The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 143 



ing with them as prisoners a woman and her child. 

 Brady spied the Indians first and instantly resolved 

 to attack them, trusting that they would be panic- 

 struck and flee; though after a single discharge of 

 their rifles he and his men would be left helpless. 

 Slipping ahead he lay in ambush until the Indians 

 were close up. He then fired, killing the leader, 

 whereat the others fled in terror, leaving the woman 

 and child. In the confusion, however, the captive 

 squaw also escaped and succeeded in joining the 

 fleeing savages, to whom she told the small number 

 and woeful plight of their assailants; and they at 

 once turned to pursue them. Brady, however, had 

 made good use of the time gained, and was in full 

 flight with his two rescued prisoners; and before 

 he was overtaken he encountered a party of whites 

 who were themselves following the trail of the ma 

 rauders. He at once turned and in company with 

 them hurried after the Indians; but the latter were 

 wary, and, seeing the danger, scattered and vanished 

 in the gloomy woodland. The mother and child, 

 thus rescued from a fearful fate, reached home in 

 safety. The letter containing the account of this 

 deed continues : "This young officer, Captain Brady, 

 has great merit as a partizan in the woods. He 

 has had the address to surprise and beat the Indians 

 three different times since I came to the Department 

 he is brave, vigilant, and successful." 28 



For a dozen years after the close of the Revolu- 



n Draper MSS. Alex. Fowler to Edward Hand, Pittsburgh, 

 July 22, 1780. 



