USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 13
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On the 26th of July, 1794, Maj. Gen. Scott, with about sixteen hundred mounted volunteers from Ken- tucky, arrived at Ft. Greenville and joined the regular troops under the command of Wayne; and on the 28th of July the united forces commenced their march for the Indian towns on the Maumee River. On the banks of St. Mary's River, at a point about twenty- four miles northward of Ft. Recovery, Wayne erected and garrisoned a small post which he named Ft. Adams. The army moved for this position on the
*American State Papers-Indian Affaire, I, 487. The number of Indiane who were engaged in this attack on Fort Recovery has been variously esti- mated at from 700 to 1,500 men.
+Letter from Wayne to the Secretary of War, dated Greenville, July 7 1794.
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
4th of August, and arrived on the 8th of the same month, at the confluence of Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. Early on the morning of the 9th, work was commenced. On the 17th the fort was finished, and after surveying its block-house, pickets, ditches and fagots, the General exclaimed: "I defy the Eng- lish, Indians, and all the devils in hell to take it." Gen. Scott, who had joined him on the 28th of July, and who at that instant happened to be standing at his side, remarked: "Then call it Ft. Defiance!" and it was so.
Though constructed in eight days, and with such rude implements and materials as were at hand, en- gineers have pronounced it by far the strongest fort built during the many years of Indian warfare. The annexed description is found in the memoranda of Benjamin Van Cleve, having been communicated to the American pioneer by his son, John W. Van Cleve, of Dayton. "At each angle of the fort was a block-house. The one next the Maumee had port- holes on the three exterior sides, and a door and chim- ney on the side facing to the interior. There was a line of pickets on each side of the fort, connecting the block-houses by their nearest angles. Outside the pickets, and around the block-houses was a glacis, a wall of earth eight feet thick, sloping upward from the foot of the pickets, supported by a log wall on the side of the ditch, and by fascines, a wall of fag- ots, on the side next the Auglaize. The ditch, fifteen feet wide and eight feet deep, surrounded the whole work, except on the side toward the Auglaize; and diagonal pickets, eleven feet long and one foot apart, were secured to the log wall, and projected over the ditch. There were two gateways; there was a falling gate or draw bridge, across the ditch, which was raised and lowered by pulleys. Two lines of pickets converged toward a ditch eight feet deep, by which water was procured from the river without exposing the carrier to the enemy. Within the fort were offi- cers' quarters and store-houses." In a letter dated at this place on the 14th of August, 1794, and addressed to the Secretary of War, Gen. Wayne said: " I have the honor to inform you that the army under my command took possession of this very important post on the morning of the 8th instant-the enemy on the preceding evening having abandoned all their settle- ments, towns and villages with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation as to amount to a posi- tive proof that our approach was not discovered by them until the arrival of a Mr. Newman, of the Quarter-master General's Department, who deserted from the army near St. Mary's. * I * * had made such demonstrations for a length of time previously to taking up our line of march, as to induce the savages to expect our advance
"by the route of the Miami Villages, to the left, or toward Roche de Bout by the right-which feints appear to have produced the desired effect by drawing the attention of the enemy to those points, and gave an opening for the enemy to approach un- discovered by a devious, i. e., in a central direction. Thus, sir, we have gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians of the West, without loss of blood. The very extensive and highly culti- vated fields and gardens, show the work of many hands. The margin of those beautiful rivers, the Miamis of the lake (or Maumee) and Auglaize, appear like one continued village for a number of miles both above and below this place; nor have I ever before beheld such fields of corn, in any part of America, from Canada to Florida. We are now employed in completing a strong stockade fort, with four good block-houses, by way of bastions, at the confluence of Auglaize and the (Maumee), which I have called Defiance. * * Everything is now prepared for a forward move to-morrow morning toward Roche de * Yet I have Bout, or foot of the rapids. * thought proper to offer the enemy a last overture of peace; and as they have everything that is dear and interesting now at stake, I have reason to expect that they will listen to the proposition mentioned in the inclosed copy of an address* dispatched yesterday by a special flag (Christopher Miller), whom I sent under circumstances that will insure his safe return, and which may eventually spare the effusion of, much hu- man blood. But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads, America shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all-powerful and just God I therefore commit myself and gallant army."
