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

fore. undertake only a slight ketch
Of some OF the prominent eveIs in
which they took part.
Previous to the treaty of Face
concluded by Col. Boduet With the
Indians in 1854, the Allegheny youn-
tains formed the boundary bt}ween
the white and savage races The
comparative tranquility which sue
ceeded this treaty led 10 the infnigra-
ton of many of the more advetturous
and enterprising people of firginia
and Maryland, who thronged Through
the defiles of the mountains 70 settle
on the fertile lands OF the Iononga-
hela and Chic rivers.
Prominent among the first settle
mentS were those OF Abraham Tegard
Capt. Michael Cresap and others at
Redstone Old Fort. now Brownsville,
Pa. in 1857, and the settlement at
Wheeling by Col. Ebenecer Zane and
his brother in 1863 In the early part
of the fall OF 176S, Col. Ebenezer Zane
reached the headwateYf OF Wheeling
creek, descended that stream to it's
junction with the Ohio and upon a
bright morning in September, he stood
upon the high bank of the Ohio above
the confluence of Wheeling creek, and
gazing upon the widespread landscape
of island, hill and river, his raptured
vision comprehended all. and more
than realized his most extravagant
expectations. The scene before him
was one of perfect repose. The morn
ing mist just lifted from the bosom Of
the calm, clear river was gliding up
ward revealing to the lone pioneer a
panorama of unsurpassed loneliness.
Not q breath of air disturbed the gilt
tering dewdrops which hung upon the
forest leaves, but all was tide unbrok-
en- stiffness of nature, save when an
occasional feathered songster sent his
shrill notes through the echoing vale.
He saw at glance the great advant-
age of the point, and at once resolved
to make there his home.
The success of these settlements at
tracted further immigrationI and re-
suited finally in fixing the ohio river
as the frontier. Between Shem and
the lakes on the north and The Pacific
ocean on the west was an unbroken
forest inhabited only by Indians, ex-
cept possibly settlement at Detroit
and in Southern Illinois.
1t was due 10 the boldness and sa-
gacity of Gen. George Rodgers Clarke,
the commander of the forces which
conquered the Illinois country, and
the courage and skill Of the defenders
of Fort Henry, that the fortified posts
on the Mississippi, Wabash and Ohio
were held by American garrisons. The
military enterprise of Gen. Geo. Rod
gers Clarke, and the steadfast courage
and skill of the defenders of Fort
Henry was crowned by the diplomacy
of John Jay, and the territory from
the Ohio river to the lakes and the
Mississippi became without further
clash of arms part Of the territory of
the United States of America.
The rapid influx of settlers did not
fail to attract the immediate attention
Of the neighboring tribes nor to awak
en- their enmity, but, although there
were occasional trays by small parties
OF Indians upon the scattered settle
ments and some sporadic reprisals by
the whites, the border did not sustain
any serious attack until 1774. There
can be no doubt that the killing of
some Indians above Wheeling, at Pipe
creek, and at Yellow creek, where
Logan's brother and sister were foully
dealth with, were the procursory acts
which precipitated the war known as
the Dunmore war, and were also the
occasion of building the
Fort at Wheeling, subsequently known
Enrf ST no tot Of
Logan and his friends and the alarm
and uprising among the settlers de-
the necessity of providing
some means of defense for the set
tiers.
Capt. John Connally had advised
the building of a fort at Wheeling
and intended to undertake the work
having recruited a force of
200 men at Pittsburg for that pur-
pose, and purchasing large number
Of oxen, or bullocks, as the language
Of the time was, to do the necessary
hauling of timber. Lord Dunmore as
sented to the building of the fort, but
took Connally's men and put them in
charge Of Capt. VIM. Crawford, after
wards the unfortunate commander of
the Sandusky expedition in 1882, with
directions to march to Wheeling and
begin work on the Notifications. He
was Joined in July by Major Angus
with 400 men from over the
and who was also charged
with the command of an expedition
AGAINST the town of Wakatomica when
the fort was complete. 1t was, there
fore, under Major Angus Mcdonald
and Capt. William Crawford, that
Fort Fincastle was actually built.
On the 26th of July Major Mcdonald
left Fineastle for the Wakatomica
leaving Capt. Crawford in
of the fort.
Lord Dunmore himself had already
begun to move in his projected cam
paign against the Shawanee town.
left the seat OF government, Williams
burg, Va, July 10th, proceeding to diff
ferent places gathering troops, and in
,he latter part of August marched his
forces to (Fort Pitt Fort Dunmore,
where he took boats and descended
The river with 700 men, sending 500 by
and under Capt Crawford. He arriv-
I'd on his barge the Goth of September
liza. 1t must have been stirring
scene at this frontier village when the
Royal governor disembarked with his
troops and marched up from the river
20 the fort preceded by his body
guards of Scotch Highlanders, the
,hrill notes of the bagpipe awakening
the morning echoes, as the martial
strains of the "Camerons Gathering"
rose upon the air for the first time in