USA > Ohio > Washington County > Belpre > A history of Belpre, Washington County, Ohio > Part 9
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bitious. In the Spring of 1805 after the close of his term as Vice-President he made a tour down the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers the object of which is given by Judge William H. Safford as follows:+
(1) To ascertain the sentiment of the people of the west upon the subject of a separation from the Atlantic States.
(2) To enlist recruits, and make arrangements for a private expedition against Mexico and the Spanish pro- vinces in the event of a war between the United States and Spain, which at that time seemed inevitable.
(3) In the event of a failure of both of these meas- ures, to purchase a tract of land of Baron Bastrop lying in Louisiana on the Washita river. Upon this he contem- plated the establishment of a colony of intelligent and wealthy individuals where he might rear around him a society remarkable for its refinement in civil and social life.
That each of these stupendous enterprises was deter- mined on, is clearly inferable from the evidence afterwards adduced against him."
He examined the ancient monuments at Marietta and. in company with a friend, passed through the grounds of the Island estate, although the family were absent at the time.
A correspondence followed between Mr. Burr and Mr. Blennerhassett and this resulted in another visit of Mr. Burr to the island in August, 1805. At that visit Mr. Burr laid before his host plans for an expedition which must have embraced some at least of the specifications already quoted. Mr. Blennerhassett had sufficient confidence in his distinguished guest to enlist himself and invest at least a considerable part of his fortune in the enterprise, but it also created the hope of large honor and wealth in the fu- ture and it is also evident that Mrs. Blennerhassett entered very heartily into the plan. The ostensible object of the enterprise as given to the public, was the establishment of a colony on the Washita river though at least some of the adventurers enlisted with the understanding that it em- braced a campaign against Mexico.
Almost immediately a contract was made with Joseph
Blennerhassett Papers Page 105.
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Barker to construct, at his ship yard on the Muskingum, fifteen large batteaux, with a total capacity of carrying five hundred men. One of these was to be fitted with sev- eral rooms to accommodate Mr. Blennerhassett's family ; also a keel boat sixty feet long to be loaded with munitions, provisions, flour, whiskey, pork, and corn meal which was to be kiln dried so that it would be preserved in a warm and moist climate. For these boats and provisions Mr. Blennerhassett became responsible and he was to go down the river with these boats in December. Other men and supplies had already been provided for in Penn. and Mr. Burr proceeded down the river to secure volunteers and supplies in Kentucky.
The preparations were to embrace fifteen hundred or two thousand armed men with corresponding supplies of provisions.
December 7 Comfort Tyler and Isræl Taylor, in the employ of Col. Burr, arrived at the island from Beaver, Penn. with four boats and about thirty-two men. Only eleven of the boats ordered at Marietta were completed but orders were given to have these and the provisions sent immediately and if any of the covers of boats were not complete that work might be done as they floated down the river.
Meanwhile President Jefferson had been informed that a military expedition was in preparation against the do- minions of Spain, and on Nov. 27th he issued a message warning all persons against participating in such criminal enterprises and commanding all officers, civil and military, to bring the offending persons to punishment. The matter was also considered by Governor Tiffin of Ohio and the Legislature, then in Session at Chillicothe, immediately passed an act entitled "An act to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the United States within the jurisdiction of the State of Ohio."
