The defense of Fort Henry. A story of Wheeling creek in 1777.

Front matter

*

.

Zf '

Chapter I. Fort Henry

In those days when sturdy men and brave women sought, and sought successfully, to raise from the wilderness a home near-about Wheeling Creek, on what was called the frontier of Kentucky, Teddy McLaughlin and I, Cornelius Dunbar, were mere lads ; but although our years in this world had been few, we were richer in harsh experiences than often falls to the lot of grown men in this year of grace 1800 .

Twenty-three years have gone by since we two - lads lived in the vicinity of Fort Henry, where was a small settlement of perhaps twenty-five huts, not one of which gave shelter to a coward.

Because of what we saw, and, I may say it without boasting, because of the dangers which

we encountered like men, have I set myself down to put it all in words, in order that those who live now in peace and security where we fought our way by day as well as by night, shall know what price was paid for the safety which they now enjoy.

If, in the course of this simple statement of facts, I make mention of myself in what seems a boasting spirit, let it not be charged against me , if it so be any read these lines ; but set down to the credit of Teddy McLaughlin, who has declared that I shall leave a record of our doings for those who have come after us, and who insists now and then in tampering with the written lines lest, as he says, I give more credit to him and less to myself, than the facts warranted.

In the year 1 W Teddy and I had seen our sixteenth birthdays, for we are the same age, barring less than a week, therefore are we now comparatively young men, whose memories of those times are not much shaken, and who pride themselves that they had a hand in the settlements hereabout, although, mayhap, in days to come, when one hundred years have rolled by, it will appear to those who read the past as if we were even at this day living on the frontier.

Why Teddy’s father and mine settled on Wheeling Creek it is not necessary to say, ex-

PORT HENRY.

cept that they were among those adventurous spirits who pushed out into the wilderness to make homes for themselves far from the busy towns. Such men as are ever pressing their way beyond the outpost of civilization, and thereby really are the pioneers in the building-up of what I doubt not will one day become a mighty nation.

Teddy, who is at this moment seated in front of a roaring fire in my home, and had, just now, reason to look over my shoulder, suggests that it was his purpose I should set down an account of what we two did, while lads, toward making this settlement a place of safety for white men ; that my going into the future a hundred years has nothing whatsoever in common with the task before me.

Therefore, to take up the business properly according to his ideas, let me explain that Fort Henry was built in 1774, during Dunmore’s campaign, and intended only as a place of refuge.

Of course no one has forgotten what bitter injury the last royal governor of Virginia did us of the frontier, when he excited the savages against the colonists, so it is claimed, and let his troops go among the Indians for the alleged purpose of making peace, when it was really to band himself with the red scoundrels. At all events, the fort was built during that campaign to serve the purposes of the colonists, and despite what Lord Dunmore has done since then, stood us in good stead many a time.

His lordship called it “ Fort Fincastle,” after one of his favorite officers, but later it was known as “ Henry,” in compliment to that great Virginian orator, who by his words did so much toward awakening the spirit of liberty among the colonists in North America.

It was situated on the bank of the Ohio Eiver, about a quarter of a mile above the mouth of Wheeling Creek, and around it were built, as I have said, twenty-five or more log huts, each of which contained a single family.

In one of these lived Michael McLaughlin, Teddy’s father, with his wife, and five children, of whom my comrade was the second, and in another, Henry Dunbar, my father, and the head of a family numbering seven, including mother.

In the spring of ’77 we had great hopes that our red enemies might overlook the fact that here was a small band of white people struggling for existence.

Attacks had been made upon Logan’s and Boone’s forts, during April, when so many of the savages were killed that we came almost to

FORT HENRY.

o believe a wholesome lesson had been taught them.

Daniel Boone and his neighbors were visited again about the first of July by more than two hundred Indians, who beset the place for eight-and- forty hours, when they drew off with a loss of seven, while the garrison had but one man killed and two wounded.

While sympathizing fully with these brave fellows, we of Fort Henry could but hope that the savages would occupy themselves with the gallant Boone and his companions to the utter forgetfulness of ourselves.

But we had a merciless enemy who was ready to incite the painted savages against us, as was rumored in the latter part of July, when some of our people, who had been sent out to gain information, reported that Simon Girty had gathered no less than four hundred Indians near-about Sandusky, declaring it was his purpose to take possession of Fort Henry.

