Indian Massacres and Horror at Muddy Creek, West Virginia

In the course of a few days after Hannah Dennis had gone from
Clendennins, a party of about sixty warriors came to the settlement on
Muddy creek, in the county of Greenbrier. That region of country then
contained no inhabitants, but those on Muddy creek, and in the Levels;
and these are believed to have consisted of at least one hundred
souls. The Indians came apparently as friends, and the French war
having been terminated by the treaty of the preceding spring, the
whites did not for an instant doubt their sincerity. They were
entertained in small parties at different houses, and every civility
and act of kindness, which the new settlers could proffer, were
extended to them. In a moment of the most perfect confidence in the
innocense of their intentions, the Indians rose on them and tomahawked
and scalped all, save a few women and children of whom they made
prisoners.

After the perpetration of this most barbarous and bloody outrage, the
Indians (excepting some few who took charge of the prisoners)
proceeded to the settlement in the Levels. Here, as at Muddy creek,
they disguised their horrid purpose, and wearing the mask of
friendship, were kindly received at the house of Mr. Clendennin.[14]
This gentleman had just returned from a successful hunt, and brought
home three fine elks--these and the novelty of being with _friendly
Indians_, soon drew the whole settlement to his house. Here too the
Indians were well entertained and feasted on the fruit of Clendennin's
hunt, and every other article of provision which was there, and could
minister to their gratification. An old woman, who was of the party,
having a very sore leg and having understood that Indians could
perform a cure of any ulcer, shewed it to one near her; and asked if
he could heal it--The inhuman monster raised his tomahawk and buried
it in her head. This seemed to be the signal of a general massacre and
promptly was it obeyed--nearly every man of the settlement was killed
and the women and children taken captive.

While this tragedy was acting, a negro woman, who was [71] endeavoring
to escape, was followed by her crying child.--To save it from savage
butchery, she turned round and murdered it herself.

Mrs. Clendennin, driven to despair by the cruel and unprovoked murder
of her husband and friends, and the spoliation and destruction of all
their property, boldly charged the Indians with perfidy and treachery;
and alleged that cowards only could act with such duplicity. The
bloody scalp of her husband was thrown in her face--the tomahawk was
raised over her head; but she did not cease to revile them. In going
over Keeny's knot on the next day, the prisoners being in the centre,
and the Indians in the front and rear, she gave her infant child to
one of the women to hold for a while.--She then stepped into the
thicket unperceived, and made her escape. The crying of the infant
soon lead to a discovery of her flight--one of the Indians observed
that he could "bring the cow to her calf," and taking the child by the
heels, beat out its brains against a tree.

Mrs. Clendennin returned that night to her home, a distance of ten
miles; and covering the body of her husband with rails and trash,
retired into an adjoining corn field, lest she might be pursued and
again taken prisoner. While in the corn field, her mind was much
agitated by contending emotions; and the prospect of effecting an
escape to the settlements, seemed to her dreary and hopeless. In a
moment of despondency, she thought she beheld a man, with the aspect
of a murderer, standing near her; and she became overwhelmed with
fear. It was but the creature of a sickly and terrified imagination;
and when her mind regained its proper tone, she resumed her flight and
reached the settlement in safety.[15]

These melancholy events occurring so immediately after the escape of
Hannah Dennis; and the unwillingness of the Indians that she should be
separated from them, has induced the supposition that the party
committing those dreadful outrages were in pursuit of her. If such
were the fact, dearly were others made to pay the penalty of her
deliverance.

                           57 Gruesome tales of Indian capture and torture