The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I, Part 23

Author: Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs. The story of the townships of Allen County
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : R.O. Law Co.
Number of Pages: 760


USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89


Accused of treachery, Logan, in 1813, met the death of a hero, while undertaking a most hazardous mission against the enemy. It was declared by the Indians that the British had offered $150 for the scalp of Logan, and he finally fell a victim to the wiles of his enemies. "More firmness and consummate bravery has seldom appeared in the military theatre," wrote General Winchester in his report to General Harrison. "He was buried with all the honors due his rank, and with sorrow as sincerely and generally displayed as I ever witnessed."


None too soon were the women and children removed to a place of safety, for, on the fall of Detroit, warriors to the number of about five hundred gathered quietly about Fort Wayne, encamping in the forest and seeking to avoid open evidence of hostility. Theirs was a waiting game. The situation was rendered highly embarrassing and hazardous by the physical condition of the aged commandant, Cap- tain Rhea, whose fondness for intoxicants unfitted him for a realiza- tion of the true situation. It is evident, too, that ill-feeling among the officers and Indian agent within the fort was not lacking. In later years Major Stickney2 wrote: "The commanding officer was drunk nearly all the time, and the two lientenants [Curtis and Ostrander] were inefficient men, entirely unfit to hold commissions of any grade." Historians have always reckoned William Oliver as the real hero of the moment, but it is a noticeable fact that Lieu- tenant Daniel Curtis, writing his account of the siege at a later time, makes no reference to the brave sutler. Concerning Oliver more will be said in the development of the story. The citations are made merely to indicate the deplorable condition of affairs preceding the severest period of the siege.


With the completion of their plans to invest the stockade and


201


THE SIEGE OF FORT WAYNE


1812


destroy the lives of the men and women within the fort, Me-te-a,3 a Pottawattomie chief, made his way, under cover of darkness, to the hut occupied by Antoine Bondie and his family, outside the fort enclosure, and revealed to Bondie the plans of attack in order that he and his Indian wife might escape death. Bondie was a French trader, who had married a Miami woman, and had lived in the vicinity for many years. Instead of seeking his personal safety in joining the Indians, Bondie crept to the council house and there revealed the plot to Major Stickney. Stickney was puzzled. Bondie


COLONEL JOHN ALLEN.


The brilliant Kentucky statesman and brave soldier for whom Allen county is named was among the first of the Ken- tuckians to offer his services for his country when the perilous situation of Fort Wayne in 1812 was made known. His undaunted courage during the try- ing period after raising of the siege of Fort Wayne, up to the time of his tragic death at the battle of the River Raisin, near the present Monroe, Michigan, has given him a fame throughout the middle west which will not pass from the mem- ory of his countrymen. John Allen was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, on December 30, 1772. His father, James Allen, with his family, emigrated to Kentucky in 1780 and settled near Dan- ville, later removing to a farm a short distance from Bardstown, near Louis- ville. After a course in two private schools, John Allen studied law at Staunton, Virginia, and returned in 1795 to open a law office in Shelbyville. He rose to great prominence as a lawyer. One of his celebrated cases tried at Frankfort was as an associate of Henry Clay in the defense of Aaron Burr. In his race for the governorship of Ken- tucky against General Charles Scott he was defeated by only one vote. He served several terms as a state senator. The wife of Colonel Allen was Jane, a daughter of General Benjamin Logan; the latter gives his name to the history of Fort Wayne through Captain John Logan, the Shawnee brave, his adopted son. The departure of Colonel Allen, at the height of his fame as a lawyer, to lead his fellow Kentuckians in the try- ing northern campaign was marked by "wild enthusiasm as this tall, handsome soldier led his valiant troops" to the place of rendezvous and to his own death.


MAJOR GEORGE CROGHAN.


Captain (later Major) George Cro- ghan, when he reached Fort Wayne, with General Harrison in 1812, was twenty- two years of age. His bravery and loy- alty caused General Harrison to place him in temporary command of Fort Wayne, but he was soon afterward in active service in Ohio. His brilliant and successful defense of Fort Stephenson (Fremont) in Ohio was one of the most remarkable events of the war. By an act of congress he was presented with a gold medal. Croghan later located at New Orleans, and became postmaster of that city in 1824. When he again en- tered the army service, a court-martial was arranged for examination into his conduct concerning the use of intoxicat- ing liquors. "George Croghan," exclaim- ed President Andrew Jackson, when he heard of it, "shall get drunk every day of his life if he wants to, and, by the Eternal, the United States shall pay for the whisky!" The proceedings ceased. Croghan later served with distinction in the Mexican war. He died at New Or- leans January 8, 1849.


