History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Kingman Brothers
Number of Pages: 366

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uot possible. *

* Brothers, we assure you that our great chief, Gen. Washington, has strictly forbidden all hostilities against you, until the event of the proposed treaty at Sandusky shall be known. Here is the procla- mation of his head warrior, Gen. Wayne, to that effect. But, brothers, our great chief is so sincere in his professions for peace, and so desirous of preventing every- thing which could obstruct the trenty and prolong the war, that, hesides giving the above orders, to his head warrior, he has informed the Governors of the sev- eral States adjoining the Ohio, of the treaty proposed to be held at Sandusky, and desired them to unite their power with his to prevent any hostile attempts against the Indians north of the Obio, until the result of the treaty is made known. Those Governors bave accordingly issued their orders, strictly forhidding all such hostilities. The proclamations of the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia we bave here iu our hands. * * * *

'. Brothers, we now come to the second point : Whether we are properly authorized to run and establish a new boundary line between your lands and ours ? Brothers, we answer you explicitly, that we have that authority. ** * » Douht- less : ome coucessions must he made on both sides.

Some on your part as well as ours."

Cat's Eyes, a Sbawanoe chief, answered : "Brothers, the Bostonians, attend We have heard your words. Our fathers, the English people, have also heard them. We thank God that you have been preserved in peace, and that we bring our pipes together. The people of all the different nations here salute you. They rejoice to hear your words. It gives us great satisfaction that our fathers, the English, have heard them also."

During the progress of the couference on the next day, July 9, Capt. Brandt, in response to the inquiry of the Commissioners us to the names of the nations of the chiefs assembled at the Mauince, said : " When we left it, the fol- lowing nations were there, to wit, Five Nations, Wyandots, Shawannes, Dela- wares, Munsees, Miamis, Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatomics, Mingoes, Cherokees, Nautikokics," together with a long list of the names of chiefs. The Commis- sinners replied : " Our cars have been open to your speech. It is agreeable to us. We are ready to accompany you to the place of treaty, where, under the direc- tion of the Great Spirit, we hope for a speedy termination of the present war, on terms equally interesting and agreeable to all parties."

After several subsequent conferences and discussions between the Indians and Commissioners, and between the Indians themselves, in which about the same line of thought was presented, it was concluded, finally, on the 13th of August, 1793, at the rapids of the Maumee, in general council of the Wyandots, Miamis, Pottawatomies, Shawanve, and twelve other tribes there assembled, that if the United States should agree that the Ohio River should be and remain the perpet- uil boundary between them and the Indians, without being subject to cession or purchase-they were ready to enter into a treaty of peace ; otherwise, it would be unnecessary to meet again. The Commissioners then returned the following answer :

" TO THE CHIEFS AND WARRIORS OF THE INDIAN NATIONS ASSEMBLED AT THE FOOT OF THE MAUMEE RAPIDS,

" Brothers : We have just received your answer, dated the 13th instant, to our speech of the 31st of last month, which we delivered to your deputies at this place. You say it was interpreted to all your nations; and we presume it was fally understood. We therein explicitly declared to you that it was now impos. sible to make the river Ohis the boundary between your lands and the lands of

the United States. Your answer amounts to a declaration that you will agree to uo other boundary than the Ohio. The negotiation is, therefore, at an end. We sincerely regret that peace is not the result; but, knowing the upright and liberal views of the United States-which, as far as you gave us an opportunity, we have explained to you-we trust that impartial judges will not attribute the eon- tinuauce of the war to theu.

" Done at Capt. Elliott's, at the mouth of Detroit River, the 16th day of August, 1793.

BENJAMIN LINCOLN, BEVERLY RANDOLPHI, TIMOTHY PICKERING, Commissioners of the United States.

The Commissioners left the next day, and upon their arrival at. Fort Erie, August 23, they immediately forwarded to Gen. Wayne, at Fort Washington, the result of their negotiations, as narrated above. The result, while not satisfae- tory in terius, was at least effective of much good, in the spirit manifested during the progress of the negotiations.

