History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 37

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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and scalps, and were drunk, but excessive hard rains having swelled the river bank high, it was found impracticable. After destroying the towns, with great quantities of poultry and other stores, and killing about forty head of cattle, I marched up the river about seven miles, with a view to send for some craft from the Moravian towns, and cross the river to pursue the Indians; but when I proposed my plan to the volunteers I found they conceived they had done enough, and were determined to return, wherefore 1 marched to Newcomerstown, where a few Indi- ans, who remained in our interest, had with- drawn themselves, not exceeding thirty men. The troops experienced great kindness from the Moravian Indians and those at Newcomerstown, and obtained a sufficient supply of meat and corn to subsist the men and horses to the Ohio river. Captain Killbuck and Captain Luzerne, upon hearing of our troops being on the Muskingum, immediately pursued the warriors, killed one of their greatest villains and brought his scalp to me. The plunder brought in by the troops sok for about eighty pounds at Fort Henry. Ihad upon this expedition Captain Montour and Wil- son, and three other faithful Indians who con- tributed greatly to success.

" The troops behaved with great spirit, and al- though there was considerable firing between them and the Indians, I had not a man killed or wounded, and only one horse shot.

" I have the honor to be with great respect and attachment, your Excellency's most obedient, most humble servant. DANIEL BRODHEAD, "Col. Ist P. R.

Directed :

" His Excellency, "JOSEPH REED, Exq."*

COL. DAVID SHEPHERD.

Col. David Shepherd came to Wheeling, from the South Branch of the Potomac, in 1770. His energy, enterprise, courage and other character- isties of first-class frontiersmen, soon made him " a man of mark."

In 1776, upon the organization of Ohio county, Virginia, Col. Shepherd became the commanding officer of the militia of the county; was also the presiding justice of the county court; and be- fore the close of the year 1776, he became the sheriff of the county of Ohio, that office at the time named going to the senior justice of the county court, under the laws of the colony, and for many years afterward, in pursuance of the

laws of the State. Col. Shepherd also presided at a notable meeting or convocation held near the close of the year, for the purpose of carrying into effect certain requirements of the legislature.

On the 12th of March, 1777, the Governor of Virginia (Patrick Henry), authorized the raising of a force of 300 men in certain western counties of Virginia, " to penetrate the country and inflict summary punishment upon certain Indians that were characterized as outlaws and banditti," lo- cated at " Pluggystown," near the head waters of the Scioto, and the command of the expedition was tendered to Col. David Shepherd, who had previously been appointed to the position of lieutenant of the county of Ohio.

In September, 1777, Fort Henry (formerly called Fort Fincastle), was besieged by a large force of Indian warriors, numbering nearly 400, but it was successfully defended by the small force within it, under the command of Col. David Shepherd. He continued to take a leading part in arranging for the defense of the frontiers un- til 1781, when he was second in command to Col. Daniel Brodhead in the "Coshocton Campaign," as it was called.

Col. Shepherd was a prominent man on the frontiers, acting in various ways against the hos- tile Indians west of the Ohio river. As a civilian he long held a position in the front rank of use- ful, upright, valuable public officers, and as a just, impartial magistrate.

COL. DANIEL BRODHEAD.

Col. Daniel Brodhead was a citizen of Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1771, having removed there during that year from Ulster county, New York. He entered the army as a lieutenant- colonel, his commission bearing date July 4, 1776. Until carly in the year 1779 he was en- gaged in most of the battles fought by Gen. Washington's army, and had attained a colonel's commission, commanding the 8th Pennsylvania regiment. On March 5, 1779, he was appointed to the command of the western military depart- ment (succeeding Gen. McIntosh), with head- quarters at Fort Pitt. This position he retained until some time after the Coshocton campaign in April, 1781, when Col. John Gibson temporarily occupied the position, until the permanent ap-

* Pennsylvania Archives, vol. ix, p. 161.

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pointment of Gen. William Irvine, September 24, 1781.

Col. Brodhead, in August and September, 1779, led an expedition against certain Seneca and Muncie Indians, on the Allegheny river, his command consisting of 609 men, including militia and volunteers, which, however, result- ed in little less than the destruction of a num- ber of Indian villages and some hundreds of acres of corn, and the ºconfiscation of certain articles, of the estimated value of $3,000. These villages were situated nearly 200 miles above Fort Pitt.

