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Archiver > LONGHUNTERS > 1999-08 > 0933944432


From: Donald Chesnut <>
Subject: Notes on Kentucky, #9
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 09:00:32 -0400


Excerpt from Bradford's "Notes on Kentucky"

[Sept. 15, 1826, cont]
"On the 29th of the same month, between 40 and 50 Indians commanded by a
noted Mingo warrior named Pluggy attacked McClelland's fort, in which at
that time there were about 20 men; after a few hours the Indians withdrew,
having received considerable injury as it was afterwards understood, with
the loss of Pluggy their principal warrior. The loss of the whites were
John McClelland and Charles White mortally wounded, and Robert Todd
(afterwards General Todd) and Edward Worthington wounded who recovered.
"After the attack made on McClelland's fort, a party from Harrodsburg made
a second attempt to bring the ammunition from the island, and succeeded and
deposited it in Harrodsburg. This was considered not only a relief at that
moment, but an important means of saving the country. As by it the people
were not only enabled to procure food for themselves, but to defend their
forts against the attacks of the indians. As there were not more than from
20 to 30 men who were materially interested in keeping possession of the
posts on the north side of the Kentucky, they were considered too few to
maintain their standing in the Spring, they therefore on the 30th January
1777 broke up and removed some to Boonesborough, and the rest to
Harrodsburg. Thus the whole population of Kentucky were in these two forts,
and did not exceed 150 men fit for duty, and about 40 families who were to
be supported by meat from the woods and corn from the fields.
"The perilous situation of the country at this time, pointed out the
necessity of forming the militia into companies, and their submitting to
some kind of authority. George Rogers Clark, who shortly after was
commissioned a Major, was appointed to command at Harrodsburg--Cols.
Calloway and Boone at Boonesborough.
"On the 28th of March 1777 a large body of Indians laid siege to
Harrodsburgh. They began their operations by dividing into small parties,
and waylaying every path and avenue to the fort from the fields or forest;
concealing themselves behind trees bushes, &c. and they also attempted to
cut off all supplies by killing the cattle. Unable however to accomplish
their purpose, they retired from Harrodsburg and made a descent on
Boonesborough. During the attack on Harrodsburg, Garret Pendegrass was
killed, and Peter Flinn either killed or taken, as his body was never found.
"Kentucky having been formed into a county; on the 18th day of April,
Richard Calloway, and John Todd were elected to represent the people in the
General Assembly of Virginia.
"On the 20th April Benj. Lynn and Samuel Moore, two active woodsmen set
out from Harrodsburg for Illinois; their business was only known to Major
Clark and a few others until after their return, which was on the 22d of
June, and not then to many. Maj. Clark's arrangements with the executive,
and his expedition the next Spring best explains the errand of Lynn and
Moore to Kaskaskias.
"On the 20th of May 1777, whilst the women at Logan's station were milking
early in the morning, having a guard of men with them, a large party of
Indians who had been concealed, made a sudden attack upon them, in which
one man was killed, and two wounded, one of which mortally, the other with
the women and the rest of the men got into the fort.
"The man who was mortally wounded, was left on the ground, as the party
were unable to bring him off; his name was Burr Harrison. The Indians were
afraid to attempt to approach the wounded man, as he was within rifle shot
of the fort and in open view. After some time he was discovered attempting
to rise, when Logan who had in vain endeavored to excite a party to aid him
in bringing in the wounded man, made the attempt alone and succeeded in the
midst of a shower of Bullets discharged at him by the Indians without
receiving any injury.
"On the 4th July Boonesborough was besieged by about 200 Indians; they
killed one white man and wounded two. At that time there were only 22 men
in the fort. The siege lasted two days, during which the Indians had seven
of their party killed.
"About this time all the stations in the country were besieged, for the
obvious purpose of preventing the people from aiding each other.
"On the 19th July 1777, Logan's station was again besieged by about 200
Indians; there was at that time only 15 men in the fort, two of whom were
killed and one wounded.
"One of the men killed was shot down at the fort gate and scalped, and a
large bundle of papers laid on his breast. These papers were proclamations
from Sir Guy Carleton (Lord Dorchester) at that time Commander in Chief of
all the British forces in Canada, and addressed to the people of Kentucky
generally, and to Clark and Logan by name. They were kept secret by Gen.
Logan for many years afterwards, for what reason is not know[n].
"About this time Col. John Bowman arrived from Virginia at Logan's station
with 100 men, most of whose time of service had expired on the road, and
was not considered as a permanent protection."

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