Meantime, the other settlements in Kentucky had suffered attacks from the Indians.  Logan’s Fort was invested by a force of one hundred Indians on the 20th of May, 1777, and after sustaining a vigorous siege for several days, was finally relieved by the timely arrival of a reinforcement commanded by Colonel Bowman.  On the 7th of March, 1777, the fort at Harrodsburg, then called Harrodstown, was assailed by a body of Indians, but they were speedily driven off, one of their number being killed.  The whites had four men wounded, one of whom afterward died of his wounds.

[Footnote 25:  Peck.  “Life of Daniel Boone.”]

[Footnote 26:  Butler.  “History of Kentucky.”]

[Footnote 27:  Peck.  “Life of Daniel Boone.”]

[Footnote 28:  Mr. Peck mentions the spring of 1776, as the date of the arrival at Boonesborough of Colonel Richard Callaway, and an intimate friend of Boone, with his family, and the family of Benjamin Logan, who had returned for them the preceding autumn.]

[Footnote 29:  Peck.]

[Footnote 30:  Gallagher.]

CHAPTER XI.

Arrival of George Rogers Clark in Kentucky—­Anecdote of his conversation with Ray—­Clark and Jones chosen as delegates for the Colonies to the Virginia Legislature—­Clark’s important services in obtaining a political organization for Kentucky, and an abundant supply of gunpowder from the government of Virginia—­Great labor and difficulty in bringing the powder to Harrodstown—­Clark’s expedition against Kaskaskias—­Surprise and capture of their fort—­Perilous and difficult march to Vincennes—­Surprise and capture of that place—­Extension of the Virginian settlements—­Erection of Fort Jefferson.

Among the most celebrated pioneers of the West, was General George Rogers Clark, who, at the time we are now writing of, bore the rank of Major.  Anxious for the protection of the Western settlements, he was already planning his celebrated conquest of the British posts in the northwest.

He first came to Kentucky in 1775, and penetrated to Harrodsburg, which had been reoccupied by Colonel Harrod.  In this visit, from his well known and commanding talents, he was voluntarily placed in command of the irregular troops then in Kentucky In the fall he returned to Virginia, and came back again to Kentucky in 1776.  Mr. Butler relates the following anecdote, received from the lips of General Ray, as having occurred with General Clark upon his second visit:  “I had come down,” said General Ray, “to where I now live (about four miles north of Harrodsburg), to turn some horses in the range.  I had killed a small blue-wing duck that was feeding in my spring, and had roasted it nicely on the brow of the hill, about twenty steps east of my house.  After having taken it off to cool, I was much surprised on being suddenly accosted by a fine soldierly-looking man, who exclaimed, ’How do you do, my little fellow?