[Transcriber's note: all misspellings and typographical errorsin the original have been retained in this text.]
OF THE
OF THE
MASSACRE OF THE PRISONERS; SIXTEEN MONTHS IMPRISONMENT OF THEWRITER AND OTHERS WITH THE INDIANS AND BRITISH:
FRANKFORT, KY. Printed for the author by A. G. Hodges. 1842.
[Copy Right secured according to law.]
The greater part of this short narrative was written years ago.At that time it was intended for publication. But for several yearspast the writer had declined ever letting it come before the world;and had it not been for the solicitations of friends, it is highlyprobable this intention would never have been changed. But relyingupon the opinion of those whom he believed to be well qualified tojudge of it, and believing them to be sincere in their expressionof opinion, I have consented to let it go and take its chancebefore the public.
It was found difficult to give such an account of that part ofthe campaign which it was thought to be most important, withoutcommencing as far back as the departure of the army from Kentucky.This part of the history has, however, been passed over veryrapidly, perhaps rather too much so to make it at all satisfactory.The writer is aware that he has omitted much which would have addedto the interest of this little history; but he has not leisure togo over it again. History has given us an account of the sufferingsof the North-Western Army only in general terms, but no where, sofar as I have been able to learn, has there been given a particulardetail of the sufferings and privations of that detachment of thearmy.
I think it proper that the rising generation should know whattheir fathers suffered, and how they acted in the hour of danger;that they sustained the double character of "Americans andKentuckians." This narrative has been made as concise as I couldconveniently make it, and on that account, perhaps, the writer hasnot said all that might, and that should have been said. But it ishoped that what has been said will be sufficient to give theyouthful reader some idea of what that "Spartan band" were calledto endure. To the old men of our country these things, perhaps,will not be new.
With regard to the massacre at Raisin, the writer has relatednothing but what he saw. What is said in reference to the braveHart and Hickman, he witnessed with his own eyes.
It may be thought that I have been a little too severe in what Ihave said of British officers. Should any think so, all I have tosay is, had they seen and felt what we did there would have been nodifference of opinion. By some it will be thought strange to findthe savages, in point of feeling and humanity, placed above theBritish—but the truth ought always to be told.
One thing the writer regrets, and that is his being compelled sofrequently to speak of himself. But he found it impossible to givea full narration without it. Nothing is aimed at but a plainunvarnished statement of facts, a sober description of scenes, inthe principal part of which the writer himself was an actor.
The volunteers from Kentucky, under the command of ColonelsAllen, Lewis and Scott, left their homes on the 12th of August,1812, and rendezvoused at Georgetown. Thence took the Dry Ridgeroad to Cincinnati, where we remained a few days. We then pursuedour march through the State of Ohio, by the way of Piqua; fromwhich place we were called to the relief of Fort Wayne.
Nothing worthy of public notice occurred on the way, except thealarm we had at the camp we called "Fighton," which every soldie