the purpose of hunting. After having left ley was then agreed upon between the Inthe river a few hundred yards they parted to dians and the commander of the fort. Capmeet at the same place in the evening. Gil- tain McKee, with three or four others, met as more returned first and whilst waiting for his many Indians midway between the fort and companion was shot and scalped by an In- the Indian encampment. The Indians avowdian. When Hamilton returned, finding the ed their intention to be revenged for the body of Gilmore thus mangled, he called death of Cornstalk and those who fell with across the river and the body was taken over. him. Captain McKee disavowed for himself This Gilmore was one of nineteen children and his garrison all participation in this murof the same father and mother, and was der and assured them that all good and wise brought up on the plantation now owned by men disapproved of it, that it was done in a Mr. John Wallace, on the stage road not far moment of excitement by some imprudent from the Natural Bridge. Nearly all of the young men and most of the officers and nineteen lived to mature years, and most of troops at the post disapproved of their conthem raised families. As Gilmore was highly duct. He represented further that the govesteemed among his comrades, this occur- ernor of Virginia had issued a proclamation rence produced great excitement in the camp. naming certain persons who were guilty of The troops from his immediate neighborhood this outrage, and offering a reward for bringbrought over his body, "and their indigna- ing them to justice. Part of the Indians aption was excited to the highest pitch." peared satisfied with the representation of One said, "let us kill the Indians in the fort." Captain McKee and returned to their towns; This was re-iterated with loud acclamations. another part were not satisfied, but remained The more prudent, who attempted to advise still bent on revenge. These moved off slowly against this measure, were not listened to. up the Kanawha. After they had all disapThey were even threatened. In a few minutes peared, two soldiers from the garrison were the mob moved on to the fort with loaded guns. sent to keep in their wake and watch their While approaching, the Indians were told movements. But these were discovered by what their object was. Some of them ap- the Indians and fired on. They then returned peared alarmed and very much agitated, par- to the fort and were not willing to resume ticularly Elenipsico. His father desired him this perilous undertaking. Much perplexity to be calm, told him that "the Great Spirit existed now among the officers. The garriknew when they ought to die, better than they son had been placed here for the defence of did themselves, and as they had come there the frontier, and a strong party of Indians with good intentions the Great Spirit would do good to them." Cornstalk arose, stood in the cabin door and faced the assassins as they approached. In a few moments the hostages were all numbered with the dead.

had now passed them and were evidently advancing against the settlements, and would attack them without a moment's warning, unless a messenger could be sent from the fort. Enquiry being made who were willing Had the perpetrators of this crime been to go, two soldiers volunteered their sertried under the State law for murder, or by vices,-Philip Hammon and John Pryor. martial law for mutiny, or under the law of The Indians were now far in advance, no nations for breach of treaty in the murder of time was to be lost and little was wanted for hostages, or for the violation of the rules and preparation. rights of a public fort, in each or either case, had the facts been fully proven, they must have been judged worthy of death. It was an act pregnant with serious consequences. War on the frontier, which had now been suspended three years, would inevitably again take place. Accordingly in the month of June, 1778, two or three hundred Shawnees attacked the fort at Point Pleasant and continued to fire upon it for several days, but without effect. A par

* Colonel Stewart.

The rifle, tomahawk, shotpouch, with its contents and appendages, and blanket were always in readiness. A few pounds of portable provisions were soon at hand and now they were ready for their journey. There happened at this time to be within the fort a female Indian, called the grenadier squaw, sister to the celebrated Cornstalk, and like him known to be particularly averse to war. On learning the destination of these two spies, she offered her services to disguise them, so that if they

