(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 49 CHAPTER V. PERILS OF THE SURVEY. Adventures of Massie, McArthur, McDonald, Sullivant, O'Bannon, Fox, Lee, Beasley, and others in the Virginia Military District.— Danger from Indian Attack, from the Cold and from Lack of Food. —Attack upon an Indian Camp by Massie and his men.—" The Starving Four.“—Murray Killed upon Deer Creek.—Narrow Escape of McDonald and Sullivant.-1787 to 1793. THE work of surveying the Virginia Military lands was commenced as early as in the spring of 1787. Maj. John O'Bannon and Arthur Fox, with their companies, came across the Ohio and made examinations of the lands lying along its nothern bank, along the Scioto, the Miami, and some of their tributaries, with a view to making entries as soon as Colonel Richard C. Anderson's office should be open for that purpose. On the first of August the office was opened at " Soldiers' Retreat," near Louisville, and soon after entries were made of the lands in the Ohio bottom, also considerable in the Scioto and Little Miami bottoms. Owing to ignorance in regard to the extent of jurisdiction that the United States had over the lands of the Virginia Military grant, much difficulty arose. It was one of the conditions imposed by congress, that the lands lying in the grant, in Ohio, should not be entered until the amount of the deficiency in the Kentucky grant should be known. In July, 1788, a congressional act was passed by which all locations and surveys, previously made between the Scioto and Little Miami rivers, should be held invalid. The passage of this act, together with the wholesome dread of Indian hostilities, caused a cessation in the making of surveys in the district until in 1788. All difficulty, of a legal nature, being thus removed, the survey of the lands in the Virginia Military district was again resumed. But little is known of the surveying expeditions that were made previous to 179o. Nathaniel Massie, who afterwards did so much in the way of exploring and surveying the Virginia Military district, made his first venture in 1788, probably in company with Fox and O'Bannon. All of the work, at that time, had to be done by stealth, and the surveyors undoubtedly had some thrilling exploits, but their history is lost, beyond all hope of recovery. The first effectual effort to establish a condition of civilization in the Scioto country of which we have any reliable information, was made in 1791. Massie, who for some time previous had been engaged in writing in Colonel Anderson's office, in order to acquire a complete knowledge of the business of locating and surveying, determined, in the winter of 179o, to make a settlement north of the Ohio that he might live in or near the actual field of his future operations. He selected the site of the present town of Manchester, in Adams county, and made such proposals to some of the Kentuckians that he succeeded in establishing there a colony of about thirty families, early in 1791. By the middle of March cabins had been erected and the primitive village enclosed by strong pickets, or palings, with block-houses at the corners, for defence, in case of an Indian attack. EXPEDITIONS FROM MASSIE'S STATION. After having permanently established himself, Massie and his companions proceeded, with great precaution, to make surveys in all directions. Many dangers surrounded them, and, despite their vigilance, they had many disasters, and on several occasions narrowly escaped with their lives. The country now so thickly settled was then a trackless waste, in which perils were to be encountered upon every hand. It was the time of bitter Indian warfare, and the red men reamed the forest silently, in small bands, ever alert for the unwary white victim. Manchester was the only place of refuge in the whole valley of the Scioto. From this point the intrepid, adventurous, spirited surveyors penetrated the wilderness that lay to the north of them, surveyed the beautiful valley, and meandered up the lesser streams. Their plan was to keep spies upon the watch for "Indian signs," and when they found indications that the enemy was near, and in considerable numbers, to either retreat to the settlement, or encamp and remain perfectly still until the danger was past. During one of the early expeditions, and when only four miles above Manchester, at the mouth of a small creek which empties into the Ohio, one of Massie's assistants was captured by a party of Indians who surprised them. Massie and his two other companions fortunately. escaped, and, running to Manchester, alarmed 7 50 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO, the little band of settlers and organized them for the pursuit of the Indians. They followed the retreating red men for a considerable distance, but fearing the Indians would kill their captive if they discovered they were pursued, it was thought best to return. The prisoner was taken to the Chillicothe town, on the Little Miami, from which place he made his escape, and, after considerable delay, returned safely to Manchester, where he told his story. This man was Israel Donaldson. The creek, at the mouth of which he was captured, was named after him, and is still known as " Donaldson's creek." During the winter of 1791-92, Massie was most of the time engaged in surveying and locating within a comparatively short distance from Manchester, and, in the spring of the latter year, he was engaged in surveying the bottom lands of the Little Miami. When near the present site of Xenia, Massie was one day walking in advance of his party, when William Lytle suddenly came in sight of an Indian, with his gun pointed at the surveyor. Lytle raised his own rifle, killed the