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diff --git a/29244.txt b/29244.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ccda79 --- /dev/null +++ b/29244.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22033 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Chronicles of Border Warfare, by Alexander Scott Withers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles of Border Warfare + or, a History of the Settlement by the Whites, of + North-Western Virginia, and of the Indian Wars and Massacres + in that section of the Indian Wars and Massacres in that + section of the State + +Author: Alexander Scott Withers + +Editor: Reuben Gold Thwaites + +Release Date: June 26, 2009 [EBook #29244] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Mark C. Orton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +This is a 1971 reprint edition of the 1895 edition of "Chronicles of +Border Warfare." The modern title page and verso have been relocated +to the end of the text. + +The 1895 edition includes and expands on the original 1831 edition. +Throughout this text, the pagination of the original edition is +indicated by brackets, such as [54]. + +Capitalization standards for the time (i.e. "fort Morgan," "mrs. +Pindall," "Ohio river") have been preserved. + +Variable hyphenation has been preserved. + +Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + +Author's punctuation style has been preserved. + +Typographical problems have been corrected as listed in the +Transcriber's Note at the end of the text. + +Passages in italics are indicated by _underscores_. + + + + +CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE + + OR, A + + History of the Settlement by the Whites, of North-Western + Virginia, and of the Indian Wars and Massacres + in that section of the State + + WITH + + REFLECTIONS, ANECDOTES, &c. + + BY + + ALEXANDER SCOTT WITHERS + + A New Edition + + EDITED AND ANNOTATED BY + + REUBEN GOLD THWAITES + + Secretary of the Wisconsin Historical Society, editor of "Wisconsin + Historical Collections," and author of "The Colonies, 1492-1750," + "Historic Waterways," "Story of Wisconsin," etc. + + _With the addition of a Memoir of the Author, and several Illustrative + Notes._ + + BY THE LATE + + LYMAN COPELAND DRAPER + + Author of "King's Mountain and Its Heroes," "Autograph Collections + of the Signers," etc. + + CINCINNATI + THE ROBERT CLARKE COMPANY + 1895 + + + + +Copyright, 1895 + +By REUBEN GOLD THWAITES + +All rights reserved + + + + +CONTENTS. + +Portrait of the Author Frontispiece. + +PAGE + +Editor's Preface v + +Memoir of the Author, by Lyman C. Draper viii + +Original Title-page (photographic fac-simile) xiii + +Original Copyright Notice xiv + +Original Advertisement xv + +Original Table of Contents (with pagination revised) xvii + +Author's Text (with editorial notes) 1 + +Index, by the Editor 431 + + + + +EDITOR'S PREFACE. + + +It is sixty-four years since the original edition of Withers's +_Chronicles of Border Warfare_ was given to the public. The author was +a faithful recorder of local tradition. Among his neighbors were sons +and grandsons of the earlier border heroes, and not a few actual +participants in the later wars. He had access, however, to few +contemporary documents. He does not appear to have searched for them, +for there existed among the pioneer historians of the West a respect +for tradition as the prime source of information, which does not now +obtain; to-day, we desire first to see the documents of a period, and +care little for reminiscence, save when it fills a gap in or illumines +the formal record. The weakness of the traditional method is well +exemplified in Withers's work. His treatment of many of the larger +events on the border may now be regarded as little else than a thread +on which to hang annotations; but in most of the local happenings +which are here recorded he will always, doubtless, remain a leading +authority--for his informants possessed full knowledge of what +occurred within their own horizon, although having distorted notions +regarding affairs beyond it. + +The _Chronicles_ had been about seven years upon the market, when a +New York youth, inspired by the pages of Doddridge, Flint, and +Withers, with a fervid love for border history, entered upon the +task of collecting documents and traditions with which to correct +and amplify the lurid story which these authors had outlined. In the +prosecution of this undertaking, Lyman C. Draper became so absorbed +with the passion of collecting that he found little opportunity for +literary effort, and in time his early facility in this direction +became dulled. He was the most successful of collectors of materials +for Western history, and as such did a work which must earn for +him the lasting gratitude of American historical students; but +unfortunately he did little more than collect and investigate, and +the idea which to the last strongly possessed him, of writing a +series of biographies of trans-Alleghany pioneers, was never +realized. He died August 26, 1891, having accomplished wondrous deeds +for the Wisconsin Historical Society, of which he was practically the +founder, and for thirty-three years the main stay; in the broader +domain of historical scholarship, however, he had failed to reach +his goal. His great collection of manuscripts and notes, he willed +to his Society, which has had them carefully classified and +conveniently bound--a lasting treasure for historians of the West +and Southwest, for the important frontier period between about 1740 +and 1816. + +Dr. Draper had exhibited much ability as an editor, in the first ten +volumes of the _Wisconsin Historical Collections_. In 1890, the Robert +Clarke Company engaged him, as the best living authority on the +details of Western border history, to prepare and edit a new edition +of Withers. He set about the task with interest, and was engaged in +the active preparation of "copy" during his last months on earth; +indeed, his note upon page 123 of this edition is thought to have been +his final literary work. He had at that time prepared notes for about +one-fourth of the book, and had written his "Memoir of the Author." + +The matter here rested until the autumn of 1894, when the publishers +requested the present writer to take up the work where his revered +friend had left it, and see the edition through the press. He has done +this with some reluctance, conscious that he approached the task with +a less intimate knowledge of the subject than his predecessor; +nevertheless he was unwilling that Dr. Draper's notes on the early +pages should be lost, and has deemed it a labor of love to complete +the undertaking upon which the last thoughts of the latter fondly +dwelt. + +In the preparation of his own notes, the editor has had the great +advantage of free access to the Draper Manuscripts; without their +help, it would have been impossible to throw further light on many of +the episodes treated by the author. The text of Withers has been +preserved intact, save that where errors have obviously been +typographical, and not intended by the author, the editor has +corrected them--perhaps in a dozen instances only, for the original +proof-reading appears to have been rather carefully done. The +pagination of the original edition has in this been indicated by +brackets, as [54]. In the original, the publisher's "Advertisement" +and the "Table of Contents" were bound in at the end of the work,--see +collation in Field's _Indian Bibliography_,--but evidently this was a +make-shift of rustic binders in a hurry to get out the long-delayed +edition, and the editor has taken the liberty to transfer them to +their proper place; also, while preserving typographical peculiarities +therein, to change the pagination in the "Contents" to accord with the +present edition. In order clearly to indicate the authorship of notes, +those by Withers himself are unsigned; those by Dr. Draper are signed +"L. C. D."; and those by the present writer, "R. G. T." + + REUBEN GOLD THWAITES. + +Madison, Wis., + February, 1895. + + + + +MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. + +BY LYMAN COPELAND DRAPER. + + +In 1831, an interesting volume appeared from the press of Joseph +Israel, of Clarksburg, in North Western Virginia, prepared by +Alexander Scott Withers, on the border wars of the West. It was well +received at the time of its publication, when works on that subject +were few, and read with avidity by the surviving remnant of the +participators in the times and events so graphically described, and by +their worthy descendants. + +Historians and antiquarians also received it cordially, universally +according it high praise. Mann Butler, the faithful historian of +Kentucky, declared that it was "a work to which the public was deeply +indebted," composed, as it was, with "so much care and interest." The +late Samuel G. Drake, the especial historian of the Red Man, +pronounced it "a work written with candor and judgment." The late +Thomas W. Field, the discriminating writer on _Indian Bibliography_, +says: "Of this scarce book, very few copies are complete or in good +condition. Having been issued in a remote corner of North-Western +Virginia, and designed principally for a local circulation, almost +every copy was read by a country fireside until scarcely legible. Most +of the copies lack the table of contents. The author took much pains +to be authentic, and his chronicles are considered by Western +antiquarians, to form the best collection of frontier life and Indian +warfare, that has been printed." + +Of such a work, now difficult to procure at any price, a new edition +is presented to the public. In 1845, the writer of this notice visited +the Virginia Valley, collecting materials on the same general subject, +going over much the same field of investigation, and quite naturally, +at that early period, identifying very large the sources of Mr. +Withers's information, thus making it possible to reproduce his work +with new lights and explanations, such as generally give pleasure and +interest to the intelligent reader of border history.[1] + +In 1829, a local antiquary, of Covington, a beautiful little village +nestling in a high mountain valley near the head of James River, in +Alleghany County, Virginia, gathered from the aged pioneers still +lingering on the shores of time, the story of the primitive +settlement and border wars of the Virginia Valley. Hugh Paul +Taylor, for such was his name, was the precursor, in all that +region, of the school of historic gleaners, and published in the +nearest village paper, _The Fincastle Mirror_, some twenty miles away, +a series of articles, over the signature of "Son of Cornstalk," +extending over a period of some forty stirring years, from about 1740 +to the close of the Revolutionary War. These articles formed at least +the chief authority for several of the earlier chapters of Mr. +Withers's work. Mr. Taylor had scarcely molded his materials into +shape, and put them into print, when he was called hence at an early +age, without having an opportunity to revise and publish the +results of his labors under more favorable auspices. + +Soon after Mr. Taylor's publication, Judge Edwin S. Duncan, of Peel +Tree, in then Harrison, now Barbour County, West Virginia, a gentleman +of education, and well fitted for such a work, residing in the heart +of a region rife with the story of Indian wars and hair-breadth +escapes, made a collection of materials, probably including Mr. +Taylor's sketches, with a view to a similar work; but his professional +pursuits and judicial services interposed to preclude the faithful +prosecution of the work, so he turned over to Mr. Withers his historic +gatherings, with such suggestions, especially upon the Indian race, +as by his studies and reflections he was enabled to offer. + +Other local gleaners in the field of Western history, particularly +Noah Zane, of Wheeling, John Hacker, of the Hacker's Creek settlement, +and others, freely furnished their notes and statements for the work. +Mr. Withers, under these favorable circumstances, became quite well +equipped with materials regarding especially the first settlement and +Indian wars of the region now comprising West Virginia; and, to a +considerable extent, the region of Staunton and farther southwest, +of the French and Indian War period, together with Dunmore's War, +and the several campaigns from the western borders of Virginia and +Pennsylvania into the Ohio region, during the Revolutionary War. + +Alexander Scott Withers, for his good services in the field of Western +history, well deserves to have his name and memory perpetuated as a +public benefactor. Descending, on his father's side, from English +ancestry, he was the fourth child of nine, in the family of Enoch K. +and Jennet Chinn Withers, who resided at a fine Virginia homestead, +called Green Meadows, half a dozen miles from Warrenton, Fauquier +county, Virginia, where the subject of this sketch was born on the +12th of October, 1792--on the third centennial anniversary of the +discovery of America by Columbus. His mother was the daughter of +Thomas Chinn and Jennet Scott--the latter a native of Scotland, and a +first cousin of Sir Walter Scott. + +Passing his early years in home and private schools, he became from +childhood a lover of books and knowledge. He read Virgil at the early +age of ten; and, in due time, entered Washington College, and thence +entered the law department of the venerable institution of William and +Mary, where Jefferson, Monroe, Wythe, and other Virginia notables, +received their education. + +Procuring a license to practice, he was admitted to the bar in +Warrenton, where for two or three years he practiced his profession. +His father dying in 1813, he abandoned his law practice, which he did +not like, because he could not overcome his diffidence in public +speaking; and, for quite a period, he had the management of his +mother's plantation. + +In August, 1815, he was united in marriage with Miss Melinda Fisher, a +most estimable lady, a few months his junior; and about 1827, having a +growing family, he looked to the Great West for his future home and +field of labor, and moved to West Virginia, first locating temporarily +in Bridgeport, in Harrison County, and subsequently settling near +Clarksburg in the same county, where he devoted much time in +collecting materials for and writing his _Chronicles of Border +Warfare_. + +The publisher, Joseph Israel, who took a deep interest in the work, as +his "Advertisement" of it suggests, must have realized ample +recompense for the work, as he had subscribers for the full edition +issued; yet, from some cause, he failed pecuniarily, and Mr. Withers +got nothing whatever for his diligence and labor in producing it, save +two or three copies of the work itself. He used to say, that had he +published the volume himself, he would have made it much more +complete, and better in every way; for he was hampered, limited, and +hurried--often correcting proof of the early, while writing the later +chapters. Mr. Israel, the publisher, died several years ago. + +After this worthy but unremunerative labor, Mr. Withers turned his +attention to Missouri for a suitable home for his old age. He was +disappointed in his visit to that new state, as the richer portions +of the country, where he would have located, were more or less +unhealthy. So he returned to West Virginia, and settled near +Weston, a fine, healthful region of hills and valleys, where he +engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he always took a deep +interest. He also served several years as a magistrate, the only +public position he ever filled. + +The death of his wife in September, 1853, broke sadly into his +domestic enjoyments; his family were now scattered, and his home was +henceforward made with his eldest daughter, Mrs. Jennet S. Tavenner, +and her husband, Thomas Tavenner, who in 1861 removed to a home +adjoining Parkersburg, in West Virginia. Here our author lived a +retired, studious life, until his death, which occurred, after a few +days' illness, January 23, 1865, in the seventy-third year of his +age. + +Mr. Withers had no talent for the acquisition of wealth; but he met +with marked success in acquiring knowledge. He was an admirer of +ancient literature, and to his last days read the Greek classics in +the original. A rare scholar, a lover of books, his tastes were +eminently domestic; he was, from his nature, much secluded from the +busy world around him. Nearly six feet high, rather portly and +dignified, as is shown by his portrait, taken when he was about sixty +years of age--he was kind and obliging to all, and emphatically a true +Virginia gentleman of the old school. His sympathies during the War of +Secession, were strongly in favor of the Union cause, the happy +termination of which he did not live to witness. His son, Henry W. +Withers, served with credit during the war in the Union service in the +Twelfth Virginia Regiment. + +Mr. Withers was blessed with two sons and three daughters--one of the +sons has passed away; the other, Major Henry W. Withers, resides in +Troy, Gilmer county, West Virginia; Mrs. Tavenner still lives at +Parkersburg; Mrs. Mary T. Owen, at Galveston, Texas, and Mrs. +Elizabeth Ann Thornhill, in New Orleans. + +----- + [1] The venerable Mark L. Spotts, an intelligent and + long-time resident of Lewisburg, West Virginia, writes, in + December, 1890: "I had an old and particular friend, Mr. Thomas + Matthews, of this place, who, many years ago, conceived the + idea of preparing and publishing a revised edition of Withers's + _Border Warfare_, and no doubt had collected many facts looking + to such a publication; but the old man's health gave way, he + died, and his widow moved away, and what became of his notes, I + can not say--perhaps destroyed."--L. C. D. + + + + +CHRONICLES + +OF + +BORDER WARFARE, + +OR + +A HISTORY + +OF THE + +SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES, + +OF NORTH-WESTERN VIRGINIA: + +AND + +OF THE INDIAN WARS AND MASSACRES, + +IN THAT SECTION OF THE STATE, + +WITH + +REFLECTIONS, ANECDOTES, &c. + +BY ALEXANDER S. WITHERS. + +CLARKSBURG, V.A. + +PUBLISHED BY JOSEPH ISRAEL, + +1831 + + + + +WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, _to wit_: + +Be it remembered, That on the twenty-sixth day of January, in the +Fifty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, +JOSEPH ISRAEL, of the said District, hath deposited in this Office, +the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the +words following, To wit: + +"Chronicles of Border Warfare, or a history of the settlement, by the +whites, of North-Western Virginia: and of the Indian wars and +massacres, in that section of the State; with reflections, anecdotes, +&c.--By ALEXANDER S. WITHERS, 1831," in conformity to the act of +Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement +of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the +Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein +mentioned;" and also to an act, entitled "An act for the encouragement +of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the +Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein +mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of +Designing, Engraving and Etching historical and other prints." + +JASPER YEATES DODDRIDGE, + +_Clerk of the Western District of Virginia_. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + +The "Chronicles of Border Warfare" are now completed and presented to +the public. Circumstances, over which the publisher had no control, +have operated to delay their appearance beyond the anticipated period; +and an apprehension that such might be the case, induced him, when +issuing proposals for their publication, not positively to name a time +at which the work would be completed and ready for delivery. + +This delay, although unavoidable, has been the source of regret to the +publisher, and has added considerably to the expenditure otherwise +necessarily made, in attempting to rescue from oblivion the many +interesting incidents, now, for the first time recorded. To preserve +them from falling into the gulph of forgetfulness, was the chief +motive which the publisher had in view; and should the profits of the +work be sufficient to defray the expenses, actually incurred in its +preparation and completion, he will be abundantly satisfied. That he +will be thus far remunerated, is not for an instant doubted,--the +subscription papers having attached to them, as many names as there +are copies published. + +In regard to the manner of its execution, it does not perhaps become +him to speak. He was attentive to his duties, and watched narrowly the +press; and if typographical errors are to be found, it must be +attributed to the great difficulty of preventing them, even when the +author is at hand to correct each proof sheet. They are however, +certainly few, and such as would be likely to escape observation. + +JOSEPH ISRAEL, _Publisher_. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION.--General view of the discovery of North America, by +England, France and Spain. 1 to 11. Aborigines of America--Their +origin. 12-27. Their persons and character--Indian antiquities. +28-43. + +CHAPTER 1. Of the country west of Blue ridge, difficulties attending +its first settlement; Indians in neighborhood--their tribes and +numbers. Various parties explore the Valley; their adventures. +Benjamin Burden receives a grant of land; settles 100 families, their +general character, West of Blue ridge divided into two counties; its +present population, &c. Discovery of Greenbrier, explored by Martin +and Seal; by the Lewis's, Greenbrier Company, settlement of Muddy +Creek and Big Levels, of New river and Holstein; of Gallipolis by +French. 44-62. + +CHAP. 2nd. North Western Virginia, divisions and population, +Importance of Ohio river to the French, and the English; Ohio Company; +English traders made prisoners by French, attempt to establish fort +frustrated, French erect Fort du Quesne; War; Braddock's defeat; +Andrew Lewis, character and services; Grant's defeat, capture of Fort +du Quesne and erection of Fort Pitt: Tygart and Files settle on East +Fork of Monongahela, File's family killed by Indians, Dunkards visit +the country, settle on Cheat, their fate; settlement under Decker on +the Monongahela, destroyed by Indians, pursuit by Gibson, origin of +Long knives. 63-80. + +CHAP. 3rd. Expedition to the mouth of Big Sandy, ordered back by +governor, their extreme sufferings: Dreadful catastrophe at Levit's +Fort, Shawnees visit James river settlements, their depredations and +defeat, fortunate escape of Hannah Dennis, destruction at Muddy creek +and Big Levels, Mrs. Clendennin, Indians visit Jackson and Catawba +rivers, discovered, pursued, overtaken and dispersed, Mrs. Gunn. +81-99. + +CHAP. 4th. Indians commit depredations in Pennsylvania, burn three +prisoners, excesses of Paxton Boys, Black Boys of great service to +frontier, engagement at Turtle creek, Traders attempt to supply +Indians, affair at Sidelong hill, Fort Bedford taken by Blackboys, +Capt. James Smith, his character and services. 100-116. + +CHAP. 5th. Deserters from Fort Pitt visit head of Monongahela, The +Pringles, Settlements of Buckhannon, of Hacker's creek, Monongahela +and other places, Of Wheeling by Zane's, Their Character, Character of +Wm. Lowther, Objects and character of the first settlers generally. +117-133. + +CHAP. 6th. War of 1774, Inquiry into its cause, Boone and others visit +Kentucky, Emigrants attacked by Indians, Surveyors begin operations +there, Affair at Captina, and opposite Yellow creek, Excesses of +Indians, Preparations for [ii] war, Expedition against Wappatomica, +Incursion of Logan and others, Of Indians on West Fork. 134-158. + +CHAP. 7th. Indians come on Big Kenhawa, Lewis and Jacob Whitsel taken +prisoners, Their adventurous conduct, Plan of Dunmore's campaign, +Battle at Point Pleasant, Dunmore enters Indian country and makes +peace, Reflections on the motives of Dunmore's conduct. 159-186. + +CHAP. 8th. General view of the relative situation of Great Britain and +the colonies, British emissaries and American Tories stimulate the +Savages to war, Progress of settlements in Kentucky, Character of +Harrod, Boone and Logan, Attack on Harrod's fort, on Boone's and on +Logan's, Bowman arrives to its relief, Cornstock visits Point +Pleasant, Projected campaign against the Indians abortive, Cornstock's +son visits him, Gilmore killed, Murder of Cornstock, Of Ellinipsico +and others, Character of Cornstock. 187-214. + +CHAP. 9. General alarm on the frontier, Savages commit depredations, +Intelligence of contemplated invasion, Condition of Wheeling, Indians +seen near it, Two parties under captain Mason and captain Ogal decoyed +within the Indian lines and cut to pieces, Girty demands the surrender +of Wheeling, Col. Zane's reply, Indians attacks the fort and retire, +Arrival of col. Swearingen with a reinforcement, of captain Foreman, +Ambuscade at Grave creek narrows, conspiracy of Tories discovered and +defeated, Petro and White taken prisoners, Irruption into Tygarts +Valley, Murder at Conoly's and at Stewarts. 215-235. + +CHAP. 10. Measures of defence, Fort M'Intosh erected, exposed +situation, commencement of hostilities, Attack on Harbert's +blockhouse, Murder at Morgan's on Cheat, Of Lowther and Hughes, +Indians appear before Fort at the point, Decoy Lieut. Moore into an +ambuscade, a larger army visits Fort, stratagem to draw out the +garrison, Prudence and precaution of capt. M'Kee. Fort closely +besieged, Siege raised, Heroic adventure of Prior and Hammond to save +Greenbrier, Attack on Donnelly's Fort, Dick Pointer, Affair at West's +Fort, Successful artifice of Hustead, Affair at Cobern's fort, at +Strader's, Murder of Stephen Washburn, captivity, &c. of James, +Projected invasion of Indian country, Col. Clarke takes Kaskaskias and +other towns, Fort Lawrens erected by Gen. M'Intosh and garrisoned. +236-256. + +CHAP. 11. Gov. Hamilton marches to St. Vincent--critical situation of +col. Clarke, his daring expedition against Hamilton, condition of Fort +Lawren's, Successful stratagem of Indians there, Gen. M'Intosh arrives +with an army, Fort evacuated, Transactions in Kentucky, captivity of +Boone, his escape and expedition against Paint creek town, Indian +[iii] army under Du Quesne appear before Boone's fort, politic conduct +of Boone, Fort assaulted, Assailants repulsed, Expedition against +Chilicothe towns under Bowman, Its failure, Kentucky increases rapidly +in population. 257-274. + +CHAP. 12. Hacker's creek settlement breaks up, Alarm of Indians near +Pricket's fort, Stephen and Sarah Morgan sent to farm, Dream and +anxiety of their father, His fearful encounter with two Indians, Kills +both, Heroism of Mrs. Bozarth, Murders on Snow creek, captivity of +Leonard Schoolcraft, Indians surprize Martin's fort, destruction +there, Irruptions into Tygart's valley, Indians attack the house of +Samuel Cottrail, Murder of John Schoolcraft's family, Projected +campaign of British and Indians, Indians again in Tygart's Valley, +mischief there, West's fort invested, Hazardous adventure of Jesse +Hughs to obtain assistance, Skirmish between whites and savages, +coolness and intrepidity of Jerry Curl, Austin Schoolcraft killed and +his niece taken prisoner, Murder of Owens and Judkins, of Sims, Small +Pox terrifies Indians, Transactions in Greenbrier, Murder of Baker and +others, last outrage in that country. 275-293 + +CHAP. 13. Operations of combined army of British and Indians, +Surrender of Ruddle's Station, Outrages of savages there, Col. Byrd +enabled to restrain them, Martin's station surrenders, Byrd returns to +the Indian towns, Escape of Hinkstone, Invasion of North Western +Virginia, Plan of campaign, Indians discovered near Wheeling, Take +prisoners, Alarmed for their own safety, kill their prisoners and +retire, Expedition under Col. Broadhead, against the Munsies, against +Coshocton, excesses of the whites there, Expedition under Gen. Clarke +against Chilicothe and Piqua, Battle at Piqua, Indian depredations in +Virginia, murder of capt. Thomas and family, of Schoolcraft, Manear, +and others, Destruction of Leading creek settlement, aggressors +overtaken by a party under Col. Lowther, Affair of Indian creek, +murder of Mrs. Furrenash, Williamson's first expedition against +Moravian Indians, Prisoners taken sent to Fort Pitt, Set at liberty, +Their settlements broken up by Wyandotts. 294-317. + +CHAP. 14. The murder of Monteur and his family, others taken +prisoners, Second expedition of Williamson against Moravians, its +success and the savage conduct of the whites, Expedition under +Crawford, his defeat--Is taken prisoner and burned; captivity and +escape of Doctor Knight, of Slover; Death of Mills--Signal achievement +of Lewis Whitsel. 318-339. + +CHAP. 15. Murder of White, Dorman and wife taken prisoners; +Inhabitants on Buckhannon evacuate the fort, attacked by Indians on +their way to the Valley; Whites visiting [iv] Buckhannon settlement +discovered and watched by Indians--conduct of George Jackson to obtain +aid, Stalnaker killed, Indians cross Alleghany--miss Gregg killed by +Dorman, murder of mrs. Pindall, of Charles Washburn, of Arnold and +Richards--Daring conduct of Elias Hughes--murder of Corbly's +family--Grand council of Indians at Chillicothe, Its determinations; +Indian army enters Kentucky; Affair at Bryants station; Battle of Blue +Licks--Expedition under Gen. Clarke, Attack on Wheeling, Attempt to +demolish the fort with a wooden cannon, Signal exploit of Elizabeth +Zane, Noble conduct of Francis Duke, Indians withdraw, Attack on Rives +[Rice's] Fort, Encounter of Poe with two Indians. 340-364. + +CHAP. 16. Peace with G. Britain, War continued by Indians--Operations +in N. W. Virginia--murder of Daniel Radcliff, Attack on Cunninghams upon +Bingamon, murders there; murders in Tazewell, of Davison, of Moore, +mrs. Moore and seven children taken prisoners, their fate--murder of +Ice, &c. Levi Morgan encounters two Indians, Indians steal horses on +West Fork, pursued and punished by col. Lowther--murder of the Wests +on Hacker's creek, Remarkable recovery of J. Hacker's daughter--murder +of the Johnsons on Ten-mile creek, At Macks, Artifice of John Sims. +365-383. + +CHAP. 17. Rapid increase of population of Kentucky, operations +there--Preparations of the general Government to carry on the war in +the Indian country, Settlement of Marietta, Of Cincinatti, Fort +Washington erected, Settlement of Duck creek, Big Bottom and Wolf +creeks--Harmar's campaign, murder of whites on Big Bottom, murder +of John Bush--Affair at Hansucker's on Dunkard--murder of Carpenter +and others and escape of Jesse Hughes--campaign under Gen. St. +Clair--Attack at Merrill's, Heroic conduct of mrs. Merrill, Signal +success of expedition under Gen. Scott. 384-407. + +CHAP. 18. Indians visit Hacker's creek--murder of the Waggoners and +captivity of others--murder of Neal and Triplet, major Truman and col. +Hardin killed, Greater preparations made by General Government, John +and Henry Johnson, Attack on the hunting camp of Isaac Zane, Noble +conduct of Zane--Treatment of Indian prisoners, Fort Recovery erected, +Escape of Joseph Cox--murder of miss Runyan and attack on Carder's, +Indians kill and make prisoners the Cozads, Affair at Joseph Kanaan's, +Progress of army under Gen. Wayne, Indians attack and defeat +detachment under M'Mahon, battle of Au Glaize and victory of General +Wayne, Affair at Bozarth's on Buckhannon--Treaty of Greenville. +408-430. + + + + +[3] INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER I. + + +It is highly probable that the continent of America was known to the +Ancient Carthaginians, and that it was the great island Atalantis, of +which mention is made by Plato, who represents it as larger than Asia +and Africa. The Carthaginians were a maritime people, and it is known +that they extended their discoveries beyond the narrow sphere which +had hitherto limited the enterprise of the mariner. And although Plato +represents Atalantis as having been swallowed by an earthquake, and +all knowledge of the new continent, if any such ever existed, was +entirely lost, still it is by no means improbable, that it had been +visited by some of the inhabitants of the old world, prior to its +discovery by Columbus in 1492. The manner of this discovery is well +known, as is also the fact that Americo Vespucci, a Florentine, under +the authority of Emmanuel king of Portugal, in sailing as far as +Brazil discovered the main land and gave name to America. + +These discoveries gave additional excitement to the adventurous spirit +which distinguished those times, and the flattering reports made of +the country which they had visited, inspired the different nations of +Europe, with the desire of reaping the rich harvest, which the +enlightened and enterprising mind of Columbus, had unfolded to their +view. Accordingly, as early as March 1496, (less than two years after +the discovery by Columbus) a commission was granted by Henry VII king +of England, to John Cabot and his three sons, empowering them to sail +under the English banner in quest of new discoveries, and in the event +of their success to take possession, in the name of the king of +England, of the countries thus discovered and not inhabited by +_Christian people_. + +The expedition contemplated in this commission was never carried into +effect. But in May 1498 Cabot with his son Sebastian, embarked on a +voyage to attain the desired object, and succeeded in his design so +far as to effect a discovery of [4] North America, and although he +sailed along the coast from Labrador to Virginia, yet it does not now +appear that he made any attempt either at settlement or conquest. + +This is said to have been the first discovery ever made of that +portion of our continent which extends from the Gulph of Mexico to the +North pole; and to this discovery the English trace their title to +that part of it, subsequently reduced into possession by them.[1] + +As many of the evils endured by the inhabitants of the western part of +Virginia, resulted from a contest between England and France, as to +the validity of their respective claims to portions of the newly +discovered country, it may not be amiss to take a general view of the +discoveries and settlements effected by each of those powers. + +After the expedition of Cabot, no attempt on the part of England, to +acquire territory in America, seems to have been made until the year +1558. In this year letters patent were issued by Queen Elizabeth, +empowering Sir Humphrey Gilbert to "discover and take possession of +such remote, heathen, and barbarous lands, as were not actually +possessed by any _christian prince or people_." Two expeditions, +conducted by this gentleman terminated unfavorably. Nothing was done +by him towards the accomplishment of the objects in view, more than +the taking possession of the island of New Foundland in the name of +the English Queen. + +In 1584 a similar patent was granted to Sir Walter Raleigh, under +whose auspices was discovered the country south of Virginia. In April +of that year he dispatched two vessels under the command of Amidas and +Barlow, for the purpose of visiting, and obtaining such a knowledge of +the country which he proposed to colonize, as would facilitate the +attainment of his object. In their voyage they approached the North +American continent towards the Gulph of Florida, and sailing +northwardly touched at an island situate on the inlet into Pamlico +sound, in the state of North Carolina. To this island they gave the +name of Wocoken, and proceeding from thence reached Roanoke near the +mouth of Albemarle sound. After having remained here some weeks, and +obtained from the natives the best information which they could impart +concerning the country, Amidas and Barlow returned to England. + +In the succeeding year Sir Walter had fitted out a squadron of seven +ships, the command of which he gave to Sir Richard [5] Grenville. On +board of this squadron were passengers, arms, ammunition and +provisions for a settlement. He touched at the islands of Wocoken and +Roanoke, which had been visited by Amidas and Barlow, and leaving a +colony of one hundred and eight persons in the island of Roanoke, he +returned to England. These colonists, after having remained about +twelve months and explored the adjacent country, became so discouraged +and exhausted by fatigue and famine, that they abandoned the country. +Sir Richard Grenville returning shortly afterwards to America, and not +being able to find them, and at a loss to conjecture their fate, left +in the island another small party of settlers and again set sail for +England. + +The flattering description which was given of the country, by those +who had visited it, so pleased Queen Elizabeth, that she gave to it +the name of Virginia, as a memorial that it had been discovered in the +reign of a Virgin Queen. + +Other inefficient attempts were afterwards made to colonize North +America during the reign of Elizabeth, but it was not 'till the year +1607, that a colony was permanently planted there. In December of the +preceding year a small vessel and two barks, under the command of +captain Newport, and having on board one hundred and five men, +destined to remain, left England. In April they were driven by a storm +into Chesapeak bay, and after a fruitless attempt to land at Cape +Henry, sailed up the Powhatan (since called James) River, and on the +13th of May 1607, debarked on the north side of the river at a place +to which they gave the name of Jamestown. From this period the country +continued in the occupancy of the whites, and remained subject to the +crown of Great Britain until the war of the revolution. + +A new charter which was issued in 1609 grants to "the treasurer and +company of the adventurers, of the city of London for the first colony +of Virginia, in absolute property the lands extending from Point +Comfort along the sea coast two hundred miles to the northward, and +from the same point, along the sea coast two hundred miles to the +southward, and up into the land throughout from sea to sea, west and +north-west; and also all islands lying within one hundred miles of the +coast of both seas of the precinct aforesaid." Conflicting charters, +granted to other corporations, afterwards narrowed her limits; that +she has been since reduced to her present comparatively small extent +of territory, is attributable exclusively [6] to the almost suicidal +liberality of Virginia herself. + +On the part of France, voyages for the discovery and colonization of +North America were nearly contemporaneous with those made by England +for like objects. As early as the year 1540, a commission was issued +by Francis 1st for the establishment of Canada.[2] In 1608, a French +fleet, under the command of Admiral Champlaine, arrived in the St. +Lawrence and founded the city of Quebec. So successful were her +attempts to colonize that province, that, notwithstanding its +proximity to the English colonies, and the fact that a Spanish sailor +had previously entered the St. Lawrence and established a port at the +mouth of Grand river--neither of those powers seriously contested the +right of France to its possession.--Yet it was frequently the theatre +of war; and as early as 1629 was subdued by England. By the treaty of +St. Germains in 1632 it was restored to France, as was also the then +province of Acadie, now known as Nova Scotia. There is no doubt but +that this latter province was, by priority of settlement, the property +of France, but its principal town having been repeatedly reduced to +possession by the English, it was ceded to them by the treaty of +Utrecht in 1713. + +To the country bordering the Mississippi river, and its tributary +streams, a claim was made by England, France and Spain. The claim of +England (based on the discovery by the Cabots of the eastern shore of +the United States,) included all the country between the parallels of +latitude within which the Atlantic shore was explored, extending +westwardly to the Pacific ocean--a zone athwart the continent between +the thirtieth and forty-eighth degrees of North latitude. + +From the facility with which the French gained the good will and +friendly alliance of the Natives in Canada, by intermarrying with, and +assimilating themselves to the habits and inclinations of, these +children of the forest, an intimacy arose which induced the Indians to +impart freely to the French their knowledge of the interior country. +Among other things information was communicated to them, of the fact +that farther on there was a river of great size and immense length, +which pursued a course opposite to that of the St. Lawrence, and +emptied itself into an unknown sea. It was conjectured that it must +necessarily flow either into the Gulph of Mexico, or the South Sea; +and in 1673 Marquette and Joliet, French missionaries, together with +five other men, commenced a journey [7] from Quebec to ascertain the +fact and examine the country bordering its shores. + +From lake Michigan they proceeded up the Fox river nearly to its +source; thence to Ouisconsin; down it to the Mississippi, in which +river they sailed as far as to about the thirty-third degree of north +latitude. From this point they returned through the Illinois country +to Canada. + +At the period of this discovery M. de La Salle, a Frenchman of +enterprise, courage and talents but without fortune, was commandant of +fort Frontignac. Pleased with the description given by Marquette and +Joliet, of the country which they had visited, he formed the +determination of examining it himself, and for this purpose left +Canada in the close of the summer of 1679, in company with father +Louis Hennepin and some others.[3] On the Illinois he erected fort +Crevecoeur, where he remained during the winter, and instructing +father Hennepin, in his absence to ascend the Mississippi to its +sources, returned to Canada. M. de La Salle subsequently visited this +country, and establishing the villages of Cahokia and Kaskaskia, left +them under the command of M. de Tonti, and going back to Canada, +proceeded from thence to France to procure the co-operation of the +Ministry in effecting a settlement of the valley of the Mississippi. +He succeeded in impressing on the minds of the French Ministry, the +great benefits which would result from its colonization, and was the +first to suggest the propriety of connecting the settlements on the +Mississippi with those in Canada by a cordon of forts; a measure which +was subsequently attempted to be carried into effect. + +With the aid afforded him by the government of France, he was enabled +to prepare an expedition to accomplish his object, and sailing in 1684 +for the mouth of the Mississippi, steered too far westward and landed +in the province of Texas, and on the banks of the river Guadaloupe. +Every exertion which a brave and prudent man could make to effect the +security of his little colony, and conduct them to the settlement in +Illinois, was fruitlessly made by him. In reward for all his toil and +care he was basely assassinated; the remnant of the party whom he was +conducting through the wilderness, finally reached the Arkansas, where +was a settlement of French emigrants from Canada. The colonists left +by him at the bay of St. Bernard were mostly murdered by the natives, +the remainder were carried away by the Spaniards in 1689. + +[8] Other attempts made by the French to colonize the Mississippi near +the Gulph of Mexico, were for some time unavailing. In an expedition +for that purpose, conducted by M. Ibberville, a suit of armor on which +was inscribed Ferdinand de Soto, was found in the possession of some +Indians. In the year 1717 the spot, on which New Orleans now stands, +was selected as the centre of the settlements, then first made in +Louisiana, and the country continued in the possession of France until +1763. By the treaty of Paris in that year, she ceded to Great Britain, +together with Canada her possessions east of the Mississippi, +excepting only the island of New Orleans--this and her territory on +the west bank of that river were transferred to Spain. + +The title of Spain to the valley of the Mississippi, if made to depend +on priority of discovery, would perhaps, to say the least, be as good +as that of either of the other powers. Ferdinand de Soto, governor of +Cuba, was most probably the first white man who saw that majestic +stream. + +The Spaniards had early visited and given name to Florida. In 1528 +Pamphilo de Narvaez obtained a grant of it, and fitting out an +armament, proceeded with four or five hundred men to explore and +settle the country. He marched to the Indian village of Appalachas, +when he was attacked and defeated by the natives. The most of +those who escaped death from the hands of the savages, perished in a +storm, by which they were overtaken on their voyage home. Narvaez +himself perished in the wreck, and was succeeded in his attempt at +colonization by de Soto. + +Ferdinand de Soto, then governor of Cuba, was a man of chivalrous and +enterprising spirit, and of cool, deliberate courage. In his +expedition to Florida, although attacked by the Indians, immediately +on his landing, yet, rather seeking than shunning danger, he +penetrated the interior, and crossing the Mississippi, sickened and +died on Red river. So frequent and signal had been the victories which +he had obtained over the Indians, that his name alone had become an +object of terror to them; and his followers, at once to preserve his +remains from violation, and prevent the natives from acquiring a +knowledge of his death, enclosed his body in a hollow tree, sunk it in +the Red river and returned to Florida. + +Thus, it is said, were different parts of this continent discovered; +and by virtue of the settlements thus effected, by [9] those three +great powers of Europe, the greater portion of it was claimed as +belonging to them respectively, in utter disregard of the rights of +the Aborigines. And while the historian records the colonization of +America as an event tending to meliorate the condition of Europe, and +as having extended the blessings of civil and religious liberty, +humanity must drop the tear of regret, that it has likewise forced the +natives of the new, and the inhabitants of a portion of the old world, +to drink so deeply from the cup of bitterness. + +The cruelties which have been exercised on the Aborigines of +America, the wrong and outrage heaped on them from the days of +Montezuma and Guatimozin, to the present period, while they excite +sympathy for their sufferings, should extenuate, if not justify the +bloody deeds, which revenge prompted the untutored savages to +commit. Driven as they were from the lands of which they were the +rightful proprietors--Yielding to encroachment after encroachment +'till forced to apprehend their utter annihilation--Witnessing the +destruction of their villages, the prostration of their towns and the +sacking of cities adorned with splendid magnificence, who can feel +surprised at any attempt which they might make to rid the country +of its invaders. Who, but must applaud the spirit which prompted +them, when they beheld their prince a captive, the blood of their +nobles staining the earth with its crimson dye, and the Gods of +their adoration scoffed and derided, to aim at the destruction of +their oppressors.--When Mexico, "with her tiara of proud towers," +became the theatre in which foreigners were to revel in rapine and in +murder, who can be astonished that the valley of Otumba resounded +with the cry of "Victory or Death?" And yet, resistance on their part, +served but as a pretext for a war of extermination; waged too, with a +ferocity, from the recollection of which the human mind involuntarily +revolts, and with a success which has forever blotted from the book +of national existence, once powerful and happy tribes. + +But they did not suffer alone. As if to fill the cup of oppression to +the brim, another portion of the human family were reduced to abject +bondage, and made the unwilling cultivators of those lands, of which +the Indians had been dispossessed. Soon after the settlement of North +America was commenced, the negroes of Africa became an article of +commerce, and from subsequent importations and natural [10] increase +have become so numerous as to excite the liveliest apprehensions in +the bosom of every friend to this country. Heretofore they have had +considerable influence on the affairs of our government; and recently +the diversity of interest, occasioned in Virginia, by the possession +of large numbers of them in the country east of the blue ridge of +mountains, seemed for a while to threaten the integrity of the +state.--Happily this is now passing away, but how far they may effect +the future destines of America, the most prophetic ken cannot foresee. +Yet, although the philanthropist must weep over their unfortunate +situation, and the patriot shudder in anticipation of a calamity which +it may defy human wisdom to avert; still it would be unfair to charge +the existence of slavery among us to the policy of the United States, +or to brand their present owners as the instruments of an evil which +they cannot remove. And while others boast that they are free from +this dark spot, let them remember, that but for them our national +escutcheon might have been as pure and unsullied as their own.[4] + +We are indebted to the Dutch for their introduction into Virginia, and +to the ships of other than slave holding communities, for their +subsequent unhallowed transportation to our shores. Yet those who were +mainly instrumental in forging the chains of bondage, have since +rendered the condition of the negro slave more intolerable by +fomenting discontent among them, and by "scattering fire brands and +torches," which are often not to be extinguished but in blood. + +Notwithstanding those two great evils which have resulted from the +discovery and colonization of America, yet to these the world is +indebted for the enjoyment of many and great blessings. They enlarged +the theatre of agricultural enterprise, and thus added to the +facilities of procuring the necessaries of life. They encouraged the +industry of Europeans, by a dependence on them for almost every +species of manufacture, and thus added considerably to their +population, wealth and happiness; while the extensive tracts of +fertile land, covering the face of this country and inviting to its +bosom the enterprising [11] foreigner, has removed a far off any +apprehension of the ill effects arising from a too dense population. + +In a moral and political point of view much good has likewise resulted +from the settlement of America. Religion, freed from the fetters which +enthralled her in Europe, has shed her benign influence on every +portion of our country. Divorced from an adulterous alliance with +state, she has here stalked forth in the simplicity of her founder; +and with "healing on her wings, spread the glad tidings of salvation +to all men." It is true that religious intolerance and blind bigotry, +for some time clouded our horizon, but they were soon dissipated; and +when the sun arose which ushered in the dawn of our national existence +scarce a speck could be seen to dim its lustre. Here too was reared +the standard of civil liberty, and an example set, which may teach to +the nations of the old world, that as people are really the source of +power, government should be confided to them. Already have the +beneficial effects of this example been manifested, and the present +condition of Europe clearly shows, that the lamp of liberty, which was +lighted here, has burned with a brilliancy so steady as to have +reflected its light across the Atlantic. Whether it will be there +permitted to shine, is somewhat problematical. But should a "holy +alliance of legitimates" extinguish it, it will be but for a season. +Kings, Emperors and Priests cannot succeed much longer in staying the +march of freedom. The people are sensibly alive to the oppression of +their rulers--they have groaned beneath the burden 'till it has become +too intolerable to be borne; and they are now speaking in a voice +which will make tyrants tremble on their throne. + +----- + [1] The author errs somewhat in his review of the voyages of + the Cabots. In 1497, John set out to reach Asia by way of the + north-west, and sighted Cape Breton, for which the generous + king gave him L10 and blessed him with "great honours." In + 1498, Sebastian's voyage was intended to supplement his + father's; his exploration of the coast extended down to the + vicinity of Chesapeake Bay.--R. G. T. + + [2] This refers to the explorations of Jacques Cartier. But + as early as 1534 Cartier sailed up the estuary of the St. + Lawrence "until land could be seen on either side;" the + following year he ascended the river as far as the La Chine + rapids, and wintered upon the island mountain there which he + named Mont Real. It was in 1541 that he made his third voyage, + and built a fort at Quebec. The author's reference, a few lines + below, to a "Spanish sailor" in the St. Lawrence, is the result + of confusion over Cartier's first voyages; Cortereal was at + Newfoundland for the Portuguese in 1500; and Gomez for Spain in + 1525.--R. G. T. + + [3] The author wrote at too early a date to have the benefit + of Parkman's researches. La Salle had probably discovered the + Ohio River four years before the voyage of Joliet and + Marquette.--R. G. T. + + [4] It is said, that Georgia, at an early period of her + colonial existence, endeavored by legislative enactment to + prevent the importation of slaves into her territory, but that + the King of England invariably negatived those laws, and + ultimately Oglethorpe was dismissed from office, for + persevering in the endeavor to accomplish so desirable an + object. It is an historical fact that slaves were not permitted + to be taken into Georgia, for some time after a colony was + established there. + + + + +[3] INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER II. + + +When America was first visited by Europeans, it was found that its +inhabitants were altogether ignorant of the country from which their +ancestors had migrated, and of the period at which they had been +transplanted to the new world. And although there were among them +traditions seeming to cast a light upon these subjects, yet when +thoroughly investigated, they tended rather to bewilder than lead to +any certain conclusion. The origin of the natives has ever since been +a matter of curious speculation with the learned; conjecture has +succeeded conjecture, hypothesis has yielded to hypothesis, as wave +recedes before wave, still it remains involved in a labyrinth of +inexplicable difficulties, from which the most ingenious mind will +perhaps never be able to free it. + +In this respect the situation of the aborigines of America does not +differ from that of the inhabitants of other portions of the globe. An +impenetrable cloud hangs over the early history of other nations, and +defies the researches of the learned in any attempt to trace them to +their origin. The attempt has nevertheless been repeatedly made; and +philosophers, arguing from a real or supposed conformity of one people +to another, have vainly imagined that they had attained to certainty +on these subjects. And while one has in this manner, undertaken to +prove China to have been an Egyptian colony, another, pursuing the +same course of reasoning, has, by way of ridicule, shewn how easily a +learned man of Tobolski or Pekin might as satisfactorily prove France +to have been a Trojan, a Greek or even an Arabian colony; thus making +manifest the utter futility of endeavoring to arrive at certainty in +this way.[1] + +[13] Nor is this to be at all wondered at, when we reflect on the +barbarous state of those nations in their infancy, the imperfection +of traditionary accounts of what had transpired centuries before, and +in many instances the entire absence of a written language, by +which, either to perpetuate events, or enable the philosopher by +analogy of language to ascertain their affinity with other nations. +Conjectural then as must be every disquisition as to the manner in +which this continent was first peopled, still however, as many men +eminent for learning and piety have devoted much labor and time to the +investigation of the subject, it may afford satisfaction to the +curious to see some of those speculations recorded. Discordant as +they are in many respects, there is nevertheless one fact as to +the truth of which they are nearly all agreed; Mr. Jefferson is +perhaps the only one, of those who have written on the subject, who +seems to discredit the assertion that America was peopled by +emigrants from the old world. How well the conjecture, that the +eastern inhabitants of Asia were descendants of the Indians of +America can be supported by any knowledge which is possessed of +the different languages spoken by the Aborigines, will be for +others to determine. "Neque confirmare argumentis, neque refellere, +in animo est; ex ingenio suo, quisque demat vel addat fidem." + +Among those who have given to the world their opinions on the origin +of the natives of America, is Father Jos. Acosta, a Jesuit who was for +some time engaged as a missionary among them. From the fact that no +ancient author has made mention of the [14] compass, he discredits the +supposition that the first inhabitants of this country found their way +here by sea. His conclusion is that they must have found a passage by +the North of Asia and Europe which he supposes to join each other; or +by those regions which lie southward of the straits of Magellan. + +Gregorio Garcia, who was likewise a missionary among the Mexicans and +Peruvians, from the traditions of those nations, and from the variety +of characters, customs, languages and religion, observable in the new +world, has formed the opinion that it was peopled by several different +nations. + +John de Laet, a Flemish writer, maintains that America received its +first inhabitants from Scythia or Tartary, and soon after the +dispersion of Noah's grand-sons. The resemblance of the northern +Indians, in feature, complexion and manner of living, to the +Scythians, Tartars, and Samojedes, being greater than to any other +nations. + +Emanuel de Moraez, in his history of Brazil, says that this +continent was wholly peopled by the Carthaginians and Israelites. In +confirmation of this opinion, he mentions the discoveries which the +Carthaginians are known to have made beyond the coast of Africa. The +progress of these discoveries being stopped by the Senate of Carthage, +those who happened to be in the newly discovered countries, cut off +from all communication with their countrymen, and being destitute of +many of the necessaries of life, easily fell into a state of +barbarism. + +George de Huron, a Dutch writer on this subject, considering the short +space of time which elapsed between the creation of the world and the +deluge, maintains that America could not have been peopled before the +flood. He likewise supposes that its first inhabitants were located in +the north; and that the primitive colonies extended themselves over +the whole extent of the continent, by means of the Isthmus of Panama. +It is his opinion that the first founders of these Indian colonies +were Scythians; that the Phoenicians and Carthaginians subsequently +got to America across the Atlantic, and the Chinese across the Pacific +ocean, and that other nations might have landed there by one of these +means, or been thrown on the coast by tempest: since through the whole +extent of the continent, both in its northern and southern parts there +are evident marks of a mixture of the northern nations with those who +have come from other places. + +[15] He also supposes that another migration of the Phoenicians took +place during a three years voyage made by the Tyrian fleet in the +service of king Solomon. He asserts, on the authority of Josephus, +that the port at which this embarkation was made, lay in the +Mediterranean. The fleet, he adds, went in quest of Elephants' teeth +and Peacocks, to the western coast of Africa, which is Tarshish, then +for gold to Ophir, which is Haite or the Island of Hispaniola. In the +latter opinion he is supported by Columbus, who, when he discovered +that Island, thought he could trace the furnaces in which the gold had +been refined. + +Monsieur Charlevoix, who travelled through North America, is of +opinion that it received its first inhabitants from Tartary and +Hyrcania. In support of this impression he says that some of the +animals which are to be found here, must have come from those +countries: a fact which would go to prove that the two hemispheres +join to the northward of Asia. And in order to strengthen this +conjecture, he relates the following story, which he says was told to +him by Father Grollon, a French Jesuit, as matter of fact. + +Father Grollon said, that after having labored some time in the +missions of New France, he passed over to China. One day as he was +travelling in Tartary he met a Huron woman whom he had known in +Canada. He asked her by what adventure she had been carried into a +country so very remote from her own; she replied that having been +taken in war, she was conducted from nation to nation, until she +reached the place where she then was. + +Monsieur Charlevoix narrates another circumstance of a similar kind. +He says that he had been assured, another Jesuit had met with a +Floridian woman in China. She also had been made captive by certain +Indians, who gave her to those of a more distant country, and by these +again she was given to those of another nation, 'till having been +successively passed from country to country, and after having +travelled through regions extremely cold, she at length found herself +in Tartary. Here she had married a Tartar, who had attended the +conquerors in China, and with whom she then was. + +Arguing from these facts and from the similarity of several kinds of +wild beasts which are found in America, with those of Hyrcania and +Tartary, he arrives at what he deems, a [16] rational conclusion, that +more than one nation in America had Scythian or Tartarian extraction. + +Charlevoix possessed a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with +the character and habits of the American Indians. His theory however +has been controverted by some, possessing equal advantages of +observation. Mr. Adair, an intelligent gentleman who resided among the +nations during the space of forty years, and who became well +acquainted with their manners, customs, religion, traditions and +language, has given to them a very different origin. But perfect +soever as may have been his knowledge of their manners, customs, +religion and traditions, yet it must be admitted that any inquiry into +these, with a view to discover their origin, would most probably prove +fallacious. A knowledge of the primitive language, alone can cast much +light on the subject. Whether this knowledge can ever be attained, is, +to say the least, very questionable--Being an unwritten language, and +subject to change for so many centuries, it can scarcely be supposed +now to bear much, if any affinity, to what it was in its purity. + +Mr. Adair says, that from the most exact observation he could make +during the long time which he traded among the Indians, he was forced +to believe them lineally descended from the Israelites, either when +they were a maritime power, or soon after the general captivity; most +probably the latter. + +He thinks that had the nine tribes and a half, which were carried off +by Shalmanezer, king of Assyria, and which settled in Media, remained +there long, they would, by intermarrying with the nations of that +country, from a natural fickleness and proneness to idolatry, and from +the force of example, have adopted and bowed before the Gods of the +Medes and Assyrians; and have carried them along with them. But he +affirms that there is not the least trace of this idolatry to be +discovered among the Indians: and hence he argues that those of the +ten tribes who were the forefathers of the natives, soon advanced +eastward from Assyria and reached their settlements in the new +continent, before the destruction of the first Temple. + +In support of the position that the American Indians are thus +descended, Mr. Adair adduces among others the following arguments: + +_1st, Their division into tribes._ + +"As each nation has its particular symbol, so each tribe has [17] the +badge from which it is denominated. The Sachem is a necessary party +in conveyances and treaties, to which he affixes the mark of his +tribe. If we go from nation to nation among them, we shall not find +one, who does not distinguish himself by his respective family. The +genealogical names which they assume, are derived either from the +names of those animals whereof the cherubim is said in revelation +to be compounded; or from such creatures as are most similar to them. +The Indians bear no religious respect to the animals from which they +derive their names; on the contrary they kill them whenever an +opportunity serves. + +"When we consider that these savages have been upwards of twenty +centuries without the aid of letters to carry down their traditions, +it can not be reasonably expected, that they should still retain the +identical names of their primogenial tribes: their main customs +corresponding with those of the Israelites, sufficiently clear the +subject. Moreover they call some of their tribes by the names of the +cherubinical figures, which were carried on the four principal +standards of Israel." + +_2nd, Their worship of Jehovah._ + +"By a strict, permanent, divine precept, the Hebrew nation was ordered +to worship at Jerusalem, Jehovah the true and living God, who by the +Indians is styled '_Yohewah_.' The seventy-two interpreters have +translated this word so as to signify, _Sir_, _Lord_, _Master_, +applying to mere earthly potentates, without the least signification +or relation to that great and awful name, which describes the divine +presence." + +_3rd, Their notions of a theocracy._ + +"Agreeably to the theocracy or divine government of Israel, the +Indians think the deity to be the immediate head of the state. All the +nations of Indians have a great deal of religious pride, and an +inexpressible contempt for the white people. In their war orations +they used to call us _the accursed people_, but flatter themselves +with the name of the _beloved people_, because their supposed +ancestors were, as they affirm, under the immediate government of the +Deity, who was present with them in a peculiar manner, and directed +them by Prophets, while the rest of the world were aliens to the +covenant.[2] When the old Archimagus, or any of their Magi, is [18] +persuading the people at their religious solemnities, to a strict +observance of the old _beloved or divine speech_, he always calls them +the _beloved or holy people_, agreeably to the Hebrew epithet, _Ammi_, +(my people) during the theocracy of Israel. It is this opinion, that +God has chosen them out of the rest of mankind, as his peculiar +people, which inspires the white Jew, and the red American, with that +steady hatred against all the world except themselves, and renders +them hated and despised by all." + +_5th, Their language and dialects._ + +"The Indian language and dialects appear to have the very idiom and +genius of the Hebrew. Their words and sentences are expressive, +concise, emphatical, sonorous and bold; and often both the letters and +signification are synonymous with the Hebrew language." Of these Mr. +Adair cites a number of examples. + +_6th, Their manner of counting time._ + +"The Indians count time after the manner of the Hebrews. They divide +the year into spring, summer, autumn and winter. They number their +year from any of these four periods, for they have no name for a year; +and they subdivide these and count the year by lunar months, like the +Israelites who counted time by moons, as their name sufficiently +testifies. + +"The number and regular periods of the religious feasts among the +Indians, is a good historical proof that they counted time by and +observed a weekly Sabbath, long after their arrival in America. They +began the year at the appearance of the first new moon of the vernal +equinox, according to the ecclesiastical year of Moses. 'Till the +seventy years captivity [19] commenced, the Israelites had only +numeral names for their months, except Abib and Ethanim; the former +signifying a _green ear of corn_, the latter _robust or valiant_; by +the first name the Indians as an explicative, term their passover, +which the trading people call _the green corn dance_." + +_7th, Their prophets or high priests._ + +"In conformity to, or after the manner of the Jews, the Indians have +their prophets, high priests, and others of a religious order. As the +Jews have a Sanctum Sanctorum, so have all the Indian nations. There +they deposit their consecrated vessels--none of the laity daring to +approach that sacred place. The Indian tradition says, that their +forefathers were possessed of an extraordinary divine spirit by which +they foretold future events; and that this was transmitted to their +offspring, provided they obeyed the sacred laws annexed to it.[3] [20] +_Ishtoallo_ is the name of all their priestly order and their +pontifical office descends by inheritance to the eldest. There are +traces of agreement, though chiefly lost, in their pontifical dress. +Before the Indian Archimagus officiates in making the supposed holy +fire for the yearly atonement of sin, the _Sagan_ clothes him with a +white ephod, which is a waistcoat without sleeves. In resemblance of +the Urim and Thummim the American Archimagus wears a breastplate made +of a white conch-shell, with two holes bored in the middle of it, +through which he puts the ends of an otter-skin strap; and fastens a +buck-horn white button to the outside of each; as if in imitation of +the precious stones of the Urim." + +In remarking upon this statement of Mr. Adair, Faber, a learned divine +of the church of England, has said, that Ishtoallo (the name according +to Adair of the Indian priests) is most probably a corruption of +_Ish-da-Eloah_, a man of God, (the term used by the Shunemitish woman +in speaking of Elisha;) and that _Sagan_ is the very name by which the +Hebrews called the deputy of the High Priest, who supplied his office +and who performed the functions of it in the absence of the high +priest, or when any accident had disabled him from officiating in +person. + +_8th, Their festivals, fasts and religious rites._ + +"The ceremonies of the Indians in their religious worship,[21] are +more after the Mosaic institution, than of Pagan imitation. This could +not be the fact if a majority of the old nations were of heathenish +descent. They are utter strangers to all the gestures practiced by +Pagans in their religious rites. They have likewise an appellative, +which with them is the mysterious, essential name of God; the +_tetragrammaton_, which they never use in common speech. They are +very particular of the time and place, when and where they mention it, +and this is always done in a very solemn manner. It is known that the +Jews had so great and sacred regard for the four lettered, divine +name, as scarcely ever to mention it, except when the High Priest went +into the sanctuary for the expiation of sins." + +Mr. Adair likewise says that the American Indians, like the Hebrews, +have an ark in which are kept various holy vessels, and which is never +suffered to rest on the bare ground. "On hilly ground, where stones +are plenty, they always place it on them, but on level land it is made +to rest on short legs. They have also a faith, in the power and +holiness of their ark, as strong as the Israelites had in theirs. It +is too sacred and dangerous to be touched by any one, except the +chieftain and his waiter. The leader virtually acts the part of a +priest of war protempore, in imitation of the Israelites fighting +under the divine military banner." + +Among their other religious rites the Indians, according to Adair, cut +out the sinewy part of the thigh; in commemoration, as he says, of the +Angel wrestling with Jacob. + +_12th, Their abstinence from unclean things._ + +"Eagles of every kind are esteemed by the Indians to be unclean food; +as also ravens, crows, bats, buzzards and every species of owl. They +believe that swallowing gnats, flies and the like, always breed +sickness. To this that divine sarcasm alludes 'swallowing a camel and +straining at a gnat.'" Their purifications for their Priests, and for +having touched a dead body or other unclean thing, according to Mr. +Adair, are quite Levitical. He acknowledges however, that they have no +traces of circumcision; but he supposes that they lost this rite in +their wanderings, as it ceased among the Hebrews, during the forty +years in the wilderness. + +_15th, Their cities of refuge._ + +"The Israelites had cities of refuge for those who killed persons +unawares. According to the same particular divine [22] law of mercy, +each of the Indian nations has a house or town of refuge, which is a +sure asylum to protect a man-slayer, or the unfortunate captive, if +they can but once enter into it. In almost every nation they have +peaceable towns, called ancient holy, or white towns. These seem to +have been towns of refuge; for it is not in the memory of man, that +ever human blood was shed in them, although they often force persons +from thence and put them to death elsewhere." + +_16th, Their purifications and ceremonies preparatory._ + +"Before the Indians go to war they have many preparatory ceremonies of +purification and fasting like what is recorded of the Israelites." + +_21st, Their raising seed to a deceased brother._ + +"The surviving brother, by the Mosaic law, was to raise seed to a +deceased brother, who left a widow childless. The Indian custom looks +the very same way; but in this as in their law of blood, the eldest +brother can redeem." + +With these and many arguments of a like kind, has Mr. Adair endeavored +to support the conjecture, that the American Indians are lineally +descended from the Israelites; and gravely asks of those who may +dissent from his opinion of their origin and descent, to inform him +how they came here, and by what means they formed the long chain of +rites and customs so similar to those of the Hebrews, and dissimilar +to the rites and customs of the pagan world. + +Major Carver, a provincial officer who sojourned some time with the +Indians and visited twelve different nations of them, instead of +observing the great similarity, mentioned by Adair as existing between +the natives and Hebrews, thought he could trace features of +resemblance between them and the Chinese and Tartars; and has +undertaken to shew how they might have got here. He says, + +"Although it is not ascertained certainly, that the continents of Asia +and America join each other, yet it is proven that the sea which is +supposed to divide them, is full of islands the distance from which to +either continent, is comparatively trifling. From these islands a +communication with the main land could be more readily effected than +from any other point." "It is very evident that the manners and +customs of the American Indians, resemble that of the Tartars; and I +have no doubt that in some future era, it will be reduced to a +certainty that in some of the wars between the Chinese and Tartars, a +part [23] of the inhabitants of the northern provinces were driven +from their country and took refuge in some of these islands, and from +thence found their way to America. At different periods each nation +might prove victorious, and the conquered by turns fly before the +conquerors; and hence might arise the similitude of the Indians to all +these people, and that animosity which exists among so many of their +tribes." + +After remarking on the similarity which exists between the Chinese and +Indians, in the singular custom of shaving or plucking out the hair +leaving only a small spot on the crown of the head; and the +resemblance in sound and signification which many of the Chinese and +Indian words bear to each other, he proceeds, "After the most critical +inquiry and mature deliberation, I am of opinion that America received +its first inhabitants from the northeast, by way of the islands +mentioned as lying between Asia and America. This might have been +effected at different times and from different parts: from Tartary, +China, Japan or Kamschatka, the inhabitants of these countries +resembling each other, in color, feature and shape." + +Other writers on this subject, coinciding in opinion with Carver, +mention a tradition which the Indians in Canada have, that foreign +merchants clothed in silk formerly visited them in great ships: these +are supposed to have been Chinese, the ruins of Chinese ships having +been found on the American coast. The names of many of the American +kings, are said to be Tartar; and Tartarax, who reigned formerly in +Quivira, means the Tartar. Manew, the founder of the Peruvian empire, +most probably came from the Manchew Tartars. Montezuma, the title of +the emperors of Mexico, is of Japanese extraction; for according to +some authors it is likewise the appellation of the Japanese Monarch. +The plant Ginseng, since found in America, where the natives termed +it Garentoguen, a word of the same import in their language, with +Ginseng in the Tartar, both meaning THE THIGHS OF A MAN. + +Dr. Robertson is decidedly of opinion, that the different tribes of +American Indians, excepting the Esquimaux, are of Asiatic extraction. +He refers to a tradition among the Mexicans of the migration of their +ancestors from a remote country, situated to the north-west of Mexico, +and says they point out their various stations as they advanced into +the interior provinces, which is precisely the route they must have +held, if they had been emigrants from Asia. + +Mr. Jefferson, in his notes on Virginia, says, that the passage from +Europe to America was always practicable, even to the imperfect [24] +navigation of the ancient times; and that, from recent discoveries, it +is proven, that if Asia and America be separated at all it is only by +a narrow streight. "Judging from the resemblance between the Indians +of America and the eastern inhabitants of Asia, we should say that the +former are descendants of the latter, or the latter of the former, +except indeed the Esquimaux, who, from the same circumstance of +resemblance, and from identity of language, must be derived from the +Greenlanders. A knowledge of their several languages would be the most +certain evidence of their derivation which could be produced. In fact +it is the best proof of the affinity of nations, which ever can be +referred to." + +After regretting that so many of the Indian tribes have been suffered +to perish, without our having collected and preserved the general +rudiments of their language, he proceeds, + +"Imperfect as is our knowledge of the tongues spoken in America, it +suffices to discover the following remarkable fact. Arranging them +under the radical ones to which they may be palpably traced, and doing +the same by those of the red men of Asia, there will be found probably +twenty in America, for one in Asia, of those radical languages; so +called because if ever they were the same, they have lost all +resemblance to one another. A separation into dialects may be the work +of a few ages only, but for two dialects to recede from one another, +'till they have lost all vestiges of their common origin, must require +an immense course of time; perhaps not less than many people give to +the age of the earth. A greater number of those radical changes of +language having taken place among the red men of America proves them +of greater antiquity than those of Asia." + +Indian traditions say, that "in ancient days the Great Island appeared +upon the big waters, the earth brought forth trees, herbs and fruits: +that there were in the world a good and a bad spirit, the good spirit +formed creeks and rivers on the great island, and created numerous +species of animals to inhabit the forests, and fishes of all kinds to +inhabit the water. He also made two beings to whom he gave living +souls and named them Ea-gwe-howe, (real people). Subsequently some of +the people became giants and committed outrages upon the others. After +many years a body of Ea-gwe-howe people encamped on the bank of a +majestic stream, which they named, Kanawaga (St. Lawrence.) After a +long time a number of foreign people sailed from a part unknown, but +unfortunately the winds drove them off and they ultimately landed on +the southern part of the great island and many of the crew perished. +Those who survived, selected a place for residence, erected +fortifications, became a numerous people and extended their +settlements."[4] + +Thus various and discordant are the conjectures respecting the manner +in which this continent was first peopled. Although some [25] of them +appear more rational and others, yet are they at best but hypothetical +disquisitions on a subject which will not now admit of certainty. All +agree that America was inhabited long anterior to its discovery by +Columbus, and by a race of human beings, who, however numerous they +once were, are fast hastening to extinction; some centuries hence and +they will be no more known. The few memorials, which the ravages of +time have suffered to remain of them, in those portions of the country +from which they have been long expelled; have destruction dealt them +by the ruthless hand of man. History may transmit to after ages, the +fact that they once were, and give their "local habitation and their +name." These will probably be received as the tales of fiction, and +posterity be at as much loss to determine, whether they ever had an +existence, as we now are to say from whence they sprang. + + "I have stood upon Achilles' tomb + And heard Troy doubted. Time will doubt of Rome." + +----- + [1] "If a learned man of Tobolski or Pekin were to read some + of our books, be might in this way demonstrate, that the French + are descended from the Trojans. The most ancient writings, he + might say, and those in most esteem in France, are romances: + these were written in a pure language, derived from the ancient + Romans, who were famous for never advancing a falsehood. Now + upwards of twenty of these authentic books, affirm that + Francis, the founder of the monarchy of the Franks, was son to + Hector. The name of Hector has ever since been preserved by + this nation; and even in the present century one of the + greatest generals was called Hector de Villars. + + "The neighboring nations (he would continue,) are so + unanimous in acknowledging this truth, that Ariosto, one of + the most learned of the Italians, owns in his Orlando, that + Charlemagne's knights fought for Hector's helmet. Lastly, + there is one proof which admits of no reply; namely, that the + ancient Franks to perpetuate the memory of the Trojans, their + ancestors, built a new city called Troye, in the province of + Champagne; and these modern Trojans have always retained so + strong an aversion to their enemies, the Greeks, that there + is not at present four persons in the whole province of + Champagne, who will learn their language; nay, they would + never admit any Jesuits among them; probably because they had + heard it said, that some of that body used formerly to + explain Homer in their public schools." + + Proceeding in this manner, M. de Voltaire shows how easily + this hypothesis might be overturned; and while one might + thus demonstrate that the Parisians are descended from the + Greeks, other profound antiquarians might in like manner prove + them to be of Egyptian, or even of Arabian extraction; and + although the learned world might much puzzle themselves to + decide the question, yet would it remain undecided and in + uncertainty.--_Preface to the Life of Peter the Great._ + + [2] In a small work entitled "Ancient History of the Six + Nations," written by David Cusick, an educated Indian of the + Tuscarora village, frequent mention is made of the actual + presence among them, of Tarenyawagua, or Holder of the Heavens, + who guided and directed them when present, and left rules for + their government, during his absence. Several miracles + performed by him are particularly mentioned. It likewise speaks + of the occasional visits of Angels or 'agents of the Superior + power' as they are called by Cusick; and tells of a visitor who + came among the Tuscaroras long anterior to the discovery of + America by Columbus. "He appeared to be a very old man, taught + them many things, and informed them that the people beyond the + great water had killed their Maker, but that he rose again. The + old man died among them and they buried him--soon after some + person went to the grave and found that he had risen; he was + never heard of afterwards." + + [3] In confirmation of this tradition among the Indians, the + following somewhat singular circumstance related by Mr. Carver, + may with propriety be adduced: + + While at Grand Portage, from the number of those who were there + and the fact that the traders did not arrive as soon as was + expected, there was a great scarcity of provisions, and much + consequent anxiety as to the period of their arrival. One day, + Mr. Carver says, that while expressing their wishes for the + event, and looking anxiously to ascertain if they could be seen + on the Lake, the chief Priest of the Kilistines told them that + he would endeavor in a conference with the Great Spirit, to + learn at what time the traders would arrive: and the following + evening was fixed upon for the spiritual conference. + + When every preparation had been made, the king conducted Mr. + Carver to a spacious tent, the covering of which was so drawn + up as to render visible to those without, every thing which + passed within. Mr. Carver being seated beside the king within + the tent, observed in the centre a place of an oblong shape, + composed of stakes stuck at intervals in the ground, forming + something like a coffin, and large enough to contain the body + of a man. The sticks were far enough from each other to admit a + distinct view by the spectators, of what ever passed within + them; while the tent was perfectly illuminated. + + When the Priest entered, a large Elk-skin being spread on the + ground, he divested himself of all his clothing, except that + around his middle, and laying down on the skin enveloped + himself (save only his head) in it. The skin was then bound + round with about forty yards of cord, and in that situation he + was placed within the ballustrade of sticks. + + In a few seconds he was heard to mutter, but his voice, + gradually assuming a higher tone, was at length extended to its + utmost pitch, and sometimes praying, he worked himself into + such an agitation as to produce a foaming at the mouth. To this + succeeded a speechless state of exhaustion, of short duration; + when suddenly springing on his feet, and shaking off the skin, + as easily as if the bands with which it had been lashed around + him, were burned asunder, he addressed the company in a firm + and audible voice: "My Brothers, said he, the Great Spirit has + deigned to hold a talk with his servant. He has not indeed told + me when the traders will be here; but tomorrow when the sun + reaches the highest point in the heavens, a canoe will arrive, + the people in that canoe will inform us when the traders will + arrive." + + Mr. Carver adds that on the next day at noon a canoe was descried + on the lake at the distance of about three miles,--completely + verifying the prediction of the High Priest, in point of time. + From the people on board this canoe they learned that the + traders would be at the portage on the second day thereafter, + at which time they actually did arrive. + + [4] Indian traditions by Cusick. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +CHAPTER III. + + +The aborigines of America, although divided into many different +tribes, inhabiting various climates, and without a community of +language, are yet assimilated to each other in stature and complexion, +more strikingly than are the inhabitants of the different countries of +Europe. The manners and customs of one nation, are very much the +manners and customs of all; and although there be peculiarities +observable among all, yet are they fewer and less manifest than those +which mark the nations of the old world, and distinguish them so +palpably from each other. A traveller might have traversed the +country, when occupied exclusively by the natives, without remarking +among them, the diversity which exists in Europe; or being impressed +with the contrast which a visit across the Pyrennes would exhibit, +between the affability and vivacity of a Frenchman at a theatre or in +the Elysian fields, and the hauteur and reserve of a Spaniard at their +bloody circus, when "bounds with one lashing spring the mighty +brute." + +[26] Nor is there much in savage life, calculated to inspire the mind +of civilized man, with pleasurable sensations. Many of the virtues +practised by them, proceed rather from necessity or ignorance than +from any ethical principle existing among them. The calm composure +with which they meet death and their stoical indifference to bodily +pain, are perhaps more attributable to recklessness of life and +physical insensibility,[1] than to fortitude or magnanimity; +consequently they do not much heighten the zest of reflection, in +contemplating their character. The christian and the philanthropist, +with the benevolent design of improving their morals and meliorating +their condition, may profitably study every peculiarity and trait of +character observable among them; it will facilitate their object and +enable them the more readily to reclaim them from a life of heathenish +barbarity, and to extend to them the high boons of civilization and +christianity. + +It has been observed that the different tribes of natives of North +America, resemble each other very much in stature and complexion, in +manners and customs; a general description of these will therefor be +sufficient. + +The stature of an Indian, is generally that of the medial stature of +the Anglo Americans; the Osages are said to form an exception to this +rule, being somewhat taller. They are almost universally straight and +well proportioned; their limbs are clean, but less muscular than those +of the whites, and their whole appearance strongly indicative of +effeminacy. In walking, they invariable place one foot directly before +the other--the toes never verging from a right line with the heel. +When traveling in companies, their manner of marching is so peculiar +as to have given rise to the expression, "_Indian file_;" and while +proceeding in this way, each carefully places his foot in the vestige +of the foremost of the party, so as to leave the impression of the +footsteps of but one. They have likewise in their gait and carriage +something so entirely different from the gait and carriage of the +whites, as to enable a person to pronounce on one at a considerable +distance. The hair of an Indian is also strikingly different from that +of the whites. It is always black and straight, hangs loose and looks +as if it were [27] oiled. There is a considerable resemblance in +appearance, between it and the glossy black mane of a thoroughbred +horse; though its texture is finer. + +In the squaws there exist, the same delicacy of proportion, the same +effeminacy of person, the same slenderness of hand and foot, which +characterise the female of refined society; in despite too of the +fact, that every laborious duty and every species of drudgery, are +imposed on them from childhood. Their faces are broad, and between the +eyes they are exceedingly wide; their cheek bones are high and the +eyes black in both sexes--the noses of the women inclining generally +to the flat nose of the African; while those of the men are more +frequently aquiline than otherwise. + +Instances of decrepitude and deformity, are rarely known to exist +among them: this is probably owing to the manner in which they are +tended and nursed in infancy. It is not necessary that the mother +should, as has been supposed, be guilty of the unnatural crime of +murdering her decrepid or deformed offspring--the hardships they +encounter are too great to be endured by infants not possessed of +natural vigor, and they sink beneath them. + +Their countenances are for the most inflexible, stern and immovable. +The passions which agitate or distract the mind, never alter its +expression, nor do the highest ecstacies of which their nature is +susceptible, ever relax its rigidity. With the same imperturbability +of feature, they encounter death from the hand of an enemy, and +receive the greetings of a friend. + +In their intercourse with others, they seem alike insensible to +emotions of pleasure and of pain; and rarely give vent to feelings of +either. The most ludicrous scenes scarcely ever cause them to laugh, +or the most interesting recitals draw from them more than their +peculiar monosyllabic expression of admiration. + +In conversation they are modest and unassuming; indeed taciturnity is +as much a distinguishing trait of Indian character, as it ever was of +the Roman. In their councils and public meetings, they never manifest +an impatience to be heard, or a restlessness under observations, +either grating to personal feeling or opposite to their individual +ideas of propriety: on the contrary they are still, silent and +attentive; and each is heard with the respect due to his years, his +wisdom, his experience, or the fame which his exploits may have +acquired him. [28] A loud and garrulous Indian is received by the +others with contempt, and a cowardly disposition invariably attributed +to him-- + + "Bold at the council board, + But in the field he shuns the sword," + +is as much and truly an apothegm with them as with us. + +Their taciturnity and irrisibility however, are confined to their +sober hours. When indulging their insatiate thirst for spirit, they +are boisterous and rude, and by their obstreperous laughter, their +demoniacal shrieks and turbulent vociferations, produce an appalling +discord, such as might well be expected to proceed from a company of +infernal spirits at their fiendish revels; and exhibit a striking +contrast to the low, monotonous tones used by them at other times. + +There can be no doubt that the Indians are the most lazy, indolent +race of human beings. No attempt which has ever been made to convert +them into slaves, has availed much. The rigid discipline of a Spanish +master, has failed to overcome that inertness, from which an Indian is +roused only by war and the chase--Engaged in these, he exhibits as +much activity and perseverance, as could be displayed by any one; and +to gratify his fondness for them, will encounter toils and privations, +from which others would shrink. His very form indicates at once, an +aptitude for that species of exercise which war and hunting call into +action, and an unfitness for the laborious drudgery of husbandry and +many of the mechanic arts. Could they have been converted into +profitable slaves, it is more than probable we should never have been +told, that "the hand of providence was visible in the surprising +instances of mortality among the Indians, to make room for the +whites." + +In their moral character many things appear of a nature, either so +monstrous as to shock humanity, or so absurd as to excite derision; +yet they have some redeeming qualities which must elicit commendation. +And while we view with satisfaction those bright spots, shining more +brilliantly from the gloom which surrounds them, their want of +learning and the absence of every opportunity for refinement, should +plead in extenuation of their failings and their vices. Some of the +most flagrant of these, if not encouraged, have at least been +sanctioned by the whites. In the war between the New England colonies +and the Narragansetts, it was the misfortune of the brave Philip, +after having witnessed the destruction of the [29] greater part of +his nation, to be himself slain by a Mohican. After his head had been +taken off, Oneco, chief of the Mohicans, then in alliance with the +colonists, claimed that he had a right to feast himself on the body of +his fallen adversary. The whites did not object to this, but +composedly looked on Oneco, broiling and eating the flesh of +Philip--and yet cannibalism was one of their most savage traits of +character. + +This was a general, if not an universal custom among the Indians, when +America became known to the whites. Whether it has yet entirely ceased +is really to be doubted: some of those who have been long intimate +with them, affirm that it has not; though it is far from being +prevalent. + +The Indians are now said to be irritable; but when Europeans first +settled among them, they were not more irascible than their new +neighbors. In their anger however, they differ very much from the +whites. They are not talkative and boisterous as these are, but +silent, sullen and revengeful. If an injury be done them, they never +forget, they never forgive it. Nothing can be more implacable than +their resentment--no time can allay it--no change of circumstances +unfix its purpose. Revenge is to them as exhilarating, as the cool +draught from the fountain, to the parched and fevered lips of a dying +man. + +When taking vengeance of an enemy, there is no cruelty which can be +exercised, no species of torture, which their ingenuity can devise, +too severe to be inflicted. To those who have excited a spirit of +resentment in the bosom of an Indian, the tomahawk and scalping knife +are instruments of mercy. Death by the faggot--by splinters of the +most combustible wood, stuck in the flesh and fired--maiming and +disemboweling, tortures on which the soul sickens but to reflect, are +frequently practiced. To an enemy of their own color, they are perhaps +more cruel and severe, than to the whites. In requiting upon him, +every refinement of torture is put in requisition, to draw forth a +sigh or a groan, or cause him to betray some symptom of human +sensibility. This they never effect. An Indian neither shrinks from a +knife, nor winces at the stake; on the contrary he seems to exult in +his agony, and will mock his tormentors for the leniency and mildness +of their torture.[2] + +[30] Drinking and gambling are vices, to which the Indians, as well as +the whites, are much addicted. Such is their fondness for spirit of +any kind that they are rarely known to be sober, when they have it in +their power to be otherwise. Neither a sense of honor or of shame has +been able to overcome their propensity for its use; and when drunk, +the ties of race, of friendship and of kindred are too weak, to bind +their ferocious tempers. + +In gambling they manifest the same anxiety, which we see displayed at +the card table of the whites. The great difference seems to be, that +we depend too frequently on sleight and dexterity; whereas while they +are shaking their gourd neck of half whited plumbstones, they only use +certain _tricks_ of conjuration, which in their simplicity they +believe will ensure them success. To this method of attaining an +object, they have frequent recourse. Superstition is the concomitant +of ignorance. The most enlightened, are rarely altogether exempt from +its influence--with the uninformed it is a master passion, swaying and +directing the mind in all its operations. + +In their domestic economy, Indians are, in some respects, like the +rude of all countries. They manifest but little respect for the +female; imposing on her not only the duties of the hut, but also the +more laborious operations of husbandry; and observing towards them the +hauteur and distance of superior beings. + +There are few things, indeed, which mark with equal precision, the +state of civilization existing in any community, as the rank assigned +in it to females. In the rude and barbarous stages of society, they +are invariably regarded as inferior beings, [31] instruments of +sensual gratification, and unworthy the attention and respect of men. +As mankind advance to refinement, females gradually attain an +elevation of rank, and acquire an influence in society, which smoothes +the asperities of life and produces the highest polish, of which human +nature is susceptible. + +Among the Indians there is, however rude they may be in other +respects, a great respect always paid to female chastity. Instances in +which it has been violated by them, if to be found at all, are +extremely few. However much the passion of revenge may stimulate to +acts of cruelty, the propensities of nature never lead them to +infringe the virtue of women in their power. + +The general character of the Indians, was more estimable, when they +first became known to Europeans, than it is at present. This has been +ascribed to the introduction of ardent spirits among them--other +causes however, have conspired to produce the result. + +The cupidity of those who were engaged in commerce with the natives, +too frequently prompted them to take every advantage, for self +aggrandizement, which they could obtain over the Indians. In the +lucrative traffic carried on with them, the influence of honesty +was not predominant--the real value of the commodity procured, was +never allowed; while upon every article given in exchange, extortion +alone affixed the price. These examples could not fail to have a +deteriorating effect upon their untutored minds; and we find them +accordingly losing their former regard for truth, honesty and +fidelity; and becoming instead deceitful, dishonest and treacherous. +Many of their ancient virtues however, are still practised by them. + +The rights of hospitality are accorded to those who go among them, +with a liberality and sincerity which would reflect credit on +civilized man. And although it has been justly said that they rarely +forgive an enemy, yet is it equally true that they never forsake their +friends; to them they are always kind, generous and beneficent. + +After the ceremony of introduction is over,[3] a captive enemy, [32] +who is adopted by them, is also treated with the utmost humanity and +attention. An Indian cheerfully divides his last morsel with an +adopted son or brother; and will readily risk life in his defence. +Such indeed, is the kindness which captives thus situated invariably +receive, that they frequently regret the hour of their redemption, and +refuse to leave their red brethren, to return and mingle with the +whites. + +As members of a community, they are at all times willing to devote +their every faculty, for the good of the whole. The honor and welfare +of their respective tribes, are primary considerations with them. To +promote these, they cheerfully encounter every privation, endure every +hardship, and face every danger. Their patriotism is of the most pure +and disinterested character; and of those who have made us feel so +sensibly, the horrors of savage warfare, many were actuated by motives +which would reflect honor on the citizens of any country. The +unfortunate Tecumseh was a remarkable example of the most ardent and +patriotic devotion to his country. + +Possessed of an acute and discerning mind, he witnessed the extending +influence of the whites, with painful solicitude. Listening with +melancholy rapture, to the traditionary accounts of the former +greatness of his nation, and viewing in anticipation the exile or +extinction of his race, his noble soul became fired with the hope that +he might retrieve the fallen fortune of his country, and restore it to +its pristine dignity and grandeur. His attachment to his tribe +impelled him to exertion and every nerve was strained in its cause. + +Determined if possible to achieve the independence of his nation, and +to rid her of those whom he considered her oppressors, he formed the +scheme of uniting in hostility against the United States, all the +tribes dwelling east of the Mississippi river. In the prosecution of +this purpose, he travelled from Mackinaw to Georgia,[4] and with +wonderful adroitness practised on the different feelings of his red +brethren. Assuming at times the character of a prophet, he wrought +powerfully on their credulity and superstition.--Again, depending on +the force of oratory, the witchery of his eloquence drew many [33] to +his standard. But all was in vain--His plans were entirely frustrated. +He had brought none of his auxiliaries into the field; and was totally +unprepared for hostilities, when his brother, the celebrated Shawanese +prophet, by a premature attack on the army under Gen. Harrison, at an +inauspicious moment, precipitated him into a war with the United +States. + +Foiled by this means, Tecumseh joined the standard of Great Britain in +the war of 1812; and as a Brigadier General in her army, lost his +life, bravely supporting the cause which he had espoused. He deserved +a better fate; and but for prejudice which is so apt to dim the eye +and distort the object, Tecumseh would, most probably, be deemed a +martyr for his country, and associated in the mind with the heroes of +Marathon and Thermopylae. + +To contemplate the Indian character, in a religious point of view, is +less gratifying than to consider it in regard to the lesser morals. At +the period of the settlement of Western Virginia, excepting the +Moravians, and a few others who had been induced by the zeal and +exertions of Roman catholic missionaries to wear the cross, the +Indians north west of the Ohio river, were truly heathens. They +believed indeed in a First Cause, and worshiped the Good Spirit; but +they were ignorant of the great truths of Christianity, and their +devotions were but superstitious acts of blind reverence. In this +situation they remain generally at the present day, notwithstanding +the many laudable endeavors which have been made to christianize +them. + +Perhaps there was never a tribe in America, but believed in the +existence of a Deity; yet were their ideas of the nature and +attributes of God, not only obscure, but preposterous and absurd. They +believe also in the existence of many inferior deities, whom they +suppose to be employed as assistants in managing the affairs of the +world, and in inspecting the actions of men. Eagles and Owls are +thought by some to have been placed here as observers of the actions +of men; and accordingly, when an eagle is seen to soar about them by +day, or an owl to perch near them at night, they immediately offer +sacrifice, that a good report may be made of them to the Great +Spirit. + +They are likewise believers in the immortality of the soul; and have +such an idea of a future state of existence, as accords with their +character and condition here. Strangers to [34] intellectual +pleasures, they suppose that their happiness hereafter will consist of +mere sensual gratifications; and that when they die, they will be +translated to a delightful region, where the flowers never fade, nor +the leaves fall from the trees; where the forests abound in game, and +the lakes in fish, and where they expect to remain forever, enjoying +all the pleasures which delighted them here.[5] + +In consequence of this belief, when an Indian dies, and is buried, +they place in the grave with him, his bow and arrows and such weapons +as they use in war, that he may be enabled to procure game and +overcome an enemy. And it has been said, that they grieve more for the +death of an infant unable to provide for itself in the world of +spirits, than for one who had attained manhood and was capable of +taking care of himself. An interesting instance of this is given by +Major Carver, and furnishes at once, affecting evidence of their +incongruous creed and of their parental tenderness. Maj. Carver says: + +"Whilst I remained with them, a couple whose tent was near to mine, +lost a son about four years old. The parents were so inconsolable for +its loss, and so much affected by its death, that they pursued the +usual testimonies of grief with such uncommon vigor, as through the +weight of sorrow and loss of blood, to occasion the death of the +father. The mother, who had been hitherto absorbed in grief, no sooner +beheld her husband expire, than she dried up her tears, and appeared +cheerful and resigned. + +"As I knew not how to account for so extraordinary a transition, I +took an opportunity to ask her the reason of it. She replied, that as +the child was so young when it died, and unable to support itself in +the country of spirits, both she and her husband had been apprehensive +that its situation would be far from pleasant; but no sooner did she +behold its father depart for the same place, and who not only loved +the child with the tenderest affection, but was a good hunter and [35] +able to provide plentifully for its support, than she ceased to mourn. +She added that she saw no reason to continue her tears, as the child +was now happy under the protection of a fond father; and that she had +only one wish remaining to be gratified, and that was a wish to be +herself with them."[6] + +In relation to the Indian antiquities so frequently met with in +America, much doubt still exists. When and for what purpose many of +those vast mounds of earth, so common in the western country, were +heaped up, is matter of uncertainty. Mr. Jefferson has pronounced them +to be repositories of the dead; and many of them certainly were +designed for that purpose; perhaps all with which he had become +acquainted previous to the writing of his notes of Virginia. Mr. +Jefferson did not deem them worthy the name of monuments. Since the +country has been better explored, many have been discovered justly +entitled to that appellation, some of which seem to have been +constructed for purposes other than inhumation.[7] These are +frequently met with in the valley of the Mississippi, and are said to +extend into Mexico. The most celebrated works of this class, are +believed to be those at Circleville in Ohio, which have so frequently +been described, and are justly considered memorials of the labor and +perseverance of those by whom they were erected. + +There is a tradition among the Indians of the north, which if true +would furnish a very rational solution to the question, "for what +purpose were they constructed?" According to this tradition about "two +thousand two hundred years, before Columbus discovered America, the +northern nations appointed a prince, and immediately after, repaired +to the south and visited the GOLDEN CITY, the capital of a vast +empire. After a time the emperor of the south built many forts +throughout his dominions, and extending them northwardly almost +penetrated the lake Erie. This produced much excitement. The people of +the north, afraid that they would be deprived of the country on the +south side of the great lakes, determined to defend it against the +infringement of any foreign people; long and bloody wars ensued which +lasted about one hundred years. The people of the north, being more +skillful in the use of bows and arrows, and capable of enduring +hardships which proved fatal to those of the south, gained the +conquest; and all the towns and forts, which had been erected by their +enemy, were totally destroyed and left in a heap of ruins."[8] + +The most considerable of those tumuli or sepulchral mounds, which are +found in Virginia, is that on the bottoms of Grave creek, near its +entrance into the Ohio, about twelve miles below Wheeling, and is the +only large one in this section of the country. Its diameter at the +base, is said to be one hundred yards, its perpendicular height about +eighty feet, and the diameter at its summit, forty-five feet. Trees, +of all sizes and of various kinds, are growing on its sides; and +fallen [36] and decayed timber, is interspersed among them; a single +white oak rises out of a concavity in the centre of its summit.[9] + +Near to Cahokia there is a group (of about two hundred) of these +mounds, of various dimensions.[10] The largest of these is said to +have a base of eight hundred yards circumference, and an altitude of +ninety feet. These and the one mentioned as being on Grave creek and +many smaller ones in various parts of the country, were no doubt +places of inhumation.[11]--Many have been opened, and found to contain +human bones promiscuously thrown together. Mr. Jefferson supposed the +one examined by him, (the diameter of whose base was only forty feet +and height twelve) to contain the bones of perhaps a thousand human +beings, of each sex and of every age. Others have been examined, in +which were the skeletons of men of much greater stature, than that of +any of the Indians in America, at the time of its discovery, or of +those with whom we have since become acquainted. + +It is a well known fact, that since the whites became settled in the +country, the Indians were in the habit of collecting the bones of +their dead and of depositing them in one general cemetery; but the +earth and stone used by them, were taken from the adjacent land. This +was not invariably the case, with those ancient heaps of earth found +in the west. In regard to many of them, this singular circumstance is +said to be a fact, that the earth, of which they are composed, is of +an altogether different nature, from that around them; and must, in +some instances, have been carried a considerable distance. The +tellurine structures at Circleville are of this sort; and the material +of which they were constructed, is said to be distinctly different, +from the earth any where near to them. + +The immensity of the size of these and many others, would induce the +supposition that they could not have been raised by a race of people +as indolent as the Indians have been, ever since a knowledge was had +of them. Works, the construction of which would now require the +concentrated exertions of at least one thousand men, aided by the +mechanical inventions of later days, for several months, could hardly +have been erected by persons, so subject to lassitude under labor as +they are: unless indeed their population was infinitely greater than +we now conceive it to have been. Admitting however, this density of +population to have existed, other circumstances would corroborate the +belief, that the country once had other inhabitants, than the +progenitors of those who have been called, the aborigines of America: +one of these circumstances is the uncommon size of many of the +skeletons found in the smaller mounds upon the hills. + +If the fact be, as it is represented, that the larger skeletons are +invariably found on elevated situations, remote from the larger water +courses, it would tend to show that there was a diversity of habit, +and admitting their cotemporaneous existence, perhaps no alliance or +intercourse between those, whose remains they are, and the persons by +whom those large mounds and fortifications were erected, [37] these +being found only on plains in the contiguity of large streams or +inland lakes; and containing only the bones of individuals of ordinary +stature. + +Another and stronger evidence that America was occupied by others than +the ancestors of the present Indians, is to be found in those +antiquities, which demonstrate that iron was once known here, and +converted to some of the uses ordinarily made of it. + +In graduating a street in Cincinnati, there was found, twenty-five +feet below the surface of the earth, a small horse shoe, in which were +several nails. It is said to present the appearance of such erosion as +would result from the oxidation of some centuries. It was smaller than +would be required for a common mule.[12] + +Many are the instances of pieces of timber found, various depths below +the surface of the earth, with the marks of the axe palpably visible +on them.[13] A sword too, said to have been enclosed in the wood of +the roots of a tree not less than five hundred years old, is preserved +in Ohio as a curiosity. Many other instances might, if necessary, be +adduced to prove, that implements of iron were in use in this country, +prior to its occupation by the whites. Now if a people once have the +use of that metal, it is far from probable that it will ever after be +lost to them: the essential purposes to which it may be applied, would +preserve it to them. The Indians however, 'till taught by the +Europeans, had no knowledge of it. + +Many of the antiquities discovered in other parts of the country, show +that the arts once flourished to an extent beyond what they have ever +been known to do among the Indians. The body found in the saltpetre +cave of Kentucky, was wrapped in blankets made of linen and interwoven +with feathers of the wild turkey, tastefully arranged. It was much +smaller than persons of equal age at the present day, and had +yellowish hair. In Tennessee many walls of faced stone, and even +walled wells have been found in so many places, at such depths and +under such circumstances, as to preclude the idea of their having been +made by the whites since the discovery by Columbus. + +[38] In this state too, have been found burying grounds, in which the +skeletons seem all to have been those of pigmies: the graves, in which +the bodies had been deposited, were seldom three feet in length; yet +the teeth in the skulls prove that they were the bodies of persons of +mature age. + +Upon the whole there cannot be much doubt, that America was once +inhabited by a people, not otherwise allied to the Indians of the +present day, than that they were descendants of him, from whom has +sprung the whole human family. + +----- + [1] It is said that the nerves of an Indian do not shrink as + much, nor shew the same tendency to spasm, under the knife of + the surgeon, as the nerves of a white man in a similar + situation. + + [2] A Narraganset, made prisoner by Maj. Talcott in 1679, + begged to be delivered to the Mohicans that he might be put to + death in their own way. The New Englanders complying with his + request, preparations were made for the tragical event. "The + Mohicans, formed a circle, and admitting within it as many of + the whites as chose to witness their proceedings, placed the + prisoner in the centre. One of the Mohicans, who had lost a son + in the late engagement, with a knife cut off the PRISONER'S + EARS! then his NOSE! and then the FINGERS off each hand! after + the lapse of a few moments, his EYES WERE DUG OUT, AND THEIR + SOCKETS FILLED WITH HOT EMBERS!! All this time the prisoner + instead of bewailing his fate, seemed to surpass his tormentors + in expressions of joy. At length when exhausted with loss of + blood and unable to stand, his executioner closed the tragic + scene by beating out his brains with a tomahawk."--_Indian + Wars, by Trumbull._ + + [3] Indians consider the running of the gauntlet, as but the + ceremony of an introduction; and say that it is "like the shake + hands and howde do, of the whites." + + [4] While performing this tour, Tecumseh carried a RED + STICK, the acceptance of which was considered a joining of his + party--Hence those Indians who were hostile to the United + States, were denominated RED STICKS. + + [5] Pope has very finely expressed the leading articles of + religion among the Indians in the following lines. + + Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutor'd mind + Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind; + His soul proud science never taught to stray + Far as the Solar Walk or Milky Way; + Yet simple nature to his hope has giv'n, + Behind the cloud-topt hill an humbler heav'n; + Some safer world in depth of woods embrac'd, + Some happier island in the wat'ry waste; + Where slaves once more their native land behold, + No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold. + To BE, contents his natural desire, + He asks no angel's wing, no seraph's fire: + But thinks admitted to that equal sky, + His faithful dog shall bear him company. + + [6] The author's summary of Indian character is for the most + part excellent, and in accord with more recent conclusions. See + Chap. I. of _The Colonies_, in "Epochs of American History" + (Longmans, 1892.)--R. G. T. + + [7] Gen. George Rogers Clark, an early and careful observer, + scouted the idea advanced by Noah Webster, in Carey's _American + Museum_, in 1789, that these extraordinary Western military + defenses were the work of De Soto. "As for his being the author + of these fortifications," says Clark, "it is quite out of the + question; they are more numerous than he had men, and many of + them would have required fifty thousand men for their + occupancy."--L. C. D. + + [8] Indian traditions, by Cusick. + + [9] This description, written by Withers in 1831, still + holds good in the main. The mound, which proves to have been a + burial tumulus, is now surrounded by the little city of + Moundsville, W. Va., and is kept inclosed by the owner as one + of the sights of the place. The writer visited it in May, + 1894.--R. G. T. + + [10] George Rogers Clark, who was repeatedly at Cahokia + during the period 1778-80, says: "We easily and evidently + traced the town for upwards of five miles in the beautiful + plain below the present town of Kahokia. There could be no + deception here, because the remains of ancient works were + thick--the whole were mounds, etc." Clark's MS. statement; + Schoolcraft's _Indian Tribes_, IV., p. 135.--L. C. D. + + [11] This mound was used, at least in part, for burial + purposes. Nearly fifty years ago, when the writer of this note + explored this remarkable artificial elevation of eighty feet in + height, he found in the excavation numerous beads of shell or + bone, or both, ornaments of the dead buried there.--L. C. D. + + [12] This proves nothing. A silver medal of John Quincy + Adams's administration, evidently presented to some Indian + chief was, in 1894, found in Wisconsin, twelve feet below the + surface. Iron and silver tools and ornaments, evidently made in + Paris for the Indian trade, have been found in Ohio and + Wisconsin mounds. It is now sufficiently demonstrated that the + mound-builders were the ancestors of the aborigines found in + the country by the first white settlers, and that the mounds + are of various ages, ranging perhaps from three hundred to a + thousand years. Various _Reports_ of the Bureau of Ethnology go + into the matter with convincing detail.--R. G. T. + + [13] Jacob Wolf, in digging a well on Hacker's creek, found a + piece of timber which had been evidently cut off at one end, + twelve or thirteen feet in the ground--marks of the axe were + plainly distinguishable on it. + + + + +[39] CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE. + +CHAPTER I + + +At the time when Virginia became known to the whites, it was occupied +by many different tribes of Indians, attached to different nations. +That portion of the state lying north west of the Blue ridge, and +extending to the lakes was possessed by the Massawomees. These were a +powerful confederacy, rarely in amity with the tribes east of that +range of mountains; but generally harrassing them by frequent hostile +irruptions into their country. Of their subsequent history, nothing is +now known. They are supposed by some to have been the ancestors of the +Six Nations. It is however more probable, that they afterwards became +incorporated with these, as did several other tribes of Indians, who +used a language so essentially different from that spoken by the Six +Nations, as to render the intervention of interpreters necessary +between them. + +As settlements were extended from the sea shore, the Massawomees +gradually retired; and when the white population reached the Blue +ridge of mountains, the valley between it and the Alleghany, was +entirely uninhabited. This delightful region of country was then only +used as a hunting ground, and as a highway for belligerant parties of +different nations, in their military expeditions against each other. +In consequence of the almost continued hostilities between the +northern and southern Indians, these expeditions were very frequent, +and tended somewhat to retard the settlement of the valley, and render +a residence in it, for some time, insecure and unpleasant. Between +the Alleghany mountains and the Ohio river, within the present limits +of Virginia, there were some villages interspersed, inhabited by small +numbers of Indians; the most [40] of whom retired north west of that +river, as the tide of emigration rolled towards it. Some however +remained in the interior, after settlements began to be made in their +vicinity. + +North of the present boundary of Virginia, and particularly near the +junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, and in the +circumjacent country the Indians were more numerous, and their +villages larger. In 1753, when Gen. Washington visited the French +posts on the Ohio, the spot which had been selected by the Ohio +company, as the site for a fort, was occupied by Shingess, king of the +Delawares; and other parts of the proximate country, were inhabited by +Mingoes and Shawanees.[1] When the French were forced to abandon the +position, which they had taken at the forks of Ohio, the greater part +of the adjacent tribes removed farther west. So that when improvements +were begun to be made in the wilderness of North Western Virginia, it +had been almost entirely deserted by the natives; and excepting a few +straggling hunters and warriors, who occasionally traversed it in +quest of game, or of human beings on whom to wreak their vengeance, +almost its only tenants were beasts of the forest. + +In the country north west of the Ohio river, there were many +warlike tribes of Indians, strongly imbued with feelings of +rancorous hostility to the neighboring colonists. Among the more +powerful of these were the Delawares, who resided on branches of +Beaver Creek, Cayahoga, and Muskingum; and whose towns contained +about six hundred inhabitants--The Shawanees, who to the number of +300, dwelt upon the Scioto and Muskingum--The Chippewas, near +Mackinaw, of 400--Cohunnewagos, of 300, and who inhabited near +Sandusky--The Wyandots, whose villages were near fort St. Joseph, +and embraced a population of 250--The Twightees, near fort Miami, +with a like population--The Miamis, on the river Miami, near the +fort of that name, reckoning 300 persons--The Pottowatomies of 300, +and the Ottawas of 550, in their villages near to forts St. Joseph +and Detroit,[2] and of 250, in the towns near Mackinaw. Besides +these, there were in the same district of country, others of less +note, yet equally inimical to the whites; and who contributed much +to the annoyance [41] of the first settlers on the Ohio, and its +tributaries. + +There were likewise the Munsies, dwelling on the north branch of the +Susquehanna, and on the Allegheny river--The Senecas, on the waters of +the Susquehanna, Ontario and the heads of the Allegheny--The Cayugas, +on Cayuga lake, and the Sapoonies, who resided in the neighborhood of +the Munsies. In these tribes was an aggregate population of 1,380 +souls, and they likewise aided in committing depredations on our +frontiers. + +Those who ventured to explore and occupy the south western portion +of Virginia, found also in its vicinity some powerful and warlike +tribes. The Cherokees possessed what was then, the western part of +North Carolina and numbered 2,500--The Chicasaws, residing south of +the Cherokees, had a population of 750--and the Catawbas, on the +Catawba river in South Carolina with only 150 persons. These latter +were remarkably adventurous, enterprising and courageous; and +notwithstanding their remote situation, and the paucity of their +numbers, frequently traversed the valley of Virginia, and even +penetrated the country on the north branch of the Susquehanna, and +between the Ohio river and lake Erie, to wage war upon the Delawares. +Their success in many of these expeditions, is preserved in the +traditions of the Delawares, who continue to regard them as having +used in these wars, a degree of cunning and stratagem, to which +other tribes have never approached.[3] + +Such were the numbers and positions of many of the proximate Indians +about the time settlements were begun to be [42] made on the +Monongahela river and its branches. Anterior to this period, +adventurers had explored, and established themselves, in various +parts of the valley between the Blue ridge and the Alleghany mountain. +That section of it, which was included within the limits of the +Northern-Neck, was the first to become occupied by the whites. The +facilities afforded by the proprietor for obtaining land within his +grant, the greater salubrity of climate and fertility of soil near +to the Blue ridge, caused the tide of emigration to flow rapidly +towards the upper country, and roll even to the base of that +mountain. Settlements were soon after extended westwardly across +the Shenandoah, and early in the eighteenth century Winchester +became a trading post, with sparse improvements in its vicinity. + +About this time Thomas Morlin, a pedlar trading from Williamsburg to +Winchester, resolved, in conjunction with John Salling a weaver also +from Williamsburg, to prosecute an examination of the country, beyond +the limits which had hitherto bounded the exploratory excursions of +other adventurers. With this view, they travelled up the valley of the +Shenandoah, and crossing James river and some of its branches, +proceeded as far as the Roanoke, when Salling was taken captive by a +party of Cherokees. Morlin was fortunate enough to elude their +pursuit, and effect a safe retreat to Winchester. + +Upon the return of the party by whom Salling had been captivated, he +was taken to Tennessee where he remained for some years. When on a +hunting expedition to the Salt licks of Kentucky, in company with some +Cherokees to kill buffalo, they were surprised by a party of Illinois +Indians, with whom the Cherokees were then at war, and by them Salling +was again taken prisoner. He was then carried to Kaskaskia, when he +was adopted into the family of a squaw whose son had been killed in +the wars. + +While with this nation of Indians, Salling frequently accompanied +parties of them on hunting excursions, a considerable distance to the +south. On several occasions he went with them below the mouth of the +Arkansas, and once to the Gulph of Mexico. In one of those expeditions +they met with a party of Spaniards, exploring the country and who +needed an interpreter. For this purpose they purchased Salling of his +Indian mother for three strands of beads and a Calumet. Salling +attended them to the post at Crevecoeur; from which [43] place he was +conveyed to fort Frontignac: here he was redeemed by the Governor of +Canada, who sent him to the Dutch settlement in New York, whence he +made his way home after an absence of six years.[4] + +The emigration from Great Britain to Virginia was then very great, and +at the period of Salling's return to Williamsburg, there were then +many adventurers, who had but recently arrived from Scotland and the +north of England. Among these adventurers were John Lewis[5] and John +Mackey. Salling's return excited a considerable and very general +interest, and drew around him many, particularly of those who had but +lately come to America, and to whom the narrative of one, who had been +nearly six years a captive among the Indians, was highly gratifying. +Lewis and Mackey listened attentively to the description given of the +country in the valley, and pleased with its beauty and fertility as +represented by Salling, they prevailed on him to accompany them on a +visit to examine it more minutely, and if found correspondent with his +description to select in it situations for their future residence. + +Lewis made choice of, and improved, a spot a few miles below Staunton, +on a creek which bears his name--Mackey on the middle branch of the +Shenandoah near Buffalo-gap; and Salling in the forks of James river, +below the Natural Bridge, where some of his descendants still reside. +Thus was effected the first white settlement ever made on the James +river, west of the Blue ridge.[6] + +In the year 1736, Lewis, being in Williamsburg, met with Benjamin +Burden (who had then just come to the country as agent of Lord +Fairfax, proprietor of the Northern Neck,) and on whom he prevailed to +accompany him home. Burden remained at Lewis's the greater part of the +summer, and on his return to Williamsburg, took with him a buffalo +calf, which while hunting with Samuel[7] and Andrew Lewis (elder sons +of John) they had caught and afterwards tamed. He presented this calf +to Gov. Gooch, who thereupon entered on his journal, [44] an order, +authorizing Burden to locate conditionally, any quantity of land not +exceeding 500,000 acres on any of the waters of the Shenandoah, or of +James river west of the Blue ridge. The conditions of this grant were, +that he should interfere with no previous grants--that he should +settle 100 families, in ten years, within its limits; and should have +1000 acres adjoining each cabin which he should cause to be built, +with liberty to purchase any greater quantity adjoining, at the rate +of fifty pounds per thousand acres. In order to effect a compliance +with one of these conditions, Burden visited Great Britain in 1737; +and on his return to Virginia brought with him upwards of one hundred +families of adventurers, to settle on his grant.[8] Amongst these +adventurers were, John Patton, son-in-law to Benjamin Burden, who +settled on Catawba, above Pattonsburg[9]--Ephraim McDowell, who +settled at Phoebe's falls--John, the son of Ephraim,[10] who settled +at Fairfield, where Col. James McDowell now lives--Hugh Telford, who +settled at the Falling spring, in the forks of James river--Paul +Whitley, who settled on Cedar creek, where the Red Mill now +is--Archibald Alexander, who settled on the North river, opposite +Lexington--Andrew Moore, who settled adjoining Alexander--Sampson +Archer, who settled at Gilmore's spring, east of the Bridge tavern, +and Capt. John Matthews, who married Betsy Archer, (the daughter of +Sampson) settled where Major Matthews lives, below the Natural +bridge. + +Among others who came to Virginia at this time, was an Irish girl +named Polly Mulhollin. On her arrival she was hired to James Bell to +pay her passage; and with whom she remained during the period her +servitude was to continue. At its expiration she attired herself in +the habit of a man; and with hunting shirt and mocassons, went into +Burden's grant, for the purpose of making improvements and acquiring a +title to land. Here she erected thirty cabins, by virtue of which she +held one hundred acres adjoining each. When Benjamin Burden the +younger, came on to make deeds to those who held cabin rights, he was +astonished to see so many in the name of Mulhollin. Investigation led +to a discovery of the mystery, to the great mirth of the other +claimants. She resumed her christian name and feminine dress, and many +of [45] her respectable descendants still reside within the limits of +Burden's grant.[11] + +When in 1752 Robert Dinwiddie came over as governor of Virginia, he +was accompanied by many adventurers; among whom was John Stuart,[12] +an intimate friend of Dinwiddie, who had married the widow of John +Paul (son of Hugh, bishop of Nottingham.) John Paul, a partizan of the +house of Stuart, had perished in the siege of Dalrymple castle in +1745, leaving three children--John, who became a Roman catholic priest +and died on the eastern shore of Maryland--Audley, who was for ten +years an officer in the British colonial forces,--and Polly, who +married Geo. Matthews, afterwards governor of Georgia. Mrs. Paul +(formerly Jane Lynn, of the Lynns of Loch-Lynn, a sister to the wife +of John Lewis) had issue, by Stuart, John, since known as Col. Stuart +of Greenbrier, and Betsy, who became the wife of Col. Richard Woods of +Albemarle. + +The greater part of those, who thus ventured "on the untried +being" of a wilderness life, were Scottish presbyterian dissenters; +a class of religionists, of all others perhaps, the most remarkable +for rigid morality. They brought with them, their religious +principles, and sectional prepossessions; and acting upon those +principles acquired for their infant colony a moral and devotional +character rarely possessed by similar establishments. While these +sectional prepossessions, imbibed by their descendants, gave to their +religious persuasions, an ascendency in that section of country, +which it still retains. + +They were also men of industry and enterprise. Hunting, which too +frequently occupies the time, of those who make the forest their +dwelling place, and abstracts the attention from more important +pursuits, was to them a recreation--not the business of life. To +improve their condition, by converting the woods into fertile plains, +and the wilderness into productive meadows, was their chief object. In +the attainment of this, they were eminently successful. Their +individual circumstances became prosperous, and the country +flourishing. + +The habits and manners of the primeval inhabitants of any country, +generally give to it a distinctive character, which marks it through +after ages. Notwithstanding the influx of strangers, bringing with +them prejudices and prepossessions, at variance with those of the +community in which they come; [46] yet such is the influence of +example, and such the facility with which the mind imbibes the +feelings and sentiments of those with whom it associates, that former +habits are gradually lost and those which prevail in society, +imperceptibly adopted by its new members. + +In like manner, the moral and religious habits of those who +accompanied Burden to Virginia, were impressed on the country which +they settled, and entailed on it that high character for industry, +morality and piety, which it still possesses, in an eminent degree. + +At the time of the establishment of this settlement, all that part of +Virginia lying west of the Blue ridge mountains, was included in the +county of Orange. At the fall session, of the colonial legislature, in +1738, the counties of Frederick and Augusta were formed out of +Orange--The country included within the boundaries of the Potomac +river, on the north, the Blue ridge, on the east, and a line, to be +run from the head spring of Hedgman, to the head spring of Potomac, on +the south and west, to be the county of Frederick; the remainder of +the state west of the Blue ridge, to the utmost limits of Virginia to +constitute Augusta. Within its limits were included, not only a +considerable portion of Virginia as she now is, but an extent of +territory out of which has been already carved four states, possessing +great natural advantages, and the extreme fertility of whose soil, +will enable them to support perhaps a more dense population, than any +other portion of North America of equal dimensions. As the settlements +were extended, subdivisions were made, 'till what was once Augusta +county south east of the Ohio river, has been chequered on the map of +Virginia, into thirty-three counties with an aggregate population of +289,362.