HISTORY OF THE PAN-HANDLE, WEST VIRGINIA, Pages 125-131.

SIEGE OF FORT HENRY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1782.

     About three o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 11th day of 
September, JOHN LYNN, a celebrated spy of the border, who had been 
engaged in watching the paths northwest of the Ohio leading toward the 
settlement, discovered a large force of Indians, marching with great 
expedition for Wheeling. He hastened immediately to warn the 
inhabitants of the danger impending over them, swimming the river and 
reaching the village but a little while before the savage army made its 
appearance. In the absence of a regular garrison the defence of the 
fort had been entrusted to the militia residing in or near the village 
and those of the inhabitants who sought security within its walls, 
under the direction of COL. EBENEZER ZANE in command of the post.

     Immediately despatching CAPT. BOGGS as an express messenger to 
warn the neighboring settlements and solicit relief and reinforcements 
for their slender garrison, COL. ZANE directed the settlers to repair 
at once to the fort, the command of which was confided to his brother 
COL. SILAS ZANE.

     COL. EBENEZER ZANE retired into his own dwelling, which he had 
built for purposes of defence as well as for a residence. It stood at 
right angles with the fort, distant some sixty yards to the southeast, 
and was in structure a regular block-house, pierced with loop-holes for 
musketry. "It contained the military stores which had been furnished by 
the Government of Virginia, and the military authorities of the 
Department, and as it was admirably situated as an outpost from which 
to annoy the savages, in their onsets, he resolved on maintaining 
possession of it, as well as to aid in the defence of the fort, as for 
the preservation of the ammunition. ANDREW SCOTT, GEORGE GREER, MR. 
ZANE, MOLLY SCOTT and MISS McCOLLOCH, were all who remained with him. 
The kitchen adjoining, was occupied by SAM, a negro belonging to COL. 
ZANE, and Kate his wife."(*From WITHERS)

     So short was the time which elapsed between the alarm by LYNN and 
the appearance of the Indians, that only those who were immediately 
present, were able to retire into the fort. CAPT. BOGGS informed COL. 
MARSHALL, at Washington, that he heard the firing before he was a mile 
and a half from the town on his mission for relief.

     The hurry consequently, did not permit the bringing in of any of 
the neighboring inhabitants to augment the garrison, and when the 
attack began, there were not more than twenty effective men within its 
walls, to oppose the assaults of the besieging host.

     Scarcely were the people of the village gathered within the 
fortress before the savages appeared. Finding, from the movements about 
the fort, that intelligence of its approach had been received, and that 
a surprise or ambuscade was impossible, the army marched boldly and 
quickly forward. As they came in sight of the garrison, the red 
uniforms of the British soldiers were quickly discerned in the van, 
while amid the ranks of the dusky warriors who followed, and tossing to 
and fro in the evening breeze, was seen the proud and historic banner 
of Britain, victorious on so many honorable fields of Continental 
Europe, but now lending the sanction of its presence to the barbarous 
and cruel warfare of the savage.

     The besieging host numbered forty British soldiers, under the 
command of CAPT. PRATT, and two hundred and sixty Indian warriors, 
commanded by GEORGE GIRTY. They quickly formed their lines of 
investment around the garrison, and advancing their colors, made a 
demand for the surrender of the fort. This was promptly refused, and 
the refusal emphasized by the firing of several shots at their standard 
by order of SILAS ZANE.

     The Indians immediately opened fire upon the fort and rushed 
forward to the assault with great impetuosity. They were met by a brisk 
and well directed fire from the garrison and house, which soon drove 
them back in confusion. Rallying their hosts, they again rushed forward 
and were again repulsed.

     Both the fort and the house were well supplied with arms and the 
great exertions of the women, in molding bullets, loading guns and 
handling them to the men, enabled them to fire so rapidly, yet 
effectively, as to supply in some measure their lack in numbers and 
cause the savages to recoil from every charge. The fort had also a 
small cannon, mounted as a swivel gun, which was a very efficient aid 
in repelling their attacks. The enemy, it is said, at first took it to 
be a wooden dummy intended to deceive them into keeping a respectful 
distance, but when the swivel sent its messengers of death so swiftly 
into their ranks they were confounded and dismayed. At the very first 
shot CAPT. PRATT called to his men to stand clear, saying he had heard 
cannon before, and this was no make-believe affair.

     The fire from the house of COL. ZANE had also been very galling. 
It occupied just the position to afford the greatest service to the 
beleaguered garrison, as, at every attempt to assault or storm the 
fort, the enemy were met with a hot enfilading fire which was 
peculiarly destructive and demoralizing to the assailants.

     Taught prudence by the severe reception they met with in the 
assault, the savages retired back toward the base of the hill, where 
under the protection of the forest, they maintained a constant fire 
upon the fort until darkness intervened, when it ceased, and the 
garrison was left for a short time undisturbed.

     So severely, however, had they suffered from the fire poured upon 
them from COL. ZANE'S house that they determined to seize the 
opportunity of the darkness to set it afire and destroy it. "For this 
purpose, when all was quietness and silence, a savage with a firebrand 
in his hand, crawling to the kitchen, and raising himself from the 
ground, waving the torch to and fro to rekindle its flame, and about to 
apply it to the building, received a shot which forced him to let fall 
the engine of destruction and hobble howling away. The vigilance of Sam 
had detected him in time to thwart his purpose."
     Little repose had the anxious garrison that night. Aside from the 
constant vigilance necessary to prevent any attempt of the cunning 
savages to scale or undermine the pickets and penetrate the enclosure, 
they were called upon actively to resist their impetuous attacks 
through the night, made doubly difficult by the surrounding darkness.

