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Myers'
History of
West Virginia
[In Two Jolumes)
VOLUME I.
\qi b
Iriii NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
8S:Z\7l
ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
R 1919
History of West Virginia
TO THE PUBLIC:
There arc several reasons w hy this book was written.
Firstly — There is no single \olume or set of volumes
which contains an up-to-date history of XVest \'irginia.
Lewis' History is the nearest approach. It is a good one.
and fairly supplies the purpose for which it was intended,
namely : a text book for use in the public schools ; but the
information it contains is in such abbreviated form and omits
so many subjects that are really of such historical impor-
tance as to emphasize the need of a book of more extensive
detail and covering a wider scope of information for the use
of the general reading public.
Secondly — There was need of a book which would re\ ive
and help perpetuate the memory of some almost forgotten
heroes and heroines who oi)ene(I and made easier the wa}'
for the succeeding generations of people.
Thirdly — There was need of a record winch would bring
forth to the minds of the present and succeeding generations
some general idea of the manners and customs of the early
settlers and the hardships endured and dangers encountered
by them.
Fourthl}- — There was need of a butjk which should bring
to light some unwritten history and a new version of some
things already chronicled ; and
Lastly — l^he attainment of these objects at a minimum
cost to the reader.
As this book failed to a]i]X'ar within the time announced
several months ago, an ex])lanation of the delay is due the
public :
About eighteen months ago the author arranged with a
certain pubhshing house for the pubUcation of this book, but,
owing to a re-organization of the plant's working force and
the subsequent delay caused thereby, arrangements were
made for the transfer of the work to The Wheeling News
Lithograph Company.
It was the original intention to incorporate the contents
of the book in a single volume; but, by reason of additional
new matter which it was deemed important should be in-
cluded in the book, the work grew to such large proportions
that it was necessary to make it in two volumes, thereby
still further delaying the work and entailing considerable
additional expense to the author.
As for literary merit or excellency of diction in the make-
up of this work, the author makes no claim.
The book is a compilation of information gleaned from
a large number of historical works, old newspaper files, re-
sponsible magazines, correspondence and personal interviews,
which has required a number of years in preparation.
To all who have in any way contributed to the success
of this publication, the writer extends his most sincere thanks.
Trusting that this earnest efifort to contribute something
to the public good may not prove in vain, I submit these
volumes for your generous and impartial consideration.
Very respectfully yours,
S. MYERS.
New Martinsville, W. Va., August 1st. 1915.
CHAPTER I.
AMERICA ANTERIOR TO COLUMBUS.
PRE-HISTORIC RACES.
When man was first created, God said to him : "Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue
it." He spoke in a literal sense ; and, although, perhaps
thousands of years elapsed before the seed of Adam found
lodgment in what is called the "New World", the Great
Creator had planned it in the beginning".
As to the origin and annals of the races which inhabited
America previous to the European invasion, we are in the
dark. At first it was generally believed that the red men
were the aboriginal denizens of this country ; but this idea
has since been proven erroneous. The mounds, ruined cities,
pottery and other remains since found in all parts of the land,
concerning which the Indians were in total ignorance, and
which showed a state of civilization far in advance of theirs,
were proof that a great people had existed in the remote past,
who had flourished and disappeared without leaving any trace
whereby they could be accounted for or identified.
Alexander S. Withers, in his book entitled "Chronicles
of Border Warfare", says, "It is highly probable that the con-
tinent of America was known to the ancient Carthaginians,
and that it was the great island Atlantis, of which mention
is made by Plato, who represents it as larger than Asia and
Africa. The Carthaginians were a maritime people, and it
is known that they extended their discoveries beyond the
narrow sphere which had hitherto limited the enterprise of
the mariner. And although Plato represents Atlantis as
having been swallowed up by an earthquake, and all know-
ledge of the new continent, if any such ever existed, was
entirely lost; still, it is by no means impossible that it had
been visited by some of the inhabitants of the old world prior
to its discovery by Columbus in 1492."
Scarcely less mysterious are the red-men whom we found
History of West Virginia
here. Having no written language or history, their know-
ledge of their own past was confined to vague traditions.
Hawthorn says : "They were few in numbers, barbarous in
condition, untamable in nature ; they built no cities and prac-
ticed no industries; their women planted maize and performed
all menial labors; their men hunted and fought. Before we
came they fought one another ; our coming did not unite them
against a common enemy ; it only gave each of them one
enemy the more. After an intercourse of four hundred years,
we know as little of them as we did at first ; we have neither
educated, absorbed nor exterminated them. The fashion of
their faces, and some other indications, seem to point to a
northern-Asiatic ancestry ; but they cannot tell us even so
much as we can guess. There have been among them, now
and again, men of commanding abilities in war and negotia-
tion ; but cheir influence upon their people has not lasted be-
yond their own lives. Amid the roar and fever of these latter
ages, they stand silent, useless, and apathetic. They belong
to our history only in so far as their savage and treacherous
hostility contributed to harden the fortitude of our earlier
settlers, and to weld them into a united people."
Hawthorn's conception of the early Indian tribes may, in
the main, be correct; but we know that the conditions of the
red man of today Math reference to his relationship with the
whites, are entirely different from that which prevailed in
earlier times. Much of the warlike proclivity of the Indians
was superinduced by some of our so-called civilized white
people introducing among them the devilish "fire water", a
thing which the better class of Indians themselves detested,
and over which they deplored. Of this and other evils intro-
duced among the redmen by the whites, we have ample evi-
dence as shown by the records in the archives of Pennsyl-
vania and other states, notwithstanding the almost unanimous
silence of historians on this point. This matter will be more
fully discussed in another chapter.
An early writer — a Mr. Adair — seems to have made a
very close study of the Indian tribes o'f America. He believes
they are descendants of the Hebrews, and in support of his
claim, gives the following reasons :
History of West Virginia
"Their worship of Jehovah. By a strict, permanent,
divine precept, the Hebrew nation Avas ordered to worship at
Jerusalem, Jehovah the true and Hving God, who by the
Indians, is styled 'Yohewah', to signify 'Sir, Lord, Master',
applying to mere earthly potentates, without the least signifi-
cation or relation to that great and awful name, which de-
scribes the divine presence.
''2nd — Their notions of a theocracy. Agreeably to the
theocracy or divine government of Israel, the Indians think
the deity to be the immediate head of the state. All the
nations of Indians have a great deal of religious pride, and
an inexpressible contempt for the white people.
"In their war orations they used to call us the accursed
people, but flatter themselves with the name of beloved people,
because their supposed ancestors were, as they affirm, under
the immediate government of the Deity, who was present
with them in a peculiar manner, and directed them by
Prophets, while the rest of the world were aliens to the cove-
nant.
"3rd — When the old Archimagus, or an}- of their Magi,
is persuading the people at their religious solemnities, to a
strict observance of the old beloved or divine speech, he
always calls them the beloved or holy people, agreeable to
the Hebrew epithet, ammi (my people) during the theocracy
of Israel.
"It is this opinion that God has chosen them out of the
rest of mankind, as his peculiar people, which inspires the
red Americans with that steady hatred against all the world
except themselves, and renders them hated and despised
by all.
"4th — Their manner of counting time. The Indians
count time after the manner of the Hebrews. They divide
the year into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. They
number their years from any of these four periods, for they
have no name for a year, and they sub-divide these and count
the year by lunar months, like the Israelites, who counted
time by moons as their name sufficiently testifies. The num-
ber and regular periods of the religious feasts among the
Indians is a good historical proof that they counted by and
History of West Virginia
observed a weekly sabbath, long after their arrival in America.
They began the year at the appearance of the first new moon,
at the vernal equinox, according to the ecclesiastical year of
Moses.
"5th — Till the seventy years' captivity commenced, the
Israelites had only numerical names for their months, except
Abib, and Ethanim, the former signifying a green ear of corn,
the latter robust or valiant. B)^ the first name the Indians,
as an explicative, term their passover, which the trading
people call the green corn dance.
"6th — Their prophets or high priests. In conformity to,
or after the manner of the Jews, the Indians have their
prophets, high priests, and others of a religious order. As
the Jews have a sanctum sanctorum, so have all the Indian
nations. There they deposit their consecrated vessels — ncne
of the laity daring to approach that sacred place. The Ind'an
tradition says that their forefathers were possessed of an
extraordinary divine spirit by which they foretold future
events ; and that this was transmitted to their offspring pro-
vided they obeyed the sacred laws annexed, to-wit : Ishtoola
is the name of all their priestly order and their pontifical
office descends by inheritance to the eldest. There are traces
of agreement, though chiefly lost, in their pontifical dress.
"Before the Indian Archimagus officiates in making the
supposed holy fire for the yearly atonement of sin, the Sagan
clothes him with a white ephod, which is a waistcoat without
sleeves. In resemblance of the Urim and Thummin the
American archimagus wears a breast-plate made of a white
conch shell, with two holes in middle of it, through which he
pulls ends of an otter skin strap and fastens a buckhorn white
button to the outside of each, as if in imitation of the precious
stones of the Urim."
In remarking upon this statement of Mr. Adair, Faber,
a learned divine of the Church of England, has said that
Ishtoola (the name, according to Adair, of the Indian priests)
is most probably a corruption of Ish-da-Eloch, a man of God
(the term used by the Shunemilish woman in speaking of
Elisha), and that Sagan is the very name by which the
Hebrews called the deputy of the High Priest who supplied
History of West Virginia
his office and who performed the functions of it in the absence
of the high priest, or when any accident had disabled him
from officiating in person.
7th — Their festivals, fasts and religious rites. The cere-
monies of the Indians in their religious worship are more
after the Mosaic institutions than of Pagan imitation. This
could not be the fact if a majority of the old nations were of
heathenish descent. They are utter strangers to all the ges-
tures practiced by the Pagans in their religious rites. They
have likewise an appellative, which with them is the mys-
terious, essential name of God ; the tetragrammation, which
they never use in common speech. They are very particular
of the time and place, when and where they mention it, and
this is always done in a very solemn manner. It is known
that the Jews had so great and sacrad regard for the . , .
divine name as scarcely ever to mention it, except when the
high priest went into the sanctuary for the expiation of sins.
Mr. Adair likewise says that the American Indians, like
the Hebrews, have an ark in which are kept various holy
vessels, and which is never suffered to rest on the bare ground.
"On hilly ground, where stones are plenty, they always place
it on them, but on level land it is made to rest on short pegs.
They have also a faith in the power and holiness of their ark,
as strong as the Israelites had in theirs. It is too sacred and
dangerous to be touched by anyone except the chieftain and
his waiter.
"The leader virtually acts the part of a priest of war pro-
tempore, in imitation of the Israelites fighting under the divine
military banner."
Among their other religious rites the Indians, according
to Adair, cut out the sinewy part of the thigh, in commemora-
tion, as he says, of the angel wrestling with Jacob.
8th — Their abstinences from unclean things. "Eagles of
every kind are esteemed b}^ the Indians to be unclean food ;
as also ravens, crows, bats, buzzards, and every species of owl.
They believe that swallowing gnats, flies and the like always
breeds sickness. To this, that divine sarcasm alludes, 'swal-
lowing a camel and straining at a gnat'."
Their purifications for their priests, and for ha\ing
History of West Virginia
touched a dead bod}^ or other unclean things, according to Mr.
Adair, are quite Levitical. He acknowledges, however, that
they have no traces of circumcision ; but he supposes that
they lost this rite in their wanderings, as it ceased among the
Hebrews during the forty years in the wilderness.
9th — Their cities of refuge. "The Israelites had cities of
refuge for those who killed persons unawares. According to
the same particular divine laM^ of mercy, each of the Indian
nations has a house or town of refuge, which is a sure asylum
to protect a manslayer, or the unfortunate captive, if they can
but once enter it."
In almost every nation they have peacable towns, called
ancient holy, or white towns. These seem to have been towns
of refuge, for it is not in the memory of man that ever human
blood was shed in them, although they often force persons
from thence and put them to death elsewhere.
10th — ^Their purifications and ceremonies preparatory to
going to battle :
"Before the Indians go to war, they have many prepara-
tory ceremonies of purification and fasting like what is
recorded of the Israelites."
11th — Their raising seed to a deceased brother :
"The surviving brother, by the Mosaic law, was to raise
seed to a deceased brother, who left a widow childless. The
Indian custom looks the very same way, but in this, as in
their law of blood, the eldest brother can redeem."
With those and m^any arguments of a like kind, has Mr.
Adair endeavored to support the conjecture, that the Ameriqan
Indians are lineally descended from, the Israelites, and gravely
asks of those who may dissent from his opinion of their origin
and descent, to inform him how they came here, and by what
means they found the long chain of rites and customs so
similar to those of the Hebrews, and dissimilar to the rites
and customs of the pagan world.
Many years ago, a provincial officer sojourned some time
with the Indians, and visited twelve different nations of them.
It was his opinion that they were of Chinese and Tartar ex-
traction, judging by their manners and customs ; and he pre-
dicted that in some future era, it would be shown to a cer-
History of West Virginia
tainty that in some of the wars between the Chinese and
Tartars, a part of the inhabitants of the northern provinces
were driven from their country and took refuge in some of
the numerous islands and from thence found their way to
America at different periods of time.
As bearing on the above subject, it is particularly inter-
esting to read the following news item, printed in Wheeling
Sunday News, under date of September 8th, 1912:
"An image of an unmistakable Chinaman, moulded in
clay, has been found at San Miguel Amantia buried beneath
the ruins of three Mexican civilizations.
"This discovery is believed by high archaeological author-
ities to prove the interesting theory that the ancient civiliza-
tion of Mexico preceding that of the Aztecs was of Chinese or
Mongolian origin. This explanation would unravel the mys-
tery of the wonderful Maya ruins of Yucatan and other parts
of Mexico.
"The clay Chinaman, with oblique eye-slits, padded coat,
flowing trousers and slippers — a Chinaman in everything ex-
cept the queue, which is lacking.
"The Chinese, it must be remembered, did not adopt the .
queue until they had been conquered by the Tartar horde
from the north.
"Thirty feet under the ground, at San Miguel Amantia,
nineteen miles from the City of Mexico, the image was un-
covered in the ruins of a buried tomb by Professor William
Niven, of Mexico City.
"It is about seven inches in length, and where the arms
are broken the clay of which the image was made shows red
and friable in the center.
"Outside, however, this clay has metamorphosed to stone
so that it can be chipped with a hammer only with the great-
est difficulty. It is about three and one-half inches in width
across the chest and one and one-half inches in thickness
through the abdomen. In the ears are huge rings, similar to
those worn by the Chinese to this day, and on the head is a
skull cap with a tiny button in the center, almost exactly like
the caps of the Mandarins of the empire which has so lately
become a republic.
8 History of West Virginia
"The coat, which is loose and of the type still worn by
the Chinese, is shown fastened with a frog and a button, while
on the breast is a circular plate or ornament, evidently once
covered with a thin layer of beaten gold, but worn bare by
contact with the earth for unknown centuries. Each arm is
broken off close to the shoulder, and the opening of the entire
tomb, or room, nearly thirty feet square, in which the image
was found, has failed to discover the missing hands.
"This Chinese image was not made by the Aztecs. It
had been buried in the earth before the Aztecs set foot on the
plateau. The Aztecs were newcomers in Mexico's history,
the bloodthirsty conquerors of the great civilized, organized
races of America's Egypt, who ravaged with fire and sword
the cities built by the Toltecs, the Olmecs and the Mayas. It
is probably true that the Aztecs built little, if anj?^, of the
massive palaces and temples whose ruins mark all parts of
Mexico. They took them by force of arms from the builders.
"When Herman Cortez asked of Montezuma, his captive,
^Who built that huge temple?' Montezuma replied, 'Las
Toltecas,' and Bernal Diaz, historian of the conquest, named
. the tribe which had preceded the Aztecs in the Valley of
Mexico, the Toltecs. But, in the Nahuati tongue, which was
the language of the Aztecs, and which is still spoken in some
of the villages' of remote Mexico, 'toltecas' means a builder, a
mason, nothing more, and Montezuma knew as little of the
race which made the Calendar Stone, which worked out its
own system of astronomy and time, and w'hich moved its tem-
ples, as did the Spanish invaders — and archaeologists of today
knew very little more until Professor Niven uncovered the
Chinaman.
"Mr. Niven, who has been delving in the burial tom^bs
and temples of Mexico for thirty years, declares that the first
people of Mexico came from China, by way of Behring Straits.
Ramon Mena, the foremost living archaeologist of Mexico,
who has spent twenty years in the ruins of Mexico's dead
races, supports him without qualification. There is another
school of archaeology, whose members insist that the abo-
rigines of Mexico came from the east, by way of a land con-
History of West Virginia
nection across the lower end of the Gulf of Mexico, to what
is now the northward-pointing peninsula of Yucatan.
"Now comes the curious Chinaman, buried for at least
fifteen hundred years, possibly more, to prove to the world
that the Mongol. was known in Mexico when the Wise Men
followed the star to Bethlehem. The image is not an idol ;
nine-tenths of the figurines which are called idols in Mexico
were, indeed, never intended as objects of worship. It is an
ornament for the house of some prehistoric noble, probably
the same man whose crumbling skull, shell money, jade orna-
ments and flower vases were found scattered round the
Chinese image.
" 'This image,' says Professor Niven, 'proves with indis-
putable evidence that the people who lived in the Valley of
Mexico ten or fifteen centuries ago knew and were familiar
with the Mongol type. The ruin in which I found it was in
the remains of the third civilization in the pit which I had dug
at San Miguel Amantia, near Tialnepantla, nineteen miles
from the National Palace in Mexico City. The first civiliza-
tion, marked by a cement floor and the walls of concrete
buildings, I found at a depth of eight feet. Eleven feet below
it was the second civilization, of about the same grade of
development as the first, and, thirty feet and three inches from
the surface of the ground I came on a bedchamber, or a tomb,
I do not know which, in a third stratum of ruins, which con-
tained the finest artefacts I have ever seen in Mexico.
" T am inclined to think the room, which was thirty feet
square, its walls made of concrete and crushed down to within
about a foot of their bases, was a tomb. In the centre, on a
raised rectangular platform, also of concrete, lay the skull and
some of the bones of the skeleton of a man, who could not
have been more than five feet in height. His arms were very
long, reaching almost to his knees, and his skull was of a
decidedly Mongoloid type. Around his neck had been a string
of green jade beads, another link which binds Mexico to China,
for real jade has never been found in Mexico in a natural state.
" 'Lying beside the body was a string of five hundred and
ninety-seven pieces of shell. I say string, but the buckskin
thong which had once borne them was long since rotted to
10 History of West Virginia
dust, and the wampum, or money, lay as it had fallen from
the string. With this money lay the greatest find of all — •
the little Chinaman. It is the first find of the kind ever found
in Mexico, though Mongoloid types persist in sufficient num-
bers among the Indians of all Mexico to convince any one, it
seems to me, that the Indian blood of the country came
originally from Asia.
" 'Near the skeleton, but off the platform, lay a flower
vase, about fifteen inches in height, undoubtedly filled with
xochitl, the yellow sacred flower of practically all the ancient
races of this country. Undoubtedly the tomb, or room, is a
part of the ruin of a large city, and I have secured the aid of
the National Museum, to whom the Chinese image will be
presented, to clear away the thirty feet of earth a sufficient
distance around the shaft I have dug to show what lies be-
neath.
" 'It must be remembered that this was not a god, nor
an idol, but an ornament, the image of some person, his por-
trait done in clay by some prehistoric sculptor. Thousands of
images of men, women and animals, and a very few of chil-
dren, are found in all ancient graves in this country. They
were made for preservation in houses, and to be buried with
the dead, and I believe this was the image of the man whose
skeleton lay on the platform in this buried room. How long
was he buried? How long is required for the elements to
deposit thirty feet of earth on a level surface ! Making a
rough guess, without figuring the rates of deposition of the
different classes of earth which make up ^this blanket, I
should say not less than fifteen centuries, possibly more.
" 'San Miguel Amantia, where I found the three buried
cities, is a level plain thirty miles long by ten miles wide.
There is no trace of any cataclysm which might have buried
the cities deeply and suddenly. Earth was deposited slowly
over the first city ; then the second was built on top of that
ten or eleven feet of earth. Then came another period of cen-
turies of deposition and the third city was built. Above this
upper ruin Nature laid another blanket of earth, and on the
surface today cattle graze, while miserable brush huts dot the
fields above buried palaces of stone and concrete.
History of West Virginia 11
" 'The little stone Chinaman furnishes exactly the link
for which we have been searching. He says without speaking
that the most ancient tribes of Mexico were off-shoots of the
Mongoloid.' "
CHAPTER II.
AMERICA'S DESTINY— HER PAST AND FUTURE.
Regardless of what we know or do not know concerning
the origin of the first settlers on American soil, God, in His
infinite wisdom and power, appears to be carrying out His
purposes by a wonderful system of evolution, wherein the
inferior ultimately gives place to the superior, and right pre-
vails over wrong, notwithstanding all of Satan's persistent
opposition.
Hawthorn says : "The American nation is the embodi-
ment and vehicle of a Divine purpose to emancipate and
enlighten the human race. Man is entering upon a new career
of spiritual freedom; he is to enjoy a hitherto unprecedented
condition of political, social and moral liberty — as distin-
guished from license, which, in truth, is slavery.
"The stage for this grand evolution was fixed in the
Western Continent, and the pioneers who went thither were
inspired with the desire to escape from the thralldom of the
past, and to nourish their souls with that pure and exquisite
freedom which can afford to ignore the ease of the body, and
all temporal luxuries, for the sake of that elixir of immor-
tality. It is what differentiates Americans from all other '
peoples ; it is Avhat makes Americans out of emigrants ; it is
what draws the masses of Europe hither, and makes thein^
rulers fear and hate us.
"Some sort of recognition of the American Idea and of
the American destiny, affords the only proper ground for
American patriotism. We talk of the size of our country,
its wealth and prosperity, of its enlightenment, but if these
things be all that we have to be proud of, we have little.
They are in truth but outward signs of a far more precious
possession within. We are the pioneers of the NEW DAY,
or we are nothing worth talking about. We are at the
threshold of our career. Our record thus far is full of faults.
History of West Virginia 13
and presents not a few deformities, due to our human frailties
and limitations; but our general direction has been onward
and tipward."
This thought of Hawthorn's — so beautifully expressed —
is well founded. We have evidence of its truth on every hand.
Yet, in America, we have not a monopoly of goodness, nor
have other nations a monopoly on wickedness. We have some
of both.
In human life, these two forces — good and evil — are con-
stantly at war with each other. Good represents the warp
and woof of our moral fabric. Evil is the moth that is ever
striving to consume it. Can we question which will prevail?
Considering th^ countless number of people who have
landed on our shores within the last four hundred years, from
all parts of the globe, would it not be strange if some of them
or their ofif-spring would not prove to be undesirable citizens?
And since we have such, we must work persistently and con-
sistently to eradicate evil and evil tendencies' by a system of
good government and education.
Progress is, in the very nature of things, a result of former
failures or something uncompleted. We reckon progress by
comparison with previous conditions. If previous conditions
have not been improved upon then there has been no improve-
ment. This is self-evident.
Then it logically follows that, in order to reach the goal of
an enterprise, it is necessary for us to take a retrospective
view and see wherein we or others have failed and the cause
thereof. Having adopted the good points and rejected the
bad ones, we are then armed with a sword of light that will
penetrate the darkest places and protect us from the pitfalls
that lurk therein to ensnare the unwary traveler.
Therefore, let us go back a way and see if we cannot
learn truths we never heard before. We are told of the many
good qualities possessed by our ancestors ; their bravery on
the battle field ; the heroic mother trying to protect her babe
from the savage's tomahawk, and of the man)^ trials and hard-
ships endured by the early settlers; but our historians fail to
tell us of the real cause of much of the savage cruelty.. Let
14 History of West Virginia
us have the truth. Read the following article, written by
George P. Donahoo, in the "Red Man" :
"The Aborigines were, in the main, sedentary in their
habits. They were not migratory. The same tribe occupied
the same habitat for almost countless generations. They
were, as a rule, at peace with each other. War, when it was
engaged in, was not particularly destructive of lives. The
weapons used in the tactics employed precluded any very
great destructiveness of life.
"Then came the white man. The use of gunpowder by
the Iroquois gave that aggressive confederation a tremendous
power over the weaker tribes of the interior. War became a
destructive scourge to a degree absolutely unknown before.
As these tribes, driven back by the Iroquois, pressed upon
the hunting grounds and the villages of the tribes in the in-
terior, they in turn were brought in contact with tribes still
more remote. War became common. Not only did the use of
gunpowder and European arms cause this condition of unrest
and warfare, but, in addition, the Indian trade in furs and
peltries became the cause of a condition which had not pre-
viously existed.
"The Indian who had previously hunted in order to sup-
ply his family with food and clothing, now hunted in order
that he might sell the fruits of the hunt to the white man for
gunpowder, such trinkets as pleased him, and rum. Thus
armed with the gun, which he had bought from the white
trader, and with his brain afire with the cheap rum which he
had obtained from the same source, the noble red man of the
forests and prairies became a fiend incarnate. He quarreled
with his brother red man and killed him. He quarreled with
the trader who made him drunk in order to cheat him out of
his furs and peltries and his lands, and then he went home to
his wigwam to brood over his v/rongs, with his brain on fire
and his nerves throbbing because of the vile, decoction he had
drunken, he took down his gun, went out to hunt the trader
who had cheated him, found him and killed him. Then there
would be an uprising of the frontiersmen, who went forth to
hunt Indians — no matter what Indians. They found 'Indians'
History of West Virginia 15
and killed them, scalped them, burned their villages, and then
there would be another so-called 'Indian War'.
"The pathetic picture of what the red man was, and what
the white man made of him, as early as 1683, is given in a
letter of William Penn. He says: 'The natives are proper
and shapely, very swift, their language lofty. They speak
little, but fervently and with elegancy, though the Dutch and
Swede and English have by brandy and rum almost debaucht
them all.' (Arch, of Pa., Vol. 1, p. 69). At the treaty with
the Conestoga, in 1717, when the Indians were asked if they
had any complaints to make, they replied that they 'had
nothing to complain of, but that some bad, straggling people
brought too much rum amongst them and debauched their
young men.'
First Murder Caused by Rum,
"It is worthy of note that the first murder of a white man
by a red man on the waters of La Belle river, near Pittsburg,
was caused by a drunken brawl in which an Indian trader
was killed.
"In 1738 a petition was sent to the governor from this
same region, asking him to see that 'there is no rum or strong
liquors brought into our towns' for the space of four years.
This document was signed by Peter Chartier and many of
the chiefs on the Ohio. They reported that they had spilled
'forty gallons of rum' in the streets of the village. (Ibid, 549).
This is perhaps the earliest precedent which Special Officer
Johnson has for this method of making use of rum.
Complaints of the Indians.
"One of the chief reasons of the alienation of the Dela-
ware and Shawnee at this period was the debauchery of the
rum traffic, against which they had objected from the time of
the entrance of the Shawnee into the province. As early as
1710, one of their chiefs made complaint against a certain
Sylvester Garland, who had taken 150 gallons of rum into the
villages on the Susquehanna, and then after having made
drunken the Indians, abused them. (Col. Rec. Pa., Vol. II,
39.)
16 History of West Virginia
"Again, in 1704, the Indians at Conestoga made complaint
of 'the great quantities of rum, continually brought to their
town, insomuch that they were ruined by it, having nothing
left, but have laid out all, even their clothes, for rum'. (Ibid,
141.) Again, in 1796, the}'^ complained 'because their hunters,
on their return from their hunts, were met by these rum
traders, and were made drunk before they got home to their
wives, and were so imposed on and cheated by the traders of
the fruits of all their labors'. (Ibid, 248.)
Complaint to Governor Gookin.
"In 1710 this same complain was made to Governor
Gookin, because the young men of the various villages on the
Susquehanna, upon returning from their hunting expeditions,
were met by the traders who made them 'drunk with rum, and
then cheat them out of their skins, and if some method be not
taken to prevent it, they must be forced to remove themselves
or starve, their dependence being entirely upon their peltry.'
(Ibid, 211.) They made complaint again in 1715 and 1718.
"Then commenced the migration of the Delaware and
Shawnee to the Ohio, which was caused chiefly by the wise,
old men, who wished to get the young men away from the
debauchery of the rum traffic. But it was in vain ; the rum
trader followed the Delaware and Shawnee over the ridges of
the Alleghanies to the Ohio, where the same scenes of debauch-
ery and cheating were enacted. When Conrad Weiser went to
Loganstown, on the first official mission of the English
speaking race to the Indians beyond the mountains, one of
the principal subjects spoken of by the Indian chiefs at the
council was the rum traffic. Before Weiser made this difficult
journey, Allumapees, the Delaware chief, had complained to
the provincial authorities of the great quantities of rum being
carried into the villages on the Ohio.
"Shikellamy, the Iroquois deputy at Shamokin, then the
chief Indian settlement in the province, had also made com-
plaint concerning the sale of rum. When Weiser was at the
council with the Cayugas, in June, 1748, the English messen-
gers offered the chiefs a cask of rum, which was returned with
History of West Virginia 17
this statement: 'We have drunk too much of your rum
already, which has occasioned our destruction ; we will,
therefore, for the future, beware of it.' (Col. Rec. Pa., V. 285.)
Braddock's Army Slaughtered by Rum.
"When the army of General Braddock was laboriously
cutting its way over the mountain ranges from Fort Cumber-
land to Fort Duquesne, in 1775, he was going to face a great
body of Delaware and Shawnee warriers, who had been
driven from the Susquehanna to their place of refuge on the
Ohio, and who had been alienated from the English, chiefly
because of the debauchery of the Indian trader.
"Braddock's fearful slaughter on the banks of the Monon-
gahela in 1775 was due far more to rum than to any lack of
ability on the part of Braddock himself. It may be safely said
that had not the debauchery of the rum traffic driven the
Delawares and the Shawnees to the Ohio, away from their
friends, the English, Braddock would have marched into a
deserted Fort Duquesne in 1775, just as Forbes did in 1758.
Horrors of Border Warfare.
"The 'history of rum' in the period following Braddock's
defeat is simply a history of the fearful years of blood-shed
and suffering which followed.
"After Pontiac's conspiracy, the period of settlement of
the western country is simply the history of one act of cruelty
after another. The fearful raids, border wars, murders and
cruelties of this period are simply a series of crimes having
their origin in whiskey bottle. To read the accounts of the
conditions under which the Indian trade was conducted on
the Susquehanna in 1701, and on the Ohio in 1755, is simply
to read the conditions of the Indian trade on the frontiers of
English settlement as it moves westward to the Pacific.
"The pathway of Anglo-Saxon civilization on the Ameri-
can continent has been a clearly marked trail, strewn with
whiskey bottles. It reaches from the Delaware to the utter-
most point in Alaska. When the United States bought
Alaska from Russia, there at once commenced the debauchery
18 History of West Virginia
of the native tribes by rum, or rather by the vile substitute
called 'hootzenoo', which threatened to entirely destroy the
native Indians. The use of this decoction of molasses, and
the introduction of the loathsome disease of the soldiers,
threatened the complete extermination of one of the native
Alaskan tribes.
"I. C. Dennis, Deputy Collector of Fort Wrangel, says :
'Soldiers and Indian women were frequently seen having a
drunken spree, immorality being the watchword. Then, for a
change, Indians have been known to make liquor and sell it
to soldiers by the glass at ten cents a drink. I have frequently
seen soldiers go to the Indian ranch for their morning drink
of 'hootzenoo'. Our Indians here are not a band of cut-
throats and pirates that require bayonets and brass guns to
keep them in subjection.' (U. S. Report on Alaska, 1879, 154.)
Plea of Toy-ah-att.
"One of the chiefs of these Indians at Fort Wrangel,
whose name was Toy-ah-att, said in a speech :
" 'We ask that we be civilized, Christianized and educated.
Give us a chance and we will show the world that we can
become peaceable citizens and good Christians. An effort has
already been made by Christian friends to better our condi-
tion, and may God bless them in their work. Many of you
have Indian women living with you. I ask you to send them
to school, and church, where they may learn to become good
women. Don't, my brothers, let them go to the dance houses,
for there they will learn to be bad and to drink whiskey. If
you will assist us in doing good, and quit selling whiskey, we
will soon make Fort Wrangel a quiet place, and the stricken
Indians will become a happy people.' (Ibid, 160-161.)
"Such a speech as that from a 'heathen' man should bring
the blush of shame to our cheeks. The Delaware welcomed
the white man to the shores of his beautiful river, the Stickeen
welcomed the white man to Alaska, and the white man showed
his appreciation of the red man's hospitality by making him
a drunkard and his wife and daughter debauched prostitutes."
The foregoing article certainly points out a very bad
state of affairs, but we all know that practically the same con-
History of West Virginia 19
ditions exist today, only on a much larger scale. The saloon-
keeper, armed with a license, now supplants the "Indian
trader". His place of operation, wherever he can obtain a
license ; his customer, any person with the price of a drink and
who will spend it for that purpose ; his victims, God only
knows how many. The prisons, infirmaries and graveyards
are full of them, while untold thousands are but awaiting their
turn.
And what is the CAUSE for this? AVARICE— a con-
suming greed for gold.
It is said that "money is the root of all evil", but this is
not true. The evil comes only when it is improperly obtained,
or improperly used. When obtained legitimately and used for
a good purpose, it is a blessing; but when it is obtained
through unfair means, or spent for an evil purpose, it becomes
a curse.
As with people, so with nations. It was avarice that
prompted the mother country to burden the colonists with an
unjust taxation; it was avarice that introduced slavery in this
country, and it was not until thousands of precious lives were
sacrificed that these evils were overcome.
But, let it not be understood that the writer means to say
that avarice is a characteristic of Americans, not that they are
moral perverts, or unpatriotic. Far be it from that. America,
like all countries, has a considerable number of bad "inhabit-
ants" whom we should not dignify with the name citizen, but
these, fortunately, are very much in the minority, and their
increase is not keeping pace with the healthy growth of the
country.
The average citizen of the United States is a "representa-
tive" citizen. He is qualified to represent the people in any
honorable capacity, and does truly represent them. This is
what makes our country great. He is honest, intelligent,
broad and liberal-minded ; kindly disposed ; lovable, and ]H)s-
sesses all the qualities that go to make a real, live Christian.
He is intensely patriotic ; he loves the stars and stripes, and
swears by the Constitution. He is conservative in State and
National aflfairs, and is inclined to arbitration rather than to
arms ; yet, if "in the course of human events, it becomes neces-
20 History of West Virginia
sary" for him to shoulder the musket to protect his country's
flag, he will be found fighting near ''Old Glory". Or, again,
"if in the course of human events, it becomes necessary" to
even change some clause in the Constitution itself, which, to
him may appear to have outlived its usefulness, he will delib-
erately but surely exercise his right of franchise and vote out
the offending clause and fill up the gap with a nevv' or amended
law which shall supply the requirements of a "nation that
leads in progress".
America's Destiny is Safe in Hands Like These.
"Man's fate is wrought in the loom of years.
To pattern traced by an unseen hand;
The shuttle flies and the weaver sighs.
For the work is slow and tragic and grand.
Some shuttles are filled with golden thread.
For the few great souls who march in the van ;
But most are filled with the thread used for
The warp and woof of the average man.
"And not till the loom stands, stop'd and still
And the busy shuttles no longer fly.
Shall God his hidden design reveal.
And explain to us all the reason why
The av'rage man is needed as much
In the wonderful world He has planned.
As the man in majesty fashioned
- By the shuttles filled with the golden strand.
"For isn't it so in want and in woe,
When fate has left us no hope and no plan ;
Then we welcome the counsel and aid
Of the old fashioned average man?
Wearing the grime of shop or of mine.
He does his life w^ork as well as he can ;
Some da}^ God will bless him and crown him
The honest, true-hearted, AVERAGE man."
(By Stuart F. Reed, Sec'y State West Va.)
CHAPTER III.
EXPLORATIONS IN AMERICA BY FRENCH AND
ENGLISH — THEIR BASE OF CONTEN-
TION FOR OWNERSHIP.
As most of the difficulties experienced by the early
settlers of what is now West Virginia grew out of the con-
tending claims of England and France for supremacy in this
country, it might be well to here give a general outline of
the discoveries and settlements made by each of these
pov^ers. In doing this, the writer quotes freely from "With-
er's Border Warfare", as others have done.
In March, 1496, a commission was granted by Henry VII,
king of England, to John Cabot and his three sons, empower-
ing them to sail under the English flag in search of "new
discoveries, and in the event of their success, to take posses-
sion, in the name of the King of England, of the countries
thus discovered and not inhabited by Christian people".
This expedition was not carried out. "But in May, 1498,
Cabot, with his son, Sebastian, embarked on a voyage to
attain the desired object, and succeeded in his design so far
as to effect a discovery of North America, and, although he
sailed along the coast from Labrador to Virginia, yet it does
not appear that he made any attempt either at settlement or
conquest." It was on the strength of this discovery the
English based their claims to that part of America, and they
therefore subsequently took possession of it.
In the year 1558, letters patent were issued by Queen
Elizabeth empowering Sir Humphrey Gilbert to "discover
and take possession of such remote; heathen and barbarous
lands as were not actually possessed by any Christian prince
or people".
Two expeditions, conducted by this gentleman, ter-
minated unfavorably. Nothing was done by him towards the
accomplishment of the objects in view, more than the taking
22 History of West Virginia
possession of the island of New Foundland, in the name of
the English Queen.
In the month of April, 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh, by
authority of a similar patent, dispatched two vessels under
command of Amidas and Barlow, "for the purpose of visiting
and obtaining such a knowledge of the country which he pro-
posed to colonize as would facilitate the attainment of his
object". In their vo3''age they approached the North Ameri-
can continent towards the Gulf of Florida, and sailing north-
wardly, touched at an island situate on the inlet into Pamlico
sound, in North Carolina, which island they named Wokocon,
and proceeding from thence they reached Roanoke, near the
mouth of Albemarle sound. Remaining here a short time and
after having obtained from the Indians such information as
they could give concerning the country, Amidas and Barlow
returned to England.
In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh again fitted out seven ships,
the command of which he gave to Richard Greenville. These
vessels were provisioned for a settlement. Greenville touched
at the islands of Wokocon and Roanoke, which had been
previously visited by Barlow and Amidas. After leaving one
hundred and eight of his passengers on Roanoke Island, he
returned to England.
"These colonists, after having remained about twelve
months and explored the adjacent country, became so dis-
couraged and exhausted by fatigue and famine that they
abandoned the country. Sir Richard Greenville, returning
shortly afterwards to America, and not being able to find
them, and at a loss to conjecture their fate, left in the
island another small party of settlers and again set sail for
England."
Queen Elizabeth was so well pleased with the flattering
description given of the country by those who had visited it
that she gave it the name of Virginia, "as a memorial that it
had been discovered in the reign of a virgin Queen".
After several ineffectual attempts to colonize North
America, a permanent settlement was finally established at
Jamestown, Va., in 1607, by one hundred and five men M^ho
left England in December of the previous year on a small
History of West Virginia 23
vessel and two barks under command of Captain Newport.
These vessels w^cre driven into Chesapeake bay, and, being
unable to land at Cape Henry, "they sailed up the Powhattan
(since called the James) river, and on the 13th of May, 1607,
debarked on the north side of the river at a place to which
they gave the name of Jamestown". The whites occupied
the country from this time on, subject to the crown of Great
Britain, until the Revolutionary War.
In 1609 a new charter was issued to "the treasurer and
company of the adventurers of the City of London for the
first colony of Virginia in absolute property, the lands extend-
ing from Point Comfort along the sea coast two hundred
miles to the northward, and from the same point along the
sea coast two hundred miles to the southward, and up into
the land throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest, and
also all islands lying within one hundred miles of the coast
of both seas of the precinct aforesaid". Her boundaries were
later reduced to the present limits of Virginia and West
Virginia, owing to conflicting charters granted other corpora-
tions, and "to the suicidal liberality of Virginia herself", as
historian Withers declares.
Admiral Champlain, commanding a French fleet, arrived
in the St. Lawrence and founded the City of Quebec in 1608.
Notwithstanding a Spanish sailor had previously entered
the St. Lawrence and established a port at the mouth of
Grand river, and its proximity to the English colonies, neither
of those powers seriously contested the right of France to its
possession. "Yet it was frequently the theatre of war, and as
early as 1629 was subdued by England. By the treaty of St.
Germains in 1632, it was restored to France, as was also the
then province of Acadie, now known as Nova Scotia. There
is no doubt but that this latter province was, by priority of
settlement, the property of France, but its principal town
having been repeatedly reduced to possession by the English,
it was ceded to them by the treaty of LUrecht, in 1713."
France, Spain and England each claimed the country
bordering the Mississippi river and its tributary streams.
"The claims of England (based on the discovery by the Cabots
of the eastern shore of the United States) included all the
24 History o£ West Virginia
country between the parallels of latitude within which the
Atlantic shore was explored, extending westwardly to the
Pacific Ocean, a zone athwart the continent between the thir-
tieth and forty-eighth degrees of north latitude."
"From the facility with which the French gained the
good will and friendly alliance of the natives in Canada by
inter-marrying with and assimilating themselves to the habits
and inclinations of these children of the forest, an intimacy
arose which induced the Indians to impart freely to the
French their knowledge of the interior country.
"Among other things, information was communicated to
them of the fact that farther on there was a river of great
size and immense length, which pursued a course opposite to
that of the St. Lawrence, and emptied itself into an unknown
sea. It was conjectured that it must necessarily flow into the
Gulf of Mexico, or the South Sea ; and in 1673 Marquette and
Joliet, — French missionaries, — together with five others, com-
menced a journey from Quebec to ascertain the fact and
examine the country bordering its shores.
"From Lake Michigan they proceeded up the Fox river
nearly to its source ; thence to Wisconsin, down it to the
Mississippi, in which river the}^ sailed as far as to about the
thirty-third degree of north latitude. From this point they
returned through the Illinois country to Canada.
"At the period of this discovery, M. de La Salle, a
Frenchman of enterprise, courage and talents but without
fortune, was commandant of Fort Frontignac. Pleased with
the description given by Marquette and Joliet of the country
which they had visited, he formed the determination of exam-
ining it himself, and for this purpose left Canada in the close
of the summer of 1679, in company with Father Luis Henne-
pin and some others. On the Illinois he erected Fort Creve-
couer, where he remained during the winter, and instructing
Father Hennepin, in his absence, to ascend the Mississippi to
its sources, returned to Canada. M. de La Salle subsequently
visited this country and, establishing the villages of Cahokia
and Kaskaskia, left them under the command of M. de Tonti ;
and, going back to Canada, proceeded from thence to France
History of West Virginia 25
to procure the co-operation of the ministry in effecting a
settlement of the valley of the Mississippi."
M. de La Salle's mission to France was successful. "He
succeeded in impressing on the minds of the French ministry
the great benefits which would result from its colonization,
and was the first to suggest the propriety of connecting the
settlements on the Mississippi with those in Canada by a cor-
don of forts, a measure which was subsequently attempted to
be carried into effect.
"With the aid afforded him by the government of France,
he was enabled to prepare an expedition to accomplish his
object; and, sailing in 1684 for the mouth of the Mississippi,
steered too far westward and landed in the province (now
State) of Texas, and on the banks of the River Guadaloupe.
Every exertion which a brave and prudent man could make
to effect the security of his little colony and conduct them to
the settlement in Illinois was fruitlessly made by him. In
reward for all his toil and care he was basely assassinated,
the remnant of the party whom he was conducting through
the wilderness finally reached the Arkansas, where was a
settlement of French emigrants from Canada. The colonists
left by him at the Bay of St. Bernard were mostly murdered
by the natives, the remainder were carried away by the Span-
iards in 1689."
For some tiine after this, attempts on the part of the
French to colonize the Mississippi near the Gulf of Mexico
were fruitless.
That portion of the southern part of the United States of
which the present site of New Orleans formed the center of
settlements continued in the possession of France until 1763,
when, by the treaty of Paris, she ceded to Great Britain,
together with Canada, her possessions east of the Mississippi
river, excepting the "island of New Orleans". The latter and
her territory on the west bank of the Mississippi were trans-
ferred to Spain.
It is generally conceded that on the basis of priority of
discovery, the title of Spain to the southern part of what is
now the United States, including a large part of the Missis-
sippi valley, was as good as that of either England or France.
26 History o£ West Virginia
Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, discovered and gave
name to Florida in 1512, five years after the discovery of the
Pacific by Balboa. He was killed by the Indians in a second
visit to Florida, in 1521.
In 1518, Francisco Gary cruised along the whole Gulf
coast, passing the mouth of the Mississippi river, — the "Miche
Sepe", or Father of Waters, of the Indians. In 1520, Lucas
Vasquez de Allyon sailed from Cuba "in quest of a land
called Chicora, north of Florida, said to possess a sacred
stream whose waters had the miraculous virtue of those of
Fortune of Youth."
In 1528, Pamphilo de Narvaez made an effort to take
possession of this land, but met with such vigorous opposition
by the Indians that but a mere handful of his six hundred men
escaped with him to the coast, from whence they sought to
escape in five hurriedly constructed craft, four of which were
lost in storms on the Gulf; the survivors landing, sought to
cross the continent to the province of Sonora, already colo-
nized by Spaniards. Four of the party were captured by the
Indians, but later escaped to the Spanish settlement.
Hernando (Ferdinand) De Soto, a Spaniard, then gov-
ernor of Cuba, sailed from Havana with a fleet of nine
vessels and a force of six or seven hundred men on the 18th
of May, 1539, and cast anchor in Tampa Ba\^ on the 30th of
the same month. After landing, he and his men at once pro-
ceeded through the country. Their mission, judging from
their acts, seemed to be one of murder and plunder. After
roaming about the country for a time, committing acts of
depredation, they finally arrived at a large village called
Mavilla, close to the site of the modern Mobile, in Alabama
in the autumn of 1540, their numbers greatly reduced. Here
the natives were gathered in considerable force, and it soon
became evident that an attempt would be made to "exact
vengeance for the Jong course of oppression of which the
white (Spaniards) intruders had been guilty in their two
years' wanderings". Intending to take possession of Mavilla
in his usual high-handed manner, De Soto and a few of his
men entered the palisades forming its defences. Here a "dis-
pute" ensued between a minor chief and one of the Spaniards,
History of West Virginia 27
and the latter struck the chief with his cutlass, and a general
fight ensued, in which much property and many lives were
lost. After burning the village, De Soto and the remnant of
his men proceeded northward, arriving at a small village, be-
longing to the Chickasaw Indians, in the State of Mississippi,
in the month of December. "In the beginning of Spring the
usual arbitrary proceedings were resorted to by De Soto for
procuring porters to carry his baggage on his next trip, and
this led to a second terrible fight, in which the Spaniards were
worsted and narrowly escaped extermination."
With the few followers that now remained, De Soto pro-
ceeded in a northwesterly direction, and, crossing the State
of Mississippi, arrived, in May, on the banks of "the mighty
river from which it takes its name, in about N. lat. 35°. Here,
building barges capable of carrying their horses, the Span-
iards crossed the river, and immediately opened hostilities
with the Indians on the other side. They proceeded north-
ward, constantly harassed by the natives, until they reached
the region of the present State of Missouri, whose "inhabit-
ants took them for children of the Sun and brought out their
blind to be restored to sight. After some missionary labors
with these Indians, De Soto proceeded westward, and en-
camped for the winter about the site of Little Rock, Arkansas,
after having reached the highlands of southwest Missouri,
near the White river".
Though worn by continual wanderings and warfare, and
deprived by death of his chief helper, Juan Ortiz, De Soto
now endeavored to win over the Indians by claiming super-
natural powers and declaring himself immortal ; but it was
too late to inaugurate a new policy. The spot selected for
encampment proved to be unhealthful ; the white men began
to succumb to disease ; scouts sent out to explore the neigh-
borhood for a more favorable situation brought back reports
of howling wildernesses, impenetrable woods, and, worst of
all, bands of Indians creeping up from every side to hem in
and destroy the little knot of white men. "Thus driven to
bay, De Soto, who was now himself either attacked by disease
or broken down by all he had undergone, determined at last
to die like a man, and, calling the survivors of his once gallant
28 History of West Virginia
company about him, he asked pardon for the evils he had
brought upon those who had trusted in him, and named Luis
Moscoso de Alvaredo as his successor."
On the following day. May 21, 1542, the unfortunate man
died, and his successor, Alvaredo, "fearing an onslaught from
the natives should the death of De Soto, who claimed immor-
tality, be discovered", had the body wrapped in cloths made
heavy by sand, and dropped from a boat in the Mississippi
river during the midnight hour. The Indians, missing the
"Child of the Sun", made inquiries concerning his where-
abouts, and were informed that he had departed for a tem-
porary sojourn in Heaven and would return soon. During
this expected return, the camp was broken up as quietly as
possible, and Alvaredo led his people westward, hoping, as
Cabeca had done before him, to reach the Pacific coast. But,
after long months of wandering in pathless prairies, they
finally retraced their steps to the Mississippi. Remaining here
about six months, they constructed a number of boats, in
which they entered on the 2d of July, 1543, and after a voyage
of seventeen days between banks lined with hostile Indians,
"who plied them unceasingly with their poisoned arrows,
brought a few haggard, half-naked survivors to the longed-
for gulf. Fifty days later, after a weary cruise along the
rugged coasts* of what is now Louisiana and Texas, a party,
still further reduced, landed at the Spanish settlement of
Panuco, in Mexico, where they were received as men risen
from the dead".
The foregoing information concerning explorations by
the Spaniards was taken principally from "The Great Repub-
lic", Vol. I.
The following is taken from Withers's "Border Warfare",
concerning the struggle between the whites and Indians for
supremacy in America, and is well worth repeating:
"Thus, it is said, were different parts of this continent
discovered ; and by virtue of the settlements thus effected by
those three great powers of Europe, the greater portion of
it was claimed as belonging to them, respectively, in utter
disregard of the rights of the Aborigines. And while the
historian records the colonization of America as an event
History of West Virginia 29
tending to ameliorate the condition of Europe, and as having
extended the blessings of civil and religious liberty, human-
ity must drop a tear of regret, that it has likewise forced
the natives of the new, and the inhabitants of the old, to
drink so deeply from the cup of bitterness.
"The cruelties which have been exercised on the Aboir-
gines of America, the wrong and outrage heaped on them
from the days of Montezuma and Guatimozin to the present
period, while they excite sympathy for their sufferings,
should extenuate, if not justify, the bloody deeds which re-
venge prompted the untutored savages to commit. Driven
as they were from the lands of which they were the rightful
proprietors — yielding to encroachments 'til forced to appre-
hend their utter annihilation, witnessing the destruction of
their villages, the prostration of their towns, and sacking of
cities adorned with splendid magnificence — who can feel sur-
prised at any attempt which they might make to rid the
country of its invaders?
"Who but must applaud the spirit which prompted them,
when they beheld their prince a captive, the blood of their
nobles staining the earth with its crimson dye, and the gods
of their adoration scoffed and derided, to aim at the destruc-
tion of their oppressors?
"When Mexico, 'with her tiara of proud towers,' became
the theatre in which foreigners were to revel in rapine and in
murder, who can be astonished that the valley of Atumba
resounded with the cry of 'Victory or Death'? And yet,
resistance on their part served as a pretext for a war of exter-
mination, waged too with a ferocity from the recollection of
which the human mind involuntarily revolts, and with a suc-
cess which has forever blotted from the book of national
existence once powerful and happy tribes."
CHAPTER IV.
THE FOUNDING OF VIRGINIA.
As a biographical sketch would be incomplete without,
at least, a brief reference to the parents of the subject, so
would the history of Vv^est Virginia be incomplete without
giving at least a brief outline of the history of the Mother
State — Virginia.
