ing settled by Colonel Zane and others-Murder of Bald Eagle- Destruction of Stroud's family-Massacre at Bulltown-Skirm- ish at Grave Creek-Destruction of the family of Logan, the Governor Dunmore descends from Fort Pitt-Sends messengers to General Lewis--At the mouth of Hockhocking--Simon Girty ---Old Revolutioners-Retreat of General Lewis--Speech of Cornstalk-Logan's celebrated speech--Difficulties with the In- dians consequent to the American Revolution--Cornstalk visits the fort at Point Pleasant--Retained in the fort--The assassina- Earliest settlements made in Kentucky-Henderson and compa- ny's grant-Character of the pioneers-Girty's attack on Wheel- ing-Fort Crawford, on the Allegheny, built-Fort M'Intosh built-M'Intosh's campaign-Erection of Fort Laurens, and is- sue of the campaign-Colonel Clarke's expedition against the French settlements in Illinois-Capture of Kaskaskia, of Caho- Military men in the west-Colonel Brodhead-Samuel Brady-- Washington's letter-Brodhead's popularity with the Indians--- Indian name conferred upon him-March of Canadian forces against the settlements of Kentucky-Colonel Brodhead's march Moravian campaign—Causes that led to it—Their inhabitants prin- cipally murdered-Crawford's campaign-Encouragement to vol- unteers-Insubordination of the troops on the way--Battle of Sandusky-Retreat of Crawford's men, and dispersion—Crawford and Knight taken prisoners-Simon Girty-Crawford burnt- Sketch of Colonel Crawford-Indian council at Chillicothe-Girty's speech-Attack on Bryant's station--Battle of the Blue Licks-- Wheeling besieged--Adam Poe-Close of the Revolutionary War-Pittsburgh laid off--Hannah's town burnt--Earliest settle- Settlements of Ohio-Harmar's campaign-His defeat and return -St. Clair's expedition-His defeat-Settlements on the Alleghe- ny-Brodhead and Brady-Forts erected on the Allegheny-Mas- sy Harbison-Settlements north-west of the Allegheny-Freeport Simon Girty-Character and causes of desertion-His attack on Wheeling-Rescues Kenton-His battle at the Piqua Towns- Present at the burning of Colonel Crawford-His speech before a grand council of the Indians at Chillicothe-His attack on Bryant's Station and battle of the Blue Licks-His subsequent HISTORY OF THE BACKWOODS; OR THE REGION OF THE OHIO. CHAPTER I. The Backwoods-Discovery of the Ohio comparatively late--Spaniards at the mouth of the Ohio, at an early period--French migrate to the St. Lawrence-Their missionaries along the lakes-Indian tales of a great river in the west-Marquette and Joliet sent to explore itMississippi discovered-La Salle's expedition-Illinois colonized—early name of the Ohio-French along the Wabash-First voyaguers on La Belle Riviere. THE primitive name bestowed by the early pioneer on the Western country, may be new, as seemingly inappropriate, to many within its limits at the present time; however, a quarter of a century has little more than elapsed since the fertile valley extending westward from the mountains, in Pennsylvania and Virginia, was still familiarly known as the "Backwoods." The earliest permanent Anglo-settlements in the west, being made on the Ohio, towards its sources, this portion of the country, more particularly, continued to retain the rude, but early name; which it still bore, even at a time, when, with strict propriety, it might only have been applied to the forests of Missouri. A comparatively long period elapsed after the colonization of the continent, on the northern and eastern coasts, before this portion of it seems to have become known. The Spaniards, as early as the beginning of the sixteenth century, landed on the coast of Florida; and in 1539, one of their adventurous discoverers, the restless De Soto, at the head of "nine hundred steel-clad warriors," penetrated to the Mississippi. Where wandering "in search of gold, of civilized Indians, and of miraculous fountains," fearlessly encountering the dangers of the forests, and the hostilities of the natives, the unfortunate adventurer, at length, lost his life; and his men, to a considerable extent, became dispersed; some of whom, it is supposed, reached the Ohio, as a tradition was extant among the Kaskaskia Indians, many years afterwards, that they had destroyed the first white men they had ever seen. This, is probably the earliest notice we have of the west being visited by Europeans. The next is by the French, after the lapse of a long period. The south being occupied by the Spaniards, principally in pursuit of discoveries, and the east Atlantic coast by other nations, the attention of the French was naturally directed to the north; where their 'settlements were accordingly commenced. They founded Quebec in 1608, two years after Jamestown was built by the English, on the coast of Virginia. However, a long period had still to elapse before adventurers, from either of the infant colonies, had even crossed the intermediate wilderness, or, perhaps, heard of the great valley of the west. INDIAN TALES OF A GREAT RIVER IN THE WEST. 7 The French emigrants bearing the cross with them to the banks of the St. Lawrence, their reverend fathers eagerly pushed forward into the depths of the forests, in pursuit of their sacred labors, among the natives. By the untiring industry of these missionaries, discoveries were soon made along the great lakes of the north, and eventually, through the country to the south-west. About sixty years after their settlements were commenced, and when they had already extended to the Ontario, a grand series of discoveries to the north-west, was commenced under the auspices of the government, which finally led to the exploration of our own portion of the western valley. For some time their missionaries and traders among the Indians on the upper lakes, had been told, that, far to the sunset, was a great river, which "neither flowed to the north nor to the east,' "* but of its source or termination they knew nothing. And many were the strange tales told of the "endless river," which they had seen in their long excursions, but no information of it could be given by them, further than it was a stream of mighty appearance, and its waters seemed to flow in a contrary direction to those of the lakes. The French, enchanted with these strange accounts, and ever ready to set out on adventurous expeditions, were soon resolved on a journey to the "great river." It was thought it must discharge its waters into the western seas, and if so, a north-western passage through it to the East Indies, might be effected. It therefore became a matter of great moment, to ascertain something definite concerning it. Accordingly Father Marquette, a recollet monk, who had been a missionary among the *Charlevoix. |