USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 8
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could from the barbarians, but still, sueh was my terror, that for some time I scaree knew the days of the week or what I did.
"They still kept on their eourse near the mountains, where they lay skulking four or five days, rejoicing at the plunder they had got. When provisions became scaree they made their way toward the Susquehanna, and passing near anoth- er house, inhabited by an old man whose name was John Adams, with his wife and four small ehild- ren. and meeting with no resistanee, they immedi- ately scalped the mother and all her children before the old man's eyes. Inhuman and horrid as this was. it did not satisfy them ; for when they had murdered the poor woman, they acted with her in such a brutal manner as deeency will not permit me to mention. The unhappy husband, not being able to avoid the sight, entreated them to put an end to his miserahle being; but they were as deaf to the ears and entreaties of this ven- eralle sufferer, as they had been to those of the others, and proceeded to burn and destroy his house, barn, corn, hay, cattle, and everything the poor man a few hours before was master of.
"Having saved what they thought proper from the flames, they gave the old man, feeble, weak and in miserable condition he then was, as well as myself, burdens to carry, and loading them- selves likewise with bread and meat, pursued their journey toward the Great Swamp. Here they lay for eight or nine days, diverting themselves at times in barberous cruelties on the old man; sometimes they would strip him naked, and paint him all over with various sorts of colors; at other times would pluck the white hairs from his head and tauntingly tell him, he was a fool for living so long, and that they would shew him kindness in putting him out of the world.' In vain were all his tears; for daily did they tire themselves with the various means they tried to torment him : sometimes tving him to a tree and whipping him ; at other times seorching his fur- rowed eheek with red-hot coals, and burning his legs quite to the knees.
"One night after he had been thus tormented. whilst he and I were eondoling with each other at the miseries we daily suffered. twenty-five other Indians arrived, bringing with them twenty sealns and three prisoners, who had unhappily fallen into their hands in Conocoeheagne, a small town chiefly inhabited by the Irish. These prisoners gave us some shocking aeeounts of the murders and devas-
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
tations committed in their parts; a few instanees of which will enable the reader to guess at the treatment the provincials have suffered for years past. This party, who now joined us, had it not, I found, in their power to begin their violenees as soon as those who visited my habitation, the first of their tragedies being on the 25th of October, when John Lewis, with his wife and three small children, were inhumanly sealped and murdered, and his house, barn and everything he possessed, burnt and destroyed. On the 28th Jacob Miller, with his wife and six of his family, with every- thing on his plantation, shared the same fate. 'The 30th, the house, mill, barn, twenty head of cattle, two teams of horses, and everything belong- ing to George Folke, met with a like treatment, himself, wife and all his miserable family, eonsist- ing of nine in number, being sealped, then eut in pieces and given to the swinc. One of the sub- stantial traders, belonging to the province, having business that ealled him some miles up the coun- try, fell into the hands of these ruffians, who not only scalped him, but iinmediately roasted him before he was dead; then like cannibals, for want of other food, ate his whole body and of his head made what they called an Indian pudding.
"From these few instances of savage eruelty, the deplorable situation of the defenceless inhabi- tants, and what they hourly suffered in that part of the globe, must strike the utmost horror, and cause in every breast the utmost detestation, not only against the authors, but against those who, through inattention or pusilanimous or erroneous principles, suffered the savages at first, unrepelled or even unmolested, to conimit such outrages, depredations and murders.