This was the same Girty who had once been a companion of Daniel Boone ; but was now as desperate a renegade as could be found on the frontier, and is to this day, for the black-hearted villain yet lives, despite the many brave men who have gone out with the hope of killing him.

THE DEFENSE OF FORT HENRY.

His father was an Irishman and a drunkard, and his mother anything but an honest woman. This precious pair lived in Pennsylvania, where they reared four sons, the eldest James and the second Simon, who was, so it seemed, brought into this world for no other purpose than to make desolate the hearths of good men and true, who were struggling desperately against a merciless enemy as well as the wilderness, and for many a long day it seemed impossible they could conquer both.

James and Simon Girty were taken captives by the Indians shortly after Braddock’s defeat, so I have heard it said time and time again ; the eldest boy was adopted by the Delawares, and, as I believe, became the fiercest among that bloodthirsty crew.

Simon was taken by the Senecas, and had the reputation of being a great hunter at the time he and Daniel Boone were friends, which is to say, before he had given his life over to the evil one.

Among all the people whom I have ever met, Simon Girty is spoken of as the most fiendish, the most bloodthirsty, being who ever lived. He murders for the sake of seeing blood flow, and merciless as the red man is known to be, this renegade far surpasses him in acts of wanton cruelty.

FORT HENRY.

I have hoped it might be the good fortune of Teddy McLaughlin and myself to kill this, the vilest man who ever walked abroad, but although we have spent many days, aye, and nights, on his trail, the villain has escaped us as he has hundreds of others who had vowed to put an end to his career of crime.

If I write in what seems a revengeful spirit, there is justification for it. Simon Girty killed my father and Teddy’s brother — not in fair battle, but by coming upon them in ambush, and it was not that he struck them down as a man would strike an enemy ; but he first wounded, that he might make sure of taking them prisoners, and then, during one long summer afternoon and evening, he tortured them at the stake until death came with laggard feet to their relief.

This cruel deed had not been committed at the time we heard Simon Girty was rendezvoused at Sandusky with his greasy, painted band ; but was in the near future.

Even then we lads knew somewhat of his character and somewhat of the depths of crime into which it was possible for him to descend, and, like all who were struggling to found the little village near Fort Henry, had good cause for alarm.

It is needless to write many words descriptive of this villain, whose breath still pollutes God’s pure air, for I question if there be one person in all the country who does not know the reputation of the murdering scoundrel, and most like I have said too much ; but it is hard to check the words when memory goes down into the past, bringing me once more to those days of what was neither more nor less than a literal struggle for life.

As I have said, we had been warned that this renegade and his savage following were making ready for their work of murder and plunder, declaring that Fort Henry should be destroyed.

Therefore every member of our little settlement was on the alert for danger, and while we could not remain shut up completely in our homes, none ventured forth without taking due precaution.

Teddy McLaughlin and I, on one certain morning in August, had gone out hunting, not by way of sport, but because it was necessary we should bring meat to our homes ; and having been brought up in that school wherein experience is a teacher, we were not unskilful in the chase.

As a matter of fact, both Teddy’s father and mine looked to us to keep the larder filled with

FORT HENRY.

such game as might be found near-about, and it was not often that either household lacked a plentiful supply of meat.

On this day when I count to begin the story of what Simon Girty did against us of Wheeling Creek, Teddy and I were nigh on to ten miles from home at noon, having wandered thus far because, singularly as it seemed to us, the game was scarce and wary, and when we had come to a halt because it was high time for dinner, a single turkey, not overly large, was all we had succeeded in taking.

In ordinary times we lads would have thought nothing of remaining from the settlement two or three days, so that thereby we might carry home a goodly supply of meat ; but now, with rumors brought by every traveler that danger menaced, we were, as might be supposed, more cautious, and had fallen to discussing the question as to what should be done, when we arrived at a narrow water-course where the trunk of a fallen and decaying tree afforded a plentiful supply of fuel.

“ Here is where we had best cook this forlornlooking gobbler,” Teddy said with a laugh, “and while it is on the coals we can make up our minds whether it be safe to go further afield in the hope of coming upon something to repay us for the tramp.”

As if positive I would agree with him in the matter, he leaned his gun where it could be gotten at handily, for in those days one was like to need his weapon at any instant whether at home or abroad, and set about building a fire.

