"First Duel in the Valley of the Kenawha"
American Pioneer
Vol. II, no. V (May 1843), pp. 286-87

Sometime in the close of the year 1793, while the valley of the Great Kenawha river was exposed to the hostile visits of the Indians, and while a block-house and stockade was maintained about a mile above Elk river, at the place where Frederic Brooks, esq. now resides, the following incident occurred:

Mr. Van Bibber, one of the garrison, passing early in the morning from the stockade to captain Clendenin's, about a mile above, now the seat of Daniel Ruffner, esq., fortunately having his rifle cocked, primed and ready for any scene of danger, saw rising before him from behind a fallen tree, a large and athletic Indian, with his war costume and painted for battle; who, simultaneously with Van Bibber,brought his rifle to a shoulder and aim, the two guns going off so nearly together as to produce but one sound; the Indian fell, his ball grazing his opponent's body. Van Bibber, not knowing what other enemies were in ambuscade, hurried on toward captain Clendenin's, and met the inmates of the house repairing with arms to the scene of danger; being roused by what they supposed a single shot, which was the agreed signal of the approach of danger. Van Bibber exclaimed, "I have just fought a duel," and gave an account of the occurrence. The party repaired to the scene described, where blood was found, but no vestige of the enemy, and all search proved unavailing. Several weeks elapsed when, in milder weather, the body of the Indian was discovered, by the vultures collecting at the spot, where his body had been deposited by his own comrades in a cleft of the rocks at the foot of the hill, about half a mile distant from the place of his fatal encounter with Van Bibber.

Record	Events	Title	Source Website	Type	Created
VAN BIBBER FAMILY RESCUE			Fold3	Memorial	May 2, 2007
A VAN BIBBER MYSTERY			Fold3	Memorial	May 4, 2007

TALES OF VANBIBBER

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