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 78
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* A large number of cannon balls were thrown into the fort, from the batteries on the opposite side of the river. Being short of a supply, Harrison offered a gill of whiskey for every cannon ball delivered to the magazine keeper, Mr. Thomas L. Hawkins, now re- siding at Lower Sandusky. Over 1000 gills of whiskey were thus earned by the sol- diers.
For safety against bombs, each man liad a hole dug under ground in rear of the grand traverse, which, being covered over with plank, and earth on top, fully protected them. When the cry bomb was heard, the soldiers either threw themselves upon the ground, or ran to the holes for safety. A bomb is most destructive when it bursts in the air, but it rarely explodes in that way : it usually falls with so much force as to penetrate the earth, and when it explodes, flies upwards and in an angular direction, in consequence of the pressure of the earth beneath and at its sides ; consequently, a person lying on the ground is comparatively safe.
A heavy rain at last filled up the holes, rendering them uninhabitable, and the men were obliged to temporarily sleep in their tents. Then every once in a while, the startling cry, " BOMB !" aroused them from their slumbers. Rushing from their tents, they watched the course of the fiery messenger of death, as it winged its way through the midnight sky, and if it fell near, fall flat upon the ground ; otherwise, return to their tents, only to be aroused again and again by the startling cry. So harrassing was this, so accustomed had the men become to the danger, and so overpowering the desire for sleep, that many of the soldiers remained in their tents locked in the embrace of sleep, determined, as one said, not to be disturbed in their slumbers " if ten thousand bombs burst all around them." -- H. H.
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we expected would crown all our earthly sufferings. Only one of all the gang presumed to reason on the case. He silently argued that, as the shell had not bursted as quick as usual, there might be something wrong in its arrangement. If it bursted where it was, and the magazine exploded, there could be no escape : it was death any how ; so he sprung to his feet, seized a boat-hook, and pulling the hissing missile to the ground, and jerking the smoking match from its socket, discovered that the shell was filled with inflammable mat- ter, which, if once ignited, would have wrapped the whole building in a sheet of flame. This circumstance added wings to our shovels ; and we were right glad when the officer said, " that will do : go to your lines."
The following particulars of the defeat of Col. Dudley were pub- lished in a public print many years since by Joseph R. Underwood, who was present on the occasion, in the capacity of lieutenant in a volunteer company of Kentuckians, commanded by Captain John C. Morrison.
After a fatiguing march of more than a month, Gen. Clay's brigade found itself, on the night of the 4th of May, on board of open boats, lashed to the left bank of Miami of the Lakes, near the head of the rapids, and within hearing of the cannon at Fort Meigs, which was then besieged by the British and Indians. Very early on the morning of the 5th, we set off, and soon began to pass the rapids. We were hailed by a man from the right bank, who proved to be Captain Hamilton, of the Ohio troops, with orders from Gen. Harrison, then commanding at the fort. He was taken to the boat of General Clay's, and from that to Col. Dudley's, this last being in advance of the whole line. Captain Morrison's com- pany occupied the boat in which the colonel descended. It being a damp, unpleasant morning, I was lying in the stern, wrapped in my blanket, not having entirely recovered from a severe attack of the measles. I learned that we were to land on the left bank, storm the British batteries erected for the purpose of annoying the fort ; but what further orders were given, I did not ascertain. Hearing that we were certainly to fight, I began to look upon all surrounding objects as things which to me might soon disappear forever, and my mind reverted to my friends at home, to bid them a final farewell. These reflec- tions produced a calm melancholy, but nothing like trepidation or alarm. My reveries were dissipated by the landing of the boat, about a mile or two above the point of attack. Shortly before we landed, we were fired upon by some Indians from the right bank of the river, and I understood that Captain Clarke was wounded in the head. The fire was re- turned from our boats, and the Indians fled, as if to give intelligence of our approach. Captain Price and Lieutenant Sanders, of the regular army, landed with us and partook in the engagement, having under command a few regular soldiers, but I think not a full com- pany. The whole number of troops that landed, amounted probably to 700 men. We were formed on the shore in three parallel lines, and ordered to march for the battery at right angles with the river ; and so far as I understood the plan of