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Jonathan Alder
The Captivity of Jonathan Alder (1773-1849)
and his life with the Indians
as dictated by him and transcribed by his son Henry ( and other sources )
Chapter I
The Captivity
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Jonathan Alder, son of Bartholomew and Hannah Alder, was born in the
state of Maryland, September 17, 1773. In 1775 his father removed to Wythe
County, Virginia. He purchased a small tract of land, erected a plain log cabin
and began to make improvements. In 1779, Mr. Alder died, leaving his wife and
five sons. He had been twice married, having one son John, by his first wife,
and four, David, Jonathan, Mark, and Paul by his second wife. At his decease,
he was possessed of several head of horses, cattle and swine, which fed upon
the wild grass, herbage and nuts of the forest, and frequently strayed along the
mountain valleys.
On a pleasant morning in May, 1781, Mrs. Alder awakened David and
Jonathan, somewhat earlier than usual, stating that they must rise, eat their
breakfast and go in search of a mare and colt that had strayed a few days
before. When breakfast was ready, David seemed very despondent and did not
eat much. Procuring a bridle and halter, they started in quest of the missing
animals. By paths they passed into the deep woods and wandered about for
several hours, without finding the horses. They finally came to a little mountain
stream upon the banks of which grew several bunches of wild willows. David
gave his knife to Jonathan and requested him to cut a bundle of willows, and
when they returned he would make a basket. Jonathan commenced to cut
willows, while David continued the search for the missing horses. He had been
gone but a short time, when Jonathan began to have fears of their safety,
ceased work, and seated himself upon a log a few paces from the willows and
waited the return of his brother. He had been there but a short time when David
called to him. He followed, exchanging helloes several times, before he came
up to his brother. David had found the mare and colt, but the colt was unable to
rise. It had probably eaten of the "stagger weed" which grew abundantly in that part of the country, and seemed paralyzed in its limbs. David told him to take hold of the colt by the tail, while he would lift it up by the neck, and see if they
could get it upon its feet. They lifted it up several times, but it was so stiff it could
not stand. They concluded to try it again, and if it did not help itself to abandon
it to its fate. While in the act of stooping, David looked into the forest, and
exclaimed, "See, there are Indians." He was very active and fleet of foot, and
darted away like an arrow into the forest, while two Indians gave pursuit. There
were five Indians and one white man in the gang. The word "Indians" so
alarmed Jonathan, that he was unable to move. By the time he had raised up,
an Indian stood by him, and extended his hand, which Jonathan trembling,
grasped. He was greatly terrified, fearing an Indian more than the wild beasts of
the forest. His captor held him tightly by the hand, while he trembled in the
momentary expectation of being tomahawked or scalped.
David and the two savages soon disappeared in the deep forest.
Jonathan waited but a few moments, and saw David returning with an Indian
leading him, while the other was holding the shaft of a spear that had been
thrown after him as he ran, and penetrated his body! When he came near,
Jonathan asked him if he was hurt! He said he was. By this time, one of the
Indians stepped up and grasped him tightly around the body, while the other
took hold of the spear handle and pulled it out. The whole gang then turned and
started in a great hurry. They had gone but a short distance when Jonathan
discovered David had become very pale and was staggering. He tried to keep
his eyes on David, but the Indians jerked him (Jonathan) along by the hand, and
prevented him. They soon halted on a high piece of ground. The Indian who
had been left with David, came up with his dripping scalp, frequently shaking the
blood from it. Jonathan was convinced, by this, that his brother had been killed
by the Indians and was now uncertain as to his own fate.
The white man began a conversation, asking him how many there
were in his family. Jonathan promptly replied, there were but two little
brothers and his mother; and that his father was dead, and that his
brother John was a man and did not live at home. The white man then
asked him where his mother lived. He pointed in the direction of a fort
about one mile away and said, "There." The white man shook his head,
and said the statement, "was a lie" and further remarked that he and the
Indians had been in the neighborhood "three days trying to catch
Negroes, and had seen a heap of people about the fort, and did not
believe his mother lived there," but finally said, "if he would tell them
where his mother lived, they would take her and the children to a fine
country, and take good care of them, and they could live easy, and need
never work." Knowing that his brothers were younger and smaller than
himself, and suspecting the Indians would kill them, he continued to insist
that his mother lived down at the mill near the Fort. While they were
talking a rooster crowed, apparently not over a mile from where they
stood. The white man said, "There is where your mother lives."
Jonathan replied, "It is not!" The Indians all started in that direction,
leaving him in the company with the white man. They had been gone but
a short time when a man commenced chopping on a tree in the direction
they had gone. Jonathan at once suspected the Indians would surprise
and kill the poor pioneer, and begged the white man to let him go home,
but he refused to do so. This added greatly to the grief of the young
captive and he urged the white man to let him go, he still said, "No!"
While they were thus talking, he heard the explosion of a gun, and in
about a half an hour the Indians came back with a Mrs. Martin and a child
about two years old. The white man then asked Jonathan "If that was his
mother?" He said she was not, but was Mrs. Martin. Mrs. Martin told him
the Indians had shot her husband and killed her youngest child. They
shot Martin while chopping at a tree, took his scalp, and then killed her
babe at the cabin, and compelled her to follow. Mrs. Martin was a
neighbor of the Alders with whom he was quite intimate. The appearance
of Mrs. Martin and her child, served to increase the apprehensions of
young Alder. He could see the blood of his brother on the hands of his
murderer, and his scalp hanging in his belt, while Mrs. Martin was also
shocked at seeing the scalp of her husband and child. The Indians
huddled together and held a hurried consultation, and then the whole
company moved off as rapidly as Mrs. Martin and Jonathan could travel,
through the woods. The poor captives were reluctant to turn their backs
upon their homes, and every step was attended by the deepest grief, and
dreadful apprehensions for the future. Before starting strips of buffalo
skin were tied around the body of the captives, and an Indian taking hold
of the end of the tug compelled them to follow. They walked in regular
Indian file, so as to make as few tracks or trails as possible. A stout
warrior carried the child of Mrs. Martin. In this condition they marched for
several hours. In the meantime, two Indians fell behind, to see if they
were followed by the whites. The country was very hilly and rough.
