(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 70 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. CHAPTER V. BY JUDGE G. L. CRANMER. THE ERECTION OF FORT HENRY-THE DISTURBED CONDITION OF THE BORDER - COUNCIL AT CATFISH - CAPTAINS OGLE AND MEASON AMBUSHED THE FIRST SIEGE OF FORT HENRY - COL. SWEARINGEN'S RELIEF -AN INCIDENT THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN OGLE - MC CULLOUGH'S FAMOUS LEAP - TEE MASSACRE OF COL. FOREMAN AND HIS MEN - THE TORIES - JOHN SPAHR - INDIAN DEPREDATIONS - EXPEDITION TO THE MUSI4INGUM - THREATENED ATTACK ON FORT HENRY IN 1781 - PRAYING INDIANS - CRAWFORDS EXPEDITION - LETTERS OF DAVIES, HARRISON AND IRVINE - THE FATE OF MAJOR SAM MC CULLOGH INDIAN COUNCIL AT CHILLICOTHE -THE SIEGE OF FORT HENRY, 1782 - POWDER EXPLOIT - FRANCIS DUKE - LETTERS OF JAMES MARSHALL AND EBENEZER ZANE - ROLL OF HONOR. THE beginning of the year 1774 the only regular forts on the frontier were those which were located at Pitsburg and Redstone. There were a few private forts and block houses scattered at different points along and near the borders, but these were insecure and indifferent in their importance and construction, and were not calculated to withstand a prolonged siege or contest, being intended as a temporary shelter in case of attack when taken by surprise. Hence, when it became evident in the spring of the last named year that an Indian war was threatened, and from indications that it would be speedily inaugurated, Dr. John Connolly, the royal captain commandant of West Augusta, who at the time was at Fort Pitt, sent information to the settlement at Wheeling, and instructed the inhabitants as a necessary precaution to cover the country with scouts, until the settlers could fortify themselves. Acting upon his advice scouts and rangers were sent out in all directions covering the adjacent country, with instructions to keep a strict watch upon the movements of the savages, and to promptly report any movements on their part looking toward an advance to Wheeling. In the meantime the settlers and land jobbers at once set to work to erect a place of defense, consisting of a strong stockade, and labored with indefatigable energy in the accomplishment of their undertaking. The author of the plan for the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 71 construction of the same was Major Angus McDonald, and not Col. George Rogers Clarke, as stated by many writers, and this is proven from the correspondence which transpired with Valentine Crawford and Gen. Washington between the dates of the 27th of July and October 1, 1774, inclusive. The last of these letters is dated at " Fort Fincastle, October 1st, 1774." The fort was erected under the immediate direction and supervision of Col. Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell. Upon its completion it was named " Fort Fincastle," this being the second title of the Earl of Dunmore, whose titles were " hn, Earl f Dunthore, Viscount Fincastle, Baron Murry of Blair, of Moulin, and of Tillimet." But this name was not retained by it for any great length of time, as in the year 1776 it was changed to Fort Henry in honor of Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia at the time. The first mention we find made of this fort is in the report of a committee appointed by the convention, made on the 25th day of July, 1775, recommending that two companies of 100 men each, besides officers, ought, with all convenient speed, to be stationed at Pittsburgh, one other company of 100 men at Point Pleasant,. twenty-five men at Fort Fincastle at the mouth of Wheeling, and that 100 men be stationed. at proper posts in the county of Fincastle, for the protection of the inhabitants on the southwestern frontiers, exclusive of the troops to be raised for the defense of the lower parts of the country." In the subsequent year (1776) the convention ordered the garrison to be increased to fifty men at Wheeling; but neither of these orders so far as Wheeling was concerned, we think, were ever complied with. The fact is, that with the exception of the forts located at Redstone, Pittsburgh and Point Pleasant, which latter was erected in the summer of the same year with the fort at Wheeling, there was no regularly garrisoned forts on the frontier. The defense of the fort at Wheeling, with one or two exceptions, was left to the settlers, who, under Providence, always proved themselves competent in the faithful discharge of that responsibility. The fort which was erected, though hurriedly built, was one of the most substantial and complete defenses of its kind in the entire western region. It was in shape a parallelogram, in length about 150 feet, in its greatest length being parallel with the Ohio river and was about seventy-five feet in width, bastions at each corner, the upper story of which projected a few feet over the lower. On its western side, in close proximity to each other, were ranged a number of cabins intended for the shelter of families which might seek the protection of the fort. The commandant's house, store house, magazine and corral for cattle, occupied the center of the open space within. The first named house was two stories in height, the upper story of which projected over the lower. On 72 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the roof of the house was placed a mounted swivel—a four pounder—which did effective work on the different occasions when the fort was besieged by the savages. Wells were also sunk within the enclosure so that a supply of water could be obtained at all times. The entire space was enclosed with oaken pickets twelve or fifteen feet high placed close to each other with a small opening between each. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking the ver, and from its elevated position an extended view was had to the source where Wheeling creek empties into the Ohio river. It stood near the northwest corner of the intersection f Eleventh and Main streets, and occupied the site formerly known as " Zane's Reserve." The declivities on the southern and western sides were steep and almost precipitous—that on the south overlooking a level tract which stretched away in the distance to the banks f the creek. This level tract in the year 1777, at the time of the first siege, was covered with meadows and cornfields. As late as the year 1810 it contained no improvements, such as buildings, of any consequence upon it. To, the east, and distant about seventy-five yards, stood the double log cabin of Col. Ebenezer Zane, built f rough hewn logs, with a kitchen attached, built of the same material, as was also the outbuildings or quarters for his slaves. There was also a small magazine for powder and other military stores. The whole of the space so occupied was enclosed with strong pickets. This fort successfully withstood three several attacks or sieges, two of which are rendered memorable by the stubborn resistance of its defenders under the most unpropitious circumstances, and which will stand out on the pages of history for all time among the highest examples of heroic devotion and disinterested bravery, which are recorded in the annals of daring deeds and noble achievements. One of these sieges occurred in the year 1777, one in the year 1781 and the last in 1782. Of each of these it is our purpose to give some account. The year 1777 was a memorable one in the history of the upper Ohio valley. The settlers were accustomed to characterize it as "the bloody year of three sevens." Along the entire border from Fort Pitt down to the furthest limits of the settlements it was signalized by savage cruelty, bloody massacre and heartless rapine. Among other horrors and in addition to their magnitude and enormity the entire frontier was threatened with serious famine—the wheat was sick and unproductive and the weather was unpropitious for the growth of grain generally, as well as the usual garden products which entered largely into the diet of the settlers. Sickness, too, prevailed to an alarming extent, consisting of bilious, remittent. and intermittent fevers. The whole border was in a state of alarm, anxiety and excitement, and so intense and wide-spread was this feeling that it was deemed expedient to call a council of HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 73 war to be held at Catfish Camp in January, 1777. This council assembled and considered measures to be adopted as well as the recommendations in the letters of the executive of Virginia. " At a council of war held at Catfish Camp in the district of West Augusta, on Tuesday the 28th day of January, Anno Domini, 1777, there were present:. " Yohogania County— Dorsey Pentecost, county lieutenant; John Canon, colonel; Isaac Cox, lieutenant colonel. " Ohio county — Henry Taylor, major; David Shepherd, county lieutenant; Silas Hedge, colonel; David McClure, lieutenant colonel; Samuel McCollogh, major. " Monongahela County— Zachariah Morgan, county lieutenant; John Evins, major. " Captains — John Munn, David Andrew; John Wall, Cornelius Thompson, Gabriel Cox, Michael Rawlings, William Scott, Joseph Ogle, William Price, David Owings, Henry Hoglang, John Pearce Duvall, James Brinton, Vinson Colvin, James Buckhannon, Abner Howell, Charles Crecraft, John. Mitchell, Joseph Tumblenson, Benjamin Frye, Matthew Richey, Samuel Meason, Jacob Lifter, Peter Reasoner, James Rogers, John Hogland, Reason Virgan, William Harrod, David Williamson, Joseph Cisnesy, Charles Martin, Owen Daviss. " Colonel Dorsey Pentecost was unanimously chosen president of this council, whereupon Col. Morgan and Col. Shepherd conducted him to his seat. Col. David McClure was unanimously chosen clerk. The president informed the council of the importance of the business for which he had convened them, and concluded with recommending deliberation on their councils, decency and decorum in their debates, and then produced two letters from his excellency the governor, dated the 9th and 13th of December last, signifying the necessity of a speedy and vigorous exertion of the militia and putting them in a proper state of defense, etc. Upon motion made, " Resolved, That Colonels Dorsey. Pentecost, Shepherd, Morgan, Cannon, Captain Ritchey, Col. McClure, Maj. Evins, Captain Mitchel and Captain Martin, be appointed a select council to consider of the before-mentioned letters, and make their report to this council, to be then re-considered." WILLIAMSBURGH, December 18, 1776. SIR:- The more I consider of things in your quarter the more I am convinced of the necessity there is to prepare for hostilities in the spring, and although continental troops will be stationed in Ohio, yet the militia must be the last great resource from which yours is derived. In order to form something resembling magazines, for the present I have ordered about six tons of lead for West Augusta, and that this article may be deposited in the proper places, I wish you to summon a council of field officers 74 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. and captains, and take their opinions which places are the fittest for magazines in the three counties of Yohogania, Monongahela and Ohio, and transmit the result to me. I wish you would please to find out where Capt. Gibson's cargo of powder is arid let me know. In the council of officers I would desire it would. be considered whether the militia with you want any article the government can furnish and what it is, for be assured it will give me great pleasure to contribute to your safety. I am of opinion that unless your people wisely improve the winter you may prob. ably be destroyed. Prepare then to make resistance while you have time. I hope by your vigorous exertions your frontier may be defended, and if necessity shall require, some assistance be afforded to combat our European enemies, I have great expectations from the number and known courage of your militia, and if you are not wanting in foresight and preparation they will do great things. Let a plan of defense be fixed and settled beforehand—I mean principally the places of rendezvous and the officers who are to act, as well as to provide speedy and certain intelligence. Let the arms be kept in constant repair and readiness, and the accouterments properly fixed. It will be proper to send out scouts and trusty spies towards the enemies' country to bring you accounts of their movements. I wish great care may be used in the nomination of military officers with you, as so much depends on a proper appointment. You will please to give strict attention to the great object here recommended to you and I shall be happy to hear of the safety of your people, whose pro- tection the government will omit nothing to accomplish. I am Sir, Your Most Obedient Servant, P. HENRY, JR. COLO. DORSEY PENTECOST. WILLIAMSBURGH, February 28, 1777. SIR:- You are forthwith to send too men properly officered, in order to escort safely to Pittsburgh the powder purchased by Capt. Gibson. I suppose it is at Fort Louis on the Mississippi, under the protection of the Spanish government. The canoes necessary for the voyage, the provisions, and every other matter must be provided and the officers' orders must be to lose not a moment in getting the powder to Fort Pitt. If the present garrison leave that fortress, you are to order 200 militia to guard it till further orders; let all necessary repairs be forthwith done that it may be put in a good posture of defense. I've ordered four four-pound cannon to be cast for strengthening it, as I believe an attack will be made there ere long. Let the ammunition lead included be stored there, and let it be defended to the last extremity —give it not up but with the lives of yourself and people. Let the provisions be stored there, and consider it the bulwark of your country. No militia shall be paid but those on HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 75 actual duty. I wonder any one should thin otherwise. Let me know the quantity of ammunition and sto s at Pittsburgh; upon any alarm of dangerous invasion take ca e to defend Pittsburgh. Capt. Lynn has a good boat capable of bringing the powder. I am sir, Your Hble. servant, P. HENRY, JUNR. County Lieutenant of Monongahela. " The council adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock. " January 29th, 1777 —present as yesterday.— The council met according to adjournment, and Col. Isaac Cox was unanimously chosen vice president. Col. Pentecost from the select council delivered the following resolutions, which he read in his place, then handed them to the clerk's table where they were read a second time, and "Resolved, That it is the opinion of your committee, that the following are proper places for magazines in the district of West Augusta (vizt) the house of Gabriel Cox, in the county of Yohogania, the house of John Swearingen, in the county of Monongahela and the house of David Shepherd, in the county of Ohio, and that the six tons of lead to be sent to this district mentioned in his excellency's letter of the 13th of December last, addressed to Col. Pentecost, be divided in the following manner, and deposited at the before mentioned places (vizt) for Yohogania county, 2 1/2 tons, for Monongahela county, 2 1/4 tons, and for the Ohio county, 1 1/4 tons, being (as this committee conceives) as equal a division of the said lead and other ammunition that may be sent to this district, according to the number of people in each county, as may be. "Resolved, That his excellency, the governor, be requested to send with all convenient expedition, powder equivalent to the before mentioned lead, which agreeable to the rifle use, is one pound of powder to two pounds of lead, with ten thousand flints. "Resolved, That in consequence of his excellency's requisition, that it is highly necessary and it is accordingly strongly recommended to Col. Pentecost, to send a captain and fifty men down the Ohio to find out, if possible, where Capt. Gibson's cargo of powder is and conduct it up to the settlements, and that it is the opinion of this council that the officers and men to be employed in this business, deserve double wages. "Resolved, As the opinion of your committee, that upon the best information they can at this time collect, that one-third of the militia of this district is without guns, occasioned by so many of the regular troops be furnished guns out of the militia of this district, and that one-half of the remaining part wants repairs. " Resolved, therefore, That the governor be requested to send up to this district, one thousand guns (these rifles, if possible to 76 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. be had, as muskets will by no means be of the same service to defend us against an Indian enemy) . "Resolved, For the purpose of repairing guns, making tomahawks, scalping knives, etc., that the proper persons ought to be employed in each county, at the public expense, and that Thomas and William Parkeson be appointed in the county of Yohogania, and that they immediately open shops at their house on the Monongahela river for the above purpose, and that they make