USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 10
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It was the practice of the settlers on the Wappatoma- ka, in times of danger, to leave the forts in numbers, and assist each other in harvest. About the year 1756, a party of nine whites left the fort opposite the present village of Petersburg, to assist Mr. Job Welton to cut. his father's meadow and hunt his cattle. They took their rifles with them, as was invariably the practice whenever they left the fort. After collecting the cattle, they turned in and cut a portion of the meadow. As night approached, a proposition was made by Mr. Wel- ton to return to the fort, which was rather opposed by the rest of the party, who, not having been molested du- ring the day, were disposed to believe in their perfect
* The author received the particulars of this surprising adventure from Job Welton and Aaron Weltor, Esq's. of Petersburg. Mrs. Blue, wife of Mr. Garret Blue, also told the author, that when she was a small girl Bingaman frequently stopped at her father's residence on Cheat river, and she more than . once heard him relate the circumstances of this affair, and say there were seven Indians,
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security. They repaired to the house of the elder Mr. Welton, fronting the meadow, and within 200 vards of the present residence of Aaron Welton, Esq. Here they wished to remain, but the determination was resisted by Job Welton, who again advised a return to the fort. After some consultation it was agreed on to repair to the shelter of a large elm tree in the meadow where they had been mowing, and where they concealed them- selves in a winrow of the grass, and soon fell into a sound sleep, from which they were sometime afterwards roused by the crack of a rifle. Mr. Welton was lying with his brother Jonathan under the same blanket, and the latter was shot through the heart. The party sprung to their feet and attempted to escape. In his alarm, Mr. W. forgot his rifle, and fled in company with a Mr. De- lay. They had proceeded about 200 yards, pursued by an Indian, when Delay wheeled and discharged his ri- fle, which brought his pursuer down. At the same in- stant that Delay wheeled, the Indian threw his toma- hawk, which sunk in the back of Mr. Welton, severing two of his ribs. He fell in the grass, supposing himself mortally wounded by a rifle ball, while Delay continued onward, pursued by another Indian. Mr. Welton soon recovered from his surprise, and proceeded cautiously in a direction towards the fort, very weak from the loss of blood. He soon heard Delay and the Indian in a parley, the former being exhausted by running and dis- posed to yield, and the latter demanding his surrender. Delay agreed to give up on condition that his enemy would spare his life, which being solemnly agreed to, he was reconducted to the elin tree. Here a council was held, and Delav, with three others who had been taken, were inhumanly scalped, from which they died . in two or three days afterwards. Mr. Welton wasalle to reach the fort. where he laid three months before his wound healed. Of the whole party, but three escaped : four were scalged and died, and two were killed at the first surprise. The escape of a. Mr. Knykendall was re- markable. It was a bright moonlight night, while the
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shade of the elm rendered it quite dark under the tree; Mr. K. being an old man, was unable to fly with speed, and therefore remained still, while his companions fled across the meadow. The Indians passed over him, lea- ving the rear clear, when Mr. K. retreated at his leisure, and reached the fort in safety, 12 miles .*
On the day following, the whites left the fort in pur- suit, and overtook their enemy late at night on Dun- kard bottom, Cheat river, where they had encamped. The pursuers dismounted, and the captain ordered Bin- gaman (the same whose prowess is related in a prece- ding page) to guard the horses. He however disobeyed, and loitered in the rear of the party. To make the de- struction of the enemy more certain, it was deemed ad- visable to wait for daylight before they began an attack ; but a young man, whose zeal overcame his discretion, fired into the group, upon which the Indians sprung to their feet and fled. Bingaman singled out a fellow of giant-like size, whom he pursued, throwing aside his rifle that his speed might not be retarded -- passed seve- ral smaller Indians in the chase -- came up with him- and with a single blow of his hatchet, cleft his skull. When Bingaman returned to the battle ground, the captain sternly observed, "I ordered you to stay and guard the horses." Bingaman as sternly replied, "You are a rascal, sir ; you intended to disgrace me; and one more insolent word, and you shall share the fate of that Indian," pointing towards the body he had just slain. The captain quailed under the stern menace, and held his peace. He and Bingaman had, a few days before, had a falling out. Several Indians fell in this affair, while the whites lost none of their party.i
Dr. Turley stated to the author that he had often heard Mr. John Harness, who was one of the party that followed the Indians, relate that Delay was taken to
* Messrs. Aaron and Job Welton related this tradition to the author. It was thought that Deky would have recovered but for the unskillfulness of the surgeon (if he deserved the name) who attended him. The late Gen. William Darke married bis widow.
