Zane Grey

Betty Zane Zane Grey

Fort Henry stood on a bluff overlooking the river and commanded a fine view of the surroundingcountry. In shape it was a parallelogram, being about three hundred and fifty-six feet in length, andone hundred and fifty in width. Surrounded by a stockade fence twelve feet high, with a yard widewalk running around the inside, and with bastions at each corner large enough to contain sixdefenders, the fort presented an almost impregnable defense. The blockhouse was two stories inheight, the second story projecting out several feet over the first. The thick white oak walls bristledwith portholes. Besides the blockhouse, there were a number of cabins located within the stockade. Wells had been sunk inside the inclosure, so that if the spring happened to go dry, an abundance ofgood water could be had at all times. In all the histories of frontier life mention is made of the forts and the protection they offered intime of savage warfare. These forts were used as homes for the settlers, who often lived for weeksinside the walls. Forts constructed entirely of wood without the aid of a nail or spike (for the good reason that thesethings could not be had) may seem insignificant in these days of great nasal and military garrisons. However, they answered the purpose at that time and served to protect many an infant settlementfrom the savage attacks of Indian tribes. During a siege of Fort Henry, which had occurred about ayear previous, the settlers would have lost scarcely a man had they kept to the fort. But CaptainOgle, at that time in charge of the garrison, had led a company out in search of the Indians. Nearlyall of his men were killed, several only making their way to the fort. On the day following Major McColloch's arrival at Fort Henry, the settlers had been called in fromtheir spring plowing and other labors, and were now busily engaged in moving their stock and thethings they wished to save from the destructive torch of the redskin. The women had their handsfull with the children, the cleaning of rifles and moulding of bullets, and the thousand and onethings the sterner tasks of their husbands had left them. Major McColloch, Jonathan and Silas Zane, early in the day, had taken different directions along the river to keep a sharp lookout for signs ofthe enemy. Colonel Zane intended to stay in his oven house and defend it, so he had not movedanything to the fort excepting his horses and cattle. Old Sam, the negro, was hauling loads of hayinside the stockade. Captain Boggs had detailed several scouts to watch the roads and one of thesewas the young man, Clarke, who had accompanied the Major from Fort Pitt