USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 1 > Part 15
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 1 > Part 15
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
Colonel Robert Johnson assumed the command of our lit- tle party. We had not traveled far before he called a halt, and ordered Captain Stucker to slip out to the left a few paces, detailing eight men to follow him, directing Captain Samuel Grant, with eight more under his command, to do so to the
1
166
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
right, remaining himself in the center with eight more, the residue of the party. Addressing himself to the men, "Now, boys," said he, "every man sees his officer, and when we come in view of the enemy Captain Grant will file off to the right, Captain Stucker to the left, and I shall keep the center. Each man will follow his officer and obey his orders. In the mean- time we will march single file until we get sight of the In- dians. Captain Stucker and Mr. Lytle will keep in advance of the party fifty or sixty yards, and when they discover the enemy, will either halt till we come up, or return to meet and advise us of the situation of things."
.We pursued on until some time in the night, when the thick and lofty character of the timber and its dense foliage rendered it so extremely dark that it was impossible to keep the trail, and compelled us to lie down till daybreak. At the first glimpse of dawn we were all up, and reprimed our guns, for fear that our priming had become moistened during the night. We marched on, and had not traveled more than half a mile before we heard bells down in the valley below us, and, ad- vancing nearer, we discovered the horses that had been belled, in front of the rest, and feeding quietly on the bottom pastures. At the same moment we observed an Indian approaching us. Captain Stucker and myself both squatted down; the men about forty yards behind us followed our example. The In- dian kept on within a few steps of where we lay hid in the high weeds, and inclined a little to the right, as we supposed, to go to the horses that were at hand feeding; but he went on past them, as we discovered, and kept his course till he had gone out of sight. We then knew that he had gone out to hunt, and we got up and followed his back track until we came in sight of the encampment. After waiting to let the entire party come up, Captain Stucker signed to Captain Grant to file off to the right, while Stucker moved to the left, their men following them, as had already been arranged. But Johnson, instead of getting his men to follow him in the center, directed Captain Patterson to take the men and lie watching the horses that we had just passed, so as to be ready to fire on the Indians in case they should attempt to escape by means of the horses. This order was given without the knowledge of either Grant or Stucker or any of their party, Johnson being
-
167
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
behind us, and giving Patterson his directions in a low voice, and signing to his own men to follow Patterson, while he him- self kept on after Grant.
I stepped on in front of Stucker, he and his party following me, until I led them quite around from the south to the west, or rather northwest side of the Indians, so that when Johnson would fire on them from the south, and Grant from the east, the enemy would be driven directly where we lay concealed in ambush to receive them. Where we halted happened to be close on the high bank of a branch. The Indians had ten large camps, besides some tents, the nearest of which was about forty steps from us, and they extended from this point up towards where we expected Grant's and Johnson's parties to give the signal by firing on them. There were two or three squaws cutting wood by the camps, and three or four stout lads that came down with brass kettles, dipping water from the branch directly under us, and carrying it to the camps. At this moment Captain Grant fired on them from the right. The women and children and about forty warriors broke from their camps, running toward us. We sprang across the creek, from the high bank that we had squatted down upon, and, rushing up to them, the first warrior I met was a remarkably large Indian, at whose breast I presented my gun, which, to my great mortification, missed fire. Whether it was Stucker that was behind me I dared not look back to see, but the next man in my rear, whoever he was, shot him down. I instantly made ready at a warrior I observed taking aim at one of Capt. Grant's men, of the name of Hastings, but his gun fired first. When mine cracked I saw the Indian pitch forward on his face, the gun dropping from his hands. I then looked to see the ef- fect of his fire upon Hastings, and saw the poor fellow stagger and fall. At that moment two Indians took hold of the one I had shot down, one under each arm, and dragged him from the field. I was reloading as fast as possible, and asked the man just behind me if his gun was charged, and on his replying it was, "Then," said I, "shoot down one of those fellows drag- ging away the dead Indian." He instantly fired and wounded him. They both dropped the dead body, and the unwounded one caught the other by the arm and dragged him off the field.
I68
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
While thus engaged I had taken a tree a little in advance of our men, but young Mr. Grant and Mr. Garrard coming up at this moment, and finding them considerably exposed to the enemy's fire, I gave them up the tree, and having got the powder and ball down my gun, was just priming, when, turn- ing my head a little to the right, I saw three guns presented at me within less than ten steps. I jumped back at the mo- ment the blaze appeared from the muzzles of the pieces. I felt I was wounded, but still hoped I had been too quick for them and that the wounds were not mortal, although they had all three hit me. However, I had no time to examine the wounds, and my whole thought was to retaliate. The Indians ran about fifteen or twenty steps after they fired at me, and made a short pause. The middle one looked around to see if I had been brought to the ground, but as he turned I heard him give the word of command, and, although it was in In- dian, it was an audible and deep-toned voice. As I raised my rifle she appeared to be uncommonly heavy, but it was necessary to be in a hurry, as the Indians are very quick in their motions, especially in action. He stood quarterly, with his naked breast exposed. I aimed for his nipple, as I knew a shot in that direction would pass out under his right shoulder. The fellow dropped at the report of the rifle. Captain Stucker was a few paces from me, on my left, at the time, and observed, if I aimed at that fellow's left nipple, I must have made a center shot. Stucker then asked me if I was badly wounded. I told him I believed not, but had not time to examine. He then asked me if we had not better force through them and unite with Johnson and Grant. I replied that we were better where we were; that now we had the enemy between our fires, and when they treed to fight one they exposed them- selves to the fire of the other, and that from the number of dead and wounded they were running off the field, would shortly retreat. "But they fight hard, sir, and appear greatly over our numbers. There is another reason why we should retain our present position, if possible ; if we force them from this, you force them back upon their dead and wounded. Now. sir, if you will spare me a few of these men, I will try and cut my way through that guard and destroy their wounded, and 1 will assure you the day is our own if I succeed in this at-
4
169
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
tempt." Captain Stucker told me to try it. I then ordered three men to follow me. This was a small force to attack the life guard of the wounded Indians, which I knew must be twenty strong at least; but as I discovered the guard was placed about thirty steps in the rear of the wounded, my ob- ject was to get around and destroy the wounded before the guard would discover us, and then to fall on the back of the guard whilst they were engaged fighting Stucker.
Just as I was passing the guard I came upon a wounded In- · dian who had his thigh broken and had hid himself in the weeds and grass, and, keeping my eye on one side of the enemy; I did not discover him on the other until I saw the smoke rise in my face, and, dropping, found my breast within six inches of the muzzle of his gun, which, had been flashed at me but failed to discharge. We despatched him, but by this time the guard discovered us and gave us a heavy fire, they being in a much greater force than I expected. I then directed my little band to follow me, and passed directly in front of the guard, whilst we received the fire of each warrior as we passed him. This, however, did no other execution than to mow down the grass and weeds through which we ran. We finally found ourselves in the rear of the division that was fighting Stucker, who did not discover us, as they lay anıbus- caded behind logs and trees, until we got so near as to powder- burn each other. Stucker at this moment discovered our sit- uation and came to our relief, when the Indians left us in pos- session of the field.
About this time Captain Grant had fallen, and Colonel Johnson ordered the men composing Grant's command down to join Stucker, leaving the Indians in possession of the ground they occupied, on and near the top of a very high hill. With this addition to our force we pursued our retreating party of the enemy a few hundred yards, but to no purpose. We then returned to the Indian encampment, where the men. or at least numbers of them, turned in and plundered the camps, there being upwards of twenty thousand dollars' worth of goods there which the Indians had taken out of boats attacked a short time before in the Ohio River. I had just seized a chunk to set the goods on fire, when Captain Patter- son, with the eight men Colonel Johnson had committed to
1
170
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
his charge, came up, and for the first time, and to my great astonishment, I found out that they had not been in the action at all.
At this moment one of Grant's men told me he expected that the Indians with whom they had been engaged and had left in possession of the ground at the top of the hill would shortly fire down upon us. "Why," said I, "is it possible you left the Indians that you were fighting in possession of the field?" "Yes," said he, "Johnson ordered us down to join Stucker as soon as Grant fell." I looked up and could see the high weeds shaking in forty places, and saw that the Indians were extend- ing their line as fast as reinforcements came in, and that they were preparing to give us battle once more.
Just as I was observing these movements young Grant came up and asked me if I was able to go with him up the hill and bring down his brother. "My dear sir," said I, "your brother is dead, and Johnson has left the Indians they were fighting in possession of the field, and they are now preparing for an- other attack, and will fire on us in less than ten minutes. You must not think of throwing away your life for revenge only." He replied he could never go home without seeing his brother once more. "Well, sir," I observed, "if you insist on it I will go with you, but we shall never come back if we go." He still insisted on it, and we set out on foot. As we were passing the camps at the foot of the hill, seeing Colonel Johnson on horse, I went directly up to him and told him of the mad de- termination of Moses Grant, and begged him to form the men and prepare for action, and let us march up and rout those Indians he had left in possession of the field of battle. I repre- sented to him that the men were all in confusion, and plunder- ing the camps; that we should be fired on in less than five minutes, and if they were attacked in the present position of things they must all be cut to pieces. Johnson appeared be- wildered, or rather unmanned, and I could get no reply from him. At this moment Captain Stewart came riding up to me on an Indian pony, with a tug halter on it, and leading an- other. He jumped off his horse, took hold of me as I was ascending the hill with Grant, and made me get on the little horse. Turning his head down hill, "There," said he, "ride down to the camp, and some of the men who are plundering
1
I71
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
will tie up your wounds, or you will bleed to death." I found myself by this time getting very faint, and so I reined my horse alongside of a beech tree, which I leaned my head against to steady myself from falling off. My face was turned towards the hill, where I saw Grant, with Sterrett and Greg- ory, his two companions, ride up to the very weeds I had seen shaken by the Indians not three minutes before, when a tre- mendous fire opened upon them, and all three of the men fell down before my eyes, appearing, as they went down, to be completely enveloped in smoke. A portion of the Indians fired down at us at the same time, and one of the balls lodged in the beech tree against which I was leaning, and forced off a piece of the bark, which struck me a severe skite on the cheek and brought me to, from my fainting fit.
Johnson then ordered a retreat. By this time most of the men had caught Indian horses, and, having mounted, they broke and away they went in considerable disorder. I fol- lowed, as a matter of course, but at some distance in the rear, and frequently looked back to see if I could discover any one of the three poor fellows trying to escape, when at length I got a glimpse of Captain Sterrett. I hallooed to Captain Stucker, who was about-
At this point the personal narrative breaks off. The story is completed by the following taken from the "Western Gen- eral Advertiser," published in Cincinnati by Charles Cist, in the number of April 14, 1844.
"Overpowered by numbers, the whole detachment of Ken- tuckians who survived this hard fought contest, made their way, not without fresh loss, to the river. Feats of bravery and desperation were exhibited in this battle, known since by the name of Grant's Defeat, from the death of the two officers of that name, who were engaged in it, which can hardly be matched even in our early border warfare.
"The Indians numbered nearly four to one. In the strug- gle, Lytle, then hardly seventeen years of age, had both his arms wounded, his face powder-burnt, his hair singed to the roots, and nineteen bullets passed through his body and cloth- ing. In this condition, a retreat being ordered, he succeeded in bringing off the field several of his friends, generously aiding the wounded and exhausted by placing them on horses, while
172
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
he himself ran forward in advance of the last remnant of the retreating party, to stop the only boat on the Ohio at that time, which could take them over and save them from the overwhelming force of their savage adversaries.
"On reaching the river, he found the boat in the act of put- ting off for the Kentucky shore. The men were reluctant to obey his demand for a delay until those still in the rear should come up-one of them declaring that 'it was better a few perish, than that all should be sacrificed.' He threw the rifle which he still carried on his shoulder, over the root of a fallen tree, and swore he would shoot the first man who pulled an oar, until his friends were aboard. In this way, the boat was detained until they came up, and were safely lodged from the pursuing foe. Disdaining to take advantage personally of this result, the boat being crowded almost to dipping, he ran up the river to where some horses stood panting under the willows after their escape from the battlefield, and mounting one of the strongest, forced him into the river. holding on to the mane by his teeth, until he was taken, in the middle of the stream, into the boat, bleeding and almost fainting from his wounds, by the order of his gallant captain, the lamented Stucker, who had observed his conduct with admiration throughout, and was resolved that such a spirit should not perish ; for by this time the balls of the enemy were rattling like hail about their ears.
