Fortunately the Indians’ guns had just been discharged, and they had not yet had leisure to reload.  At the sight of this brave body of footmen, however, they raised a hideous yell, and rushed upon them, tomahawk in hand.  Nothing but the high corn and their loaded rifles, could have saved them from destruction.  The Indians were cautious in rushing upon a loaded rifle with only a tomahawk, and when they halted to load their pieces, the Kentuckians ran with great rapidity, turning and dodging through the corn in every direction.  Some entered the wood and escaped through the thickets of cane, some were shot down in the corn-field, others maintained a running fight, halting occasionally behind trees and keeping the enemy at bay with their rifles; for, of all men, the Indians are generally the most cautious in exposing themselves to danger.  A stout, active, young fellow, was so hard pressed by Girty and several savages, that he was compelled to discharge his rifle, (however unwilling, having no time to reload it,) and Girty fell.

It happened, however, that a piece of thick sole-leather was in his shot-pouch at the time, which received the ball, and preserved his life, although the force of the blow felled him to the ground.  The savages halted upon his fall, and the young man escaped.  Although the skirmish and the race lasted more than an hour, during which the corn-field presented a scene of turmoil and bustle which can scarcely be conceived, yet very few lives were lost.  Only six of the white men were killed and wounded, and probably still fewer of the enemy, as the whites never fired until absolutely necessary, but reserved their loads as a check upon the enemy.  Had the Indians pursued them to Lexington, they might have possessed themselves of it without resistance, as there was no force there to oppose them; but after following the fugitives for a few hundred yards, they returned to the hopeless siege of the fort.[40]

The day was nearly over, and the Indians were discouraged.  They had made no perceptible impression upon the fort, but had sustained a severe loss; the country was aroused, and they feared to find themselves outnumbered in their turn.  Girty determined to attempt to frighten them into a capitulation.  For this purpose he cautiously approached the works, and suddenly showed himself on a large stump, from which he addressed the garrison.  After extolling their valor, he assured them that their resistance was useless, as he expected his artillery shortly, when their fort would be crushed without difficulty.  He promised them perfect security for their lives if they surrendered, and menaced them with the usual inflictions of Indian rage if they refused.  He concluded by asking if they knew him.  The garrison of course gave no credit to the promises of good treatment contained in this speech.  They were too well acquainted with the facility with which such pledges were given and violated; but the mention of cannon was rather alarming, as the expedition of Colonel Byrd was fresh in the minds of all.  None of the leaders made any answer to Girty, but a young man by the name of Reynolds, took upon himself to reply to it.  In regard to the question of Girty, “Whether the garrison knew him?” he said: