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 59
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The Indian (who, heretofore, had not uttered the slightest sound) now gave a short, quick yell, as if secure of his victim. Kennan had not a moment to deliberate. He must clear the impediment at a leap or perish. Putting his whole soul into the effort, he bounded into the air with a power which astonished himself, and clearing limbs, brush and everything else, alighted in perfect safety upon the other side. A loud yell of astonishment burst from the band of pursuers, not one of whom had the hardihood to attempt the same feat. Kennan, as may be readily imagined, had no leisure to enjoy his triumph, but dashing into the bed of the creek (upon the edge of which his feat had been per- formed) where the high banks would shield him from the fire of the enemy, he ran up the stream until a convenient place offered for cross- ing, and rejoined the rangers in the rear of the encampment, panting from the fatigue of exertions which have seldom been surpassed. No breathing time was allowed him, however. The attack instantly com- menced, and, as we have already observed, was maintained for three hours with unabated fury.
When the retreat commenced Kennan was attached to Major Clark's battalion, and had the dangerous service of protecting the rear. This corps quickly lost its commander, and was completely disorganized. Kennan was among the hindmost when the flight commenced, but ex- erting those same powers which had saved him in the morning, he quickly gained the front, passing several horsemen in the flight. Here he beheld a private of his own company, an intimate acquaintance, lying upon the ground, with his thigh broken, and in tones of the most piercing distress, imploring each horseman who hurried by to take him up behind him. As soon as he beheld Kennan coming up on foot, he stretched out his arms, and called upon him to save him. Notwith- standing the imminent peril of the moment, his friend could not reject so passionate an appeal, but seizing him in his arms, he placed him upon his back, and ran in that manner for several hundred yards. Horse- man after horseman passed them, all of whom refused to relieve him of his burden.
At length the enemy was gaining upon him so fast that Kennan saw their death certain, unless he relinquished his burden. He, accordingly, told his friend that he had used every possible exertion to save his life, but in vain ; that he must relax his hold around his neck, or they would both perish. . The unhappy wretch, heedless of every remonstrance, still
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KENNAN SAVES MADISON.
clung convulsively to his back, and impeded his exertions until the fore- most of the enemy (armed with tomahawks alone) were within twenty yards of them. Kennan then drew his knife from its sheath and cut the fingers of his companion, thus compelling him to relinquish his hold. The unhappy man rolled upon the ground in utter helplessness, and Kennan beheld him tomahawked before he had gone thirty yards. Relieved from his burden he darted forward with an activity which once more brought him to the van. Here, again, he was compelled to neglect his own safety in order to attend to that of others.
KENNAN SAVES MADISON-LIEUTENANT COLONEL DARKE'S ESCAPE.
Governor Madison, of Kentucky, who afterwards commanded the corps which defended themselves so honorably at Raisin, a man who united the most amiable temper to the most unconquerable courage, was at that time a subaltern in St. Clair's army, and being a man of infirm constitution was totally exhausted by the exertions of the morning, and was now sitting down calmly upon a log, awaiting the approach of his enemies. Kennan hastily accosted him, and inquired the cause of his delay. Madison, pointing to a wound which had bled profusely, replied that he was unable to walk further, and had no horse. Kennan instant- ìy ran back to a spot where he had seen an exhausted horse grazing, caught him without difficulty, and, having assisted Madison to mount, walked by his side until they were out of danger. Fortunately, the pursuit soon ceased, as the plunder of the camp presented irresistible attractions to the enemy. The friendship thus formed between these two young men, endured without interruption through life. Mr. Ken- nan never entirely recovered from the immense exertions which he was compelled to make during this unfortunate expedition. He settled in Fleming county, and continued for many years a leading member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1827.
