Lincoln County, Missouri - Chapter 2: Indian Affairs and War of 1812, 1888

Chapter 2: Indian Affairs and War of 1812

In connection with the early settlement of Lincoln County, Dr. Mudd, in his history in the county atlas, gives an extensive account of the conduct of the "wild men of the forest," from which the following has been largely obtained.

There were many settlements of the Sac and Fox Indians within the limits of the county at that time, and the district watered by the two Cuivres and Big and Peruque Creeks was one of the favorite hunting grounds of the two tribes, whose head quarters were in the Rock River country in Illinois. Black Hawk, or Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, the name by which he was known among his people, one of the most celebrated braves that ever lived, frequented this county, first on the hunt, and afterward on the bloody trail of war. He was popular with the whites, and liked their company; he was particularly fond of attending the dancing parties of that day and took his place in the quadrille with infinite zest. He had a partiality for strong drink, and much of his leisure time was spent at the still-houses which were then considered the vanguard of civilization. He lived for some time with Adam Zumwalt, whose capacious larder, the generous and free hospitality of himself and wife, his four daughters, Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary, and Catharine, pretty, lively, and ever ready for the dance; his four sons, John, Andrew, Jonathan and Solomon, vigorous, full of life and spirit, and excelling as hunters, and last but not least, the two still-houses near by, all combined to render this a most agreeable home for Black Hawk, when resting from the excitement and fatigue of the chase. He was oftqn very drunk; but in all his intercourse with the whites, drunk or sober, his bearing was gentle and dignified, characteristic of his kindness of disposition and greatness of intellect. Black Hawk was perhaps more friendly townrd the whito people than any other Indian, certainly more so thai] the most of them; but he was not a chief, and it was about twenty-five years afterward, when he had nearly reached his sixtieth year, and his eminent wisdom in

The attitude of the Indians was exceedingly threatening and dangerous toward the first settlers of Lincoln County. From the first, they and the whites regarded each other with more or less suspicion. The Indians would sometimes drive off horses, kill stock and fire into the houses of the settlers. On one occasion they shot at two of Maj. Clark's children in the door, and one of the balls came within six inches of the mark, and at another time shot and killed a horse in his stable. Maj. Clark (more extended mention of whom appears in Chapter III) had long before learned to be cautious and wary in his dealings with the savages, the result of his frontier campaigns in Kentucky. While returning from Kentucky the second time, in 1800, bringing with him his black girl, and within a short distance from home, he camped one night with three Indians. Everything passed off quietly until next morning, when one of the Indians wanted to trade rifles with the Major, nolens volens. The Major let the Indian's gun fall, held on to his own with a strong grasp, and by a sudden twist loosened the hold of the would-be trader. Springing out of the reach of the Indian's knife, should he attempt to use one, he put himself in an attitude of defense, and cast a look of defiance at the red men, whose eyes fell before his keen glance. He then left without further ceremony than to keep a close watch on their movements as long as he was in sight of them. In speaking of this incident afterward, the Major said that he made up his mind that his bones should bleach on that camp ground before he gave up his gun. At his settlement in this county it was his invariable custom to place his gun and butcher-knife at the head of his bed every night, and to have the ax brought into the house. In the morning he would reconnoiter some distance from the house in every direction to see if any of the redskins were lurking in the bush. This vigilance was the more necessary on account of his isolated situation. Sometimes

is possible here that Dr. Mudd has unintentionally attributed in a measure to Black Hawk the character of Keokuk, chief of the Foxes, for it is well known that the latter was always, and especially during a period including the Black Hawk War, very friendly with the whites, while Black Hawk was hostile. Keokuk was also very fond of whisky and exceedingly fond of all manner of sporting. It is claimed by citizens of the extreme northeast part of this State, who personally knew Black Hawk before and after his war of 1812, that he was not a dissipated man. However, it may be true that the character assigned him by Dr. Mudd was correct at the time alluded to - that is before the War of 1812.

for the space of six weeks he saw not a white face outside of his own family. The Indians called Maj. Clark the "man with the big hands," and often threatened to kill him because he spoiled iheir hunting grounds. The Major never believed, however, that they really intended to kill him, because they had so many opportunities. Their object was rather to intimidate the whites, and to prevent by that means a further encroachment on their territory.

