Patricia H. Quinlan

The Story of Peter Looney: His Year Living with the Indians Patricia H. Quinlan

This story of Peter Looney is based on truth. He was a Sargent in the miltia at Fort Vause in southwestern Virginia. The fort was destroyed by one hundred Indians and some French soldiers. Seventeen men, three women and four girls were taken across the Shannandoah Mountains where the men had to walk up creeks, through dense forest and sleep on the ground with nothing to cover them. The women and girls were allowed to ride, but they too had to sleep on the ground, endure rain storms, heat and whatever food the Indians gave them. If their shoes wore out they walked barefoot. This was a trip of several weeks before they were taken across the Ohio River. Not everyone lived to see the end of their journey. They were divided up among the different tribes. Most were never heard from again. But Peter was adopted by a chief and lived to tell his story.