Pluggy facts for kids

Pluggy, also known by his Mohawk names Tecanyaterighto and Plukkemehnotee, was an important Native American leader in the 1700s. He was a Mingo chieftain who fought alongside Logan during a conflict called Lord Dunmore's War. Later, during the American Revolutionary War, Pluggy became an ally of the British. He led many attacks against American settlements in areas like the Ohio Country and the western frontier of Virginia. Pluggy continued these raids until he was killed at McClelland's Station in 1776.

Pluggy's Early Life and Conflicts

Pluggy was originally from a Mohawk group. He gathered many followers from the Mingo and Iroquois tribes. Together, they moved west and settled near what is now Delaware, Ohio, in 1772.

During Lord Dunmore's War, Pluggy was one of the most active leaders. He allied with the Shawnee people. From his base at Pluggy's Town, he led many raids against settlements. These attacks reached as far as western Pennsylvania and western Virginia. Pluggy's Town was about 18 miles north of where Columbus, Ohio is today.

Even after the Treaty of Camp Charlotte brought peace, Pluggy remained very hostile. He was deeply angered after finding some of his family members killed by Virginian colonists. Because of this, Pluggy's Town became a base for raids. Pluggy and other warriors from tribes like the Chippewas, Wyandots, and Ottawas used it to attack American settlements. In late 1775, Pluggy joined the British side. This was at the beginning of the western part of the American Revolution.

Attacks and Final Battle

In December 1776, Pluggy led a group of about thirty warriors. They traveled up the Ohio River and Licking River. On Christmas morning, they attacked Harrod's Town. Later that same day, they ambushed a group of ten men. These men were led by John Todd and John Gabriel Jones.

The men were marching toward the Ohio River. Jones and George Rogers Clark had stored 500 pounds of gunpowder there. Pluggy's warriors attacked them suddenly. Jones and another man were killed in the gunfire. Four more men were captured during the final charge. The remaining four managed to escape. One survivor, a pioneer named David Cooper, later shared his story.

Several days later, Pluggy arrived at McClelland's Station. This settlement had about thirty families. It was located in what is now downtown Georgetown, Kentucky. About twenty settlers defended the station. Among them were frontiersmen like Robert Todd, Robert Ford, Robert Patterson, Edward Worthington, Charles White, and the founder, John B. McClelland.

On December 29, Pluggy led between forty and fifty warriors against the fort. After several hours of fighting, they retreated. Several men from the fort were killed, including Charles White and John McClelland. During the retreat, Pluggy himself was shot and killed. Four of the fort's defenders shot him. They did this to get revenge for McClelland's death.

Pluggy was later buried by his tribe members. His grave was on a bluff overlooking a nearby spring. For many years afterward, a popular legend said that the echo heard in that area was Pluggy's death cry.