150 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. and was now sitting down calmly upon a log, awaiting the approach of his enemies. Kennon hastily accosted him and enquired the cause of his delay. Madison pointing to a wound which had bled profusely, replied that he was unable to walk farther, and had no horse. Kennon instantly ran back to a spot where he had seen an exhausted horse grazing, caught him without difficulty, and having assisted Madison to mount, walked by his side until they were out of danger. Fortunately, the pursuit soon ceased, as the plunder of the camp presented irresistible attractions to the enemy. Lieut.-Col. Darke's escape was almost miraculous. Possessed of a tall, striking figure, in full uniform, and superbly mounted, he led three desperate charges against the enemy, in each of which he was a conspicuous mark. His clothes were cut in many places, but he escaped only with a slight flesh wound. In the last charge Ensign Wilson, a young officer, of only seventeen years of age, was shot through the heart, and fell a few paces in the rear of the regiment, which was then rapidly returning to their original position. An Indian attracted by his rich uniform, sprung up from the grass and scalped him. Col. Darke, who was at that time in the rear of the regiment, suddenly faced about, dashed at the Indian on horseback, and cleft his skull with his broad-sword, drawing upon himself by the daring act, a rapid discharge of more than a dozen rifles. He, however, regained his regiment in safety, being compelled to leave young Wilson to the enemy. A party of Chickasaws were on their march to join St. Clair, but did not arrive in time to share in the action. One warrior, alone, of that nation was present, and displayed the most admirable address and bravery. He positively refused to stand in the ranks with the soldiers, declaring that the " Shawnees would shoot him down like a pigeon." But he took refuge behind a log, a few yards in front of Butler's battalion, and discharged his rifle eleven times at the enemy, with unerring accuracy. He could not be persuaded, however, to forego the pleasure of scalping each Indian as he fell, and on the eleventh time, he was himself shot by the enemy, and scalped in turn. The leader of this Indian army in this bloody engagement, was a chief of the Mississago tribe, whose name was the " Little Turtle." Notwithstanding his name, he was at least six feet high, strong, muscular and remarkably dignified in his appearance. He was forty years of age, had seen much service, and had accompanied Gen. Burgoyne in his disastrous invasion. His aspect was harsh, sour and forbidding, and his person during the action, was arrayed in the very extremity of Indian foppery. The plan of attack was concerted by him alone, in opposition to the opinion of almost every other chief. On the evening of the 8th of November, the broken remains of the army arrived at Fort. Washington, worn out, dejected, and mortified at the terrible disaster of their defeat. The unfortunate general was, as usual, assailed from one end of the country to the other, but particularly in Kentucky, with one loud and merciless cry of abuse and even detestations. All the misfortunes of his life, and these were HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 151 many and bitter, were brought up in array against him. He was reproached with cowardice, treason, imbecility and a disposition to prolong the war, in order to preserve that authority which it gave him. He was charged with sacrificing the lives of his men, and the interests of his country, to his own private ambition. Men who had never fired, a rifle, and never beheld an. Indian, criticised severely the plan of his encampment and the order of his battle, and in short, all the bitter ingredients, which compose the cup of the unsuccessful general, were drained to the dregs. It seemed to be a universal and probably a correct rule that, as the general reaps all the glory of success, so in like manner, he should sustain all the disgrace of defeat. A victorious general, whether by a lucky blunder or otherwise, is distinguished for life; and an unfortunate one degraded. No charge in the one case, or excuse in the other is listened to for a moment. Victory hides every blemish, and misfortune obscures every virtue. This is the popular rule for estimating the merits of a leader which, for a time, might elevate a noisy Cleon to the level of Alexander. But the historian decides otherwise. Let us look at the unfortunate St. Clair's conduct, and see whether it deserves the furious and unbounded censure that has been heaped upon it. It is acknowledged that, although attacked suddenly-- all Indian attacks are sudden—, he was not surprised. His troops were encamped in order of battle and formed in a moment. He cannot be charged with remissness, for he had arrayed them in order of battle three hours before daylight, and they had just been dismissed when the attack commenced. He cannot be charged with incompetency during the action, for all his measures, if allowance be made for the circumstances attending it, were bold, judicious and military. He did not suffer his men to be shot down in their ranks, as in Braddock's case; but made repeated, desperate and successful charges against the enemy, numbering in force equal to his own. The troops, in general behaved with firmness, the officers were the flower of the Revolutionary army, and not a man deserted his colors, until order was given to retreat. Though the army was composed of so many different troops, the utmost harmony prevailed during the campaign. The charge of cowardice is unworthy of an answer. It could only be brought by a blind and ignorant populace, stung with rage, as they ever are with defeat, and pouring upon their unhappy victims every reproach which rage, ignorance and the malice of interested demagogues may suggest. It may be observed that Gen. St. Clair always stood high in-the opinion of Washington, notwithstanding his repeated misfortunes, and that in his last battle, although worn down by a cruel disease, he exposed his person in every part of the. action, delivered his orders with coolness and judgment, and vas one of the last who arrived at Fort Jefferson in the retreat."* On the 12th of December, following, the president sent a message *McClung's Sketches of Western Adventure, pp. 351, 357. 152 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. to congress communicating the defeat of St. Clair, and accompanied the same with the following reports received by Maj.-Gen. Knox, secretary of war, from that unfortunate general. The first of these is dated- " FORT WASHINGTON, October 6, 1791. " Sir: I have now the satisfaction to inform you, that the army moved from Fort Hamilton, the name I have given to the fort on the Miami, on the 4th at eight in the morning, under the command of Gen. Butler. The order of march and encampment I had regulated before, and on the 3d, returned to this place to get up the militia. They marched yesterday and consist of about 300 men, as you will see by the enclosed abstract of the muster. I have reason to believe, however, that at least an equal number will be up there by the loth, and I have left orders for their following us. The monthly return should have accompanied this letter, but it was not ready when I left camp, and has not been forwarded since. I have hitherto found it impossible to reduce the officers commanding corps to punctuality in respect to their returns, but they are mending. Our numbers after deducting the garrison of this place, and Fort Hamilton, are about 2,000, exclusive of the militia. I trust I shall find them sufficient; and should the rest of the militia come on, it would make the matter pretty certain. But the season is now so far advanced, that I fear the intermediate posts, which indeed would have been highly necessary, it will be impossible to establish; in that however, I must be governed by circumstances, of which I will take care that you shall be apprized in due time. Should the enemy come to meet us, which seems to be expected, and be discomfited, there will be no difficulties; but if they expect us at the Miami villages, the business will wear another face, and the intermediate posts become more essential. "Since the quartermaster has been here and got into his gears, which it took him a little time to do, I am very well satisfied with him and do believe he will answer the description which you were pleased to give me of him; his business seems now to be well arranged. In order to communicate with some degree of certainty with your office, I have directed Capt. Buel, when he arrives, to send a sergeant and twelve men to a house that has been newly erected, half way between this place and Lexington, to each of which two men are to be sent off on every Monday morning to carry dispatches. Those for the war office, or any other public letters, to be put into the hands of Mr. Charles Wilkins, merchant, of Lexington, who has engaged to forward all I have occasion to send regularly once a week; and should you, sir, see proper to use the same route for any of yours, if they are sent to his care, he will forward them to me. I have been led to prefer this channel of communication to that of the river, because it appears to be rather the more certain of the two, though it may be a little more tedious, and because desertion continues to prevail among the troops, and the sending of small parties to such a" distance gives great opportunity to effect it. Gen. Butler informs me that no less HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 153 than twenty-one went off the night before the army moved