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Original.

THE ERRING WIFE.

J. L., a gentleman of cultivated mind, lost a lovely wife soon after our first cholera in this city, leaving him heart stricken, with two lovely daughters, (the eldest about fifteen years of age,) whose love for their father prompted to every effort to make him comfortable and happy. The father, on his part, doated on his children, and spared no pains or expense in their education. About two years after the death of his wife, being desirous to reunite himself with a suitable companion, who might participate with him all his fortunes, he married a maiden lady whose parents were quite respectable in character, and venerable in age, and who had raised their children to habits of economy and industry, and who now, at an advanced period of life, depended on them for support.

mind the conviction that she meant what she said. I asked her if she had ever expressed this sentiment to her husband. She replied in the negative. I then wished to know if she was not well provided for, and kindly treated by him. She replied that she was-that no man could take more pains to make a woman happy than he did her.

This was not the first time in my life that I had been so situated. I had before been made acquainted with similar heart-rending difficulties. I never felt myself more seriously called upon to use every exertion for the salvation and peace of a fine family, than at the present moment. I addressed the lady, as she lay half reclining on the head-board, as follows:

"Madam, the confidence that you have reposed in me shall not be betrayed. But let me entreat you, as you value all that makes this life happy, to look well to your feelings on this subject, and seriously ponder the course of your future life, and the prospects of your confiding husband. Suffer me to entreat you not to allow your mind to be thus drawn aside by the tempter, to sacrifice your happiness here, and your well-being hereafter. Rely upon my word, madam, that if you suffer such thoughts as these to occupy your mind, you will not only break the heart of your affectionate hus

A few months after their marriage, I was consulted in regard to his wife's health. I found her a lady of cultivated mind, quick of apprehension, and very sen-band, but alas! introduce into this happy family bitter sitive to all the common-place transactions of the family. She was constitutionally scrofulous, and on this account predisposed to pulmonary disease. She informed me that she had for some years occasionally a small dry cough, which did not continue long at a time, and that she thought nothing of it until within the last two weeks, she had noticed some little blood brought up by coughing, particularly in the morning. These symptoms, accompanied with now and then a slight pain in the side and breast, and a burning heat in the soles of the feet and palms of the hands, in the latter part of the night, told a sad tale in regard to her future health. I made her a prescription, and directed a course of regimen, which I accompanied with every encouragement that a strict regard to the nature of her indisposition would in truth permit. I saw this lady occasionally, and was more than gratified to find that her health evidently improved. She attended to the ordinary duties of her family, and took wholesome exercise.

pangs, and will destroy every comfort within its circle. You will go further still, and bring with all this sorrow, the stain of disgrace upon your connections. You knew your husband before you entered into any matrimonial engagements with him; you were well acquainted with his family, his children, his circumstances, and all his relations to society. Under all these circumstances and views in relation to this important connection, you chose him to be your future companion in life; you promised to be his of your own free will; and after all this, you seriously vowed before an all-seeing Providence, to love and obey him-to comfort and cherish him in his afflictions. In addition to all this, you came into this family with an understanding that you were to add your mite in promoting its peace and prosperity. Remember, I entreat you, that you are now strongly tempted to introduce into the family, and more particularly into the mind of your dear husband, the very afflictions that you vowed before the holy altar to mitigate and assuage.

"Was it possible, madam, for a lady of your information to bring your mind to believe that you could

Some weeks after I had discontinued my professional visits, I was again invited to see her. I found her alone in her chamber, in a state of despondency. She had evidently been weeping. After a little conversa-pass from a single life into a matrimonial state without tion relative to her health, she told me "that she was dissatisfied with her situation, and that if she was again single she would not marry on any account-that a married life was so different from what she had been accustomed to, that she was sorry she had ever entered into it; beside, her husband's eldest daughter's manners were so different from hers that she did not like her society, as she did not pay that regard to her feelings which she deemed due to her station."

a change of feelings, and also of the objects thenceforth designed by Providence to claim your particular attention? Remember that your husband's household affairs now demand your care. I don't wish to say that you should have no further regard for your parents, sisters, and brothers. I hope, as long as life remains, you will cherish a fond affection for them. But I beseech you to keep in mind, that you are to leave father and mother, brothers and sisters, and cleave to your husband, This information electrified me, as it was expressed and you two are to be one. Now in your new situawith an earnestness of feeling that conveyed to my || tion your home and your husband's home are one, and

you are to preside over it in the capacity of a faithful and affectionate wife. You are to care for him and his children; and you are not at liberty to neglect the least "Though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I

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LOGAN, THE MINGO CHIEF.

Original.

LOGAN, THE MINGO CHIEF.

