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Adventures of Col。 Daniel Boone
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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Adventures of Col。 Daniel Boone
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 Clark； then at the Falls of the Ohio； who was ever
our ready friend； and merits the love and gratitude of all his country…men；
understood the circumstances of this unfortunate action； he ordered an
expedition； with all possible haste； to pursue the savages； which was so
expeditiously effected； that we overtook them within two miles of their
towns； and probably might have obtained a great victory； had not two of
their number met us about two hundred poles before we come up。 These
returned quick as lightening to their camp with the alarming news of a
mighty army in view。 The savages fled in the utmost disorder； evacuated
their towns； and reluctantly left their territory to our mercy。 We
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Adventures of Col。 Daniel Boone
immediately took possession of Old Chelicothe without opposition； being
deserted by its inhabitants。 We continued our pursuit through five towns
on the Miami rivers； Old Chelicothe； Pecaway； New Chelicothe； Will's
Towns； and Chelicothe； burnt them all to ashes； entirely destroyed their
corn； and other fruits； and every where spread a scene of desolation in the
country。 In this expedition we took seven prisoners and five scalps； with
the loss of only four men； two of whom were accidentally killed by our
own army。
This campaign in some measure damped the spirits of the Indians； and
made them sensible of our superiority。 Their connections were dissolved；
their armies scattered； and a future invasion put entirely out of their power；
yet they continued to practise mischief secretly upon the inhabitants； in the
exposed parts of the country。
In October following； a party made an excursion into that district
called the Crab Orchard； and one of them； being advanced some distance
before the others； boldly entered the house of a poor defenceless family； in
which was only a Negro man； a woman and her children； terrified with the
apprehensions of immediate death。 The savage； perceiving their
defenceless situation； without offering violence to the family attempted to
captivate the Negro； who； happily proved an over…match for him； threw
him on the ground； and； in the struggle； the mother of the children drew an
ax from a corner of the cottage； and cut his head off； while her little
daughter shut the door。 The savages instantly appeared； and applied their
tomahawks to the door。 An old rusty gun…barrel； without a lock； lay in a
corner； which the mother put through a small crevice； and the savages；
perceiving it； fled。 In the mean time； the alarm spread through the
neighb