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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 31 CHAPTER II. THE ALARM ON THE BORDERS - THE KILLING OF TWO INDIANS BY THE WHITES - ATTACK UPON THE INDIANS AT CAPTINA - THE AFFAIR AT YELLOW CREEK - LOGAN ON THE WAR-PATH - LETTER OF EBENEZER ZANE - EXPEDITION COMMANDED BY COL. ANGUS MC DONALD - DUNMORE'S CAMPAIGN - DUNMORE ENTERS INTO A TREATY WITH THE INDIANS. DURING the early part of the year 1774 the tranquility which had prevailed along the borders in the interval between this year and the year 1764, by virtue of the treaty entered into between the Shawnees and the Delawares and Col. Bouquet was now interrupted. Prior to the year 1774 numbers of persons were induced to settle and seek homes in these western .wilds upon and contiguous to the waters of the Ohio, where lands were cheap and easily acquired, many of which latter were held by no other title than that of a " tomahawk right." The peace and quiet which prevailed during the period mentioned had encouraged a great number of land jobbers in addition to the permanent inhabitants to flock into the new settlements, who took up large quantities of land amounting in the aggregate to many thousands of acres. The movements of these land jobbers in taking up and appropriating such large quantities of the best lands aroused in the 'settlers a desire to go and do likewise, and the spirit of land speculation speedily became rife among them. This aroused the jealousy of the neighboring tribes which was intensified by the settlement and appropriation of land by the whites on the Virginia side of the river below the mouth of the Scioto which the Shawnees claimed as belonging to the Indians, the title to which, as they insisted, had never been parted with by them. In the early spring of this year Col. Ebenezer Zane in company with others had left Wheeling and descended the river to the mouth of Sandy for the purpose of selecting and taking up land. It was while thus engaged that they received information that hostile acts were being committed against the settlers by the Indians in the way of thieving; plundering and robbing, and that the lives of jobbers and settlers alike were in imminent peril, and advising them to return at once, This induced the immediate return of Col. Zane and his party as well as others ab- 32 - HISTORY OF TIT' UPPER OHIO VALLEY. sent on the same errand. Upon their arrival at Wheeling they were regaled with exaggerated stories concerning the hostile attitude of the Indians, expressing their fears that they would soon gather in force and fall upon and slaughter them. In the excitement which prevailed conflicting views were entertained and urged. Some proposed to anticipate them in their movements and at once inaugurate measures to surprise and attack them, thinking it probable that such prompt action upon the part of the whites would strike terror to their foes and paralyze tlfeir efforts. But others again, and Col. Zane among them, counselled moderation and prudence, and wisely sought to restrain the more precipitate. In the midst of the agitation which prevailed it was reported that a canoe containing two Indians was on the river a short distance above the settlement, and was approaching. This information served to inflame the indignant passions of the settlers, or at least that portion of them who harbored in their breasts resentment and revenge, and it was proposed to intercept them. Col. Zane, the proprietor of the settlement, strenuously objected to any overt act of hostility on the part of the whites, giving as a reason that the killing of these Indians would result in a general war, and that in itself it would be an atrocious act and nothing less than criminal murder, which would forever disgrace the names and memories of the perpetrators. But these humane and peaceful counsels were unheeded. His advice, counsel and arguments all proved to be in vain. In opposition to all efforts put forth to restrain them, a party set out, whose thirst for blood could only be quenched by the slaughter of their intended victims. Upon their return within a few hours subsequent to their departure, upon inquiry made of them as to what had become of the Indians, at first their replies were evasive and unsatisfactory. They finally stated that the Indians had " fallen overboard." Their cool indifference, and especially the significance of their statement that the warriors had fallen overboard, produced the conviction in the minds of their hearers that the warriors had been wantonly murdered, and this conviction was fully confirmed when the canoe was afterward found which was splotched with blood and pierced with numerous bullets. The result was as predicted — the tribes at once entered upon the war-path to avenge this as well as other acts of wanton provocation. The wise and discreet among the settlers condemned the act at the time in unmeasured terms and characterized it very. properly as a wanton outrage and a gross and unjustifiable deed. No doubt these manifestations of disapproval upon the part of their acquaintances and neighbors instead of mollifying the tempers and dispositions of those who had been engaged in this affair, served only to exasperate them; for either on the evening HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 33 of the same day or the day following (it is not clear which), the same party received intelligence that some warriors were encamped at the mouth of Captina creek, on the Ohio side of the river, about sixteen miles below Wheeling, upon whom an attack was made which resulted in the killing of one or two of the Indians. In this affair one of the whites was severely wounded, but was safely brought away by his comrades. Much confusion prevails as to the precise dates on which these occurrences tran- spired, some historians fixing the time in the latter part of April, and others again in the latter part of May; but the weight of evidence seems to preponderate in favor of the latter part of April. However, this does not affect the reality of the