USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 8
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the Revolution. The remarkable number of officers killed bears unmistakable testimony to the bravery and patriotic devotion of these men. The list is as follows: Gen. Rich- ard Butler, Col. Oldham, of the militia; Majors Ferguson. Hart and Clark ; Captains Bradford, Phelan, Kirkwood, Price, Van Swearingen, Tipton, Purdy, Smith, Piatt, Gaither, Crebbs and Newman; Lieutenants Spear, Warren, Boyd, McMath, Burgess, Kelso, Read, Little, Hopper and Likens; Ensigns Cobb, Balch, Chase, Wilson, Brooks, Beatty and Purdy, be- sides two quartermasters and two adjutants. Among the wounded were: Col. Sargent (the Adj .- General) ; Lieut-Col. Gibson (who died later at Ft. Jefferson) ; Major Thomas But- ler and Viscount Malartie, volunteer aide-de-camp to St. Ciair. It was Maj. Denny's opinion that Gen. Butler might have been saved if he could have been gotten off the field, but his size precluded this action. On account of the indispo- sition of both general officers the brunt of the campaign had fallen on the Adjutant-General, Col. Sargent, who assumed this difficult and serious task with alacrity. General Har- mar had predicted defeat before the army set out because of the poor material which composed the buk of the army, the inexperience of the officers in fighting Indians, and the haste in preparation. The ignorance of the presence of a large body of the enemy also contributed materially to the result. Add- ed to this was the Indian's advantage of fighting on his own ground and in his own way.
The new government was experimenting in Indian war- fare and had much to learn. Washington recalled Braddock's defeat and had warned St. Clair before departing. The latter sent his aide, Maj. Ebenezer Denny, with the news of the de- feat to the President at Philadelphia. On account of high waters and ice in the Ohio river and the bad condition of roads it took twenty days to reach Wheeling from Fort Wash- ington and ten more to reach Philadelphia. President Wash- ington received the dispatch while eating dinner, but contin- ued his meal and acted as usual until all the company had gone and his wife had left the room, leaving no one but him- self and Secretary, Col. Lear. He now commenced to walk back and forth in silence and after some moments sat down on a sofa. His manner now showed emotion and he ex- claimed suddenly: "St. Clair's defeated-routed; the offi- cers nearly all killed, the men by wholesale, the rout com- plete! Too shocking to think of-a surprise in the bargain."
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Pausing again, rising from the sofa, and walking back and forth, he stopped short and again broke out with great vehe- mence: "Yes! here on this very spot I took leave of him; I wished him success and honor. You have your instruc- tions,' I said, 'from the Secretary of War. I had a strict eye to them, and will add but one word, beware of a surprise ! You know how the Indians fight us!' He went off with that as my last solemn warning thrown into his ears. And yet, to suffer that army to be cut to pieces-hacked by a surprise, the very thing I guarded against! O God! he's worse than a murderer. The President again sat down on the sofa and his anger subsided. At length he said: "This must not go beyond this room." After a while he again spoke in a lower tone: "General St. Clair shall have justice. I looked hastily through the dispatches, saw the whole disaster, but not all the particulars. I will hear him without prejudice : he shall have full justice." A committee of the House of Representatives investigated the cause of St. Clair's defeat and acquitted him with honor because of the stupendous ob- stacles encountered in forwarding the expedition and the marked courage shown by St. Clair and the officers during the terrible engagement. St. Clair retained the confidence of Washington to the last and continued to serve as Governor of the new territory until the admission of Ohio as a state in 1803. He served his country well at his own personal loss and died at Greensburg, Pa., in 1818 at an advanced age and in comparative poverty, having seen the final overthrow of the hostile tribes and the permanent founding of civilization in this matchless region of the northwest. It has been pro- posed by the Ohio State Historical Society to erect a suitable memorial to his memory in the state house grounds at Colum- bus, and such action deserves the hearty co-operation and approval of all patriotic Americans.
CHAPTER V.
"MAD ANTHONY" WAYNE.
The defeat of St. Clair cast a gloom over the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky and along the Ohio, causing immigration to the northwest territory to cease ab- ruptly. The tribes did not seem immediately disposed to make à united stand, but predatory bands lurked about the stations and attacked the scattered settlements north of the Ohio. It was even found difficult to hold and supply the chain of army posts established by St. Clair because of the marauding bands of savages, constantly interfering with the operations of the few regular American troops stationed at Fort Washington. The shock of defeat was also felt in the new nation at large and the Eastern people were especially conservative on the question of financing and equipping an army to fight the Indians of the western border. The fron- tier men naturally resented this indifferent policy and harassed the federal authorities.
