Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-23


! that the intelligence Of their approach
had been received, and that surprise
or ambuscade was impossible, they
boldly and quietly went forward.
4 The beseiging host numbered 40
British soldiers under the command OF
Capt Pratt, and 260 Indian warriors
commanded by Geo. Girty. They
quickly formed lines around the gar
1 rison, and advancing their colors made
demand for the surrender of the fort.
j This was promptly refused. and the
refusal emphasized by the firing of
several shots at their standard by order
of Silas Zane.
4 The Indians Immediately opened fire
upon the fort, and rushed forward TO
the assault with great impetuosity.
They were met by brisk and we'll di-
rected fire from the garrison and Col.
Zane's house, which soon drove them
bcak in confusion. Rallying their hosts
they again rushed forward and were
again repulsed.
j Both the fort and the house were
well supplied with arms, and the great
exertion of the women in moulding
bullets. loading guns and handing them
out to the men, enabled them to fire as
rapidly, yet effectively, as to supply in
some measure their lack in number
and caused the Indians to recoil from
every charge. The fort had also
small cannon, mounted as swivel gun,
which was a very efficient aid in re-
i polling attacks. The enemy, it is said,
h at first took it to be wooden dummy,
intended to deceive and keep them at
respectful distance. But when the
swivel began to fire into their ranks,
Capt. Pratt called to his men at the
first shot to stand clear, for this was
no make-believe gun.
The fire from Col Zane's house had
also been very CALLING. 1t occupied
Just the position to afford the greatest
service to the beseiged garrison, as at
every attempt to assault or storm the
fort, the enemy were met with a hot
enfilading fire that was both destruc-
tive and demoraiizing to the assailants.
Taught prudence by the severe recep-
ton they had met in the assault, the
enemy retired back to the base of the
hill. where, under the protection of
the forest, they maintained steady
fire upon the fort until darkness inter-
vened.
So severely, however, had they suf-
fered from the fire poured into them
from Col Zanes house, that they took
advantage of the darkness to steal up
! to set it on fire. For this purpose
when all was quietness, a savage with
a firebrand in his hand crawled to the
kitchen, and raising himself from the
| ground, waving the torch to and fro to
rekindle its fame, was about to apply 1t
to the building, when he received shot
which forced him to let it fall and hob
Bile away. The vigilance of Col.
| Zane's negro man, Sam, thwarted his
purpose.
About twelve o'clock at night, how
ever, under cover of thick darkness,
they made furious assault upon the
pickets to capture the place by storm.
Swarming up to the gates, and filling
! the night with their fearful yells, they
rushed hard upon the palisades, ex-
pecting through the breach, to massa-
ere the brave and gallant defenders
of the fortress. But their purpose fail
ed of success, The pickets resented
he attempt to break this down, and
the rapid and we'll directed fire from
the garrison and house caused them
!
storm were made during the night, the
men of the garrison keeping to their.
guns, end the noble women discharg-
ing all the duties of soldiers with the
| spirit and alacrity of true heroines the
whole night through.
| During the firing of the preceding
day, boat carrying cannon balls
from Fort Pitt to the Falls of Ohio
put to shore, and the person in charge
escaped up the steep bank from the
Ohio river to the postern gate
and was admitted. He proved to
be Daniel Sullivan, and though
wounded in the foot, aided materially
. in the defense. The Indians took the
cannon balls, and finding hollow log
Of suitable diameter, bound it with
iron chains taken from a neighboring
blacksmith shop, improvised a can
non. This they loaded heavily. and
pointing it at the fort, applied
torch. A fearful explosion followed,
but instead of demolishing the fort, it
only wrought disaster to themselves.
as several of the bystanders were
killed.
| When Lynn gave the alarm that an
| Indian army was approaching, the
|. fort having been unoccupied by a gar
rison, and Col. Zane's house being
used as a magazine, those who had
retired into the fortress had to take
with them a supply OF ammunition for
its defense. The supply of powder,
| deemed ample at the time by reason
of the long continuance of the siege
and the repeated endeavors of the
i savages to storm the fort was almost
! exhausted. In this emergency it be-
come necessary to replenish their
| stock from the abundance of that ar
| ticle in Col. Zane's k0use.
| During the continuance of the last
assault, appraised of its insecurity and
aware of the danger which would in
| evitably ensue should the savages af-
ter again being driven back, return to
| the assault before a fresh supply
could be obtained, it was proposed
! that one of the feetest men should en-
| deavor to reach the house. obtain a
keg and return with 1t to the fort. 1t
was an enterprise full of danger, but
many of the chivalric spirits then in
the fortress were willing to encounter
| it all.
Among those who volunteered to go
| on this enterprise was Elizabeth, the
younger sister of Col. Zane. She was
| then young, athletic and active with
! precipitaney of dare danger, and for