Jesse and Elias Hughes--No. 1. Day by day the gallant band who settled the west at the peril of their lives, are disappearing from the theatre of human life, and a few brief years must sweep the survivors to that bourne from which no traveller returns.

Thomas Hughes, the head of the family had emigrated from the south branch of the Potomac, and established himself with his wife and children at Clarksburg, Harrison county, on the head waters of the Monongahela, at that period on the frontiers of the white settlements. In this region, periodically invaded by Indians, the brothers, Jesse and Elias served their apprenticeship to border warfare.

entering her back just below the shoulder, it came out at her left breast. With his tomahawk, he cleft the upper part of the head, and carried it off to save the scalp.

The screams of the women alarmed the men in the fort, and seizing their rifles they ran out Among these heroic spirits two brothers, just as Mrs Freeman fell, a few shots were fired Jesse and Elias Hughes figured in the frontier at the Indian while he was tugging away at the wars of Western Virginia. They were both re-scalp, but without effect, except so far as to markable men, As early as 1774, Elias bore warn the men outside of the fort that danger arms at the age of 18, and was doubtless at the was at hand, and they quickly came in. Among period of his death, which occurred as lately as these were Jesse Hughes, and a comrade named the 22d of last March, the last survivor of the John Schoolcraft, who, while they were getting memorable battle of Point Pleasant, on the 10th | in, discovered two Indians standing by the fence, October, 1774. This was the hardest fight and looking so intently towards the men at the ever sustained with the Indians, it having lasted fort as not to perceive any one else. Hughes from early in the morning till near night, sev-and Schoolcraft being unarmed-having left, eral persons perishing from exhaustion in the their guns in the fort-stepped to one side and course of the day. made their way in safely. Hughes, his broth-er and four others, armed themselves and went out to bring in the dead body, and while Jesso was pointing out to the rest of the party how near he had approached the Indians before no ticing them, one of the Indians made a howl like a wolf, and the whole party moved off in the direction whence the sound proceeded until supposing themselves near the spot, and stopping in a suitable place, Jesse howled also. He In 1777, Jesse, who was twenty-two, and Elias was answered, and two Indians were soon seen twenty years of age, attached themselves to a advancing. An opportunity offering, Elias company of spies or rangers, raised by Capt. Hughes shot one and the other took to flight.James Booth for the protection of the settlements. Being pursued by the whites, he took shelter in At one time the brothers being out on a scout, a thicket of brush, and while they were prothey examined the localities of the enemy near ceeding to intercept him at his coming out, he the steep bank of a run, made a smoke of rot- returned [the way he entered and made his es-ten wood to keep off the gnats, and lay down cape. The wounded Indian also got off. In upon their arms for the night, their moccasins their pursuit of the others. the party passed by tied to the breech of their guns. Sometime af- where the wounded man lay, and one of the men ter, hearing something like the snapping of a was for stopping and finishing him, but Hughes stick, and looking in the direction, they saw at called out "he is safe! let us have the others,” a distance three Indians approaching. Instant- and they all pressed forward into the thicket. ly the young men sprang to their feet, leaped On their return the savage was gone, and al down the bank and over the run. The Indi-though his free bleeding enabled them to pur

ans in pursuit, not knowing the place so well, fell down the bank. The whites hearing the plash, stopped an instant, put on their moccasins, raised a yell and put off at full speed, leaving the Indians to take care of themselves.

sue his track readily for a while, a heavy shower of rain falling while they were in pursuit, all traces of him were finally lost.

On the 16th June, Capt. Booth, who being an well educated man, as well as an efficient leader in scouting parties, being at work in his field, was surprised and shot by the savages. Jesse Hughes by common consent succeeded to his

In the middle of June three women went out from West's fort to gather greens in an adjoining field, and while thus engaged were fired on by one individual of a party of four Indians.-post. The ball passed through the bonnet of a Mrs. In 1780 West's fort was again visited by the Hacker, who screamed, and with the others ran Indians. The frequent incursions of the saga. towards the fort. An Indian having in his hand ages during the year 1778, had led the inhabilong staff mounted with a spear, pursuing close-tants to desert their homes and shelter themly after them, thrust it with so much violence selves in places of greater security; but being sta Mrs. Freeman, another of the women that, unwilling to give up the improvements which,

