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
As soon as the intelligence of the approach of the Indians, was
communicated by these men, Col. Donnelly had the neighbors all advised
of it; and in the course of the night, they collected at his house. He
also dispatched a messenger to Capt. John Stuart, to acquaint him with
the fact; and made every preparation to resist attack and ensure their
safety, of which his situation admitted. Pryor and Hammond told them
how, by the precaution of Captain McKee, the garrison at Point
Pleasant had been saved from suffering by the want of water; and
advised them to lay in a plentiful supply, of that necessary article.
A hogshead was accordingly filled and rolled behind the door of the
kitchen, which adjoined the dwelling house.
Early next morning, John Pritchet (a servant to Col. Donnelly) went
out for some firewood, and while thus engaged, was fired at and
killed. The Indians then ran into the yard, and endeavored to force
open the kitchen door; but Hammond and Dick Pointer (a negro belonging
to Col. Donnelly) who were the only persons within, aided by the
hogshead of water, prevented their accomplishing this object. They
next proceeded to cut it in pieces, with their tomahawks. Hammond
seeing that they would soon succeed in this way, with the assistance
of Dick, rolled the hogshead to one side, and letting the door
suddenly fly open, killed the Indian at the threshold, and the others
who were near gave way. Dick then fired among them, with a musket
heavily charged with swan shot, and no doubt with effect, as the yard
was crowded with the enemy; a war club with a swan shot in it, was
afterwards picked up near the door.
The men in the house, who were asleep at the commencement of the
attack, being awakened at the firing of Hammond and Dick, now opened a
galling fire upon the Indians. Being chiefly up stairs they were
enabled to do greater execution, and fired with such effect that,
about one o'clock, the enemy retired a small distance from the house.
Before they retired however, some of them succeeded in getting under
the floor, when they were aided by the whites below in raising some of
the puncheons of which it was made. It was to their advantage to do
this; and well did they profit by it. Several of the Indians were
killed in this attempt to gain admittance, while only one of the
whites received a wound, which but slightly injured his hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account