History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 31

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The first proposition communicated to the com- mandant at Fort Pitt for a new Indian campaign appears to have been that of two captains of West- moreland militia (Robert Beall and Thomas Moore),1 who joined in a letter to Gen. Irvine, dated June 23d, in which they said, " The unfortunate miscarriage of the late expedition, the common interest of our coun- try, and the loss of our friends induce us to be thus forward in proposing another. . . . We do not wish to be understood as giving our own private senti- ments, but of those of the people generally in our quarter, for which purpose we are authorized to ad- dress you, and from accounts well authenticated we assure you it is the wish of the people on this side the Monongahela River" without a dissenting voice.

In his reply to Beall and Moore (dated June 26th) Gen. Irvine said, "Inclination as well as duty is a continual spur to me not only to acquiesce in but to encourage every measure adopted for the public good. Your proposals on this occasion are so truly patriotic and spirited that I should look on myself | that it is uncertain whether an express could return

"They propose to raise by subscription six or seven hundred men, provisions for them for forty days, and horses to carry it, clear of expense to the public, un- less government at its own time shall think proper to reimburse them. The 1st of August they talk of as- sembling, if I think proper to encourage them. I am by no means fond of such commands, nor am I san- guine in my expectations, but rather doubtful of the consequences; and yet absolutely to refuse having anything to do with them, when their proposals are so generous and seemingly spirited, I conceive would not do well either, especially as people too generally, particularly 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. I have declined giving them an immedi- ate, direct answer, and have informed them that my going depends on circumstances, and in the mean time I have called for returns of the men who may be de- pended on to go, and the subscriptions of provisions and horses. The distance to headquarters is so great in time with the commander-in-chief's instructions.

that, including all those killed in battle, those who afterwards died of wounds, those who suffered death at the hands of their savage captors, and those who were missing and never heard from, the total loss sus- tained by Crawford's forces was less than seventy-five men.

1 Beall and Moore were neighbors of the unfortunate Col. Crawford. This fact probably increased their zeal and desire for retaliation upon the Indians.

" The general, it seems, had somewhat changed his mind concerning the temper of the people since the 16th of June, when, in his report of the Crawford expedition to Gen. Washington, he said,-

" These people now seem convinced that they cannot perform as much by themselves as they some time since thought they could; perhaps it is right that they should put more dependence on regular troops. ... "

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

"As you must know whether any movements will take place in this quarter, or if you are of the opinion it would on any account be improper for me to leave the post, I request you would please to write me by express. But if no answer arrives before or about the 1st of August, I shall take for granted you have no objections, and that I may act discretionally. Should it be judged expedient for me to go, the greatest number of troops fit to march will not exceed one hundred. The militia are pressing that I shall take all the Continentals along, and leave the defense of the fort to them; but this I shall by no means do. If circumstances should seem to require it, I shall throw in a few militia with those regulars left, but under Continental officers."

On the same day, July 1st, Gen. Irvine wrote Gen. Washington, informing him of the plan for a second expedition to Sandusky, but saying that he should not think of proceeding with the campaign without express orders from the commander-in-chief. "By the best information I can obtain," he added, "we may lay out our accounts to have to fight the Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandots, Mingoes, and Monseys, in all about five hundred. They are all settled in a line from Lower Sandusky near Lake Erie to the head of the Miami, not more than seventy-five miles from the two extremes; Upper Sandusky lies near the centre. 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."

There were good grounds for the alarm felt by the people west of the Monongahela, for a few days after the return of the volunteers from the Sandusky expe- dition the Indians appeared in large numbers along the west bank of the Ohio, their main force being concentrated at Mingo Bottom, with smaller parties at various points on both sides of the river, but closely and constantly watched by detachments of the militia of Washington County. The settlers between the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers were almost in a state of panic. On the 30th of June Col. John Evans (lieutenant of the Virginia county of Monongalia), whose home was in that part of Washington County which afterwards became Greene, wrote Gen. Irvine informing him of the presence of Indian war parties in his vicinity, and adding, " Without your assistance I much fear our settlements will break. The defeat of Col. Crawford occasions much dread."

