USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 1
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Gc 977.102 C49c1 v.1 816461
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02279 6210
GENEALOGY 977.102 C49CI v.1
THE
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY,
OR
ANTIQUITIES OF THE WEST:
ANP
PIONEER HISTORY AND GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS
COMPILED FROM THE
WESTERN GENERAL ADVERTISER,
FROM OCTOBER 1st. 1844 TO APRIL 1st. 1845.
VOLUME 1.
BY CHARLES CIST.
CINCINNATI: CALEB CLARK, PRINTER.
1845.
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, OCTOBER, 1845. 816461
Estill's Defeat.
in the history of the West, was that waged by Captain James Estill, and seventeen of his as- sociates on the 22d March, 1782, with a party of Wyandot Indians, twenty-five in number. Six- ty three years almost, have elapsed since; yet one of the actors in that sanguinary struggle, Rev. Joseph Proctor, of Estill county Ky., sur- vived to the 2d Dec. last, dying in the full en- joyment of his faculties in the '90th year of his age. His wife, the partner of his early priva- tions and toils, and nearly as old as himself, de- ceased six months previously.
and no time was lost in doing so. Five men of
One of the most remarkable pioneer fights, tho party, however, who had families in the fort, feeling uneasy for their safety, and unwil- ling to trust their defence to the few who re- mained there, returned to the fort, leaving Capt. Estill's party, thirty-five in number. These pressed the pursuit of the retreating Indians, as rapidly as possible, but night coming on they encamped near the Little Mountain, at present the site of Mount Sterling. Early next morning, they put forward, being obliged to leave ien of the men behind, whose horses were too jaded to travel farther. They had not proceeded far until they discovered by fresh tracks of the In- dians, that they were not far distant. They then marched in four lines until about an hour before sunset, when they discovered six of the savages helping themselves to rations from the body of a buffalo, which they had killed. The company was ordered to dismount. With the usual impetuosity of Kentuckians, seme of the party fired without regarding orders, and the In- dians fled. One of the party, a Mr. David Cook. who acted as ensign, exceedingly ardent and active, had proceeded in advance of the compa- and fired. At the same moment another Indi. an crossed on the opposite side, and they were both levelled with the same shot. This occur- ring in view of the whole company, inspired them all with a high degree of ardor and confi- dence. In the meantime, the main body of the Indians had heard the alarm and returned, and the two hostile parties exactly matched in point of numbers, having twenty-five on each side, wore now face to face. The ground was high- ly favorable to the Indian mode of warfare; but Cap :. Estill and his men, without a moment'd hesitation, boldly and fearlessly commenced an attack upon them, and the latter as boldly and fearlessly (for they were picked warriors) cn- gaged in the bloody combat. It is, however, disgraceful to relate that, at the very onset of the action, Licut. Miller, of Capt. Estill's party, with six men under his command, "ingloriously fled" from the field, thereby placing in jeopar- dy the whole of their comrades, and causing the death of many brave soldiers. Hence, Es- till's party numbered oighteen, and the Wyan- dots twenty-five.
On the 19th March, 1782, Indian rafts with- out any one on them, were seen floating down the Kentucky river, past Boonsborough. Intel- ligence of this fact was immediately despatch- ed by Col . Logan to Capt. Estill, at his station fifteen miles from Boonsborough, and near tlie, present site of Richmond, Kentucky, together with a force of fifteen men, who were directed to march from Lincoln county to Estill's assis- tance, instructing Capt. Estill, if the Indians had not appeared there, to scour the country with a recotinoitring party., as it could not be jny, and seeing an Indian halt, raised his gun known at what point the attack would be made.
