USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 12
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The females, alarmed at the report of the guns, sprang out of bed and hastened to the fort, pursued by the Indians. Mrs. Pindall was over- taken and killed, but Rachel Pindall, her sister-in-law, escaped safely to the Fort.
It is a family tradition that Miss Pindall in her flight, came to a pool of water caused by the uprooting of a large tree, and, fearful of being overtaken plunged into the water leaving just enough of her face above the surface to prevent suffocation, and remained in that position until the savages had left the vicinity.
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While lying in the water she heard the Indians run by her in pur- suit of the men and heard the stroke of the tomahawk that ended the life of Mrs. Pindall.
Thomas Pindall married as his second wife Julia Scott and was the father of the brilliant and eccentric James Pindall, a prominent Clarks- burg lawyer, who became a member of the Legislature and also of Con- gress.
His three sisters married in Clarksburg; Rachel to Thomas P. Moore, Jemime to George I. Davisson and Elizabeth to Forbes Britton, and their descendants still live there.
In September of this year occurred the celebrated second attack on Fort Henry, where Wheeling now stands. The assault was made by a body of three hundred and fifty Indians and whites. The Indians were Shawnees and Delawares under the command of the renegade George Girty and a company of Canadians under a Captain Pratt.
The Garrison made a most gallant defense against overwhelming odds, and the beseiging army after an effort extending through three days and failing to obtain possession of the fort became discouraged and withdrew to their villages after destroying all the houses and live stock they could reach.
The condition of the country in this year, 1782, and the desperate straits which faced the settlers of the Monongahela Valley is shown by the following correspondence.
MONONGALIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, March 9, 1782.
His Excellency, Gov. Benjamin Harrison, Richmond.
DEAR SIR :-
The murders committed on our frontier at such a time of the year and the repeated application of our suffering inhabitants occasions me to trouble your Honor, praying that our situation may be taken under consideration as we are few in number and much exposed.
Our frontiers are so extensive that the few inhabitants there settled are so scattered that the enemy murders one part before the others can be alarmed to come to their assistance. Since the State of Pennsylvania have taken peace the poor residue of Virginia are all frontiers.
The prayer of the people is that a company or two of Militia may be ordered to their relief, otherwise they will be under the necessity of vacating the country. Colonel Clark's expedition falling through and so many men falling in to the enemies hands, have encouraged them so that they are constantly in our country.
The strength of our militia does not exceed three hundred and fifty and them settled at least eighty miles in length.
I have forebore running the State to the expense of paying an express, and troubling your Honor, until I find it will do no longer. The murders committed were early in February when the people were under no appre- hension of the enemy's being in our country.
The Express I hope may be paid for this trouble and expense as I was much put to it to get one, times being so precarious.
I have the honor to be with due respect, etc.
JOHN EVANS. "
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Colonel Joseph Nevill writes to Governor Harrison from Hampshire County under date of March 21, 1782, as follows:
"The inhabitants of part of Cheat River have petitioned me to send them a sergeant and fifteen men as a guard, and as it is out of my power without your excellency's approbation, I would be glad to know if I might suffer that number to go, provided they would go as volunteers.
The inhabitants have engaged to find them in provisions upon which the executive requested the commissioner of war to order an ensign and twenty men from the County of Augusta to rendezvous at Tygart's Valley there to wait the orders of Colonel Evans of Monongahela, the men to take with them ten days provisions."
On March 26, 1782, it was ordered by the Governor and his council that one Company of Militia from Hampshire County should report to Colonel Evans, the County Lieutenant of Monongalia County, to serve two months at a time on that frontier, to be relieved at the end of these services by the Militia of Rochingham and Augusta Counties. Each soldier to take with him ten days provisions but to be supplied after- wards by the neighboring counties. Should this means fail to protect the County, Colonel Evans was authorized to avail himself of the provisions of the invasion laws, etc.