Except the massacre of the McHugh children, there is no authentic account of any murders of any white persons by the Indians, prior to the breaking out of the War of 1812. Doubtless some were perpetrated, as some of the descendants of the pioneers remember to have heard the facts so stated; but names and circumstances are alike forgotten. In 1801 William McHugh sent his sons James, William and Jesse, to hunt the horses, which they found about a mile from home, up Sandy Creek. On their return they fell in with Frederick Dixon, a famous Indian scout. The two older boys were each riding a horse, and Jesse, a lad of ten or twelve, got up behind Dixon. At the ford of Sandy Creek, a short distance below where the bluff from Cap-au-Gris to New Hope now crosses the stream, they were fired upon by the Indians, who were concealed behind a large sycamore. The two oldest boys were instantly killed. Dixon's horse made a spring up the bank, breaking the girth and throwing the riders to the ground. They sprang to their feet and lied for their lives. Jesse McHugh could not keep up with Dixon, and he kept crying out, "Oh, Mr. Dixon, don't leave me! Don't leave me!" In spite of his piteous appeals for help, and his own strong sympathy for the unhappy youth, Dixon kept on, knowing thai to do otherwise would

He said that he should never forget tin1 agonizing shrieks of the poor little fellow, mingled with the demoniac yells of the savag as they cleft his skull with their tomahawks. Dixon was pursued to McHugh's fence. The three boys were buried in one grave, on a high point of land near the place of their murder, on the placing split puncheons around them for a coffin, and then cut their initials on a white oak tree, and his own on another, the two standing on either side of the grave. These trees, with the marks nearly grown over, have been seen by persons now living in the vicinity, but they have disappeared. Capt. Stonebreaker cut the last remaining one for a saw log some thirty years ago. The bluff road at this point is a part of the first public road laid off in this county. It was located in the early part of the War of 1812 as a military road from Fort Howard in this county to Fort Madison, on the Mississippi River, in Iowa.

The Indians claimed that the massacre of the McHugh boys was done out of revenge for a difficulty with some white men a short time previous, in which three dogs belonging to the Indians were killed. The murdering party numbered only four or five, and is supposed to have been under the command of Black Hawk himself. Black Hawk, in his "Life," written at his own dictation, says nothing about this; but many rangers who had taken part in the War of 1812, and who read Black Hawk's life when it was written in 1833, claimed that the narrative was not strictly true in several matters to their own knowledge, but was rather an apology than a correct history, Black Hawk having committed many acts of which his natural nobility of character was ashamed. The impression that Black Hawk commanded the party referred to, has this authority: a brother of the murdered boys lived many years afterward near the Iowa River in the country frequented by the Sacs, and it -came to his ears that Black Hawk on several occasions boasted of being concerned in this particular exploit. On the whole, the weight of testimony is against the probability of Black Hawk's participation in the affair. McHugh declared his determination to ascertain the truth of the matter, and if Black Hawk was really concerned in the murder of his brothers, to avenge their blood by shedding his. It is scarcely probable that he failed to satisfy himself. There is also strong reason to believe that Black Hawk was then at home in the Sac village.

At this time the Sacs held a council and sent Quash-qua-me, Pa-she-pa-ho, Ou-che-qua-ka, and Ha-she-quar-hi-qua, four of their principal civil chiefs, to St. Louis, to ransom a captive who was in prison for killing a white man. This they expected to do by paying a sufficient sum of money to satisfy the relatives of the murdered man, thus "covering up the blood," according to their own custom. This delegation was gone long enough to excite the apprehensions of the tribe. It finally returned with many presents, and told that a treaty for land had been signed ; that the prisoner was let out of prison, when he started to run and was shot dead, and that great quantities of the white men's fire-water had been drunk. The result of this embassy was not at all satisfactory to the tribe. The inference is a reasonable one that these four Indians, realizing that they had failed in the purpose for which they were sent, and that they had exceeded their instructions in consequence of their prolonged sprees, during which they were outwitted by the whites, were determined on some specific act of revenge, and that they were the men who perpetrated the bloody massacre.