On the 2d of July, Col. Marshel wrote Gen. Irvine, giving information of the alarming situation of af- fairs on the Ohio border, and reporting to the general that he had sent Col.1 Williamson with a detachment to Cox's fort, about four miles below Mingo Bottom,

on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and that Col. Thomas Crook had marched with another detach- ment to Wheeling, the latter having Marshel's orders to form a junction with Col. Williamson's force, in case he could do so without endangering the safety of the post at Wheeling. And Marshel continued, " To- morrow I intend marching whatever men may ren- dezvous in this quarter to Richard Wells' fort, which is within five miles of Mingo Bottom, at which place I intend to stay, if circumstances will admit, until I hear from you; and I shall expect, if you think it necessary, that a number of your troops will march to our assistance as soon as possible." Again, on the following day, he wrote Gen. Irvine from Catfish (Washington County seat), informing him that the inhabitants were clamorous for assistance. "The people declare," he said, " they must abandon their habitations unless a few men are sent to them during . harvest. They also declare their willingness to sub- mit to and supply the men on the faith of the gov- ernment."

On the 5th of July Gen. Irvine said, in a letter to the president of the Council,2 " The people generally seem anxious to make another tryal, and urge me to take Command of them. Their proposals are to raise Volunteers, Provisions, and Horses by subscription, at their own Expence, without making any charge against the public, unless they should hereafter think proper to reimburse them ; they also promise to obey orders &c. The 1st of August is the time talked of to march. I have not yet determined whether to go or not, but am getting in Returns of Men, Horses, & Provisions subscribed."

Meanwhile the people continued in a state of mind bordering on panic. Many of them moved from their homes to the shelter of the forts and block- houses. Nearly as much consternation prevailed in the settlements east of the Monongahela, and the general alarm was greatly increased by the sudden appearance of the savage enemy in Westmoreland County, where, on the 11th of July, they killed and scalped three sons of Mr. Chambers, and two days later attacked and burned Hannastown, the old county-seat of Westmoreland.3 The party which ac-

2 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 576.

3 An account of the destruction of Hannastown was given by Michael Huffnagle in a letter to President Reed, as follows:

" FORT REED, July, 1782.

"SIR,-I am sorry to inform your Excellency that Last Saturday at two O'Clock in the afternoon, Hanna's Town was attacked by about one hundred Whites and Blacks. We found several Jackets, the buttons mark'd with the King's eighth Regiment. At the same Time this Town was attacked another party attack'd Fort Miller, about four Miles from this Place. Hanna's Town & Fort Miller in a short Time were reduced to Ashes, about twenty of the Inhabitants killed and taken, about one hundred head of Cattle, a number of horses, and hogs kill'd. Such wan- ton destruction I never beheld, burning and destroying as they went. The People of this Place behaved brave, retired to the Fortt, left their all a prey to the Enemy, & with twenty Men only & nine guns in good order, we stood the attack till dark. At first some of the Enemy came close to the Pickets, but were soon oblidg'd to retire farther off. I can-

1 In the preceding narrative of the march of the expeditionary force to and from Sandusky this officer was mentioned as Major Williamson, that being the grade to which he was elected for that campaign. After his return from the expedition his proper military title was (as it had been before) Colonel Williamson, of the Washington County militia,

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THE REVOLUTION.

complished this destruction was composed of Indians Gen. Irvine, in a letter written to President Moore, of and British Rangers, and came in from the north, by | the Executive Council, on the 16th of July, said, in way of the valley of the Allegheny.

reference to the probable results of this affair, " I fear Intelligence of the attack on and destruction of , 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."

Hannastown did not reach Gen. Irvine at Fort Pitt until three days after the occurrence, and of course it was then too late for the commandant to send a force in pursuit of the savages with any hope of suc- cess. The Indians who made the foray were from the north, mostly Mingoes. The surviving prisoners cap- tured at Hannastown and Miller's were taken to Niagara and delivered to the British military authori- ties there. At the close of the war they were deliv- ered up and returned to their homes.