with all possible expedition all the rifle guns they can, and a sufficient number of tomahawks and scalping knives, etc., and that the county lieutenants receive or direct the distribution there of. "Resolved, That Robert Cunie be employed for the above purpose in the Monongahela county, and that he open shop at his own dwelling house in the forks at Cheat. "Resolved, That Thomas Jones (or some other proper person to be appointed by the county lieutenant) be appointed for the above purpose in the Ohio county, to open shop at the house of Col. Shepherd. "Your committee maturely and deliberately considered the truly critical and distressed situation of the county, and with the deepest anxiety had viewed the very recent cruel depredations committed on our people by our relentless neighbors, the Indians, and with the utmost regard have considered his excellency's recommendation to prepare for hostilities in the spring and to prepare to make defense while we have time, and to form a plan of defense for the county, are of opinion that if no field officer appear to take the command of the troops now raised and raising in this district, at the next meeting of the different committees, that the said committee forthwith order the said troops to such place on the frontier as they shall think proper for the present protection of the inhabitants, and at least too of said troops be ordered to Grave Creek Fort, and in case the said troops are not stationed as aforesaid, then the county lieutenant, of Yohogania county, is to order a lieutenant and twenty-five men to Baker's Fort, and a lieutenant and twenty-five men to Isaac Coxe's, on the Ohio, and that the county lieutenant, of Ohio county, order a lieutenant and twenty-five men to Beach Bottom, and a lieutenant and twenty-five men to Grave Creek Fort, and that the county lieutenant of Monongahela county, order a captain and fifty men to be stationed at the house of Captain Owin Daviss and the head of Dunkard Creek, and a lieutenant and twenty-five men to Grave Creek, to augment garrison to fifty men. Those men to be ordered at such time as the county lieutenant shall think proper and the exigency of the times require and that militia be drafted, officered (and held HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 77 in constant readiness) to rendezvous at the following places and in the following manner." Here is mentioned the active officers, the place of rendezvous in each county, which are the places of the magazines, the drafts and who heads them from each company, which is fifteen privates, one sergeant and a commissioned officer, making in the whole about 1,100 men. "Resolved, Unaminously, that upon the first, hostilities being committed on our settlements, that the county lieutenant, in whose county the same may happen, immediately call a council of the three counties as proper measures may be pursued for the chastisement of the cruel perpetrators. "Agreed to in full council, " DAVID MCCLURE, clerk." In the early part of the month of April, 1777, Col. George Morgan, Indian agent for the middle department, wrote to Col. William Crawford from Fort Pitt, as follows: " Last Monday a messenger arrived from the Delaware town and informed me that a party of Mingos were out and it was supposed would divide themselves into two parties and strike nearly at the same time between this place and Yellow creek. Yesterday afternoon an express arrived from Capt. Steel, by which we learn that the first mentioned party had divided, as supposed, and killed a man just below Raccoon creek, and burned two cabins, viz.: Muchmore's and Arnot's; the body of the latter was found, his wife and four children are supposed to be burned in the cabin, or carried off prisoners." The following letter gives another and more detailed account of the affair and the condition which prevailed along the border. The letter is dated: " FORT PITT, April 22d, 1777. " HONORABLE SIR: —I have received orders to join his Excellency, Gen. Washingtion in the Jerseys with this battalion now under my comm , which orders I would willingly have obeyed, had not a council of war held at this place (proceedings of which were transmitted to congress by express), resolved that I should remain here until further orders. I am sorry to find the accounts therein contained are likely to prove but too true, and from the late depredations and murders which were committed by the Indians at different places in the neighborhood, it appears to me as if a general eruption was intended. On the 6th and 7th inst. they killed and scalped one man at Raccoon creek, about twenty-five miles from this place; at Muchmore's plantation about forty-five miles down the Ohio, they killed and scalped one man and burnt a woman, and her four children; at Wheeling they killed and scalped one man, the body of whom was much mangled with tomahawks and other instruments suitable for their barbarity; at Dunkard's creek, one of the west branches of the Monongahela 78 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY river; they killed and scalped one man and a woman, and took three children; and at each of the above places, they burned houses, killed cattle, hogs, etc. I have taken all possible means for the protection of this country as the nature of my circumstances would afford. I am at a great loss for arms; two-thirds of the battalion have none. Had I been at this post when the accounts of the above cruelties came here, I would have transmitted them immediately to you; being busily engaged in putting the battalion in proper stations for the frontiers, this, together with the bad state of my health, prevented my getting here sooner than the 18th inst.; and finding that no authentic accounts had been transmitted to congress, think it my duty to inform you of the above facts, and that I only await further directions; as I have received no marching orders dated since the council held at this place resolved that I should wait till further orders. " I am, etc., WILLIAM CRAWFORD." Muchmore had been killed, and it was supposed that his wife and four children had been burned in their cabin. Muchmore's oldest son, Samuel, escaped to tell the fearful story. It was supposed that he was the only survivor. But a few years ago a letter was found among the papers of Maj. Isaac Craig, who at one period commanded at Fort. Pitt, with the following address on the outside: " Mr. Samuel Muchmore at or Nigh Four Pitt at Walnut Bottom beginning at falling Springs Forty Nine Miles beLow Foart Pitt." This letter sheds some light on the fortunes of Mrs. Muchmore and her four children, who were supposed for more than twenty years to have been destroyed in the flames which consumed their cabin. They had evidently been carried prisoners to Canada by the Indians. It is probable that Samuel Muchmore never received the letter. The following is a copy of it verbatim e/ " APRIL 29, 1797, At Detroit. " DEAR SON, After my Kind love to you I Rite to let you Know That I am in the Land of the Living though in a very indefent State of health at present I woold inform you that your Brothers Jonathan and Shed rick Muchmore is dead Long a Go and Reachel your Cister Likewise is dead and your Sister Abbigall is married at mountreal to one Peter Smith a black Smith by trade I woold inform you that if it should Pleas god to give me my health I shall go and See him This Summer and then in the fall have Lade out to Come home and see you if it Pleases god to give me my healthe a nouf to undergo the fotage. I think it Little Strange that I never got any Knows from you never since I have been hear for I have Rote you a good many the Last I rote you was Last august I would have you rite if an opertunity Presents and Subscribe your letters to Samuel Eddy wich is my husband and in Close it and Rite on the cover to John Askin a HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 79 square I have been of Late a good deal troubbled with Rumetesm Pains but I trust in the Lord and I hope I shall get better of them Pray dont fail of Riting to me if I ant hear they will be Convod to me, these oppertunitys will be for the Soldiers corns and goes to Foart Pitt all most weekly and you Can Rite and [send] Your Letters to Foart Pitt to som body to fored them Long the States. soldiers took Pouson of this Place Last July and Keeps goin and comin often I shall Pleas god Corn by the way of Priskili* as there is watter Carrege all the way Only Eleven miles for I am not able to Corn by Land I have nothing more to Rite you at Present but trusting God to see you in the fall Early and so I Conclude wishing Kind Loav to you and all friends Remaining at the same time your Long absent mother till death once mary Muchmore but now mary Eddy. "To Mr. Samuel Muchmore." A flourishing little village consisting of twenty-five or thirty log cabins, clustered around the fort at Wheeling at this time, where but a few years before the silence of the primeval forest was undisturbed by the voice or tread of civilized man. By toil' and labor they had gathered around them some of the rude comforts which serve to make home attractive and pleasant, and had collected their flocks and herds. But this prosperous condition of affairs was soon to be dissipated, their toils and labors rendered abortive, their homes destroyed or consumed by the torch of the incendiary savage, and their flocks and herds slain or driven away by their implacable foes. While aware of the danger resulting from . state of war, and fully aware of the fact that at any day this . nger might descend upon them, yet they depended on theirs, to give them timely notice of its approach, and hus forewarn them in time to enable them to secure some, if not he greater portion of their possessions, by removing them into the fort for their security and protection. But on this occasion e vigilance of the scouts had been eluded. On the night of the 31st of August, Capt. Joseph Ogle, who with a squad of about a dozen men, had for some days been out watching the paths usually followed by the Indians, returned to the fort with the information that they had carefully scanned the adjacent country and that not only had they seen no Indians, but no signs of them had been discovered. Suspecting that their movements would be watched, the Indians had on reaching the river, divided their numbers into small parties, abandoning the usual paths of travel and followed other lines and thus made their way to the Ohio river, concentrating their forces at or in the vicinity of Boggs' Island, about four miles below Wheeling, where they crossed the river and * Presque isle, now Erie, Penn. 80 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. proceeded to the creek bottoms, below the fort, under the cover of darkness of the night, where they perfected their plans and sought an ambush among the corn and weeds and patiently awaited the dawning of the day. Their army was composed of between 300 and 400 warriors, composed of picked men from the Shawnees, Mingoes, and Wyandots. Some historians have stated that this army was commanded by the notorious renegade Simon Girty, but this is a mistake, as at this time he was employed by the whites at Fort Pitt, as an Indian interpreter, for which he was well qualified, as he had spent several years among the Senecas, by which he had been held a prisoner. He, in company with McKee and Elliott, deserted. from Fort Pitt in March, 1778, and fled to the enemy.* At the time of the attack on Wheeling in 1777, he was at Fort Pitt. The name of the person who commanded the Indians on this occasion is unknown. The Indians had formed two diagonal lines at a considerable distance apart from each other, extending across the point from the river to, the creek, inside of which, and about the center, they placed in a conspicuous position where they could be most readily seen, e or of their number as a decoy. Early in the morning of the 1st of September, as two men were passing along with the object of catching horses, they suddenly discovered the Indians, who were stationed in the center and between the two lines above mentioned. They immediately turned to flee when a shot brought one of them down, while the other was allowed to escape that he might carry the tidings to the fort. When the settlers were made aware of the presence of the Indians, they at once fled to the fort for shelter, abandoning everything in their houses except such articles as they snatched up in their hurried exit, and which they thought might serve them a good purpose in their emergency. Upon learning that the Indians were few in number, Col. Shepherd, the county lieutenant, ordered Captain Meason with a force of fourteen men, to proceed to the place where they had been seen to drive them away. He had not advanced very far distant from the fort before he came in sight of them, when hurrying his men forward, he ordered them to fire upon them. But no sooner was the order given than shouts and yells arose from the hitherto concealed foe, who immediately arose from their hiding places and closed their lines upon the little band and attempted to surround them and cut off their retreat. Recognizing at a glance the situation and the impossibility of maintaining a conflict which would only result in certain defeat and perhaps death to all of them, Captain Meason ordered his men to flee to the fort. But the order was given too late to *See Penn. Archives VI., 445; also Heckewelder's Narr,, page 170. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 81 make sure their retreat, as they were intercepted by the Indians and nearly all were literally cut to pieces. But they fought with the desperation of those who realized that it was a struggle of life or death, and succumbed only when the hand could no longer grasp the rifle or the merciless tomahawk cleaved with its keen edge into their unresisting skulls. Captain Meason and his sergeant, however, succeeded in passing through the front rank of their foes by successfully dodging and fighting their way, and were in a fair way of making their escape when they Were observed by some of the enemy, who pursued and fired at them just as they began to ascend the hill to the fort. The sergeant had received a severe wound which so . disabled him as to prevent him from pursuing his way, and from the effects of which he fell bleeding to the ground and was unable to recover himself. While lying here Captain Meason passed in a crippled and wounded condition, and seeing that his captain had no gun, and that he was making slow progress, while his pursuers were but a few feet behind him and rapidly gaining on him ihe wounded and dying sergeant called out to him to take his gun which was of no further use to him and to use it to the best advantage, and then calmly surrendered himself to his fate, meeting death with the firmness of a Spartan. Such is the stuff of which heroes are made. Captain Meason had been twice wounded in the engagement, and was so enfeebled by the loss of blood and faint from fatigue, that several times he was moved in despair to relax all efforts in his attempt to reach the shelter of the fort; yet as often was he impelled to press forward and to make a last effort by rallying again his fast fading powers. He was sensible that there was one savage who had outstripped the others who was fast nearing him and every instant he expected that a blow from his tomahawk would prostrate him. In the excitement of the race he had forgotten that the sergeant's rifle was charged. Inspired with the recollection of the fact, his hope revived afresh, and quick as thought he wheeled about to fire at his pursuer, but found that he was so close, he could not bring his gun to bear upon him. Having greatly the advantage of ground being above him, by reason of its elevation, he put his hand against the person of the India thrust him back. The uplifted tomahawk which this latter in his hand, and which was about to descend with fatal aim on the head of Meason, by this action of the latter descended with swift force to the ground and confused the Indian, and before he was able to regain his footing so as to hurl the fatal weapon which he still held in his grasp at the devoted head of Meason, or rush forward to close in a death struggle with him, a ball from Captain Meason's gun sped on its death-winged errand, and the savage fell lifeless. 