Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-07-21
Indian Wars in West Virginia.

from Indians. The impression that
this danger was constant is erroneous.
During the first twenty years of the
colonization of the region east of the
Allegheny mountains the Indians did
not disturb the people. From 1854
to about 1895 there was war, in fact,
two wars. The French and Indian war
was begun in 1854 and continued six
years. At les close Pontiac's war be-
gan and was continued some four or
FIVE years. Then from 1865 to l774
there was peace. The people east OF
the Alleghanies, in what is DOW West
Virginia, were not disturbed by In
dams after the close of Pontiacs war.
The hostilities which commenced on
the frontier in 1774 called Dunmore's
war, continued less than six months,
and the leading event of the war was
the battle of Point Pleasant, in Octo-
Der.
That was one of the most important
battles ever fought with Indians in
America, not that the numbers en-
gagged were large, not that the loss of
life was great, but because important
results followed. 1t was largely due
to the issue of that battle that the
United States, at the close of the
Revolution, asserted it's claim to the
region north and west Of the Ohio
river. By the Quebec Act the British
government had extended the Domin-
ion of Canada southwark to the Ohio
river, including portion Of Western
Pennsylvania. The Virginia soldiers
after defeating the Indians at Point
Pleasant, under their chief, Cornstalk,
had crossed into Ohio, and had com.
PEELED the Indians to sue for peace.
By virtue of this, Virginia laid claim
to the region north and west of the
Ohio, thus annulling the Quebec Act,
and pushing the Canadian line back
to the lakes. Virginia's claim was
recognized by the United States at
the close of the Revolution, and the
region has since remained part OF
the United States.
From l774 to l777 there was no
war on Virginias frontier with In
dians. There was an occasional MUIR
der, but no more than would likely
occur on any frontier in time ofpeace'
In l777 the Indians "a portion Of
them, not alb made common cause
with the British, who armed them and
encouraged them to attack the from
tier of Virginia and Pennsylvania
The British adopted that course as a
military policy. The Revolution was
in progress, and the attack on the rear
of the colonies was meant to give ad-
ditional worry to the Americans. The
policy met with strong opposition IN
the British parliament, especially from
Pitt, who denounced it as disgrace to
the name of England.
From September, 1777, to Septem-
Der, I782-fve years-the Indians on
the western frontier of Virginia fought
as English allies. There were three
invasions in force of West Virginia s
soil.
In l777 the Indians, and few
white men, attacked Fort Henry, at
Wheeling, and were defeated. The
next year the Indians attacked Fort
Randolph, at Point Pleasant, and were
defeated again. However, they con-
tinued their raid as far as Greenbrier
county, where they assaulted Donelly's
fort, and once more suffered defeat
Four years later another attack was
made on Fort Henry, at Wheeling,
and for the fourth time the Indians
were unsuccessful. They were led by
a British officer, and were assisted by
forty Canadian militia. This has been
called the last battle of the Revolu-
ton.
For some years sort Of peace pre-
vailed, but there were many murders
by Indians, About seven years after
the close of the Revolution another
war broke out and continued until
1895, when General Wayne's victory
over the Indians at Fallen Tlmbers,
in Ohio, brought permanent peace 80
far as West Virginia was concerned
Altogether, there was Indian war on
Virginia's frontier about twenty years,
between 1870 and 1795-s period Of
sixty-fve years. During the times of
hostility the Indians did most harm by
prowling about and numbering de-
fenseless people. The actual number
of persons killed in that way cannot
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