Frederick Ice chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Frederick and the others came out of the woods into their Patterson Creek settlement. They stared at the ashes where their homes had been. They shouted and cried in anger and despair!

"Oh God!" Frederick shouted to the heavens. "How could this happen! God, we call upon Thee to punish those Mohawk murderers! Take vengeance on them, O God! Why did we ever go away and leave our families unprotected!"

While they stood in anguish, some of the Indian friends came out of the woods and approached. They signed "Friend" with their hands. Then they came to us.

The chief, who we called Chickahominy, spoke in the Indian tongue. "Mr. Ice, how can we tell you of the deep sorrow we share with you. Some of our own people were killed by these Mohawk warriors. It is a time of great mourning for our families."

"You are our true friends," Frederick said. "We thank you."

"We buried your dead," said Chickahominy. "We tried to do for them as white men do."

"Come," he said. He led them over to a plot near the forest. "There they lie. We marked the grave with a feathered lance."

The Indian lance stood straight, with feathers dyed deep red at the top.

Frederick made an Indian sign with his hands to show his thanks. "You have done us a great kindness, dear friends. May God bless you for your kindness."

The Indians each shook hands with everyone, then melted into the forest.

They gathered around the burial plot. Mary Margaret would be buried here also when the others returned with her body.

They stood in silence for some time. Then Frederick began the Lord's Prayer. "Vater unser, Du bist im himmel..."

The others said the words with him.

Then Frederick spoke. "Lift your hands to heaven. Let us pray together at God's throne of grace."

He prayed: "O Father, we leave these departed dead in Thy keeping until the end of the world. We cry out to Thee in our sorrow! We beg Thy comfort and consolation. Through Christ our Lord, Amen."

When they returned from the burial plot, the wagons were still standing where they left them. The Indian friends had guarded them and protected the goods they contained from the varmints in the woods.

Frederick and the others searched through the ashes to salvage anything that might be used. What bitterness they felt! Their whole lives were gone! Wives and children! Great sorrow!

But Frederick was a man of action.

"Listen men. We are still alive, and God is still in His heaven. He will hold those Mohawks accountable for what they did. And so will He judge us. We must ask His forgiveness. We must keep ourselves in His favor. We dare not allow hate and bitterness to build up in us. We must ask God to forgive us for the hate we are feeling, and to purge us. We can't forget our wives and children. No! Never! But God loves those poor ignorant savages too. God will take revenge for what happened here. He will judge us too, and we must pray to Him."

They gathered around Frederick. He began. "Vater Unser, Du bist im himmel. Father, we can't understand this thing that has happened to our families and to us. We pray for the souls of the dead. We believe Thou hast taken them to Thyself. If our children are still living, we implore Thy help for them. We pray for the souls of those heathen who did this. Will Thou grant repentance to them. May they never again do such evil deeds! Remove bitterness and hate from our hearts. O God, help us to get through this valley of dark shadow, this great sorrow. Forgive us our sins, and lead us in righteousness, in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

In their great sorrow they hugged each other. They stood for some time in mute silence. How alone they felt. How empty.

Finally Frederick spoke. They looked to him as their leader. "Men, life has to go on. We can't just lay down and die. Let us pledge our faith and trust to our God above and to each other. We will build new houses and barns, right here on Patterson Creek, the Lord willing. This is our land. We have a patent from Lord Fairfax. Our dead are buried here. This place is sacred to us. We must preserve it."

"What'll we do now" Ben asked? "It'll take a while to cut timber and rebuild. Winter is coming on."

"Listen," Frederick said, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "We're going to Fort Cumberland. We'll winter over there and come back early in the Spring. We'll get help, and we will rebuild Patterson Creek and rebuild our lives. We owe this to our precious loved ones who have died."

There had been very little in the ashes. The fire had taken almost everything. They hitched up the horses to the wagons, then started up river to the Wiley Ford. They must cross the Potomac River to the Maryland side. That in itself took a while. Plus travel time. It was a few days altogether. But finally they came to Fort Cumberland. They hoped to live there until Spring, when they could return home to Patterson Creek.