attack, one line was to form the line of battle in the rear of the battery, parallel with the river ; the other two lines to form one above and one below the battery, at right angles to the river. The lines thus formed were ordered to advance, and did so, making as little noise as possible-the object being to surprise the enemy at their battery. Before we reached the battery, how- ever, we were discovered by some straggling Indians, who fired upon us and then retreated. Our men pleased at seeing them run, and perceiving that we were discovered, no longer deemed silence necessary, and raised a tremendous shout. This was the first intimation that the enemy received of our approach, and it so alarmed them that they abandoned the battery without making any resistance. In effectuating the plan of attack, Captain J. C. Morrison's company were thrown upon the river, above the battery. While passing through a thicket of hazel, toward the river, in forming the line of battle, I saw Colonel Dudley for the last time. He was greatly excited ; he railed at me for not keeping my men better dressed. I replied, that he must perceive from the situation of the ground, and the ob- stacles that we had to encounter, that it was impossible. When we came within. a small distance from the river, we halted. The enemy at this place had gotten in the rear of our line, formed parallel with the river, and were firing upon our troops. Capt. J. C. Morrison's company did not long remain in this situation. Having nothing to do, and being without orders, we determined to march our company out and join the combatants. We did so accordingly. In passing out, we fell on the left of the whole regiment, and were soon engaged in a severe conflict. The Indians endeavored to flank and surround us. We drove them between one and two miles, directly back from the river. They hid behind trees and logs, and poured upon us, as we advanced, a most destructive fire. We were
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from time to time ordered to charge. The orders were passed along the lines, our field officers being on foot. . . Shortly after this, Capt. J. C. Morrison was shot through the temples. The ball passing behind the eyes and cutting the optic nerve, deprived him of his sight. Having made the best arrangement for the safety of my much esteemed captain that circumstances allowed, I took charge of the company and continued the battle. We made several charges afterwards, and drove the enemy a con- siderable distance. At length orders were passed along the line directing us to fall back and keep up a retreating fire. As soon as this movement was made, the In- dians were greatly encouraged, and advanced upon us with the most horrid yells. Once or twice the officers succeeded in producing a temporary halt and a fire on the Indians ; but the soldiers of the different companies soon became mixed-confusion ensued-and a general rout took place. The retreating army made its way towards the batteries, where I supposed we should be able to form and repel the pursuing Indians. They were now so close in the rear, as to frequently shoot down those who were before me. About this time I received a ball in my back, which yet remains in my body. It struck me with a stunning, deadening force, and I fell on my hands and knees. I rose and threw my waistcoat open to see whether it had passed through me ; finding it had not, I ran on, and had not pro- ceeded more than a hundred or two yards before I was made a prisoner. In emerging from the woods into an open piece of ground, near the battery we had taken, and before I knew what had happened, a soldier seized my sword and said to me, "Sir! you are my prisoner !" I looked before me and saw, with astonishment, the ground covered with muskets. The soldier, observing my astonishment, said : "your army has surrendered," and received my sword. He ordered me to go forward and join the prisoners. I did so. The first man I. met whom I recognized, was Daniel Smith, of our company. With eyes full of tears, he exclaimed : "Good Lord, lieutenant, what does all this mean." I told him we were prisoners of war.
On our march to the garrison, the Indians began to strip us of our valuable clothing and other articles. One took my hat, another my hunting shirt, and a third my waistcoat, so that I was soon left with nothing but my shirt and pantaloons. I saved my watch by con- cealing the chain, and it proved of great service to me afterwards. Having read, when a boy, Smith's narrative of his residence among the Indians, my idea of their character was that they treated those best who appeared the most fearless. Under this impression, as we marched down to the old garrison, I looked at those whom we met with all the sternness of countenance I could command. I soon caught the eye of a stout warrior painted red. He gazed at me with as much sternness as I did at him, until I came within striking dis- tance, when he gave me a severe blow over the nose and cheek bone with his wiping stick. I abandoned the notion acquired from Smith, and went on afterwards with as little display of hauteur and defiance as possible.
