University of Virginia Library

A SKIRMISH.

This incident, which was inadvertantly omitted in its
proper place, is now given as not without interest to most
readers of our local history.

One of the earliest settlers below Grave creek was John
Baker. In 1775 he made an improvement on what is now
known as Cresap's bottom. During the Dunmore war, Baker,
with most of the settlers below Wheeling, resorted to the fort
erected at that point; but in 1781, the settlement having
become considerably strengthened by new additions, it was
determined to erect a place of defence in the neighborhood,
and accordingly, some additions were made to the house of
Baker, and the whole protected by a stout stockade. Into
this the settlers retreated on the renewal of hostilities in 1782.

Several years, however, passed without anything occurring
at "Baker's Station," as it was called, worthy of special
remark. At length, in 1791, an incident took place not
unworthy of notice. Indications of the enemy became manifest,
and strong apprehensions began to be entertained that
Indians were about. In order to satisfy themselves, five
experienced hunters were sent over the river to scout. These
were Isaac McKeon, John McDonald, John Bean,—Miller,
and a Dutchman, named Shopto. They crossed opposite the
station, and proceeded up to the mouth of Captina, (one mile,)
and were moving cautiously along, when a heavy fire was
opened upon them, killing Miller on the spot, and dangerously
wounding McDonald, who was made prisoner. The others ran
in the direction of the station, calling for help as they
approached; and so close upon them were the Indians, that
they shot McKeon after he had reached the beach opposite
the fort. Shopto and Bean escaped by swimming.

Of the men collected at the station was Lieutenant Abraham

Enochs, of the Ohio county militia, and he proposed at once
to head a company and go in pursuit. Eighteen men,
including all the efficient force of the station,[22] at once joined
the gallant officer, and at once left on their perilous duty.
Enochs led his men up the Virginia side to a point above the
mouth of the creek, and then crossing the river, proceeded
directly over the hill to the creek, instead of pursuing the
bottom.

As the whole party were descending to a small stream
which empties into the creek, about two miles above its mouth,
they were fired upon by a large body of Indians, and John
Baker (son of the proprietor of the station) severely wounded
in the right thigh. The men were thrown into great confusion
by this unexpected fire, and it was with the utmost
difficulty they could be rallied. But Enochs, who possessed
great intrepidity, as well as much tact as a commander,
restored something like order, and cried to his men to rout
the Indians from their covert. Leading them on with a shout
of defiance, and a cry of confident victory, the bold and gallant
officer, like Brunswick's fated chieftain,

He received at the first onset a rifle ball in his breast, and
fell dead on the spot.

The death of their leader, and a simultaneous outbreak of
a new body of Indians, so disconcerted the rest of the men,
that they gave but one fire, and then broke in a disordered
and general rout, amid the shouts and terrible war-whoops
of the savage. Every man retreated for himself, most of
them making their way to Grave creek.

Of those wounded, was George McColloch, who received a
rifle ball in his ancle. Ray Vennam one of the party, took
him on his shoulder and carried him some distance, but

McColloch, finding that they would be overtaken, entreated
the other to take care of himself. Vennam concealed McColloch
behind a log, and made his way to the fort. That night a
man's plaintive cry was heard from the opposite shore, and
on Vennam saying it was George McColloch, those in the fort
said no, it was an Indian. Vennam, however, was firm in his
opinion that it was his friend, and accordingly went over in a
canoe to get McColloch. He had made his way that far on
one foot.

On the following day a body of men from Grave creek,
with most of the fugitives from the battle, went over to the
scene of disaster. Baker, who had crawled under a rock,
was dead, and, together with Enochs, scalped. Their remains,
together with those who fell in the morning, were carried to
the fort and decently interred. They lie in the rude burial
place at the head of Cresap's bottom.

Of the men engaged in this affair, it is impossible to collect
any other names than those of Enochs, Baker, McColloch,
Hoffman, Bean, Sutherland, Dobbins, Vennam and McArthur.
The latter, Duncan McArthur, afterwards Governor of Ohio,
then a young man, had but recently gone to the station. He
thus early evinced much of that true courage and great energy
of mind and character which afterwards so distinguished him.

According to Mr. McIntyre, young McArthur cried out, as
they ascended the bank, to "surround them," but the Indians
having the advantage, spread themselves and would have prevented
this even had the whites kept together.