USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 21
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Indian parents and the boys of the tribe, with nearly as much regret as he had formerly done with his white ones. He had lived with them so long, in the wild freedom of the forest, that he had forgotten his native language, and almost his former name; for his Indian parents had given him a new one, Lalaque, but for brevity, spoken Lala. They accompanied him to Greenville, parting with him very re- luctantly, and poor Mishalena was now left in his old age, like a deadened forest tree, around whose roots no green shoot appears. As a parting gift he presented his son with a beautiful bow and arrows, made with his own hands. The boy who accompanied him was named Bill, from Kentucky, whose family were all killed at the time of his capture. He had forgotten the family name, but had been adopted by a widow woman, who had no children. She loved him with all the tenderness of a natural mother, and parted with him in deep sorrow. On the arrival of the two boys at the fort, Col. Meigs sent for the tailor, and had them fitted out with new warm woolen dresses, after the fashion of the whites, and the blanket and leggins of the Indians laid aside. A short time before, he had written to Mrs. Meigs, that no dis- covery could yet be made of the widow's son, and that he greatly feared he was dead; cautioning her not to let the afflicted woman know the worst of his fears. Joseph's mo- ther had described his hair, eyes, and looks, so accurately, that at the first glimpse of the two boys, he picked him out. The Indian interpreter soon confirmed his opinion, by talk- ing with him in the Shawanoe dialect. On being ques- tioned, he remembered the names of his brothers and sisters, and that his own name was Joseph Kelly. This satisfied him that he was the lost son of the sorrowing widow, who, for the whole period of his absence, had never omitted him in her daily prayers, or sat down to the table with her other children, without mentioning his name. So anxious was
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this good and kind-hearted man to restore him to the be- reaved mother, that he started, in February, across the swamps and pathless forests for Marietta. A young, active Shawanoe Indian, named Thom, guided the party, which consisted of six soldiers and six or eight horses, through the wilderness, without deviation, and struck the Muskingum river at Big Rock, a noted Indian landmark, twenty-four miles above Marietta.
While on their journey, an incident occurred which places in a strong light the acuteness of their observation and tact in tracing their way through the woods. During a cloudy and snowy day, the party got bewildered in a thick beech swamp. Col. Meigs took out his pocket compass, and after examination, said the course lay east. Indian Thom pointed to the southeast. The colonel still insisting on the authority of the compass, and the known general direction of the route, the Indian became vexed, and shouldering his rifle, muttered in broken English, "D-n compass," and pursued his own course. In a few minutes travel, Thom's judgment proved to be right, and the colonel and the compass wrong.
The party reached Marietta early in March, and the fer- vent, oft-repeated prayer of the widow for the restoration of her lost son, was at length answered, to the great joy and thankfulness of Col. Meigs, by whose unwearied exer- tions and perseverance it had been accomplished, as well as to the delight of the mother.
In 1798, he, with Col. Robert Oliver, was elected by the people of Washington county, to represent them in the ter- ritorial Legislature, then assembled for the first time. In this body were several able and talented men. Col. Meigs was not excelled by any of them for sound sense or integrity, and performed his duties with credit to himself and to the people who had elected him.
In 1801, he was appointed by President Jefferson, Indian
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agent amongst the Cherokees, where he resided until the time of his death, in January, 1823. The inhabitants of Marietta parted with him very reluctantly, holding his per- son and virtues in the highest estimation. His upright, manly conduct, dignified manners and kind heart, had en- listed all in his favor. "During a long life of activity and usefulness, no man ever sustained a character more irre- proachable than Col. Meigs. He was a pattern of excellence as a patriot, a philanthropist, and a Christian. In all the vicissitudes of fortune, the duties of religion were strictly observed, and its precepts strikingly exemplified. In the discharge of his duties among the Cherokees, he acquired their highest confidence. They loved and revered him as a father, denominating him, for his integrity and uprightness, the White Path."
The family of Col. Meigs was not numerous. By his first wife he had two sons, Return Jonathan and John. The former was one of the governors of Ohio. Timothy was the son of a second wife, and accompanied his father to Georgia.
