Duches Domain

We drove up to Vallecito Res. North of Bayfield, Colorado, on this cloudy, cool day in SW Colorado to view the snow on the mountain peaks in that area. The clouds were hanging over the tips of the mountains, but you can see the clouds fading out the mountain peaks in the photo on the left. The scrub oak and Aspens had some beautiful color mixtures this year.

Roy in Perry, OK says Fall and cool weather arrived in Oklahoma. How cool was it, Roy? 54F? 45F? That is what it was in Bayfield, Colorado Monday in the valley and higher mountain elevations, respectively.

Battle of Point Pleasant, WV

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Michelle of West Virginia shared some of her photos that she took at the Battle of Point Pleasant in West Virginia. We have put some of them in this week's newsletter. If you are connected to Facebook, you can see more of the photos on NW Okie's Facebook site. We have also find a "History of the Battle of Point Pleasant" over at books.google.com. The Battle of Point Pleasant was the "Chief event of Lord Dunmore's war." NW Okie noticed lots of her Warwick ancestors relations among the names listed on the monument markers. Maybe you can find some ancestral names of your own.

Happy Fall To Everyone! My favorite time to be in the Rocky mountains! The deer have come down from the higher elevations to graze, too.
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Bernier/Barney Surnames of Dewey Co., OK

Dr. Garold D. Barney says, "I was born in Seiling (Oklahoma) in 1932, my great grandfather homesteaded in what is now Dewey County. Considerable controversy exists as to the correct name of my great grandfather. Is it Alanzo Bernier--later Barney or Amable Bernier--later Barney.

The name appears in the Dewey County homestead record---the third entry in the book---but the handwriting is not that clear. The recorder says Alanzo/Amable "made his mark."

My grandfather was named Edward Clyde Barney (as was my father) and was married to Anna Spring (Keokuck, Iowa).

Both my parents were born in Seiling. Mothers family traced themselves through Milo Earnest Walker and Horace Durphey. Any information or suggested contacts would greatly appreciated." -- garold d. barney, Iowa - EMAIL: uncb@grm.net
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Great Info On Camp Alva

Marty says, "Thanks to Linda I have found some great information on Camp Alva. I was a teen ager when the camp was there. I did not realize what a impact the camp made on Alva and its citizens."
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Greenbrier College for Women - Lewisburg, VA

Jenny - email: jeanette@jerdak.com says, "My mother went to this school in the early 1960's. I believe she went by Rose Marie Petro, Rosa Marie Petro or Rose Mary Petro. Have you heard of her. I am learn about her life and her family, if anyone can help.

Do you remember a Physical Ed teacher that went by Kay or Katie? I remember my mother always speaking of her as she remained close to her for many years. I believe that is what she taught at Greenbrier. Thank you." -- Greenbrier College for Women, Lewisburg, VA, Vol. 7, Iss. 5.
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Waynoka, OK Camels & Grace Ward Smith

Doris, G. says concerning, Waynoka's Camel History, "In response to Sandie's memo about the camels, wanted to tell her that Grace Ward Smith was my first cousin. A super lady that I remember as having a Medicine Show with her husband Ray. They traveled around the state and into Kansas. They sold Keen a tone tonics, ointments, etc. Also candy with prizes. My Dad, John Whittet of Freedom traveled with them and ran the sno cone stand. It was always fun for me to be able to visit them as a teenager." -- Doris Whittet Guntrum - OkieLegacy Comment, Vol. 9, Iss. 38
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Insight Into Grandma & John C. McClure

John's letters to Constance continue into March 1906 with three letters dated March 4, 27 & 30, 1906. All addressed to Miss Constance Warwick, RFD, Alva, O.T.

March 4, 1906 -- This short note reads, "Sunday, Dear Connie, My cousin dropped in unexpectedly Friday eve, so I can not go to see my S.W. tonight. He will leave in a day or so. He came from Wisconsin. Write and tell me how the spelling contest came out. Write me a big letter this week. Jno McClure."

March 27, 1906 -- Another short note that begins, "Alva, O.T., Mon. Eve., I will write you a few lines this Eve to tell you of your invitation to the wedding Miss Forbis was in today and said, she was going to be married Wed evening at 3:30. I have not asked to get away but think possibly I can for the afternoon.

Can you come to Alva? Of course we must take Gertha a nice present, so you do the buying. I thought one present would do for both of us. Then you see I would not have to do any thinking. She said I was to let you know. Write me Tues. Jno McClure"

March 30, 1906 -- the third letter is a bit longer, two short pages on First National Bank letterhead. It begins, "Alva, Okla. March, 30, 1906, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla.

Dear Constance: I received your dear little letter, which was berry disappointing, as I wanted to go to the wedding very much, but I suppose you were as much disappointed as I.

