HELL’S VENGEANCE CYCLE

HELL’S VENGEANCE CYCLE begins every Spring

by Jim Moyer compiled in 2015, updated 3/6/2017, 4/2/2017, 4/15/18, 10/2/2018, 1/18/2019, 4/12/2020

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This is one leader who may have been directing or a part of each one of these attacks and battles:

. at the Battle of Jumonville Glen in May 1754 leading to Fort Necessity July 1754 and at Braddock’s defeat in July 1755 and later that Fall 1755 around Fort Cumberland . . End of March Early April 1756 – BATTLE OF THE TROUGH . April 1756 Attack on Martin’s Fort (Seller’s Fort). . 8 April 1756 Lt Bacon of Maryland and 5 Ashby’s rangers reported killed, and Cox Fort attacked . 15 April 1756 attack on Fort Ashby . 18 April 1756 Battle of the Great Cacapon near Fort Edwards, 20 miles from Winchester . 16 July 1756 Vincent Williams near Fort Pleasant killed, chopped up to adorn his cabin . . Other attacks masterminded by Killbuck Sr resulted in many deaths, heroism, cowardice and ensuing court martial trials held in Winchester. . Attack on Fort Upper Tract. No living witnesses. The story is dark. . Read about the 28 April 1758 attack on Fort Seybert also led by Killbuck Sr in a story by Bonnie S Johnston, titled The Dark Side of the Mountain . .

The following is an overall list of attacks and battles:

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Way before any big troubles:

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1750 Cabins burned by PA provincial authorities to satisfy Indian protests

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Attacks after Braddock in 1755

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October 1755 Jane Frazier, wife of Lt John Frazier, taken captive

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October 1755 Attacks on Cresap’s Fort. One of the many incidents attributed to Killbuck.

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1755 Mary Draper Ingles capture and escape

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1 November 1755 Great Cove Massacre

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Here are the packed events of the Spring of 1756

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ATTACKS IN SPRING 1756

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February 1756 Sandy Creek Expedition led by Major Andrew Lewis

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23 March 1756 Sieur Douville given orders to attack Fort Maidstone depot . End of March Early April 1756 – BATTLE OF THE TROUGH end of March or early April 1756 . No court martials followed this particular battle, The Battle of the Trough. ” In a controversial action still being debated many years later, Captain Thomas Waggener did not sally forth to assist the local militia engaged in that battle with the Indians until the following day. ” – page 181 of Norman Baker’s French and Indian War in Frederick County. . 1 April 1756 Jean Lowry and Her Children, taken by the Indians . April 1756 Attack on Martin’s Fort (Seller’s Fort). . 7 April 1756 Colonel GW back from Boston, now in Winchester VA . 7 April 1756 Sieur Douville is killed and scalped . 8 April 1756 Lt Bacon of Maryland and 5 Ashby’s rangers reported killed, and Cox Fort attacked . 15 April 1756 attack on Fort Ashby . 17 April 1756 Daniel Morgan shot through the neck and out left jaw of teeth . 18 April 1756 Battle of the Great Cacapon near Fort Edwards, 20 miles from Winchester . Late April 1756, Evans Fort attacked, north of Winchester VA. And a woman supervised that defense. While the men were absent having gone to the vicinity of the attack on Kelly near Bell’s Fort, Mrs Polly Evans created enough activity to convince the Indians the fort was well defended. The Indians then took a girl capture near the settlement of John Strode whose dwelling was put to the torch just nearby. Historian Kercheval stated these same Indians then overwhelmed Neally’s Fort taking a number of prisoners. Following this Indian Raid, Washington staffed a number of these forts with men from the VA Regiment. . 2 May 1756 Court Martials HELD IN WINCHESTER VA following the Battle of the Great Cacapon . 18 May 1756 Building of Fort Loudoun begins . 29 May 1756 Tom Step of the Nottoway with Cresap and Lt Nathaniel Gist . 16 July 1756 Vincent Williams near Fort Pleasant killed, chopped up to adorn his cabin . August 1756 Attack on Fort Nichols MD. Four were killed, 3 wounded, 3 taken prisoner of the 30 militia there

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8 Sept 1756 Attack on Kittanning. Map location, old archive book, link 2. link 3

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Why is the Boston trip included here?

Because after Braddock's Defeat, that Braddock Road became a highway for the French and their Indians to attack thru the Fall of 1755 into the Spring of 1756, and what does Washington do?

He heads to Boston.

He wants to see Massachussetts Gov Shirley to determine hierarchy of command and if he can get on to the British establishment of commissions and not be subject to the commands of a Maryland Captain Dagworthy, who has an expired British Captain's commission.

BACK FROM BOSTON

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After a long trip started in February 1, 1756 to Boston

to see Governor William Shirley of Massachussetts,

who was also Commander in Chief

of all NorthAmerican forces,

to settle the issue of Capt Dagworthy

not submitting to Washington’s command

at Fort Cumberland,

Washington finally arrives

BACK IN WINCHESTER APRIL 7, 1756

to find the frontier in turmoil,

and a report about a dead Frenchman, Sieur Douville,

who had plans to destroy

the depot near Williamsport MD on the Potomac …

in the heart of many settler’s forts and homesteads.

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THE BRADDOCK HIGHWAY

GW knew the highway they just built

for the failed Braddock Expedition

was a two way street.

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The enemy was going to use it.

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And they will be coming.

Still, confusion in command

is not good under attack,

so he needs to solve that Dagworthy problem.

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How powerful were the Indians at Warfare?

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Colonel Washington answers that queston on 7 April 1756

when he writes to Lt Gov Dinwiddie of Virginia:

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“However absurd it may appear, it is nevertheless certain, that five hundred Indians have it more in their power to annoy the Inhabitants, than ten times their number of Regulars. For, besides the advantageous way they have of fighting in the Woods, their cunning and craft are not to be equalled; neither their activity and indefatigable Sufferings: They prowl about like Wolves; and like them, do their mischief by Stealth— They depend upon their dexterity in hunting, and upon the Cattle of the Inhabitants for provisions.” . SANDY CREEK AND ANDREW LEWIS This reality although true, contained a real hidden nugget. Col Washington in the north and Washington’s right hand man, Major Andrew Lewis, in the south, who had just come from the failed Sandy Creek Expedition, were about to be hit by ONE SINGLE INDIAN. AGAIN. . But now war parties infested the woods. Fort Edwards needed help. Fort Cumberland needed help. And the Magazine at Fort Maidstone needed help. . WHY GO WHEN DANGER WAS COMING? Why did George Washington choose to make such a long trip to Boston knowing Springtime is going to get HIT, really HIT ?

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THE MAGAZINE, THE DEPOT

See another map of that Fort Maidstone (which guarded the Magazine the Frenchman had instructions to destroy) of Virginia side across from today’s Williamsport Maryland, near the Conococheague.

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ROBERT ROGERS

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During this same trip Gov Shirley of Massachusetts and Commander overall of North America hands Robert Rogers a Commission, March 24, 1756, a commission to be paid by the Crown.

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GW failed to obtain such commissions for himself or for his men on his Boston trip to see Gov Shirley and in the end did not entirely resolve the issue of a Captain Dagworthy who would not submit to provincial Col GW’s commands.

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