USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 8
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
for his cousin, and signed it with Logan's name, which letter Logan took and set out again to war, and the contents of this letter, as recited by the subscriber calling to mind that stated by Judge Innes, to have been left tied to a war club in a house where a family was murdered, and that being read to the subscriber he recognizes and declares that he verily believes it to have been the identical letter which he wrote, and supposes he was mistaken in stating as he had done before from memory, that the offer of the exchange was proposed in the letter; that it is probable it was only promised him by Logan, but not put in the letter; that while he was with the old woman that she repeatedly endeavored to make him sensible that she had been of the party at Yellow Creek, and by signs showed how they decoyed her friends over the river to drink, and when they were reeling and tumbling about, tomahawked them all, and that whenever she entered in this subject she was thrown into the most violent agitations, and that afterwards he understood that amongst the Indians killed at Yellow Stone was a sister of Logan's; that he continued with the Indians util the month of November, when he was released in consequece of the peace made by them with Lord Dunmore; that, while he remained with them the Indians in general were very kind to him, and especially those who were his adopted relations, but above all the old women and family in which he lived, who served him with everything in their power, and never asked or even suffered him to do any labor, seeming in truth to consider him and respect him as the friend they had lost. All of which matters and things so far as they are stated to be of his own knowledge, this subscriber solemnly declares to be true, and so far as they are stated to be on infor- mation from others he believes them to be true.
Given and declared under his hand at Philadelphia, this 28th day of February, 1800.
WILLIAM ROBINSON."
The charges of Logan against Captain Cresap years afterwards, led to a bitter controversy between his friends and Thomas Jefferson, and the above declaration of Robinson was taken to sustain Mr. Jefferson's posi- tion that Logan was correct in accusing Cresap of murdering his family at Yellow Creek, and thus precipitating a bloody and disastrous war on the white settlers.
It was contended by Captain Cresap's friends that Logan was mis- taken in accusing him of murdering his family, and that he confounded the skirmish at Captina, where Cresap was present with a Yellow Creek affair where Logan's relatives were killed, and that Cresap was not present at that time.
In the chancery cause of Michael Cresap vs. Archibald McLean and Jonathan Roberts in the Circuit Court of Harrison County there is filed a printed slip from a newspaper published it is supposed in 1775, of which the annexed is a copy. The slip was filed as an evidence of the death of Captain Michael Cresap, the father of the plaintiff.
New York, October 23.
On the 12th inst. arrived here on his return from the Provincial Camp at Cambridge, and on the 18th departed this life of a fever in the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
28th year of his age, Captain Michael Cresap, Esq., eldest son of Col. Thomas C. Cresap of Potowmack, Virginia.
He was Captain of a rifle company now in the Continental Army be- fore Boston. He served as a Captain of a rifle Company under the com- mand of Lord Dunmore in the late expedition against the Indians, in which he eminently distinguished himself by his prudence, firmness and interpidity as a brave officer, and in the present contest between the Parent State and the colonies, gave proof of his attachment to the rights and li- berties of his country. He has left a widow and four children to deplore the loss of a husband and father and by his death his country is deprived of a worthy and esteemed citizen.
His remains were interred the day following in Trinity Church yard with military honors attended by a vast concourse of people.
The following is the order of the procession :
Sergeant Major,
Grenadiers with their fire locks reversed,
Lieutenants,
Drums and fifes,
Captain of Grenadiers,
Sergeants,
Adjutants conducting the funeral,
Band of Music,
Clergymen,
The corpse, the pall supported by eight Captains,
Chief Mourners,
Major with his sword drawn,
Second Battalion,
First Battalion,
Non Commissioned officers,
Battalion of Officers,
Ward Officers,
Citizens of New York.
MURDER OF MRS. CHARLES GRIGSBY.
