xt7b2r3nw562 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7b2r3nw562/data/mets.xml Frost, John, 1800-1859. 1856  books b92977f9292009 English Auburn, Miller, Orton & Mulligan : New York Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Indians of North America --Wars --1750-1815. Black Hawk War, 1832. Mississippi River Valley --History --To 1803. Border wars of the West: comprising the frontier wars of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; and embracing individual adventures among the Indians, and exploits of Boone, Kenton, Clark, Logan, Brady, Poe, Morgan, the Whetzels, and other border heroes of the West. text Border wars of the West: comprising the frontier wars of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; and embracing individual adventures among the Indians, and exploits of Boone, Kenton, Clark, Logan, Brady, Poe, Morgan, the Whetzels, and other border heroes of the West. 1856 2009 true xt7b2r3nw562 section xt7b2r3nw562 
    
   LIBRARY UNIVERSE of KENTUCKY 
    
    
    
    
    
   ^^98776073 
   BORDER WARS

OF THE

COMPRISING THE

FRONTIER WARS OF PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, OHIO, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, TENNESSEE, AND WISCONSIN;

AND EMBRACING

INDIVIDUAL ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS,

AND EXPLOITS OF

BOONE, KENTON, CLARK, LOGAN, READY, TOE, MORGAN, THE WHETZELS, AND OTHER BORDER HEROES OF THE WEST.

BY JOHN FROST, LL. D.

WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.

NEW YORK AND AUBURN: MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN.

Now York: 25 Park Eow   Auburn: 107 Gonesee-st

1850.

207568 
    
   PREFACE.

The wars between the early settlers on the western frontier of our country and its aboriginal inhabitants form an extremely interesting portion of history. The long period of time through which these wars extend, the large number of actions which they embrace, the variety of adventures and instances of individual heroism which they display, and the magnitude and importance of the territorial acquisitions in which they resulted, fully entitle them to form a separate history.

The Border Wars of the West, when we enter into their details, as gathered from the traditions received from those who were engaged in them, abound with interesting displays of human character. In them we may study the traits of the Indians, the terrible enemies of our forefathers, ancient possessors of the soil, who resisted their gradual but certain encroachments, with all the violence of savage fury and all the stratagems of barbarous subtlety and cunning. Here too we may learn many useful lessons from the traits of character exhibited by the border settlers, exposed by their position to all the horrors of the midnight surprise with the dreadful accompaniments of the warwhoop, the massacre, the burning and plundering, murder and scalping, and followed by the weary sorrows of Indian captivity. We can never cease to admire the courage and fortitude with which the old border heroes and their not less heroic wives confronted the dangers of a life on the frontier, and the activity, promptness, and determination with which they met and punished every assault.   There was no thought of

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   8 FKEFACE.

submission to savage insults with them. Seldom was an out post of civilization when once taken, abandoned for a time. To maintain their ground, and defy the enemy was their only thought. Nor can we fail to notice and admire the strong bond of brotherhood in which a common danger and a common destiny had bound these sturdy heroes of the frontier. An attack upon one solitary farmhouse was enough to set the whole border in a flame of military ardour. Instantly, as the news travelled from block house to block house, there was heard the shout of vengeance, the click of rifle locks, the farewell to wives and children, the stern word of command march ! and the heavy tread of warriors departing to rescue captive friends and punish the cruelty of the savage. These were indeed the times that tried men's souls; and these border wars were the school in which were trained the heroes of the Revolution and the second war with Britain; and the history of these border wars may serve to kindle the spirit and move the arm of many a hero in the future conflicts of the Republic.

It will be perceived that in the preparation of this history I have had free recourse to the local histories of the able writers, who have chronicled the deeds of the frontier heroes. I have been greatly assisted by the works of Perkins, McClung, Brown, Drake and others who have written on the subject, and I take pleasure in adding tbe present general acknowledgment of my indebtedness, to the frequent references which I have made to them in the body of: the work.

