The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 145 



more. The murderous inroads of the Indians at 

 about the close of the Revolutionary war caused a 

 mortality such as could not be paralleled save in a 

 community struck down by some awful pestilence; 

 and though from thence on our affairs mended, yet 

 for many years the most common form of death was 

 death at the hands of the Indians. A resident in 

 Kentucky, writing to a friend, dwelt on the need of 

 a system of vestries to take care of the orphans, who, 

 as things were, were left solely to private charity; 

 though, continues the writer, "of all countries I am 

 acquainted with this abounds most with these un 

 happy objects." 29 



The roving war bands infested the two routes 

 by which the immigrants came into the country; 

 for the companies of immigrants could usually be 

 taken at a disadvantage, and yielded valuable plun 

 der. The parties who traveled the Wilderness Road 

 were in danger of ambush by day and of onslaught 

 by night. But there was often some protection for 

 them, for whenever the savages became very bold, 

 bodies of Kentucky militia were sent to patrol the 

 trail, and these not only guarded the trains of in 

 comers, but kept a sharp look-out for Indian signs, 

 and, if any were found, always followed and, if pos 

 sible, fought and scattered the marauders. 



The Indians who watched the river-route down 

 the Ohio had much less to fear in the way of pur 

 suit by, or interference from, the frontier militia; 



89 Draper MSS., Clark MSS. Darrell to Fleming, April 14, 

 1783- 

 VOL. VII. 7 



