A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times.

Front matter

F '

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

Contents

SUBJECTS. PAGE.

Military Occupation 392

The Arrests 898

Chapter II. The I^i^tei^s

THE Susquehanna was always a favorite stream among the Indians, and a residence upon its banks was coveted by all the tribes. We find the Delawares, the Shawanese, the Gangawese, or Conays, the Monceys and others on the two branches and in the valleys lying in the Forks of the Susquehanna. But above the P^orks the west side of the West Branch was much better known than the west side of the North Branch. On the former, almost eveiy stream can be identified by its Indian name, but not in the lattei-. Fishingcreek and Hemlock and Green and Huntingdon seem to have lost all trace of the aboriginal title, and in no authority which I have been able to consult, have I found any certain clue to the Indian name.

And that is the more singular, because the war and hunting paths of the different tribes lay through Columbia county, and across and along the streams I have mentioned.

Van Campen tells us that when in 1778 he headed a scouting party, they started from McClure's Fort, went up Fishingcreek about three miles to Wheeler's Fort, thence to the head waters of Green Creek, crossed over through Eves' swamp to Little Fishingcreek, thence to the Chillisquaque Creek, and from that stream to the Muncy hills, and crossing them struck the waters of Muncy Creek, and thence ascended or descended as the exigencies of the service required.

Subsequently, in 1780, a party of Indians came upon the settlers about Wheeler's Fort, killed Van Campen's father and brother, and taking Moses prisoner, went up Big Fishingcreek to Huntingdon creek, thence to the mouth of Little Tunkhannock Creek, thence up the river to Big Tunkhannock, and on to Meshoppen, Wyalusing and so by the Painted Post to Albany. In none of the narratives of such expeditions which I have i-ead,doeB

10 HISTORY OF COLUMBIA OOUKTY

the original Indian name of Fishingcreek or any of its affluents appear. There must be such a designation and any authentic information upon the subject will interest all our citizens.

It is perhaps proper to add here that the Historical ^[aj) of the Pennsylvania Historical Society gives the Indian name of P'ishingcreek thereon, from some old authority, as being Xamescesepony.

Xescopeck was the only southern Indian route for travel between Wyoming and Shamokin. Coming down the Susquehanna on their way to Easton, Chester, Lancaster, Conestoga, Philadelphia, or other places for holding councils, they left the river at Wyoming or at Kescopeck, and only predatory raids for nmrder or plunder came down the river on the west side. Consequently we have less knowledge of that than of other jjortions of the \' alley. The name of the Shawanese village located near where Bloomsburg now stands has never turned up amongst all my lesearches.

Catawissa is '-ye most ancient" village of which we have any knowledge, and was known by that name to whites and Indians in 1728, and doubtless much earlier. James Le Tort writes under date of "Catawasse, May ye 12, 1728," concerning a difficulty . near that place — "We always thought that the Governor knew nothing of the ffight between the Shawaynos and the white people." And the famous chieftain Lapackpitton, who left his name temporarily upon the place, was thej'e in 1754.

The West Branch, as it is now called, was known to the Indians by the name of Otsinaehson ; and I refer to some of the localities ujion that river because all the territory above Point Township to the Lycoming county line was once a part of Columbia county. In 1755 Mr. Weiser writes to the Governor that a company of Indians had informed him that they intended to build a town on the river Otsinaehson, at a place called Otstuagy, or as given elsewhere, Otstuacky, and desiring him to send some men to fence a cornfield for them. This place is believed to be Loyal Sock, and it is said that a large Indian village was located at the mouth of the creek on the north side. And acccn-dingly, in June following, we find him writing to the Governor as follows : "Last night I anived safe at my house from Otstuachy, an Indian town about 45 miles above Shamokin, on the north-west branch ril.STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 11

of Susquehanna river, where T have been with ten hired men to fence in a corn-field for the Indians, according to your Honor's order." Farther along in his letter he says : "I left one sack of Flower with them, the same I did to the Indians at Canasoragy, about ten miles on this side of Otstuaohy."

