History of Wheeling City and Ohio Co. WV - Chapter IX



CHAPTER IX. FORT HENRY BESIEGED 
THE BLOODY YEAR--THE FIRST ATTACK ON THE FORT SUCCESSFULLY REPULSED--
DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY THE SAVAGES--CAPTAIN FORMAN AND HIS MEN--MAJ. 
SAMUEL MCCULLOCH'S LEAP--INDIAN COUNCIL AT CHILLICOTHE--SECOND ATTACK ON 
FORT HENRY UNSUCCESSFUL--COL. EBENEZER ZANE'S CABIN--GUNPOWDER EXPLOIT--
DANIEL SULLIVAN--SULLIVAN'S SPRING. 

The year of the "three sevens" or the bloody year, as it was called by the 
people, was one full of startling events and painful incidents. It was the 
darkest period in the early settlement of northwestern Virginia. All of 
the Indian tribes were actively engaged in carrying war and pillage into 
the "settlements." Scalping parties scattered themselves throughout the 
whole country. Scouting parties of whites, however, were on the alert, and 
traversed the woods in all directions and so successful were they in their 
observations, that the approach of Indians was generally anticipated and 
made known before any serious results ensued. 

But in August the "settlement" at Fort Henry became seriously alarmed. 
Some friendly Moravian Indians had communicated the information to General 
Hand, at Fort Pitt, that a large Indian army from the Northwest was on the 
war path and intended to strike Fort Henry and other settlements on the 
borders of the Ohio River. This information was communicated to them by 
Isaac Zane, accompanied by a request that they would make it known to the 
proper authorities, or under the expectation that they would do so. In 
either event, it was performed. General Hand lost no time in warning the 
settlers of the threatened raid. 

We copy verbatim from "Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare" the account 
of the transaction which followed: 

"Wheeling Fort, although it had been erected by the proper authorities of 
the government, and was supplied with arms and ammunition from the public 
arsenal, was not this time garrisoned, as were the other state forts on 
the Ohio, by a regular soldiery, but was left to be defended, solely, by 
the heroism and bravery of those who might seek shelter within its walls. 
The settlement around it was flourishing and had grown with a rapidity 
truly astonishing, when its situation and the circumstances of the border 
country generally are taken into consideration. A little village of 25 or 
30 houses had sprung up, where but a few years before the foot of 
civilized man had never trod; and where the beasts of the forest had later 
ranged undisturbedly were to be seen lowing herds and bleating flocks, at 
once the means of sustenance and the promise of future wealth to their 
owners. In the enjoyment of this comparatively prosperous condition of 
things, the inhabitants little dreamed how quickly those smiling prospects 
were to be blighted, their future hopes blasted, and they deprived of 
almost every necessary of life. They were not insensible to the danger 
which in time of war was ever impending over them, but relying on the 
vigilance of their scouts, to ascertain and apprise them of its approach, 
and on the proximity of a fort into which they could retire upon a 
minute's warning, they did not shut themselves up within its walls until 
advised of the immediate necessity of doing so, from the actual presence 
of the enemy. 

"On the night of the 1st of September, Captain Ogle, who with a party of 
12 men, had been for some days engaged in watching the paths to the 
settlement and endeavoring to ascertain the approach of danger, came into 
Wheeling with the assurance that the enemy were not at hand. In the course 
of that night, however, the Indian Army, consisting of 389 warriors, came 
near to the village, and believing, from the lights in the fort, that the 
inhabitants were on their guard, and that more might be effected by an 
ambuscade in the morning than by an immediate and direct attack, posted 
themselves advantageously for that purpose. Two lines were formed, at some 
distance from each, extending from the river across the point to the 
creek, with a corn field to afford them concealment. In the center, 
between those lines, near a road leading through the field to the fort, 
and in a situation easily exposing them to observation, six Indians were 
stationed, for the purpose of decoying within the lines any force which 
might discover and come out to molest them. Early in the morning of the 
2nd, two men going to a field for horses, passed the first line, and came 
near to the Indians in the center before they were aware of danger. 
Perceiving the six savages near them, they endeavored to escape by flight. 
A single shot brought one of them to the ground; the other was permitted 
to escape, that he might give the alarm. Captain Mason, who with Captain 
Ogle and his party and a few other men, had occupied the fort the 
preceding night, hearing there were but six of the enemy, marched with 14 
men to the place where they had been seen. He had not proceeded far from 
the fort before he came in view of them; and leading briskly towards where 
they were, soon found themselves enclosed by a body of Indians, who till 
then had remained concealed; seeing the impossibility of maintaining a 
conflict with them, he endeavored to retreat with his men to the fort, but 
in vain. They were intercepted by the Indians, and nearly all literally 
cut to pieces. Captain Mason, however, and his sergeant succeeded in 
passing the first line, but being observed by some of the enemy, were 
pursued and fired at as they began to rise the hill. The sergeant was so 
wounded by the ball aimed at him, that he fell, unable to get up; but 
seeing his captain pass near without a gun and so crippled that he moved 
but slowly in advance of his pursuers, he handed him his, and calmly 
surrendered himself to his fate. Captain Mason had been twice wounded, and 
was then so enfeebled by the loss of blood and faint from fatigue, that he 
almost despaired of ever reaching the fort; yet he pressed forward with 
all his powers. He was sensible that the Indians were near him, and 
expecting every instant that the tomahawk would sever his skull, he for 
awhile forgot that his gun was still charged. The recollection of this 
inspiring him with fresh hopes, he wheeled to fire at his pursuer, but 
found him so close that he could not bring the gun down to bear on him. 
Having greatly the advantage of ground, he thrust him back with his hand. 
The uplifted tomahawk descended to the earth with force and before the 
Indian could so far regain his footing as to hurl the fatal weapon from 
his grasp or rush forward to close in deadly struggle with his antagonist, 
the ball from Captain Mason's gun had done its errand, and the savage fell 
lifeless to the earth. Captain Mason was able to proceed only a few paces 
farther; but concealing himself by the side of a large fallen tree, he 
remained unobserved while the Indians continued about the fort. The 
shrieks of Captain Mason's men, and the discharge of the guns, induced 
Captain Ogle to advance in the rear of his men, the Indians in closing 
round them fortunately left him without the circle, and he concealed 
himself amid some briars in the corner of the fence, where he lay until 
the next day. The same fate awaited his men which had befallen Captain 
Mason's. Of the 26 who were led out by those two officers, only three 
escaped death, and two of these were badly wounded; a striking evidence of 
the fact that the ambuscade was judiciously planned and the expectation of 
its success well founded." 

While these things were transpiring, the inhabitants of the village were 
busily engaged in removing to the fort and in making preparations for its 
defence. The attack on the forces led by Mason and Ogle convinced them of 
the overwhelming force of the enemy, and the impossibility of maintaining 
an open conflict with them. Promptly pursuing their advantage, the Indians 
rushed forward toward the fort, the gates of which were scarcely closed, 
before they appeared in force with a view to its reduction by storm. But 
before the assault was made, the attention of the inmates was called to a 
summons to surrender made by the leader of the savage force. This 
individual appeared at the window of one of the cabins, and addressing 
them, informed them that he had come with a large force to escort to 
Detroit such of the inhabitants on the frontier as were willing to accept 
the generous terms offered by Governor Hamilton, the British commander at 
that post, to those who would renounce the cause of the colonies and 
attach themselves to the interest of Great Britain, at the same time 
calling upon them to remember their fealty to their royal sovereign, and 
assuring them of protection if they would join his standard, and 
denouncing upon them, if his terms were not accepted, all the consequences 
which would ensure from the uncurbed vengeance of savage ferocity if they 
dared to resist or fire a gun. He then after this deliverance proceeded to 
read to them the proclamation of Governor Hamilton, and stated that he 
would allow them but fifteen minutes to consider his propositions. It did 
not require that length of time for the brave defenders to decide. In love 
with liberty; attached to their country; and having no faith in the offers 
of protection made, it required no time as we have intimated for them to 
deliberate. 

