USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 21
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It was on this occasion that Logan,* the Mingo chief, sent Lord Dunmore the speech which has rendered his name so celebrated, and which is justly considered as one of the finest speciments of eloquence upon record .** Mr. Jefferson, who preserved this beautiful and affect- ing effusion of native feeling, in his Notes on Virginia, has been accused
*Logan was a Mingo Chief, whose father, Shikellimus, resided for many years at Shamokin, Sunbury, Pa., where he died in 1749. Logan was called after James Logan, a conspicuous man in the province of Pennsylvania. Lo- gan, the subject of this notice, was never surpassed by any of his nation, for magnanimity in war, and greatness of soul in peace. He took no part in the French wars which ended in 1760, except that of a peace-maker; was always acknowledged as the friend of the white people, until his family aud some of his connexions were murdered, after which, at the head of a small band, he struck an unexpected blow.
After the close of Dunmore's war, he became gloomy and melancholy ; re- sorted to the intoxicating cup, and manifested symptoms of mental derange- ment. He remained some time at Detroit, where, by his conduct, he evinced that he was weary of life, which, he said had now become a burden to him- he knew no more what pleasure was, and thought it had been better if he had never existed. In this desponding state he left Detroit, and on his way from Detroit to Miami, was murdered !
** The following is the speech of Logan alluded to :
"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry. and he gave him no meat : if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was his love for the whites, that his countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, " Logan is the friend of the white men." I had even thought 'to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, (1) the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, mur- dered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it : I have killed many : I have fully glutted my vengeance : for my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan ? Not one.',
" Under an oak, says Mr. Atwater, on the farm of Mr. Wolf, this splendid effort of heart-stirring eloquence was faithfully delivered by the person who carried wampum. The oak tree under which it was delivered to Lord Dun- more, still stands in a field, seven miles from Circleville, Ohio, in a southern direction."- His. Ohio, 116.
(1) Cresap; it was Daniel Greathouse-Logan had been misinformed. Jobn Sappington killed Logan's brother. He was one of the party at Baker's, where the Logan family were murdered .- Withers.
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of palming upon the world a production of his own, by those who have no other ground for the suspicion than the force and feeling of the com- position itself, and who forget that genuine eloquence is not the offspring of refinement. But all doubt on this subject has long since been re- moved, by the testimony of General Gibson, of Pennsylvania, who in- terpreted the speech when delivered, and other officers who were pre- sent at the treaty, and who many years afterwards remembered dis- tinctly the impression made upon their minds, by the affecting appeal of the unlettered chieftian. General Andrew Lewis, who acted so con- spicuous a part in this campaign, was a gentleman of whose military abilities General Washington entertained so high an opinion, that, when the chief command of the revolutionary armies was tendered to himself, he recommended that it should rather be given to General Lewis. He was the companion of Washington in the fatal campaign under Brad- dock, and was a captain in the detachment that fought at Little Mead- ows, in 1754. He commanded a company of Virginians, attached to Major Grant's regiment of Highlanders, in 1758 ; and on the eve of the battle in which the latter was so signally defeated, was ordered to the rear with his men, in order that he might not share the honor of the expected victory. There he stood with his brave Virginians, impa- tiently listening to the reports of the musketry, at a distance of more than a mile from the battle ground, until the Europeans were defeated, and wholly exposed to the merciless tomahawk of the Indians ; when, without waiting for orders, he rushed to the scene of slaughter, and, by his coolness and skill, turned the scale of victory, drove back the sava- ges. and saved the regulars from massacre. While advancing to the scene, he met a Scottish Highlander under full flight; and on enquiring of him how the battle was going, the panic-struck soldier replied, they were " a' beaten, and he had seen Donald McDonald up to his hunkers in the mud, and a' the skin off his heed."* (1)
*The particulars of the engagement mentioned above, are given in the fol- lowing letter, dated at Point Pleasant, October 17, 1774.
" For the satisfaction of the public, in this letter they have the true state of the battle fought at this place, on the 10th instant.
