MISCELLANEOUS: HAGGIN, John, Explorer, Bourbon County, Kentucky

From: Bob Francis <darby@nemr.net>
Date: Sun 8 Apr 2000 21:24:20 

Fellow researchers,

To cap off the evening, I thought a small adventure might be in order.
Following is the true adventure of John Haggin, one of the first
explorers in the Bourbon County region.

Enjoy!
Bob Francis
----------------------

Anecdote of an early Settler of Kentucky.

The late John Haggin, Esqr. of Mercer county, came to Kentucky at an
early period. On his arrival the few inhabitants resided principally at
Harrodsburgh and Boonsborough.

Lexington had not then been settled. Mr. Haggin, desirous of commencing
the cultivation of the fertile land in this region of country, made some
entries, that is, purchased several tracts from government; among the
rest, one at a place near where Harrison, Bourbon and Fayette counties
unite He commenced the improvement of the place, removed some of the
trees, erected a small log house arid brought to his new residence some
furniture; among other things a few iron kettles, to be used in making
sugar from the sugar trees, which were then and are now abundant in that
county. Owing to the want of roads and means of transportation, heavy
iron utensils were of great value, and but few persons had or could
procure them. Shortly after Mr. Haggin commenced working on his new
place, the hostility of the savages became so alarming that he was
constrained to abandon his cabin and seek security in. the fort at
Harrodsburgh. Previously, however, to his departure he used the
precaution of burying his kettles. He was accompanied to Harrodsburgh by
his wife and one child, a daughter who is now residing tin Woodford
county, united in marriage to a gentleman of respectability.

Mr. Haggin spent the winter with his family in the fort, where they were
somewhat incommoded by the crowd of persons within so small a place. In
the Spring, perceiving no indications of the savages in the vicinity,
and desirous of getting out of the fort, he erected a cabin in the
valley near the stream leading from the big spring towards the fort; on
the side next to where the town of Harrodsburgh now is, situated less
than a quarter of a mile distant from the fort, (the fort being on an
eminence;) but directly in view. Mr. Haggin and family spent the Summer
at their little tenement, engaged in domestic concerns and in
cultivating a small portion of land; released, to be sure, from the
confinement of the fort, but under continual apprehensions of a visit
from the Indians. Each morning before the door was unbarred they peeped
out of the cabin "illumed by many a cranny" to spy out the insidious
enemy who, it was feared, might be lurking about behind logs and trees
ready to rush in and murder the family. They remained, however, in a
great measure uninterrupted until fall; when, Mr. Haggin determined to
revisit his place on this side of the river for the purpose of removing
some of his kettles to Harrodsburgh, preparatory to making sugar in
winter. He sat out in company with an active woodsman that he had hired
to assist him. On the second day they came in sight of Mr. Haggin's
place, in the edge of what is now Harrison county; they were riding
slowly and cautiously along watching for enemies, when, looking forward
to the place where the cabin had stood, they perceived that it had just
been burned down, and saw three or four Indians setting near the ruin.

Haggin proposed to his companion that they should fall back and prepare
themselves, and then return and give the Indians battle. They retreated
a few hundred yards, dismounted, took off their exterior clothing
retaining only their shirts, legings (sic) and mockasins (sic), tied
their clothing on their horses and turned them loose, intending in case
of a retreat to regain their horses; but if they could not succeed in
that, they deemed it prudent to be lightly clothed that they might fly
with more celerity. Having examined their rifles and seen that every
thing was in order they out to attack the enemy. It was arranged that
Haggin should proceed on foremost, fire his gun at the savages and
retreat to a tree; that his companion should reserve his shot until the
enemy approached and then fire and retreat, thus they would fire and
load alternately. But this well arranged plan like many others equally
sagacious, proved abortive. Whilst Haggin and his companion were engaged
in a council of war it did not occur to them that the savages had seen
them and were concerting plans also.

