Dunmore's War: The Last Conflict of America's Colonial Era

by Glenn F. Williams

The War for the Ohio Country that Gave the Colonies the Critical Time to Debate and Declare Independence
Known to history as “Dunmore’s War,” the 1774 campaign against a Shawnee-led Indian confederacy in the Ohio Country marked the final time an American colonial militia took to the field in His Majesty’s service and under royal command. Led by John Murray, the fourth Earl of Dunmore and royal governor of Virginia, a force of colonials including George Rogers Clark, Daniel Morgan, Michael Cresap, Adam Stephen, and Andrew Lewis successfully enforced the western border established by treaties in parts of present-day West Virginia and Kentucky. The campaign is often neglected in histories, despite its major influence on the conduct of the Revolutionary War that followed. In Dunmore’s The Last Conflict of America’s Colonial Era , award-winning historian Glenn F. Williams describes the course and importance of this campaign. Supported by extensive primary source research, the author corrects much of the folklore concerning the war and frontier fighting in general, demonstrating that the Americans did not adopt Indian tactics for wilderness fighting as is often supposed, but rather used British methods developed for fighting irregulars in the woods of Europe, while incorporating certain techniques learned from the Indians and experience gained from earlier colonial wars.
            As an immediate result of Dunmore’s War, the frontier remained quiet for two years, giving the colonies the critical time to debate and declare independence before Britain convinced its Indian allies to resume attacks on American settlements. Ironically, at the same time Virginia militiamen were fighting under command of a king’s officer, the colony was becoming one of the leaders in the move toward American independence. Although he was hailed as a hero at the end of the war, Lord Dunmore’s attempt to maintain royal authority put him in direct opposition to many of the subordinates who followed him on the frontier, and in 1776 he was driven from Virginia and returned to England. 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Westerns, American, American Revolution

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2012

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Award-winning historian Glenn F. Williams takes on the task of bringing the rarely covered precursor to the Revolutionary War to the forefront, chronicling Lord Dunmore’s War with meticulous research and exceptional understanding of the customs, treaties, and factors that pitted Native Americans, Virginians, and Pennsylvanians against one another. Usually this conflict is overshadowed by events such as the Boston Tea Party, or mentioned briefly in various biographies—especially those with an emphasis on Dunmore’s later American Revolution infamy in daring to set slaves free for the British cause. Yet Williams makes the case early on that John Murray—4th Earl of Dunmore and royal governor of Virginia—the Shawnee, and specifically Virginians have far too often been viewed in an unjustified light, setting the record straight with a masterful introduction.

Following the end of the French and Indian War, the British were granted lands south of the Ohio River from the Six Nations of the Iroquois, and it’s here that Williams begins to evaluate prior treaties and claims from both the Native American, Virginian, and Pennsylvanian colony’s perspective—all of which border and surround the Ohio territory being contested. Williams takes us through the embers that inflame what becomes Lord Dunmore’s War, with concise accounts of frontier settler mischief and prejudice from both Whites and Natives alike. He describes how Cresap’s War rightfully enraged members of the Mingo nation with the unmitigated murder of peaceful Chief Logan’s family including women and children. Unknown to Logan, the tragedy was orchestrated by the warmongering militiaman Daniel Greathouse. This ignorant and malevolent action would go on to create years of retribution and brutal yet perhaps justified revenge from Logan’s Mingo tribe and the Shawnee, as they break from the peaceful Iroquois Confederation and terrorize encroaching Whites and other solitary frontier Westerners whom are easy targets for vengeance.

