USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 72
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
or returning through their villages, might draw an enemy upon them ; otherwise, they had no fears. As to the invitation to leave their settle- ments. they objected that they were much too heavy (in possession of too much property, pro- visions, etc.,) to think of rising and going with their friends and relatives.
Pachgantschihilas. after another consultation with his captains, repeated his former warning, but disclaimed any purpose of compelling the Moravians to leave their settlements. He re- quested, in conclusion, that anyone who chose to avoid the dangers which he anticipated, might be free to accept his protection, to which the missionaries assured him there would be no ob- jection. The next day the chief and his war- riors proceeded to Salem, where a feast had been prepared for them, under the direction of Glik- hikan, who came forth to greet and welcome his guests. The warriors approached gravely and decorously, without yell or shout. When they arrived in the centre of the village, opposite the chapel and residence of Heckewelder, Pachgant- schihilas ordered a halt, and publicly pro- nounced a warm eulogy upon the believing In- dians. He then dismissed them to their enter- tainment, which had been provided in a grove of sugar maple, while the chief himself, accom- panied by two Shawanese and two Delaware war captains, repaired to the house of Hecke- welder, in whom they recognized the youthful pall-bearer at the funeral of his favorite wife. nineteen years before, at Tuscaroras. Here, where also were assembled the national assis- tants of the mission, he repeated his friendly assurances, and soon after departed with his warriors, having first proclaimed from the centre of the street, in a tone audible to all the inhabitants, that "if at any time they should hear it said that Pachgantschihilas was an enemy to the believing Indians. they should consider such words as lies."
It was from the English quarter, that their first serions interruption to the peaceful pursuits of the Moravian community proceeded. The tory leaders of the Ohio savages, McKee, Elliott, and Simon Girty, were extremely hostile, and were charged with having instigated several attempts to assassinate or seize the missionaries. Baffled in these by the vigilance and devotion of the Christian Indians, they represented to the British Commandant at Detroit, Colonel Depeyster, that the missionaries were partizans and spies of Congress, and that their influence was extremely prejudicial to the British interest. That officer was induced to insist upon their removal from the vicinity of Pittsburgh, and early in 1781, his wishes were communicated to the great council of the Six Nations, assembled at Niagara, by whom a message was sent to the Ottawas and Chippewas to the following effect: " We here- with make you a present of the Christian Indians on the Muskingum, to make both of;" au ex- pression well understood to mean : " We desire you to put those people to death." But those two nations being a branch of the Delaware
stock, and ranking as their grandchildren, re- plied : "We have no cause for doing this." The Wyandots, at first, were even more disin- clined to assume the ungrateful task, because the Detroit division of the tribe held the relation of guardian or protector of the Christian Indians among themselves, who were the converts of Catholic missionaries, and they knew no sec- tarian distinction between Catholic Wyandot and the Protestant Delaware, or Mohican, while Pamoacan, or the Half King, at Upper Sandus- ky, had hitherto avowed and conducted himself as a friend and champion of the Muskingum mission. But Captain Pipe and his followers were now neighbors of Half King, at Upper Sandusky, and the latter was persuaded to lead a body of two hundred warriors against the Moravian towns." Heckewelder, after the arri- val of some reinforcements, states the whole force at three hundred men, and classifies them as Wy- andots from Upper Sandusky, commanded by Half King ; another band of Wyandots, from Detroit and Lower Sandusky, commanded by Kuhn, a head war chief of the latter place; a party of Delawares from Upper Sandusky, led by the war chiefs Pipe and Wingemund ; about forty Muncies, also from Upper Sandusky, (probably under the apostate Newalike) : two Shawanese Captains, named by the traders John and Thomas Snake, with a few warriors from the Scioto; several straggling Indians of the Mohegan and Ottawa tribes, and Elliott, whose rank in the British service was Captain, with his attendant, Michael Herbert, and Alexander McCormick, the bearer of a British flag ; and a small train of unarmed Wyandots, men and women, with horses, who had come to assist in removing the booty.