A party of Chickasaws were on their march to join St. Clair, but did not arrive in time to share in the action. One warrior of that nation alone was present, and displayed the most admirable address and activ- ity. He positively refused to stand in the ranks with the soldiers, declaring that the "Shawnees would shoot him down like a wild pigeon," but took refuge behind a log a few yards in front of Butler's battalion, and discharged his rifle eleven times at the enemy with un- erring accuracy. He could not be persuaded, however, to forego the pleasure of scalping each Indian as he fell, and in performing this agreeable office, he at length was shot down by the enemy, and scalped in turn.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
The leader of the Indian army in this bloody engagement was a chief of the Missassago tribe, known by the name of the " Little Turtle." Notwithstanding his name, he was at least six feet high, strong, muscu- lar, and remarkably dignified in his appearance. He was forty years of age, had seen much service, and had accompanied Burgoyne in his disastrous invasion. His aspect was harsh, sour and forbidding, and his person, during the action, was arrayed in the very extremity of In- dian foppery, having at least twenty dollars' worth of silver depending from his nose and ears. The plan of attack was conceived by him alone, in opposition to the opinion of almost every other chief. Not- withstanding his ability, however, he was said to have been unpopular among the Indians, probably in consequence of those very abilities.
Many veteran officers of inferior rank, who had served with distinc- tion throughout the Revolutionary war, were destined to perish in this unhappy action. Among them was the gallant and unrewarded Cap- tain Kirkwood, of the old Delaware line, so often and so honorably mentioned in Lee's Memoirs. The State of Delaware having had but one regiment on Continental establishment, and that regiment having been reduced to a company at Camden, it was impossible for Kirkwood to be promoted without a violation of the ordinary rules by which com- missions were regulated. He, accordingly, had the mortification of be- holding junior officers daily mounting above him in the scale of rank, while he himself, however meritorious, was compelled to remain in his present condition, on account of the small force which his native State could bring into the field.
Notwithstanding this constant source of mortification, he fought with distinguished gallantry throughout the war, and was personally engaged in the battles of Camden, Guilford, Hobkirks, Ninety-six and Eutaw, the hottest and bloodiest which occurred during the Revolution. At the peace of 1783 he retired, with a broken fortune but a high repu- tation for courage, honor and probity, and upon the reappearance of war in the Northwest, he hastened once more to the scene of action, and submitted, without reluctance, to the command of officers who had been boys while he was fighting those severe battles in the South. He fell in a brave attempt to repel the enemy with the bayonet, and thus closed a career as honorable as it was unrewarded.
Lieutenant Colonel Darke's escape was almost miraculous. Possessed of a tall, striking figure, in full uniform, and superbly mounted, he headed three desperate charges against the enemy, in each of which he was a conspicuous mark. His clothes were cut in many places, but he escaped with only a slight flesh wound. In the last charge, Ensign Wilson, a youth of seventeen, was shot through the heart, and fell a few
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MAD ANTHONY WAYNE TRIES IT AND WINS.
paces in the rear of the regiment, which was then rather rapidly returning to its original position. An Indian, attracted by his rich uniform, sprang up from the grass and rushed forward to scalp him. Darke, who was at that time in the rear of his regiment, suddenly faced about, dashed at the Indian on horseback and cleft his skull with his broad- sword, drawing upon himself by the act a rapid discharge of more than a dozen rifles. He rejoined his regiment, however, in safety, being compelled to leave the body of young Wilson to the enemy. On the evening of the 8th of November the broken remains of the army ar- rived at Fort Washington, and were placed in Winter quarters.
"MAD ANTHONY WAYNE" TRIES IT AND WINS.
Two commanders had now been tested and failed. The whole coun- try, burning under the disgrace of Harmar's and St. Clair's defeats, clamored for a third expedition. But who should be the leader? This was the theme of general discussion. Many, who had made noble records during the Revolution, sought the position. Washington had been very severely censured for his appointment of an old, infirm, and, above all, an unlucky General like St. Clair, and it behooved him now to make a careful selection.
The choice at last seemed to narrow down to General Wayne and General Henry Lee, the famous and intrepid partisan leader, whose brilliant dashes and daring achievements during the late war, were the themes of every tongue. Lee had many warm admirers, and it cannot be denied that he possessed peculiar qualifications for an enterprise of "such pith and moment." Washington also favored him, and it is asserted that nothing but the discontent which would be occasioned among old army Generals by the appointment of so young an officer, prevented his obtaining the coveted position.