     Their fear of the cannon and the severe reception they met with at 
the hands of the little garrison and the few men stationed in COL. 
ZANE'S house, in their first onslaught, made the leaders chary of again 
risking a direct assault in daytime. About twelve o'clock at night, 
however, under cover of the thick darkness, they made a furious assault 
on the pickets to capture the place by storm. Swarming up to the gates, 
and filling the night with their fearful and hideous yells, they rushed 
hard upon the pallisades, expecting, through the breach, to massacre 
the brave and gallant defenders of the fortress. But their purpose 
failed of success. The pickets resisted the attempt to break them down, 
and the rapid and well-directed fire from the garrison and house caused 
them to beat a speedy retreat before they were able to batter the walls 
of the stockade. Two other attempts were made to effect an entrance by 
storm during the night, the gallant defenders keeping to their guns, 
and the noble women discharging all the duties of soldiers with the 
spirit and alacrity of true heroines the whole night through.

     When daylight returned the savages were still found surrounding 
the fort, and although they delayed a renewal of their attacks it was 
evident that they had not yet given up their attempts for its 
reduction. Indeed it was apparent that they were engaged in some 
preparations on which they placed great hopes.

     About eight o'clock, a man was observed stealing towards the fort, 
when a woman named HOUSE seized a gun and wounded him severely. He 
proved to be a negro seeking to desert from the enemy, and being near 
the gate his cries and entreaties induced his admission, although he 
was strictly guarded lest he might prove to be a spy. He gave full 
information of the force of the enemy and their intentions so far as 
known.

     When the firing of the preceding day had subsided a small boat 
proceeding from Fort Pitt to the Falls of the Ohio with cannon balls 
for the use of the troops there, put to shore at Wheeling. It does not 
appear, but is most likely that the boat was stopped in her progress by 
a fire from the Indian pickets who were set to watch and cut off any 
attempts to succor or reinforce the garrison, and the person in charge 
of her naturally sought to effect his landing where he could seek 
safety in the fortress.

     He proved to be a man named DANIEL SULLIVAN, and was successful in 
reaching the fortress and gaining admission into it, although the 
savages gave him a hard chase and wounded him severely in the foot. The 
boat of course fell into the hands of the enemy and they determined at 
once to use the balls to destroy the fortress. Accordingly they 
procured a hollow log, suiting the ball as near as possible, and bound 
it closely and heavily with chains obtained from the blacksmith's shop 
in the village, wedging it tightly, and fancied they had a cannon which 
would deal death and destruction upon their foes. This they loaded 
heavily and pointing it at the fort, applied the match. A fearful 
explosion followed but instead of destroying their enemies as expected, 
it was only the occasion of disaster to themselves. Their cannon had 
burst-pieces flew in every direction-several were killed, many wounded 
and all dismayed by the event.

     "Recovering from the shock, and furious with rage and 
disappointment, they returned to the charge, pressing up to the assault 
with the madness of despair. But they were received with a fire so 
constant and deadly that they were again forced to retire, and, as it 
proved, most opportunely for the garrison.

     When LYNN gave the alarm that an Indian army was approaching, the 
fort having been for some time unoccupied by a garrison, and COL. 
ZANE'S house being used as a magazine, those who had retired into the 
fortress had to take with them a supply of ammunition for its defence. 
The supply of powder, deemed ample at the time, by reason of the long 
continuance of the savages, and the repeated endeavors made by them to 
storm the fort, was now almost entirely exhausted, a few loads only 
remaining. In this emergency, it became necessary to replenish their 
stock from the abundance of that article in COL. ZANE'S house.

     During the continuance of the last assault, apprized of its 
insecurity and aware of the danger which would inevitably ensue, should 
the savages, after being again driven back, return to the assault 
before a fresh supply could be obtained, it was proposed that one of 
their fleetest men should endeavor to reach the house, obtain a keg and 
return with it to the fort. It was an enterprise full of danger, but 
many of the chivalric spirits then pent up within the fortress, were 
willing to encounter them all.

     Among those who volunteered to go on this, enterprise, was 
ELIZABETH, the younger sister of COL. ZANE. She was then young, active 
and athletic; with precipitancy to dare danger and fortitude to sustain 
her in the midst of it. Disdaining to weigh the hazard of her own life 
against the risk of that of others, when told that a man would 
encounter less danger by reason of his greater fleetness, she replied: 
"And should he fall, his loss will be more severely felt. You have not 
one man to spare; a woman will not be missed in the defence of the 
fort." Her services were accepted. Divesting herself of some of her 
garments, as tending to impede her progress, she stood prepared for the 
hazardous adventure; and when the gate was opened she bounded forth 
with the buoyancy of hope, and in the confidence of success. Wrapt in 
amazement the Indians beheld her spring forward, and only exclaiming, 
"a squaw, a squaw," no attempt was made to interrupt her progress. 
Arrived at the door, she proclaimed her embassy. COL. ZANE fastened a 
tablecloth around her waist, and emptying into it a keg of powder, 
again she ventured forth. The Indians were no longer passive. Ball 
after ball passed whizzing and innocuous by. She reached the gate and 
entered the fort in safety. This heroine had but recently returned from 
Philadelphia, where she had received her education, and was totally 
unused to such scenes as were daily exhibited on the frontier."

     "The pages of history may furnish a parallel to the noble exploit 
of ELIZABETH ZANE, but an instance of greater self-devotion is not to 
be found anywhere."

     "Another instance of heroic daring deserves to be recorded here. 
When intelligence of the investiture of Wheeling by the savages, 
reached Shepherd fort, a party was immediately detached from it to try 
and gain admission into the besieged fortress, and aid in its defence. 
Upon arriving in view, it was found that the attempt would be hopeless 
and unavailing; and the detachment consequently proposed to return. 
FRANCIS DUKE, son-in-law to COL. SHEPHARD, was unwilling to turn his 
back upon a people straightened as he knew the besieged must be, and 
declared his intention of endeavoring to reach the fort, that he might 
contribute to its defence. It was useless to dissuade him from the 
attempt; he knew its danger, but he also knew their weakness, and 
putting spurs to his horse rode briskly forward, calling aloud, "open 
the gate, open the gate." He was seen from the fort, and the gate was 
loosed for his admission; but he did not live to reach it. Pierced by 
the bullets of the savages, he fell to the regret of all."