BY JOHN M'DONALD, OF POPLAR RIDGE. THE biography of man is always interesting, because, like the phases of the moon, he is always changing. When we examine the history of the animal tribes we find them unchangeable in their habits. But man varies according to the circumstances by which he is surrounded.

the names of their tribes are lost. If this was only a dream, it would be a most painful one; but when all is reality, how melancholy must be the reflection to the high-souled red man, who never brooks degradation, that he is thrust out from his home and the graves of his fathers!

"Logan was the son of Shikellemus. For magnanimity in war, and greatness of soul in peace, few in any nation ever surpassed him. He took no part in the French wars which ended in 1760, except that of The newspapers hereabouts have recently awakened peace-maker, and was always acknowledged the friend considerable inquiry concerning the character and death of the white people, until the year 1774, when his of the illustrious Logan, a chief of the Mingo tribe of brother and several others of his family were murdered Indians. I have concluded that a sketch of this great in the manner here related. In the spring of 1774 man's life would be acceptable to your readers. It is some Indians robbed the people on the Ohio, who were thought the Ladies' Repository would be the proper employed in exploring the lands to prepare for settleplace to record the character of this brave and highly ment. These land-jobbers were alarmed at the hostile gifted son of Ohio. Believing that the people of the west carriage of the Indians, as they considered it, and colhave inflicted wrongs upon the red men, it is but just lected at a place called Wheeling Creek, the site on to perpetuate the names of at least some of the highly which Wheeling is now built, and learning that there gifted sons of the forest, among whom the name of Lo- were two Indians on the river a little above them, one gan stands pre-eminent. The lamented B. Drake has Captain Michael Cresup belonging to the exploring done justice to the shades of Black Hawk and Tecumseh. party, proposed to fall upon and kill them. His advice It is my purpose to throw in my humble mite to com- although opposed at first was followed; and a party, memorate the deeds of the brave, the eloqueut Logan. led by Cresup, proceeded and killed the two Indians. By the order of Providence the toils of the ladies are The same day, it being reported that some Indians had confined to the domestic sphere, such as nurturing chil- been discovered below Wheeling upon the river, Cresdren, attending to their education, and preparing them up and his party immediately marched to the place. for the interesting drama which is being enacted on our At first they appeared friendly, and suffered the Indiplanet. The males are exposed to the heat of the sum- ans to pass by unmolested and seat themselves lower mer, and the frosts of winter. They fell the trees, down the river, at the mouth of Grave Creek. Cresup raise cabins, clear the ground, turn up the furrow, pro- soon followed, attacked, and killed several of them, vide subsistence, protect the domicil, and defend their having one of his own men wounded by the fire of the country from invasion. When danger of any kind is Indians. Here some of the family of Logan were present, the brave man instinctively steps in between slain. The circumstances of the crime were exceedwoman and peril. He would be her sword and buck-ingly aggravating, inasmuch as the whites pretended ler, and defend her at the sacrifice of his life. The female heart, being made up of sympathy and gratitude, esteems or loves her brave defender.

The character and acts of Logan are only partially known at this distance of time; but in the little which has been handed down, he stands unrivaled in the lists of savage fame. His dauntless intrepidity in the field of battle was only equaled by his humanity and benevolence in peace, and his wisdom and eloquence in council.

no provocation by these Indians.

"Soon after this, other monsters in human shape, at whose head were Daniel Greathouse and one Tomlinson, committed a horrid murder upon a number of Indians, about thirty miles above Wheeling. Greathouse resided about the same place, but on the opposite side of the river from the Indian encampment. A party of thirty-two men was collected for this object, who secreted themselves, while Greathouse, under pretense of friendship, crossed the river, and visited them to asUp to the year 1774, the Mingo tribe of Indians had certain their strength, which, on counting them, he their residence on the northwest bank of the river Ohio, found too numerous for his force in an open attack. at a place now known as the Mingo Bottom, three miles These Indians, having heard of the late murder of their below where Steubenville has since arisen. There, in relations, had determined to be avenged of the whites, all probability, was the birth-place of Logan. Since and Greathouse did not know the danger he was in unthe Mingoes retired, or rather were driven from that til a squaw advised him of it in a friendly caution: 'Go place, they have had no separate existence as a tribe or home! go home!' said she. The sad requital this poor clan. They merged in the neighboring tribes, and lost woman met with will presently appear. The wretch their individuality. Indians who are now sixty, seven-invited the Indians to come over the river and drink ty, or eighty years of age, must, with solemn melan-rum with him. This was a part of his plot to separate choly, reflect on the rapid innovations made upon them them that they might be more easily destroyed. The by the whites-their country wrested from them, and opportunity soon offered. A number being collected occupied by strangers, and they pushed off so fast and at a tavern in the white settlement, and considerably so frequently that they lost their own identity. Even intoxicated, were fallen upon and all murdered except

LOGAN, THE MINGO CHIEF.

