Page:History of Cumberland, Maryland 2.djvu/273

1758.] friends, Mr. Wilder, which Cresap described as follows in a letter to Governor Sharpe :

As Mr. Samuel Wilder was go'mg to a house of his about 300 yards distant from mine, with 4 men and several women, the Indians rushed on them from a rising ground, but they perceiving them coming, Run towards my house hollowing, which being heard by those at my house, they run to their assistance and met them and the Indians at the Entrance of my lane, on which the Indians Immediately fired on them to the amount of 18 or Twenty, and Killed Mr. Wilder, — the party of white men Returned their fire and killed one of them dead on the spot and wounded severall of the others as appeared by Considerable Quantity of Blood strewed on the Ground, as they Run ofi^, which they Immediately did, and by their leaving behind them 3 Qunns, one pistole and Sundry other Em- plements of war, &c., &c.

I have Inclosed a List of the Desolate men, women and children, who have fied to my house which is Inclosed by a small stockade for safety, by which you*ll see what a number of poor Souls, destitute of Every necessary of Life are here penned up and likely to be Butchered without Immediate Relief and assistance, and can Expect none, unless from the province to which they Belong. I shall submit to your wiser Judgment the Best and roost Effectual method for Such Relief, and shall Conclude with hoping we shall have it in time.

Indian hostilities being kept up with great pertinacity, Colonel Cresap organized another company of volunteers, and "with his surviving sons — Daniel and Michael — and a negro of gigantic stature, marched again, taking the same route on Braddock's road. They advanced this time as far as Negro Mountain, where they met a party of Indians. A running fight took place; Cresap's party killed an Indian, and the Indians killed the negro; and it was this circumstance — the death of the negro on the mountain — that has immortalized his name by fixing it on this ridge forever. This was, I believe. Colonel Cresap's last battle with the Indians, for after peace was made he returned to his farm at Oldtown."