USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia from 1800 to 1922 > Part 33
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became visible in the eastern sky. The joyous warblers were gayly flitting from branch to branch, and caroling their sweetest lays, while the sun rose above the mountain summit, shooting his bright beams on the spark- ling dew-drops, which hung like so many diamonds from the green boughs of the mountain shrubbery, giving, altogether, an air of gorgeous beauty, which seemed to deny the truth of the evening's tale. The light clouds, swimming in the eastern atmosphere, brilliantly tinted with the rising sun,
And the gentle murmur of the morning breeze, Singing nature's anthem to the forest trees,
seemed to say such horrid work could not be done by beings wearing human form. But alas! while nature teaches naught but love, men teach them- selves lessons which call forth her sternest frowns.
A hasty breakfast was prepared, and the men set off to Mr. Evans's house to bury the murdered children. With a heart too full for utterance, the father led the way, as if afraid to look at those little forms for whose happiness he had toiled, and braved the dangers of a frontier life. But a day ago he had dandled them on his knee, and listened to their innocent prattle; they were now monuments of Indian barbarity.
Turning a hill, the fatal garden was instantly painted on the retina of the fond parent's eye, to be as quickly erased by the silent tears which over- flowed their fountain, and came trickling down his weather-beaten face.
The party came up on the back of the house; on the front stood the milkhouse, over a spring of clear cold water, when lo! they beheld coming up, as it were, from the very depths of the grave, Mary, a little child only four years old, who had recovered from the stunning blow of the tomahawk, and had been in quest of water at the familiar old spring, around which, but a day before, she had sported in childish glee. The scalp that had been torn from the skull, was hanging hideously over her pale face, which was much besmeared with blood. She stretched out her little arms to meet her father, who rushed to her with all the wild joy of one whose heart beats warm with parental emotions: She had wandered about in the dark from the time she recovered, and it may be, that more than once tried to wake her little sisters, on whose heads the tomahawk had fallen with greater force. This poor, half-murdered little child lived, married, and raised a large family.
After this unfortunate affair, Mr. Evans became dissatisfied, and re- solved to emigrate to Tennessee. He did so, and settled in a neighborhood near a fort about fifteen miles from Nashville. During the summer season, the frontiermen placed their families in forts, as well in Tennessee as in Virginia. In the summer of 1775 or'76 Mr. Evans took his two sons, Robert, a lad of fourteen, and Daniel, an elder son, together with five hired men, and set out to work a piece of corn about two miles from the fort. When they arrived at the field, they stacked their guns, and began their labors: they had not worked long, when they were fired upon by a party of about fifteen Indains. Fortunately, no one was killed; a ball entered Daniel's thigh, which disabled him. The white men started for their guns with all
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haste, but seeing that the Indains were likely to get to them as soon as themselves, all turned back but Mr. Evans and his son Robert, who pushed on to the stack. As Mr. Evans was in the act of getting hold of a gun, he was seized by a large Indian, who threw him to the ground, and had already unsheathed liis scalping-knife and raised it to give the fatal blow, when Robert seized a gun, and placing it against the Indian's side as he lay upon his father, fired. The ball entered the Indian's heart; the knife fell harm- less, and from under his writhing body, Mr. Evans sprung to his feet, and commenced a rapid firing upon the advancing Indians: Robert followed his example, and the Indians were soon brought to a halt. The men who had run off, seeing how affairs stood, turned back, and soon routed the Indians. Daniel was carried to the fort, where he lay for some time in con- sequence of the wound in his hip.