6 - A 82 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY The excitement through which he had just passed, and the suffering he experienced from his wound, had rendered the gallant captain well-nigh helpless, and consequently he was so overcome as to be able to proceed but a few paces further and to reach a fallen tree which invited him to a friendly shelter beneath its protecting body.. Here he concealed himself and remained during the entire period that the siege of the fort continued. The cries and shrieks of Capt. Meason's men, and the rapid discharge of the guns induced the commandant of the fort to send out an additional force to the support of Capt. Meason, who it was justly feared had fallen into an ambuscade. Hence, Capt. Ogle, at the head of his twelve scouts, undertook the hazardous India risk of going to his relief. The Indians anticipating some such fully arranged their a movement on the part of the whites plans to receive them by entrapping them in their toils. The Indians, who were lying in ambush, patiently awaited until the scouts had so far penetrated within their lines as to render their escape by retreat improbable, when they closed their lines around them so as to confine them within a circle. Capt. Ogle, who was a considerable distance in the rear of his men, was left outside the circle. Seeing the position in which his men were placed, and his own isolated condition which was exceedingly dangerous, he concealed his person in some briars in the corner of a stake and rider fence, where he remained until the following day. The same fate awaited his men which had befallen Capt. Meason's with the exception of two who succeeded in reaching the fort, one of whom was severely wounded. Martin Wetzel, the brother of the famous Lewis Wetzel, the noted Indian spy and hunter, himself scarcely less noted in early annals than his brother, was the only one of the number who escaped unhurt. Young Shepherd, the son of the county lieutenant, Col. David Shepherd, who had accompanied Capt. Meason, was pounded to death by a club which was wielded by a stalwart warrior. Of twenty-six men led out the fort by these two officers only three escaped death, an wo of these were badly wounded, a striking evidence of the fact that the ambuscade was judiciously planned, and that the expectations of its success were well founded as the sequel proved. While these events were transpiring the inhabitants of the village were busily engaged in removing to the fort and making the necessary preparations for its defense. The disaster which had overtaken the force of Meason and Ogle convinced them of the overwhelming force of the enemy and the futility of attempting to maintain an open conflict with them. And so sudden had been the occurrences here narrated, that the gates of the fort were scarcely closed before the entire Indian army appeared before it, rending the air with frantic yells of sickening horror, HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 83 while they flourished the bloody and reeking scalps of the brave men whom they had just slaughtered. But before the assault was made the attention of the garrison was attracted by a demand made for its surrender by the leader of the savage force. This individual was a white man, but his name we have been unable to discover, and perhaps it never will be known, having passed into the shades of a merited oblivion. He appeared at the end window of a house situated at a short distance from the fort, under a flag of truce, and informed them that his appearance there with so large a force was because he had come to act as an escort to Detroit to such of the inhabitants on the frontier as were willing to accept the terms of unconditional pardon offered by Gov. Hamilton, and to such as would renounce the cause of the colonies and attach themselves to the crown; urging them to consider the fealty which they owed to their sovereign, and assuring them of protection if they would yield and accept his proposals, and denouncing upon them at the same time all the frightful woes which would spring from the uncurbed indulgence of savage vengeance if allowed to be visited upon them in the event that they dared to resist or fire one gun to the annoyance of his men. He then proceeded to read to them the proclamation of Gov. Hamilton and formally demanded the immediate surrender of the fort, and gave them fifteen minutes in which to accept or reject his proposition. It was time enough which was thus afforded them, to arrive at a decision. In love with liberty, patriotic in all their impulses, and ready and willing to sacrifice their lives if need be in the maintenance of their principles and the defense of their families, it required but a brief time to deliberate upon their course of action. Col. Zane replied to the leader - " that they had consulted their wives and children, and that the unanimous conclusion arrived at was that they would all perish, sooner than put themselves under the protection of an army of savages marching under a British flag, or abjure the cause of liberty and the colonies." The leader of the Indian army was about to reply when a young man in the fort shot at the color bearer of the British ensign, which at once put a stop to further parley. There were in the fort at the time nearly 100 women and children all told, while there was but a handful of men to oppose the force of besiegers, and to defend the place from assault. How were they, with their limited number, to withstand the shock of battle against nearly 40o warriors, drunk with excitement over the blood which they had already shed and the successes which they had already met? The reply of Col. Zane to the demand for surrender was not made in the spirit of bravado, but he meant just what he said as the subsequent conduct and behavior of the besieged amply proved. Maddened at the reply and the show of resistance 84 - HISTORY OF THE VEER OHIO. VALLEY which was made, the Indians in frenzied fury rushed against the palisades in their vain attempts to make a breach, only to be shot down or driven back. Again and again they renewed their fierce efforts to carry the place by storm and as often were they forced to retire before the well directed shots which played havoc in their midst. Enraged by the opposition they met with they gathered piles of hay, straw, and branches of trees, piling them against the stockade in such places as they could reach and firing these piles, thus attempted to reduce it. But no sooner were the fires lighted than they were quenched by the vigilance of those within, thus foiling all their efforts to destroy it by flames. While the men stood to their guns repulsing the enemy, the women were busily engaged in moulding bullets, loading the surplus guns and handing them to the men, who were thus enabled to keep up a continued fire, or in supplying the men with food and drink, as the siege continued for twenty-four hour's with but brief periods of cessation or abatement — that is to say, from sunrise on the morning of September r to sunrise on the morning of September 2, when the siege was raised, and the savages marched away, carrying away with them a large amount of plunder. During the time mentioned all were actively and energetically engaged within the fort in industrious efforts to protect it and themselves from the fury of the assailants. Every individual had a particular duty to perform, and each promptly and faithfully performed it. In this respect, the courage and alacrity of the women were prominent, as many of the more expert among them, stationed themselves beside the men at the loop- holes, handling their guns with soldier like ability, proving themselves in many instances to be excellent shots, and behaving themselves with fearless intrepidity. It seemed indeed as if each individual realized and was sensible that the safety of the whole depended on his or her lone exertions, and that the slightest relaxation of an effort on the part of the individual would involve them all in one common ruin. Upon raising the siege, after the savages found that they could make no impression on the fort, their demoniac fury found vent in killing the cattle, firing the cabins, and ruthlessly destroying everything except what they carried away with them on their retreat. Thus the settlers were left in an almost destitute condition. The alarm of the presence of the Indians in force having been given so unexpectedly, and the attack on the fort following so soon, but little time had been afforded the inmates for securing but the smallest amount of their removable property; hence they had barely time to take with them the necessary clothing for their comfort and convenience, and some not even so much as that. Few were left to the enjoyment of a bed, and the neces- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 85 sary bedding for the same, as this had been devoured by the angry flames which had been enkindled by their foes. The cattle having been killed or driven away, they were deprived of the gratification of even the humble repast of bread \and milk. But with that large hearted and generous hospitality which characterized the pioneer, each shared with the other their lim-- ited provisions which the one was more fortunate in possessing than their neighbor. But their needs and wants were not long unsupplied, for in the course of a day or two, these were met by an ample contribution of provisions from the neighboring forts and block houses. During this siege, the cabin of Col. Ebenezer Zane, which stood on a line with, and but a short distance from, the fort, was consumed by the conflagration started by the savages. When the alarm was given that the enemy was approaching, deeming the shelter of the fort more secure, he, with his family had abandoned his cabin and taken refuge in the former. When he saw that his cabin was doomed to the flames, and it and his household goods were destroyed by the devastating element, he then declared that he would rebuild it, and if again attacked that he would never desert it, but defend to the last extremity. We shall see hereafter how well and nobly he fulfilled this promise at the siege of the fort in the year 1782. Some time prior to this attack, the governor of the state had sent to Col. Andrew Swearingen a quantity of ammunition for the defense of the settlers in the country above Wheeling. By his exertions and under his direction and superintendence the forts known as Bolling's and Holliday's were repaired and put in defensible condition, and to the latter a strong and ample magazine had been erected where the powder and other ammunition sent by the governor was stored for use. Holliday's fort was situated about twenty-four miles above Wheeling, and was a shelter for the families living in that section. About the time of the attack on the fort at Wheeling, news had been sent to Shepherd's fort, about six miles from Wheeling, of the presence of the Indians. A runner was at once dispatched to Hollidayls fort for succor and Col. Swearingen with a force of fourteen or fifteen men, at once responded, taking with them a quantity of ammunition. They embarked in a large and commodious canoe, and worked industriously so as to reach the besieged in time to be of service to them. The men composing the expedition had all volunteered for the occasion, and notwithstanding the fact that rumors prevailed that an attack on their own fort, in which at the time, the settlers had gathered in anticipation of it, was contemplated, yet animated with a noble and disinterested resolve, they determined to succor their unfortunate brethren, whose danger was not only imminent, but was already impending. Departing 86 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. under the cover of night, on the dark waters of the river rested an almost impenetrable fog which involved the undertaking in great uncertainty and danger. But they toiled and labored, although their disadvantages were great, often striking against the banks, running on the heads of islands or coming in contact with projecting snags and the overhanging branches of trees, until at length they were compelled to desist from paddling and allow it to float with the current. And this was a wise conclusion, for under the heavy cover of the mist, they might unknowingly pass by Wheeling and then be compelled to stem the current to reach their destination. As they floated lazily with the current, they at length beheld the light which proceeded from the burning of the cabin at Wheeling. The day was now beginning to dawn and it was impossible for them to reach the fort before it fully broke. Could they have realized their expectation of arriving at their destination before the breaking of the day, they might and doubtless could have gained admission into the fort from the postern gate on the west or river side of the fort, but fearing discovery by the vigilance of the Indians, they landed about the present site of what is now known as the " top mill," and sent out some of the men to reconnoiter and if possible to ascertain the condition of affairs. The smoke and fog prevailing at the time prevented them from knowing whether the entire village, including the fort, had fallen a prey to the flames. When arrived there it was uncertain whether the Indians had retreated or lay concealed and in ambush in the cornfields and among the weeds with a view of at- tacking such as might come out of, or attempt to enter, the fort. The men who had been sent out as scouts feared to give the signal to the party who remained behind and which had been agreed upon, by firing a gun to assure them that it was safe to advance lest it might excite the Indians and thus lead them to fall upon the party and destroy its members. To allay this apprehension three of the party, Col. Swearingen, Capt. Bilderbock and William Boshears, determined to make the effort to reach the fort. Proceeding separately, each taking a different route, they cautiously inspected the neighborhood and the three safely reached the fort at about the same time, having discovered no signs of the presence of Indians. Returning to their companions they then escorted them to the fort. But it might be that the Indians were lying in ambush in the cornfields and it was important to ascertain whether this was or was not the case. Hence, a consultation was held between Col. Zane, Col. Shepherd, Cola Swearingen and Dr. McMechen, which resulted in sending out two men who volunteered for the purpose, who in an apparently careless and indifferent manner were to saunter along the line of the cornfield nearest to the fort to examine it HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 87 and see whether indications of the presence of Indians could be discovered. This duty they performed and reported that there were none such, whereupon Col. Zane, taking a force of twenty men, marched around the field at some distance from it and returning passed more nearly and assured themselves that the Indians had certainly retreated from the vicinity and no further danger for the time being was to be apprehended. In addition to the corpses of the twenty-three men, who the preceding morning under the command of Captains Meason and Ogle had gone out from the fort buoyant with health and strength and life and who had been so barbarously slain, it is said that there were found over three hundred head of cattle, horses and hogs lying in scattered .heaps about the field which the savage foe had wantonly butchered and destroyed. It will not, we deem, be inappropriate in passing to give a brief notice of Capt. Ogle, one of the pioneer heroes of the upper Ohio valley. After a bold and adventurous career as an Indian fighter in this section, he, in the year 1785, emigrated to the Illinois, territory, where he maintained the same reputation that he had earned in western Virginia, during the succeeding ten years of border troubles which prevailed in that territory. He died honored and beloved at the venerable age of eighty years, on the 24th of February, 1821, leaving a large circle of descendants to mourn his death and to cherish his memory. He was a man of uncommon firmness of character, possessing great energy of body and mind, and an uncompromising friend to liberty and human rights. He was a slaveholder, and carried his slaves with him when he removed to the Illinois territory, where he manumitted them, thereby sacrificing the most of his property which was invested in these human beings. He was mild, peaceable, and kind-hearted in social intercourse, and always strove to promote peace, harmony and good order. He was strict in the fulfillment of all his engagements and promises, and expected from all his neighbors the same honesty and punctuality. The following anecdote will serve to illustrate his character: On one occasion a Mr. S-- borrowed from him some house logs to finish a cabin which he was erecting, promising to return an equal number on a certain date named by him. The date for the return had passed and the logs were not forthcoming according to promise. Capt. Ogle had arranged to raise a cabin for himself on a day after that on which the logs were to have been returned to him. On this day he set out accompanied with six men to S 's cabin, upon arriving at which he told the family to remove certain articles which interfered with his purpose, and then proceeded with handspikes to the utter amazement of S--- to coolly and deliberately raise up the corners of the house 88 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. and remove the logs. Alarmed and excited S-- exclaimed: "Why, Mr. Ogle, what do you mean, do you intend to pull down my, house over my head ? " " By no means," replied Ogle, " I am only intending to take my own logs." " Now neighbor Ogle," he remarked, "do