“Was her lover there in that camp, grandma?” asked Elsie.
“No; Lieutenant Jones was not there, but it was known that she was betrothed to him, and the story got about that he had sent the Indians for her, that they quarrelled on the way concerning the reward he had offered, and murdered her to settle the dispute.
“The story grew in horror as it passed from one to another, and produced a deep and widespread indignation, increased by a published letter from Gates to Burgoyne charging him with allowing the Indians to butcher with impunity defenceless women and children.
“Burgoyne denied it, declaring that the case of Jane McCrea was the only one act of Indian cruelty he had heard of. That assertion is hard to believe, for the savages murdered a whole family—a man, his wife, three children, a sister-in-law and three negroes, near Fort Edward on the same day that Jennie lost her life. And they were Tories; but, afraid of the savages, were getting ready to flee to Albany. On that fatal morning a younger daughter of Mr. Gilmer went to help Mrs. Allen with her preparations to move, and, staying longer than had been expected, her father sent a negro boy down for her. He soon came back screaming, ‘They are all dead—father, mother, young missus and all.’ And it was too true. That morning, while they were at breakfast, the Indians had burst in upon them and killed every one.”
“And what did the Gilmers do about it, grandma?” asked Ned.
“Hurried away to Fort Edward, going very cautiously for fear of meeting Indians. And they did see some of the party who had plundered Mrs. McNeil’s house in the morning. They had emptied the straw from the beds and filled the ticks with various things which they had stolen. And Mrs. McNeil’s daughter, who was with the Gilmers, saw her mother’s looking-glass tied upon the back of one of the Indians.”
“And did those folks get safely to Fort Edward, grandma?” asked Ned.
“They did,” replied Mrs. Travilla, then went on with her story. “The story of Jennie McCrea’s massacre became known all over the civilized part of this land and in Europe. Burke, says Lossing, used it with powerful effect in the British House of Commons. Burgoyne summoned the Indians to council, and demanded the surrender of the one who bore off the scalp of Jennie McCrea, to be punished as a murderer; but from policy he pardoned him, lest the Indians should be so offended if he punished him that they would cease to help the British in their efforts to conquer the Americans.
“It had been said that Lieutenant Jones had sent his Jennie a letter by the Indians, and them as an escort to take her to the British camp. But he denied it all, and indeed he had no need to send for her, as the Americans were retreating, leaving only a small guard at Fort Edward, and in a day or two the British would have full possession of the fort, so that he and his Jennie might have had a safe personal interview.”
“Is there anything more known about Lieutenant Jones, grandma?” asked Elsie.