adventures of col[1]. daniel boone(丹尼尔·布思遇险)-第2章
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be affected。 The prowling wolves diverted my nocturnal hours with
perpetual howlings； and the various species of animals in this vast forest；
in the daytime； were continually in my view。 Thus I was surrounded with
plenty in the midst of want。 I was happy in the midst of dangers and
inconveniences。 In such a diversity it was impossible I should be disposed
to melancholy。 No populous city； with all the varieties of commerce and
stately structures； could afford so much pleasure to my mind； as the
beauties of nature I found here。
Thus； through an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasures； I spent the
time until the 27th day of July following； when my brother； to my great
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felicity； met me； according to appointment； at our old camp。 Shortly after；
we left this place； not thinking it safe to stay there longer； and proceeded
to Cumberland river； reconnoitring that part of the country until March；
1771； and giving names to the different waters。
Soon after； I returned home to my family with a determination to bring
them as soon as possible to live in Kentucke； which I esteemed a second
paradise； at the risk of my life and fortune。
I returned safe to my old habitation； and found my family in happy
circumstances。 I sold my farm on the Yadkin； and what goods we could
not carry with us； and on the twenty…fifth day of September； 1773； bade a
farewel to our friends； and proceeded on our journey to Kentucke； in
company with five families more； and forty men that joined us in Powel's
Valley； which is one hundred and fifty miles from the now settled parts of
Kentucke。 This promising beginning was soon overcast with a cloud of
adversity； for upon the tenth day of October； the rear of our company was
attacked by a number of Indians； who killed six； and wounded one man。
Of these my eldest son was one that fell in the action。 Though we
defended ourselves； and repulsed the enemy； yet this unhappy affair
scattered our cattle； brought us into extreme difficulty； and so discouraged
the whole company； that we retreated forty miles； to the settlement on
Clench river。 We had passed over two mountains； viz。 Powel's and
Walden's； and were approaching Cumberland mountain when this adverse
fortune overtook us。 These mountains are in the wilderness； as we pass
from the old settlements in Virginia to Kentucke； are ranged in a S。 west
and N。 east direction； are of a great length and breadth； and not far distant
from each other。 Over these； nature hath formed passes； that are less
difficult than might be expected from a view of such huge piles。 The
aspect of these cliffs is so wild and horrid； that it is impossible to behold
them without terror。 The spectator is apt to imagine that nature had
formerly suffered some violent convulsion； and that these are the
dismembered remains of the dreadful shock； the ruins； not of Persepolis or
Palmyra； but of the world！
I remained with my family on Clench until the sixth of June； 1774；
when I and one Michael Stoner were solicited by Governor Dunmore； of
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Virginia； to go to the Falls of the Ohio； to conduct into the settlement a
number of surveyors that had been sent thither by him some months before；
this country having about this time drawn the attention of many
adventurers。 We immediately complied with the Governor's request； and
conducted in the surveyors； compleating a tour of eight hundred miles；
through many difficulties； in sixty…two days。
Soon after I returned home； I was ordered to take the command of
three garrisons during the campaign； which Governor Dunmore carried on
against the Shawanese Indians： After the conclusion of which； the Militia
was discharged from each garrrison； and I being relieved from my post；
was solicited by a number of North…Carolina gentlemen； that were about
purchasing the lands lying on the S。 side of Kentucke River； from the
Cherokee Indians； to attend their treaty at Wataga； in March； 1775； to
negotiate with them； and； mention the boundaries of the purchase。 This I
accepted； and at the request of the same gentlemen； undertook to mark out
a road in the best passage from the settlement through the wilderness to
Kentucke； with such assistance as I thought necessary to employ for such
an important undertaking。
I soon began this work； having collected a number of enterprising men；
well armed。 We proceeded with all possible expedition until we came
within fifteen miles of where Boonsborough now stands； and where we
were fired upon by a party of Indians that killed two； and wounded two of
our number； yet； although surprised and taken at a disadvantage； we stood
our ground。 This was on the twentieth of March； 1775。 Three days after；
we were fired upon again； and had two men killed； and three wounded。
Afterwards we proceeded on to Kentucke river without opposition； and on
the first day of April began to erect the fort of Boonsborough at a salt lick；
about sixty yards from the river； on the S。 side。
On the fourth day； the Indians killed one of our men。We were busily
employed in building this fort； until the fourteenth day of June following；
without any farther opposition from the Indians； and having finished the
works； I returned to my family； on Clench。
In a short time； I proceeded to remove my family from Clench to this
garrison； where we arrived safe without any other difficulties than such as
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are common to this passage； my wife and daughter being the first white
women that ever stood on the banks of Kentucke river。
On the twenty…fourth day of December following we had one man
killed； and one wounded； by the Indians； who seemed determined to
persecute us for erecting this fortification。
On the fourteenth day of July； 1776； two of Col。 Calaway's daughters；
and one of mine； were taken prisoners near the fort。 I immediately pursued
the Indians； with only eight men； and on the sixteenth overtook them；
killed two of the party； and recovered the girls。 The same day on which
this attempt was made； the Indians divided themselves into different
parties； and attacked several forts； which were shortly before this time
erected； doing a great deal of mischief。 This was extremely distressing to
the new settlers。 The innocent husbandman was shot down； while busy
cultivating the soil for his family's supply。 Most of the cattle around the
stations were destroyed。 They continued their hostilities in this manner
until the fifteenth of April； 1777； when they attacked Boonsborough with a
party of above one hundred in number； killed one man； and wounded four…
…Their loss in this attack was not certainly known to us。
On the fourth day of July following； a party of about two hundred
Indians attacked Boonsborough； killed one man； and wounded two。 They
besieged us forty…eight hours； during which time seven of them were
killed； and at last； finding themselves not likely to prevail； they raised the
siege； and departed。
The Indians had disposed their warriors in different parties at this time；
and attacked the different garrisons to prevent their assisting each other；
and did much injury to the distressed inhabitants。
On the nineteenth day of this month； Col。 Logan's fort was besieged by
a party of about two hundred Indians。 During this dreadful siege they did a
great deal of mischief； distressed the garrison； in which were only fifteen
men； killed two； and wounded one。 The enemies loss was uncertain； from
the common practice which the Indians have of carrying off their dead in
time of battle。 Col。 Harrod's fort was then defended by only sixty…five men；
and Boonsborough by twenty…two； there being no more forts or white men
in the country； except at the Falls； a considerable distance from these； and
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all taken collectively； were but a handful to the numerous warriors that
were every where dispersed through the country； intent upon doing all the
mischief that savage barbarity could invent。 Thus we passed through a
scene of sufferings that exceeds description。
On the twenty…fifth of this month a reinforcement of forty…five men
arrived from North…Carolina； and about the twentieth of August following；
Col。 Bowman arrived with one hundred men from Virginia。 Now we
began to strengthen； and from hence； for the space of six weeks； we had
skirmishes with Indians； in one quarter or other； almost every day。
The savages now learned the superiority of the Long Knife； as they
call the Virginians； by experience； being out…generalled in almost every
battle。 Our affairs began to wear a new aspect； and the enemy； not daring
to venture on open war； practised secret mischief at times。
On the first day of January； 1778； I went with a party of thirty men to
the Blue Licks； on Licking River； to make salt for the different garrisons in
the country。
On the seventh day of February； as I was hunting； to procure meat for
the company； I met with a party of one hundred and two Indians； and two
Frenchmen； on their march against Boonsborough； that place being
particularly the object of the enemy。
They pursued； and took me； and brought me on the eighth day to the
Licks； where twenty…seven of my party were； three of them having
previously returned home with the salt。 I knowing it was impossible for