stop and I will start right off into the woods and get you the logs." " Very well," rejoined Ogle, in the most imperturbable manner, " if you will have the logs at my place to-morrow morning at sunrise, I will forbear, but if you fail to have them at my place tomorrow morning at the hour named, I will return and take my logs." This was said with the utmost coolness and deliberation, and Mr. S-- well knew that the word of Capt. Ogle could be depended upon. It is sufficient to say that the logs were forthcoming at the appointed hour. It was on this occasion that the notable incident occurred which has since become famous, in the history of that brave and distinguished frontiersman Major Samuel McColloch. As soon as the news, that the fort at Wheeling was besieged by an Indian army, was received at Fort Vanmetre (a fort situated on Short creek, in Ohio county, about eight miles from Wheeling), McColloch, at the head of forty-five well-mounted men, hastened to its relief. The wife of Col. Ebenezer Zane was a sister of McColloch, and thus the ties of affection, combined with the dictates of humanity, prompted him to undertake the hazardous enterprise of succoring the besieged in the hour of their emergency. When the gallant major with his little force arrived within sight of the fort there was a lull prevailing, the Indians for the time being having suspended their attack and drawn off their forces. He was at once recognized by the inmates of the fort and almost at the same time by the savages. The gates of the fort were immediately thrown open for their entrance, and rushing through the lines of the Indians, their horses were put to their mettle and on full gallop they safely reached the protection of the fort without a single man or horse having received a scratch or wound. McColloch, who was more concerned for the success and safety of his men than his individual security, had given them the precedence in his anxiety in their behalf, and as soon as they had entered the gates were closed again so as to prevent the Indians who were pursuing, from gaining ingress. Thus McColloch was separated from his men and left on the outside by his unselfish and disinterested act which prevented him from passing in with his force. The Indians were now closing in around him and what was to be done must be done quickly. Taking in the situation at a glance he lust no time in determining what to do under the circumstances. Suddenly wheeling his horse around in the face of his enemies he dashed through an opening in the ranks of the enemy and striking his spurs deep in his flanks, the noble steed sprang forward while the firm hand of his master di- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 89 rected him to the summit of the eastern hill top, the base of which he started successfully to rise. The Indians might easily have taken his life while he was making the attempt to enter the fort, but they wanted to capture him alive so as to reserve him for torture at the stake as his very name was a terror to the Indians who were well acquainted with his person, and who, while they admired his courage, hated him with all the intensity of the most vindictive feeling. His well trained steed clambered the declivity with laborious and sure-footed effort, while his enemies with almost superhuman energies followed in swift pursuit on foot. Scrambling up the steep hillside, then covered with trees and undergrowth, he succeeded in reaching the top, and following the ridge in a northerly direction he directed his course toward Fort Vanmetre. He had rid- den but a little distance when just in front of and approaching him he discovered a band of warriors who had left the main body early in the morning and were now returning from a marauding expedition in which they had been engaged. Turning his horse's head in the opposite direction, he advanced but a short distance only to discover a force in front of him, who, having reached the top of the ridge were hastening in his direction, while below him he saw another party mounting the hill to cut off his retreat, for on his left or eastern side of the hill was a steep declivity, nearly precipitous which would measure from the summit of the hill nearly if not quite 300 feet. Thus hemmed in on all sides his capture seemed inevitable, and in anticipation of securing him as a prisoner his pursuers set up a yell of triumph. He had but a brief respite to decide as to what should be his course of action. He at once decided to risk the perilous leap down the almost precipitous side of the eastern declivity. Adjusting his trusty rifle and powder horn and tightening his rein, he spoke in encouraging tones to his faithful horse and urged him to the brow of the cliff, far beneath which flowed the waters of Wheeling creek. The rugged and fearful descent seemed to threaten instant death to horse and rider, but a kind Providence watched over both and they reached the foot of the precipice comparatively unhurt and unharmed. A thrill of astonishment went through the breasts of his pursuers at this unwonted exhibition of adventurous daring, and it so completely paralyzed them for a time that they looked on in wonder, shrugging their shoulders and giving vent to their feelings in expressive " ughs." By the time they had recovered from their surprise the object of their pursuit had forded the creek and was far beyond their reach, and succeeded in safely reaching the fort from which he had departed in the morning. No pen can describe the chagrin and mortification which was experienced by the Indians at this successful escape of one for the possession of whose person they 90 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. would have willingly sacrificed the lives of a dozen of their bravest warriors. A few days after the happening of the above events a company of militia under Captain Foreman, from east of the mountains, arrived at Wheeling for the purpose of extending protection to the settlements in the vicinity of that place, and also to occupy the fort and to render such assistance as might be needed in event of another attack upon it. Parties of Indians still lurked about, watching every favorable opportunity to do mischief. Scouting parties were frequently sent out to prevent their depredations. On the 25th of September, 1777, one of these scouting expeditions, under the command of Captain Foreman, left the fort and went about twelve miles below Wheeling as far as Grave creek, where they encamped for the night. The party consisted of forty-five men. The leader of the party was wholly ignorant of the practices of the Indians and was averse to taking advice or counsel from those who were conversant with them, and whose experience had been ,bought by years of study of their habits and modes of stratagem and warfare. Large fires were built by order of the captain, who gathered his men closely around them in one compact body, in opposition to the advice of one of the scouts who had accompanied him as a spy, by the name of Lynn, who, however, refused to remain there himself, but who took with him several of the settlers who had joined the expedition, retired to a considerable distance from the fires and spent the night from the main body. Lynn, who was an accomplished woodsman and whose senses were exceedingly acute, rendered so by the character of his pursuit as a scout and ranger, being awake a short time before daylight, thought he heard a noise, which immediately aroused his suspicions. This appeared to him to be produced by the efforts made by persons engaged in the launching of rafts on the river which flowed a short distance from Foreman's camp and just above the position where it was located. In the morning he expressed his belief that an Indian force was near, stating at the same time the reasons which induced him to come to this conclusion, and at the same time urged the captain to return to Wheeling by a different route than the one by which they had come, that is to say along the hillsides and not along the bottoms. His advice was rejected; but Lynn with the accustomed caution which he had been taught to exercise by long experience and acquired knowledge of Indian tactics, in company with four companions prudently clung to the hillsides while those who belonged to the command of Capt. Foreman continued along the path which was located at the base of the hills. They had arrived at a point on their route where the immense hills on either side descend almost perpendicularly to HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 91 the water's edge. Between the base of the hill and the river was a narrow ledge along which they were passing, situated near the head of what is known as the Grave creek narrows. Here one of the soldiers saw a parcel of Indian ornaments lying in the path, and picking them up, the curiosity of others was excited by his example, and he speedily drew around him the larger portion of the company. While thus engaged, crowded carelessly together, and busily engaged in inspecting the trinkets, all of a sudden a galling and fatal fire was opened upon them by a party of Indians who were lying in ambush. The effect of this was to throw them into the greatest confusion, and to so distract them that they lost their presence of mind and were rendered for the time being powerless. The firing was continued with deadly effect for some minutes; and must eventually have caused the loss of the entire party had not Lynn with his comrades bravely rushed from the hillside, at the same time discharging their guns and shouting in such boisterous tones as to lead the Indians to believe that a large reinforcement was at hand, which occasioned them to retreat with the utmost precipitation. In this fatal ambuscade twenty-one of Capt. Foreman's party were killed, and several severely wounded. Among those slain was the captain and his two sons. It appeared that the Indians had purposely dropped their ornaments rightly conjecturing that they would attract the attention of the whites. They themselves were concealed in two parties, the one party lying to the right of the trail in a sink hole on the bottom, and the other to the left under cover of the river bank. From these advantageous positions they safely fired upon the whites, while they themselves were entirely exempt from danger until the party in the sink-hole was discovered' by Lynn and his companions. While the firing of Lynn and those with him is not known to have taken effect, yet to his good conduct and those who were with him is to be attributed the saving of the remnant of the detachment. The Indian force was never ascertained, but it was generally supposed at the time to have been small, perhaps not exceeding twenty or twenty-five warriors. On the ensuing day, the settlers in the neighborhood of Wheeling, under the guidance and direction of Col. Ebenezer Zane, proceeded to the scene of the massacre and gave the bodies of the slain decent sepulture, burying them on the spot where they had fallen. Some years after this occurrence a plain stone was erected by kindly hands over their resting place, commemorative of the event, on which was the inscription: 92 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. THIS HUMBLE STONE IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN FOREMAN AND TWENTY-ONE OF HIS MEN, WHO WERE SLAIN BY A BAND OF RUTHLESS SAVAGES, THE ALLIES OF A CIVILIZED NATION OF EUROPE, ON THE 26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1777. " So sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes bless'd." A few years since, by an order of the board of supervisors of Marshall county, W. Va., this stone was removed to a cemetery at Moundville, the county seat of that county, and there is nothing now to mark the spot where their bones have mouldered long since into the common dust of mother earth. Thus our familiarity with the scenes and occurrences of early times, and the deeds of daring and heroism of this section of our country, together with the reprehensible pursuit after selfish purposes and emoluments leads the present generation to view with indifference those events in our early history, which are not less interesting, and far more valuable to us as a people, than those spots and historical incidents in the old world over which the American visit or is so apt to indulge in fits of rhapsody. It is true that the old world is richer in antiquity and in historical lore than the new, but it is not because those of the former are more interesting than those of the latter, but rather-because they are farther removed from us both in distance and time, and because her people have been more careful to keep her proud memorials above the surface of the waveless past. There will come a period in the history of our future when the past will plead with loud-voiced tongue in vain for recognition, and when the awakened conscience of our people will lament that the opportunity is forever past in which to rescue from oblivion the character, the deeds and the daring of the American pioneer. A few years ago a local poet* of no mean ability tuned the chords of his lyre to sing a requiem to the memory of the gallant but unfortunate Foreman and his party, and in his youthful enthusiasm wove this chaplet with which to crown their memories: “Beneath the shadow of yon frowning steep The blue Ohio rolled along; The woods and waves were lulled to sleep By many a sweet bird's soothing song. They came, those men of lion hearts; They came along that pathless shore, Nor deemed the tomahawks nor darts Would soon decide their marches o'er. *Oliver I. Taylor, deceased HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 93 As leaps the lightning from the cloud, As on their prey the tigers spring, So on them rush'd the savage crowd, The woods with yells unearthly ring. An hundred warriors round them stand, An hundred more rushed down the hill, To wreak upon that little band, Their demon wrath and thirst to kill. Now nerve your hearts, Columbia's sons, God help you in this fearful hour! It boots not much that twenty guns, Oppose such overwhelming power. Yet still they fought as fight the brave, Breast unto breast within that glen, Till one by one they fill'd a grave, Which now proclaims they died like men. Not on the squadron cover'd field Amid the bugle's cheering notes, Where bulwarks high are strong to shield, And their proud flag above them floats, 0, not amid war's pageantry Where paeans of glory rung, Were those brave soldiers doom'd to die, They fell all lonely and unsung. Yet when the scroll shall be unroll'd, That tells the records of the brave, Whose names shall be more proudly told Than theirs who fill this lonely grave ? Whose deeds shall be more glorious then, Amid their country's loud applause, Than theirs who in this fameless glen, Laid down their lives in freedom's cause ? " During the war for our national independence the patriots were compelled not only to meet avowed enemies in the person of Indian foes and British soldiers in the field and in the forest, but also stealthy and secret enemies among their neighbors and professed friends. These latter consisted of such as still adhered to the crown and extended to it their loyalty and allegiance. These were not merely passively disaffected to the cause of the colonies, but in many instances they actively engaged in schemes and undertakings to embarrass the patriots in their operations. To this end they did not hesitate to sacrifice every social tie, and to compromise every social feeling and relation. In some instances they boldly refused to pay taxes for the support of government, and also to serve in the ranks of the militia. In some sections their opposition was carried to such an extent as to blunt every finer and nobler feeling, and in some cases the insurrection had assumed such alarming proportions that it could only be quelled by the strong arm of military force. Thomas Jefferson in his " Notes on Virginia," defines a tory in the following terms: " A tory has been properly defined to be a traitor in thought, but not in deed. The only description by which the laws have endeavored to come at them was that of 94 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY non-jurors or persons refusing to take the oath of fidelity to the state. Persons of this description were at one time subjected to double taxation, and at another to treble, and lastly were allowed retribution and placed on a level with good citizens. It may be mentioned as a proof both of the lenity of our own government and the unanimity of its inhabitants that though this war has now raged near seven years not a single execution for treason has taken, place." This was a correct definition, doubtless, as applied to some localities, but not so as to all — as for instance in the upper Ohio valley, where there were a few Who were very actively engaged in carrying out their designs and purposes. One of these was an Englishman by, the name of Jackson, who had so exasperated the feelings of the settlers as to cause them to proceed to extreme measures in his