President Washington, however, sincerely desired peace, and early in 1792 made overtures and took proper steps to make the friendly disposition of his government known to the sulking savages. In response to his urgent invitation fifty warriors, representing the Six Nations, came to Philadelphia, the new capital, early in March. The President and Com- missioner Pickering addressed them, setting forth the just and humane disposition of the Americans and urging them to use their potent influence with the western tribes in order to con- ciliate them and bring about peace without resort to arilis. This they promised to do, but did not set out for the of- fended tribes until September.
Major Alexander Truman, of the First United States reg- ulars, and Col. John Hardin, of the Kentucky Horse, were dispatched to the Miami village (Fort Wayne) by way of Fort Washington. Captain Hendrick, a Stockbridge Indian. and Captain Brant. of the Mohawks, were urged to attend the grand council of the tribes, to be held during the summer on the Maumee, and make known the friendly attitude of the new government with a view to peaceful negotiations.
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Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam was sent to the Wabash tribe with an exceptional commission. He was given copies of all the treaties which the new government had consum- mated with various tribes and nations and instructed to con- vince the Indians that peace is desired, all unjust land claims renounced, to urge the treaty of Fort Harmar as a fair basis of negotiations, insist on the safety of the outposts, and in- stire the just, liberal and humane co-operation of the govern- ment in all matters pertaining to their welfare. Captain Peter Pond and William Steedman were sent as secret spies, with instructions to mingle with the tribes on the Maumee and Wabash in the guise of traders, ascertain their views and intentions, and, if practicable, openly announce the peaceable and benevolent intentions of the Great Father at Philadelphia.
The well laid plans of the new government were doomed to miscarry. The spies were intercepted at Niagara; Truman and Hardin were treacherously murdered. Brant arrived at his destination after the council had broken up, and Hendrick yielded to the wiles of the British agent, McKee, and failed to attend the council.
Putnam, however, proceeded to Fort Washington, where he met the Commandant, Brigadier-General James Wilkinson, who reported that a band of Indians had made an attack upon a body of men near Fort Jefferson, capturing and killing six- teen of the latter. This advanced post was closely watched by the Indians who continually harassed its small garrison. The murder of four other whites was reported and Putnam hastened to Vincennes accompanied by Heckewelder, the Moravian missionary. Here he concluded a treaty with the Wabash and Illinois tribes on September 27th, which, how- ever, was not ratified by the Senate because it provided that the tribes should retain all the lands to which they had a just claim. It probably restrained the restless elements in these tribes from engaging in the opening histilities.
In October, 1792, a grand council was held at Grand Glaize (Defiance, Ohio). It was attended by the chiefs of all the northwestern tribes, about fifty chiefs of the Six Nations, be- sides many from remoter tribes. As usual, the Shawanese chiefs clamored for war and then requested an explanation of the instructions of Congress. Red Jacket, on behalf of the Six Nations, plead for peace and reminded the Shawanese that the Indians had sold all of their lands lying east of the Ohio to the British, and that they had assisted the latter
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during the Revolution, at the termination of which the States took possession of all the lands which the English had for- merly taken from the French. The Shawanese then recalled St. Clair's expedition and defeat; stated that peace messen- gers, who had been treacherously killed on the way, had been sent by this bloody road, and that, consequently, the voice of peace must now pass through the Six Nations. They consent- ed to treat with the President early in the following spring and to lay aside the tomahawk until they should hear from him through the Six Nations. The latter promptly informed the President of these proceedings and urged him to send suitable men to the coming council and to forward a mes- sage to the western tribes without delay.
The armistice agreed upon was not kept, for at dawn, on November 6th. 1792, a large party of Indians furiously at- tacked a detachment of mounted Kentucky volunteers under Major John Adair, encamping near Fort St. Clair (Eaton, Ohio), a post recently established between Forts Hamilton and Jefferson, to assist in the transportation of forage and sup- plies to the latter post. A desperate conflict followed in which the Indians were severely punished and the Americans lost ten men, six being killed and four missing, besides five wounded. Adair's riflemen sought shelter in the fort and the Indians retreated, carrying off most of the horses belonging to the detachment.
