chiefly up stairs they were
enabled to do greater execution, and fired with such effect that,
about one o'clock, the enemy retired a small distance from the house.
Before they retired however, some of them succeeded in getting under
the floor, when they were aided by the whites below in raising some of
the puncheons of which it was made. It was to their advantage to do
this; and well did they profit by it. Several of the Indians were
killed in this attempt to gain admittance, while only one of the
whites received a wound, which but slightly injured his hand.

When intelligence was conveyed to Capt. Stuart of the approach of so
large a body of savages, Col. Samuel Lewis was with him; and they both
exerted themselves to save the settlement from destruction, by
collecting the inhabitants at a fort where Lewisburg now stands.
Having succeeded in this, they sent two men to Donnelly's to learn
whether the Indians had advanced that far. As they approached, the
firing became distinctly audible, and they returned [179] with the
tidings. Capt. Stuart and Col. Lewis proposed marching to the relief
of Donnelly's fort, with as many men as were willing to accompany
them; and in a brief space of time, commenced their march at the head
of sixty-six men. Pursuing the most direct route without regarding the
road, they approached the house on the back side; and thus escaped an
ambuscade of Indians placed near the road to intercept and cut off any
assistance which might be sent from the upper settlements.

Adjoining the yard, there was a field of well grown rye, into which
the relief from Lewisburg, entered about two o'clock; but as the
Indians had withdrawn to a distance from the house, there was no
firing heard. They soon however, discovered the savages in the field,
looking intently towards Donnoly's; and it was resolved to pass them.
Capt. Stuart and Charles Gatliff fired at them, and the whole party
rushed forward into the yard, amid a heavy discharge of balls from the
savage forces. The people in the fort hearing the firing in the rear
of the house, soon presented themselves at the port holes, to resist,
what they supposed, was a fresh attack on them; but quickly
discovering the real cause, they opened the gates, and all the party
led on by Stuart and Lewis, safely entered.

The Indians then resumed the attack, and maintained a constant fire at
the house, until near dark, when one of them approached, and in broken
English called o