The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-02-19

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OF the Indians was but device to d.
vide the pursuers and draw them into
an ambush. John Fleming, who al
ready had a reputation as a hard
fighter and was to increase 1t that
day, began to loosen his hunting shirt
and clothing as II giving up the idea
Of fighting. Upon being asked why he
did this, he replied that the Indians
were preparing an ambush and they
1.-THE settlers) were certain to be
whipped II they crossed the river.
Holder, Cassidy and others ridlculed
the idea of giving up the pursuit say
ing that a fight with the Indians was
what they had come for. This was so
palpably true that Fleming at once
declared he could 60 any place the
others could and they all crossed the
river.
AS the Indians had seen on both
trails the men, even before crossing
separated in two divisions so as to
follow. Holder, Fleming, Thomas
Jones, Jerry Poor and most of the
others rode across at Vaughn's Ford
and took the straight trail east. Cas-
sidy, Constant and a few others cross
ed little further down and took the
trail leading down the river. The
trail followed by Holder and his party
was buffalo trail that ran along the
course of the present pike for about
enc and one-half miles till it reached
the place where the Redman home is
now located. Here the pike turns
sharply to the left but the old trail
still visible runs on straight over hill
and valley to the Ohio. The trail
followed by Cassidy was an Indian
trail running down the banks of the
Licking. Its course was through the
present Clay farm and it has practl-
cally disappeared between the ford
and the battle ground though it is still
in use as a semi-public road further
down the river. The whole country
at that time was heavily wooded, the
beech and tulip poplar predominating
and through this woods ran the
branch" that, from the battle has
gained and retained the name Battle
Run. One fork Of it crossed the buff
falo trail about one and one-hali
miles from the river at the foot OF
Redman hill and running parallel to
the river joins the main branch at the
present village of Battle Run; turning
west it empties into the Licking about
one and one-half miles below the
Llcks. The Indian trail crossed il
near its mouth.
Holder and his party rode hastily
after the Indians. When they had
gone three-fourths of mile from the
Licks they saw single Indian in
front who Immediately ran OR to the
left of the trail as if possessed by the
laudable intention to get home with @
whole skin. Several of the horsemer
Fleming among them--rode after
him while the remainder, seeing 9
fight near, dismounted and hitched
their horses to the trees in order tc
fight at better advantage. This oc.
Cured near the place where Major
John Findley later built himself 9
house. This house, torn down a few
years ago, was known in the neigh
horhood as the "old Hull house" The
horsemen pursuing the Indian soor
ran into the ambush they were sus
pecting. The ambuscade was hun
dred rods north of the Hull house ant
on the edge Of q little ridge that RAJ
out from the buffalo trail parallel will
the river to Battle Run branch.
great many years after the battl,
Holder came back with Cassidy ant
the two identified the place and re
corded it. 1t was on the south side o
Battle Run branch about lao yard
from its mouth. The battle grount
was covered with beech trees. TIL,
Indians lay concealed Just on the edg
of the ridge with Battle Run brancl
at their feet.
1t is not easy to organize the de
tails of the battle even from the cir
. cpmstantial accounts of the survivors
The horsemen received a volley o
lead as they rode up and Captain
Fleming, shot through the hip an,
groin fell from his horse. He fell O