The apprehensions of the early settlers as to the Indian attitude were greatly increased by the intelligence of the declaration of war between this country and Great Britain. The exposed condition of the inhabitants would invite the hostile attention of the ^ve or six tribes, who considered this county and adjacent territory as their hunting ground. It was expected that these would make common cause with the British. The declaration was made by Congress on the 12th of June, 1812 ; and when it became known, the people lost no time in providing for the defense of their homes. Stockade forts were built at convenient points. Maj. Clark, with the assistance of two hired men, built a stockade at his residence, and it was called Clark's Fort. It took six weeks to complete it, the three working every day except two Sundays. When done the Major put up 7,000 pounds of pork to cure, with other provisions for the use of those families that would seek shelter within its walls after being driven from their homes. A large stockade was built at Troy, and called Woods' Fort. It was built on the lands of Deacon Joseph Cottle and Zadock Woods, and took in the spring. Stout's Fort was built on Fort Branch, near Auburn. A large stockade was built on what is now called the Tinbrook place, and known before that as the Samuel Bailey place. * * * It stood on the bluff north of the intersection of the bluff road with that leading from Chain of Rocks to Cap au Gris, and not far back of the Cave Spring where until recently stood the house erected by Samuel Bailey. This was called Fort Howard, in honor of Benjamin Howard, who was governor of this Territory, but resigned November 29, 1812, to engage in the war as brigadier-general. At the time of his appointment as governor, September 19, 1810, he was member of Congress from Kentucky. He was an efficient military officer. He died at St. Louis September 18, 1814. During the war he made one or two visits to the fort. He complimented the people for having made the best selection and built the best fort in his district. He was a large, fine looking man, and wore a buckskin coat or hunting shirt plentifully adorned with fringe.

As far as known, most of the rangers who volunteered from this county served in the companies of Capt. Christopher Clark of this county, and of Capt. (afterwar" colonel) Daniel W. Boone, Capt. Nathan Boone, and Capt James Callaway, the last a grandson, and the other two yons of Daniel Boone, all of St. Charles County. A few were under Capt. Craig, who was killed in this county, but where he came from is not known. Lieutenant (afterward General and President) Taylor, of the regular army, had his headquarters at Woods' Fort, and under his command were quite a number of the citizens of this county, including Zadock Woods, the Cottles and Collards ; but whether it was the last year of the war, or just after the war ended, it is not now known. David Bailey, Jonathan Biggs and John McNair, all of this county, were lieutenants in active service. Before the war ended Bailey was promoted to the command of a company, with the rank of captain. Biggs was a man of undaunted courage, but of cool judgment. He was frequently intrusted with the command, and on many occasions his sagacity and knowledge of Indian methods of warfare saved the lives of his men. McNair, son of Kobert McNair and nephew to Gov. McNair, was a good soldier, and a brave but rash man. He saw a good deal of service in Illinois. He was killed in a skirmish opposite Cap-au-Gris. The campaign of the Lincoln County Rangers extended from the Missouri River to past the Iowa line, principally in the vicinity of the Mississippi River.

Attack By Black Hawk

In the latter part of the year 1812 Black Hawk was commissioned brigadier-general in the British army, and wished to descend at once upon these settlements; but Gen. Proctor would not consent until after the second unsuccessful siege of Fort Meigs, which ended in July, 1813. Black Hawk then came down, as he says, with thirty braves ; but the rangers of that day said that he had a much larger force. His avowed purpose was to avenge the death of his adopted son, whom he said was killed by the whites. He divided his force, and he and a party landing near Cap-au-Gris, came across the bottom, and reached the bluff in the vicinity of McLane's Creek; the other party ascended Cuivre and made a feint on Fort Howard. Benjamin Allen, Francis Riffle, Frederick Dixon, Roswell Durgee, John Lindsey and William McHugh went up to Lindsey Lick, a place since owned by Joel Crenshaw and John Averall, under the escort of five rangers*, among whom was James Bowles, to sow turnips. It was the custom in those troublous times to keep the families in the forts, while the men would go out under a guard to work in the fields cultivating and gathering crops. The party, not fearing any immediate danger, was somewhat scattered. Dixon and Durgee were riding on one horse along a path, on the side of which Black Hawk and another Indian were concealed. When they got within reach the Indians fired, mortally wounding Durgee. The horse jumped, and both men fell to the ground. Black Hawk started in pursuit of Dixon, who arose and ran. The latter ran over a pile of new rails, when, as he was about to be overtaken, he picked up a stout stick and turned to defend himself. As he did so Black Hawk saw his face. He says in his Life, "I know him. He had been at Quash-qua-me's village, to learn his people how to plow. We looked upon him as a good man. I did not wish to kill him, and pursued him no further."

