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HISTORY 


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SECOND    ft  D  I  T  1  o  \ 


REyT':^ED    AND    FXTENDED    BV    THE    ArTIIOR- 


•-=S^^^^!^^S-. 


WOODSTOCK,    VA. 


JOHN  GATEWDOD.    PniNTFl!. 


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*       * , 


THE  NEW  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

167362 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 

TILDEN  FOUNHATIONS 

1900 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress^  in  the  year  1§33,  in  the  Clerk's 
Oifice  of  the  Western  Distiict  of  Virs'inia. 


«   ^       C      "«         t   <    I   €. 


/ 


DEDICATION. 

TO     GENERAL    JOHN     SMITH, 

Like  Nestor  of  old,  you  have  lived  to  see  'Hwo  generations 
pass  away,  and  now  remain  the  example  of  the  third."  You 
saw  Dunmore's  war  with  the  Indians  in  1774;  you  witness- 
ed the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  the  war  of  1812,  with  the 
haughty  Briton.  In  ail  these  great  struggles  of  our  country, 
you  have  given  Vae  most  conclusive  evidence  of  unbending 
virtue  and  uncornproiiaising  patriotism.  The  author  has  had 
the  gratiiication  of  knowing  you  for  a^full  half  century  — 
V/hen  a  small  boy  he  frequently  sav/  you.  though  he  was 
then  too  young  to  attract  your  notice,  and  it  was  not  until  hs 
■entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  life  that  he  had  the  high 
satisfaction  of  a  personal  acquaintance. 

The  author  disclaims  every  thins;  like  insincere  flattery, 
and  feels  assured  that  voar  candor  Vvill  readily  pardon  him 
for  the  freedom  he  uses  in  his  dedication  of  his  History  of 
the  Yallev  to  vou.  To  you.  sir,  is  he  indebted  for  much  of 
the  valuable  information  detailed  in  the  following  pages. — 
In  you,  sir,  ho  has  witnessed  tiie  calm,  dignified  statesman 
and  philosopher,  the  uniform  and  consistent  republican,  the 
active  and  zealous  ofricer,  v^hether  in  kAQ  ^^Xd^  or  councils  of 
the  countrv.  He  has  witnessed  more:  he  has  seen  vou  in 
high  pecuniary  prosperty  ;  he  has  seen  you  in  later  years 
strugghng  vv^ith  adverse  fortune ;  and  in  all,  has  discovered 
the  calm,  diji^nifled  resis^nation  to  misfortune,  which  ahvavs 
characterises  tlie  great  and  the  good  man.  Yes,  sir,  you 
have  spent  at  least  ^uW  vears  of  voar  valuable  life  in  the 
service  of  vour  country;* and  wiien  vou  ^o  hence,  that  vou 
mav  enter  into  thejo\-  of  vour  Lord,  is  the  fervent  praver  of 

THS^  AT^THOR.    • 


I  N  TU&B  U  €  T  1  O  :^. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE    INDIANS  IN  AMERICA. 

From  what  particular  part  of  the  old  Avorld  the  ahorigins-ls  found  their 
way  to  this  continent,  is  a  question  which  has  given  rise  to  much  philo- 
jsophical  and  learned  disquisition  among  historians.  It  however^appears 
now  to  he  the  settled  opinion  that  America  first  received  its  inhabitants 
from  Asia.  Mr.  Snowden,  in  his  History  of  America,  advances  many 
able  and  ingenious  arguments  in  support  of  this  opinion.  After  citing 
maiiy  great  revolutions  which  have  from  time  to  time  taken  place  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  our  globe,  Mr.  Snovrden  states: 

"In  the  strait  which  separates  America  from  Asia,  many  islands  arc 
found,  which  are  supposed  to  be  the  mountainous  parts  of  land,  formerly 
swallowed  up  by  earthquakes :  which  appears  the  m^ore  probable,  by  the 
multitude  of  volcanoes,  now  known  in  the  peninsula  of  Kamtschatka. — 
It  is  imagined,  however,  that  the  sinking  of  that  land  and  the  separation 
of  the  new  continents,  has  been  occasioned  by  those  great  earthquakes, 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  Am^ericans ;  which  formed  an  era  almost 
as  memorable  as  that  of  the  deluge.  We  can  form  no  conjecture  of  the 
time  mentioned  in  the  histories  of  the  Taltecas,  or  of  the  year  1,  (Tecpatl,) 
when  that  great  calamity  happened. 

"If  a  great  earthquake  should  overwhelm  the  isthmus  of  vSugz,  and 
there  should  be  at  the  same  time  as  great  a  scarcity  of  historians  as  there 
was  in  ^e  first  age  of  the  deluge,  it  would  be  doubted  in  three  or  four  hun- 
dred years  after,  whether  Asia  had  ever  been  united  by  that  part  of  Africa; 
and  manv  would  finallv  deny  it. 

"Whether  that  great  event,  the  separation  of  the  continents,  took  place 
before  or  after  the  population  of  America,  it  is  impossible  to  determine ; 
but  we  are  indebted  to  the  above-mxcntioned  navigators,  [Cook  and  others,] 
for  settling  the  long  dispute  about  the  point  from  which  it  was  effected, 
'rheir  observations  prove,  that  in  one  place  the  distance  between  conti- 
nent and  continent  is  only  thirty-nine  miles;  and  in  the  middle  of  this 
narrow  strait,  there  are  two  islands,  which  wouki  greatly  facilitate  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Asiatics  into  the  new  Vvorld,  supposing  it  took  place  in  ca- 
noes, after  the  convulsion  which  rent  the  two  continents  asunder. 

"It  may  also  be  added,  that  these  straits  are,  even  in  the  summer, 
often  filled  with  ice;  in  winter  frozen  over,  so  as  to  admit  a  passage  for 
tnankind,  and  by  whicli  quadrupeds  might  easily  cross,  and  stock  the 
continent.  But  where,  from  the  vast  (expanse  of  the  north-eastern  world, 
to  fix  on  the  first  tribes  who  contributed  to  people  the  new  continent, 
"^lov:  inhabited  from  end  to  end,  is  a  matter  that  lias  bafiled  human  reason. 
The  learneed  may  mak«  bold  and  iiigcrncus  conjectures,  but  plain  li'ood 
icisg  cmnol  ;i!ways  accefje  to  tlu^ni. 


vi  INTRODlCI'ION. 

"  A?  mankind  incrr^ascJ  in  numbers,  thoy  naturallj  protruded  one  ano- 
ther forward.  Wars  migiit  be  another  cause  of  migrations.  No  reason 
a  )pcars  why  the  Asiatic  north  might  not  be  an  oJ/iLina  vivornm  as  well  as 
the  European.  The  overteeming  country  to  the  east  of  the  Ripheau 
mountains,  must  have  found  it  necessary  to  discharge  its  inhabitants  : 
the  first  great  increase  of  people  were  forced  forwards  by  the  next  to  it : 
at  lengch  reaching  the  utmost  limil:s  of  the  old  world,  found  a  new,  with 
ample  space  to  occupy  unmolested  for  ages ;  till  Columbus,  in  an  evil 
hour  for  them,  discovered  their  country;  vrhich  brought  again  new  sins 
and  new  deaths  to  both  worlds.  It  is  impossible,  with  the  lights  which 
WQ  have  so  recently  received,  to  admit  that  America  could  have  received 
its  inhabitants  (that  is,  the  bulk  of  them,)  from  any  other  place  than  Eas- 
tern Asia.  A  few  proofs  may  be  added,  taken  fi'om  the  customs  or  dres- 
ses, common  to  the  inhabitants  of  both  worlds.  Some  have  been  long 
extinct  in  the  old.  Others  remain  in  full  force  in  Both.  • 

"  The  custom  of  scalping  was  a  barbarism  in  use  among  the  Scythians, 
v/no  carried  about  them  at  all  times  this  savage  mark  of  triumph.  A  little 
ima^e  found  anionn:  the  Kalmucs.*  of  a  Tartarian  deity,  mounted  on  a 
horse,  and  sitting  on  a  human  skin,  with  scalps  pendant  from  the  breast, 
fully  illustrates  tlie  custom  of  the  ancient  Scythians,  as  described  by  the 
Greek  historian.  This  usage,  we  well  know  by  horrid  experience,  is 
continued  to  this  dav  in  America.  The  ferocity  of  the  Scythians  to  their 
prisoners,  extended  to  the  remotest  part  of  Asia.  The  Kamtskatkans, 
even  at  the  time  of  their  discovery  by  the  Russians,  put  their  prisoners  to 
death  by  the  most  linsrerinn  and  excruciatinsr  torments;  a  practice  now 
in  full  force  amon^r  the  aborisrinai  Americans.  A  race  of  the  Scythians 
were  named  Anthropophagi,  from  their  feeding  on  human  flesh  :  the  peo- 
ple of  Nootka  sound  still  make  a  repast  on  their  fellow  creatures. 

"The  savages  of  North  America  have  been  knov/n  to  throw  the  man- 
j;led  limbs  of  their  prisoners  into  the  horrible  cauldron,  and  devour  them 
with  the  same  relish  as  those  of  a  quadrupid.  The  Kamtskatkans  in  their 
marches  never  went  abreast,  but  followed  one  another  in  the  same  track: 
the  same  custom  is  still  observed  by  the  uncultivated  natives  of  North 
America.  The  Tungusi,  the  most  numerous  nation  resident  in  Siberia, 
prick  their  skins  with  small  punctures,  in  various  shapes,  v^ith  a  needle; 
then  rub  them  with  charcoal,  so  that  the  marks  become  indellible:  this 
custom  is  still  observed  in  several  parts  of  South  America.  The  Tungusi 
use  canoes  made  of  birch  bark,  distended  over  ribs  of  wood,  and  nicely 
put  together:  the  Canadian,  and  many  other  primitive  American  nations, 
use  no  other  sort  of  boats.  In  i^im,  the  conjectures  of  the  learned,  respec- 
ting the  vicinity  oft]ic  old  and  new  world,  are  now,  by  the  discoveries  of 
late  navigators,  lost  in  conviction  ;  and  in  the  place  of  an  imaginary  hy- 
pothesis, the  place  of  migration  is  almost  incontrovcnibly  pointed  out.'' 

* Tne  Kalmuc  T.iriarsiuo  now  :?u:)jpcl5  nl  R;]-.s;a. 


INTRUDICTION.  yu 

SKETCH  OF  THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Having  given  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  of  the  probable  origin  of  th? 
Indians  in  America,  the  author  will  now  turn  his  attention  to  the  first  set- 
tlement of  Virginia,  a  brief  history  of  which  he  considers  will  not  be  un- 
acceptable to  the  general  reader,  and  as  a  preliminary  introduction  to  his 
FQain  object,  i.  e.,  the  histoiy  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  Valley  of 
Shenandoah  in  Virginia. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  16C6,  James  I.  King  of  England,  gTanted  char- 
ters to  two  separate  companies,  called  the  ^'London  and  Plymouth  com- 
panies," for  settling  colonies  in  Virginia.*  The  London  company  sent 
Capt.  Christopher  Newport  to  Virginia,  December  20,  1608,  with  a  colo- 
ny of  one  hundred  and  five  persons,  to  comm.ence  a  settlement  on  the 
island  of  Roanoke,  now  in  North  Carolina.  By  stress  of  weather,  how- 
ever, they  v.^ere  driven  north  of  their  place  of  destination,  and  entered 
the  Chesapeake  Bay.  Here,  up  a  river  which  the  called  James  river,  on  a 
beautiful  peninsula,  they  commenced,  in  May,  1607,  the  settlement  of 
Jamestown.     This  was  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  the  country. 

Several  subsequent  charters  were  granted  by  King  James  to  the  com- 
pany for  the  better  ordering  and  government  of  the  colony,  for  the  parti- 
culars of  v/hich  the  reader  is  referred  to  Hening's  Statutes  at  Large. — 
And  in  the  year  1619,  the  first  legislative  council  was  convened  at  James- 
town, then  called  'James  citty.' "     This  council  v/as  called  the  General 
Assembly.     "It  was  to  assist  the  Governor  in  the  administradon  of  jus- 
tice, to   advance  Christianity  among  Indians,  to  erect  the  colony  in  obe- 
dience to  his  majesty,  and  in  maintaining  the  people  injustice  and  chris- 
tian conversation,  and  strengthening  them  against  enemies.      The   said 
governor,  council,  and  two  burgesses  out  of  every  town,  hundred  or  plan- 
tation, to  be  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  to  make  up  a  General  Assembly, 
who  are  to  decide  all  matters  by  the  greatest  number  of  voices ;  but  the 
governor  is  to  have  a  negative  voice,  to  have  power  to  make  orders  and 
acts  necessary,  wherein  they  are  to  imitate  the  policy  of  the  form  of  gov- 
ernment, lav/s,  castom.s,  manner  of  tryal,  and  other   administration  of 
justice  used  in  England,  as  the  company  are  required  by  their  letters 
patents.     No  law  to  continue  or  to  be  of  force  till  ratified  by   a  quarter 
court  to  be  held  in  England,  and  returned  under  seal.     After  the  colony 
is  well  framed  and  settled,  no  order  of  quarter  court  in  England  shall  bind 
till  ratified  by  the  General  Assembly."  *— Dated  24th  July,  1621. 

''  INSTRUCTIONS    TO  GOVERNOR  WYATT. 
*'To  keep  up  religion  of  the  church  of  England  as  near  as  may  be; — 
to  be  obedient  to  the  king  and  to  do  justice  after  the  form  of  the  laws  of 
England;  and  not  to  injure  the  natives;  and  to  forget  old   quarrels  now 
buried:! 


'Heninjr's  Statuirsat  Lar^^c,  vol.  i.,  p.  113,  114. 

•fit  appears  thai  ai  a  very  early  period  uf  the  colony,  \\\ev  \v»'xe  desirous  of  ciiliivaiing 
a  friendly  underiandin^  with  the  natives  of  the  conniry.  Unforiiinaiely,  however,  for 
our  ancestors,  and  for  the  India.ns  tlietiiselves,  this  friendly  disposiliuu  was  never  uf  long 
duration. 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

^'  You  shall  swear  to  be  a  true  and  faithful  servant  unto  the  king's  ma- 
"  jesty,  as  one  of  his  council  for  Virginia :  You  shall  in  all  things  to  be 
'■'"  moved,  treated,  and  debated  in  that  council  concerning  Virginia  or  any 
^'  the  territories  of  America,  between  the  degrees  of  thirty-four  and  forty- 
"  five  from  the  equinoctial  line  northward,  or  the  trade  thereof,  faithfully 
*'  and  truly  declare  your  mind  and  opinion,  according  to  your  heart  and 
''  conscience;  and  shall  keep  secret  all  matters  committed  and  revealed 
'^  to  you  concerning  the  same,  and  that  shall  be  treated  secretly  in  that 
^'  council,  or  this  council  of  Virginia,  or  the  more  part  of  them,  publication 
'^  shall  not  be  made  thereof;  And  of  all  matters  of  great  importance,  'or 
''  difficulty,  before  you  resolve  thereupon,  you  shall  m.ake  his  majesty^s 
"  privy  council  acquainted  therewith,  and  follow  their  directions  therein  : 
''  You  shall  to  your  uttermost  bear  faith  and  allegiance  to  the  king's  ma- 
"  jesty,  his  heirs,  and  lavdiil  successors,  and  shall  assist  and  defend  all 
''jurisdictions,  preheminences,  and  authorities,  granted  unto  his  majesty 
"  and  annextunto  the  crown,  against  all  foreign  princes,  persons,  prelates 
"  or  potentates  whatsoever,  be  it  by  act  of  parliament  or  otherwise :  and 
''  orenerallv,  in  all  thino:s,  you  shall  do  as  a  faithful  and  true  servant  and 
*'  subject  ought  to  do.  So  help  you  God  and  the  holy  contents  of  this 
"  book." — Hening's  Stat,  at  Large,  vol.  i.  p.  114-118." 

It  appears  the  foregoing  instructions  were  dravrn  up  by  the  council, 
and  intended  as  the  general  principles  for  the  government  of  the  colony. 

The  recommendation  "not  to  injure  the  natives  and  forget  old  quarrels 
now  buried,"  goes  far  to  prove  that  hopes  were  entertained  that  the  Indi- 
ans were  disposed  to  be  at  peace.  "  To  use  means  to  convert  the  heath- 
en," is  another  evidence  of  this  amicable  state  of  feeling  towards  the  na- 
tives. But  lo !  this  state  of  peace  and  tranquility,  in  less  than  one  year 
after,  was  changed  into  one  of  devastation,  blood  and  mourning.  On  the 
22d  of  March,  1622,  the  Indians  committed  the  m^ost  bloody  massacre 
on  the  colonists,  recorded  in  the  annals  of  our  country.* 

In  the  following  year,  to  A^it,  March,  1623,  the  colonial  general  assem- 
bly, by  statute,  directed,  '-that  the  22d  March  be  yearly  solemnized  as 
holliday."!  This  v/as  done  to  commemorate  the  escape  of  the  colony 
from  entire  extirpation.  This  bloody  massacre  produced,  on  the  part  of 
the  whites,  a  most  deadly  and  irreconcilable  hatred  tovrards  the  natives. 
Accordingly,  we  find  that  a  long  continued  and  unabating  state  of  hostil- 
ity was  kept  up,  and  in  about  one  hundred  years  the  Indians  were  driven 
from  the  country  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  At  the  same  session,  to  wit, 
1623,  the  legislature  enacted  several  laws  in  relation  to  defending  them- 
selves against  the  savages.     In  the  series  are  the  following : 

"  That  every  dwelling  house  shall  be  pallizaded  in  for  defence  against 
the  Indians : 

"  That  no  man  o^o  or  send  abroad  without  a  sufficient  partie  well  armed  : 


*This  year,  (f622),  says  PvIr.Gordon  in  his  history  of  tha  Amprican  revolution,  (vol. 
i.  p.  43,)""\vas  remarivable  for  a  massacre  of  the  colonists  by  the  Indians,  which  n-as  ex- 
ecuted with  the  ut'nosi  sabtiity,  and  without  any  regard  to  age,  sect,  or  dignity.  A  well 
concerted  attack  on  all  the  settlements  destroyed  in  one  hour,  and  almost  at  the  same  in- 
stant. 347  persons  who  wRre  defencelees  and  incapable  of  making  resistance." 

i^Hening's  Siatutesat  Large,  vol.  i.  p.  123. 


INTRODUCTION.  xl 

"^^That  people  go  not  to  work  in  the  ground  without  their  arms  (and  a 
centinell  upon  them  : ) 

"  That  the  inhabitants  go  not  aboard  ships  or  upon  any  other  occasions, 
in  such  numbers  as  thereby  to  weaken  and  endanger  the  plantations  : 

"  That  the  commander  of  every  plantation  take  care  that  there  be  suffi- 
cient of  powder  and  ammunition  v\rithin  the  plantation  under  his  com- 
mand and  their  pieces  fixt  and  their  arms  compleate  : 

''  That  there  be  dew  watch  kept  by  night : 

"  That  no  commander  of  any  plantation  do  either  himselfe  or  suffer 
others  to  spend  powder  unnecessarily,  in  drinking  or  entertainment,  &c.: 

"  That  at  the  beginning  of  July  next  the  inhabitants  of  every  corpora- 
tion shall  go  upon  their  adjoining  salvages,  as  we  did  the  last  year."— 
Hen.  Stat,  at  Large,  vol.  i.  p.  127,  128. 

In  the  year  1629,  the  legislature  again  "ordered  that  every  commander 
of  the  several  plantations  appointed  by  commission  from  the  governor, 
shall  have  power  and  auihoritie  to  levy  a  partie  of  men  out  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  place  soe  many  as  may  well  be  spared  without  too  much  wea- 
kening of  the  plantations,  and  to  employ  those  men  against  the  Indians," 
&c. — Idem,  p.  140. 

"  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  whole  bodie  of  the  assembly  that  we  should 
go  three  several  marches  upon  the  Indians,  at  three  several  times  of  the 
year,  viz  :  first  in  November,  secondly  in  March,  thirdly  in  July,"  &c. — ■■ 
idem,  p.  141. 

In  1631-32,  "it  is  ordered  that  no  person  or  persons  shall  dare  to  speak 
or  to  parlie  with  any  Indians,  either  in  the  woods  or  in  any  plantation,  yf 
he  can  possibly  avoid  it  by  any  means,"  &c. — Idem,  p.  167. 

The  author  considers  the  foregoing  extracts  sufficient  to  enable  the 
reader  to  form  some  opinion  of  the  spirit  and  character  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  our  state,  particularly  as  it  relates  to  their  sufferings  and  difficulties 
with  the  Indian  tribes.  It  is  not  deemed  expedient  or  necessary  to  go 
into  a  detailed  history  of  the  first  settlement  of  our  country,  as  there  are 
several  general  histories  of  Virginia  now  to  be  obtained,  v/ritten  by- 
authors,  whose  abilities  and  means  of  information  the  author  could  not 
expect  to  equal. 

The  author  will  close  tliis  brief  sketch  of  the  first  settlement  of  Virginia, 
with  a  few  general  remarks  in  relation  to  the  first  introduction  of  slavery. 
It  appears  from  our  early  historians,  tliat  negroes  were  first  introduced  in- 
to our  state  from  "a  Dutch  ship  in  the  year  1620."  0  wotul  day  for  our 
country  !  To  use  the  language  of  Mr.  Snowden,  this  was  "an  evil  hour" 
for  our  country — It  truly  brouglit  ^^new  sins  and  new  deaths''^  to  tin?  new 
world.  The  jiresent  generation  have  abundant  cause  to  deplore  the  un- 
hallowed cupidity  and  want  of  all  the  finer  feelings  of  our  nature,  mani- 
fested in  this  baleful  and  unrighteous  traffic.  It  has  entailed  upon  us  a 
lieavy  calamity,  which  will  perhaps  requiie  the  wisdom  oj"  ages  yet  to 
come  to  remove.  That  It  must  and  will  be  removed,  there  can  be  but  lit- 
tle doubt.  History  furnishes  no  example  of  any  part  of  the  hum'rm  race 
being  kept  iu  perpetual  slavery.  Whether  the  scheme  of  sending  theia 
to  Afric^a  will  idtiraately  produce  the  desiiVd  effect,  can  only  be  testcxl  br 
time  :  it  is  however  jnost  ^Slevuutly"  to  be  desired. 


sii  INTRODUCTION. 

BACON'S  REBELLION  IN  VIRGINIA  IN  1675-76. 

The  document  which  follows  relates  to  one  of  the  most  singular  events 
which  ever  occurred  in  Virginia,  and  its  interest  is  a  sufficient  induce- 
ment for  its  insertion  in  this  work.  It  was  published  in  the  Richmond 
Evangelical  Magazine  many  years  ago,  but  is  now  out  of  print.  The 
editor  of  that  work,  (the  late  revered  and  highly  esteemed  Dr.  Rice,)  in 
introducing  it  into  his  pages,  says  :  "It  was  taken  verbatim  from  a  copy 
in  the  library  now  belonging  to  congress,  but  formerly  the  property  of  Mr. 
Jefferson.  Who  the  author  is  w^e  cannot  discover.  He  w^as  certainly  a 
man  of  much  cleverness,  and  wrote  well.  But  our  readers  w^ill  judge  for 
themselves.  The  name  of  Bacon  is  very  little  known  to  our  citizens  in 
general:  and  this  part  of  our  history  has  been  veiled  in  great  obscurity. — 
There  are  two  remembrances  of  this  extraordinary  man  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Richmond.  A  brook  on  the  north-west  of  the  city,  which  bears 
the  name  of  "Bacon-quarter  branch,"  is  said  to  have  received  its  name 
from  the  fact,  that  on  that  brook  Bacon  had  his  quarter.  Buck 
says  that  he  ovrned  a  plantation  on  Shockoe  creek,  of  which  the  stream 
just  mentioned  is  a  branch.  One  of  the  finest  springs  in  Richmond,  or  its 
vicinity,  is  on  the  east  of  the  city,  and  is  called  Bloody-run  spring.  Its 
name  is  said  to  be  derived  from  a  sanguinary  conflict  which  Bacon  had 
with  the  Indians,  on  the  margin  of  the  streamlet  which  flows  from  this 
spring." 

The  following  account  of  the  original  from  which  this  document  was 
taken,  is  given  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  his  own  words  : 

"  The  original  manuscript,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  was  com- 
municated to  me  by  Mr.  King,  our  late  minister  plenipotentiary  at  the 
court  of  London,  in  a  letter  of  Dec.  20, 1803.  The  transaction  which  it 
I'ecords,  although  of  little  extent  or  consequence,  is  yet  marked  on  th^ 
history  of  Va.  as  having  been  the  only  rebellion  or  insurrection  which  took 
place  in  the  colony  during  the  168  years  of  its  existence  preceding  the  Am- 
erican revolution,  and  one  hundred  years  exactly  before  that  event :  in  the 
contest  with  the  house  of  Stuart,  it  only  accompanied  the  steps  of  the  mo^ 
ther  country.  The  rebellion  of  Bacon  has  been  little  understood,  its 
cause  and  course  being  imperfectly  explained  by  any  authentic  materials 
hitherto  possessed ;  this  renders  the  present  narrative  of  real  value.  It 
appears  to  have  been  written  by  a  person  intimately  acquainted  with  its 
origin,  progress  and  conclusion,  thirty  years  after  it  took  place,  and  when 
the  passions  of  the  day  had  subsided,  and  reason  might  take  a  cool  and 
deliberate  review  of  the  transaction.  It  was  written,  too,  not  for  the  pub- 
lic eye,  but  to  satisfy  the  desire  of  minister  Lord  Oxford  ;  and  the  candor 
and  simplicity  of  the  narration  cannot  fail  to  command  belief.  On  the 
outside  of  the  cover  of  the  manuscript  is  the  No.  3947  in  one  place,  and 
5781  in  another.  Very  possibly  the  one  may  indicate  the  place  it  held  in 
Lord  Oxford's  library,  and  the  other  its  number  in  the  catalogue  of  the 
bookseller  to  whose  hands  it  came  afterwards  ;  for  it  was  at  the  sale  of  the 
stock  of  a  bookseller  that  Mr.  King  purchased  it. 

"  To  bring  the  authenticity  of  this  copy  as  near  to  that  of  the  original  as 
1  couldj  I  have  most  carefuily  copied  it  with  my  own  hand.     The  pages  * 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 

and  lines  of  the  copy  correspond  exactly  with  those  of  the  original ;  the 
orthography,  abbreviations,  punctuations,  interlineations  and  incorrect- 
nesses, are  preserved,  so  that  it  is  2ifac  simile  except  as  to  the  form  of  the 
letter.  The  orthography  and  abbreviations  are  evidences  of  the  age  of 
the  writing. 

'^The  author  says  of  himself  that  he  was  ^planter;  that  he  lived  in  North- 
umberland, but  was  elected  a  member  of  the  assembly  of  1676  for  the 
county  of  Stafford,  Colonel  Mason  being  his  colleague,  of  which  assembly 
CoL  Warner  was  speaker  ;  that  it  was  the  first  and  should  be  the  last  time 
of  his  meddling  with  public  affairs ;  and  he  subscrbes  the  initials  of 
his  name  T.  M.  Whether  the  records  of  the  time  (if  they  still  exist,) 
with  the  aid  of  these  circumstances,  will  shew  what  his  name  was,  re- 
jnains  for  farther  inquiry." 

THE   MANUSCRIPT. 

To  till  right  hono'^ble  Robert  JIarley  esq'r.  her  Mag'' ties  Principal 
Secretary  of  State ,  and  one  of  her  most  Hono^hle  Privy  Council. 
S'r. 

The  great  honor  of  your  command  obliging  my  pen  to  step  aside  from 
its  habitual  element  of  ffigures  into  this  little  treatise  of  history ;  wliich 
having  never  before  experienced,  I  am  like  Sutor  ultra  crepidain^  and 
therefore  dare  pretend  no  mpre  than  (nakedly)  recount  matters  of  ffact. 

Beseeching  yoV  hono'r  will  vouch  safe  to  allow,  that  in  30  years, 
divers  occurrences  are  laps'd  out  of  mind,  and  others  imperfectly  retain- 
ed. 

So  as  the  most  solemn  obedience  can  be  now  paid,  is  to  pursue  the 
track  of  barefac'd  truths,  as  close  as  my  memory  can  recollect,  to  have 
seen,  or  believed,  from  credible  ffriends  with  concurring  circumstances  : 

And  whatsoever  yo'r  celebrated  wisdom  shall  finde  amise  in  the  com- 
jV^surc,  my  entire  dependence  is  upon  yo'r  candor  favorably  to  accept 
these  most  sincere  endeavors  of  Yo'r  Hon'rs 

Most  devoted  humble  serv't. 

The  I3th  July,  1705.  T.  M. 

The  beginning  progress  and  conclusion  of  Bacons  rebellion  in  Virginia  in 

the  year    1675  §'  1676. 

About  the  year  1675,  appear'd  three  prodigies  in  that  country,  which 
from  th'  attending  disasters  were  look'd  upon  as  ominous  presages. 

The  one  was  a  large  comet  every  evening  for  a  week,  or  more  at  South- 
west ;  thirty  five  degrees  high  streaming  like  a  horse  taile  westwards, 
untill  it  reach'd  (almost)  the  horison,  and  setting  towards  tlic  Nortli-west. 

Another  was,  fllights  of  pigieons  in  breadth  nigh  a  quarter  ot"  the  mid- 
hemisphere,  and  of  their  length  was  no  visible  end;  whose  weights  brake 
down  the  limbs  of  large  trees  whereon  these  rested  at  nights,  of  which 
the  ffowlers  shot  abundance  and  eat  'em;  this  sight  put  the  oKl  planters  un- 
der the  more  portentous  ap[)rehensi()ns,  because  the  like  was  seen  (as  they 
'>aid,)in  the  year  1640  when  th'  Indians  committed  the  last  massacre,  but 
not  after,  until  that  preseiit  year  1675. 


% 


xiv  INTRODUCTION. 

The  third  strange  appearance  was  swarms  of  fflyes  about  an  inch  long, 
and  big  as  the  top  of  a  man's  little  finger,  rising  out  of  spigot  holes  in 
the  earth,  which  eat  the  new  sprouted  leaves  from  the  tops  of  the  trees 
without  doing  other  harm,  and  in  a  month  left  us. 

My  dwelling  was  in  Northumbeiland,  the  lowest  county  on  Potomack 
river,  Stafford  being  the  upmost,  where  having  also  a  plantation,  ser- 
vants, cattle  &c.  my  overseer  had  agreed  with  one  Rob't.  Hen  to  come 
thither,  and  be  my  herdsman,  who  then  lived  ten  miles  above  it ;  but  on 
a  sabbath  day  morning  in  the  sumer  anno  1675,  people  in  their  way  to 
church,  saw  this  Hen  lying  thwart  his  threshold,  and  an  Indian  without 
the  door,  both  chopt  on  their  heads,  arms  &  other  parts,  as  if  done  with 
Indian  hatchetts,  th'  Indian  was  dead,  but  Hen  when  asked  who  did  that  ? 
answered  Doegs  Doegs,  and  soon  died,  then  a  boy  came  out  from  under 
a  bed  where  he  had  hid  himself,  and  told  them,  Indians  had  come  at 
break  of  day  &  done  those  murders. 

ffrom  this  Englishman's  bloud  did  (by  decrees)  arise  Bacons  rebellion 
w^ith  the  following  mischiefs  which  overspread  all  Virginia  &  twice  endan- 
gered Maryland,  as  by  the  ensueing  account  is  evident. 

Of  this  horrid  action  Coll:  Mason  who  commanded  the  militia  reg^iment 
of  ffoot  $:.  Capt.  Brent  the  troop  of  horse  in  that  county,    (both   dwelling 
six  or  eight  miles  downwards)  having  speedy  notice  raised  30,  or  more 
men,  &  and  pursu'd  those  Indians  20  miles  up  &  4  miles  over  that  river 
into  Maryland,  where  landing  at  dawn  of  da||^  they£|fflndtwo  small  paths 
each  leader  with  his  party  took  a  separate  path  andlfi  less  than  a  furlong 
either  found  a  cabin,  which  they  (silently)  surrounded.     Capt.    Brent 
went  to  the  Doegs  cabin  (as  it  proved  to  be)  who  speaking  the    Indian 
tongue  called  to  have  a  "  Alachacomicha  woswhio"  i.  e.  a  council  called 
presently  such  being  the  usuall  manner   with    Indians  (the  king  came 
trembling  forth,  and  wou'd  have  fled,  vrhen  Capt.  Brent,  catching  hold  of 
his  twisted  lock  (which  was  all  the  hair  he  wore)  told  him  he  was  come 
for  the  murderer  of  Rob't  Hen,  the  king  pleaded  ignorance  and    slipt 
loos,  whom  Brent  shot  dead  with  his  pistoll,  th'  Indians  shot  two  or  three 
guns  out  of  the  cabin,  th'  English  shot  into  it,  th'  Indians  throng'd  out  at 
the  door  and  fled,  the  English  shot  as  many  as  they  cou'd,  so  that  they 
killed  ten,  as  Capt.  Brent  told  me,  and  brought  away  the  kings   son  of 
about  8  years  old,  concerning  whom  is  an  observable  passage,  at  the  end 
of  this  expedition  ;  the  noise  of  this  shooting  awaken'd  the  Indians    in 
the  cabin,  which  Coll:  Mason  had  encompassed,  who  likewise  rush'd  out 
&  fled,  of  whom  his  company  (supposing   from  that  noise  of  shooting 
Brent's  party  to  be  engaged)  shot   (as  the  Coll:  informed  me)  flburteen 
before  an  Indian  came,  who  with  both  hands  shook  him  (friendly)  by  one 
arm  saying  Susquehanoughs  netoughs  i.  e.  Susquehanaugh  friends  and  fled, 
whereupon  he    ran    amongst   his  men,  crying  out  "fibr  the  Lords  sake 
shoot  no  more,  these  are  our  friends  the  Susquehanoughs. 

\This  unhappy  scene  ended; — Collo.  Mason  took  the  king  of  the  Doegs 
son  home  with  him,  v/ho  lay  ten  dayes  in  bed,  as  one  dead,  with  eyes 
and  mouth  shutt,  no  breath  discern'd,  but  his  body  continuing  warm, 
they  beheved  him  yett  alive ;  th'  aforenamed  Capt.  Brent  (a  papist) 
coming  thither  on  a  visit,  and  seeing  his  little  prisoner  thus  languishing 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

said  ^'perhaps  he  is  pawewawd  i.  e.  bewitch'd,  and  that  he  had  heard 
baptism  was  an  effectual  remedy  against  witchcraft  wherefore  advis'd  to 
baptise  him  CoUo.  Mason  ansAvered,  no  minister  cou'd  be  had  in  many 
miles  ;  Brent  replied  yo'r  clerk  Mr.  Dobson  may  do  that  office,  which 
was  done  by  the  church  of  England  liturgy  ;  Col:  Mason  with  Capt. 
Brent  godfathers  and  Mrs.  Mason  godmother,  mxy  overseer  Mr.  Pimet 
being  present,  from  whom  I  first  heard  it,  and  which  all  th'  other  persons 
(afterwards)  affirm'd  to  me  ;  the  ffour  men  returned  to  drinking  punch, 
but  Mrs.  Mason  stayed  &  looking  on  the  child,  it  open'd  the  eyes,  and 
breath'd  whereat  she  ran  for  a  cordial,  which  he  took  from  a  spoon,  gap- 
ing for  more  and  so  (by  degrees)  recovered,  tho'  before  his  baptism, 
they  had  often  tryed  the  same  meanes  but  cou'd  not  by  no  endeavours 
wrench  open  his  teeth. 

This  was  taken  for  a  convincing  prcofe  against  infidelity. 
But  to  return  from  this  digression,  the  Susquehanoughs  were  newly 
driven  from  their  habitations,  at  the  head  of  Chesepiack  bay,  by  the  Cine- 
la-Indians,  down  to  the  head  of  Potomack,  where  they  sought  protection 
under  the  Pascataway  Indians,  who  had  a  fort  near  the  head  of  that 
river,  and  also  were  our  ffriends. 

After  this  unfortunate  exploit  of  Mason  &  Brent,  one  or  two  being 
kilPd  in  Stafford,  boats  of  war  were  equipt  to  prevent  excursions  over  the 
river,  and  at  the  same  time^mirders  being  likewise  committed  in  Mary- 
land, by  whom  not  Kftown,  on  either  side  the  river,  both  countrys  raised 
their  quota's  of  a  thousand  men,  upon  whose  coming  before  the  ffort,  the 
Indians  sent  out  4  of  their  great  men,  who  ask'd  the  reason  of  that  hos- 
tile appearance,  what  they  said  more  or  offered  I  do  not  remember  to  have 
heard  ;  but  our  two*~lfc)mmanders  caused  them  to  be  (instantly)  slaine, 
after  which  the  Indians  made  an  obstinate  resistance  shooting  many  of  our 
men,  and  making  frequent,  fierce  and  bloody  sallyes ;  and  w^hen  they 
were  call'd  to,  or  offered  parley,  gave  no  other  answer,  than  ''where  are 
our  four  Cockarouses,  i.  e.  great  men  ? 

At  the  end  of  six  weeks,  march'd  out  seventy  five  Indians  with  their 
women  children  &c.  who  by  moon  light  passed  our  guards  hollowing  &, 
firing  att  them  without  opposition  having  3  or  4  decrepits  in  the  ffort. 

The  next  morning  th'  English  followed,  but  could  not,  or  (for  fear  of 
ambuscades)  would  not  overtake  these  desperate  fugitives  the  number  we 
lost  in  that  siege  I  did  not  hear  was  published. 

The  walls  of  this  fort  were  high  banks  of  earth,  with  flankers  having 
many  loop-holes,  and  a  ditch  round  all,  and  without  tliis  a  row  of  tall 
trees  fastened  3.  feet  deep  in  the  earth,  their  bodies  from  5.  to  8.  inches 
diameter,  watled  6.  inclies  apart  to  shoot  through  with  the  tops  twisted 
together,  and  also  artificially  wrought,  as  our  men  could  make  no  breach 
to  storm  it,  nor  (being  low  land)  could  they  undermine  it  by  reason  of 
water  neither  had  they  cannon  to  batter  itt,  so  that  'twas  not  taken,  untill 
ffamine  drove  the  Indians  out  of  it. 

These  cscap'd  Indians  (forsaking  Maryland(  look  their  rout  over  the 
head  of  that  river,  and  thence  over  the  heads  of  Rapi)ahonnock  &  York 
rivers,  killing  whom  they  found  of  the  uj)inost  plantations  untill  they 
came  to  the  head  of  James  river,  where  (with  Bacon  and  others)  they 


3cvt  lNTROi)UCTIOls'/ 

slew  Mr.  Baton's  overseer  whom  he  much  loved,  and  one  of  his  servaiifs^ 
whose  blond  hee  vowed  to  revenge  if  possible,' 

In  these  frightful  times  the  most  exposed  small  families  w^ithdrew  into 
our  houses  of  better  numbers,  which  we  fortified  with  palisadoes  and 
redoubts,  neighbours  in  bodys  joined  their  labours  from  each  plantation 
to  others  alternately,  taking  their  arms  into  the  ffields,  and  setting  centi- 
nels  ;  no  man  stirrd  out  of  door  unarm'd,  Indians  were  (ever  &  anon) 
espied,  three  4.  5.  or  6.  in  a  party  lurking  throughout  the  whole  land,  yet 
[what  was  remarkable]  I  rarely  heard  of  any  houses  burnt,  tho'  abundance 
was  forsaken,  nor  ever,  of  any  corn  or  tobacco  cut  up,  or  other  inpiry 
done,  besides  murders,  except  the  killing  of  a  very  few  cattle  and  swine. 

Frequent  complaints  of  bloudsheds  were  sent  to  8r.  Wm.  Berkeley 
(then  Govern'r)  from  the  heads  of  the  rivers,  which  were  as  often  answer^ 
ed  with  promises  of  assistance. 

These  at  the  heads  of  James  and  York  rivers  (having  now  nnost  people 
destoyed  by  the  Indians  flight  tluther  from  Potomack)  grew  impatient  at 
the  many  slaughters  of  their  neighbours  and  rose  for  their  own  defence, 
who  chusing  Mr.  Bacon  for  their  leader,  sent  oftentimes  to  the  Govern'r, 
humbly  beseeching  a  commission  to  go  against  those  Indians  at  their 
own  charge  which  his  hono'r  as  often  promised  but  did  not  send ;  the 
misteryes  of  these  delays,  were  wondered  at  and  which  I  ne'er 
heard  coud  penetrate  into,  other  than  the  effects  ofi^his  passion,  and  a 
new  (not  to  be  mentioned)  occasion  of  avarice,  to  both  which  he  wa^ 
(by  the  common  vogue)  more  than  a  little  addicted;  whatever  were  the 
popular  surmizes  &  murmurins  viz't. 

"that  no  bullets  would  pierce  bever  skins.  ^» 

"rebells  forfeitures  would  be  loyall  inheritances  &c. 

During  these  protractions  and  people  often  slaine,  most  or  all  of  the 
officers,  civil  &  military  with  as  many  dwellers  next  the  heads  of 
the  rivers  as  made  up  300.  men  taking  Mr.  Bacon  for  their  command'r 
met,  and  concerted  together,  the  danger  of  going  without  a  commiss'n  on 
the  one  part,  and  the  continuall  murders  of  their  neighbors  on  the  other 
part  (not  knowing  whose  or  how  many  of  their  own  turns  might  be  next) 
and  came  to  this  resolution  viz't  to  prepare  themselves  with  necessaries 
for  a  march,  but  interim  to  send  again  for  a  commission,  which  if  could 
or  could  not  be  obtayned  by  a  certaine  day,  they  would  proceed  com- 
mission or  no  commission. 

This  day  lapsing  &  no  com'n  come,  they  marched  into  the  Avilderness 
in  quest  of  these  Indians  after  whom  the  Govern'r  sent  his  proclamation, 
denouncing  all  rebells,  who  should  not  return  w^ithin  a  limited  day^ 
whereupon  those  of  estates  obey'd  ;  but  Mr.  Bacon  with  57.  men  pro- 
ceeded until  their  provisions  were  near  spent,  without  finding  enemy's 
when  coming  nigh  a  ffort  of  fTriend  Indians,  on  th'  other  side  a  branch  of 
James  river,  they  desired  reliele  offering  paym't.  which  these  Indians  kind- 
ly promised  to  help  them  with  on  the  morrow,  but  put  them  off  with  prom- 
ises untill  the  third  day,  so  as  then  having  eaten  their  last  morsells  they 
could  not  return,  but  must  have  starved  in  the  way  homeward  and  now 
'twas  suspected,  these  Indians  had  received  private  messages  from  the 
Govern'r  &  those   to  be  the  causes  of  these  delusive   procrastinations  ; 


INTRODUCTION.  xvii 

whereupon  tlie  English  %vaded  shoulder  deep  tliro'  that  branch  of  the 
fibrt  palisado's  still  intreating  and  tendering  pay,  for  victuals ;  but  that 
evening  a  shot  from  the  place  they  left  on  th'  other  side  of  that  branch 
kill'd  one  of  Mr.  Bacon's  men,  which  made  them  believe,  those  in  the 
ffort  had  sent  for  other  Indians  to  come  behind  'em  &  cut  'em  off. 

Hereupon  they  fired  the  polisado's,  stoiTn'd  &  burnt  the  ffort  and  cab- 
ins, and  (with  the  losse  of  three  English)  slew  150  Indians.  The  circum- 
stances of  this  expedic'n  Mr.  Bacon  entertain'd  me- with,  at  his  own  cham- 
ber, on  a  visit  I  made  him,  the  occasion  whereof  is  hereafter  mentioned. 

ffrom  hence  they  returned  home  where  writts  were  come  up  to  elect 
members  for  an  assembly,  when  Mr.  Bacon  w^as  unanimously  chosen  for 
one,  who  coming  down  the  river  was  commanded  by  a  ship  with  guns  to 
come  on  board,  where  waited  Major  Houe  the  high  sheriff  of  James  town 
ready  to  seize  him.,  by  whom  he  was  carried  down  to  the  Govern'r  &,  by 
him  receiv'd  with  a  surprizing  civility  in  the  following  words  "  Mr,  Ba- 
con you  had  for  got  to  be  a  gentleman."  No,  may  it  please  yo'r  hono'r 
answer'd  Mr.  Bacon;  then  replyed  the  Govern'r  I'll  take  yo'r  parol,  and 
gave  him  his  liberty:  in  March  1675-6  writts  came  up  to  Stafford  to 
choose  their  two  members  for  an  assembly  to  meet  in  May;  when  Collo. 
Mason  Capt.  Brent  and  other  gentlemen  of  that  county,  invited  me  to 
stand  a  candidate;  a  matter  I  little  dreamt  of,  having  never  had  inclina- 
c'ons  to  tamper  in  the  precarious  intrigues  of  Govern't.  and  my  hands 
being  full  of  my  own  business:  they  press't  severall  cogent  argum'ts.  and 
I  having  considerable  debts  in  that  county,  besides  my  plantation  con- 
cerns, where  (in  one  &  th'  other,  I  had  much  more  severely  suffered,  than 
any  of  themselves  by  th'  Indian  disturbances  in  the  summer  and  winter 
foregoing.  I  held  it  not  [then]  discreet  to  disoblige  the  rulers  of  it,  so 
Collo:  Mason  with  myself  were  elected  without  objection,  he  at  time 
convenient  went  on  horse  back;  I  took  my  sloop  &  the  morning  I  arriv'd 
to  James  town  after  a  weeks  voyage,  was  welcom'd  with  the  strange  ac- 
clamations of  AWs  Over  Bacon  is  taken,  having  not  heard  at  home  of 
these  Southern  com'otions,  other  than  rumours  like  idle  tales,  of  one 
Bacon  risen  up  in  rebellion,  no  body  knew  for  what,  concerning  tho 
Indians. 

The  next  forenoon,  th'  Assembly  being  met  in  a  chamber  over  the 
General  court  &  our  Speaker  chosen,  the  Govern'r  sent  for  us  dowUj 
where  his  hono'r  with  a  pathetic  emphasis  made  a  short  abrupt  speech 
wherein  were  these  words. 

"  If  they  had  killed  my  grandfather  and  my  grandmother,  my  father 
*^  and  mother  and  all  my  friends,  yet  if  they  had  come  to  treat  of  peace, 
"  they  ought  to  have  gone  in  peace,  and  sat  down. 

The  two  chief  commanders  at  the  forementioned  seige,  who  slew  tlie 
ffour  Indian  great  men,  being  present  and  part  of  our  assembly. 

The  Govern'r  stood  up  againe  and  said  ''if  there  be  joy  in  the  presence 

of  the  Angels  over  one  sinner  that  repententh,  there  is  joy  now,  for  we 

have  a  penitent  sinner  come  before  us,  call  Mr.  l^acon;  tlien  did  Mr. 
Bacon  upon  one  knee  at  the  b;ir  deliver  a  sheet  of  paper  confessing  hi^ 
nirries,  nnrl    begging   pardon  of  i?;od  tlir  king   and  tlie  Govein'r  wh'-M'etq 

"    C 


XTiii  INTRODUCTION, 

[after  a  short  pause]  he  answered  *'God  forgive  yoiij  I  forgive  yoii, 
thrice  repeating  the  same  words;  w^hen  Collo.  Cole  [one  of  council]  said, 
*'and  ail  that  were  with  him,  Yea,  said  the  Governor  &  all  that  were  with 
him,  twenty  or  more  persons  being  then  in  irons  who  were  taken  coming 
down  in  the  same  &  other  vessels  with  Mr.  Bacon, 

About  a  minute  after  this  the  Govern'r  starting  up  from  his  chair  a 
third  time  said  "Mr.  Bacon!  if  you  will  live  civilly  but  till  next  Quarter 
court  [doubling  the  words]  but  till  next  Quarter  court,  He  promise  to 
restore  you  againe  to  yo'r  place,  there  pointing  with  his  hand  to  Mr^ 
Bacons  seat,  he  having  been  of  the  Council!  before  these  troubles,  tho' 
he  had  been  a  very  short  time  in  Virginia  but  was  deposed  by  the  fore- 
said proclamoc'on,  and  in  the  afternoon  passing  by  the  court  door,  in  my 
way  up  to  our  chamber,  I  saw  Mr.  Bacon  on  his  quondam  seat  the  Gov- 
ern'r  &  councill  which  seemed  a  marvellous  indulgence  to  one  whom  he 
had  so  lately  proscribed  as  a  rebell. 

The  Govern'r  had  directed  us  to  consider  of  means  for  security  from 
th'  Indian  insults  and  to  defray  the  charge  &c.  advising  us  to  beware  of 
two  rogues  amongst  us,  naming  Laurence  and  Drummond  both  dv^'elling 
at  James  town  and  who  were  not  at  the  Pascataway  siege. 

But  at  our  entrance  upon  businesse,  some  gentlemen  took  this  oppor- 
tunity to  endeavour  the  redressing  severall  grievances  the  country  then 
labored  under,  motions  were  m.ade  for  inspecting  the  publick  revenues, 
the  Collectors  accompts  &c.  and  so  far  vvas  proceeded  as  to  name  part  of 
a  committee  whereof  Mr.  Bristol  [now^  in  London]  was  and  myself  anoth- 
er, when  we  vjeie  interrupted  by  pressing  messages  from  the  Govern'r  to 
to  meddle  with  nothing  until  the  Indian  business  was  dispatch't. 

This  debate  rose  high,  but  was  overruled  and  I  have  not  heard  that 
these  inspections  have  since  then  heen  insisted  upon,  tho  such  of  that  in- 
digent people  as  had  no  benefits  from  the  taxes  groaned  undr  our  being 
thus  overborn. 

The  next  thing  was  a  Co'mittee  for  the  Indian  affaires,  whereof  in  ap- 
pointing members,  myself  was  unv.'illingly  nominated  having  no  knovv'L 
edge  in  martiall  preparations,  and  after  our  names  were  taken,  some  of 
the  house  moved  for  sending  2.    of  our  members  to  intreat  the  Govern'r 

o  .... 

wou'd  please  to  assign  two  of  his  councill  to  sit  with,  and  assist  us  in 
our  debates,  as  had  been  usuall. 

When  seeing  all  silent  looking  at  each  other  with  many  discontented 
faces,  I  adventur'd  to  offer  my  humble  opinion  to  the  Speaker  "for  the 
"  co'mittee  to  form  methods  as  agreeable  to  the  sense  of  the  house  as  we 
^'  could,  and  report  'em  whereby  they  vrould  more  clearly  see,  on  what 
"  points  to  give  the  Govern'r  and  Councill  that  trouble  if  perhaps  it  might 
"be  needful!." 

These  few  words  raised  an  uproar ;  one  party  urging  hard  "it  had  been 
customary  and  ought  not  to  be  omitted;"  whereto  Mr.  Presley  my  neigli- 
bor  an  old  assembly  man,  sitting  next  me,  rose  up,  and  [in  a  blundering 
manner  replied]  "tis  true,  it  has  been  customary,  but  if  we  have  any  bad 
^^  customes  am^onst  us,  we  are  come  here  to  mend  'em"  which  set  the 
house  in  a  laughter. 

Ttiig  was  liuddi'd  off  without  coming  to  a  vote,  and  so  the  co'mittee 


INTRODUCTION".  ±[t 

hiust  Submit  to  be  overaw'd,  and  have  ever)'  carpt  at  expression  carried 
streight  to  the  Govern'r. 

Our  co'mittes  being  sat,  the  Queen  of  Pakunky  [descended  from  Op^ 
pechankeiiough  a  fonner  Emperor  of  Virginia]  was  introduced,  who  en- 
tered the  chamber  with  a  comportment  graceful  to  admiration,  bringing 
on  her  right  had  an  EngUshman  interpreter  and  on  the  left  her  son  a  strip- 
ling twenty  years  of  age,  she  having  round  her  head  a  plat  of  black  & 
white  wampam  peague  three  inches  broad  in  imitation  of  a  crown,  and 
was  cloathedin  a  mantle  of  dress't  deerskins  with  the  hair  outwards  &the 
ed-o^e  cut  round  6  inches  deep  which  made  string's  resemblino*  twisted 
fringe  from  the  shoulders  to  the  feet;  thus  with  grave  courtlike  gestures 
and  a  majestick  air  in  her  face,  she  walk'd  up  our  long  room  to  the  low- 
er end  of  the  table,  where  after  a  fevv-  intreaties  she  sat  dov/n;  th'  intef-^ 
preter  and  her  son  standing  by  her  on  either  side  as  they  had  walk'd  up, 
our  chairman  asked  her  what  men  she  would  lend  us  for  guides  in  the 
wilderness  and  to  assist  us  against  our  enemy  Indians,  she  spake  to  th' 
interpreter  to  inform  her  v/hat  the  chairman  said,  [tho  we  believe  she  un- 
derstood him]  he  told  us  she  bid  him  ask  her  son  to  whom  the  English 
tongue  was  familiar,  &  who  was  reputed  the  son  of  an  English  colonel, 
yet  neither  woii'd  he  speak  to  or  seem  to  understand  the  Chairmain  but 
th'  interpreter  told  us  he  referred  all  to  his  mother,  wdio  being  againe 
urged  she  after  a  little  rousing  with  an  earnest  passionate  countenance  as 
if  tears  were  ready  to  gush  out  and  a  fervent  sort  of  expression  made  a 
harangue  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  often  interlacing  [with  a  high  shrill 
voice  and  vehement  passion]  these  words  "Tatapatomoi  Chepiack,  i.  e. 
Tatapatomoi  dead :  Coll:  Hill  being  next  me,  shook  his  head,  I  ask'd 
what  was  the  matter,  he  told  me  all  she  said  vs^as  too  true,  to  our  shame, 
and  that  his  father  was  generall  in  that  battle,  where  diverse  years  before 
Tatapatamoi  her  husband  had  led  a  hundred  of  his  Indians  in  help  to  th' 
English  against  our  former  enemy  Indians,  and  was  there  slaine  with  most 
of  his  men;  for  which  no  compensation  [at  all]  had  been  to  that  day  ren- 
dered to  her  where wdth  she  now  upbraided  us. 

Her  discourse  ending*  and  our  morose  Chairman  not  advancins;  one  cold 
word  towards  asswaging  the  anger  and  grief  of  her  speech  and  demean- 
our manifested  under  her  oppression,  nor  taking  any  notice  of  all  she  had 
said,  neither  considering  that  we  (then)  were  in  our  great  exigency,  sup- 
})licants  to  her  for  a  favour  of  the  same  kind  as  the  former,  for  which  we 
did  not  deny  the  having  been  so  ingrate  he  rudely  push'd  againe  the 
same  question  "what  Indians  will  you  now  contribute  &c?  of  this  disre- 
gard she  signified  her  resentment  by  a  disdainful  aspect,  and  turning  her 
head  half  aside,  sate  mute  till  that  same  question  being  press't  a  third 
time,  she  not  Htturning  her  face  to  the  board,  answered  with  a  low  slight- 
ing voice  ill  her  own  language  "six,  but  being  further  importun'd  slie 
sitting  a  little  while  sullen,  without  uttering  a  word  between  said  "twelve, 
tho  she  ilu'.n  had  a  hundred  and  fifty  Indian  men,  in  her  town,  and  so 
rose  up  and  gravely  walked  away,  as  not  pleased  with  her  treatment. 

Whilst  some  dais  past  in  settling  the  Quota's  of  men  arms  and  ainmu- 
nic'on  })rovisions  &c.  each  county  was  to  furnish  one  morning  early  a 
bruit  raji  about   the  town  Bacon  is  iled  Bacon  is  fled,  whereupon  I  went 


ii 


\X  INTRODUCTION, 

straight  to  Mr.  Laurence,  who  (formerly)  was  of  Oxford    UiiiversitVj  HJid 
ibr   wit  learning  and  sobriety  was  equali'd  there  by  few,  and  who    some 
years  before  [as  Col:  Lee  tho  one  of  the  councill  and  a  friend  of  the  Gov- 
ern'rs  informed  me]    had  been  partially  treated  at  law,   for  a  considerable 
estate  on   behalf  of  a   corrupt  favourite ;    which  Laurence  complaining 
loudly  of,  the  Govern'r  bore  him   a  grudge    and  now  shaking  his  head, 
said  "old  treacherous  villain,  and  that  his  house  was  searcht  that  morn*^ 
ing,  at  day  break,  but  Bacon  was  escaped  into  the  countiy,  having  in- 
timation that  the  Governors  generosity  in  pardoning  him  and  his  follow- 
*'  ers  and  restoring  him  to  his  seat  in  the  councill,   w^ere  no  other  than 
"  previous  wheadles  to  amuse  him  &  his  adherents  &  to  circumvent  them 
*'  by  stratagem,  forasmuch  as  the  taking  Mr.  Bacon  again  into  the  councill 
"  was  first  to  keep   him  out  of  the  assembly,  and  in  the  next  place   the 
"  Govern'r  knew^  the  country  people  were  hastning  down   with  dreadful 
"  threatnings   to    double    revenge  all    wrongs    shou'd   be    done  to    Mr. 
^^  Bacon  or  his  men,  or  Avhoever  shou'd  have  had  the  least  hand  in  'em.* 
*  And   so  much  was  true  that  this  Mr.  young  Nathaniel  Bacon    [not  yet 
arrived  to  30  years]  had  a  nigh  relation  namely  Colo.  Nathaniel  Bacon  of 
long  standing  in  the  council  a  very  rich  politick  man,  and  childless,  de- 
signing this  kinsman  for  his  heir,  who  [not  without  much  paines]  had 
prevailed  with  his  uneasy  cousin  to  deliver  the  forementioned  written  recan- 
tation at  the  bar,  having  compiled  it  ready  to  his  hand  &  by  whose  meanes 
'twas  supposed  that  timely  intimation  was  convey'd  to  the  young  gentle- 
man to  flee  for  his  life,  and  also  in  3.  or  four  dais  after  Mr.  Bacon  was 
first  seiz'd  I  saw  abundance  of  men  in  town  come  thither  from  the  heads 
of  the  rivers,  who  finding  him  restored  &  his  men  at  liberty,  return'd  home 
S3!dsfted;  a  few  dais  after  which,  the  Govern'r  seeing  all  quiet,  gave  out 
pkvai^   warrants   to  take  him  againe,  intending  as  w-as  thought  to  raise 
the  miHtia  and  so  to  dispose  things  as  to  prevent  his  friends  from  gather- 
ing any  more  into  a  like  numerous  body  and  coming  dow^n  a  second  time 
to  save  him. 

In  three  or  ffour  dais  after  this  escape,  upon  news  that  Mr.  Bacon  was 
30  miles  up  the  river,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  men,  the  Govern'r  sent 
to  the  parts  adjacent,  on  both  sides  James  river  for  the  militia  and  all  the 
men  that  could  be  s^otten  to  come  and  defend  the  town,  expres's  came  al- 
most hourly  of  th'  arm.y's  approaches,  whom  in  less  than  four  dais  after 
the  first  account  of  'em  atl  2.  of  the  clock  entered  the  town,  without  be- 
ing withstood,  and  formed  a  body  upon  a  gi'een,  not  a  flight  shot  from  the 
end  of  the  State  house  of  horse  andfToot,  as  well  regular  as  veteran  troops, 
who  forthwith  possesst  them_selves  of  ail  the  avenues,  disarming  all  in  the 
town  and  cominsf  thither  in  boats  or  bv  land. 

In  half  an  hour  after  this  the  drum  beat  for  the  house  to  meet,  and  in 
less  tiTian  an  hour  m.ore  Mr.  Bacon  cam-e  with  a  file  of  ffusiieers  on  either 
hand  near  the  corner  of  the  State-house  where  the  Govern'r.  and  councill 
went  fortli  to  him ;  we  saw  from  the  window  the  Govern'r.  open  his 
breast,  and  Bacon  strutting  betwixt  his  two  files  of  men  with  his  left  arm 
on  Kenbow  Signing  his  rii^ht  ami  every  way  both  like  men  distracted, 
and  if  in  this  m-oment  of  fury,  that  enraged  mjiititude  had  fain  upon  tlie 
Covern'r  &  councill  we  of  the  as^sembly  expected  die  same  imedia'te  tate  ; 


iNrRODUCtlON,  xt\ 

I  «tept  down  ajid  amongst  the  crown  of  Spectators  found  tlie  seamen  of 
my  sloop,  who  pray'd  me  not  to  stir  from  them,  when  in  two  minutes, 
the  Govern'r  walk'd  towards  his  private  apartm't.  a  Coits  cast  distant  at 
the  other  end  of  the  Statehouse,  tlie  gentlemen  of  the  coimcill  following 
him,  and  after  them  walked  Mr.  Bacon  with  outragious  postures  of  his 
head  arms  body  &.  legs,  often  tossing  his  hands  from  his  sword  to  his  hat 
and  after  him  came  a  detachment  of  ffusileers  (musketts  not  being  then  in 
use)  who  with  their  cocks  bent  presented  their  ffusils  at  a  window  of  the 
assembly  chamber  filled  with  faces,  repeating  with  menacing  voices  "we 
will  have  it,  we  will  have  it,"  half  a  minute  when  as  one  of  our  house  a 
person  known  to  many  of  them,  shook  his  handkercher  out  at  the  win- 
dow, "saying you  shall  have  it,  you  shall  have  it,"  3  or  4  times;  at  these 
words  they  sate  down  their  fusils  unbent  their  locks  and  stood  still  untili 
Bacon  coming  back,  they  followed  him  to  their  main  body;  in  this  hubub 
a  serv^ant  of  mine  got  so  nigh  as  to  hear  the  Govern'rs  words,  and  also 
followed  Mr.  Bacon,  and  heard  what  he  said,  vdio  came  &told  me,  that 
when  the  Govern'r  opened  his  breast  he  said,  "here!  shoot  me,  foregod 
fair  mark,  shoot;  often  rehearsing  the  same,  w^ithout  any  other  words ; 
whereto  Mr.  Bacon  answered  "No  may  it  please  yo'r  hono'r  we  will  not 
"  hurt  a  hair  of  yo'r  head,  nor  of  any  other  mans,  we  are  come  for  a 
"  Co'mission  tosave  our  lives  from  th'  Indians,  which  you  have  so  often 
"  promised,  and  now  we  will  have  it  before  we  go." 

But  when  Mr.  Bacon  followed  the  Govern'r  &  Councill  with  the  fore- 
mentioned  impetuous  (like  delirious)  actions  whil'st  that  party  presented 
iheir  ffusils  at  the  window  full  of  ffaces,  he  said  "  Dam  my  bloud  I'le  kill 
'*  Govern'r  Councill  assembly  &  all,  and  then  I'le  sheath  my  sword  in  my 
^^  own  hearts  bloud;"  and  afterwards  'twas  said  Bacon  had  given  a  sig- 
nal to  his  men  who  presented  their  fusils  at  those  gasing  out  at  the  win- 
dow that  if  he  should  draw  his  s\vord,  they  Were  on  sight  of  it  to  fire,  and 
slay  us,  so  near  was  the  massacre  of  us  all  that  very  minute,  had  Bacon  in 
that  paroxism  of  phrentick  fury  but  drawn  his  sword,  before  the  pacifick 
handkercher  was  shaken  out  at  window. 

In  an  hour  or  more  after  these  violent  concussions  Mr.  Bacon  came  up 
to  our  chamber  and  desired  a  co'm.ission  from  us  to  go  against  the  Indians; 
our  Speaker  sat  silent,  when  one  Mr.  Blayton  a  neighbor  to  Mr.  Bacon 
Selected  with  him  a  member  of  assembly  for  the  same  county  (who  there- 
fore durst  speak  to  him)  made  answer,  "  'twas  not  in  our  province,  or 
"  power,  nor  of  any  other,  save  the  king's  vicercgent  our  Govern'r,  he 
press'd  hard  nigh  half  an  hours  harangue  on  the  preserving  our  lives  from 
the  Indians,  inspecting  the  publick  revenues,  th'  exorbitant  taxes  and  re- 
dressing the  grievances  and  calamities  of  thnt  deplorable  country,  whereto 
having  no  other  answer  he  went  away  dissatisfied. 

Next  day  there  was  a  rumour  the  Govern'r  &  councill  had  agreed  Mr. 
Bacon  shou'd  have  a  co'mission  to  go  Generall  of  the  fforces,  we  then 
were  raising,  whereupon  I  being  a  member  of  Stafford,  the  most  northern 
frontier,  and  where  the  war  begun,  considering  thnt  Mr.  j^acon  dwelling 
in  the  most  Southern  ffrontier,  county,  might  the  less  regard  the  parts  I 
represented,  I  went  to  Coll:  Cole  (an  active  member  of  the  councill)  desi- 
ring his  ad\-ic<=,  if  applicac'ons  to   Mr.  Bacon  on  that  subject  were  then 


xxli  INTRODUCTION. 

seasonable  and  safe,  which  he  approving  and  earnestly  advisirig,  I  Vf^-eiii 
to  Mr.  Laurence  who  was  esteemed  Mr.  Bacon's  principal  consultant,  to 
whom  he  took  me  with  him,  and  there  left  me  where  I  was  entertained 
2  or  3  hours  wath  the  particular  relac'ons  of  diverse  before  recited  trans- 
actions ;  and  as  to  the  matter  I  spake  of,  he  told  me,  the  Governor  had 
mdeed  promised  him  the  command  of  the  forces,  and  if  his  hono'r  shou'd 
keep  his  word  (which  he  doubted)  he  assured  me  "the  like  care  should  be 
"  taken  of  the  remotest  corners  in  the  land,  as  of  his  ow^n  dwelhng-house, 
"  and  pray'd  me  to  advise  him  what  persons  in  those  parts  w^ere  most  fit  to 
"  bear  commands."  I  frankly  gave  him  my  opinion  that  the  m.ost  satis- 
factory gentlemen  to  govern'r  &  people,  wou'd  be  co'manders  of  the  militia, 
wherewith  he  was  well  pleased,  and  himself  wrote  a  list  of  those  nomina- 
ted. 

That  evening  I  made  known  what  had  passed  w^ith  Mr.  Bacon  to  my 
colleague  Coll:  Mason  [whose  bottle  attendance  doubted  my  task]  the 
matter  he  liked  well,  but  questioned  the  Govern'rs  approbation  of  it. 

I  confess'd  the  case  required  sedate  thoughts,  reasoning,  that  he  and 
such  like  gentlemen  must  either  co'mand  or  be  commanded,  and  if  on  their 
denials  ]\lr.  Bacon  should  take  distaste,  and  be  constrained  to  ap- 
point co'manders  out  of  the  rabble,  the  Govern'r  himself  vrith  the  persons 
&  estates  of  all  in  the  land  woud  be  at  their  dispose,  whereby  their  own 
mine  might  be  owing  to  them^selves :  in  this  he  agreed  &  said  "If 
"  the  Govern'r  woud  give  his  own  co'mission  he  w^ould  be  content 
"to  serve  under  General  Bacon  [as  now  he  began  to  be  intituled]  but 
"  first  would  consult  other  gentlemen  in  the  same  circumstances  ;  who  all 
concurr'd  'twas  the  most  safe  barrier  in  view  against  pernicious  designes, 
if  such  should  be  put  in  practice;  with  this  I  acquainted  Mr-  Laurence 
who  went  [rejoicing]  to  Mr.  Bacon  with  the  good  tidings,  that  the  militia 
co'manders  were  inclined  to  serve  under  him,  as  their  Generall,  in  case 
the  Governor  would  please  to  give  them  his  own  co'missions. 

Wee  of  the  house  proceeded  t6  finish  the  bill  for  the  war,  which  by  thd 
assent  of  the  Govern'r  and  councill  being  past  into  an  act,  the  Govern'r 
sent  us  a  letter  directed  to  his  majesty,  wherein  were  these  words  "  I  have 
"  above  30  years  governed  the  most  flourishing  country  the  sun  ever  shone 
"  over,  but  am  now^  encompassed  with  rebellion  like  waters  in  every  re- 
"  spect  like  to  that  of  Massanello  except  their  leader,  and  of  like  import 
was  the  substance  of  that  letter.  But  w^e  did  not  believe  his  hono'r  sent 
us  all  he  wrote  his  majesty. 

Some  judicious  gentlemen  of  our  house  likewise  penn'd  a  letter  or  re- 
monstrance to  be  sent  his  Maj'tie,  setting  forth  the  gradations  of  those 
erupc'ons,  and  two  or  three  of  them  with  Mr.  Minge  our  clerk  brought  it 
me  to  compile  a  few  lines  for  the  coaclusion  of  it,  which*I  did  [tho  not 
without  regret  in  those  watchfuU  times,  when  every  man  had  eyes  on  hint, 
but  what  I  wrote  was  with  all  possible  deferrence  to  the  Govern'r  and  in 
the  most  soft  terms  my  pen  cou'd  find  the  case  to  admit. 

Coi.  Spencer  being  my  neighbor  &  intimate  friend,  and  a  prevalent 
member  in  the  council  I  pray'd  him  to  intreat  the  Govern'r  we  might  be 
dissolved,  for  that  w^as  my  first  and  should  be  my  last  going  asU'ay  from 
my  vvonted  sphere  of  merchandize  &,  other  my  private  concernments  into 


INTRODUCTION.  xxlii 

the  dark  and  slippery  meanders  of  court  embarrasments,  he  told  me  the 
Govern'r  had  not  [then]  determined  his  intention,  but  he  wou'd  move  his 
hono'r  about  itt,  and  in  2  or  3  days  we  were  dissolved,  which  I  was  most 
heartily  glad  of,  because  of  my  getting  loose  againe  from  being  hampered 
amongst  those  pernicious  entanglem'ts  in  the  labyrinths  &  snares  of  state 
ambiguities,  &  which  untill  then  I  had  not  seen  the  practice  nor  the  dan- 
gers of,  for  it  was  observ'd  that  severall  of  the  members  had  secret  badges 
of  distinction  fixt  upon  'em,  as  not  docill  enough  to  gallop  the  future  races, 
that  court  seem'd  disposed  to  lead  'em,  whose  maxims  I  had  oft  times 
heard  whisper'd  before,  and  then  found  confirm'd  by  diverse  considerate 
gentlem'n  viz't.  "that  thewdse  and  the  rich  were  prone  to  Ifaction  &  se- 
^'  dition  but  the  fools  &poor  w^ere  easy  to  be  governed." 

Many  members  being  met  one  evening  nigh  sunsett,  to  take  our  leave 
of  each  other,  in  order  next  day  to  return  homewards,  came  Gen'll.  Bacon 
W^ith  his  handfull  of  unfolded  papers  &  overlooking  us  round,  walking  in 
the  room  said  "which  of  these  Gentlem'n  shall  I  interest  to  write  a  few 
words  for  me,  where  eveiy  one  looking  aside  as  not  w^illing  to  meddle ; 
Mr.  Lawrence  pointed  at  me  saying  "that  gentleman  writes  very  well 
which  I  endeavoring  to  excuse  Mr.  Bacon  came  stooping  to  the  ground 
and  said  "pray  S'rDo  me  the  ho'rto  write  a  line  for  me." 

This  surprising  accostm't  shockt  me  into  a  melancholy  consternation, 
dreading  upon  one  hand,  that  Stafford  county  would  feel  the  smart  of  his 
resentment,  if  I  should  refuse  him  whose  favour  I  had  so  lately  sought  and 
been  generously  promis'd  on  their  behalf;  and  on  th'  other  hand  fearing 
the  Govern'rs  displeasure  wlio  I  knew  would  soon  hear  of  it;  what 
seem'd  most  prudent  at  this  hazardous  dilemma  was  to  obviate  the  pre- 
sent impending  peril ;  So  Mr.  Bacon  naade  me  sit  the  whole  night  by  him 
filling  up  those  papers,  which  I  then  saw  were  blank  co'missions  sign'd 
by  the  Govern'r  incerting  such  names  &  writing  other  matters  as  he  dic- 
tated, which  I  took  to  be  the  happy  effects  of  the  consult  before  men- 
tioned, with  the  com'anders  of  the  militia  because  he  gave  me  the  names 
of  very  few  others  to  put  into  these  com'issions,  and  in  the  morning  he 
left  me  with  an  hours  worke  or  more  to  finish,  when  came  to  me  Capt. 
Carver,  and  said  he  had  been  to  wait  on  the  Generall  for  a  com'ission, 
and  that  he  was  resolved  to  adventure  his  old  bones  against  the  Indian 
rogues  with  other  the  like  discourse,  and  at  length  told  me  that  I  was  in 

mighty  fiivour and  he  was  bid  to  tell  me,  that  whatever  I  desired 

in  the  Generals  power,  was  at  my  service,  I  pray'd  him  humbly  to  thank 
his  hon'r  and  to  acquaint  him  I  had  no  other  boon  to  crave,  than  his  pro- 
mis'd kindness  to  Stafford  county,  for  beside  the  not  being  worthy,  I  never 
had  been  conversant  in  military  matters,  and  also  having  lived  tenderly, 
ray  service  cou'd  be  of  no  benelit  because  the  hardships  and  fatigues  of  a 
wilderness  campaigne  would  put  a  speedy  period  to  my  dais:  little  ex- 
pecting to  hear  of  more  intestine  broiles,  I  went  home  to  Potomack,  where 
reports  were  afterwards  various;  we  had  account  that  Generall  Bacon  was 
march'd  with  a  thousand  men  into  the  fforest  to  seek  the  enemy  Indians, 
and  in  a  few  dais  after  our  next  news  was,  that  the  Govern'r  had  sum'on- 
ed  together  the  militia  of  Gloucester  &  MidcHesex  counties  to  the  numbcf 
of  twelve  hundred  men,  and  proposed  to  them  to  follow  iSc  and  suppress 


xxiy  INTRODUCTION. 

that  rebell  Bacon,  "whereupon  arose  a  murmuring  before  his  face  ^^  Bacon 
Bacon  Bocon,  and  all  walked  out  of  the  field,  muttering  as  they  went 
"Bacon  Bacon  Bacon,  leaving  the  Governor  and  those  that  came  with 
him  to  themselves,  who  being  thus  abandon'd  wafted  over  Chesepiacke 
bay  30  miles  to  Accomack  where  are  two  counties  of  Virginia, 

Mr.  Bacon  hearing  of  this  came  back  part  of  the  way,  and  sent  out  par- 
ties of  horse  patrolling  through  every  county,  carrying  away  prisoners  all 
whom  he  distrusted  might  any  more  molest  his  Indian  prosecuc'on  yet 
giving  liberty  to  such  as  pledg'd  him  their  oaths  to  return  home  and  live 
quiet ;  the  copies  or  contents  of  which  oaths  I  never  saw^,  but  heard  were 
very  strict,  tho'  little  observed. 

About  this  time  was  a  spie  detected  pretending  himself  a  deserter  who 
had  twice  or  thrice  come  and  gone  from  party  to  party  and  was  by  councill 
of  war  sentenced  to  death,  after  which  Bacon  declared  openly  to  him, 
"that  if  any  one  in  the  army  wou'd  speak  a  word  to  save  him,  he  shou'd 
**  not  suffer,"  which  no  man  appearing  to  do,  he  was  executed,  upon  this 
manifestation  of  clemency  Bacon  was  applauded  for  a  mercifull  man,  not 
willing  to  spill  Christian  bloud,  nor  indeed  was  it  said,  that  he  put  any 
other  man  to  death  in  cold  bloud,  or  plunder  any  house ;  nigh  the  same 
time  came  Maj'r  Langston  with  his  troop  of  horse  and  quartered  two 
nights  at  my  house  who  [after  high  compliments  from  the  Generall]  told 
me  I  was  desired  "to  accept  the  Lieutenancy  for  preserving  the  peace  in 
the  5  Northern  counties  betwixt  Potomack  and  Rappahannock  rivers,  I 
humbly  thank'd  his  hon'r  excusing  myself,  as  I  had  done  before  on  that  in- 
vitation of  the  like  nature  at  James  town,  but  did  hear  he  w^as  mightily 
offended  at  my  evasions  and  threatened  to  remember  me. 

The  Govern'r  made  2d.  attempt  coming  over  from  Accomack  w^ith  what 
men  he  could  procure  in  sloops  and  boats,  forty  miles  up  the  river  to  James 
town,  w^hich  Bacon  hearing  of,  came  againe  down  from  his  fforest  pursuit, 
and  finding  a  bank  not  a  flight  shot  long,  cast  up  thwart  the  neck  of  the 
peninsula  there  in  James  town,  he  stormed  it,  and  took  the  town,  in  which 
attack  were  12.  men  slaine  &  v/ounded  but  the  Govern'r  wdth  most  of  his 
follow^ers  fled  back,  down  the  river  in  their  vessells. 

Here  resting  a  few  dais  they  concerted  the  burning  of  the  town,  wherein 
Mr.  Lawrence  and  Mr.  Drumond  owning  the  two  best  houses  save  one, 
sat  fire  each  to  his  own  house,  w^hich  example  the  souldiers  following  laid 
the  whole  town  with  church  and  State  house  in  ashes,  saying,  the  rogues 
should  harbour  no  more  there. 

On  these  reiterated  molestac'ons  Bacon  calls  a  convention  at  Midle 
plantation  15.  miles  from  James  town  in  the  month  of  August  1676, 
where  an  oath  with  one  or  more  proclamations  were  formed,  and  WTitts 
by  him  issued  for  an  Assembly ;  the  oaths  or  writts  I  never  saw,  but  one 
proclamation  com'anded  all  men  in  the  land  on  pain  of  death  to  joine  him, 
and  retire  into  the  wildernesse  upon  arrival  of  the  forces  expected  from 
England,  and  oppose  them  untill  they  should  propose  to  accept  to  treat  of 
an  accom'odnlion,  which  we  who  lived  comfortably  coud  not  have  under^ 
gone,  so  as  the  whole  land  must  have  become  an  Aceldama  if  gods  ex- 
ceeding mercy  had  not  timely  removed  him. 

During  these  tumults  in  Virginia  a  2d.  danger   menaced  Marj-land  by 


INTRODUCTION.  xxv 

an  insurrcclioii  in  that  province,  complaining  of  their  heavy  taxes  &c.  where 
2  or  3  of  the  leading  malcontents  [men  otherwise  of  laudable  characters] 
\vere  put  to  death,  which  stifled  the  farther  spreading  of  that  flame.  Mr. 
Bacon,  [at  this  time]  press't  the  best  ship  in  James  river,  carrying  20 
guns  and  putting  into  her  his  Lieutenant  Generall  Mr.  Bland  [a  gentle- 
man newly  come  thither  from  England  to  possesse  the  estate  of  his  de- 
ceased uncle  late  of  the  council]  and  under  him  the  forementioned  Capt. 
Carver,  formerly  a  com'ander  of  Merch'ts  ships  with  men  &  all  necessa- 
ries, he  sent  her  to  ride  before  Accomack  to  curb  and  intercept  all  small 
vessels  of  war  com'ission'd  by  the  Govern'rcom'ing  often  over  and  mak- 
ing depredations  on  the  Western  shoar,  as  if  we  had  been  fforeign  enemies, 
w^iicli  gives  occasion  in  this  place  to  digress  a  few  words. 

Att  first  assembly  after  the  peace  came  a  message  to  them  from  the 
Govern'r  for  some  marks  of  distinction  to  be  set  on  his  loyal  friends  of 
Accomack,  who  received  him  in  his  adversity  which  Vv'hen  came  to  be 
considered  Col:  Warner  [then  Speaker]  told  the  house  "  Ye  know  that 
^'  what  mark  of  distinction  his  hono'r  coud  have  sett  on  those  of  Acco- 
^'  mack  unlesse  to  give  them  ear  marks  or  burnt  marks  for  robbing  and 
"  ravaging  honest  people,  who  stay'd  at  heme  and  preserved  the  estates 
"  of  those  who  ran  a,way,  when  none  intended  to  hurt  'em." 

Now  returning  to  Capt  Carver  the  Govern'r  sent  for  him  to  come  on 
shoar,  promising  his  peaceable  return,  who  ansvv^er'd,  he  could  not  trust 
his  word,  but  if  he  wou'd  send  his  hand  &  seal,  he  wou'd  adventure  to 
wait  upon  his  hono'r  which  was  done,  and  Carver  went  in  his  sloop  well 
arm'd  &  man'd  with  the  most  trusty  of  his  men  where  he  was  caress'd 
with  wine  &c.  and  large  promises,  if  he  would  forsake  Bacon,  resigne  his 
ship  or  joine  with  him,  to  all  which  he  answer'd  that  ''if  he  served  the 
"  Devill  he  would  be  true  to  his  trust,  but  that  he  was  resolved  to  go 
"  home  and  live  quiet. 

In  the  mean  time  of  this  recepc'on  and  parley,  an  armed  boat  w^as  pre- 
pared with  many  oars  in  a  creek  not  far  o%  but  out  of  sight,  vdiich  when 
Carver  sail'd,  row'd  out  of  the  creek,  and  it  being  almost  calm  the  boat 
out  went  the  sloop  vrhilst  all  on  board  the  ship  were  upon  the  deck  star- 
ing at  both,  thinking  the  boats  company  coming  on  board  by  Carvers 
invitation  to  be  civilly  entertained  in  requitall  for  the  kindness  they  sup- 
posed he  had  received  on  shoar,  untiil  coming  under  the  stern,  those  in 
the  boat  slipt  nimbly  in  at  the  gun  room  ports  with  pistolls  &c.  when 
one  courageous  gentleman  ran  up  to  the  deck.  Si  clapt  a  pistoll  to  Blands 
breast,  saying  you  are  my  prisorner,  the  boats  com.pany  suddainlv  follow- 
ing with  pistolls  swords  &c.  and  after  Capt.  Larimore  (the  com'aiider  of 
tiie  ship  before  she  was  presst)  having  from  the  highest  and  hindmost 
part  of  the  stern  interchang'd  a  signal  from  the  shoar,  by  flirting  his  hand- 
kercher  about  his  nose,  his  own  former  crev/  had  laid  handspikes  ready, 
which  they  [at  that  instant]  caught  up  cvc.  so  as  Bland  t>c  Carvers  men 
were  amazed  and  yielded. 

Carver  vSeeing  a  hurly  burly  on  the  ships  deck,  woud  have  gone  away 
v>-ith  his  sloop,  but  having  little  v/ind  »Sc  the  ship  threat'ning  to  sink  him,  he 
taraciv  came  on  board,  v>'here  Bhiiid  &  he  witli  llieir  party  were  laid  in  irons, 

D 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

and  in  3.  or  4  dais  Carver  was  hang'd  on  shoar,  wliicli  S'r  Henry  Chi- 
etielly  the  first  of  the  counciil  then  a  prisoner,  [with  diverse  other  gentle- 
men] to  Mr.  Bcicon,  did  afterwards  exclaime  against  as  a  most  rash  and 
wicked  ?.ci  cf  the  (jovern'r  he  in  particular  expecting  to  have  been  treated 
by  v/ay  cf  reprizalj,  as  Bacons  iHend  Carver  had  been  by  the  Govern'r. 
Mr.  iJacon  now  returns  from  his  last  expedic'on  sick  of  fllux ;  without 
linding  any  enemy  Indians,  having  not  gone  far  by  reason  of  the  vexations 
behind  him,  nor  had  he  one  dry  day  in  all  his  marches  to  and  fro  in  the 
fforest  vvliilst  the  plantations  [not  50.  miles  distant]  had  a  sum'er  so  dry 
as  stinted  the  Indian  corn  and  tobacco  &c.  which  the  people  ascribed  to 
the  Pav^^awings  i.  e.  the  sorceries  of  the  Indians,  in  a  while  Bacon  dyes 
<Sw  was  succeeded  by  his  Lieuten't  Gen'li  Ingram,  who  had  one  Wakelet 
next  in  com'and  under  him,  whereuocn  hastened  over  the  Govem'r  to 
York  river,  and  with  whom  they  articled  for  themselves,  and  whom  else 
they  could,  and  so  all  submitted  and  were  pardoned  exempting  those 
nominated  and  otherwise  proscribed,  in  a  proclamac'on  of  indemnity,  the 
Drincipall  of  whom  were  Laurence  and  Drum'ond. 

I^.Ir.  Bland  was  then  a  prisoner  having  been  taken  with  Carver,  as  be- 
fore noted,  and  in  a  few  dais  Mr.  Drumond  w^as  brought  in,  when  the 
Governor  being  on  board  a  ship  came  immediately  on  shore  and  compli- 
mented him.  with  the  ironicall  sarcasm  of  a  low  bend,  saying  "Mr. 
"  Drum.mond !  you  are  very  unvrelcom^e,  I  am  more  glad  to  see  you, 
"  than  any  m.an  m  Virginia,  Mr.  Drumond  you  shall  be  hang'd  in  half 
"  an  hour  ;  who  answered  What  yo'r  hono'r  pleases,  and  as  soon  as  a 
council  of  war  cou'd  meet,  his  sentence  be  dispatchat  &  a  gibbet  erected 
[vdiich  took  up  near  two  houres]  he  was  executed. 

This  Mr.  Drumond  was  a  sober  Scotch  gentleman  of  good  repute  with 
whome  I  had  not  a  particular  acquaintance,  nor  do  I  know  the  cause  of 
that  ranccur  his  hono'r  had  against  him  other  than  his  pretentions  in 
com'n  for  the  publick  but  meetino:  him  bv  accident  the  morninir  I  left  the 
town,  I  advis'd  him  to  be  very  wary,  for  he  saw  the  Govern'r  had  put  a 
brand  upon  him,  he  [gravely  expressing  my  name]  answered  "I  am  in 
over  shoes,  I  will  be  over  boots,''  v\'hich  I  was  sorry  to  heare  &  left  him. 

The  last  account  of  Mr.  Laurence  was  from  an  uppeinicst  plantaticn, 
where  Le  and  ffour  ethers  desperado's  with  horses  pistolls  &c.  march'd 
away  in  a  ^-now  ancle  deep,  who  were  thought  to  have  cast  themselves 
into  a  branch  cf  some  river,  rather  than  to  be  treated  like  Drum.'ond. 

Bacons  body  was  so  made  away,  as  his  bones  were  never  found  to  be 
exposed  on  a  gibbet  as  was  purposed,  stones  being  laid  on  his  coffiii, 
supposed  to  be  dene  by  Laurence. 

Near  this  time  arrived  a  sm.all  flleet  with  a  rej^irnent  from  Enaland  S'r 
John  Berry  admirall,  Col:  Heibert  Jefleries  com'ander  of  the  land  forces  and 
Cello:  Mcrrison  who  had  one  year  been  a  former  Govern'r  there,  alltlrite 
joined  in  a  ccm'ission  with  or  to  S'r  William  Barclay,  soon  after  when  a 
generall  court,  and  also  an  assembly  were  held,  v,diere  some  of  our  former 
assembly  [with  so  many  others]  were  put  to  death,  diverse  whereof  were 


INTRODUCTION.  xxve 

tountry,  iftliey  h:i'i  let  him  aloaa,  the  first  was  Mr.  BJan  1  whose  friends 
in  England  hud  procured  his  pardon  to  be  sent  over  with  the  liieef,  which 
he  pleaded  at  his  tryall,  was  m  the  Govern'rs  pocket  [tho'  whether  'twas 
so,  or  how  it  came  there,  I  know  not,  yet  did  not  hear  'twas  openly  con- 
tradicted] but  he  was  answered  by  Coilo.  Morrison  that  he  pleaded  his 
pardon  at  swords  point,  which  was  look'd  upon  an  odd  sort  of  reply,  and 
he  was  executed;  [as  was  talked]  by  private  instructions  from  j^igland 
the  Duke  of  York  having  sworn  "by  god  Bacon  &  Bland  shoud  dye. 

The  Governor  vv^ent  in  the  ffleet  to  London  [wdiether  by  com'and  fi'om 
liis  Majesty  or  spontaneous  I  did  not  hear]  leaving  Col.  Jefieryes  in  his 
place,  and  by  next  shipping  came  back  a  person  who  waited  on  his  hono'r 
in  his  voyage,  and  untiU  his  death,  from  whom  a  report  was  whisper'd 
about,  that  the  king  did  say  "that  old  fool  had  hang'd  more  men  in  that 
''•  naked  country,  than  he  had  done  for  the  niurther  of  his  father,  whereof 
the  Govern'r  hearing  dyed  soon  after  without  having  seen  his  majesty  ; 
■^vhich  shuts  up  this  tragedy. 

APPENDIX. 

To  avoid  incumbering  the  body  of  the  foregoing  little  discourse,  I  hav-e 
^Aot  therein  mentioned  the  received  opinion  in  Virginia,  which  very  much 
-attributed  the  promoting  these  perturbac'ons  to  Mr.  Laurence,  &  Mr. 
]3acon  with  his  other  adherents,  were  esteemed,  as  but  wheels  agitated 
by  the  weight  of  his  former  &  present  resentments,  after  their  choler  was 
-raised  up  to  a  very  high  pitch,  at  having  been  [so  long  &  often]  trilled  with 
on  their  humble  supplications  to  the  Govern'"  for  his  im'ediate  taking  in 
hand  the  most  speedy  meanes  towards  stopping  the  conthmed  "efiasions  of 
so  much  Enf>-lish  bloud,  from  time  to  time  by  the  Indians  :  which  com'on 
seniim'ts  I  have  the  more  reason  to  believe  were  not  altogether  ground- 
less, because  my  seh'  have  heard  him  [in  his  familiar  discourse]  insinuate 
as  if  his  fancy  gave  him  prospect  of  linding  (at  one  time  or  other)  some 
•expedient  not  only  to  repair  his  great  iosse,  but  therevAth  to  sec  those 
<ibuses  rectified  that  the  country  Vv^as  oppressed  vclth  through  (as  he  said)  the 
forwardness  avarice  &.french  despotick  methods  of  the  Govern'r  &  likevrise 
I  know  him  to  be  a  thinking  man,  and  tho'  nicely  honest,  affable,  &  with- 
•out  blemish;  in  his  conversation  and  dealings,  yet  did  he  manifest  abund- 
iuice  of  uneasiness  in  the  sense  of  his  hard  usages,  which  might  prompt 
him  to  improve  that  Indian  quarrel  to  the  service  of  his  animosities,  and 
for  this  the  more  fair  &  Irequent  opportunities  olfered  themselves  to  him 
hy  his  dwelling  at  James  town,  where  v/as  the  concourse  from  ail  parts  to 
the  Govern'r  and  besides  that  he  had  married  a  welathy  widow  who  kept 
a  large  house  of  public  entertainm't  unto  which  resorted  those  of  the  best 
quality  and  such  others  as  businesse  called  to  that  town,  and  his  parts  with 
his  even  tempcM-  made  his  converse  coveted  by  persons  of  all  ranks  ;  so 
that  being  subtile,  and  having  these  advantages  he  might  with  Icsse  diifi- 
€ulty  discover  mens  inclinations,  and  instill  his  notloni  where  he  found 
those  woud  be  in\bib'd  with  greatest  satisfaction. 

As  for  Mr.  Bacon  fame  did  lay  to  his  charge  the  having  run  out  hi:^ 
pitrimony  in  Kugland  except  what  he  brought  to  Virginia,  and  for  that 
the  most  pirt  to  be  exhausteti,   wii'ch  together  mAde    him  suspecting  Qi 


xsviii  INTRODUCTION. 

casting  an  eye  to  search  for  retrievment  in  the  troubled  waters  of  popular 
discontents,  wanting  patience  to  w^aitthe  death  of  his  opulent  cousin,  old 
Collo.  Bacon,  whose  estate  he  expected  to  inherit 

But  he  was  too  young,  too  much  a  stranger  there,  and  of  a  disposition 
too  precipitate,  to  manage  things  to  that  length  those  were  carried,  had 
not  thoughtful!  My.  Laurence  been  at  the  bottom. 


II  i  H  '1"  O  M  V 


O  F   . 


mmm  w ^m^^mw 


<^ 


■  ^^^iff^c^ 


CHAPTER  L 


INDIAN   WARS. 


From  the  best  evidence  the  author  has  been  able  to  obtain,  and  to  uiii5 
end  he  has  devoted  much  time  and  research,  the  settlement  of  our  fine  and 
beautiful  valley  commenced  in  the  year  1732,  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  years  from  the  first  settlement  in  Virginia.  Before  going  into 
a  detail  of  the  first  immigration  to  and  improvement  of  the  Valley,  the 
author  believes  it  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader,  to  have 
a  brief  history  of  the  long  and  bloody  wars  carried  an  between  contending 
tribes  of  Indians.  Tradition  relates  that  The  Delaware  and  Catawba  tribes 
were  engaged  in  Avar  at  the  time  the  Valley  was  first  known  by  the  white 
people,  and  that  that  war  w^as  continued  for  many  years  after  our  section 
of  country  became  pretty  numerously  inhabited  by  the  white  settlers. 

I  shall  commence  with  a  narrative  of  Indian  battles  fought  on  the  Co- 
hongoruton.*     At  the  mouth  of  Antietam,  a  small  creek  on  the  Maryland 

*Cohongoruton  is  the  ancient  Indian  name  of  the  Potomac,  from  its 
junction  with  the  Shenandoah  to  the  Allegany  mountain.  Lord  Fairfax, 
in  his  grants  for  land  on  this  water  course,  designated  it  Potomac  ;  by 
which  means  it  gradually  lost  its  ancient  name,  and  now  is  generally 
known  by  no  other  name.  Maj.  H.  Bedinger  writes  the  name  of  this 
river  Cohongoluta.  It  is,  however,  written  in  the  act  layhig  off  the 
county  of  Frederick  in  173S,  Cohongoruton. 


^30  LNDiAX  WAKS. 

side  of  the  river,  a  mo.'st  bloody  aflair  took  place  between  parties  of  the 
£!ata\vba  and  Delaware  tribes.  This  was  probably  about  the  year  1736* 
The  Delawares  had  penetrated  pretty  far  to  the  south,  committed  some 
acts  of  outrage  on  the  Catawbas,  and  on  their  retreat  were  overtaken  at 
the  mouth  oi  tiiis  creek,  when  a  desperate  conflict  ensured.  Every  man 
of  the  Delaware  party  was  put  to  death,  wdth  the  exception  of  one  who 
escaped  after  the  batiie  was  over,  and  every  Catawba  held  up  a  scalp  but 
one.  This  was  a  disgrace  not  to  be  borne  ;  and  he  instantly  gave  chase 
to  the  fugitive,  overtook  him  at  the  Susquehanna  river,  (a  distance  little 
short  of  one  hundred  miles,)  kiUed  and  scalped  him,  and  returning,  show- 
ed his  scalp  to  several  white  people,  and  exulted  in  what  he  had  done.* 

A  nother  most  bloody  battle  was  fought  at  the  mouth  of  Conococheague,t 
on  Friend's  land,  in  which  but  one  Delaw^are  escaped  death,  and  he  ran  in 
to  Friend's  house,  w^hen  the  family  shut  the  door,  and  kept  the  Catawbas 
45vit,  by  which  means  the  poor  fugitive  was  saved.  J 

There  is  also  a  tradition,  and  there  are  evident  signs  of  the  fact,  of 
another  furious  battle  fought  at  w4iat  is  called  the  Slim  Bottom  on  Wap- 
patoniaka,§  (the  ancient  Indian  name  of  the  Great  South  Branch  of  the 
Potomac,)  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  its  mouth.  At  this  place 
there  are  several  large  Indian  graves^  near  what  is  called  the  Painted 
Rock.  Onn  this  rock  is  exhibited  the  shape  of  a  man  with  a  large  blotcth, 
intended,  probably,  to  represent  a  man  bleeding  to  death.  The  stain,  it 
appeared  to  the  author,  v>'as  made  with  human  blood.  The  top  of  the 
rock  projects  over  the  painted  part  so  as  to  protect  it  from  the  w^ashingy 
of  the  rains,  and  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  rock.  How  long  the  stain  of 
human  blood  w^ould  rem^ain  visible  in  a  position  like  this,  the  author  can- 
not pretend  to  express  an  opinion  ;  but  he  well  recollects  the  late  Gen. 
Isaac  Zane  informed  him  that  the  Indians  beat  out  the  brains  of  an  infant 
(near  his  old  iron  v/orks)  against  a  rock,  and  the- stain  of  the  blood  was 
plainly  to  be  seen  about  forty  years  afterwards.  In  this  battle  it  is 
said  but  one  Delaware  escaped,  and  he  did  so  by  leaping  into  the  river, 
divinsf  under  the  water,  and  continuing"  to  swim  until  he  crossed  the 
Cohongoruton.|| 

A  great  battle  between  these  hostile  tribes,  it  is  said,  was  fought  at 
■what  is  called  the  Hanging  Ptocks,  on  the  Wappatomaka,  in   the  county 

*This  tradition  was  related  to  the  author  by  Capt.  James  Glenn,  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  now  upwards  of  73  years  of  age,  and  confirmed  by  the  ve- 
nerable John  Tomhnson,  near  Cumberland,  Alaryiand,  now^  92  years  old. 

jMr.  Tomlinson  is  of  opinion  this  affair  took  place  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Opequon. 

jCapt.  James  Glenn,  confirmed  by  Mr.  Tomlinson,  except  as  to  the 
place  of  battle. 

§The  name  of  this  water  course  in  Lord  Fairfax's  ancient  grants  is 
written  Wappatomac  ;  but  Mr.  Heath  and  Mr.  Blue  both  stated  that  the 
proper  name  Avas  Wappatomaka. 

II Capt.  James  Glenn,  confirmed  by  Mr.  Garret  Blue,  of  Hampshire. — 
Indeed,  this  tradition  is  familiar  to  most  of  the  elderly  citizens  on  the 
South  Branch,  as  also  the  battle  q^  the  Hanging  Rocks. 


INDIAN  WARS,  3i 

of  Hampshire,  wliere  tlie  i'lver  passes  tlirougli  the  moiinlaiiu*  A  pretty 
large  party  of  the  Delawares  had  invaded  the  territory  of  the  Catawbas, 
taken  several  prisoners,  and  commenced  their  retreat  homewards.  When 
they  reached  this  place,  they  made  a  halt,  and  a  number  of  them  com- 
menced fishing.  Their  Catawba  enemies,  close  in  pursuit,  discovered 
them,  and  threw  a  party  of  men  across  the  river,  Avith  another  in 
their  front.  Thus  enclosed,  with  the  rock  on  one  side,  a  party  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  another  in  their  front,  and  another  in  their  rear, 
a  most  furious  and  bloody  onset  was  made,  and  it  is  believed  that  several 
hundred  of  the  Delawares  were  slaughtered.  Indeed,  the  signs  now  to 
be  seen  at  this  place  exhibit  striking  evidences  of  the  fact.  There  is  a 
row  of  Indian  graves  between  the  rock  and  public  road,  along  the  margin 
of  the  river,  from  sixty  to  seventy  yards  in  length.  It  is  believed  that 
but  very  few  of  the  Delawares  escaped. 

There  are  also  signs  of  a  bloody  battle  ha.ving  been  fought  at  the  forks 
of  the  Wappatomaka;  but  of  this  battle,  if  it  ever  occurred,  the  author 
coidd  obtain  no  traditional  account. 

Tradition  also  relates  that  the  Southern  Indians  exterminated  a  tribe, 
called  the  Senedos,  on  the  North  fork  of  the  Shenandoah  river^  at  present 
the  residence  of  William  Steenbergen,  Esq.,  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah.. 
About  the  year  1734,  Benjamin  Allen,  Riley  Moore,  and  William  White, 
settled  in  this  neighborhood.       Benjamin  Allen   settled  on  the  beautiful 
estate  called  Allen's  bottom.       An  aged  Indian  frequently  visited  him, 
and  on  one  occasion  informed  him  that  the    "  Southern  Indians  killed  his 
whole  nation  with  the  exception  of  himself  and  one  other  youth  ;  that  this 
bloody   slaughter  took  place  when  he,  the  Indian,  was  a  small  boy."* — 
From  this  tradition,  it  is  probable  this  horrid  affair  took  place  some  time 
shortly  after  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.     Maj.  Andrew  Keyser 
also  informed  the  author  that  an  Indian  once  called  at  his  grandfather's, 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  appeared  to    be  much  agitated,  and 
asked  for  something  to  eat.     After  refreshing  himself,  he  was  asked  v.hat 
disturbed  him.       He  replied,    "  The   Southern   Indians   have  killed  my 
whole  nation." 

There  are  also  evident  signs  of  the  truth  of  this  tradition  yet  to  ])e  seen. 
On  Mr.  Steenbergen's  land  are  the  remains  of  an  Indian  mound,  though 
it  is  now  plowed  down.  The  ancient  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  difter 
in  their  opinion  as  to  its  original  height.  When  they  first  saw  it,  some 
say  it  was  eighteen  or  t\venty  feet  high,  others  that  it  did  not  exceed 
twelve  or  fourteen,  and  that  it  was  from  fifty  to  sixty  yards  in  circumfer- 
ence at  the  base.  This  mound  was  literally  filled  with  human  skeletons  ; 
and  it  is  highly  probably  that  this  was  the  depository  of  the  dead  after  the 
great  massacre  which  took  place  as  just  related. 

This  brief  account  of  Indian  battles  contains  all  the  traditionary  infor- 


*As  the  author  expects  to  give  a  detailed  description  of  this 'extraordi- 
nary place,  in  his  chapter  of  natural  curiosities,  he  will  barely  mentiont 
the  fact,  that  this  rock,  on  one  side  of  the  river,  is  a  perpendicular  wall 
of  several  hundred  feet  high,  and  several' hundred  yards  in  lejigth. 

fMr.  Israel  Allen  related  this  tradition  to  the  author. 


32  INDIAN  WARS. 

mation  tlie  aullior  has  been  able  to  collect,  with  one  exception,  which  will 
be  noticed  in  the  next  chapter.  There  is,  however,  a  tradition,  that  on 
one  particular  occasion,  a  party  of  thirty  Delaware  Indians,  having  pene- 
trated far  to  the  south,  surprised  a  party  of  Catawbas,  killed  several,  and 
took  a  prisoner.  The  party  of  Delawares,  on  their  return,  called  at  Mr. 
Joseph  PerrilPs  near  Winchester,  and  exulted  much  at  their  success. — 
The  next  day  a  party  of  ten  Catawbas  called  at  Mr.  Perrill's  in  pursuit. — 
They  enquired  when  their  enemy  had  passed.  Being  informed,  they 
pushed  o/f  at  a  brisk  step,  overtook  the  thirty  Delawares  at  the  Cohongo- 
ruton,  (Potomac,)  killed  every  man,  recovered  their  prisoner,  called  at 
JMr.  Perrill's  on  their  return,  and  told  what  they  had  done.*  But  it  is 
probable  this  is  the  same  affair  which  took  place  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Antietam,  though  it  is  possible  that  it  maybe  a  different  one.  Mr.  Tom- 
linson  is  under  the  impression  that  there  was  an  Indian  battle  fought  at 
the  mouth  of  Opequon. 

The  author  has  seen  and  conversed  with  several  aged  and  respectable 
individuals,  who  well  recollect  seeing  numerous  war  parties  of  the  North- 
ern and  Southern  Indians  passing  and  repassing  through  the  Valley. — 
Several  warrior  paths  have  been  pointed  out  to  him.  One  of  them  led 
from  the  Cohongoruton,  (Potomac,)  and  passed  a  little  west  of  Winches- 
ter southwardly.  This  path  forked  a  few  miles  north  of  Winchester,  and 
one  branch  of  it  diverged  more  to  the  east,  crossed  the  Opequon,  very 
near  Mr.  Carter's  paper  mill,  on  the  creek,  and  led  on  toward  the  forks 
of  the  Shenandoah  river.  Another  crossed  the  North  mountain  and  the 
Valley  a  few  miles  above  the  Narrow  Passage,  thence  over  the  Fort 
mountain  to  the  South  river  valley.  Another  crossed  from  Cumberland, 
in  I\Iaryland,  and  proceeded  up  the  Wappatomaka  or  Great  South  Branch 
valley,  in  the  counties  of  Hampshire  and  Hardy. 

An  aged  and  respectable  old  lady,  on  Apple-pie  ridge,  informed  the 
author  that  she  had  frequently  heard  her  mother  speak  of  a  party  of  Dela- 
ware Indians  once  stepping  at  her  father's,  where  they  stayed  all  night. — 
Thev  had  in  custody  a  young  female  Catawba  prisoner,  who  was  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  fem.ales  she  had  ever  seen.  Maj.  R.  I).  Glass  also 
inform.ed  1he  author  that  his  father,  who  resided  at  the  head  of  the  Ope- 
quon, stated  the  same  fact.  It  was  remarkable  to  see  Vvith  what  resigna- 
tion this  unfortunate  young  prisoner  submitted  to  her  fate.  Her  unfeel- 
ing tormentors  would  tie  her,  and  compel  her  at  night  to  lay  on  her  back, 
with  the  cords  distended  from  her  hands  and  feet,  and  tied  to  branches 
or  what  else  they  could  get  at  to  make  her  secure,  while  a  man  laid  on 
each  side  of  her  whh  the  cords  passing  under  their  bodies. 

Mr.  John  Tom.linson  also  informed  the  author,  that  when  about  seven 
or  eight  years  of  age,  he  saw  a  party  of  Delawares  pass  his  father's  house, 
with  a  female  Catavrba  prisoner,  who  had  an  infant  child  in  her  arms ;- — 
and  that  it  v/as  said  they  intended  to  sacrifice  her  when  they  reached 
their  towns. f 


"^Gen.  John  Smith  com.municated  this  traditian  to  the  author. 
XMy.  Tcmdinscn's  father  then  resided  about  7  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
Con(;r(,rhc-cip;ue  on  or  near  the  Potomac,  on  the  Maryland  side. 


INDIAN  WARS.  •     33 

Traclltlon  also  relates  a  very  remarkable  instance  of  the  sacrifice  of  a 
female  Catawba  prisoner  by  the  Deiawares.  A  party  of  Delawares' 
crossed  the  Potomac,  near  Oldtown,  in  Maryland,  a  short  distance  from 
which  they  cruelly  murdered  their  prisoner  :  they  then  moved  on.  The 
next  day  several  of  them  returned,  and  cut  off  the  soles  of  her  feet,  in 
order  to  prevent  her  from  pursuing  and  haunting  them  in  their  march.* 

Capt.  Glenn  informed  the  author  that  a  Mrs.  Mary  Frtend,  who  resided 
on  or  near  the  Potomac,  stated  to  him  that  she  once  saw  a  body  of  four  or 
five  hundred  Catawba  Indians  on  their  march  to  invade  the  Delawares  ; 
but  from  some  cause  they  became  alaniried,  and  returned  without  success* 
The  same  gentleman  stated  to  the  author  that  a  Mr.  James  Hendricks 
informed  him  that  the  last  sacrifice  made  by  the  Delawares,  of  their 
Catawba  prisoners,  w^as  at  the  first  run  or  stream  of  water  on  the 
south  side  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  Here  several  prisoners  were 
tortured  to  death  with  all  the  wonted  barbarity  and  cruelty  peculiar  to 
the  savao-e  character.  Mr.  Hendricks  was  an  eye  witness  to  this  scene 
of  horror.  During  the  protracted  and  cruel  sufferings  of  these  unhappy 
victims,  they  tantalized  and  used  the  most  insulting  language  to  their 
tormentors,  threatening  them  with  the  terrible  vengeance  of  their  nation 
us  long  as  they  could  speak. 

This  bloody  tragedy  soon  reached  the  ears  of  the  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  he  forthwith  issued  his  proclamation,  comm.anding  and  requi-' 
ring  all  the  authorities,  both  civil  and  military,  to  interpose,  and  prohibit 
a  repetition  of  such  acts  of  barbarity  and  cruelty. 

The  author  will  now  conclude  this  narrative  of  Indian  wars,  with  a 
few  general  reflections. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  some  philosophers,  that  it  is  inherent  in  the  nature 
of  m.an  to  fight.  The  correctness  of  this  opinion  Mr.  Jefferson  seems  to 
doubt,  and  sug;gests  that  "it  grows  out  of  the  abusive  and  not  the  natural 
state  of  man."  But  it  really  appears  there  are  strong  reasons  to  believe 
that  there  does  exist  "a  natural  state  of  hostility  of  man  against  man." — ^ 
Upon  what  other  principle  can  we  account  for  the  long  and  furious  wars 
which  have  been  carried  on,  at  different  periods,  among  the  aboriginals  of 
our  country  ? 

At  an  immense  distance  apart, f  probably  little  less  than  six  or  seven 
hundred  miles,  without  trade,  commerce,  or  clashing  of  interests — with- 
out those  causes  of  irritation  common  among  civilized  states, — we  llnd 
these  two  nations  for  a  long  series  of  years  engaged  in  the  most  implaca- 
ble and  destructive  wars.  Upon  what  other  principle  to  account  for  this 
state  of  things,  than  that  laid  down,  is  a  subject  which  the  author  cannot 
pretend  to  explain.       It,  however,  affords  matter  of  curious  speculation 


*Mr.  G.  Blue,  of  Hampshire,  stated  this  tradition  to  the  author. 

fThe  Catawba  tribes  reside  on  the  river  of  that  name  in  South  CaroH- 
na.  They  were  a  powerful  and  warlike  nation,  but  are  now  reduced  to 
less  than  two  hundred  souls.  The  Delawares  resided  at  that  period  on 
the  Susquehanna  river,  in    Pennsylvania,  and  are    now  far  west    of"  tht* 


Allegany  mountains. 


i: 


34  INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

and  interesting  reflection  to  the  inquiring  mind.  That  nations  are  fre- 
quently urged  to  war  and  devastation  by  the  restless  and  turbulent  dis- 
position so  common  to  mankind,  particularly  among  their  leaders,  is  a 
question  of  little  doubt.  The  glory  and  renown  (falsely  so  termed)  of 
great  achievements  in  war,  is  probably  one  principal  cause  of  the  wars 
frequently  carried  on  hy  people  in  a  state  of  nature. 


:0: 


CHAPTER  IL 


INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 


The  author  deems  it  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  all  the 
particular  places  which  exhibit  signs  of  the  ancient  residences  of  Indians, 
but  considers  it  sufficient  to  say  that  on  all  our  water  courses,  evidences 
of  theix  dwellings  are  yet  to  be  seen.  The  two  great  branches  of  the 
Shenandoah,  and  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac,  appear  to  have  been 
their  favorite  places  of  residence.  There  are  more  numerous  signs  of 
their  villages  to  be  seen  on  these  water  courses,  than  in  any  other  part  of 
our  Valley. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Cohongoruton,  (Potomac,)  there  has  doubtless 
been  a  pretty  considerable  settlement.  The  late  Col.  Joseph  Swearen- 
sren's  dwellino;  house  stands  within  a  circular  wall  or  moat.*  When  first 
known  by  the  white  inhabitants,  the  wall  was  about  eighteen  mches 
high,  and  the  ditch  about  two  feet  deep.  This  circular  wall  was  made 
of  earth — is  now^  considerably  reduced,  but  yet  plainly  to  be  seen.  It  is 
not  more  than  half  a  mile  from  Shepherdstown. 

For  what  particular  purpose  this  wall  was  throv/n  up,  whether  for  or- 
nament or  defense,  the  etuthor  cannot  pretend  to  form  an  opinion.  If  it 
w^as  intended  for  defense,  it  appears  to  have  been  too  low^  to  answer  any 
valuable  purpose  in  that  way. 

On  the  Wappatomaka,  a  few  miles  below  the  forks,  tradition  relates 
that  there  was  a  A'ery  considerable  Indian  settlement.  On  the  farm  of 
Isaac  Yanmcter,  Esq.,  on  this  vv^ater  course,  in  the  county  of  Hardy, 
vrhen  the  country  was  first  discovered,  there  were  considerable  openings 
of  the  land,  or  natural  prairies,  which  are  called  "the  Indian  old  fields" 
to  this  day.     Numerous  Indian    graves  are  to  be  seen  in  the  neighbor- 


*Maj.  Henry  Bedinger  informed  the  author  that  at  his  first  recollection 
of  this  place,  the  wall  or  moat  was  about  eighteen  inches  high,  and  the 
ditch  around  it  about  two  feet  deep.  The  wall  was  raised  on  the  out  • 
side  of  the  ditch,  and  carefully  thrown  up. 


INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS.  35 

hood.  A  little  above  the  forks  of  this  river  a  very  large  Indian  grave  is 
•now  to  be  seen.*  In  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  little  below  the  forks,  nu- 
merous human  skeletons  have  been  discovered,  and  several  articles  of  cu- 
rious workmanship.  A  highly  finished  pipe,  representing  a  snake  coiled 
round  the  bowl,  w^ith  its  hea.d  projected  above  the  bowl,  was  among  them. 
There  w^as  the  under  jaw  bone  of  a  human  being  of  great  size  found  at 
the  same  place,  which  contained  eight  jaw  teeth  in  each  side  of  enormous 
size  ;  and  what  is  more  remarkable,  the  teeth  stood  transversely  in  the 
jaw  bone.     It  v/ould  pass  over  any  common  man's  face  with  entire  ease.f 

There  are  many  other  signs  of  Indian  settlem.ents  all  along  this  river, 
both  above  and  below  the  one  just  described.  Mr.  Garret  Blue,  of  the 
county  of  Hampshire,  informed  the  author,  that  about  two  miles  below 
the  Hanging  Rocks,  in  the  bank  of  the  river,  a  stratum  of  ashes,  about 
one  rod  in  length,  was  some  years  ago  discovered.  At  this  place  are  signs 
of  an  Indian  village,  and  their  old  fields.  The  Rev.  John  J.  Jacobs,  of 
Hampshire,  informed  the  author  that  on  Mr.  Daniel  Cresap's  land,  on 
the  North  branch  of  the  Potomac,  a  few  miles  above  Cumberland,  a  hu- 
man skeleton  was  discovered,  which  had  been  covered  with  a  coat  of 
wood  ashes,  about  two  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  An  entire 
tlecomposition  of  the  skeleton  had  taken  place,  w^ith  the  exception  of  the 
teeth  :  they  were  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation. 

On  the  two  great  branches  of  the  Shenandoah  there  are  now  to  be 
seen  numerous  sites  of  their  ancient  villages,  several  of  which  are  so  re- 
markable that  they  deserve  a  passing  notice.  It  has  been  noticed,  in  my 
preceding  chapter,  that  on  Mr.  Steenbergen's  land,  on  the  North  fork  of 
the  Shenandoah,  the  remains  of  a  large  Indian  mound  are  plainly  to  be 
seen.  It  is  also  suggested  that  this  was  once  the  residence  of  the  Sene- 
do  tribe,  and  that  that  tribe  had  been  exterminated  by  the  Southern  In- 
dians. Exclusive  of  this  large  mound, J  there  are  several  other  Indian 
graves.  About  this  place  many  of  their  implements  and  domestic  utensils 
have  been  found.  A  short  distance  below  the  mouth  of  Stony  Creek, 
(a  branch  of  the  Shenandoah,)  within  four  or  five  miles  of  Woodstock, 
are  the  signs  of  an  Indian  village.  At  this  place  a  gun  barrel,  with  sev- 
eral iron  tomahawks,  were  found  long  after  the  Indians  left  the  country. § 

On  Mr.  Anthony  Kline's  farm,  within  about  three  miles  of  Stephens- 
burg,  in  the  county  of  Frederick,  in  a  glen  near  his  mill,  a  rifle  was  found, 
which  had  laid  in  the  ground  forty  or  fifty  years.  Every  part  of  this  gun, 
'(even  the  stock,  which  was  made  of  black  walnut,)    was  sound.       Mr. 


*William  Seymour,  Esq.,  related  this  f\ict  to  the  author. 

fWilliam  Heath,  Esq.,  in  the  county  of  Hardy,  stated  this  fact  to  the 
author,  and  that  he  had  repeatedly  seen  the  rcMnarkable  jaw  bone. 

j:Mr.  Stcenbergen  informed  the  author,  that  upon  looking  into  this 
mound,  it  was  discovered  that  at  the  head  of  each  skoleton  a  stone  was 
deposited:  that  these  stones  are  of  various  sizes,  supposed  U)  indicate  the 
size  of  the  body  buried. 

§iVIr.  George  (xrandstafF  stated -this  to  llir  author.  ATr.  G.  is  an  aged 
an  1  respectable  citizen  of  Shenandoah  county. 


86  INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

Kline's  father  took  the  barrel  from  the  stock,  placed  the  britch  on  the  fircj 
and  it  soon  discharged  with  a  loud  explosion.* 

In  the  county  of  Page,  on  the  South  fork  of  Shenandoah  river,  there 
are  several  Indian  burying  grounds  and  signs  of  their  villages.  These 
signs  are  also  to  be  seen  on  the  Hawksbill  creek.  A  few  miles  above 
Luray,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  there  are  three  large  Indian  graves, 
ranged  nearly  side  by  side,  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  length,  twelve  or  four- 
teen feet  wide,  and  five  or  six  feet  high.  Around  them,  in  circular  form, 
are  a  number  of  single  graves.  The  whole  covers  an  area  of  little  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  acre.  They  present  to  the  eye  a  very  ancient  ap- 
pearance, and  are  covered  over  with  pine  and  other  forest  growth.  The 
excavation  of  the  ground  around  them  is  plainly  to  be  seen.  The  three 
first  mentioned  graves  are  in  oblong  form,  probably  contain  many  hun- 
dred of  human  bodies,  and  were  doubtless  the  work  of  ages. f 

On  the  land  of  IMr,  Noah  Keyser,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Haw^ksbill 
creek,  stand  the  remains  of  a  large  mound.  This,  like  that  at  Mr. 
Steenbergen's,  is  considerably  reduced  by  plowing,  but  is  yet  some 
twelve  or  fourteen  feet  high,  and  is  upwards  of  sixty  yards  round  at  the 
base.  It  is  found  to  be  literally  filled  with  human  skeletons,  and  at  every 
fresh  plowing  a  fresh  layer  of  bones  arc  brought  to  the  surface.  The 
bones  are  found  to  be  in  a  calcarious  state,  v^'ith  the  exception  of  the 
teeth,  which  are  generally  sound.  Several  unusually  large  skeletons 
have  been  discovered  in  this  grave.  On  the  lands  now  the  residence  of 
my  venerable  friend,  John  Gatewood,  Esq.  the  signs  of  an  Indian  village 
are  yet  plainly  to  be  seen,  There  are  num.erous  fragments  of  their  pots, 
cups,  arrow  points,  and  other  implements  for  domestic  use,  found  from 
time  to  time.  Convenient  to  this  village  there  are  several  pretty  large 
graves. 

There  is  also  evidence  of  an  Indian  town  in  PowelF's  Fort,  on  the 
lands  now  owned  by  Mr.  Daniel  Munch.  From  appearances,  this  too 
was  a  pretty  considerable  village.  A  little  above  the  forks  of  the  Shen- 
andoah, on  the  east  side  of  the  South  fork,  are  the  appearances  of  anoth- 
er settlement,  exhibiting  the  remains  of  two  considerable  mounds  now  en- 
tirely reduced  by  piowin_o:.  About  this  place  many  pipes,  tomahawks, 
axes,  hommony  pestles,  &c.  have  been  found.  Some  four  or  five  miles 
belovv'  the  forks  of  the  river,  on  the  south-east  side,  on  the  lands  now- 
owned  by  Capt.  Daniel  Oliver,  is  the  site  of  another  Indian  village.  At 
this  place  a  considerable  variety  of  articles  have  been  plowed  up.  Among 
the  number  were  severa,l  whole  pots,  cups,  pipes,  axes,  tomahawks, 
hommony  pestles,  &c.  A  beautifd  pipe  of  high  finish,  made  of  white 
flint  stone,  and  several  other  articles  of  curious  workmanship,  all  of  very 


*^Mr.  Anthony  Kline  related  this  occurrence  to  the  author.  No  man 
who  is  acquainted  with  Mr.  Kline,  will  for  one  moment  doubt  his 
assertions.  This  rille  was  of  a  very  large  calibre,  and  was  covered  sev- 
eral feet  below  the  surface  of  the  orround,  and  doubtless  left  there  by  an 
Indian. 

I  These  graves  are  on  the  lands  no\v  the  residence  of  the  v^'idow  Long, 
pif)d  appearnever  to  have  been  disturbed, 


57 


INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS.  37 

hard  stone,   have  been  found.     Their  cups  and  pots  were  made    of  a. 
Inixture  of  clay  and  shells,  of  rude  workmanship,  but  of  hrm  texture. 

There  are  many  other  places  on  all  our  water  courses,  to  wit.  Stony 
Creek,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Opequon,  as  well  as  the  larger  water  courses, 
which  exhibit  evidences  of  ancient  Indian  settlements.  The  Shawnee 
tribe,  it  is  well  known,  w^ere  settled  about  the  neighborhood  of  Winches- 
ter. What  are  called  the  "  Shawnee  cabins,"  and  "  Shawnee  springs,' 
immediately  adjoining  the  town,  are  well  known.  It  is  also  equally  cer- 
tain, that  this  tribe  had  a  considerable  village  on  Babb's  marsh,  some 
three  or  four  miles  north-west  of  Winchester.* 

The  Tuscarora  Indians  resided  in  the  neiojliborhood  of  Martinsbur^:,  in 
the  county  of  Berkeley,!  on  the  Tuscarora  creek.  On  the  fine  farm,  now 
owned  by  and  the  residence  of  Matthew  Ranson,  Esq.  (the  former  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Benjamin  Beeson,)  are  the  remains  of  several  Indian  graves. 
These,  like  several  others,  are  now  plowed  down;  but  numerous  fragments 
of  human  bones  are  to  be  found  mixed  with  the  clay  on  the  surface.  Mr. 
Ranson  informed  the  author,  that  at  this  place  the  under  jaw  bone  of  a 
human  being  was  plowed  up,  of  enormous  size;  the  teeth  were  found  in 
a  perfect  state  of  preservation. 

Near  the  Shannondale  springs,  on  the  lands  of  Mr.  Fairfax,  an  Indian 
grave  some  years  since  was  opened,  in  which  a  skeleton  of  unusual  size 
was  discovered. I 

Mr.  E.  Paget  informed  the  author,  that  on  Flint  run,  a  small  rivulet  of 
the  South  river,  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah,  a  skeleton  was  found  by 
his  father,  the  thigh  bone  of  which  measured  three  feet  in  length,  and 
the  under  jaw  bone  of  which  would  pass  over  an}^  common  man's  face 
with  ease. 

Near  the  Indian  village  described  on  a  preceding  page,  on  Capt.  Oli- 
ver's land,  a  few  years  ago,  some  hands  in  removing  the  stone  covering 
an  Indian  grave,  discovered  a  skeleton,  whose  great  size  attracted  their 
attention.  The  stones  w^ere  carefully  taken  off  without  disturbing  the 
frame,  when  it  was  discovered,  that  the  body  had  been  laid  at  full  length 
on  the  ground,  and  broad  fiat  stones  set  round  the  corpse  in  the  shape  of 
a  coffin.  Capt.  Oliver  measured  the  skeletoi^  as  it  lay,  which  was  nearly 
seven  feet  long.  || 

In  the  further  progress  of  this  work  the  author  will  occasionally  advert 


^Mr.  Thomas  Barrett,  who  was  born  in  1755,  stated  to  the  author,  that 
within  his  recollection  the  si^fus  of  the  Indian  wi^'wams  were  to  be  seen 
on  Babb's  marsh. 

jMr.  .John  Sholje,  a  very  respectable  old  citizen  of  Araitinsbiirg,  state( 
to  the  author,  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Beeson,  a  highly  respectable  Quaker 
informed  him,  that  the  Tuscarora  Indians  were  living  on  the  Tuscarori- 
creek  when  he  (Beeson)  first  knew  the  county. 

tMr.  (leorge  W.  Fairfax  gave  the  author  this  information. 

IIATaximus,  a  Roman  Emperor  in  the  third  century,  ''was  tiie  son  of  ;] 
Thracian  shepherd,  and  is  represented  by  liistori>ms  as  a  m.ui  of  gigantic 
stature  and  llcrculenn  strcnjith.  He  was  fully  c.'icrhi  feet  in  height,  am 
perfectly  symmetrical  in  iorm.     Abiidged  U.  History,  vol.  ii.  p.  oo. 


3S  INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 


to  the  subject  of  Indian  antiquities  and  traits  of  the  Indian  character. — 
This  chapter  will  now  be  conchided  with  some  general  reflections  on  the 
seemingly  hard  fate  of  this  unfortunate  race  of  people.  It  appears  to  the 
author  that  no  reflecting  man  can  view  so  many  burying  places  broken  up 
—their  bones  torn  up  with  the  plow — reduced  to  dust,  and  scattered  to 
the  winds — without  feeling  some  degree  of  melancholy  regret.  It  is  to 
be  lamented  for  another  reason.  If  those  mounds  and  places  of  burial 
had  been  perniittte  1  to  remain  undisturbed,  they  would  have  stood  as 
lasting  monuments  in  the  history  of  our  country.  Many  of  them  were 
doubtless  the  work  of  ages,  and  future  generations  would  have  contem- 
plated them  with  great  interest  and  curiosity.  But  these  memorials  are 
rapidly  disappearing,  and  the  time  perhaps  will  come,  when  not  a  trace  of 
them  will  remain.  The  author  has  had  the  curiosity  to  open  several  In- 
dian graves,  in  one  of  which  he  found  a  pipe,  of  different  form  from  any 
he  has  ever  seen.  It  is  made  of  a  hard  black  stone,  and  glazed  or  rather 
painted  with  a  substance  of  a  reddish  cast.  In  all  the  graves  he  has  ex- 
amined, the  bones  are  found  in-ft  great  state  of  decay  except  the  teeth, 
wdiich  are  generally  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation. 

It  is  no  way  wonderful  that  this  unfortunate  race  of  people  reluctantly 
yielded  their  rightful  and  just  possession  of  this  fine  country.  It  is  no 
way  wonderful  that  they  resisted  with  all  their  force  the  intrusion  of  the 
^vhite  people  (who  were  strangers  to  them,  from  a  foreign  country,)  upon 
their  rio-litfid  inheritance.  But  perhaps  this  was  the  fiat  of  Heaven. — » 
When  God  created  this  globe,  he  probably  intended  it  should  sustain  the 
greatest  possible  number  of  his  creatures.  And  as  the  human  family,  in  a 
state  of  civil  life,  increases  with  vastly  more  rapidity  than  a  people  in  a 
state  of  nature  or  savage  life,  the  law  of  force  has  been  generally  resorted 
to,  and  the  weaker  compelled  to  give  way  to  the  stronger.  That  a  part 
of  our  country  has  been  acquired  by  this  law  of  force,  is  undeniable.  It 
is,  however,  matter  of  consoling  reflection,  that  there  are  some  honorable 
exceptions  to  this  arbitrary  rule.  The  great  and  wise  William  Penn  set 
the  example  of  purchasing  the  Indian  lands.  Several  respectable  indi- 
viduals of  the  Quaker  society  thought  it  unjust  to  take  possession  of  this 
valley  without  making  the  Indians  some  compensation  for  their  right. — 
Measures  were  adopted  to  effect  this  great  object.  But  upon  inquiry,  no 
particular  tribe  could  be  found  who  pretended  to  have  any  prior  claim  to 
the  soil.  It  was  considered  the  common  hunting  ground  of  various  tribes, 
and  not  claimed  by  any  particular  nation  who  had  authority  to  sell. 

This  information  was  communicated  to  the  author  by  two  aged  and  high- 
ly respectable  men  of  the  Friends'  society,  Isaac  Brown  and  Lewis  Neill, 
€ach  of  them  upwards  of  eighty  years  of  age,  and  both  residents  of  the 
county  of  Frederick. 

In  confirmation  of  this  statement,  a  letter  written  by  Thomas  Chaukley 
to  the  monthly  meeting  on  Opequon,  on  the  21st  of  5th  month,  1738,  is 
strong  circumstantial  evidence;  of  which  letter  the  following  is  a  copy: 

"Virginia,  at  John  Chcagle's,  21st  5tli  month,  1738. 
•' jHj  tkefiifinih  of  the  monthly  meetiufr  at  Opequon: 

"Dea'-  friends  who  inhabit  Shenandoah  and  Opequon: — Having  a  con- 


INDIAN  SETTLE^VIENTS.  31) 

ccrn  for  your  vrelfare  and  prosperity,  both  now  and  hcrenftor,  and  also 
the  prosperity  of  your  children,  I  had  a  desire  to  see  you;  but  IxMug  in 
years,  and  heavy,  and  much  spent  and  fatigued  with  my  long  journeyings 
in  Virginia  and  Carolina,  makes  it  seem  too  hard  for  me  to  perform  a  visit 
in  person  to  you,  wherefore  I  take  this  way  of  writmg  to  discharge  my 
mind  of  what  lies  weighty  thereon;  and 

'^First.  I  desire  that  you  be  very  careful  (being  far  and  back  inhabi- 
tants) to  keep  a  friendly  correspondence  with  the  native  Indians,  giving- 
them  no  occasion  of  ofense;  they  being  a  cruel  and  merciless  enemy, 
where  they  think  they  are  wronged  or  defrauded  of  their  riglits;  as  woful 
experience  hath  taught  in  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Maryland;^  and  especial- 
ly in  New  England,  &c.;  and 

^'Secondly.  As  nature  hath  given  them  and  their  forefathers  the  posses- 
sion of  this  continent  of  America  (or  this  wilderness),  they  had  a  natural 
right  thereto  in  justice  and  equity;  and  no  people,  according  to  the  law 
of  nature  and  justice  and  our  own  principle,  which  is  according  to  the 
glorious  gospel  of  our  dear  and  holy  Jesus  Christ,  ought  to  take  away  or 
settle  on  other  men's  lands  or  rights  without  consent,  or  purchasing  the 
.  same  by  agreement  of  parties  concerned;  which  I  suppose  in  your  case 
is  not  yet  done. 

"Thirdly.  Therefore  my  counsel  and  christian  advice  to  you  is,  my 
dear  friends,  that  the  most  reputable  among  you  do  with  speed  endeavor 
to  agree  with  and  purchase  your  lands  of  the  native  Indians  or  inhabi- 
tants. Take  example  of  our  worthy  and  honorable  late  proprietor  Wil- 
liam Penn;  who  by  the  wise  and  religious  care  in  that  relation,  hath  set- 
tled a  lasting  peace  and  commerce  w^ith  the  natives,  and  through  his  pru- 
dent management  therein  hath  been  instrumental  to  plant  in  peace  one  of 
the  most  flourishing  provinces  in  the  world. 

"Fourthly.  Who  would  run  the  risk  of  the  lives  of  their  wives  and 
children  for  the  sparing  a  little  cost  and  pains?  I  am  concerned  to  lay 
these  things  before  you,  under  an  uncommon  exercise  of  mind,  that  your 
new  and  flourishing  little  settlement  may  not  be  laid  waste,  and  (if  the 
providence  of  the  Almighty  doth  not  intervene,)  some  of  the  blood  of 
yourselves,  wives  or  children,  be  shed  or  spilt  on  the  ground. 

"Fifthly.  Consider  you  are  in  the  province  of  Virginia,  holding  what 
rights  you  have  under  that  government;  and  the  Virginians  have  made  an 
agreement  with  the  natives  to  go  as  far  as  the  mountains  and  no  farther; 
and  you  are  over  and  beyond  the  mpuntains,  therefore  out  cf  that  agree- 
ment; by  which  you  lie  open  to  the  insults  and  incursions  of  the  Southern 
Indians,  who  have  destroyed  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Carolina  and 
Virginia,  and  even  now  destroyed  more  on  the  like  occasion.  The  En- 
glish going  beyond  the  bounds  of  their  agreement,  eleven  of  them  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  while  we  were  travcHing  in  Virginia. 

"Sixthly.  If  you  believe  yourselves  to  be  Avitliin  the  bouiuls  of  William 
Penn's  patent  from  King  Charles  the  second,  which  will  be  Imrd  for  you 
to  prove,  you  being  far  southward  of  his  line,  yet  if  done,  that  will  be  no 
consideration  with  the  Indians  without  a  })urchase  from  them,  e\rcpt  you 
will  go  about  to  convince  them  by  fire  and  sward,  contrary  to  oui    priiici- 


40  INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

pics;  and  if  tlint  were  done,  they  would  ever  be  implacable  enemies,  and 
the  land  could  never  be  enjoyed  in  peace. 

^'Seventhly.  Please  to  note  that  in  Pennsylvania  no  new  settlements 
are  made  without  an  agreement  with  the  natives;  as  witness  Lancaster 
county,  lately  settled,  though  that  is  far  within  the  grant  of  William  Penn's 
patent  from'king  Charles  the  second;  wherefore  you  lie  open  to  the  insur^ 
rections  of  the  Northern  as  well  as  Southern  Indians;  and 

"Lastly.  Thus  having  shewn  my  good  will  to  you  and  to  your  new  lit- 
tle settlement,  that  you  might  sit  every  one  under  your  own  shady  tree, 
where  none  might  make  you  afraid,  and  that  you  might  prosper  naturally 
;ind  spiriiually,  you  and  your  children;  and  having  a  little  eased  my  mind 
of  that  weight  and  concern  (in  some  measure)  thatla}!  upon  me,  I  at  present 
desist,  and  subscribe  myself,  in  the  love  of  our  holy  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
your  real  friend,  T,  C." 

This  excellent  letter  from  this  good  man  proves  that  the  Quakers   wer^  ' 
among  our  earliest  settlers,  and  that  this  class  of  people  were  earl^  dispo- 
sed to  do  justice  to  the  natives  of  the  country. 

Had  this  humane  and  just  policy  of  purchasing  the  Indian  lands  been 
first  adopted  and  adhered  to,  it  is  highly  probable  the  white  people  might 
liave  gradually  obtained  possession  without  the  loss  of  so  much  blood  and 
treasure. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Neills,Walkers,Bransons, McKays,  Hackneys,  Bee-- 
sons,  Luptons,  Barretts,  Dillons,  &c.  w^ere  among  the  earliest  Quaker  im- 
mio"rants  to  our  valley.  Three  Quakers  by  the  name  of  Fawxett  settled 
at  an  early  period  about  8  or  9  miles  south  of  Winchester,  near  Zane's 
old  iron  wxrks,  from  w^hom  a  pretty  numerous  progeny  has  descended. — 
They  have,  however,  chiefly  migrated  to  the  wxst, 

Mr.  Jefferson,  in  his  notes  on  Virginia,  says,  "That  the  lands  of  this 
country  were  taken  from  them  (the  Indians,)  by  conquest,  is  not  so  gene- 
ral a  truth  as  is  supposed,  I  find  in  our  historians  and  records,  repeat- 
ed proofs  of  purchase,  which  cover  a  considerable  part  of  the  lower  coun- 
try; and  many  more  would  doubtless  be  found  on  further  search.  The  up- 
per country  we  know^  has  been  acquired  altogether  by  purchase  in  the 
most  unexceptionable  form." 

Tradition  relates,  that  several  tracts  of  land  were  purchased  by  Qua- 
kers from  the  Indians  on  Apple-pie  ridge,  and  that  the  Indians  never  were- 
known  to  disturb  the  people  residing  on  the  land  so  purchased. 


f IRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY  4| 


CHAPTER   III. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY, 


In  the  year  1732,  Joist  Hite,  with  his  family,  and  his  sons-in-law,  viz, 
George  pjowman,  Jacob  Chrisman  and  Paul  FromaH,  with  their  families. 
Robert  McKay,  Robert  Green,  William  Duff,  Peter  Stephens,  and  several 
others,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  sixteen  families,  removed  from  Penn- 
sylvania, cutting  their  road  from  York,  and  crossing  the  Cohongoruton 
about  two  miles  above  Harpers-Ferry.  Hite  settled  on  Opequon,  about 
five  miles  south  of  Winchester,  on  the  great  highway  from  Winchester  to 
Staunton,  now  the  residence  of  the  highly  respectable  widow  of  the  late 
Richard  Peters  Barton,  Esq.  and  also  the  residence  of  Richard  W^.  Barr 
ton,  Esq,  Peter  Stephens  and  several  others  settled  at  Stephensburg, 
and  founded  the  town;  Jacob  Chrisman  at  what  is  now  called  Chrisman's 
spring,  about  two  mjles  south  of  Stephensburg;  Bowman  on  Cedar  creek 
about  six  miles  farther  south;  and  Froman  on  the  same  creek,  8  or  9  mileij 
north  west  of  Bowman.  Robert  McKay  settled  on  Crooked  run,  8  or  9 
miles  south  east  of  Stephensburg.  The  several  other  families  settled  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  wherever  they  could  find  wood  and  water  most 
convenient.  From  the  most  authentic  information  which  the  author  has 
been  able  to  obtain,  Hite  and  his  party  were  the  first  immigrants  who  set- 
tled west  of  the  Blue  ridge.  They  were,  however,  very  soon  followed  by 
numerous  others. 

In  1734,*  Benjamin  Allen,  Riley  Moore,  and  William  White,  removed 
from  Monoccacy,  in  Maryland,  and  settled  on  the  North  branch  of  the 
Shenandoah,  now  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah,  about  12  miles  south  of 
Woodstock. 

In  1733,  Jacob  Stover,  an  enterprising  German,  obtained  from  the 
then  governor  of  Virginia,  a  grant  for  five  thousand  acres  of  land  on  the 
South  fork  of  the  Gerandof  river,  on  what  was  called  Mesinetto  creek.J 

Tradition  relates  a  sing^ular  and  amusinsf  account   of  Stover   and    his 


*Mr,  Steenbergen  informed  the  author  that  the  traditionary  account  of 
the  first  settlement  of  his  farm,  together  with  Allen's  and  Moore's,  made 
it  about  106  years;  but  Mr.  Aaron  Moore,  grandson  of  Riley  Moore,  by 
referring  to  the  family  records,  fixes  the  period  pretty  correi^tly.  Accor- 
ding to  Mr.  Moore's  account,  i^tloorc,  Allen  and  VVhite,  removed  froru 
Maryland  in  1734. 

fThis  water  course  was  first  written  Gerando,  then  Sherandoah,  now 
Shenandoah. 

IMesiuetto  is  now  called  Masinutton.  There  is  a  considerable  settle- 
ment of  highly  iinproved  farms,  now  caliod  "the  IMasiniittonsettlementj'? 
in  the  new  county  of  Page,  on  the  west  side  of  jhe  South  river,  on  Stor 
ver's  ancient  errant.  (i 


€^  FIRST  SETTLE.MENT  OF  THE  VALLEY. 

graEt.*  On  his  appliccition  to  the.  executive  for  his  grant,  he  v;as  refused? 
unless  he  could  give  satisfactor)^  assurance  that  he  would  have  the  land, 
settled  with  the  requisite  number  of  families  within  a  given  time.  Be-, 
ing  unable  to  do  this,  he  forihv/ith  passed  over  to  England,  petitioned  the. 
king  to  direct  his  grant  to  issue,  and  in  order  to  insure  success,  had  giv-^ 
en  human  names  to  every  horse,  cow^,  hog  and  dog  he  owned,  and  which 
he  represented  as  heads  of  families,  ready  to  migrate  and  settle  the  land._ 
By  this  disingenuous  trick  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  directions  from  the 
kin.f>"  and  council  for  securinjr  his  f;rant;  on  obtainino;  which  he  immediate-, 
ly  sold  out  his  land  in  small  divisions,  at  three  pounds  (equal  to  ten  dol- 
lars) per  hundred,  and  wentoiT  with  the  money. 

Tvv'o  men,  John  and  Isaac  Vanmeter,  obtained  a  warrant  from  gover- 
nor Gooch  ibr  locating:  fortv  thousand  acres  of  land.  This  vv  arrant  was 
obtained  in  the  year  1730,  They  sold  or  transferred  part  of  their  warrant 
to  Joist  Kite;  and  from  this  warrant  emanated  several  of  Kite's  grants, 
which,  ihe  author  has  seen.  Of  tlie  titles  to  the  land  on  W'hich  Flite  set-., 
tied,  with  several  other  tracts  in  the  neighborhood  of  Stephensburg,  lbs 
originals  are  founded  on  this  warrant, 

In  the  year  1734,  Richard  Morgan  obtained  a  grant  for  a  tract  of  land 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Shepherdstown,  on  or  near  the  Cohon- 
^  goruton.  Among  the  first  settlers  on  this  w^ater  course  and  its  vicinity, 
were  E,obert  Ha- per  (Harpers-Ferry),  William  Stroop,  Thom.as  and  Wil- 
liam Forester,  Israel  Friend,  Thom-is  Shephard,  Thomas  Swcarengen, 
Van  Swearengen,  Jarnes  Forman,  Edvi-ard  Lucas,  Jacob  Hite,t  John  Le- 
mon, Richard  Mercer,  Edward  Mercer,  Jacob  Vanmicter  and  brothers, 
Robert  Stockton,  Robert  Buckles,  John  Taylor,  Samuel  Taylor,  Richard 
Morgan,  John  Wright,  and  others.. 

The  first  settlers  on  the  Wappatcmaka  (So^th  Branch)  were  Coburn,. 
Kov/ard.  Walker  and  Rutledg-e.  This  settlement  comm.enced  about  the 
year  1734  or  1735.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  hrst  immigrants  to  this 
fine  section  of  country  had  the  precaution  to  secure  titles  to  their  lands, 
until  Lord  Fairfax  migrated  to  Virginia,  and  opened  his  office  for  granting 
warrants  in  the  North exn  Neck.  The  earliest  grant  v^'hichthe  author  could 
find  in  this  settlement  bears  date  in  1747.  The  most  of  the  trrants  are 
dated  in  1749.  This  was  a  most  unfortunate  omiission  on  the  part  of 
these-  people.  It  left  Fairfax  at  the  discretion  of  exercising  his  insatiable 
disoosition  for  the  monopoly  of  wealth  ;  and  instead  of  ix^antino;  these 
lands  upon  the  usual  terms  allowed  to  other  settlers,  he  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  of  iaj^ing  olT  in  manors,  fifry-iive  thousand  acres,  in  what 
ne  called  his  South  Branch  manor,  and  nine  thousand  acres  on  Patter- 
son's creek. 

This  v/as  considered  by  the  settlers  an  odiaus  and  oppressive  act  on  th^ 
part  of  his  lordship,  and  many  of  them  left  the  country. ^  These  two  great 

*  Stover's  grant  is  described  as  being  iri  the  county  of  Spottsylvania, 
St.  Mark's  Paiish.  Of  course,  Spottsylvania  at  that  period,  i.  e.  1733^ 
crossed  the  Blue  Ridge. 

fOne  of  Joist  Kite's  sons. 

iWiliiam  Heath,  Esci.   of  Hardv,  g-tive  the  author  this  information. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY.  43 

surveys  were  made  in  the  year  1747.  To  such  tenants  as  remained,  his 
lordship  p^ranted  leases  for  ninety-nine  years,  reserving  an  annual  rent  of 
twenty  shillings  sterling  per  hundred  acres  ;  whereas  to  all  other  immi- 
grants only  two  shillings  sterling  rent  per  hundred  was  reserved,  with  a 
fee  simple  title  to  the  tenant.  Some  further  notice  of  Lord  Fairx'ax  an;i 
his  immense  arrant  will  be  taken  in  a  future  chanter. 

Tradition  relates  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Howard,  and  his 
son,  previous  to  the  first  settlement  of  our  valley,  explored  the  country, 
and  discovered  the  charrainjj  valley  of  the  South  Branch,  crossed  the  Al- 
legany  mountains,  and  on  the  Ohio  killed  a  vQ-y  large  bufialo  bull,  skin- 
ned him,  stretched  his  hide  over  ribs  of  wood,  iHpAq  a  kind  of 
boat,  and  in  this  frail  bark  descended  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New 
Orleans,  where  they  were  apprehended  by  the  French  as  suspicious  char- 
acters, and  sent  to  France;  but  nothing  criminal  appearing  against  them, 
they  were  discharged.  From  hence  they  crossed  over  to  England,  wheic 
Fairfax  by  some  means  got  to  hear  of  Mr.  Howard,  sought  an  interview 
with  him,  and  obtained  from  him  a  description  of  the  fertility  and  im- 
mense value  of  the  South  Branch,  which  determined  his  lordship  at  once 
to  secure  it  in  m.anors.*  Notwithstanding  this  selush  monopoly  on  the 
part  of  Fairfax,  the  great  fertility  and  value  of  the  country  induced  nu- 
merous tenants  to  take  leases,  settle,  and  improve  the  lands. 

At  an  early  period  many  immigrants  settled  on  Capon,  (anciently  call- 
ed Cacaphori,  which  is  said  to  be  the  Indian  name,)  also  on  Lost  river. — 
Along  Back  creek,  Cedar  creek,  and  Opequon,  pretty  numerous  settle- 
ments were  made;  The  two  great  branches  of  the  Shenandoah,  from  its 
forks  upwards,  were  among  our  earliest  settlements. 

An  enterprising  Quaker,  by  the  name  of  Ross,  obtained  a  warrant  for 
surveying  forty  thousand  acres  of  land.  The  surveys  on  this  w^arranc 
were  made  along  Opequon,  north  of  Vv'inchester,  and  up  to  Apple-pie 
ridge.  Pretty  numerous  immigrants  of  the  Quaker  profession  removed 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  on  Ross's  surveys.  The  reader  will  have 
observed  in  my  preceding  chapter,  that  as  early  as  173§,  this  people  had 
regular  manthiy  meetings  established  on  Opequon. | 

The  lands  on' the  west  side  of  the  Shenandoah,  from  a  little  below  the 
forks,  were  lirst  settled  by  overseers  and  slaves,  nearly  davvn  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Bullskln.  A  Col.  Carter,^  of  the  lower  country,  _  had  obtained 
^'rants  for  about  sixty-three  thousand  acres  of  land  on  this  river.  His 
surveys  commenced  a  short  distance  below  the  forks  of  the  river,  and  ran 
down  a  little  below  Snicker's  ferry,  upwards  of  20  miles.  This  fine  bodjr 
of  land  is  now  subdivided  into  a  great  many  most  valuable  firms,  a  con- 
siderable part  of  which  are  novr  owned  by  the  highly  respectable  families^ 
of  Burwells  and  Pacfcs.  But  little  of  it  now  remains  in  the  hanui  ot 
Carter's  heirs. 


*Also  related  by  Mr.  Heath. 

fSee  Chaukley's  letter  to  the  monthly  meeting  oii  Opjquon,  2ist  .^Ltr, 
173S,  page  39. 

JCoI.  Robert  Carter  obiairicd  oTiiats  in  Sept;;[iiber,  1730.  lor  sixiy-thru'c 
thousand  acres. 


U  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY. 

Another  survey  of  thirteen  thousand  acres  was  granted  to   another  per- 
son, and  lies  immediately  below  and    adjoining  Carter's  line,    running  a 
considerable  distance  into   the  county  of  Jefferson.     This  fine  tract  of 
land,  it  is  said,  was  sold  under  the  hammer  at  Williamsburg,    some   time 
previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution.     The  owner  had  been  sporting,  lost 
mone}^^  and  sold  the  land  to  pay  his  debt  of  honor.     General  Washington 
happened  to  be  present,  knew  the  land,  and  advised  the  late  Ralph  W^orm- 
ley,  Esq.*  to  piirchase  it.      Wormley  bid  five  hundred  guineas  for  it,  and 
it  was  struck  off  to  him.     It  is  also  said  that  Mr.  Wormley,  just  before  or 
at  the  time  of  the  sale,  had  been  regaling  himself  w^ith  a  social  glass,  and 
that  when  he  cooled  off,  he  became  extremely  dissatisfied   with  his    pur- 
chase, considering  it  as  money   thrown  away.     Washington    hearing    of 
his  uneasiness,  immediately  waited  on  him,  and  told  him  he  would   take 
the  purchase  off  his  hands,  and  pay  him  his  money  again,  but  advised  him 
by  all  means  to  hold    it,  assuring  him  that  it   would  one  dat  or  other  be 
the  foundation  of  an    independent  fortune  for  his  children;  upon  which 
W^ormley  became  better  reconciled,  and  consented  to  hold  on.     And  truly^ 
as  Washington  predicted,  it  would  have  become  a  splendid    estate  in  the 
hands  of  two    orthree  of  his   children,  had  they  knovrn  how  to  preserve 
it.  But  it  passed  into  other  hands,  and  now  constitutes  the  spleindid  farms 
of  the  late   firm  of  Castleman  &  McCormick,  HieromeL.  Opic,  Esq.  the 
honorable  judge  Richard  E.  Parker,  and  several  others.     In  truth,  all  the 
country    about   the  larger  water  courses  and  mountains  was  settled  before 
the  fine  country  about  Bullskin,  Long  marsh.  Spot  riin,  »8cc. 

Much  the  greater  part  of  the  country  between  what  is  called  the  Little 
North  mountain  and  the  Shenandoah  river,  at  the  first  settling  of  the  val- 
ley vras  one  vast  prairie,f  and  like  the  rich  prairies  of  the  vrest,  afforded 
the  finest  possible  pasturage  for  wild  animals.  The  country  abounded  in 
the  larger  kinds  of  game.  The  buffalo,  elk,  deer,  bear,  panther,  w^ld-cat, 
wolf,  fox,  beaver,  otter,  and  all  other  kinds  of  animals,  wild  fowl,  &c., 
common  to  forest  countries,  were  abundantly  plenty.  The  country  now 
the  coiinty  of  Shenandoah,  between  the  Fort  mountain  and  North  moun- 
tain, was  also  settled  at  an  early  period.  The  counties  of  Rockingham 
and  Augusta  also  were  settled  at  ari  early  time.  The  settlement  of  the 
upper  part  of  our  valley  will  be  more  particularly  noticed,  and  form  the 
subject  of  a  second  volume  hereafter,  should  the  public  demand  it. 

From  the  best  evidence  the  author  has  been  able  to  collect,  and  for  this 
purpose  he  has  examined  liiany  ancient  grants  of  lands,  family  records, 
•&c.,  as  well  as  the  oral  tradition  of  oiir  ancient  citizens,  the  settlement 
of  our  valley  progressed  without  interruption  froni  the  native  Indians  for 
a  period  of  about  twenty-three  years.  In  the  year  1754,  the  Indians 
suddenly  disappeared,  and  crossed  the  Allegany.     The  year   preceding, 

*y\r,  Wormly^  it  is  believed,  resided  at  the  time  in  the  county  of  Mid« 
mesexi 

fThere  are  several  aged  individuals  now  livinn;,  who  recoilect  when 
inere  were  large  bodies  of  land  in  the  c^^untiesof  Bei^keley,  Jefferson  and 
-Fre.'.krick,  barren  of  timber.  The  barren  land  is  now  covered  with  the 
?'Kst  of  forest  trees; 


t'iRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  Tliii  VALLEY.  4j 

emissaries  from  the  west  of  the  Allegany  came  among  the  Valley  Indians 
and  invited  them  to  move  off.*  This  occurrence  excited  suspicion  among 
the  white  people  that  a  storm  was  brewing  in  the  west,  which  it  was  es- 
sential to  prepare  to  me^tj 

Tradition  relates,  that  the  Indians  did  not  object  to  the  Pennsylvanians 
settling  the  country.  From  the  high  character  of  William  Penn,  (the 
founder  of  Pennsylvania,)  the  poor  simple  natives  believed  that  all  Penn's 
men  were  honest,  virtuous,  humane  and  benevolent,  and  partook  of  the 
qualities  of  the  illustrious  founder  of  their  government.  But  fatal  expe- 
rienee  soon  taught  them  a  very  different  lesson.  They  soon  found  to  their 
cost  that  Pennsylvanians  were  not  much  better  than  others. 

Tradition  also  informs  us  that  the  natives  held  in  utter  abhorence  the 
Virginians,  whom  they  designated  "Long  Knife,"  and  were  warmly  op- 
posed to  their  settling  in  the  valley. 

The  author  will  conclude  this  chapter  with  some  general  remarks  in  re- 
lation to  the  circumstances  under  which  the  first  settlement  of  the  valley 
commenced.  Tradition  informs  us,  and  the  oral  statements  of  several 
aged  individuals  of  respectable  character  confirm  the  fact  that  the  Indians 
and  white  people  resided  in  the  same  neighborhood  for  several  years  after 
the  first  settlement  commenced,  and  that  the  Indians  were  entirely  peace- 
able and  friendly.  This  statement  must  in  the  nature  of  things  be  true; 
because  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  the  white  people  could  not  have  succeed- 
ed in  effecting  the  settlement*  Had  the  natives  resisted  the  first  attempts 
to  settle,  the  whites  could  not  have  succeeded  without  the  aid  of  a  pretty 
considerable  ai'my  to  awe  the  Indians  into  submission.  It  was  truly  for- 
tunate for  our  ancestors  that  this  quiescent  spirit  of  the  Indians  afforded 
them  the  opportunity  of  acquiring  considerable  strengih  as  to  numbers, 
and  the  accumulation  of  considerable  property  and  improvemants,  before 
Indian  hostilities  commenced; 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  it  was  twenty-three  years  from  the  first 
settlement,  before  the  Indians  committed  any  acts  of  outrage  on  the  white 
people.  During  this  period  many  pretty  good  dwelling  houses  were  e- 
rected.  Joist  Hite  had  built  a  stone  house  on  Opequon,  which  house  is 
how  standing,  and  has  a  very  ancient  appearance;!  but  there  are  no  marks 
upon  it  by  which  to  ascertain  the  time,  fn  1751,  James  Wilson  erected 
a  stone  house  which  is  still  standing,  and  now  the  residence  of  JNIr.  Adam 
Kern,  adjoining  or  near  the  village  of  Kernstown. 

Jacob  Chrisman  also  built  a  pretty  large  stone  house  in  the  year  1751, 
now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Abraham  Stickley,  about  two  miles  south  of 
Stephensburg.  Geo:  Bowman  and  Paul  Froman  each  of  them  built  stone 
houses,  about  the  same  period.  The  late  Col.  John  Hite,  in  the  year 
1753,built  a  stone  house  now  the  dwelling  house  of  Mrs.  Barton.  This 
building  was  considered  l)y  far  the  finest  dwelling  house  west  of  the]31ue 


*Mr.  Thomas  Barrett,  an  aged  and  respectable  citizen  of  Frederick 
county,  related  this  tradition  to  the  author. 

jOn  tlie  wall  plate  of  a  framed  barn  built  by  Hite,  the  fifrurc.^  1717  are 
plainly  marked,  and  now  to  be  seen. 


46  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY. 

ridge/'  Lewis  Stephens,  in  the  year  1756,  built  a  stone  house,  the  ruins 
of  which  are  now  to  be  seen  at  the  old  iron  \vorks  of  the  late  Gen.  Isaac 
Zane.  It  will  hereafter  be  seen  that  thxese  several  stone  buildings  became 
of  great  importance  to  the  people  of  the  several  neighborhoods,  as  places 
'of  protection  arid  security  a2:ainst  the  attacks  of  the  Indians. 

The  subject  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  valley  will  be  resulted  in  my 
Tiext  ehapter. 


'•.o;- 


CHAPTER  Ilf. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY— Continusd. 


Tradition  relates  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Vanmeter,  from  New 
York,  some  years  previous  to  the  first  settlement  of  the  valley,  discovered 
the  fine  country  on  the  Wappatomaka.  This  man  was  a  kind  of  vv^ander- 
ing  Indian  trader,  became  well  acquainted  with  the  Delawares,  and  once 
ficcompanied  a  -U'ar  party  who  marched  to  the  south  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
vading the  Catawbas.  The  Catawbas,  however,  anticipated  them,  met 
them  very  near  the  spot  where  Pendleton  courthouse  riov^  stands,  and  en- 
countered  and  defeated  them  with  immense  slaughter.  Vanmeter  was 
engaged  on  the  side  of  the  Delewares  in  this  battle.  When  Vanmeter 
returned  to  New  York,  he  advised  his  sons,  that  if  they  ever  migrated  to 
Virginia,  by  all  means  \d  secure  a  part  of  the  South  Branch  bottom,  and 
described  the  lands  immediately  above  what  is  called  "The  Trou2:h,"  as 
the  finest  body  of  land  wdiich  he  had  ever  discovered  in  all  his  travels. — 
One  of  his  sons,  Isaac  Vanmeter,  in  conformity  with  his  father's  advice 
came  to  Virginia  about  the  year  1736  or  1737,  and  made  what  was  called 
a  toiuahavv^k  iniDrovement  on  the  lands  now  owned  bv  Isaac  Vanmeter, 
Esq.  immediately  above  the  trough,  where  Fort  Pleasant  was  afterwards 
erected.  After  this  improvement,  VIr.  Vanmeter  returned  to  New  Jersey, 
came  out  ao^ain  in  1740,  and  found  a  mail  bv  the  name  of  Coburn  settled 
on  his  land.  Mi-.  Vanmeter  bou2:ht  out  Coburn,  and  afrain  returned  to 
New  Jersey:  and  in  the  vear  1744  removed  with  his  family  and  settled  on 
the  land.f  Previous  to  Vanmeter's  final  removal  to  Virginia,  several  im- 
migrants fi'om  Pennsylvania,  chiefly  Irish,  had  settled  on  the  South  branch. 


•  "^There  is  a  tradition  in  this  neighborhood  that  Col.  Kite  quarried  every 
?tone  in  this  building  with  his  own  hands. 

flsaac  Vanmeter,  Esq.,  of  Hardy^  detailed  this  tradition  to  the  author; 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OV  THE  VALLEY.  4-7- 

Howard,  Cobum,  Walker  and  Rutledge,  were    th«    first    settlers  on   the 
Wappatomaka.* 

William  Miller  and  Abraham  Hite  were  also  among  the  early  settlers. 
When  the  Indian  v.'ars  broke  out,  Miller  sold  out  his  right,  ^o  500  acres  of 
land,  and  all  his  stock  of  horses  and  cattle  in  the  woods,  for  twenty-five 
pounds,!  and  removed  to  the  South  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  a  few  miles 
above  Front  Royal,  The  500  acres  of  land  sold  by  Miller  lie  within  a*., 
bout  two  miles  of  Moorefield,  and  one  acre  of  it  would  now  command 
more  money  than  the  whole  tract,  including  his  stock,  was  sold  for. 

Casey,  Pancake,  Forman,  and  a  number  of  others,  had  settled  en  the 
Wappatomaka  previous  to  Vanmeter's  final.removal. 

Inthevear  1740,  the  late  Isaac  Hite,  Esq.  one  of  the  sons  of  Joist 
Hite,  settled  on  the  North  Branch  of  the  Shenandoah,  in  the  county  of 
Frederick,  on  the  beautiful  farm  called  "Long  meadows."  This  fine 
estate  is  now  owned  by  Maj.  Isaac  Hite,  the  only  son  of  Isaac  Hite  de^ 
ceased,  t 

About  the  same  year,  John  Lindsey  and  James  Lindsey,  brothers,  re-, 
moved  and  settled  on  the  Long  marsh,  between  Bullskin  and  Berry  villc, 
in  the  county  of  Frederick;  Isaac  Larue  removed  from  New-Jersey  in 
1743,  and  settled  on  the  same  marsh.  About  the  same  period,  Christo* 
pher  Beeler  removed  and  settled  within  tv/o  or  three  miles  from  Larue; 
and  about  the  year  1744,  Joseph  Hampton  and  two  sons  came  from  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maiyland,  settled  on  Buck  marsh,  near  Berryville,  and 
lived  the  greater  part  of  the  year  in  a  hollovr  sycamore  tree.  They  er^» 
closed  a  piece  of  land  and  made  a  crop  preparatory  to  the  removal  of  tho 
fami]y.§ 

In  1743  Joseph  Carter  removed  from  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
settled  on  Opequon,  about  five  niiles  east  of  Winchester.  Yery  near  Mr. 
Carter's  residence,  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  was  a  beautiful  grove 
of  forest  timber,  immediately  opposite  which  a  fine  limestone  spring  is- 
sued from  the  east  bank  of  the  creek.  This  grove  v;as,  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Carter's  first  settlement,  a  favorite  camping  ground  of  the  Indians, 
where  numero'us  collections,  sometimes  two  or  three  hundred  at  a  time, 
would  assemble,  ar^d  remain  for  several  v.'eeks  together.  Mr,  Carter  was 
a  shoemaker,  and  on  one  occasion  two  Indians  called  at  his  shop  just  as 
he  had  finished  and  hung  uj)  a  pair  of  shoes,  which  one  of  the  Indians 
seeing  secretly  slipped  under  his  blanket,  and  attempted  to  make  off.  Car- 
ter detected  him,  and  took  the  shoes  from  him.  His  companion  manifest- 
ed the  utmost  indignation  at  the  theft,  and  gave  Carter  to  understand  that 
the  culprit  would  be  severely  dealt  with.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  return- 
ed to  the  encampment,  information  was  given  to  the  chiefs,  and  the  un- 
fortunate thief  vras  so  severely  chastised,  that  Mr.   Carter,   from   motives 


•Communicated  by  William  Heath,  Esq. 

fisaac  Vanmeter,  Esq.  stated  Ihisfivct  to  the  author. 

JMaj.  Isaac  Hite,  of  Frederick  county,  communicated  this  informatioQ 
to  the  author. 

§Col.  John  B.  Larue  and  William  Castlemen,  Esq.  gave  the  author  tl^U 
inlbrmation, 


48  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  OF  '^i'HE  VALLEY. 

of  humanity,  interposed,  and  begged  that  the  punishment  might  cease,* 
Maj.  Isaac  Hite  informed  the  author  that  numerous  parties  of  Indians, 
in  pas.^ing  and  repassing,  frequently  called  at  his  grandfather's  house,  on 
Opequon,  and  that  but  one  instance  of  theft  was  ever  committed.  On  that 
occasion  a  pretty  considerable  party  had  called,  and  on  their  leaving 
the  house  some  article  of  inconsiderable  value  was  missing.  A  messenr 
ger  was  sent  after  them,  and  information  of  the  theft  given  to  the  chiefs. 
Search  was  immediately  made,  the  article  found  in  the  possession  of  one 
pf  them,  and  restored  to  its  owner.  These  facts  go  far  to  show  their  high 
sense  of  honesty  and  summar}^  justice.  It  has  indeed  been  stated  to  the 
author,  that  their  travelling  parties  would,  if  they  needed  provisions  and 
i[?.ould  not  otherwise  procure  them,  kill  fat  hogs  or  fat  cattle  in  the  woods, 
in  order  to  supply  themselves  with  food.  This  they  did  not  consider  steal- 
ing.    Every  animal  running  at  large  they  considered  lawful  game. 

The  Indians  charge  the  white  people  with  teaching  them  the  knowledge 
of  theft  and  several  other  vices.  In  the  winter  of  1815-16,  the  author 
spent  some  weeks  in  the  state  of  Georgia,  where  he  fell  in  with  Col.  Bar- 
nett,  one  of  the  commissioners  for  running  the  boundary  line  of  Indian 
lands  which  had  shortly  before  been  ceded  to  the  United  States.  Some 
conversation  took  place  on  the  subject  of  the  Indians  and  Indian  charac- 
ter, in  which  Col.  B.  refnarked,  that  in  one  of  his  excursions  through  the 
Indian  country,  he  met  ^yith  a  very  aged  Cherokee  chief,  who  spoke  and 
understood  the  English  language  pretty  well.  The  colonel  had  several 
conversations  with  this  aged  man,  in  one  of  which  he  congratulated  him 
upon  the  prospect  of  his  people  havmg  their  condition  greatly  improved, 
there  being  every  reason  to  believe  that  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  they 
would  become  acquainted  with  the  arts  of  civil  life — would  be  better 
f  lothed,  better  fed,  and  erect  better  and  more  comfortable  habitations—^ 
and  what  was  of  still  greater  impoi-tance,  they  would  becom.e  acquainted 
with  the  doctrines  and  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  This  venera- 
ble old  man  listened  with  the  most  profound  and  respectful  attention  until 
the  colonel  had  concluded,  and  then  with  a  significant  shake  of  his  head 
and  much  emphasis  replied, — That  he  doubted  the  benefits  to  the  red  peo- 
ple pointed  out  by  the  colonel;  that  before  their  fathers  were  acquainted 
Avith  the  vdiites,  the  red  people  needed  but  little,  and  that  little  the  Great 
Spirit  gave  them,  the  forest  supplying  them  with  food  and  raiment :  that 
before  their  fathers  w^ere  acquainted  with  the  white  people,  the  red  people 
never  got  drunk,  because  they  had  nothing  to  make  them  drunk,  and  ne- 
ver committed  theft,  because  they  had  no  temptation  to  do  so.  It  was 
true,  that  when  parties  were  out  hunting,  and  onQ  party  was  unsuccessful 
and  found  the  game  of  the  more  successful  party  hung  up,  if  they  needed 
provision  they  took  it;  and  this  was  not  stealing — it  was  the  law  and  cus- 
tom of  the  tribes.  If  they  went  to  w^ar  they  destroyed  each  other's  pro- 
perty :  this  was  done  to  weaken  their  enemy.     Red  people  never   swore, 


*The  late  Mr.  James  Carter  gave  the  author  this  tradition,  which  he  re- 
jceived  from  his  father,  w^ho  was  a  boy  of  12  or  IS  years  old  at  the  time, 
and  an  eye-witness  of  the  fact.  Opposite  to  this  camping  ground,  on  a 
|iigli  Jiill  ^ast  of  the  creek,  is  a  large  Indian  grave. 


