The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-23
From the National IntelIigencer.
THE MURDER OF LOGAN,s FAMILY.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1853.

| From the National InteIIigencer
THE MURDER OF LoGAN,s FAMILY.
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1853.
To BRANTz MAYER, ESQ, Baltimore:
DEAR Sra: Having attentivtly read "the
discourse" delivered by you before the Mary.
land Historical Society on it's Sixth Anniver.
sary, 9th May, 1851 which you were kind
enough to send me, and compared IL with
Colonel RICHARD SPARKs's Narrative, ! now
enclose you the latter, together with Mr.
JAMES MAGoEfS's letter of explanation, ad.
dressed to me.
AS it is to be presumed the exhibit Of the
statement of Col. Sparks, conflicting as i,
does with old and respectable opinion, will
be scanned with critical accuracy, beg leave
TO say how this information came into my
possession.
mentioned to you in former letter that
while travelling through Florida, Georgia g.
Alabama, on mission conided to me by the
late Administration, became very much in
terested in the old Indian traditions of the
country through which passed. This his
tory, so full of romantic and thrilling associa-
ton, is rapidly sinking into oblivion; and,
alas! what little remains lies buried in the
fading memories of a few pioneers who are
daily carrying with them to the grave every
trait of the Indian character.
Among those brief and hasty sketches
picked up in my wanderings, l found that it
was only from some old enthusiastic settler
reliable information was to be obtained. Such
person was Mr.. Magoffin. Living amid
the past, in district whose very name
"Old ST. Stephens'') seemed to recall as
much of antiquity as can exist in the New
World, he delighted in relating Indian tales,
incidents Of border warfare, the struggles of
the early settlers, &c. He found me willing
and anxious listener, and thus many night
was whiled away between US.
One evening, while looking over some
papers, hoping to discover something about
the "course of De Soto's expedition" saw
an old paper marked "Murder of Logan's
family by Col. Cresap's men, Fort Stoddert,
Alabama, November, 1927" Its authenticity
could not be doubted; the writer was present,
and l seized upon it with avidity.
After read the paper, "Col. Sparks's mar
rative," as related by himself, speaking Of
scenes in which he was an actor, OF course
was much gratified to find him corroborating
Mr.. Jefferson's statement regarding "Logan's
speech;" for, if Col Sparks is correct, Lo-
gan did make the speech to his own people,
he (Sparks) being present! And Mr.. Magoffin
repeatedly assured me that he only took down
at the time a brief sketch of Col Sparks's
remarks, though he distinctly recollected that
Col. Sparks spoke of "Logan's speech" as a
thrilling and eloquent effort, and the strange
and exciting effect it had upon his hearers at
the time.
AS to Gbson's testimony, it is Ito say the
leasD very singular. That Logan, after they
had been drinking, should have taken him
(Gibson) into solitary hic.et, burst into
tears, and "broke out into passionate ejacu-
! lation," and he (Gibson) should remember it
| all the way (six mies) back to camp, and
then write it down as delivered by Logan, is
indeed strange. Where was Girty all this
time! Is it not more probable that Gibson
was one of "the white men" whom Col
Sparks allu9es to as being present when Lo.
gan made the speech! There had been g
speech made somephere, in 'repeated con-
versations" spoken of "as an extraordinary
SPEECH" and "several attempts at rehearsa
of it" had been made, when it is probable the
charge as to Col. Cresap crept in; for Lo
gan, according to Sparks, always exoneratet
Cresap from any participation in the murder
| We know that it was only to vindicate
Cresaps name the Hon. Luther Martin at.
tempted to discredit "the speech" as given by
/ Jefferson and let me here add singular fac
that Sparks had never heard of Jefferson.
Notes!
On reading over Gen. G. r. Clark's let
ter, find it differs SO materially from Col
! Sparks's statement that must let others de
eide which is correct, though Clark agree
with Sparks that logan was the author o
the speech" and "wrong as to Cresap." A
to Askew's leading'the men who COMMITTEES
the murder Sparks speaks confidently, an,
the name of Greathouse is not mentioned b,
him, while ne asserts that at the time of tn
murder Cresap was near and fastened at ono
to stop it; the most complete evidence Of his in
nocence.
! might dwell upon other points in the evi
dence against the authenticity Of ''Logan'
speech" but it is not necessary; my objec
; being not so much to detect error as TO pre-
sent to you what little had picked up t
throw light upon this interesting point q
history. The original actors and narrator
have alike passed away, and we cannot re
: call them from the grave to say who is right
: "Hstory only teaches by example" and, alas
the most prominent events of our own tim
are subjects of doubt, while,
"Omnes eodem c)gimur, omnium
Versatur corna serius ocius
Sors exitura."
With regard, l remain, dear sir, you
obliged servant, J. MARTIN.
LAND OFFICE, ST. STEPHENS, (ALA)
November 5, 1859.
DEAR SIR: 1t may be proper to give yo
some information regarding Col. Richar
Sparks, from whom received the ststemen
transmitted to you at your request, respec
, ing the murder of the family of Logan, tn
distinguished Indian chief, by party Of tb
| ,,.Jo. ,ho oon,,,and Of I,oI CprSAp