USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 24
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In the morning our army occupied the battle ground of the preceding day. The Indians made no attack du- ring the day, until late in the evening, but were seen in large bodies traversing the plains in various directions. Some of them appeared to be employed in carrying of - their dead and wounded.
In the morning of this day a council of the officers was held, in which a retreat was resolved on. as the only means of saying their army, the Indians appearing to increase in numbers every hour. During the sitting of this council. Col. Williamson proposed taking one hun- died and fifty volunteers, and marching directly to Up- per Sandusky. This proposition the commander-in- chief prudently rejected. caving. "I have no doubt but that you would reach the town, but you would find no- thing there but empty wigwams; and having taken off so many of our best men, you would leave the rest to
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be destroyed by the host of Indians with which we are now surrounded, and on your return they would attack and destroy you. They care nothing about defending their towns : they are worth nothing. Their squaw's, children and property, have been removed from them long since. Our lives and baggage are what they want, and if they can get us divided they will soon have them. We must stay together and do the best we can."
During this day preparations were made for a retreat by burying the dead and burning fires over their graves to prevent discovery, and preparing means for carrying off the wounded. The retreat was to commence in the course of the night. The Indians, however, became apprised of the intended retreat, and about sundown attacked the army with great force and fury, in every direction, excepting that of Sandusky.
When the line of march was formed by the com- mander-in-chief, and the retreat commenced, our guides prudently took the direction of Sandusky, which afford- ed the only opening in the Indian lines and the only chance of concealment. After marching about a mile in this direction, the army wheeled about to the left, and by a circuitous route gained the trail by which they came, before day. They continued their march the whole of the next day, with a trifling annoyance from the Indians, who fired a few distant shots at the rear guard, which slightly wounded two or three men. At. night they built fires, took their suppers, secured the horses and resigned themselves to repose, without pla - cing a single sentinel or vidette for safety. In this care- less situation, they might have been surprised and cut off by the Indians, who, however, gave them no di -- turbance during the night, nor afterwards during the whole of their retreat. The number of those conrr sing the main body in the retreat was supposed to be about three hundred.
Most unfortunately, when a retreat was resolved on. a difference of opinion prevailed concerning the best mode of effecting it. The greater number thought it
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best to keep in a body and retreat as fast as possible, while a considerable number thought it safest to break off in small parties, and make their way home in dif- ferent directions, avoiding the route by which they came. Accordingly many attempted to do so, calculating that the whole body of the Indians would follow the main army. In this they were entirely mistaken. The In- dians paid but little attention to the main body of the army, but pursued the small parties with such activity, that but very few of those who composed them made their escape.
The only successful party who were detached from the main army, was that of about forty men under the command of a Capt. Williamson, who, pretty late in the night of the retreat, broke through the Indian lines un- der a severe fire and with some loss, and overtook the main army on the morning of the second day of the retreat.
For several days after the retreat of our army, the Indians were spread over the whole country, from San- dusky to the Muskingum, in pursuit of the straggling parties, most of whom were killed on the spot. They even pursued them almost to the banks of the Ohio. A man of the name of Mills was killed, two miles to the eastward of the site of St. Clairsville, in the direction of Wheeling from that place. The number killed in this way must have been very great; the precise amount, . however, was never fairly ascertained.
At the commencement of the retreat, Col. Crawford placed himself at the head of the army, and continued there until they had gone about a quarter of a mile, when missing his son John Crawford, his son-in-law Maj. Harrison, and his nephews Maj. Rose and William Crawford, he halted and called for them as the line pass- ed, but without finding them. After the army had passed him, he was unable to overtake it, owing to the weariness of his horse. Falling in company with Dr. Knight and two others, they traveled all the night, first north, and then to the east, to avoid the pursuit of the
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Indians. They directed their courses during the night by the north star.
