in the garrison, on condition that Col. Clark will observe, on his part, a like cessation of offensive work: that is, he wishes to confer with Col. Clark, as soon as can be, and promises that whatever may pass between them two and another person mutually agreed on to be present, shall remain secret till matters be finished; as he wishes that whatever the result of the conference may be, it may tend to the honor and credit of each party. If Col. Clark makes a difficulty of coming into the fort, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton will speak with him by the gate.

HENRY HAMILTON.

This message was written on the 24th of February, 1779, and manifested a feeling that Clark had expected. His reply was: "Col. Clark's compliments to Gov. Hamilton, and begs leave to say that he will not agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton surrendering himself and garrison prisoners at discretion. If Mr. Hamilton wants to talk with Col. Clark, he will meet him at the church with Capt. Helm."

men.

A conference was held as proposed, when Clark would agree only to a surrender, and threatened to massacre the leading the fort for supplying the Indians with the means of annoyance and purchasing scalps, if his terms were not accepted. In a few moments afterwards Col. Clark dictated terms of surader which were accepted.* On the twenty-fifth of February Fort Sackville was surrendered to the American troops and the garrison treated as prisoners of war. The stars and stripes were unfolded above its battlements and thirteen guns celebrated the victory. Seventy-nine prisoners and stores to the amount of fifty thousand dollars were captured by this bold enterprise, and the whole country along the Mississippi and Wabash remained ever after in the peaceful possession of

* 1st. Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton agrees to deliver up to Col. Clark Fort Sackville, as it is at present, with its stores, etc.

2d. The garrison are to deliver themselves as prisoners of war and march out with their arms and accoutrements.

3d. The garrison to be delivered up to-morrow, at ten o'clock.

4th. Three days' time to be allowed the garrison to settle their accounts with the inhabitants and traders.

5th. The officers of the garrison to be allowed their necessary baggage, etc. Signed at Post St. Vincennes, the 24th day of February, 1779; agreed to for the following reasons: 1st. Remoteness from succor; 2d. The state and quantity of provisions; 3d. Thê unanimity of the officers and men in its expediency; 4th. The honorable terms allowed: and, lastly, the confidence in a generous enemy.

HENRY HAMILTON,

Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent.

the Americans. In the short contest only one of the Americans was wounded. The British had one killed and six severely wounded. Gov. Hamilton was sent prisoner to Virginia, where he was confined in jail, fettered and alone, as a punishment for his wicked policy of offering rewards for American scalps, but as this punishment was not in accordance with the terms of surrender, he was afterwards set at liberty.

Col. Clark returned to Kaskaskia, where he found his paper money greatly depreciated, and where he was forced to pledge his own credit to procure what he needed to an extent that injured his financial prospects.

It is difficult to estimate the true value of Clark's campaign to American independence. "But for his small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians," says Mr. Peck, "the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies, might have been effected and the whole current of our history changed. The conquest of Clark changed the face of affairs in relation to the whole country north of the Ohio river, which, in all probability, would have been the boundary between Canada and the United States. This conquest was urged by the American commissioners in negotiating the definite treaty of 1793."

CHAPTER XXII.

BORDERS OF KENTUCKY-BOONE'S SALT EXPEDITION-HIS CAPTUREHIS DEFENSE OF BOONSBOROUGH INVASION OF THE COUNTRY OF THE SIX NATIONS-INDIAN TROUBLES.

LET us now return and bring forward the events in the border settlements of Kentucky. The pioneers were now (1778) suffering much from the want of salt, and the labor and risk of bringing it over the mountains were too great. It was now resolved by the settlers that thirty men, under the guidance of Captain Daniel Boone, one of the earliest and most active settlers of Kentucky, and the founder of Boonsborough, should proceed to the "Lower Blue Licks," on Licking river, and manufacture salt. The enterprise was commenced on New Year's day, 1778.* Boone was to be guide, hunter and scout; the others were to cut wood and attend to the manufacturing department. They succeeded well, and on the seventh of the following month enough had been made to lead to the return of three of the party to the stations with the precious commodity. While Boone was ranging the woods in the vicinity of the salt works he was discovered and captured by a large party of Shawanoes. Boone's companions were next captured, and all were now taken to the Indian village on the Little Miami. It was no part of the plan of the Shawanoes, however, to retain these men in captivity, nor yet to scalp, slay or eat them. Under the influence and rewards of Governor Hamilton, the British commander in the northwest, the Indians had taken up the business of speculating in human beings, both dead and alive, and the Shawanoes meant to take Boone and

* Western Annals.

