Fort Henry, which had been constructed in 1774 to protect the settlers in the area around what is now Wheeling, West Virginia, was one of the rumored targets.

[2][3] Minor skirmishes took place on August 2 and 4 resulting in two wounded enslaved men and one Indigenous American killed.

For a time thereafter, militia companies stayed at Fort Henry, improving its defenses and patrolling for Indigenous Americans.

This is likely because accounts of the battle were recorded after the war and the local militiamen arrived sporadically alongside civilians taking refuge.

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.

Upon his horse McColloch fled up Wheeling Hill, and there he found himself surrounded on three sides by Native forces, and on the other by a steep 300 ft (91 m) drop.

[2][10] Over the course of the raid, the Native American force burned approximately 25 surrounding cabins and slaughtered or stole 300 cattle.