On the next day, they fell in with Capt. John Biggs and Lieut. Ashley, the latter of whom was severely wounded. There were two others in company with Biggs and Ashley. They encamped together the suc- ceeding night. On the next day, while on their march, they were attacked by a party of Indians, who made Col. Crawford and Dr. Knight prisoners. The other four made their escape ; but Capt. Biggs and Licut. Ashley were killed the next day.
Col. Crawford and Dr. Knight were immediately ta- ken to an Indian encampment, at a short distance from the place where they were captured. Here they found nine fellow prisoners and seventeen Indians. On the next day they were marched to the old Wyandot town, and on the next morning were paraded, to set off, as they were told, to go to the new town. But alas! a very different destination awaited these captives ! Nine of the prisoners were marched off some distance before the colonel and the doctor, who were conducted by Pipe and Wingemond, two Delaware chiefs. Four of the prisoners were tomahawked and scalped on the way, at different places.
Preparations had been made for the execution of Col. Crawford, by setting a post about fifteen feet high in the ground, and making a large fire of hickory poles about. six yards from it. About half a mile from the place of execution, the remaining five of the nine prisoners were tomahawked and scalped by a number of squaws and boys.
When arrived at the fire, the colonel was stripped a ud ordered to sit down. He was then severely beaten with sticks, and afterwards tied to the post, by a rope of such length as to allow him to walk two or three times routel it, and then back again. This done, they began the torture by discharging a great number of loads of pow- der upon him. from head to foot; after which they be- gan to apply the burning ends of the hickory poles, the
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squaws in the mean time throwing coals and hot ashes on his body, so that in a little time he had nothing but coals to walk on. In the midst of his sufferings, he begged of the noted Simon Girty to take pity on him and shoot him. Girty tauntingly answered, "You see I have no gun, I cannot shoot ;" and laughed heartily at the scene. After suffering about three hours he be- came faint and fell down on his face. An Indian then scalped him, and an old squaw threw a quantity of burning coals on the place from which the scalp was taken. After this he rose and walked round the post & little. but did not live much longer. After he expired, his body was thrown into the fire and consumed to ash- es. Col. Crawford's son and son-in-law were executed at the Shawnee towns.
Dr. Knight was doomed to be burned at a town about forty miles distant from Sandusky, and committed to the care of a young Indian to be taken there. The first day they traveled about twenty-five miles, and encamp- ed for the night. In the morning the gnats being very troublesome, the doctor requested the Indian to untie him, that he might help him to make a fire to keep them off. With this request the Indian complied. While the Indian was on his knees and elbows, blowing the fire, the doctor caught up a piece of a tent pole which had been burned in two, about eighteen inches long, with which he struck the Indian on the head with all his might, so as to knock hin forward into the fire. The stick however broke, so that the Indian, although severely hurt, was not killed, but immediately sprang up. On this the doctor caught up the Indian's gun to shoot him, but drew back the cock with so much vio- lence that he broke the main spring. The Indian ran off with a hideous yelling. Dr. Knight then made the best of his way home, which he reached in twenty- one days, almost famistied to death. The gun being of no use, after carrying it a day or two he left it behind. On his journey he subsisted on roots, a few young birds and berries:
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A Mr. Slover, who had been a prisoner among the Indians, and was one of the pilots of the army, was also taken prisoner to one of the Shawnee towns on the Scioto. After being there a few days, and as he thought, in favor with the Indians, a council of the chiefs was held, in which it was resolved that he should be burn- ed. The fires were kindled, and he was blackened and tied to a stake, in an uncovered end of the council- house. Just as they were about commencing the tor- ture, there came on suddenly a heavy thunder gust, with a great fall of rain, which put out the fires. After the rain was over the Indians concluded that it was then too late to commence and finish the torture that day, and therefore postponed it till the next day. Slover was then loosed from the stake, conducted to an emmy house, to a log of which he was fastened with a buifn- lo tug round his neck, while his arms were pinioned behind him with a cord. Until late in the night the Indians sat up smoking and talking. They frequently asked Slover how he would like to eat fire the next day. At length one of them laid down and went to sleep ; the other continued smoking talking with Slover. Some- time after midnight, he also laid down and went to sleep. Slover then resolved to make an effort to get loose if pos- sible, and soon extricated one of his hands from the cord, and then fell to work with the tug round his neck, but without effect. He had not been long engaged in these efforts, before one of the Indians got up and smo- ked his pipe awhile. During this time Slover kept very still for fear of an examination. 