Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-04-10
Describing Daniel
Boone and Compan-
ions Indian Troubles

ty-fve years ago in the Hart
County News" was this most
interesting letter, furnished at
that time, by Mrs. j. W. Wood
son, of Munfordsville, whose
great-great-uncle was the writer.
This is the letter:
Doonesborough, July Il, I776.
My Dear Sir:
The situation of our country
is much altered since I wrote you
last. The Indians seem determ.-
ined to break up our settlement,
and l really believe, unless it is
possible to give Us some assist
ance, that the greater part of the
people may fall prey to them.
They have, | am satisfied, killed
several, whom at this time, know
not how to mention. Many are
missing, who, sometime ago went
out about their business. Fresh
signs of Indians are seen every
day. think 1 mentioned to you
before some damage they had
done at LeWistown on the 9TH of
this month; they killed one Coop
err, OIL Licking creek, and on the
14th a man whose name [ know
not, al your salt spring on the
same creek. On the same day
they took out of a canoe, within
sight of this place, Miss Betsy
Galway, her sister Frances. and
a daughter of Daniel Boone, the
two last were about Is or IA years
old and the other grown. The
affair happened late in the after
noon. They left the canoe on the
opposite side of the river from US,
which prevented our getting over
for some time to pursue them
We could not that night follow
more than FIVE miles. Next morn
ing by daylight, We were upon
their tracks. but they had entirely
prevented our following them by
walking some distance apart, thru
the thickest cane they could find.
We observed their course, and on
which side they had left sign and
travelled upward of thirty miles
We then supposed they would be
less cautious in travelling and
making a turn in order to cross
their trace, we had gone but a
few miles when we found their
tracks in a buffalo path, pursued
and overlook them in going about
ten miles, just as they were kind
ling a fire to cook. Our study
had been how to get the prisoners
without giving the Indians time
to murder them after they dis
covered us. We saw eachothel
nearly at the same time. Four 0.
US fired and rushed upon them
by which they were prevented
from carrying anything away ex
cept one shotgun without an,
ammunition. Mr.. Boone AM
myself each had a pretty fai
shot as they began to move off.
am well convinced l shot one thr
the body. The one he shot drop
/ ped his gunvmine had none
The place was covered with THO
cane, and being so elated over re
covering the three little hear
broken girls, we We're prevente
from making any further search
We sent the Indians off almO:
naked-some of them Withor
their moccasins, and none of ther
with so much as a knife or tom;
hawk. After the girls came t
4 themselves sufficient TO spea
+ they said there were only FIVE II
dams, four Shawa-nese and or
Cherokee. They could spea
good English, and they said the
should go to the Chavanese tow
s The war club we got was lii
h those have of that natiol
D Several words of their languae
which the girls retained, we
known to the Shawanese. Th'
also told them that the Cherokee
had killed or driven all the peop
from Wataga or thereabouus, al
that fourteen Cherokees were thu
on the KY. waiting to do m
chief. If the war becomes gene
al, of which there is the create
h appearance, our situation is tru
alarming. We are about tinishi
. a large fort and ; intend to Ike
possession of this place as long
possible. They are, understa