Who stole the horses first?
Does it matter who stole first? Yeah. Big time. Especially if it happens to you. And then whoever stole first, guess what they say? Something wrong was done to them, so they had to take what they were promised. Doing so caused more problems. And so did it start with a promise reneged?
No arguments go without challenge.
Push for one side over another is well within your rights.
Only adversaries are motivated to test the others' point.
This approach may discover more of the story and more importantly put both sides' on the record.
It is why the Justice System is called the Adversarial system.
The Cherokee travelled over 500 miles from the Smokies to Winchester VA to join the war effort of the Forbes Expedition.
Why?
Spring time was time for War, a rite of passage. Heroism and Bravery were in the offing. And rewards too. Rewards to bring back to show their people. Some had to stay back home to hunt and provide for their people. Those who went, did not have unlimited time. That was a problem because the Forbes Expedition was taking forever. They too would need to return home.
Those who went north met with promises not kept. Read about how the Cherokee debated for over 3 days the lack of presents promised at Fort Loudoun in Winchester VA in April 1757.
Now fast forward to August and September of 1758.
Read a story.
As the summer progressed, the death toll mounted.
Only one war party returned home without people killed or robbed on the way.
On Sept 2 [1758], the remaining Estatoe warriors, accompanied by messenger James Holmes and the Beamers, set out from Winchester VA.
They woke up the morning after their first encampment to find six of their horses stolen.
As they proceeded southward, at Bedford Courthouse, Virginia's settlers warned Beamer "if I did not take Care I should have some Indians killed." Beamer sent word ahead that the three white men in the party would keep the Indians under control.
Nevertheless, the next morning, near Goose Creek in Bedford County, eighty white men "rose up" suddenly, without provocation, on both sides of the road.
They ordered the Indians to ground their firearms,
which they did.
According to Beamer, the frontiersmen [claimed the Governor gave them the power to attack the Cherokee.]
The Frontiersmen "positively say, that it is the Governor of Virginia's orders to kill and robb" the Cherokees.
Likewise James Beamer insisted, "The Governor of Virginia . . . has Given these people orders to kill them, and take away what Presents they Got there."
The frontiersmen opened fire, killing three Indians and wounding one.
When the Cherokees then picked up their weapons, a three-hour standoff ensued.
The Beamers convinced the Cherokees, who lacked numbers and ammunitions, not to take revenge. The warriors continued to Estato arriving on Sept 8.
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Page 53 to 54, Carolina in Crisis: Cherokees, Colonists, and Slaves in the American .Southeast 1756-1763 By Daniel J. Tortora, published by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 2015.
Before that, another homicidal moment:
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On August 19 [1758], not far from Draper's Meadows on New River, Captain Wade's frontier patrol came upon five Valley Cherokees going toward the Tennessee with horse, possibly stolen.
The temptation was too great.
Virginia paid a 50 lb scalp bounty, and none could tell whether a scalp was Shawnee or Cherokee. According to one of the men:
After the captain heard the opinion of the people he past sentence of death upon them . . .
we overtook and past them because the captain siaid they were in such order we could not kill them all . . .
They were agoing toward New River . . . the men knew of two fords and they emagined they would cross one of them . . . We laid an ambuscade at each ford . . . and the captain's orders were to fire at them as they crossed the river . . . But after we had placed ourselves and sat awhile 2 or 3 of the men came . . . and informed us that the Indians had cross't the Loer ford and they did not fire because they were all together, So the captain and the men went down toward the Loer ford and as we went along we saw 4 of the Indians; but we did not fire . . . the captain concluded to ly by for awhile and them all get together . . . soon after the other Indian followed them . . . the captain proposed . . . to dog them till night then to ly by until brake of day and then follow them. But we did not approve his skemes . . . we followed them and overtook them at a peach orchard just as they were leaving it . . .
and fired at them and followed them up unitil we killed four of them
and would the other.
We skelped them that we killed
and then followed the other. . . .
