Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-10

and Il. w. Renix informed me that he was b.
| when Chrlsty gave the receipt, and Ramsay a
| the same time, who was agreed to put a stol
to the suit against Burton, and that ther
should be no further proceedings on it.
Sampson Matthews, Shift"
But this 'lnterocutory decree" seems Il
have been unavailing, as there was the follow
| Ing subsequent return In the same case at tina
term:
Ramsay vs.. Burton.-Not executed by stress
of water, and deft. swore if did get over tt
him, he would shoot me if | touched any O
his estate also he is gone cut Of the county
Sampson Matthews"
From 1855 to l759-the years Immediately
succeeding Braddock's direful defeat anc
thence almost continuously to 'Dunmore'
war" In 1774 very many returns were subsan
italy like the following, and indicative of tht
dangers f the times:
''Nov'r, 1756.-Not executed by reason the
way was dangerous for Indians.
s. Matthews, Shift"
"Feby, 1750-Not executed by reason of the
enemy Indians ranging so that l can't get W
where the defendant lives.
VIM. Bowyer, D. S."
"March 2Sth, 175S.-Not executed by rea
son Of the heathen Indians ranging 50 that
can't get up there. VIM. Bowyer, d. 81
INDIAN WARS, AND HEROES.
But these record books disclose for the histo.
ry of this people q page of far more serious im-
port. Brief cotemporaneous entries on many
a leaf indicate the date of the dreaded Indian
incursions into this Valley-and mark the pla-
ces of the bloody massacres, remembered long
with mourning among their descendants tc the
third and fourth generation. Names of men,
and captains Of Companies. in numbers that
will THAR aF to-G.u
on these pages, through the long period of thir-
ty years, with short intervals of uncertain
peace. as actively engaged 10 aggressive aud de-
fensiVe war with their wiiy and relentless forest
foes
Stretched along the frontiers, separated by
mountains and by miles Of forests from the seat
OF their colonial government, whence only sue
cor could be claimed; poorly provided with
means OF defense, they were left in their own
unaided strength, exposed to all the troubles eD-
gendered by the long and bitter contest between
the French and English nations for supremacy
in the West. But they always bore the brunt
most bravely, and stood, withal, sure rock of
defense, to dash back the merciless wave OF saw
age warfare from the hearthgtoaes Of the East.
Expeditions, composed OF hundreds OF
men, appear from these records to have gone
out as rangers on the frontieIs,' at periods of
which history makes no other mention than in
the few unnotlced acts OF the assembly, which
acknowledge and encourage such SERVICES =
Companies of Rangers" Independents"
and volunteers. under such captains as the
Lewises, McOlenahans, Cunninghams, Pres
tons, Dickinsons, Dunlaps, Alexandess, Smiths
Christians, Hogsheads, Bumgacdners, Stuarts,
McPheeterS, Forbeses, Hangers, Robertsons,
Wallaces, Walkers, CANDLES, and many others,
armed with their own rifles, and equipped at
their own expense, penetrated the dark forest
in all directions 70 punish aud disperse the ma
rauaing parties of savages, who for real or fan
cled wrongs, in times otherwise CT peace, With
scalping knite and tQEoa ieii upon defeDcsless
families to lausdsr and destroy, and again dis
appear as stealthiy as the panther and wolf to
their distant lairs.
Thinly settled as was Augusta in 1854, a
company, under Captain Lewis,> was sent to
join the youthful Washington in his frat hattie
at the Great Meadows la Braddock's ILL
starred defeat, in l755 the 'baokwoods rifle
men OF Augusta, under the eye Of Washing
ton, we're most effective in staying the sad for
tunes of that fatal day. La 1857, at the call of
the Government, most formidable force
marched from the county to invade the distant
ccuntry OF the Shawnsse, and had already
reached the Ohio, when, to their chagrin, they
were recalled by the colonial governor, and had
to retrace their perilous route for hundreds of
miles through deep snow and mountain will
derness--thelr provisions exhausted, and de-
pendent for food only ca she game and the
wild nuts Of tie forest, and finally, on the flesh
Of their pack horses and the leather of their
rude saddles but the skill and intrepidity of
their able commander, Andrew Lewis, (hs
statue is one of the group for the Virginia
Washington Monument,1 led them to their
homes at last. but worn-out with fatigue and
starvation. And again, in 1853, a battalion OF
these hardy rihemen. under their tavorlte lead
er, marched to the distant banks OF the Ohio,
and, hearing the firing at the battle of Grant
hill, they pressed on, contrary to orders. and
reached the field 10 time to save the defeated
Highlanders from inevitable slaughter. In
1850, in Colonel BouQuets successful expedi
ton to the Muskingpn towns, and all through
out Pontiac long war;, and afterwards against
the Cherokees OF the South, company after
company went from Augusta. And On the 10tl
Of October, 1774 the bloody drama was at last
closed In the utter Gout of the Indian forces, il
a pitched battle, fought hand to hand, from
morn to noon, from noon to dewy eve" by over
one Thousand on either side, of these hardy
forest warriors, on the ever memorable field O.
Point Pleasant.
The individual distress that attended suol
times as these may well be yet remembered
with horror. The families and fresides of these
frontier soldiers On their long expeditions Were
necessarily left almost defenceless. In the sin
gle summer Of 1853 as many as sixty persons ii
the county of Augusta were massacred in thei
homes. Their fields were uncultlvated, anC
whole settlements were often reduced almost t
famine, but still they fought on bravely, with
patriotic devotion OF the best years OF their life
ti;ua n fhn!r cnurtrv II Uas douhtloso trua n
many, as tradition yet tells OF Charles Lewis
that very flower of forest chivairy, who fell 81
untimely while leadisg the van at Point Pleas
aut-that during the Indian wars, for ten Ions
years, be was not permitted TO remain as mucf
as month at any one time with his family an(
his home.
Though history has no sufficient record O
| these frontier wars, it must not be inferred
| they were any the less formidable. So far ava,
| in the uninhabited forests, the ear of histor,
could scarce catch the sound Of the battles, ant
| no earthly eye was witness, save that of tn
wheeling vuture and hungry wolf, awaiting th
| expected prey They were fought only In th
direst necessity for fighting, amidst nothing bu
| its horrors, against savage foes, fierce, unre
lenting struggle for very life and DEATH with n,
hope for relief or respite in the bitter strife uu
| til only the king of terrors should decide
| fought, too, all without the accustomed incen
tives ofother battle fields, nor cheered by fame
prophetic voice, nor ''gory's thrill" which
more than trumpet's blast, stlrs the blood t.
| chivarous deeds, eevates war awhile above it
crueies, almost makes ambition virtue, an(
Inspires the soul with that true heroism t.
| brave
'the perilous hour,
| Whatever the shape in which death may lower
Fer FAME is there to tell who bleeds,