     He perished untimely, but with a noble daring which deserved a 
better fate. Let his name be forever preserved in the annals of the 
border as one of the choice and heroic spirits who yielded their lives 
in its defence.

     The Indians still maintained the siege by keeping up a continual 
fire the whole day with scarcely an intermission. Whenever a tree, or 
log, or bush could shelter a savage within gunshot of the fort, they 
were to be found firing at every aperture likely to conceal a foe. They 
seemed to have a special spite at the elevated tower called the sentry 
box, and directed frequent shots towards it. ELIZABETH ZANE, who 
occupied one of these boxes with her brother JONATHAN, and a man named 
SALTER, to load their rifles, frequently told in subsequent years how 
she would have to stop in her work, to pull out the splinters torn off 
the white oak logs by the bullets of the savages, and driven into the 
flesh.

     About ten o'clock that night, the enemy made another fierce 
attempt to carry the works by storm, but it was of no avail. They were 
driven back in a bloody repulse, by the sharp firing of the garrison 
and the few brave men in COL. ZANE'S house. It was their last effort, 
and despairing of success, they determined to raise the siege. Leaving 
one hundred men to scour and lay waste the country, the remainder of 
the army, on the morning of the 13th, retreated across the Ohio and 
encamped at the Indian spring, five miles from the river. Their loss in 
the various assaults upon the fort and in the siege could not be 
ascertained, but was doubtless very considerable. Of the garrison none 
were killed and but two wounded-the heroic FRANCIS DUKE being the only 
white man killed during the siege belonging to the county. It is 
impossible to over estimate the brave and gallant manner in which the 
defence was conducted. The men and women who stood to their posts for 
nearly two days and nights with scarcely an intermission, fighting 
against fearful odds, and the skill of British officers and soldiers, 
combined with the cunning and impetuosity of the savages, deserve the 
highest encomiums. When it is considered that the siege was the most 
prolonged, and the besieging hosts the largest and most formidable 
which attacked the North Western frontier during the revolution, the 
steady manner in which they were constantly driven back in bloody 
repulse by such a feeble force, should excite the greatest admiration.

     Where every one did their part so nobly it might seem invidious to 
specially designate those who contributed most prominently to this 
happy result, though some early writers do not hesitate to say that "to 
the caution and good conduct of those few brave individuals who 
occupied COL. ZANE'S house, its preservation is mainly attributed."

     This siege was in reality the last battle of the revolution and it 
is certain that the last shot fired by a British soldier in that war 
was fired at old Fort Henry in Wheeling.

     The next day (14th) after ascertaining their losses, COL. ZANE 
immediately sent an express with his report of the military operations 
at the siege, which is herewith appended.

COL. ZANE'S MILITARY REPORT OF THE SIEGE TO GEN. IRVINE

Wheeling, 14th September, 1782.
     "SIR: On the evening of the 11th instant a body of the enemy 
appeared in sight of our garrison. They immediately formed their lines 
around the garrison, paraded British colors, and demanded the fort to 
be surrendered, which was refused. About twelve o'clock at night they 
rushed hard on the pickets, in order to storm, but were repulsed. They 
made two other attempts to storm, before day, to no purpose.
     About eight o'clock next morning, there came a negro from them to 
us, and informed us that their force consisted of a British Captain and 
forty regular soldiers, and two hundred and sixty Indians. The enemy 
kept a continual fire the whole day. About ten o'clock at night they 
made a fourth attempt to storm, to no better purpose than the former. 
The enemy continued around the garrison till the morning of the 13th 
instant, when they disappeared. Our loss is none. DANIEL SULLIVAN, who 
arrived here in the first of the action is wounded in the foot.
     I believe they have driven the greatest part of our stock away and 
might, I think, be soon overtaken. I am, with due respect, your 
obedient servant,
EBENEZER ZANE

     To WILLIAM IRVINE, Brigadier General, Commanding Western 
Department, Fort Pitt.
     In this connection the following letters from the Lieutenant of 
Washington county, giving the commanding General the intelligence of 
the attack received by express from Wheeling, are here inserted.


LETTER FROM JAMES MARSHALL, LIEUTENANT OF WASHINGTON CO., PA., TO 
GENERAL IRVINE

Thursday, September 12, 1782.
     DEAR SIR: "By an express this moment arrived from Wheeling, I have 
received the following intelligence, namely: That a large trail, by 
supposition about two hundred Indians, was discovered yesterday about 
three o'clock near to that place. CAPT. BOGGS, who brought the account, 
says that when he had left the fort about one mile and a half he heard 
the swivel at Wheeling fired and one rifle. He further says that 
EBENEZER MCCULLOCK, from VAN METER'S fort, on his way to Wheeling, got 
within one half a mile of the place shortly after BOGGS left it, where 
he was alarmed by hearing a heavy and constant fire about the fort, and 
makes no doubt the fort was then attacked.
I am etc.,
JAMES MARSHALL.
"Gen'l IRVINE, "Fort Pitt"


LETTER FROM JAMES MARSHALL, LIEUTENANT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA., TO 
GENERAL IRVINE

(*These letters are found in the "Washington-Irvine" collection. The 
original manuscript is in the hands of C. W. BUTTERFIELD, Esq., to whom 
we are indebted for a copy and other important favors.)
     "Sunday Morning, September 15, 1782.
     "DEAR SIR: You may depend upon it as matter of fact that a large 
party of Indians are now in our county. Last night I saw two deserters 
who made their escape from Wheeling in time of the action, and they say 
the enemy consists of two hundred and thirty-eight Indians and forty 
rangers, the latter commanded by a British officer; that they attacked 
Wheeling fort on Wednesday night, and continued the attack until 
Thursday night, at which time the deserters left them. That fort they 
say, was the principal object of the enemy; but it appears, both from 
their account and the enemy's advancing into the country, that they 
have despaired of taking it.
* * *  Excuse haste; from,
      Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
 James MARSHALL.
"Gen'l IRVINE, Fort Pitt."