[13] + +[48] About the year 1749 there was in the county of Frederick, a man +subject to lunacy, and who, when laboring under the influence of this +disease, would ramble a considerable distance into the neighboring +wilderness. In one of these wanderings he came on some of the waters +of Greenbrier river. Surprised to see them flowing in a westwardly +direction, on his return to Winchester he made known the fact, and +that the country abounded very much with different kinds of Game. In +consequence of this information two men, recently from New England, +visited the country and took up their residence on the Greenbrier +river. + +Having erected a cabin and being engaged in making some other +improvements, an altercation arose, which caused Stephen Suel,[14] one +of them, to forsake the cabin and abide for some time in a hollow tree +not far from the improvement, which was still occupied by his old +companion. They were thus situated in 1751, when John Lewis, of +Augusta and his son Andrew were exploring the country; to whom Suel +made known the cause of their living apart, and the great pleasure +which he experienced now in their morning salutations, when issuing +from their respective habitations; whereas when they slept under the +same roof, none of those kindly greetings passed between them. Suel +however did not long remain in the vicinity of Martin, the other of +the two adventurers; he moved forty miles west of his first +improvement, and soon after fell a prey to Indian ferocity. Martin is +said to have returned to the settlements. + +There was no other attempt made by the whites, to improve the +Greenbrier country for several years. Lewis and his son thoroughly +examined it; and when permission was given to the Greenbrier company +(of which John Lewis was a member) to locate 100,000 acres, on the +waters of this river, they became agents to make the surveys and +locations. The war between France and England in 1754 checked their +proceedings; and when they, on the restoration of peace, would have +resumed them, they were interdicted by a royal proclamation, issued in +1761, commanding all those who had made settlements on the western +waters to remove from them; and those who were engaged in making +surveys to desist. Sound policy requiring, that a good understanding +should be maintained with the Indians (who claimed the country) to +prevent a further cooperation on their part with France.[15] + +Previous to the issuing of this proclamation, some families had moved +to Greenbrier and made two settlements--the one on Muddy creek, the +other in the Big-Levels. These, disregarding the command of his royal +majesty and rather regardless of their own safety, remained until they +were destroyed by the Indians, in 1763.[16] From this time 'till 1769 +Greenbrier was altogether uninhabited. Capt. John Stuart and a few +other young men, then began to settle and improve the country; and +although attempts were subsequently made by the Indians to exterminate +them, yet they ever after continued in possession of it. + +[49] In the year 1756 settlements were also made on New river and on +Holstein.[17] Among the daring adventurers who effected them, were +Evan Shelby, William Campbell, William Preston and Daniel Boone, all +of whom became distinguished characters in subsequent history. Thomas +Walden,[18] who was afterwards killed on Clinch river and from whom +the mountain dividing Clinch and Powel rivers derived its name, was +likewise one of them. The lands taken up by them, were held as "_corn +rights_" each acquiring a title to an hundred acres of the adjoining +land, for every acre planted in corn. + +Nearly cotemporaneous with these establishments, was that at +Galliopolis, on the north western bank of the Ohio, and below Point +Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa. This was made by a party +of French Jesuits, by whom the Indians were incited to make +incursions, and commit the most enormous barbarities on the then +frontiers.[19] This place and the mouth of Great Sandy were the chief +points of rendezvous for the Ohio Indians. From the former of these +places they would ascend the Kenhawa and Greenbrier rivers, and from +thence crossing the mountains enter into Augusta; or after having +ascended the Kenhawa, go up the New river, from which they would pass +over to the James and Roanoke. From the mouth of Great Sandy they +would ascend that river, and by the way of Bluestone fall over on the +Roanoke and New river. From those two points, expeditions were +frequently made by the Indians, which brought desolation and death +into the infant settlements of the south west, and retarded their +growth very much. In the spring of 1757 nearly the whole Roanoke +settlement was destroyed by a party of Shawanees, who had thus made +their way to it. + +That portion of the valley of Virginia in which establishments were +thus begun to be made, was at that time one continued forest; +overspreading a limestone soil of great fertility; and intersected by +rivers affording extensive bottoms of the most productive alluvial +land. Indeed few rivers of equal size, are bordered with as wide and +fertile levels of this formation of earth, as those which water that +section of country: the Roanoke particularly affords large bodies of +it, capable of producing in great abundance hemp, tobacco and the +different kinds of grain usually grown. In the country generally, +every species of vegetable, to which the climate was congenial, grew +with great luxuriancy; while the calcareous nature of the soil, +adapted it finely to the production of that kind of grain, to which +European emigrants were mostly used. + +The natural advantages of the country were highly improved by the +persevering industry of its inhabitants. Its forests, felled by +untiring labor, were quickly reduced to profitable cultivation, and +the weeds which spontaneously sprang from the earth, were soon +succeeded by the various grasses calculated to furnish the most +nutritious food, for the lowing herds with which their farmers were +early stocked; these yielded a present profit, and laid the sure +foundation [50] of future wealth. Some of the most extensive and +successful graziers of Virginia, now inhabit that country; and reap +the rich reward of their management and industry, in the improved and +more contiguous market of Richmond. + +In the infancy of these establishments, their only market was at +Williamsburg. Thither the early settlers _packed_ their butter and +poultry, and received in exchange salt, iron, and some of the luxuries +of life; their beef and other stock was taken to the same place. In +the process of time, as the country east of the Blue ridge became +more improved, other markets were opened to them; and the facilities +of communication were gradually increased. Their successors have +already derived great advantage from those improvements; and the +present generation will not only witness their farther extension, +but most probably see the country first tenanted by Lewis and his +cotemporaries, a great thoroughfare for the produce of several of the +western states--a link of communication between the Chesapeak bay and +the Gulph of Mexico. + +----- + [1] King Shingiss was a famous village chief, "a terror to + the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania." A brother, and later + the successor of King Beaver, his camp was at the mouth of + Beaver Creek, which empties into the Ohio twenty-six miles + below "the forks" (site of Pittsburg). Christopher Gist visited + him November 24, 1750. In 1759, when Fort Pitt was built, + Shingiss moved up Beaver Creek to Kuskuskis on the Mahoning, + and finally to the Muskingum. The land about the mouth of + Beaver Creek is called "Shingis Old Town" in the Ft. Stanwix + treaty, 1784.--R. G. T. + + [2] The numbers here set down and those given below, are as + they were ascertained by Capt. Hutchins, who visited the most + of the tribes for purpose of learning their population in + 1768. + + [3] A tradition among the Delawares says that formerly the + Catawbas came near one of their hunting camps and remaining in + ambush at night sent two or three of their party round the camp + with Buffalo hoofs fixed to their feet, to make artificial + buffalo tracks and thus decoy the hunters from their camp. In + the morning the Delawares, discovering the tracks and supposing + them to have been made by buffaloes, followed them some time; + when suddenly the Catawbas rose from their covert, fired at and + killed several of the hunters; the others fled, collected a + party and went in pursuit of the Catawbas. These had brought + with them, rattle snake poison corked up in a piece of cane + stalk; into which they dipped small reed splinters, which they + set up along their path. The Delawares in pursuit were much + injured by those poisoned splinters, and commenced retreating + to their camp. The Catawbas discovering this, turned upon their + pursuers, and killed and scalped many of them. + + [4] John Peter Salling, sometimes spoken of as Peter Adam + Salling, was, if not of German birth, of German descent. With + his brother Henry, he early settled in the forks of James River + and North Branch, in the southern part of what is now + Rockbridge county, Va. The details of his early explorations in + the West are involved in doubt, but that he had such adventures + there seems no good reason to doubt. It will be noticed that + Withers omits the date; some writers have placed it at about + 1724, but the probable time was 1738-40. His descendants told + Draper (about 1850) that the family tradition was, that Salling + and a son were employed by the governor of Virginia to explore + the country to the southwest; and when near the present Salem, + Roanoke county, they were captured by Cherokees and carried to + the Ohio River--one account says by way of the Tennessee, + another by the New (Great Kanawha), their boat being made of + buffalo skins. They appear by this tradition to have escaped, + and in descending the Mississippi to have fallen into the hands + of Spaniards. The son died, and the father was sent in a vessel + bound for Spain, there to be tried as a British spy; but the + Spaniard being captured by an English vessel, our hero was + landed at Charleston, whence he reached his frontier home after + an absence of over three years. This story differs in many + details from the one in Kercheval's _History of the Valley of + Virginia_, and also that in Withers's text, above. Salling kept + a journal which was extant in 1745, for in the Wisconsin + Historical Society's library is a diary kept by Capt. John + Buchanan, who notes that in that year he spent two days in + copying a part of it. In Du Pratz' _History of Louisiana_ + (London, 1774), Salling and one John Howard are said to have + made this trip in 1742, and the authority is said to be a + _Report of the Government of Virginia_. But Salling must have + returned home by 1742, for his name is in the roll of Capt. + John McDowell's militia company, and he was probably in the + fight with the Indians (Dec. 14) that year, in which McDowell + lost his life. In 1746, we found Salling himself a militia + captain in the Rockbridge district of Augusta county. In + September, 1747, he was cited to appear at court martial for + not turning out to muster--and this is the last record we have + of him. Descendants, named Sallee, now live in Kentucky and + Tennessee.--R. G. T. + + [5] John Lewis, the father of Gen. Andrew Lewis, was + probably of Welsh descent, and born in 1678 in County + Donegal, Ireland. About 1716 he married Margaret Lynn, of the + famous Lynns of Loch Lynn, Scotland. In a dispute over his + tenancy (1729), he killed a man of high station,--some say, + his Catholic landlord,--and fled to Portugal, whence in 1731, + after strange adventures, he emigrated to America, and was + joined there by his family. Fearing to live near a sea-port + he established himself on the frontier, in the Valley of + Virginia, two miles east of the present site of Staunton. + His house was of stone, built for defense, and in 1754 it + successfully stood an Indian siege. Lewis was colonel of + the Augusta county militia as early as 1743, presiding + justice in 1745, and high sheriff in 1748. In 1751, then 73 + years of age, he assisted his son Andrew, then agent of the + Loyal Company, to explore and survey the latter's grant on + Greenbrier River. It was because the old man became entangled + in the thicket of greenbriers, that he gave this name to the + stream. He died at his old fort homestead, February 1, 1762, + aged 84 years. Some accounts state that he was a Presbyterian; + he was, however, an Episcopalian.--R. G. T. + + [6] Lewis soon afterwards obtained leave from Governor Gooch + to locate 100,000 acres of land in separate parcels on the + waters of the Shenandoah and James rivers; and when he would go + out in search of good land to locate, Mackey would accompany + him to hunt buffalo. The former amassed a large estate, while + the latter lived and died in comparative poverty. + + [7] As Col. John Lewis had no son Samuel, probably Thomas + Lewis, the elder brother of Andrew, though near-sighted, may + have engaged in buffalo hunting.--L. C. D. + + [8] Of the origin of Benjamin Borden, Sr. (the name was + mispronounced Burden, on the frontier), little is known. He was + probably from New Jersey, and early became a fur trader on the + Virginia frontier; later he was in Lord Fairfax's employ as a + land agent. As such, he visited Governor Gooch and obtained + from him several valuable tracts--one of them (October 3, + 1734), Borden Manor, on Sprout run, Frederick county; another, + 100,000 acres at the head of the James, on condition of + locating thereon a hundred families. At the end of two years he + had erected 92 cabins with as many families, and a patent was + granted him November 8, 1739, for 92,100 acres. He died in + 1742, before further development of his enterprise. His son + Benjamin succeeded to his vast estate, but died of small-pox in + 1753. In 1744, he married the widow of John McDowell, mentioned + on the next page, who had been killed in the Indian fight of + December 14, 1742.--R. G. T. + + [9] The daughter of John Patton subsequently became the wife + of Col. W. Preston, and the mother of James Patton Preston, + late a governor of Virginia. + + ------ + + _Comment by L. C. D._--This note of Mr. Withers, derived from + Taylor's sketches (mentioned below), is erroneous both as to + Patton and Preston. Col. Patton's first name was not John, but + James, as both the records and his own autograph sufficiently + attest. Neither did John Preston, nor his son Col. Wm. Preston, + marry Col. Patton's daughter, but John Preston married his + sister. Miss Elizabeth Patton, while crossing the Shannon in a + boat, met the handsome John Preston, then a young ship + carpenter, and an attachment grew out of their accidental + meeting. But as Miss Patton belonged to the upper class of + society, there was a wide gulf between their conditions, and a + runaway match was the only way out of the difficulty. Gov. + James Patton Preston was named after his grand-uncle. James + Patton was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, in 1692. For + many years he was a prosperous navigator, and crossed the + Atlantic twenty-five times with "redemptioners" for Virginia; + he was also an officer in the royal navy in the wars with the + Netherlands. Having obtained a grant of 120,000 acres above the + Blue Ridge, he himself settled in Virginia in 1735. A man of + wealth, enterprise and influence, he was a justice, sheriff, + Indian treaty commissioner, and finally county lieutenant of + Augusta. In 1755, he was killed by Indians while conveying + ammunition to the borderers. + + [10] Capt. John McDowell was of Scotch descent, and born in + Ulster, Ireland, but in early manhood came to America, settling + first in Pennsylvania, and then the Virginia Valley (autumn of + 1737). He at once became one of Benjamin Borden's surveyors, + and for five years made surveys on Borden's Manor. Becoming a + captain in the Augusta militia, he was ordered to go out + against a party of Northern Indians who, on the war-path + against the Catawbas, had taken in the Virginia Valley on their + way, and annoyed and plundered the white settlers. The savages + were overtaken on the North Branch of James River, some fifteen + miles from McDowell's place, and an engagement ensued (Dec. 14, + 1742), in which McDowell and seven others lost their lives. The + Indians escaped with small losses. This was the first battle + between whites and Indians, in the Virginia Valley.--R. G. T. + + [11] This incident is well authenticated. See the deposition + of Mrs. Mary Greenlee, preserved in the famous Borden land + suit, among the court records of Augusta county, Va. Mrs. + Greenlee was the sister of Capt. John McDowell, and among the + very earliest settlers of that part of Augusta, now Rockbridge + county. Mrs Greenlee's deposition is published in full in + Peyton's _History of Augusta County, Va._ (Staunton, Va., + 1882), pp. 69-74.--L. C. D. + + [12] The late Charles A. Stuart, of Greenbrier, son of Col. + John Stuart, after the appearance of Hugh Paul Taylor's + sketches over the signature of "Son of Cornstalk," published in + the _Staunton Spectator_ of August 21, 1829, over the signature + of "Son of Blue Jacket," a brief criticism, in the nature of + some corrections regarding his own family, to this effect: That + Mrs. Jane Paul was no relative of Mrs. Margaret Lewis, wife of + Col. John Lewis; that her first husband, Mr. Paul--not John, + but probably Hugh Paul--was apparently from the north of + Ireland--their son Audley Paul was born before the migration of + the family to Pennsylvania; Mr. Paul, Sr., it is said, became + the pastor of the Presbyterian congregation of Chester, in that + province; but as Chester was a Quaker settlement, it is more + likely that he located in some Presbyterian community in that + region, and there must have died. Mrs. Paul, for her second + husband, married Col. David Stuart, also from Ireland, by whom + she had John Stuart and two daughters. Mrs. Stuart's + grandchild, Charles A. Stuart, resided many years in Augusta, + representing that county in the State senate, subsequently + removed back to Greenbrier county, where he died about 1850, at + the age of about sixty-five years. He was a man of sterling + qualities.--L. C. D. + + [13] The following table exhibits a list of the several counties west + of the Blue ridge--the counties from which each was taken--when + established--their area in square miles--population in 1830, and + amount of taxation for the same year. + + Counties. From what When Area. Population. Taxation. + taken. formed. + + Augusta, Orange, 1738 948 19,925 6,734 + Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt + and Monroe, 1822 521 2,816 526 + Bath, Augusta, + Botetourt and + Greenbrier, 1791 795 4,068 865 + [47] Brooke, Ohio, 1797 202 7,040 1,136 + Berkeley, Frederick, 1772 308 10,528 3,356 + Botetourt, Augusta, 1770 1057 16,354 3,809 + Cabell, Kanawha, 1809 1033 5,884 629 + Frederick, Orange, 1738 745 26,045 9,396 + Greenbrier, Botet't & + Montg'ry, 1778 1409 9,059 1,716 + Giles, Montgomery, + Monroe and + Tazewell, 1806 935 5,300 541 + Grayson, Wythe, 1793 927 7,675 537 + Harrison, Monongalia, 1784 1095 14,713 1,669 + Hampshire, Augusta & + Fred'k, 1754 989 11,279 2,402 + Hardy, Hampshire, 1786 1156 5,700 2,633 + Jefferson, Berkeley, 1801 225 12,927 4,721 + Kanawha, Greenb'r & + M'tg'ry, 1789 2090 9,334 1,453 + Lewis, Harrison, 1816 1754 6,241 630 + Logan, Giles, Kanawha, + Cabell & + Tazewell, 1824 2930 3,680 245 + Lee, Russell, 1793 512 9,461 789 + Monongalia, District of + W. A'g'ta, 1776 721 14,056 1,492 + Monroe, Greenbrier, 1799 614 7,798 1,158 + Morgan, Berkeley and + Hampshire, 1820 271 2,702 546 + Montgomery, Fincastle, 1777 1089 12,306 1,666 + Mason, Kanawha, 1804 904 6,534 915 + Nicholas, Kanawha, + Greenbrier and + Randolph, 1818 1431 3,338 373 + Ohio, District of + W. A'g'ta, 1776 375 15,590 1,968 + Preston, Monongalia, 1818 601 5,144 441 + Pendleton, Augusta, Hardy + and Rockingham, 1788 999 6,271 1,120 + Pocahontas, Bath, Pendleton + and Randolph, 1821 794 2,542 405 + Randolph, Harrison, 1787 2061 5,000 644 + Russell, Washington, 1786 1370 6,717 739 + Rockingham, Augusta, 1778 833 20,663 5,056 + Rockbridge, Augusta & + Botetourt, 1778 680 14,244 3,276 + Scott, Lee, Russell and + Washington, 1814 624 5,712 503 + Shenandoah, Frederick, 1772 767 19,750 4,922 + Tyler, Ohio, 1814 855 4,308 757 + Tazewell, Russell & Wythe, 1799 1305 5,573 727 + Washington, Fincastle, 1777 1754 15,614 2,918 + Wythe, Montgomery, 1790 1998 12,163 2,178 + Wood, Harrison, 1799 1223 6,418 1,257 + + Total, 378,293 76,848 + + [14] Little and Big Sewell mountains, dividing Fayette and + Greenbrier counties, seem to perpetuate the name and memory of + this early and adventurous pioneer. Col. John Stuart states, + that Sewell's final settlement was forty miles west of his + primitive one, and on a creek bearing his name originating in + Sewell mountain, and flowing into Gauley. Col. Preston, in his + _Register_, gives September, 1756, as the date of Stephen + Sewell's death by the Indians, and Jackson's River as the + locality. + + Mrs. Anne Royall, in _Sketches of the History, Life and Manners + of the United States_, (New Haven, 1826), p. 60, who visited + the Greenbrier country in 1824, gives the name of Carver as + Sewell's companion. "These two men," says Mrs. Royall, "lived + in a cave for several years, but at length they disagreed on + the score of religion, and occupied different camps. They took + care, however, not to stay far from each other, their camps + being in sight. Sewell used to relate that he and his friend + used to sit up all night without sleep, with their guns cocked, + ready to fire at each other. 'And what could that be for?' + 'Why, because we couldn't agree.' 'Only two of you, and could + you not agree--what did you quarrel about?' 'Why, about + re-la-gin.' One of them, it seems, was a Presbyterian, and the + other an Episcopalian."--L. C. D. + + [15] An error as to date. King George's proclamation was + dated Oct. 7, 1763. For full text, see _Wisconsin Historical + Collections_, XI., pp. 46 et seq.--R. G. T. + + [16] Thomas King, one of the ablest of the Iroquois chiefs, + related an incident at an Indian conference held at Easton, + Pa., Oct. 18, 1758, which may explain why the Indians evinced + so much hostility against the Greenbrier settlements. "About + three years ago," said Chief King, "eight Seneca warriors were + returning from war, with seven prisoners and scalps with them; + and, at a place called Greenbrier, they met with a party of + soldiers, not less than one hundred and fifty, who kindly + invited them to come to a certain store, saying they would + supply them with provisions. Accordingly they travelled two + days with them, in a friendly manner, and when they came to the + house, they took their arms from the Senecas. The head men + cried out, 'here is death; defend yourselves as well as you + can,' which they did, and two of them were killed on the spot, + and one, a young boy, was taken prisoner. This gave great + offense; and the more so, as it was upon the warrior's road, + and we were in perfect peace with our brethren. It provoked us + to such a degree that we could not get over it. He wished the + boy returned, if alive; and told his name, Squissatego." See + Hazard's _Penna. Register_, V., p. 373; and _Penna. Records_, + VIII., pp. 197-98.--L. C. D. + + [17] There were settlers on both New and Holston rivers prior + to 1756--Vause, Stalnacker and others on New River; and Stephen + Holston, at least, on the river bearing his name, which was + known as such anterior to April, 1748, when Dr. Walker, in his + _Journal_ of 1750, refers to it by that designation. But + William Campbell did not settle on Holston until 1767; Wm. + Preston settled in 1769; Evan Shelby and family in 1771; and, + while Daniel Boone passed through that country as early, it is + believed, as 1760, he never "settled" there. + + A further notice of Stephen Holston, or Holstein, seems fitting + in this connection. He was of an adventurous turn, and prior to + 1748 had, during a hunt, discovered the river named after him. + It was after this discovery that he settled on the Little + Saluda, near Saluda Old Town, in South Carolina, where, in the + summer of 1753, a party of Cherokees returning from a visit to + Gov. Glen, at Charleston, behaved so rudely to Mrs. Holston, in + her husband's absence, as to frighten her and her domestics + away, fleeing several miles to the nearest settlement, when the + house was robbed of utensils and corn, and two valuable horses + were also taken. Holston and some of his neighbors settled on + Holston's River, in what subsequently became Botetourt county: + soon after this, they constructed canoes, and passed down the + Holston into the Tennessee River, through the Muscle Shoals, + and down the Ohio and Mississippi as far as Natchez. Returning + from this notable adventure, his name became fixed to the noble + stream which he discovered, and upon which he made the + primitive settlement. His location on Holston was at the head + spring of the Middle Fork; his log cabin was on the hill side + some thirty rods from the spring. In 1774, one Davis occupied + the place, and related that Holston had left several years + before that date. On the breaking out of the Indian war in + 1754, he seems to have retired with his family to Culpeper + county, which was then not exempt from Indian forays; and + Holston, about 1757, was captured by the Indians. But in due + time he returned to the Holston country, served in the battle + of Point Pleasant in 1774, on Christian's campaign against the + Cherokees in 1776, and was reported in service in 1776 or 1777. + As we hear no more of him, he probably did not long survive + after this period.--L. C. D. + + [18] The first name of Walden was not Thomas--Elisha + Walden was his proper name. He was a son-in-law of William + Blevins, and both Walden and Blevins lived, in 1774, at the + "Round-About" on Smith's River, two miles east of what is + now Martinsville, Henry county, Virginia. He was then about + forty years of age, nearly six feet in height, a rough + frontiersman, and a noted hunter. He and several others, in + 1761, penetrated into Powell's Valley, naming Walden's Mountain + and Walden's Creek, and proceeded on through Cumberland Gap + to Cumberland River, and a few miles beyond to the Laurel + Mountain, where meeting a party of Indians, they returned. In + subsequent years, Walden settled on Holston, about eighteen + miles above Knoxville, where he was residing in 1796; a few + years later, he removed to Powell's Valley, but soon after + migrated to Missouri, where he lived hunting up to extreme + old age. Save what is related from Haywood's _Hist. of + Tennessee_ about the trip of 1761, this information was + communicated to the writer in 1849, by Maj. John Redd, of + Henry county, Va., who personally knew the old hunter very + well.--L. C. D. + + [19] A curious misconception, this. Some of the founders of + Marietta acquired in 1788 a large tract west and north of their + own, and as a private speculation organized the Scioto Company. + Joel Barlow, the poet, was sent to Paris to negotiate the sale + of the lands. To the "Society of the Scioto," formed by him + there, he sold three million acres, and France was deluged with + rose-colored immigration pamphlets written by Barlow. In + February, 1790, six hundred Frenchmen--chiefly professional men + and small artisans from the large towns, with not an + agriculturist among them--arrived in Alexandria, Va., _en + route_ for the Scioto. They found that the Society, not having + paid for its lands, had forfeited its rights, and deeds granted + to the intending settlers were void. Five hundred finally went + west, and founded Gallipolis. Poor, not knowing how to work the + soil, and simple folk with no notions of independence, they + suffered from famine, Indians, and yellow fever. They finally + repurchased their lands, and upon the cessation of the border + war gained some strength; but Gallipolis was never more than a + weakling until Americans and Germans came in and put it on its + feet.--R. G. T. + + + + +[51] CHAPTER II. + + +The tract of country usually denominated North Western Virginia, +includes the counties of Brook, Ohio, Tyler, Wood, Lewis, Randolph, +Preston, Harrison and Monongalia, covering an area of 8,887 square +miles, and having a population, according to the census of 1830, of +78,510 souls. These counties, with a portion of Pennsylvania then +deemed to be within the limits of Virginia, constituted the district +of West Augusta; and was the last grand division of the state, to +become occupied by the whites. This was perhaps owing to natural +causes, as well as to the more immediate proximity of hostile +Indians. + +The general surface of this district of country is very broken, its +hills, though rich, are yet steep and precipitous, and the various +streams which flow along their bases, afford but few bottoms; and +these of too narrow and contracted dimensions to have attracted the +adventurer, when more invited portions of the country, were alike open +to his enterprise.--The Alleghany ridge of mountains, over which the +eastern emigrant had to pass, presented too, no inconsiderable barrier +to its earlier location; while the cold, bleak, inhospitable region, +extending from the North Branch to the Cheat and Valley rivers, seemed +to threaten an entire seclusion from the eastern settlements, and to +render it an isolated spot, not easily connected with any other +section of the state. + +The first attempt on the part of the English to occupy the country +contiguous to the Ohio river, was made in consequence of the measures +adopted by the French to possess themselves of it. France had early +become acquainted with the country, so far as to perceive the facility +with which her possessions in the north, might, by means of a free +communication down the valley of the Mississippi, be connected with +those in the south. To preserve this communication uninterrupted, to +acquire influence over the neighboring Indians and to prevent the +occupancy and settlement by England of the country west [52] of the +Alleghany mountains, the French were early induced to establish +trading posts among the Indians on the Ohio, and to obtain and +preserve possession of the country by the erection of a chain of forts +to extend from Canada to Louisiana.[1] + +To counteract those operations of the French, to possess herself of +the country, to which she deemed her title to be good, and to enjoy +the lucrative traffic which was then to be carried on with the +Indians, England gave to an association of gentlemen in Great Britain +and Virginia, (under the title of the Ohio Company,) liberty to locate +and hold in their own right, 600,000 acres of land within the country +then claimed by both England and France. In pursuance of this grant, +steps were directly taken to effect those objects, by establishing +trading houses among the Indians near the Ohio, and by engaging +persons to make such a survey of the country, as would enable the +grantees to effect a location of the quantity allowed them, out of the +most valuable lands. The company endeavored to complete their survey +with all possible secrecy, and by inducing the Indians to believe +their object to be purely commercial, to allay any apprehensions, +which might otherwise arise, of an attempt to gain possession of the +country. + +The attempt to accomplish their purpose of territorial aggrandizement, +with secrecy, was fruitless and unavailing.--The Pennsylvania traders, +fearful that they would lose the profitable commerce carried on with +the Indians, excited their jealousy by acquainting them with the real +motive of the company; while the French actually seized, and made +prisoners, of their traders, and opened and secured, by detachments of +troops stationed at convenient situations, a communication from Presq' +Isle to the Ohio river. + +The Ohio company sent a party of men to erect a stockade fort at the +confluence of the Monongahela and Alleghany rivers, which had been +recommended by General Washington as a suitable position for the +erection of fortifications.[2] This party of men was accompanied by a +detachment of militia, which had been ordered out by the governor; but +before they could effect their object, they were driven off by the +French, [53] who immediately took possession of the place, and erected +thereon Fort du Quesne. These transactions were immediately succeeded +by the war, usually called Braddock's war, which put an end to the +contemplated settlement, and the events of which are, for the most +part, matter of general history. It may not however be amiss to relate +some incidents connected with this war, which though of minor +importance, may yet be interesting to some; and which have escaped the +pen of the historian. + +In Braddock's army there were two regiments of volunteer militia from +Virginia.[3] One of these was commanded by Col. Russel of Fairfax; +the other by Col. Fry, and was from Shenandoah and James rivers. In +this latter regiment there was a company from Culpepper, commanded by +Capt. Grant, (afterwards known as a considerable land holder in +Kentucky) and of which John Field (who was killed in the battle at +Point Pleasant) was a lieutenant. There was likewise in this regiment, +a company of riflemen, from Augusta, commanded by Capt. Samuel Lewis, +(the eldest son of John Lewis, who, with Mackey and Salling, had been +foremost in settling that country) who was afterwards known as Col. +Samuel Lewis of Rockingham.[4] In this company was also contained the +five brothers of Capt. Lewis. Andrew, afterwards Gen. Lewis of +Botetourt--Charles, afterwards Col. Lewis, who was likewise killed at +Point Pleasant--William, John and Thomas. Among their compatriots in +arms, were the five sons of Capt. John Matthews, (who had accompanied +Burden to Virginia) Elihu Barkley, John McDowell,[5] Paul Whitly, +James Bell, Patrick Lockard, and a number of others of the first +settlers of Augusta, Rockbridge and Rockingham. + +From the time the army crossed the Alleghany mountain, its movements +were constantly watched by Indian spies, from Fort du Quesne; and as +it approached nearer the point of destination, runners were regularly +despatched, to acquaint the garrison with its progress, and manner of +marching.--When intelligence was received that Braddock still moved in +close order, the Indians laid the plan for surprising him, and carried +it into most effectual execution with but little assistance from the +French.[6] + +[54] At the place where the English crossed the Monongahela river, +there are about two acres of bottom land, bounded by the river on the +east, and by a ledge of high cliffs on the west. Through these cliffs +there is a considerable ravine, formed by the flowing of a small +rivulet--On the summit, a wide prospect opens to the west, of a +country whose base is level, but surface uneven. On this summit lay +the French and Indians concealed by the prairie grass and timber, and +from this situation, in almost perfect security, they fired down upon +Braddock's men. The only exposure of the French and Indians, resulted +from the circumstance of their having to raise their heads to peep +over the verge of the cliff, in order to shoot with more deadly +precision. In consequence, all of them who were killed in the early +part of the action, were shot through the head.[7] + +The companies, commanded by Capt. Grant and Lewis,[8] were the first +to cross the river. As fast as they landed they formed, and proceeding +up the ravine, arrived at the plain on the head of the rivulet, +without having discovered the concealed enemy which they had just +passed. So soon as the rear of Braddock's army had crossed the river, +the enemy raised a heart rending yell, and poured down a constant and +most deadly fire. Before General Braddock received his wound, he gave +orders for the whole line to countermarch and form a phalanx on the +bottom, so as to cover their retreat across the river. When the main +column was wheeled, Grant's and Lewis' companies had proceeded so far +in advance, that a large body of the enemy rushed down from both sides +of the ravine, and intercepted them. A most deadly contest ensued. +Those who intercepted Grant and Lewis, could not pass down the defile, +as the main body of Braddock's army was there, and it would have been +rushing into the midst of it, to inevitable destruction--the sides of +the ravine were too steep and rocky to admit of a retreat up them, and +their only hope of escape lay in cutting down those two companies and +passing [55] out at the head of the ravine. A dreadful slaughter was +the consequence. Opposed in close fight, and with no prospect of +security, but by joining the main army in the bottom, the companies of +Grant and Lewis literally cut their way through to the mouth of the +ravine. Many of Lewis's men were killed and wounded, and not more than +half of Grant's lived to reach the river bank. Almost the only loss +the enemy sustained was in this conflict. + +The unfortunate result of the campaign of 1755, gave to the French a +complete ascendency over the Indians on the Ohio. In consequence of +this there was a general distress on the frontier settlements of +Virginia. The incursions of the Indians became more frequent and were +extended so far, that apprehensions existed of an irruption into the +country east of the Blue ridge.[9] This state of things continued +until the capture of Fort du Quesne in 1758, by Gen. Forbes. + +In the regiment commanded by Washington in the army of 1758, Andrew +Lewis was a Major. With this gentleman, Gen. Washington had become +acquainted during the campaign of 1754, and had formed of him, as a +military man, the highest expectations; his conduct at the defeat of +Major Grant, realized those expectations, and acquired for him a +reputation for prudence and courage which he sustained unimpaired, +during a long life of public service.[10] + +Gen. Lewis was in person upwards of six feet high, finely proportioned, +of uncommon strength and great activity. His countenance was stern and +rather forbidding--his deportment distant and reserved; this rendered +his person more awful than engaging. When he was at Fort Stanwich in +1768, as one of the commissioners from the colony of Virginia, to +treat, in conjunction with commissioners from the eastern colonies, +with the Six Nations, the Governor of New York remarked "that the earth +seemed to tremble under his tread." + +When the war of the revolution commenced, and General [56] Washington +was commissioned commander in chief, he is said to have expressed a +wish, that the appointment had been given to Gen. Lewis. Be this as it +may, it is certain that he accepted the commission of Brigadier +General at the solicitation of Washington; and when, from wounded +pride[11] and a shattered constitution, he was induced to express an +intention of resigning, Gen. Washington wrote him, entreating that he +would not do so, and assuring him that justice should be done, as +regarded his rank. Gen. Lewis, however, had become much reduced by +disease, and did not think himself able, longer to endure the +hardships of a soldier's life--he resigned his commission in 1780, and +died in the county of Bedford, on the way to his home in Botetourt on +Roanoke river. + +When Major Grant, (who had been sent with a detachment for the purpose +of reconnoitering the country about Fort du Quesne,) arrived in view +of it, he resolved on attempting its reduction. Major Lewis +remonstrated with him, on the propriety of that course, and endeavored +to dissuade him from the attempt. Grant deemed it practicable to +surprise the garrison and effect an easy conquest, and was unwilling +that the provincial troops should divide with his Highland regulars +the glory of the achievment--he therefore ordered Major Lewis two +miles into the rear, with that part of the Virginia regiment then +under his command. + +Soon after the action had commenced, Lewis discovered by the +retreating fire, that Grant was in an unpleasant situation, and +leaving Capt. Bullet with fifty men to guard the baggage, hastened to +his relief. On arriving at the battle ground, and finding Grant and +his detachment surrounded by the Indians, who had passed his rear +under covert of the banks of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, +Major Lewis commenced a brisk fire and made so vigorous an attack on +the Indians as to open a passage through which Grant and some few of +his men effected an escape. Lewis and his brave provincials became +enclosed within the Indian lines and suffered dreadfully. Out of eight +officers five were killed, a sixth wounded and a seventh taken +prisoner. Capt. Bullet, [57] who defended the baggage with great +bravery and contributed much to save the remnant of the detachment, +was the only officer who escaped unhurt.[12] Out of one hundred and +sixty-six men, sixty-two were killed on the spot and two were +wounded. + +Major Lewis was himself made prisoner; and although stripped by the +Indians of every article of his clothing, and reduced to perfect +nudity, he was protected from bodily injury by a French officer, who +took him to his tent and supplied him with clothes. Grant who had +wandered all night with five or six of his men, came in, on the +morning after the engagement, and surrendered himself a prisoner of +war. + +While Grant and Lewis were prisoners, the former addressed a letter to +Gen. Forbes giving a detailed account of the engagement and +attributing the defeat to the ill conduct of the latter. This letter, +(being inspected by the French who knew the falsehood of the charge it +contained) was handed to Maj. Lewis. Exasperated at this charge, Lewis +waited on Major Grant and in the interview between them, after having +bestowed on him some abusive epithets, challenged him to the field. +Grant declined to accept the invitation; and Lewis, after spitting in +his face in the presence of several of the French officers, left him +to reflect on his baseness. + +After this defeat a council was held by the Indians to determine on +the course proper for them to pursue. The most of them had come from +about Detroit at the instance of the French commandant there, to +fortify Fort du Quesne against an attack by Forbes--the hunting season +had arrived and many of them were anxious to return to their town. The +question which attracted their attention most seriously was, whether +Gen. Forbes would then retreat or advance. As Grant had been most +signally defeated, many supposed that the main arm would retire into +winter quarters, as Dunbar had, after the battle on the Monongahela. +The French expressed a different opinion, and endeavored to prevail on +the Indians to remain and witness the result. This however they +refused to do, and the greater part of them left du Quesne. Upon this +the commandant of the fort, in order to learn the course which Gen. +Forbes would pursue, and to impress upon the English, an idea that the +French were in return preparing to attack them, ordered the remainder +of the Indians, a number of Canadians and some French regulars to +reconnoitre the route [58] along which Gen. Forbes would be most +likely to march his army, to watch their motions and harrass them as +much as possible; determining if they could not thus force him to +abandon the idea of attacking Du Quesne during that campaign, they +would evacuate the fort and retire into Canada. + +When Major Grant with his men had been ordered on to Du Quesne, the +main army had been left at Raystown, where it continued for some time; +an advance was however posted at fort Ligonier. Between this vanguard +and the detachment from Du Quesne there was a partial engagement, +which resulted in the loss of some of the Maryland troops. Fort +Ligonier was then closely watched by the French and Indians, and +several of the sentinels were killed, before the point from which the +fires were directed, was discovered; it was at length ascertained that +parties of the enemy would creep under the bank of the Loyal Hanna +till they could obtain a position from which to do execution. Some +soldiers were then stationed to guard this point, who succeeded in +killing two Indians, and in wounding and making prisoner of one +Frenchman. From him the English obtained information that the greater +part of the Indians had left Du Quesne, and that the fort was +defenceless: the army then moved forward and taking possession of its +ruins established thereon Fort Pitt.[13] The country around began +immediately to be settled, and several other forts were erected to +protect emigrants, and to keep the Indians in awe. + +Previous to this an attempt had been made by David Tygart and a Mr. +Files to establish themselves on an upper branch of the Monongahela +river.[14] They had been for some time frontier's men, and were +familiar with the scenes usually exhibited on remote and unprotected +borders; and nothing daunted by the cruel murders and savage +enormities, which they had previously witnessed, were induced by some +cause, most probably the uninterrupted enjoyment of the forest in the +pursuit of game, to venture still farther into the wilderness. About +the year 1754 these two men with their families arrived on the east +fork of the Monongahela, and after examining the country, selected +positions for their future residence. Files chose a spot on the river, +at the mouth of a creek which still bears his name, where Beverly, the +county seat of Randolph has been since established. Tygart settled a +few miles farther up and also on the river. The valley in which they +had thus taken up their abode, has been since called Tygart's [59] +valley, and the east fork of the Monongahela, Tygart's-valley river. + +The difficulty of procuring bread stuffs for their families, their +contiguity to an Indian village, and the fact that an Indian war path +passed near their dwellings, soon determined them to retrace their +steps.[15] Before they carried this determination into effect, the +family of Files became the victims of savage cruelty. At a time when +all the family were at their cabin, except an elder son, they were +discovered by a party of Indians, supposed to be returning from the +South Branch, who inhumanly butchered them all.[16] Young Files being +not far from the house and hearing the uproar, approached until he +saw, too distinctly, the deeds of death which were doing; and feeling +the utter impossibility of affording relief to his own, resolved if he +could, to effect the safety of Tygart's family. This was done and the +country abandoned by them. + +Not long after this, Doctor Thomas Eckarly and his two brothers came +from Pennsylvania and camped at the mouth of a creek, emptying into +the Monongahela, 8 or 10 miles below Morgantown; they were Dunkards, +and from that circumstance, the watercourse on which they fixed +themselves for a while, has been called Dunkard's creek. While their +camp continued at this place, these men were engaged in exploring the +country; and ultimately settled on Cheat river, at the Dunkard bottom. +Here they erected a cabin for their dwelling, and made such +improvements as enabled them to raise the first year, a crop of corn +sufficient for their use, and some culinary vegetables: their guns +supplied them with an abundance of meat, of a flavor as delicious as +the refined palate of a modern epicure could well wish. Their clothes +were made chiefly of the skins of animals, and were easily procured: +and although calculated to give a grotesque appearance to a fine +gentleman in a city drawing room; yet were they particularly suited to +their situation, and afforded them comfort. + +Here they spent some years entirely unmolested by the Indians, +although a destructive war was then raging, and prosecuted with +cruelty, along the whole extent of our frontier. At length to obtain +an additional supply of ammunition, salt and shirting, Doctor Eckarly +left Cheat, with a pack of furs and skins, to visit a trading post on +the Shenandoah. On his return, he stopped at Fort Pleasant, on the +South Branch; and having communicated to its inhabitants the place of +his residence, and the length of time he had been living there, he was +charged with being in confederacy with the Indians, and probably at +that instant a spy, examining the condition of the fort. In vain the +Doctor protested his innocence and the fact that he had not even seen +an Indian in the country; the suffering condition [59] of the border +settlements, rendered his account, in their opinion improbable, and he +was put in confinement. + +The society, of which Doctor Eckarly was a member, was rather +obnoxious to a number of the frontier inhabitants. Their intimacy with +the Indians, although cultivated with the most laudable motives, and +for noble purposes, yet made them objects at least of distrust to +many. Laboring under these disadvantages, it was with difficulty that +Doctor Eckarly prevailed on the officer of the fort to release him; +and when this was done he was only permitted to go home under certain +conditions--he was to be escorted by a guard of armed men, who were to +carry him back if any discovery were made prejudicial to him. Upon +their arrival at Cheat, the truth of his statement was awfully +confirmed. The first spectacle which presented itself to their view, +when the party came within sight of where the cabin had been, was a +heap of ashes. On approaching the ruins, the half decayed, and +mutilated bodies of the poor Dunkards, were seen in the yard; the +hoops, on which their scalps had been dried, were there, and the +ruthless hand of desolation had waved over their little fields. Doctor +Eckarly aided in burying the remains of his unfortunate brothers, and +returned to the fort on the South Branch. + +In the fall of 1758, Thomas Decker and some others commenced a +settlement on the Monongahela river, at the mouth of what is now, +Decker's creek. In the ensuing spring it was entirely broken up by a +party of Delawares and Mingoes; and the greater part of its +inhabitants murdered. + +There was at this time at Brownsville a fort, then known as +Redstone fort, under the command of Capt. Paul.[17] One of Decker's +party escaped from the Indians who destroyed the settlement, and +making his way to Fort Redstone, gave to its commander the melancholy +intelligence. The garrison being too weak to admit of sending a +detachment in pursuit, Capt. Paul despatched a runner with the +information to Capt. John Gibson, then stationed at Fort Pitt. +Leaving the fort under the command of Lieut. Williamson, Capt. Gibson +set out with thirty men to intercept the Indians, on their return +to their towns. + +In consequence of the distance which the pursuers had to go, and the +haste with which the Indians had retreated, the expedition failed in +its object; they however accidentally came on a party of six or seven +Mingoes, on the head of Cross Creek in Ohio (near Steubenville)--these +had been prowling about the river, below Fort Pitt, seeking an +opportunity of committing depredations.[18] As Capt. Gibson passed the +point of a small knoll, just after day break, he came unexpectedly +upon them--some of them were lying down; the others were sitting round +a fire, making thongs of green hides. Kiskepila or Little Eagle, a +Mingo chief, headed the party. So soon as he discovered Capt. Gibson, +he raised the war whoop and fired [61] his rifle--the ball passed +through Gibson's hunting shirt and wounded a soldier just behind him. +Gibson sprang forward, and swinging his sword with herculean force, +severed the head of the Little Eagle from his body--two other Indians +were shot down, and the remainder escaped to their towns on +Muskingum. + +When the captives, who were restored under the treaty of 1763, came +in, those who were at the Mingo towns when the remnant of Kiskepila's +party returned, stated that the Indians represented Gibson as having +cut off the Little Eagle's head with a _long knife_. Several of the +white persons were then sacrificed to appease the manes of Kiskepila; +and a war dance ensued, accompanied with terrific shouts and bitter +denunciations of revenge on "_the Big knife warrior_." This name was +soon after applied to the Virginia militia generally; and to this day +they are known among the north western Indians as the "_Long knives_," +or "_Big knife nation_."[19] + +These are believed to have been the only attempts to effect a +settlement of North Western Virginia, prior to the close of the French +war. The capture of Fort du Quesne and the erection and garrisoning of +Fort Pitt, although they gave to the English an ascendency in that +quarter; yet they did not so far check the hostile irruptions of the +Indians, as to render a residence in this portion of Virginia, by any +means secure.--It was consequently not attempted 'till some years +after the restoration of peace in 1765. + +----- + [1] This is misleading. The author has told us, in the + preceding chapter, of several attempts of English coast + colonists to make transmontane settlements, quite apart from + thought of ousting the French. Englishmen had no sooner landed + in America than they attempted to cross the Western mountain + barrier. Ralph Lane made the attempt in 1586, Christopher + Newport and John Smith in 1606, and Newport himself in 1607. + John Lederer, a German surgeon exploring for Governor Berkeley, + of Virginia, reached the top of Blue Ridge in 1609, but did not + descend the western slope. Two years later, Abraham Wood + discovered the Great Kanawha. It is possible that the French + Jesuit Le Moyne was on the Alleghany River as early as 1656. La + Salle was probably at the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville) in + 1669. But it was not until about 1700 that French and English + fur-traders met in open rivalry on the Ohio. It was with no + thought of the French that Governor Spottswood, of Virginia, + passed over the Blue Ridge in 1714. The situation in short, was + this: The English colonists early wanted the over-mountain + country watered by the Ohio, but were too weak at first to hold + for agricultural settlement lands so far from home, in the face + of a savage foe. The French wanted the valley solely for the + fur trade, but Iroquois opposition long kept them from + entering; when at last they were able to do so, the English + colonists had also grown strong enough to move in, and then + ensued the long and bloody struggle in which New France + fell.--R. G. T. + + [2] In the journal (drawn up for the inspection of Gov. + Dinwiddie) of the events of his mission to the commander of the + French forces on the Ohio; this was the first of those splendid + acts of a public nature, performed by Gen. Washington. + + [3] Only five companies of the first Virginia regiment + served on Braddock's campaign--hence there was no second + regiment, nor any Colonel Russell engaged in that service; there + was, however, at this period, a Colonel or Lieut.-Colonel + William Russell, who emigrated from England when a young lawyer, + to Virginia, about 1710, and settled in Culpeper, and by the + readjustment of county lines he was thrown into the new county + of Orange. He was a man of much prominence, and at one time was + high sheriff of Orange; and apparently lieutenant-colonel of + militia, and as such, in the early part of the French and + Indian War, did some frontier service, though rather advanced + in years at the time. In 1753, he was sent as a commissioner + to pacify the Indians in the region where Pittsburg was + subsequently located. He died October 18, 1757, aged about + seventy-two years. His son of the same name served with + reputation at the battle of Point Pleasant, and during the + Revolutionary War, retiring at its close with the brevet rank + of brigadier-general.--L. C. D. + + [4] It has already been stated that Col. John Lewis's eldest + son was Thomas, not Samuel.--L. C. D. + + [5] Capt. John McDowell was killed in an engagement with the + Indians, in December, 1742, and of course could not have served + under either Andrew or Charles Lewis.--L. C. D. + + [6] James Smith, afterwards Col. Smith of Bourbon county in + Kentucky, was then a prisoner at du Quesne. He says that the + Indians in council planned the attack on Braddock's army and + selected the ground from which to make it--that the assailants + did not number more than 400 men, of whom but a small + proportion were French. One of the Indians laughed when he + heard the order of march in Braddock's army, and said "we'll + shoot them down all as one pigeon." Washington beheld the event + in fearful anticipation, and exerted himself in vain with Gen. + Braddock, to alter the order of march. + + [7] It is evident that the author never saw the site of + Braddock's defeat, just below the mouth of Turtle Creek, for + his description is quite inaccurate. June 30, 1755, the army, + which had been following the Ohio Company's road from Will's + Creek, _via_ East Meadows, crossed the Youghiogheny and + proceeding in a devious course struck the head of Turtle Creek, + which was followed nearly to its mouth, whence a southern + course was taken to avoid the steep hills. Reaching the + Monongahela just below the mouth of the Youghiogheny, they + crossed (July 9) to the west side, where there is a long, + narrow bottom. Nearly opposite the mouth of Turtle Creek, and + about four miles below the first crossing, hills again closely + approach the west bank, and the east side becomes the more + favorable for marching. Here, only eight miles across country + from Fort Duquesne, Braddock forded the second time, and in + angling up the rather easy slope upon which is now built the + busy iron-making town of Braddock, Pa., was obliged to pass + through a heavily-wooded ravine. This was the place of the + ambuscade, where his army was cut to pieces. Indians from the + Upper Lakes, under the leadership of Charles Langlade, a + Wisconsin fur-trader, were the chief participants in this + affair, on the French side.--R. G. T. + + [8] This statement about Capts. Grant and Lewis having taken + part in the battle of the Monongahela, is altogether a mistake. + It must have originated in some traditional account, and become + confused in some way with Grant's defeat, three years later, in + which Maj. James Grant and Maj. Andrew Lewis both took a + prominent part. There is no record of any Capt. Grant in + Braddock's army. Andrew Lewis, though a major, was still in + command of his company, and at the time of Braddock's defeat + was on detached service. Gov. Dinwiddie, writing to Maj. Lewis, + July 8, 1755, says: "You were ordered to Augusta with your + company to protect the frontier of that county;" and, in a + letter of the same date, to Col. Patton, the Governor adds: + "Enclosed you have a letter to Capt. Lewis, which please + forward to him: _I think he is at Greenbrier._" Capt. Robt. + Orme, aide-de-camp to Gen. Braddock, in his Journal appended to + Sargent's _History of Braddock's Expedition_, states under date + of April, 1755, that the Virginia troops having been clothed, + were ordered to march to Winchester, for arming and drilling, + and then adds: "Capt. Lewis was ordered with his company of + Rangers to Greenbrier river, there to build two stockade forts, + in one of which he was to remain himself and to detach to the + other a subaltern and fifteen men. These forts were to cover + the western settlers of Virginia from any inroads of + Indians."--L. C. D. + + [9] The MS. Journal of Col. Charles Lewis, in possession of + the Wisconsin Historical Society, covering the period from + October 10 to December 27, 1755, is an unconsciously eloquent + picture of the hardships of life on the Virginia frontier, at + this time.--R. G. T. + + [10] After the capitulation of Fort Necessity, and while + some of the soldiers of each army were intermixed, an + Irishman, exasperated with an Indian near him, "cursed the + copper-coloured scoundrel" and raised his musket to shoot + him. Gen. Lewis who had been twice wounded in the engagement, + and was then hobbling on a staff, raised the Irishman's + gun, as he was in the act of firing, and thus not only saved + the life of the Indian, but probably prevented a general + massacre of the Virginia troops. + + [11] Congress had given to Gen. Stephens, and some others + (whose senior Lewis had been in former services) commissions as + Major Generals. + + [12] Thomas Bullitt was a native of Prince William county, + Virginia. He was appointed an ensign in Washington's first + Virginia regiment, July 20, 1754, and promoted to a lieutenancy + on October 30th following. It is said that he served in + Braddock's defeat; but the records of the Virginia officers + present do not include Lieut. Bullitt's name. He was, perhaps, + with Capt. Lewis in the Greenbrier country, or on some other + detached service. In May, 1756, he was stationed at Winchester; + in July following, in command of Fort Frederick, on Jackson's + River, and in November of that year, in command of Fort + Cumberland. He was in active service in 1757, and early the + next year we find him a captain; as such, he distinguished + himself in checking the enemy and saving many of the fugitives + at Grant's defeat, and shared in Gen. Forbes's successful + expedition in the capture of Fort Du Quesne. In May, 1759, + while guarding with one hundred men, fifteen wagons loaded with + provisions for the westward, he was attacked and defeated by a + strong party of French and Indians, losing thirty-five of his + party killed and prisoners and all his wagons. In 1760, he was + appointed a surveyor of a district bordering on the Ohio, and + had much to do in early Kentucky exploration and surveys, + making an early location and survey at the Falls of Ohio in + 1773. In September, 1775, he was appointed adjutant-general of + all the Virginia forces; and on the 9th of December following, + he aided Colonel Woodford in defeating Capt. Fordyce and party + at the Great Bridge. In March, 1776, Congress appointed him + deputy adjutant-general of the Southern Department with the + rank of lieutenant-colonel, and advanced him in May following + to the full rank of colonel. He died while yet in service, in + 1778.--L. C. D. + + [13] The French destroyed Fort Duquesne in November, 1758. + During the winter following, Fort Pitt was erected by the + English troops. In his _Journal of a Tour to the Ohio River_ + (1770), Washington says of it: "The fort is built on the point + between the rivers Alleghany and Monongahela, but not so near + the pitch of it as Fort Duquesne stood. It is five-sided and + regular, two of which next the land are of brick; the others + stockade. A moat encompasses it." Fort Pitt was invested by the + Indians during Pontiac's War (1763). It was fully garrisoned + until 1772, when a corporal and a few men were left as + care-takers. In October of that year, the property was sold, + and several houses were built out of the material. In the + course of the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and + Virginia, the latter colony took possession of the ruins, + through Lord Dunmore's agent there, John Conolly.--R. G. T. + + [14] The author overlooks the settlement made by Christopher + Gist, the summer of 1753, in the town of Dunbar, Fayette + county, Pa., two or three miles west of the Youghiogheny and + some seventy miles northwest of Will's Creek; the site was + doubtless selected by him in his trip of 1751-52. Washington, + who visited him there in November, 1753, on the way to Fort Le + Boeuf, calls it "Gist's new settlement," but the owner's name + for his place was "Monongahela." It was the first settlement of + which there is record, upon the Ohio Company's lands. Gist + induced eleven families to settle near him; and on his journey + home, in January, 1754, Washington met them going out to the + new lands. The victory of the French over Washington, at Fort + Necessity, in July, led to the expulsion from the region of all + English-speaking settlers. The French commander, De Villiers, + reports that he "burnt down all the settlements" on the + Monongahela (from Redstone down), and in the vicinity of + Gist's.--R. G. T. + + [15] This trail was a continuation of the famous "Warrior + Branch," which coming up from Tennessee passed through Kentucky + and Southern Ohio, and threading the valley of Fish Creek + crossed over to Dunkard's Creek and so on to the mouth of + Redstone Creek.--R. G. T. + + [16] In Col. Preston's MS. Register of Indian Depredations, + in the Wisconsin Historical Society's library, it is stated + that Robert Foyle, wife and five children, were killed on the + Monongahela in 1754. Gov. Dinwiddie, in his speech to the + Virginia house of burgesses in February, 1754, refers to this + barbarous affair, giving the same number of the family + destroyed; and the gazettes of that period state that Robert + Foyle, together with his wife and five children, the youngest + about ten years of age, were killed at the head of the + Monongahela; their bodies, scalped, were discovered February + 4th, and were supposed to have been killed about two months + before.--L. C. D. + + [17] In 1750, the Ohio Company, as a base of operations and + supplies, built a fortified warehouse at Will's Creek (now + Cumberland, Md.), on the upper waters of the Potomac. Col. + Thomas Cresap, an energetic frontiersman, and one of the + principal agents of the Company, was directed to blaze a + pack-horse trail over the Laurel Hills to the Monongahela. He + employed as his guide an Indian named Nemacolin, whose camp was + at the mouth of Dunlap Creek (site of the present Brownsville, + Pa.), an affluent of the Monongahela. Nemacolin pointed out an + old Indian trace which had its origin, doubtless, in an + over-mountain buffalo trail; and this, widened a little by + Cresap, was at first known as Nemacolin's Path. It led through + Little Meadows and Great Meadows--open marshes grown to grass, + and useful for feeding traders' and explorers' horses. + Washington traveled this path in 1753, when he went to warn the + French at Fort Le Boeuf. Again, but widened somewhat, it was + his highway in 1754, as far north as Gist's plantation; and at + Great Meadows he built Fort Necessity, where he was defeated. + Braddock followed it in great part, in 1755, and henceforth it + became known as "Braddock's Road." The present National Road + from Cumberland to Brownsville, via Uniontown, differs in + direction but little from Nemacolin's Path. For a map of + Braddock's Road, see Lowdermilk's _History of Cumberland, Md._, + p. 140, with description on pages 51, 52, 140-148. Ellis's + _History of Fayette Co., Pa._, also has valuable data. + + The terminus of Nemacolin's Path was Dunlap's Creek (Brownsville). + A mile-and-a-quarter below Dunlap's, enters Redstone Creek, and + the name "Redstone" became affixed to the entire region hereabout, + although "Monongahela" was sometimes used to indicate the + panhandle between the Monongahela and the Youghiogheny. In 1752, + the Ohio Company built a temporary warehouse at the mouth of + Dunlap's Creek, at the end of the over-mountain trail. In 1754, + Washington's advance party (Capt. Trent) built a log fort, called + "The Hangard," at the mouth of the Redstone, but this was, later + in the year, destroyed by the French officer De Villiers. In 1759, + Colonel Burd, as one of the features of Forbes's campaign against + Fort Duquesne, erected Fort Burd at the mouth of Dunlap's, + which was a better site. This fort was garrisoned as late as + the Dunmore War (1774), but was probably abandoned soon after the + Revolutionary War. The name "Redstone Old Fort" became attached + to the place, because within the present limits of Brownsville + were found by the earliest comers, and can still be traced, + extensive earthworks of the mound-building era.--R. G. T. + + [18] Cross Creek empties into the Ohio through Mingo Bottom + (site of Mingo Junction, O.). On this bottom was, for many + years, a considerable Mingo village.--R. G. T. + + [19] This statement, that Capt. Audley Paul commanded at + Redstone, and of his attempting to intercept a foraging Indian + party, can not possibly be true. There was no fort, and + consequently no garrison, at Redstone in 1758. It was not built + 'till 1759, and then by Col. James Burd, of the Pennsylvania + forces. James L. Bowman, a native of Brownsville, the locality + of Redstone Old Fort, wrote a sketch of the history of that + place, which appeared in the _American Pioneer_ in February, + 1843, in which he says: "We have seen it stated in a creditable + work, that the fort was built by Capt. Paul--doubtless an + error, as the Journal of Col. Burd is ample evidence to settle + that matter." Col. Burd records in his Journal: "Ordered, in + Aug. 1759, to march with two hundred of my battalion to the + mouth of Redstone Creek, to cut a road to that place, and to + erect a fort." He adds: "When I had cut the road, and finished + the fort," etc. + + The other part of the story, about Capt. John Gibson commanding + at Fort Pitt in "the fall of 1758," is equally erroneous, as + Gen. Forbes did not possess himself of Fort Duquesne till Nov. + 25th, 1758, within five days of the conclusion of "fall" in + that year; and Gen. Forbes commanded there in person until he + left for Philadelphia, Dec. 3d following. There is, moreover, + no evidence that Gibson was then in service. The story of his + decapitating Kis-ke-pi-la, or the Little Eagle, if there was + such a person, or of his beheading any other Indian, is not at + all probable. He was an Indian trader for many years, and was + made prisoner by the Indians in 1763, and detained a long time + in captivity. + + Gibson could not by any such decapitating exploit, have + originated the designation of "Big Knife," or "Big Knife + warrior," for this appellation had long before been applied + to the Virginians. Gist says in his Journal, Dec. 7th, 1750, in + speaking of crossing Elk's Eye Creek--the Muskingum--and + reaching an Indian hamlet, that the Indians were all out + hunting; that "the old Frenchman, Mark Coonce, living there, + was civil to me; but after I was gone to my camp, upon his + understanding I came from Virginia, he called me _Big + Knife_." Col. James Smith, then a prisoner with the Indians, + says the Indians assigned as a reason why they did not oppose + Gen. Forbes in 1758, that if they had been only red coats + they could have subdued them; "but they could not withstand + _Ash-a-le-co-a_, or the _Great Knife_, which was the name they + gave the Virginians."--L. C. D. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--See note on p. 77, regarding erection of + early forts at Redstone. James Veech, in _Monongahela of Old_, + says, "We know that the late Col. James Paull served a month's + duty in a drafted militia company in guarding Continental + stores here [Fort Burd] in 1778." The term "Big Knives" or + "Long Knives" may have had reference either to the long knives + carried by early white hunters, or the swords worn by backwoods + militia officers. See Roosevelt's _Winning of the West_, I., p. + 197. + + + + +[62] CHAPTER III. + + +The destruction of the Roanoke settlement in the spring of 1757, by a +party of Shawanees, gave rise to the campaign, which was called by the +old settlers the "Sandy creek voyage." To avenge this outrage, +Governor Dinwiddie ordered out a company of regulars (taken chiefly +from the garrison at Fort Dinwiddie, on Jackson's river) under the +command of Capt. Audley Paul; a company of minute-men from Boutetourt, +under the command of Capt. William Preston; and two companies from +Augusta, under Captains John Alexander[1] and William Hogg. In Capt. +Alexander's company, John M'Nutt, afterwards governor of Nova Scotia, +was a subaltern. The whole were placed under the command of Andrew +Lewis.[2] + +Beside the chastisement of the Indians, the expedition had for its +object, the establishment of a military post at the mouth of the Great +Sandy. This would have enabled them, not only to maintain a constant +watch over marauding parties of Indians from that quarter; but to +check the communication between them and the post at Galliopolis; and +thus counteract the influence which the French there had obtained over +them.[3] + +The different companies detailed upon the Shawanee expedition, were +required to rendezvous on the Roanoke, near to the present town of +Salem in Bottetourt, where Col. Lewis was then posted. The company +commanded by Capt. Hogg failed to attend at the appointed time; and +Col. Lewis after delaying a week for its arrival, marched forward, +expecting to be speedily overtaken by it. + +To avoid an early discovery by the Indians, which would have been the +consequence of their taking the more public route by the Great +Kenhawa; and that they might fall upon the Indians towns in the valley +of the Scioto, without being interrupted or seen by the French at +Galliopolis, they took the route by the way of New river and Sandy. +Crossing New river below the Horse-shoe, they descended it to the +mouth of Wolf creek; and ascending this to its source, passed over to +the head of Bluestone river; where they delayed another week awaiting +the arrival of Capt. Hogg and his company.[4]--They then marched to +the head of the north fork of Sandy, and continued down it to the +great Burning Spring, where they also remained a day. Here the salt +and provisions, which had been conveyed [63] on pack horses, were +entirely exhausted. Two buffaloes, killed just above the spring, were +also eaten while the army continued here; and their hides were hung +upon a beech tree. After this their subsistence was procured +exclusively by hunting. + +The army then resumed their march; and in a few days after, it was +overtaken by a runner with the intelligence that Capt. Hogg and his +company were only a day's march in the rear. Col. Lewis again halted; +and the day after he was overtaken by Hogg, he was likewise overtaken +by an express from Francis Fauquier[5] with orders for the army to +return home; and for the disbanding of all the troops except Capt. +Paul's regulars,[6] who were to return to Fort Dinwiddie. + +This was one of the first of Gov. Fauquier's official acts; and it was +far from endearing him to the inhabitants west of the Blue ridge. They +had the utmost confidence in the courage and good conduct of Col. +Lewis, and of the officers and men under his command--they did not for +an instant doubt the success of the expedition, and looked forward +with much satisfaction, to their consequent exemption in a great +degree, from future attacks from the Indians. It was not therefore +without considerable regret, that they heard of their countermanding +orders. + +Nor were they received by Lewis and his men with very different +feelings. They had endured much during their march, from the +inclemency of the weather; more from the want of provisions--They had +borne these hardships without repining; anticipating a chastisement of +the Indians, and the deriving of an abundant supply of provisions from +their conquered towns--They had arrived within ten miles of the Ohio +river, and could not witness the blasting of their expectations, +without murmuring. A council of war was held--disappointment and +indignation were expressed in every feature. A majority of the +officers were in favor of proceeding to the Ohio river, under the +expectation that they might fall in with some of the enemy--they +marched to the river and encamped two nights on its banks. Discovering +nothing of an enemy, they then turned to retrace their steps through +pathless mountains, a distance of three hundred miles, in the midst of +winter and without provisions. + +The reasons assigned by the friends of Gov. Fauquier, for the issuing +of those orders were, that the force detailed by Gov. Dinwiddie, was +not sufficient to render secure an establishment at the contemplated +point--near the Indian towns on the Scioto--within a few days journey +of several thousand warriors on the Miami--in the vicinity of the +hostile post at Galliopolis and so remote from the settled part of +Virginia, that they could not be furnished with assistance, and +supplied with provisions and military stores, without incurring an +expenditure, both of blood and money, beyond what the colony could +spare, for the accomplishment of that object. + +Had Capt. Hogg with his company, been at the place of rendezvous at +the appointed time, the countermanding orders of the governor [64] +could not have reached the army, until it had penetrated the enemy's +country. What might have been its fate, it is impossible to say--the +bravery of the troops--their familiar acquaintance with the Indian +mode of warfare--their confidence in the officers and the experience +of many of them, seemed to give every assurance of success--While the +unfortunate result of many subsequent expeditions of a similar nature, +would induce the opinion that the governor's apprehensions were +perhaps prudent and well founded. That the army would soon have had to +encounter the enemy, there can be no doubt; for although not an Indian +had been seen, yet it seems probable from after circumstances, that it +had been discovered and watched by them previous to its return. + +On the second night of their march homeward, while encamped at the +Great falls, some of Hogg's men went out on the hills to hunt turkeys, +and fell in with a party of Indians, painted as for war. As soon as +they saw that they were discovered, they fired, and two of Hogg's men +were killed--the fire was returned and a Shawanee warrior was wounded +and taken prisoner. The remaining Indians, yelling their war whoop, +fled down the river. + +Many of the whites, thinking that so small a party of Indians would +not have pursued the army alone, were of opinion that it was only an +advanced scout of a large body of the enemy, who were following them: +the wounded Indian refused to give any information of their number or +object. A council of war was convoked; and much diversity of opinion +prevailed at the board. It was proposed by Capt. Paul to cross the +Ohio river, invade the towns on the Scioto, and burn them, or perish +in the attempt.[7] The proposition was supported by Lieut. M'Nutt, but +overruled; and the officers, deeming it right to act in conformity +with the governor's orders, determined on pursuing their way home. +Orders were then given that no more guns should be fired, and no fires +kindled in camp, as their safe return depended very much on silence +and secrecy. + +An obedience to this order, produced a very considerable degree of +suffering, as well from extreme cold as from hunger. The pack horses, +which were no longer serviceable (having no provisions to transport) +and some of which had given out for want of provender, were killed and +eaten. When the army arrived at the Burning spring, the buffalo hides, +which had been left there on their way down, were cut into tuggs, or +long thongs, and eaten by the troops, after having been exposed to the +heat produced by the flame from the spring.--Hence they called it Tugg +river--a name by which it is still known. After this the army +subsisted for a while on beachnuts; but a deep snow falling these +could no longer be obtained, and the restrictions were removed. + +About thirty men then detached themselves from the main body, to hunt +their way home. Several of them were known to have perished from cold +and hunger--others were lost and never afterwards [65] heard of; as +they had separated into small parties, the more certainly to find game +on which to live. The main body of the army was conducted home by Col. +Lewis, after much suffering--the strings of their mocasons, the belts +of their hunting shirts, and the flaps of their shot pouches, having +been all the food which they had eaten for some days.[8] + +A journal of this campaign was kept by Lieut. M'Nutt, a gentleman of +liberal education and fine mind. On his return to Williamsburg he +presented it to Governor Fauquier by whom it was deposited in the +executive archives. In this journal Col. Lewis was censured for not +having proceeded directly to the Scioto towns; and for imposing on the +army the restrictions, as to fire and shooting, which have been +mentioned.--This produced an altercation between Lewis and M'Nutt, +which was terminated by a personal encounter.[9] + +During the continuance of this war, many depredations were committed +by hostile Indians, along the whole extent of the Virginia frontier. +Individuals, leaving the forts on any occasion, scarcely ever +returned; but were, almost always, intercepted by Indians, who were +constantly prowling along the border settlements, for purposes of +rapine and murder. The particulars of occurrences of this kind, and +indeed of many of a more important character, no longer exist in the +memory of man--they died with them who were contemporaneous with the +happening of them.[10] On one occasion however, such was the extent of +savage duplicity, and such, and so full of horror, the catastrophe +resulting from misplaced confidence, that the events which marked it, +still live in the recollection of the descendants of some of those, +who suffered on the theatre of treachery and blood. + +On the south fork of the South Branch of Potomac, in, what is now, the +county of Pendleton, was the fort of Capt. Sivert.[11] In this fort, +the inhabitants of what was then called the "Upper Tract," all sought +shelter from the tempest of savage ferocity; and at the time the +Indians appeared before [66] it, there were contained within its walls +between thirty and forty persons of both sexes and of different ages. +Among them was Mr. Dyer, (the father of Col. Dyer now of Pendleton) +and his family. On the morning of the fatal day, Col. Dyer and his +sister left the fort for the accomplishment of some object, and +although no Indians had been seen there for some time, yet did they +not proceed far, before they came in view of a party of forty or fifty +Shawanees, going directly towards the fort. Alarmed for their own +safety, as well as for the safety of their friends, the brother and +sister endeavored by a hasty flight to reach the gate and gain +admittance into the garrison; but before they could effect this, they +were overtaken and made captives. + +The Indians rushed immediately to the fort and commenced a furious +assault on it. Capt. Sivert prevailed, (not without much opposition,) +on the besieged, to forbear firing 'till he should endeavor to +negotiate with, and buy off the enemy. With this view, and under the +protection of a flag he went out, and soon succeeded in making the +wished for arrangement. When he returned, the gates were thrown open, +and the enemy admitted. + +No sooner had the money and other articles, stipulated to be given, +been handed over to the Indians, than a most bloody tragedy was begun +to be acted. Arranging the inmates of the fort, in two rows, with a +space of about ten feet between them, two Indians were selected; who +taking each his station at the head of a row, with their tomahawks +most cruelly murdered almost every white person in the fort; some few, +whom caprice or some other cause, induced them to spare, were carried +into captivity,--such articles as could be well carried away were +taken off by the Indians; the remainder was consumed, with the fort, +by fire. + +The course pursued by Capt. Sivert, has been supposed to have been +dictated by timidity and an ill founded apprehension of danger from +the attack. It is certain that strong opposition was made to it by +many; and it has been said that his own son raised his rifle to shoot +him, when he ordered the gates to be thrown open; and was only +prevented from executing his purpose, by the interference of some near +to him. Capt. Sivert was also supported by many, in the plan which he +proposed to rid the fort of its assailants: it was known to be weak, +and incapable of withstanding a vigorous onset; and [67] its garrison +was illy supplied with the munitions of war. Experience might have +taught them, however, the futility of any measure of security, founded +in a reliance on Indian faith, in time of hostility; and in deep and +bitter anguish, they were made to feel its realization in the present +instance. + +In the summer of 1761, about sixty Shawanee warriors penetrated the +settlements on James river. To avoid the fort at the mouth of Looney's +creek, on this river, they passed through Bowen's gap in Purgatory +mountain, in the night; and ascending Purgatory creek, killed Thomas +Perry, Joseph Dennis and his child and made prisoner his wife, Hannah +Dennis. They then proceeded to the house of Robert Renix, where they +captured Mrs. Renix, (a daughter of Sampson Archer) and her five +children, William, Robert, Thomas, Joshua and Betsy--Mr. Renix not +being at home. They then went to the house of Thomas Smith, where +Renix was; and shot and scalped him and Smith; and took with them, +Mrs. Smith and Sally Jew, a white servant girl.[12] + +William and Audley Maxwell, and George Matthews, (afterwards governor +of Georgia,) were then going to Smith's house; and hearing the report +of the guns, supposed that there was a shooting match. But when they +rode to the front of the house and saw the dead bodies of Smith and +Renix lying in the yard, they discovered their mistake; and +contemplating for a moment the awful spectacle, wheeled to ride back. +At this instant several guns were fired at them; fortunately without +doing any execution, except the cutting off the club of Mr. Matthews' +cue. The door of the house was then suddenly opened; the Indians +rushed out and raising the war cry, several of them fired--Audley +Maxwell was slightly wounded in the arm. + +It appeared afterwards, that the Indians had seen Matthews and the +Maxwells coming; and that some of them had crowded into the house, +while the others with the prisoners went to the north side of it, and +concealed themselves behind some fallen timber. Mrs. Renix, after she +was restored to her friends in 1766, stated that she was sitting tied, +in the midst of four Indians, who laying their guns on a log, took +deliberate aim at Matthews; the others firing at the Maxwells--The +sudden wheeling of their horses no doubt saved the lives of all +three. + +The Indians then divided, and twenty of them taking the [68] +prisoners, the plunder and some horses which they had stolen, set off +by the way of Jackson's river, for the Ohio; the remainder started +towards Cedar creek, with the ostensible view of committing farther +depredations. But Matthews and the Maxwells had sounded the alarm, and +the whole settlement were soon collected at Paul's stockade fort, at +the Big spring near to Springfield. Here the women and children were +left to be defended by Audley Maxwell and five other men; while the +others, forming a party of twenty-two, with George Matthews at their +head, set out in quest of the enemy. + +The Indians were soon overtaken, and after a severe engagement, were +forced to give ground. Matthews and his party followed in pursuit, as +far as Purgatory creek; but the night being very dark in consequence +of a continued rain, the fugitives effected an escape; and overtaking +their comrades with the prisoners and plunder, on the next evening, at +the forks of the James and Cowpasture rivers, proceeded to Ohio +without further molestation. + +When Matthews and his men, on the morning succeeding the engagement, +returned to the field of battle, they found nine Indians dead; whom +they buried on the spot. Benjamin Smith, Thomas Maury and the father +of Sally Jew, were the only persons of Matthews' party, who were +killed--these, together with those who had been murdered on the +preceding day, were buried near the fork of a branch, in (what is now) +the meadow of Thomas Cross sr. + +In Boquet's treaty with the Ohio Indians, it was stipulated that the +whites detained by them in captivity were to be brought in and +redeemed. In compliance with this stipulation, Mrs. Renix was brought +to Staunton in 1767 and ransomed, together with two of her sons, +William, the late Col. Renix of Greenbrier, and Robert, also of +Greenbrier--Betsy, her daughter, had died on the Miami. Thomas +returned in 1783, but soon after removed and settled, on the Scioto, +near Chilicothe. Joshua never came back; he took an Indian wife and +became a Chief among the Miamies--he amassed a considerable fortune +and died near Detroit in 1810. + +Hannah Dennis was separated from the other captives, and allotted to +live at the Chilicothe towns.[13] She learned their language; painted +herself as they do; and in many respects conformed to their manners +and customs. She was attentive to sick persons and was highly esteemed +by the Indians, as [69] one well skilled in the art of curing +diseases. Finding them very superstitious and believers in necromancy; +she professed witchcraft, and affected to be a prophetess. In this +manner she conducted herself, 'till she became so great a favorite +with them, that they gave her full liberty and honored her as a queen. +Notwithstanding this, Mrs. Dennis was always determined to effect her +escape, when a favorable opportunity should occur; and having remained +so long with them, apparently well satisfied, they ceased to entertain +any suspicions of such a design. + +In June 1763, she left the Chilicothe towns, _ostensibly_ to procure +herbs for medicinal purposes, (as she had before frequently done,) but +_really_ to attempt an escape. As she did not return that night, her +intention became suspected; and in the morning, some warriors were +sent in pursuit of her. In order to leave as little trail as possible, +she had crossed the Scioto river three times, and was just getting +over the fourth time 40 miles below the towns, when she was discovered +by her pursuers. They fired at her across the river without effect; +but in endeavoring to make a rapid flight, she had one of her feet +severely cut by a sharp stone. + +The Indians then rushed across the river to overtake and catch her, +but she eluded them by crawling into the hollow limb, of a large +fallen sycamore. They searched around for her some time, frequently +stepping on the log which concealed her; and encamped near it that +night. On the next day they went on to the Ohio river, but finding no +trace of her, they returned home. + +Mrs. Dennis remained at that place three days, doctoring her wound, +and then set off for home. She crossed the Ohio river, at the mouth of +Great Kenhawa, on a log of driftwood, travelling only during the +night, for fear of discovery--She subsisted on roots, herbs, green +grapes, wild cherries and river muscles--and entirely exhausted by +fatigue and hunger, sat down by the side of Greenbrier river, with no +expectation of ever proceeding farther. In this situation she was +found by Thomas Athol and three others from Clendennin's settlement, +which she had passed without knowing it. She had been then upwards of +twenty days on her disconsolate journey, alone, on foot--but 'till +then, cheered with the hope of again being with her friends. + +She was taken back to Clendennin's, where they kindly [70] ministered +to her, 'till she became so far invigorated, as to travel on horseback +with an escort, to Fort Young on Jackson's river; from whence she was +carried home to her relations. + +In the course of a few days after Hannah Dennis had gone from +Clendennins, a party of about sixty warriors came to the settlement on +Muddy creek, in the county of Greenbrier. That region of country then +contained no inhabitants, but those on Muddy creek, and in the Levels; +and these are believed to have consisted of at least one hundred +souls. The Indians came apparently as friends, and the French war +having been terminated by the treaty of the preceding spring, the +whites did not for an instant doubt their sincerity. They were +entertained in small parties at different houses, and every civility +and act of kindness, which the new settlers could proffer, were +extended to them. In a moment of the most perfect confidence in the +innocense of their intentions, the Indians rose on them and tomahawked +and scalped all, save a few women and children of whom they made +prisoners. + +After the perpetration of this most barbarous and bloody outrage, the +Indians (excepting some few who took charge of the prisoners) +proceeded to the settlement in the Levels. Here, as at Muddy creek, +they disguised their horrid purpose, and wearing the mask of +friendship, were kindly received at the house of Mr. Clendennin.[14] +This gentleman had just returned from a successful hunt, and brought +home three fine elks--these and the novelty of being with _friendly +Indians_, soon drew the whole settlement to his house. Here too the +Indians were well entertained and feasted on the fruit of Clendennin's +hunt, and every other article of provision which was there, and could +minister to their gratification. An old woman, who was of the party, +having a very sore leg and having understood that Indians could +perform a cure of any ulcer, shewed it to one near her; and asked if +he could heal it--The inhuman monster raised his tomahawk and buried +it in her head. This seemed to be the signal of a general massacre and +promptly was it obeyed--nearly every man of the settlement was killed +and the women and children taken captive. + +While this tragedy was acting, a negro woman, who was [71] endeavoring +to escape, was followed by her crying child.--To save it from savage +butchery, she turned round and murdered it herself. + +Mrs. Clendennin, driven to despair by the cruel and unprovoked murder +of her husband and friends, and the spoliation and destruction of all +their property, boldly charged the Indians with perfidy and treachery; +and alleged that cowards only could act with such duplicity. The +bloody scalp of her husband was thrown in her face--the tomahawk was +raised over her head; but she did not cease to revile them. In going +over Keeny's knot on the next day, the prisoners being in the centre, +and the Indians in the front and rear, she gave her infant child to +one of the women to hold for a while.--She then stepped into the +thicket unperceived, and made her escape. The crying of the infant +soon lead to a discovery of her flight--one of the Indians observed +that he could "bring the cow to her calf," and taking the child by the +heels, beat out its brains against a tree. + +Mrs. Clendennin returned that night to her home, a distance of ten +miles; and covering the body of her husband with rails and trash, +retired into an adjoining corn field, lest she might be pursued and +again taken prisoner. While in the corn field, her mind was much +agitated by contending emotions; and the prospect of effecting an +escape to the settlements, seemed to her dreary and hopeless. In a +moment of despondency, she thought she beheld a man, with the aspect +of a murderer, standing near her; and she became overwhelmed with +fear. It was but the creature of a sickly and terrified imagination; +and when her mind regained its proper tone, she resumed her flight and +reached the settlement in safety.[15] + +These melancholy events occurring so immediately after the escape of +Hannah Dennis; and the unwillingness of the Indians that she should be +separated from them, has induced the supposition that the party +committing those dreadful outrages were in pursuit of her. If such +were the fact, dearly were others made to pay the penalty of her +deliverance. + +This and other incidents, similar in their result, satisfied the +whites that although the war had been terminated on the part of the +French; yet it was likely to be continued with all its horrors, by +their savage allies. This was then, and has since been, attributed to +the smothered hostility of the French in [72] Canada and on the Ohio +river; and to the influence which they had acquired over the Indians. +This may have had its bearing on the event; but from the known +jealousy entertained by the Indians, of the English Colonists; their +apprehensions that they would be dispossessed of the country, which +they then held (England claiming jurisdiction over it by virtue of the +treaty of Paris;) and their dissatisfaction at the terms on which +France had negotiated a peace, were in themselves sufficient to induce +hostilities on the part of the Indians. Charity would incline to the +belief that the continuance of the war was rightly attributable to +these causes--the other reason assigned for it, supposing the +existence of a depravity, so deep and damning, as almost to stagger +credulity itself. + +In October, 1764, about fifty Delaware and Mingo warriors ascended +the Great Sandy and came over on New river, where they separated; +and forming two parties, directed their steps toward different +settlements--one party going toward Roanoke and Catawba--the other in +the direction of Jackson's river. They had not long passed, when +their trail was discovered by three men, (Swope, Pack and Pitman) +who were trapping on New river. These men followed the trail till +they came to where the Indian party had divided; and judging from +the routes which, had been taken, that their object was to visit +the Roanoke and Jackson's river settlements, they determined on +apprizing the inhabitants of their danger. Swope and Pack set out +for Roanoke and Pitman for Jackson's river. But before they could +accomplish their object, the Indians had reached the settlements on +the latter river, and on Catawba. + +The Party which came to Jackson's river, travelled down Dunlap's creek +and crossed James river, above Fort Young, in the night and unnoticed; +and going down this river to William Carpenter's, where was a stockade +fort under the care of a Mr. Brown, they met Carpenter just above his +house and killed him. They immediately proceeded to the house, and +made prisoners of a son of Mr. Carpenter, two sons of Mr. Brown[16] +[73] (all small children) and one woman--the others belonging to the +house, were in the field at work. The Indians then dispoiled the house +and taking off some horses, commenced a precipitate retreat--fearing +discovery and pursuit. + +When Carpenter was shot, the report of the gun was heard by those at +work in the field; and Brown carried the alarm to Fort Young. In +consequence of the weakness of this fort, a messenger was despatched +to Fort Dinwiddie, with the intelligence. Capt. Paul (who still +commanded there,) immediately commenced a pursuit with twenty of his +men; and passing out at the head of Dunlap's creek, descended Indian +creek and New river to Piney creek; without making any discovery of +the enemy. On Indian creek they met Pitman, who had been running all +the day and night before, to apprise the garrison at Fort Young of the +approach of the Indians. Pitman joined in pursuit of the party who had +killed Carpenter; but they, apprehending that they would be followed, +had escaped to Ohio, by the way of Greenbrier and Kenhawa rivers.[17] + +As Capt. Paul and his men were returning, they accidently met with the +other party of Indians, who had been to Catawba, and committed some +depredations and murders there. They were discovered about midnight, +encamped on the north bank of New river, opposite an island at the +mouth of Indian creek. Excepting some few who were watching three +prisoners, (whom they had taken on Catawba, and who were sitting in +the midst of them,) they were lying around a small fire, wrapped in +skins and blankets. Paul's men not knowing that there were captives +among them, fired in the midst, killed three Indians, and wounded +several others, one of whom drowned himself to preserve his scalp--the +rest of the party fled hastily down the river and escaped. + +In an instant after the firing, Capt. Paul and his men rushed forward +to secure the wounded and prevent further escapes. One of the foremost +of his party seeing, as he supposed, a squaw sitting composedly +awaiting the result, raised his tomahawk and just as it was +descending, Capt. Paul threw himself between the assailant and his +victim; and receiving the blow on his arm, exclaimed, "It is a shame +to hurt a woman, even a squaw." Recognising the voice of Paul, the +woman named him. She was Mrs. Catharine Gunn, an English lady, who had +come to the country some years before; and who, previously to her +marriage, had lived in the family of Capt. Paul's father-in-law, where +she became acquainted with that gentleman--She had been taken captive +by the Indians, on the Catawba, a few days before, when her husband +and two only children were killed by them. When questioned why she had +not cried out, or otherwise made known that she was a white prisoner, +she replied, "I had as soon be killed as not--my husband is +murdered--my children are slain--my parents are dead. I have not a +relation in America--every thing dear to me here is gone--I have no +wishes--no hopes--no fears--I would not have risen to my feet to save +my life." + +[74] When Capt. Paul came on the enemy's camp, he silently posted his +men in an advantageous situation for doing execution, and made +arrangements for a simultaneous fire. To render this the more deadly +and efficient, they dropped on one knee, and were preparing to take +deliberate aim, when one of them (John M'Collum) called to his +comrades, "Pull steady and send them all to hell." This ill timed +expression of anxious caution, gave the enemy a moment's warning of +their danger; and is the reason why greater execution was not done. + +The Indians had left all their guns, blankets and plunder--these +together with the three white captives, were taken by Capt. Paul to +Fort Dinwiddie.[18] + +----- + [1] Father of Dr. Archibald Alexander, sometime president of + Hampden Sydney College in Virginia, and afterwards a professor + at Princeton in New Jersey. + + ------ + + _Comment by L. C. D._--He was the grandfather of Dr. + Alexander. + + [2] The attacks on the Roanoke settlement, mentioned by + Withers, occurred in June and July, 1755 (not the spring of + 1757, as he states); that on Greenbrier, in September + following; and the expedition against the Shawnees did not take + place in 1757, but in February and March, 1756. Diaries and + other documents in the Wisconsin Historical Society's library + prove this. Dr. Draper estimated that Lewis's force was about + 263 whites and 130 Cherokees--418 in all. The several companies + were officered by Peter Hogg, John Smith, William Preston, + Archibald Alexander, Robert Breckenridge, Obadiah Woodson, John + Montgomery, and one Dunlap. Two of Dr. Thomas Walker's + companions in his Kentucky exploration of 1750, were in the + expedition--Henry Lawless and Colby Chew. Governor Dinwiddie + had stipulated in his note to Washington, in December, 1755, + that either Col. Adam Stephen or Maj. Andrew Lewis was to + command. Washington having selected the latter, dispatched him + from Winchester about the middle of January, 1756, with orders + to hurry on the expedition. To the mismanagement of the guides + is attributed much of the blame for its failure. The + interesting Journals of Capt. William Preston and Lieut. Thomas + Norton are in the possession of the Wisconsin Historical + Society.--R. G. T. + + [3] But Gallipolis was not settled until 1790, as has been + previously shown. Withers confounds the modern French town of + Gallipolis, whose residents were the sad victims of Indian + outrages rather than the abettors of them, with the old Shawnee + town just below the mouth of the Scioto (site of Alexandria, + O.). This fur-trading center was a village of log huts built by + the French for the accommodation of their Shawnee allies, and + was a center of frontier disturbances.--R. G. T. + + [4] Preston's Journal does not lay much stress on Hogg's + delay. Norton's Journal, speaking of Hogg, says, "common + soldiers were by him scarcely treated with humanity," and he + seems to have regularly overruled and disobeyed Lewis. There + was much rancor in camp, and Norton writes of the Cherokee + allies, "The conduct and concord that was kept up among the + Indians might shame us, for they were in general quite + unanimous and brotherly."--R. G. T. + + [5] This expedition was sent out under the auspices of Gov. + Dinwiddie--Fauquier did not become governor until 1758. No + countermanding orders were sent.--L. C. D. + + [6] Audley Paul was first lieutenant in Preston's + company.--L. C. D. + + [7] Withers, deriving his information from Taylor's + sketches, was misled as to any intention of establishing a + fort at the mouth of the Kanawha; and also as to Paul's, or + any one else's proposition to cross the Ohio, and invade the + Shawnee towns. The only aim was, to reach the Upper Shawnee + town.--L. C. D. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--"Upper Shawnee town" was an Indian + village at the mouth of Old Town Creek, emptying into the Ohio + from the north, 39 miles above the mouth of the Great Kanawha. + + [8] If such a journal ever existed, it passed into the hands + of Gov. Dinwiddie, or possibly to Gov. Fauquier; but no + reference to it is found among the _Dinwiddie Papers_, as + published by the Virginia Historical Society; nor in the + _Calendar of State Papers_, published by the State of Virginia. + It is to be remarked, however, that few of the records of that + period have been preserved by that State.--L. C. D. + + [9] Shortly after, M'Nutt was appointed governor of Nova + Scotia, where he remained until the commencement of the + American revolution. In this contest he adhered to the cause of + liberty, and joined his countrymen in arms under Gen. Gates at + Saratoga. He was afterwards known as a meritorious officer in + the brigade of Baron de Kalb, in the south--he died in 1811, + and was buried in the Falling Spring church yard, in the forks + of James river. + + [10] Preston's MS. Register of the persons of Augusta county, + Va., killed, wounded, captured by the Indians, and of those who + escaped, from 1754 to May, 1758, is in the Wisconsin Historical + Society's library. It is to be regretted that Col. Preston, + whose opportunities were so good, did not continue the Register + till the end of the Indian wars. It is a most valuable document + as far as it goes, and supplies many dates and facts hitherto + involved in doubt and obscurity.--L. C. D. + + [11] Seybert's Fort was situated on the South Fork, twelve + miles northeast of Franklin, in Pendleton County. At the time + of this invasion, there was a fort located on the South Branch, + garrisoned by Capt. James Dunlap and a company of rangers from + Augusta county. Preston's Register states, that on the 27th of + April, 1758, the fort at which Capt. Dunlap was stationed, was + attacked and captured, the captain and twenty-two others + killed; and, the next day, the same party, no doubt, attacked + Seybert's Fort, killing Capt. Seybert and sixteen others, while + twenty-four others were missing. Washington, at the time, + placed the number as "about sixty persons killed and missing." + + A gazette account, published at Williamsburg, May 5th ensuing, + says: "The Indians lately took and burnt two forts, where were + stationed one of our ranging companies, forty of whom were + killed and scalped, and Lieut. Dunlap and nineteen missing." + + Kercheval's _History of the Valley_ gives some further + particulars: That Seybert's Fort was taken by surprise; that + ten of the thirty persons occupying it, were bound, taken + outside; the others were placed on a log and tomahawked. James + Dyer, a lad of fourteen, was spared, taken first to Logstown, + and then to Chillicothe, and retained a year and ten months, + when as one of an Indian party he visited Fort Pitt, and + managed to evade his associates while there, and finally + reached the settlements in Pennsylvania, and two years later + returned to the South Fork. It is added by the same historian, + as another tradition, that after the fort had been invested two + days, and two of the Indians had been killed, the garrison + agreed to surrender on condition of their lives being spared, + which, was solemnly promised. That when the gate was opened, + the Indians rushed in with demoniac yells, the whites fled, but + were retaken, except one person; the massacre then took place, + and ten were carried off into captivity. + + Still another tradition preserved by Kercheval, says the noted + Delaware chief, Killbuck, led the Indians. Seybert's son, a lad + of fifteen, exhibited great bravery in the defense of the fort. + Killbuck called out to Capt. Seybert, in English, to surrender, + and their lives should be spared; when young Seybert at this + instant, aimed his loaded gun at the chief, and the father + seized it, and took it from him, saying they could not + successfully defend the place, and to save their lives should + surrender, confiding in Killbuck's assurances. Capt. Seybert + was among the first of those sacrificed. Young Seybert was + among the prisoners, and told the chief how near he came to + killing him. "You young rascal," laughingly replied Killbuck, + "if you had killed me, you would have saved the fort, for had I + fallen, my warriors would have immediately fled, and given up + the siege in despair."--L. C. D. + + [12] The name is Renick. Robert Renick, who was killed on the + occasion referred to, was a man of character and influence in + his day. His name appears on Capt. John Smith's company roll of + Augusta militia as early as 1742; and four years later, he was + lieutenant of a mounted company of Augusta militia. Instead of + 1761, the captivity of the Renick family occurred July 25, + 1757, as shown by the Preston Register, which states that + Renick and another were killed on that day--Mrs. Renick and + seven children, and a Mrs. Dennis, captured; and the same day, + at Craig's Creek, one man was killed and two wounded. The + Renick traditions state that Mrs. Renick had only five children + when taken; and one born after reaching the Indian towns; and + corrects some other statements not properly related in + Withers's narrative of the affair.--L. C. D. + + [13] In 1763-65, the great Shawnee village just below the + mouth of the Scioto (site of Alexandria, O.), was destroyed by + floods. Some of the tribesmen rebuilt their town on a higher + bottom just above the mouth (site of Portsmouth, O.), while + others ascended the Scioto and built successively Old and New + Chillicothe.--R. G. T. + + [14] Where Ballard Smith now resides. + + [15] Further particulars of this captivity are in Royall's + _Sketches of History, Life, and Manners in U. S._ (New Haven, + 1826), pp. 60-66.--R. G. T. + + [16] Carpenter's son (since Doctor Carpenter of Nicholas) + came home about fifteen years afterwards--Brown's youngest son, + (the late Col. Samuel Brown of Greenbrier) was brought home in + 1769--the elder son never returned. He took an Indian wife, + became wealthy and lived at Brown's town in Michigan. He acted + a conspicuous part in the late war and died in 1815. + + ------ + + _Comment by L. C. D._--Adam Brown, who was captured as + mentioned in the above text and note, was thought by his last + surviving son, Adam Brown, Jr., whom I visited in Kansas in + 1868, to have been about six years old when taken; and he died, + he thought, about 1817, at about seventy-five years of age. But + these dates, and his probable age, do not agree; he was either + older when taken, or not so old at his death. The mother was + killed when the sons were captured, and the father and some + others of the family escaped. The late William Walker, an + educated Wyandott, and at one time territorial governor of + Kansas, stated to me, that the Wyandotts never made chiefs of + white captives, but that they often attained, by their merits, + considerable consequence. It is, however, certain that Abraham + Kuhn, a white prisoner, grew up among the Wyandotts, and, + according to Heckewelder, became a war chief among them, and + signed the treaty at Big Beaver in 1785; and Adam Brown himself + signed the treaties of 1805 and 1808, and doubtless would have + signed later ones had he not sided with the British Wyandotts, + and retired to Canada, near Malden, where he died. + + [17] It is highly probable that this foray took place in + 1763. During this year, as features of the Pontiac uprising, + bloody forays were made on the more advanced settlements on + Jackson, Greenbrier, and Calf Pasture rivers, and several + severe contests ensued between whites and Indians. Captains + Moffett and Phillips, with sixty rangers, were ambuscaded with + the loss of fifteen men. Col. Charles Lewis pursued the savages + with 150 volunteers raised in a single night, and on October + 3rd surprised them at the head of the South Fork of the + Potomac, killing twenty-one, with no white losses. The spoils + of this victory, beside the "five horses with all their + trappings," sold for L250. This was the most notable of the + several skirmishes which took place on the Virginia frontier, + that year.--R. G. T. + + [18] Perhaps this affair is that related by Capt. William + Christian, in a letter dated Roanoke, Oct. 19th, 1763, as + published in the gazettes of that day--there are, at least, + some suggestive similarities: "Being joined by Capt. + Hickenbotham, with twenty-five of the Amherst militia, we + marched on Tuesday last, to Winston's Meadows, where our + scouts informed us, that they had discovered a party of + Indians about three miles off. Night coming on, prevented our + meeting them; and next day, being rainy, made it difficult to + follow their tracks. As they were on their return, Capt. + Hickenbotham marched to join Capt. Ingles down New River. I, + with nineteen men and my ensign, took a different route in + quest of them. We marched next day on their tracks until + two hours before sunset, when we heard some guns, and soon + afterwards discovered three large fires, which appeared to + be on the bank of Turkey Creek, where it empties into New + river. Upon this we immediately advanced, and found they + were on an island. Being within gun-shot, we fired on them, + and loading again, forded the creek. The Indians, after + killing Jacob Kimberlain, a prisoner they had with them, made + but a slight resistence, and ran off. We found one Indian + killed on the spot, and, at a little distance, four blankets + shot through, and very bloody. We took all their bundles, + four guns, eight tomahawks, and two mares. They had several + other horses, which being frightened by the firing, ran off + and were lost. The party consisted of upwards of twenty + Indians. By the tracks of blood, we imagined several of them + were wounded." This affair occurred Oct. 12th.--L. C. D. + + + + +[75] CHAPTER IV. + + +During the continuance of the French war, and of that with the Indians +which immediately succeeded it, the entire frontier from New York to +Georgia was exposed to the merciless fury of the savages. In no +instance were the measures of defence adopted by the different +colonies, adequate to their object.--From some unaccountable fatuity +in those who had the direction of this matter, a defensive war, which +alone could have checked aggression and prevented the effusion of +blood, was delayed 'till the whole population, of the country west of +the Blue ridge, had retired east of those mountains; or were cooped up +in forts. + +The chief means of defence employed, were the militia of the adjoining +counties, and the establishment of a line of forts and block-houses, +dispersed along a considerable extent of country, and occupied by +detachments of British colonial troops, or by militiamen. All these +were utterly incompetent to effect security; partly from the +circumstances of the case, and somewhat from the entire want of +discipline, and the absence of that subordination which is absolutely +necessary to render an army effective. + +So great and apparent were the insubordination and remissness of duty, +on the part of the various garrisons, that Gen. Washington, declared +them "utterly inefficient and useless;" and the inhabitants +themselves, could place no reliance whatever on them, for protection. +In a particular instance, such were the inattention and carelessness +of the garrison that several children playing under the walls of the +fort, were run down and caught by the Indians, who were not discovered +'till they arrived at the very gate.[1] + +In Virginia the error of confiding on the militia, soon became +apparent.[2] Upon the earnest remonstrance and entreaty of General +Washington, the colonial legislature substituted a force of +regulars,[3] [76] which at once effected the partial security of her +frontier, and gave confidence to the inhabitants. + +In Pennsylvania, from the pacific disposition of her rulers and their +abhorrence of war of any kind, her border settlements suffered most +severely. The whole extent of her frontier was desolated by the +Indians, and irruptions were frequently made by them into the +interior. The establishments, which had been made in the Conococheague +valley, were altogether broken up and scenes of the greatest +barbarity, on one side, and of the utmost suffering on the other, were +constantly exhibiting. A few instances of this suffering and of that +barbarity, may not be improperly adduced here. They will serve to +illustrate the condition of those who were within reach of the savage +enemy; and perhaps, to palliate the enormities practiced on the +christian Indians. + +In the fall of 1754 about forty or fifty Indians entered that +province, and dividing themselves into two parties, sought the +unprotected settlements, for purposes of murder and devastation: the +smaller party went about the forks of Delaware--the other directing +their steps along the Susquehanna. On the 2nd of October, twelve of +the former appeared before the house of Peter Williamson, (a +Scotchman, with no family but his wife,) who had made considerable +improvement near the Delaware river. Mrs. Williamson being from home, +he sat up later than usual, and about 11 o'clock was astounded at the +savage war whoop, resounding from various directions, near to the +house. Going to the window, he perceived several Indians standing in +the yard, one of whom, in broken English, promised that if he would +come out and surrender he should not be killed; threatening at the +same time that if he did not, they would burn him up in his house. +Unable to offer an effectual resistance, and preferring the chance of +safety by surrendering, to the certainty of a horrid death if he +attempted an opposition, he yielded himself up a prisoner. + +So soon as he was in their power they plundered the house of such +articles as they could conveniently take with them, and set fire to +it, and to the barn, in which was a quantity of wheat, some horses and +other cattle. After inflicting some severe tortures on Williamson, and +forcing him to carry a heavy weight of the plunder, which they had +taken from him, they went to a neighboring house, occupied by Jacob +Snyder, his wife, five children and a servant. The piercing cries, and +[77] agonizing shrieks of these poor creatures, made no impression on +the savages. The father, mother, and children were tomahawked and +scalped, and their bodies consumed by fire together with the house. +The servant was spared that he might aid in carrying their plunder; +but manifesting deep distress at his situation as prisoner, he was +tomahawked before they proceeded far. + +Before they could accomplish farther mischief a fall of snow, making +them apprehensive that they would be pursued by the united force of +the settlement, induced them to return to Alamingo--taking Williamson +with them. + +On their way back, they met with the party of Indians, which had +separated from them, as they approached the settlements. These had +been lower down on the Susquehanna, and had succeeded in making +greater havoc, and committing more depredations, than it had fallen to +the lot of those who had taken Williamson, to commit. They had with +them three prisoners and twenty scalps. According to the account of +their transactions as detailed by the prisoners, they had on one day +killed and scalped John Lewis, his wife and three children, and in a +few days after had murdered, with almost every circumstance of +cruelty, Jacob Miller, his wife and six children, and George Folke, +his wife and nine children, cutting up the bodies of the latter +family and giving them piece-meal to the hogs in the pen. Wherever +they had been, destruction marked their course. In every instance the +houses, barns and grain stacks were consumed by fire; and the stock +killed. + +The three prisoners who had been brought in by the last party, +endeavored soon after to effect an escape; but their ignorance of the +country, and the persevering activity and vigilance of the Indians, +prevented the accomplishment of their attempt. They were overtaken, +and brought back; and then commenced a series of cruelties, tortures +and death, sufficient to shock the sensibilities of the most obdurate +heart, if unaccustomed to the perpetration of such enormities. + +Two of them were tied to trees, around which large fires were kindled, +and they suffered to remain for some time, in the gradual but horrible +state of being scorched to death. After the Indians had enjoyed awhile +the writhings of agony and the tears of anguish, which were drawn from +these suffering victims, one, stepping within the circle, ripped open +their bodies and threw their bowels into the flames. Others, to +emulate [78] this most shocking deed, approached, and with knives, +burning sticks, and heated irons, continued to lacerate, pierce and +tear the flesh from their breasts, arms and legs, 'till death closed +the scene of horrors and rendered its victims insensible to its +pains. + +The third was reserved a few hours, that he might be sacrificed under +circumstances of peculiar enormity. A hole being dug in the ground of +a depth sufficient to enable him to stand upright, with his head only +exposed, his arms were pinioned to his body, he placed in it, and the +loose earth thrown in and rammed closely around him. He was then +scalped and permitted to remain in that situation for several hours. A +fire was next kindled near his head. In vain did the poor suffering +victim of hellish barbarity exclaim, that his brains were boiling in +his head; and entreat the mercy of instant death. Deaf to his cries, +and inexorable to his entreaties, they continued the fire 'till his +eye balls burst and gushed from their sockets, and death put a period +to his sufferings. + +Of all these horrid spectacles, Williamson was an unwilling spectator; +and supposing that he was reserved for some still more cruel and +barbarous fate, determined on escaping. This he was soon enabled to +do; and returned to the settlements.[4] + +The frequent infliction of such enormities as these upon the +helpless and unoffending women and children, as well as upon those +who were more able to resist and better qualified to endure them; +together with the desolation of herds, the devastation of crops, and +the conflagration of houses which invariably characterized those +incursions, engendered a general feeling of resentment, that sought +in some instances, to wreak itself on those who were guiltless of any +participation in those bloody deeds. That vindictive spirit led to +the perpetration of offences against humanity, not less atrocious +than those which they were intended to requite; and which obliterated +every discriminative feature between the perpetrators of them, and +their savage enemies. + +The Canestoga Indians, to the number of forty, lived in a village, in +the vicinity of Lancaster; they were in amity with the whites, and had +been in peace and quiet for a considerable length of time. An +association of men, denominated the "Paxton boys," broke into their +little town and murdered all who were found at home--fourteen men, +women and children fell a prey to the savage brutality of those sons +of civilization [79]. The safety of the others was sought to be +effected, by confining them in the jail at Lancaster. It was in vain. +The walls of a prison could afford no protection, from the relentless +fury of these exasperated men. The jail doors were broken open, and +its wretched inmates cruelly murdered.--And, as if their deaths could +not satiate their infuriate murderers, their bodies were brutally +mangled, the hands and feet lopped off, and scalps torn from the +bleeding heads of innocent infants. + +A similar fate impended the christian Indians of Nequetank and Nain; +and was only averted, by the timely interposition of the government of +Pennsylvania. They were removed to Philadelphia, where they remained +from November 1763 'till after the close of the war in December 1764; +during which time the Paxton boys twice assembled in the neighborhood +of the city, for the purpose of assaulting the barracks and murdering +the Indians, but were deterred by the military preparations made to +oppose them; and ultimately, but reluctantly, desisted. + +Had the feelings excited in the minds of these misguided men, by the +cruelties of the Indians, been properly directed, it would have +produced a quite different result. If, instead of avenging the +outrages of others, upon those who were no otherwise guilty than in +the complexion of their skin, they had directed their exertions to the +repressing of invasion, and the punishment of its authors, much good +might have been achieved; and they, instead of being stigmatized as +murderers of the innocent, would have been hailed as benefactors of +the border settlements. Associations of this kind were formed in that +province, and contributed no little to lessen the frequency of Indian +massacres, and to prevent the effusion of blood, and the destruction +of property. At the time the Paxton boys were meditating and +endeavoring to effect the destruction of the peaceable christian +Indians, another company, formed by voluntary league, was actively +engaged in checking the intrusions, of those who were enemies, and in +punishing their aggressions. A company of riflemen, called the Black +boys (from the fact of their painting themselves red and black, after +the Indian fashion,) under the command of Capt. James Smith, +contributed to preserve the Conococheague valley, during the years +1763 and 1764, from the devastation [80] which had overspread it early +after the commencement of Braddock's war. + +Capt. Smith had been captured by the Indians in the spring of 1755, +and remained with them until the spring of 1759, when he left them at +Montreal, and after some time arrived at home in Pennsylvania. He was +in Fort du Quesne, when the Indians and French went out to surprise +Gen. Braddock; and witnessed the burnings and other dreadful tortures +inflicted upon those who were so unfortunate as to have been made +prisoners; and the orgies and demoniacal revels with which the victory +was celebrated. He was subsequently adopted into a family, by which he +was kindly treated; and became well acquainted with their manner of +warfare, and the various arts practised by them, to ensure success in +their predatory incursions, and afterwards to elude pursuit. He became +satisfied from observation, that to combat Indians successfully, they +must be encountered in their own way; and he accordingly instructed +his men in the Indian mode of warfare, dressed them after the Indian +fashion, and fought after the Indian manner.[5] + +An instance of the good effect resulting from practicing the arts +and stratagems of the Indians, occurred during this war; and to +its success the garrison of Fort Pitt were indebted for their +preservation. + +After the ratification of the treaty of peace which had been concluded +between England and France, war continued to be waged by the Indians +on the whole western frontier. A large body of them had collected and +marched to Fort Pitt, with a view to its reduction by famine. It had +been invested for some time and the garrison being too weak to sally +out and give battle to the besiegers, Capt. Ecuyer dispatched +messengers with the intelligence of his situation and a request for +aid and provisions: these were either compelled to return or be +killed, as the country for some distance east of Fort Pitt was in the +possession of the savages.[6] + +At length a quantity of provisions were ordered by Gov. Amherst for +the relief of the fort, and forwarded under a strong guard commanded +by Colonel Boquet. The Indians were soon apprized of this and +determined on intercepting the provisions, and if practicable, to +prevent their reaching the place of their destination. With this +object in view, a considerable force was detached, to watch the +motions of Col. Boquet and [81] upon a favorable opportunity to give +him battle. In a narrow defile on Turtle creek an attack was made by +the Indians, and a severe engagement ensued. Both armies fought with +the most obstinate bravery, from one o'clock 'till night, and in the +morning it was resumed, and continued with unabated fury for several +hours. At length Col. Boquet, having placed four companies of infantry +and grenadiers in ambush, ordered a retreat. So soon as this was +commenced, the Indians, confident of victory, pressed forward with +considerable impetuosity, and fell into the ambuscade. This decided +the contest--the Indians were repulsed with great slaughter and +dispersed. + +The loss of the British, in killed and wounded, exceeded one hundred. +That they were not entirely cut off, was attributable to the stratagem +of the retreat (a favorite one of the Indians;) the success of which +not only saved the detachment under Col. Boquet, but likewise +preserved Fort Pitt, from falling into the hands of the savage foe. + +The loss sustained by the enemy, must have equaled that of the +British; several of their most distinguished chiefs and warriors, were +of the number of the slain: and so decisive was the victory obtained +over them, that in the succeeding campaign against the Indians on the +Muskingum, Boquet found not much difficulty in bringing them to terms. +A cessation of hostilities was agreed to, upon condition that they +would give up all the whites then detained by them in captivity. +Upwards of three hundred prisoners were then redeemed; but the season +being far advanced and the others scattered in different parts of the +country, it was stipulated, that they should be brought into Fort Pitt +early in the ensuing spring; and as a security that they would comply +with this condition of the armistice, six of their chiefs were +delivered up as hostages--these however succeeded in making their +escape before the army arrived at Fort Pitt.[7] + +The ill success which had attended the combined operations of the +Indians, during this war, the difficulty of procuring ammunition to +support it, and the fact that it had begun to be carried into their +own country, disposed them to make peace. A treaty was accordingly +concluded with them by Sir William Johnson in 1765. Previous to this +however, some few depredations were committed by the Indians, in +contravention of the agreement made with them by Col. Boquet; and +which induced a belief that the want of clothes and ammunition,[82] +was the real cause of their partial forbearance. It was therefore of +great consequence, to prevent their obtaining a supply of these +necessaries, until there could be some stronger assurance, than had +been given, of their pacific disposition. + +Notwithstanding the prevalence of this impression, and the fact, that +a royal proclamation had been issued, forbidding any person trading +with the Indians, yet in March 1765 a number of wagons, laden with +goods and warlike stores for the Indians, was sent from Philadelphia +to Henry Pollens of Conococheague, to be thence transported on pack +horses to Fort Pitt. This very much alarmed the country; and many +individuals remonstrated against the propriety of supplying the +Indians at that particular juncture; alleging the well known fact, +that they were then destitute of ammunition and clothing, and that to +furnish them with those articles, would be to aid in bringing on +another frontier war, and to lend themselves to the commission of +those horrid murders, by which those wars were always distinguished. +Remonstrance was fruitless. The gainful traffick which could be then +carried on with the Indians, banished every other consideration; and +seventy horses, packed with goods, were directed on to Fort Pitt. + +In this situation of things, Capt. James Smith, (who had been with +Boquet during the campaign of 1764, and was well convinced that a +supply at that time of clothing and ammunition, would be the signal +for the recommencement of hostilities) collected ten of his "Black +boys," painted and dressed as Indians; and waylaid the caravan, near a +place called the "Side long Hill." He disposed his men in pairs, +behind trees along the road, at intervals of about 60 yards, with +orders for the second not to fire 'till the first had reloaded, so +that a regular, slow fire might be maintained at once, from front to +rear. + +As soon as the cavalcade approached, the firing commenced, and the +pack horses beginning to fall by the side of their conductors, excited +the fear of the latter, and induced them to cry out "Gentlemen what +would you have us to do." Captain Smith replied, "collect all your +loads to the front, deposit them in one place; take your private +property and retire." These things were accordingly done; and the +goods left (consisting of blankets, shirts, beads, vermillion, powder, +lead, tomahawks, scalping knives, &c.) were immediately burned or +otherwise destroyed. + +[83] The traders then went to Fort Loudon, and obtaining of the +commanding officer a party of Highland soldiers, proceeded in quest of +the _Robbers_ (as they termed them;) some of whom were taken and +carried into the Fort. Capt. Smith then raised about 300 riflemen, and +marching to Fort Loudon, occupied a position on an eminence near it. +He had not been long there before he had more than twice as many of +the garrison, prisoners in his camp, as there were of his men in the +guard house. Under a flag of truce proceeding from the Fort, a +convention for the exchange of prisoners was entered into between +Capt. Grant, the commander of the garrison, and Capt. Smith, and the +latter with his men, immediately returned to their homes. [8] + +Occurrences such as this, were afterwards of too frequent [84] +recurrence. The people had been taught by experience, that the fort +afforded very little, if any protection to those who were not confined +within its walls--they were jealous of the easy, and yet secure life +led by the garrison, and apprehensive of the worst consequences from +the intercourse of traders with the Indians. Under those feelings, +they did not scruple to intercept the passage of goods to the trading +posts, and commit similar outrages to those above described, if there +were any interference on the part of the neighboring forts. On one +occasion, Capt. Grant was himself taken prisoner, and [85] detained +'till restitution was made the inhabitants of some guns, which had +been taken from them, by soldiers from the garrison; and in 1769, a +quantity of powder, lead and other articles was taken from some +traders passing through Bedford county, and destroyed. Several +persons, supposed to have been of the party who committed this +outrage, were apprehended, and laid in irons in the guard house at +Fort Bedford. + +Capt. Smith, although in no wise engaged in this transaction, nor yet +approving it, was nevertheless so indignant that an offence against +the civil authorities, should be attempted to be punished by a +military tribunal, that he resolved on effecting their release. To +accomplish this, he collected eighteen of his "Black boys," in whom he +knew he could confide; and marched along the main road in the +direction of Fort Bedford. On his way to that place, he did not +attempt to conceal his object, but freely told to every one who +enquired, that he was going to take Fort Bedford. On the evening of +the second day of their march, they arrived at the crossings of +Juniata, (14 miles from Bedford) and erected tents as if they intended +encamping there all night. + +Previous to this, Capt. Smith had communicated his intention to Mr. +William Thompson (who lived in Bedford and on whom he could rely,) and +prevailed on him to obtain what information he could as to the effect +produced in the garrison by the preparations which he was making for +its attack; and acquaint him with it. That he might be enabled to do +this with greater certainty, a place and hour were appointed at which +Capt. Smith would meet him. + +About 11 o'clock at night the march was resumed, and moving +briskly they arrived near to Bedford, where they met Thompson; who +communicated to them the fact, that the garrison had been apprized +of their object that in consequence of having heard from them on +the preceding evening, at the Crossings of Juniata, it was not +expected they would arrive before mid-day, that their number was +known, and the enterprise ridiculed. Thompson then returned to +Bedford, and the party moved silently under covert of the banks of the +river, 'till they approached near to the Fort, where they lay +concealed, awaiting the opening of the gate. About day light +Thompson apprised them that the guard had thrown open the gate, and +were taking their morning's dram; that the arms were stacked not far +from the entrance into the Fort, and three centinels on the wall. + +Upon hearing these things, Capt. Smith with his men rushed rapidly to +the Fort, and the morning being misty, were not discovered 'till they +had reached the gate. At that instant the centinels fired their guns +and gave the alarm; but Capt. Smith and his men took possession of the +arms, and raised a loud shout, before the soldiers of the garrison +could learn the cause of the alarm, or get to the scene of action. + +[86] Having thus obtained possession of the Fort, Capt. Smith had the +prisoners released from the guardhouse, and compelling a blacksmith to +knock off their irons, left the Fort with them and returned to +Conococheaque. "This, Capt. Smith says, was the first British fort in +America, taken by what they called American rebels." + +Some time after this, an attempt was made to apprehend Capt. Smith, as +he was proceeding to survey and locate land on the Youghogany river. +In the encounter which succeeded, a man (by the name of Johnson) was +killed; and the murder being charged on Smith, he was confined for a +time in Bedford jail; but fearing a release, the civil authority sent +him privately through the wilderness to Carlisle, to await a trial for +the alledged offence. On hearing this, upwards of three hundred +persons (among whom were his old "Black boys,") proceeded to Carlisle +to effect a rescue; and were only prevented the accomplishment of +their object, by the solicitation of Smith himself. He knew his +innocence, and preferred awaiting a trial; and how willing soever he +might have been to oppose any encroachments of the military, he held +in just abhorrence, an opposition to the civil authority of his +country. He was put on his trial and acquitted.