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a little girl. Among the murdered was a brother of || from the apprehension of farther suffering by being Logan and his sister, whose delicate situation greatly adopted into an Indian family.

aggravated the horrid crime. The remaining Indians on the other side of the river, on the hearing the firing, sent off two canoes with armed warriors. As they approached the shore, they were fired upon by the whites, who lay concealed, awaiting their approach. Nothing prevented their taking deadly aim, and many were killed and wounded, and the rest were obliged to return. This affair took place May 24, 1774. These were the events that led to a horrid Indian war, in which many innocent families were sacrificed to satisfy the vengeance of an incensed and injured people. The warriors now made ready for open conflict; and with Logan at their head, were prepared to meet the Big Knives, (as the Virginians were called, from their long swords,) in their own way.

"A council was next convoked to resolve on the fate of Robinson, which caused in his breast feelings of the most anxious inquietude. Logan assured him that he should not be killed; but the council appeared determined that he should die, and he was tied to a stake. Logan then addressed them, and with much vehemence insisted that Robinson should be spared; and had the eloquence displayed on that occasion been less than Logan is believed to have possessed, it is by no means wonderful that he appeared to Robinson (as he afterwards said) the most powerful orator he ever heard. But commanding as his eloquence might have been, it seems not to have prevailed with the council; for Logan had to interpose otherwise than by argument or entreaty to succeed in the attainment of his object. Enraged at the pertinacity with which the life of Rob

sequences, he drew his tomahawk from his belt, and severing the cords which bound the devoted victim to the stake, led him in triumph to the cabin of an old squaw, by whom he was immediately adopted.

"After this, so long as Logan remained in the town where Robinson was, he was kind and attentive to him. Robinson remained with his adopted mother until he was redeemed under the treaty concluded at the close of the Dunmore campaign.'

"On the 12th day of July, 1774,' says Mr. Withers, 'as William Robinson, Thomas Hellen, and Cole-inson was sought to be taken, and reckless of the conman Brown were pulling flax in a field opposite the mouth of Simpson's Creek, Logan and his party approached unperceived, and fired at them. Brown fell instantly, perforated by several balls; and Hellen and Robinson unscathed, sought safety in flight. Hellen being an old man, was soon overtaken and made captive, but Robinson with the elasticity of youth ran a considerable distance before he was taken; and but for an untoward accident might have effected an escape. Believing that he was outstripping his pursuers, and anxious to ascertain the fact, he looked over his shoulder; but before he discovered the Indian giving chase he ran with such violence against a tree that he fell stunned with the shock and lay powerless and insensible. In this situation he was secured with cord, and when revived was taken back to the place where the Indians had Hellen in confinement, and where lay the lifeless body of Brown. They then set off to their towns, taking with them a horse which belonged to Hellen.

"The Virginia Legislature was in session, when the news of Logan's depredations was received at the seat of government. Gov. Dunmore immediately ordered out the militia to the number of three thousand men, half of whom, under Col. Andrew Lewis, were ordered towards the mouth of the Great Kanawha, while the Governor himself with the other half marched to a point on the Ohio, to fall upon the Indian towns in the absence of the warriors drawn off by the approach of the division under Col. Lewis. The Indians met this division at a place called Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, where a very bloody battle ensued. A detachment of three hundred men first fell in with them, and were defeated with great slaughter; but the other division coming up, the battle was protracted during the whole day. Never was ground maintained with more obstinacy. Every step was disputed until the darkness of night closed in upon the scene.

"When they had approached near enough to be distinctly heard, Logan (as is usual with them after a successful scout) gave the scalp halloo, and several warriors came out to meet them, and conducted the prisoners into the village. Here they passed through the accustomed ceremony of running the gauntlet, but with far different fortunes. Robinson, having been previously instructed by Logan, (who, from the time he made him his prisoner, manifested a kindly feeling towards him,) made his way, with but little interruption, to the council-house; but poor Hellen, from the decrepitude of age, and his ignorance of the fact that it was a place of refuge, was sadly beaten before he arrived at it; and when he at length came near enough, he was knocked down with a war club before he could enter. After he had fallen they continued to beat and strike him with such unmerciful severity that he would assuredly have fallen a victim to their barbarous usage, but that Robbers were said to have been 1500. inson (at some peril for the interference) reached forth his hand and drew him within the sanctuary. When he had however recovered from the effects of the violent beating which he had received, he was relieved

"The Indians slowly retreated; and while the Americans were preparing to pursue, an express arrived from Gov. Dunmore that he had concluded a treaty with the Indian chiefs. In this battle above one hundred and forty Americans were killed or wounded. Among the slain were Col. Charles Lewis, brother of Andrew, and Col. Field. These officers led the first division. Of the number of Indians destroyed we are ignorant, though very probably they were many, as their num