When this formidable band approached Salem. the Half King sent a message to the Christian Indians, desiring them to fear nothing ; adding, that he came himself to see that no injury should be done to them: but, having good words to speak, he wished to know which of their settle- ments would be most convenient for a meeting. Now, as Gnadenhutten was in every respect the most proper place. it was accordingly fixed upon. The warriors. therefore, pitched their camp, on the 11th of August, on the west side of Gnaden- hutten, and were treated in the most liberal manner.
On the 20th of August, Half King appointed a meeting of the believing Indians and their teachers, and delivered the following speech :
"Cousins ! ye believing Indians in Gnaden- hutten, Shoenbrun, and Salem: I am much concerned on your account, perceiving that you live in a dangerous spot. Two powerful, angry and merciless gods, stand ready, opening their jaws wide against each other. You are sitting down between both, and are thus in danger of being ground to powder by the teeth of one or the other, or both. It is, therefore, not advisable for you to stay here any longer. Consider your young people, your wives, and your children. and preserve their lives, for here they must all
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perish. I, therefore, take you by the hand, lift you up, and place you in. or near, my dwelling, where you will be safe, and dwell in peace. Do not stand looking at your plantations and houses, but arise and follow me. Take. also, your teach- ers with you, and worship God in the place to which I shall lead you, as you have been accus- tomed to do. You shall likewise find provisons, and our father beyond the lake (meaning the Governor .. at Detroit) will care for you. This is my message, and I am come purposely to deliv- er it."
He then delivered a string of wampum, and the missionaries and Indian assistants of the three settlements met in conference, to consider the unexpected address, and, on the 21st, the latter delivered the following answer to Half King :
"Uncle, and ye captains of the Delawares and Muncies, our friends and countrymen, ve Shaw- anese, our nephews, and all ye other people here assembled : We have heard your words ; but have not seen the danger so great that we may not stay here. We keep peace with all men, and have nothing to do with war, nor do we wish or desire anything, but to be permitted to enjoy rest and peace. You see, yourselves, that we cannot rise immediately and go with you, for we are heavy, and time is required to prepare for it. But we will keep and consider your words, and let you, Uncle, know our answer next win- ter, after the harvest : upon this you may rely."
Half King, certainly, and perhaps Captain Pipe, were not disposed to press the matter fur- ther. and, in the Indian camp, the current was so strongly in favor of the Christian Indians, that some were disposed to make a shooting-target of the British flag, as a retaliation upon the agency of Captain Elliott. That officer, whose zeal for the English cause was stimulated by the pros- pect of pecuniary advantage in the sacrifice of the stock and other valuable property of the mis- sion, labored zealously to remove the reluctance of Half King and Pipe. He represented to them that the English Governor at Detroit would be greatly dissatisfied if they returned without the missionaries. It unfortunately happened that two Moravian Indians, whom the missionaries had dispatched to Pittsburg, with information of the existing state of things, were intercepted by the savages, and this circumstance was exagger- ated by Captain Elliott, into proof not only that the missionaries were leagued with their ene- mies, but that they were instigating a hostile ex- pedition against the party of Half King and Pipe. This turn of affairs greatly exasperated those chiefs. At a second council, held on the 25th, Half King had seemed to waver; at least. he listened to the remonstrances of Glikhikan and his associates in silence ; but, in his altered humor, he no longer hesitated. A third council was convened, on the 2d of September, before which Zeisberger, Seuseman and Heckewelder, with their assistants, were summoned, and Half King insisted upon their giving an immediate answer, whether they would go with him or |
not, without retiring to consult upon it. The missionaries appealed to their former answer. the meeting broke up without debate and in some confusion, and, soon afterwards, Zeisber- ger, Seuseman, and Heckewelder, were vio- lently seized and imprisoned. They were vol- untarily joined by their associate, William Ed- wards, who was determined to accept no exemp- tion from their fate. During that night and the subsequent day, their residences were pillaged. The other missionaries, Young and Youngman, were also imprisoned, although the latter was re- leased the next day. The wives and children of the five missionaries were brought to Gnaden- hutten, as captives, but were soon released, as were the missionaries themselves, after five days' close confinement and distressing anxiety.
