CHAPTER IV.

THE SUTTLER­THE SURVEYOR.

FROM Mitchell's, Fitch removed to Charles Garrison's place, in Warminster township, where he began business in a small way, and prosecuted it until the advance of the British by the head of Elk to Philadelphia and the region above drove him away from what was to become "a bloody ground," lying between the outposts of both armies, and liable to the predatory incursions of each. When he fled from Trenton, he had been successful in bringing away in one small wagon-load some of his tools and most valuable effects. After the battles of Trenton and Princeton, he visited his old home, and found things in a sad condition. Many of his tools had been broken, his household furniture had been destroyed, his chairs had been cut down to stools, and his desk split up for fuel. Reclaiming what he could, he returned to Bucks County, and set up silversmithing in a portion of a wheelwright shop belonging to James Scout, usually called "Cobe (Jacobus) Scout." The approach of the enemy from below rendered it necessary for him to fly once more. He buried his silver and gold by night in a retired and safe situation, as he supposed, upon Garrison's place, and sought the head-quarters of the American army, where he made himself acquainted with the wants of the troops. There was a scarcity of tobacco, and of some kinds of dry goods. He went to Baltimore, where he purchased enough articles to fill two wagons, which, by slow and toilsome journeys, were driven to the camp at Valley Forge. When he arrived there he found that large supplies of tobacco had been received, and that which he had brought did not meet with ready sale. He had to keep it on hand a long time, and to manufacture some of it into merchantable shape. He now turned his attention to supplying the suttlers of the army with beer. He engaged all which was prepared at one brewery in Bucks County, and had two wagons and teams in constant communication with the camp. In this adventure he cleared 5 pounds per barrel. Business slacking, he engaged beer at Fork and Lancaster, and sent one team to Valley Forge each week. Good sales were met with there, and whatever was not disposed of was taken to Trenton, where customers were readily found. On these trips he realized from 50 to 150 pounds Continental currency per week. He put a considerable sum of his earnings into purchases of goods, but kept a large amount of notes on hand, and was distressed at the continual depreciation of the Continental money. It was now, before the camp had quitted Valley Forge, valued at forty dollars of paper money for one in specie, and he had forty thousand dollars of that currency on hand.

When the British evacuated Philadelphia, June 18th, 1778, this trade was broken up, and Fitch turned his attention to his old business. Repairing to Bucks County, he sought his buried treasure on the estate of Chas. Garrison, but to his dismay and grief the precious deposit was missing. He had imprudently buried it at night by the light of a lantern, and his movements had been observed. The treasure had been discovered and dug up. It was some time before any clue to the mystery could be found, but at length it was established that one of Garrison's negroes had possessed himself of the treasure trove. This fellow had been induced to give the whole, or nearly all of the money to a young white man who lived in the neighborhood, and who was of a wealthy and respectable family. Fitch boldly determined to bring him to justice, and he had him arrested. The father of the receiver of the money became his surety, after which the son absconded. Eventually the father settled with Fitch, giving him Continental money at rates more favorable than the current value, although there was considerable loss upon the transaction.

His tools were again put in requisition, and he endeavored to carry on his old brass and silver smith business in Bucks County, where he could live cheaper than in New Jersey. He persevered in this effort for more than a year with but poor success, and what was worse, was compelled to see his wealth depreciate daily, so that his forty thousand dollars, which was worth one thousand dollars specie when the army left Valley Forge, was now of no greater value than one hundred dollars. In this extremity he bethought him what it was best to do, and he concluded that the only way for him to save his money from becoming utterly worthless, was to invest it in land-warrants in Virginia, and to go out to that unknown region Kentucky, and locate his claims upon the most valuable lands.

