Lexington, Kentucky - History (part 2 of 8)

The fifth president of Transylvania was the Rev. Benjamin O. Peers, an Episcopal minister, who was born in Loudon county, Virginia, in 1800, and brought to Kentucky in 1803. After graduating at Transylvania, he studied theology at Princeton, after which he joined the Episcopal Church, and located in Lexington, where he established the Eclectic Institute, which soon became one of the most valuable educational establishmenta in the "West. He did much to bring about the present common school system of Kentucky, for which, together with his sound learning and ardent piety, he will long be remembered. Mr. Peers was president of Transylvania about two years. He died in Louisville, in 1842. The assistants of President Peers, in the academical department of the university, were Professor S. Hebard, of Amherst College, and Professor John Lutz, of the University of Gottingen.

During the Peers term, the present Morrison College building was completed, and on the 14th of November, 1833, it was thrown open, with appropriate inauguration ceremonies, at which time the oath of office was administered to Mr. Peers by the chairman of the university board of trustees. While Mr. Peers was president, a theological department, under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, was opened in the university.

Morrison College was founded through the liberality of Colonel James Morrison, who was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and was the son of an humble Irish immigrant. After serving in the war of the Eevolution, he came to Kentucky, and settled in Lexington, in 1792. Possessed of strong sense, energy, and decision of character, he rapidly elevated himself. He became, in succession, state representative from Fayette, quartermaster-general, president of the branch of the United States Bank, and chairman of the board of trustees of Transylvania University. He acquired immense wealth, much of which he used in the promotion of letters. He died, in Washington, D. C, April 23, 1823. Whether he was a Unitarian or a Presbyterian is undecided. He bequeathed twenty thousand dollars to establish a professorship in

Transylvania University, and a residuary legacy of forty thousand dollars, with which the present Morrison College edifice was established.*

The public exercises of the institution, at this time, were always conducted with much dignity and state. Probably no state governor in this country has ever been inducted into office with more imposing and impressive ceremonies than those formerly attending the inauguration of a Transylvania president. The long procession, composed of students, alumni, college societies, city associations and orders, members of the bar, members of Congress, governor and stafl; banners and music, the immense crowd of eager citizens, strangers, and beautiful women, the solemn oath of office, delivery of university keys, address to the president and his reply, all made up a scene of surpassing interest and brilliancy.

Amon o- the number of those who have acted as tutors in the university, we find the names of Jesse Bledsoe, Daniel Bradford, Mann Butler, C. S. Morehead, and James Mc- Chord.

Rev. Thomas W. Coit, D. D., another Episcopalian divine, became the sixth president of the university, in 1835. Dr. Coit came from New England, in 1834, to fill a professorship in the Episcopal Theological Seminary, in Lexington. He acquired some celebrity for his writings in favor of Trinitarianism, and for his pungent essays on the history of the American Puritans. He presided over Transylvania for nearly three years. At present, he is rector of St. Paul's church, Troy, New York.

In 1837, an eiiort was made by a majority of the faculty of the medical college, to remove it bodily to Louisville. They were unsuccessful, and such was the public indignation, that the enemies of the Lexington College found it convenient to resign.

The Medical College suffered by the treachery of pretended friends and open enemies, but it speedily recovered. The faculty was at once reorganized, and the following gentlemen were elected :

To the chair of Anatomy ai?d Surgery, B. "W. Dudley, M, D., Professor, and J. M. Bush, M. D., Adjunct Professor; Institutes of Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence, James C. Cross, M. D. ; Theory and Practice of Medicine, John Eberle, M. D.; Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, William H. Richardson, M. D.; Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Thomas D. Mitchell, M. D.; Chemistry and Pharmacy, Robert Peter, M. D.

The interest of the entire community was strongly awakened, and a united effort made to increase the endowment of the tmiversitj'. In 1838-39, the city of Lexington donated $70,000; seventy gentlemen, incorporated February 20, 1839, by the name of the Transylvania Institute, contributed $35,000, out of part of which fund the present dormitory building was erected; aend the professors of the medical department, by private contributions, purchased the lot of ground on which a new medical hall was soon built. These gentlemen also paid, out of their own funds, residuary debt on that building to the amount of more than $15,000.

The libraries, museums, chemical and philosophical apparatus, and the means of instruction generally, were greatly increased, and the university was put on a more favorable footing than it had ever been. The new medical hall referred to was built on the corner of Second and Broadway, and occupied the site of the present residence of Dr. Bush. The corner-stone was laid July 4, 1839, and the oration was delivered by Robert Wickliffe, Jr.

In 1838, after the resignation of Dr. Coit, the Academical Faculty consisted of Dr. Louis Marshall, President pro tem., and Professor of Ancient Languages; Rev. Robert Davidson, Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy; Dr. Arthur J. Dumont (who succeeded Mr. Priczminski), Professor of Mathematics ; Robert Peter, M. D., Professor of Natural

Rev. Robert Davidson, D. D., a Presbyterian minister, referred to more especially in the chapter in this volume on the Second Presbyterian Church, was the seventh regular president of Transylvania University, and was inaugurated in l^ovember, 1840.

In the fall of 1842, the Methodist Church was given the control of the university, which by this time had become considerably prostrated, particularly in the literary and academical department. The eloquent and untiring bishop, Henry B. Bascom, D. D. (see chapter on First Methodist Church), was made president of the institution, and it soon prospered as it had not done for years. There were four times as many students in it two years after the Methodists obtained control than there was the year before they took possession. Bishop Bascom resigned in 1849, and the university again reverted to the state.

Professor J. B. Dodd, well known as the author of a number of mathematical works, succeeded Dr. Bascom, and acted as president pro tern, up to the reorganization of the university in 1856. Professor Dodd died in G-reeusburg, Kentucky, March 27, 1872, aged sixty-live.

In 1855, the chairs of the Law College were filled by Professors G-eorge Robertson (see chapter on year 1835); George B. Kinkead, a native of "Woodford county, Kentucky, Secretary of State under Governor Owsley, and distinguished both for his high-toned character and legal ability ; and Francis K. Hunt, born in Lexington, a graduate of Transylvania Law School, a gentleman of rare graces and culture, and one of the first lawyers in Kentucky.

The university was I'eorganized in 1856,* and in connection with it, a normal school, for the education of teachers, was established, under the patronage of the state, as an indispensable aid to the common school system of Kentucky. The scheme was a noble one; the legislature appropriated $12,000 per annum to its support, and the cause of popular education in Kentucky never looked more promising. Rev. Lewis W. G-reen, D. D., was called to the presidency, and the university opened March 4, 1856, with eighty pupils.

Dr. Green, the ninth and last regular president of Transylvania University, was the son of Willis and Sarah Reed Green, and was born near Danville, Kentucky, January 28, 1806.* He was a student at Transylvania for some time, but graduated at Centre College, in 1824, after which he entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, studied for the Presbyterian ministry, and was finally ordained. He spent two years in Europe, at the Universities of Bonn and Halle, and while studying biblical literature and the oriental languages, enjoyed the instructions of Neander, Hengstenberg, and other distinguished scholars. When called to Transylvania, he was president of Hampden Sidney College, Virginia. He labored, with satisfaction and success, at Lexington, for two years, at the end of which time, for some reason, the legislature withdrew the yearly appropriation for the normal school, and abandoned the project. Dr. Green accepted the presidency of Centre College, entered upon his duties there in January, 1858, and filled the position up to the time of his death, which occarred May 26, 1863. He was buried in the Danville cemetery. Dr. Green was an eloquent divine, and, in point of learning, had few equals in the Presbyterian Church in the West. His fine character and amiable disposition always gained for him the sincere love of his pupils.

The Medical School continued to exist with varying success up to the commencement of the late war between the States. In 1859, its faculty was composed of Drs. Ethelbert L. Dudley (see year 1862), S. L. Adams (see First Methodist Church), W. S. Chipley (see Lunatic Asylum), B. P. Drake, S. M. Letcher, H. M. Skillman, and J. M. Bush.

Dr. Bush, born in Frankfort, Kentucky, and Dr. Skillman, a native of Lexington, are both graduates of the school in which they were teachers, and both now stand in the front rank of their profession in Kentucky.

From its founding up to its dissolution, at the beginning of the late war, the Medical College had conferred the degree of M. D. upon nearly two thousand graduates.*

The university, which had been declining for years, sunk hopelessly after the failure of the normal school. The academical department struggled on for a few years, owing its existence mainly to that superior instructor, Mr. Abram Drake. It settled into a grammar school, during the, late war, under whose depressing influences all educational institutions languished, and through that period its principal was Professor J. K. Patterson, the present accomplished presiding oiEcer of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky University.

In January, 1865, the trustees of Transylvania, desiring to perpetuate for Lexington her character and usefulness as an educational center, conveyed the entire property of the institution to, and consolidated it with Kentucky University, on the condition of its removal to Lexington. From 1865, the history of Transylvania University blends with that of Kentucky University, of which it now forms a part.

