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 14
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and independent Indian. Henry Miller, however, escaped through the woods and arrived safe among his friends in Kentucky. Capt. Wells was familiar with Miller during his captivity, and knew that he possessed that firm intrepidity which would render him a valuable companion in time of need. To these were added Hickman, May and Thorp, all men of tried worth in Indian warfare.
Capt. Wells and his four companions were confi- dential and privileged gentlemen in camp, who were ouly called upon to do duty upon very particular and interesting occasions. They were permitted a carte blanche among the horses of the dragoons, and when on duty always went well mounted; while the spies commanded by Capt. Kibby went on foot, and were kept constantly on the alert, scouring the country in every direction.
In June, 1794, while the headquarters of the army were at Greenville, Wayne dispatched Wells, with his corps, with orders to bring an Indian into camp as prisoner. Accordingly, he proceeded cautiously with his party through the Indian country. They crossed the St. Mary's and thence to the Auglaize, without meeting with any straggling party of Indians. In passing up the latter, they discovered a smoke, dis- mounted, tied their horses and cautiously reconnoi- tered. They found three Indians encamped on a high, open piece of ground, clear of brush or any under- growth, rendering it difficult to approach them with- out being discovered. While reconnoitering, they saw not very far distant from the camp, a fallen tree. They returned and wert round, so as to get i be- tween them and the Indians. The tree top being full of leaves would serve to screen them from observa- tion. They crept forward on their hands and knees with the caution of a cat, until they reached it, when they were within seventy or eighty yards of the camp. The Indians were sitting or standing around the fire, roasting their venison, laughing and making merry antics, little dreaming that death was about stealing a march upon them. Arrived at the fallen tree, their plans were settled. McClellan, who was almost as swift of foot as a deer, was to catch the center In - dian, while Wells and Miller were to kill the other two, one shooting to the right and the other to the left. Resting the muzzles of their rifles on a log of the fallen tree, they aimed for the Indians' hearts. Whiz went the balls, and both Indians fell. Before the smoke had risen two feet, McClellan was running with uplifted tomahawk for the remaining Indian, who bounded down the river, but finding himself likely to be headed if he continued in that direction, he turned and made for the river, which at that place had a bluff bank about twenty feet high. On reach- ing it he sprang off into the stream and sunk to his
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middle in the soft mud at its bottom. McClellan
came after and instantly sprang upon him as he was wallowing and endeavoring to extricate himself from the mire. The Indian drew his knife; the other raised his tomahawk and bade him throw down his knife or he would kill him instantly. He did so, and surrendered without further opposition.
By this time, Wells and his companion came to the bank and discovered the two quietly sticking in the mud. Their prisoner being secure, they selected a place where the bank was less preciptious, went down, dragged the captive out and tied him. He was sulky and refused to speak either Indian or English. Some of the party went back for the horses, while the others washed the mud and paint from the prisoner. When cleaned, he turned out to be a white man, but still refused to speak or give any account of himself. The party scalped the two Indians whom they had shot, and then set off for headquarters. Henry Miller having some suspicions that their prisoner might pos- sibly be his brother, Christopher, whom he had left with the Indians years previous, rode up alongside of him and called him by his Indian name. At the sound he started, stared around, and eagerly inquired how he came to know his name. The mystery was soon explained Their prisoner was indeed Christo- pher Miller! A mysterious providence appeared to have placed him in a situation in the camp by which his life was preserved. Had he been standing either to the right or to the left, he would inevitably have been killed, and an even chance if not by his own brother. But that fate which appears to have doomed the Indian race to extinction, permitted the white man to live.
When they arrived at Greenville their prisoner was placed in the guard house. Wayne often inter- rogated him as to what he knew of the future inten. tions of the Indians. Capt. Wells and his brother Henry were almost constantly with him, urging him to abandon the idea of ever again joining the In - dians, and to unite with the whites. For some time he was reserved and sulky, but at length became more cheerful, and agreed that if they would release him from his confinement, he would remain among them. Capt. Wells and Henry Miller urged Wayne to release him, who did so, with the observation that should he deceive them and return to the enemy they would be one the stronger. He appeared pleased with his change of situation and was mounted on a fine horse, and otherwise equipped for war. He joined the com- pany of Wells and continued through the war a brave and intrepid soldier.
As soon as Wells and his company had rested themselves, they were anxious for another bout with the red men. Time without action was irksome to
such stirring spirits. Accordingly, in July, they left Greenville, their number strengthened by the addi- tion of Christopher Miller, with orders to bring in prisoners. When on these excursions, they were al- ways mounted on elegant horses and dressed and painted in Indian style. They arrived in the country near the Auglaize, when they met a single Indian, and called upon him to surrender. Notwithstanding there were six against him, he refused, levelled his rifle, and as they approached him on horseback, fired, missed his mark and then ran. The thick underbrush enabling him to gain upon them, Christopher Miller and Mcclellan dismounted and pursued and the lat- ter soon overtook him. Upon this he turned and made a blow at Mcclellan with his rifle, which was parried. As it was Mcclellan's inten tion not to kill he kept him at bay until Christopher came up, when they closed in, and made him prisoner without re- ceiving injury. They then turned about and arrived with him at Greenville. He was reported to be a Pottawatomie chief of scarcely equaled courage and prowess. As Christopher Miller had performed his part on this occasion to the entire satisfaction of the brave spirits with whom he acted, he had, as he mer- ited, their entire confidence.
On one of Capt. Wells' peregrinations through the Indian country, as he came to the bank of the St. Mary's, he discovered a family of Indians coming up the river in a canoe. He dismounted from his horse and concealed his men, while he went to the bank of the river, in open view, and called to the In- dians to come over. As he was dressed in Indian costume and spoke in that language, they crossed to him, unsuspicious of danger. The moment the canoe, struck the shore, Wells heard the nicking of the cocks of his comrades' rifles, as they prepared to shoot the Indians; but who should be in the canoe but his In- dian father and mother, with their children. The others were not coming forward with their rifles cocked and ready to pour in a deadly fire upon his fam- ily. Wells shouted to them to desist, informing them who the Indians were, solemnly declaring that the first man who attempted to injure one of them should receive a ball in his head. " That family," said he to his men, "had fed him when hungry, clothed him when naked, and nursed him when sick, and had treated him as affectionately as their own children." The short speech moved the sympathetic hearts of his leather-hunting-shirt comrades, who entered at once into his feelings and approved of his lenity. Dropping their tomahawks and rifles, they went to the canoe and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most friendly manner. Wells assured them they had nothing to fear; and after talking with them some time, to dispel their anxiety, he told them that
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"Gen. Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force; that the best thing the Indians could do was to make peace, and that the whites did not wish to continue the war. He urged his Indian father to keep, for the future, out of danger:" he then bade them farewell. They appeared grateful for his clem- ency, pushed off their canoe and paddled with their utmost rapidity down the stream. Capt. Wells and his comrades, though perfect desperadoes in fight, upon this occasion proved that they largely possessed that gratitude and benevolence which does honor to human kind.
While Wayne's army laid at the Indian village at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee, building Ft. Defiance, the General, wishing to be informed of the intentions of the enemy, dispatched Capt. Wells' party to bring in another prisoner. They consisted of Wells, Mcclellan, the Millers, May and Mahaffy. They proceeded cautiously down the Maumee until opposite the site of Ft. Meigs, where was an Indian village. This was on the 11th of August, nine days before the battle. Wells and his party boldly rode into this town, as if they had came from the British fort, and occasionally stopped and talked with the Indians in their language. The savages believed them to be Indians from a distance, who had come to take part in the expected battle. After passing through the village, they met. some distance from it, an Indian man and woman on horseback, who were returning to town from hunting. They made them captives without resistance, and set off for Defiance.
