Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-09-25
Revolutionary Incident.
McCOLLOClI'S LEAP.

The ground where Major Samuel M'Culloch
took the great leap 10 avoid being made prison.
er by the Indians, is but few rods from Wheel
ing, and yet such is the negligence of those
who inhabis the scenes of great exploits, thai
we venture the remark ha, not one dozen men
have thought of Major McCoI!och, or been upon
The table land from which ,ha, leap was taken,
during the last year.
|. Was on the 27ih OF September, l777, thai
Fort Henry was attacked by The Indians, led
on by The notorious Simon Grly. The Indians
were estimated al abouI five hundred warriors
The fort contained AT frsl but lorty-lwo fighting
mea, of these lwen'y-Ihree Nv were killed in the
corn-6eld below the hill, before the attack on
the fort. The siege of the fort was sustained
by these nineteen men. until the next morning
abou. daylight, when Major McColIoch brought
forty mounted men from Short Greek 10 their
relief.
The gate of The fort was thrown open and
McCollocii's men. though closely be>el by the
Indians, entered The fort in safety. McCoiloch,
like brave officer, was the last man, aud he
was cu of from his men and nearly surround
ed by he Indians. He wheeled and galIoped
towards the hill, beset The whole way by IN
dlans, " hp might have killed him; but who
wished 10 lake him alive, that they might wreak
their vengeance more satisfactorily upon one of
The bravest and most successful Indian fighters
on the frontier. He presumed he could ride
along the ridge, and thus make his way again
10 Shorl Creek, bul on arriving al the top he
was headed by hundred savages; on the west
they were gathering thick and fast up The hill,
among The trees aud bushes, while the main
body were following in his path.
He was hemmed IN on all sides but the east,
where the Precipice was almos, perpendicular,
and The bed Of The creek lay like gulf near
200 feel beneath him. This too, would have
been protected by ,he cautious savases, but The
Jutllng crags OF limestone and slate, forbade his
climbing Or descending il even on foot. and they
did not for moment suppose, that the fearless
horse,nan or high-neltled sreed could survive
the leap if made But with the major il was
but chance of deaths, and narrow chance Of
life. He chose like brave man. Setting him
self back in his saddle, and his feet firmly in
the s'lrrups, with bis rifle in his left hand, and
his reIns adjusted ia the right he cast a look
of defiance a, The approaching savages, aud
pressing his spurs inIo his horses flank, urged
him over The cliff. In an instant of time, The
Indians saw their mortal foe, whose daring act
they had looked on with horror and as,oni.h.
menl merging from The valley, of lhe creek be-
low, siIl safely seated on his noble s,eed, and
defiance TO his pursuers.
There never was, we venture to say, in civ
illzed or savage warfare, a more desperate or
daring acl than ihi, leap of McColloch We
have looked al General PuInam's celebrated
rdce- ground, and We would very much prefer
his taste in the selection of a route for a morn.
ing ride al least consulting our ease and con-
venlence.-I Wheeling Ttmts.
Men are The work 0l God-Geailemen are
he work Of alvrs, batbets, and buolbIaoks,