Gbroghan


SIGNATURE OF MAJOR GEORGE CROGHAN.


4 202


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


possessed a reputation for questionable veracity. The agent had been at the fort less than three months. He hesitated to notify Gen- eral Harrison, for if the alarm were a false one, it would appear to indicate personal cowardice, which did not exist, and perhaps pre- cipitate a war if invading troops were called when no outbreak was intended by the savages.


The commandant, Rhea, when Stickney told him the story, scoffed at the thought of danger. Stickney, however, decided to notify General Harrison, who already had started northward from Cin- cinnati, toward Detroit. Rhea finally was induced to send a mes- sage to Governor Return J. Meigs, of Ohio, telling of the threatened attack of the Indians, and the two messengers were soon on their way. Directly, Major Stickney, who still lived in the council house, outside the fort, was stricken with illness; he was taken within the fort, and, shortly afterward, Bondie and his family sought shelter within the palisades.


During the time following the removal of the women to Piqua, Stephen Johnston, whose wife was among those taken from the fort, felt a strong desire to look after her welfare. Receiving permission to make the journey to Piqua, he left the stockade one night at 10 o'clock, in company with Peter Oliver, a soldier, and a dis- charged member of the garrison. When the three had reached a point in the edge of the forest near the site of the present Hanna (Hayden) homestead, on East Lewis street, the crack of a British rifle in the hands of a watching savage ended the life of Johnston; the other two men fled back to the fort. It was the beginning of the series of tragedies which marked the siege. A reward of twenty dollars, offered by Antoine Bondie the next day for the bringing of the body to the fort-a work performed by a young chief, White Raccoon-revealed the fact that Johnston had been scalped and tomahawked in a most brutal manner. Indian chiefs placed the blame for the murder upon their "young men," asserting that they could not control them. It was afterward learned at the treaty of Greenville (1814) when Colonel John Johnston accused White Rac- coon of having the blood of his brother on his hands, that two Pottowattomies and a half breed, one of the Indians named Pokaw, were the murderers. The body of Johnston rests in a cemetery at Piqua, where the tale of his death is engraved on the tombstone.


No further proof of the attitude of the savages was needed, and, although they made many protestations of friendliness, they stole from the vicinity of the fort the cattle, hogs and garden provisions, and gave many other evidences of hostility. Both factions, however, refrained from open warfare in order to prolong the period pre- ceding the actual conflict-the savages expecting that Tecumseh and the British would come to their assistance, and the garrison hoping for the early arrival of General Harrison's troops.


Finally, the Indians, on being provided with a white cloth to be used as a flag of truce which they delayed using for several days, approached the fort in large numbers, hoping, evidently, to be allowed to enter in such force as to be able to overpower the occu- pants. But few were admitted, however, by Major Stickney, who designated thirteen chiefs who would be welcomed. Each was disarmed on entering the stockade and the party followed the agent


203


THE SIEGE OF FORT WAYNE


1812


Fort Wayne March 14th 1×12


Bearfi


I received your of the 12 Ullafrom Doctor Tuner I expect it came by Heartman, I en close to you my Inspection & Monthly Mitran for the Month February 1012 which The = eve are correcta- you say if we have a British Was we shall have an Indian war - from The best information' I can getid every reason Ar believe we shall have an Infran War this firing weather we have a Brittisk waror not. I am told the Indians are a making every Inparation, there is certainly a very deep plan a going on amongst the Indian. Jam with much ruft for your oft fest


Chia Captain


Gift John Whither 1 Rept Infty Como.


CAPTAIN RHEA FORESAW THE SIEGE OF FORT WAYNE IN 1812. Captain James Rhea was in command of Fort Wayne during the memorable siege of September, 1812. Six months earlier he wrote to Captain John Whistler at Detroit: "You say if we have a British war we shall have an Indian war. From the best information I can get I [have] every reason to believe we shall have an Indian war this Spring whether we have a British war or not. I am told the Indians are making every preparation. There is certainly a very deep plan agoing on amongst the Indians."


