USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of Fort Wayne, from the earliest known accounts of this point, to the present period. Embracing an extended view of the aboriginal tribes of the Northwest, including, more especially, the Miamies with a sketch of the life of General Anthony Wyane; including also a lengthy biography of pioneer settlers of Fort Wayne. Also an account of the manufacturing, mercantile, and railroad interests of Fort Wayne and vicinity > Part 31
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This detachment numbered about six hundred mounted men, armed with rifles. They left Franklinton on the 25th of November, by way of Dayton and Greenville; and reached the Indian towns on the Mississiniwa towards the middle of December, suffering much with the cold. In a rapid charge upon the first village, eight warriors were killed, and forty-two taken prisoners, consisting of men, women and children. About half an hour before day, the morning following this charge, the detachment was attacked by the Indians, and after a sharp but short encounter, with a loss of eight killed, and forty-eight wounded, several of whom afterwards died, the enemy, despairing of success, fled precipitately, with a heavy loss.
Learning from a prisoner that Tecumseh was within eighteen miles of them, with a body of six hundred warriors, with the num-
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240
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
ber of wounded then to be cared for, it was deemed advisable to return, and the detachment, having previously destroyed the towns they had approached, together with all the property therein, started upon their return march, and reached Dayton during the early part of January.
"The good effect of the expedition was soon felt," says M'Afee. " It let us distinctly know who were our friends and who were our enemies among the Indians.""
The winter being severe, and unfavorable to transportation, the army suffered many privations for the want of a sufficiency of pro- visions and clothing.
Thongh General Harrison had repeatedly presented the many difficulties attendant upon a movement, at this period, against De- troit and other points, the government and people were yet restless, and a continued anxiety was manifest for a forward march against the British.
On the 10th of January, 1813, General Winchester, having previ- ously received orders to advance towards the British lines, reached the Rapids, preceded by a detachment of six hundred and seventy men, under General Payne, who had been ordered to attack a party of Indians gathered in an old fortification at Swan Creek.
A large stone house was now built within the encampment, at the Rapids, to secure the provisions and baggage. A consider- able quantity of corn was also gathered in the fields, and apparatus for pounding and sifting it being made, it suppplied the troops with very wholesome bread .*
It now soon became apparent that an attack was meditated by the British upon the forces under Winchester, they having heard, through some Indians, of the advance of the army.
On the morning of the 17th, General Winchester detached Col. Lewis, with five hundred and fifty men, for the river Raisin ; and a few hours later, Lewis' detachment was followed by one hundred and ten more under Col. Allen. On the morning of this day Gen. Winchester also sent a message to General Harrison, acquainting him with the movements made, and desiring a reinforcement, in case of opposition in an effort to possess and hold Frenchtown.t With this express was also sent word that four hundred Indians were at the river Raisin, and that Elliott was expected from Mal- den, with a detachment destined to attack the camp at the Rapids.
Early on the morning of the 19th, the messenger reached and acquainted General Harrison with the word sent by General Win- chester ; upon which he ordered another detachment to proceed at once to the Rapids, with which he also proceeded, whither he ar- ' rived on the morning of the 20th.
In the meantime, on the 18th, the troops under Lewis and Allen, who had proceeded towards the river Raisin, with a view of occu-
* M'Afee.
' Which was situated between Presque Isle and Malden.
ENGAGEMENT AT FRENCHTOWN, AND DEATH OF COL. ALLEN. 241
pying Frenchtown, had been attacked by the enemy, who were driven back with considerable loss, leaving the town in the posses- sion of Allen and Lewis' troops.
This movement was soon communicated to Gen. Winchester, at the Rapids, who at once set out, with a small body of men, for the relief of the forces at Frenchtown, and arrived at the river Raisin on the 20th. The British, from Malden, were now preparing to re- new the attack of the 18th, and, on the night of the 21st, had ad- vanced, unobserved, to a point very near the lines of Lewis and Allen's forces, who had, since the former engagement, been joined by Gen. Winchester, with two hundred and fifty men.
Early on the morning of the 22d, the British, with a large body of Indians, having approached within about three hundred yards of the American lines, began to open a heavy charge of cannon and musketry upon them, and soon succeeded in nearly surround- ing them.
