USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > History of Augusta County, Virginia > Part 24
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commenced at once, and became general, the Indians soon being dislodged from the shelter of the trees. The fight continued with unabated fierce- ness until night, during which both armies lay on their arms. Both adopted the policy of kindling large fires along the line of battle, and then retiring some distance in rear of them, to prevent being surprised by a night attack. In the morning Crawford's force occupied the battle-ground of the preceding day. The Indians did not renew the attack until late in the afternoon, but were seen traversing the plains in large numbers in va- rious directions. Some seemed employed in carrying off their dead and wounded.
During the forenoon a council of officers was held, in which a retreat was resolved on, as the only means of saving the army, the Indians ap- pearing to increase in numbers every hour. During the sitting of the Council, Col. Williamson, the leader of the former expedition, proposed to take 150 volunteers and march against whatever odds directly to the Upper Sandusky. To this Col. Crawford objected.
During the day the Indians discovered Crawford's preparation for a re- treat, and about sundown attacked him with great force and fury, in every direction but that of Sandusky. By this, the only opening, the army be- gan its retreat, and, by a circuitous route, reached the trail by which they had come. The retreat was continued during the day and that following, the pursuit being retarded by a rear-guard of sharpshooters.
Unfortunately, when a retreat was resolved on, a difference of opinion prevailed concerning the best mode of effecting it. The majority thought it best to keep in a body, while a considerable number thought it best to break off in small parties and make their way home in different directions. Many attempted to do so, thinking the Indians would follow the main body. In this they were mistaken. The Indians paid little attention to the main body of the army, but pursued the detached parties with such activity that but few escaped. The only successful detached party was that of about forty men, under Col. Williamson. It broke through the Indian lines late at night, under a galling fire, and made good its retreat.
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, son-in-law, and two nephews, he halted and called for them as the line passed him, but in vain, After the army had passed him, he was unable to overtake it, owing to the weari- ness of his horse. Falling in company with Dr. Knight and two others, they traveled all night, first north, then east, to avoid pursuit. On the next day they fell in with Capt. Biggs and Lieut. Ashley, and encamped together the succeeding night. On the next day, while on their march, they were attacked by a party of Indians, who made prisoners of Craw- ford and Knight, while the others escaped. The prisoners were taken to
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an Indian encampment near by, where they found nine fellow prisoners and seventeen savages. On the next day they were marched to the old Wyandotte town, and the following morning four of the prisoners were scalped and tomahawked.
Preparations were now made for the execution of Col. Crawford.
It was on the 11th day of June, and the afternoon was well spent, when Crawford, under escort of his tormentors, arrived at this ever-memorable spot of ground. They here met many Wyandottes from the Half King's town, and men, squaws and children from Capt. Pipe's village just below. A fire was brightly burning. Crawford was stripped naked and ordered to sit down near the fire. The Indians now beat him with their fists and sticks. The fatal stake-a post about fifteen feet high-had been set firmly in the ground, and piles of hickory poles rather thicker than a man's thumb, and from eight to twelve feet long, lay at the distance of four or five yards from the stake. Crawford's hands were tied behind his back. A strong rope was produced, one end of which was fastened to the ligature between his wrists, and the other tied to the post near the ground. The rope was long enough to permit him to walk around the stakes sev- eral times and then return.
Crawford, observing these terrible preparations, called to Simon Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from the fire, and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. Girty very coolly replied in the affirmative. Crawford heard the reply with firmness, merely observ- ing that he would bear it with fortitude.
When the poles had been burnt asunder in the middle, Captain Pipe arose and addressed the crowd in a tone of great energy, and with ani- mated gestures, pointing frequently to Crawford, who regarded him with an appearance of unruffled composure. As soon as he had ended his harangue, a loud whoop burst forth from the assembled throng, and all made a rush for the unfortunate prisoner. For several seconds the crowd was so great around Crawford that Knight, who was seated a little dis- tance away, could not see what they were doing, but in a short time they sufficiently dispersed to give him a view of the Colonel. His ears had been cut off, and the blood was streaming down each side of his face.
