USA > Massachusetts > Our western border : its life, combats, adventures, forays, massacres, captivities, scouts, red chiefs, pioneer women, one hundred years ago, containing the cream of all the rare old border chronicles > Part 54
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* Butler's History of Kentucky gives an amusing incident of this siege. Captain Helm, the old commandant and then a prisoner, was at the time of the sudden attack playing at piquet with Goveraor Hamilton in the fort. One of Clark's men requested leave to shoot at Helm's headquarters so soon as they were discovered, to knock down the clay or mortar into his apple-toddy, which he was sure the Captain, from his well-known fondness for that liquor would have on his hearth. It is added that when the gallant but bibulous Captain heard the bullets rattling about the chimney, he sprang up, swore it must be Clark's men, who would make the whole of them prisoners, though the d-d rascals had no business to spoil his toddy.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
Clark had made himself familiar with all the defences and their fail- ings, and knowing that the fort cannon were on the upper floors of strong block-houses, and that the ports had been so badly planned and fashioned that they could not fire at low range, he snugged his best marksmen close under the walls. Here they were safe. The cannon did no execution except to the town buildings, which they much shat- tered. The musketry, too, employed in the dark against trained woods- men covered by houses, palings, river banks and what not, was equally ineffectual, while the Kentuckians' unerring rifles searched out every vulnerable spot. In fact, those skilled riflemen finding the true direc- tion, would pour in such volleys when the embrasures were open, that the British had quite a number of their gunners wounded and could no longer stand to their pieces.
The impudent Big Knives, too, would stand quite near the port holes, but out of reach of all missiles, and chaff and abuse the enemy in order to so exasperate them that they would open their ports and fire their cannon. But as soon as one was opened, fifty Kentucky rifles would be leveled at it on the instant, and if the British had stood to their ar- tillery, every gunner would have been killed during the night, as the best marksmen lay well covered within thirty yards of the walls.
" Sometimes," says Clark, " an irregular fire, as hot as possible, was kept up from different directions for a few minutes, and then only a con- tinual scattering fire at the ports, as usual; and a great noise and laugh- ter immediately commenced in different parts of the town by the reserved parties, as if they had only fired on the fort for a few minutes for amuse- ment, and as if those continually firing at the fort were being regularly relieved. Conduct similar to this kept the garrison constantly alarmed."
Thus did the wily and subtle American continue to befool and bam- boozle the General, who from the scalp bounties he was constantly of- fering, was known on the border as the " British hair-buyer," until he was well worked into the belief that he must have the whole of Ken- tucky at his doors.
The time was now ripe for a change of tactics, which came in the shape of a summons to Hamilton for surrender. It was declined, but Hamilton's true feeling peeped out in a question to Helm. "Is he a merciful man ?" quoth the Governor. The attack was now renewed with greater vigor than ever, Clark concluding to listen to no terms until in possession of the fort. Helm now cautioned the English sol- diers not to look through the loopholes, for these Virginia riflemen, he said, would shoot their very eyes out. Indeed; seven having been actually shot in this manner, Hamilton then was induced to send out a flag proposing a truce of three days and a conference. The American
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MAJOR HAY TREMBLES.
was nonplused to get at the meaning of the demand for so long a truce, but finally sent word that he would agree to no other terms than a com- plete surrender of the garrison at discretion, and that if Hamilton de- sired a conference they could meet at the church.
MAJ. HAY TREMBLES-A CURIOUS INCIDENT-THE FORT SURRENDERS.
They met and the conference began. Hamilton agreed to surrender if certain conditions were granted. Clark deliberately rejected the whole, making quite a haughty speech as if he were already in posses- sion, and concluded by assuring the Governor that his troops were im- patient to get at all Indian partisan leaders, and to storm the works, and in that case they would all be cut off to a man. Not being able to agree they were parting, when Hamilton turned and asked politely if Clark would be so kind as to give him his reasons for granting no bet- ter terms. This was the kind of business Clark was good at, and be sure his ability to take the place whenever he wished, was amplitudi- nously set forth.
On Clark's concluding, Major Hay remarked, " And pray, sir, who is it that you call ' Indian partisans ?'" " Sir," replied Clark sternly, " I take Major Hay to be one of the principal." " I never saw a man in the moment of execution," writes Clark, " so struck as he appeared to be-pale, trembling and scarce able to stand. Hamilton blushed and was much affected at his behavior."