204


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


to his quarters. At the request of the agent, Captain Rhea paraded the troops during the council which followed. When the council pipes were finished Winamac, addressing the agent, disclaimed, on the part of the chiefs, any part in the death of Johnston. "But," he added, "if my father wishes for war, I am a man- -" At this moment there was a strange stir among the assembled savages. The words, "I am a man" were to have been the signal for Winamac to stab the agent with a knife concealed beneath his blanket. An- toine Bondie, however, who had penetrated the secret, drew his own knife quickly and shouted, "I am a man, too!" and his dramatic action, together with the appearance of the soldiers, fully armed, brought the treacherous plan to a close. The Indians had hoped, through the murder of the agent and officers, to be able to control the situation even to the opening of the doors to allow the entrance of the murderous horde. Disappointed, they filed back to their encampment. A picture of the conditions within the fort from this time forward is well drawn by Lieutenant Curtis, who, on October 4, wrote a letter to a friend, Cullen, from which the following quotations are made :


CURTIS'S STORY OF THE SIEGE.


"On the evening of the 4th of September the flag [of truce] returned, accompanied by several chiefs, and, after being asked whether they wished to remain at peace with us or be considered in an open state of warfare, the head chief among them observed, 'You know that Mackinaw is taken, Detroit is in the hands of the British, and Chicago has fallen; and you must expect to fall next, and that in a short time!' Immediately our great captain invited the savage rascal over to his quarters and, after drinking three glasses of wine with him, rose from his seat and observed: 'My good friend, I love you; I will fight for you; I will die by your side. You must save me !' and then gave him a half dollar as a token of friendship, inviting him at the same time to come and breakfast with him the next morning. The chief and his party retired to their camps, but instead of accepting his invitation to breakfast, sent five of their young warriors, who secreted themselves behind a roothouse [for vegetables] near the garrison, from which they shot two of our men about sunrise as they were passing from a small hotel near that place.


"The night of the 5th [of September] arrived and our captain had not drawn a sober breath since the chiefs left the garrison the night before. From the movement of the Indians in the course of the day, Lieutenant Ostrander and myself expected to have some sport before the next morning, and were not disappointed in our conjecture, for at about 8 p. m. a general shout from the enemy was heard, succeeded by a firing of small arms on every side of us. The alarm post of every man, as well as the respective duties of Mr. Ostrander and myself having been regulated during the day, the enemy had not time to fire a second round before we were ready and opened three broadsides upon them, and sent them a few shells from our howitzers,4 which we presume must have raked the skins of many. We exchanged three general shots, when I discovered from


205


THE SIEGE OF FORT WAYNE


1812


the flash of their guns that they were secreted behind the buildings, fences and shrubbery near the garrison, and ordered the men to cease firing till further orders, thinking the enemy would conclude that we were either frightened or scarce of ammunition, and perhaps would venture nearer. As soon as a large body had collected at one point, we threw a couple of shells from our howitzers which soon made them disperse. The next day they kept up a firing till about 3 p. m. Our captain still continued drunk as a fool, and per- fectly incapable of exercising rationality on any subject whatever, but was constantly abusing every one that came in his presence. The night of the 6th approached; we had the roofs of our houses all watered, as well as the pickets on the inside, our water casks all filled and buckets ready in case of the enemy's attempting to throw


Head Quarters Fort Way on 19th Sept. 1012 -


The President of the united States having disegnato Brigadier General James Winchesterto the command of the army originally destined to schive General Hull and that offer having an = ind at this place , the Command is accordingly re- = linquished to him - Brigaden Gen& Payne , Colonel Wells and Capt Garrard Commanding The serial Corps composing the army will accordinglysport themselves to General Winchester and receive this orders. If any thing could soften the regret which the General feels at parting with Troops which have so entirely won his confidence and affection IT is the curcum = Tance of his committing Them to the change of one of the Heroes of our glorious Revolution a Mandistin - = quested as well for the Services he has rendered hes Country as for the profregions of every qualification which constitutes the Gentleman.


WHEN HARRISON SAID GOODBYE TO HIS TROOPS AT FORT WAYNE.


On the 19th of September, 1812, when General William Henry Harrison parted from his troops, which, under his leadership, had saved Fort Wayne from the siege of the murderous savages, he read to them a letter of farewell. The opening sentences follow:


"The President of the United States having designated Brigadier General James Winchester to the command of the army originally destined to relieve General Hull, and that officer having arrived at this place, the command is accordingly relinquished to him. Brigadier General Payne, Colonel Wells and Captain Gerrard, commanding the several corps composing the army, will, accordingly, report themselves to General Winchester and receive his orders. "If anything could soften the regret which the General feels at the parting with troops which have so entirely won his confidence and affection, it is the circumstance of his committing them to the charge of one of the heroes of our glorious Revolution, a man distinguished as well for the services he has rendered his country as for the possession of every qualification which constitutes the Gentleman."


206


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


fire, which they had endeavored several times to do without success. Between 8 and 9 o'clock we heard a tremendous noise, singing, dancing and whooping, and when they arrived within a proper dis- tance they hailed and asked us in plain English what we intended to do, whether surrender or to fight. They said they had 500 men with them and that they expected 700 the next day. We answered that we were ready, and bade them come on. We gave a general shout round the works in true Indian style, which they instantly returned, commencing at the same time a general fire, which was kept up on both sides with much warmth till about 11 o'clock, without the loss or the injury of a man on our side, but from appearances they must have lost many, as they were very quiet towards midnight.


"The siege continued from the morning of the 5th to the 10th, both day and night, and the fears and troubles of our great and intrepid commander were continually drowned in the excessive use of the ardents. Our fears and apprehensions from the disorders and confusion he created among the men, were one of our greatest troubles, and we had everything prepared at one time to silence his noise and clamor by coercive measures. He would frequently talk of surrendering if the Indians were likely to be too much for us, and particularly if they or the British were to bring one or more pieces of cannon which they took at Chicago and place them near the garrison, when he knew that the largest piece at Chicago was only a three-pounder; and when told by one of his subalterns that the first person in the garrison who should offer to surrender to the Indians or British at the approach of no heavier piece than a three- pounder should instantly be shot, he offered no resistance, but remained silent on the subject."


THE WILLIAM OLIVER EPISODE.


In the midst of the period of watchful anxiety within the fort, preceding the attack, a most thrilling episode brought cheer and courage to the garrison. William Oliver was the hero of the affair. Oliver, who was then twenty-five years of age, had been connected with the fort as a sutler (a trader licensed to provide the garrison with supplies). While the savages were gathering about the fort he was absent in Cincinnati purchasing supplies, and there he learned of the condition of affairs in Fort Wayne. He enlisted with the Ohio troops and tendered his services to General Harrison, with the proposition that the general allow him to proceed from St. Mary's, Ohio, to Fort Wayne with a small company as an ad- vance detachment of the army of relief. General Harrison consented reluctantly, assuring Oliver that he "should not see him again." With General Thomas Worthington, later governor of Ohio, the undaunted Oliver, leading a body of sixty-eight militia and sixteen Shawnee braves, started toward Fort Wayne. When within twenty- four miles of the fort, they ascertained the size of the besieging forces to be larger than they could safely meet in an open encounter, and so the immediate relief of the garrison was abandoned. Oliver, however, with three Shawnees, Captain John Logan, Captain Johnny and Brighthorn, leaving the camp of Worthington well mounted and


207


well armed, proceeded toward the fort, eluding the vigilance of the savages. Reaching the Maumee east of the fort, they proceeded cautiously to a point near the present Anthony boulevard (Walton avenue) bridge, where they tied their horses in the brush and recon- noitered afoot to ascertain the true condition of affairs. The savages were in the midst of another conference to capture the garrison by stratagem, and had gathered on the west and south sides of the stockade. Returning to their horses, the four messengers rode stealthily along the Maumee and up the bank to the east wall of the fort. No member of the garrison was in sight. Oliver and his companions could not make their presence known. It was a moment of peril. Their discovery would mean a hand-to-hand battle with overpowering numbers. In despair, they rode down the river bank


23


1


2


3


CANNON BALLS FIRED FROM FORT WAYNE.