APPENDIX A

THE POWDER EXPLOIT

     The narrative of this incident given in the text was the 
unquestioned and accepted history of that event, for the period of 
sixty-seven years immediately following. It was currently related in 
the society and neighborhood where the occurrence transpired, by 
different persons claiming to have been eye witnesses; was early and 
widely published in newspapers and local histories during the lifetime, 
and with the knowledge of many of the actors in the siege, and without 
contradiction of question so far as any record appears, but with 
universal credit; and it remains to-day in the family traditions of 
most of those who are known to have been present in the fort at the 
time, as then a venerable woman of 84 years, made a statement, giving a 
different version of this incident and naming another person as the 
heroine. As MRS. CRUGER'S statement was unsupported after every one who 
had personal knowledge of the event was dead, and when she herself was 
in extreme old age, it can, of course effect nothing. But in order that 
our readers may be put in possession of such data as still remains, and 
from their own judgement in the premises, we append below all the 
information we have been able to gather about it.

    Several of the documents having a bearing on this matter, have 
never before been published. They have been secured by us from the 
military papers of BRIG. GEN'L IRVINE, then (1782) in command of the 
Western Department, after an earnest and protracted effort to procure 
everything reliable, which could throw light upon the subject. Others 
of our documents are taken from an article published in the Wheeling 
Daily Intelligencer, by MR. W. C. BROCKUNIER.


DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

     1. The letter of COL. EBENEZER ZANE to GEN'L IRVINE, July 22nd, 
1782, published on page 125, wherein he makes application for powder 
for the fort, and undertakes to become personally responsible for it, 
that none of it should be sued except that was "burnt at the enemy," 
which would imply that he took it into his own keeping.
     2. The letter of COL. ZANE to GEN'L IRVINE, Sept. 14th, 1782, page 
127, giving his report of the siege, showing at that date he still 
remained in command of the fort.
     3. The letter of COL. MARSHALL, Lieut, of Washington County, to 
Gen'l IRVINE, dated Sept. 12th, 1782, mentions the arrival of CAPT. 
BOGGS as "Express Messenger" from Wheeling, and that he heard the guns 
before he was a mile and a half out of town.


THE EARLIEST NARRATIVES OF THE EVENT

it will be obvious to all minds, if published in the life time of the 
actors in the event, and in their vicinity, possess opportunities of 
presenting a correct narrative, which subsequent accounts do not have. 
Their sources of information are more ample, the events are fresher in 
their memory and opportunities for correction, or criticism, or protest 
by interested parties, are such as must secure a very great degree of 
accuracy. Several of these accounts filling the prescribed conditions 
we append below. The first in order is the


ACCOUNT FROM THE CALDWELLS IN 1797

     In 1797, MESHACK BROWNING then employed by Mr. JOHN CALDWELL, of 
Wheeling, received from him and his daughter Nancy, accounts of various 
incidents in the Indian wars about Wheeling, some of which he 
subsequently published in a narrative of his own adventures. As he left 
Wheeling in 1798, and, living in the mountain wilderness, the rest of 
his life, never saw any published accounts of these events, his 
relation of them, derived from eye-witnesses within a very few years of 
their occurrences, have a special value.

     After detailing how her father and mother and herself were 
compelled to leave their place on Caldwell's run and go "up to the town 
fort" for protection, etc., she tells of the incident of the powder, 
saying: "The powder becoming scarce it was proposed that some one 
should run for a supply, and among the volunteers for that dangerous 
journey was a sister of COL. ZANE'S, who said she would go. This, 
however, was objected to, and the young men insisted on going 
themselves. But she was firm in her purpose, and replied that the loss 
of a woman would be less felt than the loss of a man. And pinning up 
her dress to let her feet have fair play in the race, off she went. But 
the Indians astonished at the sight, did not fire a single shot at her. 
Soon she had secured plenty of powder in a slim belt round her waist, 
and off she bounded again. But the enemy, seeing her returning, 
suspected some mischief, and fired a volley of balls after her; all of 
which missed her, and she reached her destination in safety, with 
plenty of powder to carry through the siege."

     It will be observed that this account was given about fifteen 
years after the event.

     One of the earliest published narratives of this episode is the 
following

ACCOUNT FROM THE SCIOTO GAZETTE, NOVEMBER, 1802,

which we take from a little paper then published at Chillicothe, Ohio. 
The article is entitled "Brave Women of Our Frontier."

     "A Philadelphia paper has recently published a full account of the 
attack on the fort at Wheeling in the fall of 1782, from which we 
extract an incident which we have repeatedly heard related, one of our 
informants being an eye witness. It is only one of the many which will 
be handed down to the future historian, of the noble deeds and feats of 
daring the heroines of our frontier have performed.