In the meantime the ranger Bowles was killed. Before the alarm had been given, the boys, Edwin Allen, Chauncy Durgee, John Ewing, and John McLane were bathing in the creek. When the firing began Benjamin Allen galloped up, took his son Edward on the horse, and telling the other boys to hide, rode off. The little fellows lost no time in hurrying out of the water, and finding on the bank a large hollow log, crawled into it. Black Hawk, in turning from the pursuit of Dixon, heard the noise and sprang upon the log. Chauncy Durgee afterward said that he looked through a knot-hole and saw the Indian, who seemed to be looking him right in the eye, but that he turned off without discovering them.

Black Hawk said that he saw the boys, but thought of his own boys at home, and let them escape. Dixon soon recovered his horse, and found Durgee and attempted to help him mount, but the latter being severely wounded and scalped, had partially lost the use of his reason, and could not be made to comprehend what was desired of him. Finally he took hold of the horse's tail, and Dixon made him understand that he was to hold fast and travel as rapidly as he could. After going about a hundred yards his hold relaxed and he fell back. Dixon being hare* pressed made his escape. Black Hawk and his companions came across Durgee. He says, " The latter was staggering like a drunken man all covered with blood. This was the most terriblesight I had ever seen. I told my comrades to kill him to put out of his misery; I could not look at him."

Fight Near Fort Howard

Not long after the foregoing incident a rise took place in the Mississippi River, and the back water came up from Cuivre along the bluff. A party from Fort Howard went out in three skip's for some purpose. They had not gone far before they were fired upon by a party of Black Hawk's band, and seven men killed, among whom was George Burnes, son of James Burnes, who settled on Sandy Creek, as already mentioned. The survivors put back, and the Indians rejoined Black Hawk. The latter expected an attack and formed his men in line, himself standing boldly in front. This was scarcely done before the rangers, who had heard the firing from the fort, were seen advancing with great impetuosity, led by Capt. Craig. Black Hawk took deliberate aim and fired, and Capt. Craig fell dead from his horse. The rangers never halted, but fired as they advanced and killed five of the oloodthirsty savages. Then, without taking time to reload, the Indians retreated into a sink-hole, the bottom of which was covered with bushes, which afforded protection from the fire of the rangers. They also dug holes with their knives in the sides of the depression, which gave them a pretty safe shelter. A desultory firing from both sides was kept up for some time. William McCormick, one of the rangers, declared that he was going to kill an Indian, and that he would shoot him in the mouth. He carried out the boast exactly, he and several others going up to the edge of the sink-hole for that purpose. The others fired without effect. The fire was returned, killing Lieut. Spears on the brink and mortally wounding McCormick.

Black Hawk thus continues the narrative: "Some of my warriors commenced singing their death-songs. I heard the whites talking and called to them to come out and fight. I did not like my situation, and wished the matter settled. I soon heard chopping and knocking ; I could not imagine what they were doing. Soon after they ran up wheels with a battery on it, and fired down without hurting any of us. I called to them again, and told them if they were brave men to come down and fight us. They gave up the siege and returned to the fort about dusk. There were eighteen in this trap with me. We all got out safer, and found one, white man dead on the edge of the sinkhole. They could not remove him for fear of our fire. We scalped him and placed our dead man upon him. We could not have left him in a better situation than on an enemy. ' The "battery" was a keg of powder, to which was attached a fuse, and placed on the fore wheels of a wagon. This was run up to the brink, and intended to be pushed down into the midst of the Indians, but it exploded prematurely. The abandonment of the siege, which had continued from early in the day, was the result of a false alarm. This sink-hole was not a great distance from the fort, and is only a few yards from the Chain of Rocks and Cap-au-Gris road. Near by is a large spring, known to this day as the Black Hawk Spring. When the rangers returned to the fort, some of them brought the head of one of the fallen savages and stuck it upon a pole. Being without an officer, and in need of re-enforcements, they sent for Capt. Whiteside, who came the next day and had the pole taken down and the head buried. Black Hawk and his party abandoned their canoes and returned to Iowa by land, taking with them only two scalps, those of Durgee and Lieut. Spears. The body of the Lieutenant was found where he fell, with the dead Indian sitting astride it.