But, finally, "Mad Anthony Wayne," to whom this objection could not apply, and who was equally brave, dashing and successful, was chosen. His remarkable capture of Stony Point-which General Lee, of Virginia, although personally no friend to him, declared to be not only the most brilliant achievement of the Revolutionary war, but of any war-had rendered him very popular. He never enjoyed the repu- tation of being a very skillful planner or a prudent commander, but as a bold, prompt executive officer, with that kind of magnetic force about
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
him best calculated to win the confidence and maintain the spirit of his men, he was incomparable, and undoubtedly "a head and shoulders" above all others. He seemed to be of opinion that the whole art of war was embraced in his own favorite command: "Charge the d-d rascals with the bayonet."
Nearly a year elapsed after St. Clair's defeat before Wayne's ap- pointment, and even a longer period was next spent in gathering to- gether and drilling a proper force. General Wayne determined to avoid the fault which had so much embarrassed his predecessors, and prepared his command with great care. He arrived at Pittsburgh early in June, 1792, having been furnished with instructions from President Wash- ington, in which it was emphatically stated " that another defeat would be irredeemably ruinous to the reputation of the Government."
The force was to consist of five thousand men, carefully chosen and thoroughly drilled, to be called " The Legion of the United States." With ardent zeal and unwearied patience, Wayne commenced to gather his command. The very name of Indian was now such a dread, that many of the troops were completely demoralized and deserted by the score. At length, however, energy and indomitable will prevailed; or- der and discipline were introduced ; the troops were daily drilled and manœuvred ; bad or incapable material was weeded out; firing at a mark was ordered as a daily practice, and rivalry and a spirit of emu- lation was fostered between different divisions, so that a military pride and confidence and a commendable esprit du corps was soon engen- · dered.
No branch of the service was overlooked. The scouts especially were selected with exceeding care from the bravest and most experienced hunters of the border. The artillery was in constant service. The dra- goons were taught to practice with, and to rely upon, the broadsword, and to make furious and impetuous charges as the best means of safety, as well as the most important aids to success. The men were taught to charge in open order, and each to rely on himself. To crown all, this legion, about December, '92, was taken to a beautiful plain overlook- ing the Ohio and about twenty miles below Pittsburgh-to this day called Legionville-and there a Winter camp was made, and in addi- tion to the daily drills and manœuvres, movements en masse, skirmishes and sham battles were indulged in.
All this care and wisdom had, of course, its natural effect, and when, upon the 13th of April, 1793, Wayne broke up his camp and embarked his legion for Cincinnati, he had an army fit to cope with any force the enemy dare bring in opposition. Reinforcements of regular troops were constantly arriving, and, in addition, mounted militia from Ken-
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THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS.
tucky. It was so late in the season, however, before all the various forces could be collected, and all the necessary supplies procured, that he judged it prudent to defer any offensive movement until the Spring.
During the Winter, Wayne remained at a fort which he had built upon a western fork of the Little Miami, and to which he had given the name of Greenville. By detachments from the regular troops he was enabled to sweep the country lying between him and the Miami villages, and having taken possession of the ground upon which St. Clair was defeated, he erected a small fort upon it, to which he gave the name of Recovery. His orders were positive to endeavor, if possible, to procure peace upon reasonable terms without resorting to force, and he accordingly opened several conferences with the hostile tribes during the Winter.
"LEGION" READY-BATTLE OF "FALLEN TIMBERS."
Many of their chiefs visited him in his camp, and examined his troops, artillery and equipments with great attention, and from time to time made ample professions of a disposition to bury the hatchet ; but nothing definite could be drawn from them. As the Spring approached, the visits of the Indians became more rare, and their professions of friendship waxed fainter. In February, they threw aside the mask at once, and made a bold effort to carry the distant outpost at Fort Re- covery by a coup-de-force. In this, however, they were frustrated by the vigilance and energy of the garrison ; and finding that Wayne was neither to be surprised nor deceived, they employed themselves in col- lecting their utmost strength, with a determination to abide the brunt of battle.