In conclusion I would express my earnest hope and trust that this attempt to commemorate the services and sufferings of the border heroes and heroines may prove interesting and useful to my countrymen. 
   CONTENTS.

THE BOEDER WARS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

General Remarks, Washington's Expedition, Braddock's Ex-

pedition and defeat.............. 15

CHAPTER II. Depredations of the Indians on the Frontiers of Pennsylvania after Braddock's Defeat    ...   -.......29

CHAPTER in. History of the War on the Frontier until the fall of Fort Duquesne................51

CHAPTER IV.

Pontiac's War...............Gl

CHAPTER V.

Expedition of Colonel Bouquet to the Muskingum     ... 72

CHAPTER VI. Dunmore's War ..............87

CHAPTER VII. Massacre of Wyoming ............99

CHAPTER VIII.

Sullivan's Expedition, Conclusion........ 117

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   10

CONTENTS.

BOEDER HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction ............... 135

CHAPTER IL

Pontiac's War...............155

CHAPTER HI. Dunmore's War..............165

CHAPTER IV. Murder of Cornstalk, Siege of Fort Henry......177

CHAPTER V.

Indian Hostilities from 1778 to 1791........192

CHAPTER VI. Second Siege of Fort Henry and Indian Depredations     .   . 217

HISTORY OF THE BORDER WARS OF KENTUCKY.

CHAPTER I.

Adventures of the Pioneers of Kentucky ......245

CHAPTER II. Capture of Boon, and Attack on Boonsborough, Adventures of Kenton     .   ..............268

CHAPTER HI. Hostilities of 1780 and 1781, Elliot's Defeat, Battle of Blue Licks.........'........294

CHAPTER IV. Clarke's Expedition against the Indians, Attacks and Adventures .................328 
   CONTENTS. 11

BORDER WARS OF OHIO, INDIANA, AND ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER I.

Explorations of the French, Expeditions of Gen. Clarke, Col. Williamson, and Col. Crawford.........369

CHAPTER II.

Settlements of the Ohio Company, Harmer's Expedition .   . 398

CHAPTER HI. Attacks upon the Ohio Settlers, Progress of the War  .   .   . 415

CHAPTER IV. St. Clair's Expedition, Depredations of the Indians     .   .   . 428

CHAPTER V. Vigorous measures adopted, Wagner's Expedition and Victory, Adventures, Exploits and Incidents .....-   . 452

CHAPTER VI. Hostile movements of Teeumsch and the Prophet, Frontier Events of the War of 1812..........487

Border Wars of Tennessee...........545

Border War in Wisconsin ...........592 
    
    
    
   BORDER WARS.

THE BORDER WARS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

general remarks.   washington's expedition.

braddock's expedition and defeat.

The account of the wars between the settlers of Pennsylvania and the Indians, presents us with much that is heroic and admirable, as well as much that is horrible and degrading to human nature. Although, in consequence of the wise and beneficent policy which William Pcnn pursued, from the time of his celebrated treaty with the Indians, the first settlers of the south-eastern portion of the State did not experience the miseries which visited New England, yet as the pale-face penetrated the interior, and the red man saw the hunting-grounds of his fathers converted to the purposes of civilization, contentions arose and bloody deeds followed. 
   10

the boeder wars.

The struggle between the French and English for dominion in America, was a prime and constant cause of the difficulties between the Indians-and settlers of Pennsylvania, as of other States. French agents visited the great tribe of Lenni Lenape, and incited them to resist the encroachments of the English. They also frequently supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition, and by these means endeavored to link them to the French interest. In spite of the precautionary treaties of the English, the eiforts of their foes were.generally successful. From as early as 1739, until the English gained possession of Canada, the French left no scheme untried which promised to injure the interests of their rivals, and to advance their own; and the consequences were felt by the settlers, who had trusted that the Indians would be faithful to their treaties.

