Historic Highways of America Volume VI Part 3

Having finished my Treaty with the Indians, at Wataugah Sett out for Louisa & arrived at John Shelbeys in the Evening--Tuesday the 21^{st} went to M^r John Seviers in Company of Col^o Williams & Col^o Hart & staid that day--Wednesday the 22^d--Mess^{rs} Williams & Hart set off Home & I staid with M^r Sevier Thursday 23^d Still at M^r Seviers--N. B.

because our Horses were lost tho. not uneasiy as Mess^{rs} Hart and Letteral made a poor Hand of Traveling--

Friday 24^{th} Sett of in pursuit of M^r Hart & Letteral. Overtook them Both & Lodged at Capt Bledsoe's--

Satterday the 25^{th}. came to M^{rs} Callaway's.

Sunday 26^{th} staid there.

Monday 27^{th} Emplied in storeing away Goods.

Tuesday 28^{th}--Sett off for Louisa

Wednesday Continued Journey. N. B. M^r Luttrel not come up.

Thursday 30^{th} Arrived at Cap^t Martins in Powels Valey--

Fryday 31^{st} Imploy'd in makeing house to secure the Waggons as we could not possibly clear the road any further. N. B. My Waggon & Sam^l Hendersons came up in A.M. W. Luttrel in the Evin^g

Satterday the 1 day of April--Imploy'd in making ready for packing &^c M^r Hart came up--

Sunday 2^d Continued at Capt^t Martins Waiting for the Waggon Monday the 3^d Still continued Waiting for the Waggon--

Tuesday the 4^{th}--Still continued Waiting for the Waggon. The same evening the Waggon arrived--tho so Late we cood Not proceed--

Wednesday 5^{th} Started off with our pack Horses ab^t. 3 oClock Traveld about 5 Miles to a Large Spring. The Same evening M^r Litteral went out a Hunting & has Not yet returned. [Next. Both Henderson and Sa^l Durning went in pursuit of him--_erased in diary_.] The same evening Sam^l.

Hendersons & John Farriers Horses took a Scare with there packs Run away with Sams Saddle & Briddle. Farrars Saddle Baggs other things Damaged.

Next Morning Sam^l Henderson & Farrar went in pursuit of there Horses.

Saddle &c--the same Evening John Farrar returnd to our Camp with News that they had found all there goods. But two of there horses were Missing

Thursday 6 sent John Farrar Back with provission to meet & a.s.sist Sam Henderson with orders to stay with him, till they overtook Us, as we promis'd to wait for them at c.u.mberland Gap

Fryday the 7^{th}--Sam^l. Henderson & John Farrar Returned to us with there Horses Packs & every thing safe.

we having waited at our Camp 10 miles below Martins for them

[Thursday the 6^{th}--_erased_]. Traveled about Six Miles to the last Settlement in Powels Valey where we were obliged to stop and kill a Beef wait for Sam Henderson & [N. B?] this was done whilst waiting for Sam^l Henderson as afo[re mentioned]

Fryday the 7^{th}. About Brake of Day begun to snow, About 11 ^oClock received a letter from M^r Littereals camp that were five persons kill'd on the road to the Cantuckee by Indians--Cap^t Hart, uppon the receipt of this News Retreated back with his Company & determin'd to Settle in the Valley to make Corn for the Cantuckey People

The same Day Received a Letter from Da^n. Boone. that his Company was fired uppon by Indians Kill'd Two of his men--tho he kept the ground & saved the Baggage &c.

Satterday the 8^{th}. Started ab^t. 10 ^oClock Cross'd c.u.mberland Gap about 4 Miles Met about 40 persons Returning from the Cantuckey. on Acc^t. of the Late Murder by the Indians could prevail one one [_sic_]

only to return. Mem^o Several Virginians who were with us returned.

Sunday the 9^{th}. Arrived at c.u.mberland River where we met Rob^t Wills & his son returning &c

Monday 10^{th}. Dis.p.a.ch^d Cap^t c.o.c.ke to the Cantukey to Inform Cap^t Boone that we were on the road Continued at Camp that day on Acc^t of the Badness of the Wether

Tuesday 11^{th} started from c.u.mberl^d. made a very good days Travel of Near 20 Mile Kill'd Beef &c.

