at opposite directions, and though numbers of guns were fired at them they got in safe, Lieut. MICHAEL lost every man of his party except three, and Lieut. MARKS got off by knocking down the Indian who took him.

The Indians were observed to carry off great numbers of killed and wounded on pack horses-the loss of the Americans was 25 killed, and about 40 wounded-the party commanded by Capt. HARTSHORN brought in ten scalps of the enemy.

CHAP. XI.

DEPREDATIONS OF THE INDIANS ON THE FRONTIERS IN 1791, 1792 AND 1793.

ON the 10th December 1791, as two men and three boys were fishing on Floyd's fork of Salt River, they were suddenly attacked by a party of Indians, who killed the two men and made prisoners of the boys.Soon after they liberated one of the lads, first presenting him with a tomahawk, which they desired him to carry to his friends and inform them what had become of his companions?

About the 20th, a party of Indians attacked the house of a Mr. CHENOWETH, situated near the mouth of the Wabash, they killed and scalped two of his children and tomahawked and scalped his wife, whom they left for dead-Mr. C. (who had his arm broken by the fire of the savages) with the remainder of the family made their escape.-A sick daughter who was confined to her chamber, and who during the bloody affray had been forgotton by her father, remained ignorant of the horrid massacre until the succeeding day; when, no one of the family coming to her assistance, she succeeded in crawl

ing down stairs, where she was inexpressibly shocked at the sight of a beloved parent stretched upon the floor, almost lifeless, and beside of whom lay the 'mangled bodies of her dear brothers. Forunately, her unhappy father returned the succeeding day to the house, and con veyed the two surviving members of his family to the house of a friend, where they finally recovered.

On the 24th, a party of Indians attacked the dwelfing house of a Mr. JOHN MERRIL in Nelson county, (Kentucky.)-Mr. MERRIL, who was first alarmed by the barking of his dog, hastened to the door to discover the cause, on opening of which, he received the fire of the Indians which broke his right leg and arm-the Indians now attempted to enter the house, but was prevented by the doors being immediately closed and secured by Mrs. MERRIL and her daughter-the Indians succeeded in hewing away a part of the door, through which passage one of them attempted to enter, but the heroic mother, in the midst of her screaming children and groaning hus band, seized an axe and gave the ruffian a fatal blow; after which she hauled him through the passage into the house-the others (unconscious of the fate of their com panion) supposing that they had now nearly succeeded in their object, rushed forward, four of which Mrs. MERRIL in like manner despatched before the others discovered their mistake.-The remaining Indians, after retiring for a few moments, returned and renewed their efforts to enter the house-despairing of succeeding at the door they got on the top of the house and attempted to descend the chimney, to prevent which Mr. MERRIL directed his lit. tle son to empty upon the fire the contents of a featherbed, which had the desired effect, as the smoke and heat caused thereby, soon brought down rather unexpectedly two of the enemy :-Mr. MERRIL exerting every faculty at this critical moment, seized a billet of wood with

Which he soon despatched the two half smothered Indians, while in the mean time his heroic wife was busily engag ed in defending the door against the efforts of the only remaining one, whom she so severely wounded with an axe that he was soon glad to retire.

A prisoner who escaped from the enemy soon after the transaction, informed that the wounded savage above mentioned was the only one that escaped of the party; which consisted of eight-that on his return being asked by the prisoner "what news," he answered "bad news for poor Indian, me lose a son, me lose a brother-the squaws have taken the breach clout and fight worse than the "Long Knives !"

7

Copy of a letter from a gentleman residing at the west ward to a friend in New York, dated,

Marietta, February 1, 1792.

"Our prospects are much changed.-Instead of peace and friendship with our Indian neighbors, a horrid savage war stares us in the face; the Indians, instead of being humbled by the destruction of the Shawanese towns, and brought to beg for peace, appear determined on a gener al war, in which our settlements are already involved-On the evening of the second instant, they fell on a settlement about forty miles up the Muskingum, surprised á block-house, killed fourteen persons, and carried off three others. The persons killed are, John and Philip Stacy, sons to Col. William Stacy, from New Salem, Ez-. ra Putnam, son to Major Ezra Putnam, from Middletown, in Massachusetts, John Camp, from the same pláce, Jonathan Farewell, and James Cash, and William Patton, from New-Hampshire, Zebulon Throop, from Baare, William James, from Connecticut, Joseph Clark, from Rhode Island, a man by the name of Meeks, with

V

his wife and children, from Virginia. These were aif killed in and at the block-house. Francis and Isaac Choat, from Lancaster, and one Shaw, who kept at a hut about 50 rods from the block house, was not found by the party that went out, and it is hoped that they are prison ers. What number of Indians were concerned in this mischief, or from what tribe, we know not, but from those Indians who till lately used to visit our settlements every day, withdrawing themselves entirely from our sight, ever since the expedition against the Shawanese, there is little reason to doubt but the Delewares and the Wiandotes, as well as others, have had a hand in this nefarious business.

"It is impossible for me to give a just idea of the distress into which this event has thrown the inhabitants, especially those of the out settlements. For my own part I have for some time been of opinion, that the spring. would open with a general attack on the frontiers, in which event I did not expect we should escape, unless government should timely send troops for our protection, which we was in hopes would be the case. But it seems the enemy are determined to take advantage of our defence. less situation. I consider this event as the forerunner of other attacks of a more serious nature, and which may involve us in complete ruin, unless prevented by govern-. ment immediately taking measures for our protection.To their protection I conceive we always had an indispu table claim, which claim, if possible, is increased by the circumstances that have brought us under the resent ment of the Indians, and at least, in some measure produced the mischief that we are fallen into."

Copy of a letter from a gentleman in Kentucky to his friend in Philadelphia, dated

March 3, 1792.

"As to the Indians, they have been troublesome all

winter. Since October last, 60 persons have been killed within the limits of this district, besides a number destroyed on the Ohio; among whom is our old acquain tance, Mr. JOHN MAY, late of Botetoute, whose exit deserves notice, because he was actuated by motives of humanity. The affair is thus related by a captive that has lately made his escape from the Indians, who was a spectator, and an unwilling instrument in the tragedy.

Mr. MAY, in descending the Great Kanhawa and Ohio, about the 20th of February last, discovered on the western shore of the latter, near the mouth of Sciotia, a white man, who, with a plaintive voice, was calling, for God's sake, to come and take a poor prisoner on board, that was endeavoring to escape from the savages. This had the intended effect. Mr. May ordered the boat towards the shore, and did not discover his mistake until the Indians rose up from their ambush, fired, shot him dead, and wounded some others of the passengers on board, who immediately endeavored to make off; but being told in the English tongue, they should have good quarters, surrendered without resistance. The Indians, however, on boarding the boat, massacred all, without discrimination. Two days after, the same party attempted to decoy three large boats ashore that were coming down from Fort Pitt, but luckily they were discovered in time, and our people sheered off. The enemy, being prepared, manned one of their boats with about 30 warriors, and gave chase. The crews of two of the boats, fearing they might be overtaker, quitted them, and went on board the best sailor, where they threw overboard all the horses, and some heavy articles, and plied all their oars to effect their escape. The Indians also exerted themselves in the pur suit, keeping on a steady course for about 20 miles, notwithstanding 24 well armed white men were on board the American boat, with one of our Colonels of Militia,