University of Virginia Library

1778.

Early in the commencement of this year, it became manifest
that the confederated tribes were preparing to renew their
attack upon the frontier settlements of the west. On the 8th
of February, Gov. Schuyler wrote to Congress,—"There is
too much reason to believe that an expedition will be formed
against the western frontiers of this state, Virginia and
Pennsylvania." The apprehensions of Gen. Schuyler were
too well founded. It was in this year the terrible drama of
Wyoming took place. Of the savage operations in this section,
we shall now proceed to notice. The success of the enemy
in the fall previous, seemed to madden them for blood, and at
a very early day they moved upon the frontier, spreading
alarm and death in almost every direction. The erection of
Fort Crawford on the Alleghany, and the contemplated military
operations of Gen. McIntosh on the Ohio, had the effect
of restraining the movements of the savages in each of these
directions, and forcing them to cross at points farther down.
Their failure to take Fort Henry in the previous September,
and thinking perhaps that the garrison had been strengthened,
they struck the frontier at points below and thence proceeded
against the settlements on the Monongahela. At that time,
the entire frontier from Wheeling to Point Pleasant (one hundred
and seventy miles) was unprotected, if we except the
small and wholly inefficient stations at Grave creek, Baker's,
etc. These offered no impediment to the progress of the

enemy, and unmolested they struck back to the heart of the
mountain settlements.

The inhabitants of the upper Monongahela, not unmindful
of the indications which had reached them, commenced busily
preparing for the anticipated attack. Harbert's block-house
on Ten-mile, was a safe and convenient resort, and thither
those living in that quarter took shelter. Notwithstanding
these prudential steps, they unhappily suffered themselves to
be lulled into false security. The weather being fine, the
children were allowed 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 had really approached, when one of the Indians,
turning the corner of the house, fired at him. The ball took
effect, and Murphy fell into the house. The Indian springing
in, was grappled by Harbert, and thrown on the floor. A
shot from without, wounded Harbert, yet he continued to
maintain his advantage over the prostrate savage, striking
him 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 warrior,
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 awhile, the issue seemed
doubtful. At length, by great exertion, Cunningham wrenched
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 at him with an axe. 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 buffalo, with the ears and horns still attached, and
hanging loosely about his head, gave a most hideous appearance,
and on entering the room, this frightful monster, aimed a
blow with his tomahawk at Miss Reece, which alighting on her
head, inflicted 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
women. The Indians from without endeavored 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 Cunningham
and his wife, squeezed out, causing a momentary relaxation
of their efforts, and enabled the women again to close it."

The savages on the outside, in the 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 off.

One white adult only was killed, and four or five wounded.
Of the children, eight or ten were killed and carried off. The
Indians lost one killed, and had two badly wounded.

Many other depredations of a similar character occurred
in that part of Virginia, during the spring of the present
year. Our crowded limits will not allow us to give them in
detail. We will notice a few as we find them chronicled by
the local historian.

"On the eleventh of April, some Indians visited the house of
William Morgan, on Dunker's bottom. They there killed a
young man by the name of Brain, Mrs. Morgan, (the mother
of William) and her grand-daughter, and Mrs. Dillon and her
two children; and took Mrs. Morgan (the wife) and her child
prisoners. When on their way home, coming near Pricket's
fort, they bound Mrs. Morgan to a bush, and went in quest of
a horse to have her ride, leaving the child with her. She
succeeded in untying with her teeth, the bands which confined
her, and wandered the balance of that day and part of the
next, before she came in sight of the fort. Here she was
kindly treated, and in a few days sent home.

Toward the latter part of the same month, a party of about
twenty Indians visited Hacker's creek settlement. The families
were generally fortified; but as it was necessary to put in
a crop, the men while thus employed carried their rifles with
them, and often went in bodies, so as to afford better security
against surprise or attack from the Indians.

