USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 23
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possession of the town on the east side of the river, there were but one man and one squaw found in it, all the others being on the other side. This circumstance they ought to have known beforehand, and acted accord- ingly. The Indians on the west side of the river a- mounted to about eighty, and among them above thir- ty men, besides a number of young lads, all possessed of guns and well accustomed to the use of them ; yet this large number was attacked by about sixteen men. If they had really anticipated resistance, they deserved to lose their lives for their rashness. It is presumable, however, that having full confidence in the pacific prin- ciples of the Moravians, they did not expect resistance; but calculated on blood and plunder without having a shot fired at them. If this was really the case, the au- thor leaves it to justice to find, if it can, a name for the transaction.
One can hardly help reflecting with regret, that these Moravians did not for the moment lay aside their paci- fic principles and do themselves justice. With a mere show of defense, or at most a few shots, they might have captured and disarmed those few men, and held them as hostages for the safety of their people and pro- perty until they could have removed them out of their way. This they might have done on the easiest terms, as the remainder of the army could not have crossed the river without their permission, as there was but one canoe at the place, and the river too high to be forded. But alas! these truly christian people suffered them- selves to be betrayed by hypocritical professions of friend- ship, until" they were led as sheep to the slaughter." Over this horrid deed humanity must Shed tears of com- miseration, as long as the record of it shall remain.
Let not the reader suppose that I have presented him with a mere imaginary possibility of defense on the part of the Moravians. This defense would have been an easy task. Our people did not go on that campaign with a view of fighting. "There may have been some brave men among them ; but they were far from being
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all such. For my part, I cannot suppose for a moment that any white man, who can harbor a thought of using his arms for the killing of women and children in any case, can be a brave man. No, he is a murderer.
The history of the Moravian settlements on the Mus- kingum, and the peculiar circumstances of their inha- bitants during the revolutionary contest between Great Britain and America. deserve a place here.
In the year 1772, the Moravian villages were com- menced by emigrations from Friedenshutten on the Big Beaver, and from Wyalusing and Sheshequon on the Susquehanna. In a short time they rose to consid- erable extent and prosperity, containing upwards of four hundred people. During the summer of Dunmore's war, they were much annoyed by war parties of the In- dians, and disturbed by perpetual rumors of the ill in- tentions of the white people of the frontier settlements towards them; yet their labors, schools and religious exercises, went on without interruption.
In the revolutionary war, which began in 1775. the situation of the Moravian settlements was truly deplo- rable. The English had associated with their own means of warfare against the Americans, the scalping knife and tomahawk of the merciless Indians. The-+; allies of England committed the most horrid depreda- tions along the whole extent of our defenseless frontier. From early in the spring until late in the fall, the early settlers of the western parts of Virginia and Pennsylva- nia had to submit to the severest hardships and priya- tions. Cooped up in little stockade foris, they worked their little fields in parties under arms guarded by senti- nels, and were doomed from day to day to witness or hear reports of the murders or captivity of their people, the burning of their houses, and the plunder of their property.
The war with the English fleets and armies, on the other side of the mountains, was of such a character as to engage the whole attention and resources of our gov- ernment, so that, poor as the first settlers of this country
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were, they had to bear almost the whole burden of the war during the revolutionary contest. They chose their own officers, furnished their own means, and conduct- ed the war in their own way. 'Thus circumstanced, " they became a law .unto themselves," and on certain occasions perpetrated acts which government was com- pelled to disapprove. 'This lawless temper of our peo- ple was never fully dissipated until the conclusion of the whisky rebellion in 1794.
The Moravian villages were situated between the set- tlements of the whites and the towns of the warriors, about sixty miles from the former, and not much far- ther from the latter. On this account they were deno- minated " the half-way houses of the warriors." Thus placed between two rival powers engaged in furious warfare, the preservation of their neutrality was no easy task, perhaps impossible. If it requires the same phy- sical force to preserve a neutral station among bellige- rent nations that it does to prosecute a war, as is un- questionably the case, this pacific people had no chance for the preservation of theirs. 'The very goodness of their hearts, their aversion to the shedding of human blood, brought them into difficulties with both parties. When they sent their runners to Fort Pitt, to inform us of the approach of the war parties, or received, fed, se- creted and sent home prisoners, who had made their escape from the savages. they made breaches of their neutrality, as to the belligerent Indians. 'Their fur- nishing the warriors with a resting place and provisions was contrary to their neutral engagements to us ; but their local situation rendered those accommodations to the warriors unavoidable on their part, as the warriors - possessed both the will and the means to compel them to give whatever they wanted from then.
The peaceable Indian first fell under suspicion wich" the Indian warriors and the English commandant at Detroit, to whorn it was reported that their teachers were in close confederacy with the American congress, for preventing not only their own people, but also the
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Delawares and some other nations, from associating their arms with those of the British for carrying on the war against the American colonies.
