o fell victims, among her
family and kinsmen, may afford some idea of the trials she endured, and of
the strength of character which enabled her to bear up, and to support
others, under such terrible experiences. In January, 1793, her son Anthony,
then seventeen years of age, while passing near the present site of
Nashville, was shot through the body, and severely wounded, by a party of
Indians in ambush. He was pursued to the gates of a neighboring fort. Not a
month afterwards, her eldest son, Thomas, was also desperately wounded by
the savages, and escaped with difficulty from their hands. Early in the
following April, he was shot dead near his mother's house, and scalped by
the murderous Indians. On the same day, Colonel Isaac Bledsoe was killed
and scalped by a party of about twenty Creek Indians, who beset him in the
field, and cut off his retreat to his station, near at hand.

In April, 1794, Anthony, the son of Mrs. Bledsoe, and his cousin of the
same name, were shot by a party of Indians, near the house of General
Smith, on Drake Creek, ten miles from Gallatin. The lads were going to
school, and were then on their way to visit Mrs. Sarah Shelby, the sister
of Anthony, who lived on Station Camp Creek.

Some time afterwards, Mrs. Bledsoe herself was on the road from Bledsoe's
Lick to the above-mentioned station, where the court of Sumner county was
at that time held. Her object was to attend to some business connected with
the estate of her late husband. She was escorted on her way by the
celebrated Thomas S. Spencer, and Robert Jones. The party were waylaid and
fired upon by a large body of Indians. Jones was severely wounded, and
turning, rode rapidly back for about two miles; after which, he fell dead
from his horse. The savages advanced boldly upon the others, intending to
take them prisoners.

It was not consistent with Spencer's chivalrous character to attempt to
save himself by leaving his companion to the mercy of the foe. Bidding her
retreat as fast as possible, and encouraging her to keep her seat firmly,
he protected her by following more slowly in her rear, with his trusty
rifle in his hand. When the Indians in pursuit came too near, he would
raise his weapon, as if to fire; and, as he was known to be an excellent
marksman, the savages were not willing to encounter him, but hastened to
the shelter of trees, while he continued his retreat. In this manner he
kept them at bay for some miles, not firing a