from Fort Hamilton. " I am this moment setting out for the army, which I hope to overtake to-morrow evening, and will write to you again as soon as may be. With great regard and respect, I have the honor to be sir, your very humble servant, "ARTHUR ST CLAIR." " Camp, eighty-one miles advanced of Fort Washington, November 1, 1791. "Sir:--Since I had the honor to write to you on the 21st ult., nothing very material has happened, and, indeed, I am at present so unwell, and have been so for some time past that I could ill detail it if it had happened, not that space of time has been entirely barren of incidents, but as few of them have been of the agreeable kind, I beg you to accept a sort of journal account of them, which will be the easiest for me. " On the 22d the indisposition that had hung about me for some time, appearing as a bilious colic, and sometimes as a rheumatic asthma, to my great satisfaction changed to a gout in the left arm and hand, leaving the breast and stomach perfectly relieved, and the cough, which had been excessive, entirely gone. This day Mr. Ellis, with sixty militia from Kentucky, joined the army, and brought up a quantity of flour and beef. " 23d. Two men taken in the act of deserting to the enemy, and one for shooting another soldier and threatening to kill an officer, were hanged upon the grand parade, the whole army being drawn out. Since the army has halted, the country around this, and ahead for fifteen miles, has been well examined; it is a country which, had we arrived a month sooner in it, and with three times the number of animals, they would have been all fat now. "24th. Named the fort Jefferson (it lies in latitude 4o degrees, 4 minutes and 32 seconds north), and marched, the same Indian path serving to conduct us about six miles, and encamped on good ground and an excellent position. A rivulet in front, and a very large prairie which would, at the proper season, afford for a thousand horses on the left. So ill this day that I had much difficulty in keeping with the army. "25th. Very hard rains last, obliged to halt today, on account of provisions; for though the soldiery may be kept pretty easy in camp under the expectations of provisions arriving, they cannot bear to march in advance and take none along with them. Received a letter from Mr. Hodgdon by express; 13,000 pounds flour will arrive the 27th. "26th. A party of militia sent to reconnoitre, fell in with five Indians, and suffered them to slip through their fingers in their camp. Articles to the value of $22 were found and divided. The Virginia battalion is melting down very fast, notwithstanding the promises of the men to the officers. Thirteen have been discharged by Col. Darke, today. " 27th. Gave orders for enlisting the levies, with the condition of 154 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. serving out their time in the present corps. Payomingo arrived in the camp with his warriors. I was so unwell, could only see him and bid him welcome, but entered on no business— considerable dissatisfaction among the levies about their enlistments. " 28th. Some clothing sent for to Fort Washington for the recruits arrived, was begun to be distributed, and will have a good effect; but the enlisting the levies does not meet with the encouragement that might have been expected. It is not only complained of by the officers, but it is certainly, privately, by some of high rank, and the measure of tempting them with warm clothing, condemned. Mr. Hodgdon writes me that he is sending forward a quantity of woolen overalls and socks, by Gen. Butler's, orders. I have ordered them to be deposited at Fort Jefferson. Some few Indians about us, probably those the militia fell in with a day or two ago. Two of the levies were fired upon, about three miles off; one killed; two of the militia likewise, one of them got in and the other missing, supposed to be taken. " 29th. Payomingo and his people accompanied by Capt. Sparks and four good riflemen, gone on a scout; they do not propose to return under ten days, unless they sooner succeed in taking prisoners. " 30th. The army moved about nine o'clock, and with much difficulty made seven miles, having left a considerable part of the tents by the way. The provision made by the quartermaster was not adequate. Three days' flour issued to them. The Indian road still with us. The course this day north, 25 degrees west. " 31st. This morning about sixty of the militia deserted. It was at first reported, that about one-half of them had gone off, and that their design was to plunder the convoys, which were upon the road. I detached the first regiment in pursuit of them, with orders to Maj. Hamtramck to send a sufficient guard back with Benham (a commissary), whenever he met with him, and follow them about twenty-five miles below Fort Jefferson, or until he met the second convoy, and, then return and join the army. Benham arrived last night; and today, November 1st, the army is halted to give the road-cutters an opportunity of getting some distance ahead, and that I might write to you. I am this day considerably recovered, and hope that it will turn out, what I at first expected it would be, a friendly fit of the gout, come to relieve me from every other complaint. “Yesterday I was favored with yours of the 28th and 29th of September. I have enclosed my communications with the old and new contractors, and their answers. My orders to the post for them are not yet definite; but they 'will be very soon. In the meantime, I expect they are both at work. With great respect I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, ARTHUR ST. CLAIR. " P. S. Your letters for Gen. Wilkinson and Gen. Scott, Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown, are sent back, and the public thanks in the names of the president, presented to Gen. Wilkinson agreeably to your directions. " To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Knox, Secretary of War." HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 155 " FORT WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 1791. " SIR: —Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army, under my command, got back to this place, and I have now the painful task to give you an account of as warm and unfortunate an action, as almost any which has been fought, in which every corps was engaged and worsted, except the first regiment, that had been detached upon a service I had the honor to inform you of in my last dispatch, and had not joined me. " On the 3d instant, the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the southward of west, which I believe to have been the river St. Mary, which empties itself into the Miami of the lake.* At the Miami village about four o'clock in the afternoon, having marched near nine iniles, and were encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground, in two lines, having the above mentioned creek in front. The right wing composed of Butler's, Patterson's and Clarke's battalions, commanded by Major-Gen. Butler, formed the first line, and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger's and Gaither's battalions, and the second regiment commanded by Lieut.-Col. Darke, formed the second line, with an interval between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow. The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a steep bank, and Faulkner's corps; some of the cavalry and their piquets covered the left flank. The militia were thrown over the creek and advanced about one-quarter of a mile, and encamped in the same order. There were a few Indians who appeared on the opposite side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipitation on the advance of the militia. At this place which I judged to be about fifteen miles distant from the Miami village. I had determined to throw up a slight work, the plan of which was concerted that evening with Major Ferguson, wherein to have deposited the men's knapsacks and everything else that was not of absolute necessity, and to have moved on to have attacked the enemy as soon as the first regiment was come up; but they did not permit me to execute either, for on the fourth, about half an hour before sunrise, and when the men had been just dismissed from the parade (for it was a constant practice to have them all under arms a considerable time before daylight), an attack was made upon the militia—those gave way in a very little time and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion, which together with part of Clarke's, threw them into considerable disorder, which notwithstanding the exertions of both, and those officers, was never altogether remedied, the Indians following close at their heels. The fire, however, of the first line checked them, but almost instantly a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second likewise; the great weight of it was directed against the center of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from * St. Clair was of the opinion that his defeat occurred upon St. Mary, and it is so stated in his official dispatch. It is incorrect. The action took place on a small tributary stream of the Wabash.— MCCLUNG. 156 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. our fire, and confusion beginning to spread, from the great number of men who were falling in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done with the bayonet. Lieut.