In person Mr. Meigs was thin and spare, of a medium hight, with a highly intelligent countenance; nose Grecian, with a lofty, bold forehead; eyes keen and black, sparkling with benevolence, but striking with awe the boldest heart, when bent in anger on the guilty or undeserving; active and graceful in all his motions, even in old age practicing the athletic sports of the young Indians with the buoyancy of youth. He died suddenly, at the age of eighty-three, full of the Christian's hope, surrounded by the sorrowing Cherokees, who mourned his death with deep and heart-felt grief.
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Anderson list
Griffin Breen
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GRIFFIN GREENE, ESQ.
THE little state of Rhode Island, so fruitful in eminent and brave men, was the birth-place of Mr. Greene, being born on the 20th of February, 1749, in the town of Warwick. His ancestors were from England, and settled in Rhode Island at an early day. Education, at that period, was a minor concern, and he received no other than such as was afforded by the common or public schools. At an early age he was bred to the smith and anchor-making business ; few men of that day being able to live without the aid of some handicraft or agricultural pursuit. It was the age of honest industry. Of his youth and childhood, little has been preserved.
At a suitable time of life, he married Miss Sarah Greene, of the same town, but of a family not connected by blood with his own. There were many of this name in the state, who were all wealthy in lands, and ranked high amongst the first citizens of the colony, one of them holding the office of governor. His wife was a sister of Col. Christopher Greene, who commanded the noted black regiment, which was one of the most efficient and brave in the service. The commis- sioned officers were white men, and the privates negroes. By this marriage he had four children, who lived to manhood, viz. : Richard, Philip, Griffin, and Susan. The descendants of Richard are several of them living in Ohio : the others left no issue.
Previous to the commencement of hostilities between the colonists and the mother country, Jacob Greene, a cousin, and himself erected a forge for the manufacture of iron. Before the discovery of steam-power, a stream of water was
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necessary to work the machinery, and for this purpose a spot was selected on the Pawtuxet, distant about five miles from the head of Greenwich bay, the nearest point where , pigs could be landed from vessels. In addition to the ex- pense of wagoning them over a rough road to the forge, they had to be transported from the North river, and when man- ufactured into bar iron, returned to the village for sale. It was carried on during the war, and furnished cannon balls and wrought iron for the use of the country, at a period when such articles were scarce in the colony. The site of the old works is now occupied by cotton factories.
At the breaking out of hostilities, he acted with his coun- trymen in throwing off the yoke of Great Britain, for which praiseworthy deed he was cast out of the synagogue of the Quakers, to which sect he belonged, at the same time with his cousin, Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and never returned to them again. During the war he became acquainted with many leading men of that day, with whom intercourse was kept up in after life. In 1775 he commenced his military career, by serving as commissary to the Rhode Island troops, although, in the previous year, he had been trained to mili- tary exercises, as a volunteer in the company to which Christopher and Nathaniel belonged, with many of the most active and prominent young men in the colony. In 1777 he was paymaster to the regiment commanded by Christo- pher Greene, and during the attack on the fort at Red bank, was exposed to the shot of the enemy, in taking a supply of powder to his countrymen. This act he performed with great intrepidity, although not in the line of his duty.
In 1778, his cousin, Gen. Nathaniel Greene, with whom he had been brought up and lived in the closest inti- macy, working with him at the same forge in the manufac- ture of anchors, and also engaged with him in various mercantile pursuits connected with the iron business, was
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appointed, by Gen. Washington, quartermaster-general of the army. He found the affairs of that department in the greatest disorder, and needing several deputies, his cousin Griffin Greene was selected as one of them. Under their efficient control, in a few months that branch of the public service, so important to the welfare of an army, was placed in complete order, greatly to the relief and satisfaction of the commander-in-chief. He was employed in this business until near the time of Gen. Greene's appointment to the command of the southern army. Connected with his pur- chases of provisions, he also entered into that of merchan- dise : many goods being needed for the use of the troops, large quantities were bought from Clark and Nightingale, a celebrated firm of that day.
