The "Battle of The Trough"

 

The "Battle of The Trough" was a significant engagement between settlers and Native Americans that occurred in the area of present-day West Virginia. It is described as a particularly bloody and hard-fought conflict.

Here are the key details of the battle, according to the sources:

• Background:
  • The battle took place during a time of heightened conflict between settlers and Native Americans.
  • The conflict was preceded by an attack on the dwelling of a Mrs. Brake on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac, where Mrs. Brake and a Mrs. Neff were taken prisoner by two Native American scouts from a larger war party.
• Location: The battle occurred in a narrow passage between two mountains, an area known as "The Trough," near a spring about two hundred paces from the river. The river was swollen due to heavy rain, making it difficult to cross.
• Forces Involved:
  • A small group of settlers pursued the Native American party to rescue the captured women.
  • The settlers were described as a "little band of heroes," while the Native American forces numbered sixty or seventy warriors under the leadership of the Shawnee chief, Killbuck.
• Tactics and Course of the Battle:
  • The settlers followed the trail of the Native Americans to The Trough.
  • The settlers dismounted and prepared for battle, leaving their horses on the ridge. However, a dog accompanying them startled a rabbit, alerting the Native Americans to their presence.
  • The Native Americans moved quickly to flank the settlers, placing them between the mountains and the swollen river.
  • The fighting was intense, with both sides dealing "death and slaughter at every fire".
  • The battle lasted for an hour or two, with the settlers putting up a fierce resistance despite being outnumbered.
  • The settlers were forced to retreat.
  • Those unable to swim the river resolved to sell their lives dearly, and continued to fight, dealing death before being killed.
• Outcome and Aftermath:
  • The settlers were forced to retreat, swimming across the river to escape. Many of them were killed or wounded.
  • Killbuck, the Shawnee chief, later admitted that the battle was the most sanguinary he had ever experienced for the number of enemies.
• Significance: The Battle of the Trough is remembered as a particularly violent and tragic encounter on the frontier, illustrating the dangers and difficulties faced by early settlers.

The Battle of The Trough highlights the intensity of the conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, and how even small groups of settlers would stand and fight against superior forces. The sources emphasize the courage and determination of the settlers, as well as the strategic skills of Native American leaders like Killbuck.