Estill lost not a moment in collecting a force to go in search of the savages, not doubting, from his knowledge of the Indian character, that they designed an immediate blew at his or some of the neighboring stations. From his own and the nearest stations, he raised twenty- five mon. Joseph Procter was of the nember. Whilst'Capt. Estill and his men were on this ex- pedition, the Indians suddenly appeared around his station at the dawn of day, on the 20th of March, killed and scalped Miss Innes, daugh-| ver of Captain Innes, and took Munk, a slave of Capt. Estill, captive. The Indians immedi- ately and hastily retreated, in consequence of a highly exaggerated account which Munk gave them of the strength of the station, and number of fighting men in it. No sooner had the Indi- ans commenced their retreat, than the women in the fort (the men being all absent except one of the sick list) despatched two boys, the late Gen. Samuel South and Peter Hacket, to take the trail of Capt. Estill and his men, and, over- taking them, give information of what had oc- curred at the fort. The boys succeeded in com- The flank becoming thus unprotected, Capt. Estill directed Cook with three men to occupy Miller's station, and repel the attack in that quarter to which this base net of cowardice ex- posed the whole party. The Ensign with his ing up with Capt. Estill early on the morning of the Bist, between the mouths of Drowning creek and Red river. After a short search, Capt. Es- till's party struck the trail of the retreating Indi- ans. It was resolved at once to make pursuit, party were taking the position assigned, when
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one of them discovered an Indian and shot him, and the three retreated to a little eminence whence they thought greater execution could be effected with less danger to themselves, but Cook continued to advance without noticing the absence of his party until he had discharged his gun with effect, when he immediately re- treated, but after running some distance to a large tree, for the purpose of shelter in firing, he unfortunately got, entangled in the tops of fallen timber, and halting for a moment, receiv- ed a ball which struck him just below the shoul- der blade, and came out below his collar bone. In the mean time, on the main field of battle, at the distance of fifty yards, the fight raged with great fury, lasting one hour and three quarters. On either side wounds and death were inflicted, neither party advancing or retreating. "Every man to his man, and every man to his tree."- Capt. Estill at this period was covered with blood from a wound received early in the action ; nine of his brave companions lay dead upon the field; and four other were so disabled by their wounds, as to be unable to continue the fight. Capt. Estill's fighting men were now reduced to four. Among thie number was Joseph Proctor.
Capt. Estill, the brave leader of this Spartan band, was now brought into personal conflict with a powerful and active Wyandot warrior .- The conflict was for a time fierce and desperate, and keenly and anxiously watched by Proctor, with his finger on the trigger of his unerring ri- fle. Such, however, was the struggle between these fierce and powerful warriors, that Proctor could not shoot without greatly endangering the safety of his captain. Estill had had his righ arm broken the preceding summer in an en- gagement with the Indians; and, in the con- flict with the warrior on this occasion, that arm gave way, and in an instant his savage foe bu- ried his knife in Capt. Estill's breast; but in the very same moment, the brave Proctor sent a ball from his rifle to the Wyandot's heart. 'The survivors then drew off as by mutual consent .- Thus endod this memorable battle. It wanted nothing but the circumstance of numbers to make it the most memorable in ancient or mod- ern times. The loss of the Indians, in killed and wounded, notwithstanding the disparity of num- bers after the shameful retreat of Miller, was even greater than that of Capt. Estill.
It was afterwards ascertained by prisoners who were recaptured from the Wyandot, that seventeen of the Indians had been killed, and two severely wounded. This battle was fought on the same day, with the disastrous battle of tho Blue licks, March 22d, 1782.
his nation. It is certain that the chief who ted on the Wyandots with so much desperation, fell in the action. Throughout this bloody engage- ment the coolness and bravery of Proctor were unsurpassed. But his conduct after the battle has always, with those acquainted with it, eli- cited the warmest commendation. He brought off the field of battle, and most of the way to the station, a distance of forty miles, on his back, his badly wounded friend, the late brave Col. Wm. Irvine, so long and so favorably known in Kentucky.
In an engagement with the Indians at the Pickaway towns, on the Great Miami, Proctor killed an Indian Chief. He was a brave soldier, a stranger to fear, and an ardent friend to the institutions of his country. He made three campaigns into Ohio; in defence of his country and in suppressing Indian wars. He had fought side by side with Col. Daniel Boone, Col. Cal- loway, and Col. Logan.
He joined the Metbodist Episcopal Church in a fort in Madison county, Ky., under the preach- ing of Rev. James Hawkes. He was ordained by Bishop Asbury in Clarke County, Ky., 1809. He had been a local preacher more than half a century, and an exemplary member of the Church for sixty-five years.
He was buried with military honors. The several military companies of Madison and Es- till counties, with their respective officers, and more than a thousand citizens, marched in sol- emn procession to the grave.
City Changes.
The changes which the surfaces of cities un- dergo in the lapse of time, from the appearances they presented in a state of nature, are incon- ceivable to those who contemplate merely the present scene. No one would suppose by the existing surface of the intersection of Market and Fourth street, Philadelphia, that a water course ever ran there. Equally remarkable are some of the changes which fifty years, and even less have wrought on the surface of Cincinanti. in the early part of the present century, Broad- way, opposite John's cabinet warehouse, was the centre of a pond, three or four acres in ex- tent to which the early settlers resorted to shoot ployers.
The original level of Main street, on the hill may be judged by observing the range of the windows in the second story of the saddler shop and store of J. S. Fountain, next door to the South-East corner of Main and Fourth streets. If the window nearest Fourth street be narrow- ly examined, it will be discerned to have been once a door,of which the lower part is now built up, and it needed, as may be noticed from the
There is a tradition derived from the Wyan- dot towns, after the peace, that but one of the Warriors engaged in this battle cver returned to | general level beyond Fourth street, but a step or
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two to bring the occupant to the level of the street, as it originally stood. In the final gra- ding of Main street, it will be seen that Major Ferguson who built, and still owns the premis- es, has been constrained to accommodate him- self to that grade, by converting the space be- low into a regular story. The general level of' upper Main Street, extended as far south as nearly the line of Third street, part of the origin- al surface of the ground being preserved in some of the yards north of Third street to this date .- It will readily be imagined what an impediment the bluff bank overhanging the lower ground 10 the south, and repeatedly caving in on it, must have created to the intercourse between the two great divisions of the city,-hill and bottom .--- But this statement, if it were to end here, would not give an adequate idea how far the brow of the hill overhung the bottom region, for it must be observed, that while the hill projected nearly forty feet above the present level where its edge stood : the ground on Main street opposite Pearl and Lower Market streets, corresponded with the general level of those streets, which must have been between thirteen and fourteen feet below the present grade. The whole ground from the foot of the hill was a swamp, fed part- ly from a cove which put in from the Ohio near what is now Harkness' foundry, and in high, wa- ter filled the whole region from the hill to with. in about one hundred and fifty yards of the Ohio in that part of the city, from Walnut to Broad- way,-in early days the dwelling ground, prin- 'cipally, of the settlers, as it still is the most densely built on and valuable part of Cincin- nati.
One of the first brick houses put up in this city, is the well, known Hopple tobacco eatab- lishment on Lower Marketstreet, still standing, and occupied in that line. Thia building, thoughi of brick, and three atories high also, one of those stories being covered over in the repeated fillings up of Lower Marker street, is built upon boat gunnels. The building was put up under the superintendence of Caspar Hopple, still liv- ing, and a fine specimen of the early pioneers; and a little incident in its history may be worth recording in illustration of the point I started with, the changes of grades and surfaces which city improvements have wrought. Fourteen feet above what then constituted the sill of his door, he placed the joists of the next atory, and while that tier was laying, our old fellow citi- zen Jonathan Pancoast passed by, and after ga- zing at the improvement, without comprehen- ding ita design, asked of Mr. Hopple what he meant by what he was doing. Mr. H. observed that as accurately as he could judge, that would be the proper range of the floor, when Lower Market street would be filled to its proper lev-
el, to correspond with what he supposed wout prove the final grade of Main street, opposite .- When the first filling of Lower Market street took place, Mr. H. was compelled to convert some five feet deep of the lower story into a cel- lar, to which he had access by a trap door still in existence, and after the establishment at the present grade, of that street, the level at which he had built his joists, corresponded exactly to its purpose, giving him a sill at his door and a cellar of the ordinary depth with one, as already described, below it.
Nearly opposite on the West side of Main st., on the scite of J. S. Bates & Co's. hat warehouse, Capt. Hugh Moore, another of our surviving pi- oneers, had a building occupied by him as a store for the sale of such goods as were requir- ed by the wants of the early settlers. This was an erection of boat planks for the inside walls, lined with poplar boards, with boat gunuels also for foundation. The building was perhaps thir- ty-six feet deep, and twenty in front. A clap- board roof sheltered its inmates from the weath- er. . This was the only building Mr. Moore was able to secure for his purpose, houses and stores being as difficult to obtain in those days as at present. When he had bargained for the house, which he rented at 100 dollars per an- num, and which with the lot 100 feet on Main, by 200 on Pearl street, he was offered in fee sim- ple at 350 dollars, he brought the flat boat which was loaded with his storegoods from the Ohio, via. Hobson's choice, not far from Mill street, up Second .or Columbia streets, and fastened the boat to a stake near the door, as nearly as can be judged, the exact spot where the museum lamp post now stands, at the corner of Main and Pearl streets. It would be as diffi- cult for the new comer to Cincinnati, to com- prehend and realize this, as for the settlers of those days to have anticipated the changes which have been made in that region, as vast if not as rapid as those effected by the genii of Al- laddin and his lamp.