The life of Isaac Glikhikan was endangered by the heroic act of a young Indian relative, who rode Captain Pipe's best horse to Pittsburgh, with the news of the violence. As soon as her departure was discovered, she was instantly pur- sued, but, as she could not be overtaken, the savages were enraged in the highest degree, and a party of warriors immediately started for Salem, and brought Isaac Glikhikan, bound, to Gnadenhutten, singing a death song. Loskiel relates that while they were binding him, perceiv- ing that they seemed so much terrified, he encour- aged them, saying, "Formerly, when I was ig- norant of God, I should not have suffered any one of you to touch me ; but now, having been converted unto Him, through mercy, I am will- ing to suffer all things, for His sake." He no sooner arrived in the camp than a general uproar ensued, the savages demanding that he should be cut in pieces. The Delawares, who hated him more particularly for his conversion, thirsted for his blood, but Half King, interfering, would not suffer him to be killed. However, they ex- amined him very severely, and, though his inno- cence was clearly proved. they attacked him with opprobrious language. After some hours' confinement, he was set at liberty. Although the young woman reached Pittsburgh, the com- mandant there deemed it too late, or otherwise unadvisable, to attempt a forcible rescue. It was a prudent decision, and, probably, prevented a massacre of the missionaries and their families.
On the 10th, the Indians resumed their out- rages to such a degree, that emigration seemed the desirable alternative. It was accordingly proposed to the congregations, who sorrowfully assembled. "But they never," says Loskiel. "forsook any country with more reluctance. They were now obliged to forsake the beautiful settlement, Gnadenhutten, Salem and Shoen- brun, and the greatest of their possessions in them. They had already lost above two hundred head of horned cattle, and four hundred hogs. Besides this, they left a great quantity of Indian corn in store, above three hundred acres of corn land, where the harvest was just ripening, besides potatoes, cabbage, and other roots and garden fruits in the ground. But what gave them the most pain was the total loss of all books and
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writings, for the instruction of their youth ; these were all burned by the savages."
On the third day after their departure, they arrived at Goshocking, where a short halt was made to hunt a tamed buffalo cow, which was shot as it came to the river to drink. Here Elliott left for the Scioto to meet McKee, greatly to the relief of the Moravian teachers. They then ascended the Walhonding, partly by water, and partly along the banks of that stream. On the 19th, two of their best canoes, heavily laden with provisions, sunk in a violent storm of wind and rain, and the women and children suffered severely from exposure. Half King halted, to give the encampment an opportunity to dry their clothes and baggage, and hence dispatched a war party to the Ohio. "While they were marching so proudly through our camp," adds Heckewelder, "they were not aware of what would befall them. They were, defeated with the loss of some of the party. among whom were the Half King's two sons."
The month of October had not passed, before a message was received from the British com- mandant at Detroit, requiring the missionaries to appear before him. On the 25th, Zeisberger. Heckewelder. Seuseman and Edwards, with four Indian assistants, started on the journey, and reached Detroit at the expiration of nine days.
In the first interview with the Governor, (Arend Schuyler Depeyster. ) he informed them that the reason of calling them from their settle- ments on the Muskingum. was because he had heard that they carried on a correspondence with the Americans to the prejudice of the English interest. The missionaries justified themselves from such an imputation, and a further investiga- tion was postponed until the arrival of Captain Pipe. Fortunately, that Chief was not accom- panied by Elliott or Girty, and when he was confronted with the missionaries on the 9th of November, he bore a frank and honorable testi- mony to their impartiality and worth, and in answer to a direct appeal by the Governor, ad- vised that they should be allowed to return to their congregation. "I never witnessed." Hecke- welder, piously observes, "a more manifest in- stance of the powerful workings of conscience than during the whole of this transaction. Of course, all who were present, immediately ac- quitted us of all the charges brought against us ; expressing their sincere regret that we had inno- cently suffered so much."
