byJohnFilsonFromTheDiscoveryandSettlementofKentuckebyJohnFilsonTheADVENTURESofCol。DANIELBOON；
containingaNARRATIVEoftheWARSofKentucke。
Curiosityisnaturaltothesoulofman，andinterestingobjectshaveapowerfulinfluenceonouraffections。Lettheseinfluencingpowersactuate，bythepermissionordisposalofProvidence，fromselfishorsocialviews，yetintimethemysteriouswillofHeavenisunfolded，andwebeholdourconduct，fromwhatsoevermotivesexcited，operatingtoanswertheimportantdesignsofheaven。ThuswebeholdKentucke，latelyanhowlingwilderness，thehabitationofsavagesandwildbeasts，becomeafruitfulfield；thisregion，sofavourablydistinguishedbynature，nowbecomethehabitationofcivilization，ataperiodunparalleledinhistory，inthemidstofaragingwar，andunderallthedisadvantagesofemigrationtoacountrysoremotefromtheinhabitedpartsofthecontinent。Here，wherethehandofviolenceshedthebloodoftheinnocent；wherethehorridyellsofsavages，andthegroansofthedistressed，soundedinourears，wenowhearthepraisesandadorationofourCreator；wherewretchedwigwamsstood，themiserableabodesofsavages，webeholdthefoundationsofcitieslaid，that，inallprobability，willrivalthegloryofthegreatestuponearth。AndweviewKentuckesituatedonthefertilebanksofthegreatOhio，risingfromobscuritytoshinewithsplendor，equaltoanyotherofthestarsoftheAmericanhemisphere。
Thesettlingofthisregionwelldeservesaplaceinhistory。
MostofthememorableeventsIhavemyselfbeenexercisedin；and，forthesatisfactionofthepublic，willbrieflyrelatethecircumstancesofmyadventures，andscenesoflife，frommyfirstmovementtothiscountryuntilthisday。
ItwasonthefirstofMay，intheyear1769，thatIresignedmydomestichappinessforatime，andleftmyfamilyandpeaceablehabitationontheYadkinRiver，inNorth—Carolina，towanderthroughthewildernessofAmerica，inquestofthecountryofKentucke，incompanywithJohnFinley，JohnStewart，JosephHolden，JamesMonay，andWilliamCool。Weproceededsuccessfully，andafteralongandfatiguingjourneythroughamountainouswilderness，inawestwarddirection，ontheseventhdayofJunefollowing，wefoundourselvesonRed—River，whereJohnFinleyhadformerlybeentradingwiththeIndians，and，fromthetopofaneminence，sawwithpleasurethebeautifullevelofKentucke。Hereletmeobserve，thatforsometimewehadexperiencedthemostuncomfortableweatherasaprelibationofourfuturesufferings。Atthisplaceweencamped，andmadeasheltertodefendusfromtheinclementseason，andbegantohuntandreconnoitrethecountry。Wefoundeverywhereabundanceofwildbeastsofallsorts，throughthisvastforest。ThebuffaloesweremorefrequentthanIhaveseencattleinthesettlements，browzingontheleavesofthecane，orcropingtheherbageonthoseextensiveplains，fearless，becauseignorant，oftheviolenceofman。Sometimeswesawhundredsinadrove，andthenumbersaboutthesaltspringswereamazing。Inthisforest，thehabitationofbeastsofeverykindnaturaltoAmerica，wepractisedhuntingwithgreatsuccessuntilthetwenty—seconddayofDecemberfollowing。
ThisdayJohnStewartandIhadapleasingramble，butfortunechangedthesceneinthecloseofit。Wehadpassedthroughagreatforestonwhichstoodmyriadsoftrees，somegaywithblossoms，othersrichwithfruits。Naturewashereaseriesofwonders，andafundofdelight。Hereshedisplayedheringenuityandindustryinavarietyofflowersandfruits，beautifullycoloured，elegantlyshaped，andcharminglyflavoured；andweweredivertedwithinnumerableanimalspresentingthemselvesperpetuallytoourview。——Inthedeclineoftheday，nearKentuckeriver，asweascendedthebrowofasmallhill，anumberofIndiansrushedoutofathickcane—brakeuponus，andmadeusprisoners。Thetimeofoursorrowwasnowarrived，andthescenefullyopened。TheIndiansplunderedusofwhatwehad，andkeptusinconfinementsevendays，treatinguswithcommonsavageusage。Duringthistimewediscoverednouneasinessordesiretoescape，whichmadethemlesssuspiciousofus；butinthedeadofnight，aswelayinathickcane—brakebyalargefire，whensleephadlockeduptheirsenses，mysituationnotdisposingmeforrest，Itouchedmycompanionandgentlyawokehim。Weimprovedthisfavourableopportunity，anddeparted，leavingthemtotaketheirrest，andspeedilydirectedourcoursetowardsouroldcamp，butfounditplundered，andthecompanydispersedandgonehome。Aboutthistimemybrother，SquireBoon，withanotheradventurer，whocametoexplorethecountryshortlyafterus，waswanderingthroughtheforest，determinedtofindme，ifpossible，andaccidentallyfoundourcamp。