So, in another letter from the same Conrad Weiser, from the same place, dated May 2, 1754, he says : "Last night 1 arrived safe from my journey to Shamokin and Wyomink, of which I think I am obliged by your Honor's orders to lay before you a just and distinct account, which is as follows : April the seventeenth I set out from home and went by the way of John Harris's and Thomas McKee's, being afraid of the two high mountains and the bad road that leads from them to Shamokin. I arrived at Shamokin the twentieth of April, found that two of the Shick Calamys being about thirty miles off on the north-west branch of Sasquehannah, commonly called Zinachson, I sent a message for them, there being a great number of Indians at and about Shamokin. I thought tit to send my son with James Logan, the lame son of Shick Calamys, with another Indian to Oskohary, Nishkibeckon and Woyamock, three Indian towns on Sasquehannah (North East Branch), with your Honor's message. They set out from Shamokin on the twenty-second, by water, because there was no fodder to be had by the way for horses. On the twenty-sixth they came bacji again and reported that they lodged the first ■ night at Oskohary with Lapackpitton, the chieftain, and Sammy interpreted your Honor's message in Mohock to James Logan,and he to Lapackpitton in Delaware. That Lapackpitton was well pleased with the message, thanked them very kindly, and gave them the string of wampum Vjack again which they had given him, and told them that it was best to leave the string at Niskibeckon, where there were more Indians, with old Nutimus, their chief. When they arrived at Niskibeckon, old Nutimus was from home, but the rest of the Indians received the message very kindly, and said they would lay it before Nutimus and the rest of their Indians after they should come home. At Woyamock it was just the same, Paxanosy, the chief man there, was from home also, the message with another string of wampum was taken well by those that were at home."

It seems altogether likely that the points mentioned are Catawissa, Xescopeck and Wyoming ; and also that Oskohary was a Delaware name of Catawissa, and tliat the other two names are the same dialed. So I have sometimes been disposed to think that "C'henastry," an Indian town on the Sns(|uehanna, sj)oken of in Colonial Records III, page 295, togetlier with the Indian Manaukyhickon, ibid 205, 304, M'i and Pennsylvania Archives I, 214, 21.'), 21(i, compared with the letter of James Le Tort from '•('atawasse,'' all referred to the same ))lace aiid the same difficulty, and that by "fheuastry" Catawissa may be intended.

There was an Indian town about half way between the mouth of Catawissa creek and the mouth of Koaringcreek which by some authorities is given as the town of the chief La[iackpitton, and may have been the place called Oskohar}'.

No two men spell the same Indian name alike, and the same man scarcely ever spells it twice the same way. The different tribes called the same place by different names, as Catawissa and Oskohary, as Wyomock and Seahautowano and Maughwauwame for Wyoming ; distances are given by mere guess, and seem to depend on the strength of the rower or the swiftness of the horse making the journey.

Fifty years ago much was known which is now lost ; but amongst old letters and old newspapers some things may yet be recov^ered and made to contribute to the personal interest and local and chronological correctness of this attempt.

CHAPTER III. TECE :foi5.ts

THE territory originally composing Columbia county was of considerable extent. It comprised all that portion of Northumberland county which lay west of the North Branch, except the single township of Point. Within its first described limits were three townships now in Schuylkill county, the whole of Montour, and the townships of Chillisquaque, Turbot, Lewis and Delaware, now in Northumberland county. All this, its cause and history will be more particularly referred to and given hereafter ; but it becomes necessary to state the fact here, because in giving somewhat of the revolutionary history of the county, it is proposed to include sketches of all the forts and military stations within its original boundaries.

It had at least ten such forts or military stations within its borders, named and located as follows :

Beginning on the North Branch, we have "Fort Jenkins," located on Jacob Hill's faim, near Briarcreek — "Fort Wheeler," on Fishingcreek, about three miles above its mouth — "McClure's Fort," located just below Bloomsburg on the site of the Douglas Hughes farm buildings — "Fort Rice," on the bead waters of Chillisquaque creek, about thirteen miles from Sunbury — "Montgomery's Fort,'' twelve miles below Muncy, on the West Branch — "Bosley's Mills," on the Chillisquaque, and supposed to be where the borough of Washiugtonville now stands — -"Freeland's Fort," on the Warrior Run, between four and five miles above its mouth — "Boone's Mill," said to be about seven miles from Fort Freeland, at the mouth of Muddy Run — "Fort Swartz," situate about one mile above Milton — and "Fort Meninger," at the mouth of Warrior Run.

Bosley's Mills seems to have been an important militai-y station.

U HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

stockaded and held by the neighborhood militia. The earliest information as to this post is of the date of August 10, 1778, in a letter from Col. Hartley to the Council of War. Speaking of the posts at Jenkins on Briarcreek, and Wallace's at Muncy, and at the head watei-s of Chillisquaque which was no doubt Fort Rice, he adds : "I have a body in the Forks of Chelesquaque," which the maps show to be where the borough of Washingtonville stands, and was Bosley's Mills. The Chillisquaque and the forks of that creek are very frequently mentioned, for the forts on that stream were ia the line of posts from Wyoming to Muncy. November 9, 1778, writing to the Executive Council the Colonel says : "The enemy have come down in force and invested Wyoming. They have burnt and destroyed all the settlements on the North East Branch as far as Nescopeck. Fort Jenkins where we have a small garrison has supported itself for the present. About 70 Indians were seen about '1'2 miles from here [Sunbury] yesterday evening, advancing towards the Forks of (Chillisquaque, they took some prisoners yesterday. * * * I am drawing some

little force together, and to-morrow will endeavor to attack those Indians on Chillisquaque, if they keep in a body and make a movement towards Fishingcreek, which will probably be of use to the people of Wyoming." The Colonel advanced to the relief of Wyoming, and on November 14, was at Fort Jenkins.

On the 26 of June, 1779, Capt. Thomas Kemplen was stationed with the few men under his command, at "Bosley's Mills on Chillisquaque.'' The letter conveying that information also mentions that the muster roll of Capt. Kemplin is enclosed, but it has not been preserved. It would be now a most interesting document. Under date of November 27, 1779, Col. Hunter recommends rebuilding Fort Miuicy and putting in a garrison of one hundred men, tweuty-five men at Fort Jenkins, and a "serjent's guard at Bosley's Mills on Chillisquake." At this time Capt. Kemplen was stationed at Mineger's place on the West Branch about seventeen noiiles from Sunbury. Lieut. Col. Weltner, under date of Northumberland, April 9, 1780, says : "I have manned three material outposts, viz : Fort Jenkins, Fort Montgomery, and Bosley's Mills." On the 14th of October, 1782, the Indians killed and scalped an old couple of the name of Martin, living on the Chillisquaque about one mile and a half from Col. James Murray's, and

HlfiTOR Y OF COL UMBIA GO UNT Y. 1 5

took three young women prisoners, being all the family that was in the house. "This old couple, Col. Hunter says, being map and wife, I saw laying killed and scalped, and was one that helped to bury tliem." He complains bitterly of the pei-fidious enemy, and of the falsehood of British assui'ances that no more parties of savages should be permitted to be sent against the frontiers. He fears also that these murders will prevent settlers from returning, and adds tbat the Martin family had been back only a few days. After the summer of 1780 we hear nothing more of Bosley'a Mills, but it would seem that the post was maintained throughout the Indian hostilities. Of Capt. Kemplin, who appears to have been a good and active officer the Hon. John B. Linn in his "Annals of Buffalo Valley," gives the following paragi'aph, [page 198]. "In a letter to General Potter, Colonel Hunter states that Captain Thomas Kempling, as he writes if, and his eldest son were killed by the Indians at the mouth of Muricy Creek, in March 1781. In the petition of his widow, who writes her name Mary Campleton, presented to the Assembly, September 23, 1784, she says . My husband aud son, with others, went on a tour of duty up the West Branch, early in the spring of 1781, and lying one night at the mouth of Muncy Creek, in the morning the savages came on them, when ray unfortunate husband and son with one William Campbell, fell a sacrifice to all the cruelties and barbarities that savages could inflict, leaving your petitioner and six children. We were driven from house and home, and so reduced that I am unable to return to the place we had improved upMi."

Fort MoNTGOMERr was twelve miles below Fort Muncy, and about two miles from Bosley'a Mill, and in November, 1779, there were forty men stationed there. The place is mentioned in a letter from Col. Weltner to the Board of War, Dec. 13, 1779, as being well situated for the defense of the frontier, and that the detachment sent there had erected barracks and other necessary defences. On the 9th of April, 1780, he writes again to the Board of War, and speaks of Montgomery's as a material out-post, which with Fort Jenkins and Bosley's Mills he had manned. After the latter date I do not find the place again mentioned.

Fort Mbninger, the place at which Capt. Kemplen was stationed in November, 1779, is reported to have been at the mouth of Warrior's Run on the West Branch, about seventeen miles from Sunbury. At this time the Captain had but fourteen men. It is reported to have been a military post previously, and to have been abandoned in June 1779, when McDonald made his raid into the county. Nothing further seems to be known of its history.

