Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-04-26
the gates and made every preparation in
their power to defend the nlaca

Bryan's station or fort, Eve miles
North East from Lexington, became
the most exposed roint in Kentucky, af-
ter the destruction of Riddles and Mar
tins station in the years 1880. The
death of William Bryan, who died Of a
wound received near the mouth of Cane
run, so discouraged his friends that they
returned to North Carolina, and the
greater part of the population from that
state, left the fort about the same time,
which would have so reduced the
strength as to compel the remainder to
remove, if the fort had not acquired new
strength n number of families from
Virgnia.-Robert johnson, Esq. the la
tier OF the Hon. Richard NJ. johnson,
with several families of bis connections,
from the same section of Virginia, re-
moved to Bry ans station, and kept up
tie strength Of the place at what it had
been, if not greater than at any former
period.
1t has been stated that Bryan's sta
ton was al that time the most exposed
oil the settlements in Kentucky, and that
was to be asc~ibed to the residence of
the hostile tribes and the guide they
found in The Miami rivers on the north
west side, aud the Licking and Kentucky
Rivers on the south east of the Ohio.
The former served to pilot them to the
| shores of the Ohio, and tue latter served
the same purpose to bring them to the
vicinity OF Brya ans station. Lexington,
Bryan's station, Boon's station, M'Uee's
and Stroud's were the only places occu
lpied on the north side of the Kentucky
river, at the period Of the formidable
attack on Bryan's which was conducted
SO secretly by Simon Cirty and his bro
tho r James, that the fort was complete.
ly surrounded on the night of the 18th
of August, 1872, while the men, wo-
men anu children slept quietly, not
dreaming o. any danger until alarmed
by the fre of the savage, before sun
rise, Oh those who first opened ttslr
doors.
The night before. the news had been
received that Capt Holder, with par
ty of men from M'Gee's and Suoud's
stations, had been defeated, and the
greater part of the force from Bryan's
were preparing to march to that quarter;
and if the Indians had delayed the fire
one hour longer, the fort would have
been reduced TO mere handful, as tue
men were Oh he eve of departing. The
greater danger at home now, called for
united sxertions OF the whole country.
Two men, Nicholas Tomlinson and Tho
mas Bell, were mounted on good 'hor.
ses, and sent off at the FIRST fire to Lex
ington; Oh arriving there the force of
that place had gone 10 Boon's station,
on the way to Holders assistance. Tom
linson and Bell followed and overlook
them at Boon's station, where force
OF IS mounted men and about 80 on foot
Immediately started to the aid of the
|besieged fort-The Indians agreeably
to their modes OF warefare, attempted
to take the fort by a stratagem Of the
following nature 1T has already been
stated, that the FIRE commenced early ia
the morning. this firing was by party
Of 100 Indians Oh the south east side or
angel of the fort, where the road from
Lexington to Paris now passes, about
600 yards from the spot where MIR. Jo-
seph Rodgers resides at present The
great body Of the enemy 5000 lay con-
cealed in high weeds on the opposite
side of the fort, within pistol shot OF the
spring, from which the supply OF water
was drawn.
The former practice Of this fort, was
know, and the Indians expected every
man to run. to the spot where the hrIng
commenced, which whould leave 1t I'M
defended on the side where the man
body lay; but the number OF guns dis-
charged, and the near approach OF the
party convinced the people OF the Tort
that it was a plan to draw the men
out, and instead Of falling into TINS
tsp, every man went to work IN re-
pairing the fort, which required picket
ing in several places, and the women
commenced supplying water from the
very spring near the amhuscaue OF ,ne
enemv.-And although the Indians lay
so near the spring. the women Ven'ured
to it from the assurance that the enemy,
would remain concealed until the men
| from the fort fired on the party on the
south east side, which was perceived al
once to be the plan; accordingly, wheh
sufficient quantity of water was drawn,
the fort put in order, and the men at
their posts, party of | 3 went out on the