The Adventures of Daniel Boone: the Kentucky riflemanHawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister)
History
The Adventures of Daniel Boone: the Kentucky rifleman
Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister)
Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820; Frontier and pioneer life -- Kentucky; Kentucky -- History -- To 1792
I can not reflect upon this dreadful scene, but sorrow fills my heart. A
zeal for the defence of their country led these heroes to the scene of
action, though with a few men to attack a powerful army of experienced
warriors. When we gave way, they pursued us with the utmost eagerness,
and in every quarter spread destruction. The river was difficult to
cross, and many were killed in the flight--some just entering the river,
some in the water, others after crossing, in ascending the cliffs. Some
escaped on horseback, a few on foot; and, being dispersed everywhere in a
few hours, brought the melancholy news of this unfortunate battle to
Lexington. Many widows were now made. The reader may guess what sorrow
filled the hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding anything that I am able
to describe. Being reinforced, we returned to bury the dead, and found
their bodies strewed everywhere, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner.
This mournful scene exhibited a horror almost unparalleled: some torn and
eaten by wild beasts; those in the river eaten by fishes; all in such a
putrefied condition, that no one could be distinguished from another.
As soon as General Clarke, then at the Falls of the Ohio--who was ever
our ready friend, and merits the love and gratitude of all his
countrymen--understood the circumstances of this unfortunate action, he
ordered an expedition, with all possible haste, to pursue the savages,
which was so expeditiously effected, that we overtook them within two
miles of their towns: and probably might have obtained a great victory,
had not two of their number met us about two hundred poles before we came
up. These returned quick as lightning to their camp, with the alarming
news of a mighty army in view. The savages fled in the utmost disorder,
evacuated their towns, and reluctantly left their territory to our mercy.
We immediately took possession of Old Chilicothe without opposition,
being deserted by its inhabitants. We continued our pursuit through five
towns on the Miami rivers, Old Chilicothe, Pecaway, New Chilicothe,
Will's Towns, and Chilicothe--burnt them all to ashes, entirely destroyed
their corn, and other fruits, and everywhere spread a scene of desolation
in the country. In this expedition we took seven prisoners and five
scalps, with the loss of only four men, two of whom were accidentally
killed by our own army.
This campaign in some measure damped the spirits of the Indians, and made
them sensible of our superiority. Their connexions were dissolved, their
armies scattered, and a future invasion put entirely out of their power;
yet they continued to practise mischief secretly upon the inhabitants, in
the exposed parts of the country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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