Fort Schwartz was located about one mile above Milton. The first mention of the place occurs in a letter from Colonel Hunter to President Re;'d, dated "Sunbury, 17th April 1780," in which he says . "Last Saturday a party of twenty Indians struck at Peter Swartz's plantation about twelve miles from here on the West Branch. They killed one man and wounded three which are now in this town under Dr. Alison's care." He adds that a party in pursuit came within sight of the enemy, who dropt their packs and turned up the mountain, and so escaped. Between the above date and September 18, 1780, the place must have been fortified; for under that date Gen. Potter writes from Sunbury, that on receiving mformation of the attack on Fort Rice, he assembled some forces, and the next morning marched with 170 men to Fort Swarts. On the 21st of the same month Col. Hunter writes to President Reed and says : "When'the German Regiment marched off from here I gave orders to the Frontier Companys to embody and keep one fourth of the men constantly reconnoitering, after garrisoning P^ort Jenkins, Fort Rice, and Fort Swartz with twenty men in each of them.''

Fort Rick is stated by£ol. Sam Hunter to have been erected by Col. Weltner's troops on the head waters of Chillisquake about thirteen miles from Sunbury. It is first mentioned by Col. Hartley in a letter to the Council of War, August 10, 1778, where speaking of maintaining posts at Muncy and Fort Jenkins, he adds that he "was resolved to hold posts at both these extremes, and have an intermediate one on the head waters of Chelesquaque.'' It seems not to have been molested for a considerable period of time, . but it was attacked about the 6th of September, 1780. by 300 Indians, who were repulsed by the 20 men by whom the fort was manned. In this attack on Fort Rice the enemy had killed but one man and taken one prisoner. It was at this time and by a portion of this force that Fort Jenkins at Hill's place was burned, having been evacuated by Col. Hunter upon information of the contemplated attack on Fort Rice. Col. Hunter says "the enemy attacked the Fort, (Rice) about sundown and fired very smartly, the garrison returned the fire with spirit, which made them withdraw a little off, and in the night they begun to set fire to a number of houses and stacks of grain, which were consumed. In the meantime our militia had collected to the number of one hundred men under the command of Col. John Kelly, who marched to the relief of the garrison, and arrived the next day. The people in the garrison acquainted Col. Kelly there must be two hundred and fifty or three hundred of the enemy, which he did not think prudent to engage without being reinforced." Expresses were sent out and Col. Purdy on the Juneate, turned his forces toward Sunbury, to engage in the pursuit of the enemy. Volunteei's and militia to the number of several hundred poured into Sunbury. Gen. Potter coming to Sunbury at this time took command of the militia, having dismissed the volunteers, and pursued the enemy. He marched on to Muncy hills, but did not find the route taken by the enemy till the 13th, and then followed on across the country, up Fishingcreek, and to nearly opposite Wyoming, where the General writes, the enemy were found to be so far ahead as to make it useless to follow them. At the same time, he writes that another band "crossed the Moncey hill near one Eveses and went up the Monoey creek."

Nothing further worthy of mention seems to have occurred at this post, until October 24, 1782, when it is related in a letter from Capt. Thomas Robison to the Executive Council, that Sergeant Edward Lee and Robert Carrethers were sem out from Fort Rice as spies ; and when about two miles from the fort fell into an ambuscade of about eleven Indians, were fired on, and Lee was killed and scalped —Carrethers was missing and supposed to be taken prisoner. Subsequent mentions of Fort Rice are merely incidental.

Boone's Foet was located about two miles above Milton on Muddy Run, and was about seven miles from Fort Freeland. The fort at Muncy having been evacuated, the Indians made an incursion in July 1779, and on the 3rd killed three men and took two prisoners at Lycoming — on the 8th burned the widow Smith's mill — on the 17th burned Starret's mill and all the principal houses in Muncy township — and on the 20th killed three men at Freelaud's

