6 The Winning of the West 



with eight companions, one of them a negro. He 

 followed Boone's trace, the Wilderness Road, 

 through Cumberland Gap, and across the Cumber 

 land River. Then he struck off southwest through 

 the wilderness, lightening his labor by taking the 

 broad, well-beaten buffalo trails whenever they led 

 in his direction; they were very distinct near the 

 pools and springs, and especially going to and from 

 the licks. The adventurers reached the bend of the 

 Cumberland without mishap, and fixed on the neigh 

 borhood of the Bluff, the ground near the French 

 Lick, as that best suited for their purpose; and 

 they planted a field of corn on the site of the future 

 forted village of Nashborough. A few days after 

 their arrival they were joined by another batch of 

 hunter-settlers, who had come out under the leader 

 ship of Kasper Mansker. 



As soon as the corn was planted and cabins put 

 up, most of the intending settlers returned to their 

 old homes to bring out their families, leaving three 

 of their number "to keep the buffaloes out of the 

 corn." 5 Robertson himself first went north through 

 the wilderness to see George Rogers Clark in Illi 

 nois, to purchase cabin-rights from him. This act 

 gives an insight into at least some of the motives 

 that influenced the adventurers. Doubtless they 

 were impelled largely by sheer restlessness and love 

 of change and excitement ; 6 and these motives would 



there as commissioner at the time of the Chickamauga raid 

 which was followed by Shelby's counter-stroke. 



5 Haywood, 83. 



6 Phelan, p. in, fails to do justice to these motives, while 



