Cibrarg Untarrflttg of ftttsburglt Darlington Memorial Library (Class A O 3 souk, n $& 1 '/ ^-- I p^-i yy ; \ ~X$k\ *:« >• >;;^k \ >* > &i ->*■ *W* - IIS) OF SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING OF INDIAN WARFARE IN THE WEST, CONTAINING AN AGCOUNT OF THE ADVENTURES OS Colonel D&XlEli BOOXE, ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF KENTUCKY, Comprehending the most important occurrences relative to its earty history— Also, an account of the Manners, and Customs of the Indi one, their Tradftiom and Religious Sentiments, their Police or Civ- il Government, their Discipline and method of War: TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN AC CO TINT OF THE EXPEDITIONS OF Genl's. Harmer, Scott, Wilkinson, St. Clair, & Wa7NE> The whole compiled from the best authorities, " '" ' Tty Samuel Ii. JNLetcalf. My Countrymen f These things ought not to be forgotten. Forihe *efl& Jit of our children, and those that follow them, they should be recorded iu htsiory. — Db. Fbajtkmjn. LEXINGTON, Kr. fRJKTED BY WILLIAM G. HURT- ZO&A I* the reader should receive any entertainment from the perusal of the following pages, he may consider himself indebted for it to the following incident: In the Spring of 182Q, as the Editor was journeying through the Southern part of this state, he called at an Inn for lodging, where he was highly amused and gratified by the relation of some interesting anecdotes of Indian warfare, by an intelligent fellow-traveller, who was an early settler in Kentucky.* From this circumstance he was in- duced to believe that much interesting matter of this description might be obtained, by a little exertion, which, in a few years, if not collected, would be consigned to oblivion, or found only in the traditions of the west. He has, therefore, since that time emploj ed himself in making diligent search after such materials as would reflect light on the early settlement of the Western Country generally; the result of which has enabled him to present the reader with the following narratives. They cannot fail to excite an interest in the people of the west, many of whose friends and relations were conspicuous actors in the seenes which are described. Some of them exhibit specimens of boldness and ferocity on the part of the savages, and of heroic intrepidity on the part of the early settlers, not surpassed in the annals of history. They also make us in some measure acquainted with the dangers and difficulties which our. fathers underwent in penetrating and settling this vast wilderness. They were continually harassed by a treache- rous and unrelenting foe. They fought in the defence of a country whose plains were drenched with the blood of their fellow citizen*. They abandoned the pleasures of civilized and polished society, and *CohnelMurreU, »f Barren County, Ky. ♦ Preface. emigrated to these inhospitable wilds, under circumstances the most unfavourable: yet the spirit of enterprise which prompted them was not to be extinguished by the dangers which surrounded them." The luxuriant fertility of the country, the salubrity of its climate, and the beauty of its scenery, were wed calculated to excite and cherish in them the spirit of adventure. A desire to trace the origin and progress of states, the decline and fall of nations, and the means by which great objects have been achiev- ed, is perhaps natural to man. To rescue from oblivion some of the most important events connected with the early history of this country, rs the object of the following publication. It must be peculiarly gratifying to every philanthropies: mind, to be- hold the happy change which a few years have effected in the condi- tion of the Western States. Where, a few years since, nothing was heard but the Indian war whoop and the howling of wild beasts, we now bear, in our halls of legislation, the voice of eloquence, proclaim- ing the dignity and the rights of man; and in temples dedicated to the MOST HIGH, our ears htc saluted with the welcome sound of "peace and good will to men." Is the place of those gloomy forests once denominated the I) AUK AM) BLOODY GROUND, we now behold a ricfc, delightful, and highly cultivated country. Where lately stood a few dismal, smoky cabins, surrounded by woods and cane-brakes, are now to be seen fertile fields, flourishing orchards, blooming gardens, elegant and commodious houses, and rich, populous, and refined cities. How delightful to dwell in the midst of" this highly favoured land, and contemplate its growing prosperity; a land affording in rich abun- dance all the luxuries of life, and decorated with all the variegated ;ns which nature can bestow. Here, we might almost exclaim in *.!.c language of the | K 4mm jam l,itti*tuim Jluminn >ircfhn Stewart, was killed by the savages, and the man that came with roy brother returned home by him* $0 Colonel Boon's Narrative* aalf. "We ware then in a dangerous, helpless situ ation, exposed daily to perils and death amongst savages and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but ourselves. Thus situated, many hundred miles from our families in the howling wilderLess, I believe few would have equally enjoyed the happiness we ex- perienced. I often observed to my brother, Tou see now bow little nature requires to be satisfied. felicity, the companion of content, is rather found in our own breasts than in the enjoyment of exter- nal things: and I firmly believe, it requires but a little philosophy to make a man happy in whatso- ever state he is. This consists in a full resignation to the will of Providence; and a resigned soul finds pleasure in a path strewed with briars and thorns. We continued not in a state of indolence, but bunted every day, and prepared a little cottage to defend us from the winter storms. We remained there undisturbed during the Winter; aud on the first day of May, 1770, my brother returned home t.) the settlement by himself, for a new recruit of horses aud ammunition, leaving me by myself, without bread, salt, or sugar, without company of my fellow creatures, or even a horse or dog. I confess I never before was under greater necessity of exer< iMii;; philosophy and fortitude. A few days I passed uncomfortably. The idea of a be- loved wife and family, and their anxiety upon the account of my ajbscnce and exposed situation, made Colonel Boon's Narrative. li sensible impressions on my heart. A thousand dreadful apprehensions presented themselves to my tiew, and had undoubtedly disposed me to melan- choly, if further indulged. One day I undertook a tour through the coun- try, and the diversity and beauties of nature I met with in this charming season, expelled every gloo- my and vexatious thought. Just at the close of day the gentle gales retired, and left the place to the disposal of a profound calm. Not a breeze shook the most tremulous leaf. I had gained the summit of a commanding ridge, and, looking round with astonishing delight, beheld the ample plains, the beauteous tracts below. On the other hand, I surveyed the famous river Ohio that rolled in silent dignity, marking the western boundary of Kentucky with inconceivable grandeur. At a vast distance I beheld the mountains lift their venerable brows, and penetrate the clouds. All things were still. I kindled a fire near a fountain of sweet water, and feasted on the loin of a buck, which a few hours be- fore I had killed. Th« sullen shades of night soon overspread the whole hemisphere, and the earth sftemed to gasp after the hovering moisture. My roving excursion this day had fatigued my body and diverted my imagination. I laid me down to sleep, and I awoke not until the sun had chased away the night. 1 continued this tour, and in a few days explored a considerable part of the country, earh day equally pleased as the first. I returned i$ Colonel Boon's Narrat again to my old camp, which was not disturbed in my absence. I did not confine my lodging to it, but often reposed in thick cane-brakes, to avoid the savages, who, I believe, often visited ray camp, but fortunately for me, in my absence. In this sit- uation 1 was constantly exposed to danger, and death. How unhappy such a situation fi>r a man tormented with fear, which is vain if no danger comes, and if it does, only augmen's the pain. It was my happiness to be destitute of this afflicting passion, with which I had the greatest reason to be affected. The prowling wolves diverted my noctur- nal hours with perpetual bowlings; and the vari- ous species of animals in this vast forest, in the day time, were continually in my view. Thus I was surroundod with plenty in the midst of want. 1 was happy in the midst of dangers and inconveniences. In such a diversity it was impos- sible I should be disposed to melancholy. No populous cily, with all the varieties of commerce and stately structures, could afford so much plea- sure to my mind, as the beauties of nature I found here. Thus, through an uninterrupted scene of sylvan pleasure-. 1 spent the time until the 27th day of Ju- ly following, when my brother, to my great felici- ty, met me, according to appointment, at our old camp. Shortly after, we left this place, not think- ing it safe to stay there longer, and proceeded to OumberljUld river, reconnoitering that part of tbe Colonel Boon's Narrative. 13 country until March, 1771? and giving names tp the different waters. Soon after, I returned home to my family with a determination to bring them as soon as possible to live in Kentucky, which I esteemed a second par- adise, at the risk of my life and fortune. I returned safe to my old habitation, and found my family in happy circumstances. I sold my farm on the Yadkin, and what goods we could not carry with us; and on the twenty-fifth day of Sep- tember, 17*3, bade a farewell to our friends, and proceeded on our journey to Kentucky, in company with five families more, and forty men that joined us in PoweFs Valley, which is one hundred and fifty miles from the now settled parts of Kentucky. This promising beginning was soon overcast with a cloud of adversity; for upon the tenth day of Oc- tober, tho rear of our compauy was attacked by a number of Indians, who killed six, and wounded one man. Of these, my eldest son was one that fell in the action. Though we defended ourselves, and repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme diffi- culty, and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles, to the settlement on Clinch liver. We had passed over two mountains, viz: Powel's and Walden's, and were approaching Cumberland mountain when this adverse fortune overtook us. These mountains are in the wilder- ness, as we pass from the old settlements in Vir **. Colonel Boon'it Narrative; ^inia to Kentucky, are ranged in a South we9t and North east direction, arc of a great length and breadth, aud not far distant from each other. Over these nature hath formed passes, that are less difficult than might be expected from a view of such huge piles. The aspect of these cliffs is so wild and horrid, that it is impossible to behold them with- out terror. The spectator is apt to imagine that nature had formerly suffered some violent convul- sion; and that these are the dismembered remains of the dreadful shock; the ruins, not of Persepolis or Palmyra, but of the world! 1 remained with my family on Clinch until the sixth of June, 1774', when I and one Michael Sto* ner were solicited by Governor Dunmore, of Vir- ginia, to go to the Falls of the Ohio, to conduct into the settlement a number of surveyors that had been sent thither by him some mouths before; this coun- try having about this time drawn the attention of many adventurers. We. immediately complied with the fJovernur's request, and conducted in the surveyors, compleating a tour of eight hundred miles, through many difficulties, in sixty-two days. Soon after I returned home, I was ordered to take the command of three garrisons during tho campaign, which Governor Dun more carried on a- gainst the Shawancsc Indians: after the conclusion of which, the Militia was discharged from each garrison, and I being relieved from my post, was solicited l>.v a number of North- Caroliua gentlemen, Colonel Boon's Narrative. 15 that were about purchasing the lands lying on the S. side of Kentucky river, from the Cherokee Indi- ans, to attend their treaty at Wataga, in March, 177,5, to negotiate with them, and, mention the boundaries of the purchase. This I accepted, and at the request of the same gentlemen, undertook to mark out a road in the best assage from the set- tlement through the wilderness to Kentucky, with such assistance as I thought necessary to employ for such au important undertaking. I soon began this work, having collected a num- ber of enterprising nien, well armed. We proceed- ed with all possible expedition until we came with- in fifteen miles of where Boonsborough now stands, and where we were fired upon by a party of Indi- ans that killed two, and wounded two of our num- ber; yet. although surprised and taken at a disad- vantage, we stood our ground. This was on the twentieth of March, 1775. Three days after, we were fired upon again, and had two men killed, and three wounded. Afterwards we proceeded on to Kentucky river without opposition; and on the first day of April began to erect the fort of Boonsborough at a salt lick, about sixty yards from the river, on the South side. On the fourth day, the Indians killed one of our men. We were busily employed in building this fort, until the fourteenth day of June following, without any farther opposition irom the Indians) 3 §6 Colonel Boon's Narrative, and having finished the works, I returned to my family, on Clinch. In a short time, I proceeded to remove my family from Clinch to this garrison; where we arrived safe without ary other difficulties than such as are common to this passage, my wife and daughter be- ing the first white women that ever Btood on the batiks of Kentucky river. On the twenty fourth day of December following we had one man killed, and one wounded, by the Indians, who seemed determined to persecute us for erectiug this fortification. On the fourteenth day of July. 177^? two of Col. Calaway's daughters, and one of mine, were taken prisoners ucar the fort. I immediately pursued tin- Indians, with only eight men, and on the sixteenth overtook them, killed two of the party, and recov- ered the girls. The same day on which thi* at- tempt was made, the Indians divided themselves into different parties, and attacked several forts, Which were shortly before, this time erected, doing a great ileal of mischief. This was extremely dis- tressing to the new settlers. The innocent bus- bandmao was shot down, while busy cultivating the soil for his family's supply. Most of the cattle around the stations were destroyed. They continued their hostilities in this manner until the fifteenth of April. 1777, when they attacked Boons- borough with a party of above one hundred in number) Killed one man. and wounded four. Their loss in thjs attack wa§ not certaiuly known to us;. Colonel Boon's Narrative. ij On the fourth day of July following, a party of about two hunched Indians attacked Boonsborough, killed one man, and wounded two. They besieged us forty-eight hours; during which time seven of them were killed, and at last, finding themselves not likely to prevail, they raised the siege, and de*» parted. The Indians had disposed their warriors in dif- ferent parties at this time, and attacked the differ- ent garrisons to prevent their assisting each other, and did much injury to the distressed inhabitants. On the nineteenth day of this month. Col. Lo- gan's fort was , besieged by a party of about two hundred Indians. During this dreadful siege they did a great deal of mischief, distressed the garrison,. in which were only fifteen men, killed two, and wounded one. The enemy's loss was uncertain, from the common practice which the Indians have of carrying off their dead in time of battle. CoL Harrod's fort was then defended by only sixty five men, and Boonsborough by twenty- two, there be- ing no more forts or white nu'n in the country, ex- cept at the Falls, a considerable distance from these, and all taken collectively were but a hand- ful to the numerous warriors that were every where dispersed through the country, intent upon doing all the mischief that savage barbarity could invent. Thus we passed through a scene of sufferings that exceeds description. On the twenty-fifth of this mouth ft reinforce-- IS Colonel Boon's Narrative. incut of forty five men arrived frnm North Caroli- jki. and about the twentieth of August following. Col. Bowman arrived with one hundred men from Virginia Now we began to strengthen, and from hence, for the space of six weeks, we had skirmish- es with Indians, in one quarter or other, almost every day. The savages now learned the superiority of the Long Knife, as they call the Virginians, by ex- perience; being out-generalled in almost evey bat- tle. Our affairs began to wear a new aspect, and the enemy, not daring to venture on open war, practised secret mischief at times. On the first day of January, 1778, I went with a parly of thirty men to the Blue Licks, ou Lick- ing River, to make salt for the different garrisons in the country. On the seventh day of February, as I was hunt, iug. to procure meat for the company, I met with a party of one hundred and two Indians, and two Frenchmen, on their march against Boonsborough, that place being particularly the object of the ene- my. They pursued and took me; and brought me on the eighth daj to the Lickl, where twenty seven of my party were, three of them having previously re- turned home with the salt. I knowing it was im- possible for them to escape, capitulated with the enemy, and, at a distance in their \iew, gave no- Colonel Boon's Narrative. 19 tice to my men of their situation, with orders not to resist, but surrender themselves captives. The generous usa?;e the Indians had promised before in my capitulation, was afterwards fully complied with, and we proceeded with them as pris- oners to old Chillicothe, the principal Indian town, on Little Miami, where we arrived, after an uncom- fortable journey, in very severe weather, on the eighteenth day of February, and received as good treatment as prisoners could expect from savages. On the tenth day of March following, I, and ten of my men, were conducted by forty Indians to De- troit, where we arrived the thirtieth day, and were treated by Governor Hamilton, the British com- mander at that post, with great humanity. During our travels, the Indians entertained me well; and their affection for me was so great, that they utterly refused to leave me there with the oth- ers, although the Governor offered them one hun- dred pounds sterling for me, on purpose to give me i parole to go home. Several English gentlemen there, being sensible of my adverse fortune, and touched witu human sympathy, generously offered a frieudly supply for ray wants, which I refused, with many thanks for their kindness; adding that I never expected it would be in my power to recom- pense such unmerited generosity. The Indians left my men in captivity with the British at Detroit, and on the tenth day of April brought me towards Old Chillicothe, where we ar- 20 Colonel Moon's Narrative. I on the twenty fifth day of the same month This was along ami fatiguing march, through au ceding fertile country, remarkable for fine springs and streams of water. At Chillicothc I .spent my tiim* as comfortably as I could expect; it ted, accord ins; to their custom into a fami- liere I became a son, and had a great share in the affection of my new parents, brothers, listers, and friends. I v -diugly familiar and friend- ly with them, always appearing as cheerful and gfied as possible, and they put great confidence Q me. I often went a hunting with them, and fre- illy gained their applause for my activity at our '•ing-ma! :hes. 1 was careful not to exceed ma- ny of them in shooting: for no people are more en- vious than they in this sport. I could observe in their countenances and gestures, the greatest ex- lOUfl of joy when they exceeded me; and. w hen the reverse happened, of envy. The Shawanese i 10k great notice of me, anil treated me with profound respect, and entire friendship, often en- trusting me <♦> hunt at my liberty. 1 frequently re- lorned with the spoils of the woods, and as often presented some of what I had taken to him, ex- iive of duly to my «..,-. -My food and Lodging were, in common with them, not so good ed a- \ could desire, hut ni made every thing a >le. I now began to m< pe, and careful- ly avoided their suspicions, continuing with them Colonel Boon's Narrative, 31 at Old Chillicothe until the first day of June fol- lowing, and then was taken by them to the salt springs on Scioto, and kept there, making salt, ten days. During this time I hunted some for them, and found the land, for a great extent about this riv- er, to exceed the soil of Kentucky, if possible, and remarkably well watered. When I returned to Chillicothe, alarmed to see four hundred and fifty Indians, of their choicest warriors, painted and armed in a fearful manner, readjf to inarch against Boonsborough, 1 determin- ed to escape the first opportunity. On the sixteenth, before sun-rise, I departed in the most secret manner, and arrived at Boonsbo- rough on the twentieth, after a journey of one hun- dred and sixty miles; during which, I had but one- meal. 1 found our fortress in a bad state of defence, but we proceeded immediately to repair our flanks, strengthen our gates and posterns, and form dou* ble bastions, which we compleated in ten days. In this time we daily expected the arrival of the Indi- an army; and at length, one of my fellow prisoners, escaping from them, arrived informing us that the enemy had an account of my departure, and post poned their expedition three weeks. The Indians had spies out viewing our movements, aud were greatly alarmed with our increase in number and fortifications. The Grand Councils of the nations were held frequently, and with more deliberation Colonel Boon's Narrative, than usual. They evidently -aw the approaching hour when the Long Knife would dispossess them of their desirable habitations; and, anxiously con- cerned for futurity, determined utterly to extirpate the whites out of Kentucky. We were not intimi- dated by their movements, but frequently gave them proofs of our courage. • About the iirst of August, I made an incursion into the Indian country, with a party of nineteen men, in order to surprise a small town up Scioto, called Paiut-Creek-Town. We advanced within four miles thereof, where we met a party of thirty Indians, on their inarch against Boonsborough, in- tending to join the others from Chillicothe. A smart light ensued betwixt us for some time: At length the savages gave way, and fled. We had uo 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 In- dians had entirely evacuated it, we proceeded no further, and returned with all possible expedition wist our garrison against the other party. \Y e fed by them on the sixth day, and on the sev- ruih, we arrived safe at BbonsborWisjh. On the eighth, tin* Indian army arrived, being four hundred and forty four in number, romm nded by Cant. Duqoeeiie, eleven other Frenchmen, afid gome of their own chiefs, and marched np within view of our fort, with British and Jf resell colours Colonel Moon9 a Narmfftfe. £3 flying; and having sent a summons to me, in his Britannic 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 ar- my before our walls, whose appearance proclaim- ed inevitable death, fearfully painted, and mark- ing their footsteps with desolation. Death was preferable to captivity; and if taken by storm, we must inevitably he devoted to destruction. In this situation we concluded to maintain our garrison, if possible. We immediately proceeded to collect what we co.*ld of our horses, and other cattle, and bring them\thrdugh the posterns into the fort: and on the eveuing 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 s,tood attentively hearing my sentimeots, We laugh at all your formidable preparations: but thank you for giving us notice and time to provide for our de- fence. ¥our efforts will not prevail; for our gates 9hall forever 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 or- ders, from Governor Hamilton, to take us captive, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out, and treat with them, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return 4 g$ Colonel Boon's Narrative. home peaceably. This sounded grateful in our ears; and we agreed to the proposal. We held the treaty within sixty yards of the gar- rison, on purpose to divert them from a breach of honour, as we could not avoid suspicions of the savages. In this sitnation the articles were for- mally 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 friend- ship. We agreed to this also, but were soon con- vinced 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 ihe 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 be- tween us day and night for the space of nine days. Iu this time the enemy began to undermine our fort, which was situated sixty yards from Kentucky river. They began at the water-mark, and pro- ceeded in the bank some distance, which we undcr- >d by their making the water muddy with the clay; and we immediately proceeded to disappoint Cheir design, by cutting a trench across their sub- terra ne an passage. The enemy discovering our counter-mine by the clay we threw out of the fort, desisted Irom that stratagem: and experience now fully convincing them that neither their power nor Colonel Boon's Narrative* 25 policy could effect their purpose, on the twentieth day of August they raised the siege and departed. During this dreadful sieg°!, 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 ini iatitly did our small party fight, that, to the memo- ry of those who unfortunately fell in the battle, e- nough 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 sor- row fills my heart. A zeal for the defence of their couutry 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 manv were killed in the flight, some just entering the river, some in the water, oth- ers after crossing in ascending the cliffs. Some escaped on horse-back, a few on foot; »Qd, being dispersed every where, in a few hours, brought the melancholy news of this unfortunate battle to Lex- ington. Many widows were now made. The read- er 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 un- paralleled: some torn and eaten by wild beasts^ those in the river eaten by fishes; all in such a pu- trified condition, that no one could be distinguished from another. As soon as General Clark, then at the Falls of $2 Colonel Boon's •Varmtive. the Ohio, who was ever our ready friend, and mer- its the love and gratitude of all his countrymen, understood the circumstances of this unfortunate action, he ordered an expedition, with all possible haste, to pursue the savages, which was so expedi- tiously effected, that we overtook them within two miles of their tens, ami probably might have ob- tained a great victory, had not two of their number met us about two hundred poles before we came up. These returned quick as lightning 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 immediately took possession of Old Chillicothe without opposition, beiug deserted by its inhabitants. AVe continued our pursuit through five towns on the Miami rivers, Old Chil- licothe, Pickaway, New Chillicothe, Will's Towns, and Chillicothe, burnt them all to ashes, entirely destroyed their com, 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 Iudians, 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 practice mischief secretly upon the iuhabitants^ in' the exposed parts of the country. Colonel Boon's Narrative* 38 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 defence- less family, in which was only a negro man, a wo?, man and her children, terrified with the apprehen- sions 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 rus- ty 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 neighbourhood; the arm- ed men collected immediately, and pursued the rav- agers into the wilderness. Thus Providence, by the means of this negro, saved the whole of the poop family from destruction. From that time, until the happy return of peace between the United States and fJr eat- Britain, the Indians did us no mischief. Finding the great king beyond the water disap- pointed in his expectations, and conscious of the importance of the Long Knife, and their own Wretchedness, some of the nations immediately de~ mre&vpeace; to which at present, they seem univer*. 34 Colonel Boon's Narrative. sally disposed, and arc sending ambassadors to General Clark, at the Falls of the Ohio, with the minutes of their Councils. To conclude, I can now say that I havs verified the saying of an old Indian who signed Col. Hen- derson's deed. Taking me by the hand, at the de» livery thereof, brother, says he, we have given you a fine land, but 1 believe you will have much trou- ble in settling, it. My footsteps have often been, marked with blood, and therefore I can truly sub- scribe to its original name. rJ wo darling sons, and a brother, have I lost by savage hands, which have also taken from me forty valuable horses, and abundance of cattle. Many dark and sleepless nights have I been a companion for owls, separated from the cheerful society of men, scorched by the summer's sun, and pinched by the winter's cold, an instrument ordained to settle the wilderness. But new the scene is changed: peace crowns the sylvan shade. What thanks, what ardent and ceaseless thanks are due to that all-superintending Providence which has turned a cruel war into peace, brought order out of confusion, made the fierce savages placid, and turned away their hostile weapons from our coun- try! May the same Almighty Goodness banish the accursed monster, war, from all lands, with her hat- ed associates, rapine and insatiable ambition. Let peace, descending from her native Leaven, bid her lives spring amidst the joyful paticjp; and plenty, Colonel Boon's Narrative. $$ jn league with commerce, scatter blessings from her copious hand. This account of ray adventures will inform the reader of the most remarkable events of this coun- try. I now live in peace and safety, enjoying the sweets of liberty, and the bounties of Providence, with my once fellow-sufferer3, in this delightful country, which I have seen purchased with a vast expense of blood and treasure, delighting in the prospect of its being, in a short time, one of the most opulent and powerful states oh the continent of North- America; which, with the love and gratitude of my countrymen, I esteem a sufficient reward for all my toil and dangers. DANIEL BOOK. Fayette county, Kentucky, fHL OF About the latter end of the month of March, or the beginning of April, of the year 1782, the wes- tern Indians began to make incursions upon the frontiers of Ohio, Washington, Youghogany, and Westmoreland counties, which has been their con- stant practice ever since the commencement of the present war betwecu the United States and Great Britain. In consequence of these predatory invasions, the principal officers of the abovementioned counties, namely, Colonels Williamson and Marshall, tried every method in their power to set on foot an expe- dition against the Wyandot towns, which they ould effect in no other way than by giving all pos- sible encouragement to volunteers. The plan pro- posed was as follows, every man furnishing him- self with a horse, a gun> and one mouth's provfsion, should be exempted from two tours of militia duty. Likewise that every one who had been plundered >v the Indiaus, should, if the plunder could be 2>r. Knight's Narrative. 37 Jbund at their towns, have it again, proving it to be his property: and all horses lost on the expedition by unavoidable accident were to be replaced by hor- ses taken in the enemy's country. The time appointed for the rendezvous, or gear eral meeting of the volunteers, was fixed to be on the 20th of May, and the plaoe, the old Mingo town on tne west side of the river Ohio, about 40 miles below Fort Pitt by land, and I think about 73 by water. Col. Crawford was solicited by the general voice of these western counties and districts to command the expedition. He accordingly set out as volun- teer and came to Fort Pitt- two days before the time appointed for the assembling of the men. As there was no surgeon yet appointed to go with the expedition, Colonel Crawford begged the favour of General Irvine to permit me to accompany him, (my consent having been previously asked) to which the general agreed, provided Colonel Gibson did not object. Having obtained permission of the Colonel, I left Fort Pitt on Tuesday, May 1st, and the next day about one in the afternoon arrived at the Min- go bottom. The volunteers had not all crossed the river until Friday morning the 24th, they then dis- tributed themselves into eighteen companies, choos- ing their captains by vote. There were chosen also, one colonel commandant, four field and one brigade major. There w«re four hu¥dted,.^nd six- % five who voted. 3S Dr. ICnlghVs Narrative. We began our march on Saturday, May 25th, making almost a due west course, and on the fourth day reached the old Moravian town, upon the river Muskinghum, about 60 miles from the river Ohio. Pome of the men, having lost their horses on tha night preceding, returned home. Tuesday the 3Sth in the evening, Major Brenton and Captain Bean, went some distance from camp to reconnoiter: having gone about one quarter of a mile they saw two Indians, upon whom they fired and then returned to camp. This was the first place in which we were discovered, as we under- stood afterwards. On Thursday the iuurth of June, which was the eleventh day of our march, about 1 o'clock, wc came to the spot where the town of Sandusky for- merly stood: the inhabitants had moved 18 miles low- er down the creek, hear the lower Sandusky: but as neither our guides nor any who were with us, had known any thing of their removal, we began to con- jecture there were no Indian (owns nearer than the lower Sandusky, which was at least forty miles dis- tant. However, after refreshing our horses, wc ad- vanced on in search of some of their settlements, but had scarcely got the distance of three or four miles from the aid town, when a number of our men expressed their dcsiri to return, some of them alledgiug that they had only five days' piiovisiou: Upton \*hich ""• ,'«i1 captains, d"ter. Dr. Knight's Narrative. 