"The three prisoners who were brought with those additional forces, constantly repining at their lot, and almost dead with their excessive hard treatment, contrived at last to make their eseape ; but being far from their own settlements and not knowing the country, were soon after met by some others of the tribe, or nations at war with us, and brought back. The poor creatures, almost fam- ished for want of sustenanee, having had none during the time of their escape, were no sooner in the power of the barbarians than two of them were tied to a tree, and a great fire made round theni, where they remained until they were terri- bly seorched and burnt; when one of the villains with his scalping knife ripped open their bellies took out their entrails, and burned them before
their eyes, whilst the others were cutting, piere- ing and tearing the flesh front their breasts, hands, arms and legs, with red-hot irons, till they were dead. The third unhappy victim was reserved a few hours longer, to be, if possible, sacrificed in a more cruel manner; his arms were tied elose to his body, and a hole, dug deep enough for him to stand upright, he was put into it and the earth rammed and beat all around his body up to his neck, so that his head only appeared above the ground. They then scalped him and there let him remain for three or four hours, in the greatest agonies, after which they made a small fire near his head, causing him to suffer the most excruciat- ing torments ; whilst the poor ereature could only cry for mercy by killing him immediately, for his brains were boiling in his head. Inexorable to all he said they continued the fire till his eyes gushed out of their sockets; such agonizing torments did this unhappy creature suffer for near two hours before he was quite dead. They then cut off his head, and buried it with the other bodies; my task being to dig the graves, which fecble and terrified as I was, the dread of suffering the same fate enabled me to do.
"A great snow now falling, the barbarians were fearful lest the white people should, by their tracks, find out their skulking retreats, which obliged them to make the best of their way to winter quarters, about two hundred miles further from any plantation or inhabitants. After a long and painful journey, being almost starved, I ar- rived with this infernal crew at Alamingo. There I found a number of wigwams, full of their women and children. Daneing, singing and shouting, were their general amusement; and in all their festivals and dances, they relate what successes they have had and what damages they have sus- tained in their expeditions, in which I now unhap- pily became a part of their theme. The severity of the eold increasing, they stripped me of my clothes for their own use, and gave me such as they usually wore themselves, being a piece of blanket, a pair of moceasins, or shoes, with a yard of coarse cloth to put around me instead of breeches.
"At Alamingo I remained near two months, till the snow was off the ground. Whatever thoughts I might have of making my escape, to carry them into execution was impracticable, being so far from any plantations or white people, and the severe weather rendering my limbs in a man-
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ner quite stiff and motionless. However, I con- trived to defend myself against the inclemency of the weather as well as I could by making myself a little wigwam with the bark of the trees, cov- ering it with earth, which made it resemble a cave; and, to prevent the ill effects of the cold, I kept a good fire always near the door. My liberty of going about was, indeed, more than I could have expected, but they well knew the impracticability of my escaping from them. Seeing me outwardiy easy and submissive, they would sometimes give me a little nieat, but my chief food was Indian corn. At length the time came when they were preparing themselves for another expedition against the planters and white people, but before they set out they were joined by many other In- dians.
"As soon as the snow was quite gone they set forth on their journey towards the back parts of the Province of Pennsylvania, all leaving their wives and children behind in the, wigwams. They were now a formidable body amounting to near 150. My business was to carry what they thought proper to load me with but they never intrusted me with a gun. We marched on several days without anything particular occurring, almost famished for want of provisions; for my part, I had nothing but a few stalks of Indian corn, which I was glad to eat dry ; nor did the Indians them- selves fare much better; for as we drew near the plantations they were afraid to kill any game, lest the noise of their guns should alarm the inhabi- tant.
"When we again arrived at the Blue-hills about thirty miles from Conococheague, we en- camped three days, though God knows we had neither tents nor anything else to defend us from the inclemency of the air, having nothing to lie on but the grass-their usual mode of lodging, pitch- ing or encamping, by night being in parties of ten or twelve men to a fire, where they lie upon the grass or brush, wrapped up in a blanket with their feet to the fire. During our last stay here, a sort of council of war was held, when it was agreed to divide themselves into companies of abo it twenty men each; after which every cap- tain marched with his party where he thought proper. I still belonged to my old masters, but was left behind on the mountains with ten Indians, to stay till the rest would return, not thinking it proper to carry me nearer to Conococheague or the other plantations.