On the 10th of April, 1606, King James I granted to
the "Virginia Company of London", a corporation composed
of men of his kingdom, "Letters Patent or License to make
habitation, plantation, and to deduce a colony of sundry of
our people into that part of America, commonly called
Virginia, . . . and do therefore, for us, our heirs, and
successors, grant and agree, that Sir Thomas Gates, Sir
George Somers, Richard Hackluyt, and Edward-Maria Wing-
field, adventurers of and for our City of London, and all such
others as are, or shall be joined unto them of that colony,
shall be called the First Colony ; and they may begin their
said first plantation and habitation at any place upon said
coast of Virginia, or America, where they shall think fit and
convenient, between the four and thirty and one and forty
degrees of latitude ; and they shall have all lands . .
from the said first seat of their plantation and habitation by
the space of fifty miles of English statute measure, all along
the said coast of Virginia, or America, towards the west and
southwest as the coast lyeth, with all the islands within one
hundred miles, directly over against the sea coast
from the said place of the first plantation and habitation for
the space of fifty like English miles, all alongst the said coast
of Virginia and America, towards the east and northeast, or
towards the north as the coast lyeth, together with all the
islands within one hundred miles directly over against the
said sea coast . . . from the same, fifty miles every
way, on the sea coast, directty into the main land by the
History of West Virginia 31
space of one hundred like English miles; and shall and may
inhabit and remain there ; and shall and may also build and
fortify within any the same, for the better safeguard and de-
fense according to their better discretion".
(Henning's "Statutes at Large, Vol. I., pp. 57, 58.)
What is now West Virginia was not included in the
above; but this was afterwards done by the sixth section of
second Charter granted to the Virginia Company of London,
bearing date May 23, 1609, when the boundary of the Virginia
Colony was so enlarged as to include "all those lands, coun-
tries, and territories situate, lying, and being, in that part of
America called Virginia, from the point of land called Cape
or Point Comfort, all along the sea coast to the northward
two hundred miles ; and from the said point of Cape Comfort,
all along the sea coast to the southward two hundred miles,
and all that space and circuit of land, lying from the sea
coast of the precinct aforesaid, up into the land throughout
from sea to sea west and northwest", — that was, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. The zone within this grant
being four hundred miles wide, of course included the present
State of West Virginia.
(Henning's "Statutes at Large" of Virginia, Vol. I, p. 88.)
The Virginia Company of London had as the object of its
creation the founding of an English Colony on the Atlantic
coast of Virginia. Three small vessels, no one of which would
now be thought worthy to attempt the passage of the Atlantic,
were secured by the company, and lay at anchor on the
Thames, at Blackwell, in Middlesex county, three miles above
London. They were the "Susan Constant", of one hundred
and twenty tons burden, commanded by Captain Christopher
Newport; the "Godspeed", of forty tons. Captain Bartholo-
mew Gosnold ; and the "Discovery", a pinnace of twenty tons.
The little fleet left Blackwell, December 6th, 1606, having on
board colonists to the number of one hundred and seven, who
bade adieu to the shores of the Old World, to find a home in
the wilds of the New. January 1, 1607, buffeted by con-
trary winds, the vessels cast anchor at the "DoAvns". on the
south coast of England, where they were detained for six
weeks. Then the storms abated, and again the sails were
32 History of West Virginia
spread and the little fleet stood out to sea. On April 26th, the
entrance to Chesapeake Bay was reached, and to the points on
either side the colonists gave the names of Charles and
Henry, in honor of the sons of King James. Further within
the bay, upon another projection, they bestowed the name of
Point Comfort, because of the comfortable anchorage they
found there. Then Captain Newport, the acting admiral of
the little fleet, steered the vessels up a majestic river, which
they called the James, in honor of their beloved sovereign.
The voyage was continued for fifty miles, when a landing
was made on the north bank, where, on the 13th day of May,
1607, these Middlesex county men laid the foundation of
Jamestown, the OLDEST PERMANENT ENGLISH SET-
TLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA. Hers, on the banks
of the James, had landed the men who were destined to light
a lamp of liberty which all the tyranny of after ages could
not extinguish. It was here that representatives, elected by
the people of eleven boroughs, assembled, and on the 30th
day of June, 1619, organized the House of Burgesses — the
first representative legislative body in the New World. •
From Jamestown, as the population was increased by
the arrival of colonists from over-sea, the settlements werg
made at other points along the great river ; whence they
spread, as the years sped b}^, over the Tide-Water Region,
and thence into the Piedmont Region, even to the eastern
base of the Blue Ridge. So rapidly did the population in-
crease that in 1671 — but sixty-four years after the settlement
at Jamestown — there were forty thousand English-speaking
people in Virginia. (West Va. Archives and History.)
The instructions for the colony that settled at James-
town in 1607 had been placed by. the king in a sealed box, on
opening which it was found that seven men were appointed
a governing council, among them Gosnold, Newport, and the
celebrated Captain John Smith, who was a member of the
expedition. Most of the colony were gentlemen who hoped
to find gold at once and make their fortune, and no attempt
at agriculture was made. A terrible summer followed. The
position chosen for security against the Indians proved un-
healthful, and more than half the colony was swept away by
History of West Virginia 33
a pestilence. Only the friendly aid of the Indians saved the
rest from death by starvation. Meanwhile, Captain Smith
was prevented from taking his place in the council by the
action of his enemies, and was arrested on false accusations.
For several months he lay under a cloud. But, boldly defying
the malice of his enemies, he cleared himself of their charges
and resumed his place in the council. By the autumn the sole
control of the colony fell into the hands of Smith, the presi-
dent finding the duty beyond his ability. The behavior of
Smith in this capacity is well told in Campbell's "History of
the Colony and Ancient Dominion in Virginia", from which
we extract some passages, with the caution to the reader that
the story of Smith's adventures among the Indians is told by
himself, and that his reputation for veracity is not a high one.
At the approach of winter the rivers of Virginia abounded
with wild fowl, and the English now were well supplied with
bread, peas, persimmons, fish, and game. But this plenty did
not last long, for what Smith carefully provided the colonists
carelessly wasted. The idlers at Jamestown, including some
of the council, now began to mutter complaints against Smith
for not having discovered the source of the Chickahominy, it
being supposed that the South Sea, or Pacific Ocean, lay not
far distant, and that a communication with it would be found
by some river running from the northwest. The Chicka-
hominy flowed in that direction, and hence the solicitude of
these Jamestown cosmographers to trace that river to its
head. To allay this dissatisfaction of the council, Smith made
another voyage up that river, and proceeded until it became
necessary, in order to pass, to cut away a large tree which
had fallen across the stream. When at last Me barge could
advance no farther, he returned eight miles and moored her
in a wide bay out of danger, and leaving orders to his men
not to venture on shore until his return, accompanied by two
of his men and two Indian guides, and leaving seven men in
the barge, he went still higher up in a canoe to the distance
of twenty miles. In a short time after he had parted from
the barge the men left in her went ashore, and one of them,
George Cassen, was surprised and killed. Smith, in the mean-
time, not suspecting this disaster, reached the marshy ground
34 History of West Virginia
towards the head of the river, "the slashes", and went out
with his gun to provide food for the party, and took with
him one of the Indians. During his excursion his two men,
Robinson and Emry, were slain, and he himself was attacked
by a number of Indians, two of whom he killed with a pistol.
He protected himself from their arrows by making a shield
of his guide, binding him fast by the arm with one of his
garters. Many arrows pierced his clothes, and some slightly
wounded him. Endeavoring to reach the canoe, and walking
backward with his eyes still fixed on his pursuers, he sank to
his waist in an oozy creek, and his savage with him. Never-
theless, the Indians were afraid to approach until, being now
half dead with cold, he threw away his arms, when they drew
him forth, and led him to the fire where his two companions
were lying dead. Here the Indians chafed his limbs, and,
having restored the vital heat. Smith inquired for their chief,
and they pointed him to Opechancanough, the great chief of
Pamaunkee. Smith presented him a mariner's compass ; the
vibrations of the mysterious needle astonished the untutored
sons of the forest. In a short time they bound the prisoner
to a tree, and were about to slay him, when Opechancanough
holding up the compass, they all laid down their bows and
arrows. Then marching in Indian file, they led the captive,
guarded by fifteen men, about six miles, to Orapakes, a hunt-
ing tov/n in the upper part of the Chickahominy swamp, and
about twelve miles northeast from the falls of James River
(Richmond). At this town, consisting of thirty or forty
houses, built like arbors and covered with mats, the Women
and children came forth to meet them, staring in amazement
at Smith. Opechancanough and his followers performed
their military exercises, and joined the war dance. Smith was
confined in a long house under a guard, and an enormous
quantity of bread and venison was set before him, as if to
fatten him for sacrifice, or because they supposed that a
superior being required a proportionately larger supply of
food. An Indian who had received some toys from Smith at
Jamestown now, in turn, brought him a warm garment of
fur — a pleasing instance of gratitude, a sentiment often found
even in the breast of a savage. Another Indian, whose son
History of West Virginia 35
had been mortally wounded by Smith, made an attempt to
kill him in revenge, and was only prevented by the intercep-
tion of his guards.
(Smith then sent a written message to Jamestown, and
received a reply, the Indians being astonished on perceiving
that "paper could talk". The captive was next taken to
Pamaunkee, the residence of the chief.)
Finally, the captive was taken to Werowocomoco, proba-
bly signifying chief place of council, a favorite seat of Pow-
hatan, on the York river, then called the Pamaunkee or
Pamunkey. They found the chief in his rude palace, reclining
before the fire, on a sort of throne, resembling a bedstead,
covered with mats, his head adorned with feathers and his
neck with beads, and wearing a long robe of raccoon-skins.
At his head sat a young female, and another at his feet; while
on each side of the wigwam sat men in rows, on mats, and
behind them as many young women, their heads and shoul-
ders painted red, some with their heads decorated with the
snowy down of birds, and all with strings of white beads
falling over their shoulders. On Smith's entrance they all
raised a terrific yell. The queen of Appomattock brought
him water to wash, and another a bunch of feathers for
a towel. After feasting him, a long consultation was held.
That ended, two large stones were brought, and the one
laid upon the other, before Powhatan ; then as many
as could lay hold, seizing Smith, dragged him to the stones,
and, laying his head on them, snatched up their war clubs,
and, brandishing them in the air, were about to slay him,
when Pocahontas, Powhatan's favorite daughter, a girl of
only twelve or thirteen years of age, finding all her entreaties
unavailing, i\e\v, and, at the hazard of her life, clasped the
captive's head in her arms, and laid her own upon his. The
stern heart of Powhatan was touched ; he relented, and con-
sented that Smith might live. Two days afterwards Smith
was permitted by Powhatan to return to Jamestown, on con-
dition of sending him two great guns and a grindstone.
Smith now treated his Indian guides kindly, atid, show-
ing Rawhunt, a favorite servant of Powhatan, two pieces of
36 History of West Virginia
cannon and a grindstone, gave him leave to carry them home
to his master.
At the time of Smith's return to Jamestown, he found
the number of the colonists reduced to forty. Of the one
hundred original settlers, seventy-eight are classified as fol-
lows : fifty-four gentlemen, four carpenters, twelve laborers,
a blacksmith, a sailor, a barber, a bricklayer, a mason, a
tailor, a drummer, and a "chirurgeon".
Of the "gentlemen", the greater part were indolent, disso-
lute reprobates, of good families ; and they found themselves
not in a golden El Dorado, as they had fondly anticipated,
but in a remote wilderness, encompassed by want, exposure,
fatigue, disease, and danger.
The arrival of Newport at this time with stores and a
number of additional settlers, being part of the first supply
sent out from England by the treasurer and council, was joy-
fully welcomed.
Pocahontas, with her tawney train of attendants, fre-
quently visited Jamestown with presents of bread and venison
and raccoons, sent by Powhatan for Smith and Newport.
However, the improvident traffic allowed between Newport's
mariners and the natives soon extremely enhanced the price
of provisions, and the too protracted detention of his vessel
made great inroads upon the public store.
(The events described were followed by a visit to Pow-
hatan, and the accidental burning of Jamestown, which took
place on their return. Other troubles succeeded.)
The stock of provisions running low, the colonists at
Jamestown were reduced to a diet of meal and water, and
this, together with their exposure to cold after the loss of
their habitations, cut off upwards of one-half of them. Their
condition was made still worse by a rage for gold that now
seized them. ''There was no talk, no hope, no work, but dig
gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold." Smith, not indulging
in these empty dreams of imaginary wealth, laughed at their
infatuation in loading "such a drunken ship with gilded
dust".
Captain Newport, after a delay of three months and a
half, being now ready to sail for England, the planters, having
History of West Virginia 37
no use for parliaments, place^, petitions, admirals, recorders,
interpreters, chronologers, courts of plea, nor justices of the
peace, sent Master Wingfield and Captain- Archer home with
him, so that they, who had engrossed all those titles to them-
selves, might seek some better place of employment. New-
port carried with him twenty turkeys, which had been pre-
sented to him by Powhatan, who had demanded and received
twenty swords in return for them. This fowl, peculiar to
America, had been many years before carried to England by
some of the early discoverers of North America.
After Newport's departure, Ratcliffe, the president, lived
in ease, peculating on the public store. The spring now
approaching. Smith and Scrivener undertook to rebuild
Jamestown, repair the palisades, fell trees, prepare the fields,
plant, and erect another church. While thus engaged they
were joyfully surprised by the arrival of the Phoenix, com-
manded by Captain Nelson, who had left England with
Newport about the end of the year 1607, and, after coming
within sight of Cape Henry, had been driven off to the West
Indies. He brought with him the remainder of the first sup-
ply, which comprised one hundred and twenty settlers.
Having found provisions in the West Indies, and having
economically husbanded his own, he imparted them gener-
ously to the colony, so that now there was accumulated a
store sufficient for half a year.
Pocahontas, in beauty of feature, expression, and form,
far surpassed any of the other natives, and in intelligence and
spirit "was the nonpareil of her country". Powhatan, hearing
that some of his people were kept prisoners at Jamestown,
(some of the Indians having been locked up by Smith for
some attempted theft), sent her, with Rawhunt (who was as
remarkable for his personal deformity, but shrewd and
crafty), with presents of a deer and some bread, to sue for
their ransom. Smith released the prisoners, and Pocahontas
was dismissed with presents. Thus the scheme of Powhatan
to destroy the English with their own swords was happily
frustrated.
(On the 2nd of June, 1608, vSmith left Jamestown with
the purpose of exploring Chesapeake Bay. During this jour-
38 History of West Virginia'
ney he discovered the Potomac and sailed up it to the head
of navigation. He continued his explorations, and during
the summer, "with a few men, in a small barge, in his several
voyages of discovery he traversed a distance of not less than
three thousand miles". In September, 1608, he accepted the
office of president, which he had formerly declined.)
Smith, the president, now set the colonists to work; some
to make glass, others to prepare tar, pitch, and soap-ashes;
while he, in person, conducted thirty of them five miles below
the fort to cut down trees and saw plank. Two of this lumber
party happened to be young gentlemen who had arrived in
the last supply. Smith sharing labor and hardship in common
with the rest, these woodmen, at first, became apparently
reconciled to the novel task, and seemed to listen with pleas-
ure to the crashing thunder of the falling trees ; but when the
axes began to blister their unaccustomed hands, they grew
profane, and their frequent loud oaths echoed in the woods.
Smith, taking measures to have the oaths of each one num-
bered, in the evening, for each offence, poured a can of water
down the offender's sleeve ; and this curious discipline, or
water cure, was so effectual that after it was administered an
oath would scarcely be heard in a week. Smith found that
thirty or forty gentlemen who volunteered to work could do
more in a day than one hundred that worked by compulsion ;
but, he adds, that twenty good workmen would have been
better than the whole of them put together.
(Further troubles with the Indians succeeded, and only
the energy of the governor defeated the murderous schemes
of Opechancanough.)
At Jamestown the provisions at the public store had
been spoiled by exposure to the rain of the previous summer,
or eaten by rats and worms. The colonists had been living
there in indolence, and a large part of their implements and
arms had been trafficked away to the Indians. Smith under-
took to remedy these disorders by discipline and labor, re-
lieved by pastimes and recreations ; and he established it as a
rule that he who would not work should not eat. The whole
government of the colony was noAv, in effect, devolved upon
him. Captain Wynne being the only other surviving coun-
History of West Virginia 39
cillor, and the president having two votes. Shortly after
Smith's return from a hunting trip, he met the chief of
Paspahegh near Jamestown, and had a recontre with him.
This athletic savage attempting to shoot him, he closed and
grappled, when, by main strength, the chief forced him into
the river to drown him. They struggled long in the water,
until Smith, grasping the savage by the throat, well nigh
strangled him, and, drawing his sword, was about to cut off
his head, when he begged for his life so piteously that Smith
spared him, and led him prisoner to Jamestown, where he
put him in chains. He was daily visited by his wives and
children, and people who brought presents to ransom him.
At last he made his escape. Captain Wynne and Lieutenant
Percy were dispatched, with a party of fifty, to recapture him,
failing in which they burned the chief's cabin and carried
away his canoes. Smith now going out to "try his conclu-
sions with the savages", slew some and made some prisoners,
burned their cabins, and took their canoes and fishing-weirs.
Shortly afterwards the president, passing through Paspahegh
on his way to the Chickahominy, was assaulted by the
Indians ; but, upon his firing, and their discovering who he
was, they threw down their arms and sued for peace.
Kaning, a young warrior, who spoke in their behalf, in justi-
fying the escape of their chief from imprisonment at James-
town, said, "The fishes swim, the fowls fly, and the very beasts
strive to escape the snare, and live." Smith's vigorous meas-
ures, together with some accidental circumstances, so dis-
mayed the savages that from this time to the end of his
administration they gave no fvirther trouble.
(In 1609 an addition to the colony of five hundred men
and women was sent out, Avith stores and provisions, in a
fleet of nine vessels.)
Upon the appearance of this fleet near Jamestown, Smith,
not expecting such a supply, took them to be Spaniards, and
prepared to encounter them, and the Indians readily offered
their assistance. The colony had already, before the arrival
of the fleet, been threatened with anarchy, owing to intelli-
gence of the premature repeal of the charter, brought out by
Captain Argall, and the new settlers had now no sooner
40 History of West Virginia
landed than they gave rise to new confusion and disorder.
The factious leaders, although they brought no commissions
with them, insisted on the abrogation of the existing charter,
rejected the authority of Smith, whom they hated and feared,
and undertook to usurp the government. ' Their capricious
folly equalled their insolence ; to-day the old commission
must rule, to-morrow the new, the next day neither, — thus, by
continual change, plunging all things into anarchy.
Smith, filled with disgust, would cheertully have em-
barked for England, but, seeing little prospect of the arrival
of the new commission (which was in the possession of Gates
on the island of Bermuda), he resolved to put an end to the
incessant plots and machinations. The ringleaders, Ratcliffe,
Archer, and others, he arrested ; to cut off another source of
disturbance, he gave permission to Percy, who was in feeble
health, to embark for England, of which, however, he did not
avail himself. West, with one hundred and twenty picked
men, was detached to the falls of James river, and Martin,
with nearly the same number, to Nansemond. Smith's presi-
dency having expired about this time, he was succeeded by
Martin, who, conscious of his incompetency, immediately re-
signed it to Smith. Martin, at Nansemond, seized the chief
and, capturing the town, occupied it with his detachment ;
but, owing to the want of judgment or of vigilance, he suf-
fered himself to be surprised by the savages, who slew many
of his party, rescued the chief, and carried off their corn.
Martin not long after returned to Jamestown, leaving his de-
tachment to shift for themselves.
Smith, going up the river to West's settlement at the
falls, found the English planted in a place not only subject
to the river's inundation, but "surrounded by many intolerable
inconveniences". To remedy these, by a messenger he pro-
posed to purchase from Powhatan his seat of that name, a
little lower down the river. The settlers scornfully rejected
the scheme, and became so mutinous that Smith landed among
them and arrested the chief malcontents. But, overpowered
by numbers, being supported by only five men, he was forced
to retire on board of a vessel lying in the river. The Indians
daily supplied him with provisions, in requital for which the
History of West Virginia 41
English plundered their corn, robbed their cultivated ground,
beat them, broke into their cabins, and made them prisoners.
They complained to Captain Smith that the men whom he
had sent there as their protectors "were worse than their old
enemies, the Monacans". Smith, embarking, had no sooner
set sail for Jamestown than many of West's party were slain
by the savages.
It so happened that before Smith's vessel had dropped a
mile and a half down the river she ran aground, whereupon,
making a virtue of necessity, he summoned the mutineers to
a parley, and they, now seized with a panic on account of the
assault of a mere handful of Indians, submitted themselves to
his mercy. He again arrested the ringleaders, and established
the rest of the party at Powhatan, in the Indian palisade fort,
which was so well fortified by poles and logs as to defy all
the savages in Virginia. Dry cabins were found there, and
nearly two hundred acres of ground ready to be planted, and
it was called Nonsuch, as being at once the strongest and
most delightful place in the country. Nonsuch was the name
of a royal residence in England.
When Smith was now on the eve of his departure, the
arrival of West again threw all things back into confusion.
Nonsuch was abandoned, and all hands returned to the Falls,
and Smith, finding all his efforts abortive, embarked in a boat
for Jamestown. During the voyage he was terribly wounded,
while asleep, by the accidental explosion of a bag of gun-
powder, and in the paroxysm of pain he leaped into the river,
and was nearly drowned before he could be rescued. Arriving
at Jamestown in this helpless condition, he was again assailed
by faction and mutiny, and one of his enemies even presented
a cocked pistol at him in his bed ; but the hand wanted the
nerve to execute what the heart was base enough to design.
Ratcliffe, Archer, and their confederates laid plans to
usurp the government of the colony, whereupon Smith's faith-
ful soldiers, fired with indignation at conduct so infamous,
begged for permission to strike off their heads; but this he
refused. He refused also to surrender the presidency to Percy.
For this wSmith is censured by the historian Stith, although he
knew that Pcrcv was in too feeble health to control a mu-
42 History of West Virginia
tinous colony. Anarchy being triumphant, Smith probably
deemed it useless to appoint a governor over a mob. He at
last, about Michaelmas, 1609, embarked for England, after a
stay of a little more than two years in Virginia, to which he
never returned. Here, then, closes the career of Captain John
Smith in Virginia, "the father of the colony," and a hero, like
Bayard, "without fear and without reproach."
Soon after Smith's departure, Sir Thomas Gates arrived,
but without supplies, and as the only escape from starvation
he took the surviving colonists on his ships and set sail for
Newfoundland, Fortunately when they reached the mouth of
the river they met Lord Delaware, who had been sent out as
governor of the colony, with supplies and emigrants. The
colonists were induced to return, and order and contentment
were soon regained under the wise management of the new
governor. Shortly afterwards seven hundred more men
arrived, and the land, which had been held in common, was
divided among the colonists, much to the advancement of
agriculture. In 1613 occurred the marriage of John Rolfe, a
young Englishman, with Pocahontas, the daughter of Pow-
hatan, an event which improved the relations between the
colonists and the Indians. Pocahontas was taken to England
in 1616, and died in 1617, leaving one son, from whom de-
scended some of the most respectable families in Virginia.
In 1613 Captain Argall sailed from Virginia for the purpose
of protecting the English fishermen on the coast of Maine.
He broke up a settlement which the French had made on
Mt. Desert Island, near the Penobscot, reduced the French
settlement at Port Royal, in Acadia, and entered the harbor
of New York, where he compelled the Dutch traders to
acknowledge the sovereignty of England. The effect of the
last two operations, however, continued only till the dis-
appearance of his ship. In 1615 the colonists went eagerly
into tobacco culture, which soon became a mania; the culture
of corn and other grain being so neglected as to threaten
renewed scarcity. In 1617 it is said that the yards, the mar-
ket square, and the very streets of Jamestown were full of
the plants of the new article of commerce, to which the soil
and climate of Virginia proved well adapted. In 1617 Captain
History of West Virginia 43
Argall was made governor, and at once established a system
of strict military rule which, in time, became almost a reign
of terror. He was removed in 1619, and Sir George Yeardly
sent out, under whose administration the colony flourished.
In 1619 a representative body was organized, antl met in
Jamestown, where it adopted a colonial constitution. I'his
was the first legislative action in America, and the first stej)
towards American liberty.
In the following year (1620) the germ of a civil war was
inoculated into the Virginians by a Dutch man-of-war sailing
up the James and landing twenty negroes, who were "quickly
sold to the colonists". At about the same time "a happier
introduction than this of African slavery was eft'ected, in the
sending over of ninety young (white) women, who were sold
to the colonists — as wives; the price paid for each being one
hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco. Sixty others were
soon after sent, and the price rose to one hundred and fifty
pounds of tobacco".
But the Virginians were now to pass through a danger
as threatening as that of the "starving time". The death of
Powhatan had removed their best friend among the Indians.
The rapid increase of the colonists, and the spread of their
settlements, alarmed the savages, who, in 1622, formed a con-
spiracy to destro}^ the whole colony. The story of this thrill-
ing event is taken from Howe's "History of Virginia".
Since the marriage of Pocahontas with John Rolfe, the
Indians had preserved the most peaceful relations with the
settlers, and hopes were entertained that permanent friendship
would be established between them. The dominion of Pow-
hatan had descended to his brother Opitchapan, a feeble and
decrepit chieftain, who was neither dreaded by the whites nor
respected by his own subjects. But there was one mind
among the natives which now exercised all the sway of
superior genius and courage. Opechancanough has hereto-
fore been mentioned. It is doubtful whether he was in any
manner related to Powhatan, though he is often spoken of as
his brother. Among the Indians and some of the whites pre-
vailed a belief that he came from a tribe far in the southwest,
perhaps from the interior of Mexico. But in talents and influ-
44 History of West Virginia
ence he was now the ruhng power among the savages. Pro-
found in dissimulation, cruel by nature and habit, patient of
suffering, skilled in every species of treachery, and possessed
of a ready eloquence, always at his command, he soon gained
over the minds of his inferiors an ascendency as resistless as
it was dangerous.
The English became careless and unsuspecting. Believ-
ing the natives to be their friends, they admitted them freely
to their houses, sometimes supplied them with arms, employed
them in hunting and fishing for their families, and in all
respects treated them as faithful allies. As habits of industry
and steady labor gained ground, the colonists relaxed their
martial discipline. The plough was a more useful implement
than the musket, and the' sword had given place to the hoe
and pickaxe. Seduced by the present tranquillity, and by the
fertile soil found in belts of land upon all the rivers running
into the bay, they had extended their settlements until they
were now nearly eighty in number and spread m scattered
plantations over a space of several hundred miles. They were
lulled into complete security by the demeanor of the natives,
and those who were most zealous for religion were beginning
to hope that the seeds of the truth were taking root in many
untutored minds, and would, after a season, produce fruits of
joy and peace. Some were not thus sanguine ; and among
those who looked with suspicion upon the Indians we mark
the name of Jonas Stockam, a minister, who has left on record
an open acknowledgment of his distrust. His strong com-
mon sense, his knowledge of human nature, and his observa-
tions upon the natives around him, all confirmed his belief
that they were yet highly dangerous, and that until their
priests and "ancients" were destroyed no hope of their con-
version need be entertained. But his warnings, and slight
proofs of enmity in the savages, were alike disregarded. The
colonists remained immersed in unruffled security.
In the meantime Opechancanough was preparing the
actors in his infernal drama. Either in person or by his emis-
saries, he visited all the tribes composing the confederacy
over which Powhatan had held dominion. He roused them
to revenge ; represented their wrongs ; wrought their passions
History of West Virginia 45
to intensity by mingled promises of blood and of rapine ;
pointed to the defenceless state of the colonists, and estab-
lished a complete organization for the work of death. The
savages of Virginia were now embodied for their fatal pur-
pose, and awaited but the signal from their leader to fall upon
the unsuspecting colonists.
On Friday, the 22d day of March, 1622, the tragedy began.
So perfect was the confidence of the settlers that they loaned
the savages their boats to cross the river for their deadly
purpose ; many of them even came in to take the morning
meal with the whites, and brought deer, turkeys, fish, and
fruits, which they offered for sale in the usual manner. But
at mid-day the scene of blood was opened. Instantly, and as
if by magic, the savages appeared at every point, and fell upon
their victims with the weapons which first presented them-
selves. Neither age nor sex was spared. The tender infant
was snatched from the mother to be butchered before her
eyes ; wives were left weltering in blood in the presence of
their husbands ; men, helpless from age, or wholly without
defense, were stricken down ere they could see the foe who
assailed them. In one morning three hundred and forty-nine
settlers were slain upon the several plantations. The mur-
derers were lashed into frenzied excitement by their own
passions ; and, not content with the work of death, they
mutilated the corpses in a manner so revolting that the orig-
inal recorders of this massacre shrink from the task of de-
scribing them.
It is remarkable that wherever resistance was made to
these fiends it was entirely successful. Too cruel to be brave,
they fled from the first vigorous onset; and had the colonists
received one hour's warning, no life would have been lost that
was not dearly atoned for. An old soldier who had served
under Smith, although surrounded by Indians and severely
wounded, clove the skull of one assailant ^\'ith a single stroke
of an axe, and the rest instantly took to flight. A Mr.
Baldwin, whose wife was lyinit^ before his eyes profusely
bleeding from many wounds, by one well-directed discharge
drove a crowd of murderers from his house. Several small
parties of settlers obtained a few muskets from a ship that
46 History of West Virginia
happened to be lying in a stream near the plantations, and
with these they routed the savages in every direction and dis-
persed them in great confusion.
(Jamestown was saved through information given by a
young Indian convert. Preparations for defence were hastily
made, and the savages did not venture an assault.)
The immediate effects of this blow upon the colony were
most disastrous. Horror and consternation pervaded every
mind ; nearly one-fourth of their whole number had, in a
single hour, been stricken down. The rest weie hastily drawn
together around Jamestov/n. Distant plantations were aban-
doned, and in a short time eighty settlements were reduced to
six. Some few bold spirits (and among them a woman) re-
fused to obey the order, and remained in their country seats,
among their servants, mounting cannon at weak points, and
preparing to meet the treacherous foe with becoming courage.
But they were compelled by law to abandon their stronghold
and to unite their resources in the common fund. A terrible
reaction in the feelings of the colonists immediately took
place. A war ensued, in which the fiercest impulses that man
can feel were called into being. No truce was ever declared.
The Indians were shot down wherever overtaken. When
seed time approached, hostilities declined from absolute ne-
cessity. The colonists looked upon the Indians as their
hereditary foes, and the unhappy natives never spoke of the
"long knives" without fear and execration.
(During the immediately succeeding period no events of
any marked importance occurred in Virginia. In 1624 the
London Company was dissolved, and Virginia became a
ROYAL GOVERNMENT. But the rights of trial by jury
and of a representative Assembly, M^hich had been granted
by the company, were retained, and all succeeding colonies
claimed the same, so that from the formation of the colonial
Assembly of Virginia we may date the beginning of the
EVOLUTION of American liberty. In 1643 another Indian
massacre took place, instigated by the same implacable chief.)
The Indians were now inveterate enemies. Peace was
never thought of. Successive enactments of the Assembly
made it a solemn duty to fall upon the natives at stated
History of West Virginia 47
periods of the year, and heavy penalties were visited upon all
who traded with them or in any way provided them with arms
and ammunition. The whites were steadily increasing both
in moral and physical strength ; the Indians were rapidly
wasting away before the breath of civilization. A few incur-
sions, — a few convulsive efforts, always attended by heavy
loss to themselves, — one final struggle, — these will complete
their history in eastern Virginia.
The illegal grants favored by Sir John Hervey had pro-
voked the natives into active hostility. They saw their
hunting grounds successfully swept away by a power which
they were unable to resist, and all the passions of the savage
arose to demand revenge. Among the natives there still lived
a hero who had proved himself a formidable adversary even
when encountered by European skill. Opechancanough had
attained the hundredth year of his life; declining years had
bowed a form once eminent in stature and manly strength.
Incessant toil and watchfulness had wasted his flesh and left
him gaunt and withered, like the forest-tree stripped of its
foliage by the frosts of winter. His eyes had l^JSt their bright-
ness, and so heavily did the hand of age press upon him that
his eyelids drooped from weakness and he required the aid of
an attendant to raise them that he might see objects around
him. Yet within this tottering and wasted body burned a soul
which seemed to have lost none of its original energy. A
quenchless fire incited him to hostility against the settlers.
He yet wielded great influence among the members of the
Powhatan confederacy; and by his wisdom, his example, and
the veneration felt for his age, he aroused the savages to
another effort at general massacre.
The obscurity concerning the best records which remain
of this period has rendered doubtful the precise time at which
this fatal irruption occurred ; yet the most probable period
would sceni to be the close of the year 1643. The Indians
were drawn together with great secrecy and skill, and were
instructed to fall upon the colonists at the same time, and to
spare none who could be safely butchered. Five hundred
victims sank beneath their attack. The a5:sault was most
violent and fatal upon the upper waters of tlie Pamunkey and
48 History of West Virginia
the York, where the settlers were yet thin in number and but
imperfectly armed. But in every place where resistance was
possible the savages were routed with loss, and driven back in
dismay to their fastnesses in the forest.
Sir William Berkeley instantly placed himself at the head
of a chosen body, composed of every twentieth man able to
bear arms, and marched to the scene of devastation. Finding
the savages dispersed, and all organized resistance at an end,
he followed them with a troop of cavalry.'
The aged chief had taken refuge in the neighborhood of
his seat at Pamunkey ; his strength was too much enfeebled
for vigorous flight ; his limbs refused to bear him, and his
dull vision rendered him easy prey. He was overtaken by
the pursuers, and carried in triumph back to Jamestown.
Finding the very soul of Indian enmity now within his
power, the governor had determined to send him to England
as a royal captive, to be detained in honorable custody until
death should close his earthly career. But a death of violence
awaited him. A brutal wretch, urged on by desire to revenge
injuries to the whites which had long been forgotten, advanced
with his musket behind the unhappy chieftain and shot him
through the back. '
The wound once given was mortal. Opechancanough lin-
gered a few days in agony; yet to the last moment of his life
he retained his majesty and sternness of demeanor. A crowd
of idle beings collected around him to sate their unfeeling
curiosity with a view of his person and his conduct. Hearing
the noise, the dying 'Indian feebly motioned to his attendants
to raise his eyelids, that he might learn the cause of this
tumult. A flash of wounded pride and of just indignation, for
a moment, revived his waning strength. He sent for the gov-
ernor, and addressed to him that keen reproa*-!:! which has so
well, merited preservation: "Had I taken Sir William Berke-
ley prisoner, I would not have exposed him as a show to my
people." In a short time he expired.
After the death of this warrior, the ce]>>ibrated confed-
eracy of Powhatan was immediately dissolved. It was with-
out a head, and the members fell away and speedily lost all
tendency to cohesion. The Indians had learned, by fatal
History of West Virginia 49
experience, that they contended in vain with the whites. They
have faded away and gradually disappeared, never more to
return.
*********
Captain John Smith was born in England in 1579, and
was therefore only twenty-eight years of age when he em-
barked with Gosnold. Yet he had already fought in the
Netherlands, starved in France, and been made a galley-
slave by the Moslem. He had been shipwrecked at one time,
thrown overboard at another, and robbed at a third. Thrice
had he met and slain Turkish champions in the lists; and he
had traversed the steppes of Russia with only a handful of
grain for food. He was not a man of university education ;
the only schooling he had had was in the free schools of
Alford and Louth, before his fifteenth year; his father was a
tenant farmer in Lincolnshire, and though John was appren-
ticed to a trade, he ran away while a mere stripling, and
shifted for himself ever after. An adventurer, therefore, in
the fullest sense of the word, he was. . . . But there
was sterling pith in him, a dauntless and humane soul, and
inexhaustible ability and resource. Such a man could not fail
to possess imagination, and imagination and self-esteem
combined conduce to highly-colored narrative; but that Smith
was a liar is an unwarranted assumption, which will not be
tolerated here. . . . While Smith never again returned
to Jamestown, he in 1614 once more sailed westward with
two ships on a trading and exploring enterprise, which was
successful. He examined and mapped the northern coast,
already seen by Gosnold, and bestowed upon the country the
name of New England. ... He took his map and his
description of New England and personally canvassed all
likely persons with a view to fitting out a new expedition.
In 1617, aided perhaps by the interest which Pocahontas had
aroused in London, he was promised a fleet of twenty vessels,
and the title of Admiral of New England was bestowed upon
him. Admiral he remained till his death ; but the fleet he Avas
to command never put forth to sea. A ship more famous than
any he had captained was to sail for New England in 1620,
and land the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. Smith's career
50 History of West Virginia
was over, though he was but thirty-eight years old, and had
fifteen years of Ufe still before him. He died in London in
1632.
Pocahontas's life had vicissitudes such as seldom befell
an Indian maiden. Some time between the Smith episode of
1607, and the year 1612, she married one of her father's tribu-
tary chiefs, and went to live with him on his reservation.
There she was in some manner kidnapped by one Samuel
Argall, and held for ransom. The ransom was paid, but
Pocahontas was not sent back;. and the following year she
was married to John Rolfe, a Jamestown colonist, and bap-
tised as Rebecca. He took her to London, where she was a
nine days' wonder; and they had a son, whose blood still
flows in not a few American veins today. If she was ten years
old in 1607, she must have been no more than twenty at the
time of her death in Gravesend, near London. But her place
in American history is secure, as well as in the hearts of all
good Americans. She was the heroine of the first American
romance; and she is said to have been as beautiful as all
heroines should rightly be. (Julian Hawthorne.)
Much more will be said about Virginia in future chapters,
but we will bid adieu to many of the characters who have
figured so prominently in the early history of our country.
Peace be to their ashes, and may their souls be now partaking
of the Eternal Happiness that knows neither sorrow, strife
nor death.
CHAPTER V.
EXPLORATION AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
As stated elsewhere, West Virginia was embraced in
the second charter granted to the Virginia Company of
London, May 23rd, 1609. She was, therefore, a part of
Virginia from 1609 to 1863 — a period of 254 years; and
throughout this length of time they had one common interest
in the literature of those States.
We have already recorded a few of the most important
matters that occurred in Virginia previous to the events
leading up to the French and Indian war. In this and future
chapters, covering the period before the birth of West Vir-
ginia, we shall consider, so far as her (West Virginia's)
interests lie, the following events, in the order named :
DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION, and EARLY SETTLE-
MENTS in West Virginia; the FRENCH and INDIAN
WAR; LORD DUNMORE'S WAR; the REVOLUTION-
ARY WAR; the LATER INDIAN WARS; THE WHIS-
KEY INSURRECTION, and THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
The first white people to traverse what is now West
Virginia were hunters and trappers from the east and an
occasional Indian trader from the upper country who came
down the Ohio river to trade with the red men on the Ohio
side. Our forests abounded with wild game and the streams
teemed with fish. It was an ideal country for the sportsman.
In traveling over the hills and mountains and up and down
the valleys they could not but see the futurf possibilities of
the country for farming and other kindred purposes. They
also noted the value of the navigable streams for transpor-
tation facilities, as well the beautiful sites for future towns
and cities ; for these men, though woodsmen, were not blind
to all these advantages, as results have long since proven. So
when these men returned to civilization, they were not slow
52 History of West Virginia
to extol the wonderful country they had beheld in their
travels beyond the mountains; and ere long small parties of
the most adventurous persons commenced to wend their way
o'er tortuous trails to the new El Dorado ; and in time our
Little Mountain State became the home of the English, the
German, the Welshman, the Irishman, and the Dutchman,
"men representing the old Teutonic and Celtic peoples — men
whose ancestors had helped to make history on the battle
fields of Europe — some of them on that of Hastings. Trans-
planted from the Old World to the New, their descendents — ■
those who became frontiersmen in western Virginia — lost
none of the heroism, valor and bravery of their forefathers."
Previous to 1664 hardy pioneers had extended the domain
of civilization even to the eastern base of the Blue Ridge ;
but of the region beyond that "Rocky Barrier" nothing what-
ever was known, for the most daring adventurer had not, as
yet, penetrated its vast solitudes. But the exploration and.
conquest of the wilderness was the mission of determined
spirits, and the time was near at hand when white .men should
traverse this hitherto unknown region and return to tell the
story of its wonderful resources.
The following brief but comprehensive information rela-
tive to the first explorations of western Virginia is taken
from the Third Biennial Report State Department Arch, and
Hist. W. Va. This will be followed by the names of some
of the earliest settlers and their respective places of settle-
ment, from the same source of information :
The first West Virginia river discovered by white men
was called New River, its upper course having been discov-
ered in 1641 by Walter Austin, Rice Hoe, Joseph Johnson,
and Walter Chiles. It was a new river, one flowing north-
west, in an opposite direction from those east of the moun-
tains — hence the name New River. The Ohio river, which
forms the western boundary of West Virginia, was discovered
by Robert Cavalier La Salle — the most eminent French
explorer of the New World. It was in the year 1663 that
Europeans first heard of the Ohio river, and this information
came from the Indians to Dallier, a French missionary in
Canada. It was reported to be almost as large as the St.
History of West Virginia 53
Lawrence. This information inspired the adventurous spirit
of La Salle with a desire to behold the great river. Accord-
ingly, with Indian guides, he began his journey via Lake
Onondagua, now in New York. In October, 1669, he reached
the Allegheny river, which he descended to its confluence
with the Monongahela, and thence continued down the Ohio
as far as the Falls — now Louisville, Kentucky. He was the
first European on the Ohio river, and the first that saw the
western part of West Virginia.
It is probable that the first white men who saw any pari
of the eastern portion of the State of West Virginia were
those composing the party under John Lederer, a German
explorer in the service of Sir William Berkeley, Colonial
Governor of Virginia. In company with Captain Collett, nine
Englishmen and five Indians, he, on August 30, 1670, set out
from York River and proceeded by way of the Rappahannock,
near the present city of Fredericksburg; thence to the mouth
of the Rapidan River ; thence along the north side of the
Rappahannock to the base of the Blue Ridge ; and thence
to the summit of the mountain barrier, from which, at a
point south of the present Harper's Ferry, the explorers
looked down upon and across the Lower Shenandoah Valley —
now included in the counties of Jefferson and Berkeley — a
first view of the old part of West Virginia.
The first English-speaking men within the present limits
of West Virginia were those composing the exploring expe-
dition under Captain Thomas Batts. These, in addition to
himself, were Robert Fallam, Thomas Wood, Jack Neasam,
and Per-e-cu-te, the latter a great man of Appomattox Indians.
The party, acting under authority of a commission granted
fourteen years before by the House of Burgesses — the Colo-
nial legislative body of Virginia — to Major Abraham Wood :
"For ye finding out the ebbing and flowing of ye waters on
ye other side the Mountains, in order to ye Discovery of ye
South Sea," left Appomattox town, near the site of the pres-
ent city of Petersburg, Virginia, on Friday, September 1,
1671, and toiling onward to the westward, crossed the' blue
Ridge, thence over what is now known as Peter's Mountain ,
and thence through the present West Virginia counties of
54 History of West Virginia
Monroe, Summers and Fayette, until the 16th of September,
when they "had a sight of a curious river like the Appo-
mattox River in Virginia, and the Thames at Chelsea, in
England, and broad as that river at Wapping, but it had a
fall that made a great noise." The party had reached the
Great Falls of the Great Kanawha river, distant ninety-six
miles from the Ohio. Here, on the 17th, they took formal
possession of the region and proclaimed the King in these
words : "Long live King Charles ye 2d, King of England,
Scotland, Ireland and Virginia, and all the territory thereunto
belonging; Defender of ye Faith, etc." Guns were fired, and,
with a pair of marking-irons, they marked trees; 1st, "C. R."
(Charles Rex I), for his Sacred Majesty; 2d, "W. B.", for the
Governor (Sir Wilham Berkeley) ; 3d, "A. W.", for Major
Abraham Wood (promoter of the expedition) ; another for
Per-e-cu-te (who said he would turn Englishman) ; and also
another tree for each of the company. Then the homeward
journey began and all arrived at the Falls of the Appomattox
river on the first day of October, except Thomas Wood, who
died on the expedieitn.
In 1716 Governor Alexander Spottswood resolved to
learn more of the Mountain Region of West Virginia. He
accordingly equipped a party of thirty horsemen, and, heading
it in person, left Williamsburg, the Colonial Capital, June
20th, that year. Day after day the journey continued until
the Blue Ridge was reached and crossed by ^way of Swift
Run Gap. Descending to the river, now the Shenandoah, the
party bestowed upon it the name "Euphrates". It was crossed
and recrossed ; then a night was spent upon its banks; then
the return journey began, and from the Blue Ridge the
adventurers, looking westward, beheld in the distance the
lofty peaks of the Great North Mountain, in what is now
Pendleton county. West Virginia. On arriving at Williams-
burg, the Governor established the "Trans-Montane Order
or Knights of the Golden Horse-shoe," giving to each of
those who accompanied him a miniature horse-shoe, some of
whkh were set with valuable stones, and all bearing the
; iscription, "Sic juvat transcendere montes — rThus he swears
to cross the mountains."
History of West Virginia 55
About the year 1725 John A'an Meter, a representative
of an old Knickerbocker family early seated on the Hudson,
traversed the valley of the South Branch of the Potomac —
the Wap-pa-tom-i-ca of the Indians. He was an Indian
trader, making his headquarters with the Delawares, on the
Susquehanna. Thence he made journeys far to the south-
ward, to trade with the Cherokees and Catawbas. It was
he who first told the story of the wonderful fertility of the
land in the Lower Shenandoah and South Branch Valleys.
First White Settlers in West Virginia.
The first white man to find a home in West Virginia
was Morgan, Ap. Morgan, who in 1726 reared a cabin on
the site of the present village of Bunker Hill in Mill Creek
District, Berkeley County. The next year a number of
Germans from the Valley of the Susquehanna in Pennsyl-
vania crossed the Potomac at what has been known for more
than a hundred years as the old "Pack-Horse Ford", and
about a mile above, on the, southern bank of that river,
founded a village which they named New Mecklenberg, in
memory of their early home in the Fatherland, and such it
continued to be called until changed to Shepherdstown by an
Act of the House of Burgesses in 1762. In 1734 Richard
Morgan obtained a grant for a tract of land in the vicinity
of New Mecklenberg, and there made his home. Among
those who came at the same time and settled along the Upper
Potomac in what is now the northern part of the West Vir-
ginia counties of Berkeley and Jefferson were Robert Harper
(at Harper's Ferry), William Stroop, Thomas and William
Forester, Israel Friend, Thomas Shepherd, Thomas Swear-
inger. Van Swearinger, James Formann, Edward Lucas,
Jacob Hite, James Lemon, Richard Mercer, Edward Mercer,
Jacob Van Meter, Robert Stockton, Robert Buckles, John
Taylor, Samuel Taylor and John Wright. In 1735 the first
settlement was made on the South Branch of the Potomac
by four families of the names of Coburn, Howard, Walker,
and Rutledge. The next year Isaac Van Meter, Peter Casey
and numbers of others found homes -in the valley of that
56 History of West Virginia
river in what is now Hampshire and Hardy Counties; and
within the next few years, cabin homes dotted the valleys of
the Opequon, the Great and Little Cacapon Rivers, and that
of Lost River and Back and Patterson Creeks.
Thus far the early West Virginia settlements had been
confined to the region drained by the upper tributaries of the
Potomac river. Now, we turn to notice the first pioneer of
West Virginia in the valley of the Greenbrier river. In 1749
the Greenbrier Land Company was organized. It consisted
of twelve members or stockholders, among whom were its
President, Hon John Robinson, the Treasurer of the Colony
of Virginia, and long the Speaker of the House of Burgesses;
Thomas Nelson, for thirty years the Secretary of the Council
of State ; and John Lewis, the founder of Staunton, and two
of his sons, William and Charles. This company was granted
the right by the Governor and the Council to survey and take
up a tract of land containing one hundred thousand acres of
land, lying and being on Greenbrier river, and now in the
West Virginia counties of Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Mon-
roe. Four years were allowed to make surveys and pay rights
for the same. Andrew Lewis (afterward General Andrew
Lewis of the Revolution) was appointed surveyor and agent
for the company, and, in execution of his commission, he in
1754 and prior thereto surveyed and sold small parcels of this
land to sundry persons, Mdao hastened to settle thereon. Col.
John Stuart, the historian of the Greenbrier Valley, sa3^s that
"previously to the year 1755 Andrew Lewis had completed
surveys for the quantities aggregating more than fifty thou-
sand acres. When Andrew Lewis came to the Greenbrier
River in 1740, he found Stephen Sewell and Jacob Marlin,
both of whom had fixed their abode at the mouth of Knopp's
creek on the site of the present town of Marlinton, in Poca-
hontas County. (Recorded in Deed Book No. 1, in the County
Clerk's Office, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.)
Dr. Thomas Walker with five companions, two of whom
were Ambrose Powell and Colby Chew, when returning from
a tour of exploration in the Kentucky wilderness, crossed the
New River at the mouth of the Greenbrier, June 28th, 1750,
and then journeyed up the latter stream. July 6th ensuing
History of West Virginia 57
they were at the mouth of Anthony's Creek, now in Greenbrier
County, where Dr. Walker wrote in his journal : "There are
some inhabitants on the branches of Greenbrier, but we
missed their plantations." Evidently there was a very con-
siderable population in the Greenbrier Valley prior to the
year 1755.
On February 23, 1756, Captain Teaque sent to the Lords
of Trade, London, a "List of Tithables" in Virginia which
he had prepared under the direction of the Government.
Upon this, as a basis, he estimated the population of Virginia
to be 173,316 whites and 120,000 negroes. Taking his esti-
mate for Hampshire County, and estimating for that part of
West Virginia then included in Frederick ^nd Augusta Coun-
ties, we may conclude that in West Virginia at that date
there were about 11,000 whites and 400 blacks. If an irregu-
lar or broken line be drawn from the Blue Ridge through
Harper's Ferry and Charles Town in Jefferson County;
Martinsburg, in Berkeley County; Berkeley Springs, in Hardy
County; Petersburg, in Grant County; Upper Tract and
Franklin, in Pendleton County; Clover Lick, in Pocahontas
County ; and thence through Monroe County to Peter's
Mountain, it will pass centrally through the region in which
resided at that time the pioneer settlers of West Virginia, as
shown by contemporary documents.
In Tygart's Valley.
"About 1753 the first cabins on the waters of the Monon-
gahela, within West Virginia, were built. The location was
in what is now Randolph County. Robert Files built his
cabin at the mouth of a creek which now bears his name,
and the place is now occupied by the town of Beverly. David
Tygart's cabin stood three miles above Beverly, and Tygart's
River bears his name. These men brought their families
from the South Branch. The Valley of the Monongahela for
five years after that time was Avithout an inhabitant south
of Pennsylvania. In 1758 a few settlers came with Thomas
Decker and located at Morgantown. Decker's Creek still
bears his name. The colonj^ was soon destroyed by Indians.
Thus ended the second effort to colonize west of the moun-
58 History of West Virginia
tains ; and for the ten succeeding years it is not known that
any attempt at settling the country was made.
■ "In 1763 the King of England issued a proclamation
forbidding all persons to take possession of lands west of the
Alleghanies, in Virginia, until the land should be purchased
from the Indians. Why such a proclamation was made is
not known, as no Indian tribe owned or occupied any por-
tion of West Virginia at that time ; and no part of it was
ever bought of the Indians who had any right to sell it, —
unless it be conceded they held a prior right to occupancy by
virtue of their long use of it as a hunting ground.
"A considerable part of it had already been granted to
companies or individuals. Governor Fauqueir, of Virginia,
issued three proclamations warning settlers west of the
mountains to withdraw from the land, but this was useless,
as there probably were no settlers at that time between the
Alleghanies and the Ohio River."^ — (Fast and Maxwell.)
In 1761 William Childers, John and Samuel Pringle and
Joseph Linsey deserted as soldiers from Fort Pitt, and
ascended the Monongahela River as far as the mouth of
George's Creek (the site afterwards selected by Albert
Gallatin for the town of Geneva). After remaining here for
a time, and not liking the place, they crossed over to the head
of the Youghioghany, where, encamping in the glades, they
remained one year. One day, while out hunting, Samuel
Pringle discovered a path which he had reasons to believe
led to the inhabited part of Virginia. On his return to camp,
he disclosed his discovery to his comrades. Shortly after-
wards they ascertained to their sorrow that the path led to
a settlement on Loony's Creek, then the most remote west-
ern settlement. While stopping here Childers and Linsey
were apprehended as deserters, but the Pringles escaped to
their camp in the glades, where they remained until some time
in 1764.
