From the unpublished manuscript, Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers, page 131-A.
This incident may be one of the families mentioned in the letter of Colonel Arthur Campbell in his letter to Governor Patrick Henry, dated March 27, 1785. This story was told to Maida Cloud by Mr. W. S. Israel, of Drill, VA, age 88 years, and was related to her on 22 September, 1937. Copy in Clerk’s Office, Russell Co., VA, in W. P. A. Historical File.
This happened in the New Garden section of Russell County, west of Honaker. The Indians captured a Combs family, killed the husband and one child. The mother and remaining child were taken captive, being carried on horses. They (Indians) were very careful to leave no trace. They were finally tracked to Old Sand Lick (now in Dickenson County) where they were camping. The horses were the best means of recognition. When the men came near, the woman was down at the spring. They told the woman to bring the child and be back at the spring within such a length of time and they would take her back home. In this way the mother and child were restored to their loved ones. The man and child were buried near where they were killed.