Many of these accounts represented have been preserved by historian, Lyman Draper (1815 - 1891). He was the State Historical Society of Wisconsin's first director. He collected first hand accounts from men and women involved in the early history of the trans-Allegheny west. The originals documents are housed at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and microfilm copies can be found at various libraries across the US.
"From a deposition taken at the house of David McFall at McFalls lick on Mill creek taken
22 Jan 1811. James Gray age 55 said that he came to this place July 1779 and found John McFall building his Cabbin (sic) at this spot. Gray also deposed that Ruddles Station was founded in April 1779. This comes from a law suit filed in Harrison Co., KY. He further said that while living at the Station during 1779 & 1780 McFall frequently left the station to work on his Cabbin and the residents were fearful of his safety because the Indians were troublesome."
The first attack on the fort, March 10, 1780, was unsuccessful, however we are left with an account of it from the Draper papers:
"As Far as I can tell John and Barbara McFall came to Ruddell's Station with their family during the winter of 1779-80. They were present at the fort when Indians attacked it March 10, 1780. Peter Smith, who knew the McFalls, later recalled Mrs .McFall's actions during this first attack:
'One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks - and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zigzag manner, when several shots were ineffectually discharged at him.'"
(Lyman Draper's interview with Peter Smith, August 27, 1863, Draper MSS 18S-113-115)
Another incident preserved is the successful long shot made by John McFall which killed
Thomas McCarty who was with Alexaner McKee's advanced party at Ruddell's Station on
June 24, 1780. Captain Bird wrote in his report:
"I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort until the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered. Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order."
Michael Baker, whose parents were prisoners at Detroit, later recalled the story of John McFall's long shot which killed Thomas McCarty:
"McCarty... secreted himself in a big tree, which he had climbed, sufficiently near the fort to shoot one or two who had too incautiously exposed themselves - when John McFall in the fort, discovered McCarty, and with his large musket well loaded with bullets & buckshot, brought him down dead."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Michael Baker, Draper MSS 4S:159)
On ar about June 22, 1780 (some say the 26th) in the early morning hours, Capt. Bird and his troops, estimated to number about 200 Canadian and Tories, and 400 (possibly up to 1000) Indians from the Great Lakes region, arrived at Ruddle's Station with two cannons, a smaller 3 pound, and a larger 6 pound cannon. (These were probably the size of the cannonballs.)
A few rifle shots were reportedly shot at the fort, and gunfire was exchanged, then the smaller cannon was fired at the entrance to Ruddle's. One account has that the cannon ball embedded itself into the wooden wall, and another account has that it bounced off the wall.
In any case, the larger cannon was ordered to the front, loaded and fired towards the basically defenseless fort. As the roar of the cannon being fired, and the shaking of the ground, the north wall of the station fell as the cannon ball destroyed the logs. This is the first time a cannon was used against a Kentucky fort.
As the large cannon was ordered to be reloaded, a white flag appeared. Several men emerged and began to talk to Capt. Bird.
Bird ordered their surrender, unconditionally, in the name of King George III.
Seeing no other option, a surrender was agreed to, with the condition that men were to be taken prisoners, and the women and children be allowed to travel to the next settlement.
The next few minutes were about to changes their lives....
The Indians were not satisfied with the surrender agreement, as they wanted revenge for the earlier burning of their villages in Ohio, by George Rogers Clark. Vastly out-numbering the British troops, and ignoring orders to stay outside the fort, the Indians rushed into the fort and started on a rampage, with tomahawks and knives.
They began taking prisoners, killing the old and sick, and taking scalps, while babies were taken from their mother's arms, bashed against posts, and thrown into the fire. The Indians took everything of value, and it is reported, they even took some of the clothing off of the men.
It is said that 20 - 24 men, women, and children lost their lives in those few minutes. It is hard to imagine the fear and horror that the families experienced.
The belongings of the captives became the loot that the Indians were to take. The cattle and other small animals were killed, which would later prove to be a mistake.
The British and Indian allies continued on to Martin's Station, located 5 miles away in now Bourbon County.
The inhabitants of Martin's Station heard of the attack and surrender at Ruddle's and decided to do the same, on the condition that there would be no killing. Again, the Indians broke their promise to Capt. Bird.
By this time, Capt. Bird had seen enough of the barbarious actions, and gave the orders on
June 27, 1780 to begin the 400 mile march to Detroit with over 400 prisoners from Ruddle's and Martin's Stations.