About this time the Pringles seem to have been employed
by a Mr. Simpson, a trapper who had come there in search of
furs. Here, owing to the constant intrusion by other hunters,
and the growing popularity of the glades as a hunting ground,
and fearful of meeting with the fate of their former com-
History ot West Virginia 59
panions, they pursuaded their employer to move farther west.
In journeying- through the wilderness, and after having
crossed Cheat River, a dispute arose between the Pringles
and Simpson, and they separated. Simpson crossed the
Valley River near the mouth of Pleasant Creek, and passing
on to the head of another water course gave it the name of
Simpson's Creek. From there he proceeded westward, finally
arriving at a stream which he called Elk. Going on down
this stream to its mouth, he erected his camp, at which place
he remained for about one year. While there he saw nothing
of the Pringles or any other human beings. He then went
to the South Branch to dispose of his furs and skins. He
returned to his Camp at the mouth of the Elk and remained
there until permanent settlements were made in its vicinity.
After separating from Simpson, the Pringles proceeded
up the Valley River as far as the mouth of Buckhan#On
River. They ascended the latter to the mouth of a stream
now called Turkey Run, in what is now Upshur County.
Here they took up their abode in a large, hollow sycamore
tree, on the farm lately owned by one Webster Dix. Of this
historical tree L. V. McWhorter, of Berlin, West Virginia, is
quoted as saying in a letter to Reuben Gold Thwaites, late of
Madison, Wis, in his commentary on Withers's "Border
Warfare": "The aged sycamore now (1894) occupying the
site is the third generation — the grandchild — of that which
housed the Pringles. It stands on the farm of Webster Dix,
who assures me that it shall not be destroyed. According to
Withers, the stump of the tree occupied by the Pringles was
still standing in 1830.
In 1767 John left his brother to go to a trading post on
the Shenandoah for supplies. After many hardships endured
by both, John returned, with the information that peace had
been declared between the Indians and French. They there-
upon decided to temporarily vacate their tree home and pro-
ceed to the settlements on South Branch for the purpose of
prevailing on a few others to come and settle on Buckhannon
River in the vicinity of the place which they had learned to
love so well. In this worthy enterprise they seem to have
been successful, for it is recorded that in the next year (1768)
60 History of West Virginia
several persons accompanied Samuel Pringle to his old home
in the wilderness, and that they liked the country so well
that the following spring still others were persuaded to "re-
pair thither, with the view of cultivating as much corn as
would serve their families the first year after their emigra-
tion. And having examined the country, for the purpose of
selecting the most desirable situations, some of them pro-
ceeded to improve the spots of their choice." John Hacker
was one of the first to locate on Turkey Run. He was born
near Winchester, Virginia, January 1st, 1743, and died at
his home on Hacker's Creek, April 20, 1821. He figured
prominently in the Indian wars of his region. He also
served in Col. G. R. Clark's Illinois campaign of 1778. John
Jackson and his two sons, George and Edward, settled at the
mouth of Turkey Run. Alexander and Thomas Sleeth found
homes near Jackson's, on what was later known as the
Forenash plantation. Others who came about this time,
namely, William Hacker, Thomas and Jesse Hughes, John
and William Radcliff and John Brown, seem to have devoted
their time to hunting. Of course they were useful in this
way, as they provided the farmers with plenty of wild meat.
On one of their hunting trips they discovered and gave name
to Stone Coal Creek. Descending this stream they "came to
its confluence with a river, which they then called, and has
since been known as the West Fork." Under the guidance
of Samuel Pringle, other emigrants arrived, among whom
were John and Benjamin Outright, who located on Buckhan-
non River, and Henry Rule, who settled just above the mouth
of Fink's Run. It seems that the first land deal between indi-
viduals in the Buckhannon country occurred between Sam.uel
Pringle and John Hacker, wherein it "was agreed that if Prin-
gle would clear as much land on a creek which had been
recently discovered by the hunters as he had on Buckhannon,
-they would exchange places. Complying with this condition,
Pringle took possession of the farm on Buckhannon, and
Hacker of the land improved by Pringle on the creek, which
was hence called Hacker's Creek." About this time John and
William Radcliff likewise settled on this stream.
While the pioneers were on a visit to their families on
History of West Virginia 61
the South Branch, at the close of the working season, in 1769,
a lot of buffaloes destroyed the crops in the new settlement,
which delayed the removal of their families until the follow-
ing winter of 1770. Shortly after this event, Capt. James
Booth and John Thomas located on what is ncfw Booth's
Creek.
In 1768 Jacob Van Meter, John Swan, Thomas Hughes
and some others settled on the west side of the ]\Ionongahela,
near the mouth of Muddy Creek, where Carmichaeltown now
stands. "Both Van Meter and Swan afterwards served under
Col. G. R. Clark — at least, in the Kaskaskia campaign ; Swan
commanded a company in Clark's Shawnee campaign of 1780,
and Van Meter in that of 1782. The latter moved to Ken-
tucky and settled in Hardin County in that State in 1798" —
(Draper.)
In the same year that the above named persons settled at
the mouth of Muddy Creek, the place which had formerly
been occupied by Decker and his unfortunate associates,
where Morgantown is now situated, was again settled by a
party of emigrants, among whom was David Morgan, wlio
afterwards became noted as an Indian fighter, some of whose
adventures will be recorded in another chapter.
In 1769 Colonel Ebenezer Zane, accompanied by his
brothers, Silas and Jonathan, and some other persons, came
to the Ohio River from their homes on the South Branch of
the Potomac River, and proceeded to locate for themselves
new homes. "The Zanes were descendants of a Mr. Zane
who accompanied William Penn to his province in Pennsyl-
vania Having made himself obnoxious to the
Society of Friends (of which he was a member) by marrying
without the pale of that society, he moved to Virginia and
settled on the South Branch, at the point where Moorefield,
in Hardy County, West Virginia, now stands. One of his
sons (Isaac) was taken by the Indians when he was only nine
years old and carried into captivity to Mad River, Ohio. He
became reconciled to Indian life, married a squaw, became a
chief, and lived the remainder of his life with the red men,
but never waged war with the whites. It is said his descend-
ants still live in Ohio." — (Thwaite's Commentaries.)
62 History of West Virginia
Colonel Zane selected for his future home an eminence
above the mouth of Wheeling Creek, nearly in the center of
the present City of Wheeling. Silas located on Wheeling
Creek, where Col. Moses Shepherd afterwards resided, and
Jonathan fived with his brother Ebenezer. Several others
who had accompanied the Zanes to their new home likewise
remamed with the Colonel, in the capacit/^of laborers. After
having prepared places for the reception of their families,
they returned to their former homes on the South Branch
to prepare for moving to their new settlement on the Ohio.
In the ensuing year, accompanied by Col. David Shepherd,
John Wetzel and the McCulloughs, the Zanes again repaired
to their wilderness homes. Other settlements followed short-
ly afterwards, at dififerent points, both above and below
Wheeling. George Leflier, John Doddridge, Benjamin Biggs,
Daniel Greathouse, Joshua Baker and Andrew Swearingen
were the first to locate above Wheeling.
According to Thwaite, John Doddridge settled in Wash-
ington County, Pennsylvania, on the Ohio River, a few miles
east of the Pennsylvania-West Virginia line, in 1773. Joseph
Doddridge, the celebrated antiquarian, and the author of
"Notes On the Settlements and Indian Wars," etc., was his
son. Greathouse and Baker became unpopular in the com-
munity by reason of their connection with the massacre of
Chief Logan's family in 1774. Lef!ler and Biggs figured
prominently in border warfare.
In 1770 Joseph Tomlinson, from near Fort Cumberland,
came to the flats of Grave Creek, accompanied by his brother
Samuel. Being pleased with the country, he decided to locate
there, and at once erected a cabin, into which he moved his
family in the spring of 1773, some delay having been occa-
sioned by his apprehension of trouble with the Indians. His
cabin was located a short distance north of where the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad station is situated in the City of
Moundsville. Mr. Joseph Tomlinson was the great-grand-
father of Circuit Judge Charles C. Newman, of Wheeling.
He died May 30th, 1825, aged 80 3^ears, and was buried in
Moundsville cemetery.
In 1772 the Tygart's Valley region, comprising some
History of West Virginia 63
twenty-five or thirty miles of rich bottom hind, was taken up
by a party from Greenbrier, among whom were the names
Hadden, Stalnaker, Connelly, Whiteman, Warwick, Nelson,
Riffle and Westfall. "The latter of these found and interred
the bones of File's family, which had lain bleaching in the
sun, after their murder by the Indians in 1754." About the
same time (1772) Capt. James Parsons, of the South Branch,
located on Horse Shoe Bottom, on Cheat River; and Robert
Cunningham, Henry Fink, John Gofif and John Minear set-
tled near by. In the same year Robert Butler, William
Morgan and some others settled on Dunkard Bottom.
In the same year the following persons settled in and
near the present site of Clarksburg: Thomas Nutter, Sotha
Hickman, Samuel Beard, Andrew Cottrail, Daniel Davisson,
Samuel Cottrail, Obadiah Davisson and John Nutter. About
this time emigration to the Buckhannon and Hacker's Creek
settlements had increased so heavily that there was almost a
famine in those sections, and 1773 was for a long time re-
membered as the "starving year". It is said that had it not
been for the heroic efforts of William Lowther, the results
from the scarcity might have been more serious. But he
proved to be the "Joseph in Egypt", and the people were
tided over until a more bountiful season. The writer believes
that this worthy subject is entitled to more than a passing
notice, and takes the liberty to quote the following interesting
biographical sketch from Withers's "Chronicles of Border
Warfare" :
"William Lowther was the son of Robert, and came with
his father to the Hacker's Creek settlement in 1772. He soon
became one of the most conspicuous men in that section of the
country ; while his private virtues and public actions endeared
him to every individual of the community. During the war
of 1774 he was the most active and efficient defender of that
vicinity against the insidious attacks of the savage foe ; and
there were very few, if any, scouting parties proceeding from
thence, by which the Indians were killed or otherwise much
annoyed, but were commanded by him.
"He was the first justice of the peace in the district of
West Augusta — the first sheriff in the county of Harrison
64 History of West Virginia
and Wood, and once a delegate to the General Assembly of
the States. His military merits carried him through the sub-
ordinate grades to the rank of colonel. Despising the pomp
and pageantry of office, he accepted it for the good of the
community, and was trul}^ an effective man. Esteemed, be-
loved by all, he might have exerted his influence over others
to the advancement of his individual interest; but he sought
the advancement of the general weal, not a personal or family
aggrandizement. His example might teach others that offices
were created for the public good, not for private emoluments.
If aspirants for office at the present day were to regard its
perquisites less, and their fitness for the discharge of its duties
more, the country would enjoy a greater portion of happiness
and prosperity, and a sure foundation for the permanence of
these be laid, in the more disinterested character of her coun-
sellors, and their consequently increased devotion to her
interests."
These comprise the principal settlements in what is now
West Virginia prior to the year 1774. From this time on-
ward people from the north, south and east came in by
hundreds. Former homes, encircled by the comforts of
civilization, were readily exchanged for homes in the virgin
forests of a wild and strange land, where wild game and
savage men were known to trod. The objects for the attain-'
ment of which they voluntarily placed themselves in this
situation, and which nerved them to undertake the risks and
hardships which they could not but foresee lay in wait for
them, were almost as various as their individual characters.
As a general thing they were men of poor circumstances,
unable to pay for land in the neighborhoods from which they
came, and they were not content to longer remain the tenants
of others. The new country afforded them an opportunity to
acquire homes for. the mere "taking up". Most of them were
satisfied with small farms. A few others, however, availed
themselves of the right of pre-emption of large tracts, and
some of these became rich, — as wealth was then known. The
excellent transportation facilities offered by the Ohio River
were a great inducement to the more enterprising, far-seeing
spirits ; the wide, fertile bottoms along its course and its tribu-
History of West Virginia 65
taries; the beautiful sites for towns and cities — these all
appealed to the business sense. The natural result was that
the Ohio and its navigable tributaries soon outstripped, with
few exceptions, all other settlements in population and im-
provements, as well as intellectual and moral qualifications.
Segregate human beings from a civilized community and
place them in a wild country, isolated from all things tending
to perpetuate civilization, and they will naturally partake of
the less exacting social reguirements of their surroundings.
But, place these same people where the environments tend
upward instead of downward in the social scale, and they will
soon average up with their neighbors in intelligence and
progress. Environment, indeed, has much to do with the con-
ditions of people.
Withers says : "The infantile state of all countries exhib-
its, in a greater or less degree, a prevalence of barbarism.
The planting of colonies, or the formation of establishments
in new countries, is ever attended with circumstances unpro-
pitious to refinement. The force with which these circum-
stances act will be increased or diminished in proportion to
the remoteness or proximity of those new establishments to
older societies, in which the arts and sciences are cultivated,
and to the facility of communication between them. Man is,
at all times, the creature of circumstances. Cut off from an
intercourse with his fellow men, and divested of the conven-
iences of life, he will readily relapse into a state of nature, —
placed in contiguity with the barbarous and the vicious, his
manners will become rude, his morals perverted, — brought
into collision with the sanguinary and revengeful, his own
conduct will eventually be distinguished by bloody and vin-
dictive deeds.
"Such was really the situation of those who made the
first establishments in. North Western Virginia. And when
it is considered that they were, mostly, men from the humble
walks of life, comparatively illiterate and unrefined, without
civil or religious institutions, and with a love of liberty bor-
dering on the extreme— their more enlightened descendants
can not but feel surprise that their dereliction from propriety
had not been greater, their virtue less."
66 History of West Virginia
In almost all the settlements there were individuals who
had a greater attachment for hunting" than for farming, and
this class sometimes followed their inclinations to the exclu-
sion of all other pursuits. Yet nearly all the men in the settle-
ments did more or less hunting, especially in the fur season,
as furs and skins for a time represented their chief commodity
in trade. Then, too, there was something peculiarly attract-
ive about life in the forests, in spite of its hardships • and
dangers, especially after a season in the clearings or confine-
ment in a fort. To make a successful hunter one must have a
good eye and a steady nerve ; he must be versed in woodcraft
and possess a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of
the game he seeks. The knowledge which enabled the hunter
to approach, unperceived, the watchful deer in his lair, en-
abled him likewise to circumvent the Indian in his ambush.
In each settlement there existed a unison of feeling.
Petty strife and ambition for personal preferment were prac-
tically unknown. Their interests were mutual. Their en-
vironment made them so. This condition made them as
brothers. A show of liberality was not made for the sake
of remuneration, nor an act of kindness done for the purpose
of reaping a reward in return. A favor done was genuine, —
it had no "strings to it". No tolls exacted — no interest
charged. They were kind for kindness' sake ; and sought no
other recompense than the reward of an approving conscience.
So, if our forefathers did not measure up to our standard
of morals, they possessed many virtues which we might, with
profit, emulate in this enlightened age; and the writer would
ask the reader, as he reads of bloody deeds in following chap-
ters in which the whites were sometimes compelled, by force
of circumstances, to wage a war of retaliation and extermina-
tion among the unfortunate Indians, to bear in mind the fact
that foreign nations, and a few bad white men in this country,
were the instigators of a condition over which the true settler
had no control, yet had to bear the brunt of savage ferocity.
The Indian, as a rule, regarded all white men alike. If one
dirty white man ill-treated one Indian, the whole Indian tribe
held all the white people responsible for the act. So, many
an innocent person was made to suffer for the faults of others.
History of West Virginia 67
The following is a copy of a very interesting memoran-
dum taken from the records in the county clerk's ofhce at
Lewisburg, county seat of Greenbrier County. It was written
by (Captain) John Stuart, July 15th, 1798:
Memorandum — 1798 — July 15.
(By John Stuart.)
"The inhabitants of every county and place are desirous
to encjuire after the first founders, and in order to gratify
the curious or such who may hereafter incline to be informed
of the origin of the settlements made in Greenbrier, I leave
this Memorandum for their satisfaction, being the only
person at this time alive acquainted with the circumstances
of its discovery and manner of settling. — ^Born in Augusta
County, and the particulars of this place often related to me
by the first adventurers, I can relate with certainty that our
river was first discovered about the year 1749 by the white
people ; some say Jacob Marlin was the first person who dis-
covered it, others that a man of unsound mind, whose name I
do not now remember, had wandered from Frederick County
through the mountains, and on his return reported he had
seen a river running westward,— supposed to be Greenbrier
River. However, Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sneil were the
first settlers at the mouth of Knapp's Creek, above what is
now called the Little Levels on the land still bearing the
name of Marlins. These two men lived there in a kind pf
hermitage, having no families, but frequently differing in
sentiment which ended in rage. Marlin kept possession of
the cabin, while Sneil took up his abode in the trunk of a
large tree at a small distance, and, thus living more independ-
ently, their animosities Avould abate, and sociability ensued.
Not long after they had made their settlement on the river,
the county was explored by the late Gen. Andrew Lewis, at
that time a noted and famous woodsman, on whose report an
order of Council was soon obtained granting one hundred
thousand acres of lands on Greenbrier to the Hon'l John
Robinson (Treasurer of Virginia) to the number of twelve,
including old Col. John Lewis and his two sons, William and
68 History of West Virginia
Charles, with condition of setthng the lands with inhabitants,
and certain emoluments of three pounds per hundred acres
to themselves. But the war breaking out between England
and France in the year 1755 and the Indians being excited
by the French to make war on the back inhabitants of Vir-
ginia, all who were then settled on Greenbrier were obliged to
retreat to older settlements for safety, amongst whom was
Jacob Marlin, but Sneil fell a sacrifice to the enemy. This
was ended in 1762 and then some people returned and settled
in Greenbrier again, amongst whom was Archibald Clen-
dennen, whose residence was on the lands now claimed by
John Savis by virtue of an intermarriage with his daughter,
and lying two miles west of Lewisburg. The Indians, break-
ing out again in 1763, came up the Kanawha in a large body
to the number of sixty, and coming to the house of Frederick
Sea, on Muddy Creek, were kindly entertained by him and
Felty Yolkcom, who not suspecting their hostile design, were
suddenly killed and their families with many others made
prisoners ; then proceeding over the mountain to Archibald
Clendennen's, who, like Sea and Yolkcom, entertained them
until they put him to death, his family with a number of
others living with him being all made prisoners or killed, not
any one escaping except Conrad Yolkcom, who, doubting
the design of the Indians when they came to Clendennen's,
took his horse out under the pretense of hobbling him at some
distance from the house ; soon after some guns were fired at
the house and a loud cry raised by the people, whereupon
Yolkcom, taking the alarm, rode off as far as where court
house now stands, and there beginning to ruminate whether
he might not be mistaken in his apprehension, concluded to
return and know the truth, but just as he came to the corner
of Clendennen's fence, some Indians placed there presented
their guns and attempted to shoot him, but their guns all
missing fire (he thinks at least ten), he immediately fled to
Jackson's River, alarming the people as he went ; but few
were willing to believe him. The Indians pursued after him
and all that fell in their way were slain until they went on
Carr's Creek, now in Rockbridge County. So much were
people in those days intimidated by an attack of the Indians
History of West Virginia 69
that they were suffered to retreat with all their booty, and
more prisoners than there were Indians in their party,
"I will here relate a narrative of Archibald- Clendennen's
wife being prisoner with her young child as they were passing
over Keeney's Knob from Muddy Creek, a part of the Indians
being in front with the remainder behind and the prisoners
in the center. Mrs. Clendennen handed her child to another
woman to carry and she slipped to one side and hid herself
in a bush, but the Indians soon missing her, one of them
observed he would soon bring the cow to the calf, and taking
the child caused it to cry very loud, but the mother not
appearing he took the infant and beat its brains out against
a tree; then throwing it down in the road, all the people and
horses that were in the rear passed over it until it was trod
to pieces. Many more cruelties were committed, too hard to
be related and too many to be contained in this Memorandum.
"Thus was Greenbrier once more depopulated for six
years, but a peace being concluded with Indians in 1765 and
the lands on the western waters with certain boundary being
purchased at a Treaty at Fort Stanwix by Andrew Lewis and
Thomas Walker, commissioners appointed by the Govern-
ment, the people again returned to settle in Greenbrier in
1769 and I myself was amongst the first of those last adven-
turers, being at that time about nineteen years of age, with
W. Robert McClenachan, another very young man. Our de-
sign was to secure lands and encourage a settlement in the
county, but the Indians breaking out again in 1774, Colonel
Lewis was ordered by the Earl of Dunmore (then Governor
of Virginia) to march against them with fifteen hundred
volunteer militia, which army marched from Camp Union
(now Lewisburg) the 11th day of September, 1774, two com-
panies of the said army being raised in Greenbrier and com-
manded by Capt. Robert McClenachan and myself. We were
met by the Indians on the 10th day of October at the mouth
of the Kanawha and a very obstinate engagement ensued ;
the Indians were defeated, though with the loss of sevent3^-five
officers and soldiers; amongst the slain was Col. Charles
Lewis, who commanded the Augusta militia, and my friend
Capt. Robert McClenachan.
70 History of West Virginia
"Col. Andrew Lewis pursued his victory, crossing the
Ohio, until we were in sight of some Indian town on the
waters of Scioto, where we were met by the Earl of Dunmore,
who commanded an army in person and had made his route
by the way of Fort Pitt. The Governor capitulating with
the Indians, Colonel Lewis was ordered to retreat, and the
next year hostilities commenced between the British and
Americans at Boston in New England. And I have since
been informed by Colonel Lewis that the Earl of Dun-
more (the King's Governor) knew of the attack to be
made upon us at the mouth of Kanawha, and hoped our de-
struction ; this secret was communicated to him by indis-
putable authority.
"Independence being declared by America the 4th day
of July, 1776, and the people assuming the reigns of govern-
ment, a county was granted to the people of Greenbrier
under the Commonwealth in May, 1778, and a court was first
held at my house on the 3rd Tuesday in said month.
"Not long after which we were invaded again by the
Indians, who had taken part with the British, and on the 28th
day of the same month Col. Andrew Donnally's house was
attacked about eight miles from Lewisburg by two hundred
Indians. These Indians were pursued from the mouth of the
Kanawha by two scouts from that garrison, to-wit: Phil Ham-
mon and John Prior, and passing the Indians at the Meadows,
they gave intelligence to Colonel Donnally of their approach,
who instantly collected about twenty men and the next
morning sustained the attack of the enemy until he was
relieved about two o'clock by sixty men from Lewisburg. I
was one of the number and we got into the house unhurt,
being favored by a field of rye which grew close to the house,
the Indians being all on the opposite side of the house. Four
men were killed before we got in and about sixteen Indians.
Indians lay dead in the yard before the door; some of these
were taken off in the night, but we scalped nine the next
morning. This was the last time the Indians invaded Green-
brier in any large party.
"Peace with the British followed in 1781 and then the
people of this county began to make some iceble efforts to
History of West Virginia 71
regulate their society, and to open roads for wagons through
the mountain, which by many had been thought imprac-
ticable, no wagon at that time having approached nearer than
the Warmsprings. On petition the Assembly granted a law
empowering the Court to levy a certain annual sum in com-
mutables from the inhabitants for the purpose of opening a
road from the Court House to the Warmsprings. A conven-
ience so necessary for the importation of salt and other neces-
saries of lumber, as well as conveying our hemp and other
heavy wares to market, would readily be expected to receive
the approbation of every one, but such is the perverse dispo-
sition of some men unwilling that any should share advan-
tages in preference to themselves that this laudable measure
was opposed by Mr. William Hutchison, who had first repre-
sented the county in General Assembl}'' — on this occasion,
without the privity of the people, went at his own expense to
Richmond and by his insinuations to some of the members
with unfair representations of the law for two years, but the
following year, Col. Thomas Adams, who visited this county,
satisfied with the impropriety of Hutchison's representation
had the suspension repealed and full powers were allowed to
the Court to levy money for the purpose aforesaid ; and bj
this means a wagon road was opened from the Court House
to the Warmsprings. The paper money emitted for main-
taining our war against the British became totally depre-
ciated and there was not a sufficient quantity of Specie in
circulation to enable the people to pay the revenue tax
assessed upon the citizens of this county, wherefore we fell
in arrears to the public for four years ; but the Assembly again
taking our remote situation under consideration graciously
granted the sum of five thousand pounds of our said arrears
to be applied to the purpose of opening a road from Lewis-
burg to the Kanawha River.
"The people, grateful for such indulgences, willingly
embraced the opportunity of such an offer and every person
liable for arrears of tax agreed to perform labor equivalent
on the road, and the people being formed into districts with
each a superintendent, the road was completed in the space of
two months in the year 1786, and there was a communica-
72 History o£ West Virginia
tion by wagons to the navigable waters of the Kanawha first
effected and which will probably be found the nighest and
best conveyance from the Eastern to the Western Country
that will ever be known. May I here hazard a conjecture that
has often occurred to me since I inhabited this place, that
nature has designed this part of the world a peaceable retreat
for some of her favorite children, where pure morals will be
preserved by separating them from other societies at so
respectful a distance by ridges and mountains, and I sincerely
wish time may prove my conjecture rational and true. From
the springs of salt water discoverable along our river, banks
of iron ore, mines pregnant with saltpeter, and forests of
sugar trees so amply provided and so easily acquired, I have
no doubt but the future inhabitants of this county will surely
avail themselves of such singular advantages greatly to their
comfort and satisfaction and render them a grateful and
happy people.
"It will be remembered that Lewisburg was first settled
by Capt. Mathew Arbuckle after the town was laid ofif in the
year 1780 and took its name in honor of the family of the
Lewises, in consequence of their holding a large claim in the
Greenbrier grant. Captain Arbuckle was killed the following
year in a storm of wind by the falling of a tree on the branch
leading from the turns of the waters of Anthony's Creek to
Jackson's River. He was distinguished for his bravery,
especially in the battle with the Indians at Point Pleasant.
"JOHN STUART."
?«, *A,
Reoresentatives from Western Virginia on their way to Rich-
mond in the early days.
CHAPTER VI.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY
PIONEERS IN WEST VIRGINIA.
The author of the "History of the Pan Handle" quotes
the following splendid pen picture of manners and customs
of the early settlers of West Virginia by Dr. Doddridge, a
writer of considerable note on border history :
"A correct and detailed view of the origin of societies
and their progress from one condition ... to another
is interesting, even when received through the dusky medium
of history, oft times but poorly and partially written. But
when this retrospect of things past and gone is drawn from
the recollection of experience, the impression which it makes
upon the heart must be of the most vivid and lasting kind.
"The following history of the state of society, manners
and customs of our forefathers has been drawn from the
latter source, and is given to the world with the knowledge
that many of my contemporaries are still living, who, as
well as myself, have witnessed all the scenes and events herein
described, and whose memories will speedily detect and
expose any errors it may contain.
"The municipal as well as ecclesiastical institutions of
society, whether good or bad, in consequence of their con-
tinued use give a corresponding cast to the public character
of the society whose conduct they direct, the more so, be-
cause, in the lapse of time, the observance of them becomes
a matter of conscience.
"These observations apply with full force to that influ-
ence of our early land laws, which allow 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 allotment of Divine Providence for one family, and to
believe that any attempt to get more would be sinful. Most
of them, therefore, contented themselves with that amount,
although they might have evaded the law, which allowed
History of West Virginia 75
but one settlement-right to any one individual, by taking out
the title papers in the name of others, to be afterwards trans-
ferred to them, as if by purchase. Some few indeed pursued
this course, but it was held in detestation.
"The people had become so accustomed to the mode of
'getting land for taking it up', that for a long time it was
generally believed that the land on the west side of the Ohio
would ultimately be disposed of in that way. Hence, almost
the whole tract of country between the Ohio and Muskingum
was parcelled out in tomahawk improvements, but these were
not satisfied with a single four-hundred-acre tract. Many of
them owned a great number of tracts of the best land, and
thus in imagination were as 'wealthy as a South Sea dream'.
Some of these land jobbers did not content themselves with
marking trees at the usual height with the initials of their
names, but climbed up the large beech trees, and cut the let-
ters in their bark, from twenty to forty feet from the ground.
To enable them to identify these trees at a future period, they
made marks on other trees around as references.
"The settlement of a new country, in the immediate
neighborhood of an old one, is not attended with much diffi-
culty, because supplies can be readily obtained from the
latter; but the settlement of a country very remote from any
civilized region is quite a dififerent thing, because at the outset
food, raiment, and the implements of husbandry are only
obtained in small supplies, and with great difficulty. The
task of making new establishments in a remote wilderness
in a time of profound peace, is sufficiently difficult; but when,
in addition to all the unavoidable hardships attendant on this
business, those resulting from an extensive and furious war-
fare with savages are superadded, toil, privations and suffer-
ings are then carried to the full extent of the capacity to
endure them.
"Such was the wretched condition of our forefathers in
making their settlements here. To all their difficulties and
privations the Indian war was a weighty addition. This
destructive warfare they were compelled to sustain almost
single-handed, because the Revolutionary contest gave full
76 History of West Virginia
employment for the military streng-th 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, be-
ginning with those rude accommodations with which our first
adventurers into this country furnished themselves at the
commencement of their establishment. It will be a homely
narrative, yet valuable on the ground of its being real history.
In this chapter it is my design to give a brief account of the
house-hold furniture and articles of diet which were used by
the first inhabitants of our country ; a description of their
cabins and half-faced camps, and their manner of building
them will be found elsewhere.
"The furniture of the table, for several years after the
settlement of this country, consisted of a few pewter dishes,
plates and spoons, but mostly of wooden bowls, 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, with the salt and iron, or,
pack horses.
"These articles of furniture corresponded very well with
the articles of diet. 'Hog and hominy' were proverbial for the
dish of which they were the component parts. Johnny-cake
and pone were, at the outset of the settlement of the country,
the only form of bread in use for breakfast and dinner. At
supper, milk and mush was 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 hominy had to supply the place of them.
Mush was frequently eaten with sweetened water, molasses,
bear's oil, or the gravy of fried meat.
"In our whole display of furniture, the delft, china and
silver were unknown. It did not then, as now, require con-
tributions from the four quarters of the globe to furnish the
History of West Virginia 77
breakfast table, viz : the silver from Mexico, the tea from
China and the delft and porcelain from Europe or Asia.
"Yet our homely fare and unsightly cabins and furniture
produced a hardy race, ^vho planted the first footsteps of
civilization in the immense regions of the West. Inured to
hardships, bravery and labor, from their early youth, they
sustained with manly fortitude the fatigue of the chase, the
campaign and scout, and with strong arms 'turned the wilder-
ness into fruitful fields', and have left to their descendants
the rich inheritance of an immense empire blessed with peace
and wealth and prosperity.
"The introduction of delf was considered by many of the
back-woods people as a culpable innovation. It was too easily
broken, and the plates of that ware dulled their scalping and
clasp knives ; tea ware was too small for men — they might do
for women and children. Tea and cofifee were only slops
which, in the adage of the day, 'did not stick by the ribs'.
The idea then prevalent was that they were only designed
for people of quality, who did not labor, or for the rich.
"A genuine backwoodsman would have thought himself
disgraced by showing a fondness for such 'slops'. Indeed,
many of them have to this day very little respect for them.
"But, passing from the furniture, diet, etc., of our ances-
tors, we come now to speak of their dress, which will be found
singular and interesting enough to many of the present day
and generation. Some of our fashionables would scarcely be
able to recognize in the picture, so faithfully and graphically
drawn by our venerable historian, the persons of their grand-
sires and dames.
"On the frontier, and particularly among those who were
much in the habit of hunting and going on scouts and cam-
paigns, the dress of the men was partly Indian and partly
that of civilized nations.
"The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a
kind of loose frock, reaching half-way down the thighs. Avith
large sleeves, open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot
or more when belted. The cape was large and sometimes
fringed with a ravelled piece of cloth of a different color from
that of the hunting shirt itself. The bosom of this dress
78 History of West Virginia
served as a wallet to hold bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping
the barrel of the rifle, or any other necessary for the hunter
or warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered
several purposes, besides that of holding the dress together.
In cold weather, the mittens, and sometimes the bullet-bag,
occupied the front part of it. To the right side was supended
the tomahawk, and to the left the scalping-knife, in its leath-
ern sheath. The hunting shirt was generally made of linsey,
sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed deer skins.
The last were very cold and uncomfortable in wet weather.
The shirt and jacket were of the common fashion. A pair of
drawers or breeches and leggins were the dress of the thighs
and legs, a pair of moccasins . answered for their feet much
better than shoes. These were made of dressed deer-skins.
They were mostly of a single piece, with a gathering seam
along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom of the
heel, without gathers, as high or a little higher than the ankle
joint. 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 b}^ thongs of a deer-skin, so that no
dust, gravel or snow could get within the moccasin.
"In cold weather the moccasins were well stuffed with
deer's hair or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably
warm ; but in wet weather it was usually said that wearing
them was 'a decent way of going barefooted' ; 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 afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs.
Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold or wet
weather, and, therefore, always slept with 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.
"In the latter years of the Indian war, our young men
became more enamored with the Indian dress. The drawers
were laid aside and the leggins made longer so as to reach
the upper part of the thigh. The Indian breech-cloth was
History of West Virginia 79
adopted. This was a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard
long, and eight or nine inches broad. This was passed under
the belt, before and behind, leaving the ends for flaps hanging
before and behind over the belt. These flaps were sometimes
ornamented with some coarse kind of embroidery work. To
the same belt which secured the breech-cloth, strings, which
supported, the long leggins, were attached. When .this belt,
as was often the case, passed over the hunting shirt, the upper
part of the thighs and part of the hips were naked.
"The young warrior, instead of being abashed by this
nudity, was proud of the Indian dress. In some few instances
I have seen them go into places of public worship in this
dress. Their appearance, however, did not add much to the
devotion of the young ladies.
"The linsey coats and bedgowns, Avhich were the uni-
versal dress of our women in early times, would make a
strange figure at this day.
"The writers should say to the ladies of our present day,
your ancestors knew nothing of the ruffles, leghorns, curls,
combs, rings, and other jewels with which their fair daughters
now decorate themselves. Such things were not then to be
had. Many of the younger part of them were pretty well
grown before they ever saw the inside of a storeroom, or ever
knew there was such a thing, unless by hear-sa}', and indeed
scarcely that.
"Instead of the toilet, they had to handle the distaff or
shuttle, and 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.
THE FORT.
"The 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 neighborhood. As the Indian
mode of warfare was an indiscriminate slaughter of all ages
and 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 stock-
ades. A range of cabins commonly formed one side, at least,
80 History of West Virginia
of the fort. Divisions or partitions of logs separated the
cabins from each other. The walls of the outside were ten
or twelve feet high, the slope of the roof being turned wholly
inward. 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 way larger in dimensions than the
under one, leaving an open at the commencement of the
second story to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment
under their walls.
"In some forts, instead of block-houses, the angles of the
fort were furnished with bastions. A large folding gate,
made of thick slabs, nearest the spring, closed the fort. The
stockades, bastions, cabins and block-house walls were fur-
nished with port holes at proper heights and distances. The
whole of the outside was made completely bullet-proof.
"It may be truly said that 'necessity is the mother of
invention', for the whole of this work was made without the
aid of a single nail or spike of iron, and for this reason — such
things were not to be had.
"In some places, less exposed, a single block-house with
a cabin or two constituted the whole fort.
"Such places of refuge may appear very trifling to those
who have been in the habit of seeing the formidable military
garrisons of Europe and America, but they answered the
purpose, as the Indians had no artillery. They seldom
attacked and scarcely ever took one of them.
"The families belonging to these forts were so attached
to their own cabins on their farms that they seldom moved
into their fort in the spring until compelled by some alarm,
as they called it; that is, when it was announced by some
murder that the Indians were in the settlement.
HUNTING.
"This was an important part of the employment of the
early settlers of this country. For some years the M^oods
supplied them with the greater amount of their subsistence;
History of West Virginia 81
and ^vith regard to some families at 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 hap])ened
that there was no breakfast until it was obtained from the
woods. Fur constituted the people's money. They had
nothing else to give in exchange for rifles, salt, and iron, on
the other side of the mountains.
"The fall and early part of 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 every month in
the name of which the letter R occurs.
"As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the
weather became rainy, accompanied with light snows, these
men, after acting the part of husbandmen, so far as the state
of warfare permitted them to do so, soon came to feel that
they were hunters. They became uneasy at home. Every-
thing about them 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 was wholly occupied with the camp and
chase.
"Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in
which there was nothing of skill and calculation ; on the con-
trary, the hunter, before he set out in the morning, was
informed by the state of the weather in what situation he
might reasonably expect to meet with his game ; w^hether on
the bottoms, sides, or tops of the hills. In stormy weather
the deer always seeks the most sheltered places and the lee-
ward sides of the hills. In rainy weather, when there is not
much wind, they keep in the open woods, on the high ground.
"In every situation it was requisite for the hunter to
ascertain the course of the wind, so as to get the leeward 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 Avhich first became cold showed
which way the wind blew.
"As it was requisite, too. for the hunter to know the
cardinal points, he had only to observe the trees to ascertain
82 History of West Virginia
them. The bark of an aged tree is thicker and much rougher
on the north side than on the south side. The same thing
may be said of the moss, it is much thicker and stronger on
the north than on the south side of the trees.
"The whole business of the hunter consisted of a suc-
cession of intrigues. From morning till night he was on the
alert to gain the wind of his game and approach them without
being discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer, he
skinned it, and hung it up out of the reach of wolves, and
immediately resumed the chase till the close of the evening,
when he bent his course toward his camp ; when arrived
there, he kindled up his fire and, together with his fellow
hunter, cooked his supper. The supper finished, the adven-
tures of the day furnished the tales for the evening. The
spike buck, the two and three pronged buck, the doe and the
barren doe figured through their anecdotes to great advantage.
THE WEDDING.
"For a long time after the first settlement of this country,
the inhabitants in general married young. There was no dis-
tinction of rank and very little of fortune. On this account
the first impressions of love resulted in marriage ; and a family
establishment cost but a little labor and nothing else.
"A description of a wedding from the beginning to the
end will serve to show the manners of our forefathers, and
mark the grade of civilization which had succeeded to their
rude state of society in the course of a few years.
"In the first years of the settlement of the country a
wedding engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood, and
the frolic was anticipated by old and young with eager
expectation. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told
that a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not
accompanied with the 'labor of reaping, log-rolling, building
a cabin, or planning some scout or campaign'.
"On the morning of the wedding day the groom and his
attendants assembled at the house of the father for the pur-
pose of reaching the home of his bride by noon, which was
the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, which for certain
reasons must take place before dinner.
History of West Virginia 83
"Let the reader imagine an assemblage of people, without
a store, tailor or mantua-maker within a hundred miles, and
an assemblage of horses without a blacksmith or saddler
within an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in shoe-
packs,' moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, linsey hunting
shirts, and all home made. The ladies dressed in linsey petti-
coats or linen bed gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, handker-
chiefs and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any buckles,
rings, buttons or ruffles, they were the relic of olden times,
family pieces from parents or grand-parents. The horses
were caparisoned with old saddles, or bridles or halters and
pack-saddles, wdth 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 file, was often interrupted by the
narrowness and obstructions of our horse-paths, as they were
called, for we had no roads; and these difficulties were often
increased, sometimes by the good and sometimes by the ill
will of neighbors, by felling trees and tying grapevines across
the way. Sometimes an ambuscade was formed by the way-
side, and an unexpected discharge of several guns took place,
so as to cover the wedding company with smoke. Let the
reader imagine the scene which followed this discharge ; the
sudden spring of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the
chivalrous bustle of their partners 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, elbow or ankle
happened to be sprained, it was tied with a handkerchief and
little more was thought or said about it.
"The ceremony of the marriage preceded the dinner,
which was a substantial back-woods feast of beef, pork, fowls
and sometimes veni'son and bear meat, roasted and boiled,
with plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables.
During the dinner the greatest hilarity always prevailed,
although 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, sometimes old pewter 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 were
84 History of West Virginia
scarce, the deficiency was made up by the scalping knives,
which were carried in sheaths suspended from the belt of the
hunting shirt. Every man carried one of them.
"After dinner the dancing commenced and generally
lasted till the next morning. The figures of the dances were
three and four-handed reels, or square sets of jigs. The
commencement was always a square four, which was followed
by what was called 'jigging it off'; that is, two of the four
would single out for a jig, and were followed by the remain-
ing couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was
called 'cutting out' ; that is, when either of the parties became
tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by
some of the company without any interruption to the dance.
In this way a dance was often continued till the musician was
heartily tired of his situation. Toward the latter part of the
night, if any of the company, through weariness, attempted
to conceal themselves for the purpose of sleeping, they were
hunted up, paraded on the floor, and the fiddler ordered to
play 'Hang out till tomorrow morning'.
"About nine or ten o'clock a deputation of the young
ladies stole away the bride and put her to bed. In doing this
it frequently happened that they had to ascend a ladder
instead of a flight of stairs, leading from the dining and ball
room to the loft, the floor of which was made of clapboards
lying loose. This ascent, one might think, would put the
bride and her attendants to the blush ; but as the foot of the
ladder was commonly behind the door, which was purposely
opened for the occasion, and its rounds at the inner ends were
well hung with hunting shirts, dresses and other articles of
clothing, the candles being on the opposite side of the house,
the exit of the bride was noticed but by 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 the seats happened to be scarce, which was
often the case, every young man, when 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 accepted. In the midst of
this hilarity the bride and groom werie not forgotten. Pretty
late in the night some one would remind the company that
History of West Virginia 85
the new couple must stand in need of something to cat, and
enough bread, beef, pork and cabbage would S(jmctimes be
sent up to afford a good meal for half a dozen hungry men.
The young couple were compelled to cat and drink more or
less of whatever was offered.
"But to return. It oftened happened that some neighbors
or relatives, not being asked to the wedding, took offence, 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.
"On returning to the infare, the order of procession was
the same as before. The feasting and dancing often lasted
several days, at the end of which time the whole company
were so exhausted with loss of sleep that several days' rest
was required to fit them to return to their ordinary labors.
"Should I be asked why I have presented this unpleasant
portrait of the rude manners of our forefathers, I in turn
would ask the reader : 'Why are you pleased with the his-
tories of the blood and carnage of battle? Why are you de-
lighted with the fiction of poetry, the novel and romance? I
have related the truth, and only truth, strange as it may seem.
I have depicted a state of society and manners which are fast
vanishing from the memory of man, with a view to giving
the youth of our country a knowledge of the advantages of
civilization, and to giving contentment to the aged by pre-
venting them from saying 'that former times were better
than the present'.
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 belonging to one of the parents for their habitation.
A day was appointed short! \' after the marriage for com-
mencing the work of building their cabin.
"The materials for the cabin were mostly prepared on the
first day, and sometimes the foundation laid in the evening.
The second day was allotted for the raising. The cabin being
finished, the ceremony of house warming took place before
the young couple were permitted to move into it.
86 ' History of West Virginia
"The house warming was a dance of a whole night's
continuance, made up of the relatives of the bride and groom
and their neighbors. On the day following, the young couple
took possession of their new premises.
"We desire now to say a few words about the sports of
the pioneer. These were such as might be expected among
a people who, owing to the circumstances, as well as educa-
tion, set higher value on physical than mental endowments,
and on skill in hunting and bravery in war than any polite
accomplishment or the fine arts.
"Many of the sports of the early settlers of this country
were imitative of the exercises and stratagems of hunting and
war. Boys were taught the use of the bow and arrow at an
early age ; but, although they acquired considerable adroit-
ness in the use of them, so as to kill a bird or squirrel, yet it
appears to me that in the hands of the white people the bow
and arrow could never be depended upon for warfare or hunt-
ing, unless made and managed in a different manner from any
specimen I have ever seen.
"One important pastime of our boys was that of imitating
the noise of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty
was not merely a pastime, but a very necessary part of educa-
tion, on account of its utility under certain circumstances.
Imitating the gobbling and other sounds of the wild turkey
often brought those keen-eyed and ever-watchful tenants of
the forest within the reach of the rifle. The bleating of the
fawn brought its dam to her death in the same way. The
hunter often collected a company of mopish owls to the trees
about his camp, and amused himself with their hoarse scream-
ing. His howl would raise and obtain response from a pack
of wolves, so as to inform him of their whereabouts as well
as to guard him against their depredations.
"This imitative faculty was sometimes requisite as a
measure of precaution in war. The Indians, when scattered
about in a neighborhood, often called together by imitating
turkeys by day and wolves or owls by night. In similar situ-
ations our people did the same. I have often witnessed the
consternation of a whole neighborhood in consequence of the
screeching owls. An early and correct use of this imitative
History of West Virginia 87
faculty was considered as an indication that its possessor
would become in due time a good hunter and a valiant war-
rior.
"Throwing the tomahawk was another boyish sport, in
which many acquired considerable skill. The tomahawk,
with its handle of a certain length, will make a given number
of turns within a certain distance; say in five steps, it will
strike with the edge, the handle downward ; at the distance
of seven and a half, it will strike with the edge, the handle
upwards, and so on. A little experience enabled the boy to
measure the distance with his eye, when walking through the
woods, and strike a tree with his tomahawds: in any w^ay he
chose.
"The athletic sports of running, jumping and wrestling
were the pastimes of boys in common with men. A well
grown boy, at the age of twelve or thirteen years, was fur-
nished with a small rifle and shot punch. He then became a
fort soldier, and had his port hole assigned him. Hunting
squirrels, turkeys and raccoons soon made him expert in the
use of his gun.
"Dramatic narrations, chiefly concerning Jack and the
Giant, furnished our young people with another source of
amusement during their leisure hours. Many of these tales
were lengthy and embraced a considerable range of incident.
Jack, always the hero of the story, after encountering many
difficulties, and performing many great achievements, came
ofif conqueror of the Giant. Many of these stories were tales
of knight-errantry, in which some captive virgin was released
from captivity and restored to her lover.
"These dramatic narrations concerning Jack and the
Giant bore a strong resemblance to the poems of Ossian, the
story of Cyclops and Ulysses in the Odyssey of Homer, and
the tale of Giant and Great-heart in the Pilgirm's Progress ;
they were so arranged as to the different incidents of the
narration that they were easily committed to memory. They
certainly have been handed do\\-n from generarions from time
immemorial. 'Civilization has indeed banished the use of
those tales of romantic heroism; 1)ut what then? It has sub-
stituted in their place the novel and romance.'
88 History of West Virginia
"Singing was another, but not very common amusement
among our first settlers. Their tunes were rude enough, to
be sure. Robin Hood furnished a number of our songs : the
balance were mostly tragic. These last were denominated
'love songs about murder'. As to cards, dice, backgammon
and other games of chance, we knew nothing about them.
These are amongst the blessed gifts of civilization.
EARLY TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS.
"My reader," says Mr. Doddridge, "will naturally ask
where were their mills for grinding grain? Where their tan-
neries for making leather? Where 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 who were professedly such.
"Every family were under the necessity of doing every-
thing for themselves as well as they could. The hominy
block and hand mills were in use in most of our houses. The
first was made of a large block of wood about three feet long,
with an excavation burned in one end, wide at the top, and
narrow at the bottom, so that the action of the pestle on the
bottom threw the corn up the sides towards the top of it,
from whence it continually fell down into the center. In
consequence of this movement, the whole mass of the grain
was pretty equally subjected to the strokes of the pestle. In
the fall of the year, while the Indian corn was soft, the block
and pestle did very well for making meal for Johnny cake
and mush, but were rather slow when the corn became hard.
"The sweep was sometimes used to lessen the toil of
pounding grain into meal. This Avas a pole of some springy,
elastic wood, thirty feet long or more; the butt end was
placed under the side of the house, or a large stump. This
pole was supported by two forks, placed about one-third of its
length from the butt end, so as to elevate the small end about
fifteen feet from the ground ; 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 this was shaped
so as to answer for a pestle. A pin of wood was put through
History of West Virginia 89
it at a proper height, so that two persons could get at the
sweep at once. Ti i simple machine very much lessened the
labor and expedited the work. I remember that when a boy
I put up an excellent sweep at m}' father's. It was made of a
sugar tree sapling. It was kept going almost constantly from
morning until 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 gunpowder by
means of those sweeps and mortars.
"A machine, still more simple than the mortar and pestle,
was vised for making meal, while the corn was too soft to be
beaten. It was called a grater. This was a half circular piece
of tin, perforated with a punch from the concave side, and
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. (Note : The
grater — as above described — is still in use by many families
in West Virginia, and perhaps in other States, in the fall be-
fore the corn has become sufficiently hardened and seasoned
for the mill ; and the author and his family avail themselves
of this crude, but convenient, method of procuring new corn
meal during the short period that corn remains in a suitable
condition for grating; and those who have never eaten mush
or pone made from new corn meal thus obtained have missed
much indeed.)
"The hand mill was later than the mortar and grater. It
was made of two circular stones, the lower of which was
called the bed-stone, the upper one the runner. These were
placed in a hoop, with a spout for discharging the meal. A
staff was let into a hole in the u])per surface of the runner,
near the outer edge, and its upper end through a hole in a
board fastened to a joist, so that two persons could be em-
ployed in turning the mill at the same time. The grain was
put into the opening in the runner by hand. These mills are
still in use in Palestine, the ancient country of the Jews. To
a mill of this sort our Savior alluded when, with reference to
the destruction of Jerusalem, he said, 'Two women shall be
grinding at a mill, the one shall be taken and the other left'.
90 History of West Virginia
This mill is much preferable to that used at the present time
in Upper Egypt for making the dhoura bread. It is a smooth
stone, placed on an inclined plane, upon which the grain is
spread, which is made into meal by rubbing another stone up
and down upon it. Our first water mills were of that descrip-
tion denominated tub-mills. It consists of a perpendicular
shaft, to the lower end of which a horizontal wheel about four
or five feet in diameter is attached ; the upper end passes
through the bed-stone, and carries the runner after the man-
ner of a 'brundlehead'. These mills were built with very
little expense, and many of them answered the purpose very
well. Instead of bolting cloths, sifters were in general use.
They were made of deer skins, in the state of parchment,
stretched over a hoop, and perforated with a hot wire.
"Our clothing was all of domestic manufacture. We had
no other resource for clothing, and this indeed was a poor
one. The crops of flax often failed, and sheep were destroyed
by the wolves. Linsey, which is made of flax and wool^ — the
former the chain, and the latter the filling — was the warmest
and most substantial cloth we could make. Almost every
house contained a loom, and almost every woman was a
weaver. (Although the flax breaker and hackle, the spinning
wheel and loom, would today seem very crude implements
for the manufacture of cloth, the finished product was superior
in durability to any linen or woolen goods on the market to-
day. The writer's mother was an expert weaver, and as re-
cently as thirty-five years ago he wore clothing made by her
own hands from cloth of her manufacture. Many of these
old looms are still in existence, but few, if any, are in use,
except for the weaving of rag carpets.) — S. M.
"Every family tanned their own leather. The tan-vat
was a large trough sunk to the upper edge in the ground. A
quantity of bark was easily obtained in clearing and fencing
land. This, after drying, was brought in, and in wet days
was shaved and pounded on a block of wood with an axe or
mallet. Ashes were used in place of lime for taking off the
hair. Bear's oil, hog's lard and tallow answered the place of
fish oil. The leather, to be sure, was coarse ; but it was sub-
stantially good. The operation of currying was performed
History of West Virginia 91
by a drawing knife with its edges turned, after the manner
of a currying knife. The blacking for the leather was made
of soot and hog's lard. Almost every family contained its
own tailors and shoemakers. Those who could not make
shoes could make shoe-packs. These, like moccasins, were
made of a single piece of leather, with the exception of a
tongue piece on the top of the foot. This was made two
inches broad and circular at the lower end. To this the main
piece of leather was sewed with a gathering stitch. The seam
behind was like that of the moccasin. To the shoe-pack a
sole was sometimes added. The women did the tailor work.
They could all cut out and make hunting shirts, leggins and
drawers.
"The state of society which existed in our country at an
early period of its settlement is well calculated to call into
action native mechanical genius. With the few tools which
they brought with them into the country, they certainly per-
formed wonders. Their plows, harrows with wooden teeth,
and sleds were in many instances well made. Some made
wagons with wheels sawn from gum trees, which answered
their purpose very well. Their cooper ware, which compre-
hended everything for holding milk and water, was generally
well executed. The cedar ware, by having alternately a white
and red stave, Avas then thought beautiful ; many of their
puncheon floors were made very neat, their joints close, and
the top even and smooth. Their looms, although heavy, did
very well, the workmanship in many cases being nearly, if not
quite, equal to similar handiwork of today.
