This fearful outrage against the red man brought on a war in which occurred one of the most remarkable battles between the two races that has ever been fought in our history. The event, for some reason, has not attracted the attention it deserves.
Logan was changed from a warm, unselfish friend of the white people into their bitter enemy, and who can blame him? In July, 1774, he left his home with only eight warriors. Instead of attacking the settlements on the Ohio, where everybody expected the first blow would fall, he passed them by and made his way to the Muskingum, where nobody dreamed of danger.
THE INDIANS FRIENDLY TO WILLIAM PENN.
The fairness, justice and generosity of William Penn in buying
from the Indians their lands and privileges, secured for him
and his settlers protection not enjoyed by the other colonists.
DEATH OF THE INDIAN KING PHILIP.
This famous Indian chief was for many years friendly with the
whites, but finally united the Indians in a final effort to drive
away the invaders. He was killed by an Indian enemy in 1675.
The first white men seen were three who were pulling flax in a field. One of them was shot down, and the others taken as prisoners. They traveled a long distance through the forest to the Indian village, where it was ordered that the captives should run the gantlet. This, as you may know, consists of the unarmed person dashing between two rows of his captors, standing a few feet from each other, all armed with clubs or knives, with which they strike at the unfortunate as he speeds forward and tries to dodge the cruel blows. If he succeeds in reaching the extremity of the double line, he is sometimes spared or allowed to make a break for liberty. But the ordeal is so dreadful, that not one in a hundred survives it.
Logan did not like any kind of torture, and he told one of the captives how he could escape many of the blows aimed at him. The man failed, however, and the Indians condemned him to be burned to death at the stake. Logan pleaded for his life, and, when it was refused, he cut the cords and caused his adoption into an Indian family.
The Shawnees and Delawares had suffered many wrongs and outrages, and they now joined in the war against the whites. The Virginia Legislature was in session when the news reached that body, and Governor Dunmore ordered the preparation of three thousand men to march against the Indians. One-half of this force, under the command of General Andrew Lewis, was to march to the mouth of the Kanawha, while the governor was to lead the other half to a point on the Ohio, in order to strike the Indian towns between the two. The movement of Lewis was to draw off the main body of warriors, leaving the way open for the governor. Having destroyed the towns, he was then to form a junction with General Lewis at Point Pleasant, subsequent action of the army to be guided by circumstances.