1 Related by Mesers. Ileath, M. Neill and Vanmeter,
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Dunkard bottom, and when the Indians were then sur- prised, he was shot, but whether by his captors or acci- dentally was not known, Delay himself not being able to tell. He was conveyed home on a litter, and died-di- rectly afterwards. There were, however, two Delays, and the first relation may be true.
Mrs. Shobe, an aged and respectable lady, living on Mill creek, in Hardy county, informed the author that Delay was buried on the banks of the South Branch, and some years afterwards his skeleton was washed out bya rising of the river. She then heard Job Welton say that Delay had saved his life, and he would take care of his bones.
To show the spirit of the times the following anec- dote is related. Valentine Powers and his brother, with two or three others, left the fort near Petersburg,* on a visit to their farms, when they were fired upon by In- dians from a thicket, and the brother of Powers killed. Valentine ran, but soon calling to mind the saying cur- rent among them that " it was a bad man who took bad news home," he turned about and gave himself up, and remained a prisoner five or six years. t
Martin Peterson was taken a prisoner on the South Branch, and carried to the Sandusky towns. He used to accompany the Indians in their hunting excursions, and was permitted to have one load of powder and ball each day, which he always discharged at the game they met with. As he gained on the confidence of his cap- tors, they increased his allowance to two loads, and sub- sequently to three. The same allowance was made to two other white prisoners. These three, one day, after receiving their allowance, determined to attempt an es- cape, and left the towns accordingly. As they ventured to travel only at night, guided by the north star, their progress was exceedingly slow and difficult. On the second day one of their number died from fatigue, and Peterson took his ammunition. A day or two after-
*Called Fort George. The land is now owned by Job Welton, Esq * Related by Aaron Welton, Egg. .
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wards, his remaining companion also gave out, and Pe- terson, taking his ammunition, left him to perish. He then pursued his way alone, and after a succession of hardships, came at length in sight of the fort. But here, when within reach of deliverance, his hopes were wellnigh blasted ; for the sentry, mistaking him for an Indian, fired ! Happily the ball missed its aim, and he was able to make himself known before the fire was re- peated. This fort was on the farm now the residence of Mr. John Welton, near Petersburg, Hardy county .*
Seybert's fort was erected on the South fork of the South branch of the Potomac, on the land now owned by Mr. Ferdinand Lair, 12 miles north east of Frank- lin, the present county seat of Pendleton. In the vear 1758, a party of Indians surprised the fort, in which were thirty persons. They bound ten, whom they con- veyed without the fort, and then proceeded to massacre the others in the following manner : They seated them in a row upon a log, with an Indian standing behind each ; and at a given signal. cach Indian sunk his to- mahawk into the head of bis victim : an additional blow or two dispatched them .. The scene was witness- ed by James Dyer. a lad 14 years old, who, not having been removed without the fort, supposed that he also was to be massacred. He was however spared, and ta- ken to Log town, 16 miles below Fort Pitt, thence to the mouth of the Muskingum river, and thence to the spot where Chilicothe now stands, where he remained a prisoner one year and ten months. He bad by this time gained the entire confidence of his captors, and was permitted to accompany them to Fort Pitt on a tra- ding expedition. When there he planned his escape, and happily succeeded. Being sent out for some bread with an Indian lad, he slipped into a hovel, unobserved by his companion, and implored the protection of the poor woman who occupied it. She told him to get be- hind a chest, the only furniture in the room, and threw upon him a bed. The Indians, on missing him, spent
* Related by Aaron Welton, Esq.
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the afternoon in search, during which they looked into the very hovel where he was, and left the place on the next morning on their return. Fort Pitt being then in possession of the English, a trooper very kindly convey- ed him 6 or 7 miles behind him, whence he made his . way to his friends in Pennsylvania, where he remained two years longer, and then returned to the South Fork .:
Another tradition says that Seybert's fort was not sur- prised. It had been invested for two or three days, and after two Indians had been killed, the garrison agreed to surrender on condition that their lives should be spa- red, which was solemnly pledged. The gate was then opened, and the Indians rushed in with demoniac yells. The whites fled with precipitation, but were retaken. with the exception of one man. . The massacre then took place, as before related, and ten were taken off as prisoners.
