第 4 节
作者:
青涩春天 更新:2021-02-20 15:25 字数:9322
In this time the enemy began to undermine our fort; which was
situated sixty yards from Kentucke river。 They began at the water…
mark and proceeded in the bank some distance; which we understood
by their making the water muddy with the clay; and we immediately
proceeded to disappoint their design; by cutting a trench across
their subterranean passage。 The enemy discovering our counter…mine;
by the clay we threw out of the fort; desisted from that stratagem:
And experience now fully convincing them that neither their power
nor policy could effect their purpose; on the twentieth day of
August they raised the siege; and departed。
During this dreadful siege; which threatened death in every form;
we had two men killed; and four wounded; besides a number of
cattle。 We killed of the enemy thirty…seven; and wounded a great
number。 After they were gone; we picked up one hundred and twenty…
five pounds weight of bullets; besides what stuck in the logs of
our fort; which certainly is a great proof of their industry。 Soon
after this; I went into the settlement; and nothing worthy of a
place in this account passed in my affairs for some time。
During my absence from Kentucke; Col。 Bowman carried on an
expedition against the Shawanese; at Old Chelicothe; with one
hundred and sixty men; in July; 1779。 Here they arrived
undiscovered; and a battle ensued; which lasted until ten o'clock;
A。 M。 when Col。 Bowman; finding he could not succeed at this time;
retreated about thirty miles。 The Indians; in the meantime;
collecting all their forces; pursued and overtook him; when a smart
fight continued near two hours; not to the advantage of Col。
Bowman's party。
Col。 Harrod proposed to mount a number of horse; and furiously
to rush upon the savages; who at this time fought with remarkable
fury。 This desperate step had a happy effect; broke their line of
battle; and the savages fled on all sides。 In these two battles we
had nine killed; and one wounded。 The enemy's loss uncertain; only
two scalps being taken。
On the twenty…second day of June; 1780; a large party of Indians
and Canadians; about six hundred in number; commanded by Col。 Bird;
attacked Riddle's and Martin's stations; at the Forks of Licking
River; with six pieces of artillery。 They carried this expedition
so secretly; that the unwary inhabitants did not discover them;
until they fired upon the forts; and; not being prepared to oppose
them; were obliged to surrender themselves miserable captives to
barbarous savages; who immediately after tomahawked one man and two
women; and loaded all the others with heavy baggage; forcing them
along toward their towns; able or unable to march。 Such as were
weak and faint by the way; they tomahawked。 The tender women; and
helpless children; fell victims to their cruelty。 This; and the
savage treatment they received afterwards; is shocking to humanity;
and too barbarous to relate。
The hostile disposition of the savages; and their allies; caused
General Clark; the commandant at the Falls of the Ohio; immediately
to begin an expedition with his own regiment; and the armed force
of the country; against Pecaway; the principal town of the
Shawanese; on a branch of Great Miami; which he finished with great
success; took seventeen scalps; and burnt the town to ashes; with
the loss of seventeen men。
About this time I returned to Kentucke with my family; and here;
to avoid an enquiry into my conduct; the reader being before
informed of my bringing my family to Kentucke; I am under the
necessity of informing him that; during my captivity with the
Indians; my wife; who despaired of ever seeing me again; expecting
the Indians had put a period to my life; oppressed with the
distresses of the country; and bereaved of me; her only happiness;
had; before I returned; transported my family and goods; on horses;
through the wilderness; amidst a multitude of dangers; to her
father's house; in North…Carolina。
Shortly after the troubles at Boonsborough; I went to them; and
lived peaceably there until this time。 The history of my going
home; and returning with my family; forms a series of difficulties;
an account of which would swell a volume; and being foreign to my
purpose; I shall purposely omit them。
I settled my family in Boonsborough once more; and shortly after;
on the sixth day of October; 1780; I went in company with my
brother to the Blue Licks; and; on our return home; we were fired
upon by a party of Indians。 They shot him; and pursued me; by the
scent of their dog; three miles; but I killed the dog; and escaped。
The winter soon came on; and was very severe; which confined the
Indians to their wigwams。
The severity of this Winter caused great difficulties in
Kentucke。 The enemy had destroyed most of the corn; the Summer
before。 This necessary article was scarce; and dear; and the
inhabitants lived chiefly on the flesh of buffaloes。 The
circumstances of many were very lamentable: However; being a hardy
race of people; and accustomed to difficulties and necessities;
they were wonderfully supported through all their sufferings; until
the ensuing Fall; when we received abundance from the fertile soil。
Towards Spring; we were frequently harassed by Indians; and; in
May; 1782; a party assaulted Ashton's station; killed one man; and
took a Negro prisoner。 Capt。 Ashton; with twenty…five men; pursued;
and overtook the savages; and a smart fight ensued; which lasted
two hours; but they being superior in number; obliged Captain
Ashton's party to retreat; with the loss of eight killed; and four
mortally wounded; their brave commander himself being numbered
among the dead。
The Indians continued their hostilities; and; about the tenth of
August following; two boys were taken from Major Hoy's
station。 This party was pursued by Capt。 Holder and seventeen men;
who were also defeated; with the loss of four men killed; and one
wounded。 Our affairs became more and more alarming。 Several
stations which had lately been erected in the country were
continually infested with savages; stealing their horses and
killing the men at every opportunity。 In a field; near Lexington;
an Indian shot a man; and running to scalp him; was himself shot
from the fort; and fell dead upon his enemy。
Every day we experienced recent mischiefs。 The barbarous savage
nations of Shawanese; Cherokees; Wyandots; Tawas; Delawares; and
several others near Detroit; united in a war against us; and
assembled their choicest warriors at old Chelicothe; to go on the
expedition; in order to destroy us; and entirely depopulate the
country。 Their savage minds were inflamed to mischief by two
abandoned men; Captains McKee and Girty。 These led them to execute
every diabolical scheme; and; on the fifteenth day of August;
commanded a party of Indians and Canadians; of about five hundred
in number; against Briant's station; five miles from Lexington。
Without demanding a surrender; they furiously assaulted the
garrison; which was happily prepared to oppose them; and; after
they had expended much ammunition in vain; and killed the cattle
round the fort; not being likely to make themselves masters of this
place; they raised the siege; and departed in the morning of the
third day after they came; with the loss of about thirty killed;
and the number of wounded uncertain。Of the garrison four were
killed; and three wounded。
On the eighteenth day Col。 Todd; Col。 Trigg; Major Harland; and
myself; speedily collected one hundred and seventy…six men; well
armed; and pursued the savages。 They had marched beyond the Blue
Licks to a remarkable bend of the main fork of Licking River; about
forty…three miles from Lexington; as it is particularly represented
in the map; where we overtook them on the nineteenth day。 The
savages observing us; gave way; and we; being ignorant of their
numbers; passed the river。 When the enemy saw our proceedings;
having greatly the advantage of us in situation; they formed the
line of battle; represented in the map; from one bend of Licking to
the other; about a mile from the Blue Licks。 An exceeding fierce
battle immediately began; for about fifteen minutes; when we; being
over…powered by numbers; were obliged to retreat; with the loss of
sixty…seven men; seven of whom were taken prisoners。 The brave and
much lamented Colonels Todd and Trigg; Major Harland and my second
son; were among the dead。 We were informed that the Indians;
numbering their dead; found they had four killed more than we; and
therefore; four of the prisoners they had taken; were; by general
consent; ordered to be killed; in a most barbarous manner; by the
young warriors; in order to train them up to cruelty; and then they
proceeded to their towns。
On our retreat we were met by Col。 Logan; hastening to join us;
with a number of well armed men: This powerful assistance we
unfortunate