FIRST  SETTLEiMENT  OF  THE  VALLEY.  49 

because  they  had  no  words  to  express  an  oath.  R.ed  people  would  not 
cheat,  because  they  had  no  temptation  to  commit  Iraud  :  they  never  told 
falsehoods,  because  they  had  no  temptation  to  tell  lies.  And  as  to  reli- 
gion, you  go  to  your  churches,  sing  loud,  pray  loud,  and  make  great  noise. 
The  red  people  meet  once  a  year,  at  the  feast  of  new  corn,  extinguish  all 
their  fires,  and  kindle  up  a  new  one,  the  smoke  of  which  ascends  to  the 
Great  Spirit  as  a  grateful  sacrifice.  Now  what  better  is  your  religion 
than  ours?  The  white  people  have  taught  us  to  get  drunk,  to  steal,  to 
lie,  to  cheat,  and  to  swear;  and  if  the  knowledge  of  these  vices,  as  you 
profess  to  hold  them,  and  punish  by  your  laws,  is  beneficial  to  the  red  peo- 
ple, we  are  benefitted  by  our  acquaintance  with  you;  if  not,  we  are  greatly 
injured  by  that  acquaintance. 

To  say  the  least  of  this  untutored  old  man,  his  opinions,  religion  ex- 
cepted, were  but  too  well  founded,  and  convey  a  severe  rebuke  upon  the 
character  of  those  who  boast  of  the  superior  advantages  of  the  lights  of 
education  and  a  knowledge  of  the  religion  of  the  Holy  Redeemer. 

From  this  digression  the  author  will  again  turn  his  attention  to  the  ear- 
ly history  of  our  country. 

About  the  year  1763,  the  first  settlements  were  made  at  or  near  the 
head  of  BuUskin.  Two  families,  by  the  name  of  Riley  and  Allemong, 
iirst  commenced  the  settlement  of  this  immediate  neighborhood.  At  this 
period  timber  was  so  scarce  that  the  settlers  were  compelled  to  cut  small 
saplings  to  enclose  their  fields.*  The  prairie  produced  grass  five  or  six 
feet  high;|  and  even  our  mountains  and  hills  were  covered  with  the  suste- 
nance of  quadrupeds  of  every  species.  The  pea  vine  grew  abundanilv 
on  the  hilly  and  mountainous  lands,  than  which  no  species  of  vegetable 
production  afforded  finer  and  richer  pasturage. 

From  this  state  of  the  country,  many  of  our  first  settlers  turned  their 
attention  to  rearing  large  herds  of  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  Sic.  Many  of 
them  became  expert,  hardy  and  adventurous  hunters,  and  spent  much  of 
their  time  and  depended  chiefly  for  support  and  money-making  on  the 
sale  of  skins  and  furs. J  IMoses  Russell,  Esq.  informed  the  author  that 
the  hilly  lands  about  his  residence,  near  the  base  of  the  North  mountain, 
in  the  south  west  corner  of  Frederick,  and  which  now  present  to  the  eye 
the  appearance  of  great  poverty  of  soil,  within  his  recollection   were  cov- 


*Messrs.  Christian  Allemong  and  George  Riley  both  stated  this  fact  to 
the  author. 

fMr.  George  Riley,  an  aged  and  respectable  citizen,  stated  to  the  author 
that  the  grass  on  the  Bulfskin  barrens  grew  so  tall,  that  he  had  frequently 
<lrawn  it  before  him  when  on  horseback,  and  tied  it  before  him. 

f  rhe  late  Henry  Fry,  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  Capon  river,  upwards 
of  forty  years  ago  informed  the  author,  that  he  purchased  the  tract  of  land 
on  which  he  hrst  settled,  on  Capon  river,  for  which  he  engaged  to  pay 
cither  jG200  or  i;^250,  the  author  does  not  recollect  which  sum,  ami  that 
lie  made  every  dollar  of  the  money  by  the  sale  of  skins  and  furs,  the  game 
beinff  killed  or  cnimht  v/ith  his  own  hands. 

H 


50  »  RELIGION,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS, 

tred  with  a  fine  j.^rowth  of  pea  vine,  and  that  stock  of"  every   description' 
grew  abundantly  fat  in  the  summer  season. 

Isaac  Larue,  who'  settled  on  the  Long  marsh  in  1743,  as  has  been  sta- 
ted, soon  became  celebrated  for  his  numerous  herds  of  horses  and  cattle. 
The  author  was  tokl  by  Col.  J.  B.  Larue,  who  is  the  owner  of  part  of  his 
grandfather's  fine  landed  estate,  that  his  grandfather  frequently  owned  be- 
tween ninety  and  one  hundred  head  of  horses,  but  it  so  happened  that  he 
never  could  get  his  stock  to  count  a  Imndred. 

The  Hites,  Frys,  Vanmeters,  and  many  others,  raised  vast  stocks  of 
horses,  cattle,  hogs,  &c.  Tradition  relates  that  Lord  Fairfax,  happening 
one  day  in  Winchester  to  see  a  large  drove  of  unusually  fine  hogs  passing 
through  the  town,  inquired  from  whence  they  came.  Being  informed  that 
they  were  from  the  mountains  west  of  Winchester,  he  remarked  that  when 
a  new  county  should  be  laid  off  in  that  direction  it  ought  to  be  called 
Hampshire,  after  a  county  in  England  celebrated  for  its  production  of  fine 
hogs;  and  this,  it  is  said,  gave  name  to  the  present  county  of  Hampshire. 

The  author  will  only  add  to  this  chapter,  that,  from  tiie  first  settlement 
of  the  valley,  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  on  the  part  of  the  French 
and  Indians,  against  our  ancestors,  in  the  year  1754,  our  coimtry  rapidly 
increased  in  numbers  and  in  the  acquisition  of  property,  without  interrup- 
tioji  from  the  natives,  a  period  of  twenty-two  years. 

In  my  next  chapter  I  shall  give  a  brief  account  of  the  religion,  habits 
and  customs,  of  the  primitive  settlers. 


-:o: 


CHAPTER  ¥. 

RELIGION,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS,  OF  THE  PRIMITIVE 

SETTLERS. 


A  large  majority  of  our  first  immigrants  were  from  Pennsylvania,  com- 
posed of  native  Germans  or  German  extraction.  There  were,  however,  a 
number  directly  from  Germany,  several  from  Maryland  and  New  Jersey, 
and  a  few  from  New  York.  These  immigrants  brought  with  them  the  re- 
ligion, habits  and  customs,  of  their  ancestors.  They  w^ere  composed 
generally  of  three  religious  sects,  viz:  Lutherans,  Menonists*  and!  Calvi- 
nists,  with  a  few  Tunkers.  They  generally  settled  in  neighborhoods  pret- 
ty much  together. 


*Simon  Meno  was  one  of  the  earliest  German  reformers,  and  the  foun- 
der of  this  sect. 


OF  THE  PRIMITIVE  SETTLERS,  51 

«> 
The  territory  now  composing  the  county  of  Page,  Powcirs  fori,  and 
the  Woodstock  valley,  between  the  West  Fort  mountain  and  North  moun- 
tain, extending  from  the  neighborhood  of  Stephensburg  for  a  considera- 
ble distance  into  the  county  of  Rockingham,  was  almost  exclusively  set- 
tled by  Germans.  They  were  very  tenacious  in  the  preseivation  of  their 
language,  religion,  customs  and  habits.  In  what  is  now  Page  county  they 
were  almost  exclusively  of  the  Menonist  persuasion  :  but  few  Lutherans 
or  Calvinists  settled  among  them.  In  other  sections  of  the  territory  above 
described,  there  was  a  mixture  of  Lutherans  and  Calvinists.  The  Meno- 
nists  were  remarkable  for  their  strict  adherence  to  all  the  moral  and  reli- 
gious observances  required  by  their  sect.  Their  children  were  early  in- 
structed in  the  principles  and  ceremonies  of  their  religion,  habits  and  cus- 
toms. They  were  generally  farmers,  and  took  great  care  of  their  stock  of 
diiterent  kinds.  With  few  exceptions,  they  strictly  inhibited  their  child- 
ren from  joining  in  the  dance  or  other  juvenile  amusements  common  to 
other  religious  sects  of  the  Germans. 

-In  their  marriages  much  cerem^ony  was  observed  and  great  preparation 
made.  Fatted  calves,  lambs,  poultry,  the  fmest  of  bread,  butter,  milk, 
honey,  domestic  sugar,  xvine,  if  it  could  be  had;  with  eveiy  article  neces- 
sary for  a  sumptuous  feast  in  their  plain  way,  were  prepared  in  abundance. 
Previous  to  the  performance  of  the  ceremony,  (the  clergyman  attending 
ut  the  place  appointed  for  the  marriage,)  four  of  the  most  respectable 
young  females  and  four  of  the  most  respectable  young  men  w^ere  selected 
as  waiters  upon  the  bride  and  groom.  The  several  waiters  were  decorated 
with  badges,  to  indicate  their  offices.  The  groomsmen,  as  they  were  termed, 
were  invariably  furnished  with  line  v/hite  aprons  Ijeautifully  embroidered.  It 
was  deemed  a  high  honor  to  wear  the  apron.  The  duly  of  the  waiters 
consisted  in  not  only  waiting  on  the  bride  and  groom,  but  they  were  re- 
quired, after  the  marriage  ceremony  was  performed,  to  serve  up  the  wed- 
ding dinner,  and  to  guard  and  protect  the  bride  while  at  dinner  from  hav- 
ing her  shoe  stolen  from  her  foot.  This  custom  of  stealing  the  bride's 
shoe,  it  is  said,  afforded  the  most  heartfelt  amusement  to  the  wedding  guest. 
To  succeed  in  it,  the  greatest  dexterity  was  used  by  the  younger  part  of 
the  company,  while  equal  vigilance  was  manifested  by  the  waiters  to  de- 
fend her  against  the  theft ;  and  if  they  failed,  they  v/ere  in  honor  bound 
to  pay  a  penalty  for  the  redem.ption  of  the  shoe.  This  penalty  was  a 
bottle  of  wine  or  one  dollar,  which  was  commonly  the  price  of  a  bottle  of 
wine:  and  as  a  punishment  to  the  bride,  she  was  not  permitted  to  dance 
until  the  shoe  was  restored.  The  successful  tliief,  on  getting  hold  of  the 
shoe,  held  it  up  in  great  trium])h  to  the  view  of  the  whole  assemblage, 
which  was  generally  pretty  numerous.  This  custom  v.'as continued  among 
the  Germans  from  generation  to  generation,  until  since  the  war  of  the  re- 
volution. The  author  has  conversed  with  many  individuals,  still  living, 
who  were  eye-witnedses  of  it. 

Throwing  the  stocking  was  another  custom    am.ong  the    (Jerinans.* — 


^Throwing  the  stocking  was  not  exclusively  a  (icrman  custom.  It  is 
celebrated  by  an  Irish  poet,  in  his  "Irish  Wedding."  It  is  not  improba- 
l»l<^  but  it  was  fommon  to  the  Celtic  nations  ;ilso. 


52  RELIGION,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS 


%       JL  X^  X.A-/  J.     JL    »^'       .4.  A.  J.  1  JL^  V_-'    V_/   ^-J    -1.    V-y  -L'^A  K^  * 


When  the  bridge  and  groom  were  bedded,  the  young  people  were  admit- 
ted into  the  room.  A  stocking,  rolled  into  a  ball,  was  given  to  the  young 
females,  who,  one  after  the  otlier,  would  go  to  the  foot  of  the  bed,  stand 
with  their  backs  towards  it,  and  throw  the  stocking  over  their  shoulders 
at  the  bride's  head:  and  the  first  that  succeeded  in  touching  her  cap  or 
head  was  the  next  to  be  married.  The  young  men  then  threvv^  the  stock- 
ing at  the  groom's  head,  in  like  manner,  with  the  like  motive.  Hence  the 
utmost  eagerness  and  dexterity  were  used  in  throwing  the  stocking. — 
This  practice,  as  well  as  that  of  stealing  the  bride's  shoe,  was  common 
to  all  the  Germans. 

Among  the  Lutherans  and  Calvinists,  dancing  with  other  amusements 
was  common,  at  their  wedding  parties  particularly.  Dancing  and  rejoic- 
ings were  sometimes  kept  up  for  v.'eeks  together.* 

The  peaceable  and  orderly  deportment  of  this  hard}^  and  industrious 
race  of  people,  together  vrith  their  perfect  submission  to  the  restraints  of 
the  civil  authority,  has  always  been  proverbial.  They  form  at  this  day  a 
most  valuable  part  of  our  community. 

Among  our  early  settlers,  a  number  of  Irish  Presbyterians  removed  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  settled  along  Back  creek,  the  North  mountain  and  Ope- 
quon.     A  few  Scotch  and  English  families  v>^ere  among  them. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Glasses,  Aliens,  Vances,  Kerfotts,  &c.  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  on  the  upper  vraters  of  the  Opequon.  The  ancestors 
of  the  V\^hites,  Russells,  &c.  settled  near  the  North  mountain.  There 
were  a  mixture  of  Irish  and  Germans  on  Cedar  creek  and  its  vicinity;  the 
Frys,  Nevrells,  Blackburns,f  Wilsons,  &,c..  were  among  the  number.  The 
Irish,  like  the  Geniians,  brought  with  them  the  religion,  customs  and  ha- 
bits, of  their  ancestors.  The  Irish  wedding  vras  always  an  occasion  of 
great  hilarity,  jollity  and  mirth.  Among  other  scenes  attending  it,  running 
for  the  bottle  was  much  practiced.  It  was  usual  for  the  wedding  parties 
to  ride  to  the  residence  of  the  clergyman  to  have  the  ceremony  performed. 
In  their  absence,  the  father  or  the  next  friend  prepared,  at  the  bride's  res-, 
idence,  a  bottle  of  the  best  spirits  that  could  be  obtained,  around  the  neck 
of  which  a  white  ribbon  was  tied.  Returning  from  the  clergyman's, 
when  within  one  or  two  miles  of  the  home  of  the  bride,  some  three  or  four 
young  men  prepared  to  run  for  the  bottle.  Taking  an  even  start,  thein 
horses  v/ere  put  at  full  speed,  dashing  over  mud,  rocks,  stumps,  and  disre- 
garding all  impediments.  The  race,  in  fact,  was  run  with  as  much  eager- 
ness and  desire  to  win,  as  is  ever  manifested  on  the  turf  by  our  sporting 
characters.  The  father  or  next  friend  of  the  bride,  expecting  the  racers, 
stood  with  the  bottle  in  his  hand,  ready  to  deliver  to  the  successful  com- 
petitor. On  receiving  it,  he  forthv*uth  returned  to  meet  the  bride  and  groom. 
When  met,  the  bottle  w^as  first  presented  to  the  bride,  who  must  taste  it  at 
least,  next  to  the  groom,  and  then  handed  round  to  the  company,  every 
one  of  whom  was  required  to  swig  it. 

The  Quakers  differed  from  all  other  sects  in  their  marriage  ceremony. — 


^Christian  Miller,  an  aged  and  respectable  man  near  \Voodstock,   rela- 
ted this  custom  to  the  author. 

t^hn.  Samuel  Bl'dckburn.  it  is  said,  dcbceiided  IronT  this  familv. 


OF  THE  PRLMITIVE  SETTLERS.  53 

The  parties  having  agreed  upon  the  match,  notice  was  given  to  the  elders 
or  overseers  of  the  meeting,  and  a  strict  enquiry  followed  whether  there 
had  been  any  previous  engagements  by  either  of  the  parties  to  other  indi- 
viduals. If  nothing  of  the  kind  appeared,  the  intended  marringe  was 
made  known  publicly;  and  if  approved  by  all  parties,  the  couple  passed 
meeting.  This  ceremony  was  repeated  three  several  times;  when,  if  no 
lawful  impediment  appeared,  a  day  was  appointed  for  the  marriage,  Vvdiich 
took  place  at  the  meeting-house  in  presence  of  the  congregation.  A  wri- 
ting, drawn  up  between  the  parties,  purporting  to  be  the  marriage  agree- 
ment, witnessed  by  as  many  of  the  bystanders  as  thought  proper  to  sub- 
scribe their  names,  concluded  the  ceremony.  They  had  no  priest  or  cler- 
gyman to  perform  the  rite  of  matrimony,  and  the  vrhole  proceeding  was 
conducted  with  the  utmost  solemnity  and  decorum.  This  mode  of  mar- 
riage is  still  kept  up,  with  but  Utile  variation. 

Previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  it  was  the  practice  to  publish  the 
bans  of  matrimony,  between  the  parties  intending  to  marry,  three  succes- 
sive Sabbath  days  in  the  church  or  meeting-house;  after  wdiich,  if  no  law- 
ful impediment  appeared,  it  was  lawful  for  a  licensed  minister  of  the  par- 
ish or  county  to  join  the  parties  in  wedlock.  It  is  probable  that  this  prac- 
tice, which  was  anciently  used  in  the  English  churches,  gave  rise  to  the 
custom,  in  the  Quaker  society,  of  passing  meeting.  The  peaceable  and 
general  mor&l  deportment  of  the  Quakers  is  too  generally  known  to  require 
particular  notice  in  this  work. 

The  Baptists  were  not  among  our  earliest  immigrants.  About  fourteen 
or  fifteen  families  of  that  persuasion  migrated  from  the  state  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  settled  probably  in  1742  or  1743  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now 
called  Gerardstown,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley.* 

Mr.  Semple,  in  his  history  of  the  Virginia  Baptists,  states,  that  in  the 
year  1754,  Mr.  Stearns,  a  preacher  of  this  sect,  with  several  others,  re- 
moved from  New  England.  "They  halted  first  at  Opequon,  in  J^erkeley 
coux^ty,  Virginia,  where  he  formed  a  Baptist  church  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  John  Gerard.'^  This  was  probably  the  first  Baptist  church  founded 
west  of  the  Blue  Ridofe  in  our  State. 

It  is  said  that  the  spot  where  Tuscarora  meeting  house  now  stands,  ni 
the  county  of  Berkeley,  is  the  first  place  where  the  gospel  was  publicly 
preached  and  divine  service  performed  west  of  the  Bhic  ridge. f  This  was 
and  still  remains  a  Presbyterian  edifice. 

*Mr.  M'Cowan,  an  aged  and  respectable  citizen  of  the  neighborhood, 
communicated  this  fact  to  the  author. 

fThis  information  was  communicated  to  the  author  by  a  hi<2^hly  respec- 
table oldlndy,  of  tlie  Presbyterian  chnrch,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley.  She 
also  stated  that  in  addition  to  the  general  tradition,  she  had  lately  heard 
the  venerable  and  reverend  Dr.  Matthews  assert  the  f.ict.  Mr.  Mayers, 
now  in  his  87th  year,  born  nnd  raised  on  the  Potomac,  in  Berkeley,  stated 
his  opinion  to  the  author,  that  there  was  a  house  erected  for  publu-.  worshi}) 
at  the  Falling  Water  about  the  same  time  that  the  I'uscarora  meeting-liouse 
was  built,  j^otli  these  churches  are  now  under  the  p.istoral  car«  of  the 
Rev.  J;imcs  M.  i?ro\vn. 


54  llELIGION,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS, 

It  is  not  within  the  plan  of  this  work  to  give  a  general  history  of  the 
rise  and  progress  of  the  various  religious  societies  of  our  country.  It 
may  not,  however,  be  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader  to  have  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  difficulties  and  persecutions  wiiich  the  Quakers  and  Baptists 
had  to  encounter  in  their  lirst  attempts  to  propagate  their  doctrines  and 
principles  in  Virginia. 

In  llening's  Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  i.  pp.  532-33,  the  following  most 
extraordinary  law,  i^'  indeed  it  deserves  the  name,  was  enacted  by  the 
then  legislature  of  Virginia,  March,  1660: 

"»/?Ai  act  for  the  suppressing  the  Quakers. 

"Whereas  there  is  an  vnreasonable  and  turbulent  sort  of  people,  corn- 
only  called  Quakers,  w^ho  contrary  to  the  law  do  dayly  gather  together 
vnto  them  vnlaw'll  assemblies  and  congregrations  of  people,  teaching  and 
publishing  lies,  miracles,  false  -visions,  prophecies  and  doctrines,  which 
have  inlluence  vpon  the  comunities  of  men,  both  ecclesiasticail  and  civil, 
entleavouring  and  attempting  thereby  to  destroy  religion,  lawes,  comuni- 
ties, and  all  bonds  of  civil  societie,  leaveing  it  arbitrairie  to  everie  vaine 
and  vitious  person  whether  men  shall  be  safe,  lawes  established,  offenders 
j)unished,  and  governours  rule,  hereby  disturbing  the  publique  peace  and 
just  interest :  to  prevent  and  restraine  which  mischiefe,  It  is  enacted,  That 
no  master  or  commander  of  any  shipp  or  other  vessell  do  bring  into  this 
collonie  any  person  or  persons  called  Quakers,  vnder  the  penalty  of  one 
hundred  pounds  sterling,  to  be  leavied  vpon  him  and  his  estate  by  order 
from  the  governour  and  council,  or  the  coinissioners  in  the  severall  coun- 
ties w4iere  such  ships  shall  arrive:  That  all  such  Quakers  as  have  been 
questioned,  or  shall  hereafter  arrive,  shall  be  apprehended  w^heresoever 
they  shall  be  found,  and  they  be  imprisoned  without  bade  or  mainprize, 
till  they  do  adjure  this  country,  or  putt  in  security  with  all  speed  to  depart 
the  collonie  and  not  to  return  again:  And  if  any  should  dare  to  presume 
to  returne  hither  after  such  departure,  to  be  proceeded  against  as  contem- 
ners of  the  lawes  and  magistracy,  and  punished  accordingly,  and  caused 
again  to  depart  the  country,  and  if  they  should  the  third  time  be  so  auda- 
cious and  impudent  as  to  returne  hither,  to  be  proceeded  against  as  ffelons: 
That  noe  person  shall  entertain  any  of  the  Quakers  that  have  heretofore 
been  questioned  by  the  governour  and  council,  or  which  shall  hereafter  be 
questioned,  nor  permit  in  or  near  his  house  any  assemblies  of  Quakers,  in 
the  like  penalty  of  one  hundred  pounds  sterling:  That  coraissioners  and 
officers  are  hereby  required  and  authorized,  as  they  will  answer  the  con- 
trary at  their  perill,  to  take  notice  of  this  act,  to  see  it  fully  effected  and 
executed:  And  that  no  person  do  presume  on  their  perill  to  dispose  or  pub- 
lish their  bookes,  pamphlets  or  libells,  bearing  the  title  of  their  tenets  and 
opinions." 

This  highhanded  and  cruel  proceeding  took  place  in  the  time  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  usurpation  in  England,  and  at  a  time  when  some  glimmering 
of  rational,  civil,  and  religious  liberty,  manifested  itself  in  the  mother 
country.  The  preamble  to  this  act  is  contradicted  by  the  whole  history 
of  Quakerism,  liom  its  foundation  to  the  present  period.  In  all  the  writ- 
ten and  trad.ition  il  jfvou'its  handed  down  to  us,  the  Qualcers    are    repre- 


OF  THE  PRIMITIVE  SETTLERS.  55 

seiited  as  a  most  inofTensivc,  orderly,  and  strictly  moral  pcoplo,  in  all  their 
deportment  and  habits. 

This  unreasonable  and  unwise  legislation,  it  is  presumed,  was  suffered 
40  die  a  natural  death,  as,  in  the  progress  of  the  peopling  of  our  country, 
we  find  that  many  Quakers,  at  a  pretty  early  period,  migrated  and  formed 
considerable  settlements  in  different  parts  of  the  State. 

It  has  already  been  noticed  that  the  Baptists  w'ere  not  among  the  num- 
ber of  our  earliest  immigrants.  Mr.  Semple  says:  "The  Baptists  in  Vir- 
nia  originated  from  three  sources.  The  first  were  immigrants  from  Eng- 
land, wdio  about  the  year  1714  settled  in  the  south  east  part  of  the  State. 
About  1743  another  party  came  from  Maryland  and  founded  a  settlement  in 
the  north  west.*     A  third  party  from  New  England,  1754." 

This  last  was  Mr.  Stearns  and  his  party.  They  settled  for  a  short  time 
on  Capon  river,  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  but  soon  removed  to  North 
Carolina.  Mr.  Stearns  and  his  followers  manifested  great  zeal  and  in- 
dustry in  the  propagation  of  their  doctrines  and  principles.  Their  religion 
soon  took  a  wide  range  in  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia.  They  met  with 
violent  opposition  from  the  established  Episcopal  clergy,  and  much  perse- 
cution followed.  To  the  credit  of  the  people  of  our  valley,  but  few  if  any 
acts  of  violence  were  committed  on  the  persons  of  the  preachers  west  of 
the  Blue  ridg^e.  This  is  to  be  accounted  for  from  the  fact  that  a  srreat  ma- 
jority  of  the  inhabitants  were  dissenters  from  the  Episcopal  church.  East 
of  the  Blue  ridge,  however,  the  case  was  widely  different.  It  was  quite 
common  to  imprison  the  preachers,  insult  the  congregations,  and  treat 
them  with  every  possible  indignity  and  outrage.  Every  foul  means  was 
resorted  to,  which  malice  and  hatred  could  devise,  to  suppress  their  doc- 
trines and  religion.  But  instead  of  success  this  persecution  produced  di- 
rectly the  contrary  effect.  "The  first  instance,"  says  Mr.  Semple,  "of 
actual  imprisonment,  we  believe,  that  ever  took  place  in  Virginia,  was  in 
the  county  of  Spottsylvania.  On  the  4th  June,  1768,  John  Waller,  Le- 
wis Craig,  James  Childs,  &c.,  were  seized  by  the  sheriff,  and  hauled  be- 
fore three  magistrates,  who  stood  in  the  meeting-house  yard,  and  who 
bound  them  in  the  penalty  of  $1000  to  appear  at  court  two  days  after.  At 
court  they  were  arraigned  as  disturbers  of  the  peace,  and  committed  to 
close  jail."  And  in  December,  1770,  Messrs.  William  Webber  and  Jo- 
seph Anthony  were  imprisoned  in  Chesterfield  jail. 

The  author  deems  it  unnecessary  to  detail  all  the  cases  of  persecution 
and  imprisonment  of  the  Baptist  preachers.  He  will  therefore  conchide 
this  narrative  with  the  account  of  the  violent  persecution  and  cruel  treat- 
ment of  the  late  Rev.  James  Ireland,  a  distinguished  Baptist  preacher  of 
our  valley.  ' 

Mr.  Ireland  was  on    one    occasion    committed    to  the  jail  of  Culpeper 


*It  is  probable  this  is  the  pnrty  who  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ge- 
rardstown.  If  so,  Mr.  S.  is  doubtless  misinf(U'med  as  to  the  place  of  their 
origin.  The  first  Baptist  immigrants  who  settled  in  I^erkeley  county  wen* 
certainly  from  New  Jersey. 


o6  RELTCxION,  HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS, 

county,*  when  several  attempts  wero  made  to  destroy  him.     Of  these  at-* 
tempts  he  gives  the  following  narrative: 

"A  number  of  my  persecutors  resorted  to  the  tavern  of  Mr.  Steward, 
at  the  court-house,  where  they  plotted  to  blow  me  up  with  powder  that 
uio'ht,  as  I  was  informed;  but  all  they  could  collect  was  half  a  pound. — 
They  fixed  it  for  explosi-on,  expecting  I  w^as  sitting  directly  over  it, 
but  in  this  they  vrere  mistaken.  Fire  was  put  to  it,  and  it  went 
off  with  considerable  noise,  forcing  up  a  small  plank,  from  which  I 
received  no  damao^e.  The  next  scheme  they  devised  was  to  smoke  me 
with  brimstone  and  Indian  pepper.  They  had  to  wait  certain  opportuni- 
ties to  accomplish  the  same.  The  lower  part  of  the  jail  door  was  a  few 
inches  above  its  silL  When  the  wund  w^as  favorable,  they  w^ould  get  pods 
of  Indian  pepper,  empty  them  of  their  contents,  and  fill  them  with  brim- 
stone, and  set  them  burning,  so  that  the  whole  jail  would  be  filled  w^ith  the 
killing  smoke,  and  oblige  me  to  go  to  cracks,  and  put  my  mouth  to  them 
in  order  to  prevent  suffocation.  At  length  a  certain  doctor  and  the  jailor 
formed  a  scheme  to  poison  me,  which  .they  actually  effected." 

From  this  more  than  savage  cruelty  Mr.  Ireland  became  extremely  ill, 
w^as  attended  by  several  physicians,  and  in  some  degree  restored  to  health 
and  activity;  but  he  never  entirely  recovered  from  the  great  injury  which 
his  constitution  received. 

The  aiathor  had  the  satisfaction  of  an  intimate  personal  acquaintance 
w^ith  Mr,  Ireland,  and  lived  a  near  neighbor  to  him  for  several  years  be- 
fore his  death.  He  w^as  a  native  Scotsman;  of  course  his  pronunciation 
was  a  little  broad.  He  had  a  fine  commanding  voice,  easy  delivery,  with 
a  beautiful  natural  elocution  in  his  sermonizing.  His  language,  perhaps, 
w^as  not  as  purely  classical  as  some  of  his  cotemporaries;  but  such  was 
his  powerful  elocution,  particularly  on  the  subject  of  the  crucifixion  and 
suflerings  of  our  Savior,  that  he  never  failed  to  cause  a  flood  of  tears  to 
flow  from  the  eyes  of  his  audience,  whenever  he  touched  that  theme.  In 
his  younger  years  he  was  industrious,  zealous,  sparing  no  pains  to  propa- 
gate his  religious  opinions  and  principles,  and  was  very  successful  in  gain- 
ing proselytes:  hence  he  became  an  object  of  great  resentment  to  the  es- 
tablished clergy,  and  they  resorted  to  every  means  within  their  reach,  to 
silence  and  put  him  down.  But  in  this  tliey  failed.  He  at  length  tri- 
umphed over  his  persecutors,  was  instrumental  in  founding  several  church- 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  METHODIST  RELIGION  IN  OUR  VALLEY. 

About  the  year  1775f  two  travelling  strangers  called  at  the  residence  of 
the  late  Maj.  Lewis  Stephens,   the  proprietor  and  founder   of  the   town, 


*In  the  life  of  Ireland,  no  dates  are  given.  The  time  of  his  com- 
mitment was  probably  about  the  year  1771  or  1772. 

fThe  author  is  not  positive  that  he  is  correct  as  to  the  time  this  occur- 
rence took  place,  but  has  been  informed  it  w'as  just  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  late  Dr.  Tilden  communicated 
this  information  to  the  writer — which  he  stated  he  learned  from  Mrs»  Ste- 
phens. 


OF  THE  PRIiMn'lVE  SETTLERS.  57 

now  tlislinguished  in  the  mall  establishment  as  "Newtown  Stephensburg,'' 
and  enquired  if  they  could  obtain  quarters  ibr  the  night.  Maj.  Stephens 
happened  to  be  absent;  but  Mrs.  Stephens,  wdio  was  remarkable  for  hospi- 
tality and  religious  impressions,  informs  them  they  could  be  accomodated. 
One  of  them  observed  to  her,  ''We  are  preachers;  and  the  next  day  being 
Sabbath,  we  will  have  to  remain  with  you  until  Monday  morning,  as  we 
do  not  travel  on  the  Sabbath."  To  which  the  old  lady  replied,  "if  you  are 
preachers,  you  are  the  more  Avelcome." 

John  HaQ-erty  and  Richard  Owens  were  the  names  of  the  preachers. — 
The  next  morning  notice  was  sent  through  the  town,  and  the  strangers  deli- 
vered sermons.  This  was  doubtless  the  first  Methodist  preaching  ever  heard 
in  our  valley.  It  is  said  they  travelled  East  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  (before 
they  reached  Stepliensburg,)  on  a  preaching  tour,  and  probably  crossed 
the  Ridge  at  some  place  south  of  Stephensburg. 

A  number  of  the  people  were  much  pleased  with  them,  and  they  soon 
got  up  a  small  church  at  this  place.  The  late  John  Hite,  Jr.,  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hughes,  (then  a  widow,)  John  Taylor  and  wife,  Levv'is 
Stephens,  Sr.  and  wife,  Lew^s  Stephens,  Jr.  and  wife,  and  several  others 
joined  the  church,  and  in  a  few  years  it  began  to  flourish.  The  rapid 
.spread  of  this  sect  throughout  our  country,  needs  no  remarks  from  the 
author. 

The  first  Camp  Meeting  held  in  our  Valley,  Avithin  the  author's  recol- 
lection, took  place  at  what  is  called  Chrisman's  Spring,  about  two  mdes 
south  of  Stephensburg,  on  the  great  highv/ay  from  Winchester  to  Staun- 
ton. This  was  probably  in  the  month  of  August,  1806.  It  has  been 
stated  to  the  author,  that  the  practice  of  Camp  Meetings  orio'inated  with 
a  Baptist  preacher  somewhere  about  James  River.  It  is  said  he  was  a 
man  of  great  abilities  and  transcendant  elocution;  he  however  became  too 
much  of  an  Armenian  in  his  doctrine  to  please  the  generality  of  his  bre- 
thren, and  they  excommunicated  him  from  their  church,  and  attempted  to- 
silence  him,  but  he  would  not  consent  to  be  silenced  by  them,  and  they 
refused  him  permission  to  preach  in  their  meeting  houses,  and  he  adopted 
the  plan  of  appointing  meetings  in  the  forest,  where  vast  crovrds  of  pe^r- 
ple  attended  his  preaching,  and  they  soon  got  up  the  practice  of  forming 
encampments.  The  author  cannot  vouch  for  the  truth  of  this  statement, 
but  recollects  it  w^as  communicated  to  him  by  a  highly  respectable  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church. 

In  the  year  1S.'36,  the  author  traveled  through  the  South  west  counties 
on  a  tour  of  observation — he  frequently  passed  places  where  Camp  ^leel- 
ings  had  been  held;  they  are  sometimes  seen  in  dense  forests,  and  some 
of  them  had  the  appearance  of  having  been  abandoned  or  disused  for  a 
considerable-'  time.  The  author,  however,  passed  on3  in  Giles  county 
which  was  the  best  fixed  for  the  purpose  he  has  ever  seen.  There  is  a 
large  framed  building  erected  probably  spacious  enough  to  shelter  2000 
people  or  upwards,  with  a  strong  shingled  roof,  and  some  tv.'clve  or  fifteen 
log  houses,  covered  also  with  shingles,  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors. 
A  meeting  had  just  been  held  at  this  place  some  two  or  three  days  before 
he  passed  It,  at  which,  he  was  infonnerl,  sevcM'al  thou^'.and  p:"^oi)!e  had   at- 

1 


58  BREAKING  OUT  OF^  -■ 

lended.  It  is  situnled  ver)'  convenient  to  n  most  cliaiming  spring  of  d'e- 
li^htful  water,  and  stands  on  higli  ground.  Its  location  is  certainly  very 
judiciaily  selected  I'or  the  purpose. 


:0: 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BREAKING  OUT  OF  THE  INDIAN  WAR. 


It  lias  been  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter,  that  in  the  year  I753j  emis- 
saries from  the  Western  Indians  came  among  the  Valley  Indians,  inciting 
them  to  cross  the  Allegany  mountains,  and  that  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
1754,  the  Indians  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  moved  off,  and  entirely  left 
the  valley. 

That  this  movement  of  the  Indians  was  made  under  the  influence  of 
the  French,  there  is  but  little  doubt.  In  the  year  1753,  Maj.  Geo.  Wash- 
ington (since  the  illustrious  Gen.  Washington,)  was  sent  by  governor 
Dinvviddie,  the  then  colonial  governor  of  Virginia,  with  a  letter  to  the 
French  commander  on  th^s  western  waters,  remonstrating  against  his 
encroachments  upon  the  territory  of  Virginia.  This  letter  of  re- 
monstrance was  disregarded  by  the  Frenchman,  and  ver}'  soon  after- 
wards the  war,  commonly  called  "Braddock's  war,"  between  the  British 
government  and  France,  commenced.  In  the  year  1754,  the  government 
of  Virginia  raised  an  armed  force  with  the  intention  of  dislodging  the 
French  from  their  fortified  places  within  the  limits  of  the  colony.  Thf 
command  of  this  army  was  given  to  Col.  Fry,  and  George  Washington 
was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  under  him.  Their  little  army  amounted 
to  three  hundred  men.  "Washington  advanced  at  the  head  of  two  com- 
panies of  this  regiment,  early  in  April,  to  the  Great  Meadows,  where  he 
was  informed  by  some  iriendly  Indians,  that  the  French  were  erecting  for- 
tifications in  the  forks  between  the  Allegany  and  Monongahela  rivers,  and 
also  that  a  detachment  was  on  its  march  from  that  place  towards  the  Great 
Meadows.  War  had  not  been  formally  declared  between  France  and 
England,  but  as  neither  were  disposed  to  recede  from  their  claim  to  the 
lands  on  the  Ohio,  it  v/as  deemed  inevitable,  and  on  the  point  of  com- 
mencing. Several  circumstances  were  supposed  to  indicate  a  hostile  in- 
tention on  the  part  of  the  French  detachnn-nt.  Washington,  under  the 
guidance  of  some  friendly  Indians,  on  a  dark  rainy  night  surprised  their 
encampment,  and  firing  once,  rushed  in  and  surrounded  them.  The  com- 
mander, Dumonville,  was  killed,  with  eight  ornine  others;  one  escaped,  and 
all  the  rest  immediately  surrendered.  Soon  after  this  affair,  Col.  Fry  died, 
and  the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  on  Washinoton,  v>'ho  speedi- 


THE  INDIAN  WAR.  59 

^^'  collected  the -whole  at  the  Great  Meadows.  Two  ijidependefit  compa- 
Mies  of  regulars,  one  from  South  Carolina,  soon  after  arrived  at  the  same 
place.  Col.  Washington  w^as  now  at  the  head  of  nearly  four  hundred 
men.  A  stockade,  afterwards  called  Fort  Necessity,  was  erected  at  the 
Great  Meadows,  in  which  a  small  force  was  left,  and  the  main  body  ad- 
vanced with  a  view  to  dislodging  the  French  from  Fort  Duquesne,*  which 
they  had  recently  erected  at  the  confluence  of  Allegany  and  ]Monongahe- 
]&  rivers.  They  had  not  proceeded  more  than  thirteen  miles,  when  they 
were  informed  by  friendly  Indians  that  the  French,  as  numerous  as  pigeons 
in  the  w^oods,  were  advancing  in  an  hostile  manner  towards  the  English 
settlements,  and  also  that  Fort  Duquesne  had  been  strongly  reinforced.- — 
In  this  critical  situation  a  council  of  war  unanimously  recommended  a  re- 
treat to  the  Great  Meadows,  which  was  effected  without  delay,  and  every 
exertion  made  to  render  Fort  Necessity  tenable,  before  the  works  intend- 
ed for  that  purpose  were  completed.  Mons.  de  Villier,  with  a  conside- 
rable force,  attacked  the  fort.  The  assailants  were  covered  bv  trees  and 
high  grass.f  The  Americans  received  them  with  great  resolution,  and 
fought  some  within  the  stockade,  and  others  in  the  surrounding  ditch. — 
Washington  continued  the  whole  day  on  the  outside  of  the  fort,  and  con- 
•ilucted  the  defence  wdth  the  greatest  coolness  and  intrepidity..  The  en- 
:;gagement  It-Sted  from  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  night,  whtn  the  French 
•comm.ander  demanded  a  parley,  arid  offered  terms  of  capitulation.  His 
first  and  second  proposals  were  rejected,  and  Washington  would  accept  of 
?ione  but  the  following  honorable  ones,  which  were  mutually  agreed  upon 
in  the  course  of  the  night:  The  fort  to  be  surrendered  on  condition  that 
the  garrison  should  march  out  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  be  permitted  to 
retain  theii'  arms  ai?d  baggage,  and  to  march  ummolested  into  the  inhabi- 
ted parts  of  Virginia. "J 

In  1755  the  British  government  sent  Gen.  Braddock,  at  the  head  of 
two  regiments,  to  this  country.  Col.  W^ashington  had  previously  resign  - 
<iid  the  command  of  the  Virginia  troops.  Braddock  invited  him  to  join 
the  service  as  one  of  his  volunteer  aids,  w^hich  invitation  he  readily  ac* 
f  epted,  and  joined  Braddock  near  Alexandria.  ^  The  army  moved  on  for 
the  west,  and  in  their  march  out  erected    Fort    Cumberland.  ||     The   cir- 


*i 


'Fort  Duquesne,  so  called  in  honor  of  the  French  couimanfJcr,  was,  af- 
ter it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  called  Fort  Pitt.,  and  is  now  Pitt;»- 
burgL 

fit  is  presumable  that  the  grass  here  spoken  of  by  Dr.  Ramsey  was  of 
the  growth  of  the  preceding  year.  It  is  not  probable  that  the  grass,  the 
growth  of  the  year  1754,  so  early  in  the  season,  Imd  grown  gt"  salllcieiit 
'height  to  conceal  a  man. 

if  Ramsey's  Life  of  VVasliington. 

§'J'hcti  called  Pw.'Uliaven. 

11  Fort  Cutnberland  was  buill  in  I  he  yc-iir  1755,  in  tlic  fork  Ihm  w.'fii  Wills 

.rrcek  and  North  hran«:h  nC  ihe  Potomac,  the  remains  ot'  whicli  iire   vet  tc 

he  seen.      Il  is  about  55  miles  north  west  of  Winchester,  cui    tiic   .Mar\- 

Inr.d    side  oi"  the    Potomac.     There  is    now  a  coasicierab!'-    town  at    liii  , 

p!5*'e.     The  {.fjiri-isoti  le!"i  ;!i  it  wns  con.uwaMded  l.y  M.;j.  J,i\  Iiio-ston,    .Mi. 


(do  breaking  out  of 

cumslances  attending  the  unfortunate  defeat  of  i3raddock,  an.d  the  dread- 
ful slaughter  of  his  army  near  Pittsburgh,  are  too  generally  known  to  re- 
quire a  detailed  account  in  this  work:  suffice  it  to  say  that  the  defeat  was 
attended  with  the  most  disastrous  consequences  to  our  country.  The 
whole  western  frontier  was  left  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  forces  of  the 
French  and  Indians  combined. 

After  the  defeat  and  fall  of  Braddock,  Ccl.  Dunbar,  the  next  in  com- 
mand of  the  British  army,  retreated  to  Philadelphia,  and  the  defence  of 
the  country  fell  upon  Washington,  with  the  few  troops  the  colonies  were 
able  to  raise.  The  people  forthwith  erected  stockade  forts  in  every  part 
of  the  valley,  and  took  shelter  in  them.  Many  families  were  driven  off, 
some  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  others  into  Mainland  and  Pennsylvania. 

Immediately  after  the  defeat   of  Braddock,    Washington    retreated   to 
Winchester,  in  the  county  of  Frederick,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1755  built 
Fort  Loudoun.     The  venerable  and  highly  respectable  Levris    Neill,  who 
was  born  on  Opequon,  about  five  miles  east  of  Winchester,  in  1747,  sta- 
ted to  the  author,  that  when  he  was  about    eight  years  of  age,    his  father 
had  business  at  the  fort,  and  that  he  went  with  him  into  it.     Mr.  Thomas 
Barrett,  another  aged  and  respectable    citizen,   states    that  he  has   often 
heard  his  father  say,  that  Fort  Loudoun  was  built  the  same  year  and  imme- 
diately after  Braddock's  defeat.     Our  highly   respectable  and  venerable 
general,  John  Smith,  who  settled  in  Winchester  in  1773,  informed  the  au- 
thor that  he  had  seen  and  conversed  vnth  some  of  Washington's   officers 
soon  after  he  settled  in  Winchester,  and  they  stated  to  him  that  Washing- 
ton marked  out  the  site  of  the  fort,  and  superintended  the    v/ork;  that  he 
bought  a  lot  in  Winchester,  erected  a  smith's  shop  on  it,  and  brought  from 
Mount  Vernon  his  own  blacksmith  to  make  the    necessary  iron    work   ibr 
the  fort.     These  officers  pointed  out  to  Gen.  Smith  the  spot  where   Gen. 
Washington's  huts  or  cabins  were  erected  for  his  residence   wdiile    in  the 
fort.     The  great  highway  leading  from  W^inchester  to    the    north   passes 
through  the  fort  precisely  where  Washington's  quarters  were  erected.      It 
Stands  at  the  noilh  end    of  Loudoun   street,    and  a  considerable    part    of 
the  wtJIs  are  now  remainins:.     It  covered  an   area  of  about  half  an  acre; 
within  which  area,  a  well,  one  hundred  and  three  feet  deep,  chiefly   thro' 
a  solid  limestone  rock,  was  sunk  for  the  convenience  of  the    garrison.* — 
The  labor  of  throwing  up  this  fort  was  performed  by  Washington's   regi- 
ment; so  says  Gen.  Smitli.     It  mounted  six  eighteen  pounders,  six  twelve 
pounders,  six  six-pounders,  four  swivels,  andtvv'o  howitzers,  and  contained 


John  Tomlinson  gave  the  author  this  information.  On  the  ancient  site 
of  the  fort,  there  are  several  dwelling  houses,  and  a  new  brick  Episcopal 
church. 

*The  water  in  this  v^'ell  rises  near  the  surface,  and  in  great  floods  of 
rain  has  been  known  to  overflow  and  discharge  a  considerable  stream  of 
water.  The  site  of  the  fort  is  upon  more  elevated  ground  than  the  hearl 
of  any  sprjiigs  in  its  neighborhood.  Upon  wliat  principle  the  water 
should  here  ri'.:C  above  the  surface  the  aulhoi' cannot  pretend  to  explain. 


INDIAN  INCURSIONS  ,61 

a  strong  garrison.*  No  formidable  attempts  were  ever  made  by  the  en- 
emy against  it.  A  French  officer  once  came  to  reconnoiter,  and  found  it 
too  strong  to  be  attacked  with  any  probability  of  success. f 

For  three  years  after  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  the  French  and  Indians 
combined  carried  on  a  most  destructive  and  cruel  war  upon  the  western 
people.  The  French,  however,  in  about  three  years  after  Braddock's  de- 
feat, abandoned  Fort  Duquesne,  and  it  was  immediately  taken  possession 
of  by  the  British  and  colonial  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Forbes. 
Washington  .soon  after  resigned  the  command  of  the  Virginia  forces,  and 
reti'-ed  to  private  life.  A  predatory  warfare  was  nevertheless  continued 
on  the  people  of  the  valley  by  hostile  Indian  tribes  for  several  years  after 
the  French  had  been  driven  from  their  strong  holds  in  the  west;  the  parti- 
culars of  which  will  form  the  subject  of  my  next  chapter. 


-:o:- 


CHAPTER  ?!I. 


INDIAN  INCURSIONS  AND  MASSACRES. 

After  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  the  whole  western  frontier  was  left  expo- 
sed to  the  incursions  of  the  Indians  and  French.  In  the  sprinn;  of  the  year 
1756,  a  party  of  about  fifty  Indians,  with  a  French  captain  at  their  head, 
crossed  the  Allegany  mountains,  committing  on  the  white  settlers  every 
act  of  barbarous  war.  Capt.  Jeremiah  Smith,  raised  a  party  of  twenty 
brave  men,  marched  to  meet  this  savage  foe,  and  fell  in  with  them  at  the 
head  of  Capon  river,  when  a  fierce  and  bloody  battle  was  fought.  Smith 
killed  the  captain  with  his  own  hand;  five  other  Indians  having  fallen,  and 
a  number  wounded,  they  "^ave  way  and  lied.  Smhh  lost  two  of  his  men. 
On  searching  the  body  of  the  Frenchman,  he  was  found  in  possession  of 
his  commission  and  written  instructions  to  meet  another  party  of  about  fit- 
ly Indians  at  Fort  Fredorick,i:  to  attack  the  fort,  destroy  it,  and  blow  up 
the  magazine. 


*Gen.  John  Smith  stated  this  fact  to  iho  author.  The  cannon  were  re- 
moved from  Winchester  early  iu  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Some  further 
account  of  this  artillery  will  be  given  in  a  future  chapter.  Mr.  Henry 
W.  Baker,  of  Winchester,  gave  the  author  an  account  of  the  number  of 
cannon  mounted  on  the  jbrt. 

fWilliam  L.  Chirk,  Esq.,  is  no^y  the  owner  of  the  hind  indudinL]^  this 
ancient  fortification,  and  has  converted  a  part  of  it  into  a  beautiful  plea- 
sure f]^Rrdpn. 

jFort  Frederick  was  conuiicnccd  in  the  year  1755,  under  the   direction 


'62  a>;b  massacres. 

The  other  party  of  Indians  were  encountei'ed  pretty  hjw  down  the  Nortk 
branch  of  the  Capon  river,  by  Capt,  Joshua  Lewis,  at  the  head  of  eigh- 
teen men;  one  Indian  was  killed  when  the  others  broke  and  ran  off.  Pre- 
\vious  to  the  defeat  of  this  party  they  had  committed  considerable  destru<".^ 
:tion  of  the  property  of  the  white  settlers,  and  took  a  Mrs.  Horner  and  a 
girl  about  thirteen  years  of  age  prisoners.  Mrs.  Horner  was  the  mother 
•  of  seven  or  eight  children;  she  never  got  back  to  her  family.  The  girl, 
whose  name  was  Sarah  Gibbons,  the  sister  of  my  informant,*  was  a  pri« 
soner  about  eight  or  nine  years  before  she  returned  home.  The  intention 
't)f  attackinaf  Fort  Frederick  was  of  course  abandoned. 

Those  Indians  dispersed  into  small  parties,  and  carried  the  work  of 
ideath  and  desolation  into  several  ineighborhoods,  in  the  counties  now 
Berkeley,  Frederick  and  Shenandoah.  Al-?out  eighteen  or  twenty  of  them 
-crossed  the  North  mountain  at  Mills's  gap,  which  is  in  the  county  of 
Berkeley,  killed  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kelly,  and  several  of  his  family, 
within  a  few  steps  of  the  present  dwelling  bouse  of  the  late  Mr.  William 
Wilson,  not  more  than  half  a  mile  from  Gerardstown,  and  from  thence 
passed  on  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  sit/3  of  Martinsburg,  the 
neighboring  people  generally  taking  shelter  in  John  Evans'  fort.f  A 
rsmall  party  of  the  Indians  attacked  the  dwelling  house  of  a  Mr.  Evans, 
brother  to  the  owner  of  the  fort;  but  being  beaten  off,  they  went  in  pur- 
.suit  of  a  reinfi&rcemeirit.  In  their  absence  Mr.  Evans  and  his  family  got 
?iafe  to  the  fort.  The  Indians  returned,  and  set  fire  to  the  house,  the 
ruins  of  which  are  now  to  be  seen  from  the  irreat  road    leadino;  to    Win- 


1'hester,  three  miles  south  of  Martinsburg,  at  the    head  of  v.'hat  is    called 
the  ]3ig  Spring. 

The  same  IndiaiP.s  took  a  female  prisoner  on  the  same  day  at  John 
•'Strode's  house.  A  boy  by  the  name  of  Hackney,  who  was  on  his  way 
'to  the  fort,  saw  her  previously,  and  advised  her  not  to  go  to  the  house, 
saying  that  Strode's  family  were  all  gone  to  the  fort,  and  that  he  suspected 
ihe  Indians  v/ere  then  in  the  house.  She  however  seeing  a  smoke  at  the 
house,  disregarded  the  advice  of  the  little  boy,  w^ent  to  it,  was  seized  by 
the  Indians,  taken  off,  and  was  about  three  years  a   prisoner,    but  finally 

of  Gov.  Sharp,  of  Maryland,  and  was  probably  finished  in  1776.  It  is 
still  standing  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Cohongoruton.  Its  walls  are 
entirely  of  stone,  four  and  a  half  feet  thick  at  the  base,  and  three  at  the 
top;  they  are  at  least  twenty  feet  high,  and  have  undergone  but  little  di- 
lapidation. Dr.  John  Hedges,  and  his  son  Capt.  John  C.  Hedges,  aided 
the  author  in  the  examination  of  this  place,  and  measuring  its  area,  height 
and  thickness  of  the  walls.  Its  location  is  not  more  than  about  twelve 
miles  from  Martinsburg,  in  Virginia,  and  about  the  same  distance  from 
Williamsport,  in  Maryland.  It  encloses  an  area  of  about  one  and  a  half 
acres,  exclusive  of  the  bastions  or  redoubts.  It  is  said  the  erection  of 
this  fort  cost  about  sixty-five  thousand  poimds  sterling. 

*Mr.  Jacob  Gibbons  was  born  10th  Sept.  1745.     »Since  the  author    saw 
him,  he  has  departed  this  life-— an  honest,  good  old  man. 

fEvans'  fort  was  erected  within   about   two   miles  of  'Martin*^.burg,   a 
stockade.     The  land  is  now  owned  bv Fryalt,  Esq* 


T^vDIAN  INCURSIONS  V^Pr 

g-ot  home.  The  bov  went  to  the  fort,  and  told  what  liad  happened;  l)iit 
the  men  had  all  turned  out  to  buryKejly  and  go  inpuisuit  of  Uie  Indians, 
leaving-  nobody  to  defend  the  fort  but  the  women  and  chikhcii.  ?\h\s.  E- 
vans  armed  herself,  and  called  on  all  the  women,  who  had  firmness  e- 
nouo-h  to  arm,  to  join  her,  and  such  as  were  too  timed  she  ordered  to  run 
bullets.  She  then  made  a  boy  beat  to  arms  on  a  drum;  on  hearing  which, 
the  Indians  became  alarmed,  set  hre  to  Strode's  house,*  and  moved  off. 
They  discovered  the  party  of  white  men  just  mentioned,  and  fired  upon 
them,  but  did  no  injury.  The  latter  finding  the  Indians  too  strong  for 
them,  retreated  into  the  fort.f 

From  thence  the  Indians  passed  on  to  Opequon,  and  the  next  morning- 
attacked  Neally's  fort,  massacred  most  of  the  people,  and  took  oh"  seve- 
ral prisoners;  among  them  George  Stockton  and  Isabella  his  sister. — 
Charles  Porterfield,  a  youth  about  20  years  of  age,  heard  the  firing  from 
his  father's  residence,  about  one  mile  from  the  fort,  anned  himself  and 
set  off  with  all  speed  to  the  fort,  but  on  his  way  was  killed. if 

Among  the  prisoners  were  a  man  by  the  name  of  Cohoon,  his  wife,  and 
some  of  his  children.  Mrs.  Cohoon  was  in  a  state  of  pregnancy,  and  not 
being  able  to  travel  fast  enough  to  please  her  savage  captors,  they  forced 
her  husband  forward,  while  crossing  the  North  mountain,  and  cruelly 
murdered  her:  her  husband  distantly  heard  her  screams.  Cohoon,  how- 
ever, that  night  made  his  escape,  and  got  safely  back  to  his  friends. — 
George  Stockton  and  his  sister  Isabella,  who  were  also  among  the  priso- 
ners, were  taken  to  the  Indian  towns.  Isabella  was  eight  or  nine  years 
of  age,  and  her  story  is  as  remarkcible  as  it  is  interesting.  She  was  de- 
tained and  grew  up  among  the  savages.  Being  a  beautiful  and  interesting 
girl,  they  sold  her  to  a  Canadian  in  Canada,  where  a  young  Frenchman, 
named  Plata,  soon  became  acquainted  with  her,  and  made  her  a  tender  ot" 
his  hand  in  matrimony. §  This  she  declined  unless  her  parents'  consent 
could  be  obtained, — a  strong  proof  of  her  filial  affection  and  good  sense. 
The  Frenchman  immediateh  proposed  to  conduct  her  home,  readily  be- 
lieving that  his  generous  devotion  and  great  attention  to  the  daughter 
would  lay  the  parents  under  such  high  obligations  to  him,  that  they  would 
willingly  consent  to  the  union.  But  such  were  the  strong  prejudices  ex- 
isting at  the  time  against  everything  French,  that  her  parents  and  friends 
peremptorily  objected.  The  Frenchman  then  prevailed  on  Isabella  to 
elope  with  him;  to  effect  which  they  secured  \\yo  of  her    father's    horses 

*The  present  residence  of  the  widow  Showalter,  three  miles  from  Mar- 
ti nsbtirg. 

fMr.  Joseph  Hackney,  Frederick  county,  stated  these  facts  to  the  au- 
thor. The  little  boy,  mentioned  above,  grew  up,  married,  was  a  Quaker 
by  profession,  and  the  father  of  my  informant. 

ifGeorge  Porterfield,  Esq.  now  residing  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  is  a 
brollier  to  the  youth  who  was  killed,  and  stated  to  the  author  the  particu- 
lars of.  this  unhappy  occurrence.  Capt.  Glenn  also  stated  several  of  the 
circumstances  to  the  author. 

§Mr.  Majers,  of  lierktley  county,  gave  the  author  the  u:\n\v  of  this 
young  Frenchman. 


(J4  AND  xMASSACRES. 

ajid  pushed  (jff.  Tliey  were,  Ijowever,  pursued  by  two  of  her  brothers, 
overtaken,  at  Hunterstown,  Pennsylvania,  and  Isabella  forcibly  torn  from 
her  protector  and  devoted  lover,  and  brought  back  to  her  parents,  while 
the  poor  Frenchman  was  warned  that  if  he  ever  made  any  farther  attempt 
to  take  her  oiT,  his  life  should  pay  the  forfeit.  This  story  is  familiar  to- 
several  aged  and  respectable  individuals  in  the  neighborhood  of  Martins- 
burg.  Isabella  afterwards  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Mc Clary,  re- 
moved and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Morgantown,  and  grew  wealthy. 
George,  after  an  absence  of  three  years,  got  home  also. 

A  party  of  fourteen  Indians,  believed  to  be  part  of  those  defeated  by 
Capt.  Smith,  on  their  return  to  the  west  killed  a  young  woman,  and  took 
a  Mrs.  Neff  prisoner.  This  was  on  the  South  fork  of  the  river  Wappato- 
maka.  They  cut  off  Mrs.  Neff's  petticoat  up  to  her  knees,  and  gave  her 
a  pair  of  moccasins  to  vrear  on  her  feet.  This  was  done  to  facilitate  her 
travelling;  but  they  proceeded  no  fu.'therthan  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Plea- 
sant,* where,  on  the  second  night,  they  left  Mrs.  Neff  in  the  custody  of  an 
old  Indian,  and  divided  themselves  into  two  parties,  in  order  to  watch  the 
fort.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  night,  Mrs.  Neff  discovering  that  her  guaid 
was  pretty  soundly  asleep,  ran  off.  The  old  fellow  very  soon  awoke,  fi- 
red off  his  gun,  and  raised  a  yell.  Mrs.  N.  ran  between  the  two  parties 
of  Indians,  got  safe  into  Fort  Pleasant,  and  gave  notice  where  the  Indians 
were  encamped.  A  small  party  of  men,  the  same  evening  came  from 
another  small  fort  a  fevv' miles  above,  and  joined  their  friends  in  Fort 
Pleasant.  The  Indians,  after  the  escape  of  Mrs.  Neff,  had  collected  into- 
one  body  in  a  deep  glen,  near  the  fort.  Early  the  next  morning,  sixteen 
men,  well  mounted  and  armed, left  the  fort  with  a  view  to  attack  the  Indians. 
They  soon  discovered  their  encampment.  The  whites  divided  them- 
selves into  two  parties,  intending  to  inclose  the  Indians  between  two  fires; 
but  unfortunately  a  small  dog  which  had  followed  them,  starting  a  rabbit, 
his  yelling  alarmed  the  Indians;  upon  which  they  cautiously  moved  ofi^, 
passed  between  the  two  parties  of  white  men  unobserved,  took  a  position 
between  them  and  their  horses,  and  opened  a  most  destructive  fire.  The 
w*hites  returned  the  fi.re  with  great  firm.ness  and  bravery,  and  a  desperate 
and  blood)'  conflict  ensued.  Seven  of  the  vdiites  fell  dead,  and  four  were 
wounded.  The  little  remnant  retreated  to  the  fort,  w^hither  the  vvounded 
also  arrived.  Three  Indians  fell  in  this  battle,  and  several  were  wounded. 
The  victors  secured  the  white  men's  horses,  and  took  them  off.f 

Just  before  the  above  action  commenced,  Mr.  Vanraeter,  an  old  man, 
mounted  his  horse,  rode  upon  a  high  ridge,  and  witnessed  the  battle.    Ke 

*Fort  Pleasant  was  a  strong  stockade  with  block  houses,  erected  on  the 
lands  now  ov/ned  by  Isaac  Vanmeler,  Esq.  on  the  South  Branch  of  Poto- 
mac, a  short  distance  above  what  is  called  the  Trough. 

fThis  battle,  is  called  the  "Battle  of  The  Trough."  Messrs.  Yanme- 
ter,  McNeill  and  Heath,  detailed  the  particulars  to  the  author.  A  block 
house,  with  port  holes,  is  now^  standing  in  Mr.  D.  McNeill's  yard, — part 
of  an  old  fort  erected  at  the  time  of  Braddcck's  Vwir,  the  logs  of  which 
are  principallv  somid. 


INDIAN  INCURSIONS,  ETC.  65 


returned  with  all  .speed  to  the  fort,  and   gave  notice  of  the    defeat.     Tlie 
old  man  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in   1757. 

After  committing  to  writing  the  foregoing  account,  the  author  received 
from  his  friend  Dr.  Charles  A.  Turley,  of  Fort  Pleasant,  a  more  particu- 
lar narrative  of  the  battle,  which  the  author  will  subjoin,  in  the  doctor's 
own  words: 

"The  memorable  battle  of  The  Trough  (says  Dr.  Turley)  was  preceded 
by  the  following  circumstances.  On  the  day  previous,  two  Indian  stroll- 
ers, from  a  large  party  of  sixty  or  seventy  warriors,  under  the  well  known 
and  ferocious  chief  Kill-buck,  made  an  attack  upon  the  dwelling  of  a 
Mrs.  Brake,  on  the  South  fork  of  the  South  branch  of  the  Potomac,  about 
fifteen  miles  above  Moorefield,  and  took  Mrs.  Brake  and  a  Mrs.  NefF  pri- 
soners. The  former  not  being  able  to  travel  from  her  situation,  w^as  tom- 
ahaw^ked  and  scalped,  and  the  latter  brought  down  to  the  vicinity  of  Town 
fort,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  below  Mooreiield.  There  one  of  the  In- 
dians, under  the  pretence  of  hunting,  retired,  and  the  other  laid  himself 
dow^n  and  pretended  to  fall  asleep,  wdth  a  view,  as  was  believed,  to  let 
Mrs.  Neff  escape  to  the  fort,  and  give  the  alarm.  Every  thing  turned  out 
agreeably  to  their  expectations;  for  as  soon  as  she  reached  the  fort,  and 
related  the  circum.stances  of  her  escape,  18  men  from  that  and  Buttermilk 
fort,  five  miles  above,  w^ent  in  pursuit.  They  were  men  notorious  for 
their  valor,  and  who  had  been  well  tried  on  many  such  occasions. 

"As  soon  as  they  came  to  the  place  indicated  by  Mrs.  Neif,  they  found 
a  plain  trace  left  by  the  Indian,  by  occasionally  breaking  a  bush.  Mr. 
John  Harness,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  manners  and  mode  of 
warfare  of  the  Indians,  pronounced  that  the  hunter  Indian  had  not  return- 
ed to  his  comrade,  or  that  they  were  in  great  force  somewhere  near  and  in 
ambush.  They  however  pursued  the  trace,  without  discovering  any  signs 
of  a  larger  party,  until  they  arrived  between  two  mountains,  forming  what 
from  its  resemblance  is  called  The  Trough.  Here,  directly  above  a  fine 
spring  about  200  paces  from  the  river,  Avhich  at  that  time  was  filled  to  an 
impassable  stage  by  a  heavy  fall  of  rain,  these  grim  monsters  of  blood  were 
encamped,  to  the  number  above  stated.  The  western  face  of  the  ridge 
was  very  precipitous  and  rough,  and  on  the  north  oC  the  spring  was  a 
deep  ravine,  cutting  directly  up  into  the  ridge  above.  Our  little  band  of 
heroes,  nothing  daunted  by  the  superior  number  of  the  enemy,  dismount- 
ed unobserved,  and  prepared  for  battle,  leaving  their  horses  on  the  ridge. 
But  by  one  of  those  unforeseen  and  almost  unaccountable  accidents  which 
often  thwart  the  seemingly  best  planned  enterprises,  a  small  dog  which 
had  followed  them  just  at  this  juncture  started  a  rabbit,  and  went  yelping 
down  the  ridge,  giving  the  Indians  timely  notice  of  their  approacli.  1  hey 
immediately  flew  to  arms,  and  filing  off  up  the  ravine  before  described, 
passed  directly  into  the  rear  of  our  little  band,  placing  theni  in  the  very 
situation  they  had  hoped  to  find  their  enemies,  between  the  mountain  and 
the  swollen  river.  Now  rarne  the  "tug  of  war,"  and  both  parties  rushed 
to  the  onset,  dealing  death  and  slaughter  at  every  fire.  After  an  hour  or 
two  hard  fif{htin'T^,  durinr^^  wliich  each  of  our  little  band  had  numbered  his 
man,  and  more  tlian  half  their  number  had  fallen   to  rise  no    more,    iho.-^e 

J 


§6  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

^hat  remained  were  compelled  to  retreat,  which  could  only  be  effected  by 
swimrainii"  the  river.  Some  who  had  been  wounded,  not  beinp'  able  to- 
do  this,  determined  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible;  and  delibe- 
rately loading-  their  rifles,  and  placing  themselves  behind  some  cover  on 
the  river  bank,  dealt  certain  death  to  the  first  adversary  who  made  his  ap- 
pearance, and  then  calmly  yielded  to  the  tomahawk. 

"We  cannot  here  pass  over  without  mentioning  one  of  the  many  des- 
potic acts  exercised  by  the  then  colonial  government  and  its  officers  to- 
wards the  unoffending  colonists.  At  the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking,, 
there  were  quartered  in  Fort  Pleasant,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  above 
the  battle  ground,  and  within  hearing  of  every  gun,  a  company  of  regu- 
lars, commanded  by  a  British  officer  named  Wagner,  who  not  only  refused 
to  march  a  man  out  of  the  fort,  but,  when  the  inhabitants  seized  their  ri- 
fles and  determined  to  rush  to  the  aid  of  their  brothers,  ordered  the  gates 
to  be  closed,  and  suffered  none  to  pass  in  or  out.  By  marching  to  the 
western  bank  of  the  river,  he  might  have  effectually  protected  those  who 
were  wounded,  without  any  danger  of  an  attack  from  the  enemy.  And 
when  the  few  v/ho  had  escaped  the  slaughter,  hailed  and  demanded  ad- 
mission into  the  fort,  it  w^as  denied  them.  For  this  act  of  Capt.  W^ag- 
ner's  the  survivors  of  our  Spartan  band  called  him  a  coward;  lor  which 
insult  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  hunt  them  down  like  wolves,  and  when 
caught,  to  inflict  corporal  punishment  by  stripes. 

"The  Indian  chief,  Kill-buck,  afterwards  admitted,  that  although  he 
had  witnessed  many  sanguinary  contests,  this  vras  the  most  so  that  he 
had  ever  experienced  for  the  number  of  his  enemies.  Kill-buck  was  a 
Shawnee,  a  savage  of  strong  mental  powers,  and  well  acquainted  with  all 
the  families  in  the  settlement  before  the  w^ar  broke  out.  Col.  Vincent 
Williams,  whose  father  w-as  inhumanly  murdered  by  Kill-buck  and  his 
party  on  Patterson's  creek,  became  personally  acquainted  with  him  many 
years  afterwards,  and  took  the  trouble,  when  once  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  to 
visit  him.  He  w'as  far  advanced  in  years,  and  had  become  blind.  The 
€olonel  informed  me  that  as  soon  as  he  told  Kill-buck  his  name,  the  only 
vinswer  he  made  was,  "Your  father  was  a  brave  warrior."  The  half  bro- 
ther of  CoL  W^iiliams,  Mr.  Benjamin  Casey,  was  with  him.  Mr.  Peter 
Casey  had  once  hired  Kill-buck  to  catch  and  bring  home  a  run aw^ ay  negro, 
and  was  to  have  given  him  fourteen  shillings.  He  paid  him  six  shillings, 
and  the  war  breaking  out,  he  never  paid  him  the  other  eight.  At  the  vi- 
vist  spoken  of.  Kill-buck  inquired  the  name  of  his  other  visitor,  and  when 
the  colonel  told  him  it  w^as  Benjamin  Casey, — 'W'hat,  Peter  Casey's  son?' 
"Yes."  "Your  father  owes  me  eight  shillings;  w^ill  you  pay  it?"  said  the 
old  chief.  The  colonel  at  that  time  got  all  the  particulars  of  the  tragical 
death  of  his  father,  as  well  as  the  great  heroism  manifested  by  our  little 
band  at  the  battle  of  The  Trough." 

Dr.  Turley  refers  in  the  foregoing  narrative  to  the  murder  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, on  Patterson's  creek.  This  melancholy  tragedy  the  author  is  ena- 
bled to  give,  as  it  w^as  related  to  him  by  Mr.  James  S.    Miles,  of  Hardy. 

Mr.  W^iiliams  lived  on  Patterson's  creek,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson,  Mr.  James  W^illiams.  Hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  In- 
dians, he  repaired  with  his  neighbors  to  Fort  Pleasant  (nine  miles)  for  se- 


AND  MASSACRES.  6T 

curity.  After  rt'iiraiiiiiig-  here  a  few  dciys.  .supposing  their  houses  might 
be  revisited  with  safety,  Mr.  VV.  with  seven  others  crossed  the  mountain 
tor  that  purpose.  They  separated  on  reaching  the  creek;  and  Mi\  W. 
went  alone  to  his  farm.  Having  tied  his  horse  to  a  bush,  he  commenced 
•salting  his  cattle,  when  seven  Indians  (as  was  afterwards  said  by  Kill- 
buck)  got  between  him  and  his  horse,  and  demanded  his  surrender.  Mr. 
W.  answered  by  a  ball  from  his  rifle,  which  killed  one  of  the  Indians,then 
retreated  to  his  house,  barricaded  the  door,  and  put  his  enemy  at  defiance. 
They  fired  at  him  at  random  through  the  door  and  windows,  until  the  lat- 
ter were  filled  with  shot-holes.  For  greater  security,  Mr.  \V.  got  behind 
a  hommony  block  in  a  corner,  from  which  he  v/ould  fire  at  his  assailants 
through  the  cracks  of  the  building,  as  opportunity  offered.  In  this  way 
he  killed  five  out  of  the  seven.  The  remaining  two,  resolved  not  to  give  up 
their  prey,  found  it  necessary  to  proceed  more  cautiously;  and  going  to  the 
least  exposed  side  of  the  house,  one  was  raised  upon  the  shoulders  of  the 
other  to  an  opening  in  the  logs  som.e  distance  above  the  level  of  Mr.  W., 
who  did  not,  consequently,  observe  the  manoeuvre,  from  which  he  fired, 
and  shot  Mr,  W.  dead.  The  body  was  instantly  quartered,  and  hung  to 
the  four  corners  of  the  building,  and  the  head  stuck  upon  a  fence  stake  in 
front  of  the  door.  This  brave  man  was  the  father  of  the  venerable  Ed- 
ward Williams,  the  clerk  of  Hardy  county  court  until  the  election  in  1830 
under  the  new  constitution,  when  his  advanced  a^^e  compelled  him  to  de- 
cline  being  a  candidate. 

Sometime  after  the  battle  of  The  Trough,  at  a  fi)rt  seven  miles  above 
Ptomney,  two  Indian  boys  made  their  appearance,  when  some  of  the  men 
went  out  with  the  intention  of  taking  them.  A  grown  Indian  made  hvi 
appearance;  but  he  was  instantly  shot  down  by  Shadrach  Wright.  A  nu- 
merous party  then  showed  themselves,  which  the  garrison  sallied  out  and 
attacked;  but  they  were  defeated  with  the  loss  of  sevenirl  of  their  meii, 
and  compelled  to  retreat  to  the  fort.* 

Kill-buck,  the  chief  before  mentioned,  used  frequently  to  command 
these  marauding  parties.  Previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he 
was  well  acquainted  with  many  of  the  white  settlers  on  Wappatomaka, 
and  lived  a  good  part  of  his  time  among  them.  His  intimate  acquain- 
ta!ice  with  the  country  enal'jled  him  to  lead  his  band  of  murderers  from 
place  to  place,  and  to  commit  many  outrages  on  the  persons  and  property 
of  the  white  inhabitants.  In  the  progress  ol"  this  work,  some  fiu'tlier  no- 
tice will  be  taken  of  this  distinguished  warrior.  There  was  another  great 
Indian  warrior  called  "Crane;"  but  the  author  has  not  been  able  to  collect 
any  particular  traditionary  accounts  of  the  feats  performed  by  him. 

In  the  year  1757,  a  numerous  body  of  Indians  crossed  the  Allegany, 
and,  as  usual,  divided  themselves  uito  small  pailies,  and  hovering  about 
the  diniereiit  forts,  committed  many  acts  ol"  murder  and  destruction  of  pro- 
])erty.     About  thirty  or  forty  approached  Edward's  fort,]-  on  Capon  river, 


*Mr;  James  Parsons,  near  Ptomney,  Hampshire  counly,  gave  the  iuuhor 
this  information. 

jF^dward's  fort  was  local ed  rui  the  west  ^ide  of  r'.ipon  rixcr,  not  nior'^ 
than  three  quarters  of  a  mile  above  where  tlie  stage  road  fioin    Wincliesler 


68  INDIAN   INCURSIONS 

killed  two  men  at  a  simall  mill,  took  off  a  parcel  of  corn  meal,  and  re- 
treating  along  a  path  that  led  between  a  stream  ol"  water  and  a  steep  high 
mountain,  they  strewed  the  meal  in  several  places  on  their  route.  Im- 
mediately between  this  path  and  the  stream  is  an  abrupt  bank,  seven  or 
eight  feet  high,  and  of  considerable  length,  under  v/hich  the  Indians  con- 
cealed themselves,  and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  garrison.  Forty  men 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Mercer,  sallied  out,  with  the  intention  of 
pursuing  and  attacking  the  enemy.  But  oh!  fatal  day!  Mercer's  party, 
discovering  the  trail  of  meal,  supposed  the  Indians  were  making  a  speedy 
retreat,  and,  unapprised  of  their  strength,  moved  on  at  a  brisk  step,  until 
the  whole  line  was  drawn  immediately  over  the  line  of  Indians  under  the 
bank,  when  the  latter  discharged  a  most  destructive  lire  upon  them,  six- 
teen falling  dead  at  the  first  fire.  The  others  attempting  to  save  them- 
selves by  flight,  were  pursued  and  slaughtered  in  every  direction,  until, 
out  of  the  forty,  but  six  got  back  to  the  fort.  One  poor  fellow,  who  ran 
up  the  side  of  the  mountain,  was  fired  at  by  an  Indian:  the  ball  penetra- 
ted just  above  his  heel,  ranged  up  his  leg,  shivei'ing  the  bones,  and  lodg- 
ed a  little  below  his  knee:  he  slipped  under  the  lap  of  a  fallen  tree,  there 
hid  himself,and  lay  in  that  deplorable  situation  for  two  days  and  nights  before 
he  was  found  by  his  friends,  it  being  that  length  of  time  before  the  people 
at  the  fort  would  venture  out  to  collect  and  bury  the  dead.  This  wounded 
man  recovered,  and  lived  many  years  after,  though  he  was  always  a  crip- 
ple from  his  wound.  Capt.  George  Siaith,  who  now  resides  on  Back 
creek,  hiformed  the  author  that  he  was  well  acquainted  with  him. 

Sometime  afterwards,  the  Indians,  in  much  greater  force,  and  aided,  it 
was  believed,  bv  several  Frenchmen  in  person,  determined  to  carry  this 
fort  by  storm.  The  garrison  had  been  considerably  reinforced;  among  oth- 
ers, by  the  late  Gen.  Daniel  IMorgan,  then  a  young  man.  The  Indians 
made  the  assault  with  great  boldness;  but  on  this  occasion  they  met  with 
a  sad  reverse  of  fortune.  The  garrison  sallied  out,  and  a  desperate  battle 
ensued.  The  assailants  were  defeated  vrith  gre&t  slaughter,  while  the 
whites  lost  comparatively  but  few  men. 

The  remains  of  a  gun  of  high  finish,  ornamented  with  silver  mounting 
and  gold  touch-hole,  ^vere  plowed  up  near  the  battle  ground  about  forty 
years  ago.  It  was  supposed  to  have  belonged  to  a  French  officer.  Part 
of  a  bomb  shell  was  also  found.  Morgan  in  this  action  performed  his 
part  with  his  usual  intrepidity,  caution  and  firmness,  and  doubtless  did 
much  execution.* 

Other  parties  of  Indians  penetrated  into  the  neighborhood  of  Winches- 
ter, and  killed  several  people  about  the  Round  hill;  among  others  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Flaugherty,  Avith  his  wafe.     Several  inmates   of  a  family   by 


to  Romney  crosses  the  river. 

*Mr.  William  Carlile,  now  ninety-five  years  of  age,  and  who  resides 
near  the  battle  oTound,  informed  the  author  that  he  removed  and  settled  on 
('apon  soon  after  the  battle  was  fought.  He  also  stated  that  he  had  fre- 
quently heard  it  asserted  that  Mor.^an  was  in  the  battle,  and  acted  with 
frreai  bra^rrs-,  8:c.  Mr.  Charles  Carlile,  son  of  this  venerable  man.  sta- 
ted die  i\]r\  n(  the  gun  and  part  of  a  Ijomb  shclt  being  found. 


AND  MASSACRES.  69 

the  name  of  M'Crackan,  on  Back  creek,  about  twelve  miles  from  Win- 
chester, were  killed,  and  two  of  the  daughters  taken  off  as  prisoners. — 
They,  however,  got  back,  after  an  absence  of  three  or  four  years,  Mr 
Lewis  Neill  informed  the  author  that  he  saw  and  conversed  with  these 
women  on  the  subject  of  their  captivity  after  their  return  home.  Jacob 
Havely  and  several  of  his  family  were  killed  near  the  present  residence  of 
Moses  Russell,  Esq.  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  North  mountain,  fifteen  or 
sixteen  miles  south  west  of  Winchester.  Dispennet,  and  several  of  his 
family,  and  Vance  and  his  wife,*^  were  also  severally  killed  by  the  same 
party  of  Indians,  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

The  late  respectable  and  intelligent  Mrs.  Rebecca  Brinker,  who  was 
born  25th  March,  1745,  and  who  oi^  course  ^vas  upwards  of  ten  years  old 
w^hen  Braddock  was  defeated,  related  many  interesting  occurrences  to  the 
author  ;  among  others,  that  a  family  of  eighteen  persons,  by  the  name  of 
NichoUs,  who  resided  at  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Stone,  a  little  west 
of  Maj.  Isaac  Kite's,  were  attacked,  the  greater  number  killed,  and  seve- 
ral taken  off  as  prisoners:  one  old  woman  and  her  grandchild  made  their 
escape  to  a  fort,  a  short  distance  from  Middletov/n.  This  took  place  a- 
bout  1756  or  1757,  and  it  is  probable  by  the  same  party  who  killed  Have- 
Jy  and  others. 

In  the  year  1758,  a  party  of  about  fifty  Indians  and  four  Frenchmen 
penetrated  into  the  neighborhood  of  Mill  creek,  now  in  the  county  of  She- 
nandoah, about  9  miles  south  of  Woodstock.  This  was  a  pretty  thickly 
settled  neighborhood;  and  among  other  houses,  George  Painter  had  erec- 
ted a  large  log  one,  with  a  good  sized  cellar.  On  the  alarm' being  given, 
the  neighboring  people  took  refuge  in  this  house.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
they  were  attacked.  Mr.  Painter,  attempting  to  fly,  had  three  balls  shot 
through  his  body,  and  fell  dead,  when  the  others  surrendered.  The  In- 
dians dragged  the  dead  body  back  to  the  house,  threw  it  in,  plundered  the 
house  of  what  they  chose,  and  then  set  lire  to  it.  While  the  house  was 
in  flames,  consuming  the  body  of  Mr.  Painter,  they  forced  from  the  arms 
of  their  mothers  four  infant  children,  hung  them  up  in  trees,  shot  them  in 
savage  sport,  and  left  them  hanging.  They  then  set  fire  to  a  stable  in 
which  w^ere  enclosed  a  parcel  of  sheep  and  calves,  thus  cruelly  and  wan- 
tonly torturing  to  death  the  inoffensive  dumb  animals.  After  these  atro- 
cities they  moved  off"  with  forty-eight  prisoners:  among  whom  were  Mrs. 
Painter,  five  of  her  daughters,  and  one  of  her  sons;  a  Mrs.  Smith  and 
several  of  her  children;  a  Mr.  Fisher  and  several  of  his  children,  among 
them  a  lad  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old,  a  fine  well  grown  boy,  and  re- 
markably fleshy.  This  little  fellow,  it  will  presently  be  seen,  was  destin- 
ed to  be  the  victim  of  savage  cruelty. 

Two  of  Painter's  sons,  and  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Jacob   Myers 

*Moses  Russell,  Esq.  is  under  the  impression  that  these  people  were 
killed  in  the  summer  or  fall  of  the  year  175G.  The  author  finds  it  im- 
possible to  fix  the  dates  of  the  various  acts  of  war  committed  by  the  sava- 
j::^es.  After  the  most  diligent  inquiry,  he  has  not  been  able  to  find  any  per- 
son who  committed  to  writing  anything  upon  the  subject  at  the  time  the 
several  occurrences  took  place. 


70  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

escaped  being  c;iptured  by  concealinent.  One  of  the  Painlers,  with  My- 
ers, ran  over  that  night  to  Powell's  fort,  a  distance  of  at  least  fifteen  miles, 
and  to  Keller's  fort,  in  quest  of  aid.  They  had  neither  hat  nor  shoes, 
nor  any  other  clothing  than  a  shirt  and  trowsers  each.  A  small  party  of 
men  set  out  early  the  next  morning,  well  mounted  and  armed,  to  avenge 
the  outrage.  They  reached  Mr.  Painter's  early  in  the  day;  but  on  learn- 
ing their  strength,  (from  the  other  young  Painter,  who  had  remained  con- 
cealed all  that  evening  and  night,  and  by  that  means  was  enabled  to  count 
the  number  of  the  enemy,)  they  declined  pursuit,  being  too  weak  in  num- 
bers to  venture  further.  Thus  this  savage  band  got  off  with  their  prison- 
ers and  booty,  without  pursuit  or  interruption. 

After  six  days'  travel  they  reached  their  villages  west  of  the  Allegany 
mountains,  where  they  held  a  council,  and  determined  to  sacrifice  their 
helpless  prisoner  Jacob  Fisher.  They  first  ordered  him  to  collect  a  quan- 
tity of  dry  wood.  The  poor  Uttle  fellow  shuddered,  burst  into  tears,  and 
told  his  father  they  intended  to  burn  him.  His  father  repUed,  "I  hope 
not;"  and  advised  him  to  obey.  When  he  had  collected  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity of  wood  to  answer  their  purpose,  they  cleared  and  smoothed  a  ring  a- 
round  a  sapling,  to  which  they  tied  him  by  one  hand,  then  formed  a  trail 
of  wood  around  the  tree  and  set  it  on  fire.  The  poor  boy  was  then  com- 
pelled to  run  round  in  this  ring  of  fire  until  his  rope  wound  him  up  to  the 
sapling,  and  then  back  until  he  came  in  contact  with  the  flame,  whilst  his 
infernal  tormentors  were  drinkini^:,  sin":inof  and  dancino;  around  him,  with 
^'horrid  joy."  This  was  continued  for  several  hours;  during  which  time 
the  savage  men  became  beastly  drunk,  and  as  they  fell  prostrate  to  the 
ground,  the  squaws  would  keep  up  the  fire.  With  long  sharp  poles,  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose,  they  would  pierce  the  body  of  their  victim  whenev- 
er he  flagged,  until  the  poor  and  helpless  boy  fell  and  expired  with  the 
most  excruciating  torments,  whilst  his  father  and  brothers  were  compelled 
to  be  Avitnesses  of  the  heart-rending  tragedy. 

After  an  absence  of  about  three  years,  Mrs.  Painter,  with  her  son  and 
two  of  her  daughters;  Mrs.  Smith,  who  had  the  honor,  if  it  could  be  so 
deemed,  of  presenting  her  husband  with  an  Indian  son,*  by  a  distinguish- 
ed war  chief;  Fisher  and  his  remaining  sons;  and  several  other  prisoners, 
returned  home.  Three  of  Mrs.  Painter's  daughters  remained  with  the  In- 
dians. Mary,  the  youngest,  was  about  nine  years  old  v>'hen  taken,  and 
was  «nghteen  years  a  prisoner:  two  of  the  daughters  never  returned.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Michael  Copple,  who  had  himself  been  a  prisoner  a- 
bout  two  years  with  tlie  Indians,  had  learned  their  lanf^uacfe,  become  an 
Indian  trader,  and  traveled  much  among  them,  at  length  found  Mary 
Painter  with  a  wandering  party  of  Cherokees.  In  conversing  with  her, 
he  discovered  Avho  she  was — that  he  was  acquainted  with  her  family  con- 
nections, and  proposed  to  her  to  accompany  him  home,  to  which  she    re- 


*Smith  received  his  wife,  and  never  maltreated  her  on  this  account;  but 
he  had  a  most  bitter  aversion  to  the  young  chief.  The  boy  grew  up  to 
manhood,  and  exhibited  the  appearance  and  disposition  of  his  sire.  At- 
tempts were  made  to  educate  him,  but  without  success.  He  enlisted  in- 
to the  army  of  the  revolution  as  a  common  soldier,  and  never  returned. 


ANXy  MASSACRES.  71 

fused  her  assent.  He  then  said  that  her  brothers  had  removed  to  Point 
Pleasant,  and  were  desirous  of  seeing  her;  upon  which  she  consented  to 
accompany  him  that  far  to  see  her  brothers;  but  finding,  on  arriving  at  the 
Point,  that  he  had  deceived  her,  she  manifested  much  dissatisfaction,  and 
attempted  to  go  back  to  the  Indians.  Copple,  however,  after  much  en- 
treaty, and  promising  to  make  her  his  wife,  prevailed  upon  her  to  return 
home.  He  performed  his  promise  of  marriage,  lived  several  years  on 
Painter's  land,  and  raised  a  family  of  children.  Mary  had  lost  her  moth- 
er tung,  learned  a  little  English  afterwards,  but  always  conversed  with 
her  husband  in  the  Indian  language.*     They  finally  removed  to  the  w^est. 

The  garrison  at  Fort  Cumberland  w^as  frequently  annoyed  by  the  Indi- 
ans. There  are  two  high  knobs  of  the  mountain,  one  on  the  Virginia  side 
of  the  Cohongoruton  on  the  South,  the  other  on  the  Maryland  side  on  the 
north  east  within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort.  The  Indians  frequently 
took  possession  of  these  bights,  and  fired  into  the  fort.  Although  they 
seldom  did  any  injury  in  this  way,  yet  it  was  disagreeable  and  attended 
w^ith  some  danger.  On  a  particular  occasion  a  large  party  of  Indians  had 
taken  possession  of  the  knob  on  the  Maryland  side,  and  fired  into  the  fort. 
A  captain  (the  author  regrets  that  he  was  not  able  to  learn  his  name)  and 
seventy-five  brave  fellow^s  on  a  very  dark  night,  volunteered  to  dislodge 
the  enemy.  They  sallied  out  from  the  fort,  surrounded  the  knob,  and 
cautiously  ascending  until  they  were  within  reach  of  the  foe,  w^aited  for 
daybreak  to  make  the  attack.  Light  appearing,  they  opened  a  tremen- 
dous fire,  wdiich  threw"  the  Indians  into  utter  confusion,  rendering  them 
powerless  for  defence,  while  the  whites  continued  from  all  sides  to  pour 
in  volley  after  volley,  spreading  death  and  carnage.  But  few  of  the  In- 
dians escaped.  The  knob  is  called  "Bloody  Hill"  to  this  day.  This  tra- 
dition the  author  received  from  several  individuals  in  Cumberland:  indeed, 
the  story  appears  to  be  familiar  with  every  aged  individual  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

Shortly  after  this  occurrence.  Kill-buck  attempted  to  take  Fort  Cum- 
berland by  stratagem.  He  approached  it  at  the  head  of  a  large  force  of 
warriors;  and  under  the  guise  of  friendship,  pretending  to  wish  an  ami- 
cable intercourse  with  the  garrison,  proposed  to  Maj.  Livingston  to  admit 
himself  and  warriors.  Some  hints  having  been  given  to  the  commander 
to  be  upon  his  guard,  Livingston  seemingly  consented  to  the  proposal; 
but  no  sooner  had  Kill-buck  and  his  chief  officers  entered  than  the  gates 
were  closed  upon  them.  The  wiley  chief  being  thus  entrapped,  was 
roundly  charged  with  his  intended  treachery,  of  which  the  circumstances 
were  too  self  evident  to  be  denied.  Livingston,  however,  inflicted  no 
other  punisnment  upon  his  captives  than  a  mark  of  humiliating  disgrace, 

*The  author  deems  a  particular  history  of  this  woman  necessary,  be- 
cause it  is  one  among  many  Instances  of  young  white  chiklren,  when  ta- 
ken prisoners,  becoming  attached  to  a  savage  life,  and  leaving  it  with  great 
reluctance.  Mr.  George  Painter,  an  aged  and  respectable  citizen  of 
Shenandoah  county,  who  resides  on  the  spot  where  this  ))loody  tragedy 
was  acted,  and  is  a  grandson  of  the  man  who  was  murdered  and  burni, 
detailed  these  particulars  to  tlie  author. 


72  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

wliich  to  an  Indian  warrior  was  more  mortifying  than  death.  This  stig- 
ma was,  it  is  supposed,  dressing  them  in  petticoats,  and  driving  them 
out  of  the  fort.* 

It  has  ah'eady  been  stated,  that,  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.  Kill-buck  lived  a  good  part  of  his  time  among  the  white  settlers  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Pleasant.  An  Irish  servant,  belonging  to  Peter 
Casey,  absconded,  and  Casey  offered  a  pistolef  reward  for  his  recovery. 
Kill-buck  apprehended  the  servant,  and  delivered  him  to  his  master;  but 
from  some  cause  or  other,  Casey  refused  to  pay  the  reward.  A  quarrel 
ensued,  and  Casey  knocked  Kill-buck  down  with  his  cane.  When  the 
war  broke  out.  Kill-buck  sought  every  opportunity  to  kill  Casey,  but  ne- 
ver could  succeed.  Many  years  afterwards,  Casey's  son  obtained  a  lieu- 
tenancy, and  was  ordered  to  Wheeling,  where  Kill-buck  then  being,  young 
Casey  requested  some  of  his  friends  to  introduce  him  to  him.  When 
Kill-buck  heard  his  name,  he  paused  for  a  moment,  and  repeating, 
''Casey!  Casey!"  inquired  of  the  young  man  w^hether  he  knew  Peter  Ca- 
sey. The  lieutenant  replied,  "Yes,  he  is  my  father."  Kill-buck  imme- 
diately exclaimed,  "Bad  man,  bad  man,  he  once  knocked  me  down  with 
his  cane."  On  the  young  man's  proposing  to  make  up  the  breach,  the 
old  chief  replied,  "Will  you  pay  me  the  pistole?"  Young  Casey  refused 
to  do  this,  but  proposed  to  treat  with  a  quart  of  rum,  to  which  the  old 
warrior  assented,  saying,  "Peter  Casey  old  man — Kill-buck  old  man:" 
and  then  stated  that  he  had  frequently  watched  for  an  opportunity  to  kill 
him,  "but  he  was  too  lazy — would  not  come  out  of  the  fort:  Kill-buck 
now  friends  with  him,  and  bury  the  tomahawk.":}:  This  Indian  chief,  it 
is  said  w^as  living  about  fourteen  years  ago,  but  had  become  blind 
from  his  great  age,  being  little  under,  and  probably  over,  one  hundred 
years. 


*The  venerable  John  Tomlinson  related  this  affair  to  the  author.  Mr. 
T.  does  not  recollect  the  particular  mark  of  disgrace  inflicted  on  these 
Indians.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Jacobs,  of  Hampshire,  suggested  this  as  the 
most  probable. 

jThe  pistole  is  a  piece  of  gold,  equal  to  tliree  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents  in  value. 

JThis  anecdote  is  related^  somewhat  differently,  by  Dr.  Turley,  page  66 
of  this  work. 


ASl)  ALA SS ACRES.  Td 


CHAPTER    VIIL 


INDIAN  INCURSIONS  AND  AlASS ACRES— Continued. 


In  a  preceding  chapter  the  erection  of  several  stone  dwelling-houses  is 
noticed.  7'hese  houses  generally  had  small  stockade  forts  about  them; 
and  Avhenever  an  alarm  took  place,  the  neighboring  people  took  shelter  in 
them,  as  places  of  security  against  their  savage  foe.* 

The  men  never  went  out  of  the  forts  without  their  guns.  The  enemy 
were  frequently  lurking  about  them,  and  at  every  opportunity  would  kill  ' 
some  of  the  people.  At  the  residence  of  Maj.  Robert  D.  Glass,  on  Ope-' 
quon,  five  miles  south  west  of  Winchester,  part  of  his  dwelling-house 
was  erected  in  the  time  of  the  Indian  war:  the  port-holes  w^ere  plainly  to 
be  seen  before  the  body  was  covered  w^ith  weather-boarding.  The  people 
were  closely  "forted"  for  about  three  years.  After  the  termination  of 
hostilities  between  England  and  France,  the  incursions  of  the  Indians 
were  less  frequent,  and  never  in  large  parties;  but  they  were  continued  at 
intervals  until  the  year  1766  or  1767. 

About  the  year  1758,  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Stone,  near  wdiat  is 
called  the  White  House,  in  the  Hawksbill  settlement,  was  killed  by  In- 
dians. Stone's  wife,  with  her  infant  child  and  a  son  about  seven  or  eight 
years  old,  and  George  Grandstaff,  a  youth  of  sixteen  years  old,  w^ere  ta- 
ken off  as  prisoners.  On  the  South  Branch  mountain,  the  Indians  mur- 
dered Mrs.  Stone  and  her  infant,  and  took  the  boy  and  Grandstaff  to 
Iheir  towns.  Grandstaff  was  about  three  years  a  prisoner,  and  then  got 
home.  The  little  boy,  Stone,  grev/  up  with  the  Indians,  came  home,  and 
after  obtaining  possession  of  his  lather's  property,  sold  it,  got  the  money, 
returned  to  the  Indians,  and  w'as  never  heard  of  by  his  friends  afterwards. 

The  same  Indians  killed  Jacob  Iloltiman's  w^ife  and  her  children,  Holti- 
man  escaping.  They  plundered  old  Brewbecker's  house,  piled  up  tlie 
chairs  and  spinning  wheels,  and  set  them  on  fire.  A  young  wonian  who 
lived  with  Brewbecker  had  concealed  herself  in  the  garret;  and  after  the 
Indians  left  the  house,  extinguished  the  fire,  a,nd  saved  the  house  from 
burning.  Brewbecker's  wife  got  information  that  the  Indians  were  com- 
ing, and  ran  off  with  her  children  to  where  several  men  were  at  work,  who 
conveyed  lier  across  the  river  to  a  neighboring  house.  Mr.  John  Brew- 
becker now  resides  on  tlic  farm  where  this  occurrence  took  place. f 

*Thc  late  Mrs.  Rebecca  Brinkcr,  one  of  the  daughters  of  George  Bow- 
man, on  Cedar  Creek,  informed  the  author  that  she  recollccled  when  six- 
teen families  took  shelter  in  licr  father's  house. 

fMr,  ni'nvl)eck«M-  resides  on  iIk  west  s'dc  of  the  South  fork  of  the 
Shenandoah  river,  on  Masiiiutton  creek,  in  the  new  county  of  Pago,  and 
has  erected  a  large  and  elegant  brick  house  on  the  spot  where  tlie  fndinns 
phindei'cd   his  falhcr's  dwelling. 

K 


74  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

The  followmg  singular  Iradillon,  as  ronneoted  with  tliis  ocrinTcnce,  has 
been  related  to  the  author: 

About  dusk  on  the  evening  previous,  Mrs.  Brewbecker  told  her  hus- 
band and  family  that  the  Indians  would  attack  them  next  morning,  saying 
that  she  could  see  a  party  of  them  on  the  side  of  Masinutton  mountain,  in 
the  act  of  cooking  their  supper.  She  also  declared  that  she  saw  their 
fire,  and  could  count  the  number  of  Indians.  She  pointed  to  the  spot ; 
but  no  other  part  of  the  family  saw  it;  and  it  w^as  therefore  thought  that 
she  must  be  mistaken.  Persisting  in  her  declarations,  she  begged  her 
husband  to  remove  her  and  her  children  to  a  place  of  safety:  but  she  w^as 
laughed  at,  told  that  it  was  mere  superstition,  and  that  she  w^as  in  no  dan- 
ger. It  was  however  afterw^ards  ascertained  that  the  savages  had  en- 
camped that  night  at  the  place  on  the  mountain  pointed  out  by  Mrs.  B. 
It  was  about  two  miles  off.* 

These  outrages  of  the  Indians  drove  many  of  the  white  settlers  below 
the  Blue  ridge. 

Probably  the  same  year,  several  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  a  man 
named  Bingaman,  near  the  present  site  of  New  Market.  Bingaman,  who 
was  remarkably  stout  and  active,  defended  his  family  with  great  resolution 
and  firmness,  and  laid  tw^o  of  the  assailants  dead  at  his  feet:  they  suc- 
ceeded, however,  in  killing  his  ^vife  and  children,  Bingaman  escaping  w^ith 
several  wounds,  from  which  he  finally  recovered.  The  same  party  took 
Lewis  Bingaman,  (a  nephew  of  the  one  spoken  of,)  a  prisoner.  He  was 
a  boy  about  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  old,  grew  up  with  the  Indians,  and 
became  a  man  of  distinction  among  them. 

About  the  same  time  the  Indians  forcibly  entered  the  house  of  Mr. 
Young,  who  resided  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  Smith,  Esq.  not 
more  than  a  mile  from  Zane's  old  iron  works,  and  killed  several  of  his 
family.  They  took  an  infant,  dashed  its  head  against  a  rock,  beat  out  its 
brains,  and  left  it  lying  on  the  ground.  Two  of  Young's  daughters,  pret- 
ty w^ell  gi'own,  were  carried  off  prisoners.  Lieutenant  Samuel  Fry  raised 
a  force  of  between  thirty  and  forty  men,  pursued,  and  came  in  sight  of 
them,  unobserved,  at  the  Short  mountain,  near  the  Allegany.  Fry's  par- 
ty prepared  to  fire;  but  unfortunately  one  of  the  white  girls  stepping  ac- 
cidentally before  their  guns,  the  intention  was  frustrated,  and  Fry  being 
discovered  the  next  moment,  he  ordered  his  men  to  charge.  This  was 
no  sooner  done  than  the  Indians  broke  and  ran  off,  leaving  their  guns, 
prisoners  and  plunder:  the  two  young  females  were  thus  rescued  and 
brought  safely  home. 

Another  family  in  the  same  neighborhood,  by  the  name  of  Day,  were 
attacked,  several  killed,  and  two  of  the  daughters  taken  off.  A  party  of 
eighteen  or  twenty  whites  pursued  them.  The  girls,  as  they  travelled 
through  the  mountains,  expecting  pursuit,  took  the  precaution  (unobserv- 
ed by  their  captors)  to  tear  off  and  frequently  drop  small  scraps  of  white 
linen,  as  well  as  pluck  off  branches  of  bushes,  and  drop  them  as  a  trail, 
by  which  means  their  friends  could  readily  discover  their  route.     A  bro- 


*This  tradition  was  given  the  author  by  Mr.  Andrew  Keyser,  jr.    who 
mamed  a  on-and  dauohterof  the  woman  who  saw  the  Indians, 


AND  MASSACRES,  75 

tiier  to  the  girls,  a  young  man,  was  one  of  the  pursuing  party.  The  In- 
dians were  overtaken  on  the  South  Branch  mountain;  and  as  soon  as  seen, 
preparations  were  made  to  give  them  a  deadly  fire.  But  the  young  Day, 
in  his  eagerness  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  father  and  family,  prematurely 
fired,  killing  the  object  of  his  aim,  when  the  others  precipitately  fled,  lea- 
ving eveiy  thing  behind  them.  They  had  cut  off  the  girls'  petticoats  at 
the  knees,  in  order  that  they  should  be  able  to  make  more  speed  in  travel- 
ing.    The  girls  were  brought  safe  home. 

There  were  several  instances  of  the  Indians  committinof  murders  on 
the  w^hites  about  the  Potomac  and  South  Branch  several  years  before 
Braddock's  defeat.  About  the  year  1752,  a  man  by  the  name  of  James 
Davis  was  killed,  pretty  high  up  the  Potomac;  and  in  the  succeeding  year, 
William  Zane  and  several  of  his  family  Avere  taken  prisoners  on  the  South 
Branch,  in  the  now  county  of  Hardy.  Isaac  Zane,  one  of  his  sons,  re- 
mained during  his  life  with  the  Indians.  The  author  saw  this  man  at 
Chillicothe  in  the  autumn  of  1797,  and  had  some  conversation  wdth  him 
upon  the  subject  of  his  captivity.  He  stated  that  he  w^as  captured  when 
about  nine  years  old;  was  four  years  without  seeing  a  vdiite  person;  had 
learned  the  Indian  tung  quite  well,  but  never  lost  a  knowledge  of  Eng- 
lish, having  learned  to  spell  in  two  syllables,  which  he  could  still  do,  al- 
though pretty  w^ell  advanced  in  years.  He  also  said  that  a  trader  came  to 
the  Indian  village  four  years  after  his  captivity,  and  spoke  to  him  in  Eng- 
lish, of  which  he  understood  every  word;  that  when  he  grew  up  to  man- 
hood, he  married  a  sister  of  the  Wyandott  king,  and  raised  a  family  of 
seven  or  eight  children.  His  sons  were  all  Indians  in  their  habits  and  dis- 
positions; his  daughters,  four  of  them,  all  married  white  men,  became 
civilized,  and  were  remarkably  fine  women,  considering  the  opportunities 
they  had  had  for  improvement. 

This  man  possessed  great  influence  with  the  tribes  he  w^as  acquainted 
with;  and  as  he  retained  a  regard  for  his  native  countrymen,  was  several 
times  instrumental  in  bringing  about  treaties  of  peace.  The  government 
of  the  United  States  granted  him  a  patent  for  ten  thousand  acres  of  land, 
which  he  claimed  as  his  private  property;  and  when  the  author  saw  him 
he  was  on  his  "way  to  Philadelphia  to  appiy  for  a  confirmation  of  his  title. 
He  was  a  near  relation  to  the  late  Gen.  Isaac  Zane,  of  Frederick  county, 
Virginia. 

About  the  same  time  tliat  ]\[r.  Zane\s  familv  were  taken  nrisoners,  as 
just  related,  an  Indian  killed  a  white  man  near  Oldtown,  in  iMaryland,  but 
was,  in  return,  killed  by  the  late  Capt.  Micliael  (^resap,  then  a  boy,  with 
a  pistol,  while  he  wa^  in  the  act  of  scalping  tlie  white  man.' 

About  the  year  1758  there  were  two  white  men  who  disguised  them- 
selves in  the  habit  of  Indians,  and  appeared  in  the  neigliborhood  of  the 
present  site  of  Martinsburg.  They  were  pursued  and  killed,  supposing 
them  to  be  Indinns.f  It  \v;is  n(»  uncommon  thing  tor  unprincipled  scoun- 
drels to  act  in  this  manner.  Their  object  was  to  frighten  pcoj)Ie  to  leave 
their  honi'.'S,  in  order  that  tiiey  might  rob  and  [)!under  them  of  their  most 


*.facob's  \j][o  of  Cresnp. 

TRrliitcd  bv  (';nitrnri  .];-.!ii"-   (IlciiP. 


76  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

valuable  articles.*     The  Indians  Avere  irequently  charged  without  outrages 
they  never  committed. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Edes,  with  his  family,  resided  in  a  cave  for  se- 
veral years,  about  three  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Capon.  This  cave  is 
in  a  large  rock,  and  Avhen  other  people  would  take  shelter  at  a  fort  in  the 
neighborhood,  Edes  would  rem.am  in  his  cave.  At  length  the  Indians 
found  them,  by  trailing  the  children  when  driving  up  then- cows,  and  took 
Edes  and  his  tamily  prisoners.! 

A  Mr.  Smith,  a  bachelor,  resided  on  the  west  side  of  Capon  river,  in 
a  small  cabin.  Three  Indians  one  morning  entered  his  house,  split  up  his 
wooden  bowds  and  trenchers  (plates  made  of  wood,)  destroyed  his  house- 
hold goods  generally,  and  took  him  off  as  a  prisoner.  They  crossed  the 
Cchongoruton,  and  halted  at  a  place  called  Grass  lick,  on  the  Maryland 
side,  with  the  intention  of  stealing  horses.  Two  of  them  went  into  a 
meadow  for  this  purpose,  while  the  third  remained  to  guard  Smith.  The 
two  men  soon  haltered  a  young  unbroken  horse,  delivered  him  to  the 
guard,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  more.  The  fellow  who  held  the  horse  dis- 
covering the  animal  was  easily  frightened,  several  times  scared  him  for  his 
amusement,  till  at  length  he  became  so  much  alarmed  that  he  made  a  sud- 
den wheel,  and  ran  off  with  the  Indian  hanging  to  the  halter,  dragging 
him  a  considerable  distance.  Smith  took  this  opportunity  to  escape,  and 
succeeded  in  getting  off.  The  next  morning  a  party  of  w^hite  men  col- 
lected -with  the  intention  of  giving  pursuit.  They  w^erit  to  Smith's  cabin 
and  found  him  mending  his  bowls  and  trenchers  by  sewing  them  up  v.ith 
wax-ends.]: 

At  Hedges'  fort,  on  the  present  road  from  Martinsburg  to  Bath,  west  of 
Back  creek,  a  man  was  killed  while  watching  the  spring.  § 

On  Lost  river  there  were  two  forts,  one  on  the  land  now  the  residence 
oi^  Jeremiah  Inskeep,  Esq.  called  Riddle's  fort,  v*^here  a  man  named  Ches- 
mer  was  killed;  the  other  called  Warden's  fort, j|  where  William  Warden 
and  a  Mr.  Taff  were  killed,  and  the  foit  burnt  do\yn. 

Just  before  the  massacre  on  Looney's  creek,  (related  on  the  succeeding 
page,)  seven  Indians  surrounded  the  cabin  of  Samuel  Bingaman,  not  far 
distant  from  the  present  village  of  Petersburg,  in  the  county  of  Hardy. — 
It  was  just  before  daybreak,  that  being  the  time  wdien  the  Indians  gene- 
rally made  their  su.rprises.  Yiv.  B's  family  consisted  of  himself  and  wife, 
his  father  and  mother,  and  a  hired  man.  The  first  four  Avere  asleep  in  the 
room  below,  and  the  hired  man  in  the  loft  above.  A  shot  was  fired  into 
the  cabin,  the  ball  passing  through  the  lieshy  part  of  the  younger  Mrs. 
Bingaman's  left  breast.  The  family  sprung  to  their  feet,  Bingaman  seiz- 
ing his  rifle,  and  the  Indians  at  the  same  moment  rushing  in  at  the  door. 
Bingaman  told  his  wife  and  father  and  mother  to  get  out  of  the  way,  un- 
iler  the  bed,  and  called  to  tlie  man  in  the  loft  to  come  down,  who,    howr 


*D 


Related  by  J.e wis  Neilh  fCapt.   Glenn. 

:J:Kelat^'d  by  Capt..  Gleim.  §The  same. 

'jj^Varden"'s  fort  was  at  tjic  i-resenl  residence  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Warr 
de»,  n  orandson  of  tlic  man  that  Avas  killed,  about  thirty-live  miles  so\ith 
ivest  ■c>f  Wine  1.1  ester, 


AND  MASSACRES.  77 

ever,  never  moved.  It  was  still  dark,  and  the  Indians  were  prevented 
from  firing,  by  a  fear  of  injuring  one  of  their  number.  Bingaman,  unre- 
strained by  any  fears  of  this  kind,  laid  about  him  with  desperation.  At 
the  first  blow,  his  riile  broke  at  the  breech,  shivering  the  stock  to  pieces; 
but  with  the  barrel  he  continued  his  blows  until  he  cleared  the  room. — 
Daylight  now  appearing,  he  discovered  that  he  had  killed  five,  and  that 
the  remaining  two  were  retreating  across  the  field.  He  stepped  out,  and 
seizing  a  rifle  which  had  been  left  by  the  party,  fired  at  one  of  the  fugi- 
tives, wounded,  and  tomahawked  him.  Tradition  relates  that  the  other 
fled  to  the  Indian  camp,  and  told  his  comrades  that  they  had  had  a  fight 
with  a  man  who  was  a  devil — that  he  had  killed  six  of  them,  and  if  they 
went  again,  would  kill  them  all.  When  Bingaman,  after  the  battle,  dis« 
covered  that  his  wife  was  wounded,  he  became  frantic  with  rage  at  the 
cowardice  of  the  hired  man,  and  would  have  dispatched  him  but  for  the 
entreaties  of  JNIrs.  B.  to  spare  his  life.  She  recovered  from  her  wound  in 
a  short  time.* 

It  was  the  practice  of  the  settlers  on  the  Vv'appatoraaka,  in  times  of 
danger,  to  leave  the  forts  in  numbers,  and  assist  each  other  in  harvest. — 
About  the  year  1756,  a  party  of  nine  whites  left  the  fort  opposite  the  pre- 
sent village  of  Petersburg,  to  assist  Mr.  Job  Welton  to  cut  his  father's 
meadow  and  hunt  his  cattle.  They  took  their  rifles  with  them,  as  w^as  in- 
variably the  practice  whenever  they  left  the  fort.  After  collecting  the  cat- 
tle, they  turned  in  and  cut  a  portion  of  the  meadow.  As  night  approach- 
ed, a  proposition  was  made  by  ^Ir.  Welton  to  return  to  the  fort,  which 
was  rather  opposed  by  the  rest  of  the  party,  who,  not  having  been  molest- 
ed during  the  day,  were  disposed  to  believe  in  their  perfect  security. — 
They  repaired  to  the  house  of  the  elder  j\Ir.  Welton,  fronting  the 
meadow,  and  within  tw^o  hundred  yards  of  the  present  residence  of  Aaron 
Welton,  Esq.  Here  they  wished  to  remain,  but  the  determiuation  was 
resisted  by  Job  Welton,  who  again  advised  a  return  to  the  fort.  After 
some  consultation  it  was  agreed  on  to  repair  to  the  shelter  of  a  large  elm 
tree  in  the  meadow  where  they  had  been  mowing,  and  where  they  con- 
cealed themselves  in  a  winnow  of  the  grass,  and  soon  fell  into  a  sound 
slee[);  from  which  they  were  sometime  afterwards  roused  by  the  crack  of 
a  rifle.  Mr.  Welton  was  lyins;  with  his  brother  Jonathan  under  the  same 
blanket,  and  the  latter  was  shot  through  the  heart.  The  party  sprung  to 
their  feet  and  attempted  to  escape.  In  his  alarm,  Mr.  W.  forgot  his  rifle, 
and  fled  m  company  with  a  Mr.  Delay.  They  had  proceedeb  about  200 
yards,  pursued  by  an  Indian,  when  Delay  wheeled  and  dischari^ed  his  rifle, 
which  brought  his  pursuer  down.  At  the  same  instant  that  Delay  wheel- 
ed, the  Indian  threw  his  tomahawk,  which  sunk  into  the  back  of  Mr.  Wel- 
ton, severing  two  of  his  ribs.     He  fell  to  the  ground,  supposing   himself 


*The  author  received  the  particulars  of  this  surprising  adventure  from 
Job  Welton  and  Aaron  Welton,  Esqrs.  of  Petersburg.  Mrs.  Blue,  wife 
of  Mr.  Garret  IMue,  also  told  the  author,  that  when  sh?  was  a  small  girl 
Bingaman  frequently  stopped  at  her  father's  residence  on  Cheat  river,  and 
^he  more  than  once  heard  him  relate  the  circumstances  of  this  aflair,  and 
;^nv  there  were  seveja  Indians. 


A^C' 


78  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

mortally  wounded  by  a  rifle  ball,  while  Delay  continued  onward  pursued 
by  another  Indian.  Mr.  Welton  soon  recovered  from  his  surprise,  and 
proceeded  cautiously  in  a  direction  towards  the  fort,  very  weak  from  the 
loss  of  blood.  He  soon  heard  Delay  and  the  Indian  in  a  parley;  the  for- 
mer being  exhausted  by  running  and  disposed  to  yield,  and  the  latter  de- 
manding his  surrender.  Delay  agreed  to  give  up  on  condition  that  his 
enem.y  would  spare  his  life,  which  being  solemnly  agreed  to,  he  was  re- 
conducted to  the  elm  tree.  Here  a  council  was  held,  and  Delay,  with 
three  others  who  had  been  taken,  were  inhumanly  scalped,  from  which 
they  died  in  two  or  three  days  afterwards.  JMr.  Welton  was  able  to  reach 
the  fort,  Avhere  he  laid  three  months  before  his  wound  healed.  Of  the 
whole  party,  but  three  escaped;  four  were  scalped  and  died,  and  two  were 
killed  at  the  first  surprise.  The  escape  of  Mr.  Kuykendall  was  remarka- 
ble. It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  while  the  shade  of  the  elm  render- 
ed it  quite  dark,  under  the  tree.  Mr.  K.  being  an  old  man,  was  unable  to 
fly  with  speed,  and  therefore  remained  still,  while  his  companions  fled 
across  the  ro.eadow.  The  Indians  passed  over  him,  leaving  the  rear  clear, 
when  Mj".  K,  retreated  at  his  leisure,  and  reached  the  fort  in  safety,  one 
and  a  half  m.iles.* 

On  the  day  following,  the  whites  left  the  fort  in  pursuit,  and  overtook 
their  enemy  late  at  night  on  Dunkard  bottom.  Cheat  river,  where  they  had 
encamped.  The  pursuers  dismounted,  and  the  captain  ordered  Binga- 
man  (the  same  whose  prowess  is  related  in  a  preceding  page)  to  guard  the 
horses.  He  however  disobeyed,  and  loitered  in  the  rear  of  the  party. — 
To  make  the  destruction  of  the  enemy  more  certain,  it  was  deemed  advi- 
sable to  wait  for  daylight  before  they  began  an  attack:  but  a  young  man, 
v/hose  zeal  overcame  his  discretion,  fired  into  the  group,  upon  which  the 
Indians  sprung  to  their  feet  and  fled.  Bingaraan  singled  out  a  fellow  of 
giant-like  size,  wdiom  he  pursued,  throv/ing  aside  his  rifle  that  his  speed 
might  not  be  retarded — passed  several  smaller  Indians  in  the  chase — 
came  up  with  him — and  w^ith  a  single  blow  of  his  hatchet,  cleft  his  skull. 
When  Bingaman  returned  to  the  battle  ground,  the  captain  sternly  observ- 
ed, "I  ordered  you  to  stay  and  guard  the  horses."  Bingaman  as  sternly 
replied,  "you  are  a  rascal,  sir:  yo.u  intended  to  disgrace  me;  and  one  more 
insolent  word,  and  you  shall  share  the  fate  of  that  Indian,"  pointing  to- 
wards the  body  he  had  just  slain.  The  captain  quailed  under  the  stern 
menace,  and  held  his  peace.  He  and  Bingaman  had,  a  few  days  before, 
had  a  falling  out.  Several  Indians  fell  in  this  affair,  while  the  whites  lost 
none  of  their  party. 

Dr.  Turley  stated  to  the  author  that  he  had  often  heard  Mr.  John  Har- 
ness, who  was  one  of  the  party  that  followed  the  Indians,  relate  that  De- 
lay was  taken  to  Dunkard  bottom,  and  when  the  Indians  were  then  sur- 
prised, he  was  shot,  but  whether  by  his  captors  or  accidentally,  was  not 
known,  Delay  himself  not  being  able  to  tell.     He  was  conveyed  home  on 


*JMessrs.  Aaron  and  Job  WV^ton  related  this  tradition  to  the  author.  It 
was  thought  that  Delay  would  have  recovered  but  for  the  unskillfulness 
of  the  suT*2:eon  (ii"  he  deser\ed  the  name)  who  attended  him.  The  late- 
Gen.  Wiiiicun  Darke  married  hi>  a\  jd.ow. 


AND  MASSACRES.  79^ 

a  litter,  and  died  directly  afterwards.     There  were,  however,  two  Delays,, 
and  the  first  relation  may  be  true. 

Mrs.  Shobe,  an  aged  and  respectable  lady,  living  on  Mill  creek,  in 
Hardy  county,  inlbrmed  the  author  that  Delay  was  buried  on  the  banks 
of  the  South  Branch,  and  some  years  afterwards  his  skeleton  was  washed 
out  by  arising  of  the  river.  She  then  heard  Job  Welton  say  that  Delay 
had  saved  his  life,  and  he  would  take  care  of  his  bones. 

To  show  the  spirit  of  the  times,  the  following  anecdote  is  related.  Va- 
lentine Powers  and  his  brother,  with  two  or  three  others,  left  the  fort  near 
Petersburg,*  on  a  visit  to  their  farms,  when  they  were  fired  upon  by  In- 
dians from  a  thicket,  and  the  brother  of  Powers  killed.  Valentine  ran, 
bat  soon  calling  to  mind  the  saying,  current  among  them,  that  "it  was  a 
bad  man  who  took  bad  news  home,"  he  turned  about  and  gave  himself  up 
and  remained  a  prisoner  five  or  six  3'ears.f 

I\Iartin  Peterson  was  taken  a  prisoner  on  the  South  Branch,  and  carried 
to  the  Sandusky  towns.  He  used  to  accom^pany  the  Indians  in  their 
hunting  excursions,  and  was  permitted  to  have  one  load  of  powder  and 
ball  each  day,  which  he  always  discharged  at  the  game  they  met  with. — 
As  he  gained  on  the  confidence  of  his  captors,  they  increased  his  allow- 
ance to  two  loads,  and  subsequently  to  three.  The  same  allowance  was 
made  to  two  other  white  prisoners.  These  three,  one  day,  after  receiving 
their  allowance,  determined  to  attempt  an  escape;  and  left  the  towns  ac- 
cordingly. As  they  ventured  to  travel  only  at  night,  guided  by  the  north 
star,  their  progress  was  exceedingly  slow  and  difficult.  On  the  second 
day  one  of  their  number  died  from  fatigue,  and  Peterson  took  his  ammu- 
nition. A  day  or  two  afterwards,  his  remaining  companion  also  gave  out^ 
and  Peterson  taking  his  ammunition,  left  him  to  perish.  He  then  pur- 
sued his  way  alone,  and  after  a  succession  of  hardships,  came  at  length 
in  sight  of  the  fort.  But  here,  when  within  reach  of  his  deliverance,  his 
hopes  were  well-nigh  blasted;  for  the  sentry,  mistaking  him  for  an  Indian, 
fired!  Happily  the  ball  missed  its  aim,  and  he  was  able  to  make  himself 
known  before  the  fire  was  repeated.  This  fort  was  on  the  farm  now  the 
residence  of  Mr.  John  Welton,  near  Petersburg,  Hardy  county.]: 

Seybert's  fort,§  was  erected  on  the  South  fork  of  the  South    branch  of 


^Called  Fort  George.     The  land  is  nov*-  owned  by  Job  Welton,  Esq. 

fllelated  by  Aaron  Welton,  Esq. 

^Related  by  Aaron  Welton,  Esq. 

§The  author,  on  a  visit  to  Franklin,  obtained  some  additional  particu- 
lars in  relation  to  the  attack  on  Seybert's  fort: — Thepaity  of  Indians  was 
commanded  by  the  blood-thirsty  and  treacherous  chief,  Kill-buck.  Sey- 
bert's son,  a  lad  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  exiiibited  great  firmness  and 
bravery  in  the  defence  of  the  })ost.  He  had  with  his  riile  brought  down 
two  of  his  assailants,  when  Kill-buck  called  out  to  old  Seybert,  in  Eng- 
lish, to  surrender,  and  their  lives  should  be  spared.  At  that  instant  young 
SeybtM't,  having  charged  his  rille,  was  in  the  act  oi"  presentin?]^  it  at  Kill- 
buck,  when  his  father  seized  the  gun,  and  took  it  from  him,  observing: — 
"We  cann'>t  defend  the  fort:  we  must  surrender  in  order  to  save  our 
lives,"  confiding  in  the  assurances  of  the  Aiithless    Kill-buck.     The    first 


80  INDIAN  INCURSIONS. 

the  Potomac,  on  tlie  iaml  now  owned  by  Mr.  Ferdinand  Lair,  twelve  miles: 
north  east  of  Franklin,  the  present  county  seat  of  Pendleton.  In  the 
year  1758,  a  party  of  Indians  surprised  the  fort,  in  which  were  thirty  per- 
sons. They  bound  ten,  whom  they  conveyed  witliout  the  fort,  and  then 
proceeded  to  massacre  the  others  in  the  following  manner:  They  seated 
them  in  a  row  upon  a  log,  with  an  Indian  standing  behind  each;  and  at  a 
ir'iYen  siofnal,  each  Indian  sunk  his  tomahawk  into  the  head  of  his  victim: 
an  additional  blow  or  two  dispatched  them.  The  scene  was  witnessed 
by  James  Dyer,  a  lad  fourteen  years  old,  who,  not  having  been  removed 
without  the  fort,  supposed  that  he  was  to  be  massacred.  He  was  how- 
ever spared,  and  taken  to  Log  town,  sixteen  miles  below  Fort  Pitt,  thence 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  river,  and  thence  to  the  spot  where  Chil- 
icothe  now  stands,  where  he  remained  a  prisoner  one  year  and  ten  months. 
He  had  by  this  time  gained  the  entire  confidence  of  his  captors,  and  was 
permitted  to  accompany  them  to  Fort  Pitt  on  a  trading  expedition. — 
When  there  he  planned  his  escape,  and  happily  succeeded.  Being  sent 
out  for  some  bread  "with  an  Indian  lad,  he  slipped  into  a  hovel,  unobserv- 
ed by  his  companion,  and  implored  the  protection  of  the  poor  woman  who 
occupied  it.  She  told  him  to  get  behind  a  chest,  the  only  furniture  in  the 
room,  and  threw^  upon  him  a  bed.  The  Indians,  on  missing  him,  spent 
Ihe  afternoon  in  search,  during  which  they  looked  into  the  very  hovel 
where  he  was,  and  left  the  place  the  next  morning  on  their  return.  Fort 
Pitt  being  then  in  possession  of  the  English,  a  trooper  very  kindly  con- 
veyed him  six  or  seven  miles  behind  him,  whence  he  made  his  way  to  his- 
friends  in  Pennsylvania,  w^here  he  remained  two  years  longer,  and  then- 
returned  to  South  Fork.* 

Another  tradition  says  that  Seybert's  fort  was  no-t  surprised.  It  had 
been  invested  for  two  or  three  days,  and  after  two  Indians  had  been  killed, 
the  garrison  agreed  to  surrender  on  condition  that  their  lives  should  be 
spared,  which  was  solemnly  pledged.  The  gate  was  then  opened,  and 
the  Indians  rushed  in  with  demoniac  yells.  The  whites  fled  with  pre- 
cipitation, but  were  retaken,  with  the  exception  of  one  man.     The   mas- 


salutation  he  received,  after  suirendering  the  fort,  was  a  stroke  on  his 
mouth  from  the  monster.  Kill-buck,  with  the  pipe-end  of  his  tomahawk,, 
dislocating  several  of  the  old  man's  teeth;  and  immediately  after  he  was 
massacred  with  the  other  victims.  Young  Seybert  was  taken  oft*  among 
the  prisoners.  He  told  Killbuck  ke  had  raised  his  gim  to  kill  him;  hut 
that  his  father  had  un-esled  it  from  him.  The  savage  laughed,  and  re- 
plied, ^'You  little  rascal,  if  you  had  killed  me  you  would  have  saved  the 
fort:  for  had  I  fallen  my  w^arriors  ^voiild  have  immediately  fled,  and  given 
up  the  siege  in  despair." 

It  is  said  there  were  three  men  in  the  fort,  not  one  of  whom  manifested 
a  disposition  to  aid  its  defence.  Had  they  joined  young  Seybert,  and 
acted  with  the  same  intrepidity  and  coolness,  the  place  might  have  been 
saved,  and  the  awful  sacrifice  of  the  inmates  avoided. 

*Relatedby  Zebulon  Dyer,  Esq.  clerk  of  Pendleton  county-,  and  i^on  of 
the  James  Dyer  mentioned. 


AM>  ;vfAss/vc?vF;.<;  .       si 

sa^ro  xitvn  toc'k  plaro,  a^  bofore  relaled,  and  trn  wore    fakeii    ofl'arr   pris- 
oners. 

Another  tradition  says,  tliat,  on  the  fort's  being  given  up,  llie  Indians 
seated  twenty  ol  the  irarrison  in  two  rows,  a!]  ol  whom  they  killed  ex- 
eept  tiie  wile  01"  Jacob  Peifrsr)n.  Wlien  they  reached  her,  an  Indian  in-^ 
terposed  to  saye  her  life,  and  some  altercation  ensued.  The  friendly  In-- 
<lian  at  length  preyailed  ;  and  throwing  her  a  pair  of  moccasons,  told  her 
to  marcli  oif  with  the  prisoners.  Ho^y  lono'  she  remained  in  captivitv  is 
not  remembered.^' 

The  Indians  killed  John  I'irake's  v;ile  on  the  S-outh  fork  of  the  Wapp  - 
tomaka.  John  i^rake  becan^ie  conspicuous  in  the  war  of  the  revoluuon, 
which  will  be  noticed  hereafter^  Fredrick  Jice  bad  his  ^vhole  iarnily  kill- 
ed, Ayith  the  exception  of  himself  and  one  son.  A  man  named  Williams 
and  his  wife  were  also  killed.  Richard  Williams  and  his  wife  were  ta- 
ken pri^foners  :  the  latter  was  only  cightev^'n  montlis  old  when  taken,  re- 
mained with  the  Indians  until  she  was  thrirteen,  and  was  then  brouaht 
liome.  She  had  learned  the  Indian  language  perfectly;  afterwards  learned 
to  speak  English,  but  there  were  some  words  she  neyer  could  pronounce 
})lainly.      vShe  married  Uriah  Blue,  on  the  South  Branch. 

About  eio-lit  miles  below  Romney  stood  a  fcA't.  In  time  of  haryest  a 
Mrs.  Hoijeland  went  out  about  three  hundred  \'ards  to  o-ather  l>eans,  two 
men  accompanying  her  as  a  guard.  While  gathering  the  beans,  8  or  ten 
Indians  made  their  appearace.  One  of  the  guarde  instantly  fled  ;  the  oth- 
er, whose  name  was  Hogeland,  called  to  the  woman  to  run  to  the  fort ; 
and  placing  himself  between  her  and  the  enemy,  Vv-ith  his  riHe  cocked  and 
presented,  retreated  from  tree  to  tree  until  both  entered  it.  Some  old 
men  in  the  fort  fired  off' their  guns  to  alarm  the  har^est  liands,  who  ran 
into  it,  the  Indians  from  the  side  of  the  mountain  fii-ing  upon  theut,  but 
(h)ing  no  injury.  The  same  day  the  harvest  hands  were  waylaid  as  they 
returtfed  to  their  work,  firerl  u])on,  and  H'^Miry  Newkirk  wounded  in  the 
hip.  'I'he  wlfites  rdurned  the  fire,  and  wounded  an  Indian,  who  dropped 
his  gun  and  fled.  The  others  also  made  off,  and  the  liarvot  bands  pro- 
ceeded to  their  Avork. 

In  IT.jC),  w'hih^  the  Indians  were  lurking  about  Fort  Pleasant,  ami  con- 
f^tantly  on  the  watch  to  cut  olT  all  co'rmninication  therewith,  a  lad  naim-d 
Higgins,  aged  about  twelve  years,  wa-^  directed  by  his  iMother  to  go  to 
the  spring,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  without  the  tort,  and  bring  a  bucket 
ff(  water,  lie  com|>lied  vrhh  much  trepidation,  and  persuaded  a  compr.- 
ninn  of  his,  of  about  the  sanii'  age,  to  accompany  hiuu  They  repaired 
to  th(!  spring  .is  cautiously  an  j)ossibie,  and  aflei'  filling  their  buckets,  ran 
with  speed  towards  the  fort,  HigL^ins  taking  tb»'  lead.  When  about  liaif 
wav  to  the  fort,  and  Ili^jf'jins  had  5'()t  about  thirtv  yards  before  his  com- 
j)aiiion,  he  heai'd  a  scream  iVo'in  the  latter,  whirh  caused  him  to  increase 
bis  speed  to  the  utmoNi.  He  reached  the  fort  in  safely,  while  his  coui- 
])anion  Was  captured  l>v  lb'*  fndian^,  and  fak-en  In  iImmc  sctlleinrnls,. wlierr 


Mrs.  Shobc  inlninicd  the  aalicu  tlial  slie  had  heird  lac    wile  ol   Jacob 
iV'terson  frequent  I  v  relate  this. 


S'2  INDIAN    INClJiSTONS 

he  rernaifted  until  ihe  peace,  and  was  then  restored.  Tlie  ^euno'  ThV- 
gins  subsequently  became  tlie- active  Capt.  Robert  Ilig-rrlns  in  our  revolu- 
tionary army,  and  i^ter  raising  a  numerous  family  in  Virginia,  removed 
with  them  to  the  west.* 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Moorefield  a  party  of  men  Avere  mowing  for 
Peter  Casey.  They  had  placed  their  guns  under  a  large  tree  m  the  edge 
of  the  meadow,  and  old  Peter  stood  sentinel  to  watch  and  give  the  alarm 
should  the  enemy  make  their  appearance.  In  a  short  time  a  party  of  In- 
dians discovered  the  hands  at  work;  and  cautiously  crept  through  the 
bram.bles  and  shrubbery  in  order  to  get  a  position  to  make  a  deadly  fire- 
One  of  them  w^as  in  front  of  the  others,  and  liad  approached  very  near 
old  Peter  before  the  latter  saw  him,  when  the  old  man  flew  at  him  with 
his  cane  raised,  crying  out,  "By  the  Lord,  boys,  here  they  come!"  The 
Indian,  desperately  frightened,  took  to  his  heels;  the  men  fl^ew  to  their 
guns;  and  the  skulking  savages  retreated  precipitately,  without  firing  a 
single  shot.  It  is  nt^t  improbable  that  Casey  still  used  the  same  sti<?-k 
with  which  he  "knocked  Kill-buck  down.^f 

The  author  finding  this  chapter  running  to  a  tedious  and  perhaps  tire- 
some length  to  the  reader,  will  give  his  pen  a  short  respite,  and  resume 
hikj  narrative  of  Imlian  outranges  in  the  next  chapter. 


;(): 


CHAPTER  IX 


INDIAN  INCTRSIONS  AND  MASSACTvES— Continued. 


On  Stony  creek,  five  or  six  rniley  soutli-west  of  Wood stocl:^th ere  Avas  a 
a  fort  called  "Wolfe's  fort,"  where  the  people  took  shelter  Trom  the  In- 
dians for  several  years.  Mr.  Wolfe  would  sometimes  venture  out  tor  the 
purpose  of  killing  game,  and  was  always  accompanied  by  a  favorite  dog. 
On  one  particular  occ.isioi!,  this  faithful  animal  saved  his  master's  liie. — 
Mr.  W.  walked  out  with  his  gun  and  dog*,  but  had  not  proceeded  far  be- 
fore the  latter  manifested  great  alarm,  and  used  all  his  ingenuity  to  induce 
his  master  to  return.  He  repeatedly  crossed  his  path,  endeavoring  to  ob- 
struct his  Avalk;  would  raise  himself  up,  and  place  his  feet  against  his 
m-aster's  breast,  and  strive  to  push  him  back;  Avould  run  a  few  steps  to- 
wards the  foit,  and  then  return  whining.  From  the  extraordinary  mani- 
festation of  uneasiness  on  the  part  of  the  dog,  Mr.  Wolfe  began  to  sus- 
pect there  was  some  lurking  danger,  of  course  ke])t  a  sharp  look  out,  and 
soon  discovered  an  Indian  at  some  distance  behind  a  tree,  watchins:  and 


*Related  by  Col.  Isaac  Vanmetf>r..  jThe  same- 


AND  .MASSACRES,  83 


%\ailiii<>  uiiUl  Kc  should  come  iiuar  eiiouc^li  to  be  a  sure  mark.  Mr.  VV, 
imade  a  sate  retreat  into  the  fort,  and  ever  after  felt  the  highest  gratitude 
10  his  honest  and  faithful  dog.  The  dog  lived  to  be  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  probably  more.*  Ulysses's  dog  "Argus"  is  much  celebrated  in 
history;  but  it  is  very  questionable  whether  Argus  ever  rendered  more  im- 
portant services  to  his  lord  and  master.  Ulysses  was  one  of  the  command- 
ing generals  of  the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  war,  and  u-as  absent  twenty 
years,  it  is  said,  from  his  home.  The  story  of  his  dog  is  related  by  Ho- 
mer in  the  following  beautiful  poetical  effusion.:! 

Thus  near  the  gates  conferring  as  they  drew, 
Arg«s,  the  dog,  his  ancient  master  knew; 
lie,  not  unconscious  ^i'  the  voice  and  tread. 
Lifts  to  the  sound  his  ear,  and  rears  li'i?^  head; 
Kred  by  Ulysses,  nourish'd  at  his  board, 
But  ah!  not  fated  long  to  })]ease  his  lord! 
To  him,  his  swiftness  and  his  strength  were  vain; 
The  voice  of  glory  call'd  him  o'er  the  main: 
Till  then  in  every  svlvan  chase  renown'd, 
With  Argus,  Argus,  rung  the  woods  around: 
AVith  )iim  ihe  youth  pursu'd  the  goat  or  fawn, 
()r  trac'd  the  mazy  leveret  o'er  the  lawn. 
>»ow  left  to  mail's  in^^ratitude  he  lav, 
T"jihf5us'd,  neglected  in  the  public  way"; 
And  where  on  heaps  the  rich  manure  w*as  spread, 
Obsceric  with  reptiles,  took  his  sordid  bed. 

He  knew  his  lord;  he  knew,  and  strove  to  meet; 
In  y;\\\)  he  strove  to  crawl,  and  kiss  his  feet, 
Yet  (all  ho  could)  his  tail,  his  ears,  his  eyes, 
Salute  his  master,  anrl  confess  his   joys. 
Soft  pity  louch'd  the  mighty  master's  soul; 
Adown  his  cheek  a  tear  unbidden  stole, 
Stole  unpcrceiv'd:  he  turned  his  head,  anrl  dried 
The  drop  humane:  then  thus  impassion'd  cried: 

"What  noble  beast  in  this  abnndon'd  state, 
Uies  here  all  helpless  at  I'lysses'  gale? 
His  bulk  and  beauty  speak  no  vulgar  praise; 


*Moses  Russell,  Ksq.  of  tlie  roun'y  of"  I'rederick,  2;^vn  t'nr  n^thnr  a 
fletail  of  the  particulars  of  this  extraordinary  storv,  and  stated,  tiiat  when* 
he  was  a  young  man  he  once  called  at  .Mr.  WmKcVs  house  jindsaw  the  doc;. 
He  appeared  to  be  decrepit  ar^d  snlTeririg  pain,  and  he  asked  Mr.  Wolfe 
if  lie  h'i.d  not  better  kill  the  (?og,  and  put  him  out  of  miserv.  Mr.  Wolfe 
witii  much  emphasis  replie'l,  "No,  I  would  as  leadilv  consent  to  be  killed 
myself  as  to  kill  lir.it  dog,  <>r  su*^"er  him  lo  be  killed;  he  once  saved  n\\ 
lit<»',"  n)rl  y\'\  \y .  th'?ii  rel  i'«:'d  tirj  ab'^^vc  ^t''>rv.  The  dog  w:!*^  llifntwen* 
t  v-on'^  vc;irs  olrl. 

lU  i<  said  t1i;ii  Argu^  v.mn  llu' 'vdv  crealure  llnii  innnetlialelv  rocoorii/cd 
hi-;  mis'rr  mj  lii>  r-nir.i  !•>  lii'-  i.):dju-c  IV-jmu  hi'^  iaf'iit\   mmts'   wbscnce. 


sT" 


^4  i^.DlAN  INCLRSiO^S 

iij  as  he  :5ccins,  he  was  in  beftcr  days, 

vSome  care  his  age  deserves:   or  was  he  prized 

For  worthless  beauty,  therefore  now  despised? 

Such  dog-s,  and  men  there  ai"e,  mere  things  of  stat^j 

And  always  chedsh'd  by  tlieir  friends,  the  m-eat." 

"Not  Argus  so,  (En^maius  thus  rejoin'd) 
But  serv'.d  a  master  of  a  nobler  kind, 
Who  never,  never,  shall  behold  him  morel 
Long,  long  since  perish'd  on  a  distant  shor^! 
O  had  you  seen  him,  vigorous,  bold  and  young, 
v^wift  as  a  stag,  and  as  a  lion  strong; 
Him  no  fell  savage  on  the  plain  withstood, 
None  scap'd  him,  bosom'd  in  the  gloomy  wood; 
His  eye  how  piercing,  and  his  scent  how  true, 
To  wijid  the  vapor  in  the  tainted  dew? 
Such,  when  Ulysses  left  his  natal  coast, 
Now  years  uiiiierve  him,  and  his  lord  is  h}st, 
Tjlie  women  ke/jp  the  generous  ci'eature  bare, 
A  sleek  and  idle  race  is  all  tlieir  care: 
The  master  goaie,  the  servants  whtit  restrains? 
Or  dwells  liumanity  where  riot  reigns? 
J.0VG  lix'd  it  certain,  that  whatever  day 
flakes  man  a  slave,  takes  half  his  worth  away.'* 

This  said,  tlie  honest  h;:?)xlsman  strode  before: 
The  musing  i?ionarch  pauses  at  the  door. 
The  dog  whom  fate  had  granted  to  behold 
His  lord  when  twenty  tedious  years  had  roU'd, 
Takes  a  last  k)ok,  and  having  seen  him,  dies; 
80  clos'd  forever  faithful  Aro'us'  ey^^l 

There  was  no  poet  at  the  time  to  transmit  the  name  and  f-iinc  oi  Mr, 
Wolfe's  dog  to  posterity.  European  authors,  in  thfcir  prejudices,  have  oij 
various  ocif-asions  endeavored  to  ilisparage  every  thing  of  American  pro- 
diictbn.  The  Count  de  iiuffon  is  among  the  number.  Englishmen  de- 
light in  the  disparagement  of  American  quadrupeds.  In  the  Family  En- 
cyclopedia, an  Fnglish  work,  under  the  article  "dogs,"  it  is  asserted  that 
^Svhen  English  dogs  are  transported  to  other  countries,  they  degenerate, 
^nd  become  comparatively  v,'orthless1"  It  is  believed  the  anns^ls  of  the 
world  may  be  safely  (hallenged  to  produce  an  instance  of  grea'^^j'  mani- 
festation of  sagacity  and  faithful  affection  towards  a  master,  than  was  ex- 
hibited by  Mr.  Wolfe's  dog  on  the  occasion  spoken  of.     J3ut  to  return. 

At  tiie  Forks  of  G^pon  stockade.  The  men  who.  occupied  it  had  to 
-go  about ibur  miles  to  culti\ate  a  tine  fertile  field  of  low  ground,  to  pro- 
(luu'.e  bread  for  their  support.  In  the  year  1757  or  1758,  two  meji,  one 
'ftamcd  liowers,  the  other  York,  walked  to  the  Held  to  see  hovv'  thinirs 
'were  goin^"  on.  (Jn  iheir  reUn'n  lii  the  e\'(_;Ming  \\i('\  were  Vv■.';^■|ald  bv  se- 
A  en  ludinn^,  flowers  was  she^l  isiid  (':jI  (h"iiJ:  Vo!"k  r<u]^  was  pursijcd  bv 
throe  ! ii(!!.iii-,  and  took  Hcross  a  lu^li  ridge.  Oj-o  oI'  ]iir~  pwi^ucrs  tired 
•^ei'ore  h.<:'  te;iched  the  '00;   thcolhc:-:>  coiith'iue'df  tlie  ch;?se.-      -\rivr  ruuninc: 


A\T)  MASSACKES,  8a 


a  considerable  (iisiaiico,  a  second  gave  out.  Tlio  tliird  got  su  Dear  llialliei 
several  times  cxteiided  his  arm  to  seize  York,  bul  tailed,  and  Yoric  got 
safe  into  the  fort.^ 

On  Patterson's  creek,  at  the  present  site  of  Frankfort,  Asldjv's  fort  was 
erected.  It  was  at  this  phice  that  the  celebrated  race  look  place  between 
the  late  Capl.  John  Ashby  and  three  Indians.  Capt.  Ashby  had  walked 
out  from  the  fort  with  his  gun,  and  after  proceeding  some  distance  dis- 
covered three  Indians,  who  knew  him,  but  a  httle  way  off.  He  turned 
and  ran:  two  of  the  Indians  hred,  but  missed  him:  tliey  all  three  then  gave 
chase,  but  Ashby  was  too  swift  for  them;  and  when  they  saw  they  could 
not  overhaul  him,  one  of  them  called  out,  "Run,  Jack  Ashby,  run!''  He 
replied,  looking  over  his  shoulder,  "Y'ou  fools,  do  you  think!  run  booty?" 
— [with  boots.] 

Near  the  fort,  Charles  Keller  was  killed,  the  grandfather  of  .Mr.  Charles 
Keller,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  Frankfort  Hotel. f 

About  the  year  1756,  Daniel  Sullivan,  at  nine  years  of  age,  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  Indians,  with  whom  he  remained  nine  years,  when  he  was 
brought  home.  For  some  time  he  manifested  a  desire  to  return  to  the 
Indians,  but  at  length  became  reconcded,  and  vras  afte wards  their  deter- 
niined  enemy.  In  his  last  battle  with  them,  becomhig  desperately  wound- 
ed, and  his  entrails  falling  out  and  in  his  way,  he  tore  them  oH',  and  con- 
tinued to  light  until  he  Ml  and  expired.  The  Indians  after  this  consider- 
ed him  something  more  than  man.:J: 

At  the  llev.  Mr.  Jacob's  present  residence,  oji  North  Branch,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Wade  was  killed. 

Logan,  the  celebrated  Indian,  killed  Benjamin  Bovrman,  and  took 
Humphrey  Worstead  prisoner.  He  compelled  the  latter  to  halter  several 
of  his  own  and  Bowman's  horses,  and  took  them  o[f.§ 

At  a  battle  at  Oldtown,  John  Walker  killed  an  Indian  and  wounded 
another.  Walker  cutout  a  ])art  of  the  dead  Indian's  ilesh  IVom  the  thick 
part  of  his  thigh,  and  tin'cw  it  to  his  dog,  wlio  ate  it.  He  otherwise  mu- 
tilated his  body;  and  thrust  })arts  of  it  into  his  mouth. 

Tliomas  Hia,"i2:ins  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  on  the  Cohono-oruton. 
He  lived  about  four  miles  from  Bath,  but  was  driven  thence,  and  removefl 
lO  the  neighborhood  of  Gerardstown,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley.  At'ter 
his  removal,  three  of  his  sons  were  taken  off  as  prisoners,  and  never  re- 
turned. At  the  close  of  Dunraore's  war,  one  of  them  was  seen  at  Wheel- 
ing by  a  man  wiio  was  acquainted  with  his  family,  and  asked  whv  he  did 

not  come  home,  since  his  father  had  lelt  him  a   aood  tract    of  land.     He 

.  .  .  .  .       " 

rej)lied  that  he  did  not  wish  to  live  with  white  people;  they  would  always 

Cidl  him  ludian;  and  he  had  lanfl  enough. || 

'Die  wife  of  the  late  Walter  Denny,  of  Frederick  county,  wdii  taken  by 


*  Related  by  Mr.  .John  Largent. 
fMr.  Keller  stated  this  fict  to  the  author. 

+  lsaa<t  Kuykendali,  Ksq.  of  the  South  ikanch,  near  Romncv,  stated  this 
fact  to  the  author,  and  added  that  Sullivan  was  his  nearrelaticn. 
^Relited  by  Yiv,  rr;;rrit  Blue,  of  t!i<^  Ncrdi  Bran<h. 
jjlvehitcd  !)y  Mr,  J.nnes  Higgins,  ol*  llic  North  Branch. 


:86  INDIAN  I^ClllSlONS 

the  Indians  wlien  ;i  small  child,  and  grew  up  among  them.  Her  mai- 
den name  -was  Flaugherly.  After  returning  From  her  captivity,  she  mar- 
ried Waller  Denny,  who  resided  some  timt^  after  his  marriage  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Pittsburgh.  In  1774  the  Indians  advised  hirado  move  off,  as 
they  intended  to  go  to  ^x•(lY  Avith  the  whites.  iMr,.  Denny  removed  and 
settled  in  the  county  of  Frederick,  The  author  rBcollects  frequently  seeing 
this  man..  A  Miss  WiJliams  was  also  taken  about  the  same  time:  she,  too, 
grew  up  with  the  Indians.  These  two  female  children  were  taken  on 
Patterson's  creek. 

There  is  a  tradition  of  a  battle  fought  on  Patterson's  creek,  between  the 
whites  and  Indians,  the  spring  before  Braddock's  defeat;  but  the  author 
was  not  able  to  obtain  the  particuhirs,  except  that  the  Indians  were  de- 
feated. 

The  Indians  killed  Oliver  Kremer,  in  Short  Gap,  and  took  his  wife  pri- 
soner. • 

In  the  year  .1764,  a  party  of  eiofiiteen  Delawares  crossed  the  moun- 
tains.  l'urma?i's  fort  was  about  one  mile  above  the  Hanging  Rock,  on 
the  South  Bram'h.  William  Furman  and  Nimrod  Ashby  had  gone  out 
from  tlie  fort  tr*  watch  a  deer  lick  in  the  Jersey  mountain.*  The  Indians 
discovered  and  killed  them  both,  and  passed  on  into  the  county  of  Frede- 
rick, where  they  divided  into  two  parties.  One  party  of  eight  moved  on 
to  the  Cedar  creek  settlement;  the  other  of  ten  attacked  the  people  in  the 
neighborhood  of  tlie  present  residence  of  Maj.  John  White.  On  this 
place  Or,  White,  the  ancestor  of  the  White  family,  had  settled,  and  on 
bis  lai^d  a  stockade  was  erected.  The  people  in  the  neighborhood  had  ta- 
ken the  alarm,  and  were  on  their  way  to  the  fort,  Avhen  they  were  assault- 
ed by  these  ten  Inrlians.  They  killed  David  Jones  and  his  wife,  two  old 
people.  Some  of  Mrs.  Thomas'  family  were  killed,  and  she  and  one 
-daughter  take?i  off.  An  old  man  by  tlie  name  of  Llyod,  and  his  wife, 
and  several  of  his  children,  were  killed.  Esther  Lloyd,  their  daughter, 
about  thirteen  years  old,  received  three  tomahawk  wounds  in  the  head, 
"vvas  scalped,  and  left  lying,  supposed  to  be  dead.  Henry  Ciouser  and 
two  of  his  sons  y\^ere  killed,  and  his  wife  and  four  of  his  daughters  taken. 
The  youngest  daughter  was  about  two  years  old;  and  as  she  impeded  the 
mother's  travelling,  when  they  reached  the  Nortli  mountain,  the  poor  little 
innocent  babe  was  taken  by  its  heels,  its  head  dashed  against  a  tree,  and 
the  brains  beaten  out,  and  left  lying  on  the  ground.  Mrs,  Thomas  was 
taken  to  the  VVappatomaka;  but  the  river  being  pretty  full,  and  deep  ford- 
infy  they  encainoed  near  Furman's  fort  for  the  niGcht.  The  next  raornin'r 
a  party  of  white  men  fired  off  their  guns  at  the  fort,  which  alarmed  the 
Indians,  and  they  hurried  across  the  river,  assisting  all  their  female  pri- 
soners except  -Mrs.  Thomas,  who  being  quite  stout  and  strong,  was  left  to 
shift  for  herself.  The  current,  however,  proved  too  strong  for  her,  and 
^he  floated  down  the  river-— but  lodged  aj^ainst  a  rock,  upon  which  she 
crawled,  and  saved  herself  from  drowning.  Before  her  ciq)ture  she  had 
concealed  Indf  a  loaf  of  lu'ead  in.  her  bosoni,  wldrli,  durinnr  Ivcr  struggles 
in  the  water  waslicd  out,  ajid,  oii  her    rcriching    die    ro'.-k,    floated  to  !ier 


\S*i  r'ail'^d  lV<",n  its  iM'iiiH-  I'lrst  ^rrl!lrd  bv  iiu'.v-i.n" nils  troni    ,Ncw    Jcispn". 


AND  MASSACRVS.  87 

aganu  In  tins  instnnce,  llie  text  of  scripture,  "Cast  lity  hvewd  upon  the 
waters,  ibr  tlioii  shalt  Ihid  It  after  many  days,"^  might  have  some  appHca- 
tion.  It  was  not  "many  days,"  but  there  appears  to  liave  been  some- 
thing providential  in  it,  for  it  saved  her  from  extreme  sutfiering.  The  next 
morning  Mrs.  Thomas  made  her  way  to  WiUiam's  fori,  about  two  miles 
below  the  Hanging  Rock,  on  the  South  Branch. f 

The  author  has  received  from  Maj.  John  White,  of  Frederick,  another 
account  of  the  foregoing  outrages,  which  he  will  give  in,  Maj.  W.'s  own 
words: 

^^[n  July,  1763,  information  was  received  by  the  kte  Maj.  Robeit 
White,  (who  had  a  small  fort  around  his  house  as  Tin  asylum  for  the  peo- 
ple in  the  neighborhood,)  that  Indians  had  been  seen  on  that  or  the  prece- 
dinp'  day  on  Capon.  He  immediately  went  to  the  several  families  living 
near  the  base  of  the  North  mountain,  as  far  as  to  Owen  Thomas^,  five  or 
six  miles  from  the  fort,  told  them  of  the  report,  and  advised  them  to  go 
into  the  fort  until  the  danger  should  be  over.  It  being  harvest  timx?, 
Owen  Thomas  was  unwilling  to  leave  home,  and  mounted  a  horse  to  go 
to  his  neighbor  Jacob  Kackley's,  who  had  several  sons  grown,  to  propose 
to  arm  themselves  and  w^ork  together  in  their  respective  grain  fields;,  but 
on  his  way  to  Mr.  Kackley's  he  Avas  shot  dead  and  scalped,  the  Indian* 
having  concealed  themselves  behind  two  logs  that  lay  one  across  the  other 
near  lhe  road. 

"In  June,  17(54,  similar  information  of  Indians  being  seen  was  receiv- 
ed at  tlie  fort.  ^I«ij.  White,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  went  in  the  after- 
noon to  warn  the  people  of  their  danger;  when  the  widow  Thomas,  Mr, 
Jones  and  Mr.  Clouser,  set  oflf'  whh  their  families  for  the  fo^t;  but  night 
coming  on  when  they  reached  Mr.  Lloyd's,  (about  tw^o  miles  from  the 
fort,)  they  concluded  to  stay  there  all  night.  In  the  morning,  as  soon  as 
(lay  appeared,  they  resumed  their  journey;  but  before  they  were  out  of 
sight  of  the  house,  the  Indians  attacked  them,  and  killed,  v>'ounded,  or 
took  prisoners  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  persons.  Evan  Thomas,  a 
son  of  the  man  killed  the  preceding  summer,  a  boy  of  seven  years  old,  ran 
back  into  the  house,  anfl  hid  himself  behind  some  puncheons  that  he  pla- 
ced across  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  remained  concealed,  notwithstanding 
the  Indians  brought  the  prisoners  into  the  house,  among  whom  were  his 
mother  and  sister,  both  tied,  and  kept  them  there  till  they  tried  bacon  and 
ate  their  breakfast;  they  then  set  hre  to  the  house  in  two  places,  and  went 
away.  Evan  said  he  continued  in  the  house  as  long  as  he  could  on  ac- 
count of  the  fire;  that  he  saw  through  a  chink  in  the  w^all  the  direction 
the  Indians  went;  and  not  knowing  which  way  lo  go,  he  concluded  to 
take  the  (contrary  course  from  the  one  taken  by  them.  He  rambled  about 
all  tliat  day  and  the  most  of  the  next  before  he  found  any  person,  the  hou- 
ses wliich  he  passed  having  been  abandoned  by  their  owners  going  to  the 
fort,  'i'be  Indians  encamped  th<>  first  night  at  a  spring  on  the  Romney 
road,  between  the  North  river  and  Little    Capon;   and   on    the   next    d\iy 


^Ecclesiastics,  11th  chap.  1st   verse. 

f  Mr.  Gerril  Blue  stated  to  the  author  that  he  was  then  a  small  boy,  but 
well  recollects  seeing  Mrs.  Thomas  when  she  got  into  the  fort. 


88  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

lliev  £lO]>prtl  oil  tlie  brJil:  of  liic  Soiitli  BnuKh,  near  wlif-re  Paimnoy  now' 
slaiuls,  \()  cat  iIkmi-  dinner.  A\'lii]e  thus  enga<2,e(l,  a  party  ^vlio  were  Sta- 
tioned in  a  fort  a  jiiile  or  two  lower  down  t}ie  river,  and  Vv'lio  Jiad  just  re- 
tiirned  I'rorn  a  scout,  discharged  their  guns  in  order  to  clean  them,  which 
alarmed  the  Indians,  and  they  hurried  across  the  river,  assisting  ail  their 
i'emale  prisoners  excepting  ^\ys.  Thomas,  who  being  a  large  fat  woman, 
it  was  supposed  would  perish,  as  tlie  Vv-ater  was  rapid  and  deep.  She 
floated  down  the  stream,  hovrever,  until  almost  exhausted,  when  she  had 
the  good  fortune  to  get  on  a  rock,  and  save  herself  from  drowning.  She 
liad  put  a  piece  of  bread  in  her  bosom  the  morning  she  Y\'as  taken,  and 
lost  it  in  tlie  v.-a1er;  buT  it  happened  to  float  so  near  her  while  on  the  rock 
that  she  caught  it  and  ale  it;  wliich,  as  she  said,  so  revived  and  strength- 
ened her  that  she  plunged  into  tlie  water  again,  and  providentially  got  out 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  She  reached  \\  illiams'  fort,  two  miles  be- 
low the  Hanging  Rock,  on  the  same  day.  It  was  often  remarked  by 
Mrs.  Thomas'  acquaintances,  that  after  her  return  she  would  minutelv  re-- 
late  the  circumstances  attending  the  murder  of  her  husband  and  children,, 
and  her  own  sufferings,  without  shedding  a  tear.  Either  live  or  seven  oT 
the  persons  wounded  by  the  Indians,  were  taken  to  the  fort  at  Maj.  Rob- 
ert White's,  and  attended  by  Dr.  M'Uonahl,  though  but  one  recovered, 
Hester  Lloyd,  who  had  two  scalps  taken  from  her." 

Mrs.  Thomas'  daughter,  and  Mrs.  Clouser  and  her  three  small  daugh- 
ters, were  taken  to  the  Indian  towns,  and  after  an  absence  of  about  six 
months,  were  released  from  captivity,  and  all  returned  home  safely. 

There  is  something:  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the  three  Miss  Obu- 
sers,  who  were  all  prisoners  at  the  same  time.  The  eldest  was  about  ten 
years  old,  tlie  next  eldest  about  seven,  and  the  youno-est  betAveen  five  and 
six.  Hiev  all  returned  home  from  their  captivity,  grew  up,  were  marriedy 
raised  families  of  children,  and  aie  now  widows,  living  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood, not  more  than  five  or  six  mile?  apart.  Two  of  them,  Mrs, 
Shultz  and  ?^Iis.  Snapp,  reside  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  resi- 
dence of  the  author,  and  the  third,  Mrs.  Fry,  not  exceeding  six  miles. 

Miss  Lloyd,  who  was  "tomahawked  and  scalped,"  was  soon  discover- 
ed not  to  be  dead.  The  late  Dr.  M'Donald  was  sent  for,  who  trepanned 
her  in  the  several  fractures  in  her  head.  She  reco^■ered  and  lived  many 
years  after.  Tliere  are  several  r(>spectanle  individuals  now  living  who 
knew  this  woman.'*' 

The  other  party  of  ei^-iit  Indians  committed  several  murder;?  on  Cedar 
creek.  It  is^  probable  this  party  killed  a  ?vlr.  Lylc,  a  M;:  liuller,  and 
some  others.  Mr.  Kills  Thomas,  the  husband  of  the  woman  whose  sto- 
ry has  jiist  beeen  given,  was  killed  the  harvest  preceding.  This  party  of 
eight  Indians  took  off  tv.-o  female  prisoners,  were  pursued  by  a  party  of 
w-hitc  men,  overtaken  in  tlie  South  Branch  mountam.  and  fired  upon, 
when  one  of  the  Indians  was  kiJicrl.      Tlie  others  f,cd^  leaving  their  gunSy 


^General  Smith,  Maj.  l\,  D.  Glass,  Mi^s  Su-^nn  Glass,  Mrs.  Shultz^ 
and  Mrs.  Snapp,  severally  slated  to  the  author  that  they  frequently  saw 
this  woman  after  she  recovered  ironi  her  wounds.  Mrs.  Shultz  states  that 
it  was  on  the  first  day  of  June  the  outra<.re  Avas  c  (-mmitted. 


AND  MASSACRES.  89 

« 

prisoners,  and  plunder.*  The  prisoners  and  property  were  brought  home. 
Two  ol  the  fLii:cii.ives  overtook  the  party  in  the  Alieo-anv  mountain  who 
had  Mrs;  Clouser,  her  daughters,  and  other  prisoners,  in  custody.  The 
fugitives  appeared  in  desperate  ill  humor,  and  proposed  to  murder  the  pri- 
soners; but  the  others  peremptorily  objected,  and  would  not  sufFjr  their 
prisoners  to  be  injured. f 

The  same  year,  1764,  a  party  of  eight  Indians,  with  a  white  man  by 
*.he  name  of  Abraham  Mitchell,  killed  George  Miller,  his  wife  and  two 
children,  within  about  two  miles  of  Strasburg.  They  also  the  same  day 
killed  John  Dellinger  on  the  land  now  the  residence  of  Capt.  Anthony 
Spengler,  adjoining  the  town,  and  took  Rachel  Dellinger,  with  her  infant 
child,  prisoners.  It  was  a  male  child,  very  stout,  and  heavy  of  its  age. 
in  crossing  Sandy  ridge,  west  of  Capon  river,  this  child  had  its  brams 
beaten  out  against  a  tree.  A  party  of  white  men  pursued  them,  over- 
took them  in  the  South  Branch  mountain,  iired  upon  them,  and  killed  one, 
\vhen  the  others  fled,  leaving  every  thing  behind.  Rachel  Dellinger  was 
brought  home,  and  stated  that  the  un])rincipled  scounth-el  Mitchell  was 
W'ith  the  Indians.  About  twelve  months  before,  Mitchell  had  been  pun- 
ished for  a  petty  act  of  theft,  while  the  people  were  at  Bowman's  Ibrt. — 
Miller  and  Dellinger  inflicted  the  punishment. I 

At  the  massacre  of  the  people  near  White's  fort,  one  of  Mrs.  Thomas' 
daughters,  when  the  people  were  preparing  to  go  to  the  fort,  VN-as  request- 
ed by  Mrs.  Clouser  to  take  a  bottle  of  milk  in  her  hand,  and  carry  it  to 
the  fort.  When  the  Indians  assailed  them,  this  young  woman  concealed 
herself  behind  a  tree,  and  finally  escaped.  As  soon  as  she  could  run  off 
without  being  discovered,  she  started  and  ran  eight  or  nine  m.iles  with  the 
bottle  of  milk  in  her  hand.  She  was  met  by  two  of  the  Fawcetts,  near 
their  residence,  informed  them  of  what  had  happened,  and  they  ibrlhwith 
removed  their  families  to  Stephens'  fort.§ 

A  little  son  of  Mrs,  Thomas  concealed  himself  nnder  a  pile  of  flax, 
which  the  Indians  set  on  fire.  As  the  fire  progressed,  the  little  feilow 
kept  in  a  direction  to  avoid  it,  while  the  smoke  concealed  him  from  the 
sight  of  the  enemy,  and  he  got  safe  to  the  fort, 

Thomas  Pu^-h  resided  at  the  time  on  the  farm,  late  the  residence  of  Mr, 
John  M'(  ■ool,  QiQ-hi  or  nine  miles  north  west  of  Winchester.  The  same 
party  of  Indians  who  committed  the  outrage  near  White's  fort,  on  the 
night  after  were  lurking  about  Mr.  Pugh's  house.  His  dog  gnve  the  alarm; 
and  from  his  singular  beliavior,  and  manifestations  of  rage,  (as  if  iie  were 


*Mose.s  Russell,  Esq. 

jMrs.  Shultzand  Mrs.  Snapp. 

iThe  late  Mrs,  Brinker  related  the  particulars  of  thesp  ocrtirrences  to 
the  author.  Miijor  Isaac  1  lite  recollects  when  Miller  and  Dellinger  were- 
killed. 

§Stcphen's  fort  was  at  the  spot  Avhere  Zane's  iron  works  were  afler- 
wards  erected  on  Cedar  creek.  Mr.  Elislia  Fawrett,  a  ne:ir  neighbor  ot 
the  author,  a  highly  ^f^spectable  and  intelligent  man,  stated  to  the  author 
that  he  had  frequent Iv  heard  his  father  and  uncle  speak  of  this  occorreucc. 

M 


m  INDIAN  INCURSIOX.s 

cno-ao'ed  'iih  a  rurious  battle,)  Mr.  PwAi  cautiouf.lv  looked  out  at  a  wiiKiOW 
and  although  it  was  rather  a  dark  night,  he  discovered  several  Indians 
looklnp'  over  a  cluster  (if  briars  but  a  short  distance  from  his  house.  He 
and  his  wife  and  children  immediately  retreated  through  aback  door  and 
pushed  off.  They  had  not  gone  far,  before  Pugh  recollected  his  money; 
he  tui'ned  back,  got  into  the  house,  secured  his  money,  took  it  Avith  him, 
and  saved  himself  and  family  from  injury.  Daring  the  whole  time  Pugh 
and  his  family  were  making  their  escape,  the  dog  continued  his  uproar, 
and  as  soon  as  they  were  out  of  danger,  followed  them.*  The  Indians 
broke  into  the  house,  robbed  it  of  what  they  chose,  and  destroyed  the 
furniture;  but  they  difi  not  burn  the  building.  It  is  said  they  burnt 
comparatively  but  a  few  houses,  because  they  expected  to  reconquer  the 
countrv,  and  return  to  inhabit  it ;  in  which  event  thev  would  have  comfor- 
table  houses  ready  built  to  their  hands  ;  hence  tliey  generally  spared  the 
buildings. 

