at a
reinforcement, with cannon, would arrive that night, and that this
demand was suggested by _his humanity_, as the station must
ultimately fall, and he could assure them of protection if they
surrendered, but could not if the Indians succeeded by storm; and then
demanded, if "they knew who was addressing them." A young man by the
name of Reynolds, (fearing the effect which the threat of cannon might
have upon the garrison, as the fate of Ruddle's and Martin's
stations was yet fresh in their recollections,) replied, that he
"knew him well, and held him in such contempt, that he had named a
worthless dog which he had SIMON GIRTY; that his reinforcements and
threats, were not heeded by the garrison, who expected to receive
before morning such an auxiliary force as would enable them to give
a good account of the cowardly wretches that followed him, whom he
held in such contempt that he had prepared a number of switches with
which to drive them out of the country if they remained there 'till
day."[6]

Affecting to deplore their obstinacy, Girty retired, and during the
night, the main body of the Indian army marched off, leaving a few
warriors to keep up an occasional firing and the semblance of a
siege.[7]

Shortly after the retreat of the savages, one hundred and sixty men,
from Lexington, Harrodsburg and Boonesborough, assembled at Bryant's
station, and determined to pursue them.[8] Prudence should have
prevailed with them to await the arrival of Colonel Logan, who was
known to be collecting additional forces from the other station; but
brave and fearless, well equipped, and burning with ardent desire to
chastise their savage invaders, they rather indiscreetly chose to
march on, unaided, sooner than risk suffering the enemy to retire, by
delaying for other troops. But the Indians had no wish to retire, to
avoid the whites. The trail left by them, to the experienced eye of
Daniel Boone, furnished convincing evidence, that they were only
solicitous to conceal their numbers, in reality to tempt pursuit.

[260] When the troops arrived at the Lower Blue Licks, they saw the
only Indians, which had met their eye on the route. These were slowly
ascending the ridge on the opposite side of the river. The party was
halted, and Boone consulted as to what course it would be best to
pursue. He was of opinion that the savage force was much greater, than
most had been led to believe by the appearance of the trail, and
anticipatin