USA > Indiana > Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers > Part 28
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The sight that met the soldiers of this garrison when aroused from their slumbers to find the roaring flames of fire devouring a part of their blockhouse, was enough to try the nerves of the bravest. The men, with very few exceptions, after being infused with the heroism of their commander, fought like heroes. Two big burly fellows, however, let their heels get the better of their honor. jumped over the fence and attempted to break through the Indian lines and get away. One was killed and the other was glad to get back to the fort, where he lay on the outside of the wall, screened by some logs until daylight, when the Indians with- drew and he was admitted into the fort, without having a very high appreciation of the famous lines, "He who fights and runs away, will live to fight another day."
When the authorities at Vincennes were informed of the
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attack on Fort Harrison, Colonel Russel, with ten hundred men, was dispatched to that point for the purpose of chastis- ing the Indians and relieving the fort. The troops arrived at that point on the 6th of September, but found the Indians had retired. A small detachment commanded by Lieut. Richardson, acting as an escort for provisions sent to Fort Harrison, was attacked by a large party of Indians at a point within the boundary of Sullivan county. Seven of the men were killed and the balance, with the provisions, fell into the hands of the Indians.
Colonel Wilcox, with the command of Kentucky volun- teers, remained at Fort Harrison; Colonel Russel, with the two regiments of Indiana Militia, returned to Vincennes.
There was a noted Shawnee chief named Captain Logan, acting as a scout, who was with Harrison during his march for the relief of Fort Wayne. Some time after the relief of this fort he and two warriors of his tribe were on a recon- noisance about thirty miles north of Ft. Wayne, when they had a skirmish with a like party of the enemy, consisting of several hostile Indians and two or three white men in the British service. During the skirmish one of the white men was killed and Winnamac, a Pottawattamie chief, was killed by Logan, who, being mortally wounded, retreated and got back to the camp of General Winchester, where shortly after- ward he died and was buried with military honors.
During the occupancy of Ft. Wayne by Harrison's army the Indian village and their cornfields were destroyed for many miles in every direction. In the latter part of Septem- ber General Harrison turned over the command at Ft. Wayne to Brigadier-General James Winchester. On the 24th of the same month Harrison received a dispatch from the Secretary of War with orders assigning him to the command of the Northwest Army, with a command estimated at about ten thousand men, with instructions to recapture Detroit, invade the Canadas and destroy the British army in that quarter- all of which he thoroughly accomplished.
As the seat of war was removed out of Indiana Territory, Harrison and his command will be left for the general history
PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. 359
of the United States to tell of the heroism of that great gen- eral and the valor of his brave and determined men.
"Vincennes, Indiana Territory,
August 20, 1812.
"COLONEL WM. HARGROVE, Commanding Mounted Rangers:
"General Harrison has been commissioned Major General by the Governor of Kentucky and placed in command of the militia of that state, who are ordered to report to him in this territory. There will soon be a large number of troops cross- ing the Ohio river into this Territory. This ap- parent security will not in the least change your duties. The men under your command will still keep up the same vigilance. The militia of this Territory will in a great measure leave for the north. Then our force of able bodied men will be much reduced and it will be necessary to carefully watch every point of our frontier.
JOHN GIBSON, Acting Governor."
"Vincennes, Indiana Territory,
August 28, 1812.
"'COLONEL WM. HARGROVE,
Commanding Mounted Rangers of Indiana Territory:
"General Hull ingloriously and cowardly sur- rendered Detroit and two thousand troops to the British on the 15th inst. It is feared that this suc- cess on the part of the British will cause the Ind- ians who have been apparently friendly to go to their standard. There is no doubt of the ultimate outcome of this war, but there seems to be much incompetency in high places.
JOHN GIBSON, · Acting Governor."
"Vincennes, Indiana Territory, September 8, '12.
COLONEL HARGROVE,
Commanding the Mounted Ranger Service: "On last Thursday, the 3d inst., there were
5 0
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twenty-four people killed at a point north of Louis- ville, some thirty or forty miles. The Indians who committed this murder came from the north be- yond White river. These fool-hardy people had moved away from all others and made no attempt at preparing a place for defense.