A day or two after the destruction of Hannastown : emption from service were deemed valid. Men were a party of seven or eight Wyandots made an incursion in Washington County, near its present northern bor- der. They attacked a cabin, in which they found an old man alone, whom they murdered and scalped. Then they plundered the place and made off with their booty, without having taken the lives of any more victims. The news spread through the settle- ments, and a party of eight frontiersmen set out in pursuit a few hours later. In the party were the two brothers, Andrew and Adam Poe, both famous for their prowess in Indian warfare. It was while on this pursuit that the Poe brothers had the desperate hand-to-hand fight which resulted in the killing of the noted Wyandot chief, "Big Foot," the story of which is narrated more at length in the history of Hanover township. The other members of the pursuing party overtook the Indians and killed all but one, but lost three of their own number, including a young man named Cherry.

Before the events above narrated, Gen. Irvine wrote (July 11th) to Gen. Washington, saying that the people were constantly growing more determined in their efforts to raise a new force to operate against the Sandusky towns, that solicitations to him to assist in it and to assume the command were increasing daily, and that the militia officers had actually commenced preparations for the expedition. The news of the descent of the savages on Hannastown caused these preparations to be urged with greater energy by the bolder and more determined men, while it increased the general alarm and apprehension in a great degree.

not inform you what Number of the Enemy were killed, as we see them from the Fortt carrying off severals.

" The situation of the Inhabitants is deplorable, a number of them not having a Blanket to lye on, nor a Second Suit to put on their Backs. Affairs are strangely managed here; where the fault lies I will not pre- Bume to say. This Place being of the greatest consequence to the Frou- tiers, to be left destitute of Men, Arms, & ammunition is surprising to me, although frequent applications have been made. Your Excellency, I hope, will not be offended my mentioning that I think it would not be amiss that proper inquiry should be made about the management of the Public affairs in this County, and also to recommend to the Legislative Body to have some provision made for the Poor distress'd People here. Your known humanity convinces me that you will do everything in your power to assist us in our distress'd situation."-Penn. Archives, 1781-83, p. 596.

Notwithstanding Gen. Irvine's fears to the con- trary, the raising of the new expedition was strenu- ously urged and pushed forward with all possible vigor by the principal officers of the militia in the two counties. Other than clearly established physi- cal disability, or having served in the then recent campaign under Col. Crawford, very few pleas for ex- required to perform regular tours of duty at the sev- eral stations in anticipation of Indian attacks, but were excused from this duty if disposed to volunteer for the new expedition. But the continual alarms caused by Indian forays rendered it necessary to keep large numbers of the militiamen constantly on duty at the stations, and before long it became evident that the requisite number of volunteers could not be raised and equipped for the proposed new campaign by the time (August 1st) originally set for the general rendezvous.

"The incursions of the Indians on the frontier of this country," said Gen. Irvine, in a letter written on the 25th of July to the Secretary of War, "will un- avoidably prevent the militia from assembling as soon as the 1st of August. Indeed, I begin to entertain doubts of their being able to raise and equip the proposed number this season." Under these circum- stances the general thought it proper to extend the time of preparation for the expedition, and accord- ingly he directed that the forces should assemble on September 20th (instead of August 1st), at Fort Mc- Intosh, as a general rendezvous, and march thence to the invasion of the Indian country.1

On the 10th of August Col. Marshel received orders from Gen. Irvine to call out from the militia a party of twenty men and an officer to range the country lying on the waters of Ten-Mile and Buffalo Creeks, in Washington County, this order being made in response to an address to the commandant, signed by the principal inhabitants of that region, and ask- ing him for a force to protect their homes against the savages. Gen. Irvine, in giving the desired order to Col. Marshel, said, "Though I do not think there is as much danger as they apprehend, yet if they run, the consequence is the same, and I do not wish any more breaks in the settlements."