Massacre Of The O'Neal Family

Chauncey Durgee, one of the boys who hid in the log as before mentioned, moved to Canton, in this State, and died some years ago. John Ewing, who was one of his companions in the log, was a son of William Ewing, who, when his wife died, divided out his children, giving the youngest, Willie, a boy not quite two years old, to Mrs. O'Neal, whose husband had moved a few years before to a place three miles above Clarksville. At the beginning of the war O'Neal and his neighbors were engaged in building a stockade, where Clarksville now stands. On returning home in the evening O'Neal saw the hogs dragging some object down the path, quite a distance from the cabin. It was the body of his eldest daughter, seventeen years of age. The whole family, consisting of his wife and nine children, and the Ewing boy, had been massacred. Most of the bodies were found in the yard. Hanging over the fire was a large kettle, which Mrs. O'Neal had been using to heat water for washing. In this kettle O'Neal's youngest child, a mere infant, was thrown alive and literally roasted. Willie Ewing had been thrown on the fire, beneath the kettle, where his body was found partially consumed. This horrible butchery was perpetrated by a band of Pottawattomies. The next year this tribe made peace with the Americans after the defeat at Maiden. Many of them were in the habit of visiting Fort Clark, at Peoria, 111., while going on their hunting excursions down the Sangamon. One of the band, who visited the fort frequently, became very friendly, and loved to talk of his exploits during the time his tribe was at war with the whites. In one of his talks he told of having led the party that massacred

This came to the ears of Lieut. John McNair, who lived in Troy before he enlisted, but was then in Fort Clark. McNair said, "The next time I see him I'll make him grin." The next day the Indian came back. McNair was asleep at the time. When he awoke he was told that the Indian had just gone. Inquiring the way, he gave immediate pursuit. He got almost upon the Indian before each saw the other. From the manner of his pursuer, the Indian saw that the matter was one of life or death, and prepared himself for defense. McNair got the first shot, and sent a ball crashing through the skull of the savage. Near the close of the war, Lieut. McNair was stationed at Cap-au-Gris, where Capt. Musick had command. A force of Indians came down on the Illinois side. Hearing of this the Lieutenant took six men and crossed over to reconnoiter, against the advice and caution of Frederick Dixon, who was familiar with the ways of the savages. They had not proceeded far from the river when four of their number were killed and McNair severely wounded. He and the other two men, Burnside and Webber, made for the skiff. The Indians reaching the boat first, sunk it. The white men plunged into the river, and the Indians after them. Webber being overtaken, plunged his hunting knife so deep into the breast of his pursuer that he could not withdraw it. He and Burnside reached a drift, where they were rescued by Dixon, David Lamaster and Thomas McNair, John's brother. Lieut. McNair was never afterward seen.

A Joke With Sad Results

A party of rangers going from Fort Howard to Madison, on the bluff road, camped one night at a house on Hurricane Creek that had been lately abandoned. They found some provisions and a barrel of honey beer, of which they partook freely. The next morning, after marching a mile or more, the party concluded they must have some more beer, and sent about a dozen men back to get it, agreeing at the same time to march slowly, so as to be easily overtaken. As soon as the men started back, the onward party decided to have some fun, and to this end they deployed themselves in an ambush in such a manner as to make as large a show of strength as possible, intending to give their comrades a good scare when they returned with the beer, and then laugh at them. The result was not according to programme - the scare being changed to the other side. Presently the dozen rangers were seen coming along the road, happy in the possession of their beer and anticipating no danger. Their friends in ambush, at the proper moment, fired their guns in the air, raised the Indian yell, and kept up scattering volleys. The surprised men fell back with some disorder, which was keenly relished by their comrades in ambush. They rallied, and believing that they were attacked by concealed Indians, advanced and poured a well directed volley into the bush from whence came the heaviest firing. The command came out sharp and clear, " Load, boys, and let the red devils have it again.'' And again the leaden hail rattled through the brush. The fun had now lost all its charm. Several of the originators of it had been wounded, though not seriously, and they realized that they were in imminent danger. The other party was so intent upon the work of self-defense that all the shouting and hallooing could not make them understand the real situation. Finally some of the party in the bush rushed into the midst of the others and explained the affair. The wounded men were cared for, the beer was drank, and every man pledged himself not to engage in a practical joke of that kind again during his life. Pain and sadness took the place of the anticipated laugh.

