American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-31

Extract from section 9TH Of Notes on Kentucky,
now publishing in the Lexington Gazette.


"In the month OF October l779 as two keel boats
were ascending the Ohio river some small distance
above the mouth Of Licking, the men on board disco
vered Indians standing on sand bar the south side
OF the river, and canoe coming across to them ith
. or in II. Capt Rogers who commanded the boats
ordered the men to land aud make their boats fast
the same shore which they were, which was i'm (.
medaely done when the party consisting of about 20
marched through the woods up until Opposite to the
sand bar where they had seen the Indians, with The
expectation of killing or taking ,he whole or diving
them into the rver believing they were undiscover
ed by the Indians, and that their number did ex
coed IL or Is. When Rogers and his party 'urned
towards the rIver the Indians, who fully appr-
zsd OF their motions and from which they Judged of
their intentions had so secreted themselves in The
bushes. that Rogers party were within few PAGES
OF them before they discovered them, upon which
the Indians to the amount OF several hundreds rose
and poured on them deadly fire. All who were not
killed or disabled by this tremendous fire, made q
precipitate retreat and aimed to get to their boats,
but the Indians pressed them close that many Of
them were at the boats The whites, and
several whites were tomahawked in the attempt TO
get On board. Before the Indians got so close 10
preven. it, one of the boats with five men on board
Gu ,loose and purhed off into The river and loat
ed out Of reach OF the Indians, (who busily
gagged with the oher,) and thereby escaped. Rogers
sising of 60 or 20 either killed or taken, except sew
en-. Among those who taken prisoners were
Col. John Campbell, ard Major Abr. Chaplin.
The following most singular circumstance attend
ed this defeat. man whose name was Robert
Bcnham was wounded through the hips, in such
manner as TO render him unable to walk, he crawl
ed into the brush ola fallen tree, taking his rifle with
him and secreted himself that the Indians passed
him unnoticed. He lay concealed two days wihou
! nm M MI pf Baro
him, and he shot it, Immediately after his gun 4 ed
he heard somebody call, but suspecting it was Indi
ans, he reloaded his gun determined to sell his life
dear by the time his gun was charged be head
the voice again very near and calling in plain En-
glish, Whoever yon are, beg ycu will answer me,
for am in the utmost distress" Upon this Ben
ham answered him and Immediately appeared John
Watson one of his unfortunate companions with
both his arms broken mutual congratulations we're
exchanged, when Benham pointed to the Racoon
where it lay, and directed Watson to kick it to him
with his feet which he accordingly did Having good
use OF both his hands, Benham able TO skin and
prepare the Racoon for the spit, as well as to pro
cure fire, whilst John Watson having the full use OF
his feet, could with them kick and drag pieces Of
broken wood to 3enhsm who could make the fire
and cook The meat. Before the Racoon was eaten
up, flock OF wild turkeys came in view Benham
directed John Watson to 60 round them and induce
them to come near him which was done, by which
| means he killed large turkey. Happily the wealth
er was mild, and the man with broken arms could
wade into Licking river (near which they lay) 80
deep into the water as to soop down and drink !;
but Benham unable TO move from the spot where he
lay likely to die of thirst, when his p oect oc
CURED to John Watson, he desired Benham 10 put
his hat into his mouth in such manner as that the
hollow part of the crown should be upwards, which
DONE and he went into the river and filled 1t by
STOPPING down, and by that means furnished his
! friend with water. Benham dressed and splintered
up the broken aims Of John Watson, as we'll as
dressed his own wounds; TO enable him to do which
! he tore up both their shirts. They remained in
this situation fifteen days. whilst their wounds healed
very fast, insomuch that with the use of q crutch
Bennam began to be able to move a little during
which time he killed plenty of game to support
them whilst John Watson able to bring wood
with his feet and water with the aid of the hat. About
four weeks after they were wounded Benham and
his companion went to the Ohio river at the mouth
OF Licking, and about mile from where they we're
wounded, and from whence they we're taken by a
boat descending the river which they hailed, and
were taken on boatd."
Some years ago noted warrior, of The Potowat-
tonne tribe presented himself to the Indian agent at
Chicago OF the chief men Of his village, oh
serving, with the customary simplicity of the Indian
that he was very good man, and good friend to