     "When the alarm was given by a ranger that the Indians were 
coming, the fort having for some time been unoccupied by a garrison, 
and COLONEL ZANE'S house, which stood near it, having been used for a 
magazine, those who retired into the fort had to take with them a 
supply of ammunition for its defense. The powder became exhausted by 
reason of the long siege. In this emergency it became necessary to 
renew the stock from the abundant store in ZANE's house. Accordingly it 
was proposed that one of the fleetest men should endeavor to reach the 
house, obtain the powder, and return to the fort. COL. ZANE'S sister 
was in the fort and at once volunteered to bring the powder. She was 
young, active and athletic, with courage to dare anything. On being 
told that one of the men would run less risk by reason of his 
fleetness, she replied, 'Should he fall the loss will be more severely 
felt; you have no men to spare, and a woman will not be missed in 
defending the fort.' She was then told to go, and divesting herself of 
some heavy clothing, started out through the gate like a deer. The 
sight so amazed the savages that they cried,' 'squaw,' 'squaw.' and not 
a shot was fired at her. Arriving at the house, Colonel ZANE fastened a 
cloth about her waist, and poured into it a quantity of powder, when 
she again ventured out. The Indians now discovered the object of the 
'squaw,' and bullet after bullet whizzed past her head. She reached the 
fort in safety, although a bullet hole was found in her dress. The 
powder enabled the brave little band to hold out against the besiegers, 
who were at last compelled to retire without having accomplished their 
object.'"

     "Withers' Chronicles of Border Warfare" contains, it is believed 
the first published account, in book form, of the two sieges of Fort 
Henry and the events connected therewith. So far, at least, as the 
"Powder Exploit" is concerned, all the parties, in any way interested 
in the correct narrative of that episode of one of the sieges, were 
living at the time of its publication, and for several years afterward. 
At that date ELIZABETH ZANE, MRS. CRUGAR, MOLLY SCOTT and many other 
inmates of the fort, who were witnesses of the exploit, were all living 
in Wheeling or its immediate vicinity. From the fact that names are 
given, and their location and duties at the time of the siege, it can 
be safely inferred that these facts were gathered from the parties 
themselves. The publication must have been generally known as, it is 
understood, it excited much interest, and, in some cases, was used as a 
reading book in schools.

     The author, COL. ALEXANDER S. WITHERS, belonged to the Virginia 
family of that name, of which the present United States SENATOR 
WITHERS, of Virginia, is a distinguished member. He came West to write 
the history of the western portion of Virginia, and spent several years 
gathering materials. Subsequent historians have drawn their most 
important data from him. His work shows him to have been a careful, 
industrious, conscientious and painstaking historian, while his style, 
and especially his long introduction to the work, exhibits the culture 
of a fine classical scholar and a well informed man.

WITHERS' ACCOUNT:

     "On the first of September (1782) JOHN LYNN (a celebrated spy, and 
the same who had been with CAPT. FOREMAN at the time of the fatal 
ambuscade at Grave creek) being engaged in watching the warriors' 
paths, northwest of the Ohio, discovered the Indians marching with 
great expedition for Wheeling, and hastened to warn the inhabitants of 
the danger which was threatening them, swan the river, and reached the 
village but a little while before the savage army made its appearance. 
The fort was at this time without any regular garrison, and depended 
for defence exclusively upon the exertions of those who sought security 
within its walls. The brief space of time which elapsed between the 
alarm by LYNN and the arrival of the Indians, permitted only those who 
were immediately present to retire into it, and when the attack was 
begun to be made there were not within its pallisades twenty effective 
men to oppose the assault. The dwelling house of Col. EBENEZER ZANE, 
standing about forty yards from the fort, contained the military stores 
which had been furnished by the government of Virginia; and as it was 
admirably situated as an outpost from which to annoy the savages in 
their onsets, he resolved on maintaining possession of it, as well to 
aid in the defence of the fort as for the preservation of the 
ammunition. ANDREW SCOTT, GEORGE GREEN, MRS. ZANE, MOLLY SCOTT and MISS 
MCCOLLOCH were all who remained with him. The kitchen, adjoining, was 
occupied by SAM, a negro belonging to COL. ZANE, and KATE, his wife. 
COL. SILAS ZANE commanded at the fort.

     When LYNN gave the alarm that an Indian army was approaching, the 
fort having been for some time unoccupied by a garrison, and COL. 
ZANE'S house being used as a magazine, those who retired into the 
fortress had to take with them a supply of ammunition for its defense. 
The supply of powder, deemed ample at the time, be reason of the long 
continuance of the savages, and the repeated endeavors made by then to 
storm the fort, was now almost entirely exhausted a few loads only, 
remaining. In this emergency, it became necessary to replenish their 
stock from the abundance of that article in COL. ZANE'S house. During 
the continuance of the last assault, apprized of its scarcity, and 
aware of the danger which would inevitably ensue, should the savages, 
after being driven back, return to the assault before a fresh supply of 
powder could be obtained, it was proposed that one of the fleetest men 
should endeavor to reach the house, obtain a keg and return with it to 
the fort.

     It was an enterprise full of dangers; but many of the chivalric 
spirits, then pent up within the fortress were willing to encounter 
them all.

     Among those who volunteered to go on this emprise was Elizabeth 
ZANE, the younger sister of COL. ZANE. She was then young active and 
athletic; with precipitancy to dare danger, and fortitude to sustain 
her in the midst of it. Disdaining to weigh the hazard of her own life, 
against the risk of that of others, when told that a man would 
encounter less danger by reason of his greater fleetness, she replied: 
"And should he fall, his loss will be more severely felt." Her services 
were accepted. Divesting herself of some of her garments, as tending to 
impede her progress, she stood prepared for the hazardous adventure; 
and when the gate was opened, she bounded forth with the bouyancy of 
hope, and in the confidence of success. Wrapt in amazement, the Indians 
beheld her spring forward, and only exclaiming "a squaw, a squaw," no 
attempt was made to interrupt her progress. Arrived at the door, she 
proclaimed her embassy. COL. ZANE fastened a tablecloth around her 
waist, and emptying into it a keg of powder, again she ventured forth. 
The Indians were no longer passive. Ball after ball passed whizzing and 
innocuous by. She reached the gate and entered the fort in safety.

     [In a foot note he adds: "This heroine had but recently returned 
from Philadelphia, where she had received her education, and was 
totally unused to such scenes as were daily exhibiting on the frontier. 
She afterwards became the wife of a MR. MCLAUGHLIN, and he dying, 
married a MR. CLARK, and is yet living in Ohio.]

