USA > West Virginia > Myers' history of West Virginia (1915) Volume II > Part 30
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5. Attack on Fort Donnally, in May, 1778. Defended by pioneer settlers; attacked by Shawnee Indians. Relief from Lewisburg, under Colonel John Stuart. Scene, ten miles north of Lewisburg. in Falling Springs District, Greenbrier County.
6. Second siege and attack of Fort Henry. September 10, 1782 ; defended by frontier settlers, commanded by Colonel Silas Zane; attacked by Captain Pratt with a detachment of the Queen's Rangers from Detroit and 300 Indian warriors. Scene, the present city of Wheeling.
In the Civil War.
Place.
County.
Date.
Philippi
Barbour
June 3, 1861
New Creek.
Grant
June 17, 1861
Falling Waters
Jefferson July
3, 1861
Buckhannon
Upshur
July
6, 1861
Belington
Barbour
July
8, 1861
Laurel Hill
Barbour
July
8, 1861
Rich Mountain
Randolph
July
11, 1861
Red House
Putnam
July
12, 1861
Beverly
Randolph
July
12, 1861
Barboursville
Cabell
July
14, 1861
Carrick's Ford
Tucker
July
14, 1861
Scarey Creek.
Putnam
July
17, 1861
Grafton
Taylor
Aug.
13, 1861
Hawk's Nest.
Fayette
Aug. 20, 1861
Laurel Fork
Fayette
Aug. 20, 1861
Springfield
Hampshire
Aug. 23, 1861
Piggott's Mills
Fayette
Aug. 25, 1861
Summersville
Nicholas Aug. 26, 1861
Cross Lanes
Nicholas
Aug. 26, 1861
Wayne Court House
Wayne
Ang. 27, 1861
Poore's Hill
Cabell
Aug. 30, 1861
Blue Creek.
Mercer
Sept.
1, 1861
Boone Court House.
Boone
Sept.
1, 1861
Beller's Mills
Sept.
2, 1861
Worthington
Marion
Sept.
2, 1861
Rowell's Run
Sept. 6, 1861
Powell's Mountain
Nicholas
Sept.
8, 1861
Shepherdstown
Jefferson
Sept.
9, 1861
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History of West Virginia
Place.
County.
Date.
Cannifex Ferry
Nicholas
.Sept. 10, 1861
Elk Water.
Randolph
Sept. 11, 1861
Cheat Mountain
Randolph
Sept. 12, 1861
Peytona
Boone
Sept. 12, 1861
Princeton
Mercer
Sept. 16, 1861
Hanging Rock
Hampshire
Sept. 23, 1861
Cassville
Wayne
Sept. 23, 1861
Chapmansville
Logan
Sept. 25, 1861
Kanawha
Logan
Sept. 25, 1861
Boone Court House
Boone
Sept. 26, 1861
Greenbrier Bridge
Pocahontas
Oct.
3, 1861
Cotton Hill.
Fayette
Oct.
13, 1861
Bolivar Heights.
Jefferson
Oct.
16, 1861
Gauley Bridge
Fayette
Oct. 23, 1861
Montgomery's Ferry
Fayette
Oct.
29, 1861
Greenbrier River
Greenbrier
Oct. 31, 1861
Guyandotte
Cabell
Nov.
10, 1861
Miller's Ferry
Fayette
Nov. 10, 1861
Blake's Farm
Fayette
Nov. 10, 1861
Cotton Hill
Fayette
Nov. 11, 1861
Laurel Creek.
Fayette
Nov. 12, 1861
Cassaday's Mill
Fayette
Nov. 12, 186;
McCoy's Mill
Fayette
Nov. 14, 1861
Fayetteville
Fayette
Nov. 14, 184?
Elizabeth
Wirt
Nov. 19, 1861
Cacapon River
Morgan
Nov. 30, 1861
Greenbrier River
Pocahontas
Dec. 12, 1861
Camp Allegheny
Pocaliontas
Dcc.
13, 1861
Spring Creek.