events, and is more a matter of idle curiosity than substance, as there is nothing in regard to which the human memory is more treacherous than the correctness of dates. About the time of the happening of this affair at Captina, occurred the massacre (for by that name only can it be justly described), at the mouth of Yellow creek, a stream emptying into the Ohio river on the Ohio side about forty-two miles above Wheeling. A nervous feeling of dread existed among the settlers along the whole line of the frontier of that subtle and indefinable character which though felt cannot be fully explained. Their apprehensions led them to realize that they were standing on the verge of a crater which was liable, without a moment's notice, to burst forth in volcanic eruption. Such appears to have been the state of public feeling when the murderous assault and consequent destruction of life took place at Yellow creek, which was not only one of the most inexcusable, but one of the most unjustifiable acts ever perpetrated by the whites upon a deceived and unsuspecting foe, and for which they eventually suffered the direst vengeance. It appears that in the latter part of April, 1774, a large body of Indians .were encamped just above the mouth of Yellow creek, on both sides of that stream. A person by the name of Daniel Baker, who had been in the habit of selling " fire-water " to the Indians, resided on the Virginia side of the river. Upon the pretext of protecting Baker and . his family, one Daniel Greathouse, in command of a force of some thirty men, went to his relief. It is said that upon arriving in the vicinity of Baker's house he placed his men in ambush and crossing the river, under pretense of making a friendly visit, entered the Indian encampment with a view really to ascertain their strength and position, intending, if his force was sufficient for the purpose, to cross to their side and attack them. The Indians, deceived by his appar- ent frankness and friendship, and not for a moment suspecting his motives, welcomed him into their midst and received him in the same spirit in which he professed to be influenced. He spent 3—A 34 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. some time with them, mingling freely among them, but at the same time taking note of their numbers, position, etc. Having effected his purpose he re-crossed the river and returned to his command, and reported that their strength and the weakness of his command precluded the idea of openly attacking them, and he therefore proposed to effect by stratagem what he could not otherwise accomplish. It was therefore arranged between Baker and himself, that the former should furnish free to such Indians as might cross the ver as much " fire water" as they could drink, and thereby get as many of them drunk as he possibly could. In this proposition it is said that Baker acquiesced, and it was not long before he had the opportunity of carrying out his undertaking, as several Indians came over and were supplied with drink to such an extent that they became hopelessly intoxicated, except one Logan’s brother but he, with the others, was shot down like so many brutes. It is, however, a redeeming trait in the characters of a large majority of those who were members of this expedition that they refused to sanction or take part in the accomplishment of the base artifice which had been practiced by their commander. Not more than eight or ten out of the entire number were actors in the foul conspiracy, and the remainder stoutly protested against it, but in vain. The firing having attracted the attention of the Indians in camp, they sent over two of their number in a canoe to ascertain and report the cause of the alarm, but these last had no sooner landed than they were ruthlessly and mercilessly shot down. Thereupon, another and larger canoe was promptly manned, filled with armed Indians who ventured out and essayed in vain to reach the shore, being prevented from so doing by a well directed fire which proved to be so deadly and effective as to greatly cripple them and compel their return. Shots were then exchanged betwen the parties across the ver, but these did but little if any execution, the distance being too great to prove disastrous to either. Among the killed, however, were the brother and sister of Logan, the famous Mingo chief, who, with himself, were the only remaining members of his family. Prior to this time Logan had been the firm friend and. unflinching ally of the whites and the advocate of peace, on many occasions efficiently using his efforts to promote harmony and good feeling, but this disastrous event aroused all the frenzy of the savage in his nature, and the implacable hatred toward the whites thereafter became as bitter, as before his devotion to them had been unswerving. A brief quiet followed, but it was the calm which preceded the approaching storm when it gathers its forces for its fierce outburst. In the meantime measures were taken to arouse all the tribes by sounding among them the tocsin of war. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 35 In July; 1774, Logan, at the head of a small party of eight warriors, made his presence felt where it was least expected, by striking a blow against some inhabitants on the Monongahela. It was presumed by every one, that in case of war, the settlements on the Ohio would be the first to be attacked. Taking advantage of this belief, was the reason for his successes. Drake, in his Indian Biography, Book V., p. 41, says: " Logan's first attack was upon three men who were pulling flax in a field. One was shot down and the two others taken. These were marched into the wilderness, and as they approached the Indian town, Logan gave the scalp halloo, and they were met by the inhabitants who conducted them in. Running the gauntlet was next to be performed. Logan took no delight in tortures, and he in the most friendly manner instructed one of the captives how to proceed to escape the severities of the gauntlet. This same captive, whose nam was Robinson, was afterward sentenced