Wednesday the 12 Travel'd about 5 Miles, prevented going any further by the rains & high water at Richland Creek--

Thursday the 13^{th}. Last Night arrived men [of] our Camp Stewart & ten other men, campt within half mile of us on there Return from Lousia Campt. that Night at Larrel River--they had well nigh turnd three or four of our Virg & us back.

Fryday the 14. Traveld about 12 Miles to a Camp &c

Satterday the 15^{th}. Traveld about 18 Miles & campt on the North side of Rock Castle River.--this River's a fork of c.u.mberland--lost an ax this morn at Camp.

Sunday the 16^{th}. About 12 oClock Met Jemes McAfee with 18 other persons Returning from Cantuckey Traveld about 22 Miles and Campt on the head of d.i.c.ks River where Luna from Mc.Afees camp came to us resolved to go to the Louisa--

Monday 17^{th} Started about 3 oClock prevented by Rain. Traveld 7 Miles

Tuesday the 18^{th}. Traveld about 16 Miles, met Michael Stoner with Pack Horses to a.s.sist us. Campt that Night in the Edge of the Rich Land--Stoner brought us Excellent Beef in plenty

Wednesday 19^{th}. Traveld about 16 Miles Campt on Oter Creek--a good mill place

Thursday the 20^{th}. Arrived at Fort Boone. on the Mouth of Oter Creek Cantukey River--where we were Saluted by a running fire of about 25 Guns; all that was then at Fort--The men appeared in high Spirits & much rejoiced on our arrival"[5]

Colonel Henderson (as the leader of the Transylvania Colony is best known) arrived at Boonesborough one day after the outbreak of the Revolutionary struggle at Lexington and Concord, and on his own fortieth birthday.

A clearer glimpse of the fortunes of this company of pilgrims who followed in Boone's wake is preserved for us in the journal kept by William Calk, who was with Hart's party that Henderson met at Martin's cabin on the second of April. The original ma.n.u.script is in the possession of the family of the late Mr. Thomas Calk, near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.

It reads:

"1775 Mond. 13th--I set out from prince wm. to travel to caintuck on tuesday Night our company all got together at Mr. Prises on rapadan which was Abraham hanks[6] philip Drake Eaneck Smith Robert Whitledge & my Self, thear Abrams Dogs leg got Broke By Drake's Dog.

Wedns. 15th,--We started early from prises made a good Days travel & lodge this night at Mr. Cars on North fork James River.

Thurs. 16th,--We started early it raind Chief part of the Day Snowd in the Eavening very hard & was very Coald we traveld all Day & got to Mr.

Blacks at the foot of the Blue Ridge.

fryd. 17th--We start early cross the Ridge the wind Blows very hard & cold and lodge at James loyls.

Satrd. 18th--We git this Day to William Andersons at Crows ferrey & there we Stay till monday morning.

Mond. 20th--We start early cross the fery and lodge this night at Wm.

Adamses on the head of Catauby.

tuesd. 21st--We start early and git over pepers ferey on new river & lodge at pepers this night.

Wedns 22d--We start early and git to foart Chissel whear we git some good loaf Bread & good whiskey.

thurs 23d--we start early & travel till a good while in the Night and git to major Cammels on holston River.

fryday 24th--we start early & turn out of the wagon Road to go across the mountains to go by Danil Smiths we loose Driver Come to a turabel mountain that tired us all almost to death to git over it & we lodge this night on the Lawrel fork of holston under agrait mountain & Roast a fine fat turkey for our suppers & Eat it without aney Bread.

Satrd 25th--We start early travel over Some more very Bad mountains one that is caled Clinch mountain & we git this night to Danil Smiths on Clinch and there we staid till thursday morning on tuesday night & wednesday morning it snowd Very hard and was very Coald & we hunted a good deal there while we staid in Rough mountains and kild three deer & one turkey Eanock Abram & I got lost tuesday night & it a snowing & Should a lain in the mountains had not I a had a pocket compas By which I got in a littel in the night and fired guns and they heard them and caim in By the Repoart.