The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-22
selett Mistellanp,
MASSACRE OF THE kORAVIAN
INDIANS.

rs early as the year l7G2, the Mora
viau missionaries, Post and Ueckeweld
er, established a mission among the Iu
dinEs on the Tuscarawas. Before the
close of the war of the revolution, they
had three fourishing statioIs or Villages,
w: Shoeubrun, Gna3enhutten and ST.
lem. Tucse were respectively about FIVE
miles apart, aud stood near fifty miles
west of the site of Steubenville, Ohio
In the war, their position was eminently
dangerous They were midway between
the hostile towhs on the Saudusky aud
The frontier settlements, aud beipg Oh
the direct route of war parties of either,
were compelled occasionally to give sus
tenarce and shelter to both. This ex
cited the jealousy Of the cortcrding
races, although they pro served strict
neutrality, and looked with ho ror upon
he shedding of blocd.
In February, l7S2, many murders
were committed upon the upper Ohio
ed the Mo.cngahela, by the hostile In
dams The settlers believing that the
Moravians were either concerned in
these murders, or had Larbored those
who were, determined to destroy their
towns, the existence of which they deem
ed dangerous to their safety. Accord
ipgly, in March, about niuety volunteers
assembled uuder the command of Col.
David Williamson, in the Mingo Bot
tom, just below the site Of Steubenvillc.
Arriving in the vicinity of GnadeDhut-
ten, they, on the morning of the Sth,
surrounded and entered the town, where
they found large party of Indians in a
field, gathering corn. They informed
the Indians that they had come on an
erraud of peace and friendship-that
they were going to take them TO Fort
Pitt for protection. The unsuspectiDg
Inaians, pleased at the prospect of their
removal, delivered up their arms which
they used for hunting, and commenced
preparing breakfast for themselves and
guests An Indian messenger was dis
patched to Salem, to apprise the breth'
rem there of the new arrangement, and
both companies then returned the Gna
denhutteD. On reaching the village, a
number of mounted militia started for
the Salem settlement, but ere they
reached it, found that the Moravian 10
dians at that place had already left their
corn fields, by the advice of the messen
ger, and were on the road to join theiI
brethren at Gnadenhutten. Measures
had been adopted by the militia TO Sc
cure the Indians whom they had at frs
decoyed into their power. They were
bound, confined in two houses, and wei
guarded. On the arrival of the Indian'
from Salem, (thcir arms having beer
previously secured without suspicion o
auy hostile iptention.) they were als'
feftered, and divided between the tw'
prison houses, the males in one. the fe'
males in the other. The number thu
COZ fined Ia both. including men, wome'
and children, have been estimated from
nuuety TO uimery Blk.
A council was then held TO determine
how the Moravian Indians should b.
disposed Of T-is self constitu ed mill
Iary court embraced both officers ant
uriyates. Colonel Williamson put tn
question, 'wnether the NJ Moravinn Indian
should be taken prisoners to Fort Pi,t
or put to oleath2" requesting those Wh
wero iu. favor of saving their lives t