Peck's Narrative.

his comrades to the Detroit market. On the tenth of March, accordingly, eleven of the party, including Daniel-himself, were dispatched for the north, and after twenty days of journeying were presented to the English governor, who treated them, Boone says, with great humanity. To Boone himself Hamilton and several other gentlemen seem to have taken an especial fancy, and offered large sums for his release, but the Shawanoes would not part with him; he must go home with them, they said, and be one of them, and become a great chief. So the pioneer found his very virtues becoming the cause of a prolonged captivity. In April the red men, with their one white captive, about to be converted into a genuine son of nature, returned from the flats of Michigan to the rolling valleys of the Miamis. And now the white blood was washed out of the Kentucky ranger, and he was made a son in the family of Blackfish, a Shawanoes chief, and was loved and caressed by father and mother, brothers and sisters, till he was thoroughly sick of them. But disgust he could not show, so he was kind and affable, and knew how to allay any suspicions they might harbor lest he should run away. For some time the newly made Indian, Boone, entered into the savage life with a pretended relish. On the first of June he was returning with a party of Indians to the village, and on arriving he found four hundred and fifty of the choicest warriors of the west painted and armed for battle. Upon inquiring he found that they had formed a plan to destroy Boonsborough and capture the inhabitants. Boone now secretly resolved to risk his life to save the little borough he had founded. And although over one hundred and fifty miles from this town, he departed, on the morning of the sixteenth of June, while all was quiet, and without any breakfast, started on his long and dangerous journey. He traveled at the rate of forty miles a day for four successive days, and ate but one meal during the whole journey. At last he reached the defenseless town, and with the alarmed inhabitants at once commenced repairing the fortifications. But the foe came not. In a few days another escaped captive came in and informed Boone that the Indians were unsettled

in their plans, knowing not what to do since he had departed. Thus his favorite town was saved, at least for the time being.

Boone, with a small party of the settlers, now penetrated the forests to surprise an Indian village; but meeting a small party of Indians he discovered that they were marching on Boonsborough in full force. He had scarcely time to return when the enemy appeared. The Indians, to the number of four hundred and forty, were commanded by Chief Blackfish, and the Canadians, to the number of eleven, by Captain DuQuesne. The advancing enemy displayed both the English and French flags. The invaders demanded Boone to surrender in the name of His Britannic Majesty, and promised a liberal treatment for the prisoners. It was indeed a critical moment. Should they yield there would be no mercy shown them; but, on the other hand, there was but little chance for a successful resistance. They had no provisions, and their cattle were abroad in the woods. Boone asked for two days to consider the matter, and his request was granted. He now set about bringing the cattle to the fort, which was soon accomplished. Being thus supplied with food, he announced the determination of his garrison to fight. Captain Duquesne was sorely grieved at this, for he had hoped to take the place without bloodshed. He now resorted to treachery. He offered to withdraw his troops if the garrison would make a treaty. Boone suspected all was not right, and at first he refused to yield; but then he did not wish to starve in the fort or have it taken by storm, and he thought, as he remembered Hamilton's kindness to him while in Detroit, that perhaps he would be fairly treated by his representative, so he agreed to treat. Boone and eight of his men now went out of the fort, under cover of the guns of the fortifications, and opened a council about sixty yards distant. The treaty was made and signed, and then the Indians, saying it was their custom for two of them to shake hands with every white man when a treaty was made, expressed a wish to press the palms of their new allies. Boone and his friends must have looked doubtful at this proposal, but it was safer to accede than to refuse and be shot instantly, so they presented each his hand. As anticipated, the warriors seized them with rough and fierce eagerness.