About dark they entered a deep ravine, and passed along it some
distance, and encamped among the cliffs and rocks, for the night. The
weather was warm and they built no fire. Their supper was of dried
venison. Mrs. Martin and young Alder had but little desire for food.
When the Indians had completed their meal, they
spread their blankets upon the ground and after
fastening buffalo thongs or tugs around their prisoners,
ordered them to lie down. An Indian lay on each side of
the captives upon the end of the tug, and allowed the
child to rest with its mother. To the captives it was a
dreary and sleepless night. They slept little until near
morning. As soon as daylight began to appear, the
Indians awakened the captives. They then reconnoitered
the situation to see if they could find any evidences of
pursuit. Their breakfast consisted of the same food -
dried venison. As soon as they had eaten they
continued to travel in single file, with two Indians a short
distance in the rear, to guard against surprise attack.
Their route was across what is now Tazewell County,
over hills and rocks, and along mountain slopes, and
amid forests of large and small timber until they reached
the head waters of the Big Sandy river. About noon they
halted and lunched upon jerked venison. They continued
in the same order and direction until night, and
encamped in a dark ravine, kindled a fire, and prepared
supper, as before. They now talked with less reserve
and caution. The white man endeavored to reconcile the
captives to their situation, citing their fine prospects for
the future, and describing the delightful country to which
they were journeying. His flattering words, however,
failed to remove the apprehensions and despondency of
the prisoners, The captives slept on their blankets,
secured and watched, as they were the night previous.
Wearied from their long march, they soon fell into a
profound sleep and awakened the next morning, much
refreshed.
All being ready they moved forwards. The Indian who claimed the
child of Mrs. Martin, had carried it and his gun, blanket and provisions for
the last two days. He now seemed much fatigued, and fell back with the
child. About noon, the Indians halted a short time for refreshments and
again moved on. The Indian with the child, still delayed, and Mrs. Martin
began to have fears of its safety. About sundown the Indians halted for
the night and in about half an hour the warrior came up without the child,
with its scalp hanging to his belt. Upon his appearance, Mrs. Martin gave
utterance to her grieves by crying aloud, "My child! My child! Oh my child!"
The warrior quickly stepped up to her, and bid her hush but she paid no
attention to him and continued to give vent to her sorrow by screaming
louder than before. The warrior drew his knife, caught her by the hair, and
pressed the edge of the knife against her forehead, exclaiming, "Scalp -
kill - cut." She continued her cry, and sobbed as if her heart would break.
Thereupon the savage became very angry and would have struck her
down with his tomahawk, but was prevented by the warrior who claimed
her as his prisoner. Frantic with rage, the Indian let go, and reached up
into a beech tree, cut a large switch and commenced to whip her still
insisting that she should cease crying, but to no effect for she still
continued to exclaim, "My child - Oh - my child!" The Indian renewed the
punishment with great energy until her cries softened to sobs and profuse
tears! This scene convinced the captives that they were truly in the hands
of savages, and liable to be killed at any moment. They suppressed,
thence-forward; their grief, as best they could, but shed many bitter tears.
They ate but little that evening, and passed a dreary night upon the Indian
blankets reflecting upon the scenes of home, and their present pitiable
situation.
The Indians arose early the next morning and awakened the unfortunate
captives. Jonathan was reluctant to get up, being much wearied and worn down
by the flight and sore and stiff in his limbs. The condition of Mrs. Martin was
indeed touching for, in addition to the hardships of the trap over a rough country,
she was suffering from the severe whipping and bruises received the evening
previous, to say nothing of the mental anguish caused by the loss of her child.
After they had eaten of the usual food they again set forward. Mrs. Martin and
young Alder were so sore and stiff, they could scarcely move; and were in doubt
whether to proceed or submit to their inevitable fate, in case of refusal, but
finally, limped along. About noon the whole party again halted for dinner, and
sat down on a large flat rock, and rested about an hour. When the word to move
on, was given young Alder was so lame and stiff he felt unable to rise promptly.
After sitting a moment, he says, "Just then, I observed on the rock, in front of
me, the shadow of a tomahawk, and a mans arm, it being a bright sunny day.
The man who claimed me was standing south of me. When I saw the shadow, I
turned my face round, and looked up, saw the Indian let down his tomahawk. I
then got up, and the Indian commenced feeling my head - and then we started
on after the others.
"The Indian told me afterwards, that it was his intention to have killed me
for being so lazy, but that when I looked up at him, I seemed to smile so
innocently, he could not carry out his purpose and that when he felt my head he
noticed that my hair was very black and thought I would make a good Indian, if
he could get me to his tribe. It was from this cause he spared my life, and which
induced the Indians to treat me with less severity."
Still he was much troubled, and could not forget the shadow of the tomahawk
and arm, on the rocks. He readily conjectured, young as he was, that if he
became too weary to proceed, the tomahawk would speedily end his distress.
That night they encamped in a dense thicket. After supper the Indians engaged
in a lengthy talk, and seemed to be much excited in manner and gesture, and
frequently looked in the direction of the captives, as if they meant mischief, but
the white man frequently assured them of their safety. They had no confidence
in his promises, and watched the motions of the Indians very closely until a late
hour of the night, and finally being overcome by fatigue, reclined upon the
blankets and soon entered the land of dreams, and became unconscious of their
surroundings.
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