Notwithstandingtheunfortunatecircumstancesofourcompany，andourdangeroussituation，assurroundedwithhostilesavages，ourmeetingsofortunatelyinthewildernessmadeusreciprocallysensibleoftheutmostsatisfaction。Somuchdoesfriendshiptriumphovermisfortune，thatsorrowsandsufferingsvanishatthemeetingnotonlyofrealfriends，butofthemostdistantacquaintances，andsubstituteshappinessintheirroom。
Soonafterthis，mycompanionincaptivity，JohnStewart，waskilledbythesavages，andthemanthatcamewithmybrotherreturnedhomebyhimself。Weweretheninadangerous，helplesssituation，exposeddailytoperilsanddeathamongstsavagesandwildbeasts，notawhitemaninthecountrybutourselves。
Thussituated，manyhundredmilesfromourfamiliesinthehowlingwilderness，Ibelievefewwouldhaveequallyenjoyedthehappinessweexperienced。Ioftenobservedtomybrother，Youseenowhowlittlenaturerequirestobesatisfied。Felicity，thecompanionofcontent，isratherfoundinourownbreaststhanintheenjoymentofexternalthings；AndIfirmlybelieveitrequiresbutalittlephilosophytomakeamanhappyinwhatsoeverstateheis。ThisconsistsinafullresignationtothewillofProvidence；
andaresignedsoulfindspleasureinapathstrewedwithbriarsandthorns。
Wecontinuednotinastateofindolence，buthuntedeveryday，andpreparedalittlecottagetodefendusfromtheWinterstorms。
WeremainedthereundisturbedduringtheWinter；andonthefirstdayofMay，1770，mybrotherreturnedhometothesettlementbyhimself，foranewrecruitofhorsesandammunition，leavingmebymyself，withoutbread，saltorsugar，withoutcompanyofmyfellowcreatures，orevenahorseordog。IconfessIneverbeforewasundergreaternecessityofexercisingphilosophyandfortitude。A
fewdaysIpasseduncomfortably。Theideaofabelovedwifeandfamily，andtheiranxietyupontheaccountofmyabsenceandexposedsituation，madesensibleimpressionsonmyheart。A
thousanddreadfulapprehensionspresentedthemselvestomyview，andhadundoubtedlydisposedmetomelancholy，iffurtherindulged。
OnedayIundertookatourthroughthecountry，andthediversityandbeautiesofnatureImetwithinthischarmingseason，expelledeverygloomyandvexatiousthought。Justatthecloseofdaythegentlegalesretired，andlefttheplacetothedisposalofaprofoundcalm。Notabreezeshookthemosttremulousleaf。Ihadgainedthesummitofacommandingridge，and，lookingroundwithastonishingdelight，beheldtheampleplains，thebeauteoustractsbelow。Ontheotherhand，IsurveyedthefamousriverOhiothatrolledinsilentdignity，markingthewesternboundaryofKentuckewithinconceivablegrandeur。AtavastdistanceIbeheldthemountainslifttheirvenerablebrows，andpenetratetheclouds。Allthingswerestill。Ikindledafirenearafountainofsweetwater，andfeastedontheloinofabuck，whichafewhoursbeforeIhadkilled。Thesullenshadesofnightsoonoverspreadthewholehemisphere，andtheearthseemedtogaspafterthehoveringmoisture。Myrovingexcursionthisdayhadfatiguedmybody，anddivertedmyimagination。Ilaidmedowntosleep，andIawokenotuntilthesunhadchasedawaythenight。Icontinuedthistour，andinafewdaysexploredaconsiderablepartofthecountry，eachdayequallypleasedasthefirst。Ireturnedagaintomyoldcamp，whichwasnotdisturbedinmyabsence。Ididnotconfinemylodgingtoit，butoftenreposedinthickcane—brakes，toavoidthesavages，who，Ibelieve，oftenvisitedmycamp，butfortunatelyforme，inmyabsence。InthissituationIwasconstantlyexposedtodanger，anddeath。Howunhappysuchasituationforamantormentedwithfear，whichisvainifnodangercomes，andifitdoes，onlyaugmentsthepain。Itwasmyhappinesstobedestituteofthisafflictingpassion，withwhichIhadthegreatestreasontobeaffected。Theprowlingwolvesdivertedmynocturnalhourswithperpetualhowlings；andthevariousspeciesofanimalsinthisvastforest，inthedaytime，werecontinuallyinmyview。
