SIEGE OF FORT HENRY.[7]
The fall of 1777, so memorable in the annals of the West,
was remarkable for nothing more than the united and determined
attack, by the combined arms of British and Indians,
against the stockade at Wheeling, Virginia.
The eloquent Chatham was never more right, than when
he denounced the alliance between Britain and the American
savages as a "disgrace,—a deep and deadly sin." That
act, connected as it was with the execrable scalp bounty, will
stand a living stigma upon her name and history as long as
time lasts.
Early in the month of August, fears began to be felt by
the settlers, as flying reports occasionally reached them, that
the Indians were gathering in great numbers, and it seemed
certain they meditated an attack during the approaching
autumn. Every precaution was taken to guard against an
insidious attack. Scouting parties were kept out, who, with
the sleepless vigilance of well trained spies, watched all the
movements of the enemy. Information had been conveyed
to General Hand, commanding at Fort Pitt, by some friendly
Moravian Indians, who received it from Isaac Zane, brother
of Colonel Ebenezer Zane,[8]
that a large army of Indians,
composed chiefly of warriors from the great North-Western
confederacy, were making vigorous preparations to strike an
effective and terrible blow upon some of the settlements on
the Ohio. It was further stated, that this chosen body of
savages would be under the command of
Simon Girty, a man
whose known relentless ferocity toward his foresworn countrymen,
could not but add to the fearful prospect before them.
General Hand lost no time in widely disseminating the
information thus obtained.
As it was uncertain where the expected blow would fall, all
was activity, fear and alarm at the several little half-finished
fortresses stretching at distances from one to two hundred
miles, between Fort Pitt and the Great Kanawha. But it
soon became manifest at what point the enemy designed to
strike. With apprehensions of dread, the settlers at the
mouth of Wheeling, (numbering about thirty families,) betook
themselves to their fort, and with calm resolution awaited the
issue.
Early in the evening of the 31st of August, Capt. Joseph
Ogle, who had been sent out some days before, at the head of
ten or fifteen men, to scout along the different routes usually
followed by the Indians, returned to Wheeling, and reported
no immediate cause of danger.
The Indians, with their accustomed sagacity, suspecting
that their movements might be watched, abandoned all the
paths usually trodden, and dividing as they approached the
river, into small distinct parties, struck out along new lines
for the Ohio. Without discovery, they reached the vicinity
of Bogg's island, (two miles below Wheeling creek,) and there
consolidating their force, crossed the river and proceeded
directly to the creek bottom, under cover of night, and completed
their plans for movement in the morning.
The Indian army consisted of over three hundred and fifty
Mingoes, Shawanese and Wyandotts. It was commanded by
the notorious renegade, Simon Girty, and well furnished with
arms, ammunition, &c., by the infamous Hamilton, governor of
Canada. Girty disposed of his men in two lines across the
bottom,[9]
stretching from the river to the creek. They were
arranged at convenient distances, and effectually concealed
by the high weeds and corn.
Posted near the centre of these lines, and close to a path
leading from the fort (which they supposed some of the whites
would pass along in the morning,) were six Indians.
Shortly after day-break of the 1st of September, (see note
B., end Chap. I.,) Dr. McMechen, who was about returning
east of the mountains, sent out a white man named Boyd, and
a negro, to catch the horses. The two men had not proceeded
far before they discovered the six Indians already referred to.
Hoping to escape, they made a hurried retreat, but Boyd was
killed. The negro was permitted to return, doubtless to
mislead the whites as to the actual number of the foe.
The commandant immediately ordered Captain Samuel
Mason, who had brought his company to the fort on the previous
evening, to go out and dislodge the enemy. With
fourteen of his men, the gallant Captain at once sallied forth,
and after proceeding partly across the bottom, discovered the
six Indians and fired upon them. Almost simultaneously
with this discharge, the entire Indian army arose, and with
horrid yells rushed upon the little band of whites. Finding
that to stand were madness, Mason ordered a retreat, and in
person commenced cutting his way through the Indian line.
This he succeeded in doing, but most of his gallant little
party perished in the attempt. Out of the fourteen, but two
escaped, and they, like Captain Mason, eluded the pursuing
savages by concealing themselves beneath brush and fallen
timber. The names of those who escaped this general slaughter,
were Hugh McConnell and Thomas Glenn. William Shepherd,
son of Colonel David Shepherd, had gained the spring
near where the market-house now stands, when one of his
feet caught in a vine, and falling, the pursuing savage was
instantly upon him, and with a war club dispatched him on
the spot.
