USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 4
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INTRODUCTION.
This Mr. Drumond was a sober Scotch gentleman of good repute with whome I had not a particular ac- quaintance, nor do I know the cause of that rancour his hono'r had against him other than his pretentious in com'on for the publick but meeting him by accident the morning I left the town, I advis'd him to be very wary, for he saw the Govern'r had put a brand upon him, he [gravely expressing my name] answered " I am in over shoes, I will be over boots," which I was sorry to heare & left him.
The last account of Mr, Laurence was from an up- permiost plantation, where he and ffour others despera- do's with horses pistolls &c. march'd away in a snow ancle deep, who were thought to have cast themselves into a branch of some river, rather than to be treated like Drum'ond.
Bacons body was so made away, as his bones were never found to be exposed on a gibbet as was purpos'd, stones being laid on his coffin, supposed to be done by Laurence.
Near this time arrived a small ffleet with a regiment from England S'r John Berry admirall, Col: Herbert Jefferies com ander of the land forces and Collo: Morri- son who had one year been a former Govern'r there, all three joined in a com'ission with or to S'r William Bar- clay, soon after when a generall court, and also an as- sembly were held, where some of our former assembly [with so many others] were put to death, diverse where- of were persons of honest-reputations & handsome es- tates, as that the Assembly petitioned the Govern'r to spill no more bloud, and Mr. Presly at his coming home told me, he believed the Govern'r would have hang'd half the country, if they had let him alone, the first was Mr. Bland whose friends in England had procured his pardon tobe sent over with the ffleet, which he plead- ed at his tryall, was in the Govern'rs pocket [tho' whe- ther 'twas so, or how it came there, I know not, yet did not hear 'twas openly contradicted | but he was answer- ed by Collo. Morrison that he pleaded his pardon at
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INTRODUCTION.
swords point, which was look'd upon an odd sort of re- ply, and he was executed ; [as was talked] by private . instructions from England the Duke of York having sworn "by god, Bacon & Bland shoud dye.
- The Govern'r went in the fleet to London [whether by com'and from his Majesty or spontaneous I did not hear] leaving Col: Jefferyes in his place, and by next shipping came back a person who waited on his hono'r in his voyage, and untill his death, from whom a re- port was whisper'd about, that the king did say " that old fool had hang'd more men in that naked country, "than he had done for the murther of his flather, " whereof the Govern'r hearing dyed soon after with- out having having seen his majesty ; which shuts up this tragedy.
Appendix.
To avoid incumbering the body of the foregoing lit- tle discourse, I have not therein mentioned the received opinion in Virginia, which very much attributed the promoting these perturbac'ions to Mr. Laurence, & Mr. Bacon with his other adherents, were esteemed, as but wheels agitated by the weight of his former & present resentments, after their choler was raised up to a very high pitch, at having been [so long & often] trifled with on their humble supplications to the Govern'r for his im'ediate taking in hand the most speedy meanes to- wards stopping the continued effusions of so much English bloud, from time to time by the Indians; which com'on sentim'ts I have the more reason to believe were not altogether groundlesse, because my self have heard " him [in his familiar discourse] insinuate as if his fancy gave him prospect of finding (at one time or other) some expedient not only to repair his great losse, but there- with to see those abuses rectified that the country was oppressed with through (as he said) the forwardress avarice & french despotiek methods of the Govern'r and likewise I know him to be a thinking man. and tho' nicely honest, affable, & without blemish, in his conver- sation and dealings, yet did he manifest abundance of
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INTRODUCTION.
uneasiness in the sense of his hard usages, which might prompt him to improve that Indian quarrel to the ser- vice of his animosities, and for this the more fair & fre- quent opportunities offered themselves to him by his dwelling at James town, where was the concourse from all parts to the Govern'r and besides that he had mar- ried a wealthy widow who kept a large house of public entertainin't unto which resorted those of the best qual- ity and such others as businesse called to that town, and his parts with his even temper made his converse co- veted by persons of all ranks; so that being subtile, and having these advantages he might with lesse diffi- culty discover mens inclinations, and instill his notions where he found those woud be imbib'd with greatest satisfaction.
