(or Whetzel), helped construct a wagon road into central Indiana after fighting Indian wars in western Pennsylvania and the Northwest Territory with Kenton and under Generals Arthur St. Clair and William Henry Harrison. Indian fighter In 1778, Lewis, then 13, and his brother Jacob, 11, were tending the family's corn field during a raid by Wyandot Native Americans, and taken prisoner but managed to escape two days later. A bullet grazed Lewis's breastbone before his capture, but his captors were able to staunch the bleeding and lead the boys away. The boys managed to return to Fort Henry (modern Wheeling, West Virginia), which the Wetzel men also helped defend in September 1782. Wetzel grew to some six feet tall, and became striking and very athletic, but some considered him socially inept, in part because he never cut his hair, which grew extremely long and was held in a ponytail as often also done by Native Americans. He rationalizing it as expecting he would be scalped as he had scalped many. His varied skills in what is now known as guerrilla warfare became famous. In 1781, Col. Daniel Brodhead reached the main Turtle clan village of Gekelmukpechunk, now known as Newcomerstown, Ohio. He requested a peaceful discussion between the main chiefs of the village and three were sent to meet him. He hoped to secure the villagers' allegiance and enlist new warriors into his campaign. However, Lewis Wetzel’s younger brother Martin attacked one of the peaceful chiefs with a tomahawk from behind, killing him just as they had crossed the river. Fearing massive losses and an unplanned battle, Brodhead retreated and instead refocused his troops on their initial goal of reaching Coshocton. In June 1786, four of the Wetzel men were returning by canoe from a hunting trip when they were attacked by tribesmen. Although Lewis Wetzel managed to canoe beyond musket range (and was not wounded), his father John and brother George died before reaching Baker's Station, though his brother Martin survived his wound. At some point, the young man vowed to avenge his family. Wetzel later participated in several military campaigns against Native American tribes in the Ohio region, and claimed to have taken 27 or 37 Native American scalps. He preferred to operate alone; military procedure did not suit him even while serving with the militia. He became renowned for an ability to load his rifle while sprinting