USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 12
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" Our artillery being now sileneed and all the officers killed, except Capt. Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half of the army fallen, being eut off from the road, it bceame necessary to attempt the regaining of it, and to make a retreat, if possible. To this purpose the remains of the army was formed as well as cireurustanees would admit, toward the right of the eneampment, from which, by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but, in fact, to gain the road. This was. effected, and, as soon as it was open, the militia took along it, followed by the troops, Maj. Clarke, with his battalion, covering the геаг.
" The retreat, in those circumstances, was, you may be sure, a very pre eipitate one. It was, in faet, a flight. The camp and the artillery were aban- doned, but that way unavoidable, for not a horse was left alive to have drawn it. off had it otherwise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the business is that the greater part of the men threw away their arms and aecouter- ments, even after the pursuit, which continued about four miles, had eeased. I found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it; for having bad all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could not be prieked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself; and the orders I sent forward, eitber to halt the front or to prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattended to. The rout continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty- nine miles, which was reached a little after sunset.
"The aetion began about half an hour before sunrise and the retreat was attempted at balf an hour after 9 o'clock. I have not yet been able to get returns of the killed and wounded; but Maj. Gen. Butler, Lieut. Col. Oldham, of the militia, Maj. Ferguson, Maj. Hart and Maj. Clarke are among the former; Col. Sargent, my adjutant general, Lieut. Col. Drake, Lieut. Col. Gibson, Maj. Butler and the Viscount Malartie, who served me as an aid-de-camp, are among the latter; and a great number of captains and subalterns in both." An after statement of the results of the engagement just recited, shows the loss to have been thirty-nine officers killed and five hundred and ninety tbree men killed and missing. Twenty-two officers and two hundred and forty-two men were wounded. The officers killed were Maj. Gen. Richard Butler, Lieut. Col. Oldham, of the Kentucky militia ; Majs. Ferguson, Clarke and Hart, Capts. Bradford, Phelon, Kirkwood, Priee, Van Swearingen, Tipton, Smith, Purdy, Piatt, Guthrie, Cribbs and Newman, Lieuts. Spear, Warren. Boyd, McMath, Read, Burgess, Kelso, Little, Hopper and Liekens, Ensigns Balch, Cobb, Cbase, Turner, Wilson, Brooks, Beatty and Purdy. Quartermasters Reynolds and Ward, Adjt. Anderson and Dr. Grasson. The officers wounded were Licut. Cols. Gibson, Darke and Sargeant (Adjutant General ). Maj. Butler, Capts. Doyle, Trueman, Ford, Buchanan, Darke and Hough, Lieuts. Greaton, Davidson, De Butts, Price, Morgan, McCrea, Lysle and Thompson, Ensign Bines, Adjts. Whisler and Craw- ford and the Viseount Malartie, volunteer aid-de-camp to the commander-in-ebief. "Several pieces of artillery and all the baggage, ammunition and provisions were left on the field of battle and fell into the hands of the Indians. Tbe stores and other public property lost in the action were valned at $32,810.75 .* The loss of the Miamis and their confederates has never been satisfactorily aseertained ; but it did not probably exceed one bundred and fifty in killed and wounded."
Atwater, in his History of Ohio, speaking of the expedition of Gen. St. Clair and the unfortunate results attending it, states that " there were about two hundred and fifty women " who accompanied their husbands, following their for- tunes in the experienecs which the campaign brought forth Other authorities, however, place the number much below his estimate. In the slaughter conse- quent upon the terrible conflict, they suffered in common with the men, being sometimes subjected to the most unheard-of cruelties and brutal indignities, the bodies of the living and dead alike mutilated and deformicd
In giving an account of a visit made to the seene of this disaster, for the purpose of burying the dead and recovering the artillery carriages, some three months after, Capt. Buntin, who accompanied the expedition, says : " We left Fort Jefferson about 9 o'clock on the 3Ist ( January) with the volunteers, and arrived within eight miles of the field of battle the samue evening, and the next day we arrived at the ground about 10 o'clock. The scene was truly melan- choly. In my opinion, those unfortunate men who fell into the enemy's hands, with life, were used with the greatest torture, having their lirubs torn off; and the women have been treated with the most indecent cruelty, having stakes as thick as a person's arm, drove through their bodies. The first, I observed when burying the dead; and the latter was discovered by Col. Sargent and Dr. Brown. We found three whole carriages ; the other five were so much damaged that they were rendered uscless. By the General's orders, pits were dug in different places and all the dead bodies that were exposed to view, or could be conveniently found (the snow being very deep) were buried. During this time, there were sundry parties detached, some for our safety and others in examining the course of the creek ; and some distance in advance of the ground oeeupied by the militia, they found a large eamp not less than three-quarters of a mile long, which was sup- posed to be that of the Indians, the night before the action. We remained on the field that night, and next morning fixed gearing horses to the carriages and %% moved for Fort Jefferson. * As there is little reason to
believe that the enemy have earried off the eannon, it is the received opinion that they are either buried or thrown into the ereek, and I think the latter the most probable; but as it was frozen over with a thiek ice and that eovered with a deep snow, it was impossible to make a search with any prospect of success."
The defeat of this expedition, upon which large expectations were based by the Government, was a disappointment for which the public, especially the inhab- itants of the exposed frontiers, was illy prepared. The prevailing distrust and alarm bad a tendency to cheek for a time the tide of emigration dirreted toward that region from the Middle and Eastern States.
In view of the situation then, the General Government, seeing that a larger, better provided and better disciplined foree was necessary to give confidenee to tbe pioneer settlers and put a quietus on the movements of the Indians along the Miami and the valley of the Wabash, took immediate steps toward reforming and ' re equipping the military foree designed to operate on the Western frontier. New officers were appointed and fresh troops enlisted and properly disciplined before entering the field. Under this regulation, the army was to consist of 5.120 non-commissioned officers, privates and musicians. This formidable foree, designed to operate as we have seen, was called the Legion of the United States, and subsequently placed under the command of Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne, a native of Chester County, Penn.
CHAPTER III.
CONTINUED ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN THE INDIAN DEPART- MENT.
Wayne's Preparation-Expedition-His Victory-Building Fort Wayne, Etc.
In the mean time, Gen. St. Clair having resigned his office of Major Gen- eral after his disastrous expedition, and Gen. Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary officer of some celebrity, been appointed to succeed him, preparations for a con- tinuanee of military operations against the Indians in this department were not in a passive state, but active, well-timed and deliberate. The experiences of the two preceding campaigns were such as to require a change of method and mate- rial ; hence, Gen. Wayne, feeling the importance of the situation and the mag- nitude of the issues to be determined by him in the solution of the Indian ques- tion, preferred " to make haste slowly," by earefully reviewing the surroundings, and reeruiting for, and organizing of, such material as would make success a cer- tainty. While be was taking these preliminary steps, the Government of the United States was making efforts to establish treaties of peace and friendship with the hostile tribes of the Northwest. To do this and to acquire the information of the movements and designs of the Indians, messengers, with " talks," were delegated for the purpose, while Commissioners, invested with powers to make treaties, were appointed for different localities. It was enjoined on the Commis- sioners and messengers, especially, to assure the Indians, as a means of eoncil. iating them in regard to the question that had occasioned mueh of the trouble heretofore between them and the white people, growing out of the supposed inten- tion of the latter to take their lands without their ennsent and without paying for them, by the assurance that their lands should not be taken without eompen- sation, and by renouneing all elaims to any of the Indian lands which had not been eeded by fair treaties made with the Indians. These instructions were to be observed strictly, and tbe assurances given in the strongest and most explieit terms. " And, for the purpose of informing the Indians of the extent of the elaims of the United States, tbe Commissioners were furnished with copies of
" Report to Secretary of War, December 11, 1792.
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
the " several treaties heretofore made involving cessions of land in the Nortb- western J'erritory.
As an agency in the successful execution of these plans, Gen. Wayne was instructed, in April, 1792, to issue a proclamation, which should inforin the peo- ple along the frontiers of the measures in contemplation, and that their duty in the premises required that they refrain from any and all offensive movements calculated to occasion distrust or give the Indians any grounds of refusal to accept the proposed terms, until further informed.