On Monday morning, about half an hour before sunrise, two of Captain Russell's company discovered a large party of Indians about a mile from the camp, one of which men was shot down by the Indians, the other made his escape and brought in the intelligence. In two or three minutes after, two of Captain Shelbey's came in and confirmed the account. Colonel Andrew Lewis being informed thereof, immediately ordered out Colonel Charles Lewis to take the command of one hundred and fifty of the Augusta troops, and with him went Captain Dickinson, Captain Harrison, Captain Wilson, Captain John Lewis, of Augusta, and Captain Lockridge, which made the first divi-
(1) Hall's Sketches of the West, Vol. 1, pp. 196-205.
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On the fourth day of December, 1774, Lord Dunmore returned to Williamsburg, in Virginia, from his expedition against the Indians, who were humbled into the necessity of soliciting peace, and who delivered up hostages for the assurance of their promises. A treaty was ratified confining the Indians' power to the north and west bank of the Ohio.
sion. Colonel Fleming was also ordered to take the command of one hundred and fifty more of the Botetourt, Bedford, and Fincastle troops, viz: Captain Thomas Burford, from Bedford, Captain Love, of Botetourt, Captain Shelbey, and Captain Russell, of Fincastle, which made the second division. Colonel Charles Lewis' division marched to the right, some distance from the Ohio; and Colonel Fleming, with his division, on the bank of the Ohio, to the left .- Colonel Charles Lewis' division had not marched quite a half mile from camp, 'when, about sunrise, an attack was made on the front of his division, in a most vigorous manner, by united tribes of Indians, Shawanese, Delawares, Min- goes, Tawas, and of several other nations, in number not less than eight hun- dred, and by many thought to be a thousand. In this heavy attack, Colonel Charles Lewis received a wound, which in a few hours caused his death, and several of his men fell on the spot. In fact, the Augusta division was forced to give way to the heavy fire of the enemy. In about a second of a minute after the attack on Colonel Lewis' division, the enemy engaged the front of Colonel Fleming's division, on the Ohio, and in a short time the Colonel re- ceived two balls through his left arm, and one through his breast; and, after animating the officers and soldiers in a most calm manner, to the pursuit of victory, retired to the camp. The loss from the field was sensibly felt by the officers in particular ; but the Augusta troops being shortly re-inforced from the camp, by Colonel Field, with his company, together with Captain M'Dow - ell, Captain Matthews, and Captain Stewart, from Augusta, Captain John Lewis, Captain Paulin, Captain Arbuckle, and Captain M'Clenachan, from Botetourt, the enemy, no longer able to maintain their ground, was forced to give way till they were in a line with the troops, Colonel Fleming being left in action on the bank of Ohio. In this precipitate retreat, Colonel Field was killed. During this time, which was till after twelve o'clock, the action con- tinued extremely hot. The close underwood, many steep banks and logs, greatly favored their retreat ; and the bravest of their men made the best use of them, whilst others were throwing their dead into the Ohio, and carrying off their wounded. After twelve, the action in a small degree abated, but continued, except at short intervals, sharp enough till after one o'clock .- Their long retreat gave them a most advantageous spot of ground, from whence it appeared to the officers so difficult to dislodge them, that it was thought most advisable to stand, as the line was then formed, which was about a mile and a quarter in length, and had sustained till then, a constant and equal weight of the action, from wing to wing. It was till about half an hour of sunset they continued firing on us scattering shots, which we returned to their disadvantage. At length night coming on, they found a safe retreat.
They had not the satisfaction of carrying off any of our men's scalps, save one or two stragglers, whom they killed before the engagement. Many of their dead they scalped, rather than we should have them; but our troops scalped upwards of twenty of their men that were first killed. It is beyond doubt their loss in number far exceeds ours, which is considerable.
The 'Indians at the approach of night, skipped off and left us the field; but carried away all their wounded and many slain. However, we got twenty-one of their dead on the ground; and we afterwards heard they had 223 killed and wounded; but I cannot say that is true. We had 40 men killed that night, and ninety-six wounded, twenty odd of whom are since dead.
List of the killed and wounded Virginians .- Killed-Col. Charles Lewis, Major John Field, Captain John Murray, Robert M'Clenachan, Samuel Wil- son, James Ward, Lieut. Hugh Allen, Ensigns Candiff and Baker, Privates 44. Wounded-Captains W. Fleming, (since dead) J. Dickenson, Thomas Blueford, John Stidman, Lieutenants Goodman, Robeson, Lard, Vannes; Pri- vates 79.