[9] + +[87] Events such as those which have been narrated, serve to shew the +state of things which existed at that day; and to point out the evils +necessarily resulting, from an absence of municipal regulations. Man, +in every station and condition of life, requires the controlling hand +of civil power, to confine him in his proper sphere, and to check +every advance of invasion, on the rights of others. Unrestrained +liberty speedily degenerates into licentiousness. Without the +necessary curbs and restraints of law, men would relapse into a state +of nature; [88] and although the obligations of justice (the basis of +society) be natural obligations; yet such are the depravity and +corruption of human nature, that without some superintending and +coercive power, they would be wholly disregarded; and human society, +would become the field of oppression and outrage--instead of a theatre +for the interchange of good offices. Civil institutions and judicial +establishments; the comminations of punishment and the denunciations +of law, are barely sufficient to repress the evil propensities of man. +Left to themselves, they spurn all natural restrictions, and riot in +the unrestrained indulgence of every passion. + +----- + [1] At Dickenson's fort in 1755. + + [2] When the Indians were most troublesome, and threatening + even the destruction of Winchester, Lord Fairfax who was + commandant of the militia of Frederick and Hampshire, ordered + them out. Three days active exertion on his part, brought only + 20 in the field. + + [3] Rather rangers, who seem to have been enlisted to serve + a year, and were re-engaged when necessary.--L. C. D. + + [4] Peter Williamson had singular adventures. When a boy he + was kidnapped at Aberdeen, and sent to America, for which he + afterwards recovered damages. It is said that he passed a + considerable period among the Cherokees. He instituted the + first penny post at Edinburgh, for which, when the government + assumed it, he received a pension. His _Memoirs_, and _French + and Indian Cruelty Examplified_, were works of interest. He + died in Edinburgh in 1799.--L. C. D. + + [5] Col. James Smith was born in Franklin county, Pa., in + 1737; was captured by Indians in 1755, remaining in captivity + until his escape in 1759. He served as ensign in 1763, and + lieutenant under Bouquet in 1764; he was a leader, for several + years, of the Black Boys--a sort of regulators of the traders + who, the Black Boys thought, supplied the Indians with the + munitions of war. As the troubles with the mother country + began, Smith was selected for frontier service, and held civil + and military positions--captain in the Pennsylvania line; then + in 1777 as major under Washington; in 1778, he was promoted to + the rank of colonel of militia, and led an expedition against + the Indian town on French Creek. In 1788, he removed to + Kentucky; served in the early Kentucky conventions, preparatory + to State organization, and also in the legislature. He did + missionary work in Kentucky and Tennessee, and preached among + the Indians. He wrote a valuable account of his Indian + captivity, republished a few years since by Robert Clarke & + Co., Cincinnati, and a treatise on Indian warfare, besides two + controversial pamphlets against the Shakers. He died in + Washington county, Ky., in 1812, aged about seventy-five + years.--L. C. D. + + [6] Captain Simeon Ecuyer, like Bouquet, was a native of + Switzerland; he did good service on the frontiers, especially + in the gallant defense of Fort Pitt in 1763. He became + disgusted with the bad conduct of his soldiers, especially the + grenadiers, and begged leave to resign. "For God's sake," he + implored Bouquet, "let me go, and raise cabbages."--L. C. D. + + [7] Henry Bouquet was born at Rolle, in the canton of Berne, + Switzerland, in 1721, and at the age of seventeen he entered + into the service of the states general of Holland; subsequently + engaged under the banner of Sardinia, and distinguished himself + at the battle of Cony. In 1748, he was a lieutenant-colonel in + the Swiss guards, in the service of Holland. At length, in + 1756, he entered the English army, serving in the Royal + Americans, and co-operated with Gen. Forbes on the campaign + against Fort Du Quesne, repulsing an attack of French and + Indians on Loyal Hanna. He afterwards served in Canada, and was + sent for the relief of Fort Pitt, when beleagured in 1763. + While marching on this service, he signally defeated the + Indians at Bushy Run, after a two days' engagement, in August + of that year, and relieved Fort Pitt. In 1764, he led an + expedition against the Ohio Indians, compelling them to sue for + peace. He died at Pensacola, September 2, 1765, of a prevailing + fever, in the prime of life, at the age of forty-four years. He + had attained the rank of general.--L. C. D. + + [8] The following song was soon after composed by Mr. George Campbell + (an Irish gentleman who had been educated in Dublin,) and was + frequently sung in the neighborhood to the tune of the _Black Joke_. + + Ye patriot souls who love to sing, + What serves your country and your king, + In wealth, peace, and royal estate; + Attention give whilst I rehearse, + A modern fact, in jingling verse, + How party interest strove what it cou'd, + To profit itself by public blood, + But justly met its merited fate. + + Let all those Indian traders claim, + Their just reward, in glorious fame, + For vile, base and treacherous ends, + To Pollins in the spring they sent + Much warlike stores, with an intent, + To carry them to our barbarous foes, + Expecting that nobody dare oppose + A present to their Indian friends. + + Astonished at the wild design + Frontier inhabitants combin'd, + With brave souls to stop their career, + Although some men apostatized + Who first the grand attempt advis'd, + The bold frontiers they bravely stood, + To act for their king, and their country's good + In joint league, and strangers to fear. + + On March the fifth, in sixty-five, + Their Indian presents did arrive, + In long pomp and cavalcade, + Near Sidelong-hill, where in disguise, + Some patriots did their train surprise, + And quick as lightning tumbled their loads + And kindled them bonfires in the woods; + And mostly burnt their whole brigade. + + At Loudon when they heard the news, + They scarcely knew which way to choose, + For blind rage and discontent; + At length some soldiers they sent out, + With guides for to conduct the route, + And seized some men that were travelling there + And hurried them into Loudon, where + They laid them fast with one consent. + + But men of resolution thought + Too much to see their neighbors caught + For no crime but false surmise; + Forthwith they join'd a warlike band, + And march'd to Loudon out of hand, + And kept the jailors pris'ners there, + Until our friends enlarged were, + Without fraud or any disguise. + + Let mankind censure or commend, + This rash performance in the end, + Then both sides will find their account. + 'Tis true no law can justify + To burn our neighbors property, + But when this property is design'd + To serve the enemies of mankind, + Its high treason in the amount. + + [9] The following extract from the _Pennsylvania Gazette_ of + November 2d, 1769, details the circumstances of this + transaction. + + "James Smith, his brother and brother in law, were going out + to survey and improve their land, on the waters of the + Youghogany.--Expecting to be gone some time, they took with + them their arms, and horses loaded with necessaries; and as + Smith's brother in law was an artist in surveying, he had also + with him the instruments for that business. Travelling on + their way and within nine miles of Bedford, they overtook + and joined in company with one Johnson and Moorhead, who had + likewise horses packed with liquor and seed wheat--their + intentions being also to make improvements on their lands. + Arrived at the parting of the road near Bedford, they + separated, one party going through town for the purpose of + having a horse shod; these were apprehended and put under + confinement.--James Smith, Johnson and Moorhead taking the + other road, met John Holmes of Bedford, to whom Smith spoke + in a friendly manner but received no answer. Smith and his + companions proceeded to where the two roads again united; + and waited there the arrival of the others. + + "At this time a number of men came riding up, and asked Smith + his name. On his telling them who he was, they immediately + presented their pistols, and commanded him to surrender or he + was a dead man. Smith stepped back and asking if they were + highwaymen, charged them to keep off; when immediately Robert + George (one of the assailants) snapped a pistol at Smith's + head; and that (as George acknowledged under oath) before Smith + had offered to [87] shoot. Smith then presented his gun at + another of the assailants, who was holding Johnson with one + hand, while with the other he held a pistol, which he was + preparing to discharge. Two shots were fired, one by Smith's + gun, the other by the pistol, so quick as to be just + distinguishable, and Johnson fell. Smith was then taken and + carried to Bedford, where John Holmes (who had met him on the + road, and hastened to Bedford with the intelligence) held an + inquest over the dead body of Johnson. One of the assailants + being the only witness examined, it was found that "Johnson had + been murdered by Smith," who was thereupon committed for trial. + But jealousy arising in the breasts of many, that the inquest + was not so fair as it should have been, William Deny, (the + coroner of Bedford county) thought proper to re-examine the + matter; and summoning a jury of unexceptionable men, out of + three townships--men whose candour, probity, and honesty are + unquestionable, and having raised the corpse, held a solemn + inquest over it for three days. + + "In the course of their scrutiny, they found the shirt of + Johnson, around the bullet hole, blackened by the powder of the + charge with which he had been killed. One of the assailants + being examined, swore to the respective spots of ground on + which they stood at the time of firing, which being measured, + was found to be 28 feet distance from each other. The + experiment was then made of shooting at the shirt an equal + distance both with and against the wind, to ascertain if the + powder produced the stain; but it did not. Upon the whole the + jury, after the most accurate examination and mature + deliberation, brought in their verdict that one of the + assailants must necessarily have done the murder." + + Captain Smith was a brave and enterprising man. In 1766, he, in + company with Joshua Horton, Uriah Stone, William Baker and + James Smith, by the way of Holstein, explored the country south + of Kentucky at a time when it was entirely uninhabited; and the + country between the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, to their + entrance into the Ohio. Stone's river, a branch of the + Cumberland and emptying into it not far above Nashville, was + named by them in this expedition. + + After his acquittal from the charge of having murdered + Johnson, he was elected and served as one of the board of + commissioners, for regulating taxes and laying the county + levy, in the county of Bedford. [88] He was for several years + a delegate from the county of Westmoreland, to the General + Assembly of Pennsylvania; and in the war of the revolution was + an officer of merit and distinction. In 1781 he removed to + Kentucky and settled in Bourbon county not far from Paris; + was a member of the convention which set at Danville, to + confer about a separation from the state of Virginia, in 1788, + from which time until 1799, with the exception of two years, he + was either a delegate of the convention or of the General + Assembly of Kentucky. + + ------ + + _Comment by L. C. D._--It would seem from Col. Smith's own + statement, that his removal to, and settlement in, Bourbon + county, Ky., was in 1788. + + + + +[89] CHAPTER V. + + +The comparative security and quiet, which succeeded the treaty of +1765, contributed to advance the prosperity of the Virginia frontiers. +The necessity of congregating in forts and blockhouses, no longer +existing, each family enjoyed the felicities of its own fireside, +undisturbed by fearful apprehensions of danger from the prowling +savage, and free from the bustle and confusion consequent on being +crowded together. No longer forced to cultivate their little fields in +common, and by the united exertions of a whole neighborhood, with +tomahawks suspended from their belts and rifles attached to their plow +beams, their original spirit of enterprise was revived: and while a +certainty of reaping in unmolested safety, the harvest for which they +had toiled, gave to industry, a stimulus which increased their +prosperity, it also excited others to come and reside among them--a +considerable addition to their population, and a rapid extension of +settlements, were the necessary consequence. + +It was during the continuation of this exemption from Indian aggression, +that several establishments were made on the Monongahela and its +branches, and on the Ohio river. These were nearly cotemporaneous; the +first however, in order of time, was that made on the Buchannon--a fork +of the Tygart's valley river, and was induced by a flattering account +of the country as given by two brothers; who had spent some years in +various parts of it, under rather unpleasant circumstances. + +Among the soldiers who garrisoned Fort Pitt, were William Childers, +John and Samuel Pringle and Joseph Linsey. In 1761, these four men +deserted from the fort, and ascended the Monongahela as far as to the +mouth of George's creek (the site afterwards selected by Albert +Gallatin, for the town of Geneva.) Here they remained awhile; but not +liking the [90] situation crossed over to the head of the Youghogany; +and encamping in the glades, continued there about twelve months. + +In one of their hunting rambles, Samuel Pringle came on a path, which +he supposed would lead to the inhabited part of Virginia. On his +return he mentioned the discovery and his supposition, to his +comrades, and they resolved on tracing it. This they accordingly did, +and it conducted them to Loony's creek, then the most remote western +settlement. While among the inhabitants on Loony's creek, they were +recognized and some of the party apprehended as deserters. John and +Samuel Pringle succeeded in making an escape to their camp in the +glades, where they remained 'till some time in the year 1764. + +During this year, and while in the employ of John Simpson (a trapper, +who had come there in quest of furs,) they determined on removing +farther west. Simpson was induced to this, by the prospect of enjoying +the woods free from the intrusion of other hunters (the glades having +begun to be a common hunting ground for the inhabitants of the South +Branch;) while a regard for their personal safety, caused the Pringles +to avoid a situation, in which they might be exposed to the +observation of other men. + +In journeying through the wilderness, and after having crossed Cheat +river at the Horse shoe, a quarrel arose between Simpson and one of +the Pringles; and notwithstanding that peace and harmony were so +necessary to their mutual safety and comfort; yet each so far indulged +the angry passions which had been excited, as at length to produce a +separation. + +Simpson crossed over the Valley river, near the mouth of Pleasant +creek, and passing on to the head of another water course, gave to it +the name of Simpson's creek. Thence he went westwardly, and fell over +on a stream which he called Elk: at the mouth of this he erected a +camp, and continued to reside for more than twelve months. During this +time he neither saw the Pringles nor any other human being; and at the +expiration of it went to the South Branch, where he disposed of his +furs and skins and then returned to, and continued at, his encampment +at the mouth of Elk, until permanent settlements were made in its +vicinity. + +The Pringles kept up the Valley river 'till they observed a large +right hand fork, (now Buchannon),[1] which they ascended [91] some +miles; and at the mouth of a small branch (afterward called Turkey +run) they took up their abode in the cavity of a large Sycamore +tree.[2] The stump of this is still to be seen, and is an object of no +little veneration with the immediate descendants of the first +settlers. + +The situation of these men, during a residence here of several years, +although rendered somewhat necessary by their previous conduct, could +not have been very enviable. Deserters from the army, a constant fear +of discovery filled their minds with inquietude.--In the vicinity of a +savage foe, the tomahawk and scalping knife were ever present to their +imaginations.--Remote from civilized man, their solitude was hourly +interrupted by the frightful shrieks of the panther, or the hideous +howlings of the wolf.--And though the herds of Buffalo, Elk and Deer, +which gamboled sportively around, enabled them easily to supply their +larder; yet the want of salt, of bread, and of every species of +kitchen vegetable, must have abated their relish for the, otherwise, +delicious loin of the one, and haunch of the others. The low state of +their little magazine too, while it limited their hunting, to the bare +procuration of articles of subsistence, caused them, from a fear of +discovery, to shrink at the idea of being driven to the settlements, +for a supply of ammunition. And not until they were actually reduced +to two loads of powder, could they be induced to venture again into +the vicinity of their fellow men. In the latter part of the year 1767, +John left his brother, and intending to make for a trading post on the +Shenandoah, appointed the period of his return. + +Samuel Pringle, in the absence of John, suffered a good deal. The +stock of provisions left him became entirely exhausted--one of his +loads of powder, was expended in a fruitless attempt to shoot a +buck--his brother had already delayed his return several days longer +than was intended, and he was apprehensive that he had been +recognized, taken to Port Pitt and would probably never get back. With +his remaining load of powder, however he was fortunate enough to kill +a fine buffalo; and John soon after returned with the news of peace, +both with the Indians and French. The two brothers agreed to leave +their retirement. + +Their wilderness habitation was not left without some regret. Every +object around, had become more or less endeared to them. The tree, in +whose hollow they had been so [92] frequently sheltered from storm and +tempest, was regarded by them with so great reverence, that they +resolved, so soon as they could prevail on a few others to accompany +them, again to return to this asylum of their exile. + +In a population such as then composed the chief part of the South +Branch settlement, this was no difficult matter. All of them were used +to the frontier manner of living; the most of them had gone thither to +acquire land; many had failed entirely in this object, while others +were obliged to occupy poor and broken situations off the river; the +fertile bottoms having been previously located. Add to this the +passion for hunting (which was a ruling one with many,) and the +comparative scarcity of game in their neighborhood, and it need not +excite surprise that the proposition of the Pringles to form a +settlement, in such a country as they represented that on Buchannon to +be, was eagerly embraced by many. + +In the fall of the ensuing year (1768) Samuel Pringle, and several +others who wished first to examine for themselves, visited the country +which had been so long occupied by the Pringles alone. Being pleased +with it, they, in the following spring, with a few others, repaired +thither, with the view of cultivating as much corn, as would serve +their families the first year after their emigration. And having +examined the country, for the purpose of selecting the most desirable +situations; some of them proceeded to improve the spots of their +choice. John Jackson (who was accompanied by his sons, George and +Edward) settled at the mouth of Turkey run, where his daughter, Mrs. +Davis, now lives--John Hacker[3] higher up on the Buchannon river, +where Bush's fort was afterwards established, and Nicholas Heavener +now lives--Alexander and Thomas Sleeth, near to Jackson's, on what is +now known as the Forenash plantation. The others of the party (William +Hacker, Thomas and Jesse Hughes, John and William Radcliff and John +Brown) appear to have employed their time exclusively in hunting; +neither of them making any improvement of land for his own benefit. +Yet were they of very considerable service to the new settlement. +Those who had commenced clearing land, were supplied by them with +abundance of meat, while in their hunting excursions through the +country, a better knowledge of it was obtained, than could have been +acquired, had they been engaged in making improvements. + +[93] In one of these expeditions they discovered, and gave name to +Stone coal creek; which flowing westwardly, induced the supposition +that it discharged itself directly into the Ohio. Descending this +creek, to ascertain the fact, they came to its confluence with a +river, which they then called, and has since been known as, the West +Fork. After having gone some distance down the river, they returned by +a different route to the settlement, better pleased with the land on +it and some of its tributaries, than with that on Buchannon. + +Soon after this, other emigrants arrived under the guidance of Samuel +Pringle. Among them were, John and Benjamin Cutright, who settled on +Buchannon, where John Cutright the younger, now lives; and Henry Rule +who improved just above the mouth of Fink's run. Before the arrival of +Samuel Pringle, John Hacker had begun to improve the spot which +Pringle had chosen for himself. To prevent any unpleasant result, +Hacker agreed that if Pringle would clear as much land, on a creek +which had been recently discovered by the hunters, as he had on +Buchannon, they could then exchange places. Complying with this +condition Pringle took possession of the farm on Buchannon, and Hacker +of the land improved by Pringle on the creek, which was hence called +Hacker's creek.[4] John and William Radcliff, then likewise settled on +this stream--the former on the farm, where the Rev. John Mitchel now +lives; the latter at the place now owned by William Powers Esq.--These +comprise all the improvements which were made on the upper branches of +the Monongahela in the years 1769 and 1770. + +At the close of the working season of 1769 some of these adventurers, +went to their families on the South Branch; and when they returned to +gather their crops in the fall, found them entirely destroyed. In +their absence the buffaloes, no longer awed by the presence of man, +had trespassed on their enclosures, and eaten their corn to the +ground--this delayed the removal of their families 'till the winter of +1770. + +Soon after the happening of this event, other settlements were made on +the upper branches of the Monongahela river. Capt. James Booth and +John Thomas established themselves on what has been since called +Booth's creek--The former at the place now owned by Jesse Martin; and +the latter where William Martin at present resides, and which is +perhaps the [94] most valuable landed estate in North Western +Virginia, off the Ohio river. + +Previous however to the actual settlement of the country above the +forks of the Monongahela, some few families (in 1767) had established +themselves in the vicinity of Fort Redstone, now Brownsville, in +Pennsylvania.[5] At the head of these were Abraham Tegard, James +Crawford, John Province, and John Harden. The latter of these +gentlemen afterwards removed to Kentucky and became distinguished in +the early history of that state, as well for the many excellencies of +his private and public life, as for the untimely and perfidious manner +of his death. + +In the succeeding year Jacob Vanmeter, John Swan, Thomas Hughes and +some others settled on the west side of the Monongahela, near the +mouth of Muddy creek, where Carmichaelstown now stands.[6] + +In this year too, the place which had been occupied for a while by +Thomas Decker and his unfortunate associates, and where Morgantown is +now situated, was settled by a party of emigrants; one of which was +David Morgan, who became so conspicuous for personal prowess, and for +the daring, yet deliberate courage displayed by him, during the +subsequent hostilities with the Indians. + +In 1769, Col. Ebenezer Zane, his brothers Silas and Jonathan, with +some others from the south Branch, visited the Ohio river for the +purpose of commencing improvements;[7] [95] and severally proceeded to +select positions for their future residence. Col. Zane chose for his, +an eminence above the mouth of Wheeling creek, near to the Ohio, and +opposite a beautiful and considerable island in that river. The spot +thus selected by him, is now occupied by his son Noah Zane, Esq. and +is nearly the centre of the present flourishing town of Wheeling. +Silas Zane commenced improving on Wheeling creek where Col. Moses +Shepherd now lives, and Jonathan resided with his brother Ebenezer. +Several of those who accompanied the adventurers, likewise remained +with Colonel Zane, in the capacity of laborers. + +After having made those preparations which were immediately +requisite for the reception of their respective families, they +returned to their former homes. In the ensuing year they finally left +the South Branch, and accompanied by Col. David Shepherd, (the father +of Col. Moses Shepherd,) John Wetzel (the father of Lewis) and the +McCulloughs--men whose names are identified with the early history +of that country--repaired again to the wilderness, and took up their +permanent abode in it. + +Soon after this, other settlements were made at different points, both +above and below Wheeling; and the country on Buffalo, Short, and Grave +creeks,[8] and on the Ohio river, became the abode of civilized man. +Among those who were first to occupy above Wheeling, were George +Lefler, John Doddridge, Benjamin Biggs, Daniel Greathouse, Joshua +Baker and Andrew Swearingen.[9] + +[96] The settlement thus made constituting a kind of advance _guard_, +through which an Indian enemy would have to penetrate, before they +could reach the interior, others were less reluctant to occupy the +country between them and the Alleghany mountains. Accordingly various +establishments were soon made in it by adventurers from different +parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia; and those places in +which settlements had been previously effected, received considerable +accessions to their population. + +In 1772, that comparatively beautiful region of country, lying on the +east fork of the Monongahela river, between the Alleghany mountains, +on its south eastern, and the Laurel Hill, or as it is there called +the Rich mountain, on its north western side, and which had received +the denomination of Tygart's valley, again attracted the attention of +emigrants.--In the course of that year, the greater part of this +valley was located, by persons said to have been enticed thither by +the description given of it, by some hunters from Greenbrier who had +previously explored it. Game, though a principal, was not however +their sole object. They possessed themselves at once of nearly all the +level land lying between those mountains--a plain of 25 or 30 miles in +length and varying from three fourths to two miles in width, and of +fine soil. Among those who were first to occupy that section of +country, we find the names of Hadden, Connelly, Whiteman, Warwick, +Nelson, Stalnaker, Riffle and Westfall: the latter of these found and +interred the bones of Files' family, which had lain, bleaching in the +sun, after their murder by the Indians, in 1754. + +Cheat river too, on which no attempt at settlement had been made, but +by the unfortunate Eckarly's, became an object of attention, The Horse +Shoe bottom was located by Capt. James Parsons, of the South Branch; +and in his neighborhood settled Robert Cunningham, Henry Fink, John +Goff and John Minear. Robert Butler, William Morgan and some others +settled on the Dunkard bottom. + +In this year too, settlements were made on Simpson's creek, the West +Fork river and on Elk creek. Those who made the former, were John +Powers, who purchased Simpson's right (a tomahawk improvement)[10] to +the land on which Benjamin [97] Stout now resides; and James Anderson +and Jonas Webb who located themselves farther up the creek. + +On Elk, and in the vicinity of Clarksburg there settled Thomas Nutter, +near to the Forge-mills--Samuel Cottrial, on the east side of the +creek and nearly opposite to Clarksburg--Sotha Hickman, on the west +side of the same creek, and above Cottrial--Samuel Beard at the mouth +of Nanny's run--Andrew Cottrial above Beard, and at the farm now owned +by John W. Patton--Daniel Davisson, where Clarksburg is now situated, +and Obadiah Davisson and John Nutter on the West Fork; the former near +to the old Salt works, and the latter at the place now owned by Adam +Hickman, jr. + +There was likewise, at this time, a considerable accession to the +settlements on Buchannon and Hacker's creek. So great was the increase +of population in this latter neighborhood, that the crops of the +preceding season did not afford more than one third of the breadstuff, +which would be ordinarily consumed in the same time, by an equal +number of persons. Such indeed was the state of suffering among the +inhabitants, consequent on this scarcity, that the year 1773 is called +in the traditionary legends of that day, the _starving year_; and such +were the exertions of William Lowther to mitigate that suffering, and +so great the success with which they were crowned, that his name has +been transmitted to their descendants, hallowed by the blessings of +those, whose wants he contributed so largely to relieve.[11] + +[98] These were the principal settlements begun in North Western +Virginia, prior to the year 1774. Few and scattered as they were, no +sooner was it known that they were commenced, than hundreds flocked to +them from different parts; and sought there the gratifications of +their respective predilections. That spirit of adventurous emigration, +which has since peopled, with such unprecedented rapidity, the south +western and western states, and which was then beginning to develope +itself, overcame the fond attachments of youth, and impelled its +possessors, to the dreary wilderness. Former homes, encircled by the +comforts of civilization, endeared by the grateful recollections of +by-gone days, and not unfrequently, consecrated as the spots where +their tenants had first inhaled the vital fluid, were readily +exchanged for "the variety of untried being, the new scenes and +changes," which were to be passed, before the trees of the forest +could be supplanted, by the fruits of the field, or society be reared +in the solitude of the desert. With a capability to sustain fatigue, +not to be subdued by toil; and with a cheerfulness, not easily to be +depressed; a patience which could mock at suffering and a daring which +nothing could daunt, every difficulty which intervened, every obstacle +which was interposed between them and the accomplishment of the +objects of their pursuit, was surmounted or removed; and in a +comparatively brief space of time, they rose to the enjoyment of many +of those gratifications, which are experienced in earlier and more +populous settlements. That their morals should, for a while, have +suffered deterioration, and their manners and habits, instead of [99] +approximating those of refined society, should have become perhaps, +more barbarous and uncouth, was the inevitable consequence of their +situation, and the certain result of circumstances, which they could +not control. When that situation was changed, and these circumstances +ceased to exist, a rapid progress was made in the advancement of many +sections of the country, to the refinements of civilized society. + +The infantile state of all countries exhibits, in a greater or less +degree, a prevalence of barbarism. The planting of colonies, or +the formation of establishments in new countries, is ever attended +with circumstances unpropitious to refinement. The force with which +these circumstances act, will be increased or diminished in proportion +to the remoteness or proximity of those new establishments, to +older societies, in which the arts and sciences are cultivated; and to +the facility of communication between them. Man is, at all times, +the creature of circumstances. Cut off from an intercourse with his +fellow men, and divested of the conveniences of life, he will readily +relapse into a state of nature.--Placed in contiguity with the +barbarous and the vicious; his manners will become rude, his +morals perverted.--Brought into collision with the sanguinary and +revengeful; and his own conduct will eventually be distinguished, +by bloody and vindictive deeds. + +Such was really the situation of those who made the first establishments +in North Western Virginia. And when it is considered, that they were, +mostly, men from the humble walks of life; comparatively illiterate and +unrefined; without civil or religious institutions, and with a love of +liberty, bordering on its extreme; their more enlightened descendants can +not but feel surprise, that their dereliction from propriety had not been +greater; their virtue less. + +The objects, for the attainment of which they voluntarily placed +themselves in this situation, and tempted the dangers inseparable +from a residence in the contiguity of Indians, jealous of territorial +encroachment, were almost as various as their individual character. +Generally speaking, they were men in indigent circumstances, unable +to purchase land in the neigborhoods from which they came, and +unwilling longer to remain the tenants of others. These were induced +to [100] emigrate, with the laudable ambition of acquiring homes, +from which they would not be liable to expulsion, at the whim and +caprice of some haughty lordling. Upon the attainment of this object, +they were generally content; and made but feeble exertions to +acquire more land, than that to which they obtained title, by virtue +of their settlements. Some few, however, availed themselves of the +right of pre-emption, and becoming possessed of the more desirable +portions of the country, added considerably to their individual +wealth. + +Those who settled on the Ohio, were of a more enterprising and +ambitious spirit, and looked more to the advancement of their +condition in a pecuniary point of view. The fertile bottoms of +that river, and the facility with which, by means of it, their +surplus produce might be transported to a ready market,[12] were +considerations which influenced many. Others, again, looking +forward to the time when the Indians would be divested of the +country north west of the Ohio river, and it be open to location +in the same manner its south eastern shores were, selected this as +a situation, from which they might more readily obtain possession +of the fertile land, with which its ample plains were known to +abound. In anticipation of this period, there were some who +embraced every opportunity, afforded by intervals of peace with +the Indians, to explore that country and select in it what they +deemed, its most valuable parts. Around these they would generally +mark trees, or otherwise define boundaries, by which they could be +afterwards identified. The cession by Virginia to the United States, +of the North Western Territory, and the manner in which its lands +were subsequently brought into market, prevented the realization +of those flattering, and apparently, well founded expectations. + +There were also, in every settlement, individuals, who had been drawn +to them solely by their love of hunting, and an attachment to the +wild, unshackled scenes of a wilderness life. These were perhaps, +totally regardless of all the inconveniencies, [101] resulting from +their new situation; except that of being occasionally pent up in +forts; and thus debarred the enjoyment of their favorite pastimes. + +Although hunting was not the object of most of the old settlers, yet +it was for a good part of the year, the chief employment of their +time. And of all those, who thus made their abode in the dense forest, +and tempted aggression from the neighboring Indians, none were so well +qualified to resist this aggression, and to retaliate upon its +authors, as those who were mostly engaged in this pursuit. Of all +their avocations, this "mimickry of war" best fitted them to thwart +the savages in their purpose, and to mitigate the horrors of their +peculiar mode of warfare. Those arts which enabled them, unperceived +to approach the watchful deer in his lair, enabled them likewise to +circumvent the Indian in his ambush; and if not always punish, yet +frequently defeat him in his object. Add to this the perfect knowledge +which they acquired of the woods, and the ease and certainty with +which they consequently, when occasion required, could make their way +to any point of the settlements and apprize the inhabitants of +approaching danger; and it will be readily admitted that the more +expert and successful the huntsman, the more skillful and effective +the warrior. + +But various soever, as may have been their objects in emigrating, no +sooner had they come together, than there existed in each settlement, +a perfect unison of feeling. Similitude of situation and community of +danger, operating as a magic charm, stifled in their birth those +little bickerings, which are so apt to disturb the quiet of society. +Ambition of preferment and the pride of place, too often lets and +hindrances to social intercourse, were unknown among them. Equality of +condition rendered them strangers alike, to the baneful distinctions +created by wealth and other adventitious circumstances; and to envy, +which gives additional virus to their venom. A sense of mutual +dependence for their common security linked them in amity; and +conducting their several purposes in harmonious concert, together they +toiled and together suffered. + +Not all the "pomp and pride and pageantry" of life, could vie with the +Arcadian scenes which encircled the rude cottages of those men. Their +humble dwellings were the abode of virtues, rarely found in the "cloud +capt towers and [102] gorgeous palaces" of splendid ambition. And when +peace reigned around them, neither the gaudy trappings of wealth, nor +the insignia of office, nor the slaked thirst for distinction, could +have added to the happiness which they enjoyed. + +In their intercourse with others they were kind, beneficent and +disinterested; extending to all, the most generous hospitality which +their circumstances could afford. That selfishness, which prompts to +liberality for the sake of remuneration, and proffers the civilities +of life with an eye to individual interest, was unknown to them. They +were kind for kindness sake; and sought no other recompense, than the +never failing concomitant of good deeds--the reward of an approving +conscience. + +It is usual for men in the decline of life, to contrast the scenes +which are then being exhibited, with those through which they passed +in the days of youth; and not unfrequently, to moralize on the decay +of those virtues, which enhance the enjoyment of life and give to +pleasure its highest relish. The mind is then apt to revert to +earlier times, and to dwell with satisfaction on the manners and +customs which prevailed in the hey-day of youth. Every change which +may have been wrought in them is deemed a deteriorating innovation, +and the sentence of their condemnation unhesitatingly pronounced. This +is not always, the result of impartial and discriminating judgment. It +is perhaps, more frequently founded in prepossession; and based on the +prejudices of education and habit. + +On the other hand those who are just entering on the vestibule of +life, are prone to give preference to the habits of the present +generation; viewing, too often, with contemptuous derision, those of +the past. Mankind certainly advance in intelligence and refinement; +but virtue and happiness do not at all times keep pace with this +progress. "To inform the understanding," is not always "to correct and +enlarge the heart;" nor do the blandishments of life invariably add to +the sum of moral excellence; they are often "as dead sea fruit that +tempts the eye, but turns to ashes on the lips."--While a rough +exterior as frequently covers a temper of the utmost benignity, happy +in itself and giving happiness to all around. + +Such were the pioneers of this country; and the greater part of +mankind might now derive advantage from the [103] contemplation of +"their humble virtues, hospitable homes and spirits patient, noble, +proud and free--their self respect, grafted on innocent thoughts; +their days of health and nights of sleep--their toils, by danger +dignified, yet guiltless--their hopes of cheerful old age and a quiet +grave, with cross and garland over its green turf, and their grand +children's love for epitaph." + +----- + [1] Now spelled Buckhannon.--R. G. T. + + [2] Sycamores, which attain gigantic proportions, are given + to rotting in the lower portions of the trunk, and chambers + eight feet in diameter are not uncommon. In the course of a + canoe voyage down the Ohio, in the summer of 1894, I frequently + saw such cavities, with the openings stopped by pickets or + rails, utilized by small bottom farmers as hog-pens, + chicken-coops, and calf stalls. + + L. V. McWhorter, of Berlin, W. Va., who has kindly sent me + several MS. notes on Withers's _Chronicles_ (all of which will + be duly credited where used in this edition), writes: "The aged + sycamore now (1894) occupying the site, is the third + generation--the grand-child--of that which housed the Pringles. + It stands on the farm of Webster Dix, who assures me that it + shall not be destroyed. A tradition held by his descendants has + it, that when John Pringle went back to the South Branch for + ammunition, Charity, the wife of Samuel, who was left behind, + started immediately for the wilderness home of her husband, and + found him by the path which John had blazed for his own + return."--R. G. T. + + [3] This early and meritorious pioneer was born near + Winchester, Va., Jan. 1, 1743, figured prominently in the + Indian wars of his region, and served on Col. G. R. Clark's + Illinois campaign of 1778; he died at his home on Hacker's + Creek, April 20, 1821, in his 82d year.--L. C. D. + + [4] Its Indian name signified "Muddy Water."--R. G. T. + + [5] We have already seen (p. 74, _note_), that Gist settled + at Mount Braddock, Fayette county, in 1753, and that eleven + families joined him in January, 1754. There is a tradition that + settlers were in the district even before Gist. It has been + shown that the Gist settlements, and others in the lower + Monongahela, were burned by the French in July, 1754. The + English borderers fled upon the outbreak of disturbances, and + did not return until about 1760-61, when confidence had been + restored.--R. G. T. + + [6] Both Van Meter and Swan afterwards served under Col. G. + R. Clark--at least, on the Kaskaskia campaign; Swan commanded a + company on Clark's Shawnee campaign of 1780, and Van Meter on + that of 1782. The latter moved to Kentucky in 1780; settled in + Hardin county, Ky., Nov. 16th, 1798, in his seventy-sixth + year.--L. C. D. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--This note, written by Dr. Draper a few + days before his death (Aug. 26, 1891), was probably his last + stroke of literary work. + + [7] These gentlemen were descendants of a Mr. Zane who + accompanied William Penn, to his province of Pennsylvania, and + from whom, one of the principal streets in Philadelphia, + derived its name. Their father was possessed of a bold and + daring spirit of adventure, which was displayed on many + occasions, in the earlier part of his life. Having rendered + himself obnoxious to the Society of Friends (of which he was a + member,) by marrying without the pale of that society, he moved + to Virginia and settled on the South Branch, where the town of + Moorfield has been since erected. One of his sons (Isaac) was + taken by the Indians, when he was only nine years old, and + carried in captivity, to Mad river, in Ohio. Here he continued + 'till habit reconciled him to his situation, when he married a + squaw, became a chief and spent the remainder of his life with + them. He was never known to wage war against the whites; but + was, on several occasions, of infinite service, by apprising + them of meditated attacks of the Indians. His descendants still + reside in Ohio. + + The brothers, Ebenezer, Silas and Jonathan, who settled + Wheeling, [95] were also men of enterprise, tempered with + prudence, and directed by sound judgment. Ready at all times, + to resist and punish the aggression of the Indians, they were + scrupulously careful not to provoke them by acts of wanton + outrage, such as were then, too frequently committed along the + frontier. Col. Ebenezer Zane had been among the first, to + explore the country from the South Branch, through the + Alleghany glades, and west of them. He was accompanied in that + excursion by Isaac Williams, two gentlemen of the name of + Robinson and some others; but setting off rather late in the + season, and the weather being very severe, they were compelled + to return, without having penetrated to the Ohio river. On + their way home, such was the extremity of cold, that one of the + Robinsons died of its effects. Williams was much frost bitten, + and the whole party suffered exceedingly. To the bravery and + good conduct of those three brothers, the Wheeling settlement + was mainly indebted for its security and preservation, during + the war of the revolution. + + [8] Joseph Tomlinson surveyed a claim at the mouth of Grave + Creek, about 1770, but did not settle there until 1772. His + cabin was the nucleus of the present Moundsville, W. + Va.--R. G. T. + + [9] John Doddridge settled in Washington county, Pa., on the + Ohio River a few miles east of the Pennsylvania-Virginia state + line, in 1773; his son, Joseph Doddridge, was the author of + _Notes on the Settlements and Indian Wars of the Western Parts + of Virginia and Pennsylvania_, 1763-83, a valuable antiquarian + work. The names of Greathouse and Baker became execrable + through their connection with the massacre of Chief Logan's + family, in 1774. Leffler and Biggs attained prominence in + border warfare.--R. G. T. + + [10] "At an early period of our settlements, there was an + inferior kind of land title, denominated a tomahawk right. This + was made by [97] deadening a few trees near a spring, and + marking on one or more of them, the initials of the name of the + person, by whom the improvement was made. Rights, acquired in + this way, were frequently bought and sold."--_Doddridge's Notes + on Western Virginia._ + + [11] William Lowther was the son of Robert, and came with his + father to the Hacker creek settlement in 1772. He soon became + one of the most conspicuous men in that section of country; + while his private virtues and public actions endeared him to + every individual of the community. During the war of 1774 and + subsequently, he was the most active and efficient defender of + that vicinity, against the insidious attacks of the savage foe; + and there were very few if any scouting parties proceeding from + thence, by which the Indians were killed or otherwise much + annoyed, but those which were commanded by him. + + He was the first justice of the peace in the district of West + Augusta--the first sheriff in the county of Harrison and Wood, + and [98] once a delegate to the General Assembly of the States. + His military merits carried him through the subordinate grades + to the rank of Colonel. Despising the pomp and pageantry of + office, he accepted it for the good of the community, and was + truly an effective man. Esteemed, beloved by all, he might have + exerted his influence, over others, to the advancement of his + individual interest; but he sought the advancement of the + general weal, not a personal or family aggrandizement. His + example might teach others, that offices were created for the + public good, not for private emolument. If aspirants for office + at the present day, were to regard its perquisites less, and + their fitness for the discharge of its duties more, the country + would enjoy a greater portion of happiness and prosperity, and + a sure foundation for the permanence of these be laid, in the + more disinterested character of her counsellors, and their + consequently, increased devotion to her interests. + + [12] The Spaniards at New Orleans, from the first settlement + of the country west of the Alleghany Mountains, sought to + attach it to the province of Louisiana. Knowing the powerful + efficacy of gold, in producing such results, they dispensed it + with a liberal hand, to such as made New Orleans their market. + The attachment of the first settlers, to the free institutions + of our country, baffled every attempt to detach them from it. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--The Spanish conspiracy was, in the main, + "baffled" by the prompt action of our general government. + George Rogers Clark and several other leading Kentuckians were + quite willing to be "detached," for a consideration. The fact + is, that at first the sense of national patriotism was weak, + west of the Alleghanies; the eighteenth century had closed + before efforts at separation from the East were commonly + regarded as treason. The interests of the Western people + apparently were centered in the south-flowing Mississippi; they + seemed to have at the time little in common with the East. So + long as Spain held the mouth of the river, many Western leaders + thought it not improper that the West should ally itself with + that power; when our government finally purchased the Spanish + claim, the Western men had no further complaint. See + Roosevelt's treatment of the Spanish conspiracy, in his + _Winning of the West_, III., ch. iii.--R. G. T. + + + + +[104] CHAPTER VI. + + +In the year 1774, the peace, which had subsisted with but little +violation since the treaty of 1765, received an interruption, which +checked for a while the emigration to the North Western frontier; and +involved its infant settlements in a war with the Indians. This result +has been attributed to various causes. Some have asserted that it had +its origin in the murder of some Indians on the Ohio river both above +and below Wheeling, in the spring of that year. Others suppose it to +have been produced by the instigation of British emissaries, and the +influence of Canadian traders. + +That it was not caused by the murders at Captina, and opposite the +mouth of Yellow creek,[1] is fairly inferrible from the fact, that +several Indians had been previously murdered by the whites in a period +of the most profound tranquillity, without having led to a similar +issue; or even given rise to any act of retaliation, on the part of +the friends or countrymen of those, who had been thus murdered. + +At different periods of time, between the peace of 1765, and the +renewal of hostilities in 1774, three Indians were unprovokedly +killed by John Ryan, on the Ohio, Monongahela and Cheat rivers. The +first who suffered from the unrestrained licentiousness of this +man, was an Indian of distinction in his tribe, and known by the name +of Capt. Peter; the other two were private warriors. And but that +Governor Dunmore, from the representations made to him, was induced +[105] to offer a reward for his apprehension, which caused him to +leave the country, Ryan would probably have continued to murder +every Indian, with whom he should chance to meet, wandering +through the settlements. + +Several Indians were likewise killed on the South Branch, while on a +friendly visit to that country, in the interval of peace. This deed is +said to have been done by Henry Judah, Nicholas Harpold and their +associates; and when Judah was arrested for the offence, so great was +the excitement among those who had suffered from savage enmity, that +he was rescued from confinement by upwards of two hundred men, +collected for that especial purpose. + +The Bald Eagle was an Indian of notoriety, not only among his own +nation, but also with the inhabitants of the North Western frontier; +with whom he was in the habit of associating and hunting. In one of +his visits among them, he was discovered alone, by Jacob Scott, +William Hacker and Elijah Runner, who, reckless of the consequences, +murdered him, solely to gratify a most wanton thirst for Indian blood. +After the commission of this most outrageous enormity, they seated him +in the stern of a canoe, and with a piece of journey-cake thrust into +his mouth, set him afloat in the Monongahela. In this situation he was +seen descending the river, by several, who supposed him to be as +usual, returning from a friendly hunt with the whites in the upper +settlements, and who expressed some astonishment that he did not stop +to see them. The canoe floating near to the shore, below the mouth of +George's creek, was observed by a Mrs. Province, who had it brought to +the bank, and the friendly, but unfortunate old Indian decently +buried. + +Not long after the murder of the Bald Eagle, another outrage of a +similar nature was committed on a peaceable Indian, by William White; +and for which he was apprehended and taken to Winchester for trial. +But the fury of the populace did not suffer him to remain there +awaiting that event.--The prison doors were forced, the irons knocked +off him and he again set at liberty. + +But a still more atrocious act is said to have been soon after +perpetrated. Until then the murders committed, were only on such as +were found within the limits of white settlements, and on men & +warriors. In 1772, there is every reason to believe, that women and +children likewise became victims to the exasperated feelings of our +[106] own citizens; and this too, while quietly enjoying the comforts +of their own huts, in their own village. + +There was at that time an Indian town on the Little Kenhawa, (called +Bulltown) inhabited by five families, who were in habits of social and +friendly intercourse with the whites on Buchannon and on Hacker's +creek; frequently visiting and hunting with them.[2] There was +likewise residing on Gauley river, the family of a German by the name +of Stroud.[3] In the summer of that year, Mr. Stroud being from home, +his family were all murdered, his house plundered, and his cattle +driven off. The trail made by these leading in the direction of +Bulltown, induced the supposition that the Indians of that village had +been the authors of the outrage, and caused several to resolve on +avenging it upon them. + +A party of five men, (two of whom were William White and William +Hacker,[4] who had been concerned in previous murders) expressed a +determination to proceed immediately to Bulltown. The remonstrance of +the settlement generally, could not operate to effect a change in +that determination. They went; and on their return, circumstances +justified the belief that the pre-apprehension of those who knew +the temper and feelings of White and Hacker, had been well founded; +and that there had been some fighting between them and the Indians. +And notwithstanding that they denied ever having seen an Indian in +their absence, yet it was the prevailing opinion, that they had +destroyed all the men, women and children at Bulltown, and threw their +bodies into the river. Indeed, one of the party is said to have, +inadvertently, used expressions, confirmatory of this opinion; and to +have then justified the deed, by saying that the clothes and other +things known to have belonged to Stroud's family, were found in the +possession of the Indians. The village was soon after visited, and +found to be entirely desolated, and nothing being ever after heard +of its former inhabitants, there can remain no doubt but that the +murder of Stroud's family, was requited on them. + +Here then was a fit time for the Indians to commence a system of +retaliation and war, if they were disposed to engage in hostilities, +for offences of this kind alone. Yet no such event was the consequence +of the killing of the Bulltown Indians, or of those other murders +which preceded that outrage; and it may be hence rationally concluded, +that the murders on the Ohio river did not lead to such an event. If +however, a doubt should still remain, that doubt is surely removed by +the declaration of Logan himself. It was his family that was killed +opposite Yellow creek, about the last of April; and in the following +July (after the expedition against the Wappatomica towns, under Col. +McDonald) he says, "the Indiens are not angry on account of those +murders, but only myself." The fact is, that hostilities had commenced +before the happening of the affair at Captina, or that near Yellow +creek; and these, instead of having produced that event, were the +consequence of the previous hostile movements of the Indians. + +[107] Those who lived more immediately in the neighborhood of the +scene of action at that time, were generally of opinion, that the +Indians were urged to war by the instigation of emissaries from +Great Britain, and of the Canadian traders; and, independently of +any knowledge which they may have had of the conduct of these, +circumstances of a general nature would seem to justify that opinion. + +The relative situation of the American colonies and the mother +country, is matter of general history, and too well known to require +being repeated here. It is equally well known too, that from the first +establishment of a colony in Canada, the Canadians obtained an +influence over the Natives, greater than the Anglo-Americans were ever +able to acquire; and that this influence was frequently exercised by +them, to the great annoyance, and manifest injury of the latter. +France and England have been long considered as natural enemies; and +the inhabitants of their respective plantations in America, +entertained strong feelings of jealousy towards each other. When by +the treaty of Paris, the French possessions in North America (which +had not been ceded to Spain,) were transferred to Great Britain, those +feelings were not subdued. The Canadians still regarded themselves as +a different people. Their national prejudices were too great to be +extinguished by an union under the same prince. Under the influence of +these prejudices, and the apprehension, that the lucrative commerce of +the natives might, by the competition of the English traders, be +diverted from its accustomed channels, they may have exerted +themselves to excite the Indians to war; but that alone would hardly +have produced this result. There is in man an inherent partiality for +self, which leads him to search for the causes of any evil, elsewhere +than in his own conduct; and under the operation of this propensity to +assign the burden of wrong to be borne by others, the Jesuits from +Canada and Louisiana were censured for the continuation of the war on +the part of the Indians, after it had been terminated with their +allies by the treaty of 1763. Yet that event was, no doubt, justly +attributable to the erection of forts, and the location of land, in +the district of country claimed by the natives, in the province of +Pennsylvania. And in like manner, the origin of the war of 1774 may +fairly be charged to the encroachments which were then being made on +the Indian territory. To be convinced of this, it is necessary to +advert to the promptitude of resistance on the part of the Natives, by +which those encroachments were invariably met; and to recur to events +happening in other sections of the country.--Events, perhaps no +otherwise connected with the history of North Western Virginia, than +as they are believed to have been the proximate causes of an +hostility, eventuating in the effusion of much of its blood; and +pregnant with other circumstances, having an important bearing on its +prosperity and advancement. + +In the whole history of America, from the time when it first [108] +became apparent that the occupancy of the country was the object of +the whites, up to the present period, is there perhaps to be found a +solitary instance, in which an attempt, made by the English to effect +a settlement in a wilderness claimed by the Natives, was not succeeded +by immediate acts of hostility on the part of the latter. Every +advance of the kind was regarded by them, as tending to effect their +expulsion from a country, which they had long considered as their own, +and as leading, most probably, to their entire extinction as a people. +This excited in them feelings of the most dire resentment; stimulating +to deeds of cruelty and murder, at once to repel the encroachment and +to punish its authors. Experience of the utter futility of those means +to accomplish these purposes, has never availed to repress their use, +or to produce an acquiesence in the wrong. Even attempts to extend +jurisdiction over a country, the right of soil in which was never +denied them, have ever given rise to the most lively apprehensions of +their fatal consequences, and prompted to the employment of means to +thwart that aim. An Indian sees no difference between the right of +empire and the right of domain; and just as little can he discriminate +between the right of property, acquired by the actual cultivation of +the earth, and that which arises from its appropriation to other +uses. + +Among themselves they have lines of demarkation, which distinguish +the territory of one nation from that of another; and these are of such +binding authority, that a transgression of them by neighboring Indians, +leads invariably to war. In treaties of purchase, and other +conventional arrangements, made with them by the whites, the validity +of their rights to land, have been repeatedly recognized; and an +infraction of those rights by the Anglo-Americans, encounters +opposition at its threshold. The history of every attempt to settle a +wilderness, to which the Indian title was not previously extinguished, +has consequently been a history of plunder, conflagration and massacre. + +That the extension of white settlements into the Indian country, was +the cause of the war of 1774, will be abundantly manifested by a +recurrence to the early history of Kentucky; and a brief review of the +circumstances connected with the first attempts to explore and make +establishments in it. For several reasons, these circumstances merit a +passing notice in this place. Redstone and Fort Pitt (now Brownsville +and Pittsburgh) were for some time, the principal points of +embarkation for emigrants to that country; many of whom were from the +establishments which had been then not long made, on the Monongahela. +The Indians, regarding the settlements in North Western Virginia as +the line from which swarmed the adventurers to Kentucky, directed +their operations to prevent the success of these adventurers, as well +against the inhabitants of the upper country, as against them. While +at the same time, in the efforts which were made to compel the Indians +to desist from farther opposition, the North Western Virginians +frequently combined [109] their forces, and acted in conjunction, the +more certainly to accomplish that object. In truth the war, which was +then commenced, and carried on with but little intermission up to the +treaty of Fort Greenville in 1795 was a war in which they were equally +interested, having for its aim the indiscriminate destruction of the +inhabitants of both those sections of country, as the means of +preventing the farther extension of settlements by the whites.[5] + +When Kentucky was first begun to be explored, it is said not to have +been claimed in individual property by any nation of Indians. Its +extensive forests, grassy plains and thick cane brakes, abounding with +every variety of game common to such latitudes, were used as common +hunting grounds, and considered by them, as open for all who chose to +resort to them. The Cherokees, the Chickasaws, the Cataubas, and the +Chicamaugas, from the south east; and the Illinois, the Peorias, the +Delawares, the Mingoes and Shawanees from the west, claimed and +exercised equal rights and privileges within its limits. When the +tribes of those different nations would however meet there, frequent +collisions would arise between them; and so deadly were the conflicts +ensuing upon these, that, in conjunction with the gloom of its dense +forests, they acquired for it the impressive appellation of "the dark +and bloody ground." But frequent and deadly as may have been those +conflicts, they sprang from some other cause, than a claim to +exclusive property in it. + +In the summer of 1769, Daniel Boone, in company with John Finley (who +had previously hunted through the country) and a few other men, +entered Kentucky, and travelled over much of its surface, without +meeting with an Indian, until the December following.[6] At this time +Boone and John Steward (one of his companions,) while on a hunting +excursion, were discovered by a party of Indians, who succeeded in +making them prisoners. After a detention of but few days, these men +effected their escape; & returning to their old camp, found that it +had been plundered, and their associates, either killed or taken into +captivity. They were shortly after joined by a brother of Daniel Boone +and another man, from North Carolina, who were so fortunate in +wandering through the wilderness, as to discover the only, though +temporary residence of civilized man within several hundred miles. But +the Indians had become alarmed for the possession of that country; and +fearing that if Boone and Steward should be suffered to escape to the +settlements, they might induce others to attempt its permanent +occupancy, they sought with vigilance to discover and murder them. +They succeeded in killing Steward; but Daniel Boone and his brother, +then the only persons left (the man who came out with the younger +Boone having been killed by a wolf,) escaped from them, and soon after +returned to North Carolina. + +The Indians were not disappointed in their expectations. The +description given of the country by the Boones, soon led others to +attempt its settlement; and in 1773, six families and about forty men, +all under the guidance of Daniel Boone, commenced their journey [110] +to Kentucky with a view of remaining there. Before they proceeded far, +they were attacked in the rear by a party of Indians, who had been +observing their movements; and who in the first fire killed six of the +emigrants and dispersed their cattle. Nothwithstanding that, in the +engagement which ensued upon this attack, the assailants were +repulsed, yet the adventurers were so afflicted at the loss of their +friends, and dispirited by such serious and early opposition, that +they abandoned their purpose for a time, and returned to the inhabited +parts of Tennessee.[7] + +The Indians elated with their success in defeating this first attempt +at the settlement of Kentucky, and supposing that the route pursued by +the party which they had driven back, would be the pass for future +adventurers, determined on guarding it closely, and checking, if +possible, every similar enterprise. But while their attention was +directed to this point, others found their way into the country by a +different route and from a different direction. + +The Virginia troops, who had served in the Canadian war, had been +promised a bounty in Western lands. Many of them being anxious to +ascertain their value, and deeming this a favorable period for the +making of surveys, collected at Fort Pitt in the fall of 1773; and +descending the Ohio river to its falls, at Louisville, proceeded from +thence to explore the country preparatory to a perfection of their +grants.[8] + +About the same time too, General Thompson of Pennsylvania, commenced +an extensive course of surveys, of the rich land on the North Fork of +Licking; and other individuals following his example, in the ensuing +winter the country swarmed with land adventurers and surveyors. So +sensible were they all, that these attempts to appropriate those lands +to their own use, would produce acts of hostility, that they went +prepared to resist those acts; and the first party who took up their +abode in Kentucky, no sooner selected a situation for their residence, +than they proceeded to erect a fort for their security.[9] The conduct +of the Indians soon convinced them that their apprehensions were not +ill founded; and many of them, in consequence of the hostile movements +which were being made, and the robberies which were committed, +ascended the Ohio river to Wheeling. + +It is not known that any murders were done previously to this, and +subsequently to the attack and repulse of the emigrants who were led +on by Boone in 1773. This event happened on the tenth day of October; +and it was in April the ensuing year, that the land adventurers +retired to Wheeling. In this interval of time, nothing could, perhaps, +be done by the Indians, but make preparation [111] for hostilities in +the spring. Indeed it very rarely happens, that the Indians engage in +active war during the winter; and there is, moreover, a strong +presumption, that they were for some time ignorant of the fact that +there were adventurers in the country; and consequently, they knew of +no object there, on which their hostile intentions could operate.--Be +this as it may, it is certain that, from the movements of the Indians +at the close of the winter, the belief was general, that they were +assuming a warlike attitude, and meditating a continuance of +hostilities. War was certainly begun on their part, when Boone and his +associates, were attacked and driven back to the settlement; and if it +abated for a season, that abatement was attributable to other causes, +than a disposition to remain quiet and peaceable, while the country +was being occupied by the whites. + +If other evidence were wanting, to prove the fact that the war of 1774 +had its origin in a determination of the Indians to repress the +extension of white settlements, it could be found in the circumstance, +that although it was terminated by the treaty with Lord Dunmore, yet +it revived as soon as attempts were again made to occupy Kentucky, and +was continued with increased ardour, 'till the victory obtained over +them by General Wayne. For, notwithstanding that in the struggle for +American liberty, those Indians became the allies of Great Britain, +yet when independence was acknowledged, and the English forces +withdrawn from the colonies, hostilities were still carried on by +them; and, as was then well understood, because of the continued +operation of those causes, which produced the war of 1774. That the +Canadian traders and British emissaries, prompted the Indians to +aggression, and extended to them every aid which they could, to render +that aggression more effectually oppressive and overwhelming, is +readily admitted. Yet this would not have led to a war, but for the +encroachments which have been mentioned. French influence, united to +the known jealousy of the Natives, would have been unavailingly +exerted to array the Indians against Virginia, at the commencement of +Braddock's war, but for the proceedings of the Ohio company, and the +fact that the Pennsylvania traders represented the object of that +association to be purely territorial. And equally fruitless would +have been their endeavor to involve them in a contest [112] with +Virginians at a later period, but for a like manifestation of an +intention to encroach on their domain. + +In the latter end of April 1774, a party of land adventurers, who had +fled from the dangers which threatened them below, came in collision +with some Indians, near the mouth of Captina, sixteen miles below +Wheeling. A slight skirmish ensued, which terminated in the +discomfiture of the whites, notwithstanding they had only one man +wounded, and one or two of the enemy were killed. About the same time, +happened the affair opposite the mouth of Yellow creek; a stream +emptying into the Ohio river from the northwest, nearly midway between +Pittsburg and Wheeling.[10] + +In consequence of advices received of the menacing conduct of the +Indians, Joshua Baker (who lived at this place) was preparing, +together with his neighbors, to retire for safety, into some of the +nearer forts, or to go to the older and more populous settlements, +remote from danger. There was at that time a large party of Indians, +encamped on both sides of Yellow creek, at its entrance into the +river; and although in their intercourse at Baker's, they had not +manifested an intention of speedily commencing depredations, yet he +deemed his situation in the immediate contiguity of them, as being far +from secure, and was on the eve of abandoning it, when a party of +whites, who had just collected at his house, fired upon and killed +some Indians, who were likewise there.--Among them were the brother +and daughter of the celebrated chief, Logan.[11] + +In justification of this conduct it has been said, that on the +preceding evening a squaw came over from the encampment and informed +Mrs. Baker that the Indians meditated the murder of her family on the +next day; and that before the firing [113] at Baker's, two canoes, +containing Indians painted and armed for war, were seen to leave the +opposite shore. Under these circumstances, an apparently slight +provocation, and one, which would not perhaps have been, otherwise +heeded, produced the fatal result. As the canoes approached the shore, +the party from Baker's commenced firing on them, and notwithstanding +the opposition made by the Indians, forced them to retire. + +An interval of quiet succeeded the happening of these events; but it +was as the solemn stillness which precedes the eruption of an +earthquake, when a volcanic explosion has given notice of its +approach;--rendered more awful by the uncertainty where its desolating +influence would be felt. It was however, a stillness of but short +duration. The gathering storm soon burst over the devoted heads of +those, who had neglected to seek a shelter from its wrath. The traders +in the Indian country were the first victims sacrificed on the altar +of savage ferocity; and a general massacre of all the whites found +among them, quickly followed. A young man, discovered near the falls +of Muskingum and within sight of White Eyes town, was murdered, +scalped; literally cut to pieces, and the mangled members of his body, +hung up on trees. White Eyes, a chief of the friendly Delawares, +hearing the scalp halloo, went out with a party of his men; and seeing +what had been done, collected the scattered limbs of the young man, +and buried them. On the next day, they were torn from the ground, +severed into smaller pieces, and thrown dispersedly at greater +distances from each other. + +[114] Apprized of impending danger, many of the inhabitants on the +frontiers of North Western Virginia, retired into the interior, before +any depredations were committed, in the upper country; some took +refuge in forts which had been previously built; while others, +collecting together at particular houses, converted them into +temporary fortresses, answering well the purposes of protection, to +those who sought shelter in them. Fort Redstone, which had been +erected after the successful expedition of General Forbes; and Fort +Pitt, at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, +afforded an asylum to many. Several private forts were likewise +established in various parts of the country;[12] and every thing which +individual exertion could effect, to ensure protection to the border +inhabitants, was done. + +Nor did the colonial government of Virginia neglect the security of +her frontier citizens. When intelligence of the hostile disposition of +the Natives, reached Williamsburg, the house of Burgesses was in +session; and measures were immediately adopted, to prevent massacres, +and to restore tranquillity. That these objects might be the more +certainly accomplished, it was proposed by General Andrew Lewis (then +a delegate from Bottetourt,) to organize a force, sufficient to +overcome all intermediate opposition, and to carry the war into the +enemy's country. In accordance to this proposition, orders were issued +by Governor Dunmore for raising the requisite number of troops, and +for making other necessary preparations for the contemplated campaign; +the plan of which was concerted by the Governor, Gen. Lewis and +Colonel Charles Lewis (then a delegate from Augusta.) But as some time +must necessarily have elapsed before the consummation of the +preparations which were being made; and as much individual suffering +might result from the delays unavoidably incident to the raising, +equipping and [115] organizing a large body of troops, it was deemed +advisable to take some previous and immediate step to prevent the +invasion of exposed and defenceless portions of the country.--The best +plan for the accomplishment of this object was believed to be, the +sending of an advance army into the Indian country, of sufficient +strength to act offensively, before a confederacy could be formed of +the different tribes, and their combined forces be brought into the +field. A sense of the exposed situation of their towns in the +presence of an hostile army, requiring the entire strength of every +village for its defence, would, it was supposed, call home those +straggling parties of warriors, by which destruction is so certainly +dealt to the helpless and unprotected. In conformity with this part of +the plan of operations, four hundred men, to be detailed from the +militia west of the mountains, were ordered to assemble at Wheeling as +soon as practicable. And in the mean time, lest the surveyors and land +adventurers, who were then in Kentucky, might be discovered and fall a +prey to the savages, Daniel Boone was sent by the Governor to the +falls of Ohio, to conduct them home from thence, through the +wilderness; the only practicable road to safety, the Ohio river being +so effectually guarded as to preclude the hope of escaping up it.[13] + +Early in June, the troops destined to make an incursion into the +Indian country, assembled at Wheeling, and being placed under the +command of Colonel Angus McDonald, descended the Ohio to the mouth of +Captina. Debarking, at this place, from their boats and canoes, they +took up their march to Wappatomica, an Indian town on the Muskingum. +The country through which the army had to pass, was one unbroken +forest, presenting many obstacles to its speedy advance, not the least +of which was the difficulty of proceeding directly to the point +proposed.[14] To obviate this, however, they were accompanied by three +persons in the capacity of guides;[15] whose knowledge of the woods, +and familiarity with those natural indices, which so unerringly mark +the direction of the principal points, enabled them to pursue the +direct course.--When they had approached within six miles of the town, +the [116] army encountered an opposition from a party of fifty or +sixty Indians lying in ambush; and before these could be dislodged, +two whites were killed, and eight or ten wounded;--one Indian was +killed, and several wounded. They then proceeded to Wappatomica +without further molestation.[16] + +When the army arrived at the town, it was found to be entirely +deserted. Supposing that it would cross the river, the Indians had +retreated to the opposite bank, and concealing themselves behind trees +and fallen timber, were awaiting that movement in joyful anticipation +of a successful surprise.--Their own anxiety and the prudence of the +commanding officer, however, frustrated that expectation. Several were +discovered peeping from their covert, watching the motion of the army; +and Colonel McDonald, suspecting their object, and apprehensive that +they would recross the river and attack him in the rear, stationed +videttes above and below, to detect any such purpose, and to apprise +him of the first movement towards effecting it. Foiled by these +prudent and precautionary measures and seeing their town in possession +of the enemy, with no prospect of wresting it from them, 'till +destruction would have done its work, the Indians sued for peace; and +the commander of the expedition consenting to negotiate with them, if +he could be assured of their sincerity, five chiefs were sent over as +hostages, and the army then crossed the river, with these in front. + +When a negotiation was begun, the Indians asked, that one of the +hostages might be permitted to go and convoke the other chiefs, +whose presence, it was alleged, would be necessary to the ratification +of a peace. One was accordingly released; and not returning at the +time specified, another was then sent, who in like manner failed +to return. Colonel McDonald, suspecting some treachery, marched +forward to the next town, above Wappatomica, where another slight +engagement took place, in which one Indian was killed and one white +man wounded. It was then ascertained, that the time which should +have been spent in collecting the other chiefs, preparatory to +negotiation, had been employed in removing their old men, their women +and children, together with what property could be readily taken +off, and for making preparations for a combined attack on the +Virginia troops. To punish this duplicity and to render peace +really desirable, Col. McDonald burned their towns and destroyed +their crops; [117] and being then in want of provisions, retraced his +steps to Wheeling, taking with him the three remaining hostages, who +were then sent on to Williamsburg.[17] + +The inconvenience of supplying provisions to an army in the +wilderness, was a serious obstacle to the success of expeditions +undertaken against the Indians. The want of roads, at that early +period, which would admit of transportation in wagons, rendered it +necessary to resort to pack horses; and such was at times the +difficulty of procuring these, that, not unfrequently, each soldier +had to be the bearer of his entire stock of subsistence for the whole +campaign. When this was exhausted, a degree of suffering ensued, often +attended with consequences fatal to individuals, and destructive to +the objects of the expedition. In the present case, the army being +without provisions before they left the Indian towns, their only +sustenance consisted of weeds, an ear of corn each day, and +occasionally, a small quantity of venison: it being impracticable to +hunt game in small parties, because of the vigilance and success of +the Indians, in watching and cutting off detachments of this kind, +before they could accomplish their purpose and regain the main army. + +No sooner had the troops retired from the Indian country, than the +savages, in small parties, invaded the settlements in different +directions, seeking opportunities of gratifying their insatiable +thirst for blood. And although the precautions which had been taken, +lessened the frequency of their success, yet they did not always +prevent it. Persons leaving the forts on any occasion, were almost +always either murdered or carried into captivity,--a lot sometimes +worse than death itself. + +Perhaps the first of these incursions into North Western Virginia, +after the destruction of the towns on the Muskingum, was that made by +a party of eight Indians, at the head of which was the Cayuga chief +Logan.[18] This very celebrated [118] Indian is represented as having +hitherto, observed towards the whites, a course of conduct by no means +in accordance with the malignity and steadfast implacability which +influenced his red brethren generally; but was, on the contrary, +distinguished by a sense of humanity, and a just abhorrence of those +cruelties so frequently inflicted on the innocent and unoffending, as +well as upon those who were really obnoxious to savage enmity. Such +indeed were the acts of beneficence which characterized him, and so +great his partiality for the English, that the finger of his brethren +would point to his cabin as the residence of Logan, "the friend of +white men." "In the course of the French war, he remained at home, +idle and inactive;" opposed to the interference of his nation, "an +advocate for peace." When his family fell before the fury of +exasperated men, he felt himself impelled to avenge their deaths; and +exchanging the pipe of peace, for the tomahawk of war, became active +in seeking opportunities to glut his vengeance.[19] With this object +in view, at the head of the party which has been mentioned, he +traversed the county from the Ohio to the West Fork, before an +opportunity was presented him of achieving any mischief. Their +distance from what was supposed would be the theatre of war, had +rendered the inhabitants of that section of country, comparatively +inattentive to their safety. Relying on the expectation that the first +blow would be struck on the Ohio, and that they would have sufficient +notice of this to prepare for their own security, before danger could +reach them, many had continued to perform the ordinary business of +their farms. + +On the 12th day of July, as William Robinson, Thomas Hellen and +Coleman Brown were pulling flax in a field opposite the mouth of +Simpson's creek, Logan and his party approached unperceived and fired +at them. Brown fell instantly; his body perforated by several balls; +and Hellen and Robinson [119] unscathed, sought safety in flight. +Hellen being then an old man, was soon overtaken and made captive; but +Robinson, with the elasticity of youth, ran a considerable distance +before he was taken; and but for an untoward accident might have +effected an escape. Believing that he was outstripping his pursuers, +and anxious to ascertain the fact, he looked over his shoulder, but +before he discovered the Indian giving chase, he ran with such +violence against a tree, that he fell, stunned by the shock and lay +powerless and insensible. In this situation he was secured with a +cord; and when he revived, was taken back to the place where the +Indians had Hellen in confinement, and where lay the lifeless body of +Brown. They then set off to their towns, taking with them a horse +which belonged to Hellen. + +When they had approached near enough to be distinctly heard, Logan (as +is usual with them after a successful scout,) gave the scalp halloo, +and several warriors came out to meet them, and conducted the +prisoners into the village. Here they passed through the accustomed +ceremony of running the gauntlet; but with far different fortunes. +Robinson, having been previously instructed by Logan (who from the +time he made him his prisoner, manifested a kindly feeling towards +him,) made his way, with but little interruption, to the council +house; but poor Hellen, from the decrepitude of age, and his ignorance +of the fact that it was a place of refuge, was sadly beaten before he +arrived at it; and when he at length came near enough, he was knocked +down with a war club, before he could enter. After he had fallen, they +continued to beat and strike him with such unmerciful severity, that +he would assuredly have fallen a victim to their barbarous usage, but +that Robinson (at some peril for the interference) reached forth his +hand and drew him within the sanctuary. When he had however, recovered +from the effects of the violent beating which he had received, he was +relieved from the apprehension of farther suffering, by being adopted +into an Indian family. + +A council was next convoked to resolve on the fate of Robinson; and +then arose in his breast, feelings of the most anxious inquietude. +Logan assured him, that he should not be killed; but the council +appeared determined that he should die, and he was tied to the stake. +Logan then addressed them, and with much vehemence, insisted that +Robinson too should be spared; and had the eloquence displayed on that +occasion been less than Logan is believed to have possessed, [120] it +is by no means wonderful that he appeared to Robinson (as he +afterwards said) the most powerful orator he ever heard. But +commanding as his eloquence might have been, it seems not to have +prevailed with the council; for Logan had to interpose otherwise than +by argument or entreaty, to succeed in the attainment of his object. +Enraged at the pertinacity with which the life of Robinson was sought +to be taken, and reckless of the consequences, he drew the tomahawk +from his belt, and severing the cords which bound the devoted victim +to the stake, led him in triumph, to the cabin of an old squaw, by +whom he was immediately adopted. + +After this, so long as Logan remained in the town where Robinson was, +he was kind and attentive to him; and when preparing to go again to +war, got him to write the letter which was afterwards found on +Holstein at the house of a Mr. Robertson, whose family were all +murdered by the Indians. Robinson remained with his adopted mother, +until he was redeemed under the treaty concluded at the close of the +Dunmore campaign. + +----- + [1] Mr. Jefferson, in his Notes on Virginia, represents this + as happening at Grave creek, which empties into the Ohio from + the south eastern, or Virginia side of this river, twelve miles + below Wheeling. Those who lived near at the time and are + supposed to have had the best opportunity of ascertaining the + fact, say that it happened near the mouth of Captina, a creek + sixteen miles below Wheeling, and on the Ohio side. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--What is called the "Captina affair" + happened April 27th, at Pipe Creek, emptying into the Ohio from + the west, fourteen miles below Wheeling, and six above Captina + Creek. Two friendly Shawnees were killed here by a party + commanded by Michael Cresap, of Redstone, who at the time was + in the neighborhood of Wheeling, surveying and clearing farms + for new settlers. Cresap and his men, among whom was George + Rogers Clark, then a young surveyor who had a claim at the + mouth of Fish Creek, thereupon started out to destroy Chief + Logan's camp, at Baker's Bottom, opposite the mouth of Yellow + Creek, fifty-three miles up the Ohio, and forty miles west of + Pittsburg by land; but as Logan was a well-known friend of the + whites, they became ashamed of their project, and marched on + across country to Fort Redstone. Meanwhile, as will be seen in + due course, others were preparing to destroy Logan's band, and + on April 30th occurred that infamous massacre which Logan + wrongly believed to be Cresap's work. + + [2] Capt. Bull was a Delaware chief whose original village + of Oghkwaga was on Unadilla Kiver, an eastern branch of the + Susquehanna, in what is now Boone county, N. Y. He had been the + prime mover in an attempt to interest the Delawares in + Pontiac's conspiracy (1763). In March, 1764, a strong party of + whites and friendly Indians were sent out to capture him, by + Sir William Johnson, English Indian superintendent in New York. + After a sharp struggle, Bull and a number of his adherents were + captured and conveyed in irons to New York City, where they + were imprisoned for a time, but finally discharged. The + Delaware towns on the Unadilla having been burned, Bull and + five families of his relatives settled what the whites called + Bulltown, on the Little Kanawha. This was at a salt spring + about a mile and a quarter below the present Bulltown P. O., + Braxton county, Va. Capt. Bull and his people were inoffensive, + and very friendly to their white neighbors, as our author + says.--R. G. T. + + [3] Adam Stroud lived on Elk River, a few miles south of + Indian Bulltown. The massacre of his family--his wife and seven + children--occurred in June, 1772. Shawnees were the murderers, + and not Bull's people.--R. G. T. + + [4] Mr. McWhorter writes me that two others were Jesse + Hughes and John Cutright (corruption of Cartwright?), both of + them settlers on Hacker's Creek. Hughes was a noted border + scout, but a man of fierce, unbridled passions, and so + confirmed an Indian hater that no tribesman, however peaceful + his record, was safe in his presence. Some of the most cruel + acts on the frontier are by tradition attributed to this man. + The massacre of the Bulltown Indians was accompanied by + atrocities as repulsive as any reported by captives in Indian + camps; of these there had long been traditions, but details + were not fully known until revealed by Cutright upon his + death-bed in 1852, when he had reached the age of 105 years. + Want of space alone prevents me from giving Mr. McWhorter's + narrative of Hughes's long and bloody career. "Hughes died," he + says, "in Jackson county, W. Va., at a date unknown to me, but + in very old age. While he was a great scout and Indian trader, + he never headed an expedition of note. This no doubt was + because of his fierce temperament, and bad reputation among his + own countrymen." In studying the annals of the border, we must + not fail to note that here and there were many savage-hearted + men among the white settlers, whose deeds were quite as + atrocious as any attributed to the red-skins. Current histories + of Indian warfare seldom recognize this fact.--R. G. T. + + [5] Lord Dunmore's War (1774) was a natural outgrowth of the + strained relations which had long existed between the savages + and the white colonists in their midst. As our author has made + clear, minor hostilities had broken out here and there ever + since the Pontiac uprising, but there had been no general + campaign since Bouquet's treaty in 1764. Affairs had come to + that pass by the early spring of 1774, that diplomacy was no + longer possible, and an Indian war was inevitable. It was + merely a question of detail, as to how and when. The immediate + cause of precipitation--not the cause of the war, for that lay + deeper--was the territorial dispute over the Ft. Pitt region, + between Virginia and Pennsylvania. Dunmore, as royal governor + of Virginia, had several reasons for bringing matters to a + head--he was largely interested in land speculations under + Virginia patents that would be vitiated if Pennsylvania, now + becoming aggressive, should succeed in planting her official + machinery at Ft. Pitt, which was garrisoned by Virginia; again, + his colonists were in a revolutionary frame of mind, and he + favored a distraction in the shape of a popular Indian war; + finally, it seemed as though a successful raid by Virginia + militia would clinch Virginia's hold on the country and the + treaty of peace that must follow would widen the area of + provincial lands and encourage Western settlements. April 25, + 1774, he issued a proclamation in which, after reference to + Pennsylvania's claims, it was asserted that Ft. Pitt was "in + danger of some annoyance from the Indians," and he called on + his local military commandant, the fire-eating Dr. John + Connolly, "to embody a sufficient number of men to repel any + insult." Connolly, evidently as part of a preconcerted plan, at + once (April 26) issued a circular letter to the excited + borderers, which was well calculated to arouse them, being in + effect a declaration of war against the Indians. The very next + day occurred the Pipe Creek affair, then came the Logan tragedy + at Baker's Bottom, three days later, and at once the war was on + at full-head.--R. G. T. + + [6] Of John Findlay (so he signed his name), "the + precursor and pilot of Daniel Boone to Kentucky," but little is + known and less has been published. Apparently he was a native + of the north of Ireland. In early life he emigrated to the + neighborhood of Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pa., a district + almost wholly settled by Scotch-Irish Protestants. In + February, 1752, we find him a trader among the Shawnees; the + following year, he was robbed and driven off. It is probable + that he served in the Pennsylvania frontier militia from the + opening of the French and Indian War (1754). Boone met him on + the Braddock campaign (1755), and they became fast friends. + Findlay had already (1752) been in Kentucky as far as the + Falls of the Ohio, in the course of his ramblings as a + trader, and inspired Boone with an intense desire to seek this + El Dorado of the West. It was in 1767, when settled near the + head of the Yadkin River, that Boone first tried to reach + Kentucky by way of the Sandy, but failed. In the winter of + 1768-69, Findlay, now a peddler, with a horse to carry his + traps, appeared at Boone's cabin on the Yadkin, and the two + old comrades had a happy time rehearsing their various + adventures during the thirteen years of separation. An + expedition to Kentucky was agreed upon, and the party set + out from Boone's cabin, May 1, 1769; it was composed of + Findlay, now advanced in years, Daniel Boone, the latter's + brother-in-law, John Stuart, and three Yadkin neighbors, + Joseph Holden, James Mooney, and William Cooley. The story of + their expedition through Cumberland Gap, and their long hunt, + is now familiar to readers of Western history. Their + principal camp was probably on Red Lick Fork of Station Camp + Creek. In December, Stuart and Boone were captured by + Indians, but escaped early in January (1770), and on + rejoining their comrades on Rockcastle River found that + Daniel's brother, Squire, had arrived with fresh horses and + traps from the North Carolina home; and with him was + Alexander Neely, whom Squire had found on New (Great + Kanawha) River. Findlay, Holden, Mooney, and Cooley now + elected to return home, leaving the others to spend a longer + period in Kentucky; Findlay took the left-hand road through the + West Virginia settlements, to Pennsylvania, and the others, + turning to the right, wended their way to North Carolina + through Cumberland Gap. Not long after this, Stuart was + killed by Indians, while alone in the woods, and Neely, + discouraged by his fate, returned home. The story, often + copied from Withers, that Neely was killed by a wolf, is + erroneous. As for Findlay, he appears to have again become an + Indian trader in Western Pennsylvania; for late in 1771 he is + reported to have been robbed of $500 worth of goods, by a + Seneca war party raiding the Youghiogheny district. There is a + tradition that not long after this he "was lost in the wilds + of the West." Holden and Cooley spent the rest of their + days on the Upper Yadkin. Mooney was killed at the battle of + Point Pleasant (1774).--R. G. T. + + [7] The Boones and five other families set out from their + homes on the Yadkin, Sept. 25, 1773. In Powell's Valley they + were joined by forty people under Boone's brother-in-law, + William Bryan. While the main party were slowly advancing + through the valley, a small squad, under Boone's oldest son, + James, went on a side expedition for flour, cattle, and other + supplies. With these they had nearly caught up to the advance, + when, not knowing they were so near, they camped on the evening + of October 9 a few miles in the rear. Early in the morning of + the 10th, a small band of Shawnees and Cherokees, who were + nominally at peace with the whites, fell upon and, after cruel + tortures, slaughtered them. In Dunmore's speech at Fort Pitt, + this tragedy in Powell's Valley was alluded to as one of the + chief causes of the Indian war of 1774. At the Camp Charlotte + treaty (October, 1774), some of the plunder from this massacre + was delivered up by the savages. After the tragedy, the greater + part of the Kentucky caravan returned to their homes, but the + Boones spent the winter of 1773-74 at a settlement some forty + miles distant, on Clinch River. During the Dunmore War, Boone + was active as an Indian fighter.--R. G. T. + + [8] The leader of this party was Capt. Thomas Bullitt. He + was born in Fauquier county, Va., in 1730; was one of + Washington's captains at the Great Meadows (1754), and fought + gallantly with Braddock (1755) and Forbes (1758); in 1763, was + made adjutant-general of Virginia; during the early part of the + Revolution he held the same office in the Southern Department + of the United States, but resigned in 1776 because not + promoted; he died in Fauquier county, in 1778. The project of + Franklin, Walpole, and others to found the Colony of + Pittsylvania, with its seat at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, + greatly stimulated Western land speculation, and there was a + rush of those holding military land warrants to locate claims. + Lord Dunmore's agent at Fort Pitt, Dr. John Connolly--with whom + his lordship was doubtless in partnership--had large interests + of this character, and Bullitt went to the Falls of the Ohio + (1773) to survey lands for him. Bullitt had a surveyor's + commission from Williams and Mary College, but Col. William + Preston, county surveyor for Fincastle county--in which + Kentucky was then included--declined to recognize any but his + own deputies. Preston carried his point, and the lands were + re-surveyed the following year (1774) by his deputies. Bullitt + had laid off a town on this Connolly survey; but the Revolution + soon broke out, Bullitt was otherwise engaged, Dunmore was + deposed, Connolly was imprisoned, and the scheme fell through. + In 1778, George Rogers Clark camped at the Falls on his way to + the Illinois, and the garrison he established there grew into + the town of Louisville. With Bullitt's surveying party in 1773, + were James Douglas, James Harrod, James Sodousky, Isaac Hite, + Abraham Haptonstall, Ebenezer Severns, John Fitzpatrick, John + Cowan,--prominent names in later Kentucky history,--and + possibly others. George Rogers Clark was probably with the + party during a part of its canoe voyage down the Ohio, but + seems to have gone no farther than Big Bone Creek.--R. G. T. + + [9] This was done by a party of men from the Monongahela, + under the guidance of James Harrod; by whom was built the first + cabin for human habitancy ever erected in Kentucky. This was on + the present site of Harrodsburg. + + [10] These are the Pipe Creek and Baker's Bottom affairs, + respectively mentioned on pp. 134, 149, _notes_. Yellow Creek, + opposite Baker's Bottom, empties into the Ohio 51 miles below + Pittsburg; Wheeling is 91 miles below Pittsburg, and Pipe Creek + 104.--R. G. T. + + [11] There is some difficulty in fixing on the precise time + when these occurrences happened. Col. Ebenezer Zane says that + they took place in the latter part of April, and that the + affair at Captina preceded the one at Yellow creek a few days. + John Sappington, who was of the party at Baker's, and is said + to be the one who killed Logan's brother, says, the murders at + that place occurred on the 24th of May, and that the skirmish + at Captina was on the day before (23rd May.) Col. Andrew + Swearingen, a presbyterian gentleman of much respectability, + one of the early settlers near the Ohio above Wheeling, and + afterwards intimate with those engaged at both places, says + that the disturbance opposite Yellow creek preceded the + engagement [113] at Captina, and that the latter, as was then + generally understood, was caused by the conduct of the Indians, + who had been at Yellow creek and were descending the river, + exasperated at the murder of their friends at Baker's. Mr. + Benjamin Tomlinson, who was the brother-in-law of Baker and + living with him at the time, says that this circumstance + happened in May, but is silent as to the one at Captina. These + gentlemen all agree in the fact that Logan's people were + murdered at Baker's. Indeed Logan himself charges it as having + been done there. The statement of Sappington, that the murders + were caused by the abusive epithets of Logan's brother and his + taking the hat and coat of Baker's brother in law is confirmed + by Col. Swearingen and others; who also say that for some days + previous, the neighborhood generally had been engaged in + preparing to leave the country, in consequence of the menacing + conduct of the Indians. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--The date is now well established--April + 30. Withers is altogether too lenient, in his treatment of the + whites engaged in this wretched massacre. Logan, encamped at + the mouth of Yellow River, on the Ohio side, was a peaceful, + inoffensive Indian, against whom no man harbored a suspicion; + he was made a victim of race hatred, in a time of great popular + excitement. Joshua Baker, who was settled opposite him on + Baker's Bottom, in Virginia, kept a low grog-shop tavern, and + had recently been warned not to sell more liquor to Indians. + Daniel Greathouse lived in the vicinity--a cruel, bloodthirsty + fellow, who served Connolly as a local agent in fomenting + hatred of Indians. It will be remembered (p. 131, _note_) that + Cresap's party were intending to strike the camp of Logan, but + that they abandoned the project. In the meantime, probably + without knowledge of Cresap's intent, Greathouse had collected + a party of 32 borderers to accomplish the same end. Logan's + camp seemed too strong for them to attack openly; so they + secreted themselves in Baker's house, and when Logan's family, + men and women, came over to get their daily grog, and were + quite drunk, set upon them and slew and tomahawked nine or ten. + The chief, standing on the Ohio bank, heard the uproar and + witnessed the massacre; he naturally supposed that the + murderers were led by Cresap. From a friend of the whites, + Logan became their implacable enemy, and during the ensuing war + his forays were the bloodiest on the border. We shall hear of + him and his famous speech, later on. + + [12] It was then that Westfall's and Casinoe's forts were + erected in Tygart's valley,--Pricket's, on Pricket's + creek,--Jackson's on Ten Mile, and Shepherd's on Wheeling + creek, a few miles above its mouth. There were also others + established in various parts of the country and on the + Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Nutter's fort, near to Clarksburg, + afforded protection to the inhabitants on the West Fork, from + its source, to its confluence with the Valley river; and to + those who lived on Buchannon and on Hacker's creek, as well as + to the residents of its immediate vicinity. + + [13] June 20, Col. William Preston, having charge of the + defenses of Fincastle county, authorized Capt. William Russell + to employ two faithful woodsmen to go to Kentucky and inform + the several surveying parties at work there, of their danger. + June 26, Russell replied, "I have engaged to start immediately + on the occasion, two of the best hands I could think of--Daniel + Boone and Michael Stoner; who have engaged to reach the country + as low as the Falls, and to return by way of Gasper's Lick on + Cumberland, and through Cumberland Gap; so that, by the + assiduity of these men, if it is not too late, I hope the + gentlemen will be apprized of the imminent danger they are + daily in." + + Boone and Stoner journeyed overland to Harrodsburg, where + Col. James Harrod and thirty men were making improvements + and laying out the town. The thrifty Boone secured a good + lot, hastily built a claim cabin, and proceeded on his + tour. At Fontaine Blue, three miles below Harrodsburg, the + two scouts found another party of surveyors, whom they warned; + and in going down the Kentucky River came across Capt. John + Floyd's surveying party,--eight men, who had left Preston's + house for Kentucky, April 9,--who agreed to meet them farther + down the river. But circumstances prevented a reunion, and + Floyd's band penetrated through the wilderness on their own + account, and had a painful journey of sixteen days' duration + before reaching Russell's Fort on Clinch River. Meanwhile, + Boone and Stoner descended to the mouth of the Kentucky, and + thence to the Falls of the Ohio, and found more surveyors at + Mann's Lick, four miles southeast. Indians were making bloody + forays through the district, and the scouts had frequent + thrilling adventures. Finally, after having been absent + sixty-one days and travelled 800 miles, they reached Russell's + on the Clinch, in safety. Russell was absent on the Point + Pleasant campaign, and Boone set out with a party of recruits + to reinforce him, but was ordered back to defend the Clinch + settlements. He was busy at this task until the close of + the war. He was present at the Watauga treaty, March 17, 1775; + later that year, he led another band to Kentucky, and early + in April built Fort Boone, on Kentucky River, "a little below + Big Lick," the nucleus of the Henderson colony.--R. G. T. + + [14] The party numbered about four hundred men. The line of + march was about ninety miles in length, as estimated by the + zig-zag course pursued.--R. G. T. + + [15] They were Jonathan Zane, Thomas Nicholson and Tady + Kelly. A better woodsman than the first named of these three, + perhaps never lived. + + [16] Doddridge locates Wapatomica "about sixteen miles below + the present Coshocton." Butterfield (_History of the Girtys_) + places it "just below the present Zanesville, in Logan county, + Ohio, not a great distance from Mac-a-cheek." For localities of + Indian towns on the Muskingum, see map in St. John de Creve + Coeur's _Lettres d'un Cultivateur Americain_ (Paris, 1787), + III., p. 413.--R. G. T. + + [17] John Hargus, a private in Capt. Cresap's company, while + stationed as a vidette below the main army, observed an Indian + several times raising his head above his blind, and looking + over the river. Charging his rifle with a second ball, he + fired, and both bullets passed through the neck of the Indian, + who was found next day and scalped by Hargus. + + [18] Logan was the son of Shikellemus, a celebrated chief of + the Cayuga nation, who dwelt at Shamokin, and always attached + to the [118] English, was of much service to them on many + occasions. After the close of Dunmore's war, Logan became + gloomy and melancholy, drank freely and manifested symptoms of + mental derangement. He remained some time at Detroit, and while + there, his conduct and expressions evinced a weariness of the + world. Life he said had become a burden to him, he knew no more + what pleasure was, and thought it had been better if he had + never existed. In this disponding and disconsolate condition he + left Detroit, and on his way between that place and Miami, is + said to have been murdered. + + [19] See p. 149, _note_, for account of the massacre.--R. G. T. + + + + +[121] CHAPTER VII. + + +When information of the hostile deportment of the Indians was carried +to Williamsburg, Col. Charles Lewis sent a messenger with the +intelligence to Capt. John Stuart, and requesting of him, to apprize +the inhabitants on the Greenbrier river that an immediate war was +anticipated, and to send out scouts to watch the warrior's paths +beyond the settlements. The vigilance and activity of Capt. Stuart, +were exerted with some success, to prevent the re-exhibition of those +scenes which had been previously witnessed on Muddy creek and in the +Big Levels: but they could not avail to repress them altogether. + +In the course of the preceding spring, some few individuals had begun +to make improvements on the Kenhawa river below the Great Falls; and +some land adventurers, to examine and survey portions of the adjoining +country. To these men Capt. Stuart despatched an express, to inform +them that apprehensions were entertained of immediate irruptions being +made upon the frontiers by the Indians, and advising them to remove +from the position which they then occupied; as from its exposed +situation, without great vigilance and alertness, they must +necessarily fall a prey to the savages. + +When the express arrived at the cabin of Walter Kelly, twelve miles +below the falls, Capt. John Field of Culpepper (who had been in active +service during the French war, and was then engaged in making +surveys,) was there with a young Scotchman and a negro woman. Kelly +with great prudence, directly sent his family to Greenbrier, under the +care of a younger brother. But Capt. Field, considering the +apprehension as groundless, determined on remaining with Kelly, who +from prudential motives did not wish to subject himself to observation +by mingling with others.[1] Left with no persons but the Scotchman +and negro, they were not long permitted to doubt the reality of those +dangers, of which they had been forewarned by Capt Stuart. + +[122] Very soon after Kelly's family had left the cabin, and while yet +within hearing of it, a party of Indians approached, unperceived, near +to Kelly and Field, who were engaged in drawing leather from a tan +trough in the yard. The first intimation which Field had of their +approach was the discharge of several guns and the fall of Kelly. He +then ran briskly towards the house to get possession of a gun, but +recollecting that it was unloaded, he changed his course, and sprang +into a cornfield which screened him from the observation of the +Indians; who, supposing that he had taken shelter in the cabin, rushed +immediately into it. Here they found the Scotchman and the negro +woman, the latter of whom they killed; and making prisoner of the +young man, returned and scalped Kelly. + +When Kelly's family reached the Greenbrier settlement, they mentioned +their fears for the fate of those whom they had left on the Kenhawa, +not doubting but that the guns which they heard soon after leaving the +house, had been discharged at them by Indians. Capt. Stuart, with a +promptitude which must ever command admiration, exerted himself +effectually to raise a volunteer corps, and proceed to the scene of +action, with the view of ascertaining whether the Indians had been +there; and if they had, and he could meet with them, to endeavor to +punish them for the outrage, and thus prevent the repetition of +similar deeds of violence. + +They had not however gone far, before they were met by Capt. Field, +whose appearance of itself fully told the tale of woe. He had ran +upwards of eighty miles, naked except his shirt, and without food; his +body nearly exhausted by fatigue, anxiety and hunger, and his limbs +greviously lacerated with briers and brush. Captain Stuart, fearing +lest the success of the Indians might induce them to push immediately +for the settlements, thought proper to return and prepare for that +event. + +In a few weeks after this another party of Indians came to the +settlement on Muddy creek, and as if a certain fatality attended the +Kelly's, they alone fell victims to the incursion. As the daughter of +Walter Kelly was walking with her uncle (who had conducted the family +from the Kenhawa) some distance from the house, which had been +converted into a temporary fort, and in which they lived, they were +discovered and fired upon; the latter was killed and scalped, and the +former being overtaken in her flight, was carried into captivity. + +After the murder of Brown, and the taking of Hellen and Robinson, the +inhabitants on the Monongahela and its upper branches, alarmed for +their safety, retired into forts. But in the ensuing September, as +Josiah Pricket and Mrs. Susan Ox, who had left Pricket's fort for the +purpose of driving up their cows, were returning in the evening they +were way laid by a party of Indians, who had been drawn to the path by +the tinkling of the cowbell. Pricket was killed and scalped, and Mrs. +Ox taken prisoner. + +[123] It was in the course of this season, that Lewis Wetsel[2] first +gave promise of that daring and discretion, which were so fully +developed in his maturer years, and which rendered him among the most +fortunate and successful of Indian combatants. When about fourteen +years old, he and his brother Jacob, (still younger) were discovered +some distance from the house, by a party of Indians, who had been +prowling through the settlements on the Ohio river, with the +expectation of fortunately meeting with some opportunity of taking +scalps or making prisoners. As the boys were at some distance from +them, and in a situation too open to admit of their being approached +without perceiving those who should advance towards them, the Indians +determined on shooting the larger one, lest his greater activity might +enable him to escape. A shot was accordingly discharged at him, which, +partially taking effect and removing a portion of his breast bone, so +far deprived him of his wonted powers, that he was easily overtaken; +and both he and his brother were made prisoners. The Indians +immediately directed their steps towards their towns, and having +travelled about twenty miles beyond the Ohio river, encamped at the +Big Lick, on the waters of McMahon's creek, on the second night after +they had set off. When they had finished eating, the Indians laid +down, without confining the boys as on the preceding night, and soon +fell to sleep. After making some little movements to test the +soundness of their repose, Lewis whispered to his brother that he must +get up and go home with him; and after some hesitation on the part of +Jacob, they arose and set off. Upon getting about 100 yards from the +camp, Lewis stopped, and telling his brother to await there, returned +to the camp and brought from thence a pair of mocasons for each of +them. He then observed, that he would again go back and get his +father's gun; this he soon effected, and they then commenced their +journey home. The moon shining brightly, they were easily able to +distinguish the trail which they had made in going out; but had not +however pursued it far, before they heard the Indians coming in +pursuit of them. So soon as Lewis perceived by the sound of their +voices that they were approaching tolerably near to them, he led his +brother aside from the path, and squatting down, concealed themselves +'till their pursuers had passed them; when they again commenced +travelling and in the rear of the Indians. Not overtaking the boys as +soon as was expected, those who had been sent after them, began to +retrace their steps. Expecting this, the boys were watchful of every +noise or object before them, and when they heard the Indians +returning, again secreted themselves in the bushes, and escaped +observation. They were then followed by two, of the party who had made +them prisoners, on horseback; but by practising the same stratagem, +they eluded them also; and on the next day reached the Ohio river +opposite to Wheeling. Apprehensive that it would be dangerous to +apprize those on the opposite side of the river of their situation, by +hallooing, Lewis set himself to work as silently, and yet as +expeditiously [124] as possible, and with the aid of his little +brother, soon completed a raft on which they safely crossed the Ohio; +and made their way home. + +That persons, should, by going out from the forts, when the Indians +were so generally watching around them, expose themselves to captivity +or death, may at first appear strange and astonishing. But when the +mind reflects on the tedious and irksome confinement, which they were +compelled to undergo; the absence of the comforts, and frequently, of +the necessaries of life, coupled with an overweening attachment to the +enjoyment of forest scenes and forest pastimes, it will perhaps be +matter of greater astonishment that they did not more frequently +forego the security of a fortress, for the uncertain enjoyment of +those comforts and necessaries, and the doubtful gratification of this +attachment. Accustomed as they had been "free to come and free to go," +they could not brook the restraint under which they were placed; and +rather than chafe and pine in unwilling confinement, would put +themselves at hazard, that they might revel at large and wanton in the +wilderness. Deriving their sustenance chiefly from the woods, the +strong arm of necessity led many to tempt the perils which environed +them; while to the more chivalric and adventurous "the danger's self +were lure alone." The quiet and stillness which reigned around, even +when the enemy were lurking nearest and in greater numbers, inspired +many too, with the delusive hope of exemption from risk, not +unfrequently the harbinger of fatal consequences. It seemed indeed, +impracticable at first to realize the existence of a danger, which +could not be perceived. And not until taught by reiterated suffering +did they properly appreciate the perilous situation of those, who +ventured beyond the walls of their forts. But this state of things was +of short duration. The preparations, which were necessary to be made +for the projected campaign into the Indian country, were completed; +and to resist this threatened invasion, required the concentrated +exertions of all their warriors. + +The army destined for this expedition, was composed of volunteers and +militia, chiefly from the counties west of the Blue ridge, and +consisted of two divisions. The northern division, comprehending the +troops, collected in Frederick, Dunmore,[3] and the adjacent counties, +was to be commanded by Lord Dunmore, in person;[4] and the southern, +comprising the different companies raised in Botetourt, Augusta and +the adjoining counties east of the Blue ridge, was to be led on by +Gen. Andrew Lewis. These two divisions, proceeding by different +routes, were to form a junction at the mouth of the Big Kenhawa, and +from thence penetrate the country north west of the Ohio river, as far +as the season would admit of their going; and destroy all the Indian +towns and villages which they could reach. + +About the first of September, the troops placed under the command +[125] of Gen. Lewis rendezvoused at Camp Union (now Lewisburg) and +consisted of two regiments, commanded by Col. William Fleming of +Botetourt and Col. Charles Lewis of Augusta, and containing about four +hundred men each. At Camp Union they were joined by an independent +volunteer company under Col. John Field of Culpepper; a company from +Bedford under Capt. Buford and two from the Holstein settlement (now +Washington county) under Capts. Evan Shelby and Harbert. These three +latter companies were part of the forces to be led on by Col. +Christian, who was likewise to join the two main divisions of the army +at Point Pleasant, so soon as the other companies of his regiment +could be assembled. The force under Gen. Lewis, having been thus +augmented to eleven hundred men, commenced its march for the mouth of +Kenhawa on the 11th of September 1774.[5] + +From Camp Union to the point proposed for the junction of the northern +and southern divisions of the army, a distance of one hundred and +sixty miles, the intermediate country was a trackless forest, so +rugged and mountainous as to render the progress of the army, at once, +tedious and laborious. Under the guidance of Capt. Matthew Arbuckle, +they however, succeeded in reaching the Ohio river after a march of +nineteen days; and fixed their encampment on the point of land +immediately between that river and the Big Kenhawa.[6] The provisions +and ammunition, transported on packhorses, and the beeves in droves, +arrived soon after. + +When the army was preparing to leave Camp Union, there was for a while +some reluctance manifested on the part of Col. Field to submit to the +command of Gen. Lewis. This proceeded from the fact, that in a former +military service, he had been the senior of Gen. Lewis; and from the +circumstance that the company led on by him were Independent +Volunteers, not raised in pursuance of the orders of Governor Dunmore, +but brought into the field by his own exertions, after his escape from +the Indians at Kelly's. These circumstances induced him to separate +his men from the main body of the army on its march, and to take a +different way from the one pursued by it,--depending on his own +knowledge of the country to lead them a practicable route to the +river.[7] + +While thus detached from the forces under Gen. Lewis, two of his men +(Clay and Coward) who were out hunting and at some little distance +from each other, came near to where two Indians were concealed. Seeing +Clay only, and supposing him to be alone, one of them fired at him; +and running up to scalp him as he fell, was himself shot by Coward, +who was then about 100 yards off. The other Indian ran off unarmed, +and made his escape. A bundle of ropes found where Clay was killed, +induced the belief that it was the object of these Indians to steal +horses;--it is not however improbable, that they had been observing +the progress of the army, and endeavoring to ascertain its numbers. +Col. Field, fearing that he might [126] encounter a party of the enemy +in ambush, redoubled his vigilance 'till he again joined General +Lewis; and the utmost concert and harmony then prevailed in the whole +army.[8] + +When the Southern division arrived at Point Pleasant, Governor Dunmore +with the forces under his command, had not reached there; and unable +to account for his failure to form the preconcerted junction at that +place, it was deemed advisable to await that event; as by so doing, a +better opportunity would be afforded to Col. Christian of coming up, +with that portion of the army, which was then with him.[9] Meanwhile +General Lewis, to learn the cause of the delay of the Northern +division, despatched runners by land, in the direction of Port Pitt, +to obtain tidings of Lord Dunmore, and to communicate them to him +immediately. In their absence, however, advices were received from his +Lordship, that he had determined on proceeding across the country, +directly to the Shawanee towns; and ordering General Lewis to cross +the river, march forward and form a junction with him, near to them. +These advices were received on the 9th of October, and preparations +were immediately begun to be made for the transportation of the troops +over the Ohio river.[10] + +Early on the morning of Monday the tenth of that month, two +soldiers[11] left the camp, and proceeded up the Ohio river, in quest +of deer. When they had progressed about two miles, they unexpectedly +came in sight of a large number of Indians, rising from their +encampment, and who discovering the two hunters fired upon them and +killed one;--the other escaped unhurt, and running briskly to the +camp, communicated the intelligence, "that he had seen a body of the +enemy, covering four acres of ground as closely as they could stand by +the side of each other." The main part of the army was immediately +ordered out under Colonels Charles Lewis,[12] and William Fleming; and +having formed into two lines, [127] they proceeded about four hundred +yards, when they met the Indians, and the action commenced. + +At the first onset, Colonel Charles Lewis having fallen, and Colonel +Fleming being wounded, both lines gave way and were retreating briskly +towards the camp, when they were met by a reinforcement under Colonel +Field,[13] and rallied. The engagement then became general, and was +sustained with the most obstinate fury on both sides. The Indians +perceiving that the "tug of war" had come, and determined on affording +the Colonial army no chance of escape, if victory should declare for +them, formed a line extending across the point, from the Ohio to the +Kenhawa, and protected in front, by logs and fallen timber. In this +situation they maintained the contest with unabated vigor, from +sunrise 'till towards the close of evening; bravely and successfully +resisting every charge which was made on them; and withstanding the +impetuosity of every onset, with the most invincible firmness, until a +fortunate movement on the part of the Virginia troops, decided the +day. + +Some short distance above the entrance of the Kenhawa river into Ohio, +there is a stream, called Crooked creek, emptying into the former +of these, from the North east,[14] whose banks are tolerably high, +and were then covered with a thick and luxuriant growth of weeds. +Seeing the impracticability of dislodging the Indians, by the most +vigorous attack, and sensible of the great danger, which must +arise to his army, if the contest were not decided before night, +General Lewis detached the three companies which were commanded by +Captains Isaac Shelby, George Matthews, and John Stuart, with orders +to proceed up the Kenhawa river, and Crooked creek under cover of +the banks and weeds, 'till they should [128] pass some distance +beyond the enemy; when they were to emerge from their covert, +march downward towards the point and attack the Indians in their +rear.[15] The manoeuvre thus planned, was promptly executed, and gave +a decided victory to the Colonial army. The Indians finding themselves +suddenly and unexpectedly encompassed between two armies, & not +doubting but that in their rear, was the looked for reinforcement +under Colonel Christian, soon gave way, and about sun down, +commenced a precipitate retreat across the Ohio, to their towns on +the Scioto. + +Some short time after the battle had ended, Colonel Christian arrived +with the troops which he had collected in the settlements on the +Holstein, and relieved the anxiety of many who were disposed to +believe the retreat of the Indians to be only a feint;[16] and that +an attack would be again speedily made by them, strengthened and +reinforced by those of the enemy who had been observed during the +engagement, on the opposite side of the Ohio and Kenhawa rivers. But +these had been most probably stationed there, in anticipation of +victory, to prevent the Virginia troops from effecting a retreat +across those rivers, (the only possible chance of escape, had they +been overpowered by the enemy in their front;) and the loss sustained +by the Indians was too great, and the prospect of a better fortune, +too gloomy and unpromising, for them to enter again into an +engagement. Dispirited by the bloody repulse with which they had met, +they hastened to their towns, better disposed to purchase security +from farther hostilities by negotiation, than risk another battle with +an army whose strength and prowess, they had already tested; and found +superior to their own. The victory indeed, was decisive, and many +advantages were obtained by it; but they were not cheaply bought. The +Virginia army sustained, in this engagement, a loss of seventy-five +killed, and one hundred and forty wounded.--About one fifth of the +entire number of the troops. + +Among the slain were Colonels Lewis and Field; Captains Buford, +Morrow, Wood, Cundiff, Wilson, and Robert McClannahan; and Lieutenants +Allen, Goldsby and Dillon, with some other subalterns. The loss of the +enemy could not be ascertained. On the morning after the action, +Colonel Christian marched his men over the battle ground and found +twenty-one of the Indians lying dead; and twelve others [129] were +afterwards discovered, where they had been attempted to be concealed +under some old logs and brush.[17] + +From the great facility with which the Indians either carry off or +conceal their dead, it is always difficult to ascertain the number of +their slain; and hence arises, in some measure, the disparity between +their known loss and that sustained by their opponents in battle. +Other reasons for this disparity, are to be found in their peculiar +mode of warfare, and in the fact, that they rarely continue a contest, +when it has to be maintained with the loss of their warriors. It would +not be easy otherwise to account for the circumstance, that even when +signally vanquished, the list of their slain does not, frequently, +appear more than half as great, as that of the victors. In this +particular instance, many of the dead were certainly thrown into the +river. + +Nor could the number of the enemy engaged, be ever ascertained. Their +army is known to have been composed of warriors from the different +nations, north of the Ohio; and to have comprised the flower of the +Shawanee, Delaware, Mingo, Wyandotte and Cayuga tribes; led on by men, +whose names were not unknown to fame,[18] and at the head of whom was +Cornstalk, Sachem of the Shawanees, and King of the Northern +Confederacy.[19] + +This distinguished chief and consummate warrior, proved himself on +that day, to be justly entitled to the prominent station which he +occupied. His plan of alternate retreat & attack, was well conceived, +and occasioned the principal loss sustained by the writes. If at any +time his warriors were believed to waver, his voice could be heard +above the din of arms, exclaiming in his native tongue, "Be strong! Be +strong;" and when one near him, by trepidation and reluctance to +proceed to the charge, evinced a dastardly disposition, fearing the +example might have a pernicious influence, with one blow of the +tomahawk he severed his skull. It was perhaps a solitary instance in +which terror predominated. Never did men exhibit a more conclusive +evidence of bravery, in making a charge, and fortitude in withstanding +an onset, than did these undisciplined soldiers of the forest, in the +[130] field at Point Pleasant. Such too was the good conduct of those +who composed the army of Virginia, on that occasion; and such the +noble bravery of many, that high expectations were entertained of +their future distinction. Nor were those expectations disappointed. In +the various scenes through which they subsequently passed, the pledge +of after eminence then given, was fully redeemed; and the names of +Shelby, Campbell, Matthews, Fleming, Moore, and others, their +compatriots in arms on the memorable tenth of October, 1774, have been +inscribed in brilliant characters on the roll of fame.[20] + +Having buried the dead, and made every arrangement of which their +situation admitted, for the comfort of the wounded, entrenchments were +thrown up, and the army commenced its march to form a junction with +the northern division, under Lord Dunmore. Proceeding by the way of +the Salt Licks, General Lewis pressed forward with astonishing +rapidity (considering that the march was through a trackless desert); +but before he had gone far, an express arrived from Dunmore, with +orders to return immediately to the mouth of the Big Kenhawa. +Suspecting the integrity of his Lordship's motives, and urged by the +advice of his officers generally, General [131] Lewis refused to obey +these orders; and continued to advance 'till he was met, (at Kilkenny +creek, and in sight of an Indian village, which its inhabitants had +just fired and deserted,) by the Governor, (accompanied by White +Eyes,) who informed him, that he was negotiating a treaty of peace +which would supersede the necessity of the further movement of the +Southern division, and repeating the order for its retreat. + +The army under General Lewis had endured many privations and suffered +many hardships. They had encountered a savage enemy in great force, +and purchased a victory with the blood of their friends. When arrived +near to the goal of their anxious wishes, and with nothing to prevent +the accomplishment of the object of the campaign; they received those +orders with evident chagrin; and did not obey them without murmuring. +Having, at his own request, been introduced severally to the officers +of that division; complimenting them for their gallantry and good +conduct in the late engagement, and assuring them of his high esteem, +Lord Dunmore returned to his camp; and General Lewis commenced his +retreat.[21] + +If before the opening of this campaign, the belief was prevalent, that +to the conduct of emissaries from Great Britain, because of the +contest then waging between her and her American colonies, the Indian +depredations of that year, were mainly attributable; that belief had +become more general, and had received strong confirmation, from the +more portentous aspect which that contest had assumed, prior to the +battle at Point Pleasant. The destruction of the tea at Boston had +taken place in the March preceding. The _Boston Port Bill_, the signal +for actual conflict between the colonies and mother country, had been +received early in May. The house of Burgesses in Virginia, being in +session at the time, recommended that the first of June, the day on +which that bill was to go into operation, be observed throughout the +colony "as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, imploring the +divine interposition to avert the heavy calamity which threatened +destruction to their civil rights, and the evils of a civil war." In +consequence of this recommendation and its accompanying resolutions, +the Governor had dissolved the Assembly. The Legislature of +Massachusetts had likewise passed declaratory resolutions, expressive +of their sense of the state of public affairs and the designs of +Parliament; and which led [132] to their dissolution also. The +committee of correspondence at Boston, had framed and promulgated an +agreement, which induced Governor Gage, to issue a proclamation, +denouncing it as "an unlawful, hostile and traitorous combination, +contrary to the allegiance due to the King, destructive of the legal +authority of Parliament, and of the peace, good order, and safety of +the community;" and requiring of the magistrates, to apprehend and +bring to trial, all such as should be in any wise guilty of them. A +congress, composed of delegates from the different colonies, and +convened for the purpose "of uniting and guiding the councils, and +directing the efforts of North America," had opened its session on the +4th of September. In fine, the various elements of that tempest, which +soon after overspread the thirteen united colonies, had been already +developed, and were rapidly concentrating, before the orders for the +retreat of the Southern division of the army, were issued by Lord +Dunmore. How far these were dictated by a spirit of hostility to the +cause of the colonies, and of subservience to the interests of Great +Britain, in the approaching contest, may be inferred from his conduct +during the whole campaign; and the course pursued by him, on his +return to the seat of government. If indeed there existed (as has been +supposed,) between the Indians and the Governor from the time of his +arrival with the Northern Division of the army at Fort Pitt, a secret +and friendly understanding, looking to the almost certain result of +the commotions which were agitating America, then was the battle at +Point Pleasant, virtually the first in the series of those brilliant +achievements which burst the bonds of British tyranny; and the blood +of Virginia, there nobly shed, was the first blood spilled in the +sacred cause of American liberty.