As for Mr. Bacon fame did lay to his charge the ha- ving run out his patrimony in England except what he brought to Virginia, and for that the most part to be exhausted, which together made him suspecting of casting an eye to search for retrierment in the troubled waters of popular discontents, wanting patience to wait the death of his oppulent cousin, old Collo. Bacon, whose estate he expected to inherit.
But he was too young, too much a stranger there, and of a disposition too precipitate, to manage things to that length those were carried, had not thoughtfull Mr. Laurence been at the bottom.
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HISTORY OF THE VALLEY.
CHAPTER I. Indian Wars.
FROM the best evidence the author has been able to . obtain, and to this end he has devoted much time and research, the settlement of our fine and beautiful valley commenced in the year 1732, about one hundred and twenty-five years from the first settlement in Virginia. Before going into a detail of the first immigration to and improvement of the valley, the author believes it will not be uninteresting to the general reader, to have a brief history of the long and bloody wars carried on between contending tribes of Indians. Tradition re- lates that the Delaware and Catawba tribes were enga- ged in war at the time the valley was first known by the white people, and that that war was continued for many years after our section of country became pretty numerously inhabited by the white settlers.
I shall commence with a narrative of Indian battles fought on the Colongoruton .* At the mouth of An- tie am, a small creek on the Maryland side of the river, a most bloody affair took place between parties of the
* Cohongoruton is the ancient Indian name of the Potomac, from its junc, tion with the river Shenandoah to the Allegany mountain. Lord Fairfax, in his grants for land on this water course, designated it Potomac ; by which means it gradually lost its ancient came, and now is generally known by no other name. Maj. H. Bedinger writes the name of this river Cohongoluta. It is, however, written in the act laying off the county of Frederick in 1733, Colongoruton,
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Catawba and Delaware tribes. This was probably about the year 1736. The Delawares had penetrated pretty far to the south, committed some acts of outrage on the Catawbas, and on their retreat were overtaken at the mouth of this creek, when a desperate conflict ensued. Every man of the Delaware party was put to death, with the exception of one who escaped atter the battle was over, and every Catawba held up a scalp but one. This was a disgrace not-to be borne; and he instantly gave chase to the fugitive, overtook him at the Susquehanna river, (a distance little short of one hundred miles,) killed and scalped him, and returning, showed his scalp to several white people, and exulted in what he had done .*
Another most bloody battle was fought at the mouth of Conococheague,f on Friend's land, in which but one Delaware escaped death, and he ran in to Friend's house, when the family shut the door, and kept the Catawbas out, by which means the poor fugitive was saved.#
There 's also a tradition, and there are evident signs of the fact, of another furious battle fought at what is called the Slim bottom, on the Wappatominka,s (the an- cient Indian name of the Great South Branch of the Potomac. ) about one and a half miles from its mouth. At this place there are several large Indian graves, near what is called the Painted Rock. On this rock is ex- hibited the shape of a man with a large blotch, intended probably to represent a man bleeding to death. The stain, it appeared to the author, was made with human blood. ''The top of the rock projects over the painted part so as to protect it from the washing's of the rains,
* This tradition was related to the author by Capt. Jamer Glenn, of Jeffer- son county, now upwards of 73 years of age, and confirmed by the venerable John Tomlinson, near Cumberland, Maryland. now 92 years of age.
" +Mr. Tomlinson is of opinion this affair took place at the mouth of the Opequon.
# Capt. James Glenn, confirmed by Mr. Tomlinson, except as to the place of battle.
( The name of this water course in Lord Fairfax's ancient grants is written Wappatomac ; but Mr. HLeuth and Mr. Blue both stated that the proper namo is Wappotomaka.
