Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-02-11
Page Two
MORE ABOUT SILVERHEELS
BY CHARLES II. VAN FOSSEN

Editor Morgan County Democrat:
II read with much interest the
story of Silverheels, by Mr.. Silas
Thorla, which appeared in your col
umns some weeks ago. | too, visit
ed Mr.. Roberts, and went over the
same ground in much the same man
ner as described by Mr.. Thorla, and
from every indication I believe that
to be the true story of the death and
burial place of Silverheels.
However, who was Silverheels
And who was John Miller? And
where was the location of TT. Frye?
Out of reverence and respect for the
pioneer, it is, | think, our duty tC
preserve the true history of their
times, so far as they may come tc
our knowledge. And with that END
in view, it is with pleasure l copy
from pioneer history, written by DR.
s. p. Hildreth, and published for the
historical society of Cincinnati, by
III. w. Derby & Co., 1S48. Mr. Thor
la and DR.. NaylOr have possibly read
Hildreth's history. also they may
have more authentic accounts thar
those contained here, If so, | would
most certainly like to have you pub
lish your reason Mr. Thorla fol
thinking John Miller and Silverheels
one and the same.
And now let us turn back the pages
of time, and with the old volume
opened to page 440 opposite the
litho, plate of Ft. Frye. block
houses. stockade, river bank, canoe
scouts long rifles and all. let us lit
orally take chapter XXI word fol
word:
"The next day after the attack a
Big Bottom. the settlers at the mills
tWolf Creek mills, about mile III
from where it joins the Muskingum
and at Waterford held council tt
decide on what was the best course
to pursue in the present emergency
They were not able to retain and de
fend both stations. 1t was finally
decided to build a strong garrison
on the east side Of the river and tC
evacuate the settlement at the mills
Several of the leading men at this
place moved to Marietta. while 9th
ers Joined the station at Waterford
The spot chosen for the location O.
the fort was in bend Of the river
about a half mile below the present
eoWi VI pCN u ~. lic Iciu lltdI ~
is fertile. and extends back nearly
half q mile, to the base of the hills
On the opposite shore. it rises alb
ruptly into a high hill, or ridge
which, with artillery. would com
mand the ground on which the fort
stood. But as their enemies had nc
guns larger than rifles, no danger
was apprehended from this source
The only disadvantage would be the
facility it gave their enemies for in
specting the interior of the garrison
from its lofty summit, at least 200
feet above the river. and learning
the movements Of the whites. The
form of the fort was triangular,
which is rather uncommon in mil
itary defenses. But as they We're III
a hurry, and it saved them one line
of curtains, while the blockhouses at
the angles defended the sides just as
well as in any other form, it was
adopted
The base Of the triangle rested on
the river, distant only a few PAGES
from the bank, and was about geo
feet in length. One of the other
sides was somewhat longer, so that
the work was not a regular triangle.
AT each corner, was a two story
block house, 20 feet square below,
and foot or two more above. The
two longer sides were filled in with