The pursuit was kept up for twenty miles, though with but little success.  In the flight from the scene of action to the river, young Reynolds, (the same who replied to Girty’s summons at Bryant’s Station,) on horseback, overtook Captain Patterson on foot.  This officer had not recovered from the effects of wounds received on a former occasion, and was altogether unable to keep up with the rest of the fugitives.

Reynolds immediately dismounted, and gave the captain his horse.  Continuing his flight on foot, he swam the river, but was made prisoner by a party of Indians.  He was left in charge of a single Indian, whom he soon knocked down, and so escaped.  For the assistance he so gallantly rendered him, Captain Patterson rewarded Reynolds with a present of two hundred acres of land.

Sixty whites were killed in this battle of the Blue Licks, and seven made prisoners.  Colonel Boone, in his Autobiography, says that he was informed that the Indian loss in killed, was four more than that of the Kentuckians, and that the former put four of the prisoners to death, to make the numbers equal.  But this account does not seem worthy of credit, when we consider the vastly superior numbers of the Indians, their advantage of position, and the disorderly manner in which the Kentuckians advanced.  If this account is true, the loss of the Indians in the actual battle must have been much greater than that of their opponents, many of the latter having been killed in the pursuit.

As the loss of the Kentuckians on this occasion, the heaviest they had ever sustained, was undoubtedly caused by rashness, it becomes our duty, according to the established usage of historians, to attempt to show where the fault lies.  The conduct of McGary, which brought on the action, appears to be the most culpable.  He never denied the part which is generally attributed to him, but justified himself by saying that while at Bryant’s Station, he had advised waiting for Logan, but was met with the charge of cowardice.  He believed that Todd and Trigg were jealous of Logan, who was the senior Colonel, and would have taken the command had he come up.  This statement he made to a gentleman several years after the battle took place.  He said also to the same person, that when he found them hesitating in the presence of the enemy, he “burst into a passion,” called them cowards, and dashed into the river as before narrated.  If this account be true, it may somewhat palliate, but certainly not justify the action.

Before the fugitives reached Bryant’s Station, they met Logan advancing with his detachment.  The exaggerated accounts he received of the slaughter, induced him to return to the above-mentioned place.  On the next morning all who had escaped from the battle were assembled, when Logan found himself at the head of four hundred and fifty men.  With this force, accompanied by Colonel Boone, he set out for the scene of action, hoping that the enemy, encouraged by their success, would await his arrival.  But when he reached the field, he found it deserted.  The bodies of the slain Kentuckians, frightfully mangled, were strewed over the ground.  After collecting and interring these, Logan and Boone, finding they could do nothing more, returned to Bryant’s Station, where they disbanded the troops.