USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Among the killed, were Maj. Gen. Butler, Col. Oldham, Major Ferguson, Maj. Hart, and Maj. Clark. Among the wounded, were Col. Sargeant, the Adjutant General, Col. Darke, Col. Gibson, Maj. Butler, and Viscount Malartie, who served in the character of an aid. In addition to these, the list of officers killed contains the names of Captains Brad- ford, Phelon, Kirkwood, Price, Van Swearingen, Tipton, Purdy, Smith, Piatt, Gaither, Crebbs, and Newman : Lieutenants Spear, Warren, Boyd, McMath, Burgess, Kelso, Read, Little, Hopper, and Lickins ; also, Ensigns Cobb, Balch, Chase, Turner, Wilson, Brooks, Beatty, and Purdy ; also, Quartermasters Reynolds and Ward, Audj. Anderson and Doc. Grasson. And in addition to the wounded officers whose names are mentioned above, the official list contains the names of Captains Doyle, Trueman, Ford, Buchanan, Darke, and Hough ; also, of Lieutenants Greaton, Davidson, DeButts, Price, Morgan, McCrea, Lysle, and Thompson ; also, Adjutants Whistler and Crawford, and Ensign Bines.
The melancholy result of that disastrous day was felt and lamented by all, who had sym- pathy for private distress, or public misfortune.
The only charge alledged by the general against his army, was want of discipline, which they could not have acquired, during the short time they had been in the service. That defect rendered it impossible, when they were thrown into confusion, to restore them again to order, and is the chief reason why the loss fell so heavily on the officers. They were compelled to expose themselves in an unusual degree in their efforts to rally the men, and remedy the want of discipline. In that duty, the general set the example, though worn down by sickness, and suffering under a painful disease. It was alledged by the officers, that the Indians far outnumbered the American troops. . That conclusion was drawn, in part, from the fact, that they outflanked and attacked the American lines with great force, at the same time, on every side.
When the fugitives arrived at Fort Jefferson, they found the first regiment, which was just returning from the service on which it had been sent, without either overtaking the de- serters, or meeting the convoy of provisions. The absence of that regiment, at the time
17
130
DARKE COUNTY.
of the battle, was believed by some, to be the cause of the defeat. They supposed, that had it been present, the Indians would have been defeated, or would not have ven- tured an attack at the time they made it; but Gen. St. Clair expressed great doubt on that subject. He seemed to think it uncertain, judging from the superior number of the enemy, whether he ought to consider the absence of that corps from the field of action, as fortunate or otherwise. On the whole, he seemed to think it fortunate, as he very much donoted, whether, if it had been in the action, the fortune of the day would have been changed ; and if it had not, the triumph of the enemy would have been more complete, and the coun- try would have been left destitue of the means of defence.
As soon as the troops reached Fort Jefferson, it became a question whether they ought to continue at that place, or return to Fort Washington. For the purpose of determining that question, the general called on the surviving field officers, to wit: Col. Darke, Major Hamtramck, Maj. Zeigler, and Maj. Gaither, and also the Adjutant General, Col. Sar- geant, for their advice, as to what would be the proper course to be pursued, under existing circumstances. After discussing the subject, they reported it to be their unanimous opin- ion, that the troops could not be accommodated in the fort ; that they could not be supplied with provisions, at that place ; and as it was known there were provisions on the road, at the distance of one or two marches, it would be proper, without loss of time, to proceed and meet them. That advice was adopted, and the army put in motion at 10 o'clock, and marched all night. On the succeeding day, they met a quantity of flour, and on the day after, a drove of cattle, which having been disposed of, as the wants of the troops required, the march was continued to Fort Washington.
The loss sustained by the country, from the fall of so many gallant officers and men, was most seriously regretted. Gen. Butler and Maj. Ferguson, were spoken of with peculiar interest. The public feeling was, however, in some measure alleviated, by the fact, that those brave men, officers and privates, fell covered with honor, in defending the cause of their country.
