Eastern times., 1856-02-21


father, Col. Linn, espoused the cause of the
colonies, and took up arms for their liberties
at the dawn of the American revolution He
constantly remained active in the service of his
country throughout that long struggle, so per-
lous and sangunary TO the frontier and its in
fani communities, and then sealed 4 life of de-
votion and patriotism by his death in battle
against the Indians. He lived, however, TO
behold the independence for which he had
striven so many years 10 his country, and some
years after its establishment, fe! overwhelmed
by numbers in his last conflict, near Louis
vile, on the Ohio river. An accurate and ell
oquent annalist of the West, the gifted MIR.
Mann Butler, of St. Louis, Missouri, thus re-
lates an achievement characteristic Of the in
domtahle spirit of Col. Linn, and the race
from which he sprung -
While the pioneers were thus bravely de-
Tending themselves against appalling numbers
of savage enemies, the government of the pa
rent State was not inatteniive to the interests
OF their western children BY stretch of d.
plomacy scarcely to have been expected in so
young State, just springing out of colonial
care of her wide and exposed dominions, the
executive of Virginia despatched mission to
New Orleans for the purpose of procuring mil
iiary supplies for her western posts. The Of
fcers sent on this perilous service were Colonels
Gibson and Linn; the latter the grandfather
Of the late DIR. Lewis T. Linn, The much-la-
These gentlemen went from Fort Pitt, and de-
scended the Mississippi river in ZIG TO New
Orleans, by orders, it is presumed, from the
governor of Virginia. So extraordinary an
adventure may well require particular con-
firmation for the satisfaction of the reader; ami
ii can be furnished to most remarkable de-
gree. John Smith, lately. Chat is, in 1885, }
resident of Woodford county, State of Ken
lucky, was in l776 employed in accommodating
the country with James Harod, SO eminently
distinguished in the difficulties and dangers OF
Kentucky. On their return the companions
separated, Harod TO go to North Carolina, and
Smith to Poter's Creek, on the Monongehela.
While travelling on the bank Of the Ohio river
the latter discovered Gibson and Linn, with
their party, descending the river. They
hailed Smith, and prevailed on him 10 embark
on this, one of the bsldest Of western adven-
lures. The party succeeded in their object
with the Spanish government at New Orleans,
by obtaining one hundred and 6fy-six kegs of
gunpowder. Mr.. Smith helped to carry
around the falls of the Ohio river this gunpow-
der to the mouth Of Bear Grass creek, in the
spring Of III. Each man carried three kegs
along the portage, one at a time. This pow
der was delivered at Wheeling or Fort Henry,
and thence conveyed to Fort Pitt. Independ-
ent of this particularly of circumstances,
learned from an old and most venerable citizen
of Louisville, (he late Worden Pope, Esq,
long clerk, with untainted reputation, to the
highest courts of law in jefferson county, Ken
tucky,) it was solemnly deposed to in suit
at law by a very respectable party in The trans
action; it was frequently mentioned by Colonel
Linn in his lifetime, and is still known I'm
1881 as his information in the family left by
this gallant and most energetic man. To this
may be well added the manner in which he
met his death, and the heroic firmness of his
last moments. A few years after the United
States had gained their independence frcm the
yoke of England, Colonel Linn set out, at the
head Of sixty armed men, on march against
a body Of hostile Indians, who had foraged the
white settlements and taken many lives. At
point near what was called Inns station,
not far from Louisville, his party was me: by
a force of three hundred Indian warriors, who
had received full intelligence of his approach,
and mustered in strength to receive him.
The savages were composed of the most dar-
ing and vindictive of the predatory bands in
Testing the great bend of the Ohio river
They were acquainted with all the forms as
sumed by border warfare between the red men
and the frontier settlements. Apart from des-
VI DOiHO Poi'
in the most memorable engagements that had
yet taken place upon this continent between a
regular army in the field and aboriginal war
riors. Within thirty years their tribes had
fought under the French banner against
Washington and Braddock, and they were
now arrayed within few days march of that
disastrous battle ground. The Indians were
inspired with a furious luminosity against Col.
Linn His knowledge of their character and
stratagems his superior sagacity and daunt-
less intrepidity his genius in border warfare,
and the frequency with which they had been
defeated by him the dread inseparable from
his name; the confidence and courage with
which his protection inspired the weak and
isolated societies of his partizans, added tc
the frightful chasisements with which he had
repeatedly visited their common enemy, COM
bined to render him for long years object OF
deadly hatred and hereditary revenge. This
was an era of Indian combinations and precon-
certed movements. His destruction appeared
! inevitable, and would open the way to SWEEP
every stranger from their land. But, in ordel
to glut every horrid passion Of their swarthy
| -,.o ,hox, dotar,ntna1 A, Ea him aliva Hi