MANUSCRIPTS: Draper Papers, Draper to McDonald, 1845, Mason Co., KY ************************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. Submitted by: Martina Carpenter (martinaCarpenter@webbworks.com) Date: 25 Feb 2000 ************************************************************************************ Peter Lee Draper Papers 11E Pages 31-32 FHC #0889135 The following is an except from a letter to Lyman C. Draper from John McDonald on 30 June 1845 which mentions Peter Lee, among others: ...We immediately took the trail, but it being in the twilight of the evening we could not follow the trail, and we were compeled from necessity to stear our course by the stars. It was a bright starlight in November and freezing hard. On a calm freezing night a man can be heard walking on the dry leaves several hundred yards. We moved on seven or eight miles through the lonesome woods, without ____ or _____ in rather a mellancolly mood; when of a sudden we were startled by a swishing noise in the bush and over the frosty leaves, as if we had waked up a flock of buffeloes; we halted and eagerly listened, presently we hard among the dry leaves the tread of the animals who had ran from us, slowly returning toward us. We stood our ground till they came within about twenty or thirty steps of us, when we in turn broke and ran across a deep hole in when we reached the top of the ridge we halted but heard no persuit. We were perfectly satisfied that it was a company of men we had__ from their sleeping place but whether it was our conrades or an enemy we had no clue to determine. A young man by the name of McCormac who had been in Wayns Company and was as true g(s) ame as ever _____ a tri____ proposed that him and me should ____up to where the supposed enemy were lying and endeavor to ascertain who and what they were. We accordingly set off in that direction, taking sticks in our hands to steady us in the dark, over the dry and frosty leaves, in order that we would make as little noise as possible. We went on with the light and stealthy tread of the cat, sometimes pausing on logs, and in about an hour we found ourselves within twenty five or thirty feet of where they lay. We could hear them cracking hazelnuts with there teeth, and hear them talking in under tones; but could not distinguish whether they spoke English or Indian; we returned to our companions and reported. As we had pretty strong belief that they might be our company we concluded we would call to them, if it should prove to be our company, we would be relieved from much suffering. If they should prove to be Indians we could out run them easier in the dark than we had done in daylight. We accordingly called to them, when we distinctly heard one of them barvl (?) out by Jims (?) that is the voice of John McDonald. We immediately went to them and found ourselves in together except poor Jo Ninny; he was left food for Wolves and ravens. Next morning as soon as day dawned we commenced our dis___late march homeward and safety arrived at Nanchesin (?) two days; here our fatigues and dangers ended. Very shortly after our return from the defeated expedition of Mr. ____ Genl Nassie(?) collected a party of twenty eight men of whom I was one, to go on a surveying tour, on the waters of the little Miami river and on the head of Paint creek. The assistant surveyors Genl Nassie employed, were Peter Lee Mr. William Obanon and Nathaniel Beasley. These surveyors were men of intrepid and distinguished bravery and were as able to indure fatigue and privations as any of the sons of the forest; Indeed none but men whose courage and fortitude had been well tested and had confidence in themselves would venture on such hazardous expeditions. There were more danger, more fatigue, and more privations on the surveying tours than there were on an Indian scout or on a campaign. When on a scout or campaign,___men were kept closely embodied and of course were better prepared for attack. On defence: whilst the surveying parties were scattered in detached parties of seven through the woods: and each man having special duties to attend to which required all his vigilence to perform his duty, exclusive of keeping a watchful lookout for Indians. Genl Nassie died in 1813, he was a brave energetic man, promised in early life to leave a large fortune to his children, for many years before his death he became intemperate in his habits, neglected his business and at his death left his estate in confusion, so that his heirs have reallised but little benefit from the severe toils and sacrafise of the father; he was a real friend in time of need, a placid enemy liberal generous and hospital and a honest man. Mr. Lee was lately living; his residence is in Mason County Kentucky; he possesses a large fortune, he is respected by all who know him for his unostentatious virtues. Mr. Lee lives a bachelor. Mr. Nathaniel Beasley although the youngest of the four surveyors died long since. He served his country as a soldier and in many public stations, such as Justice of the Peace, county commissioner representative in the state Legislature . . .