History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 50

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 50
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 50

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They were to advance in single file, Wetzel in front, until they passed two trees, behind which his companions were to ambush. When he reached the third it was the signal for an attack. Wetzel reached his tree, and discovered that the In- dians had also treed; but in looking around for his companions he found they had retreated and were nearly out of sight, at the top of their speed. His condition was really critical; to come out in an open field was almost certain death. His only hope was in stratagem. He therefore placed his hat on the end of his ramrod and gently pushed it partly from behind the tree. This was no sooner done than all the Indians fired at it. The hat was literally riddled, and Wetzel, still secure behind the tree, quick, but cautiously dropped it to the ground. At this, the Indians believing they had killed their adversary, all sprung from their ambush and rushed towards him. Wetzel now held the trump, and taking advantage of the enemy, whose guns were empty, he left his tree, and firing on the foremost brought him to the ground, and then, with the fleetness of the wind, ran from the scene, and was followed by the survivors. Wetzel loaded as he ran, and wheeling quickly, fired into the breast of the foremost savage; again ran, loaded and fired on the last of the Indians, just as he was in the act of hurling his tomahawk at the head of Wetzel. His fire was successful, and the whole three were thus dead on the plain. Wetzel secured the evidence of his victory, obtained the horses and overtook his companions before they had stopped for the night. The exhibition of the bloody trophies of victory, and the lost horses safely recaptured, all in the hands of their captor, a boy but sixteen years of age, of course from that time made him a hero, one whoze counsel was sought by men of riper years and more experience.

The news of this daring adventure very soon made him the man of the frontier, eminently qualified as a leader in the spy department, in which position he and his brother John rendered such important services to the western country. The many hazards and adventures of which Lewis Wetzel was the hero, during his service in this department, would fill a large volume.

As a man, Lewis Wetzel was courageous, cunning and manly ; tall, broad-shouldered and deep-breasted. His hair was jet black, very long, coarse and glossy; eyes of the same color and sparkling; complexion dark, face slightly marked by smallpox, yet his countenance was attractive and agreeable. As an Indian hunter he stands without peer.

Though his residence was within the Pan-Handle, the most of his daring exploits were enacted on the Ohio side of the river, and within the limits of Belmont and Jefferson counties.

ADVENTURE AT INDIAN SPRINGS, BELMONT COUNTY.

The following incidents of this famous scout are given as re- lated by Mr. Joshua Davis, of Belmont county, to R. H. Taney- hill, Esq., in 1845, and by him subsequently written for the Barnesville Enterprise. They have been told in various ways:

"Near the end of June, 1782, my cousin, John Mills,* got back to Fort Henry from Crawford's defeat. At the Indian Springs, about a mile east of St. Clairsville, t his horse became so jaded that he left it and took to the bush afoot. A few days

*The ages of the boys at the time of this event are given by some authors at thirteen and eleven.

*This rame is given, by most authors, Thomas Mills.

+This spring is located on the farm now owned by John McMahon.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

