USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 8
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
The excitement through which he had just passed, and the suffer- ing he experienced from his wound, had rendered the gallant captain well-nigh helpless, and consequently he was so overcome as to be able to proceed but a few paces further and to reach a fallen tree which invited him to a friendly shelter beneath its protecting body. Here he concealed himself and remained during the entire period that the seige of the fort continued. The cries and shrieks of Capt. Mea- son's men, and the rapid discharge of the guns induced the command- ant of the fort to send out an additional force to the support of Capt. Meason, who it was justly feared had fallen into an ambuscade. Hence, Capt. Ogle, at the head of his twelve scouts, undertook the hazardous risk of going to his relief. The Indians anticipating some such a movement on the part of the whites, had skillfully arranged their plans to receive them by entrapping them in their toils. The Indians, who were lying in ambush, patiently awaited until the scouts had so far penetrated within their lines as to render their escape by retreat improbable, when they closed their lines around them so as to confine them within a circle. Capt. Ogle, who was at a considera- ble distance in the rear of his men, was left outside the circle. See- ing the position in which his men were placed, and his own isolated condition which was exceedingly dangerous, he concealed his person in some briars in the corner of a stake and rider fence where he re- mained until the following day. The same fate awaited his men which had befallen Capt. Meason's with the exception of two who succeeded in reaching the fort, one of whom was severely wounded. Martin Wetzel, the brother of the famous Lewis Wetzel, the noted Indian spy and hunter, himself scarcely less noted in early annals than his brother, was the only one of the number who escaped unhurt. Young Shepherd, the son of the county lieutenant, Col. David Shep- herd, who had accompanied Capt. Meason, was pounded to death by a club which was wielded by a stalwart warrior. Of twenty-six men led out from the fort by these two officers only three escaped death, and two of these were badly wounded, a striking evidence of the fact that the ambuscade was judiciously planned, and that the expecta- tions of its success were well founded as the sequel proved.
While these events were transpiring the inhabitants of the village were busily engaged in removing to the fort and making the neces- sary preparations for its defense. The disaster which had overtaken the force of Meason and Ogle convinced them of the overwhelming force of the enemy and the futility of attempting to maintain an open
-
65
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
conflict with them. And so sudden had been the occurrences here nar- rated, that the gates of the fort were scarcely closed before the entire Indian army appeared before it, rending the air with frantic yells of sickening horror, while they flourished the bloody and reeking scalps of the brave men whom they had just slaughtered. But before the assault was made the attention of the garrison was attracted by a de- mand made for its surrender by the leader of the savage force. This individual was a white man, but his name we have been unable to discover, and perhaps it never will be known, having passed into the shades of a merited oblivion. He appeared at the end window of a house situated at a short distance from the fort, under a flag of truce, and informed them that his appearance there with so large a force was because he had come to act as an escort to Detroit to such of the inhabitants on the frontier as were willing to accept the terms of un- conditional pardon offered by Gov. Hamilton, and to such as would renounce the cause of the colonies and attach themselves to the crown; urging them to consider the fealty which they owed to their sovereign, and assuring them of protection if they would yield and accept his proposals, and denouncing upon them at the same time all the frightful woes which would spring from the uncurbed indulgence of savage vengeance if allowed to be visited upon them in the event that they dared to resist or fire one gun to the annoyance of his men. He then proceeded to read to them the proclamation of Gov. Hamil- ton and formally demanded the immediate surrender of the fort, and gave them fifteen minutes in which to accept or reject-his proposi- tion. It was time enough which was thus afforded them, to arrive at a decision. In love with liberty, patriotic in all their impulses, and ready and willlng to sacrifice their lives if need be in the mainte- nance of their principles and the defense of their families, it required but a brief time to deliberate upon their course of action.