should meet with the Indians they should not the patriarch of old, took one of the stones be recognized as whites. She accordingly of the place for his pillow, and being wrapped gave them the Indian costume from head to in his blanket, laid himself down along-side heel, and painted their faces with dark and of his rifle, conscious of having performed lurid streaks and figures, such as indicate an the duties of the day and void of care they Indian warrior going forth bent on deeds of gave themselves to sleep. Here no wakeful death and destruction. Thus equipped, at- sentinels, walking his nightly rounds, guardtired and ornamented. they set out on their ed the camp; no fantastic visions nor terrific long, fatiguing and perilous journey, during dreams disturbed their rest. Wild beasts, which they must endure the burning sun and which the light of day awed into obscurity, drenching rains of the season. Brooks and had now crept from their dens and lurking rivers were to be waded, extensive and places and were roaming abroad prowling gloomy forests were to be traversed; pre- for prey, uttering a thousand cries, and hidecipitous hills and craggy mountain-places, ous screams, and dismal howlings, throughwhere no man dwelt, were to be passed over out the shadowy gloom of these interminable with hasty step. The wolf, the bear, the forests. Yet neither did these interrupt the panther and rattlesnake had, from time im- repose of the two disguised soldiers. They memorial, held sway over this inhospitable were yet far in the rear of the enemy, but by region. Nor was this all; a numerous body observing his encampments, soon found that of hostile Indians, thirsting for white men's they were gaining ground, and in a few days blood, were known to be at this conjunc- that they were approaching his main body. ture, on the very path that the spies were This caused a sharp look-out. Relying on to travel. Less than half of the difficulties vigilance, circumspection and stratagem, they and dangers here enumerated would have did not relax their speed, but carefully reconappalled most men, but to these chivalrous noitered every hill and valley, every brake, sons of the mountains, "The dangers self glen and defile. At length one morning were lure alone." They were well aware about ten o'clock, whilst descending Sewel that the success of the enterprise depended mountain on its eastern side, and when near upon the celerity of its execution, that if to its base, the enemy was descried near half they by forced marches should be able to a mile distant, on McClung's plantation, killovertake and pass the enemy undiscovered, ing hogs for their breakfast. The spies now and by entering the settlement first should diverged from the path which they had been apprise the inhabitants of the impending dan- pursuing, and making a small circuit, so as to ger, thereby giving them opportunity to for- allow the enemy sufficient elbow-room, or as tify and defend themselves, all might be well; a seaman would say, give him a good berth, but if this strong body of the enemy should that he might enjoy his feast. Thus they take the country by surprise, massacre, cap- passed undiscovered and soon reached the tivity and dispersion must follow, and the dis- settlement in safety. At the first house they solution of the whole settlements. Enter- experienced some difficulty, having entirely. taining these views, they set out with ardor, the appearance of Indian warriors. But by and persevered with steadiness, losing no giving a circumstantial account of the object time through the day with loitering, they made of their visit, and especially as they were able their bodily strength the measure of their to do this in unbroken English, they soon performance, and when the shades of even- gained credence and were recognized as ing admonished them that the season of rest friends. Measures were now taken to alarm was at hand, drawing upon their scanty stock, the settlement, and before night all the inthey partook of a coarse and frugal but habitants were assembled in Colonel Donalstrengthening and comfortable repast, for to ly's dwelling-house. This building which the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. had heretofore been the tranquil residence of This ended, and having drunk of a neighbor- a private family and which had been characing stream, their next care was to find a wide- terized by its friendship and hospitality to spreading oak, or beech, or a projecting rock all who entered it, must now become the which might shelter them from the chilling theatre of war and be made familiar with dews of night. And now each of them, like tragic scenes and events. The prospect

one man through a crevice in the wall.