-Col. Darke was ordered to make a charge with part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy; this was executed with great spirit—the Indians gave way, and were driven back 300 or 400 yards; but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen, to pursue this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops that were posted there. Another charge was made here- by the second regiment, Butler's and Clarke's battalions, with equal effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with success; in all of them many men were lost, and particularly the officers, which, with such raw troops was a loss irremediable. In that just spoke of, made by the second regiment, and Butler's battalion, Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the second regiment fell, except three, one of whom, Mr. Creaton, was shot through the body. Our artillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed, except Capt. Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half the army fallen, being cut off from the road, it became necessary to attempt the regaining it, and to make a retreat if possible; to this purpose the remains of the army were formed as well as circumstances would admit, toward the right of the encampment, from which by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy as if the design as if to turn their right flank, but in fact to gain the road. This was effected, and as soon as it was opened, the militia took along it, followed by the troops, Major Clarke with his battalion covering the rear. The retreat in these circumstances, you may be sure, was a very precipitate one—it was in fact a flight. The camp and the artillery were abandoned; but that was unavoidable, for not an horse was left alive to have drawn it off, had it otherwise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the business, is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit (which continued about four miles) had ceased. I found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it; for having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself; and the order. I sent forward, either to halt the front, .or prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattended to. " The rout continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles, which was reached at a little after sun-setting. The action began about half an hour before sunrise, and the retreat was attempted about half an hour after 9 o'clock. " I have not been able to .get returns of the killed and wounded, but Maj.-Gen. Butler, Lieut.-Col. Oldham, of the militia, Majors Ferguson, Heart and Clarke, are among the former; Col. Sargent, my adjutant general, Lieut.-Col. Darke, Lieut.-Col. Gibson, Major Butler, and the Viscount Malartie, who served me as an aid-de-camp, HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 15 are among the latter, and a great number of captains and subalterns in both. " I have now, sir, finished my melancholy tale — a tale that will be felt sensibly by every one that has sympathy for private distress, or for public misfortune. " I have nothing, sir, to lay to the charge of the troops but their want of discipline, which from the short time they had been in service it was impossible they should have acquired, and which rendered it very difficult, when they were thrown into confusion, to reduce them again to order, and is one reason why the loss has fallen so heavily upon the officers, who did everything in their power to effect it; neither were my own exertions wanting, but worn down with illness and suffering with a painful disease, unable either to mount or dismount a horse, without assistance, they were not so great as they otherwise would, and perhaps ought to have been. We were overpowered by numbers; but it is no more than justice to observe, that though composed of so many different species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during the campaign. " At Fort Jefferson I found the First regiment, which had returned from the service they had been sent upon, without either overtaking the deserters or meeting the convoy of provisions. I am not certain, sir, whether I ought to consider the absence of this regiment, from the field of action, as fortunate or otherwise. I incline to think it was fortunate, for I very much doubt whether, had it been in the action, the fortune of the day had been turned; and if it had not the triumph of the enemy would have been more complete, and the country would have been destitute of every means of defense. "Taking a view of the situation of our broken troops at Fort Jefferson, and that there were no provisions in the fort, I called upon the field officers, viz.: Lieut.-Col. Darke, Major Hamtramck, Major Zeigler and Major. Gaither, together with the adjutant general, for their advice, what would be proper, further to be done, and it was their unanimous opinion, that the addition of the First regiment, unbroken as it was, did not put the army on as respectable a footing as it was in the morning, because a great part of it was now unarmed, that it had been then found unequal to the enemy, and should they come on, which was probable, would be found so again; that the troops could not be thrown into the fort, both because it was so small, and that there were no provisions in it; that provisions were known to be upon the road at the distance of one or at most two marches; that, therefore, it would be proper to move, without loss of time, to meet the provisions, when the men might have the sooner an opportunity for refreshments, and that a proper detachment might be sent back with it to have it safely deposited in the fort. This advice was accepted, and the army put in motion again at 10 o'clock and marched all night, and the succeeding day met with a quantity of flour, part of it was distributed immediately, part taken back to supply the army on the march to Fort Hamilton, and the remainder (about fifty horse loads) sent forward to Fort Jefferson; the next day a drove of cattle was met with for the 158 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. same place, and I have information that both got in. Tne wounded, who had been left at that place, were ordered to be brought here by the return horses. " I have said, sir, in a former part of this letter, that we were overpowered by numbers; of that, however, I have no other evidence than the weight of the fire, which was, always a most deadly one, and generally delivered from the ground, few of the enemy showing themselves on foot, except when they were charged; and that in a few minutes our whole camp, which extended above three hundred and fifty yards in length, was entirely surrounded, and attacked on all quarters. " The loss, sir, the public has sustained by the fall of so many brave officers, particularly Gen. Butler and Maj. Ferguson, can not be too much regretted; but it is a circumstance that will alleviate the misfortune in some measure, that all of them fell most gallantly doing their duty. I have had very particular obligations to many of them, as well as to the survivors, but to none more than to Col. Sargent. He has discharged the various duties of his ,office with zeal, with exactness and with intelligence, and on all occasions, afforded me every assistance in his power; which I have also experienced from my aid-de-camp, Lieut. Denny, and the Viscount Malartie, who served with me in that station, as a volunteer. " With every sentiment of respect and regard, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, " ARTHUR ST. CLAIR. " To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Knox, secretary of war. " P. S. Some orders that had been given to Col. Oldham, over night, and which were of much consequence, were not executed; and some very material intelligence was communicated by Capt. Slough to Gen. Butler in the course of the night before the action, which was never imparted to me, nor did I hear of it until after my arrival here." " PHILADELPHIA, December 23. " Last Wednesday evening, Lieut. Denny, aid-de-camp to Maj.Gen. St. Clair, arrived with dispatches for the secretary of war, dated Fort Washington, the 17th of November. The garrison at Fort Jefferson was intended to be continued, and was not conceived to be in any danger; it was supplied with provisions, provided with artillery, and commanded by Capt. Shailer of the Second. regiment. Most of the wounded had arrived at Fort Washington from Fort Jefferson. Piomingo, the Chickasaw chief, had returned safe with his warriors, and Capt. Sparks, of Clarke's battalion, bringing with them five scalps. The Kentucky militia, under Gens. Scott and Wilkinson, all mounted and furnished with twenty days' provision, will probably arrive at Fort Washington about the loth of November. It was expected that the dispersed situation of the Indians would afford a good opportunity for the militia to make an important stroke yet this winter." The brave Maj. Clarke (who covered their retreat with some soldiers) supposed to be killed, had arrived safe at Fort Washington. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 159 The levies were generally discharged, excepting those who had enlisted in the regular service." This was accompanied with an authentic list of the killed and wounded in the army of the United States (regular troops) . The list embraces by name, only officers. But the whole number of noncommissioned officers and privates killed and missing amounted to 593, wounded, 214. Among the list of officers killed, was Capt. Kirkwood, an account of the attack upon whose cabin we have given in the chapter preceding this. Here ends our account of the Indian campaigns in which the settlers of the upper Ohio valley were directly concerned, but not the last before peace was secured. The disastrous defeat of the unfortunate St. Clair, made it necessary for the protection of the frontiers, and for the retrieving of the honor of the nation, to organize and send another army to punish the savages and reduce them to submission. But it is not our purpose to go into a detailed account which would be foreign to the end in view, that of confining ourselves to the relation of events and incidents as connected with the history of that section of which we have undertaken. But as a matter of general history we may remark that this last campaign which was conducted by Gen. Anthony Wayne, ended in the complete overthrow of the Indian forces and the glorious tri umph of the American arms. The results of this victory were secured by the treaty subsequently entered into at Greenville, on the 3d of August, A. D. 1795, by which among other things as the price of peace the Indians gave up an extensive tract of country south of the lakes and west of the Ohio, comprehending in all about four-fifths of the present state of Ohio. This was not only the close of the Indian wars, but was really the close of our war for independence, as now for the first time the country really enjoyed independence and peace. 160 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. CHAPTER VIII. CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION -THEIR POVERTY MODE OF EMIGRATION TO THE WEST - THE FORTITUDE OF FEMALES - THE ERECTION OF THE CABIN - PERILS AND DANGERS TO WHICH THE PIONEER WAS EXPOSED - A MORAL AND INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN THE MAIN - THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP - EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG - RECREATIONS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - IMITATIVE SOUNDS OF ANIMALS AND BIRDS - THROWING THE TOMAHAWK -ATHLETIC SPORTS - DANCING - SHOOTING AT A MARK - DRAMATIC NARRATIONS - SINGING - DESCRIPTION OF THE MODE OF BUILDING -FURNITURE OF THE CABIN - THE DRESS OF THE SETTLERS - EMPLOYMENT OF THE . FEMALES - THEFTS AND PUNISHMENTS - HOSPITALITY OF THE PEOPLE -THEIR SENSE OF HONOR-SINGLE COMBATS - THE FAMINE YEAR. CONTRASTS in the character of the early settlers and that of the population of the present day is one of striking difference. The advantages of the former were exceedingly limited in all the relations of life. Possessing none of the comforts and conveniences which are so abundantly multiplied to the people of to-day, they were compelled by force of circumstances to be satisfied with the rudest implements of husbandry, a circumscribed fare, and roughly constructed furniture, such as native ingenuity suggested and was able to fashion. The revolution had withdrawn the labor of the country from agriculture and manufactures. The trying scenes and the dangerous perils through which the country had passed during the continuance had paralyzed commerce and trade, of which, at the close of the revolution there were none. Of money, there was none of any consequence. The continental money was worthless. The country at large could not even furnish necessary clothing. The dream of the fighting, starving, and freezing soldier led him to look forward to the future for compensation and comfort; and in the midst of his many trials and hardships he never for a moment doubted but that his hard earned services would be amply rewarded, and he be remembered with gratitude and thankfulness by his torn and bleeding country. But when discharged from the service he was paid off in worthless continental scrip, hundreds of dollars of which would scarceful suffice to secure for him a respectable meal. Thus he was compelled to return to his poverty-stricken family, without the means to provide for their comfort, himself often but a mere wreck of what he was, frequently broken down with sickness or carrying within his system the germs of disease implanted there by want, exposure and fatigue con- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 161 sequent upon his arduous and heavy duties as a soldier and patriot. Under the excitements of war with its pomp and parade he had been sustained, but these were now at an end. Is it any wonder that these brave men who had been ready and foremost in the hour of conflict and who held not their hires dear in the cause of humanity and their country under these circumstances should become depressed and discouraged and lack the courage to face the stern poverty with which they had to contend. Hence many were prompted to look to the unsettled and western portions of our country where land was cheap, and nature was as yet unsubdued. Their journey to this El Dorado of their hopes and desires was one which was full of perils, dangers and hardships, yet with resigned purpose, they gathered together their household goods, and with their families set out for the then far away and unknown country, consuming weeks in accomplishing what now can be accomplished in a few hours, comparatively speaking. At this time the mode of communication was either by means of a long and tedious journey on foot, or by pack horses which afforded the necessary transportation of the period. One horse would be devoted to carrying the mother of the family, who often traveled with an infant in her arms, her animal being encumbered with the cooking utensils of the family and such table furniture as was necessary for the use of the members. Another horse would pack the family provisions and the various implements of husbandry which it was necessary should be brought with them as none such could be obtained in the new country. Again, where there were young children of too tender an age to walk and undergo the fatigue incident to physical effort, two large creels made of hiccory withes would be thrown across the back of the horse, resembling in size and shape our crates — one on each side of the horse, in which was packed the beds and necessary bed clothes for the same, together with the apparel for the family. In the center of these creels the young children would occupy a space in a depression of the bedding, which were secured by lacing in such a manner as to hold and keep them in their positions, and as the animal moved along, their heads, only, which were above, were to be seen bobbing up and down with every motion of the beast as it walked along with measured pace. As the early settlers greatly depended on milk, one or more cows invariably brought up the rear of this unique cavalcade. The children depended on the lacteal fluid they furnished for their morning and evening meal, and the surplus, if any, was used by the older persons during the day with which to refresh themselves. At night, if fortunate enough to come across a deserted cabin, they would take possession of it for the time being, and thus secure shelter. But it was .seldom that they enjoyed such a comfort and protection. Hence they were mostly compelled to make their camp upon the bare ground beneath the green arches of the forest trees and in the vicinity of some spring or stream of running water. Here, after the fatigues of the day spent on horseback carrying her helpless babe through its wearisome hours, the jaded mother would seek a 11—A. 162 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. broken rest, broken by reason of exccessive fatigue or a sick and petulant infant, until the morning light admonished them to commence anew unrefreshed with sleep and watching. The indebtedness of succeeding generations to these pioneer mothers has never been appreciated- as it should have been. Their' sacrifices and labors in laying the foundations of this western empire and in building up and improving its waste places with thriving towns, cities and villages — in cheering and encouraging their husbands and sons under the most unpropitious and at times the most discouraging surroundings, and in counsel and advice as to plans and their fulfilment, is a part, and will continue to be, of that unwritten history which is always the most interesting and instructive. Though by force of circumstances their lives were inconspicuous in most instances as compared with those of the male portion, yet their influence in shaping and controlling the destiny of this western country, was not less than the more active and prominent efforts of the latter. And indeed in times of emergency when the incursion of the savage startled them from their peaceful quiet or the prowling wolf and bear invaded their domain, she showed the pluck and nerve of a true heroine in defense of home and loved ones. Pages might be written of heroism, and instances without number be given, illustrative of her fortitude and self-abnegation, did time and space permit, but we forbear. It must be borne in mind that a journey to the west in those days was not over beaten roads and well defined avenues of travel, of -which at that period there were none. Hence travel was neither easy nor comfortable. Their way was usually along a trail, a bridle path, or marked by notched trees to indicate their course. These lead through wild, primeval forests, where the precipice, the ravine, and the stream presented natural obstructions to their progress. To pass along and through these it required at all times that the greatest caution should be exercised. The stumbling of a horse on the brink of a precipice might precipitate it and its burden to the depths far below. No bridges spanned the streams, and they were therefore compelled with anxious care to ford them, or when swollen by the rains, they were compelled to patiently wait upon their banks for the subsidence of their waters. Under these circumstances the members of the family would frequently become separated from one another and much time would be lost in gathering them together. Sometimes an unlucky horse would lose his footing and the swift current would bear him away or damage his burden, or place the lives of the young children in imminent