Adventures of a Sixpence in Guernsey by A Native | Page 5

a situation for a man tormented with fear, which is vain if no
danger comes, and if it does, only augments the pain. It was my
happiness to be destitute of this afflicting passion, with which I had the
greatest reason to be affected. The prowling wolves diverted my
nocturnal hours with perpetual howlings; and the various species of
animals in this vast forest, in the daytime, were continually in my view.
Thus I was surrounded with plenty in the midst of want. I was happy in
the midst of dangers and inconveniences. In such a diversity it was
impossible I should be disposed to melancholy. No populous city, with
all the varieties of commerce and stately structures, could afford so
much pleasure to my mind, as the beauties of nature I found here.
Thus, through an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasures, I spent the
time until the 27th day of July following, when my brother, to my great
felicity, met me, according to appointment, at our old camp. Shortly
after, we left this place, not thinking it safe to stay there longer, and
proceeded to Cumberland river, reconnoitring that part of the country
until March, 1771, and giving names to the different waters.
Soon after, I returned home to my family with a determination to bring
them as soon as possible to live in Kentucke, which I esteemed a
second paradise, at the risk of my life and fortune.
I returned safe to my old habitation, and found my family in happy
circumstances. I sold my farm on the Yadkin, and what goods we could
not carry with us; and on the twenty-fifth day of September, 1773, bade
a farewel to our friends, and proceeded on our journey to Kentucke, in
company with five families more, and forty men that joined us in
Powel's Valley, which is one hundred and fifty miles from the now
settled parts of Kentucke. This promising beginning was soon overcast
with a cloud of adversity; for upon the tenth day of October, the rear of
our company was attacked by a number of Indians, who killed six, and
wounded one man. Of these my eldest son was one that fell in the
action. Though we defended ourselves, and repulsed the enemy, yet this
unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme difficulty,
and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles, to
the settlement on Clench river. We had passed over two mountains, viz.
Powel's and Walden's, and were approaching Cumberland mountain

when this adverse fortune overtook us. These mountains are in the
wilderness, as we pass from the old settlements in Virginia to Kentucke,
are ranged in a S. west and N. east direction, are of a great length and
breadth, and not far distant from each other. Over these, nature hath
formed passes, that are less difficult than might be expected from a
view of such huge piles. The aspect of these cliffs is so wild and horrid,
that it is impossible to behold them without terror. The spectator is apt
to imagine that nature had formerly suffered some violent convulsion;
and that these are the dismembered remains of the dreadful shock; the
ruins, not of Persepolis or Palmyra, but of the world!
I remained with my family on Clench until the sixth of June, 1774,
when I and one Michael Stoner were solicited by Governor Dunmore,
of Virginia, to go to the Falls of the Ohio, to conduct into the settlement
a number of surveyors that had been sent thither by him some months
before; this country having about this time drawn the attention of many
adventurers. We immediately complied with the Governor's request,
and conducted in the surveyors, compleating a tour of eight hundred
miles, through many difficulties, in sixty-two days.
Soon after I returned home, I was ordered to take the command of three
garrisons during the campaign, which Governor Dunmore carried on
against the Shawanese Indians: After the conclusion of which, the
Militia was discharged from each garrrison, and I being relieved from
my post, was solicited by a number of North-Carolina gentlemen, that
were about purchasing the lands lying on the S. side of Kentucke River,
from the Cherokee Indians, to attend their treaty at Wataga, in March,
1775, to negotiate with them, and, mention the boundaries of the
purchase. This I accepted, and at the request of the same gentlemen,
undertook to mark out a road in the best passage from the settlement
through the wilderness to Kentucke, with such assistance as I thought
necessary to employ for such an important undertaking.
I soon began this work, having collected a number of enterprising men,
well armed. We proceeded with all possible expedition until we came
within fifteen miles of where Boonsborough now stands, and