Some of the Indians continued on, to other nearby forts. When they arrived at Bryan's Station, they had found the inhabitants had already fled to safety. The fort was looted, and then burned.
The captives, were forced to carry the "loot," their belongings, on the march to Detroit.
Capt. Bird had planned on bringing the cattle and small animals from Ruddle's on the march, as food for the great army, and the prisoners, now referred to as slaves by the Indians.
Some records indicate that the prisoners were given only 1 cup of flour for the men, and 1/2 cup for the women and children, per day. They were forced to walk as much as 20 miles per day, carrying the "loot" from their own homes.
The march to Detroit lasted 41 days, arriving on August 4, 1780.
Many prisoners died on the march from exhaustion, illness, wounds, and starvation. Some were even killed becaused they failed to keep up with the others.
Upon arriving at Detroit, the captives were divided up, some became farm workers or servants in Detroit area farms and homes, a few went to jail, 33 were sent on an additional 800 miles by boat to Montreal, Canada including John McFall, and about 200 captives were kept by the Indians to work in their settlements as servants and slaves, including Barbara McFall and son John Jr.
Many families were split apart in Detroit, including the McFall's.
Children, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret, and Sarah are listed as being with their father, John McFall in Detroit, and later transported to Montreal, but it is unclear if they were among the original 33 sent on to Montreal, or if they were sent at a later time.
After capture John McFall and his children, Patrick, age 13, Joseph, age 11, Margaret, age 9, and Sarah, age 7 were together at Detroit and later conveyed to Montreal when they were released in 1782. John McFall was mentioned in the trial of Captain Isaac Ruddell when John Mahan deposed:
"That John McFall had informed him, this Deponent he was well assured from convienencing circumstances it was thro the means of Riddle that he (McFall) being then a prisoner with the British was transported from Detroit to Montreal."
(Library of Virginia - Governor's Letters Received, June 29,1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of Isaac Zane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
Christiana Gatliff deposed:
"sometime in or about the month of Septr. 1780, while she was a prisoner in a Blockhouse at Detroit with John McFall who understanding he was like to be sent to Montreal declared that should an attempt of that kind be made, he would make his escape at the risk of his life upon information of which Isaac Riddle [illegible] by Sergeant Chapman of the British came to this Deponent and minutely interrogated her what information she had made to John Conway (who has since taken protection under the King) respecting John McFall's declaration of making an attempt to escape to which the replies as above upon which Riddle Ordered the Sergeant immediately to take McFall into Custody and take care of him and since then she has never seen McFall."
(Library of Virginia -Governor's Letters Received, June 29, 1776 - November 30, 1784. Letter of IsaacZane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
According to an August 13, 1783 Pennsylvania Gazette report, Barbara McFall and her son, John McFall were listed as prisoners of the Indians about 1782.
Barbara McFall was liberated in 1782 during George Rogers Clark's raid into Ohio. In the 1846 History of Ohio, the reminiscences of Abraham Thomas were published and said "a party of Indians on horseback with their squaws came out of a trace that led to some Indian villages near the present site of Granville. They were going on a frolic, or powwow, to be held at Piqua, and had with them a Mrs. McFall, who was some time before taken prisoner from Kentucky; the Indians escaped into the woods leaving their women, with Mrs. McFall, to the mercy of our company. We took those along with us to Piqua and Mrs. McFall returned to Kentucky."
While living with the Indians, I have seen few reports of harshness or abuse. In fact most seem to have been treated well, and some captives, especially children, were "adopted into" the Indian families. There are at least a couple reports of former captives returning to live with their Indian families, and taking Indian wives.
From the documents, it appears that Barbara McFall (& son John Jr. ?) were the first of the family to be released from captivity in August 1782, during George Rogers Clark's raid of Indian villages in Ohio.
It must have been overwhelming for her emotionally, as she returned home to Harrison Co., Kentucky, to find that her husband and other four children were not there. Did she know of their whereabouts and well-being? Was their cabin still intact, or had someone taken it over?
This meant Barbara was on her own, to provide for herself and little John. She must have relied on the kindness of neighbors as well for some food, as it would have been too late in the season to begin growing food in a garden.
John McFall and the other children, were probably released, as mentioned above, in December 1782. What a reunion that must have been when they returned home!
Eventually, life probably got back to normal.