Indian, and so saved Massie's life. The little band of surveyors proceeded on their way cautiously, and soon came upon an encampment of about one hundred and fifty Indians. They beat a very hasty retreat, closely pursued by the Indians, and did not stop until they reached Manchester. In the winter of 1792-93, Massie explored the valley of Paint creek and part of the Scioto bottoms, and a few entries were made, but the greater part of these lands which were found rich beyond all expectation, were left vacant. In the fall of 1793, Massie determined to make another expedition up the Scioto, and as that was a dangerous undertaking, he organized a company of fully thirty men. It was upon this tour that Duncan McArthur, then a young man, daring and skilled in woodcraft, first entered the surveying service. He had already distinguished himself, particularly during Harmer's campaign. He began with Massie in the humble capacity of chain-bearer, and afterward became a surveyor on his own account, a great land speculator, and finally had full exercise for his energy in military service, and in exalted public capacity. Massie had also, as assistants, John and Nathaniel Beasley, and Peter Lee. The party proceeded in canoes up the Ohio to the mouth of the Scioto, and up that river to the mouth of Paint creek, making some surveys of the bottom lands as they went along. Arriving at the mouth of Paint creek, the surveyors sunk their canoes in deep water, that being the most effectual way of hiding them from the Indians, and then went to work in earnest to locate and survey claims in the country north of the present site of Chillicothe. A large part of the counties of Ross and Pickaway lying in the Virginia-Military district, were surveyed during that season. They surveyed the lands along the Scioto as far the old Indian village (now Westfall), and also along the north fork of Paint creek as far as "Old Town," now known as Frankfort. They saw but one Indian, whom they gave chase, but met with many fresh signs, and were constantly expecting to come upon a large body of the savages. They were watchful and prepared for the worst. The party was too strong to appre hend an attack from a few stragglers, but fearing that the Indians, apprised of their presence in the country, would rendezvous in sufficiently large numbers to destroy them, they returned after a few weeks to Manchester. There is nothing in the history of the adventures of the backwoodsmen in Ohio that more fully illustrates their persistency, their regard of hardship and their cool daring than these tours of the surveying parties. That a party of thirty men should go seventy miles into the forest, into the midst of a savage enemy's country, not simply upon a scout or sudden foray, but to remain for weeks in the close vicinity of one camp, and to carry on a system of work was regarded even at the time it was done, and by the people of the rude frontier, as remarkable. METHOD OF WORK-CUSTOMS OF PRECAUTION. Massie continued during the winter of 1793-94, and in the midst of appalling dangers, to explore the different branches of the Little Miami to their sources, and also surveyed around the head waters of the Paint and Clear creeks. During the succeeding winter he organized another large party for the prosecution of the surveying business, the Beasleys and Peter Lee again being employed as his assistants. This time the work was begun upon Tod's fork of the Little Miami, and large tracts of land were surveyed upon this creek, and the main stream to the Chillicothe. Then the party worked along Massie's and Csar's creeks, nearly to their sources. On this expedition, as upon most of the others, the company was divided into four squads, or messes, each in charge of one of the surveyors. Upon the march, it was customary to have one of the party--the hunter—kept in advance of the rest of the company, some distance, to watch for game, and to give notice of any Indian signs that might be discovered. After the surveyor, followed the two chain men, the marker and the pack-horse men, who kept close together, to be better able to defend themselves in case of attack. At a considerable distance in the rear walked a man whose position was certainly one of great danger. He was called the spy. It was his duty to guard against surprise from the rear. Every man, including the surveyors, in addition to his blanket, and such other articles as he might need, carried a rifle. A few cooking utensils were packed upon the horse. No provisions hampered the men in their march. They depended solely upon such food as their rifles could provide. When Massie and his men were surveying, in the winter of 1794-95, around the sources of Caesar's and Massie's creeks, they were overtaken suddenly by severe weather. Still they were light-hearted and cheerful, as long as there were no signs of Indians discovered. At night, when danger was not apprehended, they sat about the four camp fires, there being one for each mess, sung songs, told stories, and, in the midst of the snowy wilderness, were apparently as happy and free from care as if sitting around the hearths of their homes in the old established settlements. Precautions. however, were not neglected. When the time for sleeping arrived, Massie would give the signal, and the whole number would silently march away from the glowing fires, about which they had been HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 51 so merry. After going four or five hundred paces, they would scrape the snow from the ground, and make their beds for the night, all being done with as little noise as possible. Half of the blankets were laid upon the ground and the men, huddling together, would pull