Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1802).djvu/98

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88
NOTES ON VIRGINIA.

or to the ſpeech of Logan, a Mingo chief to lord Dunmore, when governor of this ſtate. And, as a teſtimony of their talents in this line, I beg leave to introduce it, firſt ſtating the incidents neceſſary for underſtanding it.

In the ſpring of the year 1774, robbery was committed by ſome Indians on certain land adventurers on the River Ohio. The whites in that quarter, according to their cuſtom, undertook to puniſh this outrage in a ſummary way. Captain Michael Creſap, and a certain Daniel Greathouſe, leading on theſe parties, ſurpriſed, at different times, travelling and hunting parties of the Indians, having their women and children with them, and murdered many. Among theſe were unfortunately the family of Logan, a chief celebrated in peace and war, and long diſtinguiſhed as the friend of the whites. This unworthy return provoked his vengeance. He accordingly ſignalized himſelf in the war which enſuſed. In the autumn of the ſame year a deciſive battle was fought at the mouth of the Great Kanhaway, between the collected forces of the Shawaneſe, Mingoes and Delawares, and a detachment of the Virginia militia. The Indians were defeated and ſued for peace. Logan, however, diſdained to be ſeen among the ſuppliants. But leſt the ſincerity of a treaty ſhould be diſtruſted, from which ſo diſtinguiſhed a chief abſented himſelf, he ſent, by a meſſenger, the following ſpeech, to be delivered to lord Dunmore.

I appeal to any white man to ſay, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat: if ever he came cold and naked, and he cloathed him not. During the courſe of the