The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-22

When CORVALLIS surrendered to Gem
eral washington at Yorktown. in oc-
tober Of 1881. the Revolution was prar-
tIcally ended and American indspend-
ence secured. But while this was the
state Of affairs east of the mountains,
here in the Ohio valley the British red-
cont and his red ally the In
dian, continued to haruss the
brave frontiersmen, who were push
ing the outpOsts of civilization
steadily westward. The news of
the disaster to the British arms soon
became known on the frontier, and
great was the rejoicing 1t caused Mt
Pittsburgh, Wheeling and other settle
ments. Likewise 1t reached the In
dams and created dIsmay everywhere.
In August 1852, a grand council of the
Indian hostlles was held at Chlllicothe,
Ohio. In which many tribes were rep
resented. Simon Gerty and Mckee, the
notorious renegades. took part in the
proceedings and counseled continued
operations against the whites. Girty
in particular was persistent in his
counseis. and eventually he won the
day. The result was the formation Of
two expeditions, one OF 600 warriors
against Kentucky. and the second OF
$50 to proceed against northwestern Vir-
ginia,, with wheeling as the objective
point. The Kentucky expedition was
carried out at once. and with success
but for some reason the enterprise
against Wheeling CFort Henry was
delayed. Finally, upon learning of the
success of the Kentucky raid the In
dian army set out for Wheeling.
About 3 o'clock on the afternoon OF
Wednesday, the 18th day of September
1852, says Caldwelrs "Hilstory of the
pan Handle" John Lynn, a celebrated
spy OF the border who had bcan en-
gagged in watching the paths northwest
Of the Ohio leading toward the
settlement, discovered a large force
of Indians marching with great
expedition toward wheeling. He has
tened Immediately to warn the inhab-
itants of the danger impending over
them, swimming the river and reach
ing the village but little while before
the savage army made its appearance.
In the absence OF t. :ssular garrison
the defense of the fort had been in
trusted to the militia residing in or
near the village, and those of the In
habltants who sought safety within Its
walls, under the direction of Colonel
Bbenezer Zane, in command of the
post.
Immediately dlspatchlng Captain
Boggs as an express messenger to warn
the neighboring settlements and solicit
relief and reinforcements for their sl'n-
der garrison, Colonel Zane directed
the settlers to repair Mt once to the fort
the command of which was coniided to
his brother. Colonel sllns Zane.
Col. EbenezerZGn retlrel Into his own
dwelling, which he had built FOR pnr-
poses OF defense rs well as for a resi-
dence. II stood at right angles with
the fort. distant some sixty yards to
the southeast, and was in structure
regular block house, with loop holes for
musketry. It contained the military
stores which had been furnished by the
government OF Virginia and the MILL
tary authorities OF the department, and
ms II was admirably situated as an out
post from which to annoy the savase1
in their onsets, he resolved ON main-
tnInUig possession of It, MS well as to
MD in defense of the fort, ns for the
preservation of the ammunition.
The Indians Appear.
So short was the time which elapsed
between the alarm Of Lynn aud the
appearance of the Indians that only
those who were Immediately present
were able to retire into the fort. The
hurry consequently did not permit the
bringing In of any Of the nelghborinE
inhabitants TO augment the garrison
and when the attack began there were
not more than twenty effective men
within It's walls to oppose the assaults
Of the besleglng host
Scarcely were the people OF the VII
lage gathered within the fortress be-
fore the savngeg appeared. Finding
from the movements around the fort
TINT Intelligence OF It's approach had
been received, and that surprise or
ambuscadc was impossible, the army
marched boldly and quickly forward.
As they came In sight OF the garrison
the red uniforms OF the British soldiers
were quickly dlscerned In the van, while