of Virginia, that sound policy, concurring with the calls of Kentucky, required not only, that what had been possessed, should be maintained; but that the enemy should be dislodged from the strong holds, which they held in the neighbouring territories.

At that time the British government occupied not only the military posts of Detroit, Niagara, &c. on the northern lakes; but it also possessed St. Vincennes, Kaskaskias, and other places, on the Wabash, and Mississippi. From these posts, the Indians received supplies of arms, ammunition, and clothing, which enabled them the more incessantly to keep up the war against Kentucky.

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A recognition of those facts, connected with other circumstances of the times, turned the attention of Virginia, towards her western frontier.

In the year 1777, the idea became familiar to those who held the government, that the greater number of these inimical posts might be taken by a few state regiments and that in addition to the brilliancy, and renown of the enterprise, it would be securing to Virginia the effect of her charter; within the limits of which, these posts principally lay.

The possibility of making conquests so important to the future security of the western boundary of the state; derived considerable probability, and vivacity, from the ardent and confident representations of the Mr. Clark, whose name has been previously mentioned, as being in Kentucky the preceding year. While there, it appeared, that he, affected by the scene of hostility, in which he found himself; and hence induced to reflect on its causes, and the means of removing the effects; had instituted inquiries into the situation and condition of the Indians, and the posts, most contiguous to Kentucky about which he had received extensive information; and which, he, prompted by an ardent passion for military fame, propagated with the zeal of one, who had a presentiment of being employed. It was certainly his desire. And no less certain that his information, and representations, contributed much to excite and confirm, the public sentiment, in favour of an enterprise, which was probably suggested by him, but thought both hazardous, and eventful, by those who could alone authorize its execution. The end of this year, or

[1778.] beginning of 1778, a regiment of state troops, was voted by the legislature, for the service of the western frontier, generally; without indicating any particular objects: the command of which, was given to Mr. Clark, with the commission of colonel. Between two and three hundred men were raisedand with these properly officered, Colonel Clark, took his departure from the Atlantic, to the Ohio; secretly intending an expedition against the settlements and posts on the Missis sippi; authorized by the permission of the governor. He em

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