Col. Silas Zane, who at the time was in command of the fort, replied in 
behalf of the settlers, that they had consulted among themselves, and also 
their wives and children, and that all were resolved to perish, sooner 
than place themselves under the protection of savages or abjure the cause 
of liberty or the colonies. The commandant of the savages then remarked to 
Zane that his force was large and could not be successfully withstood by 
the small force in the fort, and the impossibility of resisting an assault 
should it be necessary to attempt it, and repeated again the certainty of 
protection if they acceded to his offers, and also urged the difficulty of 
restraining the assailants if they did not, especially when their passions 
were aroused by opposition and resistance. Just at this point of the 
discussion, a young man in the fort discharged a shot at the speaker, 
which put an end to the confab and caused him to hastily withdraw from the 
window occupied by him, when the savages were ordered to make the assault. 

There were in the fort at the time but a handful of men, comparatively 
speaking, to defend it against the large force opposed to them, but 
bravely they did maintain their ground against the superiority in number 
of the enemy and all that their ingenuity and fury could effect to 
accomplish their destruction. For a space of twenty-three hours all within 
the enclosure were actively and energetically employed in one way or 
another. Each individual had particular duties to perform and promptly and 
faithfully did they discharged them. The more expert among the females 
took stations besides the men, and handling their guns with soldier-like 
readiness, aided in the repulse with fearless intrepidity. Some engaged in 
moulding bullets, others in loading and supplying the men with weapons 
already charged; while the less robust and younger ones were busily 
employed in cooking and furnishing to their defenders provisions and water 
during the continuance of the attack. It seemed, indeed, as if each 
individual was impressed with the idea that the safety of all depended on 
the exertions of each, and that the slightest relaxation on their part 
would involve them all in a common ruin and death. 

Finding from the prolonged and determined resistance made, that their task 
was a hopeless one, and that they could make no impression on the object 
of their attack, and fearing if they prolonged their stay that 
reinforcements for the inmates of the fort might arrive and take them in 
the rear, and thus be cut off, they fired the surrounding cabins, killed 
all the stock they could find, and destroying whatsoever they could lay 
their hands on they retired about daylight, and to the joy of the 
defenders left them in full possession of the premises, but deprived of 
almost everything else but what was in the fort. The alarm of the presence 
of Indians having been given early in the day and the attack on the fort 
having been made shortly after, but little time was afforded to the 
settlers for securing but the smallest quantity of their movable property. 
When the alarm was given the greater number in their haste to secure the 
shelter of the fort had taken with them only the clothes they had upon 
their persons. To few indeed were left the enjoyment and luxury of a bed, 
this having been destroyed by the savages when they fired the cabins. Even 
the humble request of bread and milk was now denied them. Consequently 
they were reduced to great distress until they could obtain provisions 
from some of the not distant settlements. Their situation was not much 
more enviable than when they were pent up with their assailants, as most 
of the food, which was in the fort while they were besieged, had been 
disposed of. 

Sometime before these occurrences, the Governor had sent to Col. Andrew 
Swearingen a quantity of ammunition for the defence of those who had 
settled above Wheeling, and by his exertions and under his superintendence 
Bolings and Hollidays Forts were repaired and a magazine attached to the 
latter. In Holliday's Fort all the settlers in its neighborhood were in 
the habit of "forting". It was generally regarded as a strong position and 
was able occasionally to detach a portion of its garrison for the aid of 
other points in case of exigencies requiring help. 

Soon after the attack was made on Wheeling, the alarm reached Shepherd's 
Fort, which was six miles distant, when a runner was dispatched from 
thence to Holliday's Fort, conveying the intelligence of the attack, and 
expressing apprehension that if speedy relief was not afforded the defence 
at Wheeling must fall. No expectation of being able to collect a force of 
sufficient strength to cope with the assailants successfully was 
entertained. All that could be hoped was that they might possibly succeed 
in throwing succors into the besieged, and thus enable them more certainly 
to be in a condition to repel assault, and preserve them in a degree from 
the violence of the Indian onsets. With this object in view, Colonel 
Swearingen left Holliday's with 14 men who had volunteered to accompany 
him in his hazardous enterprise. The withdrawal of the number of men from 
them led those who remained at the fort to express their fear, that being 
thus weakened if Holliday's was attacked during their absence, Holliday's 
might fall into the hands of the enemy. But no attention was paid to these 
murmurs, but the volunteers, together with Swearingen, secured a large 
continental canoe and industriously plied their paddles, hoping to arrive 
in time to be of service to the besieged. Starting in the night they 
expected to reach Wheeling before daylight, but the darkness of the night 
and the denseness of the fog on the river being heavy, they toiled to 
great disadvantage on account of the obscurity of their surroundings, as 
they frequently came in contact with the banks of the stream, which owing 
to the prevailing fog, were indistinguishable, all of which caused them 
delay. Finally they decided to cease rowing and permit their boat to float 
with the current lest their headway in rowing might carry them past 
Wheeling, when at the appearance of the day, they would be obliged in that 
case to contend with the force of the stream in ascending it to regain 
their destination. 

Floating leisurely, they at length descried the light which was produced 
by the burning of the cabins. The day was already beginning and this 
admonished them that they must exercise caution lest they should be 
discovered by the enemy. If they had realized their expectation of 
arriving on the scene before the break of day, they might from the river 
bank, under the veil of darkness have gained admission into the fort, but 
in this they were frustrated. They, therefore, determined to land near 
above the fort and send out scouts to reconnoiter and ascertain if 
possible the condition of affairs, it being rendered doubtful whether from 
the smoke and fog together the fort and village were not a heap of ruins. 
Colonel Swearingen, Captain Bilderbock and William Boshears volunteered 
for this service, and proceeding cautiously, they reached the fort in 
safety and were soon made familiar with all the circumstances of the 
attack and the conduct of the savages. 

Upon their arrival it was questionable whether the Indians had abandoned 
the siege or were still lying concealed in the cornfield and had only made 
a feint of retreating in order to fall upon any one who might venture 
forth under the impression that all danger of doing so was over. Fearing 
that the latter was the case, it was deemed prudent not to give the 
preconcerted signal which had been agreed upon between Swearingen and the 
remainder of his men who were in waiting lest it might excite the Indians 
if still in the vicinity to greater vigilance and lead them to intercept 
his men on their way to the fort. To obviate the difficulty, Colonel 
Swearingen, Captain Bilderbock and William Boshears, taking a circuitous 
route to avoid the corn field, returned to their companions without 
molestation and succeeded in escorting them in safety to the settlement. 

It then remained to ascertain whether the Indians had really withdrawn or 
were lying in ambush. A council was held between Colonel Zane, Colonel 
Shepherd, Doctor McMahon and Colonel Swearingen to arrange some expedient 
by which assurance could be reached that the enemy were not hiding under 
the cover and awaiting a propitious moment for the renewal of the attack. 
It was recommended unanimously that two of the most active and vigilant of 
the men should pass openly from the fort, and in an apparently careless 
but cautious manner, examine the corn field nearest the fort and report. 
Upon the return of these, 20 others, under the leadership of Colonel Zane, 
marched around the field, and approaching it closely and examining to see 
if any indications of the enemy were apparent, became assured by their 
investigations that the enemy had despair of success and had entirely 
withdrawn from any further attempt against the reduction of the defense. 

Captain Ogle herein referred to was a positive man of decided character 
and reckless in the consummation of his purposes. After a bold and 
adventurous career as an Indian fighter in Western Virginia, he emigrated 
to the Illinois territory in the year 1795, where he successfully 
maintained his reputation as a brave and successful foe of the red man 
during the border troubles of the succeeding ten years. He died honored 
and beloved at the age of eighty years, on the 24th day of February, in 
the year 1821, leaving a large circle of descendants to mourn his 
departure. 

