USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 4
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On their arrival at Fort Hamilton it was ascertained that Major Thomas Butler, who was wounded, had not come in. A party from the garrison was immediately dis- patched for the purpose of bringing him on, and to afford relief to any who might have been left on the road una- ble to proceed. Major Batler came in the next day.
Early on the morning of the 8th the remainder of the army set out, and reached Fort Washington (now Cin- cinnati) in the evening.
CAPTAIN JOHN ARMSTRONG.
As is said above, a detachment of troops was detailed and placed in garrison at Fort Hamilton before the army set out, which was committed to the command of Captain John Armstrong, who continued in command until the Spring of 1793. Most of the fortifications and interior buildings at this place were erected under his superintend- ence; and when the remains of the army returned, after the disastrous defeat, he took charge of the wounded and provided for them until they were able to go forward to Fort Washington. Of his services at this post the letters of General St. Clair are highly complimentary.
Captain Armstrong was a well-tried soldier, a first- rate woodsman; and familiarly conversant with the Indian habita. At an early age he had entered the service in the Revolutionary army as a private soldier, but was im- mediately made a sergeant, and, on the 11th of Septent- Wwer, 1777, was commissioned as an eusign, in which rapae- its he served until the close of the war in 1785. On the ' disbanding of the army he was continuel in the service. He was commandant at Wyoming iu 1784. He was an offirer in the service at Fort Pitt in the years 1785 and
1786, and from the years 1786 to 1796 he was stationed at Fort Finney, at the Falls of the Ohio, which was situ- ated on the Indian bank (at the lower end of what is now known as the old town of Jeffersonville).
In September, 1789, about six years after the close of the war of the Revolution (having continued uninter- ruptedly in service), he received the appointment of a lieutenant, on the nomination of President Washington, which appointment was confirmed by the Senate in June, 1790; and, having joined the army under the command of General Josiah Harmar at Fort Washington, marched against the Indians on the 30th of September, 1790, dar- ing which campaign he was in the action fought under the command of Colonel Hardin on the 19th of October, west of the Miami village, in what is now the State of Indiana, and a few miles west of where Fort Wayne Wis afterwards built, suffering severely. The militia having been thrown into disorder, suddenly retreated, leaving Lieutenant Armstrong to contend at the head of a de- cidedly unequal force. The Indians on this ceeusion gained a complete victory, having in the whole near one hundred men. Lieutenant Armstrong in this engagement lost one sergeant aud twenty-one men out of thirty of his conimand.
Lieutenant Armstrong and most of bis men stood their ground, anticipating a rally of the militia, in which they were disappointed, when the lieutenant, after shooting an Indian in the act of scalping the Inst man he had on the field, threw himself into the grass between a large oak stump and a Jog which had been blown down, where he remained about three hours in daylight. At night the Indians commenced their war-dance, within gun-shot of where he lay. Desiring to sell his life as dearly as pos- sible, be at one time thought of trying to shoot a chief, whom he could distinguish by his dress and trinkets iu the light of the fires. Taking his watch and compass from their fobs, he buried them by the side of the log where he lay, saying to himself, "Some honest fellow tilling the ground, many years hence, may find them, and these rageals sha'n't have them." . Finding. however, great uncertainty in drawing a bead by cloudy moonlight and that of the fires at the dance, and thinking it pos- sible that he might escape, in which case his watch and compass would be useful to him, he dug them up, mal replaced them in his fobs. Soon after, he was satisfied that there were Indians near him, and was conscious that they would prefer taking him prisoner to shooting him Should he cock his gun, and ou attempting to escape, he discovered, he could wheel and shoot before the Indians would attempt to shoot. He thereupon cocked his rifle ; the Indians near him began to mimmie ground-squirrels and perwink. The lientenant cautiously moved, and on the third stop was so distinctly discovered by the Ladians that the savage gel! was given, when everything was in- stantly silent at the dance. Armstrong then took to his beets, springing the grass as far as practicable to pre-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
vent tracking. . After running a short distance he dis- covered a pond of water, into which he immediately jumped, thinking there would be no track left there. Seating himself on a tussock of grass, with his gun on his shoulder and the water round his waist, he had not been in the pond for five minutes when the whole troop of Indians, foot and horse, were around the pond, hurrah- ing for him. Using his own expression, "Such yells I never heard. I suppose the Indians thought I was a wontided man, that their yells would scare me, and I would run, and they could catch me; bat I thought to myself, I would see them damned first. The Indians 'continued their hunt for several hours, until the moon went down, when they retired to their fires. The ice was frozen to my clothes, and I was very much benumbed. I extricated myself from the pond, broke some sticks, and rubbed my thighs and legs, to circulate the blood, and, with some difficulty at first, slowly made my way through the bush. Believing that the Indians would be traveling between their own and the American camp, I went at right angles from the trace, about two miles, to a piece of rising ground. Thinking to myself, it is a cold night, if there are any Indians here, they will have fire; if I can't see their fire, they can't see mine, and a fire is necessary for me, I went into a ravine where a large tree had been blown up by the roots, kindled a fire, dried my- self, and laid down and took a nap of sleep; in the morn- ing, threw my fire in a puddle of water, and started for camp."