they had already made, and commence anew in the woods, some few families returned to their farms during the winter, and on the approach of spring moved into forts. In this case, the settlers had been in only a short time, when the enemy made his appearance, and continued to invest the fort for some time. Ignorant when to expect relief, the feeble band shut up there were becoming desperate when Jesse Hughes resolved at all hazards to obtain assistance from abroad. Leaving the fort at night, he eluded their sentinels, and made his way to the Buchannan fort. Here he prevailed on a party of the men to accompany them to West's and relieve those who had been so long shut up there. They arrived before day, and on consultation, it was thought advisable to abandon the place once more and remove to Buchannan fort. On their way the Indians resorted to every artifice to separate the party so as to cut them up in detachments, but to no purpose. All their stratagems were frustrated, and the entire body reached the fort in safety.

party stopping, demanded who he was. Benumbed with cold, and discomposed by the firing, he could not make himself known or understood. The white man raised his gun, directing it towards him and called out that if he did not say who he was, he would put a ball through him, be he white man or Indian. Fears supplying him with energy, he exclaimed at last, "J, am I to be killed by white people at last." Col. Lowther then recognized him and saved his life. The plunder recovered on this occasion was so abundant as to divide fourteen pounds seventeen shillings and six pence-nearly forty dollars to each of the recaptors.

were taken home by the whites who were however waylaid on the route, and one of their number, John Barnet, so badly wounded, that he died before reaching home.

In September, 1785, a party of Indians who had been stealing horses near Clarksburg were followed by a company raised on the spot out of the border warriors, commanded as before by Lowther, and the brothers Hughes, Jesse and Elias. On the 3d night after starting, the whites and Indians unknown to the fact had encamped within a short distance of each other. In the morning the pursuers divided taking two differIn March 1781, a party of Indians surprised ent routes. Elias Hughes and his party discovthe inhabitants on Leading creek, Tygart's Val-ered the Indians by the smoke of their fires, ley, nearly depopulating the settlement. Among and creeping cautiously up through the brush others they killed Alexander Roney, Mrs. were enabled to get near enough for Hughes to Dougherty, and carried away Mrs. Roney and shoot, when one of the savages fell and the resson, and Mr. Dougherty prisoners. On receipt idue took to flight. One of the Indians passing of these tidings at Clarksburg, a party was near where Col. Lowther stood, was fired at by promptly made up to chastise the savages, and him as he ran, and killed on the spot. The horif possible, rescue the prisoners, and pursuit be-ses and other plunder regained from the savages ing immediately made, the advance of the party discovered the Indians on a branch of Hughes' river. Col. Lowther and the brothers, Jesse and Elias Hughes led the pursuing force. It was concluded to leave the Hughes' watch the ene At another time Elias Hughes and his men my, while the residue of the party retired a short discovering a party of Indians, fired upon them. distance to rest, with the design to attack them The Indians ran in different directions. Hughes in the morning. As soon as day dawned, on a made after one, and was gaining upon him fast, preconcerted signal being made, the whites in a bottom piece of land in which were no crawled through the brush, and a general fire trees, when the Indian turned quickly about was poured in on the Indians of whom one on- with loaded gun uplifted. Hughes' gun was ly made his escape. Young Roney unfortu- empty and there were no trees to spring behind. nately lay sleeping in the bosom of one of the But instantly springing obliquely to the right Indians, and the same bullet that passed through and left, with a bound and out stretched arm, the head of the savage deprived the boy of life. he flirted the muzzle of the Indian's gun to one Mrs. Roney, ignorant of the fate of her son, and side, and the next moment had his long knife in the prospect of deliverance, losing the recol-in him up to the hilt. ection of the recent murder of her husband, On the 5th December of the same year, the Inran to the whites repeating, "I am Aleck Ro-dians made another inroad into these devoted ney's wife of the Valley, I am Aleck Roney's regions, and marking their progress with blood wife of the Valley, and a pretty little woman, and plunder, massacred several of the men and too if I was well dressed." Dougherty who women and carried off some prisoners, a daughwas tied down and unable to move, was discov-ter of Jesse Hughes among the the rest. She ered by the whites as they rushed into the canip. remained in captivity a year, when she was ranFearing that he was one of the enemy and might somed by her father. do them injury as they advanced, one of the

In September 1789, Jesse being one of a party

of drovers who were taking cattle into Marietta | said Hughes, "I did not let it go," and taking for the supply of the settlers there, the compa- out the scalp & throwing it down, "There take

your turkey, Jim, I don't want it." The lad was overcome and nearly fainted in view of the narrow escape he had made.