'The Indian lying down, the prisoner renewed his efforts, but for some time with- out effect, and he resigned himself to his fate. After resting for awhile, he resolved to make another and a last effort, and as he related, put his hand to the tug. and without difficulty slipped it over his head. The day was just then breaking. He sprang over a fence into a corn- field, but had proceeded but a little distance in the field, before he came across a squaw and several children, ly- ing asleep under a mulberry tree. He then changed
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his course for part of the commons of the town, on which he saw some horses feeding. Passing over the fence from the field, he found a piece of an old quilt. This he took with him, and was the only covering he had. He then untied the cord from the other arm, which by this time was very much swelled. Having selected, as he thought, the best horse on the commons, he tied the cord to his lower jaw, mounted him and rode off at full speed. The horse gave out about 10 o'clock, so that he had to leave him. He then traveled on foot with a stick in one hand, with which he put the weeds behind him, for fear of being tracked by the Indians. In the other he carried a bunch of bushes to brush the gnats and musketoes from his naked body. Being perfectly acquainted with the route, he reached the riv- er Ohio in a short time, almost famished with hunger and exhausted with fatigue.
Thus ended this disastrous campaign. It was the last one which took place in this section of the country during the revolutionary contest of the Americans with the mother country. It was undertaken with the very worst of views, those of murder and plunder. It was conducted without sufficient means to encounter, with any prospect of success, the large force of Indians op- posed to ours in the plains of Sandusky. It was con- ducted without that subordination and discipline, so re- quisite to insure success in any hazardous enterprise, and it ended in a total discomfiture. Never did an en- terprise more completely fail of attaining its object. Never, on any occasion, had the ferocious savages more ample revenge for the murder of their pacific friends, than that which they obtained on this occasion.
Should I be asked what considerations led so great a number of people into this desperate enterprise ?- why with so small a force and such sender incans they push- ed on so far as the plains of Sandusky ?- I reply, that many believed that the Moravian Indians, taking no part in the war, and having given offense to the warri- ors on several occasions, their belligerent friends would
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not take up arms in their behalf. In this conjecture they were sadly mistaken. They did defend them with all the force at their command, and no wonder, for not- withstanding their christian and pacific principles, the warriors still regarded the Moravians as their relations, whom it was their duty to defend.
The reflections which naturally arise out of the his- tory of the Indian war in the western country, during our revolutionary contest with Great Britain, are not calculated to do honor to human nature, even in its civ- ilized state. On our side, indeed, as to our infant gov- ernment, the case is not so bad. Our congress faith- fully endeavored to prevent the Indians from taking part in the war on either side. The English goveru- ment, on the other hand, made allies of as many of the Indian nations as they could, and they imposed no re- straint on their savage mode of warfare. On the con- trary, the commandants at their posts along our west- ern frontier received and paid the Indians for scalps and prisoners. Thus the skin of a white man's or even a woman's head served in the hands of the Indian as cur- rent coin, which he exchanged for arms and ammuni- tion, for the farther prosecution of his barbarous war- fare, and clothing to cover his half naked body. Werc not these rewards the price of blood ?- of blood, shed in a cruel manner, on an extensive scale ; but without advantage to that government which employed the sav- ages in their warfare against their relatives and fellow- christians, and paid for their murders by the piece !
The enlightened historian must view the whole of the Indian war, from the commencement of the revolu- tionary contest, in no other light than a succession of the most wanton murders of all ages, from helpless in- fancy to decrepit old age, and of both sexes, without ob- ject and without effect.
