USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 27
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This, notwithstanding the smallness of the numbers, is a very re- markable action, and perhaps more honorable to the Indians than any other one on record. The numbers, the arms, the courage, and position of the parties were equal. There was no surprise, no accident, and both parties were composed of good marksmen, and skilful woodsmen. A delicate manœuvre on the part of Captain Estill, which if it had been promptly executed before the Indian chief had made his charge, would have given a certain victory to the gallant Estill, but which the sagacious savage defeated by a bold and masterly movement, which decided the day in favor of the Indians.
The great battles of Austerlitz and Wagram exhibit the same error on the part of one commander, and the same decision and successful step on the part of the other. The Arch Duke Charles extended his line to take the French in flank, and thereby weakened his centre, which was nstantly broken by a rapid charge of the whole French army. The irst great check which Napoleon received was at Eylau, and was chiefly occasioned by weakening his front, in order to assail the enemy in the ear. It requires, however, great boldness and promptitude in the oppo- ite leader, to take advantage of it. A cautious and wary leader, will 16
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be apt to let the golden opportunity pass away, until the detachment has reached his flank, and it is then too late. The battle of Brandy wine was lost by not crossing the stream with the whole army, and charging upon Knyphausen, when the detachment of Cornwallis was absent on its march to take the Americans in flank. (1) This movement was con- templated by Washington, but was prevented by false intelligence. (2)
The news of Estill's disaster was quickly succeeded by another, scarcely less startling to the alarmed settlers. Captain Holder, at the head of seventeen men, pursued a party of Indians, who had taken two boys from Hoy's station. He overtook them after a rapid pursuit, for twenty miles, near the Upper Blue Licks. Here he was defeated with the loss of four men killed, and made his retreat through the wilderness. The tide of success seemed completely turned in favor of the Indians. They traversed the woods in every direction, sometimes singly, and some- times in parties, and kept the settlers in constant alarm.
At length, in August, 1782, a great effort was to be made on the part of the Indians, to exterminate the pioneers from their hunting grounds, and to expel the white man forever from the valley of the Ohio. An allied Indian army amounting to nearly six hundred men, composed of detachments from nearly all the north-western tribes, the Wyandotts, the Tawas, the Pottawatamies, the Delawares and the Shawanese, under the command of their respective chiefs ; together with a number of Canadians, and aided by Simon Girty and several renegade white men, commenced their march from Chillicothe, towards the settlements of Kentucky. With a secrecy and celerity peculiar to themselves, they advanced through the woods, without giving the slightest indication of their approach, and on the night of the fourteenth of Au- gust, they appeared before Bryant's Fort, as suddenly as if they had arisen from the earth. Surrounding the fort on all sides, they patiently awaited the approach of daylight, holding themselevs in readiness to rush in upon the garrison the moment the gates were opened in the morning.
The supreme influence of fortune in war, was never more strikingly displayed. All the able-bodied men in the garrison, had determined to march on the following morning, to the assistance of Hoy's Fort, from which a messenger had arrived the evening before, with the intelligence of Holder's defeat. Had the Indians arrived only a few hours later they would have found the fort occupied only by old men, women, and
(1) M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventures, p. 59.
(2) General Lee.
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children, who could not have resisted their attack for a moment. As it was, they found the garrison assembled and under arms, most of them busily engaged throughout the whole night, in preparing for an early march the following morning. The Indians could distinctly hear the bustle of preparation, and see lights glancing from block-houses and cabins during the night, which must have led them to suspect that their approach had been discovered. All continued tranquil during the night, and Girty silently concerted the plan of attack.
The fort, consisting of about forty cabins placed in parallel lines, stands upon a gentle rise on the southern bank of the Elkhorn, a few paces to the right of the road from Maysville to Lexington. The gar- rison was supplied with water from a spring at some distance from the fort, on its north-western side-a great error in most of the forts, which, in a close and long continued seige, must have suffered dreadfully for want of water.