In spite of these hostile demonstrations the government still confidently hoped to establish peace, and for this purpose sent three distinguished commissioners, General Benjamin Lin- coln, Beverly Randolph and Timothy Pickering, to meet the tribes at the Maumee rapids early next spring. They were instructed to insist on the provisions of the treaty of Fort Harmar, demand the relinquishment of certain posts estab- lished beyond the stated boundary, and agree to pay to the several tribes proportionately the sum of fifty thousand dol- lars, besides ten thousand dollars annually forever in case an amicable agreement should be reached.
Proceeding to Niagara in May, 1793. the commissioners were detained until late in June, when they embarked for the Detroit river to await the meeting of the Indians. They were again detained at Erie by contrary winds, and on July 5th Col. Butler, of the British Indian service, and Captain Brant. with some fifty Indians, arrived from the Maumee. The lat- ter had been deputized by the assembled tribes to confer with
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the commissioners in the presence of the Governor of Upper Canada. Brant stated that the tribes had not assembled at the time and place appointed because of their distrust of the warlike movements of the United States and asked an ex- planation of the same. He also inquired if the commission- ers were properly authorized to establish a new boundary line between the Americans and the Indians.
The commissioners replied that all hostilities had been for- bidden until the result of the proposed treaty at Sandusky should be known; that peace was desired and that they were authorized to establish boundaries. They further assured the British agents that they would promptly inform the President of the proceedings and request him to restrain the military commanders, who were at that time actively engaged in strengthening and supplying the frontier posts and preparing for contingent hostilities.
Being assured by the statements of the commissioners. Brant agreed to deliver their peaceful message to the chiefs in council on the Maumee and then accompanied them across Lake Erie to the mouth of the Detroit river. From this place the commissioners communicated with the assembled tribes and patiently awaited their reply.
The Indians were suspicious of the warlike preparations of the Americans, of which they kept well informed by runners and spies, and. after much serious deliberation and spirited debate, delivered their grand ultimatum through Elliott and Simon Girty, asserting that the tribes had not been properly represented at former treaties, and insisting that the Ohio river must be the final boundary line separating them from the whites, as provided by the treaty of Fort Stanwix.
In answer the commissioners called their attention to the inconsistency of their position in insisting on the first treaty of Fort Stanwix as a basis of final adjustment, inas- much as several treaties had been held since, at which large tracts of land had been purchased in good faith and later opened for settlement. They stated further that the treaty with Great Britain in 1783 made the boundary run through the center of the Great Lakes, instead of down the Ohio, but that in spite of this fact the Americans were willing to make reasonable concessions in boundaries, give liberal hunting privileges, and deliver annually large quantities of valuable goods suited to the needs of the Indians, provided that the terms could be arranged in a properly called general council.
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After much delay, due to the divided sentiment of the tribes, and, no doubt, to the machinations of McKee, Elliott, Girty and the British agents, acting under the inspiration of the Governor-General of Canada, the Indians finally replied that the recent treaties had been held with a few irresponsi- ble chiefs, representing only part of the tribes, and were, therefore, not binding on the great confederacy; that the money offered did not appeal to them, but should be given to the poor whites who had settled north of the Ohio to make their homes on the Indians' lands; that Great Britain had no right to cede their lands to the Americans; that they had al- ready retreated to the last ditch ; and that no agreement could be reached unless the Ohio river was made the final boundary between themselves and the United States, and all the whites now settled north of that river moved south of it.
The commissioners replied that it was impossible to con- cede this unreasonable demand and thus put an end to the negotiations, which had occupied over three months of very precious time.
From the standpoint of the Americans, the second treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1784, and those that followed at Forts McIntosh, Finney and Harmar, were valid and binding, and. taken in connection with the offer of further negotiations. seemed reasonable ground for the procedure which followed.
With the exception of the Wyandots, Shawanese, Miamis and Delawares, the tribes seemed mostly disposed toward peace, and it seems very probable that a mutually satisfac- tory treaty might have been made, but for the continued pres- sure exerted on the savages by the scheming and aggressive British agents from Detroit and Canada.
All hope of agreement being ended the commissioners re- turned to Erie and dispatched messengers to the Secretary of War and the new commander of the American forces, in- forming them concerning the results of their negotiations with the northwestern tribes.
