The severities of this winter caused great difficulties in Kentucky.  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 buffalo.  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 autumn, when we received abundance from the fertile soil.

Toward 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.  Captain 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 10th of August following, two boys were taken from Major Hoy’s station.  This party was pursued by Captain 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 several others near Detroit, united in a war against us, and assembled their choicest warriors at Old Chilicothe, to go on the expedition, in order to destroy us, and entirely depopulate the country.  Their savage minds were inflamed to mischief by two abandoned men, Captains McKee and Girty.  These led them to execute every diabolical scheme, and on the 15th day of August, commanded a party of Indians and Canadians, of about five hundred in number, against Bryant’s station, five miles from Lexington.  Without demanding a surrender, they furiously assaulted the garrison, which was happily prepared to oppose them; and, after they had expended much ammunition in vain, and killed the cattle round the fort, not being likely to make themselves masters of this place, they raised the siege, and departed in the morning of the third day after they came, with the loss of about thirty killed, and the number of wounded uncertain.  Of the garrison, four were killed, and three wounded.