[22] + +It has been already seen that Lord Dunmore failed to form a junction +with General Lewis, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, agreeably to +the plan for the campaign, as concerted at Williamsburg by the +commanding officer of each division. No reason for changing the +direction of his march, appears to have been assigned by him; and +others were left to infer his motives, altogether from circumstances. + +While at Fort Pitt Lord Dunmore was joined by the notorious Simon +Girty,[23] who accompanied him from thence 'till the close of the +expedition. The subsequent conduct of this man, his attachment to the +side of Great Britain, in her [133] attempts to fasten the yoke of +slavery upon the necks of the American people,--his withdrawal from +the garrison at Fort Pitt while commissioners were there for the +purpose of concluding a treaty with the Indians, as was stipulated in +the agreement made with them by Dunmore,--the exerting of his +influence over them, to prevent the chiefs from attending there, and +to win them to the cause of England,--his ultimate joining the savages +in the war which (very much from his instigation,) they waged against +the border settlements, soon after,--the horrid cruelties, and +fiendish tortures inflicted on unfortunate white captives by his +orders and connivance;--all combined to form an exact counterpart to +the subsequent conduct of Lord Dunmore when exciting the negroes to +join the British standard;--plundering the property of those who were +attached to the cause of liberty,--and applying the brand of +conflagration to the most flourishing town in Virginia. + +At Wheeling, as they were descending the river, the army delayed some +days; and while proceeding from thence to form a junction with the +division under general Lewis, was joined, near the mouth of the Little +Kenhawa, by the noted John Connoly, of great fame as a tory. + +Of this man, Lord Dunmore thence forward became an intimate associate; +and while encamped at the mouth of Hock Hocking--seemed to make him +his confidential adviser. It was here too, only seventy miles distant +from the head quarters of General Lewis, that it was determined to +leave the boats and canoes and proceed by land to the Chilicothe +towns.[24] + +The messengers, despatched by Lord Dunmore to apprize the lower +army of this change of determination, were Indian traders; one of whom +being asked, if he supposed the Indians would venture to give battle +to the superior force of the whites, replied that they certainly +would, and that Lewis' division would soon see his prediction +verified.[25] This was on the day previous to the engagement. On the +return of these men, on the evening of the same day, they must have +seen the Indian army which made the attack on the next morning; +and the belief was general on the day of battle, that they had +communicated to the Indians, the present strength and expected +reinforcement of the southern division. It has also been said that +on the evening of the 10th of October, while [134] Dunmore, +Connoly and one or two others were walking together, his Lordship +remarked "by this time General Lewis has warm work."[26] + +The acquaintance formed by the Governor with Connoly, in the ensuing +summer was further continued, and at length ripened into one of the +most iniquitous conspiracies, that ever disgraced civilized man. + +In July, 1775, Connoly presented himself to Lord Dunmore with +proposals, well calculated to gain the favor of the exasperated +Governor, and between them a plan was soon formed, which seemed to +promise the most certain success. Assurances of ample rewards from +Lord Dunmore, were transmitted to such officers of the militia on the +frontiers of Virginia, as were believed to be friendly to the royal +cause, on putting themselves under the command of Connoly; whose +influence with the Indians, was to ensure their co-operation against +the friends of America. To perfect this scheme, it was necessary to +communicate with General Gage; and about the middle of September, +Connoly, with despatches from Dunmore, set off for Boston, and in the +course of a few weeks returned, with instructions from the Governor of +Massachusetts, which developed their whole plan. Connoly was invested +with the rank of Colonel of a regiment, (to be raised among those on +the frontiers, who favored the cause of Great Britain,) with which he +was to proceed forthwith to Detroit, where he was to receive a +considerable reinforcement, and be supplied with cannon, muskets and +ammunition. He was then to visit the different Indian nations, enlist +them in the projected enterprise, and rendezvous his whole force at +Fort Pitt. From thence he was to cross the Alleghany mountain, and +marching through Virginia join Lord Dunmore, on the 20th of the +ensuing April, at Alexandria. + +This scheme, (the execution of which, would at once, have laid waste a +considerable portion of Virginia, and ultimately perhaps, nearly the +whole state,) was frustrated by the taking of Connoly, and all the +particulars of it, made known. This development, served to shew the +villainous connexion existing between Dunmore and Connoly, and to +corroborate the suspicion of General Lewis and many of his officers, +that the conduct of the former, during the campaign of 1774, was [135] +dictated by any thing else than the interest and well being of the +colony of Virginia. + +This suspicion was farther strengthened by the readiness with +which Lord Dunmore embraced the overtures of peace, and the terms on +which a treaty was concluded with them; while the encamping of his +army, without entrenchments, in the heart of the Indian country, and +in the immediate adjacency of the combined forces of the Indian +nations of Ohio, would indicate, that there must have been a +friendly understanding between him and them. To have relied solely +on the bravery and good conduct of his troops, would have been the +height of imprudence. His army was less than that, which had been +scarcely delivered from the fury of a body of savages inferior in +number, to the one with which he would have had to contend; and it +would have been folly in him to suppose, that he could achieve with +a smaller force, what required the utmost exertions of General +Lewis and his brave officers, to effect with a greater one.[27] + +When the Northern division of the army resumed its march for +Chilicothe, it left the greater part of its provisions in a block +house which had been erected during its stay at the mouth of the +Hockhocking, under the care of Captain Froman with a small party +of troops to garrison it. On the third day after it left Fort Gore +(the block house at the mouth of Hockhocking) a white man by the name +of Elliott came to Governor Dunmore, with a request from the +Indians that he would withdraw the army from their country, and +appoint commissioners to meet their chiefs at Pittsburg to confer +about the terms of a treaty. To this request a reply was given, that +the Governor was well inclined to make peace, and was willing that +hostilities should cease; but as he was then so near their towns, +and all the chiefs of the different nations were at that time with the +army, it would be more convenient to negotiate then, than at a +future period. He then named a place at which he would encamp, and +listen to their proposals; and immediately despatched a courier to +General Lewis with orders for his return.[28] + +The Indian spies reporting that General Lewis had disregarded these +orders, and was still marching rapidly towards their towns, the +Indians became apprehensive of the result; and one of their chiefs +(the White Eyes) waited on Lord Dunmore in person, and complained that +the "Long Knives" [136] were coming upon them and would destroy all +their towns. Dunmore then, in company with White Eyes, visited the +camp of General Lewis, and prevailed with him, as we have seen, to +return across the Ohio. + +In a few days after this, the Northern division of the army approached +within eight miles of Chilicothe, and encamped on the plain, at the +place appointed for the chiefs to meet without entrenchments or breast +works, or any protection, save the vigilance of the sentinels and the +bravery of the troops.[29] On the third day from the halting of the +army eight chiefs, with Cornstalk at their head, came into camp; and +when the interpreters made known who Cornstalk was, Lord Dunmore +addressed them, and from a written memorandum, recited the various +infractions, on the part of the Indians, of former treaties, and +different murders, unprovokedly committed by them. To all this +Cornstalk replied, mixing a good deal of recrimination with the +defence of his red brethren; and when he had concluded, a time was +specified when the chiefs of the different nations should come in, and +proceed to the negotiation of a treaty. + +Before the arrival of that period, Cornstalk came alone to the camp, +and acquainted the Governor that none of the Mingoes would attend; and +that he was apprehensive there could not a full council be convened. +Dunmore then requested that he would convoke as many chiefs of the +other nations as he could, and bring them to the council fire without +delay, as he was anxious to close the war at once; and that if this +could not be effected peaceably, he should be forced to resume +hostilities. Meantime two interpreters were despatched to Logan,[30] +by Lord Dunmore, requesting his attendance;--but Logan replied, that +"he was a warrior, not a councillor, and would not come."[31] + +On the night after the return of the interpreters to camp [137] +Charlotte (the name of Dunmore's encampment,) Major William Crawford, +with three hundred men, left the main army about midnight, on an +excursion against a small Mingo village, not far off. Arriving there +before day, the detachment surrounded the town; and on the first +coming out of the Indians from their huts, there was some little +firing on the part of the whites, by which one squaw and a man were +killed--the others about 20 in number were all made prisoners and +taken to the camp; where they remained until the conclusion of a +treaty. Every thing about the village, indicated an intention of their +speedily deserting it.[32] + +Shortly after Cornstalk and two other chiefs, made their appearance at +camp Charlotte, and entered into a negotiation which soon terminated +in an agreement to forbear all farther hostilities against each +other,--to give up the prisoners then held by them, and to attend at +Pittsburgh, with as many of the Indian chiefs as could be prevailed on +to meet the commissioners from Virginia, in the ensuing summer, where +a treaty was to be concluded and ratified--Dunmore requiring hostages, +to guarantee the performance of those stipulations, on the part of the +Indians. + +If in the battle at Point Pleasant, Cornstalk manifested the bravery +and generalship of a mighty captain; in the negotiations at camp +Charlotte, he displayed the skill of a statesman, joined to powers +of oratory, rarely, if ever surpassed. With the most patriotic +devotion to his country, and in a strain of most commanding eloquence, +he recapitulated the accumulated wrongs, which had oppressed their +fathers, and which were oppressing them. Sketching in lively +colours, the once happy and powerful condition of the Indians, he +placed in striking contrast, their present fallen fortunes and +unhappy destiny. Exclaiming against the perfidiousness of the +whites, and the dishonesty of the traders, he proposed as the basis +of a treaty, that no persons should be permitted to carry on a +commerce with the Natives, for individual profit; but that [138] +their white brother should send them such articles as they needed, +by the hands of honest men, who were to exchange them at a fair price, +for their skins and furs; and that no spirit of any kind should be +sent among them, as from the "fire water" of the whites, proceeded +evil to the Indians.[33] + +This truly great man, is said to have been opposed to the war from its +commencement; and to have proposed on the eve of the battle at Point +Pleasant, to send in a flag, and make overtures for peace; but this +proposal was overruled by the general voice of the chiefs. When a +council was first held after the defeat of the Indians, Cornstalk, +reminding them of their late ill success, and that the Long Knives +were still pressing on them, asked what should be then done. But no +one answered. Rising again, he proposed that the women and children +should be all killed; and that the warriors should go out and fight, +until they too were slain. Still no one answered. Then, said he, +striking his tomahawk into the council post, "I will go and make +peace." This was done, and the war of 1774 concluded. + +----- + [1] He is said to have committed some offence, in the upper + part of South Carolina, which rendered him obnoxious to the + laws of that colony, and to evade the punishment for which, he + had fled to the wilderness and taken up his abode in it. + + [2] Lewis Wetzel, the son of a German settler on Wheeling + Creek, some fourteen miles above its mouth, was born about + 1764. He and his brothers Martin, Jacob, John, and George + became famous in border warfare after the close of the + Revolution; the annals of the frontier abound in tales of their + hardy achievements. Martin and Lewis were the heroes of most + remarkable escapes from Indian captivity; John was also famous + as an Indian fighter; and Jacob's name will ever be connected + with the exploits of that other great border scout, Simon + Kenton. But of all the brothers, Lewis achieved the widest + celebrity, and two biographies of him have been published: by + Cecil B. Hartley (Phila., 1860), and by R. C. V. Meyers + (Phila., 1883).--R. G. T. + + [3] Now Shenandoah. + + [4] The northern wing was composed of men from Frederick, + Berkeley, and Dunmore (afterwards Shenandoah) counties, and + Col. Adam Stephen was placed in command. With this wing went + Lord Dunmore and Major John Connolly. Counting the forces + already in the field under Maj. Angus McDonald and Capt. + William Crawford, this levy numbered some twelve hundred men. + Among them, as scouts, were George Roger Clark, Simon Kenton, + and Michael Cresap.--R. G. T. + + [5] Lewis was colonel of the militia of Botetourt county. + Camp Union (so called because several bodies of troops met + there) was on the Big Savannah or Great Levels of Greenbrier + River; the town of Lewisburg now occupies the site. + + In Dunmore's letter to Andrew Lewis, dated July 12, he directed + him to raise a sufficient body of men, and proceeding to the + mouth of the Great Kanawha there erect a fort; if he deemed + best he was to cross the Ohio, proceed directly to the Indian + towns, and destroy their crops and supplies; in any event he + was to keep communication open between Fort Wheeling and Fort + Dunmore (Pittsburg). It is evident that his lordship then + contemplated no separate expedition of his own, for he talks of + sending Major Angus McDonald's party and a new levy to Lewis's + assistance. But he changed his mind, and August 30 wrote to + Lewis directing that the latter meet him at the mouth of the + Little Kanawha. Lewis replied through Col. William Preston that + it was now too late to change his plans; he should proceed at + once with the levy just summoned, to the mouth of the Great + Kanawha, and there await further orders.--R. G. T. + + [6] This cape was called Point Pleasant, and is now occupied + by the West Virginia town of that name.--R. G. T. + + [7] This is misleading. On September 6, Col. Charles Lewis, + with his Augusta troops, numbering about six hundred, were + detached to proceed to the mouth of the Elk, and there make + canoes for transporting the supplies to the mouth of the Great + Kanawha. This body had in charge a drove of 108 beef cattle, + and 400 pack-horses laden with 54,000 lbs. of flour. Field's + company soon followed this advance.--R. G. T. + + [8] Saturday, the 10th, Clay and Coward were sent out to + hunt deer for Field's company, on the banks of the Little + Meadow. Then occurred the incident related by Withers. The + Indian who escaped, hurried on to the Shawnee towns and gave + them their first notice of the approach of the army. Alarmed at + this incident, Field hurried and caught up with the advance + under Charles Lewis. The text reads as though he had hastened + back to Andrew Lewis, who had not yet left Camp Union.--R. G. + T. + + [9] Col. Andrew Lewis marched out of Camp Union the 12th, + with about 450 men. These consisted of Fleming's Botetourt + troops, three companies of Fincastle men under Capts. Evan + Shelby, William Herbert, and William Russell, the Bedford men + under Thomas Buford, and Dunmore men under Slaughter. They had + with them 200 pack-horses laden with flour, and the remainder + of the beeves. Col. William Christian, who arrived at Camp + Union the day Andrew Lewis left, was ordered, with the rest of + the Fincastle men, to remain there, to guard the residue of the + provisions, and when the brigade of horses sent to the mouth of + the Elk had returned, to hurry every thing forward to the mouth + of the Great Kanawha. Five weeks were thus consumed in + transporting the troops and the supplies a distance of 160 + miles through the tangled forest, to Point Pleasant, where the + main army, upwards of 1,100 strong, had arrived, quite spent + with exertions, on the 6th of October. + + When Christian left Camp Union for the front, Anthony Bledsoe, + with a company of Fincastle men, was detailed to remain behind + with the sick, while the base of supplies at the mouth of the + Elk was placed in charge of Slaughter. As will be seen, + Christian arrived too late to engage in the battle of Point + Pleasant.--R. G. T. + + [10] When Lewis arrived at Point Pleasant (October 6th), he + found awaiting him in a hollow tree dispatches from Dunmore, + brought by Simon Kenton and two companions, directing him to + join his lordship at the mouth of the Big Hockhocking, where + the governor's northern wing, under Major Crawford, was + building a stockade. But Lewis's men were spent, and pens had + to be built for the cattle, and shelter for the stores, so no + move was made. On Saturday, the 8th, came a further message + from the governor, who was still at the Big Hockhocking. Lewis + replied that he would join him there as soon as the troops, + food supply, and powder had all reached Point Pleasant. His men + were angry at Dunmore's interference, and argued with Lewis + that it was sixty miles by river and over half that by land, to + Dunmore's camp, whereas it was less than either to the hostile + towns which they had started out to attack; and to turn aside + from this purpose was to leave open for the hostiles the + back-door to the frontier settlements of Virginia. The 9th was + Sunday, and these sturdy Scotch-Irish Presbyterians spent the + day in religious exercises, listening to a stout sermon from + their chaplain. On the morrow, they were surprised by the + Indians, as the sequel relates.--R. G. T. + + [11] James Mooney, of Russell's company, and Joseph + Hughey, of Shelby's. They were surprised at the mouth of Old + Town Creek, three miles distant. Hughey was killed by a shot + fired by Tavenor Ross, a white renegade in Cornstalk's + party.--R. G. T. + + [12] Few officers were ever more, or more deservedly, + endeared to those under their command than Col. Charles Lewis. + In the many skirmishes, which it was his fortune to have, with + the Indians he was uncommonly successful; and in the various + scenes of life, thro' which he passed, his conduct was + invariably marked by the distinguishing characteristicks of a + mind, of no ordinary stamp. His early fall on this bloody + field, was severely felt during the whole engagement; and to it + has been attributed the partial advantages gained by the Indian + army near the commencement of the action. When the [127] fatal + ball struck him, he fell at the root of a tree; from whence he + was carried to his tent, against his wish, by Capt. Wm. Morrow + and a Mr. Bailey, of Captain Paul's company, and died in a few + hours afterwards. In remembrance of his great worth, the + legislature named the county of Lewis after him. + + [13] An active, enterprising and meritorious officer, who had + been in service in Braddock's war, and profited by his + experience of the Indian mode of fighting. His death checked + for a time the ardor of his troops, and spread a gloom over the + countenances of those, who had accompanied him on this + campaign. + + [14] A half-mile up the Big Kanawha.--R. G. T. + + [15] From MS. journals and letters in possession of the + Wisconsin Historical Society, it appears that the conduct of + the battle was as follows: Andrew Lewis, who as yet thought the + enemy to be but a scouting party, and not an army equal in size + to his own, had the drums beat to arms, for many of his men + were asleep in their tents; and while still smoking his pipe, + ordered a detachment from each of the Augusta companies, to + form 150 strong under Col. Charles Lewis, with John Dickinson, + Benjamin Harrison, and John Skidmore as the captains. Another + party of like size was formed under Col. Fleming, with Captains + Shelby, Russell, Buford, and Philip Love. Lewis's party marched + to the right, near the foot of the hills skirting the east side + of Crooked Creek. Fleming's party marched to the left, 200 + yards apart from the other. A quarter of a mile from camp, and + half a mile from the point of the cape, the right-going party + met the enemy lurking behind trees and fallen logs at the base + of the hill, and there Charles Lewis was mortally wounded. + Fleming marched to a pond three-quarters of a mile from camp, + and fifty rods inland from the Ohio--this pond being one of the + sources of Crooked Creek. The hostile line was found to extend + from this pond along Crooked Creek, half way to its mouth. The + Indians, under Cornstalk, thought by rushes to drive the whites + into the two rivers, "like so many bullocks," as the chief + later explained; and indeed both lines had frequently to fall + back, but they were skillfully reinforced each time, and by + dusk the savages placed Old Town Creek between them and the + whites. This movement was hastened, a half hour before sunset, + by a movement which Withers confounds with the main tactics. + Captains Matthews, Arbuckle, Shelby, and Stuart were sent with + a detachment up Crooked creek under cover of the bank, with a + view to securing a ridge in the rear of the enemy, from which + their line could be enfiladed. They were discovered in the act, + but Cornstalk supposed that this party was Christian's advance, + and in alarm hurried his people to the other side of Old Town + Creek. The battle was, by dark, really a drawn game; but + Cornstalk had had enough, and fled during the night.--R. G. T. + + [16] During the day, a messenger had been dispatched to hurry + on Christian, who with 250 men was convoying cattle and powder. + In the early evening, fifteen miles from Point Pleasant, this + rear party was found, toiling painfully over the wilderness + trail. Christian at once left his property in charge of a small + party, and arrived in camp by midnight.--R. G. T. + + [17] Most of the killed and wounded, on both sides, were shot + in the head or breast, which indicates good marksmanship. The + Indians, though skillful marksmen, did not exhibit sufficient + mechanical knowledge to enable them properly to clean their + guns, and thus were at some disadvantage. + + The statistician was at work in those days, as now, for we + learn from an old diary that at Old Town Creek were found by + the white victors, 78 rafts with which the Indians had crossed + the Ohio to the attack, the night of October 9-10; and on the + battlefield during the 10th and 12th, were collected 23 guns, + 27 tomahawks, 80 blankets, and great numbers of war-clubs, + shot-pouches, powder-horns, match-coats, deer-skins, "and + other articles," all of which were put up at auction by the + careful commissary, and brought nearly L100 to the army + chest.--R. G. T. + + [18] Such were Redhawk, a Delaware chief,--Scoppathus, a + Mingo,--Ellinipsico, a Shawanee, and son to Cornstalk,--Chiyawee, a + Wyandotte, and Logan, a Cayuga. + + [19] The first recorded foray of Cornstalk was on October + 10, 1759, against the Gilmore family and others, on Carr's + Creek, in what is now Rockbridge county, Va. "The Carr's + Creek massacre" was long remembered on the border as one of + the most daring and cruel on record. He was again heard of + during the Pontiac conspiracy, in 1763, when he led a large + war-party from the Scioto towns against the Virginia + frontier. Both at Muddy Creek, and the Clendenning farm + near Lewisburg, on the Levels of the Greenbrier, the + marauders pretended to be friendly with the settlers, and + in an unguarded moment fell upon and slew them. Other + massacres, in connection with the same foray, were at Carr's + Creek, Keeney's Knob, and Jackson's River. The story of the + captivity of Mrs. Clendenning and her children, who were + taken to the Shawnee towns on the Scioto, is one of the + most heartrendering in Western history. In 1764, Bouquet + raided these towns, and Cornstalk was one of the hostages + sent to Fort Pitt in fulfillment of the terms of the treaty, + but later he effected his escape. Nothing more is heard of + this warrior until 1774, when he became famous as leader of the + Indians at the battle of Point Pleasant. Cornstalk's + intelligence was far above that of the average Shawnee. He + had, before the Dunmore War, strongly counseled his people + to observe the peace, as their only salvation; but when + defeated in council, he with great valor led the tribesmen to + war. After the treaty of Fort Charlotte, he renewed his peace + policy, and was almost alone in refusing to join the + Shawnee uprising in 1777. Late in September, that year, he + visited his white friends at Fort Randolph (Point Pleasant), + and was retained as one of several hostages for the tribe. + Infuriated at some murders in the vicinity, the private + soldiers in the fort turned upon the Indian prisoners and + basely killed them, Cornstalk among the number. Governor + Patrick Henry and General Hand--the latter then organizing his + futile expedition against the Shawnees--wished to punish + the murderers; but in the prevalent state of public opinion on + the border, it was easy for them to escape prosecution.--R. + G. T. + + [20] The following gentlemen, with others of high reputation + in private life, were officers in the battle at Point Pleasant. + Gen. Isaac Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky, and + afterwards, secretary of war;--Gen. William Campbell and Col. + John Campbell, heroes of King's mountain and Long Island;--Gen. + Evan Shelby, one of the most favored citizens of Tennessee, + often honored with the confidence of that state;--Col. William + Fleming, an active governor of Virginia during the revolutionary + war;--Gen. Andrew Moore of Rockbridge, the only man ever + elected by Virginia, from the country west of the Blue ridge, to + the senate of the United States;--Col. John Stuart, of + Greenbrier;--Gen. Tate, of Washington county, Virginia;--Col. + William McKee, of Lincoln county, Kentucky;--Col. John Steele, + since a governor of Mississippi territory;--Col. Charles + Cameron, of Bath;--Gen. Bazaleel Wells, of Ohio; and Gen. + George Matthews, a distinguished officer in the war of the + revolution, the hero of Brandywine, Germantown, and of + Guilford;--a governor of Georgia, and a senator from that + state in the congress of the United States. The salvation of + the American army at Germantown, is ascribed, in Johnston's + life of Gen. Green, to the bravery and good conduct of two + regiments, one of which was commanded by General, then Col. + Matthews. + + [21] In order to get a clearer view of the situation, a + few more details are essential here. For several days after the + battle of Point Pleasant, Lewis was busy in burying the dead, + caring for the wounded, collecting the scattered cattle, and + building a store-house and small stockade fort. Early on + the morning of October 13th, messengers who had been sent on to + Dunmore, advising him of the battle, returned with orders to + Lewis to march at once with all his available force, + against the Shawnee towns, and when within twenty-five + miles of Chillicothe to write to his lordship. The next day, + the last rear guard, with the remaining beeves, arrived + from the mouth of the Elk, and while work on the defenses at + the Point was hurried, preparations were made for the march. + By evening of the 17th, Lewis, with 1,150 men in good + condition, had crossed the Ohio and gone into camp on the north + side. Each man had ten days' supply of flour, a half pound of + powder, and a pound and a half of bullets; while to each + company was assigned a pack-horse for the tents. Point + Pleasant was left in command of Col. Fleming,--who had been + severely wounded in the battle,--Captains Dickinson, + Lockridge, Herbert, and Slaughter, and 278 men, few of whom + were fit for service. On the 18th, Lewis, with Captain + Arbuckle as guide, advanced towards the Shawnee towns, eighty + miles distant in a straight line, and probably a hundred and + twenty-five by the circuitous Indian trails. The army marched + about eleven miles a day, frequently seeing hostile parties + but engaging none. Reaching the salt licks near the head of + the south branch of Salt Creek (in the present Lick township, + Jackson county, O.), they descended that valley to the + Scioto, and thence to a prairie on Kinnikinnick (not Kilkenny) + Creek, where was the freshly-deserted Indian village + referred to above, by Withers. This was thirteen miles south of + Chillicothe (now Westfall). Here they were met, early on the + 24th, by a messenger from his lordship, ordering them to + halt, as a treaty was nearly concluded at Camp Charlotte. But + Lewis's army had been fired on that morning, and the place was + untenable for a camp in a hostile country, so he concluded to + seek better ground. A few hours later another messenger came, + again peremptorily ordering a halt, as the Shawnees had + practically come to terms. Lewis now concluded to join the + northern division in force, at Camp Charlotte, not liking to + have the two armies separated in the face of a treacherous + enemy; but his guide mistook the trail, and took one leading + directly to the Grenadier Squaw's Town. Lewis camped that + night on the west bank of Congo Creek, two miles above its + mouth, and five and a quarter miles from Chillicothe, with + the Indian town half-way between. The Shawnees were now + greatly alarmed and angered, and Dunmore himself, accompanied + by the Delaware chief White Eyes, a trader, John Gibson, and + fifty volunteers, rode over in hot haste that evening to stop + Lewis, and reprimand him. His lordship was mollified by Lewis's + explanations, but the latter's men, and indeed Dunmore's, were + furious over being stopped when within sight of their hated + quarry, and tradition has it that it was necessary to + treble the guards during the night to prevent Dunmore and White + Eyes from being killed. The following morning (the 25th), his + lordship met and courteously thanked Lewis's officers for + their valiant service; but said that now the Shawnees had + acceded to his wishes, the further presence of the southern + division might engender bad blood. Thus dismissed, Lewis led + his army back to Point Pleasant, which was reached on the + 28th. He left there a garrison of fifty men under Captain + Russell, and then by companies the volunteers marched + through the wilderness to their respective homes, where they + disbanded early in November.--R. G. T. + + [22] This is not the view of students in our own day, coolly + looking at the affair from the distance of a hundred and twenty + years. There now seems no room to doubt that Dunmore was + thoroughly in earnest, that he prosecuted the war with vigor, + and knew when to stop in order to secure the best possible + terms. Our author wrote at a time when many heroes of Point + Pleasant were still alive, and his neighbors; he reflected + their views, and the passions of the day. That it was, in view + of the events then transpiring, the best policy to turn back + the southern army, after the great battle, and not insist too + closely on following up the advantage gained, seems now + incontrovertible.--R. G. T. + + [23] Butterfield's _History of the Girtys_ (Cincinnati, + 1890) is a valuable contribution to Western history. Simon, + James, and George Girty were notorious renegade whites, who + aided the Indians against the borderers from 1778 to 1783; + Simon and George were similarly active in the Indian war of + 1790-95.--R. G. T. + + [24] Upon leaving Pittsburg,--where the governor held a + council with several Delaware and Mingo chiefs, to whom he + recited the outrages perpetrated by the Shawnees since + Bouquet's treaty of 1764--the northern division divided into + two wings. One, 700 strong, under Dunmore, descended the river + in boats; the other 500 went across the "pan-handle" by land, + with the cattle, and both rendezvoused, September 30th, at + Wheeling, 91 miles below Pittsburg. Next day, Crawford resumed + his march along the south bank of the Ohio, to a point opposite + the mouth of Big Hockhocking, 107 miles farther down. Here the + men, the 200 bullocks, and the 50 pack-horses swam the Ohio, + and just above the Big Hockhocking (the site of the present + Hockingport) erected a blockhouse and stockade, which they + called Fort Gower, in honor of the English earl of that name. A + part of the earthwork can still (1894) be seen in the garden of + a Hockingport residence. Dunmore's party, in 100 canoes and + pirogues, arrived a few days later. While at Fort Gower, he was + joined by the Delaware chiefs, White Eyes and John Montour, the + former of whom was utilized as an agent to negotiate with the + Shawnees--R. G. T. + + [25] This was William McCulloch.--R. G. T. + + [26] The authority for this is Stuart's _Indian Wars_, p. + 56. Abraham Thomas, in his _Sketches_, relates that the + governor, placing his ear at the surface of the river, said + he thought he heard the firing of guns; and Thomas, then a + young militiaman, was asked to do likewise, and reported that + it was the rattle of musketry. The distance across country + to Point Pleasant was but twenty-eight miles, but by the river + windings was sixty-six. These anecdotes have been related as + proof that Dunmore desired Lewis beaten. White Eyes had + notified the governor that a conflict was expected, though + he had reported a much smaller Indian army than Lewis's; + hence his lordship had no fear of the result. Had he known + that the opposing forces were equal in number, and that the + whites had been surprised, he doubtless would have sent + relief. Knowing the Shawnee warriors were away from home, + fighting Lewis, whom he had reason to suppose was very well + able to handle them, he determined to advance inland to the + deserted towns on the Scioto and destroy their houses and + crops. He was upon this errand when met and stopped by the + messengers of peace.--R. G. T. + + [27] The two wings of the white army had about the same + strength--1100 under Dunmore, and 1150 (after leaving Point + Pleasant) under Lewis. The fighting quality was also the same, + in both. It is to be remembered that in the army under Dunmore + there was very little discontent at the issue, and at the close + of the campaign the men heartily thanked his lordship for his + valuable services in behalf of the people. They did this, too, + at a time when they knew from Eastern news received in camp, + that the Revolution was near at hand, and Dunmore must soon be + fighting against them in behalf of his royal master.--R. G. T. + + [28] Dunmore had, through White Eyes, summoned the Shawnee + chiefs to treat with him at Fort Gower (not Gore), but they had + declined to come in. He then set out, October 11th, to waste + their towns on the Scioto, as previously noted, leaving the + fort in charge of Captain Kuykendall (not Froman), with whom + remained the disabled and the beeves. Each man on the + expedition carried flour for sixteen days. Just after the Point + Pleasant battle, Lewis had dispatched a messenger to his + lordship with news of the affair; Dunmore's messenger to Lewis, + with instructions to the latter to join him _en route_, crossed + Lewis's express on the way. The messenger from Lewis found that + his lordship had marched up the Big Hockhocking valley for the + Scioto, and hurried after him. The governor was overtaken at + the third camp out (west of the present Nelsonville, Athens + county, O.), and the good news caused great joy among the + soldiers. October 17th, Dunmore arrived at what he styled Camp + Charlotte (on the northern bank of Sippo Creek, Pickaway + county, eight miles east of Chillicothe, in view of Pickaway + Plains), and here the treaty of peace was concluded.--R. G. T. + + [29] Doddridge's _Notes_ says that the camp was surrounded by + a breastwork of fallen trees, and an entrenchment, and + Roosevelt's _Winning of the West_ follows him. But Dr. Draper + was distinctly told (in 1846-51) by two survivors of the + campaign, Samuel Murphy and John Grim, that Withers's account + is correct; and this is confirmed in Whittlesey's _Fugitive + Essays_. In the center of the field, a building of poles was + erected, in which to hold the council; around this, the army + encamped. A large white oak having been peeled, Dunmore wrote + upon it in red chalk, "Camp Charlotte," thus honoring the then + English queen.--R. G. T. + + [30] Logan was the Mingo chief, the massacre of whose family + at Baker's Bottom, the previous April, has already been + described. He had just returned (October 21) from a foray on + the Holston border, bringing several scalps and three + prisoners, when the trader Gibson and the scout Simon Girty + were sent to him by his lordship.--R. G. T. + + [31] Colonel Benjamin Wilson, Sen. (then an officer in + Dunmore's army, and whose narrative of the campaign furnished + the facts which are here detailed) says that he conversed + freely with one of the interpreters (Nicholson) in regard to + the mission to Logan, and that neither from the interpreter, + nor any other one during the campaign, did he hear of the + charge preferred in Logan's speech against Captain Cresap, as + being engaged in the affair at Yellow creek.--Captain Cresap + was an officer in the division of the army under Lord Dunmore; + and it would seem strange indeed, if Logan's speech had been + made public, at camp Charlotte, and neither he, (who was so + materially interested in it, and could at once have proved the + falsehood of the allegation which it contained,) nor Colonel + Wilson, (who was present during the whole conference between + Lord Dunmore and the Indian chiefs, and at the time when the + speeches were delivered sat immediately behind and close to + Dunmore,) should have heard nothing of it until years after. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--Withers thus shortly disposes of the + famous speech by Logan, which schoolboys have been reciting for + nearly a hundred years as one of the best specimens extant, of + Indian eloquence. The evidence in regard to the speech, which + was undoubtedly recited to Gibson, and by him written out for + Lord Dunmore's perusal, and later "improved" by Jefferson, is + clearly stated in Roosevelt's _Winning of the West_, I., app. + iii. + + [32] The reason for the attack was, that the Mingoes were + implacable, and Dunmore had learned that instead of coming into + the treaty they purposed retreating to the Great Lakes with + their prisoners and stolen horses. This Mingo village was + Seekonk (sometimes called the Hill Town), 30 or 40 miles up the + Scioto. Crawford left Camp Charlotte the night of the 25th, and + surprised the town early in the morning of the 27th. Six were + killed, several wounded, and fourteen captured; the rest + escaping into the forest. Crawford burned several Mingo towns + in the neighborhood.--R. G. T. + + [33] In remarking on the appearance and manner of Cornstalk + while speaking, Colonel Wilson says, "When he arose, he was in + no wise confused or daunted, but spoke in a distinct, and + audible voice, without stammering or repetition, and with + peculiar emphasis. His looks while addressing Dunmore, were + truly grand and majestic; yet graceful and attractive. I have + heard the first orators in Virginia, Patrick Henry and Richard + Henry Lee, but never have I heard one whose powers of delivery + surpassed those of Cornstalk on that occasion." + + + + +[139] CHAPTER VIII. + + +Upon the close of the campaign of 1774, there succeeded a short period +of perfect quiet, and of undisturbed repose from savage invasion, +along the borders of North Western Virginia. The decisive battle of +the 10th of October, repressed incursion for a time, and taught those +implacable enemies of her citizens, their utter inability, alone and +unaided, to maintain a contest of arms, against the superior power of +Virginia. They saw that in any future conflict with this colony, her +belligerent operations would no longer be confined to the mere +purposes of defence; but that war would be waged in their own country, +and their own towns become the theatre of its action. Had the leading +objects of the Dunmore campaign been fully accomplished,--had the +contemplated junction of the different divisions of the army taken +place;--had its combined forces extended their march into the Indian +territory, and effected the proposed reduction of the Chilicothe, and +other towns on the Scioto and Sandusky, it would have been long +indeed, before the frontier settlements, became exposed to savage +inroad. A failure to effect these things however, left the Indians +comparatively at liberty, and prepared to renew invasion, and revive +their cruel and bloody deeds, whenever a savage thirst for vengeance +should incite them to action, and the prospect of achieving them with +impunity, be open before them. In the then situation of our country, +this prospect was soon presented to them. + +The contest between Great Britain and her American colonies, which had +been for some time carried on with increasing warmth, was ripening +rapidly into war. The events of every day, more and more confirmed the +belief, that the "_unconditional submission_" of the colonies, was the +object of the parent state; and that to accomplish this, she was [140] +prepared to desolate the country by a civil war, and imbrue her hands +in the blood of its citizens. This state of things the Indians knew, +would favor the consummation of their hopes. Virginia, having to apply +her physical strength to the repulsion of other enemies, could not be +expected to extend her protecting aegis over the remote and isolated +settlements on her borders. These would have to depend on themselves +alone, for resistance to ruthless irruption, and exemption from total +annihilation. The Indians well knew the weakness of those settlements, +and their consequent incapacity to vie in open conflict with the +overwhelming force of their savage foes; and their heriditary +resentment to the whites prompted them to take advantage of that +weakness, to wreak this resentment, and involve them once more in +hostilities. + +Other circumstances too, combined in their operation, to produce this +result. The plan of Lord Dunmore and others, to induce the Indians to +co-operate with the English in reducing Virginia to subjection, and +defeated by the detection and apprehension of Connoly, was soon after +resumed on a more extensive scale. British agents were busily engaged +from Canada to the Gulph of Mexico, in endeavoring by immediate +presents and the promise of future reward, to excite the savages to a +war upon the western frontiers. To accomplish this object, no means +which were likely to be of any avail, were neglected to be used. +Gratified resentment and the certainty of plunder, were held up to +view as present consequences of this measure; and the expulsion of the +whites, and the repossession, by the Natives, of the country from +which their fathers had been ejected, as its ultimate result.--Less +cogent motives might have enlisted them on the side of Great Britain. +These were too strong to be resisted by them, and too powerful to be +counteracted by any course of conduct, which the colonies could +observe towards them; and they became ensnared by the delusive bait, +and the insidious promises which accompanied it. + +There were in the colonies too, many persons, who from principle or +fear, were still attached to the cause of Great Britain; and who not +only, did not sanction the opposition of their country to the +supremacy of Parliament, but were willing in any wise to lend their +aid to the royal cause. Some of those disaffected Americans, (as they +were at first denominated) who resided on the frontiers, foreseeing +the [141] attachment of the Indians to the side of Britain, and +apprehensive that in their inroads, the friends as well as the enemies +of that country, might, from the difficulty of discriminating, be +exposed to savage fury; and at the same time, sensible that they had +become obnoxious to a majority of their neighbors, who were perhaps, +too much inclined to practice summary modes of punishment, sought a +refuge among the Indians, from those impending evils. In some +instances, these persons were under the influence of the most +rancorous and vindictive passions, and when once with the savages, +strove to infuse those passions into their breasts, and stimulate them +to the repetition of those enormities, which had previously, so +terribly annoyed the inhabitants of the different frontiers.[1] Thus +wrought upon, their inculcated enmity to the Anglo-Americans +generally, roused them to action, and the dissonant notes of the war +song, resounded in their villages. For a while indeed, they refrained +from hostilities against North Western Virginia. It was however, but +to observe the progress of passing events, that they might act against +the mountain borders, simultaneously with the British on the Atlantic +coast; as a premature movement on their part, might, while Virginia +was yet at liberty to bear down upon them with concentrated forces, +bring upon their towns the destruction which had so appallingly +threatened them after the battle at Point Pleasant. + +But though the inhabitants on the Virginia frontiers, enjoyed a +momentary respite from savage warfare; yet were the Indians not wholly +unemployed in deeds of aggression. The first attempt to occupy +Kentucky, had been the signal of hostilities in 1774; and the renewed +endeavors to form establishments in it, in 1775, induced their +continuance, and brought on those who were engaged in effecting them, +all the horrors of savage warfare. + +Upon the close of the campaign under Lord Dunmore, Kentucky became +more generally known. James Harrod, with those who had associated +themselves with him in making a settlement in that country and aided +in the erection of the fort at Harrodsburg, joined the army of General +Lewis at Point Pleasant; and when, after the treaty of Camp Charlotte, +the army was disbanded, many of the soldiers and some of the officers, +enticed by the description given of it by Harrod, returned to south +Western Virginia, through that country.[2] The result of their +examination of it, induced many to migrate thither immediately; and in +1775, families began to take up their residence in it. + +At that time, the only white persons residing in Kentucky, were those +at Harrod's fort; and for a while, emigrants to that country [142] +established themselves in its immediate vicinity, that they might +derive protection from its walls, from the marauding irruptions of +Indians. Two other establishments were, however, soon made, and +became, as well as Harrod's, rallying points for land adventurers, and +for many of those, whose enterprising spirits led them, to make their +home in that wilderness. The first of these was that at Boonesborough, +and which was made, under the superintendence of Daniel Boone. + +The prospect of amassing great wealth, by the purchase of a large body +of land from the Indians, for a comparatively trifling consideration, +induced some gentlemen in North Carolina, to form a company, and +endeavor by negotiation to effect such purpose. This association was +known under the title of Henderson and company; and its object was, +the acquisition of a considerable portion of Kentucky.[3] The first +step, necessary towards the accomplishment of this object, was, to +convene a council of the Indians; and as the territory sought to be +acquired, did not belong, in individual property to any one nation of +them, it was deemed advisable to convoke the chiefs of the different +nations south of the Ohio river. A time was then appointed at which +these were to assemble; and it became necessary to engage an agent, +possessing the requisite qualifications, to attend the council, on +behalf of Henderson and company, and to transact the business for +them. The fame of Daniel Boone which had reached them, recommended +him, as one eminently qualified to discharge the duties devolving on +an agent; and he was employed in that capacity. At the appointed +period, the council was held, and a negotiation commenced, which +resulted in the transfer, to Henderson and company, of the title of +the southern Indians to the land lying south of the Kentucky river, +and north of the Tennessee.[4] + +Boone was then placed at the head of a party of enterprising men, sent +to open a road from the Holstein settlement, through the wilderness, +to the Kentucky river, and to take possession of the company's +purchase. When within fifteen miles of the termination of their +journey, they were attacked by a body of northern Indians, who killed +two of Boone's comrades, and wounded two others. + +Two days after, they were again attacked by them, and had two more of +their party killed and three wounded.[5] From this time they +experienced no farther molestation until they had arrived within the +limits of the purchase, and erected a fort, at a lick near the +southern bank of the Kentucky river--the site of the present town of +Boonesborough. Enfeebled by the loss sustained in the attacks made on +them by the Indians; and worn down by the continued labor of opening a +road through an almost impervious wilderness, it was some time before +they could so far complete the fort, so as to render it secure against +anticipated assaults of the savages, and justify a detachment being +sent from the garrison, to escort the family of Boone to his new +situation. When it was thus far completed, an office [143] was opened +for the sale of the company's land;[6] and Boone and some others +returned to Holstein, and from thence, guarded the family of Boone, +through the wilderness, to the newly erected fort. Mrs. Boone and her +daughter, are believed to be the first white females who ever stood on +the banks of the Kentucky river.[7] + +[143] In 1775 Benjamin Logan, who had been with Lord Dunmore at Camp +Charlotte, visited Kentucky and selected a spot for his future +residence, near to the present village of Stamford, erected thereon a +fort; and in the following year moved his family thither. + +These were the only settlements then begun to be made within the +limits of the now state of Kentucky. As the tide of emigration flowed +into the country, those three forts afforded an asylum, from the +Indian hostility to which the whites were incessantly subjected; and +never perhaps lived three men better qualified by nature and habit, to +resist that hostility, and preserve the settlers from captivity and +death, than James Harrod, Daniel Boone, and Benjamin Logan. Reared in +the lap of danger, and early inured to the hardships and sufferings of +a wilderness life, they were habitually acquainted with those arts +which were necessary to detect and defeat the one, and to lessen and +alleviate the others. Intrepid and fearless, yet cautious and prudent, +there was united in each of them, the sly, circumventive powers of the +Indian, with the bold defiance, and open daring of the whites. Quick, +almost to intuition, in the perception of impending dangers, instant +in determining, and prompt in action; to see, to resolve, and to +execute, were with them the work of the same moment. Rife in +expedients, the most perplexing difficulties rarely found them at a +loss. Possessed of these qualities, they were placed at the head of +the little colonies planted around them; not by ambition, but by the +universal voice of the people; from a deep and thorough conviction, +that they only were adequate to the exigencies of their situation. +The conviction was not ill founded. Their intellectual and physical +resources were powerfully and constantly exerted for the preservation +and security of the settlements; and frequently, with astonishing +success, under the most inauspicious circumstances. Had they indeed, +by nature, been supine and passive, their isolated situation, and the +constantly repeated attempts of the Indians, at their extermination, +would have aroused them, as it did others, to activity and energy, and +brought their every [144] nerve into action. For them, there were no +"weak, piping times of peace,"--no respite from danger. The +indefatigable vigilance and persevering hostility of an unrelenting +foe, required countervailing exertions on their part; and kept alive +the life, which they delighted to live. + +From the instant those establishments were made, and emigrants placed +themselves in their vicinity, the Savages commenced their usual mode +of warfare; and marauding parties were ever in readiness, to seize +upon, those, whose misfortune it was to become exposed to their +vigilance. In the prosecution of these hostilities, incidents of the +most lively and harrowing interest, though limited in their +consequences, were constantly recurring; before a systematic course of +operations, was undertaken for the destruction of the settlers. + +The Indians, seeing that they had to contend with persons, as well +skilled in their peculiar mode of warfare, as themselves, and as likely +to detect them, while lying in wait for an opportunity to strike the +deadly blow, as they were to strike it with impunity, they entirely +changed their plans of annoyance. Instead of longer endeavoring to cut +off the whites in detail, they brought into the country a force, +sufficiently numerous and powerful to act simultaneously against all +the settlements. The consequence of this was, much individual +suffering and several horrid massacres. Husbandmen, toiling to secure +the product of the summer's labor, for their sustenance another +season, were frequently attacked, and murdered.--Hunters, engaged in +procuring meat for immediate and pressing use, were obliged to +practise the utmost wariness to evade the ambushed Indian, and make +sure their return to the fort. Springs and other watering places, and +the paths leading to them, were constantly guarded by the savages; who +would lie near them day and night, until forced to leave their covert, +in quest of food to satisfy their extreme hunger; and who, when this +end was attained, would return to their hiding places, with renovated +strength, and increased watchfulness. The cattle belonging to the +garrisons were either driven off, or killed, so that no supplies +could be derived from them. This state of things continued, without +intermission, 'till the severity of winter forced the Indians to +depart for their towns; and then succeeded, of necessity, a truce, +which had become extremely desirable to the different settlements. + +When we reflect on the dangers, the difficulties, the complicated +distresses, to which the inhabitants were then exposed, it is really +matter of astonishment that they did not abandon the country, and seek +elsewhere an exemption from those evils. How women, with all the +feminine weakness of the sex, could be prevailed upon to remain during +the winter, and encounter with the returning spring, the returning +horrors of savage warfare, is truly surprising. The frequent +recurrence of danger, does indeed, produce a comparative insensibility +and indifference to it; but it is difficult to conceive, [145] that +familiarity with the tragic scenes which were daily exhibited there, +could reconcile persons to a life of constant exposure to them. Yet +such was the fact; and not only did the few, who were first to venture +on them, continue in the country, but others, equally adventurous, +moved to it; encountering many hardships and braving every danger, to +aid in maintaining possession of the modern Canaan, and to obtain a +home in that land of milk and honey. If for a while, they flattered +themselves with the hope, that the ravages which had been checked by +winter, would not be repeated on the return of spring, they were sadly +disappointed. Hostilities were resumed, as soon as the abatement of +cold, suffered the Indians to take the field; and were carried on +with renovated ardor, and on an enlarged scale.[8] + +Feeling the hopelessness of extirpating the settlements, so long as +the forts remained to afford a safe retreat to the inhabitants; and +having learned, by the experience of the preceding season, that the +whites were but little, if at all, inferior to them in their own arts, +and were competent to combat them, in their own mode of warfare, the +Indians resolved on bringing into the country a larger force, and to +direct their united energies to the demolition of the different forts. +To prevent any aid being afforded by the other garrisons, while +operations were leveled against one, they resolved on detaching from +their main body, such a number of men as was deemed sufficient to keep +watch around the other forts, and awe their inmates from attempting to +leave them, on any occasion. This was a course of excellent policy. It +was calculated not only to prevent the marching of any auxiliary +forces from one to the other of the fortresses, but at the same time +by preventing hunting parties from ranging the woods, cut off the +principal source, from which their supplies were derived; and thus +tended to render their fall, the more certain and easy. + +Accordingly in March 1777, they entered Kentucky with a force of +upwards of two hundred warriors; and sending some of their most expert +and active men to watch around Boone's and Logan's forts, marched +with the chief part of their army to attack Harrodsburg. On the 14th +of March three persons (who were engaged in clearing some land) not +far from Harrod's fort, discovered the Indians proceeding through the +woods, and sought to escape observation and convey the intelligence to +the garrison. But they too, were discovered and pursued; and one of +them was killed, another taken prisoner, and the third (James, +afterwards Gen. Ray, then a mere youth) reached Harrodsburg alone in +safety.[9] Aware that the place had become alarmed, and that they had +then no chance of operating on it, by surprise, they encamped near to +it on that evening; and early on the morning of the 15th commenced a +furious and animated attack. + +Apprized of the near approach of the enemy, the garrison had made +every preparation for defense, of which their situation admitted; and +when the assailants rushed to the assault, not intimidated by their +horrible and unnatural yells, nor yet dispirited by the [146] presence +of a force so far superior to their own, they received them with a +fire so steady and well directed, as forced them to recoil; leaving +one of their slain on the field of attack. This alone, argued a great +discomfiture of the Indians; as it is well known to be their +invariable custom, to remove, if practicable, those of their warriors +who fall in battle. Their subsequent movements, satisfied the inmates +of the fort, that there had been indeed a discomfiture; and that they +had but little to apprehend from a renewed assault on their little +fortress. After reconnoitering for a while, at a prudent distance from +the garrison, the Indians kindled their fires for the night; and in +the following day, leaving a small party for the purpose of annoyance, +decamped with the main body of their army, and marched towards +Boonesborough.[10] In consequence however, of a severe spell of March +weather, they were forced to remain inactive for a time; and did not +make their appearance there, until the middle of April. + +In the assault on Boone's fort, the Indians soon, became satisfied +that it was impregnable against them; and although their repulse was +not as signal here, as it had been at Harrodsburg, yet they soon +withdrew from the contest, and marched towards Logan's fort,--having +killed one and wounded four, of the whites.[11] + +Several causes combined to render an attack on the fort at Logan's +station, an event of most fearful consequence.[12] Its inmates had +been but a short time in the country, and were not provided with an +ample supply either of provisions or ammunition. They were few in +number; and though of determined spirit and undaunted fortitude, yet +such was the disparity between thirteen and two hundred--the force of +the garrison and the force of the assailants, joined to their +otherwise destitute situation, that hope itself, could scarcely live +in so perilous a situation. Had this been the first point, against +which the enemy levelled their operations when they arrived in the +country, it must have fallen before them. But by deferring the attack +on it, 'till they had been repulsed at the two other forts, the +garrison was allowed time; and availing themselves of it, to fortify +their position more strongly, the issue was truly, most fortunate, +though unexpected. + +On the night preceding the commencement of the attack on the fort, the +Indians had approached near to it unperceived, and secreted themselves +in a cane brake, which had been suffered to remain around the cabins. + +Early in the morning the women, went out to milk, guarded by most of +the garrison; and before they were aware of impending danger, the +concealed Indians opened a general fire, which killed three of the +men, and drove the others, hastily within the fort.[13] A most +affecting spectacle was then presented to view, well calculated to +excite the sympathies of human nature, and arouse to action a man +possessed of the generous sensibility and noble daring, which animated +the bosom of Logan. + +One of the men who had fallen on the first fire of the Indians and +had been supposed by his comrades to be dead, was in truth though +[147] badly wounded, yet still alive; and was observed feebly +struggling to crawl towards the fort. The fear of laceration and +mangling from the horrid scalping knife, and of tortures from more +barbarous instruments, seemed to abate his exertions in dragging +his wounded body along, lest he should be discovered and borne off by +some infuriated and unfeeling savage. It was doubtful too, whether +his strength would endure long enough to enable him to reach the +gate, even if unmolested by any apprehension of danger. The +magnanimous and intrepid Logan resolved on making an effort to +save him. He endeavored to raise volunteers, to accompany him without +the fort, and bring in their poor wounded companion. It seemed as if +courting the quick embrace of death, and even his adventurous +associates for an instant, shrunk from the danger. At length a man +by the name of Martin, who plumed himself on rash and daring deeds, +consented to aid in the enterprise; and the two proceeded towards +the gate. Here the spirit of Martin forsook him, and he recoiled from +the hazardous adventure. Logan was then alone. He beheld the feeble, +but wary exertions of his unfortunate comrade, entirely subside; +and he could not hesitate. He rushed quickly through the gate, caught +the unhappy victim in his arms, and bore him triumphantly into the +fort, amid a shower of bullets aimed at him; and some of which buried +themselves in the pallisades close by his head. A most noble and +disinterested achievement, and worthy of all commendation.[14] + +[148] The siege being maintained by the Indians, the animation of the +garrison was nearly exhausted, in repelling the frequent assaults made +on the fort; and it was apparent, that the enemy did not intend +speedily to withdraw their forces. Parties of Indians were frequently +detached from the main body, as well to obtain a supply of provisions +by hunting, as to intercept and cut off any [147] aid, which might be +sent to St. Asaph's[15] from the other forts. In this posture of +affairs, it was impossible that the garrison could long hold out, +unless its military stores could be replenished; and to effect this, +under existing circumstances, appeared to be almost impossible. +Harrodsburg and Boonesborough were not themselves amply provided with +stores; and had it been otherwise, so closely was the intermediate +country between them and St. Asaph's, guarded by the savages, that no +communication could be carried from one to the other of them. The +settlement on the Holstein was the nearest point, from which it could +be practicable to derive a supply of ammunition, and the distance to +that neighborhood, was considerable. + +Logan knew the danger which must result to the garrison, from being +weakened as much as it must be, by sending a portion of it on this +hazardous enterprise; but he also knew, that the fort could not be +preserved from falling, unless its magazine was soon replenished. +Prefering the doubtful prospect of succeeding in its relief, by +adopting the plan of sending to Holstein, he proposed the measure to +his companions, and they eagerly embraced it. It remained then to +select the party, which was to venture on this high enterprise. +Important as the presence of Logan, was known to be, in the fort, yet +as the lives of all within, depended on the success of the expedition +and as to effect this, required the exercise of qualities rarely +possessed in so great degree by any other individual, he was +unanimously chosen to conduct the enterprise. + +Accompanied by four of the garrison, Logan, as slyly as possible, +slipped from the fort, and commenced his tedious journey.[16] To +lessen the chance of coming in contact [148] with straggling bands of +Indians, he avoided the pack road which had been opened by Boone; and +pursuing an untrodden route, reached the settlement in safety. The +requisite supplies were soon engaged; and while they were being +prepared for transportation, Logan was actively engaged in endeavoring +to prevail on the inhabitants, to form a company as expeditiously as +possible and march to their relief. With a faint promise of +assistance, and with the assurance that their situation should be +immediately made known to the executive authority of the state, he set +off on his return. Confiding the ammunition which he had obtained, to +the care of his companions, and prudently advising and instructing +them in the course best to be pursued, he left them, and hastened to +make his way alone, back to St. Asaph. In ten days after his departure +from the fort, he returned to it again; and his [149] presence +contributed much to revive and encourage the garrison; 'till then in +almost utter despair of obtaining relief. In a few days after, the +party arrived with the ammunition, and succeeded in entering the fort +unperceived; though it was still surrounded by the Indians. With so +much secrecy and caution had the enterprise been conducted, that the +enemy never knew it had been undertaken, until it was happily +accomplished. + +For some time after this the garrison continued in high expectation of +seeing the besiegers depart, despairing of making any impression on +the fort. But they were mistaken in this expectation. Each returning +day shewed the continued investiture of the fort, and exhibited the +Indians as pertinaciously intent on its reduction by assault or +famine, as they were on the day of their arrival before it. Weeks +elapsed, and there was no appearance of the succours which had been +promised to Logan, when in the settlement on Holstein. And although +the besieged were still successful in repelling every assault on the +garrison, yet their stock of provisions was almost entirely exhausted; +and there was no chance of obtaining a farther supply, but from the +woods around them. To depend on the success of hunting parties, to +relieve their necessities and prevent their actual starvation or +surrender, seemed indeed, but a slender reed on which to rely; and +the gloom of despondency overshadowed their hitherto sanguine +countenances. But as they were resigning themselves to despair, and +yielding up the last hope of being able to escape from savage fury and +savage vengeance, Colonel Bowman arrived to their relief, and forced +the Indians to raise the siege. It was not however, without some loss +on his part. A detachment of his men, which had preceded the advance +of the main army, was unfortunately unable to reach the fort, +undiscovered by the besiegers; who attacked and killed them before +they could enter the garrison. On the body of one of these men, was +left a proclamation, issued by the Governor of Detroit promising +protection and reward to those who would renounce the cause of the +American colonies, and espouse that of Great Britain; and denouncing +those who would not. When this proclamation was carried to Logan, he +carefully kept secret its contents, lest it might produce an +unfavorable effect on the minds of some of his men; worn down, +exhausted, and discouraged as they then were.[17] + +[150] After the arrival of Colonel Bowman in the country, there was +for a time, a good deal of skirmishing between his forces, aided by +individuals from the different forts, and those Indians. In all of +them, the superiority of the whites in the use of the rifle, became +apparent to the savages; and as the feat of Captain Gibson with the +sword, had previously acquired for the Virginians, the appellation of +the Long Knives,[18] the fatal certainty, with which Bowman's men and +the inhabitants of the various settlements in Kentucky, then aimed +their shots, might have added to that title, the forcible epithet of +sharp-shooters. They were as skilful and successful, too, in the +practice of those arts, by which one is enabled to steal unaware upon +his enemy, as the Natives themselves; and were equally as sure to +execute the purposes, for which those arts were put in requisition, as +these were. The consequence was, that the Indians were not only more +shy in approaching the garrison, than they had been; but they likewise +became, more cautious and circumspect, in their woods operations, than +formerly. + +The frequent success of Colonel Bowman's men, in scouring the +surrounding country, gave to the inhabitants of all the settlements, +an opportunity of cultivating their little fields, and of laying in +such a stock of provisions and military stores, as would suffice in +the hour of need; when that force should be withdrawn from the +country, and the Indians consequently be again enabled to overrun it. +All that the inhabitants, by reason of the paucity of their numbers, +could yet do, was to shut themselves in forts, and preserve these from +falling into the hands of the enemy. When the term of those, who had +so opportunely came to their relief, expired, and they returned to +their homes, there were at Boonesborough only twenty-two, at +Harrodsburg sixty-five, and at St. Asaph's fifteen men. Emigrants +however, flocked to the country during the ensuing season, in great +numbers; and their united strength enabled them the better to resist +aggression, and conduct the various operations of husbandry and +hunting--then the only occupations of the men. + +While these things were transacting in Kentucky, North Western +Virginia enjoyed a repose undisturbed, save by the conviction of the +moral certainty, that it would be again involved in all the horrors of +savage warfare; and that too, at no distant period: The machinations +of British agents, to [151] produce this result, were well known to be +gaining advocates daily, among the savages; and the hereditary +resentments of these, were known to be too deeply seated, for the +victory of Point Pleasant to have produced their eradication, and to +have created in their stead, a void, to become the future receptacle +of kindlier feelings, towards their Virginia neighbors. A coalition +of the many tribes north west of the Ohio river, had been some time +forming, and the assent of the Shawanees, alone, was wanting to its +perfection. The distinguished Sachem at the head of that nation, was +opposed to an alliance with the British, and anxious to preserve a +friendly intercourse with the colonists. All his influence, with all +his energy, was exerted, to prevent his brethren from again involving +themselves, in a war with the whites. But it was likely to be in vain. +Many of his warriors had fallen at the mouth of the Kenhawa, and his +people had suffered severely during the continuance of that war; they +were therefore, too intent on retaliation, to listen to the sage +counsel of their chief. In this posture of affairs, Cornstalk, in the +spring of 1777, visited the fort, which had been erected at Point +Pleasant after the campaign of 1774, in company with the Red Hawk, and +another Indian. Captain Matthew Arbuckle was then commandant of the +garrison; and when Cornstalk communicated to him the hostile +preparations of the Indians,--that the Shawanees alone were wanting to +render a confederacy complete,--that, as the "current set so strongly +against the colonies, even they would float with the stream in despite +of his endeavors to stem it," and that hostilities would commence +immediately, he deemed it prudent to detain him and his companions as +hostages, for the peace and neutrality of the different tribes of +Indians in Ohio. He at the same time acquainted the newly organized +government of Virginia, with the information which he had received +from Cornstalk, and the course which he had taken with that chief, and +the others who accompanied him to the garrison. + +Upon the receipt of this intelligence, it was resolved, if volunteers +could be had for this purpose, to march an army into the Indian +country and effectually accomplish the objects, which had been +proposed to be achieved in the campaign of Lord Dunmore in 1774. The +volunteers in Augusta and Bottetourt, were to rendezvous as early as +possible, at the mouth of the Big Kenhawa, where they would be joined +by [152] other troops under General Hand,[19] who would then assume +the command of the whole expedition. + +In pursuance of this resolve, three or four companies only, were +raised in the counties of Bottetourt and Augusta; and these +immediately commenced their march, to the place of general rendezvous, +under the command of Colonel George Skillern. In the Greenbrier +country, great exertions were made by the militia officers there, to +obtain volunteers, but with little effect. One company only was +formed, consisting of thirty men, and the officers, laying aside all +distinctions of rank, placed themselves in the line as common +soldiers, and proceeded to Point Pleasant with the troops led on by +Colonel Skillern. Upon their arrival at that place, nothing had been +heard of General Hand, or of the forces which it was expected would +accompany him from Fort Pitt; and the volunteers halted, to await some +intelligence from him. + +The provisions, for the support of the army in its projected invasion +of the Indian country, were expected to be brought down the river, +from Fort Pitt; and the troops under Colonel Skillern had only taken +with them, what was deemed sufficient for their subsistence on their +march to the place of rendezvous. This stock was nearly exhausted, and +the garrison was too illy supplied, to admit of their drawing on its +stores.--While thus situated, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of +General Hand with his army and provisions, the officers held frequent +conversations with Cornstalk, who seemed to take pleasure in +acquainting them with the geography of the country west of the Ohio +river generally, and more particularly with that section of it lying +between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. One afternoon while he +was engaged in delineating on the floor a map of that territory, with +the various water courses emptying into those two mighty streams, and +describing the face of the country, its soil and climate, a voice was +heard hallooing from the opposite shore of the Ohio, which he +immediately recognised to be that of his son Ellinipsico, and who +coming over at the instance of Cornstalk, embraced him most +affectionately. Uneasy at the long absence of his father, and fearing +that some unforseen evil might have befallen him, he had come to learn +some tidings of him here; knowing that it was the place, to go to +which he had left the nation. His visit was prompted by feelings [153] +which do honor to human nature--anxious solicitude for a father,--but +it was closed by a most terrible catastrophe. + +On the day after the arrival of Ellinipsico, and while he was yet in +the garrison, two men, from Captain Hall's company of Rockbridge +volunteers, crossed the Kenhawa river on a hunting excursion. As they +were returning to the canoe for the purpose of recrossing to the Fort, +after the termination of the hunt, Gilmore was espied by two Indians, +concealed near the bank, who fired at, killed and scalped him. At that +instant, Captains Arbuckle and Stuart (the latter having accompanied +the Greenbrier volunteers as a private soldier) were standing on the +point opposite to where lay the canoe in which Hamilton and Gilmore +had crossed the river; and expressed some astonishment that the men +should be so indiscreet as to be shooting near to the encampment, +contrary to commands. They had scarcely time to express their +disapprobation at the supposed violation of orders, when Hamilton was +seen running down the bank of the river, and heard to exclaim, that +Gilmore was killed. A party of Captain Hall's men immediately sprang +into a canoe and went over to relieve Hamilton from danger, and to +bring the body of Gilmore to the encampment. Before they relanded with +the bloody corpse of Gilmore, a cry arose, "let us go and kill the +Indians in the fort;" and pale with rage they ascended the bank, with +captain Hall at their head, to execute their horrid purpose. It was +vain to remonstrate. To the interference of Captains Arbuckle and +Stuart to prevent the fulfilling of this determination, they +responded, by cocking their guns, and threatening instant death to any +one who should dare to oppose them. + +The interpreter's wife, (who had lately returned from Indian +captivity, and seemed to entertain a feeling of affection for +Cornstalk and his companions) seeing their danger, ran to their cabin +to apprise them of it, and told them that Ellinipsico was charged with +having brought with him the Indians who had killed Gilmore. This +however he positively denied, averring that he came alone, and with +the sole object of learning something of his father. In this time +Captain Hall and his men had arrived within hearing, and Ellinipsico +appeared much agitated. Cornstalk however, encouraged him to meet his +fate composedly, saying, "my son, the Great Spirit has seen fit that +we should die together, and has sent you here to that [154] end. It is +his will and let us submit;--it is all for the best;" and turning to +meet his murderers at the door, received seven bullets in his body and +fell without a groan. + +Thus perished the mighty Cornstalk, Sachem of the Shawanees, and king +of the northern confederacy in 1774: A chief remarkable for many great +and good qualities. He was disposed to be at all times the friend of +white men; as he ever was, the advocate of honorable peace. But when +his country's wrongs "called aloud to battle," he became the +thunderbolt of war; and made her oppressors feel the weight of his +uplifted arm. He sought not to pluck the scalp from the head of the +innocent, nor to war against the unprotected and defenceless; choosing +rather to encounter his enemies, girded for battle, and in open +conflict. His noble bearing,--his generous and disinterested +attachment to the colonies, when the thunder of British cannon was +reverberating through the land--his anxiety to preserve the frontier +of Virginia from desolation and death, (the object of his visit to +Point Pleasant)--all conspired to win for him the esteem and respect +of others; while the untimely, and perfidious manner of his death, +caused a deep and lasting regret to pervade the bosoms, even of those +who were enemies to his nation; and excited the just indignation of +all, towards his inhuman and barbarous murderers. + +When the father fell, Ellinipsico continued still and passive; not +even raising himself from the seat, which he had occupied before they +received notice, that some infuriated whites were loudly demanding +their immolation. He met death in that position, with the utmost +composure and calmness. The trepidation which first seized upon him, +was of but momentary duration, and was succeeded by a most dignified +sedateness and stoical apathy. It was not so with the young Red Hawk. +He endeavored to conceal himself up the chimney of the cabin, in which +they were; but without success. He was soon discovered and killed. The +remaining Indian was murdered by piece-meal; and with almost all those +circumstances of cruelty and horror, which characterize the savage, in +wreaking vengeance upon an enemy. + +Cornstalk is said to have had a presentiment of his approaching +fate. On the day preceding his death, a council of officers was +convoked, in consequence of the continued absence of General Hand, +and their entire ignorance of his [155] force or movements, to +consult and determine on what would be the course for them to pursue +under existing circumstances. Cornstalk was admitted to the council; +and in the course of some remarks, with which he addressed it, said, +"When I was young and went to war, I often thought, each might be my +last adventure, and I should return no more. I still lived. Now I +am in the midst of you, and if you choose, may kill me. I can die +but once. It is alike to me, whether now or hereafter." Little did +those who were listening with delight to the eloquence of his +address, and deriving knowledge from his instruction, think to see +him so quickly and inhumanly, driven from the theatre of life. It +was a fearful deed; and dearly was it expiated by others. The +Shawanees were a warlike people, and became henceforward the most +deadly foe, to the inhabitants on the frontiers. + +In a few days after the perpetration of this diabolical outrage upon +all propriety, General Hand arrived from Pittsburg without an army, +and without provisions for those who had been awaiting his coming. It +was then determined to abandon the expedition; and the volunteers +returned to their homes.[20] + +----- + [1] Chief among the fomenters of disorder were the + renegades Simon Girty, Matthew Elliott, and Alexander + McKee. The dastardly deeds of this trio are fully set forth + in Butterfield's _History of the Girtys_, an important work + to all students of the annals of the West during the + Revolutionary War.--R. G. T. + + [2] James Harrod's father emigrated from England to + Virginia, about 1734, and was one of the first settlers on the + Shenandoah, in the Valley of Virginia. One of his sons, Samuel, + accompanied Michael Stoner on his famous Western hunting and + exploring trip, in 1767; another, William, born at the new + family seat, at Big Cove, in what is now Bedford County, Pa., + served with distinction under George Rogers Clark. James, born + in 1742, was twelve years old when his father died, leaving a + large family on an exposed frontier, at the opening of the + French and Indian War. In November, 1755, a raid was made on + the Big Cove settlement, by the Delaware chief Shingiss (p. 45, + _note_), but the Harrods were among the few families who + escaped unharmed to Fort Littleton. When James was sixteen + years of age he served with his brother William on Forbes's + campaign, and very likely saw further service during that war. + In 1772, when he had attained wide celebrity on the border as + an adept in woodcraft, he helped William settle on Ten Mile + Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela; and in 1773 he and + several other explored Kentucky, returning home by way of + Greenbrier River. We have seen (p. 152, _note_) that he was + surveying the site of Harrodsburg in 1774, when warned by Boone + and Stoner. Retiring with his men to the Holston, he and they + joined Col. Christian's regiment, but arrived at Point Pleasant + a few hours after the battle of October 10. Returning to his + abandoned Kentucky settlement March 18, 1775, a fortnight + before Boonesborough was founded, he was chosen a delegate to + the Transylvania convention, and became a man of great + prominence in the Kentucky colony. In 1779 he commanded a + company on Bowman's campaign, and the year following was a + captain on Clark's Indian campaign; declining a majorship, he + served as a private on Clark's campaign of 1782. He was a + member of the Kentucky convention (at Danville) of December, + 1784, and at one time represented Kentucky in the Virginia + legislature. In February, 1792, having made his will, he set + out from Washington, Ky., with two men, in search of a silver + mine reported to be at the Three Forks of the Kentucky. No more + was heard of him or his companions, and it is still the belief + of the family that the latter murdered him. He was survived by + his wife and a daughter, and left a large landed estate. + Harrod, although unlettered, was a man of fine presence and + many sterling qualities, and made a strong impress on his + generation. He is still remembered in Kentucky as one of the + worthiest pioneers of that state.--R. G. T. + + [3] The company--successively called The Louisa Company, + Henderson & Co., and The Transylvania Company--was composed of + Col. Richard Henderson, Col. John Williams, Thomas Hart, Col. + David Hart, Capt. Nathaniel Hart, Col. John Luttsell, James + Hogg, William Johnston, and Leonard Henley Bullock. + + Henderson's paternal great-grandfather was a Scottish + immigrant, and one of his grandmothers was Welsh. The family + settled in Hanover County, Va., where Richard, son of Samuel + Henderson, was born April 20, 1735. Samuel moved with his + family to North Carolina, in 1745, and became sheriff of + Granville County. Richard had the education of a rural youth of + good station, and became a lawyer. In 1767 he was appointed one + of the two associate justices of the superior court of the + colony, and served with great credit for six years, when the + court was abolished. During professional visits to Salisbury, + Henderson heard frequently--chiefly through the brothers + Hart--of the exploits of Boone, and the latter's glowing + reports of the beauty and fertility of Kentucky. Relying + implicitly on Boone's statements, these four men energetically + resolved to settle the country. In the autumn of 1774, + Henderson and Nathaniel Hart visited the Cherokees to ascertain + if they would sell their claims to Kentucky, and receiving a + favorable reply agreed to meet the Indians in treaty council at + the Sycamore Shoals, on Watauga River. On their return home, + they were accompanied by a wise old Indian (Little Carpenter), + and a young buck and his squaw, delegates to see that proper + goods were purchased for the proposed barter. These goods were + bought in December at Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, N. C., and + forwarded by wagons to Watauga. + + Boone was then sent out to collect the Indians, and when the + council opened (March 14, 1775) had twelve hundred assembled at + the Sycamore Shoals--half of them warriors. The council + proceeded slowly, with much characteristic vacillating on the + part of the Indians; but on the third day (March 17) the deed + of sale was signed to what came to be known as "the great + grant:" The tract from the mouth of the Kentucky (or Louisa) + River to the head spring of its most northerly fork; thence + northeasterly to the top of Powell's Mountain; thence westerly + and then northwesterly to the head spring of the most southerly + branch of the Cumberland; thence down that stream, including + all its waters, to the Ohio, and thence up the Ohio to the + mouth of the Kentucky. The Indians were conscious that they had + sold what did not belong to them; and Dragging Canoe and other + chiefs were outspoken in their opinion that the whites would + have difficulty in settling the tract. The Indians were much + dissatisfied with the division of the goods. These "filled a + house" and cost L10,000 sterling, yet when distributed among so + many greedy savages each had but a small share. One warrior, + who received but a shirt for his portion, said he "could have + shot more game in one day on the land ceded, than would pay for + so slight a garment." + + Governors Martin, of North Carolina, and Dunmore, of Virginia, + issued proclamations against the purchase, as contrary to the + royal proclamation of 1763. But those who were present at the + treaty--among them such prominent borderers as Daniel Boone, + James Robertson, John Sevier, Isaac Shelby, Felix Walker, the + Bledsoes, Richard Callaway, William Twitty, William Cocke, and + Nathaniel Henderson--were heedless of such proclamations, and + eager to become settlers under the company's liberal offer made + to them on the spot: for each man who assisted in the first + settlement, and went out and raised a crop of corn that year, a + grant of 500 acres for L5 sterling, clear of all charges. + + Boone, as the company's agent, started out at once (March 10) + with twenty men, soon reinforced to thirty; with their hatchets + they blazed a bridle path over Cumberland Gap, and across + Cumberland, Laurel, and Rockcastle rivers, to the banks of the + Kentucky, where, after a running fight with the Indians, they + arrived April 1, and founded Boonesborough. Henderson, at the + head of thirty men conveying the wagons and supplies, arrived + at Boonesborough April 20; with him were Luttsell and Nathaniel + Hart. May 23, there met at Boonesborough the Legislature of + Transylvania, in which sat eighteen delegates from the little + group of four frontier forts, all established at about this + time--Harrodsburg, Boiling Springs, and St. Asaph's (or Logan's + Station), lying some thirty or more miles southwest of + Boonesborough, the capital of this little western colony. + Withers does not mention this first legislative assembly held + in the Mississippi Valley. It is an interesting and suggestive + episode in American commonwealth-building, and deserves careful + study. Roosevelt gives it admirable treatment, in his _Winning + of the West_. The journal of the convention is given at length + in the appendix to the second edition of Butler's _Kentucky_; + Hall's _Sketches of the West_, i., pp. 264, 265; Louisville + _Literary News-Letter_, June 6, 1840; and Hazard's _U. S. + Register_, iii., pp. 25-28. Henderson's MS. Journal is in the + possession of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and has never + yet been published. + + Virginia and North Carolina did not favor an independent + government in Kentucky, and annulled the title of the Henderson + company--but Virginia (1795) granted the proprietors in + recompense 200,000 acres on Powell's and Clinch rivers. + + We hear little more of Richard Henderson, in pioneer history. + In 1779, he was one of the North Carolina commissioners to + extend the western boundary between that State and Virginia. + During the winter of 1789-90 he was at the French Lick on + Cumberland, where he opened a land office. His last public + service was in 1781, when a member of the North Carolina house + of commons. He died at his country seat in Granville County, N. + C., January 30, 1785, in his fiftieth year. Two of his sons, + Archibald and Leonard, attained eminence at the bar of their + native State.--R. G. T. + + [4] Among Dr. Draper's manuscripts I find this succinct + review of the aboriginal claims to Kentucky: "There is some + reason to suppose that the Catawbas may once have dwelt upon + the Kentucky River; that stream, on some of the ancient maps + published a hundred years ago, was called the 'Cuttawa or + Cawtaba River.' But that tribe of Indians, so far as we know, + never laid any claim to the territory. + + "It would appear from the historical evidences extant, that the + Shawanoes were the earliest occupants of Kentucky of whom we + have any certain knowledge. Colden, the primitive historian of + the Iroquois Confederacy, informs us, that when the French + commenced the first settlement of Canada in 1603, the Five + Nations, who then resided near the present locality of + Montreal, were at war with the powerful Adirondacks, who at + that time lived three hundred miles above the Three Rivers, in + Canada. The Iroquois found it difficult to withstand the + vigorous attacks of their enemies, whose superior hardihood was + to be attributed to their constant devotion to the chase, while + the Iroquois had been chiefly engaged in the more peaceful + occupation of planting corn. Compelled to give way before their + haughty foes, the confederates had recourse to the exercise of + arms, in order, if possible, to retrieve their martial + character and prowess. To raise the spirits of their people, + the Iroquois leaders turned their warriors against the Satanas + or Shawanoes, 'who then,' says Colden, 'lived on the banks of + the lakes,'--or, as other historians assert, in Western New + York, and south of Lake Erie,--and soon subdued and drove them + out of the country. The Shawanoes then retired to the Ohio, + along which and its tributaries they planted numerous + settlements. Some of them, however, when driven from Western + New York, seem to have located somewhere on the Delaware, for + De Laet, in 1624, speaks of _Sawanoos_ residing on that river. + + "The _Jesuit Relations_ of 1661-62, allude to their residence + in the West under the name of Ontouagannha or Chaoueanons; they + seem to have been the same as were called Tongorias, Erighecks, + Erieehonons, Eries, or Cats, by the early missionaries and + historians; and the same, moreover, known in the traditions of + the Senecas as Gah-kwahs, who resided on Eighteen Mile Creek, a + few miles southwest of Buffalo, in Western New York, which the + Senecas still call Gah-kwah-gig-a-ah Creek, which means _the + place where the Gah-kwahs lived_. In 1672, the Shawanoes and + their confederates in the Ohio Valley met with a disastrous + overthrow by the Five Nations at Sandy Island, just below the + Falls of Ohio, where large numbers of human bones were still to + be seen at the first settlement of the country. The surviving + Shawanoes must then have retired still farther down the Ohio, + and settled probably in the western part of Kentucky; and + Marquette, in 1673, speaks of their having twenty-three + villages in one district, and fifteen in another, all lying + quite near each other: At length the Shawanoes departed from + Kentucky, and seem to have gone to the upper part of the + Carolinas, and to the coast of Florida, and ever after proved a + migratory people. They were evidently 'subdued,' as Colden, + Evans, and Pownall inform us, and the decisive battle was + fought at Sandy Island, where a vital blow was given to the + balance of power on the Ohio, which decided finally the fall of + Kentucky with its ancient inhabitants. + + "It was this conquest that gave to the powerful Iroquois all + the title they ever acquired to Kentucky. At the peace of + Ryswick, in 1697, their right to their western conquests was + fully acknowledged; and at the treaty of Lancaster, in + Pennsylvania, in 1744, they ceded to Virginia all their lands + west of that colony. In 1752, the Shawanoes and other western + tribes, at Logstown on the Ohio, confirmed the Lancaster + treaty, and sold their claim to the country south of the Ohio; + and, at the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1768, the Six Nations + made a new cession of their claim to Kentucky as low as the + Cherokee or Tennessee River. Up to this period, the Cherokees + never so much as thought of contesting with the Iroquois their + claim to the Kentucky country; for some of the visiting + Cherokees, while on their route to attend the Fort Stanwix + treaty, killed game for their subsistence, and on their arrival + at Fort Stanwix, tendered the skins to the Six Nations, saying, + 'They are yours, we killed them after passing the Big River,' + the name by which they had always designated the Tennessee. But + probably discovering that other Indian nations were driving a + good business by disposing of their distant land rights, the + Cherokees managed to hatch up some sort of claim, which they, + in part, relinquished to Virginia, at the treaty of Lochaber in + 1770; and when Col. Donelson ran the line the following year, + the boundary was fixed, at the suggestion of the Cherokee + deputies, on the Kentucky River as the south-western line, as + they delighted, they said, in natural landmarks. This + considerably enlarged the cession, for which they received an + additional compensation. + + "In 1772, the Shawanoes made no claim to Kentucky; and at the + treaty of Camp Charlotte, in October, 1774, they tacitly + confirmed their old sale of that country in 1752, by agreeing + not even to hunt south of the Ohio. Thus, then, we see that the + Iroquois had twice ceded their right to Kentucky as low as the + Tennessee River, and twice received their pay; the Shawanoes + had disposed of their claim, such as it was, and received + for it a valuable consideration; and the Cherokees, finding + it profitable to lay claim to some valuable unoccupied + region, sold their newly assumed right to the country south + and east of Kentucky River. Their claim, if indeed it rises to + the dignity of a claim, south and west of the Kentucky, was + fairly purchased by Henderson and Company, and thus with the + subsequent purchase by treaty, of the Chickasaws, of the + strip between the Tennessee and Mississippi, the Indian + title to the whole Kentucky country was fully and fairly + extinguished."--R. G. T. + + [5] The first attack occurred the morning of March 25, when + the party were encamped near the head of Taylor's Fork of + Silver Creek. Capt. Twitty and Felix Walker were severely + wounded, and a negro servant killed; Twitty subsequently died + from his wound. The other attack was on an outlying company, + probably on Tate's Creek; this occurred the 27th, and "Thomas + McDowell and Jeremiah McFeeters were," Boone wrote to + Henderson, "killed and sculped."--R. G. T. + + [6] The purchase of Henderson and company, was subsequently + declared by the legislature of Virginia, to be null and void, + so far as the purchasers were concerned; but effectual as to + the extinguishment of the Indian title, to the territory thus + bought of them. To indemnify the purchasers for any advancement + of money or other things which they had made to the Indians, + the assembly granted to them 200,000 acres of land, lying at + the mouth of Green river, and known generally as Henderson's + grant. + + [7] Boone set out from Boonesborough, June 13, 1775. He left + the settlement in a state approaching anarchy; there were + several good men in the district, but the majority were + shiftless wanderers who would brook no exercise of authority. + The buffalo were fast moving westward, and all game was now + getting scarce--"hunt or starve" was the motto of the hour. A + diarist (Capt. Floyd) estimated that there were then a total of + 300 people in all the Kentucky settlements--not reckoning "a + great many land-jobbers from towards Pittsburg, who go about on + the north side of Kentucky, in companies, and build forty or + fifty cabins a piece on lands where no surveying has yet been + done." Among the best of the numerous arrivals, were George + Rogers Clark, Simon Kenton, Benjamin Logan, and Whitley, who + came to be very prominent characters in Kentucky history. + Boone, with his wife and daughters, and twenty-one men, arrived + at Boonesborough September 6 or 7. "My wife and daughters," + writes Boone, "were the first women that ever stood on the + banks of Kentucky river." Mrs. McGary, Mrs. Hogan, and Mrs. + Denton arrived at Harrodsburg the 8th of September, and were + the first white women in that settlement. With the arrival of + these families, and fresh fighting men, the Kentucky colony + began to take on a permanent air, and thenceforward there was + better order.--R. G. T. + + [8] In the winter of 1776-77, McClelland's Station and + Logan's Station, (indifferently styled Fort or Station) were + abandoned because of Indian attacks, and the settlers huddled + into Boonesborough and Harrodsburg--although possibly Price's + settlement, on the Cumberland, maintained a separate existence + throughout the winter. There were at this time not to exceed a + hundred and fifty white men in the country, available for + active militia duty. As during January and February, 1777, the + Indians were quiet, confidence was restored in some degree, and + during the latter month, Logan, with his own and some half + dozen other families, left Harrodsburg and re-occupied Logan's + Station. Thus far, each settlement had chosen its own military + leader, and discipline was practically unknown. March 5, under + order and commissions from Virginia, the militia of Kentucky + county were assembled and organized at Boonesborough, + Harrodsburg, and Logan's Station, with George Rogers Clark as + major, and Daniel Boone, James Harrod, John Todd, and Benjamin + Logan as captains.--R. G. T. + + [9] This foray took place March 6--not the 14th, as in the + text--at Shawnee Springs, four miles north-east of Harrodsburg. + The whites--James Ray, William Ray, Thomas Shores, and William + Coomes--were sugar-making, when attacked by about seventy + Shawnees, under Black Fish. William Ray was killed, and Shores + taken prisoner. James Ray outran his pursuers and gave the + alarm. The unsuccessful attack on the incomplete fort of + Harrodsburg occurred early the following morning, the 7th. + Other brief attacks on Harrodsburg, were on March 18 and + 28.--R. G. T. + + [10] A small detachment from Black Fish's party made a dash + on workers in the Boonesborough fields, the day after the + Harrodsburg fight--killing a negro, and wounding several + whites.--R. G. T. + + [11] This assault on Boonesborough occurred the morning of + Thursday, April 24. The Indians numbered about one hundred. + Boone was wounded, and very nearly lost his life, in a sortie. + The story of the fight abounds with instances of heroism on the + part of both women and men.--R. G. T. + + [12] It occurred throughout Friday, May 30. The Indians are + reported to have numbered fifty-seven.--R. G. T. + + [13] Those who went out early in the morning to milk the + cows, were Mrs. Ann Logan, Mrs. Whitley, and a negro woman. + They were guarded only by William Hudson, Burr Harrison, John + Kennedy, and James Craig. The women and Craig escaped into the + fort unharmed; Kennedy, with four balls in his body, contrived + also to escape; Hudson was killed outright, and Harrison fell + wounded. He was supposed by friend and foe to have been killed. + The story of his final rescue by Logan, is related by Withers + below. As told to Dr. Draper, by Capt. Benjamin Biggs, and as + recorded in Whitley's MS. Narrative, in possession of the + Wisconsin Historical Society, the story in Withers is + substantially correct. It is said that Logan rolled a bag of + wool before him, and thus approached Harrison under cover; then + making a rush towards the latter, he picked him up in his arms + and dashed successfully into the fort. These accounts make no + mention of Martin's intervention. Harrison died of his wounds, + June 13.--R. G. T. + + [14] Benjamin Logan was by birth a Virginian; and at the age + of fourteen was left by the death of his father, to provide for + his mother and her other children, and with the other cares of + a family upon his infant hands. He discharged the duties thus + devolving on him, with the utmost fidelity; and having provided + amply for the support of his mother, and placed the other + members of her household in eligible situations, he removed to + the Holstein, married, purchased land, and commenced making + improvements. From thence he went to Kentucky, where he spent + the balance of his life, in the discharge of every social and + relative duty, with credit to himself and advantage to the + community. He was a delegate to the Virginia legislature from + the county of Kentucky in 1780; was soon after commissioned + county Lieutenant, (then the highest military title in the + militia of a county) and in the various battles, as well as in + the many skirmishes, which he fought with the Indians, his + conduct and bearing were such, as fully established for him the + reputation of a brave, skilful, prudent and meritorious + officer. In private life, and in his intercourse with his + fellow men, his whole course was distinguished by the most + uncompromising honor, and expanded philanthrophy. The heroic + adventure, by which he saved his wounded comrade, from the + tomahawk, the scalping knife, and from fire, was but one of + many such exploits, whereby he achieved good to others, at the + most imminent hazard of his own life. + + [15] This was the name given to the station of Logan. + + [16] Whitley's MS. Narrative and Cowan's MS. Diary, in the + Wisconsin Historical Society's library, say that Logan left + alone during the night of June 6. Logan returned to his fort on + the 23d, having travelled almost incessantly, and brought news + that relief would soon come. Soon after Logan's expedition to + the Holston, other messengers were sent to the East, clamoring + for help--McGary and Hoggin to Fort Pitt, and Smith to the + Yadkin; and twice Harrod vainly went forth to meet expected + troops. But the Continental army was hard pressed in those + days, and despite the rumor on the coast that Kentucky was in a + sad way, it was long before relief could be sent.--R. G. T. + + [17] Bowman arrived at Boonesborough the first of August, + with two companies from Virginia, under Capts. Henry Pauling + and John Dunkin--the latter being soon succeeded by Isaac + Ruddell. The force numbered 100 men. August 25, while six of + Bowman's men were on their way to Logan's, they were attacked + by Indians, two being killed and one wounded. Before escaping, + the Indians left on the body of one of the men, several copies + of a proclamation addressed to Clark and Logan in person, by + Lieut.-Gov. Henry Hamilton, at the head of the British forces + at Detroit, offering immunity to repentant rebels.--R. G. T. + + [18] See pp. 79, 80, _note_, for origin of the term "Long + Knives."--R. G. T. + + [19] Edward Hand was born in Ireland. He came to America in + 1774 as a surgeon's mate in the Eighth (Royal Irish) Regiment, + and soon settled in Pennsylvania as a physician. When the + Revolution broke out he joined a Pennsylvania regiment as + lieutenant colonel, and served in the siege of Boston. In + April, 1777, he was appointed brigadier-general in the + Continental army, and the first of June assumed command of Fort + Pitt. Lieut.-Gov. Henry Hamilton, of Detroit, under orders from + London, was actively engaged in stirring up the Northwest + Indians to forays on the Virginia and Pennsylvania borders, + thus harrying the Americans in the rear. Hand, in whose charge + was the frontier from Kittanning to the Great Kanawha, + determined on an aggressive policy, and in February, 1778, + undertook a campaign against the savages. An open winter, with + heavy rains, prevented the force of about 500 men--chiefly from + Westmoreland county--making satisfactory headway. Finally, the + expedition was abandoned when it had proceeded no farther than + Mahoning Creek. From the fact that this first American movement + against the savages, during the Revolution, resulted only in + the capture of non-combatants, in the almost deserted villages, + it was long known as "the squaw campaign." Hand was a competent + officer, but was much pestered, at Fort Pitt, with the + machinations of tories, who were numerous among the borderers. + Succeeded at Fort Pitt in 1778, by Brig.-Gen. Lachlan McIntosh, + Hand in turn succeeded Stark in command at Albany. We find him, + in 1779, actively engaged on Sullivan's campaign against the + New York Indians, and in 1780 he became adjutant general. A + member of congress in 1784-85, he was in 1790 a member of the + constitutional convention of Pennsylvania, and died at + Rockford, Lancaster County, Pa., September 3, 1802--R. G. T. + + [20] See p. 172, _note_ 2, for sketch of life and death of + Cornstalk.--R. G. T. + + + + +[156] CHAPTER IX. + + +While Cornstalk was detained at Point Pleasant, as surety for the +peace and neutrality of the Shawanees, Indians, of the tribes already +attached to the side of Great Britain, were invading the more +defenceless and unprotected settlements. Emerging, as Virginia then +was, from a state of vassalage and subjection, to independence and +self-government--contending in fearful inferiority of strength and the +munitions of war with a mighty and warlike nation--limited in +resources, and wanting in means, essential for supporting the unequal +conflict, she could not be expected to afford protection and security +from savage inroad, to a frontier so extensive as hers; and still less +was she able to spare from the contest which she was waging with that +colossal power, a force sufficient to maintain a war in the Indian +country and awe the savages into quiet. It had not entered into the +policy of this state to enlist the tomahawk and scalping knife in her +behalf; or to make allies of savages, in a war with Christians and +civilized men. She sought by the force of reason and the conviction of +propriety, to prevail on them to observe neutrality--not to become her +auxiliaries. "To send forth the merciless cannibal, thirsting for +blood, against protestant brethren," was a refinement in war to which +she had not attained. That the enemy, with whom she was struggling for +liberty and life as a nation, with all the lights of religion and +philosophy to illumine her course, should have made of them allies, +and "let loose those horrible hell-hounds of war against their +countrymen in America, endeared to them by every tie which should +sanctify human nature," was a most lamentable circumstance--in its +consequences, blighting and desolating the fairest portions of the +country, and covering the face of [157] its border settlements, with +the gloomy mantle of sorrow and woe. + +There is in the Indian bosom an hereditary sense of injury, which +naturally enough prompts to deeds of revengeful cruelty towards the +whites, without the aid of adventitious stimulants. When these are +superadded, they become indeed, the most ruthless and infuriated +enemy--"thirsting for blood," and causing it literally to flow, alike +from the hearts of helpless infancy and hoary age--from the timorous +breast of weak woman, and the undaunted bosom of the stout warrior. +Leagued with Great Britain, the Indians were enabled more fully and +effectually, to glut their vengeance on our citizens, and gratify +their entailed resentment towards them. + +In the commencement of Indian depredations on North Western Virginia, +during this war, the only places of refuge for the inhabitants, +besides private forts and block-houses, were at Pittsburg, Redstone, +Wheeling and Point Pleasant. Garrisons had been maintained at Fort +Pitt and Redstone, ever after their establishment; and fortresses were +erected at the two latter places in 1774. They all seemed to afford an +asylum to many, when the Indians were known to be in the country; but +none of them had garrisons, strong enough to admit of detachments +being sent, to act offensively against the invaders. All that they +could effect, was the repulsion of assaults made on them, and the +expulsion from their immediate neighborhoods, of small marauding +parties of the savage enemy. When Captain Arbuckle communicated to the +Governor the information derived from Cornstalk, that extensive +preparations were making by the Indians, for war, and the probability +of its early commencement, such measures were immediately adopted, to +prevent its success, as the then situation of the country would +justify. A proclamation was issued, advising the inhabitants of the +frontier, to retire into the interior as soon as practicable; and that +they might be enabled the better to protect themselves from savage +fury, some ammunition was forwarded to settlements on the Ohio river, +remote from the state forts, and more immediately exposed to danger +from incursion. General Hand too, then stationed at Fort Pitt, sent an +express to the different settlements, recommending that they should +be immediately abandoned, and the individuals composing them, should +forthwith seek shelter in some contiguous fortress, or retire east of +the [158] mountain. All were apprized of the impending danger, and +that it was impracticable in the pressing condition of affairs, for +the newly organized government to extend to them any effective +protection. + +Thus situated, the greater part of those who had taken up their abode +on the western waters, continued to reside in the country. Others, +deeming the means of defence inadequate to security, and unwilling to +encounter the horrors of an Indian war, no better provided than they +were, pursued the advice of government, and withdrew from the presence +of danger. Those who remained, sensible of dependence on their +individual resources, commenced making preparations for the +approaching crisis. The positions which had been selected as places of +security and defence in the war of 1774, were fortified anew, and +other block-houses and forts were erected by their unaided exertion, +into which they would retire on the approach of danger. Nor was it +long before this state of things was brought about. + +In June 1777,[1] a party of Indians came to the house of Charles +Grigsby on Rooting creek, a branch of the West Fork, and in the county +of Harrison. Mr. Grigsby being from home, the Indians plundered the +house of every thing considered valuable by them, and which they could +readily carry with them; and destroying many other articles, departed, +taking with them Mrs. Grigsby and her two children as prisoners. +Returning home soon after, seeing the desolation which had been done +in his short absence, and unable to find his wife and children, Mr. +Grigsby collected some of his neighbors and set out in pursuit of +those, by whom the mischief had been effected,--hoping that he might +overtake and reclaim from them the partner of his bosom, and the +pledges of her affection. His hopes were of but momentary existence. + +Following in the trail of the fugitive, when they had arrived near to +Loss creek, a distance of but six miles, they found the body of Mrs. +Grigsby and of her younger child, where they had recently been killed +and scalped. The situation of this unfortunate woman (being near the +hour of confinement,) and the entire helplessness of the child, were +hindrances to a rapid retreat; and fearing pursuit, the Indians thus +inhumanly rid themselves of those incumbrances to their flight and +left them to accidental discovery, or to become food for the beasts of +the forest. + +[159] Stimulated to more ardent exertions by the distressing scene +just witnessed, the pursuers pushed forward, with increased +expectation of speedily overtaking and punishing, the authors of this +bloody deed; leaving two of their party to perform the sepulture of +the unfortunate mother, and her murdered infant. But before the whites +were aware of their nearness to the Indians, these had become apprized +of their approach, and separated, so as to leave no trail by which +they could be farther traced. They had of course to give over the +pursuit; and returned home, to provide more effectually against the +perpetration of similar acts of atrocity and darkness. + +A short time after this, two Indians came on the West Fork, and +concealed themselves near to Coon's fort, awaiting an opportunity of +effecting some mischief. While thus lying in ambush, a daughter of Mr. +Coon came out for the purpose of lifting some hemp in a field near to +the fort, and by the side of the road. Being engaged in performing +this business, Thomas Cunningham and Enoch James passing along, and +seeing her, entered into conversation with her, and after a while +proceeded on their road. But before they had gone far, alarmed by the +report of a gun, they looked back and saw an Indian run up to the +girl, tomahawk and scalp her. The people of the fort were quickly +apprised of what had been done, and immediately turned out in pursuit; +but could not trace the course taken by the savages. It afterwards +appeared that the Indians had been for some time waiting for the girl +to come near enough for them to catch and make her prisoner, before +she could alarm the fort, or get within reach of its guns; but when +one of them crossed the fence for this purpose, she espied him and ran +directly towards the fort.--Fearing that he would not be able to +overtake her, without approaching the fort so as to involve himself in +some danger, he shot her as she ran; and going up to her he tomahawked +and scalped her. In endeavoring then to secure himself by flight, he +was shot at by James, but at so great distance as to prevent the doing +of execution. + +In the neighborhood of Wheeling, some mischief of this kind was +done about the same time, and by Indians who acted so warily, as to +avoid being discovered and punished. A man by the name of Thomas Ryan +was killed in a field some distance from the house, and a negro +fellow at work with him, [160] taken prisoner and carried off. No +invasion however, of that country, had been as yet, of sufficient +importance to induce the people to forsake their homes and go into +the forts.--Scouting parties were constantly traversing the woods +in every direction, and so successfully did they, observe every +avenue to the settlements, that the approach of Indians was generally +discovered and made known, before any evil resulted from it. But in +August the whole country bordering on the Ohio, from Fort Pitt to +Wheeling, became justly alarmed for its fate; and the most serious +apprehensions for the safety of its inhabitants, were excited in the +bosoms of all. Intelligence was conveyed to General Hand at Fort +Pitt,[2] by some friendly Indians from the Moravian towns, that a +large army of the north western confederacy, had come as far as those +villages, and might soon be expected to strike an awful blow on some +part of the Ohio settlements. The Indian force was represented as +being so great, as to preclude all idea of purchasing safety, by open +conflict; and the inhabitants along the river, generally retired into +forts, as soon as they received information of their danger, and made +every preparation to repel an assault on them. They did not +however, remain long in suspense, as to the point against which the +enemy would direct its operations. + +Wheeling Fort, although it had been erected by the proper authorities +of the government, and was supplied with arms and ammunition from the +public arsenal, was not at this time garrisoned, as were the other +state forts on the Ohio, by a regular soldiery; but was left to be +defended solely by the heroism and bravery of those, who might seek +shelter within its walls.[3] The settlement around it was flourishing, +and had grown with a rapidity truly astonishing, when its situation, +and the circumstances of the border country generally, are taken into +consideration. A little village, of twenty-five or thirty houses, had +sprung up, where but a few years before, the foot of civilized man had +never trod; and where the beasts of the forest had lately ranged +undisturbedly, were to be seen lowing herds and bleating flocks, at +once, the means of sustenance, and the promise of future wealth to +their owners.--In the enjoyment of this, comparatively, prosperous +condition of things, the inhabitants little dreamed, how quickly those +smiling prospects were to be blighted, their future hopes blasted, and +they deprived of almost every necessary of life. They [161] were not +insensible to the danger which in time of war was ever impending over +them; but relying on the vigilance of their scouts, to ascertain and +apprize them of its approach, and on the proximity of a fort into +which they could retire upon a minute's warning, they did not shut +themselves up within its walls, until advised of the immediate +necessity of doing so, from the actual presence of the enemy. + +On the night of the first of September, Captain Ogal, who with a party +of twelve men, had been for some days engaged in watching the paths to +the settlement and endeavoring to ascertain the approach of danger,[4] +came into Wheeling with the assurance that the enemy were not at hand. +In the course of that night, however, the Indian army, consisting of +three hundred and eighty-nine warriors,[5] came near to the village, +and believing from the lights in the fort, that the inhabitants were +on their guard, and that more might be effected by an ambuscade in the +morning, than by an immediate and direct attack, posted themselves +advantageously for that purpose. Two lines were formed, at some +distance from each, extending from the river across the point to the +creek, with a cornfield to afford them concealment. In the centre +between these lines, near a road leading through the field to the +fort, and in a situation easily exposing them to observation, six +Indians were stationed, for the purpose of decoying within the lines, +any force which might discover, and come out to molest them. + +Early in the morning of the second, two men, going to a field for +horses, passed the first line, and came near to the Indians in the +centre, before they were aware of danger.[6]--Perceiving the six +savages near them, they endeavored to escape by flight. A single shot +brought one of them to the ground: the other was permitted to escape +that he might give the alarm. Captain Mason (who, with Captain Ogal +and his party, and a few other men had occupied the fort the +preceding night) hearing that there were but six of the enemy, +marched with fourteen men, to the place where they had been seen. He +had not proceeded far from the fort, before he came in view of them; +and leading his men briskly towards where they were, soon found +themselves enclosed by a body of Indians, who 'till then had +remained concealed.--Seeing the impossibility of maintaining a +conflict with them, he endeavored to retreat with his men, to the +fort; but in [162] vain. They were intercepted by the Indians, and +nearly all literally, cut to pieces.[7] Captain Mason however, and his +sergeant succeeded in passing the front line, but being observed by +some of the enemy, were pursued, and fired at, as they began to +rise the hill. The sergeant was so wounded by the ball aimed at him, +that he fell, unable again to get up; but seeing his Captain pass near +without a gun and so crippled that he moved but slowly in advance of +his pursuers, he handed him his, and calmly surrendered himself to +his fate. + +Captain Mason had been twice wounded, and was then so enfeebled by the +loss of blood, and faint from fatigue that he almost despaired of ever +reaching the fort; yet he pressed forward with all his powers. He was +sensible that the Indian was near him, and expecting every instant, +that the tomahawk would sever his skull, he for a while forgot that +his gun was yet charged. The recollection of this, inspiring him with +fresh hopes, he wheeled to fire at his pursuer, but found him so close +that he could not bring his gun to bear on him. Having greatly the +advantage of ground, he thrust him back with his hand. The uplifted +tomahawk descended to the earth with force; and before the Indian +could so far regain his footing as to hurl the fatal weapon from his +grasp, or rush forward to close in deadly struggle with his +antagonist, the ball from Captain Mason's gun had done its errand, and +the savage fell lifeless to the earth. Captain Mason was able to +proceed only a few paces farther; but concealing himself by the side +of a large fallen tree, he remained unobserved while the Indians +continued about the fort. + +The shrieks of Captain Mason's men, and the discharge of the guns, +induced Capt. Ogal to advance with his twelve scouts, to their relief. +Being some distance in the rear of his men, the Indians, in closing +round them, fortunately left him without the circle, and he concealed +himself amid some briers in the corner of the fence; where he lay +until the next day. The same fate awaited his men, which had befallen +Capt. Mason's. Of the twenty six who were led out by these two +officers, only three escaped death, and two of these were badly +wounded: a striking evidence of the fact, that the ambuscade was +judiciously planned, and the expectations of its success, well +founded.[8] + +While these things were doing, the inhabitants of the village were +busily employed in removing to the fort and preparing for its +defense. A single glance at the situation of the parties led on by +Mason and Ogal, convinced them of the overwhelming force of the [163] +Indians, and the impossibility of maintaining an open contest with +them. And so quick had been the happening of the events which have +been narrated, that the gates of the fort were scarcely closed, before +the Indian army appeared under its walls, with a view to its reduction +by storm.[9] But before the assault was begun to be made, the +attention of the garrison was directed to a summons for its surrender, +made by that infamous renegado, Simon Girty.[10] + +This worse than savage wretch, appeared at the end window of a house +not far from the fort, and told them, that he had come with a large +army to escort to Detroit, such of the Inhabitants along the frontier, +as were willing to accept the terms offered by Governor Hamilton, to +those who would renounce the cause of the colonies and attach +themselves to the interest of Great Britain; calling upon them to +remember their fealty to their sovereign; assuring them of protection, +if they would join his standard, and denouncing upon them, all the +woes which spring from the uncurbed indulgence of savage vengeance, if +they dared to resist, or fire one gun to the annoyance of his men. He +then read to them, Gov. Hamilton's proclamation; and told them, he +could allow only fifteen minutes to consider of his proposition. It +was enough. In love with liberty, attached to their country, and +without faith in his proffered protection, they required but little +time to "deliberate, which of the two to choose, slavery or death." +Col. Zane replied to him, "that they had consulted their wives and +children, and that all were resolved to perish, sooner than place +themselves under the protection of a savage army with him at its head, +or abjure the cause of liberty and of the colonies." Girty then +represented to them the great force of the Indians,--the impossibility +that the fort could withstand the assault,--the certainty of +protection if they acceded to his propositions, and the difficulty of +restraining the assailants, if enraged and roused to vengeance by +opposition and resistance. A shot discharged at him from the fort, +caused him to withdraw from the window and the Indians commenced the +assault. + +There were then in the fort but thirty-three men, to defend it against +the attack of upwards of three hundred and eighty Indians; and bravely +did they maintain their situation against the superior force of the +enemy, and all that art and fury could effect to accomplish their +destruction. For twenty-three hours, all was life, and energy, and +activity within the walls. Every individual had particular duties to +perform; and promptly and faithfully were they discharged. The more +expert of the women, took stations by the side of the men; and +handling their guns with soldier like readiness, aided in the repulse, +with fearless intrepidity.[11] Some were engaged in moulding bullets; +others in loading and supplying the [164] men with guns already +charged; while the less robust were employed in cooking, and in +furnishing to the combatants, provisions and water, during the +continuance of the attack. It seemed indeed, as if each individual +were sensible, that the safety of all depended on his lone exertions; +and that the slightest relaxation of these, would involve them all in +one common ruin. + +Finding that they could make no impression on the fort, and fearing to +remain longer before it, lest their retreat might be cut off, by +reinforcements from the surrounding country, the assailants fired all +the houses without the walls; killed all the stock, which could be +found; and destroying every thing on which they could lay their hands, +retired about day light, and left the garrison in possession of the +fortress, but deprived of almost every thing else. The alarm of the +presence of Indians having been given after day light, and the attack +on the fort commencing before sun rise, but little time was afforded +them, for securing their moveable property. The greater part had taken +with them nothing but their clothes, while some had left their homes +with their night apparel only. Few were left the enjoyment of a bed, +or the humble gratification of the coarse repast of bread and milk. +Their distress was consequently great; and their situation for some +time, not much more enviable, than when pent within the fort, and +straining every nerve to repel its savage assailants. + +Before this, the Governor had sent to Col. Andrew Swearingen, a +quantity of ammunition for the defence of those who remained in +the country above Wheeling. By his exertions, and under his +superintendence, Bolling's and Holliday's old forts were repaired, +and the latter made strong enough to serve as a magazine. In it was +collected, all the inhabitants from its neighborhood; and it was +generally regarded, as a strong position, and able, occasionally, +to detach part of its garrison, for the aid of other portions of +the country. Soon after the attack was begun to be made on Wheeling, +the alarm reached Shepherd's fort, and a runner was despatched +from thence to Holliday's fort with the intelligence, and the +apprehension that if speedy relief were not afforded, the garrison +at Wheeling must fall. No expectation, of being able to collect a +force sufficient to cope with the assailants, was entertained. All +that was expected was, to throw succours into the fort, and thus +enable the garrison the more successfully to repel assaults, and +preserve it from the violence of the Indian onsets. For this +purpose, Col. Swearingen left Holliday's with fourteen men, who +nobly volunteered to accompany him in this hazardous enterprise, +to the regret of those who remained, from an apprehension that thus +weakened, if Holliday's fort were attacked it must fall easily into +the hands of the enemy. These men got into a large _continental +canoe_, and plied their paddles industriously, to arrive in time +to be of service to the besieged. But the night being dark, and a +dense fog hanging over the river, they toiled to great disadvantage, +frequently coming in contact with the banks; until [165] at length it +was thought advisable to cease rowing and float with the current, +lest they might, unknowingly, pass Wheeling, and at the appearance +of day be obliged to contend with the force of the stream, to regain +that point. Floating slowly, they at length descried the light which +proceeded from the burning of the houses at Wheeling, and with all +their exertion could not then attain their destination before the +return of day. Could they have realized their expectation of +arriving before day, they might from, the river bank, in the +darkness of the night, have gained admission into the fort; but +being frustrated in this, they landed some of the men near above +Wheeling, to reconnoiter and ascertain the situation of things: it +being doubtful to them, from the smoke and fog, whether the fort +and all, were not a heap of ruins. Col. Swearingen, Cap. Bilderbock +and William Boshears, volunteered for this service, and proceeding +cautiously soon reached the fort. + +When arrived there, it was still questionable whether the Indians had +abandoned the attack, or were only lying concealed in the cornfield, +in order to fall on any, who might come out from the fort, under the +impression that danger was removed from them. Fearing that the latter +was the case, it was thought prudent, not to give the preconcerted +signal for the remainder of Col. Swearingen's party to come on, lest +it might excite the Indians to greater vigilance and they intercept +the men on their way to the fort. To obviate the difficulty arising +from this apprehension, Col. Swearingen, Capt. Bilderbock and William +Boshears, taking a circuitous route to avoid passing near the +cornfield, returned to their companions, and escorted them to +Wheeling. It then remained to ascertain whether the Indians had really +withdrawn, or were only lying in ambush. A council, consisting of Col. +Zane, Col. Shepherd, Doctor McMahon and Col. Swearingen, being +requested to devise some expedient by which to be assured of the fact, +recommended that two of their most active and vigilant men, should go +out openly from the fort, and carelessly, but surely, examine the +cornfield near to the palisade. Upon their return, twenty others, +under the guidance of Col. Zane, marched round at some distance from +the field, and approaching it more nearly on their return, became +assured that the Indians had indeed despaired of success, and were +withdrawn from the field. About this time Major M'Cullough arrived +with forty-five men, and they all proceeded to view the battle +ground. + +Here was indeed a pitiable sight. Twenty-three of the men who had +accompanied Capts. Mason and Ogal in the preceding morning, were lying +dead; few of them had been shot, but the greater part, most inhumanly +and barbarously butchered with the tomahawk and scalping knife. +Upwards of three hundred head of cattle, horses, and hogs, wantonly +killed by the savages, were seen lying about the field, and all the +houses, with every thing which they contained, and which could not be +conveniently taken off by the enemy, were but heaps of ashes. It was +long indeed, before the [166] inhabitants of that neighborhood +regained the comforts, of which that night's desolation had deprived +them. + +Soon after the happening of these events a company of militia under +the command of Capt. Foreman, arrived from east of the Alleghany, to +afford protection to the settlements around Wheeling, and occupy the +fort at this place. While stationed in it, it was known that parties +of Indians were still lurking about, seeking opportunities of doing +mischief, and to prevent which, detachments were frequently sent on +scouting expeditions. On the 26th of September, Capt. Foreman with +forty five men, went about twelve miles below Wheeling and encamped +for the night. He was ignorant of the practices of the Indians, and +seemed rather indisposed to take council of those, who were conversant +with them. After building fires for the night, he remained with his +men close around them, contrary to the advice of one of the settlers, +by the name of Lynn, who had accompanied him as a spy. Lynn however, +would not consent to remain there himself, but taking with him those +of the frontiers men who were in company, retired some distance from +the fires, and spent the night. Before it was yet light, Lynn, being +awake, thought he heard such a noise, as would be probably produced by +the launching of rafts on the river, above the position occupied by +Capt. Foreman. In the morning he communicated his suspicion that an +Indian force was near them, and advised the Captain to return to +Wheeling along the hill sides and avoid the bottoms. His advice was +rejected; but Lynn, with the caution of one used to such a condition +of things, prudently kept on the hill side with four others, while +they, who belonged to the command of Capt. Foreman, continued along +the level at the base of the hill. + +In marching along the Grave creek narrows, one of the soldiers saw a +parcel of Indian ornaments lying in the path; and picking them up, +soon drew around him the greater part of the company. While thus +crowded together inspecting the trinkets, a galling fire was opened on +them by a party of Indians who lay in ambush, and which threw them +into great confusion. The fire was continued with deadly effect, for +some minutes; and must eventually have caused the loss of the whole +party, but that Lynn, with his few comrades rushed from the hill +discharging their guns, and shouting so boisterously, as induced the +Indians to believe that a reinforcement was at hand, and they +precipitately retreated. + +In this fatal ambuscade there were twenty-one of Captain Foreman's +party killed, and several much wounded; among the slain were the +Captain and his two sons. + +It appeared that the Indians had dropped their ornaments, purposely to +attract the attention of the whites; while they themselves were lying +concealed in two parties; the one to the right of the path, in a +sink-hole on the bottom, and the other to the left, under covert of +the river bank. From these advantageous positions, they [167] fired +securely on our men; while they were altogether exempt from danger +'till the party in the sink hole was descried by Lynn. His firing was +not known to have taken effect; but to his good conduct is justly +attributable the saving of the remnant of the detachment. The Indian +force was never ascertained. It was supposed to have been small; not +exceeding twenty warriors. + +On the ensuing day, the inhabitants of the neighborhood of Wheeling +under the direction and guidance of Colonel Zane, proceeded to Grave +Creek and buried those who had fallen.