Under this act Governor Tiffin ordered out the militia in the adjoining territory, under command of Major Gen- eral Buell with instruction to take possession of the boats and stores not only in the Muskingum but also of all of a suspicious character descending the Ohio. Under this or- der the boats and provisions on the Muskingum and at Mar-
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ietta were placed under the guard of the militia. Owing to these orders a considerable number of volunteers aban- doned the enterprise. Several young men at Belpre, who desired to participate in the expedition and were ambitious for adventure, resolved to make an effort to secure these boats. One dark night they went to Marietta for that pur- pose. While loosening the boats from the banks of the Muskingum they were discovered by the militia and a some- what ludicrous but bloodless scrimage followed in the dark- ness; as a result the young men succeeded in getting one of the boats into the Ohio river in which they floated down to the island. Under the authority of the proclamation of President Jefferson the Militia of Wood County, Virginia was called out and Dec. 10th Mr. Blennerhassett was in- formed that Colonel Hugh Phelps was expected to proceed to the island on the next day to take possession of the per- sons, as well as of boats and stores. Alarmed by these reports Mr. Blennerhassett and his followers resolved to leave the island that night. Hasty preparations were made and although the cold was intense, the flotilla with about forty men and a considerable supply of arms and provis- ions cut loose from the island about midnight and floated down the river, expecting to receive additional recruits at the mouth of the Cumberland river and to be led forward in the enterprise by Aaron Burr. The Governor of Ken- tucky had also been aroused by the proclamation of the President and Mr. Burr was compelled to hasten his de- parture so that the flotillas, when united, consisted of only four boats. This flotilla proceeded down the Ohio and also a considerable distance down the Mississippi but in the end proved a complete failure. The men were scattered, Mr. Burr and Mr. Blennerhassett were both arrested for treason and a trial was held the next year before the Supreme Court of the United States at Richmond, Virginia. The trial was one of the most celebrated in the annals of that Court. The result was an acquittal as the evidence was not considered sufficient to convict them. Both men how- ever suffered severely in the loss of property and reputation.
The Blennerhassett family never returned to their is- land home. Later the property was sold to pay debts and the buildings were destroyed by fire. It seems to be the verdict of historians that Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett were captivated by the allurements of Aaron Burr. They were
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made to believe that their endowments fitted them for much larger things, than could be realized on their island home, but that a state might be created in which they would be leaders. Their property was involved and the enter- prise inaugurated to gratify that ambition with no real in- tention of any treasonable purposes against the government
As before stated the ostensible object of the expedi- tion, as given to the public, was the establishment of a col- ony on the Washita river.
. It has been the opinion of historians from that time to the present that something much more extensive than this was contemplated by Aaron Burr. The reasons for this opinion certainly seem very conclusive. One of these is that the plan of preparation involved the enlistment of fifteen hundred or two thousand men, armed and equipped with implements of war, and provisions for a considerable campaign in a warm, moist climate, with no preparations for surveying, clearing, or cultivating land or for removing or settling families.
Again Colonel Burr was a man of so large and so sel- fish ambitions it is not thought likely that he would make so large preparations for an enterprise which did not prom- ise larger emoluments either of honor or wealth than could be expected from a colony in a wilderness. Then, when they feared arrest by the civil authorities, they did not attempt to explain their real object, but hastened away se- cretly. It was well known that the representatives of Spain had put forth strenuous efforts for nearly a score of years to prevail upon the states bordering on the Mississippi river to secede from the union and become a part of the Spanish province of Florida. Many public men in these states were in favor of that movement. Among these was General James Wilkinson who, while holding a position in the United States Army, had been for many years an agent for Spain and received an annual stipend from that gov- ernment. Subsequent revelations have provided abundant evidence of the extent of his treason. It is known that Burr was in secret consultation with Wilkinson on each of his trips down the valley, and that he also held a cypher correspondence with him. General Wilkinson so far turn- ed States evidence that he was one of the principal witness- es against Burr on the trial for treason.
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No one will doubt that in giving his testimony he would avoid all statements which would criminate himself. This fact connected with the well known sentiment of many western politicians at that time may be one reason why the verdict of "not guilty" was rendered at the trial of Colonel Burr.
In a letter written by Mr. Blennerhassett a few years later to Governor Alston, a son-in-law of Colonel Burr, and a partner in the enterprise he speaks of making known the facts "relative to Mr. Burrs designs against New Or- leans and Mexico." These words so far confirm the evi- dence already mentioned that they seem to justify the con- clusion that Col. Burr contemplated a conquest of the Spanish Floridas, or uniting with them the western States in a new nation, or a conquest of Mexico, or perhaps in case of a war with Spain, which was at that time thought imminent, the accomplishment of both schemes and the founding of a great Southern Empire under the leadership of Burr, Blennerhassett, and Wilkinson. While this en- terprise and its results are only remotely related to the history of Belpre a considerable number of young men from Belpre enlisted in the expedition and, owing to the locality, the mere mention of Belpre suggests to many minds the account of Mr. Blennerhassett.
