Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-02-09
sto+ b[From the Sh snandoah yatley]
Tho indian Burial, Ground near New
Market

M0fkct.
2 The following, written BY lady of our
town, was pub lished 10 the Valley Demo-
cratr tin 1854. aud we Reproduce it as an
item of interest. The facts concerning
the fight, were related to DR.. S. q. Hem
ksl. deed, about twenty years ago, by
Mr.. Andrew Bird, then in his eightieth
year. Mr.. Bird received them from hi,
father. who was one of the FIRST settlers III
the Valley Of Virginia :-.v.a-... sd :
In the year 1875. General Btaddock
with his army, having crossed the Mas.
sanutten mountain at the gap opposite
New Market, proceeded down the Valley
of Virginia, and erected . fort on hill
near where Winchester now stands. A
few years previously, the Indians occupy
ing the Valley Of the Shenandoah, render.
ed themselves exceedingly troublesome By
their incursions into Eastern Virginia
in consequence of which, Capt. Smith;
with company Of men pursued them in-
to the centre OF the Valley. ,La,e in the,
evening, having passed through Massanut-
ten Gap, and arrived on the bank of what
is now called Smiths Greek, they encamp-
ed for the night, in bend ofthe stream,
where Clicks Mill stands now. Soon at
ter night fall, while yet the, whites were
conversing around their camp-ires, the
Indians who had approached to tbe sum-
init OF the hills which border the Western
bank of the stream, opened sudden and
heavy fire upon them.-Capt. Smith, in
endeavoring to inspirit his men. was
struck in the early part of the fight, aud
instantly expired. The whites we're now
in confusion, aud endeayored to retreat,
only to find that the WHY Indians had
stolen unperccived, upon their rear, and
were occupying the dense hammock be
hind them, in heavy force. Then COM
,menecd one of the fercest contests of even
those bloody days. Wild with success.
shouting the terrible war-whoop, and
brandishing the murderous tomahawk,
the savages charged ;-nerved with dis
pair, with no hope of retreat, aud relying
on their trusty rifles and long hunting
knives, the whites met them, firmly, and
hurled them back. And thas, during the
entire night, in the bowling darkness, the
battle ebbed and flowed, uutil with ap-
proaching day the Indians disappeared.
The morning disclosed the terrible char
acter of the struggle for, although the
loss of the Indians was the greater, more
than half the number of whites engaged
were killed. Having buried their fall
len comrades upon knoll on the up
lands, and Capt. Smith in separate
III ouni close by, the whites retraced their
steps The Indians were buried on the
low grounds where Clicks Mill now
stands, by their returning warriors. 81
/, Very recently the lLdian mound has
been opened, and discloses the bones of
several hundred Indians in solersble
state of preservation. 1t would seem to
have been regular burial place, as the
bones of children are also found in it.
Those who were placed in it last, seem to
have been thrown into promiscuous
heap, and without order, and hastily COW
cred with earth and sandstone. The
mound also contains many small marine
shells and other trinketry, worn by the
Indians ~ ornaments. 1859.
On . careful examination of the bones,
a number of which may be seen in the
Office of DR.. Hcnkel, a considerable diff
erence is perceptible between them and
those Of tile whites-those of the Indian
are more curved, much fatter. and sharp
er on their edges The Uranium is very
thick, the cheek-bones very prominent,
and the teeth are much worn. Some of
the bones are very large. No one can
look upon these mounds, and recount
these scenes without admiration for the
determined men who pressed, with ad-
veutucous feet, forw ard into the wilder
ness. leading the vanguard Of civiliza-
ton.
Nd