[12] + +At the time of the happening of those occurrences the belief was +general, that the army which had been led to Wheeling by Girty, had +been ordered on, for the purpose of conducting the tories from the +settlements to Detroit; and that detachments from that army continued +to hover about the frontiers for some time, to effect that object. +There was then, unfortunately for the repose and tranquility of many +neighborhoods, a considerable number of those misguided and deluded +wretches, who, disaffected to the cause of the colonies, were willing +to advance the interest of Britain, by the sacrifice of every social +relation, and the abandonment of every consideration, save that of +loyalty to the king. So far did their opposition, to those who +espoused the cause of American liberty, blunt every finer and more +noble feeling, that many of them were willing to imbrue their hands in +the blood of their neighbors, in the most sly and secret manner, and +in the hour of midnight darkness, for no offence but attachment to the +independence of the colonies. A conspiracy for the murder of the whigs +and for accepting the terms, offered by the Governor of Canada to +those who would renounce their allegiance to the United States and +repair to Detroit, by the relenting of one individual, was prevented +being carried into effect; and many were consequently saved from +horrors, equalling, if not transcending in enormity, the outrages of +the savages themselves. Scenes of licentiousness and fury, followed +upon the discovery of the plot.--Exasperated at its heinousness, and +under the influence of resentful feelings, the whigs retaliated upon +the tories, some of the evils which these had conspired to inflict +upon them. In the then infuriated state of their minds, and the little +restraint at that time imposed on the passions by the operation of the +laws, it is really matter of admiration that they did not proceed +farther, and requite upon those deluded wretches, the full measure of +their premeditated wrongs. The head only of this fiendish league, lost +his life; but many depredations were committed, on the property of its +members. + +A court, for the trial of the conspirants, was held at Redstone Fort; +and many of them were arraigned at its bar. But as their object had +been defeated by its discovery, and as no farther danger was +apprehended from them, they were released, after having been required +to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and to bear with +the injuries which had [168] been done their property. Those who were +suspected for the murder of the chief conspirator, were likewise +arraigned for that offence, but were acquitted. + +Hitherto the inhabitants of Tygart's Valley had escaped the ill +effects of savage enmity; Indian hostility not having prompted an +incursion into that country, since its permanent settlement was +effected previous to the war of 1774. This however had not the effect +to lull them into confident security. Ascribing their fortunate +exemption from irruptions of the enemy, to other causes than a +willingness on the part of the Indians, to leave them in quiet and +repose, they exercised the utmost vigilance to discover their +approach, and used every precaution to ensure them safety, if the +enemy should appear among them. Spies were regularly employed in +watching the warriors paths beyond the settlements, to detect their +advance and to apprize the inhabitants of it. + +In September of this year (1777) Leonard Petro and Wm. White, being +engaged in watching the path leading up the Little Kenhawa, killed an +Elk late in the evening; and taking part of it with them, withdrew a +short distance for the purpose of eating their suppers and spending +the night. About midnight, White, awaking from sleep, discovered by +the light of the moon, that there were several Indians near, who had +been drawn in quest of them by the report of the gun in the evening. +He saw at a glance, the impossibility of escaping by flight; and +preferring captivity to death, he whispered to Petro to lie still, +lest any movement of his, might lead to this result. In a few minutes +the Indians sprang on them; and White raising himself as one lay hold +on him, aimed a furious blow, with his tomahawk, hoping to wound the +Indian by whom he was beset, and then make his escape. Missing his aim +he affected to have been ignorant of the fact that he was encountered +by Indians, professed great joy at meeting with them, and declared +that he was then on his way to their towns. They were not deceived by +the artifice; for although he assumed an air of pleasantness and +gaity, calculated to win upon their confidence, yet the woful +countenance and rueful expression of poor Petro, convinced them that +White's conduct was feigned, that he might lull them into inattention, +and they be enabled to effect an escape. They were both tied for the +night; and in the morning White being painted red, and Petro black, +they were forced to proceed to the Indian towns. When approaching a +[169] village, the whoop of success brought several to meet them; and +on their arrival at it, they found that every preparation was made for +their running the gauntlet; in going through which ceremony both were +much bruised. White did not however remain long in captivity. Eluding +their vigilance, he took one of their guns and began his flight +homeward.--Before he had travelled far, he met an Indian on horseback, +whom he succeeded in shooting; and mounting the horse from which he +fell, his return to the Valley was much facilitated. Petro was never +heard of afterwards. The painting of him black, had indicated their +intention of killing him; and the escape of White probably hastened +his doom. + +During this time, and after the return of White among them, the +inhabitants of Tygart's Valley practiced their accustomed watchfulness +'till about the twentieth of November; when there was a considerable +fall of snow. This circumstance induced them to believe, that the +savages would not attempt an irruption among them until the return of +spring; and they became consequently, inattentive to their safety. + +Generally, the settlements enjoyed perfect quiet from the first +appearance of winter, until the return of spring. In this interval of +time, the Indians are usually deterred from penetrating into them, as +well because of their great exposure to discovery and observation in +consequence of the nakedness of the woods and the increased facility +of pursuing their trail in the snows which then usually covered the +earth, as of the suffering produced by their lying in wait and +travelling, in their partially unclothed condition, in this season of +intense cold. Instances of their being troublesome during the winter +were rare indeed; and never occurred, but under very peculiar +circumstances: the inhabitants, were therefore, not culpably remiss, +when they relaxed in their vigilance, and became exposed to savage +inroad. + +A party of twenty Indians, designing to commit some depredations +during the fall, had nearly reached the upper end of Tygart's Valley, +when the snow, which had inspired the inhabitants with confidence in +their security, commenced falling. Fearful of laying themselves open +to detection, if they ventured to proceed farther at that time, and +anxious to effect some mischief before they returned home, they +remained concealed about ten miles from the settlements, until the +snow disappeared. On the 15th of December, they came to the [170] +house of Darby Connoly, at the upper extremity of the Valley, and +killed him, his wife and several of the children, and took three +others prisoners. Proceeding to the next house, killed John Stewart, +his wife and child, and took Miss Hamilton (sister-in-law to Stewart) +into captivity. They then immediately changed their direction, and +with great dispatch, entered upon their journey home; with the +captives and plunder, taken at those two places. + +In the course of the evening after these outrages were committed, John +Hadden passing by the House of Connoly saw a tame elk belonging there, +lying dead in the yard. This, and the death-like silence which reigned +around, excited his fears that all was not right; and entering into +the house, he saw the awful desolation which had been committed. +Seeing that the work of blood had been but recently done, he hastened +to alarm the neighborhood, and sent an express to Capt. Benjamin +Wilson, living about twenty miles lower in the Valley, with the +melancholy intelligence. With great promptitude, Capt. Wilson went +through the settlement, exerting himself to procure as many +volunteers, as would justify going in pursuit of the aggressors; and +so indefatigable was he in accomplishing his purpose, that, on the day +after the murders were perpetrated, he appeared on the theatre of +their exhibition with thirty men, prepared to take the trail and push +forward in pursuit of the savages. For five days they followed through +cold and wet, without perceiving that they had gained upon them. At +this time many of the men expressed a determination to return. They +had suffered much, travelled far, and yet saw no prospect of +overtaking the enemy. It is not wonderful that they became dispirited. +In order to expedite their progress, the numerous water courses which +lay across their path, swollen to an unusual height and width, were +passed without any preparation to avoid getting wet; the consequence +was that after wading one of them, they would have to travel with +icicles hanging from their clothes the greater part of a day, before +an opportunity could be allowed of drying them. They suffered much too +for the want of provisions. The short time afforded for preparation, +had not admitted of their taking with them as much as they expected +would be required, as they had already been on the chase longer than +was anticipated. Under these circumstances it was with great +difficulty, Captain Wilson could prevail [171] on them to continue the +pursuit one day longer; hoping the Indians would have to halt, in +order to hunt for food. Not yet being sensible that they gained upon +them, the men positively refused going farther; and they returned to +their several homes. + +This was the last outrage committed by the savages on North Western +Virginia, in this year. And although there was not as much mischief +effected by them in this season, as had been in others, yet the year +1777, has become memorable in the annals of Border Warfare. The murder +of Cornstalk and his companions,--the attack on Wheeling Fort,--the +loss of lives and destruction of property which then took place, +together with the fatal ambuscade at Grave Creek Narrows, all +conspired to render it a period of much interest, and to impress its +incidents deeply on the minds of those who were actors in these +scenes. + +----- + [1] This "year of the three sevens," as it was called, was + long known as "the bloody year" of border history.--R. G. T. + + [2] General Hand was commandant, and George Morgan Indian + agent, at Fort Pitt. Runners from the Moravian towns on the + Tuscarawas and Muskingum rivers, in Ohio, frequently came into + the fort during the summer, with dispatches for either of + these officials. The Delawares, as a nation, were friendly + throughout the year. The hostiles were chiefly composed of + Wyandots and Mingoes, but with them were a few Shawnees and + Delawares.--R. G. T. + + [3] The first fort at Wheeling was built in the summer of + 1774, by order of Lord Dunmore, under direction of Majors + William Crawford and Angus McDonald. It stood upon the Ohio + bank about a quarter of a mile above the entrance of Wheeling + Creek. Standing in open ground, it was a parallelogram of + square pickets pointed at top, with bastions and sentry boxes + at the angles, and enclosed over half an acre. It ranked in + strength and importance, next to Fort Pitt. Within the fort + were log barracks, an officers' house, a storehouse, a well, + and cabins for families. A steep hill rises not far inland; + between the fort and the base of this hill the forest had been + leveled, and a few log cabins were nestled in the open. Such + was Wheeling in 1777. At first the fort had been called + Fincastle, for the Ohio Valley settlements were then in + Fincastle County, Va.; but upon the opening of the Revolution + the post, now in Ohio County, was named Fort Henry, in honor of + the first state governor of Virginia.--R. G. T. + + [4] News came to Fort Pitt, early in August, that an Indian + attack in force, on Wheeling, might be expected at any time. + Says the Shane MSS., "White Eyes came to Fort Pitt and told + them the Indians were going to take Wheeling home." August + 2d, Gen. Hand wrote to David Shepherd, lieutenant of Ohio + County, warning him of the perilous situation, and ordering + him to leave his own fort, six miles from Fort Henry, and + to rally at the latter all the militia between the Ohio and + Monongahela,--the "pan-handle." Shepherd did this, and by + the close of the month Fort Henry was, as he said, "Indian + proof." But the non-arrival of the foe caused a relaxation of + vigilance. Nine companies were allowed to go home, and by + the last day of August only two companies remained in the + fort, those of Capts. Joseph Ogle and Samuel Mason.--R. G. T. + + [5] Shepherd to Hand, Sept. 15, 1777: "By the best judges + here ... it is thought their numbers must have been not less + than between two and three hundred." The Shepherd, Hand, Shane, + and Doddridge MSS., in the library of the Wisconsin Historical + Society, throw much light on this episode.--R. G. T. + + [6] The Indians made their appearance on the night of August + 31st--not September 1st, as in the text. The incident here + related occurred at about sunrise of September 1st. Andrew + Zane, young John Boyd, Samuel Tomlinson, and a negro, set out + to hunt for the horses of Dr. James McMechen, because the + latter wished that day to return to the older settlements, + either on the Monongahela, or east of the mountains. Boyd was + killed, but his companions escaped--Zane, by leaping from a + cliff, the height of which local tradition places at seventy + feet.--R. G. T. + + [7] De Hass, in his _History of the Early Settlement and + Indian Wars of West Virginia_,--a conscientious work, which + depends, however, too closely on traditions,--says (p. 225), + "out of the fourteen, but two escaped."--R. G. T. + + [8] Among the survivors was Ogle who, like Mason, hid + himself in the bushes until nightfall enabled him to return to + the fort.--R. G. T. + + [9] As a matter of fact, the Indians made no attack on the + fort at this time, being content with the success of their + ambuscade. After throwing up some rude earth-works and blinds, + scalping the dead whites, killing all the live stock within + reach, and setting fire to the outlying cabins, they retired + across the Ohio in the night, and dispersed. Their loss was one + killed and nine wounded; the whites lost fifteen killed and + five wounded. The next day (September 2), the whites buried + their dead, and unavailingly scoured the country for Indians. + + Tradition has made sad havoc with the records, in regard to + this first "siege" of Wheeling. Some of the deeds of heroism + related below, by Withers, were incidents of the second + siege--September 11, 1782, seven years later; but most of them + are purely mythical, or belong to other localities. Perhaps no + events in Western history have been so badly mutilated by + tradition, as these two sieges.--R. G. T. + + [10] This statement of Withers, that Simon Girty was at the + siege of Wheeling, was long accepted as fact by Western + historians. But it is now established beyond doubt, that + neither Simon nor his brothers were present at that affair, + being at the time in the employ of Indian Agent Morgan, at Fort + Pitt. For details of the evidence, consult Butterfield's + _History of the Girtys_, _passim_.--R. G. T. + + [11] [163] The notes furnished the compiler, mention + particularly a Mrs. Glum and Betsy Wheat, as performing all the + duties of soldiers with firmness and alacrity. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--Withers derived his information from + traditional notes in the possession of Noah Zane, son of + Ebenezer. + + [12] After the affair at Wheeling, September 1, the Indians + returned home. But soon thereafter, Half King, head chief of + the Wyandots, set out with forty of that tribe to again harry + the Wheeling country. On the morning of the 26th, Capts. + William Foreman with twenty-four men, Ogle with ten men, and + William Linn with nine, started from Fort Henry on a scout. + Linn was ranking officer, although there was little discipline. + Foreman was a new arrival from Hampshire County, enlisted to go + on Hand's intended expedition. They intended crossing the Ohio + at Grave Creek, 12 miles below, and proceeding 8 miles farther + down to Captina. At Grave, however, they found that the + Tomlinson settlement (nucleus of the present Mound City, W. + Va.) had been abandoned, and sacked by Indians, and no canoes + were to be had. They camped for the night, and the next morning + (the 27th) started to return along the river bank, to Wheeling. + Linn, apprehensive of Indians, marched along the hill crest, + but Ogle and Foreman kept to the trail along the bottom. At a + point where the bottom narrows because of the close approach of + the hills to the river--a defile then known as McMechen's (or + McMahon's) Narrows--they were set upon by Half King's party, + awaiting them in ambush. Foreman and twenty others were killed, + and one captured. The story about Linn's gallant attack on the + Indians from his vantage point on the hilltop, is without + foundation. His party helped to secrete a wounded man who + escaped in the melee, and then put off in hot haste for home. + It was not until four days later, when reinforcements had + arrived from Fort Pitt, that Colonel Shepherd ventured from the + fort to bury the dead. In 1835, an inscribed stone was set up + at the Narrows, to commemorate the slain.--R. G. T. + + + + +[172] CHAPTER X. + + +After the winter became so severe as to prevent the Indians from +penetrating the country and committing farther aggression, the +inhabitants became assured of safety, and devoted much of their time +to the erection of new forts, the strengthening of those which had +been formerly established, and the making of other preparations, +deemed necessary to prevent the repetition of those distressing +occurrences, which had spread gloom and sorrow over almost every part +of North Western Virginia. That the savages would early renew their +exertions to destroy the frontier settlements, and harrass their +citizens, could not for an instant be doubted.--Revenge for the murder +of Cornstalk, and the other chiefs killed in the fort by the whites, +had operated to unite the warlike nation of the Shawanees in a league +with the other Indians, against them; and every circumstance seemed to +promise increased exertions on their part, to accomplish their +purposes of blood and devastation. + +Notwithstanding all which had been suffered during the preceding +season; and all, which it was confidently anticipated, would have to +be undergone after the return of spring, yet did the whole frontier +increase in population, and in capacity to defend itself against the +encroachments of a savage enemy, aided by British emissaries, and led +on by American tories. The accession to its strength, caused by the +number of emigrants, who came into the different settlements, was +indeed considerable; yet it was insufficient, to enable the +inhabitants to purchase by offensive operations, exemption from [173] +invasion, or security from the tomahawk and scalping knife. Assured of +this, Virginia extended to them farther assistance; and a small body +of regular troops, under the command of General McIntosh, was +appropriated to their defence. + +In the spring of 1778, General McIntosh,[1] with the regulars and some +militiamen, attached to his command, descended the Ohio river from +Fort Pitt, to the mouth of Big Beaver--a creek discharging itself into +that river from the north-west.[2] This was a favorable position, at +which to station his troops to effect the partial security of the +frontier, by intercepting parties of Indians on their way to the +settlements on the opposite side of the river, and by pursuing and +punishing them while engaged, either in committing havoc, or in +retreating to their towns, after the consummation of their horrid +purposes. Fort McIntosh was accordingly erected here, and garrisoned; +a six pounder mounted for its defence. + +From Wheeling to Point Pleasant, a distance of one hundred and +eighty-six miles,[3] there was then no obstacle whatever, presented +to the advance of Indian war parties, into the settlements on the +East and West Forks of the Monongahela, and their branches. The +consequences of this exposure had been always severely felt; and +never more so than after the establishment of Fort McIntosh. Every +impediment to their invasion of one part of the country, caused more +frequent irruptions into others, where no difficulties were +interposed to check their progress, and brought heavier woes on +them.--This had been already experienced, in the settlements on the +upper branches of the Monongahela, and as they were the last to feel +the effects of savage enmity in 1777, so were they first to become +sacrificed to its fury in 1778. + +Anticipating the commencement of hostilities at an earlier period of +the season, than usual, several families retired into Harbert's +block-house, on Ten Mile (a branch of the West Fork,) in the month of +February. And notwithstanding the prudent caution manifested by them +in the step thus taken; yet, the state of the weather lulling them +into false security, they did not afterwards exercise the vigilance +and provident care, which were necessary to ensure their future +safety. On the third of March, some children, playing with a crippled +crow, at a short distance from the yard, espied a number of Indians +proceeding towards them; and running briskly to the house, told "that +a number of _red men_ were close by."--[174] John Murphey stepped to +the door to see if danger had really approached, when one of the +Indians, turning the corner of the house, fired at him. The ball took +effect, and Murphey fell back into the house. The Indian springing +directly in, was grappled by Harbert, and thrown on the floor. A shot +from without, wounded Harbert, yet he continued to maintain his +advantage over the prostrate savage, striking him as effectually as he +could with his tomahawk, when another gun was fired at him from +without the house. The ball passed through his head, and he fell +lifeless. His antagonist then slipped out at the door, sorely wounded +in the encounter. + +Just after the first Indian had entered, an active young warrior, +holding in his hand a tomahawk with a long spike at the end, also came +in. Edward Cunningham instantly drew up his gun to shoot him; but it +flashed, and they closed in doubtful strife. Both were active and +athletic; and sensible of the high prize for which they were +contending, each put forth his utmost strength, and strained his every +nerve, to gain the ascendency. For a while, the issue seemed doubtful. +At length, by great exertion, Cunningham wrenched the tomahawk from +the hand of the Indian, and buried the spike end to the handle, in his +back. Mrs. Cunningham closed the contest. Seeing her husband +struggling closely with the savage, she struck at him with an axe. +The edge wounding his face severely, he loosened his hold, and made +his way out of the house. + +The third Indian, which had entered before the door was closed, +presented an appearance almost as frightful as the object which he had +in view. He wore a cap made of the unshorn front of a buffalo, with +the ears and horns still attached to it, and which hanging loosely +about his head, gave to him a most hideous aspect. On entering the +room, this infernal monster, aimed a blow with his tomahawk at a Miss +Reece, which alighting on her head, wounded her severely. The mother +of this girl, seeing the uplifted arm about to descend on her +daughter, seized the monster by the horns; but his false head coming +readily off, she did not succeed in changing the direction of the +weapon. The father then caught hold of him; but far inferior in +strength and agility, he was soon thrown on the floor, and must have +been killed, but for the timely interference of Cunningham. Having +[175] succeeded in ridding the room of one Indian, he wheeled, and +sunk a tomahawk into the head of the other. + +During all this time the door was kept by the women, tho' not without +great exertion. The Indians from without endeavored several times to +force it open and gain admittance; and would at one time have +succeeded, but that, as it was yielding to their effort to open it, +the Indian, who had been wounded by Cunningham and his wife, squeezing +out at the aperture which had been made, caused a momentary relaxation +of the exertions of those without, and enabled the women again to +close it, and prevent the entrance of others.--These were not however, +unemployed. They were engaged in securing such of the children in the +yard, as were capable of being carried away as prisoners, and in +killing and scalping the others; and when they had effected this, +despairing of being able to do farther mischief, they retreated to +their towns. + +Of the whites in the house, one only was killed and four were wounded; +and seven or eight children in the yard, were killed or taken +prisoners. One Indian was killed, and two badly wounded. Had Reece +engaged sooner in the conflict, the other two who had entered the +house, would no doubt have been likewise killed; but being a quaker, +he looked on, without participating in the conflict, until his +daughter was wounded. Having then to contend singly, with superior +prowess, he was indebted for the preservation of his life, to the +assistance of those whom he refused to aid in pressing need. + +On the eleventh of April, some Indians visited the house of Wm. +Morgan, at the Dunkard bottom of Cheat river. They there killed a +young man by the name of Brain, Mrs. Morgan, (the mother of +William) and her grand daughter, and Mrs. Dillon and her two +children; and took Mrs. Morgan (the wife) and her child prisoners. +When, on their way home, they came near to Pricket's fort, they bound +Mrs. Morgan to a bush, and went in quest of a horse for her to +ride, leaving her child with her. She succeeded in untying with +her teeth, the bands which confined her, and wandered the balance of +that day and part of the next before she came in sight of the fort. +Here she was kindly treated and in a few days sent home. Some men +going out from Pricket's fort some short time after, found at the +spot where Mrs. Morgan had [176] been left by the Indians, a fine +mare stabbed to the heart.--Exasperated at the escape of Mrs. +Morgan, they had no doubt vented their rage on the animal which they +had destined to bear her weight. + +In the last of April, a party of about twenty Indians came to the +neighborhoods of Hacker's creek and the West Fork. At this time the +inhabitants of those neighborhoods had removed to West's fort, on the +creek, and to Richards' fort on the river; and leaving the women and +children in them during the day, under the protection of a few men, +the others were in the habit of performing the usual labors of their +farms in companies, so as to preserve them from attacks of the +Indians. A company of men, being thus engaged, the first week of May, +in a field, now owned by Minter Bailey, on Hacker's creek, and being a +good deal dispersed in various occupations, some fencing, others +clearing, and a few ploughing, they were unexpectedly fired upon by +the Indians, and Thomas Hughes and Jonathan Lowther shot down: the +others being incautiously without arms fled for safety. Two of the +company, having the Indians rather between them and West's fort, ran +directly to Richards', as well for their own security as to give the +alarm there. But they had been already apprized that the enemy was at +hand. Isaac Washburn, who had been to mill on Hacker's creek the day +before, on his return to Richards' fort and near to where Clement's +mill now stands, was shot from his horse, tomahawked and scalped. The +finding of his body, thus cruelly mangled, had given them the alarm, +and they were already on their guard, before the two men from Hacker's +creek arrived with the intelligence of what had been done there. The +Indians then left the neighborhood without effecting more havoc; and +the whites were too weak to go in pursuit, and molest them. + +The determination of the Shawanees to revenge the death of their +Sachem, had hitherto been productive of no very serious consequences. +A while after his murder, a small band of them made their appearance +near the fort at Point Pleasant; and Lieutenant Moore was dispatched +from the garrison, with some men, to drive them off. Upon his advance, +they commenced retreating; and the officer commanding the detachment, +fearing they would escape, ordered a quick pursuit. He did not proceed +far before he fell into an ambuscade. He and three of his men were +killed at the first [177] fire;--the rest of the party saved +themselves by a precipitate flight to the fort. + +In the May following this transaction, a few Indians again came in +sight of the fort. But as the garrison had been very much reduced by +the removal of Captain Arbuckle's company, and the experience of the +last season had taught them prudence, Captain McKee forbore to detach +any of his men in pursuit of them. Disappointed, in their expectations +of enticing others to destruction, as they had Lieutenant Moore in the +winter, the Indians suddenly rose from their covert, and presented an +unbroken line, extending from the Ohio to the Kanawha river in front +of the fort. A demand for the surrender of the garrison, was then +made; and Captain McKee asked 'till the next morning to consider of +it. In the course of the night, the men were busily employed in +bringing water from the river, expecting that the Indians would +continue before the fort for some time. + +In the morning, Captain McKee sent his answer by the grenadier squaw, +(sister to Cornstalk, and who, notwithstanding the murder of her +brother and nephew, was still attached to the whites, and was +remaining at the fort in the capacity of interpreter)[4] that he could +not comply with their demand.--The Indians immediately began the +attack, and for one week kept the garrison closely besieged. Finding +however, that they made no impression on the fort, they collected the +cattle about it and instead of returning towards their own country +with the plunder, proceeded up the Kanawha river towards the +Greenbrier settlement. + +Believing their object to be the destruction of that settlement, and +knowing from their great force that they would certainly accomplish +it, if the inhabitants were unadvised of their approach, Captain McKee +despatched two men to Col. Andrew Donnelly's, (then the frontier +house,) with the intelligence. These men soon came in view of the +Indians; but finding that they were advancing in detached groups, and +dispersed in hunting parties, through the woods, they despaired of +being able to pass them, and returned to the fort. Captain McKee then +made an appeal to the chivalry of the garrison, and asked, "who would +risk his life to save the people of Greenbrier." John Pryor and Philip +Hammond, at once stepped forward, and replied "WE WILL." They were +then habited after the Indian manner, and painted in Indian style by +the Grenadier Squaw, and departed on their hazardous, but noble and +generous undertaking. Travelling, night and day, with great rapidity, +they [178] passed the Indians at Meadow river, and arrived, about +sunset of that day at Donnelly's fort, twenty miles farther on. + +As soon as the intelligence of the approach of the Indians, was +communicated by these men, Col. Donnelly had the neighbors all advised +of it; and in the course of the night, they collected at his house. He +also dispatched a messenger to Capt. John Stuart, to acquaint him with +the fact; and made every preparation to resist attack and ensure their +safety, of which his situation admitted. Pryor and Hammond told them +how, by the precaution of Captain McKee, the garrison at Point +Pleasant had been saved from suffering by the want of water; and +advised them to lay in a plentiful supply, of that necessary article. +A hogshead was accordingly filled and rolled behind the door of the +kitchen, which adjoined the dwelling house. + +Early next morning, John Pritchet (a servant to Col. Donnelly) went +out for some firewood, and while thus engaged, was fired at and +killed. The Indians then ran into the yard, and endeavored to force +open the kitchen door; but Hammond and Dick Pointer (a negro belonging +to Col. Donnelly) who were the only persons within, aided by the +hogshead of water, prevented their accomplishing this object. They +next proceeded to cut it in pieces, with their tomahawks. Hammond +seeing that they would soon succeed in this way, with the assistance +of Dick, rolled the hogshead to one side, and letting the door +suddenly fly open, killed the Indian at the threshold, and the others +who were near gave way. Dick then fired among them, with a musket +heavily charged with swan shot, and no doubt with effect, as the yard +was crowded with the enemy; a war club with a swan shot in it, was +afterwards picked up near the door. + +The men in the house, who were asleep at the commencement of the +attack, being awakened at the firing of Hammond and Dick, now opened a +galling fire upon the Indians. Being chiefly up stairs they were +enabled to do greater execution, and fired with such effect that, +about one o'clock, the enemy retired a small distance from the house. +Before they retired however, some of them succeeded in getting under +the floor, when they were aided by the whites below in raising some of +the puncheons of which it was made. It was to their advantage to do +this; and well did they profit by it. Several of the Indians were +killed in this attempt to gain admittance, while only one of the +whites received a wound, which but slightly injured his hand. + +When intelligence was conveyed to Capt. Stuart of the approach of so +large a body of savages, Col. Samuel Lewis was with him; and they both +exerted themselves to save the settlement from destruction, by +collecting the inhabitants at a fort where Lewisburg now stands. +Having succeeded in this, they sent two men to Donnelly's to learn +whether the Indians had advanced that far. As they approached, the +firing became distinctly audible, and they returned [179] with the +tidings. Capt. Stuart and Col. Lewis proposed marching to the relief +of Donnelly's fort, with as many men as were willing to accompany +them; and in a brief space of time, commenced their march at the head +of sixty-six men. Pursuing the most direct route without regarding the +road, they approached the house on the back side; and thus escaped an +ambuscade of Indians placed near the road to intercept and cut off any +assistance which might be sent from the upper settlements. + +Adjoining the yard, there was a field of well grown rye, into which +the relief from Lewisburg, entered about two o'clock; but as the +Indians had withdrawn to a distance from the house, there was no +firing heard. They soon however, discovered the savages in the field, +looking intently towards Donnoly's; and it was resolved to pass them. +Capt. Stuart and Charles Gatliff fired at them, and the whole party +rushed forward into the yard, amid a heavy discharge of balls from the +savage forces. The people in the fort hearing the firing in the rear +of the house, soon presented themselves at the port holes, to resist, +what they supposed, was a fresh attack on them; but quickly +discovering the real cause, they opened the gates, and all the party +led on by Stuart and Lewis, safely entered. + +The Indians then resumed the attack, and maintained a constant fire at +the house, until near dark, when one of them approached, and in broken +English called out, "we want peace." He was told to come in and he +should have it; but he declined the invitation to enter, and they all +retreated, dragging off those of their slain, who lay not too near +the fort. + +Of the whites, four only were killed by the enemy. Pritchet, before +the attack commenced,--James Burns and Alexander Ochiltree, as they +were coming to the house early in the morning,--and James Graham while +in the fort. It was impossible to ascertain the entire loss of the +Indians. Seventeen lay dead in the yard; and they were known to carry +off others of their slain. Perhaps the disparity of the killed, +equalled, if it did not exceed the disparity of the number engaged. +There were twenty-one men at Donnoly's fort, before the arrival of the +reinforcement under Stuart and Lewis; and the brunt of the battle was +over before they came. The Indian force exceeded two hundred men. + +It was believed, that the invasion of the Greenbrier country had been +projected, some time before it actually was made. During the preceding +season, an Indian calling himself John Hollis, had been very much +through the settlement; and was known to take particular notice of the +different forts, which he entered under the garb of friendship. He was +with the Indians in the attack on Donnoly's fort; and was recognized +as one of those who were left dead in the yard. + +On the morning after the Indians departed, Capt. Hamilton went in +pursuit of them with seventy men; but following two days, without +[180] perceiving that he gained on them, he abandoned the chase and +returned. + +About the middle of June, three women went out from West's fort, to +gather greens in a field adjoining; and while thus engaged were +attacked by four Indians, lying in wait. One gun only was fired, and +the ball from it, passed through the bonnet of Mrs. Hackor, who +screamed aloud and ran with the others towards the fort. An Indian, +having in his hand a long staff, with a spear in one end, pursuing +closely after them, thrust it at Mrs. Freeman with such violence that, +entering her back just below the shoulder, it came out at her left +breast. With his tomahawk, he cleft the upper part of her head, and +carried it off to save the scalp. + +The screams of the women alarmed the men in the fort; and seizing +their guns, they ran out, just as Mrs. Freeman fell. Several guns were +fired at the Indian while he was getting her scalp, but with no +effect. They served however, to warn the men who went out, that danger +was at hand; and they quickly came in. + +Jesse Hughs[5] and John Schoolcraft (who were out) in making their way +to the fort, came very near two Indians standing by the fence looking +towards the men at West's, so intently, that they did not perceive any +one near them. They however, were observed by Hughs and Schoolcraft, +who, avoiding them, made their way in, safely, Hughs immediately took +up his gun, and learning the fate of Mrs. Freeman, went with some +others to bring in the corpse. While there, he proposed to go and shew +them, how near he had approached the Indians after the alarm had been +given, before he saw them. Charles and Alexander West, Chas. Hughs, +James Brown and John Steeth, went with him. Before they had arrived at +the place, one of the Indians was heard to howl like a wolf; and the +men with Hughs moved on in the direction from which the sound +proceeded. Supposing that they were then near the spot, Jesse Hughs +howled in like manner, and being instantly answered, they ran to a +point of the hill and looking over it, saw two Indians coming towards +them. Hughs fired and one of them fell. The other took to flight. +Being pursued by the whites, he sought shelter in a thicket of brush; +and while they were proceeding to intercept him at his coming out, he +returned by the way he had entered, and made his escape. The wounded +Indian likewise got off. When the whites were in pursuit of the one +who took to flight, they passed near to him who had fallen, and one of +the men was for stopping and finishing him; but Hughs called to him, +"he is safe--let us have the other," and they all pressed forward. On +their return, however, he was gone; and although his free bleeding +enabled them to pursue his track readily for a while, yet a heavy +shower of rain soon falling, all trace of him was quickly lost and +could not be afterwards regained. + +On the 16th of June as Capt. James Booth and Nathaniel Cochran, were +at work in a field on Booth's creek, they were fired at by [181] the +Indians. Booth fell, but Cochran, being very slightly wounded, took to +flight. He was however, overtaken, and carried into captivity to their +towns. From thence he was taken to Detroit, where he remained some +time; and endeavoring to escape from that place, unfortunately took a +path which led him immediately to the Maumee old towns. Here he was +detained a while, & then sent back to Detroit, where he was exchanged, +and from whence he made his way home, after having had to endure much +suffering and many hardships. The loss of Booth was severely felt by +the inhabitants in that settlement. He was not only an active and +enterprising man, but was endowed with superior talents, and a better +education than most of those who had settled in the country; and on +these accounts was very much missed. + +In a few days after this transaction, Benjamin Shinn, Wm. Grundy, and +Benjamin Washburn, returning from a lick on the head of Booth's creek, +were fired on by the Indians, when near to Baxter's run. Washburn and +Shinn escaped unhurt, but Grundy was killed: he was brother to Felix +Grundy of Tennessee, whose father was then residing at Simpson's +creek, at a farm afterwards owned by Colonel Benjamin Wilson, senior. + +This party of Indians continued for some days, to prowl about the +neighborhood, seeking opportunities of committing murder on the +inhabitants; fortunately however, with but little success. James +Owens, a youth of sixteen years of age, was the only one whom they +succeeded in killing after the murder of Grundy. Going from Powers' +fort on Simpson's creek, to Booth's creek, his saddle girth gave way, +and while he was down mending it, a ball was discharged at him, which +killed both him and the horse. + +Seeing that the whites, in that neighborhood, had all retired to the +fort; and being too weak, openly to attack it, they crossed over to +Bartlett's run, and came to the house of Gilbert Hustead, who was then +alone, and engaged in fixing his gun lock. Hearing a noise in the +yard, for which he was unable to account, he slipped to the door, to +ascertain from whence it proceeded. The Indians were immediately round +it, and there was no chance for his escape. Walking out with an air of +the utmost pleasantry, he held forth his hand to the one nearest him, +and asked them all to walk in. While in the house he affected great +cheerfulness, and by his tale [182] won their confidence and +friendship. He told them that he was a King's man and unwilling to +live among the rebels; for which reason, when others retired into the +fort, he preferred staying at his own house, anxiously hoping for the +arrival of some of the British Indians, to afford him an opportunity +of getting among English friends. Learning upon enquiry, that they +would be glad to have something to eat, he asked one of them to shoot +a fat hog which was in the yard, that they might regale on it that +night, and have some on which to subsist while travelling to their +towns. In the morning, still farther to maintain the deception he was +practising, he broke his furniture to pieces, saying "the rebels shall +never have the good of you." He then accompanied them to their towns, +acting in the same, apparently, contented and cheerful manner, 'till +his sincerity was believed by all, and he obtained leave to return for +his family. He succeeded in making his way home, where he remained, +sore at the destruction of his property, but exulting in the success +of his artifice. + +While this party of Indians were thus engaged, on Booth's creek and in +the circumjacent country, a more numerous body had invaded the +settlements lower down, and were employed in the work of destruction +there. They penetrated to Coburn's creek unperceived, and were making +their way (as was generally supposed) to a fort not far from +Morgantown, when they fell in with a party of whites, returning from +the labors of the cornfield, and then about a mile from Coburn's fort. +The Indians had placed themselves on each side of the road leading to +the fort, and from their covert fired on the whites, before they were +aware of danger. John Woodfin being on horseback, had his thigh broken +by a ball; which killed his horse and enabled them to catch him +easily.--Jacob Miller was shot through the abdomen, and soon +overtaken, tomahawked and scalped.--The others escaped to the fort. + +Woodfin was afterwards found on a considerable eminence overlooking the +fort, tomahawked and scalped. The Indians had, most probably, taken him +there, that he might point out to them the least impregnable part of +the fortress, and in other respects give them such information, as +would tend to ensure success to their meditated attack on it; but when +they heard its strength and the force with which it was garrisoned, +despairing of being able to reduce it, in a fit of disappointed +fury, they murdered him on the spot. + +[183] They next made their appearance on Dunkard creek, and near to +Stradler's fort. Here, as on Coburn's creek, they lay in ambush on the +road side, awaiting the return of the men who were engaged at work, in +some of the neighboring fields. Towards evening the men came on, +carrying with them some hogs which they had killed for the use of the +fort people, and on approaching where the Indians lay concealed, were +fired on and several fell. Those who escaped injury from the first +fire, returned the shot, and a severe action ensued. But so many of +the whites had been killed before the savages exposed themselves to +view, that the remainder were unable long to sustain the unequal +contest. Overpowered by numbers, the few, who were still unhurt, fled +precipitately to the fort, leaving eighteen of their companions dead +in the road. These were scalped and mangled by the Indians in a most +shocking manner, and lay some time, before the men in the fort, +assured of the departure of the enemy, went out and buried them. + +Weakened by the severe loss sustained in this bloody skirmish, had the +Indians pushed forward to attack the fort, in all human probability, +it would have fallen before them. There were at that day very few +settlements which could have maintained possession of a garrison for +any length of time, after having suffered so great a diminution of +the number of their inhabitants, against the onsets of one hundred +savages, exercising their wonted energy: and still less would they be +able to leave their strong holds, and cope with such superior force, +in open battle. Nor were the settlements, as yet, sufficiently +contiguous to each other, to admit of their acting in concert, and +combining their strength, to operate effectively against their +invaders. When alarmed by the approach of the foe, all that they could +generally do, was, retire to a fort, and endeavor to defend it from +assault. If the savages, coming in numbers, succeeded in committing +any outrage, it usually went unpunished. Sensible of their want of +strength, the inhabitants rarely ventured in pursuit, to harrass or +molest the retiring foe. When, however, they would hazard to hang on +their retreat, the many precautions which they were compelled to +exercise, to prevent falling into ambuscades and to escape the +entangling artifices of their wily enemies, frequently rendered their +enterprises abortive, and their exertions inefficient. + +[184] The frequent visits paid by the Indians to the country on the +West Fork, and the mischief which they would effect at these times, +led several of the inhabitants to resolve on leaving a place so full +of dangers, as soon as they could make the necessary preparations. A +family of Washburns particularly, having several times very narrowly +escaped destruction, commenced making arrangements and fitting up for +their departure. But while two of them were engaged in procuring pine +knots, from which to make wax for shoemaking, they were discovered, +and shot at by the Indians. Stephen fell dead, and James was taken +prisoner and carried to their towns.--He was there forced to undergo +repeated and intense suffering before death closed the scene of his +miseries. + +According to the account given by Nathaniel Cochran on his return from +captivity, Washburn was most severely beaten, on the first evening of +his arrival at their village, while running the gauntlet; and although +he succeeded in getting into the council house, where Cochran was, yet +he was so disfigured and mutilated, that he could not be recognised by +his old acquaintance; and so stunned and stupified, that he remained +nearly all night in a state of insensibility. Being somewhat revived +in the morning, he walked to where Cochran sat by the fire, and being +asked if he were not James Washburn, replied with a smile--as if a +period had been put to his sufferings by the sympathetic tone in which +the question was proposed--that he was. The gleam of hope which +flashed over his countenance, was transient and momentary. In a few +minutes he was again led forth, that the barbarities which had been +suspended by the interposition of night, might be revived; and he made +to endure a repetition of their cruelties. He was now feeble and too +much exhausted to save himself from the clubs and sticks, even of the +aged of both sexes. The old men and the old women, who followed him, +had strength and activity enough to keep pace with his fleetest +progress, and inflict on him their severest blows. Frequently he was +beaten to the ground, and as frequently, as if invigorated by the +extremity of anguish, he rose to his feet. Hobbling before his +tormentors, with no hope but in death, an old savage passed a knife +across his ham, which cutting the tendons, disabled him from +proceeding farther. Still they repeated their unmerciful blows with +all their energy. He was next scalped, though alive, and struggling to +regain his feet. [185] Even this did not operate to suppress their +cruelty. They continued to beat him, until in the height of suffering +he again exhibited symptoms of life and exerted himself to move. His +head was then severed from his shoulders, attached to a pole, and +placed in the most public situation in the village. + +After the attack on the Washburns, there were but two other outrages +committed in the upper country during that season. The cessation on +the part of the savages, of hostile incursions, induced an abandonment +of the forts, and the people returned to their several homes, and +respective occupations. But aggression was only suspended for a time. +In October, two Indians appeared near the house of Conrad Richards, +and finding in the yard a little girl at play, with an infant in her +arms, they scalped her and rushed to the door. For some time they +endeavored to force it open; but it was so securely fastened within, +that Richards was at liberty to use his gun for its defence. A +fortunate aim wounded one of the assailants severely, and the other +retreated, helping off his companion. The girl who had been scalped in +the yard, as soon as she observed the Indians going away, ran, with +the infant still in her arms and uninjured, and entered the house--a +spectacle of most heart-rending wretchedness. + +Soon after, David Edwards, returning from Winchester with salt, was +shot near the Valley river, tomahawked and scalped; in which situation +he lay for some time before he was discovered. He was the last person +who fell a victim to savage vengeance, in North Western Virginia in +the year 1778. + +The repeated irruptions of the Indians during the summer of the +year;[6] and the frequent murders and great devastation committed by +them, induced Government to undertake two expeditions into the Indian +country. One thousand men were placed under the command of General +McIntosh, some time in the fall, and he received orders to proceed +forthwith against the Sandusky towns. Between two and three hundred +soldiers were likewise placed under Colonel Clarke, to operate against +the Canadian settlements in Illinois. It was well known that the +Governor of those settlements was an indefatigable agent of British +cruelty, stimulating the savages to aggression, and paying them well +for scalps, torn alike from the heads of the aged matron and the +helpless infant.[7] [186] The settlements in Kentucky, were constantly +the theatre of outrage and murder; and to preserve these from entire +destruction, it was necessary that a blow should be aimed, at the +hives from which the savages swarmed, and if possible, that those +holds, into which they would retire to reap the rewards of their +cruelties and receive the price of blood, should be utterly broken up. +The success of those two expeditions could not fail to check savage +encroachments, and give quiet and security to the frontier; and +although the armies destined to achieve it, were not altogether +adequate to the service required, yet the known activity and +enterprise of the commanding officers, joined to their prudence and +good conduct, and the bravery and indefatigable perseverance and +hardiness of the troops, gave promise of a happy result. + +The success of the expedition under Colonel Clarke,[8] fully realized +the most sanguine expectations of those, who were acquainted with the +adventurous and enterprising spirit of its commander; and was +productive of essential benefit to the state, as well as of +comparative security to the border settlements. Descending the Ohio +river, from Fort Pitt to the Falls, he there landed his troops, and +concealing his boats, marched directly towards Kaskaskias. Their +provisions, which were carried on their backs, were soon exhausted; +and for two days, the army subsisted entirely on roots. This was the +only circumstance, which occurred during their march, calculated to +damp the ardor of the troops. No band of savage warriors, had +interposed to check their progress,--no straggling Indian, had +discovered their approach. These fortunate omens inspired them with +flattering hopes; and they pushed forward, with augmented energy. +Arriving before Kaskaskias in the night, they entered it, unseen and +unheard, and took possession of the town and fort, without opposition. +Relying on the thick and wide extended forests which interposed +between them and the American settlements, the inhabitants had been +lulled to repose by fancied security, and were unconscious of danger +until it had become too late to be avoided. Not a single individual +escaped, to spread the alarm in the adjacent settlements. + +But there still remained other towns, higher up the Mississippi, +which, if unconquered, would still afford shelter to the savages and +furnish them the means of annoyance and of ravage. Against these, +Colonel Clarke immediately directed [187] operations. Mounting a +detachment of men, on horses found at Kaskaskias, and sending them +forward, three other towns were reduced with equal success. The +obnoxious governor at Kaskaskias was sent directly to Virginia, with +the written instructions which he had received from Quebec, Detroit +and Michillimacinac, for exciting the Indians to war, and remunerating +them for the blood which they might shed. + +Although the country within which Colonel Clarke had so successfully +carried on operations, was considered to be within the limits of +Virginia; yet as it was occupied by savages and those who were but +little, if any, less hostile than they; and being so remote from her +settlements, Virginia had as yet exercised no act of jurisdiction over +it. But as it now belonged to her, by conquest as well as charter, the +General Assembly created it into a distinct county, to be called +Illinois; a temporary government was likewise established in it, and a +regiment of infantry and a troop of cavalry, ordered to be enlisted +for its defence, and placed under the command of its intrepid and +enterprising conqueror. + +The expedition directed under General McIntosh, was not equally +successful. The difficulty of raising, equipping, and organizing, so +large a force as was placed under his command, at so great a distance +from the populous district of the state, caused the consumption of so +much time, that the season for carrying on effective operations had +well nigh passed before he was prepared to commence his march. Anxious +however, to achieve as much as could then be effected for the security +of the frontier, he penetrated the enemy's country, as far as +Tuscarawa, when it was resolved to build and garrison a fort, and +delay farther operations 'till the ensuing spring. Fort Laurens was +accordingly erected on the banks of the Tuscarawa, a garrison of one +hundred and fifty men, under the command of Colonel John Gibson, left +for its preservation, and the main army returned to Fort Pitt. + +----- + [1] Lachlan McIntosh was born near Inverness, Scotland, + March 17, 1725. With his father, and 100 others of the Clan + McIntosh, he emigrated to Georgia in 1736, in the train of + Oglethorpe. The party founded New Inverness, in McIntosh + County. Lachlan entered the Colonial army at the opening of + the Revolution, and rose to be brigadier-general. In a duel + with Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of + Independence, he killed the latter. General McIntosh was at the + siege of Savannah in 1779, was a prisoner of war in 1780, a + member congress in 1784, and in 1785 a commissioner to treat + with the Southern Indians. He died at Savannah, February 20, + 1806.--R. G. T. + + [2] The distance below Pittsburg is 26 miles. See p. + 45, _note_, for notice of Shingiss Old Town, at this + point.--R. G. T. + + [3] The distance, according to the shore meanderings of the + U. S. Corps of Engineers, is 263 miles; the mileage of the + channel would be somewhat greater.--R. G. T. + + [4] See p. 176, _note_, for notice of Grenadier Squaw's + Town, near Chillicothe.--R. G. T. + + [5] See p. 137, _note_, for notice of Jesse Hughes; also, + Peyton's _History of Augusta County_, p. 353.--R. G. T. + + [6] These war parties largely emanated from the Detroit + region. Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, the British commander at + Detroit, writing to his superior, General Haldimand, September + 16, 1778, mentions incidentally that he sent out small parties + of Miamis and Chippewas, August 5, and September 5 and 9; these + were but three of dozens of such forays which he incited + against the Virginia and Pennsylvania borders, during that + year.--R. G. T. + + [7] This reference is to Lieut.-Governor Hamilton, whom + George Rogers Clark called "the hair-buying general."--R. G. T. + + [8] Gen. George Rogers Clark was born November 19, 1752, + near Monticello, Albemarle County, Va. At the age of twenty he + was practicing his profession as a surveyor on the upper Ohio, + and took up a claim at the mouth of Fish Creek. In 1774, he + participated as a captain in Dunmore's campaign against the + Shawnees and Mingoes. Early in 1775, Clark went as a surveyor + to Kentucky, where he acquired marked popularity, and in 1776 + was elected as "a delegate to the Virginia convention, to urge + upon the state authorities the claims of the colony for + government and defense." He secured the formation of the new + county of Kentucky, and a supply of ammunition for the defense + of the border. In 1777, Clark, now a major of militia, repelled + the Indian attacks on Harrodsburg, and proceeded on foot to + Virginia to lay before the state authorities his plan for + capturing the Illinois country and repressing the Indian forays + from that quarter. His scheme being approved, he was made a + lieutenant-colonel, and at once set out to raise for the + expedition a small force of hardy frontiersmen. He rendezvoused + and drilled his little army of a hundred and fifty on Corn + Island in the Ohio river, at the head of the Falls (or rapids), + opposite the present city of Louisville. June 24, 1778, he + started in boats down the Ohio, and landed near the deserted + Fort Massac, which was on the north bank, ten miles below the + mouth of the Tennessee; thence marching across country, much + pressed for food, he reached Kaskaskia in six days. The + inhabitants there were surprised and coerced during the night + of July 4-5, without the firing of a gun. Cahokia and Vincennes + soon quietly succumbed to his influence. Lieut.-Governor + Hamilton, on hearing of this loss of the Illinois country and + the partial defection to the Americans of the tribes west and + southwest of Lake Michigan, at once set out to organize an + army, chiefly composed of Indians, to retake the Illinois. He + proceeded via the Wabash and Maumee, with eight hundred men, + and recaptured Vincennes, December 17. + + The intelligence of this movement of Hamilton was not long in + reaching Clark at Kaskaskia, and he at once set out for + Vincennes to recapture it. The march thither was one of the + most heroic in American military annals. Hamilton surrendered + to him, February 25, and was forwarded to Virginia as a + prisoner. Early in 1780 he established Fort Jefferson, just + below the mouth of the Ohio, and later in the season aided in + repelling a body of British and Indians who had come to regain + the Illinois country and attack the Spaniards at St. Louis. + Leaving Colonel Montgomery to pursue the enemy up the + Mississippi, Clark, with what force could be spared, hastened + to Kentucky, where he quickly raised a thousand men, and + invaded and laid waste the Shawnee villages, in retaliation for + Capt. Henry Bird's invasion (see p. 262, _note_). + + Later, he was engaged in some minor forays, and was appointed a + brigadier-general; but his favorite scheme of an expedition to + conquer Detroit miscarried, owing to the poverty of Virginia + and the activity of the enemy under Brant, McKee, Girty, and + other border leaders. In 1782 Clark led a thousand men in a + successful campaign against the Indians on the Great Miami. + This was his last important service, his subsequent expeditions + proving failures. His later years were spent in poverty and + seclusion, and his social habits became none of the best. In + 1793 he imprudently accepted a commission as major-general from + Genet, the French diplomatic agent, and essayed to raise a + French revolutionary legion in the West to overcome the Spanish + settlements on the Mississippi; upon Genet's recall, Clark's + commission was canceled. Later, he sought to secure employment + under the Spanish (see p. 130, _note_.) He died February 18, + 1818, at Locust Grove, near Louisville, and lies buried at Cave + Hill, in the Louisville suburbs. In his article on Clark, in + Appleton's _Cyclop. of Amer. Biog._, i., pp. 626, 627, Dr. + Draper says: "Clark was tall and commanding, brave and full of + resources, possessing the affection and confidence of his men. + All that rich domain northwest of the Ohio was secured to the + republic, at the peace of 1783, in consequence of his prowess." + Cf. William F. Poole, in Winsor's _Narr. and Crit. Hist. + Amer._, vi., pp. 710-742. While due credit should be given to + Clark for his daring and successful undertaking, we must not + forget that England's jealousy of Spain, and shrewd diplomacy + on the part of America's peace plenipotentiaries, were factors + even more potent in winning the Northwest for the United + States.--R. G. T. + + + + +[188] CHAPTER XI. + + +No sooner had the adventurous advance of Col. Clarke, and the success +with which it was crowned, become known at Detroit, than preparations +were made to expel him from Kaskaskias, or capture his little army, +and thus rid the country of this obstacle to the unmolested passage of +the savages, to the frontier of Virginia. An army of six hundred men, +principally Indians, led on by Hamilton, the governor of Detroit--a +man at once bold and active, yet blood-thirsty and cruel, and well +known as a chief instigator of the savages to war, and as a stay and +prop of tories--left Detroit and proceeded towards the theatre of +Clarke's renown. With this force, he calculated on being able to +effect his purpose as regarded Col. Clarke and his little band of bold +and daring adventurers, and to spread devastation and death along the +frontier, from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. Arriving at Fort St. +Vincent,[1] on the Wabash, about the middle of December, and deeming +it too late to advance towards Kaskaskias, he repaired its battlements +and converting it into a repository for warlike implements of every +description, he detached the greater part of his force in marauding +parties to operate against the settlements on the Ohio river, +reserving for the security of his head quarters only one company of +men. + +While these alarming preparations were being made, Col. Clarke was +actively engaged in acquiring an ascendency over the neighboring +tribes of Indians; and in endeavors to attach them to the cause of the +United States, from principle or fear. The aid which had been voted +him, fell far short of [189] the contemplated assistance, and had not +yet arrived; but his genius and activity amply compensated for the +deficiency. In the heart of an Indian country,--remote from every +succour,--and in the vicinity of powerful and hostile tribes, he yet +not only maintained his conquest and averted injury, but carried +terror and dismay into the very strongholds of the savages. +Intelligence of the movement of Hamilton at length reached him, and +hostile parties of Indians soon hovered around Kaskaskias. Undismayed +by the tempest which was gathering over him, he concentrated his +forces, withdrawing garrisons from the other towns to strengthen this, +and made every preparation to enable him to endure a siege, and +withstand the assault of a powerful army. The idea of abandoning the +country never occurred to him. He did not despair of being able to +maintain his position, and he and his gallant band resolved that they +would do it, or perish in the attempt. In this fearful juncture, all +was activity and industry, when the arrival of a Spanish merchant who +had been at St. Vincents brought information of the reduced state of +Hamilton's army.[2] Convinced that a crisis had now arrived, Clarke +resolved by one bold stroke to change the aspect of affairs, and +instead of farther preparing to resist attack, himself to become the +assailant. For this purpose, a galley, mounting two four pounders and +four swivels, and having on board a company of men, was despatched, +with orders to the commanding officer, to ascend the Wabash and +station himself a few miles below St. Vincents, allowing no one to +pass him until the arrival of the main army. Garrisoning Kaskaskias, +with militia, and embodying the inhabitants for the protection of the +other towns, Colonel Clarke set forward on his march across the +country, on the 7th of February, 1779, at the head of one hundred and +thirty brave and intrepid men.[3] + +Such was the inclemency of the weather, and so many and great the +obstacles which interposed, that in despite of the ardor, perseverance +and energy of the troops, they could yet advance very slowly towards +the point of destination. They were five days in crossing the drowned +lands of the Wabash, and for five miles had to wade through water and +ice, frequently up to their breasts. They overcame every difficulty +and arrived before St. Vincents on the evening of the twenty-third of +February and almost simultaneously with the galley. + +Thus far fortune seemed to favor the expedition. The army had not been +discovered on its march, and the garrison was totally ignorant of its +approach. Much however yet remained to be done. They had arrived +within view of the enemy, but the battle was yet to be fought. + +Sensible of the advantage to be derived from commencing the attack, +while the enemy was ignorant of his approach, at seven o'clock he +marched to the assault. The inhabitants instead of offering +opposition, received the troops with gladness, and surrendering [190] +the town, engaged with alacrity in the siege of the fort. For eighteen +hours the garrison resisted the repeated onsets of the assailants; but +during the night succeeding the commencement of the attack, Colonel +Clarke had an entrenchment thrown up within rifle shot of the enemy's +strongest battery, and in the morning, from this position, poured upon +it such a well-directed shower of balls, that in fifteen minutes he +silenced two pieces of cannon without sustaining any loss whatever. +The advantages thus gained, induced Hamilton to demand a parley, +intimating an intention of surrendering. The terms were soon arranged. +The governor and garrison became prisoners of war, and a considerable +quantity of military stores fell into the hands of the conqueror. [4] + +During the continuance of the siege, Colonel Clarke received +information that a party of Indians which had been detached by +Hamilton to harrass the frontiers, was returning and then near to St. +Vincents with two prisoners. He immediately ordered a detachment of +his men to march out and give them battle--nine Indians were taken and +the two prisoners released. + +History records but few enterprises, which display as strikingly the +prominent features of military greatness, and evince so much of the +genius and daring which are necessary to their successful termination, +as this; while the motives which led to its delineation, were such, as +must excite universal admiration. Bold and daring, yet generous and +disinterested, Colonel Clarke sought not his individual advancement in +the projection or execution of this campaign. It was not to gratify +the longings of ambition, or an inordinate love of fame, that prompted +him to penetrate the Indian country to the Kaskaskias, nor that +tempted him forth from thence, to war with the garrison at St. +Vincent. He was not one of + + "Those worshippers of glory, + Who bathe the earth in blood, + And launch proud names for an after age, + Upon the crimson flood." + +The distress and sufferings of the frontier of Virginia required that +a period should speedily be put to them, to preserve the country from +ravage and its inhabitants from butchery. Clarke had seen and +participated in that distress and those sufferings, and put in +requisition every faculty of his mind and all the energies of his +body, to alleviate and prevent them. Providence smiled on his +undertaking, and his exertions were crowned with complete success. The +plan which had been concerted for the ensuing campaign against the +frontier of Virginia, threatening to involve the whole country west of +the Alleghany mountains in destruction and death, was thus happily +frustrated; and he, who had been mainly instrumental in impelling the +savages to war, and in permitting, if not instigating them to the +commission of the most atrocious barbarities, was a prisoner in the +hands of the enemy. So justly obnoxious had he [191] rendered himself +by his conduct, that a more than ordinary rigor was practised upon +him; and by the orders of the governor of Virginia, the governor of +Detroit was manacled with irons, and confined in jail.[5] + +Far different was the termination of the enterprise entrusted to the +conduct of General McIntosh. It has been already seen that the +approach of winter forced the main army to retire to the settlements +into winter quarters, before they were able to accomplish any thing, +but the erection of Fort Laurens.[6] Colonel Gibson, the commandant of +the garrison, though a brave and enterprising officer, was so +situated, that the preservation of the fort, was all which he could +accomplish; and this was no little hazard of failure, from the very +superior force of the enemy, and the scarcity of provisions for the +subsistance of the garrison. So soon as the Indians became acquainted +with the existence of a fort so far in their country, they put in +practice those arts which enable them, so successfully to annoy their +enemies. + +Early in January, a considerable body of savages approached Fort +Laurens unperceived and before the garrison was apprised that an +Indian knew of its erection.[7] In the course of the night they +succeeded in catching the horses outside of the fort; and taking off +their bells, carried them into the woods, some distance off. They then +concealed themselves in the prairie grass, along a path leading from +the fort, and in the morning commenced rattling the bells, at the +farther extremity of the line of ambushment, so as to induce the +belief that the horses was there to be found. The stratagem succeeded. +Sixteen men were sent out to bring in the horses. Allured by the sound +of the bells, they kept the path, along which the Indians lay +concealed, until they found themselves unexpectedly in the presence of +an enemy, who opened upon them a destructive fire from front and rear. +Fourteen were killed on the spot, and the remaining two were taken +prisoners. + +On the evening of the day on which this unfortunate surprise took +place, the Indian army, consisting of eight hundred and forty-seven +warriors, painted and equipped for war, marched in single file through +a prairie near the fort and in full view of the garrison, and encamped +on an adjacent elevation on the opposite side of the river. From this +situation, frequent conversations were held by them with the whites, +in which they deprecated the longer continuance of hostilities, but +yet protested against the encroachment made upon their territory by +the whites, the erection of a fort and the garrisoning soldiers within +their country, not only unpermitted by them, but for some time before +they knew any thing of it. For these infringements on their rights, +they were determined on prosecuting the war, and continued the +investure of the fort, for six weeks. In this time they became +straitened for provisions, and aware that without a fresh supply of +them, they would be forced to abandon the siege, they sent word to the +commander of the garrison, by a Delaware [192] Indian, calling himself +John Thompson, (who, though with the whites in the fort, was permitted +by both parties to go in and out, as he choose) that they were +desirous of peace, and were willing to enter into a negotiation, if he +would send them a barrel of flour and some tobacco. Scarce as these +articles had actually become in the garrison, yet Col. Gibson complied +with their request, hoping that they might be induced to make peace, +or withdraw from the fort, and hopeless of timely succours from the +settlements. Upon the receipt of those presents, the Indians raised +the siege and marched their army off, much to the relief of the +garrison, although they did not fulfil their promise of entering into +a treaty. + +During the time the Indians remained about the fort, there was much +sickness in the garrison; and when they were believed to have retired, +the commandant detached Col. Clarke, of the Pennsylvania line,[8] with +a party of fifteen men, to escort the invalids to Fort McIntosh. They +proceeded but a small distance from the gate, where they were +attacked by some Indians, who had been left concealed near the fort, +for the purpose of effecting farther mischief. A skirmish ensued; but +overpowered by numbers and much galled by the first fire, Col. Clarke +could not maintain the conflict. With much difficulty, he and three +others reached the fort in safety: the rest of the party were all +killed. + +Col. Gibson immediately marched out at the head of the greater part of +the garrison, but the Indians had retreated as soon as they succeeded +in cutting off the detachment under Col. Clarke, and prudence forbade +to proceed in pursuit of them, as the main army was believed to be yet +in the neighborhood. The dead were however brought in, and buried with +the honors of war, in front of the fort gate. + +In a few days after this, Gen. McIntosh arrived with a considerable +body of troops and a supply of provisions for the garrison. While the +savages were continuing the siege, a friendly Indian, had been +despatched by Col. Gibson to acquaint Gen. McIntosh with the +situation at Fort Laurens, and that without the speedy arrival of a +reinforcement of men and an accession to their stock of provisions, +the garrison would have to surrender; or seek a doubtful safety, +by evacuating the fort and endeavoring to regain the Ohio river, +in the presence of an overwhelming body of the enemy. With great +promptitude the settlers flocked to the standard of Gen. McIntosh, +and loading pack horses, with abundance of provisions for the +supply of the garrison at Fort Laurens, commenced a rapid march to +their relief. Before their arrival, they had been relieved from the +most pressing danger, by the withdrawal of the Indian army; and were +only suffering from the want of flour and meat. A manifestation of +the great joy felt upon the arrival of Gen. McIntosh, had well +nigh deprived them of the benefit to be derived from the provisions +brought for them. When the relief army approached the fort, a +salute was fired by the garrison, which, alarming the pack horses, +caused them [193] to break loose and scatter the greater part of +the flour in every direction through the woods, so that it was +impossible to be again collected. + +The remains of those, who had unfortunately fallen into the ambuscade +in January, and which had lain out until then, were gathered together +and buried;[9] and a fresh detachment, under Major Vernon, being left +to garrison the fort, in the room of that which had been stationed +there during winter, Gen. McIntosh, withdrew from the country and +returned to Fort McIntosh. In the ensuing fall, Fort Laurens was +entirely evacuated; the garrison having been almost reduced to +starvation, and it being found very difficult to supply them with +provisions at so great a distance from the settlements and in the +heart of the Indian country. + +During the year 1778, Kentucky was the theatre of many outrages. In +January, a party of thirty men, among whom was Daniel Boone, repaired +to the "Lower Blue Licks" for the purpose of making salt; and on the +7th of February, while Boone was alone in the woods, on a hunt to +supply the salt makers with meat, he was encountered by a party of one +hundred and two Indians and two Canadians, and made prisoner. The +savages advanced to the Licks, and made prisoners of twenty-seven of +those engaged in making salt.[10] Their object in this incursion, was +[193] the destruction of Boonesborough; and had they continued their +march thither, there is no doubt but that place, weakened as it was by +the loss of so many of its men and not expecting an attack at that +inclement season, would have fallen into their hands; but elated with +their success, the Indians marched directly back with their prisoners +to Chillicothe. The extreme suffering of the prisoners, during this +march, inspired the savages with pity, and induced them to exercise an +unusual lenity towards their captives. In March, Boone was carried to +Detroit, where the Indians refused to liberate him, though an hundred +pounds were offered for his ransom, and from which place he +accompanied them back to Chillicothe in the latter part of April. In +the first of June, he went with them to the Scioto salt springs, and +on his return found one hundred and fifty choice warriors of the +Shawanee nation, painting, arming, and otherwise equipping themselves +to proceed again to the attack of Boonesborough. + +[194] Hitherto Boone had enjoyed as much satisfaction, as was +consistent with his situation, and more than would have been +experienced by the most of men, in captivity to the Indians; but when +he found such great preparations making for an attack on the place +which contained all that he held most dear, his love of family, his +attachment to the village reared under his superintending hand, and to +its inhabitants protected by his fostering care, determined him to +attempt an immediate escape. Early on the morning of the 16th of June, +he went forth as usual to hunt. He had secreted as much food as would +serve him for one meal, and with this scanty supply, he resolved on +finding his way home. On the 20th, having travelled a distance of one +hundred and sixty miles, crossed the Ohio and other rivers, and with +no sustenance, save what he had taken with him from Chillicothe, he +arrived at Boonesborough. The fort was quickly repaired, and every +preparation made to enable it to withstand a siege. + +In a few days after, another, of those who had been taken prisoners at +the Blue Licks, escaped, and brought intelligence that in consequence +of the flight of Boone, the Indians had agreed to postpone their +meditated irruption, for three weeks.[11] This intelligence determined +Boone to invade the Indian country, and at the head of only ten men +he went forth on an expedition against Paint creek town. Near to this +place, he met with a party of Indians going to join the main army, +then on its march to Boonesborough, whom he attacked and dispersed +without sustaining any loss on his part. The enemy had one killed and +two severely wounded in this skirmish; and lost their horses and +baggage. On their return, they passed the Indian army on the 6th of +August, and on the next day entered Boonesborough.[12] + +On the 8th of August, the Indian army, consisting of four hundred and +fifty men, and commanded by Capt. Du Quesne, eleven other Frenchmen, +and their own chiefs, appeared before the Fort and demanded its +surrender.[13] In order to gain time, Boone requested two days' +consideration, and at the expiration of that period, returned for +answer, that the garrison had resolved on defending it, while one +individual remained alive within its walls. + +Capt. Du Quesne then made known, that he was charged by Gov. +Hamilton, to make prisoners of the garrison, but not to treat them +harshly; and that if nine of their principal men would come out, +and negotiate a treaty, based on a renunciation of allegiance to +the United States, and on a renewal of their fealty to the king, the +Indian army should be instantly withdrawn. Boone did not confide in +the sincerity of the Frenchman, but he determined to gain the +advantage of farther preparation for resistance, by delaying the +attack. He consented to negotiate on the terms proposed; but +suspecting treachery, insisted that the conference should be held +near the fort walls. The garrison were on the alert, while the +negotiation continued, and did not fail to remark that many of the +Indians, not [195] concerned in making the treaty, were stalking +about, under very suspicious circumstances. The terms on which the +savage army was to retire were at length agreed upon, and the +articles signed, when the whites were told that it was an Indian +custom, in ratification of compacts, that two of their chiefs should +shake hands with one white man. Boone and his associates, consenting +to conform to this custom, not without suspicion of a sinister +design, were endeavored to be dragged off as prisoners by the +savages; but strong and active, they bounded from their grasp, and +entered the gate, amid a heavy shower of balls--one only of the +nine, was slightly wounded. The Indians then commenced a furious +assault on the fort, but were repulsed with some loss on their part; +and every renewed attempt to carry it by storm, was in like manner, +frustrated by the intrepidity and gallantry of its inmates.[14] + +Disappointed in their expectation of succeeding in this way, the +savages next attempted to undermine the fort, commencing at the water +mark of the Kentucky river, only sixty yards from the walls. This +course was no doubt dictated to them by their French commanders, +as they are ignorant of the practice of war, farther than depends +on the use of the gun, and tomahawk, and the exercise of stratagem +and cunning. The vigilance of the besieged however, soon led to a +discovery of the attempt--the water below, was colored by the clay +thrown out from the excavation, while above it retained its usual +transparency; and here again they were foiled by the active +exertion of the garrison. A countermine was begun by them, the earth +from which being thrown over the wall, manifested the nature of their +operations, and led the enemy to raise the siege, and retire from the +country.[15] + +In the various assaults made on the fort by this savage army, two +only, of the garrison, were killed, and four wounded. The loss of the +enemy, as usual, could not be properly ascertained: thirty-seven were +left dead on the field, and many, were no doubt wounded.[16] + +So signally was the savage army repulsed, in their repeated attacks on +Boonesborough, that they never afterwards made any great effort to +effect its reduction. The heroism and intrepidity of Boone and his +assistants rendered it impregnable to their combined exertions to +demolish it; while the vigilance and caution of the inhabitants, +convinced them, that it would be fruitless and unavailing to devise +plans for gaining admission into the fort, by stratagem or wile. Still +however, they kept up a war of ravage and murder, against such as were +unfortunately found defenceless and unprotected; and levelled combined +operations against other and weaker positions. + +[196] The success of the expedition under Col. Clarke, though +productive of many and great advantages to the [195] frontier +inhabitants, did not achieve for them, an unmolested security. Their +property was still liable to plunder, and families newly arrived among +them, to be murdered or taken prisoners. Combined efforts were +required, to put a period to savage aggression; and a meeting of the +settlers was held at Harrodsburg, to concert measures to effect that +object. Their consultation resulted in a determination, to carry the +war into the enemy's country; and as the Shawanees had been most +efficient in waging hostilities, it was resolved to commence +operations, against their most considerable town. Two hundred +volunteers were accordingly raised, and when rendezvoused at +Harrodsburg, were placed under the command of Col. Bowman, and +proceeded against Chillicothe.[17] + +The expedition thus fitted out, arrived, by forced marches, near to +Chillicothe in the evening towards the latter end of July, 1779; and +on deliberation, it was agreed to defer the attack 'till next morning. +Before dawn the army was drawn up and arranged in order of battle. The +right wing led on by Col. Bowman, was to assume a position on one +side of the town, and the left, under Capt. Logan, was to occupy the +ground on the opposite side; and at a given signal, both were to +develope to the right and left, so as to encircle and attack it in +concert.[18] The party, led on by Logan, repaired to the point +assigned, and was waiting in anxious, but vain expectation for the +signal of attack to be given, when the attention of the Indians was +directed towards him by the barking of their dogs. At this instant a +gun was discharged by one of Bowman's men, and the whole village +alarmed. The squaws and children were hurried into the woods, along a +path not yet occupied by the assailants, and the warriors collected in +a strong cabin.[19] Logan, being near enough to perceive every +movement of the enemy, ordered his men quietly to occupy the deserted +huts, as a momentary shelter from the Indian fires, until Col. Bowman +should march forward. It was now light; and the savages began a +regular discharge of shot at his men, as they advanced to the deserted +cabins. This determined him to move directly to the attack of the +cabin, in which the warriors were assembled; and ordering his men to +tear off the doors and hold them in front, as a shield, while +advancing to the assault, he was already marching on the foe, when he +was overtaken by an order from Col. Bowman, to retreat. + +Confounded by this command, Capt. Logan was for a time reluctant to +obey it; a retreat was however, directed; and each individual, +sensible of his great exposure while retiring from the towns, sought +to escape from danger, in the manner directed by his own judgment; and +fled to the woods at his utmost speed. There they rallied, and +resumed more of order, though still too much terrified to stand a +contest, when the Indians sallied out to give battle. Intimidated by +the apprehension of danger, which they had not seen, [197] but +supposed to be great from the retreating order of Col. Bowman, they +continued to fly before the savages, led on by their chief, the Black +Fish. At length they were brought to a halt, and opened a brisk, +though inefficient fire, upon their pursuers. Protected by bushes, the +Indians maintained their ground, 'till Capts. Logan and Harrod, with +some of the men under their immediate command, mounted on pack horses, +charged them with great spirit, and dislodged them from their covert. +Exposed in turn to the fire of the whites, and seeing their chief +fall, the savages took to flight, and Col. Bowman continued his +retreat homeward, free from farther interruption.[20] + +In this illy conducted expedition, Col. Bowman had nine of his men +killed and one wounded. The Indian loss was no doubt less: only two or +three were known to be killed. Had the commanding officer, instead of +ordering a retreat when Logan's men were rushing bravely to the +conflict, marched with the right wing of the army to their aid, far +different would have been the result. The enemy, only thirty strong, +could not long have held out, against the bravery and impetuosity of +two hundred backwoodsmen, stimulated to exertion by repeated +suffering, and nerved by the reflection, that they were requiting it +upon its principal authors. Col. Bowman doubtless believed that he was +pursuing a proper course. The gallantry and intrepidity, displayed by +him on many occasions, forbid the supposition that he was under the +influence of any unmilitary feeling, and prompted to that course by a +disposition to shrink from ordinary dangers. His motives were +certainly pure, and his subsequent exertions to rally his men and +bring them to face the foe, were as great as could have been made by +any one; but disheartened by the fear of unreal danger, and in the +trepidation of a flight, deemed to be absolutely necessary for their +safety, they could not be readily brought to bear the brunt of battle. +The efforts of a few cool and collected individuals, drove back the +pursuers, and thus prevented an harrassed retreat. + +Notwithstanding the frequent irruptions of the Indians, and the +constant exposure of the settlers to suffering and danger, Kentucky +increased rapidly in population. From the influx of emigrants during +the fall and winter months, the number of its inhabitants were +annually doubled for some years; and new establishments were made in +various parts of the country. In April 1779, a block house was erected +on the present site of Lexington,[21] and several stations were +selected in its vicinity, and in the neighborhood of the present town +of Danville. Settlements were also made, in that year, on the waters +of Bear Grass, Green and Licking rivers, and parts of the country +began to be distinguished by their interior and frontier situation. + +----- + [1] Called by the English, Fort Sackville.--R. G. T. + + [2] From Clark's Journal: "January 29.--M. Vigo, a Spanish + subject who had been at Post St. Vincents on his lawful + business, arrived and gave us intelligence that Governor + Hamilton, with thirty regulars and fifty volunteers and about + 400 Indians, had arrived in November and taken that post with + Capt. Helms and such other Americans who were there with arms, + and disarmed the settlers and inhabitants."--R. G. T. + + [3] Forty-six men, under Lieut. John Rogers, went with the + artillery and stores, in a large galley or batteau, called the + "Willing." The distance to Vincennes by land, was a hundred and + fifty miles.--R. G. T. + + [4] The originals of the correspondence between Clark and Hamilton + are, with much other MS. material relative to the movements of + Clark, in possession of the Wisconsin Historical Society. + Hamilton's letter, in a neat, scholarly hand, ran: + + "Lieutenant Governor Hamilton proposes to Colonel Clark a Truce + for three days, during which time he promises, there shall not + be any defensive work carried on in the Garrison, on Condition + Colo^l. Clark shall observe on his part a like cessation from any + offensive Work-- + + "He further proposes that whatever may pass between them two and + any persons (mutually agreed upon to be) present, shall remain + secret, till matters be finally concluded-- + + "As he wishes that whatever the result of their conference may be + the honor and credit of each party may be considered, so he wishes + to confer with Colo^l. Clark as soon as may be-- + + "As Colo^l. Clark makes a difficulty of coming into the Garrison, + L^t. G. Hamilton will speak with him before the Gate-- + + Henry Hamilton. + "Feb^y. 24^th. 1779--Fort Sackville--" + + Clark's gruff reply, in rugged, but not unclerical chirography, was + as follows: + + "Colonel Clark's Compliments to M^r. Hamilton and begs leave to + inform him that Co^l. Clark will not agree to any Other Terms than + that of M^r. Hamilton's Surrendering himself and Garrison, Prisoners + at Discretion-- + + "If M^r. Hamilton is Desirous of a Conferance with Co^l. Clark he + will meet him at the Church with Capt^n. Helms-- + + + "Feb^y. 24^th., 1779. G. R. CLARK."--R. G. T. + + [5] Hamilton, in a letter of July 6, 1781, contained in the + Haldimand Papers, in the British Museum, gives what he calls "a + brief account" of his ill-starred expedition. See Roosevelt's + _Winning of the West, passim._--R. G. T. + + [6] On the Tuscarawas River, about ten miles north of the + present New Philadelphia, O., and a mile south of what is now + Bolivar, Tuscarawas County. At the time Withers alludes to, it + was garrisoned by 150 men under Col. John Gibson.--R. G. T. + + [7] Simon Girty and seventeen Indians, mostly Mingoes. + Withers confounds this raid with the more formidable siege in + February and March. In the January assault, Girty's band + ambushed Capt. John Clark, a sergeant, and fourteen men, + returning to Fort Pitt from convoying provisions to Fort + Laurens. Two whites were killed, four wounded, and one taken + prisoner. In February, came an attacking party of a hundred + and twenty Indians (mostly Wyandots and Mingoes), led by + Capt. Henry Bird, of the Eighth (or King's) Regiment; with + him were Simon Girty and ten soldiers. The enemy arrived + February 22, but remained in hiding. The next day Gibson sent + out a guard of eighteen men, despite warnings of the enemy's + presence, to assist the wagoner in collecting the horses of + the fort. All the party were killed and scalped, within + sight of the fort, save two, who were made prisoners. The fort + was then openly invested until March 20, when the besiegers + withdrew, torn with dissensions and short of supplies. See + Butterfield's _Washington-Irvine Correspondence_ for further + details.--R. G. T. + + [8] Not to be confounded with George Rogers Clark, of + Kentucky.--R. G. T. + + [9] The bodies of these men were found to have been much + devoured by the wolves, and bearing the appearance of having + been recently torn by them. With a view of taking revenge on + these animals for devouring their companions, the fatigue party + sent to bury their remains, after digging a grave sufficiently + capacious to contain all, and having deposited them in it, they + covered the pit with slender sticks, bark and rotten wood, too + weak to bear the weight of a wolf, and placed a piece of meat + on the top and near the center of this covering, as a bait. In + the morning seven wolves were found in the pit, and killed and + the grave then filled up. + + [10] Boone had left Boonesborough January 8, in charge of + thirty men, to make salt at the Lower Blue Licks, on + Licking River. They carried with them, on horses, several + large boiling pans, given to the settlement by the government + of Virginia. So weak was the water there, that 840 gallons + were necessary to make a bushel of salt, against ninety at the + Kanawha salines, and forty at Onondaga. While the salt-makers + were at work, two or three others of the party served as + scouts and hunters; generally, Boone was one of these. This + day (Saturday, February 7) Boone started out alone with his + pack-horse for a supply of game, which usually was plenty in + the neighborhood of the salt licks; Thomas Brooks and + Flanders Callaway, his fellow scouts, were taking another + circuit. Having killed a buffalo, Boone was on his way home + in the afternoon, with the choicest of the meat packed upon + his horse. Snow was falling fast, and he was ten miles from + camp, when discovered by four Indians, outlying members of a + large party of Shawnees under Munseka and Black Fish, who + had taken the war-path to avenge the murder of Cornstalk + (see p. 172, _note_. 2). Benumbed by cold, and unable easily + to untie or cut the frozen thongs which bound on the pack, + Boone could not unload and mount the horse, and after a sharp + skirmish was captured, and led to the main Indian encampment, a + few miles away. Boone induced his fellow salt-makers to + surrender peaceably the following day (February 8); the number + of prisoners was, including Boone, twenty-seven--two scouts + and two salt-packers being absent. After a ten days' + "uncomfortable journey, in very severe weather," says Boone, + in which they "received as good treatment as prisoners could + expect from savages," the party arrived at Little Chillicothe, + on Little Miami--so called in contradistinction to Old + Chillicothe, on the Scioto. Boone's strong, compact build + caused the Indians to call him Big Turtle, and under that name + he was adopted as the son of Black Fish, who took a fancy + to him; sixteen of his companions were also adopted by other + warriors. The ten who were not adopted were, with Boone, taken + on a trip to Detroit (starting March 10), guarded by forty + Indians under Black Fish. The ten were sold to Lieut. + Governor Hamilton and citizens of Detroit, for L20 each, + the usual price for American prisoners. Boone remained in + Detroit until April 10, during which he was treated with + great courtesy by Hamilton, who offered Black Fish L100 for + him, but the latter declined and took the great pioneer home + with him; but Boone himself was given by Hamilton a horse and + trappings, with silver trinkets to give to the Indians. At + Little Chillicothe, Boone was kindly treated by Black Fish, + and little by little his liberty was extended. June 16, + while the family were making salt on the Scioto, preparatory + to another expedition against Boonesborough, Boone escaped + on the horse given him by Hamilton. After many curious + adventures, in the course of which he swam the Ohio, he + safely reached Boonesborough, June 20, having traveled, he + estimated, a hundred and sixty miles in four days. Boone's + wife and family, supposing him dead, had returned to their + old home in North Carolina, but Boone himself remained to + assist in the defense of Boonesborough against the impending + attack, of which he had brought intelligence.--R. G. T. + + [11] This was William Hancock, who had, like Boone, been + adopted into an Indian family. Not so expert a woodsman as + Boone, he had consumed twelve days in the journey from + Chillicothe to Boonesborough, and suffered great hardships. He + arrived at the fort July 17. In consequence of Boone's escape, + he reported, the Indians had postponed their intended attack + for three weeks. The next day (July 18), Boone wrote to Arthur + Campbell, lieutenant of Washington County, Va. (the Holston + settlements, 200 miles away), that he expected the enemy in + twelve days, and that the fort was prepared for a siege of + three or four weeks; but relief would then be of infinite + service.--R. G. T. + + [12] At the close of six weeks after Hancock's arrival, Boone + had become weary of waiting for the enemy, hence his expedition + with nineteen men--not ten, as in the text--against the Shawnee + town on Paint Creek, during the last week of August. It was the + 5th of September when, undiscovered, he passed the Indian force + encamped at Lower Blue Licks, and the next day arrived at + Boonesborough.--R. G. T. + + [13] About 10 A. M. of Monday, September 7,--Withers places + it a month, less a day, too early,--the hostiles crossed the + Kentucky a mile and a half above Boonesborough, at a point + since known as Black Fish's Ford, and soon made their + appearance marching single file, some of them mounted, along + the ridge south of the fort. They numbered about 400, and + displayed English and French flags. The strength of the force + has been variously estimated, from 330 Indians and 8 Frenchmen + (Col. John Bowman), to 444 Indians and 12 Frenchmen (Boone's + Narrative, by Filson). The English Indian department was + represented by Capt. Isidore Chene, who had with him several + other French-Canadians; there was also a negro named Pompey, + who had long lived with the Indians, and served them as + interpreter; the principal chiefs were, Black Fish, Moluntha, + Black Hoof, and Black Beard.--R. G. T. + + [14] The garrison numbered, old and young, white and black, + sixty persons capable of bearing arms; only forty, however, + were really effective. Women and children, dressed and armed as + men, frequently appeared upon the walls, to give an appearance + of greater strength.--R. G. T. + + [15] This ruse of the Indians was discovered on Friday, the + 11th. The garrison commenced its countermine immediately, and + prosecuted the work for several days. The rival parties could + hear each other at work underground. When the Indians had + proceeded about forty yards, two-thirds of the distance from + the river bank, successive rainstorms had so saturated the + earth that sections of their tunnel caved in, and this it was + that frustrated their scheme.--R. G. T. + + [16] When the Indians retired from before Boonesboro, one + hundred and twenty-five pounds weight of bullets were picked up + by the garrison, besides many that stuck in the logs of the + fort. A conclusive proof that the Indians were not idle, during + the continuance of the siege. + + [17] John Bowman, of Harrodsburgh, was lieutenant of + Kentucky County, and colonel of its militia. During the + spring of 1779, there was a general desire to raid the + unsuspecting Shawnees, in retaliation for their invasions of + Kentucky, and Bowman decided to command in person this "first + regular enterprise to attack, in force, the Indians beyond the + Ohio, ever planned in Kentucky." The company of volunteers of + the interior rendezvoused in May at Harrodsburgh, and under + Capts. Benjamin Logan and Silas Harlan marched to Lexington, + where they met the Boonesborough company under Capt. John + Holder, and another party under Capt. Levi Todd. At the mouth + of the Licking (site of Covington, Ky.), the general + rendezvous agreed on, they found a company from the Falls + of the Ohio (site of Louisville), under Capt. William + Harrod. Also in the little army, which finally mustered 297 + men, including officers, were frontiersmen from Redstone Old + Fort, and other settlements in the valleys of the Ohio and + Monongahela. The Redstone men were on their way home, when + they heard of the expedition, and joined it at the Licking; + they had been on a visit to Big Bone Lick, and had a + canoe-load of relics therefrom, which they were transporting + up river. The force crossed the Ohio, May 28, just below the + mouth of the Licking; 32 men remained behind in charge of the + boats, leaving 265 to set out for the Shawnee town of Little + Chillicothe, on the Little Miami, distant about sixty-five + miles northeast. George Clark and William Whitley were pilots, + and George M. Bedinger adjutant and quartermaster.--R. G. T. + + [18] Without having seen an Indian, the expedition arrived in + sight of Little Chillicothe, at dusk of May 29--Withers places + the date two months ahead of the actual time. Capt. Logan had + charge of the left wing, Harrod of the right, and Holder of the + center. The white force now numbered 263--two men having + returned to the boats, disabled; the Indians numbered about 100 + warriors and 200 squaws and children. Black Fish was the + principal village chief, and subordinate to him were Black Hoof + and Black Beard.--R. G. T. + + [19] This was the council house, which was so stoutly + defended that the white assailants were glad to take + refuge in a neighboring hut, from which they escaped with + difficulty.--R. G. T. + + [20] The chief cause of alarm, and the consequent disorder, + was a false report started among the whites, that Simon Girty + and a hundred Shawnees from the Indian village of Piqua, twelve + miles distant, were marching to the relief of Black Fish. Order + was soon restored, and when, fourteen miles out upon the + homeward trail, Indians were discovered upon their rear, the + enemy were met with vigor, and thereafter the retreat was + unhampered. The force reached the Ohio, just above the mouth of + the Little Miami, early on June 1. The "pack-horses" alluded to + by Withers, were 163 Indian ponies captured in the Chillicothe + woods; the other plunder was considerable, being chiefly silver + ornaments and clothing. After crossing the Ohio in boats--the + horses swimming--there was an auction of the booty, which was + appraised at L32,000, continental money, each man getting goods + or horses to the value of about L110. The Indian loss was five + killed at the town, and many wounded; the whites had seven men + killed. Little Chillicothe had been for the most part destroyed + by fire, and its crops destroyed. The newspapers of the day + regarded the expedition as an undoubted success.--R. G. T. + + [21] George W. Ranck: "April 1. Robert Patterson, at the head + of twenty-five men, commenced a block house where Lexington now + stands."--R. G. T. + + + + +[198] CHAPTER XII. + + +In North Western Virginia, the frequent inroads of small parties of +savages in 1778, led to greater preparations for security, from +renewed hostilities after the winter should have passed away; and many +settlements received a considerable accession to their strength, from +the number of persons emigrating to them. In some neighborhoods, the +sufferings of the preceding season and the inability of the +inhabitants, from the paucity of their numbers, to protect themselves +from invasion, led to a total abandonment of their homes. The +settlement on Hacker's creek was entirely broken up in the spring of +1779,--some of its inhabitants forsaking the country and retiring east +of the mountains; while the others went to the fort on Buchannon, and +to Nutter's fort, near Clarksburg, to aid in resisting the foe and in +maintaining possession of the country. When the campaign of that year +opened, the whole frontier was better prepared to protect itself from +invasion and to shield its occupants from the wrath of the savage +enemy, than it had ever been, since it became the abode of white men. +There were forts in every settlement, into which the people could +retire when danger threatened, and which were capable of withstanding +the assaults of savages, however furious they might be, if having to +depend for success, on the use of small arms only. It was fortunate +for the country, that this was their dependence. A few well directed +shots even from small cannon, would have demolished [199] their +strongest fortress, and left them no hope from death, but captivity. + +In the neighborhood of Pricket's fort, the inhabitants were early +alarmed, by circumstances which induced a belief that the Indians were +near, and they accordingly entered that garrison. It was soon +evident that their fears were groundless, but as the season was +fast approaching, when the savages might be expected to commence +depredations, they determined on remaining in the fort, of a +night, and yet prosecute the business of their farms as usual during +the day. Among those who were at this time in the fort, was David +Morgan, (a relation of General Daniel Morgan,) then upwards of sixty +years of age. Early in April, being himself unwell, he sent his +two children--Stephen, a youth of sixteen, and Sarah, a girl of +fourteen--to feed the cattle at his farm, about a mile off. The +children, thinking to remain all day and spend the time in preparing +ground for water melons, unknown to their father took with them +some bread and meat. Having fed the stock, Stephen set himself to +work, and while he was engaged in grubbing, his sister would remove +the brush, and otherwise aid him in the labor of clearing the +ground; occasionally going to the house to wet some linen which +she had spread out to bleach. Morgan, after the children had been +gone some time, betook himself to bed, and soon falling asleep, +dreamed that he saw Stephen and Sarah walking about the fort yard, +scalped. Aroused from slumber by the harrowing spectacle presented +to his sleeping view, he enquired if the children had returned, +and upon learning they had not, he set out to see what detained +them, taking with him his gun. As he approached the house, still +impressed with the horrible fear that he should find his dream +realized, he ascended an eminence, from which he could distinctly see +over his plantation, and descrying from thence the objects of his +anxious solicitude, he proceeded directly to them, and seated +himself on an old log, near at hand. He had been here but a few +minutes, before he saw two Indians come out from the house and make +toward the children. Fearing to alarm them too much, and thus +deprive them of the power of exerting themselves ably to make an +escape, he apprized them in a careless manner, of their danger, +and told them to run towards the fort--himself still maintaining +his seat on the log. The Indians then raised a hideous yell and +ran in pursuit; but the old [200] gentleman shewing himself at +that instant, caused them to forbear the chase, and shelter themselves +behind trees. He then endeavored to effect an escape, by flight, and +the Indians followed after him. Age and consequent infirmity, +rendered him unable long to continue out of their reach; and aware +that they were gaining considerably on him, he wheeled to shoot. +Both instantly sprang behind trees, and Morgan seeking shelter in +the same manner, got behind a sugar, which was so small as to leave +part of his body exposed. Looking round, he saw a large oak about +twenty yards farther, and he made to it. Just as he reached it, the +foremost Indian sought security behind the sugar sapling, which he +had found insufficient for his protection. The Indian, sensible that +it would not shelter him, threw himself down by the side of a log +which lay at the root of the sapling. But this did not afford him +sufficient cover, and Morgan, seeing him exposed to a shot, fired +at him. The ball took effect, and the savage, rolling over on his +back, stabbed himself twice in the breast. + +Having thus succeeded in killing one of his pursuers, Morgan again +took to flight, and the remaining Indian after him. It was now that +trees could afford him no security--His gun was unloaded, and his +pursuer could approach him safely.--The unequal race was continued +about sixty yards, when looking over his shoulder, he saw the savage +within a few paces of him, and with his gun raised. Morgan sprang to +one side, and the ball whizzed harmlessly by him. The odds was now not +great, and both advanced to closer combat, sensible of the prize for +which they had to contend, and each determined, to deal death to his +adversary. Morgan aimed a blow with his gun; but the Indian hurled a +tomahawk at him, which cutting the little finger of his left hand +entirely off, and injuring the one next it very much, knocked the gun +out of his grasp, and they closed. Being a good wrestler, Morgan +succeeded in throwing the Indian; but soon found himself overturned, +and the savage upon him, feeling for his knife and sending forth a +most horrifick yell, as is their custom when they consider victory as +secure. A woman's apron, which he had taken from the house and +fastened round him above his knife, so hindered him in getting at it +quickly, that Morgan, getting one of his fingers in his mouth, +deprived him of the use of that hand, and disconcerted him very much +by continuing to grind it between his teeth. At length the [201] +Indian got hold of his knife, but so far towards the blade, that +Morgan too got a small hold on the extremity of the handle; and as the +Indian drew it from the scabbard, Morgan, biting his finger with all +his might, and thus causing him somewhat to relax his grasp, drew it +through his hand, gashing it most severely. + +By this time both had gained their feet, and the Indian, sensible of +the great advantage gained over him, endeavored to disengage himself; +but Morgan held fast to the finger, until he succeeded in giving him a +fatal stab, and felt the almost lifeless body sinking in his arms. He +then loosened his hold and departed for the fort. + +On his way he met with his daughter, who not being able to keep pace +with her brother, had followed his footsteps to the river bank where +he had plunged in, and was then making her way to the canoe. Assured +thus far of the safety of his children, he accompanied his daughter to +the fort, and then, in company with a party of the men, returned to +his farm, to see if there were any appearance of other Indians being +about there. On arriving at the spot where the desperate struggle had +been, the wounded Indian was not to be seen; but trailing him by the +blood which flowed profusely from his side, they found him concealed +in the branches of a fallen tree.--He had taken the knife from his +body, bound up the wound with the apron, and on their approaching him, +accosted them familiarly, with the salutation "How do do broder, how +do broder." Alas! poor fellow! their brotherhood extended no farther +than to the gratification of a vengeful feeling. He was tomahawked and +scalped; and, as if this would not fill the measure of their +vindictive passions, both he and his companion were flayed, their +skins tanned and converted into saddle seats, shot pouches and +belts--A striking instance of the barbarities, which a revengeful +spirit will lead its possessors to perpetrate.[1] + +The alarm which had caused the people in the neighborhood of Pricket's +fort, to move into it for safety, induced two or three families on +Dunkard creek to collect at the house of Mr. Bozarth, thinking they +would be more exempt from danger when together, than if remaining at +their several homes. About the first of April, when only Mr. Bozarth +and two men were in the house, the children, who had been out at play, +came running into the yard, exclaiming that there were [202] "_ugly +red men coming._" Upon hearing this, one of the two men in the house, +going to the door to see if Indians really were approaching, received +a glancing shot on his breast, which caused him to fall back. The +Indian who had shot him, sprang in immediately after, and grappling +with the other white man, was quickly thrown on the bed. His +antagonist having no weapon with which to do him any injury called to +Mrs. Bozarth for a knife. Not finding one at hand, she siezed an axe, +and at one blow, let out the brains of the prostrate savage. At that +instant a second Indian entering the door, shot dead the man engaged +with his companion on the bed. Mrs. Bozarth turned on him, and with a +well directed blow, let out his entrails and caused him to bawl out +for help. Upon this, others of his party, who had been engaged with +the children in the yard, came to his relief. The first who thrust his +head in at the door, had it cleft by the axe of Mrs. Bozarth and fell +lifeless on the ground. Another, catching hold of his wounded, bawling +companion, drew him out of the house, when Mrs. Bozarth, with the aid +of the white man who had been first shot and was then somewhat +recovered, succeeded in closing and making fast the door. The children +in the yard were all killed, but the heroism and exertions of Mrs. +Bozarth and the wounded white man, enabled them to resist the +repeated attempts of the Indians, to force open the door, and to +maintain possession of the house, until they were relieved by a party +from the neighboring settlement.--The time occupied in this bloody +affair, from the first alarm by the children to the shutting of the +door, did not exceed three minutes. And in this brief space, Mrs. +Bozarth, with infinite self possession, coolness and intrepidity, +succeeded in killing three Indians. + +On the eleventh of the same month, five Indians came to a house on +Snowy creek, (in the, now, county of Preston,) in which lived James +Brain and Richard Powell, and remained in ambush during the night, +close around it. In the morning early, the appearance of some ten or +twelve men, issuing from the house with guns, for the purpose of +amusing themselves in shooting at a mark, deterred the Indians from +making their meditated attack. The men seen by them, were travellers, +who had associated for mutual security, and who, after partaking of a +morning's repast, resumed their journey, unknown to the savages; when +Mr. Brain and the sons of Mr. Powell [203] went to their day's work. +Being engaged in carrying clap-boards for covering a cabin, at some +distance from the house, they were soon heard by the Indians, who, +despairing of succeeding in an attack on the house, changed their +position, & concealed themselves by the side of the path, along which +those engaged at work had to go. Mr. Brain and one of his sons being +at a little distance in front of them, they fired and Brain fell. He +was then tomahawked and scalped, while another of the party followed +and caught the son as he was attempting to escape by flight. + +Three other boys were then some distance behind and out of sight, and +hearing the report of the gun which killed Brain, for an instant +supposed that it proceeded from the rifle of some hunter in quest of +deer. They were soon satisfied that this supposition was unfounded. +Three Indians came running towards them, bearing their guns in one +hand, and tomahawks in the other. One of the boys stupefied by +terror,--and unable to stir from the spot, was immediately made +prisoner. Another, the son of Powell, was also soon caught; but the +third, finding himself out of sight of his pursuer, ran to one side +and concealed himself in a bunch of alders, where he remained until +the Indian passed the spot where he lay, when he arose, and taking a +different direction, ran with all his speed, and effected an escape. +The little prisoners were then brought together; and one of Mr. +Powell's sons, being discovered to have but one eye, was stripped +naked, had a tomahawk sunk into his head, a spear ran through his +body, and the scalp then removed from his bleeding head. + +The little Powell who had escaped from the savages, being forced to go +a direction opposite to the house, proceeded to a station about eight +miles off, & communicated intelligence of what had been done at +Brain's. A party of men equipped themselves and went immediately to +the scene of action; but the Indians had hastened homeward, as soon as +they perpetrated their horrid cruelties. One of their little captives, +(Benjamin Brain) being asked by them, "how many men were at the +house," replied "twelve." To the question, "how far from thence was +the nearest fort," he answered "two miles." Yet he well knew that +there was no fort, nearer than eight miles, and that there was not a +man at the house,--Mr. Powell being from home, and the twelve +travellers having departed, before his father and he had gone out to +[204] work. His object was to save his mother and the other women and +children, from captivity or death, by inducing them to believe that it +would be extremely dangerous to venture near the house. He succeeded +in the attainment of his object. Deterred by the prospect of being +discovered, and perhaps defeated by the superior force of the white +men, represented to be at Mr. Brain's, they departed in the greatest +hurry, taking with them their two little prisoners, Benjamin and Isaac +Brain. + +So stilly had the whole affair been conducted (the report of a gun +being too commonly heard to excite any suspicion of what was doing,) +and so expeditiously had the little boy who escaped, and the men who +accompanied him back, moved in their course, that the first intimation +given Mrs. Brain of the fate of her husband, was given by the men who +came in pursuit. + +Soon after the happening of this affair, a party of Indians came into +the Buchannon settlement, and made prisoner Leonard Schoolcraft, a +youth of about sixteen, who had been sent from the fort on some +business.--When arrived at their towns and arrangements being made for +his running the gauntlet, he was told that he might defend himself +against the blows of the young Indians who were to pursue him to the +council house. Being active and athletic, he availed himself of this +privilege, so as to save himself from the beating which he would +otherwise have received, and laying about him with well timed blows, +frequently knocked down those who came near to him--much to the +amusement of the warriors, according to the account given by others, +who were then prisoners and present. This was the last certain +information which was ever had concerning him. He was believed +however, to have been afterwards in his old neighborhood in the +capacity of guide to the Indians, and aiding them, by his knowledge of +the country, in making successful incursions into it. + +In the month of June, at Martin's fort on Crooked Run, another +murderous scene was exhibited by the savages. The greater part of the +men having gone forth early to their farms, and those who remained, +being unapprehensive of immediate danger, and consequently supine and +careless, the fort was necessarily, easily accessible, and the +vigilance of the savages who were lying hid around it, discovering its +exposed and [205] weakened situation, seized the favorable moment to +attack those who were without. The women were engaged in milking the +cows outside the gate, and the men who had been left behind were +loitering around. The Indians rushed forward, and killed and made +prisoners of ten of them. James Stuart, James Smally and Peter Crouse, +were the only persons who fell, and John Shiver and his wife, two sons +of Stuart, two sons of Smally and a son of Crouse, were carried into +captivity. According to their statement upon their return, there were +thirteen Indians in the party which surprised them, and emboldened by +success, instead of retreating with their prisoners, remained at a +little distance from the fort 'till night, when they put the captives +in a waste house near, under custody of two of the savages, while the +remaining eleven, went to see if they could not succeed in forcing an +entrance at the gate. But the disaster of the morning had taught the +inhabitants the necessity of greater watchfulness. The dogs were shut +out at night, and the approach of the Indians exciting them to bark +freely, gave notice of impending danger, in time for them to avert it. +The attempt to take the fort being thus frustrated, the savages +returned to the house in which the prisoners were confined, and moved +off with them to their towns. + +In August, two daughters of Captain David Scott living at the mouth of +Pike run, going to the meadow with dinner for the mowers, were taken +by some Indians who were watching the path. The younger was killed on +the spot; but the latter being taken some distance farther, and every +search for her proving unavailing, her father fondly hoped that she +had been carried into captivity, and that be might redeem her. For +this purpose he visited Pittsburg and engaged the service of a +friendly Indian to ascertain where she was and endeavour to prevail on +them to ransom her. Before his return from Fort Pitt, some of his +neighbors directed to the spot by the buzzards hovering over it, found +her half eaten and mutilated body. + +In September, Nathaniel Davisson and his brother, being on a hunting +expedition up Ten Mile, left their camp early on the morning of the +day on which they intended to return home; and naming an hour at which +they would be back, proceeded through the woods in different +directions. At the appointed time, Josiah went to the camp, and after +waiting there in vain for the arrival of his brother, and becoming +uneasy lest [206] some unlucky accident had befallen him, he set out +in search of him. Unable to see or hear anything of him he returned +home, and prevailed on several of his neighbors to aid in endeavouring +to ascertain his fate. Their search was likewise unavailing; but in +the following March, he was found by John Read, while hunting in that +neighborhood. He had been shot and scalped; and notwithstanding he +had lain out nearly six months, yet he was but little torn by wild +beasts, and was easily recognized. + +During this year too, Tygarts Valley, which had escaped being visited +by the Indians in 1778 again heard their harrowing yells; and although +but little mischief was done by them while there, yet its inhabitants +were awhile, kept in fearful apprehension that greater ills would +betide them. In October of this year, a party of them lying in ambush +near the road, fired several shots at Lieut. John White, riding by, +but with no other effect than by wounding the horse to cause him to +throw his rider. This was fatal to White. Being left on foot and on +open ground, he was soon shot, tomahawked and scalped. + +As soon as this event was made known, Capt. Benjamin Wilson, with his +wonted promptitude and energy, raised a company of volunteers, and +proceeding by forced marches to the Indian crossing at the mouth of +the Sandy fork of Little Kenhawa, he remained there nearly three days +with a view to intercept the retreat of the savages. They however, +returned by another way and his scheme, of cutting them off while +crossing the river, consequently failed. + +Some time after this several families in the Buchannon settlement, +left the fort and returned to their homes, under the belief that +the season had advanced too far, for the Indians again to come among +them. But they were sorely disappointed. The men being all assembled +at the fort for the purpose of electing a Captain, some Indians +fell upon the family of John Schoolcraft, and killed the women and +eight children,--two little boys only were taken prisoners. A +small girl, who had been scalped and tomahawked 'till a portion of +her brains was forced from her head, was found the next day yet +alive, and continued to live for several days, the brains still oozing +from the fracture of her skull. + +The last mischief that was done this fall, was perpetrated at the house +of Samuel Cottrail near to the present town of Clarksburg.--During the +night considerable fear was excited, both at Cottrial's and at Sotha +Hickman's on the opposite side of Elk creek, by the continued barking +of the dogs, that Indians were lurking near, and in consequence of this +apprehension Cottrial, on going to bed, secured well the doors and +directed that no one should stir out in the morning until it was +ascertained that there was no danger threatening. A while before +day, Cottrial being fast asleep, Moses Coleman, who lived with him, +got up, shelled some corn, and giving a few ears to Cottrial's +nephew with directions to feed the pigs around [207] the yard, went to +the hand mill in an out house, and commenced grinding. The little boy, +being squatted down shelling the corn to the pigs, found himself +suddenly drawn on his back and an Indian standing over him, ordering +him to lie there. The savage then turned toward the house in which +Coleman was, fired, and as Coleman fell ran up to scalp him. +Thinking this a favorable time for him to reach the dwelling house, +the little boy sprang to his feet, and running to the door, it was +opened and he admitted. Scarcely was it closed after him, when one +of the Indians with his tomahawk endeavored to break it open. +Cottrail fired through the door at him, and he went off. In order to +see if others were about, and to have a better opportunity of shooting +with effect, Cottrail ascended the loft, and looking through a crevice +saw them hastening away through the field and at too great distance +for him to shoot with the expectation of injuring them. Yet he +continued to fire and halloo; to give notice of danger to those who +lived near him. + +The severity of the following winter put a momentary stop to savage +inroad, and gave to the inhabitants on the frontier an interval of +quiet and repose extremely desirable to them, after the dangers and +confinement of the preceding season. Hostilities were however, resumed +upon the first appearance of spring, and acts of murder and +devastation, which had, of necessity, been suspended for a time, were +begun to be committed, with a firm determination on the part of the +savages, utterly to exterminate the inhabitants of the western +country. To effect this object, an expedition was concerted between +the British commandant at Detroit and the Indian Chiefs north west of +the Ohio to be carried on by their united forces against Kentucky, +while an Indian army alone, was to penetrate North Western Virginia, +and spread desolation over its surface. No means which could avail to +ensure success and which lay within their reach, were left unemployed. +The army destined to operate against Kentucky, was to consist of six +hundred Indians and Canadians, to be commanded by Col. Byrd (a British +officer) and furnished with every implement of destruction, from the +war club of the savages, to the cannon of their allies.[2] Happily for +North Western Virginia, its situation exempted its inhabitants from +having to contend against these instruments of war; the want of roads +prevented the transportation of cannon through the intermediate +forests, and the difficulty and labor of propelling them up the Ohio +river, forbade the attempt in that way. + +While the troops were collecting for these expeditions, and other +preparations were making for carrying them on, the settlements of +North Western Virginia were not free from invasion. Small parties of +Indians would enter them at unguarded moments, and kill and plunder, +whenever opportunities occurred of their being done with impunity, and +then retreat to their villages. Early in March (1780) Thomas Lackey +discovered some mocason tracks near the upper extremity of Tygarts +Valley, and thought he heard a voice saying in [208] an under tone, +"_let him alone, he will go and bring more_." Alarmed by these +circumstances, he proceeded to Hadden's fort and told there what he +had seen, and what he believed, he had heard. Being so early in the +season and the weather yet far from mild, none heeded his tale, and +but few believed it. On the next day however, as Jacob Warwick, +William Warwick and some others from Greenbrier were about leaving the +fort on their return home, it was agreed that a company of men should +accompany them some distance on the road. Unapprehensive of danger, in +spite of the warning of Lackey, they were proceeding carelessly on +their way, when they were suddenly attacked by some Indians lying in +ambush, near to the place, where the mocason tracks had been seen on +the preceding day. The men on horse back, all got safely off; but +those on foot were less fortunate. The Indians having occupied the +pass both above and below, the footmen had no chance of escape but in +crossing the river and ascending a steep bluff, on its opposite side. +In attempting this several lost their lives. John McLain was killed +about thirty yards from the brow of the hill.--James Ralston, when a +little farther up it, and James Crouch was wounded after having nearly +reached its summit, yet he got safely off and returned to the fort on +the next day. John Nelson, after crossing over, endeavored to escape +down the river; but being there met by a stout warrior, he too was +killed, after a severe struggle. His shattered gun breech, the uptorn +earth, and the locks of Indian hair in his yet clenched hands, showed +that the victory over him had not been easily won. + +Soon after this, the family of John Gibson were surprised at their +sugar camp, on a branch of the Valley river, and made prisoners. Mrs. +Gibson, being incapable of supporting the fatigue of walking so far +and fast, was tomahawked and scalped in the presence of her children. + +West's fort on Hacker's creek, was also visited by the savages, early +in this year.[3] The frequent incursions of the Indians into this +settlement, in the year 1778, had caused the inhabitants to desert +their homes the next year, and shelter themselves in places of greater +security; but being unwilling to give up the improvements which they +had already made and commence anew in the woods, some few families +returned to it during the winter, & on the approach of spring, moved +into the fort. They had not been long here, before the savages made +their appearance, and continued to invest the fort for some time. Too +weak to sally out and give them battle, and not knowing when to expect +relief, the inhabitants were almost reduced to despair, when Jesse +Hughs resolved at his own hazard, to try to obtain assistance to drive +off the enemy. Leaving the fort at night, he broke by their sentinels +and ran with speed to the Buchannon fort. Here he prevailed on a party +of the men to accompany him to West's, and relieve those who had been +so long confined there. They arrived before day, and it was thought +advisable to abandon the place once more, and remove to Buchannon. On +their way, the [209] Indians used every artifice to separate the +party, so as to gain an advantageous opportunity of attacking them; +but in vain. They exercised so much caution, and kept so well +together, that every stratagem was frustrated, and they all reached +the fort in safety. + +Two days after this, as Jeremiah Curl, Henry Fink and Edmund West, who +were old men, and Alexander West,[4] Peter Cutright, and Simon +Schoolcraft, were returning to the fort with some of their neighbor's +property, they were fired at by the Indians who were lying concealed +along a run bank. Curl was slightly wounded under the chin, but +disdaining to fly without making a stand he called to his companions, +"_stand your ground, for we are able to whip them._" At this instant a +lusty warrior drew a tomahawk from his belt and rushed towards him. +Nothing daunted by the danger which seemed to threaten him, Curl +raised his gun; but the powder being damped by the blood from his +wound, it did not fire. He instantly picked up West's gun (which he +had been carrying to relieve West of part of his burden) and +discharging it at his assailant, brought him to the ground. + +The whites being by this time rid of their encumbrances, the Indians +retreated in two parties and pursued different routes, not however +without being pursued. Alexander West being swift of foot, soon came +near enough to fire, and brought down a second, but having only +wounded him, and seeing the Indians spring behind trees, he could not +advance to finish him; nor could he again shoot at him, the flint +having fallen out when he first fired. Jackson (who was hunting sheep +not far off) hearing the report of the guns, ran towards the spot, and +being in sight of the Indian when West shot, saw him fall and +afterwards recover and hobble off. Simon Schoolcraft, following after +West, came to him just after Jackson, with his gun cocked; and asking +where the Indians were, was advised by Jackson to get behind a tree, +or they would soon let him know where they were. Instantly the report +of a gun was heard, and Schoolcraft let fall his arm. The ball had +passed through it, and striking a steel tobacco box in his waistcoat +pocket, did him no farther injury. Cutright, when West fired at one of +the Indians, saw another of them drop behind a log, and changing his +position, espied him, where the log was a little raised from the +earth. With steady nerves, he drew upon him. The moaning cry of the +savage, as he sprang from the ground and moved haltingly away, +convinced them that the shot had taken effect. The rest of the Indians +continued behind trees, until they observed a reinforcement coming up +to the aid of the whites, and they fled with the utmost precipitancy. +Night soon coming on, those who followed them, had to give over the +pursuit. + +A company of fifteen men went early next morning to the battle ground, +and taking the trail of the Indians and pursuing it some distance, +came to where they had some horses (which they had stolen after the +skirmish) hobbled out on a fork of Hacker's creek. They [210] then +found the plunder which the savages had taken from neighboring houses, +and supposing that their wounded warriors were near, the whites +commenced looking for them, when a gun was fired at them by an Indian +concealed in a laurel thicket, which wounded John Cutright.