The frequent failures of the war expeditions of the Indians was attributed to the Moravians, who often sent runners to Fort Pitt to give notice of their approach. This charge against them was certainly not without foundation. In the spring of the year 1781 the war chiefs of the Delawares fully apprised the missionaries and their followers of their danger both from the whites and Indians, and requested them to remove to a place of safety from both. This request was not complied with, and the almost prophetic predictions of the chiefs were literally fulfilled.
In the fall of the year 1781, the settlements of the Moravians were broken up by upwards of 300 warri- ors, and the missionaries taken prisoners, after being robbed of almost every thing. The Indians were left to shift for themselves in the barren plains of Sandus- ky, where most of their horses and cattle perished from famine during the winter. The nrissionaries were ta- ken prisoners to Detroit ; but after an examination by the governor, were permitted to return to their beloved people again.
In the latter part of February, a party of about 150 of the Moravian Indians returned to their deserted vil- lages on the Muskingum, to procure corn to keep their families and cattle from starving. Of these, ninety-six fell into the hands of Williamson and his party, and were murdered.
The causes which led to the murder of the Moravi- ans are now to be detailed.
The pressure of the Indian war along the whole of the western frontier, for several years preceding the event under consideration, had been dreadfully severe. From early in the spring, until the commencement of winter, from day to day murders were committed in ev- ery direction by the Indians. The people lived in forts which were in the highest degree uncomfortable. 'The
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men were harassed continually with the duties of going on scouts and campaigns. There was scarcely a fam- ily of the first settlers who did not, at some time or oth- er, lose more or less of their number by the merciless Indians. Their cattle were killed, their cabins burned, and their horses carried off. These losses were severely felt by a people so poor as we were at that time. Thus circumstanced, our people were exasperated to madness by the extent and severity of the war. The unavail- ing endeavors of the American congress to prevent the Indians from taking up the hatchet against either side in the revolutionary contest, contributed much to in- crease the general indignation against them, at the same time those pacific endeavors of our government divided the Indians amongst themselves on the question of war or peace with the whites. The Moravians, part of the Delawares, and some others, faithfully endeavored to preserve peace, but in vain. The Indian maxim was, "he that is not for us is against us." Hence the Mo- ravian missionaries and their followers were several times on the point of being murdered by the warriors. This would have been done had it not been for the pru- dent conduct of some of the war chiefs.
On the other hand, the local situation of the Moravian villages excited the jealousy of the white people. If they took no direct agency in the war, yet they were, as they were then called, "half-way houses" between us and the warriors, at which the latter could stop, rest, refresh themselves, and traffick off their plunder. Whe- ther these aids, thus given to our enemies, were contrary to the laws of neutrality between belligerents, is a ques- tion which I willingly leave to the decision of civilians. On the part of the Moravians they were unavoidable. If they did not give or sell provisions to the warriors, they would take them by force. The fault was in their situation, not in themselves.
The longer the war continued, the more our people complained of the situation of these Moravian villages. It was said that it was owing to their being so near us,
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that the warriors commenced their depredations so ear- ly in the spring, and continued them until so late in the fall.
In the latter end of the year 1781, the militia of the frontier came to a determination to break up the Mora- vian villages on the Muskingum. For this purpose a detachment of our men went out under the command of Col. David Williamson, for the purpose of inducing the Indians with their teachers to move farther off, or bring them prisoners to Fort Pitt. When they arrived at the villages they found but few Indians, the greater number of them having removed to Sandusky. These few were well treated, taken to Fort Pitt, and delivered to the commandant of that station, who after a short detention sent thein home again.
This procedure gave great offense to the people of the country, who thought the Indians ought to have been killed. Col. Williamson, who, before this little cam- paign, had been a very popular man, on account of his activity and bravery in war, now became the subject of severe animadversion on account of his lenity to the Moravian Indians. In justice to his memory I have to say, that although at that time very young, I was per . sonally acquainted with him, and from my recollection of his conversation, I say with confidence that he was a brave man, but not cruel. He would meet an enemy in battle, and fight like a soldier, but not murder a pris- oner. Had he possessed the authority of a superior of- ficer in a regular army, I do not believe that a single Moravian Indian would have lost his life ; but he pos- sessed no such authority. Ile was only a militia offi- cer, who could advise, but not command. His only fault was that of too easy a compliance with popular opinion and popular prejudice. On this account his memory has been loaded with unmerited reproach.
Several reports unfavorable to the Moravians had been in circulation for some time before the campaign against them. One was, that the night after they were Ihrrated at Fort Pitt. they crossed the river and killed
MORAVIAN CAMPAIGN.
or made prisoners a family of the name of Monteur. A family on Buffalo creek had been mostly killed in the summer or fall of 1781; and it was said by one of them, who, after being made a prisoner, made his es- cape, that the leader of the party of Indians who did the mischief was a Moravian. These, with other re- ports of similar import, served as a pretext for their de- struction, although no doubt they were utterly false.