Williams uses an extensive array of primary sources and research when detailing Native American and Colonial standards of the era, and expertly explains the predicament of the neutral Delaware tribe whom are caught in the middle of the feud between Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Shawnee nation. In an intense and nail-biting standoff of negotiation as the Delaware are engaging with the Virginia Militia, they are fortunately saved unnecessary bloodshed and an inevitable defeat by finding out that the Pennsylvanians had maliciously and falsely told them of the Virginia Colony’s intention of making war and taking their lands. This engagement and it’s subsequent battles are highlighted by the involvement of future Revolutionary War heroes Daniel Morgan and George Rogers Clark, and Williams never misses the opportunity of bringing the intensity and historical accuracy of eighteenth century warfare to the forefront:

When he saw the brave’s painted face appear above his rifle’s front sight post, Hargiss squeezed the trigger. The lock released the hammer holding the flint, which struck the frizzen, causing a shower of sparks to ignite the primer in the pan with a flash. Following a discernible split-second delay, the propellant in the chamber exploded. The resulting charge of gas seeking an escape from the bore sent the projectiles spinning toward and then out of the muzzle at the target, while a cloud of dense acrid smoke engulfed the rifleman. Both bullets struck the warrior in the neck and killed him instantly.

Fresh from the laurels of the French and Indian War, Arthur St. Clair under the helm of Pennsylvania royal Governor John Penn is adamant about pointing the blame and continuously suspecting Dunmore and the Virginian Militia of infringing upon prime territory between both colonies. In response, Virginia’s George Croghan and John Connolly actively dispute the ownership and rights that they claim as Virginian soil, using the backcountry and wilderness skillsets of the yet-to-be discovered frontier legends Daniel Boone, Michael Stoner, and other hardy surveyors. Dunmore’s War is fast-paced and contains a treasure trove of detail on the geopolitical forces that clash, where at times the reader may feel a bit bogged down with fact after fact being thrown in their direction. However, this is all too necessary as key events, subjects, and cultures are interwoven leading to a domino-like effect of a war that perhaps was unavoidable.

Undoubtedly, Williams’ work is the definitive account of Lord Dunmore’s War and is easily accessible for anyone looking for general knowledge or further evaluation of the combat and politics at hand. With a multitude of facts and figures to digest, and a cast of characters and minor appearances that Revolutionary War buffs will be surprised and delighted by, including the likes of Horatio Gates, Alexander McKee, Simon Kenton, and William Crawford. Concluding with a concise and collective summary that vindicates Dunmore’s actions and hints to the coming irony of Virginians taking arms against the Earl in the American Revolution, the book contains resourceful maps and illustrations as well.

[Ian Racey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, very readable, very good at providing context (as when it draws on the standard British Army officers’ manuals of the day for the guidance the amateur officers of Dunmore’s army would have been relying on). Doesn’t rely on oversimplified, received history regarding Virginia’s motives for going to war with the Shawnee, but rather contextualises both the colonists’ and the Shawnee’s perspectives. A snapshot of a startling and under-studied moment in American history wherein colonists enthusiastically answer the call to go to war under the command of a Scottish earl, writing poems in their journals professing their loyalty to King George and Charlotte his queen, while also writing each other letters about their eagerness to wrap up the war on the Ohio frontier so they can carry their rifles to Boston to help the Sons of Liberty there in their struggle against the redcoats.

[Rosa Angelone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. it gave a good grounding in the way the colonists were feeling before the conflict and emphasized their relation to what else was going on (I hadn't realized that this was happening during the run up to The Revolution)I especially liked everything about how the Virginians organized their fighting forces. However. And this is not a criticism or some "woke opinion" but something that is just a fact. There is very little about the Native Americans. Which just makes the book feel lopsided. Like I can see part of the picture but it is just fuzzy. I feel I entered into a bit of an academic turf war that I am not a part of ....the author seems to have deliberately set out to write a book "setting the record straight" and I do appreciate what the author did I just want more. Luckily there are books out there-- Brady Crytzer wrote a book called Guyasuta and the Fall of Indian America that I read a couple of years ago and this book makes me want to re-read that. Not a bad thing!