after he got back he said to me that he was going after his horse. 1 advised him to wait until Wetzel returned and get him to go along. This he concluded was the best plan. That night Wetzel came in, and it was soon arranged to start next morning. I coaxed them hard to let me go with them. I was then only a little past fifteen, but large of my age, and had not been much out on seouts. Lewis at last consented, and said: 'Josh'll make a scout yet; he's got metal.' This made me feel proud. At daybreak we started. We crossed below the point of the Island, and struek up the ridge south of Wheeling creek. The day was hot; but about noon, when we were nearly to the springs, Lewis, who was in the lead, stopped and said: "If there are any Indians about we'd better know it. They'll be near the springs this time of day. I'll go ahead, Mills; you come next, and let Josh be behind.' So we went on. Presently Lewis and Mills went behind some bushes ahead of me, right at the springs, when I heard the crack of rifles, the vell of In- dians, and the scream of Mills, all at once. From the yelling there must have been from forty to fifty Indians. In a second or two Wetzel came back on the trail, running and loading his gun, and the Indians after him. He could load his gun as well running as standing still, but to prime it he always stopped still. Now when Wetzel was run by Indians he made long strides like a lengthened-out dog trot. And this was the way he was coming to me; but the Indians were jumping and yell- ing along in a manner that would soon tire them out. As quick as I saw the Indians I fired at them, and my heels began to do me service, for I ran with all my might. Wetzel soon overtook me, and said : 'Trot, Josh, and keep the trail.' We hadn't got over a mile, when Wetzel said: 'There's only four of them now. I'll pop the foremost."" And he did. By this time I was nearly give out running. 'Don't run. They's a good piece behind now, Josh. Just trot along.' I then did as he told me. This was easier going. But we hadn't got far before one of the Indians, who had cut across, came out right on us. Wetzel turned to fire, but the Indian caught the barrel of his gun. Wetzel was too sharp for him. He jumped past he Indian. This turned the muzzle right against the Indian's breast, when Wetzel pulled the trigger and the Indian fell dead. We were off again with two Indians still after us. When we got on the top of the hill just above where Woodmansee's tav- ern now stands,* Wetzel said: 'Josh, at the next turn of the hill there's a high bank and clump of bushes right below it. You jump down and lay there until the Indians pass. They'll follow me. I'll meet you at the creek.' When we got to the bank I jumped down and laid right in the bushes. The fore- most Indian passed on the run. Directly another came up op- posite to me and sort of halted. Then I heard the crack of Wetzel's rifle. The Indian on the bank went, Whew! No catch him ; gun loaded all the time !' and started back as fast as he could run. Wetzel met me at the creek, about where the pike crosses, and we went home at our ease. In about a week we went back and buried Mills. He was scalped and his ankle brokc by the bullet. In all the accounts I've seen published they say Wetzel treed several times. This is not so; Wetzel never treed if the Indians were after him."

THE GOBBLER INDIAN.

"For several winters in turkey-time, we had been plagued by an Indian who could "call" so much like a turkey, that no one could tell the difference. He would secrete himself, and when our men would be creeping along, expecting every minute to shoot a turkey, he'd shoot them. Sometimes he would station himself on Wheeling hill, sometimes on the island, but most commonly on the point of one of the ridges north or south of Wheeling creek, on the Ohio side. We called him at the fort "the Gobbler Indian."

Well, in January, 1783, on the 12th day, or old Christmas, which was always punctually kept at the fort, we had two large turkeys roasted, and a lot of twelfth-day cake baked. Twelfth- day cake is made of unleavened dough, slightly sweetened with spice, cloves and cinnamon bark worked in it, and then baked in a Dutch oven like a loaf of light bread. And a nice bread it was, too. It was baked a day or two before, and eat cold. When we were killing the turkeys, Wetzel had the feet of one cut off up where the feathers come on, and the wings at the first joint before it was scalded. These he put away in his hunting bag very carefully. After dinner he took a drum- stick bone, punched a hole in the joint ends, and then fixed a

piece of quill shaved down thin in the big end. This he put away with the other things. In a few days it turned warm, and the sun shone strong, melting the snow where it hit, leav- ing it still sticking on the north side of the hills and ridges. The night was pretty cold, and froze the ground hard. The next morning an hour or two before day, Wetzel got up, took his rifle down, swung his hunting bag over his shoulder, and went out of the fort. The rest I'l tell you as he told me :

"I crossed over the river, went up the north side of Wheeling creek about a mile, then made to the top of the ridge, came back on the ridge something over half a mile. It was now good daylight. I went as careful as I could down to where the snow was still on, and made some tracks along its edge with my turkey feet. I then came on down the ridge within a hun- dred yards of the place where I intended to hide myself. I then sighted along the upper edge of the snow straight to my hiding place, and wherever there was snow on that line, I made turkey tracks, toes cast, but kept clear of the snow with my own feet. When I got about twenty steps of my place to hide, the ground raised a little, and there was right smart of snow. I here made tracks, as near as I eould, like a turkey does when it's about to fly to roost. I then fixed the wings and flapped them in the snow. I now went back a hundred yards or more and crossed down on the south side of the ridge, and eame back to the river. I then went up the point of the ridge to my hiding place. I took my drum-sticks and began to call like a turkey. In a little while my call was answered, and presently a large Indian came in sight, leaning down and going to and fro, as if hunting a trail. I kept on ealling; he answered. After a little he came to my line of turkey tracks, stooped down and examined them closely, looked up into the trees, and began making long, cautious steps, still looking in the trees. I still called; he answered, and came on towards me. I now examined my priming, and rubbed the frizzen and flint with a piece of punk, to be sure of my shot. By this time he had got to the little raise, looked down and gave a grunt; then looked about, up in the trees, and then down at the tracks again. He kept moving so, I was afraid to shoot for fear I'd miss. He now lifted his gun in his left hand, turned it sideways and struck it with his right. He then stood still and looked right towards me. I pulled on him. He threw up his hands, trem- bled and fell backward. He didn't get his turkey this time, and I reckon we won't be plagued with the 'gobbler' Indian any more.

