Person:James Logan (41)

Logan's Lament,or Logan's Speech

• Logan, however, disdained to be seen among the suppliants. But lest the sincerity of a treaty should be disturbed, from which so distinguished a chief

"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, 'Logan is the friend of white men.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it : I have killed many : I have fully glutted my vengeance: for my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a, thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan?-Not one."

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Gibson

TRANSCRIPT OF ORIGINAL LETTER FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO GENERAL JOHN GIBSON. PRESENTED BY GEN. GIBSON'S DAUGHTER TO WM. ROBINSON.

Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1797.

Sir

I took the liberty the last summer of writing to you from hence, making some enquiries on the subject of Logan's Speech, and the murder of his family, and you were kind enough in your answer among other things, to correct the title of Cresap who is said to have headed the party, by observing that he was a Capt and not a Col. I trouble you with a second letter asking if you could explain to me how Logan came to call him Col. If you have favored me with an answer to this it has miscarried, I therefore trouble you again on the subject, and as the transaction must have been familiar to you, I will ask the favor of you to give me the names and residence, of any persons now living who you think were of Cresap's party, or who can prove his participation in this transaction either by direct evidence or from circumstances, or who can otherwise throw light on the fact. A Mr. Martin (Luther Martin, Attorney-General of Maryland, married a daughter Captain Cresap.) of Baltimore has questioned the whole transaction, suggesting Logan's Speech to be not genuine, and denying that either Col or Capt Cresap had any hand in the murder of his family. I do not intend to enter into any newspaper contest with Mr Martin; but in the first republication of the notes on Virginia to correct the Statement where it is wrong and support it where it is right. My distance from the place where witnesses of the transactions reside is so great, that it will be a lengthy and imperfect operation in my hands. Any aid you can give me in it will be most thankfully received. I avail myself with great pleasure of every occasion of recalling myself to your recollection, and of assuring you of the sentiments of esteem and attachment with which I am dear

Sir, your most obedt and

humble Servt

TH. JEFFERSON.

Historical Marker

• Historical Marker (Front)

Tah-gah-jute, the Mingo chief named Logan, was a native of Pennsylvania. Logan moved to Ohio in 1770, and settled at the Pickaway Plains. Logan and his father, Shikellimus, had long supported friendships between Native Americans and white men; however, in the spring of 1774, his tribesmen and family were murdered at Yellow Creek, along the Ohio River. Once an advocate of peace, Logan went on the warpath and raided frontier settlements. These and similar raids along the Ohio frontier precipitated Lord Dunmore's War in October 1774. After the Shawnees and their allies were defeated at Point Pleasant, Virginia governor Lord Dunmore marched up the Hocking River to the Pickaway Plains. Dunmore asked his interpreter, Colonel John Gibson, to assist in negotiations with Cornstalk and other Indian leaders, including Logan. Logan declined to attend the conference, but spoke to Gibson about his anger and betrayal.

• Historical Marker (Back)

It was here under a large elm tree that Chief Logan was said to have delivered his powerful speech on Indian-white relations, which Gibson delivered to Lord Dunmore at Camp Charlotte. Logan's lamentation was printed widely and appeared in newspapers in New York, Philadelphia, and Williamsburg in 1775. The speech is inscribed on the Chief Logan Monument, worded as it was related to President Thomas Jefferson. Once considered to be one of the largest elms in the United States, the 65 feet tall elm died in 1964 after being stricken with blight and damaged by storms. Through the efforts of the Ohio History Day Association, this location was dedicated as Logan Elm Park. The Ohio Historical Society currently operates the Logan Elm State Memorial.

Source

Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Ohio, Soldiers Monumental Association of Pickaway County, and The Ohio Historical Society. 2003

http://www.remarkableohio.org/HistoricalMarker.aspx?historicalMarkerId=839&fileId=116914

Other Sources

• [Sources and contributions to this timeline include "History of Mingo Junction" by Anna Brettell, 1937; Bicentennial History of Mingo Junction, Ohio, eds. Darlene Hoff, Margaret Novotny, Martha Latzy, Nancy Kenny, Mrs. Ernest Wilson; Sandy Day and Deb Stanley of the Schiappa Public Library of Steubenville, Mingo citizens Eileen Haggerty Moody, Sophie Schoolcraft and Joann Sogan, David Smith, Nial Pashke, and my co-editor Guy Mason. This list is partial and in development, and we welcome contributions and corrections. They may be sent to author Larry Smith at Lsmithdog@aol.com.]

1774 - Logan’s family and others are lured to a tavern, given whisky and murdered by a group of settlers, supposedly under direction of Colonel Cresap from Fort Pitt. Logan and the Mingoes seek revenge on settlers from then on.

1780 - Chief Logan continues attacks on settlers until his own murder this year by other Native American.

Source http://smithdocs.net/MingoChronology.htm

• Bicentennial History of Mingo Junction, Ohio 1770-1970

Source http://www.digitalshoebox.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/steubenbks/id/23105/rec/4

http://www.fold3.com/page/1042_chief_john_logantaygahjute/

wikipedia (listed above)

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/sixnations/logan_elm_and_monument.htm

http://www.andrewknezjr.com/remembering.html