The great body of the Indians placed themselves in ambush within half rifle shot of the spring, while one hundred select men were placed near the spot where the road runs after passing the creek, with orders to open a brisk fire and show themselves to the garrison on that side, for the purpose of drawing them out, while the main body held them- selves in readiness to rush upon the opposite gate of the fort, hew it down with their tomahawks, and force their way into the midst of the cabins.
At dawn of day, the garrison paraded under arms, and were preparing to open their gates and march off, as already mentioned, when they were alarmed by a furious discharge of rifles, accompanied with yells and screams, which struck terror to the hearts of the women and child- ren, and startled even the men. All ran hastily to the picketing, and beheld a small party of Indians, exposed to open view, firing, yelling, and making the most furious gestures. The appearance was so singular, and so different from their usual manner of fighting, that some of the most wary and experienced of the garrison instantly pronounced it a decoy party, and restrained the young men from rallying out and at- tacking them, as some of them were strongly disposed to do. The op- posite side of the fort was instantly manned, and several breaches in the picketing rapidly repaired. 'Their greatest distress arose from the pros- pect of suffering for water. The more experienced of the garrison felt satisfied that a powerful party was in ambuscade near the spring, but at the same time they supposed that the Indians would not unmask them- selves until the firing upon the opposite side of the fort was returned
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with such warmth as to induce the belief that the feint had succeeded.
Acting upon this impression, and yielding to the urgent necessity of the case, they summoned all the women, without exception, and ex- plaining to them the circumstances in which they were placed, and the improbability that any injury would be offered to them, until the firing had been returned from the opposite side of the fort, they urged them to go in a body to the spring, and each to bring up a bucket full of water. Some of the ladies, as was natural, had no relish for the undertaking, and asked why the men could not bring water as well as themselves ? observing that they were not bullet-proof, and that the Indians made no distinction between male and female scalps !
To this it was answered, that women were in the habit of bringing water every morning to the fort, and that if the Indians saw them en- gaged as usual, it would induce them to believe that their ambuscade was undiscovered, and that they would not unmask themselves for the sake of firing at a few women, when they hoped, by remaining concealed a few moments longer, to obtain complete possession of the fort. That if men should go down to the spring, the Indians would immediately suspect that something was wrong, would despair of succeeding by am- buscade, and would instantly rush upon them, follow them into the fort, or shoot them down at the spring. The decision was soon over.
A few of the boldest declared their readiness to brave the danger, and the younger and more timid rallying in the rear of these veterans, they all marched down in a body to the spring, within point blank shot of more than five hundred warriors. Some of the girls could not help be- traying symptoms of terror, but the married women, in general, moved with a steadiness and composure, which completely deceived the Indians. Not a shot was fired. The party were permitted to fill their buckets, one after another, without interruption ; and although their steps became quicker and quicker, on their return, and when near the gate of the fort, degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some little crowding in passing the gate, yet not more than one-fifth of the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to more than double their ordinary size.
Being now amply supplied with water, they sent out thirteen young men to attack the decoy party, with orders to fire with great rapidity, and make as much noise as possible, but not to pursue the enemy too far, while the rest of the garrison took post on the opposite side of the fort, cocked their guns, and stood in readiness to receive the ambuscade as soon as it was unmasked. The firing of the light parties on the Lex-
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ington road was soon heard, and quickly became sharp and serious, gradually becoming more distant from the fort. Instantly, Girty sprung up at the head of his five hundred warriors, and rushed rapidly upon the western gate, ready to force his way over the undefended palisades. Into this immense mass of dusky bodies, the garrison poured several volleys of rifle balls with destructive effect. Their consternation may be imagined. With wild cries they dispersed on the right and left, and in two minutes not an Indian was to-be seen. At the same time, the party who had sallied out on the Lexington road, came running into the fort at the opposite gate, in high spirits, and laughing heartily at the success of their manœuvre.