. Col. Zane replied to the leader --- " that they had consulted their wives and children, and that the unanimous conclusion arrived at was that they would all perish, sooner than place themselves under the protection of an army of savages marching under a British flag, or ab- jure the cause of liberty and the colonies." The leader of the Indian army was about to reply when a young man in the fort shot at the color bearer of the British ensign, which at once put a stop to further parley. There were in the fort at the time nearly 100 women and children all told, while there was but a handful of men to oppose the force of the besiegers, and to defend the place from assault. How were they, with their limited number, to withstand the shock of battle against nearly 400 warriors, drunk with excitement over the blood which they had already shed and the successes which they had al- ready met? The reply of Col. Zane to the demand for surrender was not made in the spirit of bravado, but he meant just what he said as the subsequent conduct and behavior of the besieged amply proved. Maddened at the reply and the show of resistance which was made, the Indians in frenzied fury rushed against the palisades in their vain attempts to make a breach, only to be shot down or driven back. 5-A.
66
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
Again and again they renewed their fierce efforts to carry the place by storm and as often were they forced to retire before the well- directed shots which played havoc in their midst. Enraged by the opposition they met with they gathered piles of hay, straw, and branches of trees, piling them against the stockade in such places as they could reach and firing these piles, thus attempted to reduce it. But no sooner were the fires lighted than they were quenched by the vigilance of those within, thus foiling all their efforts to destroy it by the flames. While the men stood to their guns repulsing the enemy, the women were busily engaged in moulding bullets, loading the surplus guns and handing them to the men, who were thus enabled to keep up a con- tinued fire, or in supplying the men with food and drink, as the siege continued for twenty-four hours with but brief periods of cessation or abatement - that is to say, from sunrise on the morning of Septem- ber I to sunrise on the morning of September 2, when the siege was raised, and the savages marched away, carrying away with them a large amount of plunder.
During the time mentioned all were actively and energetically en- gaged within the fort in industrious efforts to protect it and them- selves from the fury of the assailants. Every individual had a particular duty to perform, and each promptly and faithfully per- formed it. In this respect, the courage and alacrity of the women were prominent, as many of the more expert among them, stationed themselves beside the men at the loop-holes, handling their guns with soldier-like ability, proving themselves in many instances to be excel- lent shots, and behaving themselves with fearless intrepidity. It seemed indeed as if each individual realized and was sensible that the safety of the whole depended on his or her lone exertions, and that the slightest relaxation of an effort on the part of the individual would involve them all in one common ruin. Upon raising the siege, after the savages found that they could make no impression on the fort, their demoniac fury found vent in killing the cattle, firing the cabins, and ruthlessly destroying everything except what they carried away with them on their retreat.
Thus the settlers were left in an almost destitute condition. The alarm of the presence of the Indians in force having been given so unexpectedly, and the attack on the fort following so soon, but little time had been afforded the inmates for securing but the smallest amount of their removable property; hence they had barely time to take with them the necessary clothing for their comfort and con- venience, and some not even so much as that. Few were left to the enjoyment of a bed, and the necessary bedding for the same, as this had been devoured by the angry flames which had been enkindled by their foes. Their cattle having been killed or driven away, they were deprived of the gratification of even the humble repast of bread and milk. But with that large hearted and generous hospitality which characterized the pioneer, each shared with the other their limited provisions which the one was more fortunate in possessing than their neighbor. But their needs and wants were not long unsup-
67
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
plied, for in the course of a day or two these were met by an ample contribution of provisions from the neighboring forts and block houses.
During this siege, the cabin of Col. Ebenezer Zane, which stood on a line with, and but a short distance from, the fort, was consumed by the conflagration started by the savages. When the alarm was given that the enemy was approaching, deeming the shelter of the fort more secure, he, with his family, had abandoned his cabin and taken refuge in the former. When he saw that his cabin was doomed to the flames, and it and his household goods were destroyed by the devastating element, he then declared that he would rebuild it and if again at- tacked that he would never desert it, but defend to the last extremity. We shall see hereafter how well and nobly he fulfilled this promise at the siege of the fort in the year 1782.
Some time prior to this attack, the governor of the state had sent to Col. Andrew Swearingen a quantity of ammunition for the defense of the settlers in the country above Wheeling. By his exertions and under his direction and superintendence the forts known as Bollings and Holliday's were repaired and put in defensible condition, and to the latter, a strong and ample magazine had been erected where the powder and other ammunition sent by the governor was stored for.use. Holliday's fort was situated about twenty-four miles above Wheeling and was a shelter for the families living in that section. About the time of the attack on the fort at Wheeling, news had been sent to Shepherd's fort, about six miles from Wheeling, of the presence of the Indians. A runner was at once dispatched to Holliday's fort for suc- cor and Col. Swearingen with a force of fourteen or fifteen men, at once responded, taking with them a quantity of ammunition. They embarked in a large and commodious canoe, and worked industriously so as to reach the besieged in time to be of service to them. The men composing the expedition had all volunteered for the occasion and notwithstanding the fact that rumors prevailed that an attack on their own fort, in which at the time, the settlers had gathered in anticipa- tion of it, was contemplated, yet aminated with a noble and disin- terested resolve, they determined to succor their unfortunate brethren, whose danger was not only imminent, but was already impending. Departing under the cover of night, on the dark waters of the river rested an almost impenetrable fog which involved the undertaking in great uncertainty and danger. But they toiled and labored, although their disadvantages were great, often striking against the banks, running on the heads of islands or coming in contact with projecting snags and the overhanging branches of trees, until at length they were compelled to desist from paddling and allow it to float with the current. And this was a wise conclusion. for under the heavy cover of the mist, they might unknowingly pass by Wheeling and then be com- pelled to stem the current to reach their destination. As they floated lazily with the current, they at length beheld the light which pro- ceeded from the burning of the cabin at Wheeling.
The day was now beginning to dawn and it was impossible for them to reach the fort before it fully broke. Could they have realized
68
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
their expectation of arriving at their destination before the breaking of the day, they might and doubtless could have gained admission into the fort from the postern gate on the west or river side of the fort, but fearing discovery by the vigilance of the Indians, they landed about the present site of what is now known as the "top mill," and sent out some of the men to reconnoitre and if possible to ascertain the condition of affairs. The smoke and fog prevailing at the time prevented them from knowing whether the entire village, including the fort, had fallen a prey to the flames. When arrived there it was uncertain whether the Indians had retreated or lay concealed and in ambush in the cornfields and among the weeds with a view of at- tacking such as might come out of, or attempt to enter, the fort. The men who had been sent out as scouts feared to give the signal to the party who remained behind and which had been agreed upon, by firing a gun to assure them that it was safe to advance lest it might excite the Indians and thus lead them to fall upon the party and destroy its members. To allay this apprehension three of the party, Col. Swearingen, Capt. Bilderbock and William Boshears, determined to make the effort to reach the fort. Proceeding separately, each taking a different route, they cautiously inspected the neighborhood and the three safely reached the fort at about the same time, having dis- covered no signs of the presence of Indians. Returning to their companions they then escorted them to the fort. But it might be that the Indians were lying in ambush in the cornfields and it was im- portant to ascertain whether this was or was not the case. Hence, a consultation was held between Col. Zane, Col. Shepherd, Col. Swear- ingen and Dr. McMechen, which resulted in sending out two men who volunteered for the purpose, who in an apparently careless and indifferent manner were to saunter along the line of the cornfield nearest to the fort to examine it and see whether indications of the presence of Indians could be discovered. This duty they performed and reported that there were none such, whereupon Col. Zane, taking a force of twenty men, marched around the field at some distance from it and returning passed more nearly and assured themselves that the Indians had certainly retreated from the vicinity and no further danger for the time being was to be apprehended. In addi- tion to the corpses of the twenty-three men, who the preceding morn- ing under the command of Captains Meason and Ogle had gone out from the fort buoyant with health and strength and life and who had been so barbarously slain, it is said that there were found over three hundred head of cattle, horses and hogs lying in scattered heaps about the field which the savage foe had wantonly butchered and destroyed. It will not, we deem, be inappropriate in passing to give a brief notice of Capt. Ogle, one of the pioneer heroes of the upper Ohio valley.
