Adventures of a Sixpence in Guernsey by A Native | Page 9

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
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 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
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.