case, and his life paid the forfeit of his temerity. A conspiracy at this time existed which had gathered considerable headway among those who were inclined to British domination, which was obviated by the relenting of one of those engaged in it. The object of the conspirators seems to have been to awe the settlers into submission by the unexpected introduction of a large, army composed of Indians and British by destroying the property and taking the lives of the more prominent among them if they should persist in refusing allegiance to the British. This was one of the objects had in view by the army which attacked and attempted to reduce Fort Henry in September, 1777, but which was so signally foiled in its endeavors by the brave defenders of that fort. These malcontents kept up a regular and constant. communication with Gov. Hamilton, the representative of the British authority stationed at Detroit. Upon the discovery of the plot the excitement occasioned by its revelation threatened for a time, to burst forth in vengeful ire; but the wise counsel of cooler heads succeeded in calming the turbulent passions and awakened prejudices which had been aroused. When we consider the infuriated state into which the feelings of the settlers had been wrought, and the little restraint which at the time was imposed upon the conduct and actions of individuals, it is really a matter of admiration that they did not requite upon the heads of these traitorous wretches the full measure of condign punishment in view of their premeditated wrongs. However, it was determined that they should answer before a military court the charges preferred against them. For this purpose a court was convened by the authorities of the upper Ohio valley, and the country adjacent, which met at Fort Redstone, where three or four of the principal participants in the conspiracy were arraigned to answer for their offenses. Here they experienced a fair and impartial trial, and, after mature deliberation, the court HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 95 concluded that as their object in great measure had been defeated by its timely discovery, and as no serious consequences had, or were likely to ensue, that they should go acquit, requiring them, however, before they were discharged, to take the oath of allegiance to the continental congress, and the cause of the colonies, which was readily complied with on their part. In the exercise of the same spirit of fairness which characterized the arrest and trial of the conspirators, those also who were suspected as having aided or abetted in the killing of the chief conspirator, Jackson, were likewise arraigned and tried for the crime of murder, but the evidence of their guilt proving to be insufficient, they also were acquitted and discharged. About this period there was an individual living on Short creek, in Ohio county, whp had made a clearing and erected a cabin on the banks of that stream, who was an open and pronounced tory. He was among the earliest settlers on this stream, having appeared about the year 1770. He planted and raised the first crop of corn in what is now Ohio county. When the news of the outbreak of hostilities between the mother country and the colonies reached him, his surroundings became too warm for him, and he was compelled to abandon his cabin and leave the country and betake himself to a more hospitable region, and continued absent during the entire continuance of the war, returning to his old haunts only after the proclamation of peace between the two countries. Upon his return his convictions, as to the policy of Great Britain toward the colonies and her policy of coercion toward them, were just as strong as they were before he left, and to his dying day he gloried in the name of tory, and on all suitable occasions he did not hesitate, in any company nor under any circumstances, to advocate his views concerning the rights of the mother country which had been so successfully defied by the colonies in the wager of battle. He lived in the same place where he first settled, during the remaining years of his life which were prolonged to the extreme age of one hundred and fifteen years. He died in the early part of the sixties. He was always spoken of as a good neighbor — a firm and faithful friend, and a man of kindly and generous impulses. He died as he had lived—true to his sentiments—an implacable tory. Numerous inducements were held out and unavailing persuasions were employed to induce him to satisfy public curiosity as to where he had spent his time and in what he was employed during the continuance of hostilities, but he invariably refused to gratify his questioners by making any revelation which would throw light upon the enigma, and his secret died with him. In the interval between the years 1777 and 1780 the Indians had committed many depredations along the frontier as well as in the country more remote, but in the early part of the year 96 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. 1780, on the first appearance of spring, they became still more active and bold, and commenced anew their hostilities against the whites, pursuing their work of murder, rapine and destruction with renewed energies and in the most merciless and unrelenting spirit. Notwithstanding repeated efforts accompanied with the most flattering promises and urgent persuasions upon the part of the British to secure the alliance of the Delaware tribe of Indians, up to the year 1780, they had 'failed to induce this tribe to unite with them, but in this last named year they sue- • cumbed at length to the influences brought to bear upon them and declared for war. The British commandant at Detroit had made arrangements to organize an attack upon northwestern Virginia, and had planned a campaign in which the Delawares as a tribe were to co-operate. It had been concerted that a combined force of British and Indians were to carry out the plans adopted. This army was to consist of two divisions of about 150 men each; one division of which was to cross the Ohio in the vicinity of Wheeling, and the other at a point some fifty or sixty miles further up that stream. The ultimate destination of each was Catfish Camp, where the town of Washington, Penn., now stands. The vigilant scouts which were scattered over the country immediately discovered the approach of the party which had crossed in the vicinity of Wheeling, and gave timely alarm to the settlers who at once fled for shelter and protection to the fort at this last named place, they supposing that it would be the object of attack. But in this they were mistaken, as the Indians proceeded on their march in the direction of Catfish, picking up prisoners as they advanced, from whom they learned that the force of the settlements was concentrated at Wheeling, who were well provisioned and fully armed and ready for an encounter. This information had a depressing effect upon them, and apprehensive that a force from Wheeling might intercept them and prevent their escape across the Ohio, a council was called to deliberate on their movements, whether they should advance or 'retreat. The council concluded that it was advisable for them to retrace their steps and cross the river. Having reached this conclusion, the question arose as to what disposition should be made of their prisoners, of whom they had taken quite a number since entering the country. This they speedily settled by determining to murder them in cold blood. In carrying out this resolution they spared neither sex nor age, perpetrating upon them the most horrid and cruel tortures which the refinement of malignant hearts and savage dispositions could invent. The perpetration of this wanton cruelty served to arouse to the utmost pitch the anger and indignation of the inhabitants, and preparations were made for at once taking the offensive HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 97 against them. Hence, at the instance of Cols. Zane and Shepherd, Col. Brodhead, commander at Fort Pitt, was induced to make preparations for an expedition against the Indian towns on the Muskingum. The different counties were called upon to furnish their respective quota of troops, who were to rendezvous at Fort Henry. The quota of Ohio county consisted of seventy odd men. The date fixed upon for the rendezvous was the 9th day of June, but by reason of a failure to obtain necessary sup, plies, the expedition was postponed from month to month, and it was not until April, 1781, that they were in a condition to move. Leaving Wheeling in this last-named month, by a rapid march by the nearest route, the army, consisting of about 300 men, reached a village of the Delawares on the Muskingum on the evening of April 19, and completely surprised the Indians. The river not being fordable, such of the Indians as were on the west side of the river escaped, but those on the east side were captured without a shot being fired. A number of the warriors captured were scalped by direction of a council of war held on the spot. The next morning an Indian communicated from the opposite side of the river saying that he wanted peace. Col. Brodhead, who was in command, of the expedition, ordered him to send over his chief, assuring him at the time that his safety should not be imperilled. But in the face of this promise it is said that the chief was tomahawked by Lewis Wetzel, the terror of the savages. After the destruction of another village a short distance from the former, the army commenced its march homeward, carrying with them some fifteen or twenty prisoners, who were permitted to go but a short distance before they were killed by the soldiers. A few women and children who were taken to Fort Pitt, were afterward exchanged for an equal number of prisoners held by the Indians. On his return Brodhead communicated with the Moravian missionaries and Christian Indians and endeavored to persuade them by reason of their liability to attack from the Indians on one side and the whites on the other, to abandon their villages in the Tuscarawas country and return with him to Fort Pitt. But this they declined to do. Thus ended what was called the Coshocton campaign. The following is the report of the expedition made by Col. Brodhead to Pres. Reed of the executive council of Pennsylvania: " PHILADELPHIA, May 22, 1781. " SIR: In the last letter I had the honor to address to your excellency, I mentioned my intention to carry on an expedition against the revolted Delaware towns. I have now the pleasure to inform you, that with about 300 men (nearly half the number volunteers from the country), I surprised the towns of Cooshasking and Indaechaie, killed fifteen warriors and took upwards of twenty old men, women and children. About four miles above 7—A 98 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the town I detached a party to cross the river Muskingum and destroy a party of about forty warriors, who had just before (as I learned by an Indian whom the advance guard took prisoner), crossed over with some prisoners and scalps, and were drunk, but excessive hard rains having swelled the river bank high, it was found impracticable. " After destroying the towns, with great quantities of poultry and other stores, and killing about forty head of cattle, I marched up the river about seven miles, with a view to send for some craft from the Moravian towns, and cross the river to pursue the Indians; but when I proposed my plan to the volunteers I found they conceived they had done enough, and were determined to return, wherefore I marched to Newcomerstown, where a few Indians who remain in our interest, had withdrawn themselves, not exceeding thirty men. The troops experienced great kindness from the Moravian Indians, and those at Newcomerstown, and obtained a sufficient supply of meat and corn to subsist the men and horses to the Ohio river. Capt. Killbuck and Capt. Luzerne, upon hearing of our troops being on the Muskingum, immediately pursued the warriors, killed one of their greatest villains and brought his scalp to me. The plunder brought in by the troops sold for about ,4'80 at Fort Henry. I had upon this expedition Capts. Mantour and Wilson, and three other faithful Indians who contributed greatly to the success. The troops behaved with great spirit, and although there was considerable firing between them and the Indians I had not a man killed or wounded, and only one horse shot. " I have the honor to be with great respect and attachment: your excellency's most obedient, most humble servant. " DANIEL BRODHEAD, C01. 1St P. R. " Directed His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq." * In the latter part of the summer of 1781 intelligence was received by the commander at Fort Pitt that a large force of Indians were on the march to attack the border with the expectation that Wheeling in particular was the object of their efforts. Heat once sounded the note of warning and dispatched an express to Fort Henry with the information and urged upon them to guard against stratagem and defend the post to the last extremity, and assuring them that he would do all in his power to aid them. The warning was acted upon at once and the preparations to stand a siege were all made. Upon the appearance of the Indians in September all things were in readiness to receive them. They had expected to surprise the inhabitants, capture the fort and secure an easy victory, but instead they were the surprised. Finding themselves baffled, they contented them- *Penn. Archives, Vol, IX., p. 161. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 99 selves with burning some of the vacated cabins and running off such stock as had been left exposed. The first intimation those within the fort had of the presence of savages was through a boy gamed George Reikart, who reached the fort in a state of exhaustion from the efforts made by him to elude his pursuers. He stated that a large force of Indians were at the spring (at the base of the hill east of the fort) and that they had killed a boy who was his companion and had taken one David Glenn prisoner. So sudden and cautious had been the approach of the Indians, that the boy companion of Reikart was shot down and Glenn taken prisoner. Reikart was separated from the others at some distance and was engaged in nutting at the time. As soon as he heard the firing, he started to run toward the fort for shelter, but he did not escape wholly unhurt for just as he was entering the gate of the fort a leaden messenger overtook him, striking him upon the wrist. The savages tarried a brief period taking their departure after demanding a surrender of the fort and bidding adieu to its inmates by indulging in the most insulting gestures and motions. One of the saddest tragedies which has left an imperishable stain upon the pages of American history is that of the unprovoked and heartless murder and unheard of tortures visited upon the Mbravians in March,' 1782, by an expedition under the command of Col. David Williamson, a brave, energetic and successful soldier of the Indian wars of the revolution. These Indians, called the "praying Indians," had removed from the Delaware river as early as the year 1769, and had settled in three different places on the Muskingum river, called by them respectively, Gnadenhutten, Schoenbrunn and Salem, where they cultivated the arts of peace and civilization, seeking their mental and spiritual improvement under the ministerial teaching and influence of such worthy men as Rev. John Heckewelder, Michael Jung and David Ziesberger. Their towns were situated in the southern part of Tuscarawas county and had become places of some importance. Their possessions were considerable, as they had several hundred acres of corn on the river lowlands, 200 cattle, 400 hogs and a large number of poultry. The British officers in the preceding year had attempted to secure their removal through the action of the Six Nations, who, although they considered the request in council, never took measures looking to a compliance. The fact is, the Christian Indians were really friendly to the whites, and frequently gave them intelligence of the approach of roving bands inimical to them By reason of their geographical position they were objects of suspicion to the British, the British Indians and the Americans, and these suspicions were kept in lively exercise, occasioned 100 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. either by the neutrality or friendship they manifested. Their very virtues were made the excuse for their punishment. During February, 1782, several murders had been perpetrated on the frontier in the vicinity of Wheeling, which were probably the work of the Wyandots, but were charged upon the Moravians. The people along the border were wrought up to a state of fierce frenzy. Early in March, some ninety or Too men rendezvoused at Mingo, and appointed Col. David Williamson to the command. Their pretended object was the capture and removal of the Christian Indians, and the destruction of their. fields and houses. Although the villages had been uninhabited