“It is not probable Girty and his following will come any where near-ahout, ” I said, as if feeling called upon to make some lengthy reply, “ and yet I like not this scarcity of game. What has been abroad here that even the deer have taken to flight ? ”

“Nothing, I am thinking,” Teddy replied carelessly. “More than once before have we traveled thus far without finding meat. Animals, as well as birds, take fancies now and then, which lead them here or there, according to my way of reckoning.”

“ But a band of savages would clear the forest much in the same fashion as we have found it this day,” I replied, whereat he laughed heartily, saying to me that I was grown a coward because Simon Girty had so much as declared his intention of destroying Fort Henry, and added with what was very like a sneer in his tone :

“We would not have wondered at the scarcity

FORT HENRY.

of game save for the rumors we have heard, and like enough there is no foundation for any of those alarming tales which have been brought in. You are timorous with much thinking, Cornie, and unless a bad habit is conquered we are like to go home empty-handed.”

It pained me that my comrade should speak in such a strain, as if my courage was not to be depended upon ; but I made him no answer, because it would have sorrowed me had Teddy McLaughlin and I spoken harsh words one to the other.

While he built the fire I set about making ready the turkey for such a roasting as we could give it in short order, and said, as if believing his speech was no more than a joke :

“ I am willing to remain away from the settlement so long as suits your fancy ; but both you and I have been taught, Teddy McLaughlin, always to find out why anything unusual occurs, lest there may be danger behind it, and he who forgets such lessons as our fathers have given us, is like to lose his scalp.”

“I am not disputing with you about that, Cornie, my boy. He who remains far from home in this part of the country comes mighty near taking his life in his hands. But I am not minded to go back without meat simply because of the rumors. Y ou and I have been hereabout many a time, when we knew there were savages close at hand, and yet we carried home our hair.’ 5

“ Perhaps because we were not so foolish as to build a fire, that there might be no trouble in their finding us.”

“ Yet we cannot go hungry, and raw turkey is little to my taste. You were not so cautious an hour ago. Then it was that we stumbled over what looked to me much like the print of an Indian’s moccasin.”

“It was an old trail,” I replied, “and might have been made by one who is friendly toward us.”

“ Then, what has come over you, lad ? Surely a man who can pass quietly by that which tells him a possible enemy has been near-about, will not let his fancy lay hold of him in such fashion that a stranger might think it cowardice ? ”

“It is nothing, and yet everything, which makes me what you appear to think timorous. Perhaps that trail began the work in my mind, and the wariness of the game where it should be plentiful, has finished it ; at all events the idea has come, and will not be shaken off, that we are in some danger — enough at least to teach us caution.”

FORT HENRY.

I spoke earnestly, for at the moment my mind was so filled with apprehension that fancies had become realities, and Teddy was disturbed by the words, as could be plainly seen.

“ WeTl cover the fire, if it is more to your liking,” he said quickly, and had already begun to separate the burning sticks that the flames might be quenched without too much smoke arising, when I stopped him.

“We may as well have dinner now the fire has been built ; but afterward, whether we decide to push on, or return to the fort, I beg that we proceed as if knowing danger was close at hand.”

I had no more than spoken when a rustling among the underbrush, which told that some heavy body was forcing its way through, caused both of us to grasp our weapons and seek shelter behind the nearest trees which would cover our bodies.

But our fears were soon seen to be groundless.

Four men, clad much like ourselves, in deerskin hunting* shirts and leggings, moccasins, and a closely fitting cap of fur, came through the thicket guided by the smoke from our fire.

With the exception of Simon Girty, and those other two renegades who were as like to him as evil things could be to each other, there were no white men whom we need fear, and, knowing these were honest people, without delay we stepped forward.

Frontiersmen in the wilderness do not practise all the furbelows that fashionable people who live in cities think necessary, and as soon as might be we explained, one party to the other, who we were.

These four who were coming thus incautiously through the thicket, approaching a fire which might have been built by the savages, lived in a small settlement twenty miles or more above ours, and had been out to learn whether there might be any truth in the rumors that the renegade Girty was on the war path with red-skins who were only less savage than himself.

They had with them a haunch of venison, and while this and our turkey was being cooked, we held converse as to the situation, for having met us, these scouts might not now be forced to go out of their way to warn the settlers at Fort Henry, as they proposed to do.