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and is on the east side of the rock. How long the stain of human blood would remain visible in a position like this, the author cannot pretend to express an opinion ; but he well recollects the late Gen. Isaac Zane informed him that the Indians beat out the brains of an infant (near his old iron works) against a rock, and the stain of the blood was plainly to be seen about forty years afterwards, In this battle it is said but one Delaware escaped, and he did so by leaping into the river, diving under the water, and continuing to swim until he crossed the Cohongoruton .*
A great battle between these hostile tribes, it is said, was fought at what is called the Hanging Rocks, on the Wappatomaka, in the county of Hampshire, where the river passes through the mountain.t A pretty large party of the Delawares had invaded the territory of the Catawbas, taken several prisoners and commenced their retreat homewards. When they reached this place, they made a halt, and a number of them commenced fishing. Their Catawba enemies, close in pursuit, dis- covered them, and threw a party of men across the ri- ver, with another in their front. Thus enclosed, with the rock on one side, a party on the opposite side of the river, another in their front, and another in their rear, a most furious and bloody onset was made, and it is be- lieved that several hundred of the Delawares were slaughtered. Indeed, the signs now to be seen at this place exhibit striking evidences of the fact. There is a row of Indian graves between the rock and public road, along the margin of the river, of from 60 to 70 yards in length. It is believed that but very few of the Delawares escaped.
There are also signs of a bloody battle having been fought at the forks of the Wappatomaka; but of this
" Capt. James Glenn, confirmed by Mr. Garret Blue, of Hampshire. In- deed this tradition is familiar to most of the elderly citizens on the South Branch, as also the battle of the Hanging Rocka.
t As the author expects to give a detailed description of this extraordinary place, in his chapter of natural curiosities, he will barely mention the fact, that this rock, on one side of the river, is a perpendicular wall of several hundred feet high, and several hundred yards in length.
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INDIAN WARS.
battle, if it ever occurred, the author could obtain no tra- ditional account.
Tradition also relates that the Southern Indians ex- terminated a tribe, called the Senedos, on the North fork of the Shenandoah river, at the present residence of William Steenbergen, Esq., in the county of Shen- andoah. About the year 1734, Benjamin Allen, Riley Moore, and William White, settled in this neighbor- hood. . Benjamin Allen settled on the beautiful estate called Allen's bottom. An aged Indian frequently vis- ited him, and on one occasion informed him that the "Southern Indians killed his whole nation with the ex- ception of himself and one other youth; that this bloody slaughter took place when he, the Indian, was a small boy."* From this tradition, it is probable this horrid affair took place some time shortly after the middle of the seventeenth century. Maj. Andrew Keyser also informed the author that an Indian once called at his grandfather's, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, ap- peared to be much agitated, and asked for something to eat. After refreshing himself, he was asked what dis- turbed him. He replied, "The Southern Indians have killed my whole nation."
There are also evident signs of the truth of this tra- dition yet to be scen. On Mr. Steenbergen's land arc the remains of an Indian mound, though it is now plowed down. The ancient settlers in the neighborhood differ in their opinion as to the original hight. When they first saw it, some say it was 18 or 20 feet high, others that it did not exceed 12 or 14, and that it was from 50 to 60 yards in circumference at the base. 'This mound was literally filled with human skeletons; and it is highly probable that this was the depository of the dead after the great massacre which took place as just related.
This brief account of Indian battles contains all the traditionary information the author has been able to col- lect, with one exception, which will be noticed in the
* Mr. Israel Allen related this tradition to the author.
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INDIAN . WARS. 51
next chapter. There is, however, a tradition, that on one particular occasion, a party of thirty Delaware In- dians, having penetrated far to the south, surprised a party of Catawbas, killed several, and took a prisoner. The party of Delawares, on their return, called at Mr. Joseph Perrill's, near Winchester, and exulted much at their success. The next day a party of ten Cataw- bas called at Mr. Perrill's in pursuit. They inquired when their enemy had passed. Being informed, they pushed off at a brisk step, overtook the 30 Delawares at the Cohongoruton (Potomac), killed every man, reco- vered their prisoner, called at Mr. Perrill's on their re- turn, and told what they had done .* But it is probable this is the same affair which took place at the mouth of Antietam, though it is possible that it may be a different one. Mr. Tomlinson is under the impression that there was an Indian battle fought at the mouth of Opequon.
The author has seen and conversed with several aged and respectable individuals, who well recollect seeing numerous war parties of the Northern and Southern Indians passing and repassing through the valley. Se- veral warrior paths have been pointed out to him. One of them led from the Colongoruton (Potomac), and passed a little west of Winchester southwardly. This path forked a few miles north of Winchester, and one branch of it diverged more to the east, crossed Opeqnon, very near Mr. Carter's paper mill, on the creek, and led on toward the forks of the Shenandoah river. Another crossed the North mountain and the valley a few miles above the Narrow Passage, thence over the Fort moun- tain to the South river valley. Another crossed from Cumberland, in Maryland, and proceeded up the Wap- patomaka or Great South Branch valley, in the counties of Hampshire and Hardy. .
