USA > Ohio > The Revolution on the Upper Ohio, 1775-1777 > Part 14
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º For a brief biographical sketch of Stuart, see Dunmore's War, p. 104, note 51 .- ED.
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FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA
[Col. William Fleming to Capt. John Stuart. 3ZZI -Draft in Fleming's handwriting.]
SIR-Yours by Wm. Huggen I have Just received I perceive that mine has not reached you. I think it highly Necessary that the Inhabitants should have places of defence prepaired to which they may retire in case of Necessity And these Forts placed as cen- trual as conveniences will Allow, for which purpose I would have you fix with the Approbation of the other officers of the Compy. on some place the most suitable to the People who may be supposed to take Shelter there and build a Fort. You are therefor to take what part of your own Compr. & Capt Browns is necessary & effect it as soon as possible. I am apt to think that the Indians discovered on Walkers Creek10 making this way, may be a party of the Western Tribes on their way home from the Chero- kee Nation, that Jerrit Williams gave information, of being there.11 However the above step will Al-
10 For Walker's Creek, see Ibid., p. 56, note 96.
11 Jarret Williams was an Indian trader, also an inhabitant of the Watauga settlement before 1773. In Dunmore's War he enlisted in Capt. Evan Shelby's company, and at its close resumed his trade with the Cherokee. In June, 1776, he es- caped from their towns, and brought word to the frontier set- tlements of the invasion which the Cherokee were preparing. His testimony is published in J. G. M. Ramsey, Annals of Tennessee (Philadelphia, 1853), pp. 148, 149. He therein says that fifteen of the Northern Indians were at the Cherokee towns with a war-belt, and a party went out to strike the set- tlers in Kentucky. This is the party which Fleming suggests may have caused the alarm on Greenbrier. Williams was reimbursed by the North Carolina legislature for his losses by the Cherokee War, to the amount of fioo. He went out in 1778 as lieutenant of Clark's Illinois regiment, and received
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REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO
lay the Apprehensions of the Inhabitants. I shall be expeditious in sending you Assistance I propose sending out a Sufficient Number to repell them in case of an Invasion. You are to have your Compy. prepaired in the best manner you can for defence. And if the Enemy penetrates into the County take what Number you think proper of them, and call in the neighboring Capts to your Assistance and on a Junction proceed in Quest of the Enemy Tomorrow I meet the Field Officers, when, what is further neces- sary will be concluded on. I shall take every Method in my power to get a supply of Powder. And expected before this that Capt Vanbiber would have brought in 300w. If he or any other Powder Maker has any, I wish it would be procured. I have wrote to the President to get what was sent in from WVmsbs exchanged for other that is good. Please to send Coppies of the Inclosed to your Neighboring Capt$. I think it proper to have an Eye on the foard- ings of New River, and if a few smart men were sent out to watch them from Culbertsons down to the Warrior's foarding it may be Necessary12 In other things that do not occur Act as prudence will derect you,-till you receive further Orders &c.
IV. F.
Augt 4, 1776.
To THE MILITIA OFFICERS ON GREEN BRIER- As we have the greatest reason to Apprehend an
his share of the Illinois grant. He settled on Floyd's fork of Salt River, in Bullitt County, Kentucky, and passed there the remainder of his life .- ED.
12 For Culbertson's, see Dunmore's War, p. 76, note 25. For the Warrior's Ford, see Ibid, p. 322, note 40 .- ED.
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FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA
Attack on Our Frontiers, You are therefore to have your Respective Companies in the best order possible for Defence And on any sudden immergency You are to make a Junction with Capt. Stewart with all the Men you can conveniently March to go in Quest of & re- pell the Enemy. In case of Necessity a Field Officer will be on the Spot to regulate the Opperations. You are desired to send me immediate Notice on Your dis- covering the Enemy or of Murder or Mischief being done.
F.
[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ2, 3- A. L. S.]