In 1785, the family continued to grow with the birth of son David, and again in 1787 with son Daniel, and finally in 1789, with the birth of daughter Susannah.
"From a deposition taken at the house of David McFall at McFalls lick on Mill creek taken
22 Jan 1811. James Gray age 55 said that he came to this place July 1779 and found John McFall building his Cabbin (sic) at this spot. Gray also deposed that Ruddles Station was founded in April 1779. This comes from a law suit filed in Harrison Co., KY. He further said that while living at the Station during 1779 & 1780 McFall frequently left the station to work on his Cabbin and the residents were fearful of his safety because the Indians were troublesome."
The first attack on the fort, March 10, 1780, was unsuccessful, however we are left with an account of it from the Draper papers:
"As Far as I can tell John and Barbara McFall came to Ruddell's Station with their family during the winter of 1779-80. They were present at the fort when Indians attacked it March 10, 1780. Peter Smith, who knew the McFalls, later recalled Mrs .McFall's actions during this first attack:
'One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks - and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zigzag manner, when several shots were ineffectually discharged at him.'"
(Lyman Draper's interview with Peter Smith, August 27, 1863, Draper MSS 18S-113-115)
Another incident preserved is the successful long shot made by John McFall which killed
Thomas McCarty who was with Alexaner McKee's advanced party at Ruddell's Station on
June 24, 1780. Captain Bird wrote in his report:
"I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort until the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered. Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order."
Michael Baker, whose parents were prisoners at Detroit, later recalled the story of John McFall's long shot which killed Thomas McCarty:
"McCarty... secreted himself in a big tree, which he had climbed, sufficiently near the fort to shoot one or two who had too incautiously exposed themselves - when John McFall in the fort, discovered McCarty, and with his large musket well loaded with bullets & buckshot, brought him down dead."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Michael Baker, Draper MSS 4S:159)
On ar about June 22, 1780 (some say the 26th) in the early morning hours, Capt. Bird and his troops, estimated to number about 200 Canadian and Tories, and 400 (possibly up to 1000) Indians from the Great Lakes region, arrived at Ruddle's Station with two cannons, a smaller 3 pound, and a larger 6 pound cannon. (These were probably the size of the cannonballs.)
A few rifle shots were reportedly shot at the fort, and gunfire was exchanged, then the smaller cannon was fired at the entrance to Ruddle's. One account has that the cannon ball embedded itself into the wooden wall, and another account has that it bounced off the wall.
In any case, the larger cannon was ordered to the front, loaded and fired towards the basically defenseless fort. As the roar of the cannon being fired, and the shaking of the ground, the north wall of the station fell as the cannon ball destroyed the logs. This is the first time a cannon was used against a Kentucky fort.
As the large cannon was ordered to be reloaded, a white flag appeared. Several men emerged and began to talk to Capt. Bird.
Bird ordered their surrender, unconditionally, in the name of King George III.
Seeing no other option, a surrender was agreed to, with the condition that men were to be taken prisoners, and the women and children be allowed to travel to the next settlement.
The next few minutes were about to changes their lives....
The Indians were not satisfied with the surrender agreement, as they wanted revenge for the earlier burning of their villages in Ohio, by George Rogers Clark. Vastly out-numbering the British troops, and ignoring orders to stay outside the fort, the Indians rushed into the fort and started on a rampage, with tomahawks and knives.
They began taking prisoners, killing the old and sick, and taking scalps, while babies were taken from their mother's arms, bashed against posts, and thrown into the fire. The Indians took everything of value, and it is reported, they even took some of the clothing off of the men.
It is said that 20 - 24 men, women, and children lost their lives in those few minutes. It is hard to imagine the fear and horror that the families experienced.
The belongings of the captives became the loot that the Indians were to take. The cattle and other small animals were killed, which would later prove to be a mistake.
The British and Indian allies continued on to Martin's Station, located 5 miles away in now Bourbon County.
The inhabitants of Martin's Station heard of the attack and surrender at Ruddle's and decided to do the same, on the condition that there would be no killing. Again, the Indians broke their promise to Capt. Bird.
By this time, Capt. Bird had seen enough of the barbarious actions, and gave the orders on
June 27, 1780 to begin the 400 mile march to Detroit with over 400 prisoners from Ruddle's and Martin's Stations.
Some of the Indians continued on, to other nearby forts. When they arrived at Bryan's Station, they had found the inhabitants had already fled to safety. The fort was looted, and then burned.