He bled very much . . . he went into the river and to an island . . . some of the men left looking for him and went down to the fort and some went after the Indians' horses. But myself and four or five more we search't the island until late in the afternoon and when we came to the fort the captain and the men were handling the Indians' good . . . Next morning we pack't up in order to return homeward for signs of Indians was plenty and we had little ammunition.
But before we left the fort we were sworn not to tell we had ever heard them say they were Cherokees.
Sources:
Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts 1652-1781 Volume 1, pages 255-257, Google books
Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts 1652-1781 Volume 1, pages 255-257, Archive.org books
Hathitrust does not have Volume 1 of Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts. They have all the succeeding volumes:
Page 157-158,
"The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, " by David H Corkran, published by University of Oklahoma Press 1962, paperback published 2016
More on this will be forthcoming.
We will be adding links on locations in these 2 stories.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 8/10/2022, updated 8/21/2022, 10/15/23
That's it.
That's our lead story.
There's always more.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
Compiled by Jim Moyer 10/14/23, 10/15/23
This story is backdated to 12/15/22 when were covering 1758 in the year 2022
Table of Contents
Scalp petitions for events before bounty law was repealed
More about the Bounties, dates of law passed and then repealed
When did the alliance with the Cherokee start to unwind?
Scalp petitions for events before bounty law was repealed
Context of this House of Burgesses session is during the Forbes Expedition.
This is after Grants Defeat on the hill overlooking Fort Duquesne 12 Sept 1758.
Thursday, the 28th of September, 32 Geo II. 1758.
#54 (p. 28)- 1 matching term- 1 matching term
...That on the feventh Instant they had a Skirmifh with a Party of Enemy Indians, in which one of them was killed and fcalped by the Petitioners, but that upon Application for the Reward given by Law for an Enemj^'s Scalp;, they were informed there was no Money in the Treafury, and praying the Confideration of this Houfe, was prefented to the Houfe and read.
Ordered,
That the faid Petition be referred to M"- Randolph, W Wilfon, and M-- Jones; That they do examine into the Allegations thereof, and report the fame, with their Opinions thereupon, to the Houfe....
Friday, the 29th of September, 32 Geo II. 1758.
#56 (p. 30)- 1 matching term
...M"' Randolph reported, that the Committee to whom the Petition of Captain James Nevil and others was referred, had had the fame under their Confideration, and found the Allegations thereof to be true, and had come to a Refolution thereupon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the fame was again twice read, and agreed to by the Houfe, as follows :
Refolved,
That the Petitioners are entitled to the Rewards allowed by Law for the Indian's Scalp; mentioned in the faid Petition. i A Meffage from the Governor was delivered by M' Walthoe. M' Speaker, The Governor has commanded me to lay before your Houfe a Letter from James Aber- cromby, Efq; inclofing an Account of Monies difburfed by him, and for Bufinefs by him done as Agent for Virginia....
#57 (p. 31)- 1 matching term
...A Petition of M"' Robert Wade, letting forth, that in Auguft laft, he, with his Com- pany of Rangers, killed and fcalped; four Shawnefe Indians in Augufia, but upon apply- ing for the Reward allowed by Law for fuch Scalps, was informed there was no Money in the Treafury, and praying the Confideration of this Houfe, was prefented to the Hovife and read....
Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 32 Geo II. 1758.
#61 (p. 35)- 2 matching terms
...Ordered,
That the faid Claim be referred to the Confideration of the next Seffion of Affembly. M'' Bland reported, That the Committee to whom the Petition of Robert Wade;, in Behalf of himfelf and the Company of Rangers imder his Command was referred, had had the fame under their Confideration, and foimd the Allegations thereof to be true, had come to a Refolution thereupon which he read in his Place, and then delivered in at the Table, where the fame was again twice read, and agreed to by the Houfe, as follows:
Refolved, That the faid Robert Wade; and his Company ought to be paid by the Public the Reward allowed by Law for killing the four Indians mentioned therein....
Indians mentioned therein....