39 mined, in council, to proceed that afternooo, and no longer. Previous to the calling of this council, a small party of light house had been seat forward to reconnoitre. I shall here remark, by the way, that there are a great many extensive plains in that country: the woods in general grew very thin,, free from brush, and underwood: so that ligl.t horsemen may ad- vance a considerable distance before an army with- out being much exposed to the enemy. Just as the council ended, an express returned from the abovementioned party of light horse with intelligence, "that they had been about three mile? in front, and had seen a large body of Indians run- ning towards them." In a short time we saw the rest of the light horse, who joined us, and having gone one mile further met a number of Indians who had partly got possession of a piece of woods be- fore us; whilst we were in the plains, but our men alighting from their horses and rushing into the woods, soon obliged them to abandon that place. The enemy being by this time reinforced, flank- ed to the right, and part of them coming in our rear, quickly made the action more serious. The firing continued very warm on both sides from four o'- clock until dusk of the evening, each party main- taining their ground. Next morning about six o' clock, some guns were discharged at the distance of two or three hundred yards, which continued till day, doing li.tle or no execution on either side 6 £0 l)i\ Knitrhi-s Mrt . o»" The field officers then assembled aud agreed, as the enemy were every moment increasing, aud we bad already a Dumber wounded, to retreat that night. The whole body was to form into three lines, keeping the wounded in the centre. We had four killed and twenty-three wounded; of the latter, seven very dangerously, on which account as many biers were got ready to carry them: most of the rest were slightly wounded and none so bad ihey could ride on horseback. After dark the officers went on the out posts and brought in all the Lien as expeditiously as they could. Just as the troops were about to form, several guns were tired by the enemy, upon which some of our men spoke out and said, our intention was discovered by the Indians who were firing alarm guns. Upon which some in front hurried off, and the rest immediately followed, leaving the seven men that were danger- ously wounded, some of whom however got oft* on horseback, by means of some good friends, who Waited for, and assisted them. We had not got a quarter of a mile from the field of action, when I heard Col. Crawford calling for his sou John Crawford, his son-in-law Major Har- rison, Major Rose ami William Crawford, his nephew-, upon which I came up and told him I be- lieved they wore before us — He asked, is that the doctor?' — I told him it waa — he then replied, they \Y,i>re no< n front, end begged of me not to leave -! promised him I would not. Dr. ICnigkt's Narrative, M "We theu waited, and continued calling for these men till the troops had passed us. The Colonel told me his horse had almost given out, that he could not keep up with the troops, and wished some of his hest friends to remain with him: he' then exclaimed against the militia for riding off in such an irregular manner, and leaving some of the wounded behind, contrary to his orders. Present- ly there came two men riding after us, one of them an old man, the other a lad: we enquired if they had seen any of the above persons? and they aDK swered they had not. By this time there was a very hot firing before us, and, as we judged, near where our main body must have been. Our course was then nearly south- west, but changing it, we went north about two miles, the two men remaining in company with us. Judgiug ourselves to be now out of the enemy's lines, we took a due east course, taking care to keep at the distance of fifteen or twenty yards apart, and directing ourselves by the north star. The old man often lagged behind, and when this was the case never failed to call for us to halt for him. When we were near the Sandusky Creek he fell one hundred yards behind, and bawled out as usual, for us to halt. While we were preparing to reprimand him for making a noise, I heard an In* diau halloo, as I thought, one hundred and fifty yards from the man, and partly behind him; after this we did not hear the man call again, neither di£ ♦ft Ur, ICntghVs Narrative. he ercr come up to us any more. It was now past midnight, aud about day break Col. Crawford's and the young man's horses gave out and they left them. "We pursued our journey eastward, and about two o'clock fell in with Capt. Biggs, who had carried lieut. Ashly from the field of action, who had been dangerously wounded. We then went on about the space of an hour, when a heavy rain coining on, Vft concluded it was best to encamp, as we were encumbered with the wounded officer. We then barked four or five trees, made an encampment and a fire, and remained there all that night. Next morning we again prosecuted our journey, and hav- ing gone about three miles found a deer which had been recently killed. The meat was sliced from the bones and bundled up in the skin with a toma- hawk lying by it. We carried all with us, and in advancing about one mile further espyed the smoke of a fire. We theu gave the wounded officer into the charge of the young man, desiring him to stay behind whilst the Colonel, the Captain, and myself, walked up as cautiously as wo could toward the fire. When we came to it, we concluded from sev- eral circumstances, some of our people had encamp- ed the preceding night. We then went about roast- ing tho venison, and when just about to march ob- served one of our men coming upon our tracks. He seemed at first very shy, but having called to him be cam* up and told us he was the person who had killed the deer, but upou hearing us come up, was Xtr. Kmght^s •Yawttftefc 48 afraid of Indians, hid in a thicket and made off. — Upon this we gave him some bread and roasted venison, proceeded all together on our journey, and about two o'clock came upon the paths by which we had gone out. Capt. Biggs and myself did not think it safe to keep the road, hut the Colonel said the Indians would not follow the troops farther than the plains, which we were then considerably past. As the wounded officer rode Capt Biggs' horse, I lent the Captain mine; the Colonel and myself went about one hundred yards in front, the Captain and the wounded officer in the centre, and the two young men behind. After we had travelled about one mile and a half, several Indians started up with- in fifteen or twenty steps of the Colonel and me. As we at first discovered only three, I immediately got behind a large black oak, made ready my piece and raised it up to take sight, when the Colonel called to me twice not to fire; upon that, one of the Indi- ans ran up to the Colonel and took him by the hand. The Colonel then told me to put "down my gun, which I did. At that instant one of them came up to me whom I had formerly seen very of- ten, calling me doctor and took me by the hand. They were Delaware Indians of the Wingenim tribe. Captain Biggs fired amongst them but did no execution. They then told us, to call these peo. pie and make them come there, else »they would go and kill them, which the Colonel did, but they four got off and escaped for that time. The Colon- 4i J)r. RnighVs Narrative. *1 and I were then taken to the Indian camp, which was about half a mile from the place, where we were captivated. On Sunday evening five Dela- wares who had posted themselves at some distance further on the road brought hack to the camp, where we lay, Captain Biggs' and lieutenant Ashley's scalps, with an Indian scalp which Captain Biggs had taken iu the field of action: they also brought in Biggs' horse and mine, they told us the two oth- er men got away from them. Monday morning, the tcuth of June, we were paraded to march to Sandusky, about 33 miles dis- tant: they had eleven prisoners of us and four scalps, the Indians being seventeen in number. * Colonel Crawford was very desirous to see a cer- tain Simeon Girty, who lived among the Indians, and was on this account permitted to go to town the same night, with two warriors to guard him, having orders at the same time to pass by the place where the Colonel had turned out his horse, that they might if possible, find him. The rest of us were taken as far as the old town, which was within eight miles of the new. Tuesday morning, the 11th, Colouel Crawford was brought to us ou purpose to be marched in with the other prisoners. I asked the Colonel if lie had seen Mr. Girty? He told me he had, aud that Girty had promised to do every thing in his power for him, but that the Indians were very much enraged a«*arast the prisoners; particularly Captain Pipe Dr. Krright-s Narrative. 45 one of the chiefs.; he likewise told me that fcrirty had informed him that his son-in-law, Col. Harri- son and his nephew William Crawford, were made prisoners by the Shawanese, but had been pardon- ed. This Captain Pipe had come from the towns about an hour before Colonel Crawford, and had painted all the prisoners' faces black. As he was painting me he told me I should go to the Shawanese towns and see my frieuds. When the Colonel arrived he painted him black also, told him he was glad to see him and that he would have him shaved when he came to see his friends at the Wyandot town. When we marched, the Colonel and I were kept back between Pipe and Wynge- nim, the two Delaware chiefs, the other nine pris- oners were sent forward with another party of In- dians. As we went along we saw four of the pris- oners lying by the path tomahawked and scalped, some of them were at the distance of half a mile from each other. When we arrived within half a mile of the place where the Colonel was executed, we overtook the five prisoners that remained alive: the Indians had caused them to sit down on the ground, as they did] also the Colonel and me at some distance from them, I was there given in charge to an Indian fellow to be taken to the Shaw- anese towns. In the place where we were now made to sit down there was a number of squaws and boys who fell on the five prisoners and tomahawked hem. 46- Dr. Knight's .Yarrative. There was a certain John M'Kinley, amongst the prisoners, formerly an officer in the 13th Virginia regiment, whose head an old squaw cut off, and the Indians kicked it about upon the ground. The young Indian fellows came often where the Colon- el and 1 were, and dashed the scalps in our faces. We were then conducted along toward the place where the Colonel was afterwards executed: when we came within about half a mile of it, Simeon Gir- ty met us, with several Indians on horseback: he spoke to the Colonel, but as I was about one hun- dred and fifty yards behind, I could not hear what passed between them. Almost every Indian we met struck us either with 9ticks or their lists. Girty waited till I was brought up, and asked, was that the doctor? I told him. yes, and went toward him reaching out my hand, but he bid me begone, and called me adanin'd ras- cal; upon which the fellow who had me iu charge pulled me along. Girty rode up after me and told me I was to go the Shawaness towns. When we were come to the fire, the Colonel was stripped naked, ordered to sit down by the the, and then they beat him with sticks and their fists. Presently after, I was treated in the same manner. They then tied a rope to the foot of a post about fif- teen feet high, bound the Colonel's hands behind his back and fastened the rope to the ligature be- tween his wrists. The rope was long enough ei- ther for him to sit down or walk round the post once Dj\ Knight's Narrative. 47 or twice and return the same way. The Colonel then called to Girty and asked if they iutended to burn him? Girty answered, yes. The Colonel said he would take it all patiently. Upon this Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief, made a speech to the Indians, viz: about thirty or forty men, and sixty and seveuty squaws or boys. When the speech was finished they all yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what had been said. The Indian men then took up their guns and shot powder into the Colonel's body from his feet as far up as his neck. I think nut less than seventy loads were discharged upon his naked body. They then, crowded about him, and to the best of my observa- tion, cut off his ears: when the throng had dispers- ed a little, I saw the blood running from both sides of his head in consequence thereof. The fire was about six or seven yards from the post to which the Colonel was tied: it was made of small hickory poles, burnt quite through in the mid- dle, each end of the poles remaining about six feet in length. Three or four Indians by turns would take up, individually, one of these burning pieces of wood and apply it to his naked body, already burned black with the powder. These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him, so that which ever way he ran round the post they met him with the burning faggots and poles. Some of the squaws took broad boards upon which they would put a quantity of burning coals and hot embers, and 7 *1S Dr. Knight's Narrative. ihrow on him, so that in a short time he had notfc Sng hut coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon. In the midst of these extreme tortures he called io Simeon Girty and begged of him to shoot him: but Girty making no answer he called to him again. Girty then, by way of derision, told the Colonel lie had no gun, at tire same time turning about to an Indian who was behind him, laughed heartily, aud by all his gestures seemed delighted at the horrid scene. Girty then Came up to me and bade me prepare for death. He said, however, I was not to die at that place, but to be b urnt at the Shawanese town. He swore by G — d I need not expect to escape death, but should suffer it in all its extremities. He then observed that some prisoners had givei him to understand that if our people had him they Would not hurt him; for his part, he said, he did not believe it, but desired to know my opinion of the matter; but being at that time in great anguish and distress for the torments the Colonel was suf- fering before my eyes, as well as the expectation of undergoing the same fate in two days, I made lit- tle or no answer. He expressed a great deal of ill will for Colonel Gibson, and said he was one of Jtis greatest enemies, and more to the sainc purpose, to all which I paid very little attention. Colonel Crawford at this period of his sufferings^ besu ught the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, epoke very lgw, nnd bore Jus torments with thfr Dr. Knight9 s Narrative^ $&: most manly fortitude. He continued in all the ex- tremities of pain for an hour and three quarters, or two hours longer, as near as 1 can judge, when at last being almost spent, he lay down on his belly;, they then scalped him and repeatedly threw the scalp in my face, telling me "that was my great, captain." An old squaw (whose appearance eve- ry way answer the ideas people entertain of the devil) got a board, took a parcel of coak and ash- es and laid them on his back and head after he had been scalped: he then raised himself upon his feci and began to walk round the post: they next put a burning stick to him as usual, but he seemed mo*s~ insensible of pain than before. The Indian fellow who had me in charge no?,r took me away to Captain Pipe's house, about thres- quarters of a mile from the plaee of the Colonel's execution. I was bound all night, and thus, pre- vented fron seeing the last of the horrid spectacle0 Next morning, being June 15th, the Indian untied me, painted me black, ana* we set off for the Shaw- anese town, which he told me was somewhat less than forty miles from that plac ^ We soon came to the spot where the Colonel had been burnt, as it was partly in our way; I saw his bones laying a- mongst the remains of the fire, almost burnt to ash-, es, 1 suppose after he was dead they had laid his body on the fire. The Indian told me, that was my big Captain, and gave the scalp halloo. He was on horseback ojajjl ^ove me before hint 50 Dr. Knight's Narrative, c3" I pretended to this Indian I was ignorant of the death I was to die at the Shawanese town; affected .is cheerful a countenance as possible and asked him if we were not to live together, as brothers, in oitvi house, when we should get to the town? He seemed well pleased, and said, yes. He then ask- ed me if I could make a wigwam? I told hiin, I could: lie then seemed more friendly; we went "that day as near as I can judge about twenty-five miles, the course partly south west. The Indian told mc we should next day come to the town, the fteing in such a direction, pointing nearly south. At night when we went to rest I attempted very often to unty myself, but the Indian was extremely Vigilant and scarce ever shut his eye* that night. About day break he got up and untied me: he next ftegan to mend up the. fire, and as the gnats were 'troublesome I asked him if I should make a smoke behind him? he said, yes, I then took the end of a "d'»gwood fork which had been burnt down to about i] inches long; It was the longest stick I con Id find, yet too small for the purpose I had in view: then I picked up another smaller stick and d of fire between them west behind him: 'lieu turning -uddenly about, I struck him on the head with all the force I was master of; which so fitunncd him that he fell forward with both his hunds into the fire, but seeing him recover and get up, I ^iin while he ran off' howling in a most rful nw.nncr — I followed him with a ueiermina- Dr. itnight's Narrative. 5£ tion to *shoot him down, but pulling back the cock of the gun with too great violence 1 believe I broke the main spring, I pursued him, however abou thirty yards still endeavouring to fire the gun, but could not; then going back to the fire I took his blanket, a pair of new moccasons, his hoppes. pow- der horn, bullet bag, (together with the gun) and marched off, directiug my course toward the five o'- clock mark; about half an hour before sunset I came to the plains, which I think are about sixteen miles wide. I laid me down in a thicket till dark* and then by the assistance of the north star made my way through them and got into the woods before morning. I proceeded on the next day and about, noon crossed the paths by which our troops had gone out; these paths are nearly east and west, but I went due north all that afternoon with a view to avoid the enemy. In the evening I began to be very faint, and no wonder; I had been six days prisoner; the last two days of which I had ate nothing, and but very little the first three or four. There were wild gooseberries in abundauce in the woods, but being unripe re- quired mastication, which at that time I was not a~ ble to perform on account of a blow received from an Indian on the jaw with the back of a tomahawk- there was a weed that grew plentifully in that place, the juice of which I knew to be grateful and nour- ishing; I gathered a bundle of the same, took up my lodging under a large spreading beach tree and ate Dr. Knight's Narrative^ having sucfred plentifully of the juice, went to sleep. Next day I made a due east course, which I gener- ally kept the rest of my journey. 1 often imagin- ed my gun was only wood- bound, and tried every method I could devise to unscrew the lock but nev- er could effect it, having no knife nor auy thing a dapted to the purpose; 1 had now the satisfaction to find my jaw began to mend, and in four or five days could chew any vegetable proper for nourishment, but finding my gun only a useless burden left her in the wilderness. I had no apparatus tor making fire to sleep by so that I could get but little rest for the gnats and muskctoes; there are likewise a great many swamps in the beach ridge which occasioned me very often to lie wet. I crossed the river Muskingum about three or four miles below fort Laurence, and crossing all paths aimed for the Ohio river. All this time ray food was gooseberries, young nettles, the juice of herbs, a few service berries, and some May apples, likewise, two young blackbirds and a tarapin which I devoured raw. When my food sat heavy on my stomach, 1 used to eat a little wild ginger which put all things to rights. 1 came upon the Ohio river about five miles below fort M'lntosh, in the evening of the 2 1st day after I had made my escape, and on the 22d, about sev- en o'clock in the morning, being the 4th day of 3uly, arrived safe, though very much fatigued, at the fort THE OF aWXSt BIUDTOHBo Having in the last war been a prisoner aniongsj the Indians many years, and so being well acquaint- ed with the country west of the Ohio, 1 was employ- ed as a guide in the expedition under Col. William Crawford against the Indian towns on or near the river Sandusky. If will be unnecessary for me to relate what is so well known, the circumstances and unfortunate event of that expedition; it will bo sufficient to observe, that having on Tuesday the fourth of June fought the enemy near Sandusky, we lay that night in our camp, and the next day fired on each other at the distance of three hundred yards, doing little or no execution. In the evening of that day it was proposed by Col. Crawford, as I have been since iaformed, to draw off with order; but at the moment of our retreat the Indians (who had probably perceived that we wera about to re- tire) firing alarm guns, our men broke and rode off in confusion, treading down those who were on foot, and leaving the wounded men who supplicated to $& takw w^h ttiftm, 04i John Stover's Warqyitive* 1 was with some others in the rear of our troops feeding our horses on the glade, when our men be- gan to break. The main body of our people had passed by me a considerable distance before I was ready to set out. I overtook them before they crossed the glade, and was advauced almost in frout. The company in which I was, had separa- ted from me, and had endeavoured, to pass a mo- rass; for coming up I found their horses had stuck fast in the morass, and endeavouring to pass, mine also in a short time stuck fast. I Ought to have said, the company of five or six men with which I had been immediately connected, and who were some distance to the right of the main body, had separated from me, &c. I tried a long time to dis- engage my horse, until I could hear the enemy just behind me and on each side, but in vain. Here then I was obliged to leave him. The morass was so unstable that I was to the middle in it, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I got across it, but which having at length done, I came up with the sjx men who had left tlueir horses in the same manner I had done; two of these, my companions, having lost their guns. We travelled that night making our course to- wards Detroit, with a view to shun the enemy, who we conceived to have taken the paths by which the main body of our people had returned. Just be- fore day we got iuto a second deep morass and were under the necessity of detaining until it was light to John Slovens Narrative.. tj$ see our way through it. The whole of this day we travelled toward the Shawanese towns, with a view of throwing ourselves still farther out of the search of the enemy. About ten o'clock this day we sat down to eat a little, having tasted nothing from Tuesday, the day of our engagement, until this time which was on Thursday; and now the only thing we had to eat was a scrap of pork to each* We had sat [down just by a warrior's path which we had not suspected, when eight or nine warriors appeared. Running off hastily we left our baggage and provisions, but Were not discovered by the par- ty; for skulking some time in the grass and bush* es, we returned to the place and recovered our bag- gage. The warriors had hallooed as they passed, aud were answered by others on our flanks. In our journey through the glades, or wide ex- tended dry meadows, about twelve o'clock this day we discovered a party of Indians in front, but skulls* ing in the grass and bushes were not perceived by them. In these glades we were in great danger, as we could be seen at a great distance. In the afternoon of this day there fell a heavy rain, the coldest I ever felt. We halted while it rained, and then travelling on we saw a party of the enemy about two hundred yards before us, but hiding our- selves in the bushes, we had again the good fortune not to be discovered. This night we got out of the glades, having in the night crossed the paths by which we had advanced to Sandusky. It was ear 8 56 John Stiver's Narratix*. design to leave all these paths to the right, and to come in by the Tuscarawas. We should have made a much gi eater progress, had it not been for two of our companions who were lame; the one having his foot burnt, the other with a swelling in his knee, of a rheumatic nature. On this day, which was the second after the re- treat, one of our company, the person affected with the rheumatic swelling, was left behind some dis- tance in a swamp. Waiting for him some time we saw him coming within one hundred yards, as 1 sat on the body of an old tree mending my moccasins, but taking my eye from him I saw him no more. He had not observed our tracks, but had gone a different way. We whistled on our chargers, and afterwards hallooed for him, but in vain. Never- theless he was fortunate in missing us, for he after- wards came safe into Wheeling. We travelled on until night, and were on the waters of Muskingum from the middle of this day. Having catched a fawn this day we made a fire in the evening, and had a repast, having in the mean time ate nothing but the small bit of pork I men- tioned hefore. We set off at break of day. About nine o'ekok the third day we fell in with a party of the enemy about twenty miles from the Tuscara- was, which is about 135 miles from Fort Pitt. They had come upon our tracks, or had been on qui* Hanks, and discovered us, and then having got -before, had way- laid us> and fired before wo per- John Stover's Narrative. &$ oeived them. At the first fire one of my compaft- ions fell before me, and another just behind; these two had guns: there were six men in company, and four guns, two of these rendered useless by reason of the wet, when comiug through the swamp the first night; we had tried to discharge them, but could not. When the Indians fired 1 ran to a tree,, but an Indian presenting himself fifteen yards be- fore me, desired me to deliver myself up and X should not be hurt: my gun was in good order, but apprehending the enemy behind might discharge^ their pieces at me, I did not risk firing, which I had afterwards reason to regret, when I found what was to be my fate, and that the Indian who was before me and presented his gun, was one of those who had just before fired. Two of my com- panions were taken with me in the same manuei> the Indians assuring us we sh juld not be hurt. But one in company,. James Paul, who had a gun in or- der, made his escape, and has since come into Wheeling. One of these Indians knew me, and was of the party by whom I was taken in the last war. He came up and spoke to me, calling me by my Indian name Mannuchcothee,and upbraiding rae for coming to war against them. I will take a moment here to relate some particulars of my first captivity, and my life since. I was taken from New River, Virginia, by the Miaraese, a nation of Indians by us called the Pict?, among whom I lived six years; afterwards beinsj 58 John Slovens Narrative. sold to a Delaware, anil by him put into the hands- of a trader, I was carried amongst the Shawanese, with whom I coutimied 9ix years; so that my whole time amongst these nations was twelve years, that is from the eighth to the twentieth year of my age. At the treaty at Fort Pitt in the fall preceding what is sailed Dunmore's war, which, if I am right, was in the year 1773, I came in with the Shawanese nation to the treaty, and meeting with some of my relations at that place was by them solicited to re* Unquish the life of a savage, which I did with some reluctance, this manner of life having become natural to me, inasmuch as I had scarcely known any other. I enlisted as a soldier m the Continen- tal army at the commencement of the present wart and served fifteen months. Having been properly discharged 1 have since married, have a family, and am in communion with the church. To return: the party by whom we were made prisoners had taken some horses, and left them at the glades we had passed the day before. They liad followed on our tracks from these glades; on our return to which we found the horses and rode. We were carried to Wachatomakak, a town of the Mingoes aud Shawanese. I thiuA* it was on the third day we reached the town, which when we were approaching, the Indians, in whose custody we were, began to look sour, having been kind to us before, aud given us a little meat and flour to eat, whioh^tlu.y had found or taken from some of our fohn Stover's JYhrratite. 59 men on their retreart. This town is small, and we we e told was about two miles distant from the main town, to which they meant to cany us. The inhabitants from this town came out with clubs and tomahawks, struck, beat and abused us greatly. One of my two companions they seized aad having stripped him na&ed, blacifced him with, coal and water: this Was the sign of being burnt* the man seemed to surmise it, and shed tears. He asked me the meaning of his being blacked; but I was forbid Ivy the enemy iu their own language to tell him What was intended. In English, which they sprke easily, having been often at Fort Pitt, tliey assured him he was not to be hurt. I know of no reason for making him the first object of their cruelty, unless it was that he was the oldest. A warrior had been sent to the greater town to acquaint them with our coming, and prepare tbem for the frolic; for on our coming to it, the inhabitants came out with guns, clubs and tomahawks. We were told that we had to run to the council house about three hundred yards. The man that was blacked was about twenty yards before us, in rum. ning the gauntlet. They made him their principal object, men, women and children beating him, and those who had guns firing loads of powder on him as he run naked, putting the muzzles of the guns tahis body, shouting, hallooing and beating their drums in the mean time. The unhappy man had reached the door of the 80 John Slovers Narrative. council house, beat and wounded in a manner shocking to the 6ight; for having arrived before him we had it in our power to view the spectacle: it was indeed the most horrid that can be conceived: they had cut hi in with their tomahawks, shot his body black, burnt it into holes with loads of powder blown into him: a large wadding had made a wound in his shoulder whence the blood gushed. Agreeable to the declaration of the enemy when he fust set out he had reason to think himself se- cure when lie had reached the door of tke council house. This seemed to be his hope, for coming up with great struggling and endeavour, he laid hold of the door but was pulled back aud drawn away by them; finding they intended no mercy, but put- ting him to death he attempted several times to snatch or lay hold of some of their tomahawks, but hciug weak could not effect it. We saw him borne off, and they were a long time beating, wounding, pursuing and killing him. That same evening I saw the dead body of this man close by the council house. It was mangled cruelly, and the blood mingled with the powder was rendered black. The same evening I saw him, af- ter he had been cut into pieces and his limbs and his head about two hundred yards on the outside of the town put on poles. That evening also I saw the bo- dies of three others in the same black and mangled condition: these I was toluVhad been put to death the same day aud just before we had reached the John Slover's Natmtivei &L town. Their bodies as they lay were black, bloody, burnt with powder; two of these were Harrison, Hand young Crawford. I knew the visage of Col. onel Harrison, and I saw his clothing and that of young Crawford, at the town. They brought hor- ses to me and asked if I knew them? I said they were Harrison's and Crawford's. They said they were. The third of these men I did not know, but be- lieve him to have been Colonel M'Clcland, the third in command on the expedition. The next day the bodies of these men were drag- ged to the outside of the town, and their carcases being given to the dogs, their limbs and heads were stuck on poles. My surviving companion shortly after we bad reached the council house was sent to another town, and I presume he was burnt or executed in the same maimer. In the evening the men assembled in the council house: this is a large building about fifty yards in length and about twenty-five yards wide; and a- bout sixteen feet in height, built of split poles cov- ered with bark: their first object was to examine me, which they oould do in their own language, inas- much as I could speak the Miami, Shawanese and Delaware languages., which I had learned during my early captivity in the last war. I found I had not forgotten these languages, especially the two for- mer, being able to speak them as well as my native tongue. $2 John Stotier's Narrative. They began with interrogating me concerning the situation of our country, what were our provi- sions? our numbers? the state of the war between us and Britain? I informed them Cornwallis had been taken, which next day, when Matthew Elli- ot, with James Girty, came, they affirmed to be a lie, and the Indians seemed to give full credit to their declaration. Hitherto I had been treated with some app?ar- ance of kindness, but now the enemy began to alter their behaviour towards me. Girty had informed them, tljat when he asked me how I liked to live th'Te, I had sajd that I intended to tafre the first opportunity to take a scalp and run off. It was, to be sure, very probable that if I had such intentions, I would communicate them to him. Another man came to me and told, me a story of his having lived on the south branch of Potowmac in Virginia, and having three brothers there, he pretended he wanted to get away, but I suspected his design; neverthe- less he reported that 1 had consented to go. Jn the mean time I was not tied, and could have escaped, but having nothing to put on my feet, I waited some time longer to provide for this. I was invited every night to the Avar dances, which they usually continued until almost day. I could not comply with their desire, believing these things to be the service of the devil. 