128 The Winning of the West 



whites; but in reality the expedition was of great 

 service to Kentucky, though the Kentuckians never 

 knew it. The Detroit people had been busily or- 

 ganizing expeditions against Kentucky. Captain 

 Henry Bird had been given charge of one, and he 

 had just collected two hundred Indians at the Mingo 

 town when news of the attack on Chillicothe arrived. 

 Instantly the Indians dissolved in a panic, some re- 

 turning to defend their towns; others were inclined 

 to beg peace of the Americans. So great was their 

 terror that it was found impossible to persuade them 

 to make any inroad as long as they deemed them- 

 selves menaced by a counter attack of the Ken- 

 tuckians. 8 



It is true that bands of Mingos, Hurons, Dela- 

 wares, and Shawnees made occasional successful 

 raids against the frontier, and brought their scalps 

 and prisoners in triumph to Detroit, 9 where they 

 drank such astonishing quantities of rum as to in- 

 cite the indignation of the British commander-m- 

 chief. 10 But instead of being able to undertake any 

 formidable expedition against the settlers, the De- 

 troit authorities were during this year much con- 

 cerned for their own safety, taking every pos- 

 sible means to provide for the defence, and keeping 

 a sharp lookout for any hostile movement of the 

 Americans. 11 



8 Haldimand MSS. De Peyster to Haldimand, Nov. 20, 

 1779. 



9 Do., Oct. 20, 1779. 



10 Haldimand MSS. Haldimand's letter, July 23, 1779. 



11 Haldimand MSS., April 8, 1779. 



