University of Virginia Library

18. CHAPTER XVIII.

As Algernos had stated to Girty, the country was indeed roused to a sense
of their danger. The news of the storming of Bryan's Station, had spread
fast and far, and, early on the day succeeding the attack, reinforcements began
to come in from all quarters, so that by noon of the fourth day, the station
numbered over one hundred and eighty fighting men.

Colonel Daniel Boone, accompanied by his son Israel, and brother Samuel,
commanded a considerable force from Boonesborough—Colonel Stephen
Trigg, a large company from Harrodsburgh—and Colonel John Todd, the
militia from Lexington. A large portion of these forces was composed of
commissioned officers, who, having heard of the attack on Bryan's Station by
an overwhelming body of Indians, had hurried to the scene of hostilities, and,
like brave and gallant soldiers as they were, had at once taken their places
in the ranks as privates. Most noted among those who still held command
under the rank of Colonel, were Majors Harlan, McGary, McBride,
and Levi Todd; and Captains Bulger, Patterson and Gordon.

Of those now assembled, Colonel Todd, as senior officer, was allowed to
take command—though, from the tumultuous council of war which was held
in the afternoon, it appears that each had a voice, and that but little order
was observed. It was well known that Colonel Benjamin Logan was then in
the act of raising a large force in Lincoln county, and at the farthest would
join them in twenty four hours, which would render them safe in pursuing
the savages; and for this purpose the more prudent, among whom was our
old friend, Colonel Boone, advised their delay; stating, as a reason, that the
Indians were known to out number them all as three to one; and that to
pursue them with a force so small, could only result, should they be overtaken,
in a total defeat of the whites. Besides which, Boone stated that the
scouts who had been sent out to examine the Indian trail, had reported that
it was very broad, and that the trees on either side had been marked with
their tomahawks, thereby showing a willingness on the part of the enemy
to be pursued, and a design to draw the whites into an ambuscade, the consequences
of which must necessarily be terrible. In this view of the case,
Colonel Boone was strongly seconded by Major McGary, who, though a hotheaded
young officer, eager on almost all occasions for a fight, now gave his
voice on the side of prudence.

But these prudent measures were combatted and overruled by Todd, who,
being an ambitious man, foresaw that in waiting for Logan, he would be deprived
of his authority as commander in chief of the expedition, and the
glory which a successful battle would now shed upon him. By him it was
urged, in opposition to Boone and McGary, that to await the arrival of Colonel
Logan, was only to act the part of cowards, and allow the Indians a safe
retreat; that in case they were overtaken and their numbers found to be
double their own—which report he believed to be false—the ardor and superior
skill of the Kentuckians would more than make them equal, and the
victory and glory would be their own. Whereas, should the Indians be allowed
to escape without an effort to harass them, the Kentuckians would be
held eternally disgraced in the minds of their countrymen.

The dispute on the matter waxed warm, high words ensued, and the discussion

was in a fair way of being drawn out to great extent, when Boone,
becoming tired and disgusted with the whole proceedings, replied:

“Well, I've given my conscientous opinion about the affair, and now you
can do as you please. Of course I shall go with the majority, and my seniors
in command; and ef the decision's for a fight, why a fight we must venter,
though every man o' Kaintuck be laid on his back for the risking. Ef we
fail—and it's my opine we shall—let them as takes the responsibility bear
the blame. I'll give my voice though, to the last, that we'd better wait the
reinforcements o' Colonel Logan.”

“Sir!” exclaimed Colonel Todd, turning fiercely to Boone, “if you are
not a coward, you talk like one! Don't you know, sir, that if we wait for
Logan, he will gain all the laurels?—and that if we press forward, we shall
gain all the glory?”

“As to my being a coward, Colonel Todd,” replied Boone, mildly, with
dignity, “when the word's explained so as I know the full meaning on't, prehaps
I'll be able to decide ef I be or not. Ef it means prudence in a time o'
danger, on which the welfare o' my country and the lives o' my countrymen
depends, I'd rather be thought cowardly than rash. Ef it means a fear to
risk my own poor body in defence o' others, I reckon as how my past life 'll
speak for itself; and for the fater, wharsomever Colonel Todd dars to venter,
Daniel Boone dars to lead. As to glory, we'll talk about that arter the battle's
fought.”