"Here I began to meditate an escape, and though I knew the country round extremely well, yet I was very cautious of giving the least suspic- ion of any such intention. However, the third day after the grand body left us, my companions thought proper to traverse the mountains in search of game for their subsistence, leaving me bound in such a manner that I could not escape; at night when they returned, having unbound me, we all sat down together to supper on what they killed, and soon after (being greatly fatigued with their day's excursion) they composed themselves to rest as usual. 1 now tried various ways to as- certain whether it was a scheine to prove my in- tentions or not ; but after making a noise and walking about sometimes touching them with my feet, I found there was no fallacy. Then I re- solved, if possible to get one of their guns, and if discovered, die in my defense rather than be taken; for that purpose I made various efforts to get one from under their heads, where they always secured them, but in vain. Disappointed in this. I began to dispair of carrying my design into execution ; vet after a little reflection, and trusting myself to the Divine protection, I set forward naked and defenceless as I was. Such was my terror however, that in going from them I halted, and paused every four or five yards, looking toward the spot where I had left them, lest they should awake and miss me ; but when I was too hundred yards from then, I mended my pace, and made as much haste as I possibly could to the foot of the mountain, when, on a sudden, I was struck with the greatest terror at hearing the wood-cry, as it is called, which the savages [ had left were making upon missing their charge. The more my terror in- creased, the faster I pushed on, and. scarce know- ing where I trod, drove through the woods with the utmost precipitation, sometimes falling and bruis- ing myself. cutting my feet and legs with the.siones in a miserable manner. But faint and maimed as I was. I continued my flight till daybreak, when without having anything to sustain nature but a little corn, I crept into a hollow tree, where I Jay very snug, and returned my prayers and thanks to the Divine Being, who had thus far favored my escape. But my repose was in a few hours destroyed at hearing the voices of the savages near the place where I had hid, threatening and talking how they would use me if they got ine again. However, they at last left the spot, and I remained in my apartment all that day without further
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OF' WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
molestation. At night I ventured forward again, but thinking each twig that touched me a savage. The third day I concealed myself in like manner as before, and at night travelled, keeping off the main road as much as possible, which lengthened my journey many miles. But how shall I describe the terrors I felt on the fourth night, when by a rustling I made among the leaves, a party of Indians that lay around a small fire, which I did not perceive, started from the ground and seizing their arms, ran from the fire amongst the woods. Whether to move forward or rest where I was I knew not, when to my great surprise and joy, I was relieved by a parcel of swine that made to- wards the place where I guessed the savages to be, who on seeing then and imagining that they had caused the alarm, very merrily returned to the fire and lay again down to sleep."
After a few more adventures Williamson reached a settlement and finally the home of his father-in-law in Chester County where he learned that his wife, who had been absent when he was captured, had been dead two months.
Two remarkable escapes are related as having taken place near Conococheague settlement at the mouth of the creek, which at the time of the beginning of the Indian war contained.several hun- dred inhabitants. A prisoner named Smith was brought over from Virginia, and at a point near Conococheague was left in charge of one of the party whilst the others went off to steal horses. In a short time they returned with an unbroken " horse and leaving it with Smith's guard went for more. The Indian amused himself scaring the horse until finally it ran off dragging the Indian after him by the halter. Smith then quietly re- turned to his home and was found there the next morning by a pursuing party of whites, mending his furniture which the Indians had broken ..
There is a high rocky cliff overhanging the Potomac above Williamsport which is pointed out as the place fromn whence a man named Jeremiah Jack escaped from pursuing Indians by leaping into the river and swimming across. During this dreadful time many were carried off into captivity and never heard from again. Many children were brought up among the Indians and forgot their native language.
Around old "Fort Cressap" at Long Meadows, near Hagerstown, there was a great deal of fighting and bullets have been frequently found by the plowman. An interesting relic of this period is
a Louis d'or which was plowed up in 1872 at "Tammany," the residence of the Findlay family, near Williamsport. The coin is of the reign of Louis XV and bears the date of 1748. It is in an excellent state of preservation, almost like a new coin.
