Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-02
CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.
COsHoCTON CAMPAIGN.
This campaign took place in the
summer OF 1880, and was directed
against the Indian villages at the
forks of the Muskingum.
The. place of rendezvous was
Wheeling the number of regulars
and militia about eight hundred.
From Wheeling they made rapid
march, by the nearest route to the
place of their destination. When
the army reached the river a little
below Salem, the lower MOraVian
town, Col. BrOadhead sent an eX-
press to the missionary of that
place, the Rev. John Heckewelder,
informing him of his arrival in his
neighborhoOd, with his army, re-
questing a small supply of pro-
visions, and visit from him, in his
camp. When the missionary ar
rived at the camp, the general in
formed him of the object Of the
expedition he was engaged in, and
inquired of him whether any of the
christian Indians we're hunting, or
engaged in business in the direc-
tion of his march. On being an
swered in the negative, he stated
that nothing would give him
greater pain than to hear that any
of the Moravian Indians had been
molested by the troops, as these
Indians had always, from the com
mencement of the war, conducted
themselves in a manner that did
them honor.
A part of the militia had resolv.
cd on going up the river to destroy
the Moravian villages, but were
prevented from executing their
project by Gen. Broadhead and
Col, Shepherd of Wheeling.
At whits-eye's plain, a few miles
from Coshocton, an Indian prisoner
was taken. Soon afterwards two
moro Indians were discovered, one
of whom was wounded, but both
made their escape.
The commander, knowing that
these two Indians would make the
utmost dispatch in going to the
town, to give notice Of the approach
of the army, ordered rapid march,
in the midst of a heavy fall Of rain,
to reach tho town before them, and
take it by surprise. The plan sue
ceeded. The army reached the
place in three divisions. The right
and left wings approached the
river a little above and below the
town, while the centre marched
directly upon it. The whole mum
Der of the Indians in the village,
on the east side of the river, to-
gether with ten or twelve from a
little village some distance above,
were made prisoners without firing
a single shot. The river having
risen TO a great height, owing to
the recent fall OF rain, the army
could not cross it. Owing to this,
the villages with their inhabitants
on the west side of the river es.
capped destruction.
Among the prisoners, sixteen
warriors were pointed out by
/ Pekillon, a friendly Delaware chief,
who was with the army of Broad
head.
A little after dark, council Of
war was held to determine on the
fate of the warriors in custody.
They were doomed to death, and
By the order of the commander
we're bound, taken little distance
below the town, and dispatched
with tomahawks and spears, and
scalped.
Early the next morning, an In.
dian presented himself on the OPP
posite bank of the river and asked
for the big captain. Broadhead
presented himself, and asked the
Indian what he wanted. To which
he replied, 81 want peace" "Send
over some of your Chiefs" said
Broadhead. "May be you KILL"
said the Indian. He was answered,
"They shall not be killed." One OF
the chiefs, a well looking man, came
over the river and entered into
conversation with the commander
In the street; but while engaged
in conversation, man Of the name
of Wetzel came up behind him,
with tomahawk concealed in the
bosom of his hunting shirt, and
struck him on the back of his head.
| lie fell and instantly expired.
About eleven or twelve o'clock,
the army commenced its retreat
from CoshoctOn. Gen. Broadhead
committed the care of the prisoner
to the militia. They we're about
twenty in number. Aftor march.
ing about half n mile, the men
commenced killing them. In
short time they were all dispatch
ed, excebta few women and chill.
dren, who were spared and taken
to Fort Pitt, and after sometime
exchanged for an equal number of
their prisoners.
CHAPTER XII.