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somebody Please take this Book and re-write it. DRY DRY DRY. and choppy. Re-write it as Historical Fiction if you have too. The Subject is Virginia History 1774 yes two years before the Declaration of Independence. But who Cares about three spellings of a man's name, or a Fort, or a River. It's written for a History Major not a Reader I understand the conflict between Penn. and VA, and the written sources. But I DID NOT FINISH.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely, and I minutely, detailed account of the run up to Lord Dunmore's campaign against the Shawnee at the very tail end of the colonial period. Its not exactly smooth sailing if you don't want a ton of detail, but if you do its a pretty remarkable achievement of primary source research and use.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this war so picked up the book in a museum gift shop. Glad I did, Very interesting history of the final struggle with Native American tribes before the revolutionary war. Virginians learn valuable lessons about waging war in the wilderness of the Colonies that prepare them for the looming conflict with Great Britain.

[Henry Davis IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best written and most detailed histories of an American colonial conflict I have ever read. Its flowing narrative is interesting yet packed with well-researched and relevant information. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in military history in general and North America colonial history in particular.

[Matthew Ericson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the narrative to be muddled at times as he switched back and forth between the left and right divisions.

[Nick Willner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tons of acts being passed, enemies accusing enemies of initiating aggression, paperwork, talking, organizing, arguing, assembling troops, dispersing troops, set-up to battle much like any historical account of a battle or war. The problem is almost the entire book is the set-up. Its written well, very detailed and well researched but just boring. There are a few shining moments of random massacres committed by either side (Virginians vs primarily Shawnees) which do bring up an interesting point. Anyone that still believes Native Americans were basically tan hippies giving peace signs and shedding a single tear as they were hopelessly swept to the desert needs to read…well any account of skirmishes or Indian wars with the English or each other for that matter. They were ruthless warriors equipped with modern weapons and were a dominant force to be reckoned with. Any one with the assumption that somehow only white people ever committed atrocities through history is literally creating their own personal historical fiction to benefit god-knows-who in believing. Outside of Indian braves picking up infants by the foot and bashing their bodies against rocks in front of their adolescent siblings heres another bit from the book to demonstrate not the savagery of one side only, but the equal savagery that is typical of ANY RACE at any time in war.

“As the children enjoyed an idyllic summer day, three Indian warriors stealthily moved into position to take them by surprise. Startled by a blood-chilling war whoop, the children looked up in horror to see one of the warriors standing at the top of the bank. Although the Indian stood between him and home, eleven-year-old John Lybrook immediately looked for ways to climb the bank and run for safety and warn the others. He managed to evade his assailant and sounded the alarm as he ran to the blockhouse. The two Snidow brothers, thirteen-year-old Theophilus and eleven-year-old Jacob, along with thirteen-year-old Thomas McGriff, attempted to swim to the opposite bank. If they made it, they could run to a neighboring fort to summon help. However, two warriors charged down the bank and splashed into the water in hot pursuit as ten-year-old John Snidow Jr. sat on the rock, frozen by fear. Not knowing what else to do, he held the two youngest Lybrook brothers, one-year-old Daniel and the few-months-old and not yet christened-therefore unnamed- infant in his arms. The two braves paused, struck and killed all three innocents with their war clubs, and, after scalping them, continued the pursuit of Thomas, Jacob, and Theo. They caught and restrained the boys on the far bank, then led their prisoners back to the rock where they forced them to watch the next act of the drama on the river unfold.

