The movie begins in the summer of 1755 , with a terrible attack on Drapers Meadow by the Shawnee Indian Warriors . Many people were killed in the attack , including Mary Draper Ingles ’ mother , and her sister-in-law ’s baby whose head was bashed against the side of a house . Mary , her two boys , and her sister in law were taken captive by the Shawnee on a long journey west to Ohio Country . Mary tried to remember important landmarks along the way in case they had a chance to escape . She tied knots in her sash each day to keep track of how long they were gone . By the end of the second day of their journey , they reached the point where Indian Creek flows into the New River . The Shawnee had two canoes secreted at the riverbank , which they used to carry captives and stolen food . The Shawnee swam with the horses . That night they camped west of the New River . At this time Will and John , Mary ’s husband and brother , were setting out to rescue the captives . Mary was pregnant during the time of the trip so she had to stop and give birth alongside the river . After , they continued their trip over Flat Top Mountain and along Paint Creek
Drapers Meadow
Draper's Meadow massacre
The Captives (film)