[5] The +whites then caught the stolen horses and returned with them and the +plunder to the fort. + +For some time after this, there was nothing occurring to indicate the +presence of Indians in the Buchannon settlement, and some of those who +were in the fort, hoping that they should not be again visited by them +this season, determined on returning to their homes. Austin +Schoolcraft was one of these, and being engaged in removing some of +his property from the fort, as he and his niece were passing through a +swamp in their way to his house, they were shot at by some Indians. +Mr. Schoolcraft was killed and his niece taken prisoner. + +In June, John Owens, John Juggins and Owen Owens, were attacked by +some Indians, as they were going to their cornfield on Booth's creek; +and the two former were killed and scalped. Owen Owens being some +distance behind them, made his escape to the fort. John Owens the +younger, who had been to the pasture field for the plough horses, +heard the guns, but not suspecting any danger to be near, rode forward +towards the cornfield. As he was proceeding along the path by a fence +side, riding one and leading another horse, he was fired at by several +Indians, some of whom afterwards rushed forward and caught at the +bridle reins; yet he escaped unhurt from them all. + +The savages likewise visited Cheat river, during the spring, and +coming to the house of John Sims, were discovered by a negro woman, +who ran immediately to the door and alarmed the family.--Bernard Sims +(just recovering from the small pox) taking down his gun, and going to +the door, was shot. The Indians, perceiving that he was affected with +a disease, of all others the most terrifying to them, not only did not +perform the accustomed operation of scalping, but retreated with as +much rapidity, as if they had been pursued by an overwhelming force of +armed men,--exclaiming as they ran "_small pox, small pox._" + +After the attack on Donnelly's fort in May 1778, the Indians made no +attempt to effect farther mischiefs in the Greenbrier country, until +this year. The fort at Point Pleasant guarded the principal pass to +the settlements on the Kenhawa, in the Levels, and on Greenbrier +river, and the reception with which they had met at Col. Donnelly's, +convinced them that not much was to be gained by incursions into that +section of the frontiers. But as they were now making great +preparations for effectual operations against the whole border +country, a party of them was despatched to this portion of it, at once +for the purpose of rapine and murder, and to ascertain the state of +the country and its capacity to resist invasion. + +The party then sent into Greenbrier consisted of twenty-two [211] +warriors, and committed their first act of atrocity near the house of +Lawrence Drinnan, a few miles above the Little Levels. Henry Baker and +Richard Hill, who were then staying there, going early in the morning +to the river to wash, were shot at by them: Baker was killed, but Hill +escaped back to the house. When the Indians fired at Baker, he was +near a fence between the river and Drinnan's and within gunshot of the +latter place. Fearing to cross the fence for the purpose of scalping +him, they prized it up, and with a pole fastening a noose around his +neck, drew him down the river bank & scalped and left him there. + +Apprehensive of an attack on the house, Mr. Drinnan made such +preparations as were in his power to repel them, and despatched a +servant to the Little Levels, with the intelligence and to procure +assistance. He presently returned with twenty men, who remained there +during the night, but in the morning, seeing nothing to contradict the +belief that the Indians had departed, they buried Baker, and set out +on their return to the Levels, taking with them all who were at +Drinnan's and the most of his property. Arrived at the fork of the +road, a question arose whether they should take the main route, +leading through a gap which was deemed a favorable situation for an +ambuscade, or continue on the farther but more open and secure way. A +majority preferred the latter; but two young men, by the name of +Bridger, separated from the others, and travelling on the nearer path, +were both killed at the place, where it was feared danger might be +lurking. + +The Indians next proceeded to the house of Hugh McIver, where they +succeeded in killing its owner, and in making prisoner his wife; and +in going from thence, met with John Prior, who with his wife and +infant were on their way to the country on the south side of the Big +Kenawha. Prior was shot through the breast, but anxious for the fate +of his wife and child, stood still, 'till one of the Indians came up +and laid hold on him. Notwithstanding the severe wound which he had +received, Prior proved too strong for his opponent, and the other +Indians not interfering, forced him at length to disengage himself +from the struggle. Prior, then seeing that no violence was offered to +Mrs. Prior or the infant, walked off without any attempt being made to +stop, or otherwise molest him: the Indians no doubt suffering him to +depart under the expectation that he would obtain assistance and +endeavor to regain his wife and child, and that an opportunity of +waylaying any party coming with this view, would be [212] then +afforded them. Prior returned to the settlement, related the above +incidents and died that night. His wife and child were never after +heard of, and it is highly probable they were murdered on their way, +as being unable to travel as expeditiously as the Indians wished. + +They next went to a house, occupied by Thomas Drinnon and a Mr. Smith +with their families, where they made prisoners of Mrs. Smith, Mrs. +Drinnon and a child; and going then towards their towns, killed, on +their way, an old gentleman by the name of Monday and his wife. This +was the last outrage committed by the Indians in the Greenbrier +settlements. And although the war was carried on by them against the +frontier settlements, with energy for years after, yet did they not +again attempt an incursion into it. Its earlier days had been days of +tribulation and wo, and those who were foremost in occupying and +forming settlements in it, had to endure all that savage fury could +inflict. Their term of probation, was indeed of comparatively short +duration, but their sufferings for a time, were many and great. The +scenes of murder and blood, exhibited on Muddy creek and the Big +Levels in 1776, will not soon be effaced from the memory; and the +lively interest excited in the bosoms of many, for the fate of those +who there treacherously perished, unabated by time, still gleams in +the countenance, when tradition recounts the tale of their unhappy +lot. + +----- + [1] L. V. McWhorter, of Berlin, W. Va., writes me: "A few + years ago, the descendants of David Morgan erected a monument + on the spot where fell one of the Indians. On the day of the + unveiling of the monument, there was on exhibition at the spot, + a shot-pouch and saddle skirt made from the skins of the + Indians. Greenwood S. Morgan, a great-grandson of the Indian + slayer, informs me that the shot-pouch is now in the possession + of a distant relative, living in Wetzel County, W. Va. The + knife with which the Indian was killed, is owned by Morgan's + descendants in Marion County, W. Va."--R. G. T. + + [2] See p. 262, _note_, for account of Capt. Henry Bird's + attack on Fort Laurens.--R. G. T. + + [3] Mr. McWhorter says that this fort stood on an eminence, + where is now the residence of Minor C. Hall. Upon the fort + being abandoned by the settlers, the Indians burned it. When + the whites again returned to their clearings, a new fort was + erected, locally called Beech Fort, "because built entirely of + beech logs--beech trees standing very thick in this locality." + Beech Fort was not over 500 yards from the old West Fort; it + was "in a marshy flat, some 75 yards east of the house built by + the pioneer Henry McWhorter, and still extant as the residence + of Ned J. Jackson." In the same field where Beech Fort was, + "Alexander West discovered an Indian one evening; he fired and + wounded him in the shoulder. The Indian made off, and fearing + an ambuscade West would not venture in pursuit. Two weeks + later, he ventured to hunt for the red man. Two miles distant, + on what is now known as Life's Run, a branch of Hacker's Creek, + the dead savage was found in a cleft of rocks, into which he + had crawled and miserably perished. His shoulder was badly + crushed by West's bullet." + + Henry McWhorter, born in Orange County, N. Y., November 13, + 1760, was a soldier in the Revolution, from 1777 to the + close. In 1784, he settled about two miles from West's Fort; + three years later, he moved nearer to the fort, and there + built the house of hewn logs, mentioned above, which "is + to-day in a good state of preservation." McWhorter died + February 4, 1848.--R. G. T. + + [4] Alexander West was prominent as a frontier scout. Rev. + J. M. McWhorter, who saw him frequently, gives this description + of him: "A tall, spare-built man, very erect, strong, lithe, + and active; dark-skinned, prominent Roman nose, black hair, + very keen eyes; not handsome, rather raw-boned, but with an air + and mien that commanded the attention and respect of those with + whom he associated. Never aggressive, he lifted his arm against + the Indians only in time of war." West died in 1834. His house + of hewed logs is, with its large barn, still standing and + occupied by his relatives, about a mile east of the site of + West's Fort.--R. G. T. + + [5] L. V. McWhorter says: "The branch of Hacker's creek on + which John Cutright was wounded, is now known as Laurel Lick, + near Berlin, W. Va." For notice of Cutright, see p. 137, + _note_.--R. G. T. + + + + +[213] CHAPTER XIII. + + +Early in June 1780, every necessary preparation having been previously +made, the Indian and Canadian forces destined to invade Kentucky, +moved from their place of rendezvous, to fulfil the objects of the +expedition. In their general plan of the campaign, Louisville was the +point against which operations were first to be directed. The hero of +Kaskaskias and St. Vincent had been for some time stationed there, +with a small body of troops, to intercept the passage of war parties +into the interior, and the force thus placed under his command, having +been considerably augmented by the arrival of one hundred and fifty +Virginia soldiers under Colonel Slaughter, that place had assumed the +appearance of a regular fortification, capable of withstanding a +severe shock;[1] while detachments from it gave promise of security to +the settlements remote from the river, as well by detecting and +checking every attempt at invasion, as by acting offensively against +the main Indian towns, from which hostile parties would sally, +spreading desolation along their path. The reduction of this +establishment, would at once give wider scope to savage hostilities +and gratify the wounded pride of the Canadians. Stung by the boldness +and success of Colonel Clarke's adventure, and fearing the effect +which it might have on their Indian allies, they seemed determined to +achieve a victory over him, and strike a retributive blow against the +position which he then held. + +[214] It is highly probable however, that the reputation which, the +gallant exploits of Colonel Clarke had acquired for him, induced some +doubts, in the minds of the commanding officers, of the ultimate +success of a movement against that post.[2] They changed their +destination; and when their army arrived in their boats at the Ohio, +instead of floating with its rapid current to the point proposed, they +chose to stem the stream; and availing themselves of an uncommon swell +of the waters, ascended the river Licking to its forks, where they +landed their men and munitions of war.[3] + +Not far from the place of debarkation, there was a station,[4] reared +under the superintendence of Captain Ruddle, and occupied by several +families and many adventurers. Thither Colonel Byrd, with his combined +army of Canadians and Indians then amounting to one thousand men, +directed his march; and arriving before it on the 22d of June, gave +the first notice, which the inhabitants had of the presence of an +enemy, by a discharge of his cannon. He then sent in a flag, demanding +the immediate surrender of the place. Knowing that it was impossible +to defend the station against artillery, Captain Ruddle consented to +surrender it, provided the inhabitants should be considered prisoners +to the British, and not to the Indians. To this proposition Colonel +Byrd assented, and the gates were thrown open. The savages instantly +rushed in, each laying his hands on the first person with whom he +chanced to meet. Parents and children, husbands and wives, were thus +torn from each other; and the [214] air was rent with sighs of +wailing, and shrieks of agony. In vain did Captain Ruddle exclaim, +against the enormities which were perpetrated in contravention to the +terms of capitulation. To his remonstrances, Colonel Byrd replied that +he was unable to control them, and affirmed, that he too was in their +power. + +That Colonel Byrd was really unable to check the enormities of the +savages, will be readily admitted, when the great disparity of the +Canadian and Indian troops, and the lawless and uncontrolable temper +of the latter, are taken into consideration. That he had the +inclination to stop them, cannot be [215] doubted--his subsequent +conduct furnished the most convincing evidence, that the power to +effect it, was alone wanting in him.[5] + +After Ruddle's station had been completely sacked, and the prisoners +disposed of, the Indians clamoured to be led against Martin's station, +then only five miles distant. Affected with the barbarities which he +had just witnessed, Colonel Byrd peremptorily refused, unless the +chiefs would guaranty that the prisoners, which might be there taken, +should be entirely at his disposal. For awhile the Indians refused to +accede to these terms, but finding Colonel Byrd, inflexible in his +determination, they at length consented, that the prisoners should be +his, provided the plunder were allowed to them.--Upon this agreement, +they marched forward. Martin's station, like Ruddle's, was incapable +of offering any available opposition. It was surrendered on the first +summons, and the prisoners and plunder divided, in conformity with the +compact between Colonel Byrd and the savages. + +The facility, with which these conquests were made, excited the thirst +of the Indians for more. Not satisfied with the plundering of Ruddle's +and Martin's stations, their rapacity prompted them to insist on going +against Bryant's and Lexington. Prudence forbade it. The waters were +rapidly subsiding, and the fall of the Licking river, would have +rendered it impracticable to convey their artillery to the Ohio. Their +success too, was somewhat doubtful; and it was even then difficult to +procure provisions, for the subsistence of the prisoners already +taken.[6] Under the influence of these considerations, Colonel Byrd +determined to return to the boats, and embarking on these his +artillery and the Canadian troops, descended the river; while the +Indians, with their plunder, and the prisoners taken at Ruddle's, +moved across the country. + +Among those who were taken captive at Ruddle's station, was a man of +the name of Hinkstone, remarkable for activity and daring, and for +uncommon tact and skill as a woodsman. On the second night of their +march, the Indians encamped on the bank of the river, and in +consequence of a sudden shower of rain, postponed kindling their fires +until dark, when part of the savages engaged in this business, while +the remainder guarded the prisoners. Hinkstone thought the darkness +favorable to escape, and inviting its attempt. He resolved on trying +it, and springing suddenly from them, ran a small [216] distance and +concealed himself behind a large log, under the shade of a wide +spreading tree. The alarm was quickly given, and the Indians, +pursuing, searched for him in every direction. It was fruitless and +unavailing. Hid in thick obscurity, no eye could distinguish his +prostrate body. Perceiving at length, by the subsiding of the noise +without the camp, that the Indians had abandoned the search, he +resumed his flight, with the stillness of death. The heavens afforded +him no sign, by which he could direct his steps. Not a star twinkled +through the dark clouds which enveloped the earth, to point out his +course. Still he moved on, as he supposed, in the direction of +Lexington. He had mistaken the way, and a short space of time, served +to convince him that he was in error. After wandering about for two +hours, he came in sight of the Indian fires again. Perplexed by his +devious ramble, he was more at fault than ever. The sky was still all +darkness, and he had recourse to the trees in vain, to learn the +points of the compass by the feeling of the moss. He remembered that +at nightfall, the wind blew a gentle breeze from the west; but it had +now, become so stilled, that it no longer made any impression on him. +The hunter's expedient, to ascertain the direction of the air, +occurred to him.--He dipped his finger in water, and, knowing that +evaporation and coolness would be first felt on the side from which +the wind came, he raised it high in the air. It was enough.--Guided by +this unerring indication, and acting on the supposition that the +current of air still flowed from the point from which it had proceeded +at night, he again resumed his flight. After groping in the wilderness +for some time, faint and enfeebled, he sat down to rest his wearied +limbs, and sought their invigoration in refreshing sleep. When he +awoke, fresh dangers encircled him, but he was better prepared to +elude, or encounter them. + +At the first dawn of day, his ears were assailed by the tremulous +bleating of the fawn, the hoarse gobbling of the turkey, and the +peculiar sounds of other wild animals. Familiar with the deceptive +artifices, practised to allure game to the hunter, he was quickly +alive to the fact, that they were the imitative cries of savages in +quest of provisions. Sensible of his situation, he became vigilant to +discover the approach of danger, and active in avoiding it. Several +times however, with all his wariness, he found himself within a few +paces of [217] some one of the Indians; but fortunately escaping their +observation, made good his escape, and reached Lexington in safety, +gave there the harrowing intelligence of what had befallen the +inhabitants of Ruddle's and Martin's stations. + +The Indians after the escape of Hinkstone, crossed the Ohio river at +the mouth of Licking, and, separating into small parties, proceeded to +their several villages. The Canadian troops descended Licking to the +Ohio, and this river to the mouth of the Great Miami, up which they +ascended as far as it was navigable for their boats, and made their +way thence by land to Detroit. + +The Indian army destined to operate against North Western Virginia, +was to enter the country in two divisions of one hundred and fifty +warriors each; the one crossing the Ohio near below Wheeling, the +other, at the mouth of Racoon creek, about sixty miles farther up. +Both were, avoiding the stronger forts, to proceed directly to +Washington, then known as Catfishtown, between which place and the +Ohio, the whole country was to be laid waste. + +The division crossing below Wheeling, was soon discovered by scouts, +who giving the alarm, caused most of the inhabitants of the more +proximate settlements, to fly immediately to that place, supposing +that an attack was meditated on it. The Indians however, proceeded +on the way to Washington making prisoners of many, who, although +apprized that an enemy was in the country, yet feeling secure in +their distance from what was expected to be the theatre of operations, +neglected to use the precaution necessary to guard them against +becoming captives to the savages. From all the prisoners, they +learned the same thing,--that the inhabitants had gone to Wheeling +with a view of concentrating the force of the settlements to effect +their repulsion. This intelligence alarmed them. The chiefs held a +council, in which it was determined, instead of proceeding to +Washington, to retrace their steps across the Ohio, lest their +retreat, if delayed 'till the whites had an opportunity of organizing +themselves for battle, should be entirely cut off. Infuriate at the +blasting of their hopes of blood and spoil, they resolved to murder +all their male prisoners--exhausting on their devoted heads, the +fury of disappointed expectation. Preparations to carry this +resolution into effect, were immediately begun to be made. + +The unfortunate victims to their savage wrath, were led [218] forth +from among their friends and their families,--their hands were +pinioned behind them,--a rope was fastened about the neck of each and +that bound around a tree, so as to prevent any motion of the head. +The tomahawk and scalping knife were next drawn from their belts, and +the horrid purpose of these preparations, fully consummated. + +"Imagination's utmost stretch" can hardly fancy a more heart-rending +scene than was there exhibited. Parents, in the bloom of life and glow +of health, mercilessly mangled to death, in the presence of children, +whose sobbing cries served but to heighten the torments of the +dying.--Husbands, cruelly lacerated, and by piece-meal deprived of +life, in view of the tender partners of their bosoms, whose agonizing +shrieks, increasing the anguish of torture, sharpened the sting of +death. It is indeed + + ----"A fearful thing, + To see the human soul, take wing, + In any shape,--in any mood;" + +but that wives and children should be forced to behold the last ebb of +life, and to witness the struggle of the departing spirit of husbands +and fathers, under such horrific circumstances, is shocking to +humanity, and appalling, even in contemplation. + +Barbarities such as these, had considerable influence on the temper +and disposition of the inhabitants of the country. They gave birth to +a vindictive feeling in many, which led to the perpetration of similar +enormities and sunk civilized man, to the degraded level of the +barbarian. They served too, to arouse them to greater exertion, to +subdue the savage foe in justifiable warfare, and thus prevent their +unpleasant recurrence. + +So soon as the Indian forces effected a precipitate retreat across the +Ohio, preparations were begun to be made for acting offensively +against them. An expedition was concerted, to be carried on +against the towns at the forks of the Muskingum; and through the +instrumentality of Col's Zane and Shepard, Col. Broadhead, commander +of the forces at Fort Pitt, was prevailed upon to co-operate in it.[7] +Before however, it could be carried into effect, it was deemed +advisable to proceed against the Munsie towns, up the north branch of +the Alleghany river; the inhabitants of which, had been long engaged +in active [219] hostilities, and committed frequent depredations on +the frontiers of Pennsylvania. In the campaign against them, as many +of those, who resided in the settlements around Wheeling, as could +be spared from the immediate defence of their own neighborhoods, +were consociated with the Pennsylvania troops, and the regulars under +Col. Broadhead. It eventuated in the entire destruction of all their +corn, (upwards of 200 acres,) and in the cutting off a party of +forty warriors, on their way to the settlements in Westmoreland +county. + +Very soon after the return of the army, from the Alleghany, the +troops, with which it was intended to operate against the Indian +villages up the Muskingum and amounting to eight hundred, rendezvoused +at Wheeling. From thence, they proceeded directly for the place of +destination, under the command of Col. Broadhead.[8] + +When the army arrived near to Salem (a Moravian town,)[9] many of the +militia expressed a determination to go forward and destroy it, +but as the Indians residing there, had ever been in amity with the +whites, and were not known to have ever participated in the +murderous deeds of their more savage red brethren, the officers +exerted themselves effectually, to repress that determination. Col. +Broadhead sent forward an express to the Rev'd Mr. Heckewelder (the +missionary of that place,)[10] acquainting him with the object of the +expedition, & requesting a small supply of provisions, and that he +would accompany the messenger to camp. When Mr. Heckewelder came, +the commander enquired of him, if any christian Indians were +engaged in hunting or other business, in the direction of their +march,--stating, that if they were, they might be exposed to +danger, as it would be impracticable to distinguish between them and +other Indians, and that he should greatly regret the happening to +them, of any unpleasant occurrence, through ignorance or mistake. On +hearing there were not, the army was ordered to resume its march, +and proceeded towards the forks of the river. + +At White Eyes plain, near to the place of destination, an Indian was +discovered and made prisoner. Two others were seen near there, and +fired at; and notwithstanding one of them was wounded, yet both +succeeded in effecting their escape. Apprehensive that they would +hasten to the Indian towns, and communicate the fact that an army of +whites was near at hand, Col. Broadhead moved rapidly forward with the +[220] troops, notwithstanding a heavy fall of rain, to reach +Coshocton, (the nearest village,)[11] and take it by surprise. His +expectations were not disappointed. Approaching the town, the right +wing of the army was directed to occupy a position above it, on the +river; the left to assume a stand below, while the centre marched +directly upon it. The Indian villages, ignorant of the fact that an +enemy was in their country, were all made prisoners without the firing +of a single gun. So rapid, and yet so secret, had been the advance of +the army, that every part of the town was occupied by the troops, +before the Indians knew of its approach. + +Successful as they thus far were, yet the expedition accomplished but +a portion of what had been contemplated. The other towns were situated +on the opposite side of the river, and this was so swollen by the +excessive rains which had fallen and continued yet to deluge the +earth, that it was impracticable to cross over to them; and Col. +Broadhead, seeing the impossibility of achieving any thing farther, +commenced laying waste the crops about Coshocton. This measure was not +dictated by a spirit of revenge, naturally enkindled by the +exterminating warfare, waged against the whites by the savages, but +was a politic expedient, to prevent the accomplishment of their horrid +purposes and to lessen the frequency of their incursions. When they +fail to derive sustenance from their crops of corn and other edible +vegetables, the Indians are forced to have recourse to hunting, to +obtain provisions, and consequently, to suspend their hostile +operations for a season. To produce this desirable result, was the +object sought to be obtained by the destruction which was made of +every article of subsistence, found here and at the Munsie towns, and +subsequently at other places. + +It remained then to dispose of the prisoners. Sixteen warriors, +particularly obnoxious for their diabolical deeds, were pointed out by +Pekillon (a friendly Delaware chief who accompanied the army of Col. +Broadhead) as fit subjects of retributive justice; and taken into +close custody. A council of war was then held, to determine on their +fate, and which doomed them to death. They were taken some distance +from town, despatched with tomahawks and spears, and then scalped. The +other captives were committed to the care of the militia, to be +conducted to Fort Pitt. + +On the morning after the taking of Coshocton, an Indian, [221] making +his appearance on the opposite bank of the river, called out for the +"Big Captain." Col. Broadhead demanded what he wished. I want peace +replied the savage. Then send over some of your chiefs, said the +Colonel. May be you kill, responded the Indian. No, said Broadhead, +they shall not be killed. One of their chiefs, a fine looking fellow, +then come over; and while he and Col. Broadhead were engaged in +conversation, a militiaman came up, and with a tomahawk which he had +concealed in the bosom of his hunting shirt, struck him a severe blow +on the hinder part of his head. The poor Indian fell, and immediately +expired. + +This savage like deed was the precursor of other, and perhaps equally +attrocious enormities. The army on its return, had not proceeded more +than half a mile from Coshocton, when the militia guarding the +prisoners, commenced murdering them. In a short space of time, a few +women and children alone remained alive. These were taken to Fort +Pitt, and after a while exchanged for an equal number of white +captives. + +The putting to death the sixteen prisoners designated by Pekillon, can +be considered in no other light, than as a punishment inflicted for +their great offences; and was certainly right and proper. Not so with +the deliberate murder of the chief, engaged in negotiation with Col. +Broadhead. He had come over under the implied assurance of the +security, due to a messenger for peace, and after a positive promise +of protection had been given him by the commander of the army.--His +death can, consequently, only be considered as an unwarrantable +murder; provoked indeed, by the barbarous and bloody conduct of the +savages. These, though they do not justify, should certainly extenuate +the offence. + +The fact, that the enemy, with whom they were contending, did not +observe the rules of war, and was occasionally, guilty of the crime, +of putting their prisoners to death, would certainly authorize the +practice of greater rigor, than should be exercised towards those who +do not commit such excesses. This extraordinary severity, of itself, +tends to beget a greater regard for what is allowable among civilized +men, and to produce conformity with those usages of war, which were +suggested by humanity, and are sanctioned by all. But the attainment +of this object, if it were the motive which prompted to the deed, can +not justify the murder of the prisoners, placed [222] under the safe +keeping of the militia. It evinced a total disregard of the authority +of their superior officer. He had assured them they should only be +detained as prisoners, and remain free from farther molestation; and +nothing, but the commission of some fresh offence, could sanction the +enormity. But, however sober reflection may condemn those acts as +outrages of propriety, yet so many and so great, were the barbarous +excesses committed by the savages upon the whites in their power, that +the minds of those who were actors in those scenes, were deprived of +the faculty of discriminating between what was right or wrong to be +practised towards them. And if acts, savouring of sheer revenge, were +done by them, they should be regarded as but the ebullitions of men, +under the excitement of great and damning wrongs, and which, in their +dispassionate moments, they would condemn, even in themselves. + +When, upon the arrival of Hinkston at Lexington, the people became +acquainted with the mischief which had been wrought by the Canadian +and Indian army,[12] every bosom burned with a desire to avenge +those outrages, and to retort them on their authors. Runners were +despatched in every direction, with the intelligence, and the cry +for retribution, arose in all the settlements. In this state of +feeling, every eye was involuntarily turned towards Gen. Clarke as +the one who should lead them forth to battle; and every ear was +opened, to receive his counsel. He advised a levy of four-fifths of +the male inhabitants, capable of bearing arms, and that they +should speedily assemble at the mouth of Licking, and proceed from +thence to Chilicothe. He ordered the building of a number of +transport boats, and directed such other preparations to be made, as +would facilitate the expedition, and ensure success to its object. +When all was ready, the boats with the provisions and stores on board, +were ordered up the Ohio, under the command of Col. Slaughter. + +In ascending the river, such was the rapidity of the current, that the +boats were compelled to keep near to the banks, and were worked up, in +two divisions--one near each shore. While thus forcing their way +slowly up the stream, one of the boats, being some distance in +advance of the others and close under the north western bank, was +fired into by a party of Indians. The fire was promptly returned; but +before the other boats could draw nigh to her aid, a number of those +on [223] board of her, was killed and wounded. As soon however, as +they approached and opened a fire upon the assailants, the savages +withdrew, and the boats proceeded to the place of rendezvous, without +farther interruption. + +On the second of August, General Clarke took up the line of march from +the place where Cincinnati now stands, at the head of nine hundred and +seventy men. They proceeded without any delay, to the point of +destination, where they arrived on the sixth of the month. The town +was abandoned, and many of the houses were yet burning, having been +fired on the preceding day. There were however, several hundred acres +of luxuriant corn growing about it, every stalk of which was cut down +and destroyed. + +The army then moved in the direction of the Piqua Towns, twelve miles +farther, and with a view to lay waste every thing around it, and with +the hope of meeting there an enemy, with whom to engage in battle; but +before they had got far, a heavy shower of rain, accompanied with loud +thunder and high winds, forced them to encamp. Every care which could +be taken to keep the guns dry, was found to be of no avail, and +General Clarke, with prudent precaution, had them all fired and +re-loaded--continuing to pursue this plan, to preserve them fit for +use, whenever occasion required, and keeping the troops on the alert +and prepared to repel any attack which might be made on them--during +the night. + +In the afternoon of the next day, they arrived in sight of Piqua, and +as they advanced upon the town, were attacked by the Indians concealed +in the high weeds which grew around. Colonel Logan, with four hundred +men, was ordered to file off,--march up the river to the east, and +occupy a position from which to intercept the savages, should they +attempt to fly in that direction. Another division of the army was in +like manner posted on the opposite side of the river, while General +Clarke with the troops under Colonel Slaughter and those attached to +the artillery, was to advance directly upon the town. The Indians +seemed to comprehend every motion of the army, and evinced the skill +of tacticians in endeavoring to thwart its purpose. To prevent being +surrounded by the advance of the detachment from the west, they made a +powerful effort to turn the left wing. Colonel Floyd extended his line +some distance west of the town, and the engagement became general. +Both armies fought with determined [224] resolution, and the contest +was warm and animated for some time. The Indians, finding that their +enemy was gaining on them retired unperceived, through the prairie, a +few only remaining in the town. The piece of cannon was then bro't to +bear upon the houses, into which some of the savages had retired to +annoy the army as it marched upon the village.--They were soon +dislodged and fled. + +On reaching the houses, a Frenchman was discovered concealed in one of +them. From him it was learned, that the Indians had been apprized of +the intention of Gen. Clarke to march against Chilicothe and other +towns in its vicinity, by one of Col. Logan's men, who had deserted +from the army while at the mouth of Licking, and was supposed to have +fled to Carolina, as he took with him the horse furnished him for the +expedition. Instead of this however, he went over to the enemy, and +his treason, + + ----"Like a deadly blight, + Came o'er the councils of the brave, + And damped them in their hour of might." + +Thus forwarned of the danger which threatened them, they were enabled +in a considerable degree to avoid it, and watching all the movements +of the army, were on the eve of attacking it silently, with tomahawks +and knives, on the night of its encamping between Chilicothe and +Piqua. The shooting of the guns, convincing them that they had not +been rendered useless by the rain, alone deterred them from executing +this determination. + +Notwithstanding that the victory obtained by Gen. Clarke, was +complete and decided, yet the army under his command sustained a +loss in killed and wounded, as great as was occasioned to the +enemy. This circumstance was attributable to the sudden and +unexpected attack made on it, by the Indians, while entirely +concealed, and partially sheltered. No men could have evinced more +dauntless intrepidity and determined fortitude than was displayed +by them, when fired upon by a hidden foe, and their comrades were +falling around them. When the "combat thickened," such was their +noble daring, that Girty, (who had been made chief among the +Mingoes,) remarking the desperation with which they exposed +themselves to the hottest of the fire, drew off his three hundred +warriors; observing, that it was useless to fight with fools and +madmen. The loss in killed under the peculiar [225] circumstances, +attending the commencement of the action, was less than would perhaps +be expected to befall an army similarly situated;--amounting in all +to only twenty men. + +Here, as at Chilicothe, the crops of corn and every article of +subsistence on which the troops could lay their hands, were entirely +laid waste. At the two places, it was estimated that not less than +five hundred acres of that indispensable article, were entirely +destroyed.[13] + +An unfortunate circumstance, occurring towards the close of the +engagement, damped considerably the joy which would otherwise have +pervaded the army. A nephew of Gen. Clarke, who had been taken, and +for some time detained, a prisoner by the savages, was at Piqua during +the action. While the battle continued, he was too closely guarded to +escape to the whites; but upon the dispersion of the savages which +ensued upon the cannonading of the houses into which some of them had +retreated, he was left more at liberty. Availing himself of this +change of situation, he sought to join his friends. He was quickly +discovered by some of them, and mistaken for an Indian. The mistake +was fatal. He received a shot discharged at him, and died in a few +hours. + +Notwithstanding the success of the expeditions commanded by Col. +Broadhead and Gen. Clarke, and the destruction which took place on the +Alleghany, at Coshocton, Chilicothe and Piqua, yet the savages +continued to commit depredations on the frontiers of Virginia. The +winter, as usual, checked them for awhile, but the return of spring, +brought with it, the horrors which mark the progress of an Indian +enemy. In Kentucky and in North Western Virginia, it is true that the +inhabitants did not suffer much by their hostilities in 1781, as in +the preceding years; yet were they not exempt from aggression. + +Early in March a party of Indians invaded the settlements on the upper +branches of Monongahela river; and on the night of the 5th of that +month, came to the house of Capt. John Thomas, near Booth's creek. +Unapprehensive of danger, with his wife and seven children around him, +and with thoughts devotedly turned upon the realities of another +world, this gentleman was engaging in his accustomed devotions when +the savages approached his door; and as he was repeating the first +lines of the hymn, "Go worship at Emanuel's feet," a gun was fired at +him, and he fell. The Indians [226] immediately forced open the door, +and, entering the house, commenced the dreadful work of death. Mrs. +Thomas raised her hands and implored their mercy for herself and her +dear children. It was in vain. The tomahawk was uplifted, and stroke +followed stroke in quick succession, till the mother and six children +lay weltering in blood, by the side of her husband and their father--a +soul-chilling spectacle to any but heartless savages. When all were +down, they proceeded to scalp the fallen, and plundering the house of +what they could readily remove, threw the other things into the fire +and departed--taking with them one little boy a prisoner. + +Elizabeth Juggins, (the daughter of John Juggins who had been murdered +in that neighborhood, the preceding year) was at the house of Capt. +Thomas, when the Indians came to it; but as soon as she heard the +report of the gun and saw Capt. Thomas fall, she threw herself under +the bed, and escaped the observation of the savages. After they had +completed the work of blood and left the house, fearing that they +might be lingering near, she remained in that situation until she +observed the house to be in flames. When she crawled forth from her +asylum, Mrs. Thomas was still alive, though unable to move; and +casting a pitying glance towards her murdered infant, asked that it +might be handed to her. Upon seeing Miss Juggins about to leave the +house, she exclaimed, "Oh Betsy! do not leave us." Still anxious for +her own safety, the girl rushed out, and taking refuge for the night +between two logs, in the morning early spread the alarm. + +When the scene of those enormities was visited, Mrs. Thomas was found +in the yard, much mangled by the tomahawk and considerably torn by +hogs--she had, perhaps in the struggle of death, thrown herself out at +the door. The house, together with Capt. Thomas and the children, was +a heap of ashes.[14] + +In April, Matthias, Simon and Michael Schoolcraft left Buchannon fort, +and went to the head of Stone coal creek for the purpose of catching +pigeons. On their return, they were fired upon by Indians, and +Matthias killed--the other two were taken captive. These were the last +of the Schoolcraft family,--fifteen of them were killed or taken +prisoners in the space of a few years. Of those who were carried into +captivity, none ever returned. They were believed to have consociated +with the savages, and from the report of others [227] who were +prisoners to the Indians, three of them used to accompany war parties, +in their incursions into the settlements. + +In the same month, as some men were returning to Cheat river from +Clarksburg, (where they had been to obtain certificates of +settlement-rights to their lands, from the commissioners appointed to +adjust land claims in the counties of Ohio, Youghiogany and +Monongalia) they, after having crossed the Valley river, were +encountered by a large party of Indians, and John Manear, Daniel +Cameron and a Mr. Cooper were killed,--the others effected their +escape with difficulty. + +The savages then moved on towards Cheat, but meeting with James Brown +and Stephen Radcliff, and not being able to kill or take them, they +changed their course, and passing over Leading creek, (in Tygarts +Valley) nearly destroyed the whole settlement. They there killed +Alexander Roney, Mrs. Dougherty, Mrs. Hornbeck and her children, Mrs. +Buffington and her children, and many others; and made prisoners, Mrs. +Roney and her son, and Daniel Dougherty. Jonathan Buffington and +Benjamin Hornbeck succeeded in making their escape and carried the +doleful tidings to Friend's and Wilson's forts. Col. Wilson +immediately raised a company of men and proceeding to Leading creek, +found the settlement without inhabitants, and the houses nearly all +burned. He then pursued after the savages, but not coming up with them +as soon as was expected, the men became fearful of the consequences +which might result to their own families, by reason of this +abstraction of their defence, provided other Indians were to attack +them, and insisted on their returning. On the second day of the +pursuit, it was agreed that a majority of the company should decide +whether they were to proceeded farther or not. Joseph Friend, Richard +Kettle, Alexander West and Col. Wilson, were the only persons in favor +of going on, and they consequently had to return. + +But though the pursuit was thus abandoned, yet did not the savages get +off with their wonted impunity. When the land claimants, who had been +the first to encounter this party of Indians escaped from them, they +fled back to Clarksburg, and gave the alarm. This was quickly +communicated to the other settlements, and spies were sent out, to +watch for the enemy. By some of these, the savages were discovered on +the West Fork, near the mouth of Isaac's Creek, and intelligence of +it immediately carried to the forts. Col. Lowther [228] collected a +company of men, and going in pursuit, came in view of their +encampment, awhile before night, on a branch of Hughes' river, ever +since known as _Indian creek_. Jesse and Elias Hughs--active, intrepid +and vigilant men--were left to watch the movements of the savages, +while the remainder retired a small distance to refresh themselves, +and prepare to attack them in the morning. + +Before day Col. Lowther arranged his men in order of attack, and when +it became light, on the preconcerted signal being given, a general +fire was poured in upon them. Five of the savages fell dead and the +others fled leaving at their fires, all their shot bags and plunder, +and all their guns, except one. Upon going to their camp, it was found +that one of the prisoners (a son of Alexander Rony who had been killed +in the Leading creek massacre) was among the slain. Every care had +been taken to guard against such an occurrence, and he was the only +one of the captives who sustained any injury from the fire of the +whites.[15] + +In consequence of information received from the prisoners who were +retaken (that a larger party of Indians was expected hourly to come +up,) Col. Lowther [228] deemed it prudent not to go in pursuit of +those who had fled, and collecting the plunder which the savages had +left, catching the horses which [229] they had stolen, and having +buried young Rony, the party set out on its return and marched +home--highly gratified at the success which had crowned their +exertions to punish their untiring foe. + +Some short time after this, John Jackson and his son George, returning +to Buchannon fort, were fired at by some Indians, but fortunately +missed. George Jackson having his gun in his hand, discharged it at a +savage peeping from behind a tree, without effect; and they then rode +off with the utmost speed. + +At the usual period of leaving the forts and returning to their farms, +the inhabitants withdrew from Buchannon and went to their respective +homes. Soon after, a party of savages came to the house of Charles +Furrenash, and made prisoners of Mrs. Furrenash and her four children, +and despoiled their dwelling. Mrs. Furrenash, being a delicate and +weakly woman, and unable to endure the fatigue of travelling far on +foot, was murdered on Hughes' river. Three of the children were +afterwards redeemed and came back,--the fourth was never more heard +of. In a few days after, the husband and father returned from +Winchester (where he had been for salt) and instead of the welcome +greeting of an affectionate wife, and the pleasing prattle of his +innocent children, was saluted with the melancholy intelligence of +their fate. It was enough to make him curse the authors of the +outrage, and swear eternal enmity to the savage race. + +The early period in spring at which irruptions were frequently made by +the savages upon the frontier, had induced a belief, that if the +Moravian Indians did not participate in the bloody deeds of their red +bretren, yet that they afforded to them shelter and protection from +the inclemency of winter, and thus enabled them, by their greater +proximity to the white settlements, to commence depredations earlier +than they otherwise could. The consequence of this belief was, the +engendering in the minds of many, a spirit of hostility towards those +Indians; occasionally threatening a serious result to them. Reports +too, were in circulation, proceeding from restored captives, at war +with the general pacific profession of the Moravians, and which, +whether true or false, served to heighten the acrimony of feeling +towards them, until the militia of a portion of the frontier came to +the determination of breaking up the villages on the Muskingum.[16] To +[230] carry this determination into effect, a body of troops, +commanded by Col. David Williamson, set out for those towns, in the +latter part of the year 1781. Not deeming it necessary to use the fire +and sword, to accomplish the desired object, Col. Williamson resolved +on endeavoring to prevail on them to move farther off; and if he +failed in this, to make prisoners of them all, and take them to Fort +Pitt. Upon his arrival at their towns, they were found to be nearly +deserted, a few Indians only, remaining in them. These were made +prisoners and taken to Fort Pitt; but were soon liberated. + +It is a remarkable fact, that at the time the whites were planning the +destruction of the Moravian villages, because of their supposed +co-operation with the hostile savages, the inhabitants of those +villages were suffering severely from the ill treatment of those very +savages, because of their supposed attachment to the whites. By the +one party, they were charged with affording to Indian war parties, a +resting place and shelter, and furnishing them with provisions. By the +other, they were accused of apprizing the whites of meditated +incursions into the country, and thus defeating their purpose, or +lessening the chance of success; and of being instrumental in +preventing the Delawares from entering in the war which they were +waging. Both charges were probably, well founded, and the Moravian +Indians yet culpable in neither.[17] + +Their villages were situated nearly midway between the frontier +establishments of the whites, and the towns of the belligerent +Indians, and were consequently, convenient resting places for warriors +proceeding to and from the settlements. That they should have +permitted war parties after ravages to refresh themselves there, or +even have supplied them with provisions, does not argue a disposition +to aid or encourage their hostile operations. It was at any time in +the power of those warring savages, to exact by force whatever was +required of the Moravian Indians, and the inclination was not wanting, +to do this or other acts of still greater enormity. That the warriors +were the better enabled to make incursions into the settlements, and +effect their dreadful objects by reason of those accommodations, can +not be questioned; the fault however, lay not in any inimical feeling +of the christian Indians towards the whites, but in their physical +inability to withhold whatever might be demanded of them. + +And although they exerted themselves to prevail on other [231] tribes +to forbear from hostilities against the whites, and apprised the +latter of enterprizes projected against them, yet did not these things +proceed from an unfriendly disposition towards their red brethren. +They were considerate and reflecting, and saw that the savages must +ultimately suffer, by engaging in a war against the settlements; while +their pacific and christian principles, influenced them to forewarn +the whites of impending danger, that it might be avoided, and the +effusion of blood be prevented. But pure and commendable as were, no +doubt, the motives which governed them, in their intercourse with +either party, yet they were so unfortunate as to excite the enmity and +incur the resentment of both, and eventually were made to suffer, +though in different degrees, by both. + +In the fall of 1781, the settlements of the Moravians were almost +entirely broken up by upwards of three hundred warriors, and the +missionaries, residing among them, after having been robbed of almost +every thing, were taken prisoners and carried to Detroit. Here they +were detained until the governor became satisfied that they were +guiltless of any offence meriting a longer confinement; when they were +released & permitted to return to their beloved people. The Indians +were left to shift for themselves in the Sandusky plains where most of +their horses and cattle perished from famine.[18] + +----- + [1] Col. Reuben T. Durrett, in his _Centenary of Louisville_, + p. 47, says that Louisville at this time consisted of Clark's + original block house, with eighteen cabins, on Corn Island, at + the head of the rapids; a small fort at the foot of Third + street, erected by Col. John Floyd in 1779; "a large fort on + the east side of a ravine that entered the Ohio at Twelfth + street, and a few rude log cabins scattered through the woods + near the Twelfth street fort, all occupied by one hundred + inhabitants, who had cleared and cultivated garden-spots around + their humble cabins."--R. G. T. + + [2] The expedition was sent out by Maj. A. S. De Peyster, + then British commandant at Detroit. It was headed by Capt. + Bird, with whom were Simon, James, and George Girty. The force, + as rendezvoused at Detroit, consisted of 150 whites, and 100 + Indians from the Upper Lakes; they carried two cannon. They + were joined on the Miami by Capt. McKee, deputy Indian agent, + and a large party of Indians, making the force of savages + amount to 700.--R. G. T. + + [3] The original destination was Louisville, but en route + the Indian chiefs compelled Bird to first proceed against the + forts on the Licking.--R. G. T. + + [4] A station was a parallelogram of cabins, united by + palisades so as to present a continued wall on the outer side, + the cabin doors opening into a common square, on the inner + side. They were the strong holds of the early settlers. + + [5] There seems to be abundant evidence that Bird, a + competent officer, was humanely inclined; but he was quite in + the power of his savage allies, who would brook little control + of their passions. The number of prisoners taken at Isaac + Ruddell's was nearly 300; about fifty more were taken at + Martin's.--R. G. T. + + [6] The Indians had, contrary to Bird's expostulations, + wantonly slaughtered all the cattle at Ruddell's Station, and + this it was that caused the famine. With an abundance of food + to sustain both prisoners and warriors, Bird might readily have + carried out his purpose of uprooting nearly every settlement in + Kentucky. There is nothing in his official report of the + expedition, to warrant the statement that high water had any + thing to do with the matter.--R. G. T. + + [7] Col. Daniel Brodhead was in command of the Eighth + Pennsylvania Regiment. He succeeded McIntosh at Fort Pitt, in + April, 1779.--R. G. T. + + [8] Brodhead set out from Fort Pitt, April 7, 1781, with 150 + regulars; at Wheeling he picked up David Shepherd, lieutenant + of Ohio County, Va., with 134 militia, including officers; + besides these were five friendly Indians, eager for Delaware + scalps.--R. G. T. + + [9] Salem, established by Heckewelder for his Indian + converts, was on the west bank of the Tuscarawas, a mile and a + half south-west of the present Port Washington.--R. G. T. + + [10] John Gottlieb Ernestus Heckewelder was born at Bedford, + England, March 12, 1743. Coming to Pennsylvania in 1754, he was + at first a cooper, but later became an assistant to Charles + Frederick Post, the Moravian missionary. In 1771, he first + became an evangelist to the Indians, on his own account, and + spent fifteen years in Ohio, where he assisted in the work of + David Zeisberger. He was a man of learning, and made important + contributions to the study of American archaeology and, + ethnology. The last thirteen years of his life were spent in + literary work. He died at Bethlehem, Pa., January 21, + 1823.--R. G. T. + + [11] Called in some of the contemporary chronicles, + Goschocking.--R. G. T. + + [12] Withers here reverts to the Bird invasion in the summer + of 1780, and the escape of Hinkstone from his British captors, + related _ante_, pp. 295-98. Clark's retaliatory expedition was + made during August, 1780.--R. G. T. + + [13] Butterfield, in _History of the Girtys_, p. 121, places + the white loss at seventeen killed, and "a number wounded;" and + the Indian loss at six killed and three wounded. Clark's + nephew, Joseph Rogers, was killed on August 8, the day of the + general engagement. Clark left Piqua, the 10th.--R. G. T. + + [14] I am informed by S. R. Harrison, of Clarksburg, W. Va., + that the bodies of the victims were buried about five rods from + the house, and "the graves are yet marked by the original rude + stones." Mr. Harrison continues, "This burial ground, and also + where the house stood, had never been disturbed until March, + 1888--a hundred and seven years after the massacre--when the + ground about the site of the house was plowed; many interesting + relics were turned up, among them a compass and sun-dial in a + copper case. I myself found a number of relics among the + charred ruins of the house."--R. G. T. + + [15] As soon as the fire was opened upon the Indians, Mrs. + Rony (one of the prisoners) ran towards the whites rejoicing at + the prospect of deliverance, and exclaiming, "I am Ellick + Rony's wife, of the Valley, I am Ellick Rony's wife, of the + Valley, and a pretty little woman too, if I was well dressed." + The poor woman, ignorant of the fact that her son was weltering + in his own gore, and forgetting for an instant that her husband + had been so recently killed, seemed intent only on her own + deliverance from the savage captors. + + Another of the captives, Daniel Dougherty, being tied down, and + unable to move, was discovered by the whites as they rushed + towards the camp. Fearing that he might be one of the enemy and + do them some injury if they advanced, one of the men, stopping, + demanded who he was. Benumbed with cold, and discomposed by the + sudden firing of the whites, he could not render his Irish + dialect intelligible to them. The white man raised his gun and + directed it towards him, calling aloud, that if he did not make + known who he was, he should blow a ball through him, let him be + white man or Indian. Fear supplying him with energy, Dougherty + exclaimed, "Loord Jasus! and am I too be killed by white people + at last!" He was heard by Col. Lowther and his life saved. + + [16] The Moravian Indians were originally from the + Susquehanna River. They moved to the Tuscarawas River in + 1772, under the missionaries Zeisberger and Heckewelder, + who built two villages on the eastern bank of that river, on + land set apart for them by the Delawares: Schoenbrunn, about + three miles south-east of the present New Philadelphia, in + what is now Goshen township, Tuscarawas County, O., and + Gnadenhuetten, lower down, in the outskirts of the present + town of that name, in Clay township. The principal Delaware + town, at that time, was some distance below, near the site of + the present Newcomerstown; this was later moved to what is now + Coshocton, at the confluence of the Tuscarawas and Walholding, + which unite to form the Muskingum. At this time there was a + Moravian village called Friedensstadt, on Beaver River, in what + is now Lawrence County, Pa. In 1776 a new village for the + accommodation of converts was established on the east bank of + the Muskingum, two and a half miles below Coshocton, and called + Lichtenau; William Edwards was the missionary in charge. In + consequence of the disturbances on the border, Schoenbrunn and + Gnadenhuetten were deserted in 1777, and all the teachers + returned to Pennsylvania save Zeisberger and Edwards, who + gathered the Indians together at Lichtenau; but in the spring + of 1778, Gnadenhuetten was re-occupied, with Edwards in + charge. This was not for a long time, however, for in July we + find Zeisberger, Heckewelder, and Edwards in charge of the + union station at Lichtenau, the others being deserted. The + spring of 1779 finds Edwards again at the resuscitated + Gnadenhuetten, Zeisberger re-occupying Schoenbrunn with a + small party, and Heckewelder at Lichtenau. Later in the + season Zeisberger began New Schoenbrunn on the west bank of + the Tuscarawas, in what is now Goshen township, a quarter of a + mile from the present Lockport, and a mile and a quarter + south of New Philadelphia; thither he removed his flock in + December. In the spring of 1780, Heckewelder abandoned + Lichtenau, and took his converts to the west bank of the + Tuscarawas, where he established Salem, in the present Salem + township, a mile and a half north-west of Port Washington. In + the autumn the Moravian villages were in general charge of + Zeisberger, who traveled from one to the other; Gottlob + Senseman being in charge of New Schoenbrunn, Edwards of + Gnadenhuetten, and Heckewelder of Salem. It will thus be seen + that at the time of the massacre, the Moravian villages were + wholly in the valley of the Tuscarawas.--R. G. T. + + [17] Zeisberger and Heckewelder kept Brodhead continually + informed, by letters, of the movements and councils of the + hostiles. The position of the missionaries was one of exceeding + delicacy, but the voluminous correspondence between them and + Brodhead proves that the former were steadfast friends of the + American colonies, and did effective service throughout the + several years of disturbance on the frontier.--R. G. T. + + [18] Brodhead's successful expedition against the Coshocton + Indians, in April, 1781, led to preparations for a retaliatory + foray. Headed by the renegade Capt. Matthew Elliott, a party of + about 250 Indians,--mostly Wyandots, with chiefs Half King, + Pipe, Snip, John and Thomas Snake, and others--assembled at + Gnadenhuetten, for a talk with the Moravian teachers, + preparatory to an expedition against Wheeling. They arrived + August 17, and Zeisberger at once secretly sent a message of + warning to Ft. Pitt, which threw the frontier into alarm, and + caused the garrison at Wheeling to be fully prepared when the + enemy appeared. A boy whom the Wyandots captured outside of + Wheeling told them of Zeisberger's warning, and when the + unsuccessful war party returned to Gnadenhuetten (Sept. 2), + vengeance was wreaked on the Moravians. The town was sacked + that day, and the missionaries were kept as prisoners for + several days. Finally they were released (Sept.6), on promise + that they remove their converts from the line of the warpaths. + September 11, the Moravians and their teachers left Salem in a + body, with but few worldly goods, for most of their property + had been destroyed by the Wyandots. They proceeded down the + Tuscarawas to the mouth of the Walhonding, thence up the latter + stream and Vernon River, and across country to the Sandusky, + where they arrived October 1, and erected a few huts on the + east bank of the river, about two and a-half miles above the + present Upper Sandusky. Fourteen days later, the missionaries + were summoned to appear before the British commandant at + Detroit, Major De Peyster. Zeisberger, Heckewelder, Edwards, + and Senseman left for Detroit, October 25. De Peyster + questioned them closely, and finally released them with the + statement that he would confer with them later, relative to + their final abode. They reached the Sandusky, on their return, + November 22. Meanwhile, the winter had set in early; and in + danger of starving, a party of the Moravians had returned to + the Tuscarawas to gather corn in the abandoned fields; while + there, a party of border rangers took them prisoners and + carried them to Fort Pitt. Brig.-Gen. William Irvine, then in + command, treated the poor converts kindly, and allowed them to + go in peace, many returning to their old villages on the + Tuscarawas, to complete their dismal harvesting.--R. G. T. + + + + +[232] CHAPTER XIV. + + +The revengeful feelings which had been engendered, by inevitable +circumstances, towards the Moravian Indians, and which had given rise +to the expedition of 1781, under Col. Williamson, were yet more deeply +radicated by subsequent events. On the night after their liberation +from Fort Pitt, the family of a Mr. Monteur were all killed or taken +captive; and the outrage, occurring so immediately after they were set +at liberty and in the vicinity of where they were, was very generally +attributed to them. An irruption was made too, in the fall of 1781, +into the settlement on Buffalo creek, and some murders committed and +prisoners taken. One of these, escaping from captivity and returning +soon after, declared that the party committing the aggression, was +headed by a Moravian warrior. + +These circumstances operated to confirm many in the belief, that those +Indians were secretly inimical to the whites, and not only furnished +the savages with provisions and a temporary home, but likewise engaged +personally in the war of extermination, which they were waging against +the frontier. Events occurring towards the close of winter, dispelled +all doubt, from the minds of those who had fondly cherished every +suggestion which militated against the professed, and generally +accredited, neutrality and pacific disposition of the Moravians. + +On the 8th of February 1782, while Henry Fink and his son John, were +engaged in sledding rails, on their farm in the Buchannon settlement, +several guns were simultaneously discharged at them; and before John +had time to reply to his father's inquiry, whether he were hurt, +another gun was fired and he fell lifeless. Having unlinked the chain +which fastened the horse to the sled, the old man [233] galloped +briskly away. He reached his home in safety, and immediately moved his +family to the fort. On the next day the lifeless body of John, was +brought into the fort.--The first shot had wounded his arm; the ball +from the second passed through his heart, & he was afterwards +scalped. + +Near the latter part of the same month, some Indians invaded the +country above Wheeling, and succeeded in killing a Mr. Wallace, and +his family, consisting of his wife and five children, & in taking John +Carpenter a prisoner. The early period of the year at which those +enormities were perpetrated, the inclemency of the winter of 1781--2, +and the distance of the towns of hostile Indians from the theatre of +these outrages, caused many to exclaim, "_the Moravians have certainly +done this deed_." The destruction of their villages was immediately +resolved, and preparations were made to carry this determination into +effect. + +There were then in the North Western wilderness, between three and +four hundred of the christian Indians, and who, until removed by the +Wyandots and whites in 1781, as before mentioned, had resided on the +Muskingum in the villages of the Gnadenhutten, Salem and Shoenbrun. +The society of which they were members, had been established in the +province of Pennsylvania about the year 1752, and in a short time +became distinguished for the good order and deportment of its members, +both as men and as christians. During the continuance of the French +war, they nobly withstood every allurement which was practised to draw +them within its vortex, and expressed their strong disapprobation of +war in general; saying, "that it must be displeasing to that Great +Being, who made men, not to destroy men, but to love and assist each +other." In 1769 emigrants from their villages of Friedenshutten, +Wyalusing and Shesheequon in Pennsylvania, began to make an +establishment in the North Western wilderness, and in a few years, +attained a considerable degree of prosperity, their towns increased +rapidly in population, and themselves, under the teaching of pious and +beneficent missionaries, in civilization and christianity. In the war +of 1774, their tranquil and happy hours were interrupted, by reports +of the ill intention of the whites along the frontier, towards them, +and by frequent acts of annoyance, committed by war parties of the +savages. + +This state of things continued with but little, if any, intermission, +occasionally assuming a more gloomy and portentious aspect, until the +final destruction of their villages. In the spring of 1781, the +principal war chief of the Delawares apprised the missionaries and +them, of the danger which threatened them, as well from the whites as +the savages, and advised them to remove to some situation, where they +would be exempt from molestation by either. Conscious of the rectitude +of their conduct as regarded both, and unwilling to forsake the +comforts which their industry had procured for them, and the fields +rendered productive by their labor, they disregarded the [234] +friendly monition, and continued in their villages, progressing in the +knowledge and love of the Redeemer of men, and practising the virtues +inculcated by his word. + +This was their situation, at the time they were removed to Sandusky, +early in the fall of 1781. When their missionaries and principal men +were liberated by the governor of Detroit, they obtained leave of the +Wyandot chiefs to return to the Muskingum to get the corn which had +been left there, to prevent the actual starvation of their families. +About one hundred and fifty of them, principally women and children +went thither for this purpose, and were thus engaged when the second +expedition under Col. Williamson proceeded against them. + +In March 1782, between eighty and ninety men assembled themselves for +the purpose of effecting the destruction of the Moravian towns.[1] If +they then had in contemplation the achieving of any other injury to +those people, it was not promulgated in the settlements. They avowed +their object to be the destruction of the houses and the laying waste +the crops, in order to deprive the hostile savages of the advantage of +obtaining shelter and provisions, so near to the frontier; and the +removal of the Moravians to Fort Pitt, to preserve them from the +personal injury which, it was feared, would be inflicted on them by +the warriors. Being merely a private expedition, each of the men took +with him, his own arms, ammunition and provisions; and many of them, +their horses. They took up the line of march from the Mingo Bottom, +and on the second night thereafter, encamped within one mile of the +village of Gnadenhutten; and in the morning proceeded towards it, in +the order of attack prescribed by a council of the officers. + +The village being built upon both sides of the river, and the scouts +having discovered and reported that it was occupied on both sides, +one-half the men were ordered to cross over and bear down upon the +town on the western bank, while the other half would possess +themselves of that part of it which lay on the eastern shore. Upon the +arrival of the first division at the river, no boat or other small +craft was seen in which they could be transported across; and they +were for a time, in some difficulty how they should proceed. What +appeared to be a canoe was at length discovered on the opposite bank, +and a young man by the name of Slaughter, plunging in swam to it. It +proved to be a trough for containing sugar water, and capable of +bearing only two persons at a time. To obviate the delay which must +have resulted from this tedious method of conveying themselves over, +many of the men unclothed themselves, and placing their garments, arms +and ammunition in the trough, swam by its sides, notwithstanding that +ice was floating in the current and the water, consequently, cold and +chilling. + +When nearly half this division had thus reached the western bank, two +sentinels, who on the first landing had been stationed a short +distance in advance, discovered and fired at, one of the Indians. +[235] The shot of one broke his arm,--the other killed him. Directions +were then sent to the division which was to operate on the eastern +side of the river, to move directly to the attack, lest the firing +should alarm the inhabitants and they defeat the object which seemed +now to be had in view. The few who had crossed without awaiting for +the others, marched immediately into the town on the western shore. + +Arrived among the Indians, they offered no violence, but on the +contrary, professing peace and good will, assured them, they had come +for the purpose of escorting them safely to Fort Pitt, that they might +no longer be exposed to molestation from the militia of the whites, or +the warriors of the savages. Sick of the sufferings which they had so +recently endured, and rejoicing at the prospect of being delivered +from farther annoyance they gave up their arms, and with alacrity +commenced making preparations for the journey, providing food as well +for the whites, as for themselves. A party of whites and Indians was +next despatched to Salem, to bring in those who were there. They then +shut up the Moravians left at Gnadenhutten, in two houses some +distance apart, and had them well guarded, When the others arrived +from Salem, they were treated in like manner, and shut up in the same +houses with their brethren of Gnadenhutten. + +The division which was to move into the town on the eastern side of +the river, coming unexpectedly upon one of the Indian women, she +endeavored to conceal herself in a bunch of bushes at the water edge, +but being discovered, by some of the men, was quickly killed. She was +the wife of Shabosh, who had been shot by the sentinels of the other +division. Others, alarmed at the appearance of a party of armed men, +and ignorant that a like force was on the opposite side of the river, +attempted to escape thither.--They did not live to effect their +object. Three were killed in the attempt; and the men then crossed +over, with such as they had made prisoners, to join their comrades, in +the western and main part of the town. + +A council of war was then held to determine on the fate of the +prisoners. Col. Williamson having been much censured for the lenity of +his conduct towards those Indians in the expedition of the preceding +year, the officers were unwilling to take upon themseves the entire +responsibility of deciding upon their fate now, and agreed that it +should be left to the men. The line was soon formed, and they were +told it remained with them to say, whether the Moravian prisoners +should be taken to Fort Pitt or murdered; and Col. Williamson +requested that those who were inclined to mercy, should advance and +form a second link, that it might be seen on which side was the +majority. Alas! it required no scrutiny to determine. Only sixteen, or +at most eighteen men, stepped forward to save the lives of this +unfortunate people, and their doom became sealed.[2] + +From the moment those ill fated beings were immured in houses they +seemed to anticipate the horrid destiny which awaited them; [236] and +spent their time in holy and heartfelt devotion, to prepare them for +the awful realities of another world. They sang, they prayed, they +exhorted each other to a firm reliance on the Saviour of men, and +soothed those in affliction with the comfortable assurance, that +although men might kill the body, they had no power over the soul, and +that they might again meet in a better and happier world, "where the +wicked cease from troubling and the weary find rest." When told that +they were doomed to die, they all affectionately embraced, and +bedewing their bosoms with mutual tears, reciprocally sought, and +obtained forgiveness for any offences which they might have given each +other through life. Thus at peace with God, and reconciled with one +another, they replied to those, who impatient for the slaughter had +asked if they were not yet prepared, "Yes! We have commended our souls +to God, and are ready to die." + +What must have been the obduracy of those, who could remain inflexible +in their doom of death, amid such scenes as these? How ruthless & +unrelenting their hearts, who unmoved by the awful spectacle of so +many fellow creatures, preparing for the sudden and violent +destruction of life and asking of their God, mercy for themselves and +forgiveness for their enemies--could yet thirst for blood, and +manifest impatience that its shedding was delayed for an instant? Did +not the possibility of that innocence, which has been ever since so +universally accorded to their victims, once occur to them; or were +their minds so under the influence of exasperation and resentment, +that they ceased to think of any thing, but the gratification of those +feelings? Had they been about to avenge the murder of friends on its +_known authors_, somewhat might have been pardoned to retaliation and +to vengeance; but involving all in one common ruin, for _the supposed +offences_ of a few, there can be no apology for their conduct,--no +excuse for their crime. + +It were well, if all memory of the tragedy at Gnadenhutten, were +effaced from the mind; but it yet lives in the recollection of many +and stands recorded on the polluted page of history.--Impartial truth +requires, that it should be here set down. + +A few of the prisoners, supposed to have been actively engaged in war, +were the first to experience their doom. They were tied and taken some +distance from the houses in which [237] they had been confined; +despatched with spears and tomahawks, and scalped. The remainder of +both sexes, from the hoary head of decrepitude, incapable of wrong, to +helpless infancy, pillowed on its mother's breast, were cruelly & +shockingly murdered; and the different apartments of those houses of +blood, exhibited their bleeding bodies, mangled by the tomahawk, +scalping knife and spear, and disfigured by the war-club and the +mallet.[3] + +Thus perished ninety-six of the Moravian Indians. Of these, sixty-two +were grown persons, one-third of whom were women; the remaining +thirty-four were children.[4] Two youth alone, made their escape. One +of them had been knocked down and scalped, but was not killed. He had +the presence of mind to lie still among the dead, until nightfall, +when he crept silently forth and escaped. The other, in the confusion +of the shocking scene, slipped through a trap door into the cellar, +and passing out at a small window, got off unnoticed and uninjured. + +In the whole of this transaction the Moravians were passive and +unresisting. They confided in the assurances of protection given them +by the whites, and until pent up in the houses, continued cheerful and +happy. If when convinced of the murderous intent of their visitors, +they had been disposed to violence and opposition, it would have +availed them nothing. They had surrendered their arms (being requested +to do so, as a guarantee for the security of the whites,) and were no +longer capable of offering any effectual or available resistance, and +while the dreadful work of death was doing, "they were as lambs led to +the slaughter; & as sheep before the shearers are dumb, so opened they +not their mouths." There was but a solitary exception to this +passiveness, and it was well nigh terminating in the escape of its +author, and in the death of some of the whites. + +As two of the men were leading forth one of the supposed warriors to +death, a dispute arose between them, who should have the scalp of this +victim to their barbarity. He was progressing after them with a silent +dancing motion, and singing his death song. Seeing them occupied so +closely with each other, he became emboldened to try an escape. +Drawing a knife from its scabbard, he cut the cord which bound him; +and springing forward, aimed a thrust at one of his conductors. The +cutting of the rope had, however, drawn it so [238] tightly that he +who held it became sensible that it was wrought upon in some way; and +turning quickly round to ascertain the cause, scarcely avoided the +stab. The Indian then bounded from them, and as he fled towards the +woods, dexterously removed the cord from his wrists. Several shots +were discharged at him without effect, when the firing was stopped, +lest in the hurry and confusion of the pursuit, some of their own +party might suffer from it. A young man, mounting his horse, was soon +by the side of the Indian, and springing off, his life had well nigh +been sacrificed by his rashness. He was quickly thrown to the ground, +and the uplifted tomahawk about to descend on his head, when a timely +shot, directed with fatal precision, took effect on the Indian and +saved him. + +Had the Moravians been disposed for war, they could easily have +ensured their own safety, and dealt destruction to the whites. If, +when their town was entered by a party of only sixteen, their thirty +men, aided by the youths of the village, armed and equipped as all +were, had gone forth in battle array, they could have soon cut off +those few; and by stationing some gunners on the bank of the river, +have prevented the landing of the others of the expedition. But their +faith in the sincerity of the whites--their love of peace and +abhorrence of war, forbade it; and the confidence of those who first +rushed into the town, in these feelings and dispositions of the +Indians, no doubt prompted them to that act of temerity, while an +unfordable stream was flowing between them and their only support. + +During the massacre at Gnadenhutten, a detachment of the whites was +ordered to Shoenbrun to secure the Moravians who were there. +Fortunately however, two of the inhabitants of this village had +discovered the dead body of Shabosh in time to warn their brethren of +danger, and they all moved rapidly off. When the detachment arrived, +nothing was left for them _but plunder_.--_This was secured_, and they +returned to their comrades. Gnadenhutten was then _pillaged_ of every +article of value which could be easily removed; its houses--even those +which contained the dead bodies of the Moravians--were burned to +ashes, and the men set out on their return to the settlements.[5] + +The expedition against the Moravian towns on the Muskingum, was +projected and carried on by inhabitants of the [239] western counties +of Pennsylvania,--a district of country which had long been the +theatre of Indian hostilities. Its result (strange as it may now +appear) was highly gratifying to many; and the ease with which so much +_Indian_ blood had been made to flow, coupled with an ardent desire to +avenge the injuries which had been done them by the savages, led to +immediate preparations for another, to be conducted on a more +extensive scale, and requiring the co-operation of more men. And +although the completion of the work of destruction, which had been so +successfully begun, of the Moravian Indians, was the principal +inducement of some, yet many attached themselves to the expedition, +from more noble and commendable motives. + +The residence of the Moravians ever since they were removed to the +plains of Sandusky, was in the immediate vicinity of the Wyandot +villages, and the warriors from these had been particularly active +and untiring in their hostility to the frontier settlements of +Pennsylvania. The contemplated campaign against the Moravians, was +viewed by many as affording a fit opportunity to punish those savages +for their many aggressions, as it would require that they should +proceed but a short distance beyond the point proposed, in order +to arrive at their towns; and they accordingly engaged in it for that +purpose. + +Other causes too, conspired to fill the ranks and form an army for the +accomplishment of the contemplated objects.--The commandants of the +militia of Washington and Westmoreland counties (Cols. Williamson +and Marshall)[6] encouraged the inhabitants to volunteer on this +expedition, and made known, that every militia man who accompanied +it, finding his own horse and gun, and provisions for a month, +should be exempt from two tours of militia duty; and that all +horses unavoidably lost in the service, should be replaced from those +taken in the Indian country. From the operation of these different +causes, an army of nearly five hundred men was soon raised, who being +supplied with ammunition by the Lieutenant Colonel of Washington +county, proceeded to the Old Mingo towns, the place of general +rendezvous--where an election was held to fill the office of commander +of the expedition.[7] The candidates were Colonel Williamson and +Colonel Crawford; and the latter gentleman being chosen immediately +organized the troops, and prepared to march. + +[240] On the 25th of May, the army left the Mingo towns, and pursuing +"Williamson's trail," arrived at the upper Moravian town on the +Muskingum (Shoenbrun,) where (finding plenty of corn of the preceding +year's crop, yet on the stalk) they halted to refresh their horses. +While here, Captains Brenton and Bean, discovered and fired upon two +Indians; and the report of the guns being heard in camp, the men, in +despite of the exertions of their officers, rushed towards the source +of alarm, in the most tumultuous and disorderly manner.--Colonel +Crawford, used to the discipline of continental soldiers, saw in the +impetuosity and insubordination of the troops under his command, +enough to excite the liveliest apprehensions for the event of the +expedition. He had volunteered to go on the campaign, only in +compliance with the general wish of the troops that he should head +them, and when chosen commander in chief of the forces assembled at +the Mingo towns, he is said to have accepted the office with +reluctance, not only sensible of the impracticability of controlling +men unused to restraint, but opposed to some of the objects of the +expedition, and the frequently expressed determination of the troops, +to spare no Indian whom accident or the fortune of war should place in +their power. + +From Shoenbrun the army proceeded as expeditiously as was practicable +to the site of the Moravian village, near the Upper Sandusky; but +instead of meeting with this oppressed and persecuted tribe, or having +gained an opportunity of plundering their property, they saw nothing +which manifested that it had been the residence of man, save a few +desolate and deserted huts,--the people, whom it was their intention +to destroy, had some time before, most fortunately for themselves, +moved to the Scioto. + +Discontent and dissatisfaction ensued upon the disappointment. The +guides were ignorant of there being any Indian towns nearer than those +on Lower Sandusky, and the men became impatient to return home. In +this posture of affairs, a council of war, consisting of the field +officers and captains, was held, and it was resolved to move forward, +and if no enemy appeared that day, to retrace their steps. Just after +this determination was made known, an express arrived, from a +detachment of mounted men, which had been sent forward to reconnoitre, +with information that about three miles in advance a large body of +Indians had been discovered hastening [241] rapidly to meet them. The +fact was, that Indian spies had watched and reported the progress of +the expedition, ever after it left the Mingo towns; and when satisfied +of its destination, every arrangement which they could make to defeat +its object, and involve the troops in the destruction to which it was +their purpose to consign others, was begun by the savages. Having +perfected these, they were marching on to give battle to the whites. + +Immediately upon the reception of this intelligence, the army moved +forward, and meeting the reconnoitreing party coming in, had proceeded +but a short distance farther, when they came in view of the Indians +hastening to occupy a small body of woods, in the midst of an +extensive plain. The battle was then begun by a heavy fire from both +sides, and the savages prevented gaining possession of the woods. A +party of them having however, taken post in them before the whites +came up, continued much to annoy the troops, until some of them, +alighting from their horses, bravely rushed forward and dislodged +them. The Indians then attempted to gain a small skirt of wood on +Colonel Crawford's right; but the vigilance of the commanding officer +of the right wing, (Major Leet) detected the movement, and the bravery +of his men defeated it. The action now became general and severe and +was warmly contested until dark, when it ceased for a time without +having been productive of much advantage to either side. During the +night, both armies lay on their arms; adopting the wise policy of +kindling large fires along the line of battle, and retreating some +distance behind them, to prevent being surprised by a night attack. + +Early in the morning a few shots were fired, but at too great distance +for execution. The Indians were hourly receiving reinforcements, and +seemed busily engaged in active preparations for a decisive +conflict. The whites became uneasy at their increasing strength; +and a council of the officers deemed it expedient to retreat. As it +would be difficult to effect this in open day, in the presence of +an enemy of superior force, it was resolved to postpone it until +night, making in the mean time every arrangement to ensure its +success.--The killed were buried, and fires burned over the graves +to prevent discovery,--litters were made for bearing the wounded, and +the army was formed into three lines with them in the centre. + +[242] The day passed, without an attack being made by the Indians. +They were still seen to traverse the plains in every direction, and in +large bodies; and not until the troops were about forming the line of +retreat, did they seem to have any idea that such a movement was +intended. They then commenced firing a few shots, and in a little +while it became apparent that they had occupied every pass, leaving +open only that which led to Sandusky. Along this way, the guides +conducted the main army, until they had passed the Indian lines about +a mile; when wheeling to the left, they marched round and gained the +trail of their outward march. Continuing in this they proceeded to the +settlements without any interruption.--The savage warriors thinking it +better to follow detached parties than the main army. + +The few shots which were fired by the Indians as the whites were +forming the line of retreat, were viewed by many as evidence that +their purpose had been discovered, and that these were signal guns +preceding a general attack. Under these impressions, the men in +front hurried off and others following the example, at least one +third of the army were to be seen flying in detached parties, and +in different directions from that taken by the main body, supposing +that the attention of the Indians would be wholly turned to this +point. They were not permitted to proceed far under this delusive +supposition. Instead of following the main army, the Indians pursued +those small parties with such activity, that not many of those +composing them were able to escape;--one company of forty men under +a Captain Williamson,[8] was the only party detached from the +principal body of the troops, fortunate enough to get with the +main army on its retreat. Late in the night, they broke through the +Indian lines under a heavy fire and with some loss, and on the +morning of the second day of the retreat, again joined their comrades +in the expedition, who had marched off in a body; in compliance +with the orders of the commander-in-chief. + +Colonel Crawford himself proceeded at the head of the army for some +short distance, when missing his son, his son-in-law (Major Harrison) +and two nephews,[9] he stopped to enquire for them. Receiving no +satisfactory information respecting either of them, he was induced +through anxiety for their fate to continue still, until all had +passed on, when he resumed his flight, in company with doctor +Knight[10] and two [243] others. For their greater security, they +travelled some distance apart, but from the jaded and exhausted +condition of their horses could proceed but slowly. One of the two men +in company with the Colonel and doctor Knight, would frequently fall +some distance behind the others, and as frequently call aloud for them +to wait for him. Near the Sandusky creek he hallooed to them to halt, +but the yell of a savage being heard near him, they went on and never +again was _he heard of_. About day, Colonel Crawford's horse gave out +and he was forced to proceed on foot, as was also the other of the two +who had left the field with him and Knight. They continued however to +travel together, and soon overtook Captain Biggs, endeavoring to +secure the safety of himself and Lieutenant Ashly, who had been so +badly wounded that he was unable to ride alone. A heavy fall of rain +induced them to halt, and stripping the bark from some trees, they +formed a tolerable shelter from the storm, and remained there all +night. In the morning they were joined by another of the troops, when +their company consisted of six--Colonel Crawford and Doctor Knight, +who kept about an hundred yards in front--Captain Biggs and Lieutenant +Ashly, in the center; and the other two men in the rear. They +proceeded in this way about two miles, when a party of Delawares +suddenly sprang from their hiding places into the road, and making +prisoners of Colonel Crawford and Doctor Knight, carried them to the +Indian camp near to where they then were. On the next day the scalps +of Captain Biggs and Lieutenant Ashly, were brought in by another +party of Indians who had been likewise watching the road. From the +encampment, they were led, in company with nine other prisoners, to +the old Wyandot town, from which place they were told they would be +taken to the new town, not far off. Before setting out from this +place, Colonel Crawford and Doctor Knight were painted black by +Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief, who told the former, that he intended +to have him shaved when he arrived among his friends, and the latter +that he was to be carried to the Shawnee town, to see some of his old +acquaintance. The nine prisoners were then marched off in front of +Colonel Crawford and Doctor Knight, who were brought on by Pipe and +Wingenim,[11] another of the Delaware chiefs. As they went on, they +passed the bodies of four of the captives, who had been tomahawked and +scalped on the way, and came [244] to where the remaining five were, +in time to see them suffer the same fate from the hands of squaws and +boys. The head of one of them (John McKinley, formerly an officer in +one of the Virginia regiments) was cut off, and for some time kicked +about on the ground. A while afterwards they met Simon Girty and +several Indians on horseback; when Col. Crawford was stripped naked, +severely beaten with clubs and sticks, and made to sit down near a +post which had been planted for the purpose, and around which a fire +of poles was burning briskly. His hands were then pinioned behind him, +and a rope attached to the band around his wrist and fastened to the +foot of a post about fifteen feet high, allowing him liberty only to +sit down, or walk once or twice round it, and return the same way. +Apprehensive that he was doomed to be burned to death, he asked Girty +if it were possible that he had been spared from the milder +instruments of the tomahawk and scalping knife, only to suffer the +more cruel death by fire. "_Yes, said Girty, composedly, you must be +burned Colonel._" "It is dreadful, replied Crawford, but I will +endeavor to bear it patiently." Captain Pipe then addressed the +savages in an animated speech, at the close of which, they rent the +air with hideous yells, and immediately discharged a number of loads +of powder at the naked body of their victim. His ears were then cut +off, and while the men would apply the burning ends of the poles to +his flesh, the squaws threw coals and hot embers upon him, so that in +a little time he had too, to walk on fire. In the midst of these +sufferings, he begged of the infamous Girty to shoot him. That worse +than savage monster, tauntingly replied, "how can I? you see I have no +gun," and laughed heartily at the scene. + +For three hours Colonel Crawford endured the most excruciating agonies +with the utmost fortitude, when faint and almost exhausted, he +commended his soul to God, and laid down on his face. He was then +scalped, and burning coals being laid on his head and back, by one of +the squaws, he again arose and attempted to walk; but strength failed +him and he sank into the welcome arms of death. His body was then +thrown into the fire and consumed to ashes.[12] + +Of the whole of this shocking scene, Doctor Knight was [245] an +unwilling spectator; and in the midst of it was told by Girty, that it +should be his fate too, when he arrived at the Shawanee towns. These +were about forty miles distant; and he was committed to the care of a +young warrior to be taken there. On the first day they travelled about +twenty-five miles, and when they stopped for the night, the Doctor was +securely fastened. In vain did he anxiously watch for an opportunity +to endeavor to [244] release himself from the cords which bound him. +The Indian was vigilant and slept none. About day light they arose, +and while the Indian was kindling a fire, the gnats were so +troublesome that he untied his prisoner, and set him likewise to +making a fire to relieve them from the annoyance. The doctor took a +burning coal between two sticks, and going behind the Indian towards +the spot at which he was directed to excite a smoke, turned suddenly +around, and struck the savage with all his force. The Indian fell +forward, but quickly recovering and seeing his gun in the hands of his +assailant, ran off, howling hideously.--The anxiety of Doctor Knight, +saved the life of the savage.--When he seized the gun, he drew back +the cock in such haste and with so much violence as to break the main +spring and render it useless to him; but as the Indian was ignorant of +this circumstance, he continued his flight and the doctor was then +enabled to escape. After a toilsome travel of twenty-one days, during +which time he subsisted altogether on wild gooseberries, young +nettles, a raw terrapin and two young birds, he arrived safely at Fort +McIntosh--meagre, emaciated and almost famished. + +Another instance of great good-fortune occurred in the person of John +Slover,[13] who was also made prisoner after having travelled more +than half the distance from the fatal scene of [246] action to Fort +Pitt. When only eight years of age he had been taken by some Indians +on New river, and detained in captivity for twelve years. In this time +he became well acquainted with their manners and customs, and attached +to their mode of living so strongly, that when ransomed by his +friends, he left his Indian companions with regret. He had become too, +while with them, familiar with the country north west of the Ohio, and +an excellent woodsman; and in consequence of these attainments was +selected a principal guide to the army on its outward march. When a +retreat was prematurely began to be made by detached parties, he was +some distance from camp, and having to equip himself for flight, was +left a good way in the rear. It was not long however, before he came +up with a party, whose horses were unable to extricate themselves from +a deep morass, over which they had attempted to pass. Slover's was +soon placed in the same unpleasant situation, and they all, alighting +from them, proceeded on foot. In this manner they traveled on until +they had nearly reached the Tuscarawa, when a party of savages from +the way side, fired upon them. One of the men was killed, Slover and +two others made prisoners, & the fifth escaped to Wheeling. + +Those taken captive were carried first to Wachatomakah (a small town +of the Mingoes and Shawanees,) from whence after having been severely +beaten, they were conducted to a larger town two miles farther. On +their arrival here, they had all to pass through the usual ceremonies +of running the gauntlet; and one of them who had been stripped of his +clothes and painted black, was most severely beaten, mangled, and +killed, and his body cut in pieces and placed on poles outside the +town. Here too, Slover saw the dead bodies of Col. McClelland, Major +Harrison and John Crawford; and learned that they had all been put to +death but a little while before his arrival there; and although he was +spared for some time, yet every thing which he saw acted towards other +prisoners, led him to fear that he was reserved for a more cruel fate, +whenever the whim of the instant should suggest its consummation. At +length an express arrived from Detroit with a speech for the warriors, +which decided his doom. Being decyphered from the belt of wampum which +contained it, the speech began by enquiring why they continued to take +prisoners, and said, "Provisions are scarce and when you send in [247] +prisoners, we have them to feed, and still some of them are getting +off, and carrying tidings of our affairs. When any of your people are +taken by the rebels, they shew no mercy. Why then should you? My +children take no more prisoners of any sort, men, women, or children." +Two days after the arrival of the express with this speech, a council +of the different tribes of Indians near, was held, and it was +determined to act in conformity with the advice of the Governor of +Detroit. Slover was then the only white prisoner at this town; and on +the morning after the council was dissolved, about forty warriors came +to the house where he was, and tying a rope around his neck, led him +off to another village, five miles distant. Here again he was severely +beaten with clubs & the pipe end of the tomahawk, & then tied to a +post, around which were piles of wood. These were soon kindled, but a +violent rain falling unexpectedly, extinguished the flames, before +they had effected him. It was then agreed to postpone his execution, +until the next day, and being again beaten and much wounded by their +blows, he was taken to a block house, his hands tied, the rope about +his neck fastened to a beam of the building, and three warriors left +to guard him for the night. + +If the feelings of Slover would have permitted him to enjoy sleep, the +conduct of the guard would have prevented it. They delighted in +keeping alive in his mind the shocking idea of the suffering which he +would have to endure, & frequently asking him "how he would like to +eat fire," tormented him nearly all night. Awhile before day however, +they fell asleep, and Slover commenced untying himself. Without much +difficulty he loosened the cord from his arms, but the ligature around +his neck, of undressed buffalo-hide, seemed to defy his exertions to +remove it; and while he was endeavoring to gnaw it in vain, one of the +sleeping Indians, rose up and going near to him, sat and smoked his +pipe for some time. Slover lay perfectly still, apprehensive that all +chance of escape was now lost to him. But no--the Indian again +composed himself to sleep, and the first effort afterwards made, to +loose the band from his neck by slipping it over his head, resulted in +leaving Slover entirely unbound. He then crept softly from the house +and leaping a fence, gained the cornfield. Passing on, as he +approached a tree, he espied a squaw with several children lying at +its root; and fearing that some of them might discover him and give +the alarm of his [248] escape, he changed his course. He soon after +reached a glade, in which were several horses, one of which he +caught; and also found a piece of an old rug, which afforded him his +only covering until he reached Wheeling. This he was enabled to do in +a few days, being perfectly acquainted with the country. + +The town, from which Slover escaped, was the one to which Dr. +Knight was to have been taken. The Indian who had him in charge, +came in while Slover was there, and reported his escape--magnifying +the Doctor's stature to gigantic size and attributing to him +herculean strength. When Slover acquainted the warriors with the +fact, that Doctor Knight was diminutive and effeminate, they laughed +heartily at this Indian, and mocked at him for suffering the escape. +He however bore a mark which showed that, weak and enfeebled as he +was, the Doctor had not played booty when he aimed the blow at his +conductor.--It had penetrated to the skull and made a gash of full +four inches length. + +These are but few of the many incidents which no doubt occurred, to +individuals who endeavored to effect an escape by detaching themselves +from the main army. The number of those, thus separated from the +troops, who had the good fortune to reach the settlements, was small +indeed; and of the many of them who fell into the hands of the +savages, Knight and Slover are believed to be the only persons, who +were so fortunate as to make an escape. The precise loss sustained in +the expedition, was never ascertained, and is variously represented +from ninety to one hundred and twenty. + +Among those of the troops who went out under Col. Crawford, that came +into Wheeling, was a man by the name of Mills.[14] Having rode very +fast, and kept his horse almost continually travelling, he was forced +to leave him, near to the present town of St. Clairsville in Ohio. Not +liking the idea of loosing him altogether, upon his arrival at +Wheeling he prevailed on Lewis Wetsel[15] to go with him to the place +where his horse gave out, to see if they could not find him. +Apprehensive that the savages would pursue the fugitives to the +border of the settlements, Wetsel advised Mills that their path would +not be free from dangers, and counselled him to "prepare for +fighting." + +When they came near to the place where the horse had been left, they +met a party of about forty Indians going towards [249] the Ohio river +and who discovered Mills and Wetsel as soon as these saw them. Upon +the first fire from the Indians Mills was wounded in the heel, and +soon overtaken and killed. Wetzel singled out his mark, shot, and +seeing an Indian fall, wheeled and ran. He was immediately followed by +four of the savages, who laid aside their guns that they might the +more certainly overtake him. Having by practice, acquired the art of +loading his gun as he ran, Wetsel was indifferent how near the savages +approached him, if he were out of reach of the rifles of the others. +Accordingly, keeping some distance ahead of his pursuers whilst +re-loading his gun, he relaxed his speed until the foremost Indian had +got within ten or twelve steps of him. He then wheeled, shot him dead, +and again took to flight. He had now to exert his speed to keep in +advance of the savages 'till he should again load, & when this was +accomplished and he turned to fire, the second Indian was near enough +to catch hold of the gun, when as Wetsel expressed it, "_they had a +severe wring_." At length he succeed in raising the muzzle to the +breast of his antagonist, and killed him also. + +In this time both the pursuers and pursued had become much jaded, and +although Wetsel had consequently a better opportunity of loading +quickly, yet taught wariness by the fate of their companions, the two +remaining savages would spring behind trees whenever he made a +movement like turning towards them. Taking advantage of a more open +piece of ground, he was enabled to fire on one of them who had sought +protection behind a sapling too small to screen his body. The ball +fractured his thigh, and produced death. The other, instead of +pressing upon Wetsel, uttered a shrill yell, and exclaiming, "no catch +_him_, gun always loaded," returned to his party. + +----- + [1] One hundred and eighty-six men, mounted, from the + Monongahela settlements. Early in March, 1782, they assembled + under David Williamson, colonel of one of the militia + battalions of Washington County, Pa., on the east bank of the + Ohio, a few miles below Steubenville. The water was high, the + weather cold and stormy, and there were no boats for crossing + over to Mingo Bottom. Many turned back, but about two + hundred succeeded in crossing. The expedition was not a + "private" affair, but was regularly authorized by the military + authority of Washington County; its destination was not the + Moravian settlements, but the hostile force, then supposed + to be on the Tuscarawas river. It seems to have generally + been understood on the border that the Moravian towns were + now deserted.--R. G. T. + + [2] Contemporary accounts speak of a council of war, held in + the evening, at which this question was decided. But a small + majority voted for the butchery; Williamson himself was in the + minority. Dorsey Pentecost, writing from Pittsburg, May 8, 1782 + (see _Penn. Arch._, ix., p. 540), says: "I have heard it + intimated that about thirty or forty only of the party gave + their consent or assisted in the catastrophe."--R. G. T. + + [3] Lineback's Relation (_Penn. Arch._, ix., p. 525) says: + "In the morning, the militia chose two houses, which they + called the 'slaughter houses,' and then brought the Indians two + or three at a time, with ropes about their necks, and dragged + them into the slaughter houses where they knocked them down." + This accords with Heckewelder's _Narrative_, p. 320, which says + they were knocked down with a cooper's mallet. The victims + included those converts living at Salem, who had peaceably come + in to Gnadenhuetten with their captors; but those at New + Schoenbrunn had taken the alarm and fled.--R. G. T. + + [4] Later authorities put the total number at + ninety--twenty-nine men, twenty-seven women, and thirty-four + children.--R. G. T. + + [5] Salem, New Schoenbrunn and Gnadenhuetten were all + destroyed by fire. The whites returned home the following day, + with ninety-six scalps--ninety Moravians and six outlying + Indians. It seems certain that a few hostiles were with the + Moravians at the time of the massacre.--R. G. T. + + [6] David Williamson, as previously seen, was a colonel of + militia in Washington County, Pa.; James Marshal, as county + lieutenant of Washington, was his superior officer.--R. G. T. + + [7] The place of rendezvous was Mingo Bottom (the present + Mingo Junction, O.), and the date May 20. It was the 24th + before all were present. The volunteers numbered 480, of + whom two-thirds were from Washington County; most of the + others were from Fayette County, Pa., and a few from Ohio + County, Va. In the vote for commander, William Crawford + received 235, and Williamson 230. Four field majors were + elected to rank in the order named: Williamson, Thomas + Gaddis, John McClelland, and one Brinton. The standard + modern authority for the details of this expedition, is + Butterfield's _Crawford's Expedition Against Sandusky_ + (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1873).--R. G. T. + + [8] Col. David Williamson.--R. G. T. + + [9] His son John, his son-in-law Major William Harrison, and + one of his nephews,--not two,--William Crawford. They were + captured by the Indians and killed.--R. G. T. + + [10] Dr. John Knight, surgeon to the expedition. He was + captured, and sentenced to death, but after thrilling + adventures finally escaped.--R. G. T. + + [11] Wingenund.--R. G. T. + + [12] Colonel Crawford was then about fifty years of age, and + had been an active warrior against the savages for a great + while. During [245] the French war, he distinguished himself by + his bravery and good conduct, and was much noticed by General + Washington, who obtained for him an ensigncy. At the + commencement of the revolution, he raised a regiment by his own + exertions, and at the period of this unfortunate expedition, + bore the commission of Colonel in the Continental army. He + possessed a sound judgment, was a man of singular good nature + and great humanity, and remarkable for his hospitality. His + melancholy sufferings and death spread a gloom over the + countenances of all who knew him. His son, John Crawford, and + his son-in-law, Major Harrison, were taken prisoners, carried + to the Shawanee towns and murdered. + + ------ + + _Comment by R. G. T._--Crawford was born in 1732, in Orange + County, Va., of Scotch-Irish parentage. He made the friendship + of Washington while the latter was surveying for Lord Fairfax, + in the Shenandoah Valley, in 1749. Washington taught him his + art, but in 1755 he abandoned it for a military life, and + thenceforward was a prominent character on the frontier, often + serving under Washington. From 1767 forward, his home was on + the banks of the Youghiogheny, on Braddock's Road. Crawford + fought in Dunmore's War, and throughout the Revolution did + notable service on the Virginia border. + + [13] John Slover, one of the guides to the expedition, was + among the best known scouts of his day, on the Upper Ohio. His + published _Narrative_ is a prime source of information relative + to the events of the campaign.--R. G. T. + + [14] Thomas Mills.--R. G. T. + + [15] Lewis Wetzel, a noted Indian fighter. See p. 161, + _note_.--R. G. T. + + + + +[250] CHAPTER XV. + + +While expeditions were carrying on by the whites, against the Moravian +and other Indians, the savages were prosecuting their accustomed +predatory and exterminating war, against several of the settlements. +Parties of Indians, leaving the towns to be defended by the united +exertions of contiguous tribes, would still penetrate to the abode of +the whites, and with various success, strive to avenge on them their +real and fancied wrongs. + +On the 8th of March as William White, Timothy Dorman and his wife, +were going to, and in site of Buchannon fort, some guns were +discharged at them, and White being shot through the hip soon fell +from his horse, and was tomahawked, scalped and lacerated in the most +frightful manner.[1]--Dorman and his wife were taken prisoners. The +people in the fort heard the firing and flew to arms; but the river +being between, the savages cleared themselves, while the whites were +crossing over. + +After the killing of White (one of their most active and vigilant +warriors and spies) and the capture of Dorman, it was resolved to +abandon the fort, and seek elsewhere, security from the greater ills +which it was found would befall them if they remained. This +apprehension arose from the fact, that Dorman was then with the +savages, and that to gratify his enmity to particular individuals in +the settlement, he would unite with the Indians, and _from his +knowledge of the_ [251] _country, be enabled_ to conduct them the more +securely to blood and plunder. He was a man of sanguinary and +revengeful disposition, prone to quarrelling, and had been known to +say, that if he caught particular individuals with whom he was at +variance, in the woods alone, he would murder them and attribute it to +the savages. He had led, when in England, a most abandoned life, and +after he was transported to this country, was so reckless of +reputation and devoid of shame for his villainies, that he would often +recount tales of theft and robbery in which he had been a conspicuous +actor. The fearful apprehensions of increased and aggravated injuries +after the taking of him prisoner, were well-founded; and subsequent +events fully proved, that, but for the evacuation of the fort, and the +removal of the inhabitants, all would have fallen before the fury of +savage warriors, with this abandoned miscreant at their head. + +While some of the inhabitants of that settlement were engaged in +moving their property to a fort in Tygart's Valley (the others +removing to Nutter's fort and Clarksburg,) they were fired upon by a +party of savages, and two of them, Michael Hagle and Elias Paynter, +fell. The horse on which John Bush was riding, was shot through; yet +Bush succeeded in extricating himself from the falling animal, and +escaped though closely pursued by one of the savages. Several times +the Indian following him, would cry out to him, "_Stop, and you shall +not be hurt--If you do not, I will shoot you_," and once Bush, nearly +exhausted, and in despair of getting off, actually relaxed his pace +for the purpose of yielding himself a prisoner, when turning round he +saw the savage stop also, and commence loading his gun. This inspired +Bush with fear for the consequences, and renewing his flight he made +his escape. Edward Tanner, a mere youth, was soon taken prisoner, and +as he was being carried to their towns, met between twenty and thirty +savages, headed by Timothy Dorman, proceeding to attack Buchannon +fort. Learning from him that the inhabitants were moving from it, and +that it would be abandoned in a few days, the Indians pursued their +journey with so much haste, that Dorman had well nigh failed from +fatigue. They arrived however, too late, for the accomplishment of +their bloody purpose; the settlement was deserted, and the inhabitants +safe within the walls of other fortresses. + +[252] A few days after the evacuation of the fort, some of its former +inmates went from Clarksburg to Buchannon for grain which had been +left there. When they came in sight, they beheld a heap of ashes where +the fort had been; and proceeding on, became convinced that the +savages were yet lurking about. They however, continued to go from +farm to farm collecting the grain, but with the utmost vigilance and +caution, and at night went to an out house, near where the fort had +stood. Here they found a paper, with the name of Timothy Dorman +attached to it, dated at the Indian towns, and containing information +of those who had been taken captive in that district of country. + +In the morning early, as some of the men went from the house to the +mill, they saw the savages crossing the river, Dorman being with +them. Thinking it best to impress them with a belief that they were +able to encounter them in open conflict, the men advanced towards +them,--calling to their companions in the house, to come on. The +Indians fled hastily to the woods, and the whites, not so rash as to +pursue them, returned to the house, and secured themselves in it, as +well as they could. At night, Captain George Jackson went privately +forth from the house, and at great hazzard of being discovered by +the waylaying savages, proceeded to Clarksburg, where he obtained such +a reinforcement as enabled him to return openly and escort his +former companions in danger, from the place of its existence. + +Disappointed in their hopes of involving the inhabitants of the +Buchannon settlements in destruction, the savages went on to the +Valley. Here, between Westfall's and Wilson's forts, they came upon +John Bush and his wife, Jacob Stalnaker and his son Adam. The two +latter being on horse back and riding behind Bush and his wife, were +fired at, and Adam fell. The old gentleman, rode briskly on, but some +of the savages were before him and endeavored to catch the reins of +his bridle, and thus stop his flight. He however, escaped them all. +The horse from which Adam Stalnaker had fallen, was caught by Bush, +and both he and Mrs. Bush got safely away on him. + +The Indians then crossed the Alleghany mountains, and coming to the +house of Mrs. Gregg, (Dorman's former master) made an attack on it. A +daughter of that gentleman, alone fell a victim to their thirst for +blood. When taken prisoner, [253] she refused to go with them, and +Dorman sunk his tomahawk into her head and then scalped her. She +however, lived several days and related the circumstances above +detailed. + +After the murder of John Thomas and his family in 1781, the settlement +on Booth's creek was forsaken, and its inhabitants went to Simpson's +creek, for greater security. In the Spring John Owens procured the +assistance of some young men about Simpson's creek, and proceeded to +Booth's creek for the purpose of threshing some wheat at his farm +there.--While on a stack throwing down sheaves, several guns were +fired at him by a party of twelve Indians, concealed not far off. +Owens leapt from the stack, and the men caught up their guns. They +could not, however, discover any one of the savages in their covert +and thought it best to retreat to Simpson's creek and strengthen their +force before they ventured in pursuit of their enemy. They accordingly +did so, and when they came again to Booth's creek, the Indians had +decamped, taking with them the horses left at Owens'. The men however +found their trail and followed it until night.--Early next morning, +crossing the West Fork at Shinnston, they went on in pursuit and came +within sight of the Indian camp, and seeing some of the savages lying +near their fires, fired at them, but, as was believed without effect. +The Indians again took to flight; and as they were hastening on, one +of them suddenly wheeled and fired upon his pursuers. The ball passed +through the hunting-shirt of one of the men, & Benjamin Coplin (then +an active, enterprising young man) returning the shot, an Indian was +seen suddenly to spring into a laurel thicket. Not supposing that +Coplin's ball had taken effect, they followed the other savages some +distance farther, and as they returned got the horses and plunder left +at the camp. Some time afterwards a gun was found in the thicket, into +which the Indian sprang, and it was then believed that Coplin's shot +had done execution. + +In the same spring the Indians made their appearance on Crooked run, +in Monongalia county. Mr. Thomas Pindall, having been one day at +Harrison's fort, at a time when a greater part of the neighbourhood +had gone thither for safety, prevailed on three young men, (Harrison, +Crawford and Wright, to return and spend the night with him.) Some +time after they had been abed, the females waked Mr. Pindall, and +telling him that they had heard several times a noise very much [254] +resembling the whistling on a charger, insisted on going directly to +the fort. The men heard nothing, and being inclined to believe that +the fears of the females had given to the blowing of the wind, that +peculiar sound, insisted that there was no danger and that it would be +unpleasant to turn out then, as the night was very dark. Hearing +nothing after this, for which they could not readily account, the men +rose in the morning unapprehensive of interruption; and the females, +relieved of their fears of being molested by savages during the night, +continued in bed. Mr. Pindall walked forth to the woods to catch a +horse, and the young men went to the spring hard by, for the purpose +of washing. While thus engaged three guns were fired at them, and +Crawford and Wright were killed. Harrison fled and got safely to the +fort. + +The females alarmed at the report of the guns, sprang out of bed and +hastened towards the fort, pursued by the Indians. Mrs. Pindall was +overtaken and killed, but Rachael Pindall, her sister-in-law, escaped +safely to the fort. + +In June some Indians came into the neighborhood of Clarksburg, and not +meeting with an opportunity of killing or making prisoners any of the +inhabitants without the town, one of them, more venturous than the +rest, came so near as to shoot Charles Washburn as he was chopping a +log of wood in the lot, and then running up, with the axe, severed his +skull, scalped him, and fled safely away. Three of Washburn's brothers +had been previously murdered by the savages. + +In August as Arnold and Paul Richards were returning to Richard's +fort, they were shot at by some Indians, lying hid in a cornfield +adjoining the fort, and both fell from their horses. The Indians +leaped over the fence immediately and tomahawked and scalped them. + +These two men were murdered in full view of the fort, and the firing +drew its inmates to the gate to ascertain its cause. When they saw +that the two Richards' were down, they rightly judged that Indians had +done the deed; and Elias Hughes, ever bold and daring, taking down his +gun, went out alone at the back gate, and entered the cornfield, into +which the savages had again retired, to see if he could not avenge on +one of them the murder of his friends. Creeping softly along, he came +in view of them standing near the fence, reloading their guns, and +looking intently at the people at the fort gate. Taking [255] a +deliberate aim at one of them, he touched the trigger. His gun +flashed, and the Indians alarmed ran speedily away. + +A most shocking scene was exhibited some time before this, on Muddy +creek in Pennsylvania. On the 10th of May as the Reverend John Corbly, +his wife and five children were going to meeting, (Mr. Corbly being a +short distance behind) they were attacked by a party of savages +waylaying the road. The shrieks of Mrs. Corbly and the children, drew +the husband and father to the fatal spot. As he was approaching, his +wife called to him, "to fly," He knew that it was impossible for him +to contend successfully against the fearful odds opposed to him, and +supposing that his family would be carried away as prisoners, and that +he would be enabled either to recover them by raising a company and +pursuing the savages, or to ransom them, if conducted to the Indian +towns, he complied with her wish, and got safely off, though pursued +by one of the savages. But it was not their intention to carry them +into captivity. They delighted too much, to look upon the lifeblood +flowing from the heart; and accordingly shed it most profusely. The +infant in its mother's arms was the first on whom their savage fury +fell,--it was tomahawked and scalped. The mother then received several +severe blows, but not falling, was shot through the body, by the +savage who chased her husband; and then scalped. Into the brains of a +little son, six years old, their hatchets were sunk to the heft. Two +little girls, of two and four years of age, were tomahawked and +scalped. The eldest child, also a daughter, had attempted to escape by +concealing herself in a hollow log, a few rods from the scene of +action. From her hiding place, she beheld all that was done, and when +the bleeding scalp was torn from the head of her last little sister, & +she beheld the savages retiring from the desolation which they had +wrought, she crawled forth from concealment. It was too soon. One of +the savages yet lingered near, to feast to satiety on the horrid +spectacle. His eyes caught a glimpse of her as she crept from the log, +and his tomahawk and scalping knife became red with her blood. + +When Mr. Corbly returned, all his hopes vanished. Which ever way he +turned, the mangled body of some one of his family was presented to +his view. His soul sickened at the contemplation of the scene, and he +fainted and fell. When he had revived, he was cheered with the hope +that some of [256] them might yet survive. Two of his daughters had +manifested symptoms of returning life, and with care and attention +were restored to him. + +Thus far in the year 1782, the settlements only suffered from the +accustomed desultory warfare of the savages. No numerous collection of +Indians had crossed their border,--no powerful army of warriors, +threatening destruction to the forts, those asylums of their safety, +had appeared among them.--But the scene was soon to change. + +In August, there was a grand council convened at Chilicothe, in which +the Wyandots, the Shawanees, the Mingoes, the Tawas, Pottowatomies, and +various other tribes were represented.[2] Girty and McKee--disgraces +to human nature--aided in their deliberations. The surrender of +Cornwallis, which had been studiously kept secret from the Indians, +was now known to them, and the war between Great Britain and the +United States, seemed to them to be verging to a close.--Should a +peace ensue, they feared that the concentrated strength of Virginia, +would bear down upon them and crush them at once. In anticipation of +this state of things, they had met to deliberate, what course it best +became them to pursue. Girty addressed the council. He reminded them +of the gradual encroachments of the whites;--of the beauty of Kentucky +and its value to them as a hunting ground.--He pointed out to them the +necessity of greater efforts to regain possession of that country, and +warned them that if they did not combine their strength to change the +present state of things, the whites would soon leave them no hunting +grounds; and they would consequently, have no means of procuring rum +to cheer their hearts, or blankets to warm their bodies. His advice +was well received and they determined to continue the war.[3] + +When the council was adjourned, the warriors proceeded to execute its +determinations. Two armies, the one of six hundred, and the other +three hundred and fifty men, prepared to march, each to it assigned +station--The larger was destined to operate against Kentucky, while +the smaller, was to press upon North Western Virginia; and each was +abundantly supplied with the munitions of war.[4] Towards the last of +August the warriors who were to act in Kentucky, appeared before +Bryant's station, south of Licking river, and placed themselves under +covert during night,[5] and in advantageous [257] situations for +firing upon the station, so soon as its doors should be thrown open. + +There were at that time but few inhabitants occupying that station. +William Bryant, its founder, and one in whose judgment, skill and +courage, many confidently reposed for security from savage enormity, +had been unfortunately discovered by some Indians near the mouth of +Cane run, and killed.--His death caused most of those who had come to +that place from North Carolina, to forsake the station, and return to +their own country. Emigrants from Virginia, arriving some short time +before, and among whom was Robert Johnson, (the father of Richard M. +Johnson) to a certain extent supplied this desertion; yet it was in +respect to numbers so far inferior to the savage forces, that the most +resolute shuddered in apprehension of the result. + +The station too, was at that time, careless and inattentive to its own +defence; not anticipating the appearance of a savage army before its +gates. Indeed had the Indians delayed their attack a few hours, it +would have been in almost an entirely defenceless condition; as the +men were on that morning to have left it, for the purpose of aiding in +the defence of another station, which was then understood to be +assailed by an army of Indians. Fortunately however, for the +inhabitants, as soon as the doors of some of the cabins were opened in +the morning, the savages commenced the fire, and thus admonished them +of danger, while it was not yet too late to provide against it. + +The Indians in the attack on Bryant's station practised their +usual stratagem, to ensure their success. It was begun on the +south-east angle of the station, by one hundred warriors, while the +remaining five hundred were concealed in the woods on the opposite +side, ready to take advantage of its unprotected situation when, as +they anticipated, the garrison would concentrate its strength, to +resist the assault on the south-east. But their purpose was fully +comprehended by the garrison, and instead of returning the fire of the +one hundred, they secretly sent an express to Lexington for +assistance, and commenced repairing the pallisades, and putting +themselves in the best possible condition to withstand the fury of +the assailants. Aware that the Indians were posted near the +spring, and believing that they would not fire unless some of the +men should be seen going thither, the women [258] were sent to bring +in water for the use of the garrison. The event justified their +expectations--The concealed Indians, still farther to strengthen the +belief, that their whole force were engaged in the attack on the +south-east, forbore to fire, or otherwise contradict the impression +which they had studiously sought to make on the minds of its inmates. + +When a sufficiency of water had been provided, and the station placed +in a condition of defence, thirteen men were sent out in the direction +from which the assault was made. They were fired upon by the assailing +party of one hundred, but without receiving any injury; and retired +again within the pallisades. Instantly the savages rushed to the +assault of, what they deemed, the unprotected side of the station, +little doubting their success. A steady, well directed fire, put them +quickly to flight. Some of the more desperate and daring however, +approached near enough to fire the houses, some of which were +consumed; but a favorable wind drove the flames from the mass of the +buildings and the station escaped conflagration. + +Disappointed of the expected success of their first stratagem, the +assailants withdrew a short distance, and concealed themselves under +the bank of the creek, to await the arrival of the assistance, which +was generally sent to a besieged fort or station, arranging themselves +in ambushment to intercept its approach. + +When the express from Bryant's station reached Lexington, the male +inhabitants had left there to aid in the defence of Holder's +station, which was reported to be attacked. Following on their +route, they overtook them at Boonesborough, and sixteen mounted, and +thirty footmen were immediately detached to aid the inhabitants of +Bryant's station. When this reinforcement came near, the firing had +entirely ceased, no enemy was visible, and they approached in the +confidence that all was well. A sudden discharge of shot from the +savages in ambush, dispelled that hope. The horsemen however, passed +safely by. The cloud of dust produced by the galloping of their +horses, obscured the view and hindered the otherwise deadly aim of +the Indians. The footmen were less fortunate. Two of them were killed, +and four wounded; and but for the luxuriant growth of corn in the +field through which they passed, nearly all must have fallen, before +the overwhelming force of the enemy. + +[259] Thus reinforced, the garrison did not for an instant doubt of +safety; while the savages became hopeless of success by force of +arms, and resorted to another expedient to gain possession of the +station. In the twilight of evening, Simon Girty covertly drew near, +and mounting on a stump from which he could be distinctly heard, +demanded the surrender of the place. He told the garrison, that a +reinforcement, with cannon, would arrive that night, and that this +demand was suggested by _his humanity_, as the station must +ultimately fall, and he could assure them of protection if they +surrendered, but could not if the Indians succeeded by storm; and then +demanded, if "they knew who was addressing them." A young man by the +name of Reynolds, (fearing the effect which the threat of cannon might +have upon the garrison, as the fate of Ruddle's and Martin's +stations was yet fresh in their recollections,) replied, that he +"knew him well, and held him in such contempt, that he had named a +worthless dog which he had SIMON GIRTY; that his reinforcements and +threats, were not heeded by the garrison, who expected to receive +before morning such an auxiliary force as would enable them to give +a good account of the cowardly wretches that followed him, whom he +held in such contempt that he had prepared a number of switches with +which to drive them out of the country if they remained there 'till +day."[6] + +Affecting to deplore their obstinacy, Girty retired, and during the +night, the main body of the Indian army marched off, leaving a few +warriors to keep up an occasional firing and the semblance of a +siege.[7] + +Shortly after the retreat of the savages, one hundred and sixty men, +from Lexington, Harrodsburg and Boonesborough, assembled at Bryant's +station, and determined to pursue them.[8] Prudence should have +prevailed with them to await the arrival of Colonel Logan, who was +known to be collecting additional forces from the other station; but +brave and fearless, well equipped, and burning with ardent desire to +chastise their savage invaders, they rather indiscreetly chose to +march on, unaided, sooner than risk suffering the enemy to retire, by +delaying for other troops. But the Indians had no wish to retire, to +avoid the whites. The trail left by them, to the experienced eye of +Daniel Boone, furnished convincing evidence, that they were only +solicitous to conceal their numbers, in reality to tempt pursuit. + +[260] When the troops arrived at the Lower Blue Licks, they saw the +only Indians, which had met their eye on the route. These were slowly +ascending the ridge on the opposite side of the river. The party was +halted, and Boone consulted as to what course it would be best to +pursue. He was of opinion that the savage force was much greater, than +most had been led to believe by the appearance of the trail, and +anticipating pursuit, were then in ambush in the ravines; and he +advised that the force be divided into two equal parts, the one, +marching up the river, to cross it at the mouth of Elk creek, above +the upper ravine, while the other party should take a position below +for the purpose of co-operating whenever occasion might require; but +that neither party should by any means cross the river, until spies +were sent out to learn the position and strength of the enemy.[9] The +officers generally were inclined to follow the counsel of Boone, but +Major McGary, remarkable for impetuosity, exclaiming, "Let all who are +not cowards, follow me," spurred his horse into the river. The whole +party caught the contagious rashness,--all rushed across the river. +There was no order,--no arrangement--no unity or concert. None "paused +in their march of terror," lest "we should hover o'er the path," but +each, following his own counsel, moved madly towards the sheltered +ravines and wooded ground, where Boone had predicted the savages lay +hid. The event justified the prediction, and showed the wisdom of his +counsel. + +At the head of a chosen band of warriors, Girty[10] advanced with +fierceness upon the whites, from the advantageous position which he +covertly occupied, and "madness, despair and death succeed, the +conflict's gathering wrath." The Indians had greatly the advantage in +numbers, as well as position, and the disorderly front of the +whites, gave them still greater superiority. The bravery of the troops +for a while withstood the onset, and the contest was fierce and +sanguinary 'till their right wing being turned, a retreat became +inevitable. All pressed towards the ford, but a division of the +savage army, foreseeing this, had been placed so as to interpose +between them and it; and they were driven to a point on the river, +where it could only be crossed by swimming. Here was indeed a +scene of blood and carnage. Many were killed on the bank; others +in swimming over, and some were tomahawked in the edge of the +water. Some of those who had been foremost in getting across the +river, wheeled and opened a steady fire upon the pursuers. Others, +animated by the example, as soon as they reached the bank discharged +their guns upon the savages, and checking them for a while enabled +many to escape death. But for this stand, the footmen would have +been much harrassed, and very many of them entirely cut off. As it +was, the loss in slain was great. Of one hundred and seventy-six (the +number of whites,) sixty-one were killed, and eight taken prisoners. +Cols. Todd and Trigg,--Majors Harland and Bulger,--Capts. Gordon, +McBride, and a son of Daniel Boone, were among those who fell. The +loss of the savages was never known;--they [261] were left in +possession of the battle ground, and at leisure to conceal or carry +off their dead, and when it was next visited by the whites, none +were found.