During the whole period of the war, a correspondence was kept up between him and the general: a number of the letters having been preserved among the family papers, extracts will be given, as interesting specimens of the thoughts of the master minds of that trying era. In them are many sensible remarks on men and measures, especially that trou- blesome one of the currency, which, in 1779, had fallen to its lowest ebb, and had well nigh destroyed the country. In April of that year, one specie dollar was worth twenty dol- lars of the paper-money of Congress. This depreciation of the currency, with the heart-burnings of the soldiery and people thereon, was one of the main reliances of the king and his counselors, for the subjugation of the colonies. Money and credit are the sinews of war, and of both these Congress was destitute. Had it not been for the timely aid of France, it is more than probable that the independence of America would not, at that time, have been achieved.
The policy of Congress in their finances, is thus com- mented on, in one of his letters, dated at camp, May 18th, 1779: "The Congress should appoint a Board for this
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purpose; but they are very fond of reserving all their powers within their own body. It has been clear to me, for a long time, that the business of that House is too complex and multifarious to be digested into method and order. They are always in a hurry, and never bring anything to perfec- tion, until its advantages are lost. I mean not to arraign their intentions, but I am sure their policy is bad. Two things are essential to the interests of these states; one is that the . proceedings of Congress be more generally known; and the other is that their authority be more generally acknowledged by the states."
In a short time after this, a board of treasury was estab- lished, and by the aid of that eminent financier, and most excellent man, Robert Morris, their monetary affairs were placed in a more propitious train. In the January preceding, Gen. Greene was in Philadelphia, and thus writes to Griffin: "The luxuries and extravagance of this city exceed any- thing you ever saw. There has been nothing going on here, but entertainments, assemblies, and balls. His excellency, Gen. Washington, has been here about a month, and the citizens have exerted themselves to make him as happy as possible. But I can truly say I feel serious amidst festivity, and gloomy amongst the most joyous. The extravagance of the times is very unfriendly to a republican government, and greatly enervates the national strength." How just and true, this sentiment; and not less true now, than then. The thoughts of Gen. Washington and this excellent man were too much occupied with their country's cares, to enter, with satisfaction, into the amusements of the careless and the gay.
In April of this year, the French minister visited the American army in their camp at Middlebrook, and was re- ceived with great respect. He is represented as one of the most polite men of the age, and says, "The alliance with
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France is a most happy affair, and alleviates a thousand of our distresses."
In September, 1779, Mr. Greene engaged as a partner in a company for fitting out two brigantines as privateers, the coast at that time being pretty clear of British ships of war. They were called the Black and the Rattle Snake; but be- fore the one had time to erect its head, and the other to shake its rattles, in defiance of the British lion, they were driven on shore at Sandy hook, in April, 1780, by the enemy's cruisers, and lost. This was the fate of many American privateers, and in the ultimate, it is probable, as much was lost as won, by the colonists, in this nefarious business. It is certain that the loss of these vessels was seriously felt.
In the spring of 1780, he writes: "Our public affairs are under great embarrassments. The treasury is entirely with- out money, and the public offices without credit. Our stock of provisions is next to nothing, and the troops frequently upon half allowance for a third part of the time, and many times entirely without. In a word, we are on the high road to starvation, when there is plenty of everything in the country, and only want ways and means to draw it out. Our prospects at the south are in a disagreeable train, and I set down the certain loss of Charleston, unless some very providential intervention occurs, which we have no reason to expect in favor of a people not remarkable for religion or piety." This prognostic proved correct, as the place sur- rendered a short time after. "Upon the whole, our situation in political life is not very eligible, neither will it be soon, unless there is more energy, consistency, and good policy pursued by our civil rulers. We want men of liberality, sound judgment, and attention to business, to conduct our public affairs. Happy is that nation, which has wise and honest men to manage national matters."
In July, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Rhode Island.