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So important did the House of Burgesses consider the treaty that they not only paid a just tribute to the brave men who fell in the inemorable battle at the mouth of the Kenhawa, but in May, 1775, passed a vote of thanks to Lord Dunmore, and the officers and soldiers under his com- mand, for " their noble and spirited conduct in the expedition ;" compli- menting him for his attention to the true interests of the colony, and the wisdom of his administration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing resolution of thanks to Lord Dunmore, by the convention of Delegates and Corporations of the colony of Vir- ginia, for his conduct of the expedition against the Indians, yet the facts show that it was owing to the hard earned victory of Gen. Lewis, at Point Pleasant, over the united Indian army, unaided by the promised co-operation of Lord Dunmore, that brought the Indians to sue for peace.
The plan of operations adopted by the Indians in this war, shows clearly that Cornstalk, the war chief of the Shawanese, and his con- federates were by no means deficient in foresight and skill, necessary for making the most prudent military arrangements, for obtaining suc- cess and victory. At an early period they obtained intelligence of the plan of the campaign against them concerted between Lord Dunmore and Gen. Lewis. With a view, therefore, to attack the forces of these commanders separately, they speedily collected their warriors, and by forced marhces reached the Point, before the expected arrival of the troops under Lord Dunmore. Such was the secrecy, with which they assembled their forces at Point Pleasant, that Gen. Lewis knew nothing of the Indian army, until a few minutes before the commencement of the battle. Cornstalk, the Indian commander, had so arranged his plan of attack, as to leave Gen. Lewis no chance for retreat, and so well managed was the assault, that if the brave and crafty warrior had com- manded a little larger force, the whole army of Gen. Lewis would have been cut off. If Dunmore had co-operated, as he had promised, the peril would have been avoided, and many valuable lives would have been saved.
Had the army of Gen. Lewis been defeated, that of Lord Dunmore, consisting of little more than one thousand men would probably have shared the same fate. Venturing too far into the Indian country, with too small a number, and with munitions of war inadequate to sustain a contest with the united force of a number of Indian nations flushed with victory, and fighting in defence of their own homes, Lord Dunmore would not have been able to have concluded the peace, which the bravery of Gen. Lewis and his gallant army had conquered at Point Pleasant.
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It was the general belief among the officers of the army of the colo- nists, that Lord Dunmore received, while at Wheeling, advices from the British Government of the probability of the approaching war, which resulted in the independence of the colonies from Great Britain ; and that afterwards, all his measures in reference to the Indians, had for their ultimate object, an alliance with the savages for aid to the mother coun- try in the contest with the colonies. This supposition accounts for his not forming a junction with the army of Gen. Lewis, at Point Pleasant. This deviation from the original plan of the campaign, put in jeopardy the army of Gen. Lewis, and well nigh occasioned its total destruction. The conduct, too, of Lord Dunmore, at the treaty, showed a good un- derstanding between him and the Indian chiefs. He did not suffer the army of Lewis to form a junction with his own, but sent them back before the treaty was concluded, thus risking the safety of his own forces ; for at the time of the treaty, the Indian warriors were about his camp, in force sufficient to have intercepted his retreat and destroyed his whole army.
The treaty(1) was, however, entered into in the month of November, 1774, about six months previous to the commencement of the revolu- tionary war, at Lexington, and the disastrous war of Lord Dunmore with the Indians, was brought to a close. It began in the wanton and unprovoked murders of the Indians at Captina and Yellow Creek, and ended with an awful sacrifice of life and property to the demon of re- venge. On the part of the whites, they obtained, at the treaty, a cessa- tion of hostilities, and a surrender of prisoners, and nothing more.(2)
(1) Appendix, 219-224.
(2) John Winters' Narrative.
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CHAPTER XI.