The record of Transylvania, both at home and abroad is a proud one. Among the names of her thousands of graduates, appear those of Jefferson Davis, Thomas F. Marshall, Dr. B. "W". Dudley, Richard H. Menifee, John Boyle, James MeChord, Dr. Joseph Buchanan, Richard M. Johnson, John Rowan, W. T. Barry, Jesse Bledsoe, 0. B. Morehead, Elijah Hise, "Duke" Gwin, C. A. Wickliffe, and a host of others - with cabinet officers, foreign ministers, governors, generals, physicians, divines, and men of every grade and business of life. There is scarcely a town

Kentucky CTniversity, the successor and perpetuator of Transylvania, was incorporated in February, 1858, and located in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Tts endowment then consisted of $150,000, obtained by Mr. John B. Bowman, from members of the Christian Church and other liberal friends of education. At the same time, it received the funds and property of Bacon College, an institution founded by the Christian Church in 1836, in Georgetown, but which was removed to Harrodsburg in 1840, and finally failed for want of a sufficient endowment.*

John B. Bowman, the founder of Kentucky University, its present regent, and the one to whom its efficiency and prosperity is so largely due, was born at Bowman's station, near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, October 18, 1824. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Mercer county. His father, born near Lexington, is probably the oldest living native of Fayette county. Regent Bowman graduated at Bacon College under President Shannon, and in February, 1846, married Mary D., daughter of Dr. Charles Williams, of Montgomery county, Kentucky. The accomplishments and self-sacrifice of Mrs. Bowman have had no little to do with the success of Kentucky University. From the time he left college, up to the year 1855, Mr. Bowman was occupied in farming, but ever since that year, his life has been devoted to the up-building of the great institution of which he is the head. He is a man of extraordinary energy, executive ability, and financial sagacity.

" Taylor Academy," a preparatory school ot the university, was opened in the old Bacon College building, at Harrodsburg, in September, 1858, with nearly one hundred students in attendance.

1859, under the presidency of Robert Milligan. Pesident Milligan is a native of Ireland, and is now in the fifty-ninth year of his age. He is a graduate of Washington College, Pennsylvania, and was at one time Professor of Mathematics in Bethany College. His colleagues at Harrodsburg were Professors E.. Richardson, Robert Graham, L. L. Pinkerton, Henry White, and J. H. l^eville. All of the professors with one exception (Professor Richardson) subsequently taught in the university after its removal to Lexington. There were about two hundred students in the university during its first session.*

In February, 1864, the old edifice of Bacon College, used by the university at Harrodsburg, was destroyed by fire, together with its apparatus and library. At this juncture, it was found that the trustees of Transylvania University were willing to convey the gounds and buildings of that institution to the curators of Kentucky University, on the condition of its removal to Lexington. The board left the whole question of removal and location to a committee, of whom Mr. Bowman was chairman.f

Accordingly, Mr. Bowman called the committee to meet at Frankfort, in January, 1865 ; but an expected denouement followed. While there, the proposition of Congress to donate to Kentucky 330,000 acres of land, for the purpose of agricultural and mechanical education, came up for consideration. The state was not prepared to accept the grant with the conditions imposed, and the munificent provision of Congress seemed likely to be lost to the state. Mr. Bowman proposed to make the State Agricultural College a department of Kentucky University, and to consolidate into the great institution the University of Harrodsburg, Transylvania, and the Agricultural College, and the whole to be located at Lexington. He further proposed, if this should be done, to provide an experimental farm, and all the requisite buildings, and to give gratuitous instruction to three hundred students, to be selected by the state ; and he furthermore pledged, that the board of curators would

A bill to this efl'ect was accordingly drawn up, and, after long and animated discussion in the General Assembly, it was passed by a large majority, and Kentucky University was removed from Harrodsburg, the grounds and buildings and endowment of Transylvania were transferred, and the State Agricultural College was made a part of the university, with an aggregate capital of more than one-half million of dollars. As a condition of this removal, the curators of Kentucky University bound themselves to refund to citizens of Mercer county $30,000 which they had contributed to the institution, and also furnish |100,000 more, to be invested in an experimental farm and buildings. Mr. Bowman set to work at once to secure the amounts needed, and the following gentlemen, in a printed address,* strongly urged the people of Lexington to assist him, viz : M. C. Johnson, John Carty, Benj. Gratz, J. G. Chinn, John B. Tilford, J. G. Allen, H. T. Duncan, Jr., John B. Payne, Jr. In three months the money was obtained by subscription, principally from the citizens of Lexington and vicinity, of all creeds and denominations.

The first session of Kentucky University, at Lexington, commenced on Monday, October 2, 1865,* with formal and appropriate exercises, in the chapel of Morrison College. Four other departments, in addition to the College of Arts, had, in the meanwhile been createJ, and went at once into active operation. At its opening in Lexington, therefore, the university consisted of the College of Arts, the Law College, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Bible College, and the Academy.

The college of arts, up to the present time, has had four presidents, viz : E. Milligan, 1859; R. Graham, 1865; J. Aug. Williams, 1868; Henry H. White, 1870. The old Morrison College building is used by the college of arts. Henry H. White, Professor of Mathematics, and John H.

J^eville, Professor of Greek Language and Literature, have long reflected credit upon this ably conducted college of the university. Dr. Peter, so long associated with Transylvania, is the distinguished Professor of Chemistry in this college.

The organization of the Agricultural and Mechanical College VFas the work, to a very great extent, of its thoroughly accomplished first president, John Augustus Williams, now the head of Daughter's College, at Harrodsburg, and noted as having few equals in the "West as an educator. His successors were J. D. Pickett, 1867; Henry H. White, 1868, and J. K. Patterson, 1870. This department enjoyed for some time the services of Professor A. Winchell, now the well-known geologist of Michigan University. The seat of the Agricultural and Mechanical College was purchased in 1866, and cost one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. It consists of " Ashland," the homestead of Henry Clay, and the adjoining estate of " Woodlands," which extends within the limits of the city of Lexington. The entire tract contains four hundred and thirty-three acres of land, unsurpassed for beauty and fertility. Four brick buildings, for the use of officers and students, were erected at " Woodlands," during the, year 1867. The large and handsome edifice, used by the mechanical department, at "Ashland," was built in 1868.

The Law College is the full equal of its famous Transylvania predecessor. Madison C. Johnson was elected its president in 1868, and still occupies that position. Major Johnson is a graduate of the Transylvania Law College, and was one of its professors in 1850. His strong mind and laborious application have placed him in the front rank at the Kentucky bar.

Judge R. A. Buckner, also a professor in 1865, is a native of Green county, Kentucky. He was circuit judge by appointment of Governor Letcher; speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1859, and is at present engaged as one of the commissioners appointed by Governor Leslie and the Supreme Court to revise the Kentucky Code of Practice. Judge Buckner's legal attainments are of the first order.

General John B. Huston, who succeeded Judge Buekner as professor, in 1865, and who still retains the position, is a native of Nelson county, Kentucky, and a graduate of Center College. He represented Clark county in the legislature, and was speaker of the house. He removed to Lexington in 1863. General Huston is greatly gifted, both as a lawyer and a speaker.

James 0. Harrison, elected professor in 1870, was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, in 1804, and, after graduating at the Transylvania Law College, settled in Lexington, in 1824. Though he has, at difl'erent times, been tendered high official appointments by the general government, Mr. Harrison has confined himself strictly to his professional duties. He is distinguished for his integrity, literary culture, and superior legal attainments.

The societies of the university, viz : the Periclean, Cecropian, Union Literary, Christomathean, and Pliilothean, have reflected no little honor upon the institution, and are rapidly attaining literary efficiency and celebrity.

In 1870, Congress appropriated twenty-five thousand dollars to the university, to compensate for the destruction, by fire, of the Transylvania Medical College building, while in the possession of Federal troops, during the late war.

The present executive committee of the university is composed of J. B. Bowman, Benjamin Gratz, Joseph Wasson, Joseph Smith, and Joseph S. Woolfolk. The oldest member of the committee, Mr. Gratz, was born in Philadelphia, September 4, 1792, and settled in Lexington in 1819. He became a trustee of Transylvania in the distinguished Dr. Holley's time, and has been connected with that institution and its successor, Kentucky University, for nearly half a century, and has always been known as one of the firmest and most influential friends of education and public improvement in Lexington.

James B. Beck, the present distinguished congressional representative from the "Ashland district," is a member of the board of curators of the university. Mr. Beck is a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, but came to the United States at the age of sixteen, and settled in Lexington, where he graduated at the Transylvania Law College. He was elected to Congress in 1867, and has been returned at every succeeding election. Mr. Beck overcame many very discouraging obstacles in early life, and is a selfmade man of the best type. His mind is of extraordinary strength and clearness, and is only matched by his energy and industry.

The various libraries of Kentucky University comprise about ten thousand volumes, and the anatomical museum, the museum of natural philosophy, and the collections of chemical, astronomical, and philosophical apparatus are large and valuable. In June, of the present year, appeared the first number of "The Collegian," a monthly, established and ably supported by the literary societies of the university. The endowment and real estate of the institution now amount to eight hundred thousand dollars; and as many as seven hundred and seventy-two matriculates have attended its various colleges in one session.

The States of Virginia and Kentucky, the city of Lexington, individual members of all parties and sects, and the United States Government, have all contributed, at various times, to this consolidated fund and this great success; and if the institution is governed and directed as it should be, in accordance with these facts; if its economy is liberal and generous, and free from sectarian bigotry and shortsightedness, it will continue to grow, and will become the full equal of any institution of learning in this country.