On our approach to the old garrison, the Indians formed a line to the left of the road, there being a perpendicular bank to the right, on the margin of which the road passed. I perceived that the prisoners were running the gauntlet, and that the Indians were whipping, shooting and tomahawking the men as they ran by their line. When I reached the start- ing place, I dashed off as fast as I was able, and ran near the muzzles of their guns, know- ing that they would have to shoot me while I was immediately in front, or let me pass, for to have turned their guns up or down the lines to shoot me, would have endangered them- selves, as there was a curve in their line. In this way I passed without injury, except some strokes over the shoulders with their gun-sticks. As I entered the ditch around the garri- son, the man before me was shot and fell, and I fell over him. The passage for a while was stopped by those who fell over the dead man and myself. How many lives were lost at this place I cannot tell-probably between 20 and 40. The brave Captain Lewis was among the number. When we got within the walls, we were ordered to sit down. I lay in the lap of Mr. Gilpin, a soldier of Captain Henry's company, from Woodford. A new scene commenced. An Indian, painted black, mounted the dilapidated wall, and shot one of the prisoners next to him. He re-loaded and shot a second, the ball passing through him into the hip of another, who afterwards died, I was informed, at Cleveland, of the wound. The savage then laid down his gun and drew his tomahawk, with which he killed two others. When he drew his tomahawk and jumped down among the men, they endeavored to escape from him by leaping over the heads of each other, and thereby to place others between themselves and danger. Thus they were heaped upon one another, and as I did not rise, they trampled upon me so that I could see nothing that was going on. The confusion and uproar of this moment cannot be adequately described. There was an excitement among the Indians, and a fierceness in their conversation, which be- tokened on the part of some a strong disposition to massacre the whole of us. The British
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officers and soldiers seemed to interpose to prevent the further effusion of blood. Their ex- pression was-" Oh, nichee, wah !" meaning, " oh ! brother, quit !" After the Indian who had occasioned this horrible scene, had scalped and stripped his victims, he left us, and a comparative calm ensued. The prisoners resumed their seats on the ground. While thus situated, a tall, stout Indian walked into the midst of us, drew a long butcher knife from . his belt and commenced whetting it. As he did so, he looked around among the prisoners, apparently selecting one for the gratification of his vengeance. I viewed his conduct, and thought it probable that he was to give the signal for a general massacre. But after ex- citing our fears sufficiently for his satisfaction, he gave a contemptuous grunt and went out from among us.
About this time, but whether before or after I do not distinctly recollect, Col. Elliott and Tecumseh, the celebrated Indian chief, rode into the garrison. When Elliott came to where Thomas Moore, of Clarke county, stood, the latter addressed him, and inquired " if it was compatible with the honor of a civilized nation, such as the British claimed to be, to suffer defenceless prisoners to be murdered by savages ?" Elliott desired to know who he was. Moore replied that he was nothing but a private in Captain Morrison's company-and the conversation ended. Elliott was an old man-his hair might have been termed, with more propriety, white than gray, and to my view he had more of the savage in his countenance than Tecumseh. This celebrated chief was a noble, dignified personage. He wore an elegant broadsword, and was dressed in the Indian costume. His face was finely proportioned, his nose inclined to the aquiline, and his eye displayed none of that savage and ferocious triumph common to the other Indians on that occasion. He seemed to re- gard us with unmoved composure, and I thought a beam of mercy shone in his counte- nance, tempering the spirit of vengeance inherent in his race against the American people. I saw him only on horseback.
Shortly after the massacre in the old garrison, I was the subject of a generous act. A soldier with whom I had no acquaintance, feeling compassion for my situation, stripped off my clothes, muddy and bleeding, offered me his hunting shirt, which the Indians had not taken from him. At first I declined receiving it, but he pressed it upon me with an earnest- ness that indicated great magnanimity. I inquired his name and residence. He said that his name was James Boston, that he lived in Clarke county, and belonged to Capt. Clarke's company. I have never since seen him, and regret that I should never be able to recall his features if I were to see him.