In 1790 the hostilities of the Indians had been reduced to stealing horses, merely. The Ohio above Marietta was their crossing place to

ny encamped for the night, when within a few miles of the river Ohio. In the morning while dressing they were alarmed by a discharge of guns which killed one and wounded another of the drovers. The most of the party escaped by flight, Nicholas Carpenter and his son, who had hid in a pond of water, were discovered, toma-Clarksburg, the route from that river being hawked and scalped. George Leggett, another of the drovers was never heard of afterwards, having doubtless lost his life there. Hughes himself, although taken at great disadvantage, effected his escape. He wore long leggings, and when the firing commenced, they were fastened to his belt, but were hanging loose below. Al though an active runner he found his pursuers were gaining on him, and that his safety depended in getting rid of these incumbrances. In as brief a space of time as possible, he halted, stepping on the lower part of the leggings and broke the strings attaching them to the belt, which he had no time to untie or even to get out his knife and cut. As little time as this cost, it was at the hazard of his life. One of the Indians approached and flung a tomahawk him, which however, only grazed his head.Once disencumbered of the leggings, he soon made his escape.

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through a dense forest. All was quiet in the settlements, as they had been for some time without alarms on the score of Indians. One night a man who had a horse in an enclosure, heard the fence fall: he jumped up and ran out and saw an Indian spring on the horse and dash off. An hour or two sufficed to rouse the neighborhood, and a company of twenty-five or thirty persons agreed to assemble and start by day light. They took a circle around the settlement, and soon struck the trail of ten or twelve horses, ridden off, as they judged probable, by the same number of Indians. The captain called a halt for consultation. Jesse Hughes who was one of the party was opposed to following their trace, alleging he could pilot them a nearer way to the Ohio, where they would be able to intercept their retreat. A majority, including the captain advocated pursuit. Hughes then insisted that the Indians would waylay their trail, in order to know if they were fol

On one occasion during this period of danger, which kept such men as the Hughes' in con-lowed, and could choose spots where they would stant employment Jesse, observed a lad, in- be able to shoot two or three of the whites, and tently engaged, fixing his rifle. "Jim," said he, put their own friends upon their guard, and that "what are you doing there?" "I am going to the savages once alarmed would keep the start shoot a gobbler that I hear on the hill side," said they had already got. These arguments appearJim. I hear no turkey” replied Hughes. "Lising to shake the purpose of the party, the comten," said Jim. "there-don't your hear it; lis-mander, jealous of Hughes' influence, broke up ten again." "Well" said Hughes, after hear- the council, calling on the men to follow him, ing it repeated, "I'll go and kill it." "No you and let all cowards go home. He dashed on won't," exclaimed the lad, "it is my turkey; I then, the men all following him. Hughes felt heard it first." "Well," said Hughes "you know the insult keenly, but kept on with the rest.— I am the best marksman, and besides I don't They had not proceeded many miles till the trail want the turkey; you may have it." Jim then went down a drain, where the ridge on one side acquiescing, Hughes went out, with his own ri- was very steep, with a ledge of rocks for a confle from the side of the fort which was furthest siderable distance. On the top of the cliff, two from the supposed turkey, and skirting a ravine Indians lay in ambush, and when the company came in on the rear, and as he expected, discov- got opposite, they made some noise which inered an Indian who was seated on a chesnut duced the men to halt; that instant two of the stump; surrounded and partly hid by sprouts, company were shot and mortally wounded.gobbling at intervals and watching in the Before any of them could ride round and ascend direction of the fort, to see whom he would be the cliff, the Indians were out of reach and able to decoy out. Hughes crept up behind him, sight. and the first notice given the savage of his The party of whites then agreed that Hughes ence, was a shot which deprived him of life. He was in the right, and although fearful they were took off the scalp and went into the fort where too late, changed their route to intercept them Jim was waiting for the prize. "There now," at the crossing place. They gave the wounsaid the lad. "you have let the turkey go; Ided men in charge of some of their numbers, should have killed it if I had gone." "No," and making a desperate push, reached the Ohio

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shoot off all their guns and put in fresh loads.— A mark was made; Hughes raised his gun ostensibly to shoot, which attracted the attention of the Indians to the mark and was a signal .Ratliff downed one, Bland's gun flashed, but Hughes turning quickly round, emptied his gun in the other Indian's head, setting fire at the same time to the handkerchief around it. On returning they kept their expedition a secret for some time.

