Previously to this event, Indian hostilities were again renewed.

“A number of Indians in April, 1786, stole some horses from the Bear Grass settlement, with which they crossed the Ohio.  Colonel Christian pursued them into the Indian country, and, coming up with them, destroyed the whole party.  How many there were is not stated.  The whites lost two men, one of whom was the Colonel himself whose death was a severe loss to Kentucky.  The following affair, which took place the same year, is given in the language of one who participated in it: 

“’After the battle of the Blue Licks, and in 1786 our family removed to Higgins’ block-house on Licking River, one and a half miles above Cynthiana.  Between those periods my father had been shot by the Indians, and my mother married Samuel Van Hook, who had been one of the party engaged in the defense at Ruddell’s Station in 1780, and on its surrender was carried with the rest of the prisoners to Detroit.

“‘Higgins’ Fort, or block-house, had been built at the bank of the Licking, on precipitous rocks, at least thirty feet high, which served to protect us on every side but one.  On the morning of the 12th of June, at daylight, the fort, which consisted of six or seven houses, was attacked by a party of Indians, fifteen or twenty in number.  There was a cabin outside, below the fort, where William McCombs resided, although absent at that time.  His son Andrew, and a man hired in the family, named Joseph McFall, on making their appearance at the door to wash themselves, were both shot down—­McCombs through the knee, and McFall in the pit of the stomach.  McFall ran to the block-house, and McCombs fell, unable to support himself longer, just after opening the door of his cabin, and was dragged in by his sisters, who barricaded the door instantly.  On the level and only accessible side there was a corn-field, and the season being favorable, and the soil rich as well as new, the corn was more than breast high.  Here the main body of the Indians lay concealed, while three or four who made the attack attempted thereby to decoy the whites outside of the defenses.  Failing in this, they set fire to an old fence and corn-crib, and two stables, both long enough built to be thoroughly combustible.  These had previously protected their approach in that direction.  Captain Asa Reese was in command of our little fort.  ‘Boys,’ said he, ’some of you must run over to Hinkston’s or Harrison’s.’  These were one and a half and two miles off, but in different directions.  Every man declined.  I objected, alleging as my reason that he would give up the fort before I could bring relief; but on his assurance that he would hold out, I agreed to go.  I jumped off the bank through the thicket of trees, which broke my fall, while they scratched my face and limbs.  I got to the ground with a limb clenched in my hands, which I had grasped unawares in getting through.  I recovered from the jar in less than