USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 3rd ed > Part 11
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The author has received from Maj. John White, of Frederick, another account of the foregoing outrages, which he will give in Maj. White's own words :
"In July, 1763, information was received by the late Maj. Robert White, (who had a small Fort around his house as an asylum for the people in the heighborhood), that the Indians had been seen on that or the preceding day on Capon. He immediately went to the several families living near the base of the North Mountain, as far as Owen Thomas', five or six miles from the Fort, told them of the report, and advised them to go into the Fort until the danger should be over. It being harvest time, Owen Thomas was unwilling
* Ecclesiasties, II: I.
+ Mr. Gerrett Blue stated to the author that he was then a small boy, but well recollects seeing Mrs. Thomas when she got into the Fort.
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to leave home, and mounted a horse to go to his neiglibor, Jacob Kackley's, who had several sons grown, to propose to arm themseves and work together in their respective grain fields ; but on his way to Mr. Kackley's he was shot dead and scalped, the Indians having concealed themselves behind two logs that lay one across the other near the road.
"In June, 1764, similar information of Indians being seen was received at the Fort. Maj. White, as on the former occasion, went in the afternoon to warn the people of their danger ; when the widow Thomas, Mr. Jones and Mr. Clouser, set off with their families for the Fort ; but night coming on when they reached Mr. Lloyd's, (about two miles from the Fort), they concluded to stay there all night. In the morning, as soon as day appeared, they resumed their journey ; but before they were out of sight of the house, the Indians attacked them, and killed, wounded, or took prisoners twenty-two or twenty-three persons. Evan Thomas, a son of the man killed the preceding summer, a boy of seven years old, ran back into the house, and hid himself behind some puncheons that he placed across a cor- ner of the room, and remained concealed, notwithstanding the Indians brought the prisoners into the house, among whom were his mother and sister, both tied, and kept them there till they fried bacon and ate their breakfast ; they then set fire to the house in two places, and went away. Evan said he continued in the house as long as he could, on account of the fire ; that he saw through a chink in the wall the direction the Indians went ; and not knowing which way to go, he concluded to take the contrary course from the one taken by them. He rambled about all that day and the most of the next before he found any person, the houses which he passed having been abandoned by their owners going to their Fort. The Indians en- camped the first night at a spring on the Romney road, between the North River and Little Capon ; and on the next day they stopped on the bank of the South Branch, near where Romney now stands, to eat their dinner. While thus engaged, a party who were stationed in a Fort a mile or two lower down the river, and who had just returned from a scout, discharged their guns in order to clean them, which alarmed the Indians, and they hurried across the river, assisting all their female prisoners except Mrs. Thomas, who being a large, fat woman, it was supposed would perish, as the water was rapid and deep. She floated down the stream, however, until almost exhaust- ed, when she had the good fortune to get on a rock, and saved her- self from drowning. She had put a piece of bread in her bosom the morning she was taken, and lost it in the water ; but it happened to float so near her while on the rock that she caught it and ate it ; which, as she said, so revived and strengthened her that she plunged into the water again, and providentially got out on the east side of the river. She reached Williams' Fort, two miles below the Hang- ing Rock, on the same day. It was often remarked by Mrs. Thomas' acquaintances, that after her return she would minutely
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relate the circumstances attending the murder of her husband and children, and her own sufferings, without shedding a tear. Either five or seven of the persons wounded by the Indians, were taken to the Fort of Maj. Robert White's, and attended by Dr. McDonald, though but one recovered, Hester Lloyd, who had two scalps taken from her."
Mrs. Thomas' daughter, and Mrs. Clouser and her three small daughters, were taken to the Indian towns, and after an absence of about six months, were released from captivity, and all returned home safely.
There is something remarkable in the history of the three Miss Clouser's, who were all prisoners at the same time. The eldest was about ten years old, the next eldest about seven, and the youngest between five and six. They all returned home from their captivity, grew up, were married, raised families of children, and are now widows, living in the same neighborhood, not more than five or six miles apart. Two of them, Mrs. Shultz, and Mrs. Snapp, reside about one and-a-half miles from the residence of the author, and the third, Mrs. Fry, is not exceeding six miles.