"The father of Col. R. M. Johnson commanded this expedi- tion, in which were embarked the boldest spirits of that part of Kentucky ; and the scene of this sanguinary struggle was on Eagle Creek, a few miles in the rear of the river at that point where Vevay, Indiana, is now built."
Tradition relates that William Lytle's life was largely saved during the retreat by the devoted care of his brother John. When honored in Cincinnati, General Lytle jocosely claimed the rank of "Oldest Citizen," because on that April 12, 1780, as an eagerly curious boy, he had gone ashore and mingled with the men who gathered logs for a breastwork along the western brow of Deer Creek, which, if needed, was to protect a retreat to the boats.
-
CHAPTER VIII.
MAPPING THE WILDERNESS.
The Interrupted Surveying Resumed-Massie and Lytle Make a Narrow Escape-Belteshazzar Dragoo-A Battle with Tecumseh on the East Fork-Massie's Work in 1792-Lin- ton's Survey, No. 681-Lytle's Work in 1793-The Profit on the Work-Lytle's Surveyor's Camp-James Taylor, Sr. -The Land Market in 1795-The Indian Peril of that Time -Two Traces from Lexington-Covalt's Station-Major Riggs Killed at Milford-The Winter of 1791-92-Adam Snider-The Tiller and the Man Who Would Not Work- The Shawnees Had Only Nominal Possession.
Surveys by the same party on the same day of large tracts miles apart have caused some doubt; but such incidents can be explained by understanding the dates to refer, not to the actual walk from corner to corner about the tracts, but to the assembling of the notes, made by assistants, for platting and calculating and completing the reports, of which several might be signed and witnessed at one time. The only condition af- fected would have been the priority of conflicting claims which would not occur where but one deputy was working. The work done by O'Bannon between O'Bannon Creek and Eagle Creek, almost wholly before the New England people reached Marietta, was stopped by Congress on July 17, 1788, and de- clared of no effect, because the Virginia Reservation for the same purpose in Kentucky was thought to be enough. And there the matter rested for two years. Of course there were charges and denials of selfish motives in thus hindering the settlement of the Military District in order to gain something from the passing boats that were counted but did not stay at Marietta. On August 10, 1790, Congress repealed its action against the Military Surveys. Massie's settlement was the early consequence, promptly noticed by the Shawnee neigh- bors. The popular policy of conciliating their prejudice against surveyors was a more likely but not mentioned reason
.
174
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
for suspending the work that hindered the treaty making. When the treaties failed, Congress permitted the surveyors to resume the risk of measuring and dividing the land.
In searching for frequently meager evidence to justify a reasonable but elusive conclusion, a writer finds his most fas- cinating encouragement in an authentic date or a casual expla- nation that confirms a fading tradition or restores a succession of events to the dignity of recorded facts. On April 21, 1791, Massie went from the fort in a canoe four or five miles up the Ohio, accompanied by William Lytle, Israel Donalson and James Tittle to survey some land that Tittle was to buy. Ar- riving at a stream, since called Donalson Creek, the party with Lytle and Donalson carrying the chain meandered up the river about one hundred and forty or fifty rods close to a large mound, where they were put to flight by two canoe loads of Indians. Donalson tripped, fell and was captured. Lytle a chain's length ahead threw his hat away, knowing that one Indian at least would stop for the prize, and got to the fort with Massie and Tittle. After several days, Donalson escaped and reached Cincinnati, where the first man to meet and help was William Woodward, the future founder of Woodward High School.
Massie's bold undertaking induced others to venture across from Kentucky. The opposite would have been the more sur- prising, yet little that ventured to that sphere of influence came far enough west then to be included in Brown County now. The records of Adams County preserved the evidence of a transaction typical of the time whereby Alexander Mc- Intyre of the District of Kentucky and State of Virginia under date of August 24, 1791, bound himself to make a deed to Belteshazzar Dragoo for four hundred and fifty acres of first rate land lying on both sides of Eagle Creek convenient for a mill site with four feet head and fall, not more than ten miles from the river. The deed was to be made as soon as it could be obtained from the office at Louisville.
