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History of Wetzel County, West Virginia
by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901

Pages 170-171
SAD DEATH OF CAPTAIN VAN BUSKIRK.

Early in June, 1792, occurred the last conflict on the upper Ohio,
between an organized party of Virginians and Indians. In consequence
of the numerous depredations on the settlements now embraced in
Brooke and Hancock counties, it was determined to summarily chastise
these marauders; and, accordingly, a party of men organized under the
command of Captain Van Buskirk, an officer of tried courage and
acknowledged efficiency. A party of Indians had committed sundry acts
of violence, and it was believed they would endeavor to cross the
Ohio, on their retreat, at some point near Mingo Bottom. Van
Buskirk's party consisted of about forty experienced frontiersmen,
some of whom were veteran Indian hunters. The number of the enemy was
known to be about thirty.

The whites crossed the river below the mouth of Cross Creek, and
marched up the bottom, looking cautiously for the enemy's trail. They
had discovered it along the run, but missing, concluded to take the
ridge, hoping thus to cross it. Descending the ridge, and just as
they gained the river, the Indians fired upon them, killing Captain
Van Buskirk and wounding John Aidy.

The enemy were concealed in a ravine amidst a dense cluster of paw
paw bushes. The whites marched in single file, headed by their
Captain, whose exposed situation will account for the fact that he
was riddled with thirteel balls. The ambush quartered on their flank,
and they were totally unsuspicious of it. The plan of the Indians was
to permit the whites to advance in numbers along the line before
firing upon them. This was done; but instead of each selecting his
man, every gun was directed at the Captain, who fell with thirteen
bullethole3 in his body. The whites and Indians instantly treed, and
contest lasted more than an hour. The Indians, however, were
defeated, and retreated towards the Muskingum, with the loss of
several killed; while the Virginians, with the exception of their
Captain, had none killed, and but three wounded.

Captain Van Buskirk's wife was killed just eleven months previous to
the death of her husband. They lived about three miles from West
Liberty. She had been taken prisoner by the Indians, and on their
march towards the river her ankle was sprained so that she could not
walk without pain. Finding her an incumbrance, the wretches put her
to death on the hill just above where Wellsville now stands. On the
following day her body was discovered by a party who had gone out in
pursuit.

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