ing the means of defence inadequate to security, and unwilling to
encounter the horrors of an Indian war, no better provided than they
were, pursued the advice of government, and withdrew from the presence
of danger. Those who remained, sensible of dependence on their
individual resources, commenced making preparations for the
approaching crisis. The positions which had been selected as places of
security and defence in the war of 1774, were fortified anew, and
other block-houses and forts were erected by their unaided exertion,
into which they would retire on the approach of danger. Nor was it
long before this state of things was brought about.

In June 1777,[1] a party of Indians came to the house of Charles
Grigsby on Rooting creek, a branch of the West Fork, and in the county
of Harrison. Mr. Grigsby being from home, the Indians plundered the
house of every thing considered valuable by them, and which they could
readily carry with them; and destroying many other articles, departed,
taking with them Mrs. Grigsby and her two children as prisoners.
Returning home soon after, seeing the desolation which had been done
in his short absence, and unable to find his wife and children, Mr.
Grigsby collected some of his neighbors and set out in pursuit of
those, by whom the mischief had been effected,--hoping that he might
overtake and reclaim from them the partner of his bosom, and the
pledges of her affection. His hopes were of but momentary existence.

Following in the trail of the fugitive, when they had arrived near to
Loss creek, a distance of but six miles, they found the body of Mrs.
Grigsby and of her younger child, where they had recently been killed
and scalped. The situation of this unfortunate woman (being near the
hour of confinement,) and the entire helplessness of the child, were
hindrances to a rapid retreat; and fearing pursuit, the Indians thus
inhumanly rid themselves of those incumbrances to their flight and
left them to accidental discovery, or to become food for the beasts of
the forest.

[159] Stimulated to more ardent exertions by the distressing scene
just witnessed, the pursuers pushed forward, with increased
expectation of speedily overtaking and punishing, the authors of this
bloody deed; leaving two of their party to perform the sepulture of
the unfortunate mother, and her murdered infant. But before the whites
were aware of their nearness to the Indians, these had become apprized
of their appr