Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-12
CHAPTER w.
WAPPATOMICA CAMPAIGN.

OhAI I1lb "
WAPPATOMCA CAMPAIGN.
Under the command Of Col. An
gus MDonald, four hundred men
we're collected from the western
part of Virginia by theordec OF the
Earl of Dunmore, the then govern
or of Virginia. The place OF rem
devious was Wheeling, sOme time
in the month of June, 177i. They
went down the river in boats and
canoes to the mouth of Captlna,
from thence by the shortest route
to Wappatomica town, about SIX
teen miles below the present Co
shoctOn. The pilots were Jonathan
Zane. Thomas Nicholson and Tady
Kelly. About six miles from the
town, the army were met by a party
OF Indians, to the number OF forty or
fifty, who gave a skirmlsh by the
way OF ambuscade, in which two OF
our men we're killed and eight or
nine wounded. One Indian WAS
killed and several wounded. 1t was
supposed that several more of thom
were killed, bot they were carried
OF. When the army came to the
town, it was found evacuated. The
Indians had retreated to the oppO-
site shore of the river, whore they
had formed an ambnscade, suppos-
ing the party would cross the river
from the town. This was immedi-
ately discovered. The command
ing officer then sent sentinels mp
and down the river, to give notice,
in case the Indians should attempt
to cross above or below the town.
A private in the company OF Capt.
Cresap, of the name Of John Har-
nesr, one of the sentinels below the
town, displayed the skill Of back
woods sharpshooter. Seeing an In
dian behind blind across the river,
raising mp his head, at times, to
look over the river, Harness charged
his rifle with a second ball, and tax
ing deliberate aim, passed both
balls through the neck Of the In
dian. The Indians dragged Of tho
body and buried it with the honors
Of war. 1t was found the next
morning and scalped by Harness.
Soon after the town was taken,
the Indians from the opposite shore
sued for peace. The commander
offered them peace on condition OF
their sending over their chiefs as
hostages. Five of them came over
the river and were put under guard
as hostages. In the morning they
we're marched in front Of the army
over the river. When the party
had reached the western bank OF
the Muskingum, the Indians repre-
sented that they could not make
peace without the presence Of the
chiefs OF the other towns: on which
one Of the chiefs was released to
bring in the others. He did not
| return in the appointed time. An.
other chief was permitted to go on
the same errand, who in like man
ner did not return. The party then
moved up the river to the next town,
which was about a mile above the
frat, and on the opposite shore
Here we had a slight skirmlsh With
the Indians, in which one OF them
was killed and ono Of our men
wounded. 1t was then discovered
that during all the time spent in the
negotiation, the Indians were en-
| ployed IN removing their women
and children, old people and effects,
from the upper towns. The towns
we're burned aud the corn cut up
| The party then returned to the
place from which they sat out
bringing with them the three re-
naming chiefs, who were sent tc
| Williamsburg. They were released
at the peace the succeeding fall.
The army were out Of provisions
before they left the towns, and hac
to subsist on weeds, one ear of corr
each day, with a very scanty sup
ply OF game. The corn was OBJ
tanned at one Of the Indian towns