After a bold and adventurous career as an Indian fighter in this section, he, in the year 1785, emigrated to the Illinois territory, where he maintained the same reputation that he had earned in western Virginia, during the succeeding ten years of border troubles which
69
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
prevailed in that territory. He died honored and beloved at the ven- erable age of eighty years, on the 24th of February, IS21, leaving a large circle of descendants to mourn his death and to cherish his memory. He was a man of uncommon firmness of character, possess- ing great energy of body and mind, and an uncompromising friend to liberty and human rights. He was a slaveholder, and carried his slaves with him when he removed to the Illinois territory, where he manumitted them, thereby sacrificing the most of his property which was invested in these human beings. He was mild, peaceable, and kind-hearted in social intercourse, and always strove to promote peace, harmony and good order. He was strict in the fulfilment of all his engagements and promises, and expected from all his neighbors the same honesty and punctuality. The following anecdote will serve to illustrate his character:
On one occasion a Mr. S- borrowed from him some house logs to finish a cabin which he was erecting, promising to return an equal number on a certain date named by him. The date for their return had passed and the logs were not forthcoming according to promise. Capt. Ogle had arranged to raise a cabin for himself on a day after that on which the logs were to have been returned to him. On this day he set out accompanied with six men to S-'s cabin, upon arriv- ing at which he told the family to remove certain articles which inter- fered with his purpose, and then proceeded with handspikes to the utter amazement of S -- to coolly and deliberately raise up the corners of the house and to remove the logs. Alarmed and excited S --- exclaimed: "Why, Mr. Ogle, what do you mean, do you intend to pull down my house over my head?" "By no means," replied Ogle, "I am only intending to take my own logs." "Now, neighbor Ogle," he remarked, " do stop and I will start right off into the woods and get you the logs." "Very well," rejoined Ogle, in the most im- perturable manner, "if you will have the logs at my place to-morrow morning at sunrise, I will forbear, but if you fail to have them at my place to-morrow morning at the hour named, I will return and take my logs." This was said with the utmost coolness and deliberation, and Mr. S- well knew that the word of Capt. Ogle could be de- pended upon. It is sufficient to say that the logs were forthcoming at the appointed hour.
It was on this occasion that the notable incident occurred, which has since become famous, in the history of that brave and distin- guished frontiersman - Maj. Samuel McColloch. As soon as the news, that the fort at Wheeling was besieged by an Indian army, was re- ceived at Fort Vanmetre (a fort situated on Short creek, in Ohio county, about eight miles from Wheeling), McColloch, at the head of forty-five well-mounted men, hastened to its relief. The wife of Col. Ebenezer Zane was a sister of McColloch and thus the ties of affec- tion, combined with the dictates of humanity, prompted him to under- take the hazardous enterprise of succoring the besieged in the hour of their emergency. When the gallant major with his little force ar- rived within sight of the fort there was a lull prevailing, the Indians
70
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
for the time being having suspended their attack and drawn off their forces. He was at once recognized by the inmates of the fort and al- most at the same time by the savages. The gates of the fort were immediately thrown open for their entrance, and rushing through the lines of the Indians their horses were put to their mettle and on full gallop they safely reached the protection of the fort without a single man or horse having received a scratch or wound. McColloch, who was more concerned for the success and safety of his men than his in- dividual security, had given them the precedence in his anxiety in their behalf, and as soon as they had entered the gates were closed again so as to prevent the Indians who were pursuing, from gaining ingress. Thus McColloch was separated from his men and left on the outside by his unselfish and disinterested act which prevented him from passing in with his force. The Indians were now closing in around him and what was to be done must be done quickly. Taking in the situation at a glance he lost no time in determining what to do under the circumstances. Suddenly wheeling his horse around in the . face of his enemies he dashed through an opening in the ranks of the enemy and striking his spurs deep in his flanks, the noble steed sprang forward while the firm hand of his master directed him to the sum- mit of the eastern hill top, the base of which he started successfully to rise.
