[Footnote 51:  Kendall.]

[Footnote 52:  Butler.]

CHAPTER XX.

Indian hostilities resumed—­Expedition of Davis, Caffre and McClure—­Murder of Elliot—­Marshall’s river adventure—­Attack on Captain Ward’s boat—­Affair near Scaggs’ Creek—­Growth of Kentucky—­Population—­Trade—­General Logan calls a meeting at Danville—­Danger of the country from Indian hostilities, and necessity of defense considered—­Convention called—­Separation from Virginia proposed—­Other conventions-Virginia consents—­Kentucky admitted as an independent State of the Union—­Indian hostilities—­Expedition and death of Colonel Christian—­Attack on Higgins’ Fort—­Expedition of General Clark—­Its utter failure—­Expedition of General Logan—­Surprises and destroys a Shawanese town—­Success of Captain Hardin—­Defeat of Hargrove—­Affairs in Bourbon County—­Exploits of Simon Kenton—­Affairs at the Elkhorn settlements—­Treaty—­Harman’s expedition—­Final pacification of the Indians after Wayne’s victory.

Kentucky was not yet entirely freed from Indian hostilities.  There was no formidable invasion, such as to call for the exertions of Boone, Kenton and the other warriors of the border, but there were several occurrences which occasioned considerable alarm.

In the spring of 1784, a number of families started down the Ohio from Louisville in two flat boats.  They were pursued by Indians in canoes, but awed by the determined aspect of the whites, they drew off, without so much as a gun being fired on either side.

This same spring a party of southern Indians stole some horses from Lincoln County.  Three young men, Davis, Caffre and McClure, pursued them, but failing to overtake them, concluded to make reprisals on the nearest Indian settlement.  Not far from the Tennessee River, they fell in with an equal number of Indians.  The two parties saluted each other in a very friendly manner, and agreed to journey in company.  The whites, however, were by no means convinced of the sincerity of their companions, and, seeing them talking together very earnestly, became assured of their hostile intentions.  It being determined to anticipate the Indians’ attack; Caffre undertook to capture one of them, while his companions shot the other two.  Accordingly he sprung upon the nearest Indian, and bore him to the ground; Davis’s gun missed fire but McClure shot his man dead.  The remaining Indian sprung to a tree from which shelter he shot Caffre, who was still struggling with the Indian he had grappled.  He, in his turn was immediately shot by McClure.  The Indian whom Caffre had attacked, extricated himself from the grasp of his dying antagonist, and seizing his rifle presented it at Davis, who was coming to the assistance of his friend.  Davis took to flight, his rifle not being in good order, and was pursued by the Indian into the wood.  McClure, loading his gun, followed them, but lost sight of both.  Davis was never heard of afterward.