Roane
Dec. 15, 1861
Laurel Creek
Webster
Dec. 24, 1861
Cherry Run
Morgan
Dec. 25, 1861
Beckley
Raleigh
Dec. 28, 1861
Sutton
Braxton
Dec. 29, 1861
Welch Glade
Webster
Dec. 30, 1861
Huntersville
Pocahontas
Jan.
3, 1862
Bath
Morgan
Jan.
3, 1862
Slane's Cross Roads
Hampshire
Jan.
4, 1862
Cacapon Bridge.
Hampshire
Jan.
4, 1862
Sir John's Run
Morgan
Jan.
4, 1862
Alpine Depot
Jan.
4, 1862
Blue's Gap
Hampshire
Jan.
7, 1861
Dry Fork
Randolph
Jan.
8, 1862
Blue Stone River
Mercer
Feb.
8, 1862
Bloomery
Hampshire
Fch. 14, 1862
Martinsburg
Berkeley
Mar. 3, 1862
Elk Mountain
Pocahontas
Mar. 19, 1862
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History of West Virginia
Place.
County.
Date.
Philippi
Barbour
Mar. 20, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
Apr.
3, 1862
Holly River
Webster
.Apr.
17, 1862
Chapmanville
Logan
Apr. 18, 1862
Grass Lick.
Hampshire
Apr.
22, 1862
Clarke's Hollow
Mercer
May
1, 1862
Camp Creek.
Mercer
May
1, 1862
Princeton
Mercer
May
5, 1862
Franklin
Pendleton
May
5, 1862
Arnoldsburg
Calhoun
May
6, 1862
Wardensville
Hardy
May
7, 1862
Franklin
Pendleton
May
10, 1862
Princeton
Mercer
May
11, 1862
Lewisburg
Greenbrier
May
12, 1862
Reedy Creek
Wirt
May
13, 1862
Ravenswood
Jackson
May
15, 1862
Wolf Creek
Monroe
May
15, 1862
Princeton
Mercer
May
18, 1862
Lewisburg
Greenbrier
May
23, 1862
Franklin
Pendleton
May
26, 1862
Charles Town
Jefferson
May
28, 1862
Wardensville
Hardy
May
30, 1862
Shaver's River
Randolph
May
31, 1862
Big Bend
Calhoun
June
4, 1862
Muddy Creek
Greenbrier
June
8, 1862
West Fork.
Calhoun
June 10, 1862
Mingo Flats
Randolph
June 25, 1862
Summersville
Nicholas
June 25, 1862
Flat Top Mountain
Mercer
June 25, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
June
29, 1862
Buckhannon
Upshur
July
26, 1862
Greenbrier River
Greenbrier
Aug.
3, 1862
Oceana
Wyoming
Aug.
5, 1862
Beech Creek.
Logan
Aug.
6, 1862
Pack's Ferry
Summers
Aug.
6, 1862
Blue Stone River
Mercer
Aug.
13, 1862
Wire Bridge
Hampshire
Aug.
16, 1862
Huttonsville
Randolphi Aug.
18, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
Aug. 23, 1862
Shady Springs
Raleigh
Aug. 28, 1862
Oceana
Wyoming
Aug. 30, 1862
Weston
Lewis
Ang. 31, 1862
Fayetteville
Fayette
Sept. 10, 1862
Cotton Hill
Fayette
Sept. 11, 1862
Charles Town
Jefferson
Sept. 12, 1862
29, 1862
Lewisburg
Greenbrier .May
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History of West Virginia
Place
County
Date
Elk River Bridge
Kanawha
.Sept. 13, 1862
Harper's Ferry
Jefferson
Sept. 15, 1862
Harper's Ferry
Jefferson
. Sept. 21, 1862
Buffalo
. Putnam
Sept. 27, 1862
Standing Stone
Wirt
Sept. 28, 1862
Glenville
Gilmer
Sept. 30, 1862
Shepherdstown
Jefferson
Oct.
