Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-06-30

The eighth number of the Illinois Magazine
contains an article entitled "reminiscences
,f The Scioto Valley in which the following
snecdote is related. When Virginia ceded the
territory northwest Of the Ohio TO the Unl-
ted States, the valuable tract lying between
the Great Scioto and the little Miami was
reserved for the purpose OF reffuneratIng the
officers and soldiers of the Virginia line. for
their services durIag the revolution In 1883,
committee, at the head of which was Zen.
Neville, was appointed to examine the tract
Of land, and report the result. They embark
ed AZ Fort Pitt. i'm Kentucky boat, with a
few rihemen, who were to serve in the dou
bic capacity Of a guard for defence against
the Indians. and of hunters to procure sub
sstence for the party during their long and
% per1ous expedition.
"The travellers continued their expora
tons until they came in sight OF the Nilsss
sippi when they returned to the rams oi the
Ohio After spending lew days here, they
crossed the river, and entered the great vii
tierness northwest Of the Ono, on their way
TO examine the Virginia Military District
On arriving on the scioto near the ChilicGthe
old Town, their horses were stolen by tribe
of Shawnees; whilst negotiating for their
restoration, and holding talk with the ma
ton, as representatives from Congress depu
ted for that purpose, a maraudmg party re
turned from an expedition against the back
settlements of Virginia. They displayed Sc
yeral scalps as trophies OF their success; and
among their sp0tiG optDlG, was an Interesting
country girl, OF about Is years oil age. Her
grief was overwhelming, and when Sue found
some of her countrymen In the camp oil the
sayages. she threw herself on her knees 10
them, and begged them to rescue her from
her wretched situation. Every eXertlon was
made to procure her release; the party pro
duced all the money, they had, amounting to
several hundred dollars. and offered II as her
ransom: they made large promises and threats
on the part Of the States; but all IN VAN
Captain Snip, who commanded the Indian
ynaraudng party, claimed the poor GIRL AS
his prize, aud refused any compromise. Al
ter much discussion and alteration. howe
yer, the chief made proposition; Colonel
n had a favourite servant, large and fine
looking mulatto man. The Indians have a
peculiar fondness for slaves; Spp agreed TO
give up the captive girl, for Patrick Here
was q dilemma; Gel. n. was most humane
and benevolent man; he would have made
any sacrifice 10 have regained the unhappy
maid; but he valued his slaveas a fellow crea
ture. and loved him as brother. he would
use no force-Patrick hated the Indians as
cordially as did Major Passui, and he heard
the pronosition with Undesirable horror -
His master took him aside and advised hun
10 take the place of the girl, offering him his |
freedom, and all the money which had been |
collected for her ransom; assuring him at the |
same time, that in few weeks he would GER
tainly find an opportunity of escaping 1T
was all in vain; the possession OF the world |
would not have induced Patrick TO change |
masters. Finding every attempt trultleso,
and not having sufficient numbers to attempt |
force. the travellers were obliged TO abandon
the idea Of hberating the captive, and leave
the unfortunate maid to her fate They re
sumed their journey, and after much suffer
ing and hair breadth escapes from the scout
ing parties Of different tribes, they arrived at
Fort Pitt.
Thirteen years afterwards. the treaty Of
Greenville was held with the Indians. by Gen.
Wayne. On this occasion, the prisoners who
had been taken during the previous imoads
of the savages, were brought in to be given
up Mai kirkpatrick was then present, As
chief of the cou1missary department. A
mong the captives, he recognized the girl
whom he had left on the Scioto, in l7s3-l
She was the wife OF her captor, Capt. Snip,
and the mother of five little savages, the el
dest of whom appeared in the crowd armed
with his bow and arrows. She was perfectly
reconclled to her fate, and refused to quit |
her husband, to be restored to civilized soci,
city aud her friends
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