Colonel Brodhead's administration of affairs generally in the Western Military Department, during those two years, was in the main rather popular with the frontiersmen, and was so satis- factory to Congress in its results as to elicit a specially complimentary resolution from that body. He was doubtless a meritorious officer, and was one of four brothers who all rendered essential services to their country during the perilous years of our revolutionary struggle. Colonel Brodhead ultimately attained to the rank and command of a brigadier-general, and those of his countrymen who have knowledge of his history and services, concede to him the reputa- tion of a commander of energy, efficiency, and undoubted courage and patriotism.

General Brodhead remained in retirement until November 3, 1789, when he was elected Sur- veyor-General of Pennsylvania, an office which he continued to hold until 1799. One of his sons, an officer in the revolutionary army, offered up his young life on the altar of his country. The Brodheads were true patriots, gallant soldiers, and rendered valuable services to their country in its time of peril.

General Brodhead was married twice. His last marriage was with the widow of Governor Mifflin, one of the early time Governors of Penn- sylvania. His death occurredat Milford, Penn- sylvania, November 15, 1809, where and when was brought to a close a life that had been so con- spicuously and persistently dedicated to the pro- motion of the liberty of his countrymen, and to the establishment of free institutions, as to do- mand the grateful consideration of posterity, and an honorable mention in history.

CHAPTER XXII.

WETZEL AND BRADY ..

Lewis Wetzel- Ilis Character - The Wetzel Family -The Murder of Lewis' Father-Capture of Wetzel by the In- dians-Ilis Adventures in the Muskingum Valley-Tragedy at Indian Spring - The expedition to the Muskingum under Mc Mahon-Wetzel takes a Scalp-The Turkey Call- Various Adventures-Imprisoned-Wetzel's Personal Ap- pearance and Death.

Samuel Brady-His Expedition to Walhonding-1 Brief Sketch of his Life and Services.

L EWIS WETZEL, who has been mentioned in the preceding chapter as assassinating the chief who sought a conference with General Brodhead, under promise of protection, stands side by side with Samuel Brady, Simon Kenton, Daniel Boone and a few others, as a prominent leader in the border wars of the time. The single act mentioned indicates his somewhat savage na- ture and the intense feeling of hatred that then existed among the pioneers. Wetzel was, him- self, the personification of this feeling, and prob- ably outrivaled his cotemporaries, above men- tioned, in his intense and bitter hatred of the whole Indian race.

As Lewis Wetzel was identified with all the border wars of the time, and with the numerous private expeditions against the Indians in Ohio; and as this was not his first or last visit to the Muskingum valley, any history of Ohio, or es- pecially of the eastern part of it, would seem to be incomplete without some account of him.

He was looked upon, in the neighborhood of Wheeling and along the upper Ohio, by the set- tlers as the right arm of their defence; his pres- ence was a tower of strength in the infant settle- ments, and his name a terror to the fierce and restless savages, who, making the Muskingum valley their stopping and starting point, waged a relentless war of extermination against the frontiersmen.

Although he was fierce and unrelenting in his warfare, and always shot an Indian on sight, when he coukl, yet his foe was equally fierce and unrelenting, and the memory of Wetzel should be embalmed in the hearts of the people of Eastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania, for his efforts in defence of their forefathers are almost without a parallel.

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Almost always foremost and most devoted, he threw into the common treasury a soul as heroic, as adventurous, as full of energy and exhaustless resources as ever animated a human being.

Unfortunately for his memory no entirely re- liable account of him has ever appeared in print. The present generation know little of his per- sonal history, save as gathered from the pages of romanee, or the scarcely less painted traditions of the day,

With many he is regarded as having been little better than a savage; a man whose disposition was that of an enraged tiger, and whose only propensity was for blood. Many of his acts, notably the one mentioned, would seem to strengthen this belief, yet if the people of to-day could but comprehend the state of feeling then existing between the belligerents, they would look upon his acts in a somewhat different light.

He was revengeful, it is true, because he had suffered deep injuries at the hands of his foes; yet he was never known to inflict cruelty upon women and children, or to torture or mutilate his adversary.