A regular attack, in the usual manner, then commenced, without much effect on either side, until two o'clock in the afternoon, when a new scene presented itself. Upon the first appearance of the Indians in the morning, two of the garrison, Tomlinson and Bell, had been mounted upon fleet horses, and sent at full speed to Lexington, announcing the arrival of the Indians, and demanding reinforcements. Upon their ar- rival, a little after sunrise, they found the town occupied only by women and children, and a few old men, the rest having marched at the intelli- gence of Holder's defeat, to the general rendezvous at Hoy's fort. The two couriers instantly followed at a gallop, and overtaking them on the road, informed them of the danger to which Lexington was exposed during their absence. The whole party, amounting to sixteen horsemen and more than double that number on foot, with some additional volun- teers from Boone's fort, instantly counter-marched, and repaired with all possible expedition to Bryant's fort. They were entirely igno- rant of the overwhelming numbers opposed to them, or they would have proceeded with more caution. Tomlinson had only informed them that the fort was surrounded, being himself ignorant of the numbers of the enemy. By great exertions, horse and foot appeared before Bry- ant's at two o'clock in the afternoon, and pressed forward with precipi- tate gallantry to throw themselves into the fort. 'The Indians, however, had been aware of the departure of the two couriers, who had, in fact, broken through their line in order to give the alarm, and expecting the arrival of reinforcements, had taken measures to meet them.
To the left of the long and narrow lane, where the Maysville and Lexington road now runs, there were more than one hundred acres of green standing corn. The usual road from Lexington to Bryant's, ran parallel to the fence of this field, and only a few feet distant from it. On the opposite side of the road was a thick wood. Here, more than
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three hundred Indians lay in ambush, within pistol shot of the road, awaiting the approach of the party. The horsemen came in view at a time when the firing had ceased and every thing was quiet. Seeing no enemy, and hearing no noise, they entered the lane at a gallop, and were instantly saluted with a shower of rifle balls, from each side, at a dis- tance of ten paces.
At the first shot, the whole party set spurs to their horses, and rode at full speed through a rolling fire from either side, which continued for several hundred yards, but owing partly to the furious rate in which they rode, partly to the clouds of dust raised by the horses feet, they all en- tered the fort unhurt. The men on foot were less fortunate. They were advancing through the corn-field, and might have reached the fort in safety, but for their eagerness to succor their friends. Without re- flecting that from the weight and extent of the fire, the enemy must have been ten times their number, they ran up with inconsiderate cour- age, to the spot where the firing was heard, and there found themselves cut off from the fort, and within pistol shot of more than three hundred savages.
Fortunately the Indian guns had just been discharged, and they had not yet had leisure to re-load. At the sight of this brave body of foot- men, however, they raised a hideous yell, and rushed upon them, toma- hawk in had. Nothing but the high corn and their loaded rifles, could have saved them from destruction. The Indians were cautious in rush- ing upon a loaded rifle, with only a tomahawk, and when they halted to load their pieces, the Kentuckians ran with great rapidity, turning and dodging through the corn in every direction. Some entered the wood and escaped through the thickets of cane, some were shot down in the cornfield, others maintained a running fight, halting occasionally behind trees and keeping the enemy at bay with their rifles ; for, of all men, the Indians are generally the most cautious in exposing themselves to danger. A stout, active young fellow, was so hard pressed by Girty and several savages, that he was compelled to discharge his rifle, how- ever unwilling, having no time to re-load it, and Girty fell.
It happened, however, that a piece of thick sole leather was in his shot-pouch at the time, which received the ball, and preserved his life, although the force of the blow felled him to the ground. The savages halted upon his fall, and the young man escaped. Although the skir- mish and the race lasted for more than an hour, during which the corn- field presented a scene of turmoil and bustle which can scarcely be conceived, yet very few lives were lost. Only six of the white men
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were killed and wounded, and probably still fewer of the Indians, as the whites never fired until absolutely necessary, but reserved their loads as a check upon the enemy. Had the Indians pursued them to Lexington, they might have possessed themselves of it without resistance, as there was no force there to oppose them ; but after following the fugitives for a few hundred yards, they returned to the hopeless siege of the fort.
