They called him Big Turtle: how Daniel Boone played double agent in Shawnee country

Daniel Boone’s Escape and the Boonesborough Siege

Daniel Boone got caught by Shawnee warriors while hunting in 1778.

After that, Chief Blackfish took him in as “Big Turtle” and made plans to attack Fort Boonesborough. Boone soon fled, racing 160 miles in five days to warn the fort.

When Blackfish showed up with 444 warriors and just 40 men to defend the fort, things looked bad. For 11 days, they fought hard – even digging tunnels under each other until rain stopped the attack.

Though Boone saved the fort, he faced court-martial charges but was found not guilty.

The historic Fort Boonesborough site in Kentucky now stands with 16 cabins and 4 blockhouses where this wild siege took place.

Salt Makers Got Caught in a Winter Trap

Daniel Boone took 30 men to Licking River salt springs in January 1778. The group needed salt to keep meat fresh for Fort Boonesborough’s low winter food supply.

While hunting alone on February 7, Chief Blackfish’s 102 Shawnee warriors surrounded Boone about 10 miles from his salt-making camp. After getting caught, Boone talked his outnumbered men into giving up without a fight.

This quick choice stopped a massacre, but Blackfish planned to attack the poorly guarded Boonesborough right away.

Boone Tricked the Chief to Save the Fort

Boone quickly talked Blackfish into waiting by promising Boonesborough would give up in spring. He said women and children couldn’t survive a winter walk to Ohio villages as prisoners.

This was a smart trick – Boone secretly bought time while his captors believed his story. Many of his own men thought he switched to the British side.

The plan worked perfectly, as Blackfish put off his attack and took the prisoners north to Chillicothe instead.

The Frontiersman Became “Big Turtle” With the Shawnee

Blackfish took Boone into his family at Chillicothe, naming him “Sheltowee” meaning “Big Turtle.” The tribe also took in several salt makers to replace dead Shawnee warriors, following their customs.

The British paid money for captives, so other prisoners went to Detroit where Governor Hamilton rewarded their captors.

Though watched closely during his time with the Shawnee, Boone slowly gained their trust while secretly planning to escape.

Racing 160 Miles Through Wild Country to Warn the Fort

On June 16, 1778, Boone learned Blackfish was getting ready for a big attack on Boonesborough.

He took his chance and ran away, racing home across 160 miles of wilderness in just five days – first on horseback, then on foot.

When he finally reached Boonesborough, people still doubted his loyalty after his four-month absence.

Despite their doubts, Boone warned them about the coming attack from British-backed Native Americans heading their way.

A Quick Attack Hurt Boone’s Reputation

Boone led a raid across the Ohio River to Paint Lick Creek, hoping to show his loyalty to doubtful settlers. The mission did little but brought important news – Boone’s men spotted Blackfish already marching south.

The defenders rushed back to Boonesborough to get ready with very little time left.

Colonel Richard Callaway and others at the fort still deeply mistrusted Boone’s true loyalties, setting up later conflicts.

The Fort Faced Huge Odds Against 444 Warriors

Chief Blackfish reached Boonesborough on September 7, 1778, with 444 Native American warriors and 12 French-Canadian fighters from Detroit.

His group included Shawnee, Cherokee, Wyandot, Miami, Delaware, and Mingo fighters – the biggest enemy force ever gathered against Kentucky settlements.

Inside the fort walls, Boone counted only about 40 gunmen to defend the place.

Lieutenant Antoine Dagneaux de Quindre led the Detroit militia group backing the British war effort against the American rebels.

Treaty Talks Turned Into a Frontier Fight

Blackfish called for a meeting and reminded Boone of his promise to give up the settlement. British Governor Hamilton sent letters offering safe passage to Detroit for settlers who followed British demands.

Boone stalled the talks, saying other officers needed to decide during his time away from the fort.

On September 9, treaty talks fell apart when a fight broke out during what should have been a handshake ceremony, starting the siege.

Tunnels and Trash Talk Marked the Underground Fight

Lieutenant de Quindre got the Native Americans to dig a tunnel from the riverbank toward the fort walls on September 11. This digging aimed to place gunpowder barrels under the fort to create a big blast.

The defenders heard the digging and quickly started their own tunnel, hoping to cave in the attackers’ tunnel before it reached the walls.

Both sides yelled insults at each other while digging underground, with Boone himself leading the defense work.

Rain Saved the Fort From Blowing Up

Heavy September rains caused the Native American tunnel to cave in before it could reach the fort walls.

Inside the settlement, Boone’s brother Squire made a wooden cannon with iron bands that broke after firing just once.

Night attacks with burning torches failed as warriors made easy targets for Kentucky shooters in the dark.

The clever defenders used homemade water guns made from gun barrels to put out roof fires started by flaming arrows.

The Siege Ended After Eleven Tough Days

Blackfish launched his biggest attack on the fort on September 17 after ten days of siege. The Shawnee lost many warriors during this final attack, which convinced Blackfish to give up the siege.

The Native American forces left on September 18 after losing 37 warriors with nothing to show for it.

The fort lost only two defenders during the entire eleven-day ordeal: an enslaved man named London and a settler named David Bondurant.

The Hero Faced Trial After Saving the Settlement

Colonel Richard Callaway and Captain Benjamin Logan charged Boone with four counts of treason in October 1778.

The accusations included surrendering the salt party, promising British surrender, weakening the fort, and exposing officers to ambush during negotiations.

A military court at Logan’s Fort found Boone “not guilty” on all charges and even promoted him to major.

Despite this vindication, the humiliated frontiersman left to establish Boone’s Station rather than remain at Boonesborough among those who had questioned his loyalty.

Visiting Fort Boonesborough Site, Kentucky

Fort Boonesborough at 4375 Boonesborough Road in Richmond recreates the frontier settlement where Daniel Boone defended against Chief Blackfish’s warriors.

Adults pay $8, kids 6-12 pay $5, and younger children get in free.

The fort opens April-October daily 9am-5pm, then November-March on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 10am-4pm. Your ticket includes the Kentucky River Museum.

Watch living history demos by blacksmiths and woodworkers, plus the annual September battle reenactment with multiple fights at 2pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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