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 43

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 43
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 43

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Joseph Bean, Andrew Hood, McGeehan, Hoagland, Beeson, Munn, Ross and Ogle.

THE MARCH FROM MINGO BOTTOM TO SANDUSKY.

Mr. Butterfield's work on "Crawford's Expedition to San- dusky" is the most carefully completed and valuable collection of facts of anything that has been presented to the public on this subject. From it we make the following extracts concern- ing the march of Crawford's army from Mingo bottom to the Sandusky plains :

"Early on the morning of Saturday, the 25th of May, 1782, the army under Crawford, in four columns, began its march from Mingo bottom, in the straightest direction, through the woods, for Sandusky, distant one hundred and fifty miles. 'A perfect harmony existed among the officers and men, and all were in high spirits."* The route lay through what is now the counties of Jefferson, Harrison, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Ashland, Richland and Crawford-nearly to the centre of Wyandot county, Ohio. A direct course would have led near the present towns of New Philadelphia, Millersburg, Loudonville and Gal- ion; but, as will hereafter be seen, this straight line was not followed. The whole distance, except about thirty miles at the end of the route, was through an unbroken forest.

"The only indication of civilization-and that a very sad one-in all the region to be traversed, was the wasted mission- ary establishments in the valley of the Muskingum. Except in the open country just before reaching Sandusky, and along the immediate margins of the streams, the surface is hilly. The principal impediments to a rapid march were the hills, swamps and tangled growth of forests. * * * It had been estimated by Irvine that the distance could be made in seven days, and that one hundred and seventy-five miles would have to be traveled.

" As the cavalcade moved up over the bluff, an almost due west course was taken, striking at once into the wilderness, now deepening and darkening around it. The army progressed rapidly at first, moving along the north side of Cross creek, which had already received the name it still bears. After leav- ing what is now Steubenville township, it passed through the present townships of Cross creek and Wayne, to the western boundary of Jefferson county, as at present defined; crossing thence into what is now Harrison county, in German township; thence across the summit to the spot where the town of Jeffer- son now stands.

"From this point, a straight course would have led them at no great distance into what is now Carroll county. But their horses had tired under heavy loads in the hills and swamps. This obliged them to incline to the south ward, toward the wast- ed Moravian towns, into a more level country, though more frequented by hunters and warriors. This alternative was accepted by Crawford with great reluctance, as his policy was to avoid Indian trails and the region infested by the enemy, relying for success, as already stated, upon effecting a surprise. Otherwise, he would have followed "Williamson's trail " from Mingo bottom to the Muskingum,f which led along a consid- erable distance south, near where Smithfied, in Jefferson, and Cadiz, in Harrison county, now stand,-though a region not so difficult to be traversed, but on the line of Indian traces be- tween that river and the Ohio .;

From the moment of starting, every precaution was taken against surprises or ambuscades, and this, too, although, as yet, not an Indian had been seen. The wily nature of the savage was too well understood by the commander of the expedition, to allow of any confidence of security, because no foe had been discovered. Unceasing vigilance was the watchword. Captain John Biggs' company, its licutenant being young William Crawford, nephew of the commander, took the advance, on the march, led by the two pilots, Slover and Zane. "John Rodgers stated to me," writes Robert A. Sherrard, "that the company he belonged to, in which were James Paull, Daniel

*Marshal to Irvine, 29th May, 1782: Original letter. +Tuscarawas.

#Doddridge, in his account of Crawford's campaign, says: "The army marched along Williamson's Trail, as it was then called, until they had arrived at the upper Moravian town. But that of Butterfield is so minute that it bears evidence of being prepared from the most reliabe and trustworthy sources. Mr. Butterfield gives a foot note on page 160 of his work, in reference to this matter, as follows :

" It is asserted by Doddridgo that Williamson's trail was the one along which the volun- teers marched until their arrival at the upper Moravian villago (Notes, 269) ; but, in addition to the testimony of Knight and Rose to the contrary, is the positive assertion that James Paull mado to Robert A. Sherrard, in January, 1826, upon his attention being called to the sub- ject. In that conversation, he gave the route indicated by Knight and Rose. Of this fact, I am informed by Mr. Sherrard."

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Canon, Alexander Carson, my father (John Sherrard), and others, marched all the way as the first company.

