USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the state of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 28
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THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.
During the initial steps toward educational advancement in this county, the facilities for literary attainments were not so varied as
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
are thrown around the youth of to-day. Following our cicerone along a blazed path, through the woods, to the old log school house ; rapping, a voice from the far interior says, "Come in;" we pull the latch-string, enter, and, at the request of the "master," settle down upon a puncheon bench, the cynosure of all eyes. The first thing we observe is, that nearly the whole end of the house is occupied by a fire-place, within whose capacious depths the crackling blaze sends forth light, heat, and cheerfulness. Our gaze being attracted to the outside, we look, not through French plate, but a hole, made by sawing out a log, and replacing it with paper, greased with lard. Our attention is recalled by a shrill voice, "Master, mayn't I git drink?" The urchin goes to the bucket, setting on a bench near the door, takes the tin from the accustomed peg, dips it full, drinks a few sips, holding it over the bucket meanwhile, pours the balance back, looks around awhile, goes back to his seat, and, with his dog's- eared book close to his face, is soon lost in study. We observe the benches are made out of flat rails and puncheons, with wooden pins in them for legs ; backs, they have none. The " master" has a table, made by driving pins in the wall, and placing hewed puncheons on top of them. Under each window, a similar contrivance accom- modates the scholars.
While examining these unique writing-desks, we are again startled by a sharp cry, apparently in agony, of, "Master, please mayn't I go out?" Consent is given, and the boy hurriedly moves toward the door, pausing to take down a crooked stick and carry it out with him. Our curiosity is excited, and while the master's back is turned, we ask a big, white-headed boy near us, what it is for, who, opening his mouth wide, and staring at us in blank amazement, says, "No other boy don't darst go out while that stick is gone."
As incentives to close application to study, we observe a rule, of about a pound in weight, and a formidable-looking beechen rod, whose acquaintance every boy in school has long ago formed. Dil- worth's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling-book, and the Testament, were the text-books. It seemed to be an expressly-settled fact, that during a recitation a boy could get up a better spirit of inspiration by stentorian competition with his fellows; and in the spelling-class, the boy that could spell the loudest should stand head. It was in- teresting to see the boys at the end of the bench, standing on tip- toe, with every muscle in a quiver, waiting for the master to say " noon," in order to get out first, and raise the biggest yell.
WAR OF 1812.
A cursory view of Indian affairs prior to the war of 1812, will enable us the more clearly to understand the real cause of the war. Although the popular notion is .that it grew out of the assumed right of search for British seamen on American vessels, it will be observed by the reading people, that the British never wholly ac- knowledged the independence of the colonies; therefore, by order of the British Council, during her war with France, all our vessels, under penalty of liability to capture, were obliged to call at a British port, on their passage to or from France or her allies. Napoleon, in retaliation, decreed that all vessels that had submitted to this regulation, should be liable to capture by his cruisers. This, in ad- dition to the British impressment of our seamen, was an outrage not to be tolerated by an independent people. Prior to this-in- deed, ever since the treaty of Greenville-the Indian agents, prin- cipally McKee, had been busy, sowing the seeds of dissension among the Indians, which were finally to be nurtured into open hostility. The prime disturbing elements among the Indians were the Prophet, and his illustrious brother, Tecumseh, or, more properly, Tecumthe, who claimed that the Indian title to their lands was never extin- guished by the treaty of Greenville. He traveled from north to south, and east to west, in his endeavors to unite all the Indian tribes to resist the incursion of the whites, in which he was encour- aged by the British agents in this country. To strengthen his in- fluence, the Prophet assumed the role of seer and oracle, and, with bold effrontery, pretended to receive communications from the Great Spirit; and having, by some means, ascertained the date of an eclipse of the moon, warned the Indians to rise and slay the whites; that the Great Spirit was angry at their delay, and on a certain night would hide his face from them. The event coming to pass, as foretold, filled the superstitious minds of the Indians with perfect confidence in his supernatural powers, and with dreadful apprehen- sions of the Divine visitation unless they obeyed his commands.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
The crushing defeat by General Wayne still rankled in their bosoms, and cried aloud for vengeance. At the treaty of Fort Wayne, 1809, the Indians ceded their lands along the Wabash. Tecumseh was absent, and the Prophet and his band were not in- vited, because they did not own the land. On Tecumseh's return, he threatened to kill the chiefs who had signed the treaty. This led to negotiations between this celebrated chief and General Har- rison, which only increased their complications. The wily chief sought to stave off open hostility till he could bring all' the tribes together, and strike a simultaneous blow, in conjunction with the British, as soon as war was declared between England and the United States.
After his last stormy interview with General Harrison, Tecumseh departed for the south, leaving the Prophet in charge. That am- bitious schemer rushed the Indians into open hostilities, by insti- gating murders and plundering, until the battle of Tippecanoe, which, although he had told them that the Great Spirit had vouch- safed to him certain victory, terminated disastrously to the savages. This battle, fought against the express advice of Tecumseh, frus- trated his plans for a confederation of all the tribes. The Prophet was in disgrace. Said a Winnebago chief to him: "You are a liar; for you told us that the whites were dead, or crazy, when they were all in their senses, and fought like the devil." He an- swered, by saying there must have been some mistake in the com- pounding of his decoction. He was reduced to a fac-simile of Æsop's braying donkey in the lion's skin. It is related that Tecum- seh upbraided him in the most severe terms, and on his offering palliating replies, seized him by the hair, shook him violently, and threatened to take his life.
On Tecumseh's return, he insolently demanded ammunition at Fort Wayne, which being denied him, he said he would go to his British father, who would not deny him; remained standing thought- fully a moment, then gave an appalling war-whoop, and disappeared.
Meanwhile the affairs between the United States and Great Britain were rapidly approaching a crisis. April, 1812, an embar- go was laid by congress on all the shipping in the ports of the United States. An act authorizing the president to detach 100,000 militia for six months was passed; also for organizing a regular army. The same month, a requisition was made by the president upon Ohio for 1,200 militia; in obedience to which Governor Meigs
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HULL'S SURRENDER.
issued orders to the major generals of the middle and western divisions of the state for their respective quotas of men, to rendez- vous at Dayton, April 29th. With an ardor and love of country unsurpassed, many more than were wanted tendered their services, and citizens of the first circles flocked in from Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Warren, and surrounding counties, literally contending with each other who should go first. The officers elected for the three regiments formed, were respectively : Duncan McArthur, colonel, James Denny and William A. Trimble, majors, 1st regiment ; James Findley, colonel, Thomas Moore and Thomas B. Vanhorne, majors, 2d regiment; Lewis Cass, colonel, Robert Morrison and J. R. Munson, majors, 3d regiment. On the 25th of May, 1812, they were formally put under the command of General Hull, Governor of the Territory and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Speeches were made by Governor Meigs, Colonel Cass, and General Hull, and the fire of patriotism and military- ardor burned bright in every bosom, and all things looked auspicious.
June 1st the army marched up the Miami to Staunton, in Miami County, where they halted until their baggage came up the river in boats ; on the arrival of which they continued their march to Urbana, about thirty miles east of Staunton, where on the 8th they were informed they would be reviewed by the governor and some Indian chiefs. At this place Governor Meigs and General Hull held a council with twelve chiefs of the Shawanoes, Wyandot, and Mingo nations, to obtain leave to pass through their territory, which was readily granted, and every facility offered to aid the progress of the army. It was the humane policy of the govern- ment, in diametrical contrast with the contemptible course of Great Britain, to exhort the Indians to neutrality, in order to avoid the horrors of the tