Patterson and Reynolds.

An incident that occurred at this time illustrates well their feelings.  In June a fourth of the active militia of the county was ordered on duty, to scout and patrol the country.  Accordingly forty men turned out under Captain Robert Patterson.  They were given ammunition, as well as two pack-horses, by the Commissary Department.  Every man was entitled to pay for the time he was out.  Whether he would ever get it was problematical; at the best it was certain to be given him in worthless paper-money.  Their hunters kept them supplied with game, and each man carried a small quantity of parched corn.

The company was ordered to the mouth of the Kentucky to meet the armed row-boat, sent by Clark from the Falls.  On the way Patterson was much annoyed by a “very profane, swearing man” from Bryan’s Station, named Aaron Reynolds.  Reynolds was a good-hearted, active young fellow, with a biting tongue, not only given to many oaths, but likewise skilled in the rough, coarse banter so popular with the backwoodsmen.  After having borne with him four days Patterson made up his mind that he would have to reprove him, and, if no amendment took place, send him home.  He waited until, at a halt, Reynolds got a crowd round him, and began to entertain them “with oaths and wicked expressions,” whereupon he promptly stepped in “and observed to him that he was a very wicked and profane man,” and that both the company as well as he, the Captain, would thank him to desist.  On the next day, however, Reynolds began to swear again; this time Patterson not only reproved him severely, but also tried the effect of judicious gentleness, promising to give him a quart of spirits on reaching the boat if he immediately “quit his profanity and swearing.”  Four days afterwards they reached the boat, and Aaron Reynolds demanded the quart of spirits.  Patterson suggested a doubt as to whether he had kept his promise, whereupon he appealed to the company, then on parade, and they pronounced in his favor, saying that they had not heard him swear since he was reproved.  Patterson, who himself records the incident, concludes with the remark:  “The spirits were drank.” [Footnote:  Patterson’s paper, given by Col.  John Mason Brown, in his excellent pamphlet on the “Battle of the Blue Licks” (Franklin, Ky., 1882).  I cannot forbear again commenting on the really admirable historic work now being done by Messrs. Brown, Durrett, Speed, and the other members of the Louisville “Filson Club.”] Evidently the company, who had so impartially acted as judges between their fellow-soldier and their superior officer, viewed with the same equanimity the zeal of the latter and the mixed system of command, entreaty, and reward by which he carried his point.  As will be seen, the event had a striking sequel at the battle of the Blue Licks.