the others, pinned together with skewers, over them, and so lie until morning, making no unnecessary movements, and scarcely speaking, even in a whisper. In the morning, two of the most trustworthy men were also sent out to reconnoiter, to make sure that the men should not be surprised by an Indian ambuscade, on returning to the fires. This custom was invariably followed. It was necessary, as a means of enhancing safety. TROUBLE WITH INDIANS. Late one afternoon, while Massie was surveying upon Caesar's creek, and near the waters of Paint, he discovered the tracks of Indians in the snow. He immediately took measures to ascertain the whereabouts of the Indian camp and to concentrate his company. The camp was discovered at not a great distance, and when at sundown his men had been collected, measures were taken for a retreat toward Manchester, as it was thought unadvisable to make an attack. Massie formed the line, and the march was immediately taken up and continued until nearly midnight. The members of the little company suspected that when daylight arrived some of the Indians from the camp would discover their trail, and that they would be pursued. Accordingly, they resumed their retreat at an early hour in the morning. At noon they came upon a fresh trail made by four horses and twice as many men. This trail was crossed diagonally, and in about an hour, crossed again. It was thought that the Indians who had made this trail knew nothing of their party. The surveyors pushed on as fast as the depth of the snow would permit, in pursuit and supposing themselves pursued. At dusk a halt was ordered and a consultation had as to future operations. In a few minutes the sound of wood chopping was heard only a. few hundred yards away, and Massie knew that the Indians were cutting tent poles and wood for their fires. It was put to a vote whether the camp should be attacked immediately, or whether the onslaught should be postponed until day, and the majority were found to be in favor of the latter plan. Massie, upon reflection, told the men that he did not approve of the plan, as there was no doubt they were pursued by the Indians from the head waters of Caesar's creek, and in the morning they might find themselves between two fires. Therefore he urged that the attack should be made immediately, and the march resumed toward home as soon thereafter as possible. His advice was heeded, and as soon as the camp could be reconnoiterd, the men marched toward it to make the attack. The time was two hours after nightfall. The surface of the snow, which had been melting during the day, had frozen upon the top to a hard crust, though not sufficiently strong to bear the weight of a man. To make the least possible noise was desirable, and therefore the men walked in single file, the first one advancing about twenty paces and then stopping, until the next, stepping in his tracks, came up, and each succeeding man in the whole line going forward in the same manner. The advance was made with the utmost caution, and in comparative stillness. When the white men had arrived at a point within half a hundred yards of the Indian camp-fires, they saw the dusky forms moving about in the light glow, and could tell by their voices that they were enjoying themselves, and wholly unaware of their danger. A deep ravine, which the spies had not noticed, was found to interrupt the progress of the Massie party, but after a short delay a large fallen tree was discovered, by which it appeared as if it might be crossed. The men began passing over upon this precarious bridge. Suddenly the log, which was old and rotten, broke and went crashing down into the gulley. This startled the Indians into a sense of danger, but before they had time to prepare themselves, those of the men who had got safely across poured into the camp a rattling fusilade, and sprang forward, shouting at the top of their voices. The Indians fled in a panic, leaving their arms and all of their belongings, and no attempt was made to pursue them. None of them were killed by the fire, but it was known that some were wounded, as the blankets and clothing left behind were stained with their blood. The horses and arms were taken by Massie's men, and the party, hastily leaving the plundered camp, traveled with all the haste they could command toward Manchester, which place they reached in safety after a fatiguing march through the snow. They were two days and a half marching from the head waters of Caesar's creek to their station. It was discovered that the Indians had followed them to a point about a mile north of the present village of West Union, in Adams county. The records of surveys in the Virginia military district bear numerous allusions to the peculiar circumstances under which the work was done, and mark some localities which have interesting associations. For instance, in the records in the office of the auditor of Highland county occurs the following entry: "Survey 800. On east fork of Brush creek ; surveyed for John Reid two hundred acres of land, on the military warrant number one thousand, eight hundred and ninety-five, on the east fork of Brush creek, beginning at a beech tree, marked I. B., on the upper side of the creek, and two sugar trees at the point of a ridge about one hundred and fifty poles above a remarkable gap in the mountains, where Nathaniel Massie and others followed Indians in the year 1793, running south twenty-eight and east one hundred and sixteen poles, to two white oaks," etc. This entry is signed "John Beasley, D. S.," and dated "November 4, 1800." The locality which is thus identified with Massie is the gap through which the Sinking Springs and Cynthianna pike passes, about