The missionaries were thenceforth treated with much kindness by the commandant, his officers, and the inhabitants of Detroit, and soon returned to Upper Sandusky. Here, as the winter ad- vanced, the unfortunate Indians were often on the verge of starvation. While Half King and Pipe, instigated by Girty and Elliott, resumed their persecutions, and demanded that the Gov- ernor of Detroit should remove the teachers from Sandusky. Their threats were too signifi- cant to be disregarded, and an order was re- ceived on the ist of March, 1782, directing Girty
and Half King to remove the missionaries and their families to Detroit ; but as they had just ar- ranged on an expedition to the Ohio, one Francis Lavallie, a Canadian Frenchman, living at Lower Sandusky, was appointed to accompany them. This was a fortunate exchange, for their conductor proved himself courteous and humane, even surrendering his own horse to the mis- sionary Zeisberger, who was sixty years old, and insisting that respect for his age and station alike, prompted the act. Lavallie. instead of urging the party, among whom were the wives and children of the missionaries, through the dreary wilderness beyond Lower Sandusky, tarried at the latter place and sent a messenger to Detroit for further instructions, while, until his return, two English traders, Messrs. Arundel and Robins, hospitably received the fugitives into their houses. In due course, two vessels arrived from Detroit, under directions from the Governor, to transport the missionaries and their families by Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie. They embarked on the 14th of April, greatly to the chagrin of Girty, who had complained in the most brutal manner of their indulgent treatment, and made the voyage safely to Detroit, where they were generously received, and allowed their choice, either to remain under the protec- tion of Colonel Depeyster, or be returned to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, (from whence they, as missionaries, originally came). They chose to remain in the vicinity of their beloved Indian congregation, although restrained from living among them.
Simultaneously with the removal of Zeisberger and his fellow teachers to Detroit, a tragedy was enacted on the Muskingum, which fills the darkest page of the border history of the Ameri- can Revolution. We refer to the cruel and cowardly massacre of a party of Moravian In- dians, who had repaired to their deserted corn- fields to glean the scattered ears for the relief of their suffering brethren on the Sandusky plains. Unhappily, while this peaceable party were thus engaged on the Muskingum, a band of Indians from Sandusky had made a descent upon the Pennsylvania frontier, and murdered the family of William Wallace, consisting of his wife and five or six children. A man named John Carpenter was taken prisoner at the same time. Enraged at these outrages, a band of one hundred and sixty men, from the settlements of Monongahela, turned out in quest of the marauders, under the command of Colonel David Williamson. Each man provided himselfwith arms, an- munition and provisions, and the greater number were mounted. They struck im- mediately for the settlements of Salem and Gnadenhutten, arriving within a mile of the latter place at the close of the second day's march. Colonel Gibson, commanding at Pitts- burgh, having heard of Williamson's expedition. dispatched messengers to apprise the Indians of the circumstance, but they arrived too late.
The Christian Indians were aware of the ap- proach of Williamson's band, but having recently
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been accustomed to regard the savage allies of the English as the source of their injuries, made no effort to escape, although their labors were accomplished, and they were about to retrace their steps to Sandusky. The bloody sequel we prefer to give in the words of Loskiel :
"Meanwhile, the murderers marched first to Gnadenhutten, where they arrived on the 6th day of March. About a mile from the settle- ment they met young Shebosch in the wood, fired at him. and wounded him so much that he could not escape. He then, according to the account of the murderers themselves, begged for his life, representing that he was Shebosch, the son of a white Christian man. But they paid no atten- tion to his entreaties, and cut him in pieces with their hatchets. They then approached the In- dians, most of whom were in their plantations, and surrounded them almost imperceptibly, but, feigning a friendly behavior, told them to go home, promising to do them no injury. They even pretended to pity them on account of the inischief done to them by the English and the savages, assuring them of the protection and friendship of the Americans. The poor believ- ing Indians, knowing nothing of the death of Shebosch, believed every word they said, went home with them and treated them in the most hospitable manner. They likewise spoke freely concerning their sentiments as Christian Indians, who had never taken the least share in the war. A small barrel of wine being found among their goods. they told their persecutors, on inquiry, that it was intended for the Lord's Supper, and that they were going to carry it to Sandusky. Upon this, they were informed that they should not return thither, but go to Pittsburgh, where they would be out of the way of any assault made by the English or savages. This they heard with resignation, concluding that God would perhaps choose this method to put an end to their sufferings. Prepossessed with this idea, they cheerfully delivered their guns, hatchets and other weapons to the murderers, who promised to take good care of them, and in Pittsburgh to return every article to its rightful owner. The Indians even showed them those things which they had secreted in the woods, as- sisted in packing them up, and emptied all their bee-hives for ther pretended friends.