A little after dark, they came near a large en- campment of Indians, merrily amusing themselves around their camp fires. Ordering their prisoners to be silent, under pain of instant death, they went around the camp until they got about half a mile above it. They then held a consultation, tied and gagged their prisoners, and rode into the Indian camp with their rifles lying across the pommels of their saddles. They inquired when they had heard last of Gen. Wayne and the movements of his army, and how soon and where the expected battle would be fought. The Indians standing about Wells and his party were very communicative, and answered the questions without any suspicions of deceit in their visitors. At length, an Indian who was sitting at some distance, said in an undertone in another tongne to some who were near him. that he suspected these strangers had some mischief in their heads. Wells overheard it, gave the preconcerted signal and each fired his rifle into the body of an Indian, at not more than six feet distance. The moment the Indian had made the remark, he and his companions rose up with their rifles in hand, but not before each of the others had shot their man. The moment after Wells and
party had fired, they put spurs to their horses, lying with their breasts on their animal's necks, so as to lessen the mark to fire at, and before they had got out of the light of the camp fires, the Indians had fired upon them. As Mcclellan lay in this position, a ball entered beneath his shoulder blade, and came out at the top of his shoulder; Wells' arm was broken by a ball, and his rifle dropped to the ground; May was chased to the smooth rock in the Maumee, where, his horse falling, he was taken prisoner.
The rest of the party escaped without injury and rode full speed to where their prisoners were con- fined, and mounting them upon horses continued their route. Wells and McClellan being severely wound- ed, and their march slow and painful to Defiance, a distance of about thirty miles, ere they could receive surgical aid, a messenger was dispatched to hasten to that post for a surgeon and a guard. As soon as he arrived with the tidings of the wounds and perilous situation of those heroic and faithful spies, very great sympathy was manifested. Wayne's feeling for the suffering soldier was at all times quick and sensitive. We can, then, imagine the intensity of his solicitude when informed of the sufferings and perils of his confidential and chosen band. He instantly dispatched a surgeon and a company of the swiftest dragoons to meet, assist and guard these brave fel- lows to headquarters, where they arrived safe, and the wounded in due time recovered.
May, who was taken prisoner, having formerly lived with and ran away from the Indians, was re- cognized. They told him the second day before the battle, "We know you-you speak Indian language- you not content to live with us; to morrow we take you to that tree"-pointing to a large burr oak at the edge of the clearing near the British fort-" we will tie you up and make a mark on your breast, and we will try what Indian can shoot nearest it." Accord- ingly, next day he was tied to that tree, a mark made on his breast, and his body riddled with at least fifty bullets. Thus ended poor May!
This little band of spies, during the campaign, performed more real service than any other corps of equal number belonging to the army. They brought in, at different times, not less than twenty prisoners, and killed more than an equal number. As they had no rivals in the army, they aimed in each excursion to outdo their former exploits. What confidence! what self possession was displayed by these men in their terrific encounters! To ride boldly into the enemy's camp, in full view of their blazing camp-fires, and enter into conversation with them without betray- ing the least appearance of trepidation or confusion, and openly commence the work of death, proves how well their souls were steeled against fear. They had
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come off unscathed in so many desperate conflicts that they became callous to danger.
The following anecdotes of the battle are taken from a reliable source:
At the time Capt. Campbell was endeavoring to turn the left flank of the enemy, three Indians, be- ing hemmed in by the cavalry and infantry, plunged into the river and endeavored to swim to the opposite side. Two negroes of the army, on the opposite bank, concealed themselves behind a log to intercept them. When within shooting distance, one of them shot the foremost through the head. The other two took hold of him to drag him to shore, when the sec- ond nogro fired and killed another. The remaining Indian being now in shoal water, endeavored to tow the dead bodies to the bank. In the meantime the first negro had reloaded, and firing upon the surviv- or, mortally wounded him. On approaching them, the negroes judged from their striking resemblance and devotion, that they were brothers. After scalp- ing them they let their bodies float down stream.
Another circumstance goes to show with what ob- stinacy the conflict was maintained by individuals in both armies. A soldier who had got detached a short distance from the army met a single Indian in the woods, when they attacked each other -- the sol- dier with his bayonet, the Indian with his tomahawk. Two days after, they were found dead; the soldier with his bayonet in the body of the Indian-the In- dian with his tomahawk in the head of the soldier.
