m [193] to break loose and scatter the greater part of
the flour in every direction through the woods, so that it was
impossible to be again collected.

The remains of those, who had unfortunately fallen into the ambuscade
in January, and which had lain out until then, were gathered together
and buried;[9] and a fresh detachment, under Major Vernon, being left
to garrison the fort, in the room of that which had been stationed
there during winter, Gen. McIntosh, withdrew from the country and
returned to Fort McIntosh. In the ensuing fall, Fort Laurens was
entirely evacuated; the garrison having been almost reduced to
starvation, and it being found very difficult to supply them with
provisions at so great a distance from the settlements and in the
heart of the Indian country.

During the year 1778, Kentucky was the theatre of many outrages. In
January, a party of thirty men, among whom was Daniel Boone, repaired
to the "Lower Blue Licks" for the purpose of making salt; and on the
7th of February, while Boone was alone in the woods, on a hunt to
supply the salt makers with meat, he was encountered by a party of one
hundred and two Indians and two Canadians, and made prisoner. The
savages advanced to the Licks, and made prisoners of twenty-seven of
those engaged in making salt.[10] Their object in this incursion, was
[193] the destruction of Boonesborough; and had they continued their
march thither, there is no doubt but that place, weakened as it was by
the loss of so many of its men and not expecting an attack at that
inclement season, would have fallen into their hands; but elated with
their success, the Indians marched directly back with their prisoners
to Chillicothe. The extreme suffering of the prisoners, during this
march, inspired the savages with pity, and induced them to exercise an
unusual lenity towards their captives. In March, Boone was carried to
Detroit, where the Indians refused to liberate him, though an hundred
pounds were offered for his ransom, and from which place he
accompanied them back to Chillicothe in the latter part of April. In
the first of June, he went with them to the Scioto salt springs, and
on his return found one hundred and fifty choice warriors of the
Shawanee nation, painting, arming, and otherwise equipping themselves
to proceed again to the attack of Boonesborough.

[194] Hitherto Boone had enjoyed as much satisfaction, as was
consistent with his situation, and more than would hav