ThusIwassurroundedwithplentyinthemidstofwant。Iwashappyinthemidstofdangersandinconveniences。InsuchadiversityitwasimpossibleIshouldbedisposedtomelancholy。Nopopulouscity，withallthevarietiesofcommerceandstatelystructures，couldaffordsomuchpleasuretomymind，asthebeautiesofnatureIfoundhere。
Thus，throughanuninterruptedsceneofsylvanpleasures，Ispentthetimeuntilthe27thdayofJulyfollowing，whenmybrother，tomygreatfelicity，metme，accordingtoappointment，atouroldcamp。Shortlyafter，weleftthisplace，notthinkingitsafetostaytherelonger，andproceededtoCumberlandriver，reconnoitringthatpartofthecountryuntilMarch，1771，andgivingnamestothedifferentwaters。
Soonafter，IreturnedhometomyfamilywithadeterminationtobringthemassoonaspossibletoliveinKentucke，whichI
esteemedasecondparadise，attheriskofmylifeandfortune。
Ireturnedsafetomyoldhabitation，andfoundmyfamilyinhappycircumstances。IsoldmyfarmontheYadkin，andwhatgoodswecouldnotcarrywithus；andonthetwenty—fifthdayofSeptember，1773，badeafareweltoourfriends，andproceededonourjourneytoKentucke，incompanywithfivefamiliesmore，andfortymenthatjoinedusinPowel’sValley，whichisonehundredandfiftymilesfromthenowsettledpartsofKentucke。Thispromisingbeginningwassoonovercastwithacloudofadversity；
foruponthetenthdayofOctober，therearofourcompanywasattackedbyanumberofIndians，whokilledsix，andwoundedoneman。Ofthesemyeldestsonwasonethatfellintheaction。Thoughwedefendedourselves，andrepulsedtheenemy，yetthisunhappyaffairscatteredourcattle，broughtusintoextremedifficulty，andsodiscouragedthewholecompany，thatweretreatedfortymiles，tothesettlementonClenchriver。Wehadpassedovertwomountains，viz。Powel’sandWalden’s，andwereapproachingCumberlandmountainwhenthisadversefortuneovertookus。Thesemountainsareinthewilderness，aswepassfromtheoldsettlementsinVirginiatoKentucke，arerangedinaS。westandN。
eastdirection，areofagreatlengthandbreadth，andnotfardistantfromeachother。Overthese，naturehathformedpasses，thatarelessdifficultthanmightbeexpectedfromaviewofsuchhugepiles。Theaspectofthesecliffsissowildandhorrid，thatitisimpossibletobeholdthemwithoutterror。Thespectatorisapttoimaginethatnaturehadformerlysufferedsomeviolentconvulsion；andthatthesearethedismemberedremainsofthedreadfulshock；theruins，notofPersepolisorPalmyra，butoftheworld！
IremainedwithmyfamilyonClenchuntilthesixthofJune，1774，whenIandoneMichaelStonerweresolicitedbyGovernorDunmore，ofVirginia，togototheFallsoftheOhio，toconductintothesettlementanumberofsurveyorsthathadbeensentthitherbyhimsomemonthsbefore；thiscountryhavingaboutthistimedrawntheattentionofmanyadventurers。WeimmediatelycompliedwiththeGovernor’srequest，andconductedinthesurveyors，compleatingatourofeighthundredmiles，throughmanydifficulties，insixty—twodays。
SoonafterIreturnedhome，Iwasorderedtotakethecommandofthreegarrisonsduringthecampaign，whichGovernorDunmorecarriedonagainsttheShawaneseIndians：Aftertheconclusionofwhich，theMilitiawasdischargedfromeachgarrrison，andIbeingrelievedfrommypost，wassolicitedbyanumberofNorth—Carolinagentlemen，thatwereaboutpurchasingthelandslyingontheS。
sideofKentuckeRiver，fromtheCherokeeIndians，toattendtheirtreatyatWataga，inMarch，1775，tonegotiatewiththem，and，mentiontheboundariesofthepurchase。ThisIaccepted，andattherequestofthesamegentlemen，undertooktomarkoutaroadinthebestpassagefromthesettlementthroughthewildernesstoKentucke，withsuchassistanceasIthoughtnecessarytoemployforsuchanimportantundertaking。