Another tradition says, that, on the fort's being given up, the Indians seated twenty of the garrison in oro rows, all of whom they killed except the wife of Jacob Peterson. When they reached her, an Indian inter; - sed to save her life, and some altercation ensued. The friendly Indian at length prevailed ; and throwing her a pair of moccasons, told her to march off with the pri- soners. How long she remained in captivity is not re- membered.t
The Indians killed John Brake's wife on the South fork of the Wappatomaka. John Brake became con- spicuous in the war of the revolution, which will be no- ticed hereafter. Frederick Jice had his whole family killed, with the exception of himself and one son. A man named Williams and his wife were also killed. Richard Williams and his daughter were taken prison- ers : the latter was only eighteen months old when ta- ken, remained with the Indians until she was thirteen, and was then brought home. She had learned the In-
* Related by Zebulon Dyer, Esq. clerk of Pendleton county, and son of the Jamies Dy or mentioned.
t Mra. Shobe informed the author that she had heard the wife of Jacob Pe- terson frequently relate this.
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dian language perfectly ; afterwards learned to speak English, but there were some words she never could pronounce plainly. She married Uriah Blue, on the South Branch. -
About eight miles below Romney stood a fort. In time of harvest a Mrs. Hogeland went out from it about 300 yards to gather beans, two men accompanying her as a guard. While gathering the beans, eight or ten In- dians made their appearance. One of the guard instant- ly fled ; the other, whose name was Hogeland, called to the woman to run to the fort ; and placing himself be- tween her and the enemy, with his rifle cocked and pre- sented, retreated from tree to tree until both entered it. - Some old men in the fort fired off their guns to alarm the harvest hands, who ran into it, the Indians from the side of the mountain firing upon them, but doing no injury. The same day the harvest hands were way- laid as they returned to their work, fired upon, and Hen- ry Newkirk wounded in the hip. The whites returned the fire, and wounded an Indian, who dropped his gun and fled. The others also made off, and the harvest hands proceeded to their work.
In 1756, while the Indians were lurking about Fort Pleasant, and constantly on the watch to cut off all communication therewith, a lad named Higgins, aged about 12 years, was directed by his mother to go to the spring, about a quarter of a mile without the fort, and bring a bucket of water. He complied with much tre- pidation, and persuaded a companion of his; of about the same age, to accompany him. They repaired to the spring as cautiously as possible, and after filling their buckets, ran with speed towards the fort, Higgins taking the lead. When about half way to the fort, and Higgins had got about thirty vards before his compa- nion, he heard a. scream from the latter, which caused him to increase his speed to the utmost. He reached the fort in safety, while his companion was captured by the Indians, and taken to their settlements, where he remained until the peace, and was then restored. The
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young Higgins subsequently became the active Capt: Robert Higgins in our revolutionary army, and after rai- sing a numerous family in Virginia, removed with them to the west .*
In the neighborhood of Moorefield a party of men were mowing for Peter Casey. They had placed their guns under a large tree in the edge of the meadow ;. and old Peter stood sentinel to watch and give the alarm should the enemy make their appearance. In a short time a party of Indians discovered the hands at work, and cautiously crept through the brambles and shrub- bery in order to get a position to make a deadly fire: One of them was in front of the others, and had ap- proached very near old Peter before the latter saw hin, when the old man flew at him with his cane raised, crying out, "By the Lord, boys, here they come !" The Indian, desperately frightened, took to his heels; the men flew to their guns; and the skulking savages re- treated precipitately, without firing a single shot. It is not improbable that Casey still used the same stick with which he " knocked Kill-buck down."t
The author finding this chapter running to a tedious and perhaps tiresome length to the reader, will give his pen a short respite, and resume his narrative of Indian outrages in the next chapter:
CHAPTER IX.
Indian incursions and massacres .... Continuedl.
On Stony creek, five or six miles south west of Wood- stock, there was a fort called " Wolfe's fort," where the people took shelter from the Indians for several years. Mr. Wolfe would sometimes venture out for the purpose
* Related by Col. Isaac Vanmeter.
t The same.