The people of Washington County, even more than those of Westmoreland, were firm in their deter- mination to prosecute the new campaign against the Indians at Sandusky. On Thursday, August 22d, the militia officers and principal citizens of the county

1 Both the State and general government had approved the plan of the expedition, and Gen. Irvine had been appointed to the command of it.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

met at Catfish Camp (the present borough of Wash- ington) to consult together and take measures "for the purpose of carrying an expedition under the command of Brigadier General Irvine against San- dusky or other Indian towns bordering on our fron- tier." This meeting resulted in a resolution that the county would furnish its full quota of men and ma- terial for the expedition,1 and that for this purpose all delinquents should be assessed, each individual in proportion to his property, an amount sufficient to cover his share of the necessary expense of the outfit and equipment. It was also agreed that if any horses should be lost in the proposed campaign, and the government should fail or neglect to pay for them for one year after such loss, then the owner of the animal should receive payment from the other mem- bers of the company to which he belonged, each contributing in proportion to the assessed value of his estate. The quotas of wheat for the rations of the drafts from each battalion were to be delivered at some mill or mills within the respective districts of such battalions by September 6th next ensuing.

The chairman of this meeting was the county lieu- tenant, Col. James Marshel, who communicated its proceedings to Gen. Irvine, with the assurance on his part that he had no doubt his county would raise and equip a force of at least five hundred men, to be ready at the appointed rendezvous by the 15th of September, " which," as he said, " will be as soon as the people of the county can possibly be in readiness." The gen- eral was pleased with the patriotism of the meeting, and of its resolutions, but he very plainly indicated in his reply that he doubted the ability of the people to execute what they had promised. He had, how- ever, the grace to say to Col. Marshel, "I trust you will not be mistaken notwithstanding."

The Indians continued to grow bolder and more aggressive in their raidings along the border. On the 11th of September, in the evening, an Indian force of two hundred and sixty warriors under the renegade George Girty (brother of the infamous Simon), accom-

1 The meeting resolved that the county would furnish as its quota six hundred and seventy-one men from the several militia battalions, two hundred and fifty-two horses, and 40,200 rations (to consist of one and one-fourth pounds of flour and the same weight of beef each); also that any person furnishing two hundred rations and delivering the same as directed by the commanding officer of the battalion of his dis- trict, or in lieu of such number of rations should furnish and deliver a good and serviceable pack-horse, with pack-saddle, halter, lashing rope, and two kegs (or in their stead one good bag), should receive therefor exemption from and credit for a two months' tour of military duty. The resolution of the meeting was " that each and every battalion of Washing- ton County militia shall furnish the quota of men, provisions, and pack- horses, equipped for transportation, hereunto annexed to each and every battalion respectively, namely :

Men. Horses. Rations.

1st Batt. commanded by Col. [Henry ] Enoch,

3,600

" Col. [George] Vallan- digham,

165

9,900

" Col. [David] Williamson, 140

8,400

4th

" Col [John] Marshall,

140

8,400

5th 44

" Col. [Thomas] Crooks,

165

9,900

671

252

40,200

panied by a force of about forty British Rangers from Detroit under Capt. Pratt, of the royal service, at- tacked the fort (Fort Henry) at Wheeling,2 but were repulsed. Other attempts were made by them to carry the place by assault during the day and night of the 12th, but with no better success, and in the morning of the 13th they withdrew from Wheeling with the intention of carrying their depredations to the inland settlements. Their attack on Wheeling is described by Ebenezer Zane in the following letter to Gen. Irvine : 3

"SIR,-On the evening of the eleventh instant a " WELING, 14th September, 1782.

body of the enemy appeared in sight of our garrison. They immediately formed their lines around the gar- rison, paraded British colors, and demanded the Fort to be surrendered, which was refused. About 12 o'clock of night they rushed hard on the pickets in order to storm but was repulsed. They made two other attempts to storm before day but to no pur- pose. About 8 o'clock next morning there came a negro from them to us, and informed us that their force consisted of a British captain and 40 regular soldiers and 260 Indians. The enemy kept up a con- tinual fire the whole day. About ten o'clock at night they made a fourth attempt to storm to no better pur- pose than the former. The enemy continued round the garrison till the morning of the 13th instant, when they disappeared. Our loss is none. Daniel Sullivan, who arrived here in the beginning of the action, is wounded in the foot.

