A BLOODY MASSACRE
The loss of the soldiers included nine officers and about fifty privates, with nearly a hundred wounded. That of the Indians is not known, but it is not likely it exceeded that of the whites. Judging by those who were killed and wounded, the circumstances, and the length of the conflict, the battle of Point Pleasant, in the autumn of 1774, seems to justify the claim that it was the hardest fought one that ever took place between the American and Caucasian races.
It has been said that grave suspicion was caused by the course of Governor Dunmore. He set out with the purpose of attacking the rear of the Indians and coöperating with General Lewis, and yet such could not have been his real intention, for he was seventy-five miles distant, and coöperation was out of the question. In the many attempts to explain his course, it was said he meant to sacrifice General Lewis and his men in order to add to his own reputation. Such a theory is absurd, however, for he would have been denounced for his treachery, instead of being praised. Others have thought that he felt the justice of the Indians' cause, and tried to bring peace with the least destruction and harm to them. To us, the more reasonable theory is, that Governor Dunmore saw, as every one else saw, that the colonies were on the verge of rebellion against England, and he was very anxious to keep the goodwill of the Indians, with a view to bringing them to the side of the mother country. You know he did all he could to befriend England, and was rebuked by Patrick Henry and other patriots for too much activity against their interests, when war was about to open.
After burying his dead, General Lewis withdrew agreeably to the commands of Governor Dunmore. The latter advanced to within a few miles of the leading Indian town on the Chillicothe, for the purpose of treating with the tribes, from whom he had already received requests to do so. The meetings were marked with distrust on both sides. Cornstalk, in an indignant speech, laid the whole blame of the war upon the whites, due mainly to the murder of Logan's family. Governor Dunmore showed much tact, and, in the end, secured the pledges of the leading chiefs to the peace he sought.
Among the sachems who signed the treaty the name of Logan did not appear, nor would he go to the conference. Lord Dunmore was so anxious to obtain his name that he sent a special messenger to the cabin of the Mingo, a long distance away in the woods. When this messenger explained his business to Logan, the latter led him a little way from his cabin, and the two sat down beside each other on a fallen tree. The sachem gave his assent to the treaty, and in doing so, uttered that memorable speech, which will live as long as man can admire eloquence, pathos and truth:
"I appeal to any white man to say, if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not.
"During the course of the long, bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate of peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed and said, 'Logan is the friend of the white man.'
"I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relatives of Logan, not even sparing my women and children.
"There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."