The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-03
SIEGE OF FORT HENRY.
The GuupOwder Exploit.

| LII w AoiiJ AshotSAH Va
July q, 1876, an article appeared over
the signature of "Investigator." accom-
panied by statement of Lyt ID S Cruger,
in regard to the gunpowder xploit, the
object of which was, to elicit Information
| on the one single point, as to whether
Molly Scott, to whom Mrs. Cruger gives
the credit OF this memorable ieat, had
eWAr declined the honor of the same in
favor of Elizabeth Zane, as had by some
been alleged. 1t was believed that on
this point hinged final settlement Of
the question. But, to the said commune
cation in the REGISTER, no response has
been made, which, in the opinion OF the
writer, warrants the conclusion,
that no satisfactory response can
be made; in other words, that Molly
Scott never made any such concession in
favor of Elizabeth Zane rs that which
has been imputed to her. This view Of
the case receives further confirmation
from the circumstance that Mr.. De Hass,
| in his account of the border wars, pub
lishei, perhaps, twenty years ago, makes
no allusion whatever to any such waiver
on the part of Molly Scott; but had there
been such, he would undoubtedly have
heard of it during the progress of his
Investigations, and would have referred
| toit in his work.
1t seems to be generally conceded that
there was second siege of Fort Henry,
which took place IN 1882. BY Mr.. Kier-
nan the powder exploit is assigned 10 the
siege of l777; by Mrs. Cruger to that
of 1882. Now it may be suggested
that Mr.. Kiernan may have fallen into an
error in assigning the feat to the former
rather then he latter siege. On this
point, Mrs. Cru .er speaks positively, that
it took l,lace in 1882; that her father,
Captain Boggs, being at that time com
mandant ol the fort, but temporarily
absent hunting up recruits; that she was
not only an eyewitness, but to some
exte.t, an actor in the transaction, and,
of course, mad every opportunity OF
knowing the truth OF what she affirmed.
In 1777 the Indians burned all the
houses outside of the fort, and, according
to De Hass, Col. Ebenezer Zane resolved,
THAI should the savages again visit the
settlement, he would remain IN his house
and perish, sooner then abandon it TO
the torch of the enemy. On the reappear-
ance of the Indians in 1882, under the
lead, AS is said by some, of George Girty
A brother of Simon, Col. Zane continued
at his house, and declared his fixed de-
termination to defend it to the last.
| With some members of bis family, his
brother Slas, and a few others, he did so;
land 50 constantly did they keep up the
fire against the enemy, that they were
slow TO approach within range OF the
guns
Mr.. Herman speaks of keg of pow
der having been left in the Zane house
during the siege of I'LL. But why
should it have been left there2 Why
was it not in the store-house within the
stockade, which was the proper place for
the ammunition, especially as the Zane
house was not defended at the siege of
I777? Besides, during the attack of l777,
a part of the Indians occupied Zane's
ward, and fought under cover of
the "paling fence" or course they
had easy access to the house, and would
almost certainly have discovered and
confscated the powder; but we read OF
nothing of the kind, nor yet OF an ex-
| plosion when the house was burned.
Mr.. Herman says, in III, the east
gate was the only gate of the stockade;
but Mrs. Cruger speaks OF a southern
gate, in 1882, and it was by this gate,
she says that Molly Scott entered the
fort after she left the Zane house; and
this is the more likely as the Zane house
was in a southeasterly direction from the
| fort.
With the foregoing facts we'll under
stood, it is an easy matter to conceive
that the defenders of the Zane house,
on the failure of their powder, should
have dispatched a messenger
TO the fort, and that she would aim Tor
the southern gate; and this is in exact
agreement with the testimony OF Mrs.
Cruger, who says that such a messenger
was sent, that she entered and returned
by the southern gate, that she Mrs.
Cruger) put the powder into her lap, and
that the said messenger "wss none other
tasn Molly Scott" The inference, there
fore in favor Of the truth Of Mr.. Cru
gers statement, when all the facts pre-.
sented in this and former articles are
considered, would seem to be almost IRE
sistable.
The writer would only say, in conclu-
sion, that in attempting to vindicste the
truth of Mrs. Cruger's statement he has
been governed by the single motive OF
wishing ito maintain the truth and jus
tice of history" desiring, at the same
time, 10 ascribe all honor justly due tC
Elizabeth Zane and her noble and heroic
family. 1svEsrIoAToR.
The Meilte NaEutres.
PITTSBURGH, August 2-SiI tenemen,