1, 1862
Blue's Gap
Hampshire
Oct.
2, 1862
Blue's Gap
Hampshire
Oct. 4, 1862
Big Birch
Nicholas
Oct.
6, 1862
Hedgesville
Berkeley
Oct.
20, 1862
Petersburg
Grant
Oct.
20, 1862
Martinsburg
Berkeley
Nov.
6, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
Nov.
9, 1862
Saint George
Tucker
Nov. . 9, 1862
South Fork
Hardy
Nov.
9, 1862
Cove Gap.
Fayette
Nov. 15. 1862
Fayetteville
Fayette
Nov. 15, 1862
Harper's Ferry
Jefferson
Nov. 15, 1862
Halltown
Jefferson
Nov. 22, 1862
Cold Knob Mountain
Greenbrier
Nov. 26, 1862
Lewis' Mills
Greenbrier
Nov. 26, 1862
Romney
Hampshire
Dec.
1, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
Dec.
3, 1862
Darkesville
Berkeley
Dec.
11, 1862
Wardensville
Hardy
Dec.
16, 1862
Halltown
Jefferson
Dec.
20, 1862
Wardensville
Hardy
Dec.
22, 1862
Gibson's Farnı
Pocahontas
Dec.
22, 1862
Moorefield
Hardy
Jan.
3, 1863
Hurricane Bridge
Putnam
Mar.
28, 1863
Point Pleasant
Mason
Mar. 30, 1863
Tuekwiler's Hill
Greenbrier
Apr.
19, 1863
Beverly
Randolph
Apr.
24, 1863
Greenland Gap
Grant
Apr.
25, 1863
Fairmont
Marion
Apr.
29, 1863
Fayetteville
Fayette
May
17, 1863
Lough Creek
Braxton
June
21, 1863
Beverly
Randolph
. July
2, 1863
Shady Springs
Raleigh
July
14, 1863
Shepherdstown
Jefferson
. July 16, 1863
Dry Creek
Greenbrier
Aug. 26, 1863
Charles Town
Jefferson
Oct. 8, 1863
Charles Town.
Jefferson
Oct. 18, 1863
Mill Point
Pocahontas
Nov. 5, 1863
Droop Mountain
Pocahontas
Nov. 6, 1863
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History of West Virginia
Place
County
Date
Mill Creek Valley
Grant
Nov. 13, 1863
Sand Fork. Lincoln
Nov. 17, 1863
Walker's Ford
Summers .Dec.
2, 1863
Big Sewell
Fayette Dec. 12, 1863
Meadow Bluff
Greenbrier
Dec.
12, 1863
Petersburg
. Grant
Jan.
8, 1864
Medley
Grant
Jan.
29, 1864
New Creek
Mineral
Feb.
1, 1864
Moorefield
Hardy
Feb.
4, 1864
Princeton
Mercer
May
6, 1861
Lost River Gap
Hardy
May 10, 1864
Peter's Mountain
Mercer
May 13, 1864
Greenbrier River
Greenbrier
May 20, 1864
Curry's Farm
Lincoln
.June 29, 1864
Panther Gap
Mercer
June
3, 1864
Moorefield
Hardy
June
6, 1864
Buffalo Gap
Logan
. June 6, 1364
Greenland Gap
Grant
June 10, 1864
Kabletown
Jefferson
June 16, 1864
Spencer
Roane
June
19, 1864
Petersburg
.Grant
July 2, 1864
Bolivar Heights
Jefferson
.July
3, 1864
Hammack's Mills
Jefferson July
4, 1864
Frankford
Mineral
Aug.
4, 1864
New Creek
Greenbrier
Aug.
6, 1864
Green Spring Depot.
Hampshire
Aug.
7, 1864
Moorefield
Hardy
Aug.
25, 1864
Shepherdstown
Jefferson
Ang. 26, 1864
Wire Bridge
Hampshire
Aug. 26, 1864
Springfield
Hampshire
Aug. 29, 1864
Charles Town.
