r the
cornfield, returned to their companions, and escorted them to
Wheeling. It then remained to ascertain whether the Indians had really
withdrawn, or were only lying in ambush. A council, consisting of Col.
Zane, Col. Shepherd, Doctor McMahon and Col. Swearingen, being
requested to devise some expedient by which to be assured of the fact,
recommended that two of their most active and vigilant men, should go
out openly from the fort, and carelessly, but surely, examine the
cornfield near to the palisade. Upon their return, twenty others,
under the guidance of Col. Zane, marched round at some distance from
the field, and approaching it more nearly on their return, became
assured that the Indians had indeed despaired of success, and were
withdrawn from the field. About this time Major M'Cullough arrived
with forty-five men, and they all proceeded to view the battle
ground.

Here was indeed a pitiable sight. Twenty-three of the men who had
accompanied Capts. Mason and Ogal in the preceding morning, were lying
dead; few of them had been shot, but the greater part, most inhumanly
and barbarously butchered with the tomahawk and scalping knife.
Upwards of three hundred head of cattle, horses, and hogs, wantonly
killed by the savages, were seen lying about the field, and all the
houses, with every thing which they contained, and which could not be
conveniently taken off by the enemy, were but heaps of ashes. It was
long indeed, before the [166] inhabitants of that neighborhood
regained the comforts, of which that night's desolation had deprived
them.

Soon after the happening of these events a company of militia under
the command of Capt. Foreman, arrived from east of the Alleghany, to
afford protection to the settlements around Wheeling, and occupy the
fort at this place. While stationed in it, it was known that parties
of Indians were still lurking about, seeking opportunities of doing
mischief, and to prevent which, detachments were frequently sent on
scouting expeditions. On the 26th of September, Capt. Foreman with
forty five men, went about twelve miles below Wheeling and encamped
for the night. He was ignorant of the practices of the Indians, and
seemed rather indisposed to take council of those, who were conversant
with them. After building fires for the night, he remained with his
men close around them, contrary to the advice of one of the settlers,
by the name of Lynn, who had accompanied him as a spy. Lynn howev