o much value to his
pursuers as that of the well known Daniel Boone; and they pursued him
with the utmost eagerness. His object was so far to outstrip them, as to
be able to conceal his trail, and put them to fault in regard to his
course. He made for a little hill, behind which was a stream of water.
He sprang into the water and waded up its current for some distance, and
then emerged and struck off at right angles to his former course.
Darting onward at the height of his speed, he hoped that he had
distanced them, and thrown them off his trail. To his infinite
mortification, he discovered that his foe, either accidentally, or from
their natural sagacity, had rendered all his caution fruitless, and were
fiercely pursuing him still. His next expedient was that of a swing by
the aid of a grape-vine, which had so well served him on a like occasion
before. He soon found one convenient for the experiment, and availed
himself of it, as before. This hope was also disappointed. His foe still
hung with staunch perseverance on his trail. He now perceived by their
movements, that they were conducted by a dog, that easily ran in zig-zag
directions, when at fault, until it had re-scented his course. The
expedient of Boone was the only one that seemed adequate to save him.
His gun was reloaded. The dog was in advance of the Indians, still
scenting his track. A rifle shot delivered him from his officious
pursuer. He soon reached a point convenient for concealing his trail,
and while the Indians were hunting for it, gained so much upon them as
to be enabled to reach Boonesborough in safety.

At the close of the autumn of 1780, Kentucky, from being one county, was
divided into three, named Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln. William Pope,
Daniel Boone, and Benjamin Logan, were appointed to the important
offices of commanding the militia of their respective counties.

During this year Col. Clarke descended the Ohio, with a part of his
Virginia regiment, and after entering the Mississippi, at the first
bluff on the eastern bank, he landed and built Fort Jefferson. The
occupation of this fort, for the time, added the Chickasaws to the
number of hostile Indians that the western people had to encounter. It
was soon discovered, that it would be advisable to evacuate it, as a
mean of restoring peace. It was on their acknowleged territory. It had
been erected without their consent. They boasted it, as a proof of their
friendship, that they had n