'I lie council lasted fifteen days; from fifty to one hundred warrior* being usually in- council, and fTolin Silver's Narrative. 68 sometimes more. Every warrior is admitted to these councils; but only the chiefs or head war- riors have the privilege of speaking. The head warriors are accounted such from the number of scalps and prisoners they have taken. The third day M'Kee was in council, and after- wards was generally present. He spoke little, and did not ask any questions or speak to me at all. He lives about two miles out of the town, has a house built of squared logs with a shingled roof; he was dressed in gold laced cloatl.es. I had seen him at the former town through which I passed. I think it was on the last day of the council, save one, that a speech came from Detroit brought by a warrior who had been counselling with the com- manding officer at that place. The speech had been long expected, and was in answer to one sometime before sent from the town to Detroit: it was in a belt of Wampum, and began with address- ing them, "My children," and enquiring why they continued to take prisoners? "Provisions are scarcej when prisoners are brought in we are obliged to maintain them, and still some of them are running away, and carrying tidings of our affairs. When any of our people fall into the hands of the rebels they shew no mercy: why then should you take prisoners? Take no more prisoners, my children^ of any sort; man, woman or child." Two days after, a party of every nation that was aear being collected; it was determined on to take 9 64 John Stover's Narrative. 1 #io more prisoners of any sort. They had held a lar«*e council, and the determination was, that if it were possible they could find a child of a span or three inches long, they would show it no mercy. At the conclusion of the council it was agreed upon by all the tribes present, viz: the Tawaws, Chip- jmvas, the Wyandots, the Mingoes, the Dela- wares, the Shawanese, the Munses, and a part of the Cherokees, that should any of the nations who were nut present take any prisoner, these would rise against them, take away the prisoners and put them to death. In the course of these deliberations I understood what was said perfectly. They laid plans against our settlements of Kentucky, the Falls, and towards Wheeling. These it will be unnecessary for me to mention in this narrative, more especially as the In- dians finding me to have escaped, and knowing that 1 would not fail to communicate these designs, will be led to alter their resolutions. There was one council held at which I was not present: the warriors had sent for me as usual, but the squaw with whom I lived would not suffer m% to go, but hid me under a large quantity of skins. It may have been from an unwillingness that I should hear in council the determination with res- pect to me, that I should be burnt. About this time twelve men were brought in front Kentucky, three of whom were burnt on this day: the remainder were distributed U other towns, and Xohi &lover\ Narrative. 65 all, as the Indians informed me, were burnt. This* was after the speech came from Detroit. On this day also I saw an Indian who had just" «ome into town, and who said that the prisoner he was bringing to be burnt, and who he said was a. doctor, had made his escape from him. I knew this must have been Dr. Knight, who went as sur- geon of the expedition. The Indian had a wound four inches long in his head, which he acknowledge ed the doctor hnd given him: he was cut to the. scull. His story was, that he had untied the doc tor, being asked by him to do so, the doctor promis-. ing that he would not go away; that while he was employed in kindling the fire, the- doctor snatched up the gun, had come behind and struck him; that ha then made a stroke at the doctor with his knife, which he laid hold of, and his fingers were cut, almost off, the knife being drawn through his hand? that he gave the doctor two stabs, one in the belly, the other in the back; said the doctor was a great, big, tall, strong man. Being now adopted in an; Indian family, and having some confidence for my safety, I took the liberty to contradict this, and said that I knew the doctor, who was a weak, lit- tle man. The other warriors laughed immoderate- ly, and did not seem to credit him. At this time I . was told that Colonel Crawford was burnt, and- they greatly exulted over it. The day after the council I have mentioned, a- bout forty warrior? accompanied by George Girty 66 John Slover-s Narrait came early in the morning round the house where 1 was. The squaw gnve me up; I was sitting be- fore the door of (he house; they put a rope round my neck, tied my arms behind my back, stripped me naked, and blacked me in the usual manner. George Crirty as soon as I was tied, damned me, and said that I now. should siet what I had deserved many years. I was led away to a town distant a* fcout five miles, to which a messenger had been despatched to desire them to prepare to re- ceive me: arriving at this town 1 was beaten with clubs and the pipe ends of their tomahawks, and Was kept for some time tied to a tree before a house door. In the mean while the inhabitants set out to another town about two miles distant, where I was to be burnt, and whew I arrived, about three o'clock in the afternoon. Here also was a council house, part of it covered and part of it without a roof. In the part of it where no cover was, but only sides built up, there stood a post about *ixti en feet in height, and in the middle of the house around the post, there were three piles of wood built about three feet high, and four feet from the post. Being brought to the post my arms were tied behind me, and the thong or cord with which they were bound, was fastened to the post; a rope also was put about my neck and tied to the post about four feet above my head. Du- ring the time they were tyiitg mc, piles of woed were kindled and begau to flame. John Stover's JS^awative. 6? Death by burning, which appeared to be now my fate, I had resolved to sustain with patience. The divine grace of God had made it less alarming to me: for on my way this day, I had been greatly exercised in regard to my latter end. I knew my- self to have been a regular member of the church, and to have sought repentance for my sins; but though I had often heard of the faith of assurance, had known nothing of it; but early this day, in- stantaneously by a change wrought upon me sud- den and perceivable as lightning, an assurance of my peace made with God sprung up in my mind. The following words were the subject of my meditation — *Id peace thou shalt see God. Fear not those who can kill the body. In peace shalt thou depart." I was on this occasion by a confidence in mind, not to be resisted, fully assured of my salvation: this being the case, 1 was willing, satisfied, and glad to die. I was tied to the post, as I have already said> and the flame was now kindled. The day was clear, not a cloud to be seen: if there were clouds low inthe horizon, the sides of the house prevented me from seeing them, but I heard no thunder, nor observed any sign of approaching rain. Just as the fire of one pile began to blaze, the wind rose. From the time they began to kindle the fire and to tie me to the post, until the wind b^an to blow, was about fifteen minutes. The wind blew a hur- ricane, and the rain followed in less than three min- 6S John Slouers Narrative. utes. The rain fell violent: and the fire, though if began to blaze considerably, was instantly extin- guished. The rain lasted about a quarter of an hour. When it was over the savages stood amazed, and were a long time silent. At last one said, we will let him alone till morning, and take a whole day's frolic in burning him. The sun at this time was a- bout three hours high. It was agreed upon and the rope about my neck was untied, and making me sit down, they began to dance around me. They continued dancing in this manner until eleven o'- clock at night; in the mean time, beating, kicking, and wounding me with their tomahawks and clubs. At last one of the warriors, the Half Moon, ask- ed me if 1 was sleepy? I answered, yes. The bead warrior then chese out three men to take care of mc. I was taken to a block house; my arms were tied until the cord was hid in the flesh; they were tied in two places, round the wrist and above the elbows. A rope was fasteucd about my neck, and tied to a beam of the house, but permitting mc to lie down on a board. The three warriors were constantly harrassing and troubling me, saying, "How will you like to eat fire to-morrow, you will kill no more Indians now." I was in expectation pf their going to sleep; when at length, about an hour before day break, two laid down; the third smoked a pipe, talked to me, and asked the same painful questions. About half an hour after be al- JoJin Slover's Narrative. 8t) so laid down and I heard him begin to snore. In stantly I went to work, and as my arms were per- fectly dead with the cord, I laid myself down upon my right arm which was behind my back, and keep- ing it fast with my fingers, which had still some life and strength, I slipped the cord from my left arm over my elbow and my wrist. One of the warriors now got up and stirred the fire: I was apprehen- sive that I should be examined, and thought it was over with me; but my hopes revived when now he laid down again. I then attempted to unloose the rope about my neck, tried to gnaw it but in vain? as it was as thick as my thumb and as hard as iron, being made of a buffaloe hide. 1 wrought with it a long time, gave it out and could see no relief. At this time I saw day break and heard the cock crow. 1 made a second attempt almost without hope, pul. ling the rope by putting my fingers between my neck and it, and to my great surprise it came easily untied: it was a noose with two or three knots tied over it. I stept over the warriors as they lay, and having got out of the house looked back to see if there was any disturbance. I theu ran through the town into a corn field; in my way I saw a squaw with four or five children lying asleep under a tree: going a different way into the field. I untied my arm which was greatly swelled and turned black: having ob- served a number of horses in the glade as I ran through it, I went to catch one, and on my way 70 John Slover's Narrative. found a piece of an old rug or quilt hanging on a fence, which 1 took with me: having caught the horse, the rope with which I had heen tied serv- ing for a halter, I rode ofl': the horse was strong and swift, and the woods heing open and the country level, about ten o'clock that day I crossed the Scio- to river at a place by computation fifty full miles from the town. I had rode about twenty miles on this side of the Scioto by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the horse began to fail and could no longer go in a trot. I instantly left him and on foot rau about twenty miles iarther that day, making in the whole the distance of near one hundred miles. In the evening I heard hallooing behind me, and for this reason did not halt until about ten o'clock at night, when I sat down, was extremely sick and vomited, but when the moon rose, which might have been about two hours after, I went on and travelled until day. During the night I had a path, buli n the morning judged it prudent to forsake the path, and take a ridge for the distance of fifteen miles in a line at right angles to my course, putting back as I went along with a stick the weeds which I hay man, than the act of writing a narrative of a per- son's own life; especially where the incidents bor- der on the marvellous. Prodigies but seldom hap- pen; and the veracity of the relaters of them is still less frequently vouched for; however, as the dis- pensations of Providence towards me have been too striking not to make a deep and grateful im- pression, and a* the principal part of them can be attested by living evidences, I shall proceed, bc- ing confident that the candid reader will pardon the inaccuracies of an illiterate soldier, and that the tender hearted will drop the (ear of sympathy, when they realize the idea of the sufferings of such of our unfortunate country folks as fall into the hands of the western Indians, whose tender racr- cies are cruelties. I was born and brought up at Falmouth, Casco ri until I attained of Concord; Sam- 90 Adventures of Jackson Johonnet. uel Forsythe, of Beverly, Robert Deloy, of Mar- blehead, and U2za Benton, of Salem, who all faiut- ed under their heavy trials, were immediately scalp- ed and tomahawked in our presence, and tortured to death with every affliction of misery that Iudian ingenuity could invent. It was the 4*h of August when we were taken, and our unhappy companions were massacred the thirteenth. News was that day received of the destruction at L'Anguille, &c. of general Harmar's army, numbers of scalps were exhibited by the warriors, and several prisoners, among whom were three women and six children, carried through the village destined to a Kickapoo settlement, further westward. The 15th of August, four more of my fellow prisoners, viz. Lemuel Saunders, of Boston, Thomas Tharp, of Dorchester, Vincent Upham, of Mystick, and ITounglove Croxal, of Abington, were taken from uj>; but whether they were massa- cred or preserved alive, I am unable to say. Af» tcr this nothing material occurred for a fortnight, except that we were several times severely whipped on the receipt of bad news, and our allowance of provisions lessened, so that we were apprehensive of starving (o death, if we did not fall aH immediate sacrifice to the fire or tomahawk: but heaven had otherwise decreed. On the night following the 30th of August, our guard, which consisted of fonr^lndians, tired out with watchinrg, laid down to sleep, leaving only an Adventures of Jackson Johonnet. 9t old pquaT ° a^eilf). us. Providence so ordered that my compai'non had, by some means, got one of his hands at liberty, and having a knife in his pock- et, soon cut the withes that bound his feet, and that which pinioned my arms, unperceived by the old squaw, who sat in a drowsy position, not suspect- ing harm, over a small fire in the wigwam. I ruminated but a few moments on our situation; there was no weapon near us, except my compan- ion's knife, which he still held; Hooked on him to make him observe me, and the same instant sprung and grasped the squaw by the throat to prevent her making a noise, and my comrade in a moment cut her throat from ear to ear, down to the neck bone. He then seized a tomahawk and myself a rifle, and striking at the same instant, despatched two of our enemies. The sound of these blows awakened the others, but before they had time to rise, we renew- ed our strokes on them, and luckily to so good ef- fect, as to stun them, and then repeating the blow, we sunk a tomahawk in each of their heads, armed ourselves completely, and taking what provisions the wigwam afforded, we committed ourselves to the protection of Providence, and made the best of our way into the wilderness. The compass of a volume would scarce contain the events of our progress through the wilderness* but as they were uninteresting to any but ourselves, I shall only observe generally, that the difficulties of the journey were too great to have been endur 92 Adventures >;, >Z Jackson Johonnet. ed by any who had less interest ■~4i,f,n I*3 at sla^e? or a less terrible enemy than Indians to tear. Hun- ger, thirst, and fatigue, were our constant coin pan- inns. We travelled hard day and night, except the few hours absolutely requisite for repose, that liatnre might not sink under her oppression, at which period one constantly watched while the. oth- er slept. In this tiresome mode, we proceeded un- til the fifteenth of September, having often to shift our direction on account of impassable bogs, deep morasse«, and hideous precipices, without meeting any adventure worthy of note. On the morning of the fifteenth, as we were steering nearly a north course in order to avoid a bog that intercepted our course South East, we found the bodies of an old man, a woman and two children newly murdered, stript, and scalped. This horrid spectacle dulled our blood; we viewed the wretched victims; and from what we could collect from circumstances*, we lodcd that they had been dragged away from .heir homes, and their feet being w orn out, had been inhumanly murdered, and left weltering in their blood. We wen- 1 1 a great loss now to determine what coarse to it length we pitched upon a direction about north-WCSt, and walked on as fast us possible to escape the Bavages, if practicable. ^out noon this da; ood springs Which was a great relief to u : lint which we. had it reason a few minutes after to believe would be i1 of our earthly comforts. My compau- Adventures of Jackson Johonnet. 9& ion, Richard Sackville, a corporal of captain New- man's company, stepped aside into the thicket, on some occasion, and returned with the account that a few rods distant he had discovered four Indians with two miserable, wretches bound, sitting under a tree eating; and that if I would join him, he would either relieve the captives, or perish in the attempt. The resolution of my worthy comrade pleased me greatly; and as no time was to be lost, we set im- mediately about the execution of our design: Sack- ville took the lead, and conducted me undiscover- ed, within fifty yards of the Indians; two of them were laid down, with their musquets in their arms., and appeared to be asleep; the other two sat at the head of the prisoners, their musquets resting against their left shoulders, and in their right hands each of tbem a tomahawk, over the heads of their pris- oners. We each chose our man to fire at, and tak- ing aim deliberately, had the satisfaction to see them both fall; the others instantly started, and seeming at a loss to determine from whence the as- sault was made, fell on their bellies, and looked carefully around to discover the best course to take; mean time we had re-charged, and shifting our po- sition a little, impatiently waiting their rising; in a minute they raised on their hands and knees, and haying as we supposed discovered the smoke of our guns rising above the busies, attempted to crawl inte a thicket on the opposite side. This gave us a good chance, ajid vye again fired at dif %& Adventures of Jackson Johannet. (brent men, and with su< h effect, that we brought them both down: one lay motionless, the other crawled along a few yards, we loaded in an instant, and rushej towards him, yet keeping an eye on him, as he had reached Ids comrade's gun, b ' sat up- right in a posture of defence. Ky our noise in the bushes he discovered the direction to fire; alas! too fatally, for by his fatal shot 1 lost my comrade and friend Sackville. At this moment the two prison- who were close pinioned, endeavoured to make their escape towards me, but the desperate savage again fired, and shot one of them dead, the other gained the thicket within a few yards of me: I had now ouce more got ready to fire, and discharged at the jvouuded Indian: at this discharge I wounded him in the neck, from whence I perceived the blood to flow swiftly, but \vc yet uudauntedly kept! his seat, and having new charged his guns, fired upon US with them both, and then fell, seemingly from raininess and loss of blood. 1 ran instantly to the pinioned white man and having unbound his arms, armed him with the unfortunate Sackville's iquet, we cautiously approached a few yards Dearer tin* wounded Indian; when I ordered my Com*&f a dog directing their MOM, the young wo- man, >\ho had been taken, was found apparently expiring. She retained however sufficient recollee* Conflicts with the Indians, 103 tion to extend he? hand to her brother, who, with a few others, was left to take care of her, while the rest advanced with the utmost possible expedition, and in a few hundred rods overtook the sava- ges, six in number, whom they soon despatched- The party then returned to the place where the young woman had been left, and found that in the interval she had expired. The next morning they returned with tjie corpse to the first scene of action in order to inter the whole together. Whilst the graves were preparing, some dogs that had been with the party were barking at a log in the water, which several of the men concluded was in conse- quence of otters or other similar animals in the hol- low of the log, but pu examination they were much surprised to find the dead bodies of two Indians, who had probably been hidden there by their com- panions, having, uo doubt, been killed by the two young women in the loom house. Thus not one of this party survived to carry home tjjie sa$ tidings, 1* te t) t TGie following information has been derived from the official correspondence of Generals Har- mer, Wilkinson, Scott, St. Claik & Wayne, as published by Heury Trumbull in the year 1812. EXPEDITION and DEFEAT of Gen. HAR- MER, by the Indians, in 171)0. Although a peace was happily effected between the two contending parties, Groat- Britain and A- merica, in 1783, yet the savages, who had been persuaded to take a part with the former, were un- willing to bury the bloody hatchet They had not sufficiently bathed that destructive weapon in the blood of the Americans. Without any pretext what- ever, they continued to exercise toward them the most wanton iicts of barbarity. It appeared from respectable evidence, that from tho year 1783, un- til the mouth of October 1790, the time the United ►States commenced offensive operations against tho said Indians, that on the Ohio, and the frontiers on the south side thereof, they killed, wounded, and took prisoners, about one thousand five hundred men, women aud children, besides carrying off up- wards of two thousand horses, and other property to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. The particulars of many of the instances of bar- Expedition and defeat of Cr8w. Hafmer* 1%5 barity exercised upon the prisoners, of different a- ges, and sexes, although supported by indisputable evidence, are of too shocking a nature to be pre- sented to the public. It is sufficient here to observe that the scalping knife and tomahawk, were the mildest instruments of death. That in some cases torture by fire, and other execrable means were us^ ed. But the outrages which were committed upon the frontier inhabitants, were not the only injuries that were sustained; repeated attacks upon detachments of the troops of the United States, were at different times made. The following from its peculiar enor- mity deserves recital. In April 1790, Maj. Dough- ty (in service of the United States) was ordered to the friendly Chicasaws on public business. He performed this duty in a boat, having with him a party of fifteen men. While ascending the Ten- nessee river, he was met by a party of forty Indians, in four canoes, consisting principally of Shawan- ese and out- cast Cherokees. They approached under a wbite flag, the well known emblem of peace. They came on board the Major's boat, re- ceived his presents, continued with him nearly an hour, and then departed in the most friendly man- ner. But, they had scarcely cleared his oars be- fore they poured in a fire upon his crew, wkich was returned as soon as circumstances would permit, and a most unequal combat was sustained for sev- eral hours, when they abandoned their design, tyit 1 .. Expedition and defeat of Gen. Hamier. not until they had killed and wounded eleven out of fifteen of the boat's crew. All overtures of peace failing, and the depreda- tions still continuing, an attempt at coertiou became indispensable; accordingly, on the 30th September, 1790, the President, by and with the consent and advice of the Congress of the United States, des- patched General IIarmer, with 320 Federal troops and 1 (33 militia, under hi? command, to attack ami destroy their principal villages. The troops, after seventeen days march from Mi- ami, reached the great Miami village, without any other molestation than that of having a number of their pack horses stolen. On their arrival they found the village deserted, and all the valuable buildings in flames, set on fire by the fndiaus. Af» ter a short tarry, they proceeded to the neighboring villages, without molestation, and destroyed five of them, and a large quantity of corn, computed at fif- teen thousand bushels, which they found buried in different places; and very large quantities of vege- tables of every kind. The first opposition that was met with, a party of about 150 Kentucky militia, and 80 regular troops, all under the command of Colonel Harding, of Keutucky, were detached from the main body lying in the great Miami village, to pursue the trail of a party of Indians, whicli had the day before been discovered. After a pursuit of about six males, they came un> with, and were attacked on surprize TZxpetfUiori and defeat of Gen*. Harmer. 107 by a body of Indians who were concealed in the thickets on every side of a large plain; and on th* first onset the militia without exchanging a single shot, made a most precipitate retreat and left the regular troops to stand the whole chaige of the In- dians; the conflict was short and bloody, the troops were soon overpowered by numbers, and all fell ex- cept two officers, and two or three privates, after defending themselves at their bayonet points, with the greatest possible obstinacy. Ensign Harts- houn was one of the officers who providentially es- caped, and his escape appeared to depend more on a lucky circumstauce of faltering over a log in his retreat, and by that means screening himself from the eye ef his pursuers, than from any other circum- stance. Captain Armstrong, who commauded the party, likewise made his escape, by plunging himself into a pound or swamp up to his neck, with- in two hundred yards of the field of action, wherie he remained the whole night a spectator to the hor. rid scene of the War-dance performed over the dead and wounded bodies of the poor soldiers that had fallen the preceding day; where their shrieks, mix- ed with the horrid yells of the savages, rendered his situation shocking. After this, some few skirmishes succeeded, but nothing material, until the second capital action, which happened two days after the army left the Miami village. At ten miles distance from the town, the General ordered a halt, and detached from four 408 Expedition and defeat of Gen. Harmer. to five hundred militia, and about sixty regular sol- diers, under the command of Major Wyllys and Colonel Harding, who wore ordered to march back to the town. On their first entrance there ap- peared a small body of Indians, who immediately fled at the firii onset, and by that means decoyed the whole body of the militia, by making their flight in different directions, and encouraging the militia to pursue; by this stratagem the few regular troop* ivere left alone, and the Indians had effected their design, for the moment they found the small hand- ful of regular troops detached from the main body of the militia, they commenced the attack with their vUiole force, excepting the flying parties that had divided the militia; and although they soon found some part of the militia returning on their backs, pursued their object of routing and destroying the troops-, as the only sure plan of success; which af- ter a most bloody conflict on each side, they effect- ed. Nothing could exceed the intrepidity of the sav- ages on this occasion; the militia they appeared to despise, anil with all the undaunteduess conceiva- ble, threw down their gODS, and rushed upon the I), vonets of the regular soldiers; a number of them fell, but being so far superior in numbers, the reglll&n were soon overpowered, for while the poor soldier had his bayonet in one Indian, two more ■would sink their tomahawk-, in his head. The de- feat of the troops was complete, the dead and Expedition of General Scott. 1Q9 wounded were left on the field of action, in pos- session of the savages. The following is a copy of the official return of the killed and wounded in the expedition: — Killed of the Federal troops: 1 Major, 1 Lieu- tenant, 73 rank and file — total 7$. Wounded — 3 rank and file. Killed of the Militm: 1 Major, 3 Captains, % Lieutenants, 4 Ensigns, 98 rank and file — total 108. Wounded — % Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, §5 rank and file — total — 38. The regular troops all to nine, including two commissioned officers, were killed. Among the slain was Major Wyllys, and a number of brave and valuable soldiers. The Indians, it appeared, from some cause, did not think it prudent to pursue their successes from the field of action, as most of the troops that were not killed or badly wounded, made their escape, which, they could not have ef- fected had the enemy pursued with their usual fury. EXPEDITIONS OF GENERALS SCOTT AND WILKINSON. In May and August, 1791. 4*en. SCOTT to t\ie Secretary of War. £$ir— In prosecutioa of the enterprise, I Djarch- iiO Ki peditio h of G e iieval Scott. ed (with S30 troops under my command) four miles from the banks of the Ohio on the 23d of May, and on the 21th I resumed my march, and pushed forward with the utmost industry, directing my Youte to Ouiuttannan. in the best manner my guides and information enabled me, though 1 found my- self greatly deficient in both. By the 31 *t, I had marched one hundred and thirty-five milts, over a country cut by four large branches of White Kiver, ami many smaller streams with steep muddy banks. During this march, I traversed a country alternately ii ter- spersed with the most luxurious soil, and deep clay- ey bogs from one to five miles wide, rendered al- most impervious by brush and briars. Rain fell in torrnii- l ry day, with frequent blasts of wind and thunder storms. These obstacles impeded my progress, wore down my horses, and destroyed my provisions. 0«i the morning of the 1st instant, as the army cniered an extensive prairie, I perceived an Indian on horseback a few miles to the right. I immedi- ately mad., a detachment to intercept him, but lie escaped. Finding m jafclf dis.-overed, I determin- ed to advanrc with all the rapidity my circumstau- ces would permit, rather with the hope than the expectation o! reaching the object sought that day; for my guides were strangers to the country which I occupied. .U 1 o'clock, having marched by com- putation one hundred ami flfly-fivc miles from the* JS&pedition of General Scott. ill Ohio, as t penetrated a grove which bordered on an extensive prairie, I discovered two small villages to my left, at two and four miles distance. My guides now recognized the ground and in- formed me that the main town was four or five miles in front, behind a point of wood which jutted into the prairie. I immediately detached Col. John Hardin, with 60 mounted infantry, and a troop of light horse under Captain M'Coy, to attack the vil- lages to the left, and moved on briskly with my main body in order of battle toward the town, the smoke of which was discernable. My guides were deceived with respect to the situation of the town; for instead of standing at the edge of the plain through which I marched, I found ic the low ground bordering on the Wabash, on turning the point of woods, one house presented in my front. Captain Price wa3 ordered to assault that with forty men. ile executed the command with great gallantry, and kiile'd two warriors. When I gained the summit of the eminence which overlooks the villages on the banks of the Wabash, 1 discovered the eacmy in great confu- sion, endeavoring to make their escape ever the river in canoes. I instantly ordered Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Wilkinson to rush forward with the first battalion; the order was executed with promptitude, and this detachment gaiaed the bank of the river just as the rear of the enemy had em- barked: and regardless of a brisk fire kept up fron 15 lift Expedition of General Scott. a Kickapoo town on the opposite bank, they in a few minutes, by a well directed fire from their ri- fles, destroyed all the savages with which five ca- noes were crowded. The enemy slill kept possession of the Kicka- poo town. J determined to dislodge them, aud for the purpose ordered Captains King and Logbdon?s companies to march down the river below the town and gross under the conduct of Major Barree. Several of the men swam the river, and others pass- ed in a small canoe. This movement was unob- •d, and my men had taken post on the bank het'ore they were discovered by the enemy who im- mediately abandoned the village- About this time word was brought me that Colonel Hardin was incumbered with prisoners, and had discovered a stronger village further to my left, than those I had observed, which he was proceeding to attack. I immediately detached Captain Brown with his company to support the Colonel; but the distance being six miles, before the Captain arrived the bu- siness was done, and Colonel Hardin joined me little before sunset, having killed six warriors and taken fifty -two prisoners. Captain Bull, the war- rior who discovered me in the morning, had gained the main town and given the alarm a short time be- fore me; but the villages to the left were uninform- ed of my approach aud had no retreat. The next morning I determined to detach my Lieut. Colonel Commandant with live hundred men, to destroy the Expedition of General Scott. lllfc important town of Kethlipecanunk, at the mouth of *he Eel river, eighteen miles from my camp; and on the west side of the Wabash. But on examination I discovered my men and horses to be crippled and worn down by a long laborious march, and theVic- tive exertions of the preceding day; that three hun- dred and sixty men only could be found in capaci- ty to undertake the enterprise and they prepared to inarch on foot. Colonel AVilkinsox marched with this detach- ment at half after live to the evening, and returned to my camp the next day at 1 o'clock, having march- ed thirty six miles in twelve hours, and destroyed the most important settlements of theenejny in that quarter of the federal territory. The following is Colonel Wilkinson's report respecting the enterprize: — Sir — The detachment under my command, des- tined to attack the village Kethlipecanunk, was put in motion at half after five o'clock last evening. Knowing that an enemy whose chief dependence is in his dexterity as a marksman, and alertness in covering himself behind trees, stumps, and other impediments to fair sight, would not hazard an ac- tion in the night, I determined to push my march until 1 approached the vicinity of the villages where I knew the country to be champaign, I gained my point without a halt, twenty minutes before It o'- clock; lay upon my arms until 4 o'clock, and half an hour after assaulted the town at all quarters. Hi Expedition of General Scott. The enemy was vigilant, gave way on my approach, and in canoes crossed Eel creek, which washed the northeast part of the town. The creek was not fordable. My corps dashed forward with the im- petuosity becoming volunteers, and were saluted fcy the enemy with a brisk fire from the opposite side of the creek. Dauntless they rushed on to the water's edge, and finding the river impassable, re- turned a volley, which so galled and disconcerted their antagonists, that they threw away their fire "Without effect. In five miuutes the Indians were driven from their covering, and fled with precipita- tion. I have three men slightly wounded. At half past five the town was in flames, and at six o'- clock I commenced my retreat. 