THE BRITISH INTRIGUES WITH THE INDIANS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR-THE FRIENDLY MISSION OF CORNSTALK, RED HAWK, AND ELLINPSICO TO POINT PLEASANT-THEIR DETENTION AND BARBAROUS MURDER-M'INTOSH'S CAMPAIGN -BRODHEAD'S CAMPAIGN - THE PERSECU- TION OF THE MORAVIAN INDIANS BY THE BRITISH AND HOSTILE INDIANS, AND THEIR FORCIBLE REMOVAL TO SANDUSKY-WILLIAMSON'S CAMPAIGN, AND WANTON AND UNPROVOKED MURDER OF THE CHRISTIAN INDIANS, WHO HAD RETURNED TO THEIR VILLAGES ON THE MUSKINGUM-CRAWFORD'S CAM- PAIGN - HIS RETREAT, CAPTURE, AND SUFFERINGS AT THE STAKE - DR. KNIGHT'S AND JOHN SLOVER'S ESCAPE-REFLECTIONS ON THE CAMPAIGN, AND MANNER OF CONDUCTING THE INDIAN WAR DURING THE REVOLUTION.
The Revolutionary War now broke out, and the colonies, by their delegates in congress, declared their independence of Great Britain on the Fourth day of July, 1776. Early in this contest, the British Go- vernment enlisted under her banners the tomahawk of the Indian, and the whole Western frontier became again the scene of sanguinary war- fare. From early in the spring till late in autumn, the pioneers of the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia were shut up in small stock- ade forts, and cultivated their little fields in parties under arms, guarded by sentinels ; and notwithstanding this precaution, they often witnessed the murder or captivity of their wives, children and friends, the burning of their houses and the plunder of their property.
The American colonies, barely able to sustain their fleets and armies on the seaboard, had neither troops nor supplies to send to the frontier. The pioneers defended themselves against the combined forces of the British and Indians, appointed their own officers, erected forts, and bore, unaided, the whole burden of the revolutionary contest. As they were not assisted, so they were not controlled by the government, and a law- less disposition grew up, which led to the perpetration of many acts ab- horrent to the principles of civilization and humanity, which exasperated the infuriated savages, and which no doubt greatly added to the troubles of those trying times.
In consequence of the commission of several murders by the Indians, on the frontiers of Virginia, after the commencement of the revolutionary war, several companies of militia marched to Point Pleasant, the battle- ground, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, where there had been an engagement between the Americans under General Lewis, and the In- dians in Lord Dunmore's war. Most of the tribes of the north-west, except the Shawanese, were determined to fight against the Americans. Cornstalk, the great Sachem of the Shawanese, and King of the Northern
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Confederacy, wished to preserve peace. He had used his powerful eloquence in vain, in the Indian councils, to dissuade his countrymen from taking part in the contest. He, therefore, resolved to lay the state of affairs before the Americans, that they might avert the threatened storm.
In the spring of 1777, he came to the fort at Mount Pleasant, upon this friendly mission, in company with Red Hawk, a young Delaware chief, who had fought under Cornstalk in the battle of the Point, in 1774, and another Indian whose name is not mentioned. A Capt. Ar- buckle commanded the fort at the time. Cornstalk represented his un- willingness to take part in the war with the British, but stated that his nation, except himself and his tribe, were determined on war; and he supposed, that he and his people would be compelled to go with the stream, in spite of his exertions. Upon this intelligence Capt. Arbuckle, thought proper to detain him and Red Hawk as hostages, to prevent the meditated calamities. While detained at the fort, the officers held fre- quent conversations with Cornstalk, who took pleasure in giving them minute descriptions of his country, and especially of that portion of it, lying between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. One day as he was delineating a map upon the floor for the gratification and instruction of those present, a call was heard on the opposite side of the Ohio, which he recognized as the voice of his son, Ellinipsico, who had fought at his side in the famous battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. At the re- quest of his father, Ellinipsico came to the fort, where they embraced each other with the greatest tenderness. This son had become uneasy at his father's long absence, and had at length sought him out in his exile, prompted by those feelings which so much adorn human nature.
