I stumbled on this really by accident back in 2004. I was just out piddling and made a stop at the Falls at Falling Springs, on Route 220 north of Covington, Virginia. The small parking area at the falls was full and I ended up parking on the shoulder just north of the falls.
After walking to the Falls Overlook and snapping a few photos, I returned to my car so I could Piddle on. Just as I was getting in the car, I caught sight of a small plaque embedded into the face of the stone cliff adjacent to the roadway.
Strange, so I took a moment to investigate. The simple plaque read: “Near this spot stood the rude hut in which MAD ANN BAILEY spent the last years of her life. As a scout and Indian Fighter, she rendered valuable service to the first settlers of this section. Placed by the Rainbow Ridge Chapter D. A. R.”
Wow, I had never heard of Mad Ann Bailey, but I knew I wanted to know the rest of the story. Here is what I found out.
She was born in England in 1742 and after her parent died, she came to America sometime around 1760 or 1761 and eventually settled near Staunton, Virginia. There she met and married a man named Richard Trotter who was a member of the Virginia Militia. Richard was called to service and was killed on October 10, 1774 during the Battle of Point Pleasant. A vicious battle between the Militia and the Shawnee who were led by Chief Cornstalk.
After Richards death, Ann set about to avenge his death. She started dressing in men’s clothes and became very proficient with a rifle, knife, and tomahawk. Even though she was a woman, she became an accomplished hunter, scout, spy, and Indian Fighter.
She had a quick temper and could out drink and out cuss any man. Those around her started calling her “Mad Ann,” because of her angry disposition.
In 1785 she married John Bailey and the couple settled near Charleston, West Virginia. Ann continued to serve as a scout and messenger for various forts along the Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Ohio Rivers.
Ann’s most heroic deed came in 1791 when she was 49 years old. She was asked to carry a message warning the people of nearby Fort Lee of an impending Indian Attack. Upon her arrival she discovered that the fort was dangerously low on gun power and supplies. Without hesitation, Mad Ann volunteered to make the 100-mile ride from Fort Lee to Lewisburg to get the much-needed supplies. Just Three days after leaving the Fort, Mad Ann returned with enough powder, shot, and supplies to allow the fort to defeat the Shawnee.
Ann and John remained at Fort Lee until John died in 1794. Even after John’s death, Ann continued to serve as a frontier scout and messenger and for a few months lived in a hut near the site of this simple plaque that caught my attention.
Ann finally left the life of scout, spy, and Indian Fighter behind and moved in with her son near Gallipolis, Ohio where, believe it or not Mad Ann Bailey became a schoolteacher.
Mad Ann died at the age of 83 on November 22, 1825. She was buried in the Trotter Family Cemetery near Gallipolis. She rested there for 76 years but in 1901 her remains were moved and she was reburied in Monument Park in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Ironically, her grave is just a few feet away from the Shawnee Chief Cornstalk, who had led the Indians in the Battle of Point Pleasant. The same battle where her first husband had died and set Ann off on her career as a Frontier Scout, Messenger, and Indian Fighter. Now, along with me, You too, know the rest of the story.
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