Several months after the battle of Fallen Timbers, a number of Pottawatomie Indians at Ft. Wayne, where they expressed a desire to see "The Wind," as they called Gen. Wayne. On being asked for an ex- planation of the name, they replied that at the battle of the 20th of August, he was exactly like a hurri- cane, which drives and tears everything before it.
Gen. Wayne was a man of most ardent impulses, and in the heat of action apt to forget that he was the General-not the soldier. When the attack on the Indians who were concealed behind the fallen tim- bers, was commencing by ordering the regulars up, the late Gen. Harrison, then aid to Wayne, being Lieutenant with the title of Major, addressed his su- perior-"Gen. Wayne, I am afraid you will get into the fight yourself, and forget to give me the neces- sary field orders." "Perhaps I may," replied Wayne, "and if I do, recollect the standing order of the day is, charge the d-d rascals with the bayonets."
To show that this Indian war was in a great meas- ure sustained by British influence, and that they lent their aid in this campaign and battle, we give an extract from a letter from Gen. Harrison, to Hon. Thomas Chilton, dated North Bend, February 17, 1834.
" That the Northwestern and Indian war was a continuation of the Revolutionary contest is suscepti- ble of proof. The Indians in that quarter had been engaged in the first seven years of the war, as allies of Great Britain, and they had no inclination to con- tinue it after the peace of 1783. It is to British in- fluence that their subsequent hostilities are to be at- tributed. The agents of that Government never ceased to stimulate their enmity against the Government of the United States, and to represent the peace which had been made as a temporary truce, at the expiration of which "their fathers would unite with them in the war, and drive the long knives from the land which they had so unjustly usurped from his red children." This was the cause of the detention of the posts of Detroit, Mackinaw and Niagara, so long after the treaty of 1783. The reasons assigned for so doing deceived nobody, after the failure of the ne- gotiation attempted by Gen. Lincoln, Gov. Randolph and Col. Pickering, under British mediation volun- tarily tendered.
The bare suggestion of a wish by the British au- thorities, would have been sufficient to induce the In- dians to accept the terms proposed by the American Commissioners. But at any rate, the withholding the supplies with which the Indians had been previously furnished, would have left no other alternative but to make peace. From that period, however, the war was no longer carried on "in disguise." Acts of open hostility were committed. In June, 1794, the In- dians assembled at the Miami of the Lake, and were completely equipped out of the King's store, from the fort (a large and regularly fortified work) which had been built there in the preceding spring, for the pur- pose of supporting the operations of the Indians against Gen. Wayne. Nor was the assistance limited to the supply of provisions and munitions of war. On the advance of the Indians, they are attended by a captain of the British Army, a Sergeant and six matrosses, provided with fixed ammunition, suited to the caliber of two field pieces, which had been taken from St. Clair and deposited in a creek near the scene of his defeat in 1791. Thus attended, they appeared before Ft. Recovery (the advanced post of our army), on the 4th of July, 1794, and having defeated a large detachment of our troops, encamped under its walls, would probably have succeeded in taking the fort if the guns which they expected to find had not been previously discovered and removed. In this action, Capt. Hartshorn, of the First sub-legion, was wounded by the Indians and afterward killed in a struggle with Capt. McKee of the British Army .*
Upon the advance of the American Army in the fol-
* It is proper to state that Capt. McKee asserted that he interfered to save Hartshorn, but that he refused quarter aud attempted to kill him ( McKee), and would have succeeded if he had not been anticipated by his (McKee's) servant.