Fort and took two prisoners. Col. Hunter writes "that unless succour arrives, the forts at Freeland's and Boone's cannot stand long, but that he has never seen the people behave more spiritedly." At that time every thing above Muncy Hill was abandoned, and the scouting and scalping parties of the Indians having driven in all the inhabitants, gathered themselves together and on the 28th. of July a large party of British and Indians attacked Fort Freeland. The firing was heard at Boone's, and Capt. Boone and Capt. Kemplen marched off with thirty-four men to reinforce the fort at Freeland's. Before they arrived it had surrendered, and a detachment of the enemy met the company under Capt. Boone at a little distance from the fort and cut them to pieces. It is related that the enemy were within the fort, the women and children being outside and unguarded, and Capt. Boone thus fell into the ambuscade, thinking nothing wrong. The women made signs to him to retire, but it was too late. Though surprised, the thii-tyfour men fought desperately, and Col. McDonald, the British commander, long after, spoke of Capt. Boone and his heroic bravery.

The following are the names of the killed belonging to Capt. Boone's party : Capt. Boone, Capt. S. Dougherty, J. M. Mc- G-laghlen, Natt Smith, John Jones, Ezra Green, Samuel Xeel, M. W. McClintock, Hugh MoGill, Andrew Woods and Edward Costikan.

These are all the names of killed which are given, but another account says that thirte^ scalps of Capt. Boone's party, were brought into the fort in a handkerchief, Capt. Boone's among them; and Col. Hunter writes under date of "August ye 4th., 1779,'' that there were of the relieving force, fifteen killed and two wounded. "William Maclay writes on the 5th. of August, that none of Boone's men were made prisoners. The list above given is furnished by Matt'w Smith, who says : "This aect. I Believe is the Fact as the party out yesterday have Bury'd the Dead, gave me the List.''

Nothing further appears relative to this out-post, though it was btless maintained as such so long as danger from roaming ds of Indians made such points of refuge necessary.

Fort Freei.and was situated about four miles up Warrior's ruii, which empties into the Susquehanna about five miles above Milton. It is said by Col. Hunter to be "a little fort near Muncy hill, called Fort Freeland." It was six and a half miles north of Milton, and half a mile from "Warrior's Run Presbyterian church. It is first spoken of as a fort in 1779. There was a gristmill built near there by Jacob Freeland in 1773 or 1774. The Freeland two story log dwelling house, which constituted the fort, seems to have been picketed in the fall of 1778. It contained within the pickets half an acre of ground. The timbers were set close and were about twelve feet high. The Freeland party were from Essex county, New Jersey. On the 26th. of April 1779, a scouting party of Indians killed or captured seven of the militia men stationed there, but it was not until the 28th. of July following that the real attack on the Fort was made. There were at the time forty or fifty women and children in the fort, and by some accounts thirty-two men, and by others only twenty-one. At daybreak on the 28th. of July 1779, a party of about three hundred, consisting of British and Indians, commanded by Capt. McDonald, surrounded the fort. There was but little ammunition, and Mary Kii'k and Phebe Vincent inmiediately commenced to run their spoons and plates into bullets. The distress of the women and children and the want of ammunition made successful resistance hopeless, and about nine o'clock a flag of truce was raised. John Little and John Vincent conducted the negotiations, and after consultation agreed ujjon the following articles :

Articles op C.u'rrur..vTiON, Fort Freelaxd 1779. — Articles of capitulation ent'd into Between Capt'n. John McDaniel on his Majesties part and John Little on that of the Congress.

Article 1st. The men in Garrison to March out and Ground their Ai-ms in the green, in front of the fort, which is to be taken in Possession of immediately by his Majesty's Troops. Agreed too.

2dly. All Men Bearing Arms are to Surrender themselves Prisoners of war and to be sent to Niagara. Agr'd too.

3d. The Women and Children not to be Strip'd of their cloatliing nor Molested by the Indians and to be at Liberty to Move down the country where they Please. Agr'd too.

Jimx McDON.M.D,

Capt. of Rangers.

John Lit'tlk.

Col. Samuel Hunter, under date of " Sunbury August ye 4th. 1779," gives the following graphic account : "There was in the garrison at the time twenty-six men and fifty women and children, who is all come iu safe ; the fireiug at Freeland's was heard at Boon's Mill, about seven miles distance, where a number of the inhabitants had collected. Captains Boon and Kemplen marched off with thirty-four men to reinforce the Fort at Freeland's, but was met a little way on this side by a number of the savages who surrounded them immediately ; our men behaved with great bra^•e^3' for some little time, but being overpowered by numbers was almost cut to pieces ; our loss there was fifteen killed and two wounded. Among the dead is Capt. Boon and Cnpt. Saml. Dougherty, two very good men."

