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 16
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Camp Miami Villages, 25th September, 1794 .- Lieut. Blue of the dragoons was this day arrested by Ensign Johnson of the Fourth S. L., but a number of their friends interfering, the dispute was settled npon Lieut. Blue's asking Ensign Johnson's pardon.
Camp Miami Villages, 26th September, 1794 .- McCleland, one of our spies, with a small party, came in this evening from Ft. Defiance, who brings information that the enemy are troublesome about the garrison, and that they have killed some of our men under the walls of the fort. Sixteen Indians were seen to-day near this place, a small party went in pursuit of them. I have not heard what discoveries they have made.
Camp Miami Villages, 27th September, 1794 .- No intelligence of the enemy; the rain fell consider- ably last night; this morning the wind is southwest.
Camp Miami Villages, 28th September, 1794 .- The weather proves colder.
Camp Miami Villages, 30th September, 1794 .- Salt and whisky were drawn by the troops this day and a number of the soldiery became much intoxi- cated, they having stolen a quantity of liquor from the Quartermaster.
Camp Miami Villages, 1st October, 1794 .- The volunteers appear to be uneasy, and have refused to
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duty; they are ordered by the Commander-in-Chief to march to-morrow for Greenville to assist the pack- horses, which I am told they are determined not to do.
Camp Miami Villages, 2d October, 1794 .- This morning the volunteers refused to go on command, and demanded of Gen. Scott to conduct them home; he ordered them to start with Gen. Barber, or if they made the smallest delay they should lose all their pay and be reported to the war office as revolters; this had the desired effect, and they went off not in good humor.
Camp Miami Villages, 3d October, 1794 .- Every officer, non-commissioned officer and soldier belong- ing to the square are on fatigue this day, hauling trees on the hind wheels of wagons; the first day we got an extra gill per man, which appears to be all the compensation at this time in the power of the Com- mander-in-Chief to make the troops.
Camp Miami Villages, 4th October, 1794. - This morning we had the hardest. frost I ever saw in the middle of December; it was like a small snow; there was ice in our camp kettles three-quarters of an inch thick; the fatigues go on with velocity, considering the rations the troops are obliged to live on.
Camp Miami Villages, 5th October, 1794. - The weather extremely cold and hard frosts; the wind northwest; everything quiet and nothing but harmony and peace throughout the camp, which is something uncommon.
Camp Miami Villages, 6th October, 1794 .- Plenty and quietness the same as yesterday; the volunteers engaged to work on the garrison, for which they are to receive three gills of whisky per man per day, when their employment is digging the ditch and fill- ing up the parapet.
Camp Miami Villages, 7th October, 1794 .- The volunteers are soon tired of work and refuse to labor any longer; they have stolen and killed seventeen beeves in the course of these two days past.
Camp Miami Villages, 8th October, 1794 .- The troops drew but half rations of flour this day. The cavalry and other horses die very fast, not less than four or five per day.
Camp Miami Villages, 9th October, 1794 .- The volunteers have agreed to build a block-house in front of the garrison.
Camp Miami Villages, 11th October, 1794 .-- A Canadian (Rozelle) arrived with a flag this evening; his business was to deliver up three prisoners in ex- change for his brother, who was taken the 20th Au- gust; he brings information that the Indians are in council with Girty and McKee, near the fort of De- troit, that all the tribes are for peace except the Shawnees, who are determined to prosecute the war.
Camp Miami Villages, 12th October, 1794. - The
mounted volunteers of Kentucky marched for Green- ville, to be mustered and dismissed the service of the United States Army, they being of no further service therein.
Camp Miami Villages, 13th October, 1794 .- Capt. Gibson marched this day and took with him a number of horses for Ft. Recovery to receive supplies of pro- visions.
Camp Miami Villages, 14th October, 1794. -- No- thing particular this day.
Camp Miami Villages, 15th October, 1794. - The Canadian that came in on the 11th left us this day, accompanied by his brother; they have promised to furnish the garrison at Ft. Defiance with stores at a moderate price, which, if performed, will be a great advantage to the officers and soldiers of that post.
Camp Miami Villages, 16th October, 1794. -- Noth- ing new; weather wet and cold; wind from north- west. The troops healthy in general.
Camp Miami Villages, 17th October, 1794. - This day Capt. Gibson arrived with a large quantity of flour, beef and sheep.
