USA > West Virginia > Monroe County > A history of Monroe county, West Virginia > Part 5
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Another tory brought before Colonel Mathews was Alexander Miller, a college graduate and Presbyterian minister. He was ar- rested on Indian Creek at the house of William Hutchinson, who was holding him as prisoner. The witnesses were William Ewing, Silas Hart, Mary Erwin, James Montgomery, William Givens, Robert McFarland, Thomas Smith, and James Hill. At least some of these persons belonged east of the Alleghany. The sheriff of Augusta was allowed 20 shillings for attending court and summon- ing a jury. The two guards were allowed fourpence a mile each for taking Miller to Staunton, the distance being estimated at 120 miles. Each guard therefore received twice as much as the sheriff.
A letter by Miller was the cause of his arrest. In it he argues that property is by divine appointment; that "independency" de- prives Britain of her property, and therefore is unlawful and un- just, to say nothing of stopping trade, increasing taxes, and expos- ing the Americans to the vengeance of Great Britain; that claiming "independency" will subject the Americans to divine displeasure. The writer thus concludes: "To treat with Lord Howe for peace and safety is the best plan you can fall upon to save the lives and estates of your constituents." In the light of our day such argu- ments look silly. They must have seemed alomst beneath contempt to the stern patriots of the Alleghanies. They stamp the cringing tory parson as standing for peace at any price and for the material
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
comfort and even tenor of the business world. Civil liberty was perhaps beyond his comprehension.
We now relate such incidents of Indian warfare as took place within or on the border of Monroe, and a knowledge of which has come down to us. This knowledge is usually by tradition, and the accounts by different persons have become indistinct or do not agree as to details. Yet it is well worth while to preserve them from further loss.
John Miller once thought he could see a plumed head peering from an elevation at a distance. Picking up his rifle he walked off in the opposite direction, and by taking a long circuit he came up behind the Indian and killed him.
Of two men who were on the Indian Creek bottom a mile be- low Red Sulphur, one was killed and one was captured. One of these was a Lewis.
In 1780, Steel Lafferty, living at the mouth of Indian, was killed and so was a wife of a Bradshaw. On this or another oc- casion, one of the Laffertys heard what seemed to be a turkey, but found the noise came from an Indian peering from behind a tree that is yet standing. Lafferty shot the Indian and trailed him by his blood to a deep pool in Indian Creek. William Meek, who lived near by, saw the Indians, mounted a horse, and rode to a neighbor's house. No people were there except two women. They opened the door for him, and he fired on two Indians crossing a cornfield, wounding one of them. On the third day of the following March, eight of the Indians and two of the Canadian French burned Meek's house and corn, killed the parents and infant child, and carried away the other two children. Some hunters brought the news next morn- ing to Jacob Mann. He at once set out in pursuit with Adam Mann, Jacob Miller, and three other men of Woods' company. After going 50 miles, they overtook the foe, killed one, wounded several, and recovered the children and "plunder." The pursuers were "extremely scarce of lead," a common handicap during the Revolution. The account we have given is from the official report. A tradition in the Miller family has it that the six whites pursued the foe to the bank of the Ohio, arriving there at dusk and waiting
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MONROE IN THE REVOLUTION
till dawn to attack. Their six shots laid low six of the seven In- dians. The seventh took the river, but one of the assailants swam after him and inflicted a fatal knife wound.
While taking cattle to the Muskingum, John Ellison was shot from ambush. Burns, his companion, escaped with his dog. A Shockley was killed on the hill still known as Shockley's, which stands below Crump's bottom. His companions, James Ellison and Matt Farley, ran to the river to consult, and hid in a thicket. Down the river was the sound of some person blowing into a charger. The sound drew nearer. Ellison went to reconnoiter and from a distance of 80 yards shot an Indian who was stealthily approaching from one tree to another. At the same, or more probably another time, Elli- son was wounded in the shoulder while cribbing corn on Crump's bottom. Farley swam the river. Ellison, who was a good runner, ran up stream, but was captured by the seven Indians. New moc- casins were put on his feet, and he understood from this that tor- ture was coming. He made his escape while his hands were bound, but sawed the thong in two on a sharp stone.
An Ellis was killed beyond New River. The Indians took his boy Enos over Keeney's Knob to near Green Sulphur, and hid him in a laurel thicket, where he was sorely tormented by buffalo gnats. He was warned to keep still and a relief party passed by without seeing him, but on their return he was rescued. Ten Indians were counted as they were wading the New at its lowest ford and climb- ing a naked bluff. Nine scalps were taken from one family in the Graham settlement.
