The War in the Northwest 257 



the river in safety and swam across. He then sat 

 down to take off his buckskin trousers, which, being 

 soaked through, hampered him much; and two In- 

 dians suddenly pounced on and captured him. He 

 was disarmed and left in charge of one. Watching 

 his chance, he knocked the savage down, and run- 

 ning oft into the woods escaped with safety. When 

 Patterson thanked him for saving his life, and asked 

 him why he had done it, he answered, that ever 

 since Patterson had reproved him for swearing, he 

 had felt a strong and continued attachment for him. 

 The effect of the reproof, combined with his narrow 

 escape, changed him completely, and he became a 

 devout member of the Baptist Church. Patterson, 

 to show the gratitude he felt, gave him a horse and 

 saddle, and a hundred acres of pine land, the first 

 he had ever owned. 



The loss of the defeated Kentuckians had been 

 very great. Seventy were killed outright, includ- 

 ing Colonel Todd and Lieutenant-Colonel Trigg, 

 the first and third in command. Seven were cap- 

 tured, and twelve of those who escaped were badly 

 wounded. 20 The victors lost one of the Detroit 

 rangers (a Frenchman), and six Indians killed and 

 ten Indians wounded. 21 Almost their whole loss 



80 Those are the figures of Boone's official report, and 

 must be nearly accurate. The later accounts give all sorts 

 of numbers. 



91 Caldwell's letter. But there are some slight discrepan- 

 cies between the letters of McKee and Caldwell. Caldwell 

 makes the loss at Bryan's Station and the Blue Licks together 

 twelve killed and twelve wounded ; McKee says eleven killed 

 and fourteen wounded. Both exaggerate the American loss, 



