A History of the Valley of Virginia by Samuel Kercheval (1833; 3rd ed. 1902)

111

DODDRIDGE'S ACCOUNT

the Logan speech, has probably caused his work to be circulated and read all over the civilized world.

The author will only add that he has obtained permission, from the proprietor of these works, to use them as he deems proper. The Hon. Philip Doddridge, shortly before his death, in a letter to the author stated, that he considered there would be no impropriety in appending any part of his brother's book to this publication; and Mr. Jacob's, in the most liberal and unqualified terms, permits him to append the whole, or any part of his Life of Cresap.

REV. MR. DODDRIDGE'S ACCOUNT OF DUNMORE'S WAR.

After the conclusion of the Indian wars, by the treaty made with the chiefs by Sir William Johnson at the German flats, in the latter part of 1764, the western settlements enjoyed peace until the spring of 1774.

During this period of time, the settlements increased with great rapidity along the whole extent of the western frontier. Even the shores of the Ohio, on the Virginia side, had a considerable population as early as the year 1774.

Devoutly might humanity wish that the record of the causes which led to the destructive war of 1774, might be blotted from the annals of our country. But it is now too late to efface it; the black-lettered list must remain, a dishonorable blot in our national history. Good however may spring out of evil. The injuries inflicted upon the Indians, in early times by our forefathers, may induce their descendants to show justice and mercy to the diminished posterity of those children of the wilderness, whose ancestors perished, in cold blood, under the tomahawk and scalping knife of the white savage.

In the month of April, 1774, a rumor was circulated that the Indians had stolen several horses from some land jobbers on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. No evidences of the facts having been adduced, led to the conclusion that the report was false. This report, however, induced a pretty general belief that the Indians were about to make war upon the frontier settlements, but for this apprehension there does not appear to have been the slightest foundation.

In consequence of this apprehension of being attacked by the Indians, the land jobbers ascended the River, and collected in Wheeling. On the 27th of April, it was reported in Wheeling that a canoe containing two Indians and some traders, were coming down the River, and then not far from the place. On hearing this, the commandant of the station, Capt. Cresap, proposed to go up the River and kill the Indians. This project was vehemently opposed by Col. Zane, the proprietor of the place. He stated to the captain that the killing of those Indians would inevitably bring on a war, in which