6. Boonesborough was besieged for ten days in 1778
Several scouting parties crossed Ohio during the summer of 1778, to ascertain the movements of the Indians and to harass them in the woods and streams. In September a large party of warriors appeared before Boonesborough, about 450 Indians and at least a dozen whites. The majority of the Indians were Shawnee under Blackfish, though several other tribes were represented, including Cherokee, Delaware, Miami, and Wyandot. The white men were coureur du bois, French-Canadians long allied with the Indian tribes, who sold their services to the British following the American invasion of Canada in 1775. It was the largest enemy force to have appeared in Kentucky at that time.
The force had been sent specifically by Hamilton, evidenced by a letter from him which Blackfish presented to Boone in a parley. Hamilton promised the settlers would be well-treated if they surrendered. Blackfish also reminded Boone of the latter’s promise to surrender the post. Boone accepted the parley in order to inspect the enemy force; he was encouraged that there was no artillery to use against the fort’s walls. The fort was manned by the settlers and Virginia militia, of which Boone was then a captain. Boone closed the initial parley with a promise to convey Hamilton’s message to the others and returned to the fort.