In June 1777 a party of Indians came to the house of Charles Grigs- by on Rooting Creek, a tributary of Elk Creek, ten miles from Clarksburg. Mr. Grigsby being from home the Indians plundered the house of every- thing considered valuable by them, and which they could readily carry with them, and destroyed many other articles, departing taking with them Mrs. Grigsby and her two children as prisoners. Returning home soon after, seeing the desolation which had been done in his short absence and unable to find his wife and children, Mr. Grigsby collected some of his neighbors and set out in pursuit of those by whom the mischief had been effected, hoping that he might overtake and reclaim from them the partner of his bosom and the pledges of her affection. His hopes were of but momentary existence, following in the trail of the fugitives when they had arrived in the neighborhood of Lost Creek, a distance of about six miles, they found the body of Mrs. Grigsby and of her younger child, where they had been recently killed and scalped. Stimulated to more ardent ex-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
ertions by the distressing scene just witnessed, the pursuers pressed for- ward with increased expectation of speedily overtaking and punishing the authors of this bloody deed, leaving two of their party to perform the sepulture of the unfortunate mother and her murdered infant. But before the whites were aware of the nearness to the Indians these had become apprised of their approach and separated so as to leave no trail by which they could be further traced. They had of course to give over the pursuit and returned home to provide more effectively against the perpetration of similar acts of atrocity and darkness.
The Grigsby cabin stood on a little stream which is still known as Grigsby's Run, a branch of Rooting Creek, and was afterwards included in the farm of James A. Young, situated near Pleasant Hill Church about ten miles from Clarksburg in Elk District.
H. Haymond, Esq.,
February 1, 1907.
DEAR SIR :- A family by the name of Grigsby was murdered by the Indians on a run known by the name of Grigsby's Run, a tributary of Rooting Creek, which empties into Rooting Creek on the Simon Arnold farm about half way between Romines Mills and Johntown.
My first recollection of this farm is that it was purchased by my uncle, James A. Young from Colonel Martin, father of A. W. Martin, Mrs. Dr. McKeehan and others.
I think the location of the house was near where the road leaves the run for Clarksburg via Horeb Church.
Yours truly,
J. W. YOUNG.
MURDER OF MRS. COON.
A short time after this, two Indians came on the West Fork and con- cealed themselves near to Coon's Fort, awaiting an opportunity of effect- ing some mischief. While thus lying in ambush a daughter of Mr. Coon came out for the purpose of lifting some hemp in a field near to the fort and by the side of the road. Being engaged in performing this business Thomas Cunningham and Enoch James passed along and seeing her, entered into conversation with her, and after a while proceeded on their road but before they had gone far, alarmed by the report of a gun, they looked back and saw an Indian run up to the girl, tomahawk and scalp her. The people of the Fort were quickly apprised of what had been done, and im- mediately turned out in pursuit but could not trace the course taken by the savages. It afterwards appeared that the Indians had been for some time waiting for the girl to come near enough for them to catch and make her prisoner before she could alarm the fort, or get within reach of its guns, but when one of them crossed the fence for this purpose she espied him and ran directly towards the fort. Fearing that he would not be able to overtake her without approaching the fort so as to involve him- self in some danger, he shot her as she ran, and going up to her he toma- hawked and scalped her. In endeavoring then to secure himself by flight he was shot at by James but at so great a distance as to prevent the doing of execution. The following letter is of interest in this connection :
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Shinnston, W. Va., 4-3, 1908.
Mr. Henry Haymond,
DEAR SIR :- Fort Coon was situated on the west bank of Coon's Run about three miles from its mouth and confluence with the West Fork River. The site of the old fort is in Marion County about one half mile from the Harrison County line on the late Peter B. Righter farm. It was in the territory of Harrison County from 1784 until 1843 at which time Marion County was formed. One of the daughters of the Coon family was captured and killed by the Indians about the year 1778. I think that the fort was abandoned in 1789 or 1790 or soon after John McIntire was killed on the waters of Bingamon Creek about two miles North of Shinnston. Respectfully,
B. A. REEDER.
The name of the girl that was killed was Maudline Coon.
CAPTURE OF LEONARD PETRO AND WILLIAM WHITE.
