Source: Lyman Draper Manuscript on microfilm series XX no. 6 page 64
Madison Indiana Nov 9 1854
Dear Sir, I received your letter a few days ago making enquiries of me relative to the defence of Buchanan station and in regard of my father who aided in that defence. I was in the post myself at the time of its attack was about ten years of age and have a distinct recollection of many incidents of the attack and defense. Major Buchanan from whom the station took its name was my uncle my mothers brother. My fathers name was James Todd. He was born in July 1747 in county Antrim Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1763 settled first in Lancaster county Pennsylvania where he remained until about the commencement of the Revolutionary war when he emigrated to Kentucky and settled at Crow’s station. He remained there about two years and in the winter of 1789-90 went in a company of some 39 or 40 persons to Cumberland the site of Nashville. He assisted in building the first camp that was ever built in the state of Tennessee. Gen Robertson had no doubt commanded many skirmishes and fights with the Indians but I have no distinct recollection of any myself excepting the attack on the station. In the fall of 1783 about the 1st September the Indians made an attack on Cumberland ( now Nashville) when the fort was defended by not over thirty or forty men. The leading men Gen Robertson, Major John Buchanan, Alexander Buchanan and James Mulherrin and my Father. The attack was kept up for three days and nights. Before the commencement of the attack when it was known that there were Indians at hand it was the advice of Gen Robertson that the men should leave the fort and pursue. Major Buchanan and his brother apposed this gut yielded to their commander. They had not gone more than 110 rods until they were intercepted by a large ambushment of Indians with difficultly made there way back into the fort. Seven of their number even mortally wounded among whom was my uncle Alexander Buchanan. At the end of three days the Indians finding they were getting the worst of it and ignorant of the amount of force in the fort abandoned the attack and lefty the neighborhood. Sometimes after this the Indians came to the farm of Gen Robertson and fired upon and killed two of his sons. Peyton and Randal Robertson, while at work in the field. And to show all the indignity they could they cut off their heads and stuck them up on poles near the spot where they were slain.
In July or August of 1792 a number of chiefs of the Cherokees came to the house of Gen R for the ostensible purpose of holding a council for peace. The names of those chiefs were Walker, Fields, Taylor, Cot ter sa taw ye, and I think Black Fox. Their object however as it afterwards proved was only to get a view of the forts and of their capability of defence. After signing articles of peace and smoking the calumet with Gen R they left and came also to Buchanans station making the same pretensions to friendship they had done to Gen R. Every kindness was shown by Maj Buchanan. They were conducted all around the fort and became perfectly acquainted with its situation. This was not more than two months previous to the attack on the station. The people of Nashville and of the station were made aware of the perfidy of the Indians by a half breed named Findlestone and a Frenchman who lived among the Indians. They had engaged to Marry in Nashville two females with whom they had become acquainted and returned and made known to the whites their danger But for this the whole settlement must have been cut off.
On the night of the 30th of September the attack was made upon the station. They sent spies before to reconnoiter who finding that all were asleep returned and made the report that the fort could be taken by surprise. They rushed upon the fort with such fury as to alarm its animals around the fort who rushed in towards it so as to make one of the men John McCrory. It was a clear moonlight night and when he looked through the port hole to see the cause of the disturbance he saw the Indians rushing toward the gate. When he instantly gave the alarm and all were at once ready to do their utmost. At the first on set the Indians rushed toward the gate a large number of them carrying a heavy elm log upon their shoulders to break it down. McCrory fired upon the line with a large ounce ball rifle and dropped five men by the single fire. Another man named Kennedy fired the 2nd shot at the same time and killed three more. They dropped their battering ram and did not attempt to force the gate again. One of their chiefs named Thomas Tunbridge a Canadian attempted to fire the fort but was killed in the attempt. The attack was made about 10 o clock and lasted until near day light when the Indians fled carrying with them all their dead and wounded excepting the above chief. Among the wounded was Their chief commander John Watts.
The names of the defenders of the station were Maj. John Buchanan, commander, John McCrary, James Mulherrin, James Bryant, Wm Turbull (sic), Wetherell Lattimore, Robt. Castbolt, Thomas Kennedy, Abram Kennedy, Morris O'Shane, John Tony(?sp), Geo. Davidson, Thomas Wilcox, Jos. Crabtree, John Goin (sic), Wm Goin (sic) & James Todd.)
There was a man in the fort so much of a coward that he could not fight what his proper name was I do not remember but in derision he was ever after called Jenny Glisten. Andrew Jackson came to the fort about daylight and councilled to pursue the Indians at once. Upon the arrival of Gen. Robertson at about 10 O'Clock this was given up as not advisable and the Indians made their escape. I do not know what became of Walker fields.I can give no information in regard to the death of Watts, my father was not on the Nickojach(?) campaign.My brother in law Capt. H. Phoenix was in that campaign. Col. Whitlaw was the Commander of the expedition from Kentucky. They came upon the Indians in their town by surprise and killed about 60 of their numbers. A few and but a few having fled.
I can give no particulars of interest in regard to that campaign. My father died in 1815 in Greene Co., Ohio in the 68th year of his age. He was about five feet 8 inches high, weighed about 165, was a lean spare man fare complected blue eyes and open pleasant countenance.
I think of another individual in the defense James O'Connor an Irishman. In connection with the circumstance which perhaps ___ the attack. Jimmy had got a blunderbuss which was loadened and when he attempted to fire it, it flashed. Being partially intoxicated he did not know but that his gun had gone off and running to Maj. Buchanan desired another lead. He rammed it down on the old lead rushed to the port hole and fired. The old fuse proved a blunder buss to Jimmy for she fired both ways and knocked the poor Irishman from the garret down the ladder way into the room below, so blackened and defaced that he could scarcely be recognized. The report was of course tremendous and the Indians thinking we had opened upon them our artillery buss in all probability saved the station.
Mrs. Castbolt is six years my senior but I have no idea that she can give you any more particulars than I can.Her post office is Albia, Monroe Co. Iowa. If you were here and make suggestions to me as to the particulars on which you desire information I will perhaps tell you much more. But not being aware of what might be of interest to you I can not give you more in this way. I am sincerely yours, John Buchanan Todd.
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