USA > Massachusetts > Our western border : its life, combats, adventures, forays, massacres, captivities, scouts, red chiefs, pioneer women, one hundred years ago, containing the cream of all the rare old border chronicles > Part 66
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On the 25th of May the boat entered Salt river, and the hands com- menced working her up with sweep-oars. 'There was no current one way or the other. While on the Ohio, the great breadth of the river secured them against any sudden attack, but when they came into Salt river they were within reach of the Indian rifle from either shore. It became necessary, therefore, to send out scouts to apprise them of any danger ahead. In the evening of the first day, Crist and Floyd went ashore to reconnoitre the bank ahead of the boat. Late in the evening they discovered a fresh trail, but for want of light they could not make out the number of Indians. They remained out all night, but made no further discoveries. In the morning, as they were returning down the river towards the boat, they heard a number of guns, which they believed to be Indians killing game for breakfast. They hastened back to the boat and communicated what they had heard and seen.
They pulled on up the river until eight o'clock, and arrived at a point eight miles below the mouth of the Rolling Fork, where they drew into shore on the north side of the river, intending to land and cook their breakfast. As they drew into shore, they heard the gob- bling of turkeys (as they supposed) on the bank where they were going
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A SAVAGE BOAT ATTACK AND A TERRIBLE COMBAT.
to land, and as the boat touched, Fossett and another sprang ashore, with their guns in their hands, to shoot turkeys. They were cautioned of their danger, but disregarding the admonition, hastily ascended the bank. Their companions in the boat had barely lost sight of them when they heard a volley of rifles discharged all at once on the bank immediately above, succeeded by a yell of savages so terrific as to in- duce a belief that the woods were filled with Indians. This attack, so sudden and violent, took the boat's company by surprise; and they had barely time to seize their rifles and place themselves in a posture of de- fence when Fossett and his companion came dashing down the bank, hotly pursued by a large body of Indians.
Crist stood in the bow of the boat, with his rifle in his hand. At the first sight of the enemy he brought his gun to his face, but instantly perceived that the object of his aim was a white man, and a sudden thought flashed across his mind that the enemy was a company of sur- veyors that he knew to be then in the woods, and that the attack was made in sport, &c., let his gun down, and at the same time his white foeman sank out of sight behind the bank. But the firing had com- menced in good earnest on both sides. Crist again brought his rifle to his face, and as he did so the white man's head was rising over the bank with his gun also presented. Crist got the fire on him, and at the crack of his rifle the white man fell forward dead. Fossett's hunt- ing companion plunged into the water and got in safely at the bow of the boat ; but Fossett's arm was broken by the first fire on the hill. The boat, owing to the high water, did not touch the land, and he got into the river further towards the stern and swam round, with his gun in his left hand, and was taken safely into the stern.
So intent were the Indians on the pursuit of their prey that many of them ran to the water's edge, struck and shot at Fossett and his com- panion while getting into the boat, and some even seized the boat and attempted to draw it nearer the shore. In this attempt many of the Indians perished ; some were shot dead as they approached the boat ; others were killed in the river, and it required the most stubborn re- sistance and determined valor to keep them from carrying the boat by assault. Repulsed in their efforts to board the boat, the savages with- drew higher up the bank, and, taking their stations behind trees, com- menced a regular and galling fire, which was returned with the spirit of brave men rendered desperate by the certain knowledge that no quarter would be given, and that it was an issue of victory or death to every soul on board.
The boat had a log chain for a cable, and when she was first brought ashore the chain was thrown around a small tree that stood on the
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water's edge, and the hook run through one of the links. This had been done before the first fire was made upon Fossett on shore. The kettles in the boat had been ranked up along the sides, leaving an open gangway through the middle of the boat from bow to stern. Unfor- tunately, the bow lay to shore, so that the guns of the Indians raked the whole length of the gangway, and their fire was constant and destructive. Spears, and several others of the brave men, had already fallen, some killed and others mortally wounded. From the com- mencement of the battle many efforts had been made to disengage the boat from the shore, all of which had failed. The hope was that if they could once loose the cable, the boat would drift out of the reach of the enemy's guns, but any attempt to do this by hand would expose the person to certain destruction.
