Indian Battle Near Bainbridge Ohio on Paint Creek
A Battle Near Reeve's Crossing. In 1793, a large party of Indians crossed the Ohio above the mouth of Brush Creek and attacked the white settlements about Morgan's Station. Col. Kenton having been informed of the attack hastily collected a party of about thirty of the choice spirits about his station and set off in hot haste to intercept the Indians on their retreat to the Chillicothe towns on Paint Creek. Taking Tod's trace opposite Limestone, he followed it to what is known as Reeve's Crossing of Paint Creek near the present town of Bainbridge, where he discovered a fresh trail of Indians going down the creek. It was late in the evening and he cautiously followed the trail till dark. Kenton then left his party, and in company with Michael Cassady, went forward to make observations. They had not proceeded far when they found the Indians encamped on the bank of Paint Creek. They had three fires ; some of them were singing and making other merry noises, showing that they felt in perfect security. Kenton and Cassady returned to their party, and it was concluded to lay still till daylight and then surround and attack the Indians. Kenton's party were all on horseback. Having secured their horses, they lay still till daylight when they moved on for the Indian camp. When they got near the camp they halted and divided into three divisions. Capt. Baker, with one division, was directed to proceed to the creek above the camp ; Cassady with another division was ordered to make the creek below the camp; and Kenton with the re maining division was to attack the camp in front. Strict orders were given that no attack should be made until it was light enough to draw a clear bead. The divisions took their several stations promptly. Day light began to appear, the Indians had risen, and some were standing about the fires. Capt. Baker, seeing the Indians, soon became impatient to commence the action, and before it was light enough to see to draw a clear sight, he began the attack. All the divisions then rushed upon the Indian camp and fired. The Indians dashed across the creek and scattered through the woods like a flock of young partridges. Three Indians only, and a white man named Ward, were killed. Ward had been taken prisoner by the Indians when young, and in every respect was an Indian. He had two brothers, James and Charles, who were near neighbors to Kenton and who were respectable men. James Ward was with Kenton in this engagement. Kenton's party lost one man, Joseph Jones, in this engage ment. The party returned home without any further adventure. To the reader in these days of advanced civilization these thrilling stories of Indian depredations against the white settlements on the Kentucky border, and the prompt retaliatory incursions of the whites against the Indian towns in the Northwest Territory, read like fiction. It seems incredible that any considerable body of mounted troops could be collected and carried over the Ohio River within the course of a few hours' time. There were neither bridges nor ferries across the Ohio in those days, and the rapid crossing of that broad stream by mounted troops would seem a formidable undertaking.
A Battle Near Reeve's Crossing. In 1793, a large party of Indians crossed the Ohio above the mouth of Brush Creek and attacked the white settlements about Morgan's Station. Col. Kenton having been informed of the attack hastily collected a party of about thirty of the choice spirits about his station and set off in hot haste to intercept the Indians on their retreat to the Chillicothe towns on Paint Creek. Taking Tod's trace opposite Limestone, he followed it to what is known as Reeve's Crossing of Paint Creek near the present town of Bainbridge, where he discovered a fresh trail of Indians going down the creek. It was late in the evening and he cautiously followed the trail till dark. Kenton then left his party, and in company with Michael Cassady, went forward to make observations. They had not proceeded far when they found the Indians encamped on the bank of Paint Creek. They had three fires ; some of them were singing and making other merry noises, showing that they felt in perfect security. Kenton and Cassady returned to their party, and it was concluded to lay still till daylight and then surround and attack the Indians. Kenton's party were all on horseback. Having secured their horses, they lay still till daylight when they moved on for the Indian camp. When they got near the camp they halted and divided into three divisions. Capt. Baker, with one division, was directed to proceed to the creek above the camp ; Cassady with another division was ordered to make the creek below the camp; and Kenton with the re maining division was to attack the camp in front. Strict orders were given that no attack should be made until it was light enough to draw a clear bead. The divisions took their several stations promptly. Day light began to appear, the Indians had risen, and some were standing about the fires. Capt. Baker, seeing the Indians, soon became impatient to commence the action, and before it was light enough to see to draw a clear sight, he began the attack. All the divisions then rushed upon the Indian camp and fired. The Indians dashed across the creek and scattered through the woods like a flock of young partridges. Three Indians only, and a white man named Ward, were killed. Ward had been taken prisoner by the Indians when young, and in every respect was an Indian. He had two brothers, James and Charles, who were near neighbors to Kenton and who were respectable men. James Ward was with Kenton in this engagement. Kenton's party lost one man, Joseph Jones, in this engage ment. The party returned home without any further adventure. To the reader in these days of advanced civilization these thrilling stories of Indian depredations against the white settlements on the Kentucky border, and the prompt retaliatory incursions of the whites against the Indian towns in the Northwest Territory, read like fiction. It seems incredible that any considerable body of mounted troops could be collected and carried over the Ohio River within the course of a few hours' time. There were neither bridges nor ferries across the Ohio in those days, and the rapid crossing of that broad stream by mounted troops would seem a formidable undertaking.