The Indians might easily have taken his life while he was making the attempt to enter the fort, but they wanted to capture him alive so as to reserve him for torture at the stake as his very name was a ter- ror to the Indians who were well acquainted with his person, and who, while they admired his courage, hated him with all the intensity of the most vindictive feeling. His well trained steed clambered the decliv- ity with laborious and sure-footed effort, while his enemies with al- most superhuman energies followed in swift pursuit on foot. Scram- bling up the steep hillside, then covered with trees and undergrowth he succeeded in reaching the top, and following the ridge in a north- erly direction he directed his course toward Fort Vanmetre. He had ridden but a little distance when just in front of, and approaching him he discovered a band of warriors who had left the main body early in the morning and were now returning from a marauding expedition in which they had been engaged. Turning his horse's head in the oppo- site direction, he advanced but a short distance only to discover a force in front of him, who, having reached the top of the ridge were hastening in his direction, while below him he saw another party mounting the hill to cut off his retreat, for on his left or eastern side of the hill was a steep declivity, nearly precipitous which would measure from the summit of the hill nearly if not quite 300 feet. Thus hemmed in on all sides his capture seemed inevitable, and in anticipation of securing him as a prisoner his pursuers set up a yell of triumph. He had but a brief respite to decide as to what should be his course of action. He at once decided to risk the peril- ous leap down the almost precipitous side of the eastern declivity. Adjusting his trusty rifle and powder horn and tightening his rein, he
71
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
spoke in encouraging tones to his faithful horse and urged him to the brow of the cliff, far beneath which flowed the waters of Wheel- ing creek. The rugged and fearful descent seemed to threaten in- stant death to horse and rider, but a kind Providence watched over both and they reached the foot of the precipice comparatively unhurt and unharmed. A thrill of astonishment went through the breasts of his pursuers at this unwonted exhibition of adventurous daring, and it so completely paralyzed them for a time that they looked on in won- der, shrugging their shoulders and giving vent to their feelings in ex- pressive ughs.
By the time they had recovered from their surprise the object of their pursuit had forded the creek and was far beyond their reach, and succeeded in safely reaching the fort from which he had de- parted in the morning. No pen can describe the chagrin and morti- fication which was experienced by the Indians at this successful escape of one for the possession of whose person they would have willingly sacrificed the lives of a dozen of their bravest warriors.
A few days after the happening of the above events a company of militia under Captain Foreman, from east of the mountains, arrived at Wheeling for the purpose of extending protection to the settlements in the vicinity of that place, and also to occupy the fort and to render such assistance as might be needed in event of another attack upon it. Parties of Indians still lurked about, watching every favorable opportun- ity to do mischief. Scouting parties were frequently sent out to pre- vent their depredations. On the 25th of September, 1777, one of these scouting expeditions, under the command of Captain Foreman, left the fort and went about twelve miles below Wheeling as far as Grave creek, where they encamped for the night. The party consisted of forty-five men. The leader of the party was wholly ignorant of the practices of the Indians and was averse to taking advice or counsel from those who were conversant with them, and whose experience had been bought by years of study of their habits and modes of strat- agem and warfare. Large fires were built by order of the captain, who gathered his men closely around them in one compact body, in opposition to the advice of one of the scouts who had accompanied him as a spy, by the name of Lynn, who, however, refused to remain there himself, but who took with him several of the settlers who had joined the expedition, retired to a considerable distance from the fires and spent the night from the main body. Lynn, who was an accomp- lished woodsman and whose senses were exceedingly acute, rendered so by the character of his pursuit as a scout and ranger, being awake a short time before daylight, thought he heard a noise, which imme- diately aroused his suspicions. This appeared to him to be produced by the efforts made by persons engaged in the launching of rafts on the river which flowed a short distance from Foreman's camp and just above the position where it was located.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.