He was literally without fear; brave as a lion, cunning as a fox, "daring where daring was the wiser part; prudent when discretion was valor's l etter self." Ile seemed to possess in a remark- able degree that intuitive knowledge which can alone constitute a good and efficient hunter and successful seout,'added to which he was sagacious, prompt to act, and possessed an iron frame and will to render his acts efficient.

John Wetzel, the father of Lewis, was one of the first settlers on Wheeling creek. He had five sons and two daughters, whose names respect- ively were Martin, Lewis, Jacob, John, George, Susan and Christina.

The elder Wetzel spent much of his time locating lands, hunting and fishing. His neigh- bors frequently admonished him against expos- ing himself to the enemy, who was almost con- tinually prowling about, but disregarding advice, and laughing at their fears, he continued to widen the range of his excursions, until he finally ffell a victim to the tawny foe. He was killed near Captina, in 1787, on his return from Middle Island ercek. Himself and companion were paddling slowly along in a canoe, near the

shore, when they were hailed by a party of In- dians and ordered to land. This they refused, and they were immediately fired upon and Wetzel shot through the body. Feeling himself mortally wounded, he directed his companion to lie down in the ennoe, while he (Wetzel), so long as strength remained, would paddle the vessel beyond the reach of the savages. In this way he saved the life of his friend, while his own was ebbing fast. He died soon after reaching the shore, at Baker's station. Not many years ago a rough stone, on which was inscribed in perfectly distinct characters, "J. W., 1787," still marked the last resting place of John Wetzel.

At the time of his father's death, Lewis was about twenty-three years of age, and in common with his brothers, swore vengeance against the whole Indian race, and terribly was that resolution car- ried into effect. From that time forward they were devoted to the wood ; and an Indian, whether in peace or war, by night or by day, was a doomed man in the presence of either of them.

The first event worthy of record in his life ac- curred when he was about fourteen years old, when he was taken prisoner. He had just stepped from his father's door and stood looking at his brother, Jacob, playing in the yard, when he hap- pened to see a gun pointing from the corner of the corn erib. He sprang quickly to one side, just in time to receive the ball upon his breast bone, cutting a gash and carrying away a piece of the bone. In an instant two athletic warriors came up, and making the lads prisoners, hurried them away without being discovered. On the second day they reached the Ohio, and crossing, near the mouth of McMahon's creek, gained the Big Liek, about twenty miles from the river, that evening. During the whole of this painful march Lewis suffered severely from his wound, but bore up with true courage, knowing if he complained the tomahawk would be his doom.

That night, on lying down, the Indians, con- trary to their usual custom, failed to tie their prisoners, and Lewis resolved to escape. While the Indians were sleeping they both arose . with- out disturbing their captors and passed into the woods. Finding, however, that they could not travel without moccasins, Lewis returned to camp and secured two pairs, with which he re-

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turned to his brother. He then went back after stream. The quiet repose, the moving shadow. his father's gun, which the Indians had secured , the song of birds, the whoop of the savage, the in the yard where the lads were taken prisoners. long, melancholy howl of the timber wolf, were sights and sounds that most interested him, and made up largely the pleasures of his existence. Rising from his couch of leaves beside some moss-covered log, the lone hunter made his hur- ried meal, and pressed on through the day, care- loss of fatigue or danger, until night again spread her mantle over the woods. Having secured this without awakening the sav- ages, they started in the direction of home. Find- ing the trail, they traveled on for some time, oc- casionally stopping to listen. They soon ascer- tained the Indians were in pursuit, but stepping aside into the brush the savages passed them, and they again resumed their march. They had not proceeded far before they heard the Indians re- turning, and again avoided them by hiding in the brush. Before daylight they were followed by two Indians on horseback, but again resorting to a similar expedient, they readily escaped detce- tion. The next day, about eleven o'clock, they reached the Ohio, at a point opposite Zane's Is- land, and lashing two logs together they crossed over and were once more with their friends.

Space will not allow a complete review of this man's adventurous life, as that would, if justice were done, make a volume; but some of his more daring deeds may be noticed, that the full character of the man may be brought out; and those expeditions in which he was known to have visited the Muskingum valley, may be referred to more in detail. There is no doubt whatever that Lewis Wetzel frequently visited the neighbor- hood of the Indian towns about the junction of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers. Killing Indians was his trade, and these towns were the nearest ones to his field of operations.

