Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 16

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 16

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The new commander at Fort Pitt had five of his soldiers killed by Indians before April 12th, while load- ing a wagon with firewood, and he reported that some people were killed and some taken by the Indians in almost every quarter. He was appealed to for assistance by the lieutenant of militia of Washington County, by letter dated at Catfish, July 4, appealing especially for the inhabitants from Buffalo Creek southward to Jack- son's Fort. The people declared they must immediately abandon their habitations unless a few men were sent to them during harvest. The running of mills on the streams was dangerous work also, and yet the grinding had to be done. Many petitions for help were sent to Fort Pitt. Among them was one dated May 2nd from James Edgar, Arthur Cambell and Joseph Vance, all from near the present Cross Creek Village. They wanted soldiers at Alex Well's Mill near the forks of Cross Creek, now at the southwest corner of Jefferson Town- ship. It states that the inhabitants near enough to the fort at the mill were unable to guard and to work and support their families. "And it is clear that if this

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

inill is evacuated many of the adjacent forts, at least seven or eight that now hope to make a stand, must give up, as their whole dependence is on said mill for bread as well as every exepdition from these parts. Scouting parties that turn out on alarms are supplied from here. Therefore, we pray you would order us a few men to guard the mill-so valuable to many in these parts in particular and the country in general." Geu. Irvine, at Fort Pitt, had no men to spare and few to trust for snch service. On the day the same petition was signed, he had reported to the secretary of war: "The few troops here are the most licentious meu and worst behaved I ever saw." They were so rebellious because of the want of food and the recent lack of discipline that two of them were under sentence to he executed the following day. It was not uncommon for soldiers to he shot for desertion and insubordination in those early days.

Really, it was a hloody time, and life was most uncer- tain. The chief sachem of the Delawares, Killbuck, with his little hand of friendly Indians, was attacked hy Washington County men from the vicinity of Chartiers Creek, almost immediately after the return from the Moravian towns. An old German surgeon, as quoted in Bausman's History of Beaver County, p. 33, gives us a view of the Indian life on Killhuck Island (in the Allegheny River opposite the present Exposition building) which was so cruelly disturbed. The translation reads :

"Several Indian families of the Delaware Tribe, lived at that time close to the fort (Fort Pitt). In the com- pany of one of the officers of the garrison, I visited their chief Colonel Killbuek. As is known the Indians are exceedingly proud of military titles of honor, and like to hear themselves called 'Colonel' or 'Captain." The Colonel, whom we found in a dirty ragged shirt, was yes- terday returned from a long hunt, and today was refresh- ing himself with a drink. He spoke broken English and fetched with pride some letters which his son and daughter, who are heing hrought up in Princeton at the cost of Congress, had written to him.

"Colonel Killbuck, in the beginning of the troubles, [after the death of White Eyes] separated himself with several families of his nation, from the rest of his folk, who for the most part allied themselves with the English, and came with them to this place. These were among all the Indians almost the only ones who threw in their lot with the Americans. Their wigwams, which were only for the summer, were constructed of poles and bark ; for winter said they, they would of course, build hetter ones. There were about a dozen of these wigwams. Their hear-skin heds were spread about the fire which glowed in the center. The meat pot is never taken from the fire, except to he emptied and filled again, for they eat always without setting any particular hour. On all the sides of the wigwams hung heans, maize and dried game, which affords their chief entertainment. One of their most important men was Captain Whiteeye, who strutted about in a woolen hlanket, with rings in his nose and ears, and painted face, excellently and gor-

geously apparelled; for he, with a quarter-blood Indian had had an audience with the commandant. [This was not the illustrious Col. White Eyes who was murdered in 1778. Ed.] General Irvine had several times, and today again, given them to understand that they have permis- sion to remove from here, heeause there is now peace and their stay here, for different reasons, is hurdensome; they appeared, however, not to he inclined to go, and appre- hend, perhaps, not the most friendly reception from their own people. A young, well huilt, copper colored squaw was stamping their corn in a wooden trough in front of oue of the wigwams; her whole dress consisted of a tight dress of blue cloth, without gathers, which scarcely reached to her knees; her blaek hair hung loose over her shoulders, and her cheeks and forehead were neatly cov- ered with red paint. She seemed to be very happy in the companionship of her fellow workman, a fresh young fellow, who with a couple of elouts on needed places. was otherwise as naked as the unembarrassed heauty. Other women were husied with weaving baskets, shelling eorn, or other work, for the men, as is well known, do not concern themselves with domestic occupations. The surplus of their products, their haskets and straw work they harter for whiskey. There were among them some countenances that were hy no means ugly, and they were not all alike swarthy in color."

