The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-04-19
A STORY OF BENCE AND his TIMES
Continued from las, week.
By W. S. ROSE

Continued from last week.
In previous issue of this paper
was published story which gave in
some detail the back ground for the
story of the last raid of B-nge into
this section, which resulted in his
death.
There is direct evidence OF but two
raids led By him, but he was suspect
ed of others where no proof was OBJ
tainable. Settlers were murdered.
homes burned and stock killed but
the Indians vanished leaving no
trace. 1t was believed that Benge
had u hand in many of these also.
The pitcher went to the we'll once
too often and Benge made one too
many raids. There being no authentic
records available this story is found.
ed solely on local tradition. In be.
ing handed down from former gen
erations there have crept in diff
ferences of details as is always the
case in such matters.
Harvey Young. of Dryden,75, and
George W. Robinette, of Flagpond,
Scott county, so. substantially agree
upon the story as it will be given
here
The Last Raid
Benge and his band crept upon u
homestead owned by man named
Livingston situated on what has later
became known as The Undertook
Farm on the banks OF North Fork
of the liolston River about two miles
southwest of Mendoza. They muir
dered the husband and took the wife
captive. and along with her another
young girl who may have been her
daughter There is white boy and
a negro slave mixed up in a story as
captives OF Benge, but in which raid
now appears to be uncertain.
Start Back to Chiilieo,he
Journeying leisurely back toward
their northern capitol, they came
through Big Moccasin Gap at Gate
City and on toward High Knob, max
ing but few miles each day. A run
ner was sent out from the stricken
settlement in all speed to warn 9th.
ers. This runner. or some other
runner for him, soon reached the
settlements in the powell's Valley
where the number of people had
grown to such an extent as TO prompt
them to try TO hold primitive local
court. This court, such as it was.
was then in session at what was
known rs Sinks some three miles
southwest of where Jonesville now
stands. On receipt OF the news this
SO called court at once adjourned
and sixteen men volunteered to try
to intercept Benge at the High
Knob crossing. The party under the
command OF Captain John Benbever
and Lieutenant Vincent Hobbs start
ed in persuit at once. The party
halted at Loyelady's cabin where the
A. d. tP) Litton house now stands,
and Lovelady revealed the return
route OF Benge us given to him by
two Indians who had deviated from
the route taken by the main Benge
party. These Indians made some
small purchases Of powder and need
les and asked about conditions in the
settlements. Having great conf
denee in Loyelady they did not hes
itate TO disclose their plans.
Whose Honor Shall II Be7
Before daylight the rescue party
had reached Little Stone Gap where
they consulted briefly. Captain
John Benbever was a preacher but
this did not operate to prevent him
from asking for the special honor
and pleasure of killing Benge. which
the others asented to with the under
standing that Lieut.. Hobbs was to
withhold his fire until it was certain
that Benbever's shot had the desired
effect. Then they walked silently
forward until the mouth OF the
branch which has since borne
Benge's name was reached. Stop
ping there for short time the smell
OF burning leaves was shifted in the
damp morning air. Cautiously they
crept forward up the branch for
little way when they beheld smoul-
dering fire and two sleeping Indians
lying near. No chances were taken
and all the partY crept upon them so