The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-08-03
Indian Wars in West Virginia.
The carly settlers in West VI


The early settlers in West Vir-
ginia were occasi, nsily subject TO
attacks from Indians. The i'm
preston that this danger was CON-
slant is erroneous. During the
first twenty years of the coloniza
ton of the region east of the
Allegheny mountains the Indians
did not disturb the people. From
1854 to about 1765 there WAS war,
in fact, two wars The French and
Indian war was begun in 1854 and
continued six years. At its close
Pontiac's war began and was CON-
tinued some four or five years
Then from 1765 to TIA there was
peace. The people east of the
Alleghanies in what is now West
Virginia, were not disturbed by
Indians after the close of Pontiac's
war. The hostiIities which com
menced on the frontier in 1774,
called Dunmore's war. continued
less than six months, and the lead
ing event of the war was the battle
of Point Pleasant, in October
That was one of the most i'm
portant battles ever fought with
Indians in America, not that the
numbers engaged were large. not
that the loss of life was great. but
because important results followed.
It was largely due to the issue OF
that battle that the United States,
at the close of the Revolution, as
serted it's claim to the region north
and west of the Oaio. river. By
the Quebec Act the British gov
eminent had extended the Domin-
ion of Canada southwark to the
Ohio river. including a portion of
Western Pennsylvania. The Vir.
ginia soldiers, after defeating the
Indians at Point Pleasant, under
their chief, Cornstalk, had crossed
into Ohio, and had compelled the
Indians to sue for peace. By Vir
tue of this. Virginia laid claim to
the region north and west of the
Obi. thus annulling the Quebec
ACT, and pushing the Canadian
line back to the lakes. Vir1inia's
cl4im was recognized by the Unit
ed States at the close of the R-vo
luton, and the region has since re-
msined part of the United
States
From 177l to l777 there was no
war on Vrginia's frontier with
Indisns There WAS an occssi 1nal
murder, but no more than would
likely occur on any frontier in
tile of psace In l777 the In
dians { a portion of them, not all
made common cause with the
British, who armed them and en-
Outraged them to attack the front
Ter of Virginia and Pennsylvania
The British adopted that course az
military policy The RevoIu
ton was in progress. and the at
tack on the rear of the colonies
was meant to give additional worry
to the Americans. The policy met
with strong opposition in the
British parliament, especially from
Pitt, who denounced it ss a dis
grace to the name of Ep2Iand
From September. 1777, TO Sep
TENDER, 17e2-fve years-the In
dians on the western frontier Of
Virginia fought as English allies.
There were three invasions in force
of West Virginia's soil
In 1777 the Indians, and a few
white men. attacked Fort Henry.
at Wheeling. end were defeated.
The next year the Indians attack
ed Fort Randolph, at Point Pleas
ant. and were defeated again. How
ever. they continued their raid as
far as Greenbrier county, where
they assaulted Donelly's fort, and
once more suffered defeat. Four
years later an Their attack was
made on Fort Henry. at Wheeling,
and for the fourth time the In