OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY: Chapter 13 (Abbott, John S. C., 1875)
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			Chapter XIII.
		     Battles in Kentucky

   The savages were much elated by their recent victories, and were eager
to be led to new triumphs. Governor Hamilton, of Detroit, was also annoyed,
that his faithful allies should be assailed almost beneath the wall of the 
British fortress, by armed bands from the south side of the Ohio River. He
therefore organized quite a powerful army, of picked warriors, about six
hundred in number, to destroy all the settlements on the Kentucky and Lick-
ing Rivers. Nearly all these Indians were from the Valleys of the Sandusky
and Little Miami.
   The Governor, being resolved to make his force strong enough to accom-
plish the savages, and furnished them with six quite formidable pieces of
artillery, and with skilled artillerists to man the guns. With these en-
gines of war the strongest log fort could be easily battered down. The rush,
then, of five hundred savages upon the feeble and defenseless garrisons, 
would soon silence all in death. The renowned Chieftain, Blackfish, was the
Indian leader of the savage warriors. A British officer, Colonel Byrd, was 
entrusted with the general command of the expedition.
   It will be remembered that the Licking River, flowing from the south, 
into the Ohio, enters that stream a few miles only below the point at 
which the Little Miami enters it, flowing down from the north. At this time
there were several feeble settlements, which had been commenced not far 
from each other, along the Valley of the Licking.
   It required a march of twelve days to descend the Valley of the Little
Miami, cross the Ohio, and ascend the Valley of the Licking to its south
fork. This was accompanied with so much secrecy that the army reached Rug-
gles Station on the twenty-second of June, 1780, before any of the garrison
had the slightest suspicion of its approach. The fort was a mere stockade, 
without artillery, and crowded with women and children. The feeble garrison
could make no resistance, and at once surrendered to "the arms of his ma-
jesty," with the guarantee of their lives only.
   The victorious savages, elated by such unusual success, quite regardless
of the remonstrances of Colonel Byrd, seized all the inmates of the fort, 
as their prisoners, to be carried off in triumph to their wild haunts, 
there to be exposed to indignities, slavery or death, by all the varieties
of demoniac torture. Three of the captives, who made some slight resis-
tance, were instantly tomahawked.
   The British commander, a humame man, was very indignant at this outrage,
and felt greatly humilitated by it. He was fighting, as he supposed justly, 
under the banners of his king, to put down unjustifiable rebellion. He had
hoped to elevate his savage troops to respect the customs of civilized war-
fare. Instead of this, he found that the savages were dragging him down to
participation in their demoniac deeds. All that he could say in extenuation
of these atrocities, so dishonoring to the British arms, was, that it was 
utterly beyond his power to control the wolfish nature of his allies.
   In reference to this horrible warfare, Mr. John W. Monette writes, in 
his interesting "History of the Valley of the Mississippi":
   "All the horrors of this war, without doubt, are to be ascribed to the
inhuman policy of England, in employing the savages to murder the defense-
less frontier settlements, because they were a portion of the revolted 
provinces. Thus the most powerful of civilized nations, and whose subjects
are most active in disseminating the gospel, prostituted her power and her
resources to encourage the most inhuman barbituates upon innocent women 
and children, and authorized the commandments of the western posts to pay
the Indians a stipulated price for each scalp and each prisoner for the 
purpose of stimulating them to greater exertions against the helpless
frontier people.
   "Thus the scalps of the white man, and of his wife and children, under 
this diabolical policy, were, in the hands of the savages, a current coin,
which, at the British posts, served to purchase powder, arms, clothing and
the other necessaries for savage comfort. This policy has been denounced
and discarded invariable by the Government of the United States, which 
would not permit it among those Indians who chose to range themselves un-
der its banner.
   "This policy, pursued by this more than savage enemy, on the western
frontier, had the effect of debasing many of the western people to the state
of savage barbarity. It produced in them, that thirst for indiscriminate 
revenge against the Indians, which caused the commission of barbarities 
which the government could never approve. It was a war of a mutual, but un-
availing slaughter, devastation and revenge, over whose record humanity must 
drop a tear of regret. But that tear cannot efface its disgraceful history."
   The Indians loaded themselves with the spoil of Ruggles Station, and then,
leading their bound captives, demanded to be led to the next post, which was
about five miles farther up the river.