A company of men, thus engaged about the last week in
May, on Hacker's creek, and being a good deal dispersed
in various occupations, some fencing, others clearing, and a
few ploughing, they were unexpectedly fired upon, and Thos.
Hughes and Jonathan Lowther shot down: the others being
incautiously without arms, fled for safety. Two of the company,
having the Indians rather between them and West's fort,
ran directly to Richards',[14] as well for their own security as to
give the alarm. They had already been apprized that the
enemy were at hand. Isaac Washburn, who had been to mill
on Hacker's creek, on his return and near where Clement's
now stands, was shot from his horse, tomahawked and scalped.
The alarm of this murder had been given before the men
arrived. The Indians escaped without pursuit.

Early in June, a few Indians made their appearance in the
neighborhood of Fort Randolph (Point Pleasant), and after

vainly manœuvring to draw out an attacking party from the
garrison, disappeared, when suddenly a large body of savages
arose from their covert and demanded a surrender of the fort,
on pain of instant 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 putting
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 Shawanese) then said, they had come expressly
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 Greenbriar 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 settlements.
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 Shawanese. Thus equipped,
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 ere night closed in
the whole neighborhood were collected at the residence of
Colonel Andrew Donally.[15] Everything was put in readiness
for an attack. Dr. Campbell, in his Narrative, says, 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 latter part of the night they
became drowsy, and when daylight appeared, all were in a
profound sleep. Only three men were on the lower floor,—
Hammon, and the white and black servants of Colonel Donally.
At daybreak the white servant opened the door, that
he might bring in some firewood, and had gone but a few
steps from the house when he was shot down. The Indians
now sprang from their concealment on the edge of the rye-field
near the house, and rushing in a body, attempted to
enter the door. Hammon and the black servant Dick, made
an effort to secure it, but the Indians commenced chopping
with their tomahawks, and had actually cut through the door,
when Dick, fearing that they might succeed in gaining their
purpose, left Hammon at his post, and seizing a musket which
stood near, loaded with heavy slugs, discharged it through
the opening among the crowd. The Indians now fell back,
and the door was secured. Some of the savages crawled
under the floor, and were endeavoring to force their way up;
Hammon and Dick, with one or two men from the loft, who
had been aroused by the firing, quietly awaited the Indians
in their effort. Presently, one of them showing his head
through the opening, Hammon aimed a blow with his tomahawk,
which placed him beyond the power of doing further
injury. A second was killed in the same way, and the rest
escaped. In the meantime, all the men in the loft were up,
and pouring upon the enemy a most destructive fire, drove
them off under cover of the woods. The attack was kept up
during most of the day, but at such a distance as to do but
little harm. One man was killed by a ball passing through
an interstice in the wall. On the alarm being given by
Hammon and his companion, a messenger was sent to the
station at Lewisburg, (this messenger was John Pritchett, and
was killed on the morning of the attack). By the activity of
Colonel Samuel Lewis and Colonel John Stuart, a force of
sixty-six armed men was ready to march on the third morning.
To avoid an ambush, they left the direct road, and
taking a circuitous route, arrived opposite the fort, turned
across, and passing through a rye-field, entered in safety.
Giving up all hope after the accession of so large a force,
the savages withdrew, and moved off in direction of the Ohio.
Seventeen of them were found dead in the yard.

About the middle of June, as Captain James Booth and
Nathaniel Cochran, were at work in a field on Booth's creek,
a party of Indians came upon them, and killing Booth, took
the other prisoner. Captain Booth was a brave and meritorious
citizen, and his loss was greatly regretted.

A few days subsequent to these transactions, William
Grundy,[16] Benjamin Shinn, and Benjamin Washburn, in returning
from a lick, were fired upon, and Grundy killed.
About the same time Thomas Ryan, brother of the boy
killed at the spring, during the meditated attack on Wheeling,
in 1781, was murdered on Short creek, on the farm
lately owned by R. Hardesty, Esq. Ryan was a man of
much energy of character, and had been useful in border
service. His death was greatly regretted.

His widow married Silas Zane, and was a second time
widowed by savage hands. Zane was killed while crossing
the Scioto, a few years after, in company with George Green
and one or two other men.