To the rifles of the besieged. They were stationed behind rocks, and
trees, and stumps, so that it was seldom that the garrison could catch
even a glimpse of the foes who were assailing them. It was necessary for
those within the fort to be sparing of their ammunition. They seldom
fired unless they could take deliberate aim, and then the bullet was
almost always sure to reach its mark. Colonel Boone, in describing this
attempt of the Indians to capture the commissioners by stratagem, and of
the storm of war which followed, writes: "They immediately grappled us,
but, although surrounded by hundreds of savages, we extricated ourselves
from them and escaped all safe into the garrison except one, who was
wounded through a heavy fire from their army. They immediately attacked
us on every side, and a constant heavy fire ensued between us, day and
night, for the space of nine days. In this time the enemy began to
undermine our fort, wh
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