In 1778 James Graham had been forting a few days in conse- quence of an alarm. He determined to go home with his family if some men would go with him. Not feeling well, he slept that night on a bench set against the door. Before daylight he was aroused by an attempt to force the door by a person who declared he was no Indian, but the door not being opened he fired through it, killing a man who was reaching for his gun above the entrance. Then an attack was made on the kitchen-house, in which were a young negro and a son and daughter of Graham. The negro was killed while trying to climb the chimney. By shooting up through
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
the floor, the assailants wounded young John Graham in the knee. Finding him too badly hurt to stand, an Indian tomahawked him. Meanwhile Graham fired several shots from a porthole in the upper story, probably hitting one or more. At any rate, an Indian skele- ton was found in the neighborhood not long after.
Elizabeth, the daughter of Graham, was a prisoner eight years. She was given up to her father at Maysville, Kentucky. It was only after much search and effort that this was accomplished. Ac- cording to tradition, the ransom of saddles, beads, and trinkets in- cluded the release of an Indian prisoner and the payment of $300 in silver. Elizabeth had become much attached to the Indians and was loved by her foster mother. For several years Graham had to watch his daughter to keep her from returning to the red men. On one occasion her sister Jane was told by her mother to pretend to accompany Elizabeth. They crossed the Greenbrier in a canoe. Jane asked her sister what they could eat. The Indianized girl pulled up some bulbous roots and said they could find plenty of these to live upon. But Jane declared she would starve on such diet and persuaded the sister to return home with her. The wild nature grad- ually wore off, but to the end of her long life Mrs. Elizabeth Stodg- hill always stood up for the Indians whenever she heard them de- nounced.
When in 1778 the settlers on Indian were beleaguered in Cook's fort, Jacob Mann volunteered to go out after food. He shot a buck in the Flatwoods, but being seen by the Indians on his return, he threw his game into a cavern at the bottom of a sinkhole, and then went in with his dog. He pulled weeds over the entrance and held the dog's mouth. After nightfall he regained the fort with his venison. It is related that on another occasion he was chased while he had three deerskins strapped to his back. There was no time to get them loose, but he succeeded in reaching the fort. He had just shot a bear and the savages had observed the circumstance.
Perhaps the last visit of the redskins to Indian Creek took place
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MONROE IN THE REVOLUTION
about 1785, and it did not have a tragic result. While Valentine Cook was clearing ground near his fort he became aware that his horse and gun had been appropriated by seven Indians. Cook was made to accompany his visitors up Indian Draft to the Elijah Vass farm. They then gave him an old mare and a broken gun in ex- change for his own property, and motioned him to return. Cook hesitated, thinking he would be killed if he moved away. One of the braves then pointed toward the fort and gave him a kick from behind. The pioneer understood this hint and acted upon it.
VI
PENSIONERS OF THE REVOLUTION
Revolutionary Pensions-Monroe Pensioners of 1832.
HE most interesting of the laws relating to Revolutionary pensions are those of 1820 and 1832. A statement by an applicant under the earlier law is brief, except that it includes a schedule of the property of the vet- eran and thus gives an insight into the economic life of the period. Declarations under the other law are more lengthy and important. The applicant was required to state his age, his place of birth, and his present residence. He was also to give detailed information as to each item of his military service; the names of his company and regimental officers, and the general officers under whom he served ; and some particulars as to his experiences in the army. His declaration was given before the county court, or in case of serious infirmity, before some magistrate appointed by the court. Interest- ing sidelights crop out in these declarations. But as more than half a century had elapsed since the war, an impaired memory is some- times disclosed in the hesitating and uncertain statements.
Incidental facts of interest also appear. Perhaps the veteran cannot write or is in doubt as to his age, sometimes through the de- struction of the family record. He has perhaps lost his discharge, he knows very few persons who can indorse his statements, and has to rely on what is the common belief concerning him in the opin- ion of reputable citizens of his neighborhood.
If the applicant served in a continental or state regiment, he usually saw considerable service and was in one or more battles. Not infrequently he had been wounded or had been a prisoner of war. But if he was in the militia, the reader is struck with the ridicul- ously short "tours of duty"-usually of one to three months and sometimes even less-and of the very frequent statement that the
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PENSIONERS OF THE REVOLUTION
applicant "was in no battle." As a matter of fact, the militia of the Revolution were comparatively inefficient and their behavior in a fight was notoriously uncertain. Occasionally, as at Bunker Hill, King's Mountain, and the Cowpens, they fought well and to good purpose. But in more numerous instances their propensity to take to their heels at the first clash made them an object of contempt to the continental troops and aroused the profanity of the general of- ficers. Yet it would be very unjust to assume that the militiaman was necessarily ineffective. The trouble was not in himself, but in the lack of system with which the Revolution was carried on. The militia were inclined to obey their home officers only so far as they pleased. It was utterly impossible for the officers, even when they possessed enough technical knowledge, to turn this raw material into effective soldiers in a few weeks time. Consequently the militia could not cope on even terms with well-trained regulars. But when the Americans were -thoroughly drilled by professional soldiers like General Steuben, the redcoats found foemen entirely worthy of their steel. The Revolution would not have dragged through seven years had it been less under the management of men like Jefferson, who with respect to military matters were visionary and incapable. The lesson of those days does not seem to be sufficiently remembered now.