Gen. Wayne moved with his forces from Ft. Defiance on the 15th of August, 1794, and directed his march toward the British fort at the foot of the rapids of the River Maumee. On the 20th of August, he gained a decisive victory over the army of the In- dians. The battle was fought on the left bank of the Maumee, almost within the reach of the guns of the British fort. The following account of this engage- ment was transmitted by Gen. Wayne to the Secretary of War:
*This letter was addressed to the Delawarea, Shawnees, Miamis and Wyan- dots, and to each and every one of them; and to all other nations of Indians northwest of the Ohio, whom it may concern. It contained the following pas- sage : " BROTHERS : Be no longer deceived or led astray by the false promises and language of the bad white men at the foot of the rapids; they have neither the power nor inclination to protect you. No longer shut your eyes to your true interest and happiness, nor your ears to this last overture of peace. But, in pity to your innocent women and children, come and prevent the further effusion of your blood. Let them experience the kindness and friendship of the United States of America, and the invaluable blessinge of peace and tran- quillity." The letter also invited "each and every hostile tribe of Indians to appoint depnties " to meet Wayne without delay between the mouth of An- glaize and the foot of the rapide of the Manmee, "in order to settle the pre- liminaries of a lasting peace." Miller, the bearer of the letter, left Fort Defi- auce at 4 o'clock P. M. on the 13th of August. On the 16th, he brought an answer from some of the hostile Indians to Gen. Wayne, in which they said " that if he waited where he was ten days, and then sent Miller for them, they would treat with him ; but that if he advanced they would give him battle."
64
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
HEADQUARTERS (FORT DEFIANCE), GRAND GLAIZE, AUGUST 28, 1794.
SIR-It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you the brilliant success of the Federal army under my com- mand in a general action with the combined force of the hos- tile Indians, and a considerable number of the volunteers and militia of Detroit, on the 20th instant, on the banks of the Maumee, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison at the foot of the rapids. The army advanced from this place (Fort Defiance) on the 15th, and arrived at Roche de Bout on the 18th. The 19th was employed in making a tempo- rary post for the reception of our stores and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of the enemy, who were en- camped behind a thick, brushy wood and the British fort.
At 8o'clock, ou the morning of the 20th, the army again advanced in columns,'agreeably to the standing order of march, the legion on the right, its flank covered by the Maumee ; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brig. Gen. Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brig. Gen. Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Maj. Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war.
After advancing about five miles, Maj. Price's corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood, which extended for miles on our left, and for a considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado. which rendered it impracticable for cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles at right angles with the river. I soon dis- covered from the weight of the fire and extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground. and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first, and directed Maj. Gen. Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, hy a circuitous route ; at the same time, I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up, to deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again.
I also ordered Captain MisCampbell, who commanded the legion cavalry. to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, and which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude ; but, such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians and Canadian mi- litia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts in so short a time, that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Gens. Scott. Todd and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action : the enemy being driven, in the course of one hour, more than two miles through the thick woods already mentioned, by less than one-half their numbers. From every account, the enemy amounted to 2,000 combat- ants. The troops actually engaged against them were short of 900 .* This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned
themselves to flight aud dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns of the British garrison, as you will observe by the in- closed correspondence between Maj. Campbell, the command- ant, and myself, upon the occasion.
The bravery and conduct of every officer belonging to the army, from the Generals down to the Ensigns, merit my highest approbation. There were, however, some, whose rank and situation placed their conduct in a very conspicuous point of view, and which I observed with pleasure and the most lively gratitude. Among whom, I must beg leave to mention Brig. Gen. Wilkinson and Col. Hamtramck, the com. mandants of the right and left wings of the legion, whose brave example inspired the troops. To those, I must add the names of my faithful and gallant Aids-de-camp, Capts. De Butt and T. Lewis and Lient. Harrison, who, with the Adju- tant General, Maj. Mills, rendered the most essential service by communicating my orders in every direction, and by their conduct and bravery exciting the troops to press for victory, Lient. Covington, upon whom the command of the cavalry now devolved, cut down two savages with his own hand, and Lieut. Webb one, in turning the enemy's left flank. The wounds received by Capts. Slongh and Prior, and Lieut. Campbell Smith, an extra aid-de-camp to Gen. Wilkinson, of the legionary infantry, and Capt. Van Rensselaer, of the dragoons, Capt. Rawlins, Lieut. McKenny and Ensign Dun- can, of the mounted volunteers, bear honorable testimony of their bravery and conduct.
Capts. H. Lewis and Brock, with their companies of light infantry, had to sustain an unequal fire for some time. which they supported with fortitude. In fact, every officer and soldier who had an opportunity to come into action, dis- played that true bravery which will always insure success. And here permit me to declare, that I never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers; and I am well per- suaded that. had the enemy maintained their favorite ground for one-half hour longer, they would have most severely felt the prowess of that corps. But, while I pay this tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead. among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave officers, Capt. MisCampbell, of the dragoons, and Lieut. Towles, of the light infantry of the legion, who fell in the first charge.