About  the  year  1765,  the  Indiaiis  made  their  appearance  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Woodstock,  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah.  On  NarroAV  Pas- 
saofe  creek,  eip'hteen  or  twentv  women  and  children  had  collected  tog^etiier, 
in  order  to  go  to  the  fort  at  Woodstock.  An  old  man  by  the  name  of 
Geors^e  Sider  v;as  vviththem.  Five  Indians  attacked  them.  Sioler,  af- 
ter  firing,  and  wounding  one  in  the  leg,  clubbed  his  gun  and  fouglit  to 
despereition.  While  h.e  was  thus  engaged,  the  women  and  children  made 
their  escape,  and  got  safe  from  the  fort.  Sigler  broke  his  gun  over  the 
heads  of  the  enemy,  vv-ouruh^d  several  of  them  })retty  severely,  and  re- 
ceived himself  several  wounds,  but  continued  the  fight  until  he  fell  from 
the  loss  of  blood,  when  his  merciless  enemies  mano'led  his  body  in  a  man- 
ner  shocking  to  behohLf 

In  1766  the  Indians  made  another  visit  to  ilie  neighborhood  of  Wood- 
stock. Two  men,  by  the  name  of  Sheetz  and  Taylor,  had  taken  their 
wives  and  children  info  a  wagon,  and  were  on  their  way  to  the  fort.  At 
the  Narrow  Passage,  three  miles  south  of  W^oodstock,  five  Indians  attack- 
ed them.  The  two  men  were  killed  at  the  first  onset,  and  the  Indians 
rushed  to  seize  tlie  women  and  children.  The  women,  instead  of  swoon- 
ing at  the  sio-ht  of  their  bleeding",  expirimi  husbands,  seized  their  axes, 
and  with  Amazonian  finnness,  and  strength  almost  superhuman,  defend- 
ed themselves  and  cbikhen.  One  of  the  Indians  had  succeeded  in  ""ettini^' 
hold  of  one  of  Mrs.  8hee1z^s  children,  and  attempted  to  drag  it  out  of 
the  wagon  ;  but  with  the  quickness  of  lightning  she  caught  her  child  in 
one  hand,  and  with  the  otlier  made  a  blow  at  the  head  of  the  fellow,  which 
caused  him  to  quit  his  hold  to  save  his  life.-  Several  of  the  Indians  re- 
ceived pretty  sore  wounds  in  this  desperate  conflict,  und  all  at  last  ran  off, 
leavino;  the  two  wonien  v^ith  their  children  to  ivursue  their  Vv^ay  to  the  fort. 


*Mr.  Jose})h  Hackney  iulbrmed  the  author  that  lie  had  frequently  heard 
Mi.  Pugh  relate  this  occurrence.  I'his  is  another  instance  of  the  extra- 
ordinary evidence  of  tlie  sacracitv  and  affection  of  the  dog;,  and  is  little  ir> 
ienor  to  the  story  of  Mr.  Wolfe's  doa". 

jMr.  Christian  Miller,  a  veiy  aged  and  intehigent  man,  gave  the  author 
Uus  narrative. 


AM)  MASSACRES.  95. 

In  ihc  lallcr  palt  of  Augu:5t,  the  same  year,  a  parn  of  eight  Indians 
"•and  a  worthless  viUian  of  a  v.'hite  man  crossed  Powell's  Fort  moiintaiiij 
to  the  South  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  ai  the  late  residence  of  John  Gate* 
wood,  Esq.  where  the  Rev.  John  Roads,  aMenonist  preacher  of  the  GJos- 
pel,  then  lived.  Mr.  R.,  his  wife,  and  three  of  his  sons,  were  murdered. 
Mr.  Roads  was  standing  in  iiis  door,  Yvhen  he  was  shot  and  tell  dead. — 
Mrs.  Roads  and  one  of  her  sons  were  killed  in  the  yard.  One  of  the 
voun^i'  men  was  at  the  distance  of  about  one  Imndred  and  liftv  yaixlsfrom 
the  house,  in  a  corn  field,  liearino-  the  renort  of  the  o-uns  at  the  house, 
he  ascended  a  pear  tree  to  see  what  it  meant,  where  he  v/as  discovered  by 
an  Indian  and  instantly  killed-.  The  thuxl  poor  young  lad  attempted  to 
save  himself  by  flight,  and  to  cross  the  river,  but  vras  pursued  and  killed 
in  the  river.  The  place  is  called  the  iiloodv  ford  to  this  day.  The  ene- 
ray  demanded  of  tire  youih  who  was  killed  in  the  yard,  where  his  father 
kept  his  m.oney  ;  and  was  told  tliat  if  he  did  not  immediately  point  out 
the  place,  they  wotdd  kill  him  ;  but  if  he  would  show  them  the  money, 
his  life  should  be  spared.  On  his  declaring  he  could  not  tell  them,  he 
was  instantlv  shot  and  fell  dead.  Mr.  Roads'  eldest  daumiter  Elizabeth 
caught  up  her  little  sister,  a  child  aljout  sixteen  or  eighteen  months  old, 
ran  into  the  barn,  and  secured  the  door.  An  Indian  discovered  and  pur- 
sued her,  and  attempted  to  force  open  the  door  ;  but  not  succeeding:,  he 
with  many  oaths  and  thi-eats  ordered  her  to  open  it.  On  lier  refusing,  the 
fellow  ran  back  to  the  house  to  get  fire  ;  and  vrhile  he  was  gone,  Eliza- 
beth crept  out  a  liole  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  barn,  yvidi  her  little  sis* 
ter  in  her  arms,  ran  through  a  field  of  tali  hemp,  crossed  the  river,  and 
got  safe  to  a  neighboring  house,  and  thus  saved  Jierself  and  sister. 

After  plundering  the  house  of  such  articles  as  thev  chose  to  take,  Ihc 
Indians  set  fire  to  all  the  builiino'S,  and  left  the  dead  hodv  of  Mr.  Roads 
to  be  consumed  in  the  flames.*  They  then  moved  oiT,  laking  with  them 
two  of  the  sons  and  two  of  the  dauL'iiters  prisoners,  'i'he  youno'est  pri- 
soner  was  a  weak,  sickly  little  boy,  eight  or  nine  \e  rs  ({  v.^q.\  he  of 
course  was  not  able  to  stand  the  fatio-ue  of  travetinii";  iind  crossinir  the 
head  of  Powell's  fort,  they  killed  him.  His  two  sisters  then  refusing  to 
Ji^o  any  farther  with  them,  were  barbarously  nnirdered,  and  tiieir  bodies 
1  )ft  a  prey  to  wolves  and  other  wild  beasts.  '\\\it  othei-  boy  was  taken 
off'  and  remained  ah()Ut  three  years  in  captivity  befoi-e  he  returned  home. 
It  was  g<Mieraliv  believed  at  the  time,  that  the  white  sc(uindrel  who  was 
with  the  Indians,  induced  ihein  to  commit  this  ho!rid  murder,  inorrler  to 
rob  .Mr.  Roads  of  his  monev",  bill  he  missed  his  objec*.  Mr,  Roads  kept 
his  money  and  title  pripers  in  a  niclie  in  the  cellar  wall,  ilie  dampness  and 
coolness  of  which  preserved  them  from  injury.      They  were  idl  found  safe-. 

It  was  unite  a  common  tiiiii!/  with  the  Germans  to  have    garners    fixed 


*Mrs.  Stover,  l)n*  mo'hei-  vX  l);in;el  Stover,  I'Nfi.,  now  of  Page  county, 
stated  to  the  author  tfuit  sli'-  was  then  about  liftiM^!  yciii-s  old,  and  di'x- 
tinctly  saw  i!k'  houses  in  fbuufs  from  h«r  l";»ther's  rr'sideneo,  nbout  two 
miles  ofl'_,  on  iIk-  f»pj)ositc  side  ni'  ilv  livor:  nnd  l!u'  ih-vI  (\^\  the  *neigli- 
borinq;  p«")p!'-  '•olliftmix  **'  '^'i-v  -^i''  ^l^-'d,  l^uud  Mr.  Roads'  bedy  about 
b.ili'  cojjsunK.'d. 


02  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

in  their  garrets  to  preserve  their  grain.  There  ^vas  a  quantity  of  rye  aloft 
in  the  chYcHing  house,  which  was  burnt  to  coal ;  and  as  the  floors  gave 
way  to  the  flames,  the  rye  fell  in  a  considerable  body  into  the  cellar.  At 
any  time  upon  digging  into  the  ruins  of  the  cellar,  the  grains  of  rye,  or 
rather  coal,  can  be  found — the  shape  of  the  graiii  being  as  perfect  as 
when  in  its  natural  state. 

With  this  bloody  tragedy  ended  the  irruptions  of  the  savages  upon  the 
people  of  the  valley.  This  was  the  last  great  outrage  of  savage  warfare 
conimittcd  cast  of  the  North  mountain. 

There  are  several  other  interesting  occurrences  which  the  autlior  over- 
looked and  omitted  to  record  in  du(;  order  of  time.  They  are  of  a  char- 
acler  too  interesting  to  be  lost  in  the  history  of  our  country.  He  will 
therefore  proceed  to  relate  them. 

About  the  year  1760,  two  Indians  were  discovered  lurking  in  the 
neiirhborhood  of  Mill  creek,  IMatthias  l^a inter,  John  Painter  and  William 
Moore,  armed  themselves  and  went  in  pursuit.  They  had  not  proceeded 
far,  before  Ihey  approached  a  large  fallen  pine,  with  a  very  buslw  top. — 
As  they  neared  the  tree,  Matthias  Painter  observed,  "We  had  better  look 
sharp  ;  it  is  quite  likely  the  Indians  are  concealed  under  the  tops  of  this 
tree/'  He  had  scarcely  uttered  the  words  before  one  of  the  Indians  rose 
np  and  fired.  Hie  ball  grazed  the  temple  of  John  Painter.  Moore  and 
Painter  fired  at  the  same  instant ;  one  of  their  balls  passed  through  the 
Indian's  body,  and  he  fell,  they  supposed  dead  enough.  The  other  fellow 
fled,  leaving  his  gun  and  every  thing  else  behind.  The  white  men  pur- 
sued him  s  )me  distance,  but  the  fugitive  was  too  fleet  ibr  them.  Finding 
they  could  not  overhaul  him,  they  gave  up  the  chase  and  returned  to  the 
pine  tree  :  but  to  their  astonishment,  the  supposed  dead  Indian  liad  mo- 
ved off  with  both  guns  and  a  large  pack  of  skins,  &c.  They  pursued  his 
trad,  ana  when  he  found  they  were  gaining  upon  him,  he  got  into  a  sink 
hole,  and  as  ^oon  as  they  approached  pretty  near,  cornrnenced  flring  at 
them.  He  had  poured  out  a  quantity  of  powder  on  dry  leaves,  filled  his 
mouth  with  bullets,  and  using  a  musket  which  Avas  a  self-primef,  he  was 
enabled  to  load  with  astonishing  qidckness.  He  thus  fired  at  least  thirty 
times  before  ihey  could  get  a  chance  to  dispatch  him.  At  last  Mr.  Moore 
got,  an  opportunity,  and  shot  him  througli  the  head.  Moore  and  Painter 
had  many  disputes  which  give  the  fellovr  the  first  wound.  Fainter,  at 
length,  yieldcci,  and  Moore  got  the  premium  allovred  by  lavv'  for  Indian 
scalps.* 

Thetu^ritive  who  made  liis  escape,  unfortun'Kely  met  with  Kyour{.""wo- 
man  on  horseback,  named  Seehon,  whom  he  tore  from  her  hoi'se,  and  for- 
ced off  Vs-ith  him.  This  occurred  near  the  present  site  of  Newmarket,  in 
the  countv  of  Shenandoah.  After  traveling  about 'wenty  miles,  chiefly 
in  tiie  nJGfht,  and  getting  nearly  opposite  Keisletown,  in  the  county  of 
Rf">ckino-ham,  it  is  supposed  the  poor  girl  broke  doAvn  fronr  iaiigue,  and 
the  savage  monster  beat  her  to  death  ^viih  a  heavy  pine  knot.  Her 
screams  were  heard  by  some  people  thai  li\ed  upwards  of  a  mile  from  the 


^Mr.  Gcori^r  Ppinler  rommuniC'if'^'l  'h.is  ad^•^;•llur;^  to  ihc  au^lior. 


AND  .MASSACRES.  93 

scrne  of  horror,  and  who  next  day  on  going  to  the  place  to  ascertain  the 
cause,  found  her  stripped  naked,  and  wekernig  in  her  blood.* 

At  the  attack  on  George  Ivliller's  family,  the  persons  killed  were  a  short 
distance  from  the  house,  spreading  flax  in  a  meadow.  One  of  3.1iller's 
little  daughters  was  sick  in  bed.  Hearing  the  firing,  she  jumped  up,  and 
lookino^  throuMi  a  window  and  seeino'  what  was  done,  immeaiatcly  oasL- 
cd  out  at  a  back  window,  and  ran  about  two  or  three  miles,  down  to  the 
present  residence  of  David  Stickley,  Esq.  and  from  thence  to  Geo.  Low- 
man's  on  Cedar  creek,  giving  notice  at  each  place.  Col.  Abraham  Bow- 
man, of  Kentucky,  then  a  lad  of  sixteen  or  seventeen,  had  but  a  few  mi- 
nutes before  passed  close  by  Miller's  door,  and  at  first  doubted  the  little 
girl's  statement.  lie  however  armed  himself,  mounted  his  horse,  and  in 
riding  to  the  scene  of  action,  was  joined  by  several  others  wlio  had  turn- 
ed out  for  the  same  purpose,  and  scon  found  the  information  of  ihc  little 
girl  too  fatally  true. 

The  late  Mr.  Thomas  Nevrell,  of  Shenandoah  count}'',  informed  the  au- 
thor that  he  was  then  a  young  man.  His  father's  residence  was  about  one 
mile  from  Miller's  house  ;  and  hearing  the  firing,  he  instantly  took  his  ri- 
fle, and  ran  to  see  wdiat  it  meant.  When  he  arrived  at  the  spot,  he  found 
Miller,  his  wife,  emd  tw'o  children,  weltering  in  their  blood,  and  still  bleed- 
ing. He  was  the  first  person  who  arrived  ;  and  in  a  very  few  minutes 
Eov.mian  and  several  others  joined  him.  From  the  scene  of  murder  they 
went  to  the  house,  and  on  the  sill  of  the  door  lay  a  large  folio  German  Bi- 
ble, on  which  a  fresh  killed  rat  w-as  thrown.  On  taking  up  the  jiible  it 
was  discovered  that  lire  had  been  placed  in  it ;  but  after  burning  through 
a  few  leaves,  the  weight  of  that  part  of  the  boo]-:  whicii^  lay  uppermost, 
together  with  the  weight  of  the  cat,  had  so  compressed  the  leaves  as  to 
smother  and  extinguish  the  fire.f 

In  the  year  17.68,  Capt.  William  White,  a  brave  and  active  Indian 
fighter,  made  a  visit  to  Col.  Wm.  Crawford,  wdio  had  removed  and  vet  tied 
at  the  Meaflows  in  the  Allegany  mountains.  White  lived  on  Cedar  creek, 
and  Crawford  had  lived  on  Bull-skin.  They  had  been  out  together  en 
Indian  expeditions  ;  of  course  were  well  acquainted.  Crawford  harl  an 
Irish  servant,  a  pretty  stout  ajid  active  man,  who  was  permlltCvl  In  ac- 
company White  on  a  hunting  excursion.  They  had  not  been  out  Icmg 
before  they  discovered  two  Indians  in  the  glades.  The  latter,  the  mo- 
ment they  discovered  the  two  white  men,  Hew  behind  trees,  and  prcparo<l 
for  battle.  White  and  his  Irishman,  however,  soon  out- generaled  them, 
and  killed  them  both.  They  were  soon  after  a})prehended,  anrl  commit- 
ted to  Winchester  jail  on  a  charge  of  murder.     But  V\'hite  had  rendered 

*Mrs.  Branaman,  an  aged  and  respectable  old  lady  near  Penny  backer''^ 
iron  works,  gave  the  author  this  information. 

fThis  |->ib!e  is  nov.'  in  the  possession  'of  Mr.  (Jeorge  Miller,  of  She- 
nandoah county,  about  one  a  half  miles  south  of  Zaiie's  old  iron  works. 
The  author  saw  and  examined  it.  'i'he  fire  had  been  placed  about  the 
rrntre  of  the  id  book  of  Samuel,  burnt  throucrh  fourteen  leaves,  wnd  en- 
tirely out  at  one  end.  It  is  pre:s(Tved  in  the  Mi!l<M-  family,  as  u  sacred  le- 
iic  Of  rncmi'ijtn  of  the  sacrifice  of  their  ancestors. 


94  INDIAN  INCURSIONS 

his  neighbors  too  many  important  services,  and  was  too  popular,  to  "be 
pjrmit.ed  to  languish  loaded  with  irons  in  a  dungeon  for  killing  Indians. 
Altlioujih  the  Indian  hostilities  had  entirely  ceased,  too  many  individuals 
were  smarting  under  a  recollection  of  the  outrages  they  had  but  recently 
experienced  at  the  hands  of  tiieu'  merciless,  savage,  and  implacable  foe. 
Soon  after  White  and  his  pariner  in  the  charge  were  committed  to  jail, 
Capt.  Abraham  Fry  raise(i  a  party  of  fiity-five  or  sixty  volunteers,  well 
armed  and  mounted,  to  effect  their  rescue.  They  dismounted  ne'rir  the 
present  site  of  JNlr.  Isaac  Rollings wortli's  dwelling  house,  where  they  left 
their  horses  under  a  guard  of  a  iew^  men,  and  marched  into  Winchester 
about  daybreak  next  morning.  They  repaired  directly  to  the  jail  door, 
knocked  up  the  jader,  and  demanded  the  keys.  .  The  jailer  hesitated, 
•and  attempted  to  remonstrate.  Fry  presented  his  rifle,  cocked  it,  and 
peremptorily  flemanded  the  keys,  telling  the  jailer  he  would  be  a  dead 
man  in  one  minute  if  he  did  not  deliver  them.  The  jailer  quaikd  under 
the  fiery  countenance  and  stern  menaces  of  Fry,  and-complied.  Fry  pla- 
ced a  guard  at  the  door,  went  in,  knocked  off  their  irons,  and  took  the 
prisoners  out.  The  late  Robert  Rutherford  attempted  to  harangue  the 
mob  upon  the  impropriety  and  danger  of  their  proceedings  ;  but  he  might 
as  well  have  addressed  himself  t©  so  many  lions  or  tigers.  As  Fry's  par- 
ty mirched  into  the  town,  it  created  considerable  alarm  and  excitement. — ■ 
Thev>\nnen,  half  dressed,  were  seen  running  from  house  to  house  and 
'calling  out,  "Well  done,  brave  fellows,  good  luck  to  you  brave  boys." — 
This  cheering  of  Fry's  party  at  once  convinced  them  that  the  public  sym- 
pithy  and  good  feeling  vrei-e  on  their  sid(\  The  prisor.ers  wei-e  taken  off 
and  set  at  ii!)erty.  Capt.  White  afterwards  distinguished  himself  at  the 
bloody  battle  of  the  Point,  under  Col.  Sevier. 

The  author  had  heard  s(miething  of  this  story  more  than  forty  years 
ago.  The  late  Capt.  .James  Wilson,  of  the  neighborhood  of  Stephens- 
burg,  had  stated  some  of  the  particulars,  but  not  sufficiently  connected  to 
give  to  the  world.  The  author  was  therefore  apprehensive  that  he  would 
not  be  able  at  this  late  period  to  collect  the  facts.  ^Yhilst  engaged  in  ob- 
taining materials  for  this  work,  he  called  on  the  hde  Thomas  Newell,  of 
Shenandoah,  and  among  other  thnigs  ino.uired  of  him  whether  he  had  any 
-knowled,<>-e  or  recollection  of  the  affair.  This  venerable  m.an,  then  ninety- 
three  years  of  ao-e,  in  his  second  childhood,  and  his  recollection  of  recent 
events  entirelv  ":one,  the  jnoment  the  innuiiy  v\'as  made,  with  m.uch  ani- 
matioii  and  a  cheerful  countenance,  replied,  "Yes,  my  friend,  .1  reckon  I 
can  tell  you,  when  I  was  one  of  the  very  boys."  The  author  then  asked 
the  old  genUeman  whether  he  would  have  any  objection  to  his  nnme  be- 
ing given  as  authority,  and  as  one  of  Fry's  party.  He  replied  with  equal 
armnation  and  emphasis,  "No,  my  friend,  I  always  gloried  in  Avhat  I  did." 
Moses  Russe:l,'Esq,  informed  the  author  that  his  two  elder  brothers 
w^ere  of  Fry's  party,  and  that  if  he  had  been  old  enough,  he  v^'ould  doubt- 
less ha\e  been  amona' them.  But  he  had  more  dran  once  heard  one  of 
his  brother's  speak  (>f  this  occurrence  with  great  rer;-ret,  cii-.d  lament  the 
])art  he  had  taken  in.  it.  Gen.  Smith  recollects  hearing  miich  said  on  this 
subject  soon  after  he  came  to  Winchester  to  live.  To  s-ty  the  least  of  it, 
'it  was  a  dangerous  precedent  in  a  civilized  society.     There  is  <inollier  in- 


AND  MASSACMiES.  95 

tllvklual,  how  living  in  llie  neiglibomood  of  the  autlioi's  losidcnt-c,  who 
was  of  Fry's  party,  and  is  now  about  eighty  years  of  age,  who  was  an 
active  and  useful  character  in  the  war  of  tlie  revolution,  anrl  from  him  the 
author  obtained  many  particulars  of  this  occurrence ;  but  as  he  never  for- 
mally authorized  the  use  of  his  name  publicly,  it  is  withheld.  It  was 
from  the  information  of  this  individual  that  the  author  was  enabled  to  find 
the  year  when  this  important  occurrence  took  place. 

After  the  most  diligent  inquiry,  the  author  could  not  ascertain  whether 
the  murder  of  these  two  Indians  was  followed  by  any  .acts  of  retaliation 
on  the  part  of  the  savages. 

The  same  year  (1768)  a  worthless  character  by  the  name  of  Jolm  Price 
committed  a  most  w^anton  and  unprovoked  murder  on  the  body  of  a  pop- 
ular young  Indian  chief.  Price  had  resided  several  years  in  the  Hawks- 
bill  settlement.  He  went  out  to  the  Indian  country  under  the  character  of 
an  Indian  trader,  and  soon  formed  an  acquaintance  Avith  this  youno-  war 
chief.  Price  w^as  an  expert  marksman  and  experienced  hunter,  and  soon 
acquired  the  confidence  and  attachment  of  the  young  warrior,  'i'hey  fre- 
quendy  took  hunting  excursions  ;  in  the  last  of  Avhich,  luiving  wandered 
a  considerable  distance  from  the  Indian  habitations.  Price  shot  the  young 
man  dead,  I'obbed  him  of  his  rifle,  a  few  silver  ornaments  and  huntinfr 
dress,  and  left  him  lying  in  the  wilderness  ;  then  pushed  home,  boasting 
of  what  he  had  done,  and  showed  his  ill-gotten  booty. 

A  few  days  after  Price's  return  home,  Lewis  Bingaman,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  w^hen  a  boy,  and  who  grew^  up  and  became  a  distinguished  man, 
(v.'hich  has  been  heretofore  noticed,)  came  in  at  the  head  of  thirty  war- 
riors in  pursuit  of  Price.  He  made  himself  known  to  Frederick  Offen- 
ber2:er,  and  told  what  Price  had  done  ;  said  that  he  would  q-q  to  Price,  and 
propose"  to  take  a  hunt ;  that  his  Avarriors  were  concealed  m  the  Alasinut- 
ton  mountain  ;  and  if  he  succeeded  in  decoyino^  Price  into  their  hands, 
they  would  be  perfectly  satisfied,  and  do  no  injury  to  any  other  person; 
but  if  they  did  not  succeed  in  getting  Price,  they  w'ould  revenge  the  death 
of  their  young  chief  upon  the  first  white  persons  they  could  find,  and 
the  lives  of  many  innocent  women  and  children  w'ould  be  sacrificed  to  ap- 
pease their  vengeance.  OfTenberger  kept  Bingaman's  communication  to 
himself,  believing  that  Price  dcservtd  punishment.  He  was  accordingly 
decoyed  into  the  hands  of  the  thirty  warriors,  and  never  heard  from  after- 
wards ;  of  course  he  expiated  his  base  and  treacherous  murder  of  the 
young  Indian,  by  the  most  lingering  and  painful  death  which  savage  in- 
genuity could  devise. 

Tradition  relates  a  story  of  a  Mr.  Hogcland,  vrho  on  a  certain  occasion 
killed  an  Indian  in  the  foliow^ing  manner.  Hoc^oland  went  out  in  the  eve- 
ning from  Furman's  fort,  in  pursuit  of  the  milch  cows.  He  heard  the 
bell  in  a  deep  glen,  and  from  its  peculiar  sound,  suspected  some  strata- 
gem. Instead  of  pursuing  the  liollow  therefore,  he  took  up  a  hi<xh  ridije, 
and  passed  the  spot  where  the  bell  was  ringing:  then  cautiously  descend- 
ing the  hollow,  he  discovered  an  Indian  with  the  bell  (which  he  had  ta- 
ken from  the  cow,)  suspc^nded  to  a  small  sapling,  which  he  shook  gently 
to  keep  the  bell  in  motion.  Whilst  the  savage  was  thus  engaged  with  a 
view  to  decoy  the  r)v.-nrr  within  the  reach  of  ]u<<  rifle,  Hogcland  took  dc- 


V)ti  INDIAN  INCURSIONS, 

iibfratc  aim  at  him,  mid  shot  him  through  the  body ;  upon  which  another 
Indian  started  up,  I'an,  and  got  oif.  Thus  this  wiley  savage  fell  into  tlje 
bnare  he  believed  he  had  adroitly  prepared  lor  killing  the  owner  of  the 
cattle.* 

'J'he  author  has  heard  another  version  of  this  story.  It  is  said  there 
was  a  young  man  with  Hogeland  ;  and  when  the  Indian  was  seen 
with  the  bell,  Hogeland  at  the  same  instant  discovered  the  other 
standing  at  a  tree,  with  his  gun  raised  ready  to  fire  at  whoever  should 
come  for  the  covrs.  Hogeland  pointed  him  out  to  the  voung  man,  and  ob- 
served, "Now  take  deliberate  aim,  whilst  I  take  the  fellow  with  the  bell.'' 
They  both  lired  and  both  Indians  fell  dead.T 

Thus  ends  the  author's  narrative  of  the  many  important  occurrences 
and  c:i*eat  events  from  the  commencement  of  Indian  liostilities,  in  the  year 
1754,  until  their  fmal  termination  in  1766,  a  period  of  tw^elve  years. 

From  the  termination  of  hostilities  in  1766,  until  the  commencement 
of  Dunmore's  war  in  1774,  the  people  of  the  valley  enjoyed  uninterruot- 
ed  peace  and  tranquility,  and  the  country  settled  and  increased  with  g-reat 
rapidity.  Several  families  of  distinction  removed  from  the  lov.'er  country 
and  settled  in  the  valley.  The  ancestors  of  the  Washingtons,  WiileseSj 
Throckmortons,  and  Whitings,  severally  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Lon^  marsh  and  Bull-skin. 

The  audior  did  not  find  it  convenient  to  obtain  the  several  treaties  made 
with  tbe  Indian  tribes  during  the  period  from  the  commencemicnt  of  Brad- 
dock's  war  until  the  final  termination  of  hostilities.  Nor  does  he  consi- 
der it  very  material,  as  those  treaties  were  no  sooner  made  than  broken. 
Should  this  be  deemed  a  material  defect,  he  will  endeavor  to  supply  it  in 
another  edition. 

The  commencement  and  termination  of  Dunmore's  war  will  form  tiie 
subject  of  tlie  next  chapter. 


^Samuel  Kercheval,  jr.  of  Romney,  related  this  tradition  to  the  author. 
fWilliam  NayJor,  Esq.  gave  the  author  this  version  of  the^tor}-. 


l/UN^iUllL^i,   WAR.  ^1 


CHAPTER    X, 


DUNMORE'S  WAR  WITH  THE  rNDlANS. 


In  the  year  1773,  the  Indians  killed  two  white  men  on  the  Hockhodk- 
ing  river,  to-wit,  John  ^fartin  and  Guy  Ilfeeks,  (indian  traders,)  and  rob- 
bed them  of  about  £200  worth  of  goods.  About  the  1st  of  May,  1774  ^ 
they  killed  two  other  men  in  a  canoe  on  the  Ohio,  and  robbed  the  cance 
of  its  contents.*  There  w^ere  other  similar  occurrences,  which  left  no 
doubt  upon  the  rninds  of  the  western  people,  that  the  savages  had  deters 
mined  to  make  war  upon  them  ;  and  of  course  acts  of  retaliation  weie 
resorted  to  on  the  part  of  the  whites* 

The  late  Col.  Angus  M'Donald,  near  Winchester,  and  several  other  in- 
dividuals, went  out  in  the  spring  of  1774,  to  survey  the  military  bounty 
lands,  lying  on  the  Ohio  and  Kanawha  rivers,  allowed  by  the  king's  pro- 
clamation to  the  ofBcers  and  soldiers  of  the  army,  for  their  services  in  a 
preceding  v/ar  with  the  Indians,  but  were  driven  oS'. 

Col.  xM'Donald  forthwith  w^aitcd  on  Gov.  Dunmore  in  person,  and  gave 
him  an  account  at  the  hostile  disposition  of  the  Indians.  The  governor 
authorized  him  to  raise  a  regiment  of  four  hundred  men,  and  im.mediate.'y 
proceed  to  punish  the  enemy.  He  soon  succeeded  in  raising  his  little  ai- 
my,  and  in  the  month  of  June  marched  into  the  Indian  country,  destroyed 
several  of  their  villages,  cut  off  their  corn,  and  returned.  He  had  two  cr 
three  running:  fi2:ht3  with  the  Indians,  but  there  was  little  blood  shed  on 
either  side. 

This  act  of  w^ar  produced  a  general  combination  of  the  various  nations 
north-west  of  the  Ohio  ;  and  hence  arose  the  necessity  of  speedily  raising 
a  powerful  army  to  save  the  western  people  from  being  entirely  cut  oil',  or 
driven  from  their  habitations. 

Lord  Dunmore  issued  his  orders  to  Col.  A.  Lewis,  of  Auc^usta  countv^ 
to  raise  a  body  of  one  thousand  men,  and  immediately  proceed  to  the 
Ohio  river,  where  he  (Dunmore)  would  join  him  wuth  an  equal  number, 
to  be  raised  in  the  northern  counties  of  Virginia.  Dunmore  very  soon  raised 
the  requisite  number  of  men, principally  volunteers  from  the  counties  of  Ber* 
keley,  Hampshire,  Frederick  and  Shenandoah. f  Capt*  Daniel  Ciesap 
went  to  South  Carolina,  and  brought  in  one  hundred  ami  twenty  Catawba 
Indian  warriors  at  his  Own  expense  and  responsibility,  which  he  intended 
employing  against  the  western  enemy.  He  soon  after  marched  at  the 
head  oF  this  band  of  warriors,  with  the  addition  of  sixteen  white  volun- 
teers, with  the  design  of  breaking  up  and  destroying  the  Moravian  In- 
dian towns  on  Cheat  river.     These  people  professed  christinnify  andneu'- 


•Mr.  Jacobs  Life  ot'  Cre.«;np. 
lOeneral  John  Sukith. 


SS  iDUNMOilE'S  WAR.. 

trslitv  in  the  vT^ar  then  goirjg  oa  between  the  red  and  whila^  people.  But 
they  were  charged  by  the  white  people  with  secretly  aiding-  and  a])etling 
the  hostile  Indians  ;  hence  Cresap's  detenniriation  to  break  up  their  set- 
tlements and  drive  them  olT.  In  crossing  the  Allegany,  7  Indians  under 
the  guise  of  iViendship,  fell  in  with  Cresap^s  pariy  and  in  the  most  treache- 
rous manner  contrived  to  kill  seven  of  the  white  volunteers,  and  then  fled. 
They  were  instantly  pursued  by  the  Catawbas,  and  two  of  them  taken 
prisoners  and  delivered  up  to  Cresap,  who,  after  reproaching  them  with 
their  base  treacherv,  discharored  them,  and  retreated  into  the  settlement 
whh  his  Indians  and  remaining  white  volunteers.  The  Catawba  Indians 
feoon  after  left  Cresap  and  returned  to  their  nation.  The  late  generals, 
Daniel  Morgan  and  James  Wood,  were  captains  in  Dunmore's  campaign, 
each  of  wdibm  had  served  under  M'Donald  as  captains  the  preceding 
spring.* 

For  further  particulars  of  this  war,  the  author  will  give  copious  extracts 
from  ?vlr.  Doddridge's  ''Notes  on  the  wars  west  of  the  Allegany,"  and 
from  ^.Ir.  Jacob's  "Life  of  Cresap."  7'hese  two  authors  have  detailed 
the  causes  w^'^ich  led  to  this  disastrous  and  destructive  war,  and  are  di- 
rectly at  issue  on  some  of  the  most  important  particulars.  In  this  con- 
troversy the  author  of  this  work  will  not  partake  so  far  as  to  express  an 
opinion  which  of  these  two  divines  have  truth  on  their  side  ;  but  he  con- 
siders it  is  his  duty,  as  an  impartial  and  faithful  historian,  to  give  both 
these  reverend  gentlemen's  accounts,  at  full  lenfrth,  of  the  original  causes 
and  consequences  of  this  war. 

It  appears  however  evident,  that  the  late  Capt.  Michael  Cresap  has  had 
injustice  done  to  his  character,  both  by  Mr.  Jefferson  and  Mr.  Doddridge. 
Mr.  Jefferson,  in  his  "Notes  on  Virginia,"  charges  Cresap  wdth  being  "in- 
famous for  his  many  Indian  murders,  and  murdering  Logan's  family  irr 
cold  blood."  Mr.  Doddridsje  repeats  the  charo-e  of  the  murder  of  Lo- 
gan's  fcimily,  and  adds  the  further  charge  "that  Cresap  was  the  cause  of 
Dunmore's  war."  How  far  these  charges  are  refuted  by  Mr.  Jacob,  an 
impartial  world  will  determine. 

It  is  to  be  reorretted  that  Mr.  Jacob's  vindication  of  the  character  of  his 
fi'iend  Cresap  cannot  have  a  circulation  co-extensive  with  Mr.  Jellerson's 
charges  against  him.  The  celebrity  of  Mr.  Jeiferson's  character,  togeth- 
er with  the  beautiful  specimen  of  Indian  orator}^  in  the  Logan  speech,  has 
probably  caused  his  work  to  be  circulated  and  read  all  over  the  civilized 
world. 

The  author  will  only  add  that  he  has  obtained  permission,  from  the  p-ro- 
prietors  of  those  works,  to  use  them  as  he  deems  proper.  The  Hon. 
Philip  Doddridge,  shortly  before  his  death,  in  a  leiter  to  the  author,  stated 
that  he  considered  there  would  be  no  impropriety  in  apj)ending  any  pail 
of  his  brother's  book  to  this  publication ;  and  Mr.  Jacob,  in  the  most  li- 
ber:^! and  unqualified  terms,  permits  him  to  append  the  whole  or  any  part 
of  his  "Life  of  Cresap." 


*Mr.  John  Tomlinson  related  the  particulars  of  these  occurrences  to  the 
author,  and  added  that  he  himself  was  one  of  Cresap's  party,  and  th^he 
^7^  then  a  youth  of  seventeen  or  eighteen  years  of  age. 


DODDRIDGFyS  ACCOUNT.  7^ 

'RKV.  MR.   DODDIUDGivS  ACCOUNT  OF  DUN2.I0RE*S    WAR. 

Afier  the  conclusion  of  the  Indian  wars,  by  the  treaty  made  v/ilh  the 
rl]iefs  by  Sir  V/illiani  Jolinson  rH  the  German  flats,  in  the  latter  })art  of 
]764,  the  western  setthements  enjoyed  peace  until  iliQ  spring  of  1774. 

Duiino:  this  period  of  time,  the  settlements  increased  with  great  rapidi- 
ty' aloncr  tlie  whole  extent  of  the  western  frontier.  Ph^en  the  shores  of  the 
Ohio,  on  the  Virginia  side,  had  a  considerable  population  as  early  as  the 
year  1774. 

Devoutly  might  hnmanity  wisii  that  the  record  of  the  causes  which  led 
to  the  destructive  war  of  1774,  miglit  be  blotted  from  the  annals  of  our 
country.  But  it  is  now  too  late  to  eflaceit ;  trie  "black-lett-ered  list"  must 
remain,  a  dishonorar)le  blot  in  our  national  })istor}-.  Good  however  may 
spring  out  <&f  evil.  The  injuries  inrlicted  upon  the  Indians,  in  early  times 
by  our  forefathers,  may  induce  their  descendants  to  shew  justice  and  ?ner- 
cy  to  the  diminished  posterity  of  those  children  of  the  wilderness,  whose 
ancestors  perished,  in  cold  biood,  under  tl-e  tomahawk  and  scaipin^'knL^ 
of  the  white  savages. 

In  tlie  month  of  April,  1774,  a  rumor  was  circulated  that  the  Indians 
liad  stolen  several  horses  from  some  land  jobbers  on  tlie  Ohio  and  Kana- 
wha rivers.  No  evidences  of  the  fact  having  been  adduced,  led  to  iLe 
■conclusion  that  the  report  v/as  false.  This  report,  however,  induced  a 
pretty  general  belief  that  the  Indians  were  about  to  make  war  upon  the 
•frontier  settlements  .  but  for  this  apprehension  there  does  not  appe'^ir  to 
aiave  been  the  snghiest  foundation. 

In  consequence  of  this  apprehensioji  of  being  attacked  by  the  Indian'^, 
the  land  iobbers  ascended  the  river,  and  collected  at  Wheelinfz.  On  the 
"STth  of  April,  it  was  reported  in  VViieeiing  thnt  a  canoe,  coniainin^  two 
indiins  and  some  traders,  wascomintj:  dovrn  the  river,  and  then  not  far 
from  the  place.  On  hearing  this,  the  commandant  of  the  station,  Capt. 
Cresap,  proposed  to  go  up  the  river  and  kill  the  Indians..  This  project 
was  vehemently  opposed  by  Col.  Zane.  the  proprietor  of  the  place.  He 
stated  to  the  captain  that  the  killing  of  those  Jndians  would  inevitably 
luring  on  a  war,  in  vdiich  much  innocent  Jjlood  v.'ould  be  shed,  'im6.  that 
^he  act  in  itself  would  be  an  atrocious  murder,  ?.rA  a  disgrace  to  his  name 
forever.  His  good  counsel  was  lost.  'Ilie  party  went  up  the  river.  On 
being  asked,  at.tlieir  return,  what  iiad  become  of  the  Indians?  they  coolly 
answered  that  "they  had  fallen  overbocU'd  into  the  river!"  Their  canoe, 
on  being  examined,  was  tound  l)loody,  and  pierced  with  bullets.  This 
v.'as  the  first  blood  v.-jiich  was  shed  in  this  war,  and  terrible  was  the  ven- 
geance which  followed. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  parly,  liL^arine^  that  there  was  an 
encampment  of  Jndians  at  the  mouth  ol  Captlna,  went  dov/n  the  ri\er  to 
the  placv',  attacked  tin*  Indians,  and  killed  several  of  them.  In  this  alrfrfr 
x.ne  of  Ciesap's  j)artv  was  severely  woimdcd. 

Tl>e  massacre  at  f 'aptina,  and  tliat  which  took  plaf'  ni  Ihakcr's,  r.lnut 
■fortv  miles  above  \Vherling,  aO'-r  thai  at  Cnptina,  were  unriue^tionahly 
the  sole  cause*!  of  tho  war  nf  177-1.  Tlip  last  was  perpetrated  by  tinr'y- 
Iwo  men,  under  the 'Tuainniifi  oT  I/iMKd  Greatlnvjiie.      The   who]'-    r.MOi- 


100  DODDKIDGE'S  /iCC^OUNT 

her  killed  at  this  place,  and  on  the  river  opposite  to  it,  \v:\s  twelve,  be^ 
sides  sevfrai  wounded.  This  horrid  massacre  was  clfected  by  an  hypo- 
critical  stratagem,  which  reflects  the  deepest  dishonor  on  the  memory 
of  those  who  were  agents  in  it. 

The  report  of  the  murders  committed  on  the  Indians  near  Wheeling, 
induced  a  belief  that  they  would  immediately  commence  hostilities  ;  and 
this  apprehension  furnished  the  pretext  for  the  murder  above  related.  The 
ostensible  object  for  raising  the  party  under  Greathouse,  v^^as  that  of  de- 
fending the  family  of  Baker,  yv'hose  house  was  opposite  to  a  large  encamp- 
ment of  Indians,  at  the  mouth  of  iiig  Yellow  creek.  The  party  were 
concealed  in  smbuscade,  v/hiie  their  commander  went  over  the  river,  under 
the  mask  of  friendship,  to  the  Indian  camp,^  to  Dscerlain  their  number. — 
While  there,  an  Indian  woman  advised  him  to  return  home  speedily,  say- 
ifi<y  that  the  Indians  Vr^ere  drinking-  and  an<xry  on  account  of  the  murder  of 
tieir  people  down  the  river,  and  might  do  him  some  mischief.  On  iiisre-^ 
turn  to  his  party,  he  reported  that  the  Indians  were  too  strong  for  an  open 
attack.  lie  returned  to  Baker's,  and  requested  him  to  give  any  Indians 
who  might  come  over,  in  the  coui^e  of  the  dai',  as  mucii  ram  as  they 
might  call  for,  and  get  as  many  of  them  drunk  as  he  possibi}' could.  The 
plan  succeeded.  Several  Indian  men  and  women  came  over  the  river  to 
j^aker's,  v;ho  had  previously  been  in  tne  habit  of  selling"  rum  to  the  In- 
dlans.  The  men  drank  ficely,  and  became  intoxicated.  In  this  state 
they  wer3  all  killed  by  Greathouse  and  a  few  of  his  party.  I  say  a  few  of 
hi;  party;  fjr  it  is  but  justice  to  stat^*,  that  not  more  than  five  or  six  of 
the  whole  number  had  any  particination  in  the  slauo-hter  at  the  liouse. — 
The  rest  protested  against  it  as  an  atrocious  murder.  From  their  number, 
being  by  fdr  the  majority,  tbey  might  have  prevented  the  deed  ;  but  alas  I 
they  did  not.  A  litiJe  Indian  girl  alone  was  saved  from  the  slaughter,  by 
the  humani-y  of  some  of  the  party,  whose  name  is  not  now  known. , 

The  Indians  in  the  camp,  hearing  the  firing  at  the  house,  sent  a  canoe 
with  two  men  in  it  to  inquire  Vv'hathad  hsppened.  These  two  Indians  were 
both  shot  down  as  soon  as  they  landed  on  the  beach.  A  second  and  lar- 
g3r  canoe  was  then  manned  with  a  number  of  Indians  in  arms:  but  in 
attemptinz  to  reach  the  shore,  some  distance  below  the  house,  they  were 
received  by  a  well  directed  hre  from  the  party,  which  killed  the  greater 
number  of  them,  and  comipelled  the  survivors  to  return..  A  great  number 
of  shots  were  exchanired  across  the  river,  but  yntliout  damage  to  the 
white  party,  not  one  of  whom  was  even  wounded.  The  Indian  men  who 
were  murdered  were  all  scalped. 

The  woman  who  gave  the  friendly  advice  to  the  com mande**  of  the  par- 
ty when  in  the  Indian  camp,  was  amongst  the  slain  at  Baker's  house. 

The  massacres  of  the  Indians  at  Captina  and  Yellow  creek,  compre- 
hended the  whole  of  the  family  of  the  famous  but  unfortunate  Loo-an, 
who  before  these  events  had  been  a  lover  of  the  whites,  a  strenuous  ad- 
vocate for  peace ;  but  in  the  conflict  which  followed  them,  by  way  of  re- 
venofe  for  the  death  of  his  people,  he  l>ecame  a  brave  and  sanguinary  chief 
^m.ong  the  warriors. 

The  settlers  along  the  frontier?,  kno^vins:  th'^.t  the  Indians  vrould  make-- 
WUr  upon  them  for  the  murder  of  their  people,  either  moyed  off  to  tjie  ift-* 


or  nUNMORE'S  WAR.  101 

Icrior,  or  took  up  llieir  residence  in  forts.  The  appreliension  of  war  was? 
soon  realize;,  in  a  short  time  the  Indians  comirienced  hostilities  along 
the  whole  extent  nf  our  frontier. 

Express  was  speedily  sent  to  Williamsburg,  the  then  seat  of  govern- 
ment of  the  colony  of  Vir2:inia,  communicalinsc  intelli^'ence  of  the  cer- 
tainty  of  the  commencement  of  an  Indian  war.  The  assembly  was  then 
in  session. 

A  plan  for  a  campaign,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  a  speedy  conclu- 
sion to  the  Indian  hostilities,  was  adopted  between  the  earl  of  Dunmore^ 
governor  of  the  colony,  and  Gen.  Lewis,  of  Botetourt  county.  General 
Lewis  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  southern  division  of  the  for- 
ces to  be  employed  on  this  occasion,  with  orders  to  raise  a  large  body  of 
volunteers  and  drafts  from  the  south-eastern  counties  of  the  colony  with 
all  dispatch.  These  forces  Vv^ere  to  rendezvous  at  Campi  Union,  in  the 
Greenbrier  country.  The  earl  of  Dunmore  was  to  raise  another  army  in 
the  northern  counties  of  the  colony,  and  in  the  settlements  west  of  the 
mountains,  and  assemble  them  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  from  thence  descend  the 
river  to  Point  Pleasant,  at  the  mouth  of  the  great  Kanawha,  the  place  ap- 
pointed for  the  junction  of  the  two  armies,  for  the  purpose  of  invading 
the  Indian  country  and  destroyinof  as  manv  of  their  viliafjes  as  they  could 
reach  in  the  course  of  the  season. 

On  tiie  ]lth  of  September,  the  forces  under  Gen.  Lewis,  amounting  to 
eleven  hundred  men,  commenced  their  march  from  Camp  Union  to  Point 
Pleasant,  a  distance  of  one  hundreil  and  sixty  miles.  The  space  of  coun- 
try between  these  two  points  was  at  that  time  a  trackless  desert.  Capt. 
Matthew  Arbuckle,  the  pilot,  conducted  the  army  by  the  nearest  and  best 
route  to  their  place  of  destination.  The  flour  and  ammunition  were  whol- 
ly transported  on  pack  horses,  as  the  route  was  impassable  for  wheel  car- 
riages. After  a  ])ainfal  march  of  nineteen  days,  the  aimy  arrived,  on  the 
1st  of  October,  at  Point  Pleasant,*  where  an  encampment  was  made. 


*0f  the  battle  of  the  Point,  the  author  has  obtained  some  further  jmr- 
liculars,  which  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader.  He  saw  and  con- 
versed with  three  individuals  wlio  participated  in  that  desperate  struggle, 
■\iz  : — Joseph  Mays,  Andrew  Reed,  and  James  Ellison. 

The  two  first  named  informed  the  author  that  Col.  Lewis  ordered  out 
a  body  of  three  hundred  men  to  meet  and  disperse  the  Indians  as  they 
were  approaching  his  encampment.  The  detachment  was  overpowered 
by  the  numerical  force  of  the  Indians,  not  less  than  a  thousand  strong  ; 
the  whites,  contending,  however,  for  every  inch  of  ground  in  their  re- 
treat. They  were  driven  back  several  hundred  yards,  when  Col.  Lewis 
ordererl  forward  a  second  detachment  of  throe  himdred  men,  who  rushed 
forward  with  impetuosity  to  the  relief  of  the  first,  which  movement  at  once- 
checked  the  savages,  and  j)urtially  changed  the  aspect  of  the  fight.  Col.. 
Chas.  Lewis,  who  had  arrayed  Idraself  in  a  gorgeous  scarlet  M-aistcoat, 
against  the  advice  of  his  friends,  thus  rendering  himself  a  conspicuous 
mark  for  Ihe  Indians,  was  mortally  wounded  early  in  the  action  >'yet  was 
able  to  walk  bark  aftrr  rfvpiving  the  wound,  into  his  own  tent,  where  he 
Pxpired.        11^    v,n«:    mrt    on    hi*?    wpv    bv   the    commander»in-f hirl\  his- 


102  '  DODDIUBGE'S  ACCOUNT 

Gen.  Lewis  v;3.s  exceedingly  disappointed  at  hearing'  no  tidings  of  the 
eari  ol  Dunmore,  who,  acconlmg  to  previous  arrangements,  was  to  form 
a  junction  vvitli  him  at  this  place.  He  immediately  dispatched  some 
Fcouts,  to  go  by  land  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Pitt,  to  obtain  intelligence 
of  the  route  which  the  earl  had  taken,  and  then  return  with  the  utmost 
dispatch.  On  the  9th,  three  men,  w^lio  had  formerly  been  Indian  traders, 
arrived  in  the  camp,  on  express  from  the  earl,  to  inform  Lewis  that  he  had 
changed  his  plan  of  operations,  and  intended  to  march  to  the  Lndian  towns 
by  the  way  of  Hockhocking,  and  directing  Gen.  Lewis  to  commence  his 
mRrch  iraniediateiy  for  the  old  Chilicothe  towns. 

Very  early  in  the  raornin<2:  of  the  IGth,  two  'lOiins:  men  set  out  from  the 
*^aran  to  hunt  up  the  river.  Having  gone  about  three  miles,  they  fell  up- 
on a  camp  o(  the  Indians,  who  w'ere  then  in  the  act  of  preparing  to  march 
^o  attack  the  camp  of  Gen.  Lewis.  The  Indians  fired  on  them  and  killed 
-one  of  them  ;  the  other  ran  back  to  the  camp  with  the  intelhgence  that 
the  Indians,  in  great  force,  would  immediately  give  battle. 

Gcii.  Lewis  immediately  ordered  out  a  detachment  of  the  Botetourt 
troops  under  Col.  Fleming,  and  another  of  the  Augusta  troops  under  Cob 
Charles  Lewis,  remaining  himself  with  the  reserve  for  the  defence  of  the 
r;amp.  The  detachment  marched  out  in  two  lines,  and  met  the  Indians 
•in  the  same  order  about  400  vards  from  the  eamp.  The  battle  commenc- 
^d  a  lirile  after  sunrise,  by  a  heavy  firins:  from  the  Indians.  At  the  onset 
■fmr  troops  gave  back  some  distance;  until  met  by  a  reinforcement,  on  the 
arrival  of  which  the  Indians  retreated  a  little  way  and  formed  aline  be- 
hind logs  and  trees,  reaching  from  the  bank  of  the  Ohio  to  that  of  the 
Kanawha.  By  this  maneuver,  our  arm.y  and  camp  were  completely  in- 
vested, being  inclosed  between  two  rivers,  wdth  the  Indian  line  of  battle 
in  front,  so  that  no  chance  of  retreat  was  left.  An  incessant  fire  vvas  kept 
•Tip  on  both  sides,  w'ith  but  little  change  of  position  until  sundown,  when 
Ihe  Indians  retreated,  and  in  the  night  recrossed  the  Ohio,  and  the  next 
dav  commenced  their  march  to  their  towns  on  the  Scioto. 


brother.  Col.  Andrew  Lewis,  who  rem.arked  to  liim,  "I  expected  some- 
thinsf  fatal  would  befall  vou,"  lO  which  the  wounded  ofncer  calnilv  re- 
plied,  *'It  is  the  fate  of  war."  About  two  o'clock,  Col.  Christie  arrived  in 
the  field  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  m^en — the  battle  still  ravins: — ^^  J"e- 
inforcernent  which  decided  the  issue  almost  immediately.  The  Indians 
fell  back  about  two  miles,  obstinately  fighting:  the  whole  distance;  and 
such  was  the  per'severing  spirit  of  the  savages,  though  they  were  fairly 
beaten,  that  the  contest  was  not  entirely  closed  till  the  setting  of  the  sun, 
when  they  relinquished  tiie  field.  Shortly  after  the  battle,  several  traders 
with  the  Indians,  re^rarded  as  neutral  in  war,  called  at  the  Point,  and  in- 
formed  Captain  Arbuckle,  commandant  of  the  station,  that  there  were  not 
less  than  tvv'elve  hundred  Indians  in  this  memorable  action.  Cornstalk, 
confident  of  success,  had  placed  a  body  of  some  two  hundred  Indians  en 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  Ilanawha,  to  cut  off  th^  retreat  of  the  whites  : 
and  that  the  loss  <3f  the  Indian*:  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  short  nf 
three  hundred  men. 


OF  DUNMORE'S  WAR.  103 

Our  loss  in  tills  cleytructive  battle  ^vas  seventy-five  killed,  md  one  him- 
dred  and  Ibrty  wounded.  Among  the  killed  were  Col.  Chas,  Lewis,  Col. 
Fields,  Captains  Buford,  Murray,  Ward,  Wilson  and  rvI'Clenachan;  lieu" 
tenants  Allen,  Goldsby  and  Dillon,  and  several  subaltern  officers. 

Col.  Lewis,  a  distinguished  and  meritorious  officer,  was  mortally  woun- 
ded by  the  first  fire  of  the  Lndians,  but  Vv'alked  into  the  camp  and  expired 
in  his  own  tent. 

The  number  of  Indians  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  Point  was  never 
ascertained,  nor  yet  the  amount  of  their  loss.  On  the  morning  after  the 
engagement,  twenty-one  were  found  on  the  battle  ground,  and  tv/elve 
more  were  afterwards  found  in  the  different  places  where  they  had  been 
concealed.  A  great  number  of  their  dead  were  said  to  have  been  thrown 
into  the  river  during  the  engagement.  Considering  that  the  whole  num- 
ber of  our  men  engaged  in  the  confii«:;t  were  riflemen,  and  from  habit  sharp 
shooters  of  the  first  order,  it  is  presumable  diat  the  loss  on  the  side  of  the 
Indians  was  at  least  equal  to  ours. 

The  Indians  durins:  the  battle  were  commanded  by  the  Cornstalk  war- 
nor,  the  king  of  the  Shawnees.  This  son  of  the  forest,  in  his  plans  of 
attack  and  retreat,  and  in  all  his  maneuvers  throughout  the  engagement, 
displayed  the  skill  and  bravery  of  the  consummate  general.  Duiing  the 
whole  of  the  day,  he  was  heard  from  our  lines,  vociferating,  with  the 
voice  of  a  Stentor,  "Be  strong  !  be  strong  !''  It  is  even  said  that  he  kill- 
ed one  of  his  men  with  his  own  hand  for  cowardice. 

The  day  following  the  battle,  after  burying  the  dead,  entrenchments 
were  thrown  up  round  the  camp,  and  a  competent  guard  were  appointed 
for  the  care  and  protection  of  the  sick  and  wounded.  On  the  succeeding 
day  Gen.  Lewis  commenced  his  march  for  the  Shawnee  towns  on  the  Scio-- 
to.  This  march  was  made  through  a  trackless  desert,  and  attended  with 
almost  insuperable  difficulties  and  privations. 

In  the  meantime  the  earl  of  Dunmore,  having  collected  a  force  and  pro- 
vliled  boats  at  Fort  Pilt,  descended  the  river  to  Wheeling,  where  the  ar- 
my halted  for  a  few  days,  and  then  proceeded  down  the  river  in  about  one 
hundred  canoes,  a  few  keel  boats  and  perouges,  to  the  mouth  of  Hock- 
hocking,  and  from  thence  over  land  until  the  army  had  got  within  eight 
miles  of  the  Shawnee  town  Chilicothe,  on  the  Scioto.  Here  the  army 
halted,  and  made  a  breastwork  of  fallen  trees  and  intrenchments  of  such 
extent  as  to  include  about  twelve  acres  of  ground,  with  an  inclosure  in 
the  center  containing  about  one  acre,  surrounded  by  intrenchments.  This 
was  the  citidal  which  contained  the  markces  of  the  earl  and  his  superior 
officers. 

Before  the  army  had  reached  that  place,  the  Indian  chiefs  had  sentser- 
eral  messengers  to  the  earl  asking  })eace.  W^ith  this  request  he  soon  de- 
termined to  com{)ly,  and  therefore  sent  an  express  to  Gen  Lewis  with  an 
order  for  his  immediate  retreat.  This  order  Gen.  Lewis  disregarded,  and 
continued  his  march  until  his  lordship  in  person  visited  his  camp,  was 
formally  introfhjced  to  his  oliicers,  and  gave  the  order  in  person.  The 
army  of  Gen.  Lewis  then  commenced  tlicir  retreat. 

It  was  with  the  greatest  reluctance  and  chagrin  tliat  the  troops  of  CJen. 
Lewis  returned  from  tlie  enterprise  in   whlcli    tluf\    were    engaged.     Th»i' 


104  DODDRIDGE'S  ACCOUNT 

massacres  of  tlieif  relatives  and  friends  at  the  Big  Levels  and  Muddj 
creekj  and  above  all  their  recent  loss  at  the  battle  of  the  Point,  had  inspi- 
red these  "Big-knives,''  as  the  Indians  called  the  Virginians,  with  en  in- 
veterate thirst  for  revenge,  the  gratilication  of  which  ihey  supposed  waj 
shortly  to  take  place,  in  the  total  destruction  of  the  Indians  and  their 
towns  along  the  Scioto  and  Sandusky  rivers.  The  order  of  Dunmore 
was  obeyed,  but  with  every  expression  of  regret  and  disappointment. 

The  earl  with  his  officers  having  returned  to  his  camp,  a  treaty  with  the 
Indians  was  opened  the  following  day. 

In  this  treaty,  every  precaution  was  used  on  the  part  of  our  people  to 
prevent  the  Indians  from  ending  a  treaty  in  the  tragedy,  of  a  massacre. — 
Only  eighteen  Indians,  with  their  chiefs,  were  permitted  to  pass  the  outer 
gate  of  their  fortilied  encampment,  after  having  deposited  their  arms  with 
the  guard  at  the  gate. 

The  treaty  was  opened  by  Cornstalk,  the  w^ar  chief  of  the  Shawnees, 
in  a  lengthy  speech,  in  which  he  boldly  charged  the  white  people  with 
having  been  the  authors  of  the  commencement  of  the  war,  in  the  massa- 
cres of  the  Indians  at  Captina  and  Yellow  creek.  This  speech  he  deliv- 
ered in  so  loud  a  tone  of  voice,  that  he  was  heard  all  over  the  camp. — « 
The  terms  of  the  treaty  were  soon  settled  and  the  prisoners  delivered  up. 

Logan,  the  Cayuga  chief,  assented  to  the  treaty ;  but  still  indignant  at 
the  murder  of  his  family,  he  refused  to  attend  with  the  other  chiefs  at  the 
camp  of  Dunmore,  According  to  the  Indian  mode  in  such  cases,  he  sent 
his  speech  in  a  belt  of  wampum  by  an  interpreter,  to  be  read  at  the  treaty. 

Supposing  that  this  work  may  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  readers  who 
have  not  seen  the  speech  of  Logan,  the  author  thinks  it  not  amiss  to  in- 
sert the  celebrated  morsel  of  Indian  eloquence  in  this  place,  with  the  ob- 
servation that  the  authenticity  of  the  speech  is  no  longer  a  subject  of 
doubt.     The  speech  is  as  follows  : 

"I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say,  if  he  ever  entered  Logan's  cabin 
hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not  meat:  if  ever  he  came  cold  and  naked,  and 
he  clothed  him  not.  During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war, 
Logan  remained  idle  in  his  cabin,  an  advocate  for  peace.  Such  was  my 
love  for  the  whites,  that  my  countrymen  pointed  as  they  passed,  and  said, 
*Logan  is  the  friend  of  the  white  men.'  I  had  even  thought  to  have  liv- 
ed with  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one  man.  Col.  Cresap,  the  last  spring 
in  cold  blood,  and  unprovoked,  murdered  ail  the  relations  of  Logan,  not 
even  sparing  my  women  and  children.  There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood 
in  the  veins  of  any  living  creature.  This  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I 
have  sought  it :  I  have  killed  many  :  I  have  fully  glutted  ray  vengeance  : 
for  my  country  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace.  But  do  not  harbor  a 
thought  that  mine  is  the  joy  of  fear.  Logan  never  felt  fear.  He  will  not 
turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn  for  Logan  ? — • 
Kot  one.'' 

Thus  ended,  at  the  treaty  of  Camp  Charlotte,  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber, 1774,  the  disastrous  war  of  Dunmore.  It  began  in  tJie  wanton  and 
unprovoked  murders  of  the  Indians  at  Captina  and  Yellow  creek,  and  end- 
ad  with  an  awful  sacriiic-e  of  life  and  property  to  the  demon  of  revenge. 


OV  DUNMOHE'S  WAR.  105 

On  our  part  we  obtained  nt  the  treaty  a  cessation  of  hf)stilitie3  and  a  ^ui- 
render  of  prisoners,  and  nothing  inore. 

The  plan  of  operations  adopted  by  the  Indians  in  tlie  war  of  Dnnmore, 
shews  very  clearly  that  their  chiefs  were  by  no  means  deficient  in  tlie  fore- 
sight and  skill  necessary  for  making  the  mo^t  prudent  military  arrange- 
ments for  obtaining  success  and,  victory  in  their  mode  of  warfare.  At  an 
e  irly  period  tliey  obtained  intelligence  of  the  plan  of  the  campaign  against 
them,  concerted  between  the  earl  of  Dunmore  and  Gen.  Lewis*  With  a 
view  therefore,  to  attack  the  forces  of  th.ese  commanders  seperately,  they 
speedily  collected  their  warriors,  and  by  forced  marches  reached  the  Point 
before  the  expected  arrival  of  the  troops  under  Dunmore.  Such  was 
the  privacy  with  which  they  conducted  their  march  to  Point  Pleasant,  that 
Gen.  Lewis  knevc  nothing  of  the  approach  of  the  Incfmn  army  until  a  few 
minutes  before  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  and  it  is  very  probable, 
that  if  Cornstalk,  the  Lidian  commander,  had  had  a  bttle  larger  force  at 
the  battle  of  the  Point,  the  whole  army  of  Gen.  Lewis  would  have  berii 
cut  off,  as  the  wary  savage  had  left  them  no  chance  of  retreat.  Had  the 
arm.y  of  Lewis  been  defeated,  the  army  of  Dunmore,  consisting  of  little 
more  than  one  thousand  men,  would  have  shared  the  fate  of  those  armies 
which  at  different  periods  have  suffered  defeats  in  consequence  of  ventur-  • 
ing  too  fiir  into  the  Indian  country,  in  numbers  too  small,  and  with  muni- 
lions  of  war  inadequate  to  sustain  a  contest  with  the  united  forces  of  a 
number  of  Indian  nations. 

It  was  the  general  belief  among  the  officers  of  our  army,  at  tlic  time^ 
that  the  earl  of  Dunmore,  while  at  Wheeling,  received  advice  tmm  his 
government  of  the  probability  of  the  approaching  War  between  England 
and  the  colonies,  and  that  afterwards,  all  his  measures,  with  regard  to  the 
Indians,  had  fortlieir  ultimate  object  an  alliance  with  those  ferocious  war- 
riors for  the  aid  of  the  mother  country  in  their  contest  with  us.  This  s-up- 
position  accounts  for  his  not  forming  a  junction  with  the  army  of  Lewis 
at  Point  Pleasant.  This  deviation  from  the  original  plan  of  thecanq)aign 
jeopardized  the  army  of  Lewis,  and  well  nigh  occasioned  its  total  destruc- 
tion. The  conduct  of  the  earl  at  the  treaty,  shews  a  good  umhTstai^ding 
between  him  and  the  Indian  chief^^.  He  did  not  suffer  tlie  army  of  J^ewis 
to  form  a  junction  with  his  own,  but  sent  them  b<tck  before  the  treaty 
was  concluded,  thus  risking  the  safety  of  his  own  forces  ;  for  at  the  time 
of  the  treaty,  the  Indian  warriors  were  about  his  camp  in  force  sufficient 
to  have  intercepted  his  retreat  and  destroyed  his  whole  army. 

1U:V.  MR.  JACOB'S  ACCOUNT  OF  DUX.MORE'S  WAR. 

At  this  period,  to  wit,  in  the  commencement  of  the  year  1774,  there 
existed  between  our  peopde  and  the  Indians,  ;i  kind  of  doubtful,  prccari- 
oiis  and  suspicious  peace.  In  the  year  177.3,  they  killed  a  certain  Jelin 
Afaitin  and  (Juy  Mei'ks,  (Indian  traders,)  on  the  Hockhcckiiig,  and  n  h- 
bed  them  of  about    t'JOO  worth  of  g(U3ds. 

'I'iiey  were  murh  irritated  with  our  'people,  wiio  v.ere  about  this  time 
bea:*n;iinfj!;  \n  s<'1ilc  k'entu.ckv,  and  with  them    they    waged    an  uvii^easinjj; 

'  O  ' 


lOG  JArOB\S    ACCOL'NT 

and  destriK'tirc  predatorv  war;  and  whoever  saw  an  Tiidian  In  fCentacky,. 
saw  an  enemy  ;   no  questions  were  asked  on  eitlirr  side  but  fropjUhe  muz- 
zles of  their  rifles.     Many  other  circumstances  at  this  period  cc/mbined  to 
show  that  our  peace  with  the  Indians  rested  upon  such    dubious    and  un- 
certain ground,  that  it  must  soon  be  dispersed  by  a  whirlwind  of  cantage 
and  war.     And  as  I  consider  this  an  all-important    point  in  the  thread  o^ 
our  history,  and  an  interesting  link  in  the  chain  of  causes    combining  to 
produce  Dunmore's  war,  I  will  present  the  readt^r  with    another  fact  di- 
rectly in  point.     It  is  extracted  from  the  journal  of  a  'squire    JVPConn^el, 
in  my  possession.     The  writer  says  that  about  the  3d  day  of  Maich,  1774, 
while  himself  and  six  other  men,  who  w^ere  in  company  with    Mm,  were- 
asleep  in  their  camp  in  the  night,  they  were  awakened  by  the  fieixe  bark- 
ing of  their  dogs,  and  thought  they  saw  something  like  men  creeping  to- 
wards them.     Alarmed  at  this,  they  sprang  up,    seized   their   rifles,    and 
flew  to  trees.     By  this  time  one  Indian  had  reached  their  fire  ;  but   hear- 
ing them  cock  their  guns,  he  drew  back,  stumbled  and  fell.     The   vrhole 
party  now  came  up,  and  appearing  friendly,  he  ordered    his  men    not  to 
lire,  and  shook  hands  with  his  new  guests.     They   tarried   all  night,  nnd 
appearing  so  friendly,  prevailed  with  him  and  one  of  his  men  to  go   V\'ith 
them  to  their  town,  at  no  great  distance  from  their  camp  ;  but  when  thfy 
arrived  he  was  taken  with,  his  companion  to  their  council,  or  war   house, 
a  war  dance  performed  around  them,  the  war  club  shook  at  or  over  them, 
and  they  detained  close  prisoners  and  narrowly    guarded  for  two  or  three 
days.     A  council  was  then  held  over  them,  and  it  was  decreed  that   they 
should  be  threatened  severely  and  discharged,  provided   they  would  give 
their  women  some  flour  and  salt.     ]3eing  dismissed,  they  set  out  on  their 
journey  to  the  camp,  but  met  on  their  way  about  twenty-five  warriors  and 
some  boys.     A  second  council  was  held   over   them,  and  it  was   dei'reed 
that  they  should  not  be  killed,  bu.t  robbed,  which  was  accordingly    done ; 
and  all  their  flour,  salt,  powder  and    lead,    and  all    their   rifles  that   were 
good,  were  taken  from  them  ;  and  being  further  threatened,    the   Indians 
left  them,  as  already  noticed.     Tliis  party    consisted  of  seven    men,   viz. 
'squire  i^.I'Connel,  Andrew  M'Connel,  Lawrence  Damel,  William  Ganet, 
Matthew  Riddle,  John  Laierty,  and  Thos.  Canady. 

We  have  also  in  reserve  some  more  material  facts,  that  go  to  show  the 
aspect  of  affairs  at  this  period,  and  that  may  be  considered  as  evident  pre- 
cursors to  an  impending  war.  And  it  is  certainly  not  a  trifling  item  in 
the  catalogue  of  these  events,  that  early  in  the  spring  of  1774,  whether 
precedent  or  subsequent  to  Connoly's  famous  circular  letter  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  say,  having  no  positive  data ;  but  ii  vras,  however,  about  this 
time  that  the  Indians  killed  two  men  in  a  canoe  belon2:ino;  to  a  Mr.  But- 
ler,  of  PItts]3urgh,  and  robbed  the  canoe  of  the  property  therein.  This 
was  about  the  first  of  May,  ]  774,  and  took  })lace  near  the  mouth  of  Lit- 
tle Beaver,  a  small  creek  that  empties  into  the  Ohio  between  Pittsburgh 
and  Wheelino;;  and  this  fact  is  so  certain  and  well  established,  thatBenj. 
Tomlinson,  Esq.  who  is  now  living  (1826,)  and  who  assisted  in  burying- 
the  dead,  can  and  will  bear  testimcuiy  to  its  truth.  And  it  is  presumed  it 
was  this  circumstance  which  produced  that  ])rompt  and  terrible  vengeance 
t'A'cn  u;i  tlie  Indians  at  Vclinv  cr-i^ek  bmmctriaielv    afterwards,  to  wit,   on 


OV  DUK.MORE'S  \\\[\.  107 

Ihe  3d  day  of  May,  ^vllich  j^ave  rise  to,  and  iurnislu'd  matter  fur,  the  pre- 
tended lying  speeeli  of  iiOgan,  vrhicli  I  sliall  lierearter  prove  a  eounterielt, 
and  if  it  was  genuine,  yet  a  genuine  fabrieation  of  lies. 

Thus  we  find  from  an  examination  Into  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  west, 
(hat  there  was  a  predisposition  to  war,  at  least  on  the  part  of  the  Indians. 
But  may  we  not  suspect  that  other  latent  causes,  Avorking  behind  the 
scenes  and  in  the  dark,  were  silently  marchino;  to  the  same  result  ? 

Be  it  remembered,  then,  that  this  Indian  war  v.'as  but  as  a  portico  to 
our  revolutionary  war,  the  fuel  for  which  was  then  preparing,  and  v/hich 
burst  into  a  flame  the  ensuin"^  year. 

Neither  let  us  foro:et  that  the  earl  of  Dunmore  was  at  this  tlrnc  rrover- 
nor  of  Virginia;  and  that  he  \yas  acquainted  with  the  views  and  designs 
of  the  IBritish  cabinet,  can  scarcely  be  doubted.  What  then,  suppose  ye, 
Would  be  the  conduct  of  a  man  possessing  his  means,  fdiing  a  high  olli- 
cial  station,  attached  to  the  British  government,  a?id  master  of  consum- 
mate diplomatic  skill  ? 

Dunmore's  penetrating  eye  could  not  but  see,  and  he  no  doubt  did  see, 
two  all-important  objects,  that,  if  accomplished,  would  |L>o  to  subserye  and 
promote  the  graPxd  object  of  the  British  cabinet,  namely,  the  establishment 
'of  an  unbounded  and  unrestrained  authority  over  our  North  American  con- 
tinent. 

These  two  obj«^cts  were,  first,  setting  the  new  settlers  on  tlie  west  side 
'of  the  Allegany  by  the  ears  ;  and  secondly,  embroiling  tlie  western  people 
in  a  war  with  the  Indians.  These  two  objects  accomplished,  would  put 
it  in  his  power  to  direct  the  storm  to  any  and  every  point  conducive  to  the 
-grand  object  he  had  in  yiew.  But  as  in  the  nature  ef  the  thing  he  could 
not,  and  policy  forbidding  that  he  should,  always  a})pear  personally  in  pro- 
moting and  effectuating  these  objects,  it  was  necessary  he  should  obtain  a 
confidential  agent  attached  to  his  person  and  to  the  British  government, 
and  one  that  would  promote  his  yiews  either  publicly  or  covertly,  as  cir- 
cu4n stances  required. 

The  materials  for  his  first  object  were  abundant,  and  already  prepared. 
The  emigrants  to  the  western  country  v/cre  almost  nil  from  the  three 
states  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylyania.  The  line  between  the 
two  states  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  mtis  unsettled,  and  both  these 
States  claimed  the  whole  of  the  western  country.  This  motley  mixture 
of  men  from  different  States  did  not  harmonize.  The  Virginians  and  Ma- 
rylanders  disliked  the  Pennsylyania <laws,  nor  did  the  Pennsylvanians  i-e- 
lish  those  of  Virginia.  Thus  many  disputes,  much  warm  blood,  broils, 
and  sometimes  battles,  called  fisticuff's^  followed. 

The  earl  of  Dunmore,  vrith  becomiiig  zeal  for  the  honor  of  the ''ancient 
dominion,"  seized  upon  this  state  of  things  so  propliious  to  his  a  lews  ; 
and  having  found  Dr.  John  Connoly,  a  Pennsylvaninn,  with  whom  I  think 
he  could  not  haye  hud  much  previous  ac(juaintance,  by  the  art  ol'  hocus- 
pocus  or  some  other  art,  converted  him  into  a  stanch  \'lrglnian,  and  ap- 
pointed him  vice  governor  and  commandant  of  I^itlsburgli  and  iis  depen- 
dencies, that  is  to  sav,  oC  all  th(^  western  countrv.  Ailiiiis  on  that  side 
nf  the  mountain  began  to  wear  a  scriou?;  aspect;  attempts  were  nnule  by 
both  States  to  enfoicc  their  hnv5  ;  ;ind  ilir  strf>f!fr  aim  of  powi  >im!  cner- 


lOS  '  JACOB'S    ACCOUNT 

cion  was  let  loose  by  Virginia.  Some  magistrates  acting  under  the  aii- 
tiiority  of  Pennsylvania  were  arrested,  sent  to  Virginia,   and    imprisoned. 

But  that  the  reader  maj  be  well  assured  that  the  hand  of  Dunmore  was 
in  all  this,  i  present  him  with  a  copy  of  his  proclamation.  It  is  howev- 
er deficieiit  as  to  date  : 

'"^VVhcreas,  I  have  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  government  of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  prosecution  of  their  chums  to  Pittsburgh  and  its  dependen- 
cies, will  endeavor  to  obstruct  his  mnjesty's  government  thereof,  under  my 
administration,  by  illegal  and  unw^arrantable  commitment  of  the  officers  I 
have  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  that  settlement  is  in  some  danger  of 
annoyance  from  the  Indians  also  ;  and  it  being  necessary  to  support  the 
dignity  of  his  majesty's  government  and  protect  his  subjects  in  the  quiet 
and  peaceable  enjoyment  of  their  rights  ;  I  have  therefore  thought  proper, 
by  and  with  the  consent  and  advice  of  his  majesty's  council,  by  1hi,s 
proclamation  in  his  majesty's  name,  to  order  and  require  the  officers  of 
the  militia  in  that  district  to  embody  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  re- 
pel any  insult  whatsoever  ;  and  all  his  majesty's  liege  subjects  within  this 
colony  are  hereby  strictly  required  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  therein,  or 
they  shall  answ^er  the  contrary  at  their  peril ;  and  I  further  enjoin  and  re- 
quire the  seveird  inhabitants  of  the  territories  aforesaid  to  pay  his  majesty's 
quitrents  and  public  dues  to  such  officers  as  are  or  shall  be  appointed  to 
collect  the  same  within  this  dominion^  until  his  majesty's  pleasure  thereui 
shall  be  known." 

It  is  much  to  be  reo-retted  that  mv  cody  of  this  proclamation  is  without 
date.  There  can,  however,  be  no  doubt  it  was  issued  either  in  1774  or 
early  in  1775,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  was  issued  in  1774  ;  but 
it  would  be  satisfactory  to  know^  precisely  the  day,  because  chronology  is 
the  soul  of  history 

I3ut  this  state  of  things  in  the  west,  it  seems  from  subsequent  events, 
was  not  the  mere  effervescence  of  a  transient  or  momentary  excitement, 
but  continued  a  long  season.  The  seeds  of  discord  had  fallen  unhappily 
on  ground  too  naturally  pi  oductive,  and  were  also  too  w^ell  cultivated  by 
the  earl  of  Dunmiore,  Connoly,  and  the  Penjisylvania  officers,  to  evapo- 
rate in  an  instant. 

We  find  by  recurring  to  the  history  of  our  revolutionary  w^ar,  that  that 
awful  tornado,  if  it  had  not  the  effect  to  sweep  away  disputes  about  state 
rights  and  local  interests,  yet  it  had  the  effect  to  silence  and  suspend  eve- 
ry tiling  of  that  nature  pending  our  dubious  and  arduous  struggle  for  na- 
tional existence  :  but  yet  we  fmd,  in  fact,  that  wdiatever  conciliatory  effect 
this  state  of  things  had  upon  other  sections  of  the  country,  and  upon  the 
nation  at  large,  it  wt.s  not  sufficient  to  extinguish  this  fire  in  the  west. — ■ 
For  in  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1776,  or  in  the  year  1777,  w^e  find  these 
people  petitioning  Congress  to  interpose  their  authority,  and  redress  their 
grievances.  I  have  this  petition  before  me,  but  it  is  too  long  to  copy  :  I 
therefore  only  give  a  short  abstract. 

It  begins  with  stating  thai  whereas  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  both  set 
up  claims  to  the  western  country,  it  was  productive  of  the  most  serious 
and  distressing  consequences  :  that  a^  each  Str:tc  perlhiaeiuusly  support- 


OF  DUNMOllE'S  WAU.  100 

eel  their  respective  pretensions,  the  result  was,  as  described  by  thcmselve.'', 
"frauds,  impositions,  violences,  depredations,  animosities,"  &c.   6vC. 

These  evils  they  ascribe  (as  indeed  the  fact  was)  to  the  conflictinir  claims 
of  the  two  States  ;  and  so  warm  were  the  partisans  on  eacli  side,  as  in 
some  cases  to  produce  battles  and  shedding  of  blood,  jjut  they  superadd 
another  reason  for  this  ill-humor,  namely,  the  proceeding's  of  Dunmore'.^ 
warrant  officers,  in  laying  land  warrants  on  land  claimed  by  others,  and 
many  other  claims  for  land  granted  by  the  crown  of  England  to  individu- 
als, com.panies,  &c.,  covering  a  vast  extent  of  country,  and  including  most 
of  the  lands  already  settled  and  occupied  by  the  greatest  part  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  western  country  ;  and  they  finally  prny  Congress  to  erect 
them  into  a  seperate  State  and  admJt  them  into  the  Union  as  a  fourteenth 
State. 

As  the  petition  recites  the  treaty  of  Pitti  burgh,  in  October  1775,  It  is 
probable  we  may  fix  its  date  (for  it  has  none,)  to  the  latter  part  of  1*7(3  cr 
1777.  I  rather  think  the  latter,  not  only  from  my  own  recollection  of  the 
circumstances  of  that  period,  but  especially  from  the  request  in  the  peti- 
tion to  be  erected  into  a  new  State,  which  certainly  would  not  have  been 
thought  of  before  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

But  the  unhappy  state  of  the  western  country  will  appear  still  more  ev- 
ident, when  \v^J  advert  to  another  important  document  whi^-h  I  have  alsa 
before  me.  It  is  a  })roclara.nion  issued  by  the  delegates  in  Congress  from 
the  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and  bears  date  Philadelphia,  Ju- 
ly 25,  1775. 

But  the  heat  of  fire,  and  inflexible  obstinacy  of  tlie  parties  c'ugnged  in 
this  controversy,  will  appear  in  colors  still  stronger,  when  we  see  the  un- 
availing- efforts  made  by  the  deles^ates  in  Cons^ress  from  the  two  States  of 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  in  the  year  1775.  These  gentlemen,  it  wa.^ 
obvious,  under  the  influence  of  the  best  of  motives,  and  certainly  with  a 
view  to  the  best  interests,  peace,  and  happiness  of  the  westirn  people, 
sent  them  a  proclamation,  couched  in  terms  directly  calculated  to  restore 
tranquillity  and  harmony  among  them  :  but  the  little  eflect  produced  by 
this  proclamation,  their  subsequent  petition  just  recited,  iind  sent  the  next 
year  or  year  after  to  Congress,  fully  demonstrates. 

But  as  I  consider  this  proclamation  an  im})ortant  document,  and  as  it  in 
nowhere  recorded,  I  give  it  to  the  reader  entire: 

*' J(>  the  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virgini,!^ 

on  the  west  side  of  the  Laiirrl  [{ill. 
"FRinNDs  AND  CouNTRYMKN  : — It  givcs  US  much  concern  to  find  that 
disturbances  have  arisen,  and  still  continue  among  you,  concerning  the 
boundaries  of  our  colonies.  In  the  character  in  whrr-h  we  now  address 
you,  it  is  unnecessary  to  inquire  into  tiie  onrrln  of  those  unhapj>y  dis- 
})utes,  and  it  would  be  impropc^rfor  us  to  express  our  appro()ation  or  cen- 
sure on  either  side  ;  but  as  representatives  of  two  of  the  colonies,  united 
among  many  others  for  the  defence  t)f  the  liberties  of  America,  we  think 
it  our  duly  to  remove,  as  far  as  fies  in  our  power,  every  obstacle  that  may 
prevent  her  i>ons  I'roin  co-operaling  as  vigorously  as  they  would  wish  to  do 
towaids  the  attainnicnt  of  this  great  and  important  end.      Iiifluentcd  iole- 


no  JACOB'S   ACCOUNT 

ly  by  this  motive,  our  joint  and  earnest  request  to  you  is,  that  all  animos- 
ities, which  have  heretofore  subsisted  among  you,  as  inhabitants  of  dis- 
tinct colonies,  mny  now  give  place  to  generous  and  concurring  efforts  for 
the  preservation  of  every  thing  that  can  make  our  common  countiy  dear 
to  us. 

"We  arc  fally  pcr^^unded  that  you,  as  well  as  we,  wish  to  see  your  dif- 
ferences terminate  in  this  happy  issue.  For  this  desirable  purpose  we  re» 
commend  it  to  you  that  all  bodies  o^ armed  men,  kept  under  either  pro- 
vince^ be  dismissed  ;  that  all  those  on  either  side,  who  are  in  conjinement^ 
or  luichr  hnil  for  taking  a  part  in  the  contest,  be  discharged  ;  and  that  un- 
til the  dispute  be  decided,  every  person  be  permitted  to  retain  his  posses- 
sions unmolested. 

"By  observing  these  directions,  the  public  tranquillity  will  be  secured 
without  injury  to  the  titles  on  either  side.  The  period,  we  flatter  our- 
vselves,  wiJl  soon  arrive,  wlien  this  unfortunate  dispute,  which  has  produ- 
ced much  mischief,  and  as  far  as  we  can  learn  no  good,  will  be  peaceably 
and  constitutionally  determined. 

"We  are  your  friends  and  countrymen, 

'•/^.  IL'nnj^  Richard  Henry  Lee^  Benjanf.in  Harrison^    Th, 
Jefferson,  John  Dic/civson,  Geo.  RosSy  B.  Franklin^  Jas. 


JVihon^  Chf-irles  Humphreys. 


.^, 


n-^ ^  ') 


■' Philadelphia,  July  25,  1775. 


;?/ 


iMit  to  conclude  this  part  of  our  subject,  1  think  the  reader  cannot  but 
v"=;ee  from  Dunmore's  proclamation,  the  violent  measures  of  his  lieutenant 
Connoly  and  the  Virginia  officers,  and  from  the  complexion  of  the  times, 
and  the  subsequent  conduct  of  both  Dunmore  and  Connoly,  as  we  shall 
see  hereafter;  that  this  unhappy  state  of  things,  if  not  actually  produced, 
was  certainly  impioved  by  Uumnore  to  subserve  the  views  of  the  British 
court. 

We  now  proceed  to  examine  the  question,  hoAV  far  facts  and  circum" 
vstance.^  j'l-'^tify  "^  ii^  supposing  the  earl  of  Dunmore  himself  instrumental 
in  producing  the  Indian  war  of  1774. 

It  has  been  already  remarked  that  this  Indian  war  was  but  the  precur- 
sor to  our  revolutionary  war  of  1775 — that  Dunmore,  the  then  governor  of 
Virginia,  was  one  of  the  most  inveterate  and  determined  enemies  to  the 
revolution — that  he  was  a  man  of  high  talents,  especiall}^  for  intrigue  and 
diplomatic  skill— that  occupying  the  station  of  commander-in-chief  of  the 
large  and  respectable  State  of  Virginia,  he  possessed  means  and  power  to 
do  much  to  serve  the  views  of  Great  Britain.  And  we  have  seen,  from 
the  preceding  pages,  how  effectually  he  played  his  part  among  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  western  country.  I  was  present  myself  when  a  Pennsylvania 
magistrate,  of  the  name  of  Scott,  was  taken  into  custody,  and  brought 
before  Dunmore,  at  Prestone  old  fort ;  he  was  severely  threatened  and  ais- 
missed,  perhaps  on  bail,  but  I  do  not  recollect  how  ;  another  Pennsylva- 
nia magistrate  was  sent  to  Staunton  jail.  iVnd  I  have  already  shewn  in 
the  preceding  pages,  that  there  was  a  sufficient  preparation  of  materials 
for  this  war  in  the  predisposition  and  hostile  attitude  of  our  affairs  with 
the  Indians;  that  it  was  consequently  ]io  diOici'ih  mat^^r    with  a  \'irginia 


OF  DCNMOKfrs  WAR.  Ill 

governor  to  direct  the  incipient  state  of  tliirif^s  to  any  point  mo.';t  condu- 
cive to  the  grand  end  he  had  in  view,  namely,  Aveakening'  our  national 
strength  in  some  of  its  best  and  most  elficient  parts.  If,  tiien,  a  ^var 
with  the  Indians  might  have  a  tendency  to  produce  this  result,  it  appears 
perfectly  natural  and  reasonable  to  suppose  tliat  Dunmore  -would  make 
use  of  all  his  power  and  influence  to  promote  it ;  and  although  the  war  of 
1774  was  brought  to  a  conclusion  before  the  year  was  out,  yet  we  know 
that  this  fire  was  scarcely  extinii'uished  before  it  burst  out  into  a  flame  with 
tenfold  fury,  and  two  or  three  armies  of  the  whites  were  sacriliced  before 
we  could  get  the  Indians  subdued  ;  and  this  unhaj^py  state  of  our  affaii's 
with  the  Indians  happening  during  the  severe  conflict  of  our  revolutionary 
war,  had  the  \ery  effect,  I  suppose,  Dunmore  had  in  viev%',  namely,  divid  • 
ing  our  forces  and  enfeebling  our  aggregate  strengtli ;  and  that  the  seeds 
of  these  subsequent  wars  with  the  Indians  were  sown  in  1774  and  1775,. 
appears  almost  certain. 

Yet  still,  however,  we  admit  that  we  are  not  in  possession  of  materials 
to  substantiate  this  charge  against  the  earl ;   and  all  we  can    do  is  to  pi'o- 
duce  some  facts  and  circumstances  that  deserve  notice,  and  have  a  strong." 
bearnig  on  the  case. 

And  the  first  Vv'e  shall  mention^  is  a  circular  letter  sent  by  ?\raj.  Conno- 
ly,  his  proxy,  early  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1774,  warning  the  inhabi- 
itants  to  be  on  their  guard — that  the  Indians  were  very  angry,  and  mani- 
fested so  much  hostility,  that  he  was  apprehensive  they  would  strike- 
somewhere  as  soon  as  ike  season  vjoulil  permit,  and  enjoining  the  inhabi- 
tants to  prepare  and  retire  into  forts,  &c.  It  migiit  be  useful  to  collate- 
and  compare  this  letter  with  one  he  wrote  to  Capt.  Cresap  on  the  14th 
July  following  ;  see  hereafter.  In  this  letter  he  declares  there  is  war  or 
danger  of  war,  before  the  war  is  properly  begun  ;  in  that  to  Capt.  Cre- 
sap he  says  the  Indians  deport  themselves  peaceaWy,  when  Dunm-ore  and 
Lewis  and  Cornstalk  are  all  on  their  march  for  battle. 

'I'his  letter  was  sent  bv  express  in  everv  direction  of  the  countrv.  T"n- 
happily  we  have  lost  or  mislaid  it,  and  consequently  are  deiicient  in  a 
jnost  material  point  in  its  date.  But  from  one  expression  in  the  K-tter, 
namely,  that  the  Indians  will  strike  when  the  season  permits,  and  this 
season  is  generally  understood  to  mean  when  the  b-aves  are  out,  we  may 
fix  it  in  the  month  of  May.  \Vc  find  Cvom  a  sulisequent  letter  from  I'enie- 
cost  and  Connoly  to  Capt.  Reece,  that  this  assumed  hui  is  piovcd:  see- 
liereafter. 

'J'iierefbre  this  letter  cannot  be  of  a  later  da.te  than  sometiuu'  in  the 
inonth  of  April ;  and  if  so,  before  Ijutlei-'s  men  were  killed  on  Little  Hea- 
ver ;  and  before  Logan^s  family  were  kille;!  o!i  Yellow  creek,  an;l  was  in 
fact  the  fiery  red-cross  and  harbinirer  of  war,  as  in  davs  of  vore  anion  »• 
the  Scottish  clans.  That  this  was  the  fac-t  is  I  think  absolutely  certniii, 
because  no  mention  is  made  Ln  Conn(^ly\  letter  of  this  nfl'air,  wliich  cej- 
tainly  would  not  have  been  (unitted,  if  precedent  to  his  le'Jer. 


*'rhc  remark',  as  it  should  seem  incidentallv  made,  in  Dinimore's  p.-o- 
clamation,  a^to  i\]c  Indi.ni  war,  ^see  page  lOS,)  dosorv<'-i  notice^  as  it 
lias  no  ccnucctinn  with  the  s'.ibj(c*  (A'  lUut  jjrr.clamatLoii. 


112  JACOB'S   ACCOUNT 

This  Icltcrpioduced  its  natiirnl  result.  The  people  fiecl  into  forls,  anct 
})ut  lliemselves  into  a  posture  oi'  defence,  and  the  tocsin  of  war  resound- 
ed from  Laurel  hill  to  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  Capt.  Cresap,  who  was 
})eaceably  at  this  time  employed  in  building  houses  and  improving-  lands 
on  the  Ohio,  received  this  letter,  accompanied,  it  is  believed,  with  a  con- 
firmatory message  from  Col.  Ci'oghan  and  Maj.  M'Gee,  Indian  agents  and 
interpreters  ;*  and  he  thereupon  immediately  broke  up  his  camp,  and  as- 
cended the  I'iver  to  Wheeling  fort,  the  nearest  place  of  safety,  from  whence- 
it  is  believed  he  intended  speedily  to  return  home  ;  but  during  his  stay  at 
this  place,  a  report  was  brought  into  the  fort  that  two  Indians  were  com- 
ing down  the  liver.  Capt.  Cresap,  supposing  from  every  circumstance, 
and  the  general  aspect  of  affairs,  that  war  was  inevitable,  and  in  fact  al- 
ready begun,  went  up  the  river  vrith  his  jiarty ;  and  two  of  his  men,  of 
the  name  of  Chenoweth  and  Brothers,  killed  these  two  Indians.  J^eyond 
controversv  this  is  the  only  circumstance  in  the  history  of  this  Indian 
w^ar,  in  which  his  name  can  in  the  remotest  degree  be  identified  with  any 
measure  tending  to  pioduce  this  war  ;  and  it  is  certain  that  the  guilt  or 
innocence  of  this  affair  wifl  appear  from  its  date.  It  is  notorious,  then, 
that  those  Indians  were  killed  not  only  after  Capt.  Cresap  had  received 
Connoly's  letter,  and  after  Butler's  men  were  killed  in  the  canoe,  but  al- 
so after  the  aflair  at  Yellow  creek,  and  after  the  people  had  fled  into  forts. 
But  ]nore  of  this  hereai"ter,  when  we  take  up  Mr.  Doddrige  and  his  book; 
simply,  however,  remarking  here,  that  this  alTair  of  killing  these  two  In- 
dians has  the  same  aspect  and  relation  to  Dunmore's  war  that  the  battle 
of  Lexington  has  to  the  war  of  the  revolution. 

But  to  proceed.  Permit  us  to  remark,  that  it  is  very  difTicultat  this  late 
period  to  form  a  correct  idea  of  these  times,  unless  we  can  bring  distinct- 
ly into  view  the  real  state  of  our  frontier.  The  inhabitants  of  the  wes- 
tern  country  were  at  this  time  thinly  scattered  from  the  Allegany  moun- 
tain to  the  eastern  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  most  thinly  near  that  riv-er. — 
In  this  state  of  things,  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that  the  few  settlers  in 
the  vicinity  of  Wheeling,  who  had  collected  into  that  fort,  would  feel  ex- 
tremely solicitous  to  detain  captain  Cresap  and  his  men  as  long  as  possi- 
ble, especially  until  they  could  see  on  what  point  the  storm  would  fall. — 
Capt.  Cresap,  the  son  of  a  hero,  and  a  hero  himself,  felt  for  their  situa- 
ation  ;  and  getting  together  a  few  more  men  in  addition  to  his  ov/n,  and 
not  relishing  the  limits  of  a  little  fort,  nor  a  life  of  inactivity,  set  out  on 
wdiat  was  called  a  scouting  paity,  that  is,  to  reconnoiter  and  scour  the 
frontier  border ;  and  while  out  and  engaged  in  this  business,  fell  in  with 
and  had  a  running  fight  with  a  party  of  Indians,  nearly  about  his  equal  ia 
numbers,  when  one  Indian  was  killed,  and  Cresap  had  one  man  wounded.. 
This  affair  took  place  somewhere  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  Doddridge 
says  it  was  at  the  mouth  of  Captina:  be  it  so — it  matters  not ;  but  he.adds, 
it  was  on  the  same  day  the  Indians  were  killed  in  the  canoe.  Li  this  the 
doctor  is  most  egregiously  mistaken,  as  I  shall  prove  hereafter. 

But  may  we  not  as!:,  what  vrere  these  Indians  doing  here  at  this    time, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Oliio?     They  had  no  town   near  this  place,    nor  was- 


'I  had  l!ii.:  r.'om  Cap',.  Cresap  himself,  a  short  time  after  it  oc»furi-eil, 


OF  DUNMORE^S  WAR.  113 

it  their  hunting  season,  as  it  was  about  the  8th  or  10th  of  May.  Is  it 
not  then  probable,  nay  almost  certain,  that  this  straggling  banditti  Were 
prepared  and  ready  to  fall  on  some  parts  of  our  exposed  frontier,  and  that 
their  dispersion  saved  the  lives  of  many  helpless  women  and  children? 

But  the  old  proverb,  cry  mad-dog  and  kill  him  !  is,  I  SHippose,  equally 
as  applicable  to  heroes  as  to  dogs. 

Capt.  Cresap  soon  after  this  returned  to  his  family  in  Maryland  ;  but 
feeling  most  sensibly  for  the  inhabitants  on  the  frontier  in  their  perilous  si- 
tuation, immediately  raised  a  company  of  volunteers,  and  marched  back 
to  their  assistance  ;  and  having  advanced  as  far  as  Catfish  camp,  the  place 
where  Washington,  Pa.,  now  stands,  he  v/as  arrested  in  his  progress  by  a 
peremptory  and  insulting  order  from  Connoly,  commanding  hiin  to  dis- 
miss  his  men  and  to  return  home. 

This  order,  couched  in  offensive  and  insulting  language,  it  may  be  well 
supposed,  was  not  very  grateful  to  a  man  of  Captain  Cresap's  high 
sense  of  honor  and  peculiar  sensibility,  especially  conscious  as  he  was 
of  the  purity  of  his  motives,  and  the  laudable  end  he  liad  in  view.  He 
nevertheless  obeyed,  returned  home  and  dismissed  his  men,  and  with  the 
determination,  I  well  know  from  what  he  said  after  his  return,  never  again 
to  take  any  part  in  the  present  Indian  war,  but  to  lea.ve  Mr.  Commandant 
at  Pittsburgh  to  light  it  out  as  he  could.  This  hasty  resolution  was  how-^ 
ever  of  short  duration.  For  however  strange,  contradictory,  and  irrecon- 
cilable the  conduct  of  the  earl  of  Dunmore  and  his  vice-governor  of  Pitts- 
burgh, &c.  may  appear,  yet  it  is  a  fact,  that  on  the  10th  of  June,  the  earl 
of  Dunmore,  unsolicited,  and  to  Capt.  Cresap  certainly  unexpected,  sent 
him  a  cantain's  commission  of  the  militia  of  Hamoshire  countv,  Vir^rinia, 
notwithstanding  his  residence  was  in  Maryland.  This  commission  reach- 
ed Capt.  C.  a  few  days  after  his  return  from  the  expedition  to  Catfish 
camp,  just  above  mentioned  ;  and  inasmuch  eis  this  commission,  coming 
to  liim  in  the  way  it  did,  carried  with  it  a  tacit  expression  of  the  govcr- 
ner's  approbation  of  his  conduct — add  to  which,  that  about  the  same  time 
his  feelings  were  daily  assailed  by  petition  after  petition,  from  almost  eve- 
ry section  of  the  western  country,  praying,  begging,  and  beseeching  him 
to  come  over  to  their  assistance — it  is  not  surprising  that  Ids  resolution 
should  be  changed.  Several  of  these  petitions  and  Dunmore's  commis- 
sion have  escaped  the  wreck  of  time  and  are  in  my  possession. 

This  commission  coming  at  the  time  it  did,  and  in  the  way  and  under* 
the  circumstances  above  recited,  aided  and  strengthened  as  it  was  by  the 
numberless  petitioners  aforesaid,  broke  down  and  so  far  extinguished  all 
Capt.  Cresap's  personal  resentment  against  Connoly  that  he  once  more 
determined  to  exert  all  his  power  and  infiuence  in  assisting  the  distressed 
inhabitants  of  the  western  frontier,  and  accordingly  immediately  raised  a 
company,  i)laced  himself  under  tlie  command  of  Maj.  Angus  Al^Donald, 
and  marched  with  him  to  at.tack  the  Indians,  at  their  town  of  Wappato-^ 
machie,  on  the  Muskingum.  I  lis  po}>ularity,  at  this  time,  was  such,  and 
so  many  men  flocked  to  his  standard,  that  he  could  not  ronsistently  vvilh 
tiie  rules  of  an  army,  retain  tlicm  in  his  company,  but  was  obligf'd  lc» 
transfer  them,  much  against  their  wills,  U)  other  ruptaiiis,  and    Uie    re5?ult 

V 


314  JACOB'S    ACCOI'NT 

waSj  that  ru  ter  retaining  in  liis  own  company  as  many  men  as  he  could 
consistently,  be  filled  completely  the  company  of  his  nephew  Capt.  Mi- 
chael Cresap,  and  also  partly  the  company  of  Capt.  Hancock  Lee.  This 
little  army  of  about  four  hun(h-ed  men,  under  Maj.  M'JJonald,  penetrated 
the  Indian  countiy  as  far  as  the  Muskingum  ;  near  which  they  had  a  skir- 
mish with  a  party  of  Indians  under  Capt.  Snake,  in  which  M'Donald  lost 
.six  men,  and  killed  the  Indian  chief  Snake- 

A  little  anecdote  here  will  go  to  show  what  expert  and  close  shooters 
we  had  in  those  days  am^ong  our  riflemen.  When  ?d'Donald's  little  army 
arrived  on  the  near  bank  of  the  Muskingum,  and  wdiile  lying  there,  an 
Indian  on  the  opposite  shore  got  behind  a  log  or  old  tree,  and  w^as  lifting 
up  his  head  occasionally  to  view  the  white  men's  army.  One  of  Capt. 
Cresap's  men,  of  the  name  of  John  Harness,  seeing  this,  loaded  his  rifle 
with  two  balls,  and  placing  himself  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  watched  the 
opnoriunity  vrhen  the  Indian  raised  his  head,  and  firino-  at  the  same  in- 
Slant,  put  both  balls  through  the  Indian's  neck,  and  laid  him  dead  ;*  which 
circumstance  no  doubt  had  great  influence  in  intimidating  the  Indians. 

JM'Donald  after  this  had  another  running  fight  with  the  Indians,  drov^e 
them  from  their  towns,  burnt  them,  destroyed  their  provisions,  and,  re- 
lurnini]^  to  the  settlement,  discharfxed  his  men. 

But  this  affair  at  Wappatoraachie  and  expedition  of  M'Donald  were  on- 
ly the  nrelude  to  more  important  and  efficient  measures.  It  was  well  un- 
derstood  that  the  Indians  were  far  from  being  subdued,  and  that  they  would 
now  certainly  collect  all  their  force,  and  to  the  utmost  of  power  return  the 
compliment  of  our  visit  to  their  territories. 

The  governor  of  Virginia,  whatever  might  have  been  his  views  as  to 
the  ulterior  measures,  lost  no  tim.e  in  preparing  to  meet  this  storm.  He 
sent  orders  immediately  to  Col.  Andrew  Lewis,  of  Augusta  county,  to 
raise  an  army  of  cibout  one  thousand  men)  and  to  march  wdth  all  expedi- 
tion to  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanav/ha,  on  the  Ohio  river,  where,  or  at 
some  otJier  point,  he  w^ould  join  him,  after  he  had  got  together  another 
army,  which  he  intended  to  raise  in  the  northwestern  counties,  and  com»- 
maud  in  person.  Lewis  lost  no  time,  but  collected  the  number  of  men 
required,  and  marched  without  delay  to  the  appointed  place  of  rendez- 
vous. 

But  the  earl  was  not  quite  so  rapid  in  his  movements,  which  circum- 
stance the  eagle  eye  of  old  Cornstalk,  the  general  of  the  Indian  army, 
saw,  and  was  determined  to  avail  himself  of,  foreseeing  that  it  v/ould  be 
much  easier  to  destroy  two  separate  columns  of  an  mvading  army  before 
than  after  their  junction  and  consolidation.  Vv^ith  this  yiew  he  m.arched 
with  all  expedition  io  attack  Lewis,  before  he  was  joined  by  the  earl's  ar- 
my from  the  north  calcidatlng,  confidently  no  doubt,  that  if  he  could  de- 
stroy Lewis_,  he  would  be  able  to  give  a  good  account  of  the  army  of  the 
earl. 

The  plans  of  Cornstalk  appear  to  have  been  those  of  a  consummate 
and  skillful  general,  and  the  prompt  and  rapid  execution  of  them  display- 
ed the  energy  of  a   warrior.     He  therefore,  without  loss  of  time,    attack- 


=»^ri 


riie  Muskingum  at  this  place  is  said  to  be  about  200  yards  wide. 


OF  I)UN.MORE\S  WAR.  IL"? 

ed  Lewis  at  his  post.  The  attack  wa'S  sudden,  violent,  nnd  I  believe  un- 
expected. It  was  neverthelesss  well  fought,  very  obstinate,  and  of  long 
continuance  :  and  as  both  parties  fought  with  rifles,  the  conflict  was  dread- 
ful ;  many  were  killed  on  both  sides,  and  the  contest  v/as  only  finished 
wdth  the  approach  of  night.  The  Virginians,  however,  kept  the  field,  but 
lost  many  valuable  ofHcers  and  men,  and  among  the  rest,  Col.  Chailes 
Lewis,  brother  to  the  commander-in-chief. 

Cornstalk  and  Blue  Jacket,  the  two  Indian  captains,  it  is  saifl,  perform- 
ed prodigies  of  valor ;  but  finding  at  length  all  their  efforts  unavailing, 
drew  off  their  men  in  good  order,  and  with  the  determination  to  hgiit  no 
more.,  if  peace  could  be  obtained  upon  reasonable  terms. 

This  battle  of  Lewis'  opened  an  easy  nnd  unmolested  passage  for  Dun- 
more  through  the  Indian  country  ;*  but  it  is  proper  to  remark  here,  how- 
ever, that  when  Dunmore  arrived  with  his  wing  of  the  army  at  the  mouth 
of  Hockhocking,  he  sent  Capt.  White-eyes,  a  Delaw^are  chief,  to  in\  ite 
the  Indians  to  a  treaty,  and  he  remained  stationary  at  that  place  until 
W^hite-eves  returned,  who  reported  that  the  Indians  would  not  treat  about 
peace.  I  presume,  in  order  of  time,  this  must  have  been  just  before  Le- 
wis' battle  ;  because  it  will  appear  in  the  sequel  of  this  story,  that  a  great 
revolution  took  place  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  after  the  batde. 

LJunmore.  immediately  upon  the  report  of  White-eyes  that  the  Indians 
were  not  disposed  for  peace,  sent  an  express  to  Col.  Lewis  to  move  on 
and  meet  him  near  Chilicothe,  on  the  Scioto,  and  both  wings  of  the  ar- 
ray were  })ut  in  motion.  But  as  Dunmore  approached  the  Indian  towns, 
he  was  met  by  flags  from  the  Indians,  demanding  peace,  to  which  he  ac- 
ceded, halted  his  army,  and  runners  were  sent  to  invite  the  Indian  chiefs, 
who  cheerfully  obeyed  the  summons,  and  came  to  the  treaty — save  only 
Logan,  the  great  orator,  wdio  refused  to  come.  It  seems,  hovrever,  that 
neiJher  Dunmore  nor  the  Indian  chiefs  considered  his  presence  of  much 
importance,  for  they  went  to  work  and  finished  the  treaty  v.'ithout  him — 
referring,  I  believe,  some  unsettled  points  for  future  discussion,  at  a  treaty 
to  be  held  the  ensuinc:  summer  or  fall  at  Pittsburdi.  This  treaty,  the  ar- 
tides  of  which  I  never  saw,  nor  do  I  know  that  they  were  ever  recorded, 
concluded  Dunmore's  war,  in  September  or  October,  1774.  After  the 
treaty  was  over,  old  Cornstalk,  the  Shawnee  chief,  accompanied  Dun- 
more's  army  until  they  readied  the  mouth  of  Hockhocking,  on  the  Ohio  ; 
and  what  was  most  singular,  rather  made  liIs  home  in  Capt.  Cresap's  tent, 
with  wiiom  he  continued  on  terms  of  die  most  friendly  familiarity.  I  con- 
sider  this  circumstance  as  positive  jiroof  that  the  Indians  themselves  noi- 


*A  lirlie  anecdote  will  i)i()ve  that  Dunmore  was  a  general,  and  also  the 
high  estimation  in'  which  he  held  Caj)t.  C''esap.  While  the  army  was 
marching  through  the  Indian  country,  Dunmore  ordered  Capt.  (.'resap 
with  his  company  and  some  more  of  his  best  troops  in  the  rear.  This 
displeased  (Jresap,  and  he  exjjostuliited  with  the  earl,  v.lio  replied,  that 
the  reason  of  this  ai'ranijfeuieut  was,  becaus<'  he  knew  that  if  he  was  at- 
tacked  in  front,  all  those  men  would  soon  rush  tbrward  into  the  en^fV-''" 
ment.  This  reason,  which  was  by  the  by  a  handsome  <-om[>liinent,  satis- 
lied  Cresap,  and  all  the  r<Mr  guard. 


lie  JACOB'S    ACCOUNT 

thcr  coiisitkred  Capt.  Cresap  the  murderer  of  Logan's  family,  nor  {)ie 
cause  of  the  war.  It  appears,  also,  that  at  this  place  the  earl  of  Dun- 
more  received  dispatches  from  England.  Doddridge  saya  he  received 
these  on  his  march  out. 

But  we  ought  to  have  mentioned  in  its  proper  place,  that  after  the  trea- 
ty between  Dunmore  and  the  Indians  commenced  near  Chilicothe,  Lewis 
arrived  with  his  army,  and  encamped  two  or  three  miles  from  Dunmore, 
which  greatly  alarmed  the  Indians,  as  they  thought  he  was  so  much  irri- 
tated at  losing  so  many  men  in  the  late  battle  that  he  would  not  easily  be 
pacified ;  nor  would  they  be  satisfied  until  Dunmore  and  old  Cornstalk 
went  into  Lewis'  camp  to  converse  with  him. 

Doct.  Doddridge  represents  this  affair  in  different  shades  of  light  from 
this  statement.  I  can  only  say  I  had  m^y  information  fiom  an  officer  who 
was  present  at  the  time. 

But  it  is  time  to  remind  the  reader,  that,  although  I  have  wandered  into 
such  a  minute  detail  of  the  various  occurrences,  facts  and  circumstances 
of  Dunmore's  war  ;  and  all  of  which  as  a  history  mav  be  interestinf]^  to 
the  present  and  especially  to  the  rising  generation  ;  yet  it  is  proper  to  re- 
mark that  I  have  two  leading  objects  chiefly  in  vievr — first,  to  convince 
the  world,  that  whoever  and  whatever  might  be  the  cause  of  the  Indian 
war  of  1774,  it  was  not  Capt.  Cresap  ;  secondly,  that  from  the  aspect  of 
our  political  affairs  at  that  period,  and  from  the  knov;n  hostility  of  Dun- 
more to  the  American  revolution,  and  withal  from  the  subsequent  conduct 
of  Dunmore,  and  the  dreadful  Lidian  war  that  coinmenced  soon  after  the 
beginning  of  our  war  vrith  Great  Britain — I  say,  from  all  these  circum- 
stances, vrehave  infinitely  stronger  reasons  to  suspect  Dunmore  than  Cre- 
sap;  and  I  m.ay  say  that  the  dispatches  above  mentioned  that  were  re- 
ceived bv  Dunmore  at  Hockhockinf^.  althoutrh  alter  the  treaty,  were  yet 
calculated  to  create  suspicion. 

But  if,  as  Vv^e  suddosc,  Dunmore  wa^  secretlv  at  the  bottom  of  this  In- 
dian  war,  it  is  evident  that  he  could  not  with  propriety  appear  personally 
in  a  business  of  this  kind  ;  and  v/e  have  seen  and  shall  see,  how  effectu- 
ally his  sub-governor  played  his  part  between  the  Virginians  and  Penn- 
5ylvanians  ;  and  it  now  remains  tor  us  to  examine  how  far  the  conduct  of 
tills  man  (Connoly)  will  bear  us  out  in  the  supposition  that  there  was  also 
some  ioul  play,  some  dark  iiariguing  work  to  embroil  the  western  coun- 
try in  an  Indian  war. 

And  I  think  it  best  now,as  we  have  introduced  this  man  Connoly  acrain, 
to  give  the  reader  a  short  condensed  history  of  his  whole  proceedings, 
that  we  may  have  him  in  full  view  at  once.  We  have  already  presented 
the  reader  with  his  circular  letter,  and  its  natural  result  and  consequences 
and  also  with  his  insulting  letter  and  mandatory  order  to  Capt.  Cresap,  at 
Catfish  camp,,  to  dismiss  his  men  and  go  home  ;  and  that  the  reader  may 
now  see  a  little  of  the  character  of  this  man,  and  understand  him,  if  it  is 
possible  to  understand  him,  I  present  him  vri(h  the  copy  of  a  letter  to 
fC^apt.  Rcece. 

^•i\s  1  hrive  received  intelligence  llr.it  Lo<;nn,  a  jMingo  Indian,  with 
about  twenty  Shawnees  and  others,  vrcre;to  set  off  for  w;ir  last  Monday, 
f\\s\  T  have  reason  to  believe  that  ihey  mav  comf  upnri  the    inhabitants  n-> 


OF  DUNMORK'S  WAR.  117 

l>out  VvliLcling,  I  hereby  order,  require  and  command  vf^ii,  mIiIi  all  the 
men  you  can  raise,  immediately  to  march  and  join  am/  of  the  compdnies 
already  out  and  under  the  pay  of  government^  and  upon  joining  your  par- 
ties together,  scour  the  frontier  and  become  a  barrier  to  our  settlenients, 
and  endeavor  to  fall  in  with  their  tracks,  and  pursue  them.,  using  your  ut- 
most endeavors  to  chastise  them  as  open  and  avowed  enemies. 

'^I  am,  sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 
^'DoRSEY  Pentecost,  for 

"JOHN  CONNOLY. 

"To  Capt.  Joel  Reecc,  use  all  expedition.  May  27,  1774."  _ 

Now  here  is  a  fellow  for  you,  A  very  short  time  before  this,  perhnpr^ 
two  or  three  days  before  the  date  of  this  letter,  Capt.  Cresap,  who  had  a 
fine  company  of  volunteers,  is  insuked,  ordered  to  dismiss  his  men  and 
go  home  ;  and  indeed  it  appears  from  one  expression  m  this  letter,  name- 
ly, "the  companies  who  are  already  out,"  that  these  companies  nmst  have 
been  actually  out  at  the  very  time  Cresap  is  ordered  home. 

Now  if  any  man  is  s,ki}led  in  the  art  of  legerdemain,  let  him  unriddle 
this  enigma  if  he  can. 

But  as  so  many  important  facts  crov>-{i  together  at  this  eventful  period, 
i-t  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader,  and  have  a  tendency  moie  cle^n-ly  to 
illustrate  the  various  scenes  interwoven  in  the  thrend  of  this  history,  to 
present  to  his  view  a  chronological  list  of  these  facts  :  and  1  think  the  lirst 
that  deserves  notice  is  Connoly's  circular  letter,  which  we  date  the  25th 
day  of  April ;  secondly,  the  two  men  killed  in  Butler's  ccmoe  we  know 
was  the  first  or  second  day  of  May  :  thirdly,  the  afi^drnt  Yellow  creek 
was  on  the  third  or  fourth  day  of  May ;  fourthly,  the  Iiulians  killed  in 
the  canoe  above  VVheelino^  the  fifih  or  sixth  dav  of  Mav  ;  iiiihly,  the 
skirmish  with  the  Indians  on  the  river  Ohio,  about  the  eightji  or  lejitli  day 
of  May  ;  after  which,  Capt,  Cresap  reiurned  to  Cnlfish  camji  .".bout  the 
twenty-fifth  of  May.  Indeed  this  fact  speaks  for  ilseif ;  it  could  not  be 
earlier,  when  it  is  considered  that  he  rode  home  from  the  Ohio,  a  distance 
of  about  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  raised  a  company  and  marched 
bacV:  as  far  as  Catfish,  through  bad  roads,  near  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  ;  and  all,  agreeably  to  my  statement,  in  seventeen  flays  :  then  it  is 
evident  that  he  was  not  at  Catfish  camp  sooner  than  the  25th  of  .May  ; 
and  if  so,  he  -was  ordered  home  at  the  veiy  time  when  scouts  were  out, 
and  the  Jiettlement  threatened  with  an  attack  from  the  Indians,  as  is  man- 
ifest from  Connoly's  own  letter  to  (^'apt.  Reecc,  dated  May  27,    177-1. 

Ikit  the  hostility  of  Connoly  to  Capt.  Cresap  was  unremitting  and 
without  measure  or  decency ;  ibr  on  the  \A\\\  of  July,  of  the  same 
year,  \vp  find  one  of  tlie  most  extraordinary,  crooked,  mali2,*nant,  (irul)- 
street  epistles,  that  ever  appeared  upon  papei':   but  let  us  see  it. 

''Fort    /;j;77mo;v.*  July  11,  177  1. 

"Your  whole  proceedings,  so  far  as  relate  to  our  disturbances  widi  the 
Indiai'.s,  liave  been  of  a  iialuie  so  extraordinary,  that  1  am  mucli  at  a  loss 


*l)urin<!:  the  goviM-nmcnl  nf  Connoly  in  this  j>lacc,  lie  changfvl  the  name 
from  I'itt  to  Dunruore;  but  suh'^c{|uenl  events  Ir.ive  bh;tted  out  Dmimore''!: 
Jinmc.  '  ,> 


lis  JACOB'S    ACCOUNT 

■t)  account  for  the  cause;  but  when  I  consider  your  late  steps,  tenJ- 
i.ig  directly  to  ruiu  the  service  here,  by  inveigling  away  the  militia  of  this 
gan-ison  by  vour  preposterous  proposals,  and  causing  them  thereby  to 
embezzle  the  arms  of  government,  purcliased  at  an  enormous  expense, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  reflect  infinite  disgrace  upon  the  honor  of  this 
colony,  by  attacking  ?<.  set  of  people,  which,  notwithstanding  the  injury 
they  have  sustained  by  you  in  the  loss  of  their  people,  yet  continue  to  re- 
ly upon  the  pi'oiessions  of  friendship  which  I  have  made,  and  deport 
themselves  ?iCCordingiy;  I  say  when  I  consider  these  matters,  I  mustcon- 
•<.duue  you  are  actuated  by  a  spiiit  of  discord,  so  prejudicial  to  the  peace 
and  gootl  order  of  society,  that  the  conduct  calls  for  justice,  and  due  ex- 
<3cution  thereof  can  only  check.  I  must  once  again  order  you  to  delist 
from  your  pernicious  designs,  and  reqii-ire  of  you,  if  you  are  an  officer  of 
militia,  to  send  the  deserters  from  this  place  back  with  all  expedition,  that 
they  m.ay  be  dealt  with  as  their  crimes  merit. 

"I  am,  sir,  your  servant, 

''JOHxN  CONNOLY." 

This  letter,  although  short,  contains  so  many  things  for  remark  and  an- 
niiadversion,  that  we  scarcely  know  where  to  begin.  It  exhibits,  howev- 
er, a  real  picture  of  the  man,  and  a  mere  superficial  glance  at  its  phrase- 
•oio^ry  will  prove  that  he  is  an^rv,  and  his  nerves  in  a  tremor.  It  is,  in 
i'uct,  an  incoherent  jumble  of  words  and  sentences,  all  in  the  disjunctive. 

But  it  is  a  perfect  original  and  anomaly  in  the  epistolary  line  ;  and  con- 
tains in  itself  internal  marks  of  genuine  authenticity. 

The  first  things  in  this  letter  that  calls  for  our  attention  is  the  language 
he  uses  towards  the  people  he  calls  '■'•militia  deserters.'''*  That  tliey  may 
be  dealt  v.'ith,  he  says,  as  their  crimes  merit.  Now  I  pray  you  who  were 
those  people  ?  Doubtless  the  respectable  farmers  and  others  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Pittsburgh.  And  what  does  this  Mogul  of  the  w^est  intend  to  do 
vviih  them  ?  Why  iiang  them,  to  be  sure  ;  for  this  is  military  law.  But 
tlie  true  state  of  this  case  doubtless  is,  that  these  militia  considered  them- 
selves free  men  ;  that  tliey  Vv'cre  not  well  pleased  either  with  Conncly  or 
gnrrison  duty;  that  viewing  their  country  in  danger,  and  their  wives  and 
children  exposed  to  savage  barbarity,  they  preferred  more  active  service, 
and  joined  the  standard  of  Capt.  Cresap.  And  is  this  a  new  thing,  or 
reprehensible?  How  often  do  our  militia  enter  into  the  regular  army, 
and  whoever  dreamed  of  hano'ino;  then\  for  so  doing;? 

But,  secondly,  we  say  it  is  possible  Capt.  Cresap  did  not  know  from 
whence  these  men  came  ;  and  if  he  did,  he  deserves  no  censure  for  re- 
ceiving them;  and  as  to  the  charge  of  inveigling  av/ay  the  militia  from 
the  garrison,  we  know  this  must  be  positively  false,  because  he  was  not 
i)i  Piitsburgh  in  the  year  1774,  either  personally  or  by  proxy. 

As  to  the  general  charge  against  Capt.  Cresap,  of  attacking  the  In- 
dians, and  the  great  injury  he  had  done  thern,  I  need  only  say  that  this 
♦charge  is  refuted  again  and  again  in  the  course  of  this  history,  and  its  un- 
paralleled impudence  especially,  or  the  date  of  this  letter,  merits  the  deep- 
o--t  Gontemp!:.  But  the  most  extraordinary  feature  in  Ihi?  most  extraor- 
idinarv  letter  i^-  couched  in  these  words,  namely:   '^Tliat   tlic   Indians    re- 


OF  DUNMORE'S  WAR.  111? 

lied  upon  the  expressions  of  friendship  he  made  them  and  deported  them- 
selves accordingly.'' 

^  Be  astonished,  O  ye  nations  of  the  earth,  and  all  ye  kindreds  of  people 
at  this  !  For  be  it  remembered  this  is  the  14th  day  of  July  1774,  ^vhen 
Connoly  has  the  unblushing  impudence  to  assert  that  the  Indians  relied 
upon  his  expressions  of  friendship,  and  deported  themselves  according!  v, 
when  at  this  very  time  Ave  were  engaged  in  the  hottest  part  of  Dunmore's 
war ;  when  Dunmore  himself  was  raising  an  array  and  personally  on  his 
way  to  take  the  command  ;  when  Lewis  w^as  on  his  march  from  Augusta 
county,  Virginia,  to  the  Ohio ;  when  Cornstalk,  with  his  Indian  army, 
was  in  motion  to  meet  Lewis;  and  Vvdien  Capt.  Cresap  was  actually  niis- 
ing  a  company  to  join  Dunm.ore  when  he  arrived.  And  it  was  while  en- 
gaged in  this  business,  that  he  received  this  letter  from  Connoly. 

Now  if  any  man  can  account  for  this- strange  and  extraordinary  letter 
upon  rational  principles,  let  him  do  so  if  he  can  :  he  has  more  ingenuity 
and  a  more  acute  discerrmient  than  I  haye. 

Soon  after  receiving  this  letter,  Capt.  Cresap  left  his  company  on  the 
west  side  of  the  mountain  and  rode  home,  where  he  met  the  earl  of  Dun- 
more  at  his  house,  and  where  he  (the  e&rl)  remained  a  few  days  in  hnbits 
of  friendship  and  cordiality  with  the  family.  One  day  wliile  tlie  earl  was 
at  his  house,  Capt.  Cresap,  fmdinghim  alone,  introduced  the  subject  of 
Connol3^'s  ill  treatment,  with  a  yiew,  I  suppose,  of  obtaining  redress,  or 
of  exposing  the  character  of  a  man  he  knew  to  be  high  in  the  estimation 
and  confidence  of  the  earl.  But  what  effect,  suppose  ye,  had  this  remon- 
strance on  the  earl  ?  I'll  tell  you  ;  it  lulled  him  into  a  profound  sleep.  Aye, 
aye,  thinks  I  to  myself  (young  as  I  then  was,)  this  vrill  not  do,  captain  ; 
there  are  wheels  within  wheels,  dark  things  behind  the  curtain  between 
this  noble  earl  and  liis  sub-satellite. 

Capt.  Cresap  was  himself  open,  candid  and  unsuspicious,  and  I  do  not 
know  what  he  thought,  but  I  well  remember  my  own  thoughts  upon  this 
occasion. 

But  let  us,  as  nearly  as  possil)le,  finish  our  business  with  Connoly,  al- 
though we  must  thereby  get  a  little  ahead  of  our  history  :  yet,  as  already 
remarked,  we  think  it  less  perplexing  to  the  reader,  than  to  give  him  htne 
a  little  and  there  a  little  of  this  ex trr. ordinary  character. 

We  fad,  then,  that  in  the  year  1775,  Connoly,  discovering  that  Ids 
sheep-skin  could  not  cover  him  much  longer,  threw  off  the  mask  and  fled 
to  his  friend  Dunmore,  \Aio  also,  about  ihe  same  time,  was  obliged  to 
take  sanctuary  on  board  a  British  ship  of  war  in  the  Chesapeake  bay. — 
From  this  place,  i.  e.  Portsmouth  in  Virginia,  Connoly  wrote  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  Col.  .lohn  Gibson,  wlio,  no  doubt,  lie  supposed  possessed 
sentiments  congenial  to  his  own.  It  happened,  however,  that  he  was  mis- 
taken in  his  man,  for  Gibson  exposed  him,  and  put  his  letter  into  the 
hands  of  the  cou;iniissioners  who  wc^re  holding  a  treaty  with   the  Indians. 

But  let  us  see  this  letter :   it  is  dated  l^ortsmoutli,  August  9,  1775. 

"Dear  Sir:  I  have  safely  arrived  here,  and  am  Inippy  in  thr  greatest 
degree  at  having  so  fortunately  escaped  the  narrow  inspection  of  my  rnc- 
Miies,  the  enemies  to  llieir  country's  good  order  and  goTemmont.  I  sliould 


VMj  jACOB':^    account 

oijtcem  myself  defective  in  point  of  friendship  towards  you,  ghould  I  ne-' 
ulect  to  caution  you  to  avoid  an  over  zealous  exertion  of  what  is  now  ri- 
diculously  called  patriotic  spirit,  but  on  the  contrary  to  deport  yourself 
with  that  moderation  for  which  you  have  always  been  so  remarkable,  and 
which  must  in  this  instance  tend  to  your  honor  and  advantage.  You  may 
rest  assured  from  rae,  sir,  that  the  greatest  unanimity  now  prevails  at  home, 
and  the  innovating  spirit  among  us  here  is  looked  upon  as  ungenerous 
and  undutiful,  and  that  the  utmost  exertions  of  the  powers  in  government 
(if  necessary)  will    be  used  to  convince   the    infatuated   people    of  their 

'••I  would,  I  assure  you,  sir,  give  you  such  convincing  proofs  of  what  I 
assert,  and  from  which  every  reasonable  person  may  conclude  the  effects, 
that  nothing  but  madness  could  operate  upon  a  man  so  far  as  to  overlook 
his  duty  to  the  present  constitution,  and  to  form  unwarrantable  associa- 
tions with  entliusiosis,  whose  ill-timed  folly  must  draw  down  upon  them 
inevitable  destruction.  His  lordship  desires  you  to  present  his  hand  to 
Captain  White-eyes,  [a  Delaware  Indian  chief,]  and  to  assure  him  he  is 
sony^  he  had  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  at  the  treaty,  [a  treaty  held 
by  Connoly  in  his  name,]  or  that  the  situation  of  affairs  prevented  him 
from  comins:  down. 

"Believe  m.e,  dear  sir,  that  I  have  no  motive  in  writing  my  sentmients 
thus  to  you,  further  than  to  endeavor  to  steer  you  clear  of  the  misfortunes 
which  I  am  confident  must  involve  but  unhappily  too  many.  I  have  sent 
you  an  address  from  the  people  of  Great  Britain  to  the  people  of  Ameri- 
ca, and  desire  you  to  consider  it  attentively,  which  will  I  flatter  myself 
convince  you  of  the  idleness  of  many  determinations  and  the  absurdity  of 
an  intended  slavery. 

"Give  m^y  love  to  George,  [his  brother,  afterwards  a  colonel  in  the  re- 
volutionary vrar,]  and  tell  him  he  shall  hear  from  me,  and  I  hope  to  his 
advantage.  Interpret  the  inclosed  speech  to  Capt.  White-eyes  from  his 
lordship.  Be  prevailed  upon  to  shun  the  popular  error,  and  judge  for 
yourself,  as  a  good  subject,  and  expect  the  rewards  due  to  your    services. 

"I  am,  &c.  JOHN  CONNOLY.'* 

The  inclosed  speech  to  White-eyes  we  shall  see  in  its  proper  place,  af-^ 
ter  we  have  finished  our  business  with  Connoly.  It  seems,  then,  that  ei- 
ther a  mistaken  notion  of  his  influence,  or  ii:reatly  deceived  by  his  calcu- 
lations on  the  support  of  Col.  Gibson,  his  brother  and  friends,  or  in  obe- 
dience to  the  solicitations  of  his  friend  Dunmore,  he  undertakes  [incog.) 
a  hazardous  journey  from  the  Chesapeake  bay  to  Pittsburgh,  in  company, 
if  I  recollect  right,  v\^ith  a  certain  Doct.  Smith ;  but  our  Dutch  republi- 
cans of  Fredericktown,  Maryland,  smelt  a  rat,  seized,  and  imprisoned 
him,  from  whence  he  was  removed  to  the  Philadelphia  jail,  where  we  will 
leave  him  awhile  to  cool. 

But  let  us  now  look  at  these  tv^'o  characters  ;  Connoly  uses  every  effort 
to  destroy  us  and  subvert  our  liberties,  and  Cresap  marches  to  Boston  with 
a  company  of  riflemen  to  defend  his  country.  Ji^  then  men's  actions  af- 
ford us  the  true  and  best  criterion  to  judg^e  of  their  merit  or  demerit,  we 
can  be  at  no  loss  to  decide  on  this  occasion.     Nor  can  there  be  any  doubt 


OF  DUNMORE'S  WAR.  121 

that  this  man,  so  full  of  tender  sensibility  and  sympathy  for  the  sufTerings 
of  the  Indians,  when  arrested  with  Ids  colleague  (Smith)  in  Fredericky 
had  a  Pandora's  box  full  of  lire-brands,  arrows  and  death,  to  scatter  among 
the  inhabitants  of  the  west. 

But  it  is  probable  the  reader,  as  well  as  the  writer,  is  weary  of  such 
company  :  w^e  therefore  bid  him  adieu,  and  once  more  attend  his  excel- 
lency the  governor  of  Virginia,  whom  we  left,  I  think,  on  board  a  British 
sloop  of  war,  in  the  Chesapeake  bay. 

The  reader  has  not  forgotten,  that  we  long  since  stated  it  as  our  opin- 
ion, that  it  was  probable,  and  that  we  had  strong  reasons  to  believe,  that 
Dunmore  himself,  from  political  motives,  though  acting  behind  the  scenes, 
was  in  reality  at  the  bottom  of  the  Indian  war  of  1774. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  several  circumstances  previous  to  and  du- 
ring that  w^ar ;  but  Vv'e  have  in  reserve  several  more  evincive  of  the  ^ame" 
fact  subsequent  to  the  war. 

It  may  be  remembered,  that  at  the  treaty  of  Chilicothe,  it  was  remark- 
ed that  some  points  were  referred  for  future  discussion  at  Pittsburgh,  in 
the  ensuing  fall ;  and  it  appears  that  a  treaty  was  actually  held  by  Con- 
noly,  in  Dunmore's  name,  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Delaware,  and  some 
Mingo  tribes  in  the  summer  ensuing.  This  is  historically  a  fact,  and  mat- 
ter of  record,  which  1  extract  from  the  minutes  of  a  treraty,  held  in  the- 
autumn  of  the  same  year,  wdth  several  tribes  of  Indians,  by  commission- 
ers from  the  Congre^'s  of  the  United  States  and  from  Virginia/ 

But  to  understand  this  perfectly,  the  reader  must  be  informed,  that,  pre- 
vious to  this  treaty,  Capt.  Jas.  Wood,  afterwards  governor  of  Virginia, 
w^as  sent  by  that  State  as  the  herald  of  peace,  with  the  olive  branch  in 
his  hand,  to  invite  all  the  Indian  tribes  bordering  on  the  Ohio  and  its  wa- 
ters, to  a  treaty  at  Pittsburgh,  on  the  10th  day  of  September  following.- 
Capt.  Wood  kept  a  journal,  which  is  incorporated  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  treaty,  from  which  journal  I  copy  as  fiollows  :  "July  the  9th,  I  arri- 
ved (says  he)  at  Fort  Pitt,  where  I  received  information  that  the  chiefs  of 
the  Deiawares  and  a  few  of  the  Mingos  had  lately  been  treating  with 
Maj.  Connoly  agreeably  to  instructions  from  lord  Dunmore,  and  that  the 
Shawnees  had  not  come  to  the  treaty,"  &.c. 

Capt.  Wood  however  acknowledges,  in  a  letter  he  wi'ote  to  the  conven- 
tion of  Virginia  fi'om  this  place,  that  this  treaty  held  by  Connoly  was  in 
the  must  open  and  candid  manner^  that  it  teas  held  in  the  prexence  of  <//<* 
rommittcpy  and  that  lie  laid  the  (rovernor''s  instructions  before  them.  \  ery 
good.  But  why  these  remarks  res})ecting  Connoly  and  Dunmore?  Does 
not  this  language  imply  jealousy  and  suspicion,  which  Capt.  Wood,  who 
certainly  was  deceived,  was  anxious  to  remove?  But  to  proceeds  He* 
says  : 

''July  10.     White-eyes  came  with  an  interpreter  to  my    lodging.     He 


*Thc  original  minutes  of  ihis  ti-e.^ty  are  in  my  own  possession.      Tlicy 
were  presented  to  me  by  my  friend' John  Madison,  secretary  to  the   (com- 
Biissioners,  witii  f  thirdc  tliis  remark,  that  \\\v\  wcicof  no    usi'    to    tlieifi.. 


Wt  might  be  of  souk;  to  me. 


^ 


122  JACOB'S   ACCOUNT 

informed  me  he  was  desirous  of  going  to  Williamsburg  with  Mr.  Conno- 
ly  to  see  lord  Dunmore,  who  had  promised  him.  his  interest  in  procuring 
a  grant  from  the  king  for  the  lands  claimed  by  the  Delawares ; 
th^t  they  were  all  desirous  of  living  as  the  white  people  do,  and  under 
their  laws  and  protection  ;  that  lord  Dunmore  had  engaged  to  make  him 
some  satisfaction  for  his  trouble  in  going  several  times  to  the  Shaw^nee 
towns,  and  serving  w^ith  him  on  the  campaign,  &c.  &.c.  He  told  me  he 
hoped  I  would  advise  him  whether  it  was  proper  for  him  to  go  or  not.  I 
was  then  under  the  necessity  of  acquainting  him  with  the  disputes  sub- 
sisting between  lord  Dunmore  and  the  people  of  Virginia,  and  engaged, 
whenever  the  assembly  met,  that  I  would  go  with  him  to  Williamsburg, 
&c.  &c.     He  was  very  thankful,  and  appeared  satisfied." 

The  reader  must  observe  this  is  July  the  10th,  1775,  and  he  will  please- 
to  refer  to  pages  119  and  120,  where  he  wil  see  from  Connoly's  letter  of 
Aug.  9th,  how  much  reliance  was  to  be  placed  on  his  candor  and  sinceri- 
ty, as  stated  by  Capt.  Wood  to  the  convention  on  the  9th  day  of  July. 
Thus  we  find  that  about  thirty  days  after  Capt.  Wood's  testimony  in  his 
favor,  Connoly  threw  away  the  mask,  and  presented  himself  in  his  true 
character ;  and  from  his  ovv^n  confession  and  the  tenor  of  his  letter  to 
Gibson,  it  is  plain  that  the  current  of  suspicion  ran  -so  strongly  against 
him  that  he  declared  himself  "most  happy  in  escaping  the  vigilance  of 
his  enemies.'^' 

We  owe  the  reader  an  apology  for  introducing  this  man  again  ;  but 
the  fact  is,  that  Dunmore  and  Connoly  are  so  identified  in  all  the  political 
movements  of  this  period,  that  we  can  seldom  see  one  without  the  other ; 
and  Connoly  is  the  more  prominent  character,  especially  in  the  affairs  of 
the  west. 

But  we  now  proceed  with  Capt.  Wood's  journal.  He  tells  us  that  on 
the  20th  July,  he  met  Gerrit  Pendergrass  about  9  o'clock;  that  he  had 
just  left  the  Delaware  towns  ;  that  two  days  before,  the  Delawares  had 
just  returned  from  the  Wyandott  towns,  where  they  had  been  at  a  grand 
council  with  a  French  and  English  officer,  and  the  Wyandotts  ;  that  Mon- 
sieur Baubee  and  the  English  officer  told  them' to  be  on  their  guard,  that 
the  white  people  intended  to  strike  them  very  soon,  &c.  &c. 

July  21.  At  1  o'clock,  arriving  at  the  Moravian  Indian  town,  exami- 
ned the  minister  (a  Dutchman),  concerning  the  council  lately  held  with 
the  Indians,  &c.  who  confirmxed  the  account  before  stated. 

July  22.  About  10  o'clock,  arrived  at  Coshocton,  (a  chief  town  of 
the  Delawares,)  and  delivered  to  their  council  a  speech,  which  they  an- 
swered on  the  23d.  After  expressing  their  thankfulness  for  the  speech 
and  willingness  to  attend  the  proposed  treaty  at  Pittsburgh,  they  deliver- 
ed to  Capt.  Wood  a  belt  and  string  they  said  was  sent  to  them  by  an  En- 
glishman and  Frenchman  from  Detroit,  accompanied  with  a  message  that 
the  people  of  Virginia  w^ere  determined  to  strike  them  ;  that  they  would 
come  upon  them  two  different  ways,  the  one  by  the  way  of  the  lakes,  and 
the  other  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio,  and  to  take  their  lands,  that  they  must 
be' constantly  on  their  guard,  and  not  to  give  any  credit  to  whatever  you 
said,  as  you  were  a  people  not  to  be  depended  upon  ;  that  the  Virginians 
"'^ould  nivitfi  them  to  a  treaty,  but  that  they  must  not  go  at  my   rate,  anxl' 


OF  E>UNA10RE'S  WAR.  12S 

« 

U'O  tn'kc  particular  notice  of  the  advice  they  gave,  which   proceeded  from 
.motives  of  real  friendship. 

Now  by  comparing  and  collating  this  Avith  the  speech  sent  by  Dunmore, 
^enclosed  in  Connoly's  letter,  it  will  furnish  us  with  a  squinting  at  the 
game  that  was  playing  with  the  Indians  by  the  earl  of  Dunmore  and  other 
British  officers  ;  to  be  convinced  of  which,  read  the  following  speech 
from  Dunmore,  which  w^as  enclosed  in  a  letter  to  Gibson : 

^'Brother  Capt.  White-eyes,  I  am  glad  to  hear  3'our  good  speeches  as 
sent  to  me  by  Maj.  Connoly,  and  you  may  be  assured  I  shall  put  one  end 
of  the  belt  you  have  sent  me  into  the  hands  of  our  great  king,  who  will 
be  glad  to  hear  from  his  brothers  the  Delawares,  and  will  take  strong  hold 
of  it.  You  may  rest  satisfied  that  our  foolish  young  men  shall  never  be 
permitted  to  have  your  lands  ;  but  on  the  contrary  the  great  king  w^ill  pro- 
tect you,  and  preserve  you  in  the  possession  of  them. 

"Our  young  people  in  this  country  have  been  very  foolish,  and  done 
many  imprudent  things,  for  which  they  must  soon  be  sorry,  and  of  which 
I  make  no  doubt  they  have  acquainted  you;  but  must  desire  you  not  to 
Jisten  to  them,  as  they  would  be  willing  you  should  act  foolishly  with 
themselves  ;  but  rather  let  what  you  hear  pass  in  at  one  ear  and  out  of 
the  other,  so  that  it  m.ay  make  no  impression  on  your  heart,  until  you  hear 
from  me  fully  ^  which  shall  be  as  soon  as  I  can  give   further   information. 

"Capt.  Waite-eyes  wdll  please  acquaint  the  Cornstalk    with    these   my 
sentiments,  as  w^ell  as  the  chiefs  of  the  Mingos,  and  other  six  nations. 
(Signed)  "DUNMORE." 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  remark  here,  that  the  flight  of  Dunmore  from 
Williamsburg,  of  Connoly  from  Pittsburgh,  this  speech  of  Dunmore's, 
■and  the  speech  of  the  Delaware^  to  Capt.  Wood,  are  all  nearly  cotempo- 
raneous,  and  point  the  reader  pretty  clearly  to  the  aspect  of  our  affairs 
with  the  Indians  at  this  period.  Dunmore's  speech,  as  you  have  it  above, 
although  pretty  explicit,  is  yet  guarded,  as  it  had  to  pass  through  an  equi- 
vocal medium  ;  but  he  tells  Capt.  White-eyes  he  shall  hear  from  him  here- 
of ter^  and  this  hereafter  speech  was  no  doubt  in  Connoly's  portmanteau 
when  he  w^as  arrested  in  Frederi.^k. 

]5ut  to  conclude  thi^  tedious  chapter,  nothing  more  now  seems  neces- 
sary than  to  call  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  those  inferences  that  llie 
facts  and  circumstances  detailed  in  the  foregoing  pages  seem   to  warrant. 

Tlie  first  circumstance  in  the  order  of  events  seems  to  be  the  extraor- 
dinary and  contradictory  conduct  of  Dunmore  and  Connoly  respecting 
■Caj)tain  Cresap.  'J'hey  certainly  understood  each  other,  and  had  one  ul- 
timate end  in  vi(>w;  yet  we  find  on  all  occasions  Dunmore  treats  Cresaj) 
wilh  the  utmost  confidence  and  cordiality,  and  that  Connoly's  conduct 
was  continually  the  reverse,  evcj;  outraoecMisly  insulting  liitii,  whih^  un- 
<ler  the  immediate  orders;  nl"  Diminnic  himself. 

Secondly,  we  find  Dunmore  aeliiiu,"  wiili  duplicity  and  deception  with 
Col.  I.ewis  and  his  brigade,  tVom  Augusta  county.      So  says   Doddridge. 

'I'hirdly,  we  find  (';;pt.  C'resap'^  niinie  t'oisted  into'    l.oir-an's    pretenflefi 


124  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

fpeechy  when  it  is  evident,  as  we  shall  hereafter  prove,  that  no  names 
at  all  were  mentioned  in  the  original  speech  made  for  Logan. 

Fourthly,  it  appears  pretty  plainly  that  much  pains  were  taken  by  Dun- 
more,  at  the  treaty  of  Chilicothe,  to  attach  the  Indian  chiefs  to  his  person, 
as  appears  from  facts  that  afterwards  appeared. 

Fifthly,  the  last  speech  from  Dunmore  to  Capt.  White-eyes  and  other 
Indian  chiefs,  sent  in  Connoly's  letter  to  Gibson ;  to  all  which  we  may 
add,  his  lordship's  nap  of  sleep  while  Cresap  w^as  stating  his  complaints 
against  Connoh',  and  all  Connoly's  strange  and  unaccountable  letters  to 
Cresap, 

I  say,  from  all  which  it  will  appear  that  Dunmore  had  his  views,  and 
those  vievr's  hostile  to  the  liberties  of  America,in  his  proceedings  with  the  In- 
dians in  the  war  of  1774,  the  circumstances  of  the  times,  in  connection  v;ith 
his  equivocal  conduct,  lead  us  almost  naturally  to  infer  that  he  knew  pret- 
ty well  what  he  was  about,  and  among  other  things,  that  he  knew  a  war 
with  the  Indians  at  this  time  would  materially  subserve  the  views  and  in- 
terest of  Great  Britain,  and  consequently  he  perhaps  might  feel  it  a  duty 
to  promote  said  w^ar,  and  if  not,  why  betray  such  extreme  solicitude  to 
single  out  some  conspicuous  character,  and  make  him  the  scape-goat,  to 
bear  all  the  blame  of  this  war,  that  he  and  his  friend  Connoly  might  es- 
cape ? 


-:0: 


CHAPTER  XI. 


WAR  OF  THE    REVOLUTION 


It  is  not  within  the  plan  of  this  work,  to  go  ifito  a  gen^eral  detail  of  tlie 
war  of  the  revolution.  The  author  w411  only  giv^  an  account  of  it  so  fajf 
as  it  is  connected  with  the  immediate  history  of  the  valley. 

At  the  beoinniag  of  the  war  the  late  Daniel  Morgan  was  appointed  a 
rapiain,  and  very  soon  raised  a  company  of  brave  and  active  young  men, 
with  whom  he  ii) arched  to  je-ia  Gen.  Washington  at  Boston.  John  Humr 
phreys  was  Morgan's  first  lieutenant,  Morgan  was  soon  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major,  and  Humphreys  was  made  his  captain.  It  is  believed  this 
w^as  one  of  tlie  first  regular  companies  raised  in  Virginia,  which  marched 
to  the  north.  Morgan  with  his  company  was  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Mont- 
gomery-, and  march  to  the  attack  on  Quebec;  in  which  attack  Montgome- 
2-y  was  killed,  and  ?vIorgan,  after  performing  prodigies  of  valor,  comipelled 
'to  surrender  himself  and  his  brave  troops  prisoners  of  war.  Capl.  Hum- 
phrisys  was  killed  in  the  assault.     The  reverc^id  Mr,  Pi:ter  3Iuhlenburg,.,y 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  125 

'clergyman  of  the  Lutlierari*  profession,  in  the  county  of  Si.niP.ncIojih,  hud 
off  his  gown  and  took  up  the  sword.  He  was  appointed  a  colonel,  anil 
soon  raised  a  regiment,  called  the  8th,  consisting  chiefly  of  young  men  of 
German  extraction.  Abraham  Bow^man  was  appointed  to  a  m?ijoiahy  in 
it,  as  was  also  Peter  Helphinstine,  of  Winchester.  It  was  frequently  cal- 
led the ''German  regiment."  Muhienburg  was  ordered  to  the  south  in 
1776,  and  the  unhealthiness  of  the  climate  proved  fatal  to  many  of  his 
men. 

James  Wood,  of  Winchester,  was  also  appointed  a  colonel.  He  soon 
raised  another  regiment,  marched  to  the  north,  and  joined  Gen.  Washing- 
ton's main  army. 

Maj.  Morgan,  after  several  months'  captivity,  was  exchanged  together 
with  his  troops,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  again  joined  his 
country's  standard  in  the  northern  army.  Muhienburg  returned  from  his 
southern  campaign,  and  in  1777  also  joined  the  northern  army.  He  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  Abraham  Bowman  to  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Helphinstine  contracted  a  lingering  disease  in  the  south, 
returned  home  on  furlow,  and  died  in  Winchester  in  the  autumn  of  1776. 
Col.  Morgan,  with  a  picked  reghnent  of  riflemen,  was  ordered  to  join 
Gen.  Gates,  to  meet  and  oppose  Gen.  Burgoyne.  It  is  universally  ad- 
mitted that  Morgan,  with  his  brave  and  expert  rifle  regiment,  contributed 
much  towards  achieving  the  victory  which  followed. 

After  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  (17th  Oct.  1777,)  ^for- 
gan,  for  his  great  personal  bravery,  and  superior  military  talents  displayed 
on  all  occasions,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He 
joined  the  standard  of  Washington,  and  soon  distinguished  himself  in 
harassing  the  British  army  in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia. 

Numerous  calls  for  the  aid  of  the  militia  were  made  from  time  to  time 
to  assist  our  country  in  the  defence  of  its  rights  and  liberties  ;  which  calls 
were  generally  promptly  obeyed.  The  spirit  of  patriotism  and  love  of 
country  w^as  the  prevailing  passion  of  a  vast  majority  of  the  people  ot 
the  valley ;  and  with  one  exception,  which  will  be  noticed  hereafter,  our 
character  was  not  tarnished  by  any  thing  like  a  tory  insurrection.  The 
author  most  devoutly  wishes,  for  the  honor  of  his  native  country,  that  this 
exception  could  be  blotted  out  of  our  history,  and  consigned  to  eternal 
oblivion. 

Our  valley,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  v/as  comparatively  thinly 
populated.  The  first  oliicial  return,  for  the  county  of  Frederick,  of  the 
effective  militia,  to  the  executive  of  Virginia,  amounted  only  to  1)23  ;  the 
whole  number  of  people  in  Winchester  was  800,  pro!)abIy  a  small  trac- 
tion over.     This  return  and  enumeration  was  made  in  the  year  1777. 

In  1777  Gen.  Sullivan  "gained  possession  of  some  records  a?id  papers 
belonging  to  the  Quakers,  which,  with  a  letter,  were  forwarded  to  ('on- 
gress,  and  referred  to  a  committee."  On  the  2Sth  of  August,  the  com- 
luittee  reported,  "That  the  several  testimonies  which  have  been  published 
since  the  commencement  of  the  present  contest  betwixt  Great  Brirain  and 
America,  and  the  uniform  tenor  of  the  conduct  and  cinx  iM^niioii  i>t  a  num- 


Tlu'  autiior  is  niistnk<;i:    !i<   ^v;)<  :m  Kpisc()pn!ian. 


126  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR, 

ber  of  persons  of  considerable  wealth,  who  profess  themselves  to  belong 
to  the  society  of  people  commonly  called  Quakers,  render  it  certain  and 
notorious  that  those  persons  are  with  much  rancor  and  bitterness  disaffect- 
ed to  the  American  cause  ;  that  as  those  persons  will  have  it  in  their  pow- 
,  er,  so  there  is  no  doubt  it  will  be  their  inclination,  to  communicate  intelli- 
gence to  the  enemy,  and  in  various  other  ways  to  injure  the  councils  and 
arms  of  America  ;  that  when  the  enemy,  in  the  month  of  December, 
1776,  were  bending  their  progress  towards  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  a  cer- 
tain seditious  publication,  addressed  *To  our  friends  and  brethren  in  reli- 
gious profession,  in  these  and  the  adjacent  provinces,'  signed  John  Pem- 
berton,  4n  and  on  behalf  of  the  meeting  of  sufferers,  held  at  Philadelphia, 
for  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  the  '26th  of  the  12th  month,  1776,' 
w^as  published,  and  as  your  committee  is  credibly  informed,  circulated 
amongst  majiy  members  of  the  society  called  Quakers,  throughout  the 
different  States  ;  that  the  seditious  paper  aforesaid  originated  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  as  the  persons'  names  who  are  under-mentioned,  have  uniform- 
ly maniiested  a  disposition  highly  inimical  to  the  cause  of  America ; 
tiierefore.  Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the  supreme  ex- 
ecutive council  of  the  State  of  Pennslvania,  forthwith  to  apprehend  and 
secure  the  persons  of  Joshua  Fisher,  Abel  James,  James  Pemberton,  Hen- 
ry Drinker,  Israel  Pemberton,  John  Pemberton,  John  James,  Samel  Plea- 
sants, Thomas  Wharton,  sen.,  Thomas  Fisher  son  of  Joshua,  and  Samuel 
Fisher  son  of  Joshua,  together  with  all  such  papers  in  their  possession  as 
may  be  of  a  political  nature. 

"And  whereas  there  is  strong  reason  to  apprehend  that  these  persons 
maintain  a  correspondence  and  connection  highly  prejudicial  to  the  pub- 
lic safety,  not  only  in  this  State,  but  in  the  several  States  of  America; 
Jiesolvedy  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  executive  powers  of  the  respec- 
tive States,  forthwith  to  apprehend  and  secure  all  persons,  as  well  among 
the  Quakers  as  others,  who  have  in  their  general  conduct  and  conversa- 
tion evinced  a  disposition  inimical  to  the  cause  of  America ;  and  that  the 
persons  so  s'eized  be  confined  in  such  places,  and  treated  in  such  manner, 
as  shall  be  consistent  with  their  respective  characters  and  security  of  their 
persons  :  that  the  records  and  papers  of  the  meetings  of  sufferings  in  the 
respective  States,  be  forthwith  secured  and  carefully  examined,  and  that 
such  parts  of  them  as  may  be  of  a  political  nature,  be  forthwith  transmit- 
ted to   Congress." 

The  said  report  being  read,  and  several  the  paragraphs  considered  and 
debated,  and  the  question  put  severally  thereon,  the  same  was  agreed  to« 
Ordered,  That  the  board  of  war  remove  under  guard  to  a  place  of  securi- 
ty out  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Hon.  John  Penn,  Esq.  and  Ben- 
jamin Chew,  Esq.;  and  that  they  give  orders  for  having  them  safely  secu- 
red and  entertained  agreeable  to  their  rank  and  station  in  life."  A  num- 
ber of  Quakers  besides  those  mentioned,  and  several  persons  of  a  differ- 
ent denomination,  w^ere  taken  up  by  the  supreme  executive  coimcil  of 
Pennsylvania,  concerning  whom  Congress  resolved,  on  the  8th  of  Sep- 
tember, "That  it  be  recommended  to  the  said  council  to  order  the  imme- 
diate (V'parture  of  such  of  said  priseners  as  refuse  to  swear  or  affirm  alle- 


REVOLUTIONAKY  WAR.  127 

giance  to  the  State  of  PennsylVaniaj.  to    Staunton,   in  AiiOTsta   county, 
ir ovinia.    * 

In  conformity  with  the  recommendation  of  Congress,  a  number  of  Qua- 
kers, together  with  one  druggist  and  a  dancing  master,  were  sent  to  Win- 
chester under  guard,  with  a  request  from  the   executive    of  Pennsylvania, 
directed  to  the  county  lieutenant  of  Frederick,  to  secure  them.     General 
John  Smith  ^vas  then  the  county  lieutenant.     When  the    prisoners    were, 
delivered  into  his  custody,  he  proposed  to  them,  that  if  they  would  pledge 
their  honors  not  to  abscond,  they  shoidd  not  be  placed  in  confinement. — 
Among  the  prisoners  were  three  of  the  Pembertons,    two  of  the    Fishers, 
an  old  Quaker  preacher  named  Hunt,  and  several  others,  amounting  in  all 
to  tw^elve,  and,  with  the  druggist  and  dancing  master,    fourteen.     One  of" 
the  Fishers  w^as  a  lawyer  by  profession.     He  protested  in  his  own  nam(*, 
and  on  behalf  of  his  fellow  prisoners,  against  being  taken  into  custody  by 
Col.  Smith  \  stated  that  they  had  protested  against  being  sent  from  Phila- 
delphia; that  they  had  again  protested  at  the  Pennsylvania  line,    against 
being  taken  out  o-f  the  State ;  had  repeated  their  protest  at  the  Maryland 
line,  against  being  taken  into  Virginia  ;  that   there  w^as  no    existing   law 
which  justified  their  being  deprived  of  their  liberty,  and  exiled  from  their 
native  homes  and  families,  and  treated  as   criminals.     To  which  Colonel' 
Smith  replied,  ''It  is  true  that  I  know  of  no  existing  law  which  will  jus- 
tify your  detention  ;  but  as  you  are  sent  to  my  care  by  the  supreme    exe- 
cutive authority  of  your  native  State,  and  represented  as  dangerous  char- 
acters and  as  having  been  engaged  in  treasonable  practices  v/ith  the    ene- 
my, I  consider  it  my  duty  to  detain  you,  at  least  until  I  can    send  an    ex- 
press to  the  governor  of  Virginia  for  his  advice  and  direction   what  to  do 
in  the  premises.'''     He  accordingly  dispatched  an    express    to    Williams- 
burg, with  a  letter  to  the  governor,  who  soon  returned  with  the  orders  of 
the  executive  to  secure  the  prisoners.      CoL  Smith  again  repeated  that  "if 
they  would  pledge  themselves  not  to  abscond,  he  would  not   cause    theuL' 
to  be  confined."     Upon  which  one  of  the  Pembertons  spoke  and  observ- 
ed to  Fisher,  "that  his  -protest  was  unavailing,  and  that  they  must  patient- 
ly submit  to  their  fate."     Then  addressing  himself  to  Col.   Smith,  he  ob- 
served, "they  would  not  enter  into  any  pledges,  and  he   must   dispose  of 
them  as  he  thought  proper."     The  colonel  then  ordered  them  to  be  plac- 
ed under  guard. 

Shortly  before  this,  three  hundred  Hessian  prisoners  had  been  sent  to* 
Winchester ;  there  was  consequently  a  guard  ready  prepared  to  receive- 
these  exiles,  and  they  remained  in  custody  about  eight  or  nine  months  ; 
during  which  time  two  of  them  died,  and  the  whole  of  them  became  much 
dejected  ;  and  it  is  probable  more  of  them  would  have  died  of  broken- 
hearts,  had  they  not  been  permitted  to  return. 

Some  time  after  the  British  left  Philadelphia,  these  exiles  employed  the 


*See  Gordon's  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  vol.  ii.  pp.  ^222^ 
228. 

It  was  at  the  instance  of  tlie  late  General  Isaac  Zane,  of  Frederick 
county,  Virginia,  tliat  the  place  of  exile  was  changed  from  StauiUoa  to 
Winchester, 


12S  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

late  Alexander  White,  Esq.  a  lawyer  near   Winchester,    for   which    they 
])aid  him  one  hundred  pounds  Virginia  currency  in   gold    coin,  to    go    to 
i^hiladelphia,  and  negotiate  with  the  executive  authority  of  the    State  to 
permit  them  to  return  to  their  families  and  friends  ;  in-  which    negotiation 
White  succeeded  ;  and  to  the  great  joy  and  h-eartfelt  satisfaction  of  these' 
captives,  they  returned  to  their  native  homes. 

In  the  absence  of  the  exiles.  Sir  W^illiam  Howe,  the  British  general, 
had  taken  up  his  head  quarters  in  John  Pemberton's  dwelling  house.  It 
was  a  splendid  building,  and  had  been  much  abused  by  the  British,  who 
aIso  occupied  several  other  houses  belonging  to  Pemberton,  which  were 
much  injured.  Pemberton  owned  an  elegant  carriage,  which  Sir  William 
had  taken  the  liberty  of  using  in  his  parties  of  pleasure.  When  Pem- 
berton saw  the  situation  of  his  property,  he  obtained  permission  from  the 
proper  authority,  and  waited  on  Sir  William  Howe,  and  demanded  in- 
demnification for  the  injury  done  to  his  buildings  and  carriage.  The 
plain  and  independent  language  he  used  to  the  British  general  on  this 
subject,  was  as  remarkable  for  its  bluntness,  as  it  was  for  its  fearless  cha- 
racter. "Thee  has  (said  he)  done  great  damage  to  my  buildings,  and 
thee  suffered  thy  w****s  to  ride  in  my  carriage,  and  my  wife  will  not  use 
it  since  :  thee  must  pay  me  for  the  injury,  or  I  will  go  to  thy  master  (mean- 
ing the  king  of  England,)  and  lay  my  complaint  before  him."  Sir  Wil- 
liam could  but  smile  at  the  honest  bluntness  of  the  man,  and  thought  it 
best  to  compromise,  and  pay  him  a  sum  of  money,  with  v/hich  the  old 
Quaker  was  satisfied.* 

In  1779  there  was  a  considerable  increase  of  British  prisoners  at  Win- 
chester, and  in  1780  barracks  were  erected  about  four  miles  west  of  the 
town,  to  which  the  prisoners  were  removed,  and  a  regular  guard  kept 
over  them.     In  17S1  the  number  of  prisoners  increased  to  about  1600. 

It  was  this  year,  in  the  month  of  January,  that  Gen.  Morgan,  at  the 
battle  of  the  Cowpens,  in  South  Carolina,  gave  the  British  Col.  Tarlton 
a  most  signal  defeat.  In  this  action  Morgan  displayed  the  most  con- 
summate military  skill  and  bravery.  Whilst  the  two  armies  w^ere  closely 
engaged,  Morgan,  discovering  the  enemy  were  thro^^m  into  some  confu- 
sion, called  out  in  his  usual  stentorian  voice,  "Hurra,  my  brave  bo3's  ! 
another  close  fire,  and  the  day  is  ours.  Remember,  Morgan  has  never 
been  beaten  /"  The  author  cannot  now  recollect  his  authority  for  this 
statement,  but  has  repeatedly  heard  it  asserted  by  different  individuals  who 
were  acquainted  ^nth  the  fact. 

In  the  year  1813  the  author  travelled  through  South  Carolina,  and  called 
to  see  Mr.  William  Calmes,  with  whom  he  had  an  intimate  acquaintance 
when  quite  a  youth,  having  been  school-fellows  in  this  county  (Frederick.) 
]\Ir.  Calmes  was  well  acquainted  with  Gen.  Morgan,  and  related  the  fol- 
lowino-  anecdote,  in  relation  to  Morgan  and  Tarlton. 

There  were  tw^o  brothers,    by  the   name  of ,  citizens    of  South 

Carolina,  men  of  considerable  wealth  and  respectabilit}-,  who  joined  the 
British  standr.«:l,  and  both  obtained  colonel's  commissions.  One  of  them- 
was  at  Cornwallis'  head-quarters  the  day  Tarlton  set  out    determined    ^c- 


*Gen,  John  Smith  detailed  the  fore^^'oino;  particulars  to  the  author. 


nEvoT.r'rioxAUY  war.  129 

lake  IMorgan  Jit  all  liazani>.     MeelinjT  with  Col. — ,  lie  accosted  hiuv- 

to  the  Ibllowin-i- eiTecl :  ''-Well,  colonel,  if  you  v/ill  be  <A  his  lordship's^ 
iiead-quarters  (naming:  the  day,)  you  shall  h;ive  the  pleasure  of  dining. 
AVJth  the  old  waf^oner."  To  which  Col.— — ■ —  replied,  "I  wish  yo'.i- 
success,  Col.  Tarlton,  i)ut  permit  rae  to  caution  vou  :  you  will  find  Mor- 
Gfan  hard  to  take."  0:i  which  Tarlton  tiew  into  a  passion,  and  threaten- 
ed  to  arrest  the  colonel  for  using  such  language  ^n  hearmg  of  his  omcers.' 
The  latter  calmly  replied,  "Col.  Tarlton,  1  have  staked  every  thing  dear 
to  me  in  this  life  upoir  the  issue  of  the  present  contest.  I  ov,-n  a  fine  es- 
tate. My  family  and  my  personal  lii)erty  are  in  danger.  If  vVmerica- 
succeeds  in  establishinig  her  independence,  my  estate  will  be  forfeited,  my 
family  reduced  to  beggary  and  the  least  I  can  expect,- (if  I  escape  with' 
my  life,)  will  be  perpetual  exile.-  Hence,  sir,  I  most  ardently  wish  yoii- 
success.  But  permit  me  again  to  caution  you.  Morgan  is  a  cunning, 
artful  oificer,  and  3  ou  will  find  him  hard  to  take."  Tarlton,  however^ 
pushed  off  in  high  glee,  determined  at  iiwavj  risk  to  capture  Morgan  and 
his  little  band  of  warriors.     The  result  was  soon  known  at  bis  lordship's- 

head-quarters;  and  it  so  happened,- ivhen  Tarlton    returned.  Col.  — 

was  present.     The   moment  Tarlton  saw  him;  he   apologized  to    him  for 

the  harsh  language  he  had  us'^d  towards  him,  and  e:-:cl.aimed,   "By ! 

Morgan  is  truly  a  great  ma.n  !"  This  extorted  praise  from  this  haughty 
British  officer  sneaks  volumes  for  the  hisfh  military  talents  of  General 
Morgan* 

At  th^.  clos^  of  the  war  this  refugee  colonel  took  shelter'  for  himself 
and  family  in  the  British  dominions  of  Canada,-  and  his  fine  estate  was 
eoniiscated.  He  however  petitioned  the  government  of  South  Carolinja;' 
and  from  his  general  good  character  in  private' life,  an  act  of  pardon,  to-- 
gether  with  the  restoration  of  liis  estate,  was  passed,  and  he  returned  to 
its  enjoyment  with  all  the  privileges  of  a  i)-ec  citizen.  After  his  r(iturn 
Mr.  Calraes  l:«ecame  acquainted  with  him,  and  received  the'  above'  state- 
ment of  facts"  from  him. 

The  brother  of  this  officer,  from  some  acts  of  ferocious  crtielty  practic- 
ed uporr  the  friends  of  the  American  cause,  liad  his  estate  alsrt  confiscated.- 
The  goverment  refused  to  restore  it,  and  passefl  :m  fict  of  perpetual  ban- 
ishment against  him. 

In  1781  (Jornwallis  cntced  Virginia  at  the  head  of  a' large  army,  :\n(\ 
m  the  month  of  June  a  party  oi"  tories  raised  the  British  standard  on  Lost 
river,  then  in  the  county  of  Ham^)shire  (now  Hardy.)  John  Clay})ole,-  a 
Scotsmtan  by  birth,  and  his  two'sons,  wereatthe  head  of  -he  insurrection,"^ 
Claypolc  had  the  address  to  drav;  over  to  his  party  a  considerable  nifijori- 
ty  of  the  people  on  J^ost  ii\er,  and  a  number  on  the  South  fork  of  the 
Wappatomaka.     They  first  manifested  syi1\j)toms  of  rebellion  by  refushig.' 