Chapter Viii

First Trustees of Lexington - Adventures of MoConnell, Bryant, and Began - County Government - List of Clerks and Sheriffs - Charles Car r - Court-. Ho uses - Toivn of Lexington Laid off - First Lot Owners.

The blow given by Clarke to tbe Miami Indians prevented any formidable invasion during this year (1781), but it could not keep out small bands of the enemy, who constantly hung upon the outskirts of the settlements, and captured or killed many of the pioneers. But, despite their savage enemies and all other drawbacks, the inhabitants of Lexington station persisted in the up-building of their village. The terrible winter gave place to a delightful spring ; game for the settlers and food for the live stock were abundant, and energy came with renewed hope. Early in the spring more land was cleared ; planting was commenced as soon as possible ; a road (Main street) was cut, cleared, and extended some distance from the gate of the fort, and the settlers assembled and elected their first board of trustees, composed of Robert Patterson, Levi Todd, Henry McDonald, David Mitchell, and Michael "Warnock.* The trustees held their first meeting, March 26, in one of the log cabins of the fort, and, with an eye to the growth and prosperity of Lexington, acted with a most commendable spirit of enterprise and liberality. By this time, the first court of Fayette county had been formed, and one of the first resolutions of the trustees was, "To inform the court of Fayette county that, if they should deem Lexington a proper place for holding courts in the future, the sum of £30 in gold or silver, or the value thereof in continental currency, will be granted by the trustees for public buildings."* At this meeting it was also, " Ordered that the town land be laid off in lots, the in-lots to contain one-third part of an acre each ; and that they be granted to each free male person above the age of twenty-one years, and each widow ; every young man who can make it appear he acts in his own behalf, and not under the immediate control and jurisdiction of some other person, who, at the time of layingthem ofl and distributing them, appears to be an actual resident within the place, subject to such conditions and penalties as shall be hereafter required ; that a number of lots, not less than thirty, be reserved for public uses, and such other purposes as may hereafter berequisite."t Proper persons were selected for the work of laying off the town, but the plan was not adopted for nine months after this meeting. Whether the Indians were the cause of the delay or not, we can not speak positively ; but that they continually harassed the settlers ot all the stations in Fayette county during the entire spring and summer, we know.

One charming day in April, Alexander McConnell took his rifle and went out from the fort to hunt deer, in the woods near where Mr. Frank McCallie now lives, on the Versailles turnpike. He soon killed a large buck, and returned to the station for a horse, in order to bring it in. During his absence, a party of five Indians, on one of their usual skulking expeditions, accidently stumbled on the body of the deer, and perceiving it had been recently killed, they naturally supposed that the hunter would speedily return to secure it. Three of them, therefore, took their station within close rifle shot of the deer, while the other two followed the trail of the hunter, and waylaid the path by which he was expected to return. McConnell, suspecting no danger, rode carelessly along the path which the two scouts were watching, until he had come within view of the deer, when he was fired upon by the whole party, and his horse killed. While laboring to extricate liimself from the dying animal, he was seized by his enemies, instantly overpowered, and borne ofl" a prisoner. His captors, however, seemed to be a merry, good-natured set of fellows, and permitted him to accompany them unbound; and, what was rather extraordinary, allowed him to retain his gun and hunting accoutrements. He accompanied them with great apparent cheerfulness through the day, and displayed his dexterity in shooting deer for the use of the company, until they began to regard "him with great partiality. Having traveled with them in this manner for several days, they at length reached the banks of the Ohio river. Heretofore, the Indians had taken the precaution to bind him at night, although not very securely ; but on that evening he renioustrated with them on the subject, and complained so strongly of the pain which the cords gave him, that they merely wrapped the buflalo tug loosely around his wrists, and having tied it in an easy knot, and attached the extremities of the rope to their own bodies, in order to prevent his moving without awakening them, they very composedly went to sleep, leaving the prisoner to follow their example or not, as he pleased.

McConnell determined to efl'ect his escape that night, if possible, as on the following night they would cross the river, which would render it much more difficult. He therefore lay quietly until near midnight, anxiously ruminating upon the best means of effecting his object. Accidentally casting his eyes in the direction of his feet, they fell upon the glittering blade of a knife, which had escaped its sheath, and was now lying near the feet of one of the Indians. To reach it with his hands, without disturbing the two Indians to whom he was fastened, was impossible, and it was very hazardous to attempt to draw it up with his feet. This, however, he attempted. With much difficulty he grasped the blade between his toes, and, after repeated and long-continued efforts, succeeded at length in bringing it within reach of his hands.

To cut his cords was then but the work of a moment, and gradually and silently extricating his person from the arms of the Indians, he walked to the fire and sat down.

He saw that his work was but half done. That if he should attempt to return home, without destroj'ing his enemies, he would be pursued and probably overtaken, when his fate would be certain. On the other hand, it seemed almost impossible for a single man to succeed in a conflict with five Indians, even although unarmed and asleep. He could not hope to deal a blow with his knife so silently and fatally, as to destroy each one of his enemies in turn, without awakening the rest. Their slumbers were proverbially light and restless; and if he failed with a single one, he must instantly be overpowered by the survivers. The knife, therefore, was out of the question.

After anxious reflection for a few minutes, he formed his plan. The guns of the Indians were stacked near the fire; their knives and tomahawks were in sheaths by their sides. The latter he dared not touch for fear of awakening their owners ; but the former he carefully removed, with the exception of two, and hid them iii the woods, where he knew the Indians would not readly find them. He then returned to the spot where the Indians were still sleeping, perfectly ignorant of the fate preparing for them, and taking a gun in each hand, he rested the muzzles upon a log within six feet of his victims, and having taken deliberate aim at the head of one and the heart of another, he pulled both triggers at the same moment.

Both shots were fatal. At the report of their guns, the others sprung to their feet, and stared wildly around them. McConnell, who had run instantly to the spot where the other rifles were hid, hastily seized one of them and fired at two of his enemies, who happened to stand in a line with each other. The nearest fell dead, being shot through the center of the body; the second fell also, bellowing loudly, but quickly recovering, limped off into the woods as fast as possible. The fifth, and only one who remained unhurt, darted off like a deer, with a yell which announced equal terror and astonishment. McConnell, not wishing to fight any more such battles, selected his own rifle from the stack, and made the best of his way to Lexington, where he arrived safely within two days.

Shortly afterward, Mrs. Eve Dunlap, who had been several months a prisoner among the Indians on Mad river, made her escape, and returned to her home at Lexington station. She reported that the survivor returned to his tribe with a lamentable tale. He relates that they had taken a fine young hunter near Lexington, and had brought him safely as far as the Ohio ; that while encamped upon the bank of the river, a large party of white men had fallen upon them in the night and killed all his companions, together with the poor defenseless prisoner, who lay bound hand and foot, unable to either escape or resist.*

A large pignut tree, under which McConnell was captured by the Indians, was carefully preserved for a long time by the father of Mr. Frank McCallie, who subsequently owned the land upon which it grew.f

After the capture of McConnell, the Indians annoyed the stations in Fayette county greatly. They lurked in the canebrakes, waylaid the traces, stole horses, butchered cattle, and not unfrequently killed and scalped indiscreet settlers. Finally, the Indians became so Ijold and harassing, that it became necessary for hunters to go out in bands so as to be able to repel attacks.

One afternoon, about the 20th of May, "William Bryant, at the head of twenty men, left Bryant's station on a hunting expedition. T^hej moved with caution, until they had passed all the points where ambuscades had generally been formed, when, seeing no enemy, they became more bold, and determined, in order to sweep a large extent of country, to divide their company into two parties. One of them, conducted by Bryant in person, was to descend the Elkhorn on its southern bank, flanking out largely, and occupy as much ground as possible. The other, under the orders of James Hogan, a young farmer in good circumstances, was to move down in a parallel line upon the north bank. The two parties were to meet at night, and encamp together at the mouth of Cane run.

Hogan, however, had traveled but a few hundred yards, when he heard a loud voice behind him exclaim in very good English, "stop, boys!" Hastily looking back, they saw several Indians on foot, pursuing them as rapidly as possible. Without halting to count numbers, the party put spurs to their horses, and dashed through the woods at full speed, the Indians keeping close behind them, and at times gaining upon them. There was a led horse in company, which had been brought with them for the purpose of packing game. This was instantly abandoned, and fell into the hands of the Indians. Several of them lost their hats in the eagerness of flight ; but quickl}' getting into the open woods, they left their pursuers so far behind that they had leisure to breathe and inquire of each other, whether it was worth while to kill their horses before they had ascertained the number of the enemy.

They quickly determined to cross the creek, and await the approach of the Indians. If they found them superior to their own and Bryant's party united, they would immediately return to the fort ; as, by continuing their march to the mouth of Cane run, they would bring a superior enemy upon their friends, and endanger the lives of the whole party. They accordingly crossed the creek, dismounted, and awaited the approach of the enemy. By this time it had become dark. The Indians were distinctly heard approaching the creek upon the opposite side, and after a short halt, a solitary warrior descended the bank and began to wade through the stream.