In the fall, about the time Daniel was getting well, flour became scarce in the fort, and as it could be purchased only at Nashville, a company of five were ordered to start after it. Companies ordered on such excursions were usually chosen by lot, and this time Jesse Evans was allotted to form one of the number. When the horses were ready, Daniel begged to take his fatlier's place. The old man objected, but Daniel succeeded in drawing off his father's attention long enough to mount his horse; putting spurs to him, lie was soon out of the old man's reach. About two hundred yards from the fort was a dense canebrake, through which led the Nashville trail. Daniel's maneuvering with his father, had thrown him some thirty yards in the rear; looking ahead, he saw quite a number of guns on either side of the trail. He hallooed to his companions to push through; they however turned about, and tried to gain the fort, but to no purpose, as they were killed to a man. Daniel made his way through, and by a circuitous route reached the fort unhurt. When he examined, he found three bullet-holes through his clothes, and two through his hat near his head. The people in the fort hearing the firing, and the groans, and screams of the dying, and yells of the Indians, rushing out, attacked the Indians. Among those who left the fort, was the boy Robert Evans. In a short time the Indians were scattered and con- cealed in different parts of the canebrake. A drive, as it is called, was in- stituted: this was effected by stretching themselves across the canebrake and forming a line which would scour its entire body, so that nothing could escape detection which might be lodged in the brake. In the course of the drive, Robert was separated from the main body, and got a considerable distance ahead. In passing a fallen tree, an Indian sprung from behind it and attempted to shoot him: but before the Indian could get his rifle leveled, Robert had hold of it, and in a second wrenched it from the Indian's grasp. The Indian rushed on Robert, who sprang back and snapped the gun at the Indian's breast. On came the enraged savage, who had by this time drawn his scalping-knife, to engage in one of those close combats so common in Indian warfare; but Robert dropped the gun, and drawing his tomahawk, sent its blade deep into the head of his savage antagonist; a spring in the air, a fall, a groan, and the Indian was dead.
Taking up the gun, Scalping-knife and tomahawk, he soon joined the main body, who were sent to bring forth the dead Indian from the cane- Har-27
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brake, as a trophy of Robert's valor. This feat, and the death of the Indian whom he shot from his father, had made Robert a conspicuous character, and few expeditions were undertaken, in which he did not participate.
The appearance of about two hundred warriors in the settlement, caused Col. Crawford to raise a company to repel them. He succeeded in raising about one hundred men as volunteers, among whom, were the two Evans boys, Daniel and Robert. When they got to the Tennessee, they found the Indians camped on the opposite side. The men refused to ford the river, which was deep and rapid, before the appearance of daylight. But Col. Crawford saw the necessity of striking the enemy while asleep, accordingly he began to ask for volunteers to follow him over. The first that stepped out was Robert, then several others, among them Daniel, and finally fifty joined him. So small was Robert, and so rapid the stream, that Crawford and another man took him between them to keep the cur- rent from washing him off.
When the fifty had crossed, Col. Crawford organized, and made Daniel's fire the signal for the commencement of the battle. They cautiously ap- proached and found the Indians sound asleep. When all were sufficiently near, Daniel leveled his gun at a very large Indian who had made a pillow of the root of a tree, and was wrapped in sweetest slumber, little dreaming, how near was the mortal end. He fired; the Indian rolled over and expired. In a second the camp was lighted up by the glare of the backwoods' rifle; the Indians sprung to their feet only to be shot down. Those who escaped took to the woods, and were no more heard of. Upward of fifty Indians were killed in much less time than it takes to tell the tale.
When Gen. Jackson commenced operations in the south, these boys, who were now able-bodied men, together with John, a younger brother, joined him, and were with him in all his battles. At New Orleans they figured conspicuously. Daniel and Robert had both married, previous to joining Jackson's army. In 1817, Robert died (a poor man), leaving four children. These General Jackson offered to educate, and insisted on the privilege, from the great intimacy which had existed between himself and Robert; but Daniel, who had married wealthy, thought that it would be allowing himself to be outdone by strangers, and accordingly took charge of them himself. Daniel died in 1835. At the last accounts, John, and old Mrs. Evans, their mother, were living.
CHAPTER V. JAMES MOORE AND THE MOORE FAMILY.
JAMES MOORE TAKEN PRISONER.
In September, 1784, a party of Indians had entered the present limits of Tazewell, and dividing themselves into small parties to steal horses and to annoy the settlers, three had entered the Abb's valley settlement, in which resided Capt. James Moore and a brother-in-law named John Pogue- (this name is spelled Podge by the writer of the Moore narrative in Howe's History of Virginia). The Indians had been for a day or two lurking round, waiting, and looking for an opportunity to seize horses or murder the settlers. While they are thus waiting, we will turn to a scene in Captain Moore's cabin, and take a look at western life and become somewhat acquainted with the hero of this narrative.
