“The Indians gradually extended their line to turn the right of the Kentuckians, and cut off their retreat.  This was quickly perceived by the weight of the fire from that quarter, and the rear instantly fell back in disorder, and attempted to rush through their only opening to the river.  The motion quickly communicated itself to the van, and a hurried retreat became general.  The Indians instantly sprung forward in pursuit, and, falling upon them with their tomahawks, made a cruel slaughter.  From the battle-ground to the river the spectacle was terrible.  The horsemen, generally, escaped; but the foot, particularly the van, which had advanced furthest within the wings of the net, were almost totally destroyed.  Colonel Boone, after witnessing the death of his son and many of his dearest friends, found himself almost entirely surrounded at the very commencement of the retreat.”

“Several hundred Indians were between him and the ford, to which the great mass of the fugitives were bending their flight, and to which the attention of the savages was principally directed.  Being intimately acquainted with the ground, he, together with a few friends, dashed into the ravine which the Indians had occupied, but which most of them had now left to join in the pursuit.  After sustaining one or two heavy fires, and baffling one or two small parties who pursued him for a short distance, he crossed the river below the ford by swimming, and, entering the wood at a point where there was no pursuit, returned by a circuitous route to Bryant’s Station.  In the mean time, the great mass of the victors and vanquished crowded the bank of the ford.”

“The slaughter was great in the river.  The ford was crowded with horsemen and foot and Indians, all mingled together.  Some were compelled to seek a passage above by swimming; some who could not swim were overtaken and killed at the edge of the water.  A man by the name of Netherland, who had formerly been strongly suspected of cowardice, here displayed a coolness and presence of mind equally noble and unexpected.  Being finely mounted, he had outstripped the great mass of fugitives, and crossed the river in safety.  A dozen or twenty horsemen accompanied him, and, having placed the river between them and the enemy, showed a disposition to continue their flight, without regard to the safety of their friends who were on foot, and still struggling with the current.”

“Netherland instantly checked his horse, and in a loud voice, called upon his companions to halt, fire upon the Indians, and save those who were still in the stream.  The party instantly obeyed; and facing about, poured a close and fatal discharge of rifles upon the foremost of the pursuers.  The enemy instantly fell back from the opposite bank, and gave time for the harassed and miserable footmen to cross in safety.  The check, however, was but momentary.  Indians were seen crossing in great numbers above and below, and the flight again became general.  Most of the foot left the great buffalo track, and plunging into the thickets, escaped by a circuitous route to Bryant’s Station.”