danger if not speedily rescued. After reaching their destination and making a location, the first thing they undertook was the erection of a cabin for the shelter and protection of the family. For this purpose timber was procured by cutting down and felling the trees suitable for the building, which were chopped into logs of the desired length, and these were then rolled to the spot selected for its site, where strong arms placed them in position, and covered them with a roof of clapboards. Afterward HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 163 they were furnished with a puncheon floor, the interstices between the logs were filled with chink and mortar to make it storm proof, and a chimney was added on the outside built of sticks and mud. The next thing in order was the girdling of the trees and the felling of those in the the immediate vicinity of the newly erected cabin to obtain a clearing, which at the proper time was made ready for the reception of corn and potatoes. As our pioneer ancestry did not depend on "store clothes" for their outfit, each pioneer had his patch of flax, which the busy housewife spun in her leisure moments, and worked into yards of homespun fabric, out of which she made the unpretending garments for family use and wear. Let it be remembered, too, that in the midst of numerous trials and hardships incident to their lives and locations, and to which they were unceasingly subjected, they were also exposed to the appearance of the marauding savage,, who was bent on plunder and murder at the most unexpected and unlooked for seasons. Murders on the part of the Indians were frequent, and numbers of settlers, their wives and children, were from tune to time taken prisoners and carried away by their captors to spend hopeless years under savage surveillance, if by a kind providence they were suffered to escape the tortures of the stake or a lingering death in some other form. To meet these sudden inroads of the Indians, frequent calls were made upon the settlers to do militia service at the most unpropitious seasons, often when their crops demanded their undivided care and attention. It was a very usual thing for one man to be engaged in the field at his labors, while one or two others would stand guard with their rifles in hand to protect him if necessary from sudden surprise by the prowling red man. The general government could not come to their relief and the state of Virginia had expended all her resources in carrying on the revolution, and hence in a great measure they were left to their own resources for protection and defense as best they might or could. In the several sieges sustained by Fort Henry it was the settlers who defended that post so successfully as it was those who also defended the smaller forts and block houses which suffered from similar attacks from the common enemy. And yet these people, deprived as they were in their new homes, of so many of the advantages of a more civilized life, were in the main a moral and intelligent class of people. As such they respected the claims of religion and enjoyed its ordinances, frequently traveling ten, fifteen and twenty miles to enjoy its privileges and participate in its services. Of church buildings there were none, but they realized in the destitution of church buildings that "The groves were God's first temples." A pulpit made Of logs was erected under the boughs of some lofty forest tree, while in front of it logs were placed for seats, where the gathered audience sat and listened to the exposition of the Word, while vigilant sentinels kept measured tread upon the outside of the assembled congregation at a respectable distance, while those in at- 164 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. tendance had stacked their arms beneath some friendly tree where they could be promptly secured for use in case their wily foe should have the temerity to disturb their devotions. Here in the cold and piercing wind, and often exposed to the falling rain, the earnest worshipers would remain for hours, with the exception of a brief intermission for their meals, and often scantily clad, with a blanket or coverlet, or oftener a deerskin thrown around their bodies to protect them from the roughness of the elements. These meetings were sometimes protracted for days. The education of the children usually, and indeed in almost every instance, devolved upon the mother, and instruction of them was not neglected by her, as she generally realized the responsibilities devolving upon her in at least giving them some general idea of its importance and value. And this effort upon her part was truly a labor of love full of difficulties. The boys accustomed to active and stirring scenes, living in the midst of exciting influences, and familiarized as they were with scenes of trial and hardships, and almost daily listening to recitals of Indian massacres and depredations, and to the daring and deeds of some well-known pioneer, and ignorant of the sports engaged in by children in more settled portions of. the country, it is no wonder that they grew up with the spirit of adventure fully developed within them, and with the idea that a soldier's life was the ideal object to be obtained, or a hunter's, the one to be adopted and followed. Yet the labor of the faithful mothers built up characters in many cases imbued with the transforming power of Christianity, and many of them became the humble and sincere followers of the Master. The early settlers of the Pan-handle, notwithstanding the many privations and hardships they were called upon to endure, found leisure to engage in recreation, and to enjoy sports and pleasures which in these latter days have entirely passed away and been forgotten to a very great extent. Doddridge, in speaking of the games and diversions engaged in, says: " One important pastime of our boys was that of imitating the noise of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty was not merely a pastime, but a very necessary part of education, on account of its utility in certain circumstances. The imitations of the gobbling, and other sounds of wild turkeys, often brought those keen-eyed and ever watchful tenants of the forest, within the reach of the rifle. The bleating of the fawn brought the dam to her death in the same way. The hunter often collected a company of mopish owls to the trees about his camp, and amused himself with their hoarse screaming; his howl would raise and obtain responses from a pack of wolves, so as to inform him of their neighborhood, as well as guard him against their depredations. This imitative faculty was sometimes requisite as a measure of precaution in war. The Indians, when scattered about in a neighborhood, often collected together, by imitating turkeys by day and wolves or owls by night. In similar situations our people did the same. I have often witnessed the consternation of a whole neighborhood, in consequence of a few screeches of owls. An early and correct use of this imita- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 165 tive faculty, was considered as an indication that its possessor would become in due time a good hunter and a valiant warrior." Throwing the tomahawk was another boyish sport, in which many acquired considerable skill. The tomahawk, with its handle of a certain length, will make a given number of turns in a given distance, say in five steps it will strike with the edge, the handle downwards; at the distane of seven and a half it willl strike wiih the edge, the handle upwards, and so on. A little experience enabled the boy to measure the distance with his eye, when walking through the woods, and strike a tree with his tomahawk in any way he chose. The athletic sports of running, jumping and wrestling, were the pastimes of boys in common with the men. A well-grown boy at the age of twelve or thirteen years, was furnished with a small rifle and shot pouch. He then became a fort soldier, and had his port-hole assigned him. Hunting squirrels, turkeys and raccoons soon made him expert in the use of his gun. Dancing was the principal amusement of our young people of both sexes. Their dances to be sure were of the simplest forms. Three and four-handed reels and jigs. Contra dances, cotillions, and minuets were unknown. Shooting at marks was a common diversion among the men, when their stock of ammunition would allow it; this, however, was far from being always the case. The present mode of shooting off-hand was not then in practice. This mode was not considered as any trial of the value of a gun; nor indeed as much of a trial of the skill of a marksman. Their shooting was from a rest, and at as great a distance as the length and weight of the barrel of the gun would throw a ball on a horizontal level. Such was their regard to accuracy, in these sportive trials of their rifles, and of their own skill in the use of them, that they often put moss, or some other soft substance, on the log or stump from which they shot, for fear of having the bullet thrown from the mark by the spring of the barrel. When the rifle was held to the side of a tree for rest, it was pressed against it as lightly as possible for the same reason. Rifles of former times were different from those of modern date; few of them carried more than forty-five bullets to the pound. Bullets of a less size were not thought sufficiently heavy for hunting or war. Dramatic narrations concerning Jack and the giant, furnished our young people with anothor source of amusement during their leisure hours. Many of these tales were lengthy, and embraced a considerable range of incident, Jack, always the hero of the story, after encountering many difficulties, and