three-quarters of a mile from Fort Hill, in Brush Creek township, Highland county. MURRAY KILLED ON DEER CREEK. The particulars of an adventure that-one party of surveyors had with the Indians at the mouth of Deer creek are given by the Rev. James B. Finley, who doubtless had his information from one of the participants. Lucas Sullivant, afterward the pioneer of Columbus, or, rather, 52 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. Franklinton, being engaged in the surveying business, organized, in November, 1794, a company to make a tour in the Scioto country. There were some apprehensions of danger, and, consequently, as many as twenty- one men were employed to serve in various capacities, and extra precautions were taken. The company included, besides Sullivant, the leader, two other surveyors, John and Nathaniel Beasley, to whom reference has been heretofore made, and John McDonald, who had had considerable experience with Massie, and who was as expert in woodcraft and brave in a position of danger as any ranger or scout who has a place in the history of the northwest. The company took Tod's team, and pursued their journey until they came to the crossing of Paint creek. From thence they proceeded to "Old Chillicothe" (Frankfort), and thence to Deer creek, upon which they encamped, at the mouth of Hay creek or run. In the morning Sullivant, McDonald and a man by the name of Murray, went down to the mouth of Deer creek with the intention of taking its meanderings back to the camp. McDonald and Murray had not gone more than a hundred rods before they saw a flock of wild turkeys flying towards them. Murray, had he given the matter a moment's reflection, would have suspected that the turkeys had been driven towards them, and consequently would have prudently waited to see who the persons were who had alarmed them. But suddenly, as the great fowls came into sight, he raised his gun and fired. McDonald then securing a good position from which to single out and shoot one of the flock, was just in the act of taking aim when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the stillness, and turning half around he saw his friend, Murray, fall dead. As his glance swept in the direction from which the fatal shot had come, he saw several Indians, whose guns were leveled at him. He instantly sprang down the bank into the creek, the balls from the Indians' guns whistling by his head as he did so. After their hasty volley the Indians set out in hot pursuit of the fleeing McDonald, giving utterance to their peculiarly savage and startling yells. Upon the creek-bottom McDonald met Sullivant and three of his men, who joined him in his flight, Sullivant throwing away his compass. The Indians followed close upon them and fired several shots, which narrowly missed proving fatal, and, in fact, one of them struck the gun of a man named Calvin, "which shocked him so much," says Finley, "that he thought himself mortally wounded." Calvin, becoming separated from the rest of the party, ran up the creek to the camp and gave the alarm, stating that he believed all had been killed, but himself. The men at the camp joined in the flight. McDonald, Sullivant, and their two companions ran across the bottom to the high lands, and after running three miles came to a prairie. Here they saw, at a great distance, four Indians moving briskly along their trail. Their first impulse was to go around the prairie and head them, but not knowing who their pursuers were, and fearing that they might get between two fires, they concealed themselves in the tall grass and remained hidden until the Indians were out of sight. Then they made their way cautiously to the camp, which they found, of course, deserted. Just as they were about to leave, one of the men caught sight of a bit of paper stuck in a split stick. It was a brief, hurridly written note—"If you should come, follow the trail." Although the day was nearly ended, they started immediately. When night came on they steered their course by starlight. They travelled a distance of eight or nine miles, wearily through the dark forest. The night was cold and dreary. The rustling and breaking of the crisp, frosty leaves under their feet was the only sound that broke the stillness. Suddenly, as they were plodding along, their ears were startled by the sound of hurrying feet—a noise which might have been made by men or animals, they could not tell which. They halted, and remained for some time perfectly still. After awhile they heard softer footsteps, and knew that they were those of men. They supposed that the unseen persons might be their companions, who, at first alarmed by their approach, had precipitately fled and were now returning. McDonald and a companion crept carefully towards the place from which the sounds came. They advanced until they could hear the men cracking hazel nuts with their teeth, and distinguished the sound of low whispering, but they could not tell whether the men were friends or foes—their companions or Indians. McDonald and his companion returned to Sullivant, and after some discussion it was determined to hazard a call. A low haloo was given, and, after a moment or so of suspense, there came back the sound of a familiar voice, and all doubts were removed. The separated parties at once united, each joyful at the discovery that the other was safe. Each had supposed the other to have fallen a prey to the Indians, and their mutual rejoicings upon meeting were heartfelt and touching. But they were sad at the thought of the tragical death of poor Murray, their companion, and with that terrible warning of their danger uppermost in every mind, they started in the morning for Manchester, which place of