must indeed have been gloomy. All the in- to a distant point where he could find shelter. habitants of the settlement were collected in One boy alone fell behind. He at the first one house to be defended by a few men, very onset wishing to unite his fortune with that few in proportion to the number of the ene- of his seniors, hastened to the door, hoping my about to attack them. They, however, no doubt to participate in the massacre which were well acquainted with the tactics of In- he expected to follow, or at least to have the dian warfare and the use of their arms. Every pleasure of witnessing it. Having been disman had full confidence in himself and his appointed in this and now unable to keep fellows. Now preparations were made for a pace with his friends in their retreat and fearsiege or an assault. Every instrument of ing that a ball from the fort might overtake death which could be found was put in re- him, he turned aside and sheltered himself in quisition, prepared in the best manner and the lower story of an old building which placed where it could be most readily seized stood near, uttering through the day many when wanted. A strict watch was kept dolorous cries and lamentations. One of the through the night, but no enemy had yet ap- garrison, who knew something of the Indian peared. The second day passed off in like tongue, invited him into the fort with an asmanner. On the second night most of the surance of safety. But he, doubtless, susmen went to the second story, having slept pected in others what he would be likely to none for nearly forty-eight hours. In the latter practice himself, and what the whites had alpart of the night they became drowsy and ready practiced on the noble-hearted Cornwhen daylight began to appear were all in a stalk and his fellow sufferers, and declined profound sleep. Only three men were on the the invitation, and awaiting the darkness of lower floor,-Hammon, one of the spies, a the night escaped to his friends. The Inwhite servant and a black servant of Colonel dians continued to fire on the fort occasionDonally. At daybreak the white servant ally during the day, and succeeded in killing opened the door, that he might bring in some firewood. He had gone but a few steps from At this time the population of Greenbrier the house when he was shot down. The In- was composed of isolated settlements, sepdians now sprang from their concealment in arated by intervals of uncultivated country. the edge of the rye-field near to the house, The settlement near to Fort Donnally, called and rushing in a body, attempted to enter the the Meadows, did not at this time contain door. * Hammon and the black servant Dick many inhabitants. On the first alarm, a mesmade an effort to secure it, but failing in this senger was sent to the Lewisburg settlement, they placed their shoulders against a hogs- fifteen or eighteen miles distant. This meshead of water which stood behind, and which senger was the person killed on the next they had drawn nearer to the door. But the morning after he returned to Donally's as he Indians commenced chopping with their tom- went out to get firewood. By the activity of ahawks and had actually cut through the door Col. Samuel Lewis and Col. John Stewart, a and were also pressing to force it open. Hav- force of sixty or seventy armed men ing already made a partial opening, Dick ready to march on the third morning, the fearing that they might succeed in gaining very morning on which the fort was attacked. their purpose, left Hammon at his post and They, to avoid any ambush of the enemy, seizing a musket which stood near, loaded left the direct road and took a circuitous with heavy slugs, discharged it through the route, and when they arrived opposite the opening among the crowd. The Indians fort turned across and concealing themselves now fell back and the door was secured. By by passing through a rye-field, all entered this time the men on the second story had with safety. There was now much room for shaken off their slumbers and were every congratulation that the garrison had bravely man at his post, pouring down the shot upon defended themselves, and that they were now the enemy. He, finding his quarters too so much strengthened that they could bid warm, scampered off with all possible speed

* Colonel Stewart says that there was a kind of stockade fort around the house and that it was the kitchen door which the Indians attacked.

was

* Colonel Stewart says that this man's name was Graham and that they also killed Jaines Burns and Alexander Ochiltree early in the morning as they were coming to the house.

defiance to their enemies. The Indians now and peril during a journey on foot of little saw themselves baffled and disappointed. less than two hundred miles, through a mounThey had made a long journey with the avow-tainous, uninhabited wilderness, to save from ed purpose of avenging the death of their destruction not one or two or a few individchiefs. They now determined to raise the uals, but a whole community, the entire popsiege and return home. Dejected and cha-ulation of Greenbriar and they were sucgrined, their number diminished, encumber- cessful. And what reward have they receied with the wounded, they retreated with ved? None either honorary or pecuniary. slow and melancholy reluctance. For some Certain it is that for some time after the atyears now the Indians had been unsuccess-tack on fort Donally their names were menful on the frontier of Virginia. [1774.] They tioned with much eclat and no doubt the inwere roughly handled and driven back into habitants of Greenbriar would exercise totheir own country. [1777.] Their chiefs ward them their usual courtesy and hospitalnow [1778] they were ity. But gratitude is not a perennial plant. and disgrace. Not a Did the government reward them? At that scalp as a trophy of bravery, not a prisoner time the government of Virginia was fully whom they might immolate to quiet the manes of their deceased friends.

were murdered, and beaten off with loss

Although the enemy retreated slowly, the garrison did not think themselves strong enough to pursue. The inhabitants now returned to their homes without apprehension of danger.

But where are the spies? What has been done for them? When one of the most illustrious monarchs of the East had discovered a plot against his own life, wishing to reward the individual who had disclosed the treason, he enquired of his chief counsellor, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" The counsellor in substance replied as follows, that the greatest honor which royalty could bestow, consistent with its own sovereignty and independence, should be conferred on the man whom the king delighted to honor. In accordance with this advice, a royal decree was issued and the same counsellor was charged with its execution and it was executed in the

occupied in defending her Eastern frontier against a foreign enemy. But had the case of the spies been represented to the legislature, their names would have been recorded with honorable mention of their services and themselves made pensioners for life. The black servant, Dick, was more fortunate. His case came before the legislature and his freedom was decreed. It is pleasing to know, that Dick lived near threescore years after this, respected for his industry, probity and other civic virtues.

But to return to the savages: their desire of revenge was not yet satiated. The manes of their slaughtered chiefs had not yet been quieted. No doubt they reproached themselves with their dilatory performance of the paramount duty of retaliation.