Lieutenant Armstrong being a good woodsman and well acquainted with Indian habits, when he came to open woods, passed round them; in wet ground, walked on logs, and occasionally stepped backwards, to prevent being tracked. About half way from the battle-ground to the American camp, he discovered three Indians com- ing along the path meeting him; he squatted in the hazel bushes, about twenty steps from the trace, and the Indians passed without discovering him. Mr. Armstrong said: "I never so much wished for two gunsin my life. I felt perfectly cool; could have taken the eye out of either of them, and with two guns should have killed two of them, and the other rascal would have run away, but with one guin thought it best not to make the attack, as the odds would be against me as three to one."
Reaching the vicinity of the ground where he had left the main army the day before, the day being now far spent, he expected soon to meet with chose he had left there, but was suddenly arrested in his lonely march by the commencement of a heavy battle, as he supposed, at the encampment. Hesitating for a moment, and then cautiously moving to a position from which he could overlock the camp, instead of seeing there his associates in arms, from whom he had theu bech separated two days, a different scene was presented. The savage- had full possession of the American camp-round. "Is it po- sible," said he, " that the main army has been cut off?"
Having been two days without eating a mouthful, except the breakfast taken early in the morning of hi- leaving camp, he began to reflect what should be his future course.
Much exhausted from fatigue, without food, alone in the wilderness, far from any settlements, and surrounded by savages, the probability of his escape was indeed slight, but duty to himself and country soon determined him upon the attempt. At this moment the sound of a canon attracted his attention. He knew it was a signal for the lost men to come in, and taking a cirele, passed in the direction from whence the sound came, and arrived safe at the camp. The army lad changed position from the time he had left, to a point two miles lower down the creek, which presented ground more favorable for en- campment. The dask of the evening had arrived when he got to camp, greatly to the surprise of his acquaint- ances, who had mimiberel him with the men who had fought their last fight.
Arinstrong, in speaking of this engagement, and the heavy loss in his command, always evinced much. feel- ing, saying: "The men of tay command were as brave as ever lived; I could have marched to the mouth of a can- non without their flinching." Armstrong continued to hold the rank of lieutenant until March, 1791, when he was promoted to a captainey, in which capacity he served until the Spring of 1798, when he resigned and left the army.
When General Anthony Wayne with bis army cato to the West, he wrote a letter to Captain Armstrong, dated "Camp Hobson's-choice, May 12, 1793" (now the west part of Cincinnati), in which, referring to his resignation, he stated: " I sincerely lament the loss of an officer of your known bravery and experience, esp.cully at this erisis, when we are really in want of many such," and adds: " Could you, or would you, undertake to raise a corps of mounted volunteers, for a given period, whose pay and emoluments will be as follows: viz. : the non- commissioned officers, one dollar per diem, and the pri- vates seventy-five cent --- each person finding his own horse, arms, and accoutrements, at his own risk-and seventy-five cents per diem in lieu of rations and forage: provided he furnishes himself therewith ? The President was by law authorized te appone the officers. That power he has vested'in me; their pay and other emoluments (exclusive of fifty cents per diem for the use and risk of their horses; will be the same as that of officers of corre- ponding rank in the legion." Having then acquired a family, and his constitution falling from hardships and exposure in the service of his country for a period of seventeen years. Mr. Armstrong declined service in this campaign. Soon after his resignation, Mr. Armstrong received the commission of a cofond of the militia of the Territory, and married a daughter of Judge William (in- forth, of Columbia, at the month of the Little Miem! River, in Hamilton County, where he settled and resided
9
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WILKINSON AND ARMSTRONG.
until the Spring of the year 1814. He was many years a magistrate at Columbia, and also served as one of the judges of the court of Hamilton County. He was ap- pointed treasurer of the .Northwestern Territory. His first commission as treasurer is dated the thirteenth day of September, 1796. Another commission to the same office was dated the fourteenth day of December, 1799.