That he often came to the neighborhood of these towns alone, and prowled about in the woods until he saw an opportunity to take a scalp and return in safety, may safely be inferred from the nature of the man and his known mode of warfare. Indeed he did not always stop on the Muskingum, but passed on into the heart of the Indian country, about the head waters of the Sandusky river, in his incessant and tireless search for scalps.

He was a lover of the woods and of solitude, and after reaching the years of manhood spent most of his time alone in the great wilderness west of the Ohio.

He seemed to worship the grand old trees with more than pagan devotion, and was delighted with every fresh grove, hi !! , valley and rippling , killing him instantly.

Shortly after Crawford's defeat, a man named Thomas Mills, escaping from that unfortunate expedition, reached Indian Spring, about nine miles from Wheeling, on the present National road, where he left his horse and proceeded on foot to Wheeling. Thence he went to Van Metre's Fort, and after a day or two of rest, induced Lewis Wetzel to return with him to the Spring for his horse. Lewis was then eighteen years old, but skilled in wood-craft, and advised Mills not to go, but the latter determined to pro- ceed, and the two started. Approaching the Spring, they discovered the horse tied to a tree, and Wetzel at once comprehended their danger.

Mills walked up to unfasten the animal, when instantly a discharge of rifles followed, and the unfortunate man fell, mortally wounded. Wetzel, knowing his only chance for life was in flight, bounded away at his utmost speed. Four of the Indians followed in rapid pursuit, and after a chase of half a mile, one of the most active of their number approached Wetzel so closely that fearing he might throw his tomahawk with deadly effect, he turned suddenly and shot the savage dead. Wetzel was very fleet on foot, and had acquired the habit of loading his gun while running, and it was now, as it was many times subsequently, of great advantage to him. Keeping in advance another half mile, his gun was reloaded, and the second savage came so near that, upon turning, the Indian caught the muzzle of his gun, and the contest became doubtful. At one moment the Indian by his great strength and dexterity brought Wetzel to his knee, and had nearly wrenched the rifle from his hands, when by a powerful effort he drew the weapon from the hands of the savage, and thrusting the muzzle against the side of his neck, pulled the trigger,

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By this time the other two Indians were nearly upon him, and he again bounded away, reloading his rifle while running. The savages fell behind, but Lewis slackened his pace, and even stopped once or twice to allow them to come up. When- ever he looked around, however, they treed, un- willing to expose themselves to his deadly rifle. Running on some time, he reached an open space in the woods, and, turning suddenly, the foremost savage sprang behind a tree, which did not, however, screen his body entirely, and Wet- zel fired, dangerously wounding him. The re- maining Indian beat a hasty retreat.

This illustrates Wetzel's mode of warfare; he could generally out-run and out-shoot most of his enemies.

The following is related as one of his exploits with the Indians about the head waters of the Muskingum :

In the summer of 1786 these Indians killed a man near Mingo bottom, and a party of fron- tiersmen under the famous Major McMahon (who was afterward killed in the defense of Fort Re- covery), followed them with the intention of get- ting revenge. One hundred dollars was offered to the man who should bring in the first scalp. Lewis Wetzel was one of this party. They crossed the Ohio August 5, and proceeded by a rapid march to the Muskingum.

The expedition numbered about twenty men, and an advance of five was detailed to recon- noitre.

Approaching the Muskingum, this party re- ported that they had discovered a large camp of the Indians-so large that it was useless to think of making an attack upon it.

After a long consultation it was decided to re- treat.

During this conference Lewis Wetzel sat apart upon a log with his gun resting carelessly across his knees, silent, but listening to all that was said. When the decision was reached and the party be- gan to move away Lewis still retained his seat upon the log, which McMahon noticing turned back and asked if he was not going along. " No!" was his sullen reply. " I came out to hunt In- dians, and now they are found, I am not going home like a fool with my fingers in my mouth. I will take a scalp or lose my own."

All arguments were unavailing, and he was left alone in the great woods, surrounded by sav- age foes.