[11] + +A most noble and generous act, performed by one of the whites, +deserves to be forever remembered. While they were flying before the +closely pursuing savages, Reynolds (who at Bryant's station had so +cavalierly replied to Girty's demand of its surrender) seeing Col. +Robert Patterson, unhorsed and considerably disabled by his wounds, +painfully struggling to reach the river, sprang from his saddle, and +assisting him to occupy the relinquished seat, enabled that veteran +officer to escape, and fell himself into the hands of the savages. He +was not long however, detained a prisoner by them. He was taken by a +party of only three Indians; and two whites passing hurriedly on +towards the river, just after, two of his captors hastened in pursuit +of them, and he was left guarded by only one. Reynolds was cool and +collected, and only awaited the semblance of an opportunity, to +attempt an escape. Presently the savage in whose custody he was, +stooped to tie his moccason. Suddenly he sprang to one side, and being +fleet of foot, got safely off. + +The battle of the Blue Licks was fought on the 19th of August. On the +next day Col. Logan, with three hundred men, met the remnant of the +troops retreating to Bryant's station; and learning the fatal result +of the contest, hurried on to the scene of action to bury the dead, +and avenge their fall--if the enemy should be found yet hovering near. +On his arrival not a savage was to be seen. Flushed with victory, and +exulting in their revenge, they had retired to their towns, to feast +the eyes of their brethren, with the scalps of the slain. The field of +battle presented a miserable spectacle. All was stillness, where so +lately had arisen the shout of the impetuous, but intrepid whites, and +the whoop and yell of the savages, as they closed in deadly conflict; +not a sound was to be heard but the hoarse cry of the vulture, +flapping her wings and mounting into the air, alarmed at the intrusion +of man. Those countenances, which had so lately beamed with daring and +defiance, were unmeaning and inexpressive; and what with the effect +produced on the dead bodies, by the excessive heat and the mangling +and disfiguration of the tomahawk and scalping knife, scarcely one +could be distinguished from another. Friends tortured themselves in +vain, to find friends, in the huge mass of slain,--fathers to +recognize their sons. The mournful gratification of bending over the +lifeless bodies of dear relations and gazing with intense anxiety on +their pallid features, was denied them. Undistinguished, though not +unmarked, all were alike consigned to the silent grave, amid sighs of +sorrow and denunciations of revenge. + +An expedition against the Indian towns was immediately resolved upon, +and in September, Gen. Clarke marched towards them, at the head of +nearly one thousand men. Being discovered on their route and the +intelligence soon spreading that an army from [262] Kentucky was +penetrating the country, the savages deserted their villages and fled; +and the expedition was thus hindered of its purpose of chastising +them. The towns however were burned, and in a skirmish with a party of +Indians, five of them were killed, and seven made prisoners, with the +loss of only one man.[12] + +The Indian forces which were to operate against North Western +Virginia, for some time delayed their purpose, and did not set out on +their march, until awhile before the return of those who had been +sent into Kentucky. On their way, a question arose among them--against +what part of the country they should direct their movements--and their +division on this subject, rising by degrees 'till it assumed a serious +aspect, led many of the chiefs to determine on abandoning the +expedition; but a runner arriving with intelligence of the great +success which had crowned the exertion of the army in Kentucky, they +changed that determination, and proceeded hastily towards Wheeling. + +In the first of September, John Lynn (a celebrated spy and the same +who had been with Capt. Foreman at the time of the fatal ambuscade at +Grave creek) being engaged in watching the warriors paths, northwest +of the Ohio, discovered the Indians marching with great expedition for +Wheeling, and hastening to warn the inhabitants of the danger which +was threatening them, swam the river, and reached the village, but a +little while before the savage army made its appearance. The fort was +at this time without any regular garrison, and depended for defence +exclusively, on the exertions of those who sought security within its +walls. The brief space of time which elapsed between the alarm by +Lynn, and the arrival of the Indians, permitted only those who were +immediately present to retire into it, and when the attack was begun +to be made, there were not within its pallisades, twenty effective men +to oppose the assault. The dwelling house of Col. Ebenezer Zane, +standing about forty yards from the fort, contained the military +stores which had been furnished by the government of Virginia; and as +it was admirably situated as an out post from which to annoy the +savages in their onsets, he resolved on maintaining possession of it, +as well to aid in the defence of the fort, as for the preservation of +the ammunition. Andrew Scott, George Green, Mrs. Zane, Molly Scott and +Miss McCullough, were all who remained with him. The kitchen +(adjoining) was occupied by Sam (a negro belonging to Col, Zane) and +Kate, his wife.--Col. Silas Zane commanded in the fort. + +When the savage army approached, the British colors were waving over +them; and before a shot was discharged at the fort, they demanded the +surrender of the garrison. No answer was deigned to this demand, but +the firing of several shot (by order of Silas Zane) at the standard +which they bore; and the savages rushed to the assault. A well +directed and brisk fire opened upon them from Col. Zane's house and +the fort, soon drove them back. Again they rushed forward; and again +were they repulsed. The number of [263] arms in the house and fort, +and the great exertions of the women in moulding bullets, loading guns +and handing them to the men, enabled them to fire so briskly, yet so +effectively, as to cause the savages to recoil from every charge. The +darkness of night soon suspended their attacks, and afforded a +temporary repose to the besieged. Yet were the assailants not wholly +inactive. Having suffered severely by the galling fire poured upon +them from the house, they determined on reducing it to ashes. For this +purpose, when all was quietness and silence, a savage, with a +firebrand in his hand crawled to the kitchen, and raising himself from +the ground, waving the torch to and fro to rekindle its flame, and +about to apply it to the building, received a shot which forced him to +let fall the engine of destruction and hobble howling away. The +vigilance of Sam had detected him, in time to thwart his purpose. + +On the return of light, the savages were seen yet environing the fort, +and although for some time they delayed to renew their suspended +assault, yet it was evident they had not given over its contemplated +reduction. They were engaged in making such preparations, as they were +confident would ensure success to their exertions. + +Soon after the firing of the preceding day had subsided, a small boat, +proceeding from Fort Pitt to the Falls of Ohio with cannon balls for +the use of the troops there, put to shore at Wheeling; and the man who +had charge of her, although discovered and slightly wounded by the +savages, reached the postern and was admitted to the fort. The boat of +course fell into the hands of the enemy, and they resolved on using +the balls aboard, for the demolition of the fortress. To this end they +procured a log, with a cavity as nearly corresponding with the size +of the ball, as they could; and binding it closely with some chains +taken from a shop hard by, charged it heavily, and pointing it towards +the fort, in imagination beheld its walls tumbling into ruin, and the +garrison bleeding under the strokes and gashes of their tomahawks and +scalping knives. All things being ready, the match was applied.--A +dreadful explosion ensued. Their cannon burst;--its slivers flew in +every direction; and instead of being the cause of ruin to the fort, +was the source of injury only to themselves. Several were killed, many +wounded, and all, dismayed by the event. Recovering from the shock, +they presently returned with redoubled animation to the charge. +Furious from disappointment, exasperated with the unforseen yet fatal +result, they pressed to the assault with the blindness of phrensy. +Still they were received with a fire so constant and deadly, that they +were again forced to retire; and most opportunely for the garrison. + +When Lynn gave the alarm that an Indian army was approaching, the fort +having been for some time unoccupied by a garrison, and Col. Zane's +house being used as a magazine, those who retired into the fortress +had to take with them a supply of ammunition for its defence. The +supply of powder, deemed ample at the time, by reason of the long +continuance of the savages, and the repeated [264] endeavors made by +them, to storm the fort was now almost entirely exhausted, a few loads +only, remaining. In this emergency, it became necessary to replenish +their stock, from the abundance of that article in Col. Zane's house. +During the continuance of the last assault, apprized of its security, +and aware of the danger which would inevitably ensue, should the +savages after being again driven back, return to the assault before a +fresh supply could be obtained, it was proposed that one of their +fleetest men should endeavor to reach the house, obtain a keg and +return with it to the fort. It was an enterprise full of danger; but +many of the chivalric spirits, then pent up within the fortress, were +willing to encounter them all. + +Among those who volunteered to go on this emprise, was Elizabeth, +the younger sister of Colonel Zane. She was then young active and +athletic;--with precipitancy to dare danger, and fortitude to +sustain her in the midst of it. Disdaining to weigh the hazard of her +own life, against the risk of that of others, when told that a man +would encounter less danger by reason of his greater fleetness, she +replied--"and should he fall, his loss will be more severely felt. +You have not one man to spare;--a woman will not be missed in the +defence of the fort." Her services were accepted. Divesting herself +of some of her garments, as tending to impede her progress, she +stood prepared for the hazzardous adventure; and when the gate was +opened, she bounded forth with the buoyancy of hope, and in the +confidence of success. Wrapt in amazement, the Indians beheld her +spring forward; and only exclaiming, "a squaw, a squaw," no attempt +was made to interrupt her progress. Arrived at the door, she +proclaimed her embassy. Col. Zane fastened a table cloth around her +waist, and emptying into it a keg of powder, again she ventured +forth. The Indians were no longer passive. Ball after ball passed +whizzing and innocuous by. She reached the gate and entered the fort +in safety.[13] + +Another instance of heroic daring, deserves to be recorded [265] here. +When intelligence of the investiture of Wheeling by the savages, +reached Shepherd's fort, a party was immediately detached from it, to +try and gain admission into the besieged fortress, and aid in its +defence. Upon arriving in view, it was found that the attempt would be +hopeless and unavailing, and the detachment consequently prepared to +return. Francis Duke, (son-in-law to Colonel Shepherd) was unwilling +to turn his back on a people, straitened as he knew the besieged must +be, and declared his intention of endeavoring to reach the fort, that +he might contribute to its defence. It was useless to disuade him from +the attempt;--he knew its danger, but he also knew their weakness, +and putting spurs to his horse, rode briskly forward, calling aloud, +"open the gate,--open the gate." He was seen from the fort, and the +gate was loosed for his admission; but he did not live to reach +it.--Pierced by the bullets of the savages, he fell, to the regret of +all. Such noble daring, deserved a better fate. + +During that night and the next day, the Indians still maintained the +seige, and made frequent attempts to take the fort by storm; but they +were invareiably repulsed by the deadly fire of the garrison and the +few brave men in Colonel Zane's house. On the third night, despairing +of success, they resolved on raising the siege; and leaving one +hundred chosen warriors to scour and lay waste the country, the +remainder of their army retreated across the Ohio, and encamped at the +Indian Spring,--five miles from the river. Their loss in the various +assaults upon the fort, could not be ascertained; but was doubtless +very considerable. Of the garrison, none were killed and only two +wounded,--the heroic Francis Duke was the only white who fell during +the siege. The gallantry displayed by all, both men and women, in the +defence of the fort, can not be too highly commended; but to the +caution and good conduct of those few brave individuals who occupied +Colonel Zane's house, its preservation has been mainly attributed. + +In the evening preceding the departure of the savages from before +Wheeling, two white men, who had been among them for several years, +and then held commands in the army, deserted from them, and on the +next morning early were taken prisoners by Colonel Swearingen, who, +with ninety-five men, was on his way to aid in the defence of Wheeling +fort, and the chastisement of its assailants. Learning from them [266] +the determination of the savages to withdraw from Wheeling, and detach +a portion of their force to operate in the country, he despatched +runners in every direction to alarm the country and apprize the +inhabitants of danger.[14] The intelligence was received by Jacob +Miller when some distance from home, but apprehensive that the +meditated blow would be aimed at the fort where he resided, he +hastened thither, and arrived in time to aid in preparing for its +defence. + +The place against which the savages directed their operations, was +situated on Buffaloe creek, twelve or fifteen miles from its entrance +into the Ohio, and was known as Rice's fort. Until Miller's return +there were in it only five men; the others having gone to Hagerstown +to exchange their peltries, for salt, iron and ammunition. They +immediately set about making preparations to withstand an assault; and +in a little while, seeing the savages approaching from every +direction, forsook the cabins and repaired to the blockhouse. The +Indians perceived that they were discovered, and thinking to take the +station by storm, shouted forth the war whoop and rushed to the +assault. They were answered by the fire of the six brave and skilful +riflemen in the house, and forced to take refuge behind trees and +fallen timber. Still they continued the firing; occasionally calling +on the whites to "_give up, give up. Indian too many. Indian too big. +Give up. Indian no kill._" The men had more faith in the efficacy of +their guns to purchase their safety, than in the preferred mercy of +the savages; and instead of complying with their demand, called on +them, "as cowards skulking behind logs to leave their coverts, and +shew but their yellow hides, and they would make holes in them." + +The firing was kept up by the savages from their protected situation, +until night, and whenever even a remote prospect of galling them was +presented to the whites, they did not fail to avail themselves of it. +The Indian shots in the evening, were directed principally against the +stock as it came up as usual to the station, and the field was strewed +with its dead carcases. About ten o'clock of the night they fired a +large barn (thirty or forty yards from the blockhouse) filled with +grain and hay, and the flames from which seemed for awhile to endanger +the fort; but being situated on higher ground, and the current of air +flowing in a contrary direction, it escaped conflagration. Collecting +on the side of the fort opposite [267] to the fire, the Indians took +advantage of the light it afforded them to renew the attack; and kept +it up until about two o'clock, when they departed. Their ascertained +loss was four warriors,--three of whom were killed by the first firing +of the whites,--the other about sundown. George Folebaum was the only +white who suffered. Early in the attack, he was shot in the forehead, +through a port-hole, and instantly expired; leaving Jacob Miller, +George Leffler, Peter Fullenwieder, Daniel Rice and Jacob Leffler, +junior, sole defenders of the fort; and bravely and effectually did +they preserve it, from the furious assaults of one hundred chosen +savage warriors. + +Soon after the Indians left Rice's fort, they moved across the hills +in different directions and in detached parties. One of these +observing four men proceeding towards the fort which they had lately +left, waylaid the path and killed two of them on the first fire. The +remaining two fled hastily; and one of them swift of foot, soon made +his escape. The other, closely pursued by one of the savages, and in +danger of being overtaken, wheeled to fire. His gun snapped, and he +again took to flight. Yet more closely pressed by his pursuer, he once +more attempted to shoot. Again his gun snapped, and the savage being +now near enough, hurled a tomahawk at his head. It missed its object +and both strained every nerve for the chase. The Indian gained rapidly +upon him; and reaching forth his arm, caught hold of the end of his +belt. It had been tied in a bow-knot, and came loose.--Sensible that +the race must soon terminate to his disadvantage unless he could kill +his pursuer, the white man once more tried his gun. It fired; and the +savage fell dead at his feet. + +Some time in the summer of this year, a party of Wyandots, consisting +of seven warriors, (five of whom were, one of the most distinguished +chiefs of that nation and his four brothers) came into one of the +intermediate settlements between Fort Pitt and Wheeling, killed an old +man whom they found alone, robbed his cabin, and commenced retreating +with the plunder. They were soon discovered by spies; and eight men, +two of whom were Adam and Andrew Poe, (brothers, remarkable for +uncommon size, great activity, and undaunted bravery) went in pursuit +of them. Coming on their trail not far from the Ohio, Adam Poe, +fearing an ambuscade, left his companions [268] to follow it, while he +moved across to the river under cover of the high weeds and bushes, +with the view to attack them in the rear should he find them situated +as he expected.--Presently he espied an Indian raft at the water's +edge, but seeing nothing of the savages, moved cautiously down the +bank; and when near the foot, discovered the large Wyandot chief and a +small Indian standing near and looking intently towards the party of +whites, then some distance lower down the bottom. Poe raised his gun, +and aiming surely at the chief, pulled trigger. It missed fire, and +the snap betrayed his presence. Too near to retreat, he sprang +forward; and seizing the large Indian by the breast, and at the same +instant encircling his arms around the neck of the smaller one, threw +them both to the ground. Extricating himself from the grasp of Poe, +the small savage raised his tomahawk; but as he aimed the blow, a +vigorous and well directed kick, staggered him back, and he let fall +the hatchet. Recovering quickly, he aimed several blows in defiance +and exultation,--the vigilance of Poe distinguished the real from the +feigned stroke, and suddenly throwing up his arm, averted it from his +head, but received a wound in his wrist. By a violent effort, he freed +himself from the grip of the chief, and snatching up a gun, shot his +companion through the breast, as he advanced the third time with the +tomahawk. + +In this time the large chief had regained his feet; and seizing Poe by +the shoulder and leg threw him to the ground.--Poe however, soon got +up, and engaged with the savage in a close struggle, which terminated +in the fall of both into the water. Now it became the object of each +to drown his antagonist, and the efforts to accomplish this were +continued for some time with alternate success;--first one and then +the other, being under water. At length, catching hold of the long +tuft of hair which had been suffered to grow on the head of the chief, +Poe held him under water, until he supposed him dead; but relaxing +his hold too soon, the gigantic savage was again on his feet and ready +for another grapple. In this both were carried beyond their depth, and +had to swim for safety. Both sought the shore, and each, with all his +might, strained every nerve to reach it first that he might end the +conflict with one of the guns lying on the beach. The Indian was the +more expert swimmer, and Poe, outstripped by him, turned and swam +farther into the river, in the hope of avoiding being [269] shot by +diving. Fortunately his antagonist laid hold on the gun which had been +discharged at the little Indian, and he was enabled to get some +distance into the river. + +At this juncture, two others of the whites came up; and one of them +mistaking Poe for a wounded savage attempting to escape, shot and +wounded him in the shoulder. He then turned to make for shore, and +seeing his brother Andrew on the bank, called to him to "shoot the big +Indian." Having done this, Andrew plunged into the river to assist +Adam in getting out; and the wounded savage, to preserve his scalp, +rolled himself into the water, and struggling onward, sunk and could +not be found. + +During the continuance of this contest, the whites had overtaken the +other five Indians, and after a desperate conflict, succeeded in +killing all but one; with the loss of three of their companions.--A +great loss, when the number engaged is taken into consideration. + +----- + [1] L. V. McWhorter informs me that White, who was a + prominent settler, was once with others on a hunting + expedition, when they surprised a small party of Indians. They + killed several, but one active young brave ran off, with White + close at his heels. The Indian leaped from a precipice, + alighting in a quagmire in which he sank to his waist. White, + with tomahawk in hand, jumped after him. In the struggle which + ensued, White buried his weapon in the red man's skull. The + victim's father was among those who escaped, and for a long + time--McWhorter says "several years"--he lurked about the + settlements trailing White. Finally, he succeeded in shooting + his man, within sight of the fort. Mrs. White was an + eye-witness of the tragedy. McWhorter claims that Withers is + mistaken in saying that White was "tomahawked, scalped and + lacerated in the most frightful manner." The avenging Indian + tried to get his scalp, but an attacking party from the fort + were so close upon him that he fled before accomplishing his + object. McWhorter reports another case, not mentioned in + Withers. One Fink was "killed by Indians in ambush, while + letting down a pair of bars one evening, just in front of where + the Buckhannon court-house now stands."--R. G. T. + + [2] The council was held at Wapatomica, in June. There were + present representatives of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots, + Delawares, Shawnees, Munsees, and Cherokees. Simon Girty came + with the Wyandots; Captain McKee was then a trader at + Wapatomica.--R. G. T. + + [3] See the alleged speech in Butterfield's _History of the + Girtys_, pp. 190, 191.--R. G. T. + + [4] The Kentucky party was under Capt. William Caldwell, who + wrote, "I crossed the Ohio with three hundred Indians and + rangers." Capts. McKee and Elliott, and the three Girtys were + with the expedition. Caldwell crossed the river early in July, + not far below the mouth, of Limestone creek--site of the + present Maysville, Ky.--R. G. T. + + [5] They arrived on the night of August 15.--R. G. T. + + [6] The above incident is mentioned in none of the + contemporary chronicles, and is probably fiction.--R. G. T. + + [7] The attack was begun early in the morning of the 16th, + and continued with more or less vigor until about 10 A. M. of + the 17th. Caldwell then withdrew his force "in a leisurely + manner." The attacking party lost five killed and two wounded, + all Indians; the garrison lost four killed and three + wounded.--R. G. T. + + [8] A hundred and eighty-two, under Col. John Todd. Pursuit + was commenced on the 18th.--R. G. T. + + [9] The battle occurred at 8 A. M. of August 19, a short + distance north of the Lower Blue Licks, on the Licking river, + in what is now Nicholas County.--R. G. T. + + [10] The tendency among early Western chroniclers has been + greatly to magnify the importance of Simon Girty. He was merely + an interpreter on this, as on most other expeditions. Caldwell + was in command. The British force now consisted of 200 Indians + and 30 rangers. Some of the Indians had already left for their + villages.--R. G. T. + + [11] The British rangers lost one of their number by death; + of their Indian allies, ten were killed and fourteen wounded. + Of the Kentuckians, about seventy were killed, several badly + wounded, and seven made prisoners. Caldwell continued his + leisurely retreat to Upper Sandusky, which he reached September + 24, the Indians meanwhile dispersing to their several + homes.--R. G. T. + + [12] Gen. George Rogers Clark gave this official report of + his expedition against the Shawnees, in a letter dated Lincoln, + November 27, 1782: "We left the Ohio the 4th instant, with 1050 + men, surprised the principal Shawanese Town in the evening of + the 10th, and immediately detached strong parties to different + quarters; and in a few hours afterwards two thirds of the towns + were laid in ashes, and every thing they were possessed of + destroyed, except such as were most useful to the troops, the + enemy not having time to secrete any part of their property. + The British trading post at the head of the Miami and Carrying + Place to the waters of the Lakes, shared the same by a party of + 150 horse, commanded by Col. Logan, and property to a great + amount was also destroyed: the quantity of provisions burnt far + surpassed any idea we had of their stores. The loss of the + enemy was ten scalps, seven prisoners, and two whites retaken; + ours, one killed and one wounded. + + "After laying part of four days in their towns, and finding all + attempts to bring them to a general action fruitless, we + retired, as the season was far advanced and the weather + threatening. I could not learn by the prisoners that they had + the least idea of General Irvin's design of penetrating into + their country. Should he have given them another stroke at + Sandusky, it will more than double the advantages already + gained. + + "We might probably have got many more scalps and prisoners--could + we have known in time whether or not we were discovered, which we + took for granted until getting within three miles when some + circumstances occurred that gave us reason to think otherwise, + though uncertain.--Col. Floyd, with 300 men, was ordered to + advance and bring on an action or attack the town, Major Wells + with a party of horse being previously detached by a + different route as a party of observation: although Col. + Floyd's motion was so quick as to get to the town but a few + minutes later than those who discovered his approach, the + inhabitants had sufficient notice to effect their escape to + the woods by the alarm cry being given, and which was repeated by + all that heard it; of course our party only fell in with the + rear of the enemy. + + "I must beg leave to recommend the militia of Kentucky whose + behaviour on the occasion does them honour, particularly their + desire of saving prisoners." + + The document is here given as found in Almon's _Remembrancer_, + xvi., pp. 93, 94; but it has of course been edited, after the + fashion of that day, for Clark's original letters abound in + misspellings.--R. G. T. + + [13] [264] This heroine had but recently returned from + Philadelphia, where she had received her education, and was + totally unused to such scenes as were daily exhibiting on the + frontier. She afterwards became the wife of Mr. McGlanlin; and + he dying, she married a Mr. Clarke, and is yet living in Ohio. + + [14] See p. 224, _note_ 1, for reference to confusion between + the two sieges of Wheeling, and the over-statement of early + border historians.--R. G. T. + + + + +[270] CHAPTER XVI. + + +The treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, which +terminated so gloriously the war of the revolution, did not put a +period to Indian hostilities.[1] The aid which had been extended to +the savages, and which enabled them so successfully to gratify their +implacable resentment against the border country, being withdrawn, +they were less able to cope with the whites than they had been, and +were less a hindrance to the population and improvement of those +sections of country which had been the theatre of their many outrages. +In North Western Virginia, indeed, although the war continued to be +waged against its inhabitants, yet it assumed a different aspect. It +became a war rather of plunder, than of blood; and although in the +predatory incursions of the Indians, individuals some times fell a +sacrifice to savage passion; yet this was of such rare occurrence, +that the chronicles of those days are divested of much of the +interest, which attaches to a detail of Indian hostilities. For +several years, scarce an incident occurred worthy of being rescued +from oblivion. + +In Kentucky it was far otherwise. The war continued to be prosecuted +there, with the wonted vigor of the savages.--The General Assembly +of Virginia having, at the close of the revolution, passed an act +for surveying the land set apart for her officers and soldiers, south +of Green river, the surveyors descended to the Ohio, to explore the +country and perform the duties assigned them. On their arrival they +found it occupied by the savages, and acts of hostilities immediately +[271] ensued. In December, 1783, the Legislature likewise passed an +act, appropriating the country between the Scioto and Miami rivers, +for the purpose of satisfying the claims of the officers and +soldiers, if the land previously allotted, in Kentucky, should prove +insufficient for that object. This led to a confederacy of the many +tribes of Indians, interested in those sections of country, and +produced such feelings and gave rise to such acts of hostility on +their part, as induced Benjamin Harrison the Governor of Virginia, in +November, 1784, to recommend the postponement of the surveys; and +in January, 1785, a proclamation was issued, by Patrick Henry, +(successor of Gov. Harrison) commanding the surveyors to desist and +leave the country. A treaty was soon after concluded, by which the +country on the Scioto, Miami, and Muskingum, was ceded to the +United States.[2] In this interval of time, North Western Virginia +enjoyed almost uninterrupted repose. There was indeed an alarm of +Indians, on Simpson's creek in 1783, but it soon subsided; and the +circumstance which gave rise to it (the discharge of a gun at Major +Power) was generally attributed to a white man. + +In 1784, the settlement towards the head of West Fork, suffered +somewhat from savage invasion. A party of Indians came to the house of +Henry Flesher, (where the town of Weston now is) and fired at the old +gentleman, as he was returning from the labors of the field. The gun +discharged at him, had been loaded with two balls, and both taking +effect, crippled his arm a good deal. Two savages immediately ran +towards him; and he, towards the door; and just as he was in the act +of entering it, one of them had approached so closely as to strike at +him with the butt end of his gun. The breech came first in contact +with the facing of the door, and descending on his head, seemed to +throw him forward into the house, and his wife closing the door, no +attempt was made by the savages to force it open. Still, however, they +did not feel secure; and as soon as they became assured that the +savages were withdrawn, they left the house and sought security +elsewhere. Most of the family lay in the woods during the night,--one +young woman succeeded in finding the way to Hacker's creek, from +whence Thomas Hughes immediately departed to find the others. This was +effected early next morning, and all were safely escorted to that +settlement. + +[272] The foregoing event happened in September, and in a few days +after, as Daniel Radcliff was proceeding to the Brushy Fork of Elk +creek on a hunting expedition, he was shot (probably by the Indians +who had been at Flesher's,) tomahawked and scalped in a shocking +manner. + +In 1785, six Indians came to Bingamon creek, (a branch of the West +Fork) and made their appearance upon a farm occupied by Thomas and +Edward Cunningham. At this time the two brothers were dwelling with +their families in separate houses, but nearly adjoining, though not in +a direct line with each other. Thomas was then on a trading visit east +of the mountain, and his wife and four children were collected in +their room for the purpose of eating dinner, as was Edward with his +family, in their house. Suddenly a lusty savage entered where were +Mrs. Thomas Cunningham and her children, but seeing that he would be +exposed to a fire from the other house, and apprehending no danger +from the woman and children, he closed the door and seemed for a time +only intent on the means of escaping. + +Edward Cunningham had seen the savage enter his brother's house, and +fastened his own door, seized his gun and stepping to a small aperture +in the wall next the house in which was the Indian, and which served +as well for a port hole as for the admission of light, was ready to +fire whenever the savage should make his appearance. But in the other +house was a like aperture, and through it the Indian fired at Edward, +and shouted the yell of victory. It was answered by Edward. He had +seen the aim of the savage only in time to avoid it,--the bark from +the log close to his head, was knocked off by the ball and flew into +his face. The Indian seeing that he had missed his object, and +observing an adze in the room, deliberately commenced cutting an +aperture in the back wall through which he might pass out without +being exposed to a shot from the other building.[3] + +Another of the Indians came into the yard just after the firing of his +companion, but observing Edward's gun pointing through the port hole, +he endeavored to retreat out of its range. He failed of his purpose. +Just as he was about to spring over the fence, the gun was fired and +he fell forward. The ball however only fractured his thigh bone, and +he was yet able to hobble over the fence and take shelter behind a +[273] coverlet suspended on it, before Edward could again load his +gun. + +While the Indian was engaged in cutting a hole in the wall, Mrs. +Cunningham made no attempt to get out. She was well aware that it +would draw down upon her head the fury of the savage; and that if she +escaped this, she would most probably be killed by some of those who +were watching around, before the other door could be opened for her +admission.--She knew too, that it was impossible for her to take the +children with her, and could not brook the idea of leaving them in the +hands of the savage monster. She even trusted to the hope that he +would withdraw, as soon as he could, without molesting any of them. A +few minutes served to convince her of the fallacy of this expectation. +When the opening had been made sufficiently large, he raised his +tomahawk, sunk it deep into the brains of one of the children, and +throwing the scarcely lifeless body into the back yard, ordered the +mother to follow after. There was no alternative but death, and she +obeyed his order, stepping over the dead body of one of her +children,[4] with an infant in her arms and two others screaming from +horror at the sight, and clinging to her. When all were out he scalped +the murdered boy, and setting fire to the house, retired to an +eminence in the field, where two of the savages were, with their +wounded companion.--leaving the other two to watch the opening of +Edward Cunningham's door, when the burning of the house should force +the family from their shelter. They were disappointed in their +expectation of that event by the exertions of Cunningham and his son. +When the flame from the one house communicated to the roof of the +other, they ascended to the loft, threw off the loose boards which +covered it, and extinguished the fire;--the savages shooting at them +all the while, and their balls frequently striking close by. + +Despairing of accomplishing farther havoc, and fearful of detection +and pursuit, the Indians collected together and prepared to retreat. +Mrs. Cunningham's eldest son was first tomahawked and scalped; the +fatal hatchet sunk into the head of her little daughter, whom they +then took by the arms and legs, and slinging it repeatedly against a +tree, ended its sufferings with its life. Mrs. Cunningham stood +motionless with grief, and in momentary expectation of having the same +dealt to her and her innocent infant. But no! She was [274] doomed to +captivity; and with her helpless babe in her arms, was led off from +this scene of horror and of wo. The wounded savage was carried on a +rough litter, and they all departed, crossing the ridge to Bingamon +creek, near which they found a cave that afforded them shelter and +concealment.[5] After night, they returned to Edward Cunningham's, and +finding no one, plundered and fired the house. + +When the savages withdrew in the evening, Cunningham went with his +family into the woods, where they remained all night, there being no +settlement nearer than eight or ten miles. In the morning, proceeding +to the nearest house, they gave the alarm and a company of men was +soon collected to go in pursuit of the Indians. When they came to +Cunningham's and found both houses heaps of ashes, they buried the +bones which remained of the boy who was murdered in the house, with +the bodies of his brother and little sister, who were killed in the +field; but so cautiously had the savages conducted their retreat that +no traces of them could be discovered, and the men returned to their +homes. + +Some days after, circumstances induced the belief that the Indians +were yet in the neighborhood, and men were again assembled for the +purpose of tracing them. They were now enabled to distinguish the +trail, and pursued it near to the cave, where from the number of rocks +on the ground and the care which had been taken by the Indians to +leave no vestige, they could no longer discover it. They however +examined for it in every direction until night forced them to desist. +In thinking over the incidents of the day; the cave occurred to the +mind of Major Robinson, who was well acquainted with the woods, and he +concluded that the savages must be concealed in it. It was examined +early next morning, but they had left it the preceding night and +departed for their towns. After her return from captivity, Mrs. +Cunningham stated, that in time of the search on the day before, the +Indians were in the cave, and that several times the whites approached +so near, that she could distinctly hear their voices; the savages +standing with their guns ready to fire, in the event of their being +discovered, and forcing her to keep the infant to her breast, lest its +crying might point to the place of their concealment.[6] + +In consequence of their stay at this place on account of their wounded +companion, it was some time before they arrived [275] in their own +country;[7] and Mrs. Cunningham's sufferings, of body as well as mind +were truly great. Fatigue and hunger oppressed her sorely,--the infant +in her arms, wanting the nourishment derived from the due sustenance +of the mother, plied at the breast for milk, in vain--blood came in +stead; and the Indians perceiving this, put a period to its +sufferings, with the tomahawk, even while clinging to its mother's +bosom. It was cast a little distance from the path, and left without a +leaf or bush to hide it from beasts of prey. + +The anguish of this woman during the journey to the towns, can only be +properly estimated by a parent; her bodily sufferings may be inferred +from the fact, that for ten days her only sustenance consisted of the +head of a wild turkey and three papaws, and from the circumstance that +the skin and nails of her feet, scalded by frequent wading of the +water, came with her stockings, when upon their arrival at a village +of the Delawares, she was permitted to draw them off. Yet was she +forced to continue on with them the next day.--One of the Indians +belonging to the village where they were, by an application of some +sanative herbs, very much relieved the pain which she endured. + +When she came to the town of those by whom she had been made prisoner, +although receiving no barbarous or cruel usage, yet everything +indicated to her, that she was reserved for some painful torture. The +wounded Indian had been left behind, and she was delivered to his +father. Her clothes were not changed, as is the case when a prisoner +is adopted by them; but she was compelled to wear them, dirty as they +were,--a bad omen for a captive. She was however, not long in +apprehension of a wretched fate. A conference was soon to take place +between the Indians and whites, preparatory to a treaty of peace; and +witnessing an uncommon excitement in the village one evening, upon +inquiring, learned that the Great captain Simon Girty had arrived. She +determined to prevail with him, if she could, to intercede for her +liberation, and seeing him next day passing near on horseback, she +laid hold on his stirrup, and implored his interference. For a while +he made light of her petition,--telling her that she would be as well +there as in her own country, and that if he were disposed to do her a +kindness he could not as his saddle bags were too small to conceal +her; but her importunity at length prevailed, and he whose heart had +been so long steeled [276] against every kindly feeling, every +sympathetic impression, was at length induced to perform an act of +generous, disinterested benevolence. He paid her ransom, had her +conveyed to the commissioners for negotiating with the Indians, and by +them she was taken to a station on the south side of the Ohio.[8] Here +she met with two gentlemen (Long and Denton) who had been at the +treaty to obtain intelligence of their children taken captive some +time before, but not being able to gain any information respecting +them, they were then returning to the interior of Kentucky and kindly +furnished her a horse. + +In consequence of the great danger attending a journey through the +wilderness which lay between the settlements in Kentucky and those on +the Holstein, persons scarcely ever performed it but at particular +periods of the year, and in caravans, the better to defend themselves +against attacks of savages. Notice of the time and place of the +assembling of one of these parties being given, Mrs. Cunningham +prepared to accompany it; but before that time arrived, they were +deterred from the undertaking by the report that a company of +travellers, stronger than theirs would be, had been encountered by the +Indians, and all either killed or made prisoners. Soon after another +party resolved on a visit to Virginia, and Mrs. Cunningham was +furnished a horse belonging to a gentleman on Holstein (which had +escaped from him while on a buffalo hunt in Kentucky and was found +after his return,) to carry her that far on her way home. Experiencing +the many unpleasant circumstances incident to such a jaunt, she +reached Holstein, and from thence, after a repose of a few days, +keeping up the Valley of Virginia, she proceeded by the way of +Shenandoah, to the county of Harrison.[9] Here she was sadly +disappointed in not meeting with her husband. Having understood that +she had been ransomed and taken to Kentucky, he had, some time before, +gone on in quest of her. Anxiety for his fate, alone and on a journey +which she well knew to be fraught with many dangers, she could not +cheerily partake of the general joy excited by her return. In a few +days however, he came back. He had heard on Holstein of her having +passed there and he retraced his steps. Arriving at his brother +Edward's, he again enjoyed the satisfaction of being with all that was +then dear to him on earth. It was a delightful satisfaction, but +presently damped by the recollection of [277] the fate of his luckless +children--Time assuaged the bitterness of the recollection and blessed +him with other and more fortunate children.[10] + +In October 1784, a party of Indians ascended Sandy river and passing +over to the head of Clynch, came to the settlement near where Tazewell +court house is now located. Going first to the house of a Mr. +Davisson, they killed him and his wife; and setting fire to their +dwelling, proceeded towards the residence of James Moore, sr. On their +way they met Moore salting his horses at a _lick trough_ in the woods, +and killed him. They then went to the house and captured Mrs. Moore +and her seven children, and Sally Ivens, a young lady who was there +on a visit. Fearing detection, they immediately departed for Ohio with +the prisoners; and in order to expedite their retreat, killed John +Moore, jr. and the three younger children. + +Upon their arrival at the Shawanee town on the Scioto (near the mouth +of Paint creek) a council was held, and it was resolved that two of +the captives should be _burned alive_, to avenge the death of some of +their warriors who had been killed on the Kentucky river. This +dreadful doom was allotted to Mrs. Moore and her daughter Jane,--an +interesting girl about sixteen years of age. They were tied to a post +and tortured to death with burning splinters of pine, in the presence +of the remaining members of the family. + +After the death of his mother and sister, James Moore was sent to +the Maumee towns in Michigan, where he remained until December +1785,--his sister Mary and Sally Ivins remaining with the Shawanees. +In December 1786, they were all brought to Augusta county in +conformity with the stipulations of the treaty of Miami, and ransomed +by their friends.[11] + +In the fall of 1796, John Ice and James Snodgrass were killed by the +Indians when looking for their horses which they [278] had lost on a +buffalo hunt on Fishing creek. Their remains were afterwards +found--the flesh torn from the bones by the wolves--and buried. + +In a few days after Ice and Snodgrass left home in quest of their +horses, a party of Indians came to Buffalo creek in Monongalia, and +meeting with Mrs. Dragoo and her son in a corn field gathering beans, +took them prisoners, and supposing that their detention would induce +others to look for them, they waylaid the path leading [277] from the +house. According to their expectation, uneasy at their continued +absence, Jacob Strait and Nicholas Wood went to ascertain its cause. +As they approached the Indians fired from their covert, and Wood +fell;--Strait taking to flight was soon overtaken. Mrs. Strait and her +daughter, hearing the firing and seeing the savages in pursuit of Mr. +Strait, betook themselves also to flight, but were discovered by some +of the Indians who immediately ran after them. The daughter concealed +herself in a thicket of bushes and escaped observation. Her mother +sought concealment under a large shelving rock, and was not afterwards +discovered by the savages, although those in pursuit of her husband, +passed near and overtook him not far off. Indeed she was at that time +so close, as to hear Mr. Strait say, when overtaken, "don't kill me +and I will go with you;" and the savage replying "will you go with +me," she heard the fatal blow which deprived her husband of life. + +Mrs. Dragoo being infirm and unable to travel to their towns, was +murdered on the way. Her son (a lad of seven) remained with the +Indians upwards of twenty years,--he married a squaw, by whom he had +four children,--two of whom he brought home with him, when he forsook +the Indians. + +In 1787 the Indians again visited the settlement on Buffaloe, and as +Levi Morgan was engaged in skinning a wolf which he had just taken +from his trap, he saw three of them--one riding a horse which he well +knew, the other two walking near behind--coming towards him. On first +looking in the direction they were coming, he recognized the horse, +and supposed the rider to be its owner--one of his near neighbors. A +second glance discovered the mistake, and he siezed his gun and sprang +behind a large rock,--the Indians at the same instant taking shelter +by the side of a large tree.--As soon as his body was obscured from +their view, he turned, and seeing the Indians looking towards the +farther end of the [279] rocks as if expecting him to make his +appearance there, he fired and one of them fell. Instantly he had +recourse to his powder horn to reload, but while engaged in skinning +the wolf the stopper had fallen out and his powder was wasted. He +then fled, and one of the savages took after him. For some time he +held to his gun; but finding his pursuer sensibly gaining on him, he +dropped it under the hope that it would attract the attention of the +Indian and give him a better chance of escape. The savage passed +heedlessly by it. Morgan then threw his shot pouch and coat in the +way, to tempt the Indian to a momentary delay. It was equally +vain,--his pursuer did not falter for an instant. He now had recourse +to another expedient to save himself from captivity or death. Arriving +at the summit of the hill up which he had directed his steps, he +halted; and, as if some men were approaching from the other side, +called aloud, "come on, come on; here is one, make haste." The Indian +not doubting that he was really calling to some men at hand, turned +and retreated as precipitately as he had advanced; and when he heard +Morgan exclaim, "shoot quick, or he will be out of reach," he seemed +to redouble his exertion to gain that desirable distance. Pleased with +the success of the artifice, Morgan hastened home; leaving his coat +and gun to reward the savage for the deception practised on him.[12] + +In September of this year, a party of Indians were discovered in the +act of catching some horses on the West Fork above Clarksburg; and a +company of men led on by Col. Lowther, went immediately in pursuit of +them.[13] On the third night the Indians and whites, unknown to each +other, encamped not far apart; and in the morning the fires of the +latter being discovered by Elias Hughes, the detachment which was +accompanying him fired upon the camp, and one of the savages fell. The +remainder taking [279] to flight, one of them passed near to where +Col. Lowther and the other men were, and the Colonel firing at him as +he ran, the ball entering at his shoulder, perforated him, and he +fell. The horses and plunder which had been taken by the savages, were +then collected by the whites, and they commenced their return home, in +the confidence of false security. They had not proceeded far, when two +guns were unexpectedly fired at them, and John Bonnet fell, pierced +through the body. He died before he reached home.[14] + +[280] The Indians never thought the whites justifiable in flying to +arms to punish them for acts merely of rapine. They felt authorized to +levy contributions of this sort, whenever an occasion served, viewing +property thus acquired as (to use their own expression) the "only rent +which they received for their lands;" and if when detected in secretly +exacting them, their blood paid the penalty, they were sure to +retaliate with tenfold fury, on the first favorable opportunity. The +murder of these two Indians by Hughes and Lowther was soon followed by +acts of retribution, which are believed to have been, at least +mediately, produced by them. + +On the 5th of December, a party of Indians and one white man (Leonard +Schoolcraft) came into the settlement on Hacker's creek, and meeting +with a daughter of Jesse Hughes, took her prisoner. Passing on, they +came upon E. West, Senr. carrying some fodder to the stable, and +taking him likewise captive, carried him to where Hughes' daughter had +been left in charge of some of their party.--Here the old gentleman +fell upon his knees and expressed a fervent wish that they would not +deal harshly by him. His petition was answered by a stroke of the +tomahawk, and he fell dead. + +They then went to the house of Edmund West, Jun. where were Mrs. West +and her sister (a girl of eleven years old, daughter of John Hacker) +and a lad of twelve, a brother of West. Forcing open the door, +Schoolcraft and two of the savages entered; and one of them +immediately tomahawked Mrs. West. The boy was taking some corn from +under the bed,--he was drawn out by the feet and the tomahawk sank +twice in his forehead, directly above each eye. The girl was standing +behind the door. One of the savages approached and aimed at her a +blow. She tried to evade it; but it struck on the side of her neck, +though not with sufficient force to knock her down. She fell however, +and lay as if killed. Thinking their work of death accomplished here, +they took from a press some milk, butter and bread, placed it on the +table, and deliberately sat down to eat,--the little girl observing +all that passed, in silent stillness. When they had satisfied their +hunger, they arose, scalped the woman and boy, plundered the +house--even emptying the feathers to carry off the ticking--and +departed, dragging the little girl by the hair, forty or fifty yards +from the house. They then threw her over the fence, and scalped her; +but as she evinced symptoms of life, Schoolcraft observed "_that is +not enough_," when immediately one of the savages thrust a knife into +her side, and they left her. Fortunately the point of the knife came +in contact with a rib and did not injure her much. + +Old Mrs. West and her two daughters, who were alone when the old +gentleman was taken, became uneasy that he did not return; and fearing +that he had fallen into the hands of savages (as they could not +otherwise account for his absence) they left the house and went to +Alexander West's, who was then on a hunting expedition with his +brother Edmund. They told of the absence of old Mr. West and [281] +their fears for his fate; and as there was no man here, they went over +to Jesse Hughes' who was himself uneasy that his daughter did not come +home. Upon hearing that West too was missing, he did not doubt but +that both had fallen into the hands of Indians; and knowing of the +absence from home of Edmund West, Jun. he deemed it advisable to +apprize his wife of danger, and remove her to his house. For this +purpose and accompanied by Mrs. West's two daughters, he went on. On +entering the door, the tale of destruction which had been done there +was soon told in part. Mrs. West and the lad lay weltering in their +blood, but not yet dead. The sight overpowered the girls, and Hughes +had to carry them off.--Seeing that the savages had but just left +them; and aware of the danger which would attend any attempt to move +out and give the alarm that night, Hughes guarded his own house until +day, when he spread the sorrowful intelligence, and a company were +collected to ascertain the extent of the mischief and try to find +those who were known to be missing. + +Young West was found--standing in the creek about a mile from where he +had been tomahawked. The brains were oozing from his head; yet he +survived in extreme suffering for three days. Old Mr. West was found +in the field where he had been tomahawked. Mrs. West was in the house; +she had probably lived but a few minutes after Hughes and her +sisters-in-law had left there.--The little girl (Hacker's daughter) +was in bed at the house of old Mr. West. She related the history of +the transactions at Edmund West's, Jun. and said that she went to +_sleep_ when thrown over the fence and was awaked by the scalping. +After she had been stabbed at the suggestion of Schoolcraft and left, +she tried to re-cross the fence to the house, but as she was climbing +up she again went to sleep and fell back. She then walked into the +woods, sheltered herself as well as she could in the top of a fallen +tree, and remained there until the cocks crew in the morning. + +Remembering that there was no person left alive at the house of her +sister, awhile before day she proceeded to old Mr. West's. She found +no person at home, the fire nearly out, but the hearth warm and she +laid down on it. The heat produced a sickly feeling, which caused her +to get up and go to the bed, in which she was found.--She recovered, +grew up, was married, gave birth to ten children, and died, as was +believed, of an affection of the head, occasioned by the wound she +received that night. Hughes' daughter was ransomed by her father the +next year, and is yet living in sight of the theatre of those savage +enormities. + +In March 1789, two Indians came to the house of Mr. Glass in the upper +end of Ohio (now Brooke) county. They were discovered by a negro +woman, who immediately exclaimed, "here are Indians." Mrs. Glass rose +up from her spinning wheel, ran to the door, and was met by an Indian +with his gun presented. She laid hold on the muzzle and turning it +aside, begged that he would not kill, [282] but take her prisoner. He +walked into the house and when joined by another Indian with the negro +woman and her boy, about four years old, they opened a chest, took out +a small box and some articles of clothing, and without doing farther +mischief, departed with the prisoners,--Mrs. Glass and her child, two +years of age, the negro woman and boy and her infant child. They had +proceeded but a short distance when a consultation was held, and Mrs. +Glass supposing from their gestures and frequent pointing towards the +children they were the subject of deliberation, held forth her little +boy to one of the savages and begged that he might be spared--adding, +"he will make a fine little Indian after awhile." He signed to her to +go on. The other savage then struck the negro boy with the pipe end of +his tomahawk, and with the edge gave him a blow across the back of the +neck, and scalped and left him. + +In the evening they came to the Ohio river just above Wellsburg, and +descended it in a canoe about five miles, to the mouth of Rush run. +They drew the canoe some distance up the run and proceeding between +one and two miles farther encamped for the night.--Next morning they +resumed their march and about two o'clock halted on Indian Short +creek, twenty miles farther. + +When the savages came to the house of Mr. Glass he was at work in a +field some few hundred yards off, and was ignorant that any thing +extraordinary had occurred there, until in the afternoon.--Searching +in vain for his wife, he became satisfied that she had been taken by +the Indians; and proceeding to Well's fort prevailed on ten men to +accompany him in quest of them. Early next morning they discovered the +place where the Indians embarked in the canoe; and as Mr. Glass +readily distinguished the impression made by Mrs. Glass' shoe on the +sand, they crossed the river with great expectation of being able to +overtake them. They then went down the river to the mouth of Rush run, +where the canoe was found and identified by some of Mr. Glass' papers, +purposely left there by Mrs. Glass. From this place the trail of the +Indians and their prisoners was plainly visible, and pursuing it, the +party arrived in view of the smoke from their fire on Short creek, +about an hour after the Indians had halted. Crossing slyly forward, +when rather more than one hundred yards off they beheld the two +savages attentively inspecting a red jacket which one of them held, +and Mrs. Glass and her little boy and the negro woman and her child a +few paces from them.--Suddenly the Indians let fall the jacket, and +looked towards the men. Supposing they were discovered, they +discharged their guns and rushed towards the fire. One of the Indians +fell and dropped his gun, but recovering, ran about one hundred yards +when a shot aimed at him by Major McGuire brought him to his hands and +knees.--Mrs. Glass informing them that there was another encampment of +Indians close by, instead of following the wounded savage, they +returned home with all speed. + +[283] In August five Indians on their way to the settlements on the +waters of the Monongahela, met with two men on Middle Island creek, +and killed them. Taking their horses they continued on their route +until they came to the house of William Johnson on Ten Mile, and made +prisoner of Mrs. Johnson and some children; plundered the house, +killed part of the stock, and taking with them one of Johnson's +horses, returned towards the Ohio. When the Indians came to the house, +Johnson had gone to a lick not far off, and on his return in the +morning, seeing what had been done, and searching until he found the +trail of the savages and their prisoners, ran to Clarksburg for +assistance. A company of men repaired with him immediately to where +he had discovered the trail, and keeping it about a mile, found four +of the children lying dead in the woods. The savages had tomahawked +and scalped them, and placing their heads close together, turned their +bodies and feet straight out so as to represent a cross. The dead were +buried and farther pursuit given over. + +Other Indians, about the same time, came to the house of John Mack on +a branch of Hacker's creek. He being from home, they killed all who +were at the house. Two of the children, who had been sent into the +woods to hunt the cattle, returning, saw a little sister lying in the +yard scalped, and directly fled, and gave the alarm. In the morning +some men assembled and went to ascertain the extent of the mischief. +The house was no longer to be seen,--a heap of ashes was all that +remained of it. The little girl who had been scalped in the yard, was +much burned, and those who had been murdered in the house, were +consumed with it. Mrs. Mack had been taken some distance from the +house, tomahawked, scalped, and stripped naked. She was yet alive; and +as the men approached, a sense of her situation induced her to exert +her feeble strength in drawing leaves around her so as to conceal her +nakedness. The men wrapped their hunting shirts about her, and carried +her to a neighboring house. She lived a few days, gave birth to a +child and died. + +Some time after the murder of Mack's family, John Sims, living on a +branch of Gnatty creek, seeing his horses come running up much +affrighted, was led to believe that the Indians had been trying to +catch them. In a few minutes, the dogs began to bark furiously in the +corn field adjoining, and he became satisfied the savages were +approaching. Knowing [284] that he could offer no effectual +resistance, if they should attack his house, he contrived an artifice +to deter them from approaching. Taking down his gun, he walked around +the house backward and forward, and as if speaking to men in it, +called out, "_Be watchful._ They will soon be here, and as soon as you +see them, draw a fine bead;" Mrs. Sims in a coarse tone of voice and +with feigned resolution, answering as she had been advised, "Never +fear! let them once shew their yellow hides, and we'll pepper them." +He would then retire into the house, change his garments, the better +to support the deception, and again go forth to watch and give +directions to those within. He pursued this plan until night, when he +withdrew with his family to a place of safety. The Indians had +actually been in the cornfield, and near enough to have shot +Sims,--the place where they had been sitting being plainly discernible +next morning. Sims' artifice no doubt drove them off, and as they were +retreating they fired the house of Jethro Thompson on Lost creek. + +In the spring of 1790, the neighborhood of Clarksburg was again +visited by Indians in quest of plunder, and who stole and carried off +several horses. They were discovered and pursued to the Ohio river, +when the pursuers, being reinforced, determined to follow on over into +the Indian country. Crossing the river and ascending the Hockhocking, +near to the falls, they came upon the camp of the savages. The whites +opened an unexpected fire, which killing one and wounding another of +the Indians, caused the remainder to fly, leaving their horses about +their camp.--These were caught, brought back and restored to their +owners. + +In April as Samuel Hull was engaged in ploughing a field for Major +Benjamin Robinson, he was discovered by some Indians, shot, +tomahawked, and scalped. The murder was first ascertained by Mrs. +Robinson. Surprised that Hull did not come to the house as usual, to +feed the horses and get his own dinner, she went to the field to see +what detained him. She found the horses some distance from where they +had been recently at work; and going on, presently saw Hull lying +where he had been shot. + +----- + [1] News of the preliminary articles of peace, which had + been signed at Paris, November 30, 1782, did not reach Fort + Pitt until May, 1783. In July following, De Peyster, British + commandant at Detroit, gathered at that post the chiefs of + eleven tribes as far south as the Great Miami and the Wabash, + and informed them of the event.--R. G. T. + + [2] The treaty was held at Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of + the Beaver, early in January, 1785. The tribes represented were + the Wyandots, Chippewas, Delawares, and Ottawas. The + commissioners were Arthur Lee, Richard Butler, and George + Rogers Clark. Col. Josiah Harmar was in charge of the + troops.--R. G. T. + + [3] L. V. McWhorter, well informed in the local traditions, + writes: "When the Indian sprang into the house, with drawn + tomahawk, he closed and for a few moments stood with his back + to the door. Then, while cutting an opening through the wall, + he asked Mrs. Cunningham how many men there were in the other + house. She answered by holding up the extended fingers of both + hands, indicating 10."--R. G. T. + + [4] McWhorter: "Mrs. Cunningham related that the last + she saw of her little daughter, was one quivering little + foot sticking up over a log behind which she had been + thrown."--R. G. T. + + [5] McWhorter: "The cave in which Mrs. Cunningham was + concealed is on Little Indian Run, a branch of Big Bingamon + Creek, on which stream the tragedy took place. The cave is + about two miles northwest of the site of the capture, and in + Harrison County, W. Va."--R. G. T. + + [6] McWhorter: "Mrs. Cunningham stated that an Indian stood + over her with an uplifted tomahawk, to prevent her from crying + out. At times, the whites were upon the very rock above their + heads."--R. G. T. + + [7] McWhorter says local tradition has it that the Indians + remained in the cave a night and a day; they departed before + daylight, during the second night. Mrs. Cunningham related that + just before leaving, the wounded brave was borne from the cave + by his fellows, and she never again saw him; her opinion was, + that he was then dead, and his body was sunk in a neighboring + pool.--R. G. T. + + [8] Mrs. Cunningham had been over three years with the + savages, when she was taken to a great Indian conference held + at the foot of the Maumee rapids, "at or near the site of the + present Perrysburgh, Ohio," in the autumn of 1788. Girty + brought the attention of McKee, then a British Indian agent, to + the matter, and McKee furnished the trinkets which constituted + the ransom.--R. G. T. + + [9] See McKnight's _Our Western Border_, pp. 714, + 716.--R. G. T. + + [10] Superstition was rife among the Scotch-Irish borderers. + McWhorter writes: "On the day before the capture, a little bird + came into Mrs. Cunningham's cabin and fluttered around the + room. Ever afterwards, she grew frightened whenever a bird + would enter her house. The fear that such an occurrence would + bring bad luck to a household, was an old and widely-spread + superstition."--R. G. T. + + [11] Mary Moore afterwards became the wife of Mr. Brown, a + presbyterian preacher in Augusta. Her brother James Moore, jr., + still resides in Tazewell county; and notwithstanding that he + witnessed the cruel murder of his mother and five brothers and + sisters by the hands of the savages, he is said to have formed + and still retain a strong attachment to the Indians. The + anniversary of the burning of Mrs. Moore & her daughter, is + kept by many in Tazewell as a day of fasting and prayer; and + that tragical event gave rise to some affecting verses, + generally called "Moore's Lamentation." + + [12] At the treaty of Au Glaize, Morgan met with the Indian + who had given him this chase, and who still had his gun. After + talking over the circumstance, rather more composedly than they + had acted it, they agreed to test each other's speed in a + friendly race. The Indian being beaten, rubbed his hams and + said, "_stiff, stiff; too old, too old_." "Well, said Morgan, + you got the gun by outrunning me then, and I should have it now + for outrunning you;" and accordingly took it. + + [13] McWhorter: "Alexander West was with Col. William Lowther + on this expedition. They followed the Indians to the Little + Kanawha River."--R. G. T. + + [14] Another case of border superstition is related to me by + McWhorter. Alexander West had been doing sentry duty most of + the night before, and on being relieved early in the morning, + sat with his back to a tree and, rifle across his lap, fell to + sleep. On awakening he sprang to his feet and cried, "Boys, + look out! Some of us will be killed to-day! I saw the _red doe_ + in my dream; that is the sign of death; I never knew it to + fail!" When Bonnett fell, it was considered in camp to be a + verification of the "red sign." Bonnett was carried by his + comrades on a rude stretcher, but in four days died. His body + was placed in a cleft of rock and the entrance securely + chinked.--R. G. T. + + + + +[285] CHAPTER XVII. + + +Upon the close of the war of the revolution, many circumstances +conspired to add considerably to the population of Kentucky; and her +strength and ability to cope with the savages and repel invasion, were +consequently much increased. Conscious of this, and sensible of their +own condition, weakened by the withdrawal of their allies, the Indians +did not venture upon expeditions against its inhabitants, requiring to +be conducted by the co-operation of many warriors. They preferred to +wage war in small parties, against detached settlements and +unprotected families; and guarding the Ohio river and the "_wilderness +trace_,"[1] to cut off parties of emigrants removing to that country. +In all of those they were eminently successful. In the interval of +time, between the peace of 1783 and the defeat of General Harmar, in +1790, it is inferred from evidence laid before Congress, that in +Kentucky, not less than one thousand human beings were killed and +taken prisoners. And although the whites were enabled to carry the war +into the heart of the Indian country, and frequently with success, yet +did not this put a stop to their enormities. When pressed by the +presence of a conquering army, they would sue for peace, and enter +into treaties, which they scarcely observed inviolate 'till those +armies were withdrawn from among them. + +In April 1785, some Indians hovering about Bear Grass, met with +Colonel Christian and killed him. His loss was severely felt +throughout the whole country.[2] + +In October of the same year, several families moving to the [286] +country were attacked and defeated on Skegg's creek. Six of the whites +were killed, and a number of the others made prisoners, among whom +were Mrs. McClure and her infant. When the attack was begun, she +secreted herself with four children in some bushes, which together +with the darkness of the night, protected her from observation; and +could she have overcome the feelings of a mother for her child, she +might have ensured her own safety and that of her three other children +by leaving her infant at some distance from them. She was aware of the +danger to which its cries would expose her, and sought to prevent them +by giving it the breast. For awhile it had that effect, but its +shrieks at length arose and drew the savages to the spot. Three of her +children were slain by her side. + +On hearing of this disastrous event, Capt. Whitley collected +twenty-one men from the nearer stations, and went in pursuit of the +aggressors. He presently overtook them, killed two of their party, and +retook the prisoners and the scalps of those whom they had slain.--So +signal was his success over them. + +In ten days afterwards, another company of _movers_, led on by Mr. +Moore, was attacked, and in the skirmish which ensued, nine of their +party were killed. Again Capt. Whitley went in pursuit of the savage +perpetrators of this outrage, having thirty men to accompany him. On +the sixth day of the pursuit, they overtook twenty mounted Indians, +some of whom were clad in the clothes of those they had slain; and who +dismounted and fled upon the first fire. Three of them however were +killed, and eight scalps and all the plunder were recovered. + +In consequence of the many repeated aggressions of the savages, an +expedition was this fall concerted against their towns on the Wabash, +to be carried into immediate execution. Through the exertions of the +county lieutenants an army of one thousand men, was soon assembled at +Louisville[3] and placed under the command of Gen. Clarke, who marched +directly for the theatre of contemplated operations--leaving the +provisions and much of their munitions to be transported in boats. The +army arrived near the towns, before the boats;--the men became +dissatisfied and mutinous, and Gen. Clarke was in consequence, +reluctantly forced to return without striking a blow.[4] + +[287] When the army under Gen. Clarke marched from Louisville, Col. +Logan knowing that the attention of the Indians would be drawn almost +exclusively towards it, & other towns be left exposed and defenceless, +raised a body of troops and proceeded against the villages on the +Great Miami, and on the head waters of Mad river. In this campaign he +burned eight large towns, killed twenty warriors and took between +seventy and eighty prisoners.[5] + +Among the troops led on by Col. Logan, was the late Gen. Lyttle (since +of Cincinnati) then a youth of sixteen.[6] At the head of a party of +volunteers, when the first towns on the Mad river were reduced, he +charged on some of the savages whom he saw endeavoring to reach a +close thicket of hazel and plum bushes. Being some distance in front +of his companions, when within fifty yards of the retreating enemy, he +dismounted, and raising his gun to fire, saw the warrior at whom he +was aiming, hold out his hand in token of surrendering. In this time +the other men had come up and were making ready to fire, when young +Lyttle called to them, "they have surrendered; and remember the +Colonel's orders to kill none who ask for quarters." The warrior +advanced towards him with his hand extended, and ordering the others +to follow him. As he approached, Lyttle gave him his hand, but with +difficulty restrained the men from tomahawking him. It was the head +chief with his three wives and children, two or three of whom were +fine looking lads, and one of them a youth of Lyttle's age. Observing +the conduct of Lyttle in preventing the murder of the chief, this +youth drew close to him. When they returned to the town, a crowd of +men rushed around to see the chief, and Lyttle stepped out of the +crowd to fasten his horse. The lad accompanied him. A young man who +had been to the spring to drink, seeing Lyttle with the Indian lad, +came running towards him. The youth supposed that he was advancing to +kill him, and in the twinkling of an eye let fly an arrow. It passed +through Curner's dress, and grazed his side; and but for the timely +twitch which Lyttle gave the lad's arm, would have killed him. His +other arrows were then taken away, and he sternly reprimanded. + +Upon the return of Lyttle to where the chief stood, he heard Col. +Logan give orders that the prisoners must not be molested, but taken +to a house and placed under guard for their [288] security; and seeing +Major McGary[7] riding up and knowing his disposition, he called to +him saying, "Major McGary, you must not molest those prisoners" and +rode off. McGary mutteringly replied, "I'll see to that;" and +dismounting, entered the circle around the prisoners. He demanded of +the chief, if he were at the battle of the Blue Licks. The chief +probably not understanding the purport of the question, replied +affirmatively. McGary instantly seized an axe from the Grenadier +Squaw, standing by and sunk it into his head. Lyttle saw the +descending stroke and interposed his arm to prevent it or break its +force. The handle came in contact with his wrist and had well nigh +broke it. Indignant at the barbarous deed, with the impetuosity of +youth he drew his knife to avenge it. His arm was arrested, or the +steel would have been plunged into the heart of McGary. The bloody act +of this man caused deep regret, humiliation and shame to pervade the +greater part of the army, and none were more affected by it, than the +brave and generous Logan.--When the prisoners were conducted to the +house, it was with much difficulty the Indian lad could be prevailed +upon to quit the side of Lyttle. + +The commencement of the year 1786 witnessed treaties of peace with all +the neighboring tribes;[8] but its progress was marked by acts of +general hostility. Many individual massacres were committed and in the +fall, a company of _movers_ were attacked, and twenty-one of them +killed. This state of things continuing, in 1787 the secretary of war +ordered detachments of troops to be stationed at [288] different +points for the protection of the frontier. Still the Indians kept up +such an incessant war against it, as after the adoption of the federal +constitution, led the general government to interpose more effectually +for the security of its inhabitants, by sending a body of troops to +operate against them in their own country. + +While these things were doing, a portion of the country north west of +the river Ohio, began to be occupied by the whites. One million and a +half acres of land in that country, having been appropriated as +military land, a company, composed of officers and soldiers in the war +of the revolution, was formed in Boston in March 1786 under the title +of the [289] "Ohio Company," and Gen. Rufus Putnam was appointed its +agent. In the spring of 1788, he with forty-seven other persons, from +Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, repaired to Marietta, +erected a stockade fort for security against the attacks of Indians, +and effected a permanent settlement there.[9] In the autumn of the +same year, twenty families, chiefly from Essex and Middlesex counties +in Massachusetts, likewise moved there, and the forests of lofty +timber fell before their untiring and laborious exertions. Many of +those who thus took up their abodes in that, then _distant_ country +had been actively engaged in the late war, and were used, not only to +face danger with firmness when it came upon them; but also to devise +and practice, means to avert it. Knowing the implacable resentment of +the savages to the whites generally, they were at once careful not to +provoke it into action, and to prepare to ward off its effects. In +consequence of this course of conduct, and their assiduity and +attention to the improvement of their lands, but few massacres were +committed in their neighborhoods, although the savages were waging a +general war against the frontier, and carrying destruction into +settlements, comparatively in the interior. + +In the winter of 1786, Mr. Stites of Redstone visited New York with +the view of purchasing (congress being then in session there) for +settlement, a tract of country between the two Miamies. The better +to insure success to his project, he cultivated the acquaintance of +many members of congress and endeavored to impress upon their minds +its propriety and utility. John Cleves Symmes, then a representative +from New Jersey, and whose aid Stites solicited to enable him to +effect the purchase, becoming impressed with the great pecuniary +advantage which must result from the speculation, if the country were +such as it was represented to be, determined to ascertain this fact by +personal inspection. He did so; and on his return a purchase of one +million of acres, lying on the Ohio and between the Great and Little +Miami, was made in his name. Soon after, he sold to Matthias Denman +and others, that part of his purchase which forms the present site of +the city of Cincinnati; and in the fall of 1789, some families from +New York, New Jersey, and Redstone, descended the Ohio river to the +mouth of the Little Miami. As the Indians were now more than +ordinarily troublesome, forty soldiers under Lieut. Kersey, were +ordered to join them for the [290] defence of the settlement. They +erected at first a single blockhouse, and soon after adding to it +three others, a stockade fort was formed on a position now included +within the town of Columbia. + +In June 1789, Major Doughty with one hundred and forty regulars, +arrived opposite the mouth of Licking, and put up four block houses on +the purchase made by Denman of Symmes, and directly after, erected +Fort Washington. Towards the close of the year, Gen. Harmar arrived +with three hundred other regulars, and occupied the fort. Thus assured +of safety, Israel Ludlow, (jointly interested with Denman and +Patterson) with twenty other persons, moved and commenced building +some cabins along the river and near to the fort.--During the winter +Mr. Ludlow surveyed and laid out the town of Losantiville,[10] but +when Gen. St. Clair came there as governor of the North Western +Territory, he changed its name to Cincinnati.[11] + +[290] In 1790, a settlement was made at the forks of Duck creek, +twenty miles up the Muskingum at the site of the present town of +Waterford; another fifteen miles farther up the river at Big Bottom, +and a third at Wolf creek near the falls. These settlements were made +on a tract of one hundred thousand acres, laid off into "donation" +lots of one hundred acres, and gratuitously assigned to _actual +settlers_; and at the close of the year they contained nearly five +hundred men, of whom one hundred and seven had families. + +Thus was the present flourishing State of Ohio begun to be occupied by +the whites; and the mind cannot but be struck with astonishment in +contemplating the wonderful changes which have been _wrought there_, +in such brief space of time, by industry and enterprise. Where then +stood mighty and unbroken forests, through which the savage passed on +his mission of blood; or stalked the majestic buffaloe, gamboled the +sportive deer, or trotted the shaggy bear, are now to [291] be seen +productive farms, covered with lowing herds and bleating flocks, and +teeming with all the comforts of life.--And where then stood the town +of Losantiville with its three or four little cabins and their twenty +inmates, is now to be seen a flourishing city with its splendid +edifices, and a population of 26,513 souls. Continuing thus +progressively to improve, the mind of man, "pervading and far darting" +as it is, can scarcely picture the state which may be there exhibited +in the lapse of a few centuries. + +The formations of those establishments north west of the Ohio river, +incited the savages to the commission of such and so frequent +enormities that measures were taken by the general government to +reduce them to quiet and render peace truly desirable to them. While +preparations were making to carry those measures into operation, +detachments from the regular troops at Fort Washington were stationed +at Duck creek, the Big Bottom and Wolf creek, for the security of the +_settlers_ at those places; and when every thing was prepared, Gen. +Harmar, at the head of three hundred and twenty regulars, moved from +his head quarters at Fort Washington, to the Little Miami, where the +militia detailed for the expedition, were then assembled. The object +was to bring the Indians, if possible, to a general engagement; and if +this could not be effected, to destroy their towns and crops on the +Scioto and Miami. + +On the last day of September 1790, the army then consisting of +fourteen hundred and forty-three men, (of whom only three hundred and +twenty were regulars) marched forward, and on the 17th of October +reached the Great Miami village.[12] It was found to be entirely +deserted and all the valuable buildings in flames--having been fired +by the Indians. As it was apparent that the savages had but recently +left there, Col. Hardin was detached with two hundred and ten men, +sixty of whom were regulars to overtake them. Having marched about six +miles, he was suddenly attacked by a body of Indians who were +concealed in thickets on every side of an open plain. On the first +onset, the militia made a most precipitate retreat, leaving the few, +but brave regulars to stand the charge. The conflict was short but +bloody. The regular troops, over powered by numbers, were literally +cut to pieces; and only seven of them made their escape and rejoined +the main army at the Great Miami town.[13] + +[292] Among those who were so fortunate as to escape after the +shameful flight of the militia, was Capt. Armstrong of the regulars. +He reached a pond of water about two hundred yards from the field of +action; and plunging himself up to the neck in it, remained there all +night, a spectator of the horrid scene of a savage war dance, +performed over the dead and wounded bodies of his brave soldiers. The +escape of ensign Hartshorn was perhaps owing entirely to a lucky +accident. As he was flying at his best speed he faltered over a log, +which lay in his path, and by the side of which he concealed himself +from the view of the savages. + +Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of this engagement, the +detachment succeeded in reducing the other towns to ashes, and in +destroying their crops of corn and other provisions; and rejoining the +main army under Gen. Harmar, commenced their return to Fort +Washington. Anxious to wipe off in another action, the disgrace which +he felt would attach to the defeat, when within eight miles of +Chilicothe, Gen. Harmar halted his men, and again detached Col. Hardin +and Major Wylleys, with five hundred militia and sixty regulars, to +find the enemy and bring them to an engagement. + +Early next morning, a small body of the enemy was discovered, and +being attacked, fled in different directions.--The militia pursued +them as they ran in despite of orders; and when by this means the +regulars were left alone, they were attacked by the whole force of the +Indians, excepting the small parties whose flight had drawn off the +militia. A severe engagement ensued. The savages fought with +desperation; & when the troops which had gone in pursuit of those who +fled upon the first onset, returned to take part in the engagement, +they threw down their guns and rushed upon the regulars tomahawk in +hand. Many of them fell, but being so very far superior in numbers, +the regulars were at last overpowered. Their firmness and bravery +could not avail much, against so overwhelming a force; for though one +of them might thrust his bayonet into the side of an Indian, two other +savages were at hand to sink their tomahawks into his head. In his +official account of this battle, Gen. Harmar claimed the victory; but +the thinned ranks of his troops shewed that they had been severely +worsted. Fifty of the regulars and one hundred of the militia were +killed in the contest, and many wounded. The loss of the Indians was +no doubt considerable, [293] or they would not have suffered the army +to retire to Fort Washington unmolested.[14] + +Instead of the security from savage hostilities, which it was expected +would result from Harmar's campaign, the inhabitants of the frontier +suffered from them, more than they had been made to endure since the +close of the war with Great Britain. Flushed with the success which +had crowned their exertions to repel the invasion which had been made +into their country, and infuriated at the destruction of their crops +and the conflagration of their villages, they became more active and +zealous in the prosecution of hostilities. + +The settlements which had been recently made in Ohio up the Muskingum, +had ever after their first establishment, continued apparently on the +most friendly terms with the Indians; but on the part of the savages, +friendship had only been feigned, to lull the whites into a ruinous +security. When this end was attained, they too were made to feel the +bitterness of savage enmity. On the 2d of January 1791, a party of +Indians came to the Big Bottom, and commenced an indiscriminate murder +of the inhabitants; fourteen of whom were killed and five taken +prisoners. The settlement at Wolf's creek escaped a similar fate, by +being apprized of the destruction of Big Bottom by two men who got +safely off in time of the massacre. When the Indians arrived there the +next morning, finding the place prepared to receive them, they +withdrew without making any serious attempt to take it. + +On the 24th of April, John Bush (living on Freeman's creek,) having +very early sent two of his children to drive up the cattle, became +alarmed by their screams, and taking down his gun, was proceeding to +learn the cause of it, when he was met at the door by an Indian, who +caught hold of the gun, forced it from his grasp, and shot him with +it. Bush fell across the threshold, and the savage drew his knife to +scalp him. Mrs. Bush ran to the assistance of her husband, and with an +axe, aimed a blow at the Indian with such force that it fastened +itself in his shoulder, and when he jumped back his exertion pulled +the handle from her hand. She then drew her husband into the house and +secured the door. + +In this time other of the savages had come up, and after endeavoring +in vain to force open the door, they commenced shooting through it. +Fortunately Mrs. Bush remained unhurt, although eleven bullets passed +through her frock and some of [294] them just grazing the skin. One of +the savages observing an aperture between the logs, thrust the muzzle +of his gun thro' it. With another axe Mrs. Bush struck on the barrel +so as to make it ring, and, the savage on drawing it back, exclaimed +"_Dern you._" Still they were endeavoring to force an entrance into +the house, until they heard what they believed to be a party of whites +coming to its relief. It was Adam Bush, who living close by and +hearing the screams of the children and the firing of the gun, had set +off to learn what had given rise to them, and taking with him his +dogs, the noise made by them in crossing the creek alarmed the +savages, and caused them to retreat, taking off the two children as +prisoners. A company of men were soon collected and went in pursuit of +the Indians; but were unable to surprise them and regain the +prisoners. They however, came so nearly upon them, on the Little +Kenhawa,[15] that they were forced to fly precipitately, leaving the +plunder and seven horses which they had taken from the settlement: +these were retaken and brought back. + +In May, as John McIntire and his wife were returning from a visit, +they passed through the yard of Uriah Ashcraft; and in a small space +of time after, Mr. Ashcraft, startled by the sudden growling and +springing up of one of his dogs, stepped quickly to the door to see +what had aroused him. He had hardly reached the door, when he espied +an Indian on the outside with his gun presented. Closing and making +fast the door, he ascended the stairs that he might the better fire +upon the unwelcome intruder; and after snapping three several times, +and having discovered that there were other Indians in the yard, he +raised a loud shout to apprize those who were within the sound of his +voice, that he was surrounded by danger. Upon this the Indians moved +off; and three brothers of McIntire coming to his relief, they all +pursued the trail of the savages. About a mile from Ashcraft's, they +found the body of John McIntire, tomahawked, scalped, and stripped; +and concluding that Mrs. McIntire, was taken prisoner, they sent +intelligence to Clarksburg of what had happened, and requested +assistance to follow the Indians and recover the prisoner from +captivity. The desired assistance was immediately afforded; and a +company of men, led on by Col. John Haymond and Col. George Jackson, +went in pursuit. On Middle Island creek,[16] before they were aware of +their proximity to the savages, they were fired upon by them, and +[295] two of the party very narrowly escaped being shot.--A ball +passed through the hankerchief on the head of Col. Haymond, and +another through the sleeve of Col. Jackson's shirt. The fire was +promptly returned, and the men rushed forward. The Indians however, +made good their retreat, though not without having experienced some +injury; as was discovered by the blood, and the throwing down some of +the plunder which they had taken. It was here first ascertained that +Mrs. McIntire had been killed,--her scalp being among the things +left--and on the return of the party, her body was found some small +distance from where that of her husband had been previously +discovered. + +Towards the last of June, another party of Indians invaded the +settlement on Dunkard creek, in the county of Monongalia. Early in the +morning, as Mr. Clegg, Mr. Handsucker, and two of Handsucker's sons +were engaged at work in a cornfield near the house, they were shot at +by some concealed savages, and Handsucker was wounded and soon +overtaken. Clegg and Handsucker's sons ran towards the house, and the +former entering it, defended it for a while; but confident that he +would soon be driven out by fire, he surrendered on condition that +they would spare his life and that of his little daughter with him. +The boys passed the house, but were taken by some of the savages who +were also concealed in the direction which they ran, and who had just +made captive Mrs. Handsucker and her infant. They then plundered and +set fire to the house, caught the horses and made off with the +prisoners, leaving one of their company, as usual, to watch after +their retreat. + +When the firing was first heard, Mrs. Clegg being some distance from +the house, concealed herself in the creek, under some projecting +bushes, until every thing became quiet. She then crept out, but +perceiving the Indian who had remained near the burning house, she +took to flight; and he having at the same time discovered her, ran in +pursuit. She was so far in advance, and ran so well, that the savage, +despairing of overtaking her, raised his gun and fired as she ran. The +ball just grazed the top of her shoulder, but not impeding her flight, +she got safely off. Mr. Handsucker, his wife and child, were murdered +on the dividing ridge between Dunkard and Fish creeks.[17] Mr. Clegg +after some time got back, and upon the close of the Indian war, +ransomed his two daughters. + +[296] In the month of September Nicholas Carpenter set off to Marietta +with a drove of cattle to sell to those who had established themselves +there; and when within some miles from the Ohio river, encamped for +the night.[18] In the morning early, and while he and the drovers were +yet dressing, they were alarmed by a discharge of guns, which killed +one and wounded another of his party. The others endeavored to save +themselves by flight; but Carpenter being a cripple (because of a +wound received some years before) did not run far, when finding +himself becoming faint, he entered a pond of water where he fondly +hoped he should escape observation. But no! both he and a son who had +likewise sought security there, were discovered, tomahawked and +scalped. George Legget, one of the drovers, was never after heard of; +but Jesse Hughes succeeded in getting off though under disadvantageous +circumstances. He wore long leggins, and when the firing commenced at +the camp, they were fastened at top to his belt, but hanging loose +below. Although an active runner, yet he found that the pursuers were +gaining and must ultimately overtake him if he did not rid himself of +this incumbrance. For this purpose he halted somewhat and stepping on +the lower part of his leggins, broke the strings which tied them to +his belt; but before he accomplished this, one of the savages +approached and hurled a tomahawk at him. It merely grazed his head, +and he then again took to flight and soon got off. + +It was afterwards ascertained that the Indians by whom this mischief +was effected, had crossed the Ohio river near the mouth of Little +Kenhawa, where they took a negro belonging to Captain James Neal, and +continued on towards the settlements on West Fork, until they came +upon the trail made by Carpenter's cattle. Supposing that they +belonged to families moving, they followed on until they came upon the +drovers; and tying the negro to a sapling made an attack on them. The +negro availed himself of their employment elsewhere, and loosing the +bands which fastened him, returned to his master. + +After the defeat of General Harmer, the terrors and the annoyance +proceeding from Indian hostilities, still continued to harrass +Kentucky, and to spread destruction over its unprotected portions. +Seeing that the expeditions of the savages were yet conducted on a +small scale, the better to effect their purposes, the inhabitants had +recourse to other measures [297] of defence; and established many +posts on the frontier, garrisoned by a few men, to watch the motions +of the enemy, and intercept them in their progress, or spread the +alarm of their approach. It was productive of but little benefit, and +all were convinced, that successful offensive war could alone give +security from Indian aggression. Convinced of this, preparations were +made by the General Government for another campaign to be carried on +against them; the objects of which were the destruction of the Indian +villages between the Miamies; the expulsion of their inhabitants from +the country, and the establishment of a chain of forts to prevent +their return, until a general peace should give promise of a cessation +of hostilities on their part. Means, deemed adequate to the +accomplishment of those objects, were placed by Congress at the +disposal of the executive, and of the army destined to effect them, he +directed General Arthur St. Clair to take the command.[19] + +It was some time before the troops detailed for this campaign, could +be assembled at Fort Washington; but as soon as they rendezvoused +there, the line of march was taken up.[20] Proceeding immediately for +the principal establishments of the Indians on the Miami, General St. +Clair had erected the Forts Hamilton and Jefferson,[21] and placing +sufficient garrisons in each, continued his march. The opening of a +road for the passage of the troops and artillery, necessarily consumed +much time; and while it was in progress, small parties of the enemy +were often seen hovering near, and some unimportant skirmishes took +place; and as the army approached the Indian villages, sixty of the +militia deserted in a body. To prevent the evil influence of this +example, General St. Clair despatched Major Hamtrack at the head of a +regiment, to overtake and bring them back; and the rest of the army +moved forward. + +On the night of the third of November, General St. Clair encamped near +the Great Miami village, and notwithstanding the reduced state of the +forces under his command, (by reason of the detachment of so large a +body in pursuit of the deserters,) he proposed to march in the morning +directly to its attack.[22] Having understood that the Indians were +collected in great force, and apprehensive of a night attack, his men +were drawn up in a square, and kept under arms until the return of +day, when they were dismissed from parade for [298] the purpose of +refreshment. Directly after, and about half an hour before sun rise, +an attack was begun by the Indians on the rear line, and the militia +there immediately gave way, and retreated,--rushing through a +battalion of regulars, to the very centre of the camp. The confusion +was great. Thrown into disorder by the tumultuous flight of the +militia, the utmost exertion of the officers could not entirely +compose the regulars, so as to render them as effective as they would +otherwise have been. + +After the first fire, the Indians rushed forward, tomahawk in hand, +until they were checked by the well directed aim of the front line; +which being almost simultaneously attacked by another body of the +enemy, had to direct their attention to their own assailants, and the +action became general. The weight of the enemy being brought to bear +on the centre of each line where the artillery had been placed, the +men were driven with great slaughter from the guns and these rendered +useless by the killing of the matrosses. The enemy taking advantage of +this state of things, pushed forward upon the lines, and confusion +began to spread itself in every quarter. A charge was ordered, and +Lieutenant Colonel Drake succeeded in driving back the Indians three +or four hundred yards at the point of the bayonet; but rallying, they +returned to the attack, and the troops in turn gave way. At this +moment the camp was entered by the left flank: and, another charge was +directed. This was made by Butler and Clark's battalions with great +effect, and repeated several times with success; but in each of these +charges, many being killed, and particularly the officers, it was +impossible longer to sustain the conflict, and a retreat was +directed. + +To enable the troops to effect this they were again formed into line, +as well as could be under such circumstances, and another charge was +made, as if to turn the right flank of the enemy, but in reality to +gain the road. This object was effected; and a precipitate flight +commenced which continued until they reached Fort Jefferson, a +distance of thirty miles, the men throwing away their guns and +accoutrements as they ran. + +Great was the havoc done by the Indians in this engagement. Of the +twelve hundred men engaged under General St. Clair, nearly six hundred +were left dead on the field, and many were wounded. Every officer of +the second regiment [299] was killed in the various charges made by it +to retrieve the day, except three, and one of these was shot through +the body. Major General Butler having been wounded, and carried to a +convenient place to have his wounds dressed, an Indian desperately +adventurous, broke through the guard in attendance, rushed up, +tomahawked and scalped him, before his own life paid the forfeit of +his rashness. General St. Clair had many narrow escapes.[23] Early in +the action, a number of savages surrounded his tent and seemed +resolved on entering it and sacrificing him. They were with difficulty +restrained by some regular soldiers at the point of the bayonet. +During the engagement eight balls passed through his clothes, and +while the troops were retreating, having had his own horse killed, and +being mounted on a sorry beast, "which could not be pricked out of a +walk," he had to make his way to Fort Jefferson as he could, +considerably in the rear of the men. During the action Adjutant +Bulgess received a severe wound, but yet continued to fight with +distinguished gallantry. Presently a second shot took effect and he +fell. A woman who was particularly attached to him had accompanied him +in the campaign, raised him up, and while supporting him in her arms, +received a ball in the breast which killed her instantly. + +The Chicasaws were then in amity with the whites, and some of their +warriors were to have cooperated with Gen. St. Clair, but did not +arrive in time. There was however one of that nation in the +engagement, and he killed and scalped eleven of the enemy with his own +hands, and while engaged with the twelfth was himself killed, to the +regret of those who witnessed his deeds of daring and of courage. + +According to the statement of the Indians, they killed six hundred and +twenty of the American troops, and took seven pieces of cannon, two +hundred head of oxen, many horses, but no prisoners.[24] They gave +their own loss in killed at only sixty-five; but it was no doubt much +greater. Their force consisted of four thousand warriors, and was led +on by a Missasago chief who had served with the British in the late +war; and who planned and conducted the attack contrary to the opinion +of a majority of the chiefs, who yet, having such confidence in his +skill and judgment, yielded their individual plans and gave to him the +entire control of their movements. He is reported to have caused the +savages to forbear the pursuit of the retreating troops; telling them +that they had killed enough, and it was time to enjoy the booty they +had gained with the victory. He was then about forty-five years of +age, six feet in height, and of a [300] sour, morose countenance. His +dress was Indian leggins and moccasons, a blue petticoat coming half +way down his thighs, and European waistcoat and surtout. His head was +bound with an Indian cap, reaching midway his back, and adorned with +upwards of two hundred silver ornaments. In each ear he had two ear +rings, the upper part of each of which was formed of three silver +meddles of the size of a dollar; the lower part consisted of quarters +of dollars, and more than a foot in length; one from each ear hanging +down his breast,--the others over his back. In his nose he wore +ornaments of silver curiously wrought and painted. + +Two days after the action the warriors from the Chicasaw nation +arrived at Fort Jefferson, under the command of Piomingo, or the +"Mountain Leader." On their march they heard of the fatal battle, and +saw one of the enemy; who mistaking Piomingo's party for some of his +own comrades, made up to them. He discovered the mistake when it was +too late to rectify it. Piomingo accosted him in harsh tones, +saying--"Rascal, you have been killing the whites," and immediately +ordered two of his warriors to expand his arms, and a third to shoot +him. This was done and his scalp taken. + +After the disastrous termination of this campaign,[25] the inhabitants +of Kentucky were as much as, or perhaps more than ever, exposed to +savage enmity and those incursions which mark the bitterness of Indian +resentment. Soon after the retreat of the army under Gen. Sinclair, a +party of them came upon Salt river, where two men and some boys were +fishing; and falling suddenly upon them killed the men and made +prisoners of the boys. They then liberated one of the boys, and giving +him a tomahawk, directed him to go home; shew it to his friends; +inform them what had been the fate of his companions, and what they +were to expect for their own. The threat was fearfully executed. Many +families were entirely cut off and many individuals sacrificed to +their fury. Companies of Indians were constantly traversing the +country in secret, and committing depredations, wherever they supposed +it could be done with impunity. A remarkable instance of their failure +and suffering in attempting to form an entrance into a house where was +an almost unprotected family, deserves to be particularly mentioned. + +On the 24th of December 1791, a party of savages attacked the house of +John Merril, in Nelson county. Mr. Merril, alarmed by the barking of +the dogs, hastened to the door to learn the cause.--On opening it, he +was fired at by two Indians and his leg and arm were both broken. The +savages then ran forward to enter the house, but before they could do +this, the door was closed and secured by Mrs. Merril and her daughter. +After a fruitless attempt to force it open, they commenced hewing off +a part of it with their tomahawks, and when a passage was thus opened, +one of them attempted to enter through it. The heroic Mrs. Merril, in +the midst of her screaming and affrighted children, and her groaning +suffering husband, seized an axe, gave the ruffian a fatal blow, and +[301] instantly drew him into the house. Supposing that their end was +now nearly attained, the others pressed forward to gain admittance +through the same aperture. Four of them were in like manner despatched +by Mrs. Merril, before their comrades were aware that any opposition +was making in the house. Discovering their mistake the survivors +retired for awhile, and returning, two of them endeavored to gain +admittance by climbing to the top of the house, and descending in the +chimney, while the third was to exert himself at the door. Satisfied +from the noise on the top of the house, of the object of the Indians, +Mr. Merril directed his little son to rip open a bed and cast its +contents on the fire. This produced the desired effect.--The smoke and +heat occasioned by the burning of the feathers brought the two Indians +down, rather unpleasantly; and Mr. Merril somewhat recovered, exerted +every faculty, and with a billet of wood soon despatched those half +smothered devils. Mrs. Merril was all this while busily engaged in +defending the door against the efforts of the only remaining savage, +whom she at length wounded so severely with the axe, that he was glad +to get off alive. + +A prisoner, who escaped from the Indians soon after the happening of +this transaction, reported that the wounded savage was the only one, +of a party of eight, who returned to their towns; that on being asked +by some one, "what news,"--he replied, "bad news for poor Indian, me +lose a son, me lose a brother,--the squaws have taken the breech +clout, and fight worse than the Long Knives." + +The frequent commission of the most enormous outrages, led to an +expedition against the Indians, carried on by the inhabitants of +Kentucky alone. An army of one thousand mounted volunteers was +raised, and the command of it being given to Gen. Scott, he marched +immediately for their towns.[26] When near them, he sent out two spies +to learn the state of the enemy; who reported that they had seen a +large body of Indians, not far from the fatal spot where St. Clair's +bloody battle had been fought, enjoying themselves with the plunder +there taken, riding the oxen, and acting in every respect as if drunk. +Gen. Scott immediately gave orders to move forward briskly; and +arranging his men into three divisions, soon came upon and attacked +the savages. The contest was short but decisive.--Two hundred of the +enemy were killed on the spot, the cannon and such of the other stores +as were in their possession, retaken, and the savage forces completely +routed. The loss of the Kentuckians was inconsiderable,--only six men +were killed and but few wounded. + +Gen. Scott on his return, gave an affecting account of the appearance +of the field, where Gen. St. Clair had been encountered by the +savages. "The plain," said he, "had a very melancholy appearance. In +the space of three hundred and fifty yards, lay three hundred skull +bones, which were buried by my men while on the ground; from thence +for miles on, and the road was strewed with skeletons, muskets, &c." A +striking picture of the desolation wrought there on the bloody fourth +of November. + +----- + [1] The "Wilderness Road" (or "trace") was the overland + highway through Cumberland Gap. It was sometimes called + "Boone's trace." From North Carolina and Southern Virginia, it + was the nearest road to Kentucky; to those living farther + north, the Ohio was the favorite highway. While the river was + an easier path, it was more dangerous on account of Indians: + but travelers of the early period who had come down the Ohio, + preferred returning east by the Wilderness Road to poling up + stream. See Thomas Speed's _Wilderness Road_, in the Filson + Club publications (Louisville, 1886.)--R. G. T. + + [2] Col. William Christian, who served in Lord Dunmore's + War. He was killed in April, 1786. John May, writing to + Governor Henry from Crab Orchard, Ky., April 19, says: "The + Indians about the Wabash had frequently been on Bear Grass, and + Col. Christian, in order to induce others to go in pursuit of + them, has upon every occasion gone himself. And last week he + with about twenty men crossed the Ohio, and overtook three + Indians, whom they killed; but his men not obeying his orders, + which were to rush altogether on them, he with three others + only overtook the Indians, and was so unfortunate as to receive + a mortal wound himself and Capt. Isaac Kellar received + another."--R. G. T. + + [3] The time for rendezvous was September 10, 1786 (letter + of Col. Levi Todd to Governor Henry, August 29).--R. G. T. + + [4] Clark was roundly scored in contemporary accounts, for + being much of the time under the influence of liquor. His + futile expedition was against the Indians around Vincennes, + while Logan's party, which appears practically to have revolted + from Clark, had a successful campaign against the towns on Mad + River. See Green's _Spanish Conspiracy_, ch. v., and + Roosevelt's _Winning of the West_, iii., _passim_.--R. G. T. + + [5] Col. Benjamin Logan to Governor Randolph, Dec. 17, 1786: + "Sept. 14, 1786, I received orders [from Clark] to collect a + sufficient number of men in the District of Kentucky to march + against the Shawnee's Towns. Agreeable to said orders I + collected 790 men, and on the 6th of October I attacked the + above mentioned Towns, killed ten of the chiefs of that nation, + captured thirty-two prisoners, burnt upwards of two hundred + dwelling houses and supposed to have burnt fifteen thousand + bushels of corn, took some horses and cattle, killed a number + of hogs, and took near one thousand pounds value of Indian + furniture, and the quantity of furniture we burnt I can not + account for." The force was on duty "not above twenty-seven + days ... and I would venture to say the expenses will be found + to be very moderate."--R. G. T. + + [6] William Lytle, born in Carlisle, Pa., September 1, 1770. + He came to Ohio with his father, at the age of ten, and + subsequently became surveyor-general of the Northwest + Territory. His father served as a captain in the French and + Indian War, and as a colonel in the Revolution, and headed a + large colony to Ohio in 1780.--R. G. T. + + [7] This name is sometimes written Magery. It is the same + individual who caused the disaster at the Blue Licks in August + 1782. + + [8] The treaty with the Shawnees was negotiated January 30, + 1786, at Fort Finney, near the mouth of the Great Miami, by + George Rogers Clark, Richard Butler, and Samuel H. Parsons, + commissioners. The treaty with the Wyandots, Delawares, + Chippewas, and Ottawas was negotiated at Fort McIntosh, January + 21, 1785, by Clark, Butler, and Arthur Lee. These treaties were + of little avail, so long as British agents like McKee, Elliott, + and Simon Girty lived among the Indians and kept them in a + constant ferment against the Americans.--R. G. T. + + [9] The several states which, under their colonial charters + had claims to territory beyond the Ohio River,--Virginia, New + York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts,--had (1781-84) + relinquished their several claims to the newly-formed United + States, and the Ordinance of 1787 had provided for this + Northwest Territory an enlightened form of government which was + to be the model of the constitutions of the five states into + which it was ultimately to be divided. There was formed in + Boston, in March, 1786, the Ohio Company of Associates, and + October 17, 1787, it purchased from Congress a million and a + half acres in the new territory, about the mouth of the + Muskingum. Many of the shareholders were Revolutionary + soldiers, and great care was taken to select only good men as + colonists--oftentimes these were the best and most prosperous + men of their several localities. Gen. Rufus Putnam, a cousin of + Israel, and a near friend of Washington, was chosen as + superintendent of the pioneers. Two parties--one rendezvousing + at Danvers, Mass., and the other at Hartford, Conn.--arrived + after a difficult passage through the mountains at Simrall's + Ferry (now West Newton), on the Youghiogheny, the middle of + February, 1788. A company of boat-builders and other mechanics + had preceded them a month, yet it was still six weeks more + before the little flotilla could leave: "The Union Gally of 45 + tons burden; the Adelphia ferry boat, 3 tons; & three log + canoes of different sizes. No. of pioneers, 48." The winter had + been one of the severest known on the Upper Ohio, and the + spring was cold, wet, and backward; so that amid many hardships + it was the seventh of April before they arrived at the + Muskingum and founded Marietta, named for the unfortunate Marie + Antoinette, for the love of France was still strong in the + breasts of Revolutionary veterans.--R. G. T. + + [10] Perhaps there never was a more strange compound + derivative term than this. Being situated opposite to the mouth + of Licking, the name was made expressive of its locality, by + uniting the Latin word _os_, (the mouth) with the Greek, _anti_ + (opposite) and the French, _ville_, (a town,) and prefixing to + this union from such different sources, the initial (_L_) of + the river. The author of this word, must have been good at + invention, and in these days of _town making_ could find ample + employment for his talent. + + [11] In 1788, John Cleves Symmes--uncle of he of "Symmes's + Hole"--the first United States judge of the Northwest + Territory, purchased from congress a million acres of land on + the Ohio, lying between the two Miami Rivers. Matthias Denman + bought from him a square mile at the eastern end of the grant, + "on a most delightful high bank" opposite the Licking, and--on + a cash valuation for the land of two hundred dollars--took in + with him as partners Robert Patterson and John Filson. Filson + was a schoolmaster, had written the first history of Kentucky, + and seems to have enjoyed much local distinction. To him was + entrusted the task of inventing a name for the settlement which + the partners proposed to plant here. The outcome was + "Losantiville," a pedagogical hash of Greek, Latin, and French: + _L_, for Licking; _os_, Greek for mouth; _anti_, Latin for + opposite; _ville_, French for city--Licking-opposite-City, or + City-opposite-Licking, whichever is preferred. This was in + August; the Fates work quickly, for in October poor Filson was + scalped by the Indians in the neighborhood of the Big Miami, + before a settler had yet been enticed to Losantiville. But the + survivors knew how to "boom" a town; lots were given away by + lottery to intending actual settlers, who moved thither late in + December or early in January, and in a few months Judge Symmes + was able to write that "it populates considerably." + + A few weeks previous to the planting of Losantiville, a party + of men from Redstone had settled at the mouth of the Little + Miami, about where the suburb of California now is; and a + few weeks later, a third colony was started by Symmes + himself at North Bend, near the Big Miami, at the western + extremity of his grant, and this the judge wished to make the + capital of the new Northwest Territory. At first it was a race + between these three colonies. A few miles below North Bend, + Fort Finney had been built in 1785-86, hence the Bend had at + first the start; but a high flood dampened its prospects, the + troops were withdrawn from this neighborhood to Louisville, + and in the winter of 1789-90 Fort Washington was built at + Losantiville by General Harmar. The neighborhood of the new + fortress became in the ensuing Indian war the center of the + district. To Losantiville, with its fort, came Arthur St. + Clair, the new governor of the Northwest Territory (January, + 1790), and making his headquarters here, laid violent hands + on Filson's invention, at once changing the name to Cincinnati, + in honor of the Society of the Cincinnati, of which the new + official was a prominent member--"so that," Judge Symmes + sorrowfully writes, "Losantiville will become extinct." It + was a winter of suffering for the Western Cincinnati. The + troops were in danger of starvation, and three professional + hunters were contracted with to supply them with game, till + corn could come in from Columbia and other older settlements + on the river.--R. G. T. + + [12] Col. Josiah Harmar's militia were from Virginia, Kentucky, + and Pennsylvania. He left Fort Washington (Cincinnati), October 3. + At this time the Miami Indians had seven villages in the + neighborhood of the junction of St. Joseph and St. Mary's, which + streams unite to form the Maumee. The village which lay in the + forks of the St. Joseph and the Maumee, was the principal; one + in the forks of the St. Mary's and the Maumee, which was called + Kekionga, had 30 houses; at Chillicothe, on the north bank of + the Maumee, were 58 houses, and opposite these 18 houses. The + Delawares had two villages on the St. Mary's, 45 houses in all, + and a town on the St. Joseph of 36 houses.--R. G. T. + + [13] A third expedition, under Maj. J. F. Hamtramck, + went against the Wabash Indians, successfully destroyed + several deserted villages, and reached Vincennes without + loss.--R. G. T. + + [14] In his report to the Secretary of War, October 29, + 1790, Governor St. Clair said: "I have the pleasure to + inform you of the entire success of Gen. Harmar at the Indian + towns on the Miami and St. Joseph Rivers, of which he has + destroyed five in number, and a very great quantity of corn + and other vegetable provisions. It is supposed that about + two hundred of the Indians have likewise fallen in the + different encounters that have happened between them and + the detachment, for there has been no general action; but it + has not been without considerable loss on our part.... Of the + Federal troops, Major Wyllys and Lieutenant Frothingham and + seventy-seven men; of the militia, Major Fontaine, Captain + McMurtry, and Captain Scott, a son of General Scott, and + seventy-three men, are among the slain."--R. G. T. + + [15] Thirteen miles below Marietta.--R. G. T. + + [16] Eighteen miles above Marietta, and one above St. Mary's, + W. Va.--R. G. T. + + [17] Dunkard Creek flows eastward into the Monongahela. Fish + Creek flows southwestward into the Ohio, emptying 113 miles + below Pittsburg, and 58 above Marietta. A famous Indian + war-trail ran up Fish and down Dunkard--a short-cut from Ohio + to the western borders of Pennsylvania and Virginia.--R. G. T. + + [18] Soon after the establishment of Marietta, a rude wagon + road was opened through the forest between that colony and + Redstone (Brownsville, Pa.) This was the road Carpenter was + following.--R. G. T. + + [19] With Gen. Richard Butler, who was killed in the final + battle, second in command.--R. G. T. + + [20] Early in September, 1791. St. Clair had 2,000 men, + fifty per cent less than had been promised him by the war + department.--R. G. T. + + [21] Fort Hamilton, a stockade with four bastions, was on the + Big Miami, 24 miles from Fort Washington (Cincinnati), on the + site of the present Hamilton, O. Fort Jefferson, built of logs + laid horizontally, was six miles south of the present + Greenville, O. The army left Fort Jefferson, October + 24.--R. G. T. + + [22] The army then numbered 1,400 men, and was encamped at + the site of the present Fort Recovery, O., 55 miles away, as + the crow flies, from the head of the Maumee, the objective + point of the expedition.--R. G. T. + + [23] He lay sick in his tent, when the action opened, but + arose and acted with remarkable courage throughout the fight. + General Butler was acting commandant while St. Clair was ill, + and was credibly informed by his scouts, the night before the + battle, of the proximity of the enemy. But he took no + precautions against surprise, neither did he communicate his + news to his superior. Upon Butler's head appears to rest much + of the blame for the disaster.--R. G. T. + + [24] The Americans lost 37 officers and 593 men, killed and + missing, and 31 officers and 252 men, wounded. See _St. Clair + Papers_, edited by William Henry Smith (Cincinnati: Robert + Clarke & Co., 1882), for official details of the disaster. For + Simon Girty's part, consult Butterfield's _History of the + Girtys, passim._--R. G. T. + + [25] St. Clair arrived at Fort Washington, on his return, + November 8--R. G. T. + + [26] This expedition under Gen. Charles Scott, one of the + Kentucky committee of safety, was made in June, 1791, against + the Miami and Wabash Indians. It was followed in August by a + second expedition under Gen. James Wilkinson. In the course of + the second campaign, at the head of 500 Kentuckians, Wilkinson + laid waste the Miami village of L'Anguille, killing and + capturing 42 of the savages.--R. G. T. + + + + +[302] CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Neither the signal success of the expedition under General Scott, nor +the preparations which were being made by the general government, for +the more rigorous prosecution of the war against them, caused the +Indians to relax their exertions to harrass the frontier inhabitants. +The ease with which they had overcome the two armies sent against them +under Harmar and St. Clair, inspired them with contempt for our +troops, and induced a belief of their own invincibility, if practising +the vigilance necessary to guard against a surprise. To the want of +this vigilance, they ascribed the success of Gen. Scott; and deeming +it necessary only to exercise greater precaution to avoid similar +results, they guarded more diligently the passes into their country, +while discursive parties of their warriors would perpetrate their +accustomed acts of aggression upon the persons and property of the +whites. + +About the middle of May, 1792, a party of savages came upon a branch +of Hacker's creek, and approaching late in the evening a field +recently cleared by John Waggoner, found him seated on a log, resting +himself after the labors of the day. In this company of Indians was +the since justly celebrated General Tecumseh, who leaving his +companions to make sure of those in the house, placed his gun on the +fence and fired deliberately at Waggoner. The leaden messenger of +death failed of its errand, and passing through the sleeve of his +shirt, left Waggoner uninjured, to try his speed with the Indian. +Taking a direction opposite the house, to avoid coming in contact with +the savages there, he outstripped his pursuer, and got safely off. + +[303] In the mean time, those who had been left to operate against +those of the family who were at the house, finding a small boy in the +yard, killed and scalped him; and proceeding on, made prisoners of +Mrs. Waggoner and her six children, and departed immediately with +them, lest the escape of her husband, should lead to their instant +pursuit. They were disappointed in this expectation. A company of +men was soon collected, who repaired to the then desolate mansion, +and from thence followed on the trail of the savages. About a mile +from the house, one of the children was found where its brains had +been beaten out with a club, and the scalp torn from its head. A +small distance farther, lay Mrs. Waggoner and two others of her +children,--their lifeless bodies mangled in the most barbarous and +shocking manner. Having thus freed themselves from the principal +impediments to a rapid retreat, the savages hastened on; and the +pursuit was unavailing. They reached their towns with the remaining +prisoners--two girls and a boy--and avoided chastisement for the +outrage. The elder of the two girls did not long remain with them; +but escaping to the neighborhood of Detroit with another female +prisoner, continued there until after the treaty of 1795. Her sister +abided with her captors 'till the close of the war; and the boy until +during the war of 1812. He was then seen among some friendly +Indians, and bearing a strong resemblance in features to his +father, was recognized as Waggoner's captive son. He had married a +squaw, by whom he had several children, was attached to his manner +of life, and for a time resisted every importunity, to withdraw +himself from among them. When his father visited him, it was with +difficulty he was enticed to return to the haunts of his childhood, +and the associates of his younger days, even on a temporary visit. +When however he did return to them, the attention and kindly +conduct of his friends, prevailed with him to remain, until he +married and took up his permanent abode amid the habitations of +civilized men. Still with the feelings natural to a father, his +heart yearns towards his children in the forest; and at times he +seems to lament that he ever forsook them.[1] + +In the summer of this year, a parcel of horses were taken from the +West Fork, and the Indians who had stolen them, being discovered as +they were retiring, they were pursued by Captain Coburn, who was +stationed at the mouth of Little [304] Kenhawa with a party of men as +scouts. Following them across the Ohio river, he overtook them some +distance in the Indian country, and retaking the horses, returned to +his station. Hitherto property recovered from the savages, had been +invariably restored to those from whom it had been stolen; but on the +present occasion a different course was pursued. Contending that they +received compensation for services rendered by them in Virginia, and +were not bound to treat without its limits in pursuit of the savages +or to retake the property of which they had divested its rightful +owners, they claimed the horses as plunder taken from the Indians, +sold them, and divided the proceeds of sale among themselves--much to +the dissatisfaction of those from whom the savages had taken them.[2] + +In the course of the ensuing fall, Henry Neal, William Triplett and +Daniel Rowell, from Neal's station ascended the Little Kenhawa in +canoes to the mouth of the Burning Spring run, from whence they +proceeded on a Buffoloe hunt in the adjoining woods. But they had been +seen as they plied their canoes up the river, by a party of Indians, +who no sooner saw them placed in a situation favoring the bloody +purposes of their hearts, than they fired upon them. Neal and Triplett +were killed, and fell into the river.--Rowell was missed and escaped +by swimming the Kenhawa, the Indians shooting at him as he swam. In a +few days after the dead were found in a ripple and buried. The +Indians had not been able to draw them from their watery grave, and +obtain their scalps. + +During this year unsuccessful attempts were made by the general +government, to terminate Indian hostilities by negotiation. They were +too much elated with their recent success, to think of burying their +resentments in a treaty of peace; and so little did they fear the +operation of the governmental forces, and such was their confidence in +their own strength, that they not only refused to negotiate at all, +but put to death two of those who were sent to them as messengers of +peace. Major Truman and Col. Hardin, severally sent upon this mission, +were murdered by them; and when commissioners to treat with them, were +received by them, their only answer was, a positive refusal to enter +into a treaty.[3] + +When this determination was made known to the President, every +precaution which could be used, was taken by him to prevent the +recurrence of these enormities which were daily committed on the +[305] frontier, and particularly in the new state of Kentucky. Gen. +St. Clair, after having asked that a court of enquiry should be held, +to consider of his conduct in the campaign of 1791, and finding +that his request could not be granted, resigned the command of the +army, and was succeeded by Gen. Anthony Wayne. That the operations +of the army might not be defeated as heretofore, by a too great +reliance on undisciplined militia, it was recommended to Congress to +authorize the raising of three additional regiments of regular +soldiers; and the bill for complying with this recommendation, +notwithstanding it was strenuously opposed by a strong party +hostile to the then administration, was finally passed.[4] + +The forts Hamilton and Jefferson, erected by Gen. St. Clair, continued +to be well garrisoned; but there was some difficulty in supplying +them with provisions--the Indians being always in readiness to +intercept them on their way. As early as April 1792, they taught +us the necessity of having a strong guard to escort supplies with +safety, by a successful attack on Major Adair; who with one +hundred and twenty volunteers from Kentucky, had charge of a number +of pack horses laden with provisions. He was engaged by a body of +savages, not much superior in number, and although he was under +cover of Fort St. Clair, yet did they drive him into the fort, and +carry off the provisions and pack horses. The courage and bold +daring of the Indians, was eminently conspicuous on this occasion. +They fought with nearly equal numbers, against a body of troops, +better tutored in the science of open warfare, well mounted and +equipped, armed with every necessary weapon, and almost under the +guns of the fort. And they fought successfully,--killing one captain +and ten privates, wounding several, and taking property estimated +to be worth fifteen thousand dollars. Nothing seemed to abate their +ardor for war. Neither the strong garrisons placed in the forts +erected so far in advance of the settlements, nor the great +preparations which were making for striking an effectual blow at +them, caused them for an instant to slacken in hostilities, or check +their movements against the frontier. + +In the spring of 1793, a party of warriors proceeding towards the head +waters of the Monongahela river, discovered a marked way, leading a +direction which they did not know to be inhabited by whites. It led to +a settlement which had been recently made on Elk river, by Jeremiah +and Benjamin Carpenter and a few others from Bath county, and who had +been particularly careful to make nor leave any path which might lead +to a discovery of their situation, but Adam O'Brien moving into the +same section of country in the spring of 1792, and being rather an +indifferent woodsman, incautiously blazed the trees in several +directions so as to enable him readily to find his home, when business +or pleasure should have drawn him from it. It was upon one of these +marked traces that the Indians chanced to fall; and pursuing it, came +to the deserted cabin of [306] O'Brien: he having returned to the +interior, because of his not making a sufficiency of grain for the +subsistence of his family. Proceeding from O'Brien's, they came to the +House of Benjamin Carpenter, whom they found alone and killed. Mrs. +Carpenter being discovered by them, before she was aware of their +presence, was tomahawked and scalped, a small distance from the yard. + +The burning of Benjamin Carpenter's house, led to a discovery of these +outrages; and the remaining inhabitants of that neighborhood, remote +from any fort or populous settlement to which they could fly for +security, retired to the mountains and remained for several days +concealed in a cave. They then caught their horses and moved their +families to the West Fork; and when they visited the places of their +former habitancy for the purpose of collecting their stock and +carrying it off with their other property, scarce a vestige of them +was to be seen,--the Indians had been there after they left the cave, +and burned the houses, pillaged their movable property, and destroyed +the cattle and hogs. + +Among the few interesting incidents which occurred in the upper +country, during this year, was the captivity and remarkable escape of +two brothers, John and Henry Johnson:--the former thirteen, the latter +eleven years of age. They lived at a station on the west side of the +Ohio river near above Indian Short creek; and being at some distance +from the house, engaged in the sportive amusements of youth, became +fatigued and seated themselves on an old log for the purpose of +resting. They presently observed two men coming towards them, whom +they believed to be white men from the station until they approached +so close as to leave no prospect of escape by flight, when to their +great grief they saw that two Indians were beside them. They were made +prisoners, and taken about four miles, when after partaking of some +roasted meat and parched corn given them by their captors, they were +arranged for the night, by being placed between the two Indians and +each encircled in the arms of the one next him. + +Henry, the younger of the brothers, had grieved much at the idea of +being carried off by the Indians, and during his short but sorrowful +journey across the hills, had wept immoderately. John had in vain +endeavored to comfort him with the hope that they should be enabled to +elude the vigilence of the savages, and to return to the hearth of +their parents and brethren. He refused to be comforted.--The ugly red +man, with his tomahawk and scalping knife, which had been often called +in to quiet the cries of his infancy, was now actually before him; and +every scene of torture and of torment which had been depicted, by +narration, to his youthful eye, was now present to his terrified +imagination, hightened by the thought that they were about to be +re-enacted on himself. In anticipation of this horrid doom for some +time he wept in bitterness and affliction; but + + [307] "The tear down childhood's cheek that flows, + Is like the dew drop on the rose;-- + When next the summer breeze comes by + And waves the bush, the flower is dry."