GREENBRYER Augt. Ioth. 1776
SIR-Agreeable to your orders pr. Wm Huggans, I have Draught'd Ten men from Capt. Browns Co. & Ten from my Own, with which I expect to have a fort soon compleated at Camp Union, large enought to Contain the greatest part of the Inhabitants of these leavels, the men I shall continue in the Fort for Immediate protection untill you shall think fit to Dis- band them, and should you send out any more men for our assistance In case of an Invation, should be glad thirty would be sent to Join the above Number to compleat the company, Twenty five of which I shall send under the command of a Lieutenant to Keep Capt. Arbuckles old fort on Muddy creek, & alay the timidity of the people of that quarter. I should think another Lieutenants Co. on Indian creek & one more further up the Country would not be
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REVOLUTION ON UPPER OHIO
amiss, with which number the fears of the 'people would be wholely assuaged & to which our own strength of militia 'could be readily Join'd, to Repel any considerable number of the enemy that may come. I am from the Report brought lately by some of Capt. Arbucles men from the point much of oppinion we Shall be visited'soon by our old neighbors, for whose Reception should they please to keep away a little while we will be middleing well prepared. Capt Sam1. Brown hath undertaken to furnish the above men, & any other, that 'may come on this Quarter with pro- visions, a proper account of he will keep, & dispose of the fith [sic] quarters &c of Beef which will still save some expense & can be done with [MS. torn] than otherwise for which Trouble I expect he will be Allowed. I have sent out Jacob Lockhart13 & Josiah McDowell to watch the pass from below the Little Meadow River to the warior fording, & Geo. Davidson & Win. Johnston to watch from Below the forks of the Road towards the head of gauley,14 I understand Vanbiber hath sent Two out to watch from the mouth 'of Greenbrier towards the head of
13 Jacob Lockhart was one of the early settlers on Green- brier, and accompanied Matthew Arbuckle on an expedition to the Indian towns to recover horses, some time before Dun- more's War. In the latter expedition, he served as a scout. He was killed by Indians shortly after the Revolution .- ED.
14 Two well-known Indian trails were covered by these scouts ; the former came up the Kanawha, and then struck across the branches of Meadow Creck to the upper waters of the Muddy, an affluent of the Greenbrier. This route was fol- lowed by the invaders who attacked Donnally's Fort in 1778, and was the outward passage of Lewis's army in 1774. The Gauley River route, farther northeast, also led to the heads of the Greenbrier .- ED.
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FRONTIERS OF VIRGINIA
paint creek,15 which I think is a sufficient number at preasent. I know of nobody nigh me that hath any Quantity of powder that can be Secured. I am told the [that] Capt. Hendersons16 hath some, which I make no doubt their own prudence will direct them to Keep. I shall be expeditious in giving you 'notice on the appearance of any of the Enemy and am with Esteem'
Your Obed Humb! Servt.
JOHN STEWART
N. B. Should you'think the above number of men necessary at preasant I think Cap. Donallys would be a proper place for one Division as it 'is convenient for a number of people & will cover a great many more.17 '
J. S.
On publick Service Augt. To Colo. William Fleming Botetourt.
15 The western Indian trail around the narrows of the Great Kanawha led up Paint Creek, thence crossed Flattop Moun- tain, and came back to the main river near the mouth of the Bluestone .- ED.
16 John Henderson-son of James, who served in the French and Indian War-was born about 1737 in Augusta County. In 1765 he married Anne Givens, sister of Mrs. Andrew Lewis, and soon after removed to Greenbrier, where he established a homestead not far from Lewisburg. In 1774 he served as lieutenant under Captain Herbert, and became captain of militia until December 1776, when he resigned to enter Daniel Morgan's regiment as a corporal in Daniel Gregory's company. Leaving the army in April, 1779, he became justice of peace and died at his home in Greenbrier County in 1787. See West Virginia Magazine, April, 1905 .- ED.
