USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 12
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Doubts as to the fact of Tecumseh having fallen at all at Moravian Town have been expressed by parties who were unwilling to accord to Colonel Johnson the act of having shot him, and it has been asserted
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that the remains supposed to have been his, were, in fact, those of another chief. But the truth was fully established at the time. Several of the officers of the Forty-first Regiment in being apprised of his fall, went, accompanied by some officers of Gen. Harrison's staff, to visit the spot where Tecumseh lay, and there they identified (for they knew him well in life) the mangled corpse before them, all that remained of the late powerful and intelligent chieftain.
Tecumseh was not impressed with the generalship of Proctor, who manifested emphatic indignation and disgust at the celebrated council held before the engagement at the Thames. Richardson evidently speaks authoritatively in his narrative when he reviews Proctor's attempted defense of his own conduct when under trial by court martial. His words are as follows :
"General Proctor furthermore asserts in his defence that the original instruction was to fortify a position on the Thames, for the two-fold purpose of protecting the center division and conciliating the Indians."
Probably no white man was better qualified to speak of Tecumseh, or who had had a better opportunity to become acquainted with the char- acter of this great chief, than James Knaggs of Monroe county who had known him from boyhood and who had been for years an interpreter, who was at the battle of the Moravian town where Tecumseh was killed, and helped in carrying Col. Johnson off the field, being severely wounded by Tecumseh. He and his old neighbor Labadie, assisted by two Ken- tucky soldiers, placed Col. Johnson in a blanket and carried him to the American headquarters, where he was cared for by the surgeon. When his wound was properly dressed he resumed his position with his com- mand. Mr. Knaggs always lamented the absence of Tecumseh from the River Raisin at the time of the massacre, feeling positive that his influ- ence with the savages would have been used to prevent the bloody scenes which occurred. Such, also, was the opinion of many others who were familiar with Tecumseh's character and general line of conduct.
It is true that in warfare he fought along the lines of the Indians' conception of the methods of warfare, but he did not, like Pontiac and the bloodthirsty Iroquois delight in bloodshed and the atrocities which char- acterized the warlike tribes. There was a strain of noble blood in his veins, which was not apparent, even, in his brother the prophet and which lifted him above the common level of the red man.
CHAPTER VII
KENTUCKIANS DESCRIBE BATTLE
DARNELL'S "JOURNAL" COMMENCES-MARCH TO JOIN HULL-HARRISON ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED-SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF PROVISIONS- FORT WINCHESTER COMPLETED-AMERICAN SOLDIERS ON THE MARCHI -NEWS OF BRITISH AND INDIANS-KENTUCKIANS SCARE BIG INJUN- AFTER THE FIRST BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN-CAUSE OF LATER DE- FEAT-ATTACKED BY THE ENEMY-KENTUCKIANS CHAGRINED AT SURRENDER-THE SURRENDER-INDIAN OUTRAGES-BRITISH PROM- ISES VIOLATED-NARRATIVE OF TIMOTHY MALLARY-A POEM OF THE BATTLE.
General Hull having been appointed by the general government to take possession of a part of Upper Canada, his forces amounting to about three thousand men not being considered sufficient to execute that design, three regiments of volunteer infantry and one regiment of United States infantry were called out.
TROOPS RENDEZVOUS
Agreeably to a general order the following regiments rendezvoused at Georgetown, Kentucky, August 15, 1812, to wit: The First Regiment was commanded by Colonel John M. Scott, the Fifteenth was commanded by Colonel William Lewis, the First Rifle Regiment by Colonel John Allen, the Seventeenth United States Infantry by Colonel Samuel Wells, the whole under the command of Brigadier-General Payne.
DARNELL'S "JOURNAL" COMMENCES
The "Journal" commences on August 16, 1812: The troops paraded in the morning and were received by Governor Scott. We paraded again at 10 o'clock, and marched to a convenient place in close order, where the Rev. Mr. Blythe preached a short sermon and the Honorable Henry Clay delivered an appropriate discourse.
August 17: Troops inspected by Major Garrard.
August 18: We drew two months' pay in advance. There being a general complaint amongst the volunteers respecting sixteen dollars, which were expected to be drawn in lieu of clothing, Major Graves pa- raded his battalion and gave them their choice to go on without the six- teen dollars or return home. Six chose to return; these were afterwards drummed out of camp through the town.