"In the meantime, the assistant. John Martin, went to Salem, and brought the news of the ar- rival of the white people to the believing Indians, assuring them that they need not be afraid to go with them, for they were come to carry them to a place of safety, and to afford them protection and support. The Salem Indians did not hesi- tate to accept this proposal, believing, unani- mously, that God had sent the Americans to re- lease them from their disagreeable situation at Sandusky, and imagining that when they had arrived at Pittsburgh they might soon find a safe place to build a settlement, and easily procure advice and assistance from Bethlehem. Thus, John Martin, with two Salem brethren, returned to Gnadenhutten. to acquaint both their Indian
brethren and the white people with their resolu- tion. The latter expressed their desire to see Salem, and a party of them was conducted thither, and. received with much friendship. Here they pretended to have the same good will and affection towards the Indians as at Gnaden- hutten, and easily persuaded them to return with them. By the way, they entered into much spiritual conversation with the Indians, some of whom spoke English well. giving these people, who feigned great pity, proper scriptural answers to many questions concerning relig- ious subjects. The assistants, Isaac Glikhi- kan and Israel, were no less sincere and unreserved in their answers to some polit- ical questions started by the white people, and thus the murderers obtained a full and satis- factory account of the present situation and senti- ments of the Indian congregation. In the mean- time, the defenceless Indians at Gnadenhutten, were suddenly attacked and driven together by the white people, and, without resistance, seized and bound. The Salem Indians now met the same fate. Before they entered Gnadenhutten, they were at once surprised by their conductors, robbed of their guns, and even their pocket knives, and brought bound into the settlement."
The officers, unwilling to take on themselves the whole responsibility of a massacre, agreed to refer the question to a vote of the detachment. The men were drawn up in a line, and William- son put the question, "Whether the Moravian Indians should be taken prisoners to Pittsburgh, or put to death?" requesting all in favor of sav- ing their lives to advance in front of the line. On this, sixteen, (some say eighteen,) stepped out of the rank, and formed themselves into a second line. In this manner was their fate de- cided. "Those who were of a different opinion," continues Loskiel, "wrung their hands, calling God to witness that they were innocent of the blood of these harmless Christian Indians. But the majority remained unmoved, and only differed concerning the mode of execution. Some were for burning them alive, others for taking their scalps, and the latter was at last agreed upon ; upon which one of the murderers was sent to the prisoners to tell them that as they were Christian Indians. they might prepare themselves in a Christian manner, for they must all die to-mor- row.
"It may easily be conceived how great their terror was at hearing a sentence so unexpected. However. they soon recollected themselves, and patiently suffered the murderers to lead them into two houses, in one of which the brethren, and in the other the sisters and children, were confined like sheep ready for the slaughter. They declared to the murderers, that, though they called God to witness that they were perfectly in- nocent, yet they were prepared and willing to suffer death. But as they had, at their conver- sion and baptism, made a solemn promise to the Lord Jesus Christ, that they would live unto him and endeavor to please Him alone in this world, they knew that they had been deficient . in many
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respects, and therefore wished to have some time granted to pour out their hearts before him in prayer, and in exhorting each other to remain faithful unto the end. One brother, called Abra- ham, who, for some time past, had been in a luke-warm state of heart, seeing his end ap- proaching, made the following public confession before his brethren :
"Dear Brethren-It seems as if we should all soon depart unto our Savior, for our sentence is fixed. You know that I have been an unto- ward child, and have grieved the Lord and my brethren by my disobedience, not walking as I ought to have done. But yet I will now cleave to my Savior with my last breath, and hold him fast, though I am so great a sinner. I know as- suredly that He will forgive me all my sins and not cast me out."
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