performing many great achievements, came off conqueror of the giant. Many of these stories were tales of knight errantry, in which some captive virgin was released from captivity and restored to her lover. These dramatic narrations concerning Jack and the giant, bore a strong resemblance to the poems of Ossian, the story of the Cyclops and Ulysses in the Odyssey of Homer, and the tale of the giant and Great Heart, in the Pilgrim's Progress. They were so arranged as to the different incidents of the narration, that they were easily committed to memory. They certainly have been 166 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. handed down from generation to generation, from time immemorial. Civilization has, indeed, banished the use of those ancient tales of romantic heroism, but what then? It has substituted in their place the novel and romance. Singing was another, but not very common, amusement among our first settlers. Their tunes were rude enough to be sure. Robin Hood furnished a number of our songs, the balance were mostly tragical. These last were denominated " love songs about murder." As to cards, dice, back-gammon and other games of chance, we knew nothing then. These are amongst the blessed gifts of civilization. The buildings, as we have already indicated, were of the rudest kind. After selecting a spot on which to erect a house, on an appointed day, a company of choppers met, felled the necessary trees, cut them off to proper length, when a team hauled them to the place. In the meantime a carpenter would be engaged in searching for a proper tree out of which to make clapboards for the roof. The boards were split, about four feet in length and as wide as the timber would allow. They were used without shaving. Some would be employed in getting puncheons for the floor of the cabin. This was done by splitting trees about eighteen inches in diameter, and hewing the faces of them without a broadaxe. They were half the length of the floor they were intended to make. These were the usual preparations for the first day. The second day the neighbors collected around and finished the house. The third day's work generally constituted in what was called " furnituring " the house, supplying it with a clapboard table, made of a split slab, and supported by four round legs, set in auger holes. Some three-legged stools were made in the same manner. Some pins stuck in the logs at the back of the house, supported some clapboards which served for shelves for the table furniture, consisting usually of a few pewter dishes, plates and spoons, but mostly of wooden bowls, trenches and noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hard-shelled squashes made up the deficiency. The iron pots, knives and forks, were brought from the east side of the mountains, along with iron and salt on pack horses. " A single fork placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor and the upper end fastened to the joist served for a bedstead, by placing a pole in the fork, with one end through a crack between the logs in the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one within the fork, with its outer end through another crack. From the first pole through a crack between the logs of the end of the house, the boards were put on, which formed the bottom of the bed. Sometimes other poles were pinned to the fork, a little distance above these for the purpose of supporting the front and foot of the bed, while the, walls were the support of its back and its head. A few pegs around the walls for a display of the coats of the women and hunting shirts of the men; and two small forks or buck's horns to a joist for the rifle and shot pouch, completed the carpenter's work. The cabin being finished the next ceremony was the ' house warming.' " The dress of the first settlers partook of the character of the In- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 167 dian and the more civilized costume, the hunting shirt, was worn by everyone, it being something like a loose blouse, reaching below the waist, with large, open sleeves and made so wide as to lap over the bust when belted, for a foot or more. To this was attached a capacious cape which was sometimes adorned with a fringe made of a ravelled piece of cloth, of different color than that of the shirt. Both of these were usually made of a fabric known as "linsey woolsey." " The bosom of this dress served as a receptacle to hold a chunk of bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the barrel of the rifle, or any other necessary for the hunter or warrior. The belt which was tied behind answered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather, the mittens, and sometimes the bullet bag occupied the front of it. To the right side was suspended the towahawk, and on the left the scalping knife in its leathern sheath." A pair of drawers or breeches and leggins were the dress of the thighs and legs. Buckskin breeches were regarded as superior in style and show in those days. A pair of moccasins answered for the feet much better than shoes and were made of dressed deer skins. They were generally made of a single piece with gathered seams along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom of the heel, without gathers, as high as the ankle joint, or a little higher. Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the leg, by thongs of deerskin, so that no dust, gravel or snow could get within the moccasin. The moccasins in ordinary use cost but a few hours' labor to make them. In cold weather they were stuffed with deer's hair or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably warm. In latter years of the Indian war, the young men became more enamored with the Indian dress throughout, with the exception of the watch coat. The drawers were laid aside, and the leggins made longer, so as to reach the upper part of the thigh. The Indian style of toilet was adopted. This was a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard long and eight or nine inches broad. This passed under the belt before and behind, leaving the ends of the flaps hanging before and behind over the belt. These flaps were sometimes ornamented with some coarse kinds of embroidering work. To the same belt which secured this cloth, strings, which supported the long leggins, were attached. When this belt, as was often the case, passed over the hunting shirt, the upper part of the thighs, and part of the hips were naked. The young warrior instead of being abashed by his nudity, was proud of his Indian-like dress. The linsey woolsey petticoat and bed-gown, which were the universal dress of our women in early times, would make a very singular figure in our day. A small home-made handkerchief, in point of elegance, would ill-supply the profusion of ruffles and laces with which the necks of our ladies are now ornamented. They were accustomed to go barefoot in warm weather, and in cold their feet were covered with moccasins, overshoes or shoe-packs, which often would make but a very sorry figure beside the elegant morocco slippers or 168 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. calf-skin shoes which at present ornament the feet of their daughters and grand-daughters. The coats and bed-gowns of the women, as well as the hunting shirts of the men, were hung in full display on wooden pegs,, around the walls of the cabin; so that while they answered, in some degree, the place of paper hangings or tapestry, they announced to the stranger, as well as neighbor, the wealth or poverty of the family in the articles of clothing. This practice prevailed for a long time. The ladies handled the spinning-wheel, shuttle, sickle, weeding hoe, scutching knife, hackle, and were contented if they could obtain their linsey woolen clothing, and cover their heads with sun bonnets made of coarse linen. Debts which so agitate a settled community and which make such a disturbance in the laws and usages of trade among the commercial classes, were unknown, comparatively speaking, among our early ancestors in this country. As before stated, they had no money but the worthless continental paper, and hence, when purchases were made, the prices were paid in produce or labor. The price for a bushel of alum salt was a cow and calf. A failure to perform a contract, brought disgrace and discredit upon the head of the delinquent. A thief was looked upon with supreme contempt and punished with the most extreme infamy. When a thief was detected in the settlement, the summary infliction of stripes was visited upon the offender. If the theft was of something of some value, an irregular jury of the neighborhood where the crime occurred, would be called together, for the purpose of hearing the testimony, and if found guilty, the culprit would be condemned to receive forty lashes, save one, well laid on by some stalwart individual selected to discharge that duty. Another mode of punishment adopted in the case of petty offenders was to compel the offender to carry on his back the flag of the United States, which at that time was composed of thirteen stripes. These stripes were well laid on, on the bare back by an able hand. The punishment was then followed by a sentence of exile. He was sent out as an outcast, being informed that he must decamp in a certain number of days, with orders never to return there again on penalty of having the number of his stripes doubled. For many years after the law was put in operation in the Pan-handle of Virginia, the justices were in the habit of exercising their discretion in cases of small thefts giving those who were brought before them the option of a choice in going to jail or taking a whipping. The latter was usually