Kentucky Girl

They arrive in Boonsboro and were enthusiastically welcomed by the inhabitants. Rachel and her party were told they each could file on about 640 acres of land which had been purchased from the Cherokee Indians. The problem was that the Shawnee Indians did not recognize that purchase.

And in spite of the bloody history of Boonsboro the current residents were determined to settle that land and gave a hardy welcome to our little party and were questioned as to their trip out. Clem described being jumped by white varmints on one side of the gap and red varmints on the other side. He mentioned the incredible gun action of his wife who demurred but was quickly proven by Clem.

Rachel's party was integrated into life at Boonsboro. The men were assigned duties to guard on the ramparts, Rachel, Betsy and Nancy began a kind of clinic. After one of the forays by the militia they brought in an old Indian woman of an indeterminate age. She hand great knowledge of the use of herbs and such.

The old Indian woman had to perform a surgical operation on Capt. Jack who was brought into the clinic with an arrow in his leg after a skirmish with the Indians. Rachel's group was assigned land very close to the fort so that the women could help with the medical needs. The men laid out their cabins to form a triangle so that two of the cabins would be close to defend the other.

One of Rachel's 15 year old boy student/ teacher was all by himself wait out in the woods gathering herbs and broke his leg. Too young Indians, a boy Tim’s age and his sister came to his aid. They took him back to their Indian village and cared for him. There developed a strong attachment between Tim and this Indian maid.

Tim and the Indian maid whose name is Morning Dove continue growing closer together while teaching each other their own language. Tim and Morning Dove’s brother whose name is Running Deer get along quite well. Tim’s natural engineering ability enables him to set up a series of hollow logs as an aqueduct to divert water from a distant Creek to the Indian village. This eliminated the necessity for the women to carry water in baskets from the creek. Time went on and Tim had a deep yearning for his people. His new wife thought hard and decided that she would go with Tim to join his people.

This Indian tied a rawhide lasso around Rachel's neck and used it as a leash to take her back to his Indian village. There were days of travel and Rachel would periodically look behind her and memorize the landmarks on the faint possibility that she might escape and return east. The Shawnee committed an error in tying her up for the night so he could sleep. Rachel used her mouth to cut off his air from his windpipe and thus freed herself.

She removed from the body some essential items like the elk leather Jacket, pants and moccasins, as well as the knife, pouches of food and the bow and arrow. She was anxious to get away from that body and so started her trek east. She found a good place for the rest of the night to sleep. She practiced her shooting skills with the bow and arrow and in the process frightened a bear cub who's squeals brought out mama bear to defend it, thus putting Rachel in great danger.

As Rachel followed the creek home and came upon her home field, Clem mistakes her for an Indian and shoots. In the last split second Clem hear's her voice and pushes the gun up. The two rush toward each other with great emotion. Clem calls for their friends and all six excitedly talk at the same time. Rachel pleads for time with her husband alone. The next day Rachel describes her ordeal.

Rachel is so concerned about the children's lack of education that she has Clem take her to the meeting of the State’s legislature where she dresses in the Indian’s elk leather outfit that she has altered to fit her snuggly. she gives an impassioned speech for help in obtaining books and teachers for the children.

Rachel and her party continued through the gap and was shortly set by upon by a band of Indians. Rachel and her gun helped to defeat the Indians and save her party. They continued on toward Boonsboro.

Rachel's speech captured the legislature completely. They recognized her description of need as that which applies to all incoming homesteaders of the state. In a resounding decision they voted to establish a state- wide public school system. Homesteaders continued pouring into Kentucky with the consequence of pushing the Indians further west. This resulted in the election of an Indian hater, Andrew Jackson, as president of the United States, who used the army to round up all Indians and herd them west to Oklahoma in an action called “The Trail of Tears.” Rachel, Betsy and Nancy represent all women who helped establish this nation and who rightly deserve our utmost praise.

While they were Setting up camp two trappers each leading two mules approached the camp. At first they were friendly then things got ugly. They attempted to overpower Clem by one coming at him from the front and the other from his rear. While Clem was fighting the one in front Rachel saw the one sneaking up behind Clem and whacked him on the head with her iron frying pan knocking him to the ground.

Our group is joined by the traveling preacher Paul who preforms the marriage ceremony for Clem and Rachel and also for Burt and Betsy. The ceremony was accompanied by the heavenly choirs of birds singing.

Rachel and her boyfriend discuss a proposal to go to the new land called Kentucky and claim free land. It was complicated by the fact that they weren't married and that a traveling preacher would not be here to hear their marriage Vows for a long time. As a temporary expedient it was decided to have Rachel's father hear their Vows, and that they would officially say their Vows to the first preacher they met.

Rachel's ma and pa were both saddened but accepted Rachel's decision. Her Pa decided to hear their marriage Vows. He gave her his best rifle. The young people carefully chose what they would be able to carry to this new land.

Both Betsy and Nancy were strong Frontier girls. Bert was a strong Young male and all worked well together. The trip was started and their sequence of hiking in line was established so that Rachel would always be with the single man,whether he was leading or bringing up the rear. They organized the Camp routines including training the dogs to help Guard.

Rachel and her gun were instrumental in the establishment of Kentucky. She was a very intelligent girl with a determination to achieve. Many like her were needed to realize the success of this nation. Her contribution to the establishment of Kentucky needs to be heralded.

Kentucky was called “dark and muddy ground” due to the many fights that took place between various Indian tribes. Daniel Boone was one of the surveyors as was George Washington.

A small boy by the name of Dan slipped through enemy lines and carried a note from General Washington to the French Gen. Rochambeau to alert him of a change in the direction of the Army’s. This action was crucial in defeating Britain's General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown in the last days of the Revolutionary war.