its inhabitants from
having to contend against these instruments of war; the want of roads
prevented the transportation of cannon through the intermediate
forests, and the difficulty and labor of propelling them up the Ohio
river, forbade the attempt in that way.

While the troops were collecting for these expeditions, and other
preparations were making for carrying them on, the settlements of
North Western Virginia were not free from invasion. Small parties of
Indians would enter them at unguarded moments, and kill and plunder,
whenever opportunities occurred of their being done with impunity, and
then retreat to their villages. Early in March (1780) Thomas Lackey
discovered some mocason tracks near the upper extremity of Tygarts
Valley, and thought he heard a voice saying in [208] an under tone,
"_let him alone, he will go and bring more_." Alarmed by these
circumstances, he proceeded to Hadden's fort and told there what he
had seen, and what he believed, he had heard. Being so early in the
season and the weather yet far from mild, none heeded his tale, and
but few believed it. On the next day however, as Jacob Warwick,
William Warwick and some others from Greenbrier were about leaving the
fort on their return home, it was agreed that a company of men should
accompany them some distance on the road. Unapprehensive of danger, in
spite of the warning of Lackey, they were proceeding carelessly on
their way, when they were suddenly attacked by some Indians lying in
ambush, near to the place, where the mocason tracks had been seen on
the preceding day. The men on horse back, all got safely off; but
those on foot were less fortunate. The Indians having occupied the
pass both above and below, the footmen had no chance of escape but in
crossing the river and ascending a steep bluff, on its opposite side.
In attempting this several lost their lives. John McLain was killed
about thirty yards from the brow of the hill.--James Ralston, when a
little farther up it, and James Crouch was wounded after having nearly
reached its summit, yet he got safely off and returned to the fort on
the next day. John Nelson, after crossing over, endeavored to escape
down the river; but being there met by a stout warrior, he too was
killed, after a severe struggle. His shattered gun breech, the uptorn
earth, and the locks of Indian hair in his yet clenched hands, showed
that the victory over him had not been easily won.

Soon after this, the fami