Clark returned to his quarters and said he would reconsider and let Hamilton know the result. While all this was going on, an Indian scalping party, who had been to the Ohio, were seen returning. Cap- tain Williams, with a proper party, went out to meet them. The sava- ges, who mistook the whites for their own friends, continued to advance with all the parade of successful warriors. Williams' men, outraged at this unseemly exultation, fired at once, killing two, wounding three and taking six prisoners, one of whom proved to be white. The Indians were brought openly before the fort gates ; there tomahawked in full" sight of the garrison and their carcasses thrown into the river. This was- done by Clark to show the numerous Indians around that Hamilton could give them none of his boasted protection, and to incense them against him for not exerting himself more in their behalf .*
* Clark mentions rather an odd incident in connection with these savages. An old French gentle- man was a Lieutenant in one of the Kaskaskia companies, and when Clark ordered the white man : who had been captured with this scalping party to be put to death, Lieutenant St. Croix stood by with drawn sword, so that he should not escape. The wretch, on seeing the tomahawk raised.to give the fatal stroke, lifted his eyes and cried to the old Frenchman, "Oh, father, save me !" He was his own son, painted and disguised as a savage. The agitation and behavior of the two recog. nizing each other at such a critical moment, may be imagined. At the earnest solicitation of the- father, the young man's life was spared on certain conditions.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
On the 24th, the two commanders agreed on conditions, and the gar- rison capitulated as prisoners of war. The American flag floated over Fort Sackville, and thirteen guns boomed forth the victory. By this con- quest were obtained seventy-nine white prisoners and $50,000 worth of stores. It was a masterful stroke, boldly and skillfully executed. Not only were the vast British-Indian combinations against the western bor- der completely broken up, by which numbers of fighting men were allowed to join our eastern armies, but the whole northwestern country remained ever after in peaceable possession of the Americans ; otherwise it would most probably have belonged to Britain at the peace. Governor Hamilton was sent to Richmond, Virginia, and his men to Detroit, on parole. The former was fettered and thrust in jail on account of his abominable policy in urging savages to greater savageries by offering large bounties for scalps, but none for prisoners. This policy naturally resulted in hor- rible, wholesale butcheries, for the Indians would actually drive their captives within sight of the British forts, and there butcher them for the hair bounty. Through the interference of Washington, Hamilton was afterwards released, his harsh and rigorous treatment not being in accordance with the terms of surrender.
CLARK WANTS DETROIT-HIS MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DEATH.
There is but little doubt that had Clark now had as many men as were starving or idling in some of the western forts, he could easily have added the crown to his invaluable conquests by the capture of De- troit itself. This was now his daily dream and his most cherished am- bition. He sent urgent appeals to Kentucky for more men. With this sole end in view, he returned to Kaskaskia. He was only now twenty-seven years of age, and his whole soul was fired with the enter- prise. "If I had but three hundred men available," he wrote to Jeffer- son, "I would have attempted it." He was doomed to disappoint- ment, however, and while preparing to set off with even two hun- dred at his command, he was advised by Governor Henry to wait until he could have a regiment. The auspicious time never came again.
He was soon after presented with a second-handed sword by the As- sembly of Virginia. It arrived safely, but the additional men never. " Hope deferred maketh the heart sick," and, finally, Clark proceeded to the Falls of the Ohio, where Louisville was soon after built. In 1780 he constructed Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi, and led an important expedition against the Ohio Indians. He then repaired to Richmond to press forward his Detroit scheme. His views were approved, but be-
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HIS MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DEATH.
fore he could get a suitable command, came the traitor Benedict Arnold, ruthlessly carrying fire and sword into the heart of the State. Clark took temporary command with Baron Steuben. He was now raised to the rank of Brigadier General, and spent many months in raising a force of two thousand men, which was to rendezvous at Louisville.
But insuperable difficulties arose and he was obliged to content him- self with small commands and defensive operations. This was the turn- ing point in Clark's life. The decadence of his fame and influence had now commenced. In 1782, after the disastrous battle of the Blue Licks, he led an expedition of a thousand mounted men against the Ohio In- dians. The results were petty, as the Indians would not stand. In'86, a new army of a thousand was raised against the Wabash Indians, and Clark was given the lead. The expedition proved unfortunate, the men mutinous and was abandoned. Several years after he accepted a Major General's commission from Genet, in the French service, designing to lead a secret expedition against the Spanish on the Mississippi, but a revolution soon occurred in France and the project was abandoned.
Clark's military reputation now suffered an eclipse from which it never emerged. He lost much of his popularity and henceforth lived obscure and neglected. While yet in middle age, he disappeared almost completely from public life, a soured, disappointed and decrepid man. For a long time he had suffered from rheumatism, that fell foe of the early pioneers. This was followed by paralysis of which he finally died, in 1817, at his residence near Louisville.
Clark was never married, but although he left no descendants to hand down his name to posterity, he will never be forgotten by his grateful countrymen.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
"THE WAR BELT-A LEGEND OF NORTH BEND."
Under this alluring title, Judge Hall, of Cincinnati, gives in his Romance of Western History a very glowing and amplified account of a treaty held by commissioners duly appointed-Generals George Rogers Clark, Richard Butler and Samuel Parsons-with the Shawnees. In all these treaty transactions General Clark is described as playing the most prominent role. But we will first condense Hall's relation and then correct some of his errors.
For several days previous to that appointed for the holding of the council, parties of Indian warriors were seen arriving and erecting tempo- rary lodges near the fort of North Bend, at the outlet of the fertile Miami Valley. The number of Indians was much greater than necessary or expected, and they seemed anything but pacific. Irritated by recent events and puffed up by delusive promises of British support, they wore an offended and insolent air. Their glances were vindictive and their thirst for vengeance scarce concealed. The fort was a very slight work and the situation of the garrison very precarious. Both parties held separate councils the day previous. That of the Indians was declama- tory and boisterous. Deeming their enemy too weak to offer much op- position, they had decided on their course and declaimed noisily on their wrongs.
The American commissioners sat with gloomy forebodings. To meet the excited savages in council would be to place themselves at their mercy; yet to break up negotiations would be tantamount to a declara- tion of war. Then Hall follows with an elaborate eulogy on Clark, as the master spirit of the occasion, at the expense of his colleagues. Clark, he says, treated the idea of danger with ridicule, and insisted, calmly and even playfully, that the negotiations should proceed. This is as though his colleagues had wished to postpone it. An apartment was prepared as a council room, and at the appointed hour the doors were thrown open.
"At the head of the table sat Clark, a soldier-like and majestic man, whose complexion, hair and all indicated a sanguinary temperament. His brow was high and capacious; his features manly and prominent, and his expression, ordinarily cheerful and agreeable, was now grave almost to sternness. Clark's reputation for courage and firmness was widely known and well appreciated by the chiefs and warriors. On his right sat General Richard Butler, a brave officer of the Revolution, who
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THE WAR BELT.
soon after fell in St. Clair's disastrous battle. On his left sat General Parsons, and around sat or stood officers, soldiers, secretaries, interpre- ters, &c.
"An Indian council is one of the most imposing spectacles in savage life. The chiefs and sages, the leaders and orators, occupy the most conspicuous seats; behind them are ranged the younger braves, and still further in the rear appear the women and youth as spectators. All are attentive, and their silence is impressive. The great pipe, gaudily adorned with paint and feathers, is passed from mouth to mouth. What- ever jealousy or party spirit may exist is carefully excluded from this dignified assemblage. It was an alarming evidence now of the temper prevailing, that the usual decorum and propriety were wanting. The customary formalities were forgotten or neglected, and an insulting levity took their place. The chiefs and braves stalked haughtily in and seated themselves promiscuously on the floor. An air of insolence marked their movements, and showed a design either to dictate terms or fix a quarrel. A dead silence of distrust and watchfulness, but not of respect, rested over the assembly."
The commissioners, without appearing to notice the ominous beha- vior of the Indians, opened the council in due form. The pipe was lighted and passed. General Clark explained the purpose for which the treaty was ordered with unembarrassed air and the tone of one accus- tomed to command; he stated they had come, authorized by their Great Father to offer the Shawnees peace, and asked some of their wise men to speak.
