Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-15

liver: killed fine bear on our way camp
ed all night, had an excellent supper.
On leaving that river. we had to encoun-
ter and cut our way through country Of
about 20 miles, entirely covered with dead
brush, which we found difficult and labo-
rlous task. At the end Of which we arriv-
ed at the commencement of cane country,
travelled about 80 miles through thick cane
and reed, and as the cane ceased, we be-
gan to discover the pleasing and rapturous
appearance of the plains of Kentucky. A
new sky ard strange earth seemed to be
10 our view. So rich soil we
had never seen before; covered with clo-
yer in full bloom, the woods were abound
ing with wild game-turkeys so numerous
that it might be said they appeared but one
flock, universally scattered in the woods.
1t appeared that nature, in the profusion of
her bounty, had spread feast for all that
lives, both for the animal and rational
world. A sight so delightful to our view
and grateful to our feelings, almost inclined
US, in imitation of Columbus, in transport
to kiss the soil of Kentucky, as he hailed
and saluted the sand on his first setting his
foot on the shores of America. The ap-
pearance of the country coming up to the
full measure of our expectations, and SEEM
ed TO exceed the fruitful source of our i'm
aginary prospects.
We felt ourselves as passengers through
a wilderness just arrived at the fields of E.
lysium, or at a garden where was no for
bidden fruit Nothing can furnish the con-
templative mind with more sublime refec-
tons, than nature unbroken by art We can
there trace the wisdom of the Great Archi-
tect in the construction of his works in ma
ture's simplicity, which, when he had fn-
ished, he pronounced all good. But, alas !
fond man the vision of a moment made
dream of dream, and shadow of shade !!
Man may appoint but One greater than
man can disappoint. A sad reverse over
took us two days after. on our way 10 Ken
tucky river. On the 25th March, 1775 we
were fired on by the Indians. in our camp
asleep, about an hour before day. Captain
Twetty was shot in both knees, and died
the third day after. A black man, his body
servant, killed dead myself badly wound
ed =; our company dispersed. So fatal and
and tragical an event cast deep gloom of
melancholy over all our propects, and high
calculations of long life and happy days in
our undiscovered country were pros
trated; hope vanished from the most of
US. and left us suspended in the tumult
Of uncertainty and conjecture. Colonel
Boon and few others, appeared TO pos
sess firmness and fortitude. In our ca
lamitous situation, circumstance occurred
one morning after our misfortunes, that
proved the courage and stability of our few
remaining men (tor some had gone back.
One of our men, who had run off at the fire
of the Indians on our camp, was discover
ed peeping from behind tree, by black
woman belonging to Colonel Galloway,
while gathering small wood. She ran in
and gave the alarm of Indians. Col. Boon
instantly caught his rife, ordered the few
men to form, take trees, and give battle
and not to run till they saw him fall. They
formed agreeablv to his directions, and
believe they would have fought with equal
bravery to any Spartan band ever brought
to the field of acton, when the man behind
tree announced his name, and came in
My situation was critical and dangerous,
being then youth, three hundred miles
from white inhabitants. My friend and
guardian, Captain Twetty, taken dead from
my side, my wounds pronounced by some
to be mortal, produced very serious rehec-
tons. Yet withal | retained frmness to
support me under the pressure of distress,
and did not suffer me to languish in depres-
siou of mind.
But where shall begin, or where can
end, in thanks and grateful acknowledge
ments to that benign and merciful Protec-
tor who spared and preserved me in the
blaze of danger and in the midst of death
| trust | shall remember that singular and
protecting event. with flial sensations of
gratitude, while retain my recollection
We remained at the same place twelve
days; could not be removed sooner with
out the danger ofInstant death. At length
| was carried in litter between two horses,
twelve miles, to Kentucky river, where we
made station, and called it Boonsborough,
situated in a plain on the south side Of the
river, wherein was lick with two sulphur
springs strongly impregnated. On entering
the plain we were permitted to view very
interesting and romantic sight. A number
of buffaloes, of all sizes, supposed to be be-
tween two and three hundred, made off
from the lick in every direction some run
ming, some walking, others Looping slowly
and carelessly, with young calves playing,
skipping, and bounding through the plain.
Such sight some Of us never saw before,
nor perhaps ever may again. But to pro-
ceed, Colonel Richard Henderson, Colonel
LuttrelI, from North Carolina, Captain VIM
Cock, since the Honorable Judge Cock, of
Tennessee, and Colonel Thomas Slaughter
OF Virginia, arrived in the month of April
with company of about thirty men. Our
military forces when united, numbered a.
bout sixty or sixty-fve men, expert rifle
men. We lived plentifully on wild meat,
buffalo, bear, deer, and turkey, without
bread Or salt, generally in good health, un-
til the month Of July, when left The coun-
try.
Colonel Richard Henderson, being the
chief proprietor in the purchase of the
bloody ground Gndeed so to us), acted as
Governor called an assembly, by election
ot members, out of our small numbers Or
yanlzed government, convened the as
'embly in May, ITS, consisting of eigh-
'een members, exclusive of the speaker,
passed several laws for the regulation of
our little community, well adapted to the
policy OF an infant government.
This assembly was held under two shade
rees, IN the plains of Boonsborough. This
vas the first feature of civilization ever at
empted In what is now called the Western
Country.
This small beginning, that little germ of