The condition of our valley is hinted at now and then in the messages and addresses which passed between the Governor and the Assembly. On June 28, 1755, Governor Sharpe informed the Assembly that he had heard "from the back inhabitants of Frederick County (now Washing- ton County) advising men that a party of French Indians, last Monday morning, June 23, fell on the inhabitants of this Province, and killed two men and one woman (who have been since found dead) ; eight other persons they have taken pris- oners and carried off. The names of the persons who were murdered and left, are John Williams, his wife and grandson; and with their bodies was also found a French Indian. The persons carried off are Richard Williams, a son of John, who was murdered, one Dawson's wife and four child- ren; Richard William's wife, and two brothers of the young man who is killed, have made their escape. This accident I find, has so terrified the distant inhabitants, that many of them are retiring and forsaking their plantations." The Governor, a month previous to this had issued a proclamation, cautioning the settlers to be on their guard, and unite for their common defence and safety. He also, when he issued the proclamation, sent per- emptory orders to the militia of our settlements, frequently to muster and discipline their troops and companies. "However," the Governor adds, "I find neither the proclamation or instructions will be effectual unless the militia can be assured that they shall receive satisfaction and pay for the time they shall be out on duty. I consider it highly proper for us to have a hundred, or at least a company of sixty men, posted or constantly ranging from some time on the frontiers, for our protection. In this I desire your advice, and that you will enable me to support such a number." In response to this communication the Legislature passed a resolution for maintaining a company of eighty men for the protection of the frontiers, but no money appears to have been appropriated to pay them. On the 17th of July. the next day after the news of Braddock's defeat had reached him, the Governor set forth to Fredericktown and ordered all the militia officers of Frederick County
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
to meet him there. He seems to have had a per- fect appreciation of the real danger the people of our County were in, and as the Legislature would do nothing for their protection, he proposed to draft a company of 60 or 80 men to serve without pay and to take and impress provisions for them wherever they could be found. The same selfish spirit that animates so many legislative bodies constantly appeared in our colonial legislature at this time. The representatives of the eastern counties which were in no danger from the Indians, persistently refused to consent to any expenditure of money for the preservation of the defenceless inhabitants of our valley from the horrors of an
Indian massacre. From Fredericktown Governor Sharpe wrote to Lord Baltimore_and told him of Braddock's defeat and death and announced his intention of going on to Fort Cumberland .*
On the 12th of August Sharpe wrote to Charles Calvert: "The 23rd of July I addressed a letter to his Lordship and another to yourself, acquainting you with the fatal engagement that had happened near the banks of the Monongahela. I was then on my way westward with an intention to send up a supply of fresn provisions and wine to Fort Cumberland, which I imagined the troops must have been in need of. On my arrival at Conogogee which is thirty miles beyond Frederick
*The Orderly Books of Gen. Braddock, two in number, are preserved in the Congressional Library at Washington to which place of safety they were brought from the library of Peter Force, Esq. Two important entries in the books are in the handwriting of Washington and it is presumed that they were kept under his direction. The first book covers the period from Feb. 26, to June 11, 1755, and the second from June 12, to 17, 1755. The first order is dated at Williamsburg, Va., Feb. 26, the time the transports with his soldiers were arriving in Hampton Roads. The next order, March 27, 1755, is dated at Alexan- aria and the army remained in that city until April 16. Sir Peter Halkett's regiment marched westward through Winchester, that of Col. Dunbar through Frederick, crossing the Potomac at the mouth of the Conococheague, the two re-uniting on the Virginia side. The commander-in-chief accompanied by Washington went with Dunbar's regiment.
The following extracts begin from the time of leaving Frederick and end at the time of leaving Fort Cumberland, covering the march through the territory which was, 21 years later, erected into Washington County:
Saturday, April 19, 1755-Parole-Tamworth- The commanding officer of the Artillery to apply to Mr. Leslie for a store house to lodge their new cloathing in, and the officers are to see that their men comply with the orders of 8th of April, viz. to leave their Shoulder Belts, Waist Belts and Hang- ers behind and are only to take with them to the field one spare shirt, one spare pair of stockings, one spare pair of shoes and one pair of brown Gaters.
Fredericktown, Tuesday, April 22, 1755-Parole Westminster. One Sergeant, one Corporal and 12 men to parade immediately at the Town Guard to march with the Waggons laden with artillery stores to Conocogee and to return back with the Waggons to Frederick as soon as they are unloaded.
