The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-01-29
Vol. Nv.

l6O men, and they had reason TO be-
lieve that the enemy amounted to at
least three times that number. The In
dams had l%eisurely followed a buffalo
trace, without taking any great pains
to conceal their route, and on the Sc
cond day of the pursuit, the Kentuck.
ians overlook them near the Lower
Blue Licks, only IS miles from Bryant's
station. On arriving at the south bank
Of Licking. a few Of the enemy were
observed slowly ascending a ridge on
the opposite side Of the river, with
seeming indifference to the presence Of
their pursuers. A halt was immediate
~ made for the purpose Of holding a
council, and Colonel Boone being con-
sidered as having more experience than
any other officer on the ground, was
asked for his advice. He recommend.
ed that if the party were not willing to
wait for the arrival Of Logan's rein
forcements they should divide and cross
at different places, SO as to attack the
enemy in front and in zeal at the same
time, but that at any rate the ground
should be particularly reconnoitered
before the main body should cross the
the river. The consultation was sud.
denly broken up however, by Major
McGary, a headstrong officer, who
spurred his horse into the stream, wav-
ed his hat over his head, and gave a
loud whoop--and cried out "Let all
who are not towards follow me- will
show them where the Indians are."-
A tumultuous rush was Immediately
made--oficers and men plunged into
the river and crossed it-horsemen and
fooimen altogether, without regard 10
any order, pressed forward up the hill,
and pursued the trace along the ridge,
until they were suddenly checked by a
fire from the enemy. Those in the
rear still pressed onward, and the
whole party quickly found themselves
surrounded by the Indians in every d.
rection except the rear, where the enc
my were closing around them to cut
off their retreat, and a scene of slaught-
err ensued, in which Colonies Trigg
and Todd and several other officers
were killed, and it soon became evident
that nothing but an immediate retrea,
could save any Of the party. This was
commenced, but was executed with
tho same disorder, that attended the
a dvance-the Indians stood mingled
with those in the rear with their iona.
ha wks,and continued the slaughter from
the battle ground to the river, where the
carnage was dreadful among the fugi-
%tives, crowded together and struggling
with the current, until it was somewhat
checked by a party who had halted,
after reaching the opposite bank ard
poured in a we'll directed fire upon the
pursuers that caused them to fall bnck
and gave time for the footmen to cross.
The enemy, however, oon crossed the
river also, and continued the pursuit
for nearly 20 miles further, but did very
little execution, and the principal part
Of the survivors reached Bryant's sta
ton in the evening. The loss of the
K~entuckians was s~ixty.one killed and
eight taken prisoners. Col. Logan had
arrived at Bryant's station before the
defeated party returned, and after they
had collected, and the loss was ascer.
tanned, he marched 10 the field of bat
tie where he arrived on the second day
alter the defeat, and buried the dead.
When the intelligence Of the disas-
trous battle at the Lower Blue Licks
reached Gen. Clark, at Louisville, he
Immediately concerted and carried into
eFec, arrangements for another expe-
dition into the Indian country. The
volunteers from the interior assembled
at Bryant's station, and those Of the
lower part Of Kentucky joined the re-
gular troops at Louisville, and about
the last Of September, the two bodies,
making q force Of about a thousand
men, united at the mouth Of Licking,
and p~roceededoon their march against
the towns Of the enemy. Their ap-
proach was not discovered until they
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