Any sense of security in that direction was soon rudely dis- turbed by an event that made Old Clermont a part of the Battle Ground.
A Shawnee horse stealing raid through Mason County, Ken- tucky, in March, 1792, was followed by a hastily gathered
11
175
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
company of thirty-six men from about Kenton's Station. Of them, the names of Neil Washburn, Alexander McIntyre, John Barr, Charles Ward, Benjamin Whiteman, Isaiah Ferguson. Downing, Calvin and Simon Kenton have been preserved. Whiteman and Kenton reached the rank of general. Kenton was simply chosen captain of that pursuit. The trail of the robbers was found and followed to where they crossed the Ohio at Ripley. By that time it was nearly night of the first day and the pursuers only succeeded in getting across and going into camp. They were ready with the first light to fol- low one full day behind over the trail in a northerly course to the Indian towns that had grown farther west. The weather was bad, and, on the second morning, twelve of the men un- able to continue were permitted to go home. The rest should have gone the same way, for there was no chance to succeed. With one day ahead and across the river, with nothing in front to watch, the Indians laughed at pursuit and always won the race. Still, twenty-four pressed on over a course probably near the line between Brown and Clermont. About eleven o'clock, the tinkle of a stock bell brought a halt, while White- man and two others were sent ahead to find the camp that was supposed. to be near. Instead, one Indian came riding a horse with a bell and was killed, because of his childish vanity in the bell. The incident was considered a certain sign that other Indians were near. The entire party of twenty-one men and the three spies in advance moved carefully forward about four miles, when such strong indications of a large camp were found, that a halt was made for consultation. A night attack was decided upon, and the command retreated to a ridge, while the spies watched for any signs of alarm in the camp. When night came the spies reported that their presence was un- known. Wet and cold, they drew away into a hollow and built fires where they warmed, dried their clothing and ate, while they planned and waited the time of attack, hoping for suc- cess, while knowing that some were about to perish.
Because the famous chief of the Shawnees, the celebrated Tecumseh, "The Blazing Star," then about twenty-four years old, was present and directed the defense, the battle that began after midnight under clouds without a moon was described with much detail by the early historians and by Drake in his
176
CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES
"Life of Tecumseh." Yet, because of the total wildness of the country and the absence of peculiar landmarks, the place of the conflict has been disputed. A few thought the line of march was toward Lynchburg. Others have claimed the site was in Perry Township and near the line of Brown and Cler- mont counties. The weight of the argument is largely in favor of a locality on the south side of the East Fork a few miles above the subsequent town of Williamsburg (about five in fact) and nearly opposite the mouth of Grassy Run in Jack- son Township of Clermont County. This is the place pointed out by the unerring woodcraft of the noted scout, Neil Wash- burn, who, besides being one of the band, afterward settled and lived for years in the immediate vicinity.
The party was divided into three detachments, with Kenton commanding the right, McIntyre the center and Downing the left. All were to approach as near as possible, and, at Kenton's signal, all were to fire at once on the sleeping camp. As the left wing came near the camp, an Indian started to fix the fires. Fearing a discovery, Downing's party delivered their fire and killed the wakeful Indian. The center and right fired into the tents. Instead of flying in fright, the camp rallied and the warriors rushed to find their assailants. Tecumseh hap- pened on John Barr and killed him with a blow of his war club. The Kentuckians had chosen "Boone" for their watch. word, which unfortunately was equally familiar to the Shaw- nees. The confusion resounded with shouts of "Boone" and "Che Boone." Perceiving the overwhelming charge in his di- rection and fearing the result in the gloom without the camp, Kenton ordered a retreat. Some one of the camp having fallen over the bank, by splashing in the water, made the impression that reinforcements were crossing the river. The Kentuckians reached their recent fires with a belief that they had killed two and lost one. Expecting pursuit they at once began a three days' struggle with March storms and empty haversacks to retrace the trail over which they had advanced in a day and a half. The last two days of the expedition were full of intense suffering made more distressing by a sense of their fruitless waste of life and energy.
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.