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daily expected the arrival of the Indian army； and at length； one of my
fellow prisoners； escaping from them； arrived； informing us that the
enemy had an account of my departure； and postponed their expedition
three weeks。The Indians had spies out viewing our movements； and were
greatly alarmed with our increase in number and fortifications。 The Grand
Councils of the nations were held frequently； and with more deliberation
than usual。 They evidently saw the approaching hour when the Long Knife
would disposess them of their desirable habitations； and anxiously
concerned for futurity； determined utterly to extirpate the whites out of
Kentucke。 We were not intimidated by their movements； but frequently
gave them proofs of our courage。
About the first of August； I made an incursion into the Indian country；
with a party of nineteen men； in order to surprise a small town up Sciotha；
called Paint…Creek…Town。 We advanced within four miles thereof； where
we met a party of thirty Indians； on their march against Boonsborough；
intending to join the others from Chelicothe。 A smart fight ensued betwixt
us for some time： At length the savages gave way； and fled。 We had no
loss on our side： The enemy had one killed； and two wounded。 We took
from them three horses； and all their baggage； and being informed； by two
of our number that went to their town； that the Indians had entirely
evacuated it； we proceeded no further； and returned with all possible
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expedition to assist our garrison against the other party。 We passed by
them on the sixth day； and on the seventh； we arrived safe at
Boonsborough。
On the eighth； the Indian army arrived； being four hundred and forty…
four in number； commanded by Capt。 Duquesne； eleven other Frenchmen；
and some of their own chiefs； and marched up within view of our fort；
with British and French colours flying； and having sent a summons to me；
in his Britannick Majesty's name； to surrender the fort； I requested two
days consideration； which was granted。
It was now a critical period with us。We were a small number in the
garrison。A powerful army before our walls； whose appearance
proclaimed inevitable death； fearfully painted； and marking their footsteps
with desolation。 Death was preferable to captivity； and if taken by storm；
we must inevitably be devoted to destruction。 In this situation we
concluded to maintain our garrison； if possible。 We immediately
proceeded to collect what we could of our horses； and other cattle； and
bring them through the posterns into the fort： And in the evening of the
ninth； I returned answer； that we were determined to defend our fort while
a man was livingNow； said I to their commander； who stood attentively
hearing my sentiments； We laugh at all your formidable preparations： But
thank you for giving us notice and time to provide for our defence。 Your
efforts will not prevail； for our gates shall for ever deny you admittance。
Whether this answer affected their courage； or not； I cannot tell； but；
contrary to our expectations； they formed a scheme to deceive us；
declaring it was their orders； from Governor Hamilton； to take us captives；
and not to destroy us； but if nine of us would come out； and treat with
them； they would immediatly withdraw their forces from our walls； and
return home peaceably。 This sounded grateful in our ears； and we agreed
to the proposal。
We held the treaty within sixty yards of the garrison； on purpose to
divert them from a breach of honour； as we could not avoid suspicions of
the savages。 In this situation the articles were formally agreed to； and
signed； and the Indians told us it was customary with them； on such
occasions； for two Indians to shake hands with every white…man in the
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treaty； as an evidence of entire friendship。 We agreed to this also； but were
soon convinced their policy was to take us prisoners。They immediately
grappled us； but； although surrounded by hundreds of savages； we
extricated ourselves from them； and escaped all safe into the garrison；
except one that was wounded； through a heavy fire from their army。 They
immediately attacked us on every side； and a constant heavy fire ensued
between us day and night for the space of nine days。
In this time the enemy began to undermine our fort； which was
situated sixty yards from Kentucke river。 They began at the water… mark
and proceeded in the bank some distance； which we understood by their
making the water muddy with the clay； and we immediately proceeded to
disappoint their design； by cutting a trench across their subterranean
passage。 The enemy discovering our counter…mine； by the clay we threw
out of the fort； desisted from that stratagem： And experience now fully
convincing them that neither their power nor policy could effect their
purpose； on the twentieth day of August they raised the siege； and
departed。
During this dreadful siege； which threatened death in every form； we
had two men killed； and four wounded； besides a number of cattle。 We
killed of the enemy thirty…seven； and wounded a great number。 After they
were gone； we picked up one hundred and twenty… five pounds weight of
bullets； besides what stuck in the logs of our fort； which certainly is a
great proof of their industry。 Soon after this； I went into the settlement； and
nothing worthy of a place in this account passed in my affairs for some
time。
During my absence from Kentucke； Col。 Bowman carried on an
expedition against the Shawanese； at Old Chelicothe； with one hundred
and sixty men； in July； 1779。 Here they arrived undiscovered； and a battle
ensued； which lasted until ten o'clock； A。 M。 when Col。 Bowman； finding
he could not succeed at this time； retreated about thirty miles。 The Indians；
in the meantime； collecting all their forces； pursued and overtook him；
when a smart fight continued near two hours； not to the advantage of Col。
Bowman's party。
Col。 Harrod proposed to mount a number of horse； and furiously to
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rush upon the savages； who at this time fought with remarkable fury。 This
desperate step had a happy effect； broke their line of battle； and the
savages fled on all sides。 In these two battles we had nine killed； and one
wounded。 The enemy's loss uncertain； only two scalps being taken。
On the twenty…second day of June； 1780； a large party of Indians and
Canadians； about six hundred in number； commanded by Col。 Bird；
attacked Riddle's and Martin's stations； at the Forks of Licking River； with
six pieces of artillery。 They carried this expedition so secretly； that the
unwary inhabitants did not discover them； until they fired upon the forts；
and； not being prepared to oppose them； were obliged to surrender
themselves miserable captives to barbarous savages； who immediately
after tomahawked one man and two women； and loaded all the others with
heavy baggage； forcing them along toward their towns； able or unable to
march。 Such as were weak and faint by the way； they tomahawked。 The
tender women； and helpless children； fell victims to their cruelty。 This； and
the savage treatment they received afterwards； is shocking to humanity；
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