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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
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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
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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
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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 Cl