PENDLETON.
Pendleton was formed in 1788, from Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham,
and named from Edmund Pendleton, president of the Virginia
convention of 1775. It is 45 miles long, with a mean width of
22 miles. The country is extremely mountainous, and is watered
by some of the head branches of the Potomac and the James: the
level of arable land from whence flow these streams, it is estimated
must exceed 2,000 feet above the ocean. Over one hundred thousand
pounds of maple sugar are annually produced. Pop. in 1840,
whites 6,445, slaves 462, free colored 33; total, 6,940.
Franklin, the county-seat, is 171 miles NW. of Richmond, near
the centre of the county, on the south branch of the Potomac; and
contains about 40 dwellings.
Twelve miles northeast of Franklin, on the south fork of the
south branch of the Potomac, stood Seybert's fort, in the early settlement
of the country.
In this fort, in the year 1758, (says Withers,) 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 Mr. Dyer (the
father of Col. Dyer, now of Pendleton) and his family. On the morning of the fatal day,
Col. Dyer and his sister left the fort for the accomplishment of some object, and although
no Indians had been seen there for some time, yet did they 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 a hasty flight to reach the gate and gain admittance into the garrison;
but before they could effect this, they were overtaken and made captives.
The Indians rushed immediately to the fort and commenced a furious assault on it.
Capt. 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 view,
and under the protection of a flag, he went out, and soon succeeded in making the
wished for arrangement. When he returned, the gates were 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, with their tomahawks
most cruelly murdered almost 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 by the Indians; the remainder was consumed,
with the fort, by fire.
From Mr. Samuel Kercheval, the author of the "History of the
Valley," we have obtained the following additional facts relating
to the attack on this fort:
The Indians were commanded by the blood-thirsty chief Killbuck. Seybert's son, a
lad of about fifteen, exhibited great firmness and bravery. He had shot two of the assailants,
when their chief called out in English, that if they surrendered, their lives
should be spared. At that instant young Seybert was in the act of aiming his rifle at
Killbuck, when his father seized it from him, observing, "We cannot defend the fort;
we must surrender to save our lives!" confiding in the faithless promises of Killbuck.
The first salutation he received after surrendering, was a stroke in the mouth from the
monster Killbuck with the pipe end of his tomahawk, dislocating the old man's teeth;
immediately after which he was massacred with the other victims. Young Seybert was
taken off with the other prisoners. He told Killbuck that he had raised his gun to kill
him, but his father had wrested it from him. The savage laughed and replied, "You
little rascal, if you had killed me you would have saved the fort; for had I fallen, my
warriors would have immediately fled, and given up the siege in despair."