United States pensioners were exempted in 1830 from all county and parish levies.
Below are the declarations on record in the Monroe archives. Matters of little general importance are omitted.
Samuel Allen, born 1744, served in 1780-81 under Colonel Buford of the Sixth Virginia Regiment of Continentals. Term of service 18 months. In the battles of Guilford, Ninety-Six, Augusta, and Eutaw. Discharged for disability in fall of 1781, occasioned by a worm getting into his ear while ill and lying on the ground. Declaration, 1829.
Jacob Argabrite, born 1760 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, came to Rockingham in boyhood. Volunteered May, 1778, for six months in the militia company of Captain Craven and served at the forts in Tygart's Valley. Re-enlisted and served in same company three months longer. Marched to Fort Pitt and Tuscarawas River, serving under General Mc- Intosh and helping to build Fort Lawrence in Ohio. Between Fort Mc- Intosh and Fort Lawrence he saw the corpse of Lieutenant Parks, who had
-
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
been killed by the Indians. In retaliation, Colonel Crawford wished to kill nine or ten Indians who had come for a peace parley, but was pre- vented by other officers. About September, 1780, he enlisted for 12 months in the cavalry company of Captain Sullivan of Berkeley county. Cam- paigned in the Carolinas and was in the battle of the Cowpens. His term expired at Bowling Green, Virginia. Then joined a rifle company under Captain Coker, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. Was discharged for illness late in October, while convoying the British prison- ers from Yorktown. Came to Monroe some years after the war. Declara- tion, 1832. Proof of alleged facts required by Pension Office.
Henry Arnot, born 1762 in Orange county, New York, enlisted in Sussex county, New Jersey under Colonel Nichols and served five months on Hudson River. In 1777-81 served three other short terms. In no en- gagement except a skirmish at Morristown, 1776. Declaration, 1832. Af- fidavit by James Christie and Samuel Clark. Came to Monroe about 1800.
John Boone, born in York county, Pennsylvania, 1755, enlisted 1778 in the Continental service in same county under Captain Spangler. Served three years in a term of five. Marched South with the Maryland and Delaware troops under DeKalb. Was in the defeat near Camden, known among the soldiers as "Gate's Folly." Among the last to retreat, saving himself by flight through an unknown country. In 1775 went to Kentucky with his uncle, Daniel Boone. Declaration, 1833.
Patrick Boyd, born 1759, enlisted 1777 in the Centinental line for three years in Colonel Gunby's regiment. At Valley Forge, West Point, and Bound Brook. Sick in camp at time of Battle of Monmouth, 1779. Health failing after 19 months, hired a substitute for 100 pounds, though offered a lieutenancy if he would stay. Volunteered 1781 under Colonel Moffett and was in the battle of Guilford. Reached home in April, and in Sep- tember served under Colonel Bowyer to keep the British east of the Blue Ridge. The enemy burned Charlottesville as they retreated and were pressed so closely that they were seen leaving Richmond as the Americans entered. Discharged about October 1, 1781. Declaration, 1832.
John Canterbury, born in Fairfax county about 1760, volunteered in Montgomery county against the Indians and served on Clinch River. A second tour of one month on the Bluestone. Later he went to live in Wash- ington county and went out for three months as substitute for Samuel Douglass, serving at Logan's Station, Kentucky. Still later, he joined an expedition to the French Broad. There were several skirmishes with the Cherokees, but no general engagement, the Indians abandoning their towns. Later yet he went out for three months as substitute, and marched under Colonel Campbell, joining the army under Marion. A scouting party of which he was a member took about 80 prisoners. After living four years
BICKETT'S KNOB From the East
HOME OF ANDREW CAMPBELL For a Number of Years Chief of the Clan
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PENSIONERS OF THE REVOLUTION
in Franklin county he came to Monroe about 1786. Affidavits by Johnson Keaton and John Roach. Declaration, 1839.