The cabin stood in Abb's valley, near the present residence of William Moore, Esq., son of our hero. It was built of heavy logs, and for the age in which it was built and existed, exhibited some show of comfort. A ladder leading "up stairs" (or as the common name for that apartment of a build- ing still prevalent in the country "loft"), or in other words where a second story would have been sought for, was placed behind the door, on the rounds of which, were hung various articles of clothing, the manufacture of the amiable lady of the house, who, though situated in the wild backwoods, showed tliat the lessons given by an Augusta mother to her daughter, had not been in vain. At the head of a bed occupying one corner of the room, stood several guns, which showed plainly that war was expected. On a shelf between two beds, were, among other things, a few scattered volumes, of English print, and among them the well-thumbed leaves of a family Bible. The old gentleman was conversing with his wife upon the condition of the meal, and was told by her that he would have to send to mill, which was about twelve miles distance from Capt. Moore's residence.
James, Jr., our hero, a lad of fourteen summers, was busily engaged in reading the tale of Valentine and Orson, the vivid characters of which, had taken complete possession of his young and active imagination. So engrossed was he with the history of these brothers, that he continued up, long after the remainder of the family had retired to rest. He had got to the most thrilling part of the narrative where Orson is depicted in his most hideous aspect, when the screaming of the geese reminded him it was bed-time.
He lay down, but his imagination had been carried to that degree of excitement which prevents sound slumber, and he frequently awoke, from imperfect naps, to be continually harassed by the imaginary form of Orson by his side, until sleep forsook his eyes and he suffered his imagination to take its own sway, and work up such demons, in the shape of hairy mnen, as it might sce fit.
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The breaking day called up the father, who was an early riser, to pre- pare for the labors of the season, and to get a bag of corn ready for the mill. As soon as breakfast was had, James, whose mind was still confused with the dread of imaginary hairy men, was sent by his father to get a horse on which to ride to the mill. He started to a waste plantation about two and a half miles distant. We will let Mr. Mcore tell a portion hin self, which I quote from the Rev. Mr. Brown's narrative inserted in Howe's History of Virginia.
"Notwithstanding this, I had not proceeded more than half the dis- tance to the field, before a sudden dread, or panic, came on me. The ap pearance of the Indian who took me, was presented to my mind, although at the time I did not think of an Indian, but rather that some wild animal in human shape would devour me. Such was my alarm, that I went on trembling, frequently looking back, expecting to see it. Indeed I would have returned home, but for the fear that with such an excuse, my father would be displeased, and perhaps send me back. I therefore proceeded on till I came near the field, when suddenly three Indians sprung from behind a log, one of whom laid hold of me. Being much alarmed at the time with the apprehension of being devoured, and believing this to be the animal I had dreaded, I screamed with all my might. The Indian who had hold of me, laid his hand on my head, and, in the Indian language, told me to hush. Looking him in the face, and perceiving that it was an Indian, I felt greatly relieved, and spoke out aloud, 'it is an Indian, why need I fear,' and thought to myself, 'all that is in it, is, I will have to go to the Shawnee towns.'
"In this company, there were only three Indians, a father and son, and one other; the former bearing the name of 'Black Wolf," a middle aged man, of the sternest countenance I ever beheld, about six feet high, having a black beard. The others, I suppose, were about eighteen years of age, and all of the Shawnee tribe. I belonged to the Black Wolf who had captured me: we immediately proceeded to an old cabin, near which were the horses. Here we made a halt, and the old Wolf told me to catch the horses, and gave me some salt for that purpose. My object was to catch one and mount, and make my escape; but suspecting my intention, as often as I would get hold of a horse they would come running up, and thus scare him away. Finding that I could not get a horse for myself, I had no wish, and did not try to catch one for them, and so, after a few efforts, abandoned the attempt This, I suppose, was about one o'clock in the afternoon .* The Indians then went into a thicket, where were concealed their kettle and blankets, after which we immediately proceeded on our journey.
"In consequence of the high weeds, green briers, logs, and steep moun- tainous character of the country, the walking was very laborious, and we traveled that evening only about eight miles. The two younger Indians went before, myself next, and the old Wolf in the rear. If marks were made, he would carefully remove them with his tomahawk. I frequently broke bushes, which he discovered, and shook his tomahawk over my head to let me know the consequence if I did not disist. I would then scratch the
*They must have occupied much time in trying to catch the horses, or I am wrongly informed as to the time that James left home .- Bickley.
