In the Current of the Revolution 161 



son, persuaded them to march toward the Falls. On 

 September gth they were within thirty miles of their 

 destination, and halted to send out scouts. Two 

 prisoners were captured, from whom it was learned 

 that Clark had abandoned his proposed expedition. 68 

 Instantly the Indians began to disband, some return- 

 ing to their homes, and others scattering out to steal 

 horses and burn isolated cabins. Nor could the ut- 

 most efforts of their leaders keep them together. 

 They had no wish to fight Clark unless it was ab- 

 solutely necessary, in order to save their villages 

 and crops from destruction ; and they much preferred 

 plundering on their own account. However, a 

 couple of hundred Hurons and Miamis, under Brant 

 and McKee, were kept together, and moved south- 

 ward between the Kentucky and Salt rivers, intend- 

 ing "to attack some of the small forts and infest the 

 roads.'' 69 About the middle of the month they fell 

 in with a party of settlers led by Squire Boone. 



Squire Boone had built a fort, some distance from 

 any other, and when rumors of a great Indian inva- 

 sion reached him, he determined to leave it and join 

 the stations on Bear Grass Creek. When he reached 

 Long Run, with his men, women, and children, cat- 

 tle, and household goods, he stumbled against the 

 two hundred warriors of McKee and Brant. His 

 people were scattered to the four winds, with the 

 loss of many scalps and all their goods and cattle. 



68 Haldimand MSS. Captain A. Thompson to De Peyster, 

 September 26, 1781. 



69 Do. Captain A. McKee to De Peyster, September 26, 

 1781. 



