Opposition: Daniel Boone and Native Americans

Americans have always had a fascination with celebrity.  In the 18th century, particularly on the frontier, there were no bigger celebrities than Indian Fighters.  And the most well-known Indian Fighter of his day was Daniel Boone, 1734-1820.  Daniel wore many hats throughout his long life, including frontiersman, longhunter, trapper, soldier, teamster, militia officer, politician, surveyor, merchant, sheriff, tavern keeper, horse trader, justice of the peace and land speculator.  The one title that drew the most attention though, was Indian Fighter.

Daniel's family were Quakers, though he himself wasn't a practicing member.  Growing up in frontier Pennsylvania, the Delaware/Lenape were still around and Daniel might have encountered them in a peaceful atmosphere.  From observing Native hunters he would've acquired hunting, trapping and tracking skills that would later save his life.  During the French and Indian War (1755-1763), he served as a teamster and narrowly survived Braddock's Defeat.  It would be his first hostile encounter with Natives.  He also served in the North Carolina militia during the Anglo-Cherokee War (1759-1761).  After the war, in 1767, he and his brother Squire began hunting and trapping in Kentucky.  In 1769, he was captured by a group of Shawnee.  Despite the experience, Boone returned to Kentucky again to hunt and later led his family and other settlers there in 1773.  His son James Boone and another teenager, Henry Russell, were captured, ritually tortured and killed.  Whatever Daniel's personal feelings, the killings forced many families to flee back to civilization and was one of the incidents that touched off Lord Dunmore's War (1774). 

Boone eventually returned to Kentucky and founded the settlement of Boonesborough.  In 1776, Boone's daughter Jemima was captured with two friends outside Boonesborough.  Daniel learned of her captured, formed a rescue party, and two days later retrieved his daughter and her two friends alive.  In 1777, the British recruited Shawnee leader Blackfish to attack settlements in Kentucky.  Blackfish and his men besieged Boonesborough and Daniel was shot in the process, but he survived and fended off the siege and a court-martial.  In 1778, Blackfish captured Daniel, who spent the winter with the Shawnee until he could get home to Boonesborough.  At this time, he was given the Shawnee name Shaltowee or Big Turtle. 

Given this history, it would be easy to think that Daniel Boone hated or bore a vengeful grudge against Natives.  During the 19th century, he was portrayed as being angry over the death of his son and willing to kill Natives, particularly Shawnees and Cherokees any chance he got.  People who knew him personally didn't remark on any outstanding animus against the Natives.  Daniel defended his family, his neighbors and his country against both Natives and British.  If they were a threat to him, he was able to meet them on their terms.  But he bore them no abiding ill-will.  Unlike Lewis Wetzel or James Smith, who'd spent time in captivity and didn't appreciate the experience, Daniel learned from it and gained the respect of Natives.  The idea that he was an ardent Indian hater is a later invention.