Meanwhile the Mohawk warriors continued to their home, first to near Chilicothe, Ohio, and then on to a village near where Springfield, Ohio, now stands. They had been making other raids along the Ohio River. Soldiers from Fort Steuben had pursued them. But they were too swift, and had always escaped.

In time Frederick was to learn that Mary Ice had grown up and been married to Pucksinwah, Chief of Kispokatha. Their children were: Chiksika, b. 1756; Tecumseh The Panther, b March 9, 1768; triplets b. Jan. 30, 1771: Kumskaka, A Cat That Flies; Sauwaseekau, A Door Open; Teliskwatawa, A Loud Noise (known as The Prophet); Stephen Reddell was a white baby adopted as a son, b 1796. Mary Ice went to visit her Ice family when she was very old, but continued to stay with her Indian family. She died in 1823. Pucksinwah was killed at Point Pleasant (W.Va.) Oct. 10, 1774.

"Mr. Ice! There's the Fort!"

In the distance they could see the palisade of the Fort, walls made of logs standing up on end to form a defensive barrier. Blockhouses were atop the walls. The soldiers could defend the Fort by shooting from slots in the blockhouse walls.

The heavy wooden gates stood open and a guard met them.

"Mr. Ice! You remember me. I'm Homer Hartwick. Captain Waldo told us that your houses had been burned. He said some of you were dead. This is surely a terrible time! We share your great sorrow."

(Captain Waldo was the name they gave to an Indian chief who often came to Fort Cumberland. He traveled widely around the area and therefore knew many things about the happenings.)

"Thank you for your sympathy," Frederick said. "Our wives are dead, and our children carried off captive. We've lost everything in the Indian raid. We've come here to the Fort to spend the winter if you'll let us."

"You're sure welcome!"

They each shook his hand.

Homer turned and shouted to a soldier nearby.

"Go tell Major Livingston that Frederick Ice and a party of men are here asking shelter for the winter."

"Bring your wagons on in," Homer said. "Then go to the Major's quarters in that building just over there. He'll be out to speak with you."

As Frederick and the others walked up to the building, Major Livingston came out.

"Greetings. I am Acting Major James Livingston, Commander of Fort Cumberland. What can I do for you?"

Major Livingston. I am Frederick Ice. These men are part of our community on the drains of Patterson Creek over in Virginia. I am pleased to meet you. I knew your predecessor."

"Mr. Ice. I've heard of you. I give you my deepest sympathies. I, too, know something of the Indian wars. My dear brother Andrew was killed. His widow Eleanor lives here in the Fort, with her daughter, Mary Jane."

"I have heard about your brother. I know there are many widows and widowers and orphaned children because of the Indian troubles. We all give you our sympathy."

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Ice. All of you are invited to come eat supper with me and my family. It won't be fancy but Kate is a very good cook. She always has plenty on hand."

"Thank you kindly! We certainly could use a good home cooked meal."

Frederick and the others washed their hands and faces at the horse trough. Then they filed in through the door into the Major's kitchen.

Kate, the Major's wife, was a buxom woman of maybe forty years. A lovely person. But when Frederick saw Eleanor, his heart jumped. She looked so much like his poor, dead, Mary Margaret. She appeared to be in her twenties, and also had blond hair and blue eyes. She stood about five feet tall, the same height as himself. She was strikingly beautiful.

They sat down at the table. The Major introduced everyone around. Then he led in a prayer of thanks.

Kate and Eleanor dished up the food. It certainly appeared excellent. Kate was a very good cook.

"Eleanor cooked much of this," Kate said.

Eleanor blushed.

"It surely is a treat to eat civilized," said Frederick. "Much obliged to you both."

The other men spoke their approval also.

"Mr. Ice, call me Nelley," Eleanor said. "All my friends do. And this is Mary Jane, my daughter." She put her hand on Mary Jane's head. She looked to be about eight years old.

"Nelley," said Frederick. "A pretty name for a pretty woman. This is my son, John." And he put his hand on John's head.