Frederick, Wednesday, April 23, 1755-Parole Exeter. The commanding officers of Regiments to order their officers to provide themselves as soon as possible with Bat, men out of such recruits and Levies as are unfit to do the Duty of Solder, and such men are to be enlisted as can act as Bat men and are to be taken for any term and to be
allowed as effectives; and according to the number settled in Flanders 3 men to each company and 4 to the staff, you are to go immediately to that part of the Antietam that lies on the road to Connogogee and press such boats or canoes as you shall meet with upon the river agreeable to the orders you shall receive from Governor Sharpe. If you shall find any difficulty in the execution of this order you are to send an express to me and you shall be im- mediately supplied with a party of men to enforce it, sending word when they shall join you, and you are to collect all the boats, &c. at that pass by the 28th of this month.
Frederick, Friday, April 25, 1755, Parole, Apple- by. Col. Dunbar's Regiment to hold themselves in readiness to March by 29th.
After Orders: One Corporal and four men to march tomorrow morning to Rock Creek, with four waggons that came up this evening; when the party comes to Rock Creek they are to put themselves under command of Ensign Hench.
Frederick, Saturday, April 26, 1755.
Parole-Bedford.
Col. Dunbar's Regiment to furnish 3 officers tor a Court Martial, to try some prisoners of the Inde- pendent Company and Capt. Gates Presidt, the re- port to be made to General Braddock. Frederick, Sunday, April 27, 1755. Parole-Chester.
Col. Dunbar's Regiment is to march ye 29th and to proceed to Wills Creek agreeable to the following route : Miles.
29th From Fredk. on the Road to Conogogee ... 17
30th From that halting place to Conogogee. 18
1st From Conogogee to John Even's. 16
2nd Rest
3rd To the Widow Baringer 18
4th To George Poll's 9
5th To Henry Enock's 15
6th Rest
7th To Cox's at ye Mouth of Little Cacaph .. 12
8th To Col Cresap's. 8
9th To Will's Creek 16
Total 129
The men are to take from this place three Days
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Town, I was informed that they had a plenty of everything at the camp, and that Col. Dunbar had determined and was about to leave Fort Cum- berland with the remains of the two regiments and the three independent companies to Philadel- phia. This news, so soon after the depredations of the Indians and the General's defeat, had much alarmed and thrown our distant inhabitants into great consternation. They concluded that when the troops should retire from the frontiers, the enemy would repeat and renew their devastation; and that it was better for them to fly naked and leave their habitations than remain an easy prey to an enraged and cruel enemy, who may now
have free and uninterrupted access to these two infatuated and defenceless colonies. Some that were retiring to their friends in the more populous parts of this and the neighboring Provinces, I persuaded to return back, with assurances that a sufficient body of troops would be left at Fort Cumberland for the security of that plaee; and that I would take proper measures to prevent the inroads and incursions of any French or Indian parties ; which I hope will be effectually done by the small forts that I have ordered to be built, one on Tonolloway creek, and three under the North Mountain, in each of which I shall place a small garrison with orders to them to patrol from one
provisions; at Conogogee they will have more, at the Widow Baringers 5 Days, at Colo. Cresap's one or more Days and at all these places Oats or Indian Corn must be had for the Horses but no Hay. At Conogogee the Troops cross the Potomack in a float. When the troops have marched 14 miles from John Evans they are to make the new road to their right which leads from Opeckon Bridge. When the troops have marched 14 miles from George Polle's they come to the Great Cacapepon they are to pass that river in a float, after passing they take the road to the Right. If the water in the little Cacapepon is high the Troops must encamp opposite to Cox's.
At the mouth of the little Cacapepon the l'oto- mack is to be crossed in a Float. Four miles beyond this they cross Town Creek if the Float should not be finished canoes will be provided. If the bridges are not finished over Wills Creek and Evans Creek, waggons will be ordered to carry the men over. It will be proper to get 2 Days Provisions at Colo. Cresaps ye whole shd. not arrive till ye 10th.
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