The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-10-20
LOCAL REMINISCENCE.

LOCAL "REMINISCENCES.
Further Extracts from De Hass' HIS.
tory of the HesI Virginia BOrder---
The Second siege OF Fort Henry at
wheeIinG--A Thrilling Chapter from
the EARLY History of Our CiIy...The
memorable Years Of I7sI and I7S2.
MEDITATED ATTACK ON WHEELING.
In September of this year, occurred
what may be called the second attempt
upon Wheeling.
Fortunately, the purpose of the In
dians was frustrated by the timel yinior-
nation communicated by Col. .Brodhead
then commanding the western division
of the army. The despatch of Colonel
B. was as follows:-
Fort PITT, August "a, l7Sl.
SIR:-I have this moment received
certain intelligence that the enemy are
coming in great force against us, and
particularly against Wheeling. You
will Immediately put your garrison in
the best posture of defence, and lay in
as great quantity of water as circum-
stances viii admit, and receive them
coolIy, They intend to decoy yonr gar
rison, but you are to guard against
stratagenl, and defend the post 10 the
last extremity.
You may rely upon every aid in my
power to Illustrate the designs OF the en-
envy but you must not fail to give the
alarm to the inhabitants in your reach,
and make it as general as possible, in
order that every man may be prepared
at this crisis.
lam, sir, your most ob't serv't,
TSigned1 DANIEL BRoDHEAD,
Col. Commanding w. ID.
To the Commanding Officer at Fort Hen
Ty, Wheeling.
This information, as may well be
supposed, startled the inhabitants at
Wheeling; but, not unmindful sof the
notice, they put themselves in readi-
ness to meet and resist any attack the
enemy might make The fort was i'm
mediately placed in proper condition
for defence, and nothing left undoue to
secure their safety.
AbOutIen days after the reception OF
the dispatch of Col. Brodhead. party
of one hundred Indians suddenly APP
peared in the vicinity of the fort. The
first inumution those within the stock
ade had of the presence of the enemy,
was by boy named George Reikart,
reaGhiug the fort almost exhausted,
who stated that large party of Indians
were at the spring, (near the hill,) and
that they had killed his companion.
John Ryan, and taken David Glenn
prisoner.
The approach of the Indians had been
SO sudden and noiseless, that Ryan was
shot down, and Glenn taken prisoner,
but Reikart WAS some distance OF,
gathering walnuts, escaped. Just AS he
entered the fort-gate, rite-ball struck
him on the wrist.
In moment, those within were ready
to receive thepi but, 1t ia supposed,
that the savages, from information OF
Glenn, anticipated warm reception.
and deemed irbetter valOr to make OFT
at once. This they did, afler demand
ing in a pompous manner the surren-
der of the fort, which req uest the in
mates very politely declined acceding
Thus, owing to the timely informa-
ton of Col. Brodhead, the settlement
at Wheeling was, doubtless, saved from
what might have been n bloody vista
ton
SECOND sEIGE OF FORT HENRY.
The last beleagurement of the fort at
Wheeling, was certainly one OF the
most important events in the settle
nent of the northwest,-one, upon
which it may emphatically be said, the
very existence of the frontier of Nir-
ginia depended.
On the eleventh day of September,
1882, a body OF three hundred and tiny
Indians and whites the former Shaw
anese and Delawares, under the com
mand of George Girty, and the latter, a
company known as the "Queen's Ran
gers" commanded by Captain Pratt,
made their appearance in front OF the
little stockade at Wheeling, and per-
emptorily demanded surrender. The
besiegerS marched up in regular lille,
headed by II fife and drum, with the
British flag flying over them
Girty, upon whom the whole conf
,,,ud 6aypIyad dafilad hiS man by the
spring near where the market-hnuss
now stands and in the name of the Brit
ish Governor demanded surrender
He promised to all who would give mp,
1.-THE best protection King George could
afford" To this, the brave and daunt-
less inmates of the fort returned con-
temptuous answers, and detied the saw
ages, both white and red, to do their
worst. s
Girty, deeming it imprudent to com
mence the attack in daylight, kept his
men at convenient distance until
nightfall. The conversation, however,
was continued between the besieged
aud besiegers, the former delighting 10
load the renegade with the most opPro-
brious epithets. Shots were OCCASION
ally fired at him, but the distance was
too great for effect.
Fortunately Tor the inmates that the
attack had not commenced half an hour
earlier. For several days previous TO
the sppearance of the savAges, scouts
had been across the Ohio, but discover
ing no traces of the enemy, returned on
the afternoon of Saturday, and report
ed accordingly. This news had the et-
feet of lulling the inmates into feel
ing of security, so that it was scarcely
deemed necessary to fasten the gates at
night.
4 day or two previous to the time OF
which we write, Andrew Zane had
gone to Catfish, for supply of liquor,
returning with two kegs, Zone In each
end OF "A bag, he discovered as he sup
posed, when near the present site OF
Mount Wood Cemetery, Indications OF
Indians. Concealipg his Kegs he hur-
ried toithe fort with all haste, and gave
the nlarm. Those who hadjust return
ed from the Indian country, lRughedat
his fears, but most of the men SAID
they would go along, and have a
a. moo ~ - q r i ta
Searly the whole efficient force OF the
GA rrison accompanied Zane, and lind
ing no indians, repaired to the spring
already alluded To, and there treated
themselved to a glorious elbow out
Before starting with Zane, II was deem
ed advisable, with the characteristic
caution of experienced frontiersmen, 10
send across the river two spies. who
might give the alarm In case of dan
ger. As the party at the spring were
busy with their ''grog," the alarm guns
: = 4 =. ..-,,,ta nara a rod on the island,