Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-02-20
NJ i s. OLE u z a 81 y o
From the IIarrisonburg Republican
THE DESTRUCTION AND CAPTIVITY OF THE FAMILY OF
ia NJ e s IN o o RE,
OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA.
(CoNCLUDED.)

(CONCLUDED.)
Like many of his day, Mr.. Moore was so
accustomed to danger that it ceased to give
him serious alarm, when once he had passed
through present difficulty. He had COM
manded company of Virginia militia at the
battle Of Guillord, that had behaved with
great gallantry, and was the last to leave the
field. Being well pleased with his residence
in Tazewell, he still tarried, though the dan
ger was great and increasing, and though
most of his neighbors had moved away.
Such was the eXcelency Of the range, that he
usually kept about one hundred head of
horses, besides considerable number of cat
tie, and these principally wintered themselves.
Early IN the morning of July 18th, 17S6, n
gang OF horses came in from the range to the
lick blocks, about one hundred yards from the
house, and MIR. Moore had gone TO salt them
L wo men, also living in the family, had gone
out to reap wheat. The Indians, about thir-
ty in number, had been lying in ambush, and
now, supposing that all the men were absent
from the house, rushed forward with all speed.
AS they advanced they commenced firing, and
killed two of the children, viz: William and
Rebecca, on their return from the spring and
another (Alexander) in the yard: Mary, "a
mother of the children, having escaped. rush
ed into the house, Immediately after which,
Mrs. Moore and Martha WINS, girl living
with the family, barred the door. Mr. Moore
attempted to get in, but finding the door fas-
tened, ran by it through small pasture-lot in
which the house stood, and when he reached
the fence halted. A moment after he was
shot through with seven bullets. After this
he ran about forty PAGES, fell, and expired.
lie was then scalped, and afterwards buried
by the whites at the place where the body
lay, and where the grave may yet be seen.
The Indians said he might have escaped, if
he had not halted on the fence, but it was
thought, when he saw the deplorable condition
OF his family; without the possibility of render
Ing them assistance, he chose TO share their fate.
There were two fierce dogs, which fought
like heroes until the best one was killed
The two men who were reaping, hearing the
alarm, and seeing the house surrounded, fled
and alarmed the settlement, it being about six
miles TO the nearest family. There was no
man IN the house except John Simpson, the
EnglIshman alluded TO, and he was on the loft
sick and in bed. They had five or six guns
| but having been shot ofvthe evening before.
were empty. Martha WINS took two of them
ran up stairs, and handing them to Simpson,
told him TO shoot. He looked up, but
was near his end, having been shot in the
head through crack while looking out
The Indians then proceeded to cut down the
door, which they soon effected During this
time, Martha WINS went to the far end Of the
room, raised loose plank in the floor, and
went under, at the same time urging Mary
Moore, who had the youngest child (Marga-
ret) IN her arms, TO set it down and come I'M
der also. Mary looked at the child, then
clasped 1t to her bosom, and determined lc
remain with 1t. The Indians having broker
into the house, took Mrs. Moore, with hei
children, John, Jane, Mary and Margaret
prisoners; (Joseph, another of them, was ir
hoc&orldge county, going to school y ant
having taken every thing that suited them, Sc
the house and other buildings on fire ant
went away. In the midst of all this, Mary
M oore, then eight years Of age, took two New
leslamenis, one of which she retained during
her captivity, the other was stolen from hel
/ by the Indian children. Martha Wins remain
ed under the house for short time, then
came ont and concealed herself under log
mat lay across branch near the house. The
INDIANS having tarried short time for the
purpose OF catching horses, one of them by
chance walked across this log, sat down a
the extreme end Of it and began to fix his gun
lock.-bllss WINS supposing herself to have
been discovered, and that he was preparing &c
shoot her, came out and gave herself up
soon alter this they set out on their journey
TO their towns. PerceIving that John Moore
was boy feeble in body and mind and una
PIC 10 travel, they killed him the first day
: ney carried the babe a few days, but being
irct,ul on account OF a wound, they dashed
us pra'ns out agains: tree, and threw it in
inc brush For some time the prisoners were