The Story of Peter Looney: His Year Living with the Indians

Patricia H. Quinlan

Mar 2009 · iUniverse

About this ebook

This story of Peter Looney is based on truth. He was a Sargent in the miltia at Fort Vause in southwestern Virginia. The fort was destroyed by one hundred Indians and some French soldiers. Seventeen men, three women and four girls were taken across the Shannandoah Mountains where the men had to walk up creeks, through dense forest and sleep on the ground with nothing to cover them. The women and girls were allowed to ride, but they too had to sleep on the ground, endure rain storms, heat and whatever food the Indians gave them. If their shoes wore out they walked barefoot.

This was a trip of several weeks before they were taken across the Ohio River. Not everyone lived to see the end of their journey. They were divided up among the different tribes. Most were never heard from again. But Peter was adopted by a chief and lived to tell his story.

About the author

Peter Looney was a brother to my direct ancestor, Robert Looney, Jr.. After my mother, Leola Mae Looney Hessom retired she spent the greater part of twenty years researching the family history. After her death I went through the weighty material she had accumulated and found a copy of the newspaper article briefly telling Peter's story. Further research turned up more material, some of it is now on the internet. This novel, The Story of Peter Looney, his year with the Indians, is based on this information, but I have fictionalize part of the story in order to make it an interesting book. Although I grew up in Virginia, where this story begins and ends, I now live in Aurora, Colorado. I am retired and spend my time exercising and swimming when I'm not writing or doing research for my books. At least two months of the year are spent with my family in California. My B.S. degree is from Virginia Tech, and my B.F.A. if from Western Kentucky University.