Shawnee Trail (West Virginia) facts for kids
The Shawnee Trail was an important path used by Native Americans and later by settlers in what is now eastern West Virginia, USA. It was part of a much bigger network of trails called the Great Indian Warpath, which stretched from New York all the way to Alabama. The Shawnee Trail was also sometimes called the "Seneca Trail" because it was a northern part of this large network.
Where the Shawnee Trail Went
The Shawnee Trail started near the South Branch Potomac River, close to where Moorefield, West Virginia is today. It followed this river, then went up the North Fork of the South Branch Potomac River. The trail continued along Seneca Creek, passing by the famous Seneca Rocks.
From there, the trail crossed the high points of the Allegheny Mountains. It went near places that would later become Harman and Bowden. The path then entered the Tygart River Valley near Elkins. It continued up the Tygart River, going past Beverly and ending near Huttonsville.
Who Used the Shawnee Trail?
For a very long time, different Native American groups used the Shawnee Trail. These included the Shawnee, Tuscarora, and Seneca nations. They used the trail for trading goods and sometimes for war. The name "Shawnee Trail" became popular after the Shawnee people used it to leave the area in 1758, after an event at Fort Seybert in Pendleton County, West Virginia.
Later, white settlers also used the trail a lot. It became a main road for about 100 years, connecting the South Branch area with the Tygart's Valley. Many pack horses, carrying things like salt, iron, and other goods, traveled on it. Farmers also used it to move groups of cattle to sell in eastern markets.
During the American Civil War, the trail was important for soldiers. In 1861, some Confederate soldiers used it to escape after a battle near Beverly. Later, in 1863, generals Imboden and Jones used the trail to move horses and cattle they had captured.