A terrible scene of torture now commenced. The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked body, commencing with the calves of his legs, and continuing to his neck. It was the opinion of Knight that no less than seventy loads were discharged upon him. Three or four Indians by turns would take up one of the burning pieces of poles and apply the burning end to his naked body, already burnt black with powder. These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him, so that whichever way he ran round the post they met him with the burning brands. Some of the squaws took broad pieces of bark, upon which they could carry a
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quantity of burning coals and hot embers, and threw them on him, so that in a short time he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon !
In the midst of these extreme tortures, Crawford called Girty, and begged of him to shoot him through the heart. "Don't you see I have no gun, Colonel?" replied the white savage monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then, turning to an Indian by his side, he uttered some brutal jest upon the naked and miserable appearance of the suffering prisoner, and seemed delighted at the horrid scene. The terrible ordeal had lasted more than two hours, and Crawford had become much exhausted. He walked slowly around the stake upon his fiery pathway, and in a low tone of voice earnestly besought God to pardon all his sins and have mercy on his soul. His nerves had lost much of their sens.bility, and he no longer shrank from the firebrands with which his tormentors incessantly touched him. At length he sank in a fainting fit upon his face, and lay motionless. Instantly an Indian sprang upon his back, knelt lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife upon the crown of his head, and, clapping his knife between his teeth, tore the scalp off with both hands. Scarcely had this been done when a withered old hag approached with a piece of bark full of coals and burning embers, and poured them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the bone. The Colonel groaned deeply, arose and again walked slowly around the stake. Nature, at length, could endure no more, and at a late hour in the evening he fell for the last time, and sweetly welcomed death, which at one stroke bore Col. Wm. Crawford beyond the reach of his tormentors, and gave Wyandotte county a martyr hero of whom she is justly proud. Crawford's disas- trous campaign was the last which occurred during the Revolution in the Sandusky settlements.
By the treaties of Fort Stanwix, 1784, and that of 1785, between the United States and the Wyandottes, Delawares, Chippeways and Ottoways, the United States acquired all the lands lying west of Pennsylvania-the vast western domains of those tribes. These treaties did not bring peace ; the barbarians were constantly on the war-path, and the government, in 1794, dispatched Gen. Wayne to the west with a large force. He met the Indians in battle at the rapids of the Great Maumee, August, 1794, and totally routed them, inflicting on them terrible losses in killed and wounded. And thus was terminated the long and sanguinary wars on the western frontier.
SECOND SIEGE OF FORT HENRY.
In September, 1782, a body of three hundred and fifty Indians and British, under command of George Girty, a brother of the notorious Si- mon Girty, and said to be a more ruthless man, and a company of Queen's Rangers, commanded by Capt. Pratt, made their appearance in front of
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the fort and summoned it to surrender. The besiegers marched up, headed by a fife and drum, and with the British flag flying. To the de- mand for a surrender of the fort, the inmates returned a contemptuous refusal, and defied the white and red savages to do their worst. Girty deemed it imprudent to make the attack until nightfall, and continued to palaver, during which the besieged loaded the renegade with abuse, and occasionally fired a shot at him, but the distance was too great for effect.
Fortunately for the inmates that the attack had not commenced half an hour earlier, for some days previous to the appearance of the savages scouts had been across the Ohio, but discovering no traces of the enemy, returned on the afternoon of Saturday and reported accordingly. This news had the effect of lulling the inmates into a feeling of security, so that it was scarcely deemed necessary to fasten the gates at night.
A day or two previous to the time of which we write, Andrew Zane had gone to Catfish for a supply of liquor. Returning with two kegs (one in each end of a bag) he discovered, as he supposed, when near the present site of Mount Wood Cemetery, indications of Indians. Concealing his kegs, he hurried to the fort with all haste, and gave the alarm. Those who had just returned from the Indian country laughed at his fears, but most of the men said they would go along and have a "spree."
