Combs Family

Combs Family Killed and Captured in New Garden
                      By Emory L. Hamilton
                                
     From the unpublished manuscript,
Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and
Holston Rivers, page 131-A.

     This incident may be one of the families
mentioned in the letter of Colonel Arthur Campbell
in his letter to Governor Patrick Henry, dated
March 27, 1785. This story was told to Maida
Cloud by Mr. W. S. Israel, of Drill, VA, age 88
years, and was related to her on 22 September,
1937. Copy in Clerk's Office, Russell Co., VA, in
W. P. A. Historical File.
     This happened in the New Garden section
of Russell County, west of Honaker. The Indians
captured a Combs family, killed the husband and
one child. The mother and remaining child were
taken captive, being carried on horses. They
(Indians) were very careful to leave no trace. They
were finally tracked to Old Sand Lick (now in
Dickenson County) where they were camping. The
horses were the best means of recognition. When
the men came near, the woman was down at the
spring. They told the woman to bring the child
and be back at the spring within such a length of
time and they would take her back home. In this
way the mother and child were restored to their
loved ones. The man and child were buried near
where they were killed.

Contact: Rhonda Robertson at: rsr@mounet.com

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