U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Wetzel County, West Virginia by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901 Pages 28-30 DAVID MORGAN'S ADVENTURE. In the neighborhood of what was once Prickett's Fort, Monongalia county, then Virginia, a sanguinary contest took place between Capt. David Morgan and two Indians. Morgan was at that time over sixty years of age. In the early part of April, feeling himself unwell, he sent his two children, Stephen, a youth of sixteen, and Sara, a girl of fourteen, to feed the cattle at his farm, about a mile off. The children, thinking to remain all day, and spend the time in preparing ground to plant watermelons, unknown to their father took with them some bread and meat. Having fed the stock, Stephen set himself to work, and while he was engaged in grubbing his sister would remove the brush, and otherwise aid him in the labor of clearing the ground, occasionally going to the house to wet some linen which she had spread out to bleach. Morgan, after the children had been gone some time, betook himself to bed, and soon falling asleep, dreamed that he saw Stephen and Sara walking about the fortyard, scalped. Aroused from slumber by the harrowing spectacle presented to his sleeping view, he inquired if the children had returned, and was informed that they had not. He then set out to see what detained them, taking with him his gun. As he approached the house, still impressed with the horrible fear that he should find his dream true, he ascended an eminence from which he could distinctly see over his plantation, and descrying from thence the objects of his anxious solicitude, he went near where the children were working, and seated himself on a log. He had been there but a few minutes, when he saw two Indians come out from the house and start toward the children, on which he told them in a careful manner to make for the fort at once, as they were in great danger. They started to run and the Indians took after them, but the old gentleman showing himself at this instant, caused them to forbear the chase and shelter themselves behind trees. The old man then tried to escape by flight, and the Indians took after him. His age and his health prevented him from keeping out of their reach, and finding that they were gaining on him, he turned around to shoot, on which the savages took shelter behind trees, Morgan doing the same thing. The one that the Indian got behind was too small to shelter him, and Morgan seeing that a part of his body was in view, shot and killed him. Having succeeded in killing one of the savages he again took to flight, and the remaining Indian again took after him. The race continued for about sixty yards; Morgan was fast giving out. He looked over his shoulder and saw the Indian not ten steps behind him, with his gun raised as if he was going to fire. Morgan then dodged to one side and the bullet went whizzing past him. The odds now were not so great as before, and Morgan stopped running and made at the savage with his gun, on which the Indian hurled a tomahawk at him, cutting two of his fingers off and injuring another severely. They then grabbed holds, and Morgan, being a good wrestler, threw his adversary, but found himself turned. The savage was now on top of him, feeling for his knife and sending forth a most terrific yell, as is their custom when thinking a victory secure. A woman's apron, which the Indian had taken from the house and fastened around him above his knife, hindered him from getting at it quickly, and Morgan, getting one of his fingers in his mouth, deprived him of the use of one hand. The Indian at last got hold of his knife, catching it on the lower part of the blade. Morgan, too, got a small hold on the extremity of the handle, and as the Indian drew it from the scabbard Morgan bit his finger so hard that he relaxed his hold, thus giving Morgan a chance to draw it through his hand, cutting it severely. By this time both had gained their feet, and the savage, seeing the advantage that Morgan was gaining over him. tried to disengage himself, but Morgan held fast to him and succeeded in giving him a fatal blow that made the almost lifeless body sink in his arms. He then loosened his hold and departed for the fort. On his way he met his daughter, who not being able to keep pace with her brother, was following his footsteps. Assured thus far of the safety of his children, he accompanied his daughter to the fort and then returned with a company of men to see if there were any more Indians about. On arriving at the spot where the battle took place, the wounded Indian was not to be seen, but they trailed him by the blood to the branches of a fallen tree, and as they approached him he saluted them familiarly: "How do do, broder; how do do, broder." Alas, poor fellow, but their brotherhood extended no farther than to the gratification of a vengeful feeling. He was tomahawked and scalped. He and his companion were flayed, their skins tanned and converted into saddle seats, shot pouches and belts. On the day of the unveiling of the monument that was erected in his memory on the site of the combat in Monongalia county, there was on exhibition at the spot a shot pouch and saddle girth made from the skins of the same Indians he killed. The shot pouch is now in the possession of --------------, of this county. The knife that the Indians were killed with is owned by some of Morgan's descendants in Marion county. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other articles in this book by going to the following URL which contains a linked index for the book. http://www.us-data.org/wv/wetzel/history/mceldowney.html -------------------------------------------------------------------