On our side, it is true, the pressure of the war along our Atlantic border was such that our government could not furnish the means for making a conquest of the In- dian nations at war against us. The people of the
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western country, poor as they were at that time, and unaided by government, could not subdue them. Our campaigns, hastily undertaken, without sufficient force and means, and illy executed, resulted in nothing bene- ficial. On the other hand, the Indians, with the aids their allies could give them in the western country, were not able to make a conquest of the settlement on this side of the mountains. On the contrary, our settle- ments and the forts belonging to them became stronger and stronger from year to year during the whole con- tinuance of the wars. It was therefore a war of mu- tual, but unavailing slaughter, devastation and revenge, over whose record humanity still drops a tear of regret, but that tear cannot efface its disgraceful history.
CHAPTER IX.
Attack on Rice's fort.
This fort consisted of some cabins and a small block- house, and was, in dangerous times, the residence and place of refuge for twelve families of its immediate neighborhood. It was situated on Buffalo creek, about twelve or fifteen miles from its junction with the river Ohio.
Previously to the attack on this fort, which took place in the month of September 1782, several of the few men belonging to the fort had gone to Hagerstown, 10 exchange their peltry and furs for salt, iron and ammu- nit on. as was the usual custom of those times, They had gone on this journey somewhat carlier that season than usual, because there had been "a still time," that is, no recent alarms of the Indians.
A few days before the attack on this fort, about 300 Indians had made their last attack on Wheeling
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fort. On the third night of the investment of Wheel- ing, the Indian chiefs held a council, in which it was determined that the siege of Wheeling should be raised, two hundred of the warriors return home, and the re- maining hundred of picked men make a dash into the country and strike a heavy blow somewhere before their return. It was their determination to take a fort sonie- where and massacre all its people, in revenge for their defeat at Wheeling.
News of the plan adopted by the Indians, was given by two white men, who had been made prisoners when lads, raised among the Indians and taken to war with them. These men deserted from them soon after their council at the close of the siege of Wheeling. The no- tice was indeed but short, but it reached Rice's fort about half an hour before the commencement of the attack. The intelligence was brought by Mr. Jacob Miller, who received it at Dr. Moore's, in the neighborhood of Wash- ington. Making all speed home, he fortunately arrived in time to assist in the defense of the place. On receit- ing this news. the people of the fort felt assured that the blow was intended for them, and in this conjecture they were not mistaken. But little time was allowed them for preparation.
The Indians had surrounded the place before they were discovered ; but they were still at some distance. When discovered, the alarm was given, on which ev- cry man ran to his cabin for his gun, and took refuse in the block-house. The Indians, answering the alarm with a war whoop from their whole line, commenced firing and running towards the fort from every direction. It was evidently their intention to take the place by as- sault ; but the fire of the Indians was answered by that of six brave and skillful sharpshooters. This unexpect . ed reception prevented the intended assault, and made the Indians take refuge behind logs, stumps and trees. The firing continued with little intermission for about four hours.
In the intervals of the firing, the Indians frequently
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called out to the people of the fort, " Give up, give up, too many Indian ; Indian too big ; no kill.". They were answered with defiance, "Come on, you cowards ; we are ready for you ;-- shew us your yellow hides, and we will make holes in them for you."
During the evening, many of the Indians, at some distance from the fort, amused themselves by shooting the horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, until the bottom was strewed with their dead bodies.
About ten o'clock at night the Indians set fire to a barn about 30 yards from the fort. . It was large and full of grain and hay. The flame was frightful, and at first it seemed to endanger the burning of the fort, but the barn stood on lower ground than the fort. The night was calm. with the exception of a slight breeze up the creek. This carried the flame and burning splin- ter's in a different direction, so that the burning of the barn, which at first was regarded as a dangerous, if not fatal occurrence, proved in the issue the means of throw- ing a strong light to a great distance in every direction, so that the Indians durst not approach the fort to set fire to the cabins, which they might have done at little risk, under the cover of darkness.