In September 1777 Leonard Petro and William White, being engaged as scouts in watching the path leading up the Little Kanawha River to the Tygarts Valley killed an elk late in the evening, and taking a part of it with them withdrew a short distance for the purpose of eating their sup- pers and spending the night. About midnight White, awaking from sleep, discovered by the light of the moon that there were several Indians near, who had been drawn in quest of them by the report of the gun in the even- ing. He saw at a glance the impossibility of escaping by flight and pre- ferring captivity to death he whispered to Petro to lie still lest any move- ment of his might lead to this result. In a few minutes the Indians sprang on them, and White, raising himself as one lay hold on him aimed a furious blow with his tomahawk, hoping to wound the Indian by whom he wes beset, and then make his escape. Missing his aim he affected to have been ignorant of the fact that he was encountered by Indians, professed great joy at meeting with them, and declared that he was then on his way to their towns. They were not deceived by the artifice for although he assumed an air of pleasantness and gaiety calculated to win upon their confidence, yet the woeful countenance and rueful expression of poor Petro convinced them that White's conduct was feigned that he might lull them into inattention and they be enabled to effect an escape. They were both tied for the night and in the morning White being painted red and Petro black, they were forced to proceed to the Indian towns.
When approaching a village the whoop of success brought several to meet them and on their arrival at it they found that every preparation was made for their running the gauntlet, in going through which cere- mony both were much bruised. White did not, however remain long in captivity. Eluding the Indians' vigilance he took one of their guns and begun his flight homeward. Before he had traveled far he met an Indian on horseback, whom he succeeded in shooting, and mounting the horse from which he fell his return to the Valley was much facilitated.
Petro was never heard of afterwards. The painting of him black had
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
indicated their intention of killing him, and the escape of White probably hastened his doom.
During this time and after the return of White among them the in- habitants of Tygarts Valley in what is now Randolph County, practiced their accustomed watchfulness until about the twentieth of November 1777 when there was a considerable fall of snow. This circumstance induced them to believe that the savages would not attempt an irruption among them until the return of Spring and they became consequently inattentive to their safety.
Generally the settlements enjoyed perfect quiet from the first appear- ance of winter until the return of Spring. In this interval of time the In- dians are usually deterred from penetrating into them as well because of their great exposure to discovery and observation in consequence of the nakedness of the woods and the increased facility of pursuing their trail in the snows, which then usually covered the earth, as of the suffering pro- duced by their lying in wait and traveling in their partially unclothed con- dition in this season of intense cold. Instances of their being troublesome during the winter were rare indeed, and never occurred but under very peculiar circumstances, the inhabitants were therefore not culpably remiss, when they relaxed in their vigilance and became exposed to savage inroad.
ATTACK ON THE CONNOLLY AND STEWART FAMILIES.
A party of twenty Indians designing to commit some depredations during the fall, had nearly reached the upper end of Tygarts Valley when the snow which had inspired the inhabitants with confidence in their se- curity commenced falling. Fearful of laying themselves open to detec- tion if they ventured to proceed further at that time, and anxious to effect some mischief before they returned home, they remained concealed about ten miles from the settlements until the snow disappeared. On the 15th of December they came to the house of Darby Connoly, at the upper ex- tremity of the valley and killed him, his wife and several of the children, and took three others prisoners. Proceeding to the next house they killed John Stewart, his wife and child and took Miss Hamilton, sister-in-law to Stewart, into captivity. They then immediately changed their direction and with great dispatch entered upon their journey home with the cap- tives and plunder taken at these two places.
In the course of the evening after these outrages were committed, John Haddon passing by the house of Connolly saw a tame elk belonging there, lying dead in the yard. This and the death like silence which reigned around excited his fears that all was not right, and entering into the house he saw the awful desolation which had been committed. Seeing that the work of blood had been but recently done, he hastened to alarm the neighborhood, and sent an express to Captain Benjamin Wilson, liv- ing about twenty miles lower in the valley, with the melancholy intelli- gence. With great promptitude Captain Wilson went through the settle- ment exerting himself to procure as many volunteers as would justify go- ing in pursuit of the aggressors, and so indefatigable was he in accom- plishing his purpose that on the day after the murders were perpetrated
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
he appeared on the theatre of their exhibition with thirty men, prepared to take the trail and push forwards in pursuit of the savages. For five days they followed through cold and wet without perceiving that they had gained upon them. At this time many of the men expressed a determi- nation to return. They had suffered much, traveled far, and yet saw no prospect of overtaking the enemy. It is not wonderful that they became dispirited.
