Today in Wheeling History: January 6--Samuel McColloch became a major in the Ohio County militia (1777).
Samuel McColloch (1752-1782) was a major in the local militia and the commander of Van Meter’s Fort. He was also a member of the Virginia Legislature. Samuel became a major in the Ohio County militia on January 6, 1777, and began his command of Van Meter's Fort which was located on the north side of the south fork of Short Creek on the hill above, three miles southwest of West Liberty. On the morning of September 1st, 1777, the Indians attacked Fort Henry. Sam and two others rode to relieve the fort. Sam spurred his mount to the top of Wheeling Hill with his would-be captors at his heels. There he was trapped by another raiding party coming from the other direction. Preferring a quick death or freedom to captivity or torture, Sam took his only avenue of escape and plunged his horse down a nearly vertical hillside 300 feet to the creek below. Miraculously, the horse and rider made it to the bottom unharmed. A monument at the crest of Wheeling Hill marks “McColloch’s Leap”. McColloch served as a major in the Ohio County militia and was third in command of the nine militia companies in the Ohio County Militia. He was killed by Indians on July 30, 1782.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/bdf4wtbb) (http://tinyurl.com/5e4vm3hc)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikipedia
Samuel McColloch (1752-1782) was a major in the local militia and the commander of Van Meter’s Fort. He was also a member of the Virginia Legislature. Samuel became a major in the Ohio County militia on January 6, 1777, and began his command of Van Meter's Fort which was located on the north side of the south fork of Short Creek on the hill above, three miles southwest of West Liberty. On the morning of September 1st, 1777, the Indians attacked Fort Henry. Sam and two others rode to relieve the fort. Sam spurred his mount to the top of Wheeling Hill with his would-be captors at his heels. There he was trapped by another raiding party coming from the other direction. Preferring a quick death or freedom to captivity or torture, Sam took his only avenue of escape and plunged his horse down a nearly vertical hillside 300 feet to the creek below. Miraculously, the horse and rider made it to the bottom unharmed. A monument at the crest of Wheeling Hill marks “McColloch’s Leap”. McColloch served as a major in the Ohio County militia and was third in command of the nine militia companies in the Ohio County Militia. He was killed by Indians on July 30, 1782.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/bdf4wtbb) (http://tinyurl.com/5e4vm3hc)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikipedia
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