Miss Lloyd, who was "tomahawked and scalped," was soon dis- covered not to be dead. The late Dr. McDonald was sent for, who trepanned her in the several fractures in her head. She recovered and lived many years after. There are several respectable individu- als now living who knew this woman. *
The other party of eight Indians committed several murders on Cedar Creek. It is probable this party killed a Mr. Lyle, a Mr. Butler, and many others. Mr. Ellis Thomas, the husband of the woman whose story has just been given, was killed the harvest pre- ceding. This party of eight Indians took off two female prisoners, were pursued by a party of white inen, overtaken in the South Branch Mountain, and fired upon, when one of the Indians was killed. The others fled, leaving their guns, prisoners and plunder. ; The prisoners and property were brought home. Two of the fugi- tives overtook the party in the Alleghany Mountain who had Mrs. Clouser, her daughters, and other prisoners, in custody. The fugi- tives appeared in desperate ill-humor, and proposed to murder the prisoners, but the others peremptorily objected, and would not suffer their prisoners to be injured. #
The same year, 1764, a party of eight Indians, with a white man, by the name of Abraham Mittchell, killed George Miller, his wife and two children, within about two miles of Strasburg. They also the same day killed John Dellinger, on the land now the resi-
* General Smith, Maj. R. D. Glass, Miss Susan Glass, Mrs. Shultz, and Mrs. Snapp, severally stated to the author that they frequently saw this woman after she recovered from her wounds. Mrs. Shultz states that it was on the first day of June the outrage was committed.
+ Moses Russell, Esq.
# Mrs. Shultz and Mrs. Snapp.
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dence of Capt. Anthony Spengler, adjoining the town, and took Rachel Dellinger, with her infant child, prisoners. It was a male child, very stout, and heavy of its age. In crossing Sandy Ridge, west of Capon River, this child had its brains beaten out against a tree. A party of white men pursued them, overtook them in the South Branch Mountain, fired upon them, and killed one, when the others fled, leaving everything behind. Rachel Dellinger was brought home, and stated that the unprincipled scoundrel Mitchell was with the Indians. About twelve months before, Mitchell had been punished for a petty act of theft, while the people were at Bowman's Fort. Miller and Dellinger inflicted the punishment. *
At the massacre of the people near White's Fort, one of Mrs. Thomas' daughters, when the people were preparing to go to the Fort, was requested by Mrs. Closer to take a bottle of milk, in her hand, and carry it to the Fort. When the Indians assailed them, this young woman concealed herself behind a tree, and finally es- caped. As soon as she could run off without being discovered, she started and run eight or nine miles with the bottle of milk in her hand. She was met by two of the Fawcetts, near their residence, informed them of what had happened, and they forthwith removed their families to Stephen's Fort. t
A little son of Mrs. Thomas concealed himself under a pile of flax, which the Indians set on fire. As the fire progressed, the little fellow kept in a direction to avoid it, while the smoke concealed him from the sight of the enemy, and he got safe to the Fort.
Thomas Pugh resided at the time on the farm, late the residence of Mr. John M'Cool, eight or nine miles northwest of Winchester. The same party of Indians who committed the outrage near White's Fort, on the night after were lurking about Mr. Pugh's house. His dog gave the alarm ; and from his singular behavior, and manifesta- tions of rage, (as if he were engaged in a furious battle), Mr. Pugh cautiously looked out of a window, and although it was rather a dark night, he discovered several Indians looking over a cluster of briars, but a short distance from the house. He and his wife and children immediately retreated through a back door, and pushed off. They had not gone far, when Pugh recollected his money ; he turned back, got into the house, secured his money, took it with him, and saved himself and family from injury. During the whole time Pugh and his family were making their escape, the dog continued his up- roar, and as soon as they were out of danger followed them.} The
* The late Mrs. Brinker related the particulars of these occurrences to the author. Major Isaac Hite recollects when Miller and Dellinger were killed.
+ Stephen's Fort was the spot where Zane's iron works were afterwards erected on Cedar Creek. Mr. Elisha Fawcett, a near neighbor of the author, a higly respectable and intelligent man, stated to the author that he had fre- quently heard his father and uncle speak of this occurrence.
