《the adventures》

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and too barbarous to relate。



The hostile disposition of the savages; and their allies; caused

General Clark; the commandant at the Falls of the Ohio; immediately

to begin an expedition with his own regiment; and the armed force

of the country; against Pecaway; the principal town of the

Shawanese; on a branch of Great Miami; which he finished with great

success; took seventeen scalps; and burnt the town to ashes; with

the loss of seventeen men。



About this time I returned to Kentucke with my family; and here;

to avoid an enquiry into my conduct; the reader being before

informed of my bringing my family to Kentucke; I am under the

necessity of informing him that; during my captivity with the

Indians; my wife; who despaired of ever seeing me again; expecting

the Indians had put a period to my life; oppressed with the

distresses of the country; and bereaved of me; her only happiness;

had; before I returned; transported my family and goods; on horses;

through the wilderness; amidst a multitude of dangers; to her

father's house; in North…Carolina。



Shortly after the troubles at Boonsborough; I went to them; and

lived peaceably there until this time。 The history of my going

home; and returning with my family; forms a series of difficulties;

an account of which would swell a volume; and being foreign to my

purpose; I shall purposely omit them。



I settled my family in Boonsborough once more; and shortly after;

on the sixth day of October; 1780; I went in company with my

brother to the Blue Licks; and; on our return home; we were fired

upon by a party of Indians。 They shot him; and pursued me; by the

scent of their dog; three miles; but I killed the dog; and escaped。

The winter soon came on; and was very severe; which confined the

Indians to their wigwams。



The severity of this Winter caused great difficulties in

Kentucke。 The enemy had destroyed most of the corn; the Summer

before。 This necessary article was scarce; and dear; and the

inhabitants lived chiefly on the flesh of buffaloes。 The

circumstances of many were very lamentable: However; being a hardy

race of people; and accustomed to difficulties and necessities;

they were wonderfully supported through all their sufferings; until

the ensuing Fall; when we received abundance from the fertile soil。



Towards Spring; we were frequently harassed by Indians; and; in

May; 1782; a party assaulted Ashton's station; killed one man; and

took a Negro prisoner。 Capt。 Ashton; with twenty…five men; pursued;

and overtook the savages; and a smart fight ensued; which lasted

two hours; but they being superior in number; obliged Captain

Ashton's party to retreat; with the loss of eight killed; and four

mortally wounded; their brave commander himself being numbered

among the dead。



The Indians continued their hostilities; and; about the tenth of

August following; two boys were taken from Major Hoy's

station。 This party was pursued by Capt。 Holder and seventeen men;

who were also defeated; with the loss of four men killed; and one

wounded。 Our affairs became more and more alarming。 Several

stations which had lately been erected in the country were

continually infested with savages; stealing their horses and

killing the men at every opportunity。 In a field; near Lexington;

an Indian shot a man; and running to scalp him; was himself shot

from the fort; and fell dead upon his enemy。



Every day we experienced recent mischiefs。 The barbarous savage

nations of Shawanese; Cherokees; Wyandots; Tawas; Delawares; and

several others near Detroit; united in a war against us; and

assembled their choicest warriors at old Chelicothe; to go on the

expedition; in order to destroy us; and entirely depopulate the

country。 Their savage minds were inflamed to mischief by two

abandoned men; Captains McKee and Girty。 These led them to execute

every diabolical scheme; and; on the fifteenth day of August;

commanded a party of Indians and Canadians; of about five hundred

in number; against Briant's station; five miles from Lexington。

Without demanding a surrender; they furiously assaulted the

garrison; which was happily prepared to oppose them; and; after

they had expended much ammunition in vain; and killed the cattle

round the fort; not being likely to make themselves masters of this

place; they raised the siege; and departed in the morning of the

third day after they came; with the loss of about thirty killed;

and the number of wounded uncertain。Of the garrison four were

killed; and three wounded。



On the eighteenth day Col。 Todd; Col。 Trigg; Major Harland; and

myself; speedily collected one hundred and seventy…six men; well

armed; and pursued the savages。 They had marched beyond the Blue

Licks to a remarkable bend of the main fork of Licking River; about

forty…three miles from Lexington; as it is particularly represented

in the map; where we overtook them on the nineteenth day。 The

savages observing us; gave way; and we; being ignorant of their

numbers; passed the river。 When the enemy saw our proceedings;