#84 (p. 58)- 1 matching term
...M' Bland, M"" Harwaod, M' Wilfon, W Cave, M"' Richard Booker, W Walker, M"" William Thornton, M"' Richard Lee, M"' Thomas Johnfton, W Ruffin, M-- Howard, M^ Waring, M^ Upfhaw, M"' Wade;, M'' Simmons, and M'' Hartwell Cocke. And they are to meet and adjourn from Day to Day, and to take into their Confid- eration all public Claims which fhall be prefented to the Houfe during this Seffion, and to report their Proceedings, with their Opinions thereupon to the Houfe, when they have gone through the faid Claims ; And all Perfons who have any Claims are to deliver them to the Clerk, and he is to deliver them to the faid Committee of Courfe ; and they are to have Power to fend for Perfons, Papers, and Records for their Information....
#143 (p. 117)- 1 matching term
...Benjamin Brown, for two Days Attendance, coming and re- turning, John Hawkins, the fame, Samuel Ragland, the fame, John M'Cally, one Days Attendance, John Jouett, the fame, Waddy Thorn p fan, the fame, John Grainger, for carrying the Summons to Hanover, ten Shillings. William Wade;, for ferving the fame on the Witneffes in the Coimties of Hanover, Goochland, and Louifa, �1. 15. Ordered, That it be an Inftrucftion to the Committee of Claims to allow the feveral Quantities of Tobacco and Money above mentioned to the Persons thereto refpedlively entitled, and in the Counties wherein they feverally refide, in the Book of Claims; and that they levy the Tobacco due to the above named Brown, Hawkins, and Ragland, and twenty Shillings, Part of the Money Charges, on M"^ Johnfon, and the Refidue of the faid Tobacco and Money on M' Thomas Walker....
#264 (p. 238)- 1 matching term
...A Petition of Clement Reade, fetting forth that he was ordered by the late Govemour Dinwiddie and Council to eredt a Magazine in Lunenburg for the Reception of publick Stores, and alfo to purchafe and lay in Provifions; and that he was appointed Pay- mafter of the Militia of the frontier Counties, in which he was at great Trouble and Expenfe, and praying the Confideration of the Houfe. Alfo a Petition of Robert Wade;, praying to be reimburfed the Bounty Money by him paid, and the Expenfe he was at in maintaining, a Recruit he had enlifted for the publick Service, who was refufed by the Commanding Officer....
#270 (p. 244)- 1 matching term
...Refolved, That the Petition of Samuel Meredith, to be reimburfed the Money expen- ded by him in enlifting and maintaining two Recruits for the Cherokee Expedition, one of which was taken fick on the March, and afterwards joined the Forces and ferved on the Expedition; the other rejected by Major Andrew Lewis, the Commanding Officer, appointed to receive the Recruits at the Place of Rendezvous; and for Blankets and Firelocks fumifhed feveral of the Soldiers by him enlifted, and who afterwards ferved on that Expedition, is reafonable; and that he ought to be allowed the Sum of �ii. 5. 4. for the Bounty Money, Expenfe of enlifting and fubfifting the faid two Recruits, and for the Blankets and Firelocks fumifhed by him as aforefaid. Refolved, That the Petition of Robert Wade;, to be reimburfed the Bounty Money and Expenfe of enlifting a Recruit for the Cherokee Expedition, refuted by the Officer appointed to receive fuch Recruits at the Place of Rendezvous, is reafonable ; and that he ought to be allowed the Sum of �11. 10. o for the Boimty Money, and Expenfe of enlifting the faid Recruit....
No scalp petitions were present in these session after the bounty was repealed in Oct 1758:
3rd Session
page 55, February 22, 1759, to April 14, 1759
.
4th Session
page 133, November 1, 1759 to of November 21, 1759
Context of Forbes Expedition during this session of the House of Burgess
.
