Col. William Fleming to William Bowyer.
From Documentary History of Dunmore's War, edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites and Louise Phelps Kellogg (Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society, 1905), p. 254-57
Dr WILL - Agreeable to my Last from Belmont, I set out on Monday Aug. 21st. and without any thing Remarkable Reached this place, ye 6th Inst. where we continued without Interruption till Monday the 10th. when about Sunrise we had intelligence of a Man being kild & several closly pursued, by a large party or parties of Indians. Col. A. Lewis ordered 300 Men from the two Lines of Augusta & Botetourt Forces to go in Quest of the Enemy, little Imagining as we afterwards found it to be the Case that we were to engage the whole United Force of the Enemy Ohio Indians, we Marched from Camp in two lines Colo. Charles Lewis led the Right line. I led the left. about 3/4 of a mile from Camp, the Indians began the Attack on the right & in a Second of time the Left line was Attacked. I must refer you to perticular Accounts of which no doubt you will see several, and only Observe generals, as I am ill at ease to write, soon after or in the first Fire Colo. C. Lewis received a Mortal wound, and was brought to his tent with some Assistance, he died a few hours after, very much Regretted by the whole Army much about or soone after this hapned on the Right, I receivd three balls in the left Line two struck my left arm below the Elbow broke both the bones, & I find one of them is lodged in my arm. a third entered my breast about three Inches below my left Nipple and is lodged some where in the Chest. on finding my self effectually disabled I quitted the Field, when I came to be drest, I found my Lungs forced through the wound in my breast, as long as one of my fingars. Watkins Attempted to reduce them ineffectually, he got some part returned but not the whole, being in considerable pain, some time afterwards, I got the whole Returned by the Assistance of one of my Own Attendants, since which I thank the Almighty I have been in a surprizing state of ease. Nor did I ever know such daingerous wounds. Attended with so little inconvenience, and yet the wounds in my arm are in a bad condition, they do not digest and run but verry little, what will be the consequence as yet I know not, but I write you circumstantially that you may if it is not too much trouble, write perticularly to my wife. We had 7 or 800 Warriors to deal with. Never did Indians stick closer to it, nor behave bolder. the Engagement lasted from half an hour after [sunrise], to the same time before Sunset. And let me add I believe the Indians never had such a Scourging from the English before, they Scalpd many of their own dead to prevent their falling into Our hands, burried numbers, threw many into the Ohio and no doubt carried off many wounded. We found 70 Rafts, we tooke 18 or 20 Scalps, the most of them principle Warriors amongst the Shawnese &c, as we were informed by One McCulloch who came to us from his Lordship two days after the Ingagement, who viewed the Scalps & bodies & personally Knew them he says there is not a Noted Warriour left amongst the Shawnese. After the Ingagement Colo Lewis sent off some Scouts to his Lordship two of them are since Returned. His Lordship had Marchd from Hockhocking where he had been in Camp for some days. he was joined by White Eyes the Delaware who told his Lordship 700 Warriors were gon to the South, to speak with the Army there, & that they had been followed by another Nation, that they would begin with them, in the morning and their business would be over by Breakfast time. and then they would speak with his Lordship, that they came fully convinced they would beat us I think is certain. they cros'd the River & encamped the same side with us the Evening before, brought over with them their goods Deer Skins &c: took no pains to conceal themselves, And were boldly Marching to Attack Our Camp when we met them Our Camp is situate on the Junction of the Kanhaway & Ohio in the Upper fork the Enemy in expectation of forcing us into the Ohio had lind the Opposite bank with some & the lower forks likewise was not neglected, the Enemy had brought their boys and squaas to knock us in the head I suppose, but God disappointed their Savage presumption. And tho Many brave Men lost their lives. Yet I hope in its consequences, it will be a general Good to the Country, and this engagement will be long Remembered to the Memory & Honour of those who purchas'd the Victory by their deaths. I am &c:
WM. FLEMING
Be sure to write my wife the Substance of this, or enclose it to her.