The Washington County mob from the Chartiers settle- ment made their attack on a Sahhath morning. Several Indians were killed, a few escaped, and the majority found safety in the Fort with the American troops. Gen. Irvine was at Philadelphia, and upon his return, and hearing how threats had heen made against the life of Col. Gihson, who had heen left in command, re- mained silent. Dorsey Pentecost and John Canon were soon in conference with him, and it is a striking fact that of all the "intelligent" persons with whom he conversed that he mentioned as heing of the opinion that it would he almost impossible to obtain a just account of the conduct of the militia at Muskingum. Gen. Irvine's private views of the situation in this neighborhood are shown hy a quotation from his letter to his wife, dated April 12:

"People who have had fathers, mothers, hrothers or children hutchered, tortured, scalped, by the savages, reason very differently on the subject of killing the Moravians (i. e., the Moravian Indians), to what people who live in the interior part of the country in perfect safety do. Whatever your private opinion of these mat- ters may he, I conjure you hy all the ties of affection and as you value my reputation, that you will keep your mind to yourself, and that you will not express any sentiment for or against these deeds ;- as it may be alleged, the sentiments you express may come from me or be mine. No man knows whether I approve or disapprove of kill- ing the Moravians. "

Among those massacred on Killhuck Island was Nanowland, the faithful Delaware. He was a commis- sioned officer in the Continental troops and was so con- stantly with and assisting Capt. Samuel Brady, the most noted scout, that he was called "the pet Indian" hy the Americans.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

Ou the homeward trip of the men from the Moravian attack they had decided to go west in a few weeks and with not less than 600 men attack the Sandusky settle- ments. In April, Col. Williamson, who lived near Well's Mill and whose farm was close to Lieut. Marshall's farm on Cross Creek, was about to make a voyage down the Ohio with thirty thousand weight of flour. He proposed to Marshall to carry an expedition against Sandusky with the Washington County militia, together with what volun- teers could be raised in Westmoreland, and offered the necessary flour. Leading men of the County were anxious for such movement because the Indian sorties were, if possible, more serious than ever. From the destruction of soldiers at Fort McIntosh, on down through Washington County to the attack on the Baptist minister, Rev. John Corbly, and his family, at the edge of Green County, clear over into Westmoreland County, came news of bloodshed and captivity. Col. David Williamson's suggestion was soon carried out. The call for volunteers to rendezvous at Mingo Bottom brought from Washington County 320, from Westmoreland 130, and from Ohio County, Virginia, 20. A few were Irish, a few German, but the majority of Scotch descent. These were on horses owned or borrowed by the riders, and some had pack saddles with provisions, as they were ordered to provide from the farmers thirty days' sup- plies. The Continental Government gave little else but advice, which was about all it could give on short notice, as Gen. Irvine's garrison was but meagerly supplied with either food or ammunition. The difficulties attend- ing such an expedition cannot now be fully appreciated. To get from the impoverished and besieged farmers sufficient salt meat (fresh could not be used) had pre- vented at least one other expedition.

The troops left Beesontown, now Uniontown, May 20, were joined by others ot Old Fort, now Brownsville, were at Washington from the 22d to the 24th and crossed the Ohio River on the 26th at Mingo, near the present Steubenville. Col. William Crawford was there elected chief in command by the assembled troops with a majority of five votes over Williamson. The white forces covered more than 20 miles daily on their eight days ride but the fast Indian runners had the red men aroused far in advance. The Sandusky towns were found deserted and although Col. Crawford advised retreat, the other officers outvoted him and he went on to engage in a two days' fight. The fight was bush- whacking, each man from behind a tree or such protec- tion as he could get. The exhausted troops, famished for water, with short supply of horses and ammunition, were directed to retreat on the second night at nine o'clock, leaving camp fires burning brightly behind. These sturdy farmers fought a good hand to hand battle in the open, but were not educated in the art of retreat-

