288 The Winning of the West 



the treaty ground in April, twelve whites were mur- 

 dered and many horses stolen. Robertson, with 

 nine men, followed one of these marauding parties, 

 killed one Indian, and retook ten horses; on his 

 return he was attacked by a large band of Creeks 

 and Cherokees, and two of his men were wounded; 

 but he kept hold of the recaptured horses and 

 brought them safely in. 16 On the other hand, a 

 white scoundrel killed an Indian on the treaty 

 ground, in July, the month in which the treaties 

 were finally completed in due form. By act of 

 the Legislature the Holston militia were kept under 

 arms throughout most of the year, companies of 

 rangers, under Sevier's command, scouring the 

 woods and canebrakes, and causing such loss to 

 the small Indian war parties that they finally almost 

 ceased their forays. Bands of these Holston ran- 

 gers likewise crossed the mountains by Boone's 

 trail, and went to the relief of Boonesborough and 

 St. Asaphs, in Kentucky, then much harassed by 

 the Northwestern warriors. 17 Though they did 

 little or no fighting, and stayed but a few days, 

 they yet by their presence brought welcome relief 

 to the hard-pressed Kentuckians. 18 Kentucky dur- 

 ing her earliest and most trying years received 



16 Chas. Robertson to Captain-General of North Carolina, 

 April 27, 1777. 



17 See ante, Chap. V, "In the Current of the Revolution." 



18 Monette (followed by Ramsey and others) hopelessly 

 confuses these small relief expeditions; he portrays Logan 

 as a messenger from Boone's Station, is in error as to the 

 siege of the latter, etc. 