MARCH TO JOIN HULL
August 19: We commenced our march in high spirits to join Gen- eral Hull at Detroit or in Canada. Each regiment for convenience and
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speed marched separately to Newport (Kentucky), arriving there on August 24th.
The distance is eighty miles to Georgetown. It rained most of the time, which made it very disagreeable traveling and camping. These hardships tended a little to quench the excessive patriotic flame that had blazed so conspicuously at the different musters and barbecues that had attended the enlistments. Here we received information of General Hull having surrendered Detroit and Michigan territory to General Brock on the 15th inst., while in possession of the necessary means to have held that post against the forces of Upper Canada. This we could not believe until confirmed by hand bills and good authority. When thus confirmed it appeared to make serious impressions on the minds of officers and privates. Those high expectations of participating with General Hull in the laurels to be acquired by the conquest of Malden and Upper Canada were entirely abandoned. We drew our arms and accou- trements and crossed the Ohio on August 27th. Our destination was thought to be Fort Wayne. The following general order was issued on the 23d for the guidance of the command on its march northward :
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Headquarters, Cincinnati, O. August 23, 1812. The troops will commence their march in the direction of Dayton by Lebanon at an early hour tomorrow morning. The generale will be beat instead of the reveille; the tents will then be struck, the baggage loaded, and the line of march taken up as soon as possible. The commands of the several corps will immediately commence drilling their men to the performance of the evolutions contemplated by the Commander-in- Chief for the order of march and battle. The principal feature in all these evolu- tions is that of a battalion changing its direction by swinging on its center. This however, is not to be done by wheeling, for, by a large body in the woods it would be impracticable. * * * *: * * * * * * * *
These manoeuvres may be performed by any number of men, by company and platoon as well as battalion.
W. H. HARRISON.
Major General Commanding.
HARRISON ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED
August 31: General Harrison overtook the army between Lebanon and Dayton. He was received enthusiastically by all the troops as com- mander-in-chief with three cheers.
September 1: The army arrived at Dayton, fifty miles from Cin- cinnati, and was saluted by the firing of cannon. One of the gunners had one of his hands shot off and the other badly wounded. We arrived at Piqua, September 3, thirty miles from Dayton, on the Big Miami.
September 4: Received information of the critical situation of Fort Wayne. Colonel Allen's regiment and two companies from Colonel Lewis's drew twenty-four rounds of ammunition and started with all possible speed to the relief of that fort.
September 5: General Harrison having paraded the remaining part of the army in a circle in close order, delivered a speech to them, stating that he had just received intelligence from Fort Wayne that it was in great danger of being taken by the Indians and British ; he said we were under the necessity of making a forced march to their relief. He read some of the articles of war and stated the absolute necessity of such regulations and restrictions in an army, and if there were any who could not comply nor feel willing to submit to these articles and go on with him they might then return home. One man, belonging to Scott's regiment, chose to return home rather than submit to the terms. Some of his companions obtained permit to escort him part of his way home. Two of them got him upon a rail and carried him to the river; a crowd
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followed after; they ducked him several times in the water and diluted his war spirit liberally.
September 6: We marched at 12 o'clock, left our sick and part of our clothing and baggage at Piqua in order to make as much speed as possible. On the morning of the eighth, three miles from St. Mary's, one of Captain McGowen's company was accidentally shot through the body by one of the sentinels. It was a mortal wound and the man, we learned afterward, died in a few days. We marched four miles today and camped near the River St. Mary's, one mile from the fort. General Harrison called the army together and stated that through an emergency we must be on half rations of flour for a few days, but should draw a ration and a half of beef, as he wished to go as light and as swift as possible. He said, "Any who do not feel willing to go on these terms may remain at the fort and have plenty." I did not hear of one man staying behind.
September 9: We marched through some first rate woodland and through a large prairie of the best quality, though badly watered. We were without drinking water for hours except such as could be scooped out of the wagon ruts in the road; and even that was far from slaking our burning thirst. We encamped near River St. Mary's, eighteen miles from the fort. At eleven o'clock and again at three, were alarmed by the sentinels firing several guns; we formed in order of battle and stood so for a quarter of an hour.