“Yes, that fiend in human form is making ready to revenge himself for having been put into prison at Pittsburg,” Master Mansfield, the eldest of the party, said to Teddy and me while his companions were busying themselves with making ready the dinner. “I am so well con-

FORT HENRY.

vinced we shall have troublous times along the river within a few weeks, that I count on persuading my neighbors to go with their families to Fort Henry. We must expect somewhat the same trials as Boone’s settlement has been undergoing, and too great caution cannot be exercised. Even now I am much mistaken if the renegade’s scouts are not hereabouts, for we have seen more than one sign this day which looked to me suspicious.”

“ And yet you came on toward this fire as if there was nothing to cause alarm,” I ventured to remark.

u We heard your voices while yet some distance away, and therefore knew full well that there was no need of caution in this instance. You may be certain, however, that we have given good heed to our footsteps these last four and twenty hours.”

“ There have been no signs of Indians near-about Fort Henry.”

‘ ‘ It may he I am grown timorous in my old age,” Master Mansfield said reflectively, “and yet, lad, if you have seen none of the painted villains, it doesn’t argue that they are not near-about. You should know them well enough to understand that while they are making ready for such a movement as Girty has on hand, there is little danger of an attack unless a single man comes upon them unawares, and may be killed without fear of giving an alarm. I give you fair warning to take good heed to your steps from this out, and forbear such carelessness as that.”

He pointed to the fire as he spoke, and Teddy retorted laughingly :

“ Even while reading us a reproof, Master Mansfield, you are not so timorous as to neglect the opportunity of cooking your meat.”

“ And for several reasons, lad,” the old man replied with somewhat of sharpness in his tones. “We make a large party, the six of us, larger than the same number of prowling savages would dare to attack, and again, the mischief was done before our coming.”

He said much concerning that which had been learned by him and his comrades, going further into the story than would have been the case but for the fact that he believed himself sending word to our elders at Fort Henry, and preparing them for a considerable addition to our number.

Throughout it all was his evident purpose to impress upon our minds the fact of danger being near at hand, lest we should do some foolish thing in the belief that there was nothing to be feared.

FORT HENRY.

It can well be fancied that by the time he had come to an end Teddy was no longer disposed to speak of my cowardice ; but felt even more timorous than did I, and it needed but a single word from me to convince him we had best return without delay.

After hearing all Master Mansfield and his companions could tell us, there came to my mind the thought that we might do for our parents and our neighbors what would win for us many a good word, and I decided, if my comrade should be willing, to know from our own knowledge how near these savage enemies might be.

Then it was that I said to Master Mansfield, casting a quick glance at Teddy lest he should contradict my words :

“We were sent out for meat and. much of it, perhaps because of what has been told regarding this murderous Girty and his purpose. It is not well that we return to the fort empty-handed, and both of us believe it our duty to discover, if it so be we may, how many Indians are lurking near-about.”

“ Then you do not count on going to the fort at once,” Master Mansfield said, seeing nothing really venturesome in our lingering, because, in

those days, and even now, lads of our age on the 2 frontier were expected to do the work of men in guarding the settlements.

“ Not until eight-and-forty hours have passed,” I replied decidedly, and noted with somewhat of satisfaction that it was Teddy’s turn to give proof of what he had rashly called “ cowardice.”

Then Master Mansfield, after consulting with his friends, decided they had better make the necessary detour in order to pass through our village, because it was proper the people be warned that they were like to have visitors, and he said to us two lads :

“ I will tell at Fort Henry of our meeting ; that you are scouting as well as hunting, and I doubt not but that you will bring back information of value. We who live near-about the river must be on the alert now, if we would save our lives and the lives of those dear to us. Therefore you boys shall do whatsoever you may toward protecting those who have protected you. But have a care to it that you move neither one way nor the other without first finding out if there be enemies in the path.”

SIGNS.

Chapter II. Signs

Master Mansfield and his companions did not linger after the noonday meal had been eaten.

But for the fact that each was so anxious regarding the future, and knew we two lads could act the part of scouts as well as our elders, with the advantage that if we were killed it would not be so serious a matter as if two men of the settlement had fallen under the tomahawk and scalping-knife, I believe of a verity they would have urged us to return to the fort at once in order that they might be spared the additional labor caused by such a deviation from their course.