ing. When marching orders were given it became a rush, every man for himself, and let the Indians get the hindmost. The officers kept many men under control, but Col. Crawford soon "stopped the troops and made inquiry and search all along the line for his son John." (History of Sherrard Family, p. 13.) Not finding him he made an earnest appeal for a number of volunteers to go back to the battle ground. About 20, Including Dr. John Knight, nephew of Col. Crawford, John Stover, one of the guides, and John Sherrard, grandfather of Miss Nancy Sherrard, lately principal of the Washington Female Seminary, accompanied him and made a fruitless search. Several hours thus spent left the searchers far behind the retreating columns.

Col. Crawford and the most of the men decided to take a near route home by Fort McIntosh at the mouth of Beaver River. The awful fate of Col. Crawford and those with him was afterward detailed by Knight and Stover, who were the only ones of that little party to escape the most cruel and horrible tortures known to the inhuman savages. Sherrard and one named Har- baugh, of Beesontown, refused to return by Fort McIn- tosh, but followed the trail of the returning forces. Sherrard, after 24 hours of hard riding, overtook the main forces, but Harbaugh had been shot and scalped by an Indian.

Col. Williamson kept the troops together with the greatest difficulty when it was learned that Crawford was absent. Frequently they had to stop and fight off their pursuers. The force was conducted back into Washington County and was disbanded here June 14th by Col. Williamson and his subordinate officers. About 300 returned with the commander, about 20 of whom were wounded. These were encouraged by the military band which, among other selections, occasionally played a spirited French march. Others kept straggling home one by one after their varied and desperate trials, until only about 50 were unaccounted for. Each had his separate tale of harrowing experiences, which was the subject of conversation for many years. Most of the loss was upon the retreat, for only five were killed and nineteen wounded in the first day's skirmish, and four wounded and none killed the second day. (Hassler: Old Westmoreland County.)

All over the neighborhood there was a fearful expec- tation that the Indians would immediately follow the re- treating forces into our county, and Lieut. James Mar- shall was prepared to call out the militia for defence. Many clearings and cabins had little sounds of life about them, and the homecoming troops found the forts and block houses crowded with frightened families.

During the absence of the troops across the Ohio an interesting war of words occurred on the south- eastern line of our county on the Monongahela. Alex-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

ander McClain, of Westmoreland County, who had been ordered to survey and locate the state line, came to tho river but could not get across. Efforts had been mado the preceding year for such survey but tho Virginia capital had been vacated because of the British invasion, and this with other things afforded the Virginians will- ing excuses. McClain was informed by Penusylvania authorities that a permanent line could not yet be run as it was too expensive and times were too unsettled on the frontiers, but he was to begin his survey of a tem- porary line ou June 10, "at the western end of the Mason and Dixon line (close to the present village of Mt. Morris), the survey of which had been stoppod by the Indians 15 years before. He was to extend this celebrated line 23 miles west, then mark a meridian line north to the Ohio River. A guard of upward of 100 Westmoreland County men, 70 of whom were armed, attended him with bullock teams, drivers, and necessary stores aud instruments.

He afterward made a report, a part of which is as follows: "An expedition was formed against Sandusky by the volunteers of both counties, which drew off a great number of militia and arms. The situation in Washington County was distressing to appearance. I thought it not prudent to call any of the guard from thence. We proceeded to the mouth of Dunkard Creek, on the tenth of June, and were pre- paring to cross the river (into Washington County) that night, when a party of about 30 horsemen appeared on the opposite side of the river, daring us to come over and threatening us to a great degree; and several more were seen by the bulloek guard. . Hearing of a great number more who were on their way to their assistance, we held a council, the result of which was to appoint a committee to confer with them on the causes of their opposition. . . . The cry against paying taxes in specie is general by a number of those who used to adhere to Virginia, and they think the running of the line will be a prelude to, and increase the power of collecting them; Together with the idea of a New State, which is artfully and industriously conveyed (under coverture) by some of the friends of that State as the only expedient to prevent the running of the line. , . . Col. Hayes, who was present, was zealous to proceed agains all opposition, but all to no purpose, other than to encourage the mob still more: they pro- ceeded to dare us to trial of their resolution and in- tention. . Their obstinancy is such that they will never submit until destruction overtakes them."