September 11: The scouts wounded an Indian and got his gun and blanket; our day's march was eleven miles. We stopped earlier than usual in order to make breastworks, and because it was a convenient place for water. We fortified this place very strongly with timber. At eleven o'clock the camp was alarmed by the firing of many guns by the sentinels. The whole army was formed in quick time, the horse troops being in the center, ready to assist any line, or to obey any order that might be given. Over half the men were dismissed and retired to their tents for one hour, when they relieved the other half. At 3 o'clock an- other alarm was sounded. We stood in order of battle for some time. The watchword was "Fight On" and the fort was afterwards called "Fort Fight On."
September 12: We continued our march towards Fort Wayne with as much caution as the nature of our haste would permit. We expected to meet the enemy before reaching the fort. In a certain well known swamp through which we were obliged to pass, we thought it likely the enemy might harbor. We passed the swamp unmolested for a mile. We were then alarmed. The rear battalions formed in order of battle but saw no enemy to fight; we immediately resumed our march. Nothing of interest occurred up to the 15th when Colonel Wells was instructed to destroy the Miami towns at the forks of the Wabash. General Harrison thought proper to go with General Payne. Next morning we came to an Indian hut and a small cornfield, two miles from our encampment ; here all the wagons and baggage was left and Captain Langhorn's company on guard; from this place we marched twenty-three miles to an Indian town which we found evacuated; we pulled down some of their houses and built up fires, then went into camp for the night. Here we had an abundance of green corn roasting ears of the best sort. It was a small kind of corn, shallow grain and very suitable for roasting ears, which was quite a welcome addition to our waning stock of provisions.
SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF PROVISIONS
October 4, 1812: There has been great murmuring in camp on ac- count of the shortage of provisions, which at times threatened dissolu-
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tion of this army. General Harrison having paraded the troops, ad- dressed them, saying that there were twenty-five thousand rations pro- vided for them at St. Mary's; that these should be conveyed here as soon as possible, a portion, today doubtless ; he stated the consequence of such mutinous complaints, and if this army were to disperse, where could he get men who would stand firm? He said every effort for the supply of clothing and provisions for this army should be used. He further stated that re-inforcements from Pennsylvania and Virginia were soon to join us to the number of ten thousand.
October 9: A few days ago, one of our soldiers, Frederick Jacoby, belonging to the 17th regiment of U. S. Infantry was tried by a court- martial, and condemned to be shot. The troops paraded and formed in a hollow square, in close order, where the Rev. Mr. Shannon delivered a short discourse on the occasion. The condemned was marched from the provost guard with solemn music under a guard of a subaltern, sergeant, corporal and twenty privates to the place of execution; here he was blindfolded; then the guard stood back from him a few paces, awaiting the hour of execution. Truly, a solemn scene amid the impressive silence. Fortunately for the man under sentence, a reprieve arrived for him just before the time set for his execution. The general judged him not of sound mind.
"FORT WINCHESTER" COMPLETED
October 19: The fort is at length finished and christened "Fort Winchester." It is composed of four block houses, a hospital and store house picketed between the four blockhouses all embracing about a quarter of an acre.
Probably the most cheering news that we have received for a long time was communicated to the army this day, October 27th in an ad- dress by General Winchester, which stated that they would shortly be in receipt of a sufficient quantity of warm comfortable clothing and shoes, "amongst which are ten thousand pairs of shoes, five thousand blan- kets, five thousand round jackets, five thousand pairs of trousers; be- sides woolen cloth for making up, as needed. Besides this there were one thousand watch coats, five thousand blankets, one thousand yards of flannel; twelve thousand pairs of shoes; ten thousand pairs of woolen socks, and ten thousand pairs of long woolen hose. "Yet a few days," closes the General's words, and the General consoles himself with the thought of seeing those whom he has the honor to command clad in warm woolen clothing capable of resisting the northern blasts of Canada.
, AMERICAN SOLDIERS ON THE MARCH
December 29, 1812: (The journal resumes under this date.) We are now about to commence, one of the most serious and ardous marches ever performed by the Americans. Destitute in a measure of clothes, shoes and provisions the most essential articles necessary for the exist- ence and preservation of the human species in this world and more particularly in this cold climate. Three sleds are prepared for each com- pany each to be drawn by a packhorse which has been without food for two weeks, except brush, and will not be better fed while in our service; probably the most of these horses never had harness on; but the pre- sumption is they will be too tame. We have made harness out of green hides.
