Cornstalk, the commander of the Indians in the battle of Point Pleasant,
was possessed of a noble heart as well as a genius for war and
negotiation. He was ever anxious to maintain an honorable place with the
whites and they returned his friendly inclination by putting him to
death.
A Captain Arbuckle commanded the garrison of the fort, erected at Point
Pleasant, after the battle fought by General Lewis with the Indians at
that place, in October, 1774. In the succeeding year, when the
revolutionary war had commenced, the agents of Great Britain exerted
themselves to excite the Indians to hostility against the United States.
The mass of Shawnees entertained a strong animosity against the Americans.
But, two of their chiefs, Cornstalk and Redhawk, not participating in that
animosity visited the garrison at the Point, where Arbuckle continued to
command. Cornstalk represented his unwillingness to take a part in the
war, on the British side: but stated, that his nation, except himself and
his tribe, were determined on war with us, and he supposed, that he and
his people would be compelled to go with the stream. On this intimation,
Arbuckle resolved to detain the two chiefs, and a third Shawnees, who came
with them to the fort, as hostages, under the expectation of preventing
thereby any hostile efforts of the nation. On the day before these
unfortunate Indians fell victims to the fury of the garrison, Elenipsico,
the son of Cornstalk, repaired to Point Pleasant for the purpose of
visiting his father, and on the next day, two men belonging to the
garrison, whose names were Hamilton and Gillmore, crossed the Kenhawa,
intending to hunt in the woods beyond it.--On their return from hunting,
some Indians who had come to view the position at the Point, concealed
themselves in the weeds near the mouth of the Kenhawa, and killed Gillmore
while endeavoring to pass them. Colonel Stewart and Captain Arbuckle were
standing on the opposite bank of the river, at that time and were
surprised that a gun had been fired so near the fort, in violation of
orders which had been issued inhibiting such an act. Hamilton ran down the
bank, and cried out that Gillmore was killed. Captain Hall commanded the
company to which Gillmore belonged. His men leaped into a canoe, and
hastened to the relief of Hamilton. They brought the body of Gillmore
weltering in blood, and the head scalped, across the river. The canoe had
scarcely reached the shore, when Hall's men cried out "Let us kill the
Indians in the fort." Captain Hall placed himself in front of his
soldiers, and they ascended the river's bank, pale with rage, and carrying
their loaded fire locks in their hands. Colonel Stewart and Captain
Arbuckle exerted themselves in vain, to dissuade these men, exasperated to
madness by the spectacle of Gillmore's corpse, from the cruel deed which
they contemplated. They cocked their guns, threatening those gentlemen
with instant death, if they did not desist, and rushed into the fort.
The interpreter's wife, who had been a captive among the Indians, and felt
an affection for them, ran to their cabin and informed them that Hall's
soldiers were advancing with the intention of taking their lives, because
they believed that the Indians who killed Gillmore, had come with
Cornstalk's son the preceding day. This the young man solemnly denied, and
averred that he knew nothing of them. His father, perceiving that
Elenipsico was in great agitation, encouraged him and advised him not to
fear. "If the great Spirit," said he, "has sent you here to be killed, you
ought to die like a man!" As the soldiers approached the door, Cornstalk
rose to meet them, and received seven or eight balls which instantly
terminated his existence. His son was shot dead in the seat which he
occupied. The Red Hawk made an attempt to climb the chimney, but fell by
the fire of some of Hall's men. The other Indian, says Colonel Stewart,
"was shamefully mangled, and I grieved to see him so long dying."
This atrocious deed so exasperated the Shawnees that they immediately took
up arms upon the side of the British, expressing their resolution to spare
no American who should fall into their hands, and never to lay down arms
while there was the remotest chance of successful hostility. Many a family
in Virginia and Kentucky had reason to lament the slaughter of the noble
Cornstalk and his son.