McClain called his opposers a "mob of banditti and villains," but they called themselves "Virginians." He stated that the enemies of this state were increasing and that he could not continue the survey without open

war, and that he was just then informed that a meeting of some of the former subjects of Virginia had been lately requested to choose officers to resumo the govern- ment in that place.

War and perhaps bloodshed was prevented by the withdrawal of the surveying party with its armed guard, but the obstinacy against paying taxes did cause destruc- tion to overtake theso Washington County people in the forın of 14,000 United States soldiers sent against them by President George Washington 12 years later, at the time of the Whisky Insurrection.

The Virginian element in the lower borders of old Washington County was so overawed five months after McClain's humiliating failure, that they made no oppo- sition. He appeared November 4th with 100 men and joined Joseph Neville, the Virginian surveyor, who also was supported by 100 men from the Virginia militia. Among the assistants was Christopher Hays, a promi- nent citizen of Westmoreland County, who, on November 19th, wrote from Cross Creek to Gen. Irvine, the fol- lowing rather droll letter:

"Dear sir :- We have proceeded this length in run- ning the north line of Pennsylvania, and have enjoyed peaceable progress hitherto, and expect to strike the Ohio River about Thursday between Fort MeIntosh and Rare- don's Bottom.

"Sir, I am reduced to the necessity of troubling your honor to send me by the bearer one keg of whisky, two pounds of powder, and four pounds of lead, and your compliance will much oblige. I will replace the whiskey with all convenient speed. Please to bring it in your own boat if you come to meet us."

It is noticed that whisky was unsafe in the hands of an ordinary messenger.

The long awaited line was run to the state corner and thenee north to the Ohio in less than a month, and we cannot but wonder that so short a job should be so long delayed. By this time there seemed little need for a state line to aid in enforeing militia service, for on all sides men had been eager to join another attack on the savages. This was to be a war for revenge.

The Washington County men had gone to Sandusky determined to do or die in their effort to save frontier life by driving the savages farther away, as they had ceased to hope for any suecor from the Fort Pitt gar- rison or the Continental Army. The hard conditions and misery of the times are shown in the following corre- spondence. Col. Williamson wrote Gen. Irvine after his defeat and return: "I hope your honor will do us the favor to call the officers together and consider the distress of our brave men in this expedition, the distress of the county in general. Our dependence is entirely

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

upon you and we are ready and willing to obey your commands when called upon." The frontier folk charged their defeat to a lack of experienced commanders.

Gen. Irvine wrote Gen. Washington, "These people now seem convinced that they cannot perform as much by themselves as they sometime since thought they could; perhaps it is right that they should put more dependence on regular troops. I am sorry I have not more to afford them assistance." It was a sad truth admitted by Gen. Irvine that the greatest number of men fit to march from Fort Pitt and Fort McIntosh did not exceed 100, and the few troops he had were the most licentious men and worst behaved he had ever seen. His lieutenant, Samuel Bryson, of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, had narrowly escaped death at the hands of some of the soldiers, and three-fourths of them were ready to join the mutineers. Bryson says a rascally boat's crew con- veyed seven quarts of whisky to the men, which for some time gave him an amazing trouble. He had not enough reliable men to arrest the boat's crew and send them from the mouth of the Beaver to Fort Pitt.

