The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-19

his forces. proceeded to dispose Of them
as follows: The right flank, was
brought around the base of the hill and
distributed among the several cabins
convenient to the fort. The left were
ordered to defile beneath the river bank,
close under the fort.
Thus disposed, Girty presented him
self at the window of n cabin, holding
forth a white flag, and offering coudi-
! ttous Of peace. He read the prSelAnda-
tion of Hamilton, Governor of Canada,
and in Il stentoriAn voice demanded the
| surrender ofthe fort, offering, in case
they complied, projections; but If they
refused, immediate and indiscrimina te
massacre.
GirtS referred, in boasting manner,
to the great force at his commando and
called npon them as loyal subjects, to
give up in obedience to the demand of
the kings agent, and that not one OF
them should be injured.
Although the whole number of men
| in the fort did not exceed ten or do
zen, still there was no disposition TO
yield; but, on the contrary, a fixed de-
all the power of King George.
Girty having finished his harangue,
Colonel yidShepherd, the command
ant, promptly and in the most gallant
| and effective manner, replied, "Slr, we
| have consulted our wives and children,
1
and children, sooner to perish at their
posts than place themselves under the
protection of savage army with you
| at the head; or abjure the cause of lib
erty and the colonies" The outlaw at
| tempted 10 reply, but Il shot from the
| fort put stop 10 any further harangue'
A darker hour had scarcely ever OBJ
scured the hopes OF the west. Death
was all around that little fortress, and
hopeless despair seemed to press upon
Its inmates; but still they could not and
would not give up. Duty. patriotism,
! pride, Independence, safety, all re-
! Quired that they should not surrender,
and forswear the cause OF freedom.
Unable to intimidate them, and find
| ing the beseiged proof against his vile
| promises, the chagrined and discomht-
ed Girty disappeared from the cabin,
but in Jew minutes was seen ap-
preaching with large body of Indians,
and instantly tremendous rush was
made upon the fort. They attempted
to force the gates, and test the strength
| of the pickets by muscular effort. Fail
| ing to make any impression, Girty
drew off his men a few yards, and COM
menced general fire upon the port
holes
Thus continued the attack during
most of the day and part of the night,
but without any sensible effect. About
| noon, IA temporary withdrawal of the
enemy took place. During The cessa.
ton, active preparations were carried
on within the fort to resist further at
| tack. Eachperson was assigned some
particular duty. OF the women, some
were required to run bullets, while
| others were to cool the guns, load and
| hand them TO the men, &c. Some Of
them, indeed, insisted upon doing duty
by the side of the men, and two actual
| ly took their position ut the pOrt-hoiesr
1 Il nnHkV war
About three O'Clock, the Indians re-
| turned to the attack with redoubled
fury. They distributed themselves
among the cabins, behind fallen trees,
&c. The number thus disposed OF,
amounted to perhaps one-half the ac-
tual force of the enemy. The remain
der advanced along the base OF the hill
south OF the fort, and commenced Wig
\ orous fire upon that part OF the stock
ade. This was cunnlngly devised
scheme, as IL drew most OF the Inmates
to that quarter. immediately Tush
| was made from the cabins, lead on by
| Girty in person, and Il most determined
| effort made to force the entrance. The
attempt was made with heavy timber,
i buL failed, with the loss OF many OF their
Eoldest warriors.
Several similar attempts were made
during the afternoon, but all alike
1 IL
peated disappointment and ill-success,
| the sayages withdrew to their covert
until nightfall. Day aL length closed;
darkness deepened over the waters, and
almost the stiffness of death relgned
around, About nine o'clock, the sava-
ges re.appeared, making night hideous
with their yells, and the heavens lurid
Vrith their discharge of mnskeEry,
| The lights iu the fort having been ex-
tinguished, the inmates had the advan-
tage of those without, and many a
staIwart savage fell before the steady
aim of experienced irontiersmen;
| Repeated attempts were made during
the night to storm the fort. and to fire
it, but all failed through the vigilance
and activity of those within.
AT length that night'of horror passed,
and day dawned upon the scene, but 10
| bring "A renewal of the attack. This
| however, did not last long, and de-
spairing OF success, the savages pre-
| pared TO leave. They fired most of the
i buildings, killed the cattle, and were
about departing, when relief party oil
fourteen men, under Colonel Andrew
Swearengen, from Holidays fort,
twenty-four miles above, landed in "a
perogue, and undiscovered by the In
dams, gained entrance to the fort.
4 Shortly afterwards Major Samuel
| McCuIloch at the head of forty mount
| ed men, from Short Creek, made their
appearance iu front OF the tOrt the gales
OF which were joyfully thrown open.
simultaneously with the appearance OF
| McCulloch's men, re-appeared the enc
/ my, and a rush was made TO cut on the
i entrance of some OF the party. All,
however succeeded in getting in, except
| the gallant Major, who, anxious for the
safely OF his men, held back until his
| own chance was entirely cut of. Find
| ing himself surrounded by savageS, he
rode at full speed in direction of the
! hill.
The enemy, with exulting yells, fol-
| lowed close in pursuit, not doubtinR
they would capture one whom, of all
other men, they preferred to wreak
their vengeance upon. Greatly disap-
/ pointed at the escape of the gallant
Major, and knowing the hopelessness
| OF attempting to maintain siege
/ against such increased numbers the
1 Indians fred lew additional shots at
the fort, and then moved rapidly of in
u body for their own country.
II has been conjectured that the enc
my lost on this occasion from forty to
tifty in killed and wounded. The loss
ofthe whites has already been stated.
Not n single person was killed within
the fort, and but one slightly wounded.
A AcoRREsPoNDENT of the New Orleans
Pfcayuns has called upon ex-President
Buchanan and had conversation with
him. He has been very feeble lately,
perhaps owing to the distress with
which, according to this correspondent,
he views the position OF affairs in the
South. We are not surprised to learn
that he expresses the kindliest wishes
l,ou,ords tho Snnth nor that those