"Wild animals roamed the forests at will. \^enison and
bear meat afforded the principal diet for many of the early
settlers. But the bears and wolves often caused much annoy-
ance and loss of property. The bear was the natural enemy
of the hog, and the wolf was equally destructive of the sheep."
Note : William Glover, grand father of the writer of this
book, about the year 1875 related a story of his adventure
with a bear when he was a small boy, about the year 1820.
The story, as I remember it, ran about as follows :
"We lived near what is now the eastern apjiroach to
Glover's Gap tunnel, near the present boundary line between
92 History of West Virginia
Marion and Wetzel counties. Our log cabin stood in a small
clearing, surrounded by a dense forest. Bears, wolves and
other wild animals were quite plentiful. Near the cabin, in a
small ravine, there was a large spring, where mother was
accustomed to do our washing. On one summer day, while
thus engaged, her attention was attracted by a very emphatic
signal of distress on the part of some hogs that were running
at large in the woods near by. My brothers and I — there
were some half dozen of us, most of whom were small 'tads',
in home-spun shirts and bare legs — were playing 'Injun' not
far away, when mother called us to go and ascertain what was
wrong with the hogs. With our rudely constructed bows and
arrows and war clubs, we started in the direction from whence
the noise came, tearing through the brush and shouting like
little savages. On reaching the scene of trouble, we found
an old sow with her back broken; her little pigs were darting
around, here and there, in a frightened way ; while a large
black bear was making off up the hill with a little porker in
his mouth. It was easy to see that we had the bluff on Mr.
Bruin, and we boldly followed, calling him all sorts of ugly
names for daring to steal one of our hogs. But, finally, when
nearing the top of the hill, the bear stopped and looked
around. We immediately did the same, and hit only the high
places on the return home. As long as the bear was headed
the other way, we all made believe that we were very brave —
'heap big Injun — but when the bear stopped and faced about,
we all suddenly became very home sick, and were not long in
getting there."
The description of "A Pioneer Wedding", by the Hon.
George Wesley Atkinson, in his "History of Kanawha
County", is such a graphic portrayal of life among the good
old West Virginia pioneer that the writer can not well refrain
from reproducing it here. Indeed, the events depicted are
nearly on a parallel with scenes that came under my own
personal observation in my boyhood days, in certain rural
districts in Marion County, back in the sixties. Of course
these conditions have long since given way before the ad-
vancement of education and the general march of progress ;
but whether that whole-souled, unadulterated hospitality, so
History of West Virginia 93
characteristic of our forefathers, lias kept pace with other
virtues, I will let the reader answer according to his own view.
A PIONEER WEDDING.
(By George Wesley Atkinson, in "History of Kanawha
County".)
Every nation has its customs, and every age has its
peculiar whims of fashion, dress and style. The wealthy citi-
zens of the great cities kill the "fatted calf", wine flows freely,
and they have grand balls, and bridal tours which, in many
cases, "take in" all places of note and importance in both
hemispheres ; but the poorer classes, of course, can not indulge
in such extravagance when their sons and daughters are
united in holy wedlock. It is their custom, however, to have
all the fun they can on such occasions, and they seldom fail to
enjoy themselves hugely.
It is my purpose, in this chapter, to give a pen picture,
as best I can, of a wedding on the Kanawha before Charleston
was a city, and before you and I were born.
The parson lived fully eighty miles away. Mountains,
creeks, and rivers intervened. The wind blew a gale, and the
snow fell thick and fast. The messenger called at his cabin
and informed him of his mission. The parson hesitated, but
the messenger told him that he must not falter; that there was
no other minister nearer than Hacker's Lick; that the young
couple were bent upon a marital union, and would, of course,
listen to no excuse ; that the entire settlement were preparing
for the occasion, and the hearts of many would bleed if he
disappointed them. The old parson, who had ridden thou-
sands of miles, through rain and ice, to meet his appointments
as an itinerant minister of the Gospel, and had never failed,
while in health, to be on time, after a lengthy consultation
with his wife at last consented to go. He saddled his horses
and in company with the guide, and his wife, who always
accompanied him upon such occasions, he started westward
to the settlement on the Kanawha.
Passing over the adventures and the sufferings which
were then consequent upon a ride of eighty miles through a
94 History of West Virginia
trackless wilderness, I find them at the settlement the evening
before the day appointed for the riiarriage. The parson was
the first minister who had ever left a foot-print in the sands of
this frontier settlement, and there was no little excitement
over his arrival. They rode up to the door of the parents of
the young lady who was to be united in marriage, and their
presence was announced by a number of little tow-haired
urchins, from a fifteen or twenty pounder in size up to a round
hundred or more avovirdupois, in the following fearless arid
undismayed manner :
"Mother ! mother ! hyur's the circuit rider and his wife,
and they're nothin' but people like us, either. He's a big fat
.man like Uncle Bill, and she's big too, and has got on a black
straw hat with a turkey tail all along the side on it ! Oh, Kate,
you ought to jist see his nose. It's longer nor Uncle John's
and as crooked as the gourd handle, and turns down at the end
like pap's off ox's horn, that one what ain't broke off, you
know !"
"Hush ! children, hush !" shouted a womanly voice from
the rear shed of the cabin, "keep quiet now and behave your-
selves like good boys and girls. Billy, you take 'Watch' and
hiss him on the black spring rooster, but don't make much
noise. Nance, you quit rockin' the baby, and sweep the dirt
off'n the ha'th. Jane, you quit churnin' and drive out that
good-for-nothin' dog. Jim, shove that shoe bench under the
bed, and wipe the water off'n them cheers for the preacher
and his woman to set on, and don't fool about it nuther. Be
quick to handle yourself!"
By this time the matron had reached the front door, and,
opening it, confronted the parson and his wife.
"Come in," said she, "and make yourselves at home. We
ain't very well fixed for keepin' company, but you are wel-
come to the best we've got. Come in. Set up to the fire.
'Most froze, ain't you? I know you are. The old man, he's
up the holler feedin' the hogs and water'n the calves, but he'll
be along presently, and will put up your horses. We've got
plenty, sich as it is, and you're welcome to it. Now make
yourselves at home," and she left the room.
In a short time she returned, dressed in another gown,
History of West Virginia 95
and, wiping the perspiration from her face with a tow-lin^n
apron, continued:
"Well, parson, we've hearn of you afore, but it's the fust
time any of us ever seed you in these parts; and this is your
woman? I'm reel glad to see her, too," and she gave another
shake of the hand. "We was afeerd she wouldn't come, as it
w^as so fur and so cold and rough. You must excuse my
looks, I hain't had no time to comb my head since yisterday
mornin'. Work, you know, must be done fust, and fixin'
up afterwards, 'specially when there's a weddin' on hands.
Shoo, there! Sammy, drive them ducks out'n the kitchen.
Sail, you take the woman's fixin's and hang 'em on the rack.
Set right up to the fire and warm yourselves, and make your-
selves feel as though you was jist right at home. W^e don't
keer for style down hyur. We're plain home people." The
old lady then subsided, and the parson and his good wife had
a moment's rest.
By this time the barking of the dog and the yells of the
boys evidenced the fact that there was a serious time among
the chickens. The "black rooster" had been executed in short
order, and his bulky carcass was thrown lifeless on the kitchen
floor. Sally picked him up and dropped him into a large
kettle of boiling water, and proceeded to remove his feathers
instanter. The disturbance in the poultry yard gradually
quieted down, until not even the musical quacking of an inde-
pendent duck could be heard; and a few minutes later the old
fat hound who had taken an innocent part in the chase had
fallen asleep in the corner, and was beginning to enjoy his
systematic snoring, when the front door opened and two or
three tow-headed boys entered, and, before they could close
the door, a large cur pushed his shaggy form into the room
and made a direct drive for the fire. The matron, observing
the presence of the intruder, reached for the poker and "went
for him". "Watch" howled piteously and struck a "bee line"
for the kitchen, and as he had no time to work his rudder or
measure distance, he ran into the churn, upsetting it ; and
bearing slightly to the north-east, he collided with the kettle
of scalded rooster, and in like manner turned it in promis-
cuous order upon the puncheon floor. At this juncture the
96 History of West Virginia
situation was somewhat serious in that pioneer household.
The preacher had been an eye witness to the unfortunate
occurrence, and that was what was the matter. If it had only
been kept from his ministerial gaze no one would have cared.
Well, it was no use to "cry over spilt milk", so the matron
came promptly to the rescue.
"Get the wooden ladle, Nan, and dip up the milk, and
don't scrape no dirt up neither. Keep the scrapin's for the
pigs. Be nice about it, daughter, because the preacher's hyur,
and we read in the good book that 'cleanliness is next to God-
liness', and besides, you are to be spliced to-morrow. Kill
that dog if he sticks his head inside this house ag'in. Keep
the children out of mischief, and hurry on the supper, for I
know that the parson and his woman are well nigh starved,
as they hain't had nuthin' to eat since they crossed Sewell
mountain early this mornin'. Push things, Nancy, and show
'em you're the smartest gal in the settlement, kase I know
you are."
"Oh, mother, please shut up. I'll do everything right,
and more, too," said the unpretentious bride-elect.
Well, supper came, and, although very hungry, the par-
son and his wife partook of that meal cautiously and thought-
fully. They had witnessed some things on that evening in
the culinary department of that household which had a ten-
dency to weaken the demands of the inner man ; and yet noth-
ing extraordinary at all had transpired. Customs vary in
every locality. The parson, though an old itinerant minister,
had not yet fully completed his education. He had not yet
fully mastered the field of the itinerancy, or the simple fact
of the upsetting of the churn would not in the least have
troubled his appetite. Pioneers would call him fastidious, and
they would not misapply the term. "A man in Rome should
do as Romans do," but our parson and his wife had not quite
attained that degree of perfection in the study of human
peculiarities which would enable them to put this principle
into practice. Had the demands of the inner man been less
exacting, in all probability no supper would Kave been eaten
by the parson and his wife that night. They ate, however,
and ate heartily.
Night came, and the parson, being weary, after reading
History of West Virginia 97
the scriptures, singing, and prayer, desired to retire. One of
the boys lighted a pine torch, and bidding the parties to fol-
low, started for the second story of the cabin by means of a
step-ladder in the chimney corner. The parson hesitated, but
in response to cries of "Come on", he went, followed by his
wife. Saying nothing of a bruised forehead, which he received
by colliding with a girder of the building, and a narrow
escape from a fall to the room below, occasioned by the giving
way of one of the boards in the floor, they succeded in laying
themselves down to rest in a raccoon skin bed with straw
underneath. Five of the family slept in the same room, and
all of them snored as musically as the low, hoarse rattle that
emanates from the throttle of a rusty steam-valve. The par-
son dreamed, slept, prayed, and listened, in about the order
named, and how he longed for the dawn of day!
Morning came, and they arose. The wind was calm, and
the sun smiled upon the grand hills which surrounded this
pioneer home. Nature was rejoicing, and so were the family,
for it was but a few hours until the oldest daughter and sister
was to be united in wedlock with a young man of the neigh-
borhood, whose rifle never missed fire, and who had never
lowered his arm in a contest with the savages.
The hour for the marriage had arrived. The crowd had
assembled. The bride was attired in a flannel gown striped
with red and blue, and around her shoulders was neatly
thrown a white, blue, and red woolen scarf, knit from moun-
tain spun yarn. She was elegantly dressed, and was fresh
as a morning-glory and white as a lily. She was the symbol
of beauty and elegance. Her hair was fixed up a la frontiere,
with rooster feathers through and through. She was a fresh-
blown wild rose from the mountains of the Great Kanawha.
The bridegroom came at an early hour. He was dressed
in buckskin pants, calf-skin vest, tanned with the hair on, and
wore a blue jeans hunting-shirt and beaded moccasins. He
was a stalwart young man. His shoulders were broad, and
his chest full and rounded. He M^as fleet of foot, and when
he pulled the trigger of his rifle something always fell.
The house was filled, a score or more stood outside the
doors and windows, and all were anxiously waiting for the
old parson "to tie the knot". The bridegroom took his posi-
98 History of West Virginia
tion on the floor, and called to Nancy to come on. She was
in the back shed of the cabin, and failed to respond to the
call of her lover. The old gentleman, however, soon brought
her to the front, and the parson began the ceremony ; and
when he reached the place where the question is asked, "If any
person present can show any just cause why this couple
should not be joined together, etc., let him now speak, or else
forever hold his peace," there was a pause. The silence was
profound. •
" 'Twas as the general pulse of life stood still."
But the silence was soon broken. A tall, good looking
young man over in the far corner of the room, in a very
excited tone, exclaimed :
"I have an objection!"
The parson asked him to state his objection.
He replied : "Sir, I want her myself !"
The parson decided that his point was tiot well taken,
and proceeded with the ceremony. After he had gone
through it, and pronounced them man and wife, he ordered
the young man to salute his bride, and her to salute her
husband, which they did with an earnest embrace and a
hearty kiss. Then followed the congratulations of the crowd,
who approached the couple, one by one, shook hands with
both of them, and the men and women, kissed the bride ; after
which, in like order, they withdrew from the building.
The parson, after breakfast of bear meat, venison, corn-
cake, and hominy, received for his services a promiscuous
package of all kinds of fur skins, wrapped neatly around
several pounds of tobacco, which was not only considered a
luxury, but in those days was a legal tender also.
The old parson and his wife took their trophies and left
for their home beyond the Sewells, and the party, led by the
newly married couple, went to dancing, which they kept up,
without intermission, for three days and nights.
The foregoing description of a frontier marriage will not
apply, altogether, to every family of that day, but on the
whole it is not overdrawn or exaggerated. Times and styles
change as well as men, and a rehearsal of old history often
appears quite ridiculous and unreasonable, yet such things
have literally occurred. I was not present at the wedding
History of West Virginia 99
described, nor was any one who is noAv living, but tradition
has given us a well preserved record of how people were mar-
ried a hundred years ago in this beautiful valley, which was
then seldom traversed by any other than a savage race, and
it is my privilege and pleasure to put it in print and hand it
down to posterity.
CHAPTER VII.
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR— 1754 TO 1763.
(From West Virginia Archives and History.)
From the coming of the first white settlers to West
Virginia to the year 1754 — a period of nearly thirty years —
the white men and Indians dwelt together in peace and har-
mony. The Shawnees had their wigwams at "Old Town,"
Maryland, opposite the mouth of the South Branch of the
Potomac; at the "Indian Old Fields," now in Hardy County,
in the valley of that river; and at the "Shawnee Springs,"
now Winchester, in Frederick County, Virginia. "But,"
says Kercheval, "in the year 1753, emissaries from the West-
ern Indians came among the (Shenandoah) Valley Indians,
inviting them to cross the Alleghany Mountains ; and in the
Spring of 1754 they suddenly and unexpectedly moved off
and immediately left the valley." This movement was evi-
dently made under the influence of the French. Both France
and England had been engaged but recently in the War of
the Austrian Succession, and the truce secured by the terms
of the treaty, of Aix-la-Chapelle afforded to both an oppor-
tunity to push their schemes of colonization into the Ohio
Valley — a region which both claimed but neither possessed.
But the final struggle for territorial supremacy in America
was at hand. "The country west of the Great Mountains is
the center of the British Dominions," wrote Lord Hillsbor-
ough. The English occupied the point at the "Forks of the
Ohio" — now Pittsburgh — and began the erection of a fort.
The French came down the Allegheny River, dispossessed
them and completed the fort, calling it Fort Duquesne. In
1755 the English General, Edward Braddock, with the 44th
and 48th Royal Infantry Regiments, came to Virginia, and,
having been joined by a large force of provincial trp'ops,
marched against Fort Duquesne; but when within ten miles
thereof, his army was shot down by the French and Indians
History of West Virginia 101
on the fatal field of Monongaliela. Then began a war of
extermination — a border war carried on against the West
Virginia settlements. This continued for seven long years,
in all of which the French and Indians, or the latter alone,
carried death and desolation all along the frontier of civiliza-
tion. The West Virginia pioneers nevertheless stood their
ground, and, aided by companies of rangers from the older
Virginia settlements, warred successfully against their bar-
barian enemies until the close of the war in 1763.
The depredations of the French and Indians upon the
white settlements during the years of this war w^ere particu-
larly fatal on the frontier settlements of West Virginia.
They destroyed the settlement of Foyle and Tygart on
Tygart's Valley River ; that of the Eckarleys at Dunkard's
Bottom on Cheat River; and that at the mouth of Decker's
Creek on the Monongaliela. Then scalping parties overran
all the region drained by the upper tributaries of the Potomac
and Greenbrier Rivers ; and then carried death and desola-
tion eastward to Jackson's River and to the Lower Shenan-
doah Valley. Everywhere dark mysterious clouds of malig-
nant spirits hung upon the horizon, threatening every moment
to overwhelm and exterminate the half-protected pioneers in
their wilderness homes, and there was scarcely a settlement
in all the region from the Potomac to the New River that
did not experience some of the fatal effects of the terrible
storm of savage warfare which raged so fiercely around them.
Then there were battlefields on the soil of West Virginia.
The battle of Great Cacapon River was fought in what is
now Bloomery Magisterial District, in Han.pshire County,
April 18th, 1756, between a detachment of one hundred men
of Colonel Washington's regiment, under Capt. John Mercer,
on one §ide, and a body of French and Indians on the other.
The battle of Lost River was fought in the Spring of 1756
in what is now^ Lost River IMagisterial District, Hardy
Cou'nty, between West Virginia frontiersmen under Capt.
Jeremiah Smith and a body of fifty Indians commanded by a
French officer. The battle of the Trough was fought in 1756
in what is now Moorefield Magisterial District, Hardy
County, between a body of seventy Indians, allies of the
French, and a Virginia garrison from Fort Pleasant near by.
102 History of West Virginia
The massacre at Fort Seybert occurred in May, 1758, in what
is now Bethel Magisterial District, Pendleton County, on the
South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac, twelve
miles east of the present town of Franklin ; the Fort was
attacked by Shawnee Indians, under the celebrated chief,
Killbuck; the garrison surrendered and all were massacred,
save one.
Expedition of General Edward Braddock — March of the
British Army Through the Eastern Part of
West Virginia.
The year 1754 closed with the French in complete pos-
session of the Ohio Valley. But a war was in progress which,
in its results, was to change the geography of a continent
and exert a powerful influence in moulding the destiny of
nations. Both nations — France and England — speedily mus-
tered veteran regiments fresh from the battlefields of the
Old World and transferred them to the wilds of the New.
In mid-winter, 1755, Gen. Edward Braddock, a British
general, sailed from the harbor of Cork, Ireland, with two
regiments destined for Virginia. February 20th the ships
which bore them across the Atlantic arrived in Chesapeake
Bay and proceeded up the Potomac River to Alexandria,
where all were disembarked preparatory to the march
through the wilderness, the object being the recovery of Fort
Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio — now Pittsburgh. The
troops which came with Braddock were the 44th and 48th
Royal Infantry Regiments, commanded by Sir Peter Halket
and Col. Thomas Dunbar. Sir John St. Clair was the
Quartermaster-General and Lieut. Robert Orme was the
Chief Aid to the General. From Alexandria the army moved
up the Potomac, passing the site of the present City of
Washington, and proceeded to Fredericktown, Maryland. Its
progress from there to Wills' Creek, now Cumberland, the
metropolis of western Maryland, is a subject of intense inter-
est to every student of West Virginia history. This is because
a large part of the distance marched between these points
was through what is now the eastern part of the State. In
History of West Virginia 103
this connection the following from the Journal of Lieutenant
Orme is of special interest:
"As no road had been made to Wills' Creek on the
Maryland side of the Potomac, the 48th Regiment was
obliged to cross that river at Congogee (now Conococheague
Creek, Washington County, Maryland,) and to fall into the
Virginia Road near Winchester. The General ordered a
bridge to be built over the Antietam (Creek), which being
finished and provision laid on the road. Colonel Dunbar
marched with his regiment, the 48th, from Fredericktown,
Maryland, on the 28th day of April, and about this time the
bridge over the Opecoon in Virginia, now in Berkeley County,
West Virginia, was finished for the passage of the artillery,
and floats were built on all the rivers and creeks."
On the 29th of April the 48th Regiment, under Colonel
Dunbar, took up its line of march from Frederick, Mary-
land, to the mouth of Conococheague Creek, now in Wash-
ington County, that State ; thence across and up the Opequon
River to the vicinity of Winchester, in Frederick County ;
thence westward and north-westward over the mountains to
the "Forks of Cacapon", in Hampshire County, now West
Virginia ; and thence to the mouth of Little Cacapon, where
the army crossed the Potomac and was in Maryland again.
The following description of the progress of the army
through eastern West Virginia is quoted from what is known
as the "Seaman's Journal." which \A'as doubtless written by
Lieutenant Spcndelowe, of the detachment of Marines sent
by Commodore Keppel, of the British fleet, A\ith Rraddock
on his expedition to the Ohio :
"April 29th. 1755: ^^> began our marcli (from Freder-
icktown) at 6, but found much difficulty in loading our bag-
gage, so that we left several things behind us, particularly
the men's hammocks. A\'e arrived at 3 o'clock at one ^\'alk-
er's, 18 miles from Frederick, and encamped there on good
ground ; this day we passed the !^outh Ridge (South Moun-
tain) or Shenandah (Shenandoah) Mountains, very easy in
the ascent. We saw plenty of hares, deer, and partridges.
This place is wanting of all refreshments.
"On the 30th : — At 6, we marched in our wav to Conoco-
104 History of West Virginia
chieg, where we arrived at 2 o'clock, 16 miles from Walker's i
this is a fine situation, close to the Potomac. We found the
Artillery Stores going by water to Wills' Creek, and left two
of our men here.
''May 1st : — At 5, we went with our people, and began
ferrying the Army &c. into Virginia, which we completed b}^
10 o'clock, and marched in our way to one John Evens,*
where we arrived at 3 o'clock — 17 miles from Connecocheig,
and 20 from Winchester. We got some provisions and forage
here. The roads now begin to be very indifferent.
"On the 2nd ; — As it is customary in the Army to halt a
day after 3 days' march we halted today to rest the Army.
"On the 3rd : — Marched at 5 in our way to one Widow
Barringer's, 18 miles from Evans : this day was so excessively
hot that several officers and many men could not get on till the
evening, but the body got to their ground at 3 o'clock. This
is 5 miles from Winchester, a fine station if properly cleared.
"On the 14th : — Marched at 5 in our way to one Potts — 9
miles from the Widow's — where we arrived at 10 o'clock.
The road this day was bad ; we got some wild turkeys here :
in the night it came to blow hard at N. W.
"On the 5th : — Marched at 5 in our way to one Henry
Enoch's*, being 16 miles from Potts, where we arrived at 2
o'clock. The road this day lay over prodigious mountains, and
between the same we crossed over a run of water 20 times
in 3 miles' distance. After going 15 miles we came to a river
called Kahapetin (Cacapon), where our men ferried the Army
(*The John Evans here mentioned was the builder and
defender of Fort Evans, a stockade, which was situated
about two miles from the site of the present town of Martins-
burg, in Berkeley County. It was partially erected in 1755,
and completed the following year. Scarcely was it ready for
occupancy when the French and Indians made an incursion
into the vicinity, and the people, among them the founders
of Martinsburg, found refuge in this fort. Then it was
besieged, but the heroism of those within saved the fort from
destruction, and themselves from massacre. — Kercheval's
"History of the Shenandoah Valley".)
History of West Virginia 105
over and got to our ground, where we found a company of
Peter Halket's encamped. f
"On the 6th : — We halted this day to refresh the Army.
"On the 7th : — We marched at 5 in our way to one Cox's
(Probably Friend Cox, whom Washington mentions in his
report of survey, April 25th, 1750, while in the employ of
Lord Fairfax), 12 miles from Enoch's. This morning was
very cold, but by 10 o'clock it was very hot. We crossed
another run of water 19 times in 2 miles, and got to our
ground at 2 o'clock, and encamped close to the Potomac. (On
Virginia side. — V. A. L.)
"On the 8th : — We began to ferry the Army over tlie
river into Maryland, which was completed at 10, and then we
marched on our way to one Jackson's, 8 miles from Cox's.
At noon it rained very hard and continued so till 2 o'clock,
when we got to our ground and encamped on the banks of
the Potomac. A fine situation, with a good deal of clear
ground about it."
April 30th, Braddock left Fredericktown with his stafif
and a body-guard of light horses. Before leaving Alexandria,
he had purchased from Gov. Horatio Sharpe, of Maryland, a
chariot, one of the cumbersome carriages of that day, and
made his journey through eastern West Virginia with a
degree of style far better suited to the streets of London
than the roadway through the forests of Berkeley County and
over the Hampshire hills at that time. He arrived at Wills'
Creek — Fort Cumberland, — where he found in camp six com-
panies of the 44th Regiment, nine companies of Virginia
Rangers, and independent companies from North Carolina,
South Carolina, New York and Maryland.
(*Henry Enoch resided in the "Forks of Cacapon" as
early as 1750. He was one of Washington's chain carriers,
when surveying land for John Parker in Little Cacapon
River, April 26th, 1750.— V. A. Lewis, in W. Va. Archives
and History.)
(fThe Company belonged to the 44th Rcgt., which
marched over the same route in advance of the 48th. — ^V.
A. L.)
106 History of West Virginia
From Cumberland the army began the march to Fort
Duquesne, and it was the evening of the 8th of July when the
columns, for the second time, reached the Monongahela River
at a point ten miles distant from that fortress. On the next
day a crossing was effected and once more the ranks were
formed on the level plain before them. The order of march
was given, but scarcely were the columns in motion when a
deadly fire was poured in upon them. It came from a body
of eight hundred French and Indians concealed in the dense
forest, and this was continued until of the twelve hundred
men who crossed the Monongahela that morning sixty-seven
officers and seven hundred and fourteen privates were either
killed or wounded. Braddock was among the latter, and four
days later he died, his name evermore to be associated with
defeat. The remainder of the army returned to Fort Cum-
berland, and thence the West Virginians and Virginians pro-
ceeded to their homes and to Philadelphia.
The Battle on the Monongahela — Braddock's Defeat.
As previously stated. Gen. Edward Braddock, a British
General, sailed from the harbor of Cork, Ireland, with two
regiments destined for Virginia; and on February 20th, 1755,
the ships which bore them across the Atlantic arrived in
Chesapeake Bay, and proceeded up the Potomac River to
Alexandria, where all were disembarked preparatory to the
march through the wilderness, the object being the recovery
of Fort Duquesne — now Pittsburgh, Penna.
Before proceeding with a description of the great battle,
it might be appropriate to here give a brief explanation of
the events leading up to this point.
As elsewhere stated, both France and England aspired
for supremacy in the Ohio Valley. In order to counteract
the movements of the French in the construction of trading
posts in territory claimed by England, the latter country
gave to the Ohio Company (an organization of Englishmen
and Virginians) liberty to locate and hold in their own right
600,000 acres of land within the disputed territory. Pursuant
to this grant, the Company proceeded to establish trading
History of West Virginia 107
posts among the Indians near the Ohio. Following this move-
ment the French seized and made prisoners of many of the
English and A^irginia traders ; and, by use of troops stationed
at convenient points, succeeded in opening a communication
from Presq Isle to the Ohio River. The Ohio Company then
sent a party of men to erect a stockade where Pittsburgh
now stands, a mo\-cmcnt recommended by General Wash-
ington. This party was accompanied by a detachment of
militia which had been ordered out by the governor ; but
before this was completed they were driven ofif by the French,
who immediately took possession of the place and erected
thereon Fort Duquesne.
Preparatory to the movement against Fort Duquesne by
Braddock, the English government had communicated certain
instructions to Governor Dinwiddie, among which was an
order to place the colonial militia on the footing of independ-
ent companies. The result of this was the reduction of
Washington to a captaincy, which he refused and thereupon
resigned. Braddock, however, offered him a place on his
staff, which Washington accepted, the order of his appoint
ment being announced at Fort Cumberland May 10th.
We will now proceed with our story as related by De
Hass in "Indian Wars in Western Virginia":
On the 20th of April the whole force, embracing about
twenty-five hundred men, moved from Alexandria, and in
due time reached Wills' Creek, where a fort had been erected
by Colonel Innes, and named Cumberland in honor of the
distinguished duke. Here the army was unfortunately de-
layed for nearly a month by the Virginia contractors failing
to furnish the required number of horses and wagons.
At length, through the efforts and personal influence of
Franklin, the Postmaster-General of the Colonies, they were
supplied by some Pennsylvania farmers. But this was only
the commencement of their difficulties. The mountain wil-
derness presented obstacles that for a time seemed to defy
the energy and capacity of the European general. During 'the
first three days' march, the army advanced but nine miles.
In many places they were compelled to double their teams in
108 History of West Virginia
front, and often, in climbing the mountain sides, their hne
was extended to four miles in length.
On the seventh day they had reached the Little Meadows,
where Washington advised that the heavy artillery should
be left, together with -the wagons, and that the baggage, &c.,
be taken on pack horses. To this suggestion Braddock at
last reluctantly assented. Twelve hundred men, with twelve
pieces of cannon, were chosen as the advance corps. This
was headed by Braddock in person, assisted by Sir Peter
Halket as Brigadier-General, Colonels Gage and Burton and
Major Sparks. Washington, who was too ill to travel, was
left with Colonel Dunbar and the balance of the army.
On the 8th of July, after a march of nineteen days,
which could have been accomplished in nine had it not been
for the "fastidiousness and presumption of the commander-
in-chief", who, instead of pushing on with vigor, "halted to
level every mole-hill and bridge every rivulet", the division
reached a point near the mouth of Crooked Run and the
Monongahela.
On the morning of the 9th Colonel Washington rejoined
the division under Braddock, whom he found in high spirits,
and firm in the conviction that within a few hours "he would
victoriously enter the walls of Fort Duquesne".
The men were in fine discipline, and as the noontide sun
of mid-summer fell upon their burnished arms and brilliant
uniforms, there was displayed one of the finest spectacles, as
Washington afterward declared, he had ever beheld. Every
man was neatly dressed and marched with as much precision
as though he had been on parade at Woolwich. The glitter
of the bayonets and the "flash of warlike steel contrasted
strangely with the deep and peaceful verdure of the forest
shade". On the right of the army calmly flowed the Monon-
gahela, imaging upon its bosom the doomed host; while, on
the left, rose up the green old mountain, the sides of which
had never before echoed to the tramp of soldiery or to the
strains of martial music.
"How brilliant that morning, but how melancholy that
evening."
Before proceeding farther it may be necessary to describe
History of West Virginia 109
the ground now so celebrated at Braddock's Field. It is a
small bottom, embracing but a few acres, bounded on the
west by the river and on the east by a bluff} bank, through
which runs a deep ravine, and over which at the time of the
battle and for many years afterward grew •hea\'y trees,
matted brambles, vines, grass, etc. Upon this bluff lay con-
cealed the Indian and French forces. By one o'clock the
entire division had crossed the river: Colonel Gates, with
three hundred regulars, followed by another body of two
hundred, led the achance. The commander-in-chief, sup-
ported by the main column of the army, next crossed. The
whole of the advance party remained on the bottom until the
rest of the division crossed, and herein was the great error.
Had the three hundred or five hundred men under Colonel
Gates advanced and drawn the enemy's fire, thus giving the
seven hundred men in reserve an opportunity to rout the foe
with ball and bayonet, the result of that bloody conflict might
have been very different.
The General, having arranged his plans, ordered a move-
ment of the division under Colonel ' Gates, while he would
bring up in person the residue of the army. The gallant
Colonel moved forward with his men, and whilst in the act
of passing through the ravine already noticed, a deadly and
terrible fire was opened upon them by an invisible foe.
To the brave grenadiers, who had stood fire on the plains
of Europe, amid tempests of cannon balls, cutting down whole
platoons of their comrades, this new species of warfare was
perfectly appalling ; and, unable longer to breast the girdle
of fire which enveloped them, they gave way in confusion,
involving the whole army in distress, dismay and disorder.
In such a dilemma, with hundreds of his men falling at
every discharge, his ranks converted into a wild and reckless
multitude, unable to rally and too proud to retreat, Braddock
obstinately refused to allow the provincial troops to fight the
Indians in their own way. (At this point Washington, seeing
the ineffectiveness of the British method of fighting Indians,
"besought Braddock to allow him to take three hundred men
and fight the Indians after their own fashion, which proposi-
tion so much offended Braddock that he cursed Washington
110 History of West Virginia
and threatened to run him through with his sword".) But,
Braddock, with a madness incomprehensible, did his utmost
to form the men into platoons and wheel them into close
columns. The result was horrible and the sacrifices of life
without a parallel at that time in Indian warfare. The Vir-
ginia regiments, unable to keep together, spread through the
surrounding wood, and by this means did all the execution
that was effected. Every man fought for himself, and, rush-
ing to the trees from behind which gleamed the flash of the
rifle, the brave Virginian often bayoneted the savage at his
post. This perilous enterprise, however, was attended with
terrible sacrifice. Out of three full companies but thirty micn
were left. Truly has it been said, "they behaved like men and
died like soldiers". Of Captain Poison's company one only
escaped. In that of Captain Peyronny every officer from the
Captain down was sacrificed.
Of those engaged in this fearful conflict, and who were so
fortunate as to escape, were many who afterwards became
distinguished in the military and civil annals of Virginia.
Of this number were the Lewises, Matthewses, Grants,
Fields, etc.
This appalling scene lasted three hours, during which
the army stood exposed to the steady fire of a concealed but
most deadly foe, and men fell on every hand like grass before
the sweep of the scythe.
Finally, Braddock, after having five horses killed under
him, fell mortally wounded by the avenging hand of an out-
raged American, named Thomas Faucett (or Fawcett) in
retaliation for the murder of his brother, Joseph Faucett,
who, contrary to Braddock's orders, had sought the protec-
tion of a tree during the fight with the Indians. As Braddock
fell, all order gave way, and what remained of that so lately
proud army rushed heedlessly into the river, abandoning all
to the fury of the savages and French. Artillery, ammuni-
tion, baggage, including the camp chest of Braddock, which
contained, it is said, $375,000 in gold, all fell into the hands
of the victorious enemy.
The retreating army rushed wildly forward and did not
stop until coming up to the rear division. So appalled were
History of West Virginia 1 1 1
the latter at the terrible disaster that the entire army retreated
with disgraceful precipitancy to Fort Cumberland. This, ac-
cording to Smollett, "was the most extraordinary victory ever
obtained, and the farthest flight ever made".
It was the most disastrous defeat ever sustained by any
European army in America. Sixty-three officers and seven
hundred and fourteen privates were killed or dangerously
wounded. There is, perhaps, no instance upon record where
so great a proportion of officers were killed. Out of the
eighty-six composing the regiment, but twenty-three escaped
unhurt. Their brilliant uniforms seemed sure marks for the
deadly aim of the savage.
On that disastrous day the military genius of Washington
showed forth with much of that splendor which afterwards
made him so illustrious. Two aids of Braddock had fallen,
and, therefore, upon Washington alone devolved the duty of
distributing orders. "Men were falling thick and fast, yet
regardless of danger, he spurred on his steed, galloping here
and there through the field of blood. At length his horse sank
under him ; a second was procured, and, pressing amid the
throng, he sent his calm and resolute voice among the fright-
ened ranks, but without avail. A second horse fell beneath
him, and he leaped to the saddle of a third, while the bullets
rained like hail-stones about him." Four passed through his
coat without inflicting the slightest wound, showing clearly
that a stronger hand than that of man's protected the body at
which they had been aimed. An eye-witness says he expected
every moment to see him fall, as his duty exposed him to the
most imminent danger. An Indian warrior was often after-
wards heard to say that Washington was not born to be shot,
as he had fired seventeen times at his person without success.
The courage, energy, bravery and skill displayed by
Washington on this occasion marked him as possessed of the
highest order of military 'talent. Just from a bed of sickness,
yet forgetting his infirmities, he pushed through the panic-
stricken crowd, and his bright sword could be seen pointing
in every direction as he distributed the orders of liis com-
mander.
At last, when
112 History of West Virginia
>!j * ^ (<_
Hapless Braddock met his destined fall,"
the noble Virginia aid, with his provincial troops, who had
been held in so much contempt by the haughty and pre-
sumptuous general, covered the retreat, and saved the rem-
nant of the army from annihilation.
At the fall of Braddock, Washington, with Captain
Stuart of the Virginia Guards, hastened to his relief, and bore
him from the field of his inglorious defeat, in the sash which
had decorated his person. Braddock was taken to Dunbar's
camp, on the summit of Laurel Hill, where he breathed his
last on the evening of the fourth day after the battle. His
body was interred in the center of the road, and the entire
army marched over the spot in order that the remains of the
unfortunate general might not be desecrated by savage hands.
Tradition still designates the place of his burial. It is about
nine miles east of Uniontown, and one hundred yards north
of the National Road.
The only words General Braddock was heard to utter
after his fall were, "Is it possible — all is over!" What a
volume of agony did those simple words express. Alas, such
is glorious war !
General Braddock was a man of undoubted bravery, but
imprudent, arrogant, headstrong and austere. He was a rigid
disciplinarian, and could maneuvre twenty thousand men on
the plains of Europe equal to any officer of his age ; but per-
haps the worst man 'the British government could have
selected for leading an army against the savage of America.
The Walpole Letters, in speaking of him, say he had been
Governor of Gibraltar ; that he was poor and prodigal as
well as brutal — "a. very Iroquois in disposition." Also, that
he had been engaged in a duel with Mr. Gamley, and an amour
with Mrs. Upton.
Before leaving England, the Duke of Cumberland warned
him against surprise from the savages. Dr. Franklin also
had a conversation with him in Virginia, and strongly advised
him to guard against ambuscades, at the same time acquaint-
ing him with the mode of warfare peculiar to the Indians.
Braddock treated it all as no obstacle, talked of making short
work of it, swore he could take Fort Duquesne in a day, then
History of West Virginia 113
proceed up the Allegheny and destroy all the French posts
between the Ohio and Canada, &c. It was this spirit of
arrogance, hauteur and overweening confidence that brought
about his disastrous defeat on the Monongahela. Had he
taken the advice of Washington, Franklin, or Sir Peter
Halket, and guarded against surprise, his name might not
have gone down to posterity connected with the most inglo-
rious defeat in the annals of modern warfare, and his bones
not have filled a mountain grave in the unbroken solitude of
America.
Thus ended the expedition of General Braddock, cer-
tainly one of the most unfortunate ever undertaken in the
west.
After the retreat of the army, the savages, unwilling to
follow the French in pursuit, fell upon the field and preyed
on the rich plunder which lay before them. The wounded
and slain were robbed of everything, and the naked bodies
left a prey to the fierce beasts of the wood. In 1758, after
General Forbes had taken Fort Duquesne, it was resolved to
search up the remains of Braddock's army, and bury the
bones. This was partly carried out at the time, but many
years afterwards (June, 1781), a second and more successful
attempt was made. George Roush, John Barr and John
Rhodenhamer, engaged as scouts, gathered and carted several
loads of human bones and deposited them in a hole dug for
the purpose. Our informant, who was one of the party, says
the place of sepulture was directly on the battlefield. For
nearly one hundred years after the battle was fought, farmers
still occasionally plowed up some relic of melancholy interest.
During the summer of 1850 workmen engaged in grading the
track for a railroad threw up numerous bones, bullets and
other relics of the noted battle.
The number of French and Indians actually engaged has
never been fully ascertained, but variously estimated at from
four to eight hundred. Col. James Smith, who was a captive
at the time in Fort Duquesne, says the number did not exceed
four hundred.
114 History of West Virginia
(There are many other incidents in connection with this
unhappy expedition, of more or less importance, which we
could relate, but forbear from doing so from lack of space. —
Author.)
We take the following- from the Wheeling Register of
October 16, 1913:
BRADDOCK'S MONUMENT.
At Uniontown, Pa., yesterday a memorial park was dedi-
cated and a monument to Major-General Edward Braddock
was unveiled. The incident no doubt will cause many persons
to take their histories from dusty shelves and "read up" on
the military hero who is thus honored.
It has been a century and a half since the English com-
mander led his red-coated regulars and their provincial com-
rades into fatal ambush in the attempt to wrest from French
hands control of the headwaters of the Ohio River. The
fight for Fort Duquesne is referred to by a writer in the New
York Sun, in comparison with the present industrial war cen-
tered in Pittsburgh, acorn and oak. The French and Indian
war was a training school for the Revolution which followed
more than twenty years later. Washington campaigned with
Braddock, and Morgan, Stark and Israel Putnam, all later to
win glory in the struggle of the colonies, participated in the
earlv war.
CHAPTER VIII.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR— CONTINUED.
Attack Upon Fort Duquesne — Its Surrender — Peace Declared.
After the disastrous ending of Braddock's campaign, the
Indians crossed the mountains into the unprotected settle-
ments of Virginia and Pennsylvania, spreading destruction
on the way. They spared neither men, women nor children
nor property wherever found. Some of the settlers aban-
doned their homes and sought safety beyond the Blue Ridge.
Those who remained (from force of circumstances, or other-
wise) were subject to savage cruelty, and many forfeited
their lives. In Ai)ril, 1756, Washington wrote as follows
from Winchester :
"The Blue Ridge is now our frontier, no men being left
in this county (Frederick) except a few who keep close with
a number of women and children in forts .... The
supplicating tears of the women and moving petitions of the
men melt me with such extreme sorrow that I solemnly de-
clare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a willing
sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would con-
tribute to the people's ease."
As it would be useless to follow up the marauding Indian
bands while the French were allowed to hold their position
at the head of the Ohio, Washington recommended to the
Assembly that an army be sent against Fort Duquesne.
After Braddock's defeat on the Monongahcla, F,ngland made
no move to drive off the French and Indians until the year
1758. In this year William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, assumed
control of the English government. He was a man of noble
character, strong mind and great ability, and possessed the
full confidence of the nation. The colonists were now in-
spired with new hope. They Avere assured that help was
forthcoming. He called upon the different governments to
116 History of West Virginia
raise as many men as possible; promised to send over all the
necessary munitions of war and to pay liberally all enlisted
soldiers. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nev\^
Hampshire and others each contributed a goodly number of
men, and sixteen hundred men were equipped by Virginia
and sent to the field under Washington.
It was determined that three expeditions should be sent
out. The first against Louisburg, the second against Ticon-
deroga and Crown Point, and the third against Fort
Duquesne. The first consisted of 14,000 men, twenty ships
and eighteen frigates; the second, to consist of 16,000 men,
failed to materialize. The third, or western expedition, was
under command of Gen. John Forbes. The army consisted
of about nine thousand men, including British regulars and
provincials from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Penn-
sylvania and the southern counties of Delaware. The Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and Alaryland troops were ordered to
rendezvous at Winchester, the Pennsylvanians, under Colonel
Boquet, assembled at Raystown (now Bedford), at which
point they were joined b}^ the British regulars from Philadel-
phia.
Owing to sickness. General Forbes was compelled to stop
at Carlisle, but about the middle of September, 1758, he
continued the march to Bedford, where he met the provincial
troops under Colonel Washington. From here they pro-
ceeded to Loyalhanna, where Colonel Boquet erected a fort.
Major Grant, with 800 men, was sent forward on a sort
of reconnoitering expedition to ascertain the conditions at
Fort Duquesne, and to secure such information as might be
useful in an attack upon that fortification. But it appears
that he thought himself able to take the fort, for with fifes
blowing and drums beating, he marched boldly towards the
stockades early on the morning of September 21st. If such
were his hopes, they were soon to be dispelled ; for, upon
seeing the approach of Grant and his men, the French and
Indians swarmed out of the fort in such great numbers and
made such an unexpected onslaught that the invaders were
literally swept ofif their feet ; and it was with much difficulty
History of West Virginia 117
that the French officers succeeded in preventing the savages
from murdering the prisoners.
A detachment under Major Lewis, acting as rear guard,
hearing the sound of battle, rushed to Grant's reUef, leaving
fifty Virginians under Captain Bullet to protect the baggage.
But the addition of Lewis's men was without avail against
so large a force, and those who were able to do so sought
safety in flight, while Majors Grant and Lewis were both
taken prisoners.
Captain Bullet, observing the hasty flight of Lewis's and
Grant's men before their savage pursuers, ordered his men to
lower their arms, and waited until the Indians, who, thinking
the party were ready to surrender, approached within a few
steps, when, giving the signal, a deadly volley was poured
upon the foe, followed by a rush with the bayonet so sud-
denly and vigorously that the enemy gave way and retreated
in the utmost dismay and confusion. Captain Bullet and
what remained of the party then retreated to the camp of
Colonel Boquet.
General Forbes reached Loyalhanna on November 1st
and shortly afterwards proceeded to Fort Dequesne. Before
arriving there, he received information that the French had
abandoned the fort upon hearing of the approach of a large
force of British and provincial soldiers. Forbes, however,
proceeded with his men to Fort Duquesne, and, finding the
place abandoned, as was reported, placed a slow match to the
magazines, and departed \\ith his men down the Ohio River
by water, landing at Turtle Creek about midnight. Return-
ing to the "fort" on November 25th, 1758, the English took
peaceable possession of what remained of the former strong-
hold, and on its ruins rose Fort Pitt. And now on this his-
torical site and for miles around is spread the thriving City
of Pittsburgh.
The fall of Duquesne ended the struggle between England
and France in the Ohio Valley.
Niagara, Crown Point, Ticonderoga and Quebec gave
up to British supremacy in 1759, followed by the surrender
of Montreal, Detroit and all Canada, September 8th, 1760.
118 History of West Virginia
The treaty of Fontainbleau followed, November, 1762, which
formally terminated the war between France and England.
Supplementary to other claims of France to West Vir-
ginia territory already alluded to in a previous chapter, the
following extracts from West Virginia Archives and History
will be of interest : •
Following the granting of over half a million acres of
land west of the Alleghanies to the Ohio Company by the
English Crown, France sent an expedition to bury leaden
plates at the mouth of the principal tributaries to the Ohio
River. These bore inscriptions asserting the claims of
France to the Ohio Valley. The engraving was the work of
Paul de Brosse, an artist of Canada, with the exception of a
blank which was to be filled with the name of the place of
interment. The expedition for this purpose was organized
by the Marquis de la Gallissoniere, then the Governor-General
of Canada. It consisted of eight subaltern officers, six cadets,
an armorer, twenty soldiers, one hundred and eighty Cana-
dians, thirty Iroquois Indians, twenty-five Abenaka Indians,
and Father Bonnecamps, who called himself the Jesuit Mathe-
matician, the whole in command of Capt. Bionville de Celoron.
His journal is in the archives of the Department de la Marine,
in Paris. Much of it has been published in this country. For
our fullest knowledge of it we are indebted to the historical
writings of Orsamus H. Marshall.
Supplied with six leaden plates to be deposited along the
Ohio, the expedition left La Chine, on the St. Lawrence,
above Montreal, June 15th, 1749, and arrived at Niagara Falls
on the 6th of July. On the 20tli it was on the Allegheny
River near the present town of Warren, Pa., where, on the
south bank of that river, opposite the mouth of Connewango
Creek, the first plate was buried. August 3rd the second one
was interred on the same river "four leagues below the mouth
of French Creek".
The voyage was continued down the Allegheny and then
on the Ohio, and the movements of the expedition now be-
come of the deepest interest to every student of West Vir-
ginia history. On the 13th of August it reached the mouth
of Wheeling Creek, called in De Celeron's journal the
History of West Virginia 119
Kanourouara, where landing was effected and the officers
went on shore, where they stood, the first Europeans on the
site of the City of Wheeling. There they buried the third
plate. The blank on it was filled as follows : "Enterre a
I'entree de la riviere, et sur la rive Septentrionale de Kanouon-
ara, qui se decharge a Test de la riviere Oyo." Translation :
"Buried at the mouth and on the north bank of the River
Kanououara, which empties into the easterly side of the Ohio
River." This plate has never been found. Neither Celoron
nor Bonnecamps gives such a description of the locality as
to warrant a positive identification of the place of burial.
That it was at the mouth of the present Wheeling Creek and
on its north bank is certain. This was on the apex of the
angle or triangular upper point at the confluence of the creek
with the Ohio. It has been suggested thiit it may lie beneath
the approach, or northern end, of the present Baltimore &
Ohio • Railroad bridge. If it has not disappeared by the
caving of the banks, it still remains where it has lain for 164
years, and, inscribed in her language, is now a silent, unseen
and unheard witness to the efforts of France to hold posses-
sion of the Ohio Valley — and of West Virginia as part of it.
Hastening onward down the Ohio, stopping only long
enough to bury the fourth plate at the mouth of the Mus-
kingum River, the expedition arrived at the mouth of the
Great Kanawha River on the 18th of August, and the bateaux
and canoes were driven ashore by a violent rainstorm. Here,
on the site of the present town of Point Pleasant, Mason
County, W^est A'irginia, these Frenchmen established an
encampment. It was a great day in the early history of the
State — in that of the whole Ohio Valley. September 17,
1671 — seventy-eight years before — Capt. Thomas Batts. with
his party of \"irginia explorers, acting under a commission
from the House of Burgesses, arrived at the Falls of the Great
Kanawha and took formal possession of the region drained
by that river in the name of the English King. On a tree
hard by they painted a crown, under which the letters C. R. — •
Charles Rex — and then shouted, "Long live Charles the
Second, by the Grace of God King, of England, Scotland,
France, Ireland, Virginia, and the territories thereunto be-
120 History of West Virginia
longing." Now the French on that August day — at the mouth
of that same river — the Great Kanawha — proclaimed in a loud
voice, "Vive le Roi" — Long live Louis XV — and possession
was now taken of the country in the name of the King ot
France.
The bank of this river flowing in from the southeast, and
draining an extensive region, was chosen for the deposit of
the fifth plate. Only a brief record of the ceremony is given.
Celeron's account of the interment of the plate is as follows :
"Enteree au pied d'un orme, sur la rive "meridionale de 1^ Oye,
et la rive orientale de Chinondaista, le 18 Aout, 1749." Trans-
lation : "Buried at the foot of an elm on the south bank of the
Chinondaista, the 18th day of August, 1749."
The Royal Arms were affixed to a neighboring tree, and a
Proces Verbal was drawn up and signed as a memorial of the
ceremony, and witnessed by the officers present. This docu-
ment was in the following form: "L'an, 1749, nous Celoron,
chevalier de I'ordre Royal et militaire de St. Louis, Capitaine
Commandant un detachment envoye par les ordres de M. le
Marquis de Galissonniere, Commandant General et Canada,
dans la belle Riviere accompanye des principaux officiers de
notre detachment, avons enterre — (here was inserted the place
of deposit) — une plaque de plomb, et fait, attacher dans le
meme lieu, a un arbre, les Armes du Roi. En foy de quoi,
nous avone dresse et signe, avec M. M. les officiers, le present
Proces Verbal a notre camp, le (day of month) 1749." Trans-
lation : "In the year 1749, we, Celoron, chevalier of the Royal
and Military Order of St. Louis, commander of a detachment
sent by order of the Marquis of Gallissoniere, Governor Gen-
eral of Canada to the Ohio, in the presence of the principal
officers of our detachment, have buried (here insert name of
place of deposit) a leaden plate, and in the same place have
affixed to a tree the Arms of the King. In testimony whereof
we have drawn up and signed, with the officers, the Proces
Verbal, at our camp (day of the month) 1749."
Inclement weather — rain storms — detained the expedi-
tion two days at the mouth of the Great Kanawha; then the
voyage doAvn the Ohio was resumed and the sixth and last
plate was interred on the point formed by the confluence of
History of West Virginia 121
the Great Miami with the Ohio. Thence all returned to
Canada.
