Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-10-16
BELFAST, IRELAND, Aug. 25, 1874.

here, [ find that it dates its origin buck &c
1887, and has now attained the venerat lie
age of one hundred and thirty-seven years
A regular file Of this paper has been kept
in the Belfast City Library in annual vol
umeS. Having just read an article in a re-
cent issue OF the Courier, /" forwarded me
from KanaWha, on the proposed celebra-
ton of the centennial anniversary of the
battle Of Point Pleasant in October next,
it was naturally suggested that the files
the ''NeWs-L Letter" might contain some
account of this battle, especially as the
city of Belfast and district of Elster had,
at an earlier period, sent a large emigra-
ton to Virginia, some of whom were pro-
badly in this battle with the Redskins.
With the hope of finding such account
went to the Library, and in looking over
the file for 1774 my search was soon re-
Warded by finding the following very in
teresting letter, copied cerbutin Ell Hteru-
tim:
Yesterday arrived a mail from New York
brought to Falmouth by the Harr ietE pack
ct boat, Captain Lee.
(From the New York Gazette.l
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, Nov. 10.
The following letter is just received
here from the camp Oh Point Pleasant, at
at the mouth If the Great Kanawha, dated
October II, 1774:
1.-The following is true state of battle
fought at this place on the 10th instant
On Monday morning about half an hour
before sunrise two of Captain Russell s
company discovered a large party of In
dams about a mile from the camp: one Of
which men was shot down by the Indians:
the other made his escape and brought in
the intelligence III two OF three minutes
after, two OF Captain Shelvey's came il
and confirmed the account.
Colonel Andrew Lewis, being informed
thereof, immediately ordered out Cplone
Charles Lewis to take command of $50. o
the Augusta troops, and with him went
Captain Dickinson, Captain Harrison, Cap
tain Wilson, CAPTAIN John Lewis, (of Au-
gustav and Captain Lockridge.@ which
made the first division; Colonel Fleming
was also. ordered to take command Of -
more of the Botetourt, Bedford and Fin
castle troops, viz: Captain Thomas Blu
ford, from Bedford; Captain Love, of Bote
tourt; Captain shelvey and Captain Rus
sell. of Fincastle, which made the second
division.
Col. Charles Eewis's division marched
to the right, some distance from the Ohio.
and Colonel Fleming, with his division,
on the bank OF the Ohio to the left.
not marched quite half a mile from. The
camp when. about sunrise, an attack was
made on the front Of his division, in a
most vigorous manner, by the united trb' S
II Indians -ShaWanese, DelaWareS, Min
goes, TaWaS, and Of several other nations.
in number not less than 500, and by many
thought to be GOO.
TN this heavy attack Colonel Charles
Lewis received a wound which in u few
hours caused his death. and several of hi
men fell ON the spot; in fact, the Augusta
division was obliged to give way To tn
heavy day of the enemy. In about sec
Ond Of a minute after the attack on ColOnel
Lewis division the enemy engaged tbs
front of Colonel Fleming's division, on the
Ohio; and in q short time the Colonel re
ceived tW balls through his left arm AM
enc through his breast; and after animat-
ing the officers and soldiers in most calm
manner to the pursuit Of victory, retired
TO tie camp.
"The+loss in the field was sensibly felt
by the officers in particular, but the Au-
from the camb By t2ofdn6f ffff Field ed"fb9 yr is
ell, Captain Matthews, and CaptailRs1anr
art, from Augusta, Captain Jlhn Laws
Captain Paulin, Captain Arbdckle, and
Captain McClenahan, from BoJeC0ur
the enemy, no longer being able to main
tain their ground, were forced to give M;tN
ill they were in a line with troops Colonel
Fleming being left in action Oh the bank
Of the Ohio. In this precipitate retire;
Colonel Field was killed. During this
time, which was till after y o'clnck itr
action continued extremely hot. The close
underwood, many steep banks, and l0gr
greatly favored their retreat, and the BRAY
est OF their men made the lest use o
them, whilst others were throwing theil
dead into the Ohio and carrying off THEN
wounded.
after II the action in a small degree
abated, but continued, except at short in
teryais, sha.p enough, till after O'Clock.
Their long retreat gave them a most ad-
Eantageous spot of ground, from whence
it appeared to the officers SO difficult t.
dlStodge them that it was thought most
advisable TO stand as the line was then
formed, which was about mile and a
quarter in length, and had sustained till
then a constant and equal weight of the
action from wing to wing. It was til
about half an hour of sunset they con.
tinued firing shots, which we retained t.
their. disadvant ge. A length, night CON-
ing on. they found q safe retreat.
"Ibey had not the satisfaction of carry
iliSo va VI Jul IlGli . SCGtIDS, Save one
OF two stragglers, whom they killed before
the engagement. Many of their dead they
scalped rather than we should have them.
but our troops scalped upwards of twenty
OF their men that were first killed. 1t is
beyond doubt their loss i'll number far ex-
ceeded ours, which is considerable.
THE return of the killed and wounded
III the above battle same as our last.''
The above WAS copied from the Belfast
News Letter. of from january 18th to
January 18th, 1775.
Looking further, to see if [ could find
additional particulars Of the battle, found
the following letter, from which it will be
seen that the Governor had been to the
had concluded a treaty of peace
with the Indians, and was returning to
he capital of the State, then at Williams
0urg:
AMERICA, WILLIAMSBURG IN VA,
December /, 1774.
1--WE have it from good authority that
his EXcellency, the Governor, is OH his
way to this capital, having concluded :,
peace with tire several tribes of Indians
hat have been at War with us, and taken
hostages Of them for their faithful COM
dying with the terms of it, the principal
II which are that they shall totally aban
Ion the lands on this side of the Ohio
winch river is to be the boundary between
h, m and the white people,, and never
more take up the Ratchet against the En-
slfsh. Thus in little more than the
pace Of five months an end is put to war
which pOrtended much trouble and mis-
thief 60 the inhabitants 0U the frontier,
,Wing to the zeal and good conduct Of the
Ulcers and commanders who went out in
heir country'S defence, and the bravery