Hogan waited until they had emerged from the gloom of the trees which grew upon the bank, and as soon as he had reached the middle of the stream, where the light was more distinct, he took deliberate aim and fired. A great splashing in the water was heard, but presently all became quiet. The pursuit was discontinued, and the party, remounting their horses, returned home. Anxious, however, to apprise Bryant's party of their danger, they left the fort before daylight on the ensuing morning, and rode rapidly down the creek, in the direction of the mouth of Cane run. When within a few hundred yards of the spot where they supposed the encampment to be, they heard the report of many guns in quick succession. Supposing that Bryant had fallen in with a herd of buffalo, they quickened their march in order to take part in the sport.

The morning was foggy, and the smoke of the guns lay so heavily upon the ground that they could see nothing until they had approached within twenty yards of the creek, when they suddenly found themselves within pistol shot of a party of Indians, very composedly seated upon their packs, and preparing their pipes. Both parties were much startled, but quickly recovering, they sheltered themselves as usual, and the action opened with great vivacity. The Indians maintained their ground for half an hour with some firmness, but being hard pressed in front, and turned in flank, they at length gave way, and being closely pursued, were ultimately routed with considerable loss, which, however could not be distinctly ascertained. Of Hogan's party, one man was killed on the spot, and three others wounded, but none mortally.

It happened that Bryant's company had encamped at the mouth of Cane, as had been agreed upon, and were unable to account for Hogan's absence. That, about daylight they had heard a bell at a distance, which they immediately recognized as the one belonging to the led horse which had accompanied Hogan's party, and which, as we have. seen, had been abandoned to the enemy the evening before. Supposing their friends to be bewildered in the fog, and unable to iind their camp, Bryant accompanied by Grant, ohe of his men, mounted a horse and rode to the spot where the bell was still ringing. They quickly fell into an ambuscade and were fired upon. Bryant was mortally, and Grant severely wounded ; the first being shot through the hip and both knees, the latter through the back. Both being able to keep the saddle however, they set spurs to their horses and arrived at the station shortly after breakfast. The Indians, in the meantime, had falleti upon the encampment and instantly dispersed it, and, while preparing to regale themselves after their victory, were suddenly attacked, as we have seen, by Hogan. The timidity of Hogan's party at the first appearance of the Indians, was the cause of Bryant's death. The same men who fled so hastily in the evening were able the next morning, by a little firmness, to vanquish the same party of Indians. . Had they stood at first, an equal success would probably have attended them, and the life of their leader would have been preserved.*

During the summer, and in the midst of trials and bloodshed the organization of the government of Fayette county was completed. Governor Jefferson, of Virginia, appointed John Todd colonel, Daniel Boone lieutenant-colonel, and Thomas Marshall surveyor of the county.f John Maxwell was made coroner.^ Levi Todd was chosen as clerk of the county court, and held the office for twenty-five years after.|| The successors of Todd were John D. Young, 1807; James C. Rhodes, 1817 ; James A. Qrinstead, 1845 ; Sanders D. Bruce, 1849 ; Joseph R. Gross, 1862 ; Ernest Brenuan, 1863; Allie G. Hunt, 1866.

The justices of the county court were successively sheriffs of the county until the law was changed in 1792. § The first sheriff under the succession rule was Charles Carr. Mr. Carr was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to this state when he was but ten years of age. He was a private soldier in the American army, under General Anthony Wayne, in 1794, and took an active part in his celebrated campaign against the Indians.

In the war of 1812 he served as captain, and was at one time a prisoner. Subsequently he was a member of the state legislature. He died in Fayette county, at an advanced age. His successors as sheriffs were Thomas Clarke, J. C. Richardson, Leonard Young, A. Young, James Wood, W. R. Morton, Edward Payne, John Bradford, G. W. Morton, Waller Bullock, A. Thomson, Oliver Keene, T. S. Redd, R. S. Todd, T. A. Russell, M. Flournoy, J. R. Sloan, Moses Ellis, J. B. O'Bannon, Waller Rhodes, Abraham Dudley, Joseph Gross, C. S. Bodley, Thomas Nichols, W. W. Dowden, R. S. Bullock.

The proposition of the trustees of Lexington to the county court was accepted, and in December, 1781, "the trustees agreed to pay the commissioners appointed by the court a sum sufficient to build a court-house, prison, and office to answer the present necessity, and grant one square for that purpose."*

But the "present necessity" was such that the court could not wait until buildings were erected, and its sessions for some time were held in one of the cabins within the station. The next house used was a log one, erected about two years after this, on the corner of Main and Broadway, now known as " Yeiser's corner." It was still standing in 1796, and was used at that time by William McBean, as a dry goods store.f A small stone court-house was erected about the year 1788, on the square granted by the trustees, and where the present one stands. Levi Todd, the first county clerk, had his office separate from this building, and used a little 12 by 15 one which stood on what is now called the WicklifFe farm, on the Richmond turnpike. This was destroyed by fire on the night of January 31, 1803, and with it most of the records of the county.J The following commissioners were appointed by the governor, " with full powers and authority, to meet at some convenient place, and adjourn from time to time, as they shall think fit, and to summons, hear, and examine witnesses, at the instance of any person who has been or may be injured by the destruction of the records of county courts," viz: Thomas Lewis, Robert Todd, Henry Payne, Thomas Bodley, James Trotter, John A. Seitz, Walker Baylor, John Bradford, John Richardson. This calamity, and the rapid growth of the city, now necessitated the erection of a larger building, and in 1806 the present brick court-house was built. About the year 1814 it was remodeled and the town clock was put up, and now altogether constitutes the venerable disfigurement at present so unpleasantly prominent upon the public square and so disgraceful to the county. The courthouse can boast of nothing but its associations. Its walls have echoed to the voices of Clay, Barry, Bledsoe, Crittenden, the Wickliffes, Menifee, R. J. and John C. Breckinridge, Thomas F. Marshall, and a host of other distinguished men hoth living and dead.

On the 26th of December, 1781,* the trustees of Lexington station adopted a plan for the town, and the lots defined in it were disposed of by them to the inhabitants, who " were required to pay a proportionable part of the money necessary to build the public houses and expenses arising toward good order and regularity in the town."

Chapter Ix

Trouble with the Indians - Incidents - The War Closed - Lexington Incorporated - The Great Invasion - Siege of Bryant's Station - Aaron Reynolds - Battle of the Blue Licks - Benjamin Netherland - 2''he Terrible Defeat - Burial of the Lead - Sorrow and Gloom - The Women of Lexington - James Morgan - Clark's Expedition - John Filson - Thomas Marshall.

The year 1782 was one of excitements, stirring events, and mournful disasters to Lexington and Fayette county. The outlook, so bright with hope to others, was gloomy indeed to them. Far across the Atlantic, even from the commencement of the year, the British House of Commons had been ringing with eloquent demands for a termination of the war against the American colonies; but here, on this side of the great ocean, even while those cries for peace were going up, the tribes of the great Ilforth west were gathering their incensed and desperate warriors, to strike what they hoped would be a final and crushing blow at the frontier settlements. Ifumerous small scouting parties of Indians were ordered to Kentucky, and soon the woods teemed with savages, and no one was safe beyond the walls of a station. Late in March, a hunter from the fort at Lexmarton was killed by some Indians in ambuscade near the present Lexington Cemetery,* and a few weeks after, another settler was shot and dangerously wounded in a field where the jail now stands, and his savage foe was running, knife in hand, to scalp him, when he was himself shot by a skillful marksman then on watch in the block-house, and fell dead upon the body of his wounded enemy.* It is strongly intimated by one historianf that the marksman who made this famous shot was the celebrated Daniel Boone himself. Certainly, the "picking off" of an Indian at such a distance, while he was kneeling above the fallen settler, and a shot so directed as to kill the one without injury to the other, was a feat not unworthy the grand old pioneer. In May, a courier brought the news to Lexington of Estell's defeat, a calamity which made a profound sensation in every settlement, and the more because the bold and masterly movement of the Indians which decided the fate of the day, indicated an advance in military science, which presaged no good to the settlers. Lexington and Bryant's stations were now the most exposed points in Kentucky, and as Estell's defeat confirmed the general impression that another Indian invasion was imminent, the settlers were weighed down with anticipations of evil.

At this gloomy juncture, the second board of trustees of Lexington received a copy of the law passed by the Virginia Assembly, at Richmond, on the 6th of May, incorporating Lexington. J The law was entitled, "An act to establish a town at the court-house, in the county of Fayette," and was worded as follows, viz:

" Whereas, It is represented to this assembly that six hundred and forty acres of unappropriated laud in the county of Fayette, whereon the court-house of said county stands, has been by the settlers thereon laid out into lots and streets for a town; and that the said settlers have purchased seventy acres of land lying contagious to the said six hundred and forty acres, being part of a survey made for John Floyd ; and whereas, it would tend greatly to the improvement and settling of the same if the titles of settlers on the lots were confirmed, and a town established thereon:

Be it therefore enacted. That the said sevea hundred and acres of land be and the same is hereby vested in fee simple in John Todd, Robert Patterson, William Mitchell, Audrew Steele, William Henderson, William MeConnell, and Will-

And be it further enacted, That the said trustees, or any four of them, shall, and they are hereby empowered and required to make conveyance to those persons who have already settled on the said lots, as also to the purchasers of lots heretofore sold, agreeable to the condition of the contracts, and may also proceed to lay off" such other parts of the said land as is not yet laid off and settled into lots and streets ; and such lots shall be by the trustees sold or otherwise disposed of for the benefit of the inhabitants of the said town, and convey the same in fee simple agreeable to the condition of the contract : Provided, always, that the lots in the said town which have been laid off' and set apart for erecting thereon the public buildings of the said county shall be and remain to and for that use and purpose, and no other whatever.