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ground with my feet. This he also discovered, and made me desist, showing me how to set my feet flat, so as not to leave any marks. It then became necessary to cease my efforts to make a trail for others, as they were all immediately detected. In the evening, about sun-down, the old Wolf gave a tremendous war-whoop, and another next morning at sun-rise. These were repeated evening and morning during our whole journey. It was long, loud and shrill, and intended to signify that they had one prisoner. Their custom is to repeat it as frequent as the number of prisoners. It is different from their war-whoop when they have scalps, and in this way it can be known, as far as the whoop is heard, whether they have prisoners or scalps, and also the number.
"But to return; the night was rainy; we lay down in a laurel thicket, without food or fire. Previous to this, the old Wolf had searched mc care- fully, to see whether I had a knife. After this he tied one end of a leading halter very tightly around my neck, and wrapped the other end around his hand, so as to make it secure, as well as very difficult to get away without awaking him. Notwithstanding my situation was thus dreary, gloomy and distressing, I was not altogether prevented from sleep. Indeed, I suppose few persons were ever more resigned to their fate.
"The next morning we resumed our journey about daybreak, and con- tinued down Tug creek about two miles, until we reached the main ridge of Tug mountain, along which we descended until we came to Maxwell's gap. At this place, the old Wolf went off and brought in a middle-sized Dutch oven, which had been secreted on their former expedition. The carriage of this was assigned to me. At first it was fastened to my back, but after suf- fering much, I threw it down, saying I would carry it no more. Upon this, the old Wolf placed down his bundle, and told me to carry it, but on finding that I could not lift it, I became more reconciled, took up the oven again, * and after some days filled it with leaves, and carried it with more ease. We continued on the same ridge the whole of that day, and encamped on it at night, In the evening there came on a rain, and the son of the Black Wolf pulled off my hat. This I resented, struck him, and took it from him. He then showed me by signs with it that he wished to protect his gun-lock from the rain. I then permitted him to have it, and after the rain he returned it.
"For three days we traveled without sustenance of any kind, save some water in which poplar bark had been steeped. On the fourth day we killed a buffalo, took out the paunch, cut it open, rinsed it a little in the water, cut it up, and put it into the kettle, with some pieces of the flesh, and made broth. Of this we drank heartly, without eating any of the meat. After night we made another kettle of broth, yet eat no meat. This is Indian policy after fasting.
"I traveled the whole route barefooted; the consequence of which was. that I had three stone bruises on each foot, and at this time my sufferings were very great. Frequently I would walk over rattlesnakes, but was not permitted to kill any, the Indians considering them their friends.
"Some few days after this, we killed a buffalo that was very fat, and dried as much of the meat as lasted for several days. After this, we killed
*There is some ambiguity in this part of the narrative .- Bickley.
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deer and buffalo as our wants required, until we reached their towns, near what is now called Chillicothe, in Ohio, just twenty days from the time we set out. We crossed the Ohio between the mouths of Guyandotte and Big Sandy, on a raft made of dry logs, and tied together with grapevines. On the banks of the Sciota we remained one day. Here they made pictures to represent three Indians, and me, their prisoner. Near this place, the old Wolf went off and procured some bullets which he had secreted.
"When we came near the towns, the Indians painted themselves black, but did not paint me. This was an omen of my safety. I was not taken directly to the town, but to the residence of Wolf's half sister, to whom I was sold for an old liorse. The reason why I was not taken directly to the town, was, I suppose, first, because it was a time of peace; secondly, that I might be saved from running the gauntlet, which was the case with prisoners taken in war. Shortly after I was sold, my mistress left me entirely alone, for several days, in her wigwam, leaving a kettle of hominy for me to eat. In this solitary situation I first began to pray, and call upon God for mercy and deliverance, and found great relief. Having cast my burden on the Lord, I would rise from my knees, and go off cheerfully. I had been taught to pray. My father prayed in his family; and I now found the benefit of the religious instructions I had received.
