The Last Ranger of Fort Henry

wikipedia

 History, as we know it, often leads to unique discoveries. Here lies one. As historical writers, we glory in the mystic of the cowboy. Our heroes are so often bigger than life. Yet, we temper our heroines. Their qualities, though grand, rarely outshine our heroes... 

Sometime - Sometimes history shows us that heroines are far more courageous than we give them credit to be.

In 1782, West Virginia was part of the great state of  Virginia. It was considered the Western Frontier of it's time. In these mountainous areas the Scots and Irish flourished making homes for themselves and their families. They were skilled mountain men and hunters, who often knew the trails as well, if not better than the Native Americans. But encroaching on the livelihood of the Native Americans put them into harms way. The American Revolution would provide an opening in which the Native Americans might win back their hunting grounds.

In actuality, the alliance did two things. First, it raised the hopes that the Native Americans might force the British Government into renewing the treaty that kept settlements from going beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Secondly, for the British, there was hope the Native Americans could best the Colonial Army which the Brits had not been able to accomplish due to the guerilla warfare the Continental Army  used with much success.

The Colonial governments knew their frontier was scarcely protected. They built a line of forts along the trails in hopes that they might temper the raiding parties of the Native Americans and provide protection to the families in the wilderness. But, as Abigail Adams might have admonished, "Don't forget the women."

In 1782, A group of British Rangers and 250 Shawnee warriors besieged a colonial fort named Fort Henry  near what is now known as Wheeling, West Virginia. Forty two men and their families sought refuge behind the palisade walls, The garrison was under the command of Colonel David Sheppard of the Ohio Militia. He took a lesson from the colonial troops in Massachusetts during the early days of the war and hid his gun powder in the cellars of the homes in various locations around the fort. As the siege began, the men stood on the ramparts, fired their weapons, then handed the empty guns down to family members waiting below to reload. In two hours of fighting, many lay dead or dying. Their gun powder began to run out. It seemed all was lost for every man was needed to man positions along the fort.

As the discussion continued, the British and the Shawnee continued to pick off men. One of the women below the rampart was Elizabeth Zane. Her job was to reload her father and her brother's Kentucky rifles along with the men on either side of them. During a volley of shot, her father fell from the ramparts above to her feet, struck dead by a British bullet. Shouts arose for more gun powder. When no one volunteered, the plucky Miss Zane, stood and shouted, "I'll go!"

The commander hesitated.

She pointed out that all the able bodied men were needed at stations. He had no choice but to allow this daring, young woman her chance. 

She slipped from the fort and ran sixty yards to her family home outside the fort's protective walls. Slipped into the basement. The sight of a woman on the run must have startled the  British. They didn't return fire until she ran back cuddling the keg of gun powder in her arms. Needless to say, the fort was saved by her brave actions.

Okay, you may be asking yourself, why are we talking about the American Revolution in a western column. Ah, it is very important to this blog and to all readers of great western novels. Elizabeth's family left  West Virginia after the Revolution was won. They settled in the wilds of Ohio and she raised her family. It was her great grand nephew that learned of her exploits and was so enamored of them that he put them to paper, publishing his first book. Lucky for us, he didn't stop with just his great aunt's story. For the author of Betsy Zane, later to be re-titled The Last Ranger, was none other than Zane Grey one of the greatest fictional, western writers of all times. 

  Zane Grey Photo from Wikipedia

 19th century engraving of Betsy saving the fort

  Today, Wheeling, West Virginia still holds Pioneer Days with Betsy's story. Zanesville Ohio  is named for the family.

Elizabeth Betsy Zane was married twice, bore nine children and is buried in St. Clarksville, Ohio.                                                                        

When studying history... always follow the bread crumbs. 

Until next time, 

Nan O'Berry