Colonel George Moffett, writing from Augusta County to Governor Harrison on May 1, 1782, informs his Excellency of the disagreeable news of the savage enemy invading the frontiers, and that he has sent eighty militia exclusive of those sent to the Tygart's Valley to their defense, and should there be a real necessity to continue them unless orders are given to continue them out of the specific tax, thinks it a hard case that he should be called upon to send seventy men to defend Monongalia County while the frontiers of Augusta are so distressed by the enemy.
Colonel Benjamin Wilson, whose fort was in Tygart's Valley below and near where Beverly now stands, wrote to the Governor of Virginia in the early summer of 1782 as follows:
"Colonel Joseph Nevill of Hampshire County, has sent a part of his militia to their protection, but bringing no provisions he is not warranted in marching his men to the West Fork as ordered by Colonel Evans for the inhabitants of that place can hardly subsist themselves. The pro- visions should have been sent forward first under guard to their posts. There is no fort nor inhabitants for fifty-five computed miles, and several Indian paths to cross in that way. He now has the Militia divided among the different inhabitants at the different forts and in general borrows their subsistence until the provisions arrive.
A demand upon the "specifecks" of Rockingham County has been made and Colonel Harrison has been requested to have the provisions raised in his county escorted by his militia to Monongalia County.
Since the first of April the Indians have made three attacks on the people of the Valley.
Since the Buckhannon settlement broke up, the Indians have been more plentious and more bolder than usual in this valley.
I humbly beg that I might be enabled to call on some of the adjacent County Lieutenants for an escort to guard us to the interior inhabitants.
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If necessary relief is not granted, the people in general inform me they will break up about harvest.
My earnest desire is we might be enabled to keep our Country."
Colonel Benjamin Wilson in a letter to Colonel William Davies of the War Office at Richmond, Va., under date of May 2, 1782, states that :
"The Indians had made three incursions into that Country since the first of April. The Militia under Colonels Nevill and Evans were dis- tributed among the different forts and were fed by the people, as no pro- visions had come from Rockingham County as ordered.
Pack horses with bags, with proper escort for protection against the Indians who had appeared forty miles East of that place, would be necessary to transport provisions for the troops.
He had already twenty-two families in his fort and should like to stand his ground, but if he should break, the whole valley would follow his example.
His situation has become very precarious since the breaking up of the Buckhannon settlement, the people in the fort under a panic, hoping the Militia who should come to their relief would bring their own provisions, inasmuch as the road had become too dangerous to go out in search of them."
Colonel Wiliam Davies in a letter to Colonel Joseph Holmes at Win- chester, dated War Office, Richmond, May 14, 1782:
Informs him that a relief from Berkley, Frederick and Shenandoah to take the place of the men from Hampshire County, then serving in Monongalia had been ordered, and instructing him to furnish them with supplies by disposing of the public stores in his district.
MONONGALIA COUNTY, VA., July 25, 1782.
Hon. Benjamin Harrison, Governor, Richmond. HONORED SIR :-
Agreeable to your orders of the 22nd of May last, to me directed, I have called on General Irvine, and he informs me it is out of his power to give any assistance except in ammunition.
The horrid barbarity of the enemy has struck the inhabitants of this County with such a panic that they are determined to quit the country unless your Honor will interfere and give them the necessary aid. The men you ordered to our assistance were obliged to be discharged before the expiration of their time for want of provisions.
Colonel Wilson informs me he has repeatedly applied for provisions to Colonel Harrison of Rockingham, but has received but very trifling. The Militia from Berkley, Frederick and Shenandoah I expect will be here soon and no provisions for them and none to be had. I hope your Honor will take it under consideration and adopt some mode for our re- lief, particularly in that of provisions, and how and in what manner the men are to be supported.
I could get beef and flour by impressing, but we have no salt, and that of taking people's property I am very loath to undertake could any other method be adopted.
I have made the strictest inquiry concerning the murder committed
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on the Muskingham and find only one man that went from this county, and since, he is dead.