Jefferson
Aug. 29, 1864
Duffield's Station
Jefferson
Oct. 29, 1864
Beverly
Randolph
Nov. 28, 1864
Fort Kelley
Winfield
Putram
Nov. 29, 1864
Beverly
Randolph
Jan. 11, 1865
The generals connected with operations in West Virginia were :
Federal Army- - McClelland, Banks, Rosecrans, Sheridan, Crook, Kelly, Cox, Milroy, Averill, Harris, Duvall, and Miles. Confederate Army-Lee, Jackson, Johnson, Wise, Floyd, Heath, Loring, Echols, Inboden, Jones, Jenkins, and McCaus- land.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
RIVERS OF WEST VIRGINIA AND HOW THEY WERE NAMED.
(From West Virginia Archives and History)
Big Sandy River.
This river with its principal northern branch forms the boundary line between West Virginia and Kentucky, and if for no other reason than this, possesses historic interest. The Indians knew it as the To-tera or To-ter-as, or To-ter-oy and sometimes spelled Tateroy, Chateroi, Chatarrawa. When Captain Thomas Batts and party were on their western ex- ploring expedition, in September, 1671, they were hospitably entertained at a town of the To-te-ra or To-ter-as tribe of In- dians situated near Peter's Mountain. The Delaware Indians called it Si-ke-a, meaning "River of Salt." The Miamis knew it as the We-pe-pe-co-ne, a name which may have signified "River of Sand-Bars."
Bluestone River.
This stream rises in Tazewell County, Virginia, flows across the state line and into West Virginia, and thence through Mercer County and into Summers, where it unites with New River. The Miami Indians called it Mec-cen-ne- ke-ke, while the Delawares knew it as Mon-on-cas-en-se-ka. It derives its present name from the vast masses of bluish stone along its course, and one of these Indian names may have signified this.
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History of West Virginia
Buckhannon River.
A small river retaining its Indian name of Buck-han-non, and having its source in the southern part of Upshur County, through which it flows, then passes into Barbour County, where it flows into Tygart's Valley River.
Great Cacapon River.
This stream rises in Hardy County, its upper course being known as Lost River, and flows through the eastern part of Hampshire into Morgan, where it discharges its waters into the Potomac. It retains its Shawnee name, the present form being a contraction of Cape-cape-pe-hon, meaning "Medicine Water River." A smaller stream rising in Hampshire County and falling into the Potomac about twenty-five miles above the former, is called by way of distinction, "Little Cacapon River."
Campbell's Creek.
This is a northern tributary of the Great Kanawha River, flowing into it five miles above Charleston, the capital of the state. One of the Indian nations called it Nip-pi-pin-mah, meaning the "Salt Creek." It is in the very center of what was once the great salt producing region of the Great Kana- wha Valley.
Cheat River.
The Delaware Indians knew this stream as the Ach-sin- ha-nac, meaning "Stony River." This designation it lost after white men came to its valley. Various attempts have been made to account for the origin of its present name-Cheat River. Whence this name? We are told that the origin thereof is to be found in the deceptive character of its waters- dark-stained as they are by the leaves of the hemlock and other evergreen trees-so that the depth is greater than it appears to the eye, and he who would wade into its waters is cheated
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History of West Virginia
as to this-hence it is a cheating stream- a Cheat River. But this theory is not believed to be founded on fact. The first settlers along this river found homes in the "Horse Shoe Bend." now in Tucker County. They came from the South Branch of the Potomac, where they had become familiar with the character of the productive land of that valley. Then a popular belief was that wheat was transmuted into cheat -. that is the broom-cress, Bromus secalinus of the botanists. The fact that this plant belongs to quite a distinct genus from wheat renders this impossible, but it was nevertheless believed by farmers who asserted that it was the product of degener- ated wheat. It is the most troublesome plant that ever in- fested the wheat fields of this country. When the early set- thers came to the valley of Cheat River and sowed wheat upon the newly cleared lands it was, especially in the earlier years. killed by the severe freezing-winter-killed it was said-and when the harvest time came, it was a disappointment, for on the fields where wheat had been sown, there were great crops of cheat. Here then, along this river, were the lands where the wheat -- as these pioneers believed-was changed or trans- muted into cheat, hence a river valley-where cheat grew in place of wheat-drained by Cheat River. This seems far the more plausible explanation.