Meanwhile, Maj. Ilamtramck, in March, 1792, concluded treaties of peace with some bands of the Wea and Eel River tribes, at Vincennes, and dispatched messengers to many of the hostile tribes of the Wabash. Subsequently, on the 7th of April. 1792, Gen. Wilkinson sent two messengers from Fort Washington, with a speech to the Indians on the Maumee. These messengers, from their injudicious methods of conducting their inquiries, excited tbe suspicion among the Indians that they were spies, and when within one day's march of the main body of the Indian councils, they were murdered in consequence.
Speaking of the perilous service upon which the spies were sent, he says : " My messengers, Freeman at the head, left this ( Fort Washington) on the 7tb (of April, 1792), with a 'hig talk,' and are ordered to keep Harmar's trace, which will be an evidence to the enemy that they bave no sinister designs in con- templation. If they are received, and are suffered to return, they have my dirce- tions to come by Fort Jefferson. You must order William May to desert in a day or two, or must cover his departure hy putting him in the way to be taken prisoner, as you may deetu best. I consider the first preferable in one point of view, that is, it would guard him effectually against any real desertion which may hereafter take place. It will be exceedingly difficult, if not impracticable, for him ever to make a second trip with sueeess. However, that will depend, in a great measure, upon the fertility of his own genius.
" IIe should cross the Miami at or near your post, and keep a due north course-remarking, critically, the distance, ground and water-courses over which he tuay pass, until he strikes the St. Mary's, the site of the old Miami village, and the first town. His first business will be to find out what has become of my messengers. If they have been received and well treated, he may authenticate the sincerity and good faith which has prescribed their journey. For this pur- pose, he must be made acquainted with the departure of the messengers, and the order restraining offensive hostilities. But if they have been killed or made pris- oners, and the enemy positively refuse to treat, then, so soon as he clearly aseer- tain these facts, he must return to us by the nearest and safest route. If this occasion should not present, be is to continue with the enemy, and is, at all events, to acquire their confidence. To this end, he must shave his head, assume their dress, adopt their habits and manners, and always be ready for the hunt, or for war. His greatest object during his residence with the enemy will be to find out the names of the nations which compose the confederacy now at war-tbeir num- bers, and the situation of their respective towns-as to course and distance from the old Miami village, and the locality of cach. He will discover the names, res- idence, interests, and influence of all the white men now connected with those savages, and whether the British stimulate, aid or abet them, and in what man- ner-whether openly, by the servants of Government, or indirectly by traders. He will labor to develop what are the general determinations of the savages, in ease tbe war is continued and we gain possession of their country. Having made himself master of these points. or as far as may be practicable, he will embrace the first important occasion to come in to us. Such will be the moment when the enemy collectively take the field and advance against our army, or a detaebiuent of it, and have approached it within a day's march.
" Should he execute tbis mission with integrity and effect, I pledge myself to restore him to his country, and will use my endeavors to get him some little establishment, to make his old age comfortable." It is subsequently shown that May, who was thus instructed, so far executed the trust reposed in him that be deserted, according to orders, and continued to reside among the Indians until the latter part of September, 1792, when he left them, and arrived at Pittsburgh and made a report to Maj. Gen. Wayne. On the 18th of August, 1794, he was cap- tured by the Indians, near the rapids of the Maumee. On the next day he was tied to a tree and shot.
In the latter part of May following, Maj. Trueman and Col. Hardin were delegated to transmit the great " peace talk " of President Washington to the hostile Indians, which was addressed "To all the Sachems and warriors of the trihes inhabiting the Miami River of Lake Erie, aud the waters of the Wabash River, the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas. Chippewas. Pottawatomics, and all other tribes residing to the southward of the lakes, east of the Mississippi and to tbe northwest of the river Ohio." The following extract from that speech well illustrates its tenor : " Summon, therefore, your utmost powers of attention, and hear the important things which shall be spoken to you coueerning your future welfare ; and, after baving heard aud well understood all things, invoke the Great Spirit above to give you due deliberation and wisdom, to deeide upou a line of couduet that shall best promote your happiness, and the happiness of your chil- dren, and perpetuate you and them on the land of your forefathers. Brothers : the President of the United States eutertains the opinion that the war which exists is founded in error and mistake on your part ; that you believe the United States wants to deprive you of your lands, and drive you out of the country. Be assured that this is not so ; on the contrary, that we should be greatly gratified with the opportunity of imparting to you all the blessings of civilized life, of teaching you to cultivate the earth and raise corn ; to raise oxen, sheep, and other domestic animals ; to build comfortable houses, aud to educate your children so as ever to dwell upon the land."
When Messrs. Trueman and Hardin had fully untered upon their mission, they resolved to follow Harmar's trace for some distance, and then separate, taking different routes thenceforward. It was agreed that Hardin should go
among the tribes in the vicinity of Saudusky, wbile Trueman was to visit those at the rapids of Manmee. In the execution of this trust, these brave officers sacri- ficed their lives, giving themselves as a peace-offering on the altar of their country. The places and circumstances of their death have never hecu fully ascertained, further than those detailed in the deposition munde by Williamu May, whose career as a spy in the service of Gen. Wilkinson has already been noticed, on the 11th of October, 1792, upon his return from his perilous expedition. An abstraet of that deposition discloses the following faets relative thereto :
" In the latter end of June, 1792, some Indians came on board the vessel" -upon which he had been placed hy Capt. Matthew Elliot, his purchaser, after having been captured by the Indians subsequent to liis leaving Fort Hamilton (the vessel being used as a transport for provisions, from Detroit to the rapids of Maumee)-" for provisions, among whom was one who had two scalps upon a stick. One of them he knew to he William Lynch's (Trucman's waiter), with whom he (May) was well acquainted; he had light hair. That he mentioned at once whose scalp it was. The other they said was Maj. Trueman's, it was darker than Lynch's. The manner in which Trucman was killed was mentioned hy the Indian who killed him, to an Indian who used to go in the vessel with May, in his presence, and immediately interpreted, viz. : This Indian and an Indian boy, having met with Trueman, his waiter, Lynch, and the interpreter, William Sinal- ley ; that Trueman gave the Indian a belt; that, after being together three or four hours the Indians were going to leave them. Trucman inquired the reason from the interpreter, who answered that the Indians were alarmed lest, there being three to two, they might injure them in the night. Upon which, Trueman told them they might tie both his servaut and himself. That this boy, Lynch, was first tied and then Trueman. The moment Trueman was tied, the Indian tomahawked and scalped him, and then the boy. That the papers in possession of Trueman were given to Mr. MeKee (Col. Alexander McKee, a storekeeper at the Rapids), who sent them by a Frenchman, called Capt. La Motte, to Detroit, on board the schooner of which he (May) had the charge. That, upon his returo from Detroit to the rapids of the Maumee, he saw a scalp said to he HIar- din's; that he also saw a flag by the route of Sandusky ; that the hair was dark brown, but don't know by what nation he was killed; these papers were also sent to Detroit, on hoard the schooner, by Mr. Elliott (Capt. Elliott, also a storekeeper at the Rapids). That a Capt. Brumley, of the Fifth British regiment, was in the action of the 4th of November, 1791, but did not learn that he took com- inand; that Lieut. Sylvey, of the same regiment, was on his march with three hundred Indians, but did not get up in time to participate in the netion."
On the 27th of September following, " Brig. Gen. Rufus Putnam, with John Heckewelder, concluded a treaty of peace and friendship with thirty-one Indians of the Wabasb and Illinois tribes."
Article I, of that treaty, provides that " There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between all the citizens of the United States of America aud all the individuals, villages and tribes of the said Wabash and Illinois Indians.
" Article II .- The undersigued kings, chiefs and warriors, for themselves and all parts of their villages and tribes, do acknowledge themselves to be under the protection of the United States of America, and stipulate to live in amity and friendship with them.
" Article IV .- The United States solemnly guaranty to the Wabash and Illinois nations or tribes of Indians, all the lands to which they have a just claim, and no part shall ever be taken from them but by a fair purchase, and to their satisfaction. That the lands originally belonged to the Indians; it is theirs and theirs only. That they have a right to sell, and a right to refuse to sell. And that the United States will protect them in their said just rights.
" Article V .- The said kings, chiefs and warriors solemnly promise, on their part, that no future hostilities or depredations shall be committed by them or belonging to the tribe they represent, against the persons or property of any of the citizens of the United States."
This treaty was signed by thirty-une Indians of the Wabash and Illinois tribes. The treaty, however, being unsatisfactory in some particulars, was not ratified by the Senate of the United States.
Ahout the same time, representations of the Miamis, Pottawatomics, Dela- wares, Shawanoes, Chippewas, Ottawas and Wyandots, assembled in couucil at the Maumee Rapids, to consider the situation and their duty in the premises. Certain chiefs of the Six Nations also visited these conucils in the interest of tbe United States. The result of the council was a refusal to make any treaty with the United States which should acknowledge any claim of the latter to lands iu territory northwest of the Ohio. Under these circumstances, " while offen- sive operations against the Northwestern Indians were prohibited by the Goveru- ment of the United States, small war parties, composed principally of Delawares aud Shawanoes, continued to lurk about the white settlements on the borders of the Ohio, waylaying the paths, capturing horses and cattle, killing some of the settlers, and carrying others into captivity." A short engagement on the morn- ing of November 6, betwecu a company of Kentucky militia, under Maj. Adair, and a large body of Indians, near Fort St. Clair, resulted in compelling the detach- ment to retire within the walls of the fort, with the loss of six men killed and five wounded, the Indian loss being about the same.
In July, 1793, a joint council of Commissioners on the part of the United States, Col. Simeoc, Governor of Upper Canada, a considerable number of civil aud military officers, and a deputation of Indians from the Mauuice Council, assem- bled at Niagara, to confer upon the issues presented for the determination of the questions of peace between the United States and the Indian tribes of the North- west. At this meeting, an explanation was given by the Indians for their failure to agree upon any terms of peace at Maumee, an account of which is given above. The reason assigned was, there was so much of the appearance of war in that quarter. Capt. Brandt, one of the Indian Representatives, who had attended the Maumce Council, having giveu the reason, as stated, said: " Brothers ! We bave
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
given the reason for our not meeting you ; and now we request an explanation of those warlike appearances. Brothers, the people you see here are sent to repre- sent the ludiau nations, who own the lands worth of the Ohio as their common property, and who are all of one mind-one heart. Brothers, we have come to speak to you for two reasons : One, because your warriors, being in our neighbor- houd. have prevented our meeting at the appointed place. The other, to know if you are properly authorized to run and establish a new boundary line between the lands of the United States and of the Indian nations. We are still desirous of meeting you at the appointed place. Brothers, we wish you to deliberate well on this business. We have spoken our sentiments in sincerity, considering ourselves in the presence of the Great Spirit, from whom, in times of danger, we expect as istance." The Commissioners responded as follows : " Brothers ! We have attended to what you have said. We will take it into our serious consideration, and give you an answer to-morrow. We will inform you when we are ready." Capt. Brandt replied: " Brothers ! We thank you for what you have said. You say you will answer our speech to-morrow. We uow eover up the council fire." This was on the 7th of July, 1793. Ou the following day, the council hay- ing been assembled for that purpose, the Commissioners gave the promised answer.
" Brothers: By the appointment of the Great Spirit, we are again inet together. We hope He will assist us on both sides to see and to do what is right. It gives us pleasure that this meeting is in the presence of our brothers, the English. Brothers, now listen to our answer in behalf of the United States. Brothers, you have mentioned two objeets of your coming to meet ns at this place. One, to obtain an explanation of the warlike appearances on the part of the United States, on the northwestern side of Ohio; the other, to learn whether wy bave authority to run and establish a new boundary line between your lauds aud ours.
" Brothers, on the first point, we eau but express our extreme regret that my reports of warlike appearances on the part of the United States should have delayed our meeting at Sandusky. Brothers, we are deputed by the Great Chief and the Great Councils of the United States to treat you with pence ; and is it possible that the sune Great Chief and his Great Council could order their warriors to make fresh war while we are sitting round the same fire with you in order to make peace ? * Brothers, we think it is
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