hat strong opposition was made to it by
many; and it has been said that his own son raised his rifle to shoot
him, when he ordered the gates to be thrown open; and was only
prevented from executing his purpose, by the interference of some near
to him. Capt. Sivert was also supported by many, in the plan which he
proposed to rid the fort of its assailants: it was known to be weak,
and incapable of withstanding a vigorous onset; and [67] its garrison
was illy supplied with the munitions of war. Experience might have
taught them, however, the futility of any measure of security, founded
in a reliance on Indian faith, in time of hostility; and in deep and
bitter anguish, they were made to feel its realization in the present
instance.

In the summer of 1761, about sixty Shawanee warriors penetrated the
settlements on James river. To avoid the fort at the mouth of Looney's
creek, on this river, they passed through Bowen's gap in Purgatory
mountain, in the night; and ascending Purgatory creek, killed Thomas
Perry, Joseph Dennis and his child and made prisoner his wife, Hannah
Dennis. They then proceeded to the house of Robert Renix, where they
captured Mrs. Renix, (a daughter of Sampson Archer) and her five
children, William, Robert, Thomas, Joshua and Betsy--Mr. Renix not
being at home. They then went to the house of Thomas Smith, where
Renix was; and shot and scalped him and Smith; and took with them,
Mrs. Smith and Sally Jew, a white servant girl.[12]

William and Audley Maxwell, and George Matthews, (afterwards governor
of Georgia,) were then going to Smith's house; and hearing the report
of the guns, supposed that there was a shooting match. But when they
rode to the front of the house and saw the dead bodies of Smith and
Renix lying in the yard, they discovered their mistake; and
contemplating for a moment the awful spectacle, wheeled to ride back.
At this instant several guns were fired at them; fortunately without
doing any execution, except the cutting off the club of Mr. Matthews'
cue. The door of the house was then suddenly opened; the Indians
rushed out and raising the war cry, several of them fired--Audley
Maxwell was slightly wounded in the arm.

It appeared afterwards, that the Indians had seen Matthews and the
Maxwells coming; and that some of them had crowded into the house,
while the others with the prisoners went to the north side of it, and
concealed themselves behind some fallen timber. Mrs. Renix, afte