Barbarities such as these, had considerable influence on the temper
and disposition of the inhabitants of the country. They gave birth to
a vindictive feeling in many, which led to the perpetration of similar
enormities and sunk civilized man, to the degraded level of the
barbarian. They served too, to arouse them to greater exertion, to
subdue the savage foe in justifiable warfare, and thus prevent their
unpleasant recurrence.

So soon as the Indian forces effected a precipitate retreat across the
Ohio, preparations were begun to be made for acting offensively
against them. An expedition was concerted, to be carried on
against the towns at the forks of the Muskingum; and through the
instrumentality of Col's Zane and Shepard, Col. Broadhead, commander
of the forces at Fort Pitt, was prevailed upon to co-operate in it.[7]
Before however, it could be carried into effect, it was deemed
advisable to proceed against the Munsie towns, up the north branch of
the Alleghany river; the inhabitants of which, had been long engaged
in active [219] hostilities, and committed frequent depredations on
the frontiers of Pennsylvania. In the campaign against them, as many
of those, who resided in the settlements around Wheeling, as could
be spared from the immediate defence of their own neighborhoods,
were consociated with the Pennsylvania troops, and the regulars under
Col. Broadhead. It eventuated in the entire destruction of all their
corn, (upwards of 200 acres,) and in the cutting off a party of
forty warriors, on their way to the settlements in Westmoreland
county.

Very soon after the return of the army, from the Alleghany, the
troops, with which it was intended to operate against the Indian
villages up the Muskingum and amounting to eight hundred, rendezvoused
at Wheeling. From thence, they proceeded directly for the place of
destination, under the command of Col. Broadhead.[8]

When the army arrived near to Salem (a Moravian town,)[9] many of the
militia expressed a determination to go forward and destroy it,
but as the Indians residing there, had ever been in amity with the
whites, and were not known to have ever participated in the
murderous deeds of their more savage red brethren, the officers
exerted themselves effectually, to repress that determination. Col.
Broadhead sent forward an express to the Rev'd Mr. Heckewelder (the
missionary of that place,)[10] acquainting him with the object of the
expedition, & requesting