Fossett's right arm was broken, and he could no longer handle his rifle. He got a pole and, placing himself low down in the bow of the boat, commenced punching at the hook in the chain, but the point of the hook was turned from him, and all his efforts seemed only to drive it further into the link. He at length discovered where a small limb had been cut from the pole and left a knot about an inch long; this knot, after a number of efforts, he placed against the point of the hook, and, jerking the pole suddenly towards him, threw the hook out of the link. The chain fell and the boat drifted slowly out from the bank, and by means of an oar worked overhead, was brought into the middle of the river with her side to the shore, which protected them from the fire of the Indians. The battle had now lasted upwards of an hour. The odds against the crew were at least ten to one. The fire had been very destructive on both sides, and a great many Indians had been killed; but if the boat had remained much longer at the shore, it was manifest that there would have been none of the crew left to tell the tale of their disaster.
The survivors had now time to look round upon the havoc that had been made of their little band. Five of their companions lay dead in the gangway; Spears, Floyd, Fossett and Boyce were wounded ; Crepps, Crist and Moore remained unhurt. It was evident that Spears' wound was mortal, and that he could survive but a few moments. He urged the survivors to run the boat to the opposite side of the river and save themselves by immediate flight, and leave him to his fate. Crepps and Crist positively refused.
But the boat was gradually nearing the southern shore of the river. At this time the Indians, to the number of forty or fifty, were seen crossing the river above, at a few hundred yards' distance, some on logs and some swimming and carrying their rifles over their heads. The
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A VERY OBSTINATE DEFENCE AND A BARREN VICTORY.
escape of the boat was now hopeless, as there was a large body of In- dians on each side of the river. If the boat had been carried im- mediately to the opposite side of the river as soon as her cable was loosed, the survivors might have escaped ; but to such minds and hearts the idea of leaving their dying friends to the mercy of the Indian toma- , hawk was insupportable. The boat at length touched the southern shore ; a hasty preparation was made to bury the wounded in the woods ; Floyd, Fossett and Boyce got to land and sought concealment in the thickets. Crepps and Crist turned to their suffering friend, Spears, but death had kindly stepped in and cut short the savage tri- umph. The woman now remained. They offered to assist her to shore, that she might take her chance of escape in the woods; but the danger of her position, and the scenes of blood and death around her, had overpowered her senses, and no entreaty or remonstrance could prevail with her to move. She sat with her face buried in her hands, and no effort could make her sensible that there was any hope of escape.
A VERY OBSTINATE DEFENCE AND A BARREN VICTORY.
The Indians had gained the south side of the river, and were yelling like bloodhounds as they ran down towards the boat, which they now looked upon as their certain prey. Crepps and Crist seized a rifle apiece and ascended the river bank ; at the top of the hill they met the savages, and charged them with a shout. Crepps fired upon them, but Crist, in his haste, had taken up Fossett's gun, which had got wet as he swam with it to the boat on the opposite side-it missed fire. At this time Moore passed them and escaped. The Indians, when charged by Crepps and Crist, fell back into a ravine that put into the river im- mediately above them. Crist and Crepps again commenced their flight. The Indians rallied and rose from the ravine, and fired a volley at them as they fled. Crepps received a ball in his left side; a bullet struck Crist's heel and completely crushed the bones of his foot. They parted and met no more. The Indians, intent on plunder, did not pursue them, but rushed into the boat. Crist heard one long, agonizing shriek from the unfortunate woman, and the wild shouts of the savages, as they possessed themselves of the spoils of a costly but barren victory.
Crepps, in the course of the next day, arrived in the neighborhood of Long Lick, and, being unable to travel farther, laid down in the woods to die. Moore alone escaped unhurt, and brought in the tidings - of the defeat of the boat. The country was at once roused. Crepps
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
was found and brought in, but died about the time he reached home. Crist described Crepps as a tall, fair-haired, handsome man; kind, brave and enterprising, and possessed of all those high and striking qualities that gave the heroic stamp to that hardy race of pioneers among whom he had lived and died. He had been the lion of the fight. By ex- posing himself to the most imminent peril, he inspirited his companions with his own contempt of danger. He and Crist had stood over Fossett, and kept the Indians treed while he disengaged the cable; and his coolness during the long, bloody struggle of the day had won the admiration of Crist himself-than whom a more dauntless man had never contended with mortal foe. Crepps left a young wife and one son, then an infant. His wife was enceinte at the time of his death- the posthumous child was a daughter, and is the wife of the Hon. Charles A. Wickliffe, of Kentucky. The son died shortly after he arrived at man's estate.