chosen, and was at once inflicted; after which the thief was ostracised and ordered never to return. The hospitality of the people was proverbial; no one ever appealed in vain for help or food in their emergency, whether it was a neighbor or a stranger, and nothing would give greater offense than an offer to pay for the same. Their latch string always hung on the outside, and the stranger and the wayfarer alike always received a generous and hearty welcome. In their friendship they were firm, constant and true. Opposed to this commendable trait of character, was another which it was unsafe to arouse; we mean their revengeful ani- HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 169 mosity, which was frequently carried to extremes, and which sometimes led to personal combats and dangerous encounters. They were exceedingly sensitive as to a point of honor. If one called another a liar he was considered as having given a challenge which the person receiving it must accept or be looked upon as a coward; and hence the insult was generally promptly met with a blow. But if on account of existing disability of any kind on the part of the injured, he was permitted to go to a friend to accept the challenge for him. The same took place when a party was charged with cowardice or a dishonorable action of any kind. A conflict must ensue, and the person making the charge or giving the insult had to fight the person injured or any champion, no matter who, who might be willing to espouse his cause and take up the cudgel in his behalf. The prevalence of this disposition led the people of this early day to be cautious in speaking of their neighbors to their discredit, and also encouraged a chivalrous feeling of self-respect, as well as consideration for the feeling of others. It was not unusual for pitched battles to occur, when preparation would be made beforehand by the appointment of the time, place and seconds. The mode of single combats in those days was extremely dangerous and often disastrous. In the fierce contact fist, feet and teeth were all employed. A practice much in vogue in the encounters was that of gouging, by which it was no uncommon thing to have an eye wrenched from its socket. Among other trials and privations to which the early settlers were subjected was the failure of crops, and hence the scarcity of wholesome food. In the year 179o, famine stared them in the face. An early frost in the preceding fall had cut down the corn before it was fairly dried and ready for gathering. A great deal of it, however, was gathered and put away notwithstanding, and in this state it was used by many for making bread, which, when eaten, invariably reacted upon the stomach producing intense sickness and vomiting. Even the domestic animals were seriously affected from eating of it. Consequently wholesome corn at once went up in price to $1.50, and $2 per bushel, and even at this price it was difficult to obtain. The scarcity was pronounced and generally felt by the following June. There were but few milch cows in the settlements, and no oxen, cattle or hogs which could be spared for meat. The woods to a great extent had been depleted of game by the Indians who had slaughtered or driven away the larger portion of it within any reasonable distance of the settlements. But in the midst of the great scarcity prevailing shone wit that conspicuous trait of character attaching to the people who readily shared what they had with those who were the less fortunate. Such of them as were the fortunate possessors of a cow, shared the milk with their neighbors, notably in such cases where they had young children. There was also a scarcity of sugar and molasses, not because there was not an abundance of the maple tree around them, but simply because they were deficient in not having vessels appropriate in which to boil the sap. If it had not been that the river and creeks afforded a reasona- 170 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ble supply of fish very poor families must have suffered from starvation. The green tops of the nettles and the tender blades of herbs as soon as they appeared were gathered, of which they made a palatable dish of soup which many persons indulged in to satisfy the cravings of their appetites. Potato tops were also utilized in the same way. A great scarcity of salt likewise prevailed, and sold in small quantities at 50 cents a quart. By one means and another they struggled through this dire period until early vegetables began to appear, and finally the ripened corn mixed with a small quantity of wheat furnished them with luxury of bread. The crop of the year was excellent and abundant and banished all fears of a want of food. This year marked an episode in the lives of the settlers, and was known long afterward, and always referred to as the " starvation year." CHAPTER IX. OHIO COUNTY.- CIVIL HISTORY - PAST EVENTS AND INCIDENTS SHOULD BE PRESERVED - ATTENTION DIRECTED TOWARD THE WEST -THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE MOTHER COUNTRY AND THE COLONIES ASSUMES VAST PROPORTIONS - VIRGINIA CONVENTION OF 1775 — THE LIMITS OF THE DISTRICT OF WEST AUGUSTA - THE BOUNDARIES OF OHIO COUNTY DEFINED - ITS ORIGINAL AREA - LANDHOLDERS OF THE COUNTY MEET AND SELECT A PLACE FOR HOLDING COURT - ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY - STEPS TAKEN FOR THE ERECTION OF A COURT HOUSE -COL. DAVID SHEPHERD ARRAIGNED BY THE COURT FOR CONTEMPT-THE FIRST ATTORNEYS - NUMBER OF TITHABLES - FIRST PURCHASE OF PUBLIC GROUND - FIRST WILL RECORDED - SECOND DEED - RETRACTION OF A LIBEL - SPINNING WHEELS EXCHANGED FOR LAND - SETTLEMENT OF BOUNDARY BETWEEN OHIO AND YOUGHIOGHENY COUNTIES - BILL OF SLAVES - FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE - PARTIES FINED FOR SELLING LIQUOR WITHOUT LICENSE- COMMON SWEARERS FINED - IMPRISONMENT INFLICTED FOR SPEAKING DISRESPECTFULLY OF THE COURT - RATES FOR ORDINARY KEEPERS FIXED - LEVIES- PROPOSALS FOR A NEW COURT HOUSE - REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT. WHETHER within or beyond the limits of our own lives, the past is always a subject of interest. The circumstances connected with the founding of a community, whether small or great, are always a matter of concern, not alone to those who are directly interested, but in a greater or less degree to the mass of mankind in general, because the events and incidents connected with such an undertaking always include within themselves the elements which to some extent appeal to the curious and inquisitive qualities of human nature. HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 171 But a stronger and more controlling feeling with us of the present day, should be an intense and earnest desire to rescue from oblivion the rapidly fading incidents and fast fleeting memories of a period in our history which was marked with deeds of prowess, and characterized by traits of self-denial and acts of sacrifice, not less worthy of renown and preservation than many of those which occupy such prominent conspicuity in the annals of Greece and Rome in the days of their classic antiquity. The foundations of our western empire were laid amid scenes of strife and warfare and cemented with a baptism of blood, and especially was this the case with reference to that portion of it lying within that region known as the upper Ohio valley. As indicated in a former part of this history, after the chastisement inflicted upon the Indians by Col. Bouquet, in the year 1765, and by means of which a temporary peace was secured, the people east of the mountains began to turn their attention to the country bordering on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, particularly the former. The fertility of the soil, the variety of the timber, and the great abundance of game, gave to it a desirable charm in the eyes of the adventurous and the back-woodsman, which induced them to push westward and take possession of a land so rich in all the essentials of promise and the elements of untold and undeveloped possibilities. The differences between the mother country and the colonies had, in the year 1775, culminated in some portions of the country to open acts of defiance, and were daily assuming a more threatening aspect. Indeed, in this year, the quarrel had become so pronounced, that all hopes of a satisfactory adjustment of them had been. abandoned. The house of Burgesses of Virginia had been dissolved, andthe royal governor (Dunmore), with his wife and children, had left the capital, these latter taking refuge on a British vessel lying in the harbor, on which they shipped for England, while he himself sought refuge on a British man of war, then lying in the waters of Virginia, and from which quarter he issued his 'nocuous edicts and proclamations. In the meantime a convention of authorized delegates from different portions of Virginia were summoned to meet in Richmond on the loth day of March, 1775, which. having assembled, enacted such legislation and exercised such executive control over public affairs as the public safety demanded and the exigencies of the hour required. One of the first things in the early session of this body which received its attention was a letter received from a number of the inhabitants of the district of West Augusta, requesting the admission of John Neville and John Harvie, Esqs., as delegates from that district, to represent the interest of its inhabitants in the convention. This request was promptly acceded to, and thereupon they were admitted and took their. seats as members and participated in the proceedings of the body. The boundaries of West Augusta as defined by an act of the general assembly passed in the year 1776, were