ank 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 a
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