Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-29
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Battle of Point Pleasant-Lo-
gan's Speech-French Settle
ment at Gallipolis-Westsrn
Antiquities Mound Builders.
ProIn the n. y. Iounal of CoIatnerco.l

Antiquities~Moun Builders.
tRssm the n. Y. Journal Of cOistnerco.f
sGALLiPous, ONO, Oct. 80, 1866.
I pencil you few hurried jottings
from the shores Of La Belle RiViere,
'as the early French voyGgea.rs and Pa
risian artisans who settled at this
point in 1890, persisted in calling
this fine and really beautiful stream.
Many historical associations clus.
ter around the region adjacent to the
mouth Of the Great Kauawha.
Ninety-two years ago on the 10th
inst, there was fought, at Point
Pleasant flour miles above, one OF
the most desperate, and certainly
one Of the most decisive battles
which have at any time signalized
our border wars. The mprovoked
murder of the Cayuga warrior-Lo-
gan's kindred--excited tie Western
savages to high degree of fury
Through the summer and early au-
tumn of IVA the Western settle
ments were rayaged by the fire and
temOhawk, from the lakes to the Hol-
ston. Confiagration and carnage,
death and desolation, marked the
pathway OF the infuriated savage
At length the excitement culminated
/ in the desperate struggle at the
mouth of the Kanawha. The whites,
chiefly Virginians, were under the
command OF Gen. Andrew Lewis,
and the Indians commanded by Corn
stalk, native chieltain.
The battle lasted from sunrise to
sunset, and was only gained by an
adroit flank movement.
The treaty at Camp Charlotte, on
the 6ciotO, sUUn after closed this
needless and bloody war. The Gel
ebrated speech of Logan WAS, per-
haps, next to the battle, the most
signal event connected with the war
of IVA.
The censure thrown by Logan upon
Cresap has been measurably re-
moved, but there are thousands who
believe Cresap guilty. Well digested
evidence on this point has been given
in De Hass's History Of Western
Virginia, and by Brantz Mayer, in
an elaborate memoir before the His
torical Society of Maryland. MIR.
Bancroft gives the speech, but omits
the name of Cresap. The authentic
ity of the speech has been fully
established, and the exculpation of
Cresap satisfactorily shown.
1t was proposed, about the break
ing out of our civil war, to erect a
monument at Point Pleasant, TO the
memory of the brave men who fell
on that disastrous day. The ladies,
Heaven bless them, always ready in
acts of noble sacrifice and devotion
to yalor and patriotism, engaged in
the movement, and Monumental
Association authorized by the Vir-
ginia Legislature was organized I'M
der most favorable auspices. The
corner stene was to have been laid
with due ceremony, on the s6th an
niversary, WHEN all the adjacent coun-
ties were to meet and celebrate the
occasion. DR.. W. De Hass was Sc
lccted TO deliver the address. Un-
fortunately, difficulty arose as to the
location OF the monument. The
question could net be settled in time,
and it was determined to postpone
the celebration until the next ami
versary. That brought with it the
rebellion, and since then the matter
has been suffered to sleep. 1t is
hoped the movement will be re
sumed, and that Immediately. 1t
will be discreditable TO the character
of Virginians to allow the memories
of the brave men who periled all, to
pass ints forgetfulness, and their
mouldering remains to lie in filthy
stable yard, where they now rest
the bones Of .hese, the fret martyrs
of the Revolution-for it can be con-
clusively and satisfactorily demon
strated that the battle of Point Pleas
ant, Va, was the speni,g battle Of Tie
Revolution. The willy Earl of Dun
more, colonial Governor of Virginia,
clearly foresaw that war with the
mother country was inevitable, and
he determined to engage the Western
people in a little matter of their
own, in order to divert their atten.
ton from affairs about Williamsburg,
and throughout the tide-water re-
gions of Virginia and elsewhere
1t is no time new to bring full prool
on this point; but 1 may say, that the
evidence is abundant and conclusive
in substantiatien of the charge. II
is understood that DR.. De Hass col
lected a mass of material with the
view of preparing memoir on this
knotty question of colonial history
repeat the hope that the monu
ment will go forward, and a suitable
column arise On the banks of the
beautiful Ohio, that all who pass uE
or down the great thoreughfare may
behold, admire and emulate tn,
prowess of the men who, hand te
hand. in the depths of an unbroker
wilderness, contended with the taw
ny foe for life and home.
The point whence / send this let
ter is somewhat famous IS tha
where, about the beginning of tn,