The captives, were forced to carry the "loot," their belongings, on the march to Detroit.
Capt. Bird had planned on bringing the cattle and small animals from Ruddle's on the march, as food for the great army, and the prisoners, now referred to as slaves by the Indians.
Some records indicate that the prisoners were given only 1 cup of flour for the men, and 1/2 cup for the women and children, per day. They were forced to walk as much as 20 miles per day, carrying the "loot" from their own homes.
The march to Detroit lasted 41 days, arriving on August 4, 1780.
Many prisoners died on the march from exhaustion, illness, wounds, and starvation. Some were even killed becaused they failed to keep up with the others.
Upon arriving at Detroit, the captives were divided up, some became farm workers or servants in Detroit area farms and homes, a few went to jail, 33 were sent on an additional 800 miles by boat to Montreal, Canada including John McFall, and about 200 captives were kept by the Indians to work in their settlements as servants and slaves, including Barbara McFall and son John Jr.
Many families were split apart in Detroit, including the McFall's.
Children, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret, and Sarah are listed as being with their father, John McFall in Detroit, and later transported to Montreal, but it is unclear if they were among the original 33 sent on to Montreal, or if they were sent at a later time.
After capture John McFall and his children, Patrick, age 13, Joseph, age 11, Margaret, age 9, and Sarah, age 7 were together at Detroit and later conveyed to Montreal when they were released in 1782. John McFall was mentioned in the trial of Captain Isaac Ruddell when John Mahan deposed:
"That John McFall had informed him, this Deponent he was well assured from convienencing circumstances it was thro the means of Riddle that he (McFall) being then a prisoner with the British was transported from Detroit to Montreal."
(Library of Virginia - Governor's Letters Received, June 29,1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of Isaac Zane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
Christiana Gatliff deposed:
"sometime in or about the month of Septr. 1780, while she was a prisoner in a Blockhouse at Detroit with John McFall who understanding he was like to be sent to Montreal declared that should an attempt of that kind be made, he would make his escape at the risk of his life upon information of which Isaac Riddle [illegible] by Sergeant Chapman of the British came to this Deponent and minutely interrogated her what information she had made to John Conway (who has since taken protection under the King) respecting John McFall's declaration of making an attempt to escape to which the replies as above upon which Riddle Ordered the Sergeant immediately to take McFall into Custody and take care of him and since then she has never seen McFall."
(Library of Virginia -Governor's Letters Received, June 29, 1776 - November 30, 1784. Letter of IsaacZane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
According to an August 13, 1783 Pennsylvania Gazette report, Barbara McFall and her son, John McFall were listed as prisoners of the Indians about 1782.
Barbara McFall was liberated in 1782 during George Rogers Clark's raid into Ohio. In the 1846 History of Ohio, the reminiscences of Abraham Thomas were published and said "a party of Indians on horseback with their squaws came out of a trace that led to some Indian villages near the present site of Granville. They were going on a frolic, or powwow, to be held at Piqua, and had with them a Mrs. McFall, who was some time before taken prisoner from Kentucky; the Indians escaped into the woods leaving their women, with Mrs. McFall, to the mercy of our company. We took those along with us to Piqua and Mrs. McFall returned to Kentucky."
While living with the Indians, I have seen few reports of harshness or abuse. In fact most seem to have been treated well, and some captives, especially children, were "adopted into" the Indian families. There are at least a couple reports of former captives returning to live with their Indian families, and taking Indian wives.
From the documents, it appears that Barbara McFall (& son John Jr. ?) were the first of the family to be released from captivity in August 1782, during George Rogers Clark's raid of Indian villages in Ohio.
It must have been overwhelming for her emotionally, as she returned home to Harrison Co., Kentucky, to find that her husband and other four children were not there. Did she know of their whereabouts and well-being? Was their cabin still intact, or had someone taken it over?
This meant Barbara was on her own, to provide for herself and little John. She must have relied on the kindness of neighbors as well for some food, as it would have been too late in the season to begin growing food in a garden.
John McFall and the other children, were probably released, as mentioned above, in December 1782. What a reunion that must have been when they returned home!
Eventually, life probably got back to normal.
In 1785, the family continued to grow with the birth of son David, and again in 1787 with son Daniel, and finally in 1789, with the birth of daughter Susannah.