And be it further enacted. That the said trustees, or the major part of them, shall have power from time to time to settle and determine all disputes concerning the bounds of the said lots, and to settle such rules and orders for the regular building of houses thereon as to them shall seem best and most convenient. And in case of the death, removal out of the county, or other legal disability of any of the said trustees, it shall and may be lawful for the remaining trustees to elect and choose so many other persons in place of those deceased, removed, or disabled, as shall make up the number; which trustees so chosen shall be, to all intents and purposes, individually vested with the same power and authority as any one in this act particularly mentioned.

And be it further enacted, That the settlers, as well as purchasers of lots, in the said town, so soon as they shall have saved the same according to the conditions of their respective deeds of conveyance, shall be entitled to have and enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities which the freeholders and inhabitants of other towns in this state not incorporated by charter or act of assembly have and enjoy.

And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall cause the survey and plat of the said town to be recorded in the court of the said county of Fayette, leaving to all persons all such right, title, and interest which they, or any of them, could or might have to the lands, or any part thereof, hereby vested in the said trustees as if this act had never been made."

The Indian invasion, so dreaded by the infant settlements, was now near at hand. Most of the summer following Estell's defeat had been spent by the savages in perfecting a plan by which they hoped to regain for themselves the possession of their lost hunting grounds in the West.

Early in August, detachments of Indian warriors from the Cherokee, Wyandot, Tawa, and Pottowatomie nations, as well as from several other tribes bordering on the lakes, assembled in grand council at Chillicothe, where they were met by Simon Girty, James Girty, and M'Kee, three renegade white men, who urged them to proceed at once to the step tbey so much desired to take.

The advice of the white savages was quickly acceded to, the council ended with a war whoop, and the Indians, with a few Canadian allies, took up the line of march for Kentucky, with the understanding that Bryant's station should be taken first, and then Lexington station, after which they were to act as circumstances should direct. The force in this noted expedition has been variously estimated from six hundred to one thousand.

Of the two stations marked out for destruction, Lexington was the strongest. Its garrison consisted of about sixty effective men,* and it enjoyed the very superior advantage of an abundant and never-failing supply of water inside its walls. Bryant's station stood on a gentle rise on the southern bank of the Elkhorn, a few paces to the right of the road from Maysyilie to Lexington, and consisted at this time of about forty cabins, was built in the usual parallelogram shape, was about two hundred yards long by fifty wide, strengthened with block -houses at the angles, and where the cabins did not join, the vacancies were filled with strong pickets. The garrison consisted of forty-four men. Unfortunately, there was no supply of water within the fort, and the only dependence was a spring on its northwestern side. The station was situated on a tract of land admired by all the settlers for its natural beauty, and it doubtless merited the glowing praise of the poet*, who speaks of

" A picketed station on fair Blkhorn, Surrounded by groves of the milk-white thorn, And paw-paw, with long and silvery stem, And dogwood of beautiful diadem ; Green meadows with antlered deer yet dotted, And lawns with flowers the loveliest spotted."

The savage array entered Kentucky, and penetrated with celerity and great secrecy into the very heart of the district. A party was at once sent out to demonstrate against Mc- Gee's and Strodes' stations, with the object of drawing away from their posts the garrisons of Bryant and Lexington stations. On the morning of the 14th of August, this party defeated Captain Holder, and the stratagem of the wily red men barely escaped being crowned with complete success, as subsequent events will show. The main body of the Indians moved carefully forward, and on the night of the 14th gathered as silent as the shadows around Bryant's stationf. The great body of Indians placed themselves in ambush in some high weeds, within pistol shot of the spring, while one hundred select men were placed near the spot where the road now runs after passing the creek. Providentially for the garrison, a messenger had arrived just before night with the intelligence of Holder's defeat, and they set to work immediately to prepare for an early march in the morning to the general rendezvous at Hoy's station. The Indians seeing the lights glancing from block-houses and cabins, and hearing the bustle of preparation, believed that their approach had been discovered, though the settlers were utterly unconscious of their presence. Under the impression that their stratagem to decoy the garrison from the fort bad failed, the band of a hundred men was ordered to open a brisk fire early in the morning, and show themselves to the garrison on that side of the station, for the purpose of drawing them out, while the main body held themselves in readiness to rush upon the opposite gate of the fort, hew it down with their tomahawks, and force their way into the midst of the cabins. Day stole through the forest, the settlers rose from their brief slumbers, took their arms, and were on the point of opening the gates to march, under the command of Captain Elijah Craig, to the assistance of their friends, when the crack of rifles, mingled with yells and howls, told them in an instant how narrowly they had escaped captivity or death. The former practice of this fort was known, and the Indians expected every man to run to the spot where the firing commenced, which would leave it undefended on the side where the main body lay ; but the number of guns discharged, and the near approach of the party, convinced the people of the fort that it was a plan to draw the men out ; and, instead of falling into this trap, the opposite side of the fort was instantly manned, and several breaches in the picketing at once repaired.* Their greatest distress rose from the prospect of sufi:ering for water.

The more experienced of the garrison felt satisfied that a powerful party was in ambuscade near the spring, but at the same time they supposed that the Indians would not unmask themselves until the firing upon the opposite side of the fort was returned with such warmth as to induce the belief that the feint had succeeded.

Acting upon this impression, and yielding to the urgent necessity of the case, they summoned all the women, without exception, and explaining to them the circumstances in which they were placed, and the improbabihty that any injury would be oflered them until the firing had been returned from the opposite side of the fort, they urged them to go in a body to the spring, and each to bring up a bucketful of water. Some of the ladies, as was natural, had no relish for the undertaking, and asked why the men could not bring water as well as themselves, observing that they were not bullet-proof, and that the Indians made no distinction between male and female scalps!

To this it was answered that women were in the ha.bit of bringing water every morning to the fort, and that if the Indians saw them engaged as usual, it would induce them to believe that their ambuscade was undiscovered, and that they would not unmask themselves for the sake of firing at a few women, when they hoped, by remaining concealed a few moments longer, to obtain complete possession of the fort ; that if men should go down to the spring, the Indians would immediately suspect that; something was wrong, would despair of succeeding by ambuscade, and would instantly rush upon them, follow them into the fort, or shoot them down at the spring. The decision was soon made.

A few of the boldest declared their readiness to brave the danger, and the younger and more timid rallying in the rear of these veterans, they all marched down in a body to the spring, within point-blank shot of more than five hundred Indian warriors ! Some of the girls could not help betraying symptoms of terror, but the married women, in general, moved with a steadiness and composure which completely deceived the Indians. I^ot a shot was fired. The party were permitted to fill their buckets, one after another, without interruption, and although their steps became quicker and quicker on their return, and when near the gate of the fort degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some little crowding in passing the gate, yet not more than one-fifth of the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to more than double their ordinary size.*

Being now amply supplied with water, they sent out thirteen young men to attack the decoy party, with orders to fire with great rapidity, and make as much noise as possible, but not to pursue the enemy too far, while the rest of the garrison took post on the opposite side of the fort, cocked their guns, and stood in readiness to receive the ambuscade as soon as it was unmasked. The firing of the light parties on the Lexington road was soon heard, and quickly became sharp and serious, gradually becoming more distant from the fort. Instantly, Girty sprung up at the head of his five hundred warriors, and rushed rapidly upon the western gate, ready to force his way over the undefended palisades. A small body of the most daring reached the fort, and set fire to a few houses and stables, which were consumed; but the rest of the fort and the lives of the people were saved by an easterly wind, which drove the flames from the houses. Into the immense mass of dusky bodies the garrison poured several rapid volleys of rifle balls with destructive effect. Their consternation may be imagined. "With wild cries they dispersed on the right and left, and in two minutes not an Indian was to be seen. At the same time, the party who had sallied out on the Lexington road, came running into the fort at the opposite gate, in high spirits, and laughing heartily at the success of their maneuver.

A regular attack, in the usual manner, then commenced, without much eflfect on either side, until two o'clock in the afternoon, when a new scene presented itself. Upon the first appearance of the Indians in the morning, two of the garrison, Tomlinson and Bell, had been mounted upon fleet horses, and sent at full speed to Lexington, announcing the arrival of the Indians, and demanding reinforcements.

Upon their arrival, a little after sunrise, they found the station occupied only by some women and children and a few old men, the rest having marched to the assistance of Holder. The two couriers instantly followed at a gallop, and, overtaking them on the road, informed them of the danger to which Bryant's station and Lexington were exposed during their absence. The whole party, with some volunteers from Boone's station, instantly countermarched, and repaired, with all possible dispatch, to Bryant's station. They were entirely ignorant of the overwhelming numbers opposed to them, or they would have proceeded with more caution. The couriers had only informed them that the station was surrounded, being themselves ignorant of the numr bers of the enemy. At about two p. m. the men from Lexington and Boone's station arrived in sight of the fort, at the mO' mentthe firing had ceased, and no indications of danger appeared. The reinforcement believed it had been the victim of a false alarm, and the sixteen mounted men approached the fort the usual route along a narrow lane, which was lined for more than one hundred yards by the enemy on both sides, who commenced a fire unperceived at a few feet distance. It is believed the great dust which was raised by the horses' feet in a considerable degree protected the party; they got safely into the fort without the slightest wound on man or horse.* The men on foot were less fortunate. They were advancing through a corn-field, to the left of what is now the Maysville and Lexington road, and might have reached the fort in safety but for their eagerness to succor their friends. "Without reflecting that, from the weight and extent of the fire, the enemy must have been ten times their number, they ran up, with inconsiderate courage, to the spot where the firing was heard, and there found themselves cut off from the fort, and within pistol shot of more than three hundred savages.