Now, you're probably thinking, how can he be so friendly when his wife is not long dead in the grave. But this is frontier, and different rules apply. He would not forget Mary Margaret in a million years. Never! But life has to go on. It is no disrespect at all to say that the dead are as dead as they will ever be. Nelley is not long a widow. What she said has told Frederick that she has noticed him favorably. He in turn has responded to her.

Frederick and the others put their food and supplies in with the Fort's stock. They would work for their keep just like everyone else. Share and share alike. They were carpenters and craftsmen, and hunters. The Fort needed people like them. And they needed to keep busy. Coming through such great loss, they had so much with which to come to terms.

Everyone of us was so very busy. Life on the frontier is demanding. There is hardly time to think. Yet in the month that had passed, I did think. It was now time for me to act.

I walked around to the Major's house and knocked at the door.

"Why Mr. Ice," said Nelley. "Do come in."

I sat in a chair. Nelley sat across the room. That was the polite way to do it.

"Nelley," I said. "I would like to come courting you."

Surely this sounds blunt and sudden. But remember this is frontier. This was the way we did things.

"Frederick, I would like that very much. It's been six months since Mr. Livingston was killed."

He knew how long Andrew had been dead. But she mentioned this to let him know that she was ready to move on with her life. When she called him "Frederick," she showed that she had already mulled all this over in her mind. This was a very tender and precious moment.

"I'll come this evening," I said.

"Come for supper. I'll bake you a pie."

We stood up. We met in the center of the room, joined hands and gazed into each other's eyes. This was sort of a pledge between us. We did not act in haste, since this we had thought this out very well.

After a few moments, I turned and left. We both went about our business until the night fell.

Supper was always a happy time and everyone enjoyed both the food and the conversation.

When supper was concluded, the Major and Kate and the children slipped out of the room.

I and Eleanor went into the parlor and we sat together on the bench. For a while we just talked about life in the Fort. It was an exciting time here in the Fort, and yet people were having to do the same things over and over. Life did go on.

Finally the time was right. I turned to her and looked deep into her eyes. I took her hand.

"Nelley, I love you. Will you be my wife? I will honor and cherish you. Together we can make a new life."

"Yes, Frederick, yes! I have thought about you since I first saw you. My life has been so empty. It would make me very happy to spend my life with you."

"We'll get married just as soon as a preacher comes through."

"Frederick, the Major has authority to marry people. If you like, he could do it right now."

Again I remind you that this is frontier. This was the proper way to do things. With life being so uncertain, it was best to act promptly.

Nelley went to the inner door and called to the Major. He came with Kate and the children. Then one of the children was sent to bring my son John and the others. A wedding was a time of excitement and great joy on the frontier.

When everyone was present in the room, Nelley and I stood up together and joined our hands. The others were standing around the sides of the room. This was a time of great happiness and rejoicing. And it was exciting!

Major Livingston read some from the Bible and then began the traditional wedding service.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. It is a solemn time and also a time of joy!"

"Frederick Ice, do you take Eleanor Livingston as your lawful wedded wife, so help you God?"

"I do," Frederick answered.

"Eleanor Livingston, do you take Frederick Ice as your lawful wedded husband, so help you God?"

I do," Eleanor answered.

"You have made your promise and pledge one to another in the face of this company. By my authority as Acting Major of Fort Cumberland, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen."

We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed. The sorrows of the past fell away and were forgotten. We became Adam and Eve in the Garden, seeing each other for the very first time.

After lots of hugging and kissing and celebration by everyone, we went to the room that was to be our bridal suite.

We lay in bed together, holding each other, feeling the bliss of the moment.

Suddenly there was such a noise and clatter! Gun shots, and some one was banging on a kettle. It was our friends. Klingeln! A Belling! Or as you might say, Shivaree! It was an old custom to bang on pans and shoot guns and celebrate the new bride and groom.

Everyone was up most of the night, talking and passing the jug and just generally having a good time. Everyone loved us newlyweds and we deeply loved all of them in turn. That is the way it should be. We were a close knit family here in the Fort.