Death Of Lynn And Keightley

William Lynn, who lived where Brown's addition to Troy is situated, was a ranger, and at one time on duty at Fort Howard. He was fond of his dram and used to keep his bottle hid out. One day he took his usual walk to enjoy his bottle and was in the act of drinking, when he was shot and killed by the Indians. Abraham Keightley, of St. Charles County, while hunting his horses, crossed Cuivre at White's Bar, about a mile above Chain of Pocks, and when a few yards from the river, on the land between Maj. H. Anderson and Francis Freise, was killed by the savages. His son, who died near Troy a few years ago, pre- served his vest which showed the mark of the fatal bullet. Samuel Groshong, son of Jeremiah Groshong, was wounded in the shoulder, which caused a paralysis of the arm that lasted for several years. This occurred near Moscow, which vicinity was greatly infested by the Indians. After this five men were detailed from Clark's Fort to guard Groshong' s mill. Among these was Peter Pugh, who used to declare that he would die before he would run from the Indians. He was a very pleasant and agreeable man, had been in several engagements and possessed an excellent reputation for courage. How well he kept his vow will be seen further on.

Expedition To Relieve Prairie Du Chien

The disastrous attempt to relieve Prairie du Chien, was made early in the spring of 1814. The expedition consisted of three flat boats of soldiers, forty-two regulars under Lieut. Campbell, and sixty-five rangers, mostly from this county, under the command of Lieuts. Biggs and Hector, and one or two boats loaded with provisions. At the rapids Campbell's boat grounded, and the other two passed on. Black Hawk attacked Campbell's boat, set it on fire and killed several of the men. Seeing this the other two boats put back, Biggs' getting aground and being delayed nearly an hour. Rector ran his boat alongside of Campbell's and took off the men. The Indians attacked them with great fury, causing considerable confusion among the soldiers, rendering their fire ineffectual, and preventing a proper management of the boat. Biggs, after getting his boat off, concealed most of his men, handled his boat as if he were panic stricken, but managed to get it between the rest of the force and the Indians. The latter poured several volleys into it, to which Biggs paid no attention, but keeping up the show of utter demoralization, ran his boat toward the shore where the Indians stood. As soon as it touched, the savages rushed pell-mell for it, anticipating an easy triumph, but they found it a hornet's nest. Biggs saw his opportunity. At his orders the men rose and delivered a volley that sent the savages flying from the scene of battle. This diversion allowed the other boats time to recover, and they proceeded with all dispatch down the river. Lieut. Riggs hoisted sail and followed them, without having lost a man. The expedition returned to Cap-au-Gris. Two or three from Lincoln County were killed in this action, one of them being Peter Harpole, who was killed in Campbell's boat. The total loss was twelve killed and between twenty and thirtywounded. Black Hawk, in speaking of the conduct of Lieut. Riggs, says: " I had a good opinion of this war chief; he managed so much better than the others. It would give me pleasure to shake him by the hand."

In April, 1814, Joseph McCoy, Sr., and his nephew, Joseph McCoy, Jr., and James McCoy, the first two being commonly known respectively as Big Joe and Little Joe, the latter a son-inlaw of Maj. Christopher Clark, were sent from Fort Howard to find the whereabouts of the Indians. They went to Sulphur Lick, a spring strongly impregnated with sulphur, iron, salt and other minerals. It is situated about a quarter of a mile east of North Cuivre, and a mile and a half north of the Riggs Ford, on Section 3, Township 49, Range 1 west. The place had been settled some time before the war, a cabin built, and a small patch of ground cleared around the spring, but at this time it had been abandoned. The mineral water made the spring a favorable resort for deer. On this occasion no Irdians were seen, and the scouts concluded to take a hunt. They unsaddled their horses and turned them in the old field to graze. Big Joe was not very well; he lay down in the lap of a fallen tree and went to sleep. James McCoy had killed a deer, and was at the spring washing out his gun. The Indians fired on him, wounding him in the thigh, and ran him about 300 yards, where they overtook and killed him. Big Joe awoke at the sound of the firing, but could not get a good chance to shoot, as the Indians were running about through the woods. Presently he was discovered, and as the savages closed in on him, he made a run for life. He was the fleetest footed and most active of all the rangers. A big Indian, swift footed and active, soon distanced his fellows, and held McCoy a tight race for a mile or so. A large oak had been felled, and the branches lay directly in the path. Without swerving in the least, Big Joe made a terrific spring and leaped entirely over the tree top. The Indian stopped in amazement: "Whoop! Heap big jump! Me no follow!" McCoy's speed never slackened until he had gone several miles.