*Moses  Rus.sell,  Esq.,  inrormrfl  the  author,    thai  it  was    reported    and' 
believed  at  the  time  that  Claypole's  two  sons  went  to  North  Carolina,  am? 
liad  an  interview  with  Lord  (^'ornwaUis,  who  appointed  and  coinmi;sioL- 
ed  them  both  captairss  in  tlie  I^'ntish  service;  and  sent   the  romnii.<,«^i(uv-  o^ 
colonel  to  tlieir  lathr-''.  -  - -'.- 


i3tT  )ijf:voL.L''noxA]rv  wak.  , 

t.o  pd.\  their  taxes  and  refusing'  to  iuriiijsh  tlieir  quota  of  men  to  serve-  ii? 
the  rrtilitia.  The  slieriffs,  or  collectors  of  the  revenue,  complained  to  Col, 
Vanrneter,  of  the  county  of  Hampshire,  that  they  were  resisted  in  their 
attempts  to  discharge  their  official  duties,  when  the  colonel  ordered  a 
captain  and  thirty  men  to  their  aid.  The  insur^j^ents  armed  themselves, 
and  determined  to  resist.  Among  them  was  John  Brake,  a  German  of 
considerable  wealth,  who  resided  about  fifteen  miles  above  Moorefield,  on 
the  wSouth  fork  of  the  river,  and  vrhose  house  became  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous for  the  insurgents.  When  the  sheriff  went  up  with  the  militia 
posse,  fifty  men  appeared  in  arms.  The  posse  and  tories  unexpectedly 
met  in  the  public  road.  Thirty -five  of  the  latter  broke  and  ran  about 
one  hundred  yards,  and  then  formed,  while  fifteen  stood  firm.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  cfuard  ctilled  out  for  a  parley,  when  a  free  conversation  took 
place,  in  which  this  dangerous  proceeding  on  the  part  of  the  torie-s  was 
pointed  out,  with  the  terrible  consequences  which  must  inevitably  follow. 
It  is  said  that  had  a  pistol  been  fired,  a  dreadful  scene  of  c^irnage  would 
have  ensued.*  The  two  parties,  however,  parted  without  bloodshed. — 
But  instead  of  the- tory  party  retirincT  to  their  respective  homes  and  at- 
tending to  their  domestic  duties,  the  spirit  of  insurrection  increased. — 
They  began  to  organize,  appointed  officers,  and  made  John  Claypole 
their  commander-in-chief,  with  the  intention  of  marching  off  in  a  body  to 
Cornvrallis,  in  the  event  of  his  advancing  into  the  valley  or  near  it. 

Several  expresses  were  sent  to  Col..  Smith,  requesting  the  aid  of  the 
railitia,  in  the  counties  immediately  adjoining,  to  quell  this  rebellion.  He 
addressed  letters  to  the  commanding  officers  of  Berkeley  and  Shenandoah, 
beat  up  for  volunteers  in  Frederick,  and  in  a  few  days  an  army  of  four  hmi- 
dred  rank  and  file  were  well  nK)unted  and  equipped.  Gen.  Morgan, 
who,  after  the  defeat  of  Tarlton  and  some  other  military  services,  had  ob- 
tained leave  of  absence  from  the  army,  and  w^as  now  reposing  on  his 
farm  (Saratoga)  in  Frederick,  and  whose  nan^  was  a  host  in  itself,  was 
solicited  to  take  the  command,  with  which  he  readily  complied.  About 
the  18th  or  20th  of  June  the  armv  marched  from  Winchester,  and  in  two 
days  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  tory  section  of  Hardy  county. — 
They  halted  at  Claypole's  house,!  and  took  him  prisoner.  Several  young 
men  fled ;  among  them  William  Baker.  As  he  ran  across  Claypole's 
meadow  he  was  hailed  and  ordered  to  surrender ;  but  disregarding  the 
command,  Capt.  Abraham  Byrd,  of  Shenandoah  county,  an  excellent 
marksman,  raised  his  rifle,  fired,  and  wounded  him  in  the  leg:i  He  fell, 
and  several  of  Mbrgan's  party  went  to  him-  to  see  the  result.  The  ball 
had  penetrated  just  above  the  heel,  ranged  up  the  leg,  and   shivered  the 

*Isaac  Vanrneter,  Esq.,  then  about  eighteen  years- of  age,  was   one  of 
the  posse,  and  related  these  fads  to  the  author. 

fClaypole's  former  residence  is  now  owned  by  Mr..  Miller,  and  is  about 
forty-five  or  fifty  miles  south-west  of  Winchester,  on  Lost  river  in  Hardy 
county. 

tThe  spot  was  pointed  out  to  the  author,  by  Mr.  Miller,  where  Byrd 
stood  when  he  fired  at  Baker,  and  where  Baker  fell..  The  distance,  is 
ibout.  foui-  hundred  yard  ft. 


M)inie>.  As  the  poor  lellow  begged  lor  iaercy,  he  \va:>  taken  lo  the  house, 
and  ids  wound  dressed,  by  tlie  surgeon  oi  the  regiment.  He  recovered, 
ond  is  still  living.  They  took  from  Ciaypole  }>rovisions  for  themselves 
and  horses,  Col.  Smith  (who  was  second  in  command,)  giving  him  a  cei- 
tiiicale  for  their  value. 

From  Ciaypole's  the  army  moved  up  Lost  river,  and  some  young  men 
iin  the  advance  took  a  man  named  Matthias  Wilkins  prisoner,  placed  a 
Tope  round  his  neck,  and  threatened  to  hang  him.  Col.  Smith  rode  up, 
saw  what  was  going  on,  and  ordered  them  instantly  to  desist.  They  al- 
so caught  a  man  named  John  Payne,  and  branded  him  on  the  posterior:* 
with  a  red  hot  spade,  telling  him  they  would  make  him  a  freemason. — • 
Ciaypole  solemnly  promised  to  be  of  good  behavior,  gave  bail  and  was 
set  at  liberty. 

The  army  thence  crossed  the  South  Branch  mountain.  On  or  near  the 
summit  they  saw  a  small  cal>in,  which  had  probably  been  erected  by  some 
hunters,  (ien.  Morgan  ordered  it  to  be  surrounded,  observing,  'Tt  is 
})robable  some  of  the  tories  are  now  in  it.''  As  the  men  approached  the 
I'abin,  ten  or  a  dozen  fellows  ran  out  and  fled.  An  elderlv  -man,  named 
Mace,  and  two  of  his  sons,  were  amojig  them.  Old  ^lace,  linding  him- 
self pretty  closely  pursued,  surrendered.  One  of  the  pursuers  w^as  Capt. 
William  Snickers,  an  aid-de-camp  of  Morgan,  who  being  mounted  on  a 
fine  horse,  was  soon  alongside  of  him.  One  of  Mace's  sons  looking 
.round  at  this  instant,  and  seeinir  Snickers  aimin£^  a  blow  wuh  a  drawn 
sword  at  his  father,  drew  u])  hisriiie  and  fired  at  him.  The  ball  passed 
through  the  crest  of  his  horse's  iieck;  he  fell,  and  threv%-the  rider  over  his 
head.  Snickers  was  at  first  thought  by  his  friends  to  be  killed  ;  and  in 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  an  Irishman,  half  drunk,  who  had  been 
with  Morgaii  for  some  time  as  a  waiter,  and  had  seen  much  tory  blood 
shed  in  the  Carolinas,  ran  up  to  the  prisoner  (Mace)  whh  a  cocked  pis- 
t(tl  in  his  hand,  and  shot  the  poor  man,  who  fell,  and  instantly  expired, 
Oajit.  Snickers  soon  recovered  from  tlie  bruises  received  in  his  fail,  as  did 
his  horse  also  from  the  wound  in  his  neck. 

The  army  proceeded  onto  pay  their  respects  to  Mr.  Johti  Brake,  an 
old  (jerman,  who  had  a  line  tarm  with  extensive  meadows,  a  mill,  large 
distillery,  and  many  fat  hogs  ami  cattle.  He  was  an  exception,  in  his  po- 
litical course,  to  his  countrymen,  as  they  were  almost  to  a  man,  true 
whigs,  and  friends  to  their  country.  Brake,  as  before  observed,  had  join- 
ed the  tory  band,  and  his  house  wa>  their  place  of  renttezvous,  where 
they  feasted  r.n  the  best  he  kaci.  All  this  lOjpeariTio- unquestionable,  Mor- 
gan  marched  his  army  to  his  residence,  there  haltetl,  antl  sjjcnt  two  days 
and  nights  with  his  reluctant  liDst.  His  troops  lived  on  the  best  his  fine 
farm,  mill  and  tlistiliery  alluRled,  feasting  on  iiis  pigs,  fatted  calves,  young 
beeves,  lambs,  poultrv,  kc,  while  their  hoises,  fared  no  less  luxuriously 
\ipon  iiis  fme  uiimown  meadows,  oat  lields,  ioc.  As  Brake  liad  enter- 
t»ined  and  feasted  the  tories,  Morgan  concluded  that  he  should  least  them 
1m  turn. 

The  tiiir«l  dav,  in  tiic  mr-rulno',  the  arim  moved  om  down  the  river, 
passed  b\  Mftorefieid,  and  ntnrncdto  \\  inch('Sl«-r,  ului*'  il  was  (lishand- 
*"d,  -.'flcr  a  ser\  ice  n("  milv  ;»b'>'ii  riuht  or  trn  d;t\  ^.      'llni--     \\;i^    tlir»-    l^n 


a 32'  IIEVOLUTIONARY  \yAR. 

insurrectiun  crashed  in  the  bud.     The  partv  themselves  became   ashamed 

■oi'  their  conduct,  and  in  some  degree  to  atone  for  it,  and  wipe  off  the  stain, 

several  of  the  younof  men  volunteered  their  services  and  rnar^ehed    to   aid 

* 
in  the  capture  of  Cornwallis. 

Within  three  or  four  days  after  these  men  were  disbanded,  ^wo  expres- 
;ses  in  one  day  arrived  at  Winchester,  and  infon;iied  Ccl.  Smith  thatTarl- 
:ton  was  on  his  way  to  rescue  the  British  prisoners  at  the  Winchester  bar- 
racks. Col.  Smith  had  again  to  call  out  the  militia ;  and  ordering  four 
hundred  ,men  as  a  guard,  removed  the  prisoners  to  Fort  Frederick,  in  Ma- 
ryland, at  which  place  they  remained  to  the  end  of  the  war.* 

The  summer  of  1781  was  emphaticaJiy  the  summer  of  militia  cam- 
paigns. There  were  frequent  alarms  that  Tarlton  and  his  legion  (of  de- 
vils, some  people  termed  them,)  were  on  their  way  to  visit  our  valley; 
.and  sometim.es  it  was  reported  that  Cornwallis  and  his  whole  army  would 
be  upon  us.  The  militia  was  almost  constantly  marchij-ig  and  counter- 
marching. 

It  however  pleased  Hea^ien  so  to  ord,er  things,  that  Cornwallis  and  his 
large  army  should  be  entrapped  and  captured  at  Yorktow.n,  in  Virginia. — 
This  put  an  .end  to  the  scourge  of  the  war  ;  and  our  people  being  permit- 
ted to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  peace  and  agriculture,  commerce  and  the 
mechanical  arts  improved  in  a  most  astonishing  degree.  The  French  and 
British  armies  circulated  immense  sums  of  money  in  gold  and  silver  coin, 
which  had  the  effect  of  driving  out  of  circulation  the  wTctched  paper 
.currency  v\'hich  had  till  then  prevailed.  Immense  quantities  of  Britisli 
and  French  goods  were  soon  imported :  our  people  imbif)ed  a  taste  for 
foreign  fashions  ap^d  luxury  ;  and  in  the  course  of  tvv^o  or  three  years,  from 
the  close  of  the  war,  such  an  entire  change  had  taken  placie  in  the  habits 
;and  manners  of  our  inhabitants,  that  it  i"ilmost  appeared  as  if  wehadsud- 
-denly  liecom.e  a  different  nation.  The  staid  and  sober  liabits  of  our  an- 
•cestors,  with  their  plain  home-maniifactured  clothing,  were  suddenly  laid 
aside,  and  European  goods  of  fine  quality  adopted  in  their  stead.  Fine 
ruffles,  powdered  heads,  silks  and  scarlets,  decorated  thvi  men  ;  while  the 
mosty&Qstly  silks,  satins,  chintzes,  calicches,  muslins,  ike,^  &c.,  decorated 
.our  females.  No^'  was  their  diet  less  expensive  ;  for  superb  plate,  for- 
eign spirits,  wines,  &,c.,  &c.,  sparkled  on  the  sideboards  of  many  farmers. 
The  natural  result  of  this  ckange  of  the  habits  and  customs  of  the  people 
— this  aping  of  European  manners  and  morals, — was  to  suddenly  drain 
our, country  of  its  circulating  specie',  and  as  a  necessary  .consequence, 
the  people  ran  iu  debt,  times  became  difficult,  and  money  hard  to  raise. 

The  sulTerinofS  and  hard  dealinp's  with  the  Quakers  deserve  some  notice 
hi  this  }>lace.  The  unfortunate  proceedings  of  the  Philadelphia  Quakers 
drew  down  upofi  the  whole  ordei'  the  strong  prejudices  and  even  hatred 
•of  the  friends  to  the  American  cause.  The  treasonable  proceedings  of  a 
few  indi'viduals  ought  not  to  have  been  visited  upon  the  Avhole  order  of 
.Quak^ers.     It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  this  proc<ieding  was  a  great 


*Gen.  John  Smith  communicated  all  the  particulars  of  the  foregoing 
.narratixt-  to  the  aulhc)]-,  with  the  exception  of  branding  Payne  with  the 
.'Npade.;  this  fact  v/as  stj-ted  bv  Mr.  Chrism?;n  on   Lost  River. 


RICVOIJ  'riOXAllV  \VAK-  133 

'blot  upOFi  Quaker  character,  and  stamped  the  individuals  concerned  in  it, 
'.vith  base  hypocrisy,  and  gave  llie  he  to  their  rehgious  professions. — 
Whilst  they  professed  to  hold  it  unlawful  to  shed  human  blood  ;  ^vhilst 
they  disclaimed  ail  concern  with  the  war  ;  they  were  secretly  giving  in- 
telligence to  the  enemy,  and  aidin^'^'  and  abetting  them  in  every  way  they 
could,  except  resorting  to  arms.  Jl3ut  it  is  again  repeated  that  it  was  un- 
just w^ith  one  fell  sweep  to  condemn  the  whole  order,  for  the  malconduct 
of  a  lew  individuals.  The  Quakers  in  the  valley,  notwithstanding  their 
-entire  neutrality,  were  unquestionably  the  greatest  sufferers  by  the  war. — 
They  refused  to  bear  arms,  they  refused  to  pay  war  taxes,  and  hence  the 
sheriffs  or  collectors  were  compe-Ued  to  destrain  and  sell  their  property  to 
raise  their  respective  proportion  «of  the  public  burthens. 

At  the  begihning  of  the  war,  attempts  were  made  to  com^pel  them  to 
bear  arms,  and  serve  in  the  militia;  but  it  was  soon  found  unavailing. — 
They  would  not  perform  any  military  duty  ret[uired  of  them  :  not  even  the 
scourge  would  compel  them  to  submit  to  discipline.  The  practice  of  co- 
ercion was  therefore  abandoned,  and  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  to  levy 
a  tax  upon  their  property  to  hire  substitutes  to  perform  militia  duty  in  their 
stead.  This,  with  other  taxes,  bore  peculiarly  heavy  upon  them.  Their 
personal  property  was  sold  under  the  iiammer  to  raise  these  public  de- 
mands ;  and  before  the  war  was  over,  manv  of  them  were  reduced  to 
great  distress  in  their  pecuniary  circumstances. 

There  is  an  amusing  story  told  of  James  Gotharp,  who  resided  on 
Apple-pie  ridge.  He  was  forctid  to  march  with  a  militia  company,  and 
on  one  particular  occasion  was  placed  as  sentry  at  a  baggage  wagon, 
with  orders  to  suffer  no  man  to  go  into  the  wagon  without  a  v>-ritten  order 
from  the  commandina:  oilicer.  One  of  the  officers  w.Tlkint;  lo  the  wa^ron 
to  go  in,  Gotharp  demanded  his  written  authority  :  the  oihcer  cursed  him 
and  stepped  upon  the  houns  of  the  wagon.  Gotharp  seized  him  by  his 
legs  and  pulled  his  feet  off  the  houns.  The  officer  fell  witli  his  face  upon 
,the  houns  anci  had  his  nose  and  mouth  sorely  bruiserl. 

This  selling  of  Quakers'  property  afforded  great  opportunity  lor  design- 
ing individuals  to  make  profitable  speculations.  They  continued  to  re- 
fuse to  pay  taxes  for  several  years  after  the  war,  holding  it  unlawful  to 
•contribute  their  money  towards  discharging  the  war  debt.  This  being 
at  length  adjusted,  no  part  of  our  citizens  pay  their  public  demands  witii 
more  punctuality,  (except  their  muster  fines  which  the)  still  refuse  to  pay.) 
Owing  to  their  industrious  and  sober  habits,  they  soon  recovered  from 
their  pecuniary  distress  produced  by  the  war,  rind  are  generally  speaking 
the  most  independent  part  of  our  ccnnmunity.  Vast  numbers  of  them 
liave  migrated  to  the  western  country,  and  several  of  their  meetings  are 
entirely  broken  up.  There  is  however,  still  a  considerable  number  of 
them  in  the  counties  of  Frederick  and  Berkeley.  They  continued  their 
.ancient  practice  of  de[)ending  upon  their  household  manuficturcs  for  their 
tclotliing ;  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  they  gave  into  the  practice  of 
[)ur(ha3ing  European  goods.  A  few  of  them  entered  Into  the  mercantile 
business;  several  others  erectt'd  fine  merchant  mills;  others  engaged  in 
mechanical  pursuits  ;  but  the  orreat  body  of  them  are  fanners,  ajul  are  ge- 
>ncrallv  most  excellent  ruUivr.tujs,of  the  sci!. 


i.ii  Mom:  or  i.ivim;  or 

The  greater  part  of  the  Germans,  also,  \vere  a  long  time  dependent  tip- 
on  their  domestic  maniilactures  for  their  clothing;  but  they,  too,  have 
imbibed  a  taste  lor  foreign  linerv.  They  however  manage  to  effect  their 
])urchases  by  bartering,  in  a  considerable  degree,  their  own  household 
jnanufactures  in  exchauge. 

Some  three  m'  lour  vears  a^o  the  autiior  called  at  the  house  of  a  farmer 
in  the  southwest  part  ot"  Shenandoah  county,  where  he  saw  five  spinning 
wheels  at  work.  The  old  lady,  three  of  her  daughters,  and  a  hired  girl, 
were  busily  engaged  in  xspinning  finely  prepared  hemp.  The  author  en- 
quired of  the  old  lady,  v/hether  she  sold  any  part  of  her  domestic  goods. 
To  which  she  replied,  ".Yes  ;  when  de  gals  wants  to  puy  some  fine  dings 
in  de  sthore,  dey  bay  for  it  in  linen  und  iinsey ;  una  I  puy  sugar  and  gof- 
fee,  und  sait^  und  any  diiigs  w-e  wants,  und  I  bay  for  it  ail  in  our  own 
Goods.'* 

The  author  stopped  at  a  neighboring  house,  and  inquired  of  the  in- 
mates how  their  neighlK>r  I got  along.     "0,"  replied  the  man,  ''Mr<. 

J.  buys  a  phintation  every  four  or  fivi^yefus,  and  always   pays  the  luonej 


aown." 


rv- 


uoiiirlljK   Alii 


MOOK  OF  LIVING  OF  THE  PRlMrm'E  SETTIJIRS. 


Thk  first  houses  erected  by  thr  primitive  settlors  were  log  cabins,  with 
covers  of  split  clapboards,  and  weight  poles  to  keep  them  in  place.  They 
were  frequently  seen  vsith  earthen  fioors;  or  if  wood  floors  were  used, 
they  were  made  of  split  puncheons,  a  little  smoothed  with  the  broad-axe. 
These  houses  were  pretty  generally  in  use  since  the  author's  recollection. 
There  were,  however,  a  few  framed  and  stone  buildings  erected  previous 
to  the  war  of  the  revolution.  As  the  country  improved  in  population  and 
wealth,  there  was  a  corresponding  improvement  in  the  erection  of  build- 
ings. 

When  this  improvement  commenced,  the  most  |2:eneral  mode  of  build- 
ing was  with  hewn  logs,  a  shingle  roof  and  plank  floor,  the  plank  cut  out 
with  a  whip  saw.  As  it  is  probable  some  of  my  young  readers  have  ne- 
ver seen  a  whip  saw,  a  short  description  of  it  may  not  be  uninteresting. 
It  was  about  the  length  of  the  common  mill  saw,  with  a  handle  at  each 
end  transversely  fixed  to  it.  The  timber  intended  to  be  sawed  was  first 
squared  with  the  broad-axe,  and  then  raised  on  a  scalTold  six  or  seven  feet 
hij;h.  Two  able-bodied  men  then  took  hold  of  the  saw,  one  siandinjr  on 
the  lop  ot  the  h'C"  -md  the  other  und.'-T  it,  and  ••orrimcncrd    s;',wirr^:.      Th^ 


Tin:  PRi.\rrnvf-:  skt'iters.  nr^ 

labor  was  excessively  lallgiilng,  and  about  owe  hundred   feel    of  plailk  or' 
scantling  was  considered  a  good  day's  work  for  the  two  hands.     The  in-- 
Iroduction  of  saw  mills,  however,  soon  superseded  the   use  of  the   whip- 
saw^,  but  they  were  not  entirely  laid  aside  until  several  years  after  the  war 
of  the  revolution. 

The  dress  of  the  early  settlers  was  of  the  plainest  materials — general- 
ly of  their  own  manutacture  ;  ?nd  if  a  modern  "belle''  or  "beau"  were 
now  to  witness  the  extreme  plainness  and  simplicity  of  their  fashions,  the 
one  would  be  almost  thrown  into  a  fit  of  hysterics,  and  the  other  fright-- 
ened  at  the  odd  and  grotesque  appearance  of  their  progenitors. 

Previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  married  men  generally  sha- 
ved their  heads,  and  either  wore  wigs  or  white  linen  caps.-  When  the 
war  commenced,  this  fashion  was  laid  aside,  partly  from  patriotic  consid-- 
erations,  and  partly  from  necessity.  Owing  to  the  entire  interruption  of 
the  intercourse  with  England,  wigs  could  not  easily  be  obtained,  nor  white 
linen  for  caps. 

The  men's  coats  were  generally  made  with   broad  backs,  and    straight 
short  skirts,  with  pockets  on  the  outside  having  large  flaps.-     The  waist-- 
coats  had  skirts  nearly  half  way  down  to  the  knees,  and  very  broad  pock-- 
et  flaps.     The  breeches  were  so  short  as  barely  to  reach  the  knee,  with  a 
band  surrounding  the  knee,  fastened  with  either  brass  or  silver  buckles. — 
The  stocking  was  drawn  up  under  the  knee-band,  and    tied  with  a  garter 
(generally  red  or  blue)  below  the  knee,  so  as  to  be  seen.     The  shoes  were" 
of  coarse  leather,  with  straps  to  the    quarters,   and    fastened    with   either 
brass  or  silver  buckles.     The  hat  was  either  wool    or    fur,   with  a  round 
crown  not  exceetling  three  or  fcmr  inches  high,  with  a  broad  brim.*    The 
dress  for  the  neck  was  usually  a  narrow  collar  to  the   shirt,    with  a  white" 
linen  stock  drawn  together  at  the  ends,  on  tl>e  back  oi   the    neck,    with  a 
broad  metal  buckle.     The  more  wealthy  and  fashionable  were  sometimes- 
seen  with  theii*  stock,  knee  and  shoe  buckles,  set  either  in   gold   or  silver 
with  brilliant  stories.   '  The  author  can  recollect,  when  a  child,  if  he  hap- 
pened to  see  any  of  those  llnely  dressed  "great  folk,^"  as  they    were  then' 
termed,  he  felt  awed  in  their  presence,  and    viewed    them    as    something 
more  than  man. 

The  female  dress  was  generally  the  short  gown  and  petticoat  made  of 
the  plainest  materials.  The  German  womf  n  mostly  wore  tight  calico 
caps  on  their  heads,  and  in  the  summer  season  they  were  generally  seen 
with  no  other  clothing  than  a  linen  shit't  and  petticoat — thi*  teet,  hands, 
and  arms  bare.  In  hay  and  harvest  time,  they  joined  the  men  in  the  la- 
bor of  the  meadow  and  grain  fields.  This  custom,  of  the  females  labor- 
ing in  the  time  of  harvest,  was  not  exclusively  a  German  practice,  but 
was  common  to  all  the  northern  people.  Many  females  were  most  expert 
mowers  and  rea|">ers.  Within  the  author's  recollection,  he  has  seen  sev- 
eral temale  reapers  who  were  equal  to  the  stoutest  males  in  the  harvest 
field.     It  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  the  female  part  of  the   family  at 


*Tlie  Quakers  were  remarkable  for  their  broad  brim  hats.     They    were 
sometimes  <alled  "nro:uihriin»^,"  bv  wav  <^^  ^''^tipo-Mi'^liincr  th^^in  ^xf^m  r>\\\~ 


J3G  MO]yi^  OF  i-1  VING    OF 

the  hoe  or  plow  ;  cfnd  some  of  our  now  we-ilthiest  citizens  fi'eq-jently 
£)oast  of  their  grandinothers,  aye  mothers  too,  performing  this  kind  of 
heavy  labor. 

The  natural  result  of  this  kind  of  rural  Hie  \vas,  to  produce  a  hardy 
and  vigorous  race  of  people.-  It  \vas  this  race  of  people  who  had  to 
meet  and  breast  the  various  Indian  wars  and  the  storms  of  the  revolu- 
tion. 

The  Duichman''s  barn  was  usually  the' best  buildino;  on  his  farm.  He 
was  sure  to  erect  a  fine  large  barn,  before  he  built  anv  other  dw^ellin"-- 
house  than  his  rude  log  cabin.  There  were  none  of  our  primitive  immi- 
grants more  uniform  in  the  form  of  their  buildings  than  the  Germans. — 
Their  dwelling-houses  were- seldom  raised  more  than  a  single  story  in 
height,  with  a  large  cellar  beneath;  the  chimney  in  the  middle,  with  a- 
very  wide  fire-place  in  one  end  for  the  kitchen,  in  the  other  end  a  stove 
room.  Their  furniture  was  of  the  simplest  and  plainest  kind  ;  and  there 
Was  always  a  long  pine  table  fixed  in  one  corner  of  the  stove  room,  with 
permanent  benches  on  one  side.  On  the  upper  floor,  garners  for  holding 
grain  were  very  common.  Their  beds  were  generally  filled  with  straw  or 
chaff,  with  a  fine  feather  bed  for  covering  in  the  v»dnter.  The  author  has 
several  times  slept  in  this  kind  of  a  bed  ;  and  to  a  jierson  unaccustomed 
to  it,  it  is  attended  not  unfi'equently  with  danger  to  the  health.  The  thick 
covering  of  the  feathers  is  pretty  certain  to'  produce  a  profuse  pei-spira- 
tion,  wdiich  an  exposure  to  coldy  on  rising  in  the  morning,  is  apt  to  check 
suddenly,  causing  chillness  and  obstinate  cough'.  'I'he  author,  a  few- 
years  ago,  caught  in  this  way  the  most  severe  cold,  which  was  folio v/ed 
by  a  long  and  distressing  cough,  he  was  ever  afilicted  with. 

JMany  of  the  Germans  have  what  they  call  a  drum,  through  which  the 
stove  pipe  passes  in  their  upper  rooms.  It  is  made  of  sheet  iron,  some- 
thing in  the  shape  of  the  military  drum.  It  soon  fills  wdth  heat  from  the 
pipe,  by  which  the  rooms  become  agreeably  w^arm  in  the  coldest  weather. 
A  piazza  is  a  very  common  appendage  to  a  Dutchman's  dwehing-house, 
in  which  his  saddles,  bridles,  and  very  frecptenily  his  wagon  or  plow  har- 
ness are  hung  up. 

The  Germans  erect  stables  for  their  domestic  animals  of  every  species  : 
even  their  swine  are  housed  in  the  winter  season.  1'heir  barns  and  sta- 
bles are  well  stored  wdth  provender,  particularly  fine  hay  :  hence  their 
quadrupeds  of  all  kinds  are  kept  throughout  the  year  in  the  finest  possi- 
ble order.  This  practice  of  housing  stock  in  the  wdnter  season  is  un- 
questionably great  economy  in  husbandry.  Much  less  food  is  required  to 
sustain  them,  and  the  animals  come  out  in  the  spring  in  fine  health  and 
condition.  It  is  a  rare  occurrence  to  hear  of  a  Dutchman's  losino-  an*f 
part  of  his  stock  with  poverty.  The  practice  of  housing  stock  in  the 
winter  is  not  exclusively  a  German  custom,  but  if.  is  common  to  most  of 
the  northern  people,  and  those  descended  from  immigrants  from  the  north.. 
The  author  recollects  once  seeing  the  cow  stahs  adjoinin^T  a  farmer's 
dwelling.- 

The  German  women,  many  of  them,  arc  remarkably  neat  housekeep- 
ers. There  are  some  of  them,  however,  extrem.clv  sio\enlv,  and  their 
dwellings  are  kept  in  the  worst  pos*;i])Ir' condition,-     The    rffiiivia    arisintj;. 


from  tliis'Waiit  of  <!leaiilines  is  in  the  highest  degree  diig-usliiig^and  ofTen- 
sive  to  persons  unaccustomed  to  such  fare.  The  same  remarks  are  appli- 
cable to  the  Irish  ;  nay  to  some  native  Virginians.  The  Germans  are 
remarkable  for  their  firie  bread,  milk  and  butter.  They  consume  in  their 
diet  less  animal  iiesh,  and  of  course  more  vegetables,  than  most  other  peo- 
ple. Their  "sour  krout"*  in  the  winter  constitutes  a  considerable  part  of 
their  living.  They  generally  consume  less,  and  seii  more  of  the  product 
of  their  labor,  than  any  other  class  of  our  citizens.  A~Dutchman  is  pro- 
verbial for  his  patient  perseverance  in  his  domestic  labors.  Their  fiarras 
are  generally  small  and  nicely  cultivated.  In  his  agricultural  pursuits, 
his  meadows  demand  his  gi-eatest  care  and  attention.  His  little  farm  is 
laid  off  in  fields  not  exceeding  ten  or  twelve  acres  each.  It  is  rarely  seen 
that  a  Dutchman  will  cultivate  more  than  about  ten  or  twelve  acres  in  In- 
dian corn  any  one  year.  Tlicy  are  of  opinion  that  the  corn  crop  is  a  great 
exhauster  of  the  soil,  and  they  make  but  little  use  of  corn  for  any  other 
purpose  than  feeding  and  fattening  their  swine. 

Previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  for  several  years  after,  con- 
siderable quantities  of  tobacco  were  raised  in  the  lower  counties  of  the 
valley.  The  cultivation  of  this  crop  was  first  introduced  and  pursued  by 
immif^-rants  from  the  eastern  counties  of  Viriiinia.  From  the  newly 
cleared  lands,  two  crops  of  tobacco  in  succession  were  generally  taken, 
and  it  was  then  appropriated  to  the  cidture  of  other  crops.  The  crop  of 
tobacco  left  the  soil  in  the  finest  possible  state  for  the  production  of  other 
crops.  Corn,  wheat,  rye,  liax,  oats,  potatoes,  and  every  thing  else,  were 
almost  certain  to  produce  abundant  crops,  after  the  crop  of  tobacco. 

In  the  year  1794  the  French  revolution  broke  out,  when  bread  stuffs  of 
every  kind  suddenly  became  enormously  hi^'h  ;  in  consequence  of  which 
the  farmers  in  the  valley  abandoned  the  cultivation  ol  tobacco,  and  turned 
their  attention  to  wheat,  which  they  raised  in  vast  quantities  ibr  several 
years.  It  was  no  uncommon  thinii'  for  the  farmer,  for  several  years  after 
the  commencement  of  the  French  revolution,  to  sell  his  crops  of  wheat 
from  one  to  two,  and  sometimes  at  two  and  aludf  dollars  per  bushel,  and 
his  flour  from  ten  to  fourteen  doHars  })er  barrel  in  our  scriport  towns. 

In  the  yearl71JG,  the  Jle:^sian  fly  first  made  its  jjppearance  iii  Virginia. 


*"8our  krout"  is  made  of  tlic  licst  oC  cabbage,  A  box  about  threi; 
feet  in  length,  and  six  or  sc\  en  inches  wid(!,  with  a  sharj)  bla(h'  lived 
across  the  bottom,  sonu'thing  on  the  principle  of  the  jack  j)lane,  is  used 
for  cutting  the  cabbage,  'flic  head  beinj;"  separated  from  the  stalk,  and 
stripped  of  its  outer  leaves,  is  jilaced  in  this  box,  and  run  hack  and  forth. 
The  cabbage  thus  cut  u])  is  placeil  in  a  barrel,  a  little  salt  sprinkled  <»n 
from  time  to  time,  then  j)ressed  down  very  closely,  and  covered  over  nr 
the  0})en  head.  In  the  course  of  three  or  four  weeks  it  acfjuires  a  sour- 
ish taste,  and  to  persons  accustomed  to  the  use  of  it,  is  a  verv  aL:reeable 
and  wholesome  food.  It  is  said  that  the  use  of  it,  within  the  last  few 
years,  on  board  of  ships,  has  proved  it  to  be  the  best  preventive  known 
ibr  the  scurvy.  The  use  of  it  i^-  becoming  pretty  general  aiiion;' ail  ^as- 
s  'S  of  piH^ple  in  the  vallev. 


138  NORTHERN  NECK 

Its  ravages  that  year  were  limited,  and  but  little  damage  was  sustained  in 
the  crops  of  wheat.  The  crop  of  1797,  in  the  counties  contiguous  to  the 
Potomac,  was  generally  destroyed,  and  the  same  year  partial  injury  was 
discovered  in  Frederick  county.  The  crop  of  1798,  throughout  the  coun- 
ty of  Frederick,  was  nearly  destroyed.  Ever  since  which  time  the  far- 
mers have  annually  suffered  more  or  less  from  the  rava2:es  of  this  destruc- 
tive  destroyer.  This  insect  had  prevailed  in  some  of  the  northern  States 
for  several  years  before  it  reached  Virginia.  It  is  said  it  first  appeared  on 
Long  Island,  and  was  believed  to  have  been  imported  by  the  Hessian 
troops  in  their  straw  bedding  in  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  revolution. — 
If  this  be  true,  it  was  a  woful  curse  upon  our  country — of  which  it  pro- 
bably will  never  be  relieved.  The  present  generation  have  abundant 
cause  to  execrate  the  inhuman  policy  of  our  parent  State  in  bringing  up- 
on us  this  heavy  calamity,  and  all  future  generations  will  probably  jpin  in 
condemning  the  British  ministry  who  forced  upon  our  ancestors  thi^at  un- 
rio'hteous  and  disastrous  war. 


■:0: 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA. 


Charles  IL,  king  of  England,  granted  to  the  ancestors  of  the  late  lord 
Fairfax  all  the  lands  lying  between  the  head  waters  of  the  Rappahannock 
and  Potomae  to  the  Chesapeake  bay.     This  immense  grant  included  the^ 
territory  now   comprising   the    counties    of  Lancaster,   Northumberland, 
Richmond,  Westmoreland,  Stafford,  King  George,  Prince  William,  Fair- 
fax, Loudon,  Fauquier,  Culpeper,  Madison,  Page,  Shenandoah,    Hardy, 
Hampshire,  Morgan,  Berkeley,  Jefferson  and  Frederick.     It  is    said  that 
the  first  grant  to  the  ancestors  of  Fairfax    was  only   intended  to    include 
the  territorv  in  the  Northern  Neck  east  of  the  Blue  rido^e;  but  after  Fair- 
fax  discovered  that  the  Potomac  river  headed  in  the  Allegany  mountains, 
he  returned    to    England,    and    instituted  his  petition    in  the    court   of 
kmg's  bench  for  extending  his  grant  into  the  Allegany   mountains,   so  as 
to  include  the  territory  composing  the  present  counties  of  Page,  Shenan- 
doah, Hardy,  Hampshire,  Morgan,  Berkeley,  Jefferson   and  Frederick. — 
A  compromise  took  place  between  Fairfax  and  the  crown  :  but   previous 
to  the  institution  of  Fairfax's  suit,  several  individuals  had  obtained  grants 
for  large  bodies  of  land  west  of  the  Blue  ridge,  from  the  colonial  govern- 
ment of  Virginia,     In  the  compromise  it  was  expressly    stipulated   that 
the  holders  of  lands,  under- what  were  thea.  called  the  king's  ^Tant^s,  were 
to.  he  quieted  in  their  .dghtraf  poKfiesslon. 


OF   VIRGINIA.  139 

Joist  Hite  and  his  partners  had  obtained  grants  for  a  large  body.  Fair- 
fax, under  the  pretext  that  Hite,  &c.,  had  not  complied  with  the  terms  of 
their  grants,  took  it  upon  himself  to  grant  away  larg-e  quantities  of  these 
lands  to  other  individuals.  This  arbitrary  and  high-handed  proceeding 
on  the  part  of  his  lordship,  produced  a  lawsuit,  which  Hite  and  his  part- 
ners instituted  in  the  year  1736,  and  in  the  year  1786  it  was  decided. — 
Hite  and  partners  recovered  a  large  amount  of  money  for  the  rents  and 
profits,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  land.* 

The  immense  Fairfax  estate  has  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  Fairfax's 
heirs.  The  lands  (as  observed  in  a  preceding  chapter)  were  granted  by 
Fairfax  in  fee  simple  to  his  tenants,  subject  to  an  annual  rent  of  two  shil- 
lings sterling  per  hundred  acres.  This  small  rent  amounted  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  a  very  large  sum  ;  added  to  which,  Fairfax  required  the  payment 
of  ten  shillings  sterling  on  each  fifty  acres,  (what  he  termed  composition 
money,)  which  was  paid  on  issuing  the  grant. 

About  the  year  1742,  his  lordship  opened  his  office  in  the  county  of 
Fairfax  for  granting  out  the  land.  A  few  years  after,  he  removed  to  the 
county  of  Frederick,  and  settled  at  what  he  called  ''Greenway-Court," 
about  12  or  14  miles  south-east  of  Winchester,  where  he  kept  his  land 
office  during  his  life.  He  died  in  the  autumn  of  1781,  very  soon  after 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  It  is  said  that  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the 
capture  of  Cornwallis  and  his  army,  he  called  to  his  servant  to  assist  him 
to  bed,  observing,  "It  is  time  for  me  to  die ;"  and  truly  the  old  man  ne- 
ver again  left  his  bed  until  he  was  consigned  to  the  tomb.  His  body  was 
deposited  under  the  communion  table  in  the  then  Episcopal  church  in 
Winchester.! 


*In  the  year  1736,  Fairfax  entered  a  caveat  against  Hite,  &.C.,  alledg- 
ing  that  the  lands  claimed  by  them  were  within  the  bounds  of  the  North- 
•eni  Neck,  and  consequently  his  property.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  controversy,  and  led  to  the  suit  instituted  by  Hite  and  partners  against 
him.  All  the  parties  died  before  the  suit  was  decided.  Hite  in  1731 
purchased  from  John  and  Isaac  Vanmeter  their  right  or  warrant  for  loca- 
ting 40,000  acres  :  Hite  and  McKay  obtained  a  warrant  for  locating  100,- 
000  acres  more  in  their  own  names  :  and  in  order  to  obtain  settlers,  took 
in  Robert  Green  and  William  Duff  as  partners.  Hence  the  firm  of  Joist 
Hite,  Robert  McKay,  Robert  Green,  and  William  Duff.  Green  and  Duff 
settled  in  Culpeper  county,  and  are  the  ancestors  of  the  families  of  those 
names  in  that  county,  and  of  Gen.  Duff  Green,  of  Washington  City. 

fLord  Fairfax  made  a  donation  to  the  Episcopal  society,  of  a  lot  of 
land,  upon  which  a  large  vStone  building  was  erected  as  a  place  of  worship. 
Tiie  lot  is  in  the  center  of  the  town ;  and,  attached  to  the  church,  was  a 
large  burial  ground,  in  which  a  great  number  of  bodies  were  deposited. 
The  E})iscopal  society  lately  sold  at  auction  this  ancient  building  and  lot 
lor  twelve  thousand  dollars.  The  purchasers  caused  the  skeletons  to  be 
removed,  and  there  are  now  three  elegant  brick  houses  erected  on  the  lot. 
With  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  the  Episcopal  society  purchased  a 
lot  on  Boscowen  and  Washington  streets,  and  have  built  a  splendid  new 
churcjj.     Jt  is  to  be  regretled  that  no  account  was    taken  o!  the   number 


^40  XaUriLKIlN  NECK 

In  tkc  year  1785  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  wliicli  aniori^ 
.other  provisions  (in  relation  to  the  Northern  Neck,)  is  the  following  : 

"And  be.it  further  enacted,  that  the  landholders  within  the  said  dis- 
trict of  the  Northern  Neck  shall  be  forever  hereafter  exonerated  and  dis- 
<*harged  li'om  composition  and  quitrents,  any  law,  custom  or  usage,  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding."*  This  act  of  the  State  freed  the  people  from 
a  vexatious,  and  troublesome  kind  of  taxation.  Fairfax's  representatives 
soon  sold  out  their  interest  in  his  private  estate  in  this  country,  and  it  is 
believed  there  is  p_o  })art  of  this  vast  landed  estate  remaining  in  the  hands 
of  anv-branch  of  the  Fairfax  familv.  Chief  Justice  Marshal),  the  late  Ra- 
leigh  Colston,  Esq.,  and  the  late  Gen.  Henry  Lee,  purchased  the  right  ol' 
Fairfax's  legatees  (in  England)  to  what  is  called  the  Manor  of  Leeds,t 
South  i3ranch  Manor,  Patterson's  Creek  Maiior,  and  various  other  tracts 
of  land  of  immense  value — the  most  of  which  liad  been  leased  out  for 
long  terms  or  lives.  This  estate  has  been  the  cause  of  more  litigation 
probably  than  any  other  estate  in  Virginia.  Suits  growing  out  of  the  case 
of  Hite,  &c.,  against  Fairfax,  are  yet  depending  in  our  courts — and  some 
of  the  tenants  in  the  Manor  of  Leeds  have  lately  taken  it  in  their  heads 
ithat  the  Fairfax  title  is  defective,  and  refuse  to  pay  rents  to  the  present 
•claimants.  This  refusal  has  })roduced  a  lawsuit,  which  will  doubtless  be 
;a  long  time  pending. 

Thie  profligate  manner  of  granting  away  lands  in  immense  bodies  was 
unquestionably  founcU^d  in  the  most  unwise  and  unjust  policy.  Instead  of 
promoting  the  speedy  settlement  and  improveonent  of  the  country — in- 
.stead  of  holding  out  to  the  bulk  of  society  ev&ry  possible  encouragement 
to  make  the  most  speedy  settlement  and  improvement  of  the  new  country 
— monopolies  in  several  instances  were  given, -or  pretended  to  be  sold  to 
a  fcAV  favorites  of  the  £roverni)it{  ijowcrs,  whereby  these  favorites  were 
•enabled  to  amass  vast  estates,  and  to  lord  it  over  the  great  majority  of 
their  fellow  men.  Such  are  the  blessings  of  kingly  governments.  But 
the  people  of  this  free  and  happy  republic  have  abundant  cause  to  rejoice 
and  bless  their  Grtxl  that -this  wretched  kind  of  policy  and  high-handed 
injustice  is  done  away,  i^i  the  freedom  and  Avisdom  of  our  institutions, 
and  that  Ave  have<no  lonj^er  our  ears  assailed,  nor  our  understandinofs  out- 
iraged,  with  the  disgustirig,  high  sounding  title  of  "My  lord  !"  applied  to 
poor  frail  human  'beings. 

Lord  Fairlax  was  thcicouniv  lieutenant  for  Frederick  for  several  years. 


of  skeletons  removed.     'J'he  author  inquired  of  several  persons,  Avho  Avere 
^concerned  in  the  removal,  no  one  of  Avhom  could  give  jiny  account  of  the 
number.     It  is  probable  there  Avere  not  less  than  1,000 — the    skeleton  of 
Lord  Fairlax  among  them. 

*See  Revised  Code  of  the  LaAvs  of  Virginia,  vol.  i.  p.  35L 
fThe  Manor  of  Leeds  is  located  in  the  counties  of  Culpcper,  Fauquier 
and  Frederick,  and  contains  about  150,000  acres;  the  South  Branch  Ma- 
nor in  Hardv,  55,000  ;  Patterson's  creek  in  Hampshire,  9,000  acres. — 
r(  J<^(iii\ -Hun  Manor,  Avhieii  adjoins  the  Manor  of  Leeds,  .contains  about 
i^,2'.000  vicros.  at^d  lies  cliicflv  iu  Shfriandoah  cduntN. 


OF   VlRd'IMA.  Ml 

^^n  lookinn- into  tlie  rcn:orcl  of  the   proceedings   of  the   court 'm.irtial,  the 
•nuthor  found  the  following  entry  : 

"At  a  council  of  war,  held  for  regulating"  the  mil  it  i:).  of  Frcdcricli  f-ouu' 
ty,  in  order  to  take  such  steps  as  shall  be  thought  moj?t  expedient  in  the 
present  critical  conjuncture,  the  14th  day  of  April,  1756  ;  present,  the  Rt. 
Hon.  the  lord  Fairfax,  county  lieutenant;  John  Ilite.  major  ;  John  Lind- 
vsey,  Isaac  Parkins,  Richard  Morgan,  Saml.  Odell,  Edward  Rodgers,  Je- 
remiah Smith,*  Thomas  Caton,  Paul  Long,  captains. 

"Proposals  having  been  sent  to  the  several  captains  of  the  militia,  sign- 
ed by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  said  militia,  and  dated  the  7th  day 
of  April,  1756,  to  get  what  volunteers  they  could  encourage  logo  in 
search  of  the  Indian  enemv  who  are  daily  ravai^ino;  our  frontiers  and  com- 
mittinof  their  accustomed  cruelties  on  the  inhabitants:  and  the  aforesaid 
officers  being  met  together,  and  finding  the  number  of  men  insufficient  to 
go  against  the  enemy,  it  is  considered  that  the  men  be  disciiarged,  being 
only  fifteen.  FAi RFAX." 

From  this  it  appears  tliat  lord  Fairfax,  among  others,  was  an  attentive 
officer  in  the  time  of  the  Indian  wars.  In  tmtli  it  behooved  liis  lordship 
to  be  active.  He  had  more  at  stake,  and  the  command  of  greater  iunds, 
than  any  other  individual  member  of  societv.  The  Indian  hostilities  re- 
tarded  the  settlement  of  his  large  domain,  and  oi'  course  lessened  his  rev- 
enue. It  is  said  that  his  lordship  was  remarkable  for  his  eccentricities 
and  singularity  of  disposition  and  character,  and  that  he  had  an  insatiable 
passion  tor  hoarding  up  English  gold.f  He  never  married  :  of  crfurse 
left  no  child  to  inherit  his  vast  estate  ;  but  devised  his  property,  or  a  large 
))ortion  of  it,  to  the  Rev.  Denny  Martin,  his  nephew  in  England,  en  con* 
<lition  that  he  woidd  apply  to  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain  for  an  act 
to  authorize  him  to  take  the  name  of  lord  Fairfax.  This  was  done  ;  and 
Denny  Lord  Fairfax,  like  his  uncle,  never  marrying,  he  devised  the  es- 
tate to  Gen.  Philip  Martin,  who,  never  marrying,  and  dying  without  is- 
sue, devised  the  estate  to  two  old  maiden  sisters,  who  sold  it  to  Messrs, 
Marshall,  Colston  and  Lee. 

Fie  devised  that  ])art  of  his  estate  on  which  he  resided,  and  which  he 
called  "Greenway-Court  Manor,"  (containing  ten  thousand  acres,  with  a 
large  part  of  his  slaves,  ^c.,)  to  another  nephew,  the  late  Gol.  Thomas 
Bryan  Martin,  who  had  resided  with  him  for  many  years  previous  to  his 
d(!ath.  Gol.  Martin,  like  the  othei's,  never  married.  But  he  contrived  ta 
nuike  a  daughter  by  a  Mrs.  Crawford,  who  Lord  Fairfax  had  em})loyed  as 
a  housekeeper.  After  Fairfax's  death,  Martin  kept  this  woman  as  a  mis- 
tress for  several  years  :   she  died,  and  the  daughter  grew  up   .ind   married 

*Ca[)t.  Jeremiah  Siriith,  the  samo  who  defeated  the  party  of  fifty  In- 
dians, and  killed  the  French  captain,  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

fSorne  four  or  live  years  ago  the  slaves  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kenncrly,  the 
present  proprietor  of  "Greenway-Gourt,"  in  quarrying  stone,  net  far  from 
Fairfax's  nucienl  dwelling-house,  I'ound  about  ,'>'2jO  \\er;h  of  g^lfl  cin, 
vtjppr.vcrl  fn  have  hern  hidden  there  by  his  lordship. 


142  NORTliiiliiN  KECK. 

the  late  Francis  Gelduit,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  British  service  in  the 
w*ar  of  the  revohition.  She  died  soon  after  her  marriage  without  issue. 
Martin  gave  Geldart  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  part  of  ^'Green- 
way-Court  Manor,"  with  a  number  of  slaves,  &c.  Col.  Martin,  after  the 
death  of  his  daughter,  employed  a  white  housekeeper,  a  Miss  Powers,  to 
whom  he  devised  Greenway-Gourt,  with  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  a 
number  of  slaves,  and  all  the  residue  of  his  personal  estate  of  every  de- 
scription, (with  the  exception  of  part  of  his  stock,  slaves,  and  money.) 
Miss  Powers,  after  the  death  of  Martin,  married  the  late  Mr.  W.  Carna- 
gy,  by  whom  she  had  an  only  daughter,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Thomas  Kennerly.  Col.  Martin  directed  by  his  will  the  sale  of  all 
the  residue  of  his  estate,  and  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  to  be  remit- 
ted and  paid  to  his  two  maiden  sisters  in  England.*  Shortly  after  his 
death  an  attempt  was  made  to  escheat  the  landed  estate,  and  the  suit  was 
depending  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  years  before  its  final  decision.  The 
Court  of  Appeals  at  length  decided  the  question  in  favor  of  Martin's  leg- 
atees. 

It  is  proper,  before  the  subject  of  lord  Fairfax's  immense  grant  is  dis- 
missed, to  inform  the  reader,  that  a  few  years  after  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
tion an  attempt  Avas  made  to  confiscate  all  that  part  of  his  landed  estate 
devised  to  his  nephew  Denny  Martin  (afterwards  Denny  Lord  Fairfax.) 
But  Messrs.  Marshall,  Colston  and  Lee,  having  purchased  the  estate,  a 
compromise  took  place  between  them  and  the  state  government,  for  the 
particulars  of  which  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  first  volume  of  the  Re- 
vised Code  of  the  Laws  of  Virginia,  pp.  352,  353. 

The  sale  of  the  estate  of  lord  Fairfax  by  his  legatees  in  England,  and 
the  devise  and  sale  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Col.  T.  B.  Martin,  is  the  last 
chapter  in  the  history  of  the  Fairfax  interest  in  the  Northern  Neck,  a 
territory  comprising  about  one  fourth  of  the  whole  of  the  present  limits  of 
Virginia. 

The  State  of  Maryland  has  lately  set  up  a  claim  to  a  considerable  tract 
of  territory  on  the  north-west  border  of  Virginia,  including  a  part  of  the 
Northern  Neck.  As  the  claim  was  pushed  with  much  earnestness,  the 
executive  of  our  State  appointed  Charles  James  Faulkner,  Esq.,  of  Mar- 
tinsburg,  a  commissioner  to  collect  and  embody  the  necessary  testimony, 
on  behalf  of  Virginia,  on  this  interesting  question.  Mr.  Faulkner's  able 
report  the  author  deems  of  sufficient  interest  to  his  readers  generally  to 
insert  in  this  work.     It  follows  : 

REPORT  OF  CHARLES  JAMES  FAULKNER,  RELATIVE  TO 
THE  BOUNDARY  LINE  BETWEEN  VIRGINIA  AND  MARY- 
LAND. 

Martinsburg,  Nov.  6,  1832. 
Sir:  In  execution  of  a  commission  addressed  to  me  by  your  excellen- 
cy, and  made  out  in  pursuance  of  a  joint  resolution  of  the    General   As- 
sembly of  this  State,  of  the  20th  of  March  last,  I  have    directed   my  at- 

■*The  estate  sokl  for  about  ojir.-  hundred  ll.'ousand  dollars. 


FAULKNER^S  REPORT.  Ii3 

tcntion  to  the  collection  of  such  testiraone}'  as  the  lapse  of  time  and  the 
nature  of  the  inquiry  have  enabled  me  to  procure  touching  "the  settlement 
and  adjustment  of  the  western  boundary  of  Maryland."  The  division 
line  which  now  separates  the  two  States  on  the  west,  and  which  has  here- 
tofore been  considered  as  fixed  by  positive  adjudication  and  long  acquies- 
cence, commences  at  a  point  where  the  Fairfax  stone  is  planted,  at  the 
head  spring  of  the  Potomac  river,  and  runs  thence  due  north  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania line.  This  is  the  boundary  by  which  Virginia  has  held  for  near- 
a  century;  it  is  the  line  by  which  she  held  in  1786,  when  the  compact 
made  by  the  Virginia  and  Maryland  commissioners  was  solemnly  ratified 
by  the  legislative  authorities  of  the  two  States.  -j^ 

An  effort  is  now  made  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Maryland,  to  enlarge 
her  territory  by  the  establishment  of  a  different   division    line.     We  have- 
not  been  informed  which  fork  of  the  South  Branch  she  w^ill   elect    as  the- 
new  boundary,  but  the  proposed  line  is  to  run  from  one  of  the  ferks  of  the- 
South  Branch,  thence    due    north  to    the    Pennsylvania    terminus.     It  is 
needless  to  say  that  the  substitution  of  the  latter,  no  matter  at  which  fork 
it  may  commence,  would  cause  an  important   diminution  in    the    already 
diminished  territorial  area  of  this  State.     It   would   deprive   us   of  large 
portions  of  the  counties  of  Hampshire,  Hardy,  Pendleton,  Randolph  and 
Preston,  amounting  in  all  to  almost  half  a  million  of  acres — a    section  of 
the  commonwealth  which,  from  the  quality  of  its  soil,  and   the  character 
of  its  population,  might  well  excite  the  cupidity  of  a  government  resting 
her  claims  upon  a  less  substantial  basis  than  a  stale  and  groundless    pre- 
tension of  more  than  a  century's    antiquity.     Although    my   instructions 
have  directed  my  attention  more  particularly  to  the  collection  and    preser- 
vation of  the  evidence  of  such  livinc^  witnesses  "as  might  be  able  to  testi-- 
fy  to  any  facts  or  circumstances  in  relation  to  the  settlement    and    adjust- 
ment of  the  western  boundary,"  I  have  consumed  but  a  very  inconsidera- 
ble portion  of  my  time  in  any  labor  or  inquiry  of  that  sort,    for   who  in- 
deed, now  living,  could  testify  to  any  "facts  or  circumstances"  which  oc- 
curred nearly  a  century  since?     And  if  such  individuals  were  now  living,., 
why  waste  time  in  taking  depositions  as  to    those    "facts,"    in    proof  of ' 
which  the  most  ample  and    authentic   testimony   was    taken   in   1736,  as 
the  basis  of  a  royal  adjudication?     I  have  consequently  deemed  it  of  more 
importance  to  procure  the  original  documents  where  possible,  if  not,  au- 
thentic copies  of  such  papers  as  would  serve  to  exhibit  a  connected   view 
of  the  origin,  progress    and   termination    of  that    controversy   with   the 
crown,  which  resulted,  after  the  most  accurate  and  laborious    surveys,  in 
the  ascertainment  of  those  very  "facts  and  circumstances"  which  are  now 
sought  to  be  made  again  the  subjects  of  discussion  and  inquiry.     In  this 
pursuit  I  have  succeeded  far  beyond  what  I  had  any  ground  for  anticipa- 
tion;  and  from  the  almost  forgotten  rubbish  of  past  years,  have  been  ena- 
bled to  draw  forth  documents  and  papers  whose  interest  may  sunive    the 
occasion  which  redeemed  them  from  destruction. 

'I'o  ena])le  your  excellency  to  foim  a  just  conce]ition  of  the  weight  and 
importance  of  the  evidence  herewith  accompanying  this  report,  I  beg 
leave  to  subn^it  with  it  a  S5iccinct  statement  of  the  question  in  issue  be- 
tween the  go\er!iiuents  of  Virginia  and  Marylanyls  witli  r>omr  observations 


144  faulkm:r's  Ri.:puR'r. 

shewing-    [he    relevancy  of  the  evidence  to  the    question  thus    pve.scnied^ 

The  territory  of  Maryland  granted  by  Charles  J.  to  lord  Baltimore  in> 
June  1632,  was  described  in  the  grant  as  "that  region  bounded  by  a  line 
dra\vn  from  Watkins'  point  on  Chesapeake  bay  to  the  ocean  on  the  east ; 
thence  to  that  part  of  the  estuary  of  Delaware  on  the  north  which  Jieth 
under  the  40th  degree,  where  New  England  is  terminated ;  thence  in  a 
right  line  by  the  degree  aforesaid,  to  the  mcridvni  of  the  fountain  of  the 
Potomac ;  thence  following  its  course  by  its  farther  bank  to  its  conflu- 
ence." [Marshall's  Lije  of  Washington,  vol.  1,  chap,  ii,  pp.  78 — 81,  Ist 
edit  1 071  ) 

It  is  plain  that  the  western  boundary  of  this  grant  was  the  m-eridian  of 
the  fountain  of  the  Potomac,  from  the  pomt  where  it  cut  the  40th  degree 
of  north  latitude  to  the  fountain  of  the  river ;  and  that  the  extent  of  the 
grant  depended  upon  the  question,  what  stream  was  the  Potomac  ?  So 
that  the  question  now  in  controversy  grows  immediately  out  of  the  grant. 
The  territory  granted  to  lord  Baltimore  was  undoubtedly  within  the  char- 
tered limits  of  Virginia:  (See  1st  charter  of  Jipril  1606,  sec.  4,  and  the 
2d  charter  of  May  1609,  sec.  6,  \st  Ihn.  Stat,  at  Larcre,  pp.  58  —  88.) — 
And  Marshall  says  that  the  grant  "was  the  first  example  of  the  dismem- 
berment of  a  colony,  and  the  creation  of  a  new  one  within  its  Mmits,  by 
the  mere  act  of  the  crown;"  and  that  the  planters  of  Virginia  presented  a 
petition  against  it,  "which  was  heard  before  the  privv  council  (of  Eng- 
land) in  July  1633,  when  it  was  declared  that  lord  Baltimore  should  re- 
tain his  patent,  and  the  petitioners  their  remedy  at  law.  To  this  remedr 
they  never  thought  proper  to  resort." 

Whether  there  be  any  record  of  this  proceeding  extant,  I  have  never 
been  able  to  learn.  The  civil  war  in  England  broke  out  about  ten  years 
after,  and  perhaps  the  journals  of  the  proceedings  of  the  privy  eouncil 
were  destroyed.  Subsequently  to  this^  w^e  are  informed  by  Graham,  the 
planters,  "fortified  by  the  opinion  of  eminent  lawyers  whom  they  consult- 
ed, and  who  scrupled  not  to  assure  them  that  the  ancient  patents  of  Vir- 
ginia still  remained  in  force,  and  ihnt  the  rrrant  of  Maryland,  as  deroorato- 
ry  to  th^iii,  was  utterly  void^they  presented  an  application- to  the  parliament 
coraplaininsj  of  tlie  unjust  invasion  which  their  privileges  had  uwdergone." 
(Graham's  History,  vol.  2,  p.  12.)  j^ut  as  the  parliaments  of  those  days 
were  but  the  obsequious  ministers  of  the  crown,  that  application,  it  is 
pres-umed,  likewise  shared  tiie  fate  of  their  former  petition  to  the  privy 
council. 

The  present  claim  of  Maryland,  then,  must  be  founded  on  the  supposi- 
tion that  tJie  stream  which  we  call  the  Potomac  was  not ;  and  that  the 
stream  now  called  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  was  m  fact  the  Po- 
tomac intended  in  the  j^rantto  lord  Baltimore.  I  have  never  been  inform- 
ed which  fork  of  tbe  South  Branch  she  claims  as  the  Potomac  (for  there  is 
a  Nortli  and  a  South  fork  of  the  South  Branch) ;  neither  have  I  been  able 
to  learn  what  is  the  evidence,  or  kind  of  evidence,  on  which  she  relies  to 
ascertain  that  tlie  stream  which  is  now  called  the  South  Branch  of  the 
Potomac,  but  which  at  the  date  of  the  grant  to  lord  Baltimore  was  not 
known  at  all,  and  when  known,  known  for  many  years  onl}'  as  the  Wap- 
pacomo^  was  the  Potomac  intended  by  lo?:d   Baltimore's  grant.     For.  thi^ 


rAULKS'F.R'S  KEPORT.  U5 

Important  gTograpliicnl  fart,  I  refer  \o  the  numerous  early  VAa])s  of  ilie 
chartered  limits  ol'  Viroinia  ar.cl  Aiarylaml,  some  of  which  are  to  be  seen 
In  the  public  libraries  of  Washington  and  Richmond.  / 

The  questioji,  which  stieam  was  the  Potomac?  is  simply  a  qut^.^Uion 
which  of  them,  if  either,  bore  the  name.  The  i<ame  is  matter  of  genir^l 
reputationn  If  there  be  any  thing  whicli  depends  wholly  upon  genc\rai 
acceptation,  which  ought  and  must  be  settled  by  prescription,  it  is  this 
question,  which  of  these  rivers  w^as  and  is  the  Potomac?  Thf^  accompa-- 
hying  papers,  it  is  believed,  will  ascertain  this  fact  to  the  satisfaction  of 
every  impartial  inquirer. 

In  the  twenty-first  year  of  Charles  II.  a  grant  was  made  to  lord  Ho}> 
ton  and  others,  of  what  is  called  the  JVorlhern  Js^eck  of  Virginia,  which 
was  sold  by  the  other  patentees  to  lord  Gulpeper,  and  confirmed  to  him 
by  letters  patent  in  the  fourth  year  of  James  11.  This  grant  carried  with 
it  nothing  but  the  right  of  soil  and  the  incidents  of  owmership;  for  it 
was  expressly  subjected  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Ihe  government  of  Virginia^ 
Of  this  earlier  patent  1  beheve  there  is  no  copy  in  Virginia.  The  onghtul 
charter  from  James  II.  to  lord  Culpeper  accompanies  this  report,  marked 
No.-  1.  They  are  both  recited  in  the  colonial  statute  of  17;i6,  (1  Rev, 
Code^  ch.  89.)  The  tract  of  country  thereby  granted,  was  '^all  that  entire 
ira€t,  territory  and  parcel  of  land,  lying  and  beiiig  in  America,  and  boun- 
ded by  and  within  the  heads  of  the  rivers  Tappahannock  (dins  Rappr-^ 
hannock,  and  Quiriougli  alias  Potomac  rivers,  the  course  of  said  rivers  as 
they  are  commonly  called  ami  known  hy  the  inhabitants^  and  description 
of  their  parts  and  Chesapeake  bay." 

As  early  as  1729,  in  conseqiicnce  of  the  eagerness  with  ivhich  lands 
were  souofht  OTi  the  Poton>ac  and  its  tri-butary  streams,  and  from  the  difiR- 
cullies  growing  out  of  conflicting  graMs  from  lord  Fairfax  and  the  crown, 
the  boundaries  of  the  NoYthern  Neck  proprietary  became  a  subject  which 
attracted  deep  and  earnest  attention.  At  this  time  the  Potomac  had  beer> 
but  little  explored;  and  although  the  stream  itself  above  its  confluence 
with  the  Shenandoah  was  known  as  the  Cohongoroota,  or  Upper  Poto- 
mac, it  had  nevei'  been  mrede'  the  subject  of  any  very  accurate  surveys  and 
examinations,  nor  had  it  yet  been  settled,  by  any  competeitt  authority^ 
which  of  its  several  trilnitaries  was  entitled  to  be  regnided  as  the  main 
or  principal  branch  of  the  river.  It  became  important,  therefore,  to  re- 
move all  further  doubt  upon  that  question. 

In  June,  17-29,  the  li?'\itenant-^overnor  of  Virgin!;?  address»?d  a  com'-- 
munir.aiion  to  the  lords  comn»lssioners  of  trade  and  plantation  affairs, 
in  which  he  solicits  their  attention  to  the  ambiguity  of  the  h)rd  proprie- 
tor's charter,  growing  out  of  the  fact  that  there  v/fre  several  streams^ 
which  might  be  claimed  as  the  head  springs  of  Potomac  river,  among 
which  he  enumerates  the  Shenandoah,  and  expresses  his  determination 
*'to  refuse  the  suspension  of  granting  of  palciils,  until  ihe  case  should  b(>- 
fairly  stated  ami  determined  according  to  the  genuine  construction  of  thr 
proprietor's  charter."  This  was  followed  by  a  petition  to  tli?  \<.'u\%  in 
council,  agreed  to  \)y  the  house"  of  burgesses  of  Virginm,  in  Jimr*,  I7.'^0, 
in  whlvb  ii  is  <o\  f.wih,  among  otluM-  mati->^:;<  of  eon(pl:dui.    'nhiiVlhi'  hea*^ 

T 


146  FAULKNER'S  REPORT. 

Springs  of  the  Rappahannock  and  Potomac  are  not  yet  known  to' any  of 
your  majesty's  subjects  ;  that  much  inconvenience  liad  resuUed  to  gran- 
tees thei'ei'rom,  and  praying  the  adoption  of  such  measures  as  mig'ht  lead 
to  its  ascertainment  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  interested.       Lord  Fairfax, 
who,  by  his  marriage   with  the  only  daughter  of  lord  Culpeper,  had  now 
succeeded  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  Northern  Neck,  feeling  it  likewise 
due  to  his  grantees   to  have  the  question  relieved  from  all  further  diffi- 
culty, preferred  his  petition  to  the  king  in  1733,  praying  that  his  majesty 
would  be  pleased  to  order  a  commission  to  issue,  for  running  out,  mark- 
ing, and  ascertaining  the  bounds  of  his  patent,  according  to  the  true  in- 
tent and  meaning  of  his  charter.     An  order  to  this  elTect  was  accordingly 
directed  by  the  king ;  and  three  commissioners  were  appointed  on  behalf 
of  tile  crown,  and  the  same  number  on  behalf  of  lord  Fairfax-      The  du- 
ty which    devolved  upon  them  was  to  ascertain,    by   actual  examination 
and  survey,  the  true  ibuntains  of  the  Rappahannock  and  Potomac  rivers. 
To  enable  them  more  perfectly  to  discharge  the  important  trust  confided 
to  them,  they  Avere  authorised  to    summon  persons  before  them,  to  take 
depositions  and  aliidavits,  to  search  papers,  and  employ  surveyors,  chain- 
carriers,  markers,    and  other  necessary  attendants.       The  com.missioners 
convened  in  Fredericksburg,   on  the  26th  of  September,  1736,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  discharge  their  duties,  by  taking  depositions,  appointing  sur- 
veyors,  and  making  every  needful  and  requisite  preparation  for  the  sur- 
vey.      They  commenced  their  journey  of  observation  and  survey  on  the 
]2th  day  of  October,  1736,   and  finished  it  on  the  14th  of  December,  of 
the   same    year;      on  which    day    they    discovered   what   they    marked 
and  reported  to  be  the  first  fountain  of  the  Potomac  river.       Separate  re- 
ports were  made  by  the  commissioners,  which  reports,  with   all   the  ac- 
companying documents,  papers,  surveys,   plans,   &c.,   were,  on  the  21st 
of  December,  1738,  referred   to  the  council   for  plantation  affairs.     'I'hat 
board,  after  hearing  counsel,  made  a  report  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1745, 
in  which   they  state,  "that  having  examined  into  the  several  reports,  re- 
turns, plans,  and  other  papers  transmitted   to  them  by  the  commissioners 
appointed  on  behalf  of  the  crown,  as  likewise  of  lord  Fairfax,  and  having 
been  attended  by  council   on  behalf  of  your  majesty,  as  likewise  of  lord 
Fairfax,  and  having  heard  all  that  they  had  to  offer  thereupon,  and  the  ques- 
tion being  concerning  that  boundary  which  ought  to  be  drawn  from  the  first 
head  or  spring  of  the  river  Rappahannock  to  the  first  head  or  spring  of  the 
river  Potomac,  the  committee  do  agree  humbly  to  report  to  your  majesty  as 
their  opinion,  that  within  the  words  and  moaning  of  the  letters  patent,  gran- 
ted by  king  James  II.  bearing  date  the  27th  day  of  September,  in  the  fourth 
year  of  his  reign,  the  said  boundary  ought  to  begin  at  the  first  spring  of 
the  South  branch  of  the  river  Rappahannock,    and  that  the  said  boundary 
be  from  thence  drawn  in  a  straight  line  north-west  to  the  place  in  the  Jll- 
leghany  mountains  where  that   part  of  the  Potomac  river,   which  is   iwio 
called   Cohonsr-nroota,  first  rises.^"*       The  Cohongoroota  is   known    to  be 
the   stream  which  the  Maryland   writers  term  the    .Worth   branch   of  the 
Potomac,  but  which  is   recognised   in  Virginia,   and  described  on  all  the 
maps  and  surveys  which  I    have  ever   yet  seen,    as    the    Potomac  river, 
ixom  lis  first  fountain,  whe^-e  the  Fairfax  stone  is  located,  to  its  conilueuce 


.TAULKXER\S  REPORT.  117 

-with  the  Shenandoah;  there  being,  properly  speakioig,  nonsuch  stream  as 
the  North  branch  of  the  Potomac.  This  report  of  -the  council  for  planta- 
tion aiTairs  was  submitted  to  the  king  in  councilon  the  l]th  of  April, 
1745,  and  fully  confirmed  by  him,  and  a  further  order  made,  directing  the 
appointment  of  commissioners  to  run  and  mark  the  dividing  line  agreea- 
bly to  his  decision  thus  made.  Commissioners  were  accordingly  appoin- 
ted, who,  having  provided  themselves  with  surveyors,  chain-carriers, 
markers,  &c.,  commenced  their  jonrney  on  the  18th  of  September,  174G. 
On  the  17th  of  October  they  planted  the  Fairfax  stone  at  the  spot  which 
had  been  described  and  marked  by  the  preceding  -commissioners  as  the 
true  head  spring  of  the  Potomac  river,  and  which  has  continued  to  be  re- 
garded, from  that  period  to  the  present  time,  as  the  southern  point  of  the 
western  boundary  between  Maryland  and  Virginiac  A  joint  report  of 
these  proceedings  was  made  by  the  commissioners  to  the  king, 
accompanied  with  their  field  notes,:  which  report  was  received  and 
ordered  to  be  filed  away  among  the  records  of  'his  majesty's  pri^y 
council.  Thus  terminated,  after  a  lapse  of  sixteen  years,  a  proceeding, 
which  had  for  its  object,  among  other  matters,  the  ascertainment  of  the 
first  fouiitavi  of  the  Potomac  rivei',  and  which  resulted  in  the  establish- 
ment of  that  "fact"  by  a  tribunal  of  ccompetent  jurisdiction.  This  de- 
cision has  DOVv"  been  acquiesced  in  for  near  a  century ;  and  all  to])0- 
graphical  description  and  sketches  of  the  country  have  been  made  to  con- 
form to  it.  I  say  acquiesced  in,  fcr  it 'is  impossible  to  regard  the  vary- 
ing, fluctuating  legisl&tion  of  Maryland  upon  the  subject,  at  one  session 
of  her  general  assembly  recognizirycr  the  line  as  now  established,  (see 
compact  of  1785,  Session  Acts  of  ISO'],  1818,  andothers,)  at  another 
authorizing  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  adjust  the  boundary,  as 
a  grave  resistance  of  its  conclusiveness,  or  such  a  continual  claim,  as  un- 
der the  usages  of  international  law,  would  bar  an  application  o^  the  prin- 
ciples o^usiicaptioii  ^nd  prescription.  (See  Vattel,  p.  251.  Grotius,  lib. 
2,  cap.  4.     Wolfius  Jus.  Nat.  par.  3.) 

Jurisdiction  in  all  cases  relating  to  boundaries  between  provinces,  the 
dominion  and  proprietary  government,  is  by  the  common  law  of  England 
exclusively  vested  in  the  king  and  council.  (1  Ves.  sen.  p.  447.)  And 
notwithstanding  it  maybe  a  question  of  boundary  between  the  crown  and 
the  lord  proprietor  of  a  province,  (such  as  that  between  lord  Fairfa:Jv  and 
the  crown,)  the  king  is  the  only  jutlge,  and  is  presumed  to  act  with  entire 
impartiality  and  justice  in  reference  to  all  persons  concerned,  as  well 
those  who  are  parties  to  the  proceeding  before  him,  as  others  not  parties 
who  may  yet  be  interested  in  the  adjustment.  (Vesey,  ib.)  Such  is  the 
theory  and  practice  of  the  English  constitution  ;  and  although  it  may  not 
accord  precisely  v.'ith  our  improved  conceptions  of  juridical  practice,  it  is 
nevertheless  the  law  which  must  now  govern  and  control  the  legal  asj^^ct 
of  the  territoriol  dispute  between  Miginia  and  Maryland. 

It  does  not  appear  by  the  accompanying  papers,  that  Charles  lord 
-Baltimore,  the  then  proprietor  of  Maryhuul,  deputed  an  agent  to  attend 
upon  his  part  in  the  examination  and  survey  of  the  Potomac  rirr^'.  It  is 
possible  he  conceived  his  interests  sutlicioti'dv  [)ioUited.  in  tlie  aspecl 
.ivlii'h  tlic  ^:ontrnv«'is\  had  tlf!!    a^>inn<"!.bt jwrcu    liu'd    r?.irl';\'  "ud  the 


liS  ['AV\J<SVJV$  KKPOKT. 

crown.  Certain  it  i^,  lliat  it  nowhere  ni)pears  tliat  he  ever  considered 
himself  aggrieved  hy  the  re.suh  of  that  adjustment.  That  his  government 
was  fully  apprised  of  what  Wt)s  in  progress,  can  scarcely  admit  of  a  j  a- 
tional  donbr.  For  it  is  iinpossible  to  conceive  that  a  controversy  so 
deeplv  fifiecting  not  on!v  the  iiderests  of  lord  Baltimore,  but  all  who  were 
concerned  in  the  purchase  oi'  land  in  that  section  of  the  eountry,  and  con- 
ducted w'ith  so  much  soleinniiv  and  notorietv,  could  have  extended  throuo^h 
:ii  period  of  sixteen  ye.irs  withont  a:tti'acting  the  attention  of  the  goverji- 
iticnt  of  Marvland — a  government  ever  jealous,  because  ever  doubtful  of 
the  original  tenure  by  whitli  her  charter  was  held.  jjut  had  lord  Balti- 
more even  considered  himself  a^C'rieved  bv  the  result  (?^'  that  settlement, 
it  is  difficult  now  to  conceive  upon  what  ground  he  would  have  excepted 
to  its  Justice,  or  question  its  validity.  Could  he  have  said  that  the 
Infornuifion  upon  which  the  decision  was  founded  was  imperft^'t .''  Or 
that  the  pi'oeeedings  of  the  com.missioners  were  characterized  by  haste, 
favoritism  or  fraud?  This,  the  proceedings  of  that  board,  still  preserved, 
would  eonlradicl.  For  never  wa'^  there  an  examinatiois  conducted  with 
more  deliberation,  prosecuted  wiiii  more  labor,  or  scrutanised  with  -a 
more  jealous  or  anxious  via-ilance.  Could  he  have  slunvn  that  some  oth- 
er stream  ouaht  \<o  have  beeen  tixed  n[)on  as  the  true  head  spring  of  the 
Potomac?  This^  it  is  belicA-ed,  is  impossible;  for  although  it  maybe 
true  that  the  SouUi  branch  is  a  lonuTr  stream,  it  nevertheless  wants  those 
more  important  characteristics  whic'n  were  then  considered  by  the  com- 
fnissioners,  and  have  been  subsequently  regai-ded  by  esteemed  geogra- 
phei^  as  essential  in  distiniruishino-  a  tributarv  from  the  main  branch  of  a 
•river.  (See  Flint's  Geography,  vol.  -2,  p.  88.)  Lastly,  would  he  have 
^{uestioned  the  taclliorifjj  of  the  crov.n  to  settle  the  boundaries  of  lord 
Fairfax's  charter,  without  leaving  previously  made  him  fi  parfy  to  the 
jtroceeding?  1  have  before  shewn  the  futility  of  such  an  idea.  Besides, 
this  would  have  been  at  once  to  question  the  authority  under  which  he 
held  his  own  iirant ;  for  iialtimore  held  bv  virtue  of  an  arbitrary  act  of 
the  second  Charles.  His  orj-ant  was  manifestly  made  in  violation  of  the 
^^hartered  rights  of  Virginia,  and  carried  into  effect  not  only  without  the 
iicquiescenee,  but  against  the  solemn  and  repeated  remonstrances  of  her 
g-overnment.  Was  Virnfinia  consulted  in  the  "dismemberment"  of  her 
territorv  ?  Was  she  mac^e  a  pnrty  to  that  proceeding,  by  which,  "for  the 
first  lime  in  colonial  histCfrv,  (uic  new  province  Avas  created  v\'hhin  the 
^^hartered  limits  oi'  nnotlu^r  by  the  mere  act  of  the  crown  ?^*  But  the  fact 
is,  that  Charles  lord  Baltimore,  who  lived  for  six  years  after  the  adjust- 
ment of  this  question,  never  rlid  contest  the  propriety  of  the  boundary  as 
settled  by  the  commissioriers,  but  from  alt  that  remains  of  his  views  and 
proceedings,  fully  acquiesced  in  its  accurary  and  justice.  (See  the 
treaty  with  the  Six  Nation^  of  Indians,  at  T^ancaster,  in  .June,  1744.) 

T]^e  first  evidence  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  boundary  as  established, 
^vhich  the  researches  of  the  Maryland  writers  have  enabled  them  to  ex- 
hif>it,  are  certain  instructions  frori!  ]-'rederick  lord  l^altnnore  (successor 
f)f  Cii-iiles)  to  Governor  Shnrp,  which  were  presented  by  the  latter  to  his 
council  in  August,  1753.  I  have  wA  becu  able  to  procure  a  copy  of 
'hose  iir-^lruciio-n^,  biU  ^   r«jceni  hi-tori.iu  i4   ^iarvlaiid-  and  an  ingeniou- 


•advocate  of  her  present  ciaiiii,  referring  to  then),  says,  »•  l:ii.<  la .•.true lions 
were  predicated  upon  llie  supposition  that  the  survey  miglit  pi;:,>/i!.!Ty  h;i.v<' 
been  made  with  the  knowledge  and  concurrence  of  his  predece^S'  r,  iind 
l^ence  he  denies  the  power  of  the  latter  to  enter  into  any  nrrdngernt'iil  ns 
to  the  boundaries,  which  could  extend  beyond  his  life  entatt:^  or  conclude 
those   in  remainder."       (See  IM'Mahon's  History  of  Maryland,     p.  53.) 

What  were  the  precise  limitations  of  those  conveyances  mad*  h\  the 
proprietors  of  Maryland,  and  under  which  Frederick  lord  Balliinore  do 
uies  the  power  of  kis  predece>sor  to  enter  into  any  ai-rangement  as  to  the 
boundaries,  whicdi  could  extend  beyond  his  life  estate,  1  am  unable  to 
sav — rnv  utmost  researches  have  failed  to  furnish  me  with  a  copv  o[  tliem 
— but  they  were  so  far  satisfactory  to  his  lordship'*  legal  concei)tions,  as 
to  induce  him  to  rcvsist  even  the  execution  of  a  decree  ])ron';)unced  by 
lord  Hardvvicke,  in  1750,  (1  Ves.  sen.  pp.  444-46)  u]>on  a  written  com- 
pact as  to  boundaries,  which  had  been  executed  by  his  predecessor  and 
the  Penns,  in  1732.  To  entbrce  submission  to  that  decree,  the  l*enns 
filed  Ti  bill  o(  reviver  in  1754,  and  after  an  ineffectual  struggle  of  six 
years,  lord  i^altimore  was  compelled  with  a  bad  grace  to  subndt,  and 
abide  by  the  nrranomneiit  as  to  the  boundaries  wliich  had  been  rmde  by 
liis  predecessor.  To  this  circumstance,  in  all  |)robability,  was  lord  Fair- 
fax indebted  for  his  exemption  from  the  further  demands  of  the  })roprie4.or 
of  Maryland.  For  lord  Frederick,  no  ways  averse  to  litigation,  had  by 
this  time  doubtless  become  satisfied  that  the  power  of  his  predecessor 
■did  extend  bevond  his  life  estate,  and  mio-ht  even  conclude  th')se.  in 
remainder,  i^e  that  as  it  may,  however,  certain  it  is  that  the  records 
of  Maryland  are  siiejit  upon  the  subject  of  this  pretension,  from  Septem- 
ber, 1753,  until  ten  years  subsequent  to  the  compact  between  Virginia 
and  Maryland  in  1785, 

An  opinion  prevails  among  our  most  distinguished  jurists,  resting 
solely  upon  traditionary  intbrrnation,  that  about  1761,  Frederick  lord 
Baltimore  presented  a  petition  to  the  king  and  council,  praying  a  revis- 
ion of  the  adjustment  made  in  1745,  which  petition  was  rejected,  oratter 
a  short  time  abandoned  as  hopeless.  If  there  ever  was  such  a  proceed- 
ing, 1  can  find  nothing  of  it  in  the  archives  of  Virginia. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  ever  since  1745  lord  Fairfax  claimed 
and  held,  and  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia  constantly  to  this  day  has 
claimed  and  held  by  the  Cohongoroota,  that  is  by  the  northern  branch,  as 
the  Potomac  ,  and  vrhatever  lord  Baltimore  or  his  heirs,  and  the  State  of 
Maryland  may  have  claimed,  she  has  held  by  the  same  boundary.  There 
w\as  no  reason  why  lord  Fairfax,  being  in  actual  possession,  should  have 
controverted  the  claim  of  lord  J^altimore,  or  Maryland.  If  lord  Balti- 
more, or  Maryland,  ever  controverted  the  boundary,  the  question  must, 
and  either  has  been  decided  against  them,  or  it  must  have  l)een  abandon- 
ed as  hopeless.  If  tliev  never  controverted  it,  the  omission  to  do  so,  can 
only  be  accounted  for,  upon  the  supposition  that  they  knew  it  to  be  hope- 
less. If  Maryland  ever  asserted  the  claim — seriouslv  asserted  it  I  mean — 
it  must  have  been  before  the  revolution,  or  at  least  during  it,  when  we  all 
know,  she  was  jealous  enough  of  the  extended  territory  of  \'irginia.  The 
claim  must  have  had  its  origin  be/arc  t'te  compact  beliceen  the  two  ^tates^of 


150  FAULKNER'S  REPORT. 

M'lrrJi  1.7S5,  (1  Rev.  Code,  cIi,  18.)  We  then  held  by  the  same  boun- 
dary by  which  we  now  hold  ;  we  held  to  what  v)e  called  and  now  call  the 
Potomac  :  she  then  held  to  what  we  call  the  Potomac.  Is  it  possiole  to 
doubt  that  this  is  the  Potomac  recognised  by  the  cowfact?  That  com- 
pact is  nevs'  forty-seven  years  old. 

I  have  diligently  inquired  whether,  as -the  Potomac  above  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Shenandoah  w^as  called  the  Cohongoroota,  the  stream  now 
called  the  South  branch  of  the  Potomac  ever  had  any  peculiar  name, 
knov/n  to  and  established  among'  the  Eno^lish  settlers — for  it  is  well  known 
It  bore  the  Indian  name  of  Wappacomo.  I  never  could  learn  that  it  w^as 
known  by  any  other  name,  but  that  which  it  yet  bears,  the  South  branch 
of  the  Potomac.  Now  that  very  name  of  itself  sufficiently  evinces,  that 
it  was  regarded  as  a  tributary  stream  of  another  river,  and  that  river  the 
Potomac  ;  and  that  the  river  of  which  the  South  branch  was  the  tributary, 
was  reirarded  as  the  main  stream. 

But  let  us  for  a  moment  concede  that  the  decision  of  the  king  in  coun- 
cil was  not  absolutely  conclusive  of  the  present  question  ;  let  us  concede 
that  the  long  acquiescence  of  Maryland  in  that  adjustment  has  not  pre- 
cluded a  further  discussion  of  its  merits  ;  let  us  even  suppose  the  com- 
pact of  1785  thrown  out  of  view,  with  all  the  subsequent  recognitions  of 
the  present  boundary  by  the  legislative  acts  of  that  state,  and  the  question 
between  the  two  streams  now  for  the  first  time  presented  as  an  original 
question  of  preference  ; — what  are  the  facts  upon  which  Maryland  would 
rely  to  show  that  any  other  stream,  than  the  one  bearing  the  name,  is 
entitled  to  be  regarded  as  the  main  branch  of  the  Potomac  ?  It  w^ere  idle 
to  say  that  the  South  branch  is  the  Potomac,  because  the  South  branch 
is  a  longer  or  even  larger  stream  than  the  North  branch  which  Virginia 
claims  to  hold  by.  According  to  that  sort  of  reasoning,  the  Missouri, 
above  its  confluence  with  the  Mississippi,  is  the  Mississippi,  being 
Iteyond  comparison  the  longer  and  larger  stream.  The  claim  of  the 
South  branch,  then,  would  rest  solely  upon  its  great  length  In  opposi- 
tion to  this  it  might  be  said  that  the  Cohongoroota  is  more  frequently 
navigable — that  it  has  a  larger  volume  of  water — that  the  valley  of  the 
South  branch  is,  in  the  grand  scale  of  conformation,  secondary  to  that 
of  the,  Potomao — that  the  South  branch  has  not  the  general  direction  of 
that  river,  which  it  joins  nearly  at  right  angles — that  the  valley  of  the 
Potomac  is  loider  than  that  of  the  South  branch,  as  is  also  the  river 
broader  than  the  other.  And  lastly  that  the  course  of  the  river  and  the 
direction  of  the  valley  are  the  same  above  and  below^  the  junction  of  the 
South  branch.  (See  letters  accompanyidg  this  report.  No.  26.)  These 
considerations  have  been  deemed  sufncient  to  establish  the  title  to  the 
*'father  of  waters,"  to  the  name  which  he  has  so  long  borne.  (See  His- 
tory and  Geography  of  Western  States,  vol.  2,  Missouri.)  And  as  they 
exist  in  an  equal  extent,  so  should  they  equally  confirm  the  pre-eminence 
which  the  Cohongoroota  has  now  for  near  a  century  so  proudly  and  peace- 
fully enjoyed. 

The  claim  of  Pvlaryland  to  the  territory  in  question,  is  by  no  means  so 
reasonable  as  the  claim  of  the  great  Frederick  of  Prussia  to  Silesia,which 
that  prince  asserted  and  maintained,  but  which  he  teila  us  himself  he  ne- 


FAULKNER'S  REPORT.  151 

ter  "Would  have  thought  of  asserting,  if  his  father  had  not  k'ft  him  ^m  o- 
verflowing  treasury  and  a  powerful  army.  ' 

With  this  brief  historical  retrospect,  presented  as  explanatory  of  the  ac- 
companying testimony,  I  will  now  lay  before  your  excellency,  in  chrono- 
logical order,  a  list  of  the  documents  and  papers  referred  to  in  m}-  prece- 
ding observations. 

No.  1.  Is  the  original  grant  from  king  James  II.  to  Thomas  lord  Cul- 
peper,  made  on  the  27th  September,  in  the  fourth  year  of  his  rei^'m. 

No.  2.  Copy  of  a  letter  from  Major  Gooch,  lieutenant  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, to  the  lords  commissioners  for  trade  and  plantations,  dated  at  Wil- 
liamsburg, June  29,  1729. 

No.  3.  Petition  to  the  king  in  Council,  in  relation  to  the  Northern 
Neck  grants  and  their  boundaries,  agreed  to  by  the  house  of  bur^-esses, 
June  30th,  1730. 

No.  4.  The  petition  of  Thomas  lord  Fairfax,  to  his  majesty  in  council, 
preferred  in  1733,  setting  forth  his  grants  from  the  crown,  and  that  there 
had  been  divers  disputes  between  the  governor  and  council  in  Viro-inia 
and  the  petitioner,  and  his  agent  Robert  Carter,  Esq.,  touching  the  boun- 
daries of  the  petitioner's  said  tract  of  land,  and  praying  that  his  majesty 
^vould  be  pleased  to  order  a  commission  to  issue  for  running  out,  markin'o* 
and  ascertaining  the  bounds  of  the  petitioner's  said  tract  of  land. 

No.  5.  A  copy  of  an  order  of  his  majesty  in  his  privy  council,  bearin*"'' 
date  29th  of  November,  1733,  directing  William  Gooch,  Esq.  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Virginia,  to  appoint  three  or  more  commissioners,  (not  ex- 
ceeding five)  who  in  conjunction  with  a  like  nurxiber  to  be  named  and 
deputed  by  the  said  lord  Fairfax,  are  to  survey  and  settle  the  marks  and 
boundaries  of  the  said  district  of  land,  agreeably  to  the  terms  of  the  nat- 
ent  under  which  the  lord  Fairfax  claims. 

No.  6.  Copy  of  the  commission  from  lieutenant-governor  Gooch  to 
William  Byrd  ofWestover,  JoJni  Robinson  of  Piscataway,  and  Jo// /i 
Grymes  of  Brandon,  appointing  them  commissioners  on  behalf  of  his  ma- 
jesty, with  full  power,  authority,  &c. 

[I  have  not  been  able  to  meet  with  a  copy  of  the  commission  of  lord 
Fairfax  to  his  commissioners — they  were  WUiiam  Beverly^  WiUium  Fair- 
fax  7iYn\  Charles  Carter.  It  appears  by  the  accompanying  report  of  their 
proceedings,  that  "his  lordship's  commissioners  delivered  to  the  kino's 
commissioners  an  attested  copy  of  their  commission,"  wiiich  havino-  been 
found  upon  examination  more  restricted  in  its  authority  than  that  of  the 
commissioners  of  the  crown,  gave  rise  to  some  little  diiliculty  which  was 
subsequently  adjusted.] 

No.  7.  Copy  of  the  instructions  on  behalf  of  the  right  honoroble  lord 
Fairfax,  to  his  commissioners. 

No.  8.  Minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  commissioners  apppointed  on 
the  part  of  his  majesty  and  the  right  honorable  'I'liomas  lord  Fair  fax, -from 
their  first  meeting  at  Fredericksburg,  September  25th,  1736. 

No.  9.  Original  correspondence  between  the  commissoners  during  llie 
years  1736  and  1737,  in  rcfcM-cnce  to  the  examination  and  survey  of  the 
Potomac  river. 

No.  10.   The  original   fitld  notes  ul"  the  sur^ cv  of  the  Potomrc    river. 


}.V2  faulkm:r\s  report. 

l:ie  niouth  f»r  tlie  Shennndoah  to  the  hc:u]  spring  of"  said  Potomac  river,  by 
Mr.  Henjandn  \Vins]o\v. 

No.  il.  'Tlie  original  plat  of  the  survey  of  the  Potomac  river. 
\(>.  r2.  Original  letter  from  John  Savage,  one  of  the  surveyors,  dated 
January  17,  1737,  stating  tlie  grounds  upon  which  the  commissioners  had 
(Irrideu  in  favnr  of  the  Cohongoroota  over  the  Wappacomo,  as  the  main 
branch  of  the  Potomac.  I'he  former,  he  says-,  is  both  wider  and  deeper 
tlian  tlir  latter. 

No.  3  3,  J.etler  from  Charles  Carter,  Esq.  datpd  January  20,  1737,  ex- 
hibiting the  result  of  a  comparative  examination  of  the  North  and  South 
branches  of  the  Potomac.  'J'he  North  Branch  at  its  mouth,  he  says,  is 
twcntv -three  pules  wide,  the  Soutli  branch  sixteen,  &c. 

No.  14.  A  printed  map  of  the  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia,  situate  be- 
twivt  the  rivers  Potomac  and  Rappahannock,  drawn  in  the  year  1737, 
by  W'iPiiam  Mriv-\  one  of  the  king's  siivveyors,  according  to  his  actual 
burvey  in  tlie  prcc*^ding  year. 

No.  15.  A  printed  map  of  the  course  of  the  rivers  Rappahannock  and 
Potomac,  iii  Nir-jinia,  as  surveyed  according  to  order  in  1736  and  1737,. 
(supposed  to  be  fn  lord  Fairfax's  surveyors.) 

No.  16.  A  copy  of  the  separate  report  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
on  the  part  of  the  crown.  [I  have  met  with  no  copy  of  the  separate  re- 
port of  lo.rd  Pairfax''s  commissioners-] 

No.  17.  (-'opv  of  lord  Fairfax's  observations  upon  and  exceptions  to- 
the  report  ol"  the  commissioners  of  the  crown. - 

No.  18.  A  copy  of  the  report  and  opinion  of  the  right  Ijonorable  the 
lords  of  the  committee  of  council  for  platation  affairs,  dated  6ih  April, 
1745. 

No.  19.  Tlic  decision  of  his  majesty  in  council,  made  On  the  lllh  of 
April,  1745,  confirming  the  report  of  the  council  for  plantation  affairs, 
and  further  orderinc^  tlie  lieutenajit-c^overnor  of  Virginia  to  nominate  three 
or  more  persons,  (not  exceeding  five,)  who,  in  conjunction  widi  a  like- 
number  tc-  be  named  imd  deputed  by  lord  Fairfax,  are  to  run  and  mark 
out  the  boimJary  fend  dividing  line,  according  to  his  decision  thus 
made. 

No.  20.  The  originr.l  ':ommissioners  from  Thomas  lord  Fairfax  to 
the  hononibie  Wm.  Fairfax,  Ci.iirles  Carter  and  V/illiam  Beverly,  Esqrs., 
dated  11th  June,  1745. 

[Gob  Joshua  Fry,  Col,  Zjunsi^rd  Lomax,  and  Maj.  Peter  Hedgeman, 
were  appointed  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  crowiw] 

No.  21.  Original  agreement  entered  into  by  the  commissioners,  pre- 
paratory to  their  exammation  cf  the  Potomac  river. 

No.  22,  The  original  journal  of  the  journey  of  the  commissioners, 
surveyors,  &,c.,  from  the  head  spring  ot  the  Rappahannock  to  the  head 
vspring  of  the  Potomac,  in  1746.  [This'is  a  curious  and  valuable  docu- 
ment, and  pv^s  the  only  authentic  narrative  now  extant  of  the  planting 
of  the  Fairfax  stone.] 

No.  23.  The  joint  report  of  the  commissioners  appointed  as  well  on 
the  part  ^f  the  crown  as  of  lord  Fairtax,  in  obedience  to  hismajesty\'S 
order  of  llth  April,  1735. 


FAI;LK\ER'S  RliTPORT.  152 

.  No.  24.  A  manuscript  innp  ol"  IIkj  lieiul  sprijiL;  of  tie  Poloiuiie  river, 
executed  by  Col.  Georize  Mercer  of  the  rro-iment  comnmncled  in  175G  bv 
General  Washino'lon. 

No.  25.  Copy  oi"  an  act  of  the  general  assembly  of  Ivlarylaiid,  passed 
February  19,  1819,  authorizing  the  appointment  of  commissioners  on  the 
part  of  that  state,  to  meet  such  commissioners  as  may  be  appointed  Icr 
the  same  purpose  by  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia,  to  settle  and  adjust, 
by  mutual  compact  between  the  two  c^overnments,  llie  western  limits  of 
that  state  and  the  commonAveallh  of  Virginia,  to  comraence  at  the  most 
western  source  of  the  Korth  branch  of  the  Potomac  river ^  and  to  run  a 
due  north  course  thence  to  the  Pennsylvania  line.  ; 

No.  26.  Letters  from  mtellip-ent  and  well  infornied  indiyiduals,  resi- 
ding  in  the  country  watered  by  the  Potomac  and  its  branches,,  addressed 
to  the  undersigned,  stating  important  geographical  facts  bearing  upon 
the  present  controversy.  .: 

There  are  other  papers  in  my,  possession,  not  listed  nor  referable  to 
any  particular  head,  yet  .growing  out  of  and  illustrating  the  controversy 
between  lord  Fairfax  and  the  crown ;  these  are  also  herewith  tran^mii- 
ted.  . 

There  are  other  documents  again  not  at  all  connected  with  my  present 
duties,  which,  chance  has  thrown  in  my  way,  worthy  of  preservation  in 
the  archives  of  the  state.  Such,  for  example,  as  the  original  '-■plan  of  the 
line  between  Viminia  and  JK'orih  Carolina^  which  was  run  in  Lite  year 
1728.  in  the  spring  a7id  fall ^  from  the  sea  to  Pclerh  creek ^  by  the  Hon. 
William  Byrd,  Wni.  Daadridge  and  Richard  Fitzwilliams,  Esqrs.  com- 
missioners, and  j\ir.  yilex'r  Irvine  and  JSlr.  Wm.  Mayo,  surveyors — unci 
from  Pefer^s  creek  to  Steep  rock  creek^  was  continued  in  thi  fill  of  the 
year  1749,  by  Joshua  Pry^  and  Peter  Jefferson.''^  Such  documents, 
should  it  accord  with  the  views  of  your  exceUency,  might  be  deposited 
\^dth  '-the  Virginia  Historical  and  Philosophical  Society,"  an  institution 
of  recent  origin,  yet  founded  upon  the.  most  expanded  viev.'s  of  public 
utility,  and  which  is  seeking  by  its  patriotic  appeals  to  indi\idual 
liberality,  to  wr.est  from  the  ravages  of  time  the  fast  perishing  records 
and  memorials  pf  our  early  history, and  institutions. 

.  Witli  sentiments  of  regard,  I  am,  very  respectfully,  }our  obeih'cnt 
servant, 

CHARLES  JAS.  FAULKNER. 
To  John  Floyd,  Esq.  Governor  of  Virginia. 

After  perusing  this  masterly  exposition,  the  reader  will  be  at  a  h)s:" 
1o  conceive  on  what  <rrounds  Maryland  can  rest  herclaiuis  to  the  teni  ory 
in  question,  and  what  authorities  she  can  adduce  to  support  them.  The 
controversy  is  still  ])ending,  and,  in  addiiion  to  .Mr.  Faulkner,  Col.  John 
J^.  D.  wSmith,  ()('  Frederick,  and  John  S.  (laHaher,  Es(f.  of  .jeflersfrn, 
Lave  been  a])pointed  commissioner.*;  on  the  \y.ii'{  of  A'irginia. 

V 


153  LAYING  OFF  THE  COUNTIES: 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


:o:- 


TiiF.  Uvo  counties  of  Frederick  and  Augusta  were  laid  off  at  the  same ' 
session  of  the  colrinial  legislature,  in  the  year  1738,  and  included  all  the' 
vast  region  of  country  west  of  the  Blue  Uidge.  Previous  to  that  time 
the  county  of  Orange  included  all  the  territory  west  of  the  mountains. — 
Orange  was  taken  from-  Spottsylvania  in  the  year  1734,  Spottsylvania 
having  previously  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  took  in  a  considerable 
part  of  what  is  now  the  county  of  Page.  Previous  to  laying  off  the 
(county  of  Orange,  the  territory  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  except  the  small 
part  which  lay  in  Spottsylvania,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  mcluded  in 
any  county.  Spottsylvania  was  laid  off  in  the  year  1720;  the  act  for 
which  is  worded  as  follows  : 

"Preamble,-  'J'hat  the  frontiers  tovrards  the  high  mountains  are  ex- 
posed to  danger  from  th^  Indians,  and  tlie  late  settlements  of  the  French 
to  the  westward  of  the  said  mountains  :- Enacted,  Spot5»ylvania  county 
bounds  upon  Snovr  creek  up  to  the  mill;' thence  by  a  southwest  line  to 
the  River  North  Anna  ;  thence  up  the  said  river  as  far  as  convenient,  and 
thence  by  a  line  to  be  run  over  the  high  mountains  to  the  river  on  the 
north  west  side  thereof,*  so  as  to  include  the  northern  passage  through 
the  said  mountains  ;  thence  down  the  said  river  until  it  comes  against  the 
head  of  the  Rappahannock  ;  thence  *by  a  line  to  the  head  of  Rappahan- 
nock river  ;  and  down  that  river  to  the  mouth  of  Snow  creek  ;  which 
tract  of  ]and,~  from  the  first  of  Mav,  1721,  shall  becom.e  a  county,  by  the 
name  of  Spotsylvania  countv." 

Thus  it  appears  that  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago  Spotsyl- 
vania was  a  frontier  county,  and  that  the  vast  region  v/est  of  the  Blue 
ridge,  with  its  millions  of  people,  has  been  settled  and  improved  from  an 
entire  wilderness.  The  country  for  more  than  a  thousand  miles  to  the 
vs'est  has  been  within  this  short  period  rescued  from  a  state  of  natural  bar- 
barism, and  is  now  the  seat  of  the  fine  arts  and  sciences,  of  countless  mil- 
lions of  wealth,  and  the  abode  of  freedom;  both  religious  and  politi- 
cal. Judging  from  the  past,  what  an  immense  prospect  opens  itself  to 
our  view  for  the  future.  Within  the  last  half  century,  our  valley  has  pou- 
red out  thousands  of  emigrants,  who  have  contributed  towards  peopling 
the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  other  regions 
south  and  west,  and  mio;rations  still  continue. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  Frederick  county  v;as  laid  off  in  the 
year  1738.  The  first  court  of  justice  held  in  the  county  was  in  the  year 
1743.     This  delay,   it  is  presumable,  arose  from  the   wtint  of  a  sufficient 


*South  f©!'^  of  the  Shenandoah. 


LAYING  OFF  THK  COUiNTJES.  154 

viiumber  of  Magistrates  to  form  a  quorum  for  the  legal  transaction  of  busi- 

.ness.     The  first  court  was  composed  of  the    following  justices,  to  wit  : 

.Morgan  Morgan,  David  Vance,  Marquis  Calmes,  Thomas  Rutherl'ord, 
William  M'Alahon,  Meredith  Helm,  George  Hoge  and  John  White. — 
James  Wood,  clerk.  This  court  sat  the  first  time,  on  Friday  llth  day  of 
November,  1743.  At  this  term  of  the  court  is  to  be  found  on  record  the 
following  entry  :  'Ordered,  that  the  sheriff  of  this  county  build  a  twelve 
foot  square  log  house,  logged  above  and  below,  to  secure  his  prisoners, 
he  agreeing  to  be  satisfied  with  what  shall  be  allowed  him  for  such  build- 

dng  by  two  of  the  court,  and  he  not  to  be  answerable  for  escapes.'  This 
was  the  first  jail  erectefd  in  the  county  of  Frederick. 

The  county  of  Hampshire  was  the  next  laid  off,  and  w^as  taken  from 
Frederick  and  Augusta.     This  was  done  in    the  year    1753.     The  first 

jcourt  held  in  this  .-county  was  in  JJecember,  1757.  Thomas  B,  Martin, 
James  Simpson,  William  Miller,  Solomon  Hedges  and  Nathaniel  Kuy- 
kendall,  justices,  composed  the  court,  and  Gabriel  Jones  the  clerk. 

Berkeley  and  Dunmore  were  taken  from  Frederick  in  the  year  1772. — - 
In  October,  1777,  the  legislature  altered  the  name  of  Dunmore  county  to 
Shenandoah.  It  does  not  appear,  from  the  language  of  the  law,  for  what 
particular  reasons  this  alteration  was  made.  It  had  besn  named  after  and 
in  honor, .of  lord  Dunmore,  the  then  governor  under  the  roy^al  government. 
But  his  lordship  took  a  most  decidedly  active  part  in  opposition  to  the  A- 
raerican  r-e^volution  ;  and  in  order  to  have  the  liberty  of  wearing  his  head, 
took  shelter  Qii  board  of  a  British  armed  vessel.  His  ;conduct  is  pretty 
fully  relatje,d  in  Mr,  Jacob's  account  of  Dunmore's  war,  given  in  the  pre- 

.  ceding  pages-;  and  it  was  doubtless  owing  to  tbis  caus'i  that  the  name  of 

, Dunmore, cou^ity -was  altered  to  that  of  Shenandoah. 

In, it.he  year  1769,  Botetourt  county  was  taken  from.Augiasta.  in  the 
act  is  to  be  found  the  following  clause  :   "And  whereas  the  people  iutuat- 

-ed  on  the  Mississippi,  in  the  said  county  of  I^otetourt,  will  be  very  remote 
from  the  court  house,  and  must  necessarily  become  a  separate  county,  as 
soon  as  their  numbers  are  sufl[icient,  which  probably  wilbhappen  in  a 
short  time  ;  Be  >it  therefore  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the 
inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  said  cour^ty  of  Botetourt,  which  lies  on  the 
said  waters,  sIifJI  be  exempted  from  the  payment fof  any  levies  to  be  laid 
by  the  said  cciinty  court  for  the  purpose  of  building  a. court  house  and  pri- 
son for  the  said  county."     Thus    it  appears  that  Virginia,  at  that  period, 

-claimed  the  jurisdiction  and  territory  of  that  vajjt  iM'gion  cf  country  west- 
ward to  the  Mississippi. 

In  1772  the  county  of  Fincastle  was  taken  from  Botetourt;  and  in 
1776  Finca;»cle  was  divided  into  the  counties  of  -Kentucky,  Washington 
and  Montgomery,  and  the  name  of  Fincastle  became  extinct. 

In  the  year  1777  Rockbridge  county  was  taken  from  Augusta  and  I'cv- 
tetourt.  Rockingham  county,  the  same  year,  was  taken  from  Augusta, 
and  Greenbrier  from  Augusta  and  BotetoiuL  Tl>e  years  1776  and  1777 
were  remarkable  for  the  many  divisions  of  the  western  counties.  W^est 
Augusta,  in  the  year  1775,  by  the  convention  assembled  for  ihe  purpose 
,nf  devivlng  a-plan  for  resisting  the  oppressions  of  the  mother  country,  a- 
jinong  oil]cr  jjvoGccdiiigN  dctciiuincd,  diat   "ihc  JaiKihclders  of  ihe.dislrict 


155  LAYIXG  OFF  THE  COUNTIES. 

of  West  Augusta  shall  be  considered  as  a  distinct  county,  and  have  tiie 
liberty  of  sending  two  delegates  to  represent  them  in  general  convention 
as  aibresaid." 

This  is  the  first  account  which  the  author  has  been  able  to  find  in  our 
ancient  statutes  in  relation  to  West  Augusta  as  a  separate  district  or 
county.  In  fact,  it  does  not  appear  that  we  ever  had  a  county  legally  es- 
'.tablishe:!  by  this  name.  It  is  presumable  that  it  acquired  the  name  by 
general  usage,  from  its  remote  and  western  locality  from  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice. Be  this  as  it  may,  it' appears  that  the  district  of  West  Augusta  ne- 
h'ev  had  its  bounds  laid  off  and  defined  until  the  month  .of  October  1776, 
when  it  was  divided  into  three  distinct  counties,  viz  :  Ohio,  Yohogania, 
and  Monongalia,  i^y  the  extension  of  the  western  boundary  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  the  greater  part  of  the  county  Yohogania  fall- 
ing within  the  limits  (if  Pennsylvania,  the  residue  was.  by  an  act  of  as- 
'sembly  of  1785,  added  to  Ohio,  and  Y'ohogania  became  extinct. 

Harrison  county  was  established  in  1784,  taken  from  Mononjralia.  In 
1785  Hardy  countv  was  laid  off,  taken  from  Flampshire,  In  1786  Ran- 
dolph  county  was  laid  off,  taken  from  Harrison.  In  1785  Russell  county 
'was  taken  from  Washino:ton,  In  1787  Pendleton  county  was  tak^nfrom 
Augusta,  Flardy  and  Rockingham.  In  1788  Knawha  was  taken  from 
Greenbrier  and  Alontg'omery.  In  1789  Wythe  county'  wa.«  taken  from 
Montgomery,  and  a  part  of  Botetourt  added  to  Montgomery.  In  1790 
Rath  county  was  taken  from  Augusta,  Ijotetourt  and  Greenbrier.  In  1792 
Lee  county  was  taken  from  Russell ;  and  in  the  same  year,  Grayson  coun- 
ty was  taken  from  Wythe.  ' 

The  author  has  deemed  it  an  interesting  part  &f  his  work  to  give  a  par- 
ticular hi;^tory  of  the  establishment  of  our  counties,  because  it  goes  to  shew 
the  rapid  increase  of  our  population,  and  improvement  of  our  country, 
'sihce  the  terinination  of  the  war  of  the  revolution.  To  an  individual  barn 
"and  raised  in  the  valley,  and  who  is  old  enough  to  recollect  the  passing 
events  for  the  last  haJf  century — who  was  acquainted  with  the  state  of  our 
country  fifty  years  ago,  its  sparse  population,  rude  log  buildings,  and  un- 
cultivated manners  and  customs  of  our  ancestors — the  great  improvement 
'of  every  thing  calculated  to  better  th6  condition  of  human  life — the  aston- 
ishing change  in  the  appearance  of  our  country — its  elegant  buildings, 
finely  cultivated  farms,  improved  state  of  society,  &c. — are  calculated  al- 
most to  nhrt  doubts  in  his  mind  whether  these  vast  changes  could  possi- 
bly have  taken  place  within  his  little  span  of  existence.  The  author's 
■destinv,  when  a  vouth,  thew  him  into  a  business  which  2;ave  him  an  on- 
'portunity  of  exploring  a  considerable  part  of  the  lower  counties  ofthe  val- 
ley, and  he  has  lately  made  it  his  business  again  to  explore  the  same 
counties  :  Vmd  if  he  had  been  ibr  the  last  fortv  years  shut  up  in  a  dun- 
'geon,  and  recently  s^et  at  liberty,  he  would  almost  doul)t  his  own  senses 
and  believe  himself  in  another  country.  A  great  part  of  our  valley  may 
be  sa'id  to  be  elesiantly  Wi proved'^ 

*Gapt.  .Tames  Russell,  of  jjerkelev,  some   vears  a^'o  built  a    brick  barn 
^150  teet  lono-  and  55  wide. 
'     Tlie  laU'  Ml'.  Jolui  llite,  in  th- v/.-ar  1785^   huiil  \\iv.  first  brick  jioiise  e- 


;    i 


ESTAIILISILMCNT  OF  'lllE  TOWNS.  Ij() 


CHAPTER  XV, 


•o: 


About  the  year  173S,  there  were  hvo  cabins  erected rienr  tlic  run  in  Wiii- 
chester.f  The  author  regrets  that  he  has  not  lieen  I'ble  to  ;i«-cerlJiin  lb«^ 
names  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  town.  Tradition  however  lelales  tlial 
they  were  German  I'amihes. 

In  the  year  T752  the  legislature  passed   "an   act  for  the  establishing!;  oi* 
the  town  of  Winchester."     In  tlie  preamble  are  the  followinf;-  woids  : 

"Whereas  it  has  been  represented  to  this  general  nssem])ly,  that  James 
Wood,  gentleman,  did  survey  and  lay  out  a  parcel  of  land  at  the  court 
house:}:  in  Frederick  county,  in  tAventy-six  lots,  of  half  an  acre  each,  with 
streets  for  a  town,  by  the  name  of  Winchester,  and  made  sale  of  the  said 
lots  to  divers  persons  who  have  since  settled  and  built  and  continue  build- 
ing and  settling  thereon  ;  but  because  the  same  was  not  laid  off  and  erec- 
ted into  a  town  by  act  of  assembly,  the  ireeholders  and  inhabitants  thereof 
will  not  be  entitled  to  the  like  privileges  enjoyed  by  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  other  towns  in  this  colony.  Be  it  enacted,  &c.  that  the  said 
parcel  of  land  lately  claimed  by  the  said  James  Wood,  lying  and  being  inf 
the  county  of  Frederick  aforesaid,  together  whh  fifty-four  other  lots  of 
half  an  acre  each,  twenty-four  thereof  in  one  or  two  streets  on  the  east 
side  of  the  former  lots,  the  street  or  streets  to  run  parallel  with  the  street 
alreaciy  laid  off",  and  the  remaining  thirty  lots  to  be  laid  off  at  the  north 
end  of  the  aforesaid  twenty-!»«ix,  with  a  commodious  street  or  streets  in- 
such  m.anner  as  tlie  })roprietor  thereof,  the  right  honorable  'I'homas  lord  . 
Fairfax,  shall  see  fit,  be  and  is  hereby  constituted,  enacted,  and  establish- 
ed a  town,  in  the  manner  already  laid  out,  to  be  called  by  and  retain  the 

ver  erected  west  of  the  Blue  ride.  This  is  but  a  small  one  story  budding-, 
and  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  Mr.  A.  Neill,  at  the  north  end' 
of  Stephensburg,  in  the  county  of  Frederick.  In  1787  Mr.  Ilite  budt  a 
merchant  mill,  which  was  at  that  time  considered  the  finest  mill  in  thtr 
\ alley.     It  is  now  hardly  consideieda  second  rate  mill. 

fA  very  aged  woman,  by  the  name  of  Sperrv,  informed  the  author  that 
when  she  fiist  saw  the  place  where  Winchester  now  stands,  she  was  2C 
years  of  age,  and  frojn  her  age  at  t!ie  time  the  author  conversctl  with  her, 
(which  was  in  1809,)  Jie  found  the  year  in  which  sh^tirst  saw  Winches- 
ter to  be  in  17.38,  at  which  lime  she  staled  tliere"^5;^but  two  small  log 
cabins,  an<l  those  near  the  run. 

iMr.  .lacol)  G!l)l)on  infoi-mcd  th<>  author  liia.t  he  wr>*-in  Wiiichoslcr  in 
175'),  and    tiKittlie  <',oMit  iiouse  was  a  tiuiali   cabin,  c    snn  th'j 

couj't  viniUL'  11!  thi>'«  cabin. 


157  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  TOWNS. 

name  of  Wirjchester,  and  that  the  freehoklcrs  of  the  said  town  shall  fore- 
ver hereafter  .enjoy  the  same  privileges  which  the  freeholders  of  other 
towds  erected  by  act  of  assembly  enjoy."  This  act  further  provides  that 
fairs  may  be  ]),eAd  in  the  town  twice  in  ea^-h  year. 

Thus  it  app^3ars  that  the  late  Col.  James  Wood  was  the  founder  of 
Winchester,  and  not  lord  Fairfax  as  has  oenerally  been  believed.  The 
latter  made  an  .-addition  to  the  town.  Tradition  relates  that  Fairfax  was 
much  more  partial  to  Stephensburg  than  he  was  to  Winchester,  and  used 
all  his  inHuence  to  make  Stephensburg  tlie  seat  of  justice,  but  that  W^ood 
out-generaled  his  lordship,  and  by  treating  one  of  the  justices  with  a 
bowl  of  toddy  secured  his  vote  in  favor  of  Winchester,  which  settled  the 
question,  and  that  Fairfax  was  so  o/Tended  at  the  magistrate  who  thu3 
sold  his  vote,  that  h<^  never  after  spoke  to  liim.* 

The  hite  Robert  Rutherford,  Esq.  opened  the  first  store  ever  establish- 
ed in  Winchester,  There  was  Foon  a  mixed  population  of  Germans,  I- 
rish,  and  a  few  English  and  Scotch.  The  national  prejudices  >vhich  ex- 
isted between  the  Dutch  and  Irish  produced  much  disorder  and  many  ri- 
ots. It  was  customary  for  the  Dutcli,  on  vSt.  Patrick's  day,  to  e^.hibit  the 
effigy  of  the  saint,  with  a  stringpf  Irish  potatoes  around  his  neck,  and  his 
wife  Sliceley,  v;lth  her  apron  loaded  also  with  potatoes.  This  was  al- 
ways Ibilowed  by  a  riot.  The  Irish  ;i^sented  the  indignity  offer^^d  to  their 
saint  and  his  holy  spouse,  and  a  battle  followed.  On  St.  Mi<^hael's  day 
the  Irish  would  retort,  and  exhibit  the  saint  with  a  |:ope,pf  '■■^'sour  krouf^ 
about  his  neck.  Then  the  Dstch,  like  the  Yankee,  . 1^5/^  chock  full  of 
fi^lit^^  and  at  it  they  went,  pell  mell,  and  many  a  black  eye,  bloody  nose, 
and  broken  head,  was  the  result.f  The  author  recollects  one  of  these  ri- 
ots since  the  war  of  the  revolution.  The  practice  was  at  last  put  down 
by  the  rigor  with  which  our  courts  of  justict^  punished  the  rioters. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1758,  the  town -of  Stephensburg,  in  the 
county  of  Fiederick,  was  established.  This  town  was  first  founded  by 
Peter  Stf  p!,cn<,  who  came  to  Virginia  with  Joist  Hite,  in  the  year  1732. 
The  ruins  of  Stephens's  first  cabin  are  yet  to  be  seen.  Lewis  Stephens, 
the  late  proprietor  of  the  town,  was  the  son  of  Peter  Stephens.  He  laid 
out  the  town  in  form,  and  applied  to  the  general  assembly  to  have  it  esta- 
blished by  law,  which  was  done  in  the  year  1758. 

This  town  was  first  settled  almost  exclusively  by  Germans  ;  and  the 
religion,  habits  and  customs,  of  iheir  ancestors,  were  preserved  with  great 
tenacity  for  many  years.  The  German  language  was  generally  used  in 
this  village  since  the  author's  acquaintance  with  it,  which  -acquaintance 
commenced  in  the  year  1784. 

In  the  month  of  Novend)er,  1761,  Stras])urg,  (commonly  called  Sto- 
ver's town,)  was  established  by  law.     This  town  was  settled  entirely  by 

*The  late  John  S.  Woodcock,  Esq.  communicated  this  fact  to  the  au- 
thor, and  s'ated  that  he  had  the  informatiou  from  the  late  Col.  Martin. 

fGen.  Smith  informed  the  author  that  this  practice  was  kept  up  for  se- 
veral years  after  he  settled  in  AVinchester,  and  that  several  very  dangerous 
riots  took  place,  in  which  he  with  other  magistrates  had  to  interpose,  to 
preserve  the  j)euCfc. 


ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  TOWNS.  158 

Germans,  and  to  this  day  the  German  language  is  in  general  use,  though 
the  English  language  is  now  generally  ujiderstood,  and  also  spoken  by 
the  inhabitants.     It  was  laid  oii"by  Peter  Stover. 

Staunton,  in  the  county  of  Augusta,  was  laid  off  by  William  Beverly, 
Esq.  and  established  by  act  of  the  general  assembly  in  November,  1761/ 
The  first  settlers  were  principally  Irish. 

In  March,  1761,  Woodstock,  then  in  the  county  of  Frederick,  was  es- 
tablished by  law.  Jacob  Miller  laid  off  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land, 
ninety-six  of  which  were  divided  into  half  acre  lots,  making  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  building  lots — the  remainder  into  streets  and  five  acre 
lots,  commonly  called  out  lots.  This  town  appears  to  have  been  origi- 
nally laid  out  upon  a  larger  scale  than  any  of  our  ancient  villages.  Like 
the  most  of  our  towns  it  was  settled  exclusively  by  Germans,  and  their  re- 
ligion,  customs,  habits,  manners  and  language,  were  for  a  long  time  pre- 
served, and  to  this  day  the  German  language  is  generally  in  use  by  the 
inhabitants. 

Mecklenburg  (Shepherdstown,)  then  in  the  county  of  Frederick',  now 
in  Jefferson,  was  established  by  law  in  the  month  of  November,  176'2. — 
This  village  is  situated  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  Cohongoroota 
(Potomac)  about  twelve  miles  above  Harpers-Ferry.  It  was  laid  off  by 
the  late  Capt.  Thomas  Shepherd,  and  was  first  settled  chiefly  by  German 
mechanics.  It  is  remarkable  foi-  its  being  the  place  where  ih?.  first  shnni 
boat  was  evpr  constntcfed  in  the  world.  Mr.  James  Ilumsev,  in  the  vear 
1788,  built  a  boat,  which  was  propelled  by  steam  against  a  brisk  current. 
There  are  some  of  the  remnants  of  the  machinery  now  to  be  seen,  in  the 
possession  of  Capt.  Haines,  in  that  place. 

Romney,  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  was  laid  off  by  the  late  lord 
Fairfax,  and  established  by  law  in  the  month  of  November,  1762.  His 
lordship  laid  off  fifty  acres  into  streets  and  half  acre  lots  ;  but  the  town 
improved  but  slowly.  It  does  not  contain  more  than  fifty  families  at  this 
time.  It  is  nevertheless  a  place  of  considerable  business  ;  has  a  bank, 
printing  office,  several  stores  and  taverns.  'J'he  new  Parkersburg  turn- 
pike road  passes  through  it,  which  will  doubtless,  when  completed,  give 
it  many  great  advantages. 

In  February,  1772,  Fincastlc,  in  tlie  county  of  Betetonrt,  was  estab- 
lished. Israel  Christian  made  a  present  of  forty  acres  of  land  to  the  jus- 
tices of  Botetourt  court,  for  the  use  of  the  county.  The  court  laid  off  the 
said  forty  acres  of  land  into  lots,  and  applied  to  the  legislature  to  have 
the  town  established  by  law,  which  was  done  accordingly. 

In  October,  1776,  first  year  of  the  coinmonweilth,  the  town  of  Bath, 
at  the  warm  springs,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  (now  the  seat  of  justice 
for  Morgan  county,)  was  established,  and  laid  off  by  act  of  assembly. 

Preamble.  '-Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  this  general  assem- 
bly, that  the  laying  oflTifty  acres  of  land  in  lots  and  streets  for  a  town  at 
the  warm  springs,  in  the  county  of  r)erkeley,  will  be  of  gieat  utility,  by 
encouraging  the  purchasers  thereof  I  o  build  convenient  houses  for  accom- 
modating numbers  of  infirm  pers(uis,  who  frequent  those  springs  yearly 
for  the  recovery  of  their  health  ;  Be  it  <'nacted,  k,v.  that  fifty  acres  of 
land  adjoining  the  said  springs,  being  part  of  a  larger  tract  ol'laud,  the 


15:)  Esr.\nLTSHAiL:Nr  or  riiK  towns. 

])i\)pei'ly  o["  ihe  rio-]it  lioaorabl-;^  Tlininris  lorvl  Fairiax,  or  olhtT  pcrso  i  or 
})',M-s(^iis  }i,)l(linL>-  the  same  by  a  L,^faiit  or  con-veyance  Iroin  liim,  be  and  the 
same  is  liereliy  vested  in  ]]ryan  F.iirf^^x,  'L'hrxnas  Jjryan  INIaniii,  Warner 
Wasliin^-ton,  the  Revereml  Charles  Mviin  Thniston,  Robert  llutherford, 
Thomas  RutherFord,  Alexander  White,  PhiHp  Pendleton,  Samuel  W^ash- 
i  iL,^;(i!i,  Wiibam  Ellzey,  Van  Swearirrgen,  Thomas  Uite,  James  Edmunc- 
^oii,  aad  James  Nourse,  g-endemen,  trustees,  to  be  by  tiiem,  or  any  seven 
ot"them,  laid  out  into  lots  of  one  quarter  of  an  acre  each,  with  convenient 
streets,  which  shall  be;  and  tlie  same  is  hereby  established  a  town,  by  the 
name  oi"  l>,{th." 

The  audiDr  his  been  the  ravire  particular  in  makinnf  the  foreo-oino-  ex- 
tract  iVom  the  act  of  the  legislature,  because  this  appears  to  be  the  first 
instance  under  our  republican  governmeni  in  which  the  legislature  took 
the  authority  ot"  establishing  and  laying  out  a  town  upon  the  lan^i  of  pri- 
vate individuals;,  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  of  the  land.  It  is  pos- 
sible lord  Fairfax  assented  to  the  laying  off  of  this  town  ;  but  if  he  did, 
there  is  nothing  in  the  language  of  the  act  which  goes  to  show  it. 

In  the  mondi  o["  October,  1777,  Lexington,  in  the  county  of  Rock- 
bridge, was  established.  Extract  from  the  law  :  "And  be  it  further  en- 
acted, that  at  the  place  which  shall  be  appointed  for  holding  courts  in  the 
said  county  of  llockbridge,  there  shall  be  l-aid  oiT  a  town,  to  be  called 
Leving-ton,  thirteen  hundred  feet  in  length  and  nine  hundred  in  width.* — 
And  in  onhn-  to  make  satisfaction  to  the  proprietors  of  the  said  land,  the 
clerk  of  th-e  said  county  shall,  bv  order  of  the  justices,  issue  a  writ  direc- 
ted iv)  the  sheriiT,  commanding  him  to  summon  twelve  able  and  disinter- 
estcvl  freeiiolders,  to  meet  on  the  said  land  on  a  certain  day,  not  under 
five  ii.)r  ovei-  te'u  days  from  the  date,  who  shall  upon  oath  value  the  saul 
find,  in  so  many  parcels  as  there  shall  be  separate  owners,  which  valua- 
tion tlie  sheriff  shdl  return,  under  the  hands  and  saals  of  the  said  jurors, 
to  the  clerk's  oiTice  ;  and  tlie  justice^",  at  laying  their  first  county  levy, 
shall  make  provision  for  paying  the  said  proprietors  their  respective  pro- 
])ortions  thereof;  and  the  property  of  the  said  land,  on  the  return  of  the 
said  valuation,  shall  be  vested  in  the  justices  and  their  successors,  one 
acre  thereof  to  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  said  county,  and  the  residue 
to  be  sohl  and  conveyed  by  the  said  justices  to  any  persons,  and  the 
money  arising  from  such  sale  to  be  applied  towards  lessening  the  county 
levy  :  and  ihe  public  buildings  for  the  said  county  shall  be  erected  on 
the  land  reserved  as  aforesaid. '"''  From  this  it  appears  that  the  name  of 
the  town  was  fixed  by  law  before  the  site  is  marked  out. 

Moorefield  was  also  established  in  the  month  of  October,  1777,  in  the 
county  of  Hampshire,  now  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  Hardy. — 
Extract  from  the  act  of  assembly  :  "Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to 
this  present  general  assembly,  that  the  establishing  a  town  on  the  lands 
of  Conrad  Moore  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  would'  be  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  inhabitants,  by  encourag^ing  tradesmen  to  settle  amongst 
them;  Re  it  therefore  enhcted,  &.c.  that  sixty-two  acres  of  land  belong- 
ing to  the  said  Conrad   Moore,  in  the  most  Gonvenient  place  fo-r  a  town,, 


This  was  truly  up^n  a  small  scale. 


ESTABLISILMENT  OF  THE  TOWNS.  IGO 

b^/  and  the  same  is  hereby  vested  in  Garret  ^'anmeter,  Abel  Randall, 
Moses  Hutton,  Jacob  Read,  Jonathan  Heath,  Daniel  M'Neil,  and 
(jeorge  Rennock,  gentlemen,  trustees,  to  be  by  them,  or  any  four  of 
them,  laid  out  into  lots  of  half  an  acre  each,  with  convenient  streets, 
whicn  shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  established  a  town,  by  the  name 
of  Moorefiel.d.^'  , 

IVIartinsburg  was  established  in  the  month  of  October,  1778.  Extract 
from  the  law:  "Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  this  present  general 
assembly,  that  Adam"  Stephen,  Esq.  hath  lately  laid  oft"  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  land  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  where  the  court 
house  now  stands,  in  lots  and  streets  for  a  town,  &c.;  Be  it  enacted,  &c. 
that  the  said  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  laid  out  into  lots  and 
streets,  agreeable  to  a  plan  and  survey  thereof  made,  containing  the  num- 
ber of  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine  lots,  as,  by  the  said  plan  and  survey, 
relation  thereunto  being  had,  may  more  fully  appear,  be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  vested  in  James  M'Aliwter,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Anthony  Noble,  Jas. 
Strode,  Robert  Carter  Willis,  William  Patterson  and  Philip  Pendleton, 
gentlemen,  trustees,  and  shall  be  established  a  town  by  the  name  of  Mar- 
tinsh4irg."     This  town  was  named  after  the  late  Col.  T.  B.  Martin. 

Tradition  relates  that  an  animated  contest  took  place  between  the  late 
Gen/ Adam  Stephen  and  Jacob  Hite,  Esq.,  in  relation  to  fixing  the  seat 
of  justice  for  this  county  ;  Hite  contending  for  the  location  thereof  on  his 
own  land,  at  what  is  now  called  Leetown,  in  the  county  of  Jefferson,  Ste- 
phen advocating  Martinsburg.     Stephen  prevailed,  and  Hite  became  so. 
disgusted  and  dissatisfied,  that  he  sold  out  his  fine  estate,  and  removed  to  . 
the  frontier  of  South  Carolina.     Fatal  Femove  !      He  had  not  been  lonof 
settled  in  that,  state,  before  the  Indians  murdered  him  and  several  of  his  . 
family  in  t^e  rnost  shocking  and  barbarous  manner.*     It  is  said  that  the 
evening  before  this  bloody  massacre  took  place,  an  Indian  sqiiaw,  who 
was  much  attached  to  Mrs.-  Hite,t  called  on  her  and  warned  her  of  the 
intended  niassacre,  and  advised  her  to  remove  with  her  little  children  to  a  . 
place  of  safety.';     Mrs.  Hite  immediately  communicated  this  intelligence 
to  her  husband,  who  disbelieved  the  inform^ition,  observing,  "thje  Indians 
were  too  much  attached  to  him  to  do  him  any  injury."     The  next  morn- 
ing, however,  ■'^i'hen  it  was  fattllly  too  late  to  escape,  a  party  of  Indians, 
armed  and  paiitted  in  their  usual  war  dress,  called  on  Hite,   and  told  him 
tbey  had  determined  to  kill  him.     It  was  in  vain  that  he  pleaded  his  . 
friendship  for  them,  and  tl^e  mjiny  services  he  had  rendered  their  nation  : 
their  fell  purpose  was  fixed,  and  nothing  ('ould  appease  them  but  his  blood, 
and  that  of  j^iis    innocent,   unoffending  and   helpless   Vv'ife  and  children. 
They  commenced  their  (operations  by  the  most  cruel  tortures  upon   Mr. 
Hite,  cutting  liiijn  to  pieces,  a  joi,nt  at  a  time;  and  whilst  he  was  thus  in 
the  most  violent  agonies,  they  barbarously  murdered  his  wife  and  several 

.  *Col.  James  Hite,  of  Jefferson   county,  related  this  tradition  to  the 
author. 

fMrs.  Hite  was  the  sister  of  tlie  Intc  Cr)l.  J.  Madison,  of  Orange  rouritv, 
Vir«T!nia,  and  d!"  cniii-v;!'  ;nint  In  r\-}»r«'videiit  M.idi^on. 


16lr  ESTABLlSHAIEIvr  Ox^^  THE  TOWNS. 

of  her  little  offspring.  After  Mr.  Hite,-hLs  wife,  and  several  of  the  chil- 
dren were  dispatched,  they  took  two  of  his  daughters,  not  quite  grown, 
and  all  his  slaves  as  prisoners.  They  also  carried  off  what  plunder  they 
chose,  and  their  booty  was  considerable,- 

Mr.  Hite  kept  a  large  retail  store,  and  dealt  largely  with  the  Creek  and 
Cherokee  tribes.     It  is  said  a  man  by  the   name  of  Parish,  who  went 
t6  Carolina  with  Hite,  and  to  whom  Hite  had  been  very  friendly,  growing 
iccflous  of  Kite's  popularity  w^ith  the  Indians,  instigated  the  savages  to 
commit  the  murder.     About  the  year  1784  or  1785,  the  author  saw  the 
kte  Capt.  George  Hite,  (who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  revolutionary 
army,)  and  who  had  just  returned  from  an  unsuccessful  search  after  his 
two  young  sisters,  who  were  taken  captives  at  the  time  of  the  murder  of 
his  father.     He  had  traversed  a  great  part  of  the  southern  country,  among 
the  various  tribes  of  Indians,  but  never  could  hear  any  thing  of  them. 
Capt.  Hite,  some  short  time  after  the  war  of  the  revolution,  recovered  a 
part  of  his  father's  slaves,  who  had  been  taken  off  by  the  Indians,  one  of 
w^iom  is  now  owned  by  Maj.   Isaac  Kite,  of  Frederick  county.     This- 
woman  brought  home  an  Indian  son,  whom  the  author  has  frequently 
seen,  and  who  had  all  the  features  of  an  Indian.     A  part  of  Kite's  slaves 
are  to  this  day  remaining  with  the  Indians,  and  are  kept  in  rigorous 
slavery.     In  the  winter  of  1815-16,  the  author  fell  in  with  Col.  William 
Triplett,   of  Wilkes    county,   Georgia,    who  informed  him,  that   in  the 
autumn  of  the  year  1809  he  w^ns  traveling  through  the  Greek  country, 
and  saw  an  old  negro  man  who  told  him  he  w^as  one  of  Jacob  Kite's 
slaves,  taken  when  his  master  p.nd  family  were  murdered  in  South  Caro- 
lina.    He   further   informed    Col.   Triplett,  that   there  were    then  sixty 
negroes  in  possession  of  the  Indians,  descended  from  slaves  taken  from 
Hite,  the  greater  number  of  whom  were  claimed  by  the  little  Tallapoosa 
king. 

In  October,  1778,  the  town  of  Abingdon  was  established  in  W^ashing- 
ton  county. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1780,  the' town  of  Harrisonburg,  in  the  county 
of  Rockins^ham,  was  established.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Thomas  Harrison 
had  laid  oil' fifty  acres  of  his  land  into  lots  and  streets,  and  the  legislature 
simply  confirmed  what  Mr.  Harrison  had  done,  without  appointing  trus- 
tees for  the  town,  as  w'as  the  usual  practice.  The  privileges,  however, 
granted  by  law^  to  the  citizens  of  other  incorporated  towns,  were  given  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Harrisonburg. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1782,  the  town^of  Lewisburg,  in  the  county 
of  Greenbrier,  was  established.  The  act  of  assembly  appropriates  forty 
acres  of  land  at  the  court  house,  to  be  laid  off  into  half  acre  lots  and  streets. 
Samuel  Lewis,  James  Reld,  Samuel  Brov.ii,  Andrew  Donnelly,  John 
Stuart,  Archer  Matthews,  William  Ward,  and  Thoirias  Edgar,  gentlemen, 
were  appointed  trustees. 

In  October,  1785,  Clarksburg,  in  the  county  of  Harrison,  was  estab- 
lished. Wtn.  Haymond,  Nicholas  Carpinert,  John  Myers,  John  M'Ally,, 
and  John  Davison,  gentlemen,  were  appointCvl  trustees. 

In  the  same  month  and  year,  Morgantown,  in  the  county  of  ]\ronon- 
galia,   was   established.'     The   art   a])propriates  fifty   acres  of  I.huI,   the- 


ESTAJ3L1SILMENT  OF  THE  TOWNS.  162 

r^iioperty  of  Zackqiiell  Morgan,  to  be  laid  off  into  lots  and  streets  for  a 
town :   Samuel  Hanway,  John  Evans,  David  Scott,  Michael  Kcarnes,  and 
.James  Daugherty,  trustees. 

In  October,  1786,  Charlestown,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  (now  the 

■  seat  of  justice  for  tlie  county  of  Jefferson,)  was  established.     This  town 

was  laid  off  by  the  late  Col.-Charles  Washington,  a  brother  to  the  illustri- 

-ous  Gen.  George  ^Washington,  on  liis  own  kind.     Eighty  acres  were 

divided  into  lots  and  streets;  and  John  Augusiine  ¥*^ashington,  W^illiam 

Drake,   P-obert  Rutherford,  James  Crane,   Cato   Moore,  Magnus  Tate, 

Benjamin  Rankin,  Thornton  Washington,  W^m.  Little,  Alexander  White, 

and  Richard  Ranson,   were   appointed  trustees.     This  town  bears  the 

, christian  name  of  its  proprietor. 

In  the  year  1787,  Frankfort,  in  Hampshire  county,  was  established. 

iiOne  hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres  of  land  was  laid  off  into  lots  and  streets, 

^with  out-lots,  by  John  Sellers.     John  Mitchell,  Andrew  Cooper,  Ralph 

Humphreys,  John  Williams,  sen.,  James  Clark,  Richard  Stafford,  Heze- 

,kiah  Whitennan,  and  Jacob  Brookhart,  trustees. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1787,    the  town  of  West-Liberty,  in  the 

.county  of  Ohio,  was  established.     Sixty  acres  of  land  was  laid  off  into 

lots  and  streets  by  Reuben  Foreman  and  Providence  Mounts.     Moses 

Chapline,  George  M'Cullough,  Charles  Willis,  Van  Swearingen,  Zach- 

lariah   Sprigg,    James  Mitcuell,  acd  Benjamin  Briggs,    were   appointed 

^trustees. 

In  the  same  month  and  year,  IMiddietown,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley, 

(commonly  called  Gerrardstown,)  was  established.     This  town  was  laid 

<\)ff  by  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  David  Gerrard,  and  contained  one  hundred  lots. 

William  Henshaw,  James  Haw,  John  Gray,  Gilbert  M'Kewan,  and  Robt. 

.Allen,  were  appointed  trustees. 

The  same  year  and  month,  the  town  of  W'atson,  (commonly  called 
Capon  Springs,)  in  the  coanty  of  Hampshire,  was  established — twenty 
acres  of  land  to  be  laid  off  in  lots  and  streets.  Elias  Poston,  Henry  Fry, 
Isaac  Hawk,  Jacob  Hoover,  John  W^interton,  Valentine  Swisher,  Rudolph 
;Bumgarner,  Paul  M'lvcr,  John  Sherman  WoodcQck,  and  Isaac  Zane, 
gentlemen,  trustees. 

In  1788,  Front  Royal  was  established,  in  the  county  of  Frederick. 
Fifty  acres  of  land,  the  property  of  Solomon  Vanmeter,  James  Moore, 
Robert  Haines,  William  Cunningham,  Peter  Hnlley,  John  Smith,  Allen 
Wiley,  Original  W>oe,  George  Chick,  W^illiam  Morris,  andJIcnry  Trout, 
was  laid  out  into  lots  and  streets;  and  Thomas  Allen,  Robert  Russell, 
W^illiam  Headly,  William  Jennings,  John  Hickman,  Thomas  Hand,  and 
Thomas  Buck,  gentlemen,  trustees. 

The  same  year  and  month,  Pattonsburg,  in  the  county  of  Botetourt,  on 
James  river,  was  established.  Crowsville,  in  Botetourt,  was  established 
at  the  same  time. 

In  1790,  Beverly  was  laid  off  and  established  a  town  at  Randolph 
court-house. 

Frontville,  at  the  Sweet  Springs,  and  Springfield,  in  the  county  of 
iiJampshire,  were  severally  laid  off  and  established  in  October,  171)0. 

Jti  Oclob^r,  J79I,  Daik'-vi-(!t  in  I'.rrkfl)  v,  K'eish-town  in  Kockinehnm. 

7  7  I  .      '  w  - 


^. 


.163  ESTABLLSHMENT  OF.rHE  TOWNS 

and  Cliarlestown  in  Ohio,  were  severally  established.  This  cqnclj^dcs 
the  author's  account  of  the  establishment  of  the  various  towns  west  oT 
the  Blue  ridge,  within  the  present  western  limits  of  Virginia,  from  the 
earliest  settlement  of  the  country  to  the  year  1792  inclusive. 

This  history  of  the  establishment  of  the  towns  in  Western  Virginia j 
from 'the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country,  to  the  year  1792  inclusive,  in 
^gathered  from_  Hening's  Statutes  at  Large,  which  brings  the  acts  of  the 
legislature  no  further  than  that  period.  To  continue  the  list  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  w^ould  require  an  examination  of  the  various  session  acts  since 
1792,  which  it  w^ould  be  difficult  to  obtain,  perhaps,  except  in  Richmond, 
to  which  place  it  would  not  suit  the  author's  present  convenience  to  make 
a  journey.  As  he  confidently  anticipntes  a  demand  for  a  second  edition 
of  this  work,  he  will  in  the  mean  time  make  perfect  this  portion  of  t^ie 
history  of  our  country  for  futu''e  insertiOjT-. 


ox  THE  SETTLEMENT  AND  INDIAN  WARS 

or    THE 

'WESTERN  PARTS  OF  VIRGINIA  AND  PENNSYLVANIA, 

From  the  year  1763  until  the  year  1783  inclusive. 

TOGETHER    •VVITIt 

A  VIEW  OF  THE  STATE  OF  SOCIETY  and  MANNERS  OF  THE  FIUST 

SETFLEUS  OF  THAT  COUNTRV. 


.nV    THE    RKV,    I)R,    ..TOSF:riI    DODDRlDGEi 


:o: 


CHAPTER  I. 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF 
THE  INDIAN  MODE  OF  WARFARE,  AND  ITS  ADOPTION 
BY  THE  WHITE  PEOPLE. 

This  is  a  subject  which  presents  hum-m  nature  in  its  most  revolting  fea* 
tures,  as  subject  to  a  vindictive  spirit  ot  revenge,  and  a  thirst  of  human 
blood,  leading  to  an  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  all  ranks,  ages  and  sexes, 
by  the  weapons  of  war,  or  by  torture. 

The  history  of  man  is,  for  the  most  part,  one  continued  detail  of  blood-* 
shed,  battles  and  devastations.  War  has  been,  from  the  earliest  periods 
of  history,  the  almost  coiistant  employment  of  individuals,  clans,  tribes 
and  nations.  Fame,  one  of  the  most  potent  objects  of  human  ambition, 
has  at  all  times  been  the  delusive,  but  costly  reward  of  military  achieve- 
ment. The  triumph  of  conquest,  the  epithet  of  greatness,  the  throne  and 
the  sceptre,  have  uniformly  been  purchased  by  the  conflict  of  battle  and 
garments  rolled  in  blood. 

If  the  modern  European  laws  of  warfiire  have  softened  in  some  degree 
the  horrid  features  of  national  conflicts,  by  respecting  the  rights  of  pri- 
vate property,  and  extending  humanity  to  the  sick,  wounded  and  pri.^on- 
ers  ;  we  ous^lht  to  reflect  that  this  amelioration  is  the  eftect  of  civiUzation 
only.  The  natural  state  of  war  knows  no  such  mixture  of  merty  witli 
cruelty.  In  his  })rimitive  state,  man  knows  no  object  in  his  wars,  but 
that  of  the  extermination  of  his  enemies,  either  by  death  or  captivity. 

The  wars  of  the  Jews  were  exterminatory  in  their  object.  The  de- 
struction of  a  whole  nation  was  often  the  result  of  a  single  campai^-iu 
Even  the  beasts  themselves  were  sometimes  included  in  the  "erieral 
mass?  ere. 

Tiie  present  war  between  the  Greeks  and  Turks  is  a  war  upon  the 
ancient  m;)del — a  war  of  utter  ftxterminali(»n. 

It  is,  to  be  sure,  much  to  be  regretted,  that  our  ]ieople  so  often  fol- 
lowed the  cruel   cximples  of  the    Indi.in-i-.  hi  the  slaugliter  oi"  prisoners. 


1G:  INDIAN  WARFARE.' 

and  seiucliTiies  women  and  children  :  yet  let  them  receive  a  candid  hear- 
iii'''  at  the  bar  o{'  reason  and  justice,  beibre  they  are  condemned  as  bar- 
L.trianii,  ccjually  with  the  Indians  themselves. 

iligtory  scarc*>ly  presents  an  example  ot"  a  civilized  nation  carrying  on 
a  war  with  barbarians  witliout  adopting  the  mode  ot"  warfare  of  the  bar- 
bdrous  nation.  The  ferocious  Suwarrow,  when  at  war  W"ith  the  Turks, 
was  as  much  of  a  savage  as  the  'Turks  themselves.  His  slaughters  were 
a5  indiscriminate  as  theirs;  but  during  his  wars  against  the  French,  in 
italy,  he  taithfuljv  observed  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare. 

Were  the  Greeks  now  at  w^ar  with  a  civilized  nSition,  we  should  hear 
nothing  of  the  bar])arities  which'th«y  have  committed  on  the  Turks;  but 
b»-ing  at  war  witii  barbarians,  the  principle  of  self  defence  compels  them 
10  retaliate  on  the  Turks  the  barbarities  which  thev  commit  on  them; 

In  the  last  rebellion  in  Ireland,  that  of  the  United  Irishmen,  the  gov- 
ernment party  were  not  much  behind  the  rebels  in  acts  of  lawless  cruelty- 
It  w^as  not  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner  alone  they  perished.  Sum- 
mary justice,  as  it  was  called,  was  sometimes  inflicted.  How  many  - 
perished  under  the  torturing  scourge  of  the  drummer  for  the  purpose  of 
extorting  confessions!  These  extra-judicial  executions  ^fere  attempted' 
to  be  justified  on  tht^  oround  of  the  necessity  of  the  case.' 

Our  revolmtionury  war  has  a  double  aspect:  on  the  one  hand  we  car-  • 
ried  on  a  war  with  tlie  English,  in  which  we  observed  the  maxims  of 
civilized  warfare  with  the  utmost  strictness;  but  the  br?fve,  the  potent, 
the  mao;nanimous  nation  of  our  forefathers  had  associated  with  them- 
.selves,  as  auxiliaries,  the  murderous  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  of  the 
Indian  n?itions  around  our  defenseless  frontiers,  leavino:  those  barbarous 
sons  of  the  fojest  to  their  own  savage  mode  of  warfare,  to  the  full  indul- 
gence of  all  their  native  thirst  for  hum:an  blood. 

On  them,  then,  be  the  blame  of  all  the  horrid  features  of  this  war  be-  , 
Iween  civilized  and  savage  men,  in  which  the  former  was  compelled,  by 
every  principle  of  self  defense,  to  adopt  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare,  in' 
idl  its  revolt! nc:  and  destructive  features. 

Were  those  who  were  engaged  in  the  war  against  the  Indians,  less  ^ 
humane  than  those  wdio  carried  on  the  war  against  their  English  allies? 
No,  they  w*re  not.  liolh  parties  carried  on  the  war  on  the  same  princi- 
ple of  reciprocity  of  advantages  and  disadvantages.  For  example,  the 
Ktiglish  and  Americans  take  each  one  thousand  prisoners:  they  are  ex- 
chan^red:  fieither  army  is  weakened  by  this  arrano'ement.  A  sacrifice  is 
indeed  raide  to  hummity,  in  the  expense  of  taking  care  of  the  sick, 
wounded  and  prisoners;  but  this  expense  is  mutual.  No  disadvantages 
result  from  all  the  clem^iucy  of  imdern  warfare,  excepting  an  augmenta- 
tion of  the.  expanses  of  \^r.  In  this  mode  of  warfare,  those  of  the  nation, 
int  in  arms,  are  safe  from  fleilh  by  the  hands  of  soldiers.  No  civilized 
warrior  dishonors  his  sw.ird  with  the  blood  of  helpless  infancy,  old  age, 
or  that  of  th^  fair  sex:.  Ila  aim^  his  blows  only  at  those  whr)m  he  finds 
in  arms  agiinst  him.  The  Indian  kills  indiscriminately.  His  object  is 
the  total  ex!;ermln.ition  of  his  enemies.  Children  are  victims  o(  his  ven- 
geance, because,  if*  miles,  they  miy  here.iffer  become  warriors,  or  if 
ie.ades,  t'lcy  miy  b3c;aai3  mitherj.     E /eii  th  '  fe;il  sla^e  is  c:"inriid  in 


INDIAN   WARFARE.  168 

»  •      ■ 

his  view.  It  is  not  onoiigh  that  the  fetus  shoiihl  perish  witli  tlie  mur- 
dered mother;  it  is  torn  from  her  })regiiant  womb,  and  elevated  on  a  stiek 
or  pole,  as  a  trophy  of  victory  and  an  object  of  horror  to  the  survivors  of 
the  slain.  •.'..• 

If  the  Indian  takes  pri^onyrs,  mercf  lias  but  little  concern  in  tie  tr.ins- 
saction.  He  spares,  the  lives  of  those  who  tall  into  his  hands,  f.)r  the  pur- 
pose of  feasting  the  feelings  of  ferocious  vengeance  of  himself  and  hi.s 
comrades,  by  the  torture  of  his  captive;  or,  to  increase  the  strength  of  his 
nation  by  his  adoption  into  an  Indian  iamily;  or  for  the  purpose  of  gain, 
by  selling  him  for  an  higher  price,  than  his  scalp  would  fetch,  to  Ins 
christian  allies  of  Canada;  for  be  it  known  that  those  allies  were  in  the 
constant  practice  of  making  presents  fori  scalps  and  prisoners,,  as  well  as 
i'urnishing  the  means  for  carrying'  on  the  Indian  vv^ar,  which  for  so  man\' 
yea.rs  desolated  our  defenseless  frontiers.  No  lustration  can  ever  wash 
out  this  natio,nal  stain.  The  foul  blot  njust  remain,  as  long  as  the  })age 
of  history  shall  convey  the  record  of  the  foul  transaction  to  future  genera- 
tions. :■      \  r  ■  -. 

;  The  author  w^ould  not  open  wounds  which  have, -alas!  already  bled  so 
long,  but  for  the  purpose  of  doing  justice  to  the  memory  of  Ids  forefathers 
'and  relatives,,  many, of  whom  perished  in  the  defense  oi  their  country,  by 
the  hands  of  the  merciless  Indians. 

,  How  is  a  war  of  extermination,  and  accompanied  with  such;  acts  of 
atrocious  cruelty, >to  be  met  by  those  on  whom  it  is  inflicted?  Must  it  be 
met  by  the  lenient  maxims  of  civilized  warfare  ?  Alust  the  Indian  ca])- 
live  be  spared  his  life?  What  advantage  would  be  gained  by  this  course' 
The  young  white  prisoners,  adopted  into  Indlari  families,'  often  bcxT)me 
CQ.mplete  Indians;  but  in  how  few  instances  did  ever  an  Indian  become 
civilized.  Send  a^cartel  for. an  exchange  ot"  ])ris<;Hieis;  the  Indians  know 
jiothing  of  lids  measure  of  cle'mency  in  war;  the  bearer  of  the  white  flag 
for  the  pur})ose  of  effecting  the  exchange  would  have  exerted  his  humanity 
at  the  forfeit  of  his  life. 

Should  my  countrymen  be  still  charged  with  barbarism,  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  Indian  war,  let  him  who  harbors  this  unfavorable  impression 
concerning  them,  portray  in  imagination  tlie  horrid-  scenes  of  slaughter 
which  frequently  met  their  vievv  in  the  course  of  the  Indian  war.  '.Let 
him,  if  he  can  bear  the  reflection,  look  at  helpless  ini'ancy,  virgin  beauty 
and  hoary  age,  dishonored  by  the  ghastly  wounds  of  the  toimihawk  and 
scalping  knife  of  tlie;savage.  .  Let  him  hear  the  shrieks  of  th^  victims  of 
the  Indian  torture  by  fire,  and  smell  the  surrounding  air,  rendeied  sicken- 
ing by  the  effluvia  of  their  burning  flesh  and  blood.  Let  him  hear  the 
yells,  and  view  the  hellish  featiu'es  of  the  surrounding  circle  of  savage 
warriors,  rioting  in  all  the  luxuriance  of  vengeance,  while  applying  the 
ilaming  torches  to  the  parched  limbs  of  the  sufferers,  and  then  suppose 
those  murdered  infants,  matrons,  virgins  and  victims  of  toiture,  wire  liis 
friends  and  relations,  the  wile,  sister,  child  or  biother;  what  would  he 
Ids  feelings!  After  a  short  season  of  grief,  he  would  say,  ''1  will  now 
think  onlv  of  revene^e." 

Philoso])hy   shu»l(h'rs  at  the  destrnctivf   aspcd    "f  war  in    aii\    ^hap(•: 

W 


0 


169  INDIAN  WARFARE. 

Christianity,  b}'  teaching  the  religion  of  the  good  Samaritan,  altogether 
forbids  it:  but  the  original  settlers  of  the  western  regions,  like  the  greater 
part  of  the  world,  were  neither  i)lnlosophers  nor  saints.  They  were 
''men  of  like  passions  with  others;"  and  therefore  adopted  the  Indian 
mode  of  warfare  from  necessity  and  a  motive  of  revenge;  with  the  excep- 
tion of  burning  their  captives  alive,  which  they  never  did.  If  the  bodies 
of  savage  enemies  were  sometimes  burned,  it  was  not  until  after  they 
vrcre  dead. 

Let  the  voice  of  nature  and  the  law  of  nations  plead  in  favor  of  the 
veteran  pioneers  of  the  desert  regions  of  the  west.  War  has  hitherto 
been  a  prominent  trait  in  the  moral  system  of  human  nature,  and  will 
continue  such,  until  a  radical  change  shall  be  effected  in  favor  of  science, 
morals  and  piety,  on  a  general  scale. 

In  the  conflicts  of  nations,  as  well  as  those  of  individuals,  no  advanta- 
ges are  to  be  conceded.  If  mercy  may  be  associated  with  the  carnage 
and  devastations  of  war,  that  mercy  must  be  reciprocal ;  but  a  war  of  utter 
extermination  must  be  met  by  a  war  of  the  same  character,  or  by  an 
overwhelming  force  which  may  put  on  end  to  it,  without  a  sacrifice  of 
the  helpless  and  unoffending  part  of  the  hostile  nation.  Such  a  force 
was  not  at  the  command  of  the  first  inhabitants  of  this  country.  The 
sequel  of  the  Indian  war  goes  to  show  that  in  a  v/ar  with  savages  the 
choice  lies  between  extermination  and  subjugation.  Our  government 
has  wisely  and  humanely  pursued  the  latter  course. 

Tho  author  begs  to  be  understood  that  the  foregoing  observations  are 
not  intended  as  a  justification  of  the  whole  of  the  transactions  of  our 
people  with  regard  to  the  Indians  during  the  course  of  the  war.  Some 
instances  of  acts  of  wanton  barbarity  occurred  on  our  side,  which  have 
received  and  must  continue  to  receive  the  unequivocal  reprobration  of 
rdl  the  civilised  woild.  In  the  course  of  this  history,  it  will  appear  that 
more  deeds  of  wanton  barbarity  took  place  on  our  side  than  the  world 
is  now  acquainted  with. 


^ 


WAR  or  17f)3.  ]7Q 


£!HAPTER  IL 


■•o: 


The  treaty  of  peace  between  his  British  majesty  and  the  kings  of  Fiiincc, 
"Spain  and  Portugal,  conckuled  at  Paris  on  the  10th  of  February,  1763, 
did  not  put  an  end  to  the  Indian  war  against  the  frontier  parts  and  back 
settlements  of  the  colonies  of  Great  Britain. 

The  spring  and  summer  of  1763,  as  well  as  those  of  1764,  deserve 
to  be  memorable  in  history,  for  the  great  extent  and  destructive  resulls 
of  a  war  of  exterminaEtion,  carried  on  by  the  uniterl  force  of  all  the 
Indian  nations  of  the  western  country,  along  tho  shore  of  the  northern 
Jakes,  and  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  frontier  settlements  of 
P-ennsylvania,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

The  events  of  this  war,  as  they  relate  to  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  shores  of  the  lakes,  are  matters  of  history  already,  and  therefore 
shall  be  no  farther  related  here  than  is  necessar-r  to  give  a  connected  view 
of  the  military  events  of  those  disastrous  seasons.  The  massacres  by  the 
Indians  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Virginia,  so  far  as  they  have  come  to 
the  knowlenge  of  the  author,  shall  be  related  more  in  detail. 

The  English  historians  (Hist,  of  England,  vol.  x.  p.  399,)  attribute 
this  terrible  warlo  the  influence  of  the  French  Jesuits  over  the  Indians; 
^ut  whether  with  much  truth  and  candor,  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  ex- 
tremely doubtful. 

The  peace  of  1763,  by  which  the  provinces  of  Canada  were  ceded  to 
Britain,  was  offensive  to  the  Indians,  especially  as  they  very  well  knew 
that  the  English  government,  on  the  ground  of  this  treaty,  claimed  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  western  country  generally;  and  as  an  Indian  sees  no 
difference  between  the  right  of  jurisdiction  and  that  of  possession,  they 
considered  themselves  as  about  to  be  dispossessed  of  the  AVhole  of^  their 
.country,  as  rapidly  as  the  English  miglit  fmrl  it  convenient  to  take  pos- 
session of  it.  In  this  opinion  they  were  confirmed  by  the  building  of 
forts  on  the  Susquehanna,  on  lands  to  which  th'^  Indians  laid  claim. 
The  forts  and  posts  of  Pittsburg,  Bedford,  Ligonier,  Niagara,  Detroit, 
Presque  Isle,  St.  Joseph  and  jMichilimackinac,  were  either  built,  or  im- 
proved and  strengthened,  with  additions  to  their  garrisons.  'I'hus  the 
Indians  saw  themselves  sun'ounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  a  strong  line 
of  forts,  while  those  of  Bedford,  Ligonier  and  Pittsburg,  threatened  an 
extension  of  them  into  the  heart  of  their  countrv.  Thus  circumstancec', 
tiie  aboriginals  of  the  country  had  to  ehoose  between  the  ])rospect  of 
being  driven  to  the  inhospitalrh^  regio!r<  of  the  nortli  and  west,  of  negoti- 
ating witli  the  British  governmetit  for  ronlinuanc-e  oC  the  possession  of 
their  own  land,  or  of  takinir  u]"»  irujs  lor  ils  defense.      Thrv  i-liosc  llie  hit 


171  WAll  oy  17G;j 

tei"  course,  iii  which  ii  view  of  the  srnnrmess  oi"  llieir  niunbers,  and  thvL 
iscantiuess  ol'"  their  Resources,  ou^ht  to  have  taught  them,  that  althougli 
they  might  do  much  mischief,  they  could  not  ukimately  succeed;  but  tli^e 
IiuliQns,  as  well  as  then'  brethren  of  the^white  skin,  are  often  driven  by 

-their  impetuous  passions  to  rash  and  destructive  enterprises,  which  rea- 
■son,  were  it  peritjitted  to  give  it  counsels,  ^tould  disapproA^e.  '  '■ 
'  The  plan.' resdved  on  by' the  Indiana  foi*  the  prosecution  of  the  w^ar, 
was  thj;it  of  a  general' massacre  of  all  the  inhabitants  ^f  the  English  set- 
llements  'in  tl>.e  western  country,  as  well  as  of  those  on  the  lands  on  the 
8us(pichanra;,  to  which  they*' laid  claim.  '•  ' '■ 

Never  did  military  commanders  of  any  nation  display  more  skill,  or 
their  troops  more  steady  and  determined  bravcrv,  than  did  tho^e  red  men 

•  of  the  wilderness  in  the  prosecution  of  their  gigantic  plan  for  the  recovery 

•of  their  country  from  the  pf)s*session  of  the  Engli'sh.  It'was  indeed  a  w^ar 
of  utter'extermination  on  an^.txtensive  scale,— a  conflict  which  exhibited 

'human  nature' in  its  nati'v;^  stvite,  in  which  the  cunningof  the  fo-^  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  cruelty  of'the  tiger.     We  reatl  the  history  of  thi^  w'ar  with 

•feelings  of  the  deepest  horror;-  but  w*hy?     On^^tlie  paH'of  the  ^savages, 

;theirs  We^-S  the  ancient  mode  of  warfare,  in  which  therc/~was  'nothing  of 
incrcy.  -<  If'i^cience,  r^ssociated  with  the  benign  influence  of  the'christian 

isystem,  has  limited  the  carnage  of  wafto  those 'in  arms,  so  as  tf^  give  the 
right  of  life  and  hospitality  to  women,  mfancy,  old  age,  the  sick,  wounded 

•and  pi'isoners,  may  not  a  farther  extension  of  the  influence  of  tht)se  pow- 
erful but  salutary  ajjeiits  put  an  end  to  w-ar  altoe^efher?'  '  May  not  future 
generations  read  the  history  of  our  civilized  w^arfare 'with  equal  horror  and 

;wonder,  that  with  our'-science  and  piety'we  had  wars  at  all  !  ' 

The  English  traders  among  the  Indians  were  the  hrst  victims  in  this 
contest.     Out  of  one  hundred  and  tSventy  of  "them,  among  the  different 

'nations,  only  two  or  three  escaped  being  murdered.     The  forts  of  Presque 

Tsle,  Si.  Joseph  and  Michiliinackinac'were  taken,  with  a  general  slaugli- 
•ter  of  their  srarrisons.  '  '  • 

^  The  iV)rtresses  of  Bedford,  Ligonier,  Niagara,  Detroit  and  Pitt,  were 
with  dilhcultypreserved  I'roiu  being  taker]. 

It  was  a  principal  object  with  the  Indians  to  g-rt  possession  of  Detroit 
and  Foit  Pitt,  either  by  assault  or  famine.  The  h)rmer  was  attempted 
Willi  regard  to  Detroit.  Fort  Pitt,  being  at  a  considerable  distan-ce  from 
the  .settlements,  where  alone  supplies  could  be  obtained,  deterniined  the 

-savages  If)  attem|)t  its  reduction  by  famine.  ■ 

In  their  first  attempt  on  Fort  Detroit,  the  Indians  calculated  on  taking 
jtosscssiun  of  it  by  stratagem.  A  large  number  of  Indians  appeared  be- 
fore thv.  place  under  pretence  of  hcilding  a  congress  with  Maj;  Gladwin, 

(the  commandaVit.  He  was  on  his  guard  and  refused  them  admittance. 
On  the  next  day,  about  fi\(^  hundred' more  oflhcTndians  arrived^'in  arms, 
and  demanded  leave  to  go  into  the  fort,  to  hold  a  ti'caty.     The  commaiid*- 

*fint  lefused  to'admit  a  greater  uutn!)r'r  tlian  inrly  The  Indians  under- 
s'tond'his  design  nj'  {h'taining  thetn  as  hostages,  for  the  good  conduct  of 
'their  eouiriidcs  on  llx?  (Mitside  of  the  ibii,  and  therefore  did  not  send  them 
into  the  |)l:iri\      'flir  ^v!in!(<  iiiunhfT  of  men  in  tlie  foit   ;inf!  on  lioard  two 

■^."csbcls  T'!  war  iii  tin--  r!\ei-,  fin!  iiel  ••xeecd  one  hiuuirwd  ;ui(i  len  or  twelve, 


t 


.WAR  01M763.  17;2 

.but.  by  means  of  the  cannon  they  possessed,  they  made  shiit  l(*.keep  ili(! 
-Indians  at  a  distance,  and  convince  them  that  they  coidd  not  take  ihc 
phice.  When  the  Indians  were  about  to  retire,  Capt.  IJnlyel  arrived  at 
."the  fort  with  a  considerable  reinforcement  for  the  rehef  of  the  place.  He 
_made\i  sortie  against  the  breastworks  which  the  Indians  had  ihrown  up, 
with  two  hundred  and  forty-five  men.  This  detachment  was  driven  back 
with  the  loss  of  seventy  men  killed  and  forty-two  wounded.  Ca})t. 
Dalyel  was  am.ong  the  slaini  Of  one  liundred  men  who  were  escorting* 
a  large  quantity  of  provisions  to  Detroit,  sixty-seven  were  massacred. 

