Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-05-03
MARTINsBURG, VA. THURsDAy. MAY : 1907

sd the river IN great disorder and confu.
sion. whist the officers were Reluctantly
borne along the tumult. i Eter crossing
the river, no authority vas exercised.
nor any order observed in the line of
march, hu, every one rushed forward.
tumultuously pursuing the Rad over the
bare rocks, to the end Of the ridge of
hills, where a forest Of oaks, and deep
raviues with underwood, concealed the
enemy from view, who waited in their
amhuscade to- receive them.
M'Gary led the van Of the army close
" followed 10y MAJOR Harlan and Capt.
William M'Bride suseorted by the men
on horseback, when tsrty with chosen
part of his tawny host, rushed forth from
yells, attacked them with great impeiu-
ositv. The conflict instantly became
hot and sangninary. The advantageous
position occupied by the Indians caa
bleG them 10 assault whole of the
whites al the same moment; and from
the confused manner in which the ap-
preach was made, soon turned their
right wing, and retreat was the inevi-
iaole consequence, aad that too, under
the immediate edge ut the tomahawll.
Cal. Todd and Tfigg, and aiajor HARLAN,
fell early in tho action. whilst many
brave officers aud men fell near them.
The survivors attempted to gain the
river at the ford, some ou foot and some
on orSeback; but The Indians so mana
ged. as to prevent great part OF them,
BY eating between them and the fcrd,
and forcing them into the river below,
where it could only be crossed by swim
ming. As most of The fugitiveS aimed
to gain the f-rd, tile Indians pressed
their principle force to that point, wilare
the greatest carnage took place, and
where many were tn1nahawl1ed ia ihe
river TWAS atthis moment that Benz
iamin Netherland, whose personal bra
very had been doubted, not only gave
evidence to the contrary, by assuming
the office of commander, but called
aloud 10 bis flying COMPANIONS as they
arrived on the south side OF the river, TO
HALT. and fire on the enemy; which
order was obeyed, and thereby arrested
the pursuit for few moments, which
enabled many who were almost exhsus-
ted, to escape the Ratchet suspended o.
yer their devoted beads.
Brave or benevolent actions should
never be permitted 10 pass unnoliced by
the historian: il is therefore with plea
sure this opportunity is embraced to
,perpetuate The conduct of the gallant
aaron Reynolds. lie was n young ac-
tive man, IN the prime Of lie and when
the retreat took place, was on horseback.
On his way to the fort, he overlook
Colonel Robert Patterson. who, though
not an old man, was iutirm, having suf-
fered very much from wounds which
he had received from the Indians on
former occasion. When Reynolds o.
vertook him he was entirely exhausted,
and the Indians in close pursuit. Rey-
nolds, with greatness of so0l which
will ever rebound to his honor, diSmoun-
ted from his horse, assisted Patterson in
to the saddle, and risked his owa safety
on foot. He crossed the river by swim
ming, some distance below the ford,
when he discovered that many Indians
had also crossed He bad on a pair Of
buck skin ovelalls, which became SO
heavy from the water they hal absorb
ed in crossing the river. that on shore
he sat down to pull them oil, and that
whist in the act of doing so. three Ind-
ans came up to him and took him prison.
er. At that moment several white men
passed in sight, wheL Reynolds was left
in possession Of one of his captors.
whilst the other two pursued the white
men. One OF the mo- kasins of the lodi
an with whom Reynolds was left, be-
came united, and the Indian stopped
down to tic it. Reynolds sprang from
him, and being an active man, was
soon out of danger
It's supposed that at least one-fourih
of The men who fought the battle of the
Blue Licks on the 10th day of August,
1882. were commissioned officers The
whole aumber was one hundred aud se-
ventv-six. out Of whom sixty-ohe were
killed, and eight taken prisoners. A.
mong the most prominent who fell, were
Col. John Todi and Stephen iriga.
Captains John Gordon and William M
Bride; together with Isaac Booze, a
son Of Colonel Daniel Boone, &c. &c.
The loss on the part of the indIans, was
never rightly ascertained. BY some it
was said to be ninety; but the calcnla-
ton is very Improbable, as the whites