History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870, Part 39

Author: Summers, Lewis Preston, 1868-1943
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Richmond, Va. : J.L. Hill Printing Company
Number of Pages: 936


USA > Virginia > Washington County > Washington County > History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 > Part 39


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Captain Neal, with a party, pursued the Indians but did not sue- ceed in overtaking them. The Chief who led this company of Indians was a half-breed Shawnese by the name of Benge. A writer in speaking of this occurrence says: "He was remarkable for his strength, activity, endurance and great speed as a runner. He was a man of more than average intelligence also, as well as of great bravery and strategy, and had more than once approached the settle- ments so stealthily and by a route so secret that he fell upon the scat- tered settlers without an intimation of his approach and retired to his wigwams beyond the Cumberland without leaving a trace of the route he had traveled, though rangers were constantly on the lookout for his trail. One of these rangers of the Holston settlements was a man by the name of Cockrell, and the writer must make a digres- sion to record an incident in his history. He was famous for his size, activity and handsome person. Benge and himself were rivals


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in manhood and woodcraft, each jealous of the other's prowess and courage, and both anxious for an occasion to meet in single combat. Not many months before Benge's last incursion, they met on top of Powell's mountain, in what is now Lee county, each with a band of followers. The Indians were in ambush, having observed the approach of the whites, who were not aware of their proximity, and Benge instructed his companions not to kill Cockrell, so that he himself might run him down and capture him. At the crack of the Indian rifles two or three of Cockrell's companions fell; seeing which and at once comprehending the folly of a combat with a dozen savages, he sprang away down the mountain side, like an ante- lope, with Benge in close pursuit. Two miles away in the valley on Wallen's creek was the cabin of a pioneer, in reaching which Cock- rell knew was his only chance of escape. Having two hundred dollars in specie in a belt around him, he found he was carrying two much weight for a closely contested race, and that Benge was gain- ing on him. Making a desperate effort, however, he increased his speed a little, and as he leaped the fence that surrounded the cabin, Benge's tomahawk was buried in the top rail before Cockrell reached the ground. Benge seeing that he had missed his aim, and not knowing how many men and rifles might be in the cabin, fled back to his companions, sadly disappointed.


A few years after this Cockrell died on the north fork in this county, and during the "wake," while his body lay in the cabin, an old comrade who had been in many a hard pinch with him, thus gave utterance to his thoughts and feelings as he paced the punch- eon floor in great sorrow : "Poor Cockrell, he is gone! He was a noble fellow after Injuns and varmints, and I hope he has gone to where there is as much game and as desperate good range as he had on Holston !"*


During the same week, fourteen persons were killed on the Ken- tucky road, near the Hazel Patch. The whites discovered the In- dians and attempted to secure the first fire, but failed, and only two of the whites made their escape. The Indians lost five dead, and one white man with them killed. Both parties broke and ran at the same time in opposite directions.


About the 15th of March, 1793, several emigrants were killed on


*Coale's "Wilburn Waters."


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the Kentucky road. Captain Andrew Lewis, to appease the set- tlers who were about to break up, placed a sergeant and twelve men at Dump's creek.


At Rye Cove, a sergeant and seven men.


At St. Mary's, with the French, a sergeant and seven men, which left twenty men at Fort Lee.


On the 20th day of March, 1793, a party of Indians numbering twenty-three appeared upon the frontiers of Wythe and Montgom- ery, frequently showing themselves, to the terror of the inhabitants. John Davidson was murdered by them and a number of horses were stolen from Wolf creek, Bluestone and Island creek. The Indians made their escape, except a small party entrusted with the care of about eighty horses, from Island creek. This company was pur- sued by a large party from Bluestone and another from the head of Clinch, and were overtaken the next day, at the mouth of Little Cole, at what is called the Island of Guyandotte, where they were attacked by the whites. Three of their number were killed and scalped, all the horses retaken, with the arms and blankets of a part of their warriors. The number of Indians concerned in the murder of John Davidson at the Laurel fork of Wolf creek was about twelve. This party of Indians carried off a number of horses from that neighborhood and passed with them in daylight through the heart of the Bluestone settlement.