"Nothing worthy of note transpired until Monday night, the 27th, while at their third eneampment. Here a few of the men lost their horses, which were hunted for the next morning, without sueeess. It was thought best by Crawford that these men should return home, as their continuing with the army, unable as they would be, to carry little besides their arms, would only prove a source of embarrassment. Reluctantly, therefore, they retraeed their steps to Mingo bottom.

"On Tuesday, the 4th day of March, the army reached the Muskingum, some distance below the upper Moravian village, known as New Sehönbrunn. * * * * *

"Crossing the Muskingum in the afternoon, and marehing up the western side of the stream until they reached the upper village of the Christian Indians, they made their fourth en- eampment among its ruins. Only sixty miles had been made in the four days' travel-an average of but fifteen miles a day. This was a diseouraging prospeet to Crawford; however, it was believed that better time could be made on the balance of the route, as the country would be less hilly and the loads upon the horses less burdensome.

While the army lay encamped at this point, the horses were plentifully fed in the fields upon eorn from the stalks, which was found still ungathered and in abundanee-the unharvested crop of the previous year ! During the evening, Major Brinton and Captain Bean went some distance from eamp to reeonnoiter. When but a quarter of a mile away they espied two savages, upon whom they immediately fired, but without effeet. These were the first hostile shots fired at the foe. It was supposed, by Crawford, that the army had not before been discovered by the enemy. Fallacious belief ! Seereey being now out of the question-as the two Indians had made their escape-it only remained for Crawford to press forward, with all praetieable dispatch, to afford the enemy as little time as possible for offen- sive preparations." * * * *

Concerning the discovery and eseape of the two savages, But- terfield makes the following foot note : .

"Concerning this affair, Doddridge in his Notes, p. 270, says: ' As soon as the news of the discovery of Indians had reached the eamp, more than one-half the men rushed out without eom- mand, and in the most tumultuous manner, to see what happen- ed.' Upon what authority this statement is made does not appear. It certainly is wholly unworthy of eredit. 'From that time,' adds Doddridge, 'Colonel Crawford felt a presentiment of the defeat which followed.' This adds much to its improbability ; for, surely, had he such a presentiment it would have been kept in his own breast. Schweitzer (Zeisberger, p. 565), in copying this aeeount from Doddridge, makes it still more absurd: 'A glimpse of two Indian seouts, watching their movements, threw them into such confusion that dark forebodings filled the mind of their leader!'"

To this statement, Doddridge adds the following : "The truth is, that notwithstanding the seereey and dispatch of the enter- prise, the Indians were beforehand with our people. They saw the rendezvous on the Mingo bottom, knew their number and destination. They visited every eneampment immediately on their leaving it, and saw from their writing on the trees and seraps of paper that 'no quarter was to be given to any Indian, whether man, woman or ehild.'" De Hass, copied the same idea from Heekwelder and Doddridge, and elothed it in the fol- lowing language :

"The Indians were observing the motions of the troops. From the time the Christian Indians were murdered on the Muskingum, the savages had kept spies out, to guard against being again surprised. There was not a place of any import- anee on the Ohio, from Pittsburgh to Grave ereek, left unob- served. Thus, when in May, two months after the destruction of the Moravian towns, the white settlers were seen in agita- tion, as if preparing for some enterprise, the news was brought to the Indians, and so from day to day, until Crawford's men had erossed the Ohio river, and even then their first eneampment was reconnoitered. They knew the number of troops and their destination, visited every eneampment immediately on their leaving it, when on their mareh, and saw from their writings on the trees, and seraps of paper, that 'no quarter was to be given to any Indian, whether man, woman or ehild.'"

The latter statement, like those in reference to the design of the expedition, originates with Heekwelder, who writes under the influenees of extravagant prejudices, and is equally sus- ceptible of the charge of fietion. In reference to this matter, Butterfield makes foot note. See page 158.

