adventures of col[1]. daniel boone(丹尼尔·布思遇险)-第5章
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extricated ourselves from them; and escaped all safe into the garrison;
except one that was wounded; through a heavy fire from their army。 They
immediately attacked us on every side; and a constant heavy fire ensued
between us day and night for the space of nine days。
In this time the enemy began to undermine our fort; which was
situated sixty yards from Kentucke river。 They began at the water… mark
and proceeded in the bank some distance; which we understood by their
making the water muddy with the clay; and we immediately proceeded to
disappoint their design; by cutting a trench across their subterranean
passage。 The enemy discovering our counter…mine; by the clay we threw
out of the fort; desisted from that stratagem: And experience now fully
convincing them that neither their power nor policy could effect their
purpose; on the twentieth day of August they raised the siege; and
departed。
During this dreadful siege; which threatened death in every form; we
had two men killed; and four wounded; besides a number of cattle。 We
killed of the enemy thirty…seven; and wounded a great number。 After they
were gone; we picked up one hundred and twenty… five pounds weight of
bullets; besides what stuck in the logs of our fort; which certainly is a
great proof of their industry。 Soon after this; I went into the settlement; and
nothing worthy of a place in this account passed in my affairs for some
time。
During my absence from Kentucke; Col。 Bowman carried on an
expedition against the Shawanese; at Old Chelicothe; with one hundred
and sixty men; in July; 1779。 Here they arrived undiscovered; and a battle
ensued; which lasted until ten o'clock; A。 M。 when Col。 Bowman; finding
he could not succeed at this time; retreated about thirty miles。 The Indians;
in the meantime; collecting all their forces; pursued and overtook him;
when a smart fight continued near two hours; not to the advantage of Col。
Bowman's party。
Col。 Harrod proposed to mount a number of horse; and furiously to
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rush upon the savages; who at this time fought with remarkable fury。 This
desperate step had a happy effect; broke their line of battle; and the
savages fled on all sides。 In these two battles we had nine killed; and one
wounded。 The enemy's loss uncertain; only two scalps being taken。
On the twenty…second day of June; 1780; a large party of Indians and
Canadians; about six hundred in number; commanded by Col。 Bird;
attacked Riddle's and Martin's stations; at the Forks of Licking River; with
six pieces of artillery。 They carried this expedition so secretly; that the
unwary inhabitants did not discover them; until they fired upon the forts;
and; not being prepared to oppose them; were obliged to surrender
themselves miserable captives to barbarous savages; who immediately
after tomahawked one man and two women; and loaded all the others with
heavy baggage; forcing them along toward their towns; able or unable to
march。 Such as were weak and faint by the way; they tomahawked。 The
tender women; and helpless children; fell victims to their cruelty。 This; and
the savage treatment they received afterwards; is shocking to humanity;
and too barbarous to relate。
The hostile disposition of the savages; and their allies; caused General
Clark; the commandant at the Falls of the Ohio; immediately to begin an
expedition with his own regiment; and the armed force of the country;
against Pecaway; the principal town of the Shawanese; on a branch of
Great Miami; which he finished with great success; took seventeen scalps;
and burnt the town to ashes; with the loss of seventeen men。
About this time I returned to Kentucke with my family; and here; to
avoid an enquiry into my conduct; the reader being before informed of my
bringing my family to Kentucke; I am under the necessity of informing
him that; during my captivity with the Indians; my wife; who despaired of
ever seeing me again; expecting the Indians had put a period to my life;
oppressed with the distresses of the country; and bereaved of me; her only
happiness; had; before I returned; transported my family and goods; on
horses; through the wilderness; amidst a multitude of dangers; to her
father's house; in North…Carolina。
Shortly after the troubles at Boonsborough; I went to them; and lived
peaceably there until this time。 The history of my going home; and
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returning with my family; forms a series of difficulties; an account of
which would swell a volume; and being foreign to my purpose; I shall
purposely omit them。
I settled my family in Boonsborough once more; and shortly after; on
the sixth day of October; 1780; I went in company with my brother to the
Blue Licks; and; on our return home; we were fired upon by a party of
Indians。 They shot him; and pursued me; by the scent of their dog; three
miles; but I killed the dog; and escaped。 The winter soon came on; and
was very severe; which confined the Indians to their wigwams。
The severity of this Winter caused great difficulties in Kentucke。 The
enemy had destroyed most of the corn; the Summer before。 This necessary
article was scarce; and dear; and the inhabitants lived chiefly on the flesh
of buffaloes。 The circumstances of many were very lamentable: However;
being a hardy race of people; and accustomed to difficulties and
necessities; they were wonderfully supported through all their sufferings;
until the ensuing Fall; when we received abundance from the fertile soil。
Towards Spring; we were frequently harassed by Indians; and; in May;
1782; a party assaulted Ashton's station; killed one man; and took a Negro
prisoner。 Capt。 Ashton; with twenty…five men; pursued; and overtook the
savages; and a smart fight ensued; which lasted two hours; but they being
superior in number; obliged Captain Ashton's party to retreat; with the loss
of eight killed; and four mortally wounded; their brave commander
himself being numbered among the dead。
The Indians continued their hostilities; and; about the tenth of August
following; two boys were taken from Major Hoy's station。 This party was
pursued by Capt。 Holder and seventeen men; who were also defeated; with
the loss of four men killed; and one wounded。 Our affairs became more
and more alarming。 Several stations which had lately been erected in the
country were continually infested with savages; stealing their horses and
killing the men at every opportunity。 In a field; near Lexington; an Indian
shot a man; and running to scalp him; was himself shot from the fort; and
fell dead upon his enemy。
Every day we experienced recent mischiefs。 The barbarous savage
nations of Shawanese; Cherokees; Wyandots; Tawas; Delawares; and
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several others near Detroi