Should it be asked what sort of people composed the band of murderers of these unfortunate people ? I an- swer, they were not miscreants or vagabods ; many of them were men of the first standing in the country : many of them were men who had recently lost relations by the hands of the savages. Several of the latter class found articles which had been plundered from their own houses, or those of their relations, in the houses of the Moravians. One man, it is said, found the clothes of his wife and children, who had been murdered by the Indians a few days before : they were still bloody ; yet there was no unequivocal evidence that these people had any direct agency in the war. Whatever of our property was found with them had been left by the warriors in exchange for the provisions which they took from them. When attacked by our people, although they might have defended themselves, they did not : they never fired a single shot. They were prisoners, and had been promised protection. Every dictate of . justice and humanity required that their lives should be spared. The complaint of their villages being " half- way houses for the warriors," was at an end, as they had been removed to Sandusky the fall before. It was therefore an atrocious and unqualified murder. But by whom committed -- by a majority of the campaign ?--- For the honor of my country, I hope I may safely an- swer this question in the negative. It was one of those convulsions of the moral state of society, in which the voice of the justice and humanity of a majority is silen- ced by the clamor and violence of a lawless minority. Very few of our men imbrued their hands in the blood
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of the Moravians. Even those who had not voted for saving their lives, retired from the scene of slaughter with horror and disgust. Why then did they not give their votes in their favor ? The fear of public indigna- tion restrained them from doing so. They thought well, but had not heroism enough to express their opinion. Those who did so, deserve honorable mention for their intrepidity. So far as it may hereafter be in my power, this honor shall be done them, while the names of the murderers shall not stain the pages of history, from my pen at least.
CHAPTER VII. -
The Indian summer.
As connected with the history of the Indian wars of the western country, it may not be amiss to give an explanation of the term " Indian summer."
This expression, like many others, has continued in general use, notwithstanding its original import has been forgotten. A backwoodsman seldom hears this expres- sion without feeling a chill of horror, because it brings to his mind the painful recollection of its original appli- cation. Such is the force of the faculty of association in human nature.
'The reader must here be reminded, that, during the long continued Indian wars sustained by the first set- tlers of the west, they enjoyed no peace excepting in the winter season, when, owing to the severity of the weather, the Indians were unable to make their excur- sions into the settlements. 'The onset of winter was therefore hailed as a jubilee by the early inhabitants of the country, who, throughout the spring and the early part of the fall, had been cooped up in their little uncom-
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fortable forts, 'and subjected to all the distresses of the Indian war.
At the approach of winter, therefore, all the farmers, excepting the owner of the fort, removed to their cabins on their farms, with the joyful feelings of a tenant of a prison recovering his release from confinement. All was bustle and hilarity in preparing for winter, by gath- ering in the corn, digging potatoes, fattening hogs, and repairing the cabins. To our forefathers the gloomy months of winter were more pleasant than the zephyrs and the flowers of May.
It however sometimes happened, after the apparent onset of winter, the weather became warm; the smoky time commenced, and lasted for a considerable number of days. This was the Indian summer, because it af- forded the Indians another opportunity of visiting the settlements with their destructive warfare. The melt- ing of the snow saddened every countenance, and the genial warmth of the sun chilled every heart with hor- ror. The apprehension of another visit from the In- dians, and of being driven back to the detested fort, was painful in the highest degree, and the distressing appre- hension was frequently realized.
Toward the latter part of February we commonly had a fine spell of open warm weather, during which the snow melted away. This was denominated the " pawwawing days," from the supposition that the In- dians were then holding their war councils, for plan- ning off their spring campaigns into the settlements. Sad experience taught us that in this conjuncture we were not often mistaken.
Sometimes it happened that the Indians ventured to make their excursions too late in the fall or too early in the spring for their own convenience.
A man of the name of John Carpenter was taken early in the month of March, in the neighborhood of what is now Wellsburg. There had been several warm days ; but on the night preceding his capture there was a heavy fall of snow. His two horses, which they took
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with him, nearly perished in swimming the Ohio. The Indians as well as himself suffered severely with the cold before they reached the Moravian towns on the Muskingum. In the morning after the first day's jour- ney beyond the Moravian towns, the Indians sent out Carpenter to bring in the horses, which had been turn- ed out in the evening, after being hobbled. The horses had made a circuit, and fallen into the trail by which they came, and were making their way homewards.
