Today in Wheeling History: November 14--Simon Girty, frontiersman and Loyalist who played a significant role in the Siege of Fort Henry in Wheeling, was born (1741).
Simon Girty was born on November 14, 1741, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His early life was marked by tragedy when his father was killed in a drunken brawl, and his family was captured by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Girty was adopted by the Seneca tribe, where he lived for several years, learning their language and customs. This experience profoundly influenced his later life. During the American Revolutionary War, Girty initially served with the Pennsylvania Continental Army but later defected to the British side, becoming a Loyalist and an agent of the British Indian Department. He gained notoriety for his role as a guide and interpreter for Native American warriors fighting against American forces. Girty was involved in several significant conflicts, including the Siege of Fort Henry in Wheeling. His actions earned him the nickname "The White Savage" and a reputation as a traitor among American settlers.
During the Siege of Fort Henry in September 1782, Girty led a force of about 300 Native Americans and 50 British Loyalists against the American outpost in Wheeling. The defenders, led by Colonel David Shepherd, included 40 men and boys protecting 60 women and children. Girty demanded the fort's surrender, but Shepherd refused. The attackers attempted to burn the fort and surrounding buildings, but the defenders, including the Zane family, successfully repelled them. Girty's leadership and tactics during the siege were instrumental, but ultimately, the fort held out, marking an American victory.
After the war, Girty continued to live among Native Americans and later settled in Canada. He suffered from arthritis in his later years and died on February 18, 1818, in Malden, Upper Canada. Girty's complex legacy as both a frontiersman and a controversial figure in American history remains a topic of interest.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/jWPuk) (https://shorturl.at/74pJ8), Weelunk (https://shorturl.at/tHDWD), West Virginia Department of Culture and History (https://shorturl.at/JgMEd)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
Simon Girty was born on November 14, 1741, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His early life was marked by tragedy when his father was killed in a drunken brawl, and his family was captured by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Girty was adopted by the Seneca tribe, where he lived for several years, learning their language and customs. This experience profoundly influenced his later life. During the American Revolutionary War, Girty initially served with the Pennsylvania Continental Army but later defected to the British side, becoming a Loyalist and an agent of the British Indian Department. He gained notoriety for his role as a guide and interpreter for Native American warriors fighting against American forces. Girty was involved in several significant conflicts, including the Siege of Fort Henry in Wheeling. His actions earned him the nickname "The White Savage" and a reputation as a traitor among American settlers.
During the Siege of Fort Henry in September 1782, Girty led a force of about 300 Native Americans and 50 British Loyalists against the American outpost in Wheeling. The defenders, led by Colonel David Shepherd, included 40 men and boys protecting 60 women and children. Girty demanded the fort's surrender, but Shepherd refused. The attackers attempted to burn the fort and surrounding buildings, but the defenders, including the Zane family, successfully repelled them. Girty's leadership and tactics during the siege were instrumental, but ultimately, the fort held out, marking an American victory.
After the war, Girty continued to live among Native Americans and later settled in Canada. He suffered from arthritis in his later years and died on February 18, 1818, in Malden, Upper Canada. Girty's complex legacy as both a frontiersman and a controversial figure in American history remains a topic of interest.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/jWPuk) (https://shorturl.at/74pJ8), Weelunk (https://shorturl.at/tHDWD), West Virginia Department of Culture and History (https://shorturl.at/JgMEd)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
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