The Americans fought bravely, but were soon overpowered, and an indiscriminate slaughter was begun by the Indians. "In their confusion and dismay," the Americans " attempted to pass a long narrow lane, through which the road passed from the village. The Indians were on both sides, and shot them down in every direction. A large party, which had gained the wood, on the right, were sur- rounded and massacred without distinction, nearly one hundred men being tomahawked within the distance of one hundred yards. The most horrible destruction overwhelmed the fugitives in every direction.
" Captain Simpson was shot and tomahawked at the edge of the woods, near the mouth of the lane. COLONEL ALLEN,* though wound- ed in his thigh, attempted to rally his men several times, entreating them to halt and sell their lives as dearly as possible. He had escaped about two miles, when, at length, wearied and exhausted, snd disdaining perhaps to survive the defeat, he sat down on a log, determined to meet his fate. An Indian chief, observing him to be an officer of distinction, was anxious to take him prisoner. As soon as he came near the Colonel, he threw his gun across his lap, and told him in the Indian language to surrender, and he should be safe. Another savage having, at the same time, advanced with a hostile appearance, Colonel ALLEN, by one stroke with his sword, laid him dead at his feet. A third Indian, who was near him, had then the honor of shooting one of the first and greatest citizens of Kentucky. Captain Mead, of the regular army, who had fought by the side of Colonel Daveiss, when he fell in the battle of Tippecanoe, was killed where the action commenced. Finding that the situation of the corps was rendered desperate by the approach of the enemy, he gave orders to his men-" My brave fellows," (cried he,) " charge upon them ; " and a moment afterwards he was no more.
*Mentioned in a preceding chapter as the person after whom Allen County was named.
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HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
" A party with Lieutenant Garrett, consisting of fifteen or twenty men, after retreating about a mile and a half, were compelled to surrender, and were then all massacred, but the lieutenant himself. Another party of about thirty men had escaped near three miles, when they were overtaken by the savages, and having surrendered, about one-half of them were shot and tomahawked. In short, the greater part of those who were in the retreat, fell a sacrifice to the fury of the Indians. The snow was so deep, and the cold so intense, that they were soon exhausted, and unable to elude their pursuers. Gen. Winchester and Colonel Lewis, with a few more, were captur- ed at a bridge, about three-quarters of a mile from the village. Their coats being taken from them, they were carried back to the British lines, where Colonel Proctor commanded."*
A small party, under Majors Graves and Madison, having placed themselves behind some picketing, where they maintained their position and fought bravely, until an order, reported as coming from General Winchester, was brought by Proctor, who was accompanied by one of his aids, desiring them to surrender. Major Madison re- marked " that it had been customary for the Indians to massacre the wounded and prisoners after a surrender, and that he would not agree to any capitulation, which General Winchester might direct, unless the safety and protection of his men were stipulated." To which Proctor replied : " Sir, do you mean to dictate to me ?" " No," said Madison ; " I mean to dictate for myself, and we prefer selling our lives as dearly as possible, rather than be massacred in cold blood."
Terms, embodying positive protection to all, having at length been agreed upon, Madison surrendered, and his party reached Malden in safety. But the Indians soon returned to the scene of disaster, and began an unmerciful slaughter of the wounded, strip- ping them, and even setting fire to the houses in which many of them were sheltered, burning them with the buildings. About 300 Americans were in this way and in the struggle that preceded the burning of the bodies, killed, and 547 taken prisoners.
Such was the sad fate of this expedition. Suoh was the merci- less spirit of British warfare at this period of our history. And the unwillingness of the troops to advance from Fort Wayne at the announcement of a change of general commanders, after the rescue of the garrison here from the wily efforts of the besiegers, would have seemed to have foreshadowed the terrible result of the engage- ment of Frenchtown.
General Harrison, on the morning of the 22d, (the news of Win- chester's attack having reached him at the Rapids,) ordered Per- kin's brigade to proceed to his relief, and soon followed himself, in the rear of some reinforcements under Payne, which he is said to have soon overtaken. But they had not proceeded far, when they were met by some men from the scene of defeat, who readily told *M'Afee.
243
EFFECTS OF THE DEFEAT OF FRENCHTOWN.
the sad story of the fate that had befallen their comrades in arms. But General Harrison was only nerved to push on with greater speed. Soon again, however, after proceeding some distance to- wards the scene of disaster, another party was met, and, after a council as to the wisdom and safety of proceeding further, it was deemed proper to venture no nearer the scene of conflict and disas- ter, feeling assured that no succor could be rendered the victims of the furious red men and merciless British opponents-that a fur- ther advancement would only tend to furnish more material for massacre and defeat ; and so the main body returned to the Rapids.
General Winchester, Colonel Lewis, and Major Madison, were finally sent to Quebec, where, and at Beaufort, they were confined till the spring of 1814.
The gloom that had spread over the country at the receipt of the news of the sad disaster to the flower of the Kentucky troops at Frenchtown, was indeed great; but the people soon rallied again ; and it was not long till large reinforcements began to swell the ranks of the regular army for a determined and vigorous effort for the overthrow of British rule and future safety from Indian atrocities.
CHAPTER XX.
" Upward, onward, in the battle, * * * *
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Never resting, never weary, Till victory crowns the fight."
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Situation of affairs after the slaughter of Frenchtown-Heavy draft on Kentucky --- Efforts of the British-The importance of placing the Kentucky militia at Fort Wayne-The British commander determines to march the American army to Mon- treal-Advance of the British and Indians on Fort Meigs-The British again occupy old Fort Miami, at the foot of the Rapids-Indians invest the American camp-Gen. Harrison's address-Bombardment of Fort Meigs by the British- Efforts of Tecumseh and the Prophet-Further movements of the British-Their batteries silenced by the Americans-Reinforcements under Gen. Green Clay -- Or- der to Gen. Clay, and its execution-Capture of Fort Miami-The Americans overpowered, and many captured and killed -- Orders not obeyed, and disaster the result-Removal of American prisoners-Success of Gen. Dearborn at Fort George, and evacuation of old Fort Miami by the British-Indians dissatisfied.
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FTER the terrible slaughter of Frenchtown, but little of great importance occurred until the latter part of April, 1813. On the 16th of February, of this year, the Governor of Kentucky, in compliance with a law that had been recently passed in that State, had ordered a draft of three thousand men, to be organ- ized into four regiments, under Colonels Dudley, Boswell, Cox, and Caldwell, under the command of General Green Clay. As the sea- son advanced, it became evident that the British would soon make an attack on the American lines at Fort Meigs ; and this was made the more certain from the fact that the enemy had recently learned the situation of affairs in the American army from a prisoner they had taken.
This condition of affairs being communicated to the war depart- ment, " the propriety of calling out the balance of the Kentucky draft, to be placed at Fort Wayne to keep the Indians in check, was pressed on the attention of the government."*
Both the American and British armies now soon became active in their movements against each other ; and the British commander made bold to assert that he would march the northwestern army, under Gen. Harrison, to Montreal by the first of June.
*M'Afee.
145
INVESTMENT OF FORT MEIGS BY THE BRITISH AND INDIANS.
During the latter part of the month of April, the British liad often been seen, in small bodies, near Fort Meigs, by scouts sent out by the commanding-general; and on the 26th ,of April, the enemy's advance was observed at the mouth of the bay, within a few miles of Fort Meigs. On the 28th of April, as Captain Hamilton was descending the Maumee, with a small reconnoitering party, he be- held the whole force of the British and Indians approaching within a few miles of the fort.
The British now soon drew up at old Fort Miami, just below the scene of Wayne's engagement with the Indians, in 1794, on the opposite side of the river, nearly fronting Fort Meigs, and began at once to land and mount their guns, the Indians being at once removed to the south-west side of the river, where they readily be- gan to invest the American camp-yelling and firing their muskets.
General Harrison was now most attentive and energetic in his efforts ; and on the following morning, he addressed the troops in language and feeling which had the effect to inspire all under him with the largest courage and determination. Said he: "Can the citizens of a free country, who have taken arms to defend its rights, think of submitting to an army composed of mercenary soldiers, reluctant Canadians, goaded to the field by the bayonet, and of wretched, naked savages ? Can the breast of an American soldier, when he casts his eyes to the opposite shore, the scene of his coun- try's triumphs over the same foe, be influenced by any other feel- ings than the hope of glory? Is not this army composed of the same materials with that which fought and conquered under the immortal Wayne? Yes, fellow-soldiers, your general sees your countenances beam with the same fire that he witnessed on that glorious occasion ; and although it would be the height of presump- tion to compare himself to that hero, he boasts of being that hero's pupil. To your posts, then, fellow-citizens, and remember that the eyes of your country are upon you."
About the first of May, the British having completed their batter- teries, they commenced a heavy cannonading against fort Meigs, which was continued for five days, with but little effect. The American batteries returned the fire with good effect, but with no great amount of energy, not wishing to waste their balls and amu- nition.
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Tecumseh and the Prophet, with a body of some six hundred In- dians, since the fatal affair of Frenchtown, (Tecumseh not having been present at that engagement) had joined the British, and were now most active in their efforts against the Americans.
About the time of the opening of the British batteries, General Harrison had expected a reinforcement under General Green Clay ; and when the movements of the British became fully apparent, Cap- tain Oliver, accompanied by a white man and an Indian, was sent as a messenger to General Clay, with letters also for the Gover- nors of Ohio and Kentucky.
246
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
Fears had been entertained that the enemy would at length make an effort to gain a nearer approach to the fort, from the opposite side of the river, and there erect a battery; which soon became evident, and on the 3d, three field pieces and a howitzer were open- ed upon the American camp from a clump of bushes on the left, but were soon hushed by a few eighteen pounders from the Ameri- can batteries. Changing their position, their batteries were again opened upon the American camp, but with an air of mistrust and with but little effect. Says Colonel Wood, of the American forces: " With a plenty of ammunition, we should have been able to have blown John Bull almost from the Miami (Maumee.) * * It was extremely diverting to see with what pleasure and delight the Indians would yell, whenever in their opinion considerable damage was done in camp by the bursting of a shell. Their hanging about the camp, and occasionally coming pretty near, kept our lines al- most constantly in a blaze of fire; for nothing can please a Ken- tuckian better than to get a shot at an Indian-and he must be in- dulged."
With a reinforcement of some twelve hundred Kentuckians, Gen- eral Clay soon drew near. Captain Oliver had met him at Fort Winchester. General Harrison immediately sent an order to General Clay, which was delivered by Captain Hamilton, request- ing him to detach " about 800 men from his brigade, and to land them at a point he would direct, about a mile, or a mile and a half above camp Meigs. I will then conduct the detachment," con- tinues General Harrison, in this order, " to the British batteries on the left bank of the river. The batteries must be taken, the cannon spiked, and carriages cut down ; and the troops must then return to their boats and cross over to the fort, The balance of your men," said he, " must land on the fort side of the river, opposite the first landing, and fight their way into the fort (Miami) through the In- dians."
This order was readily complied with. "Colonel Dudley being the oldest Colonel, led the van. As soon as Captain Hamilton had delivered the orders, General Clay, who was in the thirteenth boat from the front, directed him to go to Colonel Dudley, with orders to take the twelve front boats and execute the plans of General Harrison on the left bank, and to post the subaltern with the canoe on the right bank, as a beacon for his landing."*
Though somewhat " marred in the execution," yet the plans of General Harrison proved a success ; and after some effort, with skillful manœuvering, the point of attack was gained, and the British flag cut down, to the infinite delight of the troops in the American garrison above.
General Harrison, who had been watching, with great concern, through his spy-glass, from a battery next to the river, the move- ments of the troops in the execution of this order, had discovered the enemy approaching the fort below (Miami) by a route that * M'Afeo.
247
RE-CAPTURE OF FORT MIAMI, BY THE BRITISH.
would enable them to surprise the men under Dudley ; and at once began to make signs for them to retreat to their boats, but without success. The General finally sent a messenger to warn them of their danger. Lieutenant Campbell undertook the mission ; but he could not reach them in time. A party of Indians had fired upon the spies sent out, who were soon reinforced, by command of Colo- nel Dudley. Many of the men rushed rapidly forward in pursuit of the Indians. The left column still holding their position, were now soon encountered by the British artillerists, largely reinforced, who overpowered the Americans, capturing some at the battery, while others fled to the boats. . The Indians had also been reinforc- ed, and began their usual work of tomahawking, etc.
The greater part of the men were captured by the Indians or sur- rendered to the British. Colonel Dudley had received a wound, and was finally tomahawked by the savages. The number that escaped and regained the fort was less than two hundred. Had or- ders been strictly obeyed, which was not the case, says M'Afee, "the day would certainly have been an important one for the country."
" The prisoners," says Colonel Wood, "were taken down to head- quarters, put into fort Miami, and the Indians permitted to garnish the surrounding rampart, and to amuse themselves by loading and firing at the crowd, or at any particular individual. Those who preferred to inflict a still more cruel and savage death, selected their victims, led them to the gateway, and there under the eye of gener- al Proctor, and in the presence of the whole British army, toma- hawked and scalped them ! "
For about two hours these acts of unmitigated ferocity and bar- barity to prisoners of war was permitted and continued ; "during which time, upwards of twenty prisoners, defenseless and confined, were massacred in the presence of the magnanimous Britons, to whom they had surrendered, and by the allies, too, with whom those Britons had voluntarily associated themselves, knowing and encouraging their mode of warfare. The chiefs, at the same time, were holding a council on the fate of the prisoners, in which the Pottawattamies, who were painted black, were for killing the whole, and by their warriors the murders were perpetrated. The Miamies and Wyandotts were on the side of humanity, and opposed the wishes of the others. The dispute between them had become seri- ous, when Colonel Elliott and Tecumseh came down from the bat- teries to the scene of carnage. As soon as Tecumseh beheld it, he flourished his sword, and in a loud voice ordered them ' for shame to desist. It is a disgrace,' said he, ' to kill a defenseless prisoner.' His orders were obeyed, to the great joy of the prisoners, who had by this time lost all hopes of being preserved. In this single act, Tecumseh displayed more humanity, magnanimity, and civilization than Proctor, with all his British associates in command, displayed through the whole war on the northwestern frontiers."*
*M'Afee.
248
HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE.
Retaining the prisoners in this place till night, many of the wounded for hours experiencing " the most excruciating torments," they were placed in " the British boats and carried down the river to the brig Hunter, and a schooner, where several hundred of them were stowed away in the hold of the brig, and kept there for two days and nights. Their sufferings in this situation," says Colonel M'Afee,"" are not to be described by me : I leave them to be imagin- ed by those who can feel for the wrongs of their country." Being finally liberated on parole, however, these prisoners were "landed at the mouth of Huron river, below the Sandusky bay."
At the conclusion of the disasterous movement at Fort Miami, but little of interest occurred while the British continued the siege ; and having soon learned of the capture of Fort George, by General Dearborn, the British commander, on the 9th of May, evacuated the old Fort at the foot of the Rapids. Alarm had not only taken sudden possession of the British on receipt of the capture of Fort George, but the Indians, too, had snuffed the air of defeat, and had become much disaffected by the movements and success of the Americans against their British father ; and before the evacua- tion of Fort Miami had been fully consummated, it was thought by many in the American army that they had measurably left the British standard.
The Prophet and his followers had been promised the Michigan Territory, and General Harrison was to be delivered up to Tecum- seh. But all was now disaster to them, and their former hope of one day being able, by the aid of their British father, to drive the Americans beyond the Ohio, had vanished forever from their hearts.
CHAPTER XXI.
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" And has the West no story Of deathless deeds sublime ? Go ask yon shining river."
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Movements at Fort Wayne-Plan of Richard M. Johnson-Communication of the Secretary of War to Gen. Harrison-Mounted volunteers under Col. Johnson-His address-Ordered to proceed to Fort Wayne, and to scour the north westcru frontier -Demand for more troops-Johnson's regiment-Indian guides-Anthony Shane .- Johnson's march to Fort Wayne-Boat fired upon by the Indians, near the Fort -Pursuit of the Indians-An expedition-Anticipated attack from the British- . Harrison's interview with the Indians-Movements towards Lower Sandusky-Re- investment of Fort Meigs by the British and Indians-Surprise of a picket-guard -Depredations by the Indians-Movements of Tecumseh-Heavy firing on the Sandusky road-Movements of the British-Council of war-Fort Stephenson- Bravery of the American troops-Valor of Major Croghan, and high appreciation of his course-A Wyandott scout.
URING much of the time since the transfer of the theatre of strife and siege from Fort Wayne to points below, along the Maumee and elsewhere, but little had occurred here of marked interest. The garrison had been watchful; the Indians had been active in the region, but their attention had mainly been called away by the action and command of their British father be- low and about the Rapids of the Maumee. ·
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