WETZEL'S SKILL AS A HUNTER.

" A little before Wayne's victory," continues Mr. Davis, "and while I was living on Short creek, I made a visit to Fort Henry. Wetzel had just got back from Kentucky, where he had been spending a year or two with his brother. Now, a little piece below Dillie's Fort, there lived a chap named .Michael Forshay. He was about thirty, and had some experience as a scout, and was desperate conceity about his skill in hunting Indians. He didn't know Wetzel. Forshay came up to the fort on the second evening I was there, and the way he bragged on himself was amusing, as he always spread himself the most when Wetzel was in hearing. IIe wanted to know who Wetzel was, but we all took the cue and told him he was a fellow just come in from the mountains. Well, Forshay gave us one of his big ones, and declared that no Indian, or white man either, could come in on him when he was in the woods. Wetzel smiled in a sneering way, and Forshay saw it. This kind of flustered him, but he was soon under full headway again. Wetzel couldn't stand boasting any longer, so he said to him:

"See here, Mister, I'm not much on a hunt, but I'll bet you the liquor for the crowd that I can come in on you in spite of you, and you won't see nor hear me until I strike you on the shoulder, and you may pick your ground and name which shoulder I'm to hit, into the bargain.

"Forshay, after giving a horse laugh, took the bet. He was about enough in liquor to venture quick. The next day, pretty late in the morning, preparations were made to decide the bet. Myself and Dan Carpenter were chosen judges, and we and Wetzel and Forshay went over to the Ohio side. No others went, as Wetzel said he wanted Forshay to have a fair chance, and any more would distract his attention.

"Forshay picked his ground a little west of Captain Kirk- wood's old cabin, and a good place he took for his side. It was where there was no undergrowth for nearly a quarter of an acre in circuit, with only a few trees standing on it, and all around it a thicket. Besides, on the north side there was a very steep bank, leaving only three sides for Forshay to guard. When we got to Kirkwood's cabin, Wetzel made us go on to

"Woodmansee's tavern was on the farm now owned by C. HI. Arick, about four miles east of St. Clairsville.

18-B. & J. COS.

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pick the ground, while he went up on the side of the hill south of us. When Forshay was ready, Carpenter and I sat down by a big tree near the steep bank, about twelve feet from him, and called out, "All ready." In a few seconds Wetzel answered, " keep a bright look out, Forshay, or I'll take your scalp for you. "Ready "-stringing out the last syllable. We all kept silent. Forshay watched very sharp, and I never passed through a deeper silence. I could hear my heart beating. We didn't hear the rattle of a leaf, or see the shaking of a bush. I thought Wetzel would never come in. Forshay was turning his head this way and that, around and around; but presently Wetzel darted, more like a ghost than anything else, from be- hind a tree, and struck Forshay on the shoulder, who falling, sprang out of his tracks, crying out : " You beat me thistime, but you can't do it again " Wetzel made no reply, but walked away, and in a little bit called out from the hillside, "Ready !" I never saw a man keep a sharper look-out than Forshay did this time; but before any of us thought that Wetzel could come the distance he was away, he sprang out of his cover and touched Forshay on the shoulder. He gave up the wager like a man, when we got back to the fort. How Wetzel got over the dry leaves without making them rattle, or through the bushes and not shake them, I can't tell; but he did it so that none of us heard or saw him until he made his last leap to touch For- shay."

WINS A REWARD FOR AN INDIAN SCALP.

