Those who had preceded them could not be classified as settlers. As a rule they were wilderness tramps, or land jobbers, or conscienceless traders, who built cabins surrounded by picketings of timbers planted deep in the ground to protect their “stations” from surprises by the Indians; and such cabins soon became widely known. It was around these stations the real immigrant settled. In case of attack, the settlers near gathered at the “station.” The owner, of course, assumed command and exercised all the rights of proprietor. Thus by consent he was designated as Colonel Boone, or Colonel Morgan, or Colonel Gibson, or Colonel Cresap; which title he retained, as is the way of such adventurers, though his “station” frequently degenerated into a joint for the sale of rum or brandy and a resort for the dissolute or criminal of those early days. Thus the title “Colonel” was applied to any one temporarily in authority; and in Kentucky might be said to have a local meaning. Not all “Kentucky Colonels” have seen military service or are holders of commissions designating them as such; though the secretaries of Kentucky’s recent governors, spend much of their time issuing such commissions. The writer has known instances where Kentuckians holding a commission as lieutenant or captain during actual service; as they grew in importance locally, or became a celebrity because the owner of a great race horse, or in appearance venerable, have been raised by the courtesy of their neighbors to the rank of “General.” Emigrants from Virginia to the District of Kentucky had the choice of the river route down the Ohio, or overland by way of the Old Wilderness Road. Those coming by river had first to travel caravan style to the head of navigation of the Allegheny, Monongahela, or Kanawha river or to Pittsburgh. There they loaded their cattle into flat boats, or batteaux, or on rafts of poplar logs and floated down the Ohio; carefully keeping to the center of the stream, out of range from the shore. Reaching their destination, usually Limestone (Maysville) or Louisville, they sold their boat or raft and took to pack horse or wagon, completing their journey as they traveled on the first stage of it. In 1787, M. St. John de Crevecoeur, a native of Normandy published in a Paris journal an account of his river trip from Pittsburgh to Louisville. Considering the date, the narrative seems somewhat overdrawn. In part he said: