Deep within the misty hills of West Virginia, where ancient forests whisper secrets and rivers carve their way through rugged terrain, a curse is said to linger—a deadly warning spoken in the final breaths of a great Shawnee leader. This is the tale of Chief Cornstalk’s Curse, an ominous legend that has been blamed for centuries of misfortune in the region, from disastrous floods and tragic accidents to the chilling appearance of the Mothman.

Some believe that the curse of the 13th Child—one of doom, betrayal, and revenge—still haunts the land today. Is this merely a folktale woven from history, or has something truly malevolent been unleashed upon West Virginia?

Let’s dive into the legend, the history, and the eerie connections between Cornstalk’s dying words and the state’s most terrifying tragedies.

The Man Behind the Curse: Who Was Chief Cornstalk?

The story begins with Hokoleskwa, better known as Chief Cornstalk, a powerful leader of the Shawnee Nation in the 18th century. A brilliant strategist and respected warrior, Cornstalk had spent much of his life defending his people from the encroaching American settlers.

By the 1770s, tensions between Native American tribes and European settlers had reached a boiling point. The Shawnee, Cherokee, and other tribes were determined to protect their lands, while the British and American colonists saw the vast frontier as their own to claim.

In 1774, Cornstalk led his warriors in what became known as the Battle of Point Pleasant, a brutal fight against Virginia militia forces. Though the Shawnee fought fiercely, they were ultimately defeated, and Cornstalk was forced to sign a peace treaty, relinquishing much of his people’s land.

But peace wouldn’t last.

The Betrayal and Death of Chief Cornstalk

By 1777, the American Revolution was in full swing, and both the British and the Native American tribes were choosing sides. Cornstalk, knowing his people were caught in the middle, traveled to Fort Randolph in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to negotiate peace with the American soldiers stationed there.

His efforts, however, were met with betrayal.

Despite arriving in peace, Cornstalk and his son, Elinipsico, were imprisoned by the Americans, suspected of conspiring with the British. He was held captive for several days, during which he spoke openly about his desire to keep his people out of the war.

Then, tragedy struck.

A group of American soldiers, furious over the killing of one of their own by an unknown Native war party, decided to take revenge—on Cornstalk. On November 10, 1777, the soldiers stormed into the room where he was being held and ruthlessly executed him and his son, riddling their bodies with bullets.

It is said that as Cornstalk lay dying, his final breath was used not for pleading, but for cursing the land.

The Curse of Chief Cornstalk: A Prophecy of Doom

According to legend, Cornstalk raised his bloody hand to the heavens and spoke a final prophecy:

“I was the border’s friend. Many times I have saved you and your people. But you have murdered me, and for this, may the curse of the Great Spirit rest upon this land! May it be blighted by nature! May it be blighted in war! May an evil wind blow upon your lands and destroy you! May it be visited by death and destruction! May the curse of the 13th child follow you for generations!”

With that, Cornstalk’s spirit was said to have departed, leaving behind a land tainted by betrayal, blood, and vengeance.

What followed over the next two centuries was a series of catastrophes so eerie, so tragic, that many began to believe the curse was real.

Strange and Terrifying Events: Is the Curse Real?

Many point to West Virginia’s history of disasters, tragedies, and supernatural occurrences as proof that Cornstalk’s final words still haunt the region. Could the Shawnee Curse be responsible for these horrifying events?

1. The Mothman & the Silver Bridge Collapse

Perhaps the most famous and chilling connection to the Curse of the 13th Child is the Mothman, a terrifying winged creature first spotted near Point Pleasant in 1966.

Witnesses described a seven-foot-tall humanoid figure with glowing red eyes that would appear near the Ohio River and abandoned TNT bunkers. The Mothman was seen multiple times in the months leading up to one of the worst disasters in West Virginia history—the Silver Bridge collapse.

On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge, which connected Point Pleasant to Ohio, suddenly collapsed into the freezing river, killing 46 people. Some believe that the Mothman was a harbinger of doom, a spectral figure linked to Cornstalk’s curse.

2. The 1907 Monongah Mine Disaster

One of the deadliest coal mining disasters in U.S. history occurred on December 6, 1907, in Monongah, West Virginia.

An explosion ripped through the mine, trapping and killing over 360 men. Many of the miners were immigrants, but there were also descendants of settlers who had fought in the very lands Cornstalk once called home.

3. The 1970 Marshall University Plane Crash

On November 14, 1970, a plane carrying the Marshall University football team crashed while attempting to land in Huntington, West Virginia. All 75 passengers and crew perished in one of the worst sports-related air disasters in history.

4. Floods, Fires, and Supernatural Sightings

Throughout the years, West Virginia has experienced countless floods, fires, and other strange occurrences, from mysterious floating lights in the woods to reports of eerie, disembodied voices in Point Pleasant.

Final Thoughts: Is the Curse Still Alive?

The Curse of the 13th Child is one of West Virginia’s most enduring legends, one that has been passed down for over two centuries. Whether you believe in it or not, the state’s history is undeniably filled with eerie coincidences, strange creatures, and tragic disasters.

If you ever find yourself in Point Pleasant or walking the battlefields of the past, listen closely to the wind.

You might just hear the whispers of a betrayed warrior, still watching, still waiting, and still cursing the land he once tried to protect.