Logan was born in Pennsylvania about 1725 and moved to Ohio
in 1770. He lived at Yellow Creek, a Mingo village. He got
along well with the white settlers and even though he was
a war chief, he urged Native people not to attack the settlers.
This changed in 1774 when his mother, sister and about 12
Mingo villagers were killed and Mingo villages were attacked.
He retaliated and killed 13 whites. This action resulted
in Lord Dunmore’s War.
In 1774, seven Mingo villages
were destroyed. The villages had been abandoned as the
soldiers approached. Lord Dunmore,
the governor of Virginia, sent 1,000 men to build a fort
to attack Cornstalk. Cornstalk sent 1,000 Shawnee to drive
Dunmore’s army out of the territory. They met at the Battle
of Point Pleasant where the English drove Cornstalk’s warriors
north of the Ohio River. Eventually they met near present-day
Chillicothe to determine a peace treaty. Logan refused
to attend but sent a speech known as “Logan’s Lament.”
Chief
Logan’s speech known as “Logan’s Lament”
“I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan’s cabin hungry,
and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him
not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle
in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my
countrymen
pointed as they passed, and said, Logan is the friend of the white men. I have
even thought to live with you but for the injuries of one man. Col. Cresap,
the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of
Logan,
not sparing even my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in
the veins of any living creature. This has called on me for revenge. I have
sought it: I have killed many: I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country,
I
rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbour a thought that mine is the
joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his
life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one.” (From
Thomas Jefferson’s notes http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ohc/history/h_indian/people/logan-t.shtml)
Logan pledged to continue fighting the English as they moved
into Ohio. He kept his promise for the remainder of his life.
He died about 1780. Despite everything he did, the settlers
still stayed in Ohio.
Resources
Why Did You Kill My People?
http://www.geocities.com/captdanc
Logan
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=243
Logan’s Lament
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1471
Mingo Indians
http://www.swcp.com/~dhickman/notes/mingo.html