The copy of the inscription on the plate buried at the
mouth of the Great Kanawha is omitted in Celoron's Journal,
but, fortunately, the discovery of the plate in March, 1846,
leaves no doubt as to what it was. There it had lain for
ninety-seven years. Then a small boy, a son of John Beale,
Esq., observed it projecting from the bank of the Kanawha,
a few feet below the surface. Its historic value was recog-
nized by the citizens and it was carefully preserved. It
passed into i-he oossession of Hon. James M. Laidley, a 'ucm-
ber of the General Assembly of Virginia, from Kanawha
County, who, in 1850, carried it to Richmond, where it at-
tracted great attention from historical students. It was later
placed in the cabinet of the Historical Society. This plate,
like all the others in size, was eleven inches lc5ng, seven and
one-half inches wide and one-eighth in thickness. At the time
it was found, Dr. Willis De Haas was preparing the manu-
script of his "History of the Earl}^ Settlements and Indian
Wars of Western Virginia", which was published in 1851.
He secured for this work an impression of the plate then
attracting wide attention, and the fac simile herein presented
is a photographic reproduction from that work. The follow-
ing is a translation of the inscription which it bears.
Translation.
"In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV., King of France,
we Celoron, Commandant of a detachment sent by Monsieur
the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Commandant General of New
France, to re-establish tranquillity in some Indian villages of
these cantons, have buried this plate at the mouth of the
Chinidashhichetha, the 18th August, near the River Ohio,
otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of pos-
sessions which we have taken of the said River Ohio and of
all those which fall into it, and of all the lands on both sides
as far as the sources of said rivers; the same as were enjoyed,
or ought to have been enjoyed, by the preceding Kings of
France, and that they have maintained it by their arms and
by treaties, especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and
Aix-la-Chapelle."
CHAPTER IX.
LORD DUNMORE'S WAR — BUILDING OF FORT
FINCASTLE — MCDONALD'S EXPEDITION
AGAINST THE OHIO INDIANS-
BATTLE OF POINT
PLEASANT.
In the 3^ear 1774, John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, was
the Governor of the Colony of Virginia; hence Dunmore's
War was a designation applied to a series of bloody deeds
engaged in by the Virginia frontiersmen and the warriors
of the Indian Confederacy of the Ohio Wilderness that year.
At this time Berkeley County, formed in 1772, included
its present area with that of the whole of Jefferson and a
part of that of Morgan. Hampshire County not only had
its present extent, but a portion of Morgan and all of the
Counties of Hardy, Grant and Mineral. Augusta County
then stretched away from the Blue Ridge to the Ohio, and
to the upper valley of that river, even, as was asserted, be-
yond Fort Pitt. ("In the war of 1754 doubt had existed as to
which colony the fork of the Ohio was situated in, and the
Old Dominion having been forward in the defense of the
contested territory, while her northern neighbor had been
very backward in doing anything in its favor, the Virginians
felt a certain claim upon the 'Key of the West'. This feeling
showed itself before 1763, and by 1773 appears to have
attained a very decided character. Early in 1774, Lord
Dunmore and his nephew. Dr. John Connolly, who had lived
at Fort Pitt, and was an intriguing and ambitious 3^oung man,-
determined, by strong measures, to assert the claims of
Virginia upon Pittsburgh and its vicinity. The Governor
despatched Connolly, with a captain's commission and with
power to take possession of the countr}'- upon the Mononga-
hela, in the name of the King. He issued the proclamation to
the people, in the neighborhood of Redstone and Pittsburgh,
History of West Virginia . 123
calling" upon them to meet upon the 24th and 25th of January,
1774, in order to be embodied as Virginia militia. Arthur St.
Clair, who then represented the proprietors of Pennsylvania
in the west, was at Pittsburgh at the time, and arrested
Connolly before the meeting took place. Connolly, soon after,
was for a short time released by the sheriff, upon the promise
to return to the law's custody, which promise he broke how-
ever; and, having collected a band of followers, on the 2Sth
day of March came again to Pittsburgh, still asserting the
claim of Virginia to the government. Then commenced a
series of contests, outrages and complaints. The upshot of
the matter was this, that Connolly, in Lord Dunmore's name,
and by his authority, took and kept possession of Fort Pitt ;
and as it had been dismantled and nearly destroyed by royal
order, rebuilt it and named it Fort Dunmore.
At the time of issuing his proclamation, he wrote to the
settlers along the Ohio that the Shawnees were not to be
trusted ; that they had declared open hostility to the whites ;
and he (Connolly) desired all to be in readiness to redress
any grievances that would occur. One of these circulars was
addressed to Capt. Michael Cresap, then at or near Wheeling.
A few days previous to the date of Connolly's letter (April
21) a canoe loaded with goods for the Shawnese towns, the
property of a Pittsburgh merchant named Butler, had been
attacked by three Cherokee Indians, about sixty miles above,
and one of the whites killed. This, of course, caused consid-
erable sensation in the neighborhood of Wheeling. The
people, too, aroused by the false cry of Connolly, became
greatly excited ; and when, a few days after, it was reported
that a boat containing Indians was coming down the river, a
resolution was at once taken to attack them. Several men,
one of whom it is alleged was Captain Cresap, started u]) the
river, and, firing upon the canoe, killed two Indians, whom
they scalped. On the following day several canoes contain-
ing Indians were discovered a short distance above the island.
Pursuit was immediately given; and that night, while the
Indians were encamped near the mouth of Captina Creek,
twenty miles below Wheeling, the whites attacked them,
killing one and wounding several of the company. These
124 History of West Virginia
were clearly the exciting causes of the war of 1774. It is
true, however, as already stated, the magazine was charged,
and needed but the match to produce instantaneous explosion.
THAT match was fired by the murderer's torch at Captina
and Yellow Creek." — De Haas.)
The part of this country lying west of Hampshire was
known as the "District of West Augusta", its boundaries
being then undefined. Botetourt County, created in 1769
from the southern portion of Augusta County, likewise ex-
tended from the Blue Ridge across West Virginia to the
Ohio River; the line separating it from Augusta County,
extending north fifty-five degrees west, and crossing Green-
brier River at the southern end of the Marlin Mountains,
terminated on the Ohio River, near the present village of
Belleville, now in Wood County, West Virginia. Thus all
that part of West Virginia lying between the said line and
the Great Kanawha River was included in Botetourt County.
Fincastle County, organized in 1772 from the southern part
of Botetourt, also extended westward from the Blue Ridge
to the Ohio, and included within its limits all of W^est Vir-
ginia lying between the Great Kanawha and Big Sandy
Rivers. At this time there were probably twenty thousand
white people living in what is now W^est Virginia.
In the ten years intervening between the close of the
French and Indian War in 1763, and the year 1774 — that of
Lord Dunmore's War — there was comparative peace and
quiet along the Western Frontier; and for this reason, this
period has been called the "Halcyon Decade of the Eighteenth
Century." But hostilities began in the spring of 1774, and a
savage warfare, with all its horrors, was waged upon the de-
fenseless settlements of the W^estern Border. Messengers
bore tidings of this to Williamsburg, the old Colonial Capital
of Virginia, and the House of Burgesses — the legislative body
of the Colony — directed Lord Dunmore to prosecute a war
against the Indian nations of the Ohio W^ilderness. As a
preliminary movement to this, he ordered Major Angus
McDonald to proceed with four hundred men, from the Lower
Shenandoah Valley, by way of Wheeling, against the Waka-
History of West Virginia 125
tomika and other Indian towns in the Aluskinguni \ alley,
northwest of the Ohio. — (W. Va. Arch, and History.)
At the time of the arri\al of Maj. Angus McDonald at
Wheeling, in July, 1774, it appears that the fort at that ])lace
had not yet been completed. The establishment was called
Fort Fincastle. It was planned by Col. George Rogers Clark,
who was present with a ])arty under Captain Cresap in
Wheeling, in April, 1774, and constructed unrler the su])er-
vision of Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell, two of the prin-
cipal men of the settlement. But it appears that the com])le-
tion of the building of the fort was largely effected through
the efforts of one Capt. William Crawford, with the aid of
about two hundred men who had been recruited at Fort Pitt
by Dr. John Connolly (the commander of the latter place)
and turned over to him (Crawford) with instructions to pro-
ceed to Wheeling and "complete the building of the fort".
Yet, as previously indicated, the fort was not completed
until in July, as history says: "In July, Maj. Angus McDonald
arrived in Wheeling and took command, and, under the joint
direction of himself and Capt. William Crawford, with the
aid of the large force under their command, the fort was soon
completed."
The fort was located immediately on the left bank of
the Ohio River (looking south), about a quarter of a mile
above the mouth of Wheeling Creek, and at a much less dis-
tance from the foot of the immense hill that rises with unusual
boldness from the inner margin of the bottom land. Just
beyond the louer line of pickets the high bench of ground
on M^hich the fort was erected terminates ; and after an abrupt
descent of about thirty feet another level commences, which
stretches along with uniform grade to the creek. Much of
this bottom, particularly that portion next to the river, \\ as
cleared, fenced and cultivated in corn. Between the fort and
base of the hill the forest- had likewise been cleared away,
and here stood some twenty-five or thirty humble log (h\ell-
ing houses, thrown together in the form of a village, which,
though of little importance then, was the germ of one of the
fairest cities that now grace the Little Mountain State. The
fort was built on open ground, and covered a space of about
126 History of West Virginia
three-quarters of an acre. In shape it was a parallelogram,
having a block house at each corner, with lines of stout pickets
about eight feet high extending from one block house to
another. Within the enclosure were a store house, barrack-
rooms, garrison wells, and a number of cabins for the use of
families ; the principal entrance was through a gateway on
the eastern side of the village. It served as a place of refuge
for the settlers during the war which followed, and which
w^s terminated, as far as a treaty could effect the purpose, in
the fall of the year, by Lord Dunmore at Camp Charlotte. —
("History of the Pan-Handle.")
Having completed the fort at Wheeling, Captain Craw-
ford was placed in charge of the garrison, while the conduct
of an expedition against the Indians in Ohio was committed
to Major McDonald. On the 26th of July the latter left
Wheeling with about four hundred men, and reached the
mouth of Fish Creek, on the eastern side of the Oliio, where
the present village of Woodland, in Marshall County, now
is. Here they crossed the Ohio River and proceeded against
the Shawnese towns on the Muskingum, destroying Waka-
tomica, near what is now Dresden, Ohio. The army also
destroyed a number of other Indian villages, and was the first
effective blow struck by the Virginia troops in the Dunmore
War.
According to "History of the Pan-Handle", Lord Dun-
more himself had already begun to move in his projected
campaign. Leaving Williamsburg, Virginia, then the seat of
government, July 10th, 1774, he proceeded to different places,
gathering troops and completing his preparations for the
expedition. In the latter part of August he marched with his
forces to Fort Pitt. He arrived at Wheeling September 30th.
The strongth of Dunmore's forces is given in Valentine
Crawford's letter to Washington, written from the Wheeling
fort the day after his arrival, and which is quoted, as follows :
"Fort Fincastle, Oct. 1st, 1774.
"His Lordship arrived here yesterday with about twelve
hundred men, seven hundred of whom came by water with
his Lordship, and five hundred came under my brother,
William., by land, with bullocks, etc."
History of West Virginia 127
To the frontier settlement the advent of so large a body
of troops, some of whom were British regulars, and all com-
manded by the royal governor, was an event of no ordinary
importance.
The consternation and alarm which followed the expecta-
tion of an inroad of the savages had already given place to
a strong and determined feeling, not only to defend their
homes and families from hostile incursion, but, also, by
aggressive measures against the foe, insure themselves
against future molestation. And, now, when the forces
embodied by the authority of the colony for the defenses and
protection of the border appeared in their midst, marshalled
in all "the pomp and circumstances of war", the interest and
excitement occasioned by their presence can readily be
imagined.
"The debarkation of the troops — their imposing and
martial array — the brilliant uniforms of the regulars con-
trasting with the homely hunting shirts of the provincial
militia — the stirring music of fife and drum, and the glitter
of their burnished arms flashing in the September sun as they
marched from the landing to their quarters in the fort, all
united to stir the pulse of hardy mountaineer and bright-
eyed maiden gazing on the gallant display. Even the Fort
donned her holiday attire in honor of the royal governor,
and floated from her ramparts the red-cross banner of Saint
George — that proud and gorgeous ensign of Old England.
An amusing anecdote in connection with this event is
still preserved among local traditions : When Lord Dun-
more landed at the river from his barge, and marched up to
the Fort preceded by his bodyguard of Scotch Highlanders,
with their bonneted chieftains —
"All plaidcd and plumed in their tartan array" —
the martial strains of the bagpipes waking the morning
echoes - — a lively frontier damsel, catching sight of their
novel dress, ran nearly breathless to her mother, exclaiming.
"Come, mother, come and see the handsome men dressed in
petticoats and bonnets !"
128 History of West Virginia
"Lord Dunmore immediately sent Major Crawford — •
recently promoted — forward with five hundred men and fifty
pack horses and two hundred bullocks to meet Colonel Lewis,
who was coming by way of the Kanawha. After completing
his preparations for the expedition, he followed in a few days
thereafter with the rest of the forces by river."
The Battle at Point Pleasant.— Fought October 10, 1774.
(From Howe's History of Virginia.)
The army destined for this expedition was composed of
volunteers and militia, chiefly from the counties west of the
Blue Ridge, and consisted of two divisions. The northern
division, comprehending the troops collected in Frederick,
Dunmore (noAv Shenandoah), and the adjacent counties, was
to be commanded by Lord Dunmore in person ; and the
southern, comprising the different companies raised in Bote-
tourt, Augusta, and the adjoining counties east of the Blue
Ridge, was to be led by Gen. Andrew Lewis. These two
divisions, proceeding by different routes, were to form a
junction at the mouth of the Big Kanawha, and from thence
penetrate the country northwest of the Ohio River, as far
as the season would permit of their going, and destroy all
the Indian towns and villages which they could reach.
About the 1st of September, the troops placed under the
command of General Lewis rendezvoused at Camp Union
(now Lewisburg), and consisted of two regiments, com-
manded by Col. William Fleming, of Botetourt, and Col.
Charles Lewis, of Augusta, containing about four hundred
men each.
At Camp Union they were joined by an independent
company under Col. John Field of Culpepper, a company
from Bedford under Captain Buford, and two from the
Holstein settlement (now Washington County) under Cap-
tains Evan Shelby and Harbert. These three latter com-
panies were part of the force to be led on by Colonel Christian,
who was likewise to join the two main divisions of the army
at Point Pleasant, so soon as the other companies of his
regiment could be assembled. The force under General
History of West Virginia 129
Lewis, having- been thus augmented to eleven hundred men,
commenced its march for the mouth of the Kanawha on the
11th of September, 1774.
From Camp Union to the point proposed for the junction
of the northern and southern divisions of the army, a dis-
tance of one hundred and sixty miles, the intermediate country
was a trackless forest, so rugged and mountainous as to ren-
der the progress of the army at once tedious and laborious.
Under the guidance of Capt. Matthew Arbuckle, they suc-
ceeded, however, in reaching the Ohio River, after a march
of nineteen days, and fixed their encampment on the point of
land immediately between that river and the Big Kanawha.
The provisions and ammunition, transported on pack-horses,
and the beeves in droves, arrived after.
When the southern division arrived at Point Pleasant,
Governor Dunmore, with the forces under his command, had
not reached there ; and unable to account for his failure to
form the preconcerted junction at that place, it was deemed
advisable to await that event; as by so doing a better oppor-
tunity would be afforded to Colonel Christian of coming up
with that portion of the army which was then with him.
Meanwhile General Lewis, desiring to learn the cause of the
delay of the northern division, dispatched runners by land in
the direction of Fort Pitt, to obtain tidings of Lord Dunmore,
to be communicated to him immediately. In their absence,
however, advices were received from his lordship that he had
determined on proceeding across the country directly to the
Shawnee towns ; and ordering General Lewis to cross the
river, march forward, and form a junction with him near them.
These advices were received on the 9th of October (the day
preceding the battle), and preparations were immdiately be-
gun for the transportation of the troops over the Ohio River.
Early on the morning of Monday, the lOfn of that month,
two soldiers left the camp and proceeded up the Ohio River
in quest of deer. When they had progressed about two miles
they unexpectedly came in sight of a large number of Indians
rising from their encampment, and who, discovering the two
hunters, fired upon them and killed one ; the other escaped
unhurt, and running briskly to the camp, communicated the
130 History of West Virginia
intelligence "that he had seen a body of the enemy, covering
four acres of ground, as closely as they could stand by the
side of each other".
The main part of the army was immediately ordered out
under Colonels Charles Lewis and William Fleming; and,
having formed into two lines, they proceeded about four
hundred yards, when they met the Indians, and the action
commenced.
At the first onset, Col. Charles Lewis having fallen and
Colonel Fleming having been wounded, both lines gave way
and were retreating briskly towards the camp, when they
were met by a reinforcement under Colonel Field, and rallied.
The engagement then became general, and was sustained with
the most obstinate fury on both sides. The Indians perceiv-
ing the "tug of war" had come, and determined on affording
the colonial army no chance of escape, if victory should de-
clare for them, formed a line extending across the point, from
the Ohio to the Kanawha, and protected in front by logs and
fallen timber. In this situation they maintained the contest
with unabated vigor from sunrise till towards the close of
evening, bravely and successfully resisting every charge which
was made on them and withstanding the impetuosity of every
onset with the most invincible firmness, until a fortunate
movement on the part of the Virginia troops decided the day.
Some short distance above the entrance of the Kanawha
River into the Ohio, there is a stream called Crooked Creek,
emptying into the former of these (see diagram on last page
of this chapter) from the northeast, whose banks are tolerably
high and were then covered with a thick and luxuriant growth
of weeds.
Seeing the impracticability of dislodging the Indians by
the most vigorous attack, and sensible of the great danger
which must arise to his army if the contest were not decided
before night. General Lewis detached three companies which
were commanded by Captains Isaac Shelby, George Matthews
and John Stuart, with orders to proceed up the Kanawha
River and Crooked Creek, under cover of the banks and
weeds, till they should pass some distance beyond the enemy,
when they were to emerge from their covert, march down-
History of West Virginia 131
ward towards the point, and attack the Indians in their rear.
The manoetn-re thus planned by General Lewis was
promptly executed, and gave a decided victory to the Colonial
army. The Indians, finding themselves suddenly and unex-
pectedly encompassed between two armies, and not doubting
but that in their rear was the looked-for reinforcement under
Colonel Christian, soon gave way, and about sundown com-
menced a precipitate retreat across the Ohio, to their towns
on the Scioto. The victory, indeed, was decisive, and many
advantages were obtained by it ; but they were not cheaply
bought. The Virginia army sustained in this engagement
a loss of seventy-five killed and one hundred and forty
wounded — about one-fifth of the entire number of troops.
Among the slain were Colonels Lewis and Field ; Captains
Buford, Morrow, Wood, Sundifif, Wilson, and Robert McClan-
ahan, and Lieutenants Allen, Goldsby and Dillon, with some
other subalterns. The loss of the enemy could not be ascer-
tained. On the morning after the action, Colonel Christian,
who had arrived after the battle was ended, marched his men
over the battle ground and found twenty-one of the Indians
lying dead where they had attempted to conceal themselves
under some old logs and brush.
From the great facility with which the Indians either
carry oiT or conceal their dead, it is always difficult to ascer-
tain the number of their slain ; and hence arises, in some
measure, the disparity between their known loss and that
sustained by their opponents in battle. Other reasons for this
disparity are to be found in their peculiar mode of warfare,
and in the fact that they rarely continue a contest when it
has to be maintained with the loss of their warriors. It
would not be easy otherwise to account for the circumstance
that even when signally vanquished the list of their slain docs
not, frequently, appear more than half as great as that of their
victors. In this particular instance, many of the dead were
certainly thrown into the river.
Nor could the number of the enemy engaged be ever
ascertained. Their army is known to have been composed
of warriors from the different nations north of the Ohio, and
to have comprised the flower of the Shawnee, Delaware,
132 History of West Virginia
Mingo, Wyandotte, and Cayuga tribes, led on by men whose
names were not unknown to fame, and at the head of whom
was Cornstalk, sachem of the Shawnees, and king of the
northern confederacy.
This distinguished chief and consummate warrior proved
himself on that day to be justly entitled to the prominent
station he occupied. His plan of alternate retreat and attack
was well conceived, and occasioned the principal loss sus-
tained by the whites. If at any time his warriors were be-
lieved to waver, his voice could be heard above the din of
arms, exclaiming, in his native tongue: "Be strong! be
strong !" and when one near him, by trepidation and reluct-
ance to proceed to the charge, evinced a dastardly disposi-
tion, fearing the example might have a pernicious influence,
with one blow of his tomahawk he severed his skull. It was,
perhaps, a solitary instance in which terror predominated.
Never did men exhibit a more conclusive evidence of bravery
in making a charge, and fortitude in withstanding an onset,
than did these undisciplined soldiers of the fcicst in the field
at Point Pleasant. Such, too, was the good conduct of those
who composed the army of Virginia on that occasion, and
such the noble bravery of many, that high expectations were
entertained of their future distinction. Nor were these ex-
pectations disappointed. In the various scenes through
which they subsequently passed, the pledge of after eminence
then given was fully redeemed, and the names of Shelby,
Campbell, Matthews, Fleming, Moore, and others, their com-
patriots in arms on the memorable 10th of October, 1774, have
been inscribed in brilliant characters on the roll of fame.
As Historian Howe appears to have relied wholly upon
Withers's version of the events immediately following the
battle at Point Pleasant, and as a few events as related by
Withers do not correspond entirely with the facts as later
ascertained by a more thorough investigation, the writer will
here introduce commentaries by Thwaites, which present a
clearer understanding of some things heretofore in doubt:
For several days after the battle of Point Pleasant,
Lewis was busy in burying the dead, caring for the wounded.
History of West Virginia 133
collecting the scattered cattle, and building a store house and
small stockade fort.
Early on the morning of October 13th, messengers who
had been sent on to Dunmore, advising him of the battle, re-
turned with orders to Lewis to march at once with all his
available force against the Shawnee towns, and when within
twenty-five miles of Chillicothe to write to his lordship. The
next day the last rear guard, with the remaining beeves,
arrived from the mouth of the Elk, and while work on the
defenses at the Point was hurried, preparations were made
for the march. By evening of the 17th, Lewis, with 1,150 men
in good condition, had crossed the Ohio and gone into camp
on the north side. Each man had ten days' supply of flour, a
half pound of powder, and a pound and a half of bullets;
while to each company was assigned a pack-horse for the
tents. Point Pleasant was left in command of Colonel
Fleming (who had been severely wounded in the battle),
Captains Dickinson, Lockridge, Herbert, and Slaughter, and
278 men, few of whom were fit for service. On the 18th,
Lewis, with Captain Arbuckle as guide, advanced towards
the Shawnee towns, eighty miles distant in a straight line
and probably a hundred and twenty-five by the circuitous
trails. The army marched about eleven miles a day, fre-
quently seeing hostile parties, but engaging none. Reaching
the Salt Licks near the head of the south branch of Salt Creek
(in the present Lick Township, Jackson County, O.), they
descended that valley to the Scioto, and thence to a prairie
on Kinnikinnick (now Kilkenny) Creek, where was the freshly
•deserted Indian village referred to in Withers's narrative.
This was thirteen miles south of Chillicothe (now Westfall).
Here they were met, early on the 24th, by a messenger from
his Lordship, ordering them to halt, as a treaty was nearly
■concluded at Camp Charlotte. But Lewis's army had been
fired on that morning, and the place was untenable for a
■camp in a hostile country, so he concluded to seek better
ground. A few hours later another messenger came, again
peremptorily ordering a halt, as the Shawnees had practically
come to terms. Lewis now concluded to join tlie northern
■division in force, at Camp Charlotte, not liking to have the
134 History of West Virginia
two armies separated in the face of a treacherous enemy ; but
his guide mistook the trail, and took one leading directly to
the Grenadier Squaw's Town. Lewis camped that night on the
west bank of Congo Creek, two miles above its mouth, and five
and a quarter miles from Chillicothe, with the Indian town
half-way between. The Shawnees were now getting alarmed
and angered, and Dunmore himself, accompanied by the Dela-
ware chief White Eyes, a trader, John Gibson, and fifty volun-
teers, rode over in hot haste that evening to stop Lewis and
reprimand him. His Lordship was mollified by Lewis's expla-
nations, but the latter's men, and, indeed, Dunmore's, were
furious over being stopped when within sight of their hated
quarry, and tradition has it that it was necessary to treble
the guards during the night to prevent Dunmore and White
Eyes from being killed. The following morning (the 25th)
his Lordship met and courteously thanked Lewis's officers for
their valiant services ; but said that now the Shawnees had
acceded to his wishes, the further presence of the southern
division might engender bad blood. Thus dismissed, Lewis
led his army back to Point Pleasant, which was reached on
the 28th. He left there a garrison of fifty men under Captain
Russell, and then by companies the volunteers marched
through the wilderness to their respective homes, where they
disbanded early in November.
"This battle," says Colonel Stuart, in his historical
memoir, "was, in fact, the beginning of the Revolutionary
War, that obtained for our country the liberty and independ-
ence enjoyed by the United States — and a good presage of
future success ; for it is well known that the Indians were
influenced by the British to commence the war to terrify and
confound the people, before the}^ commenced hostilities them-
selves the following year at Lexington. It was thought by
British politicians that to incite an Tndian war would pre-
vent a combination of the Colonies for opposing parliamentary
measures to tax the Americans.' The blood, therefore, spilt
in this memorable battle will long be remembered by the good
people of Virginia and the United States with gratitude."
The route of Lewis's army from "Camp Union", now
History of West Virginia 135
Lewisburg, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, to Point
Pleasant is described by Historian Atwater as follows:
"The route of Lewis's army lay wholly through a track-
less forest. His supplies were transported on pack-horses,
which were clambering about among the tall cliffs or winding
their way through the dangerous defiles, ascending or de-
scending the lofty summits of the Alleghany Mountains. The
country, at that time, in its aspect was one of the most ro-
mantic and wild in the whole Union. Its natural features are
majestic and grand. Among these lofty summits and deep
ravines, Nature operates on a scale of grandeui", simplicity and
sublimity scarcely ever equalled in any other region and never
surpassed in the world. The march was more painful and
difBcult than Hannibal's over the Alps."
Referring to the scenery on the way, Bancroft says : "At
that time there was not even a track over the rugged moun-
tains, but the gallant young woodsmen who formed the
party moved expeditiously with their pack-horses and droves
of cattle through the home of the wolf, the deer and the
panther. x\fter a fortnight's struggle, they left behind them
the last rocky hill-tops, and passing between the gigantic
growth of primeval forests, in which, in the autumnal season,
the golden hues of the linden, the sugar tree and the hickory
contrasted with the glistening green of the laurel, the crimson
of the sumac, and the shadows of the somber hemlock, they
descended to where the Elk, united with the Kanawha, widens
into a plain."
The late lamented Mrgil A. Lewis gives the following
interesting description of the route traversed by these heroes :
"Onward pressed these heroic men, determined to forever
drive the savage power from the southern banks of the
Ohio. They forced their way through the lonely mountains ;
Keeney's Knob, now in Summers County, four thousand feet
high, stood out against the southern sky ; from the lofty
elevations in what is now Fayette County they gazed upon
the silvery course of New River, which, rolling like a destiny,
rushed on through the realms of solitude and shade; Big and
Little Sewell Mountains were passed ; down into a rocky gorge,
where the town of Ansted in the last named county stands,
136 History of West Virginia
over another mountain crest, down Rich Creek, and down
Kelley's Creek, until they encamped at its mouth, where the
town of Cedar Grove, on the Great Kanawha River and in
Kanawha County, now stands. On the first of October they
had reached the mouth of Elk River and on the site of
Charleston, the present capital of the State, were felling
gigantic poplars and making canoes in which to transport
some of their baggage to the mouth of the Great Kanawha.
Then they crossed the Elk, continued their march down the
north side of the Kanawha, through what is now Putnam
and Mason Counties, to the Ohio."
Monument at Point Pleasant : A Brief History of Its Erection.
Death of Cornstalk.
The following information, taken from "West Virginia
Archives and History," relative to the erection of the monu-
ment at Point Pleasant in honor of the heroes who died on
the battlefield at that place, will be of interest to many of
our readers :
On the first day of April, 1860, the General Assembly of
Virginia passed an act providing that Mrs. John S. Lewis,
Miss Ellen Steenberger, Miss L. D. Smith and others be
appointed a body politic and corporate with authority to
purchase land and erect a monument on the Battlefield of
Point Pleasant; but owing to the civil war soon coming on
(during which time West Virginia was formed), the matter
was dropped until the Centennial Celebration at Point Pleas-
ant on October 10th, 1874, at which event the question of the
erection of a suitable monument was again discussed. The
matter was brought before the West Virginia Legislature,
and on the 25th of February, 1875, that body passed an act
making "an appropriation of $3,500 to aid in the purchase
of land and the erection of a monument in commemoration
of the Battle of Point Pleasant", the act being approved by
Governor John J. Jacobs, Feb. 25, 1875.
In the meantime, the committee of ladies who had been
appointed in 1860 for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions
had, during the turmoil of civil strife, succeeded in raising a
History of West Virginia 137
"Monument Fund", which, in 1909, amounted to the sum of
$2,107.84, including interest.
On the 29th of March, 1901, His Excellency, Governor
A. B. White, by authority of an act of the Legislature passed
on the 7th of February, 1901, appointed the following named
gentlemen as trustees to take charge of funds and push the
work through to completion : Virgil A. Lewis, of Mason
City ; Charles C. Bowyer, of Point Pleasant ; and John P.
Austin, of Redmond, all of Mason County. On the 25th of
May, 1901, an organization was effected by electing John P.
Austin, president, Virgil A. L6wis, secretary, and Charles C.
Bowyer, treasurer.
The trustees proceeded to business as fast as circum-
stances would permit. They selected as the location for the
monument a piece of ground "at the apex of the angle formed
by the confluence of the two rivers — the Ohio and the Great
Kanawha — on which the Virginian army was encamped at
the beginning of the battle, and where its honored dead, who
fell in the struggle, were buried. This is high land and con-
tains about two and a half acres. This land was purchased
from Thomas J. Darst, J. H. Stone and others, J. D. ]\lcCul-
lough, Nancy A. Varian, and R. A. Comstock, and the title
was vested in the State of West Virginia.
The trustees, still being short of the necessary amount
of funds, in February, 1902, "where the entire State's dele-
gation in Congress expressed, not only a willingness, but a
desire, to do all they could in the matter of securing an appro-
priation of $10,000 to aid in the erection of a monument on
the battlefield of Point Pleasant", and this amount was duly
appropriated. The enterprise, therefore, became a State and
National one.
The trustees were now in a position to proceed with
the erection of the monument. After some delay, occasioned
by certain red-tape requirements of the War Department at
Washington, work was begun on the foundation May 11th,
1909, and the structure was completed at 11 :10 a. m., Monday,
August 22nd. 1909.
■ "It is twenty-two feet square at the base, eighty-two feet
138 History of West Virginia
high, and contains one hundred and fifty-two granite blocks, —
the whole weighing one hundred and forty-three tons.
"The statue, facing east, standing eight feet high, and
weighing two tons, is cut of Westerly granite, by the Smith
Granite Company, of Westerly, Rhode Island. The bronze
panels and bas-relief were cast by Albert Russell & Sons
Company, of Newburyport, Mass. ; the historical data thereon
having been compiled by Virgil A. Lewis, State Historian
and Archivist, in compliance with an order of the trustees."
The unveiling and dedication of the monument took
place on Saturday, October 9th, 1909. Next to the battle
itself, this was considered the most important event that ever
took place in Point Pleasant. It was estimated by State
Historian Virgil A. Lewis, who was present and took par-
ticular note, that there were not less than fifteen thousand
people present. Jt was no ordinary occasion for which this
great assemblage met. It was to confer long neglected
honors due departed heroes : men who struck the first vital
blow for American freedom and independence. It was,
therefore, a National affair in which all liberty-loving people
were interested (whether conscious of it or not) ; and those
who were present to do homage to those departed spirits
enjoyed a privilege — the recollection of which should ever
bring a feeling of deep reverence and stimulate and strengthen
any lagging patriotism.
The ceremony of dedication was performed by officers of
the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, as follows :
Emmet M. Showalter, Grand Master.
Neil Robinson, P. G. M., as Deputy Grand Master.
John Hamilton, P. G. M., as Senior Grand Warden.
John Dunbar Baines, Junior Grand Warden.
John M. McConihay, G. L., as Grand Treasurer.
H. R. Howard, P. G. M., Grand Secretary.
Rev. J. Howard Gibbons, Grand Chaplain.
George W. Atkinson, P. G. M., as Grand Orator.
George Thornburg, P. G. M., as Senior Grand Deacon.
John H. Hutchinson, as Junior Grand Deacon.
Virgil A. Lewis, as Principal Grand Arch.
History of West Virginia 139
P. B. Buxton, as Grand Pursuivant.
T. W. Ford, as Grand Steward.
John Thornburg, as Grand Steward.
John M. ColHns, P. G. M., as Grand Marshal.
R. ]\I. Baird, as Grand Tiler.
There was also a large number of the fraternity from all
over the State. The meeting of the Order was held at the
Masonic Hall, at Point Pleasant, at 9:30 a. m. After the
announcement of the purpose for which they were assembled,
the Grand Lodge, under the escort of the Knights Templar
of Franklin Commandery of Point Pleasant, of Kanawha
Commandery of Charleston, of Huntington Commandery of
Huntington, and of Rose Commandery of Gallipolis, Ohio,
awaited the movement of the procession then forming.
Following is a description of the line of march, as
recorded in "Archives and History of West Virginia," by
Virgil A. Lewis :
"The procession, one of the largest ever seen in the State,
formed at 9 :30 a. m., at the corner of Viand and Sixth streets,
and proceeded north on \"iand street to Fourteenth ; west on
Fourteenth to Ohio ; south on Ohio to Twelfth ; west on
Twelfth to Alain to Tu-enda-wee Park, the site of the monu-
ment. The success of the parade was due in part to everyone
who participated in it or who in any manner contributed to
this, one of the most magnificent pageants ever witnessed in
the State of West Virginia. It consisted of three divisions,
formed as follows :
"The First Division.
"This moved at the head of the procession, under the
immediate direction of Col. John P. R. B. .Smith, the Grand
Marshal of the day ; with him being one of his assistants,
Andrew L. Boggess, and J. L. Boggess, color-bearer. The
Point Pleasant Brass Band moved at the head of this division.
Then came long lines of Blue Lodge Masons, followed by
marching columns of Knights Templar in brilliant uniforms,
followed by the officers of the Grand Lodge of West \^irginia
in carriages. It was an imposing scene.
140 History of West Virginia
"The Second Division.
"This division moved closely upon the rear of the first ;
at its head was Prof. Peter Higgins Steenbergen, Assistant
Marshal, with Lesley P. Neale as his aid, and Robert Liter
as color-bearer. Then came the children of the public schools
of Point Pleasant, in charge of Mrs. Mary Margaret Bryan,
instructor of music in these schools. This was one of the
most imposing and inspiring scenes of the whole parade. The
children were so arranged that by the wearing of their caps
and capes of red, white and blue, they made the stars and
stripes of a living, breathing, moving American flag, a sight
so inspiring as to call forth cheers and exclamations from
the thousands of spectators along the line of march. Those
of the teachers in the public schools who not only assisted
Mrs. Bryan with the drilling of the pupils, but marched with
them in the parade, and thus did much to contribute to its
success, were : Misses Bertha Steinbach, Eva Hughes, Anna
Pauline Lewis, Elizabeth Hogg, Nora Somerville, Carrie
Mcintosh, Mary Work, Roma Gibbs, Ella Howard, and Juha
Ryan. Marching with the teachers and children were Capt.
William H. Howard, President of the Board of Education,
and Mr. Carlisle Whaley ; the only other member of the Board,
Mr. John W. C. Heslop, not participating in this march be-
cause of his part in the Masonic exercises. Following imme-
diately after this 'American Flag of School Children' came a
highly decorated wagon carrying, among others, the thirteen
little boys who were to unveil the monument, they represent-
ing the thirteen American Colonies, and being also descend-
ants of the men who participated in the Battle of Point
Pleasant. At their head was little Charles Cameton Lewis,
son of Mr. C. C. Lewis, of Point Pleasant, West Virginia;
John Dickinson Lewis, son of Mr. Charles Cameron Lewis,
of Charleston, W. Va. ; Chancellor Bowyer, son of Mr. Frank
Bowyer, of Winfield, Putnam County, W. Va. ; Alfred Stone
Lewis, son of Hon. Virgil A. Lewis, of Mason, Mason
County, W. Va. ; Henderson Hampton Miller, son of Dr.
Joseph Lyons Miller, of Thomas, Tucker County, W. Va. ;
Loraine Sterrett. son of Mr. Charles Sterrett, of Beech Hill,
History of West Virginia 141
Mason County, W. Va. ; Neale Blackwood, son of Mr. C. K.
Blackwood, of Point Pleasant, W. Va. ; Robert Cameron
Thompson, son of Mr. William Rootes Thompson, of Hunt-
ington, W. Va. ; Herbert Thomas Henderson, son of James
Henderson, of Five Mile, Mason County, W. Va. ; William
Hogg, son of Hon. Charles Edgar Hogg, of Morgantown,
W. Va. ; Perry Simpson Poffenberger, son of Judge George
Pofifenbarger, of Point Pleasant, W. Va. ; John Daniel vSteen-
berger, son of Prof. Peter Higgins Steenberger, of Point
Pleasant, W. Va. ; and John Griffith Freelinghuysen Smith,
son of Mr. Homer Smith, of Point Pleasant, W. Va.
"Nothing could have been more appropriate than that
these children should participate in the unveiling of the monu-
ment. On the front seat of this wagon sat little Miss
Elizabeth Sehon McCoach, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M.
McCoach, of Huntington, West Virginia, and Charles Lewis
Pomeroy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Pomeroy, of that city,
both of whose ancestors participated in the battle of Point
Pleasant. Then came members of the Charles Lewis Chapter
of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of Point
Pleasant, W. Va. ; among them were Mrs. John Daniel McCul-
lough. Misses Lillie Lee Hogg, and Lena Lorena Roseberry,
of Point Pleasant ; Mrs. Lucy Sehon Roseberry, of Point
Pleasant; Mrs. Lucy Sehon McCoach, of Huntington, West
Virginia. Then came the members of civic societies, followed
by municipal officials.
The Third Division.
"This division was headed by Edward Barto Jones,
Assistant Marshal, aided by Hon. John Park Austin and
Floyd Sterrett, with Trix Couch as color-bearer. In front
of this division was the Uniform Rank of Knights of Pythias,
marching with the drill step of the Regular Army, and in
their splendid uniform presented an imposing appearance-
one of the best features of the parade. Mounted on horseback
next came Hon. William E. Glasscock, Governor of West
Virginia, with the following named officers of his staff, and
officers of the National Guard, viz :
142 History of West Virginia
Brig.-Gen. Noyes S. Burlew, Adjutant-General and Chief
of Staff.
Brig.-Gen. Edward C. O'Toole, Commissary-General.
Brig.-Gen. Clarke Hamilton, Chief of Ordnance.
Colonels — Aides-de-Camp John Cummins, H. L. Carp-
specken, S. M. Smith, C. N. Briscoe, W. C. Lloyd, Enoch
Carver, Charles Bealle, Peter A. Simpson, Vernon E. Johnson,
and A. C. Mclntire ; and members of the National Guard, de-
tailed for duty with the Governor's staff; viz: — Capt. James I.
Pratt, Second Inft. ; and Capt. John C. Bond, Pay. Dept.
"These were followed by United States Senator Nathan
Bay Scott, and Congressmen William P. Hubbard of the First
District and Hon. James A. Hughes of the Fifth District,
accompanied by the State Officers, Hon. Stuart F. Reed,
Secretary of State; Hon. E. Lesley Long, Treasurer of State;
and Hon. Maurice P. Shawkey, State Superintendent of Free
Schools. Immediately thereafter, in carriages, were Judges
Ira E. Robinson, Luther Judson Williams, and George Polfen-
barger, of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Following these
were Mrs. William E. Glasscoclc, wife of the Governor,
accompanied by the wives of the Staff Officers ; and, in auto-
mobiles, Hon. William Seymour, Edwards, escorting Mrs.
James A. Hughes and daughter, and the wives of the Judges
of the Supreme Court of Appeals; then came, in carriages, Ex-
Gov. William A. MacCorkle, William E. Chilton, ex-Secretary
of State, with Hon. Wesley Mollohan and Judge W. S. Laid-
ley, with other distinguished invited guests, followed by citi-
zens and visitors in carriages and automobiles and on horse-
back, the whole making an imposing parade extending along
ten squares in the town.
"Arriving at the monument the vast concourse of people
covered Tu-enda-wee Park, and packed the adjacent streets.
Minute guns were fired by the cannoneers, Thomas Mason
and Wilbur Roberts, of Mason City, W. Va. The day was
an ideal one ; overhead was the clearest of skies ; the sun shone
brilliantly ; then came mildly tempered zephyrs, the whole
rendering the scene a most delightful one. The school chil-
dren — hundreds of voices — sang
History of West Virginia 14v5
*jMy Country 'tis of Thee
Sweet Land of Liberty ■
Of thee I sing.'
"Thousands of voices joined in singing this patriotic an-
them.
"Following the unveiling of the monument and the im-
pressive ceremonies in connection therewith, addresses were
made from a platform erected at the base of the monument.
Mayor John L. Whitten presided. The first speaker, and the
chief orator of the day, was Governor William E. Glasscock,
who began his oration by saying: 'A knowledge of our past
history can do us no good unless it suggests to us something
from which we can profit' — a sentence which should become
proverbial. Other speakers were Hon. Nathan B. Scott, ex-
Governor William A. MacCorkle, Hon. W^illiam E. Chilton,
Hon. William P. Hubbard, Hon. James A. Hughes, Hon. John
S. Darst, Hon. Stuart F. Reed, and Mrs. Liva Simpson Pof-
fenbarger.
"The real memorial address was Sunday, the 10th of
October, the anniversary of the battle. On this day Judge
George Wesley Atkinson delivered an address, resplendent
with rhetorical flourish and literary excellence. In this he
discussed the history of the great battle from the standpoint
of the historian, together with its results as they affected the
subsequent history of the nation *********_
"The scenes and events of that day will be remembered
by all who witnessed them as long as they live ; and those who
come after them will read of them with much interest. Mean-
while the towering monument, dedicated and unveiled that
day, will stand through centuries to come as a silent witness
of the appreciation of the generation which reared it — of the
heroism and bravery of the men who, on that day of battle,
broke the savage power at the mouth of the Great Kanawha
river."
144 History of West Virginia
"An hundred years have breathed their changeful breath
Upon this field of glory and of death ;
A century of change, yet round me still,
The self-same valley, plain, and glen and hill.
Where all day long the sound of battle rolled,
Where all day long the fearful and the bold
Behind their slender bulwarks, stern and pale.
Stood face to face, the white man and the red,
Their cause the same, the same their gory bed.
The same great rivers meet and mingle here,
That on' that day of doubt, and dread and fear
Flowed calmly on, unheedful of the strife.
The sound of battle and the wreck of life.
Now sweet the sunlight falls upon the dell
Where heroes fought and brave Charles Lewis fell.
Today when rains have swollen the river's tide.
The rich soil crumbles from the water's side;
There white and ghastly, bedded in the clay,-
The bones of those who fell that autumn day;
And ere they sink beneath the Ohio's wave.
The sunlight, for a while, gleams on the grave
Of sires of noble sons, and sons of noble sires,
A nation's incense. All her altar fires
Can scarce repay the labor of that day.
From dewy dawn, till sunlight fled away.
A nation's song, through all the coming time
Can scarce give language to thy thoughts, sublime.
As standing there beside the crimson'd rills
You thought of dear ones far across the hills.
Of West Augusta homes, Avhere warm and bright
The firelight gleamed on household gods at night.
And dawn awoke each weary, weary day
When bright eyes, waiting, watched the western way
For forms those eyes might never, never greet ;
For forms then stark in death, where two great rivers
meet."
(By Harry Maxwell Smythe, in "Moundsville Reporter."
Written at Point Pleasant during great flood in Ohio River,
August, 1875).
History of West Virginia
145
All
Plan of the Battle of Point Pleasant, Showing the Present
Location of the Ohio River Railroad and the Kanawha
& Michigan Railroad With Reference to Same.
"A" represents small pond and ravine where the action
commenced, and where Colonel Charles Lewis was mortally
wounded. From this place, at right angles to the Ohio, to
Crooked Creek, both armies, early in the action, were extended
through the woods. After a while the Indian line extended
farther down on the creek.
"B," the court house.
"C," Cornstalk's grave. He was originally buried near
the Kanawha ; but subsequently his remains were disinterred,
and removed to their present resting place.
"D," position of the fort built after the battle. All the
officers who fell in the battle were buried at or near this spot,
at what was known as the Point Lot.
CHAPTER X.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Resolution of Thanks to Lord Dunmore. A Change of Senti-
ment — Lord Dunmore's Abdication of Office as Governor
of Virginia. Unrest of American Colonists — Patrick
Henry — A Letter from Washington — Capture of Ticon-
deroga — Battle of Bunker Hill — Equipment of Virginia
Troops — Declaration of Bill of Rights — Declaration of
Independence.
Following the treaty of Camp Charlotte, the convention
sitting at Richmond, desiring to give the Earl of Dunmore an
expression of their approval of his success in the recent west-
ern campaign, on March 25, 1775, passed the following reso-
lution :
■ ''RESOLVED, unanimously, that the most cor-
dial thanks of the people of the Colony are a tribute
justly due to our worthy Governor, Lord Dunmore,
for his truly noble, wise, and spirited conduct on the
late expedition against our Indian enemy; a conduct
which at once evinces his excellency's attention to
the true interests of this colony, and a zeal in the
executive department, which no dangers can divert,
or difficulties hinder, from achieving the most im-
portant services to the people who have the happi-
ness to live under his administration."
A vote of thanks was also passed to the officers and
soldiers of the expedition. (See Amer. Arch. Vol. 2, p. 179,
301.)
These cordial feelings, however, appear to have been of
short duration, for the bad feelings toward the mother country
were soon awakened from their temporary dormancy which
finally resulted in Dunmore's hasty abdication of the office of
History of West Virginia 147
governor. The storm was now fast gathering, presaged by
the rumbhng thunders and lowering clouds of unrest through-
out the American colonies. The colonists had long since tired
of British rule. They realized the dangers of their position —
the savages on one side and the scarlet coats on the other —
but this did not dampen the ardor of their patriotism, and
"When, through the slow medium of communication with
Williamsburg, came the news of how Patrick Henry had elec-
trified the Assembly by his warning that as 'Caesar had his
Brutus, so might the British king find a retribution for his
oppressions,' and responding defiantly to the cries of treason,
Tf that be treason, make the most of it,' their own hearts
caught the generous glow% and they resolved, if die they
must, to die freemen and in defense of the rights they had
purchased with toil and blood."
The colonists made common cause against the repugnant
stamp and tea tax, the navigation and trade laws, etc. So
when the act was passed to close the port of Boston on June
1st, 1774, in retaliation of the ill feelings engendered by the
"Boston Tea Party," the House of Burgesses resolved that the
first of June — the day on which the operation of the Port Bill
was to commence — be set apart by the members as a day of
fasting, humiliation and prayer, in order "devoutly to implore
the divine interposition to avert the heavy calamity which
threatened destruction to their civil rights, and the evil of a
civil war ; and to give them one heart and one mind firmly to
oppose, by all just and proper means, every injury to Ameri-
can rights." (Graham's Colonial History U. S.)
Thinking to head off any further measures on the part of
the Americans antagonistic toward the arbitrary decrees of
an enraged parent country, the royal governor dissolved the
Assembly on the 26th of May. But this act was too late. A
close observance of fasting and prayer was maintained
throughout the commonwealth and "seemed to strengthen the
spirit of resistance to the oppressive measures of the British
authorities."
The following extract, from a letter to Washington from
Valentine Crawford, October 1st, 1774, fairly shows the state
148 History of West Virginia
of public feeling at that time ; describing Dunmore's arrival
at Wheeling:
"In order that we may be able to assist you in
relieving the poor distressed Bostonians, if the report
here be true that General Gage has bombarded the
city of Boston, ***«***_ This is a most alarming
circumstance and calls for every friend of this country
to exert himself at this time in its cause."
In March, 1775, the Virginia Assembly openly discussed
the probabilities of war and the necessity of preparing for
defense. Some members favored postponing these prepara-
tions, in the hope of securing a peaceable adjustment of their
difficulties, but Patrick Henry, with much earnest eloquence,
contended for immediate action, claiming that hesitation was
fatal. Said he : "There is no longer any room for hope. We
must FIGHT — An appeal to arms, and to the God of Hosts, is
all that is left us. Gentlemen may cry 'Peace ! Peace !' but
there is no peace — the war is actually begun — the next gale
that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash
of resounding arms."
Scarcely had these utterances been made when the sounds
of battle were heard. The plains of Lexington and Concord
witnessed the first blood shed in the struggle for American
Independence, on the 19th of April, and the spirit of resist-
ance and revolution spread rapidly to the remotest borders
of the land.
"In Virginia the march of the revolution w^as accelerated
by the intemperate measures of Lord Dunmore, the governor.
Having, by a sudden and clandestine operation, removed a
portion of the public stores during the night from Williams-
burg on board of armed vessels, and finding his conduct
sharply arraigned by the provincial convention, he retorted
to their censure and condemned all their proceedings in a pro-
clamation, which concluded with the usual formula, 'God Save
the King.' They replied to him by a proclamation which
concluded with 'God save the liberties of America,' and Pat-
rick Henry marched against him at the head of a detachment
of the provincial militia. Lord Dunmore, who at first solemn-
History of West Virginia 149
ly swore that if any violence were offered himself he would
proclaim liberty to all the negro slaves in the province, and
lay Williamsburg in ashes, finding that his menace inflamed
the public rage instead of inspiring fear, was obliged to pro-
cure a respite from the approaching danger by granting a bill
of exchange for the pecuniary value of the stores which had
been removed, but soon again, involving himself by his vio-
lence in a quarrel (from which the utmost prudence could
hardly have kept him free) with the popular party, he fled
hastily from Williamsburg with his family on the 8th of June,
took refuge on board the Fowey, a British man-of-war, and
thus practically abdicated his functions. An interregnum en-
sued, but a delegated convention, in view of the public safety,
assumed such legislative and executive control as was neces-
sary for the defense and protection of the colony in all her
interests."
Meantime, events of the most serious character and
fraught with the gravest consequences were occurring in the
•east. The second congress convened at Philadelphia on the
10th day of May, and on the same day Col. Ethan Allen with
a small force of Vermont militia, known as "Green Mountain
Boys," surprised and captured the British fortress of Ticon-
deroga with her garrison and equipment, and also that of
Crown Point; both important defenses of Lake Champlain.
This sudden assumption of aggressive warfare, the gallantry
and success of the enterprise, together with Allen's character-
istic demand for the surrender "in the name of the Great
Jehovah and the Continental Congress," stirred the popular
feeling to a blaze throughout the whole country. These suc-
cesses were followed, on the 17th day of June, by the battle
of Bunker Hill, in which a detachment of a thousand pro-
vincials, under Col. Prescott, supported by Putnam and War-
ren, twice repulsed, with great loss, the attack of a greatly
superior force of British regulars, commanded by Howe in
person, and only fell back, on the third attack, from lack of
ammunition. This gallant and noble struggle, showing how
well a rude and undisciplined force could meet the trained
veterans of the vaunted British army, gave the liveliest satis-
faction to their expectant fellow countrymen, and determined
150 History of West Virginia
them, if such determination were necessary, to take no step
backward in the good cause of the country's rights. Recog-
nizing the imminence of war, the necessity of thorough mi
tary organization followed, and Congress at once took meas-
ures for embodying the troops of the provinces into a con-
tinental army.
On the 15th of June, they unanimously elected George
Washington commander-in-chief of the American forces — a
choice which all subsequent time has justified as one of singu-
lar wisdom and good fortune.
The Virginia Convention took prompt and vigorous
measures for recruiting and equipping their quota of troops.