You must write Gertha a letter expressing our regrets. I also want you to pick some nice present for her and I will reimburse you when I see you.

Four of we boys have made arrangements to go out to the slat plains Sunday, so you will not be pestered next Sunday night. Of course you know I enjoy my visits out there very much, especially the buggy rides. I am surprised you like to buggy ride with me so much, but I guess you do it just to please me. Write me a letter next week telling me all the news. Yours Affectionately, Jno McClure"
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Fall Arrives In Perry, OK

Roy says, "Perry has cooled down considerably as fall has arrived. We received about 15 hundredths of an inch of rain yesterday just before the cool wind came in. Also the price of gas is down … then up … and may go down again tomorrow!

Sinclair's price was almost 10 cents higher than the other stations yesterday (strange). I'm wondering what the price is about to be. I filled the tank the day the price went down to $2.25.9 and then a couple of days later, Conoco's price was 2.15.9. I forgot to look at it today."
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Battle of Point Pleasant

The Battle of Point Pleasant was the chief event of Lord Dunmore's war. This monument was erected in the year 1909, in commemoration of the Battle of Point Pleasant, fought at the mouth of the great Kanawha river, now in West Virginia, October 10, 1774.

This battle was between twelve hundred and fifty Virginia Colonial troops, composing the left wing of Lord Dunmore's army, commanded by General Andrew Lewis on the one side and an equal number of warriors from the United Indian Nations -- Shawnees, Delawares, Mincoes, Wyandottes, Miamis and Ottawas - northwest of the Ohio, on the other.

At the head of these warriors were the renowned Shawnee Chief, Keigh-Tuch-Qua, known the Virginians as "Cornstalk," and his subordinate chieftains, Blue-Jacket, Black-Hoff, Red-Hawk, Elinipsico, Scopathus, Chi-Ya-Wee and Puck-E-Shin-Wa. The last being killed in the Battle and thus leaving his son, Tecumseh, an orphan child.

That day there was fought the most important Battle ever waged between the forces of civilization and of Barbarism in America, and on no other field of the colonial wars, was there displayed creater valor or bravery than on that at Point Pleasant.

Cornstalk's Battle-cry -- "Be strong! Be Strong!" was often heard above the din of conflict, but he and his hosts were defeated, and Lyman C. Draper estimates the indian loss at two hundred and thirty-three, killed and wounded.

It was a great victory for the Virginians, but it was dearly bought. One man out of every five of their number engaged, being killed or wounded. Cornstalk was atrociously murdered by the whites at Point Pleasant, November 10, 1777 -- Three years and one month after the battle.
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Chief Cornstalk Monument

In this monument rests the remains of Keigh-tugh-qua, better known as Cornstalk to the early settlers and frontiersman. Chief Cornstalk was well known and respected by the white settlers and Indian tribes of the Ohio Valley.

As chief of the Shawnees and head of the Northwestern Confederated Tribes, Cornstalk decided to make peace with the white man. However, he was forced to lead the attack on the "Long Knives" at the battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774. Although he survived the battle he died just three years later.
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Water Panther Stone (A Petroglypa)

Believed to have been a Shawnee altar stone made by the Water Panther Clan, which was Cornstalk's clan, this stone was found at nearby Leon, WV, at 10-mile Creek. The spiral shape of the tail is believed to represent the whirlpools that were in the Kanawha River at the time. The Shawnee purportedly believed that it would drag the evil spirits to the bottom of the river. The different levels of the steps indicate where the Shawnee placed offerings to their gods.
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Revolutionary Soldiers Killed at Battle of Point Pleasant

In memory of Revolutionary Soldiers killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant. The Revoluntionary soldiers buried in Mason County, West Virginia. Graves known and Unknown outside of Tu-Endie-Wei Park. Monument was erected by The Colonel Charles lewis Chapter N.S.D.A.R. October 5, 1934. Andrew Lewis is one that may be kin or from same area. (Augusta County, Virginia is now Pocahontas, WV).

Those names on the monument are: Akerd (Eckerd), Andrew; Aleshite (Aleshire), John C.; Arbuckle, William; Bumgardner, David; Bryan, James Glendenin, Alexander; Glendenin, William, Capt.; Cooper, Leonard, Capt.; Eastham, George; George, Jesse; Gibbs, Luman; Greer, John; Hannan, Thomas; Harrison, James; Hawkins, William; Hays (Hayes), Samuel; Henderson, John; Henderson, Samuel; Hereford, John; Hersey, John; Lemaster, George; Lemaster, Thomas (scout); Lewis, Andrew; Lewis, Benjamin; Lewis, Thomas; Long, Philip; Love, Charles; Love, Robert; North, William; Peck, Peter; Riffle, George; Robinson, Isaac; Roseberry, John; Rouch (Roush), Daniel; Rosch (Roush), John, Capt.; Rouch (Roush), Jonas; Rocuh (Roush), Peter; See, Michael; Stephenson, George; Van Bibber, Jesse; Van Bibber, Michael; Van Matre, Henry; Van Matre, John; Waddle, Thomas; Wilson, John, Capt.; Wiltshire, John; Withers, Spencer.
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The Magazine - Battle of Point Pleasant