December 30: After nearly two months' preparation for this expedi- tion, we commenced our march in great splendor ( !) Our clothes and
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blankets looked as if they had a more intimate association with mud than water. One of our men declared that our commander was "General Poverty" instead of Winchester.
The next entry in this journal is of January 10: We arrived at Hull's road at the Rapids fifty miles from Fort Defiance and encamped upon a high and suitable piece of ground, the weather very cold after a thaw, caused much suffering. The snow which has been falling con- stantly for two days and nights is from twenty to thirty inches deep. We had to stop early in afternoon to prepare our encampment; to shovel the snow away, make fires, and pitch our tents was no trifling task ; after- wards gathering bark, bushes and twigs to make our beds. Many of the horses gave out and sleds broke down, so that the loads had to be carried or hauled by the men. I have seen six Kentuckians substituted for one horse, trudging along through the deep snow, and keeping pace with the foremost !
Wolftown, January 15, 1813: In marching to this place we came through Roche de Baut, (pronounced Rush de bow) which had formerly been a French settlement, and also an Indian town. Early next morning (as cold a morning as our Kentuckians ever experienced) a detached party of 676 men marched in front of the baggage, and went on four miles be- low the Rapids, to ascertain if it were true, as reported, that there were six hundred Indians encamped and picketed in, six miles below the rapids. This proved to be simply rumor.
January 11, 1813: Some fresh signs of Indians were seen near camp. A detachment of twenty-four men was sent out immediately, under the command of Captain Williams. They had not got far before they dis- covered the Indians. The firing commenced on both sides nearly at the same time. The Indians stood but a little time before they ran, but not until they had lost some of their savage blood. They were put to flight entirely, leaving much of their plunder behind them.
January 13, 1813: Two Frenchmen came into camp last night from the River Raisin, who received information of the army being here from those Indians that Captain Williams pursued, who got there the night after the skirmish, stopped only a few minutes, then went on to Malden. These Frenchmen asked protection and assistance stating the abuse they had received from the Indians and the danger they were in of losing their lives and property.
NEWS OF BRITISH AND INDIANS
January 15: This morning we received much needed clothing from our homes in Kentucky, the ladies have certainly sent the means of sav- ing lives and suffering.
Another Frenchman came into camp confirming the statements of the others. We now began to recruit our strength, after our laborious march and after being deprived of adequate supply of provisions. Al- though we have been without flour for days, yet we have been better sup- plied with other provisions than at any time during our march. We have here large fields of corn standing in the shock, which is easily prepared for a most substantial ration. We have erected several pound- ing machines with hickory "pounders," for mashing the corn. This is done by making a hole about two feet, or less in diameter in a hard wood stump, some ten or twelve inches deep; after the corn has been parched in big pans, or other suitable dishes over the big camp fires, it is placed in those hollowed stumps and pounded with heavy pounders, until it is reduced to a consistency of coarse corn meal, it is then taken out and
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stored in large quantities for future use. It is eaten with a little salt, with pork fat or tallow, and is a very sustaining food.
January 17, 1813: A Frenchman came in from the River Raisin; stated that two companies of British had just arrived from Canada and that the Indians were collecting and intending to burn Frenchtown in a few days. By the repeated urging of the French, and being counselled by some of the Field Officers the General has been induced to order out a detachment of 570 men for an expedition to the River Raisin; contrary, it was said, to the explicit instructions of General Harrison.
The detachment started early, with three days rations. Frenchmen, who came from River Raisin, looking on when they started were heard to remark "not enough men. Injuns and red coats eat 'em up."
Proceeding twenty miles northward to the vicinity of Presque Isle a French village on the south side of the Maumee river. The sight of this village filled each heart with cheerfulness, and relief, for we had been nearly five months in the wilderness, exposed to every inconvenience and excluded from every thing that had the remotest resemblance to a civilized country. When the inhabitants of the village discovered us they met us with a white flag, and expressed the greatest friendship for us. They told us that the British and Indians quitted Frenchtown sev- eral days ago and had gone to Brownstown. About three hours after dark, a reinforcement of one hundred and ten men overtook us, com- manded by Colonel Allen. Some time in the night, an express came from the River Raisin, informing Colonel Lewis that there were four hundred Indians and two companies of British there and that Colonel Elliott was to start the next morning from Malden, with a reinforcement.