   It is said that Colonel Byrd was so affected by the atrocities he had wit-
nesses, that he refused to go any farther. But he soon found that instead of
commanding the savages, they commanded him. If he preferred to stay behind 
he could do so, and they could go without him. The Colonel, a proud British 
officer, was helpless, and was stung almost to madness, by the utter and 
contemptuous disregard of his authority. In the humane endeavor to save life, 
he consented to a humiliating compromise. He agreed that the savages should
have all the plunder, while he should have all the prisoners.
   The ferocious band rioted along with war whoop and hideous yells till they
reached the post called Martin's Fort. Here the same scenes were re-enacted, 
which had been witnessed at Ruggles' Station. The Indians seized all the 
plunder, and then they grasped the inmates, as captives, using them as beasts
of burden, and loading them heavily with the spoils of their own dwellings.
There were several other stations, farther up the river, entirely at the 
mercy of this band.
   The savages clamored still to be led on. But Colonel Byrd peremptorily
refused to conduct them any further in such a warfare against his brethren.
The savages, exultant and enriched, reflected that they could obtain their
ammunition only from the British. Should they offend them too deeply, this
might be withheld. They, therefore, consented to return. When any of the 
captives fell beneath their burdens, they buried the tomahawk in their 
brains.
   We have before mentioned that the region, south of the Ohio River, now
called Kentucky, was the common hunting ground of many tribes occupying the
region around. Over a large extent of this territory, it seems that no par-
ticular tribe was settled, or claimed exclusive possession. This fact, added
to the loveliness of the climate, and the exceeding fertility and beauty of
the country, lured many emigrants, across the Alleghenies, to that section.
But all the valleys of the rivers in what is now Ohio, were crowded with 
Indians, who were very unfriendly to the encroachments of the English. Thus
it happened that in 1781, when there was scarcely the hut of a white settler
to be found in the region north of the Ohio River, there were many small 
settlements springing up in the rich and secluded valleys of Kentucky. It 
was a very ignoble warfare which the government of the mother country waged
against these feeble hamlets, so powerless of harm. The Indians of the Ohio,
from the banks of the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Great and Little Miami, the
Sandusky and the Maumee, were the agents whom the British employed, in pre-
datory bands across the Ohio River, to lay waste these infant settlements. 
It is thus that the narrative of the outrages perpetrated in Kentucky, by
the Indian tribes of Ohio, becomes an important part of the history of that
state.
   Some bold pioneers had reared a few log houses, where Shelbyville now 
stands, about forty miles east of Louisville. Alarmed by the horrors which
were occurring all around them, they abandoned their homes, to join another
and stronger party at Bear's Creek. On their way they were assailed by a 
party of Indians in ambush, who opened fire upon them, killing several of 
their number, and wounding many more. It was probably a small party, for
instead of repeating the attack, or awaiting the return fire, they immediately
fled, raising defiant yells. Colonel Floyd collected from some of the neigh-
boring stations, twenty men to pursue them. He also was drawn into an am-
bush. At the first fire one-half of his little band was struck down by their
bullets. The rest with great difficulty escaped, leaving their comrades to 
be scalped and mutilated by the allies of Great Britain. It was this kind of
warfare which led Thomas Jefferson, in his arraignment of King George III,
to write indignantly.
   "He has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the mer-
ciless Indian savages, whose known rules of warfare, is an undistinguished
destruction of all ages, sexed and conditions."
   The British authorities, at Detroit, now organized another army to cross
the Ohio river, and sweep the frontier of Kentucky of all its white settle-
ments. A force of five hundred savages was rendezvoused at Old Chilicothe, 
in the Valley of the Little Miami, from which so many marauding bands had
already emerged. The army was composed of warriors from widely scattered
tribes, the Shawanese on the Little Miami, the Wyandots on the Sandusky, the
Tawas on the Maumee, and the Delawares on the Muskingum, were all represented
by their most renowned braves. A numver of Canadians enlisted at Detroit, 
adding efficiency to the force. The whole band was under the leadership of
two British officers, renowned for their ferocity, Colonel McGee and the
notorious Tory, Simon Girty.
   As the expedition was to move far and wide, it was not possible for them
to take with them artillery on the pathless route. They, therefore, avoided
Boonesborough, whose bullet-proof palisades had already proved themselves so
impregnable. A few miles from Boonesborough, on the Kentucky River, there 
was a little cluster of log houses, called Bryant's Station. On the night of
the fourteenth of August, 1782, the savages appeared before this little com-
munity, on the Elkhorn, about five miles from the present City of Lexington.
