History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 17

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 17

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The controversy which grew out of this affair, regarding the objects of M. Jumonville and his death, is familiar to all stu- dents of history. It is only necessary here to say that, after a careful investigation of all the facts and documents bearing upon the subject, the character of Washington remains un- sullied.

This was Washington's first battle-ground, and not Fort Necessity, as is generally stated. This occurred on the 28th of May, nearly six weeks prior to the encounter with M. de Villiers, which occurred on the 3d of July following.

The news of this encounter was carried to Contrecœur, at Fort Duquesne, and immediate preparations were made to take summary vengeance on Washington and his troops. The In- dians friendly to the English forsaw at once that they were involved by the action of the Half-King in taking part in the surprise of Jumonville, 'and they immediately began to flock with their families to Washington, who at once proceeded to strengthen and enlarge his fort at the Great Meadows.

About this time news was received of the death of Col. Fry at Will's Creek, which event left Washington chief in command of the expedition.

Expresses were sent back to hurry up the artillery and rein- forcements, and every preparation made for a vigorous defense.

On the 9th of June, Major Muse arrived with the remainder of the Virginia regiment and the swivels and ammunition. The two New York companies, and one from North Carolina, failed to arrive; and on account of the action of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, nothing whatever was done by that Province.

Washington used every exertion to prepare for the crisis ; he sent Gist out to try and get the artillery hauled forward by Pennsylvania teams, but only ten of the small guns (four- pounders) in use in those days got as far as Will's Creek. On the 10th of June he was joined by Captain Mackay with the South Carolina company, whom he put in command of his fort, and with his Virginia troops, the swivels, a few wagons, and stores, set out on the 16th for Redstone.

On the 27th of June a party of seventy men was sent forward under Captain Lewis to endeavor to cut a road from Gist's to the mouth of Redstone; and Captain Polson was sent with his company to reconnoitre. Meanwhile, Washington advanced to Gist's settlement with his headquarters.

Scouts were kept continually in advance, and they frequently reached the vicinity of Fort Duquesne itself, so that Washing- ton was fully informed of all the enemy's movements. These brought information that on the 28th of June a strong French force, accompanied by a considerable number of Indians, in all amounting to from eight hundred to one thousand men, had left the fort for the purpose of attacking Washington, under the command of M. Coulon de Villiers, half-brother of Jumonville, killed in the skirmish of May 28.

They went up the Monongahela in pirogues (big canoes), and on the 30th came to the Hangard, at the mouth of Redstone, and encamped on rising ground, about two musket-shots from it. This Hangard (built the last winter by Captain Trent as a store-house for the Ohio Company) is described by M. de Vil- liers as a "sort of fort built of logs, one upon another, well notched in, about thirty feet long and twenty feet wide."*

At this juncture a council of war was held in the camp of Washington, at which it was resolved to fall back to the Great Meadows, and if possible to continue their retreat over the mountains. But on their arrival at the Meadows it was found that the number and condition of the horses would make it im- possible, and they concluded to make a stand and fight it out in the best manner possible.

Hearing that Washington was intrenching himself, M. de Villiers left his stores, pirogues, and heavy baggage at the Han- gard, and made a rapid night-march with the expectation of surprising the young " buckskin colonel."

The French commander had been told that Washington was fortifying at Gist's; but on his arrival there, on the morning of the 2d, the gray dawn revealed only the half-finished fort. The disappointed Villiers, supposing Washington to be on a rapid retreat, was about to return to Fort Duquesne, when a cowardly deserter from the Great Meadows came in and inform- ed him of Washington's condition. Putting the traitor under guard, with a promise of death or reward, as his story should prove true or false, De Villiers pushed on in pursuit.

On the morning of July 3d, the French appeared and opened fire at long range upon the work, which had been put in as good state of defense as the time would allow. Washington at first formed his men outside the works, as if to offer the enemy

#Monongahela of Old. Lossing says the 23d, and Mr. N. B. Craig says on the 27th. #Other accounts say eleven killed.

*Monongahela of old.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

battle; but failing to draw them from the timber, he withdrew into the fort. The defenders were now in a desperate situation. With only a few worn-out horses, and provisions for but four or five days, surrounded by a numerous and confident enemy, their condition was discouraging in the extreme. A desultory warfare ensucd and continued during the day. The enemy poured in a galling fire from the covert of the woods, to which the garrison responded as best they could, but with very little effect. The rain fell in torrents during the entire day; but an irregular fire was kept up until dark, soon after which (about eight o'clock) the French requested a parley; but Washington, fearing it might be some artifice for the purpose of examining the fort, declined, when the request was repeated, with the desire that an officer might be sent to them, under an engage- ment of his safety by M. de Villiers. Upon this Washington dispatched Captain Van Braam, who returned twice with inad- missible conditions; but the third time brought terms which were accepted.

According to this agreement, the garrison was to march out of the fort on the following morning with the honors of war, drums beating and colors flying, taking everything they pos- sessed, except their artillery, and to retire without molestation from the French or Indians to the inhabited parts of Virginia.

Completely worn down and exhausted, the sorry command of Washington filed out of the works on the morning of the Fourth of July, 1754, and, carrying their wounded, made the best of their way to Will's Creek, the nearest point where they could obtain supplies.

Some writers state that a body of Indians fell upon them soon after leaving the fort and commenced plundering their baggage, whercupon Washington ordered everything which they could not carry upon their backs to be destroyed.

The French destroyed the works and commenced their return march to Fort Duquesne. At Gist's, on the 5th, they destroyed everything and burned the Hangard at Redstone on the 6th, and reached Fort Duquesne on the 7th, having, as De Villiers says in his Journal, "destroyed all the settlements they found."

CHRISTOPHER GIST.

From a speech delivered by Hon. James Veech, at Mount Braddock, at a railroad celebration, July 4, 1859, we take a few extracts relating to Christopher Gist, one of the most noted pioneers that appeared on the stage during the troublous times from 1750 to 1783:

"Hc (Gist) was a native of England, and there is some evi- dence that he had been educated for priest's orders in the Eng- lish Episcopal Church. He was certainly a woodsman of the highest order, hardy and fearless, a good judge of land, a good surveyor, and well versed in Indian management and diplo- macy."

Speaking of the Ohio Company's route, he says, "By this route, in 1752, doubtless came Gist and the Virginia Commis- sioners to the Logstown treaty; and on his return therefrom, believing that success was going to attend the Company's scheme, he selected yonder slope, southeast of the Mount Brad- dock Mansion, as his future residence. It was a princely site, and would be a convenient station for the Company.

After the termination of Washington's unfortunate campaign of 1754, it appears that the French broke up Gist's settlement and destroyed all his improvements. No doubt the settlers fled toward the older settlements farther east. It would seem, how- ever, that Gist was not discouraged, for we find him again at his chosen location upon the advance of Braddock's army the next year.

In speaking of Washington's sickness and his journey to rejoin Braddock, Judge Veech says, "Doubtless Washington, with that convoy, encamped at Gist's on the night of July 4, 1755."

On the 10th of July, the next day after the battle, the strug- gling remnants of that proud army, encumbered with wounded and all the debris of a defeated and terribly decimated band, bivouacked at Gist's. Probably Gist again broke up his settle- ment and retired from the border.

The Judge closes his account of him as follows: "While the French and Indians ruled here-from the repulse of Braddock until Pontiac's great conspiracy was quelled, and Bouquet had, at Bushy Run and the Muskingum, taught the savages sub- mission-Gist was busied elsewhere. He became captain of a company of scouts on the Potomac frontier in 1756, and soon after was made Deputy Indian Agent in the Southern Depart- ment,-'a service for which,' said Colonel Washington, 'I know of no person so well qualified.' In that station he continued during the war.

"It is believed that he returned here for a short period about 1766, but only to seat his family, and return to die in the sunny South,-but where and when are unknown."

BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT-1755.

War had not yet been declared by the two nations; the con- flict had thus far been carried on by the colonies; but the British government, perceiving that a contest, more severe than had yet been seen, must soon take place in America, at once took measures to prosecute the conflict. Edward Brad- dock, an officer of distinction, arrived in Chesapeake bay, with two regiments on the 20th of February, 1755. He had been appointed commander-in-chief of all the British and provincial forces in America. At his request the colonial governors met him in council at Alexandria, and planned three separate ex- peditions against the French. The western expedition was to be led by Braddock, but was delayed in getting started on ac- count of the difficulty in obtaining provisions and supplies.