Being a man of uncommon firmness and the possessor of great energy, he was 
a staunch adherent of human rights and a devoted friend of liberty. He was 
the owner of numerous slaves, which he carried with him to his new home, 
where upon his arrival he manumitted them, thereby dispossessing himself 
of a large portion of his property. He was mild, peaceable and kind 
hearted in his social intercourse, and always strove to promote peace and 
good order. He was strict and punctual in the fulfillment of all his 
engagements, and never made a promise he did not intend to perform if in 
his power to do so. The following anecdote will serve in some degree to 
illustrate the characteristics of the man: 

On one occasion a neighbor borrowed some house logs from him to finish his 
cabin which he was building and of which he had run short. The logs were 
given to the borrower, who promised to cut and return an equal number on a 
certain day fixed by himself. Captain Ogle had arranged to raise his own 
cabin on the day specified, and he needed the logs for the purpose. The 
borrower having failed to fulfill his promise on the day mentioned, he 
took with him several men to the cabin of the man and ordered the family 
to remove such articles as might interfere with his purpose, and proceeded 
with handspikes coolly and deliberately to raise the corners and to detach 
the logs from the cabin. The borrower came out while they were thus 
engaged, and greatly alarmed, exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Ogle, what is the 
meaning of this, do you intend to pull down my house over my head and that 
of my family? "By no means, neighbor," he replied. "I am only getting out 
my own logs which you promised to provide me with, and which promise you 
have failed to keep." "Now neighbor Ogle," he pleaded, "do stop and I will 
go right off to the timber and cut and bring you the logs as I promised to 
do." "Very well," Ogle rejoined, "if you will have the logs at my place 
tomorrow morning by sunrise I will forbear, otherwise I will take these 
logs for my cabin on the morrow." This was said with the utmost calmness 
by the lender. The neighbor knew well that the word of Ogle was law and 
that he meant to do what he had said. The following morning the logs were 
delivered in accordance with the promise of the borrower, and the 
friendship of the two afterward remained unimpaired. 

But we return from this digression in the narrative to an examination of 
the field of slaughter. Here, indeed, was a pitiable sight. Twenty-three 
of the men who had accompanied Captains Mason and Ogle were lying dead; 
few of them had been shot, but the majority of them had been most 
inhumanely and barbarously butchered with the tomahawk and scalping knife. 
Upwards of 300 head of cattle together with horses and hogs had been 
wantonly killed by the savages and the field was strewn with their 
carcasses. The cabins and their contents were reduced to heaps of ashes. 
It was a long time before the inhabitants of the neighborhood regained the 
comforts of which that raid had deprived them. 

Soon after the happening of this occurrence a company of regular troops 
under the command of Captain Foreman arrived from east of the Alleghanies 
with instructions to extend protection to the settlements in the vicinity 
of Wheeling and to occupy the fort at that place. While stationed there, 
scouts reported that Indians were in the neighborhood lurking about, and 
seeking opportunities of harassing the settlers and committing 
depredations, to prevent such troops at different times were sent out on 
scouting expeditions. 

On the 20th of September Captain Foreman led one of these expeditions, 
consisting of 45 men, who marched 12 miles below Wheeling, when they went 
into camp for the night, Foreman was unpracticed in woodcraft and was 
ignorant of the tactics adopted by the savages, and besides was indisposed 
to follow the advice of those who were conversant with them. Foreman 
ordered fires to be built, and he and his men laid down to sleep in 
proximity to them against the advise of one of his party, a person named 
Lynn, who had accompanied him at his solicitation as a spy and was 
thoroughly acquainted with the habits and movements of the enemy. Lynn, 
however, would not consent to remain in the neighborhood of the fire, but 
accompanied by four of the frontiersmen who were in the party, retired 
some distance from the rest to a more secluded spot, and spent the night. 
Toward morning before it was quite light, Lynn being awake thought he 
heard a noise such as might be produced by the launching of rafts or boats 
above the position occupied by Foreman and his men on the bank of the 
river. At daylight he communicated his suspicions to Foreman and advised 
him to scale the neighboring hill and return to Wheeling and avoid thus 
the bottom lands. His advise was rejected by the captain, but Lynn with 
the caution of one accustomed to the secret movements of the red men 
prudently kept on the hillsides with four of his companions, while those 
belonging to the command of Foreman continued along the level at the base 
of the hill. In marching along the narrows, and when near their head, one 
of the soldiers spied a parcel of Indian ornaments lying on the ground, 
and, stooping, picked them up and commenced critically to examine them. 
While so engaged the curiosity of others was attracted until almost the 
entire company had gathered around him and engaged in the inspection of 
them. While thus gathered together in idle curiosity, a galling and 
destructive fire was poured unto them by a party of Indians that had been 
lying in ambush, which threw them into the greatest confusion. The attack 
was continued with deadly effect for some minutes and eventually, if 
continued, would have destroyed the entire party had not Lynn and his few 
comrades rushed down from the hill, discharging their guns as they 
descended, with boisterous shouts, that the Indians were induced to 
believe that a reinforcement was at hand, whereupon they beat a hasty 
retreat. In this fatal ambuscade there were 21 of Captain Foreman's party 
killed, and several severely wounded. Among the slain was the Captain and 
his two sons. 

It appeared that the Indians had purposely dropped the ornaments that the 
attention of the whites might be attracted by them. There were two parties 
of them, the one concealing themselves in a sink hole on the bottom on the 
right flank of the whites, and the other on the left flank under cover of 
the river bank. From these advantageous positions they riddled the whites 
with well directed fire, while they were comparatively secure. Lynn 
finally discovered the retreat of the party in the sink hole. His firing 
from the hillside, when he and his companions hurried to the relief of the 
main body, is not known to have been effective, but to his prompt and 
courageous conduct at a perilous moment is justly attributable the saving 
of the remnant of the detachment. Although the number composing the Indian 
force was never ascertained yet it was undoubtedly large, greatly 
exceeding the number of the whites. On the following day the settlers in 
Wheeling and its neighborhood, under the direction and guidance of Colonel 
Zane, proceeded to the place of slaughter and gathered the remains of 
those who had fallen and decently interred them in one grave. In the year 
1835 a stone suitably inscribed was erected at the scene of this attack to 
commemorate the slain, but the monument a few years since by order of the 
supervisors of Marshall county was removed to the cemetery at Moundsville 
for preservation, where it still remains. 

Withers, in his "Chronicles of Border Warfare", from which we copy, says: 
"At the time of the happening of those occurrences the belief was general 
that the army, which had been led to Wheeling by Girty,(*) had been 
ordered in for the purpose of conducting the Tories from the settlements 
to Detroit; and that detachment from that army continued to hover about 
the frontiers for some time to effect that object. There was then, 
unfortunately for the repose and tranquility of many neighborhoods, a 
considerable number of those misguided and deluded wretches, who, 
disaffected to the cause of the colonies, were willing to advance the 
interest of Britain by the sacrifice of every social relation and the 
abandonment of every consideration; save that of loyalty to the King. So 
far did their opposition, to those who espoused the cause of American 
liberty, blunt every finer and more noble feeling, that many of them were 
willing to imbrue their hands in the blood of their neighbors, in the most 
sly and secret manner, and in the hour of midnight darkness, for no 
offence but attachment to the independence of the colonies. A conspiracy 
for the murder of the Whigs and for accepting the terms offered by the 
Governor of Canada to those who would renounce their allegiance to the 
United States and repair to Detroit, by the relenting if one individual 
was prevented from being carried into effect; and many more were 
consequently saved from horrors, equaling, if not transcending in 
enormity, the outrages of the savages themselves. Scenes of licentiousness 
and fury followed upon the discovery of the plot. Exasperated at its 
heinousness, and under the influence of resentful feelings, the Whigs 
retaliated upon the Tories some of the evils which these had conspired to 
inflict upon them. In the then infuriated state of their minds, and the 
little restraint at that time imposed on the passions by the operation of 
the laws, it is really matter of admiration that they did not proceed 
farther, and require upon those deluded wretches the full measure of their 
premeditated wrongs. The head only of this fiendish league lost his life, 
but many depredations were committed on the property of its members. 

(* This is a mistake that the army was led by Girty, as at the time 
mentioned Simon and his brothers were in the employment of Morgan, Indian 
agent at Fort Pitt.)

"A court for the trial of the conspirants was held at Redstone Fort, and 
many of them were arraigned at its bar. But as their object had been 
defeated by its discovery, and as no father danger was apprehended from 
them, they were released, after having been required to take the oath of 
allegiance to the United States and to bear with the injuries which had 
been done their property. Those who were suspected for the murder of the 
chief conspirator were likewise arraigned for the offence, but were 
acquitted." 

