Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-01-29

was in fact the fiery red-cross and
harbinger of war, as in days OF
wore among the Scottish clans
That this was the fact is Think
absolutely certain, because no men
ton is made in Connoly's letter OF
this affair, which certainly would
not have been omitted, If prece-
dent to his letter.
This letter produced its natural
results. The people fed into forts
and put themselves into a posture
of defence, and the tocsin OF war
resounded from Laurel hill to the
banks of the Ohio. Capt. Cresap,
who was peaceably at this time
emploved in building house and
improving lands Oh the OHIO, re-
ceiyed this letter, accompanied, 1t
| is believed, with a conhmatory
message from Col. Crogham ana
Mai. Niece, Indian agents and H.
terpreters (a) and he thereupon
Immediately broke up his camp,
and ascende ed the river to Wheel
ing fort, the nearest place OF safe
ty, from whence it is believed he
intended speedily to return home !;
but during his stay at this place,
report was brought into the fort
that two Indians were coming
down the river. Capt. Cresap, sup
posing from every circumstances
and the general aspect OF affairs,
that war was inevitable, and in fact
already begun, went up the river
with his party and two of his men,
of the name of Chenoweth and
Brothers, killed these two Indians.
Beyond controversy this IS the
only circumstance in the history
of this Indian war, in which his
name can in the remOtest degree
be identified with am measure
tending to produce this war and
it is certain that the guilt or innO-
cence of this affair will appear
from its date. 1t is notorious, then
that those Indians were killed not
only after Capt. Crcsap had re
ceived Connoly's letter, and after
Buffers men were killed in the
canoe, but also after the affair at
Yellow creek, and after the people
had fed into forts. But more of
this herafter, when we take up Mr..
Doddrige and his book ; simply,
however, remarking here, that this
affair of killing these two Indians,
has the same aspect and relation to
Dunmore's war that the battle OF
Lexington has to the war of the re-
vOlutiOn.
But to proceed. Permit US to
remark, that it is very difficult at
this late period to form q correct
idea of these times, unless we can
bring distinctly into view the real
state of our frontier. The inhabi-
tants ofthe western country were at
this time thinly scattered from the
Allegany mountain to shc eastern
banks of the Ohio, and most thinly
near that river.-In this state of
things, it was natural to suppose
that the few settlers in the vicinity
of Wheeling, who had collected in
to that fort, would feel extremely
sOlicitous to detain captain Cresap
and his men as long as possible,
especially until they could see on
what point the storm would fall
Capt. Cresap, the son of a hero, and
hero himself, felt for their situa-
alton; and getting together few
more men in addition to his own,
and not rehshing the limits Of a
little fort, nor a life Of inactivity,
set out on what was called Il scout.
ing party, that is, to reconnolter
and scour the frontier border: and
while out and engaged IN this bus
mess, fell in with aud had a run
ming fight with a party of Indians
nearly about his equal in numbers,
when one Indian was killed, and
Cresap had one man wOuded. This
affair took place somewhere on the
banks of the Ohio. DOddridge says
1t was ut the mouth of Captina A:
be it so-it matters not but he
adds, il was on the same day the
Indians were killed in the canoe.
In this the doctor j. most egregi-
ously mistaken, as ! shall prove
hereafter.
But may We not ask, what were
these Indians doing here at this
time, on the banks OF the Ohio !
They had no town near this place,
nor was it their hunting season, as
it was about the Sth or 10th Of May
Is it not then probable, nay almost
certain, that this struggling bap'
ditti were prepared and ready to
fall on some parts Of our exposed
frontier, and that their dispersion
saved the lives of many helpless
women and children ?
But the old prOverb, cry mdd.dog
and Kill him ! is, suppose, equal
! ly as applicable to heroes as to
dogs.
Capt. Cresap soon after this re
turned to his family in Maryland
but feeling most senslbIy for the
| inhabitants OIL the frontier in theiI
nerilons situation. Immediately