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of killing game, and was always accompanied by a favorite dog. On one particular occasion, this faithful animal saved his master's life. Mr. W. had walked out. with his gun and dog, but had not proceeded far before the latter manifested great alarm, and used all his inge- nuity to induce his master to return. He repeatedly crossed his path, endeavoring to obstruct his walk ; would raise himself up, and place his feet against his master's breast, and strive to push him back; would run a few steps towards the fort, and then return whining. From the extraordinary manifestation of uneasiness on the part of the dog, Mr. Wolfe began to suspect there was some lurking danger, of course kept a sharp look out, and soon discovered an Indian at some distance be- hind a tree, watching and waiting until he should come near enough to be a sure mark. Mr. W. made a safe retreat into the fort, and ever after felt the highest gra- titude to his honest and faithful dog. This dog lived . to be twenty-one years of age, and probably more." Ulysses's dog. "Argus" is much celebrated in history ; but it is very questionable whether Argus ever render- ed more important services to his lord and master. Ulys- ses was one of the counnanding generals of the Greeks in the Trojan war, and was absent twenty years, it is said, from his home. The story of his dog is related by Homer in the following beautiful poetical effusion.t
Thus near the prates conferring as they drew, Argus, the dog, his ancient master knew ; He, not unconscious of the voice and tread, Lifts to the sound his ear. and roars his head ; Bred by Ulysses, nourishi'd at his board, But ah ! not fated long to please his lord ! To him, his swiftness and his strength were vain;
* : Ioses Russell, Esq. of the county of Frederick, gave the author a detail of the particulars of this extraordinary story, and stated, that when he was a young man he once called at Mr. Wolfe's house and saw the dog. He ap- peared to be decrepit and suffering pain, and he asked Mir. Wolfe if he had not better kill the dog, and put him tua of misery. Mr. Wolfe with much emphasis replied, " No, I would as readily consent to be killed myself as to kill that dog, or suffer hun to be killed ; he oure saved my life ;" and Mr. W. then related the above story. The dog was then twenty-one years old.
t It is said that Argus was the only creamre that inimmediately recognized his master on his return to his palace from his twenty years' absence.
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The voice of glory call'd him o'er the main : Till then in every sylvan chase renown'd, With Argus, Argus, rung the woods around : With hini the youth pursu'd the goat or fawn, Or trac'd the mazy leveret o'er the lawn. Now left to man's ingratitude he lay, Unhous'd, neglected in the public way ; And where on heaps the rich manure was spread, Obscene with reptiles, took his sordid bed. -. He knew his lord; he knew, and strove to meet ; In vain he strove to crawl, and kiss his feet, Yet (all he could) his tail, his cars, his eyes, Salute his master, and confess his joys. Soft pity touch'd the mighty master's soul ; Adown his cheek a tear unbidden stole, Stole unperceiv'd : he torn'd his head, and dried The drop humane; then thus impassion'd cried: " What noble beast in this abandon'd state, Lies here all helpless at Ulysses' gate ? His bulk and beauty speak no vulgar praise ; If, as he seems, he was in better days, Some care his age deserves: or was he priz'd For worthless beauty, therefore now despised ? Such dogs, and men there are, mere things of' state, And always cherish'd by their friends, the great." " Not Argus so, ( Eumæus thus rejoin'd) But serv'd a master of a nobler kind, Who never, never, shall behold him more! Long, long since perish'd on a distant shore! O had you seen him, vigorous, bold and young, Swift as a stag, and as a lion strong ; Him no fell savage on the plain withstood, None scap'd him, bosom'd in the gloomy wood : His eye how piercing, and his scent how true, To wind the vapor in the tainted dew ! Such, when Ulysses left his natal coast, Now years unnerve him, and his lord is lost ! The women keep the generous creature bare, A sleek and idle race is all their care : The master gone, the servants what restrains ? Or dwells humanity where riot reigns ? Jove fix'd it certain, that whatever day Makes man a slave, takes half his worth away."
This said, the honest herdsman strode before : The musing monarch pauses at the door. The dog whom fate had granted to behold His lord when twenty tedious years had roll'd.
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Takes a last look, and having seen him, dies; So clos'd forever faithful Argus' cyes!