Nearly the whole efficient force of the garrison accompanied Zane, and finding no Indians, repaired to the spring already alluded to, and there treated themselves to a glorious "blow out." Before starting with Zane, it was deemed advisable, with the characteristic caution of experienced frontiersmen, to send across the river two spies, who might give the alarm in case of danger. As the party at the spring were busy with their " grog," the alarm guns of the scouts were fired on the island, and at the same moment a large body of Indians were crossing the creek just above back-water. A simultaneous rush was made for the fort, and scarcely had the last man entered when the Indians appeared in large numbers crossing the bottom.
All at once became activity and bustle in the fort. The men prepared for an energetic defence, each arming himself with a rifle, tomahawk, scalping-knife and spear. The women were busy in running bullets, se- curing the children, etc. The whole number of fighting men within the stockade did not exceed eighteen, while the number of women and chil- dren was about forty.
Shortly before the enemy appeared, a canoe loaded with cannon balls, designed for Gen. Clark, at Louisville, in charge of a man named Sulli- van and two others, landed at Wheeling, to remain over night. Sullivan was a shrewd and experienced soldier, well versed in Indian cunning, and on this account was selected to manage the affairs of the fort during the seige, as the commandant, Capt. Boggs, had gone for succor immediately
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on the alarm of the enemy's approach. Sullivan was a man of discrimi- nation and courage, and well qualified for the post of commander. His shrill voice could be heard at all hours, urging on the men and consoling the women. But at length he was wounded, and for a time had to give way.
About sundown, Girty made a second demand for surrender, declaring that should be his last summons, and swearing, if they refused, that the fort would be stormed and every soul massacred. He was answered by taunts of defiance. The besieged said they remembered too well the fate of Col. Crawford to give up and be butchered like dogs, Girty replied that their doom was sealed ; he had taken their express, and all hope of safety might be given up. Sullivan inquired what kind of looking man the messenger was. "A fine, smart, active young fellow," answered the outlaw chief. " That's a d-d lie," said Sullivan ; " he is an old, gray-headed man."
Finding all attempts to intimidate in vain, Girty led on his white and red army of savages, and attempted to carry out his threats of storming the fort. Near the centre of the stockade, and at a point sufficiently ele- vated to clear the pickets, was a small French cannon, which the enemy could at times see, but which they tauntingly said was "wood," and dared them to shoot. Having approached within a convenient distance, and just as the whole party was pressing up in deep columns, the " bull-dog " was let off, cutting a passage through the ranks of wondering and affrighted savages. Captain Pratt, who had heard guns and knew how they sounded, cried out to his swarthy comrades, "Stand back! By G-, there's no wood about that !" The Indians and the "Rangers " gave way at the first discharge, but soon rallied and returned. Girty divided his force into small parties, and attacked the fort at different points ; now attempting to storm it, and again to fire it. In this manner the seige was kept up dur- ing the whole night, and but few such nights were ever passed upon the frontier.
One of the bastions having given way, but two were of use, and these the men occupied in turn. The women, during that long and perilous night, proved themselves heroines of no ordinary type. They stood at their posts like soldiers of a dozen campaigns, cooling and loading the rifles of their husbands, brothers and lovers. Such women were worthy the love and devotion of men like these. No timid shrieks escaped them ; no maidenly fears caused them to shrink from their self-imposed and most onerous task. Such were the pioneer mothers of the west-women whose souls and bodies were so sorely tried in the fierce fire of our Indian wars. Through the whole of that long and terrible night, without food and with- out rest, did these brave and noble women stand to their duty, regardless of fatigue, but nerving their hearts to the contest and animating the men
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with hope and courage. The Greek matron who urged her son to the conflict, charging him to return with his shield or upon it, displayed no more zeal, devotion and true courage than these hero-women of the west. History is full of examples of female heroism. Israel had her Judith and Deborah ; France glories in her Joan and Lavalette ; two of them unsexed themselves in the excitement of battle ; one ingloriously stained her hands in human gore, and the other had nothing to lose by her successful efforts ; but the western heroines, without the eclat of female warriors, displayed more true courage throughout the long and stormy days of our Indian warfare, and exhibited more of the true spirit of heroism, than any exam- ples in ancient or modern history.