About the 20th of May last Colonel William Crawford with five hun- dred men went against Sandusky, and a few miles from the town the enemy met them, and from the best accounts our loss was not less than one hundred men. Colonel Crawford himself and Colonel William Har- rison with many others by a prisoner who was taken at the time and made his escape, informs me that he saw Colonel Crawford tied to a stake and burnt. Since that the enemy attacked Hannah's town in Westmorland County, killed a great number and burnt the town. Yesterday I was creditably informed that the enemy had burnt Fort Henry at the mouth of Wheeling, but I do not assert it, though I have reason to believe it is true.
These instances cause our frontier to be very ticklish as we are so scattering, the small settlements so great a distance apart.
I received a line from your Honor dated 9th May concerning men who, being enrolled, who lived in forts. I can assure your Honor that since I had had the honor to command the County such a practice has never been allowed.
Upon the whole I submit to your Honor's superior judgment, hop- ing that this part of the State will not be allowed to fall a prey to so bar- barous an enemy as those savages, and am with great esteem your excel- lency's most obedient servant,
JOHN EVANS.
Colonel Charles Cameron in a letter to Colonel William Davies of the War Office, Richmond, dated Staunton, September 9, 1782, states :
He is grieved to hear of the distressed situation of Colonel Wilson and the people in that quarter. He has given them every assistance in his power and had instructed the commissioners of Rockingham County to reserve the "Specifecks" raised in that County for the troops on the frontier under Colonel Evans or Colonel Wilson, and, although he had notified Colonel Armand of this, his wagons had several times been sup- plied upon their applying to Colonel Harrison for those very articles.
For this reason Colonel Wilson's command is now suffering, and he has not the means of affording him any relief.
He has no money with which to purchase salt ordered for him, and if he had it, could not afford transportation, as there is no such thing here as public credit.
Colonel John Evans, in a letter dated in Monongalia County, Octo- ber 16, 1782, addressed to Colonel William Davies, War Office, Rich- mond, writes :
"I am under the necessity of acquainting you in some measure in what manner your requisitions have been complied with in our getting the aid ordered for our defense."
The few men who had gone out were without provisions. The fron- tiers are in a wavering condition and will undoubtedly break in the Spring if not time aided.
Colonel Wilson, the bearer, would give further particulars as he was in command of the men sent, etc.
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Colonel Benjamin Wilson to Governor Harrison, dated December 9th, 1782.
Sir :- At this time duty obliges me to lay before your Honor this let- ter which contains a narrative of the present state of the County of Mo- nongalia together with my humble request.
Notwithstanding your parental care of my county last Spring, be- fore aid came to its relief, the settlement of Buckhannon broke up and moved into the interior parts of the Country, which unhappy event caused about fourteen or fifteen families of the settlement of Tygart's Valley to leave the country. At this time Tygart's Valley is a frontier, also Horse Shoe, West Fork, Dunkard Bottom and about fifteen miles of Cheat River settlement, the Country as now inhabited is about one hun- dred and ten computed miles from North to South.
There are about sixty-eight effective men in Tygart's Valley, eighteen at the Horse Shoe, eighty at West Fork, twenty-five at Dunkard Bottom, and about one hundred and sixty at Forks of Cheat River and Sandy Creek Glades, so that from the scattered condition of the Country the damages the people have already sustained by the frequent in- cursions of the Indians since the commencement of this war, will, I be- lieve (and from the voice of the people) cause the first four mentioned settlements, to break up and leave the country, should the Indians pur- sue the war with the vigor they did last Spring, unless timely relieved by your excellency's interposition.
Colonel John Evans by a letter to Colonel William Davies dated Oc- tober 16, 1782, requests aid for his County by the first of February next, I could not wish to have men marched over the mountains at that season of the year unless absolutely needed, and humbly beg that instruction may be given at this time to Colonel Evans or myself, impowering one of us to call on some of the adjacent Counties for relief, upon the first incursion made or positive appearance of the Indians in the Spring. I believe aid of fifty men would be a number sufficient to keep the people together, until you could be informed of the true state of the case. I be- lieve provisions may be got in the County for fifty men for two months.
I here insert the different incursions made by the Indians in my county this year until the Eleventh day of October, First incursion made February 7th next 10th day, next 12th day, next 20th day of March, next 22nd day, next 7th day of April, next 12th next 24th next 29th. day of May, next 12th day of August. I await your answer.