In the Spring the General called upon the Governor of Kentucky for a detachment of mounted men, who repaired with great alacrity to his standard in two brigades, under Todd and Barbee, the whole com- manded by Major General Scott, amounting to more than fifteen hun- dred men accustomed to Indian warfare. The regular force, including cavalry and artillery, amounted to about two thousand, so that the Gen- eral found himself at the head of three thousand men, well provided with everything, in high spirits, and eager for battle. The Indian force did not exceed two thousand, and was known to have assembled in the neighborhood of the British fort at the rapids of the Miami.
It was late in July before Wayne was ready to march from Greenville, and, from the nature of the country as well as the necessity of guard-
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
ing against surprise, his progress was slow but sure. On the 19th of August, when within a day's march of the enemy's position, he deter- mined to send a messenger, charged with the last offer of peace and friendship which he intended to make. For this dangerous and appa- rently useless office, he selected a private volunteer named Miller, who had formerly been taken by the Indians, and lived for many years upon the banks of the Miami. Miller, however, was reluctant to go, and said they would roast him alive. Wayne, however, answered that he would hold ten Indians as hostages for his safety, and if anything happened him would sacrifice the whole of them. With this assurance Miller went to the Indian camp. As soon as they beheld him approaching, they ran out to him with loud yells, brandishing their tomahawks, and crying out, in their own language, " Kill the runaway !" Miller, who well understood their language, instantly addressed them with great earnestness, and in a few words made known the cause of his visit, and the guarantee which Wayne held for his safe return. To the first part of the intelligence they listened with supreme contempt. A long con- ference ensued, in which many chiefs spoke, but nothing could be determined upon.
On the next day Miller was ordered to return to Wayne with some evasive message, intending to amuse him until they could devise some means of recovering their friends. He accordingly left them with great readiness, and was returning with all possible dispatch, when he met the General in full march upon the enemy, having become tired of waiting for the return of his messenger.
The General received the report of Miller without delaying his march for a moment, which was continued in order of battle until he arrived within view of the enemy. The regular force formed the centre col- umn, one brigade of mounted volunteers moved upon the left under General Barbee, the other brought up the rear under General Todd. The right flank was covered by the river, and Major Price, with a selected corps of mounted volunteers, was advanced about five miles in front, with orders to feel the enemy's position, and then fall back upon the main body. About noon the advanced corps received so heavy a fire from a concealed enemy, as to compel it to retire with precipita- tion. The heads of the columns quickly reached the hostile ground, and had a view of the enemy. The ground for miles was covered with a thick growth of timber, which rendered the operation of cavalry ex- tremely difficult. The Indians occupied a thick wood in front, where an immense number of trees had been blown down by a hurricane, the branches of which were interlocked in such a manner as greatly to im- pede the exertions of the regulars.
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ENEMY ROUTED AND DRIVEN UNDER BRITISH GUNS.
The enemy were formed in three parallel lines, at right angles to the river, and displayed a front of more than two miles. Wayne rode for- ward to reconnoitre their positions, and perceiving, from the weight and extent of the fire, that they were in full force, he instantly made dis- positions for the attack. The whole of the mounted volunteers were ordered to make a circuit, for the purpose of turning the right flank of the Indians ; the cavalry were ordered to move up under cover of the river bank, and, if possible, turn their left ; while the regular infantry were formed in a thick wood in front of the " Fallen Timber," with orders, as soon as the signal was given, to rush forward at full speed, without firing a shot, arousing the enemy from their covert at the point of the bayonet, and then to deliver a close fire upon their backs, press- ing them so closely as not to permit them to reload their guns. All these orders were executed with precision. The mounted volunteers moved off rapidly to occupy the designated ground, while the first line of infantry was formed under the eye of the commander for the peril- ous charge in front.
As soon as time had been given for the arrival of the several corps upon their respective points, the order was given to advance, and the infantry, rushing through a tremendous fire of rifles, and overleaping every impediment, hastened to close with their concealed enemy and maintain the struggle on equal terms. Although their loss in this des- perate charge was by no means inconsiderable, yet the effect was de- cisive. The enemy rose and fled before them more than two miles, with considerable loss, as, owing to the orders of Wayne, they were nearly as much exposed as the regulars. Such was the rapidity of the advance, and the precipitation of the retreat, that only a small part of the vol- unteers could get up in time to share in the action, although there can be no question that their presence and threatening movement con- tributed equally with the impetuous charge of the infantry to the success of the day.