When Carpenter overtook them, and had taken off their fetters, be had, as he said, to make a most awful decision. He had a chance and barely a chance to make his escape, with a certainty of death should he attempt it without success; while on the other hand, the horii- ble prospect of being tortured to death by fire presented itself. As he was the first prisoner taken that spring, of course the general custom of the Indians, of burning the first prisoner every spring, doomed him to the flames.
After spending a few minutes in making. his decision, he resolved on attempting an escape, and effected it Dy way of forts Laurens, M.Intosh and Pittsburg. If I recollect rightly, he brought both his horses home with him. This happened in the year 1762. The capture of Mr. Carpenter, and the murder of two families about. the same time, that is to say, in the two or three first days of March, contributed materially to the Moravian compaign, and the murder of that unfortunate people,
CHAPTER VIH.
Gen. Crawford's campaign.
This, in one point of view at least, is to be considered! as a second Moravian campaign, as one of its objects was that of finishing the work of murder and plunder
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with the christian Indians at their new establishment on the Sandusky. The next object was that of destroy- ing the Wyandot towns on the same river. It was the resolution of all those concerned in this expedition, not to spare the life of any Indians that might fall into their hands, whether friends or foes. It will be seen in the sequel that the result of this campaign was widely dif- ferent from that of the Moravian campaign the prece- ding March.
It should seem that the long continuance of the In- dian war had debased a considerable portion of our po- pulation to the savage state of our nature. Having lost so many relatives by the Indians, and witnessed their horrid murders and other depredations on so extensive a scale, they became subjects of that indiscriminate thirst for revenge, which is such a prominent feature in the savage character ; and having had a taste of blood and plunder, without risk or loss on their part, they resolved to go on and kill every Indian they could find, whether friend or foe.
Preparations for this campaign commenced soon af- ter the close of the Moravian campaign, in the month of March ; and as it was intended to make what was called at that time " a dash." that is, an enterprise con- ducted with secrecy and dispatch, the men were all mounted on the best horses they could procure. They furnished themselves with all their outfits, except some. ammunition, which was furnished by the lieutenant- colonel of Washington county.
On the 25th of May 1782, 480 men mustered at the old Mingo towns, on the western side of the Ohio river. They were all volunteers from the immediate neighbor- hood of the Ohio, with the exception of one company from Ten Mile, in Washington county. Here an elec- tion was held for the office of commander-in-chief for the expedition. The candidates were Col. Williamson and Col. Crawford. The latter was the successful can- didate. When notified of his appointment, it is said that he accepted it with apparent reluctance.
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'The army marched along " Williamson's trail," as it was then called, until they arrived at the upper Mora- vian town, in the fields belonging to which there was still plenty of corn on the stalks, with which their hor- ses were plentifully fed during the night of their en- campment there.
Shortly after the army halted at this place, two In- dians were discovered by three men, who had walked some distance out of the camp. Three shots were fired at one of them, but without hurting him. As soon as the news of the discovery of Indians had reached the camp, more than one half of the men rushed out, with- out command, and in the most tumultuous manner, to see what happened. From that time, Col. Crawford felt a presentiment of the defeat which followed.
The truth is, that notwithstanding the secrecy and dispatch of the enterprise, the Indians were beforehand with our people. They saw the rendezvous on the Min- go bottom, and knew their number and destination. They visited every encampment immediately on their leaving it, and saw from their writing on the trees and scraps of paper, that "no quarter was to be given to any Indian, whether man, woman or child."
Nothing material happened during their march until the 6th of June, when their guides conducted them to the site of the Moravian villages, on one of the upper branches of the Sandusky river; but here, instead of. meeting with Indians and plunder, they met with no- thing but vestiges of desolation. The place was cover- ed with high grass; and the remains of a few huts alone announced that the place had been the residence of the people whom they intended to destroy, but who had moved off' to Scioto some time before.
In this dilemma, what was to be done ? The officers held a council, in which it was determined to march one day longer in the direction of Upper Sandusky, and if they should not reach the town in the course of the day, to make a retreat with all speed.
The march was commenced on the next morning
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through the plains of Sandusky, and continued until about two o'clock, when the advance guard was attack- ed and driven in by the Indians, who were discovered in large numbers in the high grass with which the place was covered. The Indian army was at that moment about entering a piece of woods, almost entirely sur- rounded by plains ; but in this they were disappointed by a rapid movement of our men. The battle then commenced by a heavy fire from both sides. From a partial possession of the woods which they had gained at the onset of the battle, the Indians were soon dis- lodged. They then attempted to gain a small skirt of wood on our right flank, but were prevented from doing so by the vigilance and bravery of Maj. Leet, who com- mandel the right wing of the army at that time. The fring was incessant and heavy until dark, when it ceased. Both armies lay on their arms during the night. Both adopted the policy of kindling large fires along the line of battle, and then retiring some distance in the rear of them, to prevent being surprised by a night attack. During the conflict of the afternoon three of our men were killed and several wounded.
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