Thus ended the discussion; and the matter being put to vote, it was carried
by an overwhelming majority in favor of Todd's proposition, that the
Indians should be pursued without further delay. It was now about three
o'clock in the afternoon; and immediately on the final decision being made,
the council broke up, and orders were rapidly given to prepare to depart
forthwith. All the horses in or about the station were now collected together,
on which most of the officers and many of the privates were soon mounted,
and by four o'clock, the eastern gate was thrown open, the order to march
given by Colonel Todd, and the procession, composed of the flower of Kentucky's
gallant sons, moved forth, amid sighs and tears from the opposite sex,
a great portion of them never to return again. Reynolds—who, during the
past two or three days, since the retreat of the enemy, had employed his
leisure moments in the company of the being he loved, and who was now
finely mounted on a superb charger which had been presented him by Colonel
Boone—turned upon his saddle, as he was leaving the station, and
waved another adieu to Ella, who stood in the door of her cottage, gazing
upon his noble form, with a pale cheek, tearful eye, and beating heart. She
raised her lily hand, and, with a graceful motion, returned his parting salute;
and then, to conceal her emotion, retired into the house.

The Indians, it was found, had followed the buffaloe trace; and, according
to the account given by the scouts, had made their trail obvious as possible,
by hacking the trees on either side with their tomahawks. Their camp fires,
however, were very few, comparatively speaking, which to Boone seemed
plainly evident of a desire to mask their numbers. He had lived in the
woods all his life, was the oldest settler on the borders, and had been several
times a prisoner of the Indians, so that he was familiar with their artifices
for decoying their enemies; and he believed, from what he saw, that it
was their desire to be followed by the whites, and that they would probably seek
to draw the latter into an ambuscade in the vicinity of the Blue Licks, where
the wild country was particularly favorable to their purpose. In immagination
he already saw the disastrous result that was destined to follow this
hasty expedition; but his counsel to the contrary had been disregarded, and

it was not a time now to dampen the ardor of the soldiers, on which alone
success could depend, by expressing his fears and laying himself liable to further
reproach and contumely. He had said and done all that was consistent in
his situation to prevent the present step, and he now saw proper to keep his
fears of the result to himself; the more so, as a retreat was out of the question.

About dark the party came to a halt, and encamped in the woods for the
night. Early on the ensuing morning they resumed their march, and a little
before noon reached the southern bluffs of Licking river, opposite the
Lower Blue Lick, distant from Bryan's station some thirty-six miles, and the
place where, according to the opinion of Boone, the savages would be likely
to lie in wait to give them battle.

The scenery in the vicinity of the Licks, even at the present day, is peculiarly
wild and romantic; but at the period in question, it was relieved by
nothing in the shape of civilization. The Licks themselves had for ages
been the resort of buffaloe and other wild animals, which had come there to
lick the saline rocks, and had cropped the surrounding hills of every green
thing, thereby giving them a barren, desolate, gloomy appearance. On the
northern bank—the one opposite our little army—arose a tremendous bluff,
entirely destitute of vegetation, the brow of which was trodden hard by the
immense herds of buffaloe which had passed over it from time immemorial,
on their way to and from the salt springs at its base. To add to its dismal
appearance, the rains of centuries had ploughed deep gullies in its side, and
washed the earth from the rocks around its base, which, being bluckened in the
sun, now rose grim and bare, frowning in their majesty like fettered monsters
of the infernal regions. As you ascended this ridge, a hard level trace or
road led back for something like a mile—free from tree, stump or bush—
when you came to a point where two ravines, one on either hand, met at the
top, and, thickly wooded, ran in opposite directions down to the river, which,
beginning on the right, went sweeping round a large circuit, in the form of an
iron magnet, and made a sort of inland peninsula of the bluff in question.
Back from this buffaloe trace, on the southern bank of the Licking, dark
heavy woods extended for miles in every direction, and made the whole
scene impressive with a kind of gloomy grandeur.