At the time there was a ludicrous as well as a serious side to the affair which gave rise to certain parodies in the newspapers as well as practical jokes on the militia. Thinking other boats laden with men, arms, or provisions might come down the river a guard was stationed at the foot of Greene Street in Marietta with a loaded cannon. One dark night, when the river was nearly closed with ice, a light was seen slowly moving down the river among the ice cakes. This was carefully watched and when opposite the guard house a challenge was given in most approved nautical terms. This was repeated three times and no re- sponse having been made a torch was applied to the six pounder and immediately the surrounding hills reechoed the sound. This arroused the sleeping citizens in all the region, who supposed the war was actually begun, and rushed out in all conditions of dress to learn what was the occasion for the alarm. Next morning an old boat was found lodged in the ice in which were the remains of a fire which had been kindled in it the previous night.
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CHAPTER X
WAR OF 1812.
T is the verdict of historians that the war with Great Britain, usually denominated the War of 1812, was justified, that is according to the worlds standard of justification at that time. There was a strong party in the United States opposed to this war. Great Britain had acknowledged our independ- ence, but since her politicians had previously controlled the colonists it was hard for them to surrender all their dictation. Their officers impressed our seamen, searched our ships on the seas, made many and vexatious aggressions on our commerce, and, perhaps most inexcusable of all in- cited the Indians to make depredations on our frontier. This latter was probably from a desire to secure possession of what was then known as the North West Territory. For such reasons as these war was declared under the administration of James Madison, June 18, 1812. The Democratic party was the war party. The Federalists de- sired as strongly as the Democrats that the wrongs perpe- trated by Great Britain should be corrected but they be- lieved that this could be done by diplomacy without resort to arms. The majority of the people in Washington Coun- ty were Federalists, the party of Washington, and were not very much interested in carrying on the war; they were also too far from the scenes of action to have their enthusiasm very much aroused. It was only twenty-three years after the first log house was erected in Belpre, and the number of inhabitants was still small. Requisitions were made on all parts of the country for men and for cer- tain political reasons it was thought best in Belpre that these men should be secured by draft rather than by volun- tary enlistments. Belpre furnished her quota of men who performed faithful and loyal service. The sentiment of Belpre people at that time is well described in a letter written by Col. John Stone to Anselm T. Nye many years later and copied in Williams History of Washington Coun- ty, page 134, as follows: "The patriotism of Belpre did
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not prompt her citizens to deeds of peril on the Canada line. The people believed the government could have made a treaty if it had taken the right course. The Berlin and Milan decrees of Napoleon were as obnoxious as the Brit- ish orders in Council, and to declare war against one gov- ernment and not the other was to discriminate. If war was the remedy to maintain our rights-we were in every way unprepared."
"The blundering management of the war in the north- west gave cause for the severest criticism, and perhaps gave rise to the idea of the necessity of a Silver Grey or- ganization. Col. Nathaniel Cushing had command of a company of Silver Greys, whose valor had been tried in their youth, who had seen Indians since, heard the war whoop, and helped to bury the scalped dead, but the men who threw up their caps for the war of 1812 looked upon these old soldiers as tories and sometimes called them so. Perhaps I might mention some circumstances to show who they were, and how well they bore the appellation, not ac- cepted it, and how they stood when a tory was an enemy to his country. There was some slipping away from the legal call of the Military Officers, but enough were found to fill the drafts as they occurred. All who went into the service were given an honorable discharge. There were a great many sick and ailing when the order for a draft was announced so much so that old Mr. Allen who was ferryman at the mouth of Little Hocking, and who was commonly known as Old Charon said: "Nearly all the drafted men profaned themselves sick."
"Edward B. Dana and Bial Steadman were Captains in the regiment of Washington County militia as then or- ganized. They were citizens of Belpre and Belpre at that time contained double its present territory. The bounds of military companies were fixed by regimental boards of officers. Hence Captain Dana's company, though called a Belpre company, extended into Warren while Captain Stead- man's Company was all in Belpre, and within the bounds of these two companies were formed the Silver Greys. I am not aware that either Captain E. B. Dana or Captain Bial Steadman performed any other service than to call out the requisition made on their companies and other du- ties connected with that service. I was a corporal in Cap-
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tain Dana's company, and performed the duty of notifying the drafted men in the draft of 1813. It was the duty of commanders of companies, when they received a requisi- tion to draft the number of men called for and forward them to the place of rendezvous, they were not authorized to use compulsion. If the drafted man did not go or fur- nish a substitute he was subject to a fine.