The first body of settlers arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682. These, under the guidance of William Penn, founded the city of Philadelphia, on the Delaware. Emigrants poured into this part of the State, and the settlements were soon extended to the north and westward. As early as 1715 and 1720 a trader would occasionally venture west of the Alleghany mountains. Of these the first was James Le Fort, who established his residence at Carlisle in 1720. Soon afterwards trading-houses were established at Venango, and on the Monongahela, near the mouth of Turtle Creek. But the first actual settlement west of the Alleghanies was not made until 1750, when Christopher Gist, with eleven families, occupied a tract of land west of the Youghiogheny river, within the present limits of Fayette county. At that time the French had erected forts at the mouth of French Creek, in Venango, and at Eiviere au Beuf, in Erie county. Fort Duquesne, at the confluence of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, was not erected until 1754; and the hostilities between the French and Indians upon one side, and the settlers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, may be dated from that period. 
   pennsylvania.

17

The Ohio Company having determined to erect a fort at the junction of the Monongahela and Alleghany, Captain Trent, with about forty men, was sent to peform the service. This party arrived at its destination late in February, 1754, and immediately began to erect a fort. On the 16th of April, Monsieur Contracceur, with a fleet of 360 batteaux, and canoes, carrying upwards of one thousand men and eighteen pieces of artillery, came down from Venango, and summoned the commander of the English to surrender. Resistance would have ended in destruction, and therefore the party surrendered.

At this time, Colonel Washington, with one hundred and fifty men, was encamped at Wills Creek, at which place he had concluded a treaty with the Indians. Receiving the news of the surrender of the unfinished fort, he called a council of war, to determine upon the course to be pursued. It was resolved to march to the mouth of Redstone Creek, on the Monongahela, and raise a fortification. On the 25th of April, Washington sent a detachment of sixty men to open a road. As trees had to be felled, and rocks removed, the march was slow and toilsome. After passing through the mountains, Washington reached the Youghiogheny, where he was compelled to construct a bridge. Learning that the French were coming out to meet him, he hastened forward to the Great Meadows, where he threw up an entrenchment.

"Early in the morning of the 27th of May, Mr. Gist arrived in camp from his residence, which is about thirteen miles distant, and informed Colonel Washington that M. La Force, with fifty men, had been at his plantation the day before, and that on his way he had seen the tracks of the same party, five miles from the encampment at the Great Meadows. Seventy-five men were immediately despatched in pursuit of this party, but they returned without having discovered it. Between eight and nine o'clock the same night, an express arrived from Half King, who was then six 
   18

the border wars.

miles off, with intelligence that he had seen the tracks of Frenchmen, which had been traced to an obscure retreat, and that he imagined the whole party to be concealed within a short distance. Fearing this might be a stratagem of the French for attacking his camp, Colonel Washington put his ammunition in a place of safety, and leaving a strong guard to protect it, he set out with forty men, and reached the Indians' camp a little before sunrise, having marched through a rainy and exceedingly dark night.

On consulting with Half King, and the other Indians of his party, it was agreed that they should march together and make the attack in concert on the French. They then proceeded in single file through the woods, after the manner of the Indians, till they came upon the tracks of the two Frenchmen, when the Half King sent two Indians forward to retrace these tracks, and discover the position of the main body. This was found to be in a very retired place, surrounded by rocks, and half a mile from the road. A disposition for attack was then formed, in which the English occupied the right wing and the Indians the left. In thia manner they advanced, till they came so near as to be discovered by the French, who instantly ran to their arms. Washington then ordered his men to fire, and a skirmish ensued. The firing continued on both sides about fifteen minutes, till the French were defeated, with the loss of their whole party; ten men being killed, including their commander, M. de Jumonville, one wounded, and twenty-one taken prisoners. Colonel Washington's loss was one man killed and two or three wounded. The Indians escaped without injury, as the firing of the French was directed chiefly against the right wing, where Washington and his men were stationed."*

As soon as the news of the capture of the party under * Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. pp. 451-2.     
   WASHINGTON.

 
    
   PENNSYLVANIA.