KENTUCKIANS SCARE BIG INJUN
January 18, 1813: We started early in order to get there before Colonel Elliott; after traveling fifteen miles, mostly on the ice, we re- ceived information that the enemy were at the River Raisin waiting for us. We were then three miles of Frenchtown; marching rapidly and with the firm determination to conquer or die. Arriving in sight of the village, about a quarter of a mile distant, the British saluted us by firing upon us with a cannon three times, but no in- jury was done. During this time we formed the line of battle, and ad- vanced on them with a shout. A Frenchman who lived in the town said that when the word came that the Americans were in sight, there was an old Indian smoking in his wigwam; he jumped up with the exclamation "Ho, de Mericans come! Spose Ohio men come, we give them nudder chase !" (Alluding to the time they chased General Tupper from the Rapids.) He walked to the door smoking very unconcerned, and looked at us as we formed our line and rushed on the town with a mighty shout. Recognizing the oncoming force he suddenly threw down his pipe, grabbed his gun, and in great excitement yelled, "Kentuck, by God!" and ran for the woods like a wild beast. The enemy soon commenced firing small arms in addition to the cannon, but we kept up our advance at the double quick, when they soon gave way, and we were in pos- session of the town, without the loss of a man, and only three slightly wounded. Twelve of their Indian warriors were slain and scalped and a few prisoners taken before they escaped to the woods. While retreat- ing they kept up some firing. We pursued them half a mile to the woods which were filled with underbrush, and well suited to the Indian method of fighting, and they at once took refuge behind trees and brushes and fallen logs, to the best advantage. Our Kentucky riflemen were some- what used to this mode of warfare and rushed into the woods, taking
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shelter behind trees, bushes, etc., and gave them a dose of their own medicine, keeping them on the retreat. During this time a heavy fire was kept up on both sides; at length, after a battle of three hours and five minutes, we were prevented to continue the pursuit by the approach of night, and retired to the village, collecting our wounded, and leaving temporarily our dead where they fell.
AFTER THE FIRST BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN
In this action the Kentuckians displayed great bravery, after the fatiguing march over the ice from Presque Isle in the Maumee bay. Each man was anxious to excel his fellow in avenging the wrongs and injuries of his country. Our loss in this action was eleven killed and fifty-one wounded. Although the enemy had the advantage of the vil- lage in the first attack, and of the woods in the second, their loss, by the most reliable information, exceeded ours by a considerable number. One Frenchman stated that they had fifty-four killed, and one hundred and forty wounded, part of whom were carried to his house, on Sand Creek, a few miles from the village. An express, the Indian prisoner and two Frenchmen were sent immediately to the Rapids, to report the result of our engagement with the enemy. Some disagreement arose be- tween the Indians and the French at Sand Creek; the Indians had killed an old man and his wife, which aroused a revengeful spirit in the French. They applied to us for help in the matter, but it was thought improper to leave the village, though some of them had assisted us and fought in the battle.
January 19, 1813: A party was sent out to the battlefield to bring in and bury the dead, all of which, except one, were found scalped and stripped.
The appearance of the snow-covered battlefield showed that a very considerable loss must have been sustained by the enemy, where the bodies had been dragged through the snow. The British left a quantity of provisions and some store goods which answered a valuable purpose to us. The wounded were as well cared for and accommodated here, as they could have been in any part of Kentucky. Apples, cider, sugar, flour, butter, and whiskey appeared to be abundant. The River Raisin here runs through a level country, easterly, interspersed with good farms well improved, and is seventy or eighty yards wide; the banks are low and grape vines and fruit trees grow luxuriantly. Frenchtown is situ- ated on the north side of this river not more than three miles from the place where it empties into Lake Erie. There is a row of dwelling houses, about twenty or thirty in number, some of logs and some frame, sur- rounded by a fence made in the form of picketing, with small saplings or split timber, from four and five feet high, this is not designed as a fortification but to secure their yards and gardens from depredations.
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