Samuel Clark, born in Augusta, 1764, went out in September, 1780, as substitute for Thomas Means and served under Captain Samuel Mc- € Cutchen. This and four other Augusta companies were stationed three months below Richmond but not in contact with the enemy. Drafted next January for three months and marched to within 20 miles of Portsmouth to join General Muhlenberg. While here there was a skirmish. Next May, he substituted for John McCutchen, a relative, who from the situa- tion of his family could not safely leave home. He now marched under Colonel McCreery to join Wayne. In the battle of Green Spring, near Jamestown, he received a sword cut on the head and was discharged from a hospital on the Pamunkey. In September he was drafted for three months and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. In April, 1782, he volunteered for three months against the Indians on the Ohio, and marched under Captain John McKittrick to Tygart's Valley. He lost his father in infancy. Came to Monroe, 1780. Declaration, 1832.
John Foster, born about 1759, enlisted for three years in the Tenth Vir- ginia Continentals, Steuben's brigade. At siege of Yorktown and in sev- eral skirmishes near Savannah. Discharged at Charleston, South Caro- lina, 1783. His schedule of property shows a valuation of $300, inclusive of 100 acres of land. Declaration, 1829.
Nathaniel Garten, born 1759, Orange county, removed with his father to Rockingham in 1768. Indian scout in 1777 under Captain Robert Cra- ven. Three months at Warwick's fort on Greenbrier to protect the inhab- itants from the Indians. No attack by them, but he was all the while watching paths. With several others he pursued them several days at the rate of 40 miles a day. A year later he served another three months in Tygart's Valley. Served three months, 1780, at Nutter's fort on the west fork of the Monongahela. Came to Monroe, 1780. In spring of 1781, when the family of John Meeks were taken prisoners he spent three weeks at Lafferty's fort at the mouth of Indian, reconnoitering the country below, so as to protect the farmers while they were planting corn, but for this service received no pay. Griffith Garten was a brother. Declara- tion, 1834.
William Hutchinson, born 1757 in Augusta, volunteered, May, 1776, one year under Captain John Henderson. From his post at Cook's fort he ranged the country west of New River. Volunteered, 1777, under Cap- tain Archibald Wood to serve as long as the Indians were troublesome. In the fall of this year Captain Wood marched to near the head of Blue- stone to protect the people gathering their fodder. In this service he re- mained four years, except one year that himself, Nicholas Woodfin, and Philip Cavendar were ordered by Captain Wood to scout. During all this
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
period he was almost constantly ranging from Cook's fort to Woods' fort, and under almost every privation and difficulty. Often he could hear near him in the night the yell, the shrill whistle, or the wary tread of the Indian. If any orders were to be sent express he was generally the man selected. When lying out at night with no covering but his blanket, and no shelter but the forest, it was frequently the scream of the panther or the yell of the Indian that reminded him of his duty to his country. After four years Captain Gray of Rockbridge took the place of Wood, and he served one year under him. In the spring of 1782 he left the service, all signs of the enemy having disappeared. When called into service he lived in Greenbrier, but after the war he lived with his father on Rich Creek. In the fall of 1781, when he with 30 others were ordered by Gray to go to the head of Bluestone and they had marched 20 miles, no one else would go any farther. An old man named McGuire wished to go to the head of the settlement and David Clay undertook to show the way. After a short distance they found themselves pursued by some Indians, appar- ently 10 or 12. Sometimes they were in water to their necks, but going 40 miles that day they came to their destination. Affidavit by Jacob Cook, a boy in 1776. Declaration, 1836. Claim suspended on the ground that the declaration was at variance with all historical facts touching the fron- tier service in Virginia. The Pension Office set forth that at the time in question all the settlers forted, and while a part worked their lands the others were scouting, in order to give the alarm in case of the approach of the Indians. Such service was not considered military, then or since. It usually began in the spring and ended in the fall. Neither Wood nor Henderson was in the regular service. Woods' and Cook's forts were blockhouses only, and were built for the protection of their owners and neighbors and had no connection with the military operations of the coun- try. (It will be observed that Hutchinson was too much inclined to ro- mance. A mountain stream neck-deep is too much water to wade.)
Christopher Hand, born in Ireland about 1758, was drafted from Augusta early in 1781, and marched to Norfolk and thence to Guilford, taking part in the battle there. Was orderly sergeant. Came to Amer- ica a little before the war and to Monroe several years after. Declara- tion, 1833, when too infirm to go to the courthouse. Neighbors, Jacob and William Ellis, Jacob and William Johnson, and James Tincher.