The Magazine was dedicated to those militiamen who were buried in the magazine and the surrounding battlefield on October 11, 1774. col. Charles Lewis, Col. John Field, Cpt. Thomas Buford, Cpt. Robert McClenachan, Cpt. John Murray, Cpt. James Ward, Cpt. Samuel Wilson, Lt. Hugh Allen, Lt. Charles Cameron, Lt. Edward Goldman, Lt. David Laird, Lt. William McCutcheon, Lt. Samuel Vance, Ens. Samuel Baker, Ens. Matthew Bracken, Ens. Jonathan Cundiff, George Cameron, Samuel Corley, James Crolwey, John Dinwiddie, Joseph Hughes, James Mooney, Hugh O'Guillion, Jerrard Trotter, March Williams, John Frogg, Sutler, and the unknown.
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Virginians Killed at Battle of Point Pleasant

Careful estimates made from the most authentic documentary evidence extant, place the number killed at eighty-one. The following is a list of names of persons known to have been among the slain.

Field Officers: Colonel Charles Lewis, commanding the Augusta county regiment; Colonel John Field, of the Culpeper county minute men; Captain John Murray, of the Botetout county regiment; Captain Robert McClennahan, of the Botetourt county regiment; Captain Samuel Wilson, of the Augusta county regiment; Captain Charles Ward, of the Augusta county regiment.

Subaltern Officers: Lieutenant Hugh Allen, of the Augusta county regiment; Mark Williams, Roger Topp and Joseph Hughey, of Captain Evan Shelby's company of the Fincastle county battalion; James Mooney and Hickman of Captain George Mathews' company of the Augusta county regiment; Samuel Croley, organization to which he belonged not known.

Burial of the Dead: The day after the Battle, the bodies of the men slain therein, together with those who died of wounds that night, were buried in different places. The following officers: colonel Charles Lewis, Colonel John Field, Captain John Murray, CAptain Robert McClennahan; Captain Samuel Wilso, Lieutenant Hugh Allen, John Frogg and George Cameron -- Being laid to rest inside of the Magazine directly on the upper point of land. At the confluence of the rivers - now Tu-Endi-wei Park. All were interred without the pomp of war, but that day the cheeks of many a hardy Virginia - West Virginia mountaineer were bedewed with tears.
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History of Battle of Point Pleasant - The Book

At books.google.com I found this online book concerning History of the Battle of Point Pleasant Fought Between White Men & Indians by Virgil Anson Lewis, A.M. (State Historian and Archivist). This battle was fought between whtie men and indians at the mouth of the great Kanawha River (Now Point Pleasant, West Virginia), Monday, October 10th, 1774, The Chief event of Lord Dunmores War.

The Virginia Frontier in 1774 -- The Indian Nations of the Ohio Wilderness. White settlers West of the Blue Ridge -- For a number of years after the founding of Jamestown the white settlements were confined to the banks of the James River. In time they extended over the Tide-Water Region; and thence into the Piedmont Region even to the base of the Blue Ridge. Chapter V, pg. 40 -- The Battle of Point Pleasant was fought exactly three months from the day that Lord Dunmore left the gubernatorial mansion at Williamsburg; and in that brief time an army numbering more than twenty-seven hundred men had been organized in two divisions, each composed almost exclusively of frontiersmen west of the Blue Ridge and placed in the Ohio Valley.

On Sunday, the ninth of October, the Northern Division or right wing, comprising the Berkeley and the Frederick County Regiments, and the West Augusta Battalion, the whole numbering thirteen hundred men, and commanded by Lord Dunmore in person, lay at Fort Gower, on the Northwest bank of the Ohio, at the mouth of the Hockhocking river, now in Athens county, Ohio.

The Southern Division or left wing, composed of the Augusta and the Botetourt Regiments; and the companies of Shelby, Russell, and Herbert, of the Fincastle Battalion; together with Buford's Bedford county Riflemen, the whole commanded by General Andrew Lewis, lay at Camp Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha river. colonel Christian with the companies of Campbell, Crockett and floyd, of the Fincastle Battalion, and Harrod's kentucky Pioneers, together with a number of unorganized men from the counties of Augusta and Culpeper, lay on the north or right bank of the Great Kanawha river, distant about twenty-five miles from its mouth.