Colonel Arthur Campbell, in the spring of the year 1793, was commissioned by the President of the United States as Indian agents, and in April of this year, communicated to the Presi- dent of the United States a request from the Chickasaw Indians for the building of a fort and the settling of a strong garrison, at the Muscle Shoals,* and, in commenting upon this request wrote : "I will observe on this invitation, that I am of opinion, from the best information, that the United States had never so great an offer made them, for the point of position which they will give peaceably into our hands commands a portage of sixteen miles only, between the Tennessee and the navigable waters of the Mobile, as well as an immense extent of country, which must shortly become the bone of Spanish contention, and facilitate the route to many angles on the


*Near Chattanooga, Tenn.


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Mississippi. It is Nature's masterpiece for an immense and power- ful city. It intercepts the main communication between the hostile tribes of the North and South. It secures the Chickasaw and Choc- taw Nations as effective light infantry in our service. It places the troops where they can be supplied with every necessary, even with native productions from the respective western settlements, and puts us in a condition to convey heavy artillery of our own casting as well as army and military supplies, with a degree of facility unsus- pected by the Spanish, whenever the threatening harms shall burst on this devoted country, this field of contest."


This extract from the writings of Colonel Campbell, is given to illustrate his character and foresight.


In the same letter he says : "I have nearly completed a new map of all this country, as well as that of Kentucky and a part of the northwestern territory, and shall go on in a few days to lay it before the President." I am sorry indeed that I cannot find this map in any of the records I have been able to obtain.


Colonel Isaac Bledsoe was killed on Cumberland in the month of April, and on the 20th of the month, a skirmish took place between twenty Indians and eight white men at Laurel river, in Ken- tucky, in which skirmish the white people were all killed, except McFarland, who escaped, and a number who were wounded.


In the month of March, 1793, a considerable band of Indians were seen on the headwaters of the Clinch river attempting to steal horses. The Indians finally succeeded in stealing eight horses, and made off toward the Ohio. In the meantime Major Robert Crockett proceeded to gather a company to pursue the In- dians, and while engaged in gathering them in he directed Joseph Gilbert and Samuel Lusk, two scouts, to follow the Indians, and, in case they found them, to give him information.


Gilbert and Lusk had not followed the Indians more than an hour, when they came to a lick, at which the Indians had con- cealed themselves waiting for deer or elk. As soon as the scouts approached the lick they were fired upon by the Indians, and Lusk was wounded in the hand. Gilbert turned and started to run, when Lusk called him to stay and save his life, if possible. Gilbert, fired with all the noble instincts of true manhood, turned and shot the first Indian dead on the spot. The Indians sur-


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rounded him, and, his gun being empty, he dropped it and drew his hunting knife, and attacked the Indians with such spirit that they dared no longer get within his reach; but they used their tomahawks with such effect that he soon lay dead by the side of Lusk, who was now reviving. The Indians scalped Gilbert and carried Lusk off a prisoner. Major Crockett and his force came up after some time, but they were too late to accomplish any good.


On the 25th of April, 1:93, the first postoffice on the waters of the Holston or Clinch was established at Abingdon with Gerrard T. Conn as postmaster, this being the first time that the people of this portion of Virginia were given the privilege of mail facilities. Previous to this time the means employed by the people for com- munication was by sending their letters by the hand of some one going or returning. A citizen of Abingdon, contemplating a trip to Kentucky, or to the Valley, or Eastern Virginia, would adver- tise the fact, and the time when he would begin his journey, that he might be the bearer of letters and messages between the people.


The settlements, as far as I can ascertain, were exempt from in- vasion by the Indians until the month of October of this year. On the third day of this month a party of Indians attacked two families who had lately settled on the road through the wilder- ness, on the Kentucky side of the Cumberland mountain, within three miles of Hawkins' Station. They killed one man and wounded two children, but were driven off by a man who occupied an adjoining house.


In the fall of 1:93, a party of eight Indians passed through the thinly-settled parts of Russell county, and captured a negro woman, the property of Paul Livingston, near Big Moccasin Gap, but before they could carry her beyond the settlements she made her escape and reached her home.