Mr. Haggin agreeably to the mode of attack agreed on, advanced slowly,
his body bent, casting his eyes forward, intensely watching for a sight
of an Indian to get a shoot at. He heard a low voice behind him, he
listened, his companion cried out in a quick under tone, "Haggin don't
you see we are about to be surrounded, let us retreat." Haggin cast his
eyes around and saw two hundred Indians rise up from among the cane
having nearly surrounded him. He immediately fled, they pursued, but did
not then fire lest in shooting across they should kill each other. The
two flanks of the ambuscade began rapidly to close upon Haggin. He
directed his steps towards his horse which was quietly feeding on the
cane; Haggin was a very active man, and a fleet runner; but some of the
savages appeared to equal him. He reached his horse, and sprung from the
ground intending to leap into the saddle from behind. As he placed his
hands on the horse's rump, an Indian run the muzzle of his gun against
Haggin's side and fired. That moment Haggin leaped, at the same instant
the horse being alarmed sprang also, Haggin fell and thought he was
mortally wounded; but feeling no pain rebounded to his feet and fled
exerting his whole strength; The savages perceiving that he had escaped
and was ahead of them commenced firing on him and perhaps one hundred
bullets were commissioned to kill; but none took effect. The chase was
kept up for some hours when the Indians finding it fruitless, ceased the
pursuit. Haggin being very hot and much fatigued, went into a creek to
cool his limbs. After he came out he sat down at the root of a tree and
fell asleep, when he waked he discovered that it was snowing and the air
had become cold and he was much chilled. Having time now to think, the
horrors of his situation arose to his view; he had lost his horse, gun
and cloths, he was forty miles from Harrodsburg and twenty-five miles
from the nearest other station, which was Boonsborough; without food or
the means of getting any, night coming on, snow falling, no blanket to
keep him warm, nor means of striking fire, he might perhaps freeze to
death. He determined to steer for Boonsborough. After indescribable
difficulty in making his way through the cane loaded with snow, and
suffering from cold, loss of sleep, and fatigue, he reached Boonsborough
the next morning. Having eaten something he laid down and slept from
that time until the following morning.

In the mean time the man who accompanied Mr. Haggin had got to
Harrodsburgh and reported that he was killed, overwhelming his wife with
the distressing intelligence.

Haggin on the day after his arrival set out from Boonsborough,
accompanied by a Mr. Pendergrass, (the same whose family afterwards
lived in Jefferson or Bullet county) for Harrodsburgh. The wife of Mr.
Pendergrass had been staying for some time with Mrs. Haggin in a little
tenement near the fort at Harrodsburgh. Haggin had supplied himself with
clothing and a gun before he left Boonsborough. The two friends
journeyed on without interruption until they arrived at a little
eminence near Mr. Haggin's residence. On casting their eyes to the spot
where they expected to find what was most dear to them on earth-their
wives and children, what must have been their astonishment and horror
when they beheld the cabbin a smoky ruin and one or two hundred savages
around the place. Haggin's feelings were now wrought up to desperation
he called on Pendergrass to follow saying he no longer valued life now
his wife and children were murdered; that he would die but sell his life
dear to the enemy. Pendergrass accompanied him, they rushed directly up
to where the Indians were standing. The reckless manner in which they
approached excited the surprise of the savages, they stood inactive, not
making any attempt to injure the two desperate men. At this moment one
or both of them, cast a look towards the fort and saw or thought they
saw, their wives on the walls of the fort waving their handkerchiefs to
them. The desire of living immediately returned to their hearts. They
changed their course, and sprung towards the fort. The Indians raised
the yell darted after them,and many guns were fired. Both the white men
fell in full view of the fort; the wives screamed believing their
husbands were slain. In a moment Haggin was on his feet again, he rushed
forward, the savages in close pursuit, one struck him on the back with a
tomahawk, it proved harmless; the gate flew open, and he was received
with a shout of joy into the arms of his wife, having escaped entirely
unhurt; his fall had been accidental. But poor Pendergrass fell to rise
no more. His friends from the fort saw the savages take the scalp from
his head.

The writer of this had this narrative from the mouth of John Haggin
himself only a few years since, and also from General James Ray who was
stationed at Harrodsburgh at the time it happened, and there is no doubt
of the truth of the facts here stated.(1)


1. Handwritten cover page reads: Draper manuscripts. Capt. John
Haggin's Kentucky Adventures, 1775-1777. Written, I suspect, by his
son, Judge James Haggin. From the "Transylvanian," Lexington, Ky.,
June, 1829.


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