They had just come up the river, from the direction where it was reasonable to suppose we would go, and had seen what led them to believe that there were Indians in the vicinity ; but we, who had only our two selves to care for, might, in fact ought to, learn beyond a doubt if their fears had a foundation in truth.

We would be on guard for all the settlements within twenty or thirty miles, and these travelers were careful to say nothing which might prevent us from thus assuming the task.

It was when they had departed, leaving Teddy and alone amid the well polished bones which bespoke the vigor of our appetites, that my comrade turned on me in what was very like anger.

“ Had you no care of life, Cornie Dunbar, hut that you must thus send us out on a task which would try the skill of either your father or mine, skilful hunters though they are '{ ”

“ It was no more than you had proposed before they came in sight,” I replied, with a certain secret satisfaction because I had forced him to a show of fear after the scornful words with which he had treated me when I simply counseled prudence.

“ What I had in mind was to get something in the way of meat before turning back.”

“ And it can he done at the same time we are doing that which is our duty,” I replied quietly, whereat he grew more petulant, crying sharply :

“It is the duty of those who have had more experience, Cornie Dunbar, and you told Master Mansfield we would take such a serious task upon ourselves, only that he might think you exceedingly brave.”

SIGNS.

“I made the statement because you had said we should push yet further afield, and if that was true, we could do no less than keep our eyes open for savages, if only in order to save our own hair.”

“I would not have been such a simple as to keep on after knowing what Master Mansfield had to tell,” he replied moodily.

“ Then we can go back. Surely we are no further from home than when we met him.”

“ How may that he after he has gone to the fort to repeat your boasting words ? It would then appear as if we had turned back because our courage failed us.”

4 ‘And wouldn’t that he the truth ?” I asked, feeling bold as Teddy grew timorous.

“Even though it was, I wouldn’t be willing to admit it before all in the settlement.”

“ Particularly Elizabeth Zane,” I said with an assumption of carelessness, and straightway Teddy’s cheeks grew red even beneath the brown laid on by wind and weather, for, although we had never spoken together concerning the matter, it was no secret to me that my comrade believed Ebenezer Zane’s sister made of something better than the other girls of the settlement.

“ Would you care to have her know you were afraid to do what might be in your power to prevent harm from coming upon those in Fort Henry ? ” he asked quickly.

“ I had rather take my chances here alone twice forty-eight hours, with not so much as a huntingknife by way of defense, than admit to her that I oftentimes am well nigh being overcome by fear. If I had her courage, I might already have made myself famous by great deeds.”

“ She would refuse to even so much as look at a lad who gave way to fear, however great the provocation,” Teddy said half to himself, and then, quite ready to speak of her since I had broached the subject, he added to me, “ Because of Elizabeth Zane, but none the less on account of others in the settlement, I must fall in with the mad plan you spoke of to Master Mansfield as if we were already agreed concerning it, and, if the savages be as near as he appeared to think, we may never have an opportunity to see any of them again in this world.”

“ Master Mansfield is not so far on his journey but that we may outstrip him, and thus arrive first,” I suggested.

“Of what avail would that be ? He or some of his companions would ask why we thus suddenly changed our plans, and the fact must be known.

SIGNS.

No, Cornie Dunbar, we are committed to what is little less than a piece of folly, for we are not capable of outwitting the savages as Daniel Boone or Simon Kenton might do. You have made the bed, and we must lie in it.”

Perhaps I had not been so valiant had Teddy shown himself willing to perform the task which, as I am now and was then, ready to admit should have been left to more experienced woodsmen than we lads ; yet as he held back I was the hotter to go forward, and thus because of my own folly did we not only run into grave dangers ; but were nigh to leaving this world forever before having done the. slightest act which might benefit those on the bank of Wheeling Creek.

However, it was destined that we should be of service to our fellow-creatures, hair-brained though it w^as to think of measuring strength and wits with the savage foe, and we came to be looked upon as lads of tried courage when, as a matter of fact, we had no claim to such praise.

Well, that the story may not be too long in the telling, it is best I do not set down all which Teddy and I said before we were prepared to set out on such a hunt as any lad might well shrink from.

It is enough to say that he finally ceased scolding because it now seemed necessary we turn our faces way from home, rather than toward it, and we made ready for the work before us.