Camp Miami Villages, 18th October, 1794. - Capt. Springer and Brock with all the pack-horses, marched with the cavalry this morning for Greenville, and the foot for Recovery, the latter to return with the smallest delay with a supply of provisions for this post and Defiance.
Camp Miami Villages, 19th October, 1794 .- This day the troops were not ordered for labor, being the first day for four weeks, and accordingly attended divine service.
Camp Miami Villages, 20th October, 1794 .- An express arrived this day with dispatches to the Com- mander-in-Chief; the contents are kept secret.
A court-martial to sit this day for the trial of Lieut. Charles Hyde.
Camp Miami Villages, 21st October, 1794. - This day were read the proceedings of a general court martial, held on Lieut. Charles Hyde (yesterday), was found not guilty of the charges exhibited against him, and was therefore acquitted.
Camp Miami Villages, 22d October, 1794 .-- This morning at 7 o'clock the following companies, un. der the command of Lieut. Col. Commandant Ham- tramck, of the First Sub-legion, took possession of this place, viz. : Capt. Kingsbury's First; Captain Greaton's Second, Capt. Spark's and Capt. Reed's Third, Capt. Preston's Fourth, and Capt. Porter's of artillery, and after firing fifteen rounds of cannon, Col. Hamtramck gave it the name of Ft. Wayne,
Camp Miami Villages, 23d October, 1794 .- The general fatigue of the garrison ended this day, and Col. Hamtramck, with the troops under his command, to furnish it as he may think fit.
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All the soldiers' huts are completed except cover- ing, and the weather is favorable for that work.
Camp Miami Villages, 24th October, 1794 .- This day the troops drew but half rations of beef and flour, the beef very bad.
Camp Miami Villages, 25th October, 1794 .- Noth- ing extraordinary, the same as yesterday.
This evening Capt. Springer, with the escort, ar- rived with a supply of flour and salt. A French- man and a half Indian came to headquarters, but where they are from or their business we cannot learn, but that it is of a secret nature.
Camp Miami Villages, 26th October, 1794. -- Noth- ing occurring to-day except an expectation to march the day after to- morrow.
Camp Miami Villages, 27th October, 1794 .- Agree- able to general orders of this day, we will march for Greenville to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock
Camp nine miles from Ft. Wayne, 28th October, 1794. - The legion took up the line of march at 9 o'clock, and arrived here without anything particu- lar occurring.
Camp twenty one miles from Ft. Wayne, 29th October, 1794 .- The troops proceeded on their march at sunrise, and arrived on this ground at 3:30 o'clock; our way was through rich and well-timbered land; the weather cold and much like for rain.
Camp southwest side of St. Mary's River, 30th October, 1794. The legion proceeded on their march at 7 o'clock and arrived here at sunset; continual heavy rain all day.
Camp Girty's Town, 31st October, 1794 .- The troops took up their line of march at sunrise, and arrived here three hours after night, through heavy rain.
Greenville, 2d November, 1794 .- This evening the legion arrived here, where they marched from, 28th July, 1794.
We were saluted with twenty-four rounds from a six-pounder. Our absence from this ground amount- ed to three months and six days. And so ends the expedition of Gen. Wayne's campaign.
GEN. WAYNE.
Gen Anthony Wayne was born in Chester Conn - ty, Penn., January 1, 1745. After leaving school, he became a surveyor, and paid some attention to phi- losophy and engineering, by which he obtained the friendship of Dr Franklin, who became his patron. He entered the army of the Revolution in 1775, and was made Brigadier General in 1777. He was in the army through the war, and particularly distinguished himself in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. His attack upon Stony Point in July, 1779, an almost inaccessible height, defended
by 600 men and a strong battery of artillery, was the most brilliant exploit of the war. At midnight, he led his troops with unloaded muskets, flints out, and fixed bayonets and without firing a single gun, car- ried the fort by storm and took 543 prisoners. He was struck in the attack by a musket ball in the head, which was momentarily supposed to be a mortal wound; he called to his aids to carry him forward and let him die in the fort. The crowning acts of his life were his victory over the Indians on the Maumee, and the treaty of Greenville in August, 1795.
On his return to Philadelphia, Wayne was re- ceived by the people with open arms, and by thanks both public and private. His entry into the city was triumphant; business was suspended and he was met on his approach by the militia, and conducted through the streets amid martial music, the ringing of bells, the firing of cannon and the acclamations of a grateful people. And Congress then in session, passed resolution of thanks highly complimentary to him and his victorious army.
