Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-11-23

decline0 going, anu urged, as feaS
on, the improbabilily OF success; and
besides, the inpossibilily Of procuring
provisions to support the prisoners thy
already had; also the inpracticabiIily
oftranporting their artillery, by land,
to any part Of the Ohio river-there
fore the necessity of descending Lick
| ing before The waters fell, which might
be expected to take place III lew
DAYS
Immediately after it was decided
not to go forward to Bryan's Station,
the army commenced their retreat to
the forks Of Licking; where they had
left their boats, and with all possible
despatch got their artillery and militia
ry stores on board, and moved Off AT
this place the Indians separated from
Byrd, and took with them the whole
OF the prisoners taken at Ruddle's
Station. Among the prisoners were
Capt John HIukston, brave man;
and an experienced hunter and woods
man The second night after leaving
The forks Of Licking, the Indians en-
caspped near the river. Every thing
was very wet, in consequence Of which
Il was difficult TO kindle fire, and be
fore fire could be made, it was quite
dark A guard was placed over the
prisoners, and, whilst part of them
were employed in kindling the fire,
Hinkston sprang from among them,
and was Immediately out of sight. An
alarm was instantly given, and the
Indians ran in every direction, not be
ing able TO ascertain what course he
had taken. Hinkston ran but short
distance before he lay down by the side
OF log, under the dark shade ola large
beach tree, where he remained Until
The stir occasioned by his escape had
subsidized, when he moved off as silent
~ as possible. The night was cloudy
and very dark, so that he had NO mark
to steer by; and after travelling some
time towards Lexington, as he thought
ne found himself close to the camp
from which he had just before made
his escape. LIN this dilemma he was
obliged to tax his skill as IA woodsman.
to devise method by which he should
be enabled to steer his course, without
light enough to see the moss on the
trees, or without the aid of san, moon,
or stars. Captain Hinkston ultimately
adopted this expedient:-He dipped
his hand in the water, (Which almost
covered the whole country,) and hol-
ding IT upright above his head, he in
stantly felt one side of his hand cold, he
Immediately knew that from that point
the wand came-he therefore steere,I
the balance Of the night to the cold side
OF his hand, that being from the west
he knew, and the course best situated
to his purpose. After travelling sever
al hours, he sat down at the root of a
tree, and fell asleep
A few hours before day there came
on very heavy dense fog, SO that a
man could not be seen at twenty wards
distance. This circumstance was of
infinite advantage to Hinl1ston; for, as
soon as day light appeared, the bowling
OF wolves, the gobiing of turkeys, the
bleating of fawns, the cry of owls, and
every other wild animal, was heard
in almost every direction Hinkston
was too well acquainted with the Gus
toms ofthe Indians not 10 know that
1t was Indians, and not beasts or birds
that made these sounds--he therefore
avoided approaching the places where
he beard them, and, notwithstanding he
was several times within few yards
OF ffeni,Swith sle aid of the fog he
escaped, and arrived safe at Licking
ton. IL was the eighth day after Rud-
dies Station was taken, when Hink.
ston arrived in Lexington, and brought
the first news OF that event.
The Indians not only collected all
the horses belonging to Ruddle's and
Martins Stations, hot greatmanyfrom
Bryan's Station and Lexington, and
with their booty crossed the Ohio ri.
yer. near the mouth Of Licking, and
there dispersed. The British descen
dec Licking river 10 the Ohio. down
the Ohio TO the mouth of the Big Mi.
ami, and up the Miami as far as it was
then naVigabls for their boats, where
they hid their artillery, and marched
by land to Detroit. The rains hav.
ing ceased, andthe weather being ex.
ceedlngly hot, the waters fell so low
| that thew were able In ascend tba M;