In the spring of 1780, he left Bucks County, and repairing to Philadelphia, obtained letters of recommendation from Dr. John Ewing, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, addressed to Dr. James Madison, afterwards Bishop of Virginia, who was at that time President of William and Mary College at Richmond. In that epistle Dr. Ewing declared that John Fitch was a worthy man, and had the proper qualifications to become a deputysurveyor. Mr. William C. Houston, afterwards a member of Congress, and some others, joined in these encomiums, and their influenee was sufficient to procure for Fitch the coveted commission. The journey to Richmond was made upon foot, and it must have been attended with a variety of incidents, but of the particulars we have no record. The country was desolated by war, and wherever our adventurer went there were traces of its influence in wasted fields and dilapidation. From Richmond he travelled, in company with William Tucker, whom he had engaged to assist him in his surveys, westward through what was almost a wilderness, and, after many fatigues, found himself at Wheeling island on the Ohio river, in the spring of the year 1780. Here eleven boats were moored, and they were preparing to descend the stream. A consultation was held among the voyagers as to the best means of securing their mutual safety. The banks of the river were uninhabited, and Indians, whose friendship was not to be depended upon, were supposed to be lying in wait at favorable points, to attack and rob such boats as were not strongly manned, and able to repel the aggression. Fitch proposed that all the boats should be lashed together, urging as a reason that if they were separate they would become spread out over a considerable distance; and could not give assistance as easily to any one or more which should be selected out by the foe. This proposition led to considerable debate. The Rev. Mr. Barned, a Baptist clergyman, coincided in this opinion, and advocated it strongly. But contrary resolutions prevailed. Foremost among the opponents was one Tombleston, who owned two boats which seemed to be well manned, who was selfish enough to suppose that their speed would be sufficient to enable them to escape, even if his companions should suffer. Finally, it was decided not to adopt Fitch's plan, and the proposer was even accused of cowardice because he had ventured to suggest it. These taunts did not deter him from what he thought was proper, and although he was but a passenger on the boat in which he was to descend the river, he directed Tucker to cut a number of grape vines and bring them on board. This excited the displeasure of one Stone, who directed that they should be thrown overboard; but Fitch represented that they would be useful in fastening the boat to some object on shore at places where they desired to stop, and they were reluctantly permitted to remain.

It was a bright morning when the voyagers left Wheeling, and the sun shone serenely upon the thick vegetation on the banks of the river, which were gay with the garniture of spring. They fioated along amid scenes of wild beauty, drinking delight from the ever varying natural panorama which opened upon them at each bend of the river, revealing to the eye the majestic terraces of hills which stretched away on either side into the blue distance. It was not long before the little fleet became scattered along the stream, extending over two miles. About eleven o'clock, the boat on which was the Rev. Mr. Barned came near that in which Fitch was, and the latter invited his friend to come on board and "get a drink of grog." The proposal was accepted, and as the craft drew near they were lashed together, and the crews of both participated in "drinks all around." The connection was found to be no detriment to their speed, and they did not sever it. Shortly afterward two other boats were thus united, and after that two more, and finally both of those couples were fastened together. Towards evening the boats of Fitch and Barned joined them, and the six, now having a common interest, prepared for the night. There were eighteen men in them, and they divided themselves into six classes of three each. Two persons pulled the bow-oars, and one steered all the boats. The watches were strictly kept and relieved, and in the morning all congratulated themselves on a plan which permitted so much rest. If each boat had floated along singly, the services of three men would have been required in each, and the crew would have been much more fatigued.

Then daylight enlivened the secne, the boats of Tombleston were discovered ahead, and as that individual acted in perfect independence of his companions, he stopped at the mouth of the Big Sandy River, and his party went on shore. The others were under no obligation to wait upon the movements of Tombleston, and they proceeded onward, and nothing more was seen of him during that day. After they left him, a fine canoe was discovered tied to a sapling growing upon the bank. The sight of this prize incited some of the persons in the boats to go to the shore and secure it. This was done safely, although the act was very imprudent, as there could be but little doubt that Indians were in the immediate vicinity.