In the summer of 1786, the Indians having become trouble- some in the neighborhood of Wheeling, particularly in the Short creek settlement, and a party having killed a man near Mingo bottom, it was determined to send an expedition after the retreating enemy, of sufficient force to chastise them most effectually. A subscription or pony purse was made up, and one hundred dollars were offered to the man who should bring in the first Indian scalp. Major McMahan, living at Beech bot- tom, headed the expedition, and Lewis Wetzel was one of his men. They crossed the river on the 5th of August, and pro- eeeded, by a rapid march, to the Muskingum. The expedition numbered about twenty men; and an advance of five were de- tailed to reconnoitre. This party reported to the commander that they had discovered the camp of the enemy, but that it was far too numerous to think of making an attack. A con- sultation was thereupon held, and an immediate retreat deter- mined on.

During the conference Lew. Wetzel sat upon a log, with his gun carelessly resting across his knees. The moment it was resolved to retreat most of the party started in disordered haste, but the commander, observing Wetzel still sitting on the log, turned to inquire if he was not going along. "No," was his sullen reply; "I came out to hunt Indians, and now that they are found I am not going home, like a fool, with my fingers in iny mouth. I am determined to take an Indian scalp or lose my own." All arguments were unavailing, and there they were compelled to leave him, a lone man, in a desolate wilder- ness, surrounded by an enemy-vigilant, cruel, bloodthirsty, and of horrid barbarity-with no friend but his rifle, and no guide but the sure index which an All-Wise Providence has deep set in the heavens above. Once by himself, and looking around to feel satisfied that they were all gone, he gathered his blanket about him, adjusted his tomahawk and scalping-knife, shouldered his rifle, and moved off in an opposite direction, hoping that a small party of Indians might be met with. Keeping away from the larger streams, he strolled on cautiously, peering into every dell and suspicious cover, and keenly sensi- tive to the least sound of a dubious character.

Nothing, however, crossed his path that day. The night being dark and chilly, it was necessary to have a fire; but to show a light, in the midst of his enemy, would be to invite certain destruction. To avoid this he constructed a small coal pit out of bark, dried leaves, etc., and covering these with loose earth, leaving an occasional air hole, he seated himself, encir- cling the pit with his legs, and then completed the whole by covering his head with the blanket. In this manner he would produce a temperature equal, as he expressed it, to that of a "stove room." This was certainly an original and ingenious mode of getting up a fire, without, at the same time, endanger- ing himself by a light.

During most of the following day he roamed through the for- est without noticing any "signs" of Indians. At length smoke was discovered, and, going in the direction of it, he found a camp, but tenantless. It contained two blankets and a small kettle, which Wetzel at once knew belonged to two Indians,

who were, doubtless, out hunting. Concealing himself in the matted undergrowth, he patiently awaited the return of the occupants. About sunset one of the Indians came in and made np the fire, and went to cooking his supper. Shortly after the other came in. They ate their supper and began to sing, and amuse themselves by telling comic stories, at which they would burst into roars of laughter. Singing and telling amusing sto- ries was the common practice of the white and red men when lying in their hunting camps.

About nine or ten o'clock one of the Indians wrapped his blanket around him, shouldered his rifle, took a chunk of fire in his hand and left the camp, doubtless with the intention of going to watch a deer-lick. The fire and smoke would serve to keep off the gnats and mosquitoes. It is a remarkable fact that deer are not alarmed at seeing fire, from the circumstance of meeting it so frequently in the fall and winter seasons, when the leaves and grass are dry and the woods on fire. The ab- sence of the Indian was a cause of vexation and disappoint- ment to our hero, whose trap was so happily set that he consid- ered his game secure. He still indulged the hope that the Indian would return to camp before day, but in this he was disappointed. There are birds in the woods which commence chirping just before break of day, and, like the cock, give notice to the woodsman that light will soon appear. Lewis heard the wooded songsters begin to chatter, and determined to delay no longer the work of death for the return of the other Indian.

He walked to the camp with a noiseless step, and found his victim buried in profound sleep, lying upon one side. He drew his scalping-knife, and with the utmost force, impelled by re- venge, sent the blade through his heart. He said the Indian gave a short quiver, a convulsive motion, and then laid still in the sleep of death. Lewis scalped him, and set out for home. He arrived at the Mingo bottom only one day after his unsuc- cessful companions. He claimed and received the reward.

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE "GOBBLER INDIAN " STORY.