     With every opportunity for correction there is no record of any 
dispute, or protest, or doubt of the entire accuracy of this narrative, 
by any person whatever, either at the time of its publication, or 
subsequently up to 1849, though many were living, who had personal or 
traditionary knowledge of the facts.

     A number of years afterwards COL. GEO. S. MCKIERNAN undertook the 
task of gathering materials for a new history of the early settlement 
of Wheeling, and independently of his predecessors in the same paths 
sought his information from original sources. From it we extract his 
account of the incident showing what he says was the "unanimous" 
testimony of "old pioneers," who survived until that date (1832-1836):

M'KIERNAN'S ACCOUNT

     "The stock of gunpowder in the fort having been nearly exhausted, 
it was determined to seize the favorable opportunity offered by the 
suspension of hostilities to send for a keg of powder which was known 
to be in the house of EBENEZER ZANE, about sixty yards from the gate of 
the fort. The person executing the service would necessarily expose 
himself to the danger of being shot down by the Indians, who were yet 
sufficiently near to observe everything that transpired about the 
works. The Colonel explained the matter to his men, and unwilling to 
order one of them to undertake such a desperate enterprise, inquired 
whether any man would volunteer for the service. Three or four young 
men promptly stepped forward in obedience to the call. The Colonel 
informed them that the weak state of the garrison would not justify the 
absence of more than one man, and that it was for themselves to decide 
who that person should be. The eagerness felt by each volunteer to 
undertake the honorable mission prevented them from making the 
arrangement proposed by the commandant, and so much time was consumed 
in the contention that fears began to arise that the Indians would 
renew the attack before the powder could be procured. At this crisis a 
young lady, the sister of EBENEZER and SILAS ZANE, came forward and 
desired that she might be permitted to execute the service. This 
proposition seemed so extravagant that it met with a peremptory 
refusal, but she instantly renewed her petition in terms of redoubled 
earnestness, and all the remonstrances of the Colonel and her relatives 
failed to dissuade her from her heroic purpose. It was finally 
represented to her that either of the young men on account of his 
superior fleetness and familiarity with scenes of danger would be more 
likely than herself to do the work successfully. She replied that the 
danger which would attend the enterprise was the identical reason that 
induced her to offer her services, for, as the garrison was very weak, 
no soldier's life should be placed in needless jeopardy, and that if 
she were to fall her loss would not be felt. Her petition was 
ultimately granted, and the gate opened for her to pass out. The 
opening of the gate arrested the attention of several Indians who were 
straggling through the village. It was noticed that their eyes were 
upon her as she crossed the open space to reach her brother's house; 
but seized, perhaps, with a sudden freak of clemency, or believing that 
a woman's life was not worth a load of gunpowder, or influenced by some 
other unexplained motive, they permitted her to pass without 
molestation. When she re-appeared with the powder in her arms the 
Indians, suspecting, no doubt, the character of her burden, elevated 
their fire-locks and discharged a volley at her as she swiftly glided 
towards the gate, but the balls all flew wide of the mark, and the 
fearless girl reached the fort in safety with her prize. The pages of 
history may furnish a parallel to the noble exploit of ELIZABETH ZANE, 
but an instance of greater self-devotion and moral intrepidity is not 
to be found anywhere."


     Concerning his sources of information for the foregoing sketch 
COL. MCKIERNAN wrote under date of August 28, 1876 the following:

M'KIERNAN'S STATEMENT

     "I began my researches in 1832. The persons from whom I received 
my most valuable information were MRS. SHEPHERD (afterwards MRS. 
CRUGER), HUGH MITCHELL, ALEXANDER MITCHELL, JOHN BRADY, JOHN GOOD, 
ARCHIBALD WOODS, MRS. CRESAP, of Fish creek, JOSEPH CALDWELL and 
others. Of these persons MRS. CRUGER only had any personal knowledge of 
the siege, though some of the individuals named were boys at the time. 
They had all known and conversed with those present at the siege. When 
I first knew MRS. CRUGER she was bright and sparkling as a young woman. 
In her later days her memory became confused. She assured MR. DRAPER, 
for instance, in 1846, that JOHN MCCOLLOCH was the hero of the leap 
over Wheeling hill instead of his brother SAM. This was worse than 
ridiculous, for SAM was a famous Indian fighter in 1777, while JOHN was 
a mere lad. From the interesting nature of the incident of carrying the 
powder, I made it the subject of inquiry in my interviews with all 
those persons, and I am quite certain that MRS. CRUGER did not 
attribute the powder exploit to MOLLY SCOTT or to any one but BETSY 
ZANE, neither did any other of the old inhabitants. There is not the 
shadow of a doubt in my mind that she and not MOLLY SCOTT was the 
heroine of the powder keg. In fact I never heard any of the old 
pioneers mention the name of MOLLY SCOTT. They were unanimous in giving 
the honor to MISS ZANE.

    "NOAH and DANIEL ZANE were the only members of that family, born in 
the last century, who survived until my time. The former was an 
invalid, unamiable in disposition and averse to intrusion. I never felt 
bold enough to go into his presence. I talked to DANIEL ZANE, but the 
impression now on my mind is that his knowledge of the history of 
Wheeling was not comprehensive.

     "When I prepared my sketch for publication I had an abiding faith 
in its truth, and nothing has since occurred to weaken that opinion."