"It was at the treaty held by Gov. Dunmore, before mentioned, with the principal men of the Mingoes, Shawnese, and Delawares, that the far-famed speech of Logan was delivered-not by himself in person; for

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LOGAN, THE MINGO CHIEF.

although desiring peace, he would not meet the Amer- || ally the first impulse? Revenge. Such was the imicans in council, but remained in his cabin in sullen silence, until a messenger was sent to him, to know whether he would accede to the proposals-on which occasion Logan, after shedding many tears for the loss of his friends, made the speech to the messenger, who well understood his language."*

pulse by which Logan acted. He appealed to no umpire to redress his wrongs. He trusted to his tact in achieving ways and means for carrying his revenge into effect. Although he felt the softer sensibilities and sympathies of human nature, and wept for the death of his friends, yet with the next breath this noble This messenger was the notorious renegado, Simon savage proudly boasted, "I have killed many-I have Girty, who was the principal guide of Gov. Dunmore's fully glutted my vengeance!" as much as to say, "I army to the Pickaway town on the Scioto river. Girty have caused the white man to mourn in grief and sortook with him Simon Kenton, (a name known to fame row for the injuries he has heaped upon me. I have in our border wars,) who had been an inmate at his not wept alone. My vengeance has caused aching house in Fort Pitt for sometime previous. They went heads and throbbing hearts. My revenge being satiato Logan's wigwam, and there delivered their message, ted, I am now willing to sheath the scalping knife, requesting him to meet Gov. Dunmore at Camp Char-bury the tomahawk, and live in peace." This is the lotte, to treat of peace. He refused; but said if they would remain with him over night he would send his answer to Gov. Dunmore in the morning. This proposition being agreed to, in the course of the night he impressed his answer on Girty's mind, who immediately returned to Camp Charlotte, and delivered Logan's speech to the Governor and the Indian chiefs in council. This account of the matter I had from Gen. Kenton in 1830. The speech was as follows:

"I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him no meat—if || ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last, long, bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen, pointed as they passed, and said, Logan is the friend of white men. I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Col. Cresup the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan-not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it—I have killed many— I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor the thought that Logan's is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one."

language of nature.*

From this date (1774) we cannot learn that Logan engaged in war. The next official account we have of him, he is found performing an act of humanity and benevolence, by being the instrument, in the hand of Providence, of saving the life of that illustrious pioneer, Gen. Simon Kenton-an account of which can be found, beginning at page 230 of the Life of Kenton, by the writer of this article. In the year 1778 Gen. Kenton being taken captive by the Indians, a grand council was convened at Wapatomika (now Zanesville) to determine on the life or death of the prisoner. Several chiefs spoke in succession on this important subject; and with the greatest apparent deliberation the council decided, by an overwhelming majority, on his death. After the sentence of this grand court was announced, Girty went to Kenton, wept over and embraced him very tenderly, said that he very sincerely sympathized in his forlorn and unhappy situation, and that he had used all the efforts in his power to save his life, but in vain, for it was now decreed that he must die, and he could do no more for him.

It will be recollected that this was in the year 1778, in the midst of the American Revolution. Upper Sandusky was then the place where the British paid their western Indian allies their annuities; and as time might effect what his eloquence could not, Girty, as a last resort, persuaded the Indians to convey their prisoner to Sandusky, as there would collect vast numbers to receive their presents, and the assembled tribes could there witness the solemn scene of the death of the prisoner. To this proposition the council agreed, and the prisoner was placed in the care of five Indians, who forthwith set off for Upper Sandusky. As the Indians pass

Thus ended those times of calamity commonly called Cresup's war. The foregoing sublime address of the illustrious Mingo exhibits all the internal evidence of its savage paternity; although it is doubted by some if the production is not from one highly skilled in oratory. Revenge is probably one of the strongest passions of the human heart. Where all the arts of civilization and Christianity, with its solemn sanctions, operate as * This shows how impure and hurtful all human passions are, a check to this passion, we see it burst forth. Perhaps and how needful religion is to quench in what are called "genit is more difficult to restrain than any other passion of erous bosoms" the fires of hell; for revenge is diabolical, and has its origin with devils. Place such an one as Logan beside the human heart. Although men, in a state of civili- the Savior of the world. The former holds the reeking tomazation, generally submit their grievances to the arbitra- hawk in his hand, and exultingly exclaims, “I have fully glutment of law, yet we find that in many cases it is with ted my vengeance!" The latter bows his head in crucifixion, the greatest reluctance. When we find ourselves in- crying, "Father, forgive them!" As to the tears of Logan for his friends, they were as meritorious as that instinct of the tiger jured in character, person, or property, what is gener-which impels it to feed and guard its young. Christian philan

*Samuel G. Drake's Indian Biography. † Ibid.

thropy is another thing. It mourns not only for murdered friends, but it weeps and prays for their murderers.-ED.