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" George Rogers Clark & John Gabriel Jones Travel the Wilderness Road "

In 1776, the settlers of Kentucky were fed up with all the land holding conflicts created by Henderson's Transylvania Company and others. Frequently several families had bought the rights to the same piece of land and hostilities were narrowly averted.
Choosing Clark and Jones to represent them, they urged to take their petition to the Va. General Assembly for resolution.
On previous trips, Clark had traveled down the Ohio River, but this time they would travel the famous Wilderness Road. Leaving Harrodsburg, Kentucky, they found the going relatively easy for a while. The numerous travelers had blazed a very clear trail and a few improvements had actually been made to difficult stretches. Here and there they encountered other settlers coming into the territory and occasionally they passed cabins or heard the sound of livestock in the distant meadows.
On the third day, Jones' horse gave out and they had to transfer all their gear to Clark's, and take turns riding. Heavy rains set in and they were soaked to the skin. Trudging on through the rain and mud, the two developed scalded feet (from their constantly wet moccasins). Fearing to risk a fire, they painfully continued on through the Cumberland Gap to an abandoned camp 8 miles West of Martin's Station (near Jonesville, Va.). After resting overnight, they awoke to more rain but had little choice but to continue on. If they could make the Station, surely they could find warm, dry quarters and could rest until their feet healed. It took them almost all day to painfully trek the remaining distance to the outpost. When they finally arrived they found it deserted - and fresh Indian sign all around. Their situation was now desperate. They were 60 miles from the nearest settlement, had only one horse, could hardly walk, and Indians surely were lurking about the area.
After thinking over their situation, they decided to fortify one of the remaining cabins and burn the stockade to attract the attention of any travelers that might be nearby. With the water from an old barrel they found, some corn left in a crib, and the meat from a hog they found in a lot, they might be able to hold out until help arrived. In the meantime, they would make an "oil & ouse" to treat their blistered feet.
During the night, as they passed the nervous hours, they heard the faint sound of a horse bell. Fearing Indians were creeping up on them, they waited nervously and peered intently into the blackness around them. It seemed like hours passed without another sound. Then to their relief, the approaching group turned out to be White Men. They presented themselves in full view to the group and shouted loudly. The visitors were from the Clinch Settlements and were returning for some of the things they had left when the station was abandoned a few days before.
The next day, Clark and Jones were given fresh horses and accompanied by their new friends to Fort Blackmore where they remained for several days to allow their feet to heal. Stories were exchanged with eagerness.
When they were well, they continued their journey through Moccasin Gap and turned East toward Royal Oak (in Marion, Va.). They then crossed the New River at Ingles Ferry and continued on to Fincastle. Here they learned that the General Assembly had already adjourned. Hearing this, Jones returned to the Holston Settlements and took part in an expedition against the Cherokees.
Clark continued to the home of Governor Patrick Henry where he explained his mission. The Governor gave him a letter to present to the Virginia Executive Council at Williamsburg. Clark asked them for powder and support for the Kentucky Settlements but found them reluctant to grant his request. They were uncertain about "officially" committing Virginia's support because of the question of who actually "owned" the territory and controlled the land rights there. Eventually they agreed to give powder to Clark but not to the Kentucky Settlements. To their surprise, Clark refused. "If a country isn't worth protecting, it isn't worth claiming!", he shouted. "If Virginia won't defend Kenducky, we will go elsewhere." - -- Clark got his powder and on his terms.
A few weeks later, Clark and Jones were on hand to present their case to the Va. General Assembly. Also present was Col. Henderson, who was trying desperately to get recognition of his claim to the land he had purchased from the Cherokees. Again Clark and Jones prevailed and received the official sanction they sought. The Legislature passed an Act on 12/6/1776, which established the County of Kentucky out of the Western part of Fincastle County. Henderson's personal empire was doomed.
Clark and Jones returned through Fort Pitt to pick up their powder. During their trip down the Ohio with the powder, they encountered frequent Indian activity. Fearing they might lose it, they were forced to hide it in several locations not far from Limestone.
The two continued on to Harrodsburg with the good news. After much celebration, Jones led a party to get the much needed powder. From nowhere an ambush was sprung and he and 3 others were slain and the powder lost. As was often the case on the frontier, victory was often short and quickly replaced by another tragedy.

From: Pathfinders, Pioneers, & Patriots
Danny Dixon

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