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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 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；