"My father, John Ash, was one of the earliest settlers in Kentucky, settling in Bardstown in Nelson county. In the month of March 1780 when I was about 10 years old, we were attacked by the Shawnee Indians, part of the family was killed, the rest were taken prisoners. We were separated from each other, and excepting a younger sister, who was taken by the same party that had me in possession, I saw none of my family for seventeen (17) years. My sister was small and they carried her two or three days but she cried and gave them trouble, so they tomahawked and scalped her and left her laying on the ground. After this, I was transferred from one family to another and treated harshly and called "White dog" till at length I was domesticated in a family and considered a member of it. After this my treatment was like that of the other children.
The Shawnee's lived at this time, on the Big Miami, about twenty miles above Dayton. Here we continued until General Clark came out and burned our villiage. We then removed to St. Mary's and continued for about two years. After this we removed to Ft. Wayne on the Maumee. Here we were attacked by General Harmer, when we removed to the Auglaise river and continued there some years. While there General St. Claire came out against us. Eight hundred and fifty (850) warriors went out to meet him and on their way they were joined by fifty (50) Kickapoos. The two armies met about two hours before sunset. When the Indians were within about a half mile of St. Claire the spies came running back to inform us and we stopped. We concluded to encamp. "It was too late" they said "to begin the play." General Blue Jacket was our commander. After dark he called all the chiefs around him to listen to what he had to say. "Our Fathers" said he, "used to fight as we do now; our tribes used to fight, and they would trust their own strength and their numbers, but in this conflict we have no such reliance, our powers and our numbers bear no comparison to those of the enemy and we can do nothing unless assisted by the Great Father. I pray now, continued Blue Jacket (raising his eyes to heaven) and we shall take it as a token of good and we shall conquer!"
About an hour before the orders were given for every man to be ready to march, on examination, we found that three fires or camps consisting of fifty (50) Pottawattomies, had deserted us. We marched until we got in sight of the fires of St. Claire, then General Blue Jacket began to talk and sing. The fight commenced and continued for an hour, when the Indians retreated. As they were leaving the ground a chief by the name of Black Fish ran in among them and in a voice of thunder said, "What are you doing? Where are you going? Who has given orders to retreat?" This called a halt and he proceeded in a strain of most impassioned elegance to exort them to courage and concluded by saying that his determination was to conquer or to die. The attack was most impetus and the carnage for a few minutes was most shocking. Many of the Indians threw away their guns, leaped in among the Americans and did the butchery with tomahawks. In a few minutes the Americans gave way, the Indians took possession of the camp and the artillery, spiked the guns, and parties of Indians followed the retreating armies many miles. Eleven hundred (1100) Americans were left dead on the battlefield. The number of Indians killed amounted to Thiry Five (35).
"in this battle," says Ash, "a ball passed through the back of my neck and the Indians carred me from the field. I had a brother killed with the American Army. After this battle I started with eight other Indians on an embassy to the Creek Nation. Our object was to renew the friendly relations between that nation and our tribe. While we were away our tribe had a battle with the whites near Ft. Hamilton. The American army was commanded (I think) by General Bradly. After our return General Wayne came out against us with eight thousand (8,000) men. We sent runners to all nations to collect warriors together and soon an army of one thousand five hundred (1500) was in the field. We marched out to meet Wayne, who was then at Ft. Recovery. We took one of Wayne's spies in our march, a Chcasaw. He was taken to the Indian army that he might give some account of Wayne's movements, but the Indians were so enraged at him they fell upon him, in the midst of his narrative, and killed him. Our army was then in great need of provisions. The Chippesaw Indians cut up the body of the Chicasaw, roasted and ate it.
Near Ft. Recovery we met a party of the American army and fought them. Wayne marched on the towns and only three hundred (300) warriors could be mustered to meet him. We fought Wayne two battles. The Indians were conquered and the war ended."
Ash had now been with the Indians seventeen (17) years. He had long identified himself with them, spoke their language perfectly, (and almost forgot his own) had adopted their dress and all their modes of life. His right ear was fixed in a peculiar way for the purpose of wearing jewels. The edge of the ear about a third of an inch deep is cut off excepting at the end where the ear joins the head. This ring hangs down on the face and serves as a kind of loop. The parting gristle of the nose is perforated; there is likewise a hole in his left ear. He was painted and wore a hundred dollars worth of silver ornaments. In his nose, he wore three(3) silver crosses, seven(7) half moons, valued from five to six hundred dollars.
"After peace," continues Ash, "I told the Indians I wanted to go to the white settlements to see if any of my family were living. They at first made objections but finally concented and in full Indian dress, with a good horse, gun, and a good hunting dog, I started for Ft. Pitt.
Having traveled fourteen(14) days in the wilderness, I arrived at the place of my destination. I there found a brother and learned that my father was still living in Kentucky. After staying for some time at Ft. Pitt, I was employed by a gentleman as a guide through the wilderness to Detroit. When we arrived in the neighborhood of Detroit. I told my employer that he might go on and I would spend the winter among the Indians with my wife, for I had taken a wife among the Indians. He called for me in the spring and we returned to Ft. Pitt together. I, there sold my horse and proceeded down the river in a boat, with the intention of visiting my father. I arrived at his house in the night, called him up and requested entertainment for the night. He denied such a request to no man, but he evidently was not pleased with my appearance, for I was still in Indian costume and could speak but a few words of English. He paid but little attention and I asked him some questions about the family. I asked him is he had not a son George many years ago taken by the Indians. He replied that his son was killed in St. Claire's defeat. I stood up and said, "That son now stands before you." He looked at me with searching scrutiny and commenced pacing the room. "Would you know your brother Henry if you were to see him?"
He asked. I said "No, for he was a mere infant when I was taken away,"
My father rode several miles to bring my brother, Henry. My father had become wealthy, possessing negros and horses in abundance. My mother had died and my father had married a second wife, who was not backward in letting me know that there was no place for me.
I started again for the Indian country, across the Ohio river and pitched my camp on the spot where my house now stands on the banks of the Ohio exactly opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river. After hunting for some time, I determined to make another visit to my red brethern, and a friend gave me a horse to ride. I found the Indians preparing a deputation for their Great Father, the President, and nothing would do but that I make one of the party. With a number of Cheifs, I set out for Philadelphia. After visiting the President, I returned to my old camp where I now live, across the Ohio river, from the mouth of the Kentucky river.
As a compensation for my services on this mission the Indians granted me a tract of land opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river, four miles in length and one mile back. When the territory was seated to the United States, the Indians neglected to reserve my grant. I had cultivated some part of my land and it was worth more than the government price. It was offered for sale and I petitioned congress to secure for me what was in fact my own. They denied me the request, but permitted me to purchase as much as I could at the government price.
I considered myself rich in lands, but poor in cash and my domain was reduced to about 200 acres. On this I have lived ever since."