21

Jumonville reached Fort Duquesne, the French made vigorous preparations to send a force against "Washington. Some Df the Indians, alarmed at the prospect of such a movement, same to the Great Meadows for protection, as they had agreed to take an open part against the French. Colonel Washington immediately commenced enlarging his entrenchments, and strengthening his palisades. He gave the place thus fortified the name of Fort Necessity. His army had been increased to four hundred men. A road was cut with excessive toil, over Laurel Hill to Gist's plantation. At that place a council of war was held, which resolved upon a retreat. This was commenced, but the difficulties encountered were so great, that Washington resolved to halt at Fort Necessity, and there await the attack of the enemy. The defences were much strengthened, and every preparation made for a vigorous resistance.

On the morning of the 2d of July, the approach of the enemy was announced by a wounded sentinel. At eleven o'clock they came within six hundred yards of the fort and fired, but without effect. Colonel Washington had drawn up his men outside of the trenches, and ordered them to reserve their fire till they should be near enough to do some execution. As the French and Indians did not seem inclined to assault, he then drew the men within the trenches, and ordered them to fire as opportunity presented. The enemy kept up a brisk fire of musketry during the day. The rain fell heavily and the trenches were filled with water. About eight o'clock at night the French commander requested a parley. Washington complied. The result of the parley was an agreement upon terms of honorable capitulation. Colonel Washington, with his troops, were to march out of the fort with drums beating and colors flying, and have free and unmolested passage to the inhabited parts of Virginia. The prisoners taken in the skirmish with Jumonville were

restored to the French.   No more such establishments were 2 
     S2

the border wars.

to be built by either party, upon the disputed territory, within a year from the time of the capitulation. The next morning Colonel Washington began his march from the fort. The Indians could hardly be restrained from pilfering his baggage and attacking his men. But he succeeded in getting safely beyond their reach. After the capture of Fort Necessity, the French and Indians retired to Fort Duquesne.

The British Government at last awoke to the importance of resisting the growing power of the French in America. Two thousand men were ordered to be raised in the colonies ; and two regiments of foot from Ireland were ordered to Virginia. On the 14th of January, 1754, Major-General Edward Braddock, with the regular troops, sailed from Cork, and on the 20th of February arrived in Virginia. On the 14th of April, 1755, a council was held at Alexandria, in which the plan of the campaign was fixed upon. As the chief part of that plan, General Braddock, with the British troops, and some volunteers from Maryland and Virginia, was to proceed against Fort Duquesne.

The forces destined for the expedition against Fort Duquesne, assembled at Fort Cumberland, on Wills Creek, in May. They comprised 1000 regulars, 1200 provincials, and about thirty sailors from Admiral Keppel's fleet. Colonel Washington accompanied Braddock as Aide-de-camp. While at Fort Cumberland, waiting the opening of a road through the Cumberland valley, and the arrival of horses and wagons, General Braddock gave evidence of that imprudence of temper which afterwards led to disaster. He charged the colonial governments with neglecting the expedition; and at one time, dcelared it should not proceed, if means of conveyance were not soon provided. Every exertion had been made of which the colonial governments were capable.

Having sent forward a detachment of five hundred men, to open the roads and erect a fort at Little Meadows. Braddock, with the main body of his army, commenced his march for 
   pennsylvania.

21

ADMIRAL KEPPEL.

Fort Duquesne. Scaroyoda and Captain Jack, Delaware sachems, with about one hundred and fifty Indians, offered to act as scouts and guides, and Colonel Washington advised the commander-in-chief to accept their services. But the self-sufficiency and military pride of Braddock, rejected the advice with contempt. At the Little Meadows, a halt was made. Braddock then changed the plan of the march. Twelve hundred men with twelve pieces of cannon were selected, and at the head of this force, the commander-in-chief pushed on for Fort Duquesne, leaving the remainder of the troops to follow by easy marches. Crossing the Youghiogheny 
   24

THE BOEDER WARS.