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The general wrote to his cousin Griffin and brother Jacob, to pay him every attention due to his rank and merit. "I hope the inhabitants of the state will exert themselves a little to. convince the French officers that we give them a most cordial reception. But such is the state of human nature and the caprices of mankind, that it is ten to one if ever we part with the same good-will toward each other, that we came together."
Although the treason of Arnold has been written by a hun- dred hands, here is a fresh account of it, not before published. " CAMP TAPPAN, September 29th, 1780.
Treason, treason! of the blackest kind, has been most providentially discovered. Gen. Arnold, who commanded at West Point, was in contract with the British adjutant-gen- eral for delivering into the enemy's hands, all the forts and fortifications of that place. The plan was laid, the condi- tions settled, and the time fixed for the execution. Happily for the cause of America, the whole was discovered before the thing was ripe for execution. The adjutant-general had been up to King's ferry to see Gen. Arnold, and on his re- turn to New York, near the White plains, was taken up by three militia-men, who carried him prisoner to Maj. Jame- son, of Sheldon's light-horse; and on his being searched, plans of the works, the strength of the garrison, and a hun- dred other observations necessary to be known in order to favor an attack, were all made out in Arnold's own hand- writing. They were immediately sent to Gen. Washington, who was then on his return from Hartford. But unfortu- nately, Jameson, from a false delicacy, reported to Gen. Arnold, that he had taken prisoner one Anderson, which gave him time to just make his escape before Gen. Wash- ington got to the Point. The adjutant-general and one Mr.
Joseph Smith, are now both prisoners in this camp, and
doubtless will be hung to-morrow. We have only to lament
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that Arnold is not to grace the gallows with them. It ap- pears, from an inquiry into Arnold's conduct, that he is the most accomplished villain in the world: nothing can exceed his meanness. I am called upon to attend a court-martial, and, therefore, cannot go further into this dark and wicked business. The militia lads that took him, (Mr. Andre,) de- serve immortal honor, and will be most liberally rewarded."
Treason ! treason ! The sound of this most odious word and hateful act of Arnold, as it pealed through the nation, turned pale the cheeks of every true friend to his country. It was more dangerous to the cause of freedom than the loss of several battles. Washington knew not whom to trust in this alarming crisis, ignorant as he was of the ex- tent of the conspiracy. But a few days reassured him, and with such men as Greene, Putnam, and a host of others to rally around him, in whose patriotism he could safely trust, his confidence was restored, and the affairs of the army resumed their regular train.
In a letter of October 20th, 1780, on occasion of some losses in Mr. Greene's mercantile business, he says, "We have one consolation, that good men are not always for- tune's greatest favorites. If we are not rich, we will be honest; and if we are not respected for our wealth, we will be for our industry. Your judgment is good in business ; your industry and attention unquestionable. Nothing is wanting but the smiles of fortune: without this all our en- deavors are in vain:" another name for a superintending providence that rules the affairs of men, and not the blind goddess of the Romans. "I am appointed to the command of the southern army, and am now just setting forward on the journey. It is a most difficult command, and hitherto has proved a disgraceful one to all who have gone that way. I wish it may not be my lot. One thing I shall avoid
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if possible : that is, giving the public just grounds for censuring me. If I am unfortunate, that I cannot help." The result proved how justly he estimated the difficulties of that weighty affair, and how nobly he conducted the south- ern campaigns, for his own and his country's glory.
In July, 1781, from the High hills of Santee, he writes, "Thus far I am safe and in good health, though I have had several very narrow escapes. If I can get off with whole bones and a decent reputation, it is more than I expect. New England should rejoice that she has really felt nothing of the war. It rages here like a fire at large, and destroys everything before it. Such destruction and waste, such mis- ery and distress as this country affords, have not been seen in America. The burning of a town, or the plunder of a few farms, are nothing to the cruelties practiced here. But enough of this disagreeable subject."