The principal complaint made by the commander-in-chief was, that some of his orders, of great consequence, given to Col. Oldham, over night, were not executed ; and that some very material intelligence, communicated by Capt. Hough, to Gen. Butler, in the course of the night, before the action, was not imparted to him ; and that he did not hear of it, till his arrival at Fort Washington.
It is important to the fame of the commanding general, that in consequence of the al- most treasonable negligence of the agents of government, whose duty it was to furnish supplies, the army had been for many days on short allowance, and were so at the time of the battle. That fact had made it indispensably necessary, either to retreat, or send back the first regiment, which was the flower of the army, to bring up the provisions and mil- itary stores. The latter alternative was chosen, and in the absence of that corps, the at- tack was made.
In regard to the negligence charged on the War Department, it is a well-authenticated fact, that boxes and packages were so carelessly put up and marked, that during the action a box was opened marked " flints," which was found to contain gun-locks. Several mis- takes of the same character were discovered, as for example, a keg of powder marked " for the infantry," was found to be damaged cannon-powder, that could scarcely be ignited.
Under all these disadvantages, it was generally believed by candid intelligent men, that the commanding general was not justly liable to much censure, if any. With one excep- tion, at the commencement of the action, the troops behaved with great bravery. They maintained their ground for three tedious hours, in one uninterrupted conflict with a supe- rior force ; nor did they attempt to leave the field, till it was covered with the bodies of their companions, nor until further efforts were unavailing, and a retreat was ordered.
The general, less anxious for himself than for others, was the last to leave the ground, after the retreat had been ordered. For sometime after the disaster, he was universally censured ; but when a thorough investigation had been made by a committee of Congress, of which Mr. Giles, of Virginia, was the chairman, it was found that the campaign had been conducted with skill and personal bravery ; and that the defeat was chiefly owing to the want of discipline in the militia, and to the negligence of those whose duty it was to procure and forward the provisions and military stores, necessary for the expedition.
After the publication of that report, the Secretary of War, believing himself to be in- jured, addressed a letter to Congress, complaining that injustice had been done him by the committee ; in consequence of which the report was recommitted to the same committee, who, after hearing the statements and explanations of the Secretary, and reconsidering the whole matter, re-affirmed their first report.
This defeat of St. Clair drew upon his head, from one part of the
131
DARKE COUNTY.
country to the other, " one loud and merciless outcry of abuse and even detestation." Many a general, with far less bravery and mili- tary skill, has, when successful, been applauded by the unthinking multitude with vehement acclamations. The following, derived from the narrative of his campaign, shows that he deserved a better fate.
During the engagement, Gen. St. Clair and Gen. Butler were continually going up and down the lines ; as one went up one, the other went down the opposite. St. Clair was so severely afflicted with the gout as to be unable to mount or dismount a horse without assis- tance. He had four horses for his use ; they had been turned out to feed over night and were brought in before the action. The first he attempted to mount was a young horse, and the firing alarmed him so much that he was unable to accomplish it, although there were three or four people assisting him. He had just moved him to a place where he could have some advantage of the ground, when the horse was shot through the head, and the boy that was holding him through the arm. A second horse was brought, and the furniture of the first disengaged and put on liim ; but at the moment it was done, the horse and servant who held him were killed. The general then ordered the third horse to be got ready and follow him to the left of the front line, which by that time was warmly engaged, and set off on foot to the point designated. However, the man and horse were never heard of after- ward, and were supposed to have both been killed. Gen. St. Clair's fourth horse was kill- ed under the Count de Malartie, one of his aids, whose horse had died on the march.
On the day of the battle, St. Clair was not in his uniform ; he wore a coarse cappo coat and a three-cornered hat. He had a long que and large locks, very gray, flowing beneath his beaver. Early in the action, when near the artillery, a ball grazed the side of his face and cut off a portion of one of his locks. It is said, that, during the action, eight balls passed through his clothes and hat. After his horses were killed, he exerted himself on foot, for a considerable time during the action, with a degree of alertness that surprised every body who saw himn. After being on foot some time, and when nearly exhausted, a pack horse was brought to him. This he rode during the remainder of the day, although he could scarcely prick him out of a walk. Had he not been furnished with a horse, although unhurt, he must have remained on the field.