Sir, from your most obedient and very humble servant,
BENJAMIN WILSON.
The capture of the British Army under Lord Cornwallis at York- town by General Washington, in October 1781, rendered the war un- popular in England, and in 1783 a treaty of peace was concluded be- tween that country and the United States, which terminated the war of the Revolution and acknowledged the independence of the latter.
The close of hostilities between the two countries caused a partial cessation of the Indian raids on the Virginia frontier. The aid and en- couragement given them by the British Government being withdrawn,
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they were less able to carry on war against the border country and no large military expeditions were sent out.
While small war parties continued for many years to harrass the settlement, yet they were more for the purpose of horse stealing and plundering, though they generally resulted in murders being committed and the inhabitants being carried into captivity.
Yet the pioneers were encouraged, took heart and now determined to remain permanently in the Country.
In 1783 there was an alarm of Indians on Simpson's Creek caused by a gun being discharged at Major Power, but the act was generally at- tributed to a white man and confidence was soon restored.
In September 1784 a party of Indians came to the house of Henry Flesher where the town of Weston now is, and fired at him as he was returning from his labors on his clearing, wounding him in the arm. Two savages immediately ran towards him, and just as he was in the act of entering the door, one of them struck at him with the butt end of his gun. The breech came first in contact with the facing of the door, and descended on his head, threw him forward into the house, and his wife closing the door, no attempt was made by the savages to force it open.
The family retreated safely to the Hacker's Creek settlement the next day.
A few days after the attacks on Flesher as Daniel Radcliff was pro- ceeding to the Brushy Fork of Elk Creek on a hunting expedition he was shot perhaps by the same party of Indians, tomahawked and scalped.
There was some suspicion that this murder had been committed by a white man. An arrest was made and an examining trial held before the County Court, but the party was discharged, the Court being satisfied that the deed had been committed by Indians.
Extract from a letter from Colonel Benjamin Wilson to Governor Harrison, dated Harrison County, October 27, 1784.
"By this express you are informed that on the 18th of this instant the Indians hath again renewed their wonted barbarities in the County by wounding one man, and on Thursday following killed and scalped an- other. Which unexpected incursion has much alarmed the good citizens of this County that they are longer to experience the hardships of a savage war, and what still more adds to their mortification is their be- holding their fellow citizens, who reside East of the mountains, enjoying themselves now in peace, and they neglected in securement of that happy enjoyment.
Sir, as I believe Congress will not have a treaty with the Indians this fall, there is the greatest probability in my view of an early rupture in the ensuing spring.
Therefore prays your Excellency may, by the bearer, Mr. John Jack- son, furnish the lieutenant of this County with authority to call on some of the adjacent Counties for a small portion of men and provisions in the Spring if absolutely needed.
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AN ECHO OF COLONEL LOCHRY'S DEFEAT.
At a County Court held for the County of Harrison on September 22, 1784.
This day John Stackhouse, a Militia soldier came into Court and proved to the satisfaction of the same, that he was captivated at Colonel Archibald Lockree's defeat on the Ohio River in the year 1781, and that he was captivated on ye twenty-first day of August in sd year, and re- turned to the mouth of Grave Creek on the East side of the Ohio on the 16th day of July, 1784.
Colonel Lochry's command referred to in the above order, was com- posed of about one hundred Pennsylvanians on their way down the river to join General George Rogers Clark's contemplated expedition against Detroit. They had landed on a sand bar below the mouth of the Miami on what is now Indiana Territory, and were engaged in cooking a buffalo, when they were attacked by Indians and the entire party killed or cap- tured.
Harrison County was organized on July 20, 1784, and John P. Du- val was appointed Lieutenant.
The County Lieutenant was the official through which all matter pertaining to Military affairs were conducted by the War Department at Richmond.
He had charge of the public stores, arms and ammuition, and had authority to call out the militia in case of invasion or insurrection.