Coal River.
The largest southern tributary of the Great Kanawha; it has its source in Raleigh County, and thence flows through Boone and into Kanawha, where it unites with that river twelve miles below Charleston, the capital of the state. The Miami Indians called it Wal-en-de-co-ni and the Delawares knew it as the Wal-hon-de, signifying "the Hill Creek." This stream lost its Indian name more than a hundred and seventy years ago. John Peter Salley, with John Howard and others, left the base of the Blue Ridge near the Natural Bridge. in Virginia, in 1742, and proceeding to New River, descended that stream to Richmond Falls, crossed over the mountains of Fayette and Raleigh Counties to this river, which they de- scended and to which, because of the great quantity of coal
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History of West Virginia
thereon, they gave the name of C-o-a-1 River. There was a tradition long preserved to the effect that the time of the "Big Sandy Expedition," in 1756, one Samuel Cole, with some of his companions, reached the forks of this river, where he cut his name in the bark of a beech tree, and that this gave origin to the name of the river, which should therefore be spelled C-o-1-e. Such was the tradition which, as is so often the case, is shown to be an error, history producing evidence to show that Salley and his companions had bestowed upon it the name of C-o-a-1 fourteen years before the date of the Big Sandy Expedition. Such is the verdict in the case of History vs. Tradition.
Elk River.
The Elk River rises in the highlands of the southern part of Randolph and Webster Counties and flows through Braxton and Clay into Kanawha, where it unites with the Great Kana- wha River at Charleston. It was known to the Miami Indians as Pe-quo-ni, meaning the "Walnut River." The Delawares called it To-que-man ; while it was the Tis-chil-waugh of the Shawnees, signifying "Plenty of Fat Elk," from which mean- ing the Virginians derived the name of Elk which they gave to the stream.
Fishing Creek.
This stream rises in Wetzel County and flows into the Ohio River at New Martinsville. When first known to white men it was called by the Delaware Indians Nee-mos-kee-sy, signifying "Place of Fish." From this meaning the Virgin- ians obtained the present name-that of Fishing Creek.
Gauley River.
Gauley River, a northern tributary of the Great Kanawha, has its source in the highlands of the southern part of Webster County, and flows through Nicholas into Fayette, where it falls into the Kanawha two miles above the Great Falls. It was the Chin-que-ta-na of the Miamis and the To-ke-bel-lo-ke
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History of West Virginia
of the Delawares, the latter signifying "The Falls Creek." The present name, Gauley-Gallia-is evidently of French origin-the "River of Gauls."
Great Kanawha River.
