The War in the Northwest 241 



next day, however, Reynolds began to swear again ; 

 this time Patterson not only reproved him severely, 

 but also tried the effect of judicious gentleness, 

 promising to give him a quart of spirits on reaching 

 the boat if he immediately "quit his profanity and 

 swearing." Four days afterward they reached the 

 boat, and Aaron Reynolds demanded the quart of 

 spirits. Patterson suggested a doubt as to whether 

 he had kept his promise, whereupon he appealed to 

 the company, then on parade, and they pronounced 

 in his favor, saying that they had not heard him 

 swear since he was reproved. Patterson, who him- 

 self records the incident, concludes with the remark : 

 "The spirits were drank." 7 Evidently the com- 

 pany, who had so impartially acted as judges be- 

 tween their fellow-soldier and their superior officer, 

 viewed with the same equanimity the zeal of the 

 latter and the mixed system of command, entreaty, 

 and reward by which he carried his point. As will 

 be seen, the event had a striking sequel at the battle 

 of the Blue Licks. 



Throughout June and July the gunboat patrolled 

 the Ohio, going up to the Licking. Parties of back- 

 woods riflemen, embodied as militia, likewise pa- 

 trolled the woods, always keeping their scouts and 

 spies well spread out, and exercising the greatest 



1 Patterson's paper, given by Col. John Mason Brown, in 

 his excellent pamphlet on the "Battle of the Blue Licks" 

 (Franklin, Ky., 1882). I can not forbear again commenting 

 on the really admirable historic work now being done by 

 Messrs. Brown, Durrett, Speed, and the other members of 

 the Louisville "Filson Club." 

 VOL. VI. K 