12 Sept 1758
12 Oct 1758
More about the Bounties
Virginia's Bounties for Scalps 1755, 1757, repealed 1758 Aug 15, 2022
Bounties for Scalps and (Yawn) Footnotes Aug 14, 2022 https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/bounties-for-scalps-and-yawn-footnotes
When did the alliance with the Cherokee start to unwind?
Aug 1758
Who Stole the Horses first? posted Aug 21, 2022
April 1757
A Storm is coming - Mercer writes about it
April 1757
The Great Men of Virginia were Liars
March 1757
Cherokee allies - oh they're coming too
This letter is terrifying. You met the letter writer, Clement Read, in the previous story posted on the Catawba coming. That letter Clement Read wrote to Colonel George Washington 15 March 1757 is a lot more mild than the letter Clement Read writes to Lt Gov Dinwiddie on 5 April 1757. Wawhatchee, a Cherokee leader, goes on a rampage. After that, he and his band are coming to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. Imagine you and your family are visited by a motorcycle gang. And this gang is quite colorful. They're painted. They look like Halloween. They hold you and your dear ones hostage until they're ready to move on. They eat as much food of yours as they want. And anyone who gives them trouble they just kill them right on your front lawn, ripping out his bowels and scalping him. And then they deign to allow you a little time off from serving them so you can bury the killed man. And then they ravage and rape a 12 year old girl. And still they continue to complain about not receiving any plunder for their visit. They make you write a letter to the leader of your country demanding more plunder. And then after terrorizing your neighbors they come back to you to terrorize you more. Imagine then that they feel you owe them because this land is not yours. You don't belong here. But they're here because you wanted them to fight your enemies. And they eventually do. Some of them do it with great honor and heroism, all the while being cheated by you and your leaders out of their expected due. Below is the letter we intersperse with explanations and short biographies of those involved and dates and time. Source:
Research notes
W.P.Palmer, S.McRae, and W.H.Fleurnoy, Calendar of Virginia State Papers, I, 255-257
Volume 2 on
Volume 1 limited and on
notes
The Horses on Pattersons Creek, South-Branch,
and other of our deserted Settlements hitherwards,
are taken up, sold and made away with,
to the infinite detriment and oppression of the people;
who complain of these Grievances
in the most sensible manner;
and urge,
that they are more oppressed
by their own people, than by the Enemy.
Were there a limitation given,
the officers might, but the Soldiers would not observe any;
and all strays whatever got, would be said to come within limited bounds.
However, if you think you can put
the Garrison of Fort Cumberland
under proper restraints in this particular,
I would rather that they be benefited by any advantages of this kind than the Enemy—
or those who have no pretence,
shou’d take them off.
Therefore suffer no Horses to be deemed strays, or taken up as such,
which run any where below the Flatts,
either on the virginia or maryland side:
and if any are caught above,
if it is not known to whom they belong,
let them be appraised by indifferent officers,
upon their Honor;
and the valuation,
with the marks and brand be registered in a book for that purpose:
Then let the person who takes such horses up,
and claims them by this right,
deliver to the owner, i
f any should come, the valuation—i
f such horses should be sold,
or in his use & service—
or else to deliver up the Horse.
But if the horse should die,
be killed or stray away from the Fort,
in that case the person who takes him up,
not to be answerable for the horse or valuation.
No person tho’ is under any pretence to take up,
with a view of keeping and detaining as his property,
Horses where the owner is known.
I will by no means consent,
that any horses below the Flatts
shall be taken upon the above terms—
lest the property of people be affected,
when they may have better chances of securing their own.
In the above I have given you my sentiments—
which you may,
in a Court of Officers put under proper articles and heads, a
nd made publick to, and strictly practised in the Garrison,
under very severe penalties on Officers, a
nd heavy corporal punishments on the Soldiers.
One thing more I think necessary,
before any Officer or Soldier can pretend to lay just claim
under the aforesaid articles:
that is; to advertise in the nearest publick places in maryland and virginia;
such as Winchester & Frederick-Town,
Any horses so taken up,
that the real owners upon procuring attested proof,
may receive their Creatures by coming or sending for them
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