1 am Sir, yours, &c. JAMES WILKINSON. Brigadier- General Scott. Many of the inhabitants of Rithlipccanunk were French, and lived in a state of civilization; misun- derstanding the object of a white flag, which ap- peared on an eminence opposite to me in the after- noon of the first, I liberated an aged sqnaw, and •ent with her a message to the savages, that if they WOtfld come in and surrender, their towns should be spared, aud thev should receive good treatment. It was afterwards found that this white flag was Dot intended as a signal of parley, but was placed thcrs to mark the spot where a person of distinc- Expedition of General Scott. 115 fion among the Indians, who had died some time before, was interred. On the 4th, I determined to discharge 16 of the weakest and most infirm of my prisoners with a talk to the Wahash tribes, a copy of which follows. My motives to this meas- ure were, to rid the army of a heavy incumbrance, to gratify the impulses of humanity, to increase the panicle my operations had produced, and by dis- tracting the council of the enemy, to favor the views of government. On the same day, after having burned the towns and adjacent villages, and destroyed the growing corn and pulse, I began my march for the rapids of Ohio, where I arrived the 14th, without the loss of a siugle man by the enemy, and five only woun- ded, having killed thirty-two, chiefly warriors of size and figure, and taken fifty-eight prisoners. To the various tribes of the Piankashaies, and all the nations of lied Veoytle, living on the waters of the Wabash River. The Sovereign Council of the Thirteen United States, have long patiently borne your depreda- tions against their settlements on this side of th« great mountains, in hope that you would see your error, and correct it, by entering into bonds of am- ity and lasting peace. Moved by compassion, and pitying your misguided councils, they have not unfrequently addressed you on this subject, but without effect: at length their patience is exhausted, and they have stretched forth the arm of power a- 116 Expedition nf General ScotL gainst you. Their mighty sons and chief wan i have at length taken up the hnlchct, they have pen- etrated far into your country, to meet your warriors, and punish them for their transgressions. But you fled before them and decline the. battle, leaving your wives and children to their mercy. They have destroyed your old town, (Juiattanu, and the neighbouring villages, and have taken many pris- oners. Uesting here two days, to give you time to collect your strength, they have proceeded to your town of Kethlipccanuuk; but you again fled before them: and that great town has been destroy- ed. After giving you this evidence of their power, they have stopped their hands, because they are as Merciful as strong, and they again indulge the hope, that you will cone to a of your true interest, and determine to make a lasting peace with them and all their children forever. The United .Stairs have no desire to destroy the red people, although they have the power to do it; but should you de- cline this invitation, and pursue your unprovoked hostilities, their strength will again be exerted a- gainsl you, your warriors will be slaughtered, your wives and children caricd into captivity, and you may lie assured, that those who escape the fury of our mighty chiefs, shall Had no resting place on this side of the Great Lakes. The warriors of the United Stales wish not to distress or destroy wo- men and children, or old men. and although policy obliges, them to retain some in captivity, ycfcconr Expedition of General Wilkinson* 117 passion and humanity have induced them to set oth- ers at liberty, who will deliver yeu this talk. Those who are earned off will be left in the care of our great chief and warrior General St. Clair, near the mouth of the Miami and opposite to the Licking River, where they will be treated with hu- manity and tenderness; if you wish to recover them, repair to that place by the first day of July next: determine with true hearts to bury the hatchet and smoke the pipe of peace. They will then be restored to you, and you may again set down in security at your old towns, and live in peace and happiness, unmolested by the people of the United States, who will become your friends and protectors, and will be ready to furnish you with all the necessa- ries you may require. But should you foolishly persist in your warfare, the sons of war will be let loose against you, and the hatchet will never be bu- ried until your country is desolated, and your peo- ple humbled to the dust. (Signed) CHARLES SCOTT, Brig. Gen. GENERAL WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION, fcen. Wilkinson to Got. St. Ciair. Sir — Having carried into complete effect the en- i f 8 Expedition of Gem ral Wilkinson . terprize which you were pleased to direct against L'Anguille, and having done the savages every other damage on the Wabash, to which I couceived my force adequate, I embrace the first moment's recess from active duty to detail to your Excellency the operations of the expedition intrusted to my corn- duct. I left the neighbourhood of Fort- Washington* on the first inst. at one o'clock, and agreeably to my original plan, feinted boldly at the Miami villages, by the most direct course the nature of the ground, over which I had to march, would permit; I perse- vered in this plan until the morning of the 4th inst. and thereby avoided the hunting ground of the en- emy, and the paths which led direct from While River to the Wabash, leaving the head waters of the first to my left; I then being about seventy miles advanced of Fort Washington, turned North- West. I made no discovery until the 6th, about 9 o'clock, A. M. when I crossed three much fre- quented paths, within two miles of each other, and all bearing east of north; my guides were urgent for me to follow these paths, which betrayed their ignorance of the country, and convinced mo I had to depend en my own judgment only. In the after- noon of that day, I was obliged to cross a deep bog, which injured several of my horses exceedingly, and a few miles beyond I struck a path bearing north by west, marked by the recent footsteps of :V< w Cincinntif* Expedition ofGenaml Wilkivson. 119 live or six savages. My guides renewed their ap* plication to me to follow this path, but I pursued my own course. I had not got clear of my en- campment, next morning, before my advance re- ported an impassable bog, in my front, extending several miles on either hand, and the guides asser- ted that the whole country to the Wabash was cut by such bogs, and that it would be impossible for me to proceed unless I followed the Indian paths, which avoided these bogs, or led through them at places where they were least difficult. Although I paid little regard to this information, as delay was dangerous, and every thin g depended on tha preservation of my horses, I determined to return to the right, and fell into the path I Lad passed the evening before, which varied in its course from North by West to North- East, The couutry had now become pondy, in every direction, I therefore resolved to pursue this path until noon, in the hope that it would conduct me to better ground, or to some devious trace which might lead to the ob- ject sought. At 7 o'clock I crossed an east branch of Calu- mut river, about 40 yards wide, and about noon my advance guard fired on a small party of warrior? and took a prisoner, the rest run off to the east- ward. I halted about a mile beyond the spot where this affair happened, and on examining the prisoner found him to be a Delaware, living near the site *>f the late Miami village, which l* ii^ 49 -ISO Expedition of General Wilkinson. formed mc was about 30 miles distant; I immedi* ately retrograded four miles, and filed off by the right over some rising ground, which 1 had observ. ed between-the east branch of the Caluraut river and a creek four or five miles advance of it, taking my course North 60 decrees West. This measure fortu- iiately extricated me from the bogs and ponds, and soon placed me on a firm ground; late in the after- noon I crossed one path running from North to South, and shortly after fell in with another vary- ing from North- West to North. I pursued this a- bout two miles, when I encamped. Hut finding it still inclining northward, I determined to abandon it in the morning. I resumed my march on the 6th at 1 o'clock, the Calumut being to the westward of me I was fearful I should strike the Wabash too high up, and perhaps tail in with the small town, which you mentioned to me at the mouth of the former river. I therefore steered a due west course, and at 6 o'clock A. M. crossed a road much used both by horse and foot, bearing due north. I now knew that I was near a Shaw anese village, gener- ally supposed to be on the waters of White river^ but actually on the waters of the Calumut, and was sensible that every thing depended on the celer- ity and silence of my movements, as my real ob- ject had become manifest. I therefore pushed my march vigorously, leaving an officer and 20 men in ambush to watch the road, in order to intercept •r bear off any party of the enemy which might cas- Expedition of General Wilkinson. 1W trolly be passing that way, and thereby prevent a*> long as possible the discovery of my real intentions. At' 8 o'clock I crossed Calmut river, now 80* yards wide, and miming down North North- West- I was now sensible from my reckoning compared" with my own observation, during the late expedi- tion under General Scott, and the information re- ceived from your Excellency and others, that I could not be very far from L'Auguille. The par- ty left at the road, soon fell in with four warrior? encamped half a mile from the right of my line of march, killed one and drove off the others to the northward. My situation had now become ex- tremely critical, the whole country to the north be- ing in alarm, which made me greatly anxious to continue my march during the night, but I had no path to direct me, and it was impossible for me to keep my course, or for horsemen to march through a thick swampy country in utter darkness. I quit- ted my camp on the 7th, as soon as I could see my way, crossed one path at three miles distance, bear- ing North-East, and at seven miles fell into another very much used, bearing North-West by North which I at once adopted, as the direct route of ray object, and pushed forward with the utmost des- patch. I halted at 12 o'clock to refresh the horses, and examine the men's arms and ammunition; marched again at half after one, and at 15 minutes before five I struck the Wabash, at one and an fcalf leagues above the uth of Eel river, being it2, Expedition of General Wilkinson. the very spot for which I had aimed from the com- mencement of my march. I crossed the river and following the patli at North by East course, at the distance of two and an half miles, my reconnoi- tering party announced Eel river in front, aHd the town on the opposite bank. I dismounted, ran for- ward, and examined the situation of the town as far as was practicable without exposing myself, but the. whole face of the country from the Wabash to the margin of Eel river, being a continued thicket of brambles, black jacks, weeds and shrubs, of va- rious kinds, it was impossible for me to get a sat- isfactory view without endangering a discovery. I immediately determined to post two companies near the bank of the river, opposite, to the town, and a- bovc the ground I then occupied to make a detour frith Major Caldweli , and the second battalion, until I fell into the Miami trace, and by that rout to cross the river above, aud gain the rear of the town, and to leave directions with Maj. M'Dow- jbll, who commanded the first battalion, to lie per- due until 1 commenced the attack, theu to dash through the river with his corps and the advanced guard, and assault the houses in front and upon the left. In the. moment I was about to put this arrange- ment into execution, word was brought mo that the rnrmy had taken the alarm and were flying. I in- stantly ordered a general charge, which was obey* «ed with alacrity, the men forcing their way over Expedition of General Wilkinson. 183 every obstacle, plunged through the river with vast intrepidity. The enemy was unable to make the smallest resistance. Six warriors and (in the hur- ry and confusion of the charge) two squaws and * child were killed — thirty-four prisoners were taken, and an unfortunate captive released, with the los» of two men killed, and one wounded. I found this town scattered along Eel river for full three miles, on an uneven shrubby oak barren, intersected alter- nately by bogs almost impassable, and impervious thickets of plumb and hazzle. Notwithstanding these difficulties, if I may credit the report of tha prisoners, very few who were in town escaped; ex- pecting a second expedition, their goods were gen- erally packed up or buried. Sixty warriors had crossed the Wabash to watch the paths- leading from the Ohio; the head chief with all the prisoners and a number of families were out, digging a root, which they substitute in the place of the potatoe, and about one hour before my arrival, all the war- riors, except eight, had mounted their horses and rode up the river to a French store to purchase am- munition. This ammunition had arrived from the Miami village that very day, and the squaws in- formed me was stored about two miles from town. 1 detached Major Caldwell in quest of it, but he failed to make any discovery, although he scoured the country for seven or eight miles up the river. I encamped in the town that night, and the next Horning 1 cut up the corn scarcely in the milk? iSl Expedition of General Wilkinson. burnt (lie cabin?, mounted my young warriors, 6quaws and children in the hest manner in my pow- er, and leaving two infirm squaws and a child with a short talk (which will be found annexed) 1 com- menced my march for the Kickapoo town in the prairie. 1 fell my prisoners a vast incumbrance, but I was not in force to justify a detachment, hav- ing barely 529 rank and file, and being thru in the bosom of the Ouiattanou country, one hundred and eighty miles removed from succour, and not mote than one and a half days forced match from the Pat- taw amees, Shawanese and Delawares. Not being able to discover any path in the direct course to the Kickapoo town, I marched by the road leading to Tippecanoe* in the hope of finding some diverging trace which might favor my design. I encamped that evening about six miles from Kenap- acomcque, the Indian name for the town I had des- troyed, and marched next morning at four o'clock. IN I y course continued west till about nine o'clock when I turned to the northwest on a small hunting path, and at a short distance I launched into the boundless prairies of the west, with the intention to pursue thai course, until I should strike a road which leads from the Ptttawamees of Lake Mich- igan, immediately to the town I sought With this ■\icw I pushed forward, through bog after bog, to the saddle skirts in mud and water, and after per- fring fir eight hours, I found myself environed an ull sides with morasses which forbade my ad- Expedition of General Wilkinson. l2fj vanciug, and at the same time rendered it difficult for me to extricate my little army. The way by which we had entered was so much beat and sof- tened by the horses, that it was almost impossible to return by that route, and my guides pronounced the morass in front impassable. A chain of thin groves extending in the direction to the Wabash, at this time presented to ray left, it was necessary I should gain these groves, and for this purpose I dismounted, wTent forward, and leading my horse through a bog to the armpits in mud and water, with difficulty and fatigue I accomplished my object, and changed my course to South by West. I re- gained the Tippecanoe road at 5 o'clock, and en- camped on it at 7 o'clock, after a march of thirty miles, which broke down several of my horses. I am the more minute in detailing the occurrences of this day because they produced the most unfa- vorable effect. I was in motion at four next morn- ing, and at eight o'clock my advanced guard mad© some discoveries, which induced me to believe we were near an Indian village. I immediately push- ed that body forward in a trot, and followed with Major Caldwell, and the 2nd battalion, leaving Major M'Dowell to take charge of the prisoners- I reached Tippecanoe at (3 o'clock, which had been occupied by the enemy, who watched my mo- tions and abandoned the place that morning, Af- ter the destruction of this town in June last, the ene- my had returned and cultivated their corn and pulse, i26 Expedition of General Wilkinson'. which I found in high perfection aud in much great- er quantity than at L'Anguillc. To refresh my horses and give time to cut down the coin, I deter- mined to halt until the next morning, and then re- sume my march to the Kickapoo town in the prai- rie, by the road which leads from Ouiattanon to that place. In the course of the day I had discovered some murmurings and discontent among the meu, which I found on enquiry to proceed from their re* luctance to advance into the enemy's country; this induced me to call for a state of the horses and provi- sions, when to my great mortification 2/0 horses were returned lame and tired, with barely five days' provision for the men. Under these circumstances T was compelled to abandon my designs upon the Kickapoos of the prairie, aud with a degree of anguish not to be com- prehended but by those who have experienced sim- ilar disappointments; I marched forward to a town of the same nation, situate about three leagues weal of Ouailtanon. As I advanced to the town, the ene- my made some shew of fighting me, but vanished at my approach. I destroyed this town, consisting of thirty houses, with a considerable quantity of corn in the milk) and the same day I moved on to Ouiattanon, where 1 fordedt lie Wabash, and pro- ceeded to the site of the villages on the margin of the prairie where I encamped at seven o'clock. At this town and the village destroyed by General (cott iu June, we found the corn had been re* Expedition of General Wilkinson. iS7 planted, and was now in high cultivation, several fields being well ploughed, all which we destroyed. On the 12th I resumed my march, and falling into General Scott's return trace, I arrived without material accident at the rapids of the Ohio, on the 21st inst. after a march, by accurate computation, of 451 miles from Fort Washington. The services which I have been able to render, fall short of my wishes, my intention and expecta- tion. But, Sir, when you reflect on the causes which checked my career, and blasted my designs* I flatter myself you will believe every thing has been done which could be done in my circumstances; I have destroyed the chief town of the Ouiattanon nation, and made prisoners the sons and sisters of the king; I have burnt a respectable Kickapoo vil- lage, and cut down at least 430 acres of corn, chief- ly in the milk. The Ouiattanons left without hor- ses, home or provision, must cease to war, and will find active employ to subsist their squaws and chil- dren during the impending winter. Should these services secure to the country which I immediately represented, and the corps which X had the honour to command, the favorable consid- eration of government, I shall infer the approbation of my own conduct, which, added to a conscious- ness of having done my duty, . will constitute th» richest reward I can enjoy. With the most perfect respect, I kavo the hp»- *7 ifift Expedition of General Wilkinson. our to be your Excellency's obedient and mo6t humble servant. JAMES WILKINSON. Governor St. Claik. A Talk from Colonel Wilkinson, to the Indian Natives living on the river Wabash. The arms of the United States are agaiu exerted against you, and agaiu your towns are in flames, and your wives and children made captives — again you are cautioned to listen to the voice of reason, to sue for peace, and submit to the protection of the United Stales, who are willing to become your friends and father.*: but, at the same time, are de- termined to punish you for every injury you may offer to their children. Regard not the counsellors^ who, to secure to themselves the benefits of your trade, advise you to measures which involve you, your women and children, in trouble and distress. The United States wish to give you peace; because it is good in the eyes of the Great Spirit, that all his children should unite and live like brothers; but if you foolishly prefer war, their warriors are ready to meet you in battle, and will not be the first to lay down the hatchet. You may find your squaws and your children under the protection of our great chief and warrior General St. Clair, at Fort Washington; to him you will make all appli- Expedition of General St. Clair. 1S§ cations for an exchange of prisoners, or for peace, JAMES WILKINSON. DEFEAT OF GENERAL ST. CLAIR, BY THE INDIANS,. 1791. Gen. St. Clair to the Seci-eta*^ oi W&*. Fort Washington, Nov. 9, 1791. Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army under my command got back to this place, and I have now the painful task to give an account of a warm, and as unfortunate an action as almost any that has been fought, in which every corp9 was en- gaged and worsted, except the first regiment, that had been detached upon a service I had the honor to inform you of in my last despatch, and had not joined me. On the 3d inst. the army had reached a creek a- bout twelve yards wide running to the southward, of west, which I believe to have been the river St, Mary, that empties into the Miami of the lake, ar- rived at the village about 4? o'clock in the afternoon, having marched near 9 miles, and were immediate- ly encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground in two lines, having the above mentioned creek in front, the right wing composed of Butler's* Clarke's, and Patterson's battalions; commanded 130 Expedition of General St. Clctir. by Major General Butler, formed the first line, and. the left wing consisting of Bedinger's ami Gaither's battalions, and the second regiment commanded by Col. Drake, formed the second line, with an inter- val between them of about seventy yards, which was all the grouud would allow. The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek; a steep bank, and Faulkner's corps; some ^f the cavalry and their piquets covered the left flank; the militia were thrown over the creek and advanced abont one quarter of a mile, and encamp- ed in the same order; there were a few Indians who appeared on the opposite side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipitation on the ad- vance of the militia; at this place, which I judged to be about 13 miles from the Miami village, 1 had determined to throw up a slight work, the plan of which was concerted that evening with Maj. Fer- guson, wherein to have deposited the men's knap- sacks, and every thing else that was not of absolute necessity, and to have moved on to attack the ene- my as soon as the first regiment was come up, but they did not permit mo to execute either; for on the 4th, about half an hour before sun-rise, and when the men had been just dismissed from the parade, (lor it was a constant practice for to have them all under arms a considerable time before light,) an at* tack was made upon the militia; those gavo way in a very liltle time, and rushed into camp, through Major Butler's battalion, which, together with part Fx-p edition of General St. Clair. 131 ©f Clark's, they threw into considerable disorder, and which, notwithstandingUhe exertions of both these officers, was never altogether remedied, the Indians followed close at their heels; the tire how- ever of the front line checked them, but almost in- stantaneously a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second likewise; the great weight of it was directed against the centre of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven with great slaughter; finding no great effect from the fire, and confusion beginning to spread from the great number of men who were fallen in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done by the bayonet. Lieut. Col. Drake, was accordingly ordered to make a charge, with part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy. This was execu- ted with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back three or four hundred yards: but for want of a sufficient number of rifle- men to pursue this advantage, they soon returned and the troops were obliged to give back in their return. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left flank, having pursued back the troops that were posted there. Another charge was made here by the second regiment, Butler's and Clark's battalions, with e- qual effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with success. But iu all of them many men 132 Expedition of General St. Clair. were lost, and particularly (lie officers, which, with some raw troops, was a loss altogether irremediable. In that I just spoke of made by the second regiuient and Butler's battalion, Mnj. Butler was dangerous- ly wounded, ami every officer of the second regi- ment fell except three, one of which, Captain Grea- ton, was shot through the body. Our aitillery being now silenced, and all the offi- cers killed, except Captain Ford, who was badly wounded, more than half of the army fallen, being cut off from the road, it became necessary to attempt (he regaining it, and to make a retreat if possible- To this purpose the remains of the army was form- ed as well as circumstances would admit, towards the right of the encampment; from which, by the wny of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but in fact to gain the road: this was effected; and as soon as it was open, the militia took along it, followed by the troops— Major Clark with liis battalion coveting the rear. 41 The retreat in those ( in umRtaiuc*, was, you may be sure, a precipitate one: it was in fact a flight. The camp ami (lie artillery were abandoned, but tfaatt was unavoidable, for not a horse was left alivo to have drawn it off had it otherwise been practica- ble. Bot the most disgraceful part of the business ]-> that (lie greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit (which continued about four mite*) had ceased. Expedition of General St. Clair. 133 I found the road strewed with tluim for many miles, but was not able to remedy it; for having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself, and the orders I sent for- ward, either to halt the front, or prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattended to. The route continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty- nine miles, which was reached a little after sun-setting. The action ended about half an hour after nine o'clock. I have not yet been able to get returns of the killed and wounded; but Major General Butler, Lieut. Col. Oldham, of the militia, Major Fergu- son, Major Hart, and Major Clark, are among the former. I have now, Sir, finished my melancholy tale — a tale that will be felt, sensibly felt by everj one that has sympathy for private distress, or for pub- lic misfortune. I have nothing Sir, to say to the charge of the troops but their want of discipline, which, from the short time they had been in service, it was impossible they should have acquired, and which rendered it very difficult, when they were thrown into confusion, to reduce them again to or- der, and is one reason why the loss has fallen sq heavy upon the officers, who did every thing in their power to effect it. Neither were my own ex- ertions wanting, but worn down with illness, and suffering under a painful disease, unable either to 13$ Expedition of General St. Ctair. mount or dismount a horse without assistance, they were- not so great as they otherwise "would, or per- haps ought to have been. We were overpowered by numbers; but it is no more than justice to observe, that though composed of so many different species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during the campaign. At Fort Jefferson I found the first regiment, which had returned from the service they had been sent upon, without either overtaking the deserters, Or meeting the convoy of provisions. I am not certain, Sir, whether I ought to consider the ab- sence of this regiment from the field of action as fortunate or otherwise. I incline to think it was fortunate; for I very much doubt, whether, had it been in the action, the fortune of the day had been turned, and if it had not, the triumph of the enemy would have been more complete, and the country would have been destitute of means of defence. Taking a view of the situation of our broken troops at Fort Jefferson, and that there were no pro- visions in the fort, I called on the field officers for their advice what would be proper further to be done; and it was their unanimous opinion, that the addiliou of the first regiment unbroken as it was, did not put the army on so respectable a footing as it was iii the morning, because a great part of it was uow unarmed: that it had been found unequal to Che cuemy, ami should they cvme on, which was Expedition of Genaaral St. Clair, 130 probable, would be found so again; that the troops could not be thrown into the fort, both because it was too small, and there was no provision in it. That provisions were known to be upon the road at the distance of one or at most two marches; that therefore it wonld be proper to move without loss of time to meet the provisions, when the men might have the sooner an opportunity of some refreshment* and that a proper detachment might be sent back with it, to have it safely deposited in the fort. ■ This advice was accepted, and the army was put in motion again at ten o'clock, and marched all night, and the succeeding day met with a quantity of flour, part of it was distributed immediately, part taken back to supply the army on the march to Fort Hamilton, and the remainder, about fifty horse loads sen! forward to Fort Jefferson. I have said Sir, in the former part of my com- munication, that we were overpowered by numbers; of that however, I have no other evidence, but the weight of the fire which was always a most deadly one and generally delivered from the ground, few of the enemy shewing themselves on foot, exoept when they were charged and that in a few minutes our whole camp which extended above 350 yardf in length, was entirely surrounded and attacked or all quarters. The loss, Sir, the public has sustained by the &11 of so many officers, particularly General Butler, and Major Ferguson, cannot be teo much regretteij 18 id$ "Expedition of General St. Clair. but it is a circumstance that will alleviate the mis- fortune in some measure, that all of them fell most gallantly doing their duty, I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant. AUTHUR ST. CLAIK .» Hon. Secretary of War. The defeat of General St. Clair took place with- in se^n'v miles of Fot Jefferson. The loss on this occasion was about six handred killed and wound* ed (said to be nearly equal to Kraddock\s defeat) with seven pieces of artillery, and all the stores. General St. Clair kited about 1500 men, had reason to expect an attack and kept his men under arms all liight, drawn up in u square. The attack com- menced about dawn of day, on all the lines but prin- cipally on the rear lines, which were composed of the militia. The Indians gave one fire and rushed on tomahawk in hand. The militia gave way to the centre; and before the artillery could be brought into action, the malrosses were all killed and it fell into the hands of the enemy. It was retaken but was useless for want of men to manage the pieces. The action was continued obstinately until 9 o'clock, when the troops gave way, St. Clair rallied his men, and brought them off in tolerable order, with most of the wounded to Fort Jefferson, 30 miles in the rear of the action, The enemy pursued five utiles. 'Expedition of &eneral St. Clair. lay The following is a copy of a rtturn of the officer* hilled and wounded in the engagement. Killed. — 1 Major-General, I Lieut. Colonel, 4r Majors, 11 Captains, 10 Lieutenants, 9 Ensigns? 1 Surgeou.— Total 37. Wounded. — 2 Lieut. Colonels, 1 Major, 11 Captains, 6 Lieutenants, 6 Ensigns, 1 Surgeon.