In order to understand the fears and the final decision of the tribes, it is necessary to take note of the movements of the Americans just prior to and during the peace nego- tiations. Upon withdrawal of St. Clair after the defeat, the President recommended Maj .- Gen. Anthony Wayne, of Pennsylvania, to succeed him, and Congress confirmed the selection. As usual in such cases the appointment caused some dissatisfaction and disgust. especially in Virginia, among the (7)
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friends of Lee, Morgan, Scott and Darke, who seem to have figured as possible appointees. The sequel of the appoint- ment, however, proved the sagacity of Washington, who had profited by his association and experience with these various officers during the course of the Revolution.
Wayne at the time of his appointment was about forty- seven years of age. He came of old fighting stock and was naturally bold, dashing and courageous. In build he was of medium height, with an inclination to stoutness. His fore- head was high and finely formed, his nose slightly aquiline, his face well proportioned, his hair was dark. his eyes were dark hazel, bright, keen and expressive, giving him, on the whole, a fine and animated expression.
At the outbreak of the Revolution Wayne raised the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment and was commissioned colonel. Dur- ing the course of war he attained the rank of Brigadier-Gen- eral, and at its close was brevetted Major-General. He served his country well at Three Rivers, Brandywine, Ger- mantown, Valley Forge, Green Springs, Monmouth and York- town. His most popular service, however, was at Stony Point, a rocky promontory on the Hudson, commanding an important crossing place. On the night of July 15th, 1779, he surprised this place and forced his way into the citadel by a bold bayonet charge, for which he was afterward fami !- iarly called "Mad Anthony." This was one of the most bril- liant exploits of the war and won for Wayne eminent and lasting distinction as a soldier. His experience in fighting Indians was confined to a successful campaign against the Creeks in Georgia after the Revolution.
At about the time of Wayne's appointment Congress de- cided to thoroughly reorganize the military establishment, increasing the army enlistment to some five thousand men. The organization, when completed, was to consist of one squadron of cavalry, of four troops ; one battalion of artillery, organized on the same plan, and five regiments of infantry, each of three battalions, as above, with one regiment com- posed entirely of riflemen. In addition provision was made for the employment of mounted militia and scouts.
No doubt President Washington had a lengthy conference with Wayne before the latter left Philadelphia, in which the peculiar methods of Indian warfare and the exigencies which might arise in fighting in the western forests, were thorough- ly discussed.
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Proceeding to Pittsburg in June, 1792, Wayne promptly began to organize his army with a number of the survivors of St. Clair's unfortunate troops as a nucleus. Raw recruits were rapidly enlisted from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jer- sey and Maryland, and in the winter, these forces were col- lected near Fort McIntosh (Beaver, Pa.), some twenty-seven miles down the Ohio. Here the troops were thoroughly and rigorously drilled, organized into a "legion" and prepared for the hardships incident to savage warfare.
By spring the new commander had a well organized army of some twenty-five hundred troops. Descending the Ohio late in April. 1793, the infantry and artillery encamped be- tween Fort Washington and Mill Creek, which place was selected on account of the high stage of the water and was appropriately called "Hobson's Choice." The cavalry, com- posed of one company each of sorrels, grays, bays and chest- nuts, found a more suitable camp for their purpose south of the river, where they practiced throughout the summer for the coming campaign.
From Fort Washington a military road was cut through the dense wilderness to a tributary of the Stillwater branch of the Great Miami (site of Greenville, O.), some six miles in advance of Fort Jefferson ; the intermediate posts, Hamil- ton, St. Clair and Jefferson, were supplied with large quanti- ties of provisions, and herds of horses and cattle were gath- ered beyond the advanced post under protection of troops.
When Wayne received news of the failure of the negotia- tions of the commissioners, about September 1st, 1793, he repaired to Fort Washington with the balance of his troops. The quiet condition of the frontier convinced him that the Indians were at that time gahering in force to oppose his advance to the Maumee. Accordingly he took time by the forelock and decided to advance with the troops then avail- able and fortify the strong position beyond Fort Jefferson, hoping thereby to keep the Indians in check until he might strike with greater assurance of success.
