within sixty yards of the water. Commencing under the bank, concealed from the garrison, he attempted to push a mine into the fort. The object was however, fortunately discovered by the quantity of fresh earth, thrown into the river, by which the water became muddy for some distance below. Colonel Boone instantly ordered a trench to be cut within the fort, in such a manner as to intersect the line of their ap proach, and thus frustrated the design. The enemy continued for eight days to exhaust all the ordinary artifices of Indian warfare, but were steadily repulsed in every effort. At length finding their numbers daily thinned by the deliberate, but fatal fire of the garrison, and seeing no prospect of final success, Du Quesne raised the seige on the ninth day and returned home. Kenton did not accompany Colonel Boone back to Boonesboro' after the skirmish near the Indian town, but with a friend named Montgomery, went back to make discoveries. Approaching the village with a cautious and stealthy step, they took their stations upon the edge of a corn field, supposing that the Indians would enter it for green corn. They patiently remained there during the whole day, but did not see a single Indian, and only heard the voices of some children, who were playing near them. At night they entered the Indian town, took four good horses, made a rapid night's journey to the Ohio, which they crossed, and on the second day afterwards reached Logan's Fort in safety. Scarcely had he returned, when Colonel Bowman ordered him to take his friend Montgomery and another young man named Clark, and proceed on a secret mission to an Indian town on the Little Miami, against which the Colonel meditated an expedition, and of the exact condition of which he desired to have certain information. They instantly departed, in obedience to orders, and reached the neighborhood of the town without being discovered. They examined it attentively, and walked around the houses during the night with perfect impunity. In their nightly promenade, they came across a number of Indian horses, in an inclosure. Each mounted a horse, but not satisfied with leaving the others behind, they attempted to take them along. This took them so long, and made so much noise, that they were at last discovered. The cry ran through the village that the "Long Knives" were upon them, and old and young, boys and warriors, sallied to the rescue of their property. Kenton and his men discovered that they must ride for their lives. But they determined not to give up the The settlers in Kentucky, then Western Virginia, were called "Long horses, and two of them rode in front, leading as many as they could, while the others brought up the rear, plying the whip from right to left. In this manner they dashed through the woods at a furious rate, leaving their pursuers behind them. They rode through the whole night without resting a moment, and halting for a few minutes at daylight, they continued their journey throughout the day, and the whole of the following night, and on the morning of the second day reached the northern bank of the Ohio. Crossing the river would now ensure their safety; but the wind was high, and the river rough and boisterous. It was determined that Kenton should swim the river with the horses, while Montgomery and Clark should construct a raft to transport their guns and baggage. Kenton, forcing the horses into the river, plunged in himself, and swam by their side. In a few minutes the high waves completely overwhelmed him, and forced him considerably below the horses. Being left to themselves, the horses turned round and returned to the Ohio shore, and Kenton was compelled to follow them. Again he forced them into the water, and again they returned to the same spot, until Kenton became so exhausted by repeated efforts, as to be unable to swim. They then hid the horses in a neighboring ravine, and took station in a wood near by, expecting the wind to cease before night. Here they remained during the day, but the wind at night blew harder than ever. In the morning the wind abated, and the river became calm, but it was then too late. The pursuing Indians arrived, Montgomery was killed, Clark made his escape, and Kenton was taken prisoner.(1) The Indians either knew Kenton or discovered from his bearing and his conduct on this occasion, that he was an extraordinary man; and while they exulted in his capture, they practiced upon him every possible cruelty. They taunted him with sarcastic compliments upon his love of horses, and assured him that he should ride one of their best animals. He was accordingly bound securely upon a vicious young horse, which was turned loose without a bridle, to follow the party. The animal reared and plunged, and dashed through the woods, endeavoring in vain to shake off its rider; until, wearied out, it became tame, and quietly fell into the rear of the other horses. Still the situation of Kenton was not less painful; for the horse, becoming accustomed to its burden, would often stop to graze, lingering until the party was nearly out of sight, and then dashing forward, would pursue them at full speed, dragging the lacerated body of the wretched pioneer under the over hanging branches, and plunging with him through the closest thickets, as if with the purpose of increasing his misery. On his arrival at Chillicothe, the most populous of the Indian towns in this region, he was painted black, tied to the stake, and suffered to remain in this painful situation for twelve hours, anticipating the horrors of a slow, and cruel death, the Indians dancing around him, yelling, screaming and beating him, during the time. He was led out the next morning to run the gauntlet. The Indians, several hundred in number, of both sexes, and every age and rank, armed with sticks, whips, clubs, and other implements of annoyance, were formed in two lines, between which the unhappy prisoner was made to pass; having been promised, that if he reached in safety the door of the council-house, at the farther end of the lines, no further punishment would be inflicted. The moment for starting arrived,-Kenton was stripped naked,-the great drum of the council-house was struck,-and he sprang forward in the race. Avoiding the row of his enemies, about a mile in length, he turned to the east, and drew the whole party in pursuit of him. He ran with great activity, now this way and now that, until observing an opening, he darted through it, and pressed forward to the council-house, with a rapidity which left his pursuers behind, and reached it without being seriously