Upon the arrival of Elliott and Tecumseh, we were directed to stand up and form in lines, I think four deep, in order to be counted, After we were thus arranged, a scene transpired scarcely less affecting than that which I have before attempted faintly to describe. The Indians began to select the young men whoin they intended to take with them to their towns. Numbers were carried off. I saw Corporal Smith, of our company, bidding fare- well to his friends, and pointing to the Indian with whom he was to go. I never heard of his return. The young men, learning their danger, endeavored to avoid it by crowding into the centre, where they could not be so readily reached. I was told that a quizzical youth, of diminutive size, near the outside, seeing what was going on, threw himself upon his hands and knees, and rushed through the legs of his comrades, exclaiming, " Root, little hog, or die." Such is the impulse of self-preservation, and such the levity with which men inured to danger will regard it. Owing to my wound, I could not scuffle, and was thrust to the outside. An Indian came up to me and gave me a piece of meat. I took this for proof that he intended carrying me off with him. Thinking it the best policy to act with confidence, I made a sign to him to give me his butcher knife-which he did. I divided the meat with those who stood near me, reserving a small piece for myself-more as a show of politeness to the savage, than to gratify any appetite I had for it. After I had caten it and returned the knife, he turned and left me. When it was near night, we were taken in open boats about nine miles down the river, to the British shipping. On the day after, we were visited by the Indians in their bark canoes, in order to make a display of their scalps. These they strung on a pole, perhaps two inches in diameter, and about eight feet high. The pole was set up perpendicularly in the bow of their canoes, and near the top the scalps were fastened. On some poles I saw four or five. Each scalp was drawn closely over a hoop about four inches in diameter; and the flesh sides, I thought, were painted red. Thus their canoes were decorated with a flag-staff of a most appro- priate character, bearing human scalps, the horrid ensigns of savage warfare. We re- mained six days on board the vessel-those of us, I mean, who were sick and wounded. The whole of us were discharged on parole. The officers signed an instrument in writing, pledging their honors not to serve against the king of Great Britain and his allies during the war, unless regularly exchanged. It was inquired whether the Indians were included
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in the term " allies." The only answer was, " that his majesty's allies were known." The wounded and sick were taken in a vessel commanded by Captain Stewart, at the mouth, I think, of Vermillion river, and there put on shore. I afterwards saw Captain Stewart, a prisoner of war at Frankfort, Kentucky, together with a midshipman, who played Yankee Doodle on a flute, by way of derision, when we were first taken on board his vessel. Such is the fortune of war. They were captured by Commodore Perry, in the battle of Lake Erie. I visited Captain Stewart to requite his kindness to me when, like him, I was a prisoner.
The following is a British account of the siege of Fort Meigs, from the London New Monthly Magazine for December, 1826, written by an officer in their army.