By the middle of July two regiments were raised and provision
made for seven more. The nine regiments were soon equip-
ped "the Virginia line," thence forward throughout the war
were engaged in many sanguinary fields, and maintained an
honored and honorable fame. Among other acts of the As-
sembly was one passed July 17th, 1775, "for the better pro-
tection of the inhabitants on the frontiers of this colony * * * *.
Be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid. That there
shall be appointed and raised, exclusive of the regiments be-
fore mentioned, two companies, consisting each of one captain,
three lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, two drummers
and two fifers, and one hundred men rank and file, to be
stationed at Pittsburgh ; also one other company, consisting
of a lieutenant and twenty-five privates, to be stationed at Fort
Fincastle, at the mouth of Wheehng creek, etc."
During this time, the inhabitants of the frontier were com-
paratively free from molestation b}'- the Indians, and were not
only deeply interested in the events which had been trans-
piring in the East, but gave a hearty support to all the meas-
ures adopted to secure and defend the liberties of the colonies.
By the opening of the new year it began to be under-
stood that having drawn the sword the issue of the fight must
be utter subjugation or a separate national existence. The
feeling was so manifest at the Virginia convention that on the
6th day of May, 1776, they passed the declaration known as
the Bill of Rights, and on the 15th day of May, 1776, with
suitable preamble.
History of West Virginia 151
"Resolved nnaniniously, That the delegates appointed to
represent this colony in the General Congress be instructed
to propose to that respectable body to declare the United
Colonies free and independent States, absolved from all alle-
giance to, or dependence upon, the crown of Great Britain ;
and that they give the assent of this colony to such declara-
tion, etc."
On the 29th of June, 1776, they formally adopted a con-
stitution, or form of government, which abrogated British
rule and established a government of the people for the State
of Virginia. The same day Patrick Henry was elected Gov-
ernor of the State.
By these various acts the people were fully committed to
the Revolution finally inaugurated by the passage of the
Declaration of Independence by Congress, which was pro-
mulgated formally on the 4th of July, 1776. (Extracts from
"History of the Pan Handle.")
About the same time the Declaration of Independence
was declared, the name of Fort Fincastle, at Wheeling, was
changed to Fort Henry, in honor of Patrick Henry, the new
Governor of Virginia, and has ever since been known by that
name.
The fort was erected on an elevation on what is now
known as Main Street Hill, the site being marked with a
tablet, erected by the State, bearing the following inscription :
"By Authority of the State of West Virginia
To Commemorate the Siege of Fort Henry,
September 11, 1782. the Last Battle of the
American Revolution, This Tablet Is Placed Here.
"T. M. GARVIN,
"W. W. JACKSON,
"S. H. GRANN,
"Committee."
The "monument" stands on the outer edge of the side-
walk, in front of the building now occupied by The 'Great
Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., near the corner of Eleventh and
]\Tain streets. It is a very small affair to be dignified with
152 History of West Virginia
the name of monument, considering the important event it is
intended to commemorate, being a stone only 32 inches long,
12 inches wide at the base and 16 inches at the top — 20 inches
on the outer side and 8 inches on the side facing the walk — ■
the top sloping inward.
CHAPTER XI.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Battle at Fort Henry, Wheeling, W. Va.
On the first of September, 1782, John Lynn (a celebrated
spy and the same who had been with Captain Foreman at
the time of the fatal ambuscade at Grave Creek), being
engaged in watching the warriors' paths, northwest of the
Ohio, discovered a war party marching with great expedition
for Wheeling, and hastening to warn the inhabitants of the
danger which threatened them, swam the river and reached
the village just in advance of the appearance of the invaders.
The fort was at this time without any regular garrison,
and depended exclusively on those who sought its protection.
The brief space of time which elapsed between alarm
by Lynn and the arrival of the Indians permitted only those
who were immediately present to avail themselves of the fort's
security, and when the attack began there were not more than
twenty men to oppose the assault. The dwelling house oi
Col. Ebenezer Zane, about one hundred and twenty feet from
the fort, contained the military supplies which had been fur-
nished by the government of Virginia ; and as it was admira-
bly situated as an out-post from which to annoy the savages
in their onsets, he resolved on maintaining possession of it,
as well to aid in the defense of the fort as for the preserva-
tion of the ammunition.
George Green, Andrew Scott, Miss McCullough. Molh"
Scott, Mrs. Zane, and Sam and his wife Kate (negro slaves
of Colonel Zane) were all who remained with Ebenezer in the
house during the siege.
Capt. Silas Zane commanded in the fort.
The enemy consisted of 238 Shawnee and Delaware
Indians and 40 British soldiers, known as "Queen's Rangers",
under the command of a Captain Bradt. They approached
154 History of West Virginia
under the British colors. Before firing on the fort they
demanded its surrender. Response was made by the firing
of several shots at the standard which they bore ; and the
enemy rushed to the assault. A well directed and brisk fire,
opened upon them from Colonel Zane's house and the fort,
soon drove them back. Again they rushed forward, and
again they were repulsed.
The number of arms in the house and fort, and the
great exertions of the women in moulding bullets, loading
guns and handing them to the men, enabled them to fire so
briskly, yet so effectively, as to cause the enemy to recoil
from every charge. The darkness of night soon suspended
their attacks and afforded a temporar}^ repose to the besieged.
Yet were the assailants not wholly inactive. Having suffered
severely by the galling fire poured upon them from the house,
they determined on reducing it to ashes. For this purpose,
when all was quietness and silence, a savage, with a fire-brand
in his hand, crawled to the kitchen, and raising himself from
the ground, waving the torch to and' fro to re-kindle its flame,
was about to apply it to the building when a shot forced him
to drop the torch and hobble away, howling. The vigilance
of Sam had detected the Indian in time to thwart his purpose.
On the return of light, the savages and scarlet coats were
seen yet surrounding the fort, engaged in making such prepa-
. rations as they were confident would insure a successful
assault.
Soon after the firing of the preceding da}^ had subsided, a
small boat from Fort Pitt, on the way to the Ohio Falls with
cannon balls for the use of the troops at the latter point, put
to shore at Wheeling ; and the man who had charge, although
discovered and slightly wounded by the savages, reached the
postern and was admitted to the fort. The boat, of course,
fell into the hands of the enemy, who resolved on using the
balls on board for the demolishing of the fortress.
To this end they procured a hollow log', and binding it
closely with chains taken from a shop near by, charged it
with powder and ball. All being ready, a light was applied ;
a dreadful explosion ensued ; their cannon burst — its slivers
flew in every direction ; and instead of tearing down the fort,
History of West Virginia 155
as they had anticipated, resulted in injury only to themselves.
Several Indians were killed, and many wounded, and all were
dismayed by the event. History does not record that any of
the British soldiers were participants in this foolish under-
taking; but it is to be presumed that their knowledge of
explosives would be sufficient to warn them of the danger of
an experiment of this kind, and tfiat they were careful not to
expose themselves during its operation. In all probability
they regarded the event as a good joke upon their savage
companions-in-arms ; for it is known that the British, with
their past experience wdth the French and Indians, possessed
no great love for the savages — regarding them only as tools
for their present selfish purposes.
Those not seriously injured soon recovered from their
shock and resumed the assault with redoubled energy. Still
they were received with a fire so constant and deadly that
they were again forced to retire.
When Lynn gave the alarm that an army was approach-
ing, the fort having been for some time unoccupied by a garri-
son and Colonel Zane's house being used as a magazine, those
who retired into the fortification had to take with them a
supply of ammunition for its defense. The supply of powder,
deemed ample at the time, was now nearly exhausted. It
was, therefore, lucky for the whites that the savages had
retired at this particular time. Realizing the great importance
of replenishing their stock from Colonel Zane's house, it was
proposed that one of their fleetest men should endeavor to
reach the house, obtain a keg of powder and return with it to
the fort. This was necessarily a very hazardous undertaking,
but many promptly offered their services. Among those who
volunteered to go was Elizabeth, the younger sister of Colonel
Zane. She was then young, active and athletic, with precip-
itancy to dare danger, and fortitude to sustain her in the
midst of it. Disdaining to weigh the hazard of her own life
against the risk of others, when told that a man would en-
counter less danger by reason of his greater flectness, she
replied, "And should he fall, his loss will be more severely
felt. You have not one man to spare: — a woman will not be
missed in the defense of the fort." Her services were accepted.
'A'
' - -•- *■. -r
.r>
rf
\
'■■'a ,; ■■ ■■; *• -
" — -__
ELIZABETH ZANE
From an Old Portrait of the Heroine
— Used by Special Permission of Miss Carrie Zane.
Miss Zane — later Mrs. Clark — was buried in old Walnut Grove
Cemetery in Martins Ferry, Ohio. A movement is now on foot for
the erection of an appropriate monument at her grave by the U. S.
Government.
History of West Virginia 157
Divesting- herself of some of her garments that might impede
her progress, she stood prepared for the hazardous adventure ;
and when the gate was opened, she bounded forth with the
buoyancy of hope and in the confidence of success. In amaze-
ment, the Indians beheld her spring forward ; and only ex-
claiming, "a squaw, a squaw," no attempt was made to
interrupt her progress. Arrived at the door, she proclaimed
her errand. Colonel Zane fastened a table-cloth around her
waist, and emptying into it a keg of powder, again she ven-
tured forth. The Indians were no longer passive. Ball after
ball passed whistling by, but she reached the gate and entered
the fort in safety. This heroine had but recently returned
from Philadelphia, where she had received her education, and
was wholly unused to such scenes as were daily occurring on
the frontier. She afterwards became the wife of a Mr.
McGlanlin, whose death occurred some time afterwards, and
she married a Mr. Clark. She was yet living somewhere in
Ohio in 1831.
Another instance of heroic daring deserves to be recorded
here. When the news of the fight at Wheeling reached Shep-
herd's Fort, a party was dispatched from the latter place to aid
the Wheeling garrison. Upon arriving in view, it was found
that the attempt would be hopeless and unavailing, and the
detachment consequently prepared to return. Francis Duke
(son-in-law to Col. Shepherd) was unwilling to turn his back
on a people in such great need of assistance as he knew the
besieged must be, and declared his intention of endeavoring
to reach the fort, that he might help in its defense. It was
useless to try to dissuade him from the attempt ; he knew its
danger, but he also knew their weakness, and putting spurs
to his horse, rode briskly forward, calling aloud, "open the
gate, — open the gate." He was seen from the fort, and the
gate was open ior his entrance, but he did not live to reach it.
Pierced by the bullets of the savages, he fell, to the sorrow of
the whites. Such noble daring deserved a better fate.
During that night and the next day, the Indians still main-
tained the siege, and made frequent attempts to take the fort
by storm ; but they were invariably repulsed by the deadly
fire of the garrison and the few persons in Col. Zane's house.
158 History of West Virginia
On the third night, despairing of success, the enemy raised
the siege, and leaving about one hundred warriors to scout
and lay waste the country, the remainder of the army re-
treated across the Ohio and encamped at the Indian Spring,
five miles from the river. Their loss in the various assaults
upon the fort could not be ascertained, but was doubtless
very heavy. Of the garrison, none were killed and only two
wounded ; the heroic Francis Duke was the only white who
fell during the siege. The gallantry displayed by all, both
men and women, in the defense of the fort, cannot be too
highly commended ; but to the caution and good conduct of
those few brave individuals who occupied Col. Zane's home
its preservation has been mainly attributed.
This was the last battle of the Revolutionary War. It
will, therefore, be seen that the first and last guns in the war
for independence were fired on the bank of the Ohio, within
West Virginia, as the battle at Point Pleasant was the first of
the Revolution. This last statement is based on the fact that
Lord Dunmore, colonial governor of Virginia, was in collusion
was the English government and its agents in this country,
and aided and abetted that country in various ways, such as
instigating and perpetuating the enmity of the Indians against
the colonists, — at the same time persuading the savages to
believe that the British government was friendly to their in-
terests. Dunmore's actions throughout the 1774 campaign
and thereafter (although so shrewdly disguised at this time
as not to be discerned by the Assembly) were such as to excite
the suspicions of the military officers and soldiers. His pre-
vious knowledge of the coming battle at Point Pleasant, and
his failure to join Lewis's forces at that point as was pre-
viously agreed upon, and the sudden haste of the northern
division of the arm}^ through the Ohio country; the "treaty"
at Camp Charlotte AFTER his Indian friends had been "Hcked
to a frazzle" at Point Pleasant by General Lewis and his brave
men — his subsequent actions on his return to Williamsburg —
all these circumstances and many more furnish conclusive
evidence that the first battle of the Revolution was indeed
fought at Point Pleasant.
CHAPTER XII.
Names, Locations, and Date of Establishment of Forts in
West Virginia.
Fort Ashby.
A stockade. It stood on the east bank of Patterson's
Creek on the site of the present village of Alaska, formerly
Frankfort, in Frankfort District, Mineral County. Erected
by Lieutenant John Bacon, under orders from Colonel Wash-
ington, in 1755.
Fort Buttermilk.
A stockade. Situated on the South Branch of the Poto-
mac, about three miles above the present town of Moorefield,
in South Fork District, Hardy County. Erected by Captain
Thomas Waggener under orders from Colonel Washington
in 1756.
Fort Capon.
A small stockade fort. Stood at the "Forks of Capdn"
in the Great Cacapon Valley, in Bloomery District, Hampshire
County. Erected prior to 1757.
Fort Cox.
A stockade. Situated on the lower point of land on the
Potomac at the mouth of Little Cacapon river. Erected prior
to 1750. Here "George Washington, on April 25th, 1750,
sur\'eyed a tract of 240 acres of land for Friend Cox." Friend
Cox was therefore, probably, the builder of the fort.
Fort Edwards.
A stockade, situated on or near the site of the present
village of Capon Bridge, in Bloomery District. Hampshire
160 History of West Virginia
County. On November 11, 1749, George Washington sur-
veyed for David Edwards at Capon Bridge, 412 acres of land,
and in the following spring surveyed 400 acres, adjoining
David Edwards, for Thomas Edwards ,and also another tract,
adjoining David and Thomas, for Joseph Edwards. It will
therefore be seen that the fort was probably built in or about
1749, by the Shepherds.
Fort Evans.
A stockade fort, situated two miles south of Martinsburg,
in Arden District, Berkeley County. Erected by John Evans
in 1755-1756.
Fort Furman.
A stockade, situated on the South Branch of the Potomac,
about one mile above Hanging Rock, and three miles north of
Romney, in Springfield District, Hampshire County. Erected
at the beginning of the French and Indian War, by William
Furman.
Fort George.
A small stockade, located on the east bank of the South
Branch of the Potomac nearly opposite the present town of
Petersburg, in Milroy District, Grant County. Erected about
the year 1754, presumably by Jacob Welton and his brothers.
Fort Hedges.
A small stockade fort on the west side of Back Creek, on
the road now leading from Martinsburg to Berkeley Springs,
in Hedges District, Berkeley County.
Fort Hopewell.
This was situated on the South Branch of the Potomac,
the exact location is not known. Erected some time before
the year 1754.
Fort McKenzie.
This fort was located on the South Branch of the Potomac.
Exact place of location not known. Probably erected by Cap-
tain Robert McKenzie some time prior to the 5^ear 1757.
History of West Virginia 161
Fort Maidstone.
This was a stockade fort, situated on the bluff on the
lower point at the mouth of Great Cacapon River, now in
Bath District, Morgan County. No record of name of builder.
Supposed to have been erected prior to 1756, as Washington's
papers referred to this fort in that year.
Fort Neally.
Fort Neally was a small stockade fort on Opequon River,
now in Opequon District, Berkeley County. Erected prior to
1756, as the fort was attacked by Indians in that year. Name
of builder not known.
Fort Ohio.
A stockade fort, was erected by Job Pearsall on the pres-
ent site of Romney, in Hampshire County. Probably erected
prior to 1754, as it is recorded that "Major Washington spent
the night at this fort on April 19, 1754."
Fort Peterson.
A small stockade fort, situated on the South Branch of
the Potomac, two miles above the mouth of the North Branch,
in Milroy District, Grant County. Erected about 1756.
Erected by order of Governor Dinwiddie.
Fort Pleasant.
A strong structure, having cabins, palisades, and block-
houses. It was erected by Thomas Waggener, under orders
of Colonel Washington, in 1756, on the "Indian Old Fields"
about a mile and a half above the "Trough" on the South
Branch of the Potomac, in Moorefield District, Hardy County.
One of the block houses was still standing in 1830. It was
sometimes called Fort Van Meter, and at other times was
known as "Town Fort." Round about, this fort were the
scenes of many Indian depredations.
162 History of West Virginia
Fort Riddle.
This was a small stockade fort on Lost River, in Lost
River District, Hardy County. Near it a fierce and bloody
battle was fought between a body of fifty Indians and a com-
pany of Virginia frontiersmen under Capt. Jeremiah Smith.
Fort Sellers.
A small stockade on the east side of Patterson's Creek at
the mouth thereof, in Franklin District, Mineral County.
"Here George Washington surveyed lands for Elias Sellers,
April 1, 1748." This fort was erected by Colonel Washington.
Fort Seybert.
A strong fort having cabins, palisades, and block houses.
It stood on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Poto-
mac, twelve miles northeast of Franklin, in Bethel District,
Pendleton County. Indians attacked this fort iii April, 1758,
killing many of the occupants, after their surrender.
Fort Upper Tract.
A stockade fort, erected under directions of Col. Wash-
ington, in 1756. It stood a short distance west of the South
Branch of the Potomac at what is now known as "Upper
Tract," in Mill Run District, Pendleton County.
Fort Warden.
Fort Warden was a small stockade fort in the vicinity of
the present town of Wardensville, in Capon District, Hardy
County. Erected by William Warden prior to 1749. The
builder and a Mr. Taff were murdered by the Indians, and
the fort burnt, in 1758.
Fort Williams.
This was a stockade fort, situated on the South Branch
of the Potomac, two miles below Hanging Rock, in Spring-
field District, Hampshire County.
History of West Virginia 163
Fort Arbuckle.
A small stockade fort erected by Capt. Mathew Arbuckle,
at the mouth of Mill Creek, a stream falling into Muddy
Creek four miles from its mouth, in Blue Sulphur District,
Greenbrier County.
Fort Baker.
Sometimes referred to as "Baker's Station," and some-
times mentioned as Fort Cresap. It was erected in 1732, and
stood at the head of Cresap's Bottom, in Meade District,
Marshall County. Built by John Baker and his neighbors.
It was a stockade fort, with block houses joined by palisades.
Fort Baldwin.
This was a blockhouse which stood on the site of the
present village of Blacksville, in Clay District, Monongalia
County. It was the most western fort in that county. "The
valley of Dunkard's Creek, in which it was located, was the
scene of many a barbarian incident of the border wars."
Fort Beech Bottom.
This was a small stockade fort which stood on the east
bank of the Ohio River, twelve miles above \Yheeling, in Buf-
falo District, Brooke County.
Fort Beeler.
Fort Beeler was a stockade fort which stood upon the
site of the present town of Cameron, in Cameron District,
Marshall County. It was erected by Colonel Joseph Beeler,
who had secured title to a large tract of land in this vicinity.
It was known as "Beeler's Station." Colonel Beeler repre-
sented to the national authorities that, because of the almost
constant presence of Indians about the "Station," it was im-
possible for him to defend it longer, and in 1781 a garrison of
53 men under Capt. Jeremiah Long was stationed there. This
made it possible for white men to hold possession of the region
round about.
164 History of West Virginia
Fort Belleville.
This was a strong fort. It stood on the site of the pres-
ent village of Belleville, in Harris District, Wood County. It
was erected in the autumn of the year 1785 and spring of 1786,
by Captain Joseph Wood and ten men hired in Pittsburgh as
laborers for the year. The first building was 20 x 40 feet, two
stories high, with port holes in the walls for musketry. The
four block-houses were erected to include this building, at the
corners of an oblong square, between which were erected
several small cabins, the whole connected by palisades ten
feet high, so as to make a regular stockaded fort 100 x 300 feet,
sufficient to accommodate from 100 to 150 persons. At each
end were strong gates for the admission of cattle. On the
river side was a small gate, or sally-port, through which the
inmates passed in getting water or in going to and from their
canoes. Five or six cabins stood on the river bank just below
the fort, but these were abandoned in times of threatened
hostilities. Several of the tragedies and dramas of Indian
warfare were enacted around the walls of this fort and on the
hills in its vicinity.
Fort Bowling.
This was a small fort in the Pan Handle above Wheeling,
its exact location not being ascertained, but doubtless known
locally.
Fort Buckhannon.
A small fort situated near the site of the present town of
Buckhannon, in Upshur County. Erected prior to the year
1781. See "Indian Massacres" in another chapter.
Fort Burris.
This was a small fort located on the "Flats," on the east
side of the Monongahela River, in Morgan District, Monon-
galia County. Its exact location not knoAvn.
History of West Virginia 165
Fort Bush.
Fort Bush was situated on the west side of Buckhannon
River, a short distance above the mouth of Turkey Run, in
Upsbur County. The first settler on the spot was John Hack-
er, who came here in 1769. The Indians were very trouble-
some in this neighborhood, as will be shown elsewhere.
Fort Butler.
This was a small fort which stood at the mouth of Roar-
ing Creek, on the east side of Cheat River, in Portland District,
Preston County. Erected about the year 1774.
Fort Chapman.
This was a blockhouse erected by the Chapmans — George
and William — who came to the vicinity of New Cumberland,
Hancock County, in 1784-85.
Fort Clark.
This was a small stockade consisting of four cabins placed
•close together, and protected by a palisade wall ten feet high.
It was situated on Pleasant Hill, in Union District, Marshall
County. - Its builder and defender was Henry Clark, who
came here in 1771. (See "Indian Massacres").
Fort Cobun.
A small stockade fort erected by Jonathan Cobun in 1779,
near Dorsey's Knob, on Cobun's Creek, in iMorgan District,
Monongalia County. An historical spot.
Fort Cook.
This fort, a strong one, was situated on Indian Creek,
three miles from its mouth, in Red Sulphur District, Monroe
Count3^ It was an oblong structure with cabins joined by
palisades and block-houses at the corners, and covered one
and one half acres of ground. Indian massacres in this
vicinity.
166 History of West Virginia
Fort Coon.
This was a small fort, situated on the West Fork River,
in Harrison County. (See "Indian Massacres.")
Fort Cooper.
Fort Cooper was a block-house, erected by Leonard
Cooper in 1792. It stood on the north bank of the Great Ka-
nawha River, eight miles from its mouth, in what is now
Cooper District, Mason County.
Fort Culbertson.
This was a stockade fort erected in 1774 by Captain (after-
wards General) James Robertson, of Tennessee, acting under
orders from William Preston, County Lieutenant of old Fin-
castle County. It stood on the site of the settlements made
by Andrew Culbertson in 1753, in Culbertson's Bottom — now
Crump's Bottom — on New River, in Pipestem District, Sum-
mers County.
Fort Currence.
A small fort situated one-half mile east of the present
site of the village of Crickard, in Huttonsville District, Ran-
dolph County. It was erected in 1774 by the joint labors of
neighboring settlers for mutual protection. It has been called
"Fort Casino" by some writers.
Fort Dinwiddie.
This was a fort of considerable size, situated on the pres-
ent site of the village of Stewartstown, in Union District,
Monongalia County. Its proprietor appears to have been
Jacob Rogers, and for this reason the fort was sometimes
called Fort Rogers, or Rogers's Fort.
Fort Donnally.
This fort was situated near the present town of Frank-
ford, ten miles north of Lewisburg, in Falling Spring Dis-
History of West Virginia 167
trict, Greenbrier County. It was erected by Colonel Andrew
Donnally in 1771, while the locality was still in Botetourt
County. It has an interesting history.
Fort Edgington.
This fort was situated near the mouth of Harmon's Creek,
nearly opposite Steubenville, Ohio, in Cross Creek District,
Brooke County, W. Va.
Fort Edwards.
This was a small fort situated five miles south of Boothes-
ville, in Boothe's Creek District, Taylor County.
Fort Flinn.
This was a small stockade fort situated on the bank of
the Ohio River on the upper point at the mouth of Lee Creek,
in Harris District, Wood County. It occupied a site in what
was known to the first settlers as the "Indian Clearing," a
tract of about twenty acres. It was erected in 1785 by a band
of adventurers from the vicinity of Wheeling, but originally
from the Valley of the Susquehanna River. Thomas and
Jacob Flinn, brothers, aided by Jacob and John Parchment
and John Barnett, were the builders. It was sometimes
spoken of as "Flinn's Station." Hither came the settlers who
were afterwards among the founders of the town that grew
up around the walls of Fort Belleville, a short distance below,
one of them being Malcom Coleman, who was killed by the
Indians on Mill Creek, in Jackson County.
Fort Friend.
This fort was erected by Jonas Friend at Maxwell's
Ferrv, on Leading Creek, in Leadville District. Randolph
County. Indians visited this vicinity in 1781. and nearly de-
stroyed the whole settlement. (See "Indian Massacres.")
168 History of West Virginia
Fort Hadden.
This was a strong fort on the point of high ground on ,
the west side of Tygart's Valley River, at the mouth of Elk-
water Creek, in Huttonsville District, Randolph County. (See
"Indian Massacres.)
Fort Harbert.
This was a block-house, situated on Tenmile Creek, in
Harrison County. (See "Indian Massacres.")
Fort Harrison.
This was a stockade fort situated on the west side of the
Monongahela River, at the source of Crooked Run, in Cass
District, Monongalia County. It was erected by Richard Har-
rison, who came from Eastern Virginia. It consisted of a two-
story, hewed log-house, 20x30 feet, with a large yard enclosed
by a wall of strong palisades. Within this yard was a well,
and just outside was a spring. The former has been filled, but
the latter flows on just as it did when the fort hard by was the
scene of Indian hostilities.
Fort Henry (Formerly Fort Fincastle).
This fortress was situated on the high bluft* on Main
street. Wheeling, and was erected in 1774, and called Fort Fin-
castle, in honor of Lord Dunmore, one of whose titles of dig-
nity was that of Viscount Fincastle. It was a small structure
at first, but was enlarged in 1777 and the name changed to
Fort Henry in honor of Patrick Henry. As thus changed it
was a parallelogram, having its greatest length along the river,
the stockade being formed of square palisades of white oak,
closely fitted, together, and about seventeen feet high. This
was supported by bastions, with port holes for rifles and mus-
ketry above and below, and sentry boxes at the corners ; it
was thus well adapted for resisting a savage force, however
powerful. It enclosed about half an acre of ground. AVithin
this space was the commandant's house, a two-story structure.
History of West Virginia 169
and a store house of one story in the center (both very strong),
with barracks for the garrison ; during this year a well was
dug and several cabins and families were arranged along the
western wall.
Fort Holliday.
This fort was situated on the site of the present town of
Holliday's Cove, in Butler District, Hancock County. It was
erected in 1776 and greatly strengthened the next year. At
that time Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, sent to
Colonel Andrew Swearingen a quantity of ammunition, which
was stored here. At the time of the first siege of Fort Henry
(1777) runners hastened to Fort Holliday for aid. Then it
was that Colonel Swearingen, with fourteen men, departed
for the beleagured fort, and ere the siege was raised all ar-
rived and rendered efficient aid.
Fort Jackson.
This fort was situated on Tenmile Creek in Sardis Dis-
trict, Harrison County, and was a rendezvous for the settlers
and their families in that neighborhood. It was erected in the
year 1774. In the valley of this creek were enacted some of
the horrible scenes of the border war. (See "Indian Mas-
sacres.")
Fort Eckley.
A small fort situated on the Little Levels in Academy
District, Pocahontas County. It was erected about the year
1772. It was sometimes later called Fort Day.
Fort Kelly.
A fort known in border annals as "Kelly's Station." It
was situated on the site of the present town of Cedar Grove,
on the right bank of the Great Kanawha River, twenty miles
above Charleston, at the mouth of Kelly's Creek, in Cabin Dis-
trict, Kanawha County. It was built by Captain William
Morris, who came to the spot in 1774. It derived its name
170 History o£ West Virginia
from Walter Kelly, who was killed at that place in 1772. It
was long a prominent place, being the shipping point for the
people who crossed the momitains in the early settlement of
the Great Kanawha Valley and of the State of Kentucky. For
many years after the fort fell into decay the place was known
as the "Boat Yards."
Fort Kerns.
This was a stockade fort. It was situated on the east
side of the Monongahela River, on the high land just across
the mouth of Decker's Creek, in Morgan District, Monongalia
County. It was one of the largest forts in that region, and for
many years the gathering place for the families of the Monon-
gahela in times of danger. Its builder and defender was
Michael Kerns, a native of Holland, who wedded Susan
Weatherhold, of Westmoreland County, Pa., and came to the
site of Morgantown in 1772. He erected the first mill in Mon-
ongaHa County, and was long the proprietor of a boat yard
at the mouth of Decker's Creek, now Morgantown.
Fort Lee.
This fort, named in honor of Governor Lee of Virginia,
was situated on the site of the present city of Charleston, the
capital of the State. It was erected in the summer of 1788
by half of a company of Rangers from Greenbrier County sent
to protect the inhabitants of the Great Kanawha Valley from
' the incursions of Indians. George Clendenin, who was County
Lieutenant of Greenbrier County at the time, and who directed
the work of construction, writing Governor Edmund Ran-
dolph under date of June 9, 1788, said: "We built a very
strong fort and finding it impossible to keep the place with
the few men that were in service, I thought it expedient to
order the remainder of the Ranging Company into service."
Within the next seven years much interesting frontier history
was made there. June 11, 1793, Col. John Steele, United
States Inspector of Western Defenses, inspected Captain
Hugh Caperton's Company of Greenbrier Rangers stationed
at Fort Lee.
History of West Virginia 171
Fort Liberty.
This fort was a block-house situated on the site of the
present town of West Liberty, in West Liberty District, Ohio
County. This was the first seat of justice of that county, and
for this reason this block-house is frequently referred to b\
early writers as the "Court House Fort."
Fort Link.
This block-house was erected by Jonathan Link in 1780.
It was located on Middle Wheeling Creek, near the present
town of Triadelphia, in district of that name, in Ohio County.
Fort Martin (New Martinsville).
This was a block-house. It was erected some time prior
to 1780, on the site of the present town of New Martinsville,
the county seat of Wetzel County. The fort stood on the
bank of the Ohio River, about where the residence of Charles
W. Barrick is now located, and a short distance north of the
M. E. Church. It does not appear to have been regularly gar-
risoned, but rather used as an abode for its builder — a Mr.
Martin.
Fort Martin (Monongalia County).
This fort was situated on the west side of the Mononga-
hela River, on Crooked Run, in Cass District, Monongalia
County. It was erected about the year 1773 by Charles Mar-
tin, who came from Eastern Virginia. In June, 1779, while
most of the men were at work in the fields, a lot of Indians
attacked the fort, killing James Stewart, James Smalley and
Peter Crouse, and took John Shriver and his wife, two sons
of Stewart, two sons of Smalley and a son of Crouse prisoners
and carried them into captivity. This Charles Martin was
great-grandfather of Hon. S. R. Martin, who now (1913) re-
sides in New Martinsville, West Virginia. His first wife was
a daughter of Lord Fairfax. In 1768 he was granted four
hundred acres of land in ]\Tonongalia County. The above
mentioned fort was located on this farm.
172 History of West Virginia
Fort Martin (Marshall County).
This was a stockade on the Ohio River, at the mouth of
Fish Creek, in Frankhn District, Marshall County. It was
erected by Presley Martin sometime prior to 1793.
Fort Minear.
This fort was situated on the east side of Cheat River, 011
the site of the present town of St. George, in St. George Dis-
trict, Tucker County. It was built by John Minear in 1776,
assisted by a body of emigrants who accompanied him here
and who afterwards became the fotmders of St. George. (See
"Indian Massacres.")
Fort Morgan.
This was a small stockade fort erected about 1772. It was
situated on the site of the present town of Morgantown, Mon-
ongalia County.
Fort Morris (Preston County).
An early fort, a stockade, enclosing a number of houses
or cabins on a small tract of land — about one acre — on Hog
Run, a branch or tributary of Sandy Creek, now in Grant Dis-
trict, Preston County. It was built by Richard Morris in 1774.
Fort Morris (Kanawha County).
This was a stockade fort standing on the south bank of
the Great Kanawha River, opposite the mouth of Campbell's
Creek, now in Louden District, Kanawha County. It was
erected by Captain John Morris in 1774. The Captain was a
brother of Colonel William Morris, who commanded Fort
Kelly, fifteen miles further up the river.
History of West Virginia 173
Fort Neal.
This was sometimes called "Neal's Station." It was
located on the upper point at the mouth of a small run, on the
south bank of the Little Kanawha River, one mile from its
mouth, and nearly opposite Parkersburg. The people in this
vicinity suffered a great deal at the hands of the Indians, as
will be related elsewhere.
Fort Nutter.
This was a stockade fort situated on the east bank of Elk
Creek, now within the corporate limits of Clarksburg, Harri-
son County. Its builders and defenders were Thomas, John,
Matthew and Christopher Nutter, brothers, who came to this
vicinity in 1772. It afforded protection to the inhabitants on
the West Fork of the Monongahela from its source to its con-
fluence with the Tygart's Valley River, at what is now Fair-
mont ; and to those who lived on Buckhannon River and
Hacker's Creek, as well as to those of the immediate locality.
When the Hacker's Creek settlement was broken up by the
savages in 1779 the settlers who escaped took refuge in this
fort, where they aided in resisting the foe and in maintaining
possession of the country. There were many tragedies and
dramas enacted in this vicinity, some of which we will relate
in a future chapter.
Fort Pawpaw.
This was a small fort situated on Paw^paw Creek, in Ma-
rion Count3^ Captain John Evans, of the Rangers, -vvas
located here for a while, and was later transferred to Fort
Henry at Wheeling.
Fort Pierpoint.
This fort was erected in 1769 by John Pierpoint. It was
located in what is now Union District, in Monongalia County,
about . . miles from Morgantown and one mile from Easton.
174 History of West Virginia
Fort Powers.
Was situated on Simpson's Creek, in Harrison County.
It is supposed to have been erected by John Powers in 1771.
We shall hear more of this fort in future chapters.
Fort Prickett.
This was a stockade fort erected in 1774. It was situated
at the mouth of Prickett's Creek, on the east side of the Mo-
nong"ahela River, five miles below Fairmont, Marion Count .
In early years of the Revolution it afforded protection to z'
the settlers in that part of the Monongahela Valley. Read
the interesting story of David Morgan's adventure with the
Indians in the vicinity of this fort.
Fort Randolph.
A fort was located on the site of the present town of Point
Pleasant, Mason County. It was erected immediately follow-
ing the great battle at that point between the whites, led by
Lewis, and the reds, led by Cornstalk. Here the one hundred
and forty wounded Virginians stayed until they were able to
return to their homes. The stpckade was afterwards found
to be too frail for practical use in such an exposed locality,
and Captain Russell, in November, 1774, built a larger and
better structure, which the builder named Fort Blair. It stood
on the apex of the upper angle formed by the confluence of
the Great Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. This fort appears to
have been destroyed within less than two years after its com-
pletion. Captain Arbuckle came down from Pittsburgh, ac-
companied by Virginia forces, in May, 1776, and erected, on
the site of Fort Blair, a large stockade with block houses and
cabins. It Avas named Fort Randolph in honor of Peyton Ran-
dolph,' a member of the Continental Congress, who had died
the year before. On the 8th of January, 1777, the Continental
Congress passed an act authorizing the Governor of Virginia
to garrison this fort with a compan}^ of one hundred men,
commanded by "one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, and
History of West Virginia 175
the usual number of inferior non-commissioned officers," for
the protection of the western frontier of A'irginia against
Indian incursion, the Continental government to defray the
expense. "April 9th ensuing it was resolved that the men en-
listed to garrison Fort Randolph should not be called for any
service without their consent. Captain Arbuckle continued
in command throughout the year 1777, and was, therefore,
there when the barbarous murder of Cornstalk, the Shawnee
chief, occurred. He risked his life to prevent it, but without
avail." Captain Arbuckle was succeeded in command here
by Captain William McKee, of Rockbridge County, at the
close of the year. Early the following year (1778) Lieutenant
Moore and several of his men lost their lives in an Indian
ambuscade near the fort. Again in May of the same year a
large body of Indians laid siege to the fort and it was under
fire for a week, after which the siege was raised and the
Indians departed, driving away with all the cattle from the
fort. The life of Fort Randolph, like its predecessors, was of
short duration, for it appears to have been destroyed (proba-
bly by the Indians) shortly after its abandonment in 1779.
About 1785 another fort was erected at Point Pleasant. "It
was on the Ohio River bank, fifty rods from where its prede-
cessors, Fort Blair and Fort Randolph, had stood."
Fort Rice (Brooke County).
This was a rectangular stockade having a block-house at
one of its corners and several cabins within the enclosure. It
was situated on Buffalo Creek, by the course of the stream
twelve or fifteen miles from its mouth, near where Bethany
College now stands, in Brooke County. It was erected by
Abraham and Daniel Rice, and it afforded protection to twelve
families in times of hostilities. In September, 1782, a desper-
ate attack was made upon it by one hundred Indians, who
were dispatched to attack it after the siege of Fort Henry
had been raised. This action at Fort Rice is among the most
remarkable of the border wars. The reds attempted to storm
the fort, and while there were but six people in the fort, they
killed three Indians and w^ounded others the first fire. The
176 History of West Virginia
siege lasted twelve hours, then the Indians departed. George
Felebaum was killed in the beginning of the battle ; the other
five members of the heroic band in the fort were unhurt.
They were Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider,
Daniel Rice and Jacob Lefler, Jr.
Fort Richards.
A strong fort on the west bank of the West Fork River,
in the vicinity of the mouth of Sycamore Creek, now in Union
District, Harrison County. Here Jacob Richards was granted
400 acres of land in 1771. He, with the assistance of Arnold,
Paul, Isaac, and Conrad Richards, his relatives, erected and
occupied this fort, within whose walls many of the pioneers
and their families found refuge in time of danger.
Fort Robinson,
A block-house. It stood opposite the foot of Six Mile
Island in the Ohio River, now in Robinson District, Mason
County. It was built by Capt. Isaac Robinson in 1794. Mr.
Robinson, when a small boy, had been captured by the
Indians, with whom he lived for twelve years.
Fort Savannah.
This fort was situated on the Big Levels, on the site of
the present town of Lewisburg, in Greenbrier County. Prob-
ably built by Capt. Andrew Lewis in 1755.
Fort Shepherd.
This was a strong stockade fort erected in 1755, and
situated at the Forks of Wheeling Creek, now in Triadelphia
District, Ohio County. It was erected by David Shepherd,
afterwards county lieutenant of that county. This fort was
destroyed by Indians after its evacuation by the whites in
September, 1777, and was rebuilt in 1786, and four years later
it was re-constructed. "This time the palisade walls were
History of West Virginia 177
built of sycamore plank three inches thick, twelve feet long,
the ends fitted in rabbeted posts, one plank resting upon
another. There were bastions at the corners and ])ort holes
along the walls." (See "Battle at Fort Henry.")
Fort Statler.
A stockade fort, situated on Dunkard Creek, now in Clay
District, Monongalia County. It was erected about 1770 by
John Statler (sometimes called Stradler). This fort, like
many others in West A'irginia at that period, was the scene
of bloody tragedies.
Fort Stewart.
This was a block-house erected in 1773 by John Stewart.
It stood on a ridge between two small ravines, on Stewart's
Run, about one mile from its source and two miles from
Georgetown, in Monongalia County.
Fort Stuart.
This fort was erected by Capt. John Stuart about 1769.
It was situated in what is now Fort Spring District, Green-
brier County, near Fort Spring Depot, on Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad. He and a gentleman by the name of Robert
McClennahen came to this' place from the Shenandoah Valley
in 1769, and both commanded companies of Greenbrier men
in General Lewis's army in Dunmore's \\''ar. McClennahan
was killed in the battle at Point Pleasant. October 10, 1774.
The first court in Greenbrier County was held in this fort,
and John Stuart was its clerk.
Fort Tackett.
This Avas a small stockade. It was situated on the Great
Kanawha River, one-half mile below the mouth of Coal River.
Kanawha County. It was built by LeAvis Tackett, who was
supposed to have been the first settler between the mouth of
178 History of West Virginia
the Elk and the Ohio Rivers. It was erected sometime pre-
vious to the year 1788. It was destroyed by the Indians
January 5th, 1788, at which time and place Chris. Tackett was
killed, John McElheny and wife, with Betsey Tackett,
Samuel Tackett and a small boy were taken prisoners. John
Young and wife escaped.
Fort Tomlinson.
This was a stockade fort. It was situated just north of
the present Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station, on the east
side of that road, in what is now the City of Mounds ville.
Its builder was Joseph Tomlinson, great-grandfather of Judge
Charles Newman, of Wheeling, W. Va. The writer is in-
formed that a descendent of Tomlinson's now occupies a
building on the site of the old fort, which, by the way, is
located within fifty yards of the late residence of Judge
Newman. Tomlinson and a party of his neighbors came to
the Grave Creek Flats — now Moundsville — in 1770. Two
years later he brought his family from Maryland and com-
menced laying the foundation for the present beautiful city.
The fort was erected in the spring of 1773. In 1777 the in-
mates, on learning of the approach of the Indians that had
besieged Fort Henry, evacuated this fort and hastened to
Wheeling. Joseph Tomlinson took his family to the mouth
of Pike's Run, on the Monongahela River, where they re-
mained until 1784. On their return to Moundsville in that
year, they found Fort Tomlinson a heap of ashes, having been
burned' by the Indians. It was rebuilt and thereafter served
as a place of refuge until the Indian wars were ended. Some
interesting episodes that occurred in and about this place will
be related in another chapter.
Fort Van Meter.
This was a stockade fort,' situated on the north side of
Short Creek, about five miles from its confluence with the
Ohio River, in Ohio County. It was erected in 1774, at the
beginning of Dunmore's War. During many consecutive
History of West Virginia 179
summers the inhabitants found refuge within its walls. It is
said that the first court of Ohio County was held in this fort.
It was commanded by Maj. Samuel McCullough until his
death by the Indians on the 30th of July, 1782, while he and
his brother John were reconnoitering to ascertain if Indians
were near. His brother escaped to the fort. This fort was the
scene of much trouble with the savages.
Fort Warwick.
Fort Warwick was a small fort situated in what is now
Huttonsville District, Randolph County. It was erected by
James Warwick and was among the early places of defense
in Tygart's Valley. Near it resided John White, who was
killed at Point Pleasant, and his brother William, whose
death is connected with one of the tragedies enacted near Fort
Buckhannon. (See "Indian Massacres.")
Fort Wells.
Fort Wells was a small stockade fort erected in the spring
of 1773 by Richard Wells. It stood on the dividing ridge
between the waters of Cross Creek and Harmon's Creek, in
Brooke County. Its commandant was a Quaker, and in con-
sequence of his kindness to the Indians, they never molested
him or his people. It was unfortunate for our forefathers as
well as for the Indians that the former were not all Quakers.
Fort West.
The settlement on Hacker's Creek, as stated elsewhere,
was one of the earliest west of the Alleghanies. John and
Thomas Hacker and Alexander West, with several others,
came here in 1770 and settled on the banks of that stream, in
what is now Lewis County. They erected a fort on West's land.
Perhaps there was not another settlement in the State that
suflfered more from Indian depredations than did this one.
The savages were especially bad during the years of 1778 and
1779, and the people were forced to seek safety in flight when
180 History of West Virginia
Fort West was burned by the Indians. A few of the inhabit-
ants returned to their lands in 1780, and constructed another
fort a short distance from the one that had been destroyed,
and they named it Beech Fort, because of its timbers being
all beech logs. The Indians afterwards returned, but the peo-
ple "held the fort", and no more abandoned their settlement.
Fort Westfall (Randolph County).
This was a stockade within which M'as a large house. It
stood one-fourth mile south of where Beverly now stands. It
was erected by Jacob Westfall in 1774. The Indians caused
some trouble in this vicinity.
Fort Wetzel.
Fort Wetzel was a stockade fort situated on Wheeling
Creek, now in Sand Hill District, Marshall County. The
builders and defenders were John Wetzel and his five sons —
Martin, Lewis, Jacob, George and John — the most noted
Indian fighters that ever dwelt on the West Virginia frontier.
Stories of their adventures with the Indians and some of their
personal history will be found in this book.
Fort Wilson.
This fort was situated one-half mile above the mouth of
Chenoweth's Creek, about four miles north of Beverly, on
the east side of Tygart's Valley River, Randolph County. Its
builder and defender was Benjamin Wilson. He has con-
tributed considerable information concerning the early history
of the region in which he resided. There were twenty-two
families in his fort in May, 1782. Some interesting stories
will- be found in this book concerning adventures with Indians
in this vicinity.
Fort Woods.
A stockade fort. It was erected about 1773 by Capt.
Michael Woods, and is situated on Rich Creek, four miles
History of West Virginia 181
cast of Peterstovvu, in Monroe County. The Captain on "May
29, 1774, furnished Col. Wilham Preston with a roll of men
fit for military duty in the region in which his fort was
located. This list has been preserved and is a highly interest-
ing document, these men being West Virginia pioneers of
that time. Much history was made in this vicinity. Septem-
ber 3, 1774, Maj. \\'illiam Christian, with his battalion of
Fincastle County men from the Holston and Watauga settle-
ments, on the march to join Colonel Lewis's army at Camp
Union, encamped within a few miles of Fort Woods, to which
he sent eight hundred pounds of flour for the use of the men
assembled there. Captain Woods, with fourteen volunteers
from this fort, joined the company of Capt. James Roberson
of Christian's battalion, and with it was in the thickest of the
fight at Point Pleasant. In 1781, Captain ^\'ood mustered a
number of men for service with Gen. George Rogers Clark in
Illinois, and they were ready to march thither at the time of
the Indian incursion on Indian Creek, in March of that year.
They pursued the Indians, killing some of them and recovered
the white prisoners, among them being the Meeks family from
the mouth of Indian Creek. These men, destined for the
Illinois expedition, were commanded by a Lieutenant W^oods.
presumably a son of Capt. Michael \\^oods."
The greater jmrt of the foregoing information in this
chapter was taken from "West Mrginia Archives and His-
tory", published in 1906.
This is given, principally, for the purpose of aiding to a
better understanding of what is to follow in future cha])ters.
At the same time, the simple description of tht forts them-
selves mav be of interest to some of our readers.
CHAPTER XIII.
MURDER OF CORNSTALK, THE GREAT INDIAN
CHIEF.
(Written by Col. John Stuart.)
"In the year 1777, the Indians, being urged by British
agents, became very troublesome to frontier settlers, mani-
festing much appearance of hostilities, when the Cornstalk
warrior, with the Redhawk, paid a visit to the garrison at
Point Pleasant. He made no secret of the disposition of the
Indians ; declaring that, on his own part, he was opposed to
joining the war on the side of the British, but that all the
Nation, except himself and his own tribe, were determined to
engage in it; and that, of course, he and his tribe would have
to run with the stream (as he expressed it). On this, Captain
Arbuckle thought proper to detain him, the Redhawk, and
another fellow, as hostages, to prevent the Nation from join-
ing the British.
"In the course of that summer our Government had
ordered an army to be raised, of volunteers, to serve under
the command of General Hand, who was to have collected a
number of troops at Fort Pitt, with them to descend the
river to Point Pleasant, there to meet a reinforcement of
volunteers expected to be raised in Augusta and Botetourt
Counties, and then proceed to the Shawnee towns and chastise
them so as to compel them to neutrality. Hand did not suc-
ceed in the collection of troops at Fort Pitt; and but three or
four companies were raised in Augusta and Botetourt, which
were under the command of Col. George Skillern, who ordered
me to use my endeavors to raise all the volunteers I could get
in Greenbrier for that service. The people had begun to see
the difficulties attendant on a state of war and long campaigns
carried through the wilderness, and but a few were willing to
History of West Virginia 183
engage in such service. But as the settlements which we cov-
ered, though less exposed to the depredations of the Indians,
had showed their willingness to aid in the proposed plan to
chastise the Indians, and had raised three companies, I was
very desirous of doing all I could to promote the business and
aid the service. I used the utmost endeavors, and proposed
to the militia officers to volunteer ourselves, which would be
an encouragement to others, and by such means to raise all
the men who could be got. The chief of the officers in Green-
brier agreed to the proposal, and we cast lots who should
command the company. The lot fell on Andrew Hamilton
for captain, and William Renic, lieutenant. We collected in
all about forty, and joined Colonel Skillern's party on their
way to Point Pleasant.
"When we arrived, there was no account of General Hand
or his army, and little or no provision made to support our
troops, other than what we had taken with us down the
Kanawha. We found, too, that the garrison was unable to
spare us any supplies, having nearly exhausted, when we got
there, what had been provided for themselves. But we con-
cluded to wait there as long as we could for the arrival of
General Hand, or some account from him. During the time
of our stay two young men, of the names of Hamilton and
Gilmore, went over the Kanawha one day to hunt for deer ;
on their way to camp, some Indians had concealed themselves
on the bank among the weeds, to view our encampment ; and
as Gilmore came along past them, they fired on him and killed
him on the bank.
"Captain Arbuckle and myself were standing on the oppo-
site bank when the gun was fired ; and while wc were won-
dering who it could be shooting, contrary to orders, or what
they were doing over the river, we saw Hamilton run down
the bank, who called out that Gilmore was killed. Gilmore
was one of the company of Captain Hall, of that part of the
country now Rockbridge County. The captain was a relation
of Gilmore's, whose family and friends were chiefly cut off by
the Indians in the year 1763, when Greenbrier was cut off.
Hall's men instantly jumped in a canoe and went to the relief
184 History of West Virginia
of Hamilton, who was standing in momentary expectation of
being put to death.
"They brought the corpse of Gilmore down the bank,
covered with blood and scalped, and put him into the canoe.
As they were crossing the river, I observed to Captain
Arbuckle that the people would be for killing the hostages,
as soon as the canoe would land. He supposed that they
would not offer to commit so great a violence upon the inno-
cent, who were in nowise accessory to the murder of Gilmore.
But the canoe had scarcely touched the shore until the cry
was raised, 'Let us kill the Indians at the fort' ; and every man,
with his gun in his hand, came up the bank pale with rage
Captain Hall was at their head, and leader. Captain Arbuckle
and I met them, and endeavored to dissuade them from so
unjustifiable an action; but they cocked their guns, threatened
us with instant death if we did not desist, rushed by us into
the fort, and put the Indians to death.
"On the preceding day, Cornstalk's son, Elinipsico, had
come from the Nation to see his father, and to know if he
was well, or alive. When he came to the river opposite the
fort, he hallooed. His father was at that instant in the act
of delineating a map of the country and the waters between
the Shawnee towns and the Mississippi, at our request, with
chalk upon the floor. He immediately recognized the voice
of his son, got up, went out and answered him. The young
fellow crossed over, and they embraced each other in the most
tender and affectionate manner. The interpreter's wife, who
had been a prisoner among the Indians and had recently left
them, on hearing the uproar the next day and hearing the men
threatening that they would kill the Indians, for whom she
retained much afifection, ran to their cabin and informed them
that the people were just coming to kill them ; and that, be-
cause the Indians who had killed Gilmore ^ad come with
Elinipsico the day before. He utterly denied it; declared that
he knew nothing of them, and trembled exceedingly. His
father encouraged him not to be afraid, for that the Great
Man above had sent him there to be killed and die with him.
As the men advanced to the door, Cornstalk rose up and met
them; they fired upon him, and seven or eight bullets went
History of West Virginia 185
through him. So fell the great Cornstalk warrior — whose
name was bestowed upon him by the consent of the Nation,
as their great strength and support. His son was shot dead
as he sat upon a stool. The Redhawk made an attempt to go
up the chimney, but was shot down. The other Indian was
shamefully mangled, and I grieved to see |;iim so long in the
agonies of death.