In order to expedite their progress the numerous water courses which lay across their way, swollen to an unusual height and width, were passed without any preparation to avoid getting wet, the consequence was that after wading one of them, they would have to travel with icicles hanging from their clothes the greater part of a day before an opportunity could be allowed of drying them. They suffered much, too, for the want of provisions. The short time afforded for preparation, had not admitted of their taking with them as much as they expected would be required, and they had already been on the chase longer than was anticipated. Under these circumstances it was with great difficulty Captain Wilson could pre- vail on them to continue the pursuit one day longer, hoping the Indians would have to halt in order to hunt for food. Not yet being sensible that they gained upon them the men positively refused going farther, and they returned to their several homes.
This was the last outrage committed by the savages in North Western Virginia in this year, and although there was not as much mischief effected by them in this season as had been in others, yet the year 1777 has become memorable in the annals of Border Warfare.
The murder of Cornstalk, the great Shawnee Chief, and his com- panions at Point Pleasant, the attack on Wheeling fort, the loss of lives and destruction of property which then took place, together with the fatal ambuscade at Grave Creek Narrows of Captain William Foreman with his Company of Militia from Hampshire County, all conspired to render it a period of much interest, and to impress its incidents deeply on the minds of those who were actors in these scenes and this period was known as the "Bloody year of the three 7's."
The grave of the Connolly family is still pointed out about one-third of a mile below the mouth of Connolly Run.
After the winter became so severe as to prevent the Indians from penetrating the Country and committing further aggressions, the in- habitants became assured of safety and devoted much of their time to the repairing of the old forts and block houses and building new ones in pre- paring for the storm that everyone expected would break upon the de- fenceless frontier in the Spring of 1778. The murder of Cornstalk, while a prisoner in the hands of the whites, had stirred the war-like nation of Shawnees to avenge the death of their chief. Other tribes were urged to attack the settlements by the English officers stationed at Detroit, who fur- nished them with arms, ammunition and supplies and gave rewards for prisoners.
The war of the Revolution was now at high tide and Great Britain considered it legitimate mode of warfare against the rebellious colonies
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
to let loose a horde of savages against peaceful settlers, women and children.
General McIntosh, the officer in command of Fort Pitt, in the Spring of 1778 constructed Fort McIntosh on the Ohio at the mouth of Beaver River for the protection of that portion of the frontier.
From Wheeling to Point Pleasant, a distance of one hundred and eighty-six miles there was then no obstacle whatever presented to the ad- vance of Indian War parties into the settlements in the Monongahela Val- ley and its upper tributaries.
The consequences of this exposure had always been severely felt, and never more so than after the establishment of Fort McIntosh. Every im- pediment to their invasion of one part of the country caused more frequent irruptions into other parts where no difficulties were interposed to check their progress and brought heavier woes on them.
ATTACK ON HARBERT'S BLOCK HOUSE.
Anticipating the commencement of hostilities at an earlier period of the season than usual several families retired into Harbert's block house situated on Jones' Run in Eagle District a tributary of Ten Mile about eleven miles from Clarksburg in the month of February. But notwith- standing the prudent caution manifested by them in the step thus taken, yet the state of the weather lulling them into false security, they did not afterwards exercise the vigilence and provided care which was necessary to insure their future safety. On the third of March some children play- ing with a crippled crow at a short distance from the yard, espied a num- ber of Indians proceeding towards them, and running briskly to the house told that "a number of red men were close by." John Murphy stepped to the door to see if danger had really approached, when one of the In- dians, turning the corner of the house, fired at him. The ball took effect and Murphy fell back into the house. The Indian, springing directly in, was grappled by Harbert and thrown on the floor. A shot from without wounded Harbert, yet he continued to maintain his advantage over the prostrate savage, striking him as effectively as he could with his tomahawk when another gun was fired at him from without the house. The ball passed through his head and he fell lifeless. His antagonist then slipped out of the door sorely wounded in the encounter.