He finally began his march from Will's creek (Cumberland) on the 10th of June 1755, with about two thousand men, British and provincials. Anxious to reach Fort Duquesne before the garrison should receive reinforcements, he made forced marches with twelve hundred men, leaving Colonel Dunbar, his second in command, to follow with the remainder, and the wagons. Colonel Washington had consented to act as Braddock's aid, and to him was given the command of the provincials. Knowing, far better than Braddock, the perils of their march and the kind of warfare they might expect, he ventured, modestly, to give advice, founded upon his experience. But the haughty general would listen to no suggestions, especially from a pro- vincial subordinate. This obstinacy resulted in his ruin. When within ten miles of Fort Duquesne, and while marching at noon-day, on the 9th of July, in fancied security, on the south side of the Monongahela, a volley of bullets and a cloud of arrows assailed the advanced guard, under Lieutenant- Colonel Gage. They came from a thicket and ravine close by, where a thousand dusky warriors lay in ambush. Again Washington asked permission to fight according to the provin- cial custom, but was refused. Braddock must manoeuver ac- cording to European tactics, or not at all. For three hours, deadly volley after volley fell upon the British columns, while Brad- dock attempted to maintain order, where all was confusion. The slain soon covered the ground. Every mounted officer but Washington was killed or maimed, and finally the really brave Braddock himself, after having several horses shot under him, was mortally wounded .*

Washington remained unhurt. Under his direction the pro- vincials rallied, while the regulars, seeing their General fall, were fleeing in great confusion. The provincials covered their retreat so gallantly that the enemy did not follow. A week afterward Washington read the impressive funeral service of the Anglican Church over the corpse of Braddock, by torch- light, July 15, 1755; and he was buried, where his grave may now be seen, near the National Road, between the fifty-third and fifty-fourth mile from Cumberland, in Maryland. Colonel Dunbar received the flying troops, and marched to Philadelphia in August with the broken companies. Washington, with the provincials, went back to Virginia. Thus ended Braddock's expedition of 1755.

The unfortunate campaign and defeat of Braddock left the French in complete possession of the Ohio Valley and the entire north western country.

CONTINUATION OF THE STRUGGLE-FINAL DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH.

During 1756 a successful expedition was made by Col. Arm- strong against the hostile Indians at Kittanning, which mate- rially checked their ravages against the settlement.

Aside from the success of Col. Armstrong at Kittanning dur- ing the years 1755, 1756 and 1757, the English suffered a series of defeats, following each other in regular succession, until despondeney had seized upon the public mind throughout the colonics.

The changes in the British cabinet in 1757 brought forward the great William Pitt as prime minister, and his vigorous policy and zeal in behalf of the colonies changed the aspect of

"Braddock was shot by Thomas Fancett, one of the provincial soldiers. His plea was self- preser vation. Braddock had Issued a positive order, that none of the English should protect themselves behind trees, ns the French and Indians did. Fancett's brother had taken such position, and when Braddock perceived it, he strnek him to the earth with his sword. Thomas on seeing his brother fall, shot Braddock in the back, and then the provincials, fighting as they pleased, were saved from utter destruction-Lossing.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

the war in America. Early in the spring of 1758, a formidable English fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, and twelve thousand troops, arrived at Halifax, under command of Gen. Amherst, who was second in command to Gen. Abercrombie. Animated by hope, and cheered by the liberal policy of the new ministry, the colonies took active measures to raise men and money. The result was, an army amounting to fifty thousand men was col- lected, the greatest that had ever been seen in the new world, and of whom over twenty thousand were provincials. The plan of the campaign embraced three expeditions. The first against Louisburg, in the Island of Cape Breton; the second against Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and the third against Fort Duquesne.

The first of these expeditions, under Gen. Amherst, was suc- cessful, and the impregnable fortress of Louisburg was captured. The second, under Gen. Abererombie in person, was repulsed in the first engagement with a loss of two thousand men, killed and wounded; but subsequently a detachment from his army captured Fort Frontenac, Canada, (where Kingston now stands) with a large quantity of cannon, small arms, provisions and military stores.