"The story that no quarter was to be given the Indians was

set afloat in this wise: The Moravian Heckwelder, who, when the eampaign was undertaken, was at or near Detroit, was after- ward told by Indians that it was reported that the Indian spies who were sent to watch the movements of the Americans be- fore and after their rendezvous at Mingo bottom, had, in exam- ining their eamp on the west side of the Ohio, after it had been left by the volunteers, found on trees peeled for that pur- pose, these words, written with coal and other mineral sub- stanees: 'No quarter to be given an Indian, whether man, woman or child;' and that papers with these words written on them, were pieked up in their eamp .- Heckwelder's Nar. pp. 341, 342. This second-hand Indian report was set down, in 1824, by Rev. Dr. Jos. Doddridge (Notes, p. 270) as an historical fact ; and, as such, has been extensively eopied into the eurrent histories of the day! It has thrown wide open the flood gates for the out-pouring of fieree deelamation and indignation against the patriotic borderers who marehed into the Indian country to in- sure a better protection of their own."

In regard to the vigilanee of the savages, it may be said that in addition to their depredations upon the settlements, the sue- eess of Brodhead's expedition against the Delawares upon the Muskingum, followed by the two expeditions under William- son to the Moravian towns, aroused the British Indians to the utmost activity and watehfulness. They kept their spies all along the Ohio, at all the most publie places. Lurking savages earefully watched the movements of the borderers, so that, in the event of the fitting out of another expedition to march into the Indian country, early intelligenee of it might be eon- veyed to the Sandusky and Miami towns. When, therefore, early in May, a general stir was observed in the settlements, and the borderers were seen in agitation, as if preparing for some enterprise, the news was soon earried by swift-footed braves to the Miami and the Sandusky. From day to day, the progress of the movement was observed. From day to day, Indian runners struek swiftly into the wilderness, to carry the tidings to their towns. No sooner had the volunteers began to eross the Ohio and rendezvous at Mingo bottom, than all doubts vanished in the minds of the savages of a contemplated inva- sion of their towns and settlements upon one or the other of these rivers. Their villages were soon in a wild state of exeite- ment-from the lower Wyandot town, the present site of Fre- mont, county-seat of Sandusky county, to the lower Shawanese village, upon the spot where the town of Piqua, in Miami county, is now located. As yet, however, there was an uncer- tainty as to the partieular point aimed at by the Americans.

Skulking savages eautiously, and undiseovered by the vol- unteers, reconnoitered the eamp at Mingo bottom; but the enemy gained no intelligenee of the real intention of the fron- tiermen from their spies lurking nightly upon the distant bluffs. Judging from the point ehosen for rendezvous, the army undoubtedly would mareh westward to the burnt Moravian villages; but not until the Muskingum was crossed, eould the savages determine where the blow was to fall. The mystery would be solved by observing the course then taken. However, one thing was elearly evident; the Americans were gathering in such numbers as to require a concentration of all the forees the Indians could possibly muster to repel them. Runners, therefore, were immediately dispatched from Sandusky to De- troit, with the startling intelligenee, to the commandant of that post, of the gathering of the Americans at Mingo bottom. They also brought the earnest entreaty of the Wyandots for immediate help.

In the meantime the Americans began their mareh from the Ohio river in a direction at once diselosing to the enemy the point aimed at. Had the usual route to the Moravian villages -the one taken by Williamson, which followed along near the site of the present town of Cadiz, county-seat of Harri- son county-been followed, the mystery, for the reason already explained, would not have been so readily solved. Now, how- ever, there was no longer a question that the army was direct- ing its course for Sandusky-made doubly certain when the troops were observed to eross the Muskingum and mareh up the stream to the site of the upper Moravian town.

Mr. Butterfield has compiled a detailed account of the mareh to Sandusky, but it is not necessary to give it full in this eon- neetion. On the 2d of June the army reached a point on the Sandusky river within the limits of Crawford county. Butter- field says: "Nothing material had transpired during the mareh from the Muskingum. Not an Indian had been seen. The army had traveled in the last five days about eighty-five miles. They were now fairly in the enemy's country, distant due east from the point of destination only twenty-five miles. They had, however, reached the river a little too far south to strike the

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Wyandot trace, which led on directly west to their town. Slo- ver announced to the commander that the open country-the Sandusky Plains-was but a few miles away, in a southwest direction. Following along the southern margin of the stream until it suddenly swept around to the north, the army then struck off from it through a somewhat broken country for two miles, and encamped a short distance beyond, where the sur- face was quite level."