During the action, Gen. St. Clair exerted himself with a courage and presence of mind worthy of the best fortune. He was personally present at the first charge made upon the enemy with the bayonet, and gave the order to Col. Darke. When the enemy first entered the camp by the left flank, he led the troops that drove them back ; and when a retreat became indispensable, he put himself at the head of the troops which broke through the enemy and opened the way for the rest, and then remained in the rear, making every ex- ertion in his power to obtain a party to cover the retreat ; but the panic was so great that his exertions were of but little avail. In the height of the action, a few of the men crowded around the fires in the center of the camp. St. Clair was seen drawing his pistols and threatening some of them, and ordering them to turn out and repel the enemy.
In commenting upon his honorable acquittal of all blame by the committee of Congress, appointed to inquire into the causes of the failure of the expedition, Judge Marshall, in his Life of Washington, remarks, with his usual felicity of manner, " More satisfactory testi- mony in favor of St. Clair is furnished by the circumstance, that he still retained the undiminished esteem and good opinion of President Washington."
To the foregoing description of the battle, we extract from the narrative of Major Jacob Fowler, now living in Covington, Ky., his own personal experience in the events of that fatal day. Mr. Cist, in his Advertiser, in which it was published, says: "There was hardly a battle fought, in the early struggles with the Indians, in which Mr. Fowler did not participate. He is now (July, 1844) at the age of eighty-his eye has not waxed dim, nor his natural force abated. He can still pick off a squirrel with his rifle at 100 yards distance. He can walk as firmly and as fast as most men at fifty,
e
132
DARKE COUNTY.
and I cannot perceive a gray hair in his head. His mind and memory are as vigorous as his physical functions."
Excepting in a single instance, St. Clair kept out no scouting parties during his march, and we should have been completely surprised by the attack when it was made, if it had not been that volunteer scouting parties from the militia were out the evening before, and the constant discharge of rifles throughout the night warned us to prepare for the event. The militia were encamped about a quarter of a mile in front of the residue of the army, so as to receive, as they did, the first shock of the attack, which was made a little after daybreak. The camp was on the bank of a small creek, one of the heads of the Wabash river, the ground nearly level and covered with a heavy growth of timber. As surveyor, I drew the pay and rations of a subaltern, but, as an old hunter, was not disposed to trust myself among the Indians without my rifle. Indeed I found it very serviceable during the march, the army being upon not more than half rations the whole campaign.
My stock of bullets becoming pretty low, from hunting, as soon as it was daylight that morning, I started for the militia camp to get a ladle for running some more, when I found that the battle had begun, and met the militia running in to the main body of the troops. I hailed one of the Kentuckians, who I found had been disabled in the right wrist by a bul- let, asking him if he had balls to spare. He told me to take out his pouch and divide with him. I poured out a double handful and put back what I supposed was the half, and was about to leave him, when he said, " stop, you had better count them." It was no time for laughing, but I could hardly resist the impulse to laugh, the idea was so ludicrous of count- ing a handfull of bullets when they were about to be so plenty as to be had for the picking up, by those who should be lucky enough to escape with their lives. " If we get through this day's scrape, my dear fellow," said I, " I will return you twice as many." But I never saw him again, and suppose he shared the fate that befel many a gallant spirit on that day. I owe the bullets, at any rate, at this moment.
On returning to the lines, I found the engagement begun. One of Capt. Pratt's men lay near the spot I had left, shot through the belly. I saw an Indian behind a small tree, not twenty steps off, just outside the regular lines. He was loading his piece, squatting down as much as possible to screen himself. I drew sight at his butt and shot him through ; he dropped, and as soon as I had fired I retreated into our lines to reload my rifle. Finding the fire had really ceased at this point, I ran to the rear line, where I met Col. Darke, lead- ing his men to a charge. These were of the six months' levies. I followed with my rifle. The Indians were driven by this movement clear out of sight, and the colonel called a halt and rallied his men, who were about 300 in number. As an experienced woodsman and hunter, I claimed the privilege of suggesting to the colonel that where we then stood-there being a pile of trees blown out of root-would form an excellent breastwork, being of length sufficient to protect the whole force, and that we might yet need it ; I judged by the shout- ing and firing that the Indians behind us had closed up the gap we had made in charging, and told the colonel so. Now, if we return and charge on these Indians on our rear, we shall have them with their backs on us, and will no doubt be able to give a good account of them. " Lead the way, then," said he, and rode to the rear to march the whole body forward. We then charged on the Indians, but they were so thick we could do nothing with them. In a few minutes they were around us, and we found ourselves along side of the army-baggage and the artillery, which they had been taking possession of. I then took a tree, and after firing twelve or fourteen times, two or three rods being my farthest shot, I discovered that many of those I had struck were not brought down, as I had not sufficient experience to know I must shoot them in the hip to bring them down. As to the regulars, with their muskets, and in their unprotected state, it was little better than firing at random.
