USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > History of the Settlement and Indian Wars of Tazewell County, Virginia: With a Map, Statistical. > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
-
+
211
THE EVANS FAMILY.
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 instituted: this was effected by stretching them- selves 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 canebrake, 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 re- pel them. He succeeded in raising about one hundred men
. 1
212
THE EVANS FAMILY.
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 current from wash- ing 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 approached 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 his 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
.
JAMES MOORE. 1 213
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 him- elf 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 nar- rative 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
.
214
JAMES MOORE.
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 building 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 back-' woods, showed that 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 con- versing 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 distant 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
.
-
215
. JAMES MOORE.
to the most thrilling part of the narrative, where Orson is de- picted 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 men, as it might see fit.
The breaking day called up the father, who was an early riser, to prepare 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 mill. He started to a waste plantation about two and a half miles distant. We will let Mr. Moore tell a portion himself, 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 distance to the field, before a sudden dread, or panic, came on me. The appearance 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
.
.
.
216 =
JAMES MOORE.
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 counte- nance 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 inten- tion, 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 after-
·
:
1
.
1
-
JAMES MOORE.
21
noon." The Indians then went into a thicket, where were concealed their kettle and blankets, after which we im- mediately proceeded on our journey.
"In consequence of the high weeds, green briers, logs, and steep mountainous 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 fre- quently broke bushes, which he discovered, and shook his tomahawk over my head to let me know the consequence if I did not desist. I would then scratch the 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 even- ing, 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
* 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.
..
218
JAMES MOORE.
*
laurel thicket, without food or fire. Previous to this, the old Wolf had searched me carefully, 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 situa- tion 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 day- break, and continued 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 suffering 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
* There is some ambiguity in this part of the narrative .- BICKLEY.
%
219
JAMES MOORE.
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 re- turned 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 heartily, 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 sev- eral days. After this, we killed 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.
-
..
·
.
220
JAMES MOORE.
"When we came near the towns, the Indians painted them- selves 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 horse. 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 seve- ral 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 re- ceived.
" 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 my feelings, and wept abundantly. The old Indian, however, had watched me, and noticing the marks of tears on 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 situation 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
221
JAMES MOORE.
were very unsuccessful. The snow being knee deep, my blanket too short to cover me, and having very little other clothing, my sufferings 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, threat- ened Elliot, and got me back. Some time in April- there was a dance at a town about two miles from where 1 resided. This I attended, in company with the Indian to whom I belonged. Meeting with a French trader from De- troit, 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 leav- ing the dance, I met with a Mr. Sherlock, a trader from Ken- tucky, who had formerly been a prisoner to the same tribe of Indians, and who had rescued a lad by the name of Moffit, who had been captured at the head of Clinch, and whose father was an intimate and particular friend of my
.
* This consisted of silver brooches, crosses, etc.
-
222
JAMES MOORE.
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 re- ceived, 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. his sons, and occasion- ally 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 Indiaths 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 provi- dence; 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 themselves worsted, I ex- pected them to attack me with clubs, or some other weapon,
Mr. Moffit had then removed to Kentucky, and was still living there.
..
JAMES MOORE. · 223
and if so, had laid my plans to kill them all with a knife, which I had 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 same summer after it occurred. In the following winter, I learned that my 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 un- feeling wretch-and treated my sister with great unkindness. At that time he resided a considerable distance from 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 difficulties, on being told, by Mr. S., that he intended to remove to the neighborhood 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 object of pity indeed. It is impossible to describe my feelings on that occasion ; 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 treat-
-
-
224.
JAMES MOORE.
.
.
ment, with the hope of effecting her release. I went to Mr .. Simon Girty, and to Col. McKee, the superintendent of the In- dians, who had Mr. Stogwell brought to trial to answer to the. complaint brought against him. But I failed to procure her release. It was decided, however, when an opportunity should occur for our returning to our friends, she should be released without remuneration. This was punctually per- formed, on application of Mr. Thomas Ivins,* who had come in search of his sister Martha, already alluded to, who had been purchased from the Indians by some family in the neighborhood, and was, at that time, with a Mr. Donald- son, a worthy and wealthy English farmer, and working for herself.
