In 1774, a series of bloody incidents occurred between Indians and whites living in the Ohio River valley. According to an account by Thomas Jefferson in his Notes on Virginia (1784-85), white settlers were outraged by robberies committed by Indians. In retaliation, white soldiers killed many innocent Indians, including the family of Logan, chief of the Mingo Indians, who was known as a friend of the whites. Led by Logan, the Indians launched a war against the white settlers, scalping a large number of innocent men, women, and children, but were finally defeated by the Virginia militia in October 1774.
    After the decisive battle, Logan refused to join the other chiefs as a suppliant before the victorious whites. Instead,he sent the following speech to Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia. When Lord Dunmore returned from the expedition against the Indians, he brought the speech with him, and according to Jefferson, "It became the theme of every conversation in Williamsburg." It was printed in the Virginia Gazette, reprinted in papers across the continent and even in publications in Great Britain.
    Jefferson reprinted the speech in his Notes on Virginia to refute those Europeans who "supposed there is something in the soil, climate, and other circumstances of America, which occasions animal nature to degenerate, not excepting even the man, native or adoptive, physical or moral." Jefferson offered Logan's speech as proof "of ,the talents of the aboriginals of this country, and particularly of their eloquence." He asserted "that Europe had never produced anything superior to this morsel of eloquence."
    Logan's speech was a regular feature in school reading books of the nineteenth century, and was familiar to generations of American youngsters.

"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him  not meat: if ever he came cold and naked, and he cloathed him not.   During the course of the last long and bloody war Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, `Logan is the friend of white man.' l had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood,   and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children.  There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature.   This called on me for revenge.  I have sought it: I have killed many: I have fully glutted my vengeance: for my country I rejoice at the beams of peace.  But do not harbour a thought that mine is the joy of fear.  Logan never felt fear.  He will not turn on his heel to save his life.  Who is there to mourn for Logan?--Not one."