Document Spotlight-Indian Raid on the Ohio River

Recently, transcriber Brendawarneka transcribed a document in which Charles Johnston recounts an attack from hostile Native Americans.

Johnston gave a military deposition detailing the raid by some 54 Cherokees and Shawnees. In the attack, two people–a man and a woman–were killed and many more taken captive. The attackers also confiscated property.

Although short–only a dozen lines or so–the document provides a fascinating (and terrifying) look at life on the frontier in 1790.

Read the transcription here (http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/mediawiki/index.php?title=.NDU1Nw.MjQ2MDE&rcid=1794).

Many documents like this one are awaiting transcription. Take a moment to register (http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/register.php) and choose a document to begin your adventure. You will be doing important work by adding to the historical record, and you never know what you might read!