Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-11
A HEROINE.

named IN honor of The great Vir
gina orator and patriot, Patricl
Henry.
On the morning of the 1st o
September, l777, a scout appeared
at the tort, announcing the nea
approach of the dreaded SimUr
Gnty with a large band of savages
Having the nght before received
an int;mation of danger from an
Indian raid, the families of The
settlers had removed to the fort.
The f)rt at this time was but
lightly garrisOned, a portion of it
forces having been sent to re
enforce posts that were more ex
posed, they being in no apprehen
sion of danger from British Oh
Indian toes. 1t was In charge o.
Colonel Sheppard,
Thedwelling of Colon el Ebenezel
Zane stood about 60 yards distant
from the pslisade. In this build
ing we're stored supplies of various
kluds, which it was very desirable
to preserve, aud, the house Oc
cupying a favorable position &c
aid in resisting the attack, it was
decided to make the defense from
both points. In the dwelling
when the attack was made, there
we're bat eight persons, fOnr mer
aud women, including the negro
cook and his wife.
The first attack was made upon
a recOnnOitering party under the
command OF Captain Mason. Tue
indians were ambnshed a short
distance from the fort and fell up
on the little band without a nom
ent's warning. More than one
hall of them perished. Captain
Ogle, with ~ men. hurrled out to
assistance of Mason, and only four
OF his men ever returned. The
others were ruthlessly butchere0
by bullets and tomahawk. Tb'
garrison was now reduced to a
mere handful of determined defen'
ders, mostly young men. They
numbered about u, with tbC
brave Colonel Sheppard an(
Ebenezer and Silas Zane at thei
head.
The women and children were
huddled together inside the pickets
overwhelmed with griet and fear,
for all hope for the safety of the
tort now seemed lost. At thii
critical moment Simon Girty ap
peared with a white flag ant
demanded the unconditional sur
render OF the fort. Although th'
besiegers out numbered thItytOld
the Indians numbering over 800,
the belea guered garrison resolved
to resist, for they well knew wha'
their fate would be If they fell in
to the hands of the treacherouS
flend, Girty. Colonel Slcppar
promptly told the scOundrel that
tue fort would never be surren
dered to hun nor to any other maj
while there vas a persOA left t.
defend it.
Glrty became enraged an(
ordered an attack. "Glrty," salt
the histrian Losing, was the Ol
spring OF crime. His father wa
settler in Pennsylvania, al
outlaw and a sot, and bis mOthe
was disgrace to her SEX" SImou
with his two brothers, when youth
were captured by tue Indians
His brother James was adopted b.
the Delawares and became th'
6eIcest savage OF the tribe. Slmo
was adopted 10y the Senecas, be
came great hunter and fually
powerful leader among the Indian
exercising his innate wickednes
to the fullest extent and declariu
eternal enmity toward bis ow
J race. For many years the nam
OF Sin on Glrty was a terror to th
, settlers of the northwest. He wa
as bloodthirsty and unTe'entlng d
/ a tiger, excelIing the savages
the crudelty he inflicted npontho:
who fell into his clutches. Ma
and female, old age and helple'
infancy, snffered alike.
The b. siegers for several houl
kept up an Intellectual fire again
3 the fort and dwelling from Il
cabins in which they were shelte
ed. Whenever redskin shove
himself, the never failing rifle
the sharpshooter was sure to bril
him dogn. Several times tue l