Life and Adventures of Lewis Wetzel: the Renowned Virginia Rancher and Scout

Lewis Wetzel (1763 - 1808) was a frontiersman and Indian fighter who roamed the hills of western Virginia and Ohio. Wetzel County, West Virginia, is named for him. Zane Grey, the great Western novelist, wrote about Wetzel in his books Spirit of the Border, Betty Zane, and The Last Trail. Wetzel is regarded as a hero by many Americans, a lesser-known version of Daniel Boone. He was accused in 1788 of the murder of peaceful Indians, but he escaped and there was no trial. In 1777, Lewis,...
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Lewis Wetzel (1763 - 1808) was a frontiersman and Indian fighter who roamed the hills of western Virginia and Ohio. Wetzel County, West Virginia, is named for him. Zane Grey, the great Western novelist, wrote about Wetzel in his books Spirit of the Border, Betty Zane, and The Last Trail. Wetzel is regarded as a hero by many Americans, a lesser-known version of Daniel Boone. He was accused in 1788 of the murder of peaceful Indians, but he escaped and there was no trial. In 1777, Lewis, then 13, and his brother Jacob, 11, were taken prisoner by Indians, but managed to escape. Lewis was shot in the leg during the capture. The young man vowed to avenge his family. Lewis and Jacob managed to return to the location of what is now Wheeling, West Virginia, which was then called Fort Henry. Lewis played an active part in the defense of that fort in the first siege of Fort Henry a couple of weeks after his escape. Wetzel later participated in some of the military campaigns against the Indian tribes in the Ohio region. The author of this book wrote the story of Lewis Wetzel in almost novel-like form which makes for very interesting reading and he attempts to keep the middle ground as to whether Wetzel was a hero or a villain. He has left it up to you, the reader, to decide.