— Total 3r. Besides the above, there were about 550 privates killed and many more wounded, few officers of dis- tinction escaped except General St. Clair, who had many narrow escapes, eight balls passed through his clothes. The attack was conducted with as- tonishing intrepidity on the part of the Indians: in, a few moments the General's tent was surrounded: however, he was rescued by a party of regular sol* diers, who repelled the enemy with fixed bayonets. There was a party of the Chickasaw nation on their way to join General St. Clair, but did not ar- rive in season. There was but one fellow only of that nation in the action, who killed and scalped eleven of the enemy with his own hands, and en- gaging with the twelfth, he fell, greatly lamented by the Americans. Major-General Butler was wounded and carri- ed to a convenient place to have his wounds dress- ed, but an Indian having discovered the place to which he was conveyed, broke through the troopi who attended him, and tomahawked and scalpel the former before he was killed by the troops. lSd Expedition of General St< Clair. Agreeable to the statement of the Indian-, thi-y killcd 050 of the Americau troops, and took seven pieces of cannon — 200 oxen and a great number of Jborses, but no prisoners; and that their loss amis only fifty-six warriors killed. They stated that they were 4000 strong, and were commanded by one of the Missasago Indians, who had been in the British servce in the late war; that he planned and conducted the attack, which was even contrary to the opinion of a majority of the chiefs — and, that af- ter the Americans began their retreat, he told the Indians they had killed enough, and that it was proper to give over the pursuit, and return and en- joy the booty they had taken. He was six feet in height, about 45 years of age, of a very sour and morose countenance, and apparently very crafty and subtle. His dress was Indian hose and nioccasons, a blue petticoat that came halfway down his thighs, and European waistcoat and surtout; his head was lxuind with an Indian cap that hung half way down liis back, and almost entirely filled with plain silver broaches to the number of more than two hundred; he had two ear-rings to each ear; the upper part of each mus formed of three silver medals about the size of a dollar; the lower part was formed of char- ters of dollars, and fell more than 12 inches from his ears; one from each car over his breast; the other over his bark; he had three very large nose jewels ef silver that were curiously painted. The party of fiieujjly Chic kasaws, who were ou "Expedition of General St. Clair. 1^9 their way to join the American troops arrived at Fort Jefferson two days after the bloody action. They were commanded by Piomingo, or the Moun- tain Leader. On their way they discovered that the troops had been defeated, but saw but one of the enemy, wlro, mistaking Piomingo's party for some of his own comrades, made up to them; he perceived his mistake, but too late to retreat; he. was accosted by Piomingo, with rascal you have been killing white men. He endeavoured to exculpate himself, but Piomingo ordered two of his warriors to expand his arms, and a third, an old man (for says Piomingo, none of my young men shall dis- grace themselves so much as to kill a wretch like thee) to shoot him through the heart, which was ac- cordingly executed; they afterwards took off his scalp. During St. Clair's bloody engagement, Adjutant Burges received two wounds, the second of which proved mortal: after the receipt of the first, he con- tinued to fight with distinguished gallantry; the se- cond unfortunately stopped his progress: faint with the loss of blood, he fell: a woman, who attended him and was particularly attached to him, raised him up, and while supporting him in her arms, re- ceived a ball in her breast, which put an immediate, end to her existence! Soon after Ensign Wilson (a much lamented youth) fell; one ot the savages attempted to take off his scalp, which Col. Drake perceiving, he has- HO Indians Defeated. tencd to the spot, and with his sword stabbed the miscreant through the body. INDIANS DEFEATED. A few weeks after the defeat of the troops under Gen. St. Clair, Gen. Scott despatched from the men under his command two spies to reconnoitre the enemy, who, when they arrived at the distance of a few miles from the fatal spot where the bloody action was fought, they discovered a large party of Indians diverting and enjoying themselves with the plunder they had taken, riding the bullocks, &c. and appeared to be mostly drunk; the men returned and communicated the important information to General Scott, who immediately thereupon divided his troops into three divisions, advanced and fell on the enemy by surprise; the contest was short but victorious on the part of the American troops; two hundred of the. enemy were killed on the spot, all the caution and stores in their possession re- taken, and the remainder of the savage body put to flight. General Scott losing but six men, returned to head «jiiaitcrs in triumph, with most of the cattle, stores, &c. ft ( . General Scott gave the following affecting ac- count of the appearance, of tho field on which the bloody action between the American troops, under Geu. St. Clair, and the savages, was fought. Ihift f)epredations of the Indians. 141 place had a very melancholy appearance — nearly in the space of 350 yards lay 500 skull bones — 800 of which were buried by my men while on the ground; from thence for five miles on, and from the roads through the woods, was strewed with skele- tons, muskets, 5fc. DEPREDATIONS OF THE INDIANS ON THE FRONTIERS in 1791, 1794 and 1793. On the 10th December 179 i, as two men and three boys were fishingon Floyd's fork of Salt Riv- er, they were suddenly attacked by a party of In- dians, who killed the two men and made prisouers of the boys. Soon after they liberated one of the lads, first presenting him with a tomahawk, which they desired him to carry to his friends and inform them what had become of his companions. About the 20th, a party of Indians attacked the house of a Mr. Chenoweth, situated near the mouth of the Wabash, they killed and scalped two of his children and tomahawked and scalped his wife, whom they left for dead. Mr. Chenoweth (who had his arm broken by the fire of the savages) with the remainder of the family made their escape. A sick daughter who was confined to her chamber, and who during the bltody affray had been forgotton by her father, remained ignorant of the horrid massa- cre until th* succieding day; when; ho one of the 113 Depredations of the Indians. family coming to her assistance, she succeeded in crawling down stairs, where she was inexpressibly shocked at the sight of a beloved parent stretched upon the floor, almost lifeless, and beside whom lay the mangled bodies of her brothers. Fortu- nately, her unhappy father returned the succeeding day to t lie house, and conveyed the two surviving members of his family to the house of a friend, where they finally recovered. On the S4th, a party of Indians attacked the dwelling house of a Mr. John Merril in Nelson county. Kentucky. Mr. Merril, who was first a- larmcd by the barking of his dog, hastened to the doer to discover the cause, on opening of which, he received the fire of the Indians which broke his right leg and arm. The Indians now attempted to enter tlie house, but were prevented by the doors being immediately closed and secured by Mrs. Mer- ril and her daughter. The Indians succeeded in hewing away a part of the door, through which passage one of them attempted to enter, but the he- roic mother, in the midst of her screaming children and groaning husband, seized an axe and gave the ruffian a fatal blow: after which she hauled him through the passage into the house! the others (un- conscious of the fate of their companion) supposing that they had now nearly succeeded in their object rushed for \ aid, four of which Mrs. Merril, in like manner despatched before the others discovered their mistake The remaining Indian^ after retir- Depredations of the Indians, 143 ing for a few moments, returned and renewed their efforts to enter the house; despairing of succeeding at the door they got on the top of the house and attempted to descend the chimney, to prevent which Mr. M erril directed his little son to empty upon the fire the contents of a feather-bed. which had the desired effect, as the smoke and heat caused thereby, soon brought down rather unexpectedly two of the enemy. Mr. Merril exerting every faculty at this critical moment, seized a billet of wood with which he soon despatched the two half smothered Indi- ans, while in the mean time his heroic wife was bu- sily engaged in defending the door against the ef- forts of the only remaining one, whom she so se- verely wounded with an axe that he was soon glad to retire. A pri3©ner who escaped from the enemy seon af- ter the transaction, informed that the wounded sav- age above mentioned was the only one that escaped of the party, which consisted of eight — that on his return being asked by the prisoner what news, he answered bad news for poor Indian, me lose a son, me lose a brother — the squaws have taken the breech clou* and fight worse than the Long Knife, 19 £i* Conflict with the Indians. Copy of a letter from a gentleman in Marietta t* his friend in Washington, dated Marietta, March 4, 1793. About eight weeks since, two brothers by the name of Johnson, one i2, the other 9 years old, were playing on the western bank of Short Creek, about twelve miles from Wheeling, skipping stones in the water. At a distance they discovered two men, who appeared to be settlers, being dressed with coats and hats. These men to amuse and deceive the children (as tliey even shewed) engaged in the same sport, advancing towards the boys, till by degrees they got so near that the children dis- covered them to be Indians; but it was then too iate to make their escape. The Indians seized and carried them six miles into the woods, where they made a fire, and took up their lodging for the night; their riilcs and tomahawks they rested against a tree, and then laid down, each Indian with a boy on his arm. The children as may be supposed kept awalcc — the eldest began to move, and finding his Indian sound asleep, by degrees dissengaged htm self, and went to the lire, which had then got low and stirred it up; the Indian not waking, he wbispeied to his brother, who likewise crept away, and both of them went to the fire. The oldest boy then observed to his brother, "I think we can kill these Indians, and get away from them — the young- est agreed in the proposal of attempting it. The oldest theu took one of the rifles, and placed the muzzle, which he rested on a small stick that he Conflict with the Indians. 14ff'- •■.omul for the purpose, close to the head of one of the Indians, aud committing the execution of this part of the business to his brother, ordered him to pull the trigger at tlie moment he saw him strike the other Indian with one of the tomahawks. The oldest gave the signal! the youngest pulled trigger; the rifle shot away the lower part of the Indian's face and left him senseless; he then told his broth- er to lay pn, for he had done for his; after which lie snatched up the gun and ran; the boy with tha tomahawk gave the stroke with the wrong end, tha Indian started on his seat — the boy found the mis- take, and turning the tomahawk in his hand, gava him another blow which brought him to the ground* he repeated his strokes until he had despatched him, and then made the best of his way after his. brother. When the boys had found the path which they recollected to have travelled before, tha oldest fixed his hat on the bush, as a directory to find the scene of action the next day. The toma- hawked Indian was found near the place whera the boys had left him. The other was not there* but was tracked by his blood, and although sa weakened by his wounds, that he could not raisa his rifle to fire at his pursuers (the whites) they suf- fered him to escape; but it is supposed he must have died of his wounds. These two Indians wera sent out to reconnoitre the best place for an attack, which was to have been made by a body of wais Eioft, waiting in the ueighboihoocL Narrative: OF From the Western Review. In the year 1791, while the Indians were yet troublesome, especially on the banks of the Ohio, Captain William Hubbell, who had previously em- igrated to Kentucky from the state of Vermont, and who, affter having fixed his family in the neighbour- hood of Frankfort, then a froutier settlement, had been compelled to go to the eastward on business, wag a second time on his way to this country. On ©ne of the tributary streams of the river Monon- gahela, he procured a fiat bottomed boat, and em- harked in company with Mr. Daniel Light, and Mr. William Plascut and his family, consisting of a wife and eight children, destined for Limestone, Kentucky. On their progress down the river Ohio, and soon after passing Pittsburgh, they saw evident traces of Indians along the banks, and there is ev- ery reason to believe that a boat which they over- took, and which, through carelessness, was suffer- ed to run aground on an island, became a prey to these merciless savages. Though Captain Hub- bell and his party stopped some time for it in a low- Captain HubbelVs Narrative. 1^7 cr part of the river, it did not arrive, aud it has nev- er to their knowledge been heard of since. Be- fore they reached the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, they had, by several successive additions, increased their number to twenty, consisting of nine men, three women, and eight children. The men, be- sides those mentioned above, were one John Stoner, an Irishman und a Dutchman whose names are not recollected, Messrs. Ray and Tucker, and a Mr. Kilpatrick, whose two daughters also were of the party. Information received at Gallipolis confirm- ed the expectation, which appearances had previ- ously raised, of a serious conflict with a large body of Indians; and, as Captain Hubbell had been reg- ularly appointed commander of the boat, every pos- sible preparation was made for a formidable and successful resistance of the anticipated attack. The nine men were divided into three watches for the night, which were alternately to continue awake and be on the look out for two hours at a time. The arms on board, which cousisted principally of old muskets much out of order, were collected, load- ed, and put in the best possible condition for ser- vice. At about sunset on that day, the &3d of March, 1791, our party overtook a fleet of six boats descending the river in company, aud intended to have continued with them, but as their passengers seemed to be more disposed to dancing than fight- ing, and as, soon after dark, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Captain Hubbell, they commenced 148 Captain HubbclVs Narrativi . fiddling and drinking instead of preparing thoir ai nis and taking the necessary rest preparatory to battle, it was wisely considered more hazardous to be in such company than to be alone. It was there- fore determined to proceed rapidly forward by aid ef the oars and to leave those thoughtless fellow- travellers behind. One of the boats however, be- longing to the fleet, commanded by a Captain Grcathousc, adopted the same plan and for a while kept up with Captain Hubbell, but all its crew at length falling asleep, that boat also ceased to be pro- pelled by the oars, and Captain Hubbell and his party proceeded steadily forward alone. Early in the night a canoe was dimly seen floating down the river, in which were probably Indians reconnoiter- ing; and other evident indications were observed of the neighbourhood and hostile intentions of a formidable party of savages. It was now agreed, that should the attack, a*, was probable, be deferred till morning, every man should be up before the dawn in order to make as great a show as possible of numbers and of strength; and that, whenever the action should take place, the women and children should lie down on the- cabin floor and be protected as well as they ceuld by the trunks and other baggage, Which might be placed around them. In this perilous situation they continued during the night, and the Captain, who had not slept more than one hour since he left Pitts- burgh, was too deeply impressed with the imminent Cajjtain Hubbell's Narrative. 149 danger whicb surrounded them to obtain any rest at that time. Just as day light began to appear in the east, and before the men were up and at their posts a- greeably to arrangement, a voice at some distance below them in a plaintive tone repeatedly solicited them to come on shore as there were some white per- sons who wished to obtain a passage in their boat. This the Captain very naturally and correctly con- cluded to be an Indian artifice, and its only effect; was to rouse the men and place every one on his guard. The voise of entreaty was soon changed in- to the language of indignation and insult, and the sound of distant paddles announced the approach of the savage foe. At length three Indian canoes were seen through the mist of the morning rapidly -advancing. With the utmost coolness the Captain and his companions prepared to receive Qiem. The chairs, tables, and other incumbrances were thrown into the river, in order to clear the deck for action. Every man took his position, and was ordered not to fire till the savages had approached so near, that, (to use the words of Captain Hubbell,) <*the flash from the guns might singe their eye Ijrows;" and a special caution was given, that the men should fire successively, so that there might be no interval. On the arrival of the canoei, they were found to contain about twenty-five or thirty Indians each* As soon as they had approached within the reach «f musktt shot, a geaeral fire was given from one 150 Captain UuhbelVs Narrative. of them, which wounded Mr. Tucker through the liip so severely that his leg hung only by the flesh, and shot Mr. Light just below his ribs. The three canoes placed themselves at the bow, stern, and on tlie right side of the boat, so that they had an op- portunity of raking in every direction. The fire now commenced from the boat, and had a power- ful efl'ect in checking the confidence and fury of the Indians. The Captain, after firing his own gun, took up that of one of the wounded men, raised it to his shoulder and was about to discharge it when a ball came and took away the lock; he coolly turn- ed round, seised a brand of fire from the kettle which served for a caboose, and applying it to the pan, discharged the piece with effect. Avery reg- ular and constant fire was now kept up on both sides.' The Captain was just in the act of raising his gun a third time, when a ball passed through his right arm, ami for a moment disabled him. Scarcely had he recovered from the shock and re- acquired the use of his hand, which had been sud- denly drawn ujthy the wound, when he observed the Indians in one of the canoes just about to board the boat iu its bow, where the horses were placed belonging to the party. So near had they approached, that some of them had actually seized with their linnds the bide of the boat. Severely wounded as he was, be caught up a pair of horse- men's pistols ami rushed forward to repel the at- tempt at boarding. On his approach the Indians Captain HulbeWs JVarrativt. 151 fell back, and lie discharged a pistol with effect at the foremost man. After firing the second pistol, he found himself without arms, and was compelled, to retreat^ but stepping back upon a pile of small wood which had been prepared for burning in the, kettle, the thought struck him, that it might be made use of in repelling the foe, and he continued for some time to strike them with it so forcibly and ac- tively that they were unable to enter the boat, and at length he wounded one of them so severely that with a yell they suddenly gave way. All the ca- noes instantly discontinued the contest and directed their course to Captain Grcathouse7s boat which was then in sight. Here a striking contrast was exhibited to the firmness and intrepidity which had just been displayed. Instead of resisting the at- tack, the people ou board of this boat retired to the cabin in dismay. The Indians entered it with- out opposition, and rowed it to the shora, where they instantly killed the Captain and a lad of about fourteen years of age. The women they placed in. the centre of their canoes, and manning them with fresh hands, again pursued Captain Hubbell and party. A melancholy alternative now presented* itself to these brave but almost desponding men,, either to fall a prey to the savages themselves, or to run the risk of shooting the women, who had been placed in the canoes in the hope of deriving protection from their presence. But "self preserva- tion is th« first {aw of nature," and the Captain ve- 20 i5S Captain HubbeWs Narrative, ry justly remarked, there would not be much hu- manity in preserving their lives at such a sacrifice* merely that they might become victims of savaga cruelty at some subsequent period. There were now but four men left on board of Captain Hubbell's boat, capable of defending it, and the Captain himself was severely wounded in two places. The second attack, however, was re- sisted witli almost iucrcdihle firmness and vigour. "Whenever the Indians would rise to fire, their op- ponents would commonly give them the first shot, which in almost every instance would prove fatal. Notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, and tlit exhausted condition of the defeuders of the boat, the Indians at length appeared to despair of suc- cess, and the canoes successively retired to tha shore. Just as the last one was departing, Captain llnbbell called to the Indian, who was standing in the stern, and on his turning round, discharged his piece at him. When the smoke, which for a moment obstructed the vision, was dissipated, ha was 9cen lying ou his back, and appeared to bo se- verely, perhaps mortally, wounded. Unfortunately the boat now drifted near to tha shore where the Indians were collected, and a large concourse, probably between four and five hundred, were seen running down on tha bank. Ray and Plascut, the only men remaining unhurt, were placf d at tile oars, and as the boat was not mora than twenty yards from shore, it was turned pru- Guptain HiibbeWs Narrative. 15£ dent for all to lie down in as safe a position as pos- sible and attempt to push forward with the utmost practicable rapidity. While they continued in this situation, nine balls were shot into one oar, and ten into the other, without wounding tho rowers, who. were hidden from view and protected by the side of the boat and the blaukets in its stern. During this dreadful exposure to the fire of the savages, which continued about twenty minutes, Mr. Kilpat- rick observed a particular Indian, whom he thought a favourable mark for his rifle, and, notwithstand- ing the solemn warning of Captain Hubbell, rose to shoot him. He immediately received a ball in his mouth, which passed out at the back part of his head, and was almost instantaneously shot through th» heart. He fell among the horses that about tho same time were killed, and presented to his afflict- ed daughters and fellow-travellers, who were wit- nesses of the awful occurrence, a spectacle of horror which we need not further attempt to describe. The boat was now providentially and suddenly carried out into the middle of the stream and taken by the current beyond the reach of the enemies* balls. Our little band, reduced as they were in numbers, wounded, afflicted, and almost exhausted by fatigue, were still unsubdued in spirit, and be- ing assembled in all their strength, men, women and children, with an appearance of triumph gave three hearty cheers, calling to the Indians to corns ou again if they were fond of the sport. Captain ubbeWs Narrative. 1st Thus ended this awful conflict, in which out oi' nine men, two only escaped unhurt. Tucker and Kilpatrick were killed on the spot, Stoner was mor- tally wounded and died on his arrival at Limestone, and all the rest, excepting Kay and Plascut, were severely wounded. The women and children were all uninjured, excepting a little sou of Mr. Plascut, who after the battle was over came to the Captain and with great cooluess requested him to lake a ball out of his head. On examination it appear- ed that a bullet which had passed through the side of the boat had penetrated the forehead of this little hero, and remained under the skin. The Captain took it out, and the youth, observing, "that is not all,9' raised his arm, and exhibited apiece of bone at the point of his elbow, which had been shot off and hung only by the skin. His mother exclaimed, "why did you not tell me of this?" "Because,' ' he coolly replied, "the Captain directed us to be si- lent during the acliou, and I thought you would be likely to make a noise if I told you."' The boat made the best of its way down the riv- er, and the object was to reach Limestone that night. The Captain's arm had bled profusely, and he was compelled to close the sleeve of his coat in order to retain the blood and stop its effusion. In this situ- ation, tormented by excruciating pain and faint through loss of blood, he was under the necessity of steering the boat with his left arm, till about ten o'clock that night, when he was relieved by Mr. Captain HMelVs Narrativs. 159 William Brooks, who resided on the bank of the river, and who was induced by the calls of the suf- fering party to come out to their assistance. By his aid, and that of some other persons who were ii* the same manner brought to their relief, they were enabled to reach Limestone about twelve o'clock that night. Immediately on the arrival of Mr. Brooks, Cap- tain Hubbell, relieved from labour and responsi- bility, sunk under the weight of pain and fatigue, and became for a while totally insensible. When the boat reached Limestone, he found himself una- ble to walk, and was obliged to be carried up to the tavern. Here he had his wound dressed and con- tinued several days until he acquired sufficient strength to proceed homewards. On the arrival of our party at Limestone, they found a considerable force of armed men, about to march against the same Indians, from whose attacks they had so severely suffered. They now learned, that the Sunday preceding, the same party of sav- ages had cut off a detachment of men ascending the Ohio from fort Washington at the mouth of Lick- ing river, and had killed with their tomahawks without firing a gun, twenty one out of twenty two men of which the detachment consisted. Crowds of people, as might be expected, came io witness the boat which had been the scene of so much heroism and such horrid carnage, and to visit the resolute little band by whom it had been so gal- 156 Captain Ifubbelfs Narrative. lantly and perscvcringly defended. On examina- tion it was found that the sides of the boat were lit- erally filled with bullets and with bullet holes. There was scarcely a space of two feet square in the part above water, which had not either a ball remaining in it or a hole through which a ball had passed. Some persons who had the curiosity to count the number of holes iu the blankets which were hung up as curtains iu the stern of the boat, affirmed that in the space of five feet square there were one hundred and twenty two. Four horses out of five were killed, and the escape of the fifth a- midst such a shower of balls appears almost mirac- ulous. The day after the arrival of Captain Ilubbell and his companions, the five remaining boats, which they had passed on the night preceding the battle, reached Limestone. Those on board remarked that during the action they distinctly saw the flash- es, but could not hear the reports of the guns. Tha Indians, it appears, had met with too formidable a resistance from a siugle boat to attack a fleet, and suffered them to pass unmolested: and since that time, it is believed that no boat has been assailed by Indians on the Ohio. The force, H hich marched out to disperse this formidable body of savages, discovered several In- dians dead on the ibon l«ar the scene of action. They also found the bodied of Captain Oieat- liouse, and several others, men, women and ckiklrcof General Wayne7 s Narrative. ialj who had been on board of his boat. Most of them appeared to have been whipped to death, as they were found stripped, tied to trees, and marked with the appearance of lashes, and large rods which seemed to have been worn with use were observed lying near them. Such is the plain narrative of a transaction, that may serve as a specimen of the difficulties and dan- gers to which, but a few years since, the inhabi- tants of this now flourishing and beautiful country were constantly exposed. DEFEAT OF THE INDIANS BY GENL. WAYNE. August 30th, 1794. ■♦■ General Wayne to the Secretary of War. •'Sir — It is with infinite pleasure that I announce to you the brilliant success of the Federal army un- der my cammand, in a general aciion wi4h the com- bined force of the hostile Indians, and a considera- ble number of the volunteers and militia of Detroit en the 30th August, on the4 banks of the Miamis, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison at the foot of the Rapids. The army advanced from Fort Washington on the 15th and arrived at Roach De Bout on the 18th, and the 19th, We were employed in making a tem- porary post for Vk« reception 9 f our sfctres and bag- iHS General Wayne's Narrative. gage, and in reconnoiircing the position of the ene- my who were encamped behind a thick bushy woud and the British fort. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the SOth, the ar- my again advanced in columns agreeably to the standiug order of the march, the legion on the right, its right Hank covered by the Miauris — one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left under Brigadier General Todd, and the other in the rear under Brig- adier General Barbee. A select battallion, of mounted volunteer's moved in front of the legation, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, and to give timely no- tice for the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war. After advanciug about live miles, Major Price's Gorps received so severe a tire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The legiou was immediately formed in two line-., principally in a close thick wood which extended for miles on our left and for a considerable distance iu front, the ground being covered with old falleu timber, probably occasioned by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act \sith effect, and afforded the enemy the most favourable overt for their mode of warfare; the Savages were formed in three lines within supporting distance of •ach other, and extending fpr new two miles at General Wayne's Narrative. . 159 right angles with the river. I soon discovered from the weight of the fire and extent of their lines, that tho enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favourite ground, and endeavouring to turn our left flank; I therefore gave orders for the second, line to advance to support the first, and directed Major General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the Savages, with the whole of the mount- ed volunteers by a circuitous route; at the same time I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge so as not to give them time to load again, or to form their lines. I also ordered Capt. M. Campbell, who com- manded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to actiu. All those orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of lufantry that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts, in so short a time, that although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legiou and by Generals Scott, Wood, and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positious, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action, the en- emy being driven in the course of one hour more 31 16B General Wayne's J\far*ati'r& than two miles, through the thick woods already mentioned, by less than one half the bomber. From every account the enemy amounted to two thousand combatauts, the troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of Savages, with their allies, abandoned, themselves to flight, and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full possess- ion of the field of battle, which terminated under the iuiluence of the guns of the British garrison. The bravery and conduct of every officer belong- ing to the army, from the Generals down to the Ensigns, merit my approbation. Lieutenant Covington, upon whom the com- mand of the cavalry devolved, (Captain Campbell being killed) cut down two Savages with his own band, and Lieutenant Webb one, in turning the enemy's left think. The wounds received by Captains Slouch, Pri- or, Van Kanselaer and Rawlins, and Lieut. M 'Kenny and Smith, bear honorable testimony of their bravery and conduct; in fact every officer aud soldier who had an opportunity to come into action displayed that true bravery which will always in- sure success; and here permit me to declare that I have never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers, and I am well persuaded, that had the enemy maintainad their favorite ground for one half hour longer, they would have most se- verely felt the prowess of that corps. General Wayne's Narrative. iGt But whilst I pay this just tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave officers, Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Towles, who fell in the first charge. The loss of the enemy was more than double that of1 the federal army. The woods were strew- ed for a considerable distance with dead bodies of Indians and their white auxiliaries, the latter armed with British muskets and bayonets. W$ remained three days and nights on the banks of the Miami, in front of the field of battle, during which, time all the houses and cornfields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable distance above and below the garrison, among which were the houses, stores and property of Col. M'Kee, the British ludian agent and principal stimulator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages. The aamy returned to head quarters on the 37th, by easy marches, laying waste the villages and corn- fields for about fifty miles on each side of the Mi- ami. It is not improbable but that the enemy may make one desperate effort against the army, as it is said a reinforcement was hourly expected at Fort Miami from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margins and islands of the lakes. This is an event rather to be wished for than dreaded whilst the army remains in force, their numbers will only tend to confuse the savages* 163 General Wayne' ■ Narrative* and the victory will be the more complete and de- cisive, and which may eventually insure a perma- nent and happy peace. The following is a return of the killed and wound- ed and missing of the federal army, in the late action, to wit: — Killed— 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 3 Serjeants, privates—Total 33. Wounded — 4 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 1 En- sign, 4 Serjeants, 3 Corporals, 8 Musicians, 84 privates— Tetal 100. I have the honor to be, your obedient and very humble servant, ANTHONY WAYNE. To the Secretary of War. A NARRATIVE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES IN THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF During his Captivity among the Indians from the year 1755 until 1750. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. Colonel Smith informs us in his preface, that as the In- dians permitted him to read and write, he kept a Journal, in which he recorded every circumstance of importance as it occurred. In doing this, he was enabled, not only to imitate the style and manner of expression of the Indians in their different speeches, but also to preserve the ideas intended to be communicated in those speeches. In common conversa- tion, he adds, I have used my own style, but preserved their ideas. The following is an abridgement of what the Narrator suf- fered and witnessed, during five years imprisonment among the western savages. Our limits will not permit us to give- the reader an account of the campaigns carried on against the Indians after his captivity, the circumstances of which are minutely detailed in Col. Smith's very interesting pamph- let as published in the year 1799. 46-t Colonel Smith's Narrative* T\ May 1798, the province of Pennsylvania, agreed to send out three hundred men, in order to cat a wagon road from Fort Loudon, to join Brad- dork's road, near the Turkey Foot, or three folks of Youghiogeuy. JVI> brother-in-law, William -Smith, Kmj. of Conooocheague, was appointed commissioner, to have the oversight of these road- cutters. Though I was al that time only eighteen years of age, I had fallen violently in love with a young lady, whom I apprehend was possessed of a large share of both beauty and virtue; hut being horn be- tween Venus and Mars, 1 concluded I must also leave my clear fair one, and go out with this compa- I ; of road-cutters, to see the event of this campaign; but still expei ting that some time in the course of this summer, I should again return to the arms of i^v beloved. \Vc went on with the road, without interruption, until near the Alleghany Mountain; when 1 was eentbai k, in order to hurry up some provision wag- ons that were on the way after us. I proceeded down the road as far as the crossings of J uniata, where, finding the wngons wcrecoming on as fast ible, 1 returned up the road again, towards the Alleghany Mountain, in company with one Ar- ; \ igoras. About four or five miles above Bed- ford, three Indians had made , a blind of bushes, tiuckin the ground, as though they grew naturally, Colonel Smith's Narrative, 165. where they concealed themselves, about fifteen yards from the road. "When we came opposite to them, they fired upon us, at this short distance, and killed my fellow traveller, yet their bullets did not touch me; but my horse making a violent start^ threw me, and the Indians immediately ran up, and took me prisoner. The one that laid hold on me was a Canasatauga, the other two were Delawares. One of them could speak English, and asked me if there were any more white men coming after? I told them not any near, that I knew of. Two of these Indians stood by me, whilst the other scalp- ed my comrade: they then set off and ran at a smart rate, through the woods, for about fifteen miles, and that night we slept ou the Alleghany Mouutain without fire. The next morning they divided the last of their provision which they had brought from Fort Bu Quesnc, and gave me an equal share, which Was a- bout two or three ounces of mouldy biscuit — this and ayouug Ground-Hog, about as large as a JRab. bit, roasted, and also equally divided was all the provision we had until we came to the Loyal- Han- nan, which was about fifty miles; aud a great pars of the way we come through exceeding rocky Lau- rel-thickets, without any path. When we came to the west side of Laurel-Hill, they gave the scalp halloo as usual, which is a long yell or halloo, for •very scalp pr prisoner they have in possession; the last of these scalp halloos was followed with 466" Colonel Smith's Narratie. quick and sudden shrill shouts of joy and triumph. On their performing this, we were answered by the firing of a number of guns on the Loyal- Hannan, one after another, quicker than one could count, by another party of Indians, who were encamped near where Ligonier now stands. As we advanced near this party, they increased with repeated shouts of joy and triumph; but I did not share with them in their excessive mirth. When we came to this camp, we found they had plenty of Turkeys and other meat, there; and though I never before ate venison without bread or salt; yet as 1 was hungry, it relished very well. There we lay tha*- night, and the next morning the whole of us march- ed on our way for Fort Du Quesne. The uight. after, wo joined another camp of Indians, with nearly the same ceremony, attended with great noise, and apparent joy among all, except one. The next morning we continued our march, and in the afternoon we came in full view of the fort, which stood on the point, near where Fort Pitt now stands. AVe th. in made a halt on the hank of the Alleghany, and repeated the scalp halloo, which was answcredh Iring of all the firelocks in the hands of both Indians and French who were in and about the fort, in the aforesaid manner, and also the gnns which were followed by the continued shouts and yells of the different savage tribes who were tfo o collected there. As I was at this time anacuuai: ted with this Colonel Smith's Narrative. i&f mode of firing and yelliug of the savages, T conclu- de 1 that there were thousands of Indians there, rea- dy to receive General Braddock; but what added to my surprise, I saw numbers running towards me, stripped naked, excepting breech clouts, and paint- ed in the most hideous manner, of various colors, though the priucipal color was vennillion, or a bright red; yet there were annexed to this, black, brown, blue, &c. As they approached, they form- ed themselves into two long ranks, about two or three rods apart. I was told by an Indian that could speak English, that 1 must run betwixt these ranks, and that they would flog me all the way, as 1 ran, and if I ran quick, it would be so much the better, as they would quit when I got to the end of the ranks. There appeared to be a general rejoic- ing around me, yet I could find nothing like joy in my breast; but I started to the race with all the res- olution and vigor 1 was capable of exerting, and found that it was as I had been told, for I was flog- ged the whole way. When I had got near the end of the lines, I was struck with something that ap- peared to me to be a stick, or the handle of a toma- hawk, which caused me to fall to the ground. On recovering my senses, I endeavoured to renew my race; but as I rose, some one cast sand in my eyes, which blinded me so, that I could not see where to run. They continued heating me most intolerably, until 1 was at length iusensible; but before I lost my senses, I remember wishing J §S Goionei Smith's JV'owafnfe. thtm to strike the fatal blow, for I thought they in- tended killing me, but apprehended they were too Jong about it. The first thing I remember was my being iu the fort, amidst the French and Indians, and a French doctor standing by me, who had opened a vein in my left arm: after which the interpreter asked me how I did, 1 told him I felt much pain; Uie doctor then washed my wounds, and the bruised places of my body, with French brandy. As I felt faint, and the brandy smelt w ell, 1 asked for some inwardly, but the doctor told me, by the interpreter, that il did not suit my case. When they found I could speak, a number of Iu* dians came around me, and examined me with threats of cruel death, if I did not tell the truth. The first question they asked me, was, how many men were in the party that were coming from Pennsylvania, to join Braddock? I told them the truth, that there were three hundred. The next question was, were they well armed? I told them they were all well armed, meauing the arm of flesh, for they had only about thirty guns among the whole of them; which, if the Indians had known, they would certainly have gone and cut them all off; therefore 1 could not in conscience lot them know the defenceless situation of these road cutters* I was then sent to the hospital, and carefully attend- ed by the doctors, and recovered quicker th«n what I expected. Colonel Smith's Narrative. 16g Some time after I was there, 1 was visited by the Delaware Indian already mentioned, who was at the taking of me, and could speak some English. Though he spoke but bad English, yet 1 found him to be a man of considerable understanding. I asked him if 1 had done any thing that had offended the Indians, which caused them tc treat me so un- mercifully? He said no, it was only an old custom the Indians had, and it was like how do yo'i do£ after that he said I would be well used. I asked him if I should be admitted to remain with the French? He said ne-^-and told me that as soon a? 1 recovered, I must not only go with the Indians, but must be made an Indian myself. I asked him what news from Braddock's army? He said the In- dians spied them every day, and he shewed me by making marks on the ground with a stick, that Braddock's army was advancing in very close or- der, and that the Indians would surround them, take trees, and (as he expressed it) shoot um down nil one pigeon. Shortly after this, on the 9th day of July 1755, In the morning, I heard a great stir in thekfort. As I could then walk with a staff in my hand, I went out of the door which was just by the wall of the fort, and stood upon the wall and viewed the Indi- ans in a huddle before the gate, where were barrels of powder, bullets, flints, &c. and every one taking what suited; I saw the Indians also march off in $a«k; sutirer-^likewise the French CaaadiMe, w\ iTO Colonel Smilh'a iVarrative. some regulars: after viewing the Indians and French in different positions, I computed them to be about four hundred, and wondered that they attempted to go out agaiust Braddock with so small a party. I fvas then in high hopes that I would soon see them flying before the 15riii-.li troops, and that general Braddock would take the fort and rescue me. I remained anxious to know the event of this day; aucl in the afternoon 1 again observed a great noise and commotion in the fort, and though at that time I could not understand French, yet I found that it was the voice of joy and triumph, and feared that they had received what I called bad news. I had observed some of the old country soldiers speak Dutch: as 1 spoke Dutch I went to one of them, and asked him what was the news? he told me that a runner had just ai rived, whs said that Braddock would certainly be defeated; that the In- dians and French had surrounded him, and were concealed behind tree9 and in gullies, and kept a constant tire upon the English, and that they saw the English farting in heaps, and if they did not take the river which was the only gap, and make their escape, there would not be one man left alive before sun down. Some time after this 1 heard a number of scalp halloos and saw a company of In- dians and French coming in. I observed that they bad a great many bloody scalps, grenadiers* caps, British canteens, bayonets, kc. with them. They brjjught the news thai B: addock was defeated. A#- Colonel Smith's Narrative. Ifi ter that another company came in which appeared to be about one hundred, and chiefly Indians, and it seemed to me that almost every one of this com- pany vvas carrying scalps: after this came another company with a number of wagon-horses, and also a great many scalps. Those that were coming in, and those that had arrived, kept a constant firing of small arms, and also the great guns in the fort, which were accompanied with the most hideous shouts and yells from all quarters; so that it appear- ed to mc as if the infernal regions had broke loose. About sun down 1 beheld a small party coming in with about a dozen prisoners, stripped naked? with their hands tied behind their backs, and their faces, and part of their bodies blacked — these pris« oners they burned to death on the bank of the Ales:- hany River opposite to the fort. I stood on the fort wail until I beheld them begin to burn one of these men, they had him tied to a stake and kept touching him with fire-brands, red hot irons, &c. and he screaming in a most doleful manner, the Indians in the mean time yelling like infernal spir- its. As this scene appeared too shocking for me to behold, I retired to my lodging both sore and sorry. When I came into my lodgings I saw Russel's Seven Sermons, which tJiey had brought from the field of battle, which a Frenchman made a present of to me. From the best information I could re- ceive there were only seven Indians and four Fieachmen killed in this battle, and live htihdre* €o!oticl Smith's Narrative Jjiilish lay dead in the field; besides what were killed in the river on their retreat. The morning after the battle I saw Braddock's artillery brought into the fort; the same day I also saw several Indians in British-officers' dress with sash, half moon, laced hats, &c. which the Jlritisli then wore. A few days after this the Indians demanded me and I was obliged to go with them. 1 was not yet well able to march, but they took me in a canoe, up the Aleghany river to an Indian town that was on the north side of the river, abont forty miles above fort i)u Queene. Here I remained about three weeks, and was then taken to an Indian town on (lite west brain h of Muskingum about twenty miles .Jiovethe forks, which was called Tullihas, inhab- ited by Dclawarcs, Caughncwagos and Mohicaus. On our route betwixt the aforesaid towns, the coun- ty was chiefly black oak and white-oak laud, which appeared generally to be good wheat land, < liicily second aud third rate, intermixed with some iih bottoms. The day after my arrival at the aforesaid towa, •i 'number of Indians collected about me, and one of (hem began to null the hair out of my head. He 1 ii |ia nslirs on a piece of bark, in which he frequently dipped his finders in order to take the firmer hold, and so he went on, as if he had been plucking a turkey, until he had all the hair clean «ut of my Ueadj except a spall spot ?,bou.t tfcrse ri Colonel Smith'* JVarrativvl ITS fbnT laches sqnare on My crown: this they cut off with a pair of scissors, excepting three locks, which they dressed up in their own mode. Two of these they wrapped round with a narrow beaded garter made by themselves for that purpose, and the other they platted at full length, and then stuck it full of •ilver broaches. After this they bored my nose and sars, and fixed me off with ear rings and nose jew- els, then they ordered me to strip off my clothes and put on a breech clout, which I did; they then paint- ad my head, face* and body in various colours. They put a large belt of wampum on my neck, and silver bands en my hands and right arm; and so an old chief led me out in the street and gave the a- form halloo, coo-wigh, several times repeated quick, and on this all that were in the town came running and stood round the old chief, who held me by the hand in the midst. As I at that time knew nothing of their modje of adoption, and had seen them put to death all they had taken, and as I never could find that they saved a man alive at Braddock's defeat, I made no doubt but they were* about putting me to death in some cruel manner. The old chief hold- ing me by the hand made a long speech very loud, and when he had done he handed me to three young iquaws, who led me by tfie hand down the bank in- to the river until the water was up to our middle. The squaws then mad« signs to me to plunge my- self into the water, but I did not understand them; I thought that the result of the council was thai I lfr-fi Coloiiel Smith' 8 iYa; i-ative. should be drowned, ami thai these young ladies were to be the executioners. They all three laid violent hold of me; and I for some time opposed iheni with all my might, which occasioned loud laughter by the multitude that were on the bank of the river. At length one of the squaws made out to speak a little English (ror L believe they be- gan to be afraid of me) and said, no hurt you; on this I gave myself up to their ladyships, who were us good as their word; for though they plunged me under water, aud washed and rubbed me severely, yet I could not say they hurt me much. These young women then led me up to the. couu- cil house, where some of the tribe were ready with new clothes for me. They gave me a new ruffled shirt, which I put on, also a pair of leggins done off with ribbons and beads, likewise a pair of mot k- asons, and garters dressed with beads, porcupine •juills, and red hair — also a tinsel laced cappo. They again painted my head and face with various colors, and tied a bunch of red feathers to one of these locks they had left on the crown of my head, which stood up five or six inches. They sealed me on a bear skin, and gave me a pipe tomahawk, and polecat skin pouch, whitli had been skinned pocket fashion, and contained tobacco, killegenico? or dry sumach leaves, which they mix with their to- bacco,— also spunk, fliut and steel. Who 1 \ fluid scaled, the Indians came in dressed and paint • ml in tbeirgrandesl manieri As they came ra they Volonel Smith's Narrative. 1^5 took their seats and for a considerable time there was a profound silence, every one was smoking; but not a word was spoken among them. At length one of the old chiefs made a speech which was de- livered to me by au interpreter; and was as follow- ed: ''My son, you are now flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone. By the ceremony which was performed this day, every drop of white blood was washed out of your veins; you are 'taken into the Caughnewago nation, and initiated into a warlike tribe; you are adopted into a great family, and now received with great seriousness and solemnity in the room and place of a great man; after what has passed this day, you are now one of us by an old strong law and custom. My son, you have now nothing to fear, we are now under the same obliga- tions to love, support, and defend you, that we are to love and defend one another, therefore you are to consider yourself as one of our people/' At this time I did not believe this fine speech, espe- cially that of the white blood being washed out of me; but since that time I have found that there was much sincerity in said speech, for from that day I never knew them to make any distinction between me and themselves in any respect whatever until I left them. If they had plenty of clothing I had plenty, if we were scarce we all shared one fate. After this ceremony was over, I was introduced to my new kin, and told that I was to attend a feast that evening, which I did. And as the cus if 6 Colonel Smith's Narrative. torn was, they gave me also a howl and wooden spoon, which I carried with me to the place, where* there was a number of large brass kettles full of boiled venison and green corn: every one advanced with his howl au\l spoon and had his share given him. After this one of the chiefs made a short speech, and then we began to oat. The name of one of the chiefs in this town was Tecanyaterighto, alias Pluggy, and the other Asal- lccon. alias Mohawk Solomon. As Pluggy and his party were to start the next day to war, to the frontiers of Virginia, the next tiling to be performed "was the war dance, and their war songs. At their war dance they had both vocal and instrumental music. They had a short hollow gum close in one and, with water in it, and parchment stretched o- ver tin* open end thereof, which they beat with one stick, and made a souud nearly like a muffled drum; all those who were going on this expedition collect- ed together and formed. An old Indian then bw- gan to sing, and timed the music by beating on this dram, as the ancients formerly timed their music by beating the tabor. On this the warriors began to advance, or move forward in coucert, like well dis- ciplined troops would march to the life, and drum. Each warrior had a tomahawk, spear or war- mal- let in his band, and they all moved regularly to- wards the cast, or the way they intended to go te war. At length they all stretched their tomahawks ttw ;tfdk tbe PwtuuiacL; and giving a hideous shout (Boloml Smith's NarratiM. Vf? •r yell, they wheeled quick about, and danced in the same manner back. The next was the war song. In performing this, only one sung at a tirae? in a moving posture, with a tomahawk in his hand, while all the other warriors were engaged in call: ing aloud he uh, he te/t, which they constantly re- peated, while the war swig was going on. When the warrior that was singing had ended his song, fce struck a war post with his tomahawk, and with a loud voice told what warlike exploits he had done, and what he now intended to do: which was answered by the other warriors, with loud shouts ©f applause. Some who had not before intended to go to war, at this time were so animated by this performance, that they took up the tomahawk and sung the war song, which was answered with shouts ©f joy, as they were then initiated into the presen marching company. The next morning this com- pany all collected at one place, with their heads and faces painted with various colors, and packs opon tiieir backs; they marched off all silent, except the commander, who, in lire front sung the travelling song, which began in this manner: hso caughtaivte heegana. Just as the pear passed the end of the town, they began to fire in their slow manner, from the front to the rear, which was accompanied with shouts and yells from all quarters. This evening I was invited to another sort © dance, which was a kind of promiscuous dance. The young men stood in one rank, asd tiro young 178 Colonel Smith's J\ a native. women in auother, about one rod apart, facing each other. The one that raised the tune, or started the song, held a small gourd or dry shell of a squash, in his hand, which contained beady or small stones, which rattled. When he began to sing, he timed the tunc with his rattle; both men and women danced and sung together, advancing towards each other, stooping until their heads would be touching together, and then ceased from dancing, with loud shouts, and retreated and formed again, and so re- peated the same thing over aud over, for three or four hours, without intermission. This exercise, appeared to me at fust, irrational and insipid; but I found that in singing their tunes, they used^a ne no hoo wa ne, §'c. like our fa sol la, and though they have no such thing as jingling verse,- yet they can iutermix sentences with their notes, aud say what they please to each other, and carry on the tune in concert. I found that this was a kind of wooing or courting dance, and as they advanced stooping with their heads together, they could say what they pleased in each others' ear, without dis- concerting their rough music, and the others, or those near, not hear what they said. Shortly after tliis I went out to hunt, in company with Mohawk Solomon, some of the Caughnewa- jros and a Delaware Indian t,iat Avas niarried to a Caughnewago scjuaw. AVre travelled about south, from this town, and the fori night we killed noth- lag, but we had with us green corn, which wo Colonel Smith's Nurrative. 179 roasted and ate that night. The next day We en- camped about 12 o'clock, and the hunters turned out to hunt, and I went down the run that we en- camped on, in company with some squaws and boys, to hunt plumbs, which we found in great plen- ty. On my return to camp I observed a largo piece of fat meat: the Delaware Indian that could talk some English, observed me looking earnestly at this meat, and asked me what meat you think that is? I said I suppose it was bear meat; he laugh- ed and said, ho, all one fool you, heal now ellypool, and pointing to the other side of the camp, he said look at that skin, you think that leal skin? I went and lifted the skin, which appeared like an ox hide, be then said, what skin you think that? I replied that I thought it was a buffaloe hide; he laughed and said, you fool again, you know nothing, you think buffaloe that colo? I acknowledged I did not know much about these things, and told him I nev- tr saw a buffaloe, and that I had not heard what tolor they were. He replyed by and by you shall see gleat many buffaloe: He now go to gleat lick. Tliat skin no buffaloe skin, that skin buck-elk skin. They went out with horses, and brought in the re- mainder of this buck-elk, which was the fattest creature I ever saw of the tallow kind. We remained at this camp about eight or ten clays, and killed a number of deer. Though wa had neither bread or salt at this time, yet we had fcoth roast and boiled meat in great plenty, and iSO Colonel Smith's Narrative they were frequently inviting mc to eat, when Iliad Bo appetite. We then moved to the ImiTaloc lick, where we killed several buffaloes, and in (heir small bras* kettles they made about half a bushel of salt. I • suppose this lick was about thirty or forty miles from the aforesaid town, and somewhere between tbe Muskingum, Ohio, and 8ciolo. About the lick was clear, open woods, and thin white-oak land, and at that time there were large roads leading to the lick, like wagon roads. We moved from this lick about six or seven miles, and encamped on a. creek. Though tiie Indians had given mc a gnn, I had not been ad milled to go out from the camp to hunt. At this place Mohawk Solomon asked mc to go out from the camp to huut, which I readily agreed to. •some time we came upon some fresh buffaloe tracks. 1 had observed before this that the Indi- ans were upon their guard, and afraid of nil enemjf for, until now they and the southern nations had been at war. As we were following the buffalo! tracks, Solomon seemed to be upon his guard, went very slow, and would frequently stand and listcyi, and appeared to be out the Catawbas. He said that formerly the Catawbas came near one of their hunting camps, and at sonic distance from the camp lay in ambush, and in order to decoy them out, sent two or three Catawbas in the night past tbeir camp, with buffaloe hoofs fixed on their feet, so as to make artificial tracks. In the morning those iu the camp followed after these tracks, think- ing they were buffaloe, until they were fired on by the Catawbas, and several of them killed; the oth- ers fled, colb&cted a party and pursued the Cataw- bas; but they, in their subtility brought with them rattle-snake poison, which they had collected from the bladder that lieth at the root of the snakes' teeth, this they had corked up in a short piece of a cane- stalk; they had also brought with them small cane or reed, about the size of a rye-straw, which they* made sharp at the end like a pen, and dipped them in this poison, and stuck them in the ground among the gta&s, along their own tracks, in such a position that they might stick into the legs of the pursuers, which answered the design, and as the Catawbas had runnel's behind to watch the motion of the pur- suers, when they found that a number of them were jame, being artificially snake bit, and that they were all turning back, the Catawbas turned upon the pursuers, and defeated them, killed and scalped all those that were lame. When Solomon had'fyi- ished this story, and found that I understood him, i8fr tuloiiel Smith1* Narrative* lie concluded by saying, you don't know, Catawba velhj bad Indian, Catawba all one Devil Catawba. Some time after this, I was told to take the dogs with me aud go down the creek, perhaps I might kill a turkey; it being in the afternoon. I was al- so told not to go far from the creek, and to come up the creek again to the camp, and to take care not lo get lost. When I had gone some distance down tlit creek, I came upon fresh bnffaloe tracks, and as I had a number of dogs with me to stop the buffaloe, 1 concluded I would follow after and kill one; and as the grass and weeds were rank, I could readily follow I he track. A little before sundown, I des- paired of coming up with them: 1 was thinkiughow I might get to camp before night: 1 concluded M the buffaloe had taken several turns, if I took the track back to the crook it would be dark before [ could get to camp; therefore I thought 1 wouliftake a near way through the hills and strike the creek a little below the camp; but as it was cloudy weather, and I a ve>-y young woodsman, I could find neither creek nor camp. When night came on I fired my gun several times, and hallooed but could have no answer. The next nbrning early, the Jndiain Were out after me, and as I had with me ten or a do- zen dogt) ami the grass and weeds rank, they could readily follow my track. When they came up with me. they appeared in a \ery good humor. 1 asked Solomon if he thought I w;»s running away* he Kid no no, von go too much cloaked. Oil inf Colonel Smith's Narrative- 18'3 return to camp they took my gun from me, and for tins rash step I was reduced to a bow and arrows, for near two years* We were out on this tour a- bout six weeks. This country is generally hilly, though intermix- ed with considerable quantities of rich upland, and some good bottoms. When we returned to the town, Pluggy and his party had arrived, and brought with them a con- siderable number of scalps and prisoners from the South Branch of Potomack: they also brought with them an English Bible, which they gave to a Dutch woman who was a prisoner; but as she could not read English, she made a present of it to me, which was very acceptable. I remained in this town until some time in Octo- ber, when my adopted brother, called Tontileaugt, who had married a Wyandot squaw, took me with him to Lake Erie. We proceeded up the west branch of Muskingum, and for some distance up the river the land was hilly but intermixed with large bodies of tolerable rich upland, and excellent bottoms. We proceeded on, to the head waters of the west branch of Muskingum. On the head wa- ters of this branch, and from thence to the watere of Canesadooharic, there is a large body of rich, well lying land — the timber is ash, walnut, sugar- tree, buckeye, honey locust and cherry, intermix- ed with some oak, hickory, &c. This tour was at the time that the black-haws were*ripe, and wo S4 $84 Colonel Smith's Narrative. were seldom out of sight of them: they were com* mon heie both in the bottoms ami upland. On this route we had no horse with us, and wliei «we started from the town, all the pack I carried was a pouch, containing my books, a little dried venison, and my blanket. I had then uo gun, bat Toutileaugo who was a first rate hunter, carried a rifle gun, and every day killed deer, raccoons, or bears. We left the meat excepting a little for pre- sent use, and carried the skins with us until we en- camped, and then stretched them with elm bark, in a frame made with poles stuck in the ground and ti- ed together with lynn or elm bark; and when the ekins were dried by the fire, we packed them up, and carried them with us the next day. As Tontileiugo could not speak English, I had to make use of all the Caughnewaga I had learned even to talk very imperfectly with him: but I found I learned to talk Indian faster this way, than when I had those with me who could speak KnglFsh. As we proceeded down the Canesadooharie wa- ters, our packs encreased by the skins that were daily killed, and became so very heavy that we could not march more than eight or ten miles per day. We came to Lake Erie about six miles west of the mouth of tanesadroharie. As the wind was very high the evening we came to the Lake, I was surprised to hear the roaring of the water, and 6ee the high waves that dashed against the shore, like the ocean. We encamped on a mo near the toke£. ftolonel Smith's Narrative 485* and as the wind fell that night, the next morning the lake was only in a moderate motion, and we marched on the sand along the side of the water, frequently resting ourselves, as we were heavy la- den. I saw on the strand, a number of large fish? that had been left in flat or hollow places; as the wind fell and the waves abated, they were left without water, or only a small quantity; and numy bers of bald and grey eagles, §"c. were along the shore devouring them. Some time in the •tyernoon we came to a large camp of Wyandotsat the mouth of Canesadooharie, where Tontileaugo's wife was. Here we were kindly received: they gave us a kind of rough, brown potatoes, which grew spontaneously and is called by the Caughnewagas ohnenata. These po- tatoes peeled and dipped in raccoons' fat, taste near- ly like our sweet potatoes. They also gave as what they call caneheanta, which is a kind of horns* ony, made of green corn, dried, and beans mixed together. From the head waters of Ganesadooharie to this place, the land is generally good; chiefly first or second rate, and, comparatively, little or no third rate. The only refuse is some swamps, that ap- pear to be too wet for use, yet I apprehend that a number of them, if drained, would make excellent meadows. The timber is black-oak, walnut, hick- ory, cherry, black-ash, white-ash, water-ash, buck- eye, black-locust, honey-lotust, sugar-tree and elm* 180 Colonel Smith's Narrative. there is al=o some land, though, comparatively, lml small, where the timber is chielly white oak or beech, which may be called third rate. In the bottoms, and also many places in the upland, there is a large quantity of wild apple, plumb, and red and black- haw trees. It appeared to be well watered, and a plenty of meadow ground, intermixed with upland, but no large prairies or glades, that I saw, or heard of. In this route, deer, bear, turkeys and raccoons, appeared plenty, but no buffaloc, and very little sign of elk. We continued our camp at the mouth of Canc- sadooharic for some time, where we killed some deer, and a great many raccoons; the raccoons here were remarkably largo and fat. At length we all embarked in a large birch bark canoe. This ves- sel was about four feet wide, and three feet deep, and about five and thirty feet long: and though it could carry a heavy burden, it was so artfully aud curiously constructed that four men could carry it several miles, or from one landing place to another, or from the waters of the Lake to the waters of the Ohio. We proceeded up Canesadooharie a few miles and went on shore to hunt; but to my gre t surprise they carried the vessel that we all came in Up tho bank, and inverted it or turned the bottom Up, and converted it to a dwelling house, and kin- dled afire before us to warm ourselves by and coolc. With our baggage and ourselves in this house we ■wefe very much crowded, yet our little house turn- rd off the rain very wcll# Colonel Smith's Narrative. f $f We kept moving and hunting up this river until we came to the falls; here we remained some weeks, and killed a number of deer, several bears, and a great many raccoons. From the mouth of this rivr er to the falls is about five and twenty miles. On our passage up I was not much out from the river. but what I saw was good land, and not hilly. About the falls is thin chesnut land, which is al- most the only chesnut timber I ever saw in thie country. While we remained here, I left my pouch with my books in camp, wrapt up in my blanket, and went out to hunt chesnuts. On my return to camp, my books were missing. 