having been required
to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and to bear with
the injuries which had [168] been done their property. Those who were
suspected for the murder of the chief conspirator, were likewise
arraigned for that offence, but were acquitted.

Hitherto the inhabitants of Tygart's Valley had escaped the ill
effects of savage enmity; Indian hostility not having prompted an
incursion into that country, since its permanent settlement was
effected previous to the war of 1774. This however had not the effect
to lull them into confident security. Ascribing their fortunate
exemption from irruptions of the enemy, to other causes than a
willingness on the part of the Indians, to leave them in quiet and
repose, they exercised the utmost vigilance to discover their
approach, and used every precaution to ensure them safety, if the
enemy should appear among them. Spies were regularly employed in
watching the warriors paths beyond the settlements, to detect their
advance and to apprize the inhabitants of it.

In September of this year (1777) Leonard Petro and Wm. White, being
engaged in watching the path leading up the Little Kenhawa, killed an
Elk late in the evening; and taking part of it with them, withdrew a
short distance for the purpose of eating their suppers and spending
the night. About midnight, White, awaking from sleep, discovered by
the light of the moon, that there were several Indians near, who had
been drawn in quest of them by the report of the gun in the evening.
He saw at a glance, the impossibility of escaping by flight; and
preferring captivity to death, he whispered to Petro to lie still,
lest any movement of his, might lead to this result. In a few minutes
the Indians sprang on them; and White raising himself as one lay hold
on him, aimed a furious blow, with his tomahawk, hoping to wound the
Indian by whom he was beset, and then make his escape. Missing his aim
he affected to have been ignorant of the fact that he was encountered
by Indians, professed great joy at meeting with them, and declared
that he was then on his way to their towns. They were not deceived by
the artifice; for although he assumed an air of pleasantness and
gaity, calculated to win upon their confidence, yet the woful
countenance and rueful expression of poor Petro, convinced them that
White's conduct was feigned, that he might lull them into inattention,
and they be enabled to effect an escape. They were bo