   The fort, or fortress, consisted of about forty cabins, placed in parallel
lines, with a narrow street between them. Strong palisades surrounded the
little village, enclosing a parallelogram thirty rods in length, by twenty 
in breadth, giving an area of about four acres. These palisades were twelve
feet high, formed of hard timber, at least a foot in diameter. They were 
planted very firmly in the ground, the earth being rammed down around them.
This wall, which defied even savage agility in climbing or leaping, was sur-
rounded by a ditch five feet deep.
   At the four angles of these palisades there were block-houses, projecting
some feet, which gave additional strength to the corners, and which also
enabled the inmates, through port-holes, to pour a raking fire upon any as-
sailants who should approach the walls. There were two large folding-gates 
in front and rear, swinging on wooden-hinges, which afforded, in times of
safety, ample entrance for men, cattle and wagons. When closed these gates
were firmly held in place by bars.
   These were strong works to be assailed without artillery. The garrison
amounted to about fifty men, for every able-bodied man was a soldier. Many
of the women also had been taught to use the rifle with great skill. The six
hundred savages who, led by British officers, approached the unsuspecting 
fort, in the darkness of the night, divided themselves into two parties for
the attack. The grass, on that rich soil, grew so rank that it would afford 
a covert even for mounted horsemen. In this grass, and in the forest and 
shrubbery around, the savages concealed themselves, waiting for the dawn.
   There was as yet now well dug within the enclosure. But at a short dis-
tance from one of the gates, there was an abundant spring of pure water. In 
the hurry of constructing the fort, with but a few hands to work upon it, 
they had failed to extent the palisades far enough to include this spring;
and there were also some portions of the work which were not fully completed.
   It seems that there were two plans of attack. One hundred savages con-
cealed themselves as near as possible to the gate opening upon the spring. 
The other five hundred hid themselves in the rear of the fort. It was sup-
posed that as soon as the morning dawned the men, unsuspicious of danger, 
would throw open the gates and come out from their several cabins for water
for their families. There would be one hundred savages, in ambush, to take
deadly aim at their victims, within half rifle-shot. This would be two sa-
vages to every white man. Nearly all would inevitably drop dead. The savages
then, with hideous yells and gleaming tomahawks, would rush in at the open
gate and make short work with the helpless remainder of the inmates.
   If this plan, so manifestly feasible, should fail, then these hundred sa-
vages, rushing from their ambush, would make a fierce attack on the gate. 
The whole force of the garrison would instantly rally to its defense. It 
would naturally, in the confusion of the moment, be supposed that these as-
sailants constituted the whole of the savage army. Then the five hundred,
lying in ambush in the rear of the fort, were silently to leap forward to 
the palisades, and, clambering upon each other's shoulders, were to effect
an entrance. Five hundred warriors thus attacking fifty men, already engaged
in repelling a hundred, would very soon silence them all in death.
   Man proposes. God disposes. It would seem that one of these plans must 
succeed. They both failed. But they were so far above the ordinary cunning 
of the Indian, that there can be no doubt that they originated in the brains
of the British officers. It was found impossible to bring the savages into 
obedience to British discipline.
   Early in the morning the gates were thrown wide open, and half a dozen
early risers come out with their buckets for water. Some of the impatient
savages, disregarding orders, could not wait for the whole body to come, but
opened fire upon them. This gave the alarm. The gates were speedily closed, 
and the whole garrison was roused. There were wise men in that garrison, who
were throughly acquainted with Indian warfare. They said immediately that 
the small number of Indians in ambush at the spring would not think of 
attacking their fort without the support of a large party. Sentinels were 
immediately stationed to watch every approach.
   There was probably a great perplexity in the Indian camp. For sometime 
there was perfect silence. Not a shout was heard; not a gun was fired; not 
an Indian was to be seen. But the garrison was without water. The starvation
of thirst would soon compel a surrender. A siege of thirty-six hours could 
scarcely be maintained. Very shrewdly it was conjectured that the assailants
were forming some new plan of attack, and that the plan would be, fiercely
to assail in feint some quarter of the fort, while the mail attack would be
made from the opposite quarter.