By the time morning came everyone was deeply asleep. Some had to get up and stand guard, of course. Always alert! That's the frontier. Nelley and I slept late, as did most.

Now you may have noticed a great difference in our ages. I am about 66, Nelley in her 20's. But on the frontier, this doesn't count. Nelley and I were so happy together. We had lost so much in the past. Now we held on more tightly to each other. We thanked God for putting us together to share our lives and our future and our great happiness and joy!

"Nelley! It's looking more like Spring! I have asked Captain Waldo to spread the word. We are going to rebuilt our settlement at Patterson Creek!"

" Oh Frederick, do you think we can? How many men will it take to do it?"

"Well now, I suppose somewhere between fifty and a hundred will come out. Many hands make light work, as they always say. You'd be amazed at what can be done in just a week when you have people to help do it."

When the day came, at least a hundred men were there, including some of our Indian friends. Nelley and the other women built a big fire. They cooked up lots of food. All of us worked from "can't see yet" to "can't see anymore." Whenever anyone got hungry, why we just ate. On the run if we could do it. There were corn dodgers and lots of meat. Just grab some and take it with you. The women carried water jugs around. Hard work made for great thirst. Everyone was doing his or her best.

Most men cut trees in the forest, and trimmed the branches off. Some hitched up horses and dragged the logs back. Others squared up the logs and got them ready. Houses and barns went right up! By the end of the week it was all done. Our Patterson Creek Village stood better than ever. No signs at all of what happened there. It just goes to show you what can be done when people work together.

Some of us gathered up rocks and built a wall around the burial plot. That should have been done before we went to Fort Cumberland. But, with all that had happened, it was too soon for anyone to think clearly.

One day Major Livingston rode up to our reconstructed Village. I went out to meet him.

"Major Livingston! So good to see you!"

"This surely is a beautiful place. I can see why you love it so and wanted to rebuild it. Why, if you ever want to sell this, I just might buy it. Let me know if you do."

"This is our home and we intend to stay. I'm glad you like it. Why don't you light and sit a spell. Nelley will get some food on. We sure are glad to see you. Seems like it's been a while."

Everyone was organizing militias. Nobody wanted to be caught unawares in this troubled time. Scouts were sent out and everyone kept his ear to the ground, so to speak. Captain Waldo was a great help, along with the Indian friends. Those of us at Patterson Creek joined in with other villages in the area for our protection.

Two new families came to live at Patterson Creek. This made added numbers and added strength.

A few years went by in a hurry. It was a good life.

About this time Mary Jane Livingston, Nelley's daughter, decided to get married to a Jeff Hostettler, one of the soldiers at Fort Cumberland. She was all of fifteen by now, plenty old enough out here. Lots of girls got married at that age. We all cried, of course, over losing her. But we were happy for her too. Jeff was a good man, about eighteen years old, from a good family, and had a good future with the Army. Now, we wanted them to come to Patterson Creek to live with us, but they decided to stay in Maryland.

The next year Jeff and Mary Jane had a son. They named him Frederick. I was so proud!

These were perilous times, what with the French stirring up the Indians and sending them against the settlers. There were many settlers whose stories were much like ours. The colonial government was not deaf to all of our pleas. Colonel George Washington established a chain of forts across the mountains. Frontier defense included blockhouses, stockades, and cabins. Fort Sellers was built around 1748, and was a few miles southwest of Patterson Creek. It was garrisoned by an officer and 30 men. Fort Ashby, built in 1755, was only a few miles south of Patterson Creek. This was war being fought by all of us!

The "French & Indian War" really began in 1689. The French wanted Canada, and so did the English. But the worst for Nelley and I and the other settlers was from 1754 to 1763. We had to fight many times to protect all of our families. Yet life went on in spite of this. But when ever I had to go somewhere distant, I would not leave my family alone, but I took them along!

Finally things settled down a little when the English captured the French forts and Quebec fell. The treaty of Paris in 1763 ended French control in Canada and the West. But Indian troubles continued for us.