The bullet passed through 9 folds of the blanket

"My brother was shot through the center of the body, and through the ligaments at the hips, so that he fell.  When he rose again, he said he saw an Indian loading his gun in full view so that he could have shot him, with the greatest ease, but that he was too weak and turned to run.  By this time the Indian had loaded and fired again.  The bullet passed through 9 folds of the blanket he had rolled up and strapped to his shoulders, and then stopped, and made flat as a 9d.  The force of the blow knocked him down again, but did not get through the blanket to the skin" (Draper MSS, James Wade Interview, 12cc11-41).

Draper, Lyman C. Draper Manuscript Collection: Series Cc; Kentucky Papers. Chicago: University of Chicago Library, Dept. of Photoreproduction, 1966. Archival material.

Most convenient for travelling in that country

"After this long digression on the culture of Indian corn, the grand staff of life throughout this continent, I shall proceed with an account of my journey to Kentucky; for my white savage and I set out from the fort early next morning.  I had procured rifles, ammunition, and Indian dresses for us both, which are by far the most convenient for travelling in that country; as also blankets to cover us as we should be obliged to sleep in the woods every night; besides bells for our horses, to enable us to hear them at a distance when they were turned loose to feed, and hobbles, or spancils, made of strong leather, and fastened on their legs, to prevent them from wandering out of our reach where we remained all night.  I myself was provided with pocket compasses before I came here, and had besides a very just idea of the geography of the country" (Smyth, 300-301).

Smyth, John F. D. A Tour in the United States of America: Containing an Account of the Present Situation of That Country, the Population, Agriculture, Commerce, Customs, and Manners of the Inhabitants ... with a Description of the Indian Nations, the General Face of the Country, Mountains, Forests, Rivers, and the Most Beautiful, Grand, and Picturesque Views Throughout That Vast Continent Likewise Improvements in Husbandry That May Be Adopted with Great Advantage in Europe. London: Printed for G. Robinson, 1784. Print.

Took a blanket and lay out at nights

"Took a blanket and lay out at nights, sometimes in a hollow tree.  There use to be a good many large sycamores.  Get inside one of them, and sometimes tolerably warm.  In rainy weather elsewhere our blanket was stretched up on sticks and we lay under it.  Sometimes under a bank, in a place where we could not be seen far, we would build up a fire" (Draper MSS, Samuel McDowell Interview, 13cc218-225).

Draper, Lyman C. Draper Manuscript Collection: Series Cc; Kentucky Papers. Chicago: University of Chicago Library, Dept. of Photoreproduction, 1966. Archival material.