1 enquired after them, and asked the Indians if they knew where they were, they told me that they supposed the pup- pies had carried them off. I did not believe them^ but thought they were displeased at my poring over my books, and concluded that they had destroyed them, or put them out of my way. After this I was again out after nuts, and on my return beheld a new erection, which were two white oak saplings, that were forked about twelve feet high, and stood about fifteen feet apart. They had , cut these saplings at the forks and laid a strong pole across which appeared in the form of a gal- lows, and the posts they had shaved very smooth and painted in places in Vermillion. I could not conceive the use of this piece of worfc, and at length concluded it \v(as a gallows. I thought that I had •4"#3 Coloiibi Smith's Narrative*. displeased them by reading my books, and that Ufey were about putting me to death. The next mornj ingl observed them bringing their skins all to this place and hanging theiu over this pole, so as to preserve them from being injured by the weather, this removed my fears. They also buried their- large canoe in the ground, which is the way they took to preserve this soit of a canoe in the winter season. As we had at this time no horses, every one got a pack on his back, and we steered an east course about twelve miles, ; nd encamped. The next morning we proceeded on the same eourse about [en miles to a large creek that empties into Lake Erie betwixt Cauesadooharie, and Cavahaga. Here they made their winjer cabin, in the following form. They cut logs about fifteen feet loug, and laid these logs upon each other, and drove post9 in the ground at each end to keep them together; the posts they tied together at the top with bark, and by this means raised a wall fifteen feet long, and a- bout four feet high, and in the same manner they raised another wall opposite to this, at about twelve feet distance; then they drove forks in the ground iu the centre of each end, and laid a strong pole from end to cud on these, forks; and from these walls "> the pole, they set up poles instead of rafters, and on these they tied small poles iu place of laths; and a cover was made of lynn bark which will run even rn the. winter season. IJ73 Colonel Smith's Narrative. As every tree will not run, they examine the tree first, by trying it near the ground, and when they find it will do, they fall the tree and rai^e the bark with the tomahawk, near the top of the tree about five or six inches broad, then put the tomahawk handle under this bark, and pull it along down to the but of the tree; so that sometimes one pieco of bark will be thirty feet long; this bark they cut ai suitable lengths in order to cover the hut. At the end of these walls they set up split timber, so that they had timber all round, excepting a door at each end. At the top, in place of a chimney, they left an open place, and for bedding they laid down the aforesaid kind of bark, on which they spread bear skins. From end to end of this hut a- long the middle there were fires, which the squaws made of dry split wood, and the holes or open pla- ces that appeared, the squaws stopped with moss, which they collected from old logs; and at the door they hung a bear skin; and notwithstanding the winters are hard here, our lodging was much bet- ter than what I expected. It was some time in December when, we finished this winter cabin; but when we had got into this comparatively fine lodging, another difficulty arose, we had nothing to eat. While I was travelling with Tontileaugo, as was before mentioned, and had plenty of fat venison, bears' meat and raccoons, I then thought it was hard living without bread or gait: but now 1 began to conclude; that if 1 had any 490 Colonel Smith's Narrative. thing that would banish pinching hunger, and keep soul and body together, I would be content. While the hunters were all out, exerting them- selves to the utmost of their ability, the squaws and boys (in which class I was) were scattered out in the bottoms, hunting red haws, black haws and hickory nuts. As it was too late in the year, we did not succeed in gathering haws, but we had tol- erable success in scratching up hickory nuts from under a light snow, which we carried with us lest the hunters should not succeed. After our return the hunters came in, who had killed only two small turkeys, which were but little among eight hunters, and thirteen squaws, boys and children; but they were divided with the greatest equity and justice— every one got their equal share. The next day the hunters turned out again, aud killed one deer and three bears. One of the boars was very large and remarkably fat. The hunters carried in meat sufficient to give ns all a hearty supper and breakfast. The squaws and all that could carry turned out to bring in meat: every one had their share assigned them, and my load was among the least; yet, not be- ing accustomed to carrying in this way, Igot exceed- ing weary, and told them my load was too heavy, I must leave part of it and come for it again. I hey made halt and only laughed at me, and took part of my load and added it to a youug squaw's, who bad as much before as 1 carried. Colonel Smith's Narrative. i$t This kind of reproof had a greater tendency to excite ine to exert myself in carrying without com- plaining, than if they had whipped me for laziness. After this the hunters held a council, and conclu- ded that they must have horses to carry their loads; and that they would go to war even in this inclem- ent season, in order to bring in horses. Tontileaugo wished to be one of those who should go to war: but the votes went against him, as he was one of our best hunters; it was thought necessary to leave him at this winter camp to pro- vide for the squaws and children; it was agreed upon that Tontileaugo and three others should stay, and hunt, and the other four go to war. They then began to go through their common ceremony. They sung their war songs, danced their war dances, &c. And when they were equip- ped they went off singing their marching song, and firing their guns. Our camp appeared to be rejoicing; but I was grieved to think that some in- nocent persons would be murdered not thinking of danger. After the departure of these warriors we had hard times; and though we were not altogether out of provisions, we were brought to short allowance. At length Tontileaugo had considerable success; and we had meat brought into camp sufficient to last ten days. Tontileaugo then took rae with him in order to encamp some distance from this winter cab- in, to try his luck there. We carried no provision Jiff ife Ooloiiel Smith- 8 Narrative: with U9, he said we would leave what was there for the squaws and children, and that we could shift for ourselves. We steered about a south course up the waters of this creek, and encamped a- bout ten or twelve miles from the winter cabin. As it was still cold weatlier and a crust upon the snow, which made a noise as we walked and alarmed the deer, we could kril nothing, and consequently went to sleep without supper. The only chince we had under these circumstances, was to hunt hear holes; as the bears about Christmas search out a winter lodging place, where they lie about three or four months without eating or drinking. 'J his may ap- pear to some incredible; but it is now well known to be the case, by those who live in the remote wes- tern parts of North America. The next morning early we proceeded on, and when we found a tree scratched by tlv bears' climb- ing up, and the hole in the tree sufficiently large for the reception «f the bear, we then fell a sapling, or a small tree, against or jiear the hole; and it was my business to climb up and drive out the bear, while Tontileaugo stood ready with his gun and bow. We went on in this manner until evening, without success; at length we found a large elm scratched, and a hole in it about forty feet up; but no tree nigh suitable to lodge against the hole. Ton- tileaugo got a long pole and some dry rotten wood which he tied in buuches, with bark, and as there was a tree that grew near the elm, and extended up Xjohrtel Smith9 a Narrative. 193 near the hole; but leaned the wrong way; so that we could not lodge it to advantage; bat to remedy this inconvenience, he climbed up this tree and car- ried with him his rotten wood, fire and pole. The rotten wood he tied to his belt, and to the end of the pole he tied a hook, and a piece of rotten wood which he set fire to, as it would retain fire almost like spunk; and reached this hook from limb to limb as he went up; when he got up, with this pole lie put dry wood on fire into the hole, after he put in the fire he heard the bear snuff and he came speed- ily down, took his gun in his hand and waited un- til the bear would come out; but it was some time before it appeared, and when it did appear, he at- tempted taking sight with his rifle; "but it being then too dark to see the sights, he set it down by a tree, and instantly bent his bow, took hold of an arrow, and shot the bear a little behind the shoul- der; I was preparing also to shoot an arrow, but he called to me to stop, there was no occasion; and with that the bear fell to the ground. Being very hungry we kindled a fire, opened the bear, took out the liver, and wrapped some of the caul fat round and put it on a wooden spit which we stuck in the ground by the fire to roast, we then skinned the bear, got on our kettle, and had both roast and boiled, and also sauce to our meat, which appeared to me to be delicate fare. After I was fully satisfied I went to sleep, Tontileaugo awoke me, saying, come eat hearty, we h/ire got meat plea* ty now. 491 Colonel Smith's J\'arratioe. The next morniug we cut down a lyun tree, peel- ed bark and made a snug little shelter, facing th« south east with a large log betwixt us and the north west; we made a good fire before us, and scaffold- ed up our meat at one side. When he had finished our camp we went out to hunt, searched two trees for bears, but to no purpose. As the snow thawed a little in the afternoon Tontileaugo killed a deer, which we carried with us to camp. The next day wc turned out to hunt, and near the camp we found a tree well scratched; but the hole was above forty feet high, and no tree that we could lodge against the hole; but finding that it was very hollow, we concluded that we would cut down the tree with our tomahawks, which kept us work- ing a considerable part of the day. When the tree fell we ran up, Tontileaugo with his guu and bow, and I with my bow ready bent. Tontileaugo shot the bear through with his rifle, a little behind the shoulders, 1 also shot, but too far back; and not be- ing then much accustomed to the business, my ar- row penetrated only a few inches through the skin. Having killed an old she bear and three cubs, wa hauled her on the. snow to the camp, and only had time afterwards, to get wood, make a fire, cook, Sec. before dark. ICarly the next morning we went to business, searched several trees, but found no bears. On our way home wc took three raccoons out of a hol- low elm, no! far from the ground Golonel Smith's Narrative. 195 We retrained here about two weeks, and in this time killed four bears, three deer, several turkeys, and a number of raccoons. We packed as much meat as we could carry, and returned to our winter cabin. On our arrival, there was great jey, as they were all in a starving condition — the three hun- ters that we had left having killed but very little. All that could carry a pack repaired to our camp to bring in meat. Some time in February the four warriors return- ed, who had taken two scalps, and six horses from the frontiers of Pennsylvania. The hunters could then scatter out a considerable distance from the winter cabin, and encamp, kill meat and pack it in upon horses; so that we commonly after this had plenty of provision. In this month we began to make sugar. As some of the elm bark will strip at this season, the squaws after finding a tree that would do, cut it down, and with a crooked stick broad and sharp at the end, took the bark off the tree, and of this bark, made Vessels in a curious manner, that would hold about two gallons each: they made above one hundred of these kind of vessels. In the sugar- tree they cut a notch, stuck in a tomahawk; in the place where they stuck the tomahawk, they drove a long chip, in order to carry the water out from the tree, and under this they set their vessel, to re- ceive it. As sugar trees were plenty and large here, they seldom or never notched a tree that was T)7i Colonel Smith's JMirrative, not two or three feet over. They al*> made "bark vessels for carrying the water, tbat would hold &- beut four gallons each. They had two br»ss keV ties, that held about fifteen gallons each, aBd other -smaller kettles In which they boiled the water. But as they could not at all times boil away the wa- ter as fast as it was collected, they made vessels of bark, that would hold about one hundred gallons each, for retaining the water: and though the su- gar trees did not run every day. they had always a sufficient quantity of water to keep them boil- ing during the whole sugar season. The way that we commonly used our sugar while eur.amncd, was by putting it. in bear's fat until the fat was almost as sweet as the sugar itself, and in this we dipped our roasted venison. About this time some of the Indian lads and myself, were em- ployed in making and attending traps for catching vaccoons. foxes, wildcats, &c As the raccoon is a kind of water animal, that fre- quents the runs, or small water-courses, almost tho whole night, we made our traps ou the runs, by lay- ing one. small sapling on another, and driving in posts to keep them from rolling. The upper sap- ling we raised about eighteen inches, and set so, that on the raccoons touching a string, or a small piece of bark, the sapling would fall and kill it; and lest the raccoon should pass by, we laid brush on both sides of the run, only leaving the channel opeu. Colonel Smith's Narrative* 1Q? The fox traps we made nearly in the same man- ner, at the end of a hollow log, or opposite to a hole at the root of a hollow tree, and put venison on Or stick for bait: we had it so set that when the fox took hold of the meat, the trap fell. While the squaws were employed in making sugar, the boys and men were engaged in hunting and trapping. About the latter en4 of MarGh we began to pre- pare for moving into town, in order to plant corn:- the squaws were then frying the last of their bear's fat, and making vessels to hold it: the vessels were made of deer skins, which were skinned by pull- ing the skin of the neck, without ripping. After they had taken off the hair, they gathered it in, small plaits round the neck and with a string drew it together like a purse: in the centre a pin was put^ below which they tied a string, and while it was wet they blew it up like a bladder, and let it re- main in this manner, until it was dry, when it ap- peared nearly in the shape of a sugar loaf, but more rounding at the lower end. One of these vessels would hold about four or five gallons; in these ves- sels it was they carried their bear's oil. i When all things were ready, we moved back io- th* falls of CanesadoohaTie, In this route the land is chiefly first and second rate, but too much mead- ow ground, in proportion to the up land. The timber is white ash, elm, black- oak, cherry, buck- eye, sugar-tree, lynn, mulberry, beech, white-oak, hickory, wild apple-tree, red-haw, black- haw, and 498 Colonel Smith- 8 Narrative. spicewood bushes. There are in seme places, spots of beech timber, which spots may be called third rate land. Buck-eye. sugar tree and spicewood, are common in the woods here. There are in some placss, large swamps too wet for any use. On our arrival at the falls, (as we had brought with us on horse back, about two hundred weight of sugar, a large quantity of bear's oil, skins, &c.) the canoe we had buried was not sufficient to carry all; therefore we were obliged to make another one of elm bark. While we lay here a youug Wyan- dot found my books: on this they collected togeth- er; I was a little way from the camp, and saw the collection, but did not know what it meant. They called me by my Indian name, which was Scoou. wa, repeatedly. I ran te see what was the matter, they shewed me my books, and said they were glad they had been found, for they knew 1 was grieved at the loss of them, and that they now rejoiced with me because they were found. As I could then speak some Indian especially Caugnewaga (for both that and the Wyandot tongue were spoken in this camp) 1 told them that f thanked them for the kind- ness they had always shewn to me, and also for finding ray books. They asked if the books were damaged? I told the in not much. They then shewed how they lay, which was in the best man- ner to turn off the water. In a deer skin pouch tbey lay nil winter. The print was not much inju- red, though the binding wag. This was the first Colonel Smith's Narrative. 189 time I felt my heart warm toward the Indians. Though they had been exceeding kind to me, 1 still before detested them, on account of the barbarity I beheld after Braddock's defeat. Neither had T ef- ei before pretended kindness, or expressed myself ift a friendly mariner; but I began now to excuse the Indians on account of their want of information. When we were ready to embark, Tontileaugo would not go to town, but go up the river and takft a hunt He asked me if I chose to go with him? I told hira I did. We then got some sugar, b£af9 oil bottled up in bear's gut, and s6me dry vetfi&ot*, which we packed up, and went up Canesadoohar- ie. about thirty miles, aad encamped. At this time" I did not know either the day of the Week, tit the month; but I supposed it to be about the first of A* j*ril. We had considerable success in our business. We also found some stray horses, or a horse, mare, and a yonng Colt; and though they had run in the woods all winter, they were in exceeding good or- der. There is plerrfy of grass here all winter, un- der the snow, atid horses accustomed to the woodtf can work it out. These horses- had run in tatf woods until they Were very wild. Tontileaugo one night concluded thai we tfi#s£ Fin them down. I fold frim I thought we could Wit accomplish it. He said he had run down bears* buffaloes and elks: and in the great plains', Willi oniy a smaft snow on the ground, he bad t\iu down a deer; and he thought that in one whole day, be 37 #00 Colonel Smith's Narrative. could tire, or run down any four footed animal ex- cept a wolf. 1 told him that though a deer waa the swiftest animal to run a short distance, yet it would tire sooner than a horse. He said he would at all events try the experiment. He had heard the Wyandots say, that I could run well, and now he would see whether I could or not. I told him that 1 never had run all day, and of course was not ac- customed to that way of running. I never had run with the Wyandots, more than seven or eight miles at one time. He said that was nothing, we must either catch these horses, or run all day. In the morning early we left camp, and about sunrise we started after them stripped naked except- ing breech clouts and mockasons. About tea o'- clock I lost sight of both Tontileaugo ai»l the hor- ses, and did not see them again until about t.'iree o'clock in the afternoon. As the horses run all day, in about three or four miles square, at length they passed where 1 was, and I fell in close after them. As I then had a long rest, I endeavored to keep a head of Tontileaugo, and afier some time I could bear him after me calling chulcoh, chukoanaughf which signifies, pull away or do your best. We pursued on, aud after some time Tontileaugo pass* ed me, and about half an hour before sundown, we despaired of catching these horses aud returned te camp where we had left our clothes. 1 reminded Tontileaugo of what I had told him? be replied he did not know whet horses could «h\« Colonel Smith's Narrative. 20 1 Th^y are wonderful strong to run; but withal we made them very tired. Ton ti lean go then concluded, he would (In as the Jndiins did with wild horsey when out at w u*: that is, to slnot them through the nec'c ui I'.r the mane, and above the bone, which will cms '. the ai to fall and lie untl they can halter them, and then they recover again. This he at- tempted to do; but as the mare was very wild, he Could not get sufficiently nigh to shoot her in the proper place; however he shot, the ball passed too low, am) killed her. As the horse and colt stayed at this place we caught the horse, and took him and the CrtU with us to camp. We stayed at this camp about two weeks, and killed a number of bears, raccoons, and some beav- ers. We made a canoe of elm bark, and Tontileau- go embarked in it. He arrived at the falls that night: whilst I. mounted on horse back, with a bear skin saddle, and bark stirrups, proceeded by land to the falls: I came there the next morning, and we carried our canoe and loading past the falls. The river is very rapid for some distance above the falls, which are about twelve or fifteen feet near- ly perpendicular. This river, called Canesadoo- harie, interlocks with the \Vest branch of Musk- ingum, runs nearly a north course, and empties in- to the south side of Lake Erie, about eighty miles east from Sandusky, or betwixt Sandusky and Cay- ahaga. On this last route the land is nearly the same, as 202 Colonel Smith's »Varrativ'e. that last described, only there is not so much swam* py or wet ground. We again proceeded towards the lake, I on horse, back, and Tontileaugo by water. Here the land is generally good, but I found some difficulty in getting round swamps and ponds. When we came to the lake I proceeded along the strand, and Ton- tileaugo near the shore, sometimes paddling and sometimes polling his canoe along. After some time the wind arose, and he went in- to the mouth of a small creek and encamped. Here we staid several days on account of high wind, which raised the lake in great billows. While we were here Tontileaugo went out to hunt, and when he was gone a Wyandot came to our camp; 1 gave him a shoulder of venison which I had by the tire well roasted, and he received it gladly, told me he was hungry, and thanked me for my kindness. AVhcn Tontileaugo came home, I told him that a Wyandot had been at camp, and that I gave him a shoulder of roasted venison, he said that was very well, and I suppose you gave him also sugar and bear's oil, to eat with his venison. I told him I did not; as the sugar and hears oil was down in the canoe 1 did not go fur it. He replied you have be- haved just like a Dutchman.* Do you not know that when strangers come to nur camp, we ought always to give them the best that we have? I ac- •Thc Dutch ho called Skoharehaupo, which took its den- tition from a Dutch settlement called Sk'ihnrcr/. Colonel Smith's Narrative. £05 knowledged that I was wrong. He said that he could excuse this, as I was but young; but I must learn to behave like a warrior, and do great things, and never be found in any such little actions. The lake being again calm,f we proceeded, and arrived safe at fcsunycndeand; this was a Wyan- dot town, that lay upon a small creek which emp- ties into the Little Lake below the mouth of San- dusky. The town was about eighty rood above the mouth of the creek, on the south side oi a large plain, on which timber grew, and nothing more but grass or nettles. In some places there were large flats, where nothing but grass grew, about three feet high when grown, and in other places nothing but net- tles, very rank, where the soil is extremely rich and loose — here they planted corn. In this town there were also French traders, who purchased our skins and fur, and we all got new clothes, paint, tobacco, &c. After I had Rot my new clothes, and my head done off like a read-headed wood-pecker, 1, in com- pany with a number of young Indians, went down to the corn field, to see the squaws at work. When we came there, they asked me to take a hoe, which 1 did, and hoed for some time. The squaws ap- plauded me as a good hand at the bisiness; but when I returned to the town, the old men hearing tThe lake when calm, appears to be of a sky blue colour; though when lifted in a vessel, it is like other clear water> *01 Colonel Smith's JVarvatice. of what I had done, chid me. and said that I was a* tlopted in the place of a great man, and must not hoe cm like a squaw. They never had occasion to reprove me for any tiling like this again; as I never was extremely fond of work, I readily com- plied with their orders. As t lie Indians on their return from (heir winter hunt, bring in with them large, quantities of bear's oil, sugar, dried venison. &c. at this time they have plenty, and do not spare eating or giving — thus they make way with their provision as quick as possi- We. They have no such thing as regular meals, breakfast, dinner or supper; but if any one, even the town folks, would go to the same house, sever- al times in one day, he would be invited to eat of the best — and with them it is bad manners to refuse id eai when it is offered. If they will not eat it is interpreted as s symptom of displeasure, or that the persons refusing, to eat, were angry with those who in 'ted them. At this time homnny plentifully mixed with hears Oil and sugar; or diied venison, bear's oil and su- gar, is what they offer to every one who comes in a- y time of the day; and so they go OS until their Miigar. bear's oil and venison, is all gone, and then they have to eat homony by itself, without bread, salt or any thing eUr; yetj still they invite everyone that comes in, to eat whilst they have any thing to give. I lis thought a shame, not to invite peoploi **. rat, while they have any tiling; but, if they can in Colonel Smith- s Narrative. SOf truth, only say we have got nothing to eat, this is ao cepted as an honorable apology. All the hunter.* and warriors continued in town about six weeks af- ter we came in: they spent this time in painting, going from house to house, eating, smoking and playing at a game resembling dice, or hustle-cap. They put a number of plumb-stones in a small bowl; one side of each stone is black, and the other white; they then shake or hustle the bowl, calling, hits, hits, hont sey, Jwnesey, rago, rago; which signifies calling, for white or black, or what they wish to turn up; they then turn the bowl, and count tluv whites aud blacks. Some were beating their kind of drum, and singing; others were employed in playing on a sort of flute, made of hollow cane; and others playing on the jews- harp. Some part of this time was also taken up in attending the council house, where the chiefs, and as many others as* chose, attended; and at night they were frequently employed in singing and dancing. Towards the last of this time, which was in June 1756, they were all engaged in preparing to go to war against the frontiers of Virginia: when they were equip- ed they went through their ceremonies, sung their war songs, &c. They all marched off from fifteen to sixty years of age, and some boys only twelve years old, were equipped with their bows and ar- rows, and went to war; bo that none were left in town but squaws and children, except myself, one Very old man, and another about fifty years of ageA, who was lame, SQC Colonel Smith- s Narrative The Indians were then in great hopes that they wodld drive all the Virginians over the lake, which is all the name they know for the sea. They had some cause for this hope, hecause, at this time, the Americaus were altogether unacquainted with war of any kind, and consequently very unfit to stand their hand with such suhlle enemies as the Indians were. The two old Indians asked me if I did not think that the Indians and French would subdue all America, except New-Kngland, which they said they had tried in old times. J told them I thought not: they said they had already drove tbenj all out of the mountains, and had chiefly laid waste the great valley, betwixt the North and South mountain, from Potomac to James River, which i» a considerable part of the best land in Virginia, ^Maryland and Pennsylvania, and that the white people appeared to them like fools; thoy could nei* ther guard against surprize, run nor light. These they sanl were their reasons for saying that they Would subdue the whites. They asked me to offer my reasons for my opinion, and told me to speak my mind freely. I told them that the white people to the East were very numerous, like the trees, and though they appeared to them to be finds, as they were not acquainted with their way of war, yet they were not fools; therefore after some lime they will learn your mode ef war, and turn upon you, or at least defend themselves. 1 found that the eld raeu themselves did not believe they could con- Colonel Smith's Narratitee 807 ^uer America, yet they were willing to propagate the idea, m order to encourage the young men to go to war. When the warriors left this town we had neither meat, sugar, or bear's oil, left. All that we had then to live on was corn pounded into coarse meal or small horaony— this they boiled in water, which appeared like well thickened soup, without salt or any thing else. For some time, we had plenty o? this kind of homony; at length we were brought to very short allowance, and as the warriors did not return as soon as they expected, we were in a starv- ing condition, aud but one gun in the town, and ve- ry little aiiiunition. The old lame Wyandot con- cluded that he would go a hunting in a canoe, and take me with him, and try to kill deer in the water, as it was then watering time. We went up San* dusky a few miles, then turned up a creek, and encamped. We had lights prepared, as we were to hunt in the night, and also a piece of bark and some bushes set up in the canoe, in order to conceal ourselves from the deer. A little boy that was with us, held the light, 1 worked the canoe, and the old man, who had his gun loaded with large shot, when we came near the deer, fired, and in this manner killed three deer, in part of one night. We went to our fire, ate heartily, and in the morniug returned to town, in order to relieve the hungry and distress- ed. When we came to town, the children were S8 308 Colonel Smith's Narrative. crying bitterly on account of pinching hunger. We delivered what we had taken, and though it was but little among so many, it was divided according to the strictest rules of justice. We immediately set out for another hunt, but before we returned a part of the warriors had come in, and brought with them on horseback, a quantity of meat. The war- riors had divided into different parties, and all stuck at different places in Augusta county. They brought in with them a considerable number of scalps, prisoners, horses, and other plunder. One of the parties brought in with them, one Arthur Campbell, that is now Col. Campbell, who lives on Holston River, near the Royal- Oak. As the Wyandots, at Sunyendeaud, and those at Detroit were connected, Mr. Campbell Was taken in De- troit; but he remained some time with me in this town: his company was very agreeable, and I was sorry when he left me. During his stay at Sunycn- deand he borrowed my Bible, and made some per- tinent remarks on what he had read. One pas- sage was where it is said, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." He said we ought to be resigned to the will of Providence, as we were now bearing the yoke, in our youth. Mr. Campbell appeared to be then about 16 or 17 years of age. There was a number of prisoners brought in by these parties and when they were to run the gaunt- let, I went and told them how they were to act. ifotonel Smith's Narrative. 909 One John Savage, was brought in, a middle aged man, or about forty years old. He was to run the gauntlet. I told him what he had to do; and af- ter this I fell into one of the ranks with the Indi- ans, shouting and yelling like them; and as they were not very severe on him, as he passed me, I hit him with a piece of pumpkin — which pleased the Indians much, but hurt my feelings. About the time that these warriors came in, the green corn was beginning to be of use; so that we had either green corn or venison,, and sometimes both — which was comparatively, high living. When we could have plenty of green corn, or roastiog ears, the hunters became lazy, and spent their time as already mentioned, in singing and dancing. They appeared to be fulfilling the scriptures beyond those who profess to believe them, in that of taking no thought of to-morrow; and also in living in love, peace and friendship together, without disputes. In this respect, they shame those who profess Chris- tianity. In this manner we lived, until October, when the geese, swans, ducks, cranes, &c. came from the north, and alighted on this little Lake, in quan- tities or iuumerable. Sunyendeand is a remark- able place for fish, in the spring, and fowl both ia the fall and spring. As our hunters were now tired with indolence, and fond of their own kind of exercise, they all turned out to fowling, and in this could scarce mis§ 310 Colonel Smith's Narrative. of success; so that we had now plenty of homony and the best of fowls; and sometimes as a rarity we had a little bread, which was made of Indian corn meal, pounded in a homony -block, mixed with boiled beans, and baked in cakes under the ashes. This, with us was called good living, though not equal to our fat, roasted and boiled venison, when we went to the woods in the fall; or bear's meat and beaver in the winter; or sugar, bear's oil, and dry venison in the spring. Some time in October, another adopted brother, older than Tontileaugo, came to pay us a visit at Sunyendeand, and he asked me to take a hunt with him on Cayahnga. As they always used me as a free man, and gave me the liberty of choosing, I told him that 1 was attached to Tontileaugo, had never seen him before, an! therefore, asked some time to consider of this. He told me that the par- ty he was going with would not be along, or at the mouth of this little lake, in less than six days, and I could in this time be acquainted with him, and judge for myself. I consulted with Tontileaugo on this occasion, and he told me that our old brother Tecaughretanego, (which was his name) was a chief, and abetter man than he was; aud if I went with him 1 might expect to be well used, but he said I might do as 1 pleased; and if I staid he would use me as he had done. I told him that he had acted in every respect, as a brother to me; yet I was much pleased with my old brother's couduct Colonel Smith's Narrative. 