The following year Wayne was appointed sole Commissioner on the part with the United States to treat with the Indian tribes of the Northwest, and to receive from the British the forts they had now con- sented to give np. After promptly and efficiently discharging this last and important duty for his country, in whose service his manhood had been spent, he started to return by the way of Lake Erie, but it was not granted him to again see his home. He died at Erie, Penn., and was buried on the shore of the lake, December, 1796.
Thus ended the career of one of our country's bravest and most successful Generals-one to whom fortune had assigned difficult and laborious tasks, but whom she never abandoned in the hour of trial. Here a life of peril and of glory was ended. He took up arms in his country's defense in the beginning of her struggle for independence, and bravely fought in nearly every battle of that long and doubtful contest against a superior power until the final triumph. If a difficult or hazardous enterprise was commenced, Wayne was ordered to execute it, or if an op- portunity was afforded he volunteered to do it. Of this, his campaign in Georgia, in which he delivered that State from the double affliction of British suprem- acy and Indian cruelty ; his brilliant attack on the army of Cornwallis at James River ; the holding of Chadsford at the battle of Brandywine ; the success of the division under his command at Ger- mantown, and the never to be surpassed assault and capture of Stony Point, are incontestable evidences. But the last and crowning glory of his illustrious career was preparing the way for the settlement of the Maumee Valley, and liberating the frontier from
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the murderous tomahawk, and the bloody scalping knife which the savages were using indiscriminately against men, women and children, and where the cries of murdered infancy mingled with the dying shrieks of age arose with the smoke of a thousand burning houses called to heaven for protection and re- venge.
His public services began in the infancy and pov- erty of his country. He aided to raise her to an equality with the other nations of the earth, and died leaving her happily in the enjoyment of peace-rich in the arts, and triumphant in arms.
TREATY OF GREENVILLE
On the 2d of November, 1794, Gen. Wayne re- turned with his legion to Ft. Recovery, after an ab- sence in the Indian country of nearly four months. In that raid, the most successful ever undertaken, Wayne humbled the pride of the Indians, broke their power, asserted the authority of the United States, and assured security to the scattered settlements. During the succeeding winter, the Indians made pro- posals for a general peace, and, after conferring with Gen. Washington, a treaty was authorized and con- cluded at Greenville, Darke County, between Gen. Wayne, on the part of the United States and the rep- resentatives of tribes known as the Wyandots, Dela- wares, Shawnees, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawato- mies, Miamis, Kaskaskias, Piankeshaws, Kickapoos, Weas and Eel Rivers-signed August 5, 1795.
All matters in dispute were comprehended in the terms of the treaty and all controversies settled. The boundary line was established, ceding without re- serve to the United States all lands east of the Cuya- hoga River and south of a line extending from the head-waters of that stream westwardly to the State line at Ft. Recovery, in Mercer County, and thence south to the Ohio River. In the remainder of the In- dian Territory, over which the United States claimed jurisdiction, extending to the Mississippi River, six- teen grants for military or commercial purposes were made by the Indians, varying from one to twelve miles square. The fourth in the list is thus described " One piece six miles square, at the confluence of
the Auglaize and Miami River, where Ft. Defiance now stands."
This reservation was never specially surveyed as were many of the others. It remained until the title to the whole State was acquired, and was then "run out" uniform with the other lands. That of twelve miles square at the foot of the rapids was surveyed and sold separately from the other lands of the Gov- ernment, as possibly were others.
"Free passage by land or by water," was by this treaty allowed to the people of the United States, and the right to use certain streams and portages particu- larly mentioned; among these are "St. Mary's and down the same to Ft. Wayne, and then down the Mi- ami to Lake Erie. Again from the commencement of the portage at Loramie's store (Shelby County), along the portage to the Auglaize River and down the same to its junction with the Miami at Ft. Defiance."
In 1807, Gen. William Hull, afterward so un- fortunate at Detroit, made a treaty for the session to the General Government of five millions of acres. comprising all the lands not previously acquired east of the Auglaize River and of a line drawn due north from the mouth of that stream to Lake Huron. This line is the meridian of surveys in Michigan- townships reckoned east and west therefrom. Sur- veys in Ohio, being reckoned from the Indiana State line east, do not quite correspond with this line- those in Ohio being easterly of the Michigan lines about one mile. The lands in this region west of that line were acquired after the war of 1812, at the time the Indian title to North Indiana was extin- guished.