Mr. Jacob, in his life of Patrick Gass, gives the following in relation to Lewis Wetzel and the story of the " Gobbler Indian." " A noted instance of his success in circumventing the "red skins," is given in the romantic story of "Old Cross Fire," which has more than once gone the rounds of the papers and is substantially true; and to this day, the spot is pointed out where an Indian, having concealed himself among the rocks on the precipitous bank of the creek near Wheeling, had decoyed and shot several white men, by imitating the noise of a turkey, was himself killed by Wetzel, while in the very act of "gob- bling" for a victim. The identical rock behind which the In- dian was concealed was in existence about three-fourths of a mile from the mouth of Wheeling creek,* until a few years ago, when it was split up for building purposes, and sold by the owner of the ground. It is to be regretted that the rock was not preserved, as a standing memorial of the Indian times, and a monument to the brave and intrepid hunter, who has given his name, however, to a county in our good old Commonwealth. Had it been named Wetzel's rock, it would have remained an object of interest for ages, perhaps; and thus effectually per- petuated his name, and proven a source of gratification to those who would desire justice done to the memory of the pioneers. Like many other men of his contemporaries, Wetzel had private injuries to revenge upon the Indians, and his hatred of them was bitter and relentless.t They murdered several of his kindred, and he himself with an elder brother had been pris- oners among them when boys, and effected their escape by ex- traordinary address and courage, and he vowed eternal enmity. Like too many men of his class, he had somewhat loose ideas of the sanctity of laws and treaties with Indians, when they in- terfered with the gratification of his vengeance ; and it is re- ported of him that he scrupled not to take a shot when occasion offered, even though in time of peace. Of course such conduct was not only discreditable to the good faith of the whites, but was vitally dangerous to their security from Indian vengeance. He was warned and admonished of the danger to the peace of the settlements of such an uncompromising hostility, and was

*De Hass states that the Indian was secreted in a cave. The cave described, is within the present limits of the City of Wheeling, and about fifty or sixty feet to the right of the west entrance of the Hempfield railroad tunnel under the " Peninsula."

+It is claimed by some that this story, and others of Wetzel's later exploits, are fiction in all respects, save the killing of the Indians-that Wetzel persisted in killing Indians after peace had been made with them-and that many of his acts were therefore simply those of a marauder.

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finally arrested in Ohio, and imprisoned on charge of murder, for shooting an Indian in time of peace. He would doubtless have been visited with the rigors of the law, but popular sym- pathy was in his favor. The whole country side flocked to the place of his confinement, demanding his discharge, under pen- alty of demolishing the jail and delivering him by force, and the result of the demonstration was, that he was, by some un- accountable means, released.

ATTACKS AN INDIAN CAMP OF FOUR.

A singular custom with this daring borderer was to take a fall hunt into the Indian country. Equipping himself, he set out and penetrated to the Muskingum, and fell upon a camp of four Indians. Hesitating a moment whether or not to attack a party so much his superior in numerical strength, he deter- mined to make the attempt. At the hour of midnight he moved cautiously from his covert, and, gliding through the darkness, stealthily approached the camp, supporting his rifle with one hand and a tomahawk with the other. A dim flicker from the camp fire faintly revealed the forms of the sleepers, wrapped in that profound slumber, which, to part of them, was to know no waking. There they lay, with their dark faces turned up to the night-sky, in the deep solitude of their own wilderness, little dreaming that their most relentless enemy was hovering over them. Quietly resting his gun against a tree, he unsheathed his knife, and with an intrepidity that could never be surpassed, stepped boldly forward, like the minister of death, and quick as thought cleft the skull of one of his sleep- ing victims. In an instant a second one was similarly served and as a third attempted to rise, confused by the horrid yells with which Wetzel accompanied his blows, he, too, shared the fate of his companions, and sunk dead at the feet of this ruthless slayer. The fourth darted into the darkness of the wood and escaped, although Wetzel pursued him some distance.

Returning to camp, he scalped his victims, and then left for home. When asked on his return, what luck, "Not much," he replied. "I tree'd four Indians, but one got away." This un- exampled achievement stamped him as one of the most daring, and, at the same time, successful hunters of his day. The dis- tance to and from the scene of this adventure could not have been less than one hundred and seventy miles.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 50

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728