Here, in the order of the annals of the country, would be the place to present the famous attack of Bryant’s station, which we have anticipated by an anachronism, and given already, in order to present the reader with a clear view of a station, and the peculiar mode of attack and defence in these border wars.  The attack upon Bryant’s station was made by the largest body of Indians that had been seen in Kentucky, the whole force amounting at least to six hundred men.  We have seen that they did not decamp until they had suffered a severe loss of their warriors.  They departed with so much precipitation as to have left their tents standing, their fires burning, and their meat roasting.  They took the road to the lower Blue Licks.

Colonel Todd, of Lexington, despatched immediate intelligence of this attack to Colonel Trigg, near Harrodsburgh, and Colonel Boone, who had now returned with his family from North Carolina to Boonesborough.  These men were prompt in collecting volunteers in their vicinity.  Scarcely had the Indians disappeared from Bryant’s station, before a hundred and sixty-six men were assembled to march in pursuit of nearly triple their number of Indians.  Besides Colonels Trigg, Todd, and Boone, Majors McGary and Harland, from the vicinity of Harrodsburgh, had a part in this command:  A council was held, in which, after considering the disparity of numbers, it was still determined to pursue the Indians.  Such was their impetuosity, that they could not be persuaded to wait for the arrival of Colonel Logan, who was known to be collecting a strong party to join them.

The march was immediately commenced upon their trail.  They had not proceeded far before Colonel Boone, experienced in the habits of Indians and the indications of their purposes, announced that he discovered marks that their foe was making demonstrations of willingness to meet them.  He observed that they took no pains to conceal their route, but carefully took measures to mislead their pursuers in regard to their number.  Their first purpose was indicated by cutting trees on their path—­the most palpable of all directions as to their course.  The other was equally concealed by a cautious concentration of their camp, and by the files taking particular care to step in the foot prints of their file leaders, so that twenty warriors might be numbered from the foot-marks only as one.

Still no Indians were actually seen, until the party arrived on the southern bank of the Licking, at the point of the Blue Licks.  A body of Indians was here discovered, mounting the summit of an opposite hill, moving leisurely, and apparently without hurry or alarm—­retiring slowly from sight, as on a common march.

The party halted.  The officers assembled, and a general consultation took place, respecting what was to be done.  The alternatives were, whether it was best to cross the Licking at the hazard of an engagement with the Indians; or to wait where they were, reconnoiter the country, act on the defensive, and abide the coming up of Colonel Logan with his force.