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

240

ADAM POE.

In the summer of 1782, a party of Wyandottes made an incursion into the settlement some distance below Fort Pitt, and several miles from the Ohio River. Here, finding an old man alone, in a cabin, they killed him, packed up what plunder they could find, and commenced their retreat. Among the party was a celebrated Wyandotte chief, who, in addition to his fame as a warrior and counsellor, was, as to his size and strength, a real giant.

The news of the visit of the Indians soon spread through the neighborhood, and a party of eight good riflemen was collected in a few hours for the purpose of pursuing the Indians. In this party were two brothers of the name of Adam and Andrew Poe. They were both famous for courage, size and activity.

This little party commenced the pursuit of the Indians, with a determination if possible, not to suffer them to escape, as they usually did on such occasions, by making a speedy flight to the River, crossing it, and then dividing into small parties, to meet at a distant point in a given time.

The pursuit was continued the greater part of the night after the Indians had done the mischief. In the morning the party found themselves on the trail of the Indians, which led to the River. When arrived within a short distance of the River, Adam Poe, fearing an ambuscade, left the party, who followed directly on the trail, to creep along the brink of the River bank, under cover of the weeds and bushes, to fall on the rear of the Indians, should he find them in ambuscade. He had not gone far before he saw the Indian rafts at the water's edge. Not seeing any Indians he stepped softly down the bank with his rifle cocked. When about half way down, he discovered the large Wyandotte chief and a small Indian within a few steps of him. They were standing with their guns cocked, and looking in the direction of our party, who by this time had gone some distance lower down the bottom. Poe took aim at the large chief, but his rifle missed fire. The Indians hearing the snap of the gun lock instantly turned round and discovered Poe, who being too near them to retreat, dropped his gun and sprang from the bank upon them, and seizing the large Indian by the clothes on his breast, and at the same time embracing the neck of the smaller one, threw them both down on the ground, himself being uppermost. The