Anaged and respectable old lady, on Apple-pie ridge, informed the author that she had frequently heard her mother speak of a party of Delaware Indians once
* Gen. John Smith communicated this tradition to the author.
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INDIAN WARS.
stopping at her father's, where they stayed all night. They had in custody a young female Catawba prisoner, who was one of the most beautiful females she had ever seen. Maj. R. D. Glass also informed the author that his father, who then resided at the head of Opequon, stated the same fact. It was remarkable to see with what resignation this unfortunate young prisoner sub- mitted to her fate. Her unfeeling tormentors would tie her, and compel her at night to lay on her back, with the cords distended from her hands and feet, and tied to branches or what else they could get at to make her secure, while a man laid on each side of her with the cords passing under their bodies.
Mr. John Tomlinson also informed the author, that when about 7 or 8 years of age, he saw a party of Del- awares pass his father's house, with a female Catawba prisoner, who had an infant child in her arms; and that it was said they intended to sacrifice her when they reached their towns .*
Tradition also relates a very remarkable instance of the sacrifice of a female Catawba prisoner by the Dela- wares. A party of Delawares crossed the Potomac; near Oldtown, in Maryland, a short distance from which they cruelly murdered their prisoner : they then moved on. The next day several of them returned, and cut off the soles of her feet, in order to prevent her from pursuing and hanting them on their march.t
Capt. Glenn informed the author that a Mrs. Mary Friend, who resided on or near the Potomac, stated to him that she once saw a body of four or five hundred Catawba Indians on their march to invade the Dela- wares; but from some cause they became alarmed, and returned without success.
The same gentleman stated to the author that a Mr. James Hendricks informed him that the last sacrifice made by the Delawares, of their Catawba prisoners,
* Mr. Tomlinson's father then resided about 7 miles below the mouth of Conocochegue, on or near the Potomac, on the Maryland side. :
f Mr. G. Blue, of Hampshire, stated this tradition to the author.
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was at the first run or stream of water on the south side of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Here several prisoners were tortured to death with all the wonted barbarity and cruelty peculiar to the savage character. Mr. Hen- dricks was an eye witness to this scene of horror. Du- ring the protracted and cruel sufferings of these unhap- py victims, they tantalized and used the most insulting language to their tormentors, threatening them with the terrible vengeance of their nation as long as they could speak.
This bloody tragedy soon reached the cars of the governor of Pennsylvania, and he forthwith issued his proclamation, commanding and requiring all the au- thorities, both civil and military, to interpose, and pro- hibit a repetition of such acts of barbarity and cruelty.
The author will now conclude this narrative of In- dian wars with a few general reflections.
It is the opinion of some philosophers that it is inhe- rent in the nature of man to fight. The correctness of this opinion Mr. Jefferson seems to doubt, and suggests that " it grows out of the abusive and not the natural state of man.". But it really appears there are strong reasons to believe that there does exist " a natural state of hostility of man against man." Upon what other principle can we account for the long and furious wars which have been carried on, at different periods, among the aboriginals of our country ?
At an immense distance apart,* probably: little less than six or seven hundred miles, without trade, com- merce, or clashing of interests -- without those causes of irritation common among civilized states,-we find these two nations for a long series of years engaged in the most implacable and destructive wars. Upon what otl er principle to account for this state of things then that laid down, is a subject which the author cannot
* The Catawba tribes reside on the river of that name in South Carolina. They were a powerful and warlike nation, but are now reduced to less than . two hundred souls. The Delawares resided at that perind on the Susque- hanna river, in l'eausylvania, and are now far west of the Allegany moun- taius.
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INDIAN SETTLEMENTS.
pretend to explain. It however affords matter of cu- rious speculation and interesting reflection to the in- quiring mind. That nations are frequently urged to yar and devastation by the restless and turbulent dis- position so common to mankind, particularly among their leaders, is a question of little doubt. The glory and renown (falsely so termed) of great achievements in war, is probably one principal cause of the wars fre- quently carried on by people in a state of nature.