" I believe they have drove the greater part of our

stock away, and might, I think, be soon overtaken.

"I am, with due respect, your ob't serv't,

" EBENEZER ZANE."

When the Indian besiegers found themselves com- pelled to withdraw from Fort Henry 4 without having effected its capture as they had expected to do, the larger part of their force, together with Capt. Pratt's British Rangers, crossed the Ohio with what plunder they had been able to secure, and took their way through the wilderness towards the Sandusky. The remainder of the Indian force, some sixty or seventy in number, took the opposite direction, striking east-

2 John Slover, the guide in Crawford's expedition, who made his escape from the Indians after having been tied to the stake for torture, as before narrated, had given warning that the savages were meditating an ex- tended series of operations against the frontier settlements, and that among these projected operations was an attack in force on the post at Wheeling. This information he said he gained by being present at their councils for several days while in captivity, and fully understanding every word that was uttered by the chiefs on those occasions, as he was entirely familiar with the Delaware, Wyandot, and Shawanese languages. The tale which he brought of these intended expeditions by the Indians against the white settlements was not believed by Col. Cook, Col. Marshel, and Gen. Irvine, but the result proved that Slover had neither misunder- stood nor falsified the intentions of the savages as expressed by their chiefs in council.

8 Proceedings of West Virginia Historical Society, Vol. I., Part I., Ap- pendix, page 102.

4 It is said, and with apparent truth, that the last shot fired by a British soldier in the war of the Revolution was fired in the last assault on this fort in the night of Sept. 12-13, 1782.

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THE REVOLUTION.

ward towards the interior settlements, bent on mas- sacre and devastation in revenge for their disappoint- ment at Fort Henry. Their objective-point was Rice's fort, on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, in the present township of Donegal, Washington County.

Intelligence of the attack on Fort Henry was brought to Col. James Marshel at Catfish by Capt. Boggs immediately after the siege began, and while all the Indian and British forces were collected round the fort. On receipt of the information Marshel no- tified Gen. Irvine by letter as follows :

" THURSDAY, September 12, 1782.

"DEAR SIR,-By an express this moment arrived from Wheeling, I have received the following intel- ligence, namely : That a large trail, by supposition about two hundred Indians, was discovered yesterday about three o'clock near to that place. Capt. Boggs, who brought the account, says that when he had left the fort about one mile and a half he heard the swivel at Wheeling fired, and one rifle. He further says that Ebenezer McCulloch, from Van Meter's fort, on his way to Wheeling, got within one-half a mile of the place shortly after Boggs left it, where he was alarmed by hearing a heavy and constant fire about the forts, and makes no doubt the fort was then attacked.

Three days later Col. Marshel communicated to Gen. Irvine further information of the movements of the Indians in the following letter :

" SUNDAY MORNING, 15th September, 1782.

" DEAR SIR,-You may depend upon it, as a mat- ter of fact, that a large body of Indians are now in our country. Last night I saw two prisoners who made their escape from Wheeling in time of the action, and say the enemy consists of 238 Indians and 40 Rangers, the latter commanded by a British officer ; that they attacked Wheeling Fort on Wed- nesday night, and continued the attack until Thurs- day night, at which time the above deserters1 left them. That Fort they say was the principal object of the enemy ; but it appears, both from their account and the enemy's advancing into the country, that they have despaired of taking it. The deserters say that shortly before they left the enemy that they had determined to give up the matter at Wheeling, and either scatter into small parties in order to distress and plunder the inhabitants, or attack the first small fort they could come at. The latter, I'm this moment informed, is actually the case ; that they have attacked one Rice's Block-House, on what is called the Dutch fork of Buffaloe, and it's to be feared it will fall into their hands, as only those have been called upon who are not going upon the expedition. I'm afraid

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 31

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216