Crist was so disabled by the wound that he could not walk. The bones of his heel were crushed. He crept into a thicket and laid down. His wound bled profusely. He could not remain there long. His feet were now of no use to him. He bound his moccasins on his knees, and commenced his journey. Piece by piece, his hat, hunting shirt and vest were consumed to shield his hands against the rugged rocks which lay in his way. He crawled on all day up the river, and at night crossed over to the north side upon a log that he rolled down the bank. He concealed himself in a thicket and tried to sleep-but pain and ex- haustion and loss of blood had driven sleep from his eyes. His foot and leg were much swollen and inflamed. Guided by the stars, he crept on again. Between midnight and day he came in sight of a camp fire and heard the barking of a dog. A number of Indians rose up from around the fire, and he crept softly away from the light. He laid down and remained quiet for some time. When all was still again, he re- sumed his slow and painful journey. He crawled into a small branch, and kept on down it for some distance upon the rocks, that he might leave no trace behind him.
At daylight he ascended an eminence of considerable height to as- certain, if possible, where he was, and how to shape his future course ; but all around was wilderness. He was aiming to reach Bullitt's Lick, now about eight miles distant, and his progress was not half a mile an hour. He toiled on all day. Night came on-the second night of his painful journey. Since leaving the small branch the night before, he had found no water-since the day before the battle, he had not tasted food. Worn down with hunger, want of sleep, acute pain and raging thirst, he laid himself down to die. But his sufferings were not to end
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A VERY OBSTINATE DEFENCE AND A BARREN VICTORY.
here-guided again by the stars, he struggled on. Every rag that he could interpose between the rugged stones and his bleeding hands and knee (for he could now use but one) was worn away. The morning came-the morning of the third day ; it brought him but little hope ; but the indomitable spirit within him disdained to yield, and during the day he made what progress he could. As the evening drew on he be- came aware that he was in the vicinity of Bullitt's Lick; but he could go no further ; nature had made her last effort, and he laid himself down and prayed that death would speedily end his sufferings.
When darkness came on, from where he lay he could see the hun- dred fires of the furnaces at the licks all glowing ; and he even fancied he could see the dusky forms of the firemen as they passed to and fro around the pits, but they were more than half a mile off, and how was he to reach them ? He had not eaten a morsel in four days; he had been drained of almost his last drop of blood ; the wounded leg had be- come so stiff and swollen that for the last two days and nights he had dragged it after him ; the flesh was worn from his knee and from the palms of his hands. Relief was in his sight, but to reach it was impos- sible. Suddenly he heard the tramp of a horse's feet approaching him, and hope sprang up once more in his breast. The sound came nearer and still more near. A path ran near the place where he lay; a man on horseback approached within a few rods of him ; he mustered his remaining strength and hailed him, but to his utter surprise and dis- may, the horseman turned suddenly and galloped off towards the licks.
Despair now seized him. To die alone of hunger and thirst, in sight of hundreds and of plenty, seemed to him the last dregs of the bitter- est cup that fate could offer to mortal lips. O ! that he could have fal- len by the side of his friend in the proud battle ! That he could have met the Indian tomahawk and died in the strength of his manhood, and not have been doomed to linger out his life in days and nights of pain and agony, and to die by piecemeal in childish despair. While these thoughts were passing in his mind, the horseman (a negro) re- gained the licks and alarmed the people there with the intelligence that the Indians were approaching. On being interrogated, all the account he could give was that some person had called to him in the woods, a half mile off, and called him by the wrong name. It was manifest it was not Indians, and forthwith a number of men set out, guided by the negro to the place. Crist's hopes again revived, when he heard voices and saw lights approaching. They came near and hailed. Crist knew the voice, and called to the man by name. This removed all doubt, and they approached the spot where he lay. A sad and mourn- ful sight was before them. A man that had left them a few days before,
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in the bloom of youth, health and buoyant spirits, now lay stretched upon the earth, a worn and mangled skeleton, unable to lift a hand to bid them welcome. They bore him home ; the ball was extracted, but his recovery was slow and doubtful. It was a year before he was a man again.
