Chronicles of border warfare : $b or, A history of the settlement by the whites, of north-western Virginia, and of the Indian wars and massacres, in that section of the stateWithers, Alexander Scott
History
Chronicles of border warfare : $b or, A history of the settlement by the whites, of north-western Virginia, and of the Indian wars and massacres, in that section of the state
Withers, Alexander Scott
Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1750-1815; Ohio River Valley -- History -- To 1795; West Virginia -- History -- To 1950
On the day after the arrival of Ellinipsico, and while he was yet in
the garrison, two men, from Captain Hall's company of Rockbridge
volunteers, crossed the Kenhawa river on a hunting excursion. As they
were returning to the canoe for the purpose of recrossing to the Fort,
after the termination of the hunt, Gilmore was espied by two Indians,
concealed near the bank, who fired at, killed and scalped him. At that
instant, Captains Arbuckle and Stuart (the latter having accompanied
the Greenbrier volunteers as a private soldier) were standing on the
point opposite to where lay the canoe in which Hamilton and Gilmore
had crossed the river; and expressed some astonishment that the men
should be so indiscreet as to be shooting near to the encampment,
contrary to commands. They had scarcely time to express their
disapprobation at the supposed violation of orders, when Hamilton was
seen running down the bank of the river, and heard to exclaim, that
Gilmore was killed. A party of Captain Hall's men immediately sprang
into a canoe and went over to relieve Hamilton from danger, and to
bring the body of Gilmore to the encampment. Before they relanded with
the bloody corpse of Gilmore, a cry arose, "let us go and kill the
Indians in the fort;" and pale with rage they ascended the bank, with
captain Hall at their head, to execute their horrid purpose. It was
vain to remonstrate. To the interference of Captains Arbuckle and
Stuart to prevent the fulfilling of this determination, they
responded, by cocking their guns, and threatening instant death to any
one who should dare to oppose them.
The interpreter's wife, (who had lately returned from Indian
captivity, and seemed to entertain a feeling of affection for
Cornstalk and his companions) seeing their danger, ran to their cabin
to apprise them of it, and told them that Ellinipsico was charged with
having brought with him the Indians who had killed Gilmore. This
however he positively denied, averring that he came alone, and with
the sole object of learning something of his father. In this time
Captain Hall and his men had arrived within hearing, and Ellinipsico
appeared much agitated. Cornstalk however, encouraged him to meet his
fate composedly, saying, "my son, the Great Spirit has seen fit that
we should die together, and has sent you here to that [154] end. It is
his will and let us submit;--it is all for the best;" and turning to
meet his murderers at the door, received seven bullets in his body and
fell without a groan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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