"You will go over your territory and at each post ascertain if there are people who are out be- yond the line that you are protecting. If you. should find such to be the case, then order them to prepare a fort and see that they do it, where there are as many as three families. If you should find less than three families at any isolated point, have them and their effects moved to a place where they can be protected and where the men of these fam- ilies can help protect others. See that this order is carried out in the earliest possible time.
JOHN GIBSON, Acting Governor-
Per J. T. D."
"Vincennes, Indiana Territory,
September 12. 1812. "COL. HARGROVE, Commanding Rangers:
"The brave defense made by Captain Taylor at Ft. Harrison is one bright ray amid the gloom of incompetency which has been shown in so many places.
"Your force east of Blue river was not expect- ed to do anything toward guarding the country for several miles this side of the frontier where the twenty-four foolish people were murdered. The ·militia of Clark county are supposed to be on duty in that direction and were not to blame. The ven- turesome people who are in all sections of the country cause their own destruction and keep the country in a great.turmoil. The orders in regard to people moving beyond the line of protection from this date shall be obeyed and the venturesome people who are continually wanting to go too near the front, shall go into forts in touch with our guards or brought back inside of the line.
"There is great need of vigilant watch being kept. The Indian will attempt in many ways to
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wreak vengeance on the white people.
JOHN GIBSON, Acting as Governor."
Per J. T. D."
During the last part of 1812 there was so much uncer- tainty in all parts of Indiana Territory and so many men who were members of the Legislature who were on military duty, that when the time for the regular Legislature came- around it was thought best to postpone it.
After it became evident that the Indians were concen- trating at different points in Illinois and Indiana Territories, so as to be in position to send out various raids to all the dis- tricts which were the most exposed on the borders of these two Territories, the Governor of Kentucky became alarmed. After the determined attack made upon Ft. Harrison and numerous raids made by the Indians along the line and the murder of so many citizens north of Louisville, he determined to strongly reinforce the militia of these two territories. Is- suing a call for volunteers for that purpose, there were so many responded that he could not accept half of them. About the middle of September General Samuel Hopkins, a man of noted distinction, was placed in command of two- thousand Kentuckians and marched with them to Vincennes, Indiana. Refitting his corps with the proper supplies and ammunition, along about the fourth of October he was ready to march. In a conference between the military commanders and Governor Gibson, of Indiana Territory, and Gov- ernor Edwards, of Illinois Territory, it was decided that so many of the Wabash and Northwest Indians had moved and settled in that section around the Illinois river and about where Peoria, Illinois, is now located, placing them in a position to raid any of the settlements along the borders of the the two territories, that Hopkins' corps should be sent against them. The first objective point would be the villages of the Kickapoo Indians beyond and to the northwest of Ft. Harrison. 'Hopkins got away with his army and crossed the Wabash at Fort Harrison. After marching some days and
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coming near to the objective point, owing to the loose man- ner in which the rules of discipline were enforced, there arose great dissention among the men and officers, several of whom possibly felt that they had not been consulted concern- ing matters about which they thought themselves competent to give advice, and others claiming that they were not ex- pected to march so far into the interior when they enlisted. After getting probably within one day's march of the Peoria Indians there seemed to be a spirit of mutiny among all the men which was led on by one very officious major. The army followed their trail back, recrossed the Wabash, General Hop- kins following in the rear with a picked corps to protect the army from being assailed by any Indians who might be fol- lowing on their trail. This mutinous army was discharged and sent to their homes. The conduct of the men and a por- tion of the officers was deeply deplored by General Hopkins, who was a brave, gallant and generous-hearted man, worthy the confidence of this nation.
Soon after this General Hopkins asked permission to or- ganize another corps which was granted and three regiments of Infantry were organized under the commands of Colonels Barbour, Miller and Wilcox, and a company of Regulars under the command of Zachary Taylor. With this command there were several companies of the militia infantry rangers of Indiana Territory.