Early on the morning of the 3d the army reached the open plains and continued its mareh. The next day the mouth of Little Sandusky was reached-a familiar spot to Slover. But- terfield proceeds: "Crossing the river, Crawford's eourse was along the east bank of the stream, following the Indian trace in a direction a little west of north, in what is now Pitt town- ship. The army moved with great caution. Not an Indian, however, was seen. Crawford was assured by Slover that the Wyandot town was close at hand. As yet there had not been discovered any indications of an Indian settlement, except a sugar-camp, where maple sugar had evidently been made the previous spring. Passing a bluff bank, the river made a sud- den turn, flowing almost directly west. The movement of the army was now rapid. A little farther on, just where the river enters what is now Crane township, suddenly an opening in the woods before them was discernible-and the Wyandot town was reached. To the utter astonishment of the whole army, it was found uninhabited! All was a solitude. The log huts, had, apparently, been deserted for some time. Here was a dilemma !

No one in the army had known of the removal of the Wyan- dots from their town. It was their principal village when Slover was a captive among the Miamis, and had often been visited by him. The volunteers began to suspect there had been a great mistake made; that there was no settlement of the Indians nearer than Lower Sandusky-over forty miles be- low. Crawford ordered a halt. It was now one o'clock in the afternoon, and the commander desired a brief time for a consid- eration of the strange aspect of affairs, and for a consultation with his officers.

The volunteers dismounted, and many slaked their thirst from a fine spring not far from the margin of the stream. Their horses were refreshed upon the wild grass growing luxuriantly upon the river bottom. The site of the deserted village was a beautiful one. There was a considerable belt of timber to the westward, skirting to the plains, which were distant nearly a mile. It was, therefore, well protected from the bleak winds of winter and from the autumnal fires which swept the open country. Its location was three miles, in a southeasterly direc- tion, from the site of the present town of Upper Sandusky, county seat of Wyandot county, on the opposite or east side of the river and upon its immediate bank.

THE INDIAN AND BRITISH FORCES.

The dusky allies of Great Britain now making such desper- ate exertions to prepare themselves for the conflict with the Americans, were principally Wyandots, Delawares and Shaw- anese.

The Wyandots in this region numbered, in 1782, not far from seven hundred, and their principal chief was at that time called the Half King. The village on the Sandusky found de- serted by Crawford, the one known to Slover and Zane, had been occupied by the Wyandots, but they had some time pre- viously removed to the village where the Half King dwelt on the river, eight miles below.

The Delawares had, after the expedition against them by General Brodhead, drawn back from the Muskingum and lo- cated in this region. Their principal chiefs were Captain Pipe and Wingenund. They brought into the action with the Americans two hundred warriors.

The Shawanese were forty miles away, but on the morning of the 4th they started to the aid of the Wyandots and Dela- wares with two hundred warriors.

The British commandant at Detroit, after receiving intelli- gence of the probable invasion of the Sandusky country, dis- patched a considerable force, consisting of Butler's Rangers, to help the Indian allies. These troops were all mounted and had with them two field-pieces and a mortar.

The whole of the Indian forces were under the command of Captain Mathew Elliot. He was an Irishman. At the com- mencement of the Revolution, he lived in Path Valley, Penn- sylvania. A number of tories resided in his township, among whom Elliot was a leader. But, as hostilities increased, the place became too warm for them, as a large portion of the popu-

lation was whigs. Elliot fled to the West, where he was well known as an Indian trader. He afterwards found himself at Detroit, where he soon succeeded in convincing the command- ant of his tory proclivities, who gave him a commission as cap- tain, and sent him baek to Pittsburgh as a spy. Here he re- mained some time, and finally, in company with Alexander McKee, who had formerly been a British agent among the In- dians, but who was now suffered by the Americans to go at large on parole, and other disaffected persons and deserters from Fort Pitt,* again appeared upon the Muskingum early in 1778, to stir up the Delawares to hostility against the United States. As an officer of the Indian Department at Detroit, he served the British during the Revolution, vibrating between that post and the country of the Ohio Indians, as his services seemed to be needed.

Elliot arrived at the rendezvous of the savages early on the 4th of June in the full uniformn of a British captain, and was lustily greeted by the assembled Delawares and Wyandots. He immediately assumed command of the Indians-a position he was eminently qualified to fill, owing to his intimate acquaint- ance with their language and customs, and to his knowledge of the surrounding country.

