The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-25

Journal, &" being the first white women that
ever stood on The banks Of the Kentucky
river" Herr he WAS loined by five
families from Moth Carolina, and forty
men from Pow.lI's Valley During the
years l775 Il, Fort Bnonshornngh was
frequently attacked by The iudmus, aud
several severe engagements took place, IN
which the sayag.s were always ftpuls
ed
Boon's settlement begnn now In exhibit
something like Il permanent residence uf
civilized men. The folss, was lesellrd -
rornd the fort fields were enclosed aud
cultivated, aud rustic lahurs were mingled
with The business of war, aud the sports of
the chase Their numbers were now SUI
fieient, IN general, In prevent surprise, and
III ease Of danger the fortress offered So
cure retreat. Nevertheless. in January
i778, while Boon WAS engaged with n
party of ~ men IN making sail nj the Blue
Lick, they were surprlsed.and taken by n
large body Of Indians, who were IN their
WY To attack The font and conveyed to
Chiicoihc, on the Little Miami, then n
considerable Indian town. In the month
Of March following, Boon WAS carried with
ten ofh,s men Ia Detro,t, where the party
was well treated by the Br,ush gos.ronr
Hamilton, ~ indeed they Ind hitherto
been by The Indians, agrrenbly Ia II rlipu
ldtton made at the time of their capture.
The gallant hearing of Boon, aud his skill
in hunting, had by this time sndearpd
him, Ia the Indians, So that although the
British officers offered hundred pounds
sterling for him, with the intention ol set
ting him NJ liberty, they would nai sell
him nor would they allow him To remain
n prisoner with his companions At Detroit,
but took him back With them 10 Chilli
Gothic. Here says his Journal, was
adopted into the family ola chief as n son,
" hith is their custom, and permitted to
hunt aud spend my time rs pleased. liz
June following, they took me 10 5cinIo
sail springs, nhe We continued making
salt for ten days. On our return to Old
Ghlllicothe, | WAS alarmed 10 see four
hundred aud fifty Indians, the choicest Of
their warriors, palntrd aud armed ~ n
fearful manner, aud ready ~ ] found 10
march against Bounsbor"ugh. now dc
icrmlned Ia make my escape thc ilret op
poftnuity there WAS no time 10 be lost,
On the lGih, before sunrise, ] got oil ~
the most secret manner and On the 2Oth |
arrived IT Bopnsborongh, II distance of 100
miles, travelling which ! had but one
meal. found our fort IN bad state ;all
hands were engaged earnestly In repair |
ing and terrifying II in the best manner pos |
sLlc for the impending blow of the enemy, |
whose arrival WIS expected daily. some !
time prev Gus In my capture, II reinforce
mrnt of forty five men arrived rom Norm |
Carnlinn aud Colonrl Brown with oor
hundred from Virginia, and noihwllhsiand ,
ing we had LOST some Ia killed, aud others
wounded, We considered ourselves pretty !
strong and d, trrnined to bras all dangers. /
We were IN waiting for the enemy, when I
W. goi Information that they had postponed
then march Two weeks, N consequence
II my escape from them. In the mean /
time we had several slilrml3hes With small /
parties oF The Indians. On The blh ol
August, however, the frroeloos Indian
army arrived, four hundred ard iOly lour
IN number, under the command ni capt
Dlqnrsnr, eleven other Frenehmrn, aud
some Of their own ehirfs, aud marched ny
within view of The fort, with British aud
French colors flying. They halted and
despatched summons to me III his Bri
tune ma jrsly's name, to surrender lht
fort. 70 this returned for answer that ]
wanted tvs days 10 consider on II, which
was granted.
i" II was nova critical time with ne. We
were n suall number in the gaason,--a
powerful, cruei, and savage army before
our stuckadrd font, whose appearance
proclaimed inevitable death, and eten the
was preferable In captivity. Ii was soon
unanimously determined, that we would
maintain our garrison, nor yie.d il short Of
death We Immediately began To collect
1t az It,.rspa
and bring them throV%n the posterns into
the fort. On the Gfcnlng of the oh, re
turned answer, lat We were determined TO
defend or Tort while "A man Vas living.
Now, said Tia their commanding oihcct,
who stood atcniiVely hearing my sent
nents, We laugh at 40 your formidable
preparations, bnt thank on for giving us
notice aud time 10 prepare your efforts
viii not prevail our gates shall even deny
YOU admlltance." Whether this ansT rg
affected their courage or not, cannot !cll (;
b / contrary Ia our expectations, they
fni med - scheme To drcrisc tR, declaring
IT MAS their orders from govpfl,br llamH
Ton 10 take u9 captives b'h II nlnr of 10
would come out and tire Nth them, they
would Withdraw their surees aud return
home pc"erahly. TIC sound 81 this Pho
postum was greirr. al Ia our ears, and ne
agreed 10 the ngoposal.
We hcl.d Inc treaty ~ii1in sixty yards
ot IT," "ars,son, fearing that irehchefy was
p l.e 6ottorI of this man@n're The ar
j chs were formally agreed to and slened :
aud the Indians told us it was customary
with them IN surh occasions for leo IN
3ions To shake hands with every white
mao in the treaty, as an evidence ct entire
friendship. We agreed to this also, but
.y.rr snon convinced they were determined
10 take rs prisoners. They immediately
trappled with MS, and although surround
ed by hundreds Of ssr'ges, We extrIca'td
ourselves from them and got into the gar
rison all safe, one man excepted, VINO WAS
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