Breaking camp at Fort Washington Wayne marched north- ward on the seventh of October with a force of twenty-six hundred regulars, thirty-six guides and spies and three hun- dred and sixty mounted militia. The army advanced in par- allel lines with a strong front guard in addition to the usual sentinels, and was arranged in such a mauner that a fighting line might be readily formed without confusion. This proved
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to be an excellent arrangement, and was adopted by Gen. Wm. Harrison in his later expeditions against the north- western tribes with much success.
The rate of advancement was about twice that of St. Clair's undisciplined army and the camp was duly fortified each evening to forestall a surprise. On the thirteenth of October a beautiful high plain on the south bank of the southwest branch of Stillwater ( Greenville creek) was reached (Green- ville, O.). the army now being some eighty miles in advance of Fort Washington and about six miles beyond the advanced post, Fort Jefferson. This was the same spot where St. Clair liad camped two years previously while awaiting the arrival of supplies. For a similar purpose Wayne decided to halt and encamp on this opportune site where the council fires of two important treaties were later to be kindled, and where Tecumseh and his brother "The Prophet" were to inflame the northwest tribes for a second attempt to drive the whites beyond the Ohio. From this place he wrote the Secretary of War complaining of the difficulty experienced in furnishing a sufficient escort to guard the provision and supply trains from sudden assaults, and, at the same time, keeping a suf- ficient force in camp to properly sustain his advanced position. He then related the unfortunate experience of one of the convoys, consisting of twenty wagons of grain and one of supplies, which was attacked on the morning of October 17th, at a place known as "The Forty Foot Leap," about seven n iles in advance of Fort St. Clair (Eaton, O.). The escort was in charge of Lieutenant Lowery, of the Second sub- legion, and Ensign Boyd, of the First, and consisted of some ninety men. The attacking savages, far outnumbering the escort, soon drove the latter from the field, with the excep- tion of a small party who offered an obstinate resistance. As the result of this engagement the commanding officers, to- gether with thirteen non-commissioned officers and privates, were killed and some seventy pack horses either killed or carried off. The wagons and supplies were left standing in the road and were later brought to camp with small loss.
This incident caused Wayne to increase and strengthen the escort recently sent out under Col. Hamtramck and fore- warned him, no doubt, of the constant danger which menaced his further progress at that time.
The season being well advanced, and a large number of men on the sick list, Wayne dismissed the Kentucky militia
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until the following spring, and prepared to go into winter quarters at the place of his encampment. Accordingly a large fortification was constructed overlooking the extensive prairie to the southwest and the creek in front, and was named Greene Ville, in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, a fel- low officer of Wayne in the Revolution. This post covered some fifty acres and was fortified to resist any attack that the savages and their allies might make against it. The soldiers were quartered in commodious log huts, each sheltering six men, and extensive provisions were made for the convenience and comfort of the entire army. Storehouses, artificers' shops, mess rooms, officers' headquarters, and a magazine were also erected at suitable places.
Late in December Wayne sent a strong detachment to the site of St. Clair's defeat, twenty-three miles, on which they built Fort Recovery. The detachment arrived on the 23d and soon collected and interred some 600 skulls and skeletons of St. Clair's unfortunate soldiers. Tradition says that all but one of St. Clair's cannon, which were found hidden under logs, were recovered and mounted in the new fort. The oth- er cannon was found about 1830 and came into possession of an artillery company in Cincinnati, O. This post was soon completed, garrisoned and placed in charge of Captain Alex Gibson. Early in 1794 painted scouts and spies were sent among the savages and kept informed of their movements and designs. Some twenty or thirty of these were attached to the army and included such noted characters as Wm. Wells, WVm. Miller, Robt. McClellan and a few southern Indians. The road-cutters were also working in various directions, leaving the Indians in doubt as to the route to be followed in the advance march, because of which they called Wayne "The Black Snake." Early in June it was reported by some Indians captured on the Maumee that probably two thousand warriors of the Chippewas, Wyandots, Shawanese, Tawas, Delawares and Miamis were then collected on the Maumee. and if joined by the Pottawatomies the numbers would be augmented to over three thousand; also, that the British to the number of 400, besides the Detroit militia, were at the foot of the Maumee Rapids on their way against the Ameri- cans. Gov. Simcoe of Canada, had recently built Fort Miami, at the rapids, on American soil and from this base was aiding and inciting the tribes. Later it was ascertained that the warriors of seven nations were assembled at Grand Glaize
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