Many of these accounts represented have been preserved by historian, Lyman Draper (1815 - 1891). He was the State Historical Society of Wisconsin's first director. He collected first hand accounts from men and women involved in the early history of the trans-Allegheny west. The originals documents are housed at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and microfilm copies can be found at various libraries across the US.
"From a deposition taken at the house of David McFall at McFalls lick on Mill creek taken
22 Jan 1811. James Gray age 55 said that he came to this place July 1779 and found John McFall building his Cabbin (sic) at this spot. Gray also deposed that Ruddles Station was founded in April 1779. This comes from a law suit filed in Harrison Co., KY. He further said that while living at the Station during 1779 & 1780 McFall frequently left the station to work on his Cabbin and the residents were fearful of his safety because the Indians were troublesome."
The first attack on the fort, March 10, 1780, was unsuccessful, however we are left with an account of it from the Draper papers:
"As Far as I can tell John and Barbara McFall came to Ruddell's Station with their family during the winter of 1779-80. They were present at the fort when Indians attacked it March 10, 1780. Peter Smith, who knew the McFalls, later recalled Mrs .McFall's actions during this first attack:
'One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks - and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zigzag manner, when several shots were ineffectually discharged at him.'"
(Lyman Draper's interview with Peter Smith, August 27, 1863, Draper MSS 18S-113-115)
Another incident preserved is the successful long shot made by John McFall which killed
Thomas McCarty who was with Alexaner McKee's advanced party at Ruddell's Station on
June 24, 1780. Captain Bird wrote in his report:
"I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort until the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered. Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order."
Michael Baker, whose parents were prisoners at Detroit, later recalled the story of John McFall's long shot which killed Thomas McCarty:
"McCarty... secreted himself in a big tree, which he had climbed, sufficiently near the fort to shoot one or two who had too incautiously exposed themselves - when John McFall in the fort, discovered McCarty, and with his large musket well loaded with bullets & buckshot, brought him down dead."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Michael Baker, Draper MSS 4S:159)
On ar about June 22, 1780 (some say the 26th) in the early morning hours, Capt. Bird and his troops, estimated to number about 200 Canadian and Tories, and 400 (possibly up to 1000) Indians from the Great Lakes region, arrived at Ruddle's Station with two cannons, a smaller 3 pound, and a larger 6 pound cannon. (These were probably the size of the cannonballs.)
A few rifle shots were reportedly shot at the fort, and gunfire was exchanged, then the smaller cannon was fired at the entrance to Ruddle's. One account has that the cannon ball embedded itself into the wooden wall, and another account has that it bounced off the wall.
In any case, the larger cannon was ordered to the front, loaded and fired towards the basically defenseless fort. As the roar of the cannon being fired, and the shaking of the ground, the north wall of the station fell as the cannon ball destroyed the logs. This is the first time a cannon was used against a Kentucky fort.
As the large cannon was ordered to be reloaded, a white flag appeared. Several men emerged and began to talk to Capt. Bird.
Bird ordered their surrender, unconditionally, in the name of King George III.
Seeing no other option, a surrender was agreed to, with the condition that men were to be taken prisoners, and the women and children be allowed to travel to the next settlement.
The next few minutes were about to changes their lives....
The Indians were not satisfied with the surrender agreement, as they wanted revenge for the earlier burning of their villages in Ohio, by George Rogers Clark. Vastly out-numbering the British troops, and ignoring orders to stay outside the fort, the Indians rushed into the fort and started on a rampage, with tomahawks and knives.
They began taking prisoners, killing the old and sick, and taking scalps, while babies were taken from their mother's arms, bashed against posts, and thrown into the fire. The Indians took everything of value, and it is reported, they even took some of the clothing off of the men.
It is said that 20 - 24 men, women, and children lost their lives in those few minutes. It is hard to imagine the fear and horror that the families experienced.
The belongings of the captives became the loot that the Indians were to take. The cattle and other small animals were killed, which would later prove to be a mistake.
The British and Indian allies continued on to Martin's Station, located 5 miles away in now Bourbon County.
The inhabitants of Martin's Station heard of the attack and surrender at Ruddle's and decided to do the same, on the condition that there would be no killing. Again, the Indians broke their promise to Capt. Bird.
By this time, Capt. Bird had seen enough of the barbarious actions, and gave the orders on
June 27, 1780 to begin the 400 mile march to Detroit with over 400 prisoners from Ruddle's and Martin's Stations.