Just after the first Indian had entered, an active young warrior, hold- ing in his hand a tomahawk with a long spike in the end, also came in. Edward Cunningham instantly drew his gun to shoot him, but it flashed and they closed in doubtful strife. Both were active and athletic and sen- sible for the high prize which they were contending each put forth his utmost strength, and strained his every nerve to gain the ascendency. For a while the issue seemed doubtful. At length by great exertion Cunning- ham wrenched the tomahawk from the hand of the Indian and buried the spike to the handle in his back. Mrs. Cunningham closed the contest, see- ing her husband struggling closely with the savage she struck at him with an axe. The edge wounding his face severely, he loosened his hold and made his way out of the house.
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The third Indian who had entered before the door was closed, pre- sented an appearance almost as frightful as the object which he had in view. He wore a cap made of the unshorn front of a buffalo with the ears and horns still attached to it, and which, hanging loosely about his head, gave to him a most hideous aspect. On entering the room this infernal monster aimed a blow with his tomahawk at a Miss Reese, which alighted on her head wounding her severely. The mother of the girl, seeing the up- lifted arm about to descend on her daughter, seized the monster by the horns, but his false head coming off, she did not succeed in changing the direction of the weapon. The father then caught hold of him, but being far inferior in strength and agility, he was soon thrown on the floor, and must have been killed but for the timely interference of Cunningham, who, having succeeded in ridding the room of one Indian, wheeled and sunk a tomahawk into the head of the other.
During all this time the door was kept by the women, though not without great exertion, the Indians from without endeavoring several times to force it open and gain admittance, and they would at one time succeed- ed but that, as it was yielding to their efforts to open it, the Indian who had been wounded by Cunningham and his wife, squeezing out of the aperture which had been made, caused a momentary relaxation of the ex- ertions of those without, and enabled the women to again close the door and prevent the entrance of others. These were not, however, unemployed. They were engaged in securing such of the children in the yard as were capable of being carried away as prisoners, and in killing and scalping the others, and when they had effected this, dispairing of being able to do further mischief, they retreated to their towns.
Of the whites in the house only one was killed and four were wound- ed, and seven or eight children in the yard were killed or taken prisoners. One Indian was killed and two badly wounded. Had Reese engaged soon- er in the conflict the other two who had entered the house would no doubt have been likewise killed, but being a quaker he looked on without par- ticipating in the conflict until his daughter was wounded. Having then to contend singly with superior prowess, he was indebted for the preservation of his life to the assistance of those whom he refused to aid in pressing need.
Henry W. Bigler in a letter written from St. George, Utah, to the Clarksburg Telegram, writes of this affair as follows:
"On page 173 Border Warfare it is stated by Withers that some chil- dren playing with a crippled crow, espied a number of Indians coming towards them and running briskly to the house told that a number of red men were close by, etc. Here permit me to state that among the children was the late Joseph Cunningham of Harrison County, your State, then a boy about eight years old. I have heard him tell the story. He was my step mother's Uncle and often when I was a boy he would come to my father's, stay over night and relate his experiences with Indian life, and tell all about how he was taken a captive. He said the children were at play in a clay hole with a crippled crow, when all at once they saw the Indians coming, and that he ran into an old loom house, slipped down through the treadle hole and hid under the floor. He was, however, soon taken from
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
his place of refuge by a lusty savage and made to follow him and the In- dians to their towns. He ran the gauntlet composed of little Indian boys about his own size. They pelted him with sticks and with their fists until at last he turned and showed fight and struck back. This caused a great laugh and seemed to greatly please his captors. He was at once adopted into an Indian family and lived with them sixteen years. He almost forgot his mother tongue, but his name he never forgot and said whenever he happeed to be alone he would repeat "Joe Cunningham, Joe Cunning- ham," over and over a number of times.
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