NOTE E.
The names of those who were known to have been in the fort at the time,
we have with great pains collected, and give below. The list comprises
twenty-seven men and six boys. Of the men, not more than eighteen were
able to do efficient service; the balance were either disabled by injuries
sustained in warfare, or labored under autumnal fevers. Stephen Burkam,
Silas, Jonathan, and Andrew Zane; Copeland Sullivan, Jacob and George
Reikart; James Smith and his two sons, Henry and Thomas; Conrad Stroop,
John Tait,—Wright, old Mr. Mills, Edward Mills, and Thomas Mills,
Hamilton Kerr, Alexander M'Dowell, Harry Clark, James Saltar, James
Clark, Casper French, Conrad Wheat and four sons, James Boggs, (son of
Captain Boggs), Martin and George Kerr, Peter Nisewanger, and two men,
companions of Sullivan.
Two-thirds of the above persons had families in the fort. We cannot name
all the female soldiers of that little stockade, but trust we may not be considered
invidious for particularizing a few. There was Mrs. Ebenezer
Zane, a skilful nurse and courageous woman; the fort would have suffered
without her ministering and tender care to the sick and wounded. Next
was Betsy Wheat, an Amazon in strength, and a Lucretia in ferocity. Her
loud voice, and stern word of command, to those whom she thought laggard,
could be heard all over the fort. We have heard it said that the courage,
energy, and devotion of this woman, did more to encourage and revive the
drooping spirits of the despondent, than that of any other person. Next,
and not least, was Miss Lydia Boggs, now Mrs. Cruger.