Field Jarvis, born in Westmoreland, 1756, vlounteered from Bedford for three months in 1776, serving at the lead mines of Wythe to keep the Indians and tories from seizing them. Served three months at Yorktown, 1777. Settled in Bedford, 1773, in Monroe, 1781, in that year serving 10 days at New London as guard to the prisoners taken at the Cowpens. Declaration, 1833. Affidavit by R. S. Shanklin and John Holsapple.
James Jones, born 1761, enlisted 1777 in Second Regiment of Artillery,
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PENSIONERS OF THE REVOLUTION
provincial service, being then a resident of Fauquier. Served full time of three years but in no battle. Campaigned in North Carolina, 1780. Dec- laration, 1832.
Conrad Keller, born 1750, enlisted from Shenandoah in 1777, serv- ing three years in the militia under Muhlenberg. In 1781 or 1782 drafted two months, serving at Fort Frederick, Maryland. Declaration, 1834.
Godrell Lively, born about 1763, drafted in Albemarle fall of 1780. Marched to Cabin Point, where it was expected Arnold would attempt to land. Company discharged at Petersburg after two months. Next May or June drafted one month and served around Richmond. Soon after the surrender of Cornwallis, enlisted three years in the cavalry under Ar- mand and served 22 months till the declaration of peace. Regiment sta- tioned at Charlottesville, Staunton, Winchester, and also at York, Penn- sylvania. Declaration, 1832. Affidavit by John Hutchinson who had known Lively more than 40 years.
Benjamin Morgan, born in Philadelphia 1761, came to Berkeley county in boyhood. In 1778 or 1779 he was drafted three months, serving at Fort Lawrence in Ohio. Volunteered three months, May, 1781, but the command was turned back before reaching the North Carolina line. While scouting near Yorktown wounded by a sword cut. Later in 1781 he was drafted three months and was at the siege of Yorktown. He was one of the guards that convoyed the prisoners to Frederick, Maryland. Soon after the war he came to Monroe. Declaration, 1832. Died, 1836. Mar- ried, 1784, to Anne - -, at Hagerstown. She was born 1766 and ap- plied for a widow's pension in 1842.
Samuel Martin, born 1761 in Kent county, Maryland, enlisted from said county 1777, serving 27 months in Fourth Maryland Regiment. In the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth. Declaration, 1834.
Richard Neil, born about 1756, enlisted three years at Williamsburg in 1778. Was slightly wounded at Gates' defeat in 1780. Schedule $170.50. New application of 1823 rejected.
Isaac Nickell, born 1752, served three months in the Point Pleasant campaign under Captain John Lewis. Lieutenant John Henderson was in same company. In 1777 drafted from Greenbrier three months against the Indians. Drafted same time, 1780 or 1781, but owing to the situation of his family hired Thomas Burchinal as substitute, giving him a mare worth $50. Declaration, 1833. Affidavit, Robert Coalter.
Jonathan Roach, born in Rockingham 1761, enlisted from Orange in 1779, serving nearly 28 months at Charlottesville and Winchester as guard to the prisoners taken with Burgoyne. Went out, 1781, as substitute for John Craig of Rockingham and served two months on the Yorktown pen- insula. Came to Monroe, 1785. Declaration, 1832. Affidavit by Chris-
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A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
tian Peters, Jacob Meadows, and Matthew Meadows, comrades with Roach while guarding prisoners.
Christian Peters, born 1761, drafted from Rockingham, June 1779, served against the Indians on North Fork, Pendleton county. While there, Robert Craven, his captain, received a commission from the governor of South Carolina to raise a company to serve in that state, 1000 pounds of tobacco* being offered each volunteer. Peters was made corporal. The company joined General Greene at Cheraw, January 1, 1781. Was one of a party sent to surprise a band of tories in the Black Swamp, and 14 were captured. A part of the command took 28 prisoners and some sup- plies at Georgetown and joined General Morgan the day before the battle of the Cowpens. In that battle was with the riflemen on the right flank. They had the pleasure of taking 600 prisoners. His company a part of the detail to take the prisoners to Virginia. The British pursuit was so close that at the Yadkin the baggage wagon of the company was captured, but owing to rising water the enemy could not at once get across. At Pittsyl- vania Courthouse the prisoners were delivered to the militia of the said county and Craven proceeded home where his men were discharged in April. Peters' bounty went in part payment on a horse, and he gave up his certificate and discharge to the man to whom he sold the bounty. Next June volunteered as sergeant and was in the battles of Hot Water and Green Spring,t the former lasting two hours and ending in the retreat of the Americans before the re-enforcements sent to the relief of the British. At Green Spring one man of the company was killed and 14 were wounded. The last tour occupied four months, making a total of 13 months, during which time he carried his own rifle, tomahawk, and butcher knife. Dec- laration, 1832. Affidavit by John Peters.
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