Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-03-26

son John. Alter crossing the Ohio
they were doomed to part. The In
dians separated into several parties,
dividing all the prisoners. Mrs.
Gilmore and John fell to one party
and her two daughters to another.
The last she ever heard of them was
their heartrendering cries as they
were torn from her. No intelligence
was ever received in regard to their
fate. After some time the mother
and son were also parted
She being sold to French traders
was carried to Fort Pitt, while her
little boy was left with the Shawnees.
John was afterwards redeemed and
brought back to Jackson'S River by
Jacob Warwick, where he remained
until his mother was also brought
back, and mother and son once more
embraced each other at the old home
from which they had been ruthlessly
torn about three years before.
After passing through so many
trying scenes, John settled, lived
and died on the old homestead where
his son William G. Gilmore now
lives.
"A number of others were eventu-
ally sought out and brought back to
their friends. Among the number
was Mary Hamilton who had a child
in her arms when the attack was
made at the spring. In trying to
make her escape she hid the child in
a bunch of weeds, but she herself
was captured. On her return she
went to the place where she hid the
child and found the bones.
The most of those killed were
buried near the scene of action, and
near to the creek which in the long
course of time, has encrOached upon
the graves and washed number en-
tirely away. Some were buried
where the old graveyard is, near to
Mr.. McKee's and were the first to be
laid in that depository of the dead.
Another touching scene is to be re-
lated. When the captives had
crossed the Ohio river, the Indians
feeling elated at their success, re-
quested the captives to sing for them.
when, it was said, Mrs. Gilmore
struck up, with plaintive voice,
18th Psalm of Rouse's version, i'm
use then In all the churches. It's ap-
propriateness to their condition may
be seen from the two following
verses:
:" BY Babies stream we sat and wept,
When Zion we thought on;
In midst thereof we hanged our harps,
The willow tree thereon.
For there song requested they,
Who did us captive bring;
Our spoilers called for mirth and said,
A song Of Zion sing"
In closing the narrative ! have
been able to collect of these dark
and bloody days in the history of
our county, am satisfied if have
saved it from being entirely lost.
Many of the names and incidents
which would have been interesting,
are hopelessly lost. have tried to
present true statement of the facts |
as far as l have succeeded in gather
ing the material tor them. The ac-
count, imperfect as it is, may inter
est many aged persons, who have
heard their fathers and mothers talk |
Of it and it may remind the young,
of the trying times through which
our forefathers passed, in securing
for them, the peaceful homes they
now enjoy. l may further state. by
way of confirmation of what has
been written that / have submitted
these papers to Capt. VIM. G. Gill
more, a son of one of the captives
and who of course has heard much
all his life in relations to these mat
tiers and that the narrative as now
given meets with his entire appro-
bation.--B Bath County Ne,Cs.