The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-10-28


panies Of Virginia troops mostly
from what was then Augusta coun.
" and commanded by Capts. John
Stewart, William Arbuckls and
James Hall composed the garrison
at the time.
The day after the arrival Of the
son two Of Capt. Halls men went
below the Kanawha river for the
purpose Of hunting and when about
to cross the river on their return,
were fred upon by a band Of In.
dians in ambush and one Of the
soldiers fell; the other ran to the
waters edgeand cried for assistance.
A number Of his comrades hasten.
ed over in a canoe and with him
brought the bleeding and scalped
body Of their unfortunate comrade.
Enraged at his death and believing
that ii had been caused by sayages
who had accompanied Ellinipsico,
they ran into the fort and murder.
ed both father and son.
Upon receiving intelligence Of
the brutal murders Patrick Henry,
virginia's War Governor Of the
Revolution and the frat Of the
Commonwealth, offered a reward
for the apprehension Of the muir.
deres, but without effect. That
he did this, has from that time to
the present been a matter of his.
tory, but Notwithstanding writers
have, either through ignorance, or
an intention to tarnish the fair
fame Of the grand old Common.
wealth, asserted that no effort was
made to punish the murderers,-
Let US see if more was done than
the Offering of o reward. During q
two years sojourn in the "old Do.
minion" | had the opportunity Of
travelling over nearly every portion
Of the State and my business re.
quired me to make thorough ex.
animation Of old records, both Of
church and state. For this pur.
pose, l some time since visited
Lexington, the seat Of Justice for
Rockbridge county, and through
the kindness Of Capt. P. Moore,
clerk Of the court the early records
were placed before me.
The first examined was the "Or.
der Book, containing a recordo Of the
organization Of the county april
8, IT'D together with the proceed.
ings of the early courts. In the
minutes of the second term are sew
eral entries which must prove Of
interest to every student Of pio,
neer annals, if for no other reason
that they contain a yindication of
the honor ofthe old Coumon wealth,
during the first years Of her exist
ence and show that notwithstand.
ing the ravages of her coast line by
the armed legions of Britain she
was making an effort to punish
wrong even though it be on her
distant frontier.
"At a court held this day april
10, l778) in the second year of the
commonwealth forthe examination
of Captain james Hall who stands
bound in reCognizance for his ap.
pearanCe, charged with suspicion
of felony in being concerned in the
murder of the Cornstalk Indian,
his son Ellinipsico, Redhawk and
another chief Of the Indians on the
10th day Of November last. Then
was present Charles Campbell,
Samuel Lyle, Alexander Stewart
and John Trimble, gentlemen
The above named james Hall ap.
peared and upon examination de.
MED the facts with which he was
charged; whereupon the sheriff pro
claimed who could give evidence
against the prisoner in behalf Of
the commonwealth, to appear and
do the same, but none appeared
The court were Of the opinion that
the said james Hall be further
bound to appear before a court to
be held for his examination on the
2Sth day Of this instant, which he
agreed to and entered into recogniz
anCo accordingly"
AT the appointed time he again
appeared, was placed on trial and
acquitted. Similar entries appear,
showing that Hugh Galbraith, Nal
colin MCCown and William Rowan
were each tried on the same charge
and acquitted.
An hundred and eight years
have passed away since that bloody
days work within the walls of old
Fort Randolph at the mouth Of the
Great Kanawha but despite the
storm Of war and the flight OIL