He lived at Columbia from 1793 to the Spring of 1814, when he returned to his farm, opposite the Grassy Flats, in Clark County, State of Indiana, and died there on the fourth day of February, 1816, after a confinement of five years and twenty-four days, during all which time he was anable to walk unless supported by persons on either side of him. His remains were interred on that farm, where a monument is placed to mark his resting-place.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WILKINSON AND ARMSTRONG.
GENERAL ST. CLAIR resigned the office of major-gen- eral on the 7th of January, 1792, and James Wilkinson, lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of the United States Army, succeeded to the command of Fort Wash- ington and the dependencies.
We shall here introduce some of the correspond- ence which took place between the commandant at Fort Hamilton and the commandant at Fort Washington, relative to the completion of the defenses of the fort, and tending to give an insight into the state and con- dition of affairs in and about the fort and vicinity at the time.
On the 5th of February, 1792, Colonel Wilkinson gave orders to Captain Armstrong, at Fort Hamilton, to have a second flat or boat built at that place, to facilitate the transportation of horses, men, and provisions across the rive :. It is as follows :
" JOHN ARMSTRONG, ESQ., " Captain commandant Fort Hamilton :
"SIR, -- The public service requires that a public flat or boat, for the transportation of horses, be built with the utmost dispatch at this post to facilitate the passage of the river. You will, therefore, be pleased to take the necessary measures with your usual promptitude, and be- lieve me, with respect and attachment, sir,
" Your most obedient humble servant, "J. WILKINSON, " Limit, col. commandant Second, U. S. Regiment, commanding Fort Washington and dependencies. " Poser Hasanvon, February 5, 1792."
Colonel Wilkinson enme to the fort on the 15th of' March, and at ten o'clock the next day left. Captain Arm-tome thereupon wrote to General St. Clair :
"FORT HAMILTON, March 17, 1792.
"DEAR GENERAL, -Colonel Wilkinson Jeft this place at ten o'clock yesterday, with about two hundred men, with the intention of establishing an intermediate post between this and Fort Jefferson, now under the command of Cap- tain Strong. On the 15th, my runners returned from the place appointed for the exchange .of letters, and. hav- ing waited two hours after the appointed time of meeting returned without any information from Jefferson. As Captain Strong is a punctual officer, some accident must have happened to his express. My young men discov- ered fresh tracks of horses in several places on the road, as many as five in a body ; the enemy must, therefore, he watching. the trace, and perhaps be concerting a plan of attack on our advanced posts. A small party leave this garrison every morning before day, and reconnoiters the neighboring woods. They have not, as yet, discovered any signs of Indians. The garrison is now in a perfect state of defense, and for its greater safety I have com- menced sinking a well. I bag leave also to observe that due attention is paid to the exercise and discipline of the men, etc.
"I hope, madam, this letter, although out of the line of etiquette, will not give offense. Unacquainted with the etiquette of addressing a lady, I have hopes the language of my profession will not be offensive to the companion of a brother officer. Be pleased, therefore, madam, to accept the thanks of my family. alias the mess. for your polite attention in sending us garden seeds, etc .. and, should we be honored by a visit from the donor, the flowers shall be taught to smile at her approach and droop as she retires. We beg you to accept in return a few venison hams. which will be delivered you by Mr. Hartshorn. They will require a little more pickle and some niter. JOHN ARMSTRONG."
Colonel Wilkinson left Fort Hamilton with the inten- tion of establishing an intermediate post between that and Fort Jefferson, then under the command of Captain Strong. And on the 19th March he wrote to Captain . Armstrong from camp twenty-five miles in advance of Fort Hamilton. that he had built a fort. This was about half a mile west of where the town of Eaton, in Preble County, now is, and was named Fort St. Clair. . He also ordered as follows :
" JOHN ARMSTRONG, ESQ.,
"Captain commandant Fort Hamilton :
" DEAR SIR,-Please forward the inclosed express, and if Mr. Elliott gives you notice that his boats are ascend- ing the Miami, yon will detach a sergeant and twelve men to meet them at Dunlap's Station, and escort them to the post under your command. Every thing is safe here, and Charlie may kiss my foot. I built upon a square of one hundred and twenty feet a four-sided poly- gon, with regular bastions. The bastions will be com-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
pleted in two hours. The work substantial and rather handsome. The area, covered yesterday morning by im- mense oaks, poplars, and beeches, is now clear for pa- rade. Adieu.