1-Cannon ball owned by M. A. Sheets; found in South Wayne by children at play. 2-Cannon ball found in Adams township; owned by William Black. 3- Cannon ball owned by J. A. Calhoun; it was found in Lakeside. Concerning these war relics Dr. Charles E. Slocum, of To- ledo, says: "It appears most probable that they were fired from Fort Wayne during the siege of 1812, from cannon left there by General Wayne. Wayne left most of his cannon at Fort Defi- ance, which he made 'bomb-proof.' Fort Defiance was dismantled in 1796, after the Jay treaty, and it is probable that some of the little cannon were taken to Fort Wayne, and, probably, others were taken to Detroit."


PRESENT


CITY LIMITS


RIVER


MI


THE


FORT


RIVER


---


-


1


ARY'S


3


-


1


ST


6


-


S


MAP OF THE SIEGE


OF


FORT


WAYNE IN 1812.


1-Fort Wayne, the stockade, which contained a garrison of less than 100 men. 2-Encampments of the Indians at the time of the William Oliver ex- ploit. 3-General route of Oliver, Cap- tain Logan, Brighthorn and Captain Johnnie. 4-General route of the escape of the daring Shawnees. 5-Site of the murder of Stephen Johnston (near the present Hanna homestead on East Lew- is street, home of Mrs. Fred J. Hayden). 6-The approach of General William Henry Harrison's forces.


and skirted the shore as they turned their horses to the west to follow the St. Mary's course. Then, in full view of the savages, they dashed up the river bank and made straight for the north entrance of the stockade at a moment when Winamac, Five Medals and three other hostile chiefs were rounding the northwest corner of the fort with a flag of truce to hold another conference with the commandant. The sudden appearance of the riders in "full yell" disconcerted the besiegers, who believed them to be the advance of a large relieving force. Winamac, after a mere handshake, hastened back to a council of the tribes.


Once within the fort, Oliver quickly learned the true conditions,


1812


THE SIEGE OF FORT WAYNE


208


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


and informed the commandant and Major Stickney that General Harrison was on his way to save the post. Without loss of time, and while the savages were in a quandary as to the best move to be made, Oliver dispatched a note to General Worthington, and the gate of the fort was opened to allow three horsemen to dash out and down the trail along the Maumee. They were the faithful Logan, who had saved the women and children, and the two other friendly Shawnees. The astonished besiegers gave chase, but could not overtake the true-hearted red men. Oliver remained at the fort, and is credited with being the real hero of the trying days which followed.


When the messengers reached General Worthington, Oliver's dis- patches were forwarded to General Harrison.


The siege was now renewed in earnest. A hail of British bullets from British rifles in the hands of British allies, together with flaming arrows which set fire to the buildings and the palisades, characterized the hours of the five days following the arrival of Oliver. The savages gained possession of a log building outside the stockade, and from this place again demanded the surrender of the fort, or threatened the annihilation of the garrison. They claimed to have been provided with two British cannon manned by British artillerymen. The demand was refused and the attack was renewed with increased fury. The soldiers were dismayed at the appearance of the cannon, but when one of them burst at the first shot and the other at the second, there came the revelation that they were made of wood, held by iron bands. It later was learned that these "can- non" were devised by Parish, a half-breed Pottawattomie.


With the belief that Harrison's army of Kentuckians was draw- ing nearer with the passage of every hour, the soldiers within the palisades now settled down to a determination to hold the fort at all costs. Their belief was well founded.


Writing from Piqua on the 5th of September, Harrison pictured conditions to the secretary of war. Said he :


"I received information last night that a British army left Detroit on the 13th ultimo for the purpose of attacking Fort Wayne and, if successful, Fort Harrison [near Terre Haute] and Vin- cennes. I had yesterday dispatched 900 choice men to join the mounted men of this state [Ohio] which are in advance, and proceed to relieve Fort Wayne from the attack of the neighboring Indians. I am now engaged in preparing cartridges and boring touchholes of the muskets, all of which are too small, and to some guns there are none. I shall set out very early tomorrow, and by forced marches, overtake the detachment. I had intended to give up the command to General Winchester and had written him to that effect. The situation, at Fort Wayne, however, admits of no alternative. I have invited him to join me or bring up the troops in the rear. From the information I have received since I wrote you, there is little doubt that all the Indians (Miamis included) will participate in the attack on Fort Wayne."




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.