This river derives its name from a small tribe of Indians which dwelt upon its sources long ago. They appear to have been scattered over the mountain highlands of the state about the sources of the Great Kanawha, the James, the Potomac, and the Monongahela Rivers, and were of the same people as the Nan-ti-cokes of the Algonquin-Lenni-Lenape-Delaware stock. Their tribal name has been spelled many ways as Co- noys, Conois, Conoways, Conawawas, Conhaways, Conais, Ca- nawas, Canawese, Kanhawas, Kanhaway, and Kanawhas, the last having been adopted by the Virginians. At the treaty of Lancaster in 1744, the Iroquois chief Tach-a-noon-oia, speak- ing for the Six Nations, said: "All the world knows we, the Iroquois, conquered the several nations living on the Susque- hanna, the Cohongoruta-South Branch of the Potomac-and on the back of the Great Mountains-Appalachians. In Vir- ginia Coh-no-was-sa-nau, (Coh-no-was-the Kanawha, and ra-nau-people-the Kanawha People) feel the effect of our conquest, now being a part of it." In 1758, Sir William John- son held a council with the chiefs of the Shawnee and Dela- ware nations. To this council the Coh-no-was sent a delega- tion, the members of which informed him that they then re- sided at Ot-si-nin-go, now Binghampton, New York. The Conoys had been adopted into the Mingo or Iroquois Con- federacy. Thus it is that the river bears the name of the In- dians who dwelt upon its upper waters until conquered, merged into the Six Nations, and, about 1705, removed to New York. Thus the statements frequently made that it signifies "River of the Woods," "River of Whirlpools," River of Evil Spirits," are simply bits of fiction. The Great Falls were known to the Shawnees as Le-we-ke-o-mi. "The Place of Rushing Waters." The Miami Indians called the river Pique- me-ta-nei, and the Delawares called it Ken-in-she-ka, and one or the other of these terms may have had one of the above
400
History of West Virginia
significations. Captain de Celoron, commandant of the French expedition which, in 1749, buried the leaden plates along the Ohio, spelled the name of the river Chinodachetha; on the plate which he deposited at its mouth, it was spelled Chino- dashichetha, and Bonnecamps, the geographer of the expedi- tion, has it on his map, Chinodaichta.
Greenbrier River.
This is one of the prettiest mountain rivers in America. It has its source on the highlands in the northern part of Poca- hontas County, flows through it and Greenbrier into Summers, where, at Hinton, it unites with the New River. The Miami Indians knew it as the We-o-to-we and the Delawares called it O-ne-pa-ke. Whence comes the present name, that of Greenbrier? The French knew the stream as the Ronceverte, (Ronce, brier, or bramble, and verte, or verd, green or verd- ant), the greenbrier. This the Virginians Saxonized and called the stream Greenbrier River. The old French name is preserved in that of the progressive town of Ronceverte, on its banks, in Greenbrier County. There has long been a tradition reciting that when in 1750 John Lewis, the father of General Andrew Lewis, came to the valley of this river to survey lands for the Greenbrier Land Company, he, on one occasion, be- came entangled in the greenbriers growing on its banks and he declared that henceforth he should call it Greenbrier River. This cannot be true, for the company for which he came to make the surveys bore the name of the Greenbrier Land Com- pany, and in its grant of one hundred thousand acres from the governor and council in 1749, it was provided that these lands should be located in the valley of Greenbrier River. Thus it was that the name of this stream was well known before John Lewis came to make surveys thereon and at which time he is said to have given the name to this river.
Guyandotte River.
The Guyandotte River rises in Wyoming County ; flows through Logan, Lincoln, and Cabell, and falls into the Ohio
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History of West Virginia
River at the town of Guyandotte, three miles above Hunting ton. in the last named county. The Miami Indians called it La-ke-we-ke-ton ; the Delawares knew it as the Se cone. meaning "Narrow Bottom River." By some means, probably through the Shawnees, it acquired the name of Wyandotte. changed by the French to Guyandotte. Heckewelder says the French called the Wyandottes. Guyandottes. Here then is to be found the origin of the name of this river. With this change, it retains its Indian name. It is called Arbuckle's River in an application of Patrick Henry and others for a grant of land on the Ohio below the Great Kanawha, in 1769.
Little Kanawha River.
This stream rises in the western part of Lewis and Brax ton Counties, and flows through Greenbrier, Wirt, and Wood. and unites with the Ohio River at Parkersburg. The Miami Indians called it the O-nim-go-how. The Delawares knew it as the Nau-mis-sip-pia (naumis -fish, and sipia-river-fish river). In an application by Colonel William Byrd, William Christian, James Walker, and Samuel Meredith, dated May 8. 1772, to the governor and council of Virginia, they pray for permission to take up and survey fourteen thousand acres of land at the mouth of the Little Kanawha, otherwise called Elk River.
Middle Island Creek.
.A stream rising in Doddridge County, flowing through Tyler into Pleasant- and flowing into the Ohio River at the town of St. Mary's. It is the Be-yan-so>> Creek of the Indians.
