On Oct. 10, 1774, the Battle of Point Pleasant was fought between Ohio Indians and American colonists in what is now West Virginia.

Throughout the year, the Ohio Indians tried to push the colonists back across the Appalachian Mountains. Mingo Chief Logan led a group of warriors into Pennsylvania and killed 13 settlers in May. Pennsylvania militiamen marched into Ohio and destroyed seven Mingo villages in August. About this time, Virginia sent 1,000 men to the Little Kanawha River to stage an attack on the Ohio Shawnee. Chief Cornstalk led 1,000 warriors to drive the whites out.

They clashed 229 years ago today at Point Pleasant. More than 215 colonists were killed or wounded, and it's estimated the Indians suffered at least an equal number of casualties. After several hours of battle, Cornstalk's men were driven back north of the Ohio River.

As a result, the Indians agreed to relinquish hunting grounds in Kentucky and to stop attacking colonists traveling the Ohio River.

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361