injured. As soon as this race was over, a council was held to determine whether he should be burned to death on the spot, or carried round to other villages for exhibition, and then burned. The council determined upon the latter course. He was then taken from village to village, and obliged to run the gauntlet in thirteen towns. Upon one occasion, he attempted to escape, broke through the ranks of his tormentors, and had outstripped those who pursued him, when he was met by some warriors on horseback, who compelled him to surrender. He was then condemned in council to suffer the terrible death of torture. Before this was to take place, he was compelled again to run the gauntlet and had nearly reached the gaol, when he was knocked down by a warrior with a club, and the demoniac crew, gathering around his prostrate body, continued to beat him until life seemed nearly extinguished. At length, he was summoned to attend the council, being informed that his fate was already decided. Upon entering the council house, the renegade white man, the notorious Simon Girty, who had just returned from an unsuccessful expedition against the frontiers of Pennsylvania, and was in a very bad humor, threw a blanket upon the floor, and harshly ordered Kenton to take a seat upon it. The order not be. ing immediately obeyed, Girty impatiently seized, and threw him upon the floor. But upon learning of Kenton his name, he became greatly agitated and springing from his seat, he threw his arms around the prisoner's neck and embraced him with much emotion. Girty and Kenton had served together in Dunmore's war, before Girty had deserted to the Indians, and they were bosom friends. He then turned to the assembled warriors, who remained astonished spectators of this extraordinary scene, and addressed them in a short speech, which the deep earnestness of his tone, and the energy of his gesture, rendered eloquent. He informed them that the prisoner, whom they had just condemned to the stake, was his ancient comrade and bosom friend-that they had travelled in the same war path, and slept upon the same blanket. He entreated them to have compassion upon his feelings-to spare the agony of witnessing the torture of an old friend, by the hands of his adopted brothers. He recapitulated the services he had rendered the Indians, and the many instances of attachment to them he had given. The life of Kenton, he asked as the first and last favor. The council debated the question for some time, with great earnestness, when the war club was produced and the final vote taken. A majority refused to strike the floor of the council house, and Kenton was liberated. Kenton remained with Girty for three weeks, being treated with great kindness. In the meantime, several chiefs from a distance arrived and another council was called, and Kenton ordered to attend. Girty again advocated the cause of his friend, but without effect. He was seized, bound, and immediately marched off under a guard. Upon reaching a village upon the head waters of the Scioto, Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief, told him not to be disheartened, and sent runners to Sandusky to intercede for him. The runners returned without succeeding in their efforts to save him, and Kenton was immediately taken to Sandusky. Here a British agent by the name of Drewyer, interposed and once more rescued him from the stake. He was then taken to Detroit to be interrogated, in relation to the American force in Kentucky. From this place he made his escape with two other Americans; and after thirty days travelling through the wilderness, continually exposed to recapture, had the good fortune to reach the settlements in Kentucky.(1) (1) Indidents of Border Life, pp. 323-337. Hall's Sketches of the West, Vol. II, pp. 125-129. Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I, pp. 74-77. H CHAPTER XIII. COL. JOHN BOWMAN'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE OHIO INDIANS, AND ITS UNFORTUNATE RESULT-THE surprise and DEFEAT OF MAJOR RODGERS, THE SLAUGHTER OF HIS MEN, AND THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF CAPT. BENHAM -THE COMBINED BRITISH AND INDIAN EXPEDITION UNDER COLONEL BYRD AGAINST RIDDLE'S AND MARTIN'S FORTS, AND THE CAPTIVITY OF THE GAR. RISONS AND FAMILIES UNDER THEIR PROTECTION-COL, CLARKE'S EXPEDITION AND VICTORY OVER THE INDIANS AT PICKAWA-ESCAPE OF COL. BOONE FROM THE MURDERERS OF HIS BROTHER- CAPTAIN WHITAKER'S SUCCESSFUL CONFLICT WITH THE INDIANS-COL. FLOYD'S DEFEAT-SINGULAR ENCOUN TER OF SAMUEL, JAMES AND ROBERT MCAFEE-SIGNAL DEFEAT OF THE INDI ANS AT FORT MCAFEE-THE APPEARANCE OF A LARGE INDIAN FORCE BEFORE BRYANT'S FORT-ITS FAILURE TO CAPTURE IT-THE FATAL BATTLE AT THE BLUE LICKS-THE THIRD EXPEDITION OF COL. CLARKE, AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIAN TOWNS. In the year 1779, the insecurity of the settlements south of the Ohio river, the surprise and murder of families by predatory bands of In. dians, and the constant danger of attack upon every station, whether fortified or defenceless, induced the pioneers to take measures to carry the war into the enemy's towns, north of the Ohio. They assembled at Harrodsburg, where it was determined to raise a body of volunteers for an expedition against Chillicothe, the chief town of the Shawanese. About two hundred men were raised, and the command given to Colonel JOHN BOWMAN. George M. Badinger was chosen adjutant, and Benjamin Logan, John Holder, James Harrod and John Bulger commanded companies. Many of the best men in the country enrolled themselves as privates. The expedition left Kentucky in July, crossed the Ohio river, and its march was so well conducted that it appeared before Chillicothe without being discovered by the foe. Having arrived within a short distance of the town in the dusk of the evening, the army halted. Here it was determined to attack the place just before the ensuing day. The plan of attack was well formed, and showed considerable military skill and caution. The army was divided into two divisions: one was to act under the command of Colonel Bowman in person, and the other under Captain Logan. Captain Logan had orders to take his position on one side of the town, partly surrounding it, while Colonel Bowman was to move to the other side, meet the other division, and give the signal for the assault. Captain Logan, with great promptitude, executed his orders, and the place was half surrounded. But he neither saw nor heard any thing of the Commander-in-chief. As the day light began to appear, Captain Logan ordered his men to conceal themselves |