Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-04
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY.
CHAPTER I.
LNnIAN w A r S

From the best evidence the
author has been able to obtain,
and to this end he has devoted
much time and research, the settle
ment of our fine and beautiful val
lex commenced in the year l732,
about one hundred and twenty-five
wears from the FIRST settlement in
Virginia. Before going into a de-
tail of the first immigration to and
improvement of the Valley, the
Ilauthor believes it will not be un'
interesting to the general reader,
10 have a brief history of the long
and bloody wars carried on be-
tween contending tribes of Indians.
Tradition relates that the Della
ware and Catawba tribes were en-
gagged in war at the time the VAL
lev was first known by the white
people, and that that war was con
tinued for many years after our
section of country became pretty
numerously inhabited by the white
settlers.
shall commence with nara
tive of Indian battles fought on
the CohongorutOn.(a) Atthe mouth
of Antietam, a small creek on the
MARYLAND side of the river, a most
bloody affair took place between
parties of the Catawba and Della
ware tribes. This was probably
about the year 1886. The Della.
wares had penetrated pretty far to
/ the south, committed some acts oI
outrage on the Catawbas, and Oh
their retreat were overtaken at the
mouth of this creek, when a des
perate conflict ensued. Every man
of the Delaware party was put tC
death, with the exception OF one
who escaped after the battle was
over, and every Catawba held ur
a scalp but one. This was a dis
grace not to be borne; and he in
stantly gave chase to the fugitive,
overlook himI at the Susquehanna
river, "a distance little short of one
hundred miles, killed and scalped
him. and returning, showed his
scalp to several white people, and
exulted in what he had done.(b)
Another most bloody battle was
fought at the, mouth Of Conoco-
cheague,(c) on Friends land, in
which bat one Delaware escaped
death, and he ran in to Friends
house, when the family shut the
door, and kept the Catawbas ont,
by which means the poor fugitive
was saved.(d)
There is also tradition, and
there are evident signs of the fact,
of another furious battle fought at
what is called the Slim Bottom on
Wappatomaka,(e) (the ancient In
dian name of the Great South
Branch Of the Potomac,l about
one and half miles from Its
mouth. At this place there are
several large Indian graves, near
what is called the Painted Rock
On this rock is exhibited the shape
Of a man with large blotch, in
tended, probably, to represent Z
man bleeding to death. The stain
it appeared to the author, wal
made with human blood. The tol
Of the rock projects over the pain
ted part so as to protect 1t iron
the wAshings of the rains, and i
on the east side of the rock. How
long the stain Of human bloo'
would remain visible in a position
like this, the author cannot preten'
to express an opinion; but he wei
recellects the late Gen. Isaac Ian
informed him that the Indian
beat out the brains Of an iDfan
(near his old iron works. against
A rock, and the stain Of the bloc
vas plainly to be seen about tort
years afterwards. In this battle
is said but one Delaware escaped
. and he did so by leaping into th
river, diving under the water, an
continuing to swim until he crosse
the Cohongoruton'O
A great battle between thes
hostile tribes, it is said, was tough
at what ~ called the Hanglu
Rocks, on the Wappatomaka, i
. the county of Hampshire, wher
y the river passes through the mooI
/. tain. (g) A pretty large party OF I'll
T. (a) Cobongoruton is the ancient lndi'
name Of tho Potomac, from its junctiC
r. With the Shenandoah to the Anegai
= mountain. 81 Lord FairfaS, In his gran
q for land on this water course, designate
II Potomac by which means it gradual
o. lost its ancient name. and now is gene
: sily known by no other name. Maj.
Be1linrer writes the name OF this nv
n Cobopgolute. 1t is, however, written
= the act laying Of the comfy of Frederic
70 10 1893, Cohongoruton.
T. NJ, This tradition was related to t
K anthor by Capt. James Glenn, Of Jeh'
)r son county, now upwards Of 70 years
age and confirmed by the venerable in
:. Tomiinson. near Cumberland, Maryian
now " years old iai.
(o) Mr. Tomiinson is Of opinion this
=, fair took place at the month of t
X I'd Capt James Glenn, confirmed
=. Mr.. Tomlinsou, except as to the place
hattie. ....
~ (eA The name of this water course
- Lord Fairfar's ancient grants is WRIT
W wappatomac hut Mr.. Heath and ,
Blue both stated that the proper nal
90. .Wannatomaka.