It was on the occasion of this first attack on Fort Henry that the brave 
and distinguished frontiersman, Maj. Samuel McColloch, at the head of 40 
men hastened to the relief of the besieged from Fort Vanmetre on Short 
Creek, about eight miles east of Wheeling. The wife of Col. Ebenezer Zane 
was a sister of McCulloch and thus the ties of affection, combined with 
the dictates of humanity, prompted him to undertake the hazardous 
enterprise of succoring the besieged in the hour of their emergency. When 
the gallant Major with his little force arrived within sight of the fort 
there was a lull prevailing, the Indians for the time being having 
suspended their attack and drawn off their forces. He was at once 
recognized by the inmates of the fort and almost at the same time by the 
savages. The gates of the fort were immediately thrown open for their 
entrance, and rushing through the lines of Indians their horses were put 
to their mettle, and on full gallop they safely reached the protection of 
the fort without a single man or horse having received a scratch or a 
wound. 

Major McColloch, who was more concerned for the success and safety of his 
men than his individual security, had given them the precedence in his 
anxiety in their behalf; as soon as they had entered the gates where 
closed again, so as to prevent the Indians, who were pursuing, from 
gaining ingress. Thus McColloch was separated from his men and left on the 
outside by his unselfish and disinterested act which prevented him from 
passing in with his force. The Indians were now closing in around him and 
what was to be done must be done quickly. Taking in the situation at a 
glance, he lost no time in determining what to do under the circumstances. 
Suddenly wheeling his horse around in the face of his foes, he dashed 
through an opening in the ranks of the enemy and striking his spurs deep 
in his steed's flanks the noble animal sprang forward while the firm hand 
of his master directed him to the summit of the eastern hill top, the base 
of which he started successfully to rise. The Indians might easily have 
taken his life while he was making the attempt to enter the fort, but they 
wanted to capture him alive so as to reserve him for torture at the stake, 
as his very name was a terror to the Indians, who were well acquainted 
with his person, and who, while they admired his courage, hated him with 
all the intensity of the most vindictive feeling. His well trained steed 
clambered up the declivity with laborious and sure-footed effort, while 
his enemies with almost superhuman energies followed in swift pursuit on 
foot. Scrambling up the steep hillside, then covered with trees and 
undergrowth, he succeeded in reaching the top, and following the ridge in 
a northerly direction he directed his course toward Fort Vanmetre. He had 
ridden but a short distance when just in front of and approaching him he 
discovered a band of warriors, who had left the main body early in the 
morning and were now returning from a marauding expedition in which they 
had been engaged. Turning his horse's head in the opposite direction, he 
advanced a short distance in the opposite direction, while below him he 
saw another party mounting the hill to cut off his retreat, for on his 
left or eastern side of the hill was a steep declivity, nearly 
precipitous, which would measure from the summit of the hill nearly, if 
not quite, 300 feet. Thus hemmed in on all sides his capture seemed 
inevitable; in anticipation of securing him as a prisoner, his pursuers 
set up a yell of triumph. He had but a brief respite to decide as to what 
should be his course in action. He at once decided to risk the perilous 
leap down the almost precipitous side of the eastern declivity. Adjusting 
his trusty rifle and powder horn and tightening his rein, he spoke in 
encouraging tones to his faithful horse, and urged him to the brow of the 
cliff, far beneath which flowed the waters of Wheeling Creek. The rugged 
and fearful descent seemed to threaten instant death to horse and rider, 
but a kind Providence watched over both and they reached the foot of the 
precipice comparatively unhurt and unharmed. A thrill of astonishment went 
through the breasts of his pursuers at this untoward exhibition of 
adventurous daring and it so completely paralyzed them for a time that 
they looked on in wonder, shrugging their shoulders and giving vent to 
their feelings in expressive "ughs." By the time they had recovered from 
their surprise the object of their pursuit had forded the creek and was 
far beyond their reach, and succeeded in safely reaching the fort from 
which he had departed in the morning. No pen can describe the chagrin and 
mortification which was experienced by the Indians at this successful 
escape of one for the possession of whose person they would have willing 
sacrificed the lives of a dozen of their bravest warriors. 


INDIAN COUNCIL AT CHILLICOTHE 

Except from desultory inroads from the enemy, there had been so serious 
effort on their part since 1777 to attack the defences of the settlers. 
But in August, 1782, a council composed of the Shawnees, Wyandots, Mingoes 
and other tribes was held at Chillicothe. Simon Girty and two other white 
renegades took part in the deliberations. Aware of the fact that Lord 
Cornwallis had surrendered in the previous year, they had come together to 
decide as to the policy to be pursued now that the war between the two 
countries would in all probability cease. 

In the event that this was a conclusion of the war between the mother 
country and the colonies, they believed that the whole force of Virginia 
would be used against them by way of retaliation for the numerous wrongs 
they had perpetrated upon the whites. Simon Girty and the other white 
renegades appealed to them with all the powers of eloquence they could 
master to continue the war. Girty was an adept in exciting their untutored 
passions and drew frightful pictures of the results that would ensue if 
they failed to embrace the opportunity to destroy the settlements and 
drive the hated whites from their land and hunting grounds, and that now 
or never was the time for carrying out this purpose. His appeals fell upon 
the ears of willing listeners and succeeded in arousing their animosity 
and firing their impetuous and ardent feelings. His remarks determined 
their policy and they unanimously determined to carry on the war. 

It was accordingly arranged that two armies should take the field, - one 
composed of 600 men who were to invade Kentucky, and another of 350 
warriors to invade Northwestern Virginia. In the latter part of August the 
army sent against Kentucky appeared at Bryant's Station in that territory 
under the leadership of Simon Girty, where they were defeated in their 
enterprise and were discomforted. 

The other army, which was to invade Northwestern Virginia, did not 
immediately set out to accomplish their effort, but delayed their movement 
until the early part of September, when they hurriedly pursued their march 
to Wheeling. 

It was in the last mentioned month during the year 1782 that the 
celebrated spy and scout, John Lynn, - the same individual who was present 
at the time of the fatal attack and ambuscade at the "Narrows" below 
Wheeling, where Colonel Foreman and 21 of his men were so mercilessly 
massacred by the savages, - being out on a scout on the west side of the 
Ohio River, discovered a large force of Indians accompanied by a squad of 
British soldiers marching with all speed in the direction of Wheeling. He 
promptly hastened to inform the inhabitants of that place. Swimming the 
river, he reached the fort a few hours in advance of the enemy and gave a 
timely alarm to those in the vicinity. But the time being limited, no 
general alarm could be given to those further inland, hence only those 
immediately around the fort had the opportunity of seeking its shelter and 
protection, and of such there were not more than 35 or 40 effective men 
all told who were capable of doing active service. Colonel Shepherd, the 
county commandant, and by virtue of his office, the superior officer, was 
at the time absent on military business, and consequently the command of 
the fort devolved on Silas Zane. East of and but a short distance from the 
fort stood the log dwelling of Col. Ebenezer Zane, attached to which was a 
small magazine containing the military supplies which had been furnished 
by the government of Virginia, and also a kitchen or outbuilding occupied 
by a negro called "Daddy Sam" (a slave owned by Colonel Zane and to whom 
he was much attached) and his wife, known by the name of "Kate." 

On the occasion of the former attack upon the fort, as heretofore stated, 
in the year 1777, Colonel Zane, with his family, had abandoned his cabin 
and sought shelter in the fort, at which time his dwelling had been 
reduced to ashes by the enemy. It was then that he declared, if the 
Indians again made their appearance, he would not abandon his dwelling, 
but would defend it to the last extremity. As an outpost for the defence 
of the fort and as an annoyance to a hostile force, it could not have been 
excelled. Hence on the appearance of the Indians at this time he made the 
necessary preparations for remaining and defending it. Had he done 
otherwise and retired from it, all the military stores and ammunition 
stored in the magazine would have fallen into the hands of the enemy and 
have been destroyed or appropriated by them. The names of those who 
remained with him in the cabin were Andrew Scott, George Green, Elizabeth 
Zane (Colonel Zane's wife), Molly Scott, Miss McColloch, a sister of Maj. 
Samuel and John McColloch, who was visiting the Zanes, being a sister of 
Mrs. Zane (and who had but a few days before came from her home on Short 
Creek), together with "Daddy Sam", the negro already mentioned, and his 
wife "Kate." The savages approached under the cover of the British flag, 
which was unfurled to the breeze and floated in proud defiance by the 
color bearer before the little band of heroic defenders. Before commencing 
their attack on the fort they insolently demanded the immediately 
surrender of it in the name of his Britannic Majesty, to which the only 
reply made was the firing of a shot by one of the men at the offensive 
colors which had been flaunted before them. 