It was now near sun-set, and the fire on both sides had slackened. The Indians had become discouraged. Their loss in the morning had been heavy, and the country was evidently arming, and would soon be upon them. They had made no impression upon the fort, and without artillery could hope to make none. The chiefs spoke of raising the siege and decamping ; but Girty determined, since his arms had been unavailing, to try the efficacy of negotiation. Near one of the bastions there was a large stump, to which he crept on his hands and knees, and from which he hailed the garrison.
He highly commended their courage, but assured them, that farther resistance would be madness, as he had six hundred warriors with him, and was in hourly expectation of reinforcements, with artillery, which would instantly blow their cabins into the air; that if the fort was taken by storm, as it certainly would be, when their cannon arrived, it would be impossible for him to save their lives ; but if they surrendered at once, he gave them his honor, that not a hair of their heads should be injured. . He told them his name, inquired whether they knew him, and assured them, that they might safely trust to his honor.
The garrison listened in silence to his speech, and many of them looked very blank at the mention of the artillery, as the Indians had on one occasion brought cannon with them, and destroyed two forts. But a young man by the name of Reynolds, highly distinguished for courage, energy and a frolicsome gaiety of temper, perceiving the effect of Girty's speech, took upon himself to reply to it.
To Girty's inquiry, " whether the garrison knew him ?" Reynolds replied, " That he was very well known ; that he himself had a worth- less dog, to which he had given the name of 'Simon Girty,' in conse- quence of his striking resemblance to the man of that name ; that if he had either artillery or reinforcements, he might bring them up as soon as he pleased ; that if either himself, or any of his naked rascals with him, found their way into the fort, they would disdain to use their guns against hem, but would drive them outagain, with switches, of which they had collected a great number for that purpose alone ; and finally, he declared, that they also expected reinforcements ; that the whole
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country was marching to their assistance ; and that if Girty and his gang of murderers remained twenty-four hours longer before the fort, their scalps would be found drying in the sun upon the roofs of their cabins."
Girty took great offence at the tone and language of the young Ken- tuckian, and retired with an expression of sorrow for the inevitable de- struction which awaited them on the following morning. He quickly rejoined the chiefs ; and instant preparations were made for raising the siege. The night passed away in uninterrupted tranquility, and at day- light in the morning, the Indian camp was found deserted. Fires were still burning brightly, and several pieces of meat were left upon their roasting sticks, from which it was inferred that they had retreated a short time before daylight.
During this action, which lasted two days, the Indians kept up an incessant fire on one side or the other, and made several attempts to fire the cabins, by shooting burning arrows upon the roofs. They several times approached the walls with torches, but were as often signally re- pulsed. The loss of the whites were four men killed and three woun- ded, while that of the savages exceeded thirty killed, and as many wounded. (1)
Early the next day, after the Indians had retreated, several reinforce- ments arrived at the fort, and by noon, one hundred and sixty-seven men had assembled. Colonel Daniel Boone, accompanied by his youngest son, headed a strong party from Boonsboro. Colonel John Todd, with a force, arrived from Lexington, and Lieutenant Trigg brought up the force from the neighborhood of Harrodsburg. Nearly a third of the whole force assembled, was composed of commissioned officers, who hurried from a distance to the scene of hostilities, and for a time took their situation in the ranks. Of those under the rank of Colonel, the most conspicuous were Majors Harland, M'Bride, M'Gary, and Levi Todd, and Captains Bulger and Gordon.
A tumultuous consultation, in which every one seems to have had a voice, terminated in nearly unanimous resolution to pursue the enemy without delay. It was well known that Colonel Logan was collecting a large force, and would join them at farthest in twenty-four hours. It was distinctly understood that the enemy was at least double, and pro- bably treble their own numbers. It was seen that their trail was broad, obvious, and that even some indications of tardiness, and willingness to be pursued, had been observed by their scouts, who had been sent out
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I. p. 135.
