from misplaced confidence, that the events which marked it,
still live in the recollection of the descendants of some of those,
who suffered on the theatre of treachery and blood.

On the south fork of the South Branch of Potomac, in, what is now, the
county of Pendleton, was the fort of Capt. Sivert.[11] In this fort,
the inhabitants of what was then called the "Upper Tract," all sought
shelter from the tempest of savage ferocity; and at the time the
Indians appeared before [66] it, there were contained within its walls
between thirty and forty persons of both sexes and of different ages.
Among them was Mr. Dyer, (the father of Col. Dyer now of Pendleton)
and his family. On the morning of the fatal day, Col. Dyer and his
sister left the fort for the accomplishment of some object, and
although no Indians had been seen there for some time, yet did they
not proceed far, before they came in view of a party of forty or fifty
Shawanees, going directly towards the fort. Alarmed for their own
safety, as well as for the safety of their friends, the brother and
sister endeavored by a hasty flight to reach the gate and gain
admittance into the garrison; but before they could effect this, they
were overtaken and made captives.

The Indians rushed immediately to the fort and commenced a furious
assault on it. Capt. Sivert prevailed, (not without much opposition,)
on the besieged, to forbear firing 'till he should endeavor to
negotiate with, and buy off the enemy. With this view, and under the
protection of a flag he went out, and soon succeeded in making the
wished for arrangement. When he returned, the gates were thrown open,
and the enemy admitted.

No sooner had the money and other articles, stipulated to be given,
been handed over to the Indians, than a most bloody tragedy was begun
to be acted. Arranging the inmates of the fort, in two rows, with a
space of about ten feet between them, two Indians were selected; who
taking each his station at the head of a row, with their tomahawks
most cruelly murdered almost every white person in the fort; some few,
whom caprice or some other cause, induced them to spare, were carried
into captivity,--such articles as could be well carried away were
taken off by the Indians; the remainder was consumed, with the fort,
by fire.

The course pursued by Capt. Sivert, has been supposed to have been
dictated by timidity and an ill founded apprehension of danger from
the attack. It is certain t