Fort  Pitt  had  been  invested'  for  some  time,  before  Capt  Kcayer  had  the 
.least  prospect  of  relief.  In  this  situation  he  and  his  garrison  had  resolved 
'to  stand -it 'out  to  the  last  extremity,  and  even  perish  of  famine,  rather 
than  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  savages,  notwithstandinir  the  fort  was  a  bad 
one,  the  garrison  weak,  and  the  country  between  the  fort  and  Ligonier  in 
■possession  of  the  savages,  and  his  messengers  killed  or  compelled  to 
return  back.  In  this  situation.  Col.  Bouquet  was  sent  by  Gen  Amhurst 
to  the  relief  of. the  place,  with  a  large  quantity  of  provisions  under  a  strong 
'escort.  This 'escort  was  attacked  by  n  large  body  of  Indians,  in  a  nar- 
row defde  on  Turtle  creek,  and  would  have  been  entirely  defeated,  had  it 
not  been  for  a  successful  stratagem  employed  by  the  commander  for  ex- 
tricating themselves  from  the  savage  army.  After  sustaining  a  furious 
contest  from  one  o'clock  till  night,  and  for  several  hours  the  next  morn- 
ing, a  retreat  was  pretended,  with  a  view  to  draw  the  Indians  into  a  close 
engagement.  Previous  to  this  movement,  four  companies  of  infantry  and 
grenadiers  were  placed  in  ambuscade.  The  plan  succeeded.  When  the 
retreat  commenced,  the  Indians  thouofht  themselves  secure  of  victorv,  iMxd 
pressing  forward  with  great  vigor,  fell  into  the  ambuscade,  and  were  dis- 
persed with  great  slaughter.  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the  English  was 
abov'e  oYie  hundred  killed  and  wounded ;  that  of  the  Indians  could  not 
have  been  less.  The  loss  was  severely  felt  by  the  Indians,  as  in  addition 
to  the  number  of  warriors  who  fell  in  the  engagement,  several  of  the  most 
'distindruished  chiefs  were  amonof  the  slain.  Fort  Pitt,  the  reduction  of 
which  they  had  much  at  heart,  was  now  placed  out  of  their  reach,  by 
Ibeing  efl^ctually  relieved  and  supplied  with  the  munitions  of  war. 

'I'hf^  historian  of  the  western  region  of  our  country  cannot  help  regard- 
ing Pitls'hurg,  the  present  flourishing  emporium  of  the  northern  ])art  of 
that  region,  and  its  in-uncdiate  neicrhborhood,  as  classic  ground,  on  ac- 
count of  the  memorable  battles  which  took  place  for  its  possession  in  the 
infancy  of  our  settlements.  J^raddock's  defeat,  Maj.  Grant's  defeat,  its 
conquest  by  Gen.  Forbes,  the  victory  over  the  Indians  above  related  by 
MaJ.  Bouquet,  serve  to  show  the  importance  in  which  this  post  was  held 
.in  early  times,  and  that  it  was  obtained  and  supported  by  the  Knglish 
goSernment,  at  the  price  of  no  small  amount  of  blood  and  treasnre.  In 
Hhe'neighborhood  of  this  place,  as  well  as  in  the  war-worn  regions  of  tlie 
old  world,  the  j)lowshare  of  the  faiiner  turns  up  from  beneath  tin*  surface 
of  th(^  earth,  the  l)roken  and  rusty  implements  of  war,  and  the  bones  of 
'the  slain  in  battle. 
•     li  was  in  tin.'  course  of  tliis  war  <;iat  tlie  dreadful  massacre  at  Wyoming 


173  WAR  OF  1763. 

took  place,  and  desolated  the  fine  settlements  of  the  New-England  peo- 
ple along  the  SusquGhanna. 

The  extensive  and  indiscriminate  slaniihter  of  both  sexes  and  all  asres 
by  the  Indians,  at  Wyoming  and  other  places,  so  exasperated  a  large 
number  of  men,  denominated  the  "Paxton  boys,"  that  they  rivalled  the 
most  ferocious  of  the  Indians  themselves  in  deeds  of  cruelty,  which  have 
dishonored  the  history  of  our  country,  by  the  record  of  the  shedding  of 
innocent  blood  without  the  slightest  provocation — deeds  of  the  most  atro- 
cious barbarity. 

The  Conestoga  Indians  had  lived  in  peace  for  more  than  a  century  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  Their  number  did  not  exceed  forty. 
Arrainst  fhese  unoffending  descendants  of  the  first  friends  of  the  famous 
William  Penn,  the  Paxton  boys  first  directed  their  more  than  savage  veu" 
geance.  Fifiy-seven  of  them,  in  military  array,  poured  into  their  little 
village,  ami  instantly  murdered  all  whom  they  found  at  home,  to  the 
number  of  fourteen  men,  women  and  children.  Those  of  them  who  did 
not  happen  to  be  at  home  at  the  massacre,  were  lodged  in  the  jail  of 
Lancaster  for  safety.  But  alas!  this  precaution  was  unavailing.  The 
Paxton  boys  broke  open  the  jail  door,  and  murdered  the  whole  of  them, 
in  number  al)out  fifteen  to  twenty.  It  was  in  vain  that  these  poor  de- 
fenseless people  protested  their  innocence  and  begged  for  mercy  on  their 
knees.  Blood  was  the  order  of  the  day  with  those  ferocious  Paxton 
boys.  The  death  of  the  victims  of  their  cruelties  did  not  satisfy  their 
rage  for  slaughter;  they  mangled  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Indians  with 
their  scalping  knives  and  tomahawks  in  the  most  shocking  and  brutal 
manner,  scalping  even  the  children  and  chopping  off  the  hands  and  feet 
of  most  of  them. 

'I'he  next  object  of  those  Paxton  boys  was  the  murder  of  the  christian 
Indians  of  the  villages  of  Wequetank  and  Nain.  From  the  execution 
of  this  infernal  design  they  were  prevented  by  the  humane  interference  of 
the  government  of  Pennsylvania,  Avhieh  removed  the  inhabitants  of  both 
places  under  a  strong  guard  to  Philadelphia  for  protection.  They  re- 
mained under  guard  from  November,  1763,  until  the  close  of  the  war  in 
December,  17(34  :  the  greater  part  of  this  time  they  occupied  the  barracks 
of  tliat  city.  The  Paxton  boys  twice  assembled  in  great  force,  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  city,  with  a  view  to  assault  the  barracks  and  mur- 
der  the  Indians ;  but  owing  to  the  military  preparations  made  for  their  re-^ 
cej)tion,  they  at  last  reluctantly  desisted  from  the  enterprise. 

While  we  read,  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  horror,  the  record  of  the 
murders  which  have  at  diiferent  periods  been  inflicted  on  the  unoffending 
christian  Indians  of  the  Moravian  profession,  it  is  some  consolation  to 
reflect,  that  our  government  has  had  no  participation  in  those  murders  ; 
l)iit  on  the  contrary,  has  at  all  times  afforded  them  all  the  protection  which 
circumstances  allowed. 

The  principal  settlements  in  Greenbrier  were  those  of  Muddy  Creek 
and  the  Big  Levels,  distant  about  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  from  each  other. 
Before  these  settlers  were  aware  of  the  existence  of  the  Vv-ar,  and  suppo- 
sing: tbat  the  peace  made  with  the  French  comprehended  their  Indian 
allies  also,  about  sixty  Indian^s  visited  the  settlement  on  Muddy  Creek, 


WAR  OF  116^.  174 

They  made  the  visit  under  the  mask  of  friendship.  They  AVere  cordially 
received  and  treated  witli  all  the  hospitality  which  it  was  in  the  power  of 
these  new  settlers  to  bestow  upon  them;  but  on  a  sudden,  and  without 
any  previous  intimation  of  any  thing- like  an  hostile  intention,  the  Indians 
murdered,  in  cold  blood,  all  the  men  belonging  to  the  settlement,  and 
made  prisoners  of  the  women  and  children. 

Leaving  a  guard  with  their  prisoners,  they  then  marched  to  the  settle- 
ments in  the  Levels,  before  the  fate  of  the  Muddy  Creek  settlement  was 
known.  Here,  as  at  Muddy  Creek,  they  were  treated  with  the  most 
kind  and  attentive  hospitality,  at  the  house  of  Archibald  Glendennin,  who 
gave  the  Indians  a  sumptuous  feast  of  three  fat  elks,  which  he  had  re- 
cently killed.  Here  a  scene  of  slaughter,  similar  to  that  which  had  re- 
cemly  taken  place  at  Muddy  Creek,  occurred  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
feast.  It  commenced  with  an  old  woman,  who  havinjr  a  very  sore  leo-. 
showed  it  to  an  Indian,  desiring  his  advice  how  she  might  cure  it.  This 
request  he  answered  with  a  blow  of  the  tomahawk,  which  instantly  killed 
her.  In  a  few  minutes  all  the  men  belonging  to  the  place  shared  the 
same  fate.     The  women  and  children  were  made  prisoners. 

In  the  time  of  the  slaughter,  a  negro  woman  at  the  spring  near  the 
house  where  it  happened,  killed  her  own  child  for  fear  it  should  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  or  hinder  her  from  making  her  escape. 

Mrs.  Glendennin,  whose  husband  was  among  the  slain,  and  herself 
with  her  children  prisoners,  boldly  charged  the  Indians  with  perfidy  and 
cowardice,  in  taking  advantage  of  the  mask  of  friendship  to  commit  mur- 
der. One  of  the  Indians  exasperated  at  her  boldness,  and  stung,  wo 
doubt,  at  the  justice  of  lier  charge  against  them,  brandished  his  toma- 
hawk over  her  head,  and  dashed  her  husband's  scalp  in  her  face.  In 
defiance  of  all  his  threats,  the  heroine  still  reiterated  the  charges  of  per- 
fidy and  cowardice  against  the  Indians. 

On  the  next  day,  after  marching  about  ten  miles,  while  passing  through 
a  thicket,  the  Indians  forming  a  front  and  rear  guard,  ]\Irs.  Glendennin 
gave  her  infant  to  a  neighbor  woman,  stepped  into  the  bushes  without 
being  perceived  by  the  Indians,  and  made  her  escape.  The  cries  of  the 
child  made  the  Indians  inquire  for  the  mothor.  She  was  not  to  be  found. 
^'Well,"  says  one  of  them,  "I  will  soon  bring  the  cow  to  htir  calf;"  and 
taking  the  child  by  the  feet,  beat  its  brains  out  against  a  tree.  Mrs. 
Glendennin  returned  home  in  the  course  of  the  succeeding  night,  and 
covered  the  corpse  of  her  husband  with  ience  rails.  Having  ])erformed 
this  j)ious  office  for  her  murdered  husband,  she  chose,  as  a  place  of  safety, 
a  cornfield,  where,  as  she  related,  her  heroic  resolution  was  succeeded  by 
a  paroxysm  of  grief  and  desj)ondency,  during  which  she  iuia«2:ine(l  she 
saw  a  man  witli  the  aspect  of  a  murderer  standing  within  a  few  steps  of 
her.  The  reader  of  this  narrative,  instead  ot' regarding  this  fitof  desjion- 
dericy  as  a  feminine  weakness  on  the  })art  of  this  daughter  of  alHiction, 
will  commisserate  her  situation  of  unparalleled  destitution  and  distress. 
Alone,  in  {\ui  dead  of  night,  the  survivor  of  all  the  infant  settlements  of 
that  district,  while  all  her  relatives  wnd  neighbors  of  both  settlements  were 
either  prisoners  or  Ivim''  dead,  dishonored  bv  ij-hastiv  wounds  of  the  toma- 


n5  DEATH  OF  CORNSTALK. 

Iiawk  aiifl  scalping  knife  of  the  savages,    her  husband  and  her  children 
uniongst  the  shiin.  ,   .       . 

It  was  some  days  before  a  force  could  b^  collected  in  the  eastern  part  . 
of  iiotetourt  and  the  adjoining  country  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the 
dead.  ,.  .-  .  ^ 

Ut"  the  events  of  this  war,  on  the  southwestern  frontier  of  Vireinia,  and 
ill  the  country  of  Holstein,  the  then  western  part  of  North  Carolina,  the 
auilior  lias  not  been  informed,  farther  than  that,  on  the  part  of  the  In- 
dians, il  was  carried  on  with  the  jrreatest  activity,  and  its  course  marked 
with  many  deeds  of  the  most  atiocious  cruelty,  until  late  in  the  year  1764., 
when  a  period  was  put  to  this  sanguinary  contest,  by  a  treaty  made  with 
the  Tridian  nations  by  Sir. William  Johnston,  at  the  German  Flats-. 

'J'lie  perfidy  and  cruelties  practiced  by  the  Indians  during  the  war  of 
1763  and  1764,  occasioned  the  revolting  and  sanguinary  character  of  the 
Indian  wars  which  took  place  afterwards.  The  Indiaiis  had  resolved  on  . 
the  total  extermination  of  all  the  settlers  of  our  north  and  southwestern  ^ 
frontiers,  and  being  no  longer  under  the  control  of  their  former  alUes,  the 
French,  they  were  at  full  libt^rty  to  exercise  all  llieir  native  ferocity,  and 
riot  in  the  indulgence  of  their  inuvate  thirst  for  blood. 

[N«xt  fol'lowH,  in  Dr.  Doddrige's  work,  his  account  of  Dunmore's  war, 
which  the  author  of  this  history  has  transferred  to  the  chapter  under  that  , 
head  in  the  preceding  pages.     The   chapter  which  follows  i elates  to  an 
event  which  occurred  during  that  war.] 


:o:- 


CHAPTER  III, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CORNSTALK. 

I 

This  was  one  of  the  most  atrocious  murders  committed  by  the  whites 
during  the  whole  course  of  the  war.      [Dunmore's  war.] 

In  the  summer  of  1777,  when  the  confederacy  of  the  Indian  nations, 
under  the  influence  of  the  British  government,  was  formed,  and  began  to 
commit  hostilities  along  our  frontier  settlements.  Cornstalk,  and  a  young 
chief  of  the  name  of  Iled-hawk,  with  another  Indian,  made  a  visit  to  the 
garrison  at  the  Point,  commanded  at  that  time  by  Capt.  Arbuckle.  Corn- 
stalk stated  to  the  captain,  that,  with  the  exception  of  himself  and  the 
tribe  to  which  he  belonged,  all  the  nations  had  joined  the  English,  and 
that  unless  protected  by  the  v;hites,  "they  would  have  to  run  with  the 
stream." 

Capt.  Arbuckle  thought  proper  to  detain  the  Cornfstalk  chief  and  his 
two  companions  as  hostages  for  the  good  conduct  of  the  tribe  to  vshich 


DEATH  OF  CORNSTALK.  176 


4 


.liey  bclongetl.  They  had  not  been  long  in  this  situation  before  a  son  of 
Cornstalk,  concernecl  for  the  safety  of  his  father,  came  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  and  hallooed;  his  father  knowing  his  voice,  answered 
him.  He  was  broui^ht  over  the  river.  'J'he  father  and  son  mutually 
embraced  each  other  with  the  greatest  tenderness. 

On  the  day  following,  two  Indians,  ^'ho  had  concealed  themselves  in 
the  weeds  on  the  bank  of  the  Kanawha  opposite  the  fort,  kiUed  a  man 
of  the  name  of  Gilmore,  as  be  was  returning  from  hunting.  As  soon  as 
the  dead  body  was  brought  over  the  river,  there  Avas  a  general  cry  amongst 
the  men  who  were  present,  ^^Let  us  kill  the  Indians  in  the  fort."  They 
immediateiy  ascended  the  hank  of  the  river  with  Capt.  Hall  at  their  head, 
to  execute  their  hasty  resolution.  On  their  way  they  were  met  by  Capt. 
vStuart  aad  Capt.  Arbuckle,  who  endeavored  to  dissuade  them  from  kill- 
ing the  Indian  hostages,  saying  that  they  certainly  had  no  concern  in  the 
murder  of  Gdmore;  but  remonstrance  was  in  vain.  Pale  as  dea'h  with 
r*'ige,  they  cocked  their  guns  and  threatened  the  captains  widi  ins.anc 
death,  if  the^^  should  attempt  to  hinder  them  from  executing  their  pur- 
pose. ,  .  . 

When  the  murderers  arrived  at  the  house  where  the  hostages  were  con- 
fined, Cornstalk  rose  up  to  meet  them  at  the  door,  but  instantly  received 
seven  bullets  through  his  body;  his  son  and  hi:,  othertwo  fellow-hostages 
were  instantly  despatched  with  bullets  and  tomahawks. 

Thus  fell  the  Shawnee  war  chief  Cornstalk,  who,  like  Logan,  his  com- 
j^anion  in  arm's,  was  conspicuous  for  intellectual  talent,  bravery  and  mis- 
fortune. 

The  biograpliy  of  Cornstalk,  as  far  as  it  is  now  known,  goes  to  show 
that  he  wks  no  way  deficient  in  those  mental  endowments  which  consti- 
tute true  greatness.  On  th'e  evening  preceding  the  battle  of  Point  Plea- 
sant, he  proDOsed  fjoinij  over  the  river  to  the  cam]-)  of  Gen.  Lewis,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  peace.  The  majority  in  the  councd  ot  \yarriors  voted 
afj-ainst  the  measure.  "  Well,"  said  Cornstalk,  "  since  you  have  resol- 
ved  on  fi'^\itinf^,  you  shall  fight,  although  it  is  likely  we  shall  have  hard 
work  to-morrow;  but  if  any  man  shall  attempt  to  run  away. from  the  bat- 
tle, I  will  kill  Idm  with  my  own  hand,''  and  accordingly  fulfilled  his 
threat  with  regara  to  one  cowardly  fellow.  , 

After  the  Indians  had  returned  from  the  battle, ,  Cornstalk  called  a 
council  at  the  Chillicothe  town,  to  consult  what  was  to  be  done  next. 
\xi  this  council  h-^^  reminded  the  war  chiefs  of  their  folly  in  preventing  him 
from  miking  peace,  before  the  fatal  battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  and  a  deed, 
"What  shall  we  do  now?  The  Long-knives  are  (;omin'g  upon  us  by  two 
routes.  Shall  we  turn  out  and  fight  them?"  All  were  silent..  He  then 
asked,  "  Shall  \ye  kill  our  squaw>;  and  children,  and. then  fight  until  wf 
"shall  all  be  killed  ourselves?"  To  this  no  reply  was  made.  He  then 
rose  up  and  struck  his  tomahawk  in  the  war  post  in  the  middle  ol"  the 
council  house,  saving,  "Since  you  are  not  iuclincd  to  figlil,  I  will  go 
and  make  peace;"  and  accordingly  did  so. 

On  th;'  morning  of  the  diy  of  his  death,  ac:)inc!l  wis  jield  iu  tii:^  foit 
at  the  Poin!,   in  which  h"  wn*;  ])reven!.      During*  the  sitliua*  of  l!;.'  c  ».i  i- 


luZ  Wappatomk'a  campaign: 

ril,  il  is  said  tliat  lie  seemed  to  have  a  presentiment  of  his  approachmg-' 
i'ate.  In  one  of  his  speeches,  he  remarked  to  the  councilj  "When  I  was 
young,  every  time  I  went  to  war  I  thought  it  likely  that  I  might  return  no 
more;  but  I  still  lived.  I  am  now  in  your  hands,  and  you  may  kill  me 
if  vou  chooser  I  can  die  but  once,  and  it  is  alike  to  me  whether  I  die 
now  or  at  another  time,''*  When  the  men  presented  themselves  before' 
the  door,  for  the  purpose  of  killing  the  Indians,  Cornstalk's  son  mani- 
iested  signs  of  fear,  on  observing  which,  his  fother  said,  "Don't  be  afraid,, 
my  son;  the  Great  Spirit  sent  you  here  to  die  with  me,  and  w^e  must  sub-' 
rait  to  ]iis=  will.     It  is' all  for  the  best." 


-:(.):■ 


CHAPTER  I  V: 


WAPPATOMICA  CAMPAIGN, 

Undep.  the  command  of  Col.  Angus  M 'Donald,  four  hundred  men  were 
collected  from  the  western  part  of  Virginia  by  the  order  of  the  earl  of 
Dunrnore,  the  then  governor  of  Virginia.     The  place  of  rendezvous  was 
Wheeling,  some  time  in  the  month- of  June,  1774.-    They  went  down  the 
river  in  boats  and  canoes  to  the  .mou-th  of  Captina,  from  thence  by  the 
shortest  route  to  Wappatomica  town,  about  sixteen  miles  below  the  pre- 
sent Coshocton.     The  pilots  v.ere  Jonathan  Zane,  Thomas  Nicholson 
and  Tady  Kelly.     About  six  miles  from  the  town,  the  army  were  met  by 
a  parly  of  Indian?,  to  the  number  of  forlv  or  fifty,  who  gave  a  skiimish 
by  the  way  oi  ambuscade,  in  which  two  of  our  men  were  killed  and  eight 
or  nine  wounded.     One  Indian  was  killed  and  several  wounded.     It  vras 
supposed  that  several  more  of  them  were  killed,  but  they  were  carried  off. 
When  the  army  came  to  the  town,  it  w^as  found  evacuated.     The  Indi- 
ans had  retreated  to  the  opposite   shore  of  the  river,  where  they  had 
formed  an  ambuscade,  supposing  the' party  vrould  cross  the  river  from  the 
town.     This  was  immediately  discovered.     The  commanding  officer  then 
sent  sentinels  up  and  down  the  river,  to  give  notice,  in  case  the  Indians 
should  attempt  to  cross  above  or  below  the  town.     A  private  in  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  Cresap,  of  the  name  of  John  Harness,  one  of  the  sentinels 
below  the  town,  displayed  the  skill  of  a  backwoods  sharpshooter.      See- 
ing an  Indian   behind  a  blind  across  the  river,   raising  up  his  head,  at 
times,  to  look  over  the  river.  Harness  charged  his  rifle  with  a  second  ball, 
and  taking  deliberate  airn,  passed  both  balls  through  the  neck  of  the  In- 
dian.    The  Indians  dragged  off  the  body  and  buried  it  v.dth  the  honors 
<3f  war.     It  was  found  the  next  morning  and  scalped  by  Harness. 

^oon  afcer- the  town  Vv-as-  taken,  the  Indians  fvom  the  opposite  shore  " 


GEN.  AriNTUSll'S  CAMPAIGN.  17ti< 

rsned  for  peace.  The  commniuler  offered  them  peace  on  condition  oi" 
their  sendin^r  over  their  chiefs  as  hostages.  Five  of  them  came  over  the 
river  and  were  put  under  guard  as  hostages.  In  the  morning  they  v/ere 
marched  in  front  of  the  army  over  the  river.     When  the  party  had  reached 

^the  western  bank  of  the  Miiskingam,  the  Indians  represented  that  they 
could  not  make  peace  without  the  presence  of  the  chiefs  of  the  other 
towns:  on  which  one  of  the  chiefs  was  released  to  brinsf  in  the  others. 
He  did  not  return  in  the  appointed  time.  Another. chief  was  permitted  to 
go  on  the  $3.me  errand,  who  in  like  manner  did  not  return.  The  party 
then  moved  up  the  river  to  the  next  town,  which  was  about  a  mile  above 
the  first,  and  on  the  opposite  shore.  Here  we  had  a  slight  skirmish  v\'ith 
the  Indians,  in  which  one  of  tbem  v\'as  killed  and  one  ef  our  men  wound- 
ed. It  was  then  discovered,  that  during  all  the  time  spent  in  the  nego- 
tiation, the  Indians  were  employed  in  removing  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, old  people  and  effects,  from  the  upper  towns.  The  towns  were 
burned  and  the  corn  cut  up.  The  party  then  returned  to  the  place  from 
which  they  sat  out,  bringing  v^uth  them  the  three  remaining  chiefs,  who 
were  sent  to  Williamsburg.  They  wtre  released  at  the  peace  the  suc- 
ceeding: fall. 

The  army  were  out  of  provisions  before  they  left  the  towns,  and  had 
to  subsist  on  weeds,  one. ear  of  corn  each  day,  with  a  very  scanty  supply 

fof  game.     The  corn  was  obtained  at  one  of  the  Indkm  towns. 


.().- 


CHAPTES  ¥, 


CfEN.  MTNTOSH'S  CAMPAIGN. 

In  the  si)ring  of  the  year  1773,  government  having  sent  a  small  force  of 
regular  troops,  under  the  command  ni'  (hm.  MTntosh,  for  the  defense  of 
^he  vrestern  frontier,  the  general,  wiili  the  regulars  and  mililia  from  Fort 
Pitt,  descended  the  Ohio  about  thirty  rai'es,  and  built  Fort  M'Intosh,  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Beaver  town..  The  fort  was  made  with  slrtuig 
stockades,  furnished  with  bastions,  and  mounted  with  one  6-poundei-. 
This  station  was  well  selected  as  a  point  for  a  ^mall  jnllitary  force,  al- 
ways in  reailiness  to  pursue  or  intercept  the  v.'ar  parries  of  Indiums,  vvdio 
frequently  made  incursions  inlo  the  settlemrMits  on  the  opposite  side  oi 
the  river  in  its  immediate  nei<iliborhood.  The  fort  was  well  jrarrisoned 
and  supplied  with  provisions  during  tiie  summer. 

Sometime  in  the  fall  of  tlie  same  year,  Gen.  M'Intosh  rccei\ed  an  or- 
der from  i>*()vernment  to  make  a  campaii>n  against  the  Sanduskv  lowns. 

,  *  '  ion  »       , 

This  order  he  attempted  to  obey  with  one  thousantl  men;  but  owing  t<> 

ahc  delay  in  iiiikiii^  nccv^s:H-y  o^itfh'i  fcr  ^!:(   '  ^-q-  litici.,  ^!:c  cfli^^"-.   '•.'? 


,179.  :G1:N.  M  iNTOSUS  'CA:\IPA1G^. 

rcacliiiig"  Tuhcarawa,  liioaght  it  best  to  halt  at  that  pLice,  build  and  gar- 
rison a  fort,  lUid  delay  the  iarther  prosecution  oi"  the  campiiign  uniii  the 
next  spring.  Accordingly  they  erected  Fort  Laurens  on  the  bank  of  the 
Tuscarawa'.  Some  time  after  the  completion  of  the  fort,  the  general  re- 
turned with  the  army  to  Fort  Pitt,  leaving  Col.  John  Gibson  with  a  com- 
mand of  oiie  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  protect  the  fort  until  spring.  The 
Indians  wefe  soon  acquainted  Avith  the  existence  of  the  fort,  and  soon 
convinced  our  people,  by  sad  experience,  of  (he  bad  policy  of  building 
'and  attempting  to  hold  a  fort  so  far  in  advance  of  our  settlements  and 
other  lorts. 

The  first  annoyance  the  garrison  received  from  the  Indians  was  somp 
time  in  the  month  of  J^anuary.  In  the  night  time  they  caught  most  of 
the  horses  belonging  to  the  fort,  and  taking  them  off  some  distance  intq> 
the  woods,  they  took  off  their  bells,  and  formed  ari  ambus*  ade  by  the 
side  of  a  path  leading  through  the  high  grass"  of  a  prairie  at.a  little  disr 
'tance  from  the  ibrt.  lii  the  morning:  the  Indians  rattled  the  horse  bells 
at  the  further  end  of  the  line  of  the  ambuscade.  T^ie  plan  s^ucceeded;  a 
fatigue  of  "sixteen  men  went  out  for  the  horses  ami  iell  into  the  snare. 
Fourteen  yrere  killed  on  the  spot,  tvyo  vrere  taken  prisoners,  one  of  whom 
was  given  up  at  the  closx3  of  the  war,  the  other  yv-as  never  aftervvards 
heard  of.      ' 

Gen.  J^enjamin  Biggs,  then  a  captain  in  t^ie  fort,  .being  officer  of  the 
day,  iCquesujd  leave  of  the  colonel  to  go  out  with  the  fatigue  party,which 
fell  into  the  and^uscade.  "No,'-?  saiil  the  colonel,  "this  fatigue  party 
does  not  belong  to  a  captain's  commancL'  When  I  shall  have  occasion 
to' employ  one  of  that  nuinber,  1  slkall  be  thankful  for  your  service;  at  pre- 
sent you  must  attend  to  your  duty  in  the  fort."  On  what  trivial  clroum- 
stances  do  life  and  death  :s.)metimes  depend! 

In  the  everiii^,>-  of  the  day  of  the  fimbusc;,ide,  the  wh^le  Indian  army, 
in  full  w.\r  dress  and  painted,  marched  in  single  file  through  a  prairie  in 
view^  of  the  ibrt.  Their  number,  as  counted  from  one  of  the  bastions', 
was  ei;T;ht  hundred  and  forly-seven.  ^  They  then  took  up  their  encamp- 
ment on  an  elevated  piece  of  gjouifd  at  a  small  distaace  n'om  the  Ibrt,  oil 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  From  this  camp  they  Treqaently  held  con- 
versations with  the  people'of  our  garrison.  In  these'  conversations,  they 
seemed  to  deplore  tiie  long  continuance  of  the  war  and  hoped  for  peace; 
but  vrere  much  exasperated  at  the  Americans  for  attfempting  to  penetrate 
so  fir  into  their  country.  This  L^rcat  body  of  Indians  continued  the  in- 
vestment  of  the  f;.)rt,  as  long  as  they  could  obtain  subsistence,  which  was 
a.bout  six  v,'eeks. 

An  old  Indian  by  tlie  name  of  John  Thompson,  who  was  with  the 
Americm  army  in  the  fort,  frequenlily  went  out  among  the  Indians  dur- 
.^i;.g  their  stay  at  their  encampmentV'^'^'i^h  the  mutual  consent  of  b.G'^h  jsarr 
lies.  A  short  time  before  the  Indiai\s  left  the  place,  tliey  sent  word  to 
po!.  Gibson,  by  the  old  Indian,  that  they  were  desirous  of  peace,  and 
lliat  iC  he  would  send  them  a  bai'rel  of  Hour  they  would  send  in  their  pro- 
posals the  next  day;  but  altliough  the  colonel  complied  with  their  request, 
jfjev  rriar<"ned  off  without  Ibln]!!;)"-  their  en<i'a<rcm.ent. 

/rh'.;  .ccnniuiridcr,  ^:upp.o^iI;g  il:e  ^vli!)le  iiuUiber  of  the  Iji<!ians  liad  gcn,e 


,OEN.  MUNTOSH'S  CAMPAIGN.  ISO 


^'Olf,  gav€  permissioii  to  Col.  Clark,  of  the  Pennsylvania- line,  to  escort  the 
invalids,  to  the  number  of  eleven  er  twelve,  to  Fort  M'lntosh.  The 
3vhole  number  of  this  dd:achment  was  hfteen.  The  wary  Indians  had 
left  a  party  behind,  for  the  purpose  of  doing  mischief.  'I'hese  attacked 
this  party  of  invalids  and  the  escort,  about  two  miles  from  their  fort,  and 
killed  the  whole  of  them  with  the  exception  of  four,  amongst  whom  was 
the  captain,  who  ran  back  to  the  fort.  On  the  same  day  a  detachment 
went  out  irom  the  fort,  brought  in  the  dead,  nnd  buried  theift  with  the 
■  honors  of  war,  in  front  of  the  ibrt  eate. 

In  three  or  four  days  after  this  disaster,  a  relief  of  seven  hundred  men, 
under  Gen.  JNl'Intosh,  arrived  at  the  fort  w^ith  a  supply  of  provisions,  a 
great  part  of  which  was  lost  by  an  untoward  accident.  When  the  relief 
had  reached  within  about  one  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  the  o-arrison  fjave 
them  a  salute  of  a  general  discharge  of  musketry,  at  the  report  of  which 
the  pack  horses  took  fright,  broke  loose  and  scattered  the  provisions  in 
^.every  direction  through  the  woods,  so  that  the  greater  part  ot"  them  could 
fiever  be  recovered  again. 

Among  other  transactions  which  took  place  about  this  time,  w^as  that 
,of  gathering  up  the  remains  of  the  fourteen  men  for  iftterrnent,  who  had 
fallen  in  the  ambuscade  during  the  winter,  and  which  could  not  be  done 
during  the  investment  of  the  place  by  the  Indians.  They  were  fountl 
mostly  devoured  by  the  wolves.  The  fatigue  party  dug  a  pit  large 
enough  to  contain  the  remains  of  all  of  them,  and  after  depositing  them  in 
the  pit,  merely  covering  them  with  a  little  earth,  with  a  view  to  have  re- 
venge on  the  wolves  for  devouring  their  companions,  they  covered  the 
pit  with  slender  sticks,  rotten  w^ood  and  bits  of  bark,  not  of  sullicient 
strength  to  bear  the  weight  of  a  wolf.  On  the  top  of  this  covering  they 
placed  a  piece  of  meat,  as  a  bait  for  the  wolves.  The  next  morning  seven 
of  them  were  found  in  the  pit.     They  were  shot  and  the  pit  filled  u[). 

For  about  two  weeks  before  the  relief  arrived,  the  r'-airison  had  been 
put  on  short  allowance  of  half  a  pound  of  sour  flour  and  an  equal  weight 
of  stinking  meat  for  every  two  days.  The  greater  part  of  the  last  week, 
they  had  nothing  to  subsist  on  but  st:ch  roots  as  they  could  find  in  the 
woods  and  prairies,  and  raw  hides.  Two  men  lost  their  lives  by  eating 
wild  parsnip  roots  by  mistake.  Four  more  nearly  shared  the  sam«  fate, 
but  were  saved  by  medical  aid. 

On  the  evening  of  the  arrival  of  the  relief,  two  days'  rations  were  issued 
to  each  man  in  the  fort.  These  rations  were  inteaded  as  their  allowance 
during  their  march  to  Fort  M'lntosh;  but  many  of  the  men,  supposing 
them  to  have  been  back  rations,  ate  up  the  whole  of  their  allowance  be- 
fore the  next  morning.  In  consequence  of  this  imprudence,  in  eatingj 
immoderately  after  such  extreme  starvation  from  the  want  of  provisions, 
about  forty  of  the  rnen  became  faint  and  sick  during  the  first  day's  march. 
On  tlie  second  day,  however,  the  snilTerers  were  met  by  a  great  number 
of  tiieir  fi'iends  from  X\n\  settlements  to  which  they  belonged,  by  whom 
they  were  amply  supplied  with  provisions,  and  thus  saved  from  perish- 


ing. 


i\raj.   Vernon,  who  succeeded  Col.   Gibson  in  the  comm-ind  of  Fort 
Laurens.,  continued  its  possession  until  the  next  fall,  when  ^!ic  •.^ni^on, 


l.-^l  MOKAMAN  CAMPAIGN, 

at'ier  l»>Mtig,  like  tlieir  predecessors,  reduced  almost  to  starvation,  evacua>^ 
ted  the  place. 

Thus  ended  the  disastrous  husiness  of  Fort  Laurens,  in  -which  much 
fatigue  and  sii-ltM-in^  were  endured  and  inany  lives  lost,  but  without  any 
beneficial  resuii  to  ihe  countrv. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  .AIORAYIAN  CAMPAIGN. 

Tins  ever  memorable  campaign  took  place  in  the  month  of  March, 
17S?.  The  weather,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  month  of  February, 
had  been  uncommonly  fine,  so  that  the  war  parties  from  Sandusky  visited 
the  settlements,  and  committed  depredations  earlier  than  usual.  The 
iamily  of  a  William  Wallace,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  five  or  six  chil- 
dren, were  killed,  and  John  Carpenter  taken  prisoner.  These  events 
took  place  in  the  latter  part  of  February.  The  early  period  at  which 
those  fatal  visitations  of  the  Indians  took  place,  led  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  murderers  were  either  ]\Ioravians,  or  that  the  warriors  had  had  their 
winter  quarters  at  their  towns  on  the  Muskingum.  In  eitlier  case,  the 
Moravi.ms  being  in  fault,  the  safety  of  the  frontier  settlements  required 
the  destruction  of  their  establishments  at  that  place. 

Accordino'ly,  between  ei^htv  and  ninety  men  were  hastily  collected  to-^ 
gether  for  tlie  fatal  enterprise.  They  rendezvoused  and  encamped  the 
first  night  on  the  Mingo  bottom,  on  tlie  west  side  oi  the  Ohio  river. 
Each  man  furnished  himself  with  his  own  arms,  ammunition  and  provi- 
sion. ■Many  of  them  had  horses.  The  second  days  march  brought  them 
Avithin  one  mile  of  the  middle  Moravian  town,  where  they  encamped  for 
the  night.  In  the  morning  the  miCn  v\T.re  divided  into  two  equal  parties, 
one  of  which  was  to  cross  the  river  about  a  mile  above  the  tovrn,  their 
videttes  having  reported  that  there  Vv^ere  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 
The  oth^T  parly  Vv'as  divided  into  three  divisions,  one  of  wdiich  was  to 
take  a  circuit  in  the  woods,  and  reach  the  river  a  little  distance  below  the 
town,  on  the  east  side.  Another  division  \yas  to  fall  into  the  middle  of 
the  town,  and"  the  third  at  its  upper  g^'A. 

Vv'hen  the  party  which  designed  to  make  the  attack  on  the  west  side 
had  reached  the  river,  they  found  no  craft  to  take  them  over,  but  some- 
thing like  a  canoe  was  seen  on  the  opposite  bank.  The  river  was  high 
Yx'ith  some  floatincf  ice.  A  younjx  man  of  the  name  of  Slaucrhter  swam  the 
river  and  brought  over,  not  a  canoe,  but  a  trough  designed  for  holding 
i^ugar  water.  This  trough  could  carry  but  two  men  at  a  time.  In  order 
to  s:\:p-;d:te  thsir  pj3::n.gc,  a  number  of  men  stripped  off  their  clothe^,  ]vx\ 


3;toRAVIAN  CAMPAIGN.  ib2 

fliein  into  tlic  trough,  together  \vlth  their  gvuis,  and  swam  by  its  sideSy 
holdino;  its  ed^-es  with  their  hands.  Vvlieu  about  sixteen  had  crossed 
the  river,  their  two  sentinels,  who  had  been  posted  in  ad\aMre,  discovered 
an  Indian  whose  name  was  Shabosh.  One  of  tliem  broke  one  of  his 
arms  by  a  shot.  A  shot  from  the  other  sentinel  killed  luin.  These  heroes 
then  scalped  and  tomahawked  him. 

By  this  time  about  sixteen  men  had  got  over  the  riv«jr,  and  supposinji^ 
that  the  firing  of  the  guns  which  killed  Shabosh  would  l(^a(i  lo  an  instant 
discovery,  they  sent  word  to  the  party  designed  to  attack  Ih^'  \()\vn  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  to  move  on  instantly,  which  they  did. 

In  the  mean  tinae,  the  small  party  which  had  crossed  the  river,  marched 
with  all  speed  to  the  main  town  on  the  west  side  of  the  i  iver.  Here  thfy 
found  a  large  company  of  Indians  gathering  the  corn  v.liich  tliey  had  left 
in  their  fields  the  preceding  fall  when  they  removed  lo  Sandusky.  On 
the  arrival  of  the  men  at  the  town,  they  professed  peace  and  good  will  to 
the  Moravians,  and  informed  them  that  they  had  come  to  talce  them  to 
Fort  Pitt  for  their  safety.  The  Indians  surrendered,  delivered  up  their 
arms,  and  appeared  highly  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  their  removal, 
and  began  with  all  speed  to  prepare  victuals  for  the  white  men  and  for 
themselves  on  their  journey. 

A  party  of  white  men  and  Indians  Avas  immediately  dispatched  to  Sa- 
lem, a  short  distance  from  Gnadenhutten,  where  the  Indians  were  gather- 
ing in  their  corn,  to  bring  them  into  Gnadenhutten.  The  party  soon  arri- 
ved with  the  whole  number  of  the  Indians  from  Salem. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  from  Gnadenhutten  were  confined  in  two 
houses  some  distance  apart,  and  placed  under  guard;  and  when  those 
from  Salem  arrived,  they  w^ere  divided,  and  placed  in  the  same  houses 
with  their  brethren  of  Gnadenhutten. 

The  prisoners  being  thus  secured,  a  council  of  vil'ar  was  held  to  decide 
on  their  fate.  The  officers,  unwilling  to  take  on  themselves  the  whole 
responsibility  of  the  decision,  agreed  to  refer  the  question  to  the  whole 
number  of  the  men.  The  men  Avere  accordingly  drawn  up  in  a  line. 
The  commandant  of  the  party,  Col.  David  Williamson,  then  put  the  ques- 
tion to  them  in  form,  "Whether  the  Moravian  Indians  should  be  taken 
prisoners  to  Pittsburg,  or  put  to  death,  and  requested  that  all  tliose  who 
were  in  favor  of  saving  their  lives  should  step  out  of  the  line  and  form  a 
second  rank."  On  this  sixteen,  som/e  say  eighteen,  stepped  out  of  the 
rank,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  second  line;  but  alas!  this  line  of 
mercy  was  far  too  short  for  that  of  vengeance. 

The  fate  of  the  Moravians  was  then  decided  on,  and  they  were  told  to 
prepare  for  death. 

The  prisoners,  from  the  time  they  were  pbced  in  the  guard-house,  fore- 
saw their  fate,  and  began  their  devotions  by  singing  hyiivns,  praying,  and 
exhorting  each  other  to  place  a  firm  reliance  in  the- mercy  of  the  Savior  of 
men.  When  their  fate  was  announced  to  them,  these  devoted  people 
embraced,  kissed,  and  bcdewinp^  ejich  others'  faces  and  bosoms  v,'ith 
their  mutual  tears,  asked  pardon  of  iJie.  l)rothers  and  sisters  for  any  offense 
they  might  have  given  tjiem  throug-h  life.  Thus,  at  peace  with  their  God 
and  each   (>thf?r,  «n  being  asked  by  tli^so  who  were  ir^patient  for  the 


iSi  AfORAVIA!v  CAMPAmX. 

slaiiQ'htpr,:^' Wliclher  they  were  ready  to  die?"  they  answered  "that  they 
liad  rommended  their  souls  to  God,  and  were  ready  to  die." 

'I'he  particuJRrs  of  this  dreadful  catastrophe  are  too  horrid  to  relate." 
SuiHce  it  to  sav,  that  in  a  few  mintites  these  two  slaughter-houses,  as 
•^hey  were  then  railed,  e:^hibited  in'  their  ghastly  interior,  the  mangled^' 
bleeding  remaiujir,  of  these  poor  unfortunate  jreople,  of  all  ages  and  sexes, 
from  the  aged  grayhead^d  parent,  down  to  the  helpless  infant  at  the  moth- 
eV's  breast,  dishonored  by  the  fatal  wounds  of  the  tomahawk,  mallet,  war 
club,  spear  and  scalping-knife. 

Thus,  if  Brainard  and  Zeisberger!  faithful  missionaries,  who  devoted 
your  whole  lives  to  incessant  toil  and  sufferLngs  in  your  endeavors  to  make 
the  wilderness  of  paganism  "rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose,"  in  faith 
and  piety  to  God!  thus  perished  your  faithful  followers,  by  the  murder- 
ous hands  of  the  more  than  savage  white  men.'  Faithful  pastors!  Your 
spirits  are' again  associated  with  those  of  your  flock,  "  where  the  wicked 
cease  from,  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest!" 

The  number  of  the  slain,  as  reported  by  the  men  on  their  return  from 
the  campaign,  was  eighty-seven  or  eighty-nine;  but  the  Moravian  account, 
which  no  doubt  is  correct,  makes  the  number  ninety-siX.  Qf  these,  sixty- 
two  were  grown  persons,  one-third  cf  whom  were  women;  the  remaining 
thirty-four  were  children.  All  these,  with  a  few  exceptions,  were  killed 
m  the  houses.-  Shabosh  was  killed  about  a  mile  above  the  town,  on  the 
■west  side  of  the  river.  His  wife  was  killed  while  endeavoring  to  conceal 
herself  in  a  bunch  of  bushes  at  the  water's  edge,  on  the  arrival  of  the 
ni-en  at  the  town,  on  the  cast  side  of  the  river.  A  man  at  the  same  time 
Was  shot  in  a  canoe,  while  attempting  to  make  his  escape  from,  the  east 
to  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Two  others  were  shot  while  attempting  to 
escape  by  swimming  the  river.  A  few  men,  who  were  supposed  to  be 
warriors,  were  tied  and  taken  some  distance  from  the  slaughter  houses, ' 
io  bs  tomahawked.  One  of  these  had  like  to  have  made  his  escape  at 
tlie  expense  of  the  life  of  one  of  the  murderers.  The  rope  by  which  he 
was  led  was  of  some  length.  The  two  men  who  were  conductinor  him  to 
death  tell  into  a  dispute  who  should  have  the  scalp.  The  Indian,  while 
iiiarching  with  a  kind  of  dancing  motion,  and  singing  his  death  song, 
drew  a  knife  from  a  sctbbard  suspended  round  his  neck,  cut  the  rope, 
and  aimed  at  stabbing  one  of  the  men  ;  but  the  jerk  of  the  rope  occasion-^ 
ed  the  men  to  look  round.  The  Indian  then  fled  towards  the  woods,  and 
while  running,  dexterously  untied  the  rope  from  his  wrists.  He  w^as  in- 
stantly pursued  by  several  men  who  fired  at  him,  one  of  whom'  wounded 
him  in  the  arm.  After  a  few  shots  the  firing  was  forbidden,  for  fear  the 
men  mio^ht  kill  each  other  as  they  were  running:  in  a  strasfszhn^^  manner. 
A  young  man  then  mounted  on  a  horse  and  pursued  the  Indian,  who 
when  overtaken  struck  the  horse  on  the  head  with  a  club.  The  rider 
sprang  from  the  horse,  on  which  the  Indian  seized,  threw  him  down  and 
drew  his  tomahawk  to  kill  him.  At  that  instant,  one  of  the  party  got 
near  enough  to  shoot  the  Indian,  which  he  did  merely  in  time  to  save  the 
life  of  his  companion. 

Of  the  whole  number  of  the  Indians  at  Gnadenhutten  and  Salem,  only 
tVj  made  tlif^ir  e."cipe.     These  wf're  two  lads  of  foiirteen  or  fifte«:'n  years' 


3.rORAVIAN  CA.MPAK^N.  184 

6t  age*  One  of  iheia,  after  being  knocked  down  and  sealpetl,  but  not 
killed,  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  lie  still  among  the  dead,  until  the  dusk 
of  the  evening,  when  he  silently  crept  out  of  the  door  and  made  his  es- 
cape. The  other  lad  clipped  through  a  trap  door  into  the  cellar  of  one 
of  the  slaughter  houses,  from  which  he  made  his  escape  through  a  small 
nellar  window. 

These  two  lads  were  fortunate  iit  getting  together  in  the  woods  the 
same  night.  Another  lad,  somewhat  larger,  m  attempting  to  pass  through 
the  same  window,  it  is  supposed  stuck  fast  and  was  burnt  alive. 

The  Indians  of  the  upper  town  were  apprised  of  their  danger  in  due 
time  to  make  their  escape,  two  of  them  having  found  the  mangled  body 
of  Shab'osh,  Providentially  they  all  made  their  escape,  although  they 
might  have'been  easily  overtaken  by  the  party,  if  they  had  undertaken 
their  pursuit.  A:  division  of  the  men  were  ordered  to  go  to  Shonbrun; 
but  finding  the  place  deserted,  they  took  what  plunder  they  could  find, 
and  returned  to  their  companions  without  looking  farther  after  the  In- 
dians. 

After  the  vrork  of  death  was  finished^  and  the  plunder  secured,  all  the 
buildino-s  in  the  town  were  set  on  fire  and  the  slauQ^hter  houses  amono- 
the  rest.  The  dead  bodies  were?  thus  cbnsum.ed  to  ashes.  A  rapid  re- 
treat to  the  settlements  finished  the  campaign. 

Such  v.*iere  the  principal  events  of  this  horrid  affair.  A  massacre  of 
innocent,  •  unoffending^  people,  dishonoTable  n6t  only  to  our  country,  but 
human  nature  itself. 

Before  making  any  remarks  en  the  causes  which  led  to  the  disgraceful 
events  under  consideration,  it  ma}^  be  proper  to  notice  the  manner  in 
which  the  enterprise  was  conducted,  as  furnishing  evidence  that  the  mur- 
der of  the  Moravians  was  intended,  and  that  no  resistance  from  them  was 
anticipated,' 

In  a  m/ilitary  point  of  view,  the  Moravian  campaign  was  conducted  in 
the  very  v;orst  manner  imaginable.  It  was  undertaken  at  so  early  a 
period,  that  a  deep  fall  of  snow,  a  thing  very  common  in  the  early  part  of 
^Tarch  in  former  times,  would  have  defeated  the  enterprise.  When  the 
army  came  to  the  river,  instead  of  const'*ucting  a  suiiicient  number  of 
rafts  to  transport  the  requisite  number  over  the  river  at  once,  they  com- 
menced crossing  in  a  sugar  trough,  which  could  catr^-^  only  two  men  at  a 
time,  thus  jeopardizing  the  safety  of  those  who  first  went  over.  The 
two  sentinels  vrho  shot  Shabosh,  according  to  military  law  ought  to  have 
been  executed  on  the  spot  for  having  fired  without  orders,  thereby  givmg 
premature  notice  of  the  approach  of  our  men.  The  truth  is,  nearly  the 
whole  number  of  the  army  ought  to  have  been  transported  over  the  river; 
for  after  all  their  forces  employed,  and  precaution  used  in  getting  posses- 
sion of  the  town  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  there  were  but  one  man  and 
one  squaw  found  in  it,  all  the  otlicrs  being  on  the  other  side.  This  cir- 
cumstance they  ought  to  have  known  beforehand,  and  acted  accordingly, 
i'hc  Indians  on  the  west  side  of  Ihr  river  amounted  to  abc^ut  eighty, 
and  amonir  Iheiu  above  thirty  men,  besides  a  nundirr  of  youn'j:  lads,  all 
possessed  of  guns  ami  well  accitstomcd  to  the  M.*;r  oltliKni;  yet  this  large 


1^5  :\fORAYIAN  ('A:\IPAiaK": 

number  wa55  attacked  by  about  sixteen  men.  If  they  bad  really  anticip'fl'- 
ted  resistance,  they  deserved  to  lose  their  lives  for  their  rashness.  It  is 
presumable,  however,  that  having  full  confidence  in  the  pacific  principles 
of  the  Moravians,  they  did  not  expect  resistance;  but  calculated  on  blood 
and  plunder  without  having  a  shot  fired  at  them.  If  this  was  really  the 
case,  the  author  leaves  it  to  justice  to  find,  if  it  can,  a  name  for  the  trans- 
action, • 

One  can  hardly  help  reflecting  with  regret,  that  these  Moravians  did 
fiOt  for  the  moment  lay  aside  their  pacific  principles  and  do  themselves 
justice.-  With  a  mere  show  of  defense,  or  at  most  afew  shots,  they  might 
have  captured  and  disarmed  those  few  men,  and  held  them  as  hostages 
for  the  safety  of  their  people  and  property  until  they  could  have  removed 
them  out  of  their  way.  lliis  they  mio^ht  have  done  on  the  easiest  terms, 
as  the  remainder  of  the  army  could  not  have  crossed  the  river  without  their' 
perraission,  as  there  was  but  one  canoe  at  the  place,  and  the  river  too  high 
to  be  forded.  But  alas  !  these  truly  christian  people  suffered  themselves 
to  be  betrayed  by  hypocritical  professions  of  friendship,  until  ^'they  w^ere 
led  as  sheep  to  the  slaughter."  Over  this  horrid  deed  humanity  must 
shed  tears  of  commisseration,  as  long  as  the  record  of  it  shall  remain. 

Let  not  the  reader  suj)pose  that  I  have  presented  him  with  a  mere  im-^ 
aginary  possibility  of  defense  on  the  part  of  the  Moravians.  This  defense 
would  h^ave  been  an  easy  task.  Our  people  did  not  go  on  that  campaign 
with  a  view  of  fighting.  There  may  have  been  some  brave  men  among 
them;  but  they  were  far  from  being  all  such.  For  my  part,  I  cannot  sup- 
pose for  a  moment  that  any  white  man,  who  can  harbor  a  thought  of 
using  his  arms  for  the  killing  of  women  and  children  in  any  case,  can  be 
a  brave  man.     No,  he  is  a  murderer. 

The  history  of  the  Moravian  settlements  on  the  Muskingum,  and  the* 
peculiar  circumstances  of  their  inhabitants  during  the  revolutionary  con- 
test between  Great  Britain  and  America,  deserve  a  place  here. 

In  the  year  1772,  the  Moravian  villages  were  commenced  by  emigra- 
tions from  Fiiedenshutten  on  the  Big  Beaver,  and  from  Wyalusing  and 
Sheshequon  on  the  Susquehanna.  In  a  short  time  they  rose  to  consider- 
able extent  and  prosperity,  containing  upwards  of  four  hundred  people. 
During  the  summer  of  Dunmore's  w*ar,^they  were  much  annoyed  by  w^ar 
parties  of  the  Indians,  and  disturbed  by  perpetual  rumors  of  the  ill  inten- 
tions of  the  wdiite  people  of  the  frontier  settlements  towards  them;  yet 
their  labors,  schools  and  religious  exercises,  went  on  w^ithout  interrup- 
tion. 

In  the  revohitlonary  war,,  which  began  in  1775,  the  situation  of  the 
Moravian  settlements  was  truly  deplorable.  The  English  had  associated 
with  their  own  means  of  warfare  against  the  Americans,  the  scalping 
knife  and  tomahawk  of  the  merciless  Indians.  These  allies  of  England 
committed  the  most  horrid  depredations  along  the  whole  extent  of  our 
defenseless  frontier.  From  early  in  the  spring  until  late  in  the  fall,  the 
early  settlers  of  the  western  parts  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  had  to 
submit  to  the  severest  hardships  and  privations.  Cooped  up  in  little 
stockade  forts,  they  woiked  their  little  fields  in  parties  under  arms  guard- 
ad  by  sentinels,  end  were  docriied  frcm-day  to  day  to  witnees  or  hear  i^e- 


\ 


^MORAVIAN  CAMPAIGN.  1S6 

•parts  of  the  uiiirders  or  captivity  of  their  people,  the  buiaing  of  their 
houses,  and  the  plunder  of  their  property. 

The  war  with  the  English  fleets  and  armies,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
mountains,  was  of  such  a  character  as  to  engage  the  whole  attention  and 
resources  of  our  government,  so  that,  poor  as  the  first  settlers  of  this  coun- 
try were,  they  had  to  bear  almost  the  whole  burden  of  the  war  during  the 
revolutionary  contest.  They  chose  their  own  officers,  furnished  their 
own  means,  and  conducted  the  war  in  their  own  way.  Thus  circumstan- 
ced,-^^  they  became  a  law  unto  themselves,"  and  on  certain  occasions 
■perpetrated  acts  w^hich  government  was  compelled  to  disapprove.  Thi:^ 
lawless  temper  of  our  people  was  never  fully  dissipated  until  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  whiskey  rebellion  in  1794. 

The  Moravian  villages  were  situated  between  the  settlements  of  the 
whites  and  the  towns  of  the  warriors,  about  sixty  miles  from  the  former, 
and  not  much  farther  from  the  latter.  On  this  account  they  were  deno- 
minated ''the  half-way  houses  of  the  warriors."  Thus  placed  between 
two  rival  powers  engaged  in  furious  warfare,  the  preservation  of  their 
neutrality  was  noicasy  task,  perhaps  impossible.  If  it  requires  the  same 
physical  force  to  preserve  a  neutral  station  among  belligerent  nations  that 
it  does  to  prosecute  a  war,  as  is  unquestionably  the  case,  this  pacific  peo- 
ple had  no  chan(;e  for  the  preservation  of  theirs.  The  very  goodness  of 
their  hearts,  their  aversion  to  the  shedding  of  human  blood,  brought  them 
into  difficulties  with  both  parties.  When  they  sent  their  runners  to  Fort 
Pitt,  to  inform  us  of  the  approach  of  the  war  parties,  or  received,  fed,  se- 
creted and  sent  hom-C  prisoners,  who  had  made  their  escape  from  the  sava- 
ges, they  made  breaches  of  their  neutrality  as  to  the  belligerent  Indians. 
Their  furnishing  the  warriors  v.'ith  a  resting  ])lace  and  provisions  was 
contrary  to  their  neutral  engagem^ent^  to  us;  but  their  local  situation  ren- 
dered those  accommodations  to  the  warriors  unavoidable  on  their  part,  as 
the  warriors  possessed  both  the  will  and  the  means  tc  compel  them  to 
'give  whatever  they  wanted  from  them. 

The  peaceable  Indians  first  fell  under  suspicion  with  the  Indian  war- 
riors and  the  English  commandant  at  Detroit,  to  whom  it  was  reported 
'that  their  teachers  were  in  close  confederacy  with  the  American  congress, 
for  preventing  not  only  their  own  people,  but  also  the  Delawares  and 
some  other  nations,  from  associating  their  arms  with  those  of  tlie  British 
i'or  carrying  on  the  war  against  the  American  colonies. 

The  frequent  failures  of  the  war  expeditions  of  the  fadians  was  attribu- 
ted to  the  Moravians,  who  often  sent  runners  to  Fort  Pitt  to  give  notice 
of  their  approach.  This  charge  against  them  was  certainly  not  without 
foundation.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1781  the  war<chiefs  t)f  the  Dela- 
wares fully  apprised  the  missionaries  and  their  followers  of  their  danger 
both  fiom  the  whites  ;ind  Indians,  and  requested  them  to  remove  to  a 
place  of  safely  from  both.  This  request  was  not  complied  with,  and  the 
ahnost  prophetic  predictions  of  the  chiefs  were  literally  fuliilled. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1781,  the  settlements  of  the  Moravians  were 
broken  up  by  upwards  of  three  huiulred  warriors,  and  the  missionaries 
taken  prisoners,  after  being  robl>ed  of  almost  ever\  thing.  The  Indians 
were  left  to  shift  for  thcni.^.eK  es  in  the  barren  plains  of  Sandusky,  where 


IS7  .MORAVIAN   CAAlPAiGX. 

most  of  their  horses  and  cattle  perished  I'rcm  famine  during .fehe.wintiJi'. 
The  missionaries  were  taken  prisoners  to  Detroit ;  but  after  an  examina- 
tion bv  the  governor,  were  permitted  to  return  to  their  beloved  people 
again. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February,  a  party  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  of 
the  Mojavian  Indi&ns  returned  to  their  deserted  villages  on  the  Muskin,- 
gum,  to  procure  corn  to  keep  their  families  and  cattle  from  starving.  Of 
these,  ninety-six  fell  into  the  hands  of  Williamson  and  his  party,  and  were 
murdered. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  murder  of  the  Moravians  are  now  to  be 
detailed. 

The  pressure  of  the  Indian  war  along  the  whole  of  the  western  frontiefj 
for  several  years  preceding  the  event  under  consideration,  had  been  dreadr 
fully  severe.  From  early  in  the  spring,  until  the  commencement  of  win- 
ter, from  day  to  day  murders  were  committed  in  every  direction  by  the 
Indians.  The  people  lived  in  forts  which  wfere^in  the  highest  degree 
uncomfortable.  The  men  were  harrassed  continually  with  th^  duties  of 
going  on  scouts  i\nd  campaigns.  There  was  scarcely  a  family  of  the  first 
settlers  w^ho  did  not,  at  some  time, or  other,  lose  more  or  less  of  their 
number  by  the  merciless  Indians.  Their  ca.ttle  were  killed,  their  cabins 
burned,  and  their  horses  carried  off.  These  losses  were  severely  felt  by 
a  people, so  poor  as  we  were  at  that  time.^  Thus  circumstanced,  our  peo- 
ple were  exasperated  to  madness  by  the  e]ttent  and  severity  of  the  war. 
The  unavailinjr  endeavors  of  the  American  cono:ress  to  prevent  the  Indi- 
ans  from, tailing  up  the  hatchet  against  either  side  in  the  revolutionary 
contest,  contributed  much  to  increase  the  general  indignation  against 
them,  at  the  saraa  time  those  pacific -endeavors  of  our  government  divided 
the  Indians  amongst  themselves  on  the  questior*  of  war  or  peace  with 
the  whites.  The  Moravians,  part  qf  the  Belawares,  and  some  others, 
faithfully  endeavored  to  preserve  peace,  but  in  vain.  The  Indian  maxim 
w^as,  ^'he  Ihnt  ir,  not  for  us  is  against  us."  Hence  the  Moravian  mission,- 
aries  and  their  followers  were  several  times  .on  the  point  of  being  mur- 
dered by  the  warriors.  This  wyould  -have  been  done  had  it  not  been  for 
.the  prudent  conduct  of  some  of  the  war  chiei's. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  local  situation  of  the  Moravian  villages  excited 
.the  jealousy  of  the  white  peopie.  If  they  took  no  direct  agency  in  th,e 
war,  yetlTiey  vrere,  as  they  were  then  crdled,  *' half-way  houses"  betweea 
us  an^  the  warriors,  at  which  the  latter  could  stop,  rest,  refresh, them- 
selves, and  traiiick  off  their  plunder.  "VVhetlier  these  aids,  tliiis  given  to 
our  enemies,  were  contrary  to  the  laws  of  neutrality  bet^^;^en  belligerents, 
■is  a  question  which  I  willi/igly  leave  to  the  decision  of  cijvilians.  On  the 
part  of  the  JMoravians  they  were  unavoidable.  Ii"  they  did  not  give  or 
sell  provisions  to  the  v/arriors,  they  would  take  them  by  force.  The  fault 
was  in  their  situation,  not  in  themselves. 

The  longer  the  war  continued,  the  more  our  people  complained  of  tlie 
situation  of  these  Moravian  villages.  It  was  said  that  it  was  owing  to 
.their  being  so  near  us,  that  the  warriors  commenced  their  depredations 
,&o  early  in  the  s})iing,  and  continued  them  until  so  Inte  in  the  fall. 

]./)  liic  latter  end  of  the  year  1781,. the  militia  of  the' frontier  came  1,0  ji 


AiURAVlAX  CAAIPAIG^X.  188 

.nt>lerminalloii  to  break  up  the  Moravian  villages  on  the  jMuskingxim. 
For  this  purpose  a  detachment  of  our  men  went  out  under  the  command 
of  Col.  David  Williamson,  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  the  Indians  with 
their  teachers  to  move  farther  off,  or  bring  them  prisoners  to  Fort  Pitt. 
When  ihey  arrived  at  the  villages  they  found  but  few  Indians,  the  greater 
number  of  them  having  removed  to  Sandusky.  These  few  were  well 
treated,  taken  to  Fort  Pitt,  and  delivered  to  the  commandant  of  that  sta- 
tion, who  after  a  short  detention  sent  them  home  again. 

This  procedure  gave  great  oiTense  to  the  people  of  the  country,  who 
thought  th€  Indians  ought  to  have  been  killed.  Col.  Williamson,  who, 
before  this  little  campaign,  had  been  a  very  popular  man,  on  account  of 
his  activity  and  bravery  in  war,  now  became  the  subject  of  severe  ani- 
madversion on  account  of  his  lenity  to  the  Moravian  Indians,  In  justice 
to  his  memory  I  have  to  s^y,  that  although  at  that  time  very  young,  I  was 
personally  acquainted  with  him,  and  from  my  recollection  of  his  conver- 
sation, I  say  Avith  confidence  that  he  vras  a  brave  n^an,  but  not  cruel. 
He  would  meet  an  enemy  in  battle,  and  fight  like  a  soldier,  but  not  mur- 
der a  prisoner.  Had  he  possessed  the  authority  of  a  superior  olTice]-  in  a 
regular  arm}',  I  do  not  believe  that  a  single  Moravian  Indian  would  have 
lost  his  life;  but  he  possessed  no  such  authority.  He  was  only  a  militia 
officer,  who  could  advise,  but  not  comm.and.  His  only  fault  was  that  of 
too  easy  a  compliance  with  popular  opinion  and  popular  prejudice.  On 
^this  account  his  m.emory  has  been  loaded  with  unmerited  reproach. 

Several  reports  unfavorable  to  the  JNIoravians  had  been  in  circulation 
for  some  time  before  the  campaign  against  them.  One  v»'a?(,  that  the 
ni^fht  after  thev  Avere  liberated  at  Fort  Pitt,  they  crossed  the  ri^er  and 
killed  or  made  prisoners  a  family  of  the  name  of  Monteur.  A  family  on 
-Buffalo  creek  had  been  mostly  killed  in  the  summer  or  fall  of  1781  ;  and 
it  was  said  by  one  of  them,  vdio,  after  being  made  a  prisoner,  made  his 
..escape,  that  the  leader  of  the  party  of  Indians  who  did  the  mischief  was 
a  Moravian.  These,  with  other  reports  of  similar  import,  served  as  a 
pretext  for  their  destruction,  although  no  doubt  they  were  utterly  false. 

Should  it  be  asked  what  sort  of  people  composed  the  band  of  murder- 
_.ers  of  these  unfortunate  people?  I  answer,  they  were  not  miscreants  or 
vagabonds;  many  of  them  were  men  of  the  first  standing  in  the  country  : 
.many  of  them  were  men  v;ho  had  recently  lost  relations  by  the  hands  of 
the  savages.  Several  of  the  latter  class  found  articles  which  had  been 
plundered  from  their  own  houses,  or  those  of  their  relations,  in  the  houses 
of  the  Moravians.  One  man,  it  is  said,  fi)und  the  clothes  of  his  wife  and 
.children,  who  had  been  murdered  by  the  Indians  a  few  days  before  :  they 
were  still  bloody;  yet  there  was  no  unequivocal  evidence  that  these  peo- 
j)le  had  any  direct  agency  in  the  war.  Whatever  of  our  property  was 
found  with  them  liad  been  left  by  the  warriors  in  exv.ljange  for  the  provi- 
sions which  they  took  from  ilw.in.  When  attacked  by  our  jH'o])le,  al- 
though they  might  have  dcfenrled  themselves,  tliey  did  not :  ilu^y  never 
fired  a  siis^le  shot.  'J'hey  were  prisoners,  and  had  been  jiromised  pro- 
tection. Every  dictate  of  justice  and  humanity  required  that  their  lives 
should  be  spared.  'I'lie  complaint  of  their  villages  being  "half-wa>  hou- 
ses for  the  warriors,"  was  at  <\i\  emi,  as  Ihev  had  been  removed  to  San- 


lSr>  INDIAN  SI3LM£Fx. 

dusky  the  lali  before.  It  was  therefore  an  atrocious  and  unqualified  mujv 
der.  But  hy  v/hom  committed — by  a  majority  of  the  campaign?  For 
the  honor  of  my  country,  I  hope  I  may  safely  answer  this  question  in  the 
negative.  It  was  one  of  those  convulsions  of  the  moral  state  of  society, 
in  which  the  voice  of  the  justice  and  humanity  of  a  majority  is  silenced 
by  the  clamor  and  violence  of  a  lawless  minority.  Very  few  of  our  men 
imbrued  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  Moravians.  Even  those  who 
had  not  voted  for  saving  their  lives,  retired  from  the  scene  of  slaughter 
with  horror  and  disgust.  Why  then  did  they  not  give  their  votes  in  their 
favor?  The  fear  of  public  indignation  restrained  them  from  doing  so. 
They  thought  well,  but  had  not  heroism  enough  to  express  their  opinion. 
Those  who  did  so,  deserve  honorable  mention  for  their  intrepidity.  So 
far  as  it  may  hereafter  be  in  my  power,  this  honor  shall  be  done  them, 
while  the  names  of  the  murderers  shall  not  ststin  the  pages  of  history^ 
from  my  pen  at  least. 


•:o:- 


CHAPTER  ¥11 


THE  INDIAN  SUMMER. 

As  connected  with  the  history  of  the  Indian  wars  of  the  western  country., 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  an  explanation  of  the  term  "Indian  summer." 

This  expression,  like  many  others,  has  continued  in  general  use,  not- 
withstanding its  original  import  has  been  forgotten.  A  backwoodsman 
seldom  hears  this  expression  without  feeling  a  chill  of  horror,  because  it 
brings  to  his  mind  the  painful  recollection  of  its  original  application. 
Such  is  the  force  of  the  faculty  of  association  in  haman  nature. 

The  reader  must  here  be  reminded,  that,  during  the  long  continued  In- 
dian wars  sustained  by  the  first  settlers  of  the  west,  they  enjoyed  no  peace 
excepting  in  the  winter  season,  v\dien,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the  weath- 
er, the  Indians  were  unable  to  make  their  excursions  into  the  settlements. 
The  onset  of  winter  was  therefore  hailed  as  a  jubilee  by  the  early  inhab- 
itants of  the  country,  who,  throughout  the  spring  and  early  part  of  the 
fall,  had  been  cooped  up  in  their  little  uncomfortable  forts,  and 'subjected 
to  all  the  distresses  of  the  Indian  war. 

At  the  approach  of  winter,  therefore,  all  the  farmers,  excepting  the 
owner  of  the  fort,  removed  to  their  cabins  on  their  farms,  with  the  joyful 
feelings  of  a  tenant  of  a  prison,  recovering  his  release  from  confinement^ 
All  was  bustle  and  hilarity  in  preparing  for  winter,  by  gathering  in  the 
corn,  digging  potatoes,  fattening  hogs,  and  repairing  the  cabins.  To  our 
forefathers  the  gloomy  months  of  winter  v/erc  more  pleasant  than  the 
zcj'-hvts  ?.nd  the  flower.":  of  M^»v, 


INDIAN  Sr.^iMLTv.  100 

It  however  sometimes  happened,  after  the  apparer.t  onset  of  winter,- 
the  weather  became  Avarm;  the  smoky  time  commenced,  nnd  lasted  for  ;i 
considerable  number  of  days.  This  was  the  Indian  summer,  because  it 
afforded  the  Indians  another  opportunity  of  visiting  the  settlements  M-ith 
their  destructive  warfare.  The  melting  of  the  snow  saddened  every 
countenance,  and  the  genial  warmth  of  the  sun  chilled  every  heart  with 
horror.  The  apprehension  of  another  visit  from  the  Indians,  and  of  bein^ 
driven  back  to  the  detested  fort,  was  painful  in  the  highest  degree,  and 
the  distressing  apprehension  was  frequently  realized. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  February  we  commonly  had  a  fme  spell  of 
open  warm  weather,  during  which  the  snow  melted  away.  This  was  de- 
nominated the  "pawwawing  days,"  from  the  supposition  that  the  Indians 
were  then  holding  their  war  councils,  for  planning  off  their  spring  cam- 
paigns into  the  settlements.  Sad  experience  taught  us  that  in  this  con- 
jecture we  vv'ere  not  often  mistaken. 

Sometimes  it  happened  that  the  Indians  ventured  to  make  their  excur- 
sions too  late  in  the  fall  or  too  early  in  the  spring  for  their  own  conve- 
nience. 

A  man  of  the  name  of  John  Carpenter  was  taken  early  in  the  month  of 
March,  in  the  neighborhood  of  vs'hat  is  now  Wellsburg.  There  had  been 
several  warm  days ,  but  on  the  night  preceding  his  capture  there  was  a 
heavy  fall  of  snow.  His  two  horses,  which  they  took  with  him,  nearly 
perished  in  swimming  the  Ohio.  The  Indians  as  well  as  him.self  suiTt^red 
severely  with  the  cold  before  they  reached  the  ^Moravian  towns  on  the 
Muskingum.  In  the  morning  after  the  first  day's  journey  beyond  the 
Moravian  towns,  the  Indians  sent  out  Carpenter  to  bring  in  the  horses, 
which  had  been  turned  out  in  the  evening,  after  being  hobbled.  The 
horses  had  made  a  circuit,  and  fallen  into  the  trail  by  which  they  came, 
and  were  making  their  way  homewards. 

When  Carpenter  overtook  them,  and  had  taken  oiT  their  fetters,  he  had, 
as  he  said,  to  make  a  most  awful  decision.  He  had  a  chance  and  barely 
a  chance  to  make  his  escape,  with  a  certainty  of  death  should  he  attempt 
it  without  success;  while  on  the  other  hand,  the  horrible  prospect  of  be- 
ing tortured  to  death  by  fire  presented  itself.  As  he  was  the  first  pris- 
oner taken  that  spring,  of  course  the  general  custom  of  the  Indians,  of 
burning  the  first  prisoner  every  spring,  doomed  him  to  the  flames. 

After  spending  a  few  minutes  in  making  his  decision,  he  resolved  on 
attempting  an  escape,  and  effected  it  by  way  of  forts  Laurens,  M'Intosh 
and  Pittsburgh  If  I  recollect  rightly,  lie  brought  both  his  horses  home 
with  him.  This  happened  in  the  year  1782.  The  capture  of  Mr.  Car- 
penter, and  the  murder  of  two  families  about  the  same  time,  that  is  to 
say,  in  the  two  or  three  first  days  of  March,  contributed  materially  to  the 
Moravian  campaign,  and  the  murder  of  that  unfortunate  people. 


\m  (.^^N,  CKAWFORD'S  CAAIPATGX 


:o: 


CHAPTER  ¥111. 


''tins,  iiT  one  pt)int  of  view  at  least,  is  to  be  considered  as  a'second  Mo-'. 
r'avian  campaign-,  as  one  of  its  objects  was  that  of  finishing  the  work  of 
murder  rfnd  phinder  with  the  christian  Indians  at  their  new  establishment 
on  the  Sandnsky.-  The  ne:^i^t  object  was  that  of  destroying  the  Wyandot 
towns  on  the  same  river.  It  vras  the  resolution  of  all  those  concerned  in 
fhis  expedition,  not  to  spare  the  life  of  any  Indians  that  might  fall  into 
their  hands,  whether  friends  or  foes.  It  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel  that 
the  result  of  this  campaign  was  widely  different  from  that  of  the  Mora- 
vian campaign  the  preceding^  March. 

It  should  seem  that  the  long  continuance  of  the  Indian^  war  had  deba- 
sed a  considerable  portion  of  our  population  to  the  savage  state  of  our' 
natm'e.  Having  lost  so  many  relatives  by  the  Indians,  and  witnessed 
their  horrid  murders  and  other  depredations  on  so  extensive  a  scale,  they 
became  subjects  of  that  indiscriminate  thirst  for  revenge,  which  is' such  a 
prominent  feature  in  the  savage  character;  and"  having  had  a  taste  of 
blood  and  plunder,  without  risk  or  loss  on  their  part,  they  resolved  to  g'o^ 
on  and  kill  every  Indian  they  could  find,  whether  friend  or  foe. 

Preparations  for  this  campaign  commenced  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
Moravian  campaign,  in  the  month  of  March;  and  as  it  was  intended  to 
make  what  was  called  at  that  time  "a  dasJi.j^^  that  is,  an  enterprise  con- 
ducted with  secrecy  and  despatch,  the  men  vrere  all  mounted  on  the  best 
iiorscs  they  could  procure.  They  furnished  themselves  with  all  their  out- 
fits, except  some  ammunition,  which  was  furnished  by  the  lieutenant 
colonel  of  Washington  county. 

On  the  25th  of  May  1782,  four  hundred  and  eighty  men  mustered  at 
the  old  Mingo  towns,  on  the  western  side  of  the  Ohio  river.  They  were 
all  volunteers  from  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Ohio,  vrith  the  ex- 
ception of  one  company  from  Ten  Mile,  in  Wasliington  county.  Here 
an  election  was  held  for  the  ofhce  of  commander-in-chief  for  the  expedi- 
tion.  The  candidates  were  Col.  Williamson  and  Col.  Crawford.  The 
latter  was  the  successful  candidate.  When  notiiied  of  his  appointment, 
it  is  said  that  he  accepted  it  with  apparent  reluctance. 

The  army  marched  along  "Williamson's  trail,"  as  it  was  then  called, 
until  they  arrived  at  the  upper  Moravian  town,  in  the  fields  belonging  to 
which  there  was  still  plenty  of  corn  on  the  stalks,  with  v»'hich  their  horses 
were  plentifully  fed  during  the  night  of  their  encampment  there. 

Shortly  after  the  army  halted  at  this  place,  two  Indians  were  discov-' 
(*rcd  by  three  men,  who  had  walked  some  distance  out  of  the  camp. 
Thrci  ?^hots  were  fired  at  one  of  them,  but  v/ithout  hurting  him.  As 
?oon  a*?  thf  news  of  the  (Wr.coYd'rj  <;.f  Indians  had  readied  the  camp,  mnie 


CRAWFORD'S-  CAMPAI^iX.  192 

m:i'(i  one  }ialf  of  the  men  rusli^d  out,  without  conimraid,  and  in  tlie  most 
tumultuous  manner-,  to  see  what  happened.  From  thnt  lime,  Col.  Craw- 
ford lelt  a  presentiment  ofllie  defeat  which  foUow^^d. 

'I'he  truth  is,  that  notwithstanding  the  secrecy  and  dispatch  of  the  en- 
terprise, the  Indians  were  beforehand  with  our  people.  Thev  saw  tlie 
rendezvous  on  the  Mingo  liottom,  and  knew  their  numb'er  and  flestina- 
tion;  They  visited  evei  v  encampment  imj'nediately  on  their  Jcavino-  it, 
and  saw  from  their  writing  on  the  trees  and  straps  of  paper,  that  *'no 
<>uarter  was  to  be  given  to  any  Indian,  whether  man,-  worn. an,  or  child." 

Nothing  material  happeni^d  during  their  march  until  the  6th  of  June, 
when  their  guides  conducted  them' to  the  site  of  the  Moravian  villages,  on 
one  of  the  upper  branches  of  thft  Sandusky  river ;-  but  here,  instead  of 
meeting  with  Indians  and  plunder,  they  m^t  with  nothing  but  vestiges  of 
desolation,-  The  place  was  (^.overed  with  hiyi-  grass;  and  the  remains  of 
a  few  huts  alone  announced  that  the  place  had  been  the  I'esidence  of  the 
people  whom  they  intended  to  destroy,  but  who  had  moved  off  to  Scioto 
some  time  b'efore. 

In  this  dilemma,  Avhat  was  to  be  done?  'The  officers  held  a  council,  in 
i\'hich  it  was  determined  to  march  one  day  longer  in  the  direction  of  Up- 
per Sandusky,  and  if  they  should  hot  reach  the  town  iii  the  course  of  the 
day,  to  make  a  retreat  with  all  speed. 

The  mart'h'  vvas  commenced  on  the  next  moi-ning  throuoh  the  plains  of 
Sandusky,  and  continued  until  about  two  o'clock,  when  the  advance 
guard  was  attacked  and  drivei-^  in  by  the  liidians,  who  werC  discovered 
M\  large  num'b'ers  in  the  high'  grass  with  which  tli'6  place  was  covered.- 
The  Indian  army  was  at  that  moment  about  entering  a  piece  of  woods, 
almost  entirely  surrounded  by  plains;  but  in  this  they  were  disajipointed 
by  a  rapid  movement  of  our  meii.  The  battle  then  commenced  bv  a  heavy 
fire  from  both'  sides-  From  a  partial  posse'^sion  of  the  *>voods  which  they 
liad  gain'ed  at  the  onset  of  the  battle,  the  Indians  were  soon  dislodcfed. 
'HU'y  then  attempted  to  gain  a  small  skirt  of  wood  on  oiir  riglit  tlank,  but 
weix?  prevented  froi^i  doii'ig  so  by  the  vigilai'it'e  and  bravery  of  Maj.  Leet^ 
who  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  army  at  that  time.-  The  firing  was 
ii^cessant  and  heavy  until  dark,  vrhen  it  ceased.  Both  armies  lav  on  their 
arms  during  the  night.  Both  adopted  the  policy  of  kindling  large  fires 
along  the  line  of  battle,  and  then  rv^tiring  sOme  distance  in  the  rear  oi"  them, 
to  prevent  being  surprised  by  a  night  attack.  During  the  conflict  of  the 
afternoon  three  of  our  rneh  were  kdled  and  several'  woufided.- 

In  the  morning  our  armv  occupied  the  battle  ground  of  the  preceding 
day.  The  Indians  made  no  attack  durinir  the  day,  until  late  in  the  even- 
ing,  but  -xvere  seen  in  large  bodies  traversing  the  plains  in  various  direc- 
tions. Some  of  them  appeared  to  be  emploved  in  tarrying  off  th^ir  dead 
and  woimded. 

In  the  moining  of  this  day  a  Council  of  the  officers  was  lield,  in  which 
a  retreat  was  resolved  on,  as  the  only  means  of  saving  their  army,  the  I?i' 
tlians  appearing  to  increase  in  numbers  every  hour.  During  the  sitting  of 
this  council,  Col.  AVillianison  proposed  taking  one  liundicfl  and  fifty  vol- 
niteers,   ;ir>d   ujairhing  directly   to  Tppc)-  Sandusln.-     This   piopdsifiou 


193  t']iA\\TeKD':5  CAMPAIGX. 

the  commarxder-in-thief  prudently  rejected,  saying,  "liiave  no  dcKibt  bcs" 
thai  yo^t  would  reach  llie  town,  but  you  woidd  find  nothing  there  but 
empty  wigwarns;  and  liaving  taken  off  so  many  of  our  best  men,  you 
yvould  leave  the  rest  to  be  destroved  by  the  ijost  of  Indians  witli  whicli 
we  are  now  surrounded,  and  on  your  return  they  would  attack  and  de* 
stroy  you.  They  care  nothing  about  deiending  their  towns — they  are 
worth  nothing.  Their  squaws,  children  and  property,  have  been  removed- 
froni  them  long  since.  Our  lives  and  baggage  are  what  they  want,  and 
if  they  can  get  us  divided  they  will  soon  have  them.  We  must  stay  to- 
gether and  do  the  best  we  can." 

During  this  day  preparations  were  made  for  a  retreat  by  burying  the" 
dead  and  burning  fiies  over  their  graves  to  prevent  di;5covery,  andprepa- 
rins*. means  for  carry inff  off  the  wounded.  The  retreat- was  to  commence 
in  the  course  of  the  night.  The  Indians,  however,  became  apprised  of 
the  intended  retreat,  and  about  sundown-  attaclced  the  army  with  great 
force  and  fury,  in  every  direction  excepting  that  of  SaMlusky. 

When  the  line  of  march  was  formed  by  the  commander-in-chief,  and 
the  retreat  commenced,  our  guides  prudently  took  the  direction  of  San- 
dusky, which  afibrded  the  only  opening  in  the  Indian  lines  and  \he  only 
chance  of  concealment.  After  marching  about  a  mile  in  this  direction, 
the  army  wheeled  about  to  the  left,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  gained  the- 
trail  by  which  they  came,  before  day.  They  continued  their  march  the 
yvhole  of  the  next  day,-  v/ith  a  trilling  annoyance  from  the  Indians,  who 
fired  a  few  distant  shots  at  the  rear  p-uard,  whi?h  siio:litly  wounded  two 
or  three  men.  At  night  they  built  fires,  took  their  suppers,  secured  the- 
horses  and  resigiied  themselves  to  repose,  without  placing  a  single 'senti- 
nel or  yidette  for  safety.-  In  this  caieless  situation,  they  might  hav^been 
surprised  and  cut  off  by  the  Indians,  Vvho,  however,  gave  them  no  distur- 
bance during  the  night,  nor  afterwards  during  the  whole  of  their  retreat. 
The  number  of  those  composing  the  main  body  in'4he  Petreat  was  suppo- 
sed to  be  about  three  hundred. 

Most  unfortunately,  when  a  retreat  was  resolved  on,  a  difference  of 
opinion  prevailed  concerning  the  best  mode  of  efrecting  it.  The  greater 
number  thought  it  best  to  keep  in  a  body  and  reireat  as  fast  as  possible, 
while  a  considerable  number  thought  it  safest  to  break  off"  in  small  par- 
ties, and  make  their  way  home  in  ditferent  direclions,  avoiding  the  route  by 
which  they  came.  Accordingly  many  attempted  to  do  so,  calculating  that 
t!ie  whole  body  of  the  Indians  would  follo-v=^the  main  army.  In  this  they 
were  entirely  mistaken.  The  Indians  paid  but  little  attention  to  tfie  main 
body  of  the  army,  but  pursued  the  small  parties  with  such  activity,  that 
but  very  few  of  those  v;ho  composed  them  made  their  escape. 

The  only  successful  party  who  were  detashed  from  the  main  army,  ^vas 
that  oi'  about  forty  m.en  under  the  command  of  a  Capt.  Williamson,  who, 
pretty  late  in  the  night  of  the  retreat,  broke  through  the  Indian  line's  under 
Li  severe  fire  and  with  some  loss,  and  overtook  the  main  army  on  the 
morning  of  the  second  day  of  the  retreat. 

For  several  days  after  the  retreat  of  our  army,  the  Indians  were  spread 
over  the  wholt-  country,  from  Sandusky  to  the  Muskingum,  in  pursuit  of 
lbs  ^ilrae-crlins:  parties,  most  of  whom  were  killed  <?n  the  spot.     T'hey  exert^ 


y-]->ur.suL'd  llicra  Jilmotft  to  tjie  banks  of  ihr,  Ohio.  A  ni.H;i  of  the  name?  of 
Mills  was  killed,  two  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  site  of  St.  Clair.svillc, 

vin  the  direction  of  Vvlieeling  from  that  place.     The  number  killed  iu  this 

i-way  must  htive  been  very  great:   the  precise  amount,  however,  was  never 

. fairly  ascertained.   - 

At  the -commencement  of  the  retreat,  CoL  Crawford  placed  himself  ai 
(he -head  of  the  army,  and  continued  there  until  they  had  ij-one  about  a 
f^uarter  of  a  mile,  when  missing*  his  son  John  Crawibrd,  his  son-in-la^Y 
Maj,  liarrisGn,  and  his  jiephews  Maj.  Rose  and  \Villiam  Crav»'ford,  ho 
jialicd  and  called  for  them  as  the  line  nassed,  but  without  finding-  them. 
After  the  army  had  Dassed  him,  he  vras  unable  to  ovf:rtakc  it,  owinii  tf^ 
the  weari?iess  of  his  horse.  Falling  "in  .com.pany  Aviili  Dr.  Knight  and 
t*;*,  o  othei's.  tiiey  traveled  all  the  night,  first  nortli,  and  then  to  the  east,  to 
avoid  the  i)uisuit  of  the  Indians.  The v  directed  Iheir  coures  during-  the 
night  by  the  north  star. 

On  the  next  day  tliev  fell  iiiwiih  Capt.  John  Bio^frs  and  Lieut.  Ashlev, 
the  latter  o^f  whom  w^as  severely  wounded.     There  wei'e  two  others  in 

vf.omDanv  with  Bi<2:^'s  and  Ashley.  They  encamped  toiretherthe  succeed- 
ino"  nio;h(.  On  the  next  dav,  while  on  their  march,  they  were  attacked 
by  a  party  ef  Indians,  who  made  Col.  Crawford  and  Dr.  Kni^'ht  nrison- 

*cvt<.  The  other  four  made  their  escape;  but  Capt.  Bi^'i'-s  and  Lieutenant 
Ashley  ^A'cre  killed  the  next  day. 

Col.  Crawford  and  Dr.  Knio^ht  were  iminediat el v  taken  to  an  Indian 

♦encampment,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  place  vrhere  they  were  capturetl. 
Here  they  found  nine  felloyi'  prisoners  and   seventeen  Indians.     On  the 

^jiext  day  they  wc*;e  marched  to  the  old  Wyandot  towu,  and  nn  the  next 

morning  were  paraded,  to  set  off,  as  they  were  told,  to  go  to  the  nevv- 
town.  Rut  alas!  a  \cvw  different  destination  awaited  these  capti'vcs! 
Nine  of  the  prisoners  vrere  marched  oil'  some  dista-ncc  before  the  colonel 
and  tl'.e  doctor,  ^vho  were.conducted  by  Pipe  aiul  Wingemond,  two  Dela- 
ware chiefs.  Four  of  the  prisoners  were  tomahawked  and  scalped  on  the 
v/av,  at  different  places. 

Preparations  had  been  made  for  the  execution  of  Col.  Crawibrd,  by 
setting  a  post  about  fifteen  feei  liigh  in  the  ground,  and  making  a  large 

ifire  of  hickory  poles  about  six  yards  from  it.  .Mvnit  half  a  mile  from  the 
place  o!"  execution,  the  rcmaitiing  i\\c.  of  the  nine  prisonf-rs  were  toma- 
hawkerl  and  ^calpetl  by  a  number  of  squaws  and  boys. 

Wheii  arrived  i-.t  the  lire,  the  colonel  was  stripped  and  ordered  to  -sit 
down.  He  v.'as  then  severely  beate.n  witii  sticks,  and  afterwards  lied  to 
llie  post,   by  a  ro^ie  of  such   Icnglli  as  lo  allow  him  to  walk  two  or  three 

:nnu's  round  it,  and  then  back  aga.iii.  This  rlone,  they  began  the  torture 
by  discharging  a  great  number  of  h)ads  of  powder  upon  him,  from  head 
10  foot:  after  whicii  thev  broran  lo  apiilv  the  burning'  ends  of  the  hickorv 
poles,  the  squaws  in  the  mean  time  tl'.rowing  coals  and  hot  ashes  on  Ins 

^body,  so  that  in  a  little  lime  b.e  had  nothing  but  coals  to  walk  on.  In  the 
miil>l  of  his  sufferincr^^  he  berjjicd  of  thf  noled  Simon  CJirtv  to  take  pitv 
'')ri  Itim  anfl  shoot  hitn.  Girlv  tauntingly  answei'ed,  "  Vou  see  I  have  ik> 
Cun,  1  caimol  shoot;"  and  Inuglied  hfartilv  at  the  sc^ne.      After  suffering 

•aijout  ll-.re*  hours  lie  became  f.ii:''  and  fel)  down  '^r  hi-^  »V,ro.      An  Irifliai\ 


lyO  CRAWFORD'S  (•\\WA[at<, 

then  scalped  liim,  and  an  old  S([ua\v  threw  a  ([uantity  of  huniing  C(?ais  oiji 
llie  place  troiii  which  the  scalp  was  taken.  Alter  thi>,  he  rose  and  walked 
j-ound  the  poyt  a  little,  but  did  not  live  much  longer.  After  he  ej^piredy 
ills  body  was  thrown  into  the  fire  and  consumed  to  ashes.  Col.  Craw- 
jord's  son  and  son-in-law  were  executed  at  the  ShaAvuee  tovrns. 

L)r.  Knight  Avas  doonjed  to  be  burned  at  u  town  about  forty  miles  dis- 
tant from  Sandusky,  ar^d  committed  to  the  £are  of  a  vouno;  Indian  to  be 
taken  there.  The  lirst  dav  they  irayeled  about  tweaty-five  miles,  and  en- 
,camped  for  the  night.  In  the  morninGC,  the  gnats  being  very  troublesome, 
the  doctor  requested  the  Indian  to  untie  him,  that  he  might  help  him  to 
make  a  fire 'to  keep  the.ixi  off".  A\  ith  -'his  request  the  Indian  complied. 
While  the  Indian  was  on  his  knees  and  elbows,  blowing  the  lire,  the  doc- 
tor caught  up  a  piece  oi  a  tent  pole  v/hicli  had  heen  burned  in  two,  about 
eighteen  inches  long,  Ayith  which  he  struck  the  Indian  on  the  head  >vith 
;all  his  might,  so  as  to  l<uock  him  forward  into  the  fire.  The  stick  how- 
,eyer  broke,  so  that  the  Indian,  although  severely  hurt,  was  not  killed,  but 
iinmediately  srminir  up.      On  this  the  doctor  cau^'ht  up  the  Indian's  p-un 

.lot  _  O  1  & 

to  shoot  him,  but  drew  back  the  co,i;'k  Avith  so  much  violence  that  he 
broke  the  main  c^prin<i;.  The  Indian  ran  off  with  a  hideous  veiling.  Dr. 
Knight  tlien  made  the  be^t  of  his  way  home,  which  lie  reached  in  twenty- 
one  days,  almost  famished  to  death.  T\iu  gun  being  of  no  use,  after 
carrying  it  a  day  or  two  he  left  it  behind,.  On  his  jourac^y  he  subsist^id 
on  roots,  a  few  young  birds  and  berrie.^, 

A  Mr.  Slover,  who  i^ad  been  a  prisoner  among  the  Indians,  and  was 
one  of  the  pilots  of  the  army,  was  also  taker*  prisonei"  to  one  of  the  Shas^-- 
jiee  towns  on  th^  Scioto.  Alter  being  there  a  few  days,  and  as  he  thought, 
in  favor  with  the  Indians,  a  councd  of  the  chiefs  was  held,  in  which  it 
,was  resolved  that  he  shouiti  be  burned.  The  iires  were  kindled,  and  h^ 
was  blackened  and  tied  to  a  stake,  in  an  uncovered  end  of  the  council- 
bouse.  Juyt  as  they  were  about  comi^encing  the  torture,  there  came  on 
suddenly  a  heavy  thunder  gust,  Avith  a  great  fall  of  ram,  which  put  out 
the  fires.  After  the  rain  was  over  the  Indians  concluded  that  it  wasthew 
too  late  to  commence  and  finish  the  torture  that  day,  and  therefore  post- 
])oned  it  till  the  next  day.  vSlover  vras  then  loosed  fj-om  the  stake,  coirr 
.ducted  to  an  emntv  house,  to  n  lo'^-  of  which  he  v\'as  fastened  with  a  bui- 
•ialo  tug  round  his  neck,  while  his  arms  were  pmioned  behind  him  vrith  a 
cord.  Until  Lite  in  the  night  the  Indians  s:it  up  sn^oking  and  talking. 
Thev  iVequentiv  asked  Slover  how  he  would  like  to  eat  fire  the  next  dav. 
At  length  oije  o('  ilicm  laid  down  and  went  to  sleep;  the  other  continued 
smoking  ?.ni\  talking  with  Slover.  Sometime  alter  midnight,  he  also  hiid 
down  and  went  to  sleep.  Slover  tijfe-n  resolved  to  make  an  eifoit  to  get 
loose  if  possible,  and  soon  extricated  one  of  his  hands  from  the  cord,  anrt 
ihen  fell  to  work  with  the  tu<)-  rouiid  his  neck',  but  v.'ithout  effect.  \i(i 
had  not  l)een  long  engaged  in  these  efforts,  befoie  oiie  of  the  Indians  got 
,up  and  smoked  his  pipe  awliile.  During  thi^  time  Slover  kept  ^erv  stil^ 
for  fear  of  an  examinalion.  The  [ndian  lavmg  .down,  the  prisoner  rer- 
.newed  his  efforts,  but  foi-  some  time  without  effect,  and  he  resigned  him- 
.S(!lt'to  his  fate.  After  resting  I'.'^r  r<wlii!e,  he  resolved  to  make  another  and 
'1  last  cfTort,  and  a$  he  related,   put  his  hand  to  the  tug,  ■njd  without  dil^ 


CRAWFORD'S  (.'AMFAIGN.  im 

^cult-y  slipped  it  over  his  hccid.  Tlie  thiy  was  just  then  breiiking".  ile 
sprang  over  a  fence  into  a  corniieid,  but  had  proceeded  but  a  iittie  distance 
in  the  field,  before  he  came  across  a  squaw  and  several  children,  lying 
asleep  under  a  mull^erry  tree.  lie  then  changed  his  course  f  )r  part  of 
the  commons  of  the  town,  on  which  he  savr  some  horses  fecdin-j,'.  Pass- 
jing  over  the  fence  from  the  field,  he  found  a  piece  of  an  old  quilt.  This 
he  took  with  him,  and  was  the  only  covering  he  had.  He  then  untied 
the  cord  from  the  c.th^r  aim,  vrliich  by  this  time  was  very  much  swelled. 
Having  ssclected,  as.iae  thought,  the  best  horse  on  tlie  commons,  he  tied 
the  cord  tf^  his  lower  jaw,  mounted  him  and  rode  oiT  at  tuti  speed.  The 
horse  gave  out  about  10  (^'ciock,  so  that  he  had  to  leave  him.  He  then 
traveled  on  loot  with  a  stick  in  one  hand,  with  which  he  put  the  weeds 
behind  him,  for  fear  of  being  trai'ked  by  the  Indians.  In  the  other  he 
carried  a  bunch  of  bushes  to  brush  the  gnats  and  musketoes  from  his 
naked  body.  Being  perfectly  acquainted  vrith  the  route,  he  reached  the 
river  Ohio  in  a  short  time,  almost  famished  with  hunj:j:er  and  exhausted 
with  fatigue. 

Thus  ended  this  disastrous  campai^'n.  It  was  the  last  one  which  took 
l)lace  in  this  section  of  the  country  during  the  revolutionary  contest  of  the 
Americans  with  the  mother  country.  It  was  under  tak^in  with  the  very 
Avorst  ^f  views,  those  of  murder  and  plunder.  It  v>'as  conducted  without 
sufficifent  means  to  encounter,  with  any  prospect  of  success,  the  large 
force  of  Indians  opposed  to  ours  in  the  plains  of  Sandusky.  It  was  con- 
fluctecji  \yithout  that  subordination  and  dis.cipline,  so  r(-quisite  to  insure 
success  in  any  hazardous  enterprise,  and  it  ended  in  a  total  discomfiture. 
Never  did  an  enterprise  more  completely  fail  of  attaining  its  objeci. 
Never,  on  any  occasion,  had  the  ferocious  savages  more  ample  revenge 
for  the  murder  of  their  pacific  friends,  than  that  which  tlvey  oblainerl  on 
this  occasion. 

Should  I  be  asked  what  considerations  led  so  great  a  number  of  })Cople 
into  this  desperate!  efiterprlse? — -why  with  so  smail  a  force  and  such  slen- 
der means  they  pushed  on  so  far  as  the  plains  of  Sandusky?—!  reply, 
that  many  believed  that  the  Moravian  Indians,  taking  no  j)arL  in  the  w«r, 
and  having  given  offense  to  the  warriors  on  several  occasions,  iheir  bel- 
ligerent friends  would  not  take  up  arms  in  their  behalf.  In  this  conjec- 
tuie  they  were  sadly  mistaken.  They  did  defend  them  with  all  the  force 
at  their  command,  and  iio  wonder,  for  notwithstanding  their  christian  and 
])acific  ju'inciples,  the  warriors  «till  regard&d  the  Moravians  as  their  rehi- 
tions,  whom  it  was  their  duty  to  defend. 

The  reflections  which  naturally  arise  out  of  the  history  of  the  Indian 
war  in  the  western  countrv,  during  our  revolutionary  contest  with  Cireat 
Britain,  are  not  calculated  to  do  honor  to  human  nature,  even  in  its  civ- 
ilized state.  On  our  side,  indeed,  as  to  our  infant  government,  the  case 
is  not  so  bad.  Our  congress  faithfully  endeavored  to  prevent  the  Iniiians 
from  taking  part  in  the  war  on  cither  side.  The  Enc:lisii  government,  or» 
the  other  hand,  made  allies  of  as  many  of  the  Indian  naticms  as  they  could, 
;ind  they  imposed  no  restraint  on  their  savage  mode  of  warfare.  On  tin; 
.contrary,  the  commandants  at  their  posts  along  our  western  frontier  re- 
/•ci\ed  and  paid  the  Indiums  lV>r  scalps  ;ind  piisoncrs.     'J'hus  the  bkin  of  a 


n9^i  'ATr-ACh  ON    RICK'S  rOlH  . 

wlii'io  iir,i:i\>  or  erun  a  wuuiaii'A  iiead  served  in  Uie  hnnds  of  tlie  'liuli^m 
fi<s  CLiiTL'iit,  coin,  Y'liich  he  e:N:cli-iiig'ed  iov  arms  and  aininuiiition,  lor  the 
Jarlher  pro-iecuUDii  of  his  barbarou:^  v.'arfare,  and  clothing  to  cover  his 
hah"  n  ik^A  bodv.  Were  not  these  rewards  the  orice  of  blood? — of  blood, 
s^hed  in  a  eruel  manrier,  on  an  extejisive  scale;  bat  without  advantage  lo 
that  government  which  empicyed  the  savages  in  their  v;'arfare  ag;.iinst  their 
i.eiativcs  and  fellow-christians,  and  paid  for  their  inarders  by  the  piece! 

The  enlightened  historian  must  vievv*  the  whole  of  the  Indian  war,  from 
tiie  comnijiicement  of  the  revolutionary  contest,  in  no  otlier  light  than  a 
succession  of  the  most  w.mton  murders  of  all  afjes,  from  helpless  infancv 
IQ  decrepit  old  aoe,  and  of  both  sexes,  without  obiect  and  v.ithout  effect. 

On  our  side,  it  is  true,  the  pressure  of  the  war  along  our  Atlantic  bor- 
der \\as  such  that  our  o-overnment  could  not  furnish  the  means  for  makinii- 
a  conquest  of  the  Indijn  nations  at  war  ao'ainst  us.  The  people  of  the 
westerii  country,  poor  as  they  were  at  that  time,  .and  unaided  by 
government,  cguKI  not  subdue  them.  Our  campaignit',  iia,s;tily  underta- 
ken, without  sutlieient  force  anrl  means,  and  illy  executed,  resulted  in 
r^othin''"  benefieial.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Indians,  with  the  aids  their 
allies  could  give  them  in  the  Vv-estern  country,  A\ere  not  able  to  make  a 
conquest  of  the  settlement  on  this  side  of  the  mountain:?.  On  the  con 
trary,  our  settlements  <ind  tlie  forts  belonging;  to  them  became  stronger 
'.<nd  stronger  trom  \ ear  to  year  during  the  whole  continuance  of  the  wars:. 
It  was  tlierefoic!  a  war  of  mutual,  but  unavailing  slaughter,  devastation 
ou.l  revenge,  over  whose  record  hun;ianit3'  still  strops  a  tear  of  regret,  \yjJ. 
tly-i\  tear  caiguiot  culice  its  disi::raceild  histcrv. 


C'^T    fi   "D  W'  T-  'D      7  V 
r-<i     Ai     R--      i      f-     5^       ii    A 


i.  JCX  I 


ATTACK  OK  RICE'S  FORT. 

This  foil  consisted  of  some  cabins  and  a  small  block-house,  and;  wns,  ih 
dangerous  times,  the  residence  asid  place  of  refuge  for  twelve  families  of 
its  immediate  neio-hborhood.  It  was  situated  on  BinTalo  creek,  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from  its  junction  with  the  river  Ohio. 

Previously  to  the  attack  on  this  fort,  which  took  place  in  the  month  of 
iScptembcr,  1782,  several  of  the  few  men  belonging  to  the  fort  had  gone 
to  Hacj-erstown,  to  exchange  their  peltry  and  furs  lor  salt,  iron  and  ammu- 
nition,  as  vras  the  usual  custom  of  those  times.  They  had  cone  on  th.is 
journey  some^^llat  earlier  tha,l  season  than  usual,  because  there  had  been 
^^a  still  tirae,-'  that  is,  no  recent  alarms  of  the  Indians. 

A  few  days  before  the  attack  on  this  fort,  about  three  hundred  inrlion^ 
h?.d  made  their  last  attiick  on  Wheeling  for".     On  the  ihird  night  of  tln^ 


X'(TAC'K  OiS:   RICE'S  yOU'K  \9S 

\ii\{^imen{  of  Wheeling-,  the  hidiaii  chiefs  held  a  council,  in  Avhich  it '\vri.< 
determined  tliat  the  siege  of  Vv'heeiing  should  be  lalfrcd,  two  hundred  of 
the  warriors  return  home,  and  the  remaining  hundred  of  pickrd  men  mak^-* 
a  dash  into  the  country  and  strike  a  heavy  blow  sornewhert-  before  their 
return.  It  was  their  determination  to  take  a  ibrt  somewiiere  and  rnassn- 
ere  all  its  ])eople,  in  revenge  for  theii-  defeat  at  Vvheelijig. 

News  of  the  plan  adopt.:*d  by  the  Indians,  v>-'as  given  by  twry  white  men,- 
who  had  been  made  prisoners  when  lads,  raised  among  the  Indians  and 
taken  to  war  withtliem.  These  meti  deserted  from  them  soon  after  their 
council  at  the  close  of  the  siege  of  Wheeling.  The  notice  Was  indeed  but 
short,  but  it  reached  Ilice^s  fort  about  half  an  hour  before  the  cornmence'- 
rnent  of  the  attack.-  The  intelliG:ence  was  br'iught  by  Mr,  Jacob  Miller, 
who  received  it  at  Dr.  T^Ioore's  in  the  neighborhood  of  VVashmgldrf. 
Making-  »ll  speed  liom.c,  lie  fortunately  arrived  in  time  to  assist  in  the  de- 
fense of  the  place.  On  receiving;  this  news,  the  people  of  the' fort  felt  as^- 
sured  that  the  blow  was  intended  for  them,  and  in  this  conjecture  they 
were  not  mistaken.     Bnt  little  time  ^ras  allowed  them  for  preparation. 

The  Indians  had  suTrotmded  the  place  before  they  were  discovered ; 
bvit  thev  were  still  at  some  distance.-  WTien  discovered,  the  alarm  was 
given,  on  which  every  man  ran  to  his  cabin  for  his  gun,  aixl  took  reiiigy 
in  the  block-house.  The  Indians,  answerin.f{  the  alarm  with  a  war  whoop' 
Iro-m  their  whole  line,  commenced  firing-  an<l  running  towards  the  fort 
from  every  direction.  It  \¥as  evidently  their  intention  to  take  the  Y)hc»^ 
by  assnult;  but  the  fire  of  the  Indians  was  answered  by  that  ol"  six  b'rave 
and  skillful  sharpshooters.  This  unexp'?cted  reception  prevented  the  in- 
tended'assault,  and  made  the  TiKlians  take  refuge  behind  lof^s,  stumps 
and  trees.  The  firinir  continued  with  little  intermission  (or  about  four 
hours.- 

In  the  intervals  of  the  firing,  the  Indians  frequently  called  '^ui  lo  the 
people  of  the  fort,  "Give  up,  give  upytoo  many  Indian;  Indiaif  too  big; 
no  kilL"  They  were  answered  with  defiance,  "^^Come  on,  you  cowards; 
we  are  ready  for  vou  ; — shew  us  your  yellow  hides,  and  v/e  will  make 
holes  in  them  for  you." 

During  the  evening",  many  of  the  Indians,  at  some  distance  from  the' 
fort,  amused  ihemselves  by  shootin^i^  the  horses,  catt!*,  hogs  and  sheep 
until  the  bottom  was  strevvT-d  with  their  dead  bodics.- 

About  ten  o'clock  at  n^ght  the  Indians  set  lire  to  a  barn  about  thirty 
yards  from  the  fort.  It  was  large  and  full  of  grain  and  l>f)v.  Tiie  dam« 
"was  lVi>i;hti"ul,  ar.d  at  iirst  ii:  seemed  to  endanger  the  burning  of  the  ibrt, 
])ut  the  barn  stood  on  low^r  ground  than  the  forL  The  night  was  calm, 
with  the  exception  of  a  slight  breeze  up  the  creek.  This  carried  the 
flame  and  burnic-g  splinters  in  a  difierent  direciion,  so  that  the  bur.hng  of 
the  barn,  which  at  first  was  regard'id  a;^  a  dangcroTis,  if  not  fatal  oecur- 
rencc%  proved  in  the  issue  the  means  of  throwing  a  strong  light  to  a  great 
ilistance  in  every  direction,  so  t!)at  the  Indians  (hirst  not  approach  the 
fort  to  set  fire  to  the  cabins,  whi'h  thev  might  have  done  ;it  iittU^ri.^k,  un- 
der the  cov(;r  of  darkness. 

After  the  bam  was  set  on  lir«',  the  Indlaui.-  collected  on  the  side  oi  the 
toi-t  OL>po.silo  th«'  bam,   s  •  ;is  ;..»  have  th^  advantage  of  the  light,  and  kep^ 


^nif  A'ffAGic  o\  RICE'S  foin' 

up  a  pretty  rbn'stant  ilre,  \vhich  was  as  steadily  answered  by  that  6T  tlir 
fori,  until  abvut  two  o'clock,  v;'hen  tlie  Indians  left  the  place  and  made  a 
liasty  letreat. 

'[hiis  Avas  this  little  place  defended'  by  a  Spartan  band  of  six  men,- 
against  one  hundred  chosei-^  warriors,   exasperated  to  madness  by  their 
failure  at  Wheeling  fort.     Their  names  shall  bfe  inscribed  in  the'  list  of 
heroes  of  our  early  times.     They  were  Jacob  Miller,  George' Lefler,  Peter' 
FuUenweider,  Daniel  Rice,    George  Felebaum  and  .Jacob  Lefler,  junr. 
George  Felebaum  was  shot  in'  the'  torehead,  through  a  port-hole,   at  the 
second  fire  of  the  Indians,  and  instantly  expired,- so  that  in' reality  the  de- 
fense of  the  place  was  made  by  only  five  men. 

The  loss  of  the  India^is  was  four,  tl>ree  of  whom' were  killed  at  the  first 
fire,  from  the  fort,  the  other  was  killed  about  sundo^Vn.  TlitE:re  can  bfe  no 
doubt  but  that  a  number  more  were  killed  and  wounded  in  ihe  enoacce- 
ment,  b\it  were  concealed  or  carried  off. 

A  large  division  of  these  Indians,  on  their  retreat,  passed  within  a  little 
distance  of  my  father*s  fort.  In  following  their  trail,  a  few  days  after- 
wards, I  found  a  larsfe  poultice  of  chewed  sassafras  leaves.  This  is  the' 
dressing  Avhich  tb/e  Indians  usually  apply  to  recent  gunshot  wounds.  The 
])oultice' which  I  found  having  become  too  old  and  dry,*  was  removed  and' 
replaced  with  a  new  one- 
Examples  of  personal  bravery  and  hair  breadth  escapes  are  always  ac- 
ceptable to  readers  of  history.  An  instaiit;e  of  both  of  these  happened* 
fluring  the  attack  on  this  fort,  which  may  be  worth  recording/ 

Abraham  Ptice,  one  of  the'  princinai  men  beloirccino;  to  the  fort  of  that 
ihamq,  oil  hearing  the  feport  of  the  deserters  from  the  Indians,  mounted  a 
very  strong  active  mxare  and  rode  in  all  haste  to  another  ibrt,  about  three 
and  a  half  miles  distant  from  his  own,  for  further  news,  if  any  could  be 
had,  concerning  th'e  presence  of  a  body  of  Indians  in  the  neighborhood/ 
.lust  a.'!  he  reached'  the  place  li'e  heard  the  report  of  the  2:uns  at  his  own 
f)rt.  He  instantly  returned  as  fast  as  possible,  until  he  arrived  within 
slofht  of  the  fort.  Findinfj:  that  it  still  held  out,  he  determinetr  to  reach  it 
a'nd  assist  in  its  defense,  or  perish  in  the  attempt/  In  doing  this,  he  had 
to  cross'  the  creek,  the  fort  being  some  distance  from  it  on  the  opposite' 
b^nk.  He  saw  no  IndiaT>s  until  his  mare'  sprang  down  the  bank  of  the' 
c^eeic,  at  which  instant  about  fourteen  of  them'  jumped  up  from  among' 
tlie  weeds  and  bushes  and  discharged  their  gims  at  him.  One  bullet 
Abounded  him  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the  right  arm^  above  the  elbow.  Bv 
this  time  several  more  of  the  Indians  came  up  and  shot  at  him/  A  sec- 
ond ball  wounded  him  in  the  thigh  a  little  above  the  knee,  but  wdthout 
breaking  tlie  bone,  and  the  ball  passed  transversely  through  the  neck  of 
the  mare.  wShe  however  sprang  up  the  bank  of  the  creak,  fell  to  her 
knees,  and  stumbled  along  about  a  rod  before  she  recovered.  During 
tbis  time  several  Indians  came  running  up  to  tomahawk  hitn.  •  Yet  he' 
made  his  escape,  after  having  about  thirty  shots  fired  at  him  from  a  very 
short  distance.  After  ridins:  about  four  miles,  he  reached  Lamb's  fort, 
fiiwch  exhausted  with  the  loss  of  blood.  After  getting  his  wounds  dressed 
and  resting  awhile,  he  sat  off  late  in  the  evening  with  twelve  men,  deter-" 
joined' if  possible  to  rea'^h  the  U)rt  under  cover  of  the  nightv     When  thfr)' 


EXPECTED  ATTACK,  ETC.  200 

gcA  within  a])oiit  two  hundred  yards  of  it,  they  halted  :  the  firing  still  con- 
tinued. .  Ten  of  the  men-,  thinking  the  enterprise  too  hazardous,  rcfuserl 
to  go  any  furtiier,  and  retreated.  Rice  and  two  other  men  crept  silently 
along  towards  the  fort;  but  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  came  close 
upon  an  Lidian  in  his  concealment.  He  gave  the  alarm  yell,  which  was 
instantly  passed  round.-  the  lines  with  the  utmost  regularity.  This  occa- 
sioned the  Indians  to  make  their  last  effort  to  take  the  place  and  make 
their  retreat  under  cover  of  th^  night.  Rice  and  his  two  companions  re- 
turned in  safety  to  Lamb's  fort. 

About  ten  o'dock  next  m_orninG:,  sixty  men  eollectecl  at  Rice's  fort  for 
the  relief  of  the  .place.  They  pursued  the  Indians,  who  kept  in  a  body 
&)r  about  two  miles.  The  Indians  had-  then  divided  into  small  parties 
and  took  over  the  hills  in  different  directions,  so  that  they  could  be  tracked 
Jio  farther.     The  pursuit  was  of  course' given  up. 

A  small  division  of  the  Indians  had  not  proceeded  far  after  their  sepa- 
ration, before' they  discovered  four  men  corning  from- a  neighboring  fort 
in  the  direction  of  that  which  theji  had  left.  The  Indians  waylaid  the 
path,  and  shot  tvvo  of  them,  dead  on  the  spot:  the  othei'S  lied.  One  of 
them  being  swift  On  foot,  soon  made  his  escape:  the  other  being  a  poor 
runner,  wa:5  pursuetl'by  an  Indian,  who  after  a  smart  chase  came  close  to 
him.  The  man  then  wheeled  round  and  snapped  his  gun  at  the  Indian. 
This  he  repeated  several  times.  The  Indian  then  threw  his  tdmahav\-k  at 
his  head,  but  missed  him.  He  then  caught  hold  of  the  ends  of  his  belt 
Vfhich  was  tied  behind  in  a  bow  knot.  In  this  again  the  Indian  was  dis- 
appointed, for  the  knot  came  loose,  so  that  he  got  the  belt,  but  not  the 
man,  who  wheeled  round  and  tried  his  gun  again^  wdiieh  happened  to  ofo 
off  and  laid  the  Indian  dead  at  liis  feet. 


•O: 


CHAPTER  X 


EXPECTED  ATTACK  ON  DODDRIDGE'S  FORT. 

When  we  received  advice,  at  my  father's  fort,  of  tlic  attack  on  Rice's 
block-house,  which  was  but  a  few  miles  distant,  we  sent  wortl  to  aH  those 
families  who  wer»;  out  on  their  farms,  to  come  immediately  to  the  Ibrt. 
ft  became  nearly  dark  before  the  two  n'unners  had  time  to  give  the  alarm 
to  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Charles  Stuarl,  who  lived  about  three  quarters  of 
a  mile  i  .?  from  tlic  fort. 

They  returneil  in  great  haste,  saying  that  Stuart*s  house  was  burned 
down,  and  that  they  had  seen  two  fires  betwc'un  tliat  and  the  fort,  at 
Which  the  Indians  were  encam})e(l.  'I'lier(»  was  tlierefore  no  (htuhl  that 
nif  atta'-k  would  be  made  on  our  fort  carlv  in  t!!<'  luoininGT- 

*\ 


I 


'201  ITXPECTRD    xTTArK,  ETC.. 

fn  ftnlrr  to  f>iv(»  the  reader  a  correet  idea  of  the  military  tactics  of  ofii- 
early  times,  I  will  give,  in- detail,  the  whole  progress  of  tiic  preparations 
which  were  made  for  the  expected  attack,  nnd,  as  nearly  as  I  can,   I  will 
give  tliC  c->mmnnds  of  Capt,  'I'eter,  our  oi!ic(>r,  in  his  own  words. 

Ill  the  ffTst  place  lie  collected  all  our  men  together,  and  related  the  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes  he  had  been  in,  nnd  really  they  were  not  few  in  num- 
ber, lie  \\i\s  in  Braddock's  defeat,  Grant's  defeat,  the  taking  of  Fort 
Pitt,  iind  nearly  all  the  battles  which  took  plac^  between  the  English,  and- 
tlu--  Freneh  and  Indians,  from  Braddock's  defeat  until  the  capture  of  thnt 
place  by  Gen.  Forbes.  He  remind.ed  us,  "that  in  case  the  Indians 
shouhl  succeed,  we  need  expect  no  mercy:  that  every  man,  woman  and 
'liiki,  would  be  killed  on  the  spot.  Tlvey  have  been  defeated  at  one  fort, 
nnd  now  they  aie  mad  enough.  If  they  should  succeed  in  taking  ours, 
all  their  vengeace  will  fall  on  our  heads.  We  must  fight  for  ourselves 
and  one  another,  and  for  our  wives  ami  children,  brothers  and  sisters. 
We  must  iT^ake  the  best  preparations "we  can;  a  little  after  daybreak  we 
shall  hear'tlie  crack  of  their  o;uns." 

He  then  made  a  requisition  of  all  the  powder  and  lead  in  the  fort. 
The  ammunition  was  accurately  divided  amongst  all  the  ni!  i,  and  the 
amount  supposed  to  be  fully  suihcient.  Wlien  this  was  done,  ^'^Now," 
says  the  captain,  "when  you  run  your  bullets,  cut  oif  the  necks  very  close, 
and  scrape  them,  so  as  to  make  them  a  little  less,  and  get  p>atches  one 
hundred  iiner  than  those  you  eommonly  use,  and  have  them  well  oiled, 
for  if  a  r:tle  happens  to  be  r^hoked  in  the  time  of  battle,  there  is  one  gun^ 
and  one  man  lost  for  the  rest  of  the  battle.  You  will  have  no  time  to  un- 
britch  a  gun  and  get  a  plugto  drive  out  a  bullet.  Have  the  locks  well 
oiled  and  your  flints  sharp,  so  as  not  to  miss  fire." 

Such  were  his  orders  to  his  men.  He  then  said  to  the  women,  "These 
yellow  fellows  are  very  handy  at  setting  fire  to  houses;,  and  water  is  a  very 
goo{l  thing  to  put  out  fire.  You  must  fill  every  vessel  with  water.  •  Our"" 
fort  is  not  well  stockaded,  aiid  these  ugly  fellows  may  rush  into  the  mid- 
dle of  it,  and  attempt  to  set  fire  to  our  cabins  in  twenty  places  at  once." 
They  fell  to  w^ork,  and  did  as  he  had  ordered. 

The  men  having  put  their  riiies  in* order,  "^^Now,"  says  he,  "let  every 
man  gather  in  his  axes,  mattocks  and  hoes,  and  place  them  in.  ide  of  his 
door;  for  the  Indians  may  make  a  dash  at  them  with  their  tomahawks  to 
cut  them  dovvUi,  and  an  axe  in  that  case  might  hit,  when  a  gun  would 
miss  fire." 

Like  a  good  commander,  our  captain^  not  content  w^ith  giving  orders, 
went  from  house  to  house  to  see  that  every  thing  was  right. 

The  ladies  of  the  present  day  Avill  suppose  that  our  women  were  fright- 
ened half  to  death  with  the  near  prospect  of  such  an  attack  of  tlie  Indians.  , 
On  the  contrary,  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  saw  a  merrier  set  of  women 
in  my  life.  They  went  on  ^vith  their  work  of  carryino;  water  and  cutting 
bullet  patches  for  the  men,  apparently  wilc-^out  the  least  emotion  of  fear; 
and  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  they  would  have  been  pleased 
with  the  crack  of  the  guns  in  the  morning. 

During  all  this  lime  Vk'e  had  no  sentine^^s  placed,  around,  tiie  fort,  so 


TJOSHOCTON  CAMPAIGN.  202 

-  •.uii(icnt  wiis  our  captain  that  the  attack  would  not  he  made  bcloic  day- 
break. 

I  was  at  that  time  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  ol'  age,  Ijut  ranketl  as  a 
Ibrt  soklier.  After  gettuig  rny  gun  and  all  things  else  in  order,  1  weni 
up  into  the  garret  lolt  of  my  father's  house,  and  laid  down  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  floor,  with  my  shot  pouch  on  and  my  gun  by  my  side,  expect- 
ing to  be  waked  tip  by  the  report  of  the  guns  at  daybreak,  to  take  my 
station  at  the  pert-hole  assigned  me,  which  was  in  the  second  story  of 
ihe  house. 

I  did  not  awake  till  about  sunrise,  whan  the  rJarin  was  all  over.  'J'hc 
■family  which  wc  supposed  had  been  killed,  had  rome  into  the  ibrt  about 
daybreak.  Instead  of  the  house  being  burjit,  it  was  oidy  a  large  ©Id  lo^-, 
on  lire,  near  the  house,  which  had  been  seen  by  our  expresses.  If  thev 
had  seen  any  thijig  like  fire  between  that  and  the  fort,  it  must  have  been 
fox  fire.  Such  is  the  creative  power  of  im-aginatioR.  when  under  the  in- 
Jiuence  of  fear. 


,0. 


^CHiiPrER  XL 


'COSHOCTON  CAMPAIGN 


This  campaign  took  place  in  the  summer  of  17'80,  arid  was  (lirLcted 
vi^ainst  the  Indian  villages  at  the  forks  of  the  Muskingum. 

The  place  of  rendezvous  was  Wheeling;  the  number  of  regidais  and 
militia  about  ei^•ht  bundled.  From  Wheelins:  .they  made  a  rapid  march, 
by  the  nearest  route  to  the  place  of  their  destip.atioii.  When  the  army 
I'eached  the  river  a  little  below  Srilem,  the  lower  Moravian  town,  ('oI. 
I*.roudhea«;,,seht  an  express  to  the  missionary  of  thai  place,  the  lve\'.  John 
Heckewelder,  informing"  him  of  his  ariival  in  his  neiij^hborhood,  with  his 
army,  requestir.g  a  small  su[)i)ly  of  provisions,  ajid  a  visit  from  him,  in 
his  camj).  When  tlu"  missionary  arrived  at  the  camp,  the  general  in- 
formed Inm  ol"  the  object  of  the  expedition  lu3  was  engaged  in,  and  impil- 
]ed  of  him  whether  an\  nj'llie  cliristian  Indians  were  himting^r  engagr-il 
m  business  m  the  direct  ion  of  his  icarch.  On  being  answered  in  tiie 
negative,  he  staled  that  nothing  would  give  him  greater  pain  than  to  hear 
ibal  any  of  the  iN'it)raviMn  Indians  had  been  molested  by  the  troops,  as 
iht.sc  Indians  had  always,  from  tlie  commencement  ol"  the  wai",  con- 
duclrd  lhem>elvts  in  a  nranner  thai  did  them  hon(u\ 

A  ptrl  of  tlie  niililia  had  resolved  on  going  up  tlir  !i\'"!  1o  destroy  iht 
Moravian  \illag''^,  bul  were  prevented  fr(un  executing  theit  jnoj'.-el  '"/ 
%!rvt\.  I'noadhead  and  (-ol    Shcjilirrd  of  Wln^eling. 

Ai  While  '"N  "'^  i^lain,   •  \<'\y  m''''-  from  C  ^-'i-* -i.^i'     >•.  T.  li  i'.  n;-is-'?'^i 


203  COSHOCTON   CAMPAIGN 

was  takcrx.     Soon  afterwards  two  more  Indians  were  discovered,  one  (4 
whom  was  wounded,  but  both  made  their  escape. 

The  commander,  knowing  that  these  two  Indians  would  make  the  ut- 
most dispatch  in  C'oing  to  the  town,  to  give  ^otice  of  the  approach  of  the 
army,  ordered  a  rapid  march,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  fall  of  rain,  to  reach 
the  tov^n  before  them,  and  take  it  by  surprise.  The  plan  succeeded. 
The  army  reached  the  place  in  three  divisions.  The  right  and  left  wings 
approached  the  river  a  little  above  and  below  the  town,  while  the  centre 
marched  directly  upon  it.  The  whole  number  of  the  Indians  in  the'^il- 
laf^e,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  together  w^ith  ten  or  twelve  from  a  lit- 
lie  village  some  distance  above,  w^ere  made  prisoners  without  firing  a  sin- 
gle shot.  The  river  having  risen  to  a  great  height,  owing  to  the  recent 
iall  of  rain,  the  army  could  not  cross  it.  Owing  to  tbis,  the  villages  with 
their  inhabitants  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  escaped  destruction. 

Among  the  prisoners,  sixteen  warriors  were  pointed  out  by  Pekillon,  a 
jiiendly  Delaware  chief,  who  was  v;ith  the  arm,y  of  Broadhead. 

A  little  after  dark,  a  council  of  war  was  held  to  determine  on  the  fate 
of  the  warriors  in  custody.  They  were  doomed  to  death,  and  by  the  or- 
der of  the  commander  were  bound,  taken  a  little  distance  below  the  town, 
and  dispatched  with  tomahawks  and  spears,  and  scalped. 

Early  the  next  morning,  an  Indian  presented  himself  on  th.e  opposite 
bank  of  the  river  and  asked  for  the  big  captain.  Broadhead  presented 
himself,  and  asked  the  Indian  what  he  wanted.  To  which  he  replied, 
"I  want  peace.''  "Send  over  some  of  your  chiefs,"  said  Broadhead, 
"May  be  you  kill,"  said  the  Indian.  He  was  answered,  "They  shall 
not  be  killed."  One  of  the  chiefs,  a  well  looking  man.  came  over  the 
river  and  entered  into  conversation  with  the  commander  in  the  street; 
but  wdiile  enjxa2:ed  in  conversation,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Wetzel  came 
up  behind  him,  with  a  tomahawk  concealed  in  the  bosom  of  his  hunting 
shirt,  and  struck  him  on  the  back  of  his  head.  He  fell  and  instantly  ex^ 
pired. 

About  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock,  the  army  commicnced  its  retreat  from 
Coshocton.  Gen.  I-]roadhead  committed  the  care  of  the  prisoners  to  the 
militia.  They  were  about  twenty  in  number,  After  jnarching  about  half 
,a  mile,  the  men  commenced  killing  them.  In  a  short  time  they  were  all 
dispatched,  except  a  few  women  and  childreii,  who  were  spared  and  taken 
to  Fort  Pitt,  an.d  after  sometime  exchanged  for  an  equal  number  of  their 


priSi.oners.. 


I'APTIVITY  OF  AIMS,  BROWN.  20i 


-:o: 


CHAPTER  XII. 


CAPTIVITY  OF  MRS.  BROWN. 

(On  the  27th  day  of  March,  1789,  about  tea  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  as 
Mrs.  Brown  Avas  spinning  in  her  house,  her  black  woman,  Avho  had  step- 
ped out  to  gather  sugar  water,  screamed  out,  ''Here  are  Indians." — 
vSlie  jumped  up,  ran  to  the  wmdow,  and  then  to  the  door,  wliere  she  was 
met  by  one  of  the  Indians  presenting  his  gun.  She  caught  hold  of  the 
muzzle,  and  turning  it  aside,  begged  him  not  to  kill  her,  but  t?ke  her  pri- 
soner. The  other  Indian  in  the  mean  time  caught  the  negro  woman  and 
her  boy  about  four  years  old,  and  brought  them  into  the  house.  They 
then  opened  a  chest  and  took  out  a  sm.all  box  and  some  articles  of 
clothing,  and  without  doing  any  further  damage,  or  setting  hre  to  the 
house,  set  off  with  herself  and  son,  a^l^out  two  years  and  a  half  old,  the 
black  woman  and  her  two  children,  the  oldest  four  years  and  the  young- 
est one  year  old.  After  going  about  one  and  a  half  miles  they  halted  and 
held  a  consultation,  as  she  supposed,  about  killing  the  children.  This 
she  understood  to  be  the  subject  by  their  gestures  and  frequently  pointing 
at  the  children.  To  one  of  the  Indians  who  could  speak  English,  she 
held  out  her  little  boy  and  begged  him  not  to  kill  him,  as  he  vrould  make 
a  fine  little  Indian  after  avvdiile.  The  Indian  matle  a  motion  to.. her  to 
walk  on  with  her  child.  The  other  Indian  then  struck  the  neo-ro  bov 
with  the  ]npe  end  of  his  tomahawk,  which  knocked  him  down,  and  then 
dispatched  liim  by  a  blow  willi  the  edge  across  the  back  of  the  neck  and 
scalped  him. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  evening,  they  reached  the  river,  about  a  mile 
above  Wcllsburg,  aiid  carried  a  canoe,  which  had  been  thrown  uj)  in 
some  drift  wood,  into  the  river.  They  got  into  this  canoe,  and  worked 
it  down  to  the  mouth  of  Brush  run,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles.  They 
})ulled  up  tiie  canoe  into  tiie  mouth  of  the  run,  as  far  as  they  could,  then 
went  up  tlie  run  about  a  mile,  and  uncamped  lor  the  night.  Tlie  Indians 
{j^ave  tiie  })risoners  all  their  own  clothes  for  covering,  and  added  one  of 
their  own  blniikt^ts.  Awhile  before  daylight,  the  Indians  got  up  iind  put 
another  blanket  over  them. 

About  sunrise  they  beLC.in  their  iri.irch  u[)  a  very  steep  hill,  and  about 
two  n\-h»ck  halted  on  Sh(U't  creek,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  place 
whcme  tlu'V  ii'^d  >>v[  r.ui  in  the  moriiing.  The  place  where  they  Jialted 
had  been  an  <'n(';uiip!ueni  shortly  betbre,  as  well  as  a  place  of  deposit  for 
.Hie  plunder  wliich  they  \idd  recently  taken  iroin  tiie  house  of  a  Mi.  Wui- 


v'05  ^^APTIVITY  OF  MRS.  irilOWN. 

..meter,  whose  family  had  been  killed.  The  plunder  was  deposited  iii  fi 
,  sycamore  tree.  Here  they  kindled  a  fire  and  put  on  a  brass  kettle,  with 
^1  turkey  wdiich  they  had  killed  on  the  w^ay,  to  boil  in  sugar  w'ater. 

Mr.  Glass,  the  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Brown,  was  working  w^ith  a  hired 
man  in  a  field,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  house,  wdien  his  wife 
and  family  were  taken,  but  knew  nothing:  of  the  event  until  tw^o  o'clock. 
After  searching  about  the  place,  and  going  to  several  houses  in  quest  of 
ills  family,  he  went, to  Mr.  Wells's  fort,  collected  ten  men  besides  himself, 
and  the  same  night  Jodged  in  a  cabin  on  the  bottom  on  which  thestown 
now  stands- 
Next  morniiig  they  discovered  the  place  f^;om  which  the  Indians  had 
taken  the  canoe  from  the  drift,  aiid  their  tracks  at  the  place  cf  their  em- 
barkation. Mr.  Glass  could  distinguish  the  track  of  his  wife  by  the  print 
of  the  high  heel  of  her  shoe.  They  crossed  aver  the  river  and  went  down 
on  the  other  side  until  they  cam. e  near  the  moutli  of  Rush  Run;  but  dis- 
covering no  tracks  .-of  the  Indians,  most  of  the  men  concluded  that  they 
would  go  to  the  mouth  of  Muskingum,  by  water,  and  therefore  wished  t© 
turn  back.  Mr.  Glass  be""2,'ed  of  them  to  jro  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Short 
(reek,  which  was  only  two  or  three  miles  farther.  'J'o  this  they  agreed. 
When  they  got  to  the  mouth  of  Rush  run,  they  found  the  canoe  of  the  In- 
dians. This  was  identified  by  a  proof,  w'hich  goes  to  shew  the  presence 
of  mind  of  ]\lrs.  Brown.  Wliile  going  down  the  river,  one  of  the  Indi- 
ans threw  into  the  water  several  papers,  which  he  had  taken  out  of  Mr, 
G]ass\s  trunk,  sosine  of  whicli  she  picked  up  out  of  the  water,  and  under 
pretence  of  giving  them  to  the  cldld,  diopped  them  iiito  the  bottom  of  the 
canoe.  'Jliese  left  n(^.  doubt.  The  trail  of  the  Indians  and  their  prison- 
ers up  the  run  1o  their  camp,  and  then  up  the  river  hill,  was  soon  discov- 
ered. The  trail  at  the  time,  owing  to  the  softiiess  of  the  ground  and  the 
heiglit  of  the  vaeds,  was  easily  followed. 

About  an  hour  aller  the  Indians  had  halte^I,  Mr.  Glass  and  his  men 
came  within  sight  of  the  smoke  of  their  camp.  The  oljject  then  was  to 
save  Ihe  lives  of  the  prisoners,  by  attacking  the  Indians  s©  unexpectedly, 
as  ivM  to  allow  them  time  to  kill  them.  With  this  view  they  crept  as 
slyly  as  they  could,  till  they  got  witliin  something  more  than  one  hundred 
yards  from  the  camp.  Fortunately,  Mrs.  Brown's  little  son  had  gone  to  a 
sugar  tree  to  get  some  water;  but  not  being  able  to  get  it  out  of  the  bark 
trough,  his  mother  had  stepped  out  of  the  camp  to  get  it  for  him.  The 
negro  woinan  was  sitting  some  distance  from  the  two  Indians,  who  were 
looking  attenthely  at  a  scarlet  jacket  which  they  had  taken  some  time 
before.  On  a  sudden  they  dropped  the  jf\cket,  and  turned  their  eyes 
towards  the  men,  who  supposing  they  were  discovered,  immediately  dis- 
charged several  guns,  and  rushed  upon  them,  at  full  speed,  with  an 
Indian  yell.  One  of  the  Indians,  it  was  supposed,  was  wounded  the 
first  fire,  as  he  fell  and  dropped  his  gun  and  shot  pouch.  After  running 
about  one  hundred  yards,  a  second  shot  was  fired  after  him,  by  Major 
M'Guire,  which  brought  him  to  his  hands  and  knees;  but  there  was  no 
time  for  oursult,  as  the  Indians  had  informed  Mrs.  Brown  that  ther^' 
was  another  encampment  close  by.  They  therefore  returned  home  with. 
•a\\  speed,  and  reached  the  Beacli  boltom  fort  that  liialrt. 


LEWIS  WETZEl'.  2(1^' 

The  ollipr  Indian,  at  ihe  first  fire,  ran  a  little  distnnro  beycrtd  I\Irs, 
Brown,  so  that  she  was  ina  riohi  line  between  him  and  the  white  men. 
Here  he  halted  for  a  little  to  put  on  his  shot  pouch,  which  Mr.  Glass,  I'nr 
the  moment,  mistook  for  an  attempt  to  kill  his  wife  with  a  tomahawk. 

This  artful  maneuver  no  doubt  saved  the  life  of  the  savage,  as  his  pur- 
suers durst  not  shoot  at  him  without  riskincrthe  life  of  Mrs.  Ikown,- 


-:o:- 


CHAPTER  XIIL 


LEWIS  WETZEL. 

The  following  narrative  goes  to  shew  how  much  may  be  effected  bv  the 
skill,  bravery,  and  physical  activity  of  a  single  individual,  in  the  partisan 
w^arfare  carried  on  ag-ainst  the  Idians,  on  the  western  frontier. 

Lewis  Wetzel  was  the  son  of  John  Wetzel,  a  German,  who  settled  on 
Bier  Wlieelim?,  about  fourteen  miles  from  the  river.  He  vras  amono-st  the 
first  adventnrers  into  that  part  of  the  country.  His  education,  like  that 
of  his  cotemporaries,  was  that  of  the  hunter  and  warrior.  W  hen  a  boy 
he  adopted  the  practice  of  loading  and  firing  his  rifle  as  he  ran.  TiM>! 
was  a  means  of  making  him  so  destructive  to  the  Lidians  afterwards. 

W^hen  alx)ut  thirteen  years  old,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians^, 
together  with  his  brother  Jacob,  about  ele^'cn  years  old.  Before  he  was- 
taken  he  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  breast  from  a  bullet,  w^hich  car- 
ried off  a  small  piecip  of  his  breast  bone.  The-  second  night  after  they 
were  taken-,  the  Indians  encamped  at  the  Big  Lick,  twenty  miles  from  the 
river,  on  the  waters  of  M'Mahan's  creek.  The  boys  were  not  confined. 
After  the  Indians  had  fallen  asleep,  Lewis  whispered  to  his  brother  Jacob 
that  he  must  get  up  and  go  back  home  with  him.  Jacob  at  first  objected, 
but  afterwards  got  up  and  went  along  with  him.  W^hen  they  had  got 
about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  cam]),  th-cy  sat  down  on  a  log.  "  W^>ll," 
said  Lewis,  "we  Ccin't  go  home  baretooted;  I  \\  ill  go  back  and  get  a  j)nir 
of  moccasou'S  for  each  of  us;"  and  according'y  did  so,  and  returned. 
After  sitting  a  little  longer,  "Now,"  says  he,  "I  wilt  go  back  ami  get 
f;itlier\s  gun,  and  then  we'll  start."  This  he  eflccted.  They  h-ad  not 
traveled  far  on  tJie  trail  by  which  they  came,  before  they  heard  the  In- 
dians coming  after  thein.  It  was  a  moonlight  night.  \Vhen  the  Indians 
came  pretty  nigh  them,  they  stepped  aside  into  the  bushes,  let  them  j^ass, 
then  fell  into  their  rear  and  traveled  on.  On  the  return  of  the  Indians 
they  did  tht^  same.  They  were  then  ])ursucd  by  two  Indians  on  horsr- 
l)nck,  whom  they  dodged  in  the  same  way.  The  next  day  they  reached 
W'heelin!;;  in-safi»t),  crossing  from  the   E'ldian  "^liorr  to  Wh('elin<''  island. 


207  LEWIS  WETZEL. 

on  a  raft  of  tLeir  owil  mflkinn:.     By  this  lime  Lewis  had  bt'coilic'  almdsir 
spent  from  his  Avound. 

In  the  year  1782,  after  Cravvford's  defeat,  Lewis  went  with  a  Thomas 
Mills,  who  had  been  in  the  eampaign,  to  get  his  horse,  which  he  had  left- 
near  the  place  where  St.  Clairsville  now  stands.     At  the  Indian  springs, 
two  miles  from  St.  Clairsville,  on  the  Wheeling  road,  they  were  met  by 
about  forty  Indians,  who  were  in  pursuit  of  the  stragglers  from  the  cam- 
paign.    The  Indians  and  white  men  discovered  each  other  about  the  same 
moment.     Lewis  fired   first   and   killed    an    Indian,    while  the  Indians 
wounded  Mills  in  the  heel,  who  Was  soon  overtaken  and  killed.     Four  of 
the  Indians  then  singled  out,  dropped  their  guns,  and  pursued  Wetzel. 
Wetzel  loaded  his  rifle  as  he  ran.-     After  running  about  half  a  mJle,  one 
of  the  Indians  having  got  within  eight  or  ten  steps  of  him,  Wetzel  wheel- 
ed round  and  shot  him  down,  ran,  and  loaded  his  gun  as  b'efore.     After 
going  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  farther,  a  second  Indian   came  so' 
close  to  him,  that  Avhen  he  turned  to  fire,  the  Indian  caught  the  m^uzzle' 
of  the  gun,  and  as  he  expressed  it,   "he  and  the  Indian  had  a  severe 
wring."     He  however  succeeded  in  bringing  the  muzzle  to  the  Indians 
breast,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot.       By  this  time,  he  as  well  as  the  In- 
dians were  pretty  well  tired;'  yet  the  pursuit  Nvas  continued  by  the  two 
remaining  Indians.     Wetzel,  as  before,  loaded  his  gun,  and  stopped  sev* 
eral  times  during  this  latter  chase:  when  he  did  so,  the  Indians  treed 
themselves.     After  going  something  more  than  a  mile,  Wetzel  took  ad- 
vantage of  a  little  open  piece  of  ground  over  which  the  Indians  were' 
passing,  a  short  distance  behind  him,  to  make  a  sudden  stop  for  the  pur- 
pose of  shooting  the  foremost,  who  got  behind  a  little  sapling,  which  w^as 
too  small  to  cover  his  body,      Wetzel  shot  and  broke  his  thigh.     The 
wound,  in  the  issue,  proved  fatal.     The  last  of  the  Indi'aris  then  gave  a 
little  yell,  and  said,  "No  catch  dat  man,  gun  always  loaded,'^  and  gave' 
tip  the  chase,  glad  no  doubt  to  get  off  with  his  life. 

It  is  said  that  Lewis  Wetzel,  in  the  course  of  the  Indian  wars  in  this 
|)art  of  the  country,  killed  twenty-seven  Indians,  besides  a  nuraljer  more 
along  the  frontier  settlements  of  Kentucky,- 


t 


AbAM  poe:  C?03 


-:o:- 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ADAM  POi:< 

In  tiie  summer  of  I7S'2,  a  party  of  seven  Wyandols  made  an  invnirsiori 
inlo  a  seltlement  some  distance  below  Fort  Pitt,  and  seveFal  miles  from 
the  Ohio  river.  Here  findiijo-  an  old  man  alone,  in  a  cabin,  they  killed 
Iiim,  packed  up  what  ()lunder  they  could  find,  ami  commenced  their  re- 
treat. Amon!2:st  thdr  uartv  was  a  celebrated  Wyandot  chief,  who,  in  ad- 
dition  to  his  fame  as  a  warrior  aifid  counsellor,  was,  as  to  his  size  and 
strength,  a  real  giant. 

The  news  of  the  visit  of  the  Indians  soon  spread  through  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  a  party  of  eight  good  riflemen  was  collected  in  a  few  hours  for 
the  purpose  of  pursuing  the  Indians.  In  this  party  were  two  brothers  of 
the  names  of  Adam  and  Andrew  Poe.  They  were  both  famous  for  cour- 
age,  size  and  activity. 

This  little  party  commenced  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  v/ith  a  deter- 
mination, if  possible,  not  to  suffer  them  to  escape,  as  they  usually  did  on 
such  occasions,  by  making  a  speedy  Might  to  the  liver,  crossmg  it,  and 
then  dividing  into  small  parties,  to  a  meet  at  a  distant  point  in  a  given 
time. 

The  pursuit  was  continued  the  greater  part  of  the  night  after  the  In 
dians  had  done  the  mischief.  In  the  morning,  the  party  found  themselves 
on  the  trail  of  the  Indians,  which  led  to  the  river.  When  arrived  within 
a  little  distance  of  the  river,  Adam  Poe,  fearing  an  ambuscade,  left  the 
])arty,  wliO  followed  directly  on  the  trail,  to  creep  along  the  brink  of  the 
river  bank,  under  cover  of  the  weeds  and  bushes,  to  fall  on  the  rear  of 
the  Indians,  should  he  hnd  them  in  amlniscade.  He  had  not  gone  far 
before  he  SoW  the  Indian  rafts  at  the  water'^s  edge.  Not  seeing  any  In- 
dians, he  step})ed  softly  down  the  bank  with  his  rifle  cocked.  When 
about  halfway  down,  he  discovered  the  large  Wyandot  chief  and  a  small 
Indian  within  a  few  steps  of  him.  They  were  standing  with  thf^ir  guns 
cocked,  and  looking  in  the  direction  of  our  parly,  who  by  this  time  had 
gone  some  distance  lower  down  the  bottom.  Poe  took  aim  at  the  large 
chief,  but  his  rille  missed  fire.  The  Indians  hearing  the  snap  of  the  gun- 
lock,  instantly  turned  round  and  {liscovered  Poe,  who  being  too  near 
them  to  retreat,  dropped  liis  gun  and  sprang  from  tlie  bank'  upon  thern, 
and  seizing  the  large  Indian  bv  the  clothes  on  his  breast,  and  at  the  same 
lime  embracing  the  neck  of  the  small  one,  thrc^w  thrm  both  dov/n  on  the 
ground,  himsell  being  uppermost.  Tiic  small  Indian  soon  extricated 
iiiiust'ir,    ran  to  llie   raft,    <sn\    his  {oniriKawk,   and    iittempted  to  dispatcb 

u 


i>09  A'DAAi  pot:: 

Poe,  tilt'  hv(^^  Indiair  hokliiig  him  fast  in  his  arms  with  all  his  miglif,  the-' 
better  to  enable  his  fellow  to  effect  his  purpose.  Poe,  liowever,  so  well 
watched  the  motions  of  his  assailant,  that,  when  in  the  act  of  aiming  liis 
blow  at  his  head,  by  a  vigorous  and  well-directed  kick  with  one  of  his 
ieet,  he  staggei'ed  the  savage,  and  knocked  the  tomahawk  out  of  his 
hand.  This  failure,  on  the  part  of  the  small  Indian,  was  reproved  by  am 
exclamation  of  contempt  from  the  large  one. 

In  a  moment  the  Indian  caught  up  his  tomahawk  again,  approached 
more  cautiously,  brandishing  his  tomahawk,  and  making  a  immber  of 
feigned  blows  in  defiance  and  derision.  Poe,  however,  still  on  hisguanl,., 
averted  the  real  blow  from  his  head,  by  throwing  up  his  arm,  and  receiv- 
ing it  on  his  wrist  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded;  btit  not  so^as  to 
lose  entirely  the  use  of  his  hand.- 

In  this  perilou,s  moment,  Poe,  by  a  violent- effort,  brok^y  loose  from  the^ 
Indian,  snatched  up  one  of  the  Indian's  guns,  and  shot  the  small  Indian 
through  the  breast,  as  he  ran  up  the  third  time  to  tomahawk  him. 

I'he  large  Indian  was  now  on  his  feet,  and  grasping  Poe  by  a  shoulder 
and  leg,  threw  him  down  on  the  bank.  Poe  instantly  disengaged  himself 
and  a:ot  on  his  feet.  The  Indian  then  seized  him  aoain,  and  anew  struir- 
gle  ensued,  which,  owing  to  the  slippery  state  of  the  bank,  ended  in  the 
fall  of  both  combatants  into  the  water. 

In  this  situation,  it  was  the  object  of  each  to  drown  the  other.  Their 
efforts  to  etTect  their  purpose  were  continued  for  some  time  with  alternate 
success,  sometimes  one  being  under  the  water  and  sometimes  the  other. 
Poe  at  length  seized  the  tul\  of  hair  on  the  scalp  of  the  Indian,  with  which 
he  held  his  head  under  water,  until  he  supposed  him  drowned. 

Relaxing  his  hold  too  soon,  Poe  instantly  found  his  gigantic  antagonist 
on  his  feet  again,  and  ready  for  another  combat.  In  this  they  were  car- 
rieil  into  the  wister  beyond  their  depth.  In  this  situation  they  were  com- 
pelled to  loose  their  hold  on  each  other  and  swim  for  nmtual  safety.  Both 
sought  the  shore,  to  seize  a  gun  and  end  the  contest  with  bullets.  Th(i 
Indian  belno-  the  best  swimmer,  reached  the  land  first.  Poe  seeino-  this, 
immediately  turned  back  into  the  water,  to  escape,  if  possible,  being  shot, 
bv  (.iivinix-     Fortunately  the  Indian  cau2;ht  up  the  rifle  with  which  Poe 

*  O  J  Ox 

had  killed  the  other  warrior. 

At  this  ji;ncture,  Andrev/  Poe,  missing  his  brother  ficm  the  parly,  and 
supposing  frcm  the  leport  of  the  gun  which  he  sh(  t,  that  he  was  ci.her 
killed  or  engaged  in  conflict  with  the  Indians,  hastened  to  the  spot.  On 
seeing  him,  Adam  called  out  to  him  to  "kill  the  big  Indian  on  shore." 
But  Andi'cw's  gun,  like  that  of  the  Indian's,  was  empty.  The  contest 
was  now  between  the  white  man  and  the  Indian,  who  siiould  load  and 
fire  first.  \*ery  fortunately  for  Poe,  the  Indian,  in  loading.;^  drew  the  ram- 
rod from  the  thimbles  of  the  stock  of  the  gun  with  so  mucli  violence,  that 
;t  slipped  out  of  his  Jiand  and  fell  a  little  distance  from  him.  Pie  quickiy 
caught  it  up,  v.nd  i-ammed  down  his  bullet.  This  little  delay  gave  Poe 
the  advantao-e.  He  shot  the  Indian  as  he  was  raisino:  his  cun  to  take 
aim  at  him. 

As  soon  as  Andrevv  had  shot  the  Indian,  he  jumped  into  the  river  to 
assist  hi:i  ^.cund^d  brother  to  shore;  but  Adam,  thinking-  more  of  the.- 


'ADAM  POE.  210 

rhonor  of  carrying  the  scalp  of  tlie  big  Indian  liume  hs  a  trophy  of  victory 
than  oi"his  own  safely,  urged  Anch'ew  to  go  back  and  prevent  the  strug- 
gling savage  from  rolling  himself  into  the  river  and  escaj)ing.  Andrew's 
-solicitude  for  the  life  of  his  brother  prevented  him  from  complying  with 
this  request. 

.In  the  mean  time,  the  Indian,  jealous  of  the  honor  of  his  scalp  even  in 
the  agonies  of  death,  succeeded  in  reaching  the  liver  and  getting  into  the 
-rcurrcnt,  so  that  his' body  was  never  obtained. 

An  unfortunate,  occurrence  took  place  during  this  conflict.      Justus 

Andrew  arrived  at  the  top  o/'the  hank  for  the  reli-ef  of  his  brother,  one  of 

the  party  who  had  followed  close  beliind  him,  seeing  Adam  in  the  river, 

.and  mistaking  him  for  a  W'.ounded  Indian,  shot  at  him  and  v. ounded  him 

in  the  shoulder.     He  however  recovered  from-his. wounds. 

During  the  contest  between  A.dam  Poe  and  the  Indians,  the  party  had 
"Overtaken  the  remaining  six  of  them.     A  desperate  conflict  ensued,  in 
which  five  of  the  Indians  were  killed.     Our  loss  was  three  men  killed  and 
Adam  Poe  severely  w^ounded. 

Thus  ended  this  fjpartan  conflict,  with  the  loss  of  three  valiant  ni<::n  on 
our  part,  and  with  that  of  the  w'hole  Indian  party  excepti?!g  one  w^arrior. 
Never  on  any  occasion  was  there  a  greater  display  of  des.nerate  bravery, 
and  sekiom  did  a  conflict  take  place,  which,  in  the  issue,  proved  fatal  to 
so  o:reat  a  proportion  of  those  engaged  in  it. 

The  fatal  result  of  this  little  campaign,  on  the  side  of  the  Inrllans,  occiv- 
sioned  a  universal  mourning  an&ong  the  Wyandot  nation,  'i'he  big  In- 
dian and  his  four  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  killed  at  tiic  same  place, 
were  amongst  the  most  distinguished  chiefs  and  warriors  f>f  their  nation. 

The  bio*  Indian  was  ma<2^naniraous  as  well  as  brave.  He,  more  than 
any  otlM-r  individual,  contributed,  by  his  example  antl  iciluence,  to  the 
good  character  of  the  Wyandots  for  lenity  towards  their  prisoners.  He 
would  not  suffer  them  to  be  killed  or  ill  treated.  This  mercy  to  captives 
was  an  honorable  distinction  in  the  character  of  the  \Vyar;dots,  and  was 
w^ell  understoofl  by  our  first  setters,  who,  in  f.ase  of  captivity,  thought  it 
a  fortunate  circumstance  to  fall  into  their  hands. 

It  is  consoling  to  the  historian  to  hnd  iiiStanccs  of  tliose  endowm<nts 
of  mind  which  constitute  lunran  o-reatness  even  amonix  savao^es.  The 
original  stamina  (^f  t3-iOs«j  enciowments,  or  what  is  called  fremius^  are  but 
thinly  scattered  0¥er  the  earth,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the 
lower  grades  of  society  possess  their  equal  proportion  of  khe  bases  of 
moral  greatness,  or  in  other  words,  that  there  is  as  much  of  native  rre?i{iis^ 
in  projiortion  to  nmnbers,  amongst  savages,  as  there  is  amongst  civilized 
])eopIe.  The  dilTerencc  between  thewe  two  extremes  of  society  is  merely 
tlie  difference  of  educatioji.  This  view  of  human  nature,  philosophically 
i.orrect,  is  well  calculated  to  ificreas^  the  benevolence  of  even  the  good 
Samaritan  himself,  and  encourage  his  endeavors  for  the  instruction  of  tht^ 
jnost  ignorant,  and  the  reformation  r)f  the  most  barbarous. 

Had  the  aborijiinals  of  our  countrv  l)een  possessed  o(  science  to  enal)h: 

"tliem  to  commit  to  ihe  f.iilhlul   j)'ige  of  history  the  e\ents  of  their  intcp- 

'•ourse  with  us  since  the  discf)very  and  suttiemci.l  of  their  native  land  by 

'"he  European^',  what  would  be  llu'  ••onlent«<  of  this  history'      Nnt  --ur!)  ;>s 


'213  THE  JOHNSONS, 

it  is  from  the  Iiands  gI'  our  historians,  %vho  have  pi'esented  nought  hiii  the 
worst  ic'dtures  of  the  Indian  character,  as  exhibited  in  the  course  of  their 
wars  against  the  invaders  of  their  country,  while  the  wrongs  inillcled  on 
them  by  civilized  men  have  occupied  but  a  ver}'  small  portion  of  the  re- 
cord. Their  sufferings,  their  private  virtues,  their  bravery  and  magnan- 
imity in  war,  together  with  their  individual  instances  of  greatness  of  mind, 
heroism,  and  clemency  to  captives  in  the  midst  of  the  cruelties  of  their 
barbarous  warfare,  must  soon  be  buried  with  themselves  in  the  toinb  of 
■their  national  existence. 


:o:- 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE  joKNsoxy. 


"The  follow'ing  narrative  goes  1o  show  that  the  long  continuance  of  tln^ 
Indian  war  had  inspired  even  tin  young  lads  of  our  country  not  only  with 
all  the  bravery  but  all  the  subtiltv  of  the  Indians  themselves. 

In  the  fall  of  the  vear  1793,  two  bovs  of  the  name  of  John  and  Henrv 
Johnson,  the  first  thirteen  and  the  latter  eleven  years  old,  whose  parents 
lived  in  Carpenter's  station,  a  little  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Short 
creek,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ohio  river,  were  sent  out  in  the  evening  to 
liunt  the  cov.'S.  At  the  foot  of  a  hill,  at  the  back  of  the  bottom,  they  sat 
down  under  a  hickorv  tree  to  crack  some  nuts.  They  soon  saw  two  men 
■coming  tm.vards  them,  one  of  whom  had  a  bridle  in  his  hand.  Being 
•dressed  like  white  men,  they  mistook  them  for  their  father  and  an  uncle 
in  search  of  horses.  When  they  discovered  tl^eir  mistake  and  attempted 
to  run  off,  the  Indians,  pointing  their  guns  at  thera,  told  them  to  stop  or 
they  would  kill  them.     They  halted  ?A\d  were  taken  prisoners. 

The   Indians,  being  in  pursuit  of  horses,  conducted  the  bovs  by  a  cir- 
cuitous route  over  the   Short  creek  hills  in  search  of  them,  until  late  in 
vj^he  evening,  when  they  hailed  ai  a  spring  in  a  hollo vr  place,  about  three 
miles  from  the  fort.     Here  they  kindled  a  small  fire,  cooked  and  ate  some 
victuals,  and  prepared  to  repose  for  the  night. 

Henry,  the  youngest  of  the  boys,  during  the  ramble  had  affected  the 
-greatest  satisfaction  at  having  been  taken  ])r!>;oner.  He  said  his  father 
was  a  hai'd  master,  who  kept  him  always  at  hard  work,  and  allowed  him 
no  play;  but  that  for  his  part  he  vfished  in  live  in  the  woods  and  be  a  hun- 
"f'T.  This  deportment  soon  hiourrht  jiiin  into  ijitimacv  wi'h  one  of  the 
]n'h'-iM-.  wiio  c-Mild  speak  very  ,2;ood  Eiipiish.  The  Indians  frequently 
•i-i'^kcd  (he  hoys  if  they  kt)e^v  oi'  wny  e'ood  h<'u\ses  runnmc:'  ''i  'J^^'  woods, 
.■^ojuetjine  bdbie  the\'  halted,   '.>jie  of  the  indiajis  Q:-dyc  ijie  J;,M-ci"<:'st  i)f  the 


THE  JOHNSONS.  -21-1 

'bovi  ii  litllt:  bag',   vvliicli  he  supposed  contained  Hioney,  and  made  liiiu 
cany  it. 

When  night  came  on,  the  (ire  was  covered  up,  the  boys  pinioned, 
and  made  to  lie  down  tog^ether-  The  Indians  then  phiced  thfnr  lioppis 
.straps  over  them,  and  hiid  down,  one  on  each  side  ol"  them,  oji  the  ends 
of  the  straps. 

Pretty  Lite  in  the  night  the  Indians  fell  asleep;  and  one  of  them  becom- 
ing cold,  caught  hold  of  John  in  his  arms,  and  turned  him  over  on  the 
•outside.  Jn  this  situation,  tlie  boy,  who  had  kept  awake,  found  means 
to  get  his  hands  loose.  He  then  whispered  to  his  brother,  made  him  get 
lip,  and  untied  his  arms.  This  done,  Henry  thought  of  nothing  Init  run- 
ning off  as  fast  as  possible;  but  when  about  to  start,  John  caught  hohl  of 
him,  saying,  "  We  must  kill  these  Indians  before  we  go."  After  some 
hesitation,  Henry  agreed  to  make  the  attempt.  Jolin  then  to^)k  one  of  the 
rifles  of  the  Indians,  and  placed  it  on  a  iog  wiih  the  muzzle  close  to  the 
bead  of  one  of  them.  lie  then  cocked  the  gun,  and  })laced  his  liltlr 
[)rother  at  the  britch,  with  his  fino-er  on  the  trio'2:er,  with  instruciions  1o 
pull  it  as  soon  as  he  should  strike  the  other  Indian. 

He  then  took  one  of  the  Indian's  tomahawks,  and  standiviir  a^l^add1'^ 
•of  the  other  Indian,  struck  him  with  it.  The  blow,  however,  fell  en  the 
Ijack  of  the  neck  and  to  one  side,  so  as  uot  to  be  fatal.  The  Indian  then 
attempted  to  spring  up;  but  the  little  fellow  repeated  his  blows  wiili  such 
force  and  rapidity  on  the  skull,  that,  as  he  expressed  it,  "the  Indian  laid 
still  and  began  to  quiver." 

At  the  moment  of  the  first  stroke  given  by  the  elder  brother  with  lli^^ 
tomahawk,  the  younger  one  pulled  the  trigger,  and  shot  away  a  cr^nsider- 
able  portion  of  the  Indian's  lower  jaw.  This  Indian,  a  moment  after  re- 
ceivins;  the  shot,  becfan  to  flounce  about  and  veil  m  the  most  fri<i'htful 
manner.  The  boys  then  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  fort,  anrl 
reached  it  a  little  before  daybreak.  On  getting  near  the  fort  they  found 
the  people  all  up  and  in  great  agitation  on  their  account.  On  hearing  a 
woman  exclaim,  "Poor  little  fellows,  they  are  killed  or  taken  prisoners  !" 
the  oldest  one  answered.  "  No  mother,  we  are  here  yet." 

Having  brought  nothing  away  with  them  from  the  Indian  camp,  their 
relation  of  what  had  taken  ])lace  between  them  and  the  Indians  was  not 
fully  credited.  A  small  party  was  soon  made  up  to  go  and  ascertain  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  their  report.  This  party  the  boys  condiu^ted  to  thr 
spot  by  the  shortest  route.  On  arriving  at  the  place,  they  found  the  In- 
dian whom  the  oldest  brother  had  tomhawked,  lying  dead  in  the  camp  ; 
the  other  bad  crawled  away,  and  taken  his  gun  and  shot-pouch  with  liim. 
After  scalping  the  Indian,  the  party  returned  to  the  fort,  and  the  same 
day  a  larger  party  went  out  to  look  after  the  wounded  Indian,  who  had 
crawle.l  some  distance  from  the  camp  and  concealed  himself  m  the  top  of 
a  fallen  tiee,  where,  notwithstanding  the  severity  of  iiis  wound,  with  a 
Spartan  bravery  he  determined  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 
Having  fixed  his  gun  for  tlic  purpose,  on  the  approReJi  of  tlie  men  to  a 
proper  distance,  lie  took  aim  at  one  of  them,  and  ])u!Ied  the  trigger,  but 
hi?  gim  mis«:pd  fire.  On  hearing  tlio  ■snap  of  the  lock,  one  of  the  men 
«^xcljimed,   ■   I    should   not   like  to  be   killed  bv , a  dead  Indian!"     Th^. 


c^3  setile:\ie^t  ot 

jrirty  conchi'dlng'  that  tke  Indian  would  die  at  any  rate,  tliougufijest  Ijo 
retreat,  and  return  and  look  for  him  after  some  time.  On  returning,  how- 
^<Jver,  he  could  not  be  found,  having  crawled  away  and  concealed  himself 
in  some  other  phice.  His  ^sk'cleton  and  gun  were  found  sometime  after- 
wards. 

I'he  Indians  who  were  killed  were  great  warriors  and  very  wealthy. 
The  bag,  which  was  supposed  to  contain  money,  it  Vv^as  conjectured  was 
got  by  one  of  the  party,  who  went  out  first  in  the  morning.  On  hearing 
the  report  of  the  boys,  he  slipped  off  by  himself,  and  reached  the  place 
■before  the  party  arrived.  For  some  time  afterwards  he  appeared  to  have 
,a  greater  plenty  of  money  than  his  neighbors. 

The  Indians  themselves  did  honor  to  the  bravery  of  these  Uvo  boys. 
After  their  treaty  with  Gei).  Vv^ayne,  a  friend  of  the  Indians  who  were 
killed  made  inquiry  of  a  mar^  from  Short  creek,  what  had  become  of  the 
boys  vrho  killed  the  Indians?  He  was  answered  that  they  lived  at  the 
.same  pla'':e  with  their  parents.  The  Indian  replied,-^' You  have  net  done 
.'ritrht:   v«)u  should  make  kinffs  of  those  bovs," 


•:o> 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

JIaving  "thus  given  to  the  reader,  in  the  preceding  pages,  a  connected 
history  of  tlie  wars  with  the  Indians,  from,  the  earliest  settlement  of  the 
'Country  until  the  treaty  of  peace  madeijy  Gen.  Wayne  in  1794,  I  will  go 
'back  to  the  year  1772,  and  trace  the  various  steps  by  which  our  settle- 
:ments  advanced  to  their  present  vigorous  state  of  existence. 

The  settlements  on  this  side  of  the  mountains  commenced  along  the 
Monongahela,  and  between  that  river  and  the  Laurel  ridge,  in  the  year 
1772.  In  the  succeeding  year  they  reached  the  Ohio  river.  The  greater 
number  of  the  first  settlers  came  from  the  upper  parts  of  the  then  colonies 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Braddock's  trail,  as  it  was  called,  was  the 
route  by  which  the  greater  number  of  them  crossed  the  mountains.  A 
less  number  of  them  came  by  the  w\ay  of  Bedford  and  Fort  Ligonier,  the 
military  road  from  Eastern  Pennsylvama  to  Pittsburg.  They  effected 
their  removals  on  horses  furnished  with  pack-saddles.  This  was  the 
more  easily  done,  as  but  few  of  these  early  adventurers  into  the  wilder- 
ness v/ers  encumbered  with  much  baggage. 

Land  was  the  object  which  invited  "the  greater  number  of  these  people 
to  cross  the  mountain;  for  as  the  saying  then  was,  "  it  was  to  be  had  here 
for  taking  up.*"  That  is,  building  a  cabin  and  raising:  a  crop  oi"  grain, 
however  small,  of  any  kind,  entitled  the  occupant  to  four  bundled  acrc^ 


TH^  COUNTRY :  2T^ 

of  land,  aiid  a  pre-emption  right  to  one  thousand  acres  more  utljoining, 
to  be  secured  by  a  land  oitice  warrant.  This  right  was  to  take  effect  if 
there  happened  to  be  so  much  vacant  land,  or  any  part  thereof,  adjoining 
the  tract  secured  by  the  settlement  right. 

