Deposition of Charles Johnston taken before the Secretary of War July 29th, 1790. “On the 20thof March 1790, going down the River Ohio, in company with John May Esquire of Virginia, with four other persons in our Boat (two of whom were Women) we were attacked by a party of 54 Indians consisting chiefly of Shawnese and Cherokees. In this attack, Mr. May and one of the women were killed - the rest of us made prisoners. “The day following, a Canoe coming up the River, with Six men in it, were fired upon and all killed. “In a few hours afterwards two Boats (the Owners of which had abandoned them, and got on board a third Boat that was in Company) were taken by the Savages, with Goods and other property in them, which, in my opinion, must have amounted to Several Thousand pounds value.
“Two days afterwards the Indians - divided themselves into Several parties when they set off to this Town and arrived in about 5 or 6 weeks as Sandusky, where the Nation of Wyandot or Huron Indians live. “Whilst in the Indian Country, I was informed that one of our Party, whose name was Wilm Flin, and whom on a division, had fallen to the Cherokees, was carried to the Nation of Miamies — there tied to a Stake, and in the most inhuman manner was roasted alive. “I further understood that there are a number of Americans, who have been made prisoners by the Indians, and are now in the Shawnese and Miami Nations languishing in Slavery and all its bitter appendages. "