   This, as our readers know, was the very plan which had been devised. Un-
der these circumstances the following very extraordinary expedient was adop-
ted for obtaining water. The more experienced men of the garrison were satis-
fied that the feint would soon be made, and that the main body of the savages
would not unmask themselves until the firing from the garrison was returned
with such warmth as to convince them that all its energies were absorbed in
repelling the feigned attack. They therefore were convinced that the women
might got to the spring and get water with at least a probability of re-
turning unharmed.
   "Acting upon this impression, and yielding to the urgent necessity of the 
case, they summoned all the women, without exception, and explaining the cir-
cumstances in which they were placed, and the improbability that any injury
would be offered them, until the fire had been returned from the opposite 
side of the fort, they urged them to go in a body to the spring, and each to
bring up a bucket full of water. Some of the women had no relish for the un-
dertaking, and asked why the men could not bring water as well as themselves,
observing that they were not bullet-proof, and that the Indians made no dis-
tinction between male and female scalps.
   "To this it was answered, that the women were in the habit of bringing 
water every morning to the fort, and if the Indians saw them engaged as usual, 
it would induce them to believe that their ambuscade was undiscovered, and 
that they would not unmask themselves for the sake of firing upon a few wo-
men, when they hoped, by remaining concealed a few moments longer, to obtain
complete possession of the fort. It was said that if the men should go to the
spring, the Indians would immediately suspect that something was wrong, would
despair of succeeding by ambuscade, and would instantly rush upon them, follow
them into the fort, or shoot them down at the spring.
   "The decision was soon formed. A few of the boldest declared their readi-
ness to face the danger, and the younger and more timid rallying in the rear
of these veterans, they all marched down in a body to the spring. Some of 
the girls could not help betraying symptoms of terror. But the married women
in general moved with a steadiness and composure which completely deceived
the Indians. Not a shot was fired. The party were permittled to fill their
buckets, one after another, without interruption. Although their steps became
quicker and quicker on their return, and when near the fort degenerated into
rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some little crowding at the gate, 
yet not more than one-fifth the water was spilled."("The Great West", Henry
Howe)
   Having thus obtained this supply, which, with careful usage, would last
several days, a brave party of thirteen men was sent out to reconnoiter. They
were speedily fired upon by the savages, and retreated within the gates with-
out loss. They were followed by the whole band in ambush at the springs, who
rent the air with their yells, and commenced a fierce assault upon the gate.
Their fire was vigorously returned through the port-holes. Then the five
hundred, concealed on the opposite side, supposing that the feint had accom-
plished its effect, rushed to the assault of what they supposed to be the
unprotected side of the fort. But, to their surprise, every port-hole imme-
diately opened its fire, striking down the warriors with the deadly bullet,
from which there was no protection. Though, for a time, they pressed forward
with great bravery, soon finding the storm of lead too deadly to be encoun-
tered, they turned in a panic and fled. Several were slain, and many more 
were wounded.
   It will be remembered that Bryant's Station was but at a distance of five
miles from Lexington, where there was another quite important station. In 
some way intelligence had reached that post of the attack by the Indians. 
Immediately a reinforcement of forty men, sixteen of whom were mounted, was
sent to their assistance. The wary savages, ever keeping out their scouts in 
all directions, were apprised of the approach of these troops. They imme-
diately ceased from the attack upon the fort, and formed themselves in am-
buscade to cut off those who were hastening to the relief of the garrison. 
There was a large conr-field through which the road to the fort ran. This
southern corn, in its luxuriant growth, often attains a height of seven or
eight feet. Here, on each side of the trail, the savages concealed themselves
in two parallel lines nearly six hundred yards in length. For their own con-
cealment it was necessary for them to keep at a distance of several rods from
the trail. The growth of corn was so thick as to intercept their view, so 
that no individual aim could be taken. To add still more to their embarrass-
ment, a long drouth, beneath the hot summer's sun, had rendered the earth so
dry that the little army of horsemen and footmen were enveloped in a cloud 
of dust quite impervious to view. Thus the savages were compelled to fire 
almost at random. The firing was the signal at the fort to throw open the
gates, and the whole party, horsemen and footmen, rushed in. Two only had
been killed and four wounded. Thus the strength of the garrison was nearly
doubled.
