take very well with the militia, who disliked serving upon the water,
probably because they found their freedom of action too much
circumscribed. The regulars were far too few to spare a force sufficient
to man it, and it soon fell into disuse, though it is said to have been
of considerable service while it was employed. Had the Kentuckians
possessed such an auxiliary at the time of Byrd's invasion, it is
probable that it would have been repelled. But on account of the
reluctance of the militia to serve in it, this useful vessel was laid
aside and left to rot.

The campaign, if we may so term it, of 1781, began very early. In March,
several parties of Indians entered Jefferson County at different points,
and ambushing the paths, killed four men, among whom was Colonel William
Linn. Captain Whitaker, with fifteen men, pursued one of the parties.
He followed their trail to the Ohio, when supposing they had crossed
over, he embarked his men in canoes to continue the pursuit. But as
they were in the act of pushing off, the Indians, who were concealed
in their rear, fired upon them, killing or wounding nine of the party.
Notwithstanding this heavy loss, the survivors landed and put the
Indians to flight. Neither the number of the savages engaged in this
affair or their loss, is mentioned in the narrative. In April, a station
which had been settled by Squire Boone, near Shelbyville, became alarmed
by the report of the appearance of Indians. After some deliberation,
it was determined to remove to the settlement on Bear's Creek. While on
their way thither, they were attacked by a body of Indians, and defeated
with considerable loss. These are all the details of this action we have
been able to find. Colonel Floyd collected twenty-five men to pursue
the Indians, but in spite of all his caution, fell into an ambuscade,
which was estimated to consist of two hundred warriors. Half of Colonel
Floyd's men were killed, and the survivors supposed that they had slain