The woman in the boat was carried a prisoner to Canada. Ten years afterwards, Crist met her again in Kentucky. She had been redeemed by an Indian trader, and brought into Wayne's camp on the Maumee, and restored to her friends. She informed Crist that the body of In- dians which made the attack on the boat numbered over one hundred and twenty, of whom about thirty were killed in the engagement. The account was confirmed by Indians whom Crist met with afterwards, and who had been in the battle. They told Crist that the boat's crew fought more like devils than men, and if they had taken one of them prisoner, they would have roasted him alive. Crist was afterwards a member of the Kentucky Legislature, and, in 1808, was a member of Congress. He died at his residence in Bullitt county, in August, 1844, aged eighty years.
A FIERCE COMBAT BY THREE KENTUCKIANS.
In the Spring of 1784 three young Kentuckians, Davis, Caffree and McClure, pursued a party of southern Indians, who had stolen horses from Lincoln county, and finding it impossible to overtake them, they determined to go on to the nearest Indian settlement and make reprisals -horse stealing being at that time a very fashionable amusement and much practiced on both sides. After traveling several days they came within a few miles of an Indian town near the Tennessee river, called Chicamauga. Here they fell in with three Indians. Finding themselves equal in point of numbers, the two parties made signs of peace, shook hands and agreed to travel together. Each, however, was evidently suspicious of the other. The Indians walked on one side of the road and the whites upon the other, watching each other attentively.
At length the Indians spoke together in tones so low and earnest, that the whites became satisfied of their treacherous intentions, and de- termined to anticipate them. Caffree being a very powerful man, pro- posed that he himself should seize one Indian, while Davis and McClure should shoot the other two. The plan was a bad one, but was un- fortunately adopted. Caffree sprang boldly upon the nearest Indian,
-
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A FIERCE COMBAT BY THREE KENTUCKIANS.
grasped his throat firmly, hurled him to the ground, and drawing a cord from his pocket attempted to tie him. At the same instant Davis and McClure attempted to perform their respective parts. McClure killed his man, but Davis' gun missed fire. All three, i. e., the two white men and the Indian at whom Davis had flashed, immediately took trees and prepared for a skirmish, while Caffree remained upon the ground with the captured Indian-both exposed to the fire of the others. In a few seconds the savage at whom Davis had flashed, shot Caffree as he lay upon the ground and gave him a mortal wound, and was instantly shot in turn by McClure, who had reloaded his gun. Caffree becoming very weak, called upon Davis to come and assist him in tying the In- dian, and directly afterwards expired. As Davis was running up to the assistance of his friend, the Indian, now released by the death of his captor, sprang to his feet, and seizing Caffree's rifle, presented it men- acingly at Davis, whose gun was not in order for service, and who ran off into the forest, closely pursued by the Indian. McClure hastily re- loaded his gun, and taking up the rifle which Davis had dropped, followed them for some distance into the forest, making all those signals which had been concerted between them in case of separation. All, however, was vain; he saw nothing more of Davis, nor could he ever afterwards learn his fate. As he never returned to Kentucky, how- ever, he probably perished.
McClure, finding himself alone in the enemy's country and sur- rounded by dead bodies, thought it prudent to abandon the object of the expedition and return to Kentucky. He accordingly retraced his steps, still bearing Davis' rifle in addition to his own. He had scarcely marched a mile before he saw advancing from the opposite direction an Indian warrior, riding a horse with a bell around its neck, and accom- panied by a boy on foot. Dropping one of the rifles, which might have created suspicion, McClure advanced with an air of confidence, extend- ing his hand and making other signs of peace. The opposite party appeared frankly to receive his overtures, and, dismounting, seated him- self upon a log, and drawing out his pipe, gave a few puffs himself and then handed it to McClure.