"A chief arose, drew up his tall person to its full height, and assum- ing a haughty attitude, threw his eye contemptuously over the commis- sioners and their small retinue, and then, stalking up to the table, threw upon it two belts of wampum of different colors-the war and the peace belt. 'We come here,' he exclaimed, 'to offer you two pieces of wampum; they are of different colors; you know what they mean; you can take which you like,' and, turning upon his heel, he resumed his seat. The chiefs drew themselves up, knowing they had offered an insult to which it would be hard to submit, but which they supposed he dare not resent.
" The pipe was laid aside and those fierce, wild men gazed intently on Clark. He sat undisturbed and apparently careless, until the chief who had thrown the belts on the table had taken his seat, then, with a small cane which he held in his hand he reached, as if playfully, towards the war belt, entangled the end of his stick in it, drew it towards him, and with a twitch of the cane threw the belt into the midst of the chiefs. The effect was electric. Every man in council, of each
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
party, sprang to his feet ; the savages with a loud Ugh of astonishment -the Americans in expectation of a hopeless conflict. Every hand grasped a weapon. Clark alone was unawed. The expression of his countenance changed to a ferocious sternness and his eye flashed, but otherwise he was unmoved. A bitter smile was perceptible upon his compressed lips as he gazed upon that savage band as they stood like a pack of wolves at bay, ready to rush upon him whenever one bolder than the rest should commence the attack. Raising now his arm and waving his hand towards the door, he exclaimed : 'Dogs ! you may go !'
" The Indians hesitated for a moment, and then rushed tumultuously out of the council room. The cool contempt with which their first insult was thrown back in their teeth surprised them, and they were foiled by the self-possession of one man. They quailed before a cool- ness they could not comprehend, and therefore feared to assail."
All this is very fine and picturesque, and has been widely published, but it is not true history. We are safe in stating that no such scene- exactly as the one described-occurred, and that in the scene, just as striking, which did occur, Clark was not, but Butler was, the chief actor. Mr. Hall seems to have amplified a much briefer article-describing the same dramatic spectacle-which was first published in the Encyclopedia Americana, and which, for the impressiveness of the scene depicted, enjoyed a wide currency. Clark would have been just the very man to do such an act as he is represented to have done, and he has earned glory enough without there being any necessity for his admirers adding one leaf to his chaple+ of honor at the expense of his equally-gallant co-commissioner, General Richard Butler, one of the bravest old flints of the Revolution-an officer who was styled by General Lee " the re- nowned second and rival of Morgan at Saratoga ; " who was Wayne's second at the brilliant dash at Stony Point, and who sealed his devo- tion to his country with his blood, a few years after, at St. Clair's dis- astrous defeat.
Butler kept a regular private diary of all the proceedings at this treaty, and his account is plain, modest, direct and unpretending. Clark, of course, had no part in his being made to figure as the hero of this striking scene. He died in 1817, and the Encyclopedia account first appeared in 1830. Let us now find out from Butler's unpretend- ing journal what really did occur. The General's reputation as a man of the very highest honor and the very strictest veracity, would at once forbid the thought that he could basely concoct a lie, and that, too. in his own private journal, intended for no eye but his own, and w1-ich has never yet seen the light, except in the Olden Time, published by Neville B. Craig, of Pittsburgh.
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THE WAR BELT.
By this we learn that it was the Indians who first offered the black or war belt, and that it was General Butler who offered them in return the option of a black or white belt, just as Clark himself did at Kaskaskia several years before to the Indian chiefs assembled there. We also learn that the Delawares and Wyandots, too, were interested in this treaty, and quite numerously represented, for of the whole four hundred and forty-eight Indians-men, women and children-the Wyandots had eighty-three, the Delawares had forty-seven, while the Shawnees had three hundred and eighteen.
At this grand council, Kekewepellethe, the head Captain of the Shawnees, did make a most insolent speech, and at the end threw down a black or war belt. He said in effect, curtly and fiercely, that they would not give hostages, as required, for the return of all the white flesh in their hands; that it was not their custom ; that they were Shaw- nees and when they said a thing they stood to it, and as for dividing their lands, God gave them the lands; they did not understand measur- ing out lands, as it was all theirs. As for the goods for their women and children, the whites might keep them or give them to other tribes, as they would have none of them.