17 Andrew Donnally was born in the north of Ireland, re- moving to America about the middle of the eighteenth cen- tury. He went out to the extreme frontier of Greenbrier, and built a blockhouse there in 1771-about eight miles north cf the present Lewisburg. Donnally was a man of influence and
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[Col. William Fleming to Capt. John Stuart. 3ZZ3 -Draft in Fleming's handwriting.]
SIR-Yours I received by Capt Donnaly. I think it may be prudent to keep a small'Command of Men at the Fort on the levels when finished to preserve it. this is all that I have at present in my power to do. till we have more reason to Apprehend an Ac- tual Invasion, the Ordinance for that purpose limits me. but depend 'upon it as soon as I have, I will take every effectual Measure for the defence of Our Frontiers I am in hopes to have it in my 'power in a short time to send you a supply of Powder 'should it be wanted. in the meantime I desire you will 'en- deavour to quiet the Apprehensions of the People as they may depend on being effectually supported, I am Sir
Your Hble Servt WILLM FLEMING
Augt 24th. 1776
ability. In 1776 he was captain of militia, and in May, 1778, defended his fort against an Indian raid. He is reputed to have been lieutenant of Botetourt County (see West Virginia Magasine, July, 1901, pp. 52-56) ; but if so, he could not have been chosen until after the retirement of Col. William Flem- ing, who held that office during the Revolution. In 1782 Don- nally was a trustee for the founding of Lewisburg; but some time after removed to the Kanawha Valley, where he lived first at Point Pleasant, then on Elk Creek, and later at Charleston. In 1789 and again in 1803 he represented Kana- wha County in the state legislature. He died at his Charles- ton home about 1825. The fort in Greenbrier was destroyed about the same time .- ED.
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AT FORT RANDOLPH
NEWS FROM FORT RANDOLPH
[Capt. Matthew Arbuckle to Col. William Fleming. 2ZZ78- A. L. S.]
FORT RANDOLPH 18 August 15th 1776
WORTHIY SIR-As I am Inform'd Your Committee has had Some Complaints Laid in Against me By Some person About Sundry Affairs . Transacted By me. In the first place worthy Sir View My Station So 'Remote from Advice or Councel from any of the Committee's, and Oblige'd to Act According As My own Weak Judgment Tell I Never have Recd any Positive Instructions from the Committee of Safety or Your Committee Concerning My Enlisting of men, I have therefore wrote to the Committee of Safety Long Ago to have positive Instructions Concerning this point and have Recd. none. then I Sent Officers to Get men Not willing to Leave this Garrison Lest the Indians Should Make a Break which I Did not Know But might Be Every hour, as there had up- wards of Fifty of My men Given Me warning Ac- cording to the Ordinance to Leave the Garrison At the Expiration of their Year, If I was Not to Get men in that time to Come to fill their Vacant places the Garrison Must of Course Break up and Either I misunderstand the Ordinance or it Sais there Shall
18 Fort Randolph was built by Capt. Matthew Arbuckle in the early summer of 1776, to replace Fort Blair (see Dun- more's War, p. 310. note 27), which had been burned by the Indians in 1775. It was erected about forty rods from the first fort, and held a garrison until the close of the Revolution. The name was no doubt given in honor of Peyton Randolph, for whom see ante, p. 66, note 97 .- ED.