# Mr. Joseph Hackney informed the author that he had frequently heard
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Indians broke into the house, robbed it of what they chose, and des- troyed the furniture, but they did not burn the building. It is said they burnt but comparatively few liouses, because they expected to reconquor the country, and return to inhabit it ; in which event they would have comfortable houses ready built to their hands ; hence they generally spared the buildings.
About the year 1765, the Indians made their appearance in the neighborhood of Woodstock, in the County of Shenandoah. On Narrow Passage Creek, eighteen or twenty women and children had collected together, in order to go to the Fort at Woodstock. An old man by the name of George Sigler was with them. Five Indians attacked them. Sigler, after firing, and wounding one in the leg, clubbed his gun and fought to desperation. While he was thus en- gaged, the women and children made their escape, and got safe to the Fort. Sigler broke his gun over the heads of the enemy, wounded several of them pretty severely, and received himself several wounds, but continued to fight until he fell from the loss of blood, when his merciless enemies mangled his body in a manner shocking to behold. *
In 1766 the Indians made another visit to the neighborhood of Woodstock. Two men, by the name of Sheets and Taylor, had taken their wives and children into a wagon, and were on their way to the Fort. At the Narrow Passage, three miles south of Wood- stock, five Indians attacked them. The two men were killed at the first onset, and the Indians rushed to seize the woman and children. The women, instead of swooning at the sight of their bleeding, ex- piring husbands, seized their axes, and with Amazonian firmness, and strength almost superhuman, defending themselves and children. One of the Indians had succeeded in getting hold of one of Mrs. Sheet's children, and attempt to drag it out of the wagon ; but with the quickness of lightning she caught her child in one hand, and with the other made a blow at the head of the fellow, which caused him to quit his hold to save his life. Several of the Indians received pretty sore wounds in this conflict, and all at last ran off, leaving the two women with their children to pursue their way to the Fort.
In the latter part of August, the same year, a party of eight Indians and a worthless villian of a white man crossed Powell's Fort Mountain, to the South Fork of the Shenandoah, at the late resi- dence of John Gatewood, Esq., where the Rev. John Roads, a Men- onist preacher of the Gospel, then lived. Mr. Roads, his wife, and three of his sons, were murdered. Mr. Roads was standing in his door, when he was shot and fell dead. Mrs. Roads and one of her sons were killed in the yard. One of the young men was at the
Mr. Pughrelate this occurrence. This is another instance of the extraordin- ary evidence of the sagacity and affection of the dog, and is little inferior to the story of Mr. Wolfe's dog.
* Mr. Christian Miller, a very aged and intelligent man, gave the author this narrative.
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distance of about one hundred and fifty yards from the house, in a corn field. Hearing the report of the guns at the house, he as- cended a pear tree to see what it meant, where he was discovered by an Indian and instantly killed. The third poor young lad attempt- ed to save himself by flight, and to cross the river, but was pursued and killed in the river. The place is called the Bloody Ford to this day. The enemy demanded of the youth who was killed in the yard, where his father kept his money ; and was told that if he did not immediately point out the place, they would kill him ; but if he would show them the money, his life would be spared. On his de- claring he could not tell them, he was instantly shot and fell dead. Mr. Road's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, caught up her little sister, a child about sixteen or eighteen months old, ran into the barn, and secured the door. An Indian discovered and pursued her, and at- tempted to force the door ; but not succeeding, he with many oaths and threats ordered her to open it. On her refusing, the fellow ran back to the house to get fire, and while he was gone, Elizabeth crept out of a hole on the opposite side of the barn, with her little sister in her arms, ran through a field of tall hemp, crossed the river, and got safe to a neighboring house, and thus saved herself and sister.
After plundering the house of such articles as they chose to take, the Indians set fire to all the buildings, and left the dead body of Mr. Roads to be consumed in the flames. * They then moved off, taking with them two of the sons and two of the daugh- ters prisoners. The youngest prisoners was a weak, sickly little boy, eight or nine years of age ; he of course was not able to stand the fatigue of traveling, and crossing the head of Powell's Fort, they killed him. His two sisters then refusing to go any farther with them, were barbarously murdered, and their bodies left a prey to wolves and other wild beasts. The other boy was taken off and re- mained about three years in captivity before he returned home. It was generally believed at the time, that the white scoundrel who was with the Indians, induced them to commit this horrid murder, in order to rob Mr. Roads of his money ; but he missed his object. Mr. Roads kept his money and title papers in a niche in the cellar wall, the dampness and coolness preserved them from injury. They were all found safe.