There was no poet at the time to transmit the name and fame of Mr. Wolfe's dog to posterity. European authors, in their prejudices, have on various occasions endeavored to disparage every thing of American pro- duction. The Count de Buffon is among the number. Englishmen delight in this disparagement of American quadrupeds. In the Family Encyclopedia, an English work, under the article " dogs," it is asserted that " when English dogs are transported to other countries, they degenerate, and become comparatively worthless!" It is believed the annals of the world may be safely chal- lenged to produce an instance of greater manifestation of sagacity and faithful affection towards a master, than was exhibited by Mr. Wolfe's dog on the occasion spo- ken of. But to return.
At the Works of Capon stood a stockade, The men who occupied it had to go about four miles to cultivate a fine fertile field of low ground, to produce bread for their support. In the year 1757 or 1758, two men, one named Bowers, the other York, walked to the field to see how things were going on. On their return in the evening they were waylaid by seven Indians. Bowers was shot and fell dead : York ran, was pursued by three Indians, and took across a high ridge. One of his pur- suers tired before he reached the top ; the others conti- nued the chase. After running a considerable distance, a second gave out. "The third got so near thiet he sevc- ral times extended his arm to seize York, but failed, and York got safe into the fort .*
On Patterson's creek, at the present site of Frankfort, Asl by's fort was erected. It was at this place that the . celebrated race took place between the late Capt. John Ashby and three Indians. Cept. Achby had walked out from the fort with his gun, and after proceeding some distance discovered thres ludians, who knew him, but a. little way off. He turned and ran : two of the Indians
* Related by Mr. John !argent.
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fired, but missed him : they all three then gave chase, but Ashby was too swift for them ; and when they saw they could not overhaul him, one of them called out, " Run, Jack Ashby, run !". He replied, looking over his shoulder, " You fools, do you think I run booty ?" __ [with boots.]
Near the fort Charles Keller was killed, the grandfa- ther of Mr. Charles Keller, the present proprietor of the Frankfort hotel .*
About the year 1756, Daniel Sullivan, at nine years of age, was taken prisoner by the Indians, with whom he remained nine years, when he was brought home. For some time he manifested a great desire to return to the Indians, but at length became reconciled, and was afterwards their determined enemy. In his last battle with them, becoming desperately wounded, and his en- trails falling out and in his way, he tore them off, and continued to fight until he fell and expired. The In- dians after this considered him something more than man.t
At the Rev. Mr. Jacob's present residence. on North Branch, a man by the name of Wade was killed.
Logan, the celebrated Indian, killed Benjamin Bow- man, and took Humphrey Worstead prisoner. He com- pelled the latter to halter several of his own and Bow- man's horses, and took them off.#
At a battle at Oldtown, John Walker killed an In- dian and wounded another. Walker cut out a part of the dead Indian's flesh from the thick part of his thigh, and threw it to his dog, who ate it. He otherwise muti- lated his body, and thrust parts of it into his mouth.
Thomas Higgins was one of the earliest settlers on the Cohongoruton. He lived about four miles from Bath. but was driven thence, and removed to the neigh- borhood of Gerardstown, in the county of Berkeley. After his removal, three of his sons were taken off pri-
* Mr. Keller stated this fact to the author.
t Isaac Kuykendall, Esq. of the South Branch, near Romney, stated this fact to the author, and added that Sullivan was his near relation.
# Related by Dlr. Gerrit Blue, of the North Branch.
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soners, and never returned. At the close of Dunmore's war, one of them was seen at Wheeling by a man who was acquainted with his family, and asked why he did not come home, since his father had left him a good tract of land. He replied that he did not wish to live with white people; they would always call him Indian ; and he had land enough .*
". The wife of the late Walter Denny, of Frederick county, was taken by the Indians when a small child, and grew up among them. Her maiden name was Flaugherty. After returning from her captivity, she married Walter Denny, who resided some time after his marriage in the neighborhood of Pittsburg. In 1774 the Indians advised him to move off, as they intended to go to war with the whites. Mr. Denny removed and settled in the county of Frederick. 'The author recol- lects frequently seeing this man. A Miss Williams was also taken about the same time : she, too, grew up with the Indians. These two female children were taken on Patterson's creek. .
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