The commissioners conferred a short time on this arrogant speech, and resolved they would bate no jot of their demands, "Whereupon," writes Butler, in his diary, "I (not Clark) addressed them in this short manner." We need not give the whole speech, but it was quite as crisp and double-shotted as the imperious chief's, and said, in effect, that the chief's speech was not only unwise and ungrateful, but flagrantly false; that they had granted hostages before, both to Bouquet and Dun- more; that they had proved false and perfidious to all their solemn pledges, and that they could no longer be believed, but were cruel and barbarous murderers. Butler (not Clark) concluded nearly as follows: " You joined the British King against us. We have overcome him ; he has cast you off and given us your country, and Congress, in bounty and mercy, offer you peace and a country. We have told you our terms and these we will not alter. They are just and liberal. We now tell you if you are so unwise as to adhere to what you have said and to refuse these terms, you may depart in peace ; you shall have provisions to take you to your towns and no man shall touch you for eight days, but after that, we shall consider ourselves free from all ties of protection, and you may depend the United States will protect their citizens and distress your obstinate nation. It rests now with you. Peace or war is in your power. Make your choice like men. We tell you plainly that this country belongs to the United States-their blood has defended it and will protect it. You should be thankful for its forgiveness and
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
offers of kindness instead of the sentiments which this black string im. parts and the manner you have delivered it. We shall not receive it or any other from you in any such way."
"I then took it up," adds Butler, "and dashed it on the table. We then left them, and threw down a black and a white string. In the afternoon the Shawnees sent a message requesting a council; on which we went in. Kekewepellethe then arose and spoke as follows: 'Brothers, the thirteen fires we feel sorry that a mistake has caused you to be dis- pleased at us this morning. You must have misunderstood us. We told you yesterday that three of our men were to go off immediately to collect your flesh and blood. We had also appointed persons to remain with you till this is performed ; they are here, and shall stay with you. Brethren, our people are sensible of the truths you have told them. You have everything in your power; we, therefore, hope that you will take pity on our women and children. Brothers, everything shall be as you wish; we came here to do that which is good, and we agree to all you have proposed, and hope, in future, we shall both enjoy peace and be secure.'" .. (A white string.)
Butler's speech, doubtless agreed to and possibly, in part, suggested by Clark, had settled the whole matter. Mark the contrast between this meek and submissive piping and the haughty and defiant trumpet tones of the same morning! "'Twas Hyperion to a Satyr." The council broke up, and a satisfactory treaty was made the very next day. Butler modestly writes: "It was worthy of observation to see the differ- ent degrees of agitation which appeared in the young Indians at the delivery of Kekewepellethe's speech. They appeared raised and ready for war. On the speech I spoke, they appeared rather distressed and chagrined at the contrast of the speeches."
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JAMES HARROD, PIONEER HUNTER AND INDIAN-KILLER.
JAMES HARROD, PIONEER HUNTER AND INDIAN-KILLER.
This gamy and noble-spirited pioneer is honored by being the builder of the first log-cabin and the founder of the first settlement in Kentucky. When Boone was sent, in '74, by Governor Dunmore to warn the sur- veyors at the Falls of the Ohio that an Indian war had broken cut, he found the hunter and his company settled at Harrodstown.
So little is known of Harrod's youth, that history does not even name whence he came nor when he migrated. We only know that he went to Kentucky even prior to Boone; was most probably a Virginian; went back to that State, and returned to Kentucky in 1774; fought under Colonel Lewis at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and that next year he settled, as stated, on the site of the present town of Harrodsburg. But the name of the young hunter soon became familiar along the border. He was associated with Boone in many a feat of self-denying hardihood and generous chivalry. He was tall, brave, simple and modest-had read no book but that of Nature; knew no art but wood-craft; hated nothing on earth but an Indian and a pole-cat, and never said: "Boys, you do it," but "Boys, come on!" His rifle was the longest, the heaviest and the surest; his calm, frank eye was never at fault to mark the distant game, to meet the gaze of a deadly foe, or smile back truth to a friend. Such were his habits of incessant activity, and so great his coolness and self-reliance, that he never had to wait for companions in his longest and most dangerous expeditions.
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