In the Current of the Revolution 15 



tion being chosen, thinking that instead the Ken- 

 tuckians should send accredited agents to treat with 

 the Virginian Government. If their terms were not 

 agreed to, he declared that they ought to establish 

 forthwith an independent State; an interesting ex- 

 ample of how early the separatist spirit showed itself 

 in Kentucky. But the rest of the people were un- 

 willing to go quite as far. They elected two dele- 

 gates, Clark of course being one. With them they 

 sent a petition for admission as a separate county. 

 They were primarily farmers, hunters, Indian fight- 

 ers not scholars ; and their petition was couched in 

 English that was at times a little crooked; but the 

 idea at any rate was perfectly straight, and could 

 not be misunderstood. They announced that if they 

 were admitted they would cheerfully co-operate in 

 every measure to secure the public peace and safety, 

 and at the same time pointed out with marked em- 

 phasis "how impolitical it would be to suffer such a 

 Respectable Body of Prime Riflemen to remain in 

 a state of neutrality" during the then existing revo- 

 lutionary struggle. 23 



Armed with this document and their credentials, 

 Clark and his companion set off across the desolate 

 and Indian-haunted mountains. They traveled very 

 fast, the season was extremely wet, and they did not 

 dare to kindle fires for fear of the Indians; in con- 

 sequence they suffered torments from cold, hunger, 



23 Petition of the committee of West Fincastle, dated June 

 20, 1776. It is printed in Col. John Mason Brown's "Cattle 

 of the Blue Licks" pamphlet. 



