Frederick Bough

In the year 1790, Mr. Frederick Bough arrived in Kentucky, and being on the 13 of October in that year, in company with a young man of his acquaintance, near Jacob Vanmeter's fort, in Hardin county, fell in with a party of Indians. As they approached, he observed to his companion that he thought he saw an Indian; but the young man ridiculed the idea, and coolly replying, "you are a fool for having such thoughts," kept on his way. They soon discovered pa art of Indians within ten years of them. The young man, exclaiming, "Good God! There they are!" fled with the utmost precipitation, but taking the direction from the fort, was soon caught by one of the savages, and barbarously killed. Mr. Bough, in running towards the fort, was fired at by the whole part in pursuit, which consisted of four, was hit by three of them. One ball struck him in the left arm, another on the right thigh, and the third, passing though his waistcoat and shirt, grazed the skin of his left side. He was still, however, able to run, but, in attempting to cross a creek on his way to the fort, he stuck in the mud, when one of the Indian caught him, pulled him out, felt of his arm to see if it was broken. Finding it was not, he pulled out a strap with a loop at the end, for the purpose of confining Mr. Bough; but he, suddenly jerking away his hand, gave the savage a blow on the side of the head, which knocked him down. By this time two other Indians came up, the fourth having gone in pursuit of the horses. Mr. Baugh kicked at the one he had knocked down, but missed him. Just at that moment one of the other Indians aim a blow at his head with a tomahawk, but in his eagerness struck too far over, and hit only with the handle, which however, nearly felled Mr. Baugh to the ground; but he, instantly recovering himself, struck at the tomahawk and knocked it out of his antagonist's hand. They both grasped at it, but the Indian being quickest, picked it up, and entered into conversation with his companion. The latter than struck Mr. Bough with a stick, and as he stepped forward to return the blow, they all retreated, (probably fearing an attack by a party from the fort), and suddenly went off, leaving one of their blankets and a kettle, which Mr. Bough took with him to the fort. (The foregoing particulars were communicated to the editor of the Western Review, in 1821, by Mr. Bough himself, then residing in Bath County.

Collins History of Kentucky. Vol. III, pages 314-315.