McColloch's Leap

[2] On January 6, 1777, Samuel McColloch was appointed as a major in the Ohio County milita and was given command over Fort Van Meter near Short Creek, West Virginia.

Major McColloch and his milita were not among these, presumably because they lived close enough to respond quickly without straining the fort's already meager supplies.

[4] On September 1, 1777, shortly after watching the majority of militiamen leave for home, a force of 200-300 Native Americans under Half-King Dunquat besieged Fort Henry.

Captain Van Swearingen was the first to respond with fourteen men from Cross Creek, about 20 miles north, and was able to enter the fort without issue.

[6] Major McColloch, located about 10 miles north in Short Creek, took the time to gather a larger force of 40 mounted men.

Reaching the top of the hill, he found that several groups of Natives had cut off all directions of retreat with the exception of the cliff face above Wheeling Creek.

[3] Finding himself surrounded, and unwilling to submit to capture or death at the hands of his enemies, McColloch turned to the cliff and spurred his horse over the edge.

"[3] As McColloch and his horse forded through Wheeling Stream and fled over the opposite bank, the Natives looked on without continuing their pursuit or firing shots.

Specific criticisms follow: The legendary version of Samuel McColloch describes him as well-known frontiersman much feared and admired by his Native American foes at the time of the Leap.