Thereupon the assault was commenced in dreadful earnest, the frenzied 
savages rushing forward like madmen, supported by the British contingent, 
in their wild attempt, striving to pull down and destroy the palisades so 
as to effect an entrance to the fort and take it by assault. Colonel Zane 
had arranged and posted his limited force within his cabin to the best 
advantage and where it would do the most execution. As the Indians sounded 
the war whoop and made their desperate rush he open upon them with a well 
directed and brisk fire simultaneously with that from the fort, which 
caused them to fall back in great disorder and to seek such cover as they 
could find where their persons would be less exposed. But others again, 
witnessing the discomfiture of their comrades, promptly with loud and 
deafening yells rushed forward to take the places of those who had 
retired, only to be repulsed the second time. And although these charges 
were repeated again and again, yet in every instance they suffered a 
recoil. These unsuccessful efforts upon their part were continued until 
night threw her mantle over the earth and a brief cessation of conflict 
and a temporary rest was obtained, yet it was but for a brief period this 
respite was secured. Their assailants were engaged in holding a 
consultation and deliberating among themselves how best to obtain 
possession of or destroy the cabin of Colonel Zane, which was such a foil 
to their hoped for success in reducing the fort, and which had proven so 
offensive to them in their repeated assaults and which had so balked their 
efforts. The conclusion arrived at by them was to make an attempt under 
the cover of darkness to destroy it by setting it on fire and thus to 
reduce it to ashes. 

After an interval of a couple of hours when silence had settled upon the 
scene, and the camp fires of the besiegers had been extinguished, and it 
was presumed that the whites had relaxed their vigilance in some degree, a 
savage with a burning brand in his hand crawled towards the kitchen of the 
cabin, upon nearing which he cautiously and slowly arose from the ground, 
and, waving it to and from and blowing upon it with his breath to enliven 
and kindle it, was about to stealthily apply it to the building when of a 
sudden the quiet of the night was disturbed by the sharp crack of a rifle, 
which an instant later was accompanied by a sharp yell of pain and rage 
ere the echoes of the shot had ceased to resound in the mazes of the 
forest. The watchful and quick eye of "Daddy Sam" had detected the 
approach of the savage in time to foil him in his designs and spoil his 
calculations, thereby saving his master's property from destruction by the 
torch of the incendiary. Other similar and persistent attempts were made 
the same night, but in every instance the alert and active "Daddy Sam" 
frustrated them. And here permit us to digress and say a word or two 
concerning this individual. 

He was an original importation from the coast of Guinea and had all the 
peculiarities and characteristics of a native of that country, believing 
in charms, incantations and signs and was a bundle of strange 
superstitions and beliefs, and these he retained and many of them he 
practiced until the day of his death. He and wife were assiduously cared 
and provided for by Colonel Zane and his family until their decease. This 
gentlemen erected for them a comfortable cabin on the upper portion of 
what is known as Zane's Island and immediately opposite the city of 
Wheeling, where he spent several of his remaining years in the possession 
of every comfort and convenience which his kind master furnished him. 
After a few years thus spent he died in peace and contentment, worn out 
with age and its attendant infirmities, honored and respected by the 
entire community, with whom he was a prime favorite. At his death he left 
strict injunctions that his rifle and its accoutrements, together with his 
tomahawk, knife and silver snuff-box, should be deposited in the grave 
with his remains that they might bear him company to the happy hunting 
grounds of the African. So highly was he esteemed that the military 
company of the city united with the citizens composed of the most 
prominent and also the humblest persons of the community, and the articles 
specified by him were interred with his body in the grave. In stature he 
was small, powerfully built, with arms of unusual length. His complexion 
was as black as coal and his teeth, not withstanding his age, as white as 
snow. He was buried in the old cemetery which then occupied the southeast 
corner of the present Sixteenth and Chapline Streets. 

But we now propose to resume our narrative. At daylight on the following 
morning the lines of the enemy showed that they were tightly drawn and in 
compact order, but they appeared to be laggard in renewing the assault. By 
this we do not wish to convey the idea that they were idle, for they 
appeared to be actively employed in making preparations evidently for some 
important event. Shortly after dark of the preceding day a canoe loaded 
with cannon balls from Fort Pitt and destined for the Falls of the Ohio 
had put ashore under the cover of the fort. It was discovered by the 
Indians, who succeeded in capturing it, but not is occupants, who had 
managed to effect an entrance for themselves into the fort, in their 
efforts, however, to accomplish which one of them, - Daniel Sullivan, - 
was wounded in the foot. The savages having secured the canoe and taken 
possession of its contents, a new idea dawned upon them, and the enquiry 
suggested itself, - why not utilize these missiles and make them play a 
part in the reduction of the fort? The idea was approved and the 
suggestion promptly acted upon. Securing, therefore, a hollow log which 
they deemed was well adapted for the purpose intended, they proceeded to 
bind it with iron chains which were found in the blacksmith shop of the 
village; filling it with a heavy charge of powder, they rammed into it as 
many of the captured balls as it could conveniently contain and with as 
much accuracy as possible under the circumstances placed in in position 
and aimed it against one of the bastions of the fort. All was now ready 
for the priming, which was preformed by one of their number, who came 
forward and emptied from his powder horn a sufficient quantity around the 
vent and stepped aside to obtain a live brand with which to ignite the 
powder. A crowd of the Indians gathered around to witness this new engine 
of destruction and the effect it would produce upon the fort, not doubting 
in the least that it would prove more or less destructive in its effects, 
which it was, but not in the manner anticipated by them. We say in this 
supposition they were not deceived, but were sorely disappointed in the 
nature of the results which followed. All things being ready, the Indian 
advanced with his lighted brand, which he applied to the vent hole, and 
thereby stamped finis on the last page of his life history and that of his 
curious companions who were near him at the time. Several of them were 
killed outright, many were seriously and others slightly wounded, and all 
were terror-stricken by the unexpected denouement. The unlooked for and 
unexpected havoc caused among their number by the explosion of their 
wooden piece of artillery, which had burst into fragments, led them to 
become wild and furious under their keen disappointment and the loss and 
wounding of so many of their number, and wild with rage in the excitement 
of the circumstances they redoubled their exertions, renewing the assault 
with heedless desperation and exposing themselves in the most careless 
manner to the shots from the cabin and the fort. At times it appeared that 
they would succeed in their efforts, but then the fortunes of the day 
would change and those of the inmates of the fort would be in the 
ascendant. Thus the conflict wavered until noon, when the forces of the 
enemy were drawn off temporarily. It was exceedingly fortunate for the 
little garrison that the savages desisted from their assaults when they 
did, as ammunition of the defenders was growing short. 