At an early hour of the evening, the Indians descried the canoe already referred to, and at once resolved to try the sport of cannonading. Pro- curing a stout log of sufficient size and length, these simple-minded men split it open, and having cut out the centre with their tomahawks, fastened the parts together with iron bands and chains, found in a smith's shop be- longing to a man named Reikart. They then charged it heavily with powder and ball, and first announcing that their artillery had arrived, ap- plied the torch, when instantaneously a half-dozen of the gaping savages, who had clustered around to witness the discharge, were blown into eternity. Their frail gun had bursted, scattering death and consternation all around.
During the night, a large number of Indians posted themselves in the loft of a house, which stood thirty or forty yards north of the fort. These amused themselves by dancing, shouting and yelling, making night hide- ous with their horrid noise. Thinking to dislodge them, several ineffec- tual attempts were made to do so with grape-shot ; but, failing, a full-sized ball was fired, which cut off a sleeper, and let the whole mass down to- gether. This disaster frightened the assailants off for a time.
The cannon was fired sixteen times during the first night, doing more or less execution at each discharge. It was managed by a man named John Tait, shortly afterwards killed, and partly eaten, by the savages, on Dillie's bottom, opposite Grave creek.
At the time of the Indian visitation in 1777, it will be remembered, they burned all the houses, killed the cattle, etc. Similar outrages were again attempted in 1781, and then Col. Ebenezer Zane resolved that should the savages again visit the settlement he would remain in his house and per- ish, sooner than abandon it to the torch of the enemy. On the reappear- ance of the Indians, Col. Zane continued at his house, and declared his fixed determination to defend it to the last. In the house with him were several members of his family, including his brother, Silas. There were also two brothers by the name of Green, and a black servant by the name of Sam. So constantly did these four keep up the fire against the enemy that they were slow to approach within range of the guns.
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The fortunes of the night were often variable ; the enemy at one time appeared to have the vantage, but again their schemes were frustrated by the energy and skill of those within the fort. More than twenty times did they attempt to fire the stockade, by heaping bundles of hemp against the walls, and kindling them at different points. Most fortunately, however, the hemp was wet, and could not be made to burn. Dry wood and other combustibles were tried, but all in vain. Day at length dawned upon the hopes of that almost despairing people, and never did Aurora display her beauties to a more admiring or a more rejoicing group. The night had been long, and full of gloomy terror. They knew not at what mo- ment the formidable enemy would crush the walls of their frail enclosure ; but, come what might, they resolved to stand firm to the last.
Immediately after daybreak the Indians and British withdrew to the spring, and a cessation of hostilities for several hours ensued.
It was about noon of this day that an incident occurred which has been the theme of history, poetry and romance. We allude to the " gunpowder exploit," as it is familiarly known in border story.
