OTHER INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
In October, 1764, a party of Mingo and Delaware Indians crossed the
Ohio, and, ascending the Big Sandy, crossed over on New river, where
they separated into two parties and directed their steps toward different
settlements—one party going toward Roanoke and (Catawba), and the
other in the direction of Jackson's river. They had not long passed
when their trail was discovered by three men, named Swope, Pack and
Pitman, who were then engaged in trapping on New river. These men
followed the trail until they came to the place where the Indians divided,
and judging from the routes taken that the Roanoke and Jackson's river
settlements were the objects of their vengeance, they determined to apprise
the inhabitants of these places of their danger. Swope and Pack
started for Roanoke, and Pitman for Jackson's river, but before they could
accomplish their object the Indians had reached the settlements on the
latter river and on the Catawba. The party whose destination was Jackson's
river traveled down Dunlap's creek and crossed the James river a
short distance above Fort Young in the night and unnoticed, and going
down this river to the residence of William Carpenter, at which place was
a stockade fort, commanded by a Mr. Brown. They met Carpenter just
above the house and killed him, then immediately proceeded to the
house and made prisoners of a son of Mr. Carpenter and two sons of Mr.
Brown (all children) and one woman. The others belonging to the
house were in the field at work, and thus escaped a terrible fate. The
Indians then despoiled the house, and, taking some horses, commenced a
precipitate retreat, fearing discovery and pursuit.
When Carpenter was shot, the report of the gun was heard by those
at work in the field, and Brown carried the alarm to Fort Young. In
consequence of the weakness of this fort a messenger was dispatched to
Fort Dinwiddie with the intelligence. Captain Paul, commandant there,
immediately began the pursuit with about twenty of his men, and passing
out of the head of Dunlap's creek descended Indian creek and New
river to Piney creek, without making any discovery. On Indian creek
they met Pitman, almost exhausted, who had been running all the day
and night previous for the purpose of apprising the garrison at Fort
Young of the approach of the Indians. Pitman joined in the pursuit,
which was continued down the Kanawha river until it was ascertained
that the Indians had crossed the Ohio.
As Captain Paul and his party were returning they accidentally met
with the other party of Indians, which had been to Catawba and committed
some depredations and murders there. They were discovered
about midnight, encamped on the north bank of New river, opposite an
island at the mouth of Indian creek. Excepting some few who were
watching the prisoners whom they had taken on the Catawba, they were
lying around a small fire, wrapped in skins and blankets. Paul's men,
not being aware that there were prisoners among them, fired into their
midst, killed three of the Indians and wounded several others, one of
whom ran into New river and drowned himself to preserve his scalp.
The rest of the party fled hastily down the river and escaped.
In an instant Captain Paul and his men rushed forward to secure the
wounded and prevent further escapes. To show the deadening effect
that scenes of murder and bloodshed has on the human intellect, we
here introduce the reply of a prisoner, rescued at this time. She was a
Mrs. Catharine Gunn, an English lady, who had known Captain Paul
years before. Recognizing his voice, she called him by name, just as
one of his men was in the act of tomahawking her. She made no resistance,
and when asked the reason, replied: "I had as soon be murdered
as not. My husband is murdered, my children are slain, my
parents are dead. I have not a relative living in America. Every
thing dear here to me is gone. I have no wishes, no hopes, no fears. I
would not have risen to my feet to save my life." (See De Hass.) Such
were some of the horrible realities experienced by the early settlers of
South-western Virginia.