THE COUNCIL OF WAR AT ALEXANDRIA.

on the 9th of July, the troops pressed on in high spirits. At noon, they again ci-ossed the same river, and soon after, the vanguard was fired upon as it ascended a hill, by a concealed foe. A heavy discharge of musketry was then poured in upon the right flank. The general advanced to the relief of these detachments; but before he could reach the ground they occupied, they gave way, and rushing back upon the other parts of the army caused extreme confusion. Braddock, instead of adopting the Indian mode of warfare, endeavored to form his men in platoons and keep them together, as if fighting upon an open battle-field. Huddled together, the troops were compelled to withstand a heavy fire for more than three hours. They fired irregularly, and did but little harm to the enemy. The French and Indians, securely posted behind trees or among the high grass, took deliberate aim, and committed terrible havoc, especially among the English officers. At length more than one-half of the army being either killed or wounded, and the general himself having received a mortal wound, the troops broke and fled in dismay. The 
    
   48 
   PENNSYLVANIA.

27

GENERAL BRADDOCK.

few remaining officers endeavored to rally them, but in vain. They shot down the men who wanted to make them stand and wait to be slaughtered. Colonel Washington at the head of the provincials, covered the retreat. General Braddock and a few other wounded officers were brought off. But the rest of the wounded, with the artillery, ammunition, stores, and baggage, fell into the hands of the victors. The fugitives were not pursued, and they arrived at the camp of Colonel Dunbar, who was coming up with the remainder of the forces engaged in the expedition. The whole loss of the English in this disastrous defeat was about six hundred and fifty men killed or wounded, including sixty-eight officers. General Braddock died four days after the battle, and was buried in the road, to conceal his grave from the Indians. Colonel Dunbar had sufficient force to have advanced and 
   2b

the boeder wars.

retrieved the fortunes of the expedition. But a panic appears to have Seized the troops. All the ammunition and stores unnecessary for immediate use were destroyed, and Dunbar marched for Fort Cumberland. At that place, he was met by the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, who requested that he would post some troops on the frontier to protect the inhabitants. But he continued his march and did not think himself safe until he arrived in Philadelphia. 
   BRITISH U.NIFOItll, 1756.

CHAPTER II.

depredations of the indians upon the  frontiers of pennsylvania after braddock's defeat.

The frontiers of the province of Pennsylvania were, during the autumn of 1755 and the year 1766, overrun by war-parties of the Indians, instigated by the French. Unlike the other provinces, Pennsylvania had no militia. Governor Morris endeavored to arouse the inhabitants to a sense ot their duty; and the Indian attacks were powerful aids to his

exertions.   At the time of Braddock's defeat, the settlements

29 
   30

THE BORDER WARS.

KINO SUING AS.

had extended westward beyond the Susquehanna, aud northward as far as the extremity of Northampton county. The increase of the population of Pennsylvania had been without a precedent in the colonies, and everything indicated prosperity and happiness, when the Delawares and Wyandottes commenced their depredations. The principal war chief of the Delawares was King Shingas, a man unsurpassed in corn-age, strength, activity and cunning. He fell upon the settlements west of the Susquehanna, and committed the most horrible atrocities. A party of his warriors attacked the settlers of Mahoney, on Penn's Creek, and burned and destroyed their buildings and improvements, so that the settlement was deserted. In Tuscarora valley, an Indian trader and several other persons were killed. Great Cove was attacked, the houses burned, a number of persons killed, seventeen carried off, and the whole settlement broken up. In December, 1755, the Indians extended their incursions into Northampton county, burned fifty houses, murdered above one hundred persons, continued their ravages, and 
    
    
   pennsylvania.

33

overran and laid waste the greater part of that county. They even ventured within twenty-five miles of Easton. A large body of Indians, commanded by French officers, had fixed their head-quarters upon the borders of that county, for the preservation of their plunder and their prisoners.

In the affair at Great Cove, in Cumberland county, some interesting events occurred.