safety they reached after three days' travel. "THE STARVING TOUR." What was known as the starving tour was that made in the spring of 1795. Spring opened early in March, and fine weather was anticipated. The party consisting of the usual number of men, led by Massie, and including among others, Duncan McArthur and John McDonald, afterwards of Poplar Ridge, Ross county, (and the author of the "sketches" from which the facts in this chapter are largely obtained.) The work of surveying was commenced on Ohio Brush creek. The weather continued pleasant for some time, game was abundant, and the men fared well. But little danger was apprehended from Indians, and altogether the outlook was more favorable than it had been on the occasion of any of the previous expeditions. Nevertheless this tour brought more of suffering to the surveyors than all of the former ones combined, and even the recollection of the extreme peril and hardship in the spring of 1795 was sufficient to make stout hearts shudder in after years. After finishing the survey upon Brush creek, the party HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 53 passed to the Rocky and Rattlesnake forks of Paint creek, now in the limits of Highland county, and from thence crossing the main stream of Paint creek, they took their way up Buckskin creek, and so on across the country to the Old Town, now Frankfort, on North Paint, Uy to this time the weather had been as mild and pleasant as any one could wish, but there came a sudden change; the sky was clouded over, and a violent snow storm arose. The snow fell two days and two nights, and when the storm was over, lay upon the ground to the depth of between two and three feet. The snow-flakes had hardly ceased to fill the air when the weather became mild, and a gentle rain set in. This was followed by sharp cold and a frost which silvered the forest, and made a heavy crust upon the snow, Although the snow was somewhat packed by the rain, it was still over two feet deep on the level. It was the heaviest fall of snow that was ever known in this part of the country, and the old backwoodsmen were accustomed to speak of it in after years as the great snow storm. The situation of the surveyors was horrible indeed, They were encamped four miles north of the present village of Frankfort, on the old Colonel Adam Mallow farm. The crust of the snow was not strong enough to bear the weight of a man, but small animals and turkeys could run upon it with the utmost ease. Thus the hunters were baffled in their endeavors to procure game, and it must be remembered that the whole party was entirely dependent upon this resource. Several of the strongest and best hunters in the company made repeated efforts to secure, by their rifles, food for themselves and their companions, but in vain, Their hopeless condition led the men to abandon their former prudent custom of sleeping at a distance from the fires. They remained by them day and night, keeping up their courage as well as they were able. But the most spirited among them were almost utterly hopeless, They looked upon death from starvation as the almost inevitable end of their sufferings. Here were thirty men, in the midst of a vast forest, exposed to the terrible cold of an unprecedented storm, without food, and with scarcely any prospect of obtaining even the smallest portion, for all around them stretched the frozen and drifted snow, through which the stoutest man could, with difficulty, force his way only a short distance. On the third day Duncan McArthur and William Leedom (afterwards a settler in Adams county), succeeded in killing two turkeys, Great was the joy among the half famished men when they were carried into camp. They were boiled and divided equally among the men. The entrails, heads and feet were eaten, as if the most dainty tit-bits, so terrible was the hunger, The food, grateful as it was, was insufficient. It was improbable that any could be obtained. To remain in the camp was, with almost absolute certainty to die, in a most horrible manner. To leave was almost an impossibility. Still, it was determined to take up the march for Manchester. On the morning of the fourth day Massie and his men set their faces resolutely toward home. The most powerful and active of the men were put in the lead to break a pathway through the snow. The strongest could travel thus but a short way. The men went alternately to the front. Proceeding in this manner, slowly and with infinite labor, the men marched on until night, when they found themselves at the mouth of Rattlesnake fork, on Paint creek. They had forced their way in ten hours about as many miles. During the latter part of the march the sun shone through the clouds for the first time since the storm, the crust of the snow partially melted, and so the toil of walking was rendered less severe. Near Paint creek a flock of turkeys was seen, and several killed. They were cooked, and an equal division made among the men. There were no sentinels on guard at the camp that night. Worn with the labor of the march, all lay down by the fires and slept until day. The snow melted considerably' during the night. When morning came most of the party went out to hunt. They brought back a bear, some deer, and a number of turkeys, upon which they had a hearty feast. Strengthened by the food, and hearts gladdened with the sunshine, under which the snow was fast disappearing, the party again went to work, and, after surveying all the lands they had originally intended to, returned to Manchester, without the occurrence of any further incident worthy of note. And so ended the most memorable expedition of these hardy, adventurous men, in the Virginia Military lands.