Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-02-28
TWO CENTS
PETITIONS FORWARDED.
Congress Asked to aid in Build
ing Monuments.


Hon. aaron Morgan Is Invoking the aid
OF Congress- Something about the
Famous Pioneers and Indian Fight
ers who are Proposed TO be Honored.
A petition TO commemorate the
memory OF two Of the most daring
Indian fighters who took part ia Dor.
der warfare has been forwarded from
New Martinsville by Hon. Aaron
Morgan, member of the state legisla-
tnre from this county, TO Senator
Stephen g. Elkins at Washington, II.
c., and will be presented 80 the sem
ate In few days. The petition is
headed by the name OF Governor A. b.
White OF this state, aud attached 10
1t are upwards OF three hundred OF
the most prominent politicians and
citizens OF the state. The petition
asks that the sum OF $4,000 be APP
propriated for monuments TO be erect
ed at New Martlnsville, one each to
the memory OF James and Levi Nor
gan the latter better known under the
title OF "Spy Mod"
The lives of these men were OF con-
/ tinual strife with the red men and
there is hardly village from Pitts
burg to Louisville but has Its legend
OF some wild, fierce hand TO hand en-
counter in which they took part with
the red men at the time this valley
! was the great battle ground on which
the hardy pioneer contended with the
primitive inhabitants for possession
OF the fertile valleys, hills and plains.
Clarksburg, Morgantown, Wheeling
aud other places have legends OF those
early border days. The most noted
of their achievements, and that which
/ Congress Is asked to commemorate, Is
the saving of the army OF 81. Clair
after his surprise by the bands of
Indians and renegades, under Little
Turtle. This was on November 1,
1901. After the defeat Of General
Harmar, General St Clair was sent
cut to suppress the Miami Confeder-
aey The last words OF Washington
then president, with st. Clair were
warning to not be taken by surprise
/ by the Indians. Levi Morgan had
charge of company Of rifles, among
whom were his two motel brothers
James and spy Mod When the
army left Fort Washington on Sep
TENDER 6, and started on Its journey,
Captain Morgan asked that his cpm-
pany be permitted to throw out
skirmishing parties, but st. Clair had
been lulled into false sense OF secur-
/ ity by reports of the savages having
/ fled his approach.
On the night Of November ), the
army arrived al a point about 90 miles
from Fort Washington, on the banks
of small tributary of the Wabash, at
point ia the southwest angle OF Mer-
Ger county, Ohio There on the follow
/ ing day the army was surprised by the
4 Indians and their renegade allies, and
/ one OF the greatest massacres In the
/ history of Indian warfare occurred.
Morgan's rifles, however rallied and
lodging behind the rocks and stumps
of trees, poured v0lley after yolley with
telling effect into the ranks OF their
red assailants. This gave st. Clair aud
! his men, MANY of whom we're unac-
quainted with Indian warfare chance
TO retreat and form ia line. Mile by
mile their retreat was conducted at
! first in the widest confusion, but later
In better order, while the Indians were
held ia check by this little company Of
daring men under. Captain Morgan. Ii
was this alone which saved any part of
| the army.
After the Indian war had closed they
returned to this section of the country,
where their families and descendants
have since resided. They weretoo much
at home5in Indian warfare, however, to
remain quiet, and took part in almost
every Indian campaign up TO the time
of their death. The last act OF Levi
Morgan, the leader OF this little band,
was In a battle with the Indians near
Louisville. He was taken prisoner,
but managed to escape aud iiberate
three OF his companions, They ran aud
escaped. He was unequal To this task,
however, being upward of ninety years
of age So he hid in log, or hollow
tree, where he remained for five days
without food or drink. This was dur
ing the bitter cold winter OF 1926, and
he received such injuries to his health
from the exposure that he died two
weeks later, and his remains are buried
at the old salt works, twelve miles
south OF Louisville. The state legis-
lature has ordered monument erect
ed here to his memory. This is uow
in the h&nds Of the sculpture, and
will be unveiled July 4
| Senator Morgan, Of Alabama, who
is descendant OF this family, will
assist in securing the appropriation
asked for from Congress.