So soon as the disaster to Mason had been ascertained at the
fort,
[10]
Captain Joseph Ogle, with his dozen experienced scouts,
advanced to his relief, but not without forebodings of imminent
danger, as the yells of the savages, and shrieks of the
whites, told too plainly that a terrible massacre was taking
place.
With fearless steps Captain Ogle moved on to the scene of
conflict, determined to cover the retreat of his unfortunate
countrymen, or perish in the attempt. An excited and bloody
foe rushed upon them with the fury of demons, and all but
two or three shared the fate of the first detachment.
Captain Ogle,[11]
Sergeant Jacob Ogle, Martin Wetzel, and
perhaps one other, were all who escaped.
The loss of so many brave men at such a time, was a sad
blow to this part of the country. Those who fell were the
pride of that little fortress. They were heroes in every sense
of the word;—men of iron nerve, indomitable courage and
devoted patriotism. The valor of either would have done
honor to the victors of Marathon. Scarcely had the shrieks
of the wounded and dying been quieted, than the army of
savages, with reeking scalps just torn from the heads of the
ill-fated soldiery, presented themselves in front of the fort,
and demanded a surrender.
The appearance of the enemy, as they approached, was
most formidable. They advanced in two separate columns,
with drum, fife, and British colors.
The morning was calm, warm, and bright, and the sun just
rising over the high hill which overlooked the fort, was gently
dissipating the heavy fog which covered the bloody scene on
the bottom.
As the Indians advanced, a few scattering shots were fired
at them from the fort, without, however, doing much execution.
Girty, having brought up his forces, proceeded to dispose
of them as follows. The right flank, was brought around
the base of the hill, and distributed among the several cabins
convenient to the fort. The left were ordered to defile beneath
the river bank, close under the fort.
Thus disposed, Girty presented himself at 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, offering, in case they complied, protection; but if
they refused, immediate and indiscriminate massacre.
Girty referred, in a very boasting manner, to the great
force at his command; and called upon them, as loyal subjects,
to 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 then 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
renegade, and all the power of King George.
Girty having finished his harangue, Colonel David Shepherd,
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 the 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 hopeless
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 his 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 tremendous rush was made upon the fort. They attempted
to force the gates, and test the strength of the pickets by
muscular effort. Failing to make any impression, Girty
drew off his men a few yards, and commenced a general fire
upon the port-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. During
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, &c. Some of them, indeed, insisted upon
doing duty by the side of the men, and two actually took
their position at the port-holes, dealing death to many a
dusky warrior.
About three o'clock, the Indians returned to the attack
with redoubled fury. They distributed themselves among
the cabins, behind fallen trees, &c. 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, lead 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 afternoon,
but all alike failed. Maddened and chagrined by repeated
disappointment and ill-success, the savages withdrew to their
covert until night-fall.[12]
Day at length closed; darkness
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 heavens lurid
with their discharge of musketry.
The lights in the fort having been extinguished, the inmates
had the advantage of those without, and many a stalwart
savage fell before the steady aim of experienced frontiermen.
Repeated attempts were made during the night to storm
the fort, and to fire it, but all failed through the vigilance and
activity of those within.
At length that 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
savages 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 Swearengen,
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 McColloch, at the head
of forty mounted men, from Short creek, made their appearance
in front of the fort, the gates of which were joyfully
thrown open. Simultaneously with the appearance of
McColloch's men, re-appeared the enemy, and a rush was
made to cut off the entrance of some 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 full speed in direction of the hill.
The enemy, with exulting yells, followed close in pursuit,
not doubting they would capture one whom of all other men
they preferred to wreak their vengeance upon. (For a full
account of the sequel, the reader is referred to the biographical
sketch of Major McColloch, to be found in its appropriate
place in this volume.) Greatly disappointed at the escape of
the gallant Major, and knowing the hopelessness of attempting
to maintain a siege against such increased numbers, the
Indians fired a few additional shot at the fort, and then
moved rapidly off in a body for their own country.
It has been conjectured that the enemy lost on this occasion
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.