The alarm given by Lynn of the approach of the enemy gave them but a 
limited time to make their necessary arrangements for a supply of food and 
such articles of comfort as they might need during a protracted siege, but 
the fort was destitute of any great supply of ammunition, consisting 
principally of that which the settlers had on their persons when the alarm 
was given. This was being rapidly exhausted and would soon have been 
expended, therefore some measures had to be adopted to supply the need. As 
before stated, there was plenty of powder stored in the magazine of 
Colonel Zane's house, but for all practical purposes it might as well have 
been a hundred miles away. The contingency which had now happened could 
not have been forseen and the emergency now upon them was a grave one. But 
it was one which had to be met, and the question was how could they best 
replenish their almost exhausted stock. An effort to at least obtain 
powder from Colonel Zane's house it was absolutely necessary should be 
made, for, were the enemy to return to the assault, in their then 
condition the danger of the inmates was not only imminent but their almost 
certain doom was sealed. Among the many propositions which were made and 
the one which seemed to obtain favor was that one of the fleetest runners 
among the younger men should be selected for the perilous undertaking of 
obtaining a keg of powder from Colonel Zane's house and of hastening with 
it to the relief of the besieged. It was a venture full of daring, with 
the prospect of almost certain death to the person who might essay the 
task. But undeterred by the magnitude of the feat and the peril which 
attended it, at the call of Captain Zane for a volunteer to risk, several 
brave men stepped forward, each one of whom insisted on being permitted to 
make the attempt. The loss of a single man at this juncture would have 
been keenly felt by the entire company. While Captain Zane was hesitating 
in arriving at a decision and making his choice from among those chivalric 
spirits who had so promptly offered their services, there came bounding 
into his presence his own sister, - Elizabeth Zane - in the elasticity of 
her youthful strength, and volunteered to attempt the accomplishment of 
the errand, regardless of what might befall her, if thereby she could be 
instrumental in saving the lives of others; when told that a man would 
encounter less danger by reason of his superior fleetness, she nobly 
replied that the loss of a man under the circumstances would be more 
severely felt than her own. "You have not one man to spare." she said; "a 
woman would not be missed in the defence of the fort." All the arguments 
adduced her brother and others to disuade her from making the attempt, 
together with the expostulations of the other females, had the effect of 
only confirming her in her resolution. Reluctantly they finally acquiesced 
in her purpose and her services were accepted. Divesting herself of all 
unnecessary clothing which might impede her in her progress, she appeared 
ready for the dangerous ordeal. The gate was swung open and the young 
heroine sprang out in the swelling buoyancy of hope, knowing no such word 
as fail, in the full confidence of success, and swift as a deer she sped 
away on her mission, arriving safely at the cabin of her brother, - Col. 
Ebenezer Zane, - who saw her coming and promptly opened the door to 
receive her. When the Indians saw her bounding along at the top of her 
speed they were amazed at her temerity, but did not offer to fire at her, 
but contented themselves with simply exclaiming with contemptuous sneers - 
"A squaw, A squaw." Upon reaching her destination, she lost no time in 
stating her business. After a brief breathing spell she announced her 
readiness to return, whereupon Colonel Zane, taking a table cloth and 
fastening it securely around her waist with two of its ends, while the 
other ends were held by her in her hands, emptied into it a keg of powder, 
when she again venture forth on her return to the fort. Her black hair, 
like a banner, streamed out upon the air, as with swift feet she lessened 
the intervening distance. But she had covered no more than half the space 
between the cabin and the fort when the savages, apprehending her purpose, 
showered a rain of bullets around her, none of which, however, did any 
execution, as she reached the fort in safety and delivered the powder 
without having lost any perceptible portion of it. Subsequently, in 
recounting her experience on the occasion, she would relate how the 
bullets whistled around her so thick and fast that the dust thrown up by 
them, as they struck the ground, blinded and confused her so that she 
could scarcely distinguish her way. As she neared the fort the gate was 
again thrown open for her entrance, when the Indians made an unavailing 
effort to reach it before it could be closed by making a sudden rush. 
Finding themselves foiled, they quickly withdrew. This act of heroism on 
the part of Elizabeth Zane doubtless saved the lives of the inmates of the 
fort, and enabled them successfully to withstand the siege. As night 
closed in the enemy renewed their efforts to reduce the fort and continued 
them until daylight. Times almost without number during that trying and 
eventful night the enemy attempted to accomplish by the torch what they 
could not by superior numbers and vantage. Bundles of hemp and wood and 
rubbish were heaped by them against the pickets and set fire to at 
different places. The hemp, fortunately being wet, after being ignited 
would not burn, and the dry wood and rubbish proved also to be in vain to 
accomplish their end. When the day dawned after that terrible and trying 
night, it was greeted by the besieged with a renewal of hope, which had 
been well nigh banished from their hearts. The morning light was the 
harbinger indeed of joy and gladness and infused fresh life and energy 
into their despairing souls. When the intelligence reached Shepherd's 
Fort, located at the Forks of Wheeling, of the investiture of Fort Henry 
by an army of Indians and British soldiers, a party left the former fort 
with a view of rendering assistance to the inmates of the latter, but on 
arriving in the vicinity they found that it would be impossible for them 
to gain admission and therefore reluctantly determined to return to the 
place whence they came. This conclusion was arrived at in opposition to 
the views of their leader, - Francis Duke, - a relative of Colonel 
Shepherd. He insisted that if no one else would, he alone would make the 
attempt to gain ingress at the fort at the risk of his life. To all 
persuasions against the undertaking he turned a deaf ear. He recognized 
their force and complained not at the resolution of the men to return, but 
his chivalric character and determined spirit could not be cured by 
argument nor persuasion. He did not regard the imminent danger attaching 
to the bold undertaking, but subordinating this to the higher and nobler 
promptings of his nature, which enabled him only to see the peril of 
friends who needed every man for defense, he spurned all restraints and 
taking his life in his hands and putting spurs to his horse he sped swift 
as his horse could carry him toward the gate of the fort, calling aloud as 
he rode, "Open the gate! Open the gate!" He was recognized by those within 
the fort and the gate swung open for his admission, but before reaching it 
he was pierced with a bullet and this young and gallant chevalier fell a 
martyr to his reckless daring and noble disinterestedness. On the morning 
of the third day the enemy, despairing of success and abandoning all hope 
of the reduction of the fort resolved on raising the siege. This 
resolution was announced to the inmates by a series of terrific yells and 
deafening whoops, which was the means adopted by them to give expression 
to their disgust at their failure. Turning their backs upon the scene, 
they took their departure and recrossed the river, except for a party of 
about 100 chosen warriors, who remained on the Virginia side for the 
purpose of plundering and laying waste the adjacent country. The loss of 
the enemy during the siege must have been quite large, as those in the 
fort and in the dwelling of Colonel Zane were not in the habit of throwing 
away their shots. It is a remarkable fact that none of the inmates of 
either were killed, and but one slightly wounded - Daniel Sullivan. The 
chivalric Duke was the only white man slain on the part of the defenders. 
The persistent and determined courage displayed, both by men and women in 
the fort and in the cabin of Colonel Zane, was simply grand and heroic. In 
the evening preceding the departure of the Indians from the vicinity of 
the fort two white men, who had been captured several years before by the 
Indians and held commands in the force, deserted from them. Early on the 
following morning they were taken prisoners by Colonel Swearingen, who, 
with a force of about 100 men, was hastening to aid in the defense of Fort 
Henry and the chastisement if its assailants. From them he learned the 
intention of the Indians to withdraw from Wheeling, but also to leave a 
portion of their army to operate in the surrounding country. One of these 
deserters was sent by James Marshall, lieutenant commandant of Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, to General Irvine, commanding at Fort Pitt, to which 
latter person himself was the bearer of the following letter: 

"Dear Sir: The bearer is one of the deserters from the enemy in time of 
the action at Wheeling. Some people say the other deserters report this 
fellow as a villian, however, be that as it may, I think it best to send 
him to you that such order may be taken respecting him as you think 
proper. 