   This eventful day of peril and of terror was drawing to a clost. The gar-
rison felt assured that they could now defend their works against any 
assaults which the Indians could bring against the. The assailants also be-
gan to despair of success. Just as the sun was going down the infamous Tory,
Simon Girty, mounted a stump at a little distance from the fort, and waving
a white cloth, as a flag of truce, shouted to the garrison to surrender.
   "We have," said he, "several pieces of artillery, which will reach us to-
night. With these we can easily batter down your walls. We have these six
hundred warriors, thoroughly armed, to rush in upon you. The capture of the
fort is inevitable. If the fort is taken by storm we cannot restrain the 
ferocity of the savages. Every inmate of the fort must perish. But if you 
will now surrender, before they are exasperated by a fight, we can promise
you all protection of your lives and your private property. I suppose you 
know who I am."
   All this was a lie. There were no pieces of artillery on the way. A young 
man named Reynolds, fearing the effect which the cannon might have upon the
garrison, shouted in reply, with more of piquancy than of military courtesy:
   "We do, indeed know who you are. We know you to be a renegade, a cowardly
villain, who delights in murdering women and children. I had a miserable,
good-for-nothing dog whom I named Simon Girty. Wait until morning and you
will find on which side the reinforcements are. We expect to leave not one
of your cowardly souls alive. And if YOU are caught, our women shall whip
you to death with hickory switched. Now clear out, you cut-throat villain, 
or we will put some bullets through you."
   Girty disappeared. The night passed away in silence. Probably the leaders
of the expedition held a hurried consultaton and decided that works so strong, 
and so well garrisoned, could not be taken by rifles alone. Like the sha-
dows of night the whole band fled, seeking other fields of assassination and
plunder. In the morning the Indian camp was found entirely deserted. Their
fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were found upon
their roasting-sticks. This led to the supposition that they had decamped
very suddenly just at the break of day. It is probably that they were alarmed
by the intelligence that still stronger reinforcements were on the march to
aid the beleaguered garrison.
   During this conflict four of the settlers were killed by bullets entering
the port-holes, and several others wounded. It subsequently appeared that
thirty of the Indian warriors were slain by the unerring aim of the garrison;
Girty himself and many others were more or less severely wounded.
   William Bryant, who was the commandant of this heroic little band of set-
tlers, had married a sister of Colonel Boone. The tidings of the attack soon
reached the adjacent settlements, and a band of one hundred and eighty men
were speedily on the march. It was probably the approach of these reinforce-
ments which alarmed the savages.
   Colonel Todd, one of the noblest men, was the first in command of this 
expedition, which was hurrying to the relief of their beleaguered friends.
Colonel Boone was the second officer. He was accompanied by his two sons, 
Israel and Samuel. The retreating army had struck across to the Licking Ri-
ver, and wre following it down to enter the Valley of the Little Miami. The
soldiers were so unanimous and impetuous in their desire to pursue the fu-
gitives, that the officers were overpowered by their zeal. Neither of the
officers thought it prudent for one hundred and eighty men to pursue an army
of six hundred warriors, under the guidance of British officers of known a-
bility, and through a region every mile of which presented the most favor-
able opportunities for an Indian ambush.
   There was no difficulty in following the trail of so large a war party, 
many of whom were on horseback. As the pursuers were cautiously advancing
they came to a remarkable bend in the Licking River. This bend enclosed a 
large and very luxuriant meadow, which was surrounded with shrubs, and where
the grass, thick and strong, and almost as tough as reeds, was seven or 
eight feet high. A well-trampled buffalo track, called a "street," led 
through these almost impenetrable reeds to the river. Along this path the
Indians had retreated. The scouts, who were always sent forward to explore 
the way, returned with the announcement that there was no sign of Indians 
to be seen. There is some diversity in the accounts of the battle which en-
sued. The following is probably a correct narrative of the facts:
   This bend, like a horseshoe, enclosed two or three acres. The cunning 
savages, aided by the intelligence of their officers, had formed a very 
strong double line in the thickets and the grass, at the neck of this bend, 
extending across from bank to bank of the stream. They left ample space for
their victims to enter into the trap, whose door they would soon effectively
close. As soon as the rear-guard of Colonel Todd's party had passed this 
neck, so that there was no possibility of escape, the war-whoop of five hun-
dred savages rent the air, followed by an instantaneous explosion of rifles,
while a volley of bullets, from behind and on each side, swept the ranks of 
the doomed colonists.