On the 14th day of April, 1:94, a number of citizens presented a petition to the Governor, which is as follows :


"The memorial and petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants in the western part of Washington county, and the eastern settle- ments of Lee, near Mockison Gap,-


"Humbly sheweth, That altho' we have been considered an in- terior settlement, yet, from various unfortunate occurrences, it


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must appear that we are equally exposed with the most distant frontier settlements.


"That by attending to the geography of the Southwestern fron- tier, it will appear that from the western settlement of Russell county, on Clinch river, and the eastern of Lee in Powell's Valley, there is an uninhabited space of more than twenty miles nearly north of your petitioners' dwellings, which makes us to that extent a frontier to the State,


"That the predatory parties of the Indians, always industrious in discovering the weakness of our settlements, have for years past made their inroads through this vacant or uninhabited space, and have committed several cruel murders in the neighborhood of your petitioners, as will appear by the following detail :


. "August 26, 1791, a party of Indians headed by a Captain Bench, of the Cherokee tribe, attacked the house of Elisha Ferris, two miles from Mockison Gap, murdered Mr. Ferris at his house, and made prisoner Mrs. Ferris and her daughter, Mrs. Livingston, and a young child together with Nancy Ferris. All but the latter were cruelly murdered the first day of their captivity.


"April 1793, the same chief with a party of Indians, attacked and murdered the family of Harper Ratcliffe, six in number, about eight miles west of the above-mentioned gap.


"March 31, 1793, the enemy attacked on Powell's mountain Moses Cockrell and two others, who had horses loaded with mer- chandise ; killed two men, took all the goods, and pursued Mr. Cock- rell nearly two miles.


"July 17, 1793, Bench with two other warriors traversed the set- tlement, on the north fork of Holston for upwards of twenty miles, probably with the intention of making discoveries where were negro property. In this rout they fired at one Williams, and took pri- soner a negro woman, the property of Paul Livingston, who after two days captivity made her escape.


"And lastly, April 6, 1794, the melancholy disaster which befell Mr. Livingston's family and property, which has urged this appli- cation for assistance to prevent the depopulation of a considerable settlement.


"From the above facts your Excellency and Council will be a judge of the justice of our claim, that such protection be afforded us, as the State may be able to afford and our necessities require.


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"All of which we submit with deference and your petitioners will ever pray.


"A. BLEDSOE, "GEORGE WILCOX, "ABRAHAM FULKERSON, "JOHN V. COOK, "JAMES FULKERSON.


"April 14, 1794."


The disaster referred to in this communication as happening to Mr. Livingston's family, occurred on the 6th of April. 1794, near the present town of Mendota in this county.


William Todd Livingston was one of the first persons to settle in this county and was the first and only man for many years in the county, who had more than one name. He had died some years pre- ceding this occurrence, and his son Peter Livingston, had become the owner of his valuable lands and numerous negro slaves. The Indians, in making their incursions into the country, never failed to steal and carry off a negro slave, when possible, and there can be but little doubt that the presence of negroes at the Living- ston farm, attracted the attention of the Indians. An account of this Indian raid was given by Mrs. Elizabeth Livingston, and put down in her presence nearly in her own words, and is as follows :


"April 6th, 1794.


"About 10 o'clock in the morning, as I was sitting in my house. the fierceness of the dog's barking alarmed me. I looked out and saw seven Indians approaching the house, armed and painted in a frightful manner. No person was then within, but a child of ten years old, and another of two, and my sucking infant. My husband and his brother Henry had just before walked out to a barn at some distance in the field. My sister-in-law, Susanna, was with the remaining children in an out-house. Old Mrs. Livingston was in the garden. I immediately shut and fastened the door; they (the Indians) came furiously up, and tried to burst it open, demanding of me several times to open the door, which I refused. They then fired two guns; one ball pierced through the door, but did me no damage. I then thought of my husband's rifle, took it down but it being double triggered, I was at a loss ; at length I fired through the door, but it not being well aimed I did no execution; however the


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Indians retired from that place and soon after that an old adjoining house was on fire, and I and my children suffering much from the smoke. I opened the door and an Indian immediately advanced and took me prisoner, together with the two children. I then dis- covered that they had my remaining children in their pos- session, my sister Sukey, a wench with her young child, a negro man of Edward Callihan's and a negro boy of our own about eight years old. They were fearful of going into the house I left, to plunder, supposing that it had been a man that shot at them, and was yet within. So our whole clothing and household furniture were consumed in the flames, which I was then pleased to see, rather than that it should be of use to the savages.