     As corroborative of the accounts given in the early histories of 
this event and cited above, we append the following statements:
     
     The first is

THE STATEMENT OF MOLLY SCOTT'S GRANDSON, HER FAVORITE AND HEIR

Wheatland, August, 1876.
Mr. W. C. BROCKUNIER, Wheeling, W. Va.:

SIR: I have no hesitation in replying to the inquiries you make. I am 
the oldest surviving descendant of MOLLY SCOTT, somewhat noted as one 
of the early settlers of Wheeling. I am her grandson-the only one now 
living. MOLLY died near Wheeling March 3, 1839, aged 80 years. My 
relationship, of course, brought me into almost constant association 
with her from infancy until her death, and I have often heard her tell 
incidents connected with the early settlement of Wheeling, and about 
the Indian war and troubles, and many reminiscenses of the principal 
persons of the settlement. I have heard her tell frequently the story 
of the siege of Fort Henry. She was an inmate and assisted the other 
women in running bullets, loading guns, and such other employments as 
they were able to do. She has told me, and in my presence, many times, 
about the exploit of BETTY ZANE carrying powder in her apron from COL. 
ZANE'S dwelling to the fort, during the siege, and of the courage and 
intrepidity with which the act was performed, as well as the narrow 
escape she had from the bullets of the Indians. She always told me the 
same story, and never gave any other name than Elizabeth or Betsy ZANE, 
as she called her, as the one who carried the powder. She never claimed 
the credit for herself, and there is no other tradition in the SCOTT 
family. ELIZABETH ZANE was, I believe, the sister of COL. EBENEZER 
ZANE, the original founder of Wheeling. This is about all the 
information I can give you, but my remembrance is clear as to the 
correctness of the foregoing statement.
Yours, J. F. SCOTT.

Also the

STATEMENT OF MR. YOST,

a venerable citizen of Belmont county.

"August, 1876. "

     I knew MOLLY SCOTT intimately. Farmed her place several years; 
also farmed for her son, ANDY SCOTT, and her grandson, JIM SCOTT. I 
have heard her tell many times of the Indian wars and sieges at 
Wheeling. She told us often about BETSY ZANE carrying the powder to the 
fort when the Indians were besieging it. MOLLY SCOTT was in COL. ZANE'S 
house and saw BETSY come for the powder. In early times we never heard 
the name of any body else than BETSY ZANE connected with that event. 
MOLLY never claimed that she carried the powder, herself. All she said 
about herself was 'us women run bullets for the men." MOLLY SCOTT'S 
sister, NANCY RICHARDS, who was in the fort, told me the same thing.
"PETER YOST"


STATEMENT OF EBENEZER CLARK, THE ONLY SON OF ELIZABETH ZANE

July, 1877.

     "I am the son of ELIZABETH ZANE, and the only member of the family 
now living - am the youngest of seven children.
      * * * * * * *  
     "I have heard my mother tell the story of the Indian wars, the 
siege, and her exploit of carrying the gunpowder, a thousand times. She 
never spoke of it boastfully or as a wonderful matter, but in early 
times we didn't have newspapers or books, and on long winter evenings 
all we had to amuse us were stories of the early settlers, Indian 
fights and escapes.
When my mother returned from Philadelphia she stayed with her brothers, 
her father having married a second time, and not very happily. At the 
time of the siege of the fort at Wheeling by the Indians and Tories she 
went with her brothers, Silas and Jonathan, into the fort, indeed all 
the settlers rushed to the fort for protection when the alarm was 
given. It was not occupied except when the Indians came in. COL. 
EBENEZER ZANE, whose house was about sixty yards from the fort, 
remained in it with his family and two or three other persons with him 
for its defence. His house was built in block house form, and pierced 
with loopholes through which they could fire. It also had a large 
magazine in which the ammunition was stored. From its position they 
commanded the approach to the gateway of the fort which made it of 
great service to the garrison when the besiegers would attempt to storm 
the fort. OLD DADDY SAM, a Guinea negro belonging to COL. ZANE, was a 
great fighter, and was with COL. ZANE in the house.

     SILAS ZANE was commander of the fort. When the demand was made for 
surrender, and promise given of British protection, the answer of the 
garrison was a volley of bullets.

     The firing was kept up all day and occasionally during the night. 
The garrison kept awake and on the alert. In the morning the assault 
was resumed and the firing was so rapid that it became evident that the 
supply of powder in the fort could not long hold out. In the hurry of 
the alarm they had only brought a portion of the powder kept stored for 
use in COL. ZANE'S magazine. Towards noon the fire slackened, and it 
was determined to make an attempt to secure more powder before the 
assault was renewed. In the consultation which took place as to who 
should go on this errand, my mother offered to go. Saying, "you need 
all the men you have to defend the fort. If I am to go and am killed I 
will not be missed like a man and there is nobody to cry for me. I'll 
go if you will let me."

     When consent was gained she stripped herself to her shift and 
petticoat so she could run fast, and was then let out at the gate. As 
soon as she appeared the Indians seemed taken by surprise and exclaimed 
"A Squaw! "A Squaw!" but never offered to disturb her. When she reached 
COL. ZANE'S they tied a table-cloth about her waist, poured a keg of 
powder in and she started with it on a run to the fort. When the 
Indians saw her returning they evidently suspected what her mission was 
and poured in a terrific volley. She said it seemed as if the whole 400 
fired at once, and the bullets knocked the dust into her eyes so she 
could not see. She had been running so fast, however, that they missed 
their aim, and she gained the gateway of the fort without a hurt.

     The fort had only about sixteen men. My mother occupied the sentry 
box with her brother JONATHAN ZANE and a man named SALTER, and loaded 
their guns. This position was the post of observation, and the best 
marksmen and those having the most knowledge of the Indian modes of 
warfare were selected for the place. Of course it was a prominent mark 
for the enemy, and my mother said she would frequently have to stop and 
pick the splinters out of her body, which the bullets would split off 
and drive into her flesh. The brave and determined resistance of the 
garrison, the losses of the Indians and reports of approaching help led 
the commander to break the siege after three days and nights continuous 
fighting, watching and anxiety.

     My Grandmother CLARK was an inmate of the fort, and I have heard 
her give substantially the same account of the siege and my mother's 
exploit.