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Officers Recruit men to fill the Vacont places that They 'May Be at the Station Before the men Leave it Lest those few that Remains Become a prey to the thirsty Savages and the Garrison Be Destroyd Not having a Sufficient Strength to Keep it against an In- human and fierce Enemy As Such I Look upon the Indians when at war But Worthy Sir, My Country Shall Never have to Say I Dare not Stand the At- tacks of the Indians or fly the Cause they are So Justly fighting for, on the Contrary I will Loose the Last Drop of My Blood in Defence of My Country when fighting for that Blessed Enjoyment Calld. Lib- erty and Should all the Indians Nations Join in Con- federacy and attack me here tho I'had But Twenty men I would Defend it with My Latest Breath, and Glory In the Cause, and I am Willing when Calld on By Your Committee or any Other to have My Trans- actions Examin'd in the Strictest Manner. As to the Best of My Little Judgment I Act all I Can for the Safeguard of My Country and My own honour. I was Inform'd Some time Ago the Shanahs and Chero- kee's had taken 3 Women prisoners from Cantuckee and Got one Scalp,13 I therefore Dispatchd. three of My Men to Demand the three prisoners (If in pos- session of the Shanahs) to be Immediately Deliverd up two of the women were Daughters to Colo1. Cala- way at Cantuckee and the other a Daughter of Colo! Boon's at Cantuckee Likewise and this Day the Men
10 The scalp was doubtless that of James Cooper, a Penn- sylvanian who first visited Kentucky in 1775. He was killed near Licking River, July 7, 1776. See Amer. Archives, 5th series, i, p. 1228 .- ED.
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AT FORT RANDOLPH
are Return'd Again with one of the 'Shanah Chiefs and Brother of the Cornstalk's, Who Informs Me that After having taken the Prisoners from Cantuck the white's follow'd and Retook the prisoners and Killd two of their Men,20 upon this I Inform'd them the fate of the Cherokee's and that our people would without Dispute Cut them all off which Seem to have a Great Effect upon them and they promised to hold to a Lasting peace But this I Dispute as they have Now the Cornstalk away at fort Detroit Treating with the English and are Constantly Backward's and forward's, on that Course So that the peace with them I Look upon it not to Be Lasting and am Ever on My Guard for fear of a Surprise, and the Trader's Gets Quantitys of Goods from the English at Detroit and has for Some time, As the Traders Inform'd My Men while at the Town's they had Recd Sundry of Goods from thence for the Use of the Indians; So any Material Transactions that Occurs I shall Inform you And Remain Your Devoted Humble Servant to Command
MATTW ARBUCKLE
20 The capture and rescue of Jemima Boone, and Elizabeth (Betsy) and Frances (Fanny) Callaway is one of the thrilling tales of early Kentucky settlement. The girls were taken July 14, 1776, from a canoe just below Boonesborough, and hurried off to the northward across Licking River. Daniel Boone at once organized a rescue party, which caught up with the fugitives on the third day. The three girls were rescued, and two of the savages were shot, later dying of their wounds. Draper collected much material on this episode, which he em- bodied in his manuscript "Life of Boone," 4B 77-99 .- ED.
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INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
[Transcribed by Draper from Pennsylvania Packet of August 27, 1776. 16J27.]
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 20, 1776.
Saturday se'en night"1 George Morgan, Esqr. ar- rived in this city from the Westward : On the 9th ultº whilst at one of the Shawanese . Towns on the Scioto, he received intelligence of three Six Nation warriors having passed by there with two prisoners they had taken sixteen days before22 from Virginia. Mr. Mor- gan followed and got to their town before them, pre- vented the usual punishment of the prisoners on their entry, and insisted on their being immediately deliv- cred up to him, unless they intended this breach of the peace as an open declaration of war. All the head- men of the Six Nations, Shawanese & Delawares, who were called together on this occasion, behaved in a very friendly manner, and joined with Mr. Morgan in his demand made to these warriors, who soon com- plied therewith, and were promised forgiveness on condition of future good behavior. These warriors told Mr. Morgan they had done no damage, except [unless] they killed a young man they shot at when they took these prisoners; but he made his escape, though they believed the ball entered his breast. The prisoners are twin sons of Andrew McConnell, late of Pennsylvania, who removed last winter to Lees Town on Kenruke [Kentucky] river, and were taken within a few hundred yards of the town. Mr. Mor-
21 August 3, 1776 .- L. C. D.
22 About June 24th .--- L. C. D.
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INDIAN DEPREDATIONS
gan brought them with him to Pittsburg, and deliv- ered them to their uncle in Westmoreland County in this State.