Fortunately the Indian guns had just been discharged, and they had not yet had leisure to reload. At the sight of this brave body of footmen, however, they raised a hideous yell, and rushed upon the Lexington infantry, tomahawk in hand. Nothing but the high corn and their loaded rifles could have saved them from destruction. The Indians were cautious in rushing upon a loaded rifle, with only a tomahawk, and when they halted to load their pieces, the Kentuckians ran with great rapidity, turning and dodging through the corn in every direction. Some entered the wood and escaped through the thickets of cane, some were shot down in the corn-field, others maintained a running fight, halting occasionally behind trees and keeping the enemy at bay with their rifles; for, of all men, the Indians are generally the most cautious in exposing themselves to danger.f A stout, active young fellow was so hard pressed by Girty and several savages, that he was compelled to discharge his rifle (however unwilling, having no time to reload it), and Girty fell.

It happened, however, that a piece of thick aole-leather was in his shot-pouch at the time, which received the ball, and preserved his life, although the force of the blow felled him to the ground. The savages halted upon his fall, and the young man escaped. Although the skirmish and the race lasted for more than an hour, during which the cornfield presented a scene of turmoil and bustle which can scarcely be conceived, yet very few lives were lost. Only six of the white men from Lexington were killed and wounded, and probably still fewer of the enemy, as the whites never fired until absolutely necessary, but reserved their loads as a check upon the enemy. Had the Indians pursued them to Lexington, they might have possessed themselves of it without resistance, as there was no force there to oppose them ; but after following the fugitives for a few hundred yards, they returned to the hopeless siege of the fort.

It was now near sunset, and the cattle and stock, while attempting to return, as usual, to the fort, were mostly killed; the few sheep were totally destroyed.

By this time the fire on both sides had slackened. The Indians had become discouraged. Their loss in the morning had been heavy, and the country was evidently arming, and would soon be upon them. They had made no inipression upon the fort, and without artillery could hope to make none. The chiefs spoke of raising the siege, but Girty determined, since his arms had been unavailing, to try the efficacy of negotiation. He approached, under cover of a thick growth of hemp, to a large stump of a tree, which stood not far from the spot where the dwelling-house of Mr. Rogers was afterward erected, and hailed the fort, demanding a surrender, stating that the forces were commanded by him, and inquired if he was known to the people of the fort. He declared that the prisoners should be protected if they would surrender, which was out of his power if the place was taken by storm, as it would be that night, on the arrival of his cannon and strong, reinforcements, which were hourly expected.* This language from airty, and the recollections by the people in the fort, that cannon were employed in the reduction of Euddle's and Martin's stations, was calculated to create considerable alarm. But one of the garrison, a young man by the name of Aaron Eeynolds, remarkable both for wit and courage, and afterward distinguished for a noble act at the battle of the Blue Licks, perceiving the effect of Girty's speech, took upon himself to reply to it. To Girty's inquiry, " whether, the garrison knew him," Eeynolds replied "that he was very well known ; that he himself had a worthless dog to which he had given the name of ' Simon Girty,' in consequence of his striking resemblance to the man of that name ; that if he had either artillery or reinforcements, he might bring them up and be d - d; that if either himself or any of the naked rascals with him found their way into the fort, they would disdain to use their guns against them, but would drive them out again with switches, of which they had collected a great number for that purpose alone ; and, finally, he declared that they also expected reinforcements ; that the whole country was marching to their assistance; and that if Girty and his gang of murderers remained twenty-four hours longer before the fort, their scalps would be found drying in the sun upon the roofs of their cabins."

Girty took great offense at the tone and language of the young Kentuckian, and retired with an expression of sorrow for the inevitable destruction which awaited them on the following morning. He quickly rejoined the chiefs; and instant preparations were made for raising the siege. The night passed away in uninterrupted tranquillity, and at daylight in the morning tlie Indian camp was found deserted. Fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were left upon their roasting-sticks, from which it was inferred that they had retreated a short time before daylight, f

And thus ended one of the most remarkable and celebrated sieges known in the history of Indian warfare, and one crowded, brief as it was, with strange and thrilling events. The firing in the morning was in time to prevent the march of nearly all the men to a distant point, and the enemy so far overrated their plan, that instead of drawing the men out, every one prepared for a siege. Then there was the providential circumstance of the wind springing up from the east, and saving the place from the flames. Add to this, the almost miraculous escape of the two couriers to Lexington, the daring charge of the sixteen death-defying heroes from Lexington through a cross-fire of hundreds of Indians, and their entrance into the fort unhurt, and the escape of their gallant comrades on foot, with a loss of only six killed and wounded, when all of them seemed doomed to utter destruction, and we have a chapter of truths stranger far than many a page of highly-wrought fiction. Only two persons, Mitchell and Atkinson, were killed in the fort. One of the most heroic of the brave little garrison, Nicholas Tomlinson, was slightly wounded in the arm. He was one of the most active defenders of his country, and was employed in Harmer's expedition, in 1790, as a spy. At the defeat of a detachment of the army under Colonel John Hardin, on the Oglaze, the daring Tomlinson, being in advance, was literally shot to pieces by an ambuscade of more than one thousand Indians.*

The loss of the Indians in the seige of Bryant's station has never been accurately ascertained, but it is known to have been very considerabl'i. The residence and improvements of Mr. Charlton liogers now (1872) cover part of the ground upon which the fort stood. The famous spring, from which the heroic women of the garrison drew water, still pours forth a grateful stream.

Swift couriers carried the news of the presence of the Indian army to the various stations, and while the savages were retreating, the hunters were rapidly gathering at Bryant's station, to pursue them. Colonel Daniel Boone ac- companied by his youngest sun, Isaac, and Samuel, the brave brother of the old pioneer, headed a strong party from Boonesborough, Colonel Stephen Trigg brought up the force from Harrodsburg, and Colonel John Todd commanded the Lexington garrison. Todd and Trigg, as senior colonels, took command.*

Dispatches had been sent to Colonel Benj. Logan, in Lincoln county, during the seige, and he had hastily collected about three hundred men, and started upon his march, but before he was able to reach Bryant's station, the Indians had raised the seige and gone. Colonel Logan followed as fast as possible, in the hope of coming np with those who marched from the neighborhood of Lexington before they overtook the Indians, but met them not far from Bryant's on their return. In the midst of trying scenes of tears and sadness, the misgivings of the wife, and the forebodings of the mother, the brave men made every preparation for the march. On the morning of the 18th of August, their force amounted to one hundred and eighty-two men,t and though it was well-known that the numbers of the enemy were overwhelmingly superior to this, the pursuit was urged with that precipitate courage which has so often been fatal to Kentuekians, and on the afternoon of the same day, the march was commenced.J

The Indians had followed the buffalo trace, and the Kentuckians had not proceeded more than nine or ten miles, before the lynx-eyed Boone discovered certain signs on the route indicating a willingness on the part of the Indians to be pursued, which was plainly evinced by their leaving a plain trail. Notwithstanding, they evidently used all the means in their power, to conceal their number, for which purpose they marched in single file, treading in each other's footsteps.

The pursuing force, after a hard march, camped that night in the woods only a few miles distant from the now sadly famous battle-gound, the appearance of which, at that time, is thus quaintly described by one§ who fought upou its sanguinary soil: "The Blue Licks are situated about forty miles from Lexington, and about thirty -five from Bryant's station. The Licking river at this place is about three hundred feet wide at common water, and forms a semi-elipsis, which embraces on its northeast side, toward Limestone, a great ridge of rocks which had been made bare by the stamping of buffalo and other game, drawn together from time immemorial to drink the water and lick the clay. Two deep ravines, heading in this ridge near each other, and extending in opposite directions, formed the longest diameter of this elipsis. This ridge had very little timber on it, and what it had was very indifferent, and exhibited a very dreary appearance; but the ravines were furnished not only plentifully with timber, but with a thick brushwood also."

On the following day, by an easy march, the Kentuckians reached the lower Blue Licks, where for the first time since the pursuit commenced, they came within view of an enemy. As the miscellaneous crowd of horse and foot reached the southern bank of Licking, they saw a number of Indians ascending the rocky ridge on the other side.

They halted upon the appearance of the Kentuckians, gazed at them for a few moments in silence, and then calmly and leisurely disappeared over the top of the hill. A halt immediately ensued. A dozen or twenty officers met in front of the ranks, and entered into consultation. The wild and lonely aspect of the countfy around them, their distance from any point of support, with the certainty of their being in the presence of a superior enemy, seems to have inspired a portion of seriousness, bordering upon awe* All eyes were now turned upon Boone, and Colonel Todd asked his opinion as to what should be done. The veteran woodsman, with his usual unmoved gravity, replied :

" That their situation was critical and delicate ; that the force opposed to them was undoubtedly numerous and ready for battle, as might readily be seen from the leisurely retreat of the few Indians who had appeared upon the crest of the hill; that he was well acquainted with the ground in the neighborhood of the lick, and was appre- hensive that an ambuscade was formed at the distance of a mile in advance, where two ravines, one upon each side of the ridge, ran in such a manner, that a concealed enemymight assail them at once, both in front and flank, before they were apprised of the danger.

