Bushwhacked
(Complete Story) Tuesday, May 25, 1999 12:27 PM
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The majority of those present voted against the tired, old warrior.
"So you choose to fight the long-knives," he chastised them. "Then you must fight. If any man shall run away from the fight then I will kill him with my own hands."
The following day Cornstalk led his warriors in battle with great cunning as he exhorted his men to, 'Be strong. Be strong against these devil white men. They killed even our women and children at Captina and at Yellow Creek."
The opposing forces met soon after sunrise and a heavy volley from Cornstalk's men caused their adversaries to give ground. Soon they received reinforcements and the Indians gave ground forming a line behind logs and trees. A battle continued from their positions all day, not ceasing until sundown.
The settlers lost 75 men and 140 more were wounded. Although the number of Indian dead was not determined, a large number of warriors were found on the battleground while others were found in the river. It was felt the losses were equal on both sides.
One of Cornstalk's men refused to fight and, true to his word, after the battle he ispatched him to the Great Spirit with a hard blow from his tomahawk. That night, back in the Indian village of Chillicothe, Cornstalk called another council.
"I offered to call on General Lewis and ask for peace but you wanted war," he began. "What do you now choose to do? The long-knives are coming on us from two sides. Will we rise up to fight them?"
No one answered.
"Shall we kill our squaws and children and then ' fight the longknives until we are all killed," he asked.
Again there was silence. Cornstalk rose and thrust i his tomahawk into the war post in the center of the council house.
"Since you don't choose to fight, I will go and seek peace," he said matter of factly.
The following morning, Cornstalk along with young chief Redhawk and another Indian rode to the Point Pleasant garrison. He found Capt. Arbuckle in charge as General Lewis was away leading a group of men against the Indian village.
"We come in peace," Cornstalk told Arbuckle. "The Indian nations have joined the English. All have joined them but Cornstalk and our people. If we cannot have peace with you then we will run with the stream."
Due to Lewis' absence and the Indian uprisings, Arbuckle thought it would be wise to keep the three Indians as hostages for the time being. After awhile a son of Cornstalk "hallooed" from the opposite river bank. He was brought across the river and he too was kept as a hostage after he and his father embraced.
The following day, a small group of Indians, lurking on the opposite bank, killed one of the men by the name of Gilmore, as he returned from hunting. When his body was brought to the fort there was an outcry to kill the Indian hostages and a group led by Capt. Hall, bent on revenge, immediately headed to where they were being held. A small group of men attempted to stop them from their task but stepped aside when they were threatened with cocked guns.
Cornstalk and his fellow hostages heard and understood the commotion. They knew that their death was eminent. Cornstalk's son became very upset.
"Don't be afraid to die my son," Cornstalk said. "The Great Spirit sent you to die with me. If is his will so it must be for the best."
Cornstalk rose to meet the men at the door and was promptly shot seven times. The others were also shot and tomahawked in short order.
Chief Cornstalk, the great king of the Shawnee, was dead.
*Jadon Gibson is a freelance writer from Harrogate, Tennessee. His writings are nostalgic and historical in nature.
Editor's Note
Seventy-Seven Years POWELL VALLEY NEWS (USPS 4408-8000) Published each Wednesday by POWELL VALLEY PRINTING COMPANY 125 East Morgan Avenue Pennington Gap, VA 24271 Phone 540-546-1210 FAX 540-546-5468
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