The third expedition, against Duquesne and the relief of the frontier of western Pennsylvania, was entrusted to the com- mand of General Forbes.

For this expedition, a large portion of the army was collected together at Philadelphia. The total force under Forbes was something over seven thousand men. Washington was ordered to join the army in July with his Virginia regiment. Major Halket, son of Sir Peter, killed at Monongahela, and Sir John St. Clair were on the General's staff, the latter as Quarter- master-General.

It was late in the season when the army of General Forbes got started upon the mareh. They left Carlisle about the mid- dle of July, and moved to Raystown, where Col. Boquet was posted with the advance. A new route being selected, which had to be constructed as the army advanced, it was late in the fall before the main body reached the scene of action. History records the memorable events of this expedition much more fully than we are enabled to give in this connection. The ad- vance, under Major Grant, which had been recklessly pushed forward and attacked the fort, was a repetition of the defeat of Braddock and the misfortune of the Great Meadows. But as the main army of General Forbes advanced in its close approach upon Fort Duquesne, the Indians who had watched its progress reported to the French that " they were as numerous as the trees of the woods." This so terrified the French, that they set fire to their magazines, barracks, &c., and pushed off in their boats, " some up the Allegheny and some down the Ohio."

Washington, at the head of his eommand, took possession of the abandoned Fort Duquesne on the 25th of November, 1758. Being mostly destroyed, a new fortification was thrown up on the bank of the Monongahela, named Fort Pitt, in honor of the great minister, and a garrison stationed there under the Com- mand of Colonel Hugh Mercer of Virginia.

That portion of the French who retreated up the Allegheny remained at Venango until the following summer, when the fall of Niagara compelled them to hastily evacuate, and forever abandon all claim to the Ohio valley.

In July, 1759, about the time of the departure of the French from Venango, General Stanwix arrived at the forks of the Ohio, and proceeded to construct a larger and more permanent fortifieation, which, we have before stated, was named in honor of the " great Commoner," Fort Pitt.

With the fall of Duquesne, the capture of Niagara, and the abandonment of Venango, La Bœuf and Presque Isle, all direet contest between the English and French in the west was at an end. With the defeat of the French the hostility of the Indians abated, and comparative peace was restored to the western frontier.

Thus were the French compelled to yield to the inevitable; their dream of extended empire was dispelled, and they were forced to abandon their claim, never again to assert power in these hills and valleys. The wilderness that had been so sud- denly transformed into the pomp and parade of a European camp, no longer resounded with the echoes and shouts of French soldiers, but resumed its normal condition after their retreating footsteps, and knew them no more forever.

In 1760, General Moncton visited Fort Pitt and held a treaty with the Indians, by which he obtained their consent for the English to build posts within the wild lands.

CHAPTER X.

INDIAN OUTBREAK OF 1763-PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY-BOQUET'S EXPEDITION-HIS TREATY WITH THE INDIANS IN 1764-JOUR- NAL OF GEORGE CROGHAN, WHO WAS SENT TO EXPLORE THE OHIO VALLEY IN 1765-WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL OF HIS TOUR TO THE OHIO IN 1770.

HE fierce scenes which took place for the mastery and pos- session of the Ohio valley during the period of the Seven Years' War had barely subsided, when smothered murmers of discontent began to be audible among the Indian tribes. Dur- ing that period the Delawares and Shawanese, once the faithful allies of William Penn, had been effectually seduced by French blandishments; and the Iroquois had ben greatly alienated from their former friendship for the English, and well nigh taken part against the colonists. The remote nations of the west had also joined in the war, descending in their canoes for hundreds of miles, to fight against the enemies of France. All these tribes entertained against the English that rancorous enmity which an Indian always feels against those to whom he has been opposed in war. Under these circumstances, it behooved the English to use the utmost care in their conduct towards the Indian tribes. During the conflict with France, the Indian policy of the English was one of comparative indifference, and when the war had ceased the friendship of the tribes seemed a matter of no consequence. They were not only treated with neglect, but the intentions of the English soon became apparent to the aboriginal mind. The presents, which it had always been customary to give them at stated intervals, were in a great measure withheld, and many of the agents and officers of the government frequently appropriated the presents to themselves, and afterwards sold them to the Indians at ex- orbitant prices.