As our gallant band of Kentuclians gained the river, they descried some
three or four savages leisurely ascending the stony ridge on the opposite
side. On perceiving the troops, the Indians paused, gazed at them a few
moments in silence, and then quietly continuing their ascent, disappeared
on the other side. A halt was now ordered by Colonel Todd, and a council
of war called to deliberate on what was best to be done. The wild gloomy
country around them, their distance from any post of succor, and the startling
idea that perchance they were in the presence of a body of savages of
double or treble their own numbers, was not without its effect upon Todd
and those who had seconded his hasty movements, and served much toward
cooling their ardor, and inspiring each with a secret awe.

Immediately on the halt of the troops, some twenty officers assembled in
front of the lines for consultation, when, turning to them, Colonel Todd said:

“Gentlemen, for ought I know to the contrary, we are now in the presence
of a superior enemy—superior at least in point of numbers—and I desire
to know your minds as to what course we had best pursue. And particularly,
Colonel Boone,” continued Todd, politely bowing to the veteran
woodsman, “would I solicit your views on the matter, believing as I do, notwithstanding
any hasty words I may have uttered in the heat of excitement
to the contrary, that you are a brave soldier, cool under all circumstances,

amply experienced in Indian stratagem, and consequently capable of rendering
much valuable advice in the present instance.”

Boone was not a revengeful man under any circumstances; and though he
had felt more stung and nettled at the implication of Todd the day before than he
cared to let others see, yet now that the other had made the apology due him,
he showed nothing like haughtiness or triumph in his mild, benevolent countenance,
but bowing slightly, as in token of a compliment, with his characteristic
frankness replied:

“As you say, Colonel Todd, I've had some little experience with the varmints
at different times, not excepting my capter at these same Licks in
1778; and, besides, I've traversed this here country in every direction, and
know every secret hiding-place round about, as well as the rest o' ye know
the ground we've jest travelled; and it's on account o' this knowledge partly,
and partly on account o' the lazy movements o' them red heathen we've jest
seen go over the hill yonder, and the wide trail, and marked trees behind us,
that I'm led to opine that's a tremendous body o' the naked rascals hid in a
couple o' ravines, that run down to the river on either side of that ridge,
about a mile ahead, who are waiting to take us by surprise. Now I think
we'd better do one of two things. Either wait for the reinforcement o' Colonel
Logan, who's no doubt on his march by this time to join us, or else divide
our party, and let half on 'em go up stream and cross at the rapids and
so get round behind the ravines, ready to attack the savages in the rear,
while the rest cross the ford here, and keep straight on along the ridge to attack
'em in front—by which manœuvre we may prehaps be able to beat
them. But ef you don't see proper, gentlemen, to take up with either o'
these proposals, don't, for Heaven's sake! I beg o' ye, venter forward, without
first sending on scouts to reconnoitre, else we're likely to be in an ambuscade
afore we know it, and prehaps all be cut off.”

“Well, all things considered,” answered Colonel Todd, who now becoming
aware of the fearful responsibility resting upon him as commander, felt
little inclined to press rashly forward, “I think it advisable to wait the reinforcements
of Logan before proceeding further. It can delay us but a day
or two, and then we shall be sure of a victory; whereas, if we press forward
now and run into an ambuscade, of which Colonel Boone feels certain, we
shall doubtless rue the day by a total defeat.”

“I'm of the same opinion, rejoined Major Levi Todd.

“And I,” said Captain Patterson.

“And I,” rejoined several other voices.

“But I'm opposed to waiting for Logan,” said Colonel Trigg; “as delays
on the point of a battle are rarely ever beneficial. I think we had better
take up with Colonel Boone's second proposition, divide our forces and proceed
at once to action; though for the matter of prudence, it may be advisable
to send a couple of scouts ahead, before deciding upon any thing positive.”

