Capt Samuel Brady resided near Charleston, Va (now Wellsburg, WV). He has been described as a tall, slender, dark complexioned, but very active man.
When he was hunting or engaged in war, he usually wore a black handkerchief bound around his head. He bore a hatred towards all Indians because of the murder of his father and brother by them and had vowed to avenge their deaths.
His exploits with the Indians are described in a book written by Henry Howe in 1849. Quoting from Mr. Howe's book:
"A party of Indians having made an inroad into the Swickley settlement and committed murders and carried off some prisoners, Brady set off in pursuit with only five men and his pet Indian. He came up with them and discovered they were encamped on the banks of the Mahoning. Having reconnoitred their position, Brady returned to and posted his men and in the deepest silence all awaited the break of day. When it appeared, the Indians arose and stood around their fires. At a given signal, seven rifles cracked and five Indians were dead. Brady's well known war cry was heard and his party were among them. The remaining Indians instantly fled."
source, Brooke County Historical Society -Nancy Caldwell Sect, author.
CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY'S
REMARKABLE FEATS
From the book "Legends of the Valley"
Captain Samuel Brady resided at one time at Wellsburg. He was tall, rather slender, and very active, and of a dark complexion. When in the forest, engaged in war or hunting, he usually work, instead of a hat, a black handkerchief bound around his head. Towards the Indians he bore an implacable hatred, in consequence of the murder of his father and brother by them, and took a solemn oath of vengeance. To fully detail his adventures would require a volume. We have space, however, but for a few anecdotes drawn from various sources, illustrative of his courage and sagacity.
"A party of Indians having made an inroad into the Sewickly settlement, committed barbarbous murders, and carried off some prisoners, Brady set off in pursuit with only five men and his pet Indian. He came up with them, and discovered they were encamped on the banks of the Mahoning. Having reconnoitered their position, Brady returned to and posted his men, and in the deepest silence all awaited the break of day. When it appeared, the Indians arose and stood around their fires; exulting, doubtless, in the scalps they had taken, the plunder they had acquired, and the injury they had inflicted on their enemies. Precarious joy- short lived triumph! The avenger of blood was beside them. At a given signal, seven rifles cracked, and five Indians were dead e're they fell Brady's well-known war cry was heard, his party was among them, and the guns were all secured. The remaining Indians instantly fled and disappeared
"Brady being out with his party, on one occasion had reached Slippery Rock creek, a branch of the Beaver, without seeing signs of Indians. Here, however, he came on an Indian trail in the evening, which he followed till dark without overtaking the Indians. The next morning he renewed the pursuit, and overtook them while they were engaged at their morning meal. Unfortunately for him, another party of Indians were in his rear. They had fallen upon his trail, and pursued him, doubtless, with as much ardor as had characterized his own pursuit; at the moment he fired upon the Indians in his front, he was in turn fired upon by those in his rear. He was now between two fires, and vastly outnumbered. Two of his men fell, his tomahawk was shot from his side, and the battle-yell was given by the party in his rear, and loudly returned and repeated by those in his front. There was no time for hesitation, no safety in delay, no chance for successful defence in their present position. The brave captain and his rangers had to flee before their enemies, who pressed on their flying footsteps with no lagging speed. Brady ran towards the creek. He was known by many, if not by all of them; and many and deep were the scores to be settled between him and them. They knew the country well; he did not, and from his running towards the creek they were certain of taking him prisoner. The creek was, for a long distance above and below the point he was approaching, washed in its channel to a great depth. In the certain expectation of catching him there, the private soldiers of his party were disregarded; and throwing down their guns, and drawing their tomahawks, all pressed foreword to seize their victim. Quick of eye, fearless of heart, and determined never to be a captive to the Indians, Brady comprehended their object, and his only chance of escape, the moment he saw the creek; and by one mighty effort of courage and activity, defeated the one and effected the other. He sprang across the abyss of waters, and stood, rifle in hand, on the opposite bank i n safety. As quick as lightning his rifle was primed, for it was his invariable practice in loading to prime first. The next minute the powder horn was at the gun's muzzle; when, as he was in this act, a large Indian, who had been foremost in the pursuit, came to the opposite bank, and with the manliness of a generous foe, who scorns to undervalue the qualities of an enemy, said in a loud voice, and tolerable English, "Blady make good jump" The moment he had said so, he took to his heels, and ran as crooked as a worm fence- sometimes leaping high , at others others suddenly squatting down, he appeared no way certain that Brady would not answer from the lips of his rifle. But the rifle was not yet loaded.
"The Captain was at the place afterwards, and ascertained that his leap was about twenty-three feet, and that the water was twenty feet deep. Brady's next effort was to gather up his men. They had a place designated at which to meet, in case they should happen to be separated; and tither he went, and found the other three. They immediately commenced their homeward march, and returned to Pittsburgh about half defeated. Three Indians had been seen to fall from the fire they gave them at breakfast."
The foregoing anecdotes in regard to Brady, are found in Howe's History of Virginia; the following is De Hass' History, as furnished by one of the Brady family.
Returning with John Williamson and one of the Wetzels from a successful reconnoitering expedition to Upper Sandusky, "a deer track was discovered, and Brady followed it, telling the men he would perhaps get a shot at it. He had gone but a few rods when he saw the deer standing broadside to him. He raised his rifle and attempted to fire, but it flashed in the pan. He sat down, picked the touch-hole, and then started on. After going a short distance the path made a bend, and he saw before him a large Indian on horseback, and a child before, and its mother behind, and a number of warriors marching in the rear. His first impulse was to shoot the Indian on horseback, but as he raised the rifle he observed the child's head roll with the motion of the horse. It was fast asleep, and tied to the Indian. He stepped behind the root of a tree, and waited until he could shoot the Indian, without danger to the child or its mother.
"When he considered the chance certain, he fired, and the Indian, child, and mother, all fell from the horse. Brady called to his men, with a voice that made the forest ring, to surround the Indians, and give them a general fire. He sprang to the fallen Indian's powder-horn, but could not pull it off. Being dressed like an Indian, the woman thought he was one, and said, "Why did you shoot your brother?" He caught up the child, saying, "Jenny Stoop, I am Captain Brady; follow me, and I will secure you and your child." He caught her hand in his, carrying the child in the other arm, and dashed into the bush. Many guns were fired at him, but no ball touched, and the Indians dreading an ambuscade, were glad to make off. The next day he arrived at Fort McIntosh, (Beavertown), with the woman and child. His men had got there before him. They had heard his war-whoop, and knew they were Indians he had encountered, but having no ammunition, had taken to their heels and run off."
Capt. Samuel Brady was born of Scotch Irish ancestry; near Shippensburg, PA in 1756. When he was about twelve years old his father's family removed to the west branch of the Susquehanna where he enlisted in 1775 in the Continental service. Brady was at Boston, Princeton, Brandywine, and Monmouth. On his western march in 1778 he secured leave to visit his family, and did not rejoin the army until about the close of the year. In April 1779 his father was murdered by Indians, thenceforward the son swore undying hatred to the entire race. In 1780 h scouted to Sandusky and subsequently was frequently employed on ranging expeditions. In 1784 after a year in Kentucky he married Druscilla Swearingen, and lived near Wellsburg later near West Liberty, W Va. In 1792 Wayne chose Brady to command his scouts. Stories of his trial at Pittsburgh for the murder of an Indian, but was acquitted by popular verdict. He died on Christmas 1795.
Dr Draper who planned to write his biography collected much material on Brady';s career.