Enclosed is a particular return of the killed and wounded.+ The loss of the enemy was more than double to that of the Federal army. The woods were strewed for a considerable distance with the dead bodies of Indians, # and their white auxiliaries-the latter armed with British muskets and bayonets.
We remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee, in front of the field of battle, during which time all the houses and corn-fields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable distance, both above and below Fort Miami, as well as within pistol shot of the garrison, who were compelled to remain tacit spectators to this general devastation and con- flagration, among which were the houses, stores and property of Col. McKee, the British Indian agent, and principal stimu- lator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages. §
* The exact number of Indians engaged in this action against Wayne's army has never been ascertained. There were, however, about 450 Delawares, 175 Miamis, 275 Shawnees, 225 Ottawas, 275 Wyaudots, and a small number of
Senecas, Pottawatomies and Chippewas. The number of white men who fought in defense of the Indians i : this engagement was about seventy, including a corps of volunteers from Detroit, under the command of Capt. Caldwell.
+According to this return, the regular troops lost twenty-six killed, and eighty-seven wounded. The loss of the Kentucky Volunteers was seven killed and thirteen wounded, Nine regulars and two volunteers died of their wounds before the 28th of August, 1794.
#See " Daily Journal of Wayne's Campaign."
¿It is said that Wayne's party overheard one of the British subordinate
65
HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
The army returned to this place (Fort Defiance) on the 27th, by easy marches, laying waste the villages and corn- fields for about fifty miles on each side of the Maumee. There remain yet a great number of villages, and a great quantity of corn, to be consumed or destroyed, upon Auglaize and the Maumee above this place, which will be effected in the course of a few days. In the interim, we shall improve Fort Defi- ance ; and, as soon as the escort returns with the necessary supplies from Greenville and Fort Recovery, the army will proceed to the Miami villages, in order to accomplish the object of the campaign. It is, however, not improbable that the enemy may make one desperate effort against the army, as it is said that a re-enforcement was hourly expected at Fort Miami* from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margin and islands of the lakes. This is a business rather to be wished for than dreaded while the army remains in force. Their numbers will only tend to con- fuse the savages, and the victory will be the more complete and decisive, and which may eventually insure a permanent and happy peace.
Uuder these impressions, I have the honor to be your most obedient and very humble servant,
ANTHONY WAYNE. The Hon. Major-General H. KNOX, Secretary of War.
Immediately after the action of the 20th of Au- gust, the American troops continued their march down the northwestern banks of the Maumee, and en- camped within view of the British fort.t While the American Army occupied this position (from the af- ternoon of the 20th to the forenoon of the 23d) five letters passed between Gen. Wayne and Maj. Camp bell, the Commandant of Ft. Miami, as follows:
(NUMBER I.) MIAMI (MAUMEE) RIVER, August 21st, 1794.
SIR-An army of the United States of America, said to be under your command, having taken post on the banks of the Miami (Maumee) for upward of the last twenty-four hours, almost within the reach of the guns of this fort, being a post belonging to his majesty the king of Great Britain, occupied by his majesty's troops, and which I have the honor to command, it becomes my duty to inform myself, as speedily. as possible, in what light I am to view your making such near approaches to this garrison. I have no hesitation, on my part, to say. that I know of no war existing between Great Britain and America.
I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect. your most obedient and very humble servaut,
WILLIAM CAMPBELL,
Major Twenty-fourth Regiment, commanding a British post on the banks of the Miami.
To Major-General WAYNE, etc.
(NUMBER II.) CAMP ON THE BANK OF THE MIAMI (MAUMEE). August 21, 1794. 5
SIR-I have received your letter of this date, requiring from me the motives which have moved the army under my command to the position they at present occupy, far within the
officers appeal to Major Campbell for permission to fire upon the cavalcade, and nvenge snch an insulting parade under his majesty's guns; but that officer chided him with the abrupt exclunation, " Be a gentleman ! be a gentleman !"
#At the time of the action of the 20th of August, the garrison of this fort consisted of about 250 regulars and 200 militia. There were "four niue- ponnders, two large howitzers, and six six-pounders mounted in the fort, and two swivels."-Am. State Papers.
{This fort was called "Fort Miami," and stood on the north western bank of the Maumee River, at or near the site on which Manmee City (Lucas County, Ohio) now etands.
acknowledged jurisdiction of the United States of America. Without questioning the authority or propriety, sir, of your interrogatory, I think I may, without breach of decorum, observe to you, that, were you entitled to an answer, the most full and satisfactory one was announced to you from the muzzles of my small arms yesterday morning, in the action against the horde of savages in the vicinity of your post, which terminated gloriously to the American arms ; but, had it continued until the Indians, etc., were driven under the influence of the post and guns you mention, they would not have much impeded the progress of the victorious army under my command, as no such post was established at the commencement of the present war between the Indians and the United States.