Far from being discouraged by the discomfiture of their armies under Generals Hull and Winchester, the Americans dispatched a third and more formidable one under one of their most experienced commanders, General Harrison, who, on reaching Fort Meigs, shortly subsequent to the affair at Frenchtown, directed his attention to the erection of works, which in some measure rendered his position impregnable. Determined, if possible, to thwart the movements of the enemy, and give the finishing stroke to his movements in that quarter, General Proctor (lately promoted) ordered an expedition to be in readiness to move for the Miami. Accordingly, towards the close of April, a detachment of the 41st, some militia and 1500 Indians, accompanied by a train of battering artillery, and attended by two gun-boats, proceeded up that river and established themselves on the left bank, at the distance of a mile, and selected the site for our batteries. The season was unusually wet, yet in defiance of every obstacle, they were erected in the same night, in front of the Amer- ican fortress, and the guns transported along the road in which the axle-trees of the car- riages were frequently buried in mud. Among other battering pieces were two twenty- four pounders, in the transportation of which 200 men, with several oxen, were employed from 9 o'clock at night, until daylight in the morning. At length, every precaution having been made, a gun fired from one of the boats was the signal for their opening, and early on the morning of the 1st of May, a heavy fire was commenced, and continued for four days without intermission, during which period every one of the enemies' batteries were silenced and dismantled. The fire of the twenty-four pound battery was principally directed against the powder magazine, which the besieged were busily occupied in covering and pro- tecting from our hot shot. It was impossible to have artillery better served : every shot that was fired sank into the roof of the magazine, scattering the earth to a considerable distance, and burying many of the workmen in its bed, from which we could distinctly see their survivors dragging forth the bodies of their slaughtered companions. Meanwhile the flank companies of the 41st, with a few Indians, had been dispatched to the opposite shore, within a few hundred yards of the enemy's works, and had constructed a battery, from which a galling cross-fire was sustained. Dismayed at the success of our exertions, Gen. Harrison, before our arrival, already apprised of the approach of a reinforcement of 1500 men, then descending the Miami, under General Clay, contrived to dispatch a courier on the evening of the 4th, with an order to that officer to land immediately and possess him- self of our batteries on the left bank, while he (General Harrison) sallied forth to carry those on the right. Accordingly, at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 5th, General Clay* pushed forward the whole of his force, and meeting with no opposition at the batteries, which were entirely unsupported, proceeded to spike the guns, in conformity with his instruc- tions ; but elated with his success, and disobeying the positive orders of his chief, which was to retire the instant the object was effected, continued to occupy the position. In the meantime, the flying artillery-men had given the alarm, and three companies of the 41st, several of militia, and a body of Indians, the latter under the command of their celebrated chieftain, Tecumseh, were ordered to immediately move and re-possess themselves of the works. The rain, which had commenced falling in the morning, continued to fall with violence, and the road, as has already been described, was knee deep in mud ; yet the men advanced to the assault with the utmost alacrity and determination. The enemy, on our approach, had sheltered themselves behind the batteries, affording them every facility of defence. Yet they were driven at the point of the bayonet from each in succession, until eventually not a man was left in the plain. Flying to the woods, the murderous fire of the Indians drove them back upon their pursuers, so that they had no possibility of escape. A vast number were killed, and independently of the prisoners taken by the Indians, 450, with their second in command, fell into our hands. Every man of the detachment, on this oc-
1
* This is an error, as the reader will perceive.
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casion, acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his superiors. Among the most con- spicuous for gallantry, was Major Chambers, of the 41st, acting deputy quarter-general to the division. Supported by merely four or five followers, this meritorious officer advanced under a shower of bullets from the enemy, and carried one of the batteries, sword in hand. A private of the same regiment being opposed, in an isolated condition, to three Americans, contrived to disarm them and render them his prisoners. On joining his company at the close of the affair, he excited much mirth among his comrades, in consequence of the sin- gular manner in which he appeared, sweating beneath the weight of arms he had secured as trophies of victory, and driving his captives before him with an indifference and care- lessness which contrasted admirably with the occasion. Of the whole of the division under General Clay, scarce 200 men effected their escape. Among the fugitives was that officer himself. The sortie made by General Harrison, at the head of the principal part of the garrison, had a different result. The detachment supporting the battery already described, were driven from their position, and two officers, Lieutenants M'Intyre and Hailes, and thirty men were made prisoners. Meanwhile it had been discovered that the guns on the left bank, owing to some error on the part of the enemy, had been spiked with the ramrods of the muskets, instead of the usual instruments: they were speedily rendered serviceable, and the fire from the batteries renewed. At this moment a white flag was observed waving on the rainparts of the fort, and the courage and perseverance of the troops appeared about to be crowned with the surrender of a fortress, the siege of which had cost them so much toil and privation. Such, however, was far from being the inten- tion of General Harrison. Availing himself of the cessation of hostilities which neces- sarily ensued, he caused the officers and men just captured to be sent across the river for the purpose of being exchanged ; but this was only a feint for the accomplishment of a more important object.
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