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to reconnoitre, and from which it might reasonably be inferred that they would either halt on their road or pursue their course so leisurely, as to allow the troops under Colonel Logan to come up. But Colonels Todd and Trigg, desiring to have the command themselves, which would have devolved on Colonel Logan, if he had arrived; and being emulous of praise, and sanguine of success ; and so keen was the ardor of officers and soldiers to engage the enemy, that they disregarded every prudential reason for delay, and in the afternoon of the eighteenth of August, took up their line of march in the pursuit. Most of the officers as well as privates, were mounted.
The Indians had followed a buffalo trace, and for the purpose of ren dering their trail still more evident, they had chopped many of the trees on the road side with their hatchets. These strong and unequivocal in- dications of a desire to be pursued, made an impression upon the cool and calculating mind of Colonel Boone. But it was too late to advise a retreat and await the arrival of Colonel Logan. It would not be lis- tened to. They encamped that night in the woods, and on the following day reached the fatal boundary which separated them from the object of their pursuit! At the Lower Blue Licks, for the first time since their march, they came within view of the enemy. As the miscellaneous crowd of horse and foot reached the southern bank of Licking river, a number of Indians were seen ascending the rocky ridge on the other side. They stopped at the appearance of their pursuers, gazed at them for a few moments in silence, and then calmly and leisurely disappeared over the top of the hill. A halt immediately ensued. A number of officers then went in front of the ranks, and entered into consultation. The wild and lonely aspect of the country around them, their distance from any point of support, with the certainty of their being in the presence of a superior enemy, seems to have inspired a portion of seriousness, bordering upon awe. All eyes were now turned upon Colonel Boone, and Colonel Todd asked his opinion in reference to the course to be pursued. The veteran woodsman, with his usual unmoved gravity, replied :
"'That their situation was critical and delicate-that the force opposed to them was undoubtedly numerous and ready for battle, as might readily be seen from the leisurely retreat of the few Indians who had appeared upon the crest of the hill-that he was well acquainted with the ground in the neighborhood of the Licks, and was apprehensive that an ambus- cade was formed, at a distance of a mile in advance, where two ravines, one upon each side of the ridge, ran in such a manner that a concealed
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enemy might assail them at once, both in front and flank, before they were apprised of the danger."
" It would be proper, therefore, to do one of two things. Either to await the arrival of Colonel Logan, who was now undoubtedly on his march to join them, or, if it was determined to attack them without de- lay, that one half of their number should march up the river, which there bends in an elliptical form ; cross at the rapids, and fall upon the rear of the enemy, while the other division attacked them in front. At any rate, he strongly urged the necessity of reconnoitering the ground carefully, before the main body crossed the river."
Such was the council of Colonel Boone. And although no measure could have been much more disastrous than that which was adopted, yet it may be doubted, if any thing short of an immediate retreat upon the force under Colonel Logan, could have saved this gallant body of men from the fate which befel them. If they divided their force, the enemy, as in the case of Estill, might have overwhelmed them in detail. If. they remained where they were, without advancing, the enemy would i have certainly attacked them, probably in the night, and with a certainty of success. It is true, they might have chosen their position, but this would not probably have availed them any thing, against the overwhelm- ing force of the savage foe. Nothing short of a retreat, which would then have been considered disgraceful, could have repaired the great error of not waiting for the powerful reinforcements under Colonel Logan.
Colonel Boone was heard in silence, and with deep attention. Some desired to adopt the first plan-others preferred the second, and the dis- cussion threatened to be drawn out to some length, when the fiery temper and boiling ardor of Maj. M'Gary, who could never endure the presence of an enemy, without instant battle, stimulated him to an act, subversiver of all discipline, which caused an awful sacrifice of life, and which had well nigh proved the ruin of every settlement in Kentucky. He sud- denly interrupted the consultation with a loud imitation of the war whoop, resembling the wild cry of the Indian, spurred his horse into the river, and waving his hat over his head, cried out in a loud voice :- "Those who are not cowards follow me-I will show you where the Indians are." The words and the action together, produced an electrical effect. One followed, and then another, until a motion was communi- cated to the whole. The mounted men dashed tumultuously into the river, each striving to be foremost. The footmen were mingled with them, in one rolling and irregular mass. They struggled through the
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