Hughes' memory failed him considerably the last three or four years. Previously his eye sight failed him entirely, but partially returned again. With patience he waited his approaching end, firmly believing that his Redeemer lived, and that through Him he should enjoy the life to come.

His decease occurred, as I have stated, on the 22nd last March. With him doubtless disappeared the last survivor of those who bore a part in the memorable battle of Point Pleasant, at the mouth of Kanawha, seventy-one years since. The body was attended to the grave with every demonstration of the respect due to his past services, by several military corps, and a concourse of his fellow citizens.

rian Church.

fiver next day about an hour after the savages had crossed it. The water was yet muddy with the horses trails, and the rafts the Indians had crossed on, were yet floating on the opposite shore. The company were then unanimous for abandoning all pursuit. Hughes had now full satisfaction for the insult. It seemed, he said, as if they were going to prove the captain's words and show who were the cowards. As for himself, he said he would cross with as many as were willing, half their party, being as he supposed, enough to take the enemy's scalps. They all refused. He then said if but one man would cross with him he would keep on, but still no one would consent. He then said he would go by himself and take a scalp or leave his own. After his party had got out of sight, Hughes made his way up the river three or four miles, keeping out of view from the other shore, as he supposed the Indians were watching to see if the party would cross. He then made a raft and crossed the river, and encamped for the night. He struck their trail next day, and pursuing it very cautiously some ten miles from the river found their camp. There was but one Indian in it, the rest being out hunting. In order to pass his time pleasantly, he had made a sort of fiddle out of bones, and was sitting at ease sing- The General Assembly of the Presbyte ing and playing. Hughes crept up and shot him. He then took his scalp and made his way home. This is the last I have been able to learn of Jes-Presbyterian churches in the United States, met for the first time in Cincinnati, and for the seeond time in the west, on Thursday last. There After Gen. Wayne's treaty, Elias Hughes and are nearly two hundred on the rolls, who are family settled upon the waters of the Licking in constituted in about equal proportions of minOhio. The Indians having, at an early day, kill-isters and ruling elders. They are generally ed a young woman whom he highly esteemed, and subsequently his father, the return of peace did not eradicate his antipathy to the race. In the month of April, 1800, two Indians, having collected a quantity of fur on the Rocky Fork An impression appears to prevail that this of Licking, proceeded to the Bowling Green, body is selected from the church at large, out of stole three horses and put off for Sandusky.— its strongest members. This is a great mistake. The next morning Hughes, Ratliff and Bland, Each Presbytery, according to its number; sends going out for the horses and not finding them, one or more ministers, and as many lay repredid not return to apprise their families; but con- sentatives, and the usual practice is to delegate tinued upon the trail, and at night discovering them in turn, varying in particular cases to suit the Indians' fire on Granny's creek, some few the convenience of members. The presump. miles N. W. of where Mt. Vernon stands, lay tion therefore is, that each general assembly is a down for the night, and the next morning walk- fair representation-and no more, of the talent ed up to the Indians as they were cooking their and weight of character of the denomination morning repast. At first the Indians looked at large. Neither is the title D. D. appended to somewhat embarrassed, proposed restoration of the names of the ministers, any evidence of the the horses, and giving part of their furs by way greater weight of influence, talent, knowledge of conciliation, from which the whites did not or piety of him who holds it as compared with dissent, but were thinking of the whole of their the rest. It is conferred not by the church but furs and the future safety of the horses. by the various colleges of learning throughout It being a damp morning; it was proposed toe land, and as a general rule, it is doubtless

se Hughes, except that he survived many years, and died not long since.

This body composed of the delegates of the

fine looking men, with much less of the rigid Scotch and Scotch Irish cast of features than might be expected from the great element of their descent.

the fact that those who bestow degree most free-
ly, are least qualified to judge on the subject.
One of the Doctorates in the Synod of Cincin-
nati was lately confered on one of the members
by Augusta college, Ky. He had probably
graduated there. I could find fifty ministers
of others in the same denomination better enti-
tled to pre-eminence in knowledge, judgment,
and pulpit abilities. If these distinctions are to
be confered, they ought to be bestowed by the
General Assembly; but the whole system is at
variance with that parity of presbyters which

forms a fundamental doctrine in the church or-
der and government of Presbyterians.
Various questions of deep interest to that
church are fairly before the assembly, and some
of them have been discussed, at length. The
debates are public and appear to command a
crowd of auditors.