At  an  early  period  the  government  of  Virginia  appointed  three  com^ 
missioners  to  give  certiiicates  of  settlement  rights.-    These  certificates,  to-- 
gether  with  the  surveyor's  plat,  v;ere  sent  to  the  land  othce  of  the  state, 
where  they  laid  six  months,  to  await  any  caveat  which  might  be  oiTered. 
If  none  w^as  offered  the  patent  then  issued. 

There  w^as,  at  an  early  period   of  our   settlements,  an  inferior  kind  of' 
land  title,  denominated  a  "tomahawk  right,"  which  was  made  by  dead- 
ening a  few  trees  near  the  head  of  a  spring,  and  marking  the  bark  of 
some  one  or  more  of  them  with  the  initials  of  the  name  of  the  person  whc 
made  the   improvement.     I  remember  having  seen  a  number  of  those' 
"tomahawk  rights"  when  a  boy.     For  a  long  time  many  of  them  bore^ 
the  names  o-f  those  who  made  them.     I  have  no  knowledge  of  the  efficacy 
of  the  tom-a.hawk  improvement,  or  whether  it  conferred  any  right  what- 
ever, unless  followed  by  aa  actual  settlements     These  rights,  however,- 
were  often  bouijht  and  soldv     Those  who  wished  to  m.ake  settlements  on- 
their  favorite  tracks  of  land,  bought  up  the  tomahavv-k  improvernents,- 
rather  than  enter  into  quarrels  with  those  who  made  them.     Other  im- 
provers of  the  land  with  a  view  to  actual  settlement,  and  who  happened- 
to  be  stout  veteran  fellows,  took  a  very  different  course  from  that  of  pur- 
chasing the  tomahawk  rights.     When   annoyed  by  the  claimants  under 
those  rights,  they  deliberately  cut  a  few  good  hickories,  and  gave  them 
what  was  called  in  those  days  "a  laced  jacket,"  that  is,  a  sound  whip^- 
ping. 

Some  of  the  early  settlers  took  the  precaution  to  come  over  the  moun-- 
tains  in  the  spring  (leaving  their  families  behind),  to  raise  a  crop  of  corny, 
and  then  return  and  bring  them  out  in  the  fall.-     This  I  should  think  was 
the  better  way.     Others,  especially   those   whose  families   were  small,, 
brought  them  with  them  in  the  spring.     My  father  took  the  latter  course. 
His  family  was  but  small,  and  he  brought  them  all  with  him.     The  In- 
dian n^teal  which  he'  brought  over  the  mountain  was  expended  six  weeks- 
too  soon,  so  that  for  that  length  of  time  we  had  to  live  without  bread. 
The  lean  venison  and  the  breast  of  the  wild  turkeys  we  were  taught  to 
call  bread,  and  the  flesh  of  the  bear  was  denominated  meat.     This  arti-- 
fice  did  not  succeed  very  well;  for  after  living  in  this  way  some  time  we' 
becam.e  sickly,  the  stomach  seeming  to  be  ahvays  empty  and  tormented 
with  a  sense  of  hunger.     I  remember  how  narrowly  the  children  watched 
the  growth  of  the  potatoe  tops,  pumpkin  and  squash  vines,  hojnng  from 
day  to  day  to  get  something  to  answer  in  the  place  of  bread.     How  de- 
licious was  the  taste  of  the  young  potatoes  when  we  got  them!     What  a 
jubilee  when  we  were  permitted  to  pull  the  young  corn  for  roasting  ears! 
still  more  so  when  it  had  acquired  suilicient  hardness  to  be  made  into 
jonny-cakes  by  the  aid  of  a  tin  grater!     We  then  became  healthy,  vigor- 
ous, and  contented  witli  our  situation,  poor  as  it  was. 

My  father,   with  a  small  number  of  his  neighbors,  made   their  settlc-- 
ments  in-'the  spring  of  X773.     Though  they  were  in  a  poor  and  {hii:>titute' 


51;')  .S-ETTLEMENT  OF' 

situation,  th^y  nevertlieless  lived  in  peace;  but  their  tranquility  was  n&c 
of  long  continuance.  Those  most  atrocious  murders  of  the  peaceable  in-^ 
offensive  Indians  at  Captina  and*  Yellow  creek,  brouoht  on  the  war  ol* 
lord  Dunmore  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1774.  Our  little  settlement  then-" 
broke  up.  The  women  and  children  were  removed  to  Morris's  fort,  iir 
Sandy  creek  glade,  some  distance  to  the  east  of  Uniontown.  The  fort 
consisted  of  an  assemblacfe  of  small  hovels,  situated  on  the  marmn  of  a^ 
lar^e  and  noxious  marsh,  the  efrluvia  of  v»'hich  gave  most  of  the  women-' 
and  children  the  fever  and  agu-e.  The  men  were  compelled  by  necessity 
to  return  home,  risking  the  tomahawk  and  ^e"alping  knife  of  the  Indians^ 
to  raise  corn  to  keep  their  families  from  starvation  the  succeeding;  winter. 
Those  sufferings,  dangers  and  losses,  were  the  tribute  we  had  to  pay  ta- 
that  thirst  for  blood  which  actuated  those  veteran  murderers  who  broui^ht 
tihe  war  upon  us  !  The  memory  of  the  sufferers  in  this  war,  as  well  ay 
that  of  their  descendants,  still  looks  back  upon  them  with  regret  and  ab-^ 
horrence,  ami  the  page  of  history  will  consign  their  names  to  posterity 
with  the  full  weight  of  infamy  they  deserve. 

A  correct  and  detailed  view  of  the  origin  of  societies,  and  their  pro^ 
gress  from  one  conditir^n  or  point  of  wealth,  science  and  civilization,  to 
another,  is  always  highly  interesting,  even  wdien  received  through  the* 
dusky  medium-  of  history,  oftentimes  but  poorly  and  partially  written  ;  but 
when  this  retrospect  of  things  past  and  gone  is  drawn  from  the  recollec-- 
tions  of  experience,  the  impressions  which  it  makes  on  the  heart  are  of 
the  most  vivid,  deep  and  lasting  kind. 

The  folio  wine:  historv  of  the  state  of  societv,  manners  and  customs  of 
our  forefathers,  is  to  ])e  drawn  from- the  latter  source;  and  it  is  given  to" 
the  world  with  the  recollection  that  many  of  my  cotemporaries,  still  liv- 
ing, have,  as  well  as  myself,  witnessed  all  the  scenes  and  events  herein 
described,  arrd  whose  memories  would  speedily  detect  and  expose  any 
errors  the  work  may  contain. 

The  municipal,  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  institutions  of  society,  Avhether 
good  or  bad,  in  consequence  of  their  long  continued  use,  give  a  corres- 
ponding cast  to  the  public  character  of  society  whose  conduct  they  direct^ 
and  the  more  so  because  in  the  lapse  of  tiixie  the  observance  of  them  be^- 
Gomes  a  matter  of  conscience. 

This  observation  applies  in  full  force  to  that  influence  of  our  early  land 
laws  Y/hich  allowed  four  hundred  acres  and  no  more  to  a  settlement  right. 
Many  of  our  first  settlers  seemed  to  regard  this  amount  of  the  surface  of 
the  earth  as  the  allotrii^ent  of  Divine  Providence  for  one  family,  and  be- 
lieved  that  any   attempt  to   get  more  would  be  sinful.     Most  of  them,, 
therefore,  contented  themselves  \~n\h  that  amount,  although  they  might 
have  evaded  the  law,  which  allowed  but  one  settlement  right  to  any  one' 
individual,  by  taking  out  the  title  papeis  in  the  names  of  others,  to  be- 
aftenvards  transferred  to  them,  as  if  by  purchase.     Some  few  indeed  pur- 
sued this  practice,  bat  it  was  held  in'  detestation. 

My  father,  like  many  others,  believed,  that  having  secured  his  legal 
allotment,  the  rest  of  the  coa.ilry  belonged  of  right  to  those  who  chose  ta 
settle  in  it.  There  was  a  piece  of  vacant  land  adjoining  his  tract,  amount- 
m^  to  about  two  hundred  acres.     To  tui^  tract  of  land  he  had  the  pre- 


1  HE  COUNTRY.  21G 

fmptlon  i%ht,  and  accordlagiy  secured  it  by  warrant;  but  Ids  conseience 
would  not  permit  hira  to  retain  it  in  bis  family:  he  therefore  gave  it  to  an 
apprentice  hid  whom  he  had  raised  in  his  house.  This  lad  sold  it  to  an 
uncle  of  mine  for  a  cow  and  calf,  and  a  wool  hat.- 

Owing  to  the  equal  distribution  of  real  property  directed  by  our  land 
laws,  and  the  sterhno  inteo*ritv  of  O'ur  forefathers  m  th^-ir  observance  of 
them,  we  have  no  districts  of  "sold  land,"  as  it  is  called,  that  is,  large 
tracts  of  land  in  the"  h-ands  of  iivdividuals  or  com^tanies  who  neither  sell 
nor  improve  them,  as  is  the  ease  in  Ix)wer  Canada  and  the  northwestern 
part  of  Pennsylvania.-  These  unsettled  tracts  make  huge  blanks  in  the 
population  of  the  country  wherever  they  exist. 

The  division  lines  between  thx^se' whose  lands  adjoined,  w^re  generally 
made  in  an-  aiT>icable  mjanner  Iry  the  parties  concerned,  before  any  survey 
t)f  them  was  made.  In'  doing  l^his  tlieV  Were  guided  itiainly  by  the  tops 
f)f  ridges  and  water  com'ses,  but  particularly  the  former.  Hence  the 
greater  number  of  farms  in  the  western  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  an  amphitheater.  The  buildings 
occupy  a  low  situation,  and  the  tops  of  the'  surrounding  hills  are  the 
l)oundaries  of  the  tract  to  which  the  famfly  mansion  belongs. 

Our  Ibrefathel'f?  were  fonil  of  farm-S  of  tlds  description,  because,  as  they 
said,  they  are  atte^ided  witK^  this  convenience,  "that  everything  comes  to 
the  house  down  liill."  Ir' the  hilly  parts  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  the  land 
having  been  laid  off  in  an  arbitrary  manner,  by  straight  parallel  fmels, 
v;ithout  regard  to  hill  or  dale,  the  farms  present  a  different '  aspect  from- 
those  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  opposite.  The're  the  buildings  as  fre- 
quently occupy  the  tops  of  the  hills  as  any  other  situation. 

Our  people  had  become  so  accustom-ed-  to' the  mode  of  "  getting  lantl 
for  taking  it  up,"  that  for  a  long  time  it  Was  generally  believed  that  the  lan'd 
on  the  we?t  side  of  the  Ohio  would  ultimately  be  disposed  of  in  that  way.- 
Hence  almost  the  whole  tract  of  country  between  the  Ohio  and  Mus- 
kingum  was  parceled  out  in  tomahawk  improvements;  but  these  latter 
improvers  did  not  content  themselves  with  a  single  four  liundretl  acre 
tract  apicCe.  Many  of  them  owned  a  great  number  of  tracts  of  the  best 
land,  and  thus,  in  iinagirxUlion,  were  as  "wealthy  as  a'  South  wSea  dream." 
Many  of  the  land-jobbel-s  of  this  class  did  not  coritent  themselves  with 
marking  the  trees,  at  the' usual  height,  with  the  initials  of  their  names; 
but  climbed  up  the  large  beech  trees,  and  cut  the  letters  in  their  bark, 
from  twenty  to  forty  fieet  from  the  ground.  To  enable  them  to  identify 
those  trees,  at  a  future  period,  they  made  ma-rks  on  other  trees  flround 
them  as  references. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers- considered  their  land  of  little  valut?,  from  an 
ap])rehension  that  after  a  tew  years'  cultivation  it  woukl  lose  its  fertility, 
at  least  for  a  long  tlmel  I  liave  often  heard  them  say  that  such  a  field 
would  bear  so  many  crops,  and  another  so'  many  more' or  less  than  that. 
The  ground  of  this  belief  concerning  the  .'^hort-livcfl  fertility  of  the  land 
in  this  country,  was,  the  poverty  of  a  great  proportion  of  the  land  in  the 
lower  parts  of  Maryland  and  Vuginia,  wliich,  after  producing  a  lew  crops,, 
fyecame  unfit  for  msc,  and  wasth'rown  out  into  conVm<ms. 


V 


217  HOUSE  FURNITURE  AND  DIET. 

In  their  unfavorable  opinion  of  the  nature  of  the  soil  of  our  country  om- 
forefathers  were  utterly  mistaken.  The  native  weeds  were  scarcely  de- 
stroyed before  the  white  clover  and  different  kinds  of  grass  made  their  ap- 
pearance. These  soon  covered  the  ground,  so  as  to  afford  pasture  for  the 
cattle  by  the  time  the  wood  range  was  eaten  out,  as  well  as  protect  the 
soil  from  being  washed  away  by  drenching  rains,  so  often  injurious  in 
hilly  countries. 

Judging  from  Virgil's*  test  of  fruitful  and  barren  soils,  the  greater  part 
of  this  country  must  possess  every  requisite  for  fertility.  The  test  is  this. 
Dig  a  hole  of  any  reasonable  dimensions  and  depth:  if  the  earth  which 
was  taken  out,  when  thrown  lightly  back  into  it  does  not  fill  up  the  hole, 
the  soil  is  fruitful;  but  if  it  more  than  fill  it  up,  the  soil  is  barren. 

Whoever  chooses  to  try  this  experiment  will  find  the  result  indicative 
of  the  richness  of  our  soil.  Even  our  graves,  notwithstanding  the  size 
of  the  vault,  are  seldom  finished  with  the  earth  thrown  out  of  them,  and 
they  soon  sink  below  the  surrounding  surface. 


•o-- 


CHAPTER  XVII, 


HOUSE  FURNITURE  AND  DIET. 

The  settlement  of  a  new  country  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  an 
old  one,  is  not  attended  with  much  difficulty,  because  supplies  can  be 
readily  obtained  from  the  latter;  but  the  settlement  of  a  country  very  re- 
mote from  any  cultivated  region,  is  a  very  different  thing;  because  at  the 
outset,  food,  raiment,  and  the  implem.ents  of  husbandry,  are  obtained  only 
in  small  supplies  and  with  great  difficulty.  The  task  of  making  new  es- 
tablishments in  a  remote  wilderness,  in  time  of  profound  peace,  is  suffi- 
ciently difficult ;  but  when,  in  addition  to  all  the  unavoidable  hardships 
attendant  on  this  business,  those  resulting  from  an  extensive  and  furious 
warfare  with  savages  are  superadded;  toil,  privations  and  sufferings,  are 
then  carried  to  the  full  extent  of  the  capacity  of  men  to  endure  them. 


*Ante  locum  capies  oculis,  alteque  jubebis 
In  solido  puteum  demitti,  omnemque  repones 
Rursu^humum,  et  pedibus  summas  aequabis  arenas. 
Si  deerunt:  rarum,  pecoriqne  et  vitibus  almis 
Aptius  uber  erit.     Sin  in  sua  posse  negabunt 
Ire  loca,  et  scrobibus  superabit  terra  repletis, 
Spissus  ager:  glebas  cunctantes  crassaque  terga 
Expecta,  et  validis  terram  proscinde  juvencis. 

Vir.  Geo.  lib.  2,  /.  230, 


IIOI'SE  FLI-XITLRE  AND  DIET,  2l6 

Such  was  the  wretched  condition  of  our  Ibretklhers  in  making  their  set- 
^tlement.s  here.  To  all  their  difficulties  and  privations,  the  Indian  war 
%vas  a  Aveighty  addition.  This  destructive  warfare  they  were  compelled 
to  sustain  almost  single-handed,  because  the  revolutionary  contest  witli 
England  gave  full  employment  for  the  military  strength  and  resources  on 
the  east  side  of  the  mountains. 

The  following  history  of  the  poverty,  labors,  sufferings,  manners  and 
•customs,  of  our  forefathers,  will  appear  like  a  collection  of  "tales  of  olden 
times,"  without  any  garnish  of  language  to  spoil  the  original  portraits, 
by  giving  them  shades  of  coloring  which  they  did  not  possess. 

I  shall  follow  the  order  of  things  as  they  occurred  during  the  period  of 
time  embraced  in  these  narratives,  beginning  w4th  those  rude  accommo- 
dations with  which  our  first  adventurers  into  this  country  furnished  them- 
selves at  the  commencement  of  their  establishments.  It  will  be  a  homely 
narrative,  yet  valuable  on  the  ground  of  its  being  real  history. 

If  my  reader,  when  viewing,  through  the  medium  which  I  here  present, 
the  sufferings  of  human  nature  in  one  of  its  most  depressed  and  danger- 
ous conditions,  should  drop  an  involuntary  tear,  let  him  not  blame  me  for 
the  sentiment  of  sympathy  which  he  feels.  On  the  contrary,  if  he  should 
sometimes  njeat  with  a  recital  calculated  to  excite  a  smile  or  a  laugh,  I 
claim  no  credit  for  his  enjoyment.  It  is  the  subject  matter  of  the  history, 
and  not  the  historian,  which  makes  those  widely  different  impressions  on 
the  mind  of  the  reader. 

In  this  chapter  it  is  my  design  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  household 
furniture  and  articles  of  diet  which  were  used  by  the  first  inhabitants  of 
our  country.  A  description  of  their  cabins  and  haif-faced  camps,  and 
their  manner  of  building  them,  will  be  found  elsewhere. 

The  furniture  for  the  table,  for  several  years  after  the  settlement  of  this 
country,  consisted  of  a  few  pewter  dishes,  plates  and  spoons,  but  mostly 
of  wooden  bowds,  trenchers  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  the  salt  and  iron,  on  pack-horses. 

These  articles  of  furniture  correspond  very  well  with  the  articles  of  diet 
on  which  they  were  employed.  "Hog  and  hommony"  were  proverbial 
for  the  dish  of  which  they  were  the  component  parts.  Journeycake  and 
pone  were,  at  the  outset  of  the  settlements  of  the  country,  the  only  forms 
of  bread  in  use  for  breakfast  and  dinner.  At  supper,  milk  and  mush  were 
the  standard  dish.  When  milk  was  not  plenty,  which  was  often  the  case, 
owing  to  the  scarcity  of  cattle  or  the  want  of  proper  pasture  for  them,  the 
substantial  dish  of  hommony  had  to  supply  the  place  of  them.  Mush 
was  frequently  eaten  with  sweetened  water,  molasses,  bear's  oil,  or  the 
gravy  of  iVied  meat. 

Every  family,  besides  a  little  garden  for  the  few  vegetables  which  they 
cultivated,  had  another  small  inclosure  containing  from  half  an  acre  to  an 
acre,  which  they  called  a  "truck-patch,"  in  which  they  raised  corn  ibr 
roasting-cars,  pumpkins,  squashes,  beans  and  potatoes.  Tlu'SO,in  the 
Matter  part  of  the  summer  and  fall,  were  cooked  with  their  pork,  Vfcftis'ui 
and   bear  meat,   for  f!Innrr,   and   ifiad<    verv  ^vhrtlrsomc   and  -v:fll  Wjyuv! 


219  HOUSE  FrK!sITi:KK  A^i)  m^E't. 

(Xishii^.  The  stiiiidard  diniiur  dish  for  every  ioi{-roll-hio",  house-raisuij: 
and  harvest-day,  was  a  pot-pie,  or  what  in  otiier  countries  isi-alled  *'  sea- 
])ie."  This,  besides  answering  for  dinger,  served  for  a  part  of  the  sup- 
per also,— tlie  remainder  of  it  from  dinner  being  eaten  with  milii  in  the 
evening,  after  the  €onchisi&n  of  the  labor  of  the  day.. 

In  our  whole  display  of  furniture,  the  delf,  china,  and  silver  were  un'^ 
known.  It  d,id  not  then,  as  now,  require  contributions  from  the  foin* 
([uarters  of  the  globe  to  furnisii  the  breakfast  table,  viz:  tlie  silver  from 
Mexico,  the  coffee  irom  the  West  Indies,  the  tea  from  China,  and  the 
de'f  and  porcc4ain  from  Europe  (?.r  Asia.  Yet  our  homely  fare,  and  un- 
sightly cabins  and  furniture,  prcdueed  a  hardy,  veleran  rasce,  who  planted 
ilie  first  footsteps  of  society  aiid  civilization  jn  the  immense  regions  of 
the  west,.  Inured  to  hardiliood,  bravery  ajrul  ia'nor,  from  tiieir  early 
youth,  they  s^ustaijied  wath  manly  fortitude  the  fatigue  of  the  chase,  the 
camp.aign  and  s^oyt,  and  with  strong  arms  ''^tui^ied  the  wilderness  into 
fruitful  hclds,"  and  have  left  to  their  ck'scendants  the  rich  inheritance  of 
an  immense  empire  blessed  with  peace  and  wealth. 

i  well  rex^ollQct  the  ||rst  time  I  ever  saw^  a  tea-cuj)  and  sa-ucer,  and 
■lasted  eoffe.e.  My  mother  died  whei  I  was  about  six  qt  seven  years  old, 
and  njy  father  then  -sent  jne  to  Maryla;id  with  a  brother  of  ri>y  grandfather, 
Mr.  Alexander  Wells,  to  school. 

At  Col.  iirowTi's,  in  the  nK»untai-ns,  (at  Stony  creek  glades,)  I  for  the 
.^Irst  time  saw  tame  geese  ;  and  by  bantering  a  pet  gander,  I  ^^ot  a  severe 
biting  by  liis  bill,  and  beaten  by  his  wings..  I  wondered -vyjry  much  that 
birds  so  large  aiid  strong  should  ke  so  much  tamer  than  the  wild  turkeys. 
At  this  pla-O't:,  howev^er,  all  was  right,  e?:cepting  th-e  latrge  'birds  which  they 
called  ireese.  'i'he  cabin  and  its  furniture  were  such  as  I  had  been  ac- 
.customed  io  see  in  the  back"*v<H:)ds,  as  my  <'3ountry  -was  then  called. 

At  l>edford  every  thing  was  changed.  The  tavern  at  w^iich  my  uncle 
,put  up  w^as  a  stone  house,  and  to  make  the  ^change  more  complete,  it  was 
plastered  in  the  inside  l^^^oth  as  to  the  walls  and  veiling.  On  going  into 
the  dining  room,  I  was  struck  with  astoni^i'toeirt  at  the  ap])e^rance  of  the 
house.  I  had  no  idea  that  there  w^as  any  iiouse  in  the  world  which  w^as 
iiiot  built  of  logs;  but  here  I  looktd  round  the  house  aaid  could  see  no 
logs,  and  .a'bove  I  4::ould  s^e  no  joists ;  wiiether  such  a  thing  had  been 
made  "by  the  hantls  of  man^  or  tiad  grown  so  of  itself,  I  eould  not  conjee^ 
ture.     i  had  not  the. courage  to  inquire  any  thing  about  it, 

W^hen  J^u.pper  cam^^  on,  '•■•^*my  confusion  was  worse  confounded."  A 
t'ltle  cup  stood  in  a  Vigg^er  one,  with  some  brownish  looking  stuff  in  it, 
which  was  ^neither  miik,  honunony  nor  broth.  What  to  do  with  these 
little  cups  and  the  littk-  spoon  belonging  to  them,  I  could  i.-ot  tell;  and  1 
was  ati'a'Hi  to  ask  a-ny  thing  concerning  the  ust^  of  them. 

It  was  in  the  timt'  of  the  war,  and  the  company  wim'c  Jii^ing  lu'counts 
•of  catching,  whipping,  and  hanging  the  tories.  T'he  woid  /////  frequently 
••'^'jcurrcd.  T'his  woitI  1  had  never  heard  before;  but  1  soon  <]iscovered  its 
nii;'aning,  wiis  much  teirificfi,  and  supposed  thai  we  wvrv  in  danger  of 
i]i€  fate  of  the  lories;  fen"  1  ihoudht.  as  ve  had  come  irom  ihc  backwoods, 
It  was  HJtooclhcr  Id^clv  that  wc  rausl  bo  tones  loo.  Toi-  Icai  ^j  hnngdis- 
^.i^oycrt'd.  1  durst  ]iot  ui-tcr  a  sijielc'  v,ord.      1  Uicrciors  watch-cd  alU-jjlivrly 


BRESS..  220 

'ito  s&e  what  lli<ibi<^  Iblk^  would  do  with  their  little  .en  ps  and  spoons.     I 

imitated  them,  and  Ibund  the  taste  of  the  coflee  nauseous  beyond  any 

thing  1  ever  had  tasted  in  my  life;  I  €oiitinued  to  di'ink,  as  the  rest  of  th<^ 

..company  did,  with  the  tears  streaming  from  my  eyes,   but  when  it  was 

,to  end  I  was  at  a  loss  to  know,  as  the  little  cups  w^ere  hllcd  immediately 

.after  being  emptied.     This  eircumstai^ee  distressed  me  very  much,  as  1 

;durst  not  say  I  had  enough.     Looking  attentively  at  the  grown  persons, 

I  saw^  one  man  turn  his  little  cup  bottom  upwards  and  put  his  little  spoon 

across  it;  I  observed  that  after  this  his  <3up  was  not  hlled  agam:  I  follow- 

-ed  his  example,  and  to  my  great  satisfaction,  the  resuit  as  to  my  cup  was 

the  same. 

The  introducti&n  of  delf  ware  was  considered  by  m^ny  of  the  back- 
woods  people  as  a  culpable  innovation.  It  was  too  easily  broken,  and 
lh€  plates  of  that  ware  dulled  their  scajping  and  elasp  knives;  tea  ware 
was  too  small  for  mcUj  but  might  do  for  w^omen  and  children.  Tea  and 
coffee  were  only  slops,  which  in  the  adage  of  the  day,  ''did  not  stick  by 
•the  ribs."  The  idea  w^a^,  ithey  were  designed  only  for  people  of  quality, 
-who  do  not  labor,  or  the -.sick.  A  genuine  backw-o&dsman  woulfl  have 
ihoughthimself  disgracetl  by  showing  a  ibndness  for  those  slops.  Indeed, 
imaijy  ftf  tjiem  have  to  Uiis  day  very  little  respect  for  tliem. 


-o-- 


CHAPTER  X¥IIL 


DRESS. 


"On  the  frontiers,  iwdi  particularly  amongst  those  who  were  much  in  the 
habit  of  huntinc:,  ^ud  going  on  scouts  and  campaigns,  the  dress  ot  the 
men  was  partly  Indiaiix  and  partly  that  of  civilized  nations. 

The  huntino-  shirt  was  universally  v%'orn.  This  was  a  kind  of  loose 
frock,  reaching  half  way  down  the  thighs,  with  large  sleeves,  open  be- 
fore, and  so  wide  as  to  lap  over  a  foot  or  more  when  belted.  The  cape 
was  large,  and  sometimes  handsomely  fringed  with  a  ravelled  piece  of 
cloth  of  a  dilTerent  cokr  from  that  of  the  hunting  shirt  itself.  The  bo- 
som of  this  dress  served  as  a  wallet  to  hold  a  chunk  of  bread,  cakes,  jerk, 
tow  lor  w  iping  the  barrel  ('i'  the  rifle,  or  any  other  necessary  for  the  hun- 
ter or  wariior.  The  b«lt,  which  was  always  tied  behind,  answered  ibr 
several  p-iuposes  besides  that  of  holding  the  dress  together.  In  cold 
weather  the  mittens,  and  sometimes  the  bullet-bag,  occui>ied  the  front 
])art  of  it;  to  the  right  sifle  was  suspended  the  tomahawk,  and  to  the  lett 
ihe  scalping  knife  in  its  leathern  sheath.  The  hunting  bhirt  was  generally 
made  of  linsey,  sometimes  of  coarse  Jmen,  and  a  few  o(  dressed  deer 
i;kius.     ThciC  la^t  were  verv  cold  wnd  uncomfortable  in  wet  weather. 


221  DRESS. 

The  slihi  and  jackt'l  were  of  the  common  fashion.  A  pair  of  drawers  or 
breeches,  and  leggins,  were  the  dress  of  the  thighs  and  legs.  A  pair  of 
moccasons  answered  for  the  feet  much  better  than  shoes.  These  were 
made  of  dressed  deer  skin.  They  were  mostly  made  of  a  single  piece, 
with  a  gathering  seam  alon^;  the  top  of  the  foot,  and  another  from  the 
bottom  of  the  heel,  with  gaiters  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 
deer  skin,  so  that  no  dust,  gravel  or  snow,  -could  get  within  the  moccason. 

The  moccasons  in  ordinary  use  cost  but  a  few  hours  labor  to  make 
them.  This  was  done  by  an  instrument  denominated  a  moccason  awl, 
which  was  made  of  the  back  spring  of  an  old  clasp  knife.  This  awl,  wdth 
its  buckhorn  handle,  was  ais.  appendage  of  every  shot  pouch  strap,  to- 
gether with  a  roll  of  buckskin  for  mending  the  moccasons.  This  w^as 
the  labor  of  almost  every  evening.  They  were  sewed  together  and 
patched  with  deer  skin  thongs,  or  whangs  as  they  were  commonly  called. 

In  cold  weath'^r  the  moccasons  were  well  stuffed  with  -deer's  hair  or 
dry  leaves,  so  as  to  keep  the  feet  comfortably  w^arm  ;  but  in  wet  weather 
it  was  usually  said  that  w^earing  them  was  "a  decent  w^ay  of  going  bare- 
footed;" and  such  was  the  fact,  owing  to  the  spongy  texture  of  the  leather 
of  which  they  were  made. 

Owing  to  this  defective  covering  of  the  feet,  more  than  to  any  other 
circumstance,  the  greater  number  of  our  hunters  and  warriors  were  afflict- 
ed with  the  rheumatism  in  their  limbs.  Of  this  disease  they  were  all  ap- 
prehensive in  wet  or  cold  weather,  and  therefore  always  slept  wdth  their 
feet  to  the  fire  to  prevent  or  cure  it  as  well  as  they  could.  This  practice 
unquestionably  had  a  very  salutary  effect,  and  prevented  many  of  them 
from  becoming  confirmed  cripples  in  early  life. 

Ill  the  latter  years  of  the  Indian  war  our  young  men  b-ecame  more  en- 
amored of  the  Indian  dress  throughout,  with  the  exception  of  the  match 
■coat.  The  draw^ers  were  laid  aside  and  the  leggins  made  longer,  so  as 
to  reach  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh.  The  Indian  breech  clout  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  be- 
hind, leaving  the  ends  for  flaps,  hanging  before  and  behind  over  the  belt. 
These  belts  were  sometimes  ornamented  with  some  coarse  kind  of  em- 
broidery work.  To  the  same  belts  which  secured  the  breech  clout,  strings 
which  supported  the  long  legghis  were  attached.  Wben  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  warri-or,  instead  of  being  abashed  by  this  rxudity,  was  proud 
of  his  Indian-like  dress.  In  some  few  instances  I  have  seen  them  go  in- 
to places  of  public  worship  in  this  dress.  Their  appeamnce  however  did 
not  add  much  to  the  devotion  of  the  young  ladies. 

The  linsey  petticoat  and  bed  gown,  which  were  the  "universal  dress  of 
our  women  in  early  times,  would  make  a  strange  figure  in  our  days.  A 
small  home-made  handkerchief,  in  point  of  elegance,  would  illy  supply 
the  place  oi'  th:-it  profusioTi  of  rufBe^  with  which  the  necks  of  our  ladies 
are  now  oinamenied. 


Tin:  roRT.  222 

They  went  barefooted  in  warm  weather,  and  in>  cold  their  feet  were 
fovered  with  moccasons,  coarse  shoes  or  shoe-packs,  which  would  inak<> 
but  a  Sony  figure  beside  the  elegant  morocco  slipper8  often  embossed  with 
bullion,  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,  w^ere  hung  in  full  display  on  wooden  pegs  around  the  walls  ot' 
their  cabins, so  that  wdiile  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  prac- 
tice has  not  yet  been  wholly  laid  aside  amongst  the  backwoods  families. 

The  historian  would  say  to  the  ladies  of  the  present  time,  Our  ances- 
tors of  your  sex  knew  nothing  of  the  ruffles,  leghorns,  curls,  combs,  rings, 
and  other  jewels  w^th  which  their  fair  daughters  now  decorate  themselves. 
Such  things  w^ere  not  then  to  be  had.  Many  ot^the  younger  part  of  them 
were  pretty  well  growm  up  before  they  ever  saw  the  inside  of  a  store 
room,  or  even  knew  there  was  such  a  thing  in  the  world,  unless  by  hear-^ 
say,  and  indeed  scarcely  that. 

Instead  of  the  toilet,  they  had  to  handle  the  distaff  or  shuttle,  the  sickle- 
or  weeding  hoe,  contented  if  they  could  obtain  their  linsey  clothing  and 
cover  their  heads  with  a  sun  bonnet  made  of  six  or  seven  hundred  linen. 


:o:- 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE  FORT. 

My  reader  will  understand  by  this  term,  not  only  a  place  of  defense,  but 
the  residence  of  a  small  number  of  families  belonging  to  the  same  neigh- 
borhood. As  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare  was  an  indiscriminate  slaugh- 
ter of  all  ages  and  both  sexes,  it  was  as  requisite  to  provide  for  the  safety 
of  the  women  and  children  as  for  that  of  the  men. 

The  fort  consisted  of  cabins,  block-houses  and  stockades.  A  ranee  of 
cabins  commonly  formed  one  side  at  least  of  the  fort.  Divisions,  or  par- 
titions of  logs,  separated  the  cabins  from  each  other.  The  walls  on  the 
outside  were  ten  or  twelve  feet  high,  the  slope  of  the  roof  being  turned 
wholly  inward.  A  very  few  of  these  cabins  had  puncheon  floors:  the 
greater  part  were  earthen. 

The  block-houses  were  built  at  the  angles  of  the  fort.  They  projected 
about  two  feet  beyond  the  outer  walls  of  the  cabins  and  stockades. 
Their  upper  stories  were  about  eighteen  inches  every  wav  larger  in  di- 
mension than  the  under  one,  leaving  an  opening  at  the  commencement  of 
the  second  story,  to  prevent  the  rnemy  from  making  a  lodgment  undei* 


225  THE  FORI . 

t^iieir  walls.  In  some  forts,  instead  of  block-houses,  the  angles  of  the 
ibrt  were  I'lirnished  with  bastions.  A  large  Ibhhng  gate  made  of  thick- 
slabs,  nearest  the  spring,  closed  the  fort.  The  stockades,  bastions,  cab-' 
ins  and  block-house  walls,  were  furnished  with  port-holes  at  propei 
heights  and  distances.  The  whole  of  the  outside'  was  made  completely 
bullet-proofs 

It  may  be  truly  said  that  necessity  is  the  mother  of  iiYvention,  lor  the 
whole  of  this  woiiv  was  made  without  the  aid  of  a  single  nail  or  spiko  of 
i^ron,  and  for  this  reason,  such  things  were  not  to  be  had.  . 

In  some  places  less  exposed*  a  single  bk)ck-houss  with  a  cabin  or  two' 
constituted  the  whole  fort. 

Such  places  of  refuge  may  appear  very  t?rifling  tdthof^e  who  have  been 
in  the  habit  of  seeing  the  formidable  military  garrisouvs  of  Europe  and 
America;  but  they  answered  the  purpose,  as  th.€  Indians  had  no  artillery. 
They  seldom  attack-ed,  and  scai'G'ei}'  ever  took  one  of  them. 

The  families  belonging  to  the^e  forts  were  so  attached  to  their  own 
cabins  on  their  farms,  that  they  seldom  moved  into  the  fort  in  the  spring 
until  compelled  by  some  alarm?,  as  they  called  it;  that  is,  when  it  was  an- 
nounced by  some  murder  that  the  Indians  were'  in  the  settlement. 

The  fort  to  whivh  my  father  belonged,  was,  dviring  the  first  years  of  the 
war,  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  his  farm;  but  when  tkis  ibrt  went  to- 
decay,  and  becaiite'  unfit  for  defense,  a  new"  one  was  built  at  his  ow^n 
house.  I  well  remember  that  when  a  little  boy  the  family  were  sometimes 
waked  up  in  the-  dead  of  night  by  an  express  with  a  report  that  the  In- 
dians were  at  han'd.  The  express  came  softly  to  the  door  or  back  win- 
dow, and  by  a  g.entle  tapping  waked  the  family ;'  this  was  easily  done,  as 
an  habitual  fear  made  us  ever  watchful  and  sensible  te  the  slightest  alarm. 
The  wdiole  family  were  instantly  in'  motion:  my  father  seized  his  gun  and 
other  imi)lements^  of  war  ;  my  stejy  mother  waked' up  and  dressed  the  chil- 
dren as  well  as  she  could  ;  and  bein'g  myself  the  oldest  of  the  children,  I 
had  to  take  my  shure  of  the  burthens  to  be  carried  to  tSfe  fort.  Tliere 
was  no  possibility  of  getting  a  horse  in  the  night  to  aid  uls  in  removing  to 
the  fort ;  besides  the'  little  children,  We  caught  up  what  articles  of  cloth- 
ing and  provision  we  could  get  hold  of  in  the  dark,  for  we'  durst  not  light 
a  candle  or  even  stir  the  fire.  All  thus- was  done  wuth  the  utmost  dispatch 
and  the  silence  of  d'eath  ;  the  greatest  care  was  taken  not  to  awaken  the 
youngest  child  :  tc  tte  rest  it  was  enough  to  say  Indicm,  and  not  a  whim- 
per was  heard  afterwards.  Thus  it  often  happened  that  the  whole  num- 
ber of  families  belonging  to  a  fort,  who  were  in  the  evening  at  their 
homes,  were  all  in^  their  little  fortress  before  the  dawn  of  the  next  morn-' 
ing.  In  the  course  of  the  succeeding  day,  their  household  furniture  was.^ 
brought  in  by  parties  of  the  rfien  under  arms. 

Some  families  belonging  to  each  fort,  were  mw-b  less  under  the  in~- 
fluence  of  fear  than  others,  and  who  after  an  alarm  had  subsided,  in  spite' 
of  every  remonstrance  would  remove  home,  while  their  more  prudent 
iieiirhbors  remained  hi  the  fort.  Such  families  were  denom^inated  "fool-- 
hardy,"  and  gave  nO  small  amoiKnt  of  trouble  by  creating  such  frequent' 
necessities  of  sendiii'g  runners  to  warn  them  of  their  danger,  and  ':T)me-- 
times  parties  of  our  mcT»-  to  nrotect  tl>em  durwg  thpt'r  removal. 


CARAVANS.-  2-24 


lo: 


CHAPTER  XX, 


CARAVANS. 

t'mz  acquisition  of  the  indispfensable  articles  of  salt,  iron,  steel  and  cast- 
ings, presented  g-reat  difficulties  to  the  first  settlers  of  the  western  coun- 
try. They  had  no  stores  of  any  kind,  no  salt,  iron,  nor  iron  works ;  nor 
had  they  money  to  make  purchases  where  those  articles  were  to  be  ob- 
tained. Peltry  and  furs  were  their  only  resources,  before  they  had  time 
to  raise  cattle  and  horses  for  sak  in  the  iVtlantic  states. 

Every  family  collected  what  peltry  and  fur  they  could  obtain  through- 
out the  year  for  the  purpose  of  sending  them  over  the  mountains  for  barter. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year,  after  seeding  time,  every  family  formed  an  asso- 
ciation with  some  of  their  neighbors  for  starting  the  little  caravan.  A 
master  driver  was  selected  from  among  them,  who  was  to  be  assisted  by 
one  or  more  young  men,  and  sometimes  a  boy  or  two.  The  horses  were 
fitted  out  with  pack-sa(kile5,  to  the  hinder  part  of  which  was  fastened  a 
pair  of  hobbles  made  of  hickory  withs:  a  bell  and  collar  ornamented  his 
neck.  The  bags  provided  for  the  conveyance  of  the  salt  were  filled  with 
feed  fqr  the  horses:  on  the  journey  a  part  of  this  feed  was  left  at  conve- 
nient stages  on  the  way  down,  to  support  the  return  of  the  caravan. 
Large  wallets,  well  filled  with  bread,  jerk,  boiled  ham  and  cheese,  fur- 
nished provision  for  the  drivers.  At  night,  after  feeding,  the  horses, 
whether  put  in  pasture  or  turned  out  into  the  woods,  were  hobbled,  and 
the  bells  were  opened.  The  barter  for  salt  and  iron  was  made  first  at 
Baltimore.  Frederick,  Ilagerstown,  Oldtown  and  Cumberland,  in  suc- 
cession, becam.e  the  place  of  exchange.  Each  horse  carried  two  bushels 
of  alumn  salt,  weighing  eighty-four  pounds  the  bushel.  This,  to  be  sure. 
Was  not  a  heavy  load  for  the  horses,  but  it  was  enough  considering  the 
Scanty  subsistence  allovvcd  them  on  the  journey. 

The  common  price  of  a  bushel  of  alumn  salt  at  an  early  period  was  a 
g'ood  cow  and  calf;  and  until  weights  were  introduced,  the  salt  was  mea- 
sured into  the  half  bushel  by  hand  as  lightly  as  |-K)ssible.  No  one  was 
permitted  to  walk  heavily  over  the  floor  while  the  operation  was  going  on. 

The  followinc:  anecdote  will  serve  to  shew  how  little  the  native  sons  of 
the  forest  knew  of  the  etiquet  of  the  Atlantic  cities. 

A  neighbor  of  my  father,  some  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  coun- 
try, had  collected  a  small  drove  of  cattle  for  the  Baltimore  market. 
Amongst  the  hands  employed  to  drive  them  was  on<'  who  had  lu^ver  srru 
anv  fondition  of  sorirtv  but  that  nf  woodsmen. 


*u 


tr25  hunting:. 

At  one  of  llieli'  lodging  places  in  the  mount-ain,  the  landlord  and" htk- 
hired  man,  in  tlie  course  of  the  night,  stole  two  of  the  bells  belonging  to- 
the  drove,  and  hid  them  in  a  piece  of  woods. 

The  drove  had  not  gone  far  in  the  morning  before  the  bells  were  missed, 
and  a  detachment  went  back  to  recover  the  stolen  bells.  The  men  were 
found  reaping  in  the  field  of  the  landlord;  they  were  accused  of  the  theft, 
but  they  denied  the  charge.  The  torture  of  sweating,  according  to  the 
custom,  of  that  time,  that  is,  of  suspension  by  the  arms  pinioned  behind 
their  backs,  brought  a  confession.  The  bells  were  procured  and  hung 
around  the  necks  of  the  thieves:  in  this  condition  they  were  driven  on. 
foot  before  the  detachment  until  they  overtook  the  drove,  wdiich  by  this 
time  had  gone  nin^  miles.  A  halt  w^as  called  and  a  jury  selected  to  try 
the  culprits.  They  were  condemned  to  receive  a  certain  number  of  lashes 
on  the  bare  back  from  the  hand  of  each  drover.  The  man  above  alluded 
to  was  the  owaer  of  one  of  the  bells.  When  it  came  to  his  turn  to  use 
the  hickory^  "Now,"  says  he  to  the  thief,  '^ you  infernal  scoundrel,  Fl! 
work  your  jacket  nineteen  to  the  dozen.  Only  think  what  a  rascally 
figure  I  should  make  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore  without  a  bell  on  my 
horse.''  The  man  w^as  in  earnest:  having  seen  no  horsQ  used  without 
bells,  he  thought  they  were  requisite  in  every  situation,. 


;o:— 


CHAPTER  XXI 


HUNTINGv 

TiiiS  was  an  important  part  of  the  employment  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  countr)'.  For  some  years  the  woods  supplied  them  with  the  greater 
amount  of  their  subsistence,  and  with  regard  to  some  families  in  certain 
times,,  the  whole  of  it ;  for  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  families  to  live- 
several  months  without  a  mouthful  of  bread.  It  frequently  happened  that 
there  w^as  no  breakfast  until  it  was  obtained  from  tht  woods,.  Fur  and 
peltry  were  the  people's  money  ;  they  had  nothing  else  to  give  in  exchange 
lor  rifles,  salt  and  iron,  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountains. 

The  fall  and  early  part  of  the  winter  was  the  season  for  hunting  the 
deer,  and  the  whole  of  the  winter,  including  part  of  the  spring,  for  bears 
and  fur  skinned  animals.  It  was  a  customary  saying  that  fur  is  good 
during  everv  month  in  the  name  of  which  the  letter  r  occurs.- 

The  clas3  of  hunters  with  whom  I  was  best  acquainted  were  those 
whose  hunting  ranges  w^ere  on  the  western  side  of  the  river  and  at  the 
distance  of  eight  or  nine  miles  from  it.  As  soon  as  the  leaves  were 
pretty  well  down,  and  the  weather  became  rainy  accompanied  with  light 
sr.ow^-,  th'iss  men,  after  acting  the  part  of  husbandmen,  so  far  as  the  stat^i 


HUNTING.  m^ 

^oT  warfare  parraitted  them  to  do  so,  soon  began  to  feel  that  thej  'v^ar? 
hunters.  They  became  uneasy  at  home  ;  every  thing  about  ihem  became 
•disagreeable ;  the  house  was  too  warm,  the  feather  bed  too  soft,  and  even 
:the  good  wife  was  not  thought  for  the  time  being  a  proper  companion  ; 
the  mind  of  the  hunter  v;as  wholly  occupied  Vv4th  the  camp  and  chase. 

I  have  often  seen  them  get  up  early  in  the  morning  at  this  season,  walic 
hastily  out  and  look  anxiously  to  the  woods,  and  snuff  the  autumnal 
winds  with  the  highest  rapture,  then  return  into  the  house  and  cast  a 
-quick  and  attentive  look  at  the  rille,  which  was  always  suspended  to  a 
joist  by  a  cou])le  of  buck's  horns  or  little  forks ;  his  hunting  dog  under- 
standing the  intentions  of  his  master,  would  wag  his  tail,  and  by  every 
blandishment  in  his  power  express  his  readiness  to  accompariy  him  to  the 
woods. 

A  day  was  soon  appointed  for  the  march  of  the  little  cavalcade  to  the 
camp.  Two  or  three  horses  furnished  with  pack-saddles  were  loaded 
with  flour,  Indian  meal,  blankets,  and  everv  thinsf  else  requisite  for  the 
use  of  the  hunter. 

A  hunting  camp,  or  what  was  called  a  half-faced  cabin,  was  of  the  fol- 
lowing form:  the  back  part  of  it  was  sometimes  a  large  log:  at  the  dis- 
tance of  eight  or  ten  feet  from  this  two  stakes  were  set  in  the  ground  a 
vfew  inches  apart,  and  at  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten  feet  from  these  two 
more  to  receive  the  ends  of  the  poles  for  the  sides  of  the  camp  ;  the  whole 
slope  of  the  roof  was  from  the  front  to  the  back ;  the  covering  was  made 
•of  slabs,  skins  or  blankets,  or,  if  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  the  bark  of 
hickory  or  ash  trees  ;  the  front  was  left  entirely  open  ;  the  fire  was  buijt 
directly  before  this  opening;  the  cracks  between  the  logs  were  filled  with 
moss,  and  dry  leaves  served  for  a  bed.  It  is  thus  that  a  couple  of  men 
in  a  few  hours  will  construct  for  themselves  a  tempor&ry  but  tolerably 
'Comforlable  defense  from  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather;  the  beaver, 
otter,  muskrat  and  squirrel  are  scarcely  their  equals  in  dispatch  in  fabrica- 
ting for  themselves  a  covert  from  the  tempesti 

A  little  more  pains  would  have  made  a  hunting  cam^p  a  defense  against 
the  Indians.  A  cabin  ten  feet  square,  bullet  proof  and  furnished  with  port 
holes,  would  have  enabled  two  or  three  hunters  to  hold  twenty  Indians  at 
bay  for  an}'  length  of  time ;  but  this  precaution  I  believe  was  never  at- 
tended to;  hence  the  hunters  were  often  surprised  and  killed  in  their 
camps. 

The  site  for  the  camp  was  selected  with  all  the  sagacity  of  the  woods- 
men, so  as  to  have  it  sheltered  by  the  surrounding  hills  from  every  wind, 
but  more  especially  from  those  of  the  north  and  west. 

y\n  uncle  of  mine,  of  the  name  of  Samuel  Teter,  occupied  the  same 
camp  for  several  years  iii  succession.  It  was  situated  on  one  of  the  soutli- 
•ern  branches  of  Cross  creek.  Although  1  had  lived  many  years  not  more 
than  fifteen  miles  from  the  pi, ice,  it  was  not  till  witliin  a  very  few  years 
that  1  discovered  ils  situntion,  wiien  it  was  shewti  to  me  by  ;i  L>'entleman 
livifig  in  the  neighborhood.  \'iewin'^'  the  hills  round  aboiit  i(,  I  soon 
jperccived  the  sngaoity  of  thf'  hunter  in  tlie  site  for  hi*;  ramp.  Not  a  wind 
•^ould  toiirh  him,   ■.\n(\  upIcn^  Iiv  the  K-nort  of  his  oim  or  tlir  sound  dl"  hii 


:227  iiUNTiXa 

axe,  it  would  have  been  by  mere  accident  it"  an  Indian  kid  discovered  Ins? 
concealment. 

Hunting  was  not  a  mere  ramble  in  pursuit  of  game,  in  which  there  was 
nothing  of  skill  and  calculation ;  on  the  contrary,  the  hunter  before  he  set 
out  in  the  morning  was  informed  by  the  state  of  the  weather  in  what  situ.- 
ation  he  might  reasonably  expect  to  meet  with  his  game,  whether  on  tlie 
bottoms,  sides  or  tops  of  the  hills.  In  stormy  weather  the  deer  always 
seek  the  most  sheltered  places  and  the  leeward  sides  of  the  hills.  In 
.rainy  weather  in  which  there  is  not  much  wind,  they  keep  in  the  open 
weeds  on  the  highest  ground. 

In  every  situation  it  was  requisite  for  the  hunter  to  ascertain  the  course 
;of  the  vrind,  so  as  to  get  to  the  leward  of  the  game.  This  he  effected  by 
putting  his  finger  in  his  mouth  and  holding  it  there  until  it  became  warm ; 
then  holding  it  above  his  head,  the  side  "which  first  be.comes  eold  sl^ws 
which  way  the  wind  blows. 

As  it  was  requisite  too  for  the  hunter  to  knov/  the  cardinal  points,  he 
had  only  to  observe  the  trees  to  ascertain  them.  The  bark  of  an  aged 
tree  is  thicker  and  much  rouMier  on  the  north  than  on  the  south  side. 
The  same  thing  may  be  said  of  the  moss,  it  is  thicker  and  stronger  on  the 
^north  than  on  the  south  side  of  the  trees. 

The  whole  business  of  the  hunter  consists  of  a  succession  of  mtrigues. 
From  morrdng  to  night  he  was  on  the  alert  to  goiii  the  loirA  of  his  game, 
and  approach  them  without  being  discovered.  If  he  succeeded  in  killing 
a  deer,  he  skinned  it  and  hung  it  up  out  ot  the  reach  of  the  wolves,  and 
"immediately  resumed  the  chase  till  the  close  of  the  evening,  when  he  bent 
his  course  towards  his  cam.p;  when  arrived  there,  he  kindled  up  his  hre^ 
and  together  with  his  fellow  hunter  cooked  his  supper.  The  supper  fin- 
ished, the  adventures  of  the  da}'  furnished  the  tales  for  the  evening;  the 
spike  buck,  tthe  two  and  three  pronged  buck,  the  doe  and  the  barren  doe, 
figured  through  their  anecdotes  with  great  advantage.  It  should  seem 
4hat  after  hunting  awhile  on  the  'same  ground,  the  hunters  became  ac*- 
>quainted  with  nearly  all  the  gangs  of  deer  within  their  range,  so  as  to 
know  each  flock  of  them  when  they  saw  them.  Often  some  old  buck,  by 
the  means  of  his  superior  sagaeity  and  watchfulness,  saved  his  little  gang 
from  the  hunter's  skill,  by  giving  timely  notice  of  his  approach.  The 
cunning  of  the  hunter  and  that  of  the  old  buck  were  staked  against  each 
other,  and  it  frequently  happened  that  at  the  conclusion  of  the  hunting 
season,  the  old  fellow  was  left  the  free  uninjured  tenant  of  his  forest ;  but 
if  his  rival  succeeded  in  bringing  him  down,  the  victory  was  followed  by 
no  small  amount  of  boasting  on  the  part  of  the  conqueror. 

When  the  weather  was  not  suitable  for  hunting,  the  skins  and  carcasses 
of  the  o'ame  v/ere  brouecht  in  and  disoosed  of. 

Many  of  the  hunters  rested  from  their  labors  on  the  Sabbath  day,  some 
from  a  motive  of  piety,  others  said  that  whenever  they  hunted  on  Sun- 
day, they  were  sure  to  have  bad  luck  all  the  rest  of  the  week. 


^:rnE  wedding;  ^:^^ 


-•o"- 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  WEDDING.. 

^OR  a  long  time  after  the  first  settleraent  of  this  eoimtry  the  iMliabitniils 
■In  general  married  young.  There  was  no  distinction  of  rank,  and  very 
little  ot"  fortune.  On  these  accounts  the  first  impression  of  love  resulted 
in  marriage,  and  a  family  establishment  eost  but  a  little  labor  and  noth- 
ing else. 

A  description  of  a  wedding,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  will  serve 
to  shew  the  manners  of  our  forefathers,  and  mark  the  grade  of  civilization 
•which  has  succeeded  to  their  rude  slate  of  society  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years. 

At  an  early  period  the  practice  of  celebrating  the  marriage  a<;  the  house 
of  the  bride  began,  and  it  should  seem  with  great  propriety.  She  also 
has  the  choice  of  the  priest  to  perform  the  ceremony. 

In  the  first  years  of  the  settlement  of  this  country,  a  wedding  engaged 
the  attention  of  a  whole  neighborhood,  and  the  frolick  was  anticipated  by 
old  and  young  v/ith  eager  anticipation.  T^is  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
when  it  is  t^ld  that  a  wedding  was  almost  the  only  gathering  which  was 
not  accomxpanied  with  the  labor  of  reaping,  log-rolling,  buildirig  a  cabin, 
or  planning  some  seout'Or  campaign. 

In  the  morning  of  the  wedding  day,  the  groom  and  liis  attendants  as- 
sembled at  the  house  of  his  father,  for  the  purpose  of  reaching  the  man- 
sion of  his  bride  by  noon,  which  was  the  usual  time  for  celebrating  the 
nu])l.ials,  v%'hich  for  certain  must  take  place  before  dinner.. 

Let  the  reader  imagine  an  assemblage  of  people,  without  a  store,  tailor 
or  mantuamaker,  witliin  an  hundred  miles,  and  an  assemblage  of  horses, 
without  a  blacksmith  or  saddler  within  an  e(|ual  distance.  The  gentle- 
men dressed  in  shoe-packs,  moccasons,  leather  breeches,  leggins,  and 
linsey  hunting  shirts,  all  home-made.  The  ladies  dressed  in  linsey  petti- 
coats and  linsey  or  linen  bed  gowns,  coarse  shoes,  stockings,  handker- 
chiefs, -Am]  buckskin  gloves,  if  any;  if  there  were  any  buckles,  rings,  but- 
tons or  ruilles,  they  were  the  relics  of  old  times,  family  pieces  from  pi- 
r^nts  or  grand-parents.  The  horses  were  cajiarisoned  with  old  saddles, 
old  bridles  or  halters,  and  pack-saddles,  with  a  bag  or  blanket  thrown 
over  them:  a  rope  or  string  as  often  constituted  the  girth  as  a  piece  of 
leather. 

The  march,  in  double  fde,  was  often  interrupled  bv  the  narrowness  nnd 
o!),striictions  of  our  horse-jjaths,  as  they  were  called,  for  we  had  no  road?; 
and  the,>e  diflicultics  vcnw  ofien  incrensftd,  sometimes  by  the  good,  and 
i'jmetinies  by  ihc  ill  v.il!  of  jieighbors,  by  falliiig  trees  and  t^-in^-  grape 


^^  THE  T^EDDOG. 

^"ines  ar.rosi  the  ^rar.  Sometimes  an  hiabuscade  was  forined  br  the  way 
side,  and  an  unexpected  discharge  of  several  guns  took  place,  so  as  to 
ioxQv  the  wedding  company  wiih  smoke.  Let  the  reader  imagine  the 
ft.cene  which  followed  this  discharge,  the  sudden  spring  of  the  horses,  the 
shrieks  of  the  girls,  and  the  chivalric  bustle  of  their  pailners  to  save  them 
from  falling.  Sometimes,  in  spite  of  all  that  could  be  done  to  prevent  it, 
some  were  thrown  to  the  ground ;  if  a  wrist,  elbov*-  or  ankle  happened  to 
be  sprained,  it  v/as  tied  with  a  handkerchief,  and  little  more  was  thought 
or  said  about  it. 

Another  ceremony  took  place  before  the  party  reached  the  house  of  the 
bride,  after  the  practice  of  making  vrhiskey  began,  w^hich  was  at  an  early 
period.  When  the  party  w^ere  about  a  mile  from  the  place  of  their  desti- 
nation, two  young  men  would  single  out  to  run  for  the  bottle :  the  worse 
.the  path,  the  more  logs,  brush  and  deep  hollows,  the  better,  as  these  ob- 
stacles afforded  an  opportunity  for  the  greater  display  of  intrepidity  and 
horsemanship.  The  English  fox  chase,  in  point  of  danger  to  the  riders 
and  their  horses,  was  nothinsf  te  this  race  for  the  bottle.  The  start  was 
announced  by  an  Indian  yell,  when  logs,  brush,  mud  holes,  hill  and  glen^ 
were  speedily  passed  by  the  rival  ponies.  The  bottle  was  always  filled 
for  the  occasion,  so  that  there  was  no  use  for  judges;  for  the  first  who 
reached  the  door  was  presented  wdth  the  prize,  with  wdiich  he  returned 
in  triumph  to  the  company.  On  approaching  them  he  announced  his 
victory  over  liis  rival  by  a  shrill  whoop.  At  the  head  of  the  troop  he 
gave  the  bottle  to  the  groom  and  his  attendants,  and  then  to  each  pair  in 
succession,  to  the  rear  of  the  line,  giving  each  a  dranv;  and  then  putting 
the  bottle  in  the  bosom  of  kis  huntin,^  shirt,  took  his  statian  in  the  com- 

The  ceremony  of  the  marriage  preceded  the  dinner,  which  was  a  sub- 
stantial backwmods  feast  of  beef,  pork,  fowls,  and  sometimes  venison  and 
bear  meat,  roasted  and  boiled,  with  plenty  of  potatoes,  cabbage' and  other 
vegetables.  During  the  dinner  the  greatest  hilarity  alw^ays  prevailed,  al- 
though the  table  might  be  a  large  slab  of  timber,  hewed  out  with  a  broad- 
axe,  supported  by  four  sticks  set  in  auger  holes,  and  the  furniture  some 
old  pew^ter  dishes  and  plates,  the  rest  wooden  bowls  and  trenchers.  A 
few  pewter  spoons,  much  battered  about  the  edges,  were  to  be  seen  at 
some  tables;  the  rest  were  made  of  horns.  If  knives  w^ere  scarce,  the  de- 
ficiency w^as  made  up  by  the  scalping  knives,  which  were  carried  in 
sheaths  suspended  to  the  belt  of  the  hunting  shirt. 

After  dinner  the  dancing  commencdd,  and  generally  lasted  until  the 
next  morning.  The  figures  of  the  dances  were  three  and  four  handed 
reels,  or  square  sets  and  jigs.  The  commencement  was  always  a  square 
four,  which  was  follow^ed  by  what  was  called  jigging  it  off,  that  is,  tw^o 
of  the  four  would  single  out  for  a  jig,  and  w^ere  followed  by  the  remain- 
ing couple.  The  jigs  were  often  accompanied  Avith  w^hat  was  called 
cutting  out,  that  is,  when  any  of  the  parties  became  tired  of  the  dance,  on 
intimation,  the  place  was  s\ipplied  by  some  of  the  company,  without  any 
interruption  of  the  dance;  in  this  w^av  a  dance  was  often  continued  till 
the  musician  was  heartily  tired  of  his  situation.  Toward  the  latter  part  of 
the  night,  if  anv  of  the  compnny  throiirrh  -xvpRriness  attempted  to  conceal 


THE  WEDDIiSG.  2S0^ 

themselves  for  the  puipose  of  sleeping,  they  were  hunted  up,  paraded  on' 
the  floor,  and  the  iiddler  ordered  to  play  '^  hang  out  till  morning." 

About  nine  or  ten  o'clock  a  deputation  of  young  ladies  stole  off  the 
l)ride  and  put  her  to  Bed.     In  doing  this  it  frequently  happened  that  they 
had  to  ascend  a  ladder  instead  of  a  pair  of  stairs,  leading  from  the  dining 
and  ball  room  to  the  loft,  the  floor  of  which  was  made  of  clapboards  lying 
loose  and  without  nails.     This  ascent  one  might  think  would  put  the 
bride  and  her  attendants  to  the  blush ;  but  as  the  foot  of  the  ladder  was 
eommonly  behind  the  door,  which  was  purposely  open  for  th^  occasion, 
and  its  rounds  at  the  inner  ends  w^ere  well  hung  with  hunting  shirts,  pet- 
ticoats and  other  articles  of  clothing,  the  candies  being  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  house,  the  exit  of  the  bride  was  noticed  but  by  a  few.     This 
done,  a  deputation  of  young  men  in  like  manner  stole  off  the  groom  and 
placed  him  snugly  by  the  side  of  his  bride..     The  dance  still  continued, 
and  if  seats  happened  to  be  scarce,  which  was  often  the  case,  every  young 
man  w^hen  not  engaged  in  the  dance  was  obliged  to  offer  his  lap  as  a  seat 
for  one  of  the  girls,  and  the  offer  was  sure- to  be  accep>ted.     In  the  midst 
of  this  hilarity  the  bride  and  groom  were  not  forgotten.     Pretty  late  in-' 
the  night  some  one  v/ould  remind  the  company  that  the  new  couple  must 
stand  in  need  of  some  refreshment;  Black  Betty,  which  was  the  name  of 
the  bottle,  w^as  called  for  and  sent  up  the  ladder.     But  sometimes  Black 
Betty  did  not  go  alone..     1  have  many  times  seen  as  much  bread,  beef,, 
pork  and  cabbage,  sent  along  with  her,  as  would  afford  a  good  meal  for 
half  a  dozen  of  hungry  men.     The  young  couple  were  compelled  to  eat 
more  or  less  of  whatever  was  offered  them. 

In  the  course  of  the  festivity,  if  any  wanted  to  help  himself  to  a  dram.- 
and  the  young  couple  to  a  toast,  he  w^ould  call  out,  "Where  is  Black 
Betty.-^  I  waiit  to  kiss  her  sweet  lips."  Black  Betty  was  soon  handed  to 
him,  when,  holding  her  up  in  his  right  hand,  he  would  say,  **  Here's 
health  to  the  groom,  not  forgetting  myself,  and  here^s  to  the  bride,  thump- 
ing  luck  and  big  children!"  This,  so  far  from  being  taken  amiss,  was 
con-sidered  as  an  expression  of  a  very  proper  and  friendly  wish  ;  for  big 
children,  especially  sons,  were  of  great  importance,  as  we  were  few  in 
number  and  engaged  in  perpetual  hostility  with  the  Indians,  the  end  of 
which  no  one  could  foresee.  Indeed  many  of  them  seemed  to  suppose 
that  war  was  the  natural  state  of  man,  and  therefore  did  not  anticipate 
any  conclusion  of  it;  every  big  son  was  therefore  considered  as  a  young 
soldier. 

But  to  return..  It  often  happened  that  some  neighbors  or  relations,  not 
being  asked  to  the  wedding,  took  ofiense  ;  and  the  mode  of  revenge 
adopted  by  them  on  such  occasions,  was  that  of  cutting  off  the  manes, 
foretops,  and  tails  of  the  horses  of  the  wedding  company. 

Another  method  of  revenge  which  was  adopted  when  the  chastity  of 
the  bride  was  a  little  suspected,  was  that  of  setting  up  a  pair  of  horns  on 
poles  or  trees,  on  the  route  of  the  wx'dding  company.  This  was  a  hint  to 
the  groom  that  lie  might  expect  to  be  cora})Hmcnted  with  a  pair  of  horns 
himself. 

On  returning  to  the  infare,  the  order  n^  procession  and  the  race  for* 
Blacik  Betty   was  the  same  as  before.     The  fctisting  and  dancing  oftei?^ 


«%» 


^^  THE  HOUSE  WARMING,' 

lasted  several  days,  at  the  end  of  vrhich  the  whole  company  were  so  ct-" 
hausted  with  loss  of  sleep,  that  several  days'  rest  were  requisite  to  fit' 
them  to  return  to  their  ordinary  labors. 

Should  1  be  asked  why  I  have  presented  this  unpleasant  portrait  of  the 
rude  manners  of  our  forefathers?  1  in  my  turn  w-ould  ask  my  reader,  why 
are  you  pleased  with  the  histories  of  the  blood  and  carnage  of  battles  ? 
Why  are  you  delighted  with  the  fictions  of  poetry,  the  novel  and  romance? 
I  have  related  truth,  and  onl}'  truth,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  have  de- 
picted a  state  of  society  and  manners  which  are  fast  vanishing  from  the 
memory  of  man,  with  a  view  to  give  the  youth  of  our  country  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  advantage  of  civilization,  and  to  give  contentment  to  the  aged 
by  preventing  +hem  from  saying,  "-that  former  times  were  better  than  the- 
present." 


■:o: 


CHAPTER  XKIII 


THE  HOUSE  WARMING. 

i  will  proceed  to  state  the  usual  manner  of  settling  a  young  couple  in  the' 
World. 

A  spot  was  selected  on  a  piece  of  land  of  one  of  the  parent"?  for  their' 
habitation.  A  day  was  appointed  shortly  after  their  marriage  for  com- 
mencing the  work  of  building  their  cabin.  The  fatigue  party  consisted 
<5f  choppers,  whose  business  it  was  to  fall  the  trees  and  cut  them  off  at 
proper  lengths — a  man  v.'ith  his  team  for  hauling  them  to  the  place,  and 
arranging  them,  properly  assorted,  at  the  sides  and  ends  of  the  building 
—and  a  carpenter,  if  s^^lch  he  might  be  called,  whose  business  it  was  to 
search  the  woods  for  a  proper  tree  for  making  clapboards  for  the  roof. 
The  tree  for  this  purpose  must  be  straight-grained,  and  from  three  to  four 
feet  in  diameter,  I'he  boards  were  split  four  feet  long,  w^ith  a  large  frow, 
and  as  wide  as  the  timber  would  allov/.  They  were  used  without  planing 
or  shaving.  Another  division  were  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  with  a  broad-axe.- 
They  were  half  the  length  of  the  floor  they  w-ere  intended  to  make. 

The  materials  for  the  cabin  were  mostly  prepared  on  the  first  day,  and 
sometimes  the  foundation  laid  in  the  evening;  the  second  day  was  allot- 
ted for  the  raising. 

In  the  morning  of  the  next  day  the  neighbors  collected  for  the  raising. 
The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  the  election  of  four  corner-men,  whose 
S3usiness  it  was  to  notch  and  place  the  logs,  the  rest  of  the  company  fur- 
nishing them  wilh  the  timbers.     In  the  mean  lime  tlie  boards  and  pun- 


The  house  warminc;.  232 

clieons  were  collecting  for  the  floor  and  roof,  so  that  by  the  time  the 
cabin  was  a  few  rounds  high,  the  sleepers  and  iloor  began  to  be  laid. 
The  door  was  made  by  cutting  or  sawing  the  logs  in  one  side  so  as  to 
make  an  opening  about  three  feet  wide;  this  opening  was  secured  by  up- 
right piece's  of  timber  about  three  inches  thick,  through  which  holes  v/ere 
bored  into  the  ends  of  the  logs  for  the  purpose  of  pinning  them  fast.  A 
similar  opening,  but  wider,  was  macie  at  the  end  for  the  chimney.  This 
■«^as  built  of  logs,  and  made  large,  to  admit  of  a  back  and  jambs  of  stone. 
At  the  square  two  end  logs  projected  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  beyond 
the  w^all,  to  receive  the  butting  poles  as  they  were  called,  ai^ainst  which 
the  ends  of  the  first  row  of  cia})boards  was  supported.  The  roof  was 
formed  by  making  the  and  logs  shorter  until  a  single  log  formed  the  comb 
of  the  roof.  On  these  logs  the  clapboards  were  placed,  the  ranges  of 
them  lappmg  some  distance  over  those  next  below  them,  and  kept  in 
their  places  by  logs  placed  at  proper  distances  npori  them.- 

The  roof  and  sometim.cs  the  floor  were  finished  on  the  same  day  of  the 
raising;  a  third  day  was  commonly  spent  by  a  few  carpenters  in  leveling 
off  the  floor,  making  a  clapboard  door,  and  a  table.  This  last  was  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.  SomiC  pins,  stuck  in 
the  logs  at  the  back  of  the  house,  supported  some  clapboards  which  ser- 
ved lor  shelves  for  the  table  furniture.  A  sirigle  fork,  placed  with  its 
k)wer  end  in  a  hole  in  the  fioor,  and  the  upper  6hd  fastened  to  a  joist,  ser- 
ved lor  a  bedstead,  by  placing  a  pole  in  the  fork  with  one  end  through  a 
erack  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  front  pole,  through  a  crack  between  the  logs  of  the  end  of  the 
house,  the  boards  were  put  on  which  formed  the  b'ottom  of  the  bed. 
Sometimes  other  poles  were  pinned  to  the  fork  a  little  distance  between 
these,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  the  front  and  foot  of  the  bed,  while 
the  walls  were  the  support  of  its  back  and  head;-  A  few  pegs  around  the 
walls,  for  the  display  of  the  coats  of  the  women  and  hunting  shirts  of  the 
men,  aitd  two  smaH  forks  or  buck's  horns  to  a  ioist  i'ot  the  rille  and  shot 
pouch,  completed  the  carpenter  work. 

In  the  m.ean  time  masons  we're  at  wc/rk.  With  the  heart  pieces  of  the 
timber  of  vv'hich  the  clapboards  we:e  made,  they  made  billets  for  chunk- 
ing up  the  cracks  between  the  logs  of  the  cabin  and  chimney.  A  large 
bed  of  mortar  was  made  for  daubino  up  these  cracks ;  an'd  a  few  stones 
formed  the  back  and  jambs  of  the  chu'ilney. 

The  cabin  being  fmishefl,  the  ceremony  of  ho'iise  \tarming  took  place', 
before  the  young  couple  were  permitted  to  move  into  it.  This  was  a 
dancu  of  the  whole  night's  continuance,  made  up  of  the  relations  of  the 
bride  and  groom  and  their  neighbors.  On  the  day  following,  the  youni^ 
eouple  took  possession  of  tlieir  new  mansion,- 


*v. 


^33^  WORKIXO: 


-:0: 


SHAPTER  XXIV 


WORKING. 

TiiE  necessaiy  labors  of  the  farms  along  the  irontiers  were  performed* 
with  every  danger  and  difficulty  imaoinable.     The  v/hole  population  of 
the  frontiers,  huddled  together  in  their  little  forts^-  left  the  country  with 
every  appearance  of  a  deserted  region;  and  such  would  have  been  the 
opinion  of  a  traveler  concerning  it,  if  he  had  not  seen  here  and  there  some- 
small  lields  of  corn  or  other  grain  in  a  growing  state. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  what  losses  must  have  been  sustained  by  our  first 
settlers  owing  to  this  deserted  state  of  their  farms.  It  was  not  the  full 
measure  of  their  trouble  that  they  risked  their  lives,  and  often  lost  them, 
in  subduing  the  forest  and  turning  it  into  fruitful  fields  ;  but  compelled  to 
leave  them  in  a  deserted  state  daring  the  summer  season,  a  great  part  of 
the  fruits  of  their  labors  was  lost  by  this  untoward  circumstance.  The- 
sheep  and  hogs  were  devoured  by  the  wolves,  panthers  and  bears.  Hor- 
ses and  cattle  were  often  let  into  their  fields,  through  breaches  made  in 
their  fences  by  the  falling  of  trees,  and  frequently  almost  the  v/hole  of  a 
little  crop  of  ccrn  was  destroyed  by  squirrels  and  raccoons,  so  that  many 
families,  even  after  an  hazardous  and  laborious  spring  and  summer,  had 
but  little  left  for  the  comfort  of  the  dreary  winter. 

The  early  settlers  on  the  frontiers  of  this  country  were  like  Arabs  of 
the  desert  of  Africa,  in  at  least  two  respects.     Every  man  was  a  soldier, 
and  from  early  in  the  spring  till  late  in  the  fall  was  almost  continually  in: 
arms.     Their  work  was  often  carried  on  by  parties,  each  one  of  whom 
had  his  rifle  and  every  things  else  belongfinp*  to  his  war  dress.     These 
were  deposited  in  some  central  place  in  the  field.     A  sentinel  was  sta- 
tioned on  the  outside  of  the  fence,  so  that  on  the-  least  alarm  the  whole 
company  repaired  to  their  arms,  and  were  ready  for  combat  in  a  momenta- 
Here  again  the  rashness  of  some  families  proved  a  source  of  difficulty, 
instead  of  joining  the  v^^orking  parties,  they  went  out  and  attended  their 
farms  by  themselves,  and  in  case  of  alarm,  an  express  was  sent  for  them, 
and  sometimes  a  party  of  men  to  guard  them  to  the  fort.     These  famihes, 
in  some  instances,  could  boast  that  they  had  better  crops,  and  were  every 
way  better  provided  for  in  the  winter  than  their  neighbors:  in  other  in- 
stances their  temerity  cost  them  their  lives. 

In  military  affairs,  when  every  one  concerned  is  left  to  his  own  will, 
matters  were  sure  to  be  badly  managed.     The  v/hole  frontiers  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia  presented  a  succession  of  military  camps  or  forts,. 
We  had  military  officers,  that  is  to  say,  captains  and  colonels;  but  they  in 
many  respeats  T/are  orJy  iiQmi"Dr;lly.  such      They  could  advi.se,  but  not- 


■:\if:('IIamc  arts.  23'4 

*ci)irAmaii(l>  Tiiose  who  chose  to  follow  their  advice  di(Tso,  to  such  an 
^extent  as  suited  their  fancy  or  interest.  Others  were  refractor}'  and  there- 
hy  gave  much  trouble.  These  ofiicers  would  leave  a  .scout  or  campaign, 
wdiile  those  who  thought  proper  to  accompany  them  did  so,  and  those  who 
did  not  remained  at  home.  Public  odium  was  the  only  punishment  for 
their  laziness  or  cowardice.  There  was  no  compulsion  to  the  perfor- 
mance of  military  duties,  and  no  pecuniary  reward  when  they  were  per- 
formed. 

It  is  but  doing  justice  to  the  first  settlers  of  this  countr)^  to  eay,  that  in- 
stances of  disobedience  of  fam.ilies  and  individuals  to  the  advice  of  our 
officers,  were  bv  no  means  numerous.  The  greater  number  cheerfullr 
submitted  to  their  directions  witli  a  prompt  and  faithful  obedience. 


;o:- 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


mi::c:hanic  arts. 

Jn  a'ivin<^  a  historv  of  the  state  of  the  mechanic  ails,  as  thcT  were  e^xcrci- 
sed  at  an  early  period  of  the  setdement  of  this  country,  I  shall  present  a 
people,  driven  by  necessity  to  perform  works  of  mechanical  skill,  far 
beyond  what  a  person  enjoying  all  the  advantages  of  civilization,  would 
•expect  from  a  population  placed  in  such  destitute  circumstances. 

My  reader  will  naturally  ask  where  were  their  mills  for  grinding  grain 
— where  their  tanners  for  making  leather — Vv-here  their  smith  shops  for 
making  and  repairing  their  farming  utensils?  Who  were  their  carpenters, 
tailors,  cabinet  workmen,  shoemakers  and  weavers  ?  The  answer  is, 
those  manufacturers  did  not  exist,  nor  had  they  any  tradesmen  wlio  were 
prot\'ssedly  such.  Every  family  were  under  the  necessity  of  doing  every 
thing  for  themselves  as  Avell  as  they  could. 

The  hommony  blocks  and  hand  mills  were  in  use  in  most  of  our  hou- 
•ses.  The  first  was  made  of  a  laru-e  block  of  wood  about  three  feet  lomr, 
with  an  ex'f.avation  burned  in  one  end,  wide  at  the  top  and  narrow  at  the 
bottom,  so  that  the  action  of  the  pestle  on  th?  bottom  threw  the  corn  up 
to  the  sides  tov.-ards  the  top  oi'  it,  from  whence  it  continually  fell  down 
into  the  centre.  In  cohse(|iience  of  this  movement,  thV  whole  mass  of  Ih.e 
p;rain  was  pretty  e(|ual!v  subjected  to  the  strokes  of  the  pestle.  In  tlic 
jC^ill  of  the  year,  whilst  th(i  Indian  corn  was  soft,  the  bh)ck  and  pestle  did 
verv  well  for  makintr  meal  for  iournevcalve  and  mush,  but  were  rather 
slow  when  the  corn  became  hard. 

The  sweep  was  sometimes  used  to  lessen  the  toil  of  pounding  giain 
■into  meal,     'i'his  was  n  p^Av  of  ^?me  springy  e.h'^tic  wood,  thirty  feet  long 


^35  MECllAMC  ARTS. 

or  more,  the  but  end  of  which  was  placed  under  the  side  of  a  house  m  ^ 
large  stump.  This  pole  was  supported  by  two  forks,  placed  about  one 
third  of  its  length  from  its  but  end,  so  as  to  elevate  the  small  end  about 
fifteen  feet  from  the  grourid.  To  this  was  attached,  by  a  large  mortise,  a 
piece  of  sapling  about  five  or  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  eight  or  ten  feet 
long,  the  lower  end  of  which  was  ."ihaped  so  ris  to  answer  for  a  pestle,  and 
a  pin  of  wood  \yas  put  through  it  at  a  proper  heightj  so  that  two  persons 
could  work  at  the  sweep  at  once.  This  simple  ma^chine  very  mut'h  les- 
sened the  labor  and  expedited  the  work. 

I  remember  that  when  a  boy  I  put  up  an  excellent  sweep  at  my  father's. 
It  was  made  of  a  sugar  tree  sapling,  and  was  kept  going  almost  constanly 
from  morning  till  night  by  our  neighbors  for  several  weeks. 

In  the  Greenbrier  country,  where  they  had  a  number  of  saltpetre  caves, 
the  first  settlers  made  plenty  of  excellent  gi^npowcler  by  means  of  these 
sweeps  and  mortars. 

A  machine  still  more  simple  tlian  the  mortar  and  peslle  was  used  for 
making  nieal  when  the  corn  was  too  soft  to  be  beaten,  It  was  railed  a 
grater.  This  was  a  half  circular  piece  of  tin,  perforated  with  a  punch 
from  the  concave  side,  and  nailed  by  its  edges  to  a  block  of  wood.  The 
ears  of  corn  were  rubbed  on  the  rough  edges  of  the  holes,  while  the  meal 
fell  through  them  on  the  board  or  block  to  which  the  grater  was  nailed, 
which  being  in  a  slanting  direction,  discharged  the  meal  into  a  .cloth  or 
bowl  placed  for  its  reception.  This,  to  be  sure,  was  a  slow  way  of 
making  meal,  but  necessity  has  no  lavv% 

The  hand  mill  was  better  than  the  mortar  and  grater.  It  vras  made  of 
two  circular  stones,  the  lowest  of  which  was  called  the  bed  stone,  the  up^^ 
per  one  the  runner.  These  were  placed  in  a  hoop,  v^'ith  a  spout  for  disv 
charging  the  meal.,  A  staff  was  let  into  a  hole  in  the  upper  surface  of  the 
runner,  near  the  outer  edge.,  and  its  upper  end  through  a  hole  iii  a  board 
fastened  to  a  joist  above,  so  that  two  persons  could  l)e  employed  in  turn->- 
Ing  the  mill  at  the  sam.e  time.  The  grain  was  put  into  the  opening  in 
the  runner  by  hand,  These  mtiils  are  still  in  use  in  Palestine,  the  ancient 
country  of  the  Jews,  To  a  mill  of  tiiis  sort  our  Savior  alluded,  when, 
with  reference  to  the  destruction  of  .Jerusalem,  he  said,  "Two  woLien 
sl\all  be  grinding  at  a  mill,  the  one  shall  be  taken  and  other  left." 

This  mill  is  much  })rererable  to  that  used  at  present  in  upper  Egypt  for 
making  the  dhourra  bread.  It  is  a  smooth  .stone,  placed  on  an  iaolinec] 
plane,  upon  which  the  grain  is  spread,  which  is  made  iiito  meal  by  rub- 
bing another  stone  up  and  down  upon  it. 

Our  first  water  mills  vs-cre  of  that  description  denominated  tab  mills, 
It  consists  of  a  perpendicular  sliaft,  to  the  lower  end  oi'  which  a  liorizon- 
tal  wheel  of  about  lour  or  five  i'eet  m  diameter  is  attached:  the  upper  enrl 
passes  through  the  bed  stone  and  carries  the  runner,  after  the  manner  of  a 
trundlehead.  Tliese  mills  were  built  with  very  little  expense,  and  many 
of  them  answered  the  purpose  very  well.  Instead  of  bolting  cloths,  sift- 
ers w^ere  in  general  use.  These  were  made  of  deer  skins  in  the  state  of 
parchment,  stretched  over  a  hoop  and  perlbrated  with  a  hot  wire. 

Our  clothing  was  all  (»f  flomesiic  manufacture.  AVe  hari  no  niUcv  vr~ 
.>50urce  for  rlolljing,   ■.w.d  \h[^  indeed  wa.s  a  poor  cnc.      Tlic  (•i(»j)s  of  ila.^. 


MKCMANIC  ARTS.  ^236 

often  failed,  and  the  sheep  were  destroyed  by  the  wolves.  Liiisey,  which 
is  made  of  llax  and  wool,  the  former  the  chain,  and  the  latter  the  filling, 
Avas  the  warmest  and  most  substantial  cloth  we  could  make.  Almost 
every  house  contained  a  loom  and  almost  every  w^oman  was  a  weaver. 

Every  family  tanned  their  own  leather.  The  tan  vat  w^as  a  large 
trough  sunk  to  the  upper  end  in  the  ground.  A  quantity  of  bark  was 
easily  obtained  every  spring  in  clearing  and  fencing  land.  This,  after 
drying,  was  brought  in,  and  in  wet  days  was  shaved  and  pounded  on  a 
block  of  Avood  w^ith  an  axe  or  mallet.  Ashes  was  used  in  place  of  lime 
for  taking  off  the  hair^  Bear's  oil,  hog's  lard  and  tallow,  answered  the 
place  of  lish  oil  Tke  leather,  to  be  {^ure,  w^as  coarse;  but  it  was  sub- 
♦staniially  good.  The  operation  of  currying  was  performed  by  a  drawing 
knife  with  its  edge  turiaed  after  the  manner  of  a  currying  knife.  The 
blacking  for  the  leather  w^as  made  of  soot  and  hog's  lard. 

Almost  every  family  contained  its  own  tailors  and  shoemakers.  Those 
"svho  could  no;!:  make  shoes  could  make  shoe-packs.  These,  like  mocca- 
sons,  were  made  of  a  single  piece  of  leather,  with  the  exception  of  a 
tongue  piece  on  the  top  of  the  foot,  which  was  about  two  inches  broad 
and  circular  at  the  lower  end,  and  to  which  the  main  piece  of  leather  was 
sewed  with  a  gathering  stitch.  The  seam  behind  was  like  that  of  a  moc- 
<;ason,  and  a  sole  was  sometimes  added^  The  w^omen  did  the  tailor 
iwork.  They  could  all  .cut  out  and  make  hunting  shirts,  leggins  and 
drawers. 

The  state  of  society  ^diich  existed  in  our  country  at  an  early  period  of 
its  settlement,  w^as  well  calculated  to  call  into  action  every  native  me- 
chanical genius.  Ther^  w^as  in  almost  every  neighborhood,  some  one 
whose  natural  ingenuity  enabled  him  to  do  many  things  for  himself  and 
his  neighbors,  far  above  what  could  have  been  reasonably  expected. 
With  the  very  few  tools  which  they  brought  with  them  into  the  country, 
-they  certainly  performed  wonders.  Their  plows,  harrows  with  their 
wooden  teeth,  and  sleds,  Avere  in  many  instances  w^ell  made.  Their 
X^ooper-ware,  which  comprehended  every  thing  for  holding  milk  and 
water,  was  generally  pretty  well  executed.  The  cedar-ware,  by  having 
alternately  a  white  and  red  stave,  w^as  then  thought  beautiful.  Many  of 
their  puncheon  floors  w'ere  very  neat,  their  joints  close,  and  the  top  even 
and  smooth.  Their  looms,  although  heavy,  did  very  well.  Those  wdio 
could  not  exercise  these  mechanic  arts  were  under  the  necessitv  of  o^ivino- 
labor  or  barter  to  their  neighbors  in  exchange  for  the  use  of  them,  so  far 
iis  their  necessities  required. 

An  old  man  in  my  father's  neitrhborhood  had  the  art  of  turninc:  bowls, 
from  the  knots  of  trees,  particularly  those  of  the  asli.  In  what  way  he 
<!id  it  I  do  not  know,  or  whether  there  was  much  mystery  in  his  ait.  He 
<liat  as  it  may,  the  old  man's  skill  was  in  great  request,  as  well-turned 
wooden  bowls  were  amon'Tsl  our  tirst-r.ite  articles  ot'  household  furniture. 
My  brothers  aiul  myself  once  undertook  to  procure  a  fine  suit  of  these 
bowls  made  of  the  best  wood,  the  ash.  We  gathered  all  we  could  lind 
on  our  fitiier's  land,  and  took  them  to  the  artist,  who  was  to  give,  as  the 
saving-  \va^,  fmc  hail'  lor  th''  r>tlK'r.  lie  put  the  knots  in  a  branch  before 
,the  (Juor,  wijen  a  lieshct  came  wml  s\\c\)[  them  all  away,  not  one  of  them 


1jeini(  ever  foinid.  I'his  was  a  dreadful  misfortune.  Our  anticipation  of 
an  elegant  display  of  new  bov.'ls  was  utterly  blasted  in  a  moment,  as  the 
poor  oid  miu  was  not  able  to  repair  our  loss  or  any  part  of  it. 

My  father  possessed  a  mechanical  genius  of  the  highest  order,  and  ne- 
■cessiiy,  which  is  the  mother  of  invention,  occasioned  the  full  exercise  of 
his  talents.  His  farming  utensils  were  the  best  in  the  neighborhood. 
After  making  his  loom  he  often  used  it  as  a  weaver.  All  the  shoes  be- 
longing to  th-e  family  were  made  by  himsel£  He  always  spun  his  own 
shoe-thread,  saying  that  no  woman  could  spin  shoe-thread  as  well  as  he 
could.  His  cooper-ware  was  made  by  himself.  I  have  seen  him  make 
a  small,  neat  kind  of  wooden  ware,  called  set  work,  in  which  the  staves 
were  all  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel,  by  means  of  a  groove  cut  in 
them  by  a  strong  clasp  knife  and  a  small  chisel,  before  a  single  hoop  was 
put  on.  He  was  suificiently  the  carpenter  to  build  the  best  kind  of 
houses  then  in  use,  that  is  to  say,  first  a-eabin,  and  aft^erw^ards  the  hewed 
log  house,  with  a  shingled  roof.  In  his  latter  years  he  became  sickly, 
and  not  being  able  to  labor,  he  amused  himself  with  tolerably  good  imi- 
tations of  cabinet  work. 

Not  possessing  sufticient  health  for  service  on  tli-c  scouts  and  cam- 
paigns, his  duty  vras  that  of  repairing  the  riiies  of  his  neighbors  when 
they  needed  it.  In  this  business  he  manifested  a  high  degree  of  inge- 
nuity. A  small  depression  on  the  surface  of  a  stump  or  log,  and  a  wooden 
mallet,  were  his  instruments  for  straightening  the  gun  barrel  when  crook- 
ed. Without  the  aid  of  a  bow  string  he  could  discover  the  smallest  bentl 
in  a  barrel,  and  with  a  bit  of  steel  he  could  make  a  saw  for  deepening  the 
furrows  when  requisite.  A  few  shots  determined  whether  the  gun  might 
be  trusted. 

Although  he  never  had  been  more  than  six  weeks  at  school,  he  was 
nevertheless  a  first  rate  penman  and  a  good  arithmetician.  His  penman- 
ship was  of  great  service  to  his  neighbors  in  writing  letters,  bonds,  deeds 
•of  conveyance,  &c. 

Young  as  1  was,  I  was  possessed  of  an  art  which  was  of  great  use, 
viz :  that  of  weaving  shot  pouch  straps,  belts  and  garters.  I  could  make 
my  loom  and  weave  a  belt  in  less  than  one  day.  Having  a  piece  of 
board  about  four  feet  long,  an  inch  auger,  spike  gimlet,  and  a  drawing 
knife,  I  needed  no  othc  tools  or  materials  for  making  my  loom. 

It  frequently  happened  that  my  weaving  proved  serviceable  to  the 
family,  as  I  often  sold  a  belt  for  a  day's  work,  or  making  an  hundred 
rails;  so  that  although  a  boy,  I  could  exchange  my  labor  for  that  of  a  full 
<grown  person  for  an  equal  length  of  time. 


]s;rF:i)irrNr^-  2m< 


■:(t: 


SHAPTER  XXVL 


MEDICINE. 

Tins  amongst  a  rude  and  iHilerate  people  consisted  mostly  of  spesifics,- 
As  far  as  1  can  recollect  them,  they  shall  be  enumerated,  together  with  the 
diseases  for  which  they  were  used. 

The  diseases  of  children  were  mostly  ascribed  to  worms;  for  the  expul- 
sion of  which  a  solution  of  common  salt  was  given,  and  the  dose  was  al- 
ways large.  I  well  remember  having  been  compelled  to  take  half  a  table 
s])oonful  when  quite  small.  To  the  best  of  my  recollection  it  generally 
answered  the  purpose. 

Scrapings  of  pewter  spoons  was  another  remedy  tor  the  worms.-  This 
dose  was  also  large,  amounting,  I  should  think,  trom  twenty  to  forty 
grai?>f;.     It  was  commonly  given  in  sugar.- 

Sulphate  of  iron,  or  green  copperas,  was  a  third  remedy  for  the  worrns.- 
The  dose  of  this  was  also  larger  than  we  should  venture  to  give  at  this- 
time. 

For  burns,  a  poultice  of  Indian  meal  was- a  common  rernedv,  A  poul-^ 
tice  of  scraped  potatoes  was  also  a  favorite  remedy  with  some  people. — 
Roasted  turnips,  made  into  a  poultice,  was  used  by  others.  Slippery 
elm  bark  was  often  used  in  the  same  way.  I  do  not  recollect  that  any 
internal  remedy  or  bleeding  was-  ever  used  for  burns,- 

The  croup,  or  what  was  then  called  the  "  bold  hives, '^  was  a  common' 
disease  among  the  children,  many  of  whom  died  of  it.  For  the  cure  of 
this,  the  juice  of  roasted  onions  or  garlic  was  givf^n  in  large  doses. — - 
Wall  ink  was  also  a  favorite  remedy  with  many  of  the  old  ladies.  For 
fevers,  sweating  was  the'  general  remedy.  This  was-  generally  performed^ 
by  means  of  a  strong  decoction  of  Virginia  snake  rool.  '['h^  (Jose  was 
always  very  large.  If  a  purge  was  used,  it  was  about  half  a  pint  of  a 
strong  decoction  of  walnut  bark.  This,  when  intended  for  a  purge,  Avas- 
peeled  downwards;  if  ibr  a  vomit,  it  was  peelerl  upwards.  Indian  phv-- 
sic,  or  bowm.an  root,  a  species  of  ipecacuanha,  was  frequentlv  used  for  a' 
vomit,  and  sometimes  the  pocoon  or  blood  root. 

For  the  bite  of  a  rattle  or  copper-snake,  a  great  variety  of  specifics 
were  used.  I  remember  when  a  small  boy  to  have  seen  a  man,  bitten  by 
a  rattle-snake,  brought  into  the  fort  on  a  man's  back.  One  of  the  com- 
pany dragged  the  snai-ie  after  him  by  a  forked  stick  fastened  in  its  head. 
The  body  of  the  snake  was  cut  into  nieces  of  about  two  inches  in  lenL^th. 
split  open  in  succession,  and  laid  on  the  wound  to  draw  oat  tljc  poison-,- 
as  they  expressed  it.  When  this  was  over,  a  fire  was  kindled  in  the  ibrt 
aiul   the   whole   of  die  serpent  biirr;^  to   iislus,    bv  wj.iv  cA'  j»'vo;i<.-e  Ibr  ihfr 


Ml  ]\ffiDlCIN£!Sf. 

injury  he  had  done.  After  this  process  was  over,  a  laroe  quantity  of 
chestnut  leaves  was  collected  and  boiled  in  a  pot.  The  whole  of  the 
wounded  man's  leg  and  part  of  his  thigh  w^ere  placed  in  a  piece  of  chest- 
nut bark,  fresh  from  the  tree,  and  the  decoction  was  poured  on  the  leg  so 
as  to  run'  down  into  the  pot  again.  Aftei'  continuing  this  process  for  some 
time,  a  quantity  of  the  boiled  leaves  were  bound  to  the  leg.  This  was 
repeated  several  times  a  day.  The"  m'an"  got  well ;  but  whether  owing  to 
the  treatment  bestowed  on  his  wound,'  is  not  so  Certain.- 

,  A  number   of  native  plants  v/ere  used  for  the  cure  of  snake    bites.- — 
Among  them  the  white  plantain  held  a  hidi  rank.       This  was  boiled  in 
milk,  and  the  decoction  given  the  patient  in"  large  quantities.      A  kind  of 
lern,  which,  from  its  resemblance  to  tlie  leaves  of  the  vralnut,  was  called" 
walnut  fern,  w^as  another  remedy.     A  plant  with  fibrous  roots,  resembling, 
the  seneca  snake  root,  of  a  black  color,  and  a  stron'g  but  not  disao-reeable 
smell,  was  considered  and'  relied  on  as  the  Indian  specific  for  the  cure  of 
the  sting  of  a  snake.     A  decoction'  of  this  root  was  also  used  for  the  cure 
for  colds.       Another  plairt,  which  very  much  resembles  the  one  above 
mentioned,  but  \Vhich  is  violently  })oiso?ious,    was  sometimes  mistaken 
for  it  and  used  in  its  place.       I  knew  two  young  women,    who,  in  con- 
sequence of  being  bitten  by  rattle-snakes,  used  the  poisonous  plant  in- 
stead of  the  otheVj.  and  nearly  lost  their  lives  by  the  mistake;      The  roots- 
were  applied  to  their  legs  in  the  form  of  a  poultice.-     The  violent  burning 
and  swelling  occasioned  by  the  inflamm'iUion   discovered   the  mistake  in 
time  to  prevent  them  from-  taking  a^ny  of  the  decoction,  v>hich,  had  they 
done,  would  have    been  instantly  fatal.       It  was  Svhh  difficulty  that   the 
part  to  which  th^e  poultice  was  applieil  was  saved'  from  mortification,  so 
that  the  remedy  was  worse  than  the  disease.' 

Cupping,  sucking  the  Wound,  and  making-  deep-  incisioils  wdiich  WTre' 
filled  vv'ith  salt  and  gun-power,  were  also  amongst  the  remedies  for  snake 
bites. 

It  does  not  appear  to'  fne  that  any  of  the' internal  remedic?s,  used  by  the' 
Indians  and  the  first  settlers  of  this  c'onntry,.  were  well  adapted  for  the 
cure  of  the  di'scase  occasroned  by  the'  bite  of  a  snake.  The  poison  of  a 
snake,  like  that  of  a  bee  or  a  wasp,  nnist  Consist  of  a  highly  concentrated 
and  very  poisonx>iis  acid,  which  instantly  inflames  the  p^rt  to  which  it  is 
applied.  That  any  substance  whatever  can  act  as  a  specific  for  the  de-- 
composition  of  this  poison',  seems  aitogetber  doubtful.  The  cure  of  the' 
fever  occasioned  by  this-  animal  poison,  maist  be  effected  with  reference' 
to  those  general  indications  which  are  regarded  in  the  cure  of  other  fev^ers 
of  equal  force.  The  internal  remediers  alluded  to,  so  fir  as  I  am  acquain- 
ted with  them,  are  possessed  of  little  or  no  medical  ttiicacy.  They  are 
not  emetics,  cathartics,  or  sudorifxcs.  What  then?  They  are  harmless 
substances,  which  do  wonders  in  all  those  cases  in  whicli  there  is  noth-^ 
ing  to  be  done. 

The  truth  is,  the  bite  of  a  rattle  or  copper-snake,  in  a  fieshy  or  tendin- 
ous part,  where  the  blood  vessels  are  neither  numerous  or  large,  soon 
healed  under  any  kind  of  .treatment.  But  when  the  fangs  of  the  serpent, 
which  are  hollow,  and  eject  the  poison  through  an  oiihce  near  the  points, 
ptJRcirale  a  blood  vessel  of  any  Con'jiderable  .sizcj  a  malignant  ar^l  incu- 


Mi:DICINE.  240 

fable  lever  was  generally  the  immediate  consequence,    and  the  patient 
often  expired  in  tlie  first  parox:ysm. 

The  same  observations  apply  to  the  effects  of  the  bite  of  serpents  when 
inflicted  on  beasts.  Horses  were  frequently  killed  b3f  them,  as>  they  were 
commonly  bitten  somewhere  about  the  nose,  in  which  the  blood  vessels 
are  numerous  and  large.  I  once  satv  a  horse  die  of  the  bite  of  a  rattle- 
snake ;  the  blood  for  some  time  before  he  expired  exuded  in  great  quan- 
tity through  the  pores  of  the  skin. 

Cattle  were  less  frequently  killed,  because  their  nosei^  are  of  a  grisly 
texture,  and  less  furnished  with  blood  vessels  than  those  of  a  horse. — 
Dogs  were  sometimes  bitten,  and  being  naturally  physicians,  they  co'm^ 
monly  scratched  a  hole  in  some  damp  place^  and  held  the  wounded  part 
In  the  ground  till  the  inflammation  abated.  Hogs,  whai  in  tolerable  order, 
were  never  hurt  bv  them,  owino;  to  the  thick  substratum  of  fat  between  the 
skin,  muscular  flesh,  and  blood  vessels^  The  hog  genn-ally  took  imme- 
diate revenge  for  the  injury  done  him,  by  instantly  tearing  to  pieces  and 
devouring  the  serpent  which  inflicted  it. 

The  itch,  which  was  a  very  common  disease'  in  early  times,  Xvas  com- 
monly cured  by  an  ointment  made  of  brimstone  and  bog's  lard. 

Gun-shot  and  other  wounds  were  treated  with  slippeiy  elm  bark,  flax- 
seed, and  other  such  like  poultices.  Many  lost  their  lives  from  wounds 
which  would  nOAv  be  considered  trifling  and  easily  cured*  The  use  o-f 
the  lancet,  and  other  means  of  depletion,  in  th'e  treatment  of  wounds, 
constituted  no  part  of  their  cure  in  this  country,  in  early  time's. 

My  mother  died  in  early  life  of  a  wound  from  the  tread  oi  a  horse, 
which  any  person  in  the  habit  of  letting  blood  might  have  cured  by  two 
or  three  bleedings,  without  any  other  remedy.  The  wound  was  poul- 
ticed with  spikenard  root,  and  soon  terrriinated  in  an  extensive  mor- 
tification. 

Most  of  the  m-en  of  +he'  early  seltlers  of  this  country  were  mTected  with 
the  rheumatism.  For  relief  from  this  disease,  the  himters  generally  slept 
with  their  feet  to  the  fire,r  From  this  practice  they  certainly  derived 
much  advantage.  The  oil  of  rattle-snakes,  geese,  wolves,  bears,  rac- 
coons, groimd-hogs  and  pole-eats,  wa^  applied  to  thx^  swelled  joints,  mul 
bathed  in  before  the  fire* 

The  pleurisy  was  the  only  disease  which  Vv'as  supposed  to  Require  blood' 
letting ;  but  tu  many  cases  a  bleeder  was  not  to  be  had. 

Coughs  and  pulmonary  consumptions  were  treated  with  a  g:reat  vai'iety 
of  syrups,  the  principal  ingredients  of  whifh  were  spikenard  and  elecam- 
pane.    These  syrups  certainly  gave  but  little  relief. 

Charnis  and  incantations  were  in  use  for  the  cure  of  many  diseases.-— - 
I  learned,  when  young,  the  incantstion,  in  German,  for  the  cure  of  burns^ 
stopping  blood,  tooth-ache,  and  the  charm  against  bullets  in  battle ; 
but  lor  the  want  of  failh  in  their  efficacy,  I  never  used  any  of  them. 

The  erysipelas,  or  St.  Anthony's  lire,  was  circumscribed  by  the  blood 
«f  a  black  cat.  Hence  th*'re  was  scarcely  a  bhick  rat  to  l)e  seen,  whose 
ears  and  tail   Inid   not   been   frequently  cropped  off  fur  u  t'lf^i-i.tribn^i-ou    o.V 


241  MjGLiICI^sK: 

Whclhor  tlie  medical  profession  is  productivo  of  most  good  or  liarr/i|.^ 
may  still  he  a  matter  of  dispute  with  some  pliilosophers,  wiio  never  saw 
any  condition  of  society  in  which  there  were  no  physicians,  and  therefore 
could  not  be  furnished  with  a  proper  test  for  deciding  the  question. — 
Had  an  unbeliever  in  the  healing  art  been  amongst  the  early  inhabitants 
of  this  country,  he  would  have  been  in  a  pro]>er  situation  to  witness  tlie' 
consequences  of  the  want  of  the  exercise  of  this-  art.  For  many  years  in 
succession  there  was  no  person  who  bore  even  the  name  of  a  doctor  with- 
in a  considerable  distance  of  the  residence  of  my  father. 

For  the  honor  of  the  medical  profession,  I  must  give  it  ag  my  opinion' 
that  many  of  our  people  perished  for  want  of  medical  skill  and  attention. 

The  pleurisy  was  the  only  disease  which  was,  in  any  considerable  de- 
gree, understood  by  our  people,  A  pain  in  the  side  called  for  the  use  of 
the  lancet,  if  there  was  any  to  be  had ;  but  owing  to  its  sparing  use,  the 
patient  was  apt  to  be  left  with  a  spitting  of  blood,  w^hich  sometimes  ended 
in  consumption,  A  great  number  of  children  died  of  the  croup.  Re- 
mittent and  mtermittent  fevers  were  treated  with  warm  drinks"  for  the 
pjurpose  of  sweating,  and  the  patients  were  denied  the  use  of  cold  water 
and  fi'esh  air;  consequently  many  of  them  died.  Of  those  who  escaped, 
not  a  few  died  afterwards  of  the  dropsy  or  consumption,  or  were  left  with 
paralytic  limbs.  Deaths  in  childbed  were  not  unfrequent.  Many,  no 
doubt,  died  of  the  bite  of  serpents,  in  consequence  of  an  improper  reli- 
ance on  specifics  possessed  of  no  medical  virtue.- 

My  father  died  of  an  hepatic  complaint,  at  the  age  of  about  forty-six. — 
He  had  labored  under  it  for  thirteen  years.  The  fever  which  accompa-- 
nied  it  w^as  called  "the  dumb  ague,"  and  the  swelling  in  the  region  of 
the  liver,  "the  ague  cake."  The  abscess  burst,  and  discharged  a  large 
quantity  of  matter,  which  put  a  period  to  his  life  in  about  thirty  hours 
after  the  discharge. 

Thus  I  for  one  may  say,  that  in  all  hur^an  probability  I  lost  both  my 
parents  for  want  of  medical  aid. 


-^-fMnrrs..  T42 


■•0" 


tJHAPTEE  XXVII 


SPORTS. 


Jar 


xHLSK  were  such  iis  K.ight  be  expected  among  w  [leople,  wh«'j,  owing  W-. 
their  circumstances  as  \vell  as  education,  set  a  higher  vahie  on  physical 
than  on  mental  endowments,  and  on  skill  in  hunting  and  braver)^  in  war^ 
than  on  any  polite  accomplishments  or  fine  arts. 

Amusements  are,  in  many  instances,  either  imitcitiens  of  the  business 
of  life,  or  at  least  of  some  of  its  particular  objects  of  pursuit.  On  the 
])art  of  young  men  belonging  to  nations  in  a  state  of  warfare,  many 
amusements  are  regarded  as  preparations  for  the  r£?ilitary  character  which 
they  are  expected  to  sustain  in  future  life.  Thus  the  war-dance  of  sava- 
ges is  a  pantomime  of  thei.;  stratagems  and  horrid  deeds  of  cruelty  in  war, 
and  the  exhibition  prepares  the  minds  of  their  young  men  for  a  participa- 
lion  in  the  bloody  tragedies  which  they  represent.  Dancing,  among  civ- 
ilised people,  is  regarded,  not  only  as  an  amusement  suited  to  the  youth- 
ful period  of  human  life,  but  as  a  means  of  inducing  urbanity  of  manners 
and  a  good  personal  deportment  in  public.  Horse  racing  is  regarded  by 
the  statesman  as  a  preparation,  in  various  uays,  for  the  equestrian  de- 
])artment  of  w^arfare:  it  is  said  that  the  English  government  never  posses- 
■■c:l  a  good  cavalry,  until,  by  the  encouragement  given  to  public  races, 
their  breed  of  horses  was  improved.  Games,  in  which  there  is  a  mixture 
of  chance  and  skill,  are  said  to  improve  the  understandiRg  in  mathemati- 
cal and  other  calculations. 

Alaiiy  of  the  sports  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  country  were  imitative 
of  the  exercises  and  stratagems  of  hunting  and  war.  Boys  are  taught  the 
use  of  the  bow  and  arrovv  at  an  early  age  ;  but  although  they  acquired 
considerable  adroitness  in  the  use  of  them,  so  as  to  kill  a  bird  or  squirrel 
sonietimes,  yet  it  ap])(?ars  that  in  the  hands  of  the  white  peo])lc,  the  bo\\ 
and  arrow  could  never  be  depended  upon  for  warfare  or  hunting,  unless 
mad(;  and  managed  in  a  diffei-ent  manner  from  any  specimens  of  them 
which  I  ever  saw . 

In  ancient   times,  the  bow  and  arrow  n\ust  have    been  deiully  instni- 

ments  in  the  liands  of  the  b  u'barians  of  our  country;  but  I   much  doubt 

whether  any  of  tin;  present  tribi^s  of  Indians  could  make  much  use  of  the 

llint   arrow  heads,    whicii   must  have   been  so    generally   used   by    their 

"^brefithers. 

Fire  anas,  wherevei  thov  cin  be  nlilained,  soon  put  au  vnd  to  the  use 
<;rthe  bow  and  arrow;  bul  iiidr[)endently  of  this  circumslance,  military, 
f.s  well  iis  other  arts,  souictiines   grow  out  of  dA\v  ;uid  Anui^h  fi^om  tht-~ 


4 

2iZ  SPORTS. 

world.  ^lauy  centuries  have  elapsed  since  llie  world  has  witnessed  the 
destructive  accuracy  of  the  Benjaminites  in  their  use  of  the  sling  and 
stone ;  nor  does  it  appear  to  me  that  a  diminution,  m  the  size  and 
strength  of  the  aboriginals  of  this  country,  has  occasioned  a  decrease  of 
accuracy  aud  effect  in  their  use  of  the  bow  and  arrow.  From  all  the 
ancient  skeletons  which  have  come  undei  my  notice,  it  does  not  appear 
that  this  section  of  the  globe  was  ever  inhabited  by  a  larger'  race  of  hu^ 
inan  beings  than  that  which  possessed  it  at  the  time  of  its  discovery  by 
the  Europeans. 

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  pas- 
lime,  but  a  very  necessary  part  of  education,  on  account  of  its  utility  in 
certain  circumstances.  The  imitations  of  the  o;obblinor  and  other  sounds 
of  wild  turkeys,  often  brought  those  keen  eyed  and  ever  watchful  tenants 
of  the  forest  within  reach  of  the  rifle.  The  bleatins;  of  the  fawn  brouirht 
its  dam  to  her  death  in  the  same  way.  The  hunter  often  collected  a  com* 
pany  of  mopish  owls  to  the  trees  about  his  camp;  and  while  he  amused  him- 
sdf  with  their  hoarse  screaming,  his  howl  would  raise  and  obtain  respon- 
ses 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  precau- 
tion in  war.  Tlie  Indians,  when  scattered  about  in  a  neighborhood, 
often  collect  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  SEreeches  of  owls^.  An  early  and  correct  use  of  this  imitative 
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  ton^ahawk,  with  its  handle  of  a  certain 
length,  will  make  a  given  num^ber  of  turns  in  a  given  distance.  Say  at 
five  steps,  it  will  strike  with  the  edge,  the  handle  downwards;  at  the 
distance  of  seven  and  a  half,  it  will  strike  with  the  edge,  the  handle  up- 
wards ;  and  so  on.  A  little  experience  enabled  the  boy  to  ir?easure  the 
distance  with  his  eve,  when  walkinij;  throuo-h  the  v/oods,  ai)d  strike  a  tree 
with  his  tomahawk  in  anyway  he  chose. 

The  athletic  sports  of  running,  jumping  and  wrestling,  ^y€re  tli£  pastime 
of  bovs,  M}  common  with  the  men. 

A  well  grown  boy,  at  the  a^e  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years,  was  furnished 
v\'iih  a  small  rifle  and  shot  jiouch.  He  then  became  a  fort  soldier,  and 
had  his  port  hole  assigned  liim.  Hunting  squirrels,  turkeys  and  ra£coons^ 
s.oon  made  him  expert  in  the  use  of  his  gun. 

Dancing  was  the  principal  aniuseinent  of  our  young  people  of  both 
sexes.  Their  dances,  to  be  sure,  were  of  the  sipjplest  forms — three  and 
four  handed  reels  and  jig'^..  Country  dances,  cMilions  and  minuets,  were 
unknovrn,  I  remember  to  have  seen,  once  or  iVvicc,  a  dance  which  was 
iGull'^l  ''-the  Irish  trot :"  but  I  have  lonjx  since  forjioiten  its  fiirure. 

Shooting  at  marks  was  a  cnminon  diversion  among  the  nicn,  wlien 
their  slock  of  animunhion  would  allo^^•  i'.  which-  however,  vras  far  from 


SPORTS,  244 

'feeing  always  the  case.  The  present  mode  of  shooting  ofT-hand  was  not 
then  ill  practice  :  it  was  not  considered  as  any  trial  of  the  value  of  a  gun, 
iior  indeed  as  much  of  a  test  of  the  skill  of  a  marksman.  Their  shooting 
was  from  a  rest,  and  at  as  great  a  distance  as  the  lengtli  and  weight  of 
the  barrel  of  the  gun  would  throw  a  ball  on  a  horizontal  level.  Such  was 
their  regard  to  accuracy,  in  those  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  a  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,  and  bullets  of  a 
less  size  were  not  thought  sufhciently  heavy  for  hunting  or  war. 

Dramatic  narrations,  chiefly  concerning  Jack  and  the  Giant,  furnished 
our  young  people  with  another  source  of  amusement  during  their  leisure 
hours.  Many  of  those  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  case  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 
Pilg^rim\s  Proo;ress.  and  were  so  arran2:ed  as  to  the  different  incidents  of 
the  narration,  that  they  were  easily  committed  to  memory.  They  cer- 
tainly have  been  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. 

It  is  thus  that  in  every  state  of  society  the  imagination  of  man  is  eter- 
nally at  war  with  reason  and  truth.  That  fiction  should  be  acceptable  to 
an  unenlightened  people  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  as  the  treasures  of  truth 
iiave  never  been  unfolded  to  their  mind  ;  but  that  a  civilised  people  them- 
selves shoulfl,  in  so  many  instances,  like  barbarians,  prefer  the  fairy  re- 
gions of  fiction  to  the  august  treasures  of  truth,  developed  in  the  sciences 
of  theology,  history,  natural  and  moral  philosophy,  is  truly  a  sarcasm  on 
human  nature-  It  is  as  much  as  to  say,  that  it  is  essential  to  our  amuse- 
ment, that,  for  the  time  being,  we  must  suspend  the  exercise  of  reason, 
and  submit  to  a  voluntary  deception. 

Singing  was  another  but  not  very  common  amusement  among  our  first 
settlers.  Their  tunes  were  rude  enough,  to  be  sure.  Robin  Hood  fur- 
nished a  number  of  our  songs  ;  the  balance  were  mostly  tragical,  and 
were  denominaled  "love  soags  about  murder."  As  to  cards,  dice,  back- 
•l!;ammon,  and  other  games  of  fhance,  we  knew  nothing  aliout  them. — 
Tkest  are  amonizst  Ihe  blessed  ^il'ts  uJ'rivilizalion. 


mo  witchcraft:- 


.-o:- 


CHAPTER  XX?IIL 


WITCHCRAFT. 

il  s'ijALL  not  be  lengtLy  on  this  subject.  The  belief  in  witchcraft  was 
•4^revalent  amongst  the  early  settlers  of  the  western  country.  To  the 
witch  was  ascribed  the  tr.^mendous  power  of  inflicting  strange  and  in- 
fCurable  diseases,  particularly  on  .children — of  destroying  cattle  by  shoot- 
ing them  with  hair  balls,  and  a  great  variety  of  other  means  of  destruction 
- — of  inflicting  spells  and  curses  on  guns  and  other  things^and  lastly,  of 
^changing  men  into  horses,  and  after  bridling  aud  saddling  them,  riding 
them  in  full  speed  over  hill  and  dale  to  their  frolics  and  other  places  of 
jendezvQUs.  iMore  ar^ple  powers  ef  mischief  than  these  cannot  be  im- 
agined. 

Wizards  were  men  supposed  to  be  possessed  of  the  same  mischievous 
power  as  the  witches-;  but  it  was  seldom  exercised  for  bad  purposes.—- 
The  power  of  the  wizards  was  exercised  almost  exclusively  for  the  pur  • 
pone  of  counteractino;-the  malevolent  influence  of  the  witches  of  the  other 
-«ex.  I  have  known  several  of  those  witch-masters,  as  they  were  called,, 
(Who  made  a  public  profession  of  curing  the  diseases  inflicted  by  the  in- 
fluence of  witches  ;  and  I  have  known  respectable  physicians,  who  had 
^10  greater  portion  of  business  in  the  line  of  their  profession,  than  many 
of  those  Avitch-masters  had  in  theirs„ 

The    means  by  which    the   witch   was  supposed  to    inflict   diseases, 
^ovit'ses,  aad  spells,  I  never   could  leani.       They  were  occult   sciences, 
nvhich  no  one  was  supposed  to  understand  excepting  the    witch  herself^ 
and  no  wonder,  as  no  such  arts  ever  existed  in  any  country. 

The  diseases  of  children,  supposed  to  be  inflicted  by  witchcraft,  were 
those  of  the  internal  dropsy  of  the  brain,  and  the  rickts.  The  symptoms 
and  cure  of  these  destructive  diseases  were  utterly  unknown  in  former 
times  in  this  country.  Diseases  which  could  neither  be  accounted  for 
nor  cured,  were  usually  ascri'bed  to  some  sdpern&tviral  agency  of  a  ma^ 
lignant  kind. 

For  the  cure  of  diseases  inflicted  by  witchcraft,  the  picture  of  the 
supposed  witch  was  drawn  on  a  stump  or  piece  of  board,  and  shot  at  with 
a  bullet  containing  a  little  bit  of  silver.  This  bullet  transferred  a  painful 
and  sometimes  a  mortal  spell  on  that  part  of  the  witch  corresponding 
with  the  part  of  the  portrait  struck  by  the  bullet.  Another  method  of 
cure  was  tliLit  nf  crettinc:  some  of  the  ch.ikP?;  water,  which  was  closely 
corked  up  in  a  x'vA  and  huncr  uo  in  a  chimney.  This  complimented  the 
witch  with  a  stl•;inc:u■•u•^^  which  lasted  as  lon^i"  as  the  vial  remained  in  the 


WITCHCRAFt:  '2k(y^ 

chimney.     The  wllcli  had  but  one  way  of  reheving  lierself  from  any  spell 
inlllcteLl  on  her   in  any  way,  which  was  that  of  borrowing  somethiiiLj',  no 
matter  what,  of  the  family  to  which  the  sul)ject  of  the  exercise  of  lier- 
witchcraft  belonged. 

I  have  known  several  poor  old  women  much  surprised  at  being  refused 
requests  which  had  usually  been  granted  without  hesitation,  and  almost 
heart  broken  w4ien  informed  of  the  cause  of  the  refusal.- 

When  cattle  or  dogs  were  supposed  to  be  under  the  influence  df  witch-' 
craft,  they  v/ere  burnt  in  the  forehead  by  a  branding  iron,  or  when  dead, 
burned  wholly  to  ashes.     This  inflicted  a  spell  upon  the  witch  which- 
could  only  be  removed  by  borrowing,  as  above  stated. 

Witches  were  often  said  to  milk  the  cows  of  their  neighbors.     This"- 
they  did  by  fixing  a  new  pin  in  a  new^  towel  for  eacrh  cow  intended  to  be 
milked.     This  towel  was  hung  over  her  own  door,  and  by  means  of  cer-" 
tain  incantations,  the  milk  was  extracted  from  the  fringes  of  the  towel 
after  the  manner  of  milking  a  cow.     This  happened  v,'hen  the  cows  w^ere' 
too  poor  to  give  much  milk. 

The  first  German  glass-blowers  in  this  country  drove  the  witches  out' 
of  their  furnaces  by  throwing  living  puppies  iiito  them. 

The  greater  or  less  amount  of  belief  in  witchcraft,    necromancy  ^nd 
astrology,  serves  to  show  the  relative  amount  of  philosophical  science  in' 
any  country.     Ignorance  is  always    associated  with  superstition,  which,- 
presenting  an  endless  variety  of  sources  of  hope  and  fear,  with  regard  to 
the  good  or  bad  fortunes  of  life,  keep  the  benighted  mind  continually  ha-' 
rassed  with  groundless  and  delusive,  but  strong  and  often  deeply  dis- 
tressing impressions  of  a  false  faith.       For  this  disease  of  the  mind  there' 
is  no  cure  but  that  of  philosophy.     This  science  shows  to  the  enlightened' 
reason  of  man,  that  no  effect  whatever  can  be  produced  in  the  physical 
world  without  a  corresponding  cause.     This  science  anndUnces  that  the' 
death  bell  is  but  a  momentary  morbid  motion  of  the  nerves  of  the  ear^-^ 
and  the  death  w^atch  the  noise  of  a  bug  in  the  wall,  and  that  the  howling' 
of  the  dog,  and  the  croaking  of  the  raven,  are  but  th-e  natural  languages-^ 
of  the  beast  and  fi)wd,  and  no  way  prophetic  of  the  death  of  the  sick. — 
The  comet,  v/hich  used  to  shake  pestilence  and  war  from   its  fiery  train,  •> 
is   now  viewed  with  as  little  emotion    as  the  movements  of  Jupiter  and' 
Saturn  in  their  respective  orbits. 

An  eclipse  of  the  sun,  and  an  unusual  freshet  of  tlis  Tiber,  shortly 
after  the  assassination  of  Julius  Caesar  by  Cassius  and  Brutus,  threw  the' 
whole  of  the  Roman  empire  into  consternation.  It  was  supposed  that  all- 
the  gods  of  heaven  and  earth  were  enraged,  and  about  to  take  revenge' 
for  the  mmxler  of  the  emperor ;  but  since  the  science  of  astronomy  fore- 
tells in  the  calendar  the  time  and  the  extent  of  the  eclipse,  the  phenome- 
non is  not  viewed  as  a  miracuilous  and  portentous,  but  as  a  connnon  and 
natural  event. 

That  the  pythoness  and  wizard  of  the  Hebrews,  the  monthly  sooth- 
sayers, astrologers  and  prognosticators  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  the  sybils 
rrf  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  were  mercenary  impostors,  there  can  be 
no  doubt. 

To   say  that  the  pythoness,  and  all  others  of  her  class,  were  aicrr-d  in- 


247  WITCHCRAFT. 

their  operations  by  the  entervention  of  lamiliar  spirits,  does  not  fncnd  the 
inatter ;  tor  spirits,  whether  good  or  bad,  possess  not  the  power  of  lite 
and  death,  heahh  and  disease,  with  regard  to  man  and  beast.  Prescience 
is  an  incornrnunicable  attribute  of  God,  and  therefore  spirits  cannot 
foretell  future  events. 

The  afilictions  of  Job,  through  the  intervention  of  Satan,  were  miracu- 
lous. The  possessions  mentioned  in  the  New^  Testament,  in  all  human' 
probabilty,  were  maniacal  diseases,  and  if,  at  their  cures,  the  supposed 
evil  spirit  spoke  with  an  audible  voice,  these  events  were  also  miraculous, 
and  effected  for  a  special  purpose.  But  from  miracles,  no  general  con- 
clusion can  be  drawn  with  regard  to  the  divide  government  of  the  world. 

The  conclusion  is,  that  the  powers  professed  to  be  exercised  by  the 
occult  science  of  necromancy  and  other  arts  of  divination,  were  neither 
more  nor  lei^s  than'  impostures. 

Amongst  the  Hebrews,  the  profession  of  arts  of  divination  w^as  thought 
deserving  of  capital  punishment,  because  the  profession  was  of  Pagan 
origin,  and  of  coiu'se  incompatible  with  the  profession  of  theism,  and  a 
theocratic  form  of  government.  These  jugglers  perpetrated  a  debasing 
superstition  among  the  people.  They  were  also  swindlers,  who  divested' 
their  neighbors  of  large  sums  of  money  and  valuable  presents  without  an- 
equivalent. 

On  the  ground  then  of  fraud  alone,  according  to  the  genius  of  the' 
criminal  codes  of  the  ancient  governments,  the  offense  desen-ed  capital 
i)unishment. 

But  is  the  present  time  better  than  the  past  with  regard  to  a  supersti- 
tious belief  in  occult  influences?  Do  no  traces  of  the  polytheism  of  our 
forefathers  remain  among  their  christian  descendants  r  This  inquiry  must 
be  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Should  an  alrDanac-maker  venture  to  give 
out  the  christian  calendar  without  the  column  containing  the  signs  of  the 
zodiac,  the  calendar  would  be  condemned  as  totally  deficient,  and  the 
whole  impression  would  remain  oi\  his  hands. 

But  what  are  those  signs?  They  are  the  constellations  of  the  zodiac, 
that  is,  clusters  of  stars,  twelve  in  number,  within  and  including  the 
tropics  of  Cancer  and  Capricorn.  These  constellations  resemble  the 
animals  after  w4iich  they  are  named.  But  what  influence  do  these  clus- 
ters of  stars  exert  on  the  animal  and  the  plant  ?  Certainly  none  at  all ; 
and  yet  w^e  have  been  taught  that  the  northern  constellations  govern  the 
divisions  of  living  bodies  alternately  from  the  head  to  the  reins,  and  in 
like  manner  the  southern  from  the  reins  to  the  feet.  The  sign  then  makes- 
a  skip  from  the  feet  to  Aries,  v;ho  again  assumes  the  government  of  the 
head,  and  so  on. 

About  half  these  constellations  are  friendly  dndnities,  and  exert  a  sal- 
utary influence  on  the  animal  and  the  plant.  The  others  are  malignant 
in  their  temper,  and  govern  only  for  evil  purposes.  They  blast  during' 
their  rei^n  the  seed  sown  in  the  earth,  and  render  medicine  and  the 
operations  of  surgery  unsuccessful. 

We  have  read  of  the  Hebrews  worshipping  the  hosts  of  heaven  wdien- 
ever  they  relapsed  into  idolatry  ;  and  these  same  constellations  were  the 
iiiiosts  of  heaven  which  they  w*orshipped.     W^e,  it  is  true,  make  no  offeringv 


morals:  24S 

to  these  hosts  of  heaven,  but  we  give  them  our  laith  and  eonfideijce. — 
We  hope  lor  physical  benellts  from  those  of  ihem  whose  doininioii  is 
friendly  to  our  interests,  while  the  reign  of  the  malignant  ones  is  an  obicct 
ol'  dread  aiul  painful  apprehensioi*. 

Let  us  not  boast  very  much  of  our  science,  civilization,  or  even  chris- 
lianity,  while  this  column  of  the  relics  of  paganism  still  disgraces  the 
christian  calendar. 

I  have  made  these  observations  wnth  a  vievx'  to  discredit  the  remnants 
of  superstition  still  existing  among  us.  While  dreams,  the  howling  of 
the  dog,  and  the  croaking  of  the  raven,  are  prophetic  of  future  events, 
we  are  not  C'ood  christians.  While  we  are  dismayed  at  the  sio-ns  of 
heaven,  we  are  for  the  time  being  pagans.  Life  has  real  evils  enough 
lo  contend  with,  without  imaginary  ones. 


•:o:- 


CHAPTER  XXiX. 


MORALS, 

In  the  section  of  the  country  where  my  father  lived,  there  was,  for  many 
years  after  the  settlement  of  the  country,  "neither  law  nor  gospel."  Our 
want  of  legal  government  was  owing  to  the  uncertainty  whether  we  be- 
longed to  the  state  of  Virginia  or  Pennsylvania.  'l"he  line  which  at  pre- 
sent divides  the  two  stales,  was  not  run  until  some  time  after  the  con- 
clusion of  the  revolutionary  war.  Thus  it  happened,  that  during  a  long 
period  of  time  we  knew  nothing  of  courts,  huvyers,  magistrates,  sheriffs 
or  constables.  Every  one  was  therefore  at  liberty  "to  do  whatsoever 
was  right  in  his  own  eyes." 

As  this  is  a  state  of  society  which  few  of  my  rcacfcrs  have  ever  wit- 
nessed, I  shall  describe  it  as  mirmtely  as  I  can,  and  give  in   detail  those 
moral  nmxims  which  in  a  great  degree  answered  the  impoilant  purposes 
of  municipal  jurispruflcnce. 

In  the  tirst  })lace,  let  it  be  observed  that  in  a  sparse  po})ulation,  where 
all  the  memlxirs  of  tlie  community  are  well  known  to  each  other,  and 
especially  in  a  time  of  war,  where  every  man  capable  of  bearing  arms  is 
(•onsidered  highly  valuable  as  a  defender  of  his  country,  public  opinion 
has  its  fidl  effect,  and  answers  ihe  purposes  of  legal  government  better 
ihzin  it  would  in  a  dense  population  in  time  of  peace. 

Such  was  the  situatiorr  of  our  people  along  the  frr)nlieis  of  our  set- 
tlements. They  had  no  civd,  uiililary  or  ecclesiastical  laws,  at  least 
jione  that  were  enforced  ;   and  \et  "thev  were  a  law  unto  themselves,"  as 


249  MORALS. 

to  all  tlie  leadingr  oblio-ations  of  our  nature  in  all  the  relrttions  in  vs^hid.^ 
they  stood  to  each  other.  The  turpitude  of  vice  and  the  majesty  of  mor- 
al virtue  were  then  as  apparent  as  they  are  now,  and  they  were  then  re- 
garded w^i:h  the  same  sentiments  of  avei-sion  or  respect  which  they  in- 
spire at  the  present  time.  Industry  in  working  and  hunting,  bravery  im 
war,  candor,  honesty,  hospitality,  and  steadiness  of  deportment,  received 
their  full  reward  of  public  honor  and  public  confidence  among  our  rude 
forefathers,  as  well  as  among  their  better  instructed  and  more  polished 
descendants.  The  punishments  which  they  inflicted  upon  offenders  by 
the  imperial  court  of  public  opinion,  were  well  adapted  for  the  reforma- 
tion- of  the  culprit,  or  his  expulsion  from  the  community. 

The  punishment  for  idleness,  lying,  dishonesty,  and  ill  fame  generally,, 
was  that  of  "hating  the  offender  out,"  as  they  expressed  it.  This  mode 
of  chastisement  v;as  like  the  atiinca  of  the  Greeks,-  It  w^as  a  public  ex^ 
pression,  in  various  ways,  of  a  general  sentiment  of  indignation  against 
such  as  transgressed  the  moral  maxims  of  the  community  to  which  they 
belonged,  and  commonly  resulted  either  m  the  reformation  or  banishm^^nt 
of  the  person  against  whom.it  was  directed. 

At  house-raisings,  log-ro-ilings,  and  harvest-parties,  every  one  was  ex- 
pected to  do  kis  duty  faithfully.  A  person  who  did  not  peribrm  his  share 
of  labor  on  these  occasions,  was  designated  by  the  epithet  of  "Lawrence^'^ 
or  some  other  title  still  more  opprobrious  ;  and  whea  it  came  to  his  turn 
to  require  the  like  ai-d  from  his  neighbors-,  the  idlei?  felt  his  punishment 
in  their  refusal  to  attend  to  his  calls. 

Although  there  w^as  no  legal  compulsion  to  the  performance  of  military 
duty ;  yet  every  umn  of  full  age-  and  siae  was  expected  to  do  his  full 
share  of  public  service.  If  he  did  not  do  so,  he  was  "hated  out  as  a 
coward."  Even  the  want  of  any  article  of  war  equipments,  such  as  am- 
munition, a  sharp  flint,  a  priming  wire,  a>  scalping  knife,  or  tomahawk, 
was  thought  hig-lily  disgraceful.  A  man,  who  without  a  reasonable- ex- 
cuse failed  to  go  on  a  scout  or  campaign  when  it  came  to  his  turn,  met 
with  an  expression  of  indignation  in  the  countenances  of  all  his  neighbors, 
and  epithets  of  hishonor  were  fastened  upon  him  without  mercy. 

Debts,  which  make  such  an  uproar  in  civilised  life,  were  but  little 
known  among  our  forefathers  at  an  early  settlement  of  this  countr}^, — • 
After  th«  depreciation  of  the  continental  paper,  they  had  no  money  of 
any  kind;  evt^y  thing  purchased  was  paid  for  in  produce  or  labor.  A 
good  cow  and  calf  was  often  the  price  of  a  bushel  of  alum  salt.  If  a 
contract  was  not  faithtully  fulfiied,  the  credit  of  the  delinquent  was  at  asi 
end. 

Any  petty  theft  was  punished  vvdth  all  the  infamy  that  could  be  heaped 
on  the  offender.  A  man  on  a  campaign  s^tole  from  his  comrade  a  cake 
out  of  the  ashes  in  whiGh  it  was  baking.  He  was  immediately  named 'the 
Bread  rounds.'  This  epithet  of  reproach  was  bandied  about  in  this  way. 
When  he  came  in  sight  of  a  group  of  men,  one  of  them- would  call,  'Who 
eomes  there  ?^  Another  would  answer,  'The  Bread-rounds.'  If  any 
one  meant  to  be  more  serious  about  the  matter,  he  would  call  out,  'Who 
stole  a  cake  out  of  the  ashes  ?'  Another  replied  by  giving  the  name  of 
thfi  man  in  full,..    To  this  a  third  would  ffive  conErm-ation  bv  exclairairAe'. 


*That  is  truu  and  no'lic?  This  kind  of  'longiie-lasliing'  lie  was  domnod 
to  bear  for  the  rest  of  the  campaign,  as  well  as  for  years  after  his  return 
-home. 

If  a  theft  was  detected  in  any  of  the  frontier  settlements,  a  summary 
mode  of  punishment  was  always  resorted  to.  The  first  settlers,  as  far  as 
I  knew  of  them,  had  a  kind  of  innate  or  hereditarj^  detestation  of  the 
crime  of  theft,  in  any  shape  or  degree,  and  their  maxim  was  that  ^a  thief 
must  be  whipped.'  If  the  theft  was  something  of  some  value,  a  kind  of 
jury  of  the  neighborhood,  after  hearing  the  testimony,  would  condemn  the 
'Culprit  to  Moses's  law,  that  is,  to  forty  stripes  save  one.  If  the  theft  was 
of  some  small  article,  the  offender  was  doomed  to  carry  on  his  back  the 
flag  of  the  United  States,  which  then  consisted  of  thirteen  stripes.  In  ei- 
ther case,  seme  able  hands  v/ere  selected  to  execute  the  seii^tence,  so  that 
the  stripes  were  sure  to  be  well  laid  on. 

This  puKishment  was  followed  by  a  sentence  of  exile.  "He  then  "vvas 
informed  that  he  must  decamp  in  so  many  days  and  be  seen  ther-e  no  more 
-on  penalty  of  haviKg  the  number  of  his  stripes  doubled. 

For  many  years  after  the  law  w^as  put  in  operation  in  the  western  part  of 
Virginia,  the  magistrates  themselves  were  in  the  habit  of  giving  those 
who  were  brouo-ht  before  them  on  char2:es  of  small  thefts,  the  liberty  of 
being  sent  to  jail  or  taking  a  whipping.  The  latter  ^vvas  commonly  cho- 
sen, and  was  imm.ediately  inflicted,  after  which  the  thief  was  ordered  to 
clear  out. 

In  some  instances  stripes  were  inflicted  ;  not  for  th€  punisJ-imcnt  of  an 
•offense,  but  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  a  confession  from  suspected  per- 
-sons.  This  was  the  torture  of  our -early  times,  and  no  doubt  sometimes 
very  unjustly  inflicted. 

If  a  woman  was  given  to  tattling  and  slandering  her  neighbors,  sire 
was  funiish-ed  by  common  consent  with  a  kind  of  patent  right  to  say 
whatev-er  she  plea^sed,  without  being  beFieved.  Her  tongue  was  thcR 
said  to  be  harmless,  or  to  be  no  scandal. 

V\^ith  all  their  redeness,  these  people  were  given  to  hospitality,  Tind 
freely  divided  their  rough  fare  with  a  neighbor  or  stranger,  and  would 
have  been  offended  at  the  offer  of  pay.  In  their  settlements  and  torts, 
they  lived,  they  worked,  they  fought  and  feasted,  or  sufTercd  together, 
in  cordialharmony-.  They  were  warm  and  constant  in  their  friendships. 
On  the  other  hand  they  were  revengefid  in  their  resentments  ;  and  the 
point  of  honor  sometimes  led  to  personal  combats.  If  one  man  called 
another  a  liar,  he  was  considered  as  having  given  a  challenge  which  the 
person  who  received  it  must  accept,  or  be  deemed  a  coward,  and  the 
charge  was  generally  answered  on  the  spot  with  a  blow.  If  the  injured 
person  was  decidedly  unable  to  fight  the  aggressor,  he  might  get  a  friend 
to  do  it  for  him.  The  same  thing  took  place  on  a  charge  of  cowardice, 
or  any  other  dishonorable  action.  A  battle  must  follow,  and  the  person 
who  ma(ie  the  -charge  must  fight  either  the  person  against  whom  lie  made 
it,  or  any  rliampion  who  chose  to  espouse  his  cause.  Thus  circum- 
stanced, our  people  in  early  times  were  much  more  cautious  of  speakin 
»'vil  of  their  n('i':!;hbors  than  ihev  arc  al  present. 

Seipchme^'  pitched  battles  occurred,  in  which  time,  j^lacc,  and  secoudf 


rr 
r-. 


251  :\10RALS. 

were  ajipomlcd  berorehand.  I  remember  liaviiic^  seen  one  of  tlirsp 
pitched  battles  in  m.y  I'auhei's  fort,  when  a  boy.  Ojie  ot"  the  vounij  men 
knew  very  v.'ell  beforehand  that  he  should  <?;et  the  worst  of  the  batth?, 
and  no  doubt  repented  tlie  engai^ement  to  hght ;  but  there  Avas  no  getting 
ever  it.  The  point  of  hoRor  demanded  the  risk  of  battle.  He  got  his 
■whipping  ;  they  then  shook  hands,  and  were  good  friends  afterwards. 

The  mode  of  single  combat  in  those  days  was  dangerous  in  the  ex- 
treme. Although  no  weapons  were  used,  fists,  teeth  and  feet  were  em- 
ployed at  will;  but  above  all,  the  detestable  practice  of  gouging,  by 
which  eyes  were  sometimes  put  out,  rendered  this  mode  of  fi£;;htlng 
frightful  indeed.  It  w'as  not,  however,  so  destructive  as  the  stiletto  of 
an  Italian,  the  knife  of  a  Spaniard,  the  small  sword  of  the  Frenchman, 
■cr  the  pistol  of  the  American  or  English  <luelist. 

Instances  of  seduction  and  bastardy  did  not  freqiiently  happen  in  our 
€arly  times.  I  remember  one  instance  <?f  the  former,  in  which  the  life 
oi'  the  man  was  put  in  jeopardy  by  the  resentment  of  the  family  to  which 
the  girl  belonged.  Indeed,  considering  the  chivalrous  temper  of  our  peo- 
ple, this  crime  could  not  then  take  place  without  great  personal  danger  from 
the  brothers  or  other  relations  of  the  victims  of  seduction,  family  honor 
beip.g  then  estimat-ed  at  a  high  rate. 

I  do  not  recollect  that  profane  language  was  much  more  prevalent  in 
our  early  times  than  at  present. 

Among  the  people  with  whom  I  was  conversant,  there  was  no  other 
vestige  of  the  christian  religion  than  a  faint  observance  of  Sunday,  and 
that  merely  as  a  day  of  rest  for  the  aged  and  play-day  for  the  young. 

The  hrst  christian  service  I  ever  heard  was  in  the  Garrison  church  in 
Baltimore  county,  in  Maryland,  wdiere  my  father  had  sent  me  to  school, 
I  was  then  obout  ten  years  old.  The  appearance  of  the  church,  the 
w^.ndows  of  which  were  Gf)thic,  the  white  surplice  of  the  minister,  and 
the  responses  in  the  service,  overwhelmed  me  with  surprise.  Among  my 
school-fellows  in  that  place^  it  Avas  a  matter  of  reproach  to  me  that  I  was 
not  baptized,  and  why  ?  Because,  as  they  said,  I  had  no  name.  Such 
%vas  their  notion  of  the  efficacy  of  baptism.. 


XliK  RE\0].rri(>X.  ::3^ 


:(>:- 


CHAPTER  XXX, 


THE  REVOLUTION. 

The  Am(;riran  revolution  was  tiie  coram cr.'CrmcMt  (u"  a  new  cm  in  tlic 
history  of  the  world.  The  issue  of  that  eventful  contest  snatch'ec}  the 
sceptre  from  the  hands  of  the  monarch,  and  pkiced  it,  where  it  ought  to 
he,  in  the  hands  of  the  people. 

On  the  sacred  aitar  of  liberty  it  consecrated  the  ric:'it'-  of  raan,  surren- 
>deredto  him  the  right  and  power  of  goyerning  himself,  and  placed  in  his 
hands  the  resources  of  his  country,  as  munitions  of  war  for  his  defense. — 
The  experiment  was  indeed  bold  and  hazardous-;  but  suc<"ess  has  hither- 
to more  than  justified  the  most  sang^.!ine  anticipations  of  those  who  made 
it.  The  worhl  has  \iitnessed,  with  astonishment^  the  rapid  growth  and 
-confirmation  of  our  noble  fabric  of  freedom.  From  our  distant  horizon, 
we  have  reflected  a  strong:  and  steady  blaze  o^  liirht  en  ill  fated  Europf, 
from  time  immemorial  involved  in  the  fett^crs  and  jrloom  of  slavery. — 
Our  history  has  excited  a  general  and  ardeiit  spirit  of  innuiry  intr)  the 
nature  of  our  civil  institutions,  and  a  strong  wish  on  the  part  v>i'  tlie 
rEopLE  in  distant  countries,  to  participate  in  our  l)lessings. 

But  will  an  example,  so  portentous  of  evil  to  the  chiefs  of  despotic 
institutions,  be  viewed  with  indifference  by  those  who  now  sway  the 
sceptre  with  unlimited  power,  over  the  many  millions  of  their  vassals  ? — 
Will  they  adopt  no  micasures  of  defense  against  the  influence  of  that 
freedom,  so  widely  diflused  and  so  rapidly  gaining  strength  throughout 
their  empn-es  ?  Will  they  make  no  effort  to  remove  from  the  world  those 
free  governments,  whose  example  gives  them  such  annoyance  ?  The 
rrH?asures  of  defense  will  be  adopted,  the  effort  will  be  made  ;  for  power 
is  never  surrendered  without  a  struggle. 

Already  nations,  which,  from  the  the  earliest  period  of  their  history, 
have*  constanily  crimsoned  the  earth  with  each  other's  blood,  have 
become  a  band  of  brothers  for  the  destruction  o(  every  germ  of 
human  lihertv.  Every  vear  witnesses  an  association  of  the  monarch^ 
of  those  nations,  in  urdiallowed  conclave,  for  the  purpose  of  concerting 
tneasures  for  effecting  thoir  dark  desicrns.  Hitherto  the  execution  of 
those  measures  has  been,  a'a^!   too  fatally  successful. 

h  would  hf  impolitic  and  unwise  in  us  to  calculate  on  r>^capmg  the 
hostile  not  ire  ni'  ih*^  despots  of  rontinental  Europe.  Already  we  hear, 
like  di"^t;mt  thunder,  Iheir  expressions  of  indignation  and  threats  of  ven- 
geance. Wf  ought  to  anticipate  the  gathering  storm  without  dismay, 
5^^ut  not  with  indilT'erenf.e.  In  viewing:  the  dark  side  of  the  prospect  be- 
iore  M*;,  OHP  sou'-re  r.f  r<^n^olai)on,  -^f  mubli  magnitudo,  presents  itself. — 


^253  CniLlZATlOX 

II  is  conrKlently  expected,  that  the  brave  and  potent  nation,  Avilli  whom 
we  have  common  origin,  will  not  risk  the  loss  of  that  portion  of  liberty, 
which  at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  they  have  secured 
for  themselves,  by  an  unnatural  association  with  despots,  for  the  unholy 
purpose  of  making  war  on  the  few  nations  of  the  earth,  which  possess 
any  considerable  portion  of  that  invaluable  blessing ;  on  the  contrary,  it 
is  hoped  by  us  that  they  will,  if  necessity  should  require,  employ  the 
bravery  of  their  }>eople,  their  immense  resources,  and  the  trident  of  the 
ocean,  in  defense  of  their  own  liberties,  and  by  consequence  those  of 
others. 

Legislators,  fathers  of  our  country  !  lose  no  time,  spare  no  expense  in 
hastening  on  the  requisite  means  of  defense,  for  meeting  with  safety  and 
with  victory  the  impendiijg  storm,  which  sooner -or  later  must  fall  upon  us. 


•o*- 


CHAPTER  XXXL 


CIVILIZATION. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  present  state  of  civilization  in  the  western 
country,  are  subjects  which  deserve  some  consideration. 

The  state  of  society  and  manners  of  the  early  settler^,  as  presented  in 
these  notes,  shews  very  clearly  that  their  grade  of  civilization  was  indeed 
low  enough.  The  descendants  of  the  English  cavaliers  from  Maryland 
and  Virginia,  who  settled  mostly  along  the  rivers,  and  the  descendants  of 
the  Irish,  who  settled  in  the  interior  parts  of  the  country,  were  neither 
remarkable  for  science  or  urbanity  of  manners.  The  former  were  mostly 
illiterate,  rough  in  their  manners,  and  addicted  to  the  rude  diversions  of 
horse  racing,  wrestling,  shooting,  dancing,  &c.  These  diversions  were 
often  accompanied  w^ith  personal  combats,  which  consisted  of  blows, 
kicks,  biting,  and  gouging.  This  mode  of  fighting  was  wliat  they  called 
rough  and  tumble.  Sometimes  a  previous  stipulation  was  made  to  use 
the  fists  only.  Yet  these  people  were  industrious,  enterprising,  generous 
in  their  hospitality,  and  brave  in  the  defense  of  their  country. 

These  people,  for  the  most  part,  formed  the  cordon  along  the  Ohio  riv- 
er, on  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  which  de- 
fended the  country  against  the  attacks  of  the  Indians  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  They  were  the  janizaries  of  the  country,  that  is,  they  were 
soldiers  when  they  chose  to  be  so,  and  when  they  chose  laid  down  their 
arms.     Their  military  service  was  voluntary,  and   of  course  received  no 

Wi'h    die   descendants    of   the    Irish    I  had    but    little    acquaintance, 


CIVILI^AYfOK.  i?54 

aTtTioii^*]!  I  lived  near  them.  At  an  early  period  they  were  comprehended 
in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  weie  more  reserved  in  then*  deportment 
than  their  frontier  neighbors,  and  from  their  situation  being  less  exposed 
t-o  the  Indian  warfare,  took  less  part  in  that  war. 

The  patriot  of  the  western  region  finds  his  love  of  country  and  national 
pride  augmented  to  the  highest  grade,  -when  he  compares  the  political, 
moral,  and  religious  character  of  his  people,  with  that  of  the  inhabitants 
of  many  large  divisions  of  the  old  world.  In  Asia  and  Africa,  generation 
after  generation  passes  without  any  change  in  the  moral  and  religious 
character  or  physical  condition  of  the  people. 

On  the  Barbary  coast,  the  traveler,  if  a  river  lies  in  his  way  and  hap- 
pens to  be  too  high,  must  either  swin  it  or  wait  until  it  subsides.  If  the 
traveler  is  a  christian,  he  must  have  a  firman  and  a  guard.-  Yet  this  was 
once  the  country  of  the  famous  Cathagenians. 

In  Upper  Egypt,  the  people  grind  meal  for  their  dhoura  bread,  by  rub- 
bing it  between  two  flat  stones.     This  is  done  by  women. 

In  Palestine,  the  grinding  of  grain  is  still  performed  by  an  ill-construc-- 
ted  hand  mill,  as  in  the  days  of  our  Savior.-  The  roads  to  the  fanious^ 
city  of  JtTusalem  are  still  almost  in  the  rude  state  of  nature. 

In  Asiatic  Turkey,  merchandise  is  still  carried  on  by  caravans,  which 
arc  attended  with  a  military  guard ;  and  the  naked  w^alis  of  the  caravan- 
sera  is  their  fortress  and  place  of  repose  at  night,  instead  of  a  place  of 
entertainment.  Tlie  streets  of  Constantinople,  instead  of  being  paved,- 
are  in  many  places  almost  impassable  from  mud,  filth,  and  the  carcasses 
of  dead  beasts.     Yet  this  is  the  metropolis  of  a  great  empire. 

Througliout  the  whole  of  the  extensive  regions  of  Asia  and  Africa^ 
roan,  from  his  cradle  to  his  grave,  sees  no  change  in  the  aspect  of  any 
thing  around  him,  unless  from  the  desolations  of  war.  His  dress,  his 
ordinary'  salutations  of  his  neighbors,  his  diet  and  his  mode  of  eatinor  it^^. 
are  prescribed  by  his  religious  institutions ;  and  his  raak  in  society,  as 
well  as  his  occupation,  are  determined  by  his  birth.  Steady  and  unva- 
rying as  the  lapse  of  time  in  every  department  of  life,  generation  after 
generation  beats  the  dull  monotonous  round.  The  Hindoo  would  sooner 
die  a  martyr  at  the  stake,  than  sit  on  a  chair  or  eat  with  a  knife  and  fork,- 

The  descendant  of  Ishmael  is  still  "a  wild  man.'*  Hun^-y,  thirsty 
and  half  naked,  beneath  a  burning  sun,  he  traverses  the  immense  ana 
inhos[>itable  desert  of  Zahara,  apparently  without  any  object,  because  liis 
forefathers  did  so  before  him.  Throughout  life  he  subsists  on  camel's 
milk  ami  flesh,  while  his  only  covering  from  the  inclemency  of  the  wea- 
ther is  a  flimsy  tent  of  camel's  hair.  His  single,  solitary  virtue,  is  that 
of  hospitality  to  strangers :  in  every  other  resjxict  he  is  a  thief  and  a 
robber.- 

The  Chinese  s-till  retain  their  alphabet  of  thirty-six  thousand  hiero-- 
giyphicsr  They  must  never  exchange  it  for  one  of  twenty  letters,  which 
would  answer  an  infinitely  better  purpose. 

Had  we  })ursued  the  course  of  the  greater  number  of  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  we  should  have  been  this  day  treading  in  the  footsteps  of  our  fore- 
fathers, from  whose  example  in  any  respect  w-e  should  have  thought  it 
eriijiinal  to  depart  in  the  sli<7htert  dei-^ree. 


25c^  CIVILIZATION. 

Inslei^d  oi'  ii  blind  or  superstitious  imitation.  o{  tLe  manners  and  cus- 
toms  of  our  forel'athers,  we  have  thought  and  at:ted  for  ourselves,  and  we 
have  changed  ourselves  and  eA'ery  thing  around  us. 

The  linsev  and  coarse  liiien  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  country,  have 
been  exchanged  for  the  substantial  and  fine  fabrics  of  Europe  and  Asia — 
the  hunting  shirt  for  the  fashionable  coat  of  broad  cloth — -and  the  moeca- 
son  for  boots  and  shoes  of  tanned  leathei'.  The  dresses  of  our  ladies 
are  equal  in  beauty,  Imeness  and  fashion,  to  those  of  the  cities  and 
countries  of  Europe  and  Atlantic  America. 

It  is  not  enough  that  persevering  industry  has  enabled  us  to  purchase 
the  "purple  and  fine  linen"  from  foreigners,  and  to  use  their  porcelain 
and  glass-ware,  whether  plain,  engraved  or  gilt ;  we  have  nobly  dared 
to  fabricate  those  elegant,  comfortable,  and  valuable  production's  o-f 
art  for  ourselves. 

A  well  founded  prospect  of  large  gains  from  useful  arts  and  honest 
labor  has  drawn  to  our  country  a  lar<2;e  immbei  of  the  best  artisans  of 
other  countries.  Their  mechanic  arts,  immensely  im])roved  by  American 
genius,  have  hitherto  realised  the  hopeful  prospect  which  induced  their 
emifrration  to  our  infant  country. 

The  horse  paths,  along  w'hich  our  foxefathcrs  made  their  laborious 
journeys  over  the  mountains  lor  salt  and  iron,  were  soon  succeeded  by 
wagon  roads,  and  those  again  by  substantial  turnpikes,  which,  as  if  by 
magic  enchantment,  have  brought  the  distant  region,  not  many  years  ago 
denominated  ^'the  backwoods/^  into  a  close  and  lucrative  connection  with 
our  great  Atlantic  cities.  The  journey  over  the  mountains,  formerly  con- 
sidered so  long,  so  expensive,  and  even  perilous,  is  now  made  in  a  verv 
few  days,  and  with  accommodations  not  displeasing  to  the  epicure  himself. 
Those  giants  of  North  America,  the  different  mountains  composing  the 
great  chain  of  the  Allegany,  formerly  so  frightful  in  their  aspect,  and 
presenting  so  many  difficulties  in  their  passage,  are  now^  scarcely  noticed 
by  the  traveler,  in  his  journey  along  the  gradurated  highways  by  which 
they  are  crossed. 

I'he  rude  sports  of  former  times  have  been  discontinued.  Athletic  trials 
of  muscular  strength  and  activity,  in  which  there  certainly  is  not  much  of 
merit,  have  given  way  to  the  more  noble  ambition  for  mental  endov/rnents 
and  skill  in  useful  arts.  To  the  rude  and  often  indecent  songs,  but 
roughly  and  unskillfully  sung,  have  succeeded  the  psalm,  the  hymn,  and 
swelling  anthem.  To  the  clamorous  boast,  the  provoking  banter,  the 
biting  sarcasm,  the  horrid  oath  and  imprecation,  have  succeeded  urbanity 
of  manners,  and  a  course  of  conversation  crdighter.ed  by  science  and 
chastened  by  mental  attention  and  respect. 

Above  ail,  the  direful  spirit  of  revenge,  the  exercise  of  which  so  much 
approximated  the  character  of  many  of  the  first  settlers  of  our  country  to 
that  of  ihe  worst  g^  savages,  is  now  unknovyn.  The  Indian  might  pass 
in  safety  among  those,  wdiose  remembrance  still  bleeds  at  the  recollection 
of  the  loss  of  their  relatives,  who  have  perished  under  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife  of  the  savage.-b. 

The  Moravian  brethren  may  dwell  in  safety  on  the  sites  of  the  villages 
desolated,  and  ovei'  the  bones  of  their  brethren  and  forefathers  murdereJ^r 


nvifjzA'nox,  25g 

by  the  more  than  savage  ferocity  of  the  whites.  Nor  let  it  be  supposed 
that  the  return  of  peace  produced  this  srahjtary  change  of  feeling  towards 
the  taw^ney  sons  of  the  forest.  'Die  thfrst  for  revenge  was  not  wholly  al- 
layed by  the  balm  of  peace  :  se\eral  Indians  fell  victims  to  the  private 
vengeance  of  those  who  had  recently  lost  their  relations  in  the  war,  for 
some  years  after  it  had  ceased. 

If  the  state  of  society  and  manners,  from  the  commencement  of  the  set- 
tlements in  this  country,  during  the  lapse  of  many  years,  owing  to  the 
sanguinary  character  of  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare  and  other  circum- 
stanc.es,  \vas  in  a  state  of  retroGrression,  as  was  evidently  the  case — if 
ignorance  is  more  easily  induced  than  science — 'if  society  more  speedily 
deteriorates  than  improves — if  it  be  much  easier  for  the  civilised  man  to 
become  w^ild,  than  for  tlie  wild  man  to  become  civilised ; — I  ask,  what 
means  have  arrested  the  progress  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  western 
region  toward  barbarism  .'^— What  agents  have  directed  their  influence  in 
favor  of  science,  morals,  and  piet}'.'^ 

The  early  introduction  of  commerce  was  among  the  first  means  of 
changing,  in  some  degree,  the  existing  aspec*^  of  the  population  of  the 
country,  and  giving  a  nrw  current  to- public  feeling  and  individual  pui-- 
suit. 

The  huntsman  and  warrior,  w-hen  he  had  exchanged  his  hunter's  dress 
for  that  of  civilised  man,  soon  lost  sight  of  his  former  occupation,  and 
assumed  a  new  character  and  a  new  line  of  life, — ^like  the  soldier,  who, 
when  he  receives  his  discharge  and  lays  aside  his  regimenitals,  soon 
loses  the  feeling  of  a  soldier,  and  even  forgets  in  some  degree  bis  man'iial 
exercise. 

Had  not  commerce  furnished  the  means  of  changing  the  dresses  of  our 
people  and  the  furniture  of  their  house— had  the  hunting  shirt,  m^^ccason,, 
and  leoferins,  continued  to  be  the  dress  of  cmr  men — had  the  three-lecrored 
stool,  the  noggin,  the  trencher  and  w^ooden  bowl,  continued  to  be  the 
furniture  of  our  houses, — our  progress  towards  science  and  civil'ization 
would  have  been  much  slow^er. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  so  much  importance  is  attached  to  the  influ-- 
ence  of  dress  in  ffivino^  the  moral  and  intellectual  character  of  society. 

In  all  the  institutions  of  despotic  governments  we  discover  evident 
traces  of  the  highest  jrrade  of  human  sao-acity  and  foresight.  It  must 
have  been  the  object  of  the  founders  of  those  governments  to  repress  the 
genius  of  man,  divest  the  mind  of  every  sentiment  of  ambition,  and  pre- 
vent the  cognizance  of  any  rule  of  life,  excepting  that  of  a  blind  obedience 
to  the  despot,  and  his  established  institutions  of  religion  and  government: 
hence  the  canonical  laws  of  religion,  in  all  governments  despotic  in  prin- 
ciple, have  prescribed  the  costume  of  each  class  of  society,  their  diet  and 
their  manner  of  eating  it ;  and  even  their  household  furniture  is  in  like 
manner  prescribed  by  law.  In  all  these  departments,  no  deviation  from 
the  law  or  custom  is  permitted  or  even  thought  of.  The  whole  science 
of  human  nature,  under  such  governments,  is  that  of  a  knowledge  of  the 
duties  of  the  station  of  life  prescribed  by  parentage,  and  the  whole  duty 
of  roan  that  of  a  ricfid  performance  of  them  ;  while  reason,  having-  nothint^ 


2^  CIVILlZATrON: 

to    do    with    either    the    one     or     the     other,     is     never    cultivaledp 

Even  Hinong  cliristians,  those  louiulers  of  reUgious  societies  have 
succeeded  best  who  have  prescribed  a  professional  costume  for  their 
followers,  because  every  time  the  disciple  looks  at  his  dress  he  is  put 
in  mind  of  his  oblio-ations  to  the  societv  to  which  he  belonofs,  and  he' 
is  therefore  the  less  liable  to  wander  into  strange  pastures.^ 

The  English  government  could  never  subdue  the  esprit  da  cour  of  the 
north  of  Scotland,  until,  after  the  rebellion  of  '45,  the  prohibition  of 
wearing  the  tartan  plaid,  the  kilt  and  the  bonnet  amongst  the  Highlan- 
ders, broke  dow'n  the  spirit  of  the  clans. 

I  have  seen  several  of  the  M-oravian  Indians,  and  wondered  that  they 
were  permitted  to  wear  the  Indian  dress..  Their  conduct,  when  among 
the  wdiite  people,  soon  convinced  me  that  the  conversion  of  those  whom 
I  saw  was  far  from  being  complete. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that,  if  permission  should  be  given  by 
the  supreme  powder  of  the  Mussulman  faith,  for  a  change,  at  the  will  of 
each  individual,  in  dress,  household  fuiT.iture,  and  in  eating  and  drink- 
ing, the  whole  Mohamm^edan  system  would  be  overthrown  in  a  few 
years.  With  a  similar  permission,  tlie  Hindoo  superstition  would 
share  the  same  fate. 

We  have  yet  some  districts  of  country  where  the  costume,  cabins,  and 
in  some  measure  the  household  furniture  of  their  ancestors,  are  still  in 
use.  The  people  of  these  districts  are  far  behind  their  neighbors  in  every 
valuable  endowment  of  human  nature.  Among  them  the  virtues  of  chas- 
tity, temperance,  and  industry,  bear  no  great  value,  and  schools  and 
places  of  worship  are  but  little  regarded.  In  general,  every  one  "does 
what  is  right  in  his  own  eyes." 

In  short,  why  have  we  so  soon  forgotten  our  forefathers,  and  every- 
thing; belouiJ^ino;  to  our  former  state  ?  The  reason  is,  evervthino;  belonir- 
ing  to  our  former  state  has  vanished  from  our  view,  and  we  meet  with 
nothing  in  remembrance  of  them.  The  recent  date  of  the  settlement  of 
our  country  is  no  longer  a  subject  of  reflection.  Its  immense  improve- 
ments present  to  the  imagination  the  results  of  the  labors  of  several  cen- 
turies, instead  of  the  work  of  a  few  years ;  and  we  do  not  often  take  the 
trouble  to  correct  the  false  impression. 

The  introduction  of  the  mechanic  arts  has  certainly  contributed  not  a 
little  to  ttie  morals  and  scientific  improvement  of  the  country. 

The  carpenter,  the  joiner  and  mason,  have  displaced  the  rude,  unsight- 
ly and  uncomfortable  cabins  of  our  forefathers,  by  comfortable,  and  in 
many  instances  elegant  mansions  of  stone,  brick,  hewn  and  savv-n  timbers. 

The  ultimate  objects  of  civilization  are  the  moral  and  physical  happi- 
ness of  man.  To  the  latter,  the  commodious  mansion  house,,  with  its 
furr-iture,  contributes  essentially.  The  family  mansions  of  the  nations 
of  the  earth  furnish  the  criteria  of  the  different  grades  of  their  moral  and 
mental  condition.  The  savavages  universally  live  in  tents,  wigwams, 
or  lodges  covered  with  eardi.  Barbarians,  next  to  these,  may  indeed 
have  habitations  something  better,  but  of  no  value  and  indiiTerently  fur- 
nished. Such  are  the  habitations  of  the  Russian  Tartar  and  Turkish 
peasantry. 


'€1V1L1ZAT10>(.  iim 

Such  i:»  the  effect  of  a  large,  elegant,  and  well  fa^ll^.hc(l  house,  on  the 
feelings  and  deportment  of  a  family,  that  if  you  were  to  build  one  for  a 
family  of  savages,  by  the  occupancy  of  it  they  would  lose  their  savage 
character;  or  if  they  did  not  choose  t©  make  the  exchange  of  that  char- 
acter for  that  of  civilization,  they  would  forsake  it  for  the  wigwam  and 
■the  woods. 

This  was  done  by  many  of  the  early  stock  of  backwoodsmen,  even 
after  they  built  comfortable  houses  for  themselves,  Th^y  no  longer  had 
the  chance  of  "a  fall  hunt;"  the  woods  pasture  w^as  eaten  up;  they 
wanted  ''elbow  room/'  They  therefore  sold  out,  and  fled  to  the  forest 
of  the  frontier  settlements,  choosing  rather  to  encounter  the  t-oil  of  turn- 
ing the  wilderness  into  fruitful  fields  a  second  time,  and  even  risk  an 
Indian  war^  than  endure  the  inconveniences  of  a  crowded  settlement. 
Kentucky  first  offered  a  resting  place  for  those  pioneers,  then  Indiana, 
and  now  the  Missouri ;  and  it  cannot  be  long  before  the  Pacific  ocean 
•will  put  a  final  stop  to  the  w^estward  marcli  of  those  lovers  of  the  wil- 
derness. 

Substantial  buildings  have  the  eflfect  of  giving  value  to  the  soil  and 
creating  an  attachment  for  the  family  residence.  Those  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  poetry,  ancient  or  modern,  need  not  be  told  how  finely 
and  how  impressively  the  household  gods,  the  blazing  hearth,  the  plen- 
tiful board,  and  the  social  fireside  figure  in  poetical  irfiagery.  And  tbis 
is  not  "tyino;  up  nonsense  for  a  sonp;/'  Thsy  are  realities  of  life  in  its 
tmost  polished  states:  they  are  among  its  best  and  most  rational  enjoy- 
ments :  they  associate  the  little  family  commumty  in  parental  and  filial 
affection  and  duty,  in  which  even  the  well  'clothed  child  feels  its  impor- 
tance, claims  and  duties. 

The  amount  of  attachment  to  the  family  mansion  furnishes  the  critt^ 
rion  of  the  relative  amouTit  of  virtue  in  the  members  of  a  family.  If  the 
liead  of  a  family  should  wander  fiom  the  path  of  paternal  duty,  and  be- 
'Come  addicted  to  vicious  habits,  in  proportion  as  his  virtue  suifers  a  de- 
clension, his  love  of  his  home  and  family  abates,  until,  any  place,  how- 
ever base  and  corrupting  it  laay  be,  is  more  agreeable  to  liim  than  the 
once  dulce  domum.  If  a  similar  declension  in  virtue  happens  on  the 
part  of  the  maternal  chief  of  the  family  mansion,  the  first  effect  of  her 
deviation  from  the  path  of  maternal  virtue  is,  that  "her  fe^t  abidelh  not 
in  her  own  house."  The  same  observations  apply  to  'children.  When 
the  young  man  or  woman,  instead  of  manifesting  a  strong  attachment  to 
the  family  mansion,  is  "given  to  outgoing,"  to  places  of  licentious  resort, 
»lheir  moral  ruin  may  be  said  to  be  at  no  great  distance. 

ArchitectniT  is  of  use  even  in  the  important  province  of  religion. — 
'Those  who  build  no  houses  for  themselves,  build  no  tem{)lej>  for  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  of  course  derive  the  less  benefit  from  the  institutions 
of  religion.  While  our  people  lived  in  cabins,  their  places  cf  worship 
were  tents,  as  tliey  were  called,  their  seats  logs,  their  r()mmurii(Ui  tables 
rough  slabs  oi'  hewn  timber,  and  the  covering  of  the  worshippers  the 
leaves  oi"  the  forest  trees. 