In this purchase Gen. Hull said he was annoyed by the opposition of the British, the squatters on the lands without titles or persons who had purchased from the Indians unlawfully. The negotiation lasted from July until November. It was declared a most advantageous purchase for the United States, the land being of excellent quality and all capable of im- provement, besides giving control of several lakes and rivers indispensable to the commerce and develop- ment of the resources of the country.
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
DEFIANCE COUNTY IN 1812.
T THE opening scenes of the war of 1812 were enacted in the Northwest, of which the Maumee Valley was a conspicuous part. Prior to the declara- tion of war, the border on the northwest had wit- nessed the repeated efforts of British agents to provoke hostilities between the Indians and the United States. In order to secure the neutrality or favor of the In- dian tribes, one of the first measures taken by the Government in anticipation of war with Great Britain was to arrange for the conquest of Upper Canada and the consequent command of the Upper Lakes. The disastrous opening of the warfare by the disgraceful surrender of Hull's army gave the possession of Mich- igan and Canada to the British, and shifted the scene of hostility for a time to Ohio soil. Gen. Hull had been Governor of Michigan Territory, and se- cured the command of the Northwest army He left Dayton, Ohio, with 2,000 troops, June 1, 1812, be- fore war was declared, marched through the Maumee country, and reached Detroit. His weak invasion of Canada, and immediate retreat without striking a blow, and his surrender at Detroit, August 16, 1812, followed in quick succession.
Before the surrender of Hull took place, extensive preparations had been made in Ohio, Kentucky, Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania to bring into service a large and efficient army. Three points needed defense- Fort Wayne, the Maumee Valley and the Wabash and the Illinois country. The troops destined for the Maumee were to be under command of Gen. Winches- ter, a Revolutionary officer, resident in Tennessee, and but little known to the frontier men.
Reaching Cincinnati, he addressed Gov. Meigs the following letter:
CINCINNATI, September 9, 1812.
SIR : I am thus far on my way to assume the command of the army on your Northwestern frontier. I shall leave this place to-morrow for Piqua, where I shall be extremely glad to see you, in order to consult with you relative to the best possible means of protecting the exposed frontier of the State of Ohio, without losing sight at the same time of Up- per Canada. I am authorized by the Secretary of War to call on Your Excellency for re-enforcements of militia. On this subject also a personal interview is desirable.
Should it, however, be inconvenient to you, sir, to meet me at Piqua, or at some other place on my route, you will be good enough to communicate to me in writing your ideas on the subject of the protection of your frontier inhabitants, as well as the extent of militia you can furnish upon my requi- sition.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your obedient servant,
J. WINCHESTER, Brigadier General U. S. Army.
To His Excellency R. J. MEIGS, Governor of the State of Ohio.
From his headquarters at Fort Wayne he ad- dressed the following:
HEADQUARTERS, FORT WAYNE, September 22, 1812.
SIR : I had the honor last night of receiving Your Excel- lency's dispatch of the 16th instant, covering a communica- tion from Gen. Wadsworth, for which I beg you will accept my sincere thanks. With you, I rejoice at the prospect of regaining lost territory, and at the determination of the Pres- ident on a vigorous course of measures; and I still hope to winter in Detroit or its vicinity the ensuing winter.
To enable me in part to effect this purpose, I avail my- self of the authority given me by the Secretary of War to call upon Your Excellency for such re-enforcements as I may deem necessary. You will please to furnish two regiments of in- fantry, to join me at the rapids of the Miami of the lake about the 10th or 15th of October next, well clothed for a fall campaign. Arms and ammunition can be drawn from New- port, Ky. It is extremely desirous to me that no time may be lost in supplying this requisition. The cold season is fast approaching, and the stain on the American character at Detroit not yet wiped away.
If you could furnish one other regiment, to rendezvous at Piqua, and proceed to open and improve the road by cause- ways, etc., to Defiance, it would greatly facilitate the trans- portation of supplies to this army, which is imperatively requisite to its welfare. This latter regiment might then re- turn, or proceed on after the army, as circumstances should dictate.
I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient servant,
J. WINCHESTER, Brigadier General U. S. Army.
To His Excellency RETURN J. MEIGS, Governor of the State of Ohio.