The Indian Trail.

"The Indians have attacked Mr. Stuart's house, burnt it, and carried his family into captivity!" were the first words of a breathless woodman, as he rushed into a block-house of a village in Western New York, during one of the early border wars. "Up, up--a dozen men should have been on the trail two hours ago," "God help us!" said one of the group, a bold, frank forester, and with a face whiter than ashes, he leaned against the wall gasping for breath, Every eye was turned on him with sympathy, for he and Mr. Stuart's only daughter, a lovely girl of seventeen were to be married in a few days,

the group, "stand back, and let him come in."

"It is Mr. Stuart!" said one of the oldest of

The men parted right and left from the doorway, and immediately the father entered, the neighbors bowing respectfully to him as he passadvancing directly to his intended son-in-law, ed. He scarcely returned their salutation, but the two mutually fell into each other's arms. The spectators, not wishing to intrude on the privacy of their grief, turned their faces away with that instinctive delicacy which is nowhere to be found more often than among those who are thought to be rude borderers; but they heard sobs and they knew that the heart of the usualy collected Mr. Stuart must be fearfully agita

ted.

"My friends," said he, at length-this is kind, I see you know my loss, and are ready to march with me! God bless you! He could say no more, for he was choked with emotion.

"Stay back, father," said young Leper, using for the first time a name which in that moment of desolation carried sweet comfort to the parent's heart "you cannot bear the fatigue as well as me-death only will prevent us from bringing back Mary."

"I know it-I know it, my son-but cannot stay here in suspense. No, I will go with you. I have to-day the strength of a dozen men!"

The fathers who were there nodded in assent, and nothing further was said, but immediately the party, as if by one impulse, set forth.

suers began to despond. Already the pursuits was useless, for the boundaries of the settlers' district had long been passed; they were in the very heart of the savages' country; and by this time the Indians had probably reached their village. Yet, when the older men, who alone would venture to suggest a return, looked at the father or the intended son-in-law, young Leper, they could only utter the words which would carry despair to two almost breaking hearts, and so the march was contined. But night drew on, and one of the elders spoke:

There was no difficulty in finding the trail of the Indians, along which the pursuers advanced with a speed incredible to those unused to forest life, and the result of long and severe discipline. But rapid as their march was, hour af ter hour elapsed without any signs of savages, though evidence that they passed the route a while before was continually met. The sun rose high above the heavens until he stood above The bereaved father was universally respect- the tree tops, then he began slowly to decline, ed. He was a man of great benevolence of heart, and at length his slant beams could scarcely and of some property, and resided on a mill seat penetrate the forest; yet there was no appearhe owned about two miles from the village.--ance of the Indians, and the hearts of the purHis family consisted of his eldest daughter and three children. He had been from home, so the runner said, when his house was attacked, nor had his neighbors any intimation of the catastrophe until the light of the burning tenements awakened the suspicions of a settler, who was a mile nearer the village than Mr. Stuart, and who proceeded towards the flames, found the house and mills in ruins, and recognized the feet of females and children on the trail of Indians. He hurried instantly to the fort,and was the individual who now stood breathlessly narrating the events which we in fewer words have detailed. The alarm spread through the village like a fire spreads in a swamp after a drought, and before the speaker had finished his story, the little block-house was filled with eager and sympaThis was a question that went to every heart, thizing faces. Several of the inhabitants had and by one consent the party stopped, and mabrought their rifles, and others now hurried ny, especially of the older ones, took a step or home to arm themselves. The young men of two involuntarily homewards. The father and the settlement gathered, to a man, around Hen-young Leper looked at each other in mute desry Leper, the betrothed husband of Mary Stuart; and though few words were spoken, the earnest grasp of the hand, and the accompanying looks, assured him that his friends keenly felt for him, and were ready to follow him to the world's end. That party was about to set forth, when a man was seen hurriedly running up the road from the direction of the desolated home.

"There seems to be no hope," he said, stopping and resting his rifle on the ground, "we are far from our families. What would become of the village if attacked in our absence?"

pair.

"You are right, Jenkins," said the young man, at length. "It is selfish in us to lead you so far away from home on"--aud here for an instant he choked-"on perhaps a fruitless errand. Go back; we thank you for having come so far. But as for me, my way lies ahead, even if it leads into the very heart of an Indian village."