LOGAN'S HEROISM.

45

sented, and rushed with Logan from the fort; but he had not gone far before he shrank from the imminence of the danger, and sprang back within the gate. Logan paused for a moment, then dashed on alone and undaunted, reached unhurt the spot where Harrison lay, threw him over his shoulders, and amidst a tremendous shower of rifle balls made a safe retreat into the fort.

Subsequent reinforcements obtained by the heroism of Logan compelled the baffled savages to retire.

About this time a regulation was adopted, which subsequently proved of infinite service to the safety of the settlements. To watch the Indians and give notice of their approach, six spies were appointed; two for each of the only three stations then remaining. For the payment of these spies, Major Clark pledged the faith of Virginia. Boone appointed Kenton and Brooks; Harrod, Samuel Moore and Bates Collier; and Logan, John Conrad and John Martin. These men performed good service. It was the custom for two each week, by turns, to range up and down the Ohio, and about the deserted stations, looking for Indian signs. By this means, the settlers had timely notice during the year of the approach of the enemy, with the exception of the occasion following.

Early on the morning of the 4th of July, while

Kenton and two others, who had loaded their guns for a hunt, were standing in the gate of the fort at Boonesborough, two men in the fields adjacent were fired on by the Indians. They immediately fled, not being hurt. The Indians pursued them, and a warrior overtook and tomahawked one of the men within seventy yards of the fort, and proceeded leisurely to scalp him. Kenton shot the daring savage dead, and immediately with his hunting companions gave chase to the others.

Boone, hearing the reports of fire-arms, hastened with ten men to the relief of Kenton. The latter turned, and observed an Indian taking aim at the party of Boone; quick as thought he brought his rifle to his shoulder, pulled the trigger first, and the redman bit the dust.

Boone, having advanced some distance, now discovered that his party, consisting of fourteen men in all, was cut off from the fort by a large body of the enemy, who had got between him and the gate. There was no time to be lost: Boone gave the word-Right about-firecharge!" and the intrepid hunters dashed in among their adversaries in a desperate endeavour to reach the fort.

At the first fire of the Indians, seven of the fourteen whites were wounded, and among the number the gallant Boone, whose leg being broken, he fell to the ground. An Indian sprang

EXPLOIT OF KENTON.

47

on him with an uplifted tomahawk, but before the blow descended, Kenton rushed on the warrior, discharged his gun into his breast, and bore his leader into the fort. When the gate was closed, and all things secure, Boone sent for Kenton, and said to him, "Well, Simon, you have behaved yourself like a man to-day-indeed, you are a fine fellow." This was great praise from Boone, who was a taciturn man, and little given to compliment. Kenton had certainly fully earned the brief eulogium; he had saved the life of his captain, and killed three Indians with his own hand. The enemy, after keeping up the siege for three days, retired.

CHAPTER III.

Border life-Clark sends spies to Kaskaskia-Projects an invasion of Illinois-Submits to the Governor of Virginia a plan of operations against the British outposts-Is appointed to lead the expedition-Boone taken prisoner at Blue Licks -Escapes from Chillicothe and returns to Boonesborough— Is besieged by a large Indian force led by Captain Du Quesne -Artifices of the Indians-The siege raised-Clark captures Kaskaskia and Cahokia-Sends his prisoners to Virginia-Takes Vincennes-His success in conciliating the Indians-Governor Hamilton recaptures Vincennes His ulterior designs-Clark resolves to attack Hamilton-His terrible march through the wilderness-Reaches Vincennes -His stratagem-Fatal accuracy of his rifles-Governor Hamilton surrenders.

As the war had hitherto been carried on in Kentucky, the colonists had successfully defended themselves in the three principal stations of Boone, Harrod, and Logan, from the numerous hordes of Indians by whom they were almost continually surrounded. There appears to have been a fierce excitement in this border life, which with many of those brave and restless spirits grew at length into a passion.

Removed to a distance of several hundred miles from the nearest white settlement, these isolated borderers, whose numbers, in September, 1777, did not exceed eighty-one men capable of bearing arms, speedily acquired that intense love

BRITISH INSTIGATION.

49

of freedom and that loathing of restraint which the wild life of a forester so naturally engenders.

Major Clark, though still a very young man, seems to have been endowed naturally with by far the most thoughtful and sagacious mind of all the colonists. He was no sooner enabled to acquire a correct knowledge of the sources from which the Indians derived support and encouragement in their hostilities, than he came to the conclusion that the only way to put a stop to their sanguinary inroads, was by striking a direct blow at those points where they were fostered and encouraged.

Casting his eyes toward the British posts of Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia, he saw at once the origin of all the frontier difficulties. It was by the arms and clothing supplied at these military stations, that the merciless ferocity of the Indian warriors was stimulated to the commission of those excesses by which the frontiers had been so long deluged with blood.

In order to substantiate the correctness of these views, Clark despatched two spies to reconnoitre the British posts, and report their situation. On their return they brought intelligence of great activity on the part of the garrisons, who omitted no opportunity to encourage the Indian depredations on the settlements in Kentucky. They also informed him, that, although the British had sought by means of wilful mis