-- + +When the fire was kindled at night, the supper prepared and offered to +him, all idea of his future fate was merged in their present +kindness; and Henry soon sunk to sleep, though enclosed in horrid hug, +by savage arms. + +It was different with John. He felt the reality of their situation.--He +was alive to the anguish which he knew would agitate the bosom of his +mother, and he thought over the means of allaying it so intensely, +that sleep was banished from his eyes. Finding the others all locked +in deep repose, he disengaged himself from the embrace of the savage at +his side, and walked to the fire. To test the soundness of their +sleep, he rekindled the dying blaze, and moved freely about it. All +remained still and motionless,--no suppressed breathing, betrayed a +feigned repose. He gently twitched the sleeping Henry, and whispering +softly in his ear, bade him get up. Henry obeyed, and they both stood by +the fire. "I think, said John, we had better go home now." "Oh! +replied Henry, they will follow and catch us again." "Never fear +that, rejoined John, we'll kill them before we go." The idea was for +some time opposed by Henry; but when he beheld the savages so soundly +asleep, and listened to his brother's plan of executing his wish, he +finally consented to act the part prescribed him. + +The only gun which the Indians had, was resting against a tree, at the +foot of which lay their tomahawks. John placed it on a log, with the +muzzle near to the head of one of the savages; cocked it, and leaving +Henry with his finger to the trigger, ready to pull upon the signal +being given, he repaired to his own station. Holding in his hand one +of their tomahawks, he stood astride of the other Indian, and as he +raised his arm to deal death to the sleeping savage, Henry fired, and +shooting off the lower part of the Indian's jaw, called to his +brother, "_lay on, for I've done for this one_," seized up the gun and +ran off. The first blow of the tomahawk took effect on the back of the +neck, and was not fatal. The Indian attempted to spring up; but John +repeated his strokes with such force and so quickly, that he soon +brought him again to the ground; and leaving him dead proceeded on +after his brother. + +They presently came to a path which they recollected to have +travelled, the preceding evening, and keeping along it, arrived at +the station awhile before day. The inhabitants were however, all up +and in much uneasiness for the fate of the boys; and when they came +near and heard a well known voice exclaim in accents of deep distress, +"_Poor little fellows, they are killed or taken prisoners_," John +replied aloud,--"No mother, we are here again." + +When the tale of their captivity, and the means by which their +deliverance was effected, were told, they did not obtain full +credence. [308] Piqued at the doubts expressed by some, John observed, +"you had better go and see." "But, can you again find the spot," said +one. "Yes, replied he, I hung my hat up at the turning out place and +can soon shew you the spot." Accompanied by several of the men, John +returned to the theatre of his daring exploits; and the truth of his +statement received ample confirmation. The savage who had been +tomahawked was lying dead by the fire--the other had crawled some +distance; but was tracked by his blood until found, when it was agreed +to leave him, "_as he must die at any rate_." + +Companies of rangers had been for several seasons stationed on the +Ohio river, for the greater security of the persons and property of +those who resided on and near the frontier. During this year a company +which had been stationed at the mouth of Fishing creek,[5] and had +remained there until its term of service had expired, determined then +on a scout into the Indian country; and crossing the river, marched on +for some days before they saw any thing which indicated their nearness +to Indians. Pursuing a path which seemed to be much used, they came in +view of an Indian camp, and observing another path, which likewise +seemed to be much frequented, Ensign Levi Morgan was sent with a +detachment of the men, to see if it would conduct them to where were +others of the Indians, who soon returned with the information that he +had seen another of their encampments close by. Upon the receipt of +this intelligence, the Lieutenant was sent forward with a party of +men to attack the second encampment, while the Captain with the +residue of the company should proceed against that which had been +first discovered, and commence an assault on it, when he should hear +the firing of the Lieutenant's party at the camp which he was sent to +assail. + +When the second camp was approached and the men posted at intervals +around it, awaiting the light of day to begin the assault, the +Lieutenant discovered that there was a greater force of Indians with +whom he would have to contend than was expected, and prudently +resolved to withdraw his men without coming into collision with them. +Orders for this movement were directly given, and the party +immediately retired. There was however, one of the detachment, who had +been posted some small distance in advance of the others with +directions to fire as soon as the Indians should be seen stirring, and +who, unapprized of the withdrawal of the others, [309] maintained his +station, until he observed a squaw issuing from a camp, when he fired +at her and rushed up, expecting to be supported by his comrades. He +fell into the hands of those whom he had thus assailed; but his fate +was far different from what he had every reason to suppose it would +be, under those circumstances. It was the hunting camp of Isaac Zane, +and the female at whom he had shot was the daughter of Zane; the ball +had slightly wounded her in the wrist. Her father, although he had +been with the Indians ever since his captivity when only nine years of +age, had not yet acquired the ferocious and vindictive passions of +those with whom he had associated; but practising the forbearance and +forgiveness of christian and civilized man, generously conducted the +wanton assailant so far upon his way, that he was enabled though alone +to reach the settlement in safety. His fate was different from that of +those, who had been taken prisoners by that part of the company which +remained at the first camp with the Captain. When the Lieutenant with +the detachment, rejoined the others, disappointment at the failure of +the expedition under him, led some of the men to fall upon the Indian +prisoners and inhumanly murder them. + +Notwithstanding that preparations for an active campaign against the +savages was fast ripening to their perfection, and that the troops of +the general government had penetrated as far as to the field, on which +had been fought the fatal battle of the fourth of November, 1791, and +erected there Fort Recovery,[6] yet did they not cease from their +accustomed inroads upon the settlements, even after the winter of +1793.--In March 1794, a party of them crossed the Ohio river, and as +they were advancing towards the settlements on the upper branches of +the Monongahela, met with Joseph Cox, then on his way to the mouth of +Leading creek on Little Kenhawa, for a load of furs and skins which he +had left there, at the close of his hunt the preceding fall. Cox very +unexpectedly met them in a narrow pass, and instantly wheeled his +horse to ride off. Endeavoring to stimulate the horse to greater speed +by the application of the whip, the animal became stubborn and refused +to go at all, when Cox was forced to dismount and seek safety on foot. +His pursuers gained rapidly upon him, and he saw that one of them +would soon overtake him. He faced the savage who was near, and raised +his gun to fire; but nothing daunted, the Indian rushed forward. Cox's +gun [310] missed fire, and he was instantly a prisoner. He was taken +to their towns and detained in captivity for some time; but at length +made his escape, and returned safely to the settlement. + +On the 24th of July, six Indians visited the West Fork river, and at +the mouth of Freeman's creek, met with, and made prisoner, a daughter +of John Runyan. She was taken off by two of the party of savages, but +did not go more than ten or twelve miles, before she was put to death. +The four Indians who remained, proceeded down the river and on the +next day came to the house of William Carder, near below the mouth of +Hacker's creek. Mr. Carder discovered them approaching, in time to +fasten his door; but in the confusion of the minute, shut out two of +his children, who however ran off unperceived by the savages and +arrived in safety at the house of a neighbor. He then commenced firing +and hallooing, so as to alarm those who were near and intimidate the +Indians. Both objects were accomplished. The Indians contented +themselves with shooting at the cattle, and then retreated; and Mr. +Joseph Chevront, who lived hardby, hearing the report of the guns and +the loud cries of Carder, sent his own family to a place of safety, +and with nobleness of purpose, ran to the relief of his neighbor. He +enabled Carder to remove his family to a place of greater security, +although the enemy were yet near, and engaged in skinning one of the +cattle that they might take with them a supply of meat. On the next +day a company of men assembled, and went in pursuit; but they could +not trail the savages far, because of the great caution with which +they had retreated, and returned without accomplishing any thing. + +Two days afterward, when it was believed that the Indians had left the +neighborhood, they came on Hacker's creek near to the farm of Jacob +Cozad, and finding four of his sons bathing, took three of them +prisoners, and killed the fourth, by repeatedly stabbing him with a +bayonet attached to a staff. The boys, of whom they made prisoners, +were immediately taken to the Indian towns and kept in captivity until +the treaty of Greenville in 1795. Two of them were then delivered up +to their father, who attended to enquire for them,--the third was not +heard of for some time after, but was at length found at Sandusky, by +his elder brother and brought home. + +After the victory obtained by General Wayne over the Indians, [311] +Jacob Cozad, Jr. was doomed to be burned to death, in revenge of the +loss then sustained by the savages. Every preparation for carrying +into execution this dreadful determination was quickly made. The wood +was piled, the intended victim was apprized of his approaching fate, +and before the flaming torch was applied to the faggots, he was told +to take leave of those who were assembled to witness the awful +spectacle. The crowd was great, and the unhappy youth could with +difficulty press his way through them. Amid the jeers and taunts of +those whom he would address, he was proceeding to discharge the last +sad act of his life, when a female, whose countenance beamed with +benignity, beckoned him to follow her. He did not hesitate. He +approached as if to bid her farewell, and she succeeded in taking him +off unobserved by the many eyes gazing around, and concealed him in a +wigwam among some trunks and covered loosely with a blanket. He was +presently missed, and a search immediately made for him. Many passed +near in quest of the devoted victim, and he could hear their steps and +note their disappointment. After awhile the uproar ceased, and he felt +more confident of security. In a few minutes more he heard approaching +footsteps and felt that the blanket was removed from him. He turned to +surrender himself to his pursuers, and meet a dreadful death.--But no! +they were two of his master's sons who had been directed where to find +him, and they conducted him securely to the Old Delaware town, where +he remained until carried to camp upon the conclusion of a treaty of +peace.[7] + +In a short time after the happening of the events at Cozad's, a party +of Indians made an irruption upon Tygart's Valley. For some time the +inhabitants of that settlement had enjoyed a most fortunate exemption +from savage molestation; and although they had somewhat relaxed in +vigilance, they did not however omit to pursue a course calculated to +ensure a continuance of their tranquillity and repose. Instead of +flying for security, as they had formerly, to the neighboring forts +upon the return of spring, the increase of population and the +increased capacity of the communion to repel aggression, caused them +to neglect other acts of precaution, and only to assemble at +particular houses, when danger was believed to be instant and at hand. +In consequence of the reports which reached them of the injuries +lately committed by the [312] savages upon the West Fork, several +families collected at the house of Mr. Joseph Canaan for mutual +security, and while thus assembled, were visited by a party of +Indians, when perfectly unprepared for resistance. The savages entered +the house awhile after dark, and approaching the bed on which Mr. +Canaan was lolling, one of them addressed him with the familiarity of +an old acquaintance and saying "how d'ye do, how d'ye do," presented +his hand. Mr. Canaan was rising to reciprocate the greeting, when he +was pierced by a ball discharged at him from another savage, and fell +dead. The report of the gun at once told, who were the visitors, and +put them upon using immediate exertions to effect their safety by +flight. A young man who was near when Canaan was shot, aimed at the +murderer a blow with a drawing knife, which took effect on the head of +the savage and brought him to the ground. Ralston then escaped through +the door, and fled in safety, although fired at as he fled. + +When the Indians entered the house, there was a Mrs. Ward sitting in +the room. So soon as she observed that the intruders were savages, she +passed into another apartment with two of the children, and going out +with them through a window, got safely away. Mr. Lewis (brother to +Mrs. Canaan) likewise escaped from a back room, in which he had been +asleep at the firing of the gun. Three children were tomahawked and +scalped,--Mrs. Canaan made prisoner, and the savages withdrew. The +severe wound inflicted on the head of the Indian by Ralston, made it +necessary that they should delay their return to their towns, until +his recovery; and they accordingly remained near the head of the +middle fork of Buchannon, for several weeks. Their extreme caution in +travelling, rendered any attempt to discover them unavailing; and when +their companion was restored they proceeded on, uninterruptedly. On +the close of the war, Mrs. Canaan was redeemed from captivity by a +brother from Brunswick, in New Jersey, and restored to her surviving +friends. + +Thus far in the year 1794, the army of the United States had not been +organised for efficient operations. Gen. Wayne had been actively +employed in the discharge of every preparatory duty devolving on him; +and those distinguishing characteristics of uncommon daring and +bravery, which had acquired for him the appellation of "_Mad +Anthony_," and which [313] so eminently fitted him for the command of +an army warring against savages, gave promise of success to his arms. + +Before the troops marched from Fort Washington, it was deemed +advisable to have an abundant supply of provisions in the different +forts in advance of this, as well for the supply of their respective +garrisons, as for the subsistence of the general army, in the event of +its being driven into them, by untoward circumstances. With this view, +three hundred pack-horses, laden with flour, were sent on to Fort +Recovery; and, as it was known that considerable bodies of the enemy +were constantly hovering about the forts, and awaiting opportunities +of cutting off any detachments from the main army, Major McMahon, with +eighty riflemen under Capt. Hartshorn, and fifty dragoons, under Capt. +Taylor, was ordered on as an escort. This force was too great to +justify the savages in making an attack, until they could unite the +many war parties which were near;.and before this could be effected, +Major McMahon reached his destination. + +On the 30th of July,[8] as the escort was about leaving Fort Recovery, +it was attacked by an army of one thousand Indians, in the immediate +vicinity of the fort. Captain Hartshorn had advanced only three or +four hundred yards, at the head of the riflemen, when he was +unexpectedly beset on every side. With the most consummate bravery and +good conduct, he maintained the unequal conflict, until Major McMahon, +placing himself at the head of the cavalry, charged upon the enemy, +and was repulsed with considerable loss. Maj. McMahon, Capt. Taylor +and Cornet Terry fell upon the first onset, and many of the privates +were killed or wounded. The whole savage force being now brought to +press on Capt. Hartshorn, that brave officer was forced to try and +regain the Fort, but the enemy interposed its strength, to prevent +this movement. Lieutenant Drake and Ensign Dodd, with twenty +volunteers, marched from Fort Recovery and forcing a passage through a +column of the enemy at the point of the bayonet, joined the rifle +corps, at the instant that Capt. Hartshorn received a shot which broke +his thigh. Lieut. Craig being killed and Lieut. Marks taken prisoner, +Lieut. Drake conducted the retreat; and while endeavoring for an +instant to hold the enemy in check, so as to enable the soldiers to +bring off their wounded captain, himself received a shot in the groin, +and the retreat was resumed, leaving Capt. Hartshorn on the field. + +[314] When the remnant of the troops came within the walls of the +Fort, Lieut. Michael, who had been early detached by Capt. Hartshorn +to the flank of the enemy, was found to be missing, and was given up +as lost. But while his friends were deploring his unfortunate fate, +he and Lieut. Marks, who had been early taken prisoner, were seen +rushing through the enemy, from opposite directions towards the Fort. +They gained it safely, notwithstanding they were actively pursued, +and many shots fired at them. Lieut. Marks had got off by knocking +down the Indian who held him prisoner; and Lieut. Michael had lost +all of his party, but three men. The entire loss of the Americans was +twenty-three killed, and forty wounded.[9] The riflemen brought in +ten scalps which were taken early in the action; beyond this the +enemy's loss was never ascertained. Many of them were no doubt +killed and wounded, as they advanced in solid columns up to the +very muzzles of the guns, and were afterwards seen carrying off many +of their warriors on pack horses. + +At length Gen. Wayne put the army over which he had been given the +command, in motion;[10] and upon its arrival at the confluence of the +Au Glaize and the Miami of the Lakes, another effort was made for the +attainment of peace, without the effusion of blood. Commissioners were +sent forward to the Indians to effect this desirable object; who +exhorted them to listen to their propositions for terminating the war, +and no longer to be deluded by the counsels of white emissaries, who +had not the power to afford them protection; but only sought to +involve the frontier of the United States in a war, from which much +evil, but no good could possibly result to either party. The savages +however felt confident that success would again attend their arms, and +deriving additional incentives to war from their proximity to the +British fort, recently erected at the foot of the rapids, declined the +overture for peace, and seemed ardently to desire the battle, which +they knew must soon be fought. + +The Indian army at this time, amounted to about two thousand warriors, +and when reconnoitered on the 19th of August were found encamped in a +thick bushy wood and near to the British Fort. The army of Gen. Wayne +was equal in numbers to that of the enemy; and when on the morning of +the 20th, it took up the line of march, the troops were so disposed as +to avoid being surprised, and to come into action on the [315] +shortest notice, and under the most favorable circumstances. A select +battalion of mounted volunteers, commanded by Major Price, moving in +advance of the main army, had proceeded but a few miles, when a fire +so severe was aimed at it by the savages concealed, as usual, that it +was forced to fall back. The enemy had chosen their ground with great +judgment, taking a position behind the fallen timber,[11] which had +been prostrated by a tornado, and in a woods so thick as to render it +impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect. They were formed +into three regular lines, much extended in front, within supporting +distance of each other, and reaching about two miles; and their first +effort was to turn the left flank of the American army. + +Gen. Wayne ordered the first line of his army to advance with trailed +arms, to rouse the enemy from their covert at the point of the +bayonet, and when up to deliver a close and well directed fire, to be +followed by a charge so brisk as not to allow them time to reload or +form their lines. The second line was ordered to the support of the +first; and Capt. Campbell at the head of the cavalry, and Gen. Scott +at the head of the mounted volunteers were sent forward to turn the +left and right wings of the enemy. All these complicated orders were +promptly executed; but such was the impetuosity of the charge made by +the first line of infantry, so completely and entirely was the enemy +broken by it, and so rapid the pursuit, that only a small part of the +second line and of the mounted volunteers were in time to participate +in the action, notwithstanding the great exertions of their respective +officers to co-operate in the engagement; and in less than one hour, +the savages were driven more than two miles and within gunshot of the +British Fort, by less than one half their numbers. + +Gen. Wayne remained three days on the banks of the Miami, in front of +the field of battle left to the full and quiet possession of his army, +by the flight and dispersion of the savages. In this time, all the +houses and cornfields, both above and below the British Fort, and +among the rest, the houses and stores of Col. McKee,[12] an English +trader of great influence among the Indians and which had been +invariably exerted to prolong the war, were consumed by fire or +otherwise entirely destroyed. On the 27th, the American army returned +to its head quarters, laying waste the cornfields and villages on each +side of the river for about fifty miles; and [316] this too in the +most populous and best improved part of the Indian country. + +The loss sustained by the American army, in obtaining this brilliant +victory, over a savage enemy flushed with former successes, amounted +to thirty-three killed and one hundred wounded:[13] that of the enemy +was never ascertained. In his official account of the action, Gen. +Wayne says, "The woods were strewed for a considerable distance, with +the dead bodies of the Indians and their white auxiliaries;" and at a +council held a few days after, when British agents endeavored to +prevail on them to risk another engagement, they expressed a +determination to "bury the bloody hatchet" saying, that they had just +lost more than two hundred of their warriors. + +Some events occurred during this engagement, which are deemed worthy +of being recorded here, although not of general interest. While Capt. +Campbell was engaged in turning the left-flank, of the enemy, three of +them plunged into the river, and endeavored to escape the fury of the +conflict, by swimming to the opposite shore. They were seen by two +negroes, who were on the bank to which the Indians were aiming, and +who concealed themselves behind a log for the purpose of intercepting +them. When within shooting distance one of the negroes fired and +killed one of the Indians. The other two took hold of him to drag him +to shore, when one of them was killed, by the fire of the other negro. +The remaining Indian, being now in shoal water, endeavored to draw +both the dead to the bank; but before he could effect this, the negro +who had first fired, had reloaded, and again discharging his gun, +killed him also, and the three floated down the river. + +Another circumstance is related, which shows the obstinacy with which +the contest was maintained by individuals in both armies. A soldier +and an Indian came in collision, the one having an unloaded gun,--the +other a tomahawk. After the action was over, they were both found +dead; the soldier with his bayonet in the body of the Indian,--and the +Indian with his tomahawk in the head of the soldier. + +Notwithstanding the signal victory, obtained by General Wayne over the +Indians, yet did their hostility to the whites lead them to acts of +occasional violence, and kept them for some time from acceding to the +proposals for peace. In [317] consequence of this, their whole country +was laid waste, and forts erected in the hearts of their settlements +at once to starve and awe them into quiet. The desired effect was +produced. Their crops being laid waste, their villages burned, +fortresses erected in various parts of their country and kept well +garrisoned, and a victorious army ready to bear down upon them at any +instant, there was no alternative left them but to sue for peace. When +the Shawanees made known their wish to bury the _bloody hatchet_, Gen. +Wayne refused to treat singly with them, and declared that all the +different tribes of the North Western Indians should be parties to any +treaty which he should make. This required some time as they had been +much dispersed after the defeat of the 20th of August, and the great +devastation committed on their crops and provisions by the American +army, had driven many to the woods, to procure a precarious +subsistence by hunting. Still however, to such abject want and +wretchedness were they reduced, that exertions were immediately made +to collect them in general council; and as this was the work of some +time, it was not effected until midsummer of 1795. + +In this interval of time, there was but a solitary interruption, +caused by savage aggression, to the general repose and quiet of North +Western Virginia; and that interruption occurred in a settlement which +had been exempt from invasion since the year 1782. In the summer of +1795, the trail of a large party of Indians was discovered on Leading +creek, and proceeding directly towards the settlements on the head of +the West Fork, those on Buchannon river, or in Tygart's Valley. In +consequence of the uncertainty against which of them, the savages +would direct their operations, intelligence of the discovery which had +been made, was sent by express to all; and measures, to guard against +the happening of any unpleasant result, were taken by all, save the +inhabitants on Buchannon. They had so long been exempt from the +murderous incursions of the savages, while other settlements not +remote from them, were yearly deluged with blood, that a false +security was engendered, in the issue, fatal to the lives and +happiness of some of them, by causing them to neglect the use of such +precautionary means, as would warn them of the near approach of +danger, and ward it when it came. + +Pursuing their usual avocations in despite of the warning which had +been given them, on the day after the express had [318] sounded an +alarm among them, as John Bozarth, sen. and his sons George and John +were busied in drawing grain from the field to the barn, the agonizing +shrieks of those at the house rent the air around them; and they +hastened to ascertain, and if practicable avert the cause. The +elasticity of youth enabled George to approach the house some few +paces in advance of his father, but the practised eye of the old +gentleman, first discovered an Indian, only a small distance from his +son, and with his gun raised to fire upon him. With parental +solicitude he exclaimed, "See George, an Indian is going to shoot +you." George was then too near the savage, to think of escaping by +flight. He looked at him steadily, and when he supposed the fatal aim +was taken and the finger just pressing on the trigger, he fell, and +the ball whistled by him. Not doubting but that the youth had fallen +in death, the savage passed by him and pressed in pursuit of the +father. + +Mr. Bozarth had not attained to that age when the sinews become too +much relaxed for active exertion, but was yet springy and agile, and +was enabled to keep ahead of his pursuer. Despairing of overtaking +him, by reason of his great speed, the savage hurled a tomahawk at his +head. It passed harmless by; and the old gentleman got safely off. + +When George Bozarth fell as the Indian fired, he lay still as if dead, +and supposing the scalping knife would be next applied to his head, +determined on seizing the savage by the legs as he would stoop over +him, and endeavor to bring him to the ground; when he hoped to be able +to gain the mastery over him. Seeing him pass on in pursuit of his +father, he arose and took to flight also. On his way he overtook a +younger brother, who had become alarmed, and was hobbling slowly away +on a sore foot. George gave him every aid in his power to facilitate +his flight, until he discovered that another of the savages was +pressing close upon them. Knowing that if he remained with his +brother, both must inevitably perish, he was reluctantly forced to +leave him to his fate. Proceeding on, he came up with his father, who +not doubting but he was killed when the savage fired at him, broke +forth with the exclamation, "_Why George, I thought you were dead_," +and manifested, even in that sorrowful moment, a joyful feeling at his +mistake. + +The Indians who were at the house, wrought their work of blood upon +such as would have been impediments to their [319] retreat; and +killing two or three smaller children, took Mrs. Bozarth and two boys +prisoners. With these they made their way to their towns and arrived +in time to surrender their captives to Gen. Wayne. + +This was the last mischief done by the Indians in North Western +Virginia. For twenty years the inhabitants of that section of the +country, had suffered all the horrors of savage warfare, and all the +woes which spring from the uncurbed indulgence of those barbarous and +vindicitive passions, which bear sway in savage breasts. The treaty of +Greenville, concluded on the 3d of August 1795, put a period to the +war, and with it, to those acts of devastation and death which had so +long spread dismay and gloom throughout the land. + +FINIS. +----- + [1] Drake, in _Aboriginal Races of North America_ (15th + ed.), p. 616, cites the Waggoner massacre as "the first exploit + in which we find Tecumseh engaged." L. V. McWhorter sends me + this interesting note, giving the local tradition regarding the + affair: "John Waggoner lived on Jesse's Run, more than two + miles above its junction with Hacker's Creek. While engaged in + burning logs in his clearing, he was sitting upon a log, with a + handspike lying across his lap. It was thought that Tecumseh + mistook this tool for a gun, and was nervous. But three in + number, the Indians had entered the district with some + trepidation. Over Sunday, while the settlers were holding + religious services in West's Fort, the savages lay in a + neighboring ravine. The dogs of the settlement barked furiously + at them, and ran toward their hiding place, trying to lead + their masters; but the latter supposed that the animals had + merely scented wolves, hence paid no attention to them. + Tecumseh was but thirty paces from Waggoner when he fired, and + it is singular that he missed, for the latter was a large man + and in fair view. Waggoner sprang up and started for his cabin, + a short distance only, but when about fifteen yards away saw an + Indian chasing one of the children around the house. Waggoner + was unarmed; his gun was in the house, but he feared to enter, + so ran for help to the cabin of Hardman, a neighbor. But + Hardman was out hunting, and there was no gun left there. The + screams of his family were now plainly heard by Waggoner, and + he was with difficulty restrained from rushing back to help + them, unarmed. Jesse Hughes carried the news into the fort, and + a rescue party at once set out. Mrs. Waggoner and her three + youngest children had been carried across the ridge to where is + now Rev. Mansfield McWhorter's farm, on McKenley's Run, and + here they were tomahawked and scalped. Henry McWhorter helped + to carry the bodies to the fort, but made no mention of their + being 'mangled in the most barbarous and shocking manner.'" + + The boy Peter, then eight years old, remained with the Indians + for twenty years. The manner of his return, as related to me by + Mr. McWhorter, was singular, and furnishes an interesting and + instructive romance of the border. One Baker, one of John + Waggoner's neighbors, went to Ohio to "squat," and on Paint + Creek saw Peter with a band of Indians, recognizing him by the + strong family resemblance. Baker at once wrote to the elder + Waggoner, telling him of his discovery, and the latter soon + visited the Paint Creek band, with a view to inducing his son + to return home. But Peter was loth to go. He was united to a + squaw, and by her had two children. In tears, she bitterly + opposed his going. When finally he yielded to parental appeals, + he promised her he would soon be back again. When the time for + his return to the forest came, his relatives kept him under + guard; when it had passed, he was afraid to return to his + Indian relatives, having broken his word. Gradually he became + reconciled in a measure to his new surroundings, but was ever + melancholy, frequently lamenting that he had left his savage + family. "Some time after his return to civilization," continues + McWhorter, "an Indian woman, supposed to be his wife, passed + through the Hacker Creek settlements, inquiring for Peter, and + going on toward the East. She appeared to be demented, and sang + snatches of savage songs. Peter never knew of her presence, nor + would any one inform her of his whereabouts. He was reticent + about his life among the Indians, and no details of that + feature of his career became known to his white friends." + + Tecumseh, who is said to have been born on Hacker's Creek, + possibly at a village near the mouth of Jesse's Run, visited + the white settlements there, after the peace, and told the + whites of his experiences in connection with the Waggoner + massacre.--R. G. T. + + [2] It must be acknowledged that many of these militia forays + against the Indians partook of the nature of buccaneering. The + spoils were often considerable. Clark, in his Kaskaskia campaign + (1778), captured so much booty, in property and slaves, that he + declares his men were made "almost rich."--R. G. T. + + [3] In the spring of 1792, Major Trueman, Colonel Hardin, + and Mr. Freeman were dispatched from Fort Washington by + different routes, to open peace negotiations, but they were + murdered by the savages. Gen. Rufus Putnam, aided by + Hekewelder, the Moravian, succeeded in binding the Wabash and + Illinois Indians to keep the peace. Later, Benjamin Lincoln, + Timothy Pickering, and Beverly Randolph were ordered by the + president to go to the Maumee to conclude a general treaty + which Indians had declared their willingness to enter into. But + the commissioners were detained at Niagara by sham conferences + with Gov. John Graves Simcoe, of Canada, until the middle of + July, when the Indians sent them word that unless they would in + advance "agree that the Ohio shall remain the boundary between + us," the proposed "meeting would be altogether unnecessary." + The commissioners declined to accept this ultimatum, and + returned home. Meanwhile, General Wayne was prosecuting + preparations for an active campaign against the hostiles.--R. + G. T. + + [4] On a plain near the old French-Indian-English trading + village, called Logstown (just below the present Economy, Pa., + on the north side of the Ohio, 18 miles below Pittsburg), + Wayne's army lay encamped from November, 1792, to April 30, + 1793. The army was fancifully called the "Legion of the United + States," and the camp was known as Legionville. From here, + Wayne proceeded to Cincinnati, and took up his headquarters in + Fort Washington.--R. G. T. + + [5] Fishing Creek enters the Ohio 128 miles below + Pittsburgh. At its mouth is now the town of New Martinsville, + W. Va.--R. G. T. + + [6] This was an expedition made by Gen. James Wilkinson, + second in command under Wayne, in December, 1793. He marched to + the field from Fort Washington at the head of a thousand men, + and left a garrison at the new fort.--R. G. T. + + [7] McWhorter says that the capture of the Cozad boys took + place at the mouth of Lanson Run, near Berlin, W. Va. The boy + who was killed was but six years of age; crying for his mother, + an Indian grasped him by the heels and cracked his head against + a tree,--a favorite method of murdering white children, among + Indian war parties. "Jacob yelled once, after starting with the + Indians, but was knocked down by a gun in the hands of one of + the savages. When he came to his senses, a squaw was dragging + him up hill by one foot. He remained with the Indians for about + two years, being adopted into a chief's family. He died in + 1862, in his eighty-ninth year."--R. G. T. + + [8] Thirtieth of June.--R. G. T. + + [9] The white loss, in killed, was 22, including Major + McMahon.--R. G. T. + + [10] The force started August 8. Besides the regulars, were + about 1,100 mounted Kentucky militia, under Gen. Charles + Scott.--R. G. T. + + [11] Hence the popular name of the engagement, "Battle of + Fallen Timbers."--R. G. T. + + [12] Alexander McKee, the renegade, of whom mention has + frequently been made in foregoing pages.--R. G. T. + + [13] Later authorities place the white loss at 107, killed + and wounded.--R. G. T. + + + + +INDEX. + Acosta, Father Joseph, on origin of Indians, 14. + + Adair, James, _History of American Indians_, 17-23. + + Adair, Maj., attacked by Indians, 413. + + Albermarle county, Va., 54. + + Alexander, Archibald, early settler, 52; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Alexander, John, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Alexandria, O., old Shawneetown at, 82, 92. + + Alexandria, Va., 60, 181. + + Alleghany county, Va., census (1830), 55. + + Alleghany mountains, early Indians in, 44, 45, 47; + crossed by English, 63-66. + + Alleghany river, early Indians on, 45, 46, 73; + discovered by Le Moyne, 64; + French on, 65; + Grant's defeat, 71; + in Dunmore's war, 150; + in Revolution, 301, 309. + + Allen, ----, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + Almon, J., _Remembrancer_, 355. + + Amherst county, Va., militia of, 99. + + Amherst, Jeffrey, orders Bouquet's expedition, 107. + + Anderson, James, early settler, 126. + + Appalachas, Indian village, attacked by Narvaez, 7. + + Arbuckle, Matthew, in Dunmore's war, 165, 170, 175; + at murder of Cornstalk, 211, 212, 216; + commandant of Ft. Randolph, 209, 241. + + Archaeology. _See_ Mound-builders. + + Archer, Betsy, daughter of Sampson, 52. + + Archer, Sampson, early settler, 52, 89. + + Arkansas river, Salling at, 48. + + Armstrong, Capt., on Harmar's campaign, 394. + + Ashcraft, Uriah, attacked by Indians, 397. + + Ashly, Lieut., killed by Indians, 332. + + Athol, Thomas, 93. + + Au Glaize river, treaty of, 376; + Wayne on, 424, 425. + + Augusta county, Va., formed, 55, 57, 61, 151; + early settlers in, 53; + census (1830), 55, 56; + militia of, 49, 52, 66, 68, 81, 90, 164, 166, 170, 209, 210; + McDowell's fight, 52; + ransom of Moores, 374; + Preston's _Register of Indian Depredations_, 87; + _History of_, 246. + + Bailey, ----, in Dunmore's war, 169. + + Bailey, Minter, 240. + + Baker, ----, discovers Peter Waggoner, 410. + + Baker, Henry, killed by Indians, 291, 292. + + Baker, Joshua, murders Logan family, 125, 148-150. + + Baker, William, explores Kentucky, 115. + + Baker's bottom, massacre of Indians at, 134, 142, 148-150, 184. + + Bald Eagle, killed by whites, 135, 136. + + Barkley, Elihu, with Braddock, 66. + + Barlow, Joel, agent of Scioto Co., 60. + + Bartlett's run, 248. + + Bath county, Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Baxter's run, 247. + + Bean, Capt., on Sandusky campaign, 328. + + Beard, Samuel, early settler, 127. + + Bear Grass river, early settlements on, 274; + foray on, 384, 385. + + Beaver, Delaware chief, 45. + + Beaver river, Shingiss Old Town, 45; + Moravians on, 314; + Ft. McIntosh built, 237; + treaty at Ft. McIntosh, 366. + + Bedinger, George M., in Bowman's campaign, 271. + + Bedford county, Pa., 190; + in "Black boys" uprising, 112-114. + + Bedford county, Va., 70; militia of, 164. + + Bell, James, with Braddock, 66. + + Berkeley county, W. Va., census (1830), 55, 56; + militia of, 164. + + Berkeley, Sir William, fosters western exploration, 64. + + Berlin, W. Va., 290; + foray near, 421. + + Beverly, W. Va., origin of, 74. + + Big Beaver river. _See_ Beaver. + + Big Bone creek, Clark at, 146. + + Big Bone lick, 271. + + Biggs, Benjamin, early settler, 125, 203; + killed by Indians, 332. + + Big Hockhocking river. _See_ Hockhocking. + + Big Kanawha river. _See_ Great Kanawha. + + Big Knives. _See_ Long Knives. + + Big lick, 162. + + Big Miami river. _See_ Miami. + + Big Sandy river, in Shawnee campaign, 81-86. + + Big Sewell mountain, origin of name, 57. + + Bildercock, ----, militia officer, 227, 228. + + Bingamon creek, forays on, 367, 369. + + Bird, Henry, attacks American borderers, 254; + beseiges Ft. Laurens, 262; + invades Kentucky, 286, 297-300, 305. + + Black Beard, Shawnee chief, 268. + + Black boys, border regulators, 105, 106; + attack Pennsylvania traders, 109-116. + + Black Fish, Shawnee chief, 201, 202, 266, 268, 273. + + Black Hoof, Shawnee chief, 268. + + Bledsoe, Anthony, in Dunmore's war, 167. + + Blevins, William, early settler, 59, 60. + + Blue licks, 268; + Boone's captivity, 265-267; + battle of, 351-354, 388. + + Blue ridge, 69, 83, 100; + early tribes of, 44, 47; + early explorations of, 64; + Borden grant, 51; + first settlements beyond, 50, 52, 55. + + Bluestone river, 61; + in Sandy creek voyage, 82. + + Boiling Springs, Ky., represented in Transylvania legislature, 193. + + Bolivar, O., 261. + + Bonnett, John, killed by Indians, 377. + + Boone county, N. Y., Delawares in, 136. + + Boone, Daniel, on Holston, 59; + first explores Kentucky, 142-144; + second trip (1773), 144, 145, 147; + in Dunmore's war, 152, 153, 190; + founds Boonesborough, 190-197; + captured by Indians, 265-267; + in Chene's attack on Boonesborough, 268, 269; + in Paint creek expedition, 267, 268; + at battle of Blue licks, 351-353. + + Boone, Mrs. Daniel, first white woman in Kentucky, 196, 197. + + Boone, James, killed by Indians, 144, 145. + + Boone, Squire, explores Kentucky, 143, 144. + + Boonesborough, Ky., founded, 190-197; + first attacked by Indians, 200, 202, 205; + Bowman's arrival, 207, 208; + during Boone's captivity, 265-267; + Chene's attack on, 268, 270; + during Revolution, 350, 351. + + Booth's creek, origin of name, 122, 123; + forays on, 247, 248, 290, 309, 343. + + Booth, James, early settler, 122, 123; + killed by Indians, 247. + + Borden, Benjamin, Sr., land-grant, 50-54, 66; + sketch, 51. + + Borden, Benjamin, Jr., 52. + + Boshears, William, scouting service, 227, 228. + + Botetourt county, Va., 66, 70; + census (1830), 55, 56; + Holston settlement, 59; + militia of, 81, 164, 165, 167, 209, 210. + + Bouquet, Henry, campaign against Indians, 106-109, 173; + treaty with Indians, 91, 141, 173, 179. + + Bourbon county, Ky., 67, 115. + + Bowman, James L., 79. + + Bowman, John, campaign (1779), 190; + early defense of Kentucky, 207, 208; + Chillicothe expedition, 271-274; + cited, 268; + sketch, 271. + + Boyd, John, killed by Indians, 222. + + Bozarth, George, adventure with Indians, 429, 430. + + Bozarth, John, Sr., attacked by Indians, 279, 429, 430. + + Bozarth, John, Jr., adventure with Indians, 429, 430. + + Bozarth, Mrs., adventures with Indians, 279, 280. + + Braddock, Edward, campaign and defeat of, 65-69, 71, 72, 77, 105, 106, + 143, 145, 147, 169. + + Braddock, Pa., 68. + + Braddock's road, history of, 77. + + Brain, ----, killed by Indians, 240. + + Brain, Benjamin, captured by Indians, 280, 281. + + Brain, Isaac, captured by Indians, 280, 281. + + Brain, James, killed by Indians, 280, 281. + + Brant, Joseph, Indian chief, 254. + + Braxton county, Va., Bulltown massacre, 136-138. + + Breckenridge, Robert, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Brenton, Capt., on Sandusky campaign, 328. + + Bridger, ----, killed by Indians, 292. + + Brinton, Maj., on Sandusky campaign, 328. + + Brodhead, Daniel, expedition to Muskingum, 300-305, 309; + receives news from Moravians, 315. + + Brooke county, W. Va., census (1830), 55, 63; + forays in, 380, 381. + + Brooks, Thomas, scout, 266. + + Brown, ----, in New-river foray, 96, 97. + + Brown, ----, killed by Indians, 161. + + Brown, Adam, Sr., imprisoned by Indians, 96, 97. + + Brown, Adam, Jr., 96. + + Brown, Coleman, killed by Indians, 156. + + Brown, James, chases Indians, 246; + attacked by Indians, 311. + + Brown, John, early hunter, 121. + + Brown, Samuel, captured by Indians, 96. + + Brownsville, Pa. _See_ Redstone. + + Bryan, William, companion of Boone, 144. + + Bryant, William, killed by Indians, 348. + + Bryant station, Ky., threatened by Bird, 296; + beseiged by Caldwell, 348-351, 353, 354. + + Buchanan, John, diary of, 49. + + Buckhannon river, early settlements on, 117-122, 127; + Bulltown massacre, 136; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + Indian forays on, 151, 275, 282, 284, 288, 290, 318, 319, 340, 342, + 343, 422, 428. + + Buffalo creek, first settlement on, 125; + Indian forays, 318, 374-376. + + Buffalo gap, Mackey's settlement near, 50. + + Buffington, Jonathan, captured by Indians, 311. + + Buffington, Mrs., killed by Indians, 311. + + Buford, ----, captain in Dunmore's war, 164, 165, 170, 171. + + Bulger, Maj., killed at Blue licks, 353. + + Bulgess, Adj., killed by Indians, 403. + + Bull, Capt., killed by whites, 136-138. + + Bullitt, Thomas, in Forbes's campaign, 71; + surveys Connolly tract, 145, 146; + sketch, 71, 72. + + Bullock, Leonard Henley, of Transylvania Co., 191. + + Bulltown, Va., massacre of Delawares near, 136-138. + + Burd, James, at Redstone, 77-79. + + Burning Spring, 82, 85. + + Burns, James, killed by Indians, 245. + + Bush, Adam, chases Indians, 397. + + Bush, John, adventure with Indians, 341, 343; + killed by Indians, 396. + + Bush, Mrs. John, adventure with Indians, 396, 397. + + Bushy run, Bouquet's fight on, 108. + + Butler, Mann, _Kentucky_, 193. + + Butler, Richard, treaty commissioner, 366, 388; + in St. Clair's campaign, 401-403. + + Butler, Robert, early settler, 126. + + Butterfield, Consul W., _Crawford's Expedition Against Sandusky_, 328; + _History of the Girtys_, 153, 178, 189, 224, 308, 347, 404; + _Washington-Irvine Correspondence_, 262. + + Cabell county, W. Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Cahokia, Ill., founded by La Salle, 6; + Indian mounds at, 40; + captured by Clark, 253. + + Caldwell, William, expedition against Kentucky, 348-354. + + California, O., founded, 392. + + Calf Pasture river, in Pontiac war, 97. + + Callaway, Richard, at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Cameron, Charles, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Cameron, Daniel, killed by Indians, 311. + + Campbell, Arthur, militia officer, 268. + + Campbell, Capt., on Wayne's campaign, 426, 427. + + Campbell, George, border poet, 110, 111. + + Campbell, John, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Campbell, William, settles on Holston, 59; + at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Camp Charlotte, Indian treaty at, 145, 173, 176-186, 190, 197. + + Camp Union, in Dunmore's war, 164, 165, 167. + + Canaan, Joseph, killed by Indians, 422. + + Canestoga Indians, killed by Paxton boys, 104, 105. + + Captina creek, in Dunmore's war, 134, 138, 148, 149, 153; + in Revolution, 230. + + Carder, William, attacked by Indians, 419, 420. + + Carlisle, Pa., trial of Smith, 113-115; + Scotch-Irish at, 143. + + Carmichael's, Pa., founded, 123. + + Carpenter, Benjamin, killed by Indians, 414. + + Carpenter, Dr., captured by Indians, 96, 97. + + Carpenter, Jeremiah, 414. + + Carpenter, John, captured by Indians, 319. + + Carpenter, Nicholas, adventure with Indians, 399, 400. + + Carpenter, William, killed by Indians, 96, 97. + + Carr's creek, massacre on, 172, 173. + + Carver, ----, settles on Greenbrier, 57. + + Carver, Jonathan, visits western Indians, 20, 21, 23, 24; + on Indian creek, 38. + + Casper's lick, 152. + + Catawba Indians, early strength of, 46; + attack Delawares, 47; + fought by McDowell, 52; + claim Kentucky, 142, 194. + + Catawba river, early Indians on, 46; + Patton's settlement, 51; + forays on, 96, 98. + + Catholics (Roman), missionary efforts of, 36; + at Gallipolis, 60. _See_ Jesuits. + + Cayahoga river, Delawares on, 45. + + Cayuga Indians, strength of, 46; + in Dunmore's war, 155, 172. + + Cedar creek, early settlement on, 52. + + Champlain, Samuel de, founds Quebec, 4, 5. + + Charleston, S. C., 49, 59. + + Charlevoix, Father, on origin of Indians, 15, 16. + + Cheat river, 63, 118; + first settlements on, 75, 76, 126; + massacre of Indians on, 135; + Indian forays on, 240, 291, 310, 311. + + Chene, Isidore, attacks Boonesborough, 268-270. + + Cherokee Indians, early strength of, 46; + capture Salling, 48, 49; + Williamson among, 104; + visit Gov. Glen, 59; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 82; + opposition to Kentucky settlers, 142, 145; + cession to Henderson, 192, 195; + during Revolution, 347. + + Chevrout, Joseph, relieves Carder, 420. + + Chew, Colby, explores Kentucky, 81. + + Chickamauga Indians, claim Kentucky, 142. + + Chickasaw Indians, early strength, 46; + claim Kentucky, 142; + cession to Henderson, 195; + in St. Clair's campaign, 403-405. + + Childers, William, settles on Youghiogheny, 117, 118. + + Chillicothe towns, Dyer's captivity, 87; + in Dunmore's war, 176, 179, 182, 183, 187; + Boone's captivity, 266, 267; + Bowman's expedition against, 271-274; + in Piqua expedition, 305, 307-309; + Indian council at, 346, 347; + in Harmar's campaign, 393, 394. + + Chillicothe (Old), Renick captivity, 91; + Hannah Dennis's escape, 91-93. + + Chillicothe (New), Hannah Dennis's escape, 92. + + Chippewa Indians, early strength, 46; + fight Clark, 252; + during Revolution, 347; + at Ft. McIntosh treaty, 366, 388. + + Chiyawee, Wyandot chief, 172. + + Christian, William, in Cherokee campaign, 59; + in New-river foray, 99; + in Dunmore's war, 165, 167, 170, 171, 190; + killed by Indians, 385. + + Cincinnati, Indian relics found in, 42; + Clark on site of, 306; + genesis of, 390-393; + in Harmar's campaign, 393-395; + in St. Clair's campaign, 401, 405; + in Wayne's campaign, 413, 419, 423. + + Circleville, O., Indians mounds at, 41. + + Clark, ----, on St. Clair's campaign, 402. + + Clark, George, scout, 271. + + Clark, George Rogers, on Indian mounds, 40; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 164; + arrival in Kentucky, 197, 200; + in early defense of Kentucky, 207; + founds Louisville, 146; + Illinois campaign, 121, 123, 190, 252-255, 257-261, 270, 294, 295, 411; + Piqua campaign, 305-309; + Shawnee campaign, 354, 355; + Wabash campaign, 386; + treaty commissioner, 366, 388; + in Spanish conspiracy, 130; + sketch, 253, 254. + + Clark, John, ambushed by Indians, 262. + + Clarke, Col., Pennsylvania militia officer, 263, 264. + + Clarksburg, W. Va., 275; + founded, 127; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 284, 310, 311, 341, 342, 345; + miscellaneous forays near, 376, 381, 383, 397. + + Clay, ----, killed by Indians, 166. + + Clegg, ----, family captured by Indians, 398, 399. + + Clendennin's settlement, Hannah Dennis at, 93; + massacre at, 93-95; + family captured by Indians, 172, 173. + + Clinch river, first settlements on, 59, 60; + Boone on, 145, 152; + in Henderson's grant, 193; + foray on, 374. + + Coburn, Capt., chases Indians, 410, 411. + + Coburn's creek, 248, 249. + + Cochran, Nathaniel, captured by Indians, 247, 250, 251. + + Cocke, William, at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Cohunnewago Indians, strength of, 46. + + Colden, C., _Five Nations of New York_, 194. + + Coleman, Moses, killed by Indians, 285. + + Columbia, O., founded, 391, 392. + + Congo creek, 176. + + Connecticut, relinquishes Western land claim, 389. + + Connelly, ----, early settler, 126. + + Connoly, Darby, killed by Indians, 234. + + Connolly, John, agent of Dunmore, 74, 142, 145, 149; + in Dunmore's war, 164, 179-181, 188; + land claim at Louisville, 145, 146. + + Conococheague valley, massacre in, 101, 105; + a fur-trade centre, 109, 113. + + Cooley, William, companion of Boone, 143. + + Coomes, William, adventure with Indians, 201. + + Coon, ----, daughter killed by Indians, 218, 219. + + Coonce, Mark, French trader, 79. + + Cooper, ----, killed by Indians, 311. + + Coplin, Benjamin, kills an Indian, 344. + + Corbly, John, attacked by Indiana, 345. + + Corn island, Clark at, 253, 294. + + Cornstalk, Shawnee chief, at Point Pleasant, 168, 170, 172, 173; + at treaty of Camp Charlotte, 183-186; + imprisoned at Ft. Randolph, 209, 215, 216; + murder of, 173, 211-214, 235, 236, 241, 266; + sketch of, 172, 173. + + Cornwallis, Lord, surrender of, 347. + + Coshocton, O., 153, 314. + + Coshocton, Indian village, Brodhead's expedition against, 302-305, 309, + 316. + + Cottrial, Andrew, early settler, 127. + + Cottrial, Samuel, early settler, 127; + attacked by Indians, 284, 285. + + Cowan, John, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + Coward, ----, adventure with Indians, 166. + + Cowpasture river, 91. + + Cox, Joseph, captured by Indians, 419. + + Cozad, Jacob, Sr., sons killed by Indians, 420. + + Cozad, Jacob, Jr., escapes from Indians, 420, 421. + + Craig, Lieut., killed by Indians, 424. + + Craig, James, adventure with Indians, 203. + + Craig's creek, 90. + + Crawford, ----, killed by Indians, 344. + + Crawford, James, early settler, 123. + + Crawford, John, killed by Indians, 331, 334, 336. + + Crawford, William, in Dunmore's war, 164, 168, 179, 185, 220; + Sandusky campaign of, 328-339; + sketch, 334. + + Crawford, William (nephew of foregoing), killed by Indians, 331. + + Cresap, Michael, in Dunmore's war, 134, 149, 154, 164; + accused by Logan, 184. + + Cresap, Thomas, opens Braddock's road, 77. + + Crooked creek, 169, 170. + + Crooked run, Indian forays on, 282, 344. + + Cross creek, 78. + + Cross, Thomas, Sr., 91. + + Crouch, James, wounded by Indians, 287. + + Crouse, Peter, killed by Indians, 282. + + Culpeper county, Va., 59; + militia of, 66; + in Dunmore's war, 159, 164. + + Cumberland county, Pa., 143. + + Cumberland Gap, Walden's trip, 60; + Boone opens path, 143, 192. + + Cumberland, Md., Ohio Co.'s post at, 77. + + Cumberland river, Walden's trip, 60; + explored by Smith, 115; + Boone on, 152; + in Henderson's purchase, 192, 193; + foray on, 200. + + Cundiff, ----, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + Cunningham, Edward, fight with Indians, 238, 239, 367-370, 373. + + Cunningham, Robert, early settler, 126. + + Cunningham, Thomas, 218; + family attacked by Indians, 367, 373. + + Cunningham, Mrs. Thomas, captured by Indians, 367-373. + + Curl, Jeremiah, attacked by Indians, 288, 289. + + Curner, ----, on Mad-river campaign, 387. + + Cusick, David, _Ancient History of Six Nations_, 18, 26, 40. + + Cutright, Benjamin, early settler, 122. + + Cutright, John, Sr., early settler, 122; + murders Indians, 137; + wounded by Indians, 290. + + Cutright, John, Jr., 122. + + Cutright, Peter, attacked by Indians, 288, 289. + + Danville, Ky., origin of, 274; + convention at, 115, 190. + + Davis, ----, settles on Holston, 59. + + Davis, Mrs., daughter of John Jackson, 121. + + Davisson, ----, killed by Indians, 373. + + Davisson, Daniel, early settler, 127. + + Davisson, Josiah, brother of Nathaniel, 283. + + Davisson, Nathaniel, killed by Indians, 283, 284. + + Davisson, Obadiah, early settler, 127. + + Decker, Thomas, early settler, 123; + attacked by Indians, 77, 78. + + Decker's creek, first settlement on, 77. + + De Creve Coeurs, St. John, _Lettres_, 153. + + De Hass, Wills, _History of Indian Wars_, 222. + + De Huron, George, on origin of Indians, 15. + + De Kalb, Baron, 86. + + De Laet, John, on origin of Indians, 14. + + Delaware Indians, on Upper Ohio, 45, 46; + attacked by Catawbas, 47; + in Decker's creek massacre, 77-79; + Seybert massacre, 88, 89; + New-river foray, 96-99; + Bulltown massacre, 136-138; + Pontiac's conspiracy, 136; + claim Kentucky, 142; + in Dunmore's war, 150, 172, 179; + during Revolution, 219, 263, 301, 303, 314, 315, 320, 332, 333, 347; + in Harmar's campaign, 393; + Ft. McIntosh treaty, 366, 388; + subsequent foray, 371; + Wayne's campaign, 421. + + Delaware river, massacre on, 101-104. + + De Moraez, Emanuel, on origin of Indians, 14. + + Denman, Matthias, founds Cincinnati, 390-392. + + Dennis, Hannah, imprisoned by Indians, 89-93, 95. + + Dennis, Joseph, killed by Indians, 89. + + Denton, ----, assists Mrs. Cunningham, 372. + + Denton, Mrs., settles in Kentucky, 197. + + Deny, William, coroner of Bedford, 114. + + De Peyster, Arent Schuyler, commandant at Detroit, 295, 317, 365. + + De Soto, Ferdinand, discovers Mississippi, 7, 8. + + Detroit, 91; + Indian villages near, 46; + under French domination, 72; + Logan at, 155, 156; + Connolly at, 181; + Boone at, 266, 267; + English headquarters during Revolution, 252, 254, 255, 257; + English machinations at, 207, 231, 247, 286, 295, 299, 317, 320, 336, + 337; + arrival of peace news, 365. + + De Villiers, defeats Washington, 74; + destroys Redstone fort, 77. + + Dickinson, John, in Dunmore's war. 170, 175. + + Dillon, ----, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + Dillon, Mrs., killed by Indians, 240. + + Dinwiddie, Robert, governor of Virginia, 53, 65; + authorizes Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 83, 84; + _Papers_, 68, 86. + + Dix, Webster, 119. + + Dodd, Ensign, on Wayne's campaign, 424. + + Doddridge, John, early settler, 125. + + Doddridge, Joseph, _Notes on the Settlements_, 125, 126, 153, 183; + MS. of, 221. + + Donelson, Col., runs Indian boundary, 195. + + Donnelly, Andrew, beseiged by Indians, 242-245; + repulses them, 291. + + Dorman, Timothy, captured by Indians, 340, 341; + turns renegade, 341, 342. + + Dougherty, Daniel, captured by Indians, 311, 312. + + Dougherty, Mrs., killed by Indians, 311. + + Doughty, Maj., builds Ft. Washington, 391. + + Douglas, James, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + Dragging Canoe, Cherokee chief, 192. + + Dragoo, Mrs., killed by Indians, 374, 375. + + Drake, Lieut., on Wayne's campaign, 424. + + Drake, Lieut.-col., on St. Clair's campaign, 402. + + Drake, Samuel G., _Aboriginal Races of North America_, 409. + + Draper, Lyman C., historical notes by, 40, 50-53, 57-60, 65, 66, 68, 71, + 72, 75, 79, 81, 83, 85-88, 90, 96, 97, 99, 101, 104, 106-108, 115, + 121, 123; + interviews Salling's descendants, 48; + on aboriginal claims to Kentucky, 193-195; + cited, 183, 203, 254. + + Drinnon, Thomas, attacked by Indians, 292, 293. + + Drinnon, Lawrence, attacked by Indians, 291, 292. + + Duke, Francis, killed by Indians, 359, 360. + + Dunbar, Pa., settled by Gist, 74. + + Dunkard bottom, settled, 126; + massacre on, 240. + + Dunkard creek, a war trail, 75: + first settled on, 75; + forays on, 249, 250, 279, 398, 399. + + Dunkards, early settlements by, 75; + massacre of, 76, 77. + + Dunkin, John, militia officer, 207. + + Dunlap, James, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81; + killed by Indians, 87. + + Dunlap creek, first settlement on, 77; + foray on, 96. + + Dunmore, Lord, 74; + in Dunmore's war, 135-190, 197, 209, 220, 253, 385; + opposes Henderson's purchase, 192. + + Du Pratz, Le Page, _History of Louisiana_, 49. + + Durrett, Reuben T., _Centenary of Louisville_, 294. + + Dutch, introduce African slavery, 10; + in New York, 48. + + Dyer, James, imprisoned by Indians, 87, 88. + + East Meadows, Braddock at, 67. + + Eckarly family, early settlers, 126. + + Eckarly, Thomas, Dunkard pioneer, 75; + massacre of his brother, 76, 77. + + Economy, Pa., 413. + + Ecuyer, Simeon, under Bouquet. 107. + + Edwards, David, killed by Indians, 252. + + Edwards, William, Moravian missionary, 314, 317. + + Elk creek, in Caldwell's invasion, 351; + during Revolution, 284; + foray on, 367. + + Elk river, origin of name, 118, 119; + first settlement on, 126, 127; + Stroud massacre, 136, 137; + in Dunmore's war, 166, 167, 175; + foray on, 414. + + Elk's Eye creek. _See_ Muskingum. + + Ellinipsico, Cornstalk's son, 172, 211-213. + + Elliott, Matthew, in Dunmore's war, 182, 189; + attacks Wheeling, 316, 317; + encourages forays, 347, 388. + + Ellis, Franklin, _History of Fayette Co._, 77. + + English, territorial claims of, 1-5, 7; + emigration to Virginia, 49; + first occupation of the Ohio, 63; + struggle for Forks of Ohio, 64-74; + Braddock's campaign, 65-69; + Forbes's campaign, 69-73; + Bouquet's expedition, 106-109; + Dunmore's war, 134-190; + Bird's invasion, 294-300, 305, 336, 337; + Caldwell's invasion, 348-354; + second seige of Wheeling, 356, 357; + encourage forays on American borderers, 147, 207-210, 215, 216, 224, + 225, 231, 236, 252, 253, 260, 285, 286, 317, 388, 425-427. + + Episcopalians, 50, 57. + + Fairfax, Lord, land-grant of, 50, 51, 334; + militia officer, 101. + + Fairfield, Va., settled, 52. + + Fallen Timbers, battle of, 425-428. + + Falling Spring, Va., 86. + + Falls of Ohio. _See_ Louisville. + + Fauquier county, Va., 145. + + Fauquier, governor of Virginia, 86. + + Fayette county, Pa., settled, 74, 123; + militia from, 328. + + Fayette county, W. Va., 57. + + Fayetteville, N. C., 192. + + Field, John, with Braddock, 66; + adventure with Indians, 159-161; + in Dunmore's war, 164, 166, 169, 171. + + Files. _See_ Foyle, Robert. + + Files creek, first settlement on, 74. + + Files family, massacre of, 126. + + Filson, John, partner of Denman, 391; + _Boone's Narrative_, 268. + + Fincastle county, Va., 56, 220; + Preston as surveyor, 140, 146; + militia of, 167. + + Findlay, John, explores Kentucky, 142-144. + + Fink, ----, killed by Indians, 340. + + Fink, John, killed by Indians, 318, 319. + + Fink, Henry, early settler, 126; + attacked by Indians, 288, 318, 319. + + Fink's run, 122. + + Fish creek, a war trail, 75, 399; + Clark at, 134, 253; + foray on, 399. + + Fishing creek, foray on, 374; + garrison on, 417. + + Fitzpatrick, John, on Bullitt's survey. 146. + + Fleming, William, in Dunmore's war, 164, 167-170, 174, 175. + + Flesher, Henry, attacked by Indians, 366, 367. + + Floyd, John, Kentucky surveyor, 152; + _Diary of_, 196; + builds fort at Louisville, 294; + in Piqua campaign, 307. + + Florida, discovered by Spanish, 7, 8. + + Folebaum, George, killed by Indians, 362. + + Folke, George, killed by Indians, 102, 103. + + Fontaine, Maj., killed by Indians, 395. + + Forbes, John, campaign against Ft. Du Quesne, 69-73, 77, 79, 108, 145, + 190. + + Fordyce, Capt., 72. + + Foreman, William, defeated by Indians, 228-230, 356. + + Fort Bedford, in "Black boys" uprising, 112-114. + + Fort Bolling, during Revolution, 226. + + Fort Boone, seat of Henderson colony, 153. + + Fort Buckhannon, during Revolution, 313. + + Fort Burd. _See_ Redstone. + + Fort Bush, 121. + + Fort Casinoe, in Dunmore's war, 151. + + Fort Coburn, during Revolution, 248. + + Fort Crevecoeur, built by La Salle, 6; Salling at, 48. + + Fort Cumberland, 71. + + Fort Dickenson, massacre of children, 100. + + Fort Dinwiddie, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81; + in New-river foray, 97, 99; + during Revolution, 291. + + Fort Du Quesne, erected, 65; + Braddock's expedition, 65-69; + Forbes's campaign, 69-73; + destroyed, 73. + _See_ Pittsburg. + + Fort Fincastle. _See_ Wheeling. + + Fort Finney, built, 392; + treaty of, 388. + + Fort Frederick, 71. + + Fort Frontenac, built by La Salle, 6; + Salling at, 48. + + Fort Gower, in Dunmore's war, 179, 182. + + Fort Greenville. _See_ Greenville, O. + + Fort Hadden, during Revolution, 286. + + Fort Hamilton, built by St. Clair, 401; + in Wayne's campaign, 413. + + Fort Henry. _See_ Wheeling. + + Fort Holliday, during Revolution, 226, 227. + + Fort Jackson, in Dunmore's war, 151. + + Fort Jefferson (Ky.), built by Clark, 254. + + Fort Jefferson (O.), built by St. Clair, 401-403, 405; + in Wayne's campaign, 413. + + Fort Laurens, during Revolution, 256, 261-265. + + Fort Le Boeuf, Washington at, 74, 77. + + Fort Ligonier, in Forbes's campaign, 73. + + Fort Littleton, in French and Indian war, 190. + + Fort Loudon, in "Black boys" uprising, 110, 111. + + Fort McIntosh, built, 237; + during Revolution, 263, 265; + treaty of, 366. + + Fort Martin, during Revolution, 282. + + Fort Massac, Clark at, 253. + + Fort Miami, Indian villages near, 46. + + Fort Necessity, Washington's defeat at, 69, 74, 77, 145. + + Fort Nutter, in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 275, 341. + + Fort Pitt. _See_ Pittsburg. + + Fort Pleasant, Eckarly at, 76. + + Fort Powers, during Revolution, 247. + + Fort Pricket, in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 240, 275, 279. + + Fort Randolph. _See_ Point Pleasant. + + Fort Recovery, 401; + built by Wilkinson, 419; + in Wayne's campaign, 423, 424. + + Fort Richards, during Revolution, 240, 241. + + Fort Sackville. _See_ Vincennes. + + Fort St. Joseph, Indian villages near, 46; + in Wayne's campaign, 413. + + Fort Seybert, massacre at, 87-89. + + Fort Shepherd, in Dunmore's war, 151. + + Fort Stradler, during Revolution, 249, 250. + + Fort Stanwix, treaty of, 70, 195. + + Fort Washington. _See_ Cincinnati. + + Fort Wells, 381. + + Fort West, during Revolution, 240, 241, 245, 246; + forays against, 287-290, 410. + + Fort Westfall, in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 343. + + Fort Wilson, during Revolution, 343. + + Fort Young, Hannah Dennis at, 93; + in New-river foray, 96, 97. + + Fox river, explored by French, 6. + + Foyle, Robert, settles on Files's creek, 74; + massacre of family, 75. + + Franklin, Benjamin, 145. + + Franklin county, Pa., 106. + + Franklin, W. Va., 87. + + Frederick county, Va., established, 55; + census (1830), 55, 56; + Borden manor, 51; + militia of, 101, 164. + + Freeman, ----, killed by Indians, 412. + + Freeman, Mrs., killed by Indians, 245, 246. + + Freeman's creek, forays on, 396, 419. + + French in America, territorial claims, 5; + early explorations, 4-6; + occupy Upper Ohio, 45, 63, 64; + ransom Salling, 48; + conflict with Ohio Co., 64, 65, 74, 77, 123, 147; + on Muskingum, 79: + on Scioto, 82; + Braddock's campaign, 65-69; + Forbes's campaign, 69-73; + French and Indian war, 143, 145, 156, 159, 190, 334; + found Gallipolis, 60, 82; + make peace with England, 106, 120; + in attack on Boonesborough, 268-270; + relations with Clark, 254. + + French creek, Smith's expedition to, 106. + + French lick, 193. + + Friedensstadt, Pa., Moravian village, 314, 319. + + Friend, Joseph, chases Indians, 311. + + Frothingham, Lieut., killed by Indians, 395. + + Fry, Col., in Braddock's army, 66. + + Fullenwieder, Peter, defends Rice's fort, 362. + + Fur trade, tribal barter, 34; + at Winchester, 47; + Borden's trade, 51; + of Ohio Co., 64, 65, 67, 74, 77, 147; + on Scioto, 82; + French and English rivalry, 138, 139; + Findlay's adventures, 143; + of Dunkards, 76; + Gibson's, 79; + "Black-boys" trouble, 106, 109-116; + Simpson's adventures, 118, 119; + at Pringle's fort, 120; + in Dunmore's war, 150; + McKee's, 347; + in W. Va., 361. + + Furrenash, Charles, children killed by Indians, 313. + + Gaddis, Thomas, on Sandusky campaign, 328. + + Gage, Thomas, confers with Connolly, 181. + + Gallatin, Albert, founds Geneva, W. Va., 117. + + Gallipolis, founded by French, 60, 82, 84. + + Game, pioneers as hunters, 131; + on Greenbrier, 56, 57, 126; + in Kentucky, 196, 198, 199, 206, 265, 266; + in Valley of Virginia, 119-122; + in Tygart's valley, 232, 234; + in West Virginia, 280, 283, 367, 374, 375, 410, 411. + + Garcia, Gregorio, on origin of Indians, 14. + + Gates, Horatio, at Saratoga, 86. + + Gatliff, Charles, fights Indians, 244. + + Gauley river. 57; + Stroud massacre, 136, 137. + + Genet, Edmund Charles, commissions Clark, 254. + + Geneva, W. Va., founded, 117. + + George, Robert, attacks James Smith, 114. + + George's creek, Pringle settlement, 117; + murder of Bald Eagle, 136. + + Georgia, early slavery in, 9, 10; + in Tecumseh's conspiracy, 36. + + Germans, at Gallipolis. 60. + + Gibson, Col. John, at Fort Pitt, 78, 79; + in Dunmore's war, 176, 184; + expert swordsman, 207; + commands Ft. Laurens, 256, 261-265. + + Gibson, John, family captured by Indians, 287. + + Giles county, Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Gilmore, ----, killed by Indians, 211, 212. + + Girty, George and James, renegades, 178; + during Revolution, 295. + + Girty, Simon, in Dunmore's war, 178, 179, 184, 189; + not at Wheeling seige, 224, 225, 231; + during Revolution, 254, 262, 273, 295, 308, 333, 334, 347, 350-353; + subsequent forays, 372, 388; + in St. Clair's defeat, 404. + + Gist, Christopher, visits Shingiss, 45; + trip down Ohio, 79; + settles Fayette Co., Pa., 74, 77, 123. + + Glass, ----, family attacked by Indians, 380, 381. + + Glenn, ----, governor of South Carolina, 59. + + Glum, Mrs., at seige of Wheeling, 225. + + Gnadenhuetten, Moravian village, 314, 317; + sacked by whites, 319, 321-327. + + Gnatty creek, foray on, 382. + + Goff, John, early settler, 126. + + Goldsby, ----, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + Gooch, Sir William, grants Borden manor, 50, 51. + + Gordon, Capt, killed at Blue Licks, 353. + + Goschocking. _See_ Coshocton. + + Graham, James, killed by Indians, 245. + + Grand Portage, Carver at, 20. + + Grand river. _See_ Ottawa. + + Grant, James, with Braddock, 66; + defeated by Indians, 68-73; + in "Blackboys" uprising, 110, 111. + + Grave creek, Indian mounds on, 40; + first settlement on, 125; + in Dunmore's war, 134; + in Foreman's defeat, 229, 230, 235, 356. + + Grayson county, Va., census (1830), 55. + + Great bridge, Va., defeat of Fordyce, 72. + + Greathouse, Daniel, murders Logan's family, 125, 149. + + Great Kanawha river, 60, 61; + Salling on, 49; + discovered by Wood, 64; + in Sandycreek voyage, 82, 85; + in Hannah Dennis's escape, 93; + Squire Boone on, 143; + in Dunmore's war, 145, 159-161, 164-167, 169-174, 178; + in Hand's expedition, 209-211; + during Revolution, 291-292; + salines of, 265. + + Great Meadows. Washington at, 77, 145. + + Great Miami river. _See_ Miami. + + Great Sandy river, 60, 61; + in New-river foray, 96. + + Green, George, at seige of Wheeling, 356. + + Green river, Henderson's grant on, 196; + early surveys, 365; + early settlements, 274. + + Green, Thomas M., _Spanish Conspiracy_, 386. + + Greenbrier county, W. Va., 53, 54, 57, 71, 91; + census (1830), 55, 56; + Shawnee attack (1755), 81; + Clendennin massacre, 93-95; + militia from, 210, 211; + emigrants from, 286; + forays into, 242-245, 291-293. + + Greenbrier river, 61; + explored, 126; + origin of name, 49; + Loyal Co.'s grant, 49; + first settlements on, 56-59; + Lewis on, 68; + in Pontiac's war, 97. + + Greenlee, Mary, enters land on Borden manor, 52, 53. + + Greenville, O., Ft. Hamilton built, 401; + treaty at, 420, 430. + + Gregg, Mrs., attacked by Indians, 343. + + Grenadier Squaw, in Dunmore's war, 176; + at Ft. Randolph, 242; + in Mad-river campaign, 388. + + Grigsby; Charles, family killed by Indians, 217, 218. + + Grim, John, 183. + + Grollon, Father, on origin of Indians, 15, 16. + + Grundy, Felix, 247. + + Grundy, William, killed by Indians, 247. + + Gunn, Catharine, imprisoned by Indians, 98. + + Gwinnett, Button, killed by McIntosh, 237. + + Hacker, John, settles on Buckhannon, 121, 122; + daughter wounded by Indians, 378-380. + + Hacker, Mrs., attacked by Indians, 245. + + Hacker, William, early hunter, 121; + murders Indians, 135, 137; + attacked by Indians, 245. + + Hacker's creek, Indian relics on, 42; + origin of name, 121, 122; + first settlement on, 127; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + Bulltown massacre, 136, 137; + killing of Hughes and Lowther, 240, 241; + Waggoner massacre, 408, 411; + miscellaneous forays on, 275, 287-290, 367, 377, 382, 419, 420. + + Hadden, ----, early settler, 126. + + Hadden, John, 234. + + Hagerstown, Md., 361. + + Hagle, Michael, killed by Indians, 341. + + Haldimand, Sir Frederick, English general-in-chief, 252, 261. + + Half King, Wyandot chief, 230, 316. + + Hall, Capt., murders Cornstalk, 211, 212. + + Hall, James, _Sketches of the West_, 193. + + Hall, Minor C., 287. + + Hamilton, ----, adventure with Indians, 211, 212. + + Hamilton, Capt., chases Indians. 245. + + Hamilton, Henry, English lieutenant-governor, 207, 210; + encourages Indian forays, 224, 225, 252, 266, 268, 269; + attacks Clark, 253, 257, 258; + captured by Clark, 254, 255, 259-261. + + Hamilton, Miss, captured by Indians, 234. + + Hammond, Philip, scouting adventure, 242, 243. + + Hampden Sydney College, Va., 81. + + Hampshire county, W. Va., census (1830), 56; + militia from, 101, 230. + + Hamtramck, J. F., on Harmar's campaign, 394; + on St. Clair's campaign, 401. + + Hancock, William, escapes from Indians, 267, 268. + + Hand, Edward, commands Ft. Pitt. 209-211, 213, 214, 216, 219, 221, 230; + MS. of, 221; + sketch, 210. + + Handsucker, ----, killed by Indians, 398, 399. + + Hangard. _See_ Redstone. + + Hanover county, Va., 191. + + Haptonstall, Abraham, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + Harbert, ----, killed by Indians, 233. + + Hardin county, Ky., origin of name, 123. + + Hardin, John, early Kentucky settler, 123; + on Harmar's campaign, 394; + killed by Indians, 412. + + Hardman, ----, of Hacker's creek, 410. + + Hardy county, W. Va., census (1830), 56. + + Hargus, John, kills an Indian, 154, 155. + + Harlan, Silas, in Bowman's campaign, 271. + + Harland, Maj., killed at Blue Licks, 253. + + Harmar, Josiah, at treaty of Ft. McIntosh, 366; + occupies Ft. Washington, 391, 392; + campaign of, 384, 393-395, 400, 408. + + Harpold, Nicholas, kills Indians, 135. + + Harrison, ----, attacked by Indians, 344. + + Harrison, Benjamin, in Dunmore's war, 170; + governor of Virginia, 366. + + Harrison, Burr, rescued by Logan, 203. + + Harrison county, W. Va., 373; + census (1830), 56, 63; + first sheriff of, 127; + forays in, 217, 369. + + Harrison, S. R., cited, 310. + + Harrison, William, killed by Indians, 331, 334, 336. + + Harrison, William H., defeats Tecumseh, 36. + + Harrod, James, on Bullitt's survey, 146; + founds Harrodsburg, 152, 190, 191; + prominence as a pioneer, 197, 200; + sketch, 190, 191. + + Harrod, Samuel, explores Kentucky, 190. + + Harrod, William, with Clark, 190; + in Bowman's campaign, 271, 273. + + Harrodsburg, Ky., founded, 146, 152, 190, 191, 197; + represented in Transylvania legislature, 193; + first attacked by Indians, 200-202, 205, 208; + Clark's defense of, 253; + settlers' council at, 271. + + Hart, David, of Transylvania Co., 191. + + Hart, Nathaniel, of Transylvania Co., 191-193. + + Hart, Thomas, of Transylvania Co., 191. + + Hartley, Cecil B., _Life of Wetzel_, 161. + + Hartshorn, ----, ensign in Harmar's campaign, 394; + captain with Wayne, 423, 424. + + Haymond, John, chases Indians, 398. + + Hayward, John, _History of Tennessee_, 60. + + Hazard, Samuel, _U. S. Register_, 193. + + Heavener, Nicholas, 121. + + Heckewelder, John G., Moravian missionary, 97, 301, 302, 314, 315, 317; + peace commissioner, 412; + _Narrative_, 325; + sketch, 301, 302. + + Hedgman river, 55. + + Hellen, Thomas, captured by Indians, 156, 157; + killed by Indians, 161. + + Helms, Leonard, holds Vincennes, 258, 260. + + Henderson, Archibald, 193. + + Henderson, Nathaniel, at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Henderson, Richard, founds Transylvania, 153, 191-196; + sketch, 191-193. + + Henderson, Samuel, father of Richard, 191. + + Henderson, Leonard, 193. + + Hennepin, Father Louis, French explorer, 6. + + Henry county, Va., 60. + + Henry, Patrick, governor of Virginia, 173, 186, 220, 366. + + Herbert, William, in Dunmore's war, 167, 175. + + Hickenbotham, Capt., attacks Indians, 99. + + Hickman, Adam, Jr., 127. + + Hickman, Sotha, early settler, 127, 284. + + Hill, Richard, attacked by Indians, 291. + + Hinkstone, ----, captured by Indians, 297, 298, 305. + + Hite, Isaac, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + Hockhocking river, in Dunmore's war, 168, 179, 182, 183; + Indians raided on, 383. + + Hockingport, O., founded, 179. + + Hogan, Mrs., settles in Kentucky, 197. + + Hogg, James, of Transylvania Co., 191. + + Hogg, Peter, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81-85. + + Hogg, William, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Hoggin, ----, of St. Asaph's, 205. + + Holden, Joseph, companion of Boone, 143. + + Holder, John, in Bowman's campaign, 271. + + Holder's station, Ky., during Caldwell's invasion, 349. + + Hollis, John, Indian spy, 245. + + Holmes, John, informs against James Smith, 114. + + Holston, Stephen, settles on Holston, 59. + + Holston river, 60; first settlements on, 58, 115; + forays on, 158, 184. + + Holston settlements, militia of, 165, 170, 268; + Harrod at, 190; + Boone at, 196; + Logan at, 204-206; + Mrs. Cunningham at, 372, 373. + + Hornbeck, Benjamin, captured by Indians, 311. + + Hornbeck, Mrs., killed by Indians, 311. + + Horse Shoe bottom, settled, 126. + + Horton, Joshua, explores Kentucky, 115. + + Howard, John, companion of Salling, 49. + + Hudson, William, killed by Indians, 203. + + Hughes, Charles, chases Indians, 246. + + Hughes, Elias, scouting service, 312; + fights Indians, 345, 376, 377. + + Hughes, Jesse, early hunter, 121; + chases Indians, 246, 378, 379, 410; + services at Ft. West, 288; + scouting service, 312; + escapes from Indians, 399, 400; + daughter captured by Indians, 377-380; + character, 137. + + Hughes, Thomas, early settler, 121, 123; + defense of borderers, 367; + killed by Indians, 240, 241. + + Hughey, Joseph, killed by Indians, 168. + + Hull, Samuel, killed by Indians, 383. + + Huron Indians, possible origin of, 16. + + Husted, Gilbert, captured by Indians, 248. + + Hutchins, Thomas, geographer, 46. + + Iberville. Lemoyne d', finds Mississippi, 7. + + Ice, John, killed by Indians, 374. + + Illinois, early French in, 6, 7; + Clark's expedition to, 146, 252-255, 257, 261. + + Illinois Indians, claim Kentucky, 142; + agree to keep peace, 412. + + Ingles, Capt., on New-river campaign, 99. + + Indian creek, foray on, 312, 313. + + Indian Short creek, 380, 381, 415. + + Indians, origin of, 12-27; + beliefs, customs and traditions, 17-43; + forest commerce, 34; + prehistoric remains, 39-43; + intimacy with French, 5, 64; + relations with Spanish, 7-9; + claims to Kentucky reviewed, 193-195; + relations with first settlers, 129-133; + Christian missions among, 106. + _See_ the several tribes. + + Iroquois Indians, supposed origin of, 44; + oppose French on Ohio, 64; + at Easton treaty, 58; + at Ft. Stanwix treaty, 70; + claim Kentucky, 194, 195. + + Irvine, William, releases Moravians, 317; + Indian campaign of, 355. + + Isaac's creek, 312. + + Ivens, Sally, captured by Indians, 373, 374. + + Jackson, ----, adventure with Indians, 289. + + Jackson county, O., 175. + + Jackson county, W. Va., 137. + + Jackson, Edward, early settler, 121. + + Jackson, George, early settler, 121; + attacked by Indians, 313; + defends Buckhannon, 342; + chases Indians, 398. + + Jackson, John, early settler, 121; + attacked by Indians, 313. + + Jackson, Ned J., 287. + + Jackson's river, 57, 71, 81; + Hannah Dennis on, 93; + in Pontiac war, 97; + forays on, 90, 96, 173. + + James, Enoch, adventure with Indians, 218, 219. + + James river, 61, 66, 86; + Salling on, 48, 50; + early settlements on, 52; + McDowell's fight, 52; + Borden's grant, 50-53; + forays on, 89-91, 96. + + Jefferson county, W.Va., census (1830), 56. + + Jefferson, Thomas, on origin of Indians, 13, 14, 25, 26; + on Indian mounds, 41; + "improves" Logan's speech, 184; + _Notes on Virginia_, 134. + + Jesuits, early missions to Indians, 14, 15, 60, 64, 410, 411: + _Relations_, 194. + + Jew, ----, killed by Indians, 91. + + Jew, Sally, imprisoned by Indians, 90. + + Johnson, ----, thought to have been killed by James Smith, 113-115. + + Johnson, Henry and John, escape from Indians, 415-417. + + Johnson, Richard M., 348. + + Johnson, Robert, arrives in Kentucky, 348. + + Johnson, William, family massacred by Indians, 381, 382. + + Johnson, Sir William, British Indian superintendent, 108, 136. + + Johnston, William, of Transylvania, 191. + + Joliet, Louis, discovers Mississippi, 5, 6. + + Judah, Henry, kills Indians, 135. + + Juggins, Elizabeth, adventure with Indians, 309, 310. + + Juggins, John, killed by Indians, 290. + + Juniata river, 112, 113. + + Kanawha county, W. Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Kaskaskia, Ill., 294; + founded by La Salle, 6; + Salling at, 48; + Clark's capture of, 253-255, 257, 258, 260, 411. + + Kate (negress), at seige of Wheeling, 356. + + Keeney's knob, massacre at, 173. + + Kekionga, Miami village, 393. + + Kellar, Isaac, killed by Indians, 385. + + Kelly, Tady, in Dunmore's war, 153. + + Kelly, Walter, killed by Indians, 159-161. + + Kennedy, John, wounded by Indians, 203. + + Kenton, Simon, border scout, 161; + in Dunmore's war, 164, 167; + arrival in Kentucky, 197. + + Kentucky, 66, 67, 75; + Indian antiquities in, 43; + exploration by Salling, 48, 49; + by Bullitt, 71; + by Walker, 81; + by Smith, 115; + by Findlay, 142, 143; + by Boone, 142-145, 147, 152, 153, 190; + by Stone, 190; + Indian claims to, 193-195; + Connolly's survey, 145, 146; + first settlements in, 123, 197; + early land jobbing, 196, 197; + Harrodsburg founded, 146, 190; + Indian opposition to first settlers, 140-142, 189, 190, 200-208; + character of pioneers, 197-200; + rapid increase of population, 274; + Transylvania Co., 191-196; + early missions, 106; + Spanish conspiracy, 130; + state convention, 106. + + Kentucky river, Boone on, 152, 153; + Harrod on, 190; + Catawbas on, 194; + in Henderson's + purchase. 192, 193, 195, 196; + forays on, 268, 269, 374. + + Kercheval, Samuel, _History of Valley of Virginia_, 49, 87, 88. + + Kersey, Lieut. [Kearsey, John], builds at Columbia. 390, 391. + + Kettle, Richard, chases Indians, 311. + + Killbuck, Delaware chief, 88. + + Kimberlain, Jacob, escapes from Indians, 99. + + King, Thomas, Iroquois chief, 58. + + Kinnikinnick creek, 174, 176. + + Kiskepila. _See_ Little Eagle. + + Kittanning, in Hand's expedition, 210. + + Knight, John, captured by Indians, 332-335, 338. + + Knoxville, Tenn., 60. + + Kuhn, Abraham, Wyandot chief, 97. + + Kuydendall, Capt., in Dunmore's war, 182. + + Lackey, Thomas, warns settlers, 286. + + Lake Cayuga, early Indians on, 46. + + Lake Erie, Catawbas on, 47. + + Lake Michigan, early French on, 6. + + Lancaster, Pa., massacre of Canestogas, 104, 105; + treaty of, 195. + + Land claims, Loyal Co., 49, 58; + Lord Fairfax, 50, 51; + Borden manor, 50-53; + Ohio Co., 64, 65, 67, 74, 77, 147; + Pittsylvania, 145; + Virginia military warrants, 145; + Transylvania Co., 191-196; + Connolly, 145, 146; + early Kentucky jobbers, 196, 197; + "tomahawk rights," 126; + Indian attitude toward, 140, 141; + commissioners killed by Indians, 311; + post-Revolutionary military warrants, 365, 366; + Ohio Co. of Associates, 389, 390; + Scioto Co., 60; + Miami purchase, 390-392. + + Lane, Lalph, attempts western exploration, 64. + + Langlade, Charles, at Braddock's defeat, 68. + + L'Anguille, Miami village, 407. + + La Salle, Chevalier, explorations of, 6, 7; + at falls of Ohio, 64. + + Lanson run, 421. + + Laurel hills, 126; + explored by Walden, 60; + by Cresap, 77; + by Boone, 192. + + Lawless, Henry, explores Kentucky, 81. + + Leading creek, 419; + forays on, 311, 428. + + Lederer, John, on Blue ridge, 64. + + Lee. Arthur, treaty commissioner, 366, 388. + + Lee county, Va., census (1830), 56. + + Leet, Maj., on Sandusky campaign, 330. + + Leffler, George, early settler, 125; + defends Rice's fort, 362. + + Leffler, Jacob, Jr., defends Rice's fort, 362. + + Legget, George, lost in Indian foray, 399. + + Le Moyne, Father, discovers Alleghany, 64. + + Lewis, ----, escapes from Indians, 422. + + Lewis, Andrew, 49, 50; + explores Greenbrier, 57, 58; + with Braddock, 66; + in Forbes's campaign, 68-73; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81-83, 86; + in Dunmore's war, 151, 164-168, 170, 174-176, 178-183, 190; + _Journal_, 81, 82. + + Lewis, Charles, with Braddock, 66; + in Pontiac's war, 97; + in Dunmore's war, 151, 159, 166-168; + death, 168-171; + _Journal_, 69. + + Lewis county, W. Va., census (1830), 56, 63. + + Lewis, John (1), father of Andrew, 53, 62; + explores Greenbrier, 57, 58; + with Braddock, 66; + settles Augusta, 66; + sketch, 49, 50. + + Lewis, John (2), scalped by Indians, 102. + + Lewis, John, Jr., with Braddock, 66. + + Lewis, Margaret, wife of John (1), 53. + + Lewis, Samuel, defends Greenbrier, 244, 245. + + Lewis, Thomas, son of John (1), 50; + with Braddock, 66. + + Lewis, William, with Braddock, 66. + + Lewisburgh, W. Va., founded, 164, 165, 244; + massacre near, 172, 173. + + Lexington, Ky., 271; + founded, 52, 274; + threatened by Bird, 296-298, 305; + during Caldwell's invasion, 349, 351. + + Licking river, Thompson's surveys, 146; + early settlements on, 274; + Boone's captivity, 265, 266; + Bird's invasion, 295, 297, 298; + in Piqua campaign, 305, 307; + in Caldwell's invasion, 348; + other Revolutionary happenings, 271, 352. + + Lichtenau, Moravian village, 314. + + Limestone creek, 348. + + Lincoln, Benjamin, peace commissioner, 412. + + Lineback, ----, _Relation_, 324. + + Linn, John, in defense of Wheeling, 356, 358. + + Linn, William, at Foreman's defeat, 229, 230. + + Linsey, Joseph, settles on Youghiogheny, 117, 118. + + Little Carpenter, a Cherokee, 192. + + Little Eagle, Mingo chief, 78, 79. + + Little Kenawha river, Bulltown massacre, 136-138; + in Dunmore's war, 165, 179; + during Revolution, 232, 284; + miscellaneous forays on, 376, 397, 400, 411, 419. + + Little Meadow creek, 166. + + Little Meadows, 77. + + Little Miami river, Shawnees on, 271; + Boone on, 266; + during Revolution, 273; + Symmes's land-grant on, 390-392; + in Harmar's campaign, 393; + in St. Clair's campaign, 400-405. + + Little Saluda river, Holston on, 59. + + Little Sewell mountain, origin of name, 57. + + Lochaber, treaty of, 195. + + Lockard, Patrick, with Braddock, 66. + + Lockport, O., 314. + + Lockridge, ----, at Point Pleasant, 175. + + Locust Grove, Ky., 254. + + Logan, Ann, adventure with Indians, 203. + + Logan, Benjamin, builds Logan's station, 197; + in seige thereof, 200, 202-207; + in Bowman's campaign, 271-273; + in Piqua campaign, 306; + at Blue Licks, 351-354; + in Shawnee campaign, 355; + in Miami campaign, 386-388; + sketch, 204. + + Logan county, O., 153. + + Logan county, W. Va., census (1830), 56. + + Logan, Mingo chief, massacre of family, 125, 134, 138, 142, 148-150, 184; + attacks whites, 155-158; + speech of, 184. + + Logan's station, Ky., founded, 197; + represented in Transylvania legislature, 193; + attacked by Indians, 200, 202-208. + + Logstown, old trading post, 413; + Dyer's captivity, 87; + treaty at, 195. + + Long, ----, assists Mrs. Cunningham, 372. + + "Long Knives," origin of term, 79, 80; + use of, 183, 186, 207, 406. + + Looney's creek, 89; + Pringle settlement on, 118. + + Losantiville, origin of name, 391, 392. + _See_ Cincinnati. + + Loss creek, 218. + + Lost creek, foray on, 383. + + Louisa Company, settles Kentucky, 191. + + Louisiana, founded, 7; + French in, 64; + Spanish in, 130. + + Louisville, 271, 357; + Iroquois defeat Shawnees, 194, 195; + La Salle at, 64; + Findlay at, 143; + Boone at, 152; + surveyed by Bullitt, 145; + founded by Clark, 146, 253, 254; + threatened by Bird, 294; + in Clark's Wabash expedition, 386; + _Literary News-Letter_, 193. + + Love, Philip, in Dunmore's war, 170. + + Lowdermilk, Will H., _History of Cumberland_, 77. + + Lowther, Jonathan, killed by Indians, 241. + + Lowther, Robert, early settler, 127. + + Lowther, William, militia officer, 127, 128; + chases Indians, 312, 313, 376, 377. + + Loyal Company, land grant on Greenbrier, 49, 58. + + Loyal Hanna river, in Forbes's campaign, 73; + foray on, 108. + + Ludlow, Israel, partner of Denman, 391. + + Luttsell, John, of Transylvania Co., 191, 193. + + Lynn, Jane, marries Hugh Paul and David Stuart, 53, 54. + + Lynn, Margaret, wife of John Lewis, 49. + + Lytle, William, on Mad-river campaign, 387, 388. + + McBride, Capt., killed at Blue Licks, 353. + + McClannahan, Robert, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + McClelland, John, on Sandusky campaign, 328, 336. + + McClelland's station, Ky., attacked by Indians, 200. + + McClure, Mrs., captured by Indians, 385. + + McCollum, John, in New-river foray, 99. + + McCulloch, William, in Dunmore's war, 180. + + McCullough family, early settlers, 125. + + McCullough, Maj., at seige of Wheeling, 228. + + McCullough, Miss, at seige of Wheeling, 356. + + McDonald, Angus, Wapatomica expedition, 138, 153-155, 164, 165; + in Dunmore's war, 220. + + McDowell, Ephraim, early settler, 52. + + McDowell, James, 52. + + McDowell, John, early settler, 53; + killed by Indians, 49, 51, 52, 66. + + McDowell, Thomas, killed by Indians, 196. + + McFeeters, Jeremiah, killed by Indians, 196. + + McGary, Maj., of St. Asaph's, 205; + at Blue Licks, 352; + in Mad-river campaign, 388. + + McGary, Mrs., settles in Kentucky, 197. + + McGuire, Maj., wounds an Indian, 381. + + McIntire, John, killed by Indians, 397, 398. + + McIntosh, Lachlan, commandant at Pittsburgh, 210, 237, 300; + expedition against Sandusky, 252, 255, 256, 261, 264, 265. + + McIver, Hugh, killed by Indians, 292. + + Mack, John, family massacred by Indians, 382. + + McKee, Alexander, in Dunmore's war, 189; + during Revolution, 254, 295, 347; + ransoms Mrs. Cunningham, 372; + encourages forays, 388; + property destroyed by Wayne, 426. + + McKee, Capt., commandant at Ft. Randolph, 241-243. + + McKee, William, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + McKenley's run, 410. + + Mackey, John, early settler, 49, 50, 66. + + Mackinaw, in Tecumseh's conspiracy, 36; + Chippewa villages near, 46. + + McKinley, John, killed by Indians, 333. + + McKnight, Charles, _Our Western Border_, 373. + + McLain, John, killed by Indians, 287. + + McMahon, Maj., killed by Indians, 423. + + McMahon's creek, 162. + + McMechen, James, a Wheeling settler, 222, 228, 230. + + McMurtry, Capt., killed by Indians, 395. + + McNutt, John, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 85, 86; + in Revolution, 86; + _Journal_, 86. + + McWhorter, Henry, early settler, 287, 288, 410. + + McWhorter, J. M., 288. + + McWhorter, L. V., cited, 119, 137, 278, 287, 340, 368-371, 376, 377, + 409-411, 421. + + McWhorter, Mansfield, 410. + + Mad river, 124; + Logan's campaign to, 386-388. + + Mahoning creek, 210. + + Manear, John, killed by Indians, 311. + + Mann's lick, 152. + + Marietta, O., the Scioto purchase, 60; + settled by Ohio Co., 389, 390; + cattle supply attacked, 399, 400. + + Marion county, W. Va., 279. + + Marks, Lieut., on Wayne's campaign, 424. + + Marquette, Father James, discovers Mississippi, 5, 6. + + Marshall, James, militia officer, 327, 328. + + Martin, ----, settles on Greenbrier, 57. + + Martin, ----, in seige of St. Asaph's, 204. + + Martin, Gov., opposes Henderson's purchase, 192, 193. + + Martin, Jesse, 123. + + Martin, William, 123. + + Martin's station, Ky., sacked by Bird, 296, 298; + defended, 350. + + Martinsville, Va., 60. + + Maryland, emigrants from, 125. + + Mason county, W. Va., census (1830), 56. + + Mason, Samuel, at seige of Wheeling, 221-224, 228. + + Massachusetts, relinquishes Western land claim, 389. + + Massawomee Indians, in West Virginia, 44. + + Matthew, John, early settler, 52. + + Matthews, George, attacked by Indians, 90, 91; + in Dunmore's war, 169, 170, 174. + + Matthews, John, with Braddock, 66. + + Matthews, Maj., 52. + + Maumee Indians, 374. + + Maumee river, Mrs. Cunningham on, 372; + in Harmar's campaign, 393; + in St. Clair's campaign, 401; + peace commissioners sent to, 412; + in Wayne's campaign, 424-426. + + Maury, Thomas, killed by Indians, 91. + + Maxwell, Audley, attacked by Indians, 90, 91. + + Maxwell, William, attacked by Indians, 90, 91. + + May, John, 385. + + Maysville, Ky., 348. + + Meadow river, 242. + + Merrill, John, wounded by Indians, 405, 406. + + Merrill, Mrs. John, adventure with Indians, 406. + + Myers, R. C. V., _Life of Wetzel_, 161. + + Miami Indians, early strength of, 46; + Renick captivity, 91; + operate against Clark, 252; + in Harmar's campaign, 393-395; + in St. Clair's campaign, 400-405: + raided by Scott, 407, 408. + + Miami river, Indians on, 46; + in Renick captivity, 91; + in Clark's campaign, 254; + during Revolution, 295, 299, 355; + arrival of peace news, 365; + military land-claims on, 366; + Logan's campaign on, 386; + treaty of Ft. Finney, 388; + Symmes's land-grant on, 390, 392; + in Harmar's campaign, 393-395; + in St. Clair's campaign, 400-405. + + Michael, Lieut., on Wayne's campaign, 424. + + Michillimackinac, 255. + _See_ Mackinaw. + + Middle Island creek, foray on, 381, 398. + + Miller, Jacob, killed by Indians (Delaware river), 102. + + Miller, Jacob, killed by Indians (Ft. Coburn), 249. + + Miller, Jacob, defends Ft. Rice, 361, 362. + + Mills, Thomas, killed by Indians, 338, 339. + + Minear, John, early settler, 126. + + Mingo Bottom, Indian village at, 78; + in Moravian expedition, 320; + in Crawford's campaign, 328, 329. + + Mingo Indians, on Upper Ohio, 45; + Decker's-creek massacre, 77-79; + New-river foray, 96-99; + claim Kentucky, 142; + massacre of Logan's family, 134, 138, 142, 148-150; + Logan's forays, 155-158; + Dunmore's war generally, 172, 179, 184, 185, 253; + during Revolution, 219, 262, 308, 336, 347. + + Mingo Junction, O. + _See_ Mingo Bottom. + + Missions among Kentucky and Tennessee Indians, 106. + _See_ Catholics and Moravians. + + Missasago Indians, in St. Clair's campaign, 404. + + Mississippi river, 255; + territorial claims in basin of, 5; + French on, 5-7, 63; + Spanish on, 7, 8, 130, 254; + Salling on, 49; + Holston on, 59; + Chickasaws on, 195; + in Tecumseh's conspiracy, 36; + Cornstalk's knowledge of, 211. + + Mitchell, John, 122. + + Moffett, Capt., ambuscaded, 97. + + Mohican Indians, in King Philip's war, 32, 33. + + Moluntha, Shawnee chief, 268. + + Monday, ----, killed by Indians, 293. + + Monongahela river, 73-75; + early Indians on, 45, 47; + French on, 65; + Braddock's defeat, 67-69, 72; + Grant's defeat, 71; + Gist's settlement, 74; + Pringle settlement, 117, 118, 122; + other early settlements, 77, 117. 123, 125, 190; + in Dunmore's war, 135, 141, 146, 150, 151, 161; + during Revolution, 221, 222, 237, 271, 309; + militia from, 320; + forays on, 381, 414, 419. + + Monongalia county, W.Va., census (1830), 56, 63; + during Revolution, 311; + forays in, 344, 374, 398, 399. + + Monroe county, W. Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Montgomery, Col., companion of Clark, 254. + + Montgomery county, Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Montgomery, John, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Monteur, ----, family massacred, 318. + + Monticello, Va., 253. + + Montour, John, Delaware chief, 179. + + Mooney, James, adventure with Indians, 168; + companion of Boone, 143. + + Moore, ----, attacked by Indians, 385. + + Moore, Andrew, early settler, 52; + in Dunmore's war, 174. + + Moore, James, Sr., killed by Indians, 373. + + Moore, James, Jr., captured by Indians, 374. + + Moore, Jane, burned by Indians, 374. + + Moore, Mrs. John, burned by Indians, 373, 374. + + Moore, Lieut., killed by Indians, 241. + + Moore, Mary, captured by Indians, 374. + + Moorefield, W. Va., founded, 124. + + Moorehead, ----, Youghiogheny settler, 114. + + Moravians, missionaries and Indians, 36, 412; + give information to Hand, 219; + visited by Brodhead, 301, 302; + villages sacked by whites, 313-327, 340; + historical sketch, 314. + + Morgan county, W. Va., census (1830), 56. + + Morgan, Daniel, 276. + + Morgan, David, early settler, 123; + adventure with Indians, 276-279. + + Morgan, George, Indian agent, 219, 224. + + Morgan, Greenwood S., 279. + + Morgan, Levi, adventures with Indians, 375, 376, 417, 418. + + Morgan, Sarah and Stephen, adventure with Indians, 276-279. + + Morgan, William, early settler, 126; + escapes from Indians, 240. + + Morgantown, Pa., 75; + founded, 123; + foray near, 248, 249. + + Morlin, Thomas, early peddler, 47, 48. + + Morrow, William, in Dunmore's war, 169, 171. + + Mound-building, by early Indians, 39-43. + + Moundsville, W. Va., "big mound" at, 40; + settled, 125, 230. + + Mount Braddock. Pa., settled, 123. + + Muddy creek, 123; + first settled, 58; + Clendennin massacre, 93-95; + miscellaneous forays on, 159, 161, 172, 173, 293, 345. + + Mulhollin, Polly. _See_ Mary Greenlee. + + Munsee Indians, on Susquehanna, 46; + raided by Brodhead, 301; + during Revolution, 347. + + Munseka, Shawnee chief, 266. + + Murphey, John, killed by Indians, 238. + + Murphy, Samuel, 183. + + Muscle shoals, 59. + + Muskingum river, early Indians on, 46; + Gist on, 79; + Bouquet's expedition, 108; + Indian atrocities on, 150, 396; + Wapatomica campaign, 153-155; + Moravian villages on, 219; + during Revolution, 300-305, 314, 320, 328; + land cession by Indians, 366; + Ohio Co.'s grant, 389; + Waterford founded, 392. + + Nain Indians, threatened by Paxtons, 105. + + Nanny's run, 127. + + Natchez, Holston at, 59. + + Narragansett Indians, war with Puritans, 31-33. + + Narvaez, Pamphilio de, in Florida, 7. + + Nashville, Tenn., 115. + + Neal, Henry, killed by Indians, 411, 412. + + Neal, James, slave stolen from, 400. + + Neely, Alexander, companion of Boone, 143, 144. + + Nelson, ----, early settler, 126. + + Nelson county, Va., foray in, 405, 406. + + Nelsonville, O., 183. + + Nemacolin, Delaware Indian, 77. + + Nemacolin's path. _See_ Braddock's road + + Nequetank Indians, threatened by Paxtons, 105. + + Newcomerstown, O., 314. + + New Englanders, on Greenbrier, 57. + + New France. _See_ French. + + New Inverness, Ga., founded, 237. + + New Martinsville, O., 417. + + New Orleans, founded, 7; + Spanish at, 130. + + New Philadelphia, O., 261, 314. + + Newport, Christopher, attempts western exploration, 64. + + New river, first settlements on, 59; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 82; + Delaware and Mingo foray, 96-99. + _See_ Great Kanawha. + + New Schoenbrunn, Moravian village, 314, 325, 326. + + New York, Delawares in. 136; + relinquishes Western land claim, 389. + + Nicholas county, W. Va., 96; + census (1830), 56. + + Nicholson, ----, interpreter, 184. + + Nicholson, Thomas, in Dunmore's campaign, 153. + + North Bend, O., founded, 392. + + North Branch, 63. + + North Carolina, Cherokees in, 46; + Boone in, 143, 144, 266; + Henderson family in, 191-193; + emigration from, 348, 384. + + North river, early settlement on, 52. + + Northwest Territory, early tribes in, 45; + cession of land claims in, 131; + ordinance of 1787, 389; + St. Clair's arrival, 391, 392; + first settlements in, 392, 393. + + Norton, Thomas, _Journal_ of Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 82. + + Nutter, John, early settler, 127. + + O'Brien, Adam, 414. + + Ochiltree, Alexander, killed by Indians, 245. + + Oghkwaga, Delaware village, 136. + + Ogle, Joseph, at seige of Wheeling, 221-224, 228; + in Foreman's defeat, 230. + + Oglethorpe, James, attitude toward slavery, 10. + + Ohio (state), Indian mounds in, 41, 42; + first settlements in, 392, 393. + + Ohio Company, relations with French, 45; + open Ohio valley to settlement, 64, 65, 67, 74, 77, 147. + + Ohio Company of Associates, settles Marietta, 389, 390. + + Ohio county. W. Va., census (1830), 55, 56, 63; + during Revolution, 311. + + Ohio river, 36, 40, 55, 78, 115, 117, 121, 123, 125; + early Indians on, 45-47; + Salling on, 49; + Holston on, 59; + as a war trail, 75; + first English occupation, 63, 64; + French and English rivalry for, 64-74, 95; + Decker captivity, 78, 79; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 83-85; + Renick captivity, 91; + Hannah Dennis's escape, 92, 93; + character of early settlers on, 130, 131; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 138, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151-153, 156, 162-165, + 167-175, 179, 183; + in Henderson's purchase, 192, 193; + Shawnees on, 194, 195, 209, 211, 216, 219; + during Revolution, 219, 220, 227, 230, 254, 257, 264, 266, 267, 271, + 273, 285, 286, 294, 295, 297-300, 305, 320, 335, 347, 355, 360, 363, + 384, 389, 390, 399, 411, 415, 417; + after Revolution, 367, 372, 374, 380, 381, 383; + as a race boundary, 412. + + Old Town creek, 168, 170, 172; + Shawnee village at, 85. + + Oneco, chief of Mohicans, 32. + + Orange county, Va., 55; + early settlement of, 55, 66. + + Ordinance of 1787, 389. + + Orme, Robert, with Braddock, 68. + + Osage Indians, stature of, 29. + + Ottawa Indians, early strength of, 46: + during Revolution, 347; + at Ft. McIntosh treaty, 366, 388. + + Ottawa river, early French on, 5. + + Ouisconsin river. _See_ Wisconsin river. + + Owens, James, killed by Indians, 247. + + Owens, John, Sr., killed by Indians, 290. + + Owens, John, Jr., attacked by Indians, 290, 343, 344. + + Owens, Owen, attacked by Indians, 290. + + Ox, Susan, captured by Indians, 161. + + Pack, ----, trapper, 96. + + Paint creek, Boone's expedition to, 267, 268; + Shawnees on, 374; + Waggoner on, 410. + + Parsons, James, early settler, 126. + + Parsons, Samuel H., treaty commissioner, 388. + + Patterson, Robert, founds Lexington, Ky., 274; + partner of Denman, 391; + at battle of Blue Licks, 353. + + Patton, Elizabeth, marries John Preston, 51. + + Patton, James, early settler of Catawba, 51, 52, 68. + + Patton, John W., 127. + + Pattonsburgh, Va., 51. + + Paul, Audley, son of Hugh, 53; + at Ft. Redstone, 77, 78; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 83, 85; + in James-river foray, 91; + in New-river foray, 97-99; + in Dunmore's war, 169. + + Paul, Hugh, 53. + + Paul, Polly, marries Gov. Matthews, 53. + + Pauling, Henry, militia officer, 207. + + Paull, James, at Redstone, 80. + + Paxton boys, kill Canestoga Indians, 104, 105. + + Paynter, Elias, killed by Indians, 341. + + Pekillon, Delaware chief, 303, 304. + + Pendleton county, W. Va., census (1830), 56; + Seybert massacre, 87-89. + + Penn, William, 124. + + Pennsylvania, boundary dispute with Virginia, 74; + Western settlements in, 74, 75, 123-125, 143; + fur trade of, 101; + Paxton boys, 104, 105; + "Black-boys" uprising, 109-116; + Findlay's adventures, 143; + _Records_, 58; + _Archives_, 323. + + Pentecost, Dorsey, 323. + + Peoria Indians, claim Kentucky, 142. + + Perry, Thomas, killed by Indians, 89. + + Perrysburgh, O., 372. + + Peter, Captain, Indian chief, 135. + + Petro, Leonard, captured by Indians, 232, 233. + + Peyton, John L., _History of Augusta county_, 53, 246. + + Philadelphia, 105, 109, 124. + + Philip, chief of Narragansetts, 31, 32. + + Phillips, Capt., ambuscaded, 97. + + Phoebe's Falls, W. Va., settled, 52. + + Pickaway plains, Indian treaty at, 183-186. + + Pickering, Timothy, peace commissioner, 412. + + Pike run, Indian foray on, 283. + + Pindall, Rachel, chased by Indians, 344. + + Pindall, Thomas, attacked by Indians, 344. + + Piomingo, Chickasaw chief, 405. + + Pipe, Delaware chief, 333. + + Pipe, Wyandot chief, 316. + + Pipe creek, massacre of Indians at, 134, 142, 148. + + Piqua, Shawnee village, 273; + Clark attacks, 305-309. + + Pitman, ----, trapper, 96. + + Pittsburg, 117, 120; + French fort at, 45; + treaties at, 66; + Braddock's defeat, 68, 69, 106; + in Forbes's campaign, 69-73, 77, 79, 80; + Connolly at, 74; Dyer's escape, 87; + in Bouquet's expedition, 107-109, 173; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 141, 142, 145, 148, 150, 165, 167, 177-179, + 181, 182; + "Blackboys" uprising, 109; + asked to aid Kentucky, 205; + during Revolution, 220, 221, 224, 230, 254, 256, 262, 283, 318, + 321-323, 335, 357, 362; + arrival of peace news, 365; + Hand's administration, 210, 211, 214, 216, 219; + McIntosh's administration, 210, 237; + warned by Moravians, 315, 317; + Brodhead's expedition, 300, 301, 303, 304, 316. + + Pittsylvania, proposed colony of, 145. + + Pleasant creek, 118. + + Pocahontas county, W. Va., census (1830), 56. + + Poe, Adam, adventure with Indians, 362-364. + + Poe, Andrew, adventure with Indians, 363, 364. + + Point Pleasant, W. Va., battle of, 59, 60, 66, 143, 152, 165-178, 180, + 182, 185-187, 189, 190, 208; + Ft. Randolph at, 173, 291; + surrender of Cornstalk at, 173, 209, 211-216; + during Revolution, 237, 241-243. + + Pointer, Dick, fights Indians, 243. + + Pollens, Henry, fur trader, 109. + + Pompey (negro), friend of Indians, 268. + + Pontiac, uprising of, 73, 141, 172. + + Poole, William F., on Clark's campaign, 254. + + Port Washington, O., 301, 314. + + Portsmouth, O., old Shawnee town at, 92. + + Post, Charles F., Moravian missionary, 301. + + Potomac river, 55; + fur trade on, 77; + Seybert massacre, 87-89. + + Pottawattomie Indians, early strength of, 46; + during Revolution, 347. + + Powell, Richard, sons captured by Indians, 280, 281. + + Powell's valley, 60; + Walden in, 60; + attack on Boones, 144, 145; + Henderson's grant, 193. + + Power, Major, shot at, 366. + + Powers, John, early settler, 126. + + Powers, William, 122. + + Presbyterians, 50, 54, 57, 168. + + Presque Isle, 65. + + Preston county, W. Va., 280; + census (1830), 56, 63. + + Preston, James Patton, governor of Virginia, 51. + + Preston, John, marries Elizabeth Patton, 51. + + Preston, William, militia officer, 51; + settles on Holston, 59; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81, 83; + surveyor, 145, 146; + in Dunmore's war, 152, 165; + _Journal_, 82; + _Register of Indian Depredations_, 57, 75, 87, 90. + + Price, Maj., on Wayne's campaign, 425. + + Price's settlement, Ky., 200. + + Pricket, ----, killed by Indians, 245. + + Pricket, Josiah, killed by Indians, 161. + + Pricket's creek, 151. + + Prince William county, Va., 71. + + Pringle, Charity, 119. + + Pringle, John and Samuel, adventures of, 117-122. + + Prior, John, killed by Indians, 292. + + Pritchet, John, killed by Indians, 243. + + Province, John, early settler, 123. + + Province, Mrs., buries Bald Eagle, 136. + + Pryor, John, scouting adventure, 242, 243. + + Purgatory creek, 89, 91. + + Purgatory mountain, 89. + + Putnam, Rufus, heads Marietta colonists, 389, 390; + peace commissioner, 412. + + Quakers, 124, 240. + + Quebec, founded by Champlain, 4, 5. + + Raccoon creek, 299. + + Radcliff, Daniel, killed by Indians, 367. + + Radcliff, John, early settler, 121, 122. + + Radcliff, Stephen, attacked by Indians, 311. + + Radcliff, William, early settler, 121, 122. + + Ralston, James, killed by Indians, 287. + + Ranck, Geo. W., 274. + + Randolph, Beverly, peace commissioner, 412. + + Randolph county, W. Va., census (1830), 56, 63; + settled, 74. + + Ray, James, adventures with Indians, 201. + + Ray, William, killed by Indians, 201. + + Read, John, finds Davisson, 283. + + Red Hawk, Shawnee warrior, 209. + + Red river, De Soto on, 8. + + Redhawk, Delaware chief, 172. + + Redstone (Brownsville, Pa.), first settled 77-80, 123, 216; + De Villiers at, 74; + Decker massacre, 77, 78; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 141, 150; + tory trials, 231, 232: + militia from, 271; + emigrants from, 390, 392; + road to Marietta, 399. + + Reece, ----, attacked by Indians, 239. + + Reece, Miss, wounded by Indian, 239. + + Renick family, attacked by Indians, 89-91. + + Reynolds, ----, at seige of Bryant's station, 350, 351, 353, 354. + + Rice, Daniel, attacked by Indians, 361. + + Rich mountain, 126. + + Richards, Arnold and Paul, killed by Indians, 345. + + Richards, Conrad, attacked by Indians, 251, 252. + + Richmond, Va., 62. + + Riffle, ----, early settler, 126. + + Roanoke county, Va., 61; Salling in, 49. + + Roanoke river, 70; + explored, 48; + in New-river foray, 96, 99; + settlements raided by Shawnees, 61, 81, 82. + + Robertson, Dr., on origin of Indians, 25. + + Robertson family, killed by Indians, 158. + + Robertson, James, at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Robinson, ----, explorer, 124; + killed by Indians, 161. + + Robinson, Mrs. Edward, discovers Hull's body, 383. + + Robinson, Maj., searches for Mrs. Cunningham, 370. + + Robinson, William, captured by Indians, 156-158. + + Rockbridge county, Va., Salling in, 48; + district of Augusta, 49; + first settled, 53; + census (1830), 56; + militia of, 66, 174, 211, 212; + massacre in, 172. + + Rockcastle river, Boone on, 143, 192. + + Rockford, Pa., 210. + + Rockingham county, Va., census (1830), 56, 66. + + Rogers, John, on Clark's campaign, 258, 259. + + Rogers, Joseph, killed by Indians, 308. + + Roney, Alexander, killed by Indians, 311, 312. + + Roney, Mrs. Alexander, captured by Indians, 311, 312. + + Roosevelt, Theodore, _Winning of the West_, 80, 130, 183, 184, 193, + 261, 386. + + Rooting creek, 217. + + Ross, Tavenor, renegade, 168. + + Rowell, Daniel, adventure with Indians, 411. + + Royall, Ann, _Sketches_, 57, 95. + + Ruddell, Isaac, arrival in Kentucky, 207; + defeated by Bird, 295-297, 350. + + Rule, Henry, early settler, 122. + + Runner, Elijah, murders Bald Eagle, 135. + + Runyan, John, daughter killed by Indians, 419. + + Rush run, foray on, 380, 381. + + Russell county, Va., census (1830), 56. + + Russell, William, treaty commissioner, 66; + in Dunmore's war, 152, 167, 170, 176. + + Ryan, John, kills Indians, 135. + + Ryswick, treaty of, 195. + + St. Asaph's. _See_ Logan's station. + + St. Clair, Arthur, arrives at Ft. Washington, 391, 392; + names Cincinnati, 391, 392; + reports on Harmar's campaign, 395; + campaign against Miamis, 400-405, 407, 408, 413; + resigns command, 412. + + St. Clairsville, O., 338. + + St. Joseph river, in Harmar's campaign, 393, 395. + + St. Lawrence river, Champlain on, 5. + + St. Louis, attacked by English, 254. + + St. Mary's river, in Harmar's campaign, 393. + + Salem, Va., Salling at, 49; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 82. + + Salem, Moravian village, 301, 302, 314, 319, 322, 325, 327. + + Salisbury, N. C., 191. + + Salling, Henry, brother of John Peter, 48. + + Salling, John Peter, explorations of, 47-49: + settles Augusta, 66. + + Salt creek, 175. + + Salt licks, in Kentucky, 48, 196, 199, 265, 266; + in West Virginia, 265, 361; + in Ohio, 267. + + Salt river, foray on, 405. + + Saluda Old Town, S. C., 59. + + Sam (negro), at seige of Wheeling, 356, 357. + + Sandusky, early Indians at, 46; + in Dunmore's war, 187; + McIntosh's expedition against, 252; + Moravians at, 316, 317, 320, 327; + Crawford's campaign, 327-339; + Irvine's expedition, 355; + Cozad at, 420. + + "Sandy-creek voyage," against Shawnees, 81-86. + + Sandy island, Iroquois defeat Shawnees at, 194, 195. + + Sandy river, foray on, 373. + + Sapoonie Indians, strength of, 46. + + Sappington, John, murders Indians, 148, 149. + + Sargent, Winthrop, expedition against Ft. Du Quesne, 68. + + Savannah, Ga., 237. + + Schoolcraft, Austin, killed by Indians, 290. + + Schoolcraft, Henry A., _Indian Tribes_, 40. + + Schoolcraft, John, family massacred, 284. + + Schoolcraft, Leonard, captured by Indians, 282; + turns renegade, 377-379. + + Schoolcraft, Matthias, killed by Indians, 310. + + Schoolcraft, Michael, captured by Indians, 310. + + Schoolcraft, Simon, attacked by Indians, 288, 289; + captured by Indians, 310. + + Schoenbrunn, Moravian village, 314, 319, 328, 329. + + Scioto Company, settles Gallipolis, 60. + + Scioto river, Shawnees on, 46; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 82, 84; + Renick captivity, 91; + Hannah Dennis on, 92; + in Pontiac's war, 172; + Clendenning captivity, 173; + in Dunmore's war, 170, 175, 180, 182, 183, 185; + during Revolution, 329; + military land-claims on, 366; + Moore captivity, 374; + in Harmar's campaign, 393. + + Scoppathus, Mingo chief, 172. + + Scotch and Scotch-Irish, on the border, 49, 54, 101, 104, 168; + in Georgia, 237; + in Pensylvania, 143; + in Virginia, 191, 334: + in West Virginia, 373. + + Scott, Andrew, at seige of Wheeling. 356. + + Scott, Capt., killed by Indians, 395. + + Scott, Charles, campaign against Miami and Wabash Indians, 406-408; + in Wayne's campaign, 426. + + Scott county, Va., census (1830), 56. + + Scott, David, daughters killed by Indians, 283. + + Scott, Jacob, murders Bald Eagle, 135. + + Scott, Molly, at seige of Wheeling, 356. + + Seekonk, Mingo village, 185. + + Seneca Indians, 194; + at Easton treaty, 58; + rob Findlay, 143. + _See_ Mingo Indians. + + Senseman, Gottlob, Moravian missionary, 314, 317. + + Severns, Ebenezer, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + Sevier, John, at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Sewell, Stephen, settles on Greenbrier, 57. + + Seybert, Capt., defeated by Indians, 87-89. + + Shabosh, killed by whites, 322, 326. + + Shakers, 106. + + Shamokin, Cayuga village, 155. + + Shane manuscripts, 221. + + Shawnee Indians, on Upper Ohio, 45; + in Ohio, 46; + attack Roanoke, 61, 81; + Sandy-creek voyage, 82-86; + Seybert massacre, 87-89; + foray on James, 89-91; + villages on Scioto, 92; + Stroud massacre, 136, 137; + Findlay among, 143; + attack Boones, 145; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 142, 166, 167, 172, 175-186, 253; + murder of Cornstalk, 209-214; + Clendenning captivity, 173; Bouquet's expedition, 173; + in Kentucky, 194, 195, 201; + raided by Clark, 123, 254; + during Revolution, 219, 236, 265-268, 271, 273, 333, 334, 336, 347, + 354, 355, 374; + raided by Logan, 386-388; + at Ft. Finney treaty, 388; + raided by Wayne, 428. + + Shawnee springs, 201. + + Shelby, Evans, settles on Holston, 59; + in Dunmore's war, 167, 168, 174. + + Shelby, Isaac, in Dunmore's war, 169, 170, 174; + at Watauga treaty, 192. + + Shenandoah county, Va., census (1830), 56; + militia of, 164. + + Shenandoah valley, 66; + explored, 47; + early settlers in, 46, 50, 190; + Borden grant, 50-53; Fairfax survey, 334; + fur trade in, 76, 120; + Mrs. Cunningham in, 373. + + Shepherd, David, early settler, 125; + militia officer, 221, 226, 228, 230; + in Brodhead's expedition, 300, 301; + at seige of Wheeling, 359; + manuscripts of, 221. + + Shepherd, Moses, 124. + + Shesheequon, Pa., Moravian village. 319. + + Shikellemus, Cayuga chief, 155. + + Shingiss, Delaware chief, 45, 190, 194, 237. + + Shinn, Benjamin, attacked by Indians, 247. + + Shinnston, W. Va., 343. + + Shiver, John, captured by Indians, 282, 283. + + Shores, Thomas, captured by Indians, 201. + + Short creek, settled on, 125. + + Silver creek, 196. + + Simcoe, John G., governor of Canada, 412. + + Simpson's creek, 156, 247, 343; + settled on, 118, 126; + foray on, 366. + + Simpson, John, adventures of, 118, 119. + + Sims, Bernard, killed by Indians, 291. + + Sims, John, attacked by Indians, 291, 383. + + Six Nations. _See_ Iroquois. + + Skegg's creek, foray on, 385. + + Skidmore, John, in Dunmore's war, 170. + + Skillern, George, in Hand's expedition, 210, 211. + + Slaughter, Col., in Dunmore's war, 167, 175; + commandant at Louisville, 291; + in Piqua campaign, 305, 307; + at Moravian massacre, 321. + + Slavery, first importation of negroes, 9, 10. + + Sleeth, Alexander and Thomas, early settlers, 121. + + Slover, John, captured by Indians, 335-338; + _Narrative_, 335. + + Small pox, feared by Indians, 291. + + Smally, James, killed by Indians, 282. + + Smith, ----, of St. Asaph's, 205. + + Smith, Ballard, 94. + + Smith, Benjamin, killed by Indians, 91. + + Smith, James, imprisoned by French, 67; + captured by Indians, 79: + chief of "Black-boys," 105, 106, 109-115; + explores Kentucky, 115. + + Smith, John, attempts western exploration, 64. + + Smith, John, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81; + militia officer, 90. + + Smith, Thomas, killed by Indians, 89, 90. + + Smith, Mrs. Thomas, imprisoned by Indians, 90. + + Smith, William H., _St. Clair Papers_, 404. + + Snake, John and Thomas, Wyandot chiefs, 316, 317. + + Snip, Wyandot chief, 316. + + Snodgrass, James, killed by Indians, 374. + + Snowy creek, massacre on, 280. + + Snyder, Jacob, killed by Indians, 102. + + Sodousky, James, on Bullitt's survey, 146. + + South Branch (or Fork) of Potomac, 75; + Dunkard massacre on, 76, 77; + Indians defeated on, 97; + Seybert massacre, 87-89; + emigrants from, 118-120, 122, 124-126; + Indians massacred on, 135. + + South Carolina, 46, 59, 160. + + Spanish, territorial claims of, 5; + colonizing efforts, 7; + capture Salling, 48, 49; + in Kentucky conspiracy, 130, 254, 258; + attack on St. Louis, 254. + + Speed, Thomas, _Wilderness Road_, 384. + + Spottswood, Gov., crosses Blue ridge, 64. + + Springfield, W. Va., 91. + + Sprout run, Borden Manor on, 51. + + Squissatego, Seneca brave, 58. + + Stalnaker, ----, settles on New, 59. + + Stalnaker, Adam, attacked by Indians, 343. + + Stalnaker, Jacob, settles on Tygart, 126; + attacked by Indians, 343. + + Stamford, Ky., 197. + + Station Camp creek, Boone on, 143. + + Staunton, Va., 91; + settlement near, 49, 50; + _Spectator_, 53. + + Steele, John, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Stephen, Adam, in Forbes's campaign, 70; + in Sandy-creek voyage, 81; + in Dunmore's war, 164. + + Steeth, John, chases Indians, 246. + + Steubenville, O., 78, 320. + + Stewart, John, killed by Indians, 234. + + Stites, ----, makes Miami purchase, 390. + + Stone Coal creek, origin of name, 121. + + Stone, Uriah, explores Kentucky, 115. + + Stoner, Michael, explores Kentucky, 152, 190. + + Stone's river, origin of name, 115. + + Stout, Benjamin, 126. + + Strait, Jacob, killed by Indians, 375. + + Stroud, Adam, killed by Indians, 136-138. + + Stuart, Betsy, marries Woods, 54. + + Stuart, Charles A., 53. + + Stuart, David, marries Jane Lynn, 53. + + Stuart, James, killed by Indians, 280. + + Stuart, John, pioneer on Greenbrier, 53, 54, 57-59; + companion of Boone, 143, 144; + in Dunmore's war, 159-161, 169, 170, 174; + at murder of Cornstalk, 211, 212; + defends Greenbrier, 243-245; + _Memoir of Indian Wars_, 180. + + Sullivan, John, campaign against New York Indians, 210. + + Susquehanna river, 136; + Munsees on, 46; + forays on, 101-104. + + Swan, John, early settler, 123, 125, 149; + militia officer, 226-228; + defends Wheeling, 360. + + Swope, ----, trapper, 96. + + Sycamore shoals, treaty at, 192. + + Symmes, John Cleves, secures Miami + land-grant, 390-392. + + Tanner, Edward, captured by Indians, 342. + + Tate, ----, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Tate's creek, 196. + + Tawas. _See_ Ottawas. + + Taylor, Capt., killed by Indians, 423. + + Taylor, Hugh Paul, _Sketches_, 51, 53, 85. + + Tazewell county, Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Tazewell Court House, Va., raided by Indians, 373, 374. + + Tecumseh, conspiracy of, 35, 36; + in Waggoner massacre, 409-411. + + Tegard, Abraham, early settler, 123. + + Telford, Hugh, early settler, 52. + + Tennessee, 75; + stone graves in, 43; + Salling in, 48, 49; + early missions in, 106; + Boone in, 144, 145. + + Tennessee river, 253; + Salling on, 48, 49; + Holston on, 59; + explored by Smith, 115; + in Henderson's purchase, 193, 195. + + Ten Mile creek, first settlement on, 190; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + forays on, 238-240, 381. + + Terry, Cornet, killed by Indians, 423. + + Thomas, Abraham, _Sketches_, 180. + + Thomas, John, early settler, 122, 123; + killed by Indians, 309, 310, 343. + + Thompson, ----, surveys on Licking, 146. + + Thompson, Jethro, house burned by Indians, 383. + + Thompson, John, Indian go-between, 263. + + Thompson, William, assists "Blackboys." 112, 113. + + Todd, John, defends Kentucky, 200; + killed at Blue Licks, 351, 353. + + Todd, Levi, in Bowman's campaign, 271; + in Wabash campaign, 386. + + Tomlinson, Benjamin, 149; + founds Moundsville, 230. + + Tomlinson, Samuel, adventure with Indians, 222. + + Tonty, Henri de, with La Salle, 6. + + Trails, Warrior branch, 75, 399; + Nemacolin's path, 77; + Cumberland Gap, 143, 152, 192, 384; + Wilderness road, 384. + + Transylvania Company, settles Kentucky, 190-196. + + Treaties, Ryswick, 195; + Paris (1763), 7, 106, 139; + Lancaster, 195; + Easton, 58; + Ft. Stanwix, 45, 70, 195; + Lochaber, 195; + Bouquet's, 91, 108, 134, 141, 179; + Camp Charlotte, 145, 147, 173, 176-186, 195, 197; + Watauga, 153, 192, 195; + Paris (1782), 365, 384; + Au Glaize, 374, 376; + Ft. McIntosh, 97, 366, 388; + Ft. Finney, 388; + Greenville, 141, 147, 420, 430. + + Trent, William, at Redstone, 77. + + Trigg, Col., killed at Blue Licks, 353, + + Triplett, William, killed by Indians, 411, 412. + + Trueman, Maj., killed by Indians, 412. + + Tugg river, origin of name, 85. + + Turkey creek, 99. + + Turkey run, 119, 121. + + Turtle creek, scene of Braddock's defeat, 67. + + Tuscarawas river, McIntosh's expedition, 256, 261; + Moravian missions on, 219, 301, 313-317, 320, 336. + + Tuscarora Indians, legend of, 18. + + Twightee Indians, strength of, 46. + + Twitty, William, at Watauga treaty, 192; + killed by Indians, 196. + + Tygart, David, settles in Tygart's valley, 74, 75. + + Tygart's valley, first settled, 74, 126; + Pringles in, 117-122; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 284, 286, 287, 311; + miscellaneous forays in, 232-235, 341, 343, 421, 422, 428. + + Tyler county, W. Va., census (1830), 56, 63. + + Unadilla river, Delawares on, 136. + + Uniontown, Pa., 77. + + Valley of Virginia, early Indians in, 46; + Salling's exploration, 48, 49; + McDowell's fight, 52; + first settled, 61, 190; + Mrs. Cunningham in, 373. + + Valley river, 63; + Pringles on, 118, 119; + in Dunmore's war, 151; + during Revolution, 287; + forays on, 252, 311. + + Van Meter, Jacob, early settler, 123. + + Vause, ----, settles on New, 59. + + Veech, James, _Monongahela of Old_, 79, 80. + + Vernon, Maj., at Ft. Laurens, 265. + + Vigo, M., assists Clark, 258. + + Vincennes, Ind., in Clark's campaign, 253-255, 257-261, 386; + Hamtramck at, 394. + + Virginia, Indian mounds, 40; + early tribes, 44-47; + Borden manor, 50-53; + Loyal Co., 49; + Fairfax grant, 50, 51; + characteristics of early settlers, 54; + Salling's operations, 47-49; + early explorations, 64; + Ohio Co., 64, 65; + Braddock's campaign, 65-69; + Forbes's campaign, 69-73; + boundary dispute with Pennsylvania, 74, 142; + Pontiac's war, 97; + New-river foray, 96-99; + militia of, 100, 101; + border settlements, 125; + military land warrants, 145; + Wapatomica campaign, 153-155; + Dunmore's attitude toward, 179; + relinquishes western land claim, 130, 389; + _Dinwiddie Papers_, 86; + _Calendar of State Papers_, 86. + + Wabash Indians, raided by Hamtramck, 394; + by Scott, 407, 408; + agree to peace, 412. + + Wabash river, in Clark's campaigns, 257-259, 385, 386; + arrival of peace news, 365. + + Wachatomakah, Indian village, 336. + + Waggoner, John, family massacred by Indians, 408-411. + + Waggoner, Peter, captured by Indians, 409-411. + + Walden's creek, origin of name, 60. + + Walden, Elisha, killed by Indians, 59, 60. + + Walholling river, 314, 317. + + Walker, Felix, at Watauga treaty, 192; + wounded by Indians, 196. + + Walker, Thomas, explores Kentucky, 81; + _Journal_, 59. + + Walker, William, educated Wyandot, 96, 97. + + Wallace, ----, killed by Indians, 319. + + Walpole, ----, interest in Pittsylvania, 145. + + Wapatomica, McDonald's expedition against, 138, 153-155; + Indian council at, 347. + + Ward, Mrs., escapes from Indians, 422. + + Warrior Branch, Indian trail, 75. + + Wars, French and Indian, 65-74, 77-80, 100-106, 143, 190, 334, 387; + McDowell's fight, 66; + Sandy-creek voyage, 81-86; + Bouquet's campaign, 106-109; + Braddock's campaign, 143, 145, 147, 169; + Forbes's campaign, 145, 150, 190; + Pontiac's war, 73, 97, 141, 172; + Dunmore's war, 66, 78, 127, 134-190, 209, 253, 334; + Revolution, 66, 78, 86, 124, 145, 146, 177, 178, 182, 187-365, 382, 387; + Hand's campaign. 209-211; + Harmar's, 384, 393-395, 400, 408; + St. Clair's, 400-405, 407, 408, 413; + Wayne's, 412-428. + + Warwick, ----, early settler, 126. + + Warwick, Jacob, attacked by Indians, 286, 287. + + Warwick, William, attacked by Indians, 287. + + Washburn, Benjamin, attacked by Indians, 247. + + Washburn, Charles, killed by Indians, 345. + + Washburn, Isaac, killed by Indians, 241. + + Washburn, James, tortured by Indians, 250, 251. + + Washburn, Stephen, killed by Indians, 250. + + Washington county, Ky., 106, 190. + + Washington county. Pa., settled, 125; + militia of, 320, 327, 328. + + Washington county, Va., census (1830), 56; + militia of, 165, 174, 268; + threatened by Bird, 299. + + Washington, George, in French and Indian war, 45, 65, 67, 69, 71, 74, 77, + 100, 101, 145, 334; + friendship for Andrew Lewis, 70; + advises Sandy-creek voyage, 81; + on Seybert massacre, 87; + in Revolutionary war, 106; + friend of Rufus Putman, 389; + _Tour to the Ohio_, 73. + + Watauga river, treaty with Indians on, 153, 192. + + Waterford. O., founded, 393. + + Wayne, Anthony, general of army, 412; + campaign against Western Indians, 147, 412-428. + + Webb, Jonas, early settler, 126. + + Wells, Bazaleel, at Point Pleasant, 174. + + Wells, Maj., on Shawnee campaign, 355. + + Wellsburg, W. Va., 380. + + Welsh, on the border, 49. + + West, Alexander, 378; + chases Indians, 246, 311; + adventure with Indians, 287-290; + on Lowther's expedition, 376, 377; + sketch, 288. + + West Augusta, district of, 63; first justice of peace, 127. + + West, Charles, chases Indians, 246. + + West, Edmund, Sr., attacked by Indians, 288; + killed by Indians, 377-379. + + West, Edmund, Jr., family attacked by Indians, 378, 379. + + West Fork river, origin of name, 122; + first settlements on, 126, 127; + in Dunmore's war, 151, 156; + during Revolution, 240, 311, 312, 343; + miscellaneous forays on, 217, 218, 250, 251, 366, 367, 376, 400, 410, + 411, 414, 419, 422, 428. + + West Newton, Pa., departure of Marietta pilgrims, 389. + + West Virginia, character of early Indians in, 36; + mounds in, 40; + early tribes in, 44-47; + census (1830), 63; + first settlements in (prior to 1774), 117-133. + + Westfall, ----, early settler, 126. + + Westfall, O., 176. + + Westmoreland county, Pa., 115. + + Westmoreland county, Va., militia of, 210, 327, 328; + forays in, 301. + + Wetzel county, W. Va., 279. + + Wetzel, George, Indian fighter, 161. + + Wetzel, Jacob, adventure with Indians, 161-163. + + Wetzel, John, Indian fighter, 125, 161. + + Wetzel, Lewis, Indian fighter, 125, 161-163, 338, 339; + sketch, 161. + + Wetzel, Martin, Indian fighter, 161. + + Wheat, Betsy, at seige of Wheeling, 225. + + Wheeling, W. Va., 40; + founded, 124, 125; + in Dunmore's war, 134, 146, 148, 149, 152-154, 163, 165, 179; + first seige of, 219-228, 235; + second seige, 224, 356-360; + Foreman's defeat, 228-230; + during Revolution, 237, 299, 301, 319, 336, 338, 362; + McKee's foray, 316, 317. + + Wheeling creek, in Dunmore's war, 151, 161. + + White Eyes, Delaware chief, 150, 175, 176, 179, 180, 182, 183, 221, 302. + + White, John, killed by Indians, 284. + + White, William, murders Indians, 136, 137; + captured by Indians, 232, 233; + killed by Indians, 340. + + Whiteman, ----, early settler, 126. + + Whitley, Paul, early settler, 52; + with Braddock, 66. + + Whitley, William, arrival in Kentucky, 197; + scout, 271; + attacks Indians, 385, 386; + _Narrative_, 203, 205. + + Whitley, Mrs. William, adventure with Indians, 203. + + Whittlesey, Charles, _Fugitive Essays_, 183. + + Wilkinson, James, attacks Miamis, 407; + builds Ft. Recovery, 419. + + Williams and Mary college, 145. + + Williams, Isaac, explorer, 124. + + Williams, John, of Transylvania Co., 191. + + Williamsburg, Va., 47, 86, 87, 159, 178; + Salling at, 49; + John Lewis at, 50; + in Dunmore's war, 151, 154. + + Williamson, David, expedition against Moravians, 314-318, 320-327; + in Crawford's campaign, 327, 328, 331. + + Williamson, Lieut., at Ft. Pitt, 78. + + Williamson, Peter, captured by Indians, 101-104. + + Will's creek, Ohio Co.'s post at, 67, 74, 77. + + Wilson, ----, killed at Point Pleasant, 171. + + Wilson, Benjamin, 184, 186, 234, 235, 247, 284, 311. + + Winchester, Va., 56, 68, 71, 81, 121; + fur trade at, 47, 48; + threatened by Indians, 101; + trial of White, 136; + during Revolution, 252. + + Wingenund, Delaware chief, 333. + + Winston's Meadows, 99. + + Wisconsin, Indian mounds in, 42. + + Wisconsin Historical Society, manuscripts in library of, 49, 75, 81, 87, + 170, 193, 203, 205, 221, 259, 260; + _Collections_, 58. + + Wisconsin river, explored by French, 6. + + Wolf creek, 82, 392, 393, 396. + + Wood, Abraham, discovers Great Kanawha, 64. + + Wood county, W. Va., census (1830), 56, 63; + first sheriff of, 127. + + Wood, Nicholas, killed by Indians, 375. + + Woodfin, John, killed by Indians, 249. + + Woodford, Col., 72. + + Woods, Richard, 54. + + Woodson, Obadiah, in Sandy-creek voyage, 81. + + Wright, ----, killed by Indians, 344. + + Wyalusing, Pa., Moravian village, 319. + + Wyandot Indians, early strength of, 46; + in Kansas, 96, 97; + in Dunmore's war, 172; + at Foreman's defeat, 230; + during Revolution, 219, 262, 316, 317, 320, 327, 332, 347, 362-364; + at Ft. McIntosh treaty, 366, 388. + + Wyllys, Maj., killed by Indians, 393, 394. + + Wythe county, Va., census (1830), 55, 56. + + Yadkin river, Boone on, 143, 144, 205. + + Yellow creek, Logan massacre at, 134, 138, 148-150, 184. + + Youghiogheny river, crossed by Braddock, 67; + early settlements on, 74, 77, 113, 114, 118, 334; + Marietta pilgrims on, 389. + + Zane, Andrew, adventure with Indians, 222. + + Zane, Ebenezer, 148; + settles Wheeling, 124, 125; + defends Wheeling, 225, 228, 230, 356-360; + in Brodhead's expedition, 300. + + Zane, Elizabeth, at seige of Wheeling, 359. + + Zane, Isaac, captured by Indians, 124; + daughter wounded, 418. + + Zane, Jonathan, settles at Wheeling, 124; + in Dunmore's war, 153. + + Zane, Noah, 125, 225. + + Zane, Silas, settles at Wheeling, 124; + defends Wheeling, 356, 357. + + Zanesville, O., 153. + + Zeisberger, David, Moravian missionary, 301, 314, 315, 317. + + + + +The First American Frontier + +An Arno Press/New York Times Collection + + +Agnew, Daniel. + +A History of the Region of Pennsylvania North of the Allegheny River. +1887. + +Alden, George H. + +New Government West of the Alleghenies Before 1780. 1897. + +Barrett, Jay Amos. + +Evolution of the Ordinance of 1787. 1891. + +Billon, Frederick. + +Annals of St. Louis in its Early Days Under the French and Spanish +Dominations. 1886. + +Billon, Frederick. + +Annals of St. Louis in its Territorial Days, 1804-1821. 1888. + +Littel, William. + +Political Transactions in and Concerning Kentucky. 1926. + +Bowles, William Augustus. + +Authentic Memoirs of William Augustus Bowles. 1916. + +Bradley, A. G. + +The Fight with France for North America. 1900. + +Brannan, John, ed. + +Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the War, +1812-1815. 1823. + +Brown, John P. + +Old Frontiers. 1938. + +Brown, Samuel R. + +The Western Gazetteer. 1817. + +Cist, Charles. + +Cincinnati Miscellany of Antiquities of the West and Pioneer History. +(2 volumes in one). 1845-6. + +Claiborne, Nathaniel Herbert. + +Notes on the War in the South with Biographical Sketches of the Lives +of Montgomery, Jackson, Sevier, and Others. 1819. + +Clark, Daniel. + +Proofs of the Corruption of Gen. James Wilkinson. 1809. + +Clark, George Rogers. + +Colonel George Rogers Clark's Sketch of His Campaign in the Illinois +in 1778-9. 1869. + +Collins, Lewis. + +Historical Sketches of Kentucky. 1847. + +Cruikshank, Ernest, ed, + +Documents Relating to Invasion of Canada and the Surrender of Detroit. +1912. + +Cruikshank, Ernest, ed, + +The Documentary History of the Campaign on the Niagara Frontier, +1812-1814. (4 volumes). 1896-1909. + +Cutler, Jervis. + +A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indian Territory, +and Louisiana. 1812. + +Cutler, Julia P. + +The Life and Times of Ephraim Cutler. 1890. + +Darlington, Mary C. + +History of Col. Henry Bouquet and the Western Frontiers of Pennsylvania. +1920. + +Darlington, Mary C. + +Fort Pitt and Letters From the Frontier. 1892. + +De Schweinitz, Edmund. + +The Life and Times of David Zeisberger. 1870. + +Dillon, John B. + +History of Indiana. 1859. + +Eaton, John Henry. + +Life of Andrew Jackson. 1824. + +English, William Hayden. + +Conquest of the Country Northwest of the Ohio. (2 volumes in one). +1896. + +Flint, Timothy. + +Indian Wars of the West. 1833. + +Forbes, John. + +Writings of General John Forbes Relating to His Service in North +America. 1938. + +Forman, Samuel S. + +Narrative of a Journey Down the Ohio and Mississippi in 1789-90. +1888. + +Haywood, John. + +Civil and Political History of the State of Tennessee to 1796. 1823. + +Heckewelder, John. + +History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations. 1876. + +Heckewelder, John. + +Narrative of the Mission of the United Brethren. 1820. + +Hildreth, Samuel P. + +Pioneer History. 1848. + +Houck, Louis. + +The Boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase: A Historical Study. 1901. + +Houck, Louis. + +History of Missouri. (3 volumes in one). 1908. + +Houck, Louis. + +The Spanish Regime in Missouri. (2 volumes in one). 1909. + +Jacob, John J. A Biographical Sketch of the Life of the Late Capt. +Michael Cresap. 1826. + +Jones, David. + +A Journal of Two Visits Made to Some Nations of Indians on the West +Side of the River Ohio, in the Years 1772 and 1773. 1774. + +Kenton, Edna. + +Simon Kenton. 1930. + +Loudon, Archibald. + +Selection of Some of the Most Interesting Narratives of Outrages. (2 +volumes in one). 1808-1811. + +Monette, J. W. + +History, Discovery and Settlement of the Mississippi Valley. (2 +volumes in one). 1846. + +Morse, Jedediah. + +American Gazetteer. 1797. + +Pickett, Albert James. + +History of Alabama. (2 volumes in one). 1851. + +Pope, John. + +A Tour Through the Southern and Western Territories. 1792. + +Putnam, Albigence Waldo. + +History of Middle Tennessee. 1859. + +Ramsey, James G. M. + +Annals of Tennessee. 1853. + +Ranck, George W. + +Boonesborough. 1901. + +Robertson, James Rood, ed. + +Petitions of the Early Inhabitants of Kentucky to the Gen. Assembly of +Virginia. 1914. + +Royce, Charles. + +Indian Land Cessions. 1899. + +Rupp, I. Daniel. + +History of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon and Schuykill Counties. +1845. + +Safford, William H. + +The Blennerhasset Papers. 1864. + +St. Clair, Arthur. + +A Narrative of the Manner in which the Campaign Against the Indians, +in the Year 1791 was Conducted. 1812. + +Sargent, Winthrop, ed. + +A History of an Expedition Against Fort DuQuesne in 1755. 1855. + +Severance, Frank H. + +An Old Frontier of France. (2 volumes in one). 1917. + +Sipe, C. Hale. + +Fort Ligonier and Its Times. 1932. + +Stevens, Henry N. + +Lewis Evans: His Map of the Middle British Colonies in America. 1920. + +Timberlake, Henry. + +The Memoirs of Lieut. Henry Timberlake. 1927. + +Tome, Philip. + +Pioneer Life: Or Thirty Years a Hunter. 1854. + +Trent, William. + +Journal of Captain William Trent From Logstown to Pickawillany. 1871. + +Walton, Joseph S. + +Conrad Weiser and the Indian Policy of Colonial Pennsylvania. 1900. + +Withers, Alexander Scott. + +Chronicles of Border Warfare. 1895. + + + + +Chronicles of Border Warfare + +Alexander Scott Withers + +Arno Press & The New York Times + + + + +Reprint Edition 1971 by Arno Press Inc. + +Reprinted from a copy in + +The State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library + +LC # 75-146426 + +ISBN 0-405-02896-2 + +The First American Frontier + +ISBN for complete set: 0-405-02820-2 + +See last pages of this volume for titles. + +Manufactured in the United States of America + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + +Corrections in text: + + Page Correction + + vii early period, indentifying very large the sources of (identifying) + xi whatever for his diligenee and labor in producing it (diligence) + 8 adorned with spendid magnificence, who can feel surprised (splendid) + 9 Yet, although the philanthopist must weep over (philanthropist) + 10 Nothwithstanding those two great evils which have (Notwithstanding) + 46 with an aggregate population ef 289,362. (population of) + 51 visited Great Britian in 1737 (Britain) + 101 Upen the earnest remonstrance and entreaty (Upon) + 110 of the commanding officer a party of Higland soldiers (Highland) + 112 they did not scruple to intercept the pussage of goods (passage) + 113 from the entrace into the Fort, and three centinels on the (entrance) + 120 hauch of the others. The low state of their little magazine (haunch) + 126 bleeching in the sun, after their murder by the Indians, (bleaching) + 160 house, had been dischaaged at them by Indian (discharged) + 182 it would be more conconvenient (convenient) + 203 draging his wounded body along (dragging) + 211 place of rendezvous. This stock was nearly exhaused (exhausted) + 216 naturally enough prompts to deeds of revangeful cruelty (revengeful) + 309 was in vain. The tomahawk was uplifted, and stoke followed (stroke) + 313 in the bloody deeds of their red brethern, yet that (brethren) + 323 take upon themseves the entire responsibility (themselves) + 345 A most schocking scene was exhibited some time before this (shocking) + 345 purpose of washing. While thus engaged three guns (repeated word) + 361 miles from its enterance into the Ohio, and was known (entrance) + 375 Buffaloe, and as Levi Morgan was engaged in skining (skinning) + 385 loss was severely felt thoughout the whole country. (throughout) + 387 was the head chief with this three wives and children (his three) + 393 if posssible, to a general engagement; and if this (possible) + 417 a company which had been sta-stationed (printer's error) + 421 assembled to witness the awful spectacle. The croud was (crowd) + +Corrections in footnotes: + + Introduction: Chapter 3, Footnote 3 + consider the running of the guantlet (gauntlet) + + Introduction: Chapter 3, Footnote 5 + Kis faithful dog shall bear him company. (His) + + Chapter 1, Footnote 13 + Shehandoah, Frederick, 1772 767 19,750 4,922 (Shenandoah) + + Chapter 1, Footnote 17 + with his family to Culpeper coanty, which was (Culpeper county) + + Chapter 5, Footnote 5 + bitten, and the whole patrty suffered exceedingly. (party) + + Chapter 10, Footnote 8 + of the tribes west and sonthwest of Lake (southwest) + + Chapter 18, Footnote 4 + to Aprfl 30, 1793. The army was fancifully (April) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles of Border Warfare, by +Alexander Scott Withers + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE *** + +***** This file should be named 29244.txt or 29244.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/4/29244/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Mark C. Orton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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