By this time, there were but about 30 men of Col. Darke's command left standing, the rest being all shot down and lying around us, either killed or wounded. I ran to the colonel, who was in the thickest of it, waving his sword to encourage his men, and told him we should all be down in five minutes more if we did not charge on them. "Charge, then !" said he, to the little line that remained, and they did so. Fortunately, the army had charged on the other side at the same time, which put the Indians, for the moment, to the flight. I had been partially sheltered by a small tree ; but a couple of Indians, who had taken a larger one, both fired at me at once, and, feeling the steam of their guns at my belly, I supposed myself cut to pieces. But no harm had been done, and I brought my piece to my side and fired, without aiming at the one that stood his ground, the fellow being so close to me that I could hardly miss him. I shot him through the hips, and while he was crawling away on all fours, Col. Darke, who had been dismounted, and stood close by me, made at him with his sword and struck his head off. By this time, the cock of my rifle lock had worn loose
133
DARKE COUNTY.
and gave me much trouble ; meeting with an acquaintance from Cincinnati, named M'Clure, who had no gun of his own, but picked up one from a militia man, I told him my difficulty. " There is a first-rate rifle," said he, pointing to one at a distance. I ran and got it, having ascertained that my bullets would fit it.
Here I met Capt. J. S. Gano, who was unarmed, and handing to him the rifle I went into battle with, I observed to him that we were defeated, and would have to make our own escape as speedily as possible ; that if we got off, we should need the rifles for subsistence in the woods. The battle still raged, and at one spot might be seen a party of soldiers gathered together, having nothing to do but to present mere marks for the enemy. They
A
Scale
60
Rods
D
I
B
C
Wahash Ri
F
Plan of St. Clair's Battle Field.
appeared stupified and bewildered with the danger. At another spot, the soldiers had broken into the marquees of the officers, eating the breakfast from which those had been called into the battle. It must be remembered, that neither officers nor men had eaten anything the whole morning. Some of the men were shot down in the very act of eating. Just where I stood, there were no Indians visible, although their rifle balls were striking all around. At last, I saw an Indian break for a tree about 40 yards off, behind which he loadcd and fired four times, bringing down his man at every fire, and with such quickness as to give me no chance to take sight in the intervals of his firing. At length, I got a range of two inches inside his back bone and blazed away ; down he fell, and I saw no more of him.
A short time after, I heard the cry given by St. Clair and his adjutant sergeant to charge to the road, which was accordingly done. I ran across the army to where I had left my relative, Capt. Piatt, and told him that the army was broken up and in full retreat. "Don't say so," he replied ; " you will discourage my men, and I can't believe it." I persisted a short time, when, finding him obstinate, I said, " If you will rush on your fate, in God's name do it." I then ran off towards the rear of the army, which was making off rapidly.
Piatt called after me, saying, " Wait for me." It was no use to stop, for by this time the savages were in full chase and hardly twenty yards behind me. Being uncommonly active in those days, I soon got from the rear to front of the troops, although I had great trouble to avoid the bayonets which the men had thrown off in the retreat, with the sharp points towards their pursuers.