"I am, Sir, with attachment, your obedient and humble servant,
"James Marshall, L.W.C.
"16th Sept., 1782, Endorsed Public
"To the Hon'rble William Irvine,
"Brigadier General, Fort Pitt 

The following extract from a letter written by the author of the foregoing 
letter and addressed by him to General Irvine, under date of September 12, 
1782, will be of interest in this connection: 

"By an express, this moment, arrived from Wheeling, I have received the 
following intelligence, viz: That a large trail was discovered yesterday 
about three o'clock near that place. Captain Boggs, who brought the 
account, says that when he left the fort about one mille and a half he 
heard the swivel at Wheeling fired and one rifle. He further says that 
Ebenezer McColloch, from Vanmetre's Fort, on his way to Wheeling, got 
within half a mile of the place shortly after Boggs left it, when he was 
alarmed by hearing a heavy and constant fire about the fort, and makes no 
doubt the fort was then attacked. Boggs is gone into the settlements to 
alarm the inhabitants, and I am afraid will injure the expedition, as we 
have had so many false alarms this summer. I can't think of making much of 
the present one until the truth of it is known with certainty, 
notwithstanding I should be inexcusable in not giving you the accounts as 
I have received it." Tow days after the foregoing letter was written the 
following, written by Ebenezer Zane, was sent to General Irvine by the 
hands of a Mr. Loyd: 

"Wheeling, 14th September, 1782.
"Sir:
On the evening of the 11th instant a body of the enemy appeared in sight 
of our garrison. They immediately formed their lines round the garrison, 
paraded British colors and demanded the fort to be surrendered, which was 
refused. About 12 o'clock at night they rushed on the pickets in order to 
storm, but were repulsed. They made two other attempts to storm before 
day, but to no purpose. About 8 o'clock next morning there came a negro 
from them to us and informed us that their force consisted of a British 
captain and 40 regular soldiers and 260 Indians. The enemy kept up a 
continual fire the whole day. About 10 o'clock at night they made a fourth 
attempt to storm, to no better purpose than the former. The enemy 
continued round the garrison till the morning of the 13th instant, when 
they disappeared. Our loss is none. 

Daniel Sullivan, who arrived here in the first of the action, is wounded 
in the foot. I believe they have driven the greatest part of our stock 
away, and might, I think, be soon overtaken. 

"I am, with due respect, your obedient servant,
"Ebenezer Zane
(Addressed) "William Irvine,
"Brigadier General, commanding at Pittsburg." 

The names of some of the heroic little band who were in the fort on this 
occasion we give as follows, viz: Silas Zane, Jonathan Zane, Andrew Zane, 
John Caldwell, Abraham Rogers, John Lynn, John Salter, Joseph Biggs, 
Robert Lemmon, John Neiswanger, Daniel Sullivan, Elizabeth Zane, Lydia 
Boggs, Mary Burkitt, and Betsey Wheat. De Hass, in his "History and Indian 
Wars in Western Virginia," gives additional names and includes the most of 
those herein mentioned, but the names mentioned were obtained many years 
ago from a person, now deceased(*), who at the time of the siege was an 
inmate of the fort, and who gave the names of those only which she was 
able to recollect.

(* Mrs. Mary Burkitt, who died about 1861, at a very advanced age.) 

It is much to be regretted that a full list cannot be secured and 
inscribed upon a roll of honor where their names and memories might be 
preserved throughout all coming generations. We need to vitalize these 
epochs of our early history which have rendered our local annals so 
illustrious. They are the story, not of a romance woven by the fertile 
fancy and poetic imagination, but of the plain and unvarnished truths of 
stern reality. If anything is wanting to inspire our zeal or to awaken our 
dormant enthusiasm it should be found in the fact that the capstone of the 
temple of American independence was laid upon the soil of western 
Virginia, and that it was upon the soil of the Upper Ohio Valley that the 
flag of St. George was humbled in the dust and the last British gun was 
fired during the War of the Revolution. 


DANIEL SULLIVAN 

The fact that no one was killed and but one person was wounded at the last 
siege of the fort and that one not a settler, and that of the enemy 
several were killed and more were wounded, awakened the curiosity of the 
writer to learn something concerning the character and history of the 
wounded individual. After much inquiry we have been able to gather some 
facts of a general character which we deem to be entirely reliable, as the 
source from which they are derived is unimpeachable. 

This individual, Daniel Sullivan, was one of the most celebrated scouts 
and daring rangers of his day. His romantic history and characteristic 
bravery demand more than a passing thought and call for a more extended 
notice. 

He was born on the present site of the city of Pittsburg in the year 1758. 
At the early age of nine years he, together with a boy by the name of 
Cunningham, was captured by the Indians in one of their predatory 
incursions into the infantile settlements, and by them carried away to one 
of their towns, where they soon assimilated the habits, customs and 
manners peculiar to their captors. During a period of five or six years 
while they remained there nothing of interest occurred to disturb the 
monotony of life which characterized the savage community in which they 
dwelt. Their sports and pastimes were similar to such as were indulged in 
by the Indian youth in whose company they were thrown, which consisted in 
hunting, fishing and the rude games of the forest, in which the two soon 
became adept, particularly Sullivan. At the expiration of the period above 
mentioned a portion of the tribe (peace then prevailing between the whites 
and Indians) visited Fort Pitt for the purpose of trading, securing 
ammunition, etc., and the detachment was accompanied by the two boys, - 
Sullivan and Cunningham. 

On their arrival there, notwithstanding their Indian disguise, their 
identity was discovered and recognized and one Zadoc Wright, a relative of 
young Sullivan, then living on the east side of the Ohio River about 10 
miles below Fort Pitt, was immediately sent for and promptly responded to 
the summons, and at once entered upon negotiations for the recovery of the 
boys, who in all respects had become assimilated to their Indian friends 
in dress, disposition and inclinations, having been adopted by the tribe 
into whose hands they had fallen. 

But little difficulty was experienced in securing the release of the 
Cunningham boy, who had become tired of his savage mode of life and 
readily seconded the efforts of his friends to obtain his release. But 
this was not the case with the Sullivan boy, who had become attached to 
the savage life and who was regarded by his Indian friends with great 
favor and esteem. Hence the parley over Sullivan between the chief and 
Wright as to the ransom to be paid for him was tedious and prolonged and 
threatened to prove a failure. The demands upon the part of the chief were 
exorbitant, and he receded from several agreements just as they were about 
to be consummated. Finally a horse, a pack saddle, a half-dozen hatchets, 
three red blankets and a gallon of whiskey settled the trade so far as the 
chief and Wright were concerned. Dan, who was a lad of fifteen years of 
age, had, all the time of the negotiations, been a demure and silent 
spectator of the proceedings, but was by no means an indifferent one. When 
he was informed of the finality of the transaction and that the necessary 
arrangements had been completed for him to return to his kindred, he 
sedately manifested his opposition by a negative shake of his head, thus 
declaring his intention of remaining with his Indian friends. This 
resolution of his produced a temporary embarrassment, which required the 
exercise of much tact and skill to surmount, and various expedients were 
resorted to to effect a change in the determination at which he had 
arrived. To accomplish this much time was spent; but an agreement was 
finally arrived at by which the boy stipulated that if Wright would then 
and there purchase for him a beaver hat he would forsake his savage life 
and return to civilized society. The proposition was accepted without 
further delay. At that period beaver hats were expensive luxuries as 
compared with the ordinary headwear of that day. Believing that he was 
substantially complying with the terms of the agreement, Wright purchased 
for him a wool hat, the price of which was equivalent to one dollar, and 
present it to Dan, who bestowed upon it a cursory glace and in terms of 
supreme contempt he enunciated his dissatisfaction as he returned it to 
the giver in the curt phrase - "ram beaver." Finally a genuine beaver hat 
was obtained and substituted for the obnoxious tile, and this filled him 
with evident satisfaction and delight. The transaction was thus concluded, 
and the boys were restored to their gratified and happy families, but Dan, 
when called upon to part from his Indian friends, relinquished their 
companionship and society with great reluctance. 

The following interesting account of an incident which transpired was 
subsequently related by the boys. After their capture they underwent a 
long and exhaustive march through the wilderness which occupied several 
days, when worn and weary with the journey and the many hardships they 
were compelled to encounter they at length reached their destination - an 
Indian town in the vicinity of the lakes. 

After a day's rest they were doomed to run the gauntlet between two files 
of young savages of an age similar to their own, each of whom wielded a 
hickory switch. Upon first being advised as to what was required of them, 
they were started amid loud howls and yells while blows fell upon them 
thick and fast. The Cunningham boy reached the objective point barely 
alive and suffering excruciating pain from the castigation to which he had 
been subjected. But Dan, as soon as he received a cut of the switch, 
became so furiously angered that he suddenly turned upon one of his 
tormentors and with a well planted blow in the face felled him to the 
ground; like an enraged beast he sprang on his foe's prostrate form and a 
tussle for supremacy was waged. At this exhibition of pluck on the part of 
Dan the savages gathered around the combatants. Some of the spectators 
manifesting a disposition to afford the young savage an advantage, a chief 
who was present commanded that fair play should be shown. This did not 
prevent preferences and corresponding encouragement which found expression 
in favor of the one or the other as the case might happen. Hence some 
encouraged the young pale face and others the struggling redskin. 