     I knew MOLLY SCOTT very well. She never claimed that she carried 
the powder. Indeed, no such claim was set up until very recent times by 
MRS. CRUGER.

     I don't know what motive could have induced MRS. CRUGER to make a 
statement so untrue unless it was jealousy. My mother was a remarkable 
handsome woman, retaining her good looks even in her old age. It is 
well known she was universally admired not only for her beauty, but she 
was very bright, smart and witty. She was as plucky and high spirited a 
woman as ever lived-a swift runner and a fearless rider.

     MOSES SHEPHERD at one time was engaged to marry my mother, but 
something occurred that broke the match off, and although he afterward 
married LYDIA BOGGS, it is well known she never forgave my mother her 
good looks or the Colonel's preference. EBENEZER CLARK.


STATEMENT OF MRS. LYDIA S. CRUGER:

     "The undersigned having been applied to for a statement of facts 
respecting the memorable achievement at the attack on Fort Henry 
(Wheeling) in September, 1782, known as the gunpowder exploit, would 
state as follows, viz:

     "On Monday afternoon, September 11, 1872, a body of about 300 
Indians, and 50 British soldiers, composing part of a company known as 
the Queen's Rangers, appeared in front of the fort and demanded a 
surrender. These forces were commanded respectively by the white 
renegade GIRTY and CAPTAIN PRATT.

     "The demand for a surrender was, of course, not complied with, and 
the attack then commenced.

     "During the forenoon of Tuesday, September 12, the enemy having 
temporarily withdrawn from the attack but occupying a position within 
gunshot of the fort, those within the stockade observed a female leave 
the residence of COLONEL ZANE and advance with rapid movements toward 
the fort. She made for the southern gate, as it was less exposed to the 
fire of the enemy. The gate was opened immediately, and she entered in 
safety. That person was none other than MOLLIE SCOTT, and the object of 
her mission was to procure powder for those who defended the dwelling 
of COLONEL ZANE. The undersigned was at that time in her seventeenth 
year, and remembers every circumstance connected with the incident. She 
saw MOLLIE SCOTT enter the fort, assisted her in getting the powder and 
saw her leave, and avers most positively that she, and she alone, 
accomplished the feat referred to, and deserves all the credit that may 
be attached to it.

     "The ammunition at that time was kept in the store-house, 
adjoining the residence of my father, and known as the "Captain's 
house." My father (CAPTAIN BOGGS) having left for help on the 
commencement of the attack; and I, being the oldest child under the 
paternal roof, was directed by my mother to go with the messenger 
(MOLLY SCOTT) to the store-house, and give her whatever ammunition she 
needed. This the undersigned did, and will now state, without fear of 
contradiction, that the powder was given to MOLLY SCOTT, and not to 
ELIZABETH ZANE.

     "The undersigned assisted MOLLY SCOTT in placing the powder in her 
apron, and to this she is willing to be qualified at any time.

     "ELIZABETH ZANE, for whom has long been claimed the credit of this 
heroic feat, was at that time at the residence of her father, near the 
present town of Washington, Pa.

     "At the time of its occurrence, the achievement was not considered 
very extraordinary. Those were emphatically times when woman's heart 
was nerved to deeds of no ordinary kind. We all felt it was then 'to do 
or die,' and the undersigned does not hesitate to say that more than 
one within the little stockade at Wheeling would have accomplished the 
feat with as much credit as the one whose name seems destined to an 
immortality in border warfare.

     "But the undersigned does not wish to detract from the heroism of 
that feat; she only desires to correct a gross error-to give honor to 
whom honor is due. This she deems imperative, that the truth and 
justice of history may be maintained. 

     "The undersigned disclaims all unkind feeling toward any one, in 
relation to this statement. ELIZABETH ZANE was one of her earliest 
acquaintances, whom she knew to be a woman, brave, generous and single-
hearted.

     "Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of November, 1849.

"LYDIA S. CRUGER, [Seal]"

     With this must also be connected her statement to DEHASS and 
published in his account, that her father, CAPTAIN BOGGS, was commander 
of the fort at this time and had charge of the stores; which should 
explain her expression about occupying the "Captain's house," and 
herself, as the oldest child, being delegated to get the powder, but 
which is shown to be incorrect by the documents published on pages 125 
and 127.


APPENDIX B

     The following is the introduction to the article from the Scioto 
Gazette, published in Appendix A. and which, as it has no bearing on 
the question of the amusing anecdote it contains:


BRAVE WOMEN OF OUR FRONTIER

     "The people of the eastern states have very little realization of 
the hardships endured, or the many deeds of valor that have been 
performed by the noble women of our western frontier. Should the many 
incidents be gathered, in which our women and children from the attacks 
of ruthless savages, they will fill volumes of history. Several of 
these have been published, in which a woman has wielded an axe, and 
split open the skull of a savage, with the intrepidity and the skill of 
a veteran knight in the days of feudalism.

      "On the 13th of March, 1791, when the Indians had killed Joseph 
ROGERS within a mile of Marietta, and pursued his companion, EDWARD 
HENDERSON, so close to the fort, the alarm was quickly spread 
throughout the settlement. Every man's duty was to repair to his post 
with his rifle, while the women rushed to the block-house with the 
children, and articles of value that could be carried. If money or 
valuable papers were in the chest, the women of the house took care to 
secure them, and rushed to the fort with them in her arms. One woman 
carried her bed and child, another a bundle of clothes, another a 
teapot, another the Bible, and so on. When all had gathered within the 
block house, an old mother was missing. A party was at once sent out 
for her, who found her busily engaged fixing up things in her house, 
and sweeping the floor. She told them she could not think of leaving 
her house, 'even if the Indians were coming to scalp her,' until all 
was rid up and things put in their place. This old lady had seen so 
much of border life, that an alarm of the coming of the Indians had 
ceased to frighten her."