The Continental regulars at Fort Pitt could not pro- tect Westmoreland on the north or Washington County on the west. James Marshall attempted by July 1st to meet the incoming Indians by stationing some militia at Wheeling under Col. Thomas Crook, at Cox's Fort, four miles below Mingo Bottom under Col. Williamson, with Marshall himself at Richard Well's Fort five miles west of the present Cross Creek Village, and a few miles west of Marshall's own plantation. The people became clamorous for help, at least to get some regular officer for commander, and besought Gen. Irvine, who had com- mand not only of the regulars but the right to call out the militia, that he would command an expedition in per- son. Irvine did not feel free to leave his post without the consent or orders from his superior officers, and evi- dently was afraid of the final result of an attempt with inexperienced men. While seeking for direction he wrote:

" The disaster has not abated the ardor or desire for revenge of these people. . They cannot nor will not rest under any plan on the defensive, however well executed, and think their only safety depends on the total destruction of all the Indian settlements within 200 miles, (of Pittsburg) ; this, it is true, they are taught by dear bought experience. They propose to raise 600 or 700 men, provisions for them for 40 days, and horses to carry it, clear of expense to the public, unless gov- ernment at its own time shall think it proper to reim- burse them. The first of August they talk of assembling, if I think proper to encourage them.

"I am by no means fond of such commands, neither am I sanguine in my expectations, but rather doubtful of the consequences; and yet absolutely to refuse having anything to do with them, when their proposal seems so generous and seemingly spirited, I conceive would not do well either, especially as people too generally, particu-

larly in this quarter, are subject to be clamorous and to charge Continental officers with want of zeal, activity and inclination of doing the needful for their protection. By the best information I can obtain we may lay out our calculations to fight the Shawanees, Delawares, Wyandots, Mingoes and Monseys, in all about five hundred. They are settled in a line from Lower Sandusky near Lake Erie to the head of the Miami, not more than 75 miles from the two extremes. Upper Sandusky lies near the center. If all these could be beat at once, it would certainly nearly, if not entirely, put an end to the Indian war in this quarter."

During all the Indian wars the town of Catfish, the center of the great horseshoe formed by the rivers, had never been attacked, but at this date, July, they were thoroughly alarmed and were pleading for assistance. Marshall wrote from Catfish: "The people declare they must abandon their habitations unless a few men are sent them during harvest."

Irvine soon learned how useless he was as a protector and how useless it was to await the oncoming Indians. Before the middle of July Hannastown, the little county seat of Westmoreland County, as well as Miller's Fort, two miles south of it, were reduced to ashes by about 100 Senecas and 60 Canadian rangers, who had come down across the Allegheny River near Kittanning. These were a part of 300 British and Canadian soldiers and 500 Indians, who had come from Niagara as far as Lake Chautauqua with intent to attack Fort Pitt, but had abandoned that project upon hearing that Gen. Irvine had been active in strengthening his position. The de- struction of life and property near that county seat was found to be very great, 100 cattle were killed and many hogs and domestic fowls, yet Irvine knew nothing of it until three days later, when pursuit was useless. The news forced him to assume some bravery, for he immediately wrote: "I fear this stroke will intimidate the inhabitants so much that it will not be possible to rally them or persuade them to make a stand. Nothing in my power shall be left undone to countenance and encourage them."

The weakness and inefficiency of Fort Pitt garrison is shown by Irvine's failure to send away regulars to protect the inhabitants near Ten Mile and Buffalo Creeks when petitioning for a guard, but on the contrary direct- ing Col. Marshall to order out from their homes and har- vesting 20 militia men to act as rangers. The people of Washington County thought Brig .- Gen. Irvine might better be busy in their behalf, and a council meeting was held at Catfish Camp, August 22d, attended by the militia officers and other prominent people at which time they arranged for provisions, horses and 500 men from Washington County, which should march under Irvine against Sandusky or other Indian towns bordering on

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

our frontier. Irvine was pessimistic and again his help- lessuess was showu when on September 11th and 12th the garrisou at Wheeling was attacked by 238 Indians and 40 British Rangers. Thoy failed to take this Fort Henry, which used its little old fashioned French swivel cannon to frighten the Indians. The next day about 70 Indians appeared at Abraham Rice's Fort in Donegal Township, on Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, and kept firing and besieging the six men defending it from two o'clock P. M. to two o'clock the next morning, when they withdrew. As the result four Indians and one white defender, George Felebaum, were killed, and Jacob Miller, Jr., severely wounded. Jacob Miller, Jr., had started to Miller's Blockhouse, two miles up Dutch Fork Creek toward the present West Alexander, for aid, but had been wounded as he was returning to help the besieged.

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Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I, Part 16

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 584

Author: McFarland, Joseph Fulton; Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584