Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-10

4
spaech Mr. Jefferson has handed down in Notes on
Virginia. On making this discovery, the judge
train Of inquiry that evenuated in detail by the colo
mel of the whole catastrophe of the murder of Logans f
mily by party of Col Cresaps force, and the subse
quent conduct andspeech delivered at Plugges Town."
by Logan, &c. Lieut. Gaines was present.
The Judge after hearing the colones DETAIL asked him
if he had ever read Mr. Jeffersons "Notes Virginia.
to which the colonel replied he had known any other
writing than Mr.. Jefersons Declaration of Indepen
dence."
On n snbseouent evening at Lieut. Gainess quarters,
Col Sparks again got on the subject of Logans speech,
Sc After the colonel had retired the Judge proposed to
me to cndeavor favorable occasion 10 induce Colonel
Sparks permit me to take down In writing his state
ment as nearly his language as possibe to which
Lieut. Gaines added his request and to which assented
few days after the colonel proposed to me to accom-
many him on a visit to Dr. Chasangs, few miles south
of the cantonment Returning the colonel stated the
pleasure it appeared to give Judge Toumn TO hear In
dian the interest he appeared to take in the
Indian character" &c. "Dd you notice the other day
how much he was affected by the gave him Of
the murder of Logans family and especially by the speech
of Logan made afterwards at Plugges Town have al
ways been asonshed how those men OF great education
and learning can in the talk of an Indian much to
interest them always felt more interested in the man
in which the warriors spoke than at what they said
My friend Gaines has good deal OF the feengs IN ts
way of his father Flaw. Why. colonel I reped9 it
is q fact the Judge and Lieut. Gaines warm admirers
of the character of Logan that you have placed before
them and especially with his address after the murder OF
his family and will candidy say that they would be
prated to have your account Of the transaction reduced
to writing Why, sir have not the smallest objection
to crafty those gentlemen you will take the trouble to
take it down" With pleasure, colonel whenever your
convenience will admit Tomorrow evening will state
you the whole occurrence as far as my recollection
and win just to you that if ever be-
come Indian (gying an arch lool) you viii nud that
your recollection Of occurrences all interesting during
the time viii be better remembered through life than any
other" The following evening the detail put down
from the lips of COL Sparks in the paper copy of which
you have already
few evenings after the colonel requested read
to him the had made and, after atenyely hear
ing them read said aAt the time there white zen
present who the Indians said, the big rater but
knew who they were or their business with the
Chiefs
gave copy of the colonels statement to Judge Toul
min and long after removed to ST. Stephens Some
years subsequent met Judge Toulmin member of
the Convention that formed the Constitution of this State
Who in the presence Of Governor Bbb referred to the
papers that passed between distinguished member of
the bar of Maryland viz Luther Martin and Mr. Jeer
son on the subject at the same moment nqurng if
had preserved the account given by Col Sparks of the
murder of Logans family &c. as he had lost the copyI
had given him On my replying that had it safe he
quested to state to Gov. Bibb as near as could its
contents The last named gentleman warmly pressed me
to give publicity, the honorable judge adding his re-
quest This have determined to do every year almost
since but from variety Of delayed and but for
your friendly and forcbc remarks and the writing of Mr.
/ Meyer would have continued to do so.
NY life has been of ncessant application to some
pursuit other, principally official my opportunity of
association with literary gentlemen extremely limited
1t may be proper here to add that in conversation
with Judge Toulmn years after removed to this
ton of country found the interest he felt in the state
of Col. Sparks in consequence Of the charge
against Col Cresap being accessory to the murder be-
ing disproved.
Gen TIL L. Toulmin, with the highest esteem and
fdence of his fellow citizens, still living and the amabe
George s. Gaines (brother of Gen. Gaines in full pos
session of al his faculties still resides at or in the vicinity
of Mobile
With perfect esteem, and very respectfully am, sir,
your cbedient servant JAMES MAGoFFIN.
j. MARTIN, Esq, Clifton.
The following is the taken from the mouth Of
Colonel Richard Sparks who among the Indians at
"Plugges Town." Upper Chillicothe, when Logan
arrived just after the murder of his family by party of
Cresaps men:
lie said that q part Of Cresap's men, who had left
Cresap without his orders had attacked his house. killed.
and destroyed his family, and two Indian relations who
there, two young men of the Delawares he knew
Cresap family his father and him he knew that it
not Cresaps fault but the mad young who had left
Cresaps camp contrary his orders and committed the
depredaons. He a white mans friend; never had
white come to his house but he gave him seme-
thing to eat; had he split the blood of white
They had began with him without proyocation From
this time forward (rasing his tomahawk) declare war
against all white peoples and expect that my warriors
will revenge the blood Of my family"
"Lognn staid few days, raised party, went and
fought at the mouth Of Kenhawa.
CAS- Logan arrived at Plugge's Town he call
ed council and made the aforesaid speech. The young
warriors Immediately gave the war-whoop.
"In all the conversations which took place Cresap
blamed. 1t understood universally by the In
dams, and always mentioned by Logan, that il par
y who stole off from Cresaps army headed by Askew
either ensign lieutenant that committed the murder
" In all Logan's conversations with the Indians pre-
vious to starting from Pugges Town. Logan uniformly
adhered to the statement that il not Cresaps fault
but that the whites had murdered his family he would
not make peace with white while he lived, and hop
ed his would do the revenge the death
Of his family.
"Col. Sparks Ind brother with Cresap at the time
"At the time OF the murder Cresap had been scout
TO Grave Creek and Wheeling and returning Red
Stone He stopped within mile of Logans house. and
named to his that Logan lived there and had alway
been friendly TO the white men, and disturb him
Those men who committed the murder silly slipped off
two or three Mt time pretending TO hunt for something
to eat Akews brother had been killed by the Indians
the spring before. In few minutes after the had
gone away Cresap about starting TO Logans Mrs
Logan spoke English The Of Cresap's camping
from the house the fear Of OF the who had
lost relatives by the Indians committing something wrong
He heard the firing and Immediately with the balance
Of his company to the lives Of the Indians On
ing he found them killed but scalped The party
made off. Came after awhile to Cresaps camp and pre-
tended they had been hunting except wo that had been
cnught ut the house by Creap endeayorng to punder
Those Cresap confined and brought to Red Stone old
fort.
1t the universal impression and about 'Plugges
Town that Cresap not in the fault. On repeating
the story Richard Sparks father his to Red
Stone, he (Crcsnp) was much distressed.
AT the time COL H. Sparks had been prisoner among
the Indians several years; spoke their language knew
no other; fourteen years old, and distinctly reco
lects every thing that occurred had oil the feelings Of
an Indian, and equally impressed the others with
the circumstances Of the time"
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