Officers were detailed in the order of the dates of their commissions and took with them their non commissioned officers governed by a rule fixed by law. A suit grew out of the drafting of an apprentice who never returned to ser- vice, in which case the aggrieved master, a strong advocate of the war, sought his remedy in court against the Captain and paid the costs in "Goodno vs. Bial Steadman, on appeal from William Brownings docket." Whether he cursed the war I do not know, but have no doubt he cursed his luck and the Captain too.
Omitting all dates, Quartermaster or Contractor Craig purchased a large number of ox teams in Belpre and vi- cinity and forwarded them to head quarters under his nephew, W. B. Putnam, Wagonmasters, Absalom Misner Cummings and Porter, who performed their duties in a satisfactory manner and were honorably discharged. The drafted men who served were Elam Frost, Nehemiah Morse, Lemuel Cooper and Samuel Barkley. The men who hired substitutes were Jarvis Burrough, William Burroughs, and I think George Dana and Joseph Dilley. The substitutes were Joel Bennet, Curtis, and Hinman. Pardon Cook serv- ed in the Company commanded by Captain Charles Devol. Berkley and others from Belpre were in Captain John Thornilley's company, Captain Dana's Company extended into Warren and Cooper may have been a citizen of that township at the time. To confirm the statement that Bel- pre people were called tories a drafted man said: "When spoken to, I was always called tory except at roll call.' "
Concerning the sentiment of the people of Washing- ton County at that time James Lawton of Barlow wrote. "In regard to the war of 1812 a large class of the then voters thought it unnecessary and impolitic. My father and most of his neighbors took that view of it. Of course we rejoiced at our victories, but farther than that took but little interest in it. Doubtless the case was different
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in some quarters and many prominent citizens participated in it, but with comparatively few exceptions, it was not the case here." Notwithstanding their political prefer- ences the good people of Belpre met the requirements of their rulers and loyally bore their share in the burdens of the war.
It was greatly to the credit of the people of Belpre that, notwithstanding the prevailing sentiment, they re- spected every call of the government and performed their duties with faithful loyalty. This war continued for two and one-half years and the most important engagement was that of New Orleans, Jan. 8th, 1815 which was after the treaty of Ghent, but the news of that treaty had not reached this Country. Of that battle Edward Everett Hale says: "This Battle made the fame of Andrew Jack- son. It made him President of the United States. It gave the Nation a just confidence in its power for war, properly led, and it had much to do with the birth of na- tional feeling which is the great and important result of the war of 1812. But it took place fifteen days after the treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent."
It may be interesting to us now at the close of the greatest war in human history to give an account of the uniform worn and rations furnished to a United States Army a century ago. "The regulation coat was a "swallow tail" made of dark blue cloth; faced and trimed with buff, buttons of white metal with U. S. A. on them; the hat a tall bell crowned affair with no brim except a small visor in front; to this was added a stock for the neck of polished leather wide enough to fit up snug under the chin.
In 1813 Timothy Buell, Esq. of Marietta entered into a contract to furnish rations to the soldiers in Washington County as follows : "Fifteen cents was to be paid for each complete daily ration consisting of eighteen ounces of bread or flour; one and one quarter pounds of beef or three quar- ters of a pound of salt pork; one gill of Rum, whiskey, or brandy; at the rate of two quarts of salt, four quarts of vinegar, and one and one half pounds of candles to each one hundred rations.
The uniform now used fits the body quite closely and is of a color not easily discernable in the smoke of battle
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and the cost is very much increased. Instead of a daily allowance of Alcoholic liquor it is now a criminal offense to furnish such liquor to our soldiers in training camps or in active service, showing a marked change in sentiment, during the Century.