Meantime, Gen. Wayne had not been idle, but had made rapid advances toward the re-organization of his army for the defense of the territory northwest of the Ohio. His success, however, in bringing forward the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, was not what he had desired; nevertheless, he continued to make the most of the situation, anticipating that, by the opening of spring, he would be so far prepared as to set his army in motion and prevent the further depreda- tions of hostile Indians. Early in the winter, therefore, as a preeantionary step, he caused Fort Greenville to he ereeted on the Big Miami, and established there his headquarters. On the 23d of December, he ordered Maj. Henry Burbeck, with eight companies of infantry and a detachment of artillery, to take possession of the ground on which Gen. St. Clair had been defeated two years before, and to ercet a fortification there The order was duly executed, and the new post was called Fort Recovery, and was situated on the houd-waters of the Wabash River, in Ohio.

Cotemporaneous with some of the incidents already recited, occurring in the carly part of the year 1793, when the Government of the United States was pressed with the consideration of questions " equally delicate, difficult and disagree- able," Mr. Gonet, Minister Plemipotentiary of the French Republic, arrived in the United States, aud was received with many demonstrations of kindly regard for the noble part bis nation had taken in securing American independence. Seeing the spirit which actuated the people in those manifestations of esteem, and presuming much on their tractability, he was vaiu enough to attempt, in the name of the French Govermuent, by the offer and tender of commissions in the French army, to induce this people to make common cause with France in the prosecution of wars in which that nation was engaged. These assumptions were met huldly, and the arrogaut Frenchman was made to understand that his missiou was ill-timed and opposed to the policy of our Goverment. Persistenec, how- ever. on his part, caused military posts and other defenses to be ereeted as a means of preventing, by force, the execution of his purpose, in disregard of the legal authority of the Government of the United States, to enlist and trans- port American citizens elsewhere as auxiliaries to their military power. His plans failing, be was suddenly recalled.

WAYNE'S EXPEDITION.

On the 28th of July, 1794, the regular troops under his command having been joined, two days previously, by Major General Scott, with ahout sixteen hundred mounted volunteers, from Kentucky, Gen. Wayne, with this united force, commeneed his march for the Indian towns on the Maumee River. At a point on the St. Mary's River about twenty-four muiles to the northwest of Fort Recovery, he erected and garrisoned another post, which he called Fort Adams. Moving hence, on the 4th of August, he arrived at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize on the 8th. The eapture of the post at this point is best described in the language of Gen. Wayne's report to the Secretary of War, dated August 14, 1794. He says :

" I have the honor to inform you that the army uuder my command took possession of this very important post on the morning of the 8th instant, the enemy, on the preceding evening, baving abandoned all their settlements, towns and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation as to amount to a positive proof that our approach was not discovered by them until the arrival of a Mr. Newman, of the Quartermaster General's Department, who deserted from the army near the St. Mary's. * I had made such demonstrations for a length of time previously to taking up our line of # march as to induce the savages to expect our advance by the route of the Miami villages, to the left, or toward Roche de Bout, hy the right, which feints uppeur to have produced the desired effect, by drawing the attention of the enemy to those points, and gave an opening for the army to approach undiscovered, by a devious, i. e., in a ceutral direction. Thus, sir, we have gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians of the West, without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly cultivated fields and gardens show the work of many linnds. The margin of those beautiful rivers, the Miamis of the lake [or Mau- mec] and Auglaize appear hke one ecutinued village for a number of miles both above and below this place; nor have I ever before beheld such immense fields of corn in any part of America, from Canada to Florida. We are now employed in completing a strong stockade fort, with four good block-houses, by way of bas- tions, at the confluence of the Auglaize and the [Maumee], which I have called Defiance. Everything is now prepared for a forward move, to-morrow morning, toward Roche de Bout, or foot of the rapids. Yet I have thought proper to offer the enemy a last overture of peace, and as they have everything that is dear awl interesting now at stake, I have reason to expect that they will listen to the propositions mentioned iu the enclosed copy of an address " to the Delawares,

HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.

Shawanoes, Miamis and Wyandots, and to cach and every one of them, and to all other nations of Indians northwest of the Ohio, whom it may concern, " dis- patched yesterday by a special flag [Christopher Miller], whom I sent under cir- cumstances that will insure his safe return, and which may eventually spare the effusion of much human blood. But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. America shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all-powerful and just God I therefore commit myself and gallant army."

The dispatch, addressed as above and forwarded, contained this passage : " Brothers-Be no longer deceived or led astray by the false promises and lan- guage of the bad white men at the foot of the rapids; they have neither the power nor inclination to protect you. No longer shut your eyes to your true interest and happiness, nor your ears to this last overture of peace. But. in pity to your innocent women and children, come and prevent the further effusion of your blood. Let them experience the kindness and friendship of the United States of America, and the invaluable blessings of peace and tranquillity." He invited them, also, to meet bim without delay between the mouth of the Auglaize and the foot of the rapids of the Maumee, " in order to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace."

" The bearer of the letter left Fort Defiance at 4 o'clock, P. M., on the 13th of August. On the 16th, he brought an answer from some of the hostile Indians to Gen. Wayue, in which they said, 'that if he waited where he was ten days, and then sent Miller for them, they would treat with him ; but that if he advanced they would give him battle.'" But Gen. Wayne was not thus induced to check his onward march, for on the 15th he had moved his forces from Fort Defiance and directed them toward the British fort at the foot of the Maumee Rapids. Five days later, he had gained a decisive victory over the Indians and their allies almost under the guns of the British fort, on the left bank of the Maumee. The Indians had been as good as their word, but met with a reception not contem- plated iu their pompous reply to his propositions for peace. They had fought and been disastrously defeated.

The following, from Wayne's official report of his proceedings, addressed to the Secretary of War, and bearing date at Fort Defiance, August 28, 1794, will give the reader an accurate idea of his efforts at conquering a peace :

"SIR-It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you the brilliant success of the Federal army under my command, in a general action with the combined force of the hostile Indians and a considerable number of the volun- teers and militia of Detroit, on the 20th instant, on the banks of the Maumee, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison, at the foot of the rapids. The army advanced from this place (Fort Defiance), on the 15th, and arrived at Roche de Bout on the 18th ; the 19th was employed in making a temporary post (Fort Deposit), for the reception of our stores and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of the enemy, who were encamped hchind a thick brushy wood and the British fort. .

" At 8 o'clock, on the-morning of the 20th, the army again advanced in columns, agreeably to the standing order of march, the legion on the right, its flank covered by the Maumee; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brig. Gen. Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brig. Gen. Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Maj. Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whetber the Indians would decide for peace or war.

" After advancing about five miles, Maj. Price's corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood, which extended for miles on our left, and for a very consider- ahle distance in front, the ground being covered with old, fallen timber, probably occasioned hy a tornado, which rendered it impracticahle for the cavalry to act with effeet, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of war- fare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles, at right angles with the river. I soon discovered from the weight of the fire and the extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeav- oring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first; and directed Maj. Gen. Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, by a cir- suitous route ; at the same time, I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and, when up, to deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, fol- lowed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again.

" I also ordered Capt. Mis Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promp- titude ; but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians nnd Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their eoverts in so short a tique, that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Gens. Scott, Todd and Barbce, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, hut part of cach could get up in season to participate in the actiou; the enemy being driven, in the course of one hour, more than two miles through the thick woods already mentioned by less than one-half their numbers. From every account, the enemy amounted to two thousand comhatants. The troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed with terror and disquay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns of the British garrison, as you will observe by the inclosed correspondence between Maj. Campbell, the commandant, and myself, upon the occasion.

" The bravery and conduct of every officer belonging to the army, from the Generals down to the ensigns, merit my highest approbation. There were, how- ever, some whose rank and situations placed their conduct in a very conspicuous point of view, and which I observed with pleasure and the most lively gratitude. Among whom, I must beg leave to muention Brig. Gen. Wilkinson and Col. Ham- tramck, the commandants of the right and left wings of the legion, whose brave example inspired the troops. To thesc, I must add the names of my faithful and gallant Aids-de-Camp, Capts. De Butt and T. Lewis; and Lieut. Harrison, who, with the Adjutant General, Maj. Mills, rendored the most essential service by com- municating my orders in every direction, and, by their conduct and bravery, exeit- ing the troops to press for victory. Licut. Covington, upon whom the command of the cavalry now devolved, cut down two savages with his own hand ; and Lieut. Webb, one, in turning the enemy's left flank. The wounds received by Capt. Slough and Prior, and Lieut. Campbell Smith, an extra Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Wilkinson, of the legionary infantry, and Capt. Van Rensselaer, of the dragoons, Capt. Rawlins, Lieut. McKenney, and Ensign Duncan, of the mounted volunteers, bear honorable testimony of their hravery and conduct.

"Capts. H. Lewis and Brock, with their companies of light infantry, had to sustain an unequal fire for some time, which they supported with fortitude. In fact, every officer and soldier who had an opportunity to come into action displayed that truc hravery whieb will always insure success. And here permit. me to declare that I never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers ; and I am well persuaded that, had the enemy maintained their favorite ground for one-half hour longer, they would have most severely felt the prowess of that corps. But, while I pay this tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave officers, Capt. Mis Campbell, of the dragoons, and Lieut. Fowles, of the light infautry, of the legion who fell in the first charge. * * * * * * * * * * *

" We remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee in front of the field of battle, during which time all the houses and cornfields wero con- sumed and destroyed for a considerable distance both above and below Fort Miami as well as within pistol-shot of tho garrison, who were compelled to remain tacit spectators to this general destruction and conflagration, among which were the houses, stores and property of Col. McKee, the British Indian agent and principal stimulator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages.

"The army returned to this place (Fort Defiance) on the 27th, hy easy marches, laying waste the villages and cornfields for fifty miles on each side of the Maumee. There remain yet a great numher of villages and a great quantity of corn to be consumed or destroyed upon Anglaize and the Maumee about this place, which will be effected in the course of a few days. In the interim, we shall improve Fort Defiance; and, as soon as the escort returns with the neces- sary supplies from Greenville and Fort Recovery, the army will proceed to the Miami villages in order to accomplish the object of the campaign. It is, how- ever, not improbable that the enemy may make one desperate effort against tbe army, as it is said that a re-enforcement was hourly expected at Fort Miami from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margin and islands of the lakes. This is a business rather to be wished for than dreaded while the army remains in force. Their numbers will only tend to confuse tbe savages and the victory will be the more complete and decisive, and which may eventually insure a permanent and happy peace."

The exact number of Indians engaged in this action has of course never been accurately ascertained, but from the best information at hand, there were about four hundred and fifty Delawares, one hundred and seventy-five Miamis, two hundred and seventy-five Shawanoes, two hundred and twenty-five Ottawas, two hundred and seventy-five Wyandots and a small number of Senecas, Potta- watomies and Chippewas, in all from fifteen to eighteen hundred warriors, not including about one hundred Canadians frou Detroit under command of Capt. Caldwell. The loss of the Indians can only be estimated hy the number of dead left on the field, and upon that basis it would be safe to fix the number of killed at little less than eighty killed and about two hundred wounded, for when the battle was ended and the Indians bad withdrawn, forty of their dead remained on the field in addition to the large number necessarily taken off the field during the progress of the engagement, according to their universal usage, until their compulsory retirement. The wounded heing more than double their death loss. According to the official report of Gen. Wayne iu the War Department, his loss was twenty-six regulars aud seven Kentucky volunteers killed, while of the wounded there were eighty-seven regulars and thirteen volunteers. Subsequently, nine regulars aud two volunteers died from the effect of their wounds, at the date of the report, August 28, 1794.

