Excerpt from Captain Alexander Mckee's Report to Major Arendt S. Depeyster

Excerpt from Captain Alexander Mckee's Report to Major Arendt S. Depeyster. August 22, 1780. , The affair of the Shawanese villages was decided before my arrival, and the Enemy gone off. The Indians of Chillicothy upon their approached abandoned that Village and destroyed the Fort retiring to Pickawee, and the Enemy finding no opposition there, halted two days to cut down the Corn Fields, after which they advanced to Pickawee and enter'd the edge of the Town, at the same time a Party of Indians, who had been sent to spy them broke off and did not come into the Engagement, however, the few (about Seventy) who stood, made a resolute resistance and defended their Village the greatest part of a day against nine hundred of the Enemy. I am informed by the two Girtys who were in the action (& have the approbation of the Indians for their behavior) that the Enemys main body advanced thro'a Plain, adjoining to the South end of Pickawee and front of the Kiscapoe Town, with a brass six-pounder in their Front and two white Flags, meant, as was afterwards learnt, as a decoy and to induce the Indians to believe was an offering of peace; whilst two hundred Horse upon each Flank, as soon as they appeared in sight, rushed forward to surround the Towns; but this they did not effect 'till dark, which gave the Indians an opportunity of making their way thro' them. A Prisoner taken in the Action, declared the Enemy to be nine hundred and Seventy men, amongst whom were a great many French.. from Post Vincent and the Illinois; that out of the above number, Forty were left at the Ohio to guard their Provisions. Boats and two 4 pounders that they then had buy three days Provisions, and depended for further Subsistence entirely upon the Indian Fields. From every account, it appears that great Slaughter has been made amongst them, and I am told their main body was drove twice from the Cannon; but the Indians were too few in number to advance into the Plain to take possession of it. Three hundred would have given them a total rout. - The officers were seen whipping up their Soldiers to recover their Cannon., An Indian from the place of Action says that Eight and Forty of the Enemys Dead have been found there and upon the Road they went; some small pieces burnt of their carriages of their Cannon, which gives some reason to suspect they left it behind, as no trace is to be seen father than that; I shall have diligent search made. As far as the Indians have pursue them in their Retreat, they say, the Road is besprinkled with Blood and several places where Biers were made: from which they conclude, they must have had a great many Wounded men to carry off., The loss of the Indians is six Killed and three Wounded but that of their Corn will be a very distressing one to their families. They have already devoured almost all of the Fields of Corn in tis neighborhood, what remains, the owners are unwilling to part with, unless they receive Payment, so that I find it will be impossible to avoid making some Expense on this account, as they build much on the promises of their Father, in case of necessity, and they now really stand in need of his support, or without it must perish, I have told them whilst they hold steadfastly to their Engagements with him they will find he will always assist them., There is intelligence brought here of another Army coming from Fort Pitt, which they look upon as certain, being confirmed by a strong Wampum from Coshooking, and a message from a Frenchman at that Place, desiring them now to prepare for battle, as they had always refused to listen to his proposals of Peace, he could no longer restrain the Virginians from going to cut them off., Captain Hare, I expect in a few days which will give these people some encouragement. I am endeavoring to find some trust Persons to go towards Fort Pitt to make discoveries and know the truth of the above report which I shall have the favour of writing you again - in the meantime beg leave to refer you to the enclosed Speech of the Indians for further particulars relative to them and am, Sir, with great respect, Your most Obedient and very Humble Servant., Cl. Alexander Mckee