CHAPTER VIII 



THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENTS TO THE CLOSE 

 OF THE REVOLUTION, 1781-1783 



OBERTSON passed unharmed through the 

 1 \ wilderness to Kentucky. There he procured 

 plenty of powder, and without delay set out on his 

 return journey to the Cumberland. As before, 

 he traveled alone through the frozen woods, trusting 

 solely to his own sharp senses for his safety. 



In the evening of January 15, 1781, he reached 

 Freeland's Station, and was joyfully received by 

 the inmates. They supped late, and then sat up 

 for some time, talking over many matters. When 

 they went to bed all were tired, and neglected to 

 take the usual precautions against surprise; more 

 over, at that season they did not fear molestation. 

 They slept heavily, none keeping watch. Robert 

 son alone was wakeful and suspicious; and even 

 during his light slumbers his keen and long-trained 

 senses were on the alert. 



At midnight all was still. The moon shone 

 brightly down on the square block-houses and 

 stockaded yard of the lonely little frontier fort; 

 its rays lit up the clearing, and by contrast dark 

 ened the black shadows of the surrounding forest. 

 None of the sleepers within the log-walls dreamed 

 (32) 