It was quite a common thing with the Germans to have garners fixed in their garrets to preserve their grain. There was a quantity of rye aloft in the dwelling house, which was burnt to coal, and as
* Mrs. Stover, the mother of Daniel Stover, Esq., now of Page county, stated to the author that she was then about fifteen years old, and dis- tinctly saw the houses in flames from her father's residense, about two miles off, on the opposite side of the river ; and the next day the neigh- boring people collecting to bury the dead, found Mr. Roads' body about half consumed.
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the floors gave way to the flames, the rye fell in a considerable body into the cellar. At any time upon digging in the ruins of the cellar, the grains of rye, or rather coal, can be found ; the shape of the grain being as perfect as when in its natural state.
With this bloody tragedy ended the erruptions of the savages upon the people of the Valley. This was the last great outrage of savage warfare committed east of the North Mountain.
There are several other interesting occurrences which the au- thor overlooked and omitted to record in due order of time. They are of a character too interesting to be lost in the history of our country. He will therefore proceed to relate them.
About the year 1760, two Indians were discovered lurking in the neighborhood of Mill Creek. Matthias Painter, John Painter and William Moore, armed themselves and went in pursuit. They had not proceeded far, before they approached a large fallen pine, with a very bushy top. As they neared the tree, Matthias Painter observed, " We had better look sharp, it is quite likely the Indians are concealed under the tops of this tree." He had scarcely uttered the words before one of the Indians rose up and fired. The ball grazed the temple of John Painter. Moore and Painter fired at the same instant; one of their balls passed through the Indian's body, and he fell, they supposed dead enough. The other fellow fled, leav- ing his gun and everything else behind. The white men pursued him some distance, but the fugitive was too fleet for them. Find- ing they could not overhaul him, they gave up the chase and re- turned to the pine tree; but to their astonishment, the supposed dead Indian had moved off with both guns and a large pack of skins, &c. They pursued his trail, and when he found they were gaining upon him, he got into a sink hole, and as soon as they approached pretty near, commenced firing at them. He had poured out a quantity of powder on dry leaves, filled his mouth with bullets, and using a musket which was a self primer, he was enabled to load with astonishing quickness. He thus fired at least thirty times before they could get a chance to dispatch him. At last Mr. Moore got an opportunity and shot him through the head. Moore and Painter had many disputes which gave the fellow the first wound. Painter, at length yielded, and Moore got the premium allowed by law for In- dian scalps. *
The fugitive who made his escape, unfortunately met with a young woman on horseback, named Seehon, whom he tore from her horse, and forced off with him. This occurred near the present site of Newmarket, in the County of Shenandoah. After traveling about twenty miles, chiefly in the night, and getting nearly opposite Keisletown, in the County of Rockingham, it is supposed the poor girl broke down from fatigue, and the savage monster beat her to death with a heavy pine knot. Her screams were heard by some
* Mr. George Painter communicated this adventure to the author.
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people that lived upwards of a mile from the scene of horror, and who next day on going to the place to ascertain the cause, found her stripped naked, and weltering in her blood. *
At the attack on George Miller's family, the persons killed were a short distance from the house, spreading flax in a meadow. One of Miller's little daughters was sick in bed. Hearing the firing, she jumped up, and looking through a window and seeing what was done, immediately passed out at a back window, and ran about two or three miles, down to the present residence of David Stickley, Esq., and from thence to Geo. Bowman's, on Cedar Creek, giving notice at each place. Col. Abraham Bowman, of Kentucky, then a lad of sixteen or seventeen, had but a few minutes before passed close by Miller's door, and at first doubted the little girl's statement. He, however, armed himself, mounted his horse, and in riding to the scene of action, was joined by several others who had turned out for the same purpose, and soon found the information of the little girl too fatally true.
