Daniel Boone remained with his family on Clinch river, until June, 1774; when he was requested by the governor of Virginia to go to the falls of Ohio, to act as a guide to a party of surveyors.  The manifestations of hostility, on the part of the Indians, were such, that their longer stay was deemed unsafe.  Boone undertook to perform this service, and set out upon this journey, with no other companion than a man by the name of Stoner.  They reached the point of destination, now Louisville, in a surprisingly short period, without any accident.  Under his guidance the surveyors arrived at the settlements in safety.  From the time that Boone left his home, upon this enterprise, until he returned to it, was but sixty-two days.  During this period he travelled eight hundred miles on foot, through a country entirely destitute of human habitations, save the camps of the Indians.

In the latter part of this year, the disturbances between the Indians north-west of the Ohio, and the frontier settlers, grew to open hostilities.  Daniel Boone being in Virginia, the governor appointed him to the command of three contiguous garrisons on the frontier, with the commission of captain.  The campaign of the year terminated in a battle, after which the militia were disbanded.  Boone was consequently relieved from duty.

Col.  Henderson, of North Carolina, had been for some time engaged in forming a company in that state, for the purpose of purchasing the lands on the south side of the Kentucky, from the southern Indians.  The plan was now matured, and Boone was solicited by the company to attend the treaty to be made between them and the Indians, at Wataga, in March, 1775, to settle the terms of the negociation.  The requisite information, in respect to the proposed purchase, was given him, and he acceded to the request.  At the appointed time, he attended and successfully performed the service intrusted to him.  Soon afterwards the same company applied to him to lay out a road between the settlements on Holston river and Kentucky river.  No little knowledge of the country, and judgment were requisite for the proper fulfilment of this service.  A great many different routes must be examined, before the most practicable one could be fixed upon.  The duty was, however, executed by Boone, promptly and faithfully.  The labor was great, owing to the rugged and mountainous country, through which the route led.  The laborers, too, suffered from the repeated attacks of Indians.  Four of them were killed, and five wounded.  The remainder completed this work, by reaching Kentucky river, in April, of the same year.  They immediately proceeded to erect a fort near a salt spring, where Boonesborough now stands.  The party, enfeebled by its losses, did not complete the erection of the fort until June.  The Indians troubled them exceedingly, and killed one man.  The fort consisted of a block-house, and several cabins, surrounded by palisades.