The First "Currency of the west.
In the early days of Cincinnati, as throughout the whole West, considerable difficulty existed in making change. | The first currency was rac- coon and other skins. This lasted but a short time, the establishment of the garrison' and the campaigns against the Indians bringing a fair supply of specie into the country. 'This being however, either gold or Spanish dollara, did not relieve the natural difficulty of making change in the same currency. In this perplexity, tlie early settlera coined cut money, that is to aay the dollar was cut into four equal parts, worth 25 cents each, or again divided for 124 _ct. pieces. This was soon superceded by a new, and more
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profitable emission from the same mint, which formed an additional quarter, or two additional eighths to pay the expense of coinage. This last description of change, which was nicknamed sharp shins, from its wedge shape, became speed- ily as redundant as were the dimes in 184!, when they ceased to pass eight and nine for a dollar, and of course equally unpopular. I re- member as late as 1806, that the business house in Philadelphia in which I was apprentice, ro- ceived over one hundred pounds of cut silver, brought on by a Kentucky merchant, which went up on a dray under my care to the United States mint for recoinage, greatly to the loss and vexation of the Western merchant. Smaller sums than 12} cts. were given out by the re- tailers of goods, in pins, needles, writing paper &c. Bartle who kept stere on the seite of the Cincinnati Hotel, had a barrel of copper coins brought out in 1794, which so exasperated his brother storekeepers that they had almost mobbed him, and the same feeling of contempt for cop- per money existed here in those days, which even yet exposes a storekceper to insult in of- fering them to a certain description of custom- ers.
Early Military Posts.
The following notes are dated Fort McIntosh. This was one of a chain of Posts first establish- ed in early days, for the defence of the Western Frontiers, extending defence for the settlements of which Fort Ligonier Penna. was the eastern- most point, and Fort Finney at Jeffersonville, was the termination at the west. The imme- diate succession west of Ligonier were Forts Pitt -now Pittsburgh. Mcintosh-on the Ohio be- tween Pittsburgh and Beaver; and Harmar at the mouth of the Muskingum river, opposite Marietta.
Major J. P. Wyllys to Lieut John Armstrong. FORT MCINTOSH, April 29, 1785.
SIR :
I can send you but five men to relieve your party, which must nnswer until the arrival of more troops, which can not be long. I wish you to send on the men belonging to the three com- panies at this port, by Mr. O'Hara's large boat, which will be down to-morrow. Maj. Dough- ty will be at Fort Pitt in order to inspect the military stores there. You will doubtless af- ford him every assistance in your power,
I am sir, with esteem,
your most ob't and humble serv't. J. P. WYLLYS, Maj. Comd.
- Major N. Fish to Capt. Armstrong.
FORT MCINTOSH, May 31, 1785.
DEAR SIR :
Your letter of the 29th inst. I have
received, and thank you for your attention to the business therein mentioned. Your little council with the Indians, and gratuity made to them meet my approbation ; and I am well pleas_ ed to find that you have got rid of them upon so easy terms.
I have been engaged here in a similar way .--- Seotash, a Wyandot Chief, son of the half king of that nation, together with two Delawares and a Mingo, have been in council with me these two days, and are very friendly. I have prom- ised them six pounds of tobacco, and some Wam- pum, which cannot be obtained at this Garri- son. I have therefore directed them to apply at Fort Pitt, and beg you to procure those articles of the contractor or elsewhere, and deliver them to the bearcr.
Don't suffer any disappointment to take place, but at all events let the tobacco and a string of Wampum be furnished them.
I am sir, your most ob't. and humble servant, N. FISH.
P. S. You will please to furnish them with provisions during their stay at Fort Pitt, and ahout eight days allowance when they depart to subsist them on their journey.
Major G. Doughty to Captain Armstrong. MCINTOSH, 4th May, 1786.
MY DEAR SIR :
I am this moment embarking for Musking- um, I have to request you will hand the enelo- sed to Col. Harmar and Capt. Ferguson on their arrival.
Maj. Wyllys tells me you have some paper, which was drawn for ihc Garrison of Muskingum ; he says it was sent to you to be exchanged; be so good as to send it to Muskingum the first oppor- tunity, there is not a sheet at that Post. Maj. Craig has promised to send me some as soon as it arrives. I wish you to jog his memory, lest he should forget.