Since then a small party of Shawanese returning from the Cherokee country, killed and scalped two persons near the Big Bone Lick; they were pursued by a few of the neighbors, who killed and scalped two of the Indians-the others escaped.23 This breach is also likely to be settled to the satisfaction of all parties, as the headmen had expressed great concern at the conduct of their foolish young people, and promise to do all in their power to preserve our friendship.
A treaty is to be held at Pittsburg with the Western Indians the beginning of October, when, it is hoped, they will listen to and follow their true interests as they have promised to do.
WILLIAMSBURG Va. Aug. 17-We understand from Fort Pitt that the Northern Indians are not disposed to attack us in that quarter, & have only engaged not to suffer [an army] to march through their country against Detroit; we may hope that there is not much to be dreaded from the terrible combination of In- dians we have been threatened with by our enemies.
23 Reference to the killing of Cooper, and the capture of the Boone and Callaway girls, as described in the preceding docu- ment .- ED.
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THREATENED HOSTILITIES
[Commissioners of Indian Affairs, circular letter to county lieutenants. 1U34-L. S.]
PITTSBURGH Augt. 31st. 1776
SIR-We . Yesterday Evening received Intelligence by a Gentleman from the lower Shawanese Towns, which is very alarming, a General Confederacy of the Western Tribes seems to have been form'd, in order to Strike our Frontier Settlements. The In- dians it is said wait only untill their scatter'd Young men can be call'd in, and the Corn be somewhat riper for their Subsistance before they take up the Hatchet. The danger of the Times demand that every meas- ure should be taken to defend ourselves from their Incursions and repel their attacks. We have sent an Express to Congress upon this occasion and have wrote to the Governor and Council of Virginia on the same Subject. We would not wish to alarm too much the minds of the People it must rest with you to intimate the News We have receiv'd to the Inhabitants of your County in such manner as you shall think most eligible and conducive to the Public Weal. We think it our duty to communicate to you and the other Lieutenants of the Neighboring Counties, the critical Situation of Indian affairs, their plan of Operation is that the Chippawas and Ottawas two numerous Tribes should attack this place, and the Shawanese the Settlements on this side the Ohio, a few days will evince their real Intentions, We Therefore Rec- ommend it to you in the strongest Terms to hold your
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MILITIA IN READINESS
Militia in readiness to march properly accoutred on the shortest notice as the emergency of Affairs may require your immediate assistance.
We are Sir yr. most Obed. Servts.
THOMAS WALKER JNº. HARVIE JOHN MONTGOMERY24 J. YEATES 25
24 John Montgomery was a Scotch-Irishman born in Ireland in 1722. About 1740 he emigrated to America and settled at Carlisle, where he was a successful merchant. In the French and Indian War he was commissioned captain in Forbes's army (1758), and was a prominent patriot leader in the early Revolution, in 1774 acting as chairman of the first committee from his county. In July, 1776, he was appointed by Congress to hold the treaty at Pittsburgh, and continued there until November. The next year he was colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment in the New Jersey campaign, and served in Congress, 1782-83. He was justice of the peace for Cumberland County, and aided in founding Dickenson College, dying at his home in Carlisle in 1808 .- En.
25 Jasper Yeates belonged to a well-known Philadelphia fam- ily, and was born in that city in 1745. He was early admitted to the bar. and became an eminent jurist and member of the Pennsylvania supreme court (1791-1817). During the Revo- lution he resided in Lancaster. and was an active patriot, aid- ing the colonists both financially and with his legal knowledge. He was a member of the Pennsylvania convention that ratified the constitution, and was a commissioner for the government in the Whiskey Rebellion (1794). During his sojourn at Pitts- burgh as Indian commissioner, he visited Braddock's battle- field and vividly described its appearance and his impressions (see Samuel Hazard, Register of Pennsylvania, vi, p. 104). Judge Yeates died at his Lancaster home in 1817 .- ED.
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PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE
[Col. William Fleming to Capt. George Givens. 3ZZ4- Draft in Fleming's handwriting.]