Gen. Wayne, with his army, remained at Fort Defiance, whither he had marched alter the battle of the 20th, until the 14th of September, wben, leaving that point, he moved up the Maumee in the direction of the English fort at the juncture of St. Joseph's and St. Mary's. Prior to his departure from Fort Defiance, and nfter his engagement at the foot of the rapids, being in the vicinity of Fort Miami, then under the command of Maj. Campbell, of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, in the service of the King of Great Britain-from some technical objection growing out of tbe apparent disposition on the part of Gen. Wayne to hold his position in the vicinity of the British fort, the Com- mandant challenged his right to remain there in bostile attitude. The result was a short but spicy correspondence between the two officers, iu which the Briton, while endeavoring to establish the right of his sovereign to occupy the territory by right of anterior possessiou, admitted that his situation there was totally mili- tary. However, Gen. Wayne, in the name of the President of the United States, desired and demanded that he " immediately desist from nny further act of

HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.

hostility or aggressiou, hy forhearing to fortify, and hy withdrawing the troops, artillery and stores under your (his) orders and direction forthwith, and removing to the nearest post occupied hy his Britannie Majesty's troops at the peace of 1783." This advice was subsequently taken hy Maj. Camphell, and the fort Americanized.

Departing, for the moment, from a narrative of succeeding events, the read- er's attention is directed to some incidents preceding hut intimately related to the decisive engagement of the 20th of August, 1794, at the rapids of the Manmec.

Gen. Wayne, as has heen already stated, liad come to a halt about seven miles above the British fort ( Miami), which stood nn the northwestern hank of the Maumee, near whero Maumee City now stands, on the 18th of August, and on the following day had erected a temporary garrison, designed especially for the reception of stores, haggage, also for the additional purpose of hetter recon- uoitering the enemy's ground lying " hchiud a thick hushy wood," adjacent to the British fort, ealling it Fort Deposit.

In anticipation of the presence and purpose of Gen. Wayne, in case of their failure to accept his proposals and have peace, the Miamis were wavering and undecided as to the policy of attacking him, in consequence, no doubt, of the recent determination of Capt. Wells, the warm friend and son-in-law of Little Turtle, to leave their nation and return to his own people. The circumstances surrounding this incident are of particular interest, and deserve to he recorded here. Wells, at the age of twelve years, had been captured in Kentucky hy the Miamis, had lived to manhood aud raised a family among them, having married the daughter of Little Turtle, the great war-chief of that nation. About the time of the advance of Wayne's army, his mind hegan to he impressed with reminis- cences of his childhood and youth, renewing those early memories and picturing the seenes of parental anxiety at the period of his separation from the home fire- side, the hours of anguish suffered hy those who gave him life-the vacant chair at the old kitehen tahle-his relation to some of those very people against whom he, with his adopted people, was about to raise the war-cry and hurl the deadly tomahawk. With those ever-present memories persistently elaituing dominion, he finally resolved to sever his connection with the savage race in their warlike cuterprises, and henceforth give his allegianee to the white people. " In this state of mind, with much of the Indian characteristics, inviting the war-chief of the Miamis-Little Turtle-to accompany him to a point on the Maumee ahout two miles cast of Fort Wayne, at what was long known as the ' Big Elm,' whither tlicy at once repaired, Wells told the chief his purpose. 'I now leave your nation,' said he, ' for my own people. We have long heen friends. We are frieuds yet, until the sun reaches a certain height (which was named). From that time we are enemies. Theu, if you wish to kill me you may. If I want to kill you, I may.' When the time indicated had come, Capt. Wells crossed the river, and was soon last- to the view of his old friend and chieftain, Little Turtle. Moving in an easterly course, with a view to striking the trail of Wayne's forces, he was successful in obtaining an interview with the General, and ever thereafter proved the fast friend of the Americans. The resolute movement of Wells was a severe hlow upon the Miamis. To Little Turtle's mind it seemed to have heen an unmistakahle foreboding of sure and speedy defeat to the confederated tribes of

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History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Kingman Brothers Number of Pages: 366

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Kingman Brothers
Number of Pages: 366