The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-19
A Local REm1SIsCENCE.

Hass' history of the early settlement
and Indian wars of Western Virginia" :"
AS local reminiscence 1t will interest
many OF our people who have never
had access 10 the work. Fort Henry
stood on the site of the Knox property,
on Main street. few doors above
Union. We publish to-day only the
chapter in regard to the first siege OF
Fort Henry. Weshall, in day or two,
publish the account given of the Sec
ond attack upon the fort.
sEIGE OF FORT HENRY.
The fall ofof l777, SO memorable in the
annals OF the West, was remarkable
for nothing more than the united and
arms of British and Indians, against
the stockade at Wheeling, Virginia.
The eloquent Chatham was never
more right, than when he denounced
the alliance between Britain ana the
American sHvages as "disHrace,-A
deep and deadly SIM" That act, con-
necIed as 1t was with the execrable
scalp bounty, Will stand living stiR-
ma upon her name and history az long
as time lasts.
Early in the month of August, fears
began to be felt by the settlers, as fly
Ing reports occasionally reached them,
that the Indians We're gathering In
great numbers, and itseemed certain
they meditated an attack during the
approaching autumn. Every precau-
ton was taken TO guard against an In
sidious attack. Scouting parties were
kept out, who, with the sleepless vigi-
lance of well trained spies, watched all
the movements of the enemy. IDfOr-
nation had been conveyed ito General
Hand, commanding at Fort Pitt, by
some friendly Moravian Indians, who
received 1t from Isaac Zane, that a large
army of Indians, composed chiefly of
warriors from the great North Western
conlederacy, were making vigorous
preparations to strike an effective and
terrible blow upon some of the settle
ments on the Ohio. 1t was further
stated, that this chosen body of saw
ages would be under the command of
Simon Girty, man whose known re-
lentless ferocity toward his foresworn
countrymen, could not but add to the
fearful prospect before them.
General Hand lost no time in widely
disseminating the Information thus OBJ
tanned. D-E
As it was uncertain where the ex-
pected blow would fall, all was activi-
ty, fear and alarm, at the several little
half finished fortresses stretching at
distances from one TO two hundred
miles, between Fort Pitt and the Great
Kanawha But it soon became mani
fest at what point the enemy designed
to strike. With apprehensions of dread,
the settlers at the mouth.o of Wheeling,
Numbering about thirty families) be-
took themselves TO their fort, and with
calm resolution awaited the issue.
Early in the evening of the 3lst OF
August, Capt. Joseph Ogle, who had
been sent out some days before, ut the
head OF ten or fifteen men, to scout
along the different routes usually fol-
lowed by the Indians, returned to
Wheeling, and reported no immediate
cause of danger. E
The Indians, with their accustomed
sagaCity, suspectiug that their move.
ments might be watched, abandoned
all the paths usually trodden, and di-
viding as they approached the river,
into small distinct parties, struck out
along new lines for the Ohio. With
out discovery, they reached the vicini-
ty of Bogg's island, 1.-TWO miles below
Wheeling creek,) and there consoli-
dating their forces, crossed the river
and proceeded directly to the creek
bottom, under cover of the night, and
completed their plans for movement
in the morning.
The Indian army consisted OF over
three hundred and fifty Mingoes, Shaw
J
manded by the notorious Simon Girty,
and well furnished with arms. ammu-
milton, &C., by the Infamous Hamilton,
governor of Canada. Girty disposed oi
his men in TWO lines across the bottom,
| stretching from the river TO the creek
They were arranged at convenient dis
tances, and effectually concealed by
the high weeds and corn.
Posted near the centre of these lines,
and close to a path lending from the Fort
(Which they supposed some of the
whites would pass in the morningI
were six Indians.
shortly after daybreak of the LIST OF
September, DIR. McMechen, who was
about returning east of the mountains,
sent out white man named Boyd, and
| q negro, to catch the horses. The two
men had not proceeded far before they
discovered the six Indians already re-
ferred to. Hoping to escape, they made
hurried retreat, but Boyd was killed.
The negro was permitted to return
doubtless to mislead the whites as to
| the actual number ofthe foe.
The commandant Immediately or
| dered Captain Samuel Mason, who had
brought his company to the fort on the
previous evening, to go out and dis
| lodge the enemy. With fourteen of his
men, the gallant Captain at once sal
lied forth, and after proceeding partly
across the bottomi discovered the six
Indians and fred upon them. Almost
simultaneously with this discharge, the
entire Indian army arose, and with
| horrid yells rushed upon the little body
of whites. Finding that to stand were
madness, Mason ordered retreat, and
in person commenced cutting his way
through the IDdiau line. This he sue
ceeded in doing, but most of his gallant
little band perished In the attempt
Out of the fourteen, but two escaped,
and they, like Captain Mason, eluded
the pursuing savages by conceallnG
themselves beneath brush and fallen
timber. The names OF those who es-
capped this general slaughter, were
| Hugh Mcconnell and Thomas Glenn,
William Shepherd, son OF Colonel Da'
yid Shepherd, had gained the spring
near. where the Market House now
stands, when one of his feet caught In
a vine, aud falling, the eipursuing saw
age was instantly upon him, ana with
| a war club dispatched him on the spot.
SO soon as the disaster TO Mason had
been aseertained at the fort Captain
Joseph Ogle, with his dozen expert
| enced scouts, advanced to his relief, but
not without forebodings of imminent
danger, as the yslls of the savages and
shrieks of the whites, told too plainly
! that 4 terrible massaere was takinR
| place.
moved on to the scene of conflict, de-
termined to cover the retreat OF his un-
fortunate countrymen, or perish in the
attempt. An excited and bloody foe
rushed upon them with the fury OF de;
mons, and all but two or three shared
the fate OF the first detachment.
| Captain Ogle, Sergeaut Jacob Ogle
Martin Welzsl, and perhaps one other
were all who escaped.
| The loss of SO many brave men at
such tune, was sad blow to this part
| OF the country. Those who fell were
! the pride of that little fortress. They
| 11,art, harnel in avaFV Beuse of the word