West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-19

of the Government, etc."
On the passage of this act, Gov
ernor Sharpe Immediately notified
Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia,
who recommended "that Maryland
raise company Of soldiers to act
in conjunction with the forces under
Col. Innes, now at Cumberland.
Thereupon Gov. Sharpe issued a
Commission to Captain Thomas
Cresap, later called Colonel, who, "
writes the Governor, chad behaved
himself at all times as good servant
of the Government, to raise a com.
pany of riflemeD to serve beyond
the Alleghenies" July a5tb, 1854.
This Commission antedated C eneral
Braddock's arrival at Fort Cumber-
land by some months, as he did not
reach that fort until May 10, I7ss.
Scharfc relates "When Gen. Brad
dock arrived at Fort Cumberland
he found a large body of troops
there, and among the officers, were
those present, who afterwards dis
tinguished themselves in the R.vo
luton, viz: Thomas Cresap, Hugh
Mercer, George Washington. Daniel
Morgan, Horatio Gates and Thomas
Gage"
The Indians were by this time
laying waste all the frontier settle
ments, instigatcd by the French.
The family of Cresap. was in a
perilous situation, so he removed
them to Conscocheage for safety,
but on the way was attacked by a
party of Indians. They we're soon
dispersed however, and he was not
further molested. Many families
fled to Frederickstown and others
to Baltimore. After placing his
family in safety, Col. Cresap
obedient to Gov. Sharpe, raised a
company of volunteer rihemen, and
among them were two of his own
sons, and marched to attack and
repel the Indians. This was April
a3, 1856. We will quote from the
Maryland Gazette "When
they reached the mountains, u little
east of what is now Frostburgh, they
saw party of Indians advancing.
One of the ri1emen firing too soon,
alarmed the Indians, and they fled
as fast as they could into the
thickets, leaving their horses, and
baggage, which our people took and
brought off. Among their baggage,
one white scalp was found. Colonel
Cresap's son, Thomas Cresap, j.,
chased one of the Indians nearly a
mile, and gained on him, the Indian
saw, he would be overtaken, and they
both fired at once. Young Cresap
was wounded, with bullet and 7
buckshot, the bullet gong through
his breast the others coming up,
he said, pursue the enemy, done
mind me, 1 am dead man." and
dropped down dead
The Savage vas also MORALLY
wounded, 1dt not yet dead, so they
dispatched him with a tomahawk.
I They then buried the body of young
Cresap, as privately as possible, 10
preserve his scalp, and the mountain
where this tragedy occurred, has ever
since been called "Ssvage Noun
tain. His death was lamented by
all who knew him, he was a young
vidower and left little daughter.
From this wee lassie, only child OF
Thomas Cresap, Jr., are still many
descendants and among the noblest
in the land and some of them are
present today, projectors of this re-
union, being also descendants OF
Jude Schofeld.
| The war was raging in earnes,
now. 1t might have been settled,
but abroad it was waged with fury
by most Of the European powers
and called there the "Seven Years
War" France and England were
lighting and the others Joined in
for various reasons. Empires.
"Maria Theresa" allied herself with
France instead of England because
France had grudge against Prussia
and she hoped France would HELM
recover "Silesia"-stolen by the
Great Frederick. Empress Eliza.
beth of Russia daughter of Peter
the Great fought with them zeal
ously against Prussia and England
because Frederick had said of her,
Elizabeth IS entirely too fat and
orthodox and has not an ounce oil
nun in her composition" And so
because Of revenge and wounded
vanity and stolen provinces and the
coveting Of one another's territory
/
by these Kings, Queens, Emperor,
and EmpresseS- thousands Of mile.
away, our colonists on this side Of
the ocean must meet death hv Tor.