On the day following, two men belonging to the garrison, whose names were Harrison and Gillmore, crossed the Kenhawa, intending to hunt in the woods beyond it. As they were returning to their boat, after the hunt, they were fired upon by two Indians who had concealed themselves in the woods, near the mouth of the Kenhawa, and Gillmore was killed. Col. Stuart, who was at the fort, and Captain Arbuckle, were standing on the opposite bank at the time, and were surprized that a gun had been fired so near the fort, in violation of orders. Hamilton run down to the bank, and cried out that Gillmore was killed. A Cap- tain Hall commanded the company to which Gillmore belonged. His men took a canoe and went over to the relief of Harrison, and brought the body of Gillmore across the river, weltering in blood, and his head scalped. A cry was then raised, " let us kill the Indians in the fort."-
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Captain Hall put himself at the head of an infuriated gang, set out with this nefarious resolution, and against every remonstrance, proceeded to commit the murderous deed. Colonel Stuart and Captain Arburkle exerted themselves in vain, to dissuade these men from the cruel deed they contemplated. Pale with rage, they cocked their guns, and threat- ening those officers with instant death if they did not desist, rushed into the fort.
The Interpreter's wife, who had been a captive among the Indians, and felt attached to them, ran to apprise the devoted chiefs of their dan- ger. She informed them, that Hall's soldiers were advancing for the purpose ot taking their lives, believing that the Indians who killed Gill- more had come with ELLINIPSICO the preceding day. The young chief solemnly denied the charge, and averred that he knew nothing of them. As the murderers approached, ELLNIPSICO became agitated, which when CORNSTALK saw, he said, " My son, the Great Spirit has seen fit that we should die together, and has sent you to that end. It is his will, and let us submit." The murderers had now arrived, and Cornstalk rose to meet them, and received seven balls, which instantly terminated his existence. Ellinipsico was shot upon the seat he occupied when his fate was first pronounced to him. Red-hawk was shot in attempting to climb the chimney, and the other Indian was murdered in a most barbarous manner.
"'Thus," says Mr. Withers, in his chronicles, " perished the mighty CORNSTALK, Sachem of the Shawanese, and King of the northern con- federacy, in 1774-a chief remarkable for many great and good quali- ties. He was disposed at all times to be the friend of the white men, as he was ever the advocate of honorable peace. But when his coun- try's wrongs ' called aloud for battle,' he became the thunderbolt of war, and made her oppressors feel the weight of his uplifted arm. His no- ble bearing-his generous and disinterested attachment to the colonies, when the thunder of British cannon was reverberating through the land -his anxiety to preserve the frontier from destruction and death -all conspired to win for him the respect and esteem of others ; while the untimely and perfidious manner of his death, caused a deep and lasting regret to pervade the bosoms of those who were enemies to his nation ; and excited the just indignation towards his inhuman and barbarous murderers."
It was said by Colonel WILSON, who was present and heard CORN- STALK's speech, at the treaty with Lord Dunmore, in 1774, that " when he arose he was in no wise confused or daunted, but spoke in a distinct
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and audible voice, without repetition or stammering, and with peculiar emphasis. His looks while addressing Lord Dunmore, were truly grand and majestic, yet graceful and attractive." "I have heard the first orators in Virginia,-Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee,- but never have I heard one whose powers of delivery surpassed those of Cornstalk."
This unprovoked and impolitic murder of Cornstalk and his gallant son Ellinipsico, together with the other friendly chiefs, was afterwards fearfully avenged by the blood of the whites. The Shawanese were a warlike people, and became henceforward the most deadly foe of the inhabitants of the frontiers.
About the year 1777, (1) hostilities were again renewed along the frontiers, from Fort Pitt down to the Kenhawa.
An army under the command of Simon Girty, in 1778, composed of about four hundred Indians, appeared in the neighborhood of Wheeling, and shortly afterwards commenced an attack upon it. Simon Girty, Alexander M'Kee, and Matthew Elliot, had been detained at Fort Pitt as tories, and made their escape to the Indians, and persuaded them to hostilities with the Americans. (2) Before the assault was commenced, Girty appeared before the fort, demanding its surrender, with promises of kind treatment, if they would renounce the cause of the colonies, and join themselves with that of the King of England ; telling them at the same time, that he had marched thither from Detroit, especially to afford protection and a safe escort to those who were willing to join the King's troops.
Colonel Zane replied in the most indignant manner, rejecting his pro- positions. Girty then attempted to awe them into a compliance, by threatening immediate hostilities, and only ceased his harangue upon the discharge of a rifle at him, when he suddenly retired and drew up his savage forces to the attack.
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