Monongahela River.
This river is formed in Marion County by the confluence of the Tygart's Valley and the West Fork Rivers; it flows thence through Marion and Monongalia and into western Pennsylvania, where it unites with the Allegheny to form the Ohio. It retains its Indian name which appears to be a con
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History of West Virginia
traction of the Delaware Meh-non-au-au-ge-hel-ak, originally confined to the point or peninsula formed by the union of the Youghiogheny with this river, to which it was extended. It is said to signify "Place of Caving or Falling Banks," not those of the river, but of the point or peninsula mentioned above. In the instructions of the Ohio Company. July 16. 1751. to Christopher Gist, the spelling of this name is Mo-hon-gey-e-la, but Gist himself spelled it Mo-hon-ga-ly. In early land grants it is spelled Me-nan-gi-hil-li. The site of Pittsburg at its mouth was called De-un-da-ga, signifying the "Forks of the River."
New River.
This was the first West Virginia river known to white men. The Indians knew it as the Mon-don-ga-cha-te. Whence came the name of New River, which it now bears? Numerous theories have been advanced, none of them seeming to be founded on fact. The following is believed to be the true explanation of the origin and use of this name :
Virginia, in the carly years of her colonial existence, man- ifested through her house of burgesses a desire to have her western domain explored, and, to secure that end, numerous acts were passed to encourage exploration and settlement on her wilderness borders. One of these acts was passed in March, 1642-18th year of the reign of Charles I-and was as follows :
ACT XXXVI. "Discovery of a new river S. W. of the Appo-mattox authorized."-"For as much as Walter Austin, Rice Hoc, Joseph Johnson and Walter Chiles, for themselves and such others as they shall think fitt to joyn with them, did petition in the Assembly in June, 1641, for leave and encour- agement to undertake the discovery of a new river or unknown land bearing west southerly from Appomattox River, Be it enacted and confirmed, That they and every (one) of them and whome they admitt shall enjoy and possess to them, their heirs, executors, or administrators or assigns, all profitt what- soever they in their particular adventure can make unto them- selves, by such discovery aforesaid, for fourteen years after the date of the said month of January, 1641-"
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History of West Virginia
By this act the persons named therein were to discover "a new river west southerly of the Appomattox." It was to be a new river, that is, one unknown to the Virginians, and it was to be west southerly from the Appomattox. Now, let the reader take a map of Virginia and draw a line west southerly from the Appomattox, say from Petersburg, on that river, and he will see that the said line, if extended, will reach a point on New River in what is now Montgomery County, Virginia, with no intervening river between the two points, so that if the par- ties named in the act had previously, or did after its passage. make the discovery as authorized, they reached the New River beyond a doubt, and were as certainly the first white men that looked upon it. But, had they not made the discovery pre- viously, and were they not seeking to avail themselves of the benefits thereof. when the act was passed? Notice the dates. The Act bears date, March, lo42, but it is retroactive, an ex post facto law, for by its conditions they were to receive the benefits of its provisions from the month of January. 1041. fourteen months before its enactment. In the Act itself. it is spoken of as a new river. The people were then greatly in- terested in all discoveries made and reported from the vast untrodden wilderness, and how natural it would be for them to refer to the "New River" because of its recent discovery. Here, doubtless, is to be found the origin of the name of that river, and further that Walter Austin, Rice Hoe. Joseph John- son, and Walter Chiles were its discoverers, and that they saw it in the year 164], and that the date in the Act was set back fourteen months to cover the date of discovery.
North Branch of the Potomac River.
This stream has long held a prominent place in history because of its connection with the Maryland-Virginia, now Maryland-West Virginia, boundary disputes. The surveyors of Lord Fairfax arrived at its first fountain or "head spring" on the 14th day of December. 1736, and at that place the fam- ous "Fairfax Stone" was erected, October 17. 1746. The In- dians-Shawnees-knew this river as the Co-hon-go-ru-ta, the signification of which is unknown.
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