"I am your most obedient servant, "J. WILKINSON."
It was occasionally the practice to take provisions and stores from Fort Washington to Fort Hamilton by water in keel-boats that descended the Ohio River to the mouth of the Miami, and up the stream to Fort Hamilton, which was considered the easiest and safest route, but the greater portion was transported by land on pack-horses.
In a letter of Colonel Wilkinson to Captain Armstrong, dated Fort Washington, March 26, 1792, he directs him that Pack-horse Masters Mcclellan and Tate are to load at Fort Hamilton, and proceed to Fort St. Clair, accom- panied by an escort, for the protection of the brigade, of a subaltern officer, four non-commissioned officers, and thirty men, and as this movement was deemed to be crit- ical, the officer was directed to be extremely cautious. Captain Armstrong was also instructed to construct store- houses, either within the fortress, or immediately under its protection, for the reception of one thousand barrels of provisions.
Captain Armstrong, in his letter of the 26th of April, 1792, to Colonel Wilkinson, says :
"FORT HAMILTON, April 26, 1792.
" DEAR GENERAL, -- An express is this moment arrived from Fort Jefferson. The dispatches accompanying this will give you the news of that place. I have only to add, although the enemy are in the neighborhood of this place, I have, as yet, evaded the execution of their designs, and that, with the assistance of Captain Ford's horse, have, and will on to-morrow have, timber enough: in the garrison to finish one of the buildings mentioned in my last. It will contain all the flour now exposed, and what is on board the boats now coming up. I wish they may a rive safe. The express did not touch at St. Clair.
"I have the honor to be, with respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN ARMSTRONG, "Captain First Regiment United States Army."
Captain Armstrong writes to General Wilkinson : " FORT HAMILTON, 27th April, 1792.
"DEAR GENERAL, -- My letter of last evening, sent by express carrying the dispatches from Fort Jefferson, I hope arrived safely. If the building ordered to be erected here should not be finished as soon as you expected, per- mit me to observe the fault is not mine. Carpenters were sent forward withont tools to work with, or the necessary means of hauling timber. Every exertion in my power has been called forth to complete the business in question. I expect one of the buildings will be finished early next week, which, when completed, will contain the provisions already sent forward. Additional ones must be made,
and I dread the consequence, as my small command will not enable me to furnish a sufficient party to cover the workmen from the enemy. should they appear in force. When the oxen arrive I shall proceed to the completion of this business, and use all the industry and precaution in my power. I hope the steel carpenters' and armorers' tools will be sent forward, as without them your orders can not be carried into execution. You must be tired of the repeated applications made for them. What is be- come of my former express? I fear he did not reach you. I feel for the party under Major Shaumburgh. Should those Indians mentioned in Captain Shay's letter meet him, his party must be cut off. This is an important suggestion. I wish you might think proper to furnish two good woodsmen for this post, who might carry dis- patches without confining themselves to the road. I have no such characters in my command."
There are two references in the annexed letter of General Wilkinson which need explanation. The "God of War" refers to General Knox, then Secretary of the War Department, who was deemed unfriendly to the set- tlement of the West, for private and mercenary seasons. There appears, however, to have been no foundation for these views. The .. Gaines" alluded to was General Ed- mund P. Gaines, whose promotion from ensign to lieu- tenant it announces, and whose continuance in the army for nearly sixty years is without a parallel in the United States' service, and has few examples in European mili- tary registers. His widow is still living.
GENERAL J. WILKINSON TO CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.
"FORT WASHINGTON, April 29th, 1792. " DEAR SIR, -All your letters, except those by Me- Donald, have come safe to hand. I fear these have taken the back track, as we have not seen or heard of the man. Please to forward me a duplicate of your letters by himu. " You will find from the inclosed list that little Hodg- don, although always deficient, has not been so much so as you expect. The articles receipted for us by Shaum- burgh were expressly for your garrison, and exclusive of those intended for Jefferson. The articles which remain unsupplied will be furnished by the next escort, as far as they can be procured, and you nist write to Lieutenant Shaumburgh to return you the articles which he improp- erly carried forward, or such part as may be handily con- veyed by your expresses, viz: the chalk-lines, gimlets, stone, compass, saw, and chisel. You can not be too cautious, for I fear it will be impossible, with all your vigilance, to preserve every man's hair a month longer. You have to combat an enterprising, subtle, persevering enemy, who, to gain an advantage, would think it no hard- ship to creep a mile upon his belly over a bed of therns.