"Cornstalk, from personal appearance and many brave
acts, was undoubtedly a hero. Had he been spared to live,
I believe he would have been friendly to the American cause ;
for nothing could induce him to make the visit to the garrison
at the critical time he did but to communicate to them the
temper and dis])Osition of the Indians, and their design of
taking j)art with the British. On the day he was killed we
held a council, at which he was present. His countenance
was dejected ; and he made a speech, all of which seemed to in-
dicate an honest and manly disposition. He acknowledged that
he expected that he and his party would have to 'run with the
stream', for that all the Indians on the lakes and northwardly
were joining the British. He said that when he returned to
the Shawnee towns after the battle at the Point, he called a
council of the Nation to consult what was to be done, and
upbraided them for their folly in not suffering him to make
peace on the evening before the battle. '\Miat,' said he, 'will
you do now? The Big Knife is coming upon us, and we shall
all be killed. Now^ you must fight, or we are done.' But no
one made an answer. He said, 'Then let us kill our ^\•omcn
and children and and fight till we die.' But none would
answer. At length he rose and struck his tomahawk in the
post in the center of the town house: 'I'll go,' said he. 'and
make peace'; and then the warriors all grunted out. 'Ough,
ough, ough,' and runners were instantly dispatched to the
Governor's army to solicit a peace, and the interposition of
the Governor on their behalf.
"When he made his speech in council with us, he seemed
to be impressed with an awful premonition of his aj-ii^roaching
fate ; for he repeatedly said, 'When T was a young man and
went to war, I thought that might be the last time and 1
would return no more. Now I am here among vou : vou max
186 History of West Virginia
kill me if you please ; I can die but once ; and it is all one to
me, now or another time.' This declaration concluded every
sentence of his speech. He was killed about one hour after
our council."
Ex-Governor Atkinson — commenting on the above mur-
der, in his "History of Kanawha County," — says : "Thus
closed the life of perhaps the greatest Indian chief and warrior
that ever lived in America. He feared death less than he
feared the white man. He met his fate calmly, and died like a
patriot. His murder was a disgrace to the men who com-
mitted the awful crime, and left a blot upon the history of our
country which time nor change can ever erase."
The remains of Cornstalk were interred in what is now
the courthouse yard at Point Pleasant. A nice monument
now marks his resting place. -
"Where is my home, my forest home,
The proud land of my sires?
Where stands the wigwam of my pride.
Where gleamed the council fires?
Where are my kindred's hallowed graves,
My friends so light and free?
Gone, gone forever from my sight !
"Great Spirit, can it be !"
Murder of Adam Stroud and Captain Bull and Their Families.
Captain Bull, a Delaware chief, once lived with his tribe
on Unadilla River, an eastern branch of the Susquehanna, the
village where he resided being then known as Oghkwago, in,
Boone County, New York.
In 1763, he took an active part in Pontiac's conspiracy,
and in the following spring Sir William Johnson, English
Indian agent of New York, sent out a party of whites and
friendly Indians to capture him ; and after a sharp struggle.
Bull and some of his followers were taken and conveyed to
New York City, where they were detained as prisoners for a
time and were then discharged. Bull and five families of his
relatives came to West Virginia and settled on the Little
Kanawha River, in Braxton County, at a salt spring about one
and a quarter miles below the present Bulltown P. O. They
proved to be very friendly with the whites on Buckhannon
History of West Virginia 187
and Hacker's Creek, — frequently visiting and hunting with
them.
Adam Stroud (a German) and his family lived on Elk
River a few miles south of the Bulltown Indians. During his
absence one day in June, 1772, some Shawnese Indians visited
his home and murdered his wife and seven children, plundered
the house and drove off the cattle.
The trail of the murderers led towards the Bulltown habi-
tation. A party of five men, consisting of William White,
William Hacker, John Cartright, and two others — one of
whom (it was claimed by Cartright on his death-bed) was
Jesse Hughes — started out in pursuit, and believing, or pre-
tending to believe, that the Bulltown Indians were the guilty
persons, they fell upon and murdered every man, woman and
child, and threw their bodies into the river.
It seems that while preparations were being made for the.
pursuit of the Indians, it was intimated probably Captain Bull
and his men were the responsible persons, but this belief was
not entertained by many of the whites in that community, and
the pursuers were requested not to molest the friendly
Indians, but the advice fell upon deaf ears. At first the whites
denied having molested Captain Bull's party, but later on
some member of the gang confessed the deed, but declared
they had found in the Indians' possession clothes and other
things belonging to Stroud's family.
It can not be truthfully denied that there were many
savage-hearted men among the white settlers, whose deeds
were sometimes equally as terrible as those ever perpetrated
by the Indians. The trouble was, some whites seemed to look
upon the Indian as no better than a snake, and consequently
considered him legitimate prey wherever found. Environ-
ment, of course, had something to do with this feeling, and
we of today are not in a position to know just how we would
act were we situated precisely as were those whom we, from
our present point of view, must condemn. However, these
cases were the exception — not tlic rule. We doubt not the
patience of our early settlers, regardless of their humane feel-
ings, was often sorely tried, — and after all, it would seem
strange if there were not a few of them who would occasion-
ally overstep the bounds of discretion.
CHAPTER XIV.
MURDER OF THE MORAVIAN INDIANS BY THE
WHITES — THE GREATEST CRIME EVER
PERPETRATED IN THE ANNALS
OF BORDER WARFARE.
(From Wils De Hass's "History of Border Warfare in West
irgmia .)
This is a chapter in our history which Ave would fain drop,
and draw over it the curtain of obHvion, did not our duty
require us to speak in deference to a higher obhgation. The
murder of the Christian or Moravian Indians was one of the
most atrocious affairs in the settlement of the wert. It is a
reproach upon the character of the country, and a living
stigma upon the memory of every man known to have been
engaged in the diabolical transaction. It is but justice, how^-
ever, that those who protested against the enormity should
he exonerated from blame.
The Moravian Indians consisted chiefly of the Delawares,
wath a few" Mohicans. These simple-minded children of the
forest had become converted to Christianity through the zeal
and influence of Moravian Missionaries. Their homes em-
braced the villages of Gnad'^nhutten, Schonbrunn, Salem and
Lichtenau.
For ten years they had lived in peace and quietness. The
karsh savage had been softened by the mild influence of
Christianity ; peace, content and happiness smiled upon him
from year to year, and blessed him with their joys. But, alas,
the destroyer came, and blotted this fair field of Christian
labor utterly from existence.
The Moravian Indians early became objects of suspid^^
to both the whites and surrounding savages. The latter, be-
cause they had given up the customs of their race ; and by the
former, on account of their supposed protection to, or harbor-
History of West Virginia 189
ing of, hostile Indians. Their towns lay immediately on the
track from Sandusky to the nearest point on the Ohio ; and
while passing to and fro, the hostile parties would compel
their Christian brethren to furnish provisions. Thus situated,
as it were, between two fires, it is not surprising that they
should have fallen a sacrifice to one or the other. During the
whole of our Revolutionary struggle, the Moravian Indians
remained neutral, or if they took any part, it was in favor of
the whites, advising them of the approach of hostile Indians,
etc. Yet, notwithstanding all their former friendliness, they
fell under the displeasure of the border settlers, who suspected
them of aiding and abetting the savages whose depredations
upon the frontier had caused so much terror and misery
throughout western A'irginia and Pennsylvania. To add to
this feeling, early in February, 1782, a party of Indians from
Sandusky penetrated the settlements and committed numer-
ous depredations. Of the families that fell beneath the mur-
derous stroke of these savages was that of David Wallace,
consisting of himself, wife and six children, and a man named
Carpenter. Of these all were killed, except the latter, whom
they took prisoner. The early date of this visitation induced
the people at once to believe that the depredators had wintered
with the Moravians, and the excited settlers uttered vengeance
against those who were supposed to have harbored them. An
expedition was at once determined vipon, and about the first
of March a body of eighty or ninety men, chiefly from the
Monongahela, rendezvoused at the Old Mingo towns, on
Mingo Bottom, now Jefiferson County, Ohio. Each man fur-
nished himself with his own arms, ammunition and provisions.
Many of them had horses. The second day's march Inought
them within one mile of the middle Moravian town, and they
encamped for the night. In the morning the men were
divided into two equal parties, one of which was to cross the
river about a mile above the town, their videttes having re-
ported that there were Indians on both sides of the river.
The other party was divided into three divisions, one of. which
was to take a circuit in the woods and reach the river a little
distance below the middle of the town, and the third at its
upper end.
190 History of West Virginia
The victims received warning- of their danger, but took
no measure to escape, believing they had nothing to fear from
the Americans, but supposed the only quarter from which they
had grounds for apprehending injury was from those Indians
who were the enemies of the Americans.
When the party designed to make the attack on .the west
side had reached the river, they found no craft to take them
over; but something like a canoe was seen on the opposite
bank. The river was high with some floating ice. A young
man by the name of Slaughter swam the river, and brought
over, not a canoe, but a trough, designed for holding sugar
water. This trough could carry but two men at a time. In
order to expedite their passage, a number of men stripped ofl^
their clothes, put them into the trough, together with their
guns, and swam by its sides, holding its edges with their
hands. When about sixteen had crossed the river, their senti-
nels, who had been posted in advance, discovered an Indian,
whose name was Shabosh, whom they shot and scalped. By
this time, about sixteen men had got over the river, and sup-
posing that the firing of the guns which killed Shabosh would
lead to an instant discovery, they sent word to the party de-
signed to attack the town on the east side of the river to
move on instantly, which they did.
In the meantime, the small party which had crossed the
river marched with all speed to the main town on the west
side of the river. Here they found a large company of Indians
gathering the corn, which they had left in their fields the pre-
ceding fall, when they removed to 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
take them to Fort Pitt for their safet3^ The Indians surren-
dered, delivered up their arms, even their hatchets, on being
promised that everything should be restored to them on their
arrival at Pittsburgh. The murderers then went to Salem,
and persuaded the Indians there to go with them to Gnaden-
hutten, the inhabitants of which, in the meantime, had been
attacked and driven together, and bound without resistance ;
and when those from Salem were about entering the town,
they were likewise deprived of their arms and bound.
History of West Virginia 191
The prisoners being thus secured, a council of war was
held to decide their fate. The officers, unwilling to take on
themselves the whole responsibility of the awful decision,
agreed to refer the question to the whole number of the men.
The men were accordingly drawn up in line. The command-
ant of the party, Col. David Williamson, then put the ques-
tion to them in form : Whether the Moravian Indians should
be taken prisoners to Pittsburgh, or put to death ; and re-
quested all those who were in favor of saving their lives
should step out of the line, and form a second rank. On this
sixteen, some say eighteen, stepped out of rank, and formed
themselves into a second line. But, alas ! this line of mercy
was far too short for that of vengeance.
Most of those opposed to this diaboHcal resolution pro-
tested in the name of high Heaven against the atrocious act.
and called God to witness that they w^ere innocent of the
blood of those inoffensive people ; yet the majority remained
unmoved, and some of them were even in favor of burning
them alive. But it was at length decided that they should
be scalped in cold blood, and the Indians were told to prepare
for their fate, that, as they were Christians, they might die
in A CHRISTIAN MANNER. x\fter the first burst of
horror was over, they patiently suft'ered themselves to be led
into buildings, in one of which the men, and in the other, the
women and children were confined, like sheep for slaughter.
They passed the night in praying, asking pardon from each
other for any offences they had committed, and singing hymns
of praise to God. (O, what a pity that the God of Hosts did
not send down upon the beastly murderers who were impa-
tiently waiting for sun rise to appear that they might glut
their craven propensities for gore upon an innocent people,
a bolt of fire to consume them, and set their prisoners free!)
From the time they had been placed in the guard-house
the unfortunate prisoners foresaw their fate, and commenced
singing, and praying, and exhorting one another to place their
faith in the Savior of men.
The particulars of this catastrophe were too horrid to
relate. When morning arrived, the murderers selected two
houses, which they correctly named slaughter-houses — one
192 History of West Virginia
for the women and children. The victims were then bound,
two and two together, and led into the slaughter-houses,
where they were scalped and murdered.
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. Of these, sixty-two were grown per-
sons, one-third of M'hom were women, the remaining thirty-
four were children. All these, with a few exceptions, M^ere
killed in the houses.
A few men who were supposed to be warriors were tied
and taken some distance from the slaughter-houses to be
tomahawked.
Of the whole number of the Indians at Gnadenhutten and
Salem, only two made their escape. These were two lads
of fourteen or fifteen years of age. One of them escaped on
the night previous to the massacre, and concealed himself in
the cellar of the house to M^hich the women and children were
brought next da}^ to be murdered, M^hose blood he saw run-
ning in streams through the floor. On the following night he
left the cellar, into which, fortunately, no one came, and got
into the woods. The other youth received one blow upon his
head, and was left for dead.
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 Shabosh. 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 Schonbrunn, but
finding the place deserted, they took what plunder they could
find and returned to their companions without looking farther
after the Indians.
After the work of death had been finished and the plunder
secured, all the buildings in the town were set on fire, includ-
ing the slaughter-houses. A rapid retreat of these white-
livered cowards to the settlement concluded this deplorable
campaign. It was, certainly, one of the most horrible affairs
ever undertaken in this country, and is revolting to every
History of West Virginia 193
feeling of the HUMAN heart. It must stand a record of in-
famy as long as time lasts.
Doddridge, whose views, in part, we have embodied in a
portion of this account, says :
"In justice to the memory of Colonel Williams, I have to
say that although at that time ver}' young, I was personally
accjuainted with him, and from my recollection of his conver-
sation, I say with confidence that he was a brave man, but
not cruel. He would kill an enemy in battle, and fight like a
soldier, but not murder a prisoner. Had he possessed the
authority of a superior officer in a regular army, I do not be-
lieve 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 command'. His only fault
was that of too easy a compliance with popular opinion and
popular prejudice. On this account his memory has been
loaded with unmerited reproach. Should it be asked what
sort of people composed the band of murderers of these un-
fortunate people, I would answer : They were not miscreants
or vagabonds ; many of them were men of the first standing
in the country. Many of them had recently lost relations by
the hands of the savages, and were burning for revenge. They
cared little upon whom they wreaked their vengeance, so they
were Indians.
"When attacked by our people, although they might have
defended themselves, they did not. They never fired a single
shot. They were prisoners and had been promised protection.
Every dictate of justice and humanity required that their lives
should be spared. The complaint of their villages being 'half-
way houses for the warriors' was at an end, as they had been
removed to Sandusky the fall before. It was therefore an
atrocious and unqualified murder. But by whom committed?
By a majority of the campaign? For the honor of my country,
I hope that 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 justice and humanity is silenced by the
clamor and violence of a lawless minority, ^^ery few of our
men imbrued their hands in the blood of the Moravians. Ev^n
those who had not voted for saving their lives retired from
194 History of West Virginia
the scene of slaughter with horror and disgust. Why then did
they not give their votes in their favor? The fear of pubhc
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 intre-
pidity. So far as it may hereafter be in my power, this honor
shall be done them, while the names of the murderers shall not
stain the pages of history, from my pen at least."
When we compare this act of extreme cruelty and barbar-
ism with the general reputation of the early pioneers of West
Virginia for true bravery and noble character, w^e can not but
conclude that those sixteen or eighteen men who so nobly
"formed the second line" were the only ones present on that
fatal spot who truly represented the average pioneer. We
can not conceive the possibility of the present Christian citi-
zens of our Little Mountain State being offspring of mur-
derers' of innocent men, women and children.
The great majority of our historians steer clear of expo-
sitions of such scenes as we have just described, but a history
that gives but one side of a question is necessarily out of
plumb — lop-sided — and can not be depended upon. Let the
bitter go with the sweet. The truth wrongs no one. If the
bridge is down, the watchman will not be doing his duty if
he displays the white flag of safety. Deception is never right,
but is often dangerous.
CHAPTER XV.
INDIAN WARS AND MASSACRES IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
Attack on Fort Seybert (or Sivert).
Fort Seybert (sometimes called Sivert) stood on the
South Pork of the South Branch of the Potomac River,
twelve miles northeast of Franklin, in Bethel District, Pen-
dleton County. It was a strong- fort, having cabins, palisades,
and block-houses. It was besieged by Indians April 28, 1758.
Following is a history of the unhappy event:
"In this fort the inhabitants of what was then called the
"Upper Tract" all sought shelter from the tempest of savage
ferocity; and at the time the Indians appeared before it there
were contained within its walls between thirty and forty
persons of both sexes and of different ages. Among them
was a Mr. Dyer (the father of Colonel Dyer, late of Pendleton
County) and his family. On the morning of the fatal day,
Colonel Dyer and his sister left the fort for the accomplish-
ment of some object, and although no Indians had been seen
there for some time, yet they did not proceed far before they
came in view of a party of forty or fifty Shawnees going
directly towards the fort. Alarmed for their own safety as
well as for the safety of their friends, the brother and sister
endeavored by hasty flight to reach the gate and gain admit-
tance into the garrison ; but before they could effect- this they
were overtaken and made captives.
"The Indians rushed immediately to the fort and com-
menced a furious assault on it. Captain Seybert prevailed
(not without much opposition) on the besieged to forbear
firing until he should endeavor to negotiate with and buy off
the enemy. With this end in view, and under the protection
of a flag, he went out and soon succeeded in making the
wished-for arrangements. When he returned, the gates were
196 History of West Virginia
thrown open and the enemy admitted. No sooner had the
money and other articles stipulated to be given been handed
over to the Indians than a most bloody tragedy was begun
to be acted. Arranging the inmates of the fort in two rows,
with a space of about ten feet between them, two Indians
were selected, who taking each his station at the head of a
row, Avith their tomahawks most cruelly murdered almosu
every white person in the fort ; some few whom caprice, or
some other cause, induced them to spare, were carried into
captivity, — such articles as could be well carried away were
taken off b}^ the Indians ; the remainder was consumed, with
the fort, by fire.
Note : Among those carried off into captivity was James
Dyer, then fourteen years old. Two years later he escaped
from his captors when in the Scioto Valley and returned
home. A son of his. Col. Zebulon D^^er, was long Clerk of
the Court of Pendleton County. The Indians burned the
fort, but it was rebuilt by order of the Colonial Assembly.
The attack was made on this fort the day after the massacre
at Fort Upper Tract and at Upper Tract, Pendleton County,
in which Captain Dunlap and twenty-two others were killed.
The inhabitants in the neighborhood who succeeded in escap-
ing here sought shelter at Fort Seybert, where the next day
the greater part of them were killed, as above recorded. — S. M.
Battle of the Trough — Capture of Mrs. Neff: Her Escape to
Fort Pleasant — Pursuit of the Indians — The Fight.
As a preliiiiinary to what is to follow, it might be well
to give a brief description of Fort Pleasant.
It was a strong fort, having cabins, palisades, and block-
houses. Its location was on the "Indian Old Fields", about
a mile and a half above the "Trough" on the South Branch
of the Potomac, in Hardy County. It Vv^as sometimes called
Fort Van Meter, and after the founding of Moorefield, was
often referred to as the "Town Fort". It was erected by
Thomas Waggener in 1756 under orders of Col. George
Washington.
About the year 1755 the Indians, while invading the
History of West Virginia 197
South Branch, captured a Mrs. Neff, whom they left with an
old Indian while they reconnoitered Fort Pleasant nearby.
What followed is described by De Hass in his "Indian
Wars" :
"At a late hour in the night Airs. Neff, disco\ering- that
her guard was pretty soundly asleep, ran oft". The old fellow
very soon awoke, fired oft" his gun, and raised a }ell. Airs.
Neft" succeeded in reaching Fort Pleasant, and gave notice
where the enemy were encamped. A small part}' the same
evening came from another fort, a few miles above, and
joined their friends in Fort Pleasant. After the escape of
Mrs. Neft", the Indians collected into 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 by the smoke of their fire.
The whites divided themselves into two parties, intending
to enclose the Indians, but urifortunateh'. a small dog which
followed them, starting a rabbit, alarmed the Indians, upon
which they cautiously moved oft", passed between the parties
of white men unobser\'ed, took a position between them and
their horses, and opened a most destructive fire. The whites
returned the fire with great lirmness and bravery, and a des-
perate and bloody conflict ensued. Seven of the whites fell
dead and four were wounded. The others retreated to the
fort. Three Indians fell in this battle and several were
wounded. The victors secured the white men's horses and
took them oft". This was called the battle of the Trough."
An old gentleman named Van Meter witnessed the fight
from the top of a ridge, and then made his way to tlic fort.
Battle With the Shawnees Near Edward's Fort.
Fort Edward stood on or near the site of the present
village of Capon Bridge, Hampshire County.
In May, 1757, a body of Shawnees, under command of
their celebrated chief. Kill-buck, crossed the Alleghanics and
committed various acts of depredation. According to \\'ith-
ers, "some thirty or fort}' of this party appeared in the neigh-
l)orhood of Edward's fort and killed two men at a mill, whom
198 History of West Virginia
they scalped, and then made off, taking with them a quantity
of meal. Information having been conveyed to the fort, forty
men, under Captain Mercer, started in pursuit of the murder-
ers. The Indians, expecting this, concealed themselves be-
neath a bank and awaited the approach of the whites. As a
decoy, they had strewn along the path some meal taken from
the mill. Mercer's party discovering this, supposed the
Indians were making a speedy retreat, and, not apprised of
their strength, moved on at a brisk step, until the whole party
were drawn immediately over the line of the Indians beneath
the bank, when the latter opened a most destructive fire upon
them, sixteen falling dead at the first discharge. The others,
attempting to save themselves by flight, were pursued and
slaughtered in every direction, until, out of the forty, but six
escaped to the fort. One poor fellow, who ran up the side
of the mountain, was fired upon by an Indian ; the ball pene-
trated just above his heel, ranged up his leg, shivered the
bones, and lodged a little below his knee ; he slipped under
the lap of a fallen tree and there hid himself, and lay in that
situation for two days and nights before he was discovered
by his friends. It was that length of time before the people
of the fort would venture out to collect and bury the dead.
This wounded man recovered and lived many years after.
Sometime afterwards, the Indians, in much greater force,
and aided, it was believed, by several whites, determined to
carry this fort by storm. The garrison had been considerably
reinforced ; among others, by the late Gen. Daniel Morgan,
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 with great slaughter,
while the whites lost comparatively but few men.
During the year 1758 the savages again appeared east of
the mountains, where they did considerable damage. A party
of about fifty Indians arrived in the vicinity of Mill Creek,
about nine miles south of Woodstock. On the alarm being
given, the neighbors took refuge in the home of George
Painter. Late in the afternoon they were attacked. Mr.
Painter sought safety in flight and was killed. They also
History of West Virginia 199
killed four infant children. Then, after setting fire to the
house, the savages moved off with forty-eight prisoners,
among whom was Mrs. Painter, live of her daughters and one
of her sons ; a Mrs. Smith and several of her children, among
them a lad of twelve or thirteen years, "fine, well-grown boy,
and remarkably fleshy".
Two of Painter's sons and a young man named Jacob
Myers escaped. They gave the alarm at both Powell's and
Keller's forts, some distance away; and early the next morn-
ing a small party set out f6r the scene of trouble, reaching
Mr. Painter's early in the day ; but on learning of the strength
of the Indians, they refused to go farther, as they were too
weak in numbers to chance a battle with the Indians.
The following is taken verbatim from De Hass's "Border
Wars", which will illustrate two particular characteristics of
the Indian at the time of which we write, namely : His
capacity for cruelty on the one hand, and his power of fascina-
tion on the other :
"After six days' travel they reached their villages, and
held a council, when it was determined to sacrifice their help-
less pFisoner, Jacob Fisher. They first ordered him to collect
a quantity of dry wood. The poor little fellow shuddered,
burst into tears, and told his father they intended to burn him.
His father replied, T hope not;' and advised him to obey.
When he had collected a sufficient quantity of wood to answer
their purpose, they cleared and smoothed a ring around a
sapling, to which they tied him by the hand, then formed a
trail of wood around the tree, and set it on fire. The poor
boy was then compelled to run around in this ring of fire until
he came in contact with the flame, whilst his infernal torment-
ors were drinking, singing, and dancing (another illustration
of the effects of booze) around him with 'horrid joy.' This
was continued for several hours; during which time tlie
wretches became beastly drunk, and as they fell to the ground,
their squaws would keep u]) the fire. With long sharp poles,
they pierced the body of their victim whenever 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 witnesses of the heart-rending tragedy.
200 History of West Virginia
"After an absence of about three years, Mrs. Painter, with
her son and two daughters, returned ; as did also Mrs. Smith,
who had the honor, if it could be so deemed, of presenting her
husband with an Indian son, by a distinguished chief. 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 dispo-
sition of his sire. Attempts were made to educate him, but
without success. He enlisted in the army of the Revolution
as a common soldier, and never returned. Fisher and his sur-
viving sons, with several others, returned home. Three of
Mr. Painter's daughters remained with the Indians ; one of
whom, after many years' captivity, returned. The others mar-
ried and spent their lives with their swarthy companions.
"In connection with this, we may state that a most re-
markable feature of the Indian life was the peculiar power of
fascination which it exercised over those subjected to its in-
fluence. Other instances are upon record which show that
this attachment to the allurements of savage life was often
astonishing. The following will serve as an illustration :
"About the year 1758 a man by the name of John Stone,
near what is called the White House, in the Hawksbill settle-
ment, was killed by the Indians. Stone's wife, with her infant
child and a son about seven or eight years old, and George
Grandstaff, a youth sixteen years old, were taken prisoners.
On the South Branch Mountain, the Indians murdered Mrs.
Stone and her infant, but they took the boy and Grandstaff to
their towns. Grandstaff remained about three years a pris-
oner. The boy Stone grew up with the Indians, came home,
and after obtaining possession of his father's property, sold it,
got the money, returned to the Indians and was never heard
of again."
Bingaman's Adventure With Indians Near Petersburg, Hardy
County.
In 1758, a man named Bingaman lived in his cabin, re-
mote from any neighbors, near the present village of Peters-
burg, Hard)^ County. In the fall of this year a party of eight
History of West Virginia 201
Indians arrixed at liis cabin late at night, \\liilc the- fainil}-
were asleep. Before Bingaman was aware of their presence,
the savages had forced an entrance into his house. ]Mrs.
Bingaman, the younger, was shot but not fatall}-. After get-
ting his parents, wife and child under the bed, Bingaman pre-
pared for battle. He called for the hired man, who was up
stairs, to come down and assist him, but the fellow refused to
come down. The room was dark, and having discharged his
gun, Bingaman commenced beating about at random with his
hea\"y rifle. In this manner he fought with the desperation of
a giant, and terribly did his blows fall upon the enemy. One
after another he beat down before him, until finalh , of the
eight but one remained, and he fled in terror from the house,
and escaped to tell his tribe that he had met with a man who
^as a "perfect devil." Bingaman had actually killed seven of
the Indians in single-handed combat.
Other Indian Depredations on the South Branch.
(From De Hass's "Border Wars.")
In the year 1764. a party of eighteen Delawares crossed
the mountains. Furman's Fort was about one mile above
Hanging Rock, on the South Branch. \\'illiam Furman and
Nimrod Ashby (builders of the fort) had gone out from the
fort to watch a deer lick in the Jersey mountains. The In-
dians discovered and killed them both, and passed on into the
county of Frederick, where they divided into two parties.
One party of eight moved on to Cedar Creek settlement ; the
other of ten attacked the people in the neighborhood of the
present residence of ]\Iaj. John White. On this place a stock-
ade was erected. The people in the neighborhood had taken
the alarm, and were on their way to this fort, when assaulted
by these Indians. They killed David Jones and his wife, also
some of Mrs. Thomas's family, and carried off one of the
daughters. An old man, named Lloyd, and his wife, and sev-
eral of his children, were killed. Esther Lloyd, their daughter,
about thirteen years old. received three tomahawk wounds in
the head, was scalped, and left lying, supposed to be dead.
202 History of West Virginia
Henry Clouser and two of his sons were 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 travel-
ing, they killed it on the way. Mrs. Thomas was taken to the
"Wappatomaka;" but the river being pretty full, and deep
fording, they encamped near Furman's fort for the night. The
next morning a party of white men fired off their guns at the
fort, which alarmed the Indians, and they hurried across the
river, assisting all the female prisoners, except Mrs. Thomas,
who being quite stout, was left to struggle for herself. The
current, however, proved too strong for her, and she floated
down the river — but lodged against a rock, upon which she
crawled, and saved herself from drowning.
The other party of eight Indians committed several mur-
ders on Cedar Creek. It is probable that this party killed a,
Mr. Lyle, a Mr. Butler, and some others. Mr. Ellis Thomas,
the husband of the woman whose story has just been given,
was killed the preceding harvest. The party of eight Indians
took ofif two female prisoners, but were pursued by some
white men, overtaken in the South Branch mountain, fired
upon, and one of the Indians killed. The others fled, leaving
their guns, prisoners and plunder.
In 1765 two Indians were seen lurking near Mill Creek.
Matthias Painter, John Painter, and William Moore armed
themselves, and went in pursuit. They had not proceeded
far before they approached a large fallen pine, with a very
bushy top. As they neared it, 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 utter-
ed the words before one of them rose up and fired. The 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, as the37^ supposed, dead enough.
The other fellow fled. The white men pursued him some
distance ; but the fugitive was too fleet for them. Finding
they could not overhaul him, they gave up the chase and re-
turned to the pine tree ; but to their astonishment, the sup-
posed dead Indian had moved off with both guns and a large
pack of skins. They pursued his trail, and when he found
History of West Virginia 203
they were gaining uix)n him, he got into a sink hole, and as
soon as they approached, commenced firing at them. He had
poured out a quantity of powder on dry leaves, filled his mouth
with bullets, and using a musket which was a self-primer, he
was enabled to load and fire with astonishing quickness, lie
thus fired at least thirty times before the}^ could get a chance
to dispatch him. At last Mr. Moore got an opportunit}', and
shot him through the head. Moore and Painter had many
disputes as to which gave the fellow the first wound. Painter,
at length, yielded, and Moore got the premium allowed by law
for Indian scalps.
The fugitive who made his escape unfortunately met with
a young woman on horse-back, named Sethon, whom he tore
from her horse, and forced ofif with him. This occurred near
the present town of New Market, and after traveling about
twenty miles it is supposed the captive broke down from
fatigue, and the savage monster beat her to death with a
heavv pine-knot. Her screams were heard by some people
who lived upwards of a mile away from this scene of horror,
and who next day, on going to the place to ascertain the cause,
found her stripped and weltering in blood.
Indian Depredations on the Monongahela River,
"1777, the year of the three sevens, sometimes called
'bloodv year,' is full of painful incidents to hundreds of fami-
lies in North-Western Virginia." says De Hass, in Border
Wars. 'Tt was. indeed, the most terrible year the early set-
tlers ever experienced. Dark, mysterious clouds of malignant
spirits hung upon tlic horizon, threatening every moment to
overwhelm and exterminate the half-protected pioneer in his
wilderness home. At length the storm broke over them, and
there was scarcely a settlement in the great \'a11ey of the
West that did not experience its fatal and terrible ei'fect. Thf^
fury of the savages during this year seemed to have no bounds.
The wretched inhabitants were massacred with every con-
ceivable cruelty. Men, women and children were chosen ob-
jects of their revenge, and scarcely a .settlement west of the
Alleghanies escaped their visits and their fury. The alarm
204 History of West Virginia
became great, and terror seemed to seize.upon the entire popu-
lation. Block-houses were hastily thrown up, and many who
could moved their families to Redstone and other points on
the Monongahela River; but still, there were hundreds left to
endure all the anticipated horrors of an Indian invasion."
The Indians separated into what were termed "scalping
parties," and penetrated the country at various points. One
of their first acts along the Monongahela River was to visit
the house of a Mr. Grigsly, on West Fork, and carry off his
wife and two children. Mr. Grigsly was absent at the time ;
but returning soon after, and missing his family, suspected the
true cause, although no injury had been done to either the
house or furniture. Securing the services of some of his
neighbors, pursuit was immediately given. Keeping the trail
about six miles, the horror-stricken husband came suddenly
upon the gncstly forms of his murdered wife and child. The
savages, finding Mrs. Grigsly unable to travel on account of
her delicate condition, most inhumanly tomahawked her, to-
gether with her youngest child.
The almost frantic husband and parent, burning for re-
venge, rushed on with a few select men, but the savages, sus-
pecting a pursuit, divided into small parties, and so effectually
covered their trail that all efforts to trace them were unsuc-
cessful, and the pursuit had to be given up. This was but the
commencement of such scenes of blood along the Mononga-
hela River.
A short time after this occurrence, a Miss Coons, whose
father erected Coons's I^ort on the West Fork River, now in
Harrison Count}^ went into the field to turn some hemp which
lay near the fort. While there engaged, two young me::,
Thomas Cunningham and Enoch James, approached, and after
a short conversation, went on. They had not gone far before
the report of a gun was heard, and on looking round they saw
two Indians standing near Miss Coons, one of whom was in
the act of scalping his unfortunate victim. Pursuit was im-
mediately given, but the savages eluded every eft'ort to trace
them. One of the young men fired at the retreating murder-
■ers, but without success.
"Western Pennsylvania suffered in common this year with
History of West Virginia 205
Western Mrginia. Scalping parties overran tlic settlements
along the lower Monongahela and its tributaries. The settle-
ments within the region now embraced in Washington, Alle-
gheny, and Westmoreland counties suffered severely. As it
was known that the Indians who committed these depreda-
tions crossed the Allegheny River, it was determined to erect
a fort on that stream, supposing that the presence of a small
garrison would have the effect to check the movements of the
enemy in that quarter. Accordingly, Colonel William Craw-
ford, whose melancholy fate a few years later thrilled the.
whole country with horror, visited the Allegheny for the pur-
pose of selecting a proper location for the proposed fort. He
decided to place it near the mouth of Puckety Creek, about
seventeen miles above Pittsburgh. The fort was immediately
built, and called Crawford, in honor of its projector. Several
others were erected about this time along the Loyalhanna,
Kiskiminitas, Cheat, Ten-mile, Pigeon Creek, etc. The eff'ect
of the erection of this fort may have been to force the Indians
lower down, and such was doubtless the fact. Large parties
of them found their way to points along the Ohio River, on the
West Virginia border, and their operations were very aggres-
sive, particularly in Wheeling and vicinity. The whole com-
bined force of the W^estern Confederation of Indians seemed
directed against this particular section, with the exception of
small parties that occasionally crossed over to the upper Mon-
ongahela, Cheat, West Fork, and Tygart's Valley Rivers, or
their tributaries." (Withers).
Indians Attack the Brains and Powells on Snowy Creek, in
Preston County.
On April 11th. 1778, five Indians came to a house on
Snowy Creek, in Preston County, in which lived James Brain
and Richard Powell, and remained in ambush during the
night, close around it. In the early morning, the appearance
of some ten or twelve men, coming from the house with guns,
for the purpose of amusing themselves in shooting at a mark,
deterred the Indians from making their meditated attack. The
men seen by them were travelers, who had associated for
206 History of West Virginia
mutual security, and who, after a morning's repast, resumed
their journey unknown to the savages. When Mr. Brain and
the sons of Mr. Powell went to their day's work, being en-
gaged in carrying clap-boards for covering a cabin, at some
distance from the house, they were soon heard by the Indians,
who, despairing of succeeding in an attack on the house,
changed their position, and concealed themselves by the side
of the path, along which those engaged at work had to go.
Mr. Brain and one of his sons being at a little distance in front
of them, they fired and Brain fell. He was tomahawked and
scalped, while another of the party followed and caught the
son as he was attempting to escape by flight. Three other
boys were then some distance behind and out of sight, and
hearing the report of the gun which killed Brain, for an in-
stant supposed that it proceeded from the rifle of some hunter,
in quest of deer. They were soon satisfied that this supposi-
tion was unfounded. Three Indians came running toward
them, bearing their guns in one hand, and tomahawks in the
other. One of the boys, stupified by terror, and unable to stir
from the spot, was immediately made prisoner. Another, the
son of Powell, was also soon caught ; but the third, finding
himself out of sight of his pursuers, ran to one side and con-
cealed himself in a bunch of alders, where he remained until
the Indians passed the spot where he la}^, when he arose, and
taking a different direction, ran with all his speed and effected
an escape. The little prisoners were then brought together ;
and one of Mr. Powell's sons, being discovered to have but one
eye, was stripped naked and slain and then scalped. The little
Powell who had escaped from the savages, being forced to go
a direction opposite to the house, proceeded to a station about
eight miles off, and there informed the people of what had
been done.
Thereupon a party of men hurriedly equipped themselves
and proceeded to the scene of action, but the Indians had de-
parted. One of their little captives, Benjamin. Brain, being
asked by them "how many men were at the house," replied,
"twelve." In answer to another question regarding the dis-
tance to the nearest fort, he informed them it was two miles.
Yet he well knew that there was no fort nearer than eight
History of West Virginia 207
miles, and that there was not a man at the house, Mr. Powell
being from home and the twelve men having departed before
his father had gone out to work. His object, of course, was
to save his mother and the other women and children from
captivity or death, by inducing the Indians to believe that it
would be extremely dangerous to venture near the house; and
this ruse worked, as the savages departed in great haste, tak-
ing with them their two little prisoners, Benjamin and Isaac
Brain. So quietly had all these events transpired that Mrs.
Brain did not learn of the fate of her husband until the return
of the little boy with the men from the fort. She no doubt
heard the shots, but this was of so frequent occurrence as to
occasion no suspicion of danger.
Capture of Leonard Schoolcraft in Buckhannon Settlement.
In the early part of May, 1778, a party of Indians came
into the Buckhannon settlement and made prisoner of Leonard
Schoolcraft, a youth of about sixteen (probably son of John
Schoolcraft, members of whose family were later murdered or
captured by the Indians, as related elsewhere), who had been
sent from the fort on some business. When he arrived at the
Indian town in Ohio, arrangements were made for his running"
the gauntlet. He was told tliat he might defend himself
against the blows of the young Indians, who were to pursue
him to the council house. Being active and athletic, he
availed himself of the privilege, so as to save himself from
the beating which he would otherwise have received, and laid
about him with well-timed blows, frequently knocking down
those who came near to him — much to the amusement of the
warriors. The young fellow arrived at the council house
without any serious effects from his race, and by reason of this
performance, he was adopted into the family of one of the
warriors. Here young Schoolcraft found some other prison-
ers, among whom were the two Brain boys, Benjamin and
Isaac. Later on they all three effected their escape from their
captors, recrossing the Ohio River near where New IMartins-
ville now stands ; thence up Big Fishing Creek, in \\''etzel
County, crossing over the dividing ridge between ^^''etzel and
208 History of West Virginia
Marion Counties, thence down Buffalo Creek to where Fair-
mont now stands. Here the boys ran onto an encampment
of hunters from the Buckhannon settlement. Young School-
craft Joined the hunters, while the Brain boys proceeded on
their return home by way of the Tygart's Valley River and
Three Fork Creek. .
Withers does not account for these boys after their ar-
rival at the Indian towns in Ohio. But tradition has it as
above stated, which may be the correct version.
Death of Captain Booth and Capture of Nathaniel Cochran on
Booth's Creek, 1778.
On the 16th day of June, 1778, Captain James Booth and
Nathaniel Cochran were at work in a field on Booth's Creek,
near where the little village of Briertown now stands. They
were surprised by a part}^ of Indians, who fired upon them,
killing Booth, and slightly wounding Cochran, who betook
himself to flight, hoping to get beyond the range of the sav-
ages' guns and escape ; in this he did not succeed, for he was
overtaken, made prisoner and carried into the Indian towns.
The death of Captain Booth was mournfully regretted by
the settlers, for he was a man of great energy, good education,
and possessed extraordinary talents. He was probably the
most prominent man in the settlement and his death was felt
to be a very great loss.
Cochran was afterwards taken by the Indians from their
towns in Ohio to Detroit, where he was sold and remained a
captive for a long period. While at Detroit he made an at-
tempt to escape,' and would have succeeded had he not un-
fortunately taken a path which led him directly to the old
Maumee towns, where he was recaptured, and after being de-
tained for a time, was sent back to Detroit. After enduring
many hardships and suffering many privations, being traded
backward and forward among the Indians of that section and
Canada, he was finally exchanged and found his way home.
A youth of scarcely eighteen when taken by the Indians, he
returned a man of thirty-five. He was afterwards a Captain
of the militia, and lived to a ripe old age. Five of his children
History of West Virginia 209
were still living in 1880. They were William Cochran, the
oldest, aged 91, who lived at Worthington; James, father of
Nathaniel Cochran of Fairmont, who lived in Jackson County ;
John, who lived near the mouth of Booth's Creek; Mrs. Han-
nah Brown, and Mrs. Polly Bowman, who lived near Booth's
Creek. — (Dunnington's History of Marion County).
Two or three days after the killing of Capt. Booth, the
same party of Indians met Benjamin Shinn, William Grundy
and Benjamin W^ashburn returning" from the head of Booth's
Creek, and Grundy fell a victim to the savages. Going on
farther, the Indians saw a boy about sixteen years old standing
in the path leading from Simpson's to Booth's Creek, mending
his saddle girth. They fired at him, and the ball passed di-
rectly through him, killing both him and his horse. — (From
Dunnington's History of Marion County).
Adventure of David Morgan and His Children, 1778.
These inroads made by the Indians led the inhabitants,
in 1778, to make greater preparations for security than ever
before, fearing that when winter was over, hostilities would
be again renewed. Many of the settlements received acces-
sions to their number from the immigrants who were constant-
ly arriving, and the population graduall}^ increased until it was
evident that the time was rapidly appearing when the progress
of civilization would be so great that the uncivilized must give
way before it, for every settler lessened the dangers of frontier
life as he increased its power to repel it.
Their troubles were not yet over, however, for early in the
year 1779 the settlers were alarmed by circumstances which
led to the belief that Indians were lurking in the neighborhood.
The inhabitants around Prickett's Fort especially became
alarmed and entered the fort ; yet their fears seemed ground-
less, for days passed and no signs of the Indians were seen.
A sense of security began to take possession of them ; but as
spring was rapidly approaching — the season when the savages
usually commenced their depredations — they continued to
make the fort their place of abode at night, but attended to
their farm duties during the day. Among those who sought
210 History of West Virginia
refuge in Prickett's Fort was David Morgan, who at the time
was upward of 70 years of age. About the first of April, being
uiiwell himself, he sent his two children — Stephen, a youth of
sixteen (afterwards the father of the late Hons. William S.
and Charles Morgan), and Sarah, a girl of fourteen — to feed
the cattle on his farm, which was on the opposite side of the
river, about a mile distant. Unknown to their father, who
supposed they would return immediately, the children took
with them bread and meat for a lunch, and resolved to spend
the day on the farm, preparing the ground for water melons.
Accordingly, after feeding the stock, Stephen set himself to
work, his sister helping him in various ways, and occasionally
going to the cabin, a short distance west of where they were,
to wet some linen she was bleaching. After the children left
the house, Morgan, whose illness increased, went to bed, and
falling asleep, dreamed that he saw Sarah and Stephen walk-
ing about the yard of the fort, scalped. This dream, which
under ordinar}'- circumstances would not tend to produce a
comfortable feeling in the mind of the dreamer, caused Morgan
no little apprehension when on awaking he found the children
were still absent. Taking with him his gun, he immediately
set out for the farm to see what detained them.
Impressed with the fear that he w^ould find his horrible
dream realized, he ascended a slight eminence which over-
looked the field where the children were, and w^as overjoyed
to see them safe, talking busily as they worked. Unknown to
them, he sat down to rest on an old log, commanding a full
view of them and the cabin. He had been there but a short
time when, happening to look towards the house, he saw two
Indians stealing from it towards the children. Fearing a sud-
den alarm would deprive them of their self-possession and
unfit them for escape, Morgan retained his seat upon the log,
and in a low voice, with as careless a manner as he could
assume, told them of their danger and said, ''run for the fort.''
The children instantly started and the Indians with hideous
yells, immediately pursued them. At this moment Morgan
made ^himself known and the Indians, giving up the chase,
sheltered themselves from his bullets behind trees. Believing
that discretion is the better part of valor, and not wishing to
History of West Virginia ' 211
fight against such odds, Morgan then attempted to place him-
self out of danger by flight, but age and infirmity prevented his
making much headway, and he soon realized that he would be
speedily overtaken by the Indians, who were following in hot
pursuit. Resolved to die game, he suddenly wheeled and made
ready to fire at them, but seeing the motion they instantly
sprang behind trees, and Morgan, wishing to save himself in
the same manner, got behind a sugar sapling, but finding it
insufficient for protection, he quitted it for a large oak a short
distance farther on. One of the Indians then took possession
of the sapling he had just left, but seeing it could not shelter
him, threw himself down behind a log which lay at the root
of the tree. This also was not suflicient to cover him, and
Morgan, seeing him exposed, fired at him. The ball took
effect and the savage, rolling over on his back, stabbed him-
self twice. Having thus rid himself of one of his pursuers, Mor-
gan again took to flight, the surviving Indian close upon liini.
There were now no trees to shield him, and the Indian could
readily overtake him, and his gun being unloaded, he had no
means of defense. The race had continued for about ten yards,
when, looking over his shoulder, Morgan observed the Indian
almost upon him with gun raised. Morgan watched closely
the Indian's finger upon the trigger, and as he pressed it
sprang to one side, letting the ball whiz harmlessly by. See-
ing that a hand-to-hand encounter was inevitable, Morgan
then aimed a blow with his gun at his adversary, who in turn
hurled his tomahawk at him, cutting oft" three fingers from
his left hand and knocking the weapon from his grasp. They
then closed, and Morgan, being a good wrestler, in spite of
his years, succeeded in throwing the Indian. He was not
strong enough to maintain his position, however, for the
Indian was soon on top of him, and with a yell of triumph
began feeling for his knife with which to dispatch him. For-
tunately for Morgan, the savage, while in the house, had seen
a woman's apron, and pleased with its color, had taken and
bound it around his waist above the knife; this hindered him
from getting at the knife quickl}-, and while he continued
fumbling for it Morgan succeeded in getting one of the
Indian's fingers in his mouth. Finally the Indian found his
212 History of West Virginia
knife, grasping it near the blade, while Morgan caught hold
of the extremity of the handle, and as the redskin drew it from
its scabbard the old man closed his teeth on the finger he
held with terrible force, causing the savage involuntarily to
relax his grasp. Morgan quickly drew the knife through his
hand and in an instant plunged it into his body; then, feeling
the Indian sink lifeless back in his arms, he loosed his grasp
and started for the fort. Meantime, Sarah, unable to keep
pace with her brother, who by this time had reached the fort,
followed in his footsteps until he came to the river, where he
had plunged in and swam across. She was making her way
to the canoe when her father overtook her and they crossed
to the fort together.
The above incident took place on that part of Morgan's
plantation which is a short distance northeast of the residence
of the late George P. Morgan. David's cabin stood near
where the burying ground of the Morgan family is now sit-
uated, and his body, with those of his family, rests within the
inclosure. — (From Dunnington's History of Marion County.)
Death of John Owens and John Juggins. Escape of Owen
Owens and Son of John Owens.
About two months after David Morgan's adventure with
the Indians, John Owens, Owen Owens, and John Juggins
were on their way to a cornfield, on Booth's Creek, when they
were fired upon by Indians; John Owens and John Juggins
were killed, but Owen Owens escaped. A son of John Owens
who had been sent to the pasture for the horses to use in
plowing, heard the report of the guns, and not realizing that
anything was wrong, came riding along on one horse and
leading another. The Indians saw him first, and began firing
at him, but fortunately none of the shots took effect, and the
boy made his escape.
Death of John Ice and James Snodgrass.
In the fall of 1786, John Ice and James Snodgrass came
over into what is now Wetzel County, to hunt buffalo. When
History of West Virginia 213
they arrived at the hunting grounds, they turned their horses
loose to graze while they searched for their game. Upon
their return late in the evening, their horses were missing.
They started on the horses' trail, not suspecting the presence
•of Indians in that neighborhood. They had not proceeded
far when they were fired upon from ambush, and some In-
dians rushed out and scalped them. No white man saw the
act, but a searching party shortly afterwards had no difficulty
in reading the signs. The remains of these unfortunate men
were badly torn by the wolves when found. This tragedy oc-
•curred on the head waters of Fishing Creek.
The foregoing was not the only scene of Indian murders
in Wetzel County, as the following from the "History of Wet-
zel County," by John C. McEldowney, Jr.. will show:
The Story of Crow's Run.
In the early spring of 1782, a squad of men started out
from Fort Henry on a hunting expedition. Among them was
a man by the name of Crow, of whom our story relates. They
traveled onward until they reached the mouth of what is now
Big Fishing Creek, which stream em])ties into the (3hio Ri\cr
at New Martinsville. They followed the creek until they
reached the mouth of a run putting into Big Fishing Creek,
twelve miles from New Martinsville. Here they encamped
for the night. The next day they went in search of game,
which was then plentiful in that neighborhood, with three
men in one company and two in another. Crow being one of
the two. After hunting all day, at sunset the two came to-
ward camp carrying the game they had shot, and on reaching
the camp Crow's companion started out to get some wood
with which, to build a fire. The man had scarcely started
when a band of Indians surrounded the camp, and Crow, real-
izing his danger, started to run, when a volley of shots was
poured into him, killing him instantly. His companion, on
hearing the shots, started toward camp, but seeing the In-
dians, he turned and fled, never stopping until he had reached
i:he company of the three whom he met coming towards the
214 History of West Virginia
camp, at the mouth of what is now Crow's Run. The Indians,
becoming alarmed at their approach, immediately retreated.
The whites returned to camp, where they found Crow
lying dead near the creek, with his head partially in the
water. They picked him up and placed him in a hollow S3^ca-
more tree and covered the body to protect it from the wolves
until they could return and give the remains proper burial.
Going to Wheeling, they secured reinforcements and return-
ing to the scene of the tragedy in four days the}'^ buried Crow's
body under a sycamore tree, using walnut logs for his coffin,
and inscribed on the tree, "]. J. Crow, 1782." This tree stood
until about the year 1875, when it was blown down by the
wind. It was from this incident that Crow's Run received
its name.
The Murder of Edward Doolin at New Martinsville.
(From McEldowney's History of Wetzel County).
The earliest white settler along the Ohio River, in Wetzel
Count}'', was Edward Doolin, who came here about the year
1780 and made a settlement near Doolin's Spring, one mile
from the mouth of Big Fishing Creek, on lands now owned by
the heirs of Philip Witten. He there built two cabins, one
for himself and wife and the other for his negro slave. He
owned a large survey of lands lying on both sides of the
stream, which still bears his name; lines of his survey are well
established, and have been familiar to the courts of Wetzel
County in divers suits of ejectment.
He had broken the solitude of the vast wilderness ; he was
visited by a tribe of Delaware Indians, who came at night and
took away his negro slave into captivit}^ and returning at day-
break, and finding Doolin in his front yard, shot and scalped
him. His wife, who was in the cabin lying abed with a new-
born babe beside her, was not molested. Mrs. Doolin was a
woman of remarkable beauty, and the savages, fearing it might
prove fatal to compel her to accompany them in her delicate
state of health, urged her to remain there for a few days until
she entirely recovered, promising to return and take her with
History of West Virginia 215
them to be the wife of their great chief. This alluring pros-
pect, however, did not seem to charm the white beauty into
lingering there.
At that time a blockhouse stood near the present residence
of Eliza Martin (now the residence of Charles W. Barrick —
S. M.), in the limits of the present town of New Martinsville.
Its solitary inmate, when these occurrences took place, was a
man named Martin, who heard the report of the firing in the
early morning, in the direction of Doolin's clearing. He made
a reconnoisance and found the body of Doolin lying in
front of his cabin. Entering the house he wrapped Mrs.
Doolin in blankets and, taking the infant in his arms, assisted
her to the blockhouse, where he placed the widow and orphan
in a canoe and transported them up the Ohio to the mouth of
Captina Creek. He then returned with some men, and they
buried the body of Doolin in the spot known as Witten's
Garden, where the grave is still to be seen. And every spring
the Easter flowers bloom over the dust of Edward Doolin —
the first white settler of Wetzel, and one of the few white men
killed by the Indians within her borders.
Mrs. Doolin lived near the settlement until her daughter
had grown to be a girl of ten. She then married and went to
Kentucky, where her daughter, after she had grown to be a
young lady, married one Daniel Boone, a descendant of the
noted Indian scout of the same name.
Mrs. Doolin sold this land to the Martins, McEldownieys
and Wittens.