Gen. Winchester proceeded with his army to De- fiance and there erected a fort, as the following letter indicates:
CAMP DEFIANCE, MOUTH OF THE AUGLAIZE, October 15, 1812.
SIR : Capt. Wood, commanding a small party of spies, came into this camp yesterday, and reports that he was de- tached from Urbana to visit the rapids, etc .; that he fell in with other spies, who had just returned from that place, and had obtained all the information that he possibly could. I therefore have directed him to return and report, deeming it unnecessary that he should proceed, as the information re- quired had been obtained, and being desirous, too, to commu- nicate to Your Excellency that this army could immediately march and take possession of the rapids if supplies of provis- ions, etc., could certainly reach us a few days after our arrival. Many days' provisions could not be carried with us, because it is not here. Neither have we the means of trans-
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portation, and it is important that the corn at that place should be saved if it could be done.
At this place, a picketed post with four block-houses, two store houses and a house for the sick will be finished this day. Then I shall turn my attention to building pirogues, for the purpose of transporting heavy baggage and provisions down the river, and anxiously await your answer with relation to supplies. I shall remain in readiness to march as soon as it is received.
If Gen. Harrison is at Urbana, you will communicate the contents of this letter to him. If I knew where he could be found I should address a letter to him on the same subject.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excel- lency's obedient servant, ,
J. WINCHESTER, Brigadier General U. S. Army.
To His Excellency RETURN J. MEIGS, Urbana.
Gen. Harrison was appointed Commander-in- Chief of all the forces in the West and Northwest, September 17, 1812, and the appointment was offi- cially ratified on the 24th of that month. His entire force was 10,000 men, consisting of the regular troops and rangers of the Northwest, the volunteers and militia of Ohio and Kentucky and 3,000 detached militia from Pennsylvania and Virginia. He was instructed to retake Detroit and penetrate Upper Canada. Fort Wayne had already been relieved and the line of the Maumee secured. The main objects of Gen. Harrison were to drive the hostile Indians from the western side of the Detroit River; second, to take Malden; and then, having secured his communica- tions, to recapture the Michigan Territory and its de- pendencies.
The plan adopted by Gen. Harrison was to collect troops at four points-Wooster, Urbana, Fort Defiance and St. Marys -- and then concentrate them at the Rap- ids of the Maumee. The forced expedition at first adopted against Detroit was abandoned because the infantry was not in readiness to secure and return the acquisition should it be made. The base line of the new campaign was one drawn from Upper Sandusky along the southerly side of the swampy district to St. Marys. These two places, with Fort McArthur between them, were intended as the depots for provis- ions, artillery and military stores. The troops at Defiance were intended to act as a corps of observa- tion, and when the artillery should be brought to Upper Sandusky they were to advance to the rapids. At Lower Sandusky, a corps of observation was also stationed, which, with that at Defiance, would form the extremities of the new military base, when the army should have reached the advanced position on the Maumee. These arrangements covered the frontiers by the different corps, and kept the troops within the bounds of the ordinary contractors, while the Quarter- masters were accumulating provisions farther in ad- vance, and procuring means of transportation across the difficult district of country so well termed the
Black Swamp. Gen. Winchester was in command of the troops at Fort Wayne, and Gen. Harrison pro- ceeded to St. Marys, where about 3,000 men were col- lected, for the purpose of the now abandoned expedi- tion against Detroit. While here, he was informed that a large force of British and Indians with artil- lery was passing up the left bank of the Maumee toward Fort Wayne. Knowing that it would be met in front by Gen. Winchester on his way to Fort De- fiance, he determined by a forced march to the con- fluence of the Auglaize with the Maumee to intercept them with two regiments and some cavalry. He set out, but after one day's march, finding that the in- fantry would greatly retard his progress, he ordered the two regiments to return, and proceeded with the cavalry only. The rain fell in torrents; the flat beech woods were covered with water and were so swampy that the horses sank half leg deep at every step. At the close of the second day's march, the troops en- camped in a bottom of the Auglaize. By daybreak the next morning, the march was resumed. In the course of the next day, the General was met by an officer from Gen. Winchester, who informed him of the latter's arrival at Fort Defiance and of the retreat of the British down the Maumee. With a small es- cort, Gen. Harrison continued on to Winchester camp, arriving late that night, leaving his troops to come up more at leisure.
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