University of Virginia Library

MRS. HANNAH DENNIS.

In the summer of 1761 a war party of Shawnee Indians penetrated the
settlements on James river, murdered many of the settlers and carried a
number of others into captivity, among the latter Mrs. Dennis. She,
with about twenty others, was carried to the towns north of the Ohio,
and upon arriving there the captives were separated by their captors,
and it was decided Mrs. Dennis should live at the Chillicothe towns,
where she remained more than two years, during which time she learned
their language, painted herself, and in many respects conformed to their
manners and customs. She devoted herself to the sick, and was highly
esteemed by the Indians as one skilled in the art of curing disease.
Having discovered that they were very superstitious and believed in
necromancy, she professed witchcraft and affected to be a prophetess.
Notwithstanding this, Mrs. Dennis was always determined to effect her
escape when a favorable opportunity should present itself, and having
so long remained with them, apparently well satisfied, they ceased to
entertain any suspicions of such a design. In June, 1763, she left the
Chillicothe towns, ostensibly to procure herbs for medicinal, purposes, but
really to make her escape. As she did not return that night her intention
was suspected, and early next morning several warriors were sent in
pursuit of her. In order to leave as little trail as possible, she had
crossed the Scioto river three times, and was just getting over the fourth
time, forty miles below the towns, when she was discovered by her
pursuers. They fired at her across the river without effect, but in
endeavoring to make rapid flight she cut one of her feet upon a sharp
stone.

---

MEDAL OR FRONTLET PRESENTED TO THE INDIAN
"QUEEN OF PAMUNKEY,"

By the Colony of Virginia, about 1676, and worn by her.

---

314

The Indians then rushed across the river to overtake her, but she
eluded them by crawling into the hollow of a large fallen sycamore.
They searched around for her for some time, frequently stepping on the
log which concealed her, and encamped near it that night. On the
next day they went on to the Ohio river, but finding no trace of her
they returned home

Mrs. Dennis remained at that place three days, waiting for her wound
to heal, and then set off for home. She reached the Ohio river, opposite
the present site of the town of Mount Pleasant, and crossed that
river on a drift log, then began her journey up the Kanawha to the
settlements in the Greenbrier country, which she knew to be nearest
her. She traveled only during the night, for fear of discovery, and at
last, having subsisted on roots, herbs, green grapes, wild cherries and
river muscles for several days, and exhausted by fatigue and hunger,
she sat down by the side of Greenbrier river with no expectation of proceeding
further. In this situation she was found by Thomas Athol and
three others, from Clendenin's settlement, which she had passed without
knowing it. She had been then more than twenty days on her disconsolate
journey, alone, on foot, but till then cheered with the hope of again being
with her friends. She was taken back to Clendenin's, where they kindly
ministered to her until she became so far invigorated as to travel on horseback
with an escort to Fort Young, on Jackson's river, and from there
was carried to her relatives on the James river. (The above we subjoin
from the very interesting work of Withers.)