Majors Harlan and McBride, with two or three others of inferior rank,
took sides with Trigg, and the discussion seemed likely to be protracted for
some considerable time, when Major Hugh McGary, who had been listening
to the proceedings with the utmost impatience, suddenly startled and broke
up the council by a loud whoop, resembling that of an Indian; and spurring
his high mettled charger forward, he waved his hat over his head and shouted,
in a voice that reached the whole length of the lines, these ever memorable
words:

“Those among you who are not d—d cowards, follow me! I'll soon show,

you where the Indians are!” As he spoke, he rushed his fiery steed into the
river, with all the rash impetuosity of a desperate soldier charging at the
cannon's mouth.

The effect of McGary's words and actions were electrical. The troops on
horse and foot, officers and privates, suddenly became animated with a wild
enthusiasm. Whooping and yelling like Indians, more than a hundred of
them now sprang forward, and in a tumultuous body rushed into the stream
and struggled for the opposite shore. A few lingered around Boone, Todd,
and Trigg, to await their orders. But the pause of these commanders was
only momentary. They saw their ranks in confusion, and more than twothirds
of their soldiers in the water, struggling after the hot headed McGary,
and most of the other officers. The mischief was already done. To delay
was but to doom their enthusiastic comrades to certain destruction; and
shouting to those who yet remained to follow, Todd put spurs to his horse, and,
together with Trigg and Boone, dashed after the main body. It was a wild
scene of excitement. Horsemen and footmen, officers and privates, all mixed
in together in confusion, and pushing forward in one “rolling and irregular
mass.”

By violent threats and repeated exertions, with their swords drawn and
flashing in the sunlight, Colonels Todd, Trigg and Boone at length succeeded,
after reaching the opposite bank, in restoring something like order to the
half-crazed troops. On gaining the brow of the buffaloe ridge, Todd commanded
a halt; then drawing a pistol from the holster of his saddle, he rode
to the front of the lines, and, with eyes flashing fire, exclaimed:

“Men, we must have order! Without order we are lost. I command a
halt; and the first man that moves from the ranks, officer or private, until
so commanded, by heavens, I'll scatter his brains on the land he disgraces!”

His speech produced the desired effect; not a man ventured, by disobeying,
to put his threat to the test; and after gazing on them sternly a few
moments in silence, he turned to McGary, who was sitting his horse a few
paces distant, and said:

“Sir! you have acted unbecoming, both as an officer and a gentlemanand
if we two live through an engagement which I fear is near at hand, and
which your rashness will have brought about, I will have you put under arrest
and tried by court-martial.”

“As you please, Colonel Todd,” replied McGary, with a fierce look.
“But you will bear in mind, sir, that at the council yesterday, you scouted
at the proposition advanced by Colonel Boone, and seconded by myself and
others, of waiting for the reinforcements of Colonel Logan, and insinuated
that we were cowards. As you, sir, were so very brave, and so eager for a
fight when at a distance, I swore that if we came where a fight could be had,
I would either draw you into action, or forever damn you as a coward in the
eyes of your soldiers. If I have succeeded, I rest satisfied to let you do
your worst.”

“Resume your place, sir! and break an order this day at your peril!”
cried Todd, sharply, his face flushed with indignation.

As McGary slowly obeyed, Todd called to Boone, Trigg, and one or two
others, with whom he held a short consultation as to the propriety of sending
forward scouts before advancing with the main army. This being decided in
the affirmative, Isaac Younker and another individual were selected from the
ranks, and appointed to go on the dangerous mission, with orders to follow
the buffaloe trace and examine it carefully on both sides, particularly round
about the ravines, and if they saw any traces of Indians, to hasten back with

all speed; but if not, to continue their examination for a half mile further
on, where the great trace gradually became lost in lesser paths, branching
off in every direction.

Immediately on the departure of these two scouts, the troops were drawn
up in a long line, ready for action at a moment's notice. Colonel Trigg
commanded the Harrodsburgh forces on the right, Colonel Boone the Boonesborough
soldiers on the left, and Colonel Todd, assisted by Majors McGary
and McBride, the Lexington militia in the center. Major Harlan led the
van, and Major Levi Todd brought up the rear. This was the order in
which they went into battle.