The army rendezvoused at Vincennes and in the early part of November marched to Ft. Harrison and from there up to the region round the Tippecanoe river, where they de- stroyed a large amount of Indian stores and a number of their towns. In defense of this old veteran hero, General Hop- kins, it is thought best to let him tell to the Governor of his state in his own way the doings of the corps under his com- mand:
"On the 11th of November the army marched from Ft. Harrison on the road formerly made by Governor Har- rison's army and the boats set out at the same time. The length of time the enemy had expected us made it necessary to guard ourselves in a special manner. The rise of the
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waters from the heavy rain preceding our march and some large creeks, left us no doubt of considerable difficulty and embarrassment in so much that not until the 14th did we pass Sugar Creek, three miles above the road. From every infor- mation I had no hesitation in moving on the east side of the Wabash. The Vermilion Pine Creek and other impediments on the west side, superadded to the presumption that we were expected and might more easily be annoyed and ambuscaded on that route, determined me in this measure. The boats, too, with provisions of rations, forage and military stores, could be easily covered and protected, as the line of march could be invariably nearer the river. Lieutenant Colonel Barbour, with one battalion of his regiment, had command of the seven boats and encamped with us on the bank of the river almost every night. This so protracted our march that we did not reach the Prophet's town until the 19th.
"On the morning of this day I detached three hundred men to surprise the Winnebago town lying on Ponce Passu (Ponce peau pichou) Creek, one mile from the Wabash and four below the town of the Prophet. This party, commanded by General Butler, surrounded the place about break of day, but found it evacuated. There were, in the main town, about forty houses, many of them from thirty to fifty feet in length, besides many temporary huts in the surrounding prairie. in which they had cultivated a good deal of corn.
"On the 20th, 21st and 22d we were embarked in the complete destruction of the Prophet's town, which had about forty cabins and huts, and the large Kickapoo village adjoin- ing, below it on the west side of the river, consisting of about one hundred and sixty cabins and huts-finding and destroy- ing their corn, reconnoitering the circumjacent country and constructing works for the defense of our boats and army. Seven miles east of us, on the. Ponce Passu creek, a party of Indians were discovered. They had fired on a party of ours on the 21st and killed a man by the name of Dunne, a gallant soldier in Captain Duval's company. On the 22d upwards of sixty horsemen, under the command of Lieutenant Colonels Miller and Wilcox, anxious to bury their comrade, as well as
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gain a more complete knowledge of their ground, went to a point near the Indian encampment, fell into an ambuscade and eighteen of our party were killed, wounded and missing. On the return of this party and the information of a large assembly of the enemy, who, encouraged by the strength of their camp, appeared to be waiting for us, every preparation was made to march early and to engage the enemy at every risk, when from the most violent storm and fall of snow, at- tended with the coldest weather I ever saw or felt at this sea- son of the year and which did not subside until the evening of the 23rd, we were delayed until the 24th. Upon arriving on the ground, we found the enemy had deserted their camp before the fall of the snow and passed the Ponce Passu. I have no doubt but their ground was the strongest I have ever seen. The deep-rapid creek spoken of was in their rear, run- ning in a semi-circle and fronted by a bluff one hundred feet high, almost perpendicular, and only to be penetrated by three steep ravines. If the enemy would not defend them- selves here, it was evident they did not intend to fight at all.
"After reconnoitering sufficiently, we returned to camp and found the ice so accumulated as to alarm us for the re- turn of the boats. I had fully intended to spend one more week in endeavoring to find the Indian camp, but the shoe- less, shirtless state of the troops now clad in the remnants of their summer dress-a river full of ice-the hills covered with snow-a rigid climate and no certain point to which we could further direct our operations-under the influence and advice of every staff and field officer, orders were given and meas- ures pursued for our return on the 25th.
"We are now progressing to Ft. Harrison through ice and snow, where we expect to arrive on the last day of this month. Before I close this I cannot forbear expressing the merits of the officers and soldiers of this command. After leaving Ft. Harrison, all unfit for duty, we had in privates of every corps, about one thousand-in the total, twelve hundred and fifty or thereabout. At the Prophet's town up- wards of one hundred there were on the sick report, yet, sir, have we progressed in such order as to menace our enemy.
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free from annoyance; seven large keel boats have been con- voyed and protected to a point heretofore unknown to Indian expeditions; three large Indian establishments have been burned and destroyed, with nearly three miles of fence (and . all the corn, etc., we could find), besides many smaller ones. The enemy have been sought in their strongholds and every op- portunity afforded them to attack or alarm us; a march on the east side of the Wabash without road or cognizance of the country, fully one hundred miles perfected, and this has been done with a naked army of infantry, aided with only fifty rangers and spies. All this was done in twenty days-no sigh, no murmur, or complaint.
"I certainly feel particular obligations to my friends, General Butler and Colonel Taylor, for their effectual and ready aid in their line; as also to Captain Z. Taylor, of the Seventh United States Infantry. Messrs. Gist and Richen- son, my aide-de-camps, and Major J. C. Breckinridge, my sec- retary, for prompt and effectual support in every instance. The firm and almost unparalleled defense of Ft. Harrison by Captain Z. Taylor has raised for him a fabric of character not to be effaced by my eulogy. To Colonel Barbour for his officer-like management in conducting and commanding the boats, my thanks are due. As also to Colonels Miller and Wilcox; and to Majors Hughes and Shacklett, and to the Captains and subalterns of the army in general. From Lieutenants Richenson, Hawkins and Sullivan, of the U. S. troops, I have to acknowledge my obligations for their steady and uniform conduct, as well as Captain Beckes, of the rangers, Captain Washburn of the spies, and the staff gen- erally."
When the army on its return trip had arrived at Vin- cennes, General Hopkins announced in a general order his determination to retire from military life.
From the northern borders of Indiana Territory many Iudians had returned to the former sites of their old towns in the central part of the Territory and rebuilt them. The
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Miamis occupied many stations along the Mississinewa river and were concentrating a large force at these towns. Gen- eral Harrison ordered Lieutenant Colonel John B. Campbell of the Nineteenth U. S. Regiment to organize a corps of mounted troops for the purpose of breaking up these stations. along the Mississinewa river. A regiment of Kentucky Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Simerall, and a detachment of U. S. Dragoons, commanded by Major Ball, and a few other detachments of regular and volunteer troops-in all something over six hundred troops. With the command was a company of spies and several guides who had been impris- oned with the Indians for a long time when stationed in the section that the army intended to march through.
This detachment started on the expedition along the lat- ter part of November. The weather becoming very cold, they were very much retarded in their march. They carried, individually, a full ration for twelve days and on their horses, strapped behind their saddle, a bushel of corn. It was not until the 17th of December that they arrived at a town on the Mississinewa river, inhabited by the Indians. The ground being covered with snow and very cold, the Indians were in their wigwams. The troops entered the town from several points and killed several warriors and captured between forty and fifty prisoners, most of them women and children. Then they went to some other villages farther down the river, but found them all evacuated. The weather was so extremely cold that it was thought best by the council of officers assem- bled for the expedition to return, but while the officers were in council the camp was attacked by a large body of Indians. The attack was made upon the left flank of the camp, but in a very short time became general. The enemy advanced very close to the line, and seemed determined to come into the camp. The soldiers along that line were brave men, many of them old Indian fighters, and they met this onrush of the Indians with a leaden hail that checked them, when they rushed to find places of concealment, from which posi- tion they kept up a furious fire on the American troops for
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more than one hour, when the Indians gave way and retired from the field.
Of the Americans, eight were killed outright and several died that day of their wounds. In all there were about fifty- five soldiers hit. They lost something more than one hun- dred horses. The Indians left on the field fifteen dead. It was not known how many they carried off the field dead or mortally wounded, but probably as many as they left. There was no way of ascertaining the number of others wounded who were able to get away.
After the battle was over and the dead were buried, it. was decided to commence immediately their return trip. They were compelled to move very slowly owing to a number of severely wounded men, whom they had to carry with them. Colonel Campbell sent an express to Greenville notifying the authorities there of their condition, and a detachment of ninety men, commanded by Major Adams, started to meet them with supplies and conveyances for the wounded.
At a large town in what is now Delaware county, Indiana, the Delaware Indians were in considerable force, and at vari- ous other towns up and down that river and its tributaries. These Indians were regarded as friendly to the United States and were urged to move away from the routes of the hostile Indians into the state of Ohio at a reservation assigned for them on the Auglaize river. This arrangement was carried out and the friendly Delawares placed themselves under the protection of the United States Government.
During the times of these expeditions against the Indians and the many battles with them, Governor Gibson and the few troops of his command were busy trying to influence the people who had settled in the Territory to prepare suitable places in each settlement where the people could rally in case of danger and defend themselves.
On the 18th of December, 1812, General Gibson, acting Governor, issued a proclamation in which he required the Legislature to meet on the first day of February, 1813. In a message which he delivered to the House of Representatives in 1813, the acting Governor said: "The Governor of the
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Territory, having been for some time absent from us, the gubernatorial functions consequently devolving upon him have been exercised by me. In my discharge of this import- ant trust, I have been actuated by none other than a wish to preserve public rights and protect private property. If I have, at any time, failed in my official duties, or erred in my plans you must attribute it to the head and not to the heart. My address to you, gentlemen, shall be laconic, for I am not an orator nor accustomed to set speeches and did I possess the abilities of Cicero or Demosthenes, I could not portray in more glowing colors our foreign and domestic political situation than it is already experienced within our own breasts. The United States has lately been compelled by frequent acts of injustice to declare war against England. I say compelled, for I am convinced from the pacific and agricultural disposition of her citizens that it must be a case of the last necessity which would induce such a measure. For the detailed causes of the war, I beg leave to refer you, gentlemen, to the message of his excellency, the President, to Congress at the commence- ment of the present session. It is highly worthy of the ser- ious perusal of the sage and patriot. It does honor to the head and heart of Mr. Madison. Although I am not an ad- mirer of wars in general, yet, as we are now engaged in a necessary and justifiable one, I can exultingly say that I am happy to see, in my advanced days, our little but inimitable navy riding triumphant on the seas; but chagrined to find that our armies by land are so little successful. The spirit of '76 appears to have fled from our continent, or if not fled, is at least asleep for it appears not to pervade our armies generally. On the contrary, lassitude, and too often schisms -have crept in and usurped the place of patriotic ardor.
"At your last assemblage, gentlemen, our political hor- izon seemed clear; our infant Territory bid fair for a rapid and rising grandeur; our population was highly flattering; our citizens were becoming prosperous and happy, and secur- ity dwelt everywhere, even on our frontiers. Alas! the scene has changed and whether this change, as it respects our Territory has been owing to over anxiety in us to attend
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our dominions or to a wish for a retaliation by our foes or to a foreign influence, I shall not pretend to decide, but tl at there is a change, and that, too, a distressing one, is evider t. For the aborigines, our former neighbors and friends, have become our most inveterate foes. They have drawn the scalping knife and raised the tomahawk and shouts of savage fury are heard at our thresholds. Our former frontiers ale now our wilds and our inner settlements have become fron :- tiers. Some of our best citizens and old men worn down with age and helpless women and innocent babes, have fallen vic- tims to savage cruelty. Our citizens, even in our towns, have frequent alarms and constant apprehensions as to their preservation. I have not been inattentive to my duty, gen- tlemen, but have hitherto and shall continue to exert every nerve to afford our citizens all possible protection, and it is hoped that the all-wise and powerful Creator and Governor of the Universe will not forget his people, but cover us from our savage and sanguinary foe by his benign interposition."
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