"Whilst great Cornstalk's shade complained that they were And Red-Hawk's ghost walked unrevenged amongst them." slow,

Hoping for better fortune, they now turned most public manner. Among the Romans their arms against the infant settlement of civic honors were decreed to him who had Kentucky, in which they were lamentably saved the life of a citizen. These honors successful. At the Blue Licks fell many of were the greatest which the government had the flower of the population. Many too in its power to bestow. Here we see that were destroyed in boats descending the Ohio two of the greatest empires that the world river and much property was lost. For has ever seen, bestowed the highest honors many years this destructive mode of war conon him who saved the life of another. But tinued. The campaigns of Harmer and St. what was the conduct of these spies? They Clair gave but little respite; in the latter of subjected themselves to fatigue and privation these, Kentucky again lost some of her bra

*The amount of their loss was not ascertained, nor their whole number. Col. Stewart says, "seventeen of the enemy lay dead in the yard when we got in." They may have taken the scalps of Burns and Ochiltree mentioned in a previous note.

vest sons. The establishment of a chain of posts from Cincinnati to Lake Erie; the victory gained by the United States troops under General Wayne, near to Detroit, over a confederacy of Indian tribes; and a treaty

of peace with those tribes, which soon fol- and yellow harvest-fields of luxuriant grain lowed, at least gave repose to the frontier surpassing in beauty all other crops. Also settlements. The wise, liberal and pacific were distributed over the country work-shops policy of Washington and most of his suc- in which various mechanical occupations were cessors toward the Indian nations; and the pursued for domestic purposes. The enterfrequent purchases from different tribes of prise of the citizens was evident too from their Indians of larger portions of their lands for eagerness in accomplishing facilities for inpecuniary considerations; and the establish- tercourse between different parts of the State ment of strong garrisons of United States and also with other States, such as canals, troops in different parts of the Western roads, &c., which received their early attencountry;-have done much to check wars tion. Villages and towns too have sprung between the tribes of Indians, and to pre- up with great rapidity, and cities, which vie vent their assaults upon the white settle- in splendor, magnitude and commercial richments. The surrender of fort Detroit also es with those of the Atlantic States. Schools had a similar tendency. No serious injury also and academies and colleges and churchwas ever apprehended from the Western In- es and learned societies and periodical pubdians, after the victory achieved by General lications and printing establishments, everyWayne, unless when confederated with some where to be found, show the taste of the peoforeign power. By the extinguishment of ple for improvement. The country from the Indian titles to their lands, tribes and rem- fertility of its soil and industry of its inhabnants of tribes have been seen every year itants, besides supplying the wants of a nuremoving Westward, choosing rather the merous population, yields an immense surneighborhood of the beaver and buffalo, than plus for exportation. The trade on the rivthat of the white man. And what is now ers and lakes is chiefly in vessels of magnithe situation of that country? And what tude, equal to those that traverse the Atlanwas its situation when Wayne gained his tic, propelled not by wind, or tide, or current, victory? Could any one of the thousands but moving often with great velocity and of his army possessing the most vivid, or if with heavy burthens, in a direction contrary you please, the most eccentric imagination, to all these forces and entirely overcoming have been able to command a full view of them-and this by an invention of modern the countries bounded by the Ohio, the Mis- origin and entirely American. This immense sissippi and the great lakes, could such an region of country extending from the Ohio one have anticipated the results that have to the great Lakes and to the Mississippi on since taken place? Then that whole re- the West, is now covered by a civilized popgion was claimed and possessed by hordes ulation and divided into four separate inof lawless, half-starved savages, gaining a dependent republican governments, each meagre subsistence by the chase and de- managing its own internal concerns and lighting in blood and plunder. Could such each united with the other States of the an one have supposed, that in less than half American Union, for general purposes. Can a century the whole of this wide-spread re- any man review the state of things in that gion would be inhabited by a civilized popu- immense region from the year 1794 until the lation in the full tide of prosperity? In a present time and cease to wonder at the unvery few years after Wayne's victory, emi- accountable transformations that have taken grants from the Northern States, from Vir- place in the face of the country, populaginia, Kentucky and other portions of our tion and improvements? Very similar great country covered most of the Eastern part of changes have taken place in the great States this large region. Where erewhile had been of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Misthe Indian wigwam and encampments, now souri, nearly in the same time and from the might be seen farm-houses, barns and other same causes. Nothing appears more extrabuildings; plantations laid off into fields, all ordinary, unless it be that the great valley of those grains and grasses and domestic ani- the Mississippi should have remained so tomals which contribute so much to the sub- tally unknown until the close of the 18th sistence and comfort of man; verdant pas- century.

tures, flowering meadows, bending orchards