part, to accomplish their
purposes of blood and devastation.

Notwithstanding all which had been suffered during the preceding
season; and all, which it was confidently anticipated, would have to
be undergone after the return of spring, yet did the whole frontier
increase in population, and in capacity to defend itself against the
encroachments of a savage enemy, aided by British emissaries, and led
on by American tories. The accession to its strength, caused by the
number of emigrants, who came into the different settlements, was
indeed considerable; yet it was insufficient, to enable the
inhabitants to purchase by offensive operations, exemption from [173]
invasion, or security from the tomahawk and scalping knife. Assured of
this, Virginia extended to them farther assistance; and a small body
of regular troops, under the command of General McIntosh, was
appropriated to their defence.

In the spring of 1778, General McIntosh,[1] with the regulars and some
militiamen, attached to his command, descended the Ohio river from
Fort Pitt, to the mouth of Big Beaver--a creek discharging itself into
that river from the north-west.[2] This was a favorable position, at
which to station his troops to effect the partial security of the
frontier, by intercepting parties of Indians on their way to the
settlements on the opposite side of the river, and by pursuing and
punishing them while engaged, either in committing havoc, or in
retreating to their towns, after the consummation of their horrid
purposes. Fort McIntosh was accordingly erected here, and garrisoned;
a six pounder mounted for its defence.

From Wheeling to Point Pleasant, a distance of one hundred and
eighty-six miles,[3] there was then no obstacle whatever, presented
to the advance of Indian war parties, into the settlements on the
East and West Forks of the Monongahela, and their branches. The
consequences of this exposure had been always severely felt; and
never more so than after the establishment of Fort McIntosh. Every
impediment to their invasion of one part of the country, caused more
frequent irruptions into others, where no difficulties were
interposed to check their progress, and brought heavier woes on
them.--This had been already experienced, in the settlements on the
upper branches of the Monongahela, and as they were the last to feel
the effects of savage enmity in 1777, so were they first to become
sacrificed to its fury in 1778.

Anticipating the