to be burned; but Logan, though not able to rescue him by his eloquence, with his own hand cut the cords that bound him to the stake, and caused him to be adopted into an Indian family. H e became afterward Logan's scribe." As confirmatory of the facts which led to the war, known as Dunmore's war, we submit the following extract from a letter from Colonel Ebenezer Zane to Hon. John Brown, one of the senators in congress from Kentucky, dated " Wheeling, February 4, 1800." "I was myself, with many others, in the practice of making improvements on lands upon the Ohio, for the purpose of acquiring rights to the same. Being on the Ohio, at the mouth of Sandy creek, in company with many others, news circulated that the Indians had robbed some of the land-jobbers. This news induced the people generally to ascend the Ohio. I was among the number. On our arrival at Wheeling, being informed that there were two Indians with some traders near and above Wheeling, a proposition was made by the then Captain Michael Cresap, to waylay and kill the Indians upon the river. This measure I opposed with much violence, alleging that the killing of those Indians might involve the country in a war. But the opposite party prevailed, and proceeded up the Ohio with Captain Cresap at their head. In a short time the party returned, and also the traders in a canoe; but there were no Indians in the company. I enquired what had become of the Indians, and was informed by the traders and Cresap's party that they had fallen overboard. I examined the canoe and saw much fresh blood and some bullet- holes in the canoe. This finally convinced me th at the party had killed the two Indians, and thrown them into the river. "On the afternoon of the day this action happened a report prevailed that there was a camp or party of Indians on the Ohio 36 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. below and near Wheeling. In consequence of this information Captain Cresap, with his party, joined by a number of recruits, proceeded immediately down the Ohio for the purpose, as was then generally understood, of destroying the Indians above mentioned. Qn the succeeding day Captain Cresap and his party returned to Wheeling, and it was generally reported by the party that they had killed a number of Indians. Of the truth of this report I had no doubt, as one of Cresap's party was badly wounded, and the party had a fresh scalp, and a quantity of property which they called Indian plunder. At the time of the last mentioned transaction, it was generally reported that the party of Indians down the Ohio were Logan and his family.; but I have reason to believe that this report was unfounded. " Within a few days after the transaction above mentioned, a party of Indians were killed at Yellow creek. But I must do the memory of Captain Cresap the justice to say that I do not believe that he was present at the killing of the Indians at Yellow creek. But there is not the least doubt in my mind that the massacre at Yellow creek was brought on by the two transactions first stated. " All the transactions which I have related happened in the latter end of April, 1774; and there can scarcely be a doubt that they were the cause of the war which immediately followed, commonly called Dunmore's war. " I am with much esteem, yours, etc., " EBENEZER ZANE." Prior to the successful attacks made by Logan on the settlements on the Monongahela it had been ordered by the authorities of Virginia, that force should be raised in the district of West Augusta for the purpose of making an inroad into the Indian country and attacking their towns with a view of calling off the straggling bands of predatory. Indians which greatly infested the neighborhoods of the frontier settlements, in which forts were erected by the settlers for their protection. It was in this year that the fort at Wheeling was erected. At the same time many pvate ones were erected, among which may be mentioned Tomlinson’s, at Grave creek, Shepard's and Bonnet's, near Wheeling, Van Atetre's on Short creek, the court house fort at West Liberty, Wolff's on the waters of Buffalo, Jackson's on Ten-mile with other stockades and defenses too numerous to mention. Owing to the threatening state of affairs, expresses were sent to Williamsburg, the then seat of government of Virginia, informing the authorities of the commencement of hostilities, and thereupon a plan was adopted for the purpose of taking active measures against the Indians. Withers, in his account of the expedition raised at this time, says: " Early in June the troops, destined to make an incursion into the Indian country, assembled HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 37 at Wheeling, and being placed under the command of Col. Angus McDonald, descended the Ohio to the month 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. To obviate this, however, they were accompanied by three persons in the capacity of guides;* 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 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: " 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 Col. McDonald, suspecting their object, and apprehensive that they would re-cross 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 toward 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 until 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 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. Col. 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 *They were Jonathan Zane, Thomas Nicholson and Tady Kelly. A better woodsman than the first named of these three, perhaps never lived. 38 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY wounded. It was then ascertained that the time which should have been spent in collecting the other chiefs, preparatory to negotiations, 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; and being then in want of provisions, rementraced his steps to Wheeling, taking with him the three remaining hostages, who were then sent on to Williamsburgh. 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." |