It was believed among the volunteers that Simon Girty had the chief command, from the faet that his voice was recognized in the battle which ensued, and by many of them it was after- wards so reported.

BATTLE OF SANDUSKY, JUNE 4TH, 1782.

Butterfield gives an admirable description of the battle of Sandusky, from which we make the following extracts:

" A brief hour terminated the halt of the American army on the site of the deserted Wyandot town, where, at one o'clock on the 4th of June, we left Crawford-in doubt as to what ought to be done, owing to the strange state of affairs. Of the loca- tion of an Indian village eight miles below, on the west side of the Sandusky, Crawford was pretty well assured; but would not that one also be found without inhabitants? Slover was of opinion that the Indians of the upper town had moved to the lower one. Settlements, he thought, would soon be reached. He remembered their proximity in former years. Crawford, therefore, determined to move forward in search of them.

"The army crossed the river just below the site of the old town, at a point half a mile from the deserted Moravian huts, followed the Indian trace, which led aeross a broad, level bot- tom, in a northerly direction, to the bluffs, or high ground, be- yond. Three miles from the starting point brought them to the springs, where upper Sandusky is now located; when, after marching a mile further, some of the men, for the first time, expressed a desire to return home-alleging they had but five days' provisions in reserve. Crawford, stopping the march, im- mediately called a council of war, consisting of the captains and field officers. Knight and Rose were also invited, as were Slo- ver and Zane. The opinion of the latter had great weight with Crawford, who knew Zane to be exceedingly well versed in In- dian strategy.

"Zane advised an immediate return. He was of opinion that the Indians would, in the end, bring an overwhelming force against them. A further march into their country, he reason- ed, even though the army had supplies in abundance, would only be giving more time to the enemy to gather reinforce- ments. That none of the Indians had, as yet, been discovered in the Plains was a sure evidence, in his judgment, that they were concentrating at some point not far away for a determined resistance. The views of Crawford coincided with those of Zane. It was finally determined by the council that the army should continue its march that afternoon, but no longer."t

An advance guard of light horse had been sent forward to re- connoitre, which followed the Indian trail through the open country. They came upon a beautiful grove somewhat elevated above the surrounding prairies, where they stopped a few mo- ments, and again struck out in search of traces of the enemy. They had not proceeded more than a mile from the grove when they suddenly came upon full view of the Indians, who were moving directly toward them. One of their number, riding the fleetest horse, was immediately dispatched to inform Craw- ford, and the balance slowly retired as the foe advanced. The warriors in advance were the Delawares under The Pipe, their famous war chief. With him were Wingenund and Simon

*Mathew Elliot, Alexander McKee, and Simon Girty fled from Fort Pitt with a squad of twelve soldiers.

¡Doddridge speaks of the officers holding a council, but is in error as to the time and place ; also, as to its determination. ( Votes, 270.)

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

Girty. Their object in moving south was to secure the grove before the arrival of the Americans. The Wyandots under Zhaus-sho-toh were held back by Elliot for the present.

"Just as the officers of the American army," says Butterfield, "had ended their council of war, the scout from the north came riding up at full speed, announcing the discovery and advance of the savages. The news was received with evident satisfac- tion by the whole army. Rapidly the volunteers mounted and fell into line. Crawford immediately prepared to meet the en- emy he had been so anxiously looking for. An advance was ordered, which was obeyed with alacrity. The army was now joined by the retiring scouts, who reported the Indians just ahead in considerable force, evidently prepared to offer them battle."

Mr. Butterfield continues his description of the battle as follows: "The Americans had advanced scarcely a mile when the en- emy was discovered immediately in front, taking possession of the grove the light horse had so recently abandoned. Craw- ford, instantly detecting the advantage this would give the foc, ordered his men to dismount; and a quick, forward movement, with brisk firing by the Americans, soon drove the Indians out of the wood into the open prairie to the north, the former get- ting full possession of the grove. The savages then attempted to gain a small skirt of woods on the right of our army, but were prevented by the bravery and vigilance of Major Leet, who had command in that quarter. Just then the Delawares, who had bravely met the first shock of the battle, were rein- forced by the Wyandots.

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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 43

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