Churches  have  succeeded  to  tents  with  I  licit  ruilc  accommodations  fur 
•publir.  worship.     The  very  aspect  ot  th'.'St  sucred  edifices  fills  the  raiud 


-259  (IVILIZATION. 

of  the  be.Lokler  with  a  reiigiuus  awe,  and  as  to  thti  iiiosl  bclitiving  and 
sincere,  it  serves  to  increase  the  lervor  of  devotion.  Patriotism  is  aug- 
mented by  the  sight  of  the  majestic  forum  of  justice,  the  substantial 
pubhc  highway,  and  the  bridge  with  its  hjng  succession  of  ponderous 
arches. 

Rome  and  Greece  woukl  no  doubt  have  fallen  much  sooner,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  patriotism  inspired  by  their  magnihcent  public  edihces. — 
But  for  these,  their  histories  would  liave  been  less  complete  and  lasting 
than  they  have  been. 

Emigration  has  brought  to  the  western  regions  the  w^eaith,  science 
and  a-ts  of  our  eastern  brethren,  and  even  of  Europe.  These  we  hope 
have  suffered  no  deterioration  in  the  western  country.  They  have  con- 
tributed much  to  the  change  wdiich  has  been  effected  in  the  moral  and 
scientilic  character  of  our  country. 

The  ministry  of  the  gospel  has  contributed  no  doubt  immensely  to  the 
happy  change  which  has  been  effected  in  the  state  of  our  western  society. 
At  an  early  period  of  our  settlements  three  Presbyterian  clergymen  com- 
menced their  clerical  labors  in  our  infant  settlements, — the  Rev.  Joseph 
Smith,  the  Rev.  John  JNEMillan,  and  the  Rev.  Air.  Bowers,  the  two 
latter  of  whom  arc  still  living.  They  were  pious,  patient,  laborious  men, 
who  collected  their  people  into  regular  congregations,  and  did  all  for 
them  which  their  circumstances  would  allow.  It  was  no  disparagement 
to  them  that  their  first  churches  were  the  shady  grove,  and  their  first 
pulpits  a  kind  of  tent,  constructed  of  a  few  rough  slabs,  and  covered  wdth 
c'apboarJs.  *'  He  who  dwelleth  not  exclusively  in  temples  made  with 
hands,"  w.is  pi'opitious  to  their  devotions. 

From  the  outset  they  prudently  resolved  to  create  a  ministry  in  the 
.country,  and  accordingly  established  little  grammar  schools  at  their  own 
houses  or  in  their  immediate  neighborhoods.  The  course  of  education 
which  they  gave  their  pupils,  was  indeed  not  extensive ;  but  the  piety 
oi  those  wlio  entered  into  the  ministry  more  than  made  up  the  deficiency. 
They  formed  societies,  most  of  which  are  now^  large  and  respectable,  and 
■in  point  of  education  their  ministry  has  much  improved. 

About  the  year  1792,  an  academy  was  established  at  Canonsburg,  in 
Washington  county,  in  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania,  which  was 
afterwards  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Jefferson  College. 

The  means  possessed  by  the  society  for  the  undertaking  were  indeed 
hut  small ;  but  they  not  only  erected  a  tolerable  edifice  for  the  academy, 
but  created  a  fund  for  the  education  of  such  pious  young  men  as  were 
dqsirous  of  entering  into  the  ministry,  but  were  unable  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  their  education.  This  institution  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful in  its  operations.  It  has  produced  a  large  number  of  good 
scholars  in  all  the  literary  professions,  and  added  immens(;]y  to  the  sci- 
ence of  the  country. 

Next  to  this,  Washingt/)n  College,  situated  in  th<.':  couiVty  town  of  t.he 
county  of  that  name,  has  been  the  means  of  diffusiug  much  of  the  light 
^f  sciance  throuHi  the  western  countrv. 

Ton  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  on  tliose  good  mf^n  ^vho  opened 
these  fruiUijI  sources  of  instruction  for  our  it^f;n7t  roun^rv,  ;it    so   i^-arlv  a 


riVlLIZATIOX.  2Ge 

period  of  its  seltleiaeiit.     The/   havt;  inuaeiisely  improved  the  dep^iit- 
ments  of  theology,  law,  medicine  and  legislation,  in  the  western  regions. 

At  a  later  period  the  Methodist  society  began  their  labors  in  the  west- 
ern parts  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  Their  progress  at  first  w^as 
slow,  but  their  zeal  and  perseverance  at  length  overcame  every  obstacle, 
so  that  they  are  now  one  of  the  most  numerous  and  respectable  societies 
in  this  country.  The  itinerant  plan  of  their  ministry  is  well  calculated  to 
convey  the  gospel  throughout  a  thinly  scattered  population.  Accordingly 
their  ministry  has  kept  pace  with  the  extension  of  our  settlements.  The 
little  cabin  was  scarcely  built,  and  the  little  field  fenced  in,  before  these 
evangelical  teachers  made  their  appearance  amongst  them,  collected 
them  into  societies,  and  taught  them  the  worship  of  God. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  labors  of  these  indefatigable  men,  our  country, 
as  to  a  great  extent  of  its  settlements,  would  have  been  at  this  day  a 
semi-barbaric  region.  How  many  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
the  most  ignorant  and  licentious  of  our  population  have  they  instructed 
and  reclaimed  from  the  error  of  their  ways  !  They  have  restored  to  so- 
ciety even  the  most  worthless,  and  made  them  valuable  and  respectable 
as  citizens,  and  useful  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Their  numerous  and 
zealous  ministry  bids  fair  to  carry  on  the  good  work  to  any  extent  which 
our  settlements  and  population  may  require. 

Wi^h  the  Catholics  I  have  but  little  acquaintance,  but  have  every  rea- 
son to  believe,  that  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  their  flocks,  they  have 
done  well.  in  this  country  they  have  received  the  episcopal  visitations 
of  their  bishops.  In  Kentucky  they  have  a  cathedral,  a  college  and  a 
bishop.  In  Indiana  they  have  a  monastery  of  the  order  of  St.  Tra]), 
which  is  also  a  college,  and  a  bishop. 

Their  clergy,  with  apostolic  zeal,  but  in  an  unostentatious  manner, 
have  souo^ht  out  and  ministered  to  their  scattered  flocks  throuMiout  the 
country,  and  as  far  as  I  know,  with  good  success. 

The  societies  of  Friends  in  the  western  countrv  a^e  numerous,  and 
their  establishments  in  good  order.  Although  they  are  not  much  in  fa- 
vor of  a  classical  education,  they  are  nevertheless  in  the  habit  of  giving 
their  people  a  substantial  English  education.  Their  habits  of  industry 
and  attention  lo  useful  arts  and  improvrnents  are  higlily  honorable  to 
themselves  and  worthy  of  imitation. 

The  Baptists  in  the  state  of  Kentucky  took  the  lead  in  the  ministry, 
and  with  great  success.  Their  establishments  are,  as  1  have  been  in- 
formed, at  present  numerous  and  respectable  in  that  state.  A  great  and 
salutary  revolution  has  taken  place  in  this  community  of  people.  Their 
ministry  was  formerly  quite  illiterate  ;  but  they  have  turned  their  attention 
to  science,  and  have  already  erected  some  very  respectable  literary  es- 
tablishments in  diiT(!rent  parts  of  America. 

The  German  Reformed  and  Lutheran  churches  in  our  country,  as  far 
as  J  know  of  them,  are  doing  well.  The  number  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregations is  said  to  be  at  least  one  hundred  ;  that  of  the  Retormed,  it  is 
presumed,  is  about  the  same  amount. 

It  is  remarkable  that  throuehout  the  whole  extent  of  the  United  States, 
ithe  Germans,  in  proportion  to  their  ^^'cnlth,  have  the  best  churches,  or- 


261  CIVILIZATION. 

garis  and  grave-yards.  It  is  a  fortunate  circiunstance  that  those  of  otit 
citizens  who  labor  under  the  disadvantage  of  speaking  a  foreign  hmguage, 
are  blessed  with  a  ministry  so  evangelical  as  that  of  these  very  numerous 
^nd  respectable  communities. 

The  Episcopalian  churchy  which  ought  to  have  been  foremost  in  gath- 
ering their  scattered  flocks,  have  been  the  last,  and  done  the  least  of  any 
christian  community  in  the  evangelical  work.  Taking  the  western 
country  in  its  whole  extent,  at  least  one  half  of  its  population  was  ori- 
giucdly  of  Episcopalian  parentage  ;  but  for  want  of  a  ministry  of  their 
owR  they  have  associated  with  other  communities.  They  had  no  alter- 
native but  that  of  changing  their  profession  or  living  and  dying  witlK)ut 
the  ordinances  of  religion.  It  can  be  no  subject  of  regret  that  those  -or- 
•dinances  w^ere  phiced  within  their  reach  by  other  hands,  whilst  they  were 
withheld  by  those,  by  whom,  as  a  matter  of  right  and  duty,  they  ought 
to  have  been  given.  One  single  chorea  episcopus,  or  suffragan  bishop, 
of  a  faithful  spirit,  who,  twenty  years  ago,  should  have  "ordained  them 
t^lders  in  every  place"  v/here  they  were  needed,  would  have  been  the 
instrument  o[  forming  Episcopal  congregations  over  a  great  extent  of 
country,  and  which  by  ihis  time  w^ould  have  becoro.e  large,  numerous 
and  respectable ;  but  the  opportunity  was  neglected,  and  the  consequent 
loss  to  this  church  is  irreparable. 

So  total  a  neglect  of  the  spiritual  interests  of  so  many  valuable  people, 
for  so  great  a  length  of  time,  by  a  ministry  so  near  at  hand,  is  a  singular 
and  unprecedented  fact  in  ecclesiastical  history,  the  like  of  which  never 
0(0  ined  before. 

It  seems  to  me,  that  if  the  twentieth  part  of  their  number  of  christian 
people,  of  any  other  community,  had  been  placed  in  Siberia,  and  depen- 
dent on  any  other  ecclesiastical  authority  in  this  coisntry,  that  that  au- 
thority would  have  reached  them  many  years  aj^o  with  the  ministration 
of  the  gospel.  With  the  earliest  and  most  numerous  Episcopacy  in 
America,  not  one  of  the  eastern  bishops  has  yet  crossed  the  Allegany 
mountains,  although  the  dioceses  of  two  of  them  comprehended  large 
tracts  of  country  on  the  western  side  of  the  mountains.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  future  diligence  of  this  community  will  make  up,  in  some  degree,  for 
the  negligence  of  the  past. 

There  is  still  an  immense  void  in  this  country  which  it  is  their  duty  to 
fdl  up.  From  their  respectability,  on  the  ground  of  antiquity  among  the 
reformed  churches,  the  science  of  their  patriarchs,  who  have  been  the 
lights  of  the  world — from  their  number  and  great  resources,  even  in 
America — she  ought  to  hasten  to  fulill  the  just  expectations  of  her  own 
people,  as  well  as  those  of  other  communities,  in  contributing  her  full 
share  to  the  science,  piety,  and  civilization  of  our  country. 

From  the  whole  of  our  ecclesiastical  history,  it  appears,  that,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Episcopal  church,  all  our  religious  communities  have 
done  well  for  their  country. 

The  author  beirs  that  it  may  be  understood,  that  with  the  distins^uish- 
ing  tenets  of  our  religious  societies  he  has  nothing  to  do,  nor  yet  with 
the  excellencies  nor  defects  of  thcii  ecclesiastical  institutions.      Tliev  art 


CIVILIZATION.  202^ 

Boticf^d  on  no  other  ground  tlian  that  of  tlielr  respective  contiibutions  tO' 
the  science  and  civilization  of  the  country. 

The  last,  but  not  tlic  least  of  Ihf  means  of  our  present  civilization,  are 
our  excellent  forms  of  government  and  the  administration  of  the  laws.- 

In  vain,  as  means  of  general  in-forniation-,  are  schools,  colleges,  and 
a  ministry  of  the  gospel  of  the  best  order,  A  land  of  liberty  is  a  lantl 
of  crime,  as  well  as  of  virtue. 

It  ]«  often  menti-oned,  as  a  matter  of  reproach  to  England,  that,  in 
proportion  to  her  population,  they  have  more  convictions,  executions, 
and  transportations,  than  any  other  country  in  Europe^  Should  it  be 
asked,  what  is  the  reason  of  the  prevalence  of  crime  in  England  ?  Is  it, 
that  human  nature  is  worse  there  than  elsewhere  ?  We  answer,  no. — 
There  is  more  liberty  there  than  elsewhere  in  Europe,  and  that  is  the 
true  and  only  solution  of  the  matter  in  question.  Where  a  people  are  at 
liberty  to  learn  what  they  choose,  to  think  and  act  as  they  please,  and 
adopt  any  profession  for  a  living  or  a  fortune,  they  are  much  more  liable 
to  fall  into  the  commission  of  crimes,  than  a  people  who  from  their  infan- 
cy have  been  accustomed  to  the  dull,  monotonous  march  of  despotism, 
which  chains  each  individual  to  the  rank  and  profession  of  his  forefathers, 
and  does  not  permit  him  to  wander  into  strange  and  devious  paths  of 
hazardous  experiments. 

In  America,  should  a  stranger  read  awhile  our  numerous  publications- 
of  a  religious  nature,  the  reports  of  missionary  and  Bible  scx-ieties,  at 
first  blush  he  would  look  upon  the  Americans  as  a  nation  of  saints  ;  let 
him  lay  these  aside,  and  read  the  daily  newspapers,  he  will  change  his 
opinion,  and  for  the  time  being  consider  them  as  a  nation  abounding  in 
crimes  of  the  most  atrocious  dye.     Both  })ortraits  are  true. 

The  greater  the  amount  of  freedom,  the  greater  the  necessity  of  a 
steady  and  faithful  administration  of  justice,  but  more  especially  of  crimi- 
nal justice;  because  a  general  diffusion  of  science,  while  it  pro(hices  the 
most  salutiiry  effects,  on  a  general  scale,  produces  also  the  worst  of 
crimes,  by  creating  the  greater  capacity  for  their  commission.  There  is 
scarcely  any  art  or  science,  which  is  not  in  some  hands  and  under  cer-» 
tain  circumstances  made  an  instrument  of  the  most  atrocious  vices. — 
The, arts  of  navigation  and  gunnery,  so  necessary  for  the  wealth  and  de- 
fense of  a  nation,  have  often  degenerated  into  the  crime  of  piracy.  The 
beautiful  art  of  engraving,  and  the  more  useful  art  of  writing,  have  been 
used  by  the  fraudulent  for  counterfeiting  all  kinds  of  public  and  private 
documents  of  credit.  Were  it  not  for  science  and  freedom,  the  impor- 
tant professions  of  theology  and  physic  would  not  be.  so  iVequently  as- 
sumed by  the  pseudo  priest  and  the  quack  without  previous  acquirements, 
without  riglit,  and  for  purposes  wholly  base  and  unwarrantable. 

The  trath  is,  the  western  country  is  the  region  of  adventure.  If  wc 
have  derived  some  advantage  from  the  importation  of  science,  arts  and 
wealth  ;  we  have  on  the  other  hand  been  much  annoyed  and  endangered, 
as  to  our  moral  and  j)olitical  state,  by  an  in)mense  importation  of  vice, 
associated  with  a  higli  grade  of  science  and  the  most  consummate  art  in 
the  pursuit  of  wealth  by  every  description  of  unlawtul  means.  The 
steady  administration  of  justice  has  been  our  only  safetv  from  de"<truc1ioji, 


:2m  riviLiZA'rioN, 

by  tlio  pestilenlial  in/luence  of  so  great  an  amount  of  moral  depravity  iu 
our  infant  country. 

Still  it  may  be  asked  whether  facts  warrant  the  beleif  that  the  scale  is 
fairly  turned  in  favor  of  science,  piety  and  civilization — -whether  in  re- 
gard to  these  important  endowments  of  our  nature,  the  present  time  is 
better  than  the  past — whether  we  may  safely  consider  our  political  insti- 
tutions so  matured  and  settled  that  our  personal  liberty,  property  and 
sacred  honor,  are  not  only  secured  to  us  for  the  present,  but  likely  to  re- 
main the  inheritance  of  our  children  for  generations  yet  to  come.  Socie- 
ty, in  its  best  state,  resembles  the  sleepping  volcano,  as  to  the  amount  of 
latent  moral  evil  which  it  always  contains.  It  is  enough  for  public  safety, 
and  all  that  can  reasonably  be  expected,  that  the  good  predominate  over 
the  evil.  The  moral  and  political  means,  which  have  been  so  successfully 
employed  for  preventing  a  revolutionary  explosion,  have,  as  we  trust, 
procrastinated  the  danger  of  such  an  event  for  a  long  time  to  come.  If 
we  have  criminals,  they  are  speedily  pursued  and  brought  to  justice. 

The  places  of  our  country,  which  still  remain  in  their  native  state  of 
wilderness,  do  not,  as  in  many  other  countries,  afford  notorious  lodg- 
ments for  thieves.  Our  hills  are  not,  as  in  the  wilderness  of  Judea, 
* 'hills  of  robbers."  The  ministry  of  the  holy  gospel  is  enlightening  the 
minds  of  our  people  with  the  best  of  all  sciences,  that  of  God  himself,  his 
divine  government  and  man's  future  state- 
Let  it  not  be  thought  hard  that  our  forums  of  justice  are  so  numerous, 
the  style  of  their  architecture  so  imposing,  and  the  business  which  occu- 
pies them  so  multifarious  ;  they  are  the  price  which  freedom  must  pay  for 
Its  protection.  Commerce,  circulating  through  its  million  channels,  will 
create  an  endless  variety  of  litigated  claims.  Crimes  of  the  deepest  dye, 
springing  from  science  and  liberty  themselves,  require  constantly  the  vi- 
gilance and  coercion  of  criminal  justice.  Even  the  poorest  of  our  people 
are  solicitous  for  the  education  of  their  children.  Thus  the  great  sup- 
ports of  our  moral  and  political  state,  resting  on  their  fimest  bases,  public 
opinion  and  attachment  to  our  government  and  laws,  promise  stability  fo? 
generations  yet  to  come. 


I 


APPENDIX 


•:o:- 


'TiiE  authur  of  liic  illsiory  of  the  Valley  liad  intended  to  postpone  the 
•■subject  of  the  following  pages,  and  give  the  subject  matter  thereof  in  a 
-second  edition  ;  but  at  the  requ-est  of  a  highly  respectable  subscriber,  and 
•  on  consulting  the  printer,  it  is  found  that  this  addition  to  his  work  will 

not  greatly  increase  the  expense  of  the  present  volume.  It  is  therefore 
■  deemed  expedient  to  gratify  public    curiosity  by    giving   the   following 

sketches.  If  any  one  should  te  found  incredulous  enough  to  doubt  the 
-correctness  of  his  statements,  lit-  can  only  say  to   such  individuals,  that 

they  (^an  have  occular  proof  of  llie  truth  of  each  by  taking  the  trouble  to 
*exami*ie  for  themselves.  * 


TACE  OF  THE 'COUNTUy. 

That  portion  of  the  \'ailev  Ivinn-  between  the  Blue  Ilidge  and  Little 
North  Mountain,  is  generally  about  an  average  of  twenty-five  miles  wide, 

■  commencing  at  the  Cohongoruton  (Potomac,)  and  running  from  thence 
a  southerly  course  to  tl^e  commencement  of  the  northern  termination  of 
Powell's  Fort  mountains,  a  distance  of  about  forty-five  miles. 

This  region,  it  lias  already  been  stated  in  a  preceding  chapter,  when 
the  country  was  first  known  to  the  white  peoi)le,  was  one  entire  and 
beautiful  prairie,  with  the  exception  of  narrow  fringes  of  timber  imme- 
diately^ bordering  on  the  water  courses.  The  Opequon,  (pronounced 
Opeckon)  heads  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  Little  North  Mountain,  and 
thencr  passing  through  a  fine  tract  of  limestone  country  seven  or  eight 
miles,  filters  into  a  re<rion  of  .slate.  This  tract  of  slate  country  com- 
mences  at  the  northern  termination  of  Powell's  Fort  mountains,  and  is 
six  or  eight  miles  in  width  east  and  west,  and  continues  to  the  Potomac 
a  distance  of  about  iorty-tive  miles.  Thf  Ojiequon  /continues  its  serpen- 
tine, course  through  the  slate  region,  and  empties  into  the  Potomac  about 
fifteen  or  -sixteen  miles  al)ove  ilar}>ei\>-FeiTy.      It  is  thought  by  some  iri- 

•  individuals  that  this  water  course  is  susceptible   of  navigation   for  small 

'Craft,  Iwenty-fouroi  twenty-live  miles  from  its  imuitli.  ']"liis  slate  region 
of  country  is  couiparativrlv  |>oor,  unproductive  land;  yet  in  the  hands  ot 
industriou'^  and  skiltiil  tarrner5,  many  very  \aluable  and  bpiiutiful  I'arins 
jire  to  be  seen   in   it.     'About    twrntv  vcars  ai^o    a    scir-jitific    FrenchVnnn 

^suggested  to  tlir   ;iuth«;r    the  ^-[^inion   ''that  this   legion  oj"   dilute  roi»iiMrv 


^267  APPENDIX. 

■was,  at  soiue  rcinole  pciiod  oi'  the  world,  covered  willi  a  niountaiii,  an 
abrasion  of  which  had  taken  place  by  some  great  convulsion  of  nature. — 
This  he  niferred  from  an  examination  of  the  base  of  the  Fort  Mountain — 
the  stratum  of  the  slate  at  the  foot  of  which  being  precisely  similar  to  that 
of  the  slate  at  the  edges  of  the  region  of  this  slate  country."  The  author 
will  not  venture  an  opinion  of  his  own  on  this  subject,  but  has  given  that 
of  an  individual  who  it  was  said  at  the  time  was  a  man  of  considerable 
philosophical  and  scientific  acquirements. 

East  of  this  slate  country  commences  another  reo:ion  of  line  limestone 
land,  averaging  ten  or  twelve  miles  in  v/idth,  and  for  its  extent  certainly 
unsurpassed  in  point  of  natural  beauty,  fertility  and  value,  by  any  section 
of  country  in  Virginia. 

Powell's  Fort  presents  to  the  eye  much  gradeur  and  sublimity.  Tra- 
dition informs  us  that  an  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Powell,  at  the  early 
settlement  of  our  country,  discovered  silver  ore  in  the  West  Fort  Moun- 
tain, and  commenced  the  business  of  money  coinuig ;  and  when  any  at- 
tempts were  made  to  arrest  him,  he  would  escape  into  the  mountain  and 
conceal  himself.  From  this  circumstance  it  acquired  the  name  of  Pow- 
•aell's  Fort.  The  late  Capt.  Isaac  Bowman,  about  thirty  years  ago,  pointed 
out  to  the  author  the  site  of  Powell's  shop,  where  it  w^as  said  he  wTought 
hi*  metal,  the  luL^lfef  which  were  then  to  be  seen.  Capt.  Bowman  also 
informed  the  aiitMithat  several  crucibles  and  other  instruments,  which  he 
had  f.-equently'^Hf  had  been  found  about  the  ruins  of  this  shop,  so  that 
there  is  no  d^^d§^he  truth  of  the  tradition  that  this  man  Powell  was  in 
the  practice 't5^(fi  el  ting  down  some  sort  of  metal,  if  he  did  not  actually 
c  o  u  n  t  e  rl  e  i  t  raon  ey . 

The  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  this  extraordinary  Avork.of  nature  consii§t 

in  its  tremendous  height  and  singular  formation.     On  entering  the  moulh 

of  the  Foit,  we  are  struck  with  the  awful  heiglit  of  the  mountains  on  each 

side,   piobably  not  less  than  a  tliousand  feet.       Through  a  veiy  narrow 

■nassa^e/' a   bold  and  beautiful  stream  of  water   rushes,  called   Passajre 

creek,  which  a  short  distance  below  works  several  fine  merchant  mills. — 

After  travelling  two  m*  three  miles,  tlie  valley  gradually  widens,  and  for 

;upwards  of  twent}'  mi-ks  furnishes  arafele  land,  and  affords  settlements  for 

eighty  or   ninety  families,  several    of  whom  oivn  very  valuable   farms. — 

The  two  mountains  run  parallel  about  twenty-four  cr   twenty-five   miles, 

rand  arc  .-called  the   EaS't  aad  West  Fort  mountains,   and  then  are  merged 

into    one,  anciently  called  Masinetto,  now  Masinutton  mountain.       The 

Masinuttoii  mouFitain  continues  its  course  about   thirtv-ave  or   thirty-six 

miles   snuflujrly,  and  abruptly  terminates  nearly  opposite  Keisletovrn,  in 

the  cotjuiy  of  Rockingham.     This  range  of  mountains  divides    the  two 

gr^at  bnuiches  of  the  Sbtaiandoah  river,  called  the  South  and  North  forks. 

This  mountain,  upon  tlie  whole,  presents  to  the  eye  something  of  the 

shape  of  the  letter  Y,  or  perhaps  more  the  shape  of  the  houns  and  tongue 

•of  a  wagon. 

Tlie  turnpike  road  from  New-Market,  crossing  Masinutton  and  Bkie 

Ridge   into  the  county  of  (.'ulpcjicr,   is  hehl  as    })rivate  pi'opei'ty.       The 

•dweiling-hoiise  where  the  toll   is  rticei^ved  staods  oti  t!i(>  snmmit  of  Masi- 

Mi'itloii,  ir'.im   wliicli   riicji   (»(' i.MC  va!j.f,\s  of  *^,;ic   Noi't.li  aiid   Soutk  livers 


APPENDIX.  263 

presents  to  llie  delighted  vision  ot"  the  Iruveler  a  most  encliHiUliig  vieAV  of 
the  country  for  a  vast  distance.  The  Httle  thrifty  village  cf  Nevv-I\larket, 
with  a  great  number  of  iarms  and  their  various  im])rovemenls,  arc  seen 
in  full  relief.  On  the  east  side  of  the  mountain,  on  the  South  river  and 
Hawksbill  creek,  are  to  be  seen  a  number  fine  farms,  many  of  them  stud- 
den  with  handsome  brick  buildings.  L'pon  the  whole,  the  traveler  is  am- 
ply rewarded,  by  this  gratifying  sight,  lor  his  labor  and  fatigue  in  ascen- 
ding the  mountain,  which  is  said  to  be  two  miles  from  its  base  to  its 
summit.  There  is  a  considerable  depi'ession  where  the  road  crosses  at 
this  place,  called  Masinutton  gap. 

From  the  East  Fort  mountain,  at  a  point  nearly  o})po^ite  Woodstock, 
the  South  river  presents  to  the  eye  precisely  the  appearance  of  three  dis- 
tinct streams  of  water  crossing;  the  vallev  from  the  western  base  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  to  the  foot  of  the  Fort  mountain.  At  the  northern  end  of  the  West 
Fort  mountain,  from  an  eminence,  Winrdiester  can  be  distinctly  seen,  at  a 
distance  of  not  less  than  sixteen  miles,  air  measure,  and  a  great  portion 
of  the  county  of  Fiedeiick  can  be  overlooked  IVom  this  elevated  point. — 
There  is  also  an  elevated  point  about  fi^e  miles  south  of  Front  Royal, 
on  the  road  leading  from  thence  to  Luray,  from  which  there  is  a  most 
ravishino;  view  of  the  eastern  section  of  the  countv  of  Frederick,  and  the 
tops  of  the  mountains  bordering  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cohongoruton. 

After  leaving  this  eminence,  and  proceeding  southerly  towards  Lurav, 
from  the  undulatino-  form  of  the  country  between  the  South  river  and 
Blue  Ridge,  for  a  distance  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles,  it  appears  constant- 
ly to  the  traveler  as  if  he  were  nearly  appioaching  the  foot  of  a  consider- 
able mountain,  and  yet  there  is  none  to  cross  his  way.  The  South  river, 
for  seventy  or  eighty  miles  on  each  side,  affords  large  proportions  of  fine 
alluvial  lands — in  many  parts  of  it  first-iate  hi<i;h  lands,  which  are  genei"- 
ally  finely  improved,  and  owned  by  many  wealthy  and  highly  respectable 
pi-opiietors.  The  new  county  of  Page,  for  its  extent,  contains  as  much 
intrinsic  wealth  as  any  county  west  of  the  131ue  Ridge,  with  the  exception 
of  Jefferson. 

The  valley  of  the  North  river,  from  the  West  Fort  mountain  to  the 
eastern  base  of  the.  Little  North  mountain,  is  generally  fine  limestone 
land,  un(hdating,  and  finely  watered.  Tt  is  also  highlv  improved,  with  a 
density  of  population  perhaps  unequaled  by  any  section  of  Virginia  ;  and 
it  is  believed  there  is  more  cash  in  the  hands  of  its  citizens  than  in  any 
})art  of  the  state  for  the  same  extent. 

It  is  hardly  nc^^x'ssarv  to  state  that  the  three  counties  of  .fe/ferson, 
Berkeley  and  Frederick,  contain  a  greater  proportion  of  fertile  lands  than 
anv  otiier  section  of  the  state;  Init  unfortunately,  it  may  with  truth  be 
affirmed  that  it  is  a  badlv  watered  country.  There  are  many  neighbor- 
hoods in  which  nothing  like  a  spring  of  water  is  to  be  seen.  It  is  how- 
ever true,  that  there  are  manv  '(ww  large  limestone  sprinijs,  remarkable  for 
the  great  (piantitv  of  water  whicii  is  dischai ged  from  them.  But  nature 
appears  to  have  distributed  her  favors  in  this  respect  unequally. 

'I'he  r()uiiti(\s  of  Moru;an,  llam[)shire  and  Hardy,  are  remarkable  ff>r 
•iheir  mountains  and  fmo  freestone  water.  From  the  nuMintainou^  {•ha'*af- 
^Kjler  fW  \\\\<  ^ec*i'^n.  it  is  but  '^parM.'v  inhal»ited  in  many  pajis  oi  it.    Tlic 


"265  A'PPENJJIX 

SouUi  and  North  IjiaiicIiL'S  oi'  the  Coiioiii^orulon  (Potoiimc)  afrord  c&pi- 
sidenihle  quantities  ot"  as  fine  fertile  alliivial  land  as  anv  part  of  the  li.  S. 
Patterson's  creek  also  furnishes  a  consideiabte  body  of  fine  land.  CapoR 
river,  Lost  river,  and  Back  creek,  furnish  much  fine  land,  and  are  aU 
thickly  populated. 

The  western  part  of  Frederick,  Berkeley  and  Shenandoah,  include 
considerable  portions  of  laountainous  country.  The  Little  North  moun- 
tain commences  near  the  Cohongoruton,  having  Back  creek  valley  on  the 
west,  which  extends  about  thirtv-five  miles  into  the  interier,  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  creek.  This  mountain  runs  a  southerly  .course,  parallel 
u'ith  the  Great  North  mountain,  passing  through  the  three  counties  just 
jiientioned.  This  tract  of  mountain  land  is  comparatively  poor  and  un- 
productive. It  is,  however,  pretty  thickly  populated,  by  a  hardy  race 
of  people.  In  our  mountains  generally,  wherever  spots  of  arable  land 
are  to  be  found,  (which  are  chiefly  in  the  glens, J  there  scattered  settlers 
Are  to  be  found  also. 

East  of  the  Shenandoah  river  tJie  Blue  Ridge  is  thickly  populated,  and 
jTiany  fine  productive  farms  are  to  be  seen.  The  vast  quantity  of  loose 
•stone  thickly  scattered  over  the  surface  of -this  mountain,  one  would  be 
ready  to  believe,  v%'ould  deter  individuals  from  attempting  ;its  cultivation; 
but  it  is  a  common  saying  among  those  people,  that  if  they  can  only  ob- 
tain as  much  earth  as  will  cover  their  seed  grain,  the}'  are  ahvays  sure 
-of  good  crops. 

The  public  road  crosses  the  Blue  Bidge,  .from  the  South  river  valley 
into  the  county  of  Madison.  From  the  western  base  of  the  mountain  to 
to  the  summit,  it  is  said  to  be  five  miles.  On  the  t0()  of  the  mountain,  at 
this  place,  there  is  a  large  body  of  level  lahd,  covered  ahp.ost  exclusively 
with  large  chestnut  timber,  having  the  appearance  of  an  extensive 
swamp,  and  producing  great  quantities  of  the  skunk  cabbage.  But  little 
of  it  has  been  reclaimed  aitd  brought  into -cultivation.  It  produces  fine 
crops  of  grass,  rye,  cats,  potatoes  and  turnips  ;  but  it  is  said  to  be  entire- 
ly too  moist  for  the  production  of  wheat,  and  too  -cool  for  the  growth  of 
Indian  corn.  The  people  in  its  neighborhood  say  that  there  is  not  a 
week  throughout  the  spring,  summer  and  autumn,  without  plentiful  fid  Is 
of  rain,  and  abundant  snows  in  the  winter.  In  tlie  time  of  long  droughts 
on  each  side  o.f  the  mountain,  this  elevated  tract  of  eountrv  is  abundantly 
supplied  with  rains.  It  is  also  said,  that  from  this  great  height  nearly 
the  v»-hole  countv  of  Madison  can  be  seeru  .presentin<r  to  the  eye  a  most 
fascinating  and  delightful  view. 

•  On  the  summit  of  the  West  Fort  moui^taln,  about  fifteen  miles  south 
of  Woodstock,  there  is  also  a  small  tract  of  Jand,  remarkable  for  its  depth 
of  fine  rich  soil,  but  inaccessible  to  the  approach  of  man  with  implements 
of  husbandry.  This  tract  produces  immense  quantities  of  the  finest  chest- 
nut, though  from  the  great  dilHculty  of  ascending  the  mountain,  but  little 
benefit  is  tierived  from  it  to  the  neighboring  pe(){)le. 

In  our  western  mountains  small  bodies  of  limestone  lands  are  to  be 
met  with^  one  of  the  most;  remarkable  of  which  is  wliat  is  called  the 
"  r^ugar  Hills,"  pretty  high  up  the  Cedar -crrek  A-^llcy.  This  tract  is 
said  10  rojilain  four  or  five  hundred  acrcs^  and  lios  -iit  the  cabt^rn  base 


APPENDIX.  !2Y(? 

ttcf  Paddy's  iiiountain.  It  derives  its  name  Irom  two  causes  :  first,  \s-hcn 
discovered  it  was  covered  chietly  witli  the  sugar  maple  ;  and  .'•ecoudly, 
several  of  its  knobs  resemble  in  shape  the  sugar  loaf.  Its  soil  is  pecu-- 
liarly  adapted  to  the  production  of  wheat  of  the  fln<;st  quality,  of  which, 
let  the  seasons  be  as  they  may,  the  land  never  fails  to  produce  great 
crops,  which  generally  corriraan'ds  seven  or  eight  cents  per  bushel  more 
than  any  other  wheat  grown  in  its  rreighboihood.  The  Hessian  fly  has 
not  yet  been  known  to  injure  the  crops  while  growing. 

Paddy's  mountain  is  a  branch  of  the  Great  North  mountain,  and  is 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  long.  It  takes  rts  irame  from  an  Irish- 
man, w^hose  name  was  Patrick  Black,  who  iirst  settled  at  what  is  now 
called  Paddy's  gap  in  this  mountain.  'Iliis  fact  was  eomniunieated  to 
tJjL'  auihtri-  by  Moiigs  Russell,  Esq. 

11.. 

> 
NATURAL  ClTRIOSIii£S. 

It  would  require  perhaps  several  volumes  to  give  a  minrite  description 
of  all  the  natural  and  interesting  curiosities  of  our  country.  The  inquisi- 
tive indivichial  can  scarcely  travel  more  than  a  mile  or  two  in  any  direc- 
tion among  our  mountains,  but  some  sublime  and  grand  work  of  nature 
presents  itself  to  the  eye,  which  excites  his  wonder  and  admiration. — 
The  author  must  therefore  content  himself  with  a  brief  des^riplion  of 
comparatively  a  few  of  the  most  remarkable.  He  will  conmience  his 
narrative  with  Harpers-Ferry.  This  wonderful  Vv'ork  of  nature  has  been 
so  accurately  described  by  Mr.  .Jefferson,  that  it  is  deemed  unnecessary 
to  give  a  detailed  description  of  it.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  no  stranger 
can  look  at  the  passage  of  the  waters  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah,, 
rushing  Ihiough  the  yawning  gap  of  the  mountain,  without  feeling  awe  at 
the  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  the  scene,  and  ready  to  prostrate  himself 
in  adoration  belbre  that  omnipotent  God  whose  almiglity  arm  liath  made 
all  tilings  according  to  his  own  wisdom  and  power. 

it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  a  Captain  Herny,  dining  the  atlministra- 
tion  of  the  elder  Adams  in  1799,  when  what  was  called  the  provisional 
army  was  laising,  ami  a  part  of  which  was  stationed  at  Harpers-Ferry, 
greatly  injured  one  of  the  most  interesting  curiosities  of  this  place.  A 
rock  of  (extraordinary  shape  and  of  considerable  size  stands  on  the  brink 
of  a  high  hill,  on  the  south  side  of  the  tung  or  point  of  land  immediately 
In  the  Ibrk  of  the  river.  The  apex  of  this  rock  was  a  broad  Hat  table, 
supported  on  a  pivot,  on  which  Mr,  Jcflerson,  during  his  visit  to  this 
pliice,  inscribt'il  his  name,  from  which  it  took  Ihe  name  of  Jefferson's 
rock. 

The  years  179S  and  1799  were  a  period  of  extraorfilnary  political  ex- 
citement. The  two  great  political  parties,  federal  and  democratic,  of  our 
country,  were  at  this  perio«l  completely  organised,  and  an  interesttng 
struggle  for  which  party  shoidd  have  the  ascendancy  was  carried  on. — 
This  same  C\ipt.  Henry,  whetijer  adapted  by  the  same  motive  M'hich  im- 
pfcUed  the  Macedonian   youth  to   murder  Pidlip  his   king,   or  wheth«»r  h*p 


271  APPKNDIX, 

hoped  to  ncquirc  popularity  \vitii  his  party,  (he  calTIno- liinyself  a  federalist,) 
or  whether  from  motives  purely  hostile  towards  My.  JelTerson  *<iiid  jiIl  the 
democratic  party,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  baud  of  soldiers,  ami 
with  the  aid  of  his  myrmidons,  hurled  off  the  apex  of  this  rock,  thu* 
wantonly,  and  to  say  the  least,  unwisely  destroying  the  greatest  beauty 
of  this  extraordinary  work  of  nature.  By  this  illiberal  and  unwise  act, 
Capt.  Henry  has  "condemned  his  name  to  everlasting  fame." 

CAVES  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  JEFFF.aSON. 

About  seven  or  eight  miles  above  Haq)oi-s-Ferry,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Shenandoah,  nearly  opposite  the  Shannonchde  springs,  from  a  quarter 
to  a  half  mile  from  the  river,  a  limestone  cave  has  been  discovered,  which 
contains  several  beautiful  incrustations  or  stalactites  Ibrmed  from  the  fil- 
tration of  the  water. 

Near  Mecklenburg,  (Shepherdstewn,)  another  cave  has  been  fountl, 
out  of  which  considerable  quantities  of  hydraulic  limestone  is  taken,  ami 
when  calcined  or  reduced  to  lime,  is  found  to  make  a  cement  little  if  any 
inferior  to  plaster  of  paris.  Out  of  this  cave  a  concreted  limestone  was 
taken,  which  the  author  saw^  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Boteler  of  Shep- 
herdstown,  wdiich  at  first  view  presents  to  the  eye,  in  shape,  a  striking 
resemblance  to  that  of  a  fish  of  considerable  size.  A  smaller  one  was- 
found  at  the  some  time,  which  has  a  strong  resemblance  to  a  mink. — ^ 
Several  intelligent  individuals  were  induced  to  believe  they  were  genuine, 
petrifactions. 

CAVES    IN    THE    COUNTY    OF    FREDERICK. 

In  the  county  of  Frederick  are  to  be  seen  five  or  six  of  those  caves. — 
Zane's  cave,  now  on  the  lands  owned  by  th(!  heirs  of  the  late  ]\Ta).  James 
Bean,  is  the  one  described  by  the  late  Mr-  Jefferson,  in  his  "  Notes  on 
Virginia."  This  cave  the  author  partially  explored  al)out  eighteen 
months  ago,  but  found  it  too  fatiguing  to  pursue  his  examination  to  any 
extent.  The  natural  beauty  of  this  place  has  of  late  years  been  greatly 
injured  from  the  smoke  of  the  numerous  pine  torches  used  to  light  it. — 
Ail  the  incrustations  and  spars  are  greatly  darkened,  giving  the  cfi\c.  a 
somber  and  dull  appearance.  The  author  was  informed,  on  his  visit  to- 
this  place,  that  Maj.  Bean,  shortly  before  his  death,  cut  ord:  several  of 
the  spars,  reduced  them  to  linie,  sprinkled  it  over  some  of  his  growing 
crops,  and  found  that  it  produced  all  the  effects  of  gypsum. 

On  the  lands  late  the  residence  of  Captain  Edward  McGuire,  dec'd, 
is  another  cave  of  some  considerable  extent ;  but  its  incrustations  and 
spars  are  of  a  muddy  yellowish  color,  and  not  considered  a  very  interes- 
ting curiosity. 

Adjoining  the  lands  of  Mr.  James  Way,  the  former  residence  of  the 
late  Col.  C.  M.  Thruston,  an  extensive  cave  of  very  singular  and  curious 
formation  was  discovered  many  years  ago.  On  exploring  it  with  the  aid 
of  a  pocket  compass,  the  needle  was  found  running  to  every  part  of  it. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  some  two  or  three  miles 
below  Berry's  Ferry,  at  :he  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  a  cave  of  considera- 
te extent  has  been  discoveredj  containing  several  curiosities.     About  t.w6~" 


APPENDIX.  272 

miles  below  this  cave  on  the  same  side  of  the  river,  is  to  be  seen  what 
was  anciently  called  Redman's  fishery.  At  the  base  of  a  rock  a  large 
subterraneous  stream  of  water  is  discharged  into  the  river.  At  the  ap- 
proach of  winter  myriads  of  fish  make  their  way  into  this  subterraneous 
stream,  and  take  up  their  winter  quarters.  In  the  spring  they  return  into 
the  river.  By  placing  a  fish-basket  in  the  mouth  of  the  cavern,  great 
€[uantities  of  fine  fresh-w^ater  fish  are  taken,  both  in  the  autumn  and  spring 
of  the  year.  The  author  recollects  being  at  this  place  upwards  of  fifty 
years  ago,  just  after  Mr.  Redman  had  taken  up  his  fish-basket,  and  can 
safely  affirm,  that  he  dre\v  out  of  the  water  from  two  to  three  bushels  of 
fish  at  a  single  haul. 

On  Crooked  run,  near  Bethel  meeting  house,  on  the  lands  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Stephen  Grubb,  is  a  limestone  cave,  which  the  author  has  more 
than  once  been  in.  It  does  not  exceed  one  hundred  yards  in  length,  and 
is  remarkable  only  for  its  production  of  saltpetre,  and  preserving  fresh 
meats  in  hot  weather. 

The  Panther  cave,  on  the  north  bank  of  Cedar  creek,  owned  by  Major 
Isaac  Hite,  about  a  half  or  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  the  great  high- 
way from  Winchester  to  Staunton,  is  a  remarkable  curiosity.  Nature 
has  here  formed  a  most  beautiful  and  solid  upright  wall  of  gray  limestone 
rock,  of  about  one  hundred  yards  in  length,  near  the  west  end  of  w^hich 
is  to  be  seen  an  elegant  arch,  of  about  sixty  feet  in  front,  ten  or  twelve 
feet  high  in  the  center,  and  extending  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  under  the 
body  of  the  wall.  There  are  two  circular  apertures  running  into  the  body 
of  the  rock  from  the  arch,  one  about  twelve  inches  in  diameter,  the  other 
somewhat  smaller.  Whether  these  openings  do  or  do  not  lead  into  large 
apartments  or  caverns  in  the  body  of  the  rock,  is  not  and  probably  never 
will  be  known.  Tradition  relates  that  at  the  early  settlement  of  the 
country  this  place  was  known  to  be  the  haunt  and  habitation  of  tlie  pan- 
ther, from  which  it  derives  its  name. 

We  have  two  natural  w-ells  in  this  county ;  one  at  what  is  called  the 
Dry  marsh,  a  drain  of  the  Opequon,  about  two  miles  east  of  the  creek, 
not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  road  leading  from  Winches- 
ter to  Berryville.  This  natural  well  in  dry  seasons  furnishes  several  con- 
tiguous families  with  water.  It  is  formed  by  a  natural  circular  opening 
in  an  apparently  solid  limestone  rock.  Its  walls  are  undulatinix,  and  in 
times  of  dry  seasons  the  water  sinks  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet  below 
the  surface,  but  at  all  times  furnishes  abundant  suppHes.  In  the  winter, 
no  matter  how  great  the  degree  of  cold,  small  fish  are  frequently  drawn 
up  with  the  water  from  the  well.  In  times  of  freshets,  the  water  rises 
above  the  surfiice,  and  discharges  a  most  beautiful  current  for  several 
weeks  at  a  time.  Tradition  relates  that  this  well  was  discovered  at  the 
first  settlement  of  the  neighborhood. 

The  other  natural  well  is  the  one  described  by  Mr.  Jefiprson.  This 
natural  curiosity  first  made  its  appearance  on  the  breaking  up  cif  the  liard 
winter  nf  1789-80.  All  the  old  people  of  our  country  doul)tless  recollect 
tlie  great  falls  of  snow  and  severity  of  this  remarkable  winter.  The  au- 
UiOr  was  born,  and  lived  with  iiis  father's  family  until  he  was  about  thir- 


273  APPENDIX. 

teen  years  of  age^  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  this  natural  well.-— — 
The  land  at  that  period  was  owned  by  the  late  Feilding  Lewis,  of 
Fredericksburg,  Va,,  but  is  now  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Mr.  Thomas  Castleman,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Berryville,  Nature  had 
here  formed  a  circular  sink  of  a  depth  of  some  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet, 
and  fifty  or  sixty  feet  in  diameter  at  the  surface.  In  the  spring  of  the 
year  1780,  the  earth  at  the  bottom  of  this  sink  suddenly  gave  way  and 
fell  into  the  cavity  below,  forming  a  circular  aperture  about  the  ordinary 
circumference  of  a  common  artificial  well.  It  was  soon  discovered  that 
a  subterraneous  stream  of  water  passed  under  the  bottom.  There  being 
no  artificial  or  natural  means  to  prevent  the  earth  immediately  about  the 
well  from  falling  in,  the  aperature  is  greatly  enlarged,  farming  a  sloping 
bank,  by  which  a  man  on  foot  can  easily  descend  within  eight  of  ten  feet 
of  the  water.  The  current  of  water  is  quite  perceptible  to  the  eye.  The 
whole  depth  of  the  cavity  is  thirty  or  thirty-five  feet. 

CAVES    IN    THE    COUNTY    OF    SHENANDOAH, 

Within  two  or  three  miles  of  Woodstock,  on  the  lands  of  the  late 
William  Payne,  Esq.,  is  an  extensive  cavern,  which  it  is  said  has  never 
yet  been  explored  to  its  termination.  It  contains  many  curious  incrus- 
tations, stalactites,  &c.  From  the  mouth  of  this  cave  a  constant  current 
of  cold  air  is  discharged,  and  the  cavern  is  used  by  its  owners  as  a  place 
to  preserve  their  fresh  meats  in  the  hottest  s-easons  of  the  year. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  South  fork  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  three  or  four 
miles  south  of  Front  Roya^,  there  are  two  caves  but  a  short  distance 
apart,  whith,  like  all  other  caves,  contain  beautiful  curiosities.  One  of 
them  many  years  ago  was  visited  and  explored  by  the  late  celebrated 
John  Randolph  of  Roanoke;  but  the  author  has  never  been  able  to  learn 
whether  he  committed  to  writing  his  observations  upon  it.  One  of  its 
greatest  curiosities  is  an  excellent  representation  of  the  hatter's  kettle. 

Within  about  three  miles  north-west  of  Mt.  Jaekson,  Shaffer's  cave  is 
situated.  It  has  been  explored  about  half  a  mile.  It  is  not  very  re- 
markable for  its  production  of  natural  curiosities.  Tradition  relates  an 
amusing  story  in  connection  with  it.  A  very  large  human  skeleton  was 
many  years  ago  found  in  this  cavern,  the  skull  bone  of  v/hich  a  neighbor- 
ing man  had  the  curiosity  to  take  to  his  dwelling  house.  This  aroused 
the  ghost  of  the  dead  man,  who,  not  being  pleased  with  the  removal  of 
his  head,  very  soon  appeared  to  the  depredator  and  harassed  him  until  he 
became  glad  to  return  the  skull  to  its  former  habitation.  The  ghost 
then  became  appeased  and  ceased  his  visits.  It  is  said  that  there  are 
many  persons  to  this  day  in  the  neighborhood,  who  most  religiously  be- 
lieve that  the  ghost  did  really  and  truly  compel  the  offender  to  return  his 
skulL  The  author  saw  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Wetherall,  of  Mt.  Jack- 
son, one  of  the  arm  bones  of  this  skeleton,  that  part  extending  from  the 
shoulder  to  the  elbow,  which  was  remarkable  for  its  thickness,  but  w^as 
not  of  very  uncommon  length.  At  that  time  he  had  not  been'  visited  by 
the  ghost  to  demand  his  arm  ;  but  perhaps  he  was  not  so  tenacious  of  it 
as  he  was  of  his  head,- 

In  the  county  of  Page,  within  about  three  miles  of  Luray,  a  -rave,  but 


APPENDIX.  274 

little  inferior  to  Weyer's  cave,  was  some  years  ago  discovered,  a  gra})hic 
description  of  which  was  written  by  W.  A.  Harris,  Esq.,  and  published 
in  the  Woodstock  Sentinel  of  the  Valley,  and  copied  pretty  generally 
throughout  the  Union. 

EBBING    A^D    FLOWING    SPRINGS. 

Pretty  high  up  Cedar  creek  there  is  a  beautiful  spring  of  clear  moun- 
tain water,  issuing  from  the  western  side  of  the  Little  North  mountain,  in 
a  glen,  which  ebbs  and  flows  twice  in  every  twenty-four  hours.  It  rises 
at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  ebbs  at  four  in  the  evening.  It  is  in 
a  perfect  state  of  nature,  has  considerable  fall  immediately  from  its  mouth, 
so  that  it  cannot  conveniently  be  ascertained  precisely  what  is  its  greatest 
rise  and  fall.  When  the  author  saw  it  it  was  down,  and  he  could  not 
conveniently  spare  the  time  to  wait  to  see  it  rise.  But  the  author's  in- 
formant (Mr.  J.  Bond)  went  with  him  to  the  spring,  and  assured  him 
that  he  has  repeatedly  seen  it  rise.  The  author  is  also  informed  tiiat 
there  is  a  salt  sul])hur  spring,  on  the  land  late  the  property  of  Mr.  John 
Lee,  but  a  short  distance  from  where  the  Staunton  stage  road  crosses 
Cedar  creek,  which  has  a  dairy  erected  over  it.  The  respectable  widow 
of  Mr.  Lee  informed  the  author  that  this  spring  ebbs  and  flows  twice  in 
every  twenty-four  hours,  and  that  if  care  is  not  particularly  taken  at  ev- 
ery flow,  its  current  is  so  strong  as  to  overset  the  vessels  of  milk  placed 
in  the  water. 

FALLING    RUN. 

Some  thirteen  or  fourteen  miles  south-west  of  Winchester,  and  within 
about  two  miles  of  the  residence  of  Moses  Russell,  Esq.,  in  the  county 
of  Frederick,  is  to  be  seen  what  is  called  the  Falling  run.  Between  what 
the  neighboring  people  call  Falling  ridge  (the  commencement  of  Paddy's 
mountain)  and  the  Great  North  mountain,  pretty  near  the  summit,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  mountain,  a  fine  large  spring  rises,  forming  a  beauti- 
ful lively  stream  of  sufficient  force  to  work  a  grist  mill.  This  stream  pur- 
sues its  serpentine  course  thro'  a  glen  several  hundred  yards  in  wiilth,  of 
gradual  descent,  between  the  mountain  and  Falling  ridge.  Pursuing  its 
course  in  a  northerly  direction  from  its  fountain,  for  about  one  and  a  half 
miles,  it  makes  a  pretty  sudden  turn  to  the  east,  and  shoots  over  a  solid 
granite  rock  probably  not  less  than  one  hundred  feet  high,  '^he  first 
eighteen  or  twenty  feet  of  the  rock  over  which  the  water  passes  is  a  little 
sloping,  over  which  the  water  spreads  and  covers  a  surface  of  fifteen  or 
sixteen  feet,  from  whence  the  fall  is  entirely  perpendicular,  and  strikes  on 
a  mass  of  solid  rock  ;  it  then  forms  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degress, 
rushing  and  foaming  over  an  undulating  suiface  of  about  ninety  or  one 
liundred  feet;  from  thence  is  a  third  fall  of  about  the  same  length,  and 
then  pitches  into  a  hole  of  considerable  depth ;  from  thence  it  escapes 
down  a  more  gradual  descent,  and  suddenly  becomes  a  gentle,  smooth, 
placid  current,  as  it"  it  is  })lease(l  to  rest  I'rom  the  violent  agitations  and  tur- 
moils through  which  it  had  just  j)asse(l.  Al  the  first  base  reached  l)y  the 
water,  a    perpetual  mist  arises,   wliicli,   viewed   on  a  clear  sunshiny  day. 


275  APPENDIX. 

presents    to  the  eye  a  most  interesting  and  beautiful  sight.       Tlie  whok 
fall  is  little  if  any  less  than  three  hundred  feet. 

A  short  distance  to  the  south  of  this  place,  at  the  junction  of  the  Fall- 
ing ridge  with  the  North  mountain,  is  to  be  seen  wha^  the  neighboring 
people  call  ^'th&  Pinnacle."  The  apex  of  this  pinnacle  is  a  flat,  broad 
table,  supported  on  a  pivot,  and  can  be  set  in  motion  by  the  hands  of  a 
man,  and  will  continue  to  vibrate  for  several  minutes.  There  are  several 
small  caverns  in  this  rock,  and  it  is  known  to  be  the  abode  of  the  turkey- 
buzzards  in  the  vrinter,  where  they  remain  in  a  state  of  torpitude.  Mr. 
Russell  informed  the  author  that  he  once  took  out  a  torpid  buzzard  in  the 
winter,  laid  it  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  rock,  and  it  very  soon  regained 
life  and  motion. 

TROUT    POND^ 

In  the  county  of  Hardy,  about  eight  or  nine  miles  south  of  the  late 
residence  of  James  Sterrelt,  Esq.  deceased,  and  a  little  east  of  Thornbot- 
tora,  is  situated  a  most  beautiful  miniature  lake,  called  the  Trout  pond. 
A  large  spring  rises  near  the  summit  of  the  Great  North  mountain,  de- 
scending on  the  west  side  into  a  deep  glen,  between  the  mountain  and  a 
very  high  ridge  immediately  east  of  Thornbottom,  in  which  glen  nature 
has  formed  a  receptacle  of  unknown  depth  for  this  stream  of  water.  This 
stream  forms  an  area  of  about  one  and  a  half  acres,  nearly  an  oblong 
square.  Nature  never  presented  to  the  eye  a  more  perfectly  beautiful 
sheet  of  water.  It  is  as  transparent  as  crystal,  and  abounds  with  fine 
trout  fish. 

The  late  Col.  Taverner  Beale,  upwards  of  forty  years  ago,  described 
this  place  to  the  author,  and  stated  that  he  could  safely  affirm  that  he  believ- 
ed he  had  seen  ten  thousand  trout  at  a  single  view  in  this  pond.  Col.  Beale 
also  informed  the  author  that  himself  and  a  friend  of  his  once  made  a  raft, 
and  floated  to  the  centre  of  the  pond,  where  they  let  down  a  plumb  and  line, 
(the  author  does  not  now  recollect  the  length  of  the  line,  though,  it  was 
certainly  not  less  than  forty  feet,)  but  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  the 
bottom.  A  Mr.  Gochenour,  who  resides  near  this  place,  informed  the 
author  that  he  had  heard  it  was  fathomed  many  years  ago,  and  was  found 
to  be  sixtv  feet  deep,  but  did  not  knou'  the  certainty  or  truth  of  this 
report.  The  water  is  discharged  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  pond, 
aid  after  descendinr  about  two  miles,  works  a  saw  mill,  and  thirty  or 
f  )rty  yards  from  the  mill  falls  into  a  sink  and  entirely  disappears.  This 
sink  is  in  the  €dge  of  I'hornbottom,  a  pretty  narrow  strip  of  limestone 
land,  which  aflbrd??  between  the  mountains  a  residence  for  four  or  five 
families,  each  of  whom  has  a  fine  spring  of  water,  all  which,  after  run- 
ning a  short  distance,  also  disappear.  7'he  stream  of  water  from  the 
pond,  doubtless  considerablv  increased  bv  the  waters  of  Thornbottom, 
again  appears  at  the  northern  termination  of  a  very  high  ridge  called 
*'the  Devil's  garden.^''  It  bursts  out  in  one  of  the  finest  and  largest  springs 
the  author  has  ever  seen.  b  is  said  that  this  subterranean  passage  of 
ihe  water  is  fully  eight  miles  in  lenn;th.  This  spring  is  within  about  one 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  Mr.  iSterrctt\s  dwelling  liouse,  an«i  forms  a  beauti- 


APPENDIX.  276 

fill  stream  of  water  called  Trout  run,  wliicli  i«  a  valublc  tributary  of  the 
Capon  rirer. 

*'The  devil's  garden"  is  truly  a  "wonderful  work  of  nature.  Be- 
tween two  lofty  ridges  of  the  Sandy  ridge  and  North  mountain  ?i  strip 
of  ground,  about  a  mile  in  width,  commences  rising  gently  from  the  head 
of  Trout  run,  and  pursues  its  regular  ascent  for  three  miles,  when  it  ab- 
ruptly terminates,  at  its  southern  extremity,  in  a  vast  pile  of  granite  rocks, 
having  a  perpendicular  height  of  some  four  or  live  hundred  feet.  This 
immense  pile  is  entirely  separated  from  and  independent  of  its  neighbor- 
ing mountains,  having  a  vast  chasm  on  its  two  sides  and  southern  ter- 
mination. At  its  south  end  it  is  covered  with  nearly  level  rocks,  forming 
a  floor  of  about  an  acre.  This  floor  is  curiously  marked  with  fissures  on 
the  surface  of  various  distances  apart.  On  the  eastern  side  stands  a 
statue,  or  perhaps  it  may  more  appropriately  be  called  a  bust,  about  sev- 
en feet  high  :  the  head,  neck  and  shoulders  bear  a  stroncr  resemblance  to 
those  of  a  man,  and  from  the  breast  downwards  it  gradually  enlarges  in 
size  from  two  and  a  half  to  three  feet  in  diameter.  It  is  whhout  arms. — 
It  stands  on  a  level  table  of  rock,  is  of  a  dark  color,  and  presents  to  the 
eye  a  frowning,  terrific  appearance.  When  this  singular  curiosity  was 
»first  discovered,  some  superstitious  people  concluded  it  was  the  image 
of  the  Devil ;  and  hence  the  name  of  "  The  Devil's  garden."  Near  his 
Satanic  majesty  anciently  stood  a  four-square  stone  pillar,  of  about  two 
and  a  half  feet  diameter,  and  ten  or  twelve  feet  high.  This  pillar  is  broken 
off  at  its  base,  crosses  a  chasm,  and  reclines,  something  in  the  form  of  an 
arch,  against  the  opposite  rock. 

About  one  hundred  feet  below  the  stand  of  the  statue,  a  door  lets  into 
numerous  caverns  in  the  rock,  the  first  of  which  forms  a  handsome  room 
of  moderate  size,  the  floors  above  and  below  being  tolerably  smooth  and 
level.  From  this  room  there  is  a  handsome  flight  of  stone  steps  ascend- 
ing into  a  room  of  larger  size,  until  twelve  different  apartments  are  pass- 
ed through,  and  then  reaches  the  top  of  the  rocks.  The  late  Mr.  Sterrett, 
in  riding  with  the  author  to  view  this  extraordinary  work  of  nature,  said 
that  it  was  difficult  for  an  old  man  1o  get  access  to  the  inlet,  o[  course  I 
did  not  attempt  it.  Mr.  Babb,  who  resides  in  its  neighborhood,  informed 
the  author  that  he  had  frequently  explored  the  cavern  ;  and  the  youne^ 
people  of  the  neighborhood,  male  and  female,  frequently,  in  j)arties  of 
pleasure,  visit  and  pass  through  its  various  apartments.. 

LOST    RIVLR. 

Here  again  the  eye  is  ])resentrd  with  another  evidence  of  the  all-pow- 
erful arm  of  Cod  !  'J1iis  river  heads  in  several  small  springs,  on  a  high 
ridgo  of  land  near  Brock's  gap,  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  North 
fork  of  the  Shenandoah  from  the  waters  of  the  Lost  river.  This  water 
course  meanders  through  a  beautiful  valley  of  fine  alluvi-al  Innd,  a  distance 
of  about  twenty-live  miles.  (^n  its  west  side,  some  ten  or  twelve  miles 
below  its  head  springs,  is  a  cavern  at  the  eastern  base  of  "  host  riveV 
mountain,"  which  has  been  explored  about  one  hundred  yards  (some  sav 
more)  from  itj<  montli.  Overth^  inlet  is  a  handsomely  turned  arrh  twelve 
or  fourteen  feet  wide,   and  six  or  jeven  high.       i-'rom  this  cavern  is  dis- 


^ 


C77  APPENDIX. 

charged  a  stream  of  bcauliiul  water,  remarkable  for  its  degree  of  coldness. 
It  is  called  "the  cold  spring'  cave."  The  mouth  of  this  cave  effectually 
preserves  fresh  meats  of  every  kind  from  injury  in  the  hottest  seasons. — 
This  cave  exhibits  but  few  curiosities. 

Some  ten  or  twelve  miles  further  down,  the  river  comes  in  contact 
with  Lost  river  mountain,  (which  is  of  considerable  magnitude,)  has  cut 
its  way  through  the  mountain,  and  about  two  miles  further  down  has  to 
encounter  a  second  mountain  called  Timber  ridge,  through  which  it  has 
forced  its  way,  and  one  and  a  half  or  two  miles  further  has  to  contend 
with  Sandy  ridge,  a  mountain  of  considerable  height  and  width.  Here 
the  water  and  mountain  appear  to  have  a  mighty  struggle  for  the  ascen- 
dency. In  flood  times,  Mrs.  River,  despising  all  obstructions,  forces  her 
way  through  a  yawning,  frowning  chasm.  But  at  times  of  low  water, 
when  her  ladyship  is  less  powerful,  his  giantship,  the  mountain,  defies  all 
her  power  to  remove  a  huge  mass  of  adamantine  rocks,  which  obstructs 
her  passage  in  the  gap;  but  to  remedy  this  evil,  Mrs.  River  has  adroitly 
and  cunningly  undermined  the  mountain,  formed  for  herself  a  subterrane- 
ous passage,  and  generously  supplied  her  sister  Capon  with  all  the  water 
she  has  to  spare.  It  is  impossible  for  the  inquisitive  eye  to  view  this 
mighty  work  of  nature  without  being  sti'uck  w^ith  the  idea  of  the  greati 
obstruction  and  mifyhty  difhculty  this  water  had  to  contend  with  in  for- 
cing  a  passage  through  this  huge  mountain.  The  author  viewed  this 
place  with  intense  interest  and  curiosty.  At  the  western  base  of  the 
mountain,  the  water  has  found  various  apertures,  one  of  which  is  under 
the  point  of  a  rock,  of  seven  or  eight  feet  wide,  which  exppears  to  be  the 
largest  inlet.  For  the  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  sink, 
not  a  drop  of  water  is  to  be  seen  in  times  of  drought.  There  are  several 
large  springs  which  issue  from  the  mountain  in  the  gap,  forming  a  small 
stream,  which  always  runs  through  it.  The  water  of  the  river  has  a  sub- 
terraneous passage  of  full  three  miles,  and  is  discharged  in  several  very 
large  springs  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  mountain.  These  several  springs 
form  the  great  fountain  head  of  Capon  river. 

An  old  man  and  his  son,  (their  names  not  recollected,)  whose  dwelling 
is  very  near  the  sink,  related  a  very  singular  occurrence  which  they  rep- 
resented as  having  happened  a  few  days  before  the  author's  visit  to  this 
place.  They  stated  that  several  dogs  were  in  pursuit  of  a  deer  on  the 
mountain — that  the  deer  ran  to  the  brink  of  a  rock,  at  least  one  hundred 
feet  high,  which  is  very  near  the  sink,  and  the  poor  animal  being  pretty 
closely  pursued,  leaped  from  the  rock,  and  falling  on  a  very  rough,  stony 
surface,  was  terribly  crushed  and  bruised  by  the  fall,  and  instantly  expired. 
They  immediately  ran  to  it  and  opened  the  large  veins  in  the  neck,  but 
little  blood  was  discharged.  They  took  off  the  skin  and  cut  up  the  flesh; 
but  most  parts  of  it  were  so  much  bruised  and  mangled  as  to  be  unfit  for 
use. 

Capon  river  exhibits  several  great  natural  curiosities.  Near  its  head 
waters  is  a  rock  called  "the  Alum  rock,"  from  which  exudes  native  alum, 
and  forms  a  beautiful  incrustation  on  its  face,  which  the  neighboring 
people  collect  in  small  quantitie:-,  but  often  sufiicient  for  their  domestic 
Durnoscs  of  btainin^"  their  cloth?. 


APPENDIX.  278 

About  two  miles  above  the  forks  of  this  river  is  situated  "Caiuly's  cas- 
tle," a  most  stupendous  work  of  nature.  It  is  said  by  tradition  that  in 
the  time  of  the  w^ars  between  the  white  and  red  people,  a  man  by  the 
name  of  James  Caudy,  more  than  once  took  shelter  on  the  rock  from  the 
pursuit  of  the  Indians,  from  whence  its  name.  It  consists  of  a  fragment 
of  the  mountain,  separated  from  and  independent  of  the  neighboring 
mountains,  forming,  as  it  were,  a  half  cone,  and  surroundecl  with  a 
yawning  chasm.  Its  eastern  base,  w^ashcd  by  the  Capon  river,  rises  ta 
the  majestic  height  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  or  five  hundred  feet,  while 
its  eastern  side  is  a  solid  mass  of  granite,  directly  perpendicular.  A  line 
drawn  round  its  base  probably  would  not  exceed  one  thousand  on  twelve 
hundred  yards.  From  its  w^estern  side  it  may  be  ascended  by  a  man  on 
foot  to  v/ithin  about  ninety  or  one  hundred  feet  of  its  summit.  From 
thence  the  rock  suddenly  shoots  up  something  in  the  form  of  a  comb, 
which  is  about  ninety  or  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  eight  or  ten  feet  iih 
thickness,  and  runs  about  north  and  south.  On  the  eastern  face  of  the 
rock,  from  where  the  comb  is  approached,  a  veiy  narrow  undulating  path 
is  formed,  by  pursuing  w^hich,  active  persons  can  ascend  to  its  summit. 
The  author  called  on  Mr.  John  Largent,  (from  wdiom  he  received  much 
kindness  and  attention,)  and  requested  Mr.  L.  to  be  his  pilot,  which  re- 
fluest  was  readily  acceded  to,  Mr.  L.'s  residence  is  less  than  half  a  mile 
from  the  spot.  In  his  company  the  author  undertook  to  ascend  this  aw- 
ful precipice.  Along  the  path  a  few^  laurel  shrubs  have  grown  out  of  the 
fi-ssures  of  the  rock.  With  the  aid  of  the  shrubbery,  the  author  succeeded 
in  following  Mr.  Largent  until  they  reached  within  twenty  or  twenty-five- 
feet  of  the  summit,  where  they  found  a  flat  table,  four  or  five  feet  square, 
on  which  a  pine  tree  of  five  or  six  inches  diameter  has  grown  some  ten  or 
twelve  feet  high.  This  afforded  a  convenient  resting  place.  By  sup- 
porting myself  with  one  arm  around  the  body  of  the  tree,  and  a  cane  in» 
the  other  hand,  I  ventured  several  times  to  look  down  the  precipice,  but 
it  produced  a  disagreeable  giddiness  and  painful  sensation  of  the  eyes. — - 
From  this  elevated  situation  an  extensive  view  of  what  is  called  the  white 
mountain  presents  itself  for  a  considerable  distance,  on  the  east  side  of 
Capon  river.  The  beautiful  whiteness  of  this  mountain  is  produced  by  a 
considerable  intermixture  of  fine  white  sand  with  the  rocks,  which  almost 
exclusively  form  the  west  side  of  Capon  mountain  for  se^-eral  miles. 

Nine  or  ten  miles  below  this  place,  in  a  deep  rugged  glen  tliree  or  four 
miles  east  of  Capon,  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  the  "Tea  table'^ 
is  to  be  seen,  than  which  nature  in  her  most  sportive  mood  has  seldom 
performed  a  more  beautiful  work.  This  table  presents  the  form  of  a 
m-an^'s  hat,  with  the  crown  turned  downwards.  The  stem  (if  it  may  be 
so  termed)  is  about  four  feet  diameter  and  about  four  feet  high.  An  oval 
brim,  some  seven  or  eight  feet  in  diameter,  and  seven  or  eight  inches 
thick,  is  formed  around  the  top  of  the  stem,  tlirongh  which  a  circular 
tube  arises,  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  in  diameter.  'I'hrougli  this  tube  a 
beautiful  stream  of  transparent  water  arises,  v^nd  reguhu'ly  flows  over  the"' 
whole  surface  of  this  large  brim,  presenting  to  the  eye  one.  of  the  mosf 
tveaiUiful  iountalns  in  nature's  works^ 


279  APPENDIX. 

ICE    MOUNTAIN. 

This  most  extraordinary  and  wonderful  work  of  God's  creation  certain** 
ly  deserves  the  highest  rank  in  the  history  of  the  natural  curiosities  of 
our  country.  This  mountain  is  washed  at  its  western  base  by  the  North 
river,  a  branch  of  the  Capon,  Jt  is  not  more  than  one  quarter  of  a  mile> 
north  of  the  residence  of  Christopher  Helskellj  Esq.,  at  North  river  mills, 
m  the  county  of  Hampshire,  twenty-six  miles  north-west  of  Winchester. 
The  west  side  of  this  mountain,  for  about  one  mile,  is  covered  with  loose 
stone  of  various  size,  many  of  which  are  of  a  diamond  shape.  It  is  pro- 
bably six  or  seven  hundred  feet  high,  very  steep,  and  presents  to  the  eye 
a  most  grand  and  sublime  spectacle. 

At  the  base  of  the  mountain,  on  the  western  side,  for  a  distance  of 
about  one  hundred  yards,  and  ascending  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet, 
on  removing  the  loose  stone,  which  is  easily  done  with  a  small  prise,  the 
most  perfectly  pure  and  crystal  looking  ice,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  is 
to  be  found,  in  blocks  of  from  one  or  two  pounds  to  fifteen  or  twenty  in 
weight.*  At  the  base  of  this  bed  of  ice  a  beautiful  spring  of  pure  water 
is  discharged,  which  is  by  many  degrees  colder  than  any  natural  spring 
water  the  author  has  ever  seen.  It  is  believed  that  its  natural  tempera- 
ture is  not  many  degrees  above  the  freezing  point.  Very  near  this  spring 
the  owner  of  the  property  has  removed  the  stone,  and  erected  a  small  log 
dairy,  for  the  preservation  of  his  milk,  butter,  and  fresh  meats.  When 
the  author  saw  this  little  building,  which  was  late  in  the  month  of  April, 
the  openings  between  the  logs,  (on  the  side  next  the  cavity  from  which 
the  stone  had  been  taken  out,)  for  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet  from  the 
floor  was  completely  filled  with  ice,  and  above  one  half  the  floor  was  cov- 
ered with  ice  several  inches  thick.  This  is  the  more  remarkable  from  its 
beinsj  a  known  fact  that  the  sun  shines  with  all  its  force  from  eio^ht  or 
nine  o  clock  in  the  morning  until  late  in  the  evening,  on  the  surface  cov- 
ering the  ice,  but  the  latter  defies  its  power.  Mr.  Deevers,  who  is  the 
ov^^ner  of  the  property,  informed  the  author  that  milk,  butter,  or  fresh 
meats  of  every  kind,  are  perfectly  safe  from  injury  for  almost  any  length  of 
time  in  the  hottest  weather.  If  a  fly  venture  in,  he  is  immediately  stif- 
fened with  the  cold  and  becomes  torpid.  If  a  snake  in  his  rambles  hap- 
pens to  pass  over  the  rocks  covering  the  ice,  he  soon  loses  all  motion, 
and  dies.  Christopher  Heiskeil,  Esq.  informed  the  author  that  several 
instances  had  occurred  of  the  snakes  beinj:  found  dead  amonof  the  rocks 
covering  the  ice.     An  intelligent  young  lady  at  the  same  time  stated  that 


*The  neighboring  people  assert,  that  at  the  setting  in  of  the  winter 
Season,  the  ice  commences  melting,  and  soon  disappears,  not  a  particle 
of  which  is  to  be  found  while  the  winter  remains.  If  this  be  true,  it  ren- 
ders this  place  still  more  remarkable  and  extraordinary.  The  order  of 
nature,  in  this  immediate  locality,  seems  to  be  reversed  :  iV^r,  when  it  is 
summer  all  around  this  sin^^i^^ar  spot,  here  it  is  covered  with  the  ice  of 
winter,  and  vice  versa.  We  cannot  account  for  this  effect,  except  the 
cause  be  some  chemical  laboratory  under  the  surface,  operating  from  the 
influence  oftlie  external  atu^jospliere,  but  in  opposition  to  it. 


APPENDIX.       ,  280 

she  had  seen  instances  of  this  character.  In  truth,  it  was  upon  her  first 
iSUi>;gesting  the  fact,  that  the  author  was  led  to  make  inquiry  of  Mr.  Heis- 
kelL  Mr.  Devers  stated  that  he  had  several  times  removed  torpid  flies 
from  his  dairy  into  a  more  temperate  atmosphere,  when  they  soon  recov- 
eied  life  and  motion  and  flew  off. 

Nature  certainly  never  formed  a  better  situation  for  a  fine  dairy  estab- 
lishment. But  it  will  probably  be  asked  by  some  persons,  where  is  the 
milk  to  come  from  to  furnish  it  ?  The  time  will  probably  come,  and 
perhaps  is  not  very  distant,  when  our  mountains  will  be  turned  to  good 
account.  Their  sources  of  wealth  are  not  yet  known  ;  but  the  spirit  of 
enterprise  and  industry  is  abroad,  and  the  present  generation  will  hardly 
pass  away  before  the  most  astonishing  changes  will  be  seen  in  every  part 
of  our  happy  country. 

THE    HANGING    ROCKS. 

These,  or,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  "  Blue's  Rocks,"  are  another 
^vonderful  work  of  nature.  They  are  situated  on  the  Wappatomaka, 
about  four  miles  north  of  Romney,  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of 
Hampshire.  The  author  has  several  times  viewed  this  place  with  exci- 
ted feelings  and  admiration.  The  river  has  cut  its  way  through  a  moun- 
tain probably  not  less  than  five  hundred  feet  high.  By  what  extraordina- 
ry agency  it  has  been  able  to  do  this,  it  is  impossible  conceive,  unless 
we  look  to  that  almighty  power  whose  arm  effects  all  his  great  objects  at 
pleasure.  On  the  east  side  of  the  river  is  a  huge  mass  of  rocks  which 
forms  a  perpendicular  wall  several  hundred  yards  in  length,  and  not  less 
than  three  hundred  feet  high.  The  opposite  point  of  the  mountain  is  more 
sloping,  and  may  be  ascended  by  a  man  on  foot.  On  the  top  of  the 
mountain  is  a  level  bench  of  land,  pretty  clear  of  stone,  and  fine  rich  soil^ 
upwards  of  one  hundred  yards  in  width ;  but,  from  the  difficulty  of  ap- 
proaching it,  it  remains  in  a  state  of  nature.  It  would,  if  it  could  be 
brought  into  cultivation,  doubtless  well  reward  the  husbandman  for  his 
labors. 

The  public  road,  leading  from  Romney  into  the  gi'eat  western  highway, 
passes  between  the  margin  of  the  river  and  the  great  natural  wall  formed 
by  the  rocks.  The  center  of  the  rocks  for  about  eighty  or  one  hundred 
yards,  is  composed  of  fine  gray  limestone,  while  on  each  sitle  are  the 
common  granite  mountain  stone. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  this  is  the  place  where  a  most  bloody 
battle  was  fought  between  contending  parties  of  the  Catawba  and  Dela- 
ware Indians,  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter  of  this  volume. 

One  other  natural  curiosity  remains  to  be  noticed,  and  that  is,  what  is 
cSled  the  "Butterfly  rocks."  These  rocks  arc  to  be  seen  in  Fry's  gap, 
on  Cedar  creek,  in  the  county  of  Frederick.  The  whole  mass  of  rucks 
are  intermixed  with  petrilied  flics,  of  various  sizes.  The  entire  shape  of 
the  win^i^s,  body,  legs,  head,  and  even  the  eyes  of  the  flies,  are  distinctly 
to  be  discovered.  The  rocks  are  of  deep  brown  color,  and  of  the  slate 
species. 

I'hr  author  will  (Conclude  this  section  witli  a  brief  notice  of  an  avalan- 

« 

Iv 


281  APPENDIX. 

die  or  mountain  slide,  which  he  has  omitted  to  notice  in  its  proper  place> 
In  the  month  of  June,  in  the  remarkable  wet  spring  and  summer  of  the 
year  1804,  during  a  most  tremendous  and  awful  flood  of  rain,  near  the 
summit  of  the  Little  North  mountain,  a  vast  column  of  water  suddenly 
gushed  from  the  eastern  side,  and  rapidly  descending,  with  its  tremen- 
dous current,  tore  away  every  tree,  of  whatever  size,  rocks  of  eight  or 
ten  tons  weight,  hurling  them  into  the  level  lands  below,  and  threatening 
desolation  and  destruction  to  everything  which  was  within  the  limits  of 
its  vortex.  In  its  passage  down  the  mountain  it  opened  a  chasm  from 
ten  to  fifty  yards  in  v/idth,  and  from  eight  or  ten  to  twelve  or  fifteen  feet 
in  depth.  The  farm' of  Mr.  David  Funkhouser,  which  the  flood  took  in 
its  course,  Avas  greatly  injured,  and  a  beautiful  meadow  covered  over 
with  the  wood,  stone,  and  other  rubbish.  The  flood  ran  into  tire  lower 
floor  of  his  dwellino'  house,  the  foundation  of  which  is  elevated  at  least 
three  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground.  This  rent  in  the  side  of  the 
mountain,  at  the  distance  of  five  or  six  miles,  presented  for  many  years 
the  appearance  of  a  very  wide  road.  It  is  now  grown  up  thickly  with 
young  pine  timber,  and  so  crowded  that  there  is  scarcely  room  for  a  man 
to  pass  bctwren  them. 


MEDICINAL    SPRINGS— WATERING    PLACES. 

Our  country  abounds  in  medical  waters.  Numerous  sulphur  springs  ex- 
ist, particularly  in  the  slate  lands  and  mountains.  Springs,  of  various 
qualities  of  water,  are  also  to  be  seen,  several  of  which  are  remarkable 
for  their  superior  virtues  in  the  cure  of  the  various  disorders  of  the  human 
body. 

It  is  not  within  the  plan  of  this  work  to  notice  all  the  medical  springs 
which  the  author  has  seen  and  heard  of.  He  will  content  himself  with  a 
brief  account  of  those  deemed  most  valuable,  beginning  with  Bath,  in 
the  county  of  Morgan. 

This  is  doubtless  the  most  ancient  watering  place  in  the  valley.  Tra- 
dition relates  that  those  springs  were  known  to  the  Indians  as  possessing 
valuable  medical  properties,  and  were  much  frequented  by  them.  They 
were  anciently  called  the  "  Berkeley  Warm  Springs,"  and  have  always 
kept  their  character  for  their  medical  virtues.  They  are  much  resorted  to 
not  only  for  their  value  as  medicinal  waters,  but  as  a  place  (in  the  season) 
of  recreation  and  pleasure.  Bath  has  become  a  considerable  village,  is 
the  seat  of  justice  for  Morgan  county,  and  has  several  stores  and  boarding 
houses.  It  is  too  publicly  known  to  require  further  notice  in  this  work. 

SKANNONDALE. 

It  is  not  more  than  twelve  or  fourteen  years  since  this  spring  was  first 
resorted  to  as  a  watering  place,  though  it  was  known  for  some  years  be- 
fore to  possess  some  peculiar  medicinal  qualities.  A  few  extraordinary 
cures  were  effected!  by  the  use  of  the  water,  of  obstinate  scorbutic  com- 
plaints, and  it  suddenly  acquired  a  high  reputation.     A  company  of  gen- 


■^ 


T^PPENDIX.  528S 

tlemen  in  its  neighborhood  joined  and  puicJiasr'.d  the  site,  and  foithwtth 
erected  a  large  brick  boarding  house,  and  ten  or  twelve  small  buildings 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitors.  For  several  years  it  held  a.  high  rank 
among  our  watering  places. 

SALUS   SPRINGS,  COMMONLY    CALLED  BO^JD^S   SPRINGS. 

These  are  situated  between  the  Little  Norlli  mountain  and  Paddy's 
mountain,  forming  the  head  fountain  of  Cedar  creek,  and  about  twenty- 
€ight  or  thirty  miles  south-west  of  Winchester,  and  seven  or  eight  miles 
north-west  of  Woodstock.  These  springs  are  acquiring  a  high  character 
for  their  valuable  medical  qualities,  though  it  is  only  four  or  five  years 
since  they  have  been  resorted  to.  It  is  well  ascertained  that  the  water 
from  at  least  one  of  them  has  the  powerful  quality  of  expelling  the  bots 
from  the  horse. 

Another  of  the  springs  is  called  ''the  Poison  spring,"  and  it  is  asserted 
by  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  that  by  drinking  the  water  fieely,  and 
bathing  the  part  wounded,  it  will  immediately  cure  the  bile  of  any  poi- 
sonous snake. 

There  are  five  or  six  beautiful  transparent  springs  within  a  circumference 
.of  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  yards,  severahof  which  are  yet 
unimproved.  Nature  has  seldom  done  more  for  an  advantageous  water- 
ing place  than  she  has  exhibited  at  these  springs.  No  place  the  author 
has  ever  seen  presents  more  conveniences  for  the  construction  ofbaths. — 
One  of  the  springs  is  discharged  from  an  elevated  point  of  a  ridge,  and 
has  fall  and  water  enouo-h  to  construct  anv  reasonable  number  of  shower 
baths.  It  is  asserted  by  those  who  attend  the  spri^^^s,  that  several  great 
cures  of  obstinate  scorbutic  complaints  have  been  made  by  the  use  of  the 
water.  One  remarkable  instance  w^as  related  to  the  author.  A  little 
boy,  of  eight  or  nine  years  of  age,  had  become  dreadfully  disordered  by 
eruptions  all  over  his  body,  which  formed  large  running  ulcers.  The 
-complaint  baffled  all  the  efforts  of  th<?  most  skillful  phisicians  in  t|ie  neigh- 
borhood, and  continued  for  about  twelve  months,,  when  the  child's  life 
was  despaired  of.  An  uncle  of  the  child, -who  was  acquainted  with  the 
valuable  quality  of  'these  waters,  took  him  to  the  springs,  and  by  repeat- 
edly washing  his  body  with  the  water  of  the  poison  spring,  and  also  his 
freely  drinking  it,  in  ten  or  twelve  days  the  child  was  perfectly  cured,  and 
has  ever  since  remained  in  fine  health.  Within  one  and  a  quarter  miles 
from  this  place  there  is  a  fine  white  sulphur  spring,  which  is  said  to  pos- 
.sess  very  active  cathartic  ([ualities  It  is  also  said  that  the  water  ha«  a 
sweetish  taste,  and  is  by  some  called  the  sweet  sul})hur  spring.  The  cra- 
ter has  a  pure  crystal  look,  and  is  discharged  from  a  spring  at  the  base 
of  Paddy's  mountain.  Plunging  baths  may  be  miilliplied  at  pleasure.— 
The  v/atersaff  j)re,tty  cool  ;  a  handsome  bath  house  is  erected,  jind  the 
visitors  use  it  freely. 

Sixteen  neat  jookinq:  dwelling  liouses  have  bfcn  ert-cted  b\  ;is  mrany 
proprietors  within  the  last  four  or  five  year>  ;  but  unfortunntcly  there  is 
no  re;;ular  boardinn^  house  p'^tnblishrrj,  which  has  h«'retoforr  prevented 
much  resort  to  this  place.  Tn  the  hands  of  a  man  of  capital  and  enter- 
prise, it  doubtless  ndglil  br  made  njic  of  the  inovl  rharmijig  rural  summer 


283  APPENDIX. 

retreats  west  of  the  Blue  ridge.  It  has  the  advantage  of  a  most  beauti- 
ful summer  road  much  the  greater  part  of  the  whole  route  from  Winches- 
ter ;  what  is  called  Frye's  gap,  within  twelve  miles  of  Winchester,  being 
by  far  the  worst  part  of  it ;  and  an  excellent  road  can  be  made  at  inconsid- 
erable expense  across  the  Little  North  mountain.  Travelers  passing  up 
or  down  the  valley,  would  in  the  summer  season  find  this  a  delightful 
resting  place,  if  it  was  put  in  a  proper  state  of  improvement  for  their  accom- 
modation, nor  is  it  more  than  seven  or  eight  miles  out  of  the  direct  road. 
The  present  buildings  are  arranged  so  as  to  leave  in  the  center  a  beautiful 
grove  of  young  oak  and  other  timber,  which  affords  a  lovely  shade  in  hot 
weather.  ^\^ar  Capt.  J.  Bond's  dwelling  house,  within  three  hundred 
yards  of  the  mineral  springs,  there  ir  a  fine  large  limestone  spring. 

ORKNEY  SPRINGS,  COMMONLY  CALLED  YELLOW  SPRINGS. 

These  springs  are  near  the  head  waters  of  Stony  creek,  about  seventeen 
or  eighteen  miles  south-west  of  Woodstock.  The  waters  are  composed 
of  several  lively  springs,  are  strong  chalybeate,  and  probably  impregnated 
with  some  other  mineral  besides  iron.  Every  thing  the  water  passes 
through  or  over  is  beautifully  lined  with  a  bright  yellow  fringe  or  moss. 
The  use  of  this  water  is  found  very  beneficial  for  the  cure  of  several 
complaints.  There  are  ten  or  twelve  small  buildings  erected  by  the 
neighboring  people  for  their  private  accommodation. 

The  author  visited  this  watering  place  about  four  years  ago.  A  Mr. 
Kaufman  had  brought  with  him,  the  day  preceding,  the  materials  for  a 
small  framed  dwelling  house.  He  reached  the  place  early  in  the  day, 
raised  his  house,  had  the  shingles  and  weatherboarding  nailed  on,  the 
floor  laid,  and  doors  hung,  and  ate  his  dinner  in  it  the  next  day  at  one 
o'clock.  The  author  had  the  pleasure  of  dining  with  the  old  gentleman 
and  lady,  when  they  both  communicated  the  foregoing  statement  of  facts 
to  him.  A  free  use  of  this  water  acts  as  a  most  powerful  cathartic,  as 
does  also  a  small  quantity  of  the  fiunge  or  moss  mixed  with  any  other 
kind  of  water. 

CAPON    SPRINGS,   MORE    PROPERLY  FRYe's    SPRINGS. 

The  late  Henry  Frye,  of  Capon,  upwards  of  forty  years  ago,  informed 
the  author  that  he  was  the  first  discoverer  of  the  valuable  properties  of 
this  celebated  watering  place.  He  stated  that  he  was  hunting,  and  killed 
a  large  bear  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  near  the  springs,  and  becoming 
dry,  he  descended  the  glen  in  search  of  water,  where  he  found  a  large 
spring,  but  it  was  thickly  covered  with  moss  and  other  rubbage  ;  on  re- 
moving which,  he  drank  of  the  water,  and  found  it  disagreeably  warm. 
It  at  once  occurred  to  him  that  it  possessed  some  valuable  medical  qual- 
ities. The  next  summer  his  wife  got  into  bad  health,  and  was  afflicted 
with  rheumatic  an^]  probably  other  debilitating  disorders.  He  went  and 
cleared  out  the  springs,  erected  a  small  cabin,  removed  his  wife  there, 
and  remained  four  or  five  weeks,  when  the  use  of  the  waters  had  restored 
his  wife  to  a  state  of  fine  health.  From  this  occurrence  it  took  the  name 
of  "  Frye's  springs,"  and  was  called  by  that  name  for  many  years.  By 
what  whim  or  caprice   the  name  was  changeti  to  that  of  "  Capon,"  the 


APPExXDlX.  284 

author  cannot  explain.  It  is  situated  four  miles  cast  of  Capon  river,  and 
with  what  propriety  it  has  taken  the  name  of  that  river,  the  reader  can  as 
readily  determine  as  the  author.  This  place  is  too  publicly  known  to  re- 
quire a  minute  description  in  this  work  ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  is  located 
in  a  deep  narrow  glen,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great  North  mountain.--— 
The  road  across  the  mountain  is  rug^cred  and  disaorreeable  to  travel,  but 
money  is  now  raising  by  lottery  to  improve  it.  The  trustees  for  several 
years  past  have  imposed  a  pretty  heavy  tax  upon  visitors  for  the  use  of 
the  waters.  This  tax  is  intended  to  ra^ise  funds  for  keeping  the  baths, 
&c.  in  repair.  There  are  seventeen  or  eighteen  houses  erected  without 
much  regard  to  regularity,  and  a  boarding  establishment  capable  of  ac- 
commodating fifty  or  sixty  visitors,  which  is  kept  in  excellent  style. 

The  waters  at  this  place  are  a  few  degrees  cooler  than  the  waters  of 
Bath  ;  but  it  is  believed  by  many  that  they  possess  some  qualities  far 
more  powerful.  There  is  no  fact  better  known,  than  that  an  exclusive 
use  of  the  water  for  five  or  six  days,  (like  the  waters  at  Salus,)  will  expel 
the  bots  from  horses.  This  place  is  twenty-two  miles  ^uth-west  of 
Winchester. 

WHITE    SULPHUR    SPRING,    HOWARd's    LICK. 

This  fine  white  sulphur  spring  lies  about  four  miles  west  of  Lost  river, 
in  a  most  romantic  retired  glen  in  the  mountains.  It  is  almost  wholly  in  a 
state  of  nature,  the  nearest  dwelling  house  to  it  being  about  two  miles, 
and  is  but  little  known  and  resorted  to  as  a  watering  place.  The  spring 
has  been  cleaned  out,  and  a  small  circular  wall  placed  around  it,  and  a 
beautiful  lively  stream  of  water  discharged.  It  would  probably  require  a 
tube  of  one  and  a  half  or  two  inches  diameter  to  vent  the  water.  Every 
thing  the  water  passes  over  or  touches  is  pretty  thickly  incrusted  with 
pure  white  sulphur.  The  w^ater  is  so  highly  impregnated  as  to  be  quite 
unpleasant  to  the  taste,  and  can  be  smelled  thirty  or  forty  feet  from  the 
spring.  The  use  of  the  water  is  found  very  efficacious  in  several  com- 
plaints, particularly  in  autumnal  bilious  fevers.  The  people  in  the  neigh- 
borhood say,  that  persons  attached  with  bilious  complaints,  by  a  single 
dose  of  Epsom  salts,  worked  off  with  this  water,  in  three  or  four  days  aj« 
entirely  relieved  and  restored  to  hea1h.  The  author  cannot  pretend  to 
express  his  own  ojiinion  of  the  valuable  properties  of  this  water,  merely 
having  seen  it  as  a  transient  passenger.  But  lie  has  no  hesitation  in 
saying  tha+  it  presents  to  the  eye  the  appearance  of  by  far  tlie  most  val- 
uable sidphur  water  he  has  ever  yet  seen.  There  is  level  land  enough 
around  it  for  the  erection  of  buildings  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of 
a  great,  many  visitors.  A  fine  and  convenient  road  can  be  had  to  it  from 
Lost  river,  a  gap  in  the  mountain  leading  to  it  being  q^enerally  quite  level, 
and  wi<le  enough  for  the  purpose.  It  is  probably  twenty-thr»?e  or  twen- 
four  miles  south-west  of  Capon  springs. 

PA^DDy's  gap,  or  MAUREr\s  WHITE   SULPHUR  SFRIN';. 

'J'his  is  a  small  j)ure  white  sulj^hur  spring,  and  is  said  to  })osscss  somr 
valuable  medicinal  (pialities.  It  lies  in  Paddy's  gap,  about  li:dl  w;iv  1>«-- 
tAveen  Cn])0n  and  Salus  springs. 


285  APPENDIX. 

PEMBROKE    SPRINGS. 

These  are  situated  about  one  mile  south  of  the  residence  of  Moses  Rus- 
sell, Esq,,  seventeen  miles  north-west  of  Winchester.  The  waters  are 
considered  too  cold  to  bathe  in.  A  bath  house  has  been  erected,  but  it 
is  little  used.  The  w^aters  are  pure  and  salubrious,  discharged  from  the 
base  of  the  North  mountain,  and  if  good  accommodations  w^ere  kept,  it 
would  doubtless  become  a  resting  place  for  travelers  in  the  season  for 
visiting  the  Capon  springs.  Mr.  George  Ritenour  has  lately  erected  a 
tannery  at  this  place,  and  it  will  probably  become  a  place  of  business. 

W^ILLIAMS'S  WHITE   SULPHUR  SPRINGS,    FORMERLY  DUVALl's. 

These  are  situated  about  six  miles  north-east  of  Winchester.  A 
commodious  boarding  house  has  been  erected  by  Mr.  Williams,  who  is 
going  on  yearly  with  additional  improvements,  to  meet  the  increasing 
popularity  of  the  establishment. 

There  are  three  or  four  other  sulphur  springs  which  were  formerly  pla- 
ces of  considerable  resort,  but  the}  have  fallen  into  disrepute.  The  au- 
thor therefore  considers  it  unnecessary  to  give  them  any  particular  notice 
in  this  work.  Many  chalybeate  springs  are  to  be  met  with  in  our  moun- 
tains, but  it  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  describe  them. 

GRAY     EARTH. 

The  author  will  conclude  with  a  brief  notice  of  a  light  gray  earth  of 
singular  texture,  and  probably  containing  some  highly  valuable  properties. 
A  considerable  bank  of  this  earth  or  clay  is  to  be  seen  about  two  miles 
below  Salus  springs.  W'hen  dissolved  in  water  it  makes  a  beautiful 
whitewash,  and  is  said  to  be  more  adhesive  than  lime.  It  is  remarkably 
soft,  being  easily  cut  with  a  knife,  has  an  unctuous  or  rather  soapy  feel 
when  pressed  between  the  fingers,  and  when  mixed  with  a  small  quanti- 
ty of  water,  forms  a  tough  adhesive  consistence,  very  much  resembling 
dough  made  of  wheat  flour. 

The  author,  when  he  first  heard  of  this  bank  of  earth,  concluded  it  was 
probably  fuller's  earth,  so  highly  prized  by  the  manufacturers  of  cloth, 
&c.  in  England  ;  but  upon  an  examination  of  it,  it  does  not  appear  to 
answer  the  description  given  by  chemists  of  that  earth.  It  is  highly  pro- 
bable that  it  would  be  found  a  most  vnluable  manure,  and  in  all  likeli- 
hood would  on  trial  make  a  beautiful  ware  of  the  potter}^  kind  for  domes- 
tic use.  It  would,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  be  well  worth  while  for 
manufacturers  and  others  to  visit  this  place  and  examine  for  themselves. 
The  author  has  no  pretensions  to  a  knowledge  of  chemistry,  and  therefore 
cannot  give  anything  like  an  analytical  description  of  this  singular  and 
curious  kind  of  earth. 


APPENDIX.  2S6 


■:o: 


IV. 


Deiciiptlon   of  Weyer's  Cave. 


BY  a.   L.   COOKE,    A.  M. 


Weyer's  Cave  is  situated  near  the  northern  extremity  of  Augusta  coun- 
ty, Va.,  seventeen  miles  north-east  of  Staunton,  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  ridge  running  nearly  N.  and  E.  parallel  to  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  some- 
what more  than  two  miles  distant  from  it. 

The  western  declivity  of  this  ridge  is  very  gradual,  and  the  visitor,  as 
he  approaches  from  that  direction,  little  imagines  from  its  appearance  that 
it  embowels  one  of  Nature's  masterpieces.  The  eastern  declivity,  how- 
ever, is  quite  precipitous  and  difficult  of  ascent. 

The  Guide's  house  is  situated  on  the  northern  extremity  of  this  ridge, 
and  is  distant  eight  hundred  yards  from  the  entrance  of  the  Cave.  In 
going  from  the  house  to  the  Cave,  you  pass  the  entrance  of  Madison's 
Cave,  which  is  two  hundred  and  twenty  yards  from  the  other.  Madison's 
Cave  was  known  and  visited  as  a  curiosity,  long  before  the  discovery  of 
Weyer's,  but  it  is  now  passed  by  and  neglected,  as  unworthy  of  notice, 
compared  with  its  more  imposing  rival,  although  it  has  had  the  pen  of  a 
Jefferson  to  describe  its  beauties. 

Let  me  remark  here,  that  the  incurious  visitor,  who  goes  because  oth- 
ers go,  and  is  but  slightly  interested  in  the  mysteries  of  Nature,  may  re- 
tain his  usual  dress  when  he  enters  the  Cave  which  I  am  attemptinf^  to 
describe  ; — but  if  he  is  desirous  of  prying  into  every  recess, — climbing 
ever^'  accessible  precipice, — and  seeing  all  the  beauties  of  this  subterra- 
nean wonder,  I  would  advise  him  to  provide  himself  with  such  habili- 
ments as  will  withstand  craggy  projections,  or  receive  no  detriment  from 
a  generous  coating  of  mud. 

The  ascent  from  the  bottom  of  the  hill  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cave  is 
steep,  but  is  rendered  less  fatiguing,  by  the  zigzag  course  of  the  path, 
which  is  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  in  length. 

J^efore  entering  the  Cave,  let  us  rest  ourselves  on  the  benches  before 
the  door,  that  W(!  mny  become  perfectly  cool,  while  the  Guide  unlocks 
the  door,  strikes  a  light  and  tells  the  story  of  its  first  discovery. 

It  seems  that  about  the  year  1804,  one  Btirnard  Weyf^r  rarif^ed  these 
hills  as  a  hunter.  While  piirsuing  his  daily  vocation,  he  tbund  his  match 
in  a  lawless  Ground  Hog,  which  not  only  eluded  ;ill  his  efforts,  b^t 
tventually  succeeded  in  carrying  off  the  traps  which  had  been  set  foi  his 


87  APPENDIX. 


capture.     Enraged  at  the  loss  of  His  traps  he  made  an  assault  upon   the 
domicil  of  the  depredator,  with  spade  and  mattock. 

A  few  moments  labor  brought  him  to  the  ante-chamber  of  this  stupen^ 
dous  Cavern,  where  he  found  his  traps  safely  deposited. 

The  entrance  originally  was  small  and  difficult  of  access;  but  the  enter- 
prise of  the  Proprietor  has  obviated  these  inconveniences:  it  is  now  en- 
closed by  a  wooden  wall,  having  a  door  in  the  centre,  which  admits  you  to 
the  Ante-Chamber. 

At  first  it  is  about  eight  feet  in  height,  but  after  proceeding  a  few  yards, 
in  a  S.  W.  direction,  it  becomes  contracted  to  the  space  of  three  or  four 
feet  square. 

At  the  distance  of  twenty»four  feet  from  the  entrance, — descendnig  at 
an  angle  of  nineteen  degrees,— you  reach  the  Dragoj^'s  Room,  so  called 
from  a  stalactitic  concretion,  which  the  Nomenclator  undoubtedly  suppos- 
ed to  resemble  that  nondescript  animal.. 

Above  the  Dragon's  room  there  is  an  opening  of  considerable  beauty, 
but  of  small  size,  called  the  Devil's  Gallery. 

Leaving  this  room,  which  is  not  very  interesting,  you  proceed  in  a  more 
southerly  direction,  to  the  entrance  of  Solomon's  Temple,  through  a 
high  but  narrow  passage,  sixty-six  feet  in  length,  which  is  by  no  means 
difficult  of  access.  Here  you  make  a  perpendicular  descent  of  thirteen 
feet,  by  means  of  an  artificial  bank  of  earth  and  rock,  and  you  find  your- 
self in  one  of  the  finest  rooms  in  the  whole  Cave.  It  is  irregular  in  shape, 
being  thirty  feet  long,  and  forty-five  broad — runing  nearly  at  right  angles 
to  the  main  course  of  the  Cave.  As  you  raise  your  eyes,  after  descend- 
ing the  bank  before  raentic^ned,  they  rest  upon  an  elevated  seat,  surround- 
ed by  sparry  incrustations,  which  sparkle  beautifully  in  the  light  of  your 
candles. 

This  is  not  unaptly  styled  Solomon's  Throne.  Every  thing  in  this 
room,  receives  ifts  name  from  the  Wise  Man;  immediately  to  the  left  of 
the  steps,  as  you  descend,  you  will  find  his  Meat-house;  and  at  the  east- 
ern exti'emity  of  the  room,  is  a  beautiful  pillar  of  white  stalactite,  some- 
what defaced  by  the  smoke  of  candles,  called  by  his  name.  With  strange 
inconsistency,  an  incrustation  resembling  falling  water,  at  the  right  of  the 
steps,  has  obtained  the  name  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara. 

Passing  Solomon's  Pillar,  you  enter  another  room,  more  irregular  than 
the  first,  but  still  more  beautiful.  It  would  be  impossible  adequately  to 
describe  the  magnificence  of  this  room.  I  shall  therefore  merely  observe, 
that  it  is  thickly  studded  with  beautiful  stalactites,  resembling,  in  form 
and  color,  the  roots  of  radishes,  which  have  given  the  appellation  of 
Radish  Room  to  this  delightful  place. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  reprobating  here,  the  vandal  spirit  of  some  visi- 
tors, who  regardless  of  all  prohibitions,  will  persist  in  breaking  off  and 
defacing,  these  splendid  specimens  of  Nature's  workmanship,  forgetting 
that  a  single  blow  may  destroy  the  work  of  centuries. 

The  main  passage  to  the  rest  of  the  Cavern  is  imrnediutely  opposite  to 
the  entrance  to  Solomon's  Temple,  and   you  reach  it  by  an  ascent  of 
twelve  feet,  to  what  is  called  The  Porter's  Lodge.     From  this  place,  pur- 
suing  tlie  same  course,  you  pass  along  a  passage  varying  from  ten   to* 


APPENDIX.  2SS 

thirty  feet  In  heicrht— from  ten  to  fifteen  in  breadth — and  fiftv-ei.c{ht  in 
length,  until  you  reach  Barnp:y's  Hall,  which  receives  its  name  from 
the  fancied  resemblance  of  a  prostate  stalactite,  at  the  base  of  one  that  is 
upright,  to  old  Com.  Barney,  and  the  cannon  that  he  used  at  the  "Bla- 
densburgh  races." 

Near  the  centre  of  the  room,  which  is  small  and  scai'cey  deserves  the 
name,  an  upright  board  points  out  to  the  visitor  the  main  path  of  the 
Cave,  which  runs  to  the  right.  Two  passages  run  off  to  the  left — the 
first  one  to  a  large,  irregular  room,  called  the  Lawyer's  Office,  in 
which  is  a  line  spring,  or  rather  a  reservoir  where  the  droppings  from 
the  ceiling  have  collected ; — the  other,  through  a  passage  to  what  is 
called  The  Armory,  from  an  incrustation  that  has  received  the  name  of 
Ajax's  Sheild.  Between  the  Lawyer's  Office  and  the  Armory,  and  com- 
municating with  both,  is  another  large,  irregular  apartment,  which  is 
named  Weyer's  Hall,  after  the  original  discoverer  of  the  Cave,  who 
together  with  his  dog,  stands  immortalised  in  one  corner. 

Before  we  get  bewildered  and  lost  in  this  part  of  the  Cave,  which  is 
more  intricate  than  any  other,  let  us  return  to  the  guide  board  in  Bar- 
ney's Hall,  and  pursue  the  route  usually  taken  by  visitors.  Following 
the  right  hand  opening  mentioned  above,  which  is  rather  low,  being  not 
more  than  five  feet  high,  you  pass  into  the  Twin  Room,  taking  heed  lest 
you  fall  into  the  Devil's  Bake  Oven,  which  yawns  close  by  your  feet. — 
This  room  is  small,  and  eommunicates  directly  with  the  Bannister 
Room,  w4iich  is  fifty-nine  feet  from  the  guide  board.  The  arch  here  sud- 
denly expands,  and  becomes  elevated  to  the  height  of  thirty  feet,  and  by 
dint  of  hard  climbing  you  may  return  to  the  Porter's  Lodge,  through  a 
passage  directly  over  the  one  which  you  have  just  passed. 

A  descent  of  thirty-nine  feet  due  west  from  the  Twin  Room,  brings 
you  to  the  Tanyard,  which  contains  many  beauties.  The  tloor  is  irre- 
gular;  in  some  places  sinking  into  holes  somewhat  resembling  tan  vats, 
which  together  with  several  hanging  stalactites  resembling  hides,  have 
given  a  name  to  this  immense  apartment.  On  the  S.  E.  side  of  the 
room,  immediately  to  the  left  of  the  main  path,  is  a  large  opening,  which 
admits  you  at  once  into  the  Armory. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  here,  that  a  notice  of  many  beautiful  appear- 
ances in  the  different  rooms  has  been  omitted,  because  thev  are  noted 
upon  the  Map  of  the  Cave,  lately  published  by  the  author  of  this  sketch. 

Changing  your  course  to  the  N.  \V.  you  leave  the  'lanyard  by  a  rough 
but  not  difficult  ascent  of  twenty  feet,  at  an  angle  of  eighteen  degrees, 
into  what  may  be  considered  an  elevated  continuation  of  the  same  room, 
but  which  has  been  deservedly  dignified  with  a  distinct  appellation. 

To  your  right,  as  you  step  upon  level  ground,  you  will  ()bS:erve  a  per- 
pendicular wall  of  rock,  rising  with  great  ret^nilarity ;  if  you  strike  upon 
it  with  your  hand,  it  sends  forth  a  deep,  mellow  sound,  strongly  resemb- 
ling the  tones  of  a  Hass  Drum,  whence  the  room  has  received  the  nanni 
ofthaDRUM  Room.  Upon  a  closer  examination,  this  apparent  wall  will 
be  found  to  be  only  a  thin  staV.ictitic  partition,  ext^ndin'j:  from  the  ceiliu;;' 
U)  the  floor. 


L?89  APPENDIX. 

You  kave  the  Drum  Room  by  a  flight  of  natural  steps,  seven  feet  in 
perpendicular  height.  A  large  opening  now  presents  itself,  which  ex- 
pands to  an  extensive  apartment,  to  reach  which  it  is  necessary  to  make  a 
nearly  perpendicular  descent  of  ten  feet,  by  means  of  substantial  stone 
steps.  This  apartment  is  the  far-famed  Ball  Room.  It  is  one  hundred 
feet  long,  36  w^ide,  and  about  twenty-five  high,  running  at  right  angles 
to  the  path  by  which  you  entered  it.  The  general  course  of  this  room  is 
from  N.  to  S. — but  at  the  northern  extremity,  there  is  a  gradual  ascent, 
bearing  round  to  the  east,  until  you  reach  a  precipice  of  twenty  or  thirty 
feet,  from  wdiich  you  can  look  down  into  the  Tanyard. 

Near  the  center  of  the  Ball  Room,  is  a  large  calcareous  deposit,  that 
has  received  the  name  of  Paganini's  Statue,  from  the  circumstance  that 
it  furnishes  a  good  position  for  the  music,  whenever  balls  are  given  in 
these  submundane  regions.  The  floor  is  sufficiently  level  to  admit  of 
dancing  upon  it,  and  it  was  formerly  common  to  have  balls  here.  The 
ladies  are  accommodated  with  a  convenient  Dressing  Room,  the  only 
opening  to  which  communicates  directlv  Vv4th  the  Ball  Room. 

You  leave  this  room  by  a  gradual  ascent  of  forty-two  feet  at  the  south- 
ern extremity.  This  acclivity  is  called  The  Frenchman's  Hill,  from  the 
following  circumstance : — Some  years  since,  a  French  gentleman  visited 
the  Cave,  accompanied  only  by  the  Guide ;  they  had  safely  gone 
through,  and  returning,  had  reached  this  hill,  when  by  some  accident 
both  their  lights  w^ere  extinguished,  and  they  were  left  in  Egyptian  dark- 
ness, without  the  means  of  relighting  them.  Fortunately,  the  Guide, 
from  his  accurate  knowledge  of  localities,  conducted  him  safely  to  the  en- 
trance— a  distance  of  more  than  five  hundred  feet. 

Another  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Patterson,  has  immortalised  his 
name  by  attempting  the  same  feat,  although  it  was  a  complete  failure. — 
Hearing  of  the  Frenchman's  adventure,  he  sent  his  company  ahead,  and 
undertook  to  find  his  way  back  without  a  light,  from  the  Ball  Room  to 
the  entrance.  He  succeeded  in  ascending  the  steps,  but  had  proceeded 
only  a  few  paces  farther^  when  his  feet  slipped  from  under  him,  and  he 
was  laid  prostrate  in  an  aperture,  where  he  lay  unhurt  until  his  compan- 
ions, alarmed  at  his  protracted  absence,  returned  for  him.  His  resting 
place  is  called  Patters(3n's  Grave,  to  this  day. 

From  the  French  Hill,  a  long,  irregular  passage  extends,  in  a  N,  W. 
direction,  which  is  denominated  the  Narrow  Passage.  This  passage  is 
fifty-two  feet  long — from  three  to  five  feet  wide — and  from  four  to  eight 
high.     It  leads  you  to  the  brink  of  a  precipice  twek-e  feet  high. 

Natural  indentations  in  the  face  of  this  precipice,  afford  a  convenient 
means  of  descent,  and  these  natural  steps  have  received  the  name  of  Ja- 
cob's Ladder.  To  correspond  with  this  name,  as  in  Solomon's  Temple, 
everything  is  named  after  the  Patriarch;  a  flat  rock  opposite  to  the  end  of 
the  Narrow  Passage,  is  .Jacob's  Tea  Table!  and  a  deep,  inaccessible  per- 
foration in  the  rock  by  its  side,  is  Jacob's  Ice  house!  !  Descending  the 
Ladder,  you  turn  to  the  left,  and  pass  through  a  narrow  opening,  still  con- 
tinuing to  descend  though  less  perpendicularly,  tt>  the  centre  of  a  small 
apartment  called  the  Dungeon. 

This  room  communicates  immediately*   with   the    Senate    Chamber. 


APPENDIX.  296 

'Over  nearly  half  of  which  stretches  a  tlihi  ilal  rock,  at  the  heig^ht  of 
six  or  eight  fe<3t  from  the  the  floor,  forming  a  sort  of  gallery,  which  pro-b- 
ably  suggested  the  name  which  has  been  given  to  the  room. 

The  Senate  Chamber  communicates  by  a  high,  broad  opening,  with  a 
much  larger  apartment,  called  Congress  Hall, — an  appellation  bestow- 
ed rathcE  on  account  of  its  proximity  to  the  last  mentioned  room  than 
from  any  thing  particularly  appropriate  in  the  room  itself.  It  is  long,  and 
like  the  Ball  Room  runs  at  right  angles  to  the  main  path,  which  winds  to 
the  left,  as  you  enter.  Its  course  is  nearly  N.  &  S.  and  a  wall,  perfora- 
ted in  many  places,  runs  through  its  whole  length.  Instead  of  pursuing 
the  customary  route,  we  will  turn  to  the  right  and  explore  the  dark  recess 
that  presents  itself. 

The  floor  of  Congress  Hall  is  very  uneven,  and  at  the  northern  extrem- 
ity rises  somewhat  abruptly.  If  you  climb  this  ascent,  and  pass  through 
■one  of  ^he  perforations  in  the  wall  above  mentioned,  you  can  see  through 
the  whole  extent  of  the  other  half  of  the  room, — but  cannot  traverse  it, 
on  account  of  two  or  three  deep  pits  that  occupy  the  whole  space  be- 
tween the  western  side  of  the  room  and  the  wall. 

Turning  to  the  right  of  the  opening  through  which  you  just  passed, 
your  eye  vainly  attempts  to  penetrate  the  deep,  dark  abyss  that  is  present- 
ed to  view,  and  you  hesitate  to  descend  *  Its  name — The  Infernal 
■Regions! — does  not  offer  many  inducements  to  enter  it:  in  addition  to 
this,  the  suspicion  that  it  contained  fixed  air,  for  many  years  deterred  the 
curious  from  visiting  it,  and  consequently  it  has  not  until  recently,  been 
thoroughly  explored. 

In  the  spring  of  1833,  I  determined  at  all  hazards  to  explore  this  room — 
for  I  doubt  the  existence  of  any  bad  air,  as  I  had  never  detected  any  in 
the  course  of  extensive  researches  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Cave.  My 
'brother  and  the  guide  accompanied  me,  each  carrying  two  candles,  and 
thus  prepared  we  descended  twenty  feet  before  we  reached  a  landing 
place.  Here  our  candles  burned  dimly,  and  great  care  was  necessary  to 
prevent  them  from  going  out  entirely;  yet  we  experienced  no  difficulty  of 
breathing,or  any  other  indication  of  the  presence  of  this  much  dreaded  gas. 
The  floor  is  not  horizontal,  but  inclined  at  an  angle  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
degrees,  and  when  we  emerged  from  ihe  pit  into  which  we  had  first  en- 
tered, our  candles  shone  brightly,  and  displayed  to  our  view  a  room 
more  extensive  than  any  that  I  have  yet  described.  Its  greatest  len'^th 
was  from  W.  toE.  and  it  seemed  to  run  nearly  parallel  to  the  path  over  which 
we  have  just  travelled.  From  its  length  we  are  induced  to  believe  that  it 
ap])roached  very  near  the  Ball  room  with  which  it  might  communicate,  by 
some  yet  undiscovered  passage.  So  strongly  were  we  impressed  with  this 
idea,  that  wedctermined,  if  practicable,  to  ascertain  how  far  we  were  correct. 
For  this  purpose  I  set  my  watch  exactly  with  my  brother's, and  requested  him 
to  go  to  the  Ball  room  and  pursue  as  far  as  possible,  a  low  passage  that 
leads  to  the  right,  from  the  toot  of  the  Frenchman's  hill,  while  I  went  to 
the  eastern  extremity  of  this  immense  apartment.  At  an  appointed  mo- 
ment I  fired  a  pistol — but  the  owly  answer  was  the  deafening  reverbera 
lions  of  the  sound  rollinp;  like  thunder  along  the  lofty  arches.  I  shou~ 
fA-^h"/  nr>  r«f:t'!rn  nitt  my  e r.r  <?.\f  ♦^  «^  hollow  tcho  oftny  own  vcic?,  arA 


201  APPENDIX. 

I  began  to  think  we  had  been  hasty  in  our  opuiion.  At  this  moment  a 
beautiful  stalactite  sparkled  in  the  light  of  the  candle,  and  I  forgot  my 
desire  to  discover  an  unknown  passage,  in  my  anxiety  to  secure  this  prize. 
Taking  the  butt  of  the  pistol,  I  hammered  gently  upon  it  to  disengage  it 
from  the  rock  Avhere  it  hung.  I  w'as  surprised  to  hear  the  taps  distinctly 
answered  apparently  from  the  centre  of  the  solid  rock,  and  a  repetition 
of  the  blow  brought  a  repetition  of  the  answer.  After  comparing  our  impres- 
S'ions,we  w^eresatisfied  there  could  bebut  little  space  between  thetwo  rooms. 

We  have  lingered  so  long  in  these  Infernal  Regions,*  that  we 
must  hasten  back  to  the  spot  wdience  we  diverged  in  the  centre  of 
Oongress'  Hall.  Our  course  now  lies  to  the  S.  W.  up  a  perpendicular 
ascent  of  seventeen  feet  to  what  is  called  the  Lobby.  From  this  place, 
an  expert  climber  may  pass  through  secret  passages  and  bye  rooms  to  the 
end  of  the  Cave,  without  once  entering  the  main  path.  You  have  as- 
cended to  the  Lobby  only  to  descend  again  on  the  other  side,  when  you 
r-eaeli  the  most  magnificent  apartment  in  the  whole  Cave. 

This  is  Washikgtons'  Hall,  so  called  in  token  of  respect  for  the 
memory  of  our  Country's  Father,  and  is  w'orthy  of  bearing  the  name. — 
Its  length  is  two  hundred  and  fifiy-seven  feet — its  breadth  from  ten  to 
twenty — its  height  thirty-three,  and  it  is  remarkably  level  and  straight 
through  the  whole  length.  Not  far  from  the  centre  of  this  room,  is  an 
immense  deposite  of  calcareous  matter  rising  to  the  height  of  six  or  seven 
feet,  which  strikingly  resembles  a  statue  clothed  in  drapery.  This  is 
Washington's  Statue,  and  few  can  look  upon  it  as  seen  by  the  dim  light 
of  two  or  three  candles  which  rather  stimulate  than  repress  the  imagina- 
tion, without  experiencing  a  sensation  of  solemnity  and  awe,  as  if  they 
were  actually  in  the  presence  of  the  mighty  dead. 

By  ascending  a  bank,  near  the  entrance,  of  five  or  six  feet  perpendicu- 
lar height,  you  eniier  another  room  called  the  Theatre,  from  the  fact  that 
different  parts  of  it  correspond  to  the  stage,  gallery  and  pit.  I  notice 
this  room,  which  is  otherwise  uninteresting,  for  the  purpose  of  mention- 
ing a  circumstance,  related  to  me  by  Mr.  Bryan  a  former  guide,  which 
confirms  an  opinion  that  I  have  long  entertained,  that  the  whole  Cave  is 
thorou2;hly  ventilated  by  some  unknown  communication  v/ith  the  upper 
air.  About  six  years  since,  during-  a  heavy  and  protracted  rain  which 
raised  the  waters  of  the  South  River  that  flows  at  the  bottom 
of  the  cave-hill,  to  an  unprecedcMited  height,  JMr.  B.  conducted  a 
f'ompanv  throuo-h  the  Cave.  Ashe  ascended  the  stairs  that  lead  to  the 
Lobby,  he  heard  the  rush  of  water;  fiearing  that  the  Cave  was  flooding, 
he  directed  the  visitors  to  remain  in  Congress  Hall,  while  he  investigated 
the  cause  of  the  unusual  and  alarming  noise.  Cautiously  descending  in- 
to Washington's  HaH,hc  followed  the  sound  until  he  arrived  opposite  to  the 
entrance  of  the  Theatre,  in  which  he  saw  a  column  of  water  pouring  from 
the  ceiling  into  the  pit,  and  losing  itself  in  the  numerous  crevices  that  a- 
bound.  When  the  rain  ceased,  the  flood  was  stayed,  and  it  has  Mever 
been  repeated;  but  even  at  the  present    time,   small   pebbles    and  gravel, 


*For  ^n  '^^count  of  ^nm'^  recent  intere^tins'  discorcrie?  in    thi's   room* 
'^  noir  on  paj;^r    29'?. 


APPENDIX;  292 

Tesembling  that  found  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  may  be  seen  in  the  Theatre. 
No  aperture  is  visible  from  within, neither  has  any  perforation  been  disco ver- 
■ed  on  the  surface  of  the  hill — yet  beyond  a  doubt,  some  communication 
"with  the  exterior  does  exist. 

I  have  said  that  the  breadth  of  Washington's  Hall  is  from  ten  to 
twenty  feet;  this  must  be  understood  as  applying  to  the  lower  part  of 
the  room,  for  the  arch  stretches  over  a  rock  twenty  feet  hi^h,  which 
forms  the  left  wall,  and  embraces  another  room  called  Lady  Washing- 
ton's room.  The  entrance  to  this  apartment  is  opposite  to  the  Statue, 
and  is  on  a  level  with  the  Hall.  The  wall  that  separates  the  two  rooms, 
is  ten  feet  thick,  and  is  named  The  Rock  of  Gibraltar.  One  or  two 
candles  placed  upon  this  rock,  produce  a  fine  effect,  particularly  if  every 
other  light  is  extinguished;  for  it  shows  you  the  arch,  spreading  out 
with  beautiful  regularity,  until  it  is  lost  in  the  surrounding  darkness, 
and  miagination,  supplying  the  deficiency  o4'  vision,  peoples  the  dark 
recesses  with  hosts  of  matterless  phantoms.  You  leave  this  splendid 
apartment  at  the  S.  W.  extremity,  by  a  rough  and  narrow,  but  high 
passage,  running  at  the  foot  of  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt  and  Cleopatra's 
Needle!  At  the  end  of  this  passage,  in  a  recess  to  the  ritirht  is  another 
spring  or  reservoir,  similar  to  the  one  in  the  Lawyer's  Office.  A  de- 
scent of  eight  or  ten  feet  brings  you  into  the  Diamond  Room,  which  may 
be  considered  as  forming  a  part  of  The  Church,  a  long,  irregular 
loom  more  loftv  than  any  that  we  have  yet  entered.  Its  lenGfth  is  one 
hundred  and  fifiy-two  feet — its  breadth  from  ten  to  fifteen — and  its 
height  fifty!  At  the  farthest  extremity,  a  beautiful  white  spire  shoots  up 
to  a  considerable  height,  which  is  appropriately  styled  The  Steeple,  and 
has  no  doubt,  suggested  the  name  of  the  room.  Nearly  opposite  to  the 
centre  of  the  Church,  is  a  recess  of  considerable  extent  and  elevation, 
which  forms  a  very  good  Gallery;  in  the  rear  of  the  Gallery,  and  in  full 
view  i\om  below,  is  a  great  number  of  pendant  stalactites  several  feet 
long  and  of  various  sizes,  ranged  like  the  pipes  of  t;n  organ^  and  bear- 
ing a  striking  resemblance  to  them.  If  these  stalactites  are  struck  by 
any  hard  substance,  they  send  forth  sounds  of  various  pitches,  accord- 
ing to  their  sizes,  and  if  a  stick  be  rapidly  run  akng  seveial  of  them 
at  once,  a  pleasing  variety  of  notes  is  produced.  This  formation  is  call- 
ed thtt  Organ. 

Passing  under  the  Steeple,  which  rests  on  an  arch  elcA'ated  not  more 
than  ten  feet,  you  enter  the  Dining  Room.  This  room  is  named  from  a 
long  natural  table,  that  stands  on  the  left,  and  is  not  quite  as  large  as  the 
C'hurch,  though  its  lieight  is  sixty  feet.  But  for  llie  s'ort  of  wail  which 
the  StfM'ph'  makes,  il  might  be  considered  as  a  continuation  oi^  the  Church. 
A  little  to  the  lefl  of  the  table,  you  will  see  a  small  uninvitmg  opening; 
if  you  are  not  deterred  by  its  unpromising  appearance, we  will  enter  and  sec 
whither  it  will  lead  us.  Proceeding  only  a  few  paces  you  will  suddenly 
find  yourself  iri  an  immQnse  ajvartment,  parallel  to  the  Dininti:  room,  ex- 
tending to  \\\(\  Gallery  in  the  Church,  with  which  it  communicates.  This 
is  .L\ckson's  }U)om,  and  is  rather  uninteresting  on  account  of  its  irregu- 
larity, but  it  |p,id'=;  to  one  thwi  drsrrvps  notice.  Directly  opposite  to  fhc 
■^ittlc  passage  which  conducted    you   hither-   i^  a    large  f)pening:   passing 


293  APPENDIX. 

this,  the  walls  contract  until  only  a  narrow  pass  a  few  feet  long,  is  lefl, 
which  conducts  yooi,  if  not  to  the  most  magnificent,  at  least  to  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  interesting  portions  of  the  whole  Cavern.  There  is 
but  one  apartment,  and  that  is  small,  but  the  Garden  of  Eden,  for  so  it 
is  called,  derives  its  beauty  from  the  singular  arrangement  of  the  im- 
mense stalactites,  that  hang  from  the  roof,  and  unite  with  the  stalagmites 
which  have  ascended  from  the  floor  to  meet  them:  ©r  in  few  words,  it 
seems  as  if  at  some  former  period,  a  sheet  of  water  had  poured  down  from 
the  roof  and  by  some  wonderful  operation  of  Nature  had  become  sudden- 
ly petrified.  This  sheet  is  not  continuous,  but  strongly  resembles  the 
folds  of  heavy  drapery,  and  you  may  pass  among  its  w^indings  as  through 
the  mazes  of  a  labyrinth,  and  the  light  of  a  candle  shines  distinctly 
through  any  part  of  it.  A  portion  of  the  floor  of  this  room  is  composed 
of  boautiful  fine  yellow  sand;  the  floor  of  most,  if  not  all  other  portions  of 
the  Cave,  is  a  stiff  clay,  with  very  few  indications  of  sand. 

We  must  now  retrace  our  steps  to  the  Dining  Room,  for  there  is  no  oth- 
er place  of  egress;  but  as  we  return,  let  us  make  a  short  digression  to  the 
left,  into  a  small  passage  that  does  not  appear  to  extend  very  far.  Be 
cartful! — there  is  a  deep  hole  just  before  you! — now  hold  your  candle  above 
your  head  and  look  through  the  opening,  which  is  large  enough  to  admit 
the  body  of  a  man;  you  will  see  a  deep  unexplored  abyss, 
**  Where  the  footstep  of  mortal  has  never  trody 

No  man  has  yet  ever  ventured  into  this  forbidding  place,  for  it  can  be 
entered  only  by  means  of  a  rope  ladder,  but  it  is  my  intention  if  my  courage 
does  not  fail  me,  to  attempt  at  no  distant  period,  to  explore  the  hidden 
mysteries  of  the  apartment. 

Once  more  in  the  Dining  Room,  let  us  hasten  to  the  completion  of  our 
task.  The  main  path  pursues  the  same  course  from  this  room,  that  it  has 
done  ever  since  you  entered  Washington's  Hall;  but  your  way  nowlies  up  a 
sort  of  hill,  in  the  sideof  w^hich,  is  the  opening  through  which  you  are  to 
pass.  If  you  are  adventurous,  you  will  follow  me  above  the  opening,  up 
the  nearly  perpendicular  face  of  the  rock,  to  the  height  of  fifty  feet, 
where  a  ledge  of  rock  extends  itself,  forming  the  left  side  of  the  Dining 
Room.  From  this  eminence,  called  the  Giant's  Causew^ay,  you  can  look 
down  into  the  Dining  Room,  on  one  side,  and  Jackson's  Room  on  the 
other. 

Great  caution  is  necessary  in  climbing  this  height,  lest  too  much  con- 
fidence be  reposed  in  the  projecting  stalagmites,  that  offer  a  conveni- 
ent and  seemingly  a  secure  foot  hold  to  the  incautious  adventurer.  It 
mmst  be  remembered  that  they  are  formed  by  droppings  from  the  roof, 
and  are  generally  based  on  the  mud.  By  cautiously  descending  the  ledge 
a  few  feet  on  the  opposite  side  to  that  which  we  ascended,  we  shall  be 
enabled  to  reach  with  ease,  the  room  w^hich  has  already  been  attained  by 
the  rest  of  the  company,  who  have  been  less  adventurous  than  ourselves 
and  passed  through  tlie  opening  already  pointed  out,  in  ascending  the 
Causeway. 

This  room,  or  perhaps  it  should  be  called  passas^e,  is  denominated 
The  AVilderkess,  from  the  roughness  of  the  path-w^ay,  and  is  only 
ten  feet  wide,  but  it  rises  to  the  immense  height  cf  ninety  or  one  hundred 


APPENDIX.  294 

feet!  As  we  come  along  the  Causeway,  and  look  down  upon  our  right, 
we  shall  see  our  company  forty  or  fifty  feet  below  us,  while  our  eyes  can 
scarcely  penetrate  through  the  darkness,  to  the  ceiling  above  our  h-eads. 
Upon  the  very  verge  of  the  rock  on  which  we  are  standing,  are  several 
beautiful  white  stalagmites,  or  rather  columns,  grouped  together,  among 
which  one  stands  pre-eminent.  This  is  Bonaparte  with  his  body-guard, 
crossing  the  Alps!  The  effect  is  peculiarly  fine  when  viewed  from  be- 
low. 

Without  descending  from  our  dangerous  elevation,  we  will  go  on  our 
way  a  little  further.  Proceeding  only  a  few  paces  from  the  Emperor, 
you  find  yourself  upon  an  arch  under  which  your  company  is  passing, 
which  is  very  appropriately  called  The  Natural  Bridge;  but  it  should 
be  crossed  with  great  caution — if  at  all — for  foot  hold  is  insecure,  and 
there  is  danger  of  being  precipitated  to  the  floor  beneath.  Retracing  our 
steps  nearly  to  Bonaparte's  statue,  we  will  descend  an  inclined  plane  on 
the  left,  and  by  a  jump  of  six  feet,  rejoin  our  friends  at  the  end  of  the 
Wilderness. 

You  are  now  upon  the  lowest  level  of  the  Cave,  and  at  the  entrance  of 
the  farthest  room.  This  is  Jefferson's  Hall — an  extensive  and  level 
but  not  very  elevated  apartment.  Before  1  describe  this  room,  we  must 
diverge  a  little  and  visit  one  or  two  rooms  that  branch  off  from  the  maia 
path.  Directly  to  your  right,  as  you  emerge  from  the  Wilderness,  there 
rises  an  immense  mass,  apparantly  of  solid  stalagmite,  thirty-six  feet  long 
— thirty  feet  broad — and  thirty  feet  high;  this  mass  is  beautiful  beyond 
description;  very  much  resembling  successive  stories,  and  is  called  the 
Tower  of  Babel!  The  most  magnificent  portion  of  the  Tower  is  on  the 
back  or  northern  part,  but  it  is  difficult  of  access,  for  it  is  necessary'  to 
climb  up  the  surface  of  the  rock  to  the  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet ; 
the  view  however  amply  repays  you  for  the  labor.  For  a  few  moments, 
you  can  scarcely  convince  yourself  that  an  immense  body  of  water  is  not 
pouring  over  the  precipice,  in  a  foaming  torrent — so  white,  so  dazzling  is- 
the  effulgence  of  the  rock,  and  when  this  impression  is  effaced,  the  words 
of  the  pious  Bard  rush  into  the  mind,  where  he  describes  tiie  awful  effects 
that  will  follow  the  consummation  of  all  things; 

^  The  Cataract^  that  like  a  Giant  wroth, 
^Rushed  down  impetuously,  as  seized  at  once 
'By  sudden  frosty  with  all  his  hoary  locks,  •• 
'Stood  still!." 

One  might  almost  imagine  that  Pollock  had  visited  this  wonder,  and 
caught  the  idea  so  forcibly  expressed  above,  from  viewing  this  magnifi- 
cent scene. 

We  have  already  so  much  exceeded  our  intended  limits,  ihnl  we  can 
only  look  into  the  large  apartment  that  occupies  the  space  behind  the 
Tower,  which  is  called  Sir  Walter  Scott's  Room,  and  then  hasten 
back  to  the  main  \vd\\\. 

Jefferson's  room,  that  we  left  some  time  since,  is  very  irregular  in 
shape,  and  is  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  long,  following  the  vari- 
ous windings.  What  is  commonly  called  the  end  of  the  Cave,  is  dis- 
tinsruished  by  two  singular,  thin,  lamellar  rocks,  five  or  six  feet  in  diarae- 


295  APPENDIX. 

ter,  united  at  their  bastos,  but  spreading  out  so  that  tha  outer  edges  are 
several  feet  apart;  this  <is  called  the  Fly  Trap  !  To  the  left  of  the  Fly 
Trap,  is  a  large  recess,  where  you  will  fiind  a  fine  spring  of  water,  at  which 
the  weary  visitor  is  glad  to  slake  his  thirst,  after  the  fatigues  of  his  ardu- 
ous undertaking. 

Very  many  visitors  have  their  curiosity  satisfied  long  before  they  have 
gone  over  the  ground  that  we  have,  but  I  am  writing  for  those  only,  w^ho 
like  me,  are  not  satisfied  until  everything  i?  seen  that  is  worthy  of  no- 
tice. Such  would  not  excuse  me,  did  I  not  mention  one  more  curiosity, 
that  few  are  inclined  to  visit.  A  few  yards  beyond  the  Fly-trap,  there  is 
an  opening  in  the  solid  wall,  at  the  height  of  about  twelve  feet,  through 
which  you  are  admitted  by  a  temporary  ladder.  Ey  hard  climbing,  you 
soon  penetrate  to  the  end  of  the  recess,  where  you  find  the  source  of  the 
l^ile:  This  is  a  beautiful,  limpid  spring,  covered  over  with  a  thin  pelli- 
cle of  stalagmite,  yet  sufficiently  strong  to  bear  your  weight; — in  this 
crust,  there  is  a  perforation  that  gives  you  access  to  the  water  beneath. 

I  have  thus  very  cursorily  described,  as  far  as  it  is  practicable,  this 
wonderful  cavern,  but  I  fesl  convinced  that  no  pen  can  adequately  de- 
scribe an  object  so  extensive,  so  magnificent,  and  so  varied  in  t:s  beau- 
ties. I  shall  only  add  a  few  remarks  in  explanation  of  the  motives  that 
induced  me  to  prepare  this  sketch,  and  some  general  facts  that  could  not, 
with  propriety,  have  been  stated  in  the  description  of  individual  portions 
of  the  Cave.  To  settle  a  dispute  relative  to  its  depth,  I  was  induced  to 
make  a  full  and  accurate  survey  of  the  whole  Cavern,  Vv^hich  I  found  had 
never  been  don?.  This  was  undertaken  solely  for  my  own  gratification, 
but  the  solicitations  of  the  Proprietor,  and  othei*s,have  induced  me  to  con- 
struct a  sort  of  Map,  which  is  now  before  the  public.  This  Description 
therefore,  may  be  depended  upon,  as  being  as  accurate  as  possible,  for 
the  distances,  heights,  elevations, &c.  are  given  from  actual  measurement. 
The  dotted  line  in  the  map,  represents  vrhat  has  so  often  been  called  the 
*'main  path,^"  and  if  we  measure  this  line  the  length  of  the  Cave  is  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  By  following  its  windings,  the  dis- 
tance maybe  more  than  doubled. 

At  all  times,  the  air  of  the  Cave  is  damp,  but  the  dampness  of  the  floor 
depends  much  upon  the  seasons;  if  you  except  a  moist  place  near  the 
Fly-trap,  there  is  no  standing  water  in  all  the  Cave.  The  temperature 
remains  invariably  at  fifty-six  degrees,  in  all  parts,  from  which  it  follows 
that  the  air  feels  quite  warm,  to  a  visitor  in  winter,  and  directly  the  re- 
verse in  summer,  and  it  is  therefore  important  that  in  the  summej  he 
should  become  perfectly  cool  before  he  enters,  and  in  winter,  before  he 
leaves  it.  The  spring  and  fall  are  the  best  seasons  fos  visiting  the  Cave, 
for  then  the  atmosphere  without,  is  nearly  of  the  same  temperature  wdth 
tliat  within,  and  it  is  more  dry  at  these  times. 

The  question  is  often  asked — which  of  the  two  great  curiosities  of  Vir- 
ginia is  the  greatest,  Weyer's  Cave  or  the  Natural  Bridge?  This  is  not 
a  fair  question;  neither  can  it  be  easily  answered;  for  they  are  totally  dif- 
ferent in  themselves,  and  in  their  effects  upon  observers.  You  visit  the 
Natural  Bridc^e  in  the  full  blaze  of  noon-day,  and  when  you  reach  the  ob- 
ject  ofy^UT  curiosity,  it  bursts  at  once  upon  your  view,  in  all  its  magnm 


APPENDIX.  29G 

cen*e  and  grandeur,  you  comprehend  at  once  the  magnitude  of  the  scene, 
and  you  tufn  away,  overpowered  with  a  sense  of  the  majesty  of  Him  who 
has  spanned  that  gulf,  and  thrown  His  arch  across  it.  Visit  it  as  often  as 
you  please,  this  feeling  returns  upon  you  with  unabated  force — but  no 
new  impressions  are  made — you  have  seea  the  whole. 

You  visit  the  Cave  by  the  dim  light  of  a  few  candles;  of  course  no  impres- 
sion will  at  first  be  produced,  or  if  any,  an  unfavorable  one.  As  success- 
ive portions  of  the  Cavern  are  presented  to  view,  they  produce  success- 
ive and  varied  emotions.  Now  you  are  filled  with  delight  at  the  beauty 
of  the  sparkling  ceilings; — again,  this  feeling  is  mingled  with  admiration, 
as  some  object  of  more  than  ordinary  beauty  presents  itself; — and  anon 
you  are  filled  with  awe  at  the  magnitude  of  the  immense  chambers,  the 
hollow  reverberations  of  the  lofty  arches,  and  the  profuse  display  of  the 
operations  of  an  omnipotent  hand.  Indistinctness  of  vision,  allows  free 
scope  to  the  imagination,  and  consequently  greatly  enhances  your  pleas- 
ure. 

Many  persons  go  away  from  the  Cave  disappointed;  they  hear  of 
rooms  and  ceilings,  and  if  they  do  not  expect  to  see  them  plaistered  and 
white  washed,  they  think  at  least  that  they  will  be  mathematically  regu- 
lar in  form,  and  that  they  will  be  able  to  walk  in  them  with  ^s  much  ease 
and  see  as  many  wonders  as  they  would  in  a  visit  to  Aladin's  palace!  A 
visit  to  the  Cave  is  not  unattended  with  fatigue,  but  the  pleaf^ure  you  de-^ 
rive  from  it,  is  ample  compensation. 

[The  author  of  Ihis  pamphlet  has  omitted  to  notice  what  I  consider  one 
of  the  greatest  and  most  beautiful  of  nature's  curiosities  in  this  grand 
work  of  nature,  i.  e.,  what  is  called  the  rising  moon.  In  a  dark  recess, 
on  the  Eastern  side  of  the  cave,  this  curiosity  appears  in  full  relief.  It  is 
a  very  natural  representation  of  the  moon  in  her  last  quarter,  rising  in 
the   morning.] 

(NOTE   A.) 

Since  the  publication  of  the  first  edition  of  this  Description,  a  discov- 
^vj  of  great  interest  has  been  made  in  the  Infernal  Region:^,  which  de- 
serves notice,  on  account  of  its  extraordinary  richness  and  rarity.  The 
floor  of  this  apartment,  until  recently,  has  been  supposed  to  be  solid  rock, 
hut  it  is  now  ascertained  to  be  a  rich  mine  of  calcareous  deposites,  surpass- 
ing in  beauty  anything  ever  yet  discovered  in  this  or  any  other  Cavern.  By 
perforating  the  floor  with  a  crow  bar,  it  was  found  to  consist  of  successive 
layers  of  brilliant  white  ciystals,  to  tlie  depth  of  three  itiet — the  layers 
being  often  interrupted,  and  varying  in  width. 

The  cjystals  are  usually  pendent  from  the  lower  surfaces  of  the  layers, 
though  very  many  of  them  serve  as  pillars  to  su})port  the  sujK"incumbent 
mass.  After  penetrating  through  the  layers,  a  large  gcode  or  hollow 
space  was  discovered,  extending  many  yards  horizontally,  but  only  three 
feet  deq),  which  was  half  full  of  very  limpid  water.  In  this  cavity  the 
crystals  assume  the  form  of  well-defined  dog-tooth  spar,andar('  unrivalled 
in  brilliancy  ;md  beauty.  In  the  course  of  extensi^e  and  minute  explora- 
tions in  ditl'erent  Caves  in  this  .ind   oth(M-  States,  1  havr  never  met  wilii  a 


•m 


29T  APPENDIX. 

similar  formation,  or  with  crystals  of  such  transcendent  beauty.  By  the 
kindness  of  the  Proprietor,  I  have  been  enabled  to  make  a  choice  collec- 
tion of  specimens,  embracing  almost  every  variety.  For  one  of  these  I 
have  refused  $100. 

(NOTE  B.) 

Much  has  been  said  of  late,  of  another  Cave  that  has  been  discovered 
within  two  years,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Weyer's.  A  few  words 
respecting  it  may  not  be  uninteresting.  You  gain  admittance  by  a  long 
flight  of  steps,  and  immediately  find  yourself  in  a  large  apartment,  the  first 
veiv»^  of  which,  (under  the  circumstances  in  which  I  first  saw  it — by  the 
li^ht  of  several  hundred  candles,)  is  very  imposing. 

Pillars  and  enormous  pendent  stalactites  impart  an  air  of  wildness  and 
irregularity  to  the  scene,  that  is  not  observable  in  the  other  Cave.  There 
are  few  narrow  passages; — the  cavern  seems  to  be  comprised  in  one  im- 
mense room,  its  floor  however  being  so  uneven  and  rugged,  and  the  view 
so  much  curtailed  by  pillars  and  stalactites  that  extend  nearly  to  the  floor, 
that  the  effect  which  otherwise  w^ould  be  produced  by  its  vastness,  is  very 
sensibly  diminished.  I  have  not  space  to  describe  this  Cave  more  mi- 
nutely, but  wnll  briefly  give  my  impressions  of  the  comparative  merits  of 
these  rival  claimants  of  our  admiration.  We  are  immicdiately  struck  with 
astonishment  and  pleasure,  at  the  general  view  that  is  presented  to  us  in 
Weast^s  Cave,  as  long  as  we  look  at  it  at  a  little  distance — but  our  emo- 
tions are  not  very  varied;  and  when  w^e  examine  closely  the  objects  of 
our  admiration,  our  emotions  subside,  for  their  beauty  is  gone. 

As  vs^e  enter  Weyer's  Cave,  we  are  not  transported  w4th  those  violent 
yet  agreeable  emotions,  but  as  we  proceed,  new  and  richer  beauties  rise 
successively  before  us,  and  our  feelings  rise  with  them,  until  they  reach  an 
almost  painful  degree  of  intenseness,  nor  is  the  effect  lessened  b}^  the  most 
minute  examination  of  the  objects  of  our  admiration.  Weast's  Cave  richly 
deserves  a  visit  from  all  w^ho  love  to  contemplate  the  w^orks  of  Nature, 
but  in  variety,  in  beauty,  and  in  general  effect,  it  must  yield  the  palm  to 
Weyer's. 


■APPENDIX.  288 


V. 


-;o: 


ACCOUNT  OF  THE  MhlDlGAL  PKOPERITES 

OF    THE 

GREY    SULPHUR    8PRI?^GS, 


The  great  reputation  which  the  Mineral  Springs  of  Virginia  have  of  late 
years  acquired,  causes  them  to  be  resorted  to,  in  great  numbers,  not  only 
hy  invalids  from  every  section  of  the  U.  S.  and  foreign  parts,  but  also  by 
individuals  of  leisure  and  fashion,  whose  principal  object  is,  to  pass  the 
summer  in  an  agreeable  manner.  The  properties  of  the  Warm,  Hot,  Sweet, 
White  Sulphur,  Salt  Sulphur,  and  Red  Sulphur  Springs,  are  generally 
known.  Those  of  the  Grey  Sulphur  having  been  ascertained  only  within 
the  two  last  years,  have  yet  to  be  made  public,  and  in  order  to  do  so,  we 
are  induced  to  give,  in  this  form,  an  account  of  the  situation  and  medical 
properties,  together  with  a  statement  of  some  of  the  cases  benefited  by 
the  use  of  the  waters. 

The  Grey  Sulphur  Springs  are  situated  near  the  line,  dividing  the  coun- 
ties of  Giles  and  Monroe,  Va.,  on  the  main  road  leading  irom  the  court- 
house of  the  one  to  that  of  the  other.  They  are  3-4  of  a  mile  from  Peters- 
town,  nine  miles  from  the  Red  Sulphur,  and  by  the  county  road,  twenty 
and  a  quarter  miles  from  the  Salt  Sulphur  Spring.  In  traveling  to  the 
Virginia  Springs,  by  either  the  main  Tennessee  or  Goodspur  Gap  road, 
and  crossing  the  country  from  Newbern,  by  the  stage  road  to  the  Sulphur 
Springs,  the  Grey  Sulphur  are  the  first  arrived  at.  They  are  thirty  miles 
distant  from  Newbern.  The  location  is  such  as  to  admit  of  many  and 
variied  improvements,  which  when  completed,  will  render  this  spot  an  el- 
egant and  desirable  resort  during  the  summer  months,  independent  of  the 
liigh  medicinal  properties  of  the  Mineral  Waters. 

The  present  improvements  consist  of  a  brick  Hotel  ninety  feet  long  aiid 
thirty-two  wide;  two  ranges  of -cabins  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  feet  long 
each,  which,  with  other  buildings  in  connexion,  afford  accommodation  for 
from  ninety  to  one  hundred  visitors. 

There  are  two  springs  at  this  establishment,  situated  within  five  feet  of 
each  other  and  inclosed  in  one  buildinir.  Althourrh  risijiij  so  near  to  each 
other,  yet  they  difTer  most  materially  in  their  action  on  the  system.  Both 
appear  to  be  peculiarly  serviceable  in  dyspejitic  cases,  and  in  such  as  (Orig- 
inate in  a  disordered  state  of  the  stomacli — the  one  in  those,  in  which  in- 
Hammation  exists,  the  other  in  such  as  proceed  from  torpidity.  They  have 
hitherto  been  known  as  Large  and  Small  Springs;  but  having  succeeded 
•towards  the  clf?J<e  of  the  last  i-^.scu  in  prccurincr  a  much  hirger  supply  of 


299  APPENDIX. 

"vvater  at  tJie  Small    Spring-,  than  is  alforded    bj  the  Large,  a  change    of 
names  beciame  necessary.     The  large  will  hereafter  be  known  as  the  An- 
^ti-Dyspeptic,  and  the  Small  as  the  Aperient,  which    names  will  serve  to 
point  out  their  peculiar  characteristics. 

These  Springs  have  been  classed  by  Professor  Shepard,  as  ^'-.^Ikalino 
Sulpliurgusy^^  a  variety  so  rarely  met  with,  that  another  is  not  known  in 
the  United  States.  The  waters  are  beautifully  clear,  and  highly  charged 
with  gas,  which  render  them  light  and  extremely  pleasant,  especially  that 
of  the  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  wkich  produces  none  of  those  unpleasant 
sensations  so  frequently  felt  on  the  first  drinking  of  Mineral  Waters. 

When  first  purchased  some  of  the  water  was  submitted  to  a  chemist  for 
analysis;  the  quantity,  however,  was  too  small  for  him  to  ascertain  all  its 
ingredients.  A  more  recent  examination  has  been  made  by  Professor  C. 
U.  Shepard,  who  has  furnished  us  with  the  following  abstract  of  an  arti- 
cle which  appears  in  the  April  Number  (1836)  of  Professor  Silliman's 
Journal  of  Science  and  arts. 

"The  follov>ang  is  the  most  satisfactory  view  which  ray  experiments 
enable  me  to  present  of  the  condition  of  these  Waters. 

Specific  gravity,  1,003. 

SOLUBLE  i:^gredii:nts. 

Nitrogen, 

Hydro- Sulphuric  acid, 

Bi-Carbonate  of  Soda,* 

A  Super  Carbonate  ef  Lime, 

Chloride  of  Calcium, 

Chloiide  of  Sodium, 

Sulphate  of  Soda, 

An  Alkaline  or  carthv  Crenate,  or  both. 

Silicic  acid. 

INSO LUBL  E     1 >  GKE Dl E NTS . 

Sulphuret  of  Iron, 

Crenate  of  Per  Oxide  of  Iron, 

Silicic  acid, 

Alumina, 

Silicate  of  Iron. 
j\Iy  experiments  do  not  permit  me  to  point  out  the  diiTerences  betweeili 
the  two  Springs  with  precision.  The  new  Spring  appears  to  give  rise  to 
a  greater  amount  of  hydro -sulphuric  acid,  as  VvtU  as  of  iron  and  silicic 
acid.  Probably  it  may  differ  in  still  other  respects.  I  have  not  examin- 
ed it  for  Iodine  or  Bromine." 

As  no  reo-Lilar  analysis  was  attempted,  the  quantities  in  which  these 
several  ingrdients  exist,  still  remain  undetermined.  That  they  are  in 
different  ])roportions  in  the  two  Springs,  is  evident  not  only  from  their  de- 
])osites,  ])(it  also  from  their  action  on  the  system..  The  action  of  the  Anti- 
l)y:^pej)tic  Spring  is  diuretic  and   gently  aperient,  tending  to  restore    the 


*fi  i-.iiinwl  \,c  drtrrininrd  whelher  free  carbonic  acid  exist?  in  tJicse  wa* 
1,/ys  without  li'oifM':  in'd  ;i  quantilalirr-  nualvsis.  —  C   !'■.  S. 


APPENDIX,  300 

liealthj  performance  of  liie  functions,  and  reduce  or  diffuse  the  local  irri- 
tation of  disease.  Tlie  Aperient  Spring  while  it  possesses  all  the  nlka- 
line  properties  of  the  other,  has  an  aperient  and  alterative  action.  Pos- 
sessing more  iron,  (of  which  the  other  has  but  a  trace,)  it  acts  more  pow- 
•erfully  as  a  tonic,  whilst  its  other  ingredients  cause  it  to  act  in  tome  cases 
as  a  very  powerful  aperient. 

As  these  Springs  have  been  visited  by  invalids,  only  during  the  two  last 
seasons,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  all  their  properties  have  not  yet 
been  discovered,  nor  all  the  cases  ascertained  in  which  they  can  be  bene- 
ficially used.  In  fact,  owing  to  the  small  quantity  of  water  furnished 
hitherto  by  the  Aperient  Sprmg,  its  qualities  have  been  but  little  tested, 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt,  (judging  from  its  constituents)  that  it  will  be 
found  equally  salubrious  as  the  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  only  better  adap- 
ted to  another  class  of  cases.  To  give  a  general  idea  of  the  properties  of 
these  waters,  we  might  say  that  they  are  peculiarly  serviceable  in  those 
diseases  which  originate  in  a  disordered  state  of  the  stomach  and  bowels, 
and  also  in  hepatic  affections.  It  is  proper,however,  to  enter  more  into  de- 
tails, and  we  therefore,  sul^mit  the  following  synopsis  of  the  medical  prop 
ertics   of  the  Anti-Dyspepiic  Spring. 

Medical    Pro-pertiks. 

1 .  It  relieves  nausia  and  headaches,  arising  from  disordered  stomachs. 

2.  Neutralizes  acidity,  and  if  taken  at  meals,  or  mirnediately  after,  it 
has  a  tendency  to  prevent  those  unpleasant  sensations  so  often  experienced 
by  invalids,  from  indiscretion  in  dieting. 

3.  Is  an  excellent  tonic,  exciting  appetite  and  imparting  strength  to 
<ligcstion. 

4.  Quiets  irritation  of  the  alimentary  canal. 

5.  Controls  and  lessens  the  force  of  the  circulation  when  unnaturally 
excited  by  disease,  and  often  in  this  way,  is  remedial  in  internal  inflam- 
mation of  the  organs. 

6.  It  tranquillzes  nervous  irritability. 

7.  Is  a  mild  and  certain  expectorant,  often  allaying  dyspnoa"",  and  pro- 
moting recovery  from  chronic  ailments  o^  the  chest  or  wind  pipe. 

8.  It  alters  the  action  of  the  liver,  where  this  has  been  previouj^ly  de- 
ranged, in  a  manner  peculiar  to  itself,  and  under  circumstan^eg  in  which 
the  ordinary  alteratives  are  forbidden  by  reason  of  their  excitivc  or  (^tlici- 
W'ise  irrelevant  jihopejties. 

9.  It  is  also  sudorific  or  diaphoretic;  and 

10.  When  taken  at  bedtime,  often  j)roves  itself  soporific;  apj-Kirrntly 
stilling  that  indescribable,  but  loo  well  understood  in(}uieludt>  whick  so 
frequently  and  unli.ippily  interrupts  or  prevents  the  repose  of  the  invalid, 
and  especially  of  the  dyspejitic. 

Ihningthus  briefly  stated  the  properties  of  this  Sprmg,  we  submit  the 
■following  stat«ment  of  cases,  treated  at  the  Gray  Sul})hur.  illustrative  wf 
the  effect  of  the  waters,  and  in  corroboration  of  what  has  been  advanced. 
Exrept  those  which  are  noticed  in  their  proper  places,  all  arc  cit^ier  df- 
rertly  from  the  pen  of  the  sufl^erers  themselves,  cr  were  JRiraediately  dic- 
':atfd  by  them,  in  the  fcrm  in  v.-h:tL  'hc-y  appear  in  the  nttes.     TJie  orig- 


301  APPENDIX. 

inals  are  in  our  possession,  signed  by  the  individuals  whose  cases  arc  re- 
ferred to. 

No.   1. 

Dzar  Sir, — I  take  pleasure  in  stating  that  the  waters  of  the  Grey  Sul- 
phur have  proved  quite  benehcial,  during  a  visit  of  ten  days,  both  to  Mrs. 
S.  and  myself.  We  have  both  been  suffering  with  that  distressing  mala- 
dy, Dyspepsia,  for  a  long  time,  and  in  my  case  with  a  general  nervous 
debility,  a  weak  and  torpid  state  of  the  stomach  and  the  bowels,  and  at 
times  great  distress  of  the  head  and  mind,  and  nervous  excitement,  even 
to  spasms.  After  drinking  freely  of  the  Mnti- Dyspeptic  Spring,  even  at 
meals,  the  water  produced  a  fine  glow  and  perspiration,  suspended  the 
nervous  irritation  and  distress,  and  acting  as  a  tonic  for  the  stomach,  cre- 
ated a  strong  appetite  and  enabled  me  to  partake,  with  impunity,  of  any 
or  all  the  solid  and  delicate  dishes  with  which  your  table  abounded.  The 
water  of  the  Jinti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  corrected  and  prevented  acidity  of 
the  stomach,  and  seemed  to  give  activity  and  strength  to  that  organ — but 
\ve  required  a  free  use  of  the  Aperient  Spring,  in  the  mornings,  to  pre- 
vent a  constipation  of  the  bowels,  which  the  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring  seem- 
ed to  produce.*  A  glass  or  two  of  the  Anti- Dyspeptic  Spring,  on  retir- 
ing, produced  a  glow",  allayed  nervous  irritation,  and  induced  a  fine 
night's  sleep;  and  we  have,  as  well  as  our  servant  woman,  who  was  in  a 
debilitated  state  of  health,  experienced  more  benefit  here  than  from  any  of 
the  Waters  we  have  as  yet  visited. 

Respectfully  yours,  &:c. 

No.2. 

Dear  Sir, — It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  the  general  ef- 
fects of  your  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  in  my  case.  During  the  three  day's 
trial  of  the  waters,  I  am  convined  of  its  diuretic  and  diaphoretic  qualities, 
and  in  one  instance  it  acted  as  an  alterative  on  my  liver,  producing  a  free 
discharge  of  billions  matter.  My  general  health  has  improved,  the  symp- 
toms of  my  disease  (Neuralgia)  have  mitigated,  my  appetite  increased,  my 
pulse  has  become  more  tranquil  and  regular,  and  my  sleep  more  contin- 
ued and  refreshing.  I  have  also  gained  strength  and  weight,  (three 
pounds  in  three  days,)  during  my  short  sojourn  with  you. 

Yours  respectfully, 

No.  3. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1835, 1  arrived  at  the  Gray  Sulphur  Springs,  in 
a  state  of  much  depression,  accompanied  by  a  fever  and  a  rapid  pulse — 
both  arising  from  a  complication  of  disorders  belonging  to  the  throat,  the 
stomach  and  bowels.  In  the  afternoon  I  drank  of  the  Anti-Dyspeptic 
Spring,  and  its  immediate  effect  was  to  produce  a  gentle  moisture  of  the 
skin,  and  to  reduce  the  pulse  from  an  hundred  beats  in  a  minute  to  about. 


*Ih  a  few  instances  this  effect  was  complained  of,  but  we  found  it  was 
only  in  those  cases  where  habitual  costiveness  existed,  And  this  was  eas- 
ily rcniedied  by  making  use  of  the  Aperient    Spring  before  breakfast. 


APPENDIX.  302 


elghly.  In  the  evening,  my  system  generally  was  relieved.  On  going  to 
bed  I  drank  of  the  same  spring,  and  on  the  following  morning  felt  a  contin= 
uanee  of  the  same  agreeable  influence,  and  an  improved  appetite.  In  the 
at^ernoon  there  was  a  further  reduction  of  pulse,  and  my  fever  entirely 
subsided,  but  partially  returned  in  the  night,  with  quickness  of  pulse,  but 
by  m)  means  accelerated  as  it  was  when  I  came.  In  the  course  of  the 
second  day,  the  pulse  beat  sixty  per  minute^  but  quickened  again.  The 
first  twenty-four  or  thirty-six  hours  experience  was  followed  by  similar 
effects,  the  two  following  days,  one  of  which  I  confined  myself  to  the 
Aperient  Spring,  and  perceived  no  difference.  Neither  of  them  had  the 
effect  to  move  my  bowels,  but  on  the  contrary  to  constipate  them.  I  am 
much  inclined  to  believe,  that  a  continuance  of  these  w^aters  l^ight  have 
a  salutary  influence  upon  my  very  singular^  very  troublesome,  and  very 
obstinate  case,  if  I  can  judge  of  their  agreeable  effect  upon  my  skin, 
my  spirits  and  system  generally,  in  so  short  a  time  as  three  days.  There 
w\^s  a  continued  reduction  of  the  pulse  from  an  accelerated  action,  pro- 
duced at  the Sulphur  Spring,  by  drinking  its  waters;  but  it  varied, 

being  considerably  quickened  in  the  evening  and  during  the  night.  The 
appetite  was  much  improved  and  continued  uniform.  I  regret  that  I 
could  not  rem.ain  long  enough  at  the  Grey  Sulphur  to  test  its  effects  upon 
my  chronic  complaints. 

No.  4. 

I\Ir.  H had   had  frequent  hemorrhages,  accompanied  witli  a  pain 

in  the  chest — his  cough  was  slight,  but  he  suffered  much  from  phlegm. 
Twenty-four  hours  after  being  at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  on  examining  his 
pulse,  it  was  found  to  be  about  one  hondred.  Made  use  of  the  Anti-Dys- 
peptic Spring,  taking  about  three  tumblers  per  diem.  Three  days  after, 
(about  the  same  hour  of  the  dciy,)  his  pulse  was  again  examined  and 
found  to  be  reduced  to   seventy-six  beats  per  minute,  and  he  felt  much 

better.     Having  left  home  for Spring,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  go 

there.  About  a  month  after,  he  returned.  He  had  gradually  improved 
in  health,  and  looked  much  better,  and  was  evidently  so.  His  pulse, 
however,  was  much  too  frequent,  and  he  could  not  get  it  lowered.  After 
leaving  the  Grey  Sulphur,  it  had  risen  up,  to  from  eighty-five  to  ninety, 
and  in  the  afternoon  was  frequently  at  one  hundred.  In  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  he  arrived,  his  pulse  was  counted,  and  found  to  be  one  hundred. 

After  remaining  five  days,  he  again  left  for   the Spring,  his  pulse 

varied,  during  his  stay  at  the  Grey,  from  seventy-five  to  ninety,  but 
never  reached  so  high  as  one  hundred.  His  complexion  became  clearer, 
his  spirits  better,  and  his  cough   entirely  left  Iiim.     It  had  been  gradually 

lessening  at  the Spring,   but  he  could  not  get  rid   of  it  altogether, 

and  was,  moreover,  very  annoying  to  liim  early  in  the  mornings.  In  re- 
ply to  an  enquiry,  he  stated,  after  a  little  reflection,  'Hhat  he  had  not 
coughed  once,  that  he  could  recollect,  since  ||iis  (recent)  arrival  at  the 
Grey,  and  expectorated  with  more  ease  the  plilegm  which  collcrled  in  his 
throat.'' 

Note.— The  above  is  extracted  from  notes  we  kept  of  a  few  cases  du- 
ring last  summor.     Not  inlentlincr,  at  first,   to  publish  thpm,  we  did  not 


30.1  APPENDIX. 

^iibk  tlie  ceiisent  of  Mr.  li.,  siid  we  hope    he  will  pardon  the    liberty  we 
have  taken. 

The  three  following  cases-^  which  occurred  in  1834,  we  give  from  notes 
raade  soon  after,  and  whilst  the  ciicumstances  were  fresh  in  our  memory, 
and  for  the  correctness  of  which  we  hold  ourselves  responsible. 

No.  b. 

Mr.  A.  W.  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  in  August,  1834. 
His  h«alth  had  been  feeble  for  some  time,  though  in  appearance  he  looked 
but  little  like  an  invalid.  On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  after  his  ar- 
rival at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  he  had,  whilst  standing  at  the  Spring  house,  a 
considerable  hemorrhage — a  half  pint  of  blood,  at  least,  was  spit  up  in  a 
ver^'  short  time.  A  little  common  salt  was  administered,  which  had  the 
effect  of  stopping  it.  It  being  deemed  improper  for  him  to  move  immedi- 
ately, he  was  induced  to  lie  down  on  one  of  the  benches.  About  half  an 
hour  after  this  occurrence,  his  pulse  was  felt  for  the  first  time.  It  then 
beat  one  hundred  and  eighteen  per  minute;  nor  did  it  vary  for  the  next 
half  hour.  He  was  persuaded  to  take  some  of  the  water  of  the  Anti- 
Dyspeptic  Spring,  which  he  was  loth  at  first  to  do,  lest  a  recurrence  of 
the  hemorrhage  should  take  place.  He  took  about  a  half  pint  of  water, 
in  small  quantities  at  a  time,  with  intervals  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  min- 
utes between  eaah.  In  about  an  hour  from  the  drinking  of  the  first  por- 
tion of  the  water,  the  pulse  was  reduced  to  ninety-eight  beats  per  minute. 
Soon  after,  he  was  assisted  up  to  his  room  and  put  to  bed.  His  pulse 
was  not  again  examined  until  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  (the  hem- 
orrhage had  occurred  about  10  o'clock,  A.  M.)  it  was  then  foiuid  to  have 
fallen  to  eighty-six.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  he  had  taken  about  a  pint 
of  wat-er,  in  quantities  of  about  a  half  tumbler  at  a  time.  The  next  morn- 
ing his  pulse  was  agam  examined,  and  found  to  have  fallen  to  eighty-four 
beats  periminute.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  he  left  his  bed  and  came 
down  stairs,  and  the  day  following,  he  left  the  Grey  for  the  Red  Sulphur, 
to  obtain  Medical  advice.  His  pulse  was  not  examined  after  he  left  his 
bed. 