I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient and very humble servant,
ANTHONY WAYNE,
Major-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Army.
To Major WILLIAM CAMPBELL, etc.
(NUMBER III.)
FORT MIAMI, August 22d, 1794.
SIR-Although your letter of yesterday's date fully authorizes me to any act of hostility against the army of the United States of America in this neighborhood. under your command, yet, still anxious to prevent that dreadful de- cision, which, perhaps, is not intended to be appealed to by either of our countries, I have forborne, for these two days past, to resent those insults you have offered to the British flag flying at this fort, by approaching it within pistol shot of my works, not only singly, but in numbers, with arms in their hands. Neither is it my wish to wage war with individuals but, should you, after this, continue to approach my post in the threatening manner you are at this moment doing, my indispensable duty to my king and country, and the honor of my profession, will oblige me to have recourse to those measures, which thousands of either nation may hereafter have cause to regret, and which, I solemnly appeal to God I have used my utmost endeavors to arrest.
I have the honor to be, sir, with much respect, your most obedient and very humble servant,
WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Major 24th Regiment, Commanding at Fort Miami. Major-General WAYNE, etc.
(NUMBER IV.)
CAMP, BANKS OF THE MIAMI, 22d August, 1794.
SIR-In your letter 21st instant you declare. "I have no hesitation on my part, to say. that I know of no war existing between Great Britain and America." I, on my part. declare the same, and that the only cause I have to entertain a con- trary idea at present, is the hostile act you are now in com- mission of, ¿. e., by recently taking post far within the well- known and acknowledged limits of the United States, and erecting a fortification in the heart of the settlements of the Indian tribes now at war with the United States. This, sir, appears to be an act of the highest aggression, and destructive of the peace and interest of the Union. Hence. it becomes my duty to desire, aud I do hereby desire and demand, in the name of the President of the United States, that you imme- diately desist from any further act of hostility or aggression, by forbearing to fortify. and by withdrawing the troops, artillery and stores, under your orders and direction, forth- with, and removing to the nearest post occupied by his Britannic majesty's troops at the peace of 1783, and which you will be permitted to do unmolested by the troops under my command.
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
I am, with great respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,
ANTHONY WAYNE.
Major WILLIAM CAMPBELL, etc.
(NUMBER V.)
FORT MIAMI, 22d August, 1794.
SIR-I have this moment the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date; in answer to which I have only to say, that, being placed here in command of a British post, and acting in a military capacity only, I cannot enter into any discussion, either on the right or impropriety of my occupying my present position. These are matters that I con- ceive will be best left to the ambassadors of our different nations. Having said thus much, permit me to inform you that I certainly will not abandon this post at the summons of any power whatever, until I reccive orders to that purpose from those I have the honor to serve under, or the fortune of war should oblige me. I must still adhere, sir, to the purport of my letter this morning, to desire that your army, or indi- viduals belonging to it, will not approach within reach of my cannon, without expecting the consequences attending it. Although I have said, in the former part of my letter, that my situation here is totally military, yet, let me add, sir, that I am much deceived, if his majesty, the king of Great Britain, had not a post on this river at and prior to the period you mention.
I have the honor to be, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and very humble servant,
WILLIAM CAMPBELL,
Major 24th Regiment, Commanding at Fort Miami. To Major-General WAYNE, etc.
McDonald, in his sketches, thus describes some of the daring exploits of Wayne's faithful spies:
Gen. Wayne, having a bold, vigilant and dexter- ous enemy to contend with, found it indispensably necessary to use the utmost caution in his movements to guard against. To secure his army against the possibility of being ambuscaded, he employed a num- ber of the best woodsmen the frontier afforded to act as spies. Capt. Ephraim Kibby, one of the first set- tlers at Columbia, who had distinguished himself as a bold and intrepid soldier, commanded the principal part of this corps.
A very effective division of the spies was com- manded by Capt. William Wells. Attached to Wells' command were the following men: Robert McClel- lan, one of the most active men on foot that ever lived. Next to him was Henry Miller, who deserves here a passing notice. He and a younger brother named Christopher, had been made captives by the Indians while quite young, and adopted into an In- dian family. He lived with them until about twenty- four years of age, when, although he had adopted all their customs, he began to think of returning to his relatives among the whites. His resolution continu- ally gaining strength by reflection, he determined to make the attempt, and endeavored to induce his brother to accompany him in his flight, but to no pur- pose. Christopher was young when captured, he was now a good hunter, an expert woodsman and a free
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