Volume 11 , Issue 40

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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