The next morning, when the sun was about an hour high, smoke was discovered ascending from the banks of the river several miles ahead of them. This circumstance ought to have warned them of the necessity of using great circumspection, but it did not. When they got near the place from which the smoke had ascended, four fine canoes were seen moored near the shore. The avarice of some of the boatmen was aroused at the sight, and they made preparations to seize the booty in the same manner as on the previous day. Fitch, who was in the cabin, came out upon deck, and remonstrated against this rashness. Tucker was in one of the canoes, and he commanded him to come out. Scarcely had this order been reluctantly complied with when a party of Indians were discovered running down the bank. On perceiving this, Fitch went below, brought up a supply of cartridges and a loaded gun, and laid it down on the deck along-side of him. He then seized the steering-oar, and not only endeavored to get the boats away from the bank, but to protect them from the guns of the Indians. The sides of the boat nearest the shore were low, and the men in it were very much exposed. In order to shield these people, endeavor was made to turn all the boats round, and set the bows up the stream. In executing this movement their sterns were brought fair in toward the Indians, two of whom fired at Fitch, whose life was preserved by a cask of flaxseed in which the balls lodged. This danger brought him down on his knees, and not being able in that position to manage the oar, he called for help. With some difficulty, Stone was induced to assist. Their bodies were protected, but their hands were exposed, and the Indians fired at them. Stone was wounded in the wrist, and it was with much difficulty that he could be persuaded to continue his help; but finally the low-sided boat was got out of the range of the fire-arms of the Indians, so that the crew could bestir themselves. The places where the bowoars were fixed were barricaded with bedding, and the oars being double manned, the boats were soon got out into the middle of the stream, and toward the other bank. Upon perceiving this, about thirty Indians crowded into the canoes, and crossing the river behind the voyagers, began to annoy them from the shore then nearest them. To defeat this manoeuvre, the bows of the boats were now steered down the stream, towards the bank from which the danger first arose. Upon perceiving the movement, the Indians divided their forces. Two canoes loaded with warriors were paddled across the river again, and the voyagers were subjected to shots from both shores: The battle was now spirited. The Indians had the advantage of the cover afforded by trees and bushes, and the people in the boats had to lie close, and fire at the enemy with great caution, so as not to expose themselves too much. For two hours this contest continued, when Fitch and his companions were relieved from the annoyance by the intervention of a new object of prey for the attention of the red men. This was caused by the appearance of Tombleston and his boats. He had followed after the others, and there was now an opportunity for him to understand how foolish he had been in his own conceit, and how he suffered by rejecting prudent counsel. A small party of the foe held Fitch and his companions in check, whilst the main body of the savages made a descent upon the self-reliant braggart. One of his boats, which was loaded with lumber and valuable property, was captured. Three of his crew were wounded, but escaped in the second boat, which by strenuous rowing, and amid much peril, was brought up to the others about dusk. Tombleston was now perfectly willing to fasten his craft to them, and they parted no more during the voyage. With the going down of the sun this fight ended. None of the crews were killed. Stone, the three men of Tombleston, and a negro, were wounded. One cow was shot dead, two or three were wounded, and fourteen horses were injured in various ways. Whether the Indians suffered any is not known; but it may be doubted whether they sustained any serious loss.

In due time the adventurer arrived in Kentucky, where he proceeded to make surveys, and to locate his land-warrants. In this business the Rev. Mr. Barned assisted. He was a good woodsman, and an intelligent man. He was very poor, and Fitch made a proposition of partnership to him. In addition to his own land-warrants, he had brought with him from Virginia some which belonged to other persons, upon agreement that for his trouble and skill in locating them upon good tracts, he was to have one-half of the ground. He now proposed that Barned should explore the country and note the best locations, whilst he would survey the tracts which were chosen. The gratitude of Mr. Barned at this offer was very great, and he embraced it with alacrity, being promised an equal share in the profit of the undertaking. The two accordingly set about the employment­Barned explored and Fitch surveyed. They were engaged in this task during the whole of 1780. In the spring of 1781, Fitch returned to Virginia, where he had his surveys recorded, leaving Barned in Kentucky, whom he expected to meet again in the ensuing spring. Fitch never saw him again, but in 1790 he heard that he had done exceedingly well, and was worth fifty thousand pounds. The lands thus acquired by John Fitch amounted to sixteen hundred acres. Owing doubtless to the number of such claims, the warrants and returns of survey were filed, but patents were not prepared for many months afterward, by the officers at Richmond. They bear the following dates:­For three hundred acres in Jefferson County, on Coxe's creek, June 1, 1789; for three hundred acres on the south-west branch of Simpson's creek, Sept. 1, 1789; for one thousand acres on Coxe's creek, Sept. 1, 1782. In a power of attorney to Jonathan Longstreth, given in 1788, Fitch describes these lands as located in Jefferson, Nelson, Lincoln, and Fayette Counties.