Onee alone he gathered his blanket around him, adjusted his tomahawk and sealping knife, and taking his rifle moved cautiously away. Keep- ing away from the larger streams, he crept si- lently through the woods like a wild beast of prey keeping his piercing black eyes open for any stray Indians that might be strolling or camping in limited numbers.

He stopped freequently and was keenly alive to every sight and sound; nothing, however, crossed his path that day.

The night being dark and chilly it was neces- sary for comfort to have a fire, but to show a light in the midst of his enemy was to invite certain destruction ; he therefore constructed a small coal-pit of bark and dried leaves, and covering these with loose earth, leaving an occassional air- hole, he seated himself, encircling the pit with his legs, and then completed the whole by cover- ing his head with a blanket. In this way he kept comfortable, without endangering himself by a light.

During the following day he roamed the woods without discovering any signs of Indians until toward evening, when he discovered a smoke, and approached it cautiously. He found a ten- antless camp. It contained two blankets and a small kettle, which Wetzel at once knew belonged to two Indians, who were probably out hunting. Concealing himself in the matted undergrowth, he patiently awaited the return of his prey. About sunset one of the Indians came in, made a fire and began cooking supper. Shortly after the other appeared ; they then ate their supper, after which they smoked their pipes and amused themseves by singing and telling comic stories, which at times caused them to indulge in roars of laughter. They little dreamed that death was lurking near them, in the dark forest, in the shape of the terrible Wetzel.

About nine o'clock one of the Indians wrapped his blanket around him, shouldered his rifle, took a fire-brand in his hand and left the camp, doubtless with the intention of watching a decr-lick.

The absence of this savage was a cause of vexa-

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tion and disappointment to Wetzel, who looked upon both as his game. He indulged the hope that the Indian would return to camp before day-break, but in this he was disappointed. Through the long, still hours of the night he waited and watched, like a tiger watching his prey. When he heard the birds begin to chirp and chatter, and he knew daylight was approaching, he determined to delay no longer, and walking to the camp with noiseless step, he found his vie- tim in profound slumber, lying upon his side. He drew his butcher knife and drove the keen blade with all his force to the heart of the savage. The Indian gave a quiver, a convulsive motion and then lay still in the sleep of death. Wetzel scalped him, and set out for home, arriving at Mingo Bottom but one day after his unsuccessful companions.

He claimed and received his reward of one hundred dollars.

A most fatal decoy on the frontier was the turkey-call. On several different occasions men from the fort at Wheeling had gone across the hill in quest of turkeys, whose plaintive cries had elicited their attention, and on more than one occasion the men never returned. Wetzel sus- pected the cause, and determined to satisfy him- self.

On the cast side of the creek, and at a point cle- vated at least sixty fect above the water, there is a capacious cavern; the entrance at that time was almost obseured by a thick growth of vines and foliage. Into this the alluring savage would crawl, and could there have an extensive view of the hill front on the opposite side. From that cavern issued the decoy of death to more than one uncautious soldier and settler. Wetzel knew of the existence and exact locality of the cave, and accordingly started out before day, and by a circuitous route reached the spot in the rear Posting himself so as to command a view of the opening, he waited patiently for the expected cry. Directly the twisted tuft of an Indian war- rior slowly rose in the mouth of the cave, and looking cautiously about, sent forth the long, shrill, peculiar "ery," and immediately sank back out of view. Lewis sercened himself in his position, cocked his gun, and anxiously awaited a re-appearance of the head. In a few

minutes up rose the tuft. Lewis drew a fine aim at the polished head, and the next instant the brains of the savage were scattered about the cave. That turkey troubled the inhabitants no longer, and tradition does not say whether the place was ever after similarly occupied.

De Hass states that this daring borderer was in the habit of visiting the Muskingum valley every fall, on an Indian hunt, and almost invariably went alone. The Indian camps about the forks of the Muskingun were the most accessible and suffered more, perhaps, from the stealthy raids of this daring hunter than any others. Armed only with his trusty riffe and hunting knife, he would enter the Indian country and hiding in thickets and creeping through the woods, would sometimes pass days patiently awaiting an oppor- tunity to fall upon an unprotected and unsus- pecting camp of savages.

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 37

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854