Some of the Indians continued on, to other nearby forts. When they arrived at Bryan's Station, they had found the inhabitants had already fled to safety. The fort was looted, and then burned.
The captives, were forced to carry the "loot," their belongings, on the march to Detroit.
Capt. Bird had planned on bringing the cattle and small animals from Ruddle's on the march, as food for the great army, and the prisoners, now referred to as slaves by the Indians.
Some records indicate that the prisoners were given only 1 cup of flour for the men, and 1/2 cup for the women and children, per day. They were forced to walk as much as 20 miles per day, carrying the "loot" from their own homes.
The march to Detroit lasted 41 days, arriving on August 4, 1780.
Many prisoners died on the march from exhaustion, illness, wounds, and starvation. Some were even killed becaused they failed to keep up with the others.
Upon arriving at Detroit, the captives were divided up, some became farm workers or servants in Detroit area farms and homes, a few went to jail, 33 were sent on an additional 800 miles by boat to Montreal, Canada including John McFall, and about 200 captives were kept by the Indians to work in their settlements as servants and slaves, including Barbara McFall and son John Jr.
Many families were split apart in Detroit, including the McFall's.
Children, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret, and Sarah are listed as being with their father, John McFall in Detroit, and later transported to Montreal, but it is unclear if they were among the original 33 sent on to Montreal, or if they were sent at a later time.
After capture John McFall and his children, Patrick, age 13, Joseph, age 11, Margaret, age 9, and Sarah, age 7 were together at Detroit and later conveyed to Montreal when they were released in 1782. John McFall was mentioned in the trial of Captain Isaac Ruddell when John Mahan deposed:
"That John McFall had informed him, this Deponent he was well assured from convienencing circumstances it was thro the means of Riddle that he (McFall) being then a prisoner with the British was transported from Detroit to Montreal."
(Library of Virginia - Governor's Letters Received, June 29,1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of Isaac Zane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
Christiana Gatliff deposed:
"sometime in or about the month of Septr. 1780, while she was a prisoner in a Blockhouse at Detroit with John McFall who understanding he was like to be sent to Montreal declared that should an attempt of that kind be made, he would make his escape at the risk of his life upon information of which Isaac Riddle [illegible] by Sergeant Chapman of the British came to this Deponent and minutely interrogated her what information she had made to John Conway (who has since taken protection under the King) respecting John McFall's declaration of making an attempt to escape to which the replies as above upon which Riddle Ordered the Sergeant immediately to take McFall into Custody and take care of him and since then she has never seen McFall."
(Library of Virginia -Governor's Letters Received, June 29, 1776 - November 30, 1784. Letter of IsaacZane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
According to an August 13, 1783 Pennsylvania Gazette report, Barbara McFall and her son, John McFall were listed as prisoners of the Indians about 1782.
Barbara McFall was liberated in 1782 during George Rogers Clark's raid into Ohio. In the 1846 History of Ohio, the reminiscences of Abraham Thomas were published and said "a party of Indians on horseback with their squaws came out of a trace that led to some Indian villages near the present site of Granville. They were going on a frolic, or powwow, to be held at Piqua, and had with them a Mrs. McFall, who was some time before taken prisoner from Kentucky; the Indians escaped into the woods leaving their women, with Mrs. McFall, to the mercy of our company. We took those along with us to Piqua and Mrs. McFall returned to Kentucky."
While living with the Indians, I have seen few reports of harshness or abuse. In fact most seem to have been treated well, and some captives, especially children, were "adopted into" the Indian families. There are at least a couple reports of former captives returning to live with their Indian families, and taking Indian wives.
From the documents, it appears that Barbara McFall (& son John Jr. ?) were the first of the family to be released from captivity in August 1782, during George Rogers Clark's raid of Indian villages in Ohio.
It must have been overwhelming for her emotionally, as she returned home to Harrison Co., Kentucky, to find that her husband and other four children were not there. Did she know of their whereabouts and well-being? Was their cabin still intact, or had someone taken it over?
This meant Barbara was on her own, to provide for herself and little John. She must have relied on the kindness of neighbors as well for some food, as it would have been too late in the season to begin growing food in a garden.
John McFall and the other children, were probably released, as mentioned above, in December 1782. What a reunion that must have been when they returned home!
Eventually, life probably got back to normal.
In 1785, the family continued to grow with the birth of son David, and again in 1787 with son Daniel, and finally in 1789, with the birth of daughter Susannah.
"From a deposition taken at the house of David McFall at McFalls lick on Mill creek taken
22 Jan 1811. James Gray age 55 said that he came to this place July 1779 and found John McFall building his Cabbin (sic) at this spot. Gray also deposed that Ruddles Station was founded in April 1779. This comes from a law suit filed in Harrison Co., KY. He further said that while living at the Station during 1779 & 1780 McFall frequently left the station to work on his Cabbin and the residents were fearful of his safety because the Indians were troublesome."
The first attack on the fort, March 10, 1780, was unsuccessful, however we are left with an account of it from the Draper papers:
"As Far as I can tell John and Barbara McFall came to Ruddell's Station with their family during the winter of 1779-80. They were present at the fort when Indians attacked it March 10, 1780. Peter Smith, who knew the McFalls, later recalled Mrs .McFall's actions during this first attack:
'One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall poured hot water between the cracks - and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and jumping up, he ran in a zigzag manner, when several shots were ineffectually discharged at him.'"
(Lyman Draper's interview with Peter Smith, August 27, 1863, Draper MSS 18S-113-115)
Another incident preserved is the successful long shot made by John McFall which killed
Thomas McCarty who was with Alexaner McKee's advanced party at Ruddell's Station on
June 24, 1780. Captain Bird wrote in his report:
"I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort until the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered. Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order."
Michael Baker, whose parents were prisoners at Detroit, later recalled the story of John McFall's long shot which killed Thomas McCarty:
"McCarty... secreted himself in a big tree, which he had climbed, sufficiently near the fort to shoot one or two who had too incautiously exposed themselves - when John McFall in the fort, discovered McCarty, and with his large musket well loaded with bullets & buckshot, brought him down dead."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Michael Baker, Draper MSS 4S:159)
On ar about June 22, 1780 (some say the 26th) in the early morning hours, Capt. Bird and his troops, estimated to number about 200 Canadian and Tories, and 400 (possibly up to 1000) Indians from the Great Lakes region, arrived at Ruddle's Station with two cannons, a smaller 3 pound, and a larger 6 pound cannon. (These were probably the size of the cannonballs.)
A few rifle shots were reportedly shot at the fort, and gunfire was exchanged, then the smaller cannon was fired at the entrance to Ruddle's. One account has that the cannon ball embedded itself into the wooden wall, and another account has that it bounced off the wall.
In any case, the larger cannon was ordered to the front, loaded and fired towards the basically defenseless fort. As the roar of the cannon being fired, and the shaking of the ground, the north wall of the station fell as the cannon ball destroyed the logs. This is the first time a cannon was used against a Kentucky fort.
As the large cannon was ordered to be reloaded, a white flag appeared. Several men emerged and began to talk to Capt. Bird.
Bird ordered their surrender, unconditionally, in the name of King George III.
Seeing no other option, a surrender was agreed to, with the condition that men were to be taken prisoners, and the women and children be allowed to travel to the next settlement.
The next few minutes were about to changes their lives....
The Indians were not satisfied with the surrender agreement, as they wanted revenge for the earlier burning of their villages in Ohio, by George Rogers Clark. Vastly out-numbering the British troops, and ignoring orders to stay outside the fort, the Indians rushed into the fort and started on a rampage, with tomahawks and knives.
They began taking prisoners, killing the old and sick, and taking scalps, while babies were taken from their mother's arms, bashed against posts, and thrown into the fire. The Indians took everything of value, and it is reported, they even took some of the clothing off of the men.
It is said that 20 - 24 men, women, and children lost their lives in those few minutes. It is hard to imagine the fear and horror that the families experienced.
The belongings of the captives became the loot that the Indians were to take. The cattle and other small animals were killed, which would later prove to be a mistake.
The British and Indian allies continued on to Martin's Station, located 5 miles away in now Bourbon County.
The inhabitants of Martin's Station heard of the attack and surrender at Ruddle's and decided to do the same, on the condition that there would be no killing. Again, the Indians broke their promise to Capt. Bird.
By this time, Capt. Bird had seen enough of the barbarious actions, and gave the orders on
June 27, 1780 to begin the 400 mile march to Detroit with over 400 prisoners from Ruddle's and Martin's Stations.
Some of the Indians continued on, to other nearby forts. When they arrived at Bryan's Station, they had found the inhabitants had already fled to safety. The fort was looted, and then burned.
