In the years that followed, Cornstalk tried to ease the
tensions between the Natives and the settlers. Constant skirmishes
arose over the years. In 1774 the Pennsylvania militia entered
Ohio and destroyed seven Mingo villages. Cornstalk led 1,000
men against Lord Dunmore’s forces in what became known as
the Battle of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The English
drove Cornstalk’s followers north of the Ohio River and destroyed
several Shawnee villages. Fearing more bloodshed, the Shawnee
agreed to the terms of the Treaty of Fort Stanwix which said
that the Natives could not go east and south of the Ohio
River. This is the first time Ohio Natives actually gave
away some of their land.
Cornstalk followed the rules of the treaty, but most Shawnee
didn’t. Cornstalk and his son went to Point Pleasant to warn
the Americans of an upcoming attack. They were taken hostage
and killed in 1977.
With the coming of more and more settlers,
it was only a matter of time until Indian lands were taken
from them.
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