Isoonbeganthiswork，havingcollectedanumberofenterprisingmen，wellarmed。WeproceededwithallpossibleexpeditionuntilwecamewithinfifteenmilesofwhereBoonsboroughnowstands，andwherewewerefireduponbyapartyofIndiansthatkilledtwo，andwoundedtwoofournumber；yet，althoughsurprisedandtakenatadisadvantage，westoodourground。ThiswasonthetwentiethofMarch，1775。Threedaysafter，wewerefireduponagain，andhadtwomenkilled，andthreewounded。AfterwardsweproceededontoKentuckeriverwithoutopposition；andonthefirstdayofAprilbegantoerectthefortofBoonsboroughatasaltlick，aboutsixtyyardsfromtheriver，ontheS。side。
Onthefourthday，theIndianskilledoneofourmen。——Wewerebusilyemployedinbuildingthisfort，untilthefourteenthdayofJunefollowing，withoutanyfartheroppositionfromtheIndians；
andhavingfinishedtheworks，Ireturnedtomyfamily，onClench。
Inashorttime，IproceededtoremovemyfamilyfromClenchtothisgarrison；wherewearrivedsafewithoutanyotherdifficultiesthansuchasarecommontothispassage，mywifeanddaughterbeingthefirstwhitewomenthateverstoodonthebanksofKentuckeriver。
Onthetwenty—fourthdayofDecemberfollowingwehadonemankilled，andonewounded，bytheIndians，whoseemeddeterminedtopersecuteusforerectingthisfortification。
OnthefourteenthdayofJuly，1776，twoofCol。Calaway’sdaughters，andoneofmine，weretakenprisonersnearthefort。I
immediatelypursuedtheIndians，withonlyeightmen，andonthesixteenthovertookthem，killedtwooftheparty，andrecoveredthegirls。Thesamedayonwhichthisattemptwasmade，theIndiansdividedthemselvesintodifferentparties，andattackedseveralforts，whichwereshortlybeforethistimeerected，doingagreatdealofmischief。Thiswasextremelydistressingtothenewsettlers。Theinnocenthusbandmanwasshotdown，whilebusycultivatingthesoilforhisfamily’ssupply。Mostofthecattlearoundthestationsweredestroyed。TheycontinuedtheirhostilitiesinthismanneruntilthefifteenthofApril，1777，whentheyattackedBoonsboroughwithapartyofaboveonehundredinnumber，killedoneman，andwoundedfour——Theirlossinthisattackwasnotcertainlyknowntous。
OnthefourthdayofJulyfollowing，apartyofabouttwohundredIndiansattackedBoonsborough，killedoneman，andwoundedtwo。
Theybesiegedusforty—eighthours；duringwhichtimesevenofthemwerekilled，andatlast，findingthemselvesnotlikelytoprevail，theyraisedthesiege，anddeparted。
TheIndianshaddisposedtheirwarriorsindifferentpartiesatthistime，andattackedthedifferentgarrisonstopreventtheirassistingeachother，anddidmuchinjurytothedistressedinhabitants。
Onthenineteenthdayofthismonth，Col。Logan’sfortwasbesiegedbyapartyofabouttwohundredIndians。Duringthisdreadfulsiegetheydidagreatdealofmischief，distressedthegarrison，inwhichwereonlyfifteenmen，killedtwo，andwoundedone。Theenemieslosswasuncertain，fromthecommonpracticewhichtheIndianshaveofcarryingofftheirdeadintimeofbattle。Col。
Harrod’sfortwasthendefendedbyonlysixty—fivemen，andBoonsboroughbytwenty—two，therebeingnomorefortsorwhitemeninthecountry，exceptattheFalls，aconsiderabledistancefromthese，andalltakencollectively，werebutahandfultothenumerouswarriorsthatwereeverywheredispersedthroughthecountry，intentupondoingallthemischiefthatsavagebarbaritycouldinvent。Thuswepassedthroughasceneofsufferingsthatexceedsdescription。
Onthetwenty—fifthofthismonthareinforcementofforty—fivemenarrivedfromNorth—Carolina，andaboutthetwentiethofAugustfollowing，Col。BowmanarrivedwithonehundredmenfromVirginia。
Nowwebegantostrengthen，andfromhence，forthespaceofsixweeks，wehadskirmisheswithIndians，inonequarterorother，almosteveryday。
ThesavagesnowlearnedthesuperiorityoftheLongKnife，astheycalltheVirginians，byexperience；beingout—generalledinalmosteverybattle。Ouraffairsbegantowearanewaspect，andtheenemy，notdaringtoventureonopenwar，practisedsecretmischiefattimes。