"We were all hurried a short distance, where the Indians were very busy, dividing and putting up in packs for each to carry his part of the booty taken. I observed them careless about the chil- dren, and most of the Indians being some distance off in front, I called with a low voice to my eldest daughter, gave her my young- est child, and told them all to run towards neighbor John Russell's.


"They, with reluctance, left me, sometimes halting, sometimes looking back. I beckoned them to go, although I inwardly felt pangs not to be expressed on account of our doleful separation. The two Indians in the rear either did not notice this scene, or they were willing the children might run back.


"That evening the Indians crossed Clinch Mountain and went as far as Copper creek, distant about eight miles.


"April 7th, set out early in the morning, crossed Clinch river at McLean's fish dam about twelve o'clock, then steered north- wardly towards the head of Stoney creek. There the Indians camped carelessly, had no back spy nor kept sentries out. This day's journey was about twenty miles.


"April 8th. Continued in camp until the sun was more than an hour high; then set out slowly and traveled five or six miles and camped near the foot of Powell's mountain. This day Benge, the Indian chief, became more pleasant, and spoke freely to the pri- soners. He told them he was about to carry them to the Cherokee towns. That in his route in the wilderness was his brother with two other Indians hunting, so that he might have provision when he returned. That at his camp were several white prisoners taken from Kentucky, with horses and saddles to carry them to the


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towns. He made enquiry for several persons on Holston, partieu- larly old General Shelby, and said he would pay him a visit during the ensuing summer, and take away all his negroes. He frequently enquired who had negroes, and threatened he would have them all off the North Holston. He said all the Chickamogga towns were for war, and would soon be very troublesome to the white folks.


"This day two of the party were sent by Benge ahead to hunt.


"April 9th. After travelling about five miles, which was over Powell's mountain, and near the foot of the Stone mountain .* a party of thirteen men under command of Lieutenant Vincent Hobbs, of the militia of Lee county, met the enemy in front. attacked and killed Benge the first fire, I being at that time some distance off in the rear. The Indian who was my guard at first halted on hearing the firing. He then ordered me to run. which I performed slowly. He attempted to strike me in the head with the tomahawk, which I defended as well as I could with my arm. By this time two of our people came in view, which encouraged me to struggle all I could. The Indian making an effort at this instant pushed me backward, and I fell over a log, at the same time aiming a violent blow at my head, which in part spent its force on me and laid me for dead. The first thing I afterwards remem- bered was my good friends around me, giving me all the assistance in their power for my relief. They told me I was senseless for about an hour.


"Certified this 15th day of April, 1794.


"A CAMPBELL."


Vincent Hobbs was a lieutenant in the militia of Lee county. and, at the time in question, he was attending the court of that county which was in session. Upon the arrival of the express with the news of the Indian invasion, the court immediately adjourned and a party was organized upon the spot, under the command of Hobbs, to waylay a gap in Cumberland mountain called the Stone gap, through which, it was supposed, the Indians were mostly to pass. On his arrival at the gap. Hobbs discovered that the Indians had just passed through before him: he therefore pursued with cagerness and soon discovered two Indians kindling a fire; these. they instantly dispatched, and finding some plunder with them.


*Near Dorchester, Wise county.


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which they knew must have been taken out of Livingston's house, they at once came to the conclusion that these two had been sent forward to hunt for provisions and that the others were yet behind with the prisoners.


