Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-12-18
a HEROINE.

In the year 1875 small pal1sade fort
was erected upon the site now occupied
surrounded by the cabins of the settlers
and was named in honor of the great
Virginia orator and patriot, Patrick
Henry.
On the morning of the 1st OF Sep
tember, 1777, scout appeared ut the
fort, announcing the near approach of
the dreaded Simon Girty with a large
band of savages Haying the night be-
fore received an intimation of danger
from an Indian raid, the families of
the settlers had removed to the fort.
The fort at this time was but lightly
garrisoned, a portion of its forces hay-
ing been sent to re-enforce posts that
were more exposed, they being in no
apprehension of danger from British or
Indian foes. 1t was In charge of Colo
mel Sheppard
The dwelling of Colonel EbeneZer
Zane stood about go yards distant from
the palisade. In this building were stor-
ed supplies of various kinds, which it
was very desirable to preserve, and, the
house occupying a favorable position to
aid in resisting the attack, itwas decid-
ed to make the defense from both points
In the dwelling, when the attack was
made, there were but eight persons,
four men and four women, including
the negro cook and his wife.
The first attack was made upon rec
onnoitering party under the command
of Captain Mason. The Indians were
ambushed short distance from the fort
and fell upon the little band without a
moments warning. More than one half
of them perished. Captain Ogle, with.
10 men, hurried out to the assistance of
Mason, and only four of his men ever
returned. The others were ruthlessly
butchered by bullet and tomahawk. Tho
garrison was now reduced to a mere
handful of determined defenders, most
ly young men. They numbered about
70, with the brave Colonel Sheppard
and Ebenezer and Silas Zane at their.
head.
The women and children were hud-
died together inside the pickets, over
whe1med with grief and fear, for all
hope for the safety of the fort now SEEM
ed lost. At this critical moment Simon
Girty appeared with white flag and
demanded the unconditional surrender
of the fort. Although the besiegers ont
numbered the besieged thirtyfold, the
Indians numbering over 800, the belea-
guered garrison resolved to resist, for
they we'll knew what their fate would
be if they fell into the hands of tho
treaoherous fend, Girty. Colonel Shep-
pard promptly told the scoundrel that
the fort would never be surrendered to
him nor to any other man while there
was q person left to defend it.
Girty became enraged and ordered an
attack. 'tGirty, said the historian Loss
ing, 'was the offspring OF crime. His
father was a settler in Pennsylvania,
an outlaw and sot and his mother
was disgrace to her sex Simon,
with his two brothers, when youths,
were captured by the Indians. His
brother James was adopted by the Del
awares and became the fiercest savage
of the tribe. Simon was adopted by the
Senecas, became q great hunter and
finally powerful leader among the In
dians, exercising his innate wickedness
to the fullest extent and declaring eter-
nal enmity toward his own race For
many years the name of Simon Girty
was terror to the settlers of the north
west He was as bIoodthirsty and unre-
lenting as tiger, excelling the saTnges
in the cruelty he inflicted upon those
who fell into his clutches. Male and
female, old age and helpless infancy,
suffered alike.
The besiegers for several hours kept
up an Intellectual fire against the fort
and dwelling from the cabins in which
they were sheltered. Whenever red
skin showed himself, the never failing
rife of the sharpshooter was sure to
bring him down. Several times the In
dians advanced upon the gate of the
palisade, hoping to be able to force it,
but each time were compelled to retreat
under CALLING fire. The few men in
the fort were enabled to keep up a con-
stant firing, for the women nodded the
bullets and loaded the guns as fast as
they could be used. Night coming on,
the firing ceased. QGietness now reign
ed, and the darkness became intense.
About midnight the attention of the
negro cook, Sam, was attracted by a
small stream of light that found its
way through a oreyice In the kitchen
wall from the outside. An investigation
revealed an Indian with lighted brand
endeavoring to set fire to the kitchen.
Sam, watching his chance, sent bullet
through his red hide
Early the following morning the In-
dians renewed the attack with much
vigm Having procured hollow maple
log, they converted it into a cannon,
binding it around solidly with chains
obtained from the houses of the set
tiers. After placing heavy charge of
I,czTIaT. IN II and 4311iITr, ~ 40 E1is
zle with cannon balls. captured the day
before from fatboat that was passing
down the river from Pittsburg, in great
triumph they conveyed it to within 60
or 20 yards of the fort and pointed It at
the gate. Then, with shouts of exulta-
tfm, which meant, We've got you
now, . they touched it of. no their ut-
ter amazement and consternation, the
log burst into thousand fragments
flying in every direction, killing and
wounding several Of their own number.
During all this time the rifiemen in
tho fort and dtIFal ling were picking them