OnthefirstdayofJanuary，1778，IwentwithapartyofthirtymentotheBlueLicks，onLickingRiver，tomakesaltforthedifferentgarrisonsinthecountry。
OntheseventhdayofFebruary，asIwashunting，toprocuremeatforthecompany，ImetwithapartyofonehundredandtwoIndians，andtwoFrenchmen，ontheirmarchagainstBoonsborough，thatplacebeingparticularlytheobjectoftheenemy。
Theypursued，andtookme；andbroughtmeontheeighthdaytotheLicks，wheretwenty—sevenofmypartywere，threeofthemhavingpreviouslyreturnedhomewiththesalt。Iknowingitwasimpossibleforthemtoescape，capitulatedwiththeenemy，and，atadistanceintheirview，gavenoticetomymenoftheirsituation，withordersnottoresist，butsurrenderthemselvescaptives。
ThegeneroususagetheIndianshadpromisedbeforeinmycapitulation，wasafterwardsfullycompliedwith，andweproceededwiththemasprisonerstooldChelicothe，theprincipalIndiantown，onLittleMiami，wherewearrived，afteranuncomfortablejourney，inverysevereweather，ontheeighteenthdayofFebruary，andreceivedasgoodtreatmentasprisonerscouldexpectfromsavages。——OnthetenthdayofMarchfollowing，I，andtenofmymen，wereconductedbyfortyIndianstoDetroit，wherewearrivedthethirtiethday，andweretreatedbyGovernorHamilton，theBritishcommanderatthatpost，withgreathumanity。
Duringourtravels，theIndiansentertainedmewell；andtheiraffectionformewassogreat，thattheyutterlyrefusedtoleavemetherewiththeothers，althoughtheGovernorofferedthemonehundredpoundsSterlingforme，onpurposetogivemeaparoletogohome。SeveralEnglishgentlementhere，beingsensibleofmyadversefortune，andtouchedwithhumansympathy，generouslyofferedafriendlysupplyformywants，whichIrefused，withmanythanksfortheirkindness；adding，thatIneverexpecteditwouldbeinmypowertorecompensesuchunmeritedgenerosity。
TheIndiansleftmymenincaptivitywiththeBritishatDetroit，andonthetenthdayofAprilbroughtmetowardsOldChelicothe，wherewearrivedonthetwenty—fifthdayofthesamemonth。Thiswasalongandfatiguingmarch，throughanexceedingfertilecountry，remarkableforfinespringsandstreamsofwater。AtChelicotheIspentmytimeascomfortablyasIcouldexpect；wasadopted，accordintotheircustom，intoafamilywhereIbecameason，andhadagreatshareintheaffectionofmynewparents，brothers，sisters，andfriends。Iwasexceedinglyfamiliarandfriendlywiththem，alwaysappearingaschearfulandsatisfiedaspossible，andtheyputgreatconfidenceinme。Ioftenwentahuntingwiththem，andfrequentlygainedtheirapplauseformyactivityatourshooting—matches。Iwascarefulnottoexceedmanyoftheminshooting；fornopeoplearemoreenviousthantheyinthissport。Icouldobserve，intheircountenancesandgestures，thegreatestexpressionsofjoywhentheyexceededme；and，whenthereversehappened，ofenvy。TheShawanesekingtookgreatnoticeofme，andtreatedmewithprofoundrespect，andentirefriendship，oftenentrustingmetohuntatmyliberty。Ifrequentlyreturnedwiththespoilsofthewoods，andasoftenpresentedsomeofwhatIhadtakentohim，expressiveofdutytomysovereign。Myfoodandlodgingwas，incommon，withthem，notsogoodindeedasIcoulddesire，butnecessitymadeeverythingacceptable。
Inowbegantomeditateanescape，andcarefullyavoidedtheirsuspicions，continuingwiththematOldChelicotheuntilthefirstdayofJunefollowing，andthenwastakenbythemtothesaltspringsonSciotha，andkeptthere，makingsalt，tendays。DuringthistimeIhuntedsomeforthem，andfoundtheland，foragreatextentaboutthisriver，toexceedthesoilofKentucke，ifpossible，andremarkablywellwatered。
WhenIreturnedtoChelicothe，alarmedtoseefourhundredandfiftyIndians，oftheirchoicestwarriors，paintedandarmedinafearfulmanner，readytomarchagainstBoonsborough，Ideterminedtoescapethefirstopportunity。
Onthesixteenth，beforesun—rise，Idepartedinthemostsecretmanner，andarrivedatBoonsboroughonthetwentieth，afterajourneyofonehundredandsixtymiles；duringwhich，Ihadbutonemeal。