In August, 1785, six Indians appeared on a farm occupied by Thom- as and Edward Cunningham on Bingamon Creek, a tributary of the West Fork, and now the dividing line, between Harrison and Marion Counties.
At this time the two brothers were dwelling with their families in separate houses, but nearly adjoining though not in a direct line with each other. Thomas was then on a trading expedition East of the moun- tains, and his wife and four children were collected in their room for the purpose of eating dinner as was Edward with his family in their house. Suddenly a lusty savage entered where were Mrs. Thomas Cunningham and her children, but seeing that he would be exposed to a fire from the other house, and apprehending no danger from the women and children, he closed the door and seemed for a time only intent on the means of es- caping.
Edward Cunningham had seen the savage enter his brother's house, and fastened his own door, seized his gun and stepping to a small aper- ture in the wall next the house in which the Indian was, and which served as well for a port hole as for the admission of light, was ready to fire whenever the savage should make his appearance. But in the other house was a like aperature, and through it the Indian fired at Edward and shouted the yell of victory. It was answered by Edward. He had seen the aim of the savage only in time to avoid it. The bark from the log close to his head was knocked off by the ball and flew into his face. The Indian seeing he had missed his object and observing an adz in the room, deliberately commenced cutting an aperture in the back wall through
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which he might pass out without being exposed to a shot from the other building.
Another of the Indians came into the yard just after the firing of his companion, but observing Edward's gun pointing through the port hole, he endeavored to retreat out of its range. He failed of his purpose. Just as he was about to spring over the fence, the gun was fired and he fell forward. The ball, however, only fractured the thigh bone, and he was yet able to hobble over the fence, and take shelter behind a coverlet suspended on it, before Edward could again load his gun.
While the Indian was engaged in cutting a hole in the wall, Mrs. Cunningham made no attempt to get out. She was well aware that it would draw down upon her head the fury of the savage, and if she es- caped this she would most probably be killed by some of those who were watching around, before the other door could be opened for her admission. She knew too that it would be impossible for her to take the children with her, and could not brook the idea of leaving them in the hands of the savage monster. She even trusted to the hope that he would with- draw as soon as he could, without molesting any of them. A few minutes served to convince her of the fallacy of this expectatoin. When the opening had been made sufficiently large, he tomahawked one of the chil- dren, and, throwing the body into the back yard, ordered the mother to follow after.
She obeyed the order, stepping over the dead body of one of her children, with an infant in her arms, and two others screaming from hor- ror at the sight, and clinging to her.
When all were out, he scalped the murdered boy, and, setting fire to the house, retired to an eminence in the field where two of the savages were with their wounded companion. Leaving the other two to watch the opening of Edward Cunningham's door when the burning of the house should force the family from the shelter. They were disappointed in their expectation of that event by the exertions of Cunningham and his son. When the flame from one of the houses communicated to the roof of the other, they ascended to the loft, threw off the loose boards which covered it, and extinguished the fire, the savages shooting at them all the while, and their balls frequently striking close by.
Dispairing of accomplishing further havoc and fearful of detection and pursuit, the Indians collected together and prepared to retreat.
Mrs. Cunningham's eldest son was first tomahawked and scalped and next the little daughter, while the distracted mother stood motionless with grief, and in momentary expectation of having the same fate dealt to her and her infant. But no, she was doomed to captivity, and with her helpless babe in her arms, was led off from this scene of horror and of woe. The wounded savage was carried on a rough litter, and they all departed, crossing the ridge to Bingamon Creek, near which they found a cave that afforded them shelter and concealment. After night they re- turned to Edward Cunningham's house and finding no one, plundered and fired the house.
When the savages withdrew in the evening, Cunningham went with his family into the woods where they remained all night, there being no
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settlement nearer than eight or ten miles. In the morning they proceed- ed to the nearest house and gave the alarm and a company of men was soon collected to go in pursuit of the Indians. When they came to Cun- ningham's and found both houses heaps of ashes they buried the bones which remained of the boy who was murdered in the house, with the bodies of his brother and little sister who were killed in the field, but so cautiously had the savages conducted their retreat that no traces of them could be discovered and the men returned to their homes.
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