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March； 1775。 Three days after； we were fired upon again； and had two
men killed； and three wounded。 Afterwards we proceeded on to
Kentucke river without opposition； and on the first day of April
began to erect the fort of Boonsborough at a salt lick； about sixty
yards from the river； on the S。 side。
On the fourth day； the Indians killed one of our men。We were
busily employed in building this fort； until the fourteenth day of
June following； without any farther opposition from the Indians；
and having finished the works； I returned to my family； on Clench。
In a short time； I proceeded to remove my family from Clench to
this garrison； where we arrived safe without any other difficulties
than such as are common to this passage； my wife and daughter being
the first white women that ever stood on the banks of Kentucke
river。
On the twenty…fourth day of December following we had one man
killed； and one wounded； by the Indians； who seemed determined to
persecute us for erecting this fortification。
On the fourteenth day of July； 1776； two of Col。 Calaway's
daughters； and one of mine； were taken prisoners near the fort。 I
immediately pursued the Indians； with only eight men； and on the
sixteenth overtook them； killed two of the party； and recovered the
girls。 The same day on which this attempt was made； the Indians
divided themselves into different parties； and attacked several
forts； which were shortly before this time erected； doing a great
deal of mischief。 This was extremely distressing to the new
settlers。 The innocent husbandman was shot down； while busy
cultivating the soil for his family's supply。 Most of the cattle
around the stations were destroyed。 They continued their
hostilities in this manner until the fifteenth of April； 1777； when
they attacked Boonsborough with a party of above one hundred in
number； killed one man； and wounded fourTheir loss in this attack
was not certainly known to us。
On the fourth day of July following； a party of about two hundred
Indians attacked Boonsborough； killed one man； and wounded two。
They besieged us forty…eight hours； during which time seven of them
were killed； and at last； finding themselves not likely to prevail；
they raised the siege； and departed。
The Indians had disposed their warriors in different parties at
this time； and attacked the different garrisons to prevent their
assisting each other； and did much injury to the distressed
inhabitants。
On the nineteenth day of this month； Col。 Logan's fort was
besieged by a party of about two hundred Indians。 During this
dreadful siege they did a great deal of mischief； distressed the
garrison； in which were only fifteen men； killed two； and wounded
one。 The enemies loss was uncertain； from the common practice which
the Indians have of carrying off their dead in time of battle。 Col。
Harrod's fort was then defended by only sixty…five men； and
Boonsborough by twenty…two； there being no more forts or white men
in the country； except at the Falls； a considerable distance from
these； and all taken collectively； were but a handful to the
numerous warriors that were every where dispersed through the
country； intent upon doing all the mischief that savage barbarity
could invent。 Thus we passed through a scene of sufferings that
exceeds description。
On the twenty…fifth of this month a reinforcement of forty…five
men arrived from North…Carolina； and about the twentieth of August
following； Col。 Bowman arrived with one hundred men from Virginia。
Now we began to strengthen； and from hence； for the space of six
weeks； we had skirmishes with Indians； in one quarter or other；
almost every day。
The savages now learned the superiority of the Long Knife； as
they call the Virginians； by experience； being out…generalled in
almost every battle。 Our affairs began to wear a new aspect； and
the enemy； not daring to venture on open war； practised secret
mischief at times。
On the first day of January； 1778； I went with a party of thirty
men to the Blue Licks； on Licking River； to make salt for the
different garrisons in the country。
On the seventh day of February； as I was hunting； to procure meat
for the company； I met with a party of one hundred and two Indians；
and two Frenchmen； on their march against Boonsborough； that place
being particularly the object of the enemy。
They pursued； and took me； and brought me on the eighth day to
the Licks； where twenty…seven of my party were； three of them
having previously returned home with the salt。 I knowing it was
impossible for them to escape； capitulated with the enemy； and； at
a distance in their view； gave notice to my men of their situation；
with orders not to resist； but surrender themselves captives。
The generous usage the Indians had promised before in my
capitulation； was afterwards fully complied with； and we proceeded
with them as prisoners to old Chelicothe； the principal Indian
town； on Little Miami； where we arrived； after an uncomfortable
journey； in very severe weather； on the eighteenth day of February；
and received as good treatment as prisoners could expect from
savages。On the tenth day of March following； I； and ten of my
men； were conducted by forty Indians to Detroit； where we arrived
the thirtieth day； and were treated by Governor Hamilton； the
British commander at that post； with great humanity。
During our travels； the Indians entertained me well； and their
affection for me was so great； that they utterly refused to leave
me there with the others； although the Governor offered them one
hundred pounds Sterling for me； on purpose to give me a parole to
go home。 Several English gentlemen there； being sensible of my
adverse fortune； and touched with human sympathy； generously
offered a friendly supply for my wants； which I refused； with many
thanks for their kindness； adding； that I never expected it would
be in my power to recompense such unmerited generosity。
The Indians left my men in captivity with the British
at Detroit； and on the tenth day of April brought me towards
Old Chelicothe； where we arrived on the twenty…fifth day of the
same month。 This was a long and fatiguing march； through
an exceeding fertile country； remarkable for fine springs and
streams of water。 At Chelicothe I spent my time as comfortably as
I could expect； was adopted； accordin to their custom； into a
family where I became a son； and had a great share in the affection
of my new parents； brothers； sisters； and friends。 I was
exceedingly familiar and friendly with them； always appearing as
chearful and satisfied as possible； and they put great confidence
in me。 I often went a hunting with them； and frequently gained
their applause for my activity at our shooting…matches。 I was
careful not to exceed many of them in shooting； for no people are
more envious than they in this sport。 I could observe； in their
countenances and gestures； the g