Septr. 2d. 1776
SIR-It is thought Necessary that a Compr. should march to the Protection of the Inhabitants of Green Brier. And as the Field Officers have Appointed you to that Charge, you will therefore immediately en- deavour to get the Compy. compleated, you are to have Lieutt. Beard from Capt. Hanleys and an Ensign from Capt Deans Comp". for Your Officers. You are to Ap- point a Sergeant in your Own Compy. Lieut Wright has orders from me to Send you a Sergt & Eight Men from his Comp". You will I expect get Volun- teers in your Own Comp". & Capt Hanleys, without draughting the Compies. I have wrote to the Captts to have their proportion of Men ready. You had better Appoint a day for them to Muster their Compies and Attend. You are to march as quick as possible I ex- pect you will march next week you will send Your Ensign & fifteen men to Capt Vanbibers fort. Your Lieutt. & fifteen to Capt Donnalys. & You with the re- maining part may continue at Ca [m]p. Union or else where as may be most necessary for the protection or defence of the Inhabitants, in which you will be di- rccted by Capt Stuart. Your Proportion of men will be 20. or more if you can get them from your own Compy. The Lieutt 16. the Ensign ten & with Capt Robinsons 8 will make your Compy. 54. You are to use your utmost dilegence in protecting the Inhabi-
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PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE
tants, & repelling an Invasion. let me hear from you, from time to time & You will Oblidge Your Hble Servt
[WILLIAM FLEMING] To Capt Givens 26
[Capt. John Stuart to Col. William Fleming. 3ZZ5 - A. L. S.]
GREENBRIER Sept. 3d. 1776
Sr-I Rec'd an Order pr Capt. Vanbibber from you for thirty five pounds of the Countrys lead in my care, which I delivered to him, he also say'd you de- sired to Know how much of the lead was here which I cannot give an Exact account of, for want of an Instrument to weigh it, but I Recd. it of the commis- sary after the Expedition & the weight then was 543W Capt Arbuckle since had an order for it & I suppose may at different times have carryed away about 200" I also let Capt. Hamilton on muddy creek27 have 20W. as they had not any there which will be delivered back again in case it is not used
26 The Givens were a prominent Augusta County family, James having received a grant of land therein in 1738. This was Capt. George, who had been lieutenant in Dunmore's War, and was promoted to a captaincy on the death of Samuel Wil- son .- ED.
27 Andrew Hamilton was one of the earliest settlers in the Greenbrier region; see Dunmore's War, p. 319. Captain Hamilton was chosen by lot to lead troops to re-inforce Gen- eral Hand in 1777, and upon his return from Point Pleasant led out a party in pursuit of the Indians after the siege of Donnally's fort in 1778 .- ED.
13
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against the Enemy. the alarm from Capt. Arbuckle has caused a good many people in those parts to move off their familys the Remainder are chiefly gathered in to forts. the Bearer Capt Anderson28 can Inform you of the Situation of the people at present I have sent Two men to the point to know how Capt Ar- buckle is, as soon as they Return I shall inform you you what Inteligance the[y] Bring I have Twenty two men which was Imployed Building the fort I darsay you will not think it Imprudent to Keep them together untill the people is something appeased or we know more of the design of .Enimy, the people up the river are Intirely Destitute of ammunition of any Kind. if there is any to come to those parts I Should be glad how soon it Colud [could] be sent out, Capt Anderson will be applying for a small com- mand to stay at mill of his, which will be the only Benifisial one in those parts should the Indians come and should you think proper to allow them might be of great Service. Andw. Wallace & Jnº. Galloway is now hear with som Recruits of Capt Arbuckles com- pany, they Intend [waiting] untill [MS. torn] returns from the point, when the[y] Design takeing som beafcattle with then, as Capt Arbuckle is in much need of them. I have Supplycd the men, they have with them as well as those I had Raising the fort, with my own salt which is a presious article here & should be . Exceeding glad to Know whether I can- not be Repaid in the Salt now in the hands of the
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