It was after the surrender of the fort that Capt. Boone's party came up, so many of whom were uselessly slaughtered by the enemy.

In the fort but five men were killed, viz : James Watts. John MoCliutock, William McClung, James Miles and Henry Gilfillen. Thirteen scalps of Capt. Boone's party were brought into the fort in a pocket handkerchief. Among them was Capt. Boone's.

The whole garrison left the fort by twelve o'clock, and the women and children reached Northumberland, about eighteen miles distant, that night, not having eaten a bite during the whole (lay. Col. Smith writes to President Reed from Sunbury, August 3rd, 1779, that he is there "with sixtj' Paxtang boys and intends to follow the savages. He reports that fifty two women and children and four old men came safely from Fort Freeland. He says the distress of the people is great — the town now composes Northumberland county — houses, barns, wheat, stacks of hay, all is consumed. Such devastation he has not yet seen. The surrender of Fort Freeland and the defeat and death of Capt. Boone left every thing exposed." Col. Hunter writes under date of July 29th, "The town of Northumberland was the frontier last night, and I am afraid Sunbury will be to night," And he begs for assistance, as well he might, seeing the helpless women and children flying down the river, many of the husbands and fathers slain, and those yet ali\'e going off into hopeless captivity.

It would be interesting now to know who were taken prisoners.

SISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. 21

and who returned from the captivity. We have only the names of Benjamin Vincent, Michael Preeland, Bethuel Vincent, Daniel Vincent and Capt. John Little.

Daniel Vincent had been married a short time before he was taken prisoner,to Miss Angelica Heuif of New Jersey. Upon the capture of her husband she returned to the home of her parents, and for a period of something like four years, heard nothing from him. One evening she was out with a sleighing party, and having stopped at a tavern, a roughly dressed stranger hapjsening there, inquired if a Mrs. Vincent lived in that vicinity. She was pointed out to him, whereupon he introduced himself to her notice, and soon convinced her that he was her long lost husband. The hilarity of the party was doubtless much increased by this unexpected but joyful reunion; which as I am informed by a descendant, took place at the tavern, and not, as reported, after the party had broken up and on the return home.

Capt. Little returned to find his wife, deceived by false infoi'- mation of his death in captivity, married to another man. Explanations ensued. Letters detailing his death were proved to have been received, their falsehood was evident — the false husband fled the country, and the pair so long and cruelly separated were re-united. ■

To this sketch of Freeland's Fort I add a most interesting and graphic narrative of Benjamin Patterson, the hunter, published in Judge Mc Master's History of Steuben county. He says : At the skirmish of Freeling's Fort in 1779, he and his younger brother Robert fought in the party of Oajjt. Hawkins Boone, and narrowly escaped with their lives. Freeling's Fort on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, had been taken by a party of Tories and Indians, the former under the command of McDonald, a noted loyalist of Tryon county in New York, and the latter led by Hiakatoo, the husband of Mary Jennison, the white woman. Capt- Boone's party of thirty two, volunteered to scout in the neighborhood of the captured Fort, and to attack the enemy if it could be advantageously done. They advanced cautiously and succeeded in concealing themselves in a cluster of bushes overlooking the camp of the enemy. Both Tories and Indians were engaged in cooking or eating, while a single sentinel, a fine tall savage, with a blanket drawn over his head, walked slowly to and fro. Boone's men commenced firing by platoons of six. The sentry sprang into the air with a whoop and fell dead. The enemy yelling frightfully ran to arms and opened a furious but random fire at their unseen foes. Their bullets rattled through the bushes where Boone's men lay hid, but did no mischief. The slaughter of Indians and tories was dreadful. The thirty two rangers firing rapidly and coolly by sixes, with the unerring aim of frontiersmen, shot down one hundred and fifty (so the story i-uns) before the enemy broke and fled. Boone's men with strange indiscretion, rushed from their covert in pursuit, and immediately exposed their weakness of numbers. Hiakatoo with his Indians made a circuit and attacked them in the rear, while McDonald turned upon their front. They were surrounded. "Save yourselves, men, as you can," cried Capt. Boone. The enemy closed with tomahawks and spears. This part of the fight occurred in the midst of the woods. The rangers broke through their foes and fled with such success that many escaped, but their Captain and more than half his men were killed.