up a fierce yell, and, as the fearless
Negro said, 'skipped from tree to tree like grasshoppers.' He
bawled out: 'Take dat to 'member Ben--de black white man!' and the
two beat a hasty retreat.

"In the family of Capt. James Estill, who established a station
about fifteen miles south of Boonesborough, was a Negro slave,
Monk, who was intelligent, bold as a lion, and as faithful to his
pioneer friends as though he were a free white settler defending
his own rights. About daylight, March 20, 1782, when all the men of
the fort except four were absent on an Indian trail, a body of the
savages came upon Miss Jennie Glass, who was outside, but near the
station, milking--Monk being with her. They killed and scalped Miss
Glass and captured Monk. When questioned as to the force inside the
walls, the shrewd and self-possessed Negro represented it as much
greater than it was and told of preparations for defense. The
Indians were deceived, and after killing the cattle, they
retreated across the river. When the battle of Little Mountain
opened two days later, Monk, who was still a prisoner with the
Indians cried out: 'Don't give way, Mas' Jim! There's only about
twenty-five redskins and you can whip 'em!' This was valuable and
encouraging information to the whites. When the Indians began to
advance on Lieutenant Miller, when he was sent to prevent a flank
movement and guard the horse-holders, Monk called also to him to
hold his ground and the white men would win. Instead of being
instantly killed as was to be apprehended, even though the savages
might not understand his English, he made his escape before the
fight closed and got back to his friends. On their return to the
station, twenty-five miles, without sufficient horses for the
wounded, he carried on his back, most of the way, James Berry,
whose thigh was broken. He had learned to make gunpowder, and
obtaining saltpetre from Peyton's Cave, in Madison county, he
frequently furnished this indispensable article to Estill's Station
and Boonesborough. He has been described as being five feet five
inches high and weighing two hundred pounds. He was a respected
member of the Baptist church, when whites and blacks worshipped
together. He was held in high esteem by the settlers and his young
master, Wallace Es