" All being now at liberty, we made preparations for our journey to our distant friends, and set out, I think, some time in the month of October, 1789; it being a little more than five years from the time of my captivity, and a little more than three years from the time of the captivity of my sister and Martha Ivins. A trading boat coming down the lakes, we obtained a passage, for myself and sister, to the Mora- vian towns, a distance of about two hundred miles, and on the route to Pittsburgh. There, according to appointment, · we met with Mr. Ivins and his sister, the day after our arri- val. He had, in the meantime, procured three horses; and we immediately set out for Pittsburgh. Fortunately for us, a party of friendly Indians, from these towns, were about
* This name is spelled wrong, the orthography being Evans.
1
JAMES MOORE. 225
starting on a hunting excursion, and accompanied us for a considerable distance on our route, which was through a wil- derness, and the hunting-ground of an unfriendly tribe. . On one of the nights, during our journey, we encamped near & large party of these hostile Indians. The next morning four or five of their warriors, painted red, came into our camp. This much alarmed us. They made many inquiries, but did not molest us, which might not have been the case, if we had not been in company with other Indians. After this, . nothing occurred, worthy of notice, until we reached Pitts- burgh. Probably we would have reached Rockbridge that fall, if Mr. Ivins had not, unfortunately, got his shoulder dislocated. In consequence of this, we remained until spring with an uncle of his, in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. Having expended nearly all his money in traveling, and with the physician, he left his sister and proceeded on with sister Polly and myself, to the house of our uncle, William Mc- Phætus, about ten. miles south-west of Staunton, near the Middle river. He received, from uncle Joseph Moore, the administrator of father's estate, compensation for his services, and afterward returned and brought in his sister."
Mr. Moore finally returned to Tazewell county, and settled on the lands formerly occupied by his father. He raised a numerous and respectable family, one of whom still resides upon the place. Mr. Moore, the subject of this narrative, lived to an advanced age. He died in September, 1851, in the eighty-first year of his age. 15
826
MASSACRE OF THE MOORE FAMILY.
MASSACRE OF CAPT. JAMES MOORE'S FAMILY.
In July, 1786, a party of forty-seven Indians, of the Shawances tribe, again entered Abb's valley. Capt. James Moore usually kept five or six loaded guns in his house, which was a strong log building, and hoped, by the as- sistance of his wife, who was very active in loading a gun, together with Simpson, a man who lived with him, to be able to repel the attack of any small party of Indians. Relying on his prowess, he had not sought refuge in & fort, as many of the settlers had ; a fact of which the Indians seem to have been aware, from their cutting out the tongues of his horses and cattle, and partially skinning them. It seems they were afraid to attack him openly, and sought rather to drive him to the fort, that they might sack his house.
On the morning of the attack, Capt. Moore, who had pre- viously distinguished himself at Alamance, was at a lick bog, a short distance from his house, salting his horses, of which he had many. William Clark and an Irishman were reaping wheat in front of the house. Mrs. Moore and the family were engaged in the ordinary business of housework. A man, named Simpson, was sick up-stairs.
The two men, who were in the field, at work, saw the In- dians coming, in full speed, down the hill, toward Captain Moore's, who had ere this discovered them, and started in a run for the house. He was, however, shot through the body, and died immediately. Two of his children, William and
.
MASSACRE OF THE MOORE FAMILY. 227
Rebecca, who were returning from the spring, were killed about the same time. The Indians had now approached near the house, and were met by two fierce dogs, which fought manfully to protect the family of their master. After a severe contest, the fiercest one was killed, and the others subdued. I shall again use Mr. Brown's narrative, it being quite authentic.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.