during the winter, just at this time about 150 Moravians were there,. These had been permitted to temporarily return from Sandusky where they had been carried as prisoners, by their Indian enemies during the preceding year, for the purpose of gathering corn, large quantities of which remained in their old fields. They were so engaged when the expedition under Williamson arrived at the place of their former peaceful and happy homes. The victims apprehended no danger at the hands of the Americans, believing them to be their steadfast friends. The men professed to have come on a peaceful errand, and with expressions of good will informed them that they had come to remove them to Fort Pitt for their greater safety. The Indians unhesitatingly believed these declarations, and immediately delivered up their weapons of defense. The soldiers then went to Salem and induced the Indians there to accompany them to Gnadenhutten, the inhabitants of which latter place had in the meantime been bound without resistance. When those brought from Salem arrived they were treated in a similar manner. A council of war was now held to decide upon their fate, and the question was referred to the whole of those who composed the expedition for decision. The question was then put—"Whether they should be taken as prisoners to Fort Pitt, or be put to death ?" When Col. Williamson requested those in favor of preserving their lives to step to the front, only sixteen advanced from the ranks and the doom of the unfortunate Moravians was fixed. They were ordered to prepare for death. They at once knelt in prayer and engaged in religious exercises. While they were thus engaged the blood-thirsty majority rushed upon them and began the sanguinary work of death and continued until one by one the wretched prisoners fell beneath the blows of the tomahawk and the cruel stroke of the scalping knife. Those who had protested against the decree of death, while their colleagues were engaged in this murderous butchery, stood apart and in loud and vehement tones indignantly condemned the atrocities of which they were unwilling witnesses. It is said HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 101 that forty men, twenty-two women and thirty-two children were destroyed in the limits of a few minutes. Two boys alone escaped, one of whom fell into a cellar, and the other, after being tomahawked and scalped, secreted himself. All the property which could not be removed was deliberately destroyed. The houses containing the mutilated bodies of the slain were fired, and by the light of this burning hecatomb of human victims the expedition set out on its return through the forest which echoed with the rude sounds of their ill-timed jests and their songs of victory. Doddridge, in vindication of the character of Williamson, writes of him as follows: " In justice to the memory of Cola Williamson, I have to say, that although at that time very young, I was personally acquainted with him, and from my recollection of his conversation, I say with confidence that he was a brave man, but not cruel. He would meet an enemy in battle, and fight like a soldier, but not murder a prisoner. Had he possessed the authority of a superior officer in a regular army, I do not believe that a, single Moravian Indian would have lost his life; but he possessed no such authority. He was only a militia officer who would advise but not command. His only fault was that of too easy a compliance with popular opinion and popular prejudice. On this account his memory has been loaded with unmerited reproach." On the return of the expedition to the settlements, a number of the whites expressed their horror and disapproval of the act. Encouraged by the success which had attended the expedition against the innocent and unoffending Moravians, some of those who had been engaged in that enterprise, desired to inaugurate a larger undertaking of more extended operations, with a view of attacking the Indian towns on the Sandusky. The proposition met with the approval of the general commanding the western military department, who, on the list of May, 1782, wrote to Gen. Washington, informing him of the movement as follows: " Sir: A number of the principal people of this country made application to me, about two weeks since, for my consent to their collecting a body of volunteers to go against Sandusky, which I agreed to on these express conditions: that they did not mean to extend their settlements, nor had anything in view but to harass the enemy, with an intention to protect the frontiers, and that any conquest they might make should be in behalf and for the United States; that they would be governed by military laws as militia; that they must collect such numbers as might probably be successful; and lastly, that they would equip themselves and victual at their own expense. They are accordingly assembling this day at the Mingo Bottom all on horseback, with thirty days' provisions. They have asked of me only a few flints and a small supply of powder. As they will 102 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. elect their officers, I have taken some pains to get Col. [William] Crawford appointed to command, and hope he will be. He does not wish to go with a smaller number than 400; whether this number will assemble I cannot say. He pressed me for some officers. I have sent with him Lieut. Rose, my aid de camp, a very vigilant, active, brave, young gentleman well acquainted with service, and a surgeon. These two are all I could venture to spare," etc. Four hundred and eighty men assembled at the place of rendezvous and took up their line of march for the Sandusky on the 25th day of May. The men who had volunteered for the expedition were from Washington, Westmoreland and Ohio counties, and were all mounted. The names of those who accompanied them as scouts were Jonathan Zane, Thomas Nicholson and John Slover. On the 4th of June he enemy were encountered, numbering over 300, consisting of about zoo savages and a company of rangers from Detroit, under command of Captain William Caldwell. A battle ensued with the advantage on the side of the Americans. The next day the enemy being reinforced by a large force of Shawnees and a small body of rangers, a council of war was called by Crawford which decided to retreat. Soon after dark of the same day the retreat commenced in a considerable degree of confusion. After meeting with many difficulties and trials they succeeded in reaching the Mingo Bottom on their return, and recrossed the Ohio on the 13th of June. The entire loss was fifty men. Among those retained as prisoners were Col. Crawford, Dr. Knight, Maj. McClelland and John Slover. Only two of the number taken prisoners by the enemy escaped, viz.: Dr. Knight and John Slover. Col. Crawford, his son-in-law (William Harrison), and a few others were burnt at the stake. The expedition to which we have referred seemed to exasperate and arouse the savages to greater acts of cruelty and a more determined spirit of retaliation. During this year the Indians had taken the field earlier than was customary, and their attacks upon the border were more numerous and unceasing than in any former year. And these raids were not confined by them to the more exposed parts of the border, but they penetrated into the interior and with the venom of savage ferocity prosecuted an unrelenting warfare. Home after home was desolated family after family was destroyed, and the whole country was excited and aroused by the temerity they exhibited and the wholesale depredations committed by them. Their revengeful manifestations were particularly apparent in and among the settlements on the upper Monongahela. The attention of the authorities of Virginia having been called to the deplorable condition of affairs in the western portion of the state, William Davies, incumbent of the military department — under the state government, at the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 103 instance of the executive addressed the following communication to Brig. Gen. Irvine, then in command of the western military department at Fort Pitt: " WAR OFFICE, Virginia, April 12, 1782. " SIR: —The incursions of the Indians into the county of Monongalia and the number of the inhabitants they have killed, have induced government to order a company from Hampshire to march to their relief, to be under the immediate command of . Col. Evans, of Monongalia.* The defense of these people being a continental as well as a state object, I have desired Col. Evans to ,maintain a correspondence with you, not doubting of your readiness to co-operate in repelling the common enemy as far as may be consistent with the more particular duties of your command at Fort Pitt. From the knowledge I have of your character, and the small acquaintance I had the honor to have with you in the army, I have taken this liberty more explicitly to address you as I hope the people will meet with a more speedy and efficacious assistance from you in their present distress, than the urgency of their circumstances can admit from a dependence upon government who are so far removed from them; and in this application I have a firmer confidence in your ready attention to it, from the reflection that one Virginia regiment composes a part of your command. The people of Monongalia are distressed for ammunition as well as fire arms, both of which, in the low state of our finances, we find it extremely difficult to forward to them. If, therefore, you have any to spare, particularly ammunition, it will be serving them essentially, and shall be replaced as soon as it can be forwarded; and as two or three hundred weight will be sufficient, or indeed half that quantity, I am in hopes it can be spared by you without inconvenience, etc." " Your very obedient servant, " Brig.-Gen. Irvine, Fort Pitt." " WILLIAM DAVIES." The terrible state of affairs prevailing along the border, and particularly along the upper Monongahela, was made the subject of earnest complaint to the Virginia authorities, and the distress and troubles of the people in the western portion of the state continued to be pressed upon the attention of the executive. But neither in a financial nor military point of view was the state in a condition just then to meet these urgent demands. In both of these respects she had put forth every effort to further the cause of the revolution. But she did what she could as will be perceived from the tenor of the following letter addressed to Brig.-Gen. Irvine: " WAR OFFICE, May 22, '82. " SIR: Agreeable to the direction of his excellency in council, I have the honor to inform you of the steps taken for the defense * County lieutenant. 104 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. of the frontiers. Several orders have from time to time been issued according to the various circumstances of our affairs in that quarter. Upon a representation of their distresses orders were issued for one company of militia from .Hampshire to march to Monongalia, and be disposed of as Col. Evans should direct, and an officer and twenty privates from Augusta were ordered to be stationed at Tyger's Valley. The Hampshire men were to be relieved by a company formed from Rockingham and Augusta, and the ensign and twenty were to return without relief at the end of two months. In addition to these detachments it was afterward found necessary to order a reinforcement of thirty-one rank and file from Augusta, including the ensign and twenty before mentioned, and nineteen rank and file from Rockingham to rendezvous at Tyger's Valley, under the immediate orders of Lieut.-Col. Wilson, but subject to the general direction of Col. Evans, and to be relieved after performing a tour of two months by the counties Shenandoah, Frederick, and Berkeley, and the company first ordered from Hampshire will therefore return' without relief at the expiration of their tour. There have likewise been subsequent orders to the county lieutenants of Augusta and Rockingham for twenty-two rank and file to be furnished by the first; and thirteen rank and file from the latter, to be stationed at such places as the commanding officer of Augusta should think best for the defense of his county, and to be returned after performing a tour of two months by the militia of Rockbridge. " I have informed Col. Evans of the order of his excellency that the defense of the frontier should be subject to your directions in future, and have requested him to furnish such portion of his militia as you may think necessary to call for. " I have the honor to be with great respect, " Your obedient servant, "Addressed: "WILLIAM DAVIES." " The Honorable " BRIGADIER GENERAL IRVINE, "War Office "Fort Pitt." Immediately on the receipt of the letter of April 12th heretofore given, Gen. Irvine, under date of April l0th, replied, addressing his letter to the executive of Virginia (Benjamin Harrison), suggesting that " it would be generally better to place the whole defense of that country under one commander," and also proposing a plan by which the forces might be shifted from the territory of one state to that of the other in, case of necessity, etc. In reply to this the governor of Virginia wrote as follows: " In Council May 22, 1782. " Sir: Your favor of the 20th ult., by Lt. Thomas came safe to hand. Orders have been long since sent from hence, to the HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 105 counties of Augusta and Hampshire to send to Monongahela seventy men to assist in guarding the frontiers of that county. These troops, I expect, will probably be stationed at or near Tyger's Valley and the West Fork. As these posts are not too great a distance from you, I suppose it would be improper to remove the men from them, though I perfectly agree in opinion with you, that it would be generally better to place the whole defense of that country under one commander, for which reasons orders are now sent to the commanding officers of Monongahela and Ohio, to furnish so many men as they can spare to assist you, though there is one great obstruction to your plan, which is, that as our law now stands the militia of this state cannot be removed out of it. The assembly may probably make some alteration in the law. If they do I shall advise you of it. Measures are taking for running the boundary line between the two states and I expect commissioners will meet for that purpose on the extremity of the Maryland line on the 10th day of July next, which I hope will quiet the people and reconcile them to the present governments. " I am your most obedient and humble servant, " BENJ. HARRISON." " GEN. IRVINE." Endorsed (" Public Service.") " Brigadier General Irvine, Fort Pitt." " BENJ. HARRISON." The year 1782 was one of marked hostility and activity against the whites upon the part of the Indians, which rendered it one of the most fearful and, trying to the former. The news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to the American army in the preceding year having come to the knowledge of the Indians within a few weeks after it occurred, they became apprehensive that peace would soon be declared between the mother countries and the colonies, when the whole power of the whites would be concentrated against them and they would soon be overwhelmed by the force Of disciplined soldiery. Accordingly a call was issued for a council of the confederated tribes with instructions to meet in the following month of August, at the Chillicothe, to determine as to their future course of action, and to adopt such measures as in their judgment the emergency demanded. Before proceeding to give an account of the resolutions arrived at by this council we ask the attention of the reader to the sad fate of that brave and fearless Indian fighter and scout, Major Sam McColloch, whose almost miraculous escape from the hands of the savages at the siege of Fort Henry in the year 1777, we have already referred to. Fort Vanmetre was located on the waters of Short creek about four miles south of the town of West Liberty. It was a square building, built of rough hewn 106 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. logs and occupied the center space which was enclosed with pickets about twelve feet in length, and was ample in its accommodations to shelter all who might be expected to avail themselves of its protection. On the morning of the 30th of July, in the year 1782, Major Sam McColloch set out on the last scout he ever made, Indications of prowling savages having been discovered in the vicinity, he, together with his brother John, was ordered out on a scout to ascertain the correctness of the fact. In company the two set out and cautiously and carefully made their way toward the river without discovering any signs of Indians in the neighborhood. They had reached a point on the river about two miles above Wheeling and then took their course up the banks of the stream to the mouth of Short creek, where they again changed their course in the direction of the fort, mounting a hill known as " Girty's point." Their scout, it appears, had