as follows: " Beginning on the Allegheny mountains between the heads of Potowmack, Cheat 172 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. and Greenbrier rivers; thence along the ridge of mountains which divides the waters of Cheat river from those of Greenbrier, and that branch of the Monongahela river called Tygart's Valley river to the Monongahela river; thence up the said river and the west fork thereof to Bingamon's creek, on the northwest of the said west fork; thence up the said creek to the head thereof; thence in a direct course to the head of Middle Island creek, a branch of the Ohio; and thence to the Ohio, including all the waters of the aforesaid creek in the aforesaid district of West Augusta, all that territory lying to the northward of the aforesaid boundary, and to the westward of the states Pennsylvania and Maryland, shall be deemed and is hereby declared to be within the district of West Augusta." Within the above mentioned limits was embraced not only the entire territory of the present panhandle, but also Greene and Washington counties in the state of Pennsylvania, and portions of Allegheny and Beaver counties in the same state. By a section of the same act three counties, to wit: Ohio, Monongahela and Yohogania, were carved out of this district.. The boundaries of Ohio county were defined as follows: " Beginning at the mouth of Cross creek; thence up the same, to the head thereof; thence southeastwardly to the nearest part of the ridge, which divides the waters of the Ohio from those of the Monongahela; thence along said ridge to the line which divides the county of Augusta from the said district; thence with the said boundary to the Ohio; thence up the same to the beginning." The counties named were the first which were organized in the Ohio valley. The original area of Ohio county was 1,432 square miles. But owing to the formation of new counties out of its original territory its area has been decreased and it now contains only about 113 square miles. By the same act provision was made for the meeting of the land holders of the new county for the purpose of selecting the most convenient place for holding courts. In compliance with the provisions of the aforesaid act of assembly, and of certain instructions addressed to him, John McColloch, Esq., summoned the landholders within the county to convene at the house of Ezekiel Dewitt, Esq., situated on Buffalo creek on the 27th day of. December in the year 1776, for the purpose of electing and constituting a committee in said county, and also to make choice of a place where county courts were to be held in future in said county. The said meeting met at the time and place mentioned, and by a vote of the majority of those present they decided in favor of " Black's Cabin," situated on the waters of Short creek.. This cabin was located in the vicinity of a spring, known at that day and later as Well's spring, and which has been walled up and protected by its present proprietor. — Mr. Foreman, a resident of West Liberty, in said county. The place thus selected was at the time in the midst of a wildernest with but here and there an inhabitant. We are wholly ignorant of OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 173 the motives which prompted them in making the selection they did, but doubtless they were satisfactory to those immediately interested. At this place, therefore, on the 16th day of January, 1777, was organized the first court in Ohio county. Some historians have insisted that this was the first court organized west of the Alleghanies. But this is a mistake. When Maj. John Connelly, with the approval of Gov. Dunmore in the year 1774, occupied and repaired Fort Pitt and changed its name to Fort Dunmore, a court was established by him which had a brief existence, which ceased to exist, however, when the Pennsylvanians retook possession of the fort and restored to it the name of Fort Pitt. This last-named court, therefore, had precedence of the Ohio county court in point of time. We are also inclined to think that there was another court in existence in the western part of Pennsylvania some years prior to the establishment of the court in Ohio county, but our data for this assertion is imperfect, but we think it quite probable that such was the case. At the session of the court held at Black's cabin at the date mentioned hereinbefore the oaths of office were administered to David Shepherd, Silas Hedges, William Scott and James Caldwell by James McMechen, Esq., who had been duly appointed and instructed for that purpose under and by virtue of a writ of dedimus potestatem, which was directed by the governor to William Scott, James McMechen and David Rogers, authorizing either of them to act in the premises. After his qualification David Shepherd proceeded to administer the same oath to the following named persons, to-wit: Zachariah Sprigg, Thomas Waller and Daniel McClain, as justices, who after being duly qualified took their seats upon the bench. They then proceeded to the appointment of a high sheriff of the county, the lot falling upon John McColloch, Esq., who tendered John Mitchell and Samuel McColloch, a brother of John, as his sureties in his official bond for the faithful discharge of his duties as sheriff, who were accepted as good and sufficient, whereupon his bond was duly executed in open court. At the same time he was required to enter into an additional bond in the penalty of conditioned for his faithfully collecting and duly accounting for all officers' fees, moneys, etc., which might come into his hands. The sureties upon this last mentioned bond were the same as on the former, with the addition of James McMechen. Thereupon the oath of office was administered to him in open court, and he was installed in his new position, that of the first sheriff of Ohio county. The court then proceeded to the choice of a clerk, and James McMechen being approved of that office he took the necessary oaths and was inducted into office. With a view of regulating and disciplining the militia of the county, the court resolved, "that David Shepherd be recommended to his honor, the governor, as county lieutenant, Silas Hedges, Esq., as col onel, Mr. David McClure, as lieutenant colonel, and Mr. Samuel McColloch as major of militia." On the following day the court recommended the appointment of nine captains, nine ensigns and nine lieutenants, together with several constables. On the same day 174 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the court made the following entry: "Ordered, that Capt. Samuel Meason, Lieut. Ebenezer Zane, James McConnell and Conrad Wheat, being first duly sworn, do view the best and most direct way for the laying out of a road from Fort Henry to. the first fork of Wheeling, and due return make to the next county court." At the following March term, steps were taken for the erection of a court house, as appears from the following extract from the record: " The court taking into consideration the expediency of having a court house erected, it is ordered that a house for that purpose be erected of the following dimensions and conveniences, to wit: A diamond-cornered house of dimensions 22x18 feet in the clear, one story and one-half high, a floor above and below of hard or sawn plank, ten joists in the upper floor:nine or ten feet high in the lower story; court's bench and clerk's table; two windows of eight lights each 8x 10 inches, a pair of stairs and cabin roof; a plain door and hinges of iron; likewise plain window shutters with iron hinges also. A jail 2ox 16 feet on the outside; the logs of the wall to be round and close laid, the loft, floors, and partition to be of logs squared to eight inches thickness; two rounds of logs above the loft, cabin roofed, doors and windows agreeable; a stone chimney with iron grates; the doors done with nails; locks sufficient; the loft and floor to have each a large beam supporting them in the middle, and for the purpose of having the aforementioned buildings completed as soon as possible agreeable to the aforesaid dimensions, it is ordered that John McColloch, high sheriff, be ordered to put the same up at public auction to the lowest undertaker." It will be observed from this description that our forefathers did not indulge to any great extent in architectural taste or display. The persons heretofore named, and the officers before mentioned as having been recommended to the governor for appointment to different positions, having been approved by the governor, and the same having been certified to the court, were duly commissioned, and appeared at the June term, 1777, and qualified by taking the respective oaths of office. Owing to the unsettled condition of the borders, occasioned by the depredations of the savages and the cruel and relentless warfare which they waged against the whites, the conduct of local affairs, necessarily to a great extent was neglected to the supervision and control of the military officials of the county; hence, the supremacy of civil power and authority was for a time compelled to yield to that of the military. The sessions of the court, therefore, because of the existence of these troubles, were suspended for the period between the month of June, 1777, until the 6th day of April, 1778, on which latter date the court re-assembled and resumed its judicial functions. The members of the court jealous of their authority and dignity, and smarting under the feeling that their rights had been infringed upon, and that the court had been treated with contempt in not having been consulted by the military authorities who had instituted martial law throughout the county, determined to vindicate the out-