As we have already stated, Colonel Zane remained in his cabin, near the fort, during the whole seige. Finding that his supply of powder was likely to run out, he proposed to those present that some one of them would have to visit the fort and renew the stock. It was known to be a hazardous undertaking, and, unwilling to order either of the white men to so perilous an enterprise, Col. Zane submitted the matter to their own de- votion and courage. One of them instantly proffered his services, but a female member of Col. Zane's family came forward and said : " No, I will go ; should I be killed, I can be better spared than one of these men." That woman, according to the traditionary accounts of the country, was Elizabeth Zane, sister to Col. Zane. She is represented to have been a young woman of great resolution and much energy of character, and those who knew her intimately say, unhesitatingly, that she was just the person for such an exploit. Preparing herself for the feat, the intrepid girl stepped from the cabin and bounded to the fort with the speed of a deer. A number of Indians, concealed in the neighborhood, saw her emerge from the cabin, but did not attempt to shoot, only exclaiming, with con- temptuous epithets, "Squaw ! Squaw !" She reached the fort, and tying about her person eight or ten pounds of powder, again ventured forth and moved rapidly towards the cabin of Col. Zane. Suspecting all was not right, the savages opened upon her a volley of rifle balls, but unscathed the courageous girl bounded into the arms of those who stood ready to receive her. That act of the heroic and single-hearted female saved the inmates of Col. Zane's house from certain destruction. Their ammunition had been exhausted, and every soul would have fallen a sure prey to the fury of the savages had not a supply been obtained.
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Night closing in, the enemy renewed the attack, and maintained it with- out intermission until daybreak. Shortly after sunrise the enemy, despair- ing of success, commenced killing the cattle, burning the vacant cabins, &c. About 10 o'clock, A. M., an Indian spy returned, and when within sight of the fort, gave a long, deep, peculiar whoop, which the well-trained Indian hunters fully understood as a signal to be off. Scarcely had the echoes of his shout ceased reverberating along the valley than the entire hostile army moved rapidly toward the river, which they crossed near where the Northwestern Bank now stands. In less than half an hour after their retreat, Captain Williamson, with seventy mounted men, rode up to the fort, and great was the rejoicing at the appearance of his gallant band.
Thus ended the final investment of Fort Henry. The Indians never again attempted to molest it, but gave the place as wide a latitude as con- venient in their expeditions against the back settlements.
ATTACK ON FORT RICE.
Previous to the Indian attack on Fort Rice, in September, 1782, several of the men belonging to it had gone to Hagerstown to exchange peltry and furs for salt and ammunition. A few days before attacking Fort Rice, the Indians made their last attack on Fort Henry, and being defeated, they held a council, and decided that two hundred warriors should return home and one hundred 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 and massacre all its people, in revenge for their defeat at Fort Henry. Two white men, who had been long prisoners among the Indians, deserted, fled to Fort Rice, and gave notice of the Indian plan. They only reached the fort thirty minutes before the hostile savages themselves. On receiving the news, the people of the fort prepared for defence. The Indians soon surrounded the fort, commenced firing, and ran from all di- rections towards the fort, which they hoped to take by assault, rending the air with their horrid war-whoops. There were only six men in the fort, but they were fearless, and the best of marksmen. They fired with de- liberate aim on the enemy, brought down six at the first fire, scattering the assaulting party, which broke, every Indian hiding behind a tree, log or stump. The firing was kept up for four hours. In the intervals of the firing, the savages called out to the people in the fort : "Give up, give up ; too many Indian ; Indian too big ; no kill you." They were answered by the brave whites : "Come on, you cowards ; we are ready for you ; show your yellow hides, and we'll make holes in them for you." During the evening the Indians amused themselves, out of musket range, shooting horses, cattle, pigs and sheep, until the ground was strewed with dead bodies. About 10 o'clock at night they fired a barn, about thirty yards from the fort. It was large, and full of grain and hay. The flame was frightful, and at first the fort seemed in danger, but as the night was calm,
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it was saved. The light of the burning barn prevented the near approach of the savages, which prevented their burning the dwellings. 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 constant 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 re- treat.
Thus was this little place defended by a Spartan band of six men against one hundred chosen warriors, exasperated 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 Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler, jun. George Felebaum was shot in the forehead, through a port-hole, at the second fire of the Indians, and instantly expired, so that in reality the defense of this place was made by only five men.
The loss of the Indians was four, three of whom were killed at the first fire from the fort, and 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.
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