Samuel McColloch's Leap
Samuel McColloch became a legend with his daring escape from an attacking group of Native Americans.
McColloch, one of West Virginia’s Revolutionary leaders, was assisting in the defense of Fort Henry when he realized he was left alone.
His decisions that day, coupled with his gruesome death a few years later, are almost mythic.
Samuel McColloch
During the American Revolution the city of Wheeling (in modern West Virginia) was on the frontier.
Several small forts had been constructed in the area in an effort to protect settlers from Native American hostilities.
One of these posts was Fort Van Meter which was commanded by Samuel McColloch, a renowned fighter of Natives.
This was the setting for a legend to be born.
The First Battle of Fort Henry
In September of 1777, a coalition of Native American Tribes attacked Fort Henry a short distance from Samuel McColloch and his men.
The men rushed to the rescue but were overpowered and forced to take to safety inside Fort Henry.
During the confusion, McColloch was locked out of the Fort and left to face the enemy alone. The attackers gave chase and Samuel, on his horse, fled up Wheeling Hill.
Unfortunately, he was surprised by a second group of Native Americans coming in the other direction.
Determined not to be taken alive, McColloch turned and jumped his horse off a three hundred foot cliff.
McColloch’s Leap
The Natives peaked over the side of the hill, fully expecting McColloch to be lying motionless at the bottom.
To everyone’s shock, Samuel was seen still on his horse, riding to safety.
This event became known as McColloch’s Leap, and the hill still bears that name today.
A Delicious and Courageous Heart
Five years later, just before the Second Battle of Fort Henry, the Native Americans would have their revenge.
Samuel and his brother John were patrolling around Fort Van Meter when they were ambushed.
Samuel was shot from his horse, struck with a hatchet and scalped.
When the Americans returned to claim his body, it was found that his heart had been removed.
Though they were not normally cannibals, several Tribes believed that eating the heart of an enemy they respected would give them courage and, according to several accounts, this is the fate that befell Samuel McColloch.
Want to read about other Founders whose exploits are things of legend?
Great! Check out these articles:
The Virginia Giant - Peter Francisco’s Fight
Jonathan Moulton Makes a Deal with the Devil?
Johnny Appleseed as an American Founder
Surprisingly, little has been written about the legendary life of Samuel McColloch.
If you’d like to learn a bit about living on the West Virginia frontier, I recommend reading ‘A Woman of Courage.’
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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