When they realized the evil about to befall them, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth and thirteen-year-old Catherine Lybrook turned the canoeful of little girls about, and paddled against the current. In the vain hope that they had reached a safe distance from the danger, the older girls turned the vessel toward the bank. The girls did not know that the third warrior had shadowed their movement, and he sprang from out of the brush as the canoe glided onto shore. With a ferocious war whoop he charged directly into the canoe. Furiously swinging his war club, he murdered Elizabeth, both of the little Snidow sisters, and the Scott's daughter as he made his way aft where Catherine Lybrook sat. From where they watched on the rock, the three captive boys saw the Indian brave "Scalping the Children in the Canoe." Meanwhile, Catherine jumped out of the vessel and ran toward the blockhouse screaming for help. The warrior stood erect amid the welter, held his bloodstained scalp knife at his side in one hand while he raised the other, clutching his newly won trophies high over his head, and gave his triumphant scalp haloo. Enraged that she had escaped his grasp, the warrior chased and nearly caught the fleeing Catherine when the family dog came to her rescue. The protective canine repeatedly charged and bit his mistress's assailant on the legs and ankles. By the time the warrior shook off and struck the dog with his war club, Catherine had reached the safety of the blockhouse. John McGriff-Thomas's father-now had a clear shot and fired his musket at the Indian, whom he believed he wounded. The Indian then retreated to the riverbank.”

This would be a good summary, “Dunmore's War was more than an armed conflict between the colony of Virginia and the Shawnee nation of Indians. Virginia viewed the conflict as a defensive war to protect its people and borders, including legally acquired land, against foreign invaders. The colony achieved victory with a limited offensive operation conducted to achieve limited objectives. The Six Nations of Iroquois, the Cherokees, and the colony of Pennsylvania had all acted in their own respective interests, and each made significant contributions to the causes, course, and outcome of Dunmore's War. The last conflict of the colonial era may have been limited, but it was nonetheless a complex and significant prelude that helped shape the events that followed.”

[Charles Inglin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book addresses a piece of American history that often gets lost, the period between the end of the French and Indian War and the beginning of the Revolution. The removal of the French influence from North America and particularly the Ohio country disordered the previous power structures. The Iroquois Confederation, the most powerful of the Native American political entities, was facing resistance from their nominally subordinate tribes, particularly the Shawnee, who advocated violent resistance to white encroachment north and west of the Ohio. Other tribes were caught between the opposing factions and the whites. The British were caught between the demands of their colonists to open lands for settlement and their desire to maintain peaceful relations with the Native Americans, and avoid another expensive war. The colonies were looking out for their own interests, with Virginia and Pennsylvania squabbling over which colony should control the area around Fort Pitts, and with it access to the Ohio, to the point that county officials of one colony were threatening to jail officials of the other colony, both colonies having established their own counties on the same ground. Pennsylvania had a much more accommodating policy towards the Native Americans, while Virginia had a very aggressive attitude. Interestingly, the Native Americans drew distinction between Pennsylvanians and Virginians.

Outright warfare began with an act of treachery by a Virginian hothead against the family of an influential Shawnee. This set off open warfare, consisting at this point of raids against white settlements along the frontier. The Virginians responded by organizing a militia army for an expedition against the Shawnee and their allies. The war culminated in the battle of Point Pleasant, with one wing of the militia army defeating a Shawnee led effort to destroy them in a surprise attack, which was foiled by the coincidental dispatch of several hunters before dawn and stumbling upon the attackers.

The book is well researched and well written, but somewhat dry. The author gets pretty far down in the weeds at time with details, but for someone interested in the workings of the colonial militia this is good. The author gives a good account of how the militia was called into service and organized. The Virginia militia, fortunately, had a considerable body of men with experience in the French and Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion, as well as experience along the frontier, so they had a cadre of officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as scouts and "spies" available. Filling the ranks was another matter, with potential recruits running the gamut from eager to go to not me.

Over all, an interesting read for a student of the American colonial period.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive account of the events revolving around Lord Dunmore and his efforts to assert Virginia’s colonial dominance in the period leading up to the outbreak of the American Revolution. Sometimes I’d argue it was a bit too detailed in some instances which made the narrative meander in the middle third of the book, but when it finally gets down to it this book is essential for any study of the American frontier in the late 1760’s through 1775. A reminder of just how chaotic and dynamic the social, political, and economic aspects of the region were as revolution stirred farther east.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice fine book about the Last war in Colonial Virginia involving Native Americans.