In one of his last letters, dated at Charleston, in May, 1783, he writes, "I beg leave to congratulate you upon the happy issue of the war. It affords me the highest satisfaction to find my judgment and opinions confirmed by experience. The Revolution has been important and successful, although not very promising in the beginning. It has more than once been in doubt, but I always trusted for success in the general prejudices of human nature. It would have aggra- vated my own misfortunes, to have led my friends into ruin and disgrace, in the same manner as it now affords me pleasure in having contributed to their happy deliverance." At the close, he says, "Remember me affectionately to all at Potowamut:" the place where he worked at anchor-making before the war. "Don't forget my old friend, Master Max- well, and ask him what he thinks of 'the mighty power of Britain now?' "
The handwriting of Gen. Greene was strong, nervous, and
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bold; greatly resembling that of Gen. Washington, whom he more nearly imitated in vigor of mind and excellence of character, than any other of his generals.
During the time of the war, while the British fleet was lying in the harbor of Newport, they were obliged to put suddenly to sea, on account of the French fleet threatening to blockade them. Some transport ships and a small frig- ate called the Flora, were sunk, to keep them from the enemy. They lay in rather shoal water, and at low ebb tides a part of their hulls was above the surface. In 1780, before the close of the war, the fertile mind of Mr. Griffin Greene devised a plan for raising them from their oozy bed, in which his cousin Jacob assisted him. By the aid of a diving-bell, a man went down and closed up the holes by which they were scuttled. A powerful forcing pump, dis- charging twenty-five hundred hogsheads an hour, worked by horses in a flatboat alongside, enabled him so effectually to heave the water from their holds, that with the assistance of lighters, they rose to the surface, and once more floated on the ocean. After the close of the war, the commerce of the new republic being at a low ebb, and no demand for ships, he took the Flora to France for sale. This transac- tion detained him about two years, in which time he visited Holland and the adjacent countries.
Soon after his return, the project for settling a New Eng- land colony on the banks of the Ohio, was matured by some of the officers of the Revolution, amongst whom were many of his acquaintance, especially Gen. Varnum, a leading man in carrying out the enterprise. After closing his partner- ship concerns, and selling out to his cousin Jacob, he joined the company, and invested a part of his money in their lands. In 1788 he moved his family to Marietta, loading three large wagons with his household goods, and all kinds of mechanical and agricultural implements. Amongst other
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items, was a large library of valuable books; knowing that the mind needed food, as well as the body, even when sur- rounded by a wilderness. The first anchors made on the Ohio river, for the brig St. Clair, in the year 1800, were made under his direction. Soon after his arrival at Mari- etta, Gov. St. Clair commissioned him as a justice of the peace, and one of the judges of the Court of Quarter Ses- sions. In 1789 he was appointed, by the agents of the Ohio Company, a director, in the place of Gen. Varnum deceased, which post he continued to occupy until the close of their affairs. In 1790 he joined the colony at Belpre, and was a leading man in that settlement, solemnizing marriages, and settling civil disputes amongst the pioneers.
In January, 1791, the Indian war commenced, by the de- struction of the settlement at Big Bottom, the news of which arrived while he was at Marietta, attending court, It was directly adjourned, and each man hurried home as fast as he could, expecting to meet the enemy on the way, and find their cabins and families destroyed. But fortunately the In- dians retreated without further mischief. In the erection of Farmers' castle, he took an active part, and lived there with his family five years during the war. For the whole of this period, he regularly attended the sitting of the courts, making his journeys up and down by water, in a canoe, ex- posed to the rifles of the Indians.
His active mind could not be idle while confined to the castle, but was busily occupied in studying out useful and curious machinery. He assisted Capt. Devol in planning the model of a floating mill, from the recollection of one he had seen in Holland; probably moved by the tidal cur- rents. He also spent more than a year in planning a self- moving machine, for perpetual motion, thinking it might be applied to the propulsion of boats on the Ohio river. When built, it moved with the accuracy and steadiness of a nice
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time-piece, but after running a few hours, would finally come to a stand-still, in spite of the efforts of its inventor, being bound by the laws of gravitation, which it had not power to resist. It was reluctantly abandoned, and the curious wheels and levers with which it was made, were in being a few years since, lying in the garret of the old Mansion house in Marietta, amidst the dust and rubbish of by-gone days.
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