having greatly the advantage of us in situation; they formed the

line of battle; represented in the map; from one bend of Licking to

the other; about a mile from the Blue Licks。 An exceeding fierce

battle immediately began; for about fifteen minutes; when we; being

over…powered by numbers; were obliged to retreat; with the loss of

sixty…seven men; seven of whom were taken prisoners。 The brave and

much lamented Colonels Todd and Trigg; Major Harland and my second

son; were among the dead。 We were informed that the Indians;

numbering their dead; found they had four killed more than we; and

therefore; four of the prisoners they had taken; were; by general

consent; ordered to be killed; in a most barbarous manner; by the

young warriors; in order to train them up to cruelty; and then they

proceeded to their towns。



On our retreat we were met by Col。 Logan; hastening to join us;

with a number of well armed men: This powerful assistance we

unfortunately wanted in the battle; for; notwithstanding the

enemy's superiority of numbers; they acknowledged that; if they had

received one more fire from us; they should undoubtedly have given

way。 So valiantly did our small party fight; that; to the memory of

those who unfortunately fell in the battle; enough of honour cannot

be paid。 Had Col。 Logan and his party been with us; it is highly

probable we should have given the savages a total defeat。



I cannot reflect upon this dreadful scene; but sorrow fills my

heart。 A zeal for the defence of their country led these heroes to

the scene of action; though with a few men to attack a powerful

army of experienced warriors。 When we gave way; they pursued us

with the utmost eagerness; and in every quarter spread destruction。

The river was difficult to cross; and many were killed in the

flight; some just entering the river; some in the water; others

after crossing in ascending the cliffs。 Some escaped on horse…back;

a few on foot; and; being dispersed every where; in a few hours;

brought the melancholy news of this unfortunate battle to

Lexington。 Many widows were now made。 The reader may guess what

sorrow filled the hearts of the inhabitants; exceeding any thing

that I am able to describe。 Being reinforced; we returned to bury

the dead; and found their bodies strewed every where; cut and

mangled in a dreadful manner。 This mournful scene exhibited a

horror almost unparalleled: Some torn and eaten by wild beasts;

those in the river eaten by fishes; all in such a putrified

condition; that no one could be distinguished from another。



As soon as General Clark; then at the Falls of the Ohio; who was

ever our ready friend; and merits the love and gratitude of all his

country…men; understood the circumstances of this unfortunate

action; he ordered an expedition; with all possible haste; to

pursue the savages; which was so expeditiously effected; that we

overtook them within two miles of their towns; and probably might

have obtained a great victory; had not two of their number met us

about two hundred poles before we come up。 These returned quick as

lightening to their camp with the alarming news of a mighty army in

view。 The savages fled in the utmost disorder; evacuated their

towns; and reluctantly left their territory to our mercy。 We

immediately took possession of Old Chelicothe without opposition;

being deserted by its inhabitants。 We continued our pursuit through

five towns on the Miami rivers; Old Chelicothe; Pecaway; New

Chelicothe; Will's Towns; and Chelicothe; burnt them all to ashes;

entirely destroyed their corn; and other fruits; and every where

spread a scene of desolation in the country。 In this expedition we

took seven prisoners and five scalps; with the loss of only four

men; two of whom were accidentally killed by our own army。



This campaign in some measure damped the spirits of the Indians;

and made them sensible of our superiority。 Their connections were

dissolved; their armies scattered; and a future invasion put

entirely out of their power; yet they continued to practise

mischief secretly upon the inhabitants; in the exposed parts of the

country。



In October following; a party made an excursion into that

district called the Crab Orchard; and one of them; being advanced

some distance before the others; boldly entered the house of a poor

defenceless family; in which was only a Negro man; a woman and her

children; terrified with the apprehensions of immediate death。 The

savage; perceiving their defenceless situation; without offering

violence to the family attempted to captivate the Negro; who;

happily proved an over…match for him; threw him on the ground; and;

in the struggle; the mother of the children drew an ax from a

corner of the cottage; and cut his head off; while her little

daughter shut the door。 The savages instantly appeared; and appl
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