The Watchfulness of the Indians

Many of our men believed that the Indians had not given up the attack on our fort, but rather had drawn back into the forest, where it would be possible to watch us while they remained safely out of range, and that they were but waiting until they should be stronger in numbers before making another attack.

From this time on, for many a day, we were as completely shut inside the stockade as if 'the gates had been barred on the outside. Our men could no longer go out even in the night, because the Indians entirely surrounded us and seemed content to hold our people prisoners. There was nothing to prevent them from hunting at any time, while we were actually hungry and sometimes suffering for water, when the cattle had drunk the spring dry.

We had altogether, counting such marksmen as Billy, twenty-two who could be depended on to fight desperately, and it was the business of us women and girls to see that these brave fellows had nothing to do but guard the fort; therefore we strove to keep a check upon our own appetites, so that they might have the food they needed.

I should give due praise to Simon Kenton, for I have heard father say again and again that, with the exception of Colonel Boone, there was no one who did such valiant service; and in order that something of his part in the fight may be known, I am going to set down what he did when the second attack was made on the fort.