Adventures of a Sixpence in Guernsey by A Native | Page 8

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 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 living--Now, 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
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,