Revolutionary War Pension Application of George Michael Bedinger

This is not the complete pension record, just the part that relates to Kentucky.

Page 7-9
In the spring of 1779 on the first day of March, this affiant in company with nine others left his home in Berkley County Virginia, and arrived at Boonsborough in Kentucky on the 7th of April, where we found Capt. John Holder with only about fifteen men under his command and the fort in great distress and eminent danger, in consequence of a Mr. Starns and a party of 10 or 12 men having left the Fort, a day or two before our arrival. And who, as it afterwards appeared, had near all fell into the hands of the Indians one of the party who made his escape got into the fort, about 2 hours after we did and gave the information of the defeat of Starns and his party.

Fortunately for us, we had missed the path, and at the time the Indians who killed Capt. Starns and his party were passing on it, we were in a thick cain brake near to it. We had not traveled more than about a half mile until we got into the path again, and were surprised to see a large trail that had just been made and from broken bows, the shape of the feet, and particularly the pigeon or great toe (as some call it) we were convinced that a number of Indians had passed and that providentially our lives had been saved by our missing the path at that place.

We proceeded on in the path that evening and got within 6 or 7 miles of the Fort, and encamped for the night, made a fire and laid by it until day brake without a centinel or spy to watch for the approach of the Indians. This incautious conduct was occasioned by Col. William Morgan, he was I think the oldest man except one, in the company, had been in Genl. Braddock’s line, an Indian warrior, spy and scout, who when some of the young boys as three of us were called, proposed going out from the path for greater safety observed that "we would not die, until our time come." So we remained near the path; and it was believed that this apparently improper conduct induced another party of Indians who were seen that evening and had chased two spys towit, Col. Estel and another.

The Indians came out of the path that we were on and it was believed they saw our fires, horses &c but that they expected the fire was made to deceive them and to draw them into an ambuscade. This they were the more ready to believe, from the fact that the people of Boonsborough had but a short time before tied an old mare by the heel, out in the cainbrake then laid in ambush, but the Indians discovered the deception and cautiously avoided the trap set for them. A prisoner who escaped from them reported "that the Indians laughed that the white people should think that they (the Indians) could be caught in a trap like a beaver. This affiant for fear of not giving the general circumstances of his services, discovered that he had digressed too far by running into particulars he hopes the digression will be excused and will return to the main subject.

When we arrived at Boonsborough the distresses of the Fort, induced me to join Captain John Holder’s company who had the command of the Fort at that time, in which company and service I served seven months. A part of the term I acted as an Indian spy, scout and hunter, always taking my turn with the other men of the Fort as hunter. To this course I was induced by the by the feeling of humanity and sympathy for distressed women and children who were unable to leave the country and who if they had attempted it, would have been sacraficed by the Indians, who were constantly scouring the country around the Fort and would have in all probability have taken it had we not joined it when we did.

I have even considered the service I performed at this place and during this time as the most dangerous and difficult and at the same time the most useful to my country. As we were almost continually surrounded by parties of Indians who were lying in wait for us and as we had to supply ourselves and the inhabitants of the fort mainly by the success of our hunting excursions to effect which we had to slip out at night, retire to some distance from the Fort, kill our game, which was generally buffalo and pack it in, in some succeeding nights and by our exertions the population of Boonsborough was retained and the lives of the inhabitants preserved.

During the above mentioned term of service an expedition against the Indian town then called Chilicothe now old Chilicothe under Col. John Bowman, was planned and executed in which expedition I was called on and acted as Adjutant Quarter Master in which capacities I acted not less than 2 weeks. We proceeded by the way of the mouth of Licking River, were detained some time waiting for other troops to join us, then went on to the town, made our attempt to surprise and take the town, but owing to one of our men stationed near the houses, in the night firing his gun at and killing an Indian, the Indians were apprised of our near approach, went to work and by daylight had so secured reinforced and prepared themselves, as to induce us to make a retreat the best way we could which we proceeded to execute, were surrounded and so kept for about 9 hours, when as a last resort, we made a charge and broke through their forces and made our escape after having fought them about from 12 to 15 hours, and carried of from them about 300 horses and some trinkets. Was told the horses had been stolen by them from Kentucky.

Our company returned to our fort (Boonesborough) where I remained into spring aforesaid term of seven months then returned to my home at Shepherdstown. … I further state that while I was at Boonsborough I acted fro about 3 months as commissary in issuing out salt and some provisions purchased from hunters for the use of the Fort.