211 md conversation; and as he was going to a part of the country I had Lever been in, 1 wished to go with him — he said he was perfectly willing. I then went with Tecaughretanego, to the mouth of the little lake, where he met with the company he intended going with, which was composed of Gaughnewagas and Ottawas. Here 1 was intro- duced to a Caughnewaga sister, and others 1 liad never before seen. My sister's name was Mary which they pronounced Mautly. I asked Tecaugh- retanego how it came that she had an I nglish name; he said that he did not know that it was an Knglish name; but it was the name the priest gave her when she was baptized, which he said was the name of the mother of Jesus. He said there were a great many of the Gaughnewagas and Wyandots, that were a kind of half Roman Catholics; but as for himself, he said, that the priests and he could not agree; as they held notious that contradicted both sense and reason, and had the assurance to tell him, that the book of trod taught them these foolish absurdities: but he could not believe the great and good spirit ever taught them any such nonsense: and therefore he concluded that the In- dian's old religion was better than this new way of worshiping God. The Ottawas have a very useful kind of tents which they carry with them, made of flags, plaited and stiched together in a very artful manner, so as to turn rain er wind well— each mat is made fifteen SIS Colonel Smith7 s Narrative. feet long, ami uhout five feet broad. In order to «* feet this kind of tent, they cut a number of long strait poles, which they drive in the ground, in the. form of a circle, leaning inwards; then they spread the mats on these poles, beginning at the bottom »nd extending up, leaving only a hole in the top uncovered — and this hole answers the place of a chimney. They make a fire of dry split wood, in the middle, and spread down bark mats and skin* for bedding, on which they sleep in a crooked pos- ture, all round the fire, as (he lenglh of their beds will not admit of stretching themselves. In place of a door they lift up one end of a mat and creep in. and let the mat fall dowu behind them. These lents are warm and dry, and tolerable clear of smoke. Their lumber they keep under birch bark canoes, which they carry out and turn up for a shelter, whore they keep every thing from the rain. Nothing is in the tents but themselves and their bedding. This company had four birch canoes and four tents. We were kindly received, and (hey gave us pUntyof homony, and wild fowl, boiled and roasted. As the geose, docks, swans, &c here are well grain-fed, they were remarkably fat especial- ly the green Becked difeks. The wildfowl lure, feed upon a kind of wild rice, that grows spontaneously in the shallow wa- ter, or wet places along the sides or in the corners of the lakes. Colonel Smith's Narrative. SIS As the wind was high and we coulil not pro- reed on our voyage, we remained here several days, and killed abundance of wild fowl, and a number of raccoons. When a company of Indians are moving togeth- er on the lake, as it is at this time of the year often dangerous sailing, the old men hold a council; and when they agree to embark, every one is engaged immediately in making ready, without offering one word against the measure, though the lake may be boisterous and horrid. One morning though the wind appeared to me to be as high as in days past, and the billows raging, yet the call was given go- hoh-yohoh, which was quickly answered by all— ooh-ooh which signifies agreed. We were all iu- stantly engaged in preparing to start, and had con- siderable difficulties in embarking. As soon as we got into our canoes we fell to pad- dling with all our might, making out from the shore. Though these sort of canoes ride waves beyond what could be expected, yet the water several times dashed into them. When we got out about half a mile from shore, we hoisted sail, and it was nearly a west wind, we then seemed to ride the waves with ease, and went on at a rapid rate. We then all laid down our paddles, excepting one that steered, and there was no water dashed into our canoes, until we came near the shore again. We sailed about sixty miles,, that day, and encamped some time before nisiUt ' ■*- ■ S(4> Gclonel Smith's JVaitative. The next day we again embarked and went on ver} well for some time; but the lake beiug boist- erous, and the wind not fair, we were obliged to make to shore, which we accomplished with hard work and some difficulty in landing. The next morning a council was held by the old men. As we hfld this day to pass by a loug precipice of rocks, on the shore about nine miles, which ren- dered it impossible for us to land, though the wind was high and the lake rough; yet, as it was fair, wo were all ordered to embark. We wrought ourselves out from the shore and hoisted sail (what we used in place of sail cloth, were our tent mats, which an- swered the purpose very well) and went for some time with a fair wind, until we were opposite to the precipice, and then it turned towards the shore, and we began to fear we should be cast upon the rocks. Two of the canoes were considerably farther out from the rocks, than the canoe 1 was in. Those who were farthest out in the lake did not letdown their sails uutil they had passed the precipice; but as we were nearer the rock, we were obliged to low- er our sails, and paddle with all our might. With much difficulty wc cleared ourselves of the rock, and lauded. As the other canoes had landed be- fore us, there, were immediately runners sent off to see if wc were all safely landed. This night the wiud fell, and the next morning the lake was tolerably calm, and we embarked with- out difficulty, and paddled along near the shore, Colonel Smith's Nartatfoe. SIS until We came to the mouth of Cayahaga, which empties into Lake Erie on the south side, betwixt Canesadooharie, and Presq'Isle. We turned up Cayahaga and encamped — where we staid and hunted for several days; and so we kept moving and hunting until we came to the forks of Cayahaga. This is a very gentle river, and but few riffles, or swift running places, from the mouth to the forks. Deer here were tolerably plenty, large and fat; but bear and other game scarce. The upland is hilly, and principally second and third rate. The timber chiefly black-oak, white oak, hickory, dog- wood, £fc. The bottoms are rich and large, and the timber is walnut, locust, mulberry, sugar-tree, red- haw, black-haw, wild appletrees, &c. The West Branch of this river interlocks with the East Branch of Muskingum; and the East Branch with the Big Beaver creek, that empties into the Ohio a- bout thirty miles below Pittsburgh. From the forks of Cayahaga to the East Branch •f Muskingum, there is a carrying place, where the Indians carry their canoes, &c. from the waters of lake Erie, into the waters of the Ohio. From the forks I went over with some hunters, to the East Branch of Muskingum, where they killed several deer, a number of beavers, and returned heavy laden with skins and meat, which we carried on our backs, as we had no horses. The land here is chiefly second and third rate, S9 310 Colonel Smith's JVamtive. and the timber chiefly oak and hickory. A little above the forks, ou the East Branch ot C'ayahaga are considerable rapids, very rocky, for some dis- tance: bat no perpendicular falls. About the first of December, i7oGt we were pre- paring for leaving the river; we buried our canoes, and as usual hung up our skins, and every one had a pack to cany: the squaws also packed up their tents, which they carried in large rolls, that extend- ed up above their heads; and though a great bulk, yet not heavy. We steered about a south east course, and could not march over ten miles per day* At night we lodged in our flag tents, which when erected} were nearly in the shape of a sugar loaf; and about fifteen feet diameter at the ground. In this manner we proceeded about forty miles, and wintered in these tents, on the waters of Bea- ver creek, near a little lake or large pond, which is about two miles long, and one broad, and a remark- able place for beaver. It is a received opinion among the Indians, that the geese turn to beavers, and the snakes to raccoons; and though Teccaughretanego, who was a wise man, was not fully persuaded that this was true; yet he seemed in some measure to be carried away with this whimsical notion. lie said that this pond bad been always a plentiful place of beaver. Though he said he knew them to be frequently all killed, (as he thought.) yet the next winter they wtuld be as plenty as ever. And as the beaver wa§ Colonel Smalt's Narrative, S17 an animal that did not travel by land, and there be- lag no w\t r cojiji mication. to, or from this pmd, how could such a number of beavers get there year after year? But as this pond was also a considera- ble place for geese, when they came in the fall from the north, and alighted in this pond, they turned beavers, all but the feet, which remained nearly the same. I said that though there was no water communi- cation, in, or out of this pond; yet it appeared that it was fed by springs, as it was always clear and uever stagnated; and as a very large spring ros* about a mile below this pond, it was likely that this spring came from this pond. In the fall when this spring is comparatively low there would be air un- der ground sufficient for the beavers to breathe in, with their heads above water, for they cannot live long under water, and so they might have a sub- terraneous passage by water into this pond* Te- caughretanego granted that it might be so. About the sides of this pond there grew great a* bundance of cranberries, which the Indians gather- ed up on the ice, when the pond was frozen over. These berries were about as large as riflle bullets—* ©f a bright red color — an agreeable acid, though rx* ther too sour of themselves; but when mixed with sugar, had a very agreeable taste. In conversation with Tecaughretanego, I hap- pened to be talking of the beavers' catching fish. He asked me why I thought that the bearer caught e 218 Colonel Smith's Narrative. fish? I (old him that I had read of the beaver ma- king dams for the conveniency of fishing. He laugh- ed, and made game of me and my book. He said the man that wrote that book, knew nothing about the beaver. The beaver never did eat flesh of any kind; but lived on the bark, of trees, roots, and other vegetables. In order to know certainly how this was, when we killed a beaver I carefully examined the intes- tines but found no appearance of fish; 1 afterwards made an experiment on a pet beaver which we had, and found that it would neither cat fish or flesh; therefore 1 acknowledged that ihe book I had read was wrong. I asked him if (he beaver was an amphibious an- imal, or if it could live under water? He said that the beaver was a kind of subterraneous water ani- mal, that lives in or near the water; but they were no more amphibious than the ducks and geese were, which was constantly proven to be the case; as all the beavers that are caught in steel traps arc drowned, provided the (rap be heavy enough to keep them under water. As the beaver does nut cat fish, I enquired of Tccaughrutanego why the beaver made such large dams? He said they weie of use to them in various respects both for their safe- ty and food. For their safety, as by raisiug the water over the mouths of their holes, or subterra- neous lodging places, they could not be easily found: and as the beaver feeds chicly on the bark of tree*; Colonel Smith's Narrative* S10 by raising the water over the banks, they can cut down saplings for bark to feed upon without going out much upon the land: and when they are obliged to go out on laud for this food they frequently are caught by the wolves. As the beaver can run up- on land, but little faster than a water tortoise, and is no fighting animal, if they are any distance from the water they become an easy prey to their ene- mies. I asked Tecawghretanego, what was the use of the beaver's o r) - Is, to them; as the bea- ver has two pair, which is commonly called the oil stones, and the bark stones? He said that as the beavers are the dumbest of all animals, and scarce- ly ever make any noise; and as they were working creatures, they made use of this smell in order to work in concert. If any old beaver was to come on the bank and rub his breech upon the ground, and raise a perfume, the others will collect frcm differ- ent places and go to work: this is also of use to them in travelling, that they may thereby search out and find their company. Cunning hunters finding this out, have made use of it against the beaver, in or- der to catch them. What is the bait which you see them make use of, but a compound of the oil and bark stones? By this perfume, which is only a false signal they decoy them to the trap. Near this pond, beaver was the principal game. Before the water froze up, we caught a great many with wooden and steel traps: but after that, we 220 Colonel Smith's Narrative. hunted the beaver on the ice. Some places her© the beavers build Urge houses to live in; and in other places they have subterraneous lodgings in the banks. Where they lodge in the ground, we have ne chance of hunting them on the ice; but where they have houses we go witii malls and handspikes, and break all the hollow ice, to pre- vent them from getting their heads above the water under it. Then we break a hole in the house and they make their escape into the water; but as they cannot live long under water, they are obliged to go to some of those broken places to breathe, and the Tndians commonly put in their bauds, catch them by the hind leg, bawl them on the ice, and toma- hawk them. Sometimes they shoot them in the head, when they raise it above the water. 1 asked the Indians if they were not afraid to catch the bea- vers with their hands? they said no: tbey were not much of a biting creature, yet if they would catch them by the fore foot they would bite. I went out with Tecaughretanego, and some oth- ers a beaver hunting: but wo did not succeed, and on our return we saw where, several- raccoons had passed, while the snow was soft; though there wa* now a crust upon it, we all made a halt looking at the raccoon tracks. As they saw a tree with a hole In it they told me to go and see if they had gone in ihercat; and if they had to halloo, and they would come and take them out. When I went to that tree, I found they had gone past; but 1 saw another the Colonel Smith's Narrative. «2| Way they had went, and proceeded to examine that, and found they had gone up it. I then began to halloo, but could have no answer. As it began to snow and blow most violently, I returned and proceeded after my company, and for some time could see their tracks; but the old snow being only about three inches deep; and a crust up- on it, the present driving snow soon filled up the tracks. As I had only a b«w, arrows and tomahawk, with me, and no way to strike fire, I appeared to be in a dismal situation— and as the air was dark with snow, I had little more prospect of steering my course, than 1 would in the night. At length J came to a hollow tree, with a hole at one side that I could go in at. I went in, and found that it was a dry place, and the hollow about three feet diam- eter, and high enough for ma to stand in. I found that there was also a considerable quantity of soft, dry rotten wood, around this hollow: 1 therefore con - eluded that 1 would lodge here; and that I would go to work, and stop up the door of my house. I stripped off my blanket, (which was all the clothes that 1 had, excepting a breech-clout, leggins and mockasous,) and with my tomahawk, fell to chop- ping at the top of a fallen tree that lay near and carried wood and set it up on end against the door, until I had it three or four feet thick, all around, excepting a hole I had left to creep in at. I had a block prepared that I could hawl after me, to stop 4bis hole: and before I went in 1 put in a number 233 Colonel Smith's Narrative. of small sticks, that I might more effectually stop it on the inside. When I went in, 1 took my tom- ahawk and cut down all the dry rotten wood I could get, and heat it small. With it 1 made a bed like a goose- nest or bog- bed, and with the small sticks stopped every hole, until my house was al- most dark. I stripped off my mockasons, and danced in the centre of my bed for about half an lionr. in order to warm myself. In this time my feet and whole body were agreeably warmed. The snow, in the mean while, had stopped all the holes, so that my house was as dark as a dungeon; though I knew it could not yet be dark out of of doors. I then coiled myself up in my blanket, lay down in my little round bed, and had a tolerable nights lodging. When 1 awoke, all was dark — not the least glimmering of light was to be seen. Imme- diately 1 recollected that 1 was not to expect light in this new habitation, as there was neither door nor window in it. As J could hear the storm ra- ging, and did not suffer much cold, as 1 was then situated, 1 concluded I would stay in my nest until 1 was certain it was d.iy. When 1 had reason to Conclude that it surety wis day, 1 arose and put on my mockasons, which 1 had laid under my head to keep from freezing. 1 then endeavored to find the door, and had to do all by the tense of feeling, which took me some time. At length I found the block, but it being heavy, and a large quantity of snow ba\ing fallen On it. at the first attempt 1 did not Colonel Smiths Narrative* %$& move it. I then felt terrified — among all the hard- ships I had sustained, I never knew before, what it was to be thus deprived of light. This, with the other circumstances attending it, appeared grievous, I went straightway to bed again, wrapped my blank- et round me, and lay and mused a while, and then, prayed to Almighty God to direct and protect me, as he had done heretofore. I once again attempted to move away the block, which proved successful: it moved about nine inches. With this a consider- able quantity of snow fell iu from above, and I im- mediately received light; so that 1 found a very great snow had fallen, above what I had ever seen in oue night. I then knew why I could not easily move the block, and I was so rejoiced at obtaining the light, that all my other difficulties seemed to van- ish. I then turned into my cell, and returned (rod thanks for having once more received the Mght of Heaven. At length I belted my blanket about me, got my tomahawk, bow and arrows; and went out of my den. I was now in tolerable high spirits, though the snow had fallen above three feet deep, in addition to what was on the ground before; and the only imperfect guide I had, in order to steer my course to camp, was the trees; as the moss generally grows on the north-west side of them, if they are straight I proceeded on, wading through the snow, and a- bdut twelve o'clock (as it appeared afterward, from that time to night, for it was yet cloudy,) I cam^ 30 %&h Colonel Smith's Narrative; upon the creek that our camp was on, about half a mile below the camp; and wheu I came in sight of the camp, I found that there was great joy, by Ibe shouts and yelling of the boys, &c. When I arrived, they all came round me, and received me gladly; but at this time no questions were asked, and 1 was taken into a tent, where they gave me plenty of fat beaver meat, and them asked me to smoke. When I had done, Tecaugh- r« tan ego desired me to walk out to a tire they had made. I went out, and tbey all collected round me, men, women and boys. Tecaughrctanege asked me to give them a particular account of what had happened from the time they left me yesterday? until now. I told them the whole of the story, and they never interrupted me; but when I made a stop, the intervals were filled with loud acclamations of joy. As I could not, at this time, talk Ottawa or Jibewa well, (which is nearly the same) 1 deliver- ed my story in Caughnewaga. As my sister Mol- ly's husband was a Jibewa and could understand Caughnewaga, lie acted as interpreter, and deliver- ed my story to the Jibewas and Ottawas, which they received with pleasure. When all this was done, Tccaughrotanego made a speech to me in the following manner: "Brother. — You see we have prepared snow* shoes to go after you, and were almost ready to go, when you appeared; yet, as you had not been ac- customed to hardships in your country, to the east Colonel Smith's Narrative. 235 and let the boy lay some meat on the coals for himself, which he did, hut ate it al- most raw, a9 I had done. I immediately hung on the keffle with some water, and cut the beef iu thin slices, and put them in: when it had boiled awhile, 1 proposed taking it off the fire, but the old man re- plied, "let it be done enough. w This he said iu as patient and unconcerned a manner, as if he had not wanted a single meal. He commanded Nunganey to eat no more beef at that tine, least he might hurt himself; but told him to sit down, and after some time he might sup seine broth — this command he reluctantly obeyed. When we were all refreshed, Tacaughretanego delivered a speech upon the necessity and pleasure of receiving the necessary supports of life with thankfulness, knowing that Onaweeyo is the great aiyer* Such speeches from an Indian, may be thought by those who are unacquainted with them, altogether incredible; but when we reflect on the In- dian war, we may readily conclude that they are not an ignorant or stupid sort of people, or they would not have been such fatal enemies. When they came into our country they outwitted us; and when we sent armies into their country, they out- geuerallcd, and beat us with inferior force. Let us also take into consideration that Tecaughretancgo was uo common person, but was among the Indians, as Socrates in the ancient Heathen world; and it may be, equal to him, if not in wisdom and learn- Poland Smith' s'Narralibe. S'5S JUg, yet perhaps in patience and fortitude. Not- withstanding Tecanghretanego's uncommon natur- al abilities, yet in the sequel of this history you will see the deficiency of the light of nature, unaided by Revelation, in this truly great man. The next morning Tecaughretanego desired me to go back and bring another load of buffaloe beef: as I proceeded to do so, about five miles from our hut I found a bear tree. As a sapling grew near the tree, and reached near the hole that the bear went in at, I got dry dozed or rotten wood, that would catch and hold fire almost as well as spunk. This wood I tied up in bunches, fixed them on my back, and then climbed up the sapling, and with % pole, I put them touched with fire, into the hole, and then came down and took my gun in my hand. After some time the bear came out, and I killed and skinned it, packed up a load of the meat, (after se- curing the remainder from the wolves) and return- ed home before night. On my return my old broth- er and his son were much rejoiced at my success. After this we had plenty of provision. We remained here until some time in April 1758. At thi3 time Tecaughretanego had recovered so, that he could walk about. We made a bark canoe, embarked, and went down Ollentangy some dis- tance, but the water being low, we were in danger of splitting our canoe on the rocks: therefore Te- caughretanego concluded we should encamp on skore, and pray for rain. «JS1 Colonel Smith's Narrative* "When we encamped, Tecaughretanego mada himself a sweat-house; which lie did by sticking a number of hoops in the ground, each hoop forming a semi-circle — this he covered all round with blank- ets and skins; he then prepared hot stones, which he rolled into this hut, and then went into it himself, with a little kettle of water in his hand, mixed with a variety of herbs, which he had formerly cured, and had now with him in his pack — they afforded an odoriferous perfume. When he was in, he told me to pull down the blankets behind him, and cov- er up ch sc, which I did. and then he began to pour water upon the hot stones, and to sing aloud. He continued in this vehement hot place about fif- teen minutes: all this he did in order to purify him- self before he would address the Supreme Being. "When he came out of his sweat-house, he began to burn tobacco and pray. He began each petition with oh, ho, ho, ho, which it. a kind of aspiration, and signifies an ardent wish. I observed that all his petitions were only for immediate, or present temporal blessings. He began his address by thanksgiving, in the (following manner: "O great being! I thank thee that ' have obtain- ed the use of my legs again, that 1 . able to walk about and kill turkeys, &c. without feeling exqui- site pain and misery: I know that thou art a hoar- «r and a helper, and therefore 1 will call upon thee. "Oh, ho. ho. ho, -> we have sustained for want ol' it, and then see if it will not be well worth our while to retain what we have, and also to endeavor to improve in this neceaaarj branch of business. Thvugh we have made considerable proficiency in this line, and in some respects OUt-do them, viz. as marksmen, and in cutting our lilies, ami keeping them in good order; yet 1 appre- hend we arc fjr behind in their maix-uvrcs, or in being Discipline and Method of War. 26? able to surprize. May we not conclude that the progress we had made in their art of war, contributed considera- bly towards our success, in various respects^ when con- tending with Great Britain for liberty? Had the British king attempted to enslave us before Braddock's war, in all probability he might readily have done it, because, ex-, cept the New-Englanders, who had formerly been en- gaged in war with the Indians, we were unacquainted, with any kind of war: but after fighting such a subtle and barbarous enemy as the Indians, we were not terrifi- ed at the approach of British red-coats. Was not Bur- goyne's defeat accomplished in some measure, by the In- dian mode of fighting? and did not General Morgan's ri- fle-men, and many others, fight with great success, in consequence of what they had learned of their art of war? Kentucky would not have been settled at the time it was, had the Virginians been altogether ignorant of this meth- od of war. In Braddock's war, the frontiers were laid waste, for above three hundred miles long, and generally about thir- ty broad, excepting some that were living in forts, and many hundreds, or perhaps thousands, killed or made captives, and horses, and all kind of property carried off: but in the next Indian war, though we had the same In- dians to cope with, the frontiers almost all stood their ground, because they were by this time, in some meas- ure acquainted with their manoeuvres; and the want of this, in the first war, was the cause of the loss of many hundreds of our citizens, and of much treasure. Though large volumes have been written of morality, yet it may be all summed up in saying, do as you would wish to be done by: so the Indians sum up the art of war in the following manner: The business of the private warriors is to be under command, or punctually to obey orders — to learn to march abreast in scattered order, so as to be in readiness to surround the enemy, or to prevent being surrounded — to be good marksmen, and active in the use of arms — to practice running — to learn to endure hunger or hard- ships with patience and fortitude— to tell the truth at all times to their officers, but more especially when sent out to spy the enemy. £68 Discipline and Method of War. Concerning Officers. — They say that it would be absurd to appoint a man an officer whose skill and courage had never been tried — that all officers should be advanced on- ly according to merit — that no one man should have the absolute command of an army — that a council of officers are to determine when, and how an attack is to be made*-- that it is the business of the officers to lay plans to take every advantage of the enemy — to ambush and surprize them, and to prevent being ambushed and surprized themselves — it is the duty of officers to prepare and de- liver speeches to the men, in order to animate and encour- age them; and on the march to prevent the meu> at any time, from getting into a huddle, because if the enemy should surround them in this position, they would be ex- posed to the enemy's fire. It is likewise their business at all times to endeavor to annoy their enemy, and save their own men, and therefore ought never to bring on an •attack without considerable advantage, or without what appeared to them the sure prospect of victory, and that with the loss of few men: and if at any time they should be mistaken in this, ami are like to lose many men by gaining the victory, it is their duty to retreat, and wait for a better opportunity of defeating their enemy, with- out the danger of losing so many men. Their conduct proves that they act upon these principles, therefore it is, that from Braddoclc'S war to the present time, they have seldom ever made an unsuccessful attack. The battle at the mouth oi the Great Kanhawa, is the greatest instance of this: and even then, though the Indians kill- ed about three for one. they lost, yet they retreated. The loss of the Virginian! in this action, was seventy killed, and ihe. same number wounded. Tlie Indians lost twen- ty killed on the f.< Id, and right, who djed afterwards, of their wounds. This was the greatest loss of men that { ever knew the Indians to sustain in any one battle. They will commonly retreat if their men are falling fast, will not stand cutting, like the Highlanders, or oth- er British troops: hut this proceeds from :i compliance with their rules of war. rather than cowardice. If they surrounded, they will fight while lime is a man of ♦hem alive, rather than surrender. When Colonel John Discipline and Method of War. 2.6V9 Armstrong surrounded the Kittajiing town, on the Alle? ghany river, Captain Jacobs, a Delaware chief, with some warriors, took possession of a house, defended themselves for some time, and killed a number of our men. As Jacobs could speak English, our people called on him to surrender: he said that he and his men were warriors, and they would all fight while life remained. He was again told that they should be well used, if they would only surrender; and if not, the house should be burned down over their heads: Jacobs replied he could eat fire: and when the house was in a flame, he, and they that were with him, came out in a lighting position, and were all killed. As they are a sharp, active kind of people, and war is their principal study, in this they have arrived at considerable perfection. We may learn of the Indians what is useful and laudable, and at the same time lay aside their barbarous proceedings. It is much to be lamented that some of our frontier riflemen are prone to imitate them in their inhumanity. During the British war, a considerable number of men from below" Fort Pitt, crossed the Ohio, and inarched into a town of friendly Indians, chiefly Delawares, who professed the Moravian religion. As the Indians apprehended no dan- ger, they neither lifted arm9 or fled. After these rifle- men were some time in the town, and the Indians alto- gether in their power, in cool blood, they massacred the whole town, without distinction of age or sex. This was an act of barbarity beyond any thing I ever knew to be committed by savages themselves. Why have we not made greater proficiency in the In- dian art of war? Is it because we are too proud to imitate them, even though it should be a means of preserving the lives of many of our citizens? No! We are not above, borrowing language from them, such as homony, pone, tomahawk, &c. which is of little or no use to us. I ap- prehend that the reasons why we have not improved more in this respect are a9 follows: no important acqui- sition is to be obtained but by attention and diligence; and as it is easier to learn to move and act in concert, in close order, in the open plain, than to act in concert ij. scattered order, in. the weeds: so it is easier to learn our &70 Discipline and Method of War. discipline, than the Indian manoeuvres. They train . their boys to the art of war from the time they arc twel* or fourteen years of age; whereas the principal chanc our people had of learning, was by observing their mow. ments when in action against us. I have been long as- tonished that no one has written upon this important sub- ject, as their art of war would not only be of use to us in case of another rupture with them; but wrre only part of our men taught this art, accompanied with our conti- nental discipline, I think no European power, after trial, would venture to shew its head in American woods. FINIS. ERRATA. Page ii, line 8 iVom bottom, for viriJe read viridi. ♦' 38, " 18 from top, for hear read near. " 46, "21 •« « between go and the insert to. » 130, 131, and 139, for Colonel Drake read Colonel Darke. Page 136, line 8 from top, for 70 miles read 30 nui Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Jan. 2003 PreservationTechnologies AWORLO LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township. PA 1 6066 (724)779-2111 ^ : y \ , > ? ^ i . >> 5» V ■y \ ■» ■> 4 • ^ r> .-X >-\ '^V 9 3k. » > ^ • "i a) S ii> 'iisWB^ii • , --' ■ /i >■■>->>