Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-24


We are much obliged to our pioneer
friend for bis interesting "reminiscences of
old Tuscarawas, and the relics accompany
ing his letter. Salt, now so plety and
cheap, was costly luxury in the days he
writes Of and man had to work to "earn
the salt in his porridge." We wish more
of the Pioneers would initiate the example
of Mr.. Dell, and put on record early Incl
dents of the country.
The Indian massacre referred to by Mr..
D., was one of peculiar atrocity. As ear
ly as 1851 and '62 the Morsvian Mission
aries, Post and Heckewelder, visited Ohio,
and the Rev. David Zeisberger labored
among the Indians of the Tuscarawas.-
The Moravians established three stations
on the river at the Indian villages called
Shoenbren, Gnadenhutten, and Salem
They were about midway between the
white settlements near the Ohio and the
warlike Wyandots and Delawares of the
Sandusky, who were in the service of Eng
land. There was British station at De-
troit, and an American at Fort Pitt, now
Pittsburgh, which were regarded as the
the nucleus of Western operations by each
of the conlending parties. The Moravian
Indian towns of the Tuscarawas, as neu-
trails, were not molested seriously until the
autumn Of 1881 when British officer
named Elliot, from Detroit, attended by
two Delaware chiefs and three hundred
warriors, visited Gnadenllutten. They in
sisted upon the removal of the Christian
Indians farther West, as measure of safe
ty, and forced them to leave their homes
and crops and winter in the country bor-
dering on Sandusky. The Missionaries
were taken to Detroit as prisoners. To
wards spring portion of the Moravian In
dians were permitted to return TO the Tus
carawas, and about one hundred and fifty,
women and children, divided in
TO three parties, so as to work at the three
towns in their yet unharvested cornfelds.
About this time Indian depredations
were committed on the frontier settlements
of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the in
habitants determined to retaliate. A corps
of one hundred volunteer militia was raised
and placed in command of Col. William
sou. They arrived near Gnadeuhutten
March 5th, found the Indians busy 10 their
and under preteuse of friendship
advised them to quit work and return with
them to the neighborhood Of Fort Pitt,
where protection was promised. The un-
Moravian Indians consented,
their arms, and sent messen-
ger to Salem to apprize their brethren of
the new arrangement. The Indians at Sa-
lem started for Gnadenhutten, and on their
arrival they were also seized, fettered, and
confined in two houses, the males in one,
the females in the other, in company with
their betrayed friends. The men, women
and children in the two prison-houses num-
bered from ninety to ninety-six. The afro
cities which followed are thus related:
A council was then held to determine
how the Morayian Indians should be dis
posed of. The self constituted military
court embraced both officers and privates.
The late DR.. Dodridge, in his published
notes on Indian wars. DC, says: "Colonel
put the question, whether the
Indians should be taken prison
srs to Fort Pitt, or put to DEATH" request.
ing those who were in favor of saving their
lives to step out and form second rank.
Only eighteen out of the whole number
stepped forth as advocates Of mercy. In
.hese, the feelings of humanity were not
extinct. In the majority, which was large,
10 sympathy was manifested. They re
solved to murder (for no other word can
express the act) the Whole of the Chris
ian Indians in their custody, Among
.hese were several who had contributed to
i'd civilization-two of whom emigrated
rom New Jersy after the death Of their !