satisfied them of the absence of Indians in the neighborhood, and resting under this belief they relaxed in a degree their watchfulness and caution, and were riding along and conversing pleasantly when suddenly the silence of the surrounding forest was broken by the sharp crack of rifles and Maj. McColloch fell dead from his horse, and at the same moment the horse bestrode by John sank to the ground in death. Instantly springing to the major's horse, which was unhurt, he mounted him and dashed off at full speed, and thus succeeded in eluding his enemies. During this time no enemy was to be seen, but he had not ridden far before turning in his saddle he beheld a large crowd of Indians gathered around the body of his deceased brother and one Indian engaged in the act of taking the scalp lock. Quick as thought he raised his rifle and taking a fatal aim, the savage with scalping knife in hand fell dead before the unerring missile. With the exception of a slight gunshot wound John escaped unhurt to the fort and communicated the sad tidings of his brother's death. The next day a party of men from Vanmetre's fort went out and gathered up the remains of this heroic pioneer. The Indians had taken out his entrails which were found hanging upon a tree near by, having secured and eaten his heart under the belief that it would make them bold and brave like the great captain they had slain. The tree upon which the entrails of McColloch were suspended is still standing and is well known to those residing in the vicinity. That was a sad and sorrowful party that bore back his remains to the fort. The scene when they arrived at the fort is described as most pathetic. The eyes of those stalwart men, unused to weeping, were suffused with tears and as they entered the fort bearing his remains, heartbroken sobs and groans were heard on every side. Mourned and honored they laid him to rest, beneath the greensward HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 107 under the overhanging branches of the forest trees, and then with aching hearts turned away to meet and discharge the stern duties of the present hour. It was but a few months preceding this that he had been married to a most estimable lady and worthy companion, Miss Mitchell, who was subsequently married to Mr. Andrew Woods. The tract of land, lying on Short creek which he owned at the time of his death, was a portion of the tract taken up by John Wilson and himself in the year 1772. John Wilson emigrated to this section from the state of New Jersey. His first visit was made about the year 1771, and in about two years thereafter he returned to. his native state and brought with him to his western home his wife, Rebecca. Before going east he had erected a small log cabin. On his return with his wife, as they arrived in sight of it he pointed it out to her and at the same time remarked: "There, Becky, is your future home." It was with a mighty effort that she restrained her struggling tears. She made no reply, but cheerfully acquiesced in the lot which had been assigned to her. Her life of wifely devotion and heroic fortitude has enbalmed her memory and kept it green through all the generations of her offspring. In this year (1772), Mr. Wilson planted a pear tree on his farm which has grown and flourished, and for more than a century has brought forth fruit year by year. It still stands, and its lower branches are still thrifty and productive, as within a year past I have conversed with a person—Dr. Wilson, of this city—who ate pears plucked from its boughs within the period indicated. The tract of land thus taken up by Maj. McColloch and John Wilson, as well as the land taken up by the brothers Abraham McColloch and John McColloch, are still owned and occupied by the descendants of these respective families, whose farms are among the most fertile and productive in the county. We now resume the consideration of the results arrived at by the Indians in the council held by them at Chillicothe concerning their future course of action. After much deliberation they resolved to raise two armies with which to penetrate the frontier. The one numbering some 600 warriors which was destined to operate against the infant settlements in Kentucky —the other consisting of 35o warriors which was to operate against the settlements in the upper portion of the Ohio valley. This latter force was accompanied by a detachment of British soldiers, fifty in number, belonging to the Queen's rangers under the command of Capt. Pratt. In the beginning of September, 1782, the celebrated Indian spy and scout—John Lynn the same individual who was present at the time of the fatal attack and ambuscade at the "Narrows," below Wheeling, where Col. Foreman and twenty-one of 108 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. his men were so mercilessly massacred by the savages, being out on a scout on the west side of the Ohio river discovered a large force of Indians, accompanied with British soldiers, marching with all speed ii the direction of Wheeling. With all promptitude he hastened to inform the inhabitants at that place. Swimming the river he reached the fort a few hours in advance of the enemy and gave the alarm. But the time being limited, no general alarm could be given, hence, only those present and in the immediate vicinity of the fort had the opportunity of seeking its shelter and protection, and of such there were not more than twenty effective men, all told, who were capable of doing active service. Col. Shepherd, the county commandant, and by virtue of his office the superior officer, was at that time absent on military business, and the command of the fort devolved on Capt. Silas Zane. East of, and but a short distance from, the fort, stood the log dwelling of Col. Ebenezer Zane, attached to which was a small magazine containing the military supplies which had been furnished by the government of Virginia, and also a kitchen or outbuilding occupied by " Daddy Sam," so-called (a negro slave owned by Col. Zane, and to whom he was much attached), and his wife, familiarly known by the name of " Kate." On the occasion of the attack upon the fort by the Indians in the year 1777, Col. Zane and his family had abandoned his cabin and sought shelter in the fort, at which time it was reduced to ashes by the besiegers. He then declared that if the Indians again made their appearance he would not abandon his dwelling, but would defend it to the last extremity. As an outpost for the protection of the fort, and as an annoyance to an hostile force, it could not be excelled. Hence, on the appearance of the Indians at this time he made all necessary preparations possible for its defense. Had he retired from it all the military stores and ammunition stored there would have fallen into the hands of the enemy and have been destroyed or appropriated by them. The names of those who remained with him in his cabin were Andrew Scott, George Green, Elizabeth Zane, his wife, Molly Scott, Miss McColloch, a sister of Maj. Sam and John McColloch, from Short creek, who at that time was on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Zane, and " Daddy Sam," the negro we have already mentioned, and his wife " Kate." The savages approached under cover of the British flag which was unfurled to the breeze and waved in proud defiance by the color bearer in the face of the little band of heroic defenders. Before commencing their attack they demanded the immediate surrender of the fort in the name of His Britanic Majesty, to which no other reply was given than by the firing of a shot by some one in the fort at the offensive colors which were flaunted before them. Thereupon the assault commenced in dreadful earnest, the frenzied savages HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 109 rushing forward like madmen, and in their wild attempt striving to destroy the pickets so as to effect an entrance to the fort and take it by storm. Col. Zane had arranged and posted his limited force within his house to the best advantage, and where it would do the most execution. As the Indians sounded their war-whoop and made their desperate rush, he opened upon them with a well-directed and brisk fire simultaneously with the one from the fort, so as to cause them to fall back in great disorder and to seek cover where their persons would be less exposed. But others again seeing the discomfiture of their comrades, promptly, with loud and deafening yells rushed forward to take the places of those who had retired, only to be repulsed again. And although these charges were repeated again and again, yet, in every instance, they suffered a recoil. These unsuccessful efforts upon their part were continued until night threw her mantle over the earth and a brief cessation of conflict and a temporary rest was secured. Yet it was but for a brief time this respite was granted. Their assailants were engaged in holding a consultation and deliberating among themselves how best to obtain possession of, or destroy, the cabin of Col. Zane, which had proven so offensive to them in their repeated assaults on the fort and thus balked their efforts at its reduction. The conclusion arrived at was to make an attempt under the cover of darkness to destroy it by firing it and reducing it to ashes. After an interval of an hour or two, when silence had settled down upon the scene and the campfires of the savages had been put out, and it was presumed that the whites had relaxed, in some degree, their caution and vigilance, a savage, with a half-burned brand in his hand, crawled in the direction of the kitchen of the house, upon nearing which, he slowly rose from the ground and waving the brand to and fro and blowing upon it to enliven and re-kindle it, was about to stealthily apply it to the building when, of a sudden, the quiet was disturbed by the sharp crack of a rifle which rang out in the stillness of the night, which, a moment later, was accompanied by a sharp yell of pain and rage ere the echoes had ceased to resound in the mazes of the forest. The vigilant and quick eye of " Daddy Sam " had detected the savage in time to foil him in his designs and spoil his calculations, thereby saving his master's property from destruction. Other similar attempts were made on the same night, but in every instance " Daddy Sam " was on the alert and always frustrated them. And here we will be pardoned if, in passing, we say a word or two concerning this individual. He was an original importation from Guinea, and had all the characteristics of a native of that country, believing in charms, incantations and signs, and was a bundle of strange superstitions and beliefs, and these he retained until the day of 110 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. his death. He and wife were assiduously cared and provided for by Col. Zane and his family until their decease.. This gentleman erected for them a cozy cabin on the upper portion of the island known as Zane's Island, immediately opposite the city of Wheeling. " Daddy Sam " died in peace and contentment, honored and respected by the whole community, worn out with age and its attendant infirmities. At his death he left strict injunctions to have his rifle and his accoutrements, tomahawk, knife and silver snuff box, buried with him, that they might bear him company to the happy hunting grounds of the African. So greatly was he esteemed, that he was buried with military honors, and he was followed to the grave by an immense concourse of citizens, composed of the most prominent as well as the humblest members of society. In stature he was small and of light frame, with arms of unusual length, and a complexion as black as coal. But to resume our narrative. At daylight on the following morning the lines of the enemy showed that they were tightly drawn and in compact order, but they were laggard in renewing the assault. However, they were not idle, but were actively employed in making preparations evidently for some important event. Shortly after dark of the preceding day a canoe loaded with cannon balls from Fort Pitt and destined for the falls of the Ohio, had put ashore under the cover of the fort. It was discovered by the Indians, but its occupants succeeded in effecting an entrance for themselves into the fort, in their efforts to do which, however, one of them Daniel Sullivan — was wounded in the foot. The savages secured the canoe and took possession of its contents. A new idea now dawned upon them why not utilize these missiles and make them play a part in the reduction of the fort? The idea was approved and the suggestion was at once put into execution. Securing a hollow log, which they deemed adapted for the purpose, they proceeded to bind it with iron chains, which they found in the blacksmith shop of the village. Filling it with a heavy charge of powder, they rammed home as many of the captured balls as it could conveniently hold, and with as much accuracy as possible under the circumstances, aimed it against one of the bastions. All was now ready as soon as it was primed, for which purpose a big Indian stepped forward emptying from his powder horn a sufficient 'quantity around the vent. A crowd of - Indians collected around to witness this new engine of destruction and the effect produced upon the fort by its discharge, not doubting in the least that it would prove more or less destructive in its effects. In this supposition they were not deceived, but were sorely disappointed in the nature of the result which ensued. All things being ready an Indian advanced with a lighted brand which he applied to the vent hole and thereby stamped HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 111 " finis " on the last page of his own and the life history of his curious companions who were near by him at the time. Several were killed, many were seriously, and some slightly wounded, and all were terror stricken by the unexpected result. The unlooked for and unexpected havoc caused among their number by the explosion of their wooden artillery, which burst into fragments, led them to become wild and furious under their disappointment and the loss and wounding of so many of their number, and wild with rage in their excitement they redoubled their exertions, renewing the assault with heedless desperation and exposing themselves in the most careless manner to the shots from the house and the fort. At times it appeared that the Indians would succeed, but then the fortunes of the day would change and the fortunes of the inmates of the fort appeared to be in the ascendant. Thus the conflict wavered until noon when the forces of the Indians were drawn off temporarily. It was exceedingly fortunate for the little garrison that the savages desisted from their attack when they did, as the ammunition of the defenders of the fort was beginning to grow short. The alarm given by Lynn of the approach of the enemy having, as we have stated, been so limited, and the fact that the fort was destitute to a great extent of any large supply of ammunition to enable it to withstand a protracted siege, it was discovered that the supply on hand was being rapidly exhausted, and some measures must be adopted to supply the need. As before stated, there was plenty of powder stored in the magazine at Col. Zane's house, but for all practical purposes it might as well have been a hundred miles away. The contingency which had now happened could not have been foreseen and the emergency now upon them was a grave one. But it was one which had to be met, and the question was, how could they best replenish their almost exhausted stock? An effort at least to obtain powder from Col. Zane's house it was absolutely .necessary should be made, for should the enemy return to the assault in their then condition the danger of the inmates was not only imminent but their almost certain doom was sealed. Among the many propositions which were made and the one which seemed to obtain favor was, that one of the fleetest runners among the younger men should be selected for the perilous undertaking of obtaining a keg of powder from Col. Zane's house and hasten with it to the relief of the besieged. It was an undertaking full of daring, with the prospect of almost certain death to the person who might essay the task. But undeterred by magnitude of the feat and the peril which attended it, at the call of Capt. Zane for a volunteer to risk, several brave men stepped forward, each one of whom insisted on being permitted to make the attempt. The loss of a single man at this juncture would be keenly felt by the entire 112 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. company. Whip Capt. Zane was hesitating in arriving at a decision, and making his choice from among those chivalric spirits who had so promptly offered their services, there came bounding into his presence his own sister— Elizabeth Zane— in the elasticity of her youthful strength— and volunteered to attempt the accomplishment of the errand, regardless of what might befall her, if thereby she could be instrumental in saving the lives of others; when told