After the barn was set on fire, the Indians collected on the side of the fort opposite the barn, so as to have the advantage of the light, and kept up a pretty con- stant fire, which was as steadily answered by that of the fort, until about two o'clock, when the Indians left the place and made a hasty retreat.
Thus was this little place defended by a Spartan band of six men, against one hundred chosen warriors, exas- . perated to madness by their failure at Wheeling fort. Their names shall be inscribed in the list of heroes of our early times. They were Jacob Miller, George Lef- ler. Peter Fullenweider. Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler, juur. George F'elebaum was shot in the forehead, through a port-hole, at the second fire of the Indians, and instandy expired, so that in reality the defense of the place was made by only five men.
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The loss of the Indians was four, three of whom were killed at the first fire from the fort, the other was killed about sundown. There can be no doubt but that a number more were killed and wounded in the engage- ment, but were concealed or carried off.
A large division of these Indians, on their retreat. passed within a little distance of my father's fort. In following their trail, a few days afterwards, I found a large poultice of chewed sassafras leaves. This is the dressing which the Indians usually apply to recent gun- shot wounds. The poultice which I found having be- came too old and dry, was removed and replaced with a new one.
Examples of personal bravery and hair breadth es- capes are always acceptable to readers of history. An instance of both of these happened during the attack on this fort, which may be worth recording.
Abraham Rice, one of the principal men belonging to the fort of that name, on hearing the report of the deserters from the Indians, mounted a very strong ac- tive mare and rode in all haste to another fort. about three and a half miles distant from his own, for further news, if any could be had, concerning the presence of a body of Indians in the neighborhood. Just as he reached the place he heard the report of the guns at his own fort. He instantly returned as fast as possible, un- til he arrived within sight of the fort. Finding that it still held out, he determined to reach it and assist in its defense, or perish in the attempt. In doing this, he had to cross the creek, the fort being some distance from it on the opposite bank. He saw no Indians until his mare sprang down the bank of the creek, at which in- stant about fourteen of them jumped up from among the weeds and bushes and discharged their guns at him. One bullet wounded him in the fleshy part of the right arm above the elbow. By this time several more of the Indians came up and shot at him. A second ball wounded him in the thigh a little above the knee. but without breaking the bone, and the ball passed trans-
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versely through the neck of the mare. She however sprang up the bank of the creek, fell to her knees, and stumbled along about a rod before she recovered. Du- ring this time several Indians came running up to to- mahawk him. Yet he made his escape, after having about thirty shots fired at him from a very short dis- tance. After riding about four miles, he reached Lamb's fort, much exhausted with the loss of blood. After get- ting his wounds dressed and resting awhile, he sat off late in the evening with twelve men, determined if pos- sible to reach the fort under cover of the night. When they got within about two hundred yards of it, they halted : the firing still continued. Ten of the men, thinking the enterprise too hazardous, refused to go ary farther, and retreated. Rice and two other men crept silently along towards the fort ; but had not proceeded far before they came close upon an Indian in his con- cealment. Hle gave the alarm yell, which was instant- ly passed round the lines with the utmost regularity. This occasioned the Indians to make their last effort to take the place and make their retreat under cover of the night. Rice and his two companions returned in safety to Lamb's fort.
About ten o'clock next morning, sixty men collected at Rice's fort for the relief of the place. They pursued the Indians, who kept in a body for about two miles. The Indians had then divided into small parties and took over the hills in different directions, so that they could be tracked no farther. The pursuit was of course given up.
A small division of the Indians had not proceeded far after their separation, before they discovered four men coming from a neighboring fort in the direction of that which they had left. The Indians waylaid the path, and shot two of them dead on the spot : the others tled. One of them being swift on foot. soon made his escape: the other being a poor runner, was pursued by an In- dian, who after a smart chase came close to him. "The man then wheeled round and snapped his gun at the
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