THE ENEMY ROUTED AND DRIVEN UNDER BRITISH GUNS.
The broken remains of the Indian army were pursued under the guns of the British fort, and so keen was the ardor of Wayne's men, and so strong their resentment against the English, that it was with the utmost difficulty they could be restrained from storming it upon the spot. As it was, many of the Kentucky troops advanced within gunshot, and insulted the garrison with a select volley of oaths and epithets, which must have given the British Commandant a high idea of backwoods gentility. He instantly wrote an indignant letter to General Wayne,
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
complaining of the outrage, and demanding by what authority he tres- passed upon the sacred precincts of a British garrison ? Now, " Mad Anthony " was the last man in the world to be dragooned into polite- ness, and he replied in terms little short of those employed by the Ken- tuckians, and satisfactorily informed Captain Campbell, the British .Commandant, that his only chance of safety was silence and civility. After some sharp messages on both sides, the war of the pen ceased, and the destruction of property began. Houses, stores, cornfields, or- ' chards, were soon wrapped in flames or leveled with the earth. The dwelling house and store of Colonel McKee, the Indian agent, shared the fate of the rest.
All this was performed before the face of Captain Campbell, who was compelled to look on in silence, and without any effort to prevent it. There remains not the least question now that the Indians were not only encouraged in their acts of hostility by the English traders, but were actually supplied with arms, ammunition and provisions, by order of the English Commandant at Detroit, Colonel England .* There re- mains a correspondence between this gentleman and McKee, in which urgent demands are made for fresh supplies of ammunition, and the approach of "the enemy" (as they called Wayne) is mentioned with great anxiety. After the battle of the Rapids, he writes that the Indians are much discouraged, and that " it will require great efforts to induce them to remain in a body." Had Wayne been positively informed of this circumstance, he would scarcely have restrained his men from a more energetic expression of indignation.
The Indian force being completely dispersed, their cornfields cut up and their houses destroyed, Wayne drew off from the neighborhood of the British post, and in order to hold the Indians permanently in check, he erected a fort at the junction of the Auglaize and Miami, in the very heart of the Indian country, to which he gave the appropriate name of Defiance. As this was connected with Fort Washington by various in- termediate fortifications, it could not fail completely to overawe the enemy, who, in a very short time, urgently and unanimously demanded peace.
No victory could have been better timed than that of Wayne. The various tribes of Indians throughout the whole of the United States, en-
* This gentleman was remarkable for his immense height and enormous quantity of flesh. After his return from America, the waggish Prince of Wales, who was himself no pigmy, became desirous of seeing him. Colonel England was one day pointed out to him by Sheridan, as he was in the act of dismounting from his horse. The Prince regarded him with marked attention for several min- utes, and then turning to Sheridan, said with a laugh, "Colonel England, hey 1 By Jove! you should have said Great Britain !"
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ENEMY ROUTED AND DRIVEN UNDER BRITISH GUNS.
couraged by the repeated disasters of our armies in the Northwest, had become very unsteady and menacing in their intercourse wth the whites. The Creeks and Cherokees, in the South, were already in arms, while the Oneidas, Tuscaroras, &c., in the North, were evidently preparing for hostilities. The shock of the victory at the Rapids, however, was felt in all quarters. The southern Indians instantly demanded peace ; the Oneidas, conscious of their evil intentions and fearful of the conse- quences, became suddenly affectionate, even to servility ; and within a few months after the victory, all the frontiers enjoyed the most profound peace. The treaty of Greenville which followed, brought lasting peace and subjection. Wayne reported his loss at thirty-three killed and one hundred wounded. The Indian loss could not be ascertained, but was supposed to exceed that of the Americans. This, however, is very doubtful, as they gave way immediately, and were not so much exposed as the Continentals.
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