that a man would encounter less danger by reason of his superior fleetness, she nobly replied, "That the loss of a man under the circumstances would be more severely felt than her own—you have not one man to spare," she said—" a woman will not be missed in the defense of the fort." All the arguments adduced by her brother and others to dissuade her from making the attempt, together with the expostulations of the other females, had the effect of only confirming her in her resolution. Reluctantly they finally acquiesced in her purpose and her services were accepted. Divesting herself of all unnecessary clothing which might impede her in her progress, she appeared ready for the dangerous ordeal. The gate was swung open and the young heroine sprang out in the swelling buoyancy of hope, knowing no such word as fail, in the full confidence of success, and swift as a deer she sped away on her mission, arriving safely at the cabin of her brother Cola Ebenezer Zane—who saw her coming and promptly opened the door to receive her. When the Indians saw her bounding along at the top of her speed they were amazed at her temerity, but did not offer to fire at her but contented themselves with simply exclaiming with contemptuous sneers—" a squaw—a squaw." Upon reaching her destination she lost no time in stating her business. After a brief breathing spell she announced her readiness to return, whereupon, Col. Zane, taking a table-cloth and fastening it securely around her waist with two of its ends, while the other ends were held by her in her hands, emptied into it a keg of powder, when she again ventured forth on her return to the fort. Her black hair, like a banner, streamed out upon the air, as with swift feet she lessened the intervening distance. But she had not covered more than half the space between the cabin and the fort, when the savages apprehending her purpose, showered a rain of bullets around her, none of which, however, did any execution, as she reached the fort in safety, and delivered the powder without losing any perceptible portion of it. Subsequently, in recounting her experience on this occasion, she would relate how the bullets whistled around her so thick and fast that the dust thrown up by them, as they struck the ground, blinded and confused her so that she could scarcely distinguish her way. As she neared the fort the gate was again thrown open for her entrance, when the Indians made an unavailing effort to reach it before it could be HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 113 closed by making a sudden rush.. Finding themselves foiled, they quickly withdrew. This act of heroism, on the part of Elizabeth Zane, doubtless saved the lives of the inmates of the fort, and enabled them successfully to withstand the siege. As night closed in the enemy renewed their efforts to reduce the fortress and continued them until daylight. Times almost without number during that trying and eventful night the enemy attempted to accomplish by the torch what they could not by superior numbers and vantage. Bundles of hemp and wood and rubbish were heaped by them against the pickets and set fire to at different places. The hemp fortunately being wet, after being ignited would not burn, and the dry wood and rubbish proved also in vain to accomplish their end. When the day dawned after that terrible and trying night, it was greeted by the besieged with a renewal of hope which had been well nigh banished from their hearts. The morning light was the harbinger indeed of joy and gladness and infused fresh life and energy into their despairing souls. When the intelligence reached Shepherd's fort, located at the forks of the Wheeling, of the investiture of Fort Henry by an army of Indians and British soldiers, a party left the former fort with a view of rendering assistance to the inmates of the latter, but arriving in the vicinity they found that it would be impossible for them to gain admission and therefore reluctantly determined to return from whence they came. This conclusion was arrived at in opposition to the views of their leader— Francis Duke — a relative of Col. Shepherd. He insisted that if no one else would, he alone would make the attempt to gain ingress at the fort, at the risk of his life. To all persuasions against the undertaking he turned a deaf ear. He recognized their force and complained not at the resolution of his men to return, but his chivalric character and determined spirit could not be curbed by argument nor persuasion. He did not regard the imminent danger attaching to the bold undertaking, but subordinating this to the higher and nobler promptings of his nature, which enabled him only to see the peril of friends who needed every man for defense, he spurned all restraints, and taking his life in his hands and putting spurs to his horse he sped swift as his horse could carry him toward the gate of the fort calling aloud as he rode, "Open the gate! Open the gate!" He was recognized by those within the fort and the gate was swung open for his admission, but before reaching it he was pierced with bullets and this young and gallant chevalier fell a martyr to his reckless daring and noble disinterestedness. On the morning of the third day the enemy despairing of success, and abandoning all hope of the reduction of the fort they resolved on raising the siege. This resolution was announced to the inmates by a series of terrific yells and deafening whoops 8—A. 114 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. which was the means adopted by them to give expression to their disgust at their failure. Turning their backs upon the scene they took their departure and re-crossed the river, except a party of about ma chosen warriors who remained on the Virginia side for the purpose of plundering and laying waste the adjacent country. The loss of the enemy during the siege must have been quite large, as those in the fort and in the dwelling of Col. Zane were not in the habit of throwing away their shots. It is a remarkable fact that none of the inmates of either were killed, and but one was slightly wounded— Daniel Sullivan. The chivalric Duke was the only white man slain on the part of the defenders. The persistent and determined courage displayed, both by men and women in the fort and in the cabin of Col. Zane, was simply grand and heroic. In the evening preceding the departure of the Indians from the fort, two white men who had been captured several years before by the Indians and held commands in the force, deserted from them. Early on the following morning they were taken prisoners by Col. Swearingen who, with a force of about ioo men, was hastening to aid in the defense of Wheeling fort, and the chastisement of its assailants. From them he learned the intention of the Indians to withdraw from Wheeling, but leave a portion of their army to operate in the surrounding country. One of these deserters was sent by James Marshall, lieutenant commandant of Washington county, Penn., to Gen. Irvine, commanding at Fort Pitt, to which latter person himself was the bearer of the following letter: " DEAR SIR:- The bearer is one of the deserters from the enemy in time of the action at Wheeling. Some people say the other deserters report this fellow as a villain, however, be that as it may, I think it best to send him to you that such order may be taken respecting him as you may think proper. " I am, sir, with atttachment, your obedient and humble servant, " JAMES MARSHALL, L. W. C. " 16th Sept., 1782, Endorsed: Public." " To the Hon'ble William Irvine, " Brigadier General, Fort Pitt." The following extract from a letter written by the author of the foregoing letter and addressed by him to Gen. Irvine under date of September 12, 1782, will be of interest in this connection. " By an express, this moment, arrived from Wheeling, I have received the following intelligence, viz.: That a large trail was discovered yesterday about 3 o'clock near that place. Capt. Boggs, who brought the account, says that when he left the fort about one mile and a half he heard the swivel at Wheeling fired and one rifle. He further says that Ebenezer McColloch, from HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 115 Vanmetre's fort, on his way to Wheeling, got within half a mile of the place shortly after Boggs left it, when he was alarmed by hearing a heavy and constant fire about the fart, and makes no doubt the fort was then attacked. Boggs is gone into the settlements to alarm the inhabitants, and I am afraid, will injure the expedition,* as we have had so many false alarms this summer. I can't think of making much of the present one until the truth of it is known with certainty, notwithstanding I should be inexcusable in not giving you the account as I have received it." Two days after the foregoing letter was as written, the following, written by Ebenezer Zane, was sent to Gen. Irvine by the hands of a Mr. Loyd: " WHEELING, 14th of September, 1782. " SIR: —On the evening of the 11th instant, a body of the enemy appeared in sight of our garrison. They immediately formed their lines round the garrison, paraded British colors and demanded the fort to be surrendered, which was refused. About 12 o'clock at night they rushed hard on the pickets in order to storm, but were repulsed. They made two other attempts to storm before day, but to no purpose. About 8 o'clock next morning there came a negro from them to us and informed us that their force consisted of a British captain and forty regular soldiers and 260 Indians. The enemy kept up a continual fire the whole day. About 10 o'clock at night they made a fourth attempt to storm, to no better purpose than the former. The enemy continued round the garrison till the morning of the 13th instant, when they disappeared. Our loss is none. Daniel Sullivan, who arrived here in the first of the action, is wounded in the foot. I believe they have driven the greatest part of our stock away, and might, I think, be soon overtaken. " I am with due respect, your obedient servant, " EBENEZER ZANE." Addressed, " William Irvine, " Brigadier General, commanding at Pittsburgh." The names of some of the heroic little band who were in the fort on this occasion we give as follows, viz.: Silas Zane, Jonathan Zane, Andrew Zane, John Caldwell, Abraham Rogers, John Linn, John Salter, Joseph Biggs, Robert Lemmon, John Neiswanger, Daniel Sullivan, Elizabeth Zane, Lydia Boggs, Mary Burkitt and Betsey Wheat. De Hass, in his " History of the Indian Wars in Western Virginia," gives additional names and includes the most of those herein mentioned, but the names mentioned were obtained many years ago from a person now deceased t who, at the time of the siege, was an inmate of the fort, and who gave the names of those only which she was able to recollect. *A proposed expedition to act against Sandusky. t Mrs. Mary Burkitt, who died about 1861, in the one hundred and fifth year of her age. 116 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. It is much to be regretted that a full list cannot be secured and inscribed upon a roll of honor where their names and memories might be preserved throughout all coming generations. We need to vitalize these epochs of our early history which have rendered our local annals so illustrious. They are the story of a romance woven not by the fertile fancy of poetic imagination, but of the plain and unvarnished truths of a stern reality. If anything is wanting to inspire our zeal or to awaken our dormant enthusiasm it should be found in the fact that the capstone of the temple of American independence was laid upon the soil of Western Virginia, and that it was upon the soil of the upper Ohio valley that the flag of St. George was humbled in the dust and the last British gun was fired during the war of the revolution. A few years after the close of the revolutionary war, Capt. Robert Kirkwood, of the Delaware line, and who had been aid-de-camp to Gen. Washington, settled ,near the mouth of Indian run on the west side of the Ohio river in what is now Belmont county, Ohio, opposite to Wheeling. He here built a cabin and cleared the ground, and commenced farming. About a year after his arrival he began the erection of a block house, but before it was completed in the early spring of the year 1791, a large body of Indians attacked his cabin. At the time Capt. Kirkwood was absent in the east, but on this occasion Capt. Joseph Biggs, with a company of his scouts was in the cabin, together with several persons who were sheltering there. Early in the morning Capt. Biggs arose and went to the outside of the cabin, stretched himself for a brief space and returning, closed the large oaken door, and without any well-defined purpose in his mind for so doing, barricaded the door to make it more secure. Returning to his bed, in a few minutes he was startled by the familiar Indian yell, accompanied by their efforts to burst in the door, which they were trying to accomplish by a furious assault upon it with rails, logs and tomahawks. The lights in the cabin had all been extinguished and Biggs so stationed his men as to fire upon the savages from every point. The night being clear and the moon full the besieged had the advantage of the besiegers, as they could plainly see any movements upon the part of the Indians, while they themselves were concealed from view. While Capt. Biggs was standing near one of the windows of the cabin watching the movements of the savages, one of them unobserved by Biggs had stolen close along the side of the building and suddenly thrust his rifle through the window where he was standing and shot the captain in his arm just below the shoulder. Notwithstanding the serious character of the wound, he concealed the fact and did not make it known until day-light. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 117 All attempts at battering down the door having failed, they next had recourse to fire and succeeded in setting the roof in a blaze. While the captain and the inmates were pushing off the burning roof, the Indians under the cover of the block house, opened upon them with a fierce fire. But the whites succeeded in pushing off the blazing roof. This aroused the fury of the Indians, and they made renewed efforts to burn the cabin by piling brush and dry wood against the sides of the building, which they fired. But with cautious perseverance they succeeded in extinguishing the flames, which at times threatened them with dire destruction. To accomplish this, they used water, milk and other liquids, and in their state of almost hopeless despair, the damp earth was dug up from the cabin floor and thrown upon the burning piles of brush and wood. The rapid exchange of shots aroused the people of Wheeling, who commenced firing their swivel gun, the heavy boom of which was echoed by the surrounding hills. This gave the besieged heart and they were encouraged by the hope of succor. The savages became disheartened, knowing full well what it betokened and promptly gathered up their wounded and disappeared. Five of the white were severely wounded, one of them mortally. They were Capt. Joseph Biggs, John Walker, Elijah Hedges, John Barrett and Joseph Van Metre. Walker, who had been shot through the hip during the fight, died the next day, having been taken to the residence of Col. Zane, at Wheeling, where he died and was buried in the old cemetery, which at the time occupied the site of the present residence of Mr. George K. Wheat, on Main street, in the city of Wheeling. In the cabin at the time of the siege was a man by the name of James Simpson, who had emigrated to the west in 1783, and settled in Washington county, Penn.; Kirkwood, who had been a neighbor of his in Delaware and also a comrade in arms during the war of the revolution, learning that he was residing in Washington county, urged him to come and see him and he would give him all the land he wanted if he would only settle near him on that side of the river. At his urgent solicitation Simpson went, but on his arrival found that Kirkwood was absent, but concluded to stay that night and the next day set out on his return journey to his home. That night the cabin was attacked. After the experience he passed through on that occasion he concluded that he would not settle there for all the land on that side of the river. A singular incident connected with this affair of the attack on Kirkwood's cabin is related, concerning a niece of his, who lived at a distance of something like twenty miles from the scene of the occurrence. She dreamed that her uncle's cabin was in 118 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. flames, and the impression produced upon her mind was so deep and lasting that she visited the scene to assure herself of its truth or falsity. She arrived a few hours after the departure of the Indians to find her dream fully verified. A short time, after his return Kirkwood joined the army of Gen. St. Clair in the expedition against the Indians, and was present at the overwhelming defeat of that officer, falling in a bayonet charge against the enemy.