" It would be proper, therefore, to do one of two things. Either to await the arrival of Logan, who was now undoubtedly on his march to join them, or if it was determined to attack without delay, that one-half of their number should march up the river, which there bends in an elliptical form, cross at the rapids, and fall upon the rear of the enemy, while the other division attacked in front. At any rate, he strongly urged the necessity of reconnoitering the ground carefully before the main body crossed the

Such was the counsel of Boone. And although no measure could have been much more disastrous than that which was adopted, yet it may be doubted if anything short of an immediate retreat upon Logan, could have saved this gallant body of men from the fate which they encountered. If they divided their force, the enemy, as in Estill's case^ might have overwhelmed them in detail ; if they remained where they were, without advancing, the enemy would certainly have attacked them, probably in the night, and with a certainty of success. They had committed a great error at first, in not waiting for Logan, and nothing short of a retreat, which would have been considered disgraceful, could now repair it.

Boone was heard in silence and with deep attention. Some wished to adopt the first plan; others preferred the second ; and the discussion threatened to be drawn out to some length, when the boiling ardor of McGary, who could never endure the presence of an enemy without instant battle, stimulated him to an act, which had nearly proved distructive to all. He suddenly interrupted the consultation with an Indian war whoop, spurred his horse into the

The rashness of McGary was contagious. He was followed in quick succession by the whole party, who crossed the river in great disorder and confusion, whilst the officers were reluctantly borne along in the tumult. After crossing the river, no authority was exercised, nor any order observed in the line of march, but every one rushed forward, tumultuously pursuing the road over the rocks to the end of the ridge of hills, where a forest of oaks and deep ravines, with underwood, concealed the enemy from view, who awaited in their ambuscade to receive them.

McGary lead the van of the army, closely followed by Major Harlan and Captain William McBride, supported by the men on horseback. They reached the spot mentioned by Boone, where the two ravines head on each side of the ridge, when Girty, with a chosen part of his tawny host, rushed forward from their covert, and with horrid shrieks and yells, attacked them with great impetuosity., The conflict instantlj' became hot and sanguinary. The advantageous position occupied by the Indians enabled them to assail the whole of the whites at the same moment. The officers suffered dreadfully, and many were already killed.

The Indians gradually extended their line to turn the right of the Kentuckians and cut oft' their retreat. This was quickly perceived by the weight of the fire from that quarter, and the rear instantly fell back in disorder, and attempted to rush through their only opening to the river. The motion quickly communicated itself to the van, and a hurried retreat became general. The Indians instantly sprung forward in pursuit, and falling upon them with their tomahawks, made a cruel slaughter. Prom the battleground to the river, the spectacle was terrible. The horsemen generally escaped, but the foot, particularly the van, which had advanced farthest withiu the wings of the net, were almost totally destroyed. Colonel Boone, after witnessing the death of his son and many of his dearest friends, found himself almost entirely surrounded at the very commencemeat of the retreat.

Several hundred Indians were between him and the ford, to which the great mass of fugitives were bending their flight, and to which the attention of the savages was principally directed. Being intimately acquainted with the ground, he, together with a few friends, dashed into the ravine which the Indians had occupied, but which most of them had now left to join in the pursuit. After sustaining one or two heavy fires, and baffling one or two small parties, who pursued him for a short distance, he crossed the river below the ford, by swimming, and entering the wood at a point where there was no pursuit, returned by a circuitous route to Bryant's station. In the mean time, the great mass of the victors and vanquished crowded the bank of the ford.

The slaughter was great in the river. The ford was crowded with horsemen and foot and Indians, all mingled together. Some were compelled to seek a passage above by swimming; some, who could not swim, were overtaken and killed at the edge of the water. One of the Lexington militia, by the name of Benjamin K"etherland, who had formerly been strongly suspected of cowardice, here displayed a coolness and presence of mind equally noble and unexpected. Being finely mounted, he had outstripped the great mass of fugitives, and crossed the river in safety. A dozen or twenty horsemen accompanied him, and having placed the river between them and the enemy, showed a disposition to continue their flight without regard to the safety of their friends who were on foot and still struggling with the current. E"etherland instantly checked his horse, and in a loud voice, called his companions to halt, fire upon the Indians, and save those still in the stream. The party instantly obeyed, and, facing about, poured a close and fatal discharge of rifies upon the foremost of the pursuers. The enemy instantly fell back from the opposite bank, and gave time to the harassed and miserable footmen to cross in safety.* The check was, however, but momentary, The Indians were seen crossing in great numbers above and below, and the flight again became general. Most of the footmen left the great buffalo track, and plunging into the thickets, escaped by a circuitous route to Bryant's station.

But little loss was sustained after crossing the river, although the pursuit was urged keenly for twenty miles. From the battleground to the ford the loss was very heavy, and at that stage of the retreat, there occurred a rare and striking instance of magnanimity, which it would be criminal to omit.* Aaron Reynolds, already famous for his reply to Girty at Bryant's station, after bearing his share in the action with distinguished gallantry, was galloping with several other horsemen in order to reach the ford. The great body of fugitives had preceded them, and their situation was in the highest degree critical and dangerous. About half way between the battle-ground and the river, the party overtook Colonel Patterson, of Lexington, on foot, exhausted by the rapidity of the flight, and in consequence of former wounds received from the Indians, so infirm as to be unable to keep up with the main body of the men on foot. The Indians were close behind him, and his fate seemed inevitable. Reynolds, upon coming up with this brave officer, instantly sprung from his horse, aided Patterson to mount into the saddle, and continued his own flight on foot. Being remarkably active and vigorous, he contrived to elude his pursuers, and turning oft' from the main road, plunged into the river near the spot where Boone had crossed, and swam in safety to the opposite side. Unfortunately, he wore a pair of buckskin breeches, which had become so heavy and full of water as to prevent his exerting himself with his usual activity, and while sitting down for the purpose of pulling them oft', he was overtaken by a party of Indians, and made prisoner.

A prisoner is rarely put to death by the Indians, unless wounded or infirm, until they return to their own country; and then his fate is decided in solemn council. Young Reynolds, therefore, was treated kindly, and compelled to accompany his captors in the pursuit. A small party of

Kentuckians soon attracted their attention, and he was left in charge of three Indians, who, eager in pursuit, in turn committed him to the charge of one of their number, while they followed their companions. Reynolds and his guard jogged along very leisurely; the former totally unarmed; the latter, with a tomahawk and rifle in his hands. At length the Indian stopped to tie his moccasin, when Reynolds instantly sprung upon him, knocked him down with his fist, and quickly disappeared in the thicket which surrounded them. For this act of generosity, Captain Patterson afterward made him a present of two hundred acres of first rate land.

Late in the evening of the same day, most of the survivors arrived at Bryant's station ; but many familiar forms were missing. Colonel John Todd, of Lexington, had fallen fighting to the last, with the blood flowing from many a wound. Colonel Stephen Trigg, Majors Silas Harlan, Edward Bulger, Captains John Gordon and William McBride, together with Isaac Boone, son of Colonel Daniel Boone, had all fallen.* Sixty men had been killed in the battle and flight, and seven bad been taken prisoners,f part of whom were afterwards put to death by the Indians, as was said, to make their loss even. This account, however, appears very improbable. It is almost incredible that the Indians should have suft'ered an equal loss. Their superiority of numbers, their advantage of position (being in a great measure sheltered, while the Kentuckians, particularly the horsemen, were much exposed), the extreme brevity of the battle, and the acknowledged bloodiness of the pursuit, all tend to contradict the report that the Indian loss exceeded that of the Kentuckians.

At Lexington, Boone tells us, " many widows were made," and the whole station was given up to the most frantic grief. It was the same at Bryant's station, and soon the melancholy news spread throughout the country and the whole district of Kentucky was covered with mourning for many a long and dreary day. Colonel Logan, after being joined by many of the friends of the killed and missing from Lexington and Bryant's station, continued his march to the battle-ground, with the hope that success would embolden the enemy, and induce them to remain until his arrival.

On the second day after the battle, in solemn silence the whole party reached the field. The enemy were gone, but the bodies of the Kentuckians still lay unbnried on the spot where they had fallen. Immense flocks of buzzards were soaring over the battle ground, and the bodies of the dead had become so much swollen and disfigured, that it was impossible to recognize the features of the most particular friends. Many corpses were fioating near the shore of the northern bank, already putrid from the action of the sun, and partially eaten by fishes.* The whole were carefully collected by order of Colonel Logan, and interred as decently as the nature of the soil would permit. Being satisfied that the Indians were by this time, far beyond his reach, he then retraced his steps to Bryant's station, and dismissed his men.

>The fatal battle of the Blue Licks like the massacre of Wyoming and Braddock's defeat, which it so much resembled, brought misery and slaughter when least expected, and like them, will be read of with increasing interest as time advances. The last great blow struck by the Indian for the recovery of his favorite hunting grounds, will become adorned by age, with a golden halo of romantic attractions not less bright than that which now encircles the last struggle of the chivalric old Moors for the possession of Spain.

