point six miles above Marietta, and encamped on a run half a mile from the Ohio, and since called "Carpenter's run." The cattle were suffered to range in the vicinity, feeding on the rich pea vines that then filled the woods, while the horses were hoppled, the leaves pulled out from around the clappers of their bells, and turned loose in the bottom. After eating their suppers, the party spread their blankets on the ground and lay down with their feet to the fire. No guard was set to watch the approach of an enemy. Their journey being so near finished, without discovering any signs of Indians, that they thought all danger was past.

It so happened that not far from the time of their leaving home, a party of six Shawanese Indians, headed as was afterwards ascertained by Tecumseh, then quite a youth, but ultimately so celebrated for bravery and talents, had crossed the Ohio river near Bellville, on a marauding expedition in the vicinity of Clarksburgh. From this place they passed over the ridges to "Neil's Station," on the Little Kenawha, one mile from the mouth, where they took prisoner a colored boy of Mr. Neil, about twelve years old, as he was out looking for the horses early in the morning. It was done without alarming the garrison, and they quietly proceeded on their route, doing no other mischief; pursuing their way up the Kenawha to the mouth of Hughes's river, and following the north fork, fell on to the trail from Clarksburgh to Marietta. This took them about three days. There was no rain, and the leaves so dry that their rustling alarmed the deer, and they could kill no game for food. Their only nourishment for that period was a single tortoise, which they divided among them, giving Frank, the black boy, an equal share. As he was much exhausted and discouraged, they promised him a horse to ride on their return. These circumstances were related by Frank after his escape.

Soon after leaving the north fork of Hughes's river, they fell on to the trail of Carpenter's drove, and thinking it

made by a caravan of settlers, on their way to the Ohio, they held a short council. Giving up any further progress towards Clarksburgh, they turned with renewed energy and high spirits upon the fresh large trail, which they perceived had very recently been made. So broad was the track made by the cattle and four or five horses, that they followed it without difficulty, at a rapid pace all night, and came in sight of the camp fire a little before daylight. Previous to commencing the attack, they secured Frank with leather thongs to a stout sapling on the top of an adjacent ridge. The trampling of the cattle and the noise of the horse bells greatly favored the Indians in their approach, but as there was no sentinel there was little danger of discovery. Tecumseh, with the cautious cunning that ever after distinguished him, posted his men behind the trunk of a large fallen tree, a few yards from the camp, where they could watch the movements of their enemies.

At the first dawn of day, Mr. Carpenter called up the men, saying they would commence the day with the accustomed acts of devotion which he had long practiced. As the men sat round the fire, and he had just commenced reading a hymn, the Indians rose and fired, following the discharge with a terrific yell, and rushed upon their astonished victims with the tomahawk. Their fire was not very well directed, as it killed only one man, Ellis from Greenbrier and wounded John Paul through the hand. Ellis instantly fell, exclaiming "O Lord, I am killed!" The others sprang to their feet, and before they could all get their arms which were leaning against a tree, the Indians were among them. Hughes, who had been an old hunter and often in skirmishes with the savages, in his haste seized on two rifles, Carpenter's and his own, and pushed into the woods, with two Indians in pursuit. He fired one of the guns, but whether with effect is not known, and threw the other away. Being partly dressed at the time of the attack, his long leggings were only fastened to the belt round

his waist and were loose below, entangling his legs, and greatly impeding his flight. To rid himself of this incumbrance he stopped for a moment, placed his foot on the lower end, and tore them loose from the belt, leaving his legs bare from the hips downward. This delay nearly cost him his life. His pursuer, then within a few feet of him, threw his tomhawk so accurately as to graze his head. Freed from this impediment he soon left his foe far behind. Christopher Carpenter, the son of Nicholas, now living in Marietta, says he well remembers seeing the bullet holes in Hughes's hunting shirt after his return.

In the race the competitors passed near the spot where Frank was concealed, who described it as one of the swiftest he had ever seen. John Paul, who had been in many engagements with the Indians, escaped by his activity in running. Burns, a stout, athletic man, but slow of foot, was slain near the camp after a stout resistance. When found a few days after, his jack knife was still clasped in his hand, and the weeds trampled down for a rod or more around him, showing he had resisted man fully for life. George Legit was pursued for nearly two miles, overtaken and killed. Mr. Carpenter, although a brave man, was without arms to defend himself, and being lame could not run rapidly; he therefore sought to conceal himself behind some willows in the bed of the run. He was soon discovered, with his little boy by his side. His captors conducted him to the spot where the black boy had been left, and killed both him and his son. What led to the slaughter, after they had surrendered, is not known. He was found wrapped up in his blanket, with a pair of new Indian moccasins on his feet, and his scalp not removed. It is supposed that these marks of respect were shown him at the request of one of the Indians, whose gun Carpenter had repaired at Marietta the year before, and had declined any compensation for the service. He was by trade a gunsmith. This circumstance was told to C. Carpenter, many years after,

by one of the Indians who was present, at Urbana, in Ohio. It is another proof of the fact, that an Indian never forgets an act of kindness, even in an enemy.

Tecumseh and his men, after collecting the plunder of the camp, retreated in such haste, that they left all the horses, which had probably dispersed in the woods at the tumult of the attack. They no doubt feared a pursuit from the rangers at Marietta and Williams's station, who would soon be notified by the escape of their prisoner, Frank, who in the midst of the noise of the assault contrived to slip his hands loose from the cords, and hide himself in a thick patch of hazel bushes, from which he saw a part of the transactions. After the Indians had left the ground, he crept cautiously forth, and by good fortune took the right direction to Williams's station, opposite to Marietta. A party of men was sent out the next day, who buried the dead, as far as they could then be found. Frank returned to his master, and died only a few years since.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Ohio company fail to pay for their lands. Amount reduced.-Petition to Congress for one hundred thousand acres, as donation lots. - Trustees of the land. General Rufus Putnam treats with the Wabash tribes.- Cedar barge. -Dinner given to the chiefs.-Strength of the colony. - Rangers. — R. J. Meigs attacked by the Indians.-Names of families in Campus Martius. Fort Harmer.- Names of families. — Anecdotes of the French emigrants.

Doings of the Ohio company.

On the 28th of March, 1792, the directors of the Ohio company held a meeting of their board, in Philadelphia, for the purpose of closing their contract with Congress, and paying for the lands already in their possession. This meeting was attended by Rufus Putnam, Manassah Cutler, Griffin Green, and Robert Oliver. On the 11th of April there was a meeting of the agents, at the same place, who represented seven hundred and fifty shares. From various causes, among which was the expense of the Indian war and the bankruptcy of their treasurer, who failed largely in their debt, the company was unable to pay for the whole amount of the contract, for one million and a half of acres; but by a reduction in the price the whole could be yet secured. For this they had petitioned Congress, who refused to make any abatement from the original price of one dollar an acre. It is true that they were allowed to make a deduction for worthless lands, and the expense of surveying, equal to one third of a dollar. They, therefore, now applied for two hundred and fourteen thousand. two hundred and eighty-five acres to be paid for in "army land warrants." They also petitioned for a tract of one hundred thousand acres as donation lands to actual settlers, to be given by Congress,