One Hugh M'Swine was abroad at the time. When he came home, he followed after, and overtook the Indians at Tussey's Narrows. Jacobs, the commander of the party, took him for a spy and made him prisoner; there was with this party of Indians, one Jackson, a white man, who had joined the Indians, and was more industrious and revengeful than the native Indians. Next morning Captain Jacobs sent M'Swine and another prisoner, under the care of Jackson and one warrior, by whom he also sent his horse, and a silver mounted gun, while they went in quest of some more of the poor unhappy inhabitants. The Indian and Jackson, with the two prisoners, travelled until night came on, when they took up their lodging in a waste cabin, and sent M'Swine to cut rails to make a fire; but when he got the axe, he began to think how he could manage to kill both Indian and white man, and immediately put his plan into execution. He went in with his axe, split down the Indian, but before he had time to strike another blow, Jackson was on his feet, and they instantly got in grips with each other; they were both very strong men, and after they had struggled a long time, M'Swine began to fail, and was still calling on the other man to assist him, but he stood trembling, and could do nothing: at length M'Swine had the good fortune to get one of the guns in his hand, knocked down his antagonist, and so put an end to him. He scalped both the Indian and Jackson ; and next evening arrived at Fort Cumberland, with Captain Jacobs' horse and gun.  Colonel Washington sent him to Winchester, (Virginia,) 
   34 the border wars. f

where he got paid for the scalps, horse and gun, and received a lieutenant's commission.

About this time there was a party of Cherokees, seventy in number, who came to the assistance of the people of Pennsylvania ; they went in pursuit of a party of Indians as far as the west side of Sideling hill, when they despaired of coming up with them, and returned.   There were some white men along with these Cherokees, among whom was Hugh M'Swine.   This party, in their return, fell in with another party of Indians coming into the settlements to murder, and a skirmish ensued.   By some means M'Swine was parted from his company, and pursued by three Indians, his gun being loaded, he turned round and shot the one nearest him, and then ran on, and charging again, shot another, upon which the third gave a yell and turned back. The Cherokees shortly after brought in four scalps and two prisoners of the enemy, one of whom was a squaw, who had been twelve times at war.   About this time some Cherokees and white men went to reconnoitre Fort Duquesne, and in returning home the white men were not able to keep up with the Indians, and so were left behind in the wilderness, and some of them got home in a very distressing condition.   Hugh M'Swine, after many dangerous enterprises, and much toil and fatigue, many battles and skirmishes with the Indians, in defence of his country, from savage and destructive incursions, fell by them in a battle near Ligonier.

To guard against these devastations, a chain of forts and block-houses was erected, at an expense of eighty-five thousand pounds, by the province of Pennsylvania, along the Ivittanning hills, from the river Delaware to the Maryland line, commanding the principal passes of the mountains, garrisoned with from twenty to seventy-five provincials, as the situation and importance of places respectively required. On the east side of the Susquehanna, beginning at the Delaware, were   Depui's Fort, Fort Lehigh, Fort Allen, Fort 
   PENNSYLVANIA.

85

Everitt, Fort Williams, Fort Henry, Fort Swatara, Fort Hunter, Fort Halifax, Fort Augusta; west of the Susquehanna, Fort Louther, at Carlisle; Fort Morris and Fort ifranklin at Shippensburg; Fort Granville; Fort Shirley, on Aughwick Branch, a creek that empties into the Juniata; Fort Littleton; Fort Loudon, on the Conococheago Creek, Franklin county; these three last-named forts ranged in the north and south line. From Fort Shirley there was an Indian path to Fort Augusta, on the Susquehanna. Eight companies of soldiers were stationed on the west side of the Susquehanna, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John Armstrong, called the second battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment.