The women of Lexington - women like the one who came to the rescue of the dying hunter at the gate of the fort - were not idle during this time of siege, and battle, and retreat. "With tearful hearts, but brave words, they hastened on their husbands and brothers to the aid of Bryant's station, and with but feeble help, guarded the fort until relieved by the footmen who escaped from the savages who surrounded that apparently doomed place.* They tenderly dressed the wounds of the brave fugitives with many a thought of liuddell's and Martin's station, shuddering at the sound of the distant war whoop, and praying for the defeat of the savage army. The seige was raised. Elated with success, the settlers, young and old, abandoned Lexington to join the force now wild to pursue the Indians ; and again the fort was left to be garrisoned this time, almost entirely, by the brave women who were fit companions of the men who charged through twenty times their number, to aid the little band in Bryant's station. Who can picture the hours of watchfulness and solicitude, the alarms, the terror, and the heroic conduct of these true, devoted, and undaunted mothers of Lexington, while discharging their sublime duty. The pioneer women of Lexington, may we not class them with the patriotic women of the Eevolution ? Were the women of old colonial Lexington stouter-hearted than those of the Lexington of the savage wilderness?

One of the most thrilling and remarkable incidents in the entire history of border life and warfare, occurred at this time.J A settler named James Morgan, with more daring than prudence, lived with his wife and one infant child in a cabin outside the fort at Bryant's station. When he discovered the presence of the Indians by their firing on the fort, he raised one of the slabs of the cabin fioor, concealed his wife under it, strung his baby to his back, and unbarred the door to escape. As he bounded out he was attacked by several Indians. He killed two of them and outstripped the rest, but an Indian dog pursued him with all the ferocity of a wild cat; he finally succeeded in killing him : and then looking back for the first time, saw his cabin and part of the station in flames. In agony at the impending fate of his tenderly beloved wife, but utterly unable to assist her, he watched his burning dwelling until he was on the point of being captured, when he again retreated, and finally arrived at Lexington.

When the Indians raised the seige he left his baby in the care of one of the sympathizing women in Lexington station, and hastened with a throbbing heart to the spot where his cabin had so lately stood. He found a heap of ashes, some smoldering embers, and a few poor charred bones which he reverently' gathered and buried, almost insane with grief and the desire for revenge. He went to the Blue Licks, and while rushing into the midst of the conflict, he saw an Indian wearing a handkerchief which he recognized as his wife's. He raised his rifle and killed him with savage joy. During the retreat he was wounded, and after dragging himself some distance from the scene of conflict, he had laid himself down to die, when he was discovered and rescued by the wife he had mourned as dead. It turned out that the Indians who rushed into his cabin after his escape, quarreled over the little spoil in it, got to fighting, and one of them was killed. In her fright, Mrs. Morgan screamed, was discovered, and was carried a captive along with the retreating savages, but managed to escape, and at once set out to find her husband and child. The bones found and buried by Morgan, were those of the Indian who was killed by his comrades.

Clark and retribution followed the Indians after the battle of the Blue Licks, as Sullivan and extermination followed them after the massacre of Wyoming. The call of the Lion of Kentucky for troops was promptly answered by a thousand mounted riflemen, a number of whom were from Lexington, and in September, after a rapid march under their brilliant leader, they penetrated the heart of the Indian country* Five of the Chillicothe towns, where the savages liad gathered before starting to Bryant's station, were reduced to ashes, their crops were destroyed, the country for miles around made desolate, and such of the swiftly-fleeing Indians as were overtaken met with no quarter at the hands of the enraged avengers of the pioneers who were slaughtered at the Blue Licks. The Indians were disheartened. They had dealt their heaviest blow, and it had rebounded against themselves. They now dispaired of ever recovering Kentucky, and no great body of them ever after invaded the state. But though they came not with an army, the rifle, tomahawk, and scalping knife of the plundering and murdering Indian was not yet entirely banished from the now truly Dark and Bloody Ground.

Lexington station gained another school-teacher this year, in the person of John Filson, the author, in 1784, of the first history ever written of Kentucky. He afterward gave to Cincinnati her first name, " Losantiville." Filson was an early adventurer with Daniel Boone, and after the discoverer of Kentucky returned to Lexington, in October, from the Chillicothe towns, Filson wrote, at his dictation, the only narrative of his life extant from the old pioneer's own lips. This narrative was indorsed at the time by James Harrod, Levi Todd, and Boone himself. Filson taught in Lexington /or several years, and did no little to secure the early organization of Transylvania Seminary.f He was killed by the Indians near Cincinnati, in 1789.

In the ITovember after the Blue Lick's massacre. Colonel Thomas Marshall, 'surveyor of Fayette county, opened an office in Lexington, and a calamitous scramble for land recommenced.J Colonel Marshall was a Virginian, had distinguished himself in the war of the Revolution, and soon became one of the leading citizens of Kentucky.

Peace - McKinney and the Wild Cat - The Old Fort - Lot Owners and Early Settlers - Christopher Greenup, Humphrey Marshall, John Sharp, Robert Todd, John Cariy, Sen., Benjamin Howard, William Dudley, William Eussell.

On the 20th of January, 1783, Hostilities ceased between the ai^mies of the United States and England, and the news was received with great joy by the settlers in Fayette county. This much desired event did not necessarily bring with it security from the Indians, but the pioneers hoped it would. At any rate Clark had demoralized the savages, so that this year was on e of comparative peace. The Lexington settlers were now, for the first time, encouraged to build cabins outside the walls of the fort, and the land which they had bought with the heavy price of blood and suffering they commenced to occupy and improve. Some attention could now be paid to gardening; vegetables and other comforts of civilized life began to appear. The live stock, unmolested by the Indians, fattened and multiplied, and the settlers, free from the prison-like restraints of the fort, felt a new pleasure in life.

A log school-house, located on Cheapside, was one of the first buildings erected outside of the fort walls, and here, early one morning in June,* Mr. John McKinney, the teacher, became the hero of a now celebrated combat. He was sitting at his rude desk waiting for the appearance of his little band of pupils, when a wild cat of uncommon size made its appearance at the door, and, without seeming to notice him, suddenly leaped into the room, snapping its jaws and foaming at the mouth. On observing it, his first

But, to his great surprise, on casting its eyes around and seeing him, instead of precipitately retreating as he had expected, it advanced toward him in a menacing manner. He instantly reached forward to a table near him, and attempted to grasp a ruler, but before he had obtained it, the animal was upon him, and seized him by the teeth on the collar bone near his throat. "With some difficulty, by striking at it upward under his jacket, he relieved himself from this grasp, but the enraged animal instantly caught him by the right side, and, with its long crooked tusks, pierced through his clothes, and penetrated between his ribs, where it held him so fast that he found it impossible to extricate himself. At the same time its sharp claws were employed with astonishing rapidity in cutting ofi" his clothes, and tearing the flesh from his side. From its situation he was unable to strike it with any considerable force, but, in the eflwrt, only wounded his own hand against the table. Finding he could do nothing in that way, he seized the animal with both arms, brought its hinder part between his thighs, and pressed it with all his force against the table. It struggled violently, and fearing it might escape from his grasp and again attack him with its claws, he now for the first time made an exclamation, in the hope that some one might come to his relief. The ladies, who were engaged near the place milking their cows, were most of them alarmed at the cry, and ran precipitately into the fort, exclaiming that something was killing Mr. McKinney in the school-house. Three of them, however, Mrs. Masterson, Mrs. Collins, and Miss Thompson, being less timid than the rest, ran toward the house, and after some deliberation among themselves as to who should venture to look in first, entered the door. Mr. McKinney, perceiving that they were females, and knowing Mrs. Masterson to be in a delicate state of health, was fearful of alarming them, and, notwithstanding his own dreadful situation, assumed an air of composure, and, with a smile, observed : " Do n't be alarmed, it is only a cat I have caught, and I want some person to assist me in killing it," He was thus careful not to inform them, as he might have done with far greater correctness, that the cat had caught him. The ladies then boldly advanced toward him, and one of them, stooping down and observing the size of the animal, exclaimed, " what a monster !" ran to the door and called a gentleman who happened to be passing by. He came in, and proposed cutting off" the claws of the cat, but Mr. McKinney, perceiving it to lie perfectly still, concluded he had killed it, which, on rising, he found to be the fact. They then endeavored to draw out the animal's teeth from Mr. McKinney's side, but finding them so hooked in between the ribs that they could not extricate them, the whole party left the school-house, and advanced toward the fort, to which, by this time, the alarmed and excited people were rushing in crowds, under the impression that the Indians were about to attack the place. After reaching the fort, new feff'orts were made to relieve Mr. McKinney from the tusks of the cat, which were at length rendered successful by placing its head in the same position as when it made the attack.

I^otwithstanding his wounds, Mr. McKinney attended his school that morning, but at noon found himself so exhausted, and his pain so extreme, that he was compelled to dismiss his scholars and resort to his bed. By proper applications, however, he was soon relieved; his -wounds healed rapidly and his usual health was speedily restored. McKinney afterward settled in Bourbon county, and lived to a green old age, and the account here given is an almost verbatim, statement made by him in 1820.