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lowing month, the British fort at the rapids was again the point of rendezvous for the Indians. There the deficiencies in arms, ammunition and equipments were again supplied; and there they were fed with regular rations from the King's stores, consisting of flour and Irish beef, until the arrival of Gen. Wayne with his army on the 20th of August. In the general action of that day, there were two militia companies from Amherstburg and Detroit. The Captain of the cutter (who was also the clerk of the court at that place), was found among the killed, and one of his privates taken prisoner. These unequivocal acts of hostility on the part of Great Britain did not pass unnoticed by our Government, and although anxious to avoid a general war, the President determined that the ag- gression on our territory, by the erection of a fortress so far within our acknowledged limits, required some decisive measure. Authority was therefore given to Gen. Wayne to dispossess the intruders, if in his opinion it was necessary to the success of his opera- tions against the Indians. Although the qualifica- tion of this order, in its literal sense, might be op- posed to its execution after the entire defeat of the Indians-the daring violation of neutrality which was professed, by the supply of food, arms and ammuni- tion to the enemy on the very morning of the action, afforded, in the opinion of Gen. Wayne, a sufficient justification for its being carried into effect. An ac- curate examination, however, of the defenses of the fort, made by the General at great personal hazard, showed but too clearly that our small howitzers, which had been transported on the backs of horses, our only artillery, could make no impression upon its massive earthen parapet, while the deep fosse and fascine by which it was surrounded, afforded no prospect of the success of an escalade, but at an ex- pense of valuable lives, which the occasion did not seem to call for.
"From my situation as aid-de-camp to the General in-chief, I mention these things from personal knowl- edge. If, then, the relation I have given is correct, it must be admitted that the war of the Revolution continued in the Western country until the peace of Greenville, in 1795."
DAILY JOURNAL OF WAYNE.
Fort Greenville. Where Gen. Wayne arrived with his army late in October, 1793.
. Henry House, of Greenville, who was in Wayne's campaign, said that the soldiers proceeded to build log huts, arranged in rows, each regiment occupying one row, and each hut-of which there were many hundred-occupied by six soldiers.
In December, Wayne erected his fort, which he called Ft. Greenville, where he remained until the
28th day of July, 1794, when he took up the line of march for the Maumee rapids.
The following is a daily journal kept by him from the time he left until his return on the 2d day of No- vember, after an absence of three months and six days:
Camp at Still water, 28th July, 1794. -- Agreeable to the general order of yesterday, the legion took up their line of march at 8 o'clock, and encamped at half-past 3 on the bank of Stillwater, twelve miles from Greenville. The weather extremely warm- water very bad. Nothing occurred worth noticing.
Camp one mile in advance of Fort Recovery, 29th July, 1794 .-- At 5 o'clock left the camp; arrived on this ground at 1 o'clock, being fifteen miles. Noth- ing took place worth reciting.
I am now informed that tracks were perceived on our right flank, supposed to be runners from the Oglaize.
Camp Beaver Swamp, eleven miles in advance of Fort Recovery, 30th July, 1794. - This morning the legion took up the line of march and arrived here at 3 o'clock. The road was to cut, as will be the case on every new route we take in this country. The weath- er still warm; no water except in ponds, which noth- ing but excessive thirst would induce us to drink. The mosquitoes are very troublesome, and larger than I ever saw. The most of this country is covered with beech, the land of a wet soil intermixed with rich tracts, but no running water to be found. A bridge to be built over this swamp to-morrow, which prevents the march of the legion till the day after. We are informed there is no water for twelve miles.
July 31, 1794 .- Commenced building the bridge, being seventy yards in length, which will require in- finite labor; it will be five feet deep, with loose mud and water.
One hundred pioneers set out this morning, strongly escorted, to cut a road to the St. Mary's River, twelve miles. I expect the bridge will be completed so as to march early in the morning.
, Camp St. Mary's River, 1st August, 1794 .- Pro- ceed on our way before sunrise, and arrived at this place at 3 o'clock, being twelve miles, as aforesaid. Our encampment is on the largest and most beautiful prairie I ever beheld, the land rich and well timbered; the water plenty but very bad-the river is from forty-five to fifty yards wide, in which I bathed. I am told there is plenty of fish in it.
August 2, 1794 .- The legion detained here for the purpose of erecting a garrison, which will take up three days. This day one of the Deputy Quartermas- ters was taken up by the Indians. Our spies discov- ered where four of the enemy had retreated precipi- tately with a horse, and supposed to be the party the
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above person had been taken by. It is hoped he will not give accurate information of our strength.
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