Acknowledgment

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Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1848, by
ROBINSON & JONES,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Ohio

INTRODUCTORY.

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The Renegade, as its second title implies, is strictly a historical romance of
border life. My design has been, to combine fact and fiction, the real and ideal, in
such a way, as, while making the story connected and its incidents moving forward
to one grand design, to give the reader a correct picture of the dress, customs and
social habits of the early pioneers of the west, and set forth a series of historical
events which took place on the frontiers during that revolutionary struggle whereby
we gained our glorious independence. For this purpose, Kentucky, in its infancy,
has been selected as the scene of action; and most of the existing records relating
thereto, have been overhauled, carefully read, comparisons made, and only the best
authenticated accounts given to the reader. So much in fact have I striven to
make the present work entirely historical, that scarcely a character or scene appears
in its pages which was not drawn directly from life or history.

My design has been to use characters, both real and imaginary, so as to make
them actors—sometimes prominent ones—in events which actually had an existence
at the time stated and in the manner detailed. In describing the attack on Bryan's
Station, and the terrible and sanguinary battle of Blue Licks which shortly followed
it—where an overwhelming body of Indians defeated the whites, and many of the
noblest of Kentucky's noble sons found a bloody and untimely grave—I have
followed history, as given by some five or six authors, exactly to the letter; for
which, of course, I only claim the credit due to the historian, who places facts before
the reader in such a form of connection as makes them comprehensive, easily
understood, and likely to be read and remembered.

Of some of the leading characters of the work, I will now say a few words, and
close my prefatory remarks.

From Simon Girty, the Renegade—who herein figures conspicuously, and who, at
that day, was notorious for his determined hatred of his race, and his barbarous and
inhuman acts upon all the whites who by any means fell into his hands—the book
derives its leading title. Of the early history of Girty, I have never been able to
glean any thing, beyond the statement that he was originally from Pennsylvania—
to which place his father had emigrated from Ireland—and that he was taken
prisoner by the Indians, during Braddock's war, and adopted by the Senecas, with
whom he ever after remained, becoming a chief among them of no little distinction.
The latter part of his career was one signally marked with the blood of the victims
of his race; and at the date of the story which follows, his name was a word of
terror upon the frontiers. Such as I have seen him described, have I described him;
and, I flatter myself, have depicted his leading traits with the fidelity of life.

Of Daniel Boone—the first pioneer of Kentucky, who also figures largely in the
tale, contra-distinguished from Girty in every particular—it is almost needless to

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speak; as but very few of the present day are altogether ignorant of this great and
remarkable man. That he was superior as a woodsman, and inferior as a scholar—
so far as book learning is concerned, at least—I have before me ample authority, to
justify me in making him exactly the character I have, and none other; and to those
who would question it, if such there be, I would say in all candor, read closely his
history before expressing your opinion.

Algernon Reynolds, the hero of the book, is in part a real personage, and in part
an ideal creation. In other words, there was a young man in Bryan's Station,
during the memorable siege of August, 1782, and at the battle of Blue Licks by the
name of Reynolds, who performed exactly the same parts ascribed to our hero.

Of the other characters and scenes, I do not consider it necessary to speak—
preferring, rather, that the reader form his or her own conclusions regarding them.

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