Point Pleasant, West Virginia
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The Point Pleasant Battle Monument State Park marks an important
historic site in American history. The Battle of Point Pleasant,
fought between the Long Knives of Virginia and the Shawnee Indians
and their allies on October 10, 1774, was the final battle of
Lord Dunmore's War and is considered by many to be the first battle
of the American Revolution. This battle and this historical site is of particular interest to me because my ancestor Cornstalk (Hokolesqua) was the principal chief of all the Shawnee sects at this time, and therefore, led both the Shawnee warriors and other tribes who joined the Shawnee in this battle.
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Three years after the Battle of Point Pleasant, Chief Cornstalk
returned here to Fort Randolph, this time on a mission of peace. He
had signed a peace treaty with the white men following the defeat at
Point Pleasant, and true to his word, Cornstalk never fought the
white men again. However, the British were inciting his warriors to
fight, and against Cornstalk's wishes, many of the Shawnee were
joining with the British and planning to attack the Long Knives. Cornstalk and his subchief Red Hawk of the Delawares went to the fort to warn the Long Knives there, but the white men took the chiefs prisoner. Several days later, Cornstalk's son Elinipsico came looking for his father. He too was taken prisoner at the fort. When two white men were killed by Indians the next day, the Long Knives accused Elinipsico, saying he had brought the Indians with him to do harm to the white men. Despite Elinipsico's denial of this accusation, the angry Long Knives murdered the three Indians, who had come peacefully to the fort unarmed. Although the American government assured Cornstalk's sister, Nonhalema (Tall Soldier Woman), that the murderers would be punished, no action was ever taken. |
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The Ohio River at Point Pleasant |
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The only tree left which was here during the Battle of Point Pleasant |
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This hewn log house was built as a tavern in 1796, and is now preserved as a museum at the battle site. |
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In 1966-67, the area around Point Pleasant became enshrouded in mystery.
Numerous sightings of "UFOs" and a strange birdlike creature with many
human characteristics eventually given the name "Mothman" were reported
over a period of approximately one year. Many explanations have been given for these sightings, two of which are linked to the murder of the three Indians at Fort Randolph. Some say that Cornstalk placed a 200 year curse on the area to avenge his death. Another theory maintains that Red Hawk, Cornstalk's subchief, returned to the area to warn people of danger, just as he had done in 1777, in the form of a red hawk. Several people who sighted the "Mothman" creature, which has been described as a large birdlike creature but with many human characteristics and glaring red eyes, said they felt that the creature was trying to tell them something. |
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Perhaps they were right. For although many UFO and Mothman sightings
were reported for a year between November 1966 and December 1967, the
sightings ended after that fateful day...the day the Silver Bridge
collapsed. This suspension bridge stretching across the Ohio River from Point Pleasant fell into the river on December 15, 1967, resulting in the deaths of 46 people, many of whom had previously reported seeing Mothman. The pictures to the right were taken by my father soon after the bridge fell. The bridge in the picture above is an old railroad bridge; the large pillar-like structures in the water beside it were all that remained of the Silver Bridge. This site contains more information about Mothman and the Silver Bridge tragedy. |
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