Little Joe was standing on the bank of the Lick Branch about a quarter of a mile below the spring when his brother was killed. He went up fco the old field, caught and saddled his horse, and, finding the coast clear, went in the direction of the fort, leading the other two horses. He sent word to Maj. Clark. There were only two men in the fort besides the Major, Isaac White (who had both thumbs shot off a short time previous while in the act of firing, in a skirmish below Cap-au-Gris, where the rangers were driven back by the superior force) and David Mc- Nair. Maj. Clark collected eight men and gave pursuit. He followed the Indians some distance up North Cuivre to a point where they separated. It is said there were twenty-seven of the savages. Some time after this Peter Pugh and Bobert McNair, the latter being a mere boy, and a brother to Lieut. John Mc- Nair, went to the same lick to hunt horses. The Indians attacked them and killed both. They might have easily escaped by a timely retreat, but Pugh dismounted, put his gun across his horse, and fought until he died. He killed four Indians. The savages, in revenge for his bloody work, hacked his body to pieces, and scattered it over the field. The remains were collected and buried with the body of young McNair on the bank of the lick stream.*

Defeat And Death Of Capt. Callaway

In March, 1815, Capt. James Callaway, with a body of rangers from Woods' Fort, was encamped on Loutre Island, in what is now Montgomery County. One night the Indians made a sudden dash into the camp and captured about thirty horses. The next day, being the ninth of the month, the Captain divided his men, leaving one detachment on guard, and with the other started in pursu.it of the depredators. After following the Indian trail some twelve miles or more, Loutre Creek was crossed, and the

*Thus far the history of the War of 1812, pertaining to Lincoln County, has been principally copied, with some changes in the language, from Dr. Mudd's account of it as given in (he county atlas. Quotation marks have been omitted because of the changes of the language, which have been made to adapt it to the present horses were discovered tied close together, but not an Indian was visible. Capt. Callaway proposed to advance and secure them at once ; but Lieut. Riggs, who was with the command, objected to this for fear of being led into a trap, and volunteered to make a reconnoissance. This being agreed to, he rode entirely around the horses, examined the ground, and returned without seeing an Indian. Being now satisfied that the enemy was not concealed within range of the horses, the command advanced and secured them, and turned about to go back to camp. The whole affair looked very suspicious ; Riggs advised returning by another route, but the Captain refused to act upon this advice, and started back on the same route on which he went out. Loutre Creek was recrossed, and the trail was followed down its banks and under the bluffs for several hundred yards. In this narrow defile a murderous fire was received from the concealed Indians. The rangers were thrown into confusion and disorder, from which the Captain, by his coolness and bravery, soon extracted them and made a desperate resistance; but their courage and desperate fighting were unavailing. The Captain and a large number of his men were killed. The command now devolved upon Lieut. Riggs, who, with the remnant of the command, cut his way out and returned to camp. The next day a party of rangers went out from the fort and buried the dead. The scene of their mangled forms was appalling.

Woods' Fort. - During the war twenty-five or thirty families took refuge in this fort. Among the men the following names have been preserved: Jacob Null and his son, John, Joseph Cottle, Joseph Collard and his son Elijah, Alambe and Job named Paris. These names have been preserved through the memory of John Null, who was then a boy. He remembered the Paris family on account of a fight between Mrs. Paris and another woman at the spring. This fight caused a considerable sensation in the fort.

During the War of 1812 many skirmishes with the Indians, and other incidents took place, which have been lost to history. No doubt but that many others, not herein mentioned, were killed. The sufferings of the early settlers during that period, from hunger and other privations, not to mention the anguish and grief of the friends of the slain, can now scarcely be imagined. The hardy pioneers labored hard, and fought their way in the midst of savages, to subdue the wilderness and make homes for their children and the succeeding generations. Their memory should be revered by all.