" Your regiment is broken all to pieces by promotion. Yon are now second captain, and if the God of War were not anfriendly to you, you should soou be a major. The organization and discipline of the army is to undergo a
11
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WILKINSON AND ARMSTRONG.
great reform. The particulars have not yet been trans- mitted to me, but I am told it is to be styled the Ameri- can Legion, commanded by a major-general, and divided into four sub-legions, to be commanded by brigadiers. I infer that the inferior corps will be battalions, com- manded by majors, and that regiments are to be done away, as we are to have no more lieutenant-colonels. Zeigler's resignation was accepted, and he struck off the rolls, the fifth of March, long before he had offered his commission to me. Subordination and sobriety are cir- cunstances which the President 'is determined to enforce at all hazards. I wish you to congratulate Gaines for me on his promotion, and tell him that it will depend upon himself, in a great degree, when he may be a cap- tain. My friendship will depend entirely upon his con- tinuing the sober man I formerly knew him to be. I feel some anxiety for Elliott's last convoy by the river. Should it arrive safe, you will return the escort, under cover of the night, to this place. The season approaches when we must not trifle with the enemy. Adieu.
"I am, with sincere regard, yours, "JAMES WILKINSON, " Lieutenant colonel Commandant.
"N. B .- You will make up and sign the abstracts of the contractor, in as strict conformity to the order of the 18th February as may be, and in future are to observe it exactly. To this end, all detachments and parties pass- ing you must specify in their returns the respective corps and companies to which they appertain. J. W.
"CAPTAIN JOHN ARMSTRONG."
On the first of next month Captain Armstrong wrote to General Wilkinson:
"FORT HAMILTON, Ist May, 1792.
" DEAR GENERAL,-I was honored with your letter of yesterday by the express, which gave me great relief, as my apprehension with respect to his safety had given me painful sensations. McDonald, whom I sent to head- quarters on the 23d of April, carrying the dispatches of Jefferson and St. Clair, is either killed or taken. I am anxious for the safety of this, but conceive it my duty, until you order it otherwise, to send forward those letters from the outposts, be the danger ever so great. I have as yet lost no men, although the enemy have been fre- quently seen around us.
"The building I have already begun will, when fin- ished, contain all the flour now here. Shall I proceed to erect one of the other bastions? Those buildings add much to the strength of the garrison, but getting up the timber will be attended with some danger. Captain Cush- ing's men arrived yesterday, and, with those sent forward on the 20th, will return this evening. When they left St. Clair those from Jefferson had not arrived, although ex- pected the day before.
"If this communication is kept up by sobliers who, being unacquainted with the woods, must keep the roads,
I am fearful we shall lose many of our men. I wish it might occur to you as proper to have two woodsmen at each post for that purpose. The proceedings of the court- martial, whereof Captain Ford was president, were for- warded by McDonald, and from the presumption that the president did not take a copy I have directed the judge-advocate to forward one to Captain Ford by this express. Please to inform me if Major Zeigler's resigna- tion is accepted."
The reply of Colonel Wilkinson was as follows: "FORT WASHINGTON, May 4, 1792. " SIR,-A disappointment on the part of the contractor prevents. my dispatching the heavy escort, so soon as my last letter mentioned. and the party which now goes on is to endeavor to join Fort St. Clair under cover of night. They are to halt with you the day they may arrive, and you are to cross thence over the river, on the evening of that day after sunset, taking the necessary precaution to prevent the enemy from discovering their numbers. You will give the corporal orders to reach St. Clair in the course of the night on which you dispatch him. His safety and the safety of the little convoy depend on the strict ob- servance of this order. Captain Peters, with an efficient escort, waits the arrival of a drove of bullocks which have been injudiciously halted at Craig's, and will not reach this place until the 8th inst. By him you will receive a vol- ume from Yours, truly, "JAMES WILKINSON, " Lieutenant-colonel Commandant.
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