No.  6, 

Mr.  M.,  of  South-Carolina,  had  been  long  a  dyspeptic,  and  had  suffer- 
ed, for  many  years,  from  Chronic  Dirrrrhtca.  Early  in  the  season  of  1834, 
he  visited  the  Saratoga  Springs — the  water  proved  injurious  to  him. — • 
From  thence  he  visited  the  White  Sulphur,  Salt  Sulphur,  and  Red  Sul- 
phur Springs,  without  experiencing  material  benefit.  When  he  arrived- 
at  the  Grey  Sulphur  Springs,  he  was  exceedingly  feeble  and  had  to  be  as- 
sisted about,  and  for  several  days  scarce  ever  left  his  chamber,  except  at 
mea:l  times.  His  passages  were  very  frequent,  from  eight  to  ten  during 
the  night,  and  about  the  same  number  during  the  day.  He  had  entirely 
lost  the  power  of  secretin^Virine,  and  all  liquids  which  he  drank  passed- 
through  his  bowels  mixed  up  with  undigested  food.  His  passages  were 
thin  and  of  a  whitish  clay  color,  apparantly  made  up  of  water  and  undi- 
gested food,  the  latter  so  little  changed  as  to  be  easily  recognised.  In 
three  days,  his  passages  were  reduced  to  from  tv>o  to  three  each  night, 


APPENDIX.  304 

and  about  the  same  number  during  the  day,  the  consistency  and  color  also 
changed.  In  a  week's  time,  this  change  was  still  greater.  The  number 
of  passages  were  about  the  same,  but  they  became  of  a  bright  yellow  col- 
or, and  similar  to  a  chdd's  in  consistency.  He  moreover  secreted  urine 
freely,  and  on  one  occasion  he  informed  us,  that  he  had  passed  a  large 
quantity  of  "pure  bile."  His  bowels  remained  nearly  in  this  state,  du- 
ring the  time  he  remained  at  the  Spring,  (about  a  fortnight,)  but  he  im- 
proved greatly  in  bodily  health,  walked  out,  was  cheerful,  and  in  every 
respect  appeared  better.  The  intended  stoppage  of  the  stage  hurried 
him  off  earlier  than  he  wished.  He  left  the  Grey  Sulphur  with  the  belief 
that  he  had  derived  considerable  benefit  from  the  use  of  the  Waters.  It 
is  proper  to  remark,  that  his  appetite  was  enormous,  and  that  he  did  not 
restrict  himself  in  his  diet. 

Note. — There  were  several  other  cases  of  Diarrhoea  at  the  Grey  Sul- 
pher,  in  1834;  all  were  materially  benefited  by  the  use  of  the  Anti-Dys- 
peptic Spring. 

No.  7. 

I\Ir.  L arrived  at  the  Grey    Sulphur  Springs   about  4  o'clock    in 

the  afternoon.  He  had  been  for  some  time  m  a  delicate  state  of  health 
and  had  sufTered  much  during  the  day.  Early  in  the  morning  he  had 
been  seized  with  nausea,  which  brought  on  vomiting.  The  irritation  in- 
creased during  the  day,  and  the  vomiting  became  frequent  and  easily  ex- 
cited— all  food  was  immediately  rejected,  and  so  irritable  became  the 
stomach,  that  two  mouthfuls  of  water,  taken  a  short  time  befoi'e  reaching 
the  Grey  Sulphur,  were  thrown  up  before  he  could  recline  back  in  his 
carriage.  He  was  very  much  exhausted  when  he  arrived,  but  without  sit- 
ting down,  requested  to  be  shown  to  the  Spring.  We  accompanied  him 
down.  He  took  a  glass  of  the  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  paused  for  a  few 
seconds,  then  took  another.  A  minute  or  two  elapsed,  and  he  then  drank 
several  in  quick  succession.  The  precise  properties  of  the  water  had 
not  then  been  ascertained,  and  we  felt  bound  to  caution  him  against  ma- 
king such  free  use  of  an  untried  water,  although  we  then  knew  nothing  of 
his  case.  He  laid  down  the  glass  and  walked  up  to  the  house  with  us. — 
On  the  way,  he  mentioned  the  particulars  already  given — in  continua- 
tion, he  stated,  that  on  drinking  the  first  tuml)ler  of  water,  he  experienced 
a  slight  nausea,  as  the  first  of  it  reached  the  coat  of  the  stomach,  but  that 
this  wore  off  almost  instantaneously.  Being  much  exhausted  and  ex- 
ceedingly thirsty,  he  determined  to  venture  a  second,  although  lie  firmly 
believed  that  both  would  ])e  thrown  up.  Not  the  slightest  nausea  was 
experienced  on  drinking  the  second  tumbler  of  water.  Sur])rised  at  this 
cfTect,  he  determined  to  ascertain  what  would  be  tlie  effect  of  taking  it  in 
larger  quantities,  and  for  this  purpose  he  drank  about  four  tumblers  more, 
when  lie  was  ])fcvented  from  proceeding  fuither  by  our  remarks,  'i'iu- 
great  quantity  he  had  taken,  not  only  produced  no  unpleasant  sensations, 
baton  the  contrary,  removed  those  he  liad  previously  experienced,  ajid 
served  to  revive  him.  In  the  course  oftlie  afternoon,  he  took  two  or 
three  glasses  more  of  the  water.     About  7  o'clock,  supjxr  was  served,  of 


305  APPENDIX. 

^.vhich  he  partook  freely,  making  choice  of  substantial  food,  such  as  boil- 
ed chicken,  bread,  rice,  &c.  Not  the  slightest  nausea  was  produced. — 
Fearing  a  recurrence  the  next  morning,  he  was  advised  to  take  some  of 
the  water  before  he  left  his  bed.  We  were  informed,  that  a  slight  nau- 
sea was  felt,  but  it  immediately  wore  oif  on  drinking  a  glass  of  water. — 
In  similar  attacks,  w^hich  this  gentleman  had  previously  had,  each  w^as 
succeeded  by  such  costiveness  that  medicine  had  to  be  resorted  to.  In 
the  present  one.  there  was  no  occasion  for  medicine  ;  the  evacuations  were 
large  and  the  bowels  continued  regular  during  the  time  he  remained;  nor 
did  he  at  any  tim,e  thereafter,  experience  any  nausea,  with  which  we 
were  made  acquainted. 

No.  8. 

Extract  of  a  letter,  dated  J\'^ew  York,  Jan,  21,  1836. 

"It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  I  fully  realized  all  the 
benefit^  had  been  led  to  anticipate  from  the  use  of  the  Waters  of  the 
Grey  Sulphur  (Anti-Dyspeptic)  Spring,  with  which  you  so  kindly  pro- 
vided me.  On  Monday  morning,  I  w^as  very  sea  sick,  so  that  I  could  not 
leave  my  berth  without  vomiting,  but  on  taking  half  a  tumbler  of  the  wa- 
ter, I  was  sensibly  relieved.  I  continued  to  use  it  agreeably  to  your  di- 
rections, taking  half  a  tumbler  at  intervals  of  fifteen  minutes,  till  the  bot- 
tle was  exhausted.  By  that  time,  I  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to 
go  about  the  deck  with  great  comfort,  and  took  a  hearty  meal,  both  at 
dinner  and  supper.  The  next  morning,  however,  the  weather  having  be- 
come more  boisterous,  and  the  sea  running  high,  I  was  again  very  sick, 
but  my  resource  had  failed  me,  and  I  had  only  to  yield  myself  quietly  to 
the  influence  of  that  most  distressing  affection.  From  the  result  of  the 
experiment,  I  am  satisfied  that  it  is  the  best  remedy  for  sea  sickness  that  I 
have  ever  heard  of,  and  that,  had  not  the  supply  of  water  failed,  I  should 
not  have  lost  one  meal  during  the  voyage. 

The  following  note  which  has  been  kindly  furnished  us,  refers  to  the 
same  subject: — 

Dear  Sir, — The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  received  by  me,  from 
Mr,  J.  H.,  who  went  passenger  by  the  Steam  Boat  Wm.  Gibbons,  in  Jan- 
uary last,  showing  the  very  l3eneficial  effects  of  the  Grey  Sulphur  Water, 
in  relieving  him  from  sea  sickness. 

"The  effects  of  the  water  on  me,  were  most  beneficial,  and  while  the 
supply  lasted,  relieved  me  entirely  of  nausea,  so  that  I  was  enabled  to  eat 
heartily." 

Having  been  at  sea  with  Mr.  H.,  I  bear  testimony  that  he  is  a  com- 
plete victim  to  sea  sickness,  and  I  do  not  know  any  one  on  whom  the 
effects  cf  that  water  could  be  better  tested. 

No.  9. 

Sir, — It  affords  me  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  the  efficacy  of  the  w^a- 
ters  of  the  Grey  Sulphur  Spring  in  my  case.  I  have  been  suffering  from 
Dyspepsia,  for  at  least  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  it  has  made  fear- 
ful inroads  on  a  naturally  delicate  constitution.  The  disease  had  pro- 
gressed so  far  (a  fev/ years  ago)  that  the  slight  stimulus  of  food,  produc- 


APPENDIX.  306 

-cd  an  imiiiediale  evacuation  after  every  meal.  This  state  of  things  could 
not  last,  and  a  most  violent  inflailnnation  of  the  bowels  ensued,  which 
brought  me  to  the  borders  of  the  grave,  and  eventuated  in  the  formation 
of  a  Jistala  in  anno.  The  sinusses  spread  so  far,  and  became  so  numer- 
ous, that  I  was  forced  to  have  some  of  them  laid  open,  but  having  a  pre- 
disposition to  pulmonary  affections,  it  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  operate 
on  all  of  them.  My  digestive  organs  had  not  recovered  their  strength, 
and  the  irritation  of  undigested  food,  (though  I  had  lived  extremely  low) 
kept  up  the  inflammation,  and  this  at  last  extended  to  the  neck  of  the 
bladder,  and  became  extremely  distressing.  To  remove  the  inflamma- 
tion and  obtain  relief,  I  had  recourse  to  mustard  poultices  and  opiates,  but 
the  relief  was  very  temporary.  Whilst  suffering  much  from  this  cause,  I 
was  induced  to  set  off"  for  the  Virginia  Springs,  At  that  time,  my  bodily 
health  was  so  much  impaired,  that  I  was  almost  incapable  of  transacting 
business':  all  employmennt,  (even  reading)  w^as  irksome  to  me.  My  di- 
gestion was  so  bad  that  I  scarce  knew  w^iat  to  live  on;  every  thing,  how- 
ever  plain,  appeared  to  disagree  with  me,  and  I  w^as  at  times  truly  weari- 
ed of  life,  for  I  looked  forward  only  to  a  life  of  pain  and  suffering.  Such 
w^as  my  situation,  when  in  1834,  I  left  my  home  for  the  Springs.  On 
my  journey,  I  did  not  improve  in  health,  but  on  the  contrary,  had  a  slight 
attack  of  diarrhoea.  The  irritation  around  the  bladder  continued,  or  rath- 
er increased,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  make  use  of  opiates  daily,  and 
sometimes,  two  or  three  times  in  the  course  of  the  day.  The  first  Spring 
I  arrived  at,  was  the  Grey  Sulphur.  This  I  consider  fortunate,  as  I  found, 
on  trial,  that  all  of  the  others  were  too  stimulating  for  me,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Red  Sulphur,  and  from  that,  I  am  not  aware  of  experien- 
cing any  material  benefit.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  enabled  me  satisfactorily 
to  ascertain  that  the  waters  of  the  Grey  Sulphur  Spring,  were  decidedly 
beneficial  in  my  case.  I  can  scarcely  describe  my  situation  w'hen  I  ar- 
rived at  your  Spring.  I  was  weak,  feverish,  and  laboring  under  a  kind 
of  nervous  excitement,  whilst  the  inflammation  had  evidently  increased, 
and  I  suffered  much  from  it,  especially  towards  evening.  I  have  been 
thus  particular,  that  the  action  of  the  water  may  be  more  distinctly  under- 
stoocl.  The  first  day  of  my  arrival,  I  drank  freely  of  tht  Anti-Dyspep- 
tic, Spring.  I  took  no  note  of  the  quantity,  but  drank  whenever  I  felt 
thirsty,  or  had  an  inclination,  and  1  must  confess,  with  but  little  expecta- 
tion of  finding  relief,  or  at  least,  not  immediate,  for  your  Spring  had  not 
then  obtained  that  celebrity,  which  I  am  glad  to  find  it  hns  since  acquir- 
ed. Judge,  then,  of  my  very  agreeable  surprise,  at  finding  in  the  eve- 
ning, (the  lime  when  the  })aroxisms  of  pain  were  usually  the  most  violent,) 
ihat  they  were  so  slight  that  I  had  no  need  of  medicine.  I  retired  to 
rest  and  sle})t  souiully.  The  next  day  I  was  not  at  all  annoyed,  and  at 
ihe  usual  time,  I  scarcely  ])erceived  that  there  was  any  initation  at  all. — 
The  third  day  I  was  entirely  relieved,  and  had  no  return  during  my  sta\ 
at  the  Spring,  nor  had  I  occasion  once  to  use  any   nicdicine. 

Other  ihanges  not  less  iinpoitanl,  also  took  place.  The  diarrluea  teas- 
rd  on  the  second  day,  and  in  the  course  of  the  weik  the  evacuations, 
tVom  being  thin  and  of  a  whitish  clay  colour,  became  of  an  oiange  colour, 
and  acquired  cni)v,i(^l(.table    firmness,   luid  in  a  short    lime  al'tcrwards,  ac- 


307  APPENDIX. 

quired  all  the  characteristics  of  healthy  {massages.  It  is  needless  to  say  ilvd* 
my  digestion  had  improved.  One  thing  is  worthy  of  remark,  and  that  is, 
that  I  found  myself  able  to  digest,  not  only  plain  food,  but  also  the  richer 
kinds,  and  even  desserts;  and  this  without  suffering,  and  even  without 
experiencing  any  unpleasant  feeling  after  meals.  I  should  here  state, 
however,  that  I  invariably  took  from  one  to  two  tumblers  of  the  w^ater  af- 
ter each  meal,  and  I  found  this  peculiarly  serviceable  after  breakfast,  when 
the  tea  (or  coffee)  became  (almost  invariably  at  first)  acid.  During  my 
sojourn  with  you,  I  improved  in  every  respect,  and  even  the  discharge 
from  the  fistulas  ceased  nearly  altogether,  and  I  returned  home  in  (com- 
paratively) excellent  health,  which  I  enjoyed,  until  unfortunately  I  was 
attacked  with  the  influenza  during  the  last  winter.  From  that  time  I  be- 
£ran  to  retrograde,  and  when  summer  arrived,  I  was  in  almost  as  bad  con- 
dition as  the  yej  r  previous.  The  inflammation  and  irritation  were  quite  as 
violent,  and  my  digestion  had  again  become  disordered.  I  had  experi- 
enced too  much  relief  at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  to  hesitate  long  as  to  the 
course  proper  to  be  pursued,  and  I  again  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting 
them  the  last  season.  I  have  only  to  say,  that  the  same  happy  effects 
were  produced,  the  only  difference  I  observed  was,  that  these  were  not  so 
immediate  as  the  year  previous,  but  I  amply  compensated  for  this  by  their 
permanency.  And  I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  stating  to  you,  that  I  have 
enjoyed,  and  am  now  enjoying  (February  12th)  better  health  than  I  have 
known  for  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years,  and  most  happy  am  I  to  state  to 
you,  that  I  have  not  had  the  slightest  indication  of  inflammation  in  those 
regions  where  I  had  suffered  so  much. 

I  remain,  Dear  Sir,  yours.  &.c. 

No.  10. 

Mr.  B.  has  had  a  bronchial  affection  for  many  years,  which  at  times, 
was  so  distressing  as  to  compel  him  to  remain  propped  up  in  a  sitting 
posture,  in  bed,  the  whole  night,  and  in  this  mode  obtain  some  sleep. — 
To  obtain  relief  from  this  affection,  he  now  travelled.  When  he  hrst  ar- 
rived at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  the  cough  was  very  troublesome.  Made  use 
of  the  Anti-Dyspeptic  Spring,  which  had  the  effect  of  producing  a  gentle 
perspiration,  especially  at  night,  and  which  effect  was  continued  whenev- 
er the  water  was  taken,  during  the  whole  time  of  his  stay.  The  cough 
p;radually  diminished,  until  it  almost  disappeared  altogether.  At  first 
there  was  considerable  difficulty  in  getting  up  the  phlegm,  but  after  drink- 
ing the  water  a  short  time,  it  was  expectorated  w^ith  ease.  During  the 
time  he  was  at  the  Grey  Sulphur,  he  slept  well — had  an  excellent  appe- 
tite, and  could  easily  digest  whatever  he  partook  of.  J3. 

The  above  statement  of  cases,  was  submitted  to  Professors  James  Moul- 
trie, jun.,  and  S.  Henry  Dickson,  of  the  Medical  College  of  the  State  of 
South-Carolina.  The  following  letters  will  ;Jiow  the  opinion  enter- 
tained by  these  q^entlemen  relative  to  the  medical  properties  ol  these  wa- 
ters. 

Charhsion,  fcbyuary  11///,  183G. 

Dear  Sir^ — I  Jjavc  overlooked  y(3ur  intended  })ublication,  together 
"A'ith  the  acconvjianying  dccumejits-     I  think  the  sLalcmtnls    furnished  by 


APPENDIX.  308 

the  latter,  fully  authorise  you  to  put  forth  what  you  propose,  I'he  amount 
of  experience  with  the  waters  is  very  small,  to  be  sure,  but  such  as  it  is, 
it  is  calculated  to  excite  strong  presumption  in  their  favor.  Indeed,  con- 
sidering their  analysis,  jointly  with  the  facts  furnished  in  your  documents, 
I  have  confident  expectations  that  they  will  prove  among  the  most  useful 
discoveries  of  that  sort,  yet  made  in  our  country.  All  thus  early  known 
of  them,  encourages  us  to  look  for  future  corroboration  of  the  impression 
you  have  imbibed  respecting  their  virtues.  Considering  their  elements, 
they  cannot  be  nugatory,  and  must,  therefore,  be  productive  of  benefit 
or  mischief.  Reasoning  from  what  we  already  know,  the  evidence  ap- 
pears to  be  altogether  in  favor  of  a  salutary  result. 

Very  truly,  yours, 
JAMES\MOULTRI£,  Jun.  M.  D, 
J.  D.  Legare,  Esq. 


February  llM,  1836  = 
Dear  Sir, — I  have  perused  with  attention  and  interest  the  papers  sent, 
me,  containing  reports  of  cases  in  which  the  Waters  of  your  Virginia 
Spring  have  been  tried  ;  and  do  not  hesitate  to  express  the  opinion,  that 
they  fully  justify  the  statements  made  in  your  proposed  publication.  Pro- 
fessor Shepard's  analysis  exhibits  a  singular  combination  of  ingredients, 
and  prepare  us  to  anticipate  striking  and  gratifying  results  from  the  use 
of  Waters  containing  remedies  of  such  obvious  efiiciency.  I  confess,  I 
am  led  to  entertain  sanguine  expectations  of  benefit  to  a  large  class  of 
patients,  from  these  fountains,  and  shall  be  much  disappointed  if  the 
*'Grey  Sulphur  S])rings"  do  not  soon  attain  a  high  rank  among  the  sum- 
mer resorts  of  invalids,  and  of  the  fashionable  world. 

With  great  regard,  I  remain.  Dear  Sir,  yours,  faithfully, 

S.  HENRY  DICKSON,  M.  D. 
J.  J).  Legare,  Esq. 

We  here  close  for  the  present,  our  account  of  the  Medical  Properties  ot 
the  Grey  Sulphur  S})rings.  'J'he  report  of  cases  might  have  been  more  ex- 
tended, liad  we  applied  to  all  of  the  individuals,  who  have  been  beneht- 
ed  by  the  use  of  thes(!  Waters.  It  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  do  so. 
Invnlids,  with  strongly  inarketi  cases,  will  iii  all  probability,  visit  these 
Springs,  during  the  next  and  succeeding  seasons,  and  it  is  our  intention 
to  preserve  a  record  of  such  as  may  be  communic;fted  to  us. 

JOHN  D.  LEGARE. 


o 


09  APPENDIX. 


VI. 


■:o:- 


WINCHESTER. 

The  reader  will  doubtless  recellect  that  this  flourishing  town  w^as  estab- 
lished by  law  in  the  year  1752.  In  1738,  there  were  but  two  cabins 
erected  near  the  run.  It  is  now  a  very  wealthy  corporate  town — has  its 
own  court  of  justice — is  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  Frederick — 
is  the  place  where  the  supreme  courts  of  chancery  and  law  are  held  for 
the  county — the  residence  of  many  distinguished  lawyers  and  physicians 
— has  a  flourishing  academy  and  numerous  classical  and  English  schools 
■ — many  mechanical  establishments  of  first  order — some  thirty  or  forty 
retail  stores — a  number  of  taverns  kept  in  best  style — several  confection- 
ary shops — several  merchant  tailors,  and  almost  evciy  variety  of  business 
done  in  our  seaport  cities.  Its  buildings  are  many  of  brick  of  superior 
order.  Taylor's  Hotel  is  conspicuous  for  its  great  size  and  elegance  of 
structure.  Its  front  on  Loudon  street  is  ninety  feet  and  runs  its  Avings 
one  hundred  and  thirty  back — contains  seventy  rooms — is  calculated  to 
entertain  numerous  companies  of  visitors  and  boarders,  and  is  kept  in 
superb  style.  This  building  is  three  stories  ;  the  basement  story  is  divi- 
ded into  cellars  and  several  rooms  furnished  in  the  neatest  manner ;  the 
attic  is  divided  into  lodging  rooms,  which  are  also  furnished  in  neat  style. 
It  commands  an  immense  business. 

.  Within  the  last  five  or  six  years  a  rail-road  has  been  constructed  from 
Winchester  to  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  Baltimore  highway  ;  six  or  seven 
spacious  warehouses  erected  at  the  commencement  of  the  road,  and  is 
the  place  of  deposit  of  vast  quantities  of  merchandise  and  produce  of 
every  variety.  It  now  contains  upwards  of  4,000  inhabitants,  and  is  a 
place  of  great  business.  Several  gentlemen,  descended  from  German 
ancestors,  who  have  accumutated  considerable  wealth,  are  among  them. 
It  has  two  Presbyterian  edifices,  handsomely  built,  as  places  of  public 
worship;  one  Catholic  chapel;  two  Methodist  meeting  houses,  and  a 
splendid  Episcocal  church  lately  erected;  the  Baptists  have  a  meeting 
house,  as  also  the  German  Lutherans ;  and  the  Friends  have  a  neat  brick 
building.  The  people  are  divided  into  various  religious  sects,  and  it  is 
believed  much  piety  prevails.  It  is  doubtless  one  of  the  finest  watered 
towns  in  the  valley,  and  a  place  of  general  good  health.  Fine  water  is 
conveyed  through  iron  pipes  to  almost  every  part  of  the  town  ;  there  are 
many  hydrants  erected  in  the  streets  ;  and  many  of  the  citizens  have  the 
water  conveyed  into  their  yards.  This  water  is  taken  from  a  fine  lime- 
stone spring  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  town.  There  is  a  regular  or- 
ganised Fire  company,  remarkable  for  their  excellent  discipline  and  ac- 
tivity. But  few  houses  have  ever  been  destroyed  by  fire.  The  author 
CGolleclb  seeing  an  old  house  on  Loudon  street  destroyed  by  fire  upwards 


APPENDIX.  3ia 

of  thirty  years  ago  ;  the  wind  blew  a  strong  gale  from  the  N.  W.,  and 
notwithstanding  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  was  closely  built  with 
wooden  houses,  such  was  the  activity  of  the  fire  company  and  other  citi- 
zens, that  every  building  was  saved  except  the  one  which  first  took  fire. 
Several  years  afterwards,  a  fire  broke  out  in  a  wooden  building  at  the  N. 
end  of  the  town,  and  the  flames  spread  with  great  rapidity.  It  was  said 
that  twenty-two  buildings  took  fire  at  the  same  time,  and  but  Uvo  small 
buildings  consumed;  those  two  belonged  to  an  old  gentleman  by  the 
name  of  Benjamin  Rutherford,  and  stood  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  apart.  The  astonishing  exertions  and  activity  of  the  fire  company, 
together  with  the  aid  of  every  citizen,  and  even  ladies,  saved  twenty  out  of 
the  twenty-two  buildings  on  fire  at  the  same  time ;  and  what  was  remarkable, 
but  little  damage  was  done  the  buildings  were  saned.  A  few  years  ago, 
there  were  three  old  wooden  buildings  on  Loudon  stroet  burnt  down,  but 
the  flames  were  so  kept  under,  that  no  other  dameges  were  which  done. — 
About  sixty  years  ago,  a  framed  building  on  Loudon  street,which  was  called 
the  "Long  Ordinary,"  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  an  old  building  on  the 
west  side  of  the  town,  called  "  The  Brewery,"  was  destroyed  by  fire. — 
The  author  recollects  seeing  this  building  on  fire.  It  is  believed  that  the 
foregoing  statement  contains  a  true  account  of  all  the  houses  destroyed  by 
fire  for  the  last  sixty  or  seventy  years.  So  that  it  may  truly  be  said,  that 
Winchester  has  heretofore  been  very  fortunate. 

STAUNTON. 

This  town  may  with  truth  be  said  to  be  classical  ground.  In  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  the  Legislature  had  assembled  at  Richmond — the  en- 
emy advanced  to  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  Assembly  adjourned 
and  met  at  Charlottesville — Tarlton  pursued  them  thither,  and  they  again 
adjourned  and  met  at  Staunton — here  they  finished  their  session.  Tarl- 
ton did  not  dare  to  interrupt  them  there,  for  the  best  of  all  reasons  :  the 
people  of  Augusta  and  adjoining  counties  were  a  brave,  hardy,  and  active 
race,  well  acquainted  with  the  use  of  the  rifle  ;  and  if  Tarlton  had  ventured 
to  pursue  them  to  Staunton,  he  would  in  all  probability  have  met  with  an- 
other "Cowpen  defeat."  The  citizens  turned  out  manfully,  well  armed, 
and  determined  to  contest  his  march  to  that  place,  and  protect  their  leg-  • 
islators  in   their  deliberations. 

Staunton,  like  Winchester,  has  incorporated  privileges,  its  own  court  c 
justice,  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  Augusta  county,  and  the  placefor  holding • 
the  Superior  courts  of  law  and  chancery  for  the  county, — is  the  residence 
of  several  distinguished  lawyers  and  physicians,  and  is  the  site  of  a  Lu- 
natic Hospital  of  great  reputation.  It  has  several  beautiful  edifices  erec-j 
ted  for  public  worship,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  retail  stores,  with  four  or 
five  taverns  kept  in  good  style.  It  is  surrounded  by  many  valuable  farms, 
and  a  considerable  number  of  elegant  brick  dwelling;  houses,  has  several 
turn})ike  roads  leading  to  East  and  W^est,  North  antl  South,  from  which 
it  derives  great  advantages,  and  of  course  is  a  place  of  extensive  busi- 
ness. In  all  human  })robal)ility,  it  is  destined  at  some  future  day  to  be- 
come the  site  of  our  State  government.  Its  central  situation — the  fine 
health  of  the  countiy — its  contiguity  to  the  ivumerous  minenil  springs — 


311  APPENDIX. 

its  safety  from  danger  of  iiivnsion  from  a  foreign  enemy  in  time  of  war^ 
present  most  cogent  arguments  in  its  favor;  and  wlienever  onr  western 
counties  shall  be  filled  with  population,  we  will  have  a  considerable  ma- 
jority of  the  free  white  population  west  of  tlie  Blue  Ridge,  and  it  appears 
{o  the  mind  of  the  author,  that  the  people  of  the  west  will  not  rest  satis- 
fied with  their  seat  of  government  in  its  present  situation. 

Staunton  has  become  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  our  State  for  other 
important  reasons.  It  is  the  place  where  two  large  conventions  of 
citizens  were  held  some  years  ago,  for  deliberating  on  the  great  ques- 
tion of  reforming  our  State  Constitution.  The  last  of  which  conventions 
was  held  in  the  month  of  July,  1825.  In  this  convention  upwards  of  one 
hundred  members  attended.  Their  proceedings  were  characterized  by 
great  temperance,  but  much  energy.  A  most  solemn  appeal  was  made  to 
the  Legislature  on  this  vital  question,  and  at  the  ensuing  session,  an  act 
passed  submitting  this  question  to  the  lawful  voters  of  the  State,  which 
resulted  in  a  majority  of  the  citizens  in  favor  of  the  necessity  of  calling  a 
convention  for  the  purpose  of  revising  and  amending  the  organic  law  of 
our  State.  This  body  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1826,  and  assembled 
at  the  capital  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  the  ensuing  autumn,  and  drew  up 
certain  amendments  to  the  original  constitution,  which  were  submitted 
to  the^people  for  their  final  ratification  or  rejection.  There  were  many  of 
our  ablest  statesmen  opposed  to  its  ratification,  but  a  majority  of  our  citi- 
zens  voted  for  its  adoption. 

LEWISBURG. 

This  is  a  thriving  village  in  the  county  of  Greenbrier,  west  of  the  Al- 
legany mountains.  It  is  yet  but  a  small  village,  but  the  seat  of  justice 
for  the  county.  There  is  a  superior  court  of  law  and  chancery  and  a 
court  of  appeals.  It  has  become  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the  State, 
from  the  circumstance  that  a  convention  was  lately  held  there  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  western  part  of  the  commonwealth,  by  which  resolutions  were 
passed,  recommending  a  further  amendment  of  the  State  Constitution,  so 
as  to  give  a  more  equal  representation  of  the  two  great  divisions  of  the 
State  in  the  General  Assembly.  Neither  is  it  undeserving  of  celebrity  on 
account  of  its  several  religious  edilices,  among  which  the  Presbyterian 
deserves  first  to  be  named  from  its  size  and  commodious  internal  arrange- 
ment. The  Methodists  and  Baptists  respectively,  have  also  chaste  and 
convenient  houses  for  public  worship.  There  are  several  elegant  brick 
dwelling  houses  in  the  village;  from  six  to  seven  retail  stores;  and  two 
public  hotels,  under  excellent  management.  From  the  locality  of  the  vil- 
lage, situated  in  the  midst  of  a  productive  country,  steadily  increasing  in 
population  and  wealth,  it  is  destined  to  become  a  place  of  considerable  bu- 
siness and  importance.  The  face  of  the  country  contiguous  to  and  sur- 
rounding the  village,  is  beautifully  diversified  by  hills  and  vallies,  woods 
and  fertile  fields;  and  the  town,  with  the  whole  of  the  circumjacent  region, 
is  remarkable  for  the  salubrity  and  healthiness  of  its  climate. 

THE   FINE  ARTS. 

From  the  youth  of  our  commonwealth,  and  the  character  of  our  people. 


APPFNDIX.  312 

devoted  almost  exclusively,  as  they  have  been,  to  agiicultilre  and  its  col- 
lateral pursuits,  we  cannot  as  yet,  nor  is  it  yet  expected  that  we  can,  pro- 
duce before  the  world,  any  Masters  in  the  fine  arts  comparable  with  the 
old  Masters  of  Europe.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  we  have  as 
yet  no  representitive  in  sculpture  to  stand  by  the  side  of  Canova,  nor  in 
painting,  a  champion  to  compete  with  a  Titian,  a  Guido,  or  a  Stuart,  yet 
we  have  not  been  wholly  denied  tlie  genius  of  the  pencil.     Some  ten  years 

since,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  a  young  man  of  the  name  of M'Cau- 

try,  with  the  intuitive  perception  only  exhibited  by  true  genius,commenced, 
first  in  playful  sketches,  and  shortly  after  in  more  serious  efforts,  the  di- 
vine art  of  painting.  Encouraged  by  his  rapid  advancement,  he  subse- 
quently took  a  trip  to  the  hallowed  ground  of  Italy,  there  to  perfect  him- 
fielf  in  the  business  of  his  choice.  He  promised  much  from  improvement ; 
but  shortly  after  his  return  to  his  native  country,  he  died,  and  with  him 
the  hopes  of  his  friends. 

Six  years  ago,  a  Mr.  Henry  Bowen,  of  Frederick  county,  a  self-taught 
artist,  commenced  the  business  of  a  portrait  painter,  and  such  was  his 
proficiency  in  the  art  that  it  may  be  almost  said  of  him  he  was  accom- 
plished in  it  from  the  outset.  He  has  since  devoted  himself  assiduously 
to  his  employment,  and  has  earned  thereby,  from  the  striking  fidelity  of 
his  sketches  to  truth  and  to  nature,  a  well-merited  reputation.  The  au- 
thor can  bear  the  safest  testimony  to  this  character,  from  the  specimens  of 
Mr.  Bowen's  work  which  he  has  seen^ 

CULTURE  OF  SILK. 

The  excellent  lady  of  Mr.  Amos  Lupton,  residing  within  two  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  Winchester,  has  met  with  very  encouraging  success  in 
her  efforts  at  producing  silk  from  the  cultivation  of  the  trees  and  the  do- 
mestication of  the  worm.  She  exhibited  to  the  author  several  pair  of 
hose  she  had  manuftictured  from  this  silk^  and  stated  her  intention  oi' 
having  the  residue  of  the  raw  material  spun,  and  woven  into  articles  of 
wearing  apparel.  A  liiied  woman,  meantime,  was  employed  in  spinning 
the  silk  from  the  cocoons  upon  the  common  flax- wheel,  and  really  made 
considerable  headway  in  her  delicate  task.  We  hope  that  Mrs.  Lupton 
will  persevere  in  the  enterprise :  for  we  cannot  but  believe  that  our  soil 
and  climate  arc  both  well  adaj)tcd  for  the  culture  of  silk.  Mr.  L.  has 
been  completely  successful  in  the  raising  of  the  Morus  Muiticaulis — the 
})lants  liaving  grown  very  thriftily. 

IlYBBlDOrS. 

An  animal  was  beofotten  between  the  buck  and  a  U)uiig  cow  about 
twenty  years  ago.  This  extraordinary  and  beautiful  animal  Was  prodiic* 
ed  in  the  nelgliborhood  of"  Zane's  Old  Furnac(>.  The  owner  intended 
selling  it  to  a  butcher  to  make  a  veal  of  it ;  but  tlir  late  MaJ.  Bean  pur- 
chased it,  and  intended  to  raise  it  by  hand.  He  kept  it  several  weeks, 
but  it  died,  and  with  it  the  hones  of  Mi.  Bean  and  many  of  the  neighbors. 
Mr.  Bean  flattered  himself  with  high  expectations  of  having  in  his  pos- 
session one  of  the  must  rare,  beautiful,  and  extraordinary  curiosities  in  na- 

o 


313  APPENDIX. 

tiire's  works.  The  author  did  not  get  tlie  opportunity  of  seeing  this  sin- 
gular creature,  but  several  of  his  neighbors  visited  Mr.  Bean  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  viewing  it,  who  reported  the  facts  to  the  writer  of  this 
narrative.  It  was  said  to  exhibit  the  head,  neck,  sholders  and  forelegs  of 
its  sire,  and  hinder  parts  that  of  the  dam,  and  promised  to  grow  to  pretty 
good  size.     It  was  a  male. 

The  author  saw  the  skin  of  a  double  calf  in  the  nighborhood  of  Luray. 
The  hide  was  carefully  taken  off  and  stuffed.  It  had  a  double  body,  two 
distinct  heads,  and  two  tails,  four  perfect  eyes,  and  but  four  legs.  This 
singular  extra  natural  production  was  in  possession  of  Capt.  John  Gate- 
wood,  jr. 

A  COW  WITH  SIX  LEGS. 

Fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago  the  late  Samuel  G.  Sydnor  owned  a  cow 
with  six  perfectly  formed  legs,  which  the  author  frequently  saw.  It  had 
two  extra  lei's  formed  on  its  shoulders,  and  when  it  walked  these  leos 
made  regular  motions.  They  hung  over  on  each  side,  and  were  much 
smaller  than  the  other  legs. 

SPLENDID  LMPROVED  FARM. 

Bushrod  B.  Washington,  Esq.,  a  few  years  ago  erected  a  very  large 
brick  dwelling  house,  in  the  neihborhood  of  Charlestown,  Jefferson  coun- 
ty, with  all  the  necessary  offices.  This  building  with  other  improvements 
cost  upwards  of  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

The  building  was  finished  in  the  most  tasteful  style  of  modern  architec- 
ture ;  but  unfortunately,  some  two  or  three  years  ago,  it  accidentally  took 
fire;  and  all  the  interior  works  were  consumed.  But  the  writer  is  informed 
Mr.  W.  has  lately  rebuilt  it.  The  author  obtained  a  sketch  of  its  dimen- 
sions, but  has  unfortunately  mislaid  the  memorandum.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
k  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  elegant  edifices  in  our  country. 

Judge  Henry  St.  G.  Tucker  has  erected  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lee- 
io\\Ti  a  most  splendid  stone  building — rough  cast,  finished  in  beautiful 
style — three  stories  high;  but  the  writer  does  not  recollect  the  exact  size 
of  the  edifice,  but  it  is  a  very  large  building.  Jefferson  county  contains 
a  great  number  of  fine  large  dwelling  houses,  with  other  capital  improve- 
menls.  Berkeley  county  has  many  fine  buildings  and  highly  improved 
farms.  In  the  county  of  Clarke,  David  H.  Allen,  Esq.,  has  lately  erec- 
ted a  brick  dwelling  on  a  beautiful  eminence,  from  which  there  is  a  most 
enchanting  view  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  adjacent  country.  It  is  sixty-six 
feet  by  fifty,  with  a  splendid  portico,  supported  by  a  beautiful  colonade 
twenty-five  feet  high,  of  solid  pine  pillars. 

In  front  of  the  house  is  an  extended  lawn,  partly  covered  with  a  sheet 
of  transparent  water,  which  adds  greatly  to  the  novelty  and  beauty  of  the 
scenery.  Mr.  Allen  informed  the  writer,  that  some  years  ago  the  water 
course  contained  much  dark  alluvian  mud,  on  each  side,  very  miry  and 
difficult  to  cross.  He  hauled  out  six  thousand  wacfon  loads  of  the  mud 
upon  the  adjoining  high  lands,  which  so  increased  the  fertility,  that,  for 
Several  years  it  was  too  rich  for  the  production  of  wheat. 

Mr.  Allen  is  pretty  extensively  engaged  in  the  stock  way.     A  few  years 


APPENDIX-  31: 


f. 


ago,  he  at  one  time  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  head  of  horses,  and 
a  large  stock  of  improved  black  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  Mr.  Allen  was 
bred  to  the  law,  but  having  married  the  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Griffin 
Taylor,  got  this  fine  estate  by  her;  and  his  father  being  also  wealthy,  he 
soon  abandoned  the  practice,  and  lived  a  retired  and  private  life  ever 
since. 

Edward  Jaquline  Smith,  Esq.,  has  built  a  fine  brick  dwelling  house, 
large  and  tastefully  finished,  on  an  extensive  farm  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood.    He  is  a  most  judicious  and  successful  farmer. 

Col.  J.  W.  Ware  has  erected  a  fine  large  brick  building  near  Mr. 
Smith's,  is  also  a  successful  farmer — is  remarkable  for  breeding  the  very 
finest  cattle  ;  and  his  stable  has  been  the  stand,  for  several  years,  of  the 
very  finest  horses  which  have  been  imported  into  ©ur  country. 

Col.  Joseph  Tuly,  in  the  county  of  Clarke,  has  built  a  most  splendid 
and  expensive  mansion  on  his  beautiful  farm  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mill- 
wood, which  lie  has  named  "Tulyries."  To  give  a  detailed  account  of 
this  fine  building  would  be  tedious,  and  perhaps  tiresome  to  the  reader. 
It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  this  edifice  is  sixty  feet  by  forty,  of  the  best  of 
brick — finished  from  the  base  to  the  attick  in  the  most  elegant  style  of 
modern  architecture,  and  is  covered  with  tin.  A  spacious  portico,  sup- 
ported underneath  with  massive  marble  slabs,  with  pillars  of  solid  pine, 
twenty-eight  feet  high,  supporting  the  roof — forming  a  most  beautiful  col- 
onade,  based  on  square  marble  blocks  ;  the  porch  floor  laid  with  white 
marble,  and  marble  steps  ;  a  spacious  entry  ;  a  spiral  stair- w^ay  running 
from  the  passage  to  the  summit,  on  which  there  is  a  handsome  cupola 
with  a  large  brass  ball  erected  ;  the  fire  places  decorated  witli  the  finest 
marble  mantles  ;  his  doors  and  windows  of  the  best  mahogany;  with  a 
green  house  in  which  there  is  sheltered  a  great  variety  of  the  richest  ex- 
otic plants  and  flowers;  the  yard  decorated  with  a  great  variety  of  native 
and  imported  trees  and  shrubbery,  with  several  orange  trees  which  bear 
fruit  handsomely.  Adjoining  the  yard,  an  extensive  park  is  enclosed  in 
the  forest,  within  which  enclosure  there  are  a  number  of  native  elks  and 
deer.  The  old  buck  elk  will  not  suffer  any  stranger  to  intrude  on  liis 
]iremises.  Col.  Tuly's  father  was  born  and  raised  in  the  state  of  Jersey, 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  came  to  Virginia  a  young  man,  commenced 
Inisiness  on  a  sn\all  capital,  and  amassed  a  very  considerable  estate,  the 
greater  part  of  which  he  devised  to  his  only  son  Joseph.  The  Col.  car- 
ries on  the  tanning  business  extensively,  and  has  achled  consiflcrably  to 
the  estate  left  him  by  his  fiither.  lie  farms  extensively  and  suocesslully, 
— and  largely  in  the  stock  way. 

Mr.  John  Kerfoot,  twenty- five  or  thirty  years  ago,  biiilt  a  large,  com- 
fortable brick  dwelling,  finished  in  plain  style,  with  most  of  his  offices 
and  all  his  slaves'  houses  of  the  same  material.  In  apjiro-.iehing  his  res- 
idence it  strikes  the  eye  of  the  stranger  as  a  sprightly  village.  Mr  Ker- 
foot is  beyonri  question  oik?  of  the  most  enterprising,  jndieiows,  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  our  section  of  country.  He  has  acquired  more  wealth 
by  his  agricultural  pursuits,  than  any  individual  wiliiin  the  author's 
knowledfi^e  ;  has  raised  a  large  family  of  sons  and  fiaughters,  and  provi- 
ded handsornclv  for  tlicn?  all:  has.  "ircn  rarh  ofhi>bons  firirYar^n^  aiid 


315  APPENDIX. 

every  necessary  lo  commence  business.  His  daughters  as  they  have  mar- 
ried and  lell  him  have  each  of  them  been  handsomely  portioned  off.  Mr. 
Kerfoot  is,  and  has  been  lor  many  years  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church — 
a  liberal,  consistent  and  most  worthy  member.  He  is  rigidly  punctual 
in  his  pecuniary  engagements  ;  it  is  said  of  him  that  he  was  never  known 
to  fail  in  a  single  instance  to  pay  or  fulfill  any  engagement  he  has  enter- 
ed into.  Thus  coming  up  to  the  golden  Gospel  rule  of  "doing  to  others 
as  h",  would  they  should  do  unto  him." 

Mr.  John  Richardson  is  now  the  owner  of  the  fine  tract  of  land  former- 
ly owned  by,  and  the  residence  of,  the  late  Col.  Warner  Washington,  call- 
ed "Fairfield",  on  which  he  has  established  an  extensive  distillery.  The 
still  house  is  built  of  brick,  attached  to  which  a  large  yard  is  enclosed 
and  nicely  floored  with  the  same  material,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  and 
fattening  pork.  About  every  two  months  he  sends  off  to  the  Baltimore 
market  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  head  of  finely  fattened  hogs.  Mr. 
Richardson  is  a  man  of  great  industry  and  enterprise — farms  extensively, 
and  raises  a  fine  stock  of  improved  cattle.  He,  like  many  of  our  citizens, 
is  the  builder  of  his  own  fortune,  having  commenced  on  a  very  small  cap- 
ital. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Kennerly  has  lately  erected  a  beautiful,  plain,  ex- 
tensive brick  mansion  at  "(ireenway  court,"  the  ancient  residence  of  the 
late  Lord  Fairfax,  now  in  the  county  of  Clarke  near  the  White  Post  vil- 
lage. James  Madison  Hite,  Esq.,  resides  in  an  elegant  brick  mansion, 
contiguous  to  the  stone    bridge. 

Doct.  James  Hay  has  Jately  built  in  the  s?ime  neiohborhood  a  truly 
splendid  edifice  of  considerable  size  and  finished  in  the  most  elegant 
manner. 

Doctor  Berkeley,  previous  to  his  death,  was  engaged  in  erecting  a  brick 
house  near  the  Shenandoah,  of  very  extensive  dimensions,  but  before  he 
had  finished  it  he  was  most  cruelly  murdered  by  his  slaves,  and  his  body 
consumed  in  a  tremendous  fire.  He  was  robbed  of  a  large  sum  of  money 
by  them,  which  they  scattered  about  amongst  their  confederates — part  of 
which  was  found  ;  but  it  was  said  at  the  time,  that  a  considerable  part  of 
it  was  lost.  John  Rust,  Esq.,  has  lately  purchassd  a  part  of  Doctor 
Berkeley's  estate,  including  this  fine  building,  which  he  has  had  fin- 
ished in  plain  neat  style. 

Doctor  Berkeley  was  killed  in  1818.  Three  of  his  slaves,  one  female 
and  two  males,  were  tried  and  convicted  fi)r  the  murder,  in  Frederick 
court,  and  all  three  executed  at  Winchester,  in  the  month  of  July,  1818. 
The  representatives  of  the  Doctor  obtained  an  act  of  assembly,  authoris- 
ing them  to  sell  off  a  number  of  the  slaves  who  were  suspected  with  be- 
mcr  .concerned  in  the  murder,  and  they  were  sent  to  the  South  and  sold= 
This  £?tate  now  lies  in  the  county  of  Warren. 

Capl.  Pv,o.bert  C.  Burwell,  ju.-.t  before  the  late  war, had  erected  an  elegant 
brick  raansion  in  the  neighborhood  of  Millwood.  At  the  com.mencement 
of  the  war  he  commanded  a  company  of  the  mditia,  and  marched  at  the 
liead  of  his  company,  a-ijd  joined  the  standard  of  his  country  at  Norfolk, 
He  fell  a  sacrifice  to  that  unhealthy  climate  and  died- 

Previauslv  to  leaving  heme,  he  pro\ided  his  last  will,  in  which  he  devis- 


APPENDIX.  316 

ed  his  fine  estate  to  Philip  Nelson,  Esq.^  who  married  his  sister,  and  now 
owns  this  elegant  property. 

The  late  Col.  Charles  Magill  commenced,  shortly  before  his  de-ath,  on 
his  fine  farm  about  five  miles  S.  of  VVinchestei,  a  very  large  brick  dwell- 
ing, but  died  before  it  was  finished.  Since  his  death  it  has  been  finished, 
and  now  is  the  residence  of  John  S.  Magill,  Esq.,  one  of  his  sons. 

Mr.  William  A.  Carter  is  now  erecting  a  splendid  brick  dwelling,  about 
two  miles  W.  of  Newtown  Stephensburg,  on  a  beautiful  eminence  whicli 
commands  a  most  fascinating  view  of  this  village,  the  adjacent  country  and 
mountains  east  and  west,  for  a  vast  distance.  It  is  covered  with  Eng- 
lish slate. 

Joseph  Neil],  Esq.,  has  erected  a  beautiful  brick  dwelling  at  the  north 
end  ofN.  T.  Stephensburg,  plastered  and  neatly  whitened  on  the  outside. 
His  neat  litle  farm  on  which  the  buildings  are  erected  adjoins  the  vil- 
lage. 

Mr.  Isaac  Hollingsworth  has  erected  a  splendid  brick  dwelling  near 
Winchester,  contiguous  to  his  fine  mills — his  yard  and  curtilages  hand- 
somely enclosed  with  first  rate  stone  walls. 

There  a  number  of  other  brick  dwelling  houses  in  the  several  counties 
named,  exclusive  of  those  particularly  mentioned;  and  there  are  a  consid- 
erable number  of  fine  large  stone  buildings. 

The  residence  of  George  H.  Burwell,  Esq.,  is  most  splendidly  improv- 
ed with  stone  buildings.  It  adjoins  the  village  of  Millwood,  called  *'Car- 
ter  Hall."  The  main  building  is  sixty-six  feet  by  thirty,  three  stories  ; 
with  a  wing  at  each  end  twenty-one  feet  long,  two  stories  high  ;  the 
whole  buildino:  finished  in  the  most  tasteful  style  of  modern  architecture. 
This  was  the  former  residence  of  the  late  Col.  Nathaniel  Burwell,  a  gen- 
tleman of  great  wealth.  The  buildings  stand  on  a  beautiful  eminence, 
and  command  a  delightful  view  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  adjacent 
neighborhood.  The  water  is  conveyed  by  force  pumps  from  a  fine  spring 
to  the  dwelling  house,  yards,  and  stables,  at  a  distance  of  about  three 
hundred  yards.  This  fine  farm  may  with  truth  be  said  to  be  among  the 
most  eh^cr.inlly  improved  estates  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

Maj.  Se^li  Mason  has  lately  built  a  spacious  stone  dwelling,  stone 
barn  and  stable,  on  the  waters  of  Crooked  Run,  in  the  county  of  Frederick. 
The  buildiugs  are  erecterl  on  a  beautiful  cmin(  nee,  and  command  a  fine 
view  of  the  Blue  Ridge  a  vast  distance.  From  the  Major's  yard  about 
one  hundred  farms  are  to  be  seen  in  full  relief  on  the  west  side  of  the 
mountain. 

Capt.  Phcnias  Bowen  has  lately  erected  a  stone  dwelling,  three  stories 
liigh,  near  the  Opequon,  in  Clarke  county.  The  writer  never  obtained 
the  exact  dimensions  of  this  building;  but  it  is  very  large,  and  covered 
with  tin.     It  is  not  finished. 

The  late  Maj.  Isaac  Hite,  on  his  fine  large  farm,  about  the  year  1792, 
built  astone  dwellinp^,  near  the  groat  highway  from  Winchester  to  Staunton  ; 
a  most  spacious  and  elegant  building,  in  the  county  of  Frederick.  At 
lliat  period  it  was  doubtless  the  most  splendid  buildiiig  west  of  the  Blur 
Ridgf^.     In  point  of  taste,  and    beauty  of  symmetry,    it   ib  certainly  not 


317  APPENDIX. 

exceeded  by  any  country  building  the  author  has  ever  seen.  It  still  stands 
to  be  admired  by  every  beholder. 

In  the  county  of  Shenandoah,  the  late  Messrs.  Isaac  Bov/man,  Joseph 
Stover  and  Anthony  Spengler,  severally  built  large  brick  dwellings,  but 
a  short  distance  from  Strasburg,  each  on  a  fine  large  farm.  It  is  hardly 
deemed  necessary  for  the  author  to  proceed  with  a  further  detail  of  par- 
ticular dwelling  houses.  It  would  require  a  large  volume  to  contain  an 
account  of  all  the  fine  buildings  in  our  valley.  It  is  presumed  that  a  suf- 
ficient number  has  been  described  to  enable  the  reader  to  form  an  estimate 
of  the  vast  improvement  of  our  country  within  the  last  forty  or  fifty  years. 
It  is  suflficient  to  say  that  many  counties  in  the  valley  are  equally  well  im- 
proved. 

The  great  number  of  first  rate  merchant  mills  and  factories  deserve 
some  particular  notice,  but  it  would  swell  this  publication  far  beyond  all 
reasonable  limits  to  attempt  a  detail.  The  author  will  therefore  content 
himself,  and  he  hopes  the  reader  will  be  content  to  have  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  Mr.  Valentine  Rhodes'  mill  on  Cedar  creek,  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween Frederick  and  Shenandoah  counties.  The  author  is  induced  to 
give  a  passing  notice  to  this  building  from  the  extraordinary  and  unpar- 
alleled labor  performed  by  Rhodes,  with  the  assistance  of  one  of  his  sons, 
a  youth  of  about  tw^elve  or  fourteen  years  of  age,  in  its  construction  and 
erection.  Mr.  Rhodes  informed  the  author,  that  wdien  he  had  purchased 
and  paid  for  the  site,  including  a  small  tract  of  land,  for  w^hich  he  paid  in 
advance,  he  had  no  more  than  ten  dollars  left.  Mr.  Rhodes  is  an  inge- 
nious mechanic  and  first  rate  mill-wright.  He  determined  how^ever,  on 
building  his  mill;  to  enable  himself  to  go  on  with  it,  that  he  would  under- 
take every  job  at  his  trade  that  he  could  engage,  and  if  he  earned  eighty 
or  one  hundred  dollars,  he  would  proceed  with  his  own  building  until 
his  money  gave  out;  he  would  then  engage  in  work  as  opportunity 
afforded  until  he  could  gather  one  or  two  hundred  dollars  more,  and  so 
proceeded  on,  until  he  got  his  mill  to  running.  It  was  six  years  from  the 
time  he  commenced  until  he  got  it  to  grinding. 

But  the  most  extraordinary,  and  the  WTiter  may  truly  say,  wonderful 
circumstance  attending  this  building,  is  the  immense  weight  of  stone  and 
timbers  used  in  its  construction.  The  first  story  is  built  of  stone  of  enor- 
mous size  and  weight,  several  of  which  are  seven  or  eight  feet  long  and 
fifteen  or  eighteen  inhces  thick,  doubtless  weighing  several  tons  each — 
all  which  Mr.  Rhodes  worked  into  the  walls  with  his  own  personal  labor. 
The  only  machine  he  used  was  the  mill  screw.  The  w^all  on  the  west 
side  is  at  least  five  feet  thick,  and  no  part  less  than  three.  The  first  part 
of  the  mill-house  was  twenty-eight  feet  square,  or  perhaps  thirty,  to  which 
he  added  another  building  fifty  feet  in  length  and  thirty  in  width,  stretch- 
ing across  the  entire  stream,  except  a  small  arm  of  the  w^ater  course  form- 
ing a  small  island,  on  which  the  first  building  is  erected.  The  south  end 
of  the  building  juts  against  a  solid  perpendilar  limestone  rock  twenty-five 
or  thirty  feet  high,  which  ibrms  one  of  the  walls  ;  nature  has  formed  niches 
in  this,  which  receive  the  ends  of  timbers  fifty  feet  long  and  from  ten  to 
twelve  inches  square,  which  Mr.  Rhodes  raised  and  put  in  place  with  the 
aid  of  his  son  and  mill  screw — one  end  resting  on  the  wall  cf  the  first 


APPENDIX.  318 

building  ami  the  other  inserted  in  the  natural  niches  in  the  stone  wall. — - 
These  powerful  timbers  are  elevated  about  ten  feet  above  the  water.  He 
receives  his  customers'  grain  at  each  end  of  his  mill :  so  it  may  be  said  it 
stands  in  the  two  counties.  It  is  doubtful  w^hether  a  similar  instance  of 
extraordinary  exertion,  enterprise  and  successful  perseverance  can  be 
found  in  our  country. 

Mr.  Rhodes  certainly  deserves  a  premium  for  his  wonderful  diligence 
and  successful  enterprise  and  perseverance  in  the  construction  of  this  ex- 
traordinary building.  There  have  been  several  floods  in  the  creek  since 
the  mill  was  erected  ;  but  the  immense  strength  of  the  dam  and  walls  has 
heretofore  resisted  the  force  of  the  waters,  and  the  mill  sustained  no  injury. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Episcopal  society  have  within  a  few  years  past  erected  several 
beautiful  houses  of  worship  ;  one  at  Berryville,  one  at  Millwood,  one  in 
Winchester,  (the  latter  a  truly  splendid  building,  with  a  first  rate  organ,) 
and  another  at  Middletown,  which  is  also  a  beautiful  and  chaste  structure^ 
and  is  truly  creditable  to  the  society.  The  writer  heard  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  express  the  opinion,  that  it  presented  to  the  eye  precisely  what  a 
church  edifice  ought  to  exhibit,  i.  e.,  a  ray  of  truth.  The  Roman  Catho- 
lic society  have  erected  chapels  in  several  places.  .  They  have  built  a 
superb  edifice  at  Harper's  Ferry,  with  a  beautiful  pulpit,  with  the  image 
of  the  Virgin  Mary  wdth  the  infant  Jesus  in  her  lap. 

HARPER'S  FERRY. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  inform  the  reader  that  this  is  the  location 
of  the  U.  S.  armory,  and  in  the  several  shops  are  generally  employed 
about  three  hundred  first  rate  mechanics,  engaged  in  the  manufactory  of 
arms  for  the  purposes  of  war.  There  are  annually  made  about  six  or  sev- 
en thousand  muskets,  two  or  three  thousand  rifles,  beside  an  immense 
number  of  swords,  pistols,  and  other  side  arms.  The  government  em- 
ploys at  this  establishment  a  superintendent  ganeral,  a  paymaster  and  a 
number  of  clerks.  The  quantity  of  iron,  steel,  brass  and  other  materials 
annually  wrought  up,  is  immense.  A  vast  number  of  strangers  annually 
visit  this  place  to  gratify  their  curiosity  in  seeing  and  inspecting  the  pub- 
tic  works  and  great  mechanical  operations,  so  extensively  carried  on. — 
The  machinery  of  the  musket  factory  is  wrought  by  the  waters  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  that  of  the  rifle  factory  by  the  waters  of  the  Shenandoah. 

This  site  for  the  public  works  it  is  said  was  first  marked  out  or  recom- 
mended by  the  immortal  Washington,  and  is  certainly  evidence  of  his  su- 
perior skill  and  judgment  in  all  military  matters. 

A  rail-road  from  Winchester  to  Harper's  Ferry  has  been  lately  construc- 
ted, which  has  rendered  Winchester  a  place  of  deposit  for  the  vast  pro- 
ducts of  our  valley,  but  little  inferior  to  some  of  our  seaport  towns.  A 
turnpike  ro:id  from  Winchester  to  Parkersburg  on  the  Ohio  river,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  has  lately  been  finished  ; 
and  another  McAdamized  turnpike  road  from  Winchester  to  Staunton, 
has  just  been  put  in  operation,  and  it  is  almost  inconceivable  what  vast 


319  APPENDIX. 

quantities  of  produce,    now  find  a  ready  way  to  Baltimore  from  the  in- 
creased facilities  of  our  improved  roads  to  that  market. 

An  improved  road  from  Staunton  across  the  Allegany  mountains, is  now 
going  on  to  Paikersburg,  which  will  still  add  great  facilities  to  valley 
trade  and  greatly  enhance  the  value  of  real  estate  in  Western  Virginia. — = 
There  is  also  a  turnpike  from  Harrisoiiburg  by  way  of  the  Warm 
Springs,  Hot  Springs,  and  W^hite  Sulphur,  across  the  Allegany  to  Guy- 
andot,  by  way  of  Kanawha.  Those  several  turnpikes  are  passable  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  greatly  expedite  the  passenger's  journey  from 
east  to  west.  These  several  turnpikes  have  been  made  jlt  vast  expense  to 
the  State  and  stockholders,  notwithstanding  w'hich,  improvements  are  still 
going  on.  A  few  years  more  and  W^estern  Virginia  will  vie  with  our 
northern  and  sister  States  with  her  vast  improvements.  Our  valley  is 
making  great  improvement  in  every  agricultural  pursuit.  Copying  after 
our  great  and  good  countryman,  Washington,  immense  improvements 
have  already  been  made,  and  are  still  making,  in  the  rearing  of  fine  ani- 
mals of  every  variety.  Stage  coaches  travelall  our  turnpike  roads,  drawr? 
by  the  most  splendid  horses ;  and  most  of  our  substantial  farmers  rear  the 
finest  cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and  are  greatly  improving  the  fertility  of 
their  lands.  Our  valley  furnishes  the  several  markets  with  vast  quannti- 
ties  of  superior  beef,  pork,  mutton,  butter,  and  the  finest  of  bread- 
stuffs.  The  quantities  of  oats  annually  raised  for  market  are  incalculable. 
Immense  crops  of  the  finest  timothy,  clover,  and  orchard  grass  hay,  and 
corn  fodder  are  annually  consumed  by  our  farmers'  stock ;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  vast  quantities  raised,  once  in  a  while  there  are  seasons  of 
great  scarcity  of  provender  for  sustaining  the  vast  stock  of  animals  kept 
on  hand. 

Our  winters  are  frequently  of  great  length  and  extremely  severe.  The 
author  will  here  notice  one  winter  which  was  remarkable  for  its 
long  and  excessive  severity.  When  a  youth,  he  frequently  met  with  in- 
dividuals who  well  recollected  the  hard  winter  of  1740.  It  was  said  that 
that  remarkable  winter  produced  the  greatest  depth  of  snow  ever  known 
in  our  climate.  The  snow  fell  to  such  an  immense  depth  as  to  smother 
vast  numbers  of  horned  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  deer,  and  many  other  wild 
animals. 

The  author  believes  it  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader  to 
have  a  brief  description  of  several  remarkable  works  of  nature  in  our  val- 
ley, to  getherwith  anotice  of  some  elegant  buildings  and  improvements  on- 
the  farms  of  private  individuals.     He  w^ll  begin  with 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 

Washington's  Masonic  Cave. — About  two  and  a  half  mileTi  south 
east  of  Charlestown  in  this  county  is  to  be  seen  this  cavern.  Tradition 
informs  us  that  Gen.  Washington  and  a  number  of  other  gentlemen  formed 
themselves  into  a  Masonic  Society  and  held  their  lodges  in  this  cavern. 
The  writer  saw  and  partially  explored  it.  It  is  not  an  extensive  cavern,- 
and  is  more  remarkable  from  the  fact  of  its  having  been  used  as  a  lodge 
room  by  Washington  and  others.  It  however  has  several  different  depart- 
ments.    The  author  was  not  able  to  get   into  the  lodge  room.     The  en- 


APPENDIX.  320 

trance  to  whirh  is  quite  low  and  narrow.  The  proprietor  (Mr.  Clark) 
informed  the  author  that  Washington's  name,  with  the  names  of  the  several 
members  of  the  lodge,  is  inscribed  in  the  face  of  the  rocks  in  the  lodge 
room.  A  rock  of  very  hard  stone,  which  lies  near  a  very  fine  lime  spring 
convenient  to  the  cave,  has  several  inscriptions  on  it.  The  letters  are 
the  plain  Roman  character  ;  but  the  author  could  not  explain  the  mean- 
ing.    They  probably  are  masonic  enigmas. 

Having  introduced  the  name  "Washington,"  though  a  digression  from 
the  general  subject,  it  will  be  well  enough  to  notice  several  important 
anecdotes  in  the  history  of  that  great,  heaven-protected  man,  which  tlie 
writer  has  heard  from  respectable  authority. 

The  late  Maj.  Lawrance  Lewis,  a  favorite  nephew  of  Washington's, 
and  who  resided  with  him  at  "Mount  Vernon"  for  several  years,  related 
the  following  remarkable  anecdote  of  his  uncle.  In  the  battle  fought  be- 
tween Braddock  and  the  Indians,  it  is  well  known,  Washington  acted  as 
one  of  Braddock's  aids.  After  the  battle,  Daniel  Craig — then  of  Winches- 
ter, but  afterwards  settled  in  Alexandria — became  acquainted  with 
Redhawk,  a  distinguished  young  Indian  warrior.  In  a  conversation  with 
the  Doct.,  Redhawk  inquired  what  young  officer  (who  was  mounted  on  a 
very  fine  horse)  it  was,  w^ho  rode  wath  great  rapidity  from  post  to  post, 
during  the  action.  The  Doct.  replied.  Col.  Washington.  Redhawk  im- 
mediately stated,  "I  fired  eleven  deliberate  shots  at  that  man,  but  could 
not  touch  him.  I  gave  over  any  further  attempt,  believing  he  was  pro- 
tected by  the  great  Spirit,  and  could  not  be  killed  by  a  bullet."  Red- 
hawk further  added,  that  his  gun  was  never  known  to  miss  its  aim  before. 
We  have  another  tradition  in  this  neighborhood  in  relation  to  this 
great  man.  It  is  stated  that  when  he  was  retreating  before  the  British 
army  in  Jersey,  he  once  expressed  to  some  of  his  officers  his  determina- 
tion, if  he  was  still  pursued,  and  unable  to  make  a  stand,  to  continue  his 
retreat  until  he  reached  Powell's  Fort,  which  he  would  fortify  and  defy 
all  their  forces.*  This  tradition  was  communicated  to  the  author  by  a 
highly  respectable  gentleman  of  this  vicinity. 

There  was  another  tradition  related  to  the  author  by  an  old  lady,  (Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Madson,)  on  Roanoke  river,  of  great  respectability.  She  stated 
the  following  fact :  Several  old  Indian  chiefs  had  offered  consitlcrable 
premiums  to  any  warrior  or  set  of  warriors,  who  would  bring  out  Wash- 
ington's scalp.  Seven  Indians  who  were  living  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Roanoke,  got  to  hear  that  Wasliin«i^ton  was  on  his  way  out  to  insjiect  tiie 
fort  very  near  the  Roanoke  river.  There  were  two  roads  leading  to  the  fort ; 
one  across   tlie  })oint  of  the  mountain,  and  the  other  on   level  land.     The 


*Powell's  Fort  is  in  fa(tt  a  natural  fortress.  The  mountains  on  each 
side  are  of  immense  lieight,and  covered  with  loose  stone;  at  the  entrance, 
they  come  so  close  together  that  a  few  hundred  men  jilaced  on  the  heights 
could  destroy  ten  times  their  number,  by  hurling  stone  down  on  the  ene- 
my. If  tlieVnemy  had  attempted  by  a  counter  route  to  enter  the  fort,  a 
few  hundred  active  and  brave  rillemcn,  from  the  mountainous  character  of 
the  country,  could  have  cut  to  pieces  an  ariuv  of  nlmos!  n\^y  force. 


3^r  APPENDIX. 

one  across  the  mountain  was  the  shorter  way;  the  other  on  the  level  lamJ 
the  better.  The  seven  Indians  placed  themselves  in  ambush  close  to  the 
side  ofthe  level  road,  and  lay  concealed  two  days  and  nights  ;  but  Wash- 
ington did  not  pass.  They  grew  impatient,  and  their  chief,  the  third  day, 
stated  that  he  would  go  to  the  other  road  and  ascertain  whether  Wash- 
ington had  not  taken  that  route  to  the  fort — the  two  roads  being  only  one 
mile  apart.  He  gave  his  men  positive  orders  not  to  fire  at  any  person 
that  might  pass  in  his  absence.  While  he  was  gone,  Col.  Washington, 
Col.  Lewis  and  Col.  Preston,  all  three  passed  close  by  the  enemy  with- 
out being  molested. 

Another  tradition  informs  us  that  Lord  Fairfax  appointed  Washington 
one  of  his  surveyors.  He  boarded  with  Capt.  Charles  Smith,  within 
half  a  mile  of  Battletown.  He  kept  his  office  in  an  upper  room  in  the 
spring  house.  This  small  log  building  is  on  the  farm  owned  by  John 
B.  Taylor,  Esq., — the  only  son  of  the  late  Col.  Griffin  Taylor,  now  in 
Clarke  county. 

THE  INDIAN  CHURCH. 

This  is  said  to  be  a  most  grand  work  of  nature.  It  is  a  spacious  and 
beautiful  cavern,  in  a  high  rock,  about  four  miles  west  of  Watkins'  Ferry, 
on  the  Virginia  side  ofthe  Cohongoruton,  (Potomac.)  It  is  a  circular 
dome  of  considerable  height,  with  a  most  extraordinary  spiral  opening  in 
the  arch,  resembling  the  steeple  of  a  church.  Seats  are  formed  all  a- 
round  the  interior  ;  the  inlet  is  by  a  large  door.  Tradition  informs  us 
that  the  Indians,  when  in  possession  of  the  country,  used  to  assemble  in 
considerable  numbers  in  this  place.  For  what  particular  object  is  not 
known  ;  but  it  is  probable  they  used  it  as  a  place  of  worship,  or  for  hold- 
ing their  councils. 

PROSPECT  ROCK. 

This  splendid  work  of  nature  is  in  the  county  of  Morgan,  about  three 
miles  S.  W.  of  Bath,  immediately  on  the  bank  of  Capon  river.  It  is  cer- 
tainly not  less  than  one  thousand  feet  perpendicular  height.  Capon  riv- 
er viewed  from  this  immense  height  presents  to  the  eye  a  most  curious 
and  interes-ting  sight.  The  river  running  a  considerable  distance  to  the 
west,  makes  a  gradual  turn  around  a  point  of  level  land — thence  return- 
ing an  easterly  course  to  the  base  of  the  mountain,  enclosing  some  two 
or  three  hundretl  acres  of  fme,  fertile,  alluvial  land,  constituting  a  most 
valuable  farm.  The  river  viewed  from  this  rock  appears  to  the  eye  not  to 
exceed  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  in  width,  and  forms,  as  it  were,  the  shape  of 
a  horse  shoe.  It  is  at  this  place,  not  less  than  fifty  or  sixty  yards  in 
width.  The  two  points  ofthe  wafer  are  but  a  few  poles  apart  at  the  base 
ofthe  mountain.  I'here  is  an  extensive  view  of  the  valley  up  the  river  ; 
some  say  filteen  n^iles.  The  top  ofthe  Allegany  mountain  can  be  dis- 
tmctly  seen  from  it- 

NEW  CREEK  GAP. 

This  is  seen  in  the  county  of  Hardy,  about  twenty  miles  S,  W.  of  Rolb- 
aey,   aod  is  too.  a  most  tremendous  work  of  nature.     The  author  viewed 


APPETsDlX.  -321 

ihis  place  with  (,'onsiderable  awe  and  trepidation.  The  passage  is  quite 
•narrow,  between  two  mountains  of  stupendous  height,  probably  from  fif- 
teen liundred  to  two  thousand  feet  high.  The  points  of  the  mountains 
are  covered  with  numerous  rocks,  and  appear  to  be  hanging  over  the 
traveller's  head.  Through  this  passage  is  a  fm-e,  lively  stream  of  water, 
which,  after  leaving  the  mountain,  forms  Patterson's  Creek.  At  thp  west 
side  of  the  mountain  there  are  two  streams — one  from  the  south  and  the 
other  from  the  north — which  meet  at  the  gap  and  unite  their  waters,  and 
run  through  the  gap  directly  an  east  course.  About  midway  the  gap  is 
seen  what  is  called  "the  spouting  spring."  This  spring,  it  is  said,  is 
formed  by  a  stream  of  water  which  runs  to  the  northern  base  of  the 
mountain,  and  has  formed  a  subteraneous  passway  under  the  mountain, 
and  bursts  out  in  alage  spring  in  the  gap.  Near  the  eastern  termination 
.of  the  gap,  nature  has  formed  a  natural  dam  of  solid  rook,  quite  across 
the  cavity,  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  high.  By  the  aid  of  this  dam,  Messrs. 
^iarness  and  Turley  convey  the  water  to  their  iron  works  on  Patterson's 
♦Creek. 

A  LARGE  CAVE  IN  BERKELEY  COUNTY. 

Near  the  mouth  of  the  Opequon,  in  the  county  of  Berkeley,  exists  a 
large  cave.  In  the  year  1813,  a  man  named ,  called  in  the  eve- 
ning at  old  Mrs.  Furman's,  staid  till  next  morning,  and  after  breakfast, 
told  the  old  lady  he  would  go  into  the  cave  and  examine  it,  in  ortler  to  as- 
certain whether  he  could  or  not  obtain  Saltpetre  clay,  for  the  making  of 
powder.  The  old  lady  furnished  him  with  candles,  and  hxt  left  her  house 
alone,  promising  to  return  in  the  evening.  He  entered  the  cave,  and  was 
not  seen  or  heard  of  that  day.  The  second  day  passed  over,  and  no  ti- 
dings were  heard  of  him.  The  old  lady  grew  uneasy,  apj^rehending  he 
had  lost  himself  in  the  cave,  and  would  perhaps  perish.  The  third  day 
his  absence  continued,  and  the  dd  lady  proposed  to  two  of  her  grown 
sons  and  another  young  man  who  happened  to  be  at  hcrliouse,  to  go  in 
search  of  him.  They  at  first  objected,  suggesting  It  was  ppobabk  he  had 
gone  down  the  Potomac  in  some  of  the  tratling  boats  to  Georgetown, 
She  declared  if  they  would  not  go,  she  would  herself  go  and  wak^e  the 
search.  The  young  men  then  agreed  to  go,  furnished  th(Mnselves  with 
•sulHcient  lights,  and  forthwilli  proceeded  to  make  search.  'I'hey  had  not 
proceeded  far  into  the  cave  before  thoy  found  the  jioor  fellow's  hat,  Avhich 
satisfied  them  that  he  was  in  the  cave.  They  continued  the  search,  and 
at  length  found  him  in  a  most  perilous  and  distressed  condition.  'He  sta- 
ted to  them,  that  he  had  not  proceeded  far  into  the  (;avc  before  his  can- 
dle by  accident  became  extinguished,  and  he  was  left  in  mo.e  than 
"Egyptian  darkness.""  The  second  day  he  became  distressed  with  thirst, 
Inii  coidd  find  no  water.  He  continued  scrambling  in  the  cave,  in  tlie 
liopc  of  getting  out,  but  iiis(cad  of  finding  the  entrance,  got  fartjicr  I'mni 
it.  At  lenglli  he  heard  tlie  dropping  of  water,  and  groping  his  way,  hf 
found  the  water  was  dropping  into  a  deep  cavern.  He  contrived  to  get 
into  the  cavilv,  and  alter  re.u  liing  the  bottom,  the  only  chance  lie  had  to 
get  the  water  into  his  mouth,  wa"^  by  laying  hin»selt"  down  nn  his  back, 
and  Jctlijiti-  tire  water  drop  into  it.     Jiut  aficr  his  thirst  wa'<  assnafrcd,  hr 


323  APPENDIX. 

could  not  get  out  of  this  sink,  and  he  had  given  out  all  hope  ot*  relief, 
and  reeoneiled  himself  to  his  fate — expecting  to  die  in  a  very  little  time. 

The  young  men,  in  searching  for  him,  frequeutly  called  aloud  ;  he  could 
hear  them,  but  was  so  exhausted  and  weakened,  that  he  could  not  make 
himself  heard  by  them  until  they  approached  very  near  his  place  of  seclu- 
sion. They  succeeded  in  raising  him  out  of  his  confinement ;  he  soon  re- 
covered his  strength,  and  lived  some  fifteen  or  eighteen  years  after  this 
perilous  experiment. 

There  is  an  amusing  tradition  related  in  connexion  with  this  cavern. — 
An  old  German,  by  the  name  of  Bidinger,  had  ascertained  that  by  building 
a  fire  in  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  the  smoke  would  ascend  and  pass  out  at 
a  small  aperture  in  the  rocks  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  about  three  hundred 
yards  from  the  entrance.  This  shrew^d  old  man  persuaded  several  young 
men  that  he  could  raise  old  Nick  out  of  the  cave,  and  invited  them  in  the 
morning  to  go  with  him,  and  see  his  experiment.  He  directed  a  negro 
man  to  go  to  the  mouth  of  the  cave  and  raise  a  large  pine  fire.  The  old 
gentleman  had  ascertained  about  what  time  it  would  take  for  the  smoke  to 
show  at  the  top  of  the  hill;  they  assembled  near  the  aperture,  and  he  en- 
gaged in  many  incantations  and  juglings  whilst  w^atching  for  the  smoke 
to  appear.  The  young  men  waited  with  trepidation  and  fear.  When  the 
smoke  burst  out,  the  old  man  exclaimed  "See,  there  he  comes!  see  his 
smoke!"  It  was  enough  for  the  young  men;  they  saw  the  devil's 
smoke,  and  precipitately  took  to  flight,  leaving  the  old  gentleman  to 
make  the  best  terms  that  he  could  with  his  satanic  majesty. 

There  is  a  most  extraordinary  cave  a  short  distance  from  Shepherds- 
town.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  informed  the  author,  that  he  once  explored 
this  cavern  about  one  mile;  it  passes  under  the  Potomac  river,  and  reach- 
ing into  the  state  of  Maryland,  contains  a  great  variety  of  stalactite  forma- 
tions and  beautiful  curiosities. 

HOUSE  CAVE. 

This  cavern  is  on  Apple  ridge  in  the  county  of .  It  is  remarka- 
ble for  its  vast  depth,  and  has  a  pretty  good  room  near  its  entrance.  It  is 
said  this  cave  is  not  less  than  six  hundred  feet  deep.  At  its  termination 
a  most  delightful  stream  of  cold  water  runs  across  its  bottom.  The  au- 
thor, several  years  ago,  visited  this  place,  and  partially  explored  it ; 
descending  about  one  hundred  feet  into  it.  Two  young  men  descended 
about  one  hundred  feet  below  where  the  author  stopped. 

In  the  county  of  Frederick    exists  a  cave  on  the  land  now  owned  by 
Doct.  Walker    M.  Hite,  near  the  waters  of  Cedar  Creek.      It  is  not   so 
remarkable  for  its  size  as  for  its  production  of  natural  curiosities.     Sever- 
al years  ago  the  author  explored  this  cavern,  but  had  abundant  cause  to 
regret  his  undertaking.     He  became  so  excessively  fatigued  that  it    was 
with  great  difficulty  he  was  enabled  to  get  out.     He  was  reminded  of  an 
anecdote  of  a  Dutch  woman:   Two  men  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah  had 
missed  their  way  in  the  night  and  got  into  the  enclosure  of  a  farmer,  found 
the  house,  and  asked  the  way  out.     'Jlie  woman  of  the  house  replied,  "So 
you  come  in  so  you  ^oi  out  acain/'^     There  arc  j>everal  other  caves  the  au- 
thor has  heard  of,  h\i{  lias  not  .^cen-     There  is  one  on  the  land  cf  Geo.  F. 


APPENDIX.  324 

Hupp,  Esq.,  the  former  residence  of  Mr.  Joseph  Stover,  near  Strasburg. 
This  is  said  to  be  pretty  extensive,  and  contains  much  stalactite  matter. 
On  the  land  of  Mr.  Israel  Allen,  in  the  county  of  Shenandoah,  exists  a 
most  valuable  cavity,  forming  one  of  the  finest  dairies  the  author  has  ever 
seen.  At  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  it  was  discovered  that  a 
small  cavity  in  the  rocks,  on  a  pretty  high  hill,  led  to  a  charming  stream 
of  delightful  water.  But  it  was  attended  with  some  difficulty  to  descend 
and  ascend  the  aperture  to  get  the  water.  Mr.  Allen  built  a  handsome 
brick  dwelling  near  the  mouth  of  the  cavity,  then  dug  a  well  so  as  to 
strike  the  stream  of  water.  At  the  depth  of  thirty-two  feet  below  the  sur- 
face, he  came  upon  a  bed  of  black  alluvian  mud,  in  removing  which  he 
found  a  very  large  human  skeleton,  which  was  greatly  above  the  common 
size  of  the  human  frame.  Mr.  Allen  himself  was  rather  upwards  of  six 
feet  high;  he  stated  that  he  placed  one  of  the  leg  bones  and  measured  it 
by  his  own  leg.  It  was  between  two  and  three  inches  longer  than  his 
own  leg.  From  this  data,  it  is  probable  the  individual  owner  of  this  skel- 
eton was  little  under,  if  not  full  eight  feet  high.  Mr.  Allen  opened  and 
improved  the  mouth  of  the  cavern,  and  constructed  one  among  the  most 
valuable  places  for  preserving  milk,  butter  and  fresh  meats,  in  our  country. 
The  aperture  from  the  milk  house  to  the  water  is  still  open,  and  in  warm 
weather  discharges  a  constant  current  of  cool  air  into  the  dairy,  and  keeps 
it  perfectly  cool.  In  winter  the  current  of  air  is  tepid  and  protects  every 
thing  in  the  dairy  from  freezing. 

HARRISON'S  CAVE. 

In  the  county  of  Rockingham,  on  the  land  of  Mr. Harrison,  on 

the  Turnpike  road  leading  from  Winchester  to  Staunton,  is  to  be  seen  a 
most  beautiful  cave,  seven  miles  north  of  Harrisonburg,  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice for  the  county.  Mr.  Harrison  has  improved  the  entrance  into  the 
cave  with  steps,  so  that  it  is  very  convenient  to  enter  it.  This  cave 
(whicli  the  author  explored,)  presents  several  most  interesting  works  of 
nature.  Near  the  centre,  a  splendid  column  of  about  twenty-five  feet 
high — a  stalactite  formation — stands  as  if  designed  to  support  the  arch. 
Pretty  near  this  column  is  setting  the  bust  of  a  very  large  old  woman, 
covered  over  willi  beautiful  white  drapery,  in  numerous  folds — the  walls 
generally  covered  with  stalactite  formations,  several  of  which  have  a 
strong  resemblance  to  the  pipes  of  an  organ.  'I'lie  whole  lenglh  does  not 
exceed  three  hundred  yards.  The  floor  is  pretty  level,  and  convenient  to 
walk  ii[)on.  It  is  generally  above  twenty-five  feet  high  from  the  floor 
to  the  arch,  and  thirty-five  or  forty  wide.  'I'lie  author  heard  of  several 
other  caves  in  Rockingham,  but  did  not  visit  them. 

At  the  head  of  the  South  J^ranch  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ruthledgf, 
was  shot  through  the  body  by  an  Indian  ;  the  ball  jx'uetrated  the  left 
breast  and  passed  out  within  an  inch  of  the  spine.  This  man  recovered 
and  lived  many  years  after.  'I'here  were  two  female  children,  daughters 
of  .John  Moore,  taken  by  the  Indians  and  grew  u|)  with  tliem.  The  el- 
der had  two  children  by  a  while  tiader ;  ihe  younger  became  the  wife  of 
the  distinsuiihed  war  i-hief  iilue  Jacket.  She  left  an  Indian  son  with  his- 
father,  was   enccint,  vvhen  brought  Jiomc,  and  brought   forth  a  daughter, 


325  APPENDIX. 

who  grew  up  and  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Stuart.  Her  fath* 
er,  Blue  Jacket,  secured  her  a  tract  of  land  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie, 
to  which  Stuart  removed  and  settled. 

Two  of  John  Cartmell's  daughters  were  taken  by  the  Indians  and  re- 
mained with  them  several  years.  Their  brother  went  to  the  Indian 
country,  obtained  their  release  and  brought  them  home. 

James  Stuart  was  shot  while  crossing  the  Greenbrier  river,  reached  the 
opposite  shore,  and  died  immediately.  Several  others  w^ere  killed  the 
same  summer,  whose  names  are  not  recollected. 

A  few  years  ago,  there  was  found  on  the  banks  of  Greenbrier  river, 
in  the  cavity  of  a  rock,  a  very  large  human  skeleton,  his  bow  and  arrows, 
mat,  and  tomahawk,  and  a  deerskin  was  deposited  with  the  body  at  the 
time  of  its  burial ;  it  was  about  ten  feet  below  the  surface. 

Human  skeletons  have  been  frequently  discovered  on  the  margin  of  the 
w^ater  courses-  About  thirty  years  ago,  Samuel  McDonald  discovered  a 
human  skull  in  the  bank  of  the  Cowpasture  river.  It  was  remarkable  for 
its  frreat  size  and  thickness — had  a  visible  mark  of  a  tomahawk  wound  on 
it — supposed  to  be  the  head  of  a  giant-like  warrior.  A  \Falnut  tree  of  im- 
mense size,  which  grew  on  the  bank  of  the  Cowpasture  river,  was  blown 
down  in  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  and  a  number  of  human  bones  w^ere  dis- 
covered in  the  cavity.  The  author  was  informed  that  the  body  of  this 
tree  was  not  less  than  six  or  seven  feet  in  diameter.  If  so,  as  it  must 
have  grown  over  the  bodies  after  they  Avere  buried,  it  was  probably  sever- 
al hundred  years  old. 

But  to  return  from  this  digression.  Mrs.  Sarah  Erskine,  in  her  eighty- 
fourth  year,  was  first  married  to  John  Pauly — they  were  removing  to 
Kentucky,  and  on  the  23d  of  Sept.  1779,  on  the  east  branch  of  New 
river,  they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  five  Shawnee  Indians  and  a  white 
man  by  the  name  of  Morgan.  Mr.  Pauly  was  killed,  and  his  little  child, 
about  two  years  old,  had  its  brains  dashed  out  against  a  tree  and  left  a 
prcv  to  wild  beasts.  This  venerable  and  highly  intelligent  lady  was  once 
while  a  prisoner  threatened  with  the  most  horrid  destruction.  An  old  chief 
who  had  a  favorite  son  killed  in  a  battle  in  Kentucky,  had  determined  to 
revenge  his  son's  death  on  her  little  son, who  was  born  a  few  months  after  her 
captivity,  and  two  young  prisoners,  Calway  and  Hoy.  The  old  savage 
monster  had  determined  to  enclose  them  all  in  Mrs.  Erskine's  house  and 
set  fire  to  it.  But  Col.  McKee,  the  British  agent,  successfully  interpos- 
ed ;  he  called  on  Mrs.  Erskine  and  told  her  not  to  be  alarmed  ;  that  if  he 
found  that  he  could  not  restrain  the  violence  of  the  old  monster,  he  would 
immediately  convey  her  off  to  Detroit :  but  from  the  friendly  interposition 
of  Mr.  ]\TcKee,  a  majority  of  the  Indians  became  opposed  to  the  violent 
and  vindictive  revenge  of  the  old  savage.  She  was  upwards  of  three 
years  a  prisoner.  Her  son,  young  Pauly,  she  brought  home  with  her  ; 
he  grew  up,  went  to  the  west,  became  secretary  to  the  great  Missouri 
Fur  Company,  and  was  killed  while  engaged  m  that  business.  Mr. 
John  Higgins  came  out  to  the  Shawnee  town^  and  redeeintd  and  aided 
her  in  getting  home  to  her  friends. 

There  was  a  brother  of  Mr.  Jolin  Pauly ^  also  a  married  man,  with  his 
wile  and  one  child,  oil  hi.^  way  'c  Kentuckv.     He  wai5  killed  at  tiie  same 


APPENDIX.  32o 

timp,  his  infant  killed  and  his  wife  taken  prisoner.  Slie  was  taken  to  the 
Shawnee  town,  was  claimed  by  two  squaws,  and  taken  to  Detroit  and 
sold,  from  whence  she  escaped,  but  never  got  home  to  her  friends. 
\  Mrs.  Erskine  stated  to  the  author,  that  she  did  work  for  the  men,  makin"* 
their  garments — that  on  one  particular  occasion  a  warrior  called  on  her  to 
make  him  a  calico  shirt ;  the  fellow  informed  her  that  he  had  lately  return- 
ed from  a  trip  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Sweet  springs,  in  quest  of  a 
box  of  red  paint.*  He  obtained  his  paint,  and  returning,  he  passed  the 
house  of  a  farmer,  who  had  left  his  shot-})Ouch  and  powder  horn  hanging 
to  the  corner  of  his  corn  house.  The  Indian  took  off  the  pouch  and 
horn,  and  left  his  own  Buffalo  horn,  with  a  little  powder,  in  place  of  it. — 
He  observed  to  Mrs.  Erskine  that  "it  was  an  even  exchange,  no  robber)-." 
But  if  the  owner  had  happened  to  discover  the  exchange  at  the  moment, 
it  is  highly  probable  the  fellow  might  have  paid  for  his  even  exchange 
with  his  life. 

Mrs.  Erskine  said  that  the  Shawnee  women,  from  the  number  of  white 
persons  taken  among  them,  had  greatly  improved  in  their  domestic  ar- 
rangements, and  several  of  them  had  become  pretty  good  housekeepers, 

Mrs.  Erskine  resides  in  Greenbrier  county,  near  Lewisburg.  The  au- 
thor met  with  her  at  her  son's  in  Lewisburg,  who  is  a  highly  respectable 
merchant  of  that  place. 

Tradition  relates  that  the  JSweet  Springs  were  discovered  by  a  man 
who  was  passing  near  the  spring.  A  colt,  which  was  following  the 
horse  he  was  riding,  was  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake,  when  it  immediately 
ran  into  the  spring,  where  it  continued  for  some  time,  nor  could  it  be  in- 
duced to  come  out  until  it  had  been  entirely  relieved  from  the  pain  occa- 
sioned by  the  wound. f  The  man  examined  the  water  and  found  that  it 
possessed  some  valuable  medicinal  quality. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Robert  Armstrong,  in  those  troublesome  times, 
had  removed  his  family  across  the  mountain  to  a  place  of  safety.  He  was 
on  a  visit  to  his  family,  accompanied  by  a  young  man.  Seven  Indians  ap- 
proached his  house,  and  were  in  the  yard  before  discovered.  Amistrong 
told  the  young  man  to  jump  into  bed,  and  he  threw  a  blanket  over  him. 
The  Indians  pushed  into  the  house,  and  Armstrong  went  to  the  bed,  rais- 
ed the  blanket,  and  asked  the  man  if  he  was  better.  He  replied  in  the 
negative.  An  Indian  immediately  asked  "Man  very  sick?"  ''Yes, 
small  pox  very  bad."  Tiiey  cried  "wough"  and  ran  off,  crying  as  they 
ran,  "small  pox!  small  pox!"  as  far  as  they  could  be  heard.  It  is  said  the 
Indians  are  dreadfully  afraid  of  this  disorder.  Armstrong,  by  this  strata- 
gem, saved  liimself  and  property  from  being  touched  by  the  enemy. 

In  the  year  1774,  in  the  month  of  June,  there  were  four  white  families 
settled  g:i  the  head  waters  of  Greenbrier,  and  apprehensive  of  (hmger,  re- 


*It  was  stated  to  the  aullior,  when  in  that  section  of  country,  that  there 
is  a  considerable  bank  ol"  beautitul  red  [).iint  in  Peters's  mountain,  five  or 
six  miles  from  the  spring. 

fDr.  Lewis,  the  present  proj)riel()r,  informed  the  author  that  he  had 
had  a  favorite  dog  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake  ;  he  immerstMl  him  in  th(»  sprin"-, 
ahd  it  entirely  cured  him  of  the  bite. 


/ 


327  APPENDIX. 

moved  their  families  into  the  settlement  where  they  were  safe.  A  man 
by  the  name  of  John  Johnston  came  in,  and  stated  he  had  seen  fresh 
sio^ns  of  Indians.  The  late  Col.  John  Dickinson,  a  brave  and  active 
Indian  fighter,  raised  a  party  of  twenty-seven  men,  and  marched  out ; 
but  it  was  too  or  three  days  before  they  found  any  traces  of  Indians. 
They  went  to  Jacob  Riffle's  house,  found  the  beds  totally  cut  open,  and 
the  feathers  scattered  to  the  winds.  The  Indians  had  kept  themselves  so 
completely  concealed,  that  they  could  not  be  disocvered ;  yet  they  contrived 
to  kill  one  of  Dickinson's  men,  named  Malone,  and  wounded  Robert 
McClay.  Col.  Dickinson  was  himself  pretty  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  the  Point,  in  the  year  1774,  under  Col.  Lewis.  The  ball  penetrated 
high  up  his  shoulder  and  came  out  very  near  his  spine.  Yet  he  soon  re- 
covered, suffering  but  little  from  the  wound.  The  Indians,  after  a  few 
days  lurking  about,  and  discovering  Dickinson's  party  to  be  too  strong 
for  them,  fled.     It  is  said  there  w^ere  only  three  Indians  in  the  party. 

The  warrant  of  Mr  Joseph  Maye's  land  was  issued  in  1743,  surveyed 
in  1746, — patent  or  grant  issued  in  1761.  Joseph  Maye,  Esq.,  at  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  Indians  ;  but  w^as 
rescued  by  his  friends  after  five  days  captivity,  and  brought  safely  home. 
This  venerable  and  intelligent  man  w^as  wounded  at  the  battle  of  the 
Point.  He  was  at  the  time  preparing  to  shoot  the  Indian  that  wounded 
him,  who  was  standing  behind  a  tree  that  was  rather  small  to  protect  him. 
It  had  a  crook  in  the  body,  below  which  Mr.  Maye  attempted  to  fire  at 
him — for  which  purpose  he  bent  his  right  knee  and  stooped  a  little ; 
but  the  fellow  was  too  quick  for  him,  fired  at  him  and  struck  him  very 
near  the  cap  of  his  knee.  The  ball  ranged  down  the  bones  of  his  leg, 
shivering  them  pretty  much.  He  was  not  able  to  w^alk  for  three  years  af- 
terwards. He  however  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  use  his  leg  a- 
bout  twenty  years  or  upwards ;  but  it  frequently  w^ould  inflame  and  break 
out,  and  he  was  finally  compelled  to  have  it  amputated  above  his  knee. — 
When  the  author  saw  this  highly  respectable  old  gentleman,  he  was 
eighty-four  years  of  age,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  fine  heatth. 

A  story  was  told  to  the  WTiter,  of  rather  singular  and  extraordinary 
character.  Seven  Indians  were  lurking  about  one  of  the  forts.  A  young 
.woman  had  walked  out,  perhaps  in  search  of  wild  fruit.  The  seven  In- 
dians seized  her  and  took  her  off.  They  proceeded  a  few  miles,  and  halt- 
ed for  the  purpose  of  terrifying  and  tormenting  the  unfortunate  girl. — 
They  stripped  her,  tied  her  hands  above  her  head  to  a  sapling,  and  threw 
their  tomahawks  at  her,  trying  how  near  they  could  pass  their  instruments 
by  her  body  without  wounding  her.  A  bold  and  enterprising  hunter 
happened  to  be  within  hearing  of  her  screams,  and  ran  to  see  what  pro- 
duced the  poor  girl's  terrors.  As  he  approached  he  discovered  the  scene, 
and  with  his  rifle  killed  one  of  the  party;  the  other  six  fled,  and  the  hun- 
ter ran  to  the  relief  of  the  unfortunate  sufferer,  instantly  cut  the  bandage 
from  her  hands,  threw  his  hunting  shirt  around  her,  and  directed  her  to 
run  to  the  fort,  and  he  instantly  reloaded  his  rifle  and  followed  her. — 
The  remaining  Indians,  discovering  there  was  but  one  man,  gave  chase. 
The  hunter  discoveriag  this,  slackened  his  pace,  and  as  they  approached 
pretty  near  him,  brought   another   down.     He  was  master  of  the  art  of 


APPENDIX.  323 

loading  as  he  ran.  The  remauiing  five  continued  the  chase  until  this 
brave  and  skilUul  marksman  brought  another  jtlown.  The  others  contin- 
ued the  pursuit  until  the  whole  number  was  killed.  The  author  can  not 
vouch  for  the  truth  of  this  story,  but  has  given  it  as  he  heard  it  related  by 
several  respectable  individuals  ;  the  reader  can  take  it  for  what  it  is 
worth, 

George  Keneade  was  killed,  and  his  wife  and  four  children  taken  off. 
An  old  Indian,  soon  after  her  arrival  at  the  village,  proposed  to  marry  her, 
but  she  promptly  refused  the  offer.  The  savage  monster  threatened  to 
burn  her.  A  Frenchman  told  her  if  she  would  consent  to  marry  him,  he 
would  take  her  off.  She  consented  to  his  offer,  and  he  soon  took  her  to 
Redstone,  and  married  her.  This  Frenchman  kept  a  little  store  in  the 
Indian  village.     Paul  Leash  was  the  name  of  this  Frenchman. 

There  were  a  number  of  people  killed  and  taken  prisoners  by  the  same 
Indians,  at  the  big  bend  of  Jackson  river.  But  Mr.  Byrd,  my  informant, 
could  not  recollect  the  precise  number  or  name  of  the  sufferers. 

There  is  an  Indian  grave  near  Man's  Mills,  on  Jackson  river,  thirty 
yards  or  more  in  diameter,  and  perfectly  round.*  The  author  will  here 
remark,  that  in  all  his  excursions  through  that  country,  he  never  saw  an 
Indian  grave, f  and  heard  of  but  two — the  one  just  spoken  of,  and  another 
on  Peter's  mountain.  This  is  said  to  be  in  circular  form,  and  covered 
entirely  with  stone. 

During  the  troublesome  times  with  the  Indians,  a  party  of  them  at- 
tacked the  dwelling  of  Maj.  Graham,  on  Greenbrier  river,  killed  some  of 
his  children  and  took  off  a  young  daughter.  She  remained  a  prisoner  for 
several  years,  and  grew  up  with  the  savages  ;  a  short  interval  of  peace 
took  place  with  the  tribes,  and  her  father  went  out  to  the  Indian  country 
and  found  his  daughter,  whom  he  had  for  a  long  time  believed  was  en- 
tirely lost  to  him,  and  brought  her  home.  She  soon  manifested  great 
uneasiness,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  return  to  the  Indians. 

A  small  party  of  Indians  came  into  the  neighborhood  of  Muddy  creek, 
and  killed  a  man  near  her  father's  residence,  and  as  soon  as  she  heard  of 
the   occurrence,  made  an  attempt  to  run  off  to  the  Indians,  but  was  pre- 
vented from  doing  so  by  the  family.       She  after  a  whik;  became  better 
reconciled  to  remain  with  her  connections,  and   married  a  worthy  man, 
raised  a  respectable  family  of  children,  and  was  living,  in  the  year  1836, 
in  the  county  of  Monroe.      This  is  another  among  the  many  instances  of      / 
white  children,  tak(,'n  while  cjuite  young,  growing  up  with  the  savages,     / 
and  becoming  so  much  attached  to  the  manners  and  habits  of  the  people 
in  a   state  of  nature,  as  to  leave  them  wilh  the  greatest  possible  rchic- 
tance. 

In  the  autumn  of  1797,  the  author  travnlled  through  the  State  of  Ohio. 
At  Chilicothe  he  saw  a  young  man  nnmed  Williamson,  who  was  on  his 
way  to  his  residence  at  the  three  Islands  of  the  Ohio  ;    lie  was  returning 


*Now  entirely  plowed  down. 

t There  is  a  pretty  considerable  mound  about  two  miles  soutli  of  Frank 
fort,  in  Pciulh'ton  (v>unty,  notirod  in  the  first  edition  of  thi^  work. 


"^ 


329  APPENDIX. 

"vvith  t\vo  of  Lis  brotheris,  one  fourteen^  ilie  other  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  who  had  been  taken  about  three  years  before.  He  found  thern  near 
the  lakes,  with  different  tribes,  about  six:ty  miles  apart.  The  young*  raari 
stated  that  it  was  with  corisideiable  difficulty  he  could  prevail  on  the  little 
fellows  to  leave  the  Indians^  and  even  after  he  had  started  with  them^ 
they  made  several  attempts  to  run  off  and  get  back  to  the  Indians,  He 
was  at  length  compelled  to  obtain  a  canoe  and  descend  the  Allegany  riv- 
er with  them,  and  by  this  means,  and  vigilant  watching,  he  prevented 
their  liiaking  their  escape  from  him. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  those  children  should  have  so  soon  lost  their  af- 
fection for  their  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters,  as  to  prefer  remaining 
with  their  savage  captors.  The  author  has  been  informed  by  persons' 
who  have  been  prisoners,  that  natives  never  apply  the  scourge  to  children, 
but  treat  them  with  the  greatest  indulgence^  It  is  prob-ably  owing  to  this 
eause  that  white  children  become  so  much  pleased  w^th  them.- 

The  author  attempted  to  converse  with  the  boys,  but  immediately  dis-' 
covered  that  they  had  acquired  all  that  coyness  and  diffidence  so  com- 
iftonly  manifested  by  the  native  Indians^  They  would  scarcely  answer  a 
question ;  and  before  they  answered  yes  or  no,  th6y  would  look  at  their 
elder  brother,  and  at  each  other,  and  pause  before  either  would  reply  ; 
and  that  reply  was  only  Yes,  or  No. 

In  the  year  1774,  there  were  four  families, — Ash,  Bumgardner,  Croft, 
and  Hupp, — w^ho  settled  at  a  place  called  Tea  Garden,  at  Ten  Mile 
Creek,  on  Monongalia  river.  They  had  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
Indians  for  permission  to  occupy  a  certain  quantity  of  land,  and  the  privi- 
lege of  hunting  on'  the  lands,  for  which  they  agreed  to  pay  a  small  annua! 
rent.  When  Dunmore's  war  commenced,  a  messenger  w^as  sent  to  them, 
warning  them  of  their  danger,  and  advising  them  to  remove  immediately 
i?>to  the  fort  at  Redstone.  The  messenger  stated  to  them^  that  if  they  re- 
mained they  would  all  be  killed.  Several  Indians  were  present,  and 
their  chief  replied  to  the  bearer  of  the  message  :  "  Tell  your  king  he  is  j£ 
d- —  liar — the  Indians  will  not  kill  them."  And  the  people  remained  at 
their  residence  during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  without  being  disturbed 
by  the  enemy. 

REGURGITARY    SPRING.- 


this  is  a  most  smgular  and  curious  work  of  nature.  The  writer  did 
TiOi  giee  it,  but  it  was  described  by  several  intelligent,  respectable  gentle- 
men who  had  repeatedly  examined  it.  On  the  summit  of  a  high  moun- 
tain, in  the  county  of  Hardy,  five  or  six  miles  from  Petersburg,  a  small 
village  on  the  main  fork  of  the  Soutli  branch  of  the  Wappatomaca,  this 
spring  makes  its  appearance;  It  ebbs  and  flows  every  two  hours.  When 
:fising,  it  emits  a  gurgling  noise,  similar  to  the  gurgling  of  any  liquid  run- 
liing  out  at  the  bung-hole  of  a  hogshead-— runs  freely  two  hours,  and  then 
tbbs,  and  the  water  entirely  disappears.  At  every  flovv,  sand  and  sioTcall 
pebbles  are  forced  out  with  the  water. 

Samuel    McDonald    was  wounded  at  the  battle    of  the  Pomt,    under 
Col  Lewis.     He  belonged  to  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Dickin-' 
a^.     The  ball  passed  tiiro ugh  both  his  thighs^  but  neither   was  broken. 


AFPENUIX.  23& 

Me  recovered  iVoin  his^  wounds,  but  contiaued  a  Iliiie  lame  a.>  loni;  as  he 
lived.  Mrs.  Ellen  McDonald,  his  widow,  (eighty-three  years  of  a^e, 
and  still  living,)  inibnned  the  author  that  she  ooce  had  two  sisters  taken 
?by  the  Indians — one  ten  years  of  age  and  the  other  seven.  They  ware 
prisoners  seven  years,  lost  their  mother  tongue,  and  spoke  the  Indian  lan- 
guage perfectly.  Two  of  Mr.  McDonald's  sisters  w^ere  taken  by  the 
Cherokees. 

In  the  year  1764,  the  Indians  killed,  at  the  house  of  Jamas  Clanalian, 
Edward  vSampson  and  Joseph  Mayes.  They  killed  and  took  prisoners 
all  the  families,  except  three  individuals.  A  woman  seventy  vears  of 
-ag3  had  left  the  house,  but  returned  and  took  a  small  trunk,  in  which  she 
kept  her  caps  and  money,  and  carried  it  off,  wdiile  the  Indians  were  kill- 
ing a  number  of  persons  around  her;  and  finally  made  her  escape. — 
\i'here  were  but  two  other  persons  who  escaped. 

The  Indians  then  passing  up  the  cowpasture  river,  stopped  at  thr 
'house  of  WilliarQ  Fitzgerald.  Thomas  Thompson  was  there  at  the  tim.e. 
They  barricaded  the  door,  so  that  the  Indians  could  not  force  it  open.— 
The  savages  iirtmcdiately  set  fire  to  the  house,  and  Fitzgerald  and  Thornp  • 
son  w'ere  burnt  to  death.  A  little  girl  of  Fitzgerald's  was  cruelly  burnt. 
They  killed  its  mother  the  next  dav,  and  took  the  child  ofl".  It  was  res- 
cued  by  the  wdiites  and  brought  part  of  the  way  home;  but  died  at  Mar- 
low's  ford,  Greenbrier  river.  Mrs.  Sampson  and  her  dauqfhters  were  ta- 
ken off  by  the  Indians,  and  when  they  found  they  would  he  overtaken  by 
the  whites,  a  3'oung  w^arrior  shot  Mrs.  Simpson  through  the  body.  She 
was  found  in  a  languishing  condition,  and  l»rought  part  of  the  way  hom(\ 
but  died  on  tlie  way.     Her  daughters  were  never  more  heard  of. 

Iri  1779  a  man  by  the  name  of  JMcKeever  w^as  killed,  and  Thomas 
Grenlng  and  George  Smith  were  fired  at  by  the  party  who  killed  Mc- 
Ivoever,  ])ut  made  their  escape..  Both  their  wives  and  children  were 
taken  ofT  as  prisoners,  Mrs.  Smith  made  her  escape  from  the  savages^ 
and  on  her  way  homeward  was  met  by  Col.  John  Hill,  now  ofPochahon- 
tas  countv,  and  conveyed  to  her  friends  in  N.  ('arolina. 

John  Day^s  Fort,  now  Priu'^a  old  Forf,  fnrme.rhj  Kpcklei/''s  Fort. — 
About  1772  John  McNeil  settled  in  the  Little  Levels;  at  that  period 
there  were  very  few  settlers  in  that  neighborhood.  Mrs.  Sarah  Brown, 
the  mother  of  Col.  Brown  in  this  neighborhood,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
years, was  able  to  walk  about  the  neighborhood,  and  rode  by  herself  to  vis^ 
It  some  of  her  children,  who  lived  ten  or  fifteen  miles  olt.  Col.  Brown 
•stated  to  the  author  that  a  .sus^ar  tree  of  immense  size,  (at  least  six  feet 
in  diameter,)  stood  in  one  of  his  fields,  and  that  it  yielded  him  at  least 
fifty  pounds  of  sugar  yearly.  'JMie  Indians  did  no  mischief  after  thr  war 
of  1763,  until  the  year  177-1.  There  were  some  Ibiffalo  and  Flk  t<^  be 
•seen  in  the  country  at  this  period. 

William  Merks,  his  wife,  six  children,  and  lii^  mother,  were  fakrn  off 
four  or  five  years  after  the  battle  of  the  Point.  Capt.  Woods  of  the 
present  county  of  Monror,  raised  a  party  of  seventeen  men,  piirsue^l  the 
cnemv,  and  after  several  days  march,  overtook  th.em  late  ir  thp  eveninp- 
Thp  Indaans  bad  halted  and  been  rncnmprd  three  or  tour  fiA\<.  C^ipr. 
Woods  and  his  parly  appmacbed  within  a  short  rlistnnce  of  tliem  without 


331  APPENDIX. 

being  discovered.  Early  the  next  morning,  it  being  very  Ibggy,  the  whites 
rushed  in  among  the  enemy.  Capt.  Woods  and  the  Indian  Capt.  fired  at 
each  other,  the  muzzles  of  th  eir  guns  almost  touching  ;  but  each  of  them 
springing  to  one  side,  neither  shot  took  effect.  Woods  knocked  the  In- 
dian down  with  his  gun,  and  pursued  the  flying  enemy.  The  fellow 
knocked  dow-n   soon  recovered  and  ran  off. 

Not  one  of  the  Indians  was  killed,  but  the  prisoners  were  all  rescued, 
and  returned  to  their  homes  wuth  the  plunder  all  retaken,  and  the  Indians 
losing  all  their  own  property. 

COOK'S  FORT,  INDIAN  CREEK. 

In  the  year  1774,  about  the  time  of  the  attack  on  Donnally's  fort, 
there  were  about  three  hundred  people  sheltered  in  this  fortress.  It  was 
an  oblong,  and  covered  one  and  a  half  acres  of  ground.  A  Mrs.  Brads- 
burn  w^as  killed. 

Shortly  before  Wm.  Meeks  was  taken,  Steel  LafTerty  was  killed  at  the 
mouth  of  Indian  Creek,  three  miles  off  from  the  fort.  Meeks  heard  the 
report  of  his  death,  immediately  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  with  all 
speed  to  his  house,  to  the  relief  of  two  women  ;  as  he  approached  the 
house,  he  called  to  them  to  open  the  door,  v.'hich  w^as  immediately  done, 
w^hen  he  rushed  into  it,  sprang  to  a  port  hole,  saw  two  Indians  running  a- 
cross  a  small  field,  near  the  house,  fired  at  them,  when  one  of  them  drop- 
ped his  blanket  and  gun,  increased  his  speed  and  got  off;  but  it  was  belie- 
ved he  was  shot  through  the  body  ;  he  never  could  be  found,  however. 

In  1771,  Mr.  James  Ellison  removed  from  the  State  of  Jersey,  wdth 
his  father,  at  wdiich  time  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  ai^e.  On  the  19th 
of  October,  1780,  a  party  of  seven  or  eight  Indians  attacked  him,  woun- 
ded him  in  the  shoulder ;  the  ball  passing  under  his  shoulderblade  and 
out  very  near  his  spine  ;  he  was  tied  and  taken  off  a  prisoner.  The  next 
day,  when  they  had  travelled  about  fifteen  miles  with  him,  w^hile  passing 
through  a  thicket,  he  suddenly  escaped  from  them,  and  was  pursued,  but 
outran  them  and  got  off.  This  old  and  intelligent  man,  was  afterwards 
in  the  battle  of  the  Point,  under  Col.  Lewds.  The  author  saw  him  and 
conversed  with  him;  he  was  then  about  eighty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Ellison  has  been  a  great  and  successful  hunter.  There  were  but 
very  few  buiflilo  and  elk  remaining  in  the  country,  but  abundance  of 
bears,  deers,  panthers,  wolves,  wild  cats,  and  a  vast  number  of  tur- 
kies  and  other  small  game.  Mr.  Ellison  stated  that  he  might  safely  afl^irm 
that  he  had  killed  more  than  one  thousand  deer,  three  or  four  hundred 
bears,  a  great  many  panthers  wolves,  &c.  The  wild  game  was  the  chief 
dependence  of  the  first  settlers,  for  subsistence.  There  were  a  great  ma- 
ny beavers,  otters,  and  other  fured  animals  taken  bv  hunters. 

Mr.  John  Lybrook, — born  in  Pennsylvania,  aged  seventy-three, — was 
too  young  to  recollect  when  his  father  moved  and  settled  on  New  river, 
at  the  mouth  of  Sinking  creek,  (this  was  in  1772,)  now  living  \\\  Giles 
county. 

In  the  year  1774  the  Indians  commenced  their  outrages  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. The  first  act  of  murder  was  perpetrated  by  four  Indians  near 
his  fatlicr's  house.     Mr.  Lybrook  was  then  about  ten  or  eleven  years  ojd. 


APPENDIX,  332 

About  the  first  of  July,  my  informant  and  several  of  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, and  several  of  Mr.  Snydow's  children,  were  at  play  on  the  edge  of 
the  river.  They  discovered  the  Indians  approaching.  John  went  to  the 
shore  and  ran  some  distance  along  the  margin  of  the  water ;  but  he  dis- 
covered that  an  Indian  on  the  bank  had  got  ahead  of  him.  The  bank  at 
that  place  was  so  precipitous  that  there  was  but  one  point  that  could  be 
ascended.  The  Indian  stooped  to  fire  at  two  lads  swimming  the  river,, 
and  John  took  this  opportunity  to  ascend  the  bank  by  a  narrow  channel, 
worn  in  it  by  the  feet  of  wild  animals  when  they  used  it  as  a  passage  to 
and  from  the  v/ater.  He  darted  by  the  Indian,  who  instantly  pursued 
him.  After  running  about  one  hundred  yards,  he  leaped  across  a  gulley 
worn  by  a  small  stream  of  water  in  the  bank  of  the  river.  It  was  at  least 
twelve  feet  w^ide.  At  this  place  the  Indian  halted,  but  would  not  try  the 
leap,  but  threv/  a  buffalo  tug  at  the  boy,  which  he  felt  strike  his  head  and 
back;  but  the  little  fellow  made  his  escape,  and  got  safely  to  the  fort  at 
his  father's  house.  Mr.  Lybrook  stated  this  fact  to  the  author,  and  most 
solemnly  declared  it  was  true.  Three  of  the  Indians  entered  the  canoe, 
and  killed  and  scalped  five  of  the  children.  A  sister  of  my  informant,  a 
girl  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  turn  the  ca- 
noe (which  she  was  in,  with  the  other  children,)  stern  foremost,  whilst 
the  Indians  were  engaged  in  killing  and  scalping  their  victims,  and  jump- 
ed out  and  ran.  She  was  pursued  by  an  Indian  ;  her  screams  attracted 
the  attention  of  a  remarkably  fierce  dog,  which  immediately  ran  with  the 
utmost  speed  to  her  relief.  The  Indian  had  got  so  near  her,  that  he  ex- 
tended his  arm  to  seize  her ;  but  the  dog  had  approached  near  enough  to 
save  her.  He  ran  so  close  to  her  that  he  threw  her  down  ;  then  seized 
the  Indian  by  one  of  his  thighs  just  above  his  knee,  gave  a  violent  jerk, 
and  threw  the  fellow  to  the  ground.  The  girl  escaped  ;  the  dog  hung  on, 
tearino^  at  him  for  a  little  time ;  but  letting  go  his  hold,  he  sprang  at  the 
fellow's  throat.  The  Indian  struck  him  a  violent  blow  with  a  war  club, 
and  knocked  him  down.  The  dog  then  ran  to  the  canoe  and  c;uarded 
the  dead  children  until  the  people  took  them  away  for  burial.  The  doo" 
refused  to  follow  them,  immediately  ran  off,  and  raised  a  most  piteous 
howl.  Some  of  the  party  went  to  see  what  produced  the  distress  of  the 
dog,  and  found  a  little  boy  about  six  years  old,  who  had  been  violently 
struck  on  the  head  with  a  wju*  club,  his  skull  severely  fractured,  and  his 
brains  oozing  out  and  liis  liejfd  scalped.  I  [e  was  brother  to  my  informant. 
The  little  fellow  breathed  about  twenty-four  hours,  and  then  expired. — 
The  author  will  take  some  further  notice  of  Mrs.  Lybrook  in  his  next 
chapter. 

Mrs.  Marn^aret  Hall — sixty-nine  years  of  age — when  ten  years  old, 
with  a  younger  sister,  and  a  little  d.mghtcr  of  Richard  Esty,  were  taken 
by  a  party  of  Shawnee  Indians,  on  New  river.  Her  mother,  three  sisters 
and  brother,  were  killed  at  the  time,  and  the  prisoners  taken  to  the  Shaw- 
nee town>.  The  same  morning  Pliilij)  Kavanah  was  kilk^d,  and  a  young 
lad  fifiecn  or  sixteen  years  of  age  taken,  named  Francis  Deny.  Mrs. 
Hall  was  eighteen  years  with  the  Indians,  and  never  returned  home  until 
after  (ien.  Wayne  deleated  them-  Mrs.  Hall  was  transferred  by  the 
Shawnccs  lo   the  Delaware  iribc.     She  was  adopted  by  the  Indian  chief 


mZ  APPENDIX, 

Koothuinpun,  and  her  sister  Elizabeth  into  the  tdiiiily  of  Petasuc,  cots^ 
raonly  called  Snake.  The  Indians  had  a  tew  cattle,  and  used  some  milk 
and  butter.  Their  bread  was  commonly  made  of  pounded  corn  meal. — 
The  E^n^lish  liowever,  frequently  furnished  them  with  flour,  which  Ihey 
usually  baked  in  the  ashes.  The  bread  ate  very  well  when  fresh.  They 
also  made  fritters  and  pancakes.  The  Shawnee  women  were  far  better 
housekeepers  than  the  D.ela wares.  The  Shawnees  lived  better  and  more 
plentifully  than  the  Delawares.  A  few  years  before  Mrs.  Hall  returned 
home,  a  youn^  Indian  chief  made  love  to  her,  and  vehemently  urged  her 
to  consent  to  marry  him,  which  she  peremptorily  refused.  He  threaten- 
ed her  life  if  she  \vould  not  consent.  He  continued  his  visits  to  her,  and 
her  foster  niother  urged  her  to  consent  to  the  match.  The  young  squaws 
frequently  congratulated  her  on  her  fine  offer.  She  at  length,  by  contin- 
ued solicitations  of  the  young  chief,became  so  annoyed  that  she  determined 
on  taking  flight  to  a,nother  village,  seventy  miles  off,  to  which  her  foster 
sister  and  brother  had  removed.  Early  one  morning  she  secured  a  very 
fine  horse,  mounted  him,  and  pushed  off.  She  travelled  briskly,  and 
reached  her  destin.atio,n  about  sunset ;  traveling  the  seventy  miles  thi'ougli 
ri  trackless  wilderness.  She  found  her  foster  sister,  but  her  brother  was 
out  on  a  hunting  excursion.  She  complained  to  her  foster  sister  of  the 
treatment  she  had  reyeived,  who  replied,  "I  will  defend  you  with  my  life.'' 
The  young  warrior  determined  not  to  be  defeated  in  this  way,  without 
another  effort  to  secure  her  to  himself,  or  take  her  life.  He  pursued  her 
immediately,  and  reached  the  village  to  which  she  had  fled,  the  next  day 
in  the  afternoon.  He  soon  found  where  she  was,  and  called  on  her  and 
told  her  if  she  did  not  immediately  consent  to.  become  his  wife,  he  would 
kill  her.  (Her  foster  sister  stood,  by  her.)  She  raised  her  hands  and 
protested  that  she  never  would.  He  made  a  lunge  at  her  with  a  long 
knife,  but  her  sister  threw  herself  between  them,  and  received  a  slight 
wound  in  her  side,  the  point  of  the  knife  striking  a  rib.  The  girl  in- 
stantly seized  the  knife,  and  wrenching  it  from  his  hand,  broke  the  blade 
and  threw  it  away.  They  quickly  commenced  a  furious  fight,  whilst  she 
sat  petrified,  as  it  were,  with  fear.  Her  sister  told  her  to  run  and  hide 
herself,  exclaiminor,  ''He  will  kill  me  and  then  kill  you.*^  She  then  ran 
and  concealed  herself.  But  the  young  woman  proved  too  stout  for  the 
fellow,  gave  him  a  severe  drubbing,  and  droi^e  liim  off.  Her  foster  broth- 
er returned  in  about  a  fortnight,  from  his  hunting  expedition.  She  com- 
plained to  him.  He  told  her  net  to  be  uneasy  ;  called  him  a  dog,  (the 
worst  epithet  they  could  apply  to  each  other,)  and  said  that  if  he  ever 
made  any  farther  attempts  upon  her,  he  would  immediately  kill  him. — 
The  fellow,  however,  rtever  annoyed  her  again.  He  was  sometime  after 
killed  in  Wayne's  battle  with  the  Indians.  Mrs.  Hall's  residence  is  in;. 
Giles  coi^ity,  about  four  miles  from  the  Grey  Sulphur  springs. 

FIRE  HUNTING. 

Mr.  John  Lybrook  has  been  a  most  cnierprising  and  ffucfcssful  hun- 
ter. He  stated  to  the  anther  that  he  had  probably  killed  three  thous- 
nnd  flec'^,  five  or  six  hundred  bears,  hundreds  of  panthers,  '.volve^  and' 
^^)ld    ryts;  nnd   an  innumerable   number  of  turkeys    and   small  g^.rac.^ — 


vVhen  he  was  about  tjiirteeii  years  of  age,  his  father's  dog  treed  a  panther 
of  enormous  size.  He  came  to  the  liouse  and  took  down  a  rifle.  His 
motlier  asked  nini  what  he  was  going  to  do  with  the  gun.  He  replied 
that  he  was  going  to  see  what  the  dog  had  treed.  She  remarked  that  it 
was  probably  a  panther,  and  charged  him,  if  it  was,  not  to  shoot  at  it,  but 
to  get  his  father  to  shoot  it ;  adding,  if  he  wounded  it  and  did  not  kill  it, 
it  would  tear  him  to  pieces.  He  soon  discoversd  that  it  was  a  huge  pan- 
ther, standing  at  full  length  oh  a  large  limb  of  the  tree,  about  twenty 
feet  from  the  ground.  He  knew  himself  to  be  a  sure  marksman,  and 
would  hot  forego  the  temptation  of  firing  at  so  fine  a  mark.  Disobeying 
liis  lildther's  injunction,  he  took  deliberate  aim  at  his  side  a  little  behind 
the  shoulder;  and  the  ball  passed  through  the  animal's  heart,  and  it  fell 
dead.  His  mother  was  near  scourging  him  for  disobeying  her  orders ; 
but  h6  acquired  great  credit  from  his  father  and  the  neighborhood  gener- 
ally, for  his  bravery  and  firmness.  It  was  the  largest  animal  of  the  kind 
fever  known  to  be  killed  in  that  part  of  the  country.  It  measured  up- 
\Vards  of  fourteen  feet  from  the  end    of  the  nose  to  the  end  of  the   tail.* 

I'he  author  had  frequently  heard  that  the  western  people,  in  early  times, 
practiced  w^hat  they  called  "fire  hunting,"  but  never  knew  exactly  what 
it  meant,  until  Mr.  Lybrook  explained  it  to  him.  The  hunters  made 
stone  hearths  in  one  end  of  their  canoes,  on  whicli  they  w^ouid  raise  large 
p'ine  lights  in  the  night,  and  set  their  canoes  to  floating  down  the  stream. 
The  deers  usually  collected  in  considerable  numbers  in  the  rivers,  in  order 
to  feed  on  the  moss  which  grew  in  them.  As  the  light  approached  near 
the  deer,  it  would  would  raise  its  head,  and  stare  at  it;  and  its  eyes 
would  shine  as  bright  as  diamonds;  When  the  shining  of  the  eye  was 
.seen, the  hunter  would  consider  himself  near  enough  to  shoot.  Thousands 
and  thousands  of  deer  were  killed  in  this  way. 

in  1778,  grain  grew  scarce  at  the  fort.  Old  Mr.  Lybrook  arid  the 
Snydows  had  several  parcels  of  wheat  standing  in  the  stack, at  their  respec- 
tive farms.  Ten  men  were  sent  to  thresh  out  the  wheat,  Mr.  Lybrook, 
about  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  directed  to  take  charge  of  the  pack  horses, 
to  convey  the  wheat  to  the  fort.  (Preston's  fort,  about  fifteen  miles  dis- 
tant.) Two  men  were  sent  with  hira.  When  they  reached  the  wheat 
yard,  the  threshers  had  left,  and  gone  to  his  father's  house  or  fort,  and 
they  (Mr.  L.  and  the  other  t4V0,)  went  there  also.  Mr.  L.  discovered  a 
party  of  Indians  on  a  high  hill,  who  also  discovered  Mr.  L.  and  his  com- 
|]lanioris,  and  attempted  to  intercept  ihcm.  'i'hey  had  to  use  great  inge- 
nuity aiifl  caution  to  elude  the  enemy,  but  got  safe  to  the  fort  and  gave 
inlbrmation  of  the  Indians  sjxulking  in  the  woods. 

A  brave  and  active  mar»  by  the  name  of  Scott,  went  out  and  killed  one 
of  the  Iiidians,  and  the  others    immediately  look    to  ilight. 

In  the  year  1775,  peaceable  times  were  had  with  the  Indians.  But  in 
1776,  tiiey  recommenced  their  war/art,   and  continued  vith""  unabated  fu- 


*The  author  would  not  have  ventured  tc»  state  Itiis  fact,  lest  ii  might 
bt  suspected  that  he  is  disjiosed  to  (hal  in  tiie  rt-lation  of  marvellou>  slc»- 
ries.  But  he  related  this  storv  to  Col.  Wfltori,  on  the  S<ui(h  branch,  in 
Hardvcountv,  who  stated  that  he  liad  himself  killed  one  of  enormous  size. 


335  '  APPENDIX. 

ry  until  1780.  The  white  people  had  extended  their  settlements  consid- 
erably to  the  west  of  New  river;  this  afforded  some  protection  to  the  set- 
tlers in  this  section  ;  but  the  enemy  would  once  in  a  while  sculk  into  the 
neighborhood,  commit  murders  and  robberies,  and  steal  horses,  and  then 
push  off.  This  state  of  things  continued  for  several  years  after  the  year 
1780. 

Mr.  Lybrook,  after  his  well  managed  trip  for  the  conveyance  of  the 
w^heat  to  the  fort,  was  almost  every  year  appointed  *  an  Indian  spy,  and 
after  he  grew  to  manhood,  he  served  regularly  for  three  years  in  that  ca- 
pacity. His  brother  Philip  and  a  Mr.  Philips  generally  served  w^ith  him. 
It  was  an  arduous  and  dangerous  service,  but  they  were  fortunate  enough 
never  to  get  hurt  by  the  enemy. 

The  last  time  the  hostile  Indians  were  known  to  be  in  Greenbrier  coun- 
ty, was  in  the  summer  of  1793.  Three  Indians  came  into  the  settlement, 
stole  several  horses,  and   attempted  to  make  their  escape. f 

Matthew  Farly,  an  intrepid  hunter,  raised  ten  men  and  pursued  thenix 
He  came  in  sight  of  their  encampment  late  in  the  evening,  halted  and  re- 
mained until  early  next  morning.  Farly  divided  his  men  into  two  par- 
ties, and  directed  that  each  should  fire  separately  at  an  Indian.  Two  of 
them  had  risen,  and  setting  quietly ;  the  third  was  lying  down.  When 
the  whites  approached  near  enough  to  fire,  each  party  singled  their  object,, 
fired,  and  the  two  Indians  were  killed;  the  third  sprang  to  his  feet,  and 
ran  up  the  side  of  the  hill.  Farley  having  reserved  his  fire,  seeing  the 
fellow  endeavoring  to  make  his  escape,  fired  at  him,  and  broke  his  thigh. 
He  fell,  rolled  down  the  hill,  and  cried  out  "Enough,  I  give  up."  Far- 
ly was  desirous  of  saving  his  life,  but  Charles  Clay  and  others,  whose 
friends  bad  been  massacred  by  the  Indians,  rushed  upon  him  and  dis- 
patched him. 

The  Executive  of  Virginia  rewarded  this  little  company  of  men  by  pay- 
ing for  their  tour  of  service. 

The  author  was  informed  that  in  the  year  1795,  there  was  an  outrage 
committed  on  the  property  of  a  farmer  in  Greenbrier  county — charged  ta 
the  Indians.  The  dwelling  house,  (in  the  absence  of  the  family,)  and  a 
new  wagon  which  was  drawn  up  close  to  the  house,  were  both  set  on 
fire  and  consumed  together.  But  it  is  more  probable  that  it  was  the  work 
of  incendiaries,  who  had  first  robbed  the  house,  and  then  fired  it  with  a 
view  to  conceal  their  villainy.  Every  Indian  warrior  w^as  called  home  in 
the  spring  of  1794,  when  it  was  known  that  Gen.  Wayne  was  preparing 
to  invade  their  country  with  a  powerful  army.  The  Indians  concentrated 
all  their  forces  for  their  own  defence,  and  after  their  decisive  defeat  by 
Wayne,  immediately  entered  into  a  treaty,  which  put  a  final  end  to  further 
hostilities  by  the  savages  in  Western  Virginia. 

Col.  Stuart,  the  clerk  of  Greenbrier  court,  expressed  this  opinion  to 
the  writer. 

During  the  period  of  Indian  hostilities,  four  Indians  came  into  the  set- 
tlement on  the  head  of  the  Wappatcmmaca.     They  were  said  to  belong  to 


*Near  the  month  of  Indian  Creek,  a  branch  of  Greenbrier, 
f  The..  Indians  were  overtaken  on  the  meshes  of  Cole  rivet. 


'APPE^^DIX^  33ff 

:1.' tribe  then  at  peace  with  the  whites.  One  ofthbm  objected  to  trarehno; 
down  the  South  branch  fork,  saying  they  would  be  in  danger.  The  oth- 
er three  Laughed  at  him.  He  separated  from  them,  and  took  down  the 
North  fork.  The  three  were  pursued  by  white  men,  and  killed  on  Mill 
Greek;  the  fourth  was  seen  by  a  negro  man  belonging  to  Cunningham, 
and  pursued  seven  or  eight  miles.  As  he  was  crossing  the  river,  the  ne 
gro  fired  at  him.  He  fell  into  the  water,  but  immediately  sprang  up  and 
made  his  escape.  His  blanket  was  folded  up,  and  placed  on  hii?  back;- 
the  ball  struck  the  blanket,  and  penetrated  through  several  folds,  but  re- 
mained in  it.  When  the  Indian  rciached  his  tribfe,  he  unfolded  his  blank- 
et, and  the  bullet  was  found  in  it. 

The  men  who  committed  the  iilurder  were  apprehended  and  ordered 
to  jail,  but  their  neighbors  raised  a  party  of  men,  and  rescued  the  prison- 
ers, and  set  them  at  liberty.  They  were  never  brought  to  trial  for  the  of- 
fense. The  father  of  my  informant  was  otic  of  the  party  who  effected  the 
rescue. 

APP'S  VALLEY. 

This  vaUey  is  situated  in  the  county  of  Tazewell,  and  took  its  namip' 
ftoln  Absalom  Looney,  a  hunter,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been'  the' first 
white  man  that  explored  it.  It  is  about  ten  miles  long,  and  generally 
about  lilty  rods  wide.  There  is  no  stream  of  water  running  along  it,  nor 
across  it.  The  branches  that  comfe  down  the  mountain  hollows,  and  the 
springs,  all  sink  at  the  edge  of  the  flat  land  and  r'.se  in  a  large  spring  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  valley.  When  first  visited  by  the  white  man,  it  was 
overgrown  with  the  crab-apple,  plum,  and  thcr.i,  and  covered  with  the' 
most  luxuriant  herbage  ;  affording  the  finest  range  for  stock,  and  aboun- 
ding: with  oame. 

In  the  autumn  of  1775,  Gapt.  James  Moore  removed  with  his  family 
from  Rockbridge  county  to  this  valley,  having  cleared  some  land  the  pre- 
ceding spring,  and  raised  a  Crop  of  corn.  A  short  time  afterwards,  his 
brother-in-law,  Robert  Poage,  settled  near  to  him  in  the  same  valley. — 
The  place  was  exceedingly  secluded,  and  these  two  families  were  ten  or 
twelve  miles  from  any  other  settlement  of  vdiites.  As  this  had  been  a  fa- 
vorite hunting  ground  of  the  Indians,  they  often  visited  it.  Indeed, 
tliere  was  scarcely  a  year  in  which  these  families  were  not  compelled  to 
lea.ve  the  valley  and  take  shelter  in  a  fort  \i\  the  Bluestone  settlement. 

In  the  spring  of  1782,  the  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  Robert  Poage 
at  night.  They  burst  the  door  open,  but  finding  that  there  were  several 
men  in  the  house,  (there  haj^pened  to  be  three  besides  Mr.  Poage,)  tJi.ey 
did  not  attein))t  to  enter  the  house,  but  after  watching  it  for  some  time, 
went  off;  and  the  next  morning  killed  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  RicJi- 
ards,  who  had  been  living  for  some  time  at  C)apt.  Moore's.  He  had  gono 
out  earlv  in  the  morning  to  })ut  some  deerskins  to  soak  in  a  pond  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  house;  and  whilst  engaged  at  tho  pond,  he 
was  shot  and  immediately  scalfX'd.  At  ihis  time  the  (apiilies  forled  again 
in  the  BhiestonP  settlemen*;  and  soon  afterwards  Mr.  Poagp  removed  to 
Georgia. 


337  APPENDIX. 

In  Sept.  1784,  the  Indians  again  excited  great  alarm.     The  first  that 
was  known  of  their  being  in  that  part  of"  the  country,  was  the  capture  of 
James,  one.  of  Mi..  Moore's  sons.     After  breakfast,  his  father  sent  kim  to 
brin^  a  horse  from  a    waste  plantation  about   two   miles  from  where  he 
lived.      A.-c-rustomed  to  go  about  alone,  and  being  out  often  after  night, 
he  was  a  fearless  lad.      But  on  this  occasion,  he  had  scarcely  got  out  of 
sight  of  his  father's  house,  before    a  most  distressing   panic  came  over 
him.     At   one  time  lie  determined  to  return,  but  feared  his  father's  dis- 
pleasure.    When  he  got  near  the  field  Avhere  the  horses  were,  three  Indi- 
ans sprang  out  froin  behind  a  kg  near  his  path  and  captured  him  at  once. 
They  then  endeavored  to  catch  some    of  the  horses,   but  failing   in  this, 
they  started  with  their  captive  to    the  Shawnee  towns,  situated  on   the 
head  waters  of  Mad  river,  in  Ohio.     This  journey  occupied  about  twenty 
days.     Soon  after  reacliing    the  towns,    James  was  sold  by  the    Indians 
who  had  captured  him,  to  his  sister,  for  an  old  horse.     By  her  lie  was 
sent  wutli  a  party  of  the  tribe  on  a  w^inter  hunt,  in  which  he  suffered  great 
hardships  from  hunger  and  exposure,     la  the  following  spring,  at  a  great 
dance  held  at  a  town  near  to  the  one  in  which  he  lives,  he  w^as  purchased 
by  a  French  trader  for  fifty  dollars,  paid  in  goods.       The  Frenchman  w^as 
induced  to    purchase  him,  from  seeing  in  the  captive  lad  a  striking  like- 
ness to  one  of  his  own  sons.      By  Mr.   Ariome  and  his  w^ife  Jam-es  w^as 
treated  as  a  son.       At  the  time  when  he  was  sold  by  the  Indians,  James 
got  an  opportunity  to  communicate  to    his  father,  through  a  trader  from 
Kentucky,   intelligence  of  his  release  from  the    Indians,  and  that  he  had 
gone  to  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit.     This  intelligence  gave  rise  to  hopes 
of  seeing  hiin  again^ — hopes  wdiich  but  two  of  the  family  realised.     And 
when  they  met  him,  it  was  at  a  place  and  in  circumstances  very  different 
from  what  they  had  anticipated. 

In  1785,  the  valley  was  again  visited  by  the  Indi-ans.  On  the-morn- 
ing  of  the  14ih  of  July,  a  party  of  between  thirty  and  forty,  led  to  the 
place  by  one  of  those  who  had  captured  James,  attacked  and  destroj^ed 
Mr.  Moore's  family^  At  the  time- when  it  w^as  broken  up,  Capt.  Moore's 
family  consisted  of  his  w^ife,  (who  before  marriage  vras  a  Miss  Poage,  of 
Rockbridge  county,)  seven  childrea,  an  old  English  servant  by  the  name 
of  Simpson,  Martha  Evans,  who  was  assisting  Mrs.  Moore,  and  two  men 
hired  as  laborers.  On  that  morning  tliese  men  had  gone  out  to  reap 
wheat ;  and  5Ir,  Mooi'c  was  eni^aoed  about  breakfast  time  in  salting 
5ome  horses  that  had  come  up  from  the  range,  and  was  some  distance 
from  the  house.  The  Indians  who  had  been  watching  in  a  graia-tield 
about  two  hundred:  yards  from  the  house,  raised  the  w^ar  w^hoop,  and 
rushed  on.  Capt.  Moore  ran  towards  the  house,  but  seeing  that  the- 
door  w^as  closed,  and  that  the  Indians  would  reach  it  as  soon  as  he  could, 
lie  ran  across  the  small  lot  in  which  the  house  stood,  but  when  he  got  on 
the  fence  he  stopped,  and  was  shot  with  seven  balls.  He  then  ran  about 
fifty  yards  and  fell.  The  Indians  told  one  of  the  captives  afterv.'ards,  that 
he  might  have  escaped  if  he  had  not  halted  on  the  fence.  Mrs,  Moore 
•c^nd  Martha  Evans  barred  the  door  on  the  first  alarm.  The  old  English- 
man, Simpson,  was  also  in  the  house,  and  there  were  five  or  six  rifles.— 
Martha  Evan-i  took  three  cf  them  up  stairs  to  Simpson;  and  called  to  hun 


APPEXDiX.  33S 

to  shoot  He  was  m  a  bed  ;  and.  on  liftinu;  the  clolkes,  .she  saw  tha't  he 
had  been  shot  in  the  side  of  the  head,  and  was  dying.  There  were  two 
large  fierce  dogs  that  fought  the  Indians  at  the  door  until  they  were  shot 
down.  The  door  was  soon  cut  down  with  the  tomahawk.  Three  chil- 
dren were  killed  before  the  house  was  forced — two  at  the  place  where  Mr. 
Moore  was  salting  the  horses,  and  one  in  the  yard  n«ear  the  house.  The 
prisoners  were  Mrs.  Moore,  John,  Polly,  Jane  and  an  infant,  and  Martha 
Evans.  Whilst  the  Indians  were  cutting;  down  the  door,  Martha  and 
Polly  lifted  a  loose  plank  in  the  floor  and  got  under  it,  taking  the  infant  with 
them.  It  however  began  to  cry,  and  Polly  unwilling  to  set  it  out  alone, 
went  out  with  it.  Martha  remained  concealed  until  after  the  house  had 
been  plundered  and  set  on  fire,  and  whilst  the  attention  of  the 'Indians  was 
taken  up  in  dividing  the  spoil,  she  slipped  out  at  a  back  way  and  secreted 
herself  under  a  log  which  lay  across  a  branch  not  far  from  the  house.  A 
short  time  before  they  left  the  place,  a  stragling  Indian  seated  himself  on 
the  log  and  began  to  work  with  the  lock  of  his  gun.  She  supposing  that 
he  saw  her,  and  was  going  to  shoot  her,  came  out  and  gave  herself  up. 

After  plundering  the  house  of  everything  that  they  chose  to  take,  and 
setting  all  the  buildings  on  fire,  the  Indians  started  for  their  towns,  which 
stood  near  the  place  on  which  the  town  of  Chilicothe  now  stands.  John 
was  sick  and  unable  to  travel,  and  was  killed  with  the  tomahawk  on  the 
first  day ;  and  the  infant  becoming  fretful,  was  killed  on  the  second  or 
third  day. 

The  men  who  were  in  the  harvest  field  at  the  time  when  the  Indians  at- 
tacked the  house,  immediatdly  took  to  flight  and  went  with  all  speed  to  the 
Bluestone  settlement ;  and  in  the  evening  a  })arty  of  seven  or  eight  men 
came  to  the  place  :  but  seeing  the  indications  of  a  large  party  of  Indians — 
after  burying  the  three  children  and  making  a  little  search  for  the  body  of 
Capt.  Moore,  but  without  success.,  they  returned,  and  an  €X])ress  was 
sent  to  (^ol.  Cloyd  of  Montgomery  county,  a  distance  of  sixty  or  seventy 
miles.  He  reached  the  place  with  a  c()mj)any  of  thirty-five  or  forty  men, 
•on  the  fourth  day  after  the  disaster.  They  made  no  attempt  to  follow  the 
Indians.  After  searching  for  some  time  they  tbund  the  body  of  C'apl. 
Moore,  and  wrajipiiig-it  in  a  saddle  blanket,  they  buried  it  at  the  >i\yM 
where  he  lell.  His  death  was  much  regretted.  He  was  a  christian,  ;» 
patriot,  and  a  brave  man.  In  the  memorable  battle  of  (luiltbrd,  lie  com- 
manded one  of  the  companies  of  the  Virginia  riflemen  with  great  credit. 

A  short  tirnf"  after  the  Indians  reached  their  towns  with  the  captives,  .i 
war  party  of  Cherokees  halted  there  on  their  return  from  an  attack  on 
some  f)t"  the  settlements  in  Peiuisylvauia,  in  which  they  had  been  unsuc- 
t;esstiil,  and  had  lost  some  of  their  party.  They  laid  a  plan  to  avenge  theii 
loss,  by  murdering  these  captives.  To  accomplish  this,  they  comiuencnl 
a  drunken  frolic,  taking  rare  to  get  the  Shawnees  dead  drunk,  hut  to  keep 
in  some  measure  sober  themselves.  Tiicy  llien  accompbslied  tlieir  pur- 
pose, wIkmi  those  to  whom  ihe  captives  i)elonged  were  unable  to  protrcrt 
them.  Mrs.  Moore  and  Jnne  were  massacred.  Polly  Moore  and  Marlha 
Evans  c^oape:l  through  the  tim»'lv  care  (>flhc  squaws  belrMiging  to  th' 
fdinilios  intc»  whicii  tliev  iiad  been  adapted.  Wh'si  llie  flrinking  coni- 
nieiiced  they  ^;u^pcclcd   the  bcsign  ;    and  secretly  got   iji^^so  two  offr  and 


:339  APffiNHlX, 

fcaiefiilly  secrtited  them  in  a  thicket,  two  or  three  miles  from  the  to^.:iis^ 
•until  the  Cherokees  were  gone.  When  they  were  brought  back,  Polly 
.was  shown,  in  a  pile  of  ashes,  the  half  burnt  bones  of  herrmother  and  sis- 
ter. Whether  they  had  been  put  to  the  torture,  or  whether  they  had  been 
tomahawked,  and  then  burnt,  she  never  ascertained  certainly.  The  for- 
mer is  the  more  probable.  With  an  Indian  hoe  she  dug  a  hole,  and  gath- 
.ered  the  bones  out  of  the  ashes  as  w^ell  as  she  could  ;  and  having  covered 
'them,  rolled  a  stone  over  them.  She  w^as  at  the  time  in  the  tenth  year  of 
iher  age,  an  orphan,  and  an  orphan  amongst  savages.  Her  comforts  w^ere 
her  fellow  captive  and  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament  which  she  had. — ■ 
Her  parents  were  pious.  They  had  taught  her  to  love  and  value  the  Bi- 
ble. When  the  Indians  were  setting  fire  to  the  furniture  which  they  had 
taken  from  her  father's  house,  and  which  they  had  gathered  into  a  pile  in 
the  yard,  she  saw  her  copy  of  the  New  Testament  in  it,  and  stepped  up 
to  the  pile  and  took  it,  and  put  it  under  her  arm.  This  she  carefully  pre- 
served, and  the  old  chief  into  whose  family  she  had  been  adopted,  often 
called  her  to  him  to  read,  although  he  -could  not  understand  a  word  of 
.what  he  heard.     He  was  kind  to  her. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  following  antumn,  a  detachment  of  American 
troops  attacked  and  destroyed  the  Indian  towns ;  and  burning  up  their 
whole  stock  of  winter  provisions,  reduced  them  to  a  state  of  extreme  Vv^ant. 
As  soon  as  they  could,  the  Indians  set  off  for  Detroit.  In  the  journey 
they  encountered  great  hardships.  The  country  was  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, the  snow  often  knee  deep,  the  weather  cold,  and  the  game  very 
■scarce.  Their  principal  food  was  the  harkberry.  They  cut  the  trees 
,down,  gathered  the  berries,  and  after  breaking  them  in  their  mortars, 
anade  broth  of  them.  In  the  hardships  of  this  journey,  the  captives  had 
their  full  share.  Sometime  about  the  middle  of  the  winter,  they  reachect 
Detroit ;  and  early  in  March,  Martha  was  sold,  and  about  the  same  time 
Polly  w^as  sold,  in  a  drinking  spell,  for  a  keg  of  rum,  to  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Stogwell — an  American  by  birth,  but  an  unprincipled  man — a  tory, 
and  an  unfeeling  wretch.  Whilst  living  with  him,  her  sufferings  were 
greater  than  whilst  with  the  Indians. 

In  one  of  Mr.  Ariome's  trading  excursions,  James  who  was  with  him, 
met  wiih  a  Shawnee  Indian  whom  he  had  known  whilst  a  captive,  who 
informed  him  of  the  ruin  of  his  father's  family  ;  and  late  in  the  winter  af- 
ter Polly  had  been  purchased  by  Stogwell,  he  learned  where  she  was. — 
The  following  spring  Stogwell  removed  to  the  neighborhood  in  which 
'Mr.  Ariome  lived ;  and  James  and  his  sister  met.  The  writer  of  this  nar- 
rative, when  he  was  a  lad,  has  often  heard  them  talk  over  the  scenes  of 
that  meeting.  Wliat  their  feelings  were,  the  reader  must  conjecture. — 
Jaines  lodged  a  complaint  against  Stogwell  for  the  cruel  treatment  of  his 
•sister,  with  Col.  M'Kee,  the  Indian  agent  at  Detroit ;  and  endeavored  to 
obtain  her  release.  In  this  he  was  unsuccessful,  but  it  was  decided  that 
as  soon  as  an  opportunity  should  offer  for  her  return  to  Virginia,  she  should 
'be  given  up  without  any  ransom;  and  Stogwell,  from  motives  of  policy, 
became  less  severe  in  his  treatmtnt.  Martha  Evans  was  also  livinir  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  with  a  kind,  indepeiuient  farmer.  These  three 
•W.Ci'c  oilcn  together;  aud  the  bu'^ject  of i-Glurniiig  to  their  I'ricrids  was  of- 


APPENDIX.  340 

'ten  talked  over.  But  serious  difficulties  were  in  the  way.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  God  whose  providence  had  protected  them  thus  far,  was  pre- 
paring the  way  for  them. 

The  lather  of  Martha  Evans  lived  in  the  Walker's  creek  settlement,  in 
the  county  of  Giles.  After  the  peace  which  followed  Wayne's  expedi- 
tion, Thomas  Evans,  his  son,  determined  to  fmd  and  release  his  sister,  or 
perish  in  the  attempt.  He  was  an  active,  athletic  young  man — a  first 
rate  woodsman,  cool,  fearless  and  generous.  He  prepared  for  his  expe- 
dition by  furnishing  himself  with,  a  good  rifle,  a  full  supply  of  ammunl- 
■tion,  a  suit  of  buckskin,  and  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  in  specie ;  and  set 
out  to  seek  his  sister  amongst  the  savages  of  the  western  wilderness.  The 
enterprise  was  full  of  hazard,  but  nothing  daunted  him.  After  various 
perils  and  unsuccessful  attempts  to  get  any  tidings  of  her,  he  at  length 
heard  that  she  was  near  Detroit,  and  made  his  way  thither.  In  tlie  early 
part  of  October,  1797,  he  set  out  on  his  return  to  Virginia  with  his  sister 
and  James  and  Polly  Moore.  The  two  Moores  got  a  passage  in  a  trading 
boat  down  the  lakes,  abont  two  hundred  miles,  to  the  Moravian  towns. — 
There  Mr.  Evans  and  his  sister  met  them  with  three  horses.  Fortunate- 
ly for  them,  a  party  of  these  friendly  Indians  wei'e  just  starting  on  a  winter 
hunt.  With  them  they  traversed  the  hunting  ground  of  several  tribes  less 
friendly,  and  were  protected  in  some  situations  which  seemed  full  of  dan- 
ger. They  reached  the  neii>hb©rliood  of  Pitisburjx  in  the  boirinninfT^  of 
winter,  and  remained  with  an  uncle  of  Thomas  Evans  until  spring.  In 
the  early  part  of  spring  they  reached  Rockbridge  county,  where  the 
Moores  met  with  their  younger  brother,  Joseph,  who  at  the  time  of  the 
breaking  up  of  his  father's  Dimily  was  in  Rockbridge,  at  liis  grandfatlier 
Poage's . 

After  some  years,  the  Evans  family  moved  to  thf  west.  James  Moore 
resides  on  the  tract  of  land  owned  by  his  father,  Joseph  resides  in  the 
same  neighborhood.  Each  of  them  has  raised  a  large  family,  and  each 
has  been  tor  many  years  a  professing  Christian.  Polly  became  a  member 
of  the  church  at  an  early  period,  and  in  1798  was  married  to  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Brown,  for  many  years  pastor  of  New  Providence  church.  Few 
have  lived  more  generally  beloven  by  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. — • 
She  closed  her  eventful  life  in  the  month  of  April, 1824, in  the  joyl'ul  triujuphs 
ofchristiaji  faith.  Her  remains  rest  beside  those  of  Jier  husband  in  the 
grave-yard  of  New  Providence  church.  She  became  the  mother  of  elev 
■en  children;  of  these,  one  died  in  infancy  and  one  in  early  youth.  Tlic 
nine  who  survive  are  all  professors  ol'  religion.  Ot  her  seven  sons,  five 
are  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  the  Presbyterian  clnirch  ;  one  is  a  farmer, 
and  the  youngest  at  this  time  (1S37)  is  at  college. — [Prepared  for  Krr- 
■€hevars  Hist,  of  the  Val.  by  J.  M.  Brown.] 

The  author  heard  from  Poacfe  of  Rockbridire  countv,  a  connection  of 
1h(^  young  juisoner,  some  additional  circumstances  in  relatio;i  to  tlie  in- 
tench'd  cruel  treatment  of  the  prisoner,  by  the  savages.  Soon  after  rracli- 
mg  their  village,  they  held  a  council,  and  determined  that  James  should 
run  the  gauntlet.  They,  as  was  their  usual  practice,  placed  thems(>ivcs 
jn  two  lines,  with  their  scourges,  and  ordered  tin-  j)risoner  to  run  between 
them.     James  ^started,  and  when  the  first  one  struck  him,  he   wheeled  a- 


341  APPENDIX. 

round  and  madt^  furious  battle  on  the  fellow.  All  of  the  Indians  imme- 
diately «2;athered  around  him,  patting  and  caressing  him,  and  pronounced 
him  a  good  warrior. 

The  Rev.  Air.  Brown,  the  author  of  the  foregoing  narrative,  stated  to 
the  author  that  he  has  no  recollection  of  hearing  this  anecdote  ;  but  as 
Mr.  Poage  is  a  much  older  man  than  Mr,  Brown,  and  a  man  of  a  highly 
respectable  character,  and  could  certainly  have  no  motive  to  induce  him 
to  misrepresent  any  of  the  facts  connected  with  this  interesting  story,  the 
author  has  thought  proper  to  give  it  to  the  reader,  without  holding  himself 
responsible  for  its  truth. 

WEYER'S  CAVE,  IN  AUGUSTA  COUNTY. 

The  reader  will  find  a  particular  description  of  this  grand  work  of  na- 
ture in  the  appendix,  written  by  a  gentleman  of  scientific  acquirements, 
and  is  a  most  graphic  account  of  it.  The  author  of  it  resides  in  Staun- 
'ton.     The  writer  saw  and  explored  this  cave  in  the  year  1836. 

NATURAL   BRIDGE,  IN    ROCKBRIDGE  COUNTY. 

Mr.  JefiFerson  has  given  a  most  graphical  and  beautiful  description  of 
this  stupendous  work  of  nature.*  The  author  deems  it  hardly  necessary 
to  attempt  any  additional  description,  except  in  one  or  two  instances. — 
The  author  saw  this  place  for  the  first  time  in  the  month  of  June,  1819. 
•He  again  called  to  see  it  in  the  month  of  August,  1836.  When  he  first 
saw  it,  he  was  alone,  and  had  crossed  it  before  he  knew  he  w\as  near  it. 
He  inquired  at  a  house  very  near  to  it,  and  was  informed  by  one  of  the 
inmates  that  he  had  just  crossed  it,  who  then  directed  me  the  way  to  get 
to  it.  Descending  into  a  deep  glen,  I  had  to  dismount  my  horse  and 
walk  up  the  margin  of  a  fine  stream  of  beautiful  clear  water,  until  I  ap- 
.proached  within  seventy  or  eighty  yards  of  the  arch,  the  view  being  ob- 
structed by  a  point  of  rocks,  until  within  that  distance.  Passing  the 
rocks,  the  most  grand,  sublime,  and  I  may  add,  awful  sight  that  I  had 
ever  looked  upon,  burst  suddenly  in  full  view.  It  was  a  very  clear  day, 
the  sun  rather  past  meridian,  and  not  a  speck  of  cloud  or  anything  to  ob- 
struct the  sight.  The  author  was  so  struck  with  the  grandeur  and  majes- 
ty of  the  scene,  as  to  become  for  several  minutes,  terrified  and  nailed  to 
the  spot,  and  incapable  to  move  forward.  After  recovering  in  some  de- 
gree from  this,  I  may  t  ruly  say,  agonising  mental  state  of  excitement, 
the  author    a})proached  the  arch  wuth  trembling  and  trepidation. 

After  some  moments,  he  became  more  composed,  and  wrote  the  follow- 
inir  lines : 

O !  thou  eternal  architect  Divine, 

All  beautiful  thy  works  do  shine ! 
Permit  me  thus  to  sing  : 

Who  can  this  towering  arch  expiure. 

And  not  thy  soverign   power  adore, 
Eternal  King  ? 


o 


*.Sce  Jcfter^ion's  nolc^  on  VirLriniy,  nafrci'  21  -and  22,  second  edition. 


APPENDIX.  342 

Awed  at  first  sight,  my  blood  was  cliillM, 
My  trembling  limbs  and  nerves  all  tbrilPd 

Beneath  this  splendid  pile. 
My  mind,  howe'er,  was  soon  on  flaiv-^ 
To  adore  the  great  builder's  name, 

Viewing  the  heavenly  smile.* 

Did'st  thou,  0  God  !  this  arch  uprear, 
To  make  iis  trembling  mortals  stare, 

And  humbly  own  thy  name  ? 
Or  did'st  thou  build  it  for  thy  pleasure, 
To  prove  thy  power  without  measure. 

And  spread  eternal  fame? 

Whate'er  the  motive  or  the  plan, 
It  far  exceeds  the  art  of  man ; 

The  grandeur  of  the  scheme 
Shows  that  the  builder  lives  on  hijrh. 
Beyond  that  blue,  ethereal  sky. 

And  Avields  a  hand  supreme. 

At  the  author's  second  visit  to  this  place,  he  discovered  on  viewing  the 
arch  attentively,  the  image  of  a  very  large  eagle,  as  if  it  was  in  full  flight, 
with  the  image  of  a  lion  in  chase  of  it.  This  sight  is  near  the  eastern 
edsre  of  the  arch.  The  author,  however,  had  heard  of  those  imao-es  be- 
lore  he  saw  them. 

There  is  a  story  told  in  the  neighborhood,  in  connection  with  this 
most  wonderful  work  of  nature,  of  a  very  extraordinary  performance  of 
one  of  the  young  students  of  Lexington  college.  Some  years  ago,  sev- 
eral of  the  students  rode  out  to  view  the  brido^e.  One  of  them  sceinix  the 
name  of  Washington  inscnbed  \\\  the  face  of  the  rock,  observed  to  his 
companions  that  he  would  place  his  name  above  Washington's.  lie  as- 
cended the  rock,  and  effected  his  object;  when,  looking  at  the  yawning 
gulf  beneath,  he  was  afraid  to  attempt  the  descent,  and  rcfjuestcd  his 
friends  not  to  speak  to  him  ;  then  commenced  climbing  up  ihc  wall. — 
Some  of  the  young  men  ran  round  on  th-t^  bridge,  and  placed  themselves 
in  a  posture  to  assist  him,  if  he  should  get  within  their  reach.  The 
young  rnnn  actually  succeeded  in  getting  so  near  tliern,  that  they  seized 
him  and  drew  him  up  ;t  but  the  moment  he  was  on  the  bridge,  from  the 
great  bodily  exertion,  ami  extreme  ment;d  excitement,  lie  fainted,  an<l  lay 
some  moments  before  he  rccov<Me(l. 

This  individual,  in  the  year  183G,  was  residing  In  the  village  at  Wythe 
court  bourse.  The  author  intended  to  visit  him  and  converse  with  him 
on  the  subject,  but  was  told  by  a  friend  that  he  conversoil  on  the  subject 
with  great  reluctance.     Of  course,  the  aiitlior  derlined  his  intrnden  visit. 


*  The  view  through  the  aich. 

\  From  the  base  to  the  the  t.<>j)  of  iIk"  arch,  is  two  kindred  feet  per]>en- 


diculaj;  heh^ht. 


:143  APPENDIX. 

SALT    POND,    IN    GILES    COIINfY. 

This  is  a'  most  bpautifiil  work  of  nature.  There  are  three  moUMains*  of 
considerable  magnitude,  which  meet  at  this  place — the  several  mountains 
at  their  terminations  forming  a  considerable  chasm  ;  this  affords  a  recep- 
tacle for  the  water.  It  presents  to  the  beholder  the  appearance  of  a  min- 
iature lake  of  pure  transparent  water,  and  is  about  one  mile  in  length, 
and  generally  from  one  quarter  to  half  a  mile  in  w^idth.  From  its  head  to 
its  termination,  it  lies  nearly  a  north-east  course.  It  is  obstructed  at  its 
termination  with  vast  piles  of  huge  rc)ck,  over  which  it  is  discharged. — 
When  this  place  was  first  known,  the  water  found  passage  through  the 
fissures  of  the  rocks.  In  the  year  1804,  the  remarkable  wet  spring  and 
summer,  which  is  doubtless  recollected  by  every  elderly  person,  it  is  sup- 
posed the  vast  quantity  of  leaves  and  other  rubbish  that  washed  into  it, 
closed  up  the  fissures  in  the  rocks  ;  immediately  after  wdiich  it  commenced 
rising.  An  elderly  gentleman  residing,  in  1836,  on  New  rive*r,  a  few 
miles  from  it, (Col.  Snydow,)  informed  the  author  that  it  had  risen  fully 
twenty-five  feet  since  the  year  1804.  It  is  said  tb  produce  but  few  fish, 
there  having  been  a  few  fine  trout  caught  in  it ;  but  vast  numbers  of  the' 
water  li;5ard  exist  in  it.  Col.  Snydow  informed  the  writer  that  when  this 
place  was  first  known  to  the  white  people,  vast  numbers  of  buffaloes,  elks 
and  deers  resorted  to  it,  and  drank  freely  of  its  waters  ;  from  which  cir- 
cumstance it  acquired  the  name  of  "Salt  Pond."  The  author  tasted  the 
water,  but  could  not  discover  that  it  had  any  saltish  flavor. 

CoL  Snydow  also  informed  the  writer,  that  previous  to  the  lining  of  the' 
water,  a  very  large  spring  raised  at  the  head,  and  supplied  the  lake  with 
water ;,  but  since  its  fise,  that  spring  has  disappeared,  and  it  is   now"  fed 
by  numerous  small  springs  around  its  head. 

The  author  recollects  seeing,  (in  a  description  of  this  place,  published' 
in  a  northern  Mgazine,  some  years  ago,)  the  opinion  expressed  that 
this  wonderful  work  of  nature  had  been  formed  within  the  memory 
of  man  ;  but  this  is  doubtless  a  mistake.  Messrs.  Snydow  and  Lybrook 
both  stated  to  the  writer  that  it  existed  when  the  country  was  first  discov- 
ered. Col.  Snydow  particularly,  stated  that  he  could  recollect  it  upwards 
of  sixty  years,  and  that  it  had  not  increased  in  length  within  that  period, 
but  had  risen  as  above  described. 

Near  this  pool  of  water  stands  a  wild  cherry,  which  those  gentlemen 
described  to  be  ninety  feet  high  to  tlie  first  limb,  perfectly  straight,  and 
not  less  than  five  feet  in  diameter. 

THE  ROYAL  OAl<:. 

This  grand  and  majestic  tree  is  within  about  one  mile  of  Union,  a  very 
sprightly  village,  the  seat  of  justice  for  jVlonroe  county.  It  is  of  tast 
height,  and  is  said  to  be  eight  feet  in  diameter.  It  has  acquired  the 
name  from  its  immense  size :  towering  over  every  other  tree  in  the  forest 
in  that  section  of  country. 


Peter's  mountain,  the  Salt  Pond  mf^untain,  md  Baldknob  mountaii^. 


APPENDIX.  344 

SOPIS  KNOBS. 

This  is  a  part  of  the  mountain  contiguous  to  the  village,  Union;  snd  is 
the  residence  of  Alexander  Calder,  Esq.,  who  has  erected  a  splen- 
did brick  dwelling  house  near  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  It  is  two 
miles  from  the  village  to  Mr.  Calder's  house,  a  centinued  ascent  from  the 
village  to  his  house,  and  considerably  steep  in  places.  Of  course  Mr. 
Calder's  house  stands  on  most  elevated  ground.  Mr.  Calder  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  has  improved  this  place  for  his 
summer  residence.  The  author  rode  to  Mr.  Calder's  house  for  the  pur- 
pose of  viewing  the  splendid  works  of  nature  and  art  combined  at  this  ex- 
traordinary place. 

Col.  Andrew  Beirne,  the  representative  in  Congress,  resides  near  Un- 
ion, in  Montgomery  county,  is  said  to  be  a  man  of  great  wealth,  and  has 
erected  a  splendid  brick  dwelling  house  and  other  fine  improvements,  on 
an  extensive  farm. 

Col.  Beirne  infod'med  the  author  that  a  tract  of  country  for  more  than 
one  hundred  miles  between  Greenbrier  county  and  the  Kenawha,  was  in- 
habited ;  that  it  is  very  mountainous,  but  contains  a  large  proportion  of 
fertile  lands. 

This  gentleman  also  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  is  one  of  the  healthi- 
est regions,  both  for  man  and  beast,  in  all  North  America. 

VALUABLE  MINERALS. 

Our  mountains  abound  in  valuable  minerals.  We  have  three  manga- 
nese mines  within  about  twenty  miles  of  Winchester.  The  price  of  the 
article  is,  however,  so  much  reduced  of  late  years,  that  there  is  but  little 
of  it  taken  to  market.  The  author  is  informed  that  a  rich  copper  mine 
has  lately  been  discovered,  and  a  company  formed  for  working  it.  It  is 
said  it  yields  well.  Several  lead  mines  are  said  to  have  been  discovered, 
but  as  yet,  they  have  not  been  very  productive.  There  have  been  several 
coal  mines  opened,  of  the  anthracite  kind,  one  of  which  yields  well.  It  is 
probable  that  on  further  research,  sulHcient  quamtities  may  be  found  to 
supply  this  section  of  country. 

The  people  of  our  Valley  have  abundant  cause  to  be  liumbly  tliankfu! 
to  the  Great  Author  of  our  existence  for  the  blessings  lie  has  in  his  wis- 
dom and  benevolence  provided  ibr  Ihrir  happiness. 


T  H  i;     F.  N  I) 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Attack  on  Rice's  Fort,             -----  197 

Attack  on  Doddridge's  Fort,    -----  200 

Adam  Poe,     -------  208 

Appendix,      --.--».-  266 

Bacon's  Rebellion,      ------  12 

Breakining  out  of  the  Indian  War,       -             -             -             -  58 

Crawford's  Campaign,             -----  191 

Coshocton  Campaign,               -----  202 

Captivity  of  Mrs.  Brown,         -----  304 

Caravans,       -------  224 

Civilization,  -------  263 

Culture  of  Silk,           ------  312 

Churches,       -------  318 

Cow  with  six  legs,      -  -  -  -  -  -316 

Cave  in  Berkeley  county,         -----  322 

Cook's  Fort,  -------  331 

Dedication,     -------  8 

Dunmore's  War,          ------  120 

Doddridge's  Notes,     ------  167 

Death  of  Cornstalk,     -----             -  175 

Dress,             -------  220 

Establishment  of  the  towns,     -----  160 

First  settlement  of  Virginia,     -----  7 

First  settlement  of  the  Valley,    -----  41 

Faulkner'r,  Report,      -----.-  142 

Face  of  the  country,    ------  266 

Fine  arts,        -              -              .          ^iim            -             -              -  311 

Fire  hunting,  -------  333 

Grey  Sulphur  Springs,              -----  298 

House  furniture  and  diet,         -             -             •             -             -  217 

Hunting,         -------  225 

House  warming,         -  -  -  -  -  -231 

Hybridous,      -  -  -  -  -  -  -312 

llftrper's  Ferry,            -              -              -              ^^         -              -  318 

House  Cave,  -             -             -             -             -             -             •  323 

Harrison's  Cave,         ------  324 

Indian  wars,   --.---••  29 

Indian  settlements,      ^              .              .              -              -              -  34 
Indian  incursions,        -              .              .              -                            .69 

Indian  summer,           -              -             -             -  lb9 


34'- 


INDEX. 


Lewis  Wetzel,  -  _  _ 

Lewisburg,     - 

Mode  of  living  of  the  primitive  settlers, 

Mcintosh's  Campaign, 

Moravian  Campaign,  -  -  - 

Mechanic  Arts,  _  -  _ 

Medicine,       -  -  -  _ 

Morals,  _  -  .  _ 

Medicinal  Spring,        -  _  . 

Natural  Bridge,  -  _  . 

Northern  Neck  of  Virginia, 

Natural  Curiosities,     - 

New  Creek  Gap,         _  -  _ 

Origin  of  the  Indians  in  America, 

Origin  of  Methodists  in  the  Valley, 

Prospect  Rock, 

Religion  and  Customs,  &c. 

Reroluttion,     -  «  -  . 

Regurgitary  Spring,    - 

Royal  Oak,     - 

Settlement  of  the  country, 

Sports,  -  -  >  . 

Staunton,        .  -  _  . 

Salt  Pond,      -  -  -  . 

Sopis  Knobs, 

Valuable  Minerals, 

War  of  the  Revolution, 

W^aTofl763    . 

Wappatomaca  Campaign, 

WorkiniT, 

Witchcraft,   • 

Weyer's  Cave, 

Winchester, 

Washino^toirs  Masonic  Cave, 


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341 
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321 

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329 
343 
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310 
343 
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177 

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