"On one occasion, while on our journey, I was sent some distance for water. Supposing that I was entirely out of view, I gave vent to iny feelings, and wept abundantly. The old Indian, however, had watched me, and noticing the marks of tears ou my cheeks, he shook his tomahawk over my head, to let me know I must not do so again. Their object in sending me off was, as I suppose, to see whether I would attempt to escape, as the sit- uation appeared favorable for that purpose. After this, I was no longer fastened with a halter. In about two weeks after I was sold, my mistress sent me, with others, on a hunting excursion. In this we were very unsuc- cessful. The snow being knee deep, the blanket too short to cover me, and having very little other clothing, my suffering from hunger and cold were intense. Often, after having lain down, and drawn up my feet to get them under the blanket, I became so benumbed that it was with difficulty that I could straighten myself again. Early in the morning, the old Indian would build up a large fire, and make me and the young Indians plunge all over in cold water. This, I think, was a great benefit, as it prevented us from taking cold.
"When we returned from hunting, in the spring, the old man gave me up to Captain Elliot, a trader, from Detroit. But my mistress, on hearing this, became very angry, threatened Elliot, and got me back. Some time in April there was a dance at a town about two miles from where I resided. This I attended in company with the Indian to whom I belonged. Meeting with a French trader from Detroit, by the name of Batest Ariome, who took a fancy to me on account of my resemblance to one of his sons. he bought me for fifty dollars in Indian money .* Before leaving the dance, I met with a Mr. Sherlock, a trader from Kentucky, who had formerly been a prisoner to the same tribe of Indians, and who had rescued a lad by the
*This consisted of silver brooches, crosses, etc.
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name of Moffit, who had been captured at the head of Clinch, and whose father was an intimate and particular friend of my father's .* I requested Mr. Sherlock to write to my father, through Mr. Moffit, informing him of my captivity, and that I had been purchased by a French trader, and was gone to Detroit. This letter, I have reason to believe, father received, and that it gave him the first information of what had become of me.
"Mr. and Mrs. Ariome were to me parents indeed. They treated me like one of their own sons. I ate at their table, and slept with their sons, in a good feather bed. They always gave me good counsel, and advised me (particularly Mrs. Ariome) not to abandon the idea of returning to my friends. I worked on the farm with her sons, and occasionally assisted him in his trading expeditions. We traded at different places, and sometimes went a considerable distance in the country.
"On one of these occasions, four young Indians began to boast of their bravery; and among other things, said that one Indian could whip four white men. This provoked me, and I told them that I could whip all four of them. They immediately attacked me, but Mr. Ariome, hearing the noise, came and took me away. This I considered a kind providence; for the Indians are very unskillful in boxing, and in this manner of fighting, I could easily have whipped all of them; but when they began to find tliem- selves worsted, I expected them to attack me with clubs or some other weapon, and if so, had laid my plans to kill them all with a knife, which I concealed in my belt, mount a fleet horse, which was close at hand, and escape to Detroit.
"It was on one of these trading expeditions, that I first heard of the destruction of father's family. This I learned through a Shawnee Indian, with whom I had been acquainted when I lived with them, and who was one of the party on that occasion. I received this information some time in the summer after it occurred. In the following winter, I learned that iny sister Polly had been purchased by Mr. Stogwell, an American by birth, but unfriendly to the American cause. He was a man of bad character- an unfeeling wretch-and treated my sister with great unkindness. At that time he resided a considerable distance fromn me. When I heard of my sister, I immediately prepared to go and see her; but as it was then in the dead of winter, and the journey would have been attended with great diffi- culties, on being told, by Mr. S., that he intended to remove to the neighbor- hood, where I resided in the following spring, I declined it. When I heard that Mr. Stogwell had removed, as was contemplated, I immediately went to see her. I found her in the most abject condition, almost naked, being clothed with only a few dirty and tattered rags, exhibiting to my mind, an obfect of pity indeed. It is impossible to describe my feelings on that oc- casion; sorrow and joy were both combined; and I have no doubt the feelings of my sister were similar to my own. On being advised, I applied to the commanding officer at Detroit, informing him of her treatment, with the hope of effecting her release. I went to Mr. Simon Girty, and to Col. Mckee the superintendent of the Indians, who had Mr. Stogwell brought to trial to answer to the complaint brought against him. But I failed to procure
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