Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-25

! NOlh, hOIio il"'i ""''"~
taken of this distinguished warrior.
There was another great Indian
warrior called "Crane;' but the
author has not been able to collect
any particular traditionary accounts
of the feats performed by him.
In the year l757. n numerous
body of Indians crossed the Allega-
nv, and, as usual, divided them
selves into small parties, and hover
ing about the different forts, com
mitted many acts of murder and
destruction of property. About
thirty or forty approached Ed
wards fort, (a) on Capon river,
killed two men at a small mill, took
of parcel of corn meal, and re-
treating along a path that led be-
tween a stream of water and a
steep high mountain, they strewed
the meal in several places on their
route. Immediately between this
path and the stream is an abrupt
bank, seven or eight feet high, and
of considerable length, under
which the Indians concealed them
selves, and awaited the approach
of the garrison. Forty men under
the command of Capt. Mercer,
sailed out, with the intention of
pursuing and attacking the enemy.
But oh fatal Mercer's party, dis
covering the trail of meal, suppos-
ed the Indians were making a
speedy retreat, and, uDapprlsed OF
their strength, moved on at a brisk
step, until the whole line was
drawn Immediately over the line of
Indians under the bank, when the
latter discharged a most destruc-
tive fire upon them, sixteen falling
dead at the first fire. The others
attempting to save themselves by
flight, we're pursued and slaughter
ed in every direction, until, out OF
the forty, but six got back to the
fort. One poor fellow, who ran
up the side of the mountain, was
fired at by an Indian; the ball
penetrated Just above his heel,
ranged up his leg, sbivering the
bones, and lodged a little below
his knee: he slipped under the lap
of a fallen tree, there hid himself,
and lay in that deplorable situa-
ton for two days and nights before
he was found by his friends, it be
ing that length of time before the
people at the fort would venture
out to collect and bury the dead.
This wounded man recovered, and
lived many years after, though he
was a cripple from his wOnnd.-
! Capt. George Smith, who now re-
sides on Back creek, informed the
author that he was well acquainted
with him.
Sometime afterwards, the In
dlans, in much greater force, and
aided, it was believed, by several
Freuchmen in person, determined
to carry this fort by storm. The
garrison had been considerably
reinforced among others, by the
late Gen. Daniel Morgan, then a
young man. The Indians made
the assault with great boldness /;
but on this occasion they met with
sad reverse of fortune. The
garrison sailed ont, and desper-
ate battle ensued. The assailants
were defeated with great slaughter,
while the whites lost comparatively
but few men.
The remains of a gun of high fn-
ish, ornamented with silver mount
ing and gold touch hole, were plow'
ed up near the battle ground about
forty years ago. 1t was supposed
to have belonged to French Off
Ger. Part of bomb shell was also
found. Morgan in this action per
formed his part with his usual in
trepidity, caution and iirmness, and
doubtless did much execution.(b)
Other parties of Indians pene
trated into the neighborhOOd o
Winchester, and killed several peo
pie about the Round hill among
others a man by the name o
, Flaugherty, with hiswife. Several
inmates of a family by the name o
MCracken, on Back creek, about
; twelve miles from Winchester, wer'
killed, and two of the daughter
taken off as prisoners. They, how
; ever, got back, after an absence O
three or four years. Mr. Levi
Neil informed the author that h
=. saw and conversed with these VIC
men on the subject of their captlv
}, ty after their return home. JacO
Havely and several of bis famll
were killed near the present res
= dence of Moses Russell, Esq, a
the eastern base OF the North mour
tain, fifteen or sixteen miles south
i west of Winchester. Dispennel
and several of his family and Nanc
and his wife, (c) were also several
killed by the same party of Indians
p in the same neighborhOod.
The late respectable and intellI
gent Mrs. Rebecca Brinker. VIII
(a) Edwards fort was located on Ia
!, west side of Capon river, not more tina
I three quarters of q mile above where th
, stage road from Winchester to Romne
cross the river.
; 10 Mr.. William Carlile, now ninety
4 G,.. ,a,ra of a0a and who residos pea