The captives, were forced to carry the "loot," their belongings, on the march to Detroit.
Capt. Bird had planned on bringing the cattle and small animals from Ruddle's on the march, as food for the great army, and the prisoners, now referred to as slaves by the Indians.
Some records indicate that the prisoners were given only 1 cup of flour for the men, and 1/2 cup for the women and children, per day. They were forced to walk as much as 20 miles per day, carrying the "loot" from their own homes.
The march to Detroit lasted 41 days, arriving on August 4, 1780.
Many prisoners died on the march from exhaustion, illness, wounds, and starvation. Some were even killed becaused they failed to keep up with the others.
Upon arriving at Detroit, the captives were divided up, some became farm workers or servants in Detroit area farms and homes, a few went to jail, 33 were sent on an additional 800 miles by boat to Montreal, Canada including John McFall, and about 200 captives were kept by the Indians to work in their settlements as servants and slaves, including Barbara McFall and son John Jr.
Many families were split apart in Detroit, including the McFall's.
Children, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret, and Sarah are listed as being with their father, John McFall in Detroit, and later transported to Montreal, but it is unclear if they were among the original 33 sent on to Montreal, or if they were sent at a later time.
After capture John McFall and his children, Patrick, age 13, Joseph, age 11, Margaret, age 9, and Sarah, age 7 were together at Detroit and later conveyed to Montreal when they were released in 1782. John McFall was mentioned in the trial of Captain Isaac Ruddell when John Mahan deposed:
"That John McFall had informed him, this Deponent he was well assured from convienencing circumstances it was thro the means of Riddle that he (McFall) being then a prisoner with the British was transported from Detroit to Montreal."
(Library of Virginia - Governor's Letters Received, June 29,1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of Isaac Zane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
Christiana Gatliff deposed:
"sometime in or about the month of Septr. 1780, while she was a prisoner in a Blockhouse at Detroit with John McFall who understanding he was like to be sent to Montreal declared that should an attempt of that kind be made, he would make his escape at the risk of his life upon information of which Isaac Riddle [illegible] by Sergeant Chapman of the British came to this Deponent and minutely interrogated her what information she had made to John Conway (who has since taken protection under the King) respecting John McFall's declaration of making an attempt to escape to which the replies as above upon which Riddle Ordered the Sergeant immediately to take McFall into Custody and take care of him and since then she has never seen McFall."
(Library of Virginia -Governor's Letters Received, June 29, 1776 - November 30, 1784. Letter of IsaacZane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783, Image No. GLR04283.)
According to an August 13, 1783 Pennsylvania Gazette report, Barbara McFall and her son, John McFall were listed as prisoners of the Indians about 1782.
Barbara McFall was liberated in 1782 during George Rogers Clark's raid into Ohio. In the 1846 History of Ohio, the reminiscences of Abraham Thomas were published and said "a party of Indians on horseback with their squaws came out of a trace that led to some Indian villages near the present site of Granville. They were going on a frolic, or powwow, to be held at Piqua, and had with them a Mrs. McFall, who was some time before taken prisoner from Kentucky; the Indians escaped into the woods leaving their women, with Mrs. McFall, to the mercy of our company. We took those along with us to Piqua and Mrs. McFall returned to Kentucky."
While living with the Indians, I have seen few reports of harshness or abuse. In fact most seem to have been treated well, and some captives, especially children, were "adopted into" the Indian families. There are at least a couple reports of former captives returning to live with their Indian families, and taking Indian wives.
From the documents, it appears that Barbara McFall (& son John Jr. ?) were the first of the family to be released from captivity in August 1782, during George Rogers Clark's raid of Indian villages in Ohio.
It must have been overwhelming for her emotionally, as she returned home to Harrison Co., Kentucky, to find that her husband and other four children were not there. Did she know of their whereabouts and well-being? Was their cabin still intact, or had someone taken it over?
This meant Barbara was on her own, to provide for herself and little John. She must have relied on the kindness of neighbors as well for some food, as it would have been too late in the season to begin growing food in a garden.
John McFall and the other children, were probably released, as mentioned above, in December 1782. What a reunion that must have been when they returned home!
Eventually, life probably got back to normal.
In 1785, the family continued to grow with the birth of son David, and again in 1787 with son Daniel, and finally in 1789, with the birth of daughter Susannah.
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