Today in Wheeling History: August 23--Betty Zane, Heroine of Fort Henry, passed away (1823).
Elizabeth "Betty" Zane is celebrated as a heroine of the American Revolutionary War for her courageous actions during the Siege of Fort Henry in Wheeling, West Virginia. Born on July 19, 1765, in Berkeley County, Virginia, Betty was the youngest sister of the Zane brothers, who were instrumental in founding Wheeling. On September 11, 1782, Fort Henry was under siege by a combined force of Native American warriors and British soldiers. The fort's defenders were running dangerously low on gunpowder, a critical supply needed to fend off the attackers.
In a daring move, Betty volunteered to retrieve gunpowder from her brother Ebenezer Zane's nearby blockhouse. She sprinted across open ground, dodging enemy fire, and successfully returned with the much-needed supply. Her bravery and quick thinking were pivotal in allowing the fort's defenders to hold their ground and ultimately repel the siege. Betty's actions not only saved Fort Henry but also cemented her legacy as a symbol of courage and resilience on the American frontier.
Betty Zane's heroism was later immortalized in the 1903 novel "Betty Zane" by her great-grandnephew, Zane Grey. The book brought her story to a wider audience and solidified her place in American folklore. Betty married twice and had several children, living out her later years in St. Clairsville, Ohio, where she passed away on August 23, 1823. Her legacy continues to be honored in Wheeling and beyond, with monuments and historical markers commemorating her bravery.
To learn more: (http://alturl.com/ozuky) (http://alturl.com/4bd8h) (http://alturl.com/9znt6) (http://alturl.com/9jwkd)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, West Virginia Archives and History
Elizabeth "Betty" Zane is celebrated as a heroine of the American Revolutionary War for her courageous actions during the Siege of Fort Henry in Wheeling, West Virginia. Born on July 19, 1765, in Berkeley County, Virginia, Betty was the youngest sister of the Zane brothers, who were instrumental in founding Wheeling. On September 11, 1782, Fort Henry was under siege by a combined force of Native American warriors and British soldiers. The fort's defenders were running dangerously low on gunpowder, a critical supply needed to fend off the attackers.
In a daring move, Betty volunteered to retrieve gunpowder from her brother Ebenezer Zane's nearby blockhouse. She sprinted across open ground, dodging enemy fire, and successfully returned with the much-needed supply. Her bravery and quick thinking were pivotal in allowing the fort's defenders to hold their ground and ultimately repel the siege. Betty's actions not only saved Fort Henry but also cemented her legacy as a symbol of courage and resilience on the American frontier.
Betty Zane's heroism was later immortalized in the 1903 novel "Betty Zane" by her great-grandnephew, Zane Grey. The book brought her story to a wider audience and solidified her place in American folklore. Betty married twice and had several children, living out her later years in St. Clairsville, Ohio, where she passed away on August 23, 1823. Her legacy continues to be honored in Wheeling and beyond, with monuments and historical markers commemorating her bravery.
To learn more: (http://alturl.com/ozuky) (http://alturl.com/4bd8h) (http://alturl.com/9znt6) (http://alturl.com/9jwkd)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, West Virginia Archives and History
RSS Feed