It has been stated that the Indians followed us 30 miles, but this is not true, and my duty as surveyor having led me to mark the miles every day as we proceeded on our march out, it was easy to ascertain how far we were pursued. The Indians, after every other fire, fell back to load their rifles, and gained lost time by running on afresh ...... Even during the last . charge of Col. Darke, the bodies of the dead and the dying were around us, and the freshly
134
DARKE COUNTY.
scalped heads were reeking with smoke, and, in the heavy morning frost, looked like so many pumpkins through a cornfield in December. It was on the 4th November, and the day severely cold for the season ; my fingers became so benumbed at times, that I had to take the bullets in my mouth and load from it, while I had the wiping stick in my hand to force them down.
References .- A. High ground, on which the militia were encamp- ed at the commencement of the action. B. C. Encampment of the main army. D. Retreat of the militia at the beginning of the battle. E. St. Clair's trace, on which the defeated army retreated. F. Place where Gen. Butler and other officers were buried. G. Trail to Girty's Town, on the river St. Marys, at what is now the village of St. Marys. H. Site of Fort Recovery, built by Wayne ; the line of Darke and Mercer runs within a few rods of the site of the fort. I. Place where a brass cannon was found buried, in 1830 : it is on the bottom where the Indians were three times driven to the high land with the bayonet.
The map of the battle-ground is from the survey of Mr. John S. Houston, of Celina. The localities* were pointed out to him by Mr. M'Dowl, who was in the action, and is now living near Recovery. In a letter, dated Celina, March 20th, 1847, Mr. Houston gives some notes of a conversation with Mr. M'Dowl.
Mr. M'Dowl states, that on the morning of the battle, he and several others had just gone out to look after and guard their horses, when suddenly they heard the most hideous yells from the opposite side of the river, with discharges of musketry. He instantly rushed to camp, found his regiment repairing for action, joined them, and was with the party who so gallantly charged the enemy in the bottom. On the retreat, he was among those who defended the rear, and kept the enemy in check for several miles. The ground was cov- ered with a slushy snow, which much retarded their progress ; and after a while, many of them were so dispirited and hungry-having eaten no breakfast-that they threw down their arms and made the best of their way pell-mell among the retreating crowd. About this time, M'Dowl saw a female carrying her infant, a year old. She was so tired that she was about to fall by the way-side, when he took the child and carried it some distance. Afterwards, to save her own life, the woman threw away the child in the snow. The In- dians took it up, carried it to the Sandusky towns, and raised it.t Soon after this, M'Dowl overtook a youth, some eighteen years old, wounded in the leg, hobbling along, and dispirited. He gave him a drink of spirits and a little bread, he himself had not had time to eat, which refreshed and encouraged him. Soon after, a poney came dashing by. This, M'Dowl caught, and mounting the youth upon it, he safely reached the fort.
At Stillwater creek, twelve miles from the battle-ground, the Indians, who were 110 longer numerous, left them, and returned to share their booty. " Oh !" said an old squaw, who died many years ago, on the St. Mary's, "my arm that night was weary scalping white man."
Some years ago-said the old man to me-and here his cheeks were moistened with tears-I was travelling in Kentucky, to visit a sister I had not seen in many years, when I arrived at Georgetown, and entered my name on the ledger, with the place of my resi- dence-" Recovery, Ohio." After I had been sitting some time at ease, before a comfort- able fire, a gentleman, who had noticed the entry of my name and residence, opened a friendly conversation about the place and country. He soon remarked that he was at the defeat of St. Clair, and that if it had not been for the assistance of a young man of But- ler's regiment, he would have been there yet.
After a few more questions and replies, both parties recognized each other. The gentle- man was the youth who had been shot, on the retreat, and whose life-as previously stated
* The references A and D were not on the map ; neither was the high ground on the east side of the river, which we have placed on it from personal recollection .- H. H.
t It is stated in some accounts that about fifty, and in others, that near two hundred women were killed in the action and flight .- H. H.
135
DARKE COUNTY.
-was saved by the interposition of M'Dowl. At this discovery, their surprise and conse- quent mutual attachment may be imagined. The gentleman insisted upon taking him to his house, and introducing him to his wife and daughters. He had become wealthy by merchandizing, and on parting with M'Dowl, gave him a new suit of clothes and other presents, which he has carefully preserved to this day.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.