The French and Indians continued their depredations and cruelties in 1756. In February, a party of Indians from Shamoken came to Juniata. The first place they came to on the river was Hugh Mitcbeltree's, who had gone to Carlisle, and had got a young man of the name of Edward Nicholas to stay with his wife until he would return: the Indians killed them both. The same party of Indians went up the river where the Lukens's lived. William Wilcox at the time lived on the opposite side of the river. Whose wife and eldest son had come over the river on some business ; the Indians came while they were there and killed old Edward Nicholas and his wife; and took Joseph Nicholas, Thomas and Catharine Nicholas, and John Wilcox, James Armstrong's wife and two children, prisoners.

An Indian named James Cotties, wished to be captain of this party. When they did not choose him he would not go with them. He and a boy went to Shearman's Creek and killed William Sheridan and his family, thirteen in number. They then went down the creek to where three old persons lived, two men and a woman of the name of French, whom they also killed. He often boasted afterwards, that he and the boy took mora scalps than the whole party. 
   3G

the border wars.

Many individual exploits were performed by the hardy frontier settlers in their warfare with the Indians, and more daring and fortitude was never displayed. The Indians frequently paid dearly for their active cruelty. A man named Samuel Bell met with remarkable success in an encounter with the enemy.

Some time after Braddock's defeat, he and his brother James Bell, agreed to go into Shearman's valley to hunt for deer, and were to meet on Croghan's, now Sterret's Gap, on the Blue mountain.   By some means or other they did not meet, and Samuel slept all night in a waste cabin belonging to Mr. Patton, on Shearman's Creek.   In the morning, he had not travelled far before he spied three Indians, who at the same time saw him ; they all fired at each other; he wounded one of the Indians, but received no damage, except through his clothes, by the balls.   Several shots were fired on both sides, and each took a tree.   Bell took his tomahawk and stuck it into the tree behind which he stood, so that should they approach he might be prepared.   The tree was grazed by the Indians' balls, and he had thoughts of making his escape by flight, but on reflection had doubts of his being able to out-run them.   After some time, the two Indians took the wounded one and put him over a fence; one took one course and the other another, taking a compiss so that Bell could no longer secure himself by the tree; but by trying to ensnare him, they had to expose themselves, by which means he had the good fortune to shoot one of them dead. The other ran and took the dead Indian on his back, one leg over each shoulder; by this time Bell's gun was again loaded, he then ran after the Indian until he came within about four yards from him, fired, and shot through the dead Indian, and lodged his ball in the other, who dropped the dead man and ran off. In his return, coming past the fence where the wounded Indian was, he dispatched him, but did not know he had killed the third Indian until his bones were found afterwards. 
   pennsylvania.

The settlement at Conococheague was visited by the savages on several occasions, and terrible devastation was the consequence. McCord's Fort was burned, and twenty-seven persons killed or captured. The war party then marched to Fort Littleton. Captain Hamilton being stationed there with a company of provincials, and hearing of the attack upon McCord's Fort, pursued the enemy. An Indian guided him upon the proper trail, until he overtook the savages at Sideling Hill. An engagement followed, in which the whites, after a severe contest, were defeated, and lost a considerable number of men. The victors, with their prisoners, then pursued their return march unmolested.

In July, 1756, Robinson's Fort, in Sherman's valley, was attacked by a party of Indians, several persons killed and many taken prisoners. The same valley was frequently visited by the horrors of savage warfare. Fort Granville, erected at the mouth of Rishecoquille's Creek, and garrisoned by a company of provincials, had not stood long before it was attacked by the Indians, who resorted to all their usual stratagems to reduce it. At length, the commander of the garrison being killed, the second in command, a man named Turner, surrendered the fort. The victors killed a large proportion of the garrison, and took the rest with them to their towns. Turner was afterwards put to death with horrible torture.

The next attack was upon Bigham's Fort, in Tuscarora, which they took and burnt, killing or capturing all who were in it. About the same time they killed Robert Cochran on his own plantation, and captured his wife and son.

The Indians at one of their inroads murdered a family of

seven persons on Shearman's Creek; from thence they passed

over the mountain at Croghan's, now Sterret's Gap, and

wounded a man, killed a horse, and captured Mrs. Boyde,

her two sons and a daughter,