they returned home, they
remained concealed about ten miles from the settlements, until the
snow disappeared. On the 15th of December, they came to the [170]
house of Darby Connoly, at the upper extremity of the Valley, and
killed him, his wife and several of the children, and took three
others prisoners. Proceeding to the next house, killed John Stewart,
his wife and child, and took Miss Hamilton (sister-in-law to Stewart)
into captivity. They then immediately changed their direction, and
with great dispatch, entered upon their journey home; with the
captives and plunder, taken at those two places.

In the course of the evening after these outrages were committed, John
Hadden passing by the House of Connoly saw a tame elk belonging there,
lying dead in the yard. This, and the death-like silence which reigned
around, excited his fears that all was not right; and entering into
the house, he saw the awful desolation which had been committed.
Seeing that the work of blood had been but recently done, he hastened
to alarm the neighborhood, and sent an express to Capt. Benjamin
Wilson, living about twenty miles lower in the Valley, with the
melancholy intelligence. With great promptitude, Capt. Wilson went
through the settlement, exerting himself to procure as many
volunteers, as would justify going in pursuit of the aggressors; and
so indefatigable was he in accomplishing his purpose, that, on the day
after the murders were perpetrated, he appeared on the theatre of
their exhibition with thirty men, prepared to take the trail and push
forward in pursuit of the savages. For five days they followed through
cold and wet, without perceiving that they had gained upon them. At
this time many of the men expressed a determination to return. They
had suffered much, travelled far, and yet saw no prospect of
overtaking the enemy. It is not wonderful that they became dispirited.
In order to expedite their progress, the numerous water courses which
lay across their path, swollen to an unusual height and width, were
passed without any preparation to avoid getting wet; the consequence
was that after wading one of them, they would have to travel with
icicles hanging from their clothes the greater part of a day, before
an opportunity could be allowed of drying them. They suffered much too
for the want of provisions. The short time afforded for preparation,
had not admitted of their taking with them as much as they expected
would be required