Captain Anthony Bledsoe, with his company of Fincastle troops was still at Camp Union, on the Big Levels of Greenbrier. Christian's men were the only ones that moved that day; this was due to his desire to come up with General Lewis before he would cross the Ohio.

At Camp Point Pleasant a communication had been received from Lord Dunmore stating that he should move directly across the country from fort Gower to the Pickaway Plains, and requesting lewis to join him at the latter place. preparations were made to resume the march for this purpose.

Major Ingles said, "After hearing a good sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Terry, (we) went to repose." That evening General Lewis' scouts reported tohim that there was no enemy within fifteen miles of the camp.

But fleet-footed Indian warriors from the peaks of the Alleghenies, and the highlands along the Great Kanawha, had watched the progress of the Southern Division all the way from Camp union to Camp Point Pleasant, and bore tidings of its advance to the Shawnee capital on the Pickaway Plains, where the assembled sachems and chiefs had, in their bark council-house in the valley of the Sciota, resolved upon war against the English Border.

Their message went forth to summon the warriors to arms; this was speedily obeyed and hundreds of them gathered, ready for the fray. It was the plan of Cornstalk to defeat the two wings of the army before they could be united and if Lewis could be beaten and his army destroyed at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, the men composing the Northern Division under Dunmore, could be shot down in the narrow defiles of the valley of the Hockhocking river.

All day long that Sunday -- October ninth -- with silent tread, they approached the Ohio, and late in the evening, halted in the dense forest in the valley of Campaign creek near the site of the present village of Addison, in Gallia county, Ohio, and distant about three miles above the mouth of the Great Kanawha.

Soon after dark the warriors began crossing the Ohio on rafts, seventy-nine of these having been prepared previously. To ferry so many over this wide stream on these clumsy transports, must have required a considerable time. But before morning they were all on the southern bank on the site of "Old Shawane Town" a former home of the Shawnees, near the mouth of Old Town creek and distant about three miles from Camp Point Pleasant; and were ready to proceed to action.

Their route lay down through the bottom lands on the east bank of the Ohio. Here was a heavy growth of timber with a foliage so dense, as in many places to intercept, in a great measure, the light of the moon and the stars. Beneath lay many trunks of fallen trees strewed in different directions and in various stages of decay.

The whole surface of the ground was covered with a luxuriant growth of weeds interspersed with close-set thickets of spice-wood and other undergrowth. A journey through this in the night must have been tedious, tiresome, dark and dreary.

The Indians, however, entered upon it promptly and pursued it until break of day. When, about a mile distant from the camp of the sleeping Virginians, one of those unforeseen incidents occurred which so often totally defeat or greatly mar the best concerted military plans.

this was the discovery by the Virginians of the advancing Indian line, a most fortunate occurrence for the whole army was saved from destruction; because it was the design of the Indians to have attacked them at break of day, and to force al whom they could not kill, into the two rivers. Had that vast barbarian column swept down in the darkness of the morning upon Lewis' army of sleeping virginians, it would have been doomed not only to defeat but to total destruction.

The Beginning of the Battle -- In the gray dawn of the morning twilight, Monday, October 10th, two young men went up along the east bank of the Ohio in quest of deer.

The story goes that Captain John Stuart says, "Two young men were sent out early to hunt for deer, and when up the river (Ohio) two or three miles, they fell on the camp of Indians who fired on them. One was killed; the other escaped the got into camp just before sunrise. He stopped before my tent, and I discovered a number of men collecting around him as I lay in my bed; I jumped up and approached him to know what was the cause of alarm; when I heard him declare that he had seen about five acres of land covered with indians as thick as they could stand one besides the other." -- "Stuart's Memoirs of the Indian Wars and Other Occurrences." pg. 46.

"These were Joseph Hughy, of Shelby's company, and James Mooney, of Russell's. The former was killed by a white renegade, Tavenor Ross, while the latter brought the news to camp." -- Note by Reuben G. Thwaites, in documentary History of Dunmore's War." pg. 272.

Haywood, the Historian of Tennessee, says that those who discovered the Indians, were James Robertson, and Valentine Sevier, sergeants in Captain Evan Shelby's company. He adds, "It fell to the lot of men from East Tennessee to make an unexpected discovery of the enemy and by that means save from destruction the whole army of Provincials, for it was the design of the enemy to have attacked them at day-dawn and then to have forced all they could not kill, into the two rivers." -- "Civil and Political History of Tennessee." pg. 58.

When in the narrowest portion of land between Crooked Creek and the Ohio river, they were discovered by the Indians, who were advancing in solid phalanx toward the camp of the Virginians. They fired upon the hunters, one of whom they killed, and the other ran into camp and gave the alarm. Instantly the drums beat to arms, and the backwoodsmen rolled out of their blankets, started format he ground, looked to their flints and priming, and were ready on the moment.
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