Lyman C. Draper’s notes from his interview with Samuel Hulings, Draper Manuscripts 3S116 Transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Robert Stewart, bstewart2@juno.com. ********************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb *********************************************************************** >From Samuel Hulings, Allegheny Co, PA in his 67th year: Knew Brady – saw him frequently about '91-'92 etc. Hulings several years ago met one Wm Hall down the Ohio River, who said he was with Brady when young Henry and sister were rescued - that Hall said, the Indians had been doing mischief near Hannah's Town & took prisoners & horses & loaded em with plunder. That the Indians had one day the start of Brady - that Brady kept 2 spies ahead, discovered by the muddy appearance of the water in the horse-track, in the low ground, that they were nearing the Indian party, and that evening discovered the smoke of the Indian camp. Then Brady & party fell back in the night, crept up & one old Indian Rept mending his moccasons all night by a small fire, who once in a while would hear the crack or snap of brush broken by the tramp of Brady's men, in spite of all their caution. The Indian would listen while, and finding all still, would resume his labors. When the attack was made, this Indian was shot dead, two balls passing through him - & 10 others were killed (a great mistake, as Gen Brodhead's letter in the PA Register of Hazard shows but one actually killed-LCD). The Indians dusted off, plunged into the river, and Brady's party shot at them but could not tell whether they affected anything as their shots were chance over in the night. One of the Indians reached the opposite bank; high and elevated, where he blackguarded Brady's party and called them d_____d Yankees. Hulings says he has seen the spot where Brady defeated this Indian party - on the eastern bank of Allegheny River, at the lowere end of Brady's Bend. That he saw an old felled chestnut, with a representation painted with vermillion on the tree of the scalps taken. The Indians left prisoners and plunder. In 1792, when Hulings' family were living in Pittsburgh, Capt Brady With 10 or 12 men brought into town 2 squaw prisoners & 3 scalps - the Latter arranged on a painted pole, and marched in triumph through the town. This was in May or June & before Wayne's troops rendezvoused at Pittsburgh. Brady had made this successful foray in the Indian country west of the Ohio. Some few threatened to have Brady apprehended (on the old charge of killing friendly Indians, doubtless-LCD) but the mass of the people cherished kindly feelings for Brady, and looked upon him as one of their best friends & most faithful defenders of the frontier & would not permit Brady to be molested. The citizens gave the squaws a considerable quantity of presents & it was thought best to send them to their own country, & Brady & his party escorted them beyond the reach of danger, put them on a plain path and let them go. (For further reference to this affair, see Eph Eckley letter -LCD) Brady then wore red leggins and a match-coat; his common garb. Hulings heard Capt Brady relate the adventure - when once closely pursued by Indians who had a dog, who followed the track & would by barking keep The Indians advised of Brady's route & thus enable his pursuers something to take near cuts and gain on him; Brady said he thought he was gone, but finally shot the dog - loaded again quickly as he ran along, but saw nor heard any more of his pursuers. The last Indian depradation in West Penn occurred on the 15th of June, 1795, at the mouth of Conneant, in Crawford County - then a new settlement. A party of three Indians came across 2 young men, Barney McCormick and James Finley, making rails and killed them. & took their scalps. The same day these Indians came to a surveyor's camp in that region-the surveyors were out & James Thompson alone was at the camp, where a horse was tied. The Indians stole up, shot the horse, and took Thompson prisoner. The Indians exhibited to him the scalps of the two young men they had killed. Thompson was kept a few weeks and then returned. The bodies of McCormick and Finley were buried at Meadville. Hulings Was then living in the settlement where they were killed & Thompson Was captured. Freeland's Fort - Hulings was raised in Northumberland, & the Doughertys who figured at Freeland's Fort were his uncles - & he knew Capt John Lytle who commanded the fort. The fort had been taken, & the women and children were placed in some cabins outside the fort, when Capt Boone & 31 men made their appearance. Capt or Lt John Dougherty stole up behind a tree when Sally Cupples of the prisoners recognized him and begged him to retire and not expose himself; but he heeded not her entreaties and soon shot down an Indian carrying about a red flag – & soon shot down the 2nd Indian who had assumed the place of flag-bearer & then made good his escape. This occurred when Boone & his men were fighting – the Doughertys were of Boone's party - Samuel Dougherty heard Capt Boone calling to him to come to his aid, ran to his relief, and both were killed. Charles Hammell, whose powder was exhausted, had secreted himself, and saw Dougherty pursued and could have killed the Indian after him, if he had ammunition. Hammell and 15 others escaped - one of them wounded - and 16 were killed - none captured of Boone's party. Capt John Lytle, who commanded the fort and was taken prisoner, afterwards returned from captivity. No recollection about the story of his wife having married in his absence & Capt Lytle died in Erie County PA about 1810. Capt John Dougherty, after the war, was stabbed with a knife by an ugly boy, on the Susquehanna & killed. Mr Hulings knew Ben Eulen - went out with a bridle to hunt a horse - an Indian pursued and shot at him but missed. Then continued the pursuit with uplifted tomahawk, & Eulen having neither gun, tomahawk or knife, had to continue his flight - forced to jump down the rocky perpendicular bank of the Ohio - a tree top broke his fall, and he struck the ground without hurting him seriously. A party raised and pursued , but did not overtake the Indian. This jump was on the VA shore, below Captiva (I think it was at or near Pt Pleasant -LCD). About the close of March 1791, a party of Indians killed James Chapman At Sample's Mill on Girty's Run, 2 miles above Pittsburgh, on the Northern side of the Allegheny, and took prisoners Thomas Dick and wife and kept them several months. This created a great alarm and all the settlers on that side of the river fled to block-houses, etc.