"The object of Hobbs was now to make a quick retreat, to cover his own sign if possible, at the gap, before the Indians should dis- cover it, and perhaps kill the prisoners and escape. Having gained this point he chose a place of ambuscade; but not exactly liking this position he left the men there, and taking one with him by the name of Van Bibber, he went some little distance in advance to try if he could find a place more suitable for his purpose. As they stood looking around for such a place, they discovered the Indians coming up with their prisoners. They cautiously concealed them- selves and each singled out his man. Benge, having charge of the younger Mrs. Livingston, led the van, and the others followed in succession ; but the Indian who had charge of the elder Mrs. Liv- ingston was considerably behind, she not being able to march with the same light, elastic step of her sister. When the front came directly opposite to Hobbs and Van Bibber they both fired, Hobbs killing Benge, and Van Bibber the one next behind him. At the crack of the rifle the other men rushed forward, but the Indians had escaped into a laurel thicket, taking with them a negro fellow. The Indian who had charge of the elder Mrs. Livingston tried his best to kill her, but he was so hurried that he missed his aim. Her arms were badly cut by defending her head from the blows of his tomahawk. The prisoners had scarcely time to recover from their surprise before the two Livingstons, who heard the guns and were now in close pursuit with a party of men from Washington, came running up and received their wives at the hands of Hobbs with a gust of joy. Four Indians were killed and five had escaped, and it appears they were separated into parties of three and two. The first had the negro fellow with them, and, by his account, they lodged that night in a cave, where he escaped from them and got home.


In the meantime a party of the hardy mountaineers of Russell collected and proceeded in haste to waylay a noted Indian crossing place high up on the Kentucky river. When they got there they found some Indians had just passed. They immediately drew the same conclusion that Hobbs had done, and hastened back to the


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river for fear those behind should discover their sign. Shortly after they had stationed themselves, the other three made their appearance ; the men fired upon them, two fell and the other fled, but left a trail of blood behind him, which readily conducted his pursuers to where he had taken refuge in a thick canebrake. It was thought imprudent to follow him any further, as he might be concealed and kill some of them before they could discover him. Thus eight of the party were killed and the other perhaps mortally wounded."*


Colonel Campbell communicated to the Governor of Virginia the circumstances attending this raid by the Indians; along with the written statement of Mrs. Livingston, as heretofore given. Colonel Campbell in his letter to the Governor, says: "The scalp of Captain Renge, I have been requested to forward to your Excellency, as a proof that he is no more, and of the activity and good conduct of Lieutenant Hobbs, in killing him and relieving the prisoners. Could it be spared from our treasury, I would beg leave to hint that a present of a neat rifle to Mr. Hobbs would be accepted, as a reward for his late services, and the Executive may rest assured that it would serve as a stimulus for future exertions against the enemy." The General Assembly of Virginia, pursuant to this recommendation, voted Lieutenant Vincent Hobbs a handsome and costly silver-mounted rifle. Many of the descendants of Lieutenant Hobbs live in Southwest Virginia at this time, and are highly respected and patriotic.


One of the principal creeks in the county of Wise, at this day bears the name of the Indian chief, Benge.


This is the last recorded invasion of Southwest Virginia by the red men.


On the 2d of June, 1794, Colonel Campbell reported the militia of the county to the Governor of Virginia as follows: Regiment No. 70, brigade No. 17. division No. 3. 1.282 free white males of sixteen years and upwards, completely organized.


In August of this year William King and James Caldwell. natives of Ireland and merchants by profession, took the oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth in the county court of this county.


William King. who at this time became a citizen of Washington


*MISS letter of Benj Sharp.


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county, afterwards became one of the wealthiest and most influen- tial men who ever lived in this county and left a large number of relatives.


The General Assembly of Virginia, on the 28th day of December, 1794, passed an act requiring the people of Washington county to pay their taxes for the years 1782-1783-1784, and appointed Thomas Mitchell to collect the same as the officer of the State, and after some time, he succeeded in collecting all that was due the State from the people of the county.


In the year 1795, a number of the citizens of Washington and Russell counties emancipated their slaves; among the number Elizabeth Russell, sister of Patrick Henry and wife of General Wil- liam Campbell, Francis Preston, Charles Bickley and others. The deeds executed by Mrs. Russell and Francis Preston are as follows :




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