CHAPTER XI
AFTER THE WAR OF 1812
HE scenes of active operations during the war of 1812 were a considerable distance away and as we have seen only a few men from this vi- cinity were drafted into service so that the war itself had only a slight effect on the business of Belpre. From what has already been stated we may infer that the sale of a considerable number of oxen to the government must have been of some advantage to the farmers. At the close of the war (1815) most of the arable lands had been cleared of forest trees and prepared for cultivation, and the farms were well stocked with domestic animals. Soon after this considerable attention was paid to dairying and we have found the statement that about 1825, Belpre Cheese was as well known in the towns down the river as "West- ern Reserve" and "New York Cream" were in later years.
Mention has already been made of the introduction of sheep, and, quite early, wool became a staple product. At one time fine Merino wool was sold for a dollar a pound. Sheep are very timid, with very little ability to defend themselves, and nearly all wild animals are their enemies. During those years the farmers lost many sheep through the depredations of these animals, especially wolves, which were quite abundant in the surrounding forests. Quite large bounties were given by the State for the killing of wolves and in some cases these were considerably in- creased by the authorities of the townships. In 1821 an ex- tensive circus (Wolf) hunt was inaugurated which may be understood by the following call issued in a Marietta paper at the time :
"Notice is hereby given that there is to be a circus hunt on the head waters of the big and little west branches of Little Hocking on Thursday Feb. 8th, 1821. It is to be hoped that all those who feel able to perform the march of four or five miles, both men and boys, will appear on the ground on Wednesday, Feb. 7th, prepared to camp out for the night. The inhabitants of Warren, Belpre, and De-
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HOME OF DR. F. P. AMES, BUILT 1820 NOW OWNED BY C. L. MCPHERSON
HOME OF C. C. HALE
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catur will assemble at or near Mr. Halls, on the Watertown road. Those of Wesley, Barlow, etc. will form the north line from John Smiths, west to the road leading from the Ohio to Federal Creek, so as to intersect the said road about six miles from the Ohio. Those of Newbury will form on said Federal Creek road.
It is expected that all who have horns or conch shells will bring them. No dogs to be brought on the ground. As it is the express object of this hunt to kill wolves and panthers it is hoped that those who cannot refrain from killing deer will leave their guns at home.
Signed
WALTER CURTIS, Newbury. AMOS DUNHAM, Warren. WILLIAM JOHNSON, Decatur. THADEUS POND, Barlow. MILLER CLARK, Belpre. O. R. LORING, Belpre. W. P. PUTNAM, Belpre. JOHN STONE, Belpre.
It appears from this list that Belpre farmers had a large interest in this hunt. Later accounts report that this hunt was a failure on account of a lack of system in the arrangements. Wolves, bears and panthers were seen in various places but none were killed. In 1823 twenty- four sheep were killed in Belpre which indicates the danger of the flocks from these animals. In some cases larger bounties were offered for the scalps of wolves that there might be larger incentive to hunt them, for wolves had no value for food like deer and bears. Through these bounties and a diligent war by the farmers these pests were finally exterminated.
Mention has been made in a previous chapter of the introduction of improved breeds of stock by the pioneers, and these efforts were continued both to improve the cattle and to introduce the best methods of farming. This may be learned from premiums given at the first Annual Fair of the Washington County Agricultural Society in 1826.
John Stone Second best Merino Ram $1.00; John Stone Best Cow $10.00; George Dana Second largest Hog,
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$1.00; John Stone for the largest crop of Corn, one Winans patent plow $10.00.
This was probably an iron plow as these were intro- duced about that time to succeed the clumsy wooden im- plements previously used. In the Fairs of subsequent years Belpre farmers secured their proportion of premiums.
From that time to the present improved farming utensils have been introduced nearly every year. With these improvements one man can easily accomplish as much as could be done by two or three of the pioneers a century ago.
During the years previous to the construction of Rail roads there was considerable travel between the Ohio Val- ley and the Atlantic States by Stage Coaches, through Pennsylvania and Virginia and certain kinds of freight was transported in wagons but the principal means of trans- portation was on the rivers. Flat boats, built here, were loaded with the products of the farms and forests, and floated down the rivers often as far as New Orleans. In 1823 Captain Daniel Greene took two flat boats loaded with flour from Marietta to New Orleans in twenty-two days, which was at that time considered a quick trip.
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