The fight continued for a length of time and was waged with persistent 
effort on the side of each. The result of it, however, was that Dan came 
off victorious and was at once adopted into the family of the chief and 
speedily became a favorite of the tribe. 

The latter, who had not taken so kindly to savage life as his companion, 
was greatly rejoiced at his restoration to home and friends, and soon 
resumed the habits and pursuits of civilized life. Not so with Dan. On the 
other hand he held in contempt the usages of the "pale faces", refusing to 
perform anything which savored of labor and scorning the society of those 
who engaged in it, calling them "squaws." His inclination was to engage 
only in hunting and fishing. Therefore civilized life soon became a 
restraint to him which he could ill brook, and, his disposition to 
exchange it for the free and untrammeled life of the forest increasing, he 
was led to put his purpose into execution. 

It was a year after his return from captivity when, on a Sabbath day while 
the people were assembled for public worship in the log meeting house, and 
while in the midst of their devotions, they were startled by the sudden 
appearance among them of an apparition arrayed in Indian costume, bedecked 
with feathers and adorned with paint, thoroughly armed and equipped. While 
their surprise was at its height and before the congregation had time to 
recover its equanimity, Dan, for it was he, gave utterance to a deafening 
war whoop, and turning on his heel sped with lightning-like rapidity into 
the recesses of the forest. 

Becoming tired of civilized life, he resolved to return to the society of 
his Indian friends, where he could indulge in pursuits more congenial to 
his nature and in a mode of life better suited to him. 

Years passed without his relatives and friends receiving any tidings from 
him, and they had settled down to the conviction that he was dead. But in 
September, 1782, at the time of the combined attack of the British and 
savages on Fort Henry, he suddenly appeared at the fort in the manner 
before mentioned and tendered his services. His instinctive love of race 
always revolted at the idea of raising his hands against those of his own 
nationality and blood, and he always refused to take part in any 
expedition against the whites. At this time he was a full grown man, being 
twenty-four years of age, and had lived with the Indians for a number of 
years. His sudden appearance at the time is to be accounted for by the 
fact that he was on his way to the Falls of Ohio in charge of a boatload 
of cannon balls, and hearing the firing at the fort and knowing that it 
portended danger, he made for the shore with the purpose of hurrying to 
the defense of the inmates. He was discovered by the savages, who gave him 
a close chase and also severely wounded him in the foot, but he succeeded 
in reaching the fort. His boat fell into the hands of the savages, who 
used the balls with a view of destroying the fort, which they 
unsuccessfully essayed to do in the manner described on a foregoing page 
of this chapter. 

Sullivan was detained at the fort by reason of his wound for some time 
after the siege was raised, but by careful nursing and attention bestowed 
upon him by Mrs. Zane, who, at the time, was an inmate of the fort, it was 
not a very great while before he was able to resume his active life. As 
soon as he was able to travel he returned to his relatives near Pittsburg, 
but his restless character did not permit him to remain inactive very 
long. Espousing the side of his countrymen, he became a useful and 
fearless scout, penetrating the Indian country in the most confident 
manner. His knowledge of the Indian character, their country, habits, 
trails and tactics made him a formidable foe to the savages and a valuable 
auxiliary to the whites. Hence his time became almost wholly occupied in 
the capacity of a scout or guide, in the one or the other of which 
characters and often in both he was identified with almost every movement 
that was inaugurated against the red men from the time that he ceased to 
reside permanently among them until the period of his tragic death, which 
we will now relate. When General Harrison assumed command of the forces in 
the Northwestern territory, about the year 1808 or 1810, Sullivan's 
reputation as a successful scout and daring frontiersman recommended him 
to the former, who at once took measures to secure his services. Harrison 
at this time had his headquarters at Post Vinscus, then so-called, now 
Vincennes, Indiana. The trouble with the Indians continued to increase, 
and they becoming more bold and daring in the practice of their outrages 
it was necessary for Harrison to have a company of woodsmen to act as 
scouts and spies in the Wabash country, where many depredations were being 
committed, who should be well versed in the tactics of the savages and 
could successfully cope with them in strategy. 

With this object in view, he selected Sullivan as the most competent 
person to effect his purpose, and he commissioned him to raise the 
requisite number and command them. In pursuance of this commission 
Sullivan accordingly set out for the "Falls of Ohio" and in due time 
successfully accomplished the object he had in view, having selected a 
party of men well skilled in woodcraft, numbering 17 in all. The distance 
to be traversed from the "Falls" to the "Post" was about 100 miles through 
a dense and uninhabited wilderness. They had accomplished this distance on 
their return to a point within about 30 miles of their destination, which 
proved to be their last camp. Here they stopped to rest and refresh 
themselves during the heat of the day, and while so engaged Sullivan, who, 
Indian-like, believed in dreams, narrated to them one which he had the 
preceding night, informing them that he had been warned that they would 
certainly be attacked during the day and at the same time cautioning his 
men to exercise extraordinary vigilance. His narration made but a slight 
impression upon his auditors, who regarded it as an idle fear and treated 
the matter lightly. Their careless manner and manifest unconcern led him, 
however, to exact from each a solemn promise that should danger overtake 
them and an attack be made, whatever its magnitude might be, they would 
stand by him to the death if need be. This they unhesitatingly gave, but, 
as we shall see, it was observed by only a part. Resuming their march, 
they had progressed for two or three hours on their way, when reaching a 
spring in a beautiful grove, the surroundings of which invited them to 
rest and repose, they halted. They scarcely had time to dispose themselves 
under the friendly shade of the trees when they were startled by the wild 
whoop of the savage foes; upon springing to their feet, a heavy volley was 
fired at them by their concealed enemy. Nine of the 17 men, 
notwithstanding their promise of the morning, fled at the first fire. Two 
of the remaining eight men were killed outright, and those who were left 
at once took to trees, as was the custom in Indian warfare. In the 
meantime the savages had disposed themselves in a circle around them, and 
they found themselves in an ambuscade and fired upon from every quarter of 
the compass, so that whatever position they occupied they offered 
themselves as a fair target for their foes. But six men were now left to 
defend themselves against a large and blood-thirsty force of Indians. 

After some protracted firing the Indians called on Sullivan, by name, to 
surrender, but he replied that he would die first, whereupon they made a 
charge and attempted to capture him alive. His few remaining men, 
consisting of three or four in number, rallied around him, standing firm 
with Spartan-like courage and fighting with heroic desperation until all 
but one man besides Sullivan were slain, fighting their implacable foe 
hand to hand. During the combat Sullivan's rifle was broke at the small of 
the stock, but utilizing the barrel of it as a war-club he dealt swift 
destruction among his enemies when they ventured within reach of its 
blows. The Indians, fully intent on securing him alive, in numbers closed 
in around him, but his desperate courage prevented them from carrying out 
their design. One of the white men who had been stunned by a blow on the 
head, and who was supposed to be dead, recovering his consciousness, 
raised himself to a rest upon his elbow and saw one of the savages 
deliberately raise his rifle and shoot Sullivan, who fell dead. The 
survivor of the massacre, now fully restored to his senses, sought to 
elude the savages and made an unsuccessful effort to escape. But they were 
on the alert, and at once seized and bound him and carried him away 
captive. His detention, however, was not prolonged for a very great period 
as he managed one day to escape the vigilance of his captors and reach his 
friends in safety, to whom he related the incidents substantially as above 
given. The brave men who had sealed their devotion to their leader with 
their blood and whose prostrate bodies were scattered around on the scene 
of conflict were each scalped and otherwise mutilated, but Sullivan's 
remains were respected and suffered no indignities, except that they 
removed his heart and made of it a soup of which they partook with a view, 
as they said, of making them "brave." This having been accomplished, as a 
further token of respect to his courage they covered his body with leaves 
and twigs, burying it in this rude way on the spot where he fell, and then 
the whole party, joining in dismal death chant, moved away on a dog trot 
through the forest. The place where this massacre occurred has ever since 
been known as "Sullivan's Spring."