Note : The deed from Doolin's heir to Philip Witten con-
tains a reservation clause, setting aside a certain portion of
ground around the grave for its protection, but the spot is now
being used as a part of the garden, and save a bunch of lilies
that persist in coming up at the place in spring time, there is
nothing to mark the resting place of the first citizen of what is
now New Martinsville. The question of the erection of a suit-
able monument in memory of the departed pioneer has been
raised from time to time, but as yet no definite action has been
taken. S. M.
216
History of West Virginia
Story of the Drygoos (or Draygoos), or the Two Half-Indians.
A few days subsequent to the killing of James Snodgrass
and John Ice on Fishing Creek, in what is now Wetzel County,
in the autumn of 1786, a party of Indians came to Buffalo
Creek, and meeting Mrs. Dragoo and her son in a field gather-
ing beans, took them prisoners, and supposing that their de-
tention would induce others to look for them, waylaid the
path leading from the house. According to expectation, un-
easy at their continued absence, Jacob Straight and Nicholas
Wood went to ascertain the cause. As they approached the
Indians fired and Wood fell.. Straight, taking to flight, was
soon overtaken. Mrs. Straight and her daughter, hearing the
The house shown in the background of this picture occupies a
slightly elevated spot of ground about sixty feet from the noted
Doolin Sprin?. It was here where Edward Doolin erected the first
log cabin within the present corporate limits of New Martinsville,
and where he was killed by the Indians, as related elsewhere in this
book.
Mrs. Lou Heidelson, the present owner of the premises, is repre-
sented standing at the foot of Doolin's grave, and the author at the
head. In the spring time a bunch of lilies come up at the head of
the grave. This is all there is to mark the resting place of the first
settler of New Martinsville, W. Va.
History of West Virginia 217
firing and seeing the savages in pursuit of Mv. Straight, bo-
took themselves also in flight, but were discovered by some
of the Indians, who immediately ran after them. The daughter
concealed herself in a thicket and escaped. Her mother
sought concealment under a large shelving rock, and was not
afterwards discovered, although those in pursuit of her hus-
band passed near and overtook him not far off. Indeed she
was at that time so close as to hear Mr. Straight say, when
overtaken, "Don't kill me and I will go with you," and the
savage replying, "Will you go with me?" she heard the fatal
blow which depri\-ed her husband of his life.
Mrs. Dragoo being infirm and unable to travel to their
towns, was murdered on the way. Her son (a lad of seven)
remained with the Indians upwards of twenty years. He mar-
ried a squaw, by whom he had four children, two of whom he
brotight home with him when he forsook the Indians.
In connection with the foregoing events it might be inter-
esting to give the following facts as related by Mrs. Malinda
Anderson, late of Jacksonburg, Wetzel County, and a grand-
daughter of the above mentioned Mrs. Dragoo, who was
killed by the Indians. Mrs. Anderson received her informa-
tion from her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hays, who, with her
husband, John Hays, came to what is now Jacksonburg in
1805 from Prickett's fort. Mr. Hays and his wife were born
in 1748, and were at that fortification at the time the above
events occurred, and consequently were familiar wnth all the
circumstances of that unhappy afifair. Mrs. Hays was eleven
years old at the time of her mother's (Mrs. Dragoo's) death.
The story is as follows :
"It was in a fort situated on Clinton's Run, Monongalia
Count)^ known as Prickett's Fort. The Drygoo family were
some of its occupants. There was a garden about half a mile
from the fort, and Mrs. Dragoo and her son Charles, who was
but four years old, went to the garden to pick beans, when
the Indians came upon them unawares and made them prison-
ers before giving them time to call for help. They tied Mrs.
Drygoo to a tree near the fort, but not in sight, and returned
to the garden to see if they cotdd catch some more in tlie same
wav. In a little while Mrs. Havs (my mother) and her sister
218 History of West Virginia
came out of the fort and started toward the garden to help
their mother (my grandmother, Mrs. Drygoo) pick beans, and
as they neared the garden started to call for their mother, but
she did not answer. Fortunately they got scared at some-
thing (not the Indians) and started toward the fort at full
speed, and on reaching it informed the occupants that their
mother, Mrs. Drygoo, and their brother, Charles Drygoo,
started out in the garden some time ago to pick beans and that
they were not in the garden now. The men immediately sus-
pected that which was correct and soon raised a company
under Captain David Morgan and went in pursuit. The
Indians, seeing that they had been discovered, beat a hasty
retreat. They untied Mrs. Drygoo and put her on a pony,
which was very wild, and made ofif with great speed. After
traveling for about ten miles the pony she was on 'umped a
run. The calf of one of her legs was torn open, having caught
on a sharp limb of a tree. They stopped and bandaged the
wound up the best they could, after which they continued the
journey, but the bandage did no good, and she became very
weak from loss of. blood. The Indians, seeing that it was de-
laying their journey, decided to kill her. When they began
to untie her from the pony Charles began to cry and a big
Indian picked him up and said, 'Don't cry;' that they would
not kill his mother, but she could not travel and that he could
be his boy after this. They killed and scalped her near the
place known as Betsey's Run, on the North Fork of Fishing
Creek, in Grant District, Wetzel County — the run being
named after her — 'Betsey,' for EHzabeth. After performing
this brutal act they made ofif with Charles into Ohio (crossing
the river where New Martinsville now is) to the Indian towns,
where he lived with them until he was twenty-seven years old.
While with the Indians he was one of them, and while very
young married an Indian maiden, and from her he had four
children, two boys and two girls."
"At the Morgan treaty at the mouth of Little Muskingum
James Hays was one of the men under Levi Morgan, and in-
quired of the Indians as to the whereabouts of his brother,
Charles Drygoo, on which he was informed that he was dead,
but that he had some children. He asked for them and he was
History of West Virginia IVJ
given the two boys. He brought them to where Jacksonburg
now stands, where they hved and died in the cabin built by
James Hays in 1805. There are a number of people in Wetzel
County who are proud to say'Liiat the blood of Charles Drygoo
and his Indian squaw flow^s in their veins."
Murder of the Schoolcraft Family in Buckhannon Settlement.
In the fall of 1779 several families in the Buckhannon set-
tlement left the fort and returned to their homes, under the
belief that thv season had advanced too far for the Indians
again to come among them. But they were sorely disap-
pointed. The men being all assembled at the fort for the pur-
pose of electing a Captain, some Indians made an attack upon
the famil' of John Schoolcraft and killed the w^omen and eight
children — two little boys alone were taken prisoners. A small
girl who had been tomahawked and scalped lived several days
afterward.
Indians Attack Samuel Cottrail's at Clarksburg.
The, last mischief that was done this fall was perpetrated
at the house of Samuel Cottrail near where Clarksburg now
stands. During the night considerable fear was excited, both
at Cottrail's and at Sotha Hickman's, on the opposite side
of Elk Creek, by the continued barking of the dogs, that
Indiatis were lurking near, and in consequence of this appre-
hension Cottrail, on going to bed, secured w^ell the door and
directed that no one should stir out in the morning until it
was ascertained that there was no danger threatening. A
while before day, Cottrail being asleep, Moses Coleman, a\1io
lived with him, got u]), shelled some corn and giving a few
ears to Cottrail's nephew \\ith directions to feed the pigs
around the yard, went to the hand mill in an outhouse and
commenced grinding. The little boy, being squatted down
shelling the corn to the pigs, found himself suddenly drawn on
his back and an Indian standing oxer him, ordering him to lie
there. The savage then turned towards the house in which
Coleman was, fired, and as Coleman fell the Indian ran u]) to
220 History of West Virginia
scalp him. Thinking- this a favorable time for him to reach
the dwelling house, the little boy sprang to his feet and run-
ning to the door it was opened and he admitted. Scarcely was
it closed after him when one of the Indians, with his toma-
hawk, endeavored to break it open. Cottrail fired through the
door at him and he went oft'. In order to see if others were
about and to have a better opportunity of shooting with effect,
Cottrail ascended the loft and, looking through a crevice, saw
the Indians hurrying away through the field and at too great
a distance for him to shoot with the expectation of injuring
them. Yet he continued to fire and halloo, to give, notice of
■danger to those who lived near him.
The Indians Invade the Tygart's Valley in 1780.
The severity of the following winter put a temporary stop
to savage inroads, and gave to the inhabitants an interval of
quiet and repose. Hostilities were, however, resinned upon
the first appearance of spring, and acts of murder and devasta-
tion, which had been suspended for a time, were begun to be
committed, with a firm determination on the part of the In-
dians to exterminate the inhabitants of the western country,
of which West Virginia was a part. To effect this object an
expedition was gotten up between the British commandant at
Detroit and the Indian chiefs northwest of the Ohio River,
to be carried on b}^ their united forces against Kentucky, while
an Indian army alone was to penetrate West Virginia, then
k:nown as North Western Virginia, and spread desolation over
its surface. The army destined to operate against Kentucky
was to consist of six hundred Indians and Canadians, to be
commanded by Colonel Byard (a British officer) and furnished
with every implement of warfare known at that time, from
the tomahawk to the cannon.
Luckily for West Virginia, the scattered and isolated
location of its inhabitants and the lack of roads and transpor-
tation facilities operated, in a measure, in their favor. How-
ever, the whites in this section were not exempt from invasion.
Small parties of savages would avail themselves of unguarded
History of West Virginia 221
moments and kill and phnulcr whenever opportunities offered
without too great personal danger.
In the early part of March. 1780, Thomas Lacy discovered
Indian signs near the u])i)cr part of Tygart's A'allcy River,
near where Elkins now stands, and becoming alarmed, hur-
riedly made his way to Hadden's Fort at the mouth of Elk-
water Creek, in what is now Randolph Count}-, and related
what he had seen. Ilis story was not believed. However, as
a matter of precaution, as Jacob and AMlliam Warwick and
some other men from Green])ricr were about leaving the fort
on their return home, it was decided that a com])any of men
should accompany them part of the way. In s])ite of their
previous warning, they were traveling in a careless, unguarded
way, when they were suddenly attacked by some Indians lying
in ambush near the place where Thomas Lacy had seen mocca-
sin tracks the day before. The men on horseback escaped,
but those on foot M^ere not so lucky. The Indians being sta-
tioned on both sides of the path, the footmen made a rush for
the river, and in climbing the steep bank on the opposite side
John McLain, James Ralston and John Nelson were killed,
and James Crouch, though badly hurt, succeeded in eluding
the savages and returned to the fort the following day.
The Attack on the Bozarth Home on Dunkard Creek, 1778.
The alarm which had caused the people in the neighbor-
hood of Prickett's Fort to mo\x into it for safety induced two
or three others on Dunkard Creek to collect at the house of
Mr. Bozarth, tliinking the)"- would be more exempt from dan-
ger when together than remaining at their several homes.
About the first of March, 1778, when only Mrs. Bozarth and
two men were in the house, the children, who had been out at
play, came running into the yard, exclaiming that tliere were
"ugly red men coming." LTpon hearing this, one of the two
men in the house, going to the door to see if Indians really
were approaching, received a glancing shot in his breast,
which caused him to fall back. The Indian who had shot him
sprang immediately after, and grappling with the other white
man, was quickly thrown on the bed. His antagonist having
222 History of West Virginia
no weapon with which to do him any injury, called to Mrs.
Bozarth for his knife. Not finding one at hand, she seized an
ax and at one blow let out the brains of the prostrate savage.
At that instant a second Indian entered the door and shot dead
the man engaged with his companion on the bed. Mrs.
Bozarth turned on him, and with a well directed blow let out
his entrails and caused him to bawl out for help. Upon this
others of his party who had been engaged with the children
in the yard came to his relief. The first who thrust his head
in at the door had it cleft by the ax of Mrs. Bozarth and fell
lifeless on the ground. Another, catching hold of his wounded,
bawling companion, drew him out of the house, when Mrs.
Bozarth, with the aid of the white man who had been first shot
and was then somewhat recovered, succeeded in closing and
making fast the door. The children in the yard were all killed,
but the heroism and exertion of Mrs. Bozarth and the wounded
white man enabled them to resist the repeated attempts of the
Indians to force open the door and to maintain possession of
the house until they were relieved b)^ a party from the neigh-
boring settlement.
The Killing of Nathaniel Davisson on Ten Mile, in
Harrison County.
In September, 1778, Nathaniel Davisson and his brother,
being on a hunting trip up Ten Mile, in Harrison County, left
their camp early on the morning of the day on which they in-
tended to return home, and naming an hour at which they
would be back, proceeded through the woods in different di-
rections. At the appointed time Josiah went to the camp, and
after waiting there in vain for the arrival of his brother, and
becoming uneasy lest some unlucky accident had befallen him,
he set out in search of him. Unable to see or hear anything
of him, he returned home and prevailed on several of his
neighbors to aid in endeavoring to ascertain his fate. Their
search was, likewise, unavailing, but in the following March
he was found by John Read, who was hunting in the neighbor-
hood. He had been shot and scalped; and notwithstanding
he had lain out nearly six months, yet he was but little torn
by wild beasts and was easily recognized.
History of West Virginia 223
The Killing of Lieutenant John White on Tygart's Valley.
In October, 1779, a party of Indians lying in ambush near
the road, in Tygart's Valley, fired several shots at Lieutenant
John White, riding by, wounding the horse and causing the
rider to be thrown. Being left on foot and on open ground,
he was soon shot, tomahawked and scalped. As soon as this
event was made known Captain Benjamin Wilson, with his
usual promptitude and energy, raised a company of volunteers
and proceeded to the Indian crossing at the mouth of Little
Kanawha (where Parkersburg now" stands). Here he re-
mained three days, with a view to intercept the retreat of the
savages. They, however, returned by another route and his
scheme of cutting them off while crossing the river failed.
Another Attack by the Indians at Martin's Fort, in
Monongalia County.
In the month of June, 1778, at Martin's Fort, on Crooked
Run, another murderous scene was enacted by the savages.
The greater part of the men having gone forth early to their
farms, and those who remained being unapprehensive of imme-
diate danger and consecjuently supine and careless, the fort
was necessarily easily accessible, and the vigilance of the sav-
ages who were lying hid around it, discovering its exposed
and weakened situation, seized the favorable moment to at-
tack those who were without. The women Avere engaged in
milking the cows outside the gate, and the men who had been
left behind were loitering around. The Indians rushed for-
ward and killed and made prisoners of ten of them. James
Stewart, James Small and Peter Crouse were the only persons
who fell, and John Shriver and his wdfe, two sons of Stewart,
tw^o sons of Smally and a son of Crouse were carried into cap-
tivity. According to their statement upon their return there
were thirteen Indians in the party which surprised them, and
emboldened by success, instead of retreating with their prison-
ers, remained near the fort until night, when they put the cap-
tives in a waste house near, under the custody of two of the
savages, while the remaining eleven went to see if they could
224
History of West Virginia
not succeed in forcing an entrance at the gate. But the dis-
aster of the morning had taught the inhabitants the necessity
of greater watchfulness. The dogs were shut out at night,
and the approach of the Indians exciting them to bark freely,
gave notice of impending danger in time for them to avert it.
Thus being frustrated, the savages proceeded to their towns
with the prisoners.
''^^/r7}/77^p7rr77n^^
^///////'7/^
mmmMiM/mmmiMimf^si^^^/fSMm
Site of Files' Cabin at Beverly, former county seat of Randolph
County. The Files family is supposed to have been buried where the
present railroad is shown.
CHAPTER XVI.
INDIAN WARS AND MASSACRES.— Continued.
Attack on the Thomas Family on Booth's Creek.
Early in March, 1780, a party of Indians invaded the set-
tlements on the upper branches of the Monongahela River, and
on the night of the 5th of that month came to the house of
Captain John Thomas, near Booth's Creek. Unapprehensive
of danger, with his wife and seven children around him en-
gaged in their accustomed evening devotions, they were sur-
prised by the forced entrance of a party of savages, who mur-
dered all the members of the family except one little boy,
whom they took prisoner. Stopping at the home of Captain
Thomas was a young woman by the name of Elizabeth Jug-
gins, whose father had been killed by Indians the previous
year, as related elsewhere. On the first appearance of the
Indians she crawled under a bed and escaped the observation
of the savages. After setting fire to the house the Indians
departed. Seeing the flames, Miss Juggins crawled from her
hiding place and escaped to the woods, and in the early morn-
ing spread the alarm.
Removal from Booth's Creek to Simpson's Creek.
Pursuit of the Indians.
After the murder of John Thomas and his family the set-
tlement on Booth's Creek was forsaken and its inhabitants
went to Simpson's Creek for greater security. In the spring
John Owens procured the assistance of some }oung men about
Simpson's Creek and proceeded to Booth's Creek for the jnir-
pose of threshing some wheat at his farm there. \^T^ilc on a
stack throwing down sheaves several guns were fired at him
by a party of twelve Indians concealed not far oft. Owens
226 History of West Virginia
jumped from the stack, and the men caught up their guns, but
thought best to go to Simpson's Creek for assistance before
venturing in pursuit of the savages. On their return to
Booth's Creek the Indians had left, taking with them the
horses left by Owens. The men, however, found the trail
and followed it until night. Early in the morning, crossing
the West Fork at Shinnston, they went on in pursuit and came
within sight of their camp, and seeing some of the savages
lying near their fire, fired at them, but, as was believed, with-
out effect. The Indians again took to flight, and as they were
hastening on one of them suddenly wheeled and fired upon
his pursuers. The ball passed through the hunting shirt of
one of the men, and Benjamin Coplin returning the shot, an
Indian was seen suddenly to spring into a laurel thicket. Not
supposing that Cophn's ball had taken effect, they followed
the other savages some distance further, and as they returned
got the horses and plunder left at the camp. Some time after-
wards a gun was found in the thicket into which the Indian
sprang, and it was then believed that Coplin's shot had done
execution.
Murder of Settlers on Crooked Run.
In the same 3^ear (1781) Indians made their appearance
on Crooked Run, in Monongalia County. Thomas Pindall
having been one day at Harrison's Fort, at a time when a
great part of the neighborhood had gone thither for safety,
prevailed on three young men (Harrison, Crawford and
Wright) to return and spend the night with him. Some time
after they retired for the night some of the women heard a
sound resembling the whistle on a charger (a powder meas-
ure), and insisted on their going directly to the fort. The
men heard nothing, and thinking there was no danger, refused
to move before morning. When morning came there M^as
nothing to indicate grounds for alarm. Mr. Pindall walked
to the woods to catch a horse, and the young men went to a
run nearby to perform their morning ablutions, leaving the
women remaining in bed. While the men were thus engaged
three guns were fired at them and Crawford and Wright were
History of West Virginia 227
killed. Harrison fled in safety to the fort. The women,
alarmed at the shooting, sprang out of bed and proceeded
towards the fort, pursued by the Indians. ]\Irs. Pindall was
overtaken and killed, l>ul Rachel Pindall, her sister-in-law,
escaped to the fort.
The Indians Invade Tygart's Valley, Leaving Ruin, Death
and Destruction in Their Wake.
In April, 1780, as some men were returning to Cheat River
from Clarksburg (where they had been to obtain certificates
of settlement rights to their lands from the commissioners ap-
pointed to adjust land claims in the surrounding counties),
they, after haAing crossed Tygart's Valley River, encountered
a large party of Indians, and John Minear, Daniel Cameron
and a Mr. Cooper were killed; the others effected their escape
with difficulty.
The savages then moved on towards Cheat River, but
meeting with James Brown and Stephen Radclift' and not be-
ing able to kill or take them, they changed their course, and
passing over Leading Creek (in Tygart's A'alley) nearly de-
stroyed the whole settlement. They there killed Alexander
Roney, Mrs. Dougherty, Mrs. Hornbeck and her cliildren,
Mrs. Bufifington and her children and many others and made
prisoners of Mrs. Roney and her son and Daniel Dougherty.
Jonathan Buffington and Benjamin Hornbeck succeeded in
making their escape and carried the sad news to Friend's and
Wilson's forts. Colonel Wilson immediately raised a coni-
jjany of men and proceeding to Leading Creek, found the set-
tlement without inhabitants and the houses nearly all burned.
He then pursued the savages, but not coming uj) with them
as soon as expected, the men became fearful for the safety of
their own families, and they returned to their homes the fol-
lowing day.
When the land claimants, who had been the first to en-
counter this party of Indians, escaped from them, they fled
back to Clarksburg and gave the alarm. This was quickly
communicated to the other settlements and spies were sent
out to watch for the enemy. By some of these the savages
228 History of West Virginia
were discovered on the AVest Fork near the mouth of Isaac's
Creek, and intelligence of it immediately carried to the forts.
Colonel Lowther collected a company of men, and going in
pursuit came in view of their encampment a while before
night, on a branch of Hughes' River, on what is now known
as Indian Creek.
Jesse and Elias Hughes — active, intrepid and vigilant men
— were left to watch the movements of the savages, while the
remainder retired a short distance to refresh themselves and
to prepare to attack them in the morning.
Before day Colonel Lowther arranged his men in order
of attack, and when it became light, on the preconcerted signal
being given, a general fire Avas poured in upon them. Five
of the savages fell dead and the others fled, leaving at their
fires all their shot bags and plunder and all their guns except
one. Upon going to their camp it was found that one of the
prisoners (a son of Alexander Roney, who had been killed in
the Leading Creek massacre) was among the slain. Every
care had been taken to guard against such an occurrence, and
he was the only one of the captives who had sustained any
injury from the fire of the whites.
As soon as the fire was opened upon the Indians Mrs.
Roney (one of the prisoners) ran toward the M^hites, rejoicing
at the prospects of deliverance, and exclaiming, "I am Alex-
ander Roney's wife of the Valley and not a bad-looking little
woman, either, if I were well dressed." The poor woman,
ignorant of the fact that her son had just been killed, and for-
getting for the moment the recent loss of her husband, seemed
intent only on her own escape from the savages.
Another of the captives, Daniel Dougherty, being tied
down and unable to move, was discovered by the whites as
they rushed toward the camp. Fearing that he might be one
of the enemy and do them some injury if they advanced, one
of the men, stopping, demanded who he was. Benumbed with
cold and discomposed by the sudden firing of the whites, he
could not render his Irish dialect intelligible to them. The
white raised his gun and directed it towards him, calling aloud,
"If you don't make known who you are I'll blow the hull top
of yer pesky head ofl^." Fear supplying him with energy.
History of West Virginia 229
Dougherty exclaimed, "Loord Jasus, an" am 1 to be kilt be
me own paple at lasht ?"
At this moment Colonel Lowther mterfercd and Daniel's
life was saved.
In consequence of information received from the prison-
ers who were rescued, to the effect that a large party of
Indians was expected hourly to come up, Colonel Lowther
deemed it prudent not to go in pursuit of those who had fled,
and collecting the plunder which the savages had left, catch-
ing the horses which they had stolen, and having buried young
Roney, the party set out on its return homeward — highly
gratified at the success which crowned their exertions to
punish their untiring foe.
Attack on West's Fort, and Removal of People to Buckhan-
non — Adventure of Jeremiah Curl, Henry Fink and
Others — Pursuit of the Indians by the Whites,
and the Running Fight and the Recapture
of Horses and Other Stolen Property.
West's Fort, on Hacker's Creek, was visited by savages
early in 1778.
The frequent incursions of the Indians into this settle-
ment had caused the inhabitants to desert their homes the
next year, and shelter themselves in places of greater security ;
and being unwilling to give up the improvements which they
had already made and commence anew in the woods, some
few families returned to it during the winter, and on the
approach of spring moved into the fort. They had not long
been here before the Indians made their appearance, and con-
tinued to invest the fort for some time. Too weak to sally
out and give them battle, and not knowing when to expect
relief, the inhabitants were almost reduced to despair, when
Jesse Hughes resolved, at his own hazard, to try to obtain
assistance to drive off the enemy. Leaving the fort at night,
he broke their sentinels and ran with speed to the Buckhannon
Fort. Here he prevailed on a party of the men to accompany
him to West's Fort and relieve those who had been so long
■confined there. They arrived before da}-, and it \\as thought
230 History o£ West Virginia
advisable to abandon the place once more and remove to
Buckhannon. On their way, the Indians used every artifice
to separate the party, so as to gain an advantageous oppor-
tunity of attacking them; but in vain. They exercised so
much caution, and kept so well together, that every stratagem
was frustrated and they all reached the fort in safety.
Two days after this, as Jeremiah Curl, Henry Fink and
Edmond West, who were old men, and Alexander West,
Peter Cutright and Simon Schoolcraft were returning to the
fort with some of their neighbors' property, they were fired
upon by the Indians, who were lying concealed along a run
bank. Curl was sHghtly wounded under the chin, but disdain-
ing to fly without making a stand, he called to his companions
"Stand your ground, for we are able to whip them". At this
instant, a lusty warrior drew a tomahawk from his belt and
rushed toward him. Nothing daunted by the danger which
seemed to threaten him. Curl raised his gun ; but the powder
being damped by the blood from his wound, it did not fire.
He instantly picked up West's gun (which he had been carry-
ing to reHeve West of part of his burden) and discharging it
at his assailant, brought him to the ground.
The whites being by this time rid of their incumbrances,
the Indians retreated in two parties and pursued different
routes, not however, without being pursued. Alexander West,
being swift of foot, soon came near enough to fire and brought
down a second, but having only wounded him, and seeing the
Indians spring behind trees, he could not advance to finish
him ; nor could he again shoot at him, the flint having fallen
out when he first fired.
Jackson (who was hunting sheep not far off), hearing
the report of the guns, ran towards the spot, and being in
sight of the Indian when West shot, saw him fall and after-
wards recover and hobble off. Simon Schoolcraft, following
after West, came to him just after Jackson, with his gun
cocked ; and asking where the Indians were, was advised by
Jackson to get behind a tree, or they would soon let him
know where they were. Instantly the report of a gun was
heard, and Schoolcraft let fall his arm. The ball passed
through it, and striking a steel tobacco box in his waist-
History of West Virginia 231
coat pocket, did him no further injury. Cutright, when
West fired at one of the Indians, saw another of them drop
behind a log, and changing his position, espied him where the
log was a little raised from the earth. With steady nerve he
drew upon him. The moaning cry of the savage, as he sprang
from the ground and moved hastily away, convinced them that
the shot had taken effect. The rest of the Indians continued
behind trees, until they observed a reinforcement coming up
to the aid of the whites, and they fled with the utmost precipi-
tancy. Night soon coming on, those who followed them had
to give over the pursuit. A company of fifteen men early next
morning went to the battle ground, and taking the trail of
the Indians and pursuing it some distance, came to where
they had some horses (which they had stolen after the skir-
mish) hobbled out at a fork of Hacker's Creek. They then
found the plunder which the savages had taken from neigh-
boring houses, and supposing that their wounded warriors
were near, the whites commenced looking for them, when a
gun was fired at them by an Indian concealed in a laurel
thicket, which wounded John Cutright. The whites then
caught the stolen horses and returned with them and the
plunder to the fort.
For some time after this there was nothing occurring to
indicate the presence of Indians in the Buckhannon settle-
ment, and some of those who were in the fort, hoping that they
would not be again visited by them this season, determined
on returning to their homes.
Austin Schoolcraft was one of these, and being engaged
in removing some of his property from the fort, as he and his
niece were passing through a swamp on their way to his house,
they were shot by some Indians. Mr. Schoolcraft was killed
and his niece taken prisoner.
Murder of the Mclntires and Pursuit of the Indians
by the Whites.
A short distance above Worthington, near the mouth of
Bingamon Creek, occurred the last of the Indian depredations
in that vicinity.
232 History of West Virginia
In May, 1791, as John Mclntire and his wife were return-
ing from a visit, they passed through the yard of Uriah
Ashcraft. A few minutes afterwards, Mr. Ashcraft was
startled by the growling of one of the dogs, and stepped to
the door to see what had aroused him. He had scarcely
reached the entrance when he espied an Indian on the outside.
Closing the door, he ascended the stairs and attempted three
times to fire from a window at the redskin, but his gun
snapped. He then observed that there were other Indians
close at hand, and he raised a loud shout for help, hoping that
friends in the vicinity might hear him and come to his relief.
The Indians presently retreated, and shortly afterwards three
brothers of Mclntire came up. Ashcraft explained the situa-
tion, and the four set out to follow the trail of the savages.
About a mile off they found the body of John Mclntire, whom
the Indians had overtaken, tomahawked, scalped and stripped ;
and concluding that Mrs. Mclntire, whom they knew to have
been with her husband, was taken prisoner, they sent to
Clarksburg for assistance to follow the murderers and recover
the captive. A company of eleven men, led by Col. John
Haymond and Col. George Jackson, started shortly after-
wards in pursuit of the Indians, and followed the trail to
Middle Island Creek, where it appeared fresh. Colonel Jack-
son proposed that six men should be chosen who would strip
as light as they could and go ahead of the horses. William
Haymond, of Palatine, who was one of the number, in a letter
to Luther Haymond, fift}^ years afterwards, thus gave an ac-
count of what followed :
"George Jackson, Benjamin Robinson, N. Carpenter,
John Haymond, John Herbert and myself (the sixth) were
those chosen. We stripped ourselves as light as we could,
tied handkerchiefs around our heads, and proceeded as fast
as we could. The Indians appeared to travel very carelessly,
and as it was in May, and the weeds were young and tender,
we could follow a man very easily.
"Arriving on a high bank, Jackson turned around and
said, 'Where do you think they have gone?' With that he
jumped down the bank, and we proceeded down on the beach
a short distance, when suddenly we were fired upon b}^ one
History of West Virginia 233
of the Indians. We started in a run and had gone ten or
fifteen yards when the other three fired. John Harbert and
brother John caught sight of them first running up the hill and
fired at theni.^ Robinson and myself ran and jumped upon
the bank, when the Indians left their knapsacks, and I fired
the third shot, the savages then being about fifty yards dis-
tant. The Indian I shot bled considerably, and we trailed him
for about a quarter of a mile, where he cut a stick, which we
supposed w^as to stop the blood.
"We followed him for about a mile, but the men thought
it dangerous to go farther, thinking he had his gun with him,
and would hide and kill one of us, and we returned. The
other Indians we did not follow, but on arriving at the place
of attack found all their knapsacks, a shot pouch, four hatch-
ets and all their plunder, including the woman's scalp. I have
since heard that one of the Cunninghams, who Avas a prisoner
with the Indians at that time, on his return said an Indian
came home and said he had been with three other Indians on
Muddy River (West Fork) and killed a man and a woman ;
that they were followed; that they fired on the white men;
and that the white men fired on them and w^ounded three, one
of whom died after crossing the second ridge at a run. (We
were then on the second ridge and near the second run.) If
this account be true, and the Indians we followed the same,
we must have shot well."
On the return of the whites, the body of Mrs. Mclntire
was found near where that of her husband had been. (Dun-
nington.)
The First Siege at Fort Henry at Wheeling, West Va.
We will now call the attention of our readers to events
transpiring along the Ohio River. The history of the second
siege of Fort Henry in the month of September, 1782, has
already been recorded elsewhere. A brief history of the first
siege will now be given.
In the month of August, 1777, — in which year the interior
settlements were so tmmercifully harassed by the savages, —
it was rumored that the Indians, in great numbers, meditated
234 History of West Virginia
an attack on Fort Henry; and as a precautionary measure,
scouting parties were kept out to watch the movem'"*"ts ...
the enemy: while the settlers in the ' ' *'-^ •' "'' , ,
; 1 ^ ^u- ^ f T Mr. Ashcraft was
sistmsf of about thirty ramihes, so' .orniC , j .
^u T A- :■ ■ ^u I u ^-'^f. and stepped to
ihe Indians, noticing that ihci ' "^"rff /• , / - ^
watched by the whites, abandoned ii ^^ourses of travel,
and divided as they approached the / /c., into small distinct
parties, and struck out along new lines for the Ohio. Thus
they succeeded in reaching Bogg's Island -two miles below
the fort — and there consolidated their force, cr ,sed the river
and proceeded directly to the creek bottom, under cover of
night, and completed their plans for the movement in the
morning; having completely fooled Capt. Joseph Ogle, who,
on August 31st, had been sent at the head of severe men to
scout along the usual routes followed by the Indians, and who
returned with the report of "no immediate cause for danger".
The Indian army, it is said, consisted of about 350
Mingoes, Shawnees and W3^andotts under command of Simon
Girty.
Some of our later day writers claim that Girty was not
present on this occasion ; that he was then at Fort Pitt ; that
he did not leave Fort Pitt until five months after this battle
was fought, notwithstanding there were persons present who
claimed they were personally acquainted with him, and had
talked with him before and during the battle. But whether
Girty, or some other white man, commanded the Indians on
this occasion, it does not matter ; and as this leader should have
a name befitting his unenviable position, the name of Girty
seems particularly appropriate, when it is understood what
sort of a man the latter really was. So, for the lack of a better
name, we shall call him Girty and let it go at that.
The Indians were formed in two lines across the bottom,
which was cleared and partly in corn and partly in tall weeds,
which effectually concealed them. Six Indians were then
stationed close to the path which led from the fort. Shortly
after daybreak, on September 1st, a negro man came running
to the fort, with the information that he and a white man
named Boyd (who had been sent out by Dr. McMechen to
get a horse) had just been fired at by some Indians below the
History of West Virginia 235
fort, and that Boyd had been killed. Capt. Samuel Mason,
who had brought his company to the fort on the previous
brother'john cTugi..'. --^^ fourteen men to drive the enemy
fired at them.- RoW: \ strength of the savages. When
^u- hank. wher. ; ^ ^^"'^y ^^^^ ^^ ^^^"^- Immediately
after this, inc n army rushed from cover and
attacked Mason ana is 'ittle band. Out of the fifteen, only
Mason and two of his men, Hugh McConnell and Thomas
Glenn, escaped. W^^liam Shepherd, son of Col. David Shep-
herd, was over^-^ken and killed near the present Market House
in Wheeling. Upon being informed as to Captain Mason's
unfortunate predicament, Captain Ogle, with his dozen ex-
perienced scouts, hurried to the scene of conflict for the pur-
pose of "'^sisting Mason and his men; but the result of the
expedition was as disastrous as the other, for all were killed
but Captain Ogle, Sergeant Jacob Ogle, and Martin Wetzel.
Immediately following this terrible slaughter of brave
men, this army of savages, with reeking scalps 'just torn from
the heads of the whites who had gone out to meet them in
battle, presented themselves in front of the fort and demanded
a surrender.
"The api)earance of the enemy, as they approached, was
most formidable," says DcHass. "They advanced in two
separate columns, with drum, fife, and British colors.
"As the Indians advanced, a few scattering shots were
fired at them from the fort, without, however, doing nnicli
execution. Girty, having brought up his forces, proceeded to
dispose of them as follow: The right flank was brought
around the base of the hill and distributed among the several
cabins convenient to the fort. The left was ordered to defile
beneath the river bank, close under the fort.
"Thus disposed, Girty presented himself to the window of
a cabin, holding forth a white flag, and offering conditions of
peace. He read the proclamation of Hamilton, Governor of
Canada, and in a stentorian voice demanded the surrender of
the fort, oft"ering, in case they complied, protection ; but if they
refused, immediate and indiscriminate massacre.
"Girty referred, in a boasting manner, to the great force
at his command ; and called u]ion them, as loyal subjects, to
236 History of West Virginia
give up in obedience to the demand of the king's agent, and
that not one of them should be injured.
"Although the whole number of men in the fort did not
exceed ten or a dozen, still there was no disposition to yield ;
but, on the contrary, a fixed determination to defy the rene-
gade, and all the power of King George.
"Girty having finished his harangue, Colonel David Shep-
herd, the commandant, promptly and in the most gallant and
effective manner, replied, 'Sir, we have consulted our wives
and children, and all have resolved — men, women and children
— sooner to perish at their posts than place themselves under
the protection of a savage army with YOU at its head ; or
abjure the cause of liberty and the colonies.' The outlaw
attempted to reply, but a shot from the fort put a stop to any
further harangue.
"A darker hour had scarcely ever obscured the hopes of
the west. Death was all around that little fortress, and hope-
less despair seemed to press upon its inmates ; but still they
could not and would not give up. Duty, patriotism, pride,
independence, safety, all required they should not surrender,
and forswear the cause of freedom.
"Unable to intimidate them, and finding the besieged proof
against the vile promises, the chagrined and discomfited Girty
disappeared from the cabin, but in a few minutes was seen
approaching with a large body of Indians, and instantly a tre-
mendous rush was made upon the fort. They attempted to
force the gates, and test the strength of the pickets by muscu-
lar effort. Failing to make any impression, Girty drew off
the men a few yards, and commenced a general fire upon the
:ort holes.
"Thus continued the attack during most of the day and
part of the night, but without any sensible effect. About
noon, a temporary withdrawal of the enemy took place. Dur-
ing the cessation, active preparations were carried on within
the fort to resist a further attack. Each person was assigned
some particular duty. Of the women, some were required to
run bullets, while others were to cool the guns, load and hand
them to the men, etc. Some of them, indeed, insisted upon
doing duty by the side of the men, and two actually took their
History of West Virginia 237
position at the port holes, deaHng death to man}- a dusky
warrior.
"About three o'clock, the Indians returned* to the attack
with redoubled fury. They distributed themseh'es among the
cabins, behind fallen trees, etc. The number thus disposed of
amounted to perhaps one-half the actual force of the enemy.
The remainder advanced along the base of the hill south of the
fort, and commenced a vigorous fire upon that part of the
stockade. This was a cunningly devised scheme, as it drew
most of the inmates to that quarter. Immediately a rush was
made from the cabins, led on by Girty in person, and a most
determined effort made to force the entrance. The attempt
was made with heavy timber, but failed, with the loss of many
of their boldest warriors.
"Several similar attempts were made during the after-
noon, but all alike failed. Maddened and chagrined by re-
peated disappointment and ill-success, the savages withdrew
to their covert until night-fall. Day at length closed ; dark-
ness deepened over the waters, and almost the stillness of
death reigned around. About nine o'clock, the savages re-
appeared, making night hideous with their yells, and the heav-
ens lurid with their discharge of musketry.
"The lights in the fort having been extinguished, the in-
mates had the advantage of those without, and many a stal-
wart savage fell before the steady aim of experienced frontiers-
men.
"Repeated attempts were made during the night to storm
the fort, and to fire it, but all failed through the vigilance of
those within.
"At length the night of horror passed and day dawned
upon the scene, but to bring a renewal of the attack. This,
however, did not last long, and despairing of success, the sav-
ages prepared to leave. They fired most of the buildings,
killed the cattle, and were about departing, when a relief party
of fourteen men, under Colonel Andrew Swearingen, from
Holliday's fort, twenty-four miles above, landed in a pirogue,
and undiscovered by the Indians, gained entrance to the fort.
"Shortly afterwards. Major Samuel McCollough, at the
head of forty mounted men, from Short Creek, made his ap-
238 History of West Virginia
pearance in front of the fort, the gates of which were joyfully
thrown open. Simultaneously with the appearance of INIc-
Collough's men, re-appeared the enemy, and a rush was made
to cut off the entrance of the party. All, however, succeeded
in getting in except the gallant Major, who, anxious for the
safety of his men, held back until his own chance was entirely
cut off. Finding himself surrounded by savages, he rode at
xuii speed in the direction of the hill.
"The enemy, with exulting yells, followed close in pursuit,
not doubting they would capture one upon whom, of all men,
they preferred to wreak their vengeance.
"Greatly disappointed at the escape of the gallant Major,
and knowing the hopelessness of attempting to maintain the
siege against such increased number, the Indians fired a few
additional shots at the fort and then moved rapidly oft' in a
body for their own country.
'Tt has been conjectured that the enemy lost on this oc-
casion from forty to fifty in killed and wounded. The loss of
the whites has been already stated. Not a single person was
killed within the fort, and but one slightly wounded."
An account of McCollough's leap over the precipice and
his escape from the Indians will be given in another chapter.
Ambuscade of Capt. William Foreman and His Men at Grave
Creek Narrows, in Marshall County,
September 27, 1777.
(By Wills De Hass, in Border Wars.)
By far the most disastrous ambuscade in the settlement
of the west was that at the head of Grave Creek narrows, now
Marshall County, Virginia (West Virginia), September 27,
1777.
In the fall of that year, when it became known that the
Indian Nations northwest of the Ohio would become the allies
of Great Britain, a call for troops was made on the West Vir-
ginia frontiersmen for the purpose of protecting the frontier
settlements. Major George Skillern raised two companies in
Botetourt County, which, with forty Greenbrier County men
under Captain William Renick, marched to Point Pleasant;
and Capt. William Foreman, of Hampshire County, collected
History of West Virginia 239
a company of men in the South Branch Valley and proceeded
to Wheeling, arriving at Fort Henry September 15.
On Sunday morning, September 26th, Captain William
Foreman with twenty-four men, Capt. Ogle with ten men, and
Capt. Linn with nine men, started from Fort Henry on a
scout. Their intention was to cross the Ohio at a point where
Moundsville now stands and thence proceed on down the river
to Captina, a distance of about eight miles; but upon arriving
at Tomlinson's fort and finding the same abandoned by the
whites and sacked by the Indians, and no canoes to be had,
the party remained there over night, and the next morning
started to return to Wheeling. Capt. Linn, being fearful of
an ambuscade, marched with his men along the hill crest ; but
Ogle and Foreman, having no such apprehensions, kept to the
trail along the river bottom. Thus they proceeded until they
reached the upper end of McMechen's narrows — now followed
by the Ohio River Railroad — where some of the party dis-
covered in the path some Lidian trinkets, beads, etc. With a
natural curiosity, but unthoughtful of a possible ambush, the
men gathered about those who picked up what proved to be
articles of decoy, and while examining them with the eager
curiosity of so many children — all being grouped together in
a compact form — two lines of Indians along the path, one
above and the other below, and a large body of them, at once
arose from covert and opened fire upon the unsuspecting party,
with fatal effect. The river hill rises at this point with great
abruptness, presenting an almost insurmountable barrier.
Still, those of the party who escaped the first discharge at-
tempted to climb up the precipice. But the savages pursued
and killed several. At the first fire, Captain Foreman and
most of his party, including his two sons, fell dead. The exact
loss was never known, 1)ut it is supposed to have been about
twenty-one, including the Captain. Of those who escaped up
the hill were Robert Harkness and John Collins. In addition
to Captain Foreman, the following named persons are said to
have been killed in this' ambuscade : Edward Peterson. Benja-
min Powell, Hambleton Foreman, James Greene, John \Mlson,
Jacob Ogle, Jacob Pew, Isaac Harris, Robert McGrew, Elisha
Shivers (or Shriver), Henry Riser, Bartholomew Vine}^ An-
240 History of West Virginia
thony Miller, John Vincent, Solomon Jones, William P2ngle,
Nathan Foreman, Abraham Powell, Samuel Lowry, and
Samuel Johnston.
On the day following this sad affair. Col. Shepherd, Col.
Zane, Andrew Poe, Martin Wetzel, and some others went
down and buried the dead in one common grave, near the
scene of the murder. Here their remains reposed until June
1st, 1875, when, by an order of the county court of Marshall
County, their bones were taken up and transferred to the
Moundsville cemetery, near the entrance facing the city, and
not far from the present Camp grounds. A stone slab about
five feet high and eighteen inches wide, bearing the following
inscription, marks the resting place of these pioneer soldiers :
THIS
Humble Stone
is erected
to the memory
of
Captain Foreman
and
twenty-one of his men,
who were slain by a band of
ruthless savages (the allies of
a civilized nation of Europe),
on the 26th day of September, 1777.
"So sleep the brave who sink to rest
By all their country's wishes blest."
This monument was originally
erected above the narrows on the
Ohio river four miles above
Moundsville, on the ground
where the fatal action occurred,
and the remains of Capt. Foreman and his
fallen men were placed here June 1st, 1875,
by Capt. P. B. Catlett, under the
order of the County Court of ■
Marshall County.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
INDIAN WARS AND MASSACRES— Continued.
Murder of Inhabitants at Harbert's Fort.
The failure of the Indians to capture Fort Henry in Scj)-
tember, 1777, and their desire to wreak their vengeance on the
inhabitants less favored b}^ the protection of strong forts,
prompted them to strike the frontier, at points below and
thence proceed against the settlements in the interior. At
that time, the entire frontier between Wheeling and Point
Pleasant, a distance of one hundred and seventy miles, was
unprotected, with the exceptions of a few small, inefficient
stations at Grave's Creek, Baker's, etc. These offered no
serious impediment to the progress of the savages, and thus,
practically unmolested, they struck back to the heart of the
mountain settlements. A few of the attacks made by the
Indians on the Monongahela, Tygart's Valley, West Fork, and
Cheat River settlements have already been recorded, but sev-
eral important incidents were omitted, and these we will now
take up in their regular order as they occurred.
"In 1878, the inhabitants of the upper Monongahela, not
unmindful of the indications that had reached them, com-
menced busily preparing for the anticipated attack. Harbert's
block house, on Ten Mile Creek, in Harrison County, was con-
sidered a safe and convenient resort, and thither those living
in that quarter took shelter. Notwithstanding these pruden-
tial steps, they unhappily sufifered themselves to be lulled into
false security. The weather being fine, the children were al-
lowed to play outside of the block-house. Suddenly one of
them discovered Indians, and, running in, gave the alarm.
John Murphy stepped to the door to see if danger really ap-
proached, when one of the Indians, turning the corner of the
242 History of West Virginia
house, fired at him. The ball took effect, and Murphy fell
into the house. The Indian, springing in, was grappled by
Harbert and thrown to the floor. A shot from without
wounded Harbert, yet he continued to maintain his advantage
over the prostrate savage, striking him as effectually as he
could with his tomahawk, when another gun was fired from
without, the ball passing through his head. His antagonist
then slipped out at the door, badly wounded in the encounter.
"Just after the first Indian entered, an active young war-
rior, holding a tomahawk with a long spike at the end, came
in. Edward Cunningham instantly drew up his gun, but it
flashed, and they closed_in doubtful strife. Both were active
and athletic; and sensible of the high prize for which they
contended, each put forth his strength and strained every
nerve to gain the ascendancy. For a while, the issue seemed
doubtful. At length, by great exertion, Cunningham wrench-
ed the tomahawk from the hand of the Indian and buried the
spike end to the handle in his back. Mrs. Cunningham closed
the contest. Seeing her husband struggling with the savage,
she struck the latter with an ax. The edge wounding his face
severely, he loosened his hold and made his way out of the
house.
"The third Indian who had entered before the door was
closed, presented an appearance almost as frightful as the
object he had in view. He wore a cap made of the unshorn
front of a buft'alo, with the ears and horns still attached, and
hanging loosely about his head, which gave him a most hid-
eous appearance ; and on entering the room, this frightful
monster aimed a blow with his tomahawk at Miss Reece,
which alighted on her head, inflicting a severe wound. The
mother, seeing the uplifted weapon about to descend on her
daughter, seized the monster by the horns ; but his false head
coming off, she did not succeed in changing the direction of
the weapon. The father then caught hold of him ; but far
inferior in strength, he was thrown on the floor and would
have been killed, but for the interference of Cunningham, who,
having succeeded in clearing the house of one Indian, wheeled
and struck his tomahawk into the head of the other.
"During all this time the door was kept secured by the
History of West Virginia 243
women, the Indians from ^vithout endeavoring several times
to force it and would at one time have succeeded; but just as
it was yielding, the Indian who had been wounded by Cun-
ningham and his wife squeezed out, causing a moriientar}- re-
laxation of their efforts, and enabled the women again to
close it.
"The savages on the outside, in tlie meantime, were busily
engaged in securing such of the children as could travel and
murdering in the most inhuman and revolting manner all who
could not. Despairing of being able to do further mischief,
they moved oft".
"One white adult only was killed, and four or five
wounded. Of the children, eight or ten were killed and car-
ried oft". The Indians lost one killed, and had two badly
wounded.
Appearance of the Indians Near West's Fort.
"Shortly after the attack at Fort Hacker, mentioned here-
tofore, three women ventured forth from West's fort to gather
greens in an adjacent field. One of these was a Mrs. Freeman,
another Mrs. Hacker, but the name of the third is not now
known. While thus engaged they were attacked by four
Indians and all would probably have been killed had not their
screams brought the men to their rescue. Three of the sav-
ages immediately retreated, but the fourth, who carried a long
staft" with a spear on its end, rand up and thrust it through
the body of the unfortunate Mrs. Freeman. The savage then
scalped his victim before the men could drive him oft".
"Some persons at a distance from the fort, hearing the
screams, rushed forward. Of this number were Jesse Hughes
and John Ashcraft, who ran for the fort together, and as they
approached, Hughes discovered two Indians standing with
their faces towards the fort, and looking very attentively at
the movements of the whites. Changing their course they
reached the fort in safety. Hughes immediately grasped his
rifle and bounded out in pursuit, followed by some half dozen
others. Before reaching the place where the two Indians
had been seen, a signal resembling the howl of a wolf
244 History of West Virginia
was heard, which Hughes immediately answered, and he
moved rapidly on in the direction whence it proceeded. In a
short time the howl was again given and a second time
answered. Running to the brow of a hill and cautiously
looking around, Hughes and his companions saw two Indians
coming towards them. Hughes fired and one of them fell.
The other sought safety in flight and by running through the
thickets finally escaped."
The Indians Appear Near Coburn and Stradler's Forts.
In the fall of the year 1778 a large party of Indians
appeared near Coburn's fort, on .Coburn's Creek, in Monon-
galia County, and attacked a company of whites returning
from a field. John Woodfin and Jacob Miller were both killed
and scalped.
"The same Indians next made their appearance on Bun-
ker's Creek, near Stradler's fort. Here, as on Coburn Creek,
they lay in ambush on the roadside, awaiting the return of
the men who were engaged at work in some of the neighbor-
ing fields. Towards evening the men came, carrying with
them some hogs which they had killed for the use of the fort
people, and on approaching where the Indians lay concealed,
were fired upon and several fell. Those who escaped injury
from the first fire returned the shot, and a severe action ensued.
But so many of the whites had been killed before the savages
exposed themselves to view that the remainder were unable
long to sustain the unequal contest. Overpowered by num-
bers, the few who were still unhurt fled precipitately to the
fort, leaving eighteen of their companions dead in the road.
These were scalped and mangled by the Indians in a most
shocking manner, and lay some time before the men in the
fort ventured out to bury them.
Attack on Fort Randolph at Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Early in June, 1778, a few Indians made their appearance
in the vicinity of Fort Randolph (Point Pleasant), and after
vainly manoeuvring to draw out an attacking party from the
garrison, disappeared, when suddenly a large body of savages
History of West Virginia 245
arose from their covert and demanded a surrender of the fort
on pain of insfant destruction.
"Captain McKee, the commandant, asked until morning
for consideration. During the night the besieged made good
use of the darkness by carrying water into the fort and put-
ting all things in readiness for a regular siege.
"In the morning Captain McKee replied that the demand
for a surrender could not be complied with. The Indians
(they were mostly Shawnees) then said they had come ex-
pressly for the purpose of avenging the death of their great
chief, Cornstalk; that the fort should be reduced, and every
soul massacred. The attack was commenced with great fury
and continued, with but little intermission, for several days.
Finding they could make no sensible impression, the enemy
withdrew and proceeded up the Kanawha, evidently with the
intention of attacking the Greenbrier settlements. No recent
demonstration of hostility having been made in that quarter.
Captain McKee justly became alarmed for the issue unless
information of their approach could be conveyed to the settle-
ments. Two soldiers were immediately sent in pursuit, but
being discovered, were fired upon, and they returned to the
fort. Two others then volunteered, Philip Hammon and
John Pryor. An Indian squaw present decorated them
in true savage style, so that the native warriors could
scarcely have told them from genuine Shawnees. Thus
efuipped, the intrepid hunters left Fort Randolph, and
■over hill and dale they sped onward, until finally they
reached the settlements. The people were alarmed, and
€re night closed in the whole neighborhood were col-
lected at the residence of Col. Andrew Donally, which was
a large, substantial, hewn-log dwelling, protected by pickets,
and answered very well for a place of defense. It stood about
ten miles north of the present town of Lewisburg. Every-
thing was put in readiness for an attack. A strict watch was
kept through the night, but no enemy appeared. The second
■day passed off in like manner. That night most of the men
went to the second story, having slept none for nearly forty-
eight hours. In the la 