CHAPTER II.
Indian Settlements.
The author deems it unnecessary to give a detailed account of all the particular places which exhibit signs of the ancient residences of Indians, but considers it sufficient to say that on all our water courses, evidences of their dwellings-are yet to be seen. The two groat branches of the Shenandoah, and the South branch of the Potomac, appear to have been their favorite places of residence. 'There are nore numerous signs of their villages to be seen on these water courses, than in any other part of our valley.
On the banks of the Colongoruton (Potomac), there has doubtless been a pretty considerable settlement. 'The late Col. Joseph Swearengen's dwelling house stands within a circular wall or moat .* When first known by the white inhabitants, the wall was about 18 inches high, and the ditch about two feet deep. This circular wall was made of earth-is now considerably
*Mai. Henry Bedinger informed the author that at his first recollection of this place, the wall or moat was abont eighteen inches high, and the ditch aroned it about two fect deep. The wall was raised on the outside of the ditch, and carefully thrown up.
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reduced, but yet plainly to be seen. It is not more than half a mile from Shepherdstown.
For what particular purpose this wall was thrown up, whether for ornament or defense, the author cannot pretend to form an opinion. If it was intended for defense, it appears to have been too low to answer any valuable purpose in that way,
On the Wappatomaka, a few miles below the forks, tradition relates that there was a very considerable In- dian settlement. On the farm of Isaac Vanmeter, Esq. on this water course, in the county of Hardy, when the country was first discovered, there were considerable openings of the land, or natural prairies, which are call- ed "the Indian old fields" to this day. Numerous In- dian graves are to be seen in the neighborhood. A lit- tle above the forks of this river a very large Indian grave is now to be seen .* In the bank of the river, a little below the forks, numerous human skeletons have been discovered, and several articles of curious workmanship. A highly finished pipe, representing a snake coiled round the bowl, with its head projected above the bowl, was among them. There was the under jaw bone of a human being of great size found at the same place, which contained eight jaw teeth in each side of enor- mous size; and what is more remarkable, the teeth stood transversely in the jaw bone. It would pass over any common man's face with entire ease.t
There are many other signs of Indian settlements all along this river, both above and below the one just described. . Mr. Garret Blue, of the county of Hamp- shire, informed the author, that about two miles below the Hanging Rocks, in the bank of the river, a stratum of ashes, about one rod in length, was some years ago discovered. At this place are signs of an Indian vil- lage, and their old fields. The reverend John J. Ja- cobs, of Hampshire, informed the author that on Mr.
* William Seymor, Esq. stated this fact to the author.
t William Heath, Esq. in the county of Hardy, stated this fact to the au- thor, and that he had repeatedly seen the remarkable jaw bone.
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INDIAN SETTLEMENTS.
Daniel Cresap's land, on the North branch of the Poto- mac, a few miles above Cumberland, a human skeleton was discovered, which had been covered with a coat of wood ashes, about two feet below the surface of the ground. An entire decomposition of the skeleton had taken place, with the exception of the teeth; they were in a perfect state of preservation.
On the two great branches of the Shenandoah there are now to be seen numerous sites of their ancient vil- lages, several of which are so remarkable that they de- serve a passing notice. It has been noticed, in my pre- ceding chapter, that on Mr. Steenbergen's land, on the North fork of the Shenandoah, the remains of a large Indian mound are plainly to be seen. It is also sug- gested that this was once the residence of the Senedo tribe, and that that tribe had been exterminated by the Southern Indians. Exclusive of this large mound," there are several other Indian graves. About this place many of their implements and domestic utensils have been found. A short distance below the mouth of Stony creek, (abranch of the Shenandoah. ) within four or five miles of Woodstock, are the signs of an Indian village. At thisplace a gun barrel, with several iron tomahawks, was found long after the Indians left the country.t
On Mr. Anthony Kline's farm, within about three miles of Stephensburg, in the county of Frederick. in a glen near his mill, a rifle was found, which had most probably laid in the ground forty or fifty years. Every part of this gun (even the stock, which was made of black walnut,) was sound. Mr. Kline's father took the barrel from the stock. placed the britch on the fire, and it soon discharged with a very loud explosion.#
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