In a few minutes another bell was heard, at the distance of half a mile, and a second party of Indians appeared upon horseback. The Indian with McClure now coolly informed him by signs that when the horsemen arrived, he (McClure) was to be bound and carried off as a prisoner with his feet tied under the horse's belly. In order to explain it more fully, the Indian got astride of the log and locked his legs together underneath it. McClure, internally thanking the fellow for his excess of candor, determined to disappoint him, and while his
1
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
enemy was busily engaged in riding the log, and mimicking the actions of a prisoner, he very quietly blew his brains out and ran off into the woods. The Indian boy instantly mounted the belled horse and rode off in an opposite direction.
McClure was fiercely pursued by several small Indian dogs, that fre- quently ran between his legs and threw him down. After falling five or six times, his eyes became full of dust and he was totally blind. Despairing of escape, he doggedly lay upon his face, expecting every instant to feel the edge of the tomahawk. To his astonishment, how- ever, no enemy appeared, and even the Indian dogs, after tugging at him for a few minutes, and completely stripping him of his breeches, left him to continue his journey unmolested. Finding everything quiet, in a few moments he arose, and taking up his gun, continued his march to Kentucky. He reached home in safety, and in 1820 was still alive. This communication is from his own lips, and may be relied upon as correct.
THOMAS MARSHALL HAILED BY JAMES GIRTY.
In the course of the next year many families came down the Ohio in boats, landed at Maysville, and continued their route by land, in such parts of the country as pleased them. Out of a number of inci- dents which attended the passage of boats down the river, I shall select two, as worthy of being mentioned. Colonel Thomas Marshall, for- merly commander of the Third Virginia Regiment on continental estab- lishment, and subsequently holding the same rank in the Virginia artil- lery, embarked, with a numerous family, on board of a flat-bottomed boat, and descended the Ohio without any incident worthy of notice until he had passed the mouth of the Kanawha. Here, about ten o'clock at night, he was hailed from the northern shore by a man who spoke good English, and quickly announced himself as James Girty, the brother of Simon, both of whom have been repeatedly mentioned. The boat dropped slowly down within one hundred and fifty yards of the shore, and Girty, making a corresponding movement on the beach, the conference was kept up for several minutes. He began by mentioning his name, and inquired that of the master of the boat.
Having been satisfied upon this head, he assured him that he knew him well, respected him highly, etc., and concluded with some rather extraordinary remarks. "He had been posted there," he said, " by
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CAPTAIN JAMES WARD AND THE FAT DUTCHMAN.
the order of his brother Simon, to warn all boats of the danger of per- mitting themselves to be decoyed ashore. The Indians had become jealous of him, and he had lost that influence which he formerly held among them. He deeply regretted the injury which he had inflicted upon his countrymen, and wished to be restored to their society. In order to convince them of the sincerity of his regard, he had directed liim to warn all boats of the snares spread for them. Every effort would be made to draw passengers ashore. White men would appear on the bank, and children would be heard to supplicate for mercy. But," continued he, "do you keep the middle of the river, and steel your heart against every mournful application which you may receive." The Colonel thanked him for his intelligence, and continued his course.
CAPTAIN JAMES WARD AND THE FAT DUTCHMAN.
About the same time Captain James Ward, until late years a highly respectable citizen of Mason county, Ky., was descending the Ohio, under circumstances which rendered a rencontre with the Indians pecu- liarly to be dreaded. He, together with half a dozen others, one of them his nephew, embarked in a crazy boat, about forty-five feet long and eight feet wide, with no other bulwark than a single pine plank above each gunwale. The boat was much encumbered with baggage, and seven horses were on board. Having seen no enemy for several days, they had become secure and careless and permitted the boat to . drift within fifty yards of the Ohio shore. Suddenly several hundred Indians showed themselves on the bank, and running down boldly to the water's edge, opened a heavy fire upon the boat. The astonishment of the crew may be conceived.
Captain Ward and his nephew were at the oars when the enemy ap- peared, and the Captain, knowing that their safety depended upon their ability to regain the middle of the river, kept his seat firmly and exerted his utmost powers at the oar; but his nephew started up at sight of the enemy, seized his rifle, and was in the act of leveling it, when he received a ball in the breast and fell dead in the bottom of the boat. Unfortunately, his oar fell into the river, and the Captain, having no one to pull against him, rather urged the boat nearer to the hostile - shore than otherwise. He quickly seized a plank, however, and giving his own oar to another of the crew, he took the station which his nephew had held, and, unhurt by the shower of bullets which flew
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