   Before that first discharge, sixty of them fell dead or seriously wounded.
Colonel Todd himself was struck from his horse, and lay upon the sod, drenched
in blood. One or two more volleys were poured in upon them, as they reeled 
to and fro in dreadful consternation. The savages, raising unearthly yells 
and brandishing their tomahawks, rushed in to complete the massacre. For the
survivors, a backward retreat was impossible, and before them was the broad
current of the Licking River.
   Colonel Boone's two sons fought by the side of their father. One of them, 
Israel, was shot dead. The other, Samuel, was severely, but not mortally, 
wounded. The unhappy father, to save his wounded son from the scalping knife
of the savage, took him upon his shoulders and tottered beneath the bleeding
body towards the river. A burly savage rushed upon him with gleaming knife.
He dropped his boy, and shot the savage through the heart. But others came
rushing on, and discharging their rifles, the poor boy was killed in his 
father's arms. Boone, leaving the bodies of his dead sons to their fate, 
fled with the agility of a deer towards the river, and swam the stream. His
perfect familiarity with the region enabled him to elude his pursuers, and
finally, by a circuitous route, and after much suffering, to reach his friends
in safety.
   In the meantime, the scene of tumult and slaughter was awful beyond des-
cription. Indians and colonists were all blended together on the banks of 
the river, there being four Indians to one white man, and the stream seemed
to be cloggin with those who were endeavoring to escape by swimming. The
Indians shot them and scalped them without mercy. Those who succeeded in 
escaping across the river scattered in all directions through the forest. 
   There are different accounts of the numbers of the colonists who perished
 in this awful massacre. As there was no re-assembling of the utterly routed
force, the missing could not well be counted. The Indians subsequently ad-
mitted the loss, on their part, of sixty-four warriors. This certainly proves
the extraordinary valor with which the colonists fought. Colonel Boone, who
almost miraculously escaped the carnage, gives the following modest, yet
graphic, accounty of the calamity:
   "I can not reflect upon this dreadful scene, but sorrow fills my heart. A
zeal for the defense 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 their flight; some just entering the river, some in the water, and
others after crossing, in ascending the cliffs. Some escaped on horseback, 
a few on foot; and being dispersed everywhere, in a few hours brought the
melancholy news to Lexington. The reader may guess what sorrow filled the
hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding anything I am able to describe. Being 
reinforced, we returned to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed
everywhere, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner. This mournful scene exhib-
ited a horror almost unparalleled, some torn and eaten by wild beasts, those
in the river eaten by fishes, all in such putrid condition that no one could
be distinguished from another."
   The savages, in accordance with their barbaric custom, to appease the 
revengeful spirits of their slain, selected a number of their captives and
put them to death by the most terrible tortures which fiend-lie ingenuity
could devise. This battle of the Blue Licks, fought by the Indians of Ohio
upon one of the rivers of Kentucky, occupies one of the most melancholy chap-
ters in the history of the latter state. Colonel Boone, a sorrow-stricken
man, sent an official report of the conflict to Benjamin Harrison, then 
Governor of Virginia, father of William Henry Harrison, subsequently Presi-
dent of the United States. The region of the great valley, now called Ken-
tucky, was then considered as under the dominion of Virginia.
   It was feared that the savages, elated by this victory, would attack and
destroy nearly every one of the feeble settlements in Kentucky. It was fear-
ful to encounter a foe, combining the brain of the Englishman with the sin-
ewy arm and ferocious temper of the savage. Influenced by such peril, nearly
every man and boy, capable of shouldering a musket, immediately took to the
field. Though the whole militia of the region, occupied by these feeble
settlements, numbered at this time only one hundred and thirty men, still
they raised the extraordinary number of four hundred and sixty to pursue the
Ohio savages. It would seem that there must have been reinforcements sent
to them from Pittsburgh, and from beyond the mountains. In Colonel Boone's
official report, he writes:
   "I have encouraged the people in this country, all that I could. But I 
can no longer justify them or myself, in risking our lives here under such
extraordinary hazards. The inhabitants of this county are very much alarmed
at the thoughts of the Indians bringing another campaign into our county
this Fall. If this should be the case, it will break up the settlements. I
hope, therefore, that your Excellency will take the matter into considera-
tion, and send us some relief as soon as possible."