God bless you
my dear sir, adieu,
G. DOUGHTY.
Maj. J. F. Hamtramck to Capt. Armstrong, Com- mander at Fort Pitt.
MCINTOSH, May 22nd., '86. SIR :
I will be obliged to you if you will send me by tho'first opportunity (if you have them in public store) two sithes and hangings, two pick- axes, one dozen of fascine hatchets, four spades or shovels, and six planting hoes. We are go . ing to work at a garden.
I have the honor to be sir,
your most obedient,
J. F. HAMTRAMCK.
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A Proclamation.
By William Henry Harrison, Major Gen- eral in the army of the United States, and commanding the eighth Military District.
An armistice having been concluded between the United States and the tribes of Indians, call- ed Miamies, Potawatomies, Weas, Eel River Mi- amies, Ottoways, Chippeways and Wyandots, to continue until the pleasure of the former shall be known, I do hereby make known, the same to all whom it may concern. This armistice is preparatory to a general council, to be held with the different tribes; and until its termina- tion, they have been permitted to retire to their hunting grounds, and there remain unmolested, if they behave themselves peaceably. They have surrendered into our hands, hostages from each tribe, and have agreed immediately to restore all our prisoners in their possession, and to unite with us in the chastisement of any Indians, who may commit any aggressions upon our fron- tiers. Under these circumstances, I exhort our citizens, living upon the frontiers to respect the terms of the said armistice, and neither to en- gage in, nor countenance any expedition against their persons nor property, leaving to the Gov- ernment, with whom the Constitution has left it, to pursue such course with respect to the Indi- ans, as they may think most compatible with sound policy, and the best interest of the coun- try.
Done at Detroit, this 16th day of Oct. 1813. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
A true copy. C. S. TODD .- Extra A D Camp.
[ SEAL.]
Col. John Armstrong.
In one of his memorandum books-1782 he says :
"Oct. 31st, at 3 o'clock P. M., marched from Harrison to Cabin point, in Surry county, 12 miles, and pitched tents at 8 o'clock P. M. 1st Sept. at 10 o'clock A. M., marched 12 miles to Surry Court House. The recrossing the James River, and marching this route, was in conse- quence of an account that a French fleet was in the bay; at 10 o'clock the account was con- firmed by a letter to Gen. Wayne-2nd, march- ed 6 miles to Cabin point ; at 10 o'clock A. M. two frigates and thirty boats made their appear- ance, and at 10 o'clock P. M. the French lan- ded 3000 men on James Island -- 3rd, at 9 o'clock A. M., went on board the French boats and crossed the James River-at this place the river is 3 miles wide, and took a position between Green Spring and James Town, leaving our baggage and tents standing on the other side of the river with one Virginia regiment to assistin transporting over. At 5 o'clock P. M. there )
came on a heavy rain, the troops marched one mile to Green Spring, where we lay without shelter after getting very wet. 4th, marched at 5 o'clock A. M., 8 miles to Williamsburgh, James City county, where we were reviewed by the French General -- at night retired into the College. 5th, marched one mile back in order to give the men an opportunity of washing their linen-where we lay without shelter. 6th, marched through Williamsburg to Burrill's mills, 5 miles into York county -- the morning of the 7th, the enemy's horse came up to our pickets but were obliged to retire, leaving one sword, cloak, and pistol. 8th, at 10 o'clock A. M. was relieved by a detachment commanded by Gen. Muhlenburgh -- marched 6 miles in rear of Williamsburgh, and formed a junction with the light infantry, and French troops -- at 9 o'clock P. M. was alarmed by two of the French centinels firing-false alarm. 9th, at 10 o'clock A. M. received our tents and baggage, and en- camped. At 5 o'clock P. M. was reviewed after which the American officers marched in a body to the French camp, and were introduced by the Marquis La Fayette to Major Gen. St. Si- mon, and others of the French gentlemen.
"Virginia, Sept. 19, 1782. Pierce Butlor Dr. one Beaver Hat on a bet respecting the surren- der of Lord Cornwallis."
1781.
In his orderly book is found dated Hd. Qrs. 8th July, 1781.
The General in acknowledging the spirit of the detachment commanded by Gen. Wayne, in their engagement with the total of the Brit- ish Army, of which he happened to be an eye witness. He requests Gen, Wayne and the offi- cers and men under his command, to receive his best thanks. For the bravery & destructive fire of the Riflemen engaged, rendered essen- tial service. The brilliant conduct of Major Galvan, and the continental detachment under this command entitle them to applause.
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