When the French were in possession, they supplied the sur- rounding Indians with guns, ammunition, and clothing with a shrewd liberality. This occurred to such an extent as to culti- vate among the tribes a taste for European goods, cause them to forget the garments and the use of the weapons of their fore- fathers, and to depend in a great degree on the whites for sup- port. All along the Ohio to the Mississippi, they had become dependent upon the French posts for their arms and elothing. When these supplies were withheld a calamity overtook them for which they were illy prepared, and want, suffering and death followed as a natural consequence. To this grievance was added the general conduct of the English fur-traders, many of whom, with their employes, were men of the coarsest stamp, and guilty of numerous acts of rapacity, violence, and unscru- pulous conduct. They cheated, cursed, and plundered the the Indians, outraged their families, and when compared with the French traders, whose conduct was more politic, they pre- sented a most unfavorable example of the character of their nation.

But a still greater cause for the growing discontent of the tribes was the intrusion of settlers upon their lands, which was constantly producing and renewing Indian jealousy and hos- tility. The Delawares and Shawanese became aroused to the highest pitch of desperation. Their best lands had been in- vaded, and all remonstrances had been fruitless. They viewed with wrath and fear the steady progress of the white man, whose settlements had passed the Susquehanna, and were fast extending to the Alleghenies, eating away the forest like a spreading canker. The Senecas were likewise especially in- censed at English intrusion, and by their contract with the French they were greatly stimulated in their prejudice and animosity.

PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY.

Early in the spring of 1763, it appears to have been an- nounced to the tribes, that by the terms of peace between the two nations, the King of France had ceded all their country to the King of England, without even asking their consent or per- mission. This greatly increased their enmity, and at once ex- cited a ferment of indignation among them. Within a few weeks a plot was matured, such as was never, before or since, conceived or executed by a North American Indian. The grand scheme was to attack all the forts upon the same day; then, having destroyed their garrisons, to turn upon the defenceless frontier, and ravage and lay waste the settlement, until, as many of the Indians fondly believed, the English should all be

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

driven into the sea, and the country restored to its primitive owners.

It was difficult to determine which tribe was first to raise the ery of war; all the savages of the backwoods were ripe for an outbreak, and the movements seemed almost simultaneous. Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawas, is credited as the author of the great plan of the simultaneous attack along the entire border, by which all the posts and garrisons were to be captur- ed on the same day. Pontiac was one of the most famous chiefs known in Indian annals, and was pre-eminently endowed with all the attributes for a great leader among the tribes. He began preparing for his conspiraey before the close of 1762, and he sent messengers to the different nations for the purpose of con- centrating all the western tribes in one great effort to drive out the English. The scheme had been arranged with aceuraey to strike every English post at the same moment, giving no time for one to assist another, which was to be followed by a rapid and relentless war throughout the settlements. He reserved for himself the attack on Detroit, and made a regular siege of the place. He neglected no expedient that savage warfare eould invent, and obtained food for his warriors from the Cana- dians by issuing promissory notes drawn upon birch bark and signed with the figure of an otter, which were all redeemed. Though the attack on Detroit resulted in a failure, by the gar- rison being apprised of the approaching danger, the plot was generally successful along the border.

The storm fell nearly simultaneously, like the simoon of the Sahara, upon all the English fortifications. Mackinaw, La Bay, and St. Joseph, on or near Lake Michigan; Miami, on the Maumee; Ouiatenon, on the Wabash; Sandusky, Presq Isle, Le Bœuf, and Venango, all fell into the hands of the savages. Only Detroit, Fort Pitt, and Niagara escaped. Niagara was deemed too strong, and was not molested. Detroit very nearly fell by treachery, but an Indian girl revealed to Major Gladwin the plan of Pontiac and the fort was saved. Foiled in his at- tempt, Pontiac sat down before the place and deliberately be- sieged it for many months, and had it not been for its water communications, it would undoubtedly have fallen.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 17

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728