The late Mr. Thomas Newell, of Shenandoah county, informed the author that he was then a young man. His father's residence was about one mile from Miller's house, and hearing the firing lie instantly took his rifle, and ran to see what it meant. When he arrived at the spot, he found Miller, his wife, and two children, weltering in their blood, and still bleeding. He was the first person who arrived ; and in a few minutes Bowman and several others joined him. From the scene of the murder they went to the house, and on the sill of the door lay a large folio German Bible, on which a fresh killed cat was thrown. On taking up the Bible it was dis- covered that fire had been placed in it ; but after burning through a few leaves, the weight of that part of the book which lay upper- most, together with the weight of the cat, had so compressed the leaves as to smother and extinguish the fire. t
In the year 1768, Capt. William White, a brave and active In- dian fighter, made a visit to Col. William Crawford, who had re- moved and settled at the Meadows, in the Alleghany Mountains. White lived on Cedar Creek, and Crawford had lived on Bull-skin. They had been out together on Indian expeditions ; of course were well acquainted. Crawford had an Irish servant, a pretty stout and active man, who was permitted to accompany White on an hunting excurion. They had not been out long when they discovered two Indians in the glades. The latter, the moment they discovered
* Mrs. Brenaman, an aged and respectable old lady near Pennybacker's iron works, gave the author this information.
t This Bible is now in the possession of Mr. George Miller of Shenan- doah county, about one-half a mile south of Zane's old iron works. The au- thor saw and examined it. The fire had been placed about the center of the Second Book of Samuel, burnt through fourteen leaves, and entirely out at one end. It is preserved in the Miller family, as a sacred relic or memento of the sacrifice of their ancestors.
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the two white men, flew behind trees, and prepared for battle. White and his Irishman, however, soon out-generaled them, and killed them both. They were soon after apprehended, and commit- ted to Winchester jail on a charge of murder. But White had ren- dered his neighbors too many important services, and was too popu- lar, to be permitted to languish loaded with irons in a dungeon for killing Indians. Although the Indian hostilities had entirely ceased, too many individuals were smarting under a recollection of the outrages they had but recently experienced at the hands of their merciless, savage and implacable foe. Soon after White and his partner in the charge were committed to jail. Capt. Abraham Fry, raised a party of fifty-five or sixty volunteers, well-armed and mounted, to affect their rescue. They dismounted near the present site of Mr. Isaac Hollingsworth's dwelling-house, where they had left their horses under a guard of a few men, and marched into Winchester about daybreak next morning. They repaired directly to the jail door, knocked up the jailor, and demanded the keys. The jailer hesitated, and attempted to remonstrate. Fry presented his rifle, cocked it, and peremptorily demanded the keys, telling the jailer he would be a dead man in one minute if he did not deliver them. The jailer quailed under the fiery countenance and stern menaces of Fry, and complied. Fry placed a guard at the door, went in, knocked off their irons, and took the prisoners out. The late Robert Rutherford attempted to harangue the mob upon the impropriety and danger of their proceedings ; but he might as well have addressed himself to so many lions and tigers. As Fry's party marched into town, it created considerable alarm and excite- ment. The women, half dressed, were seen running from house to house and calling out, " Well done, brave fellows, good luck to you brave boys." This cheering of Fry's party at once convinced them the public sympathy and good feeling were on their side. The prisoners were taken off and set at liberty. Capt. White after- wards distinguished himself at the bloody battle of the Point, under Col. Servier.
The author had heard something of this story more than forty years ago. The late Capt. James Wilson, of the neighborhood of Stephensburg, had stated some of the particulars, but not suffi- ciently connected to give to the world. The author was there- fore apprehensive that he would not be able, at this late period, to collect the facts. Whilst engaged in obtaining materials for this work, he called on the late Thomas Newell, of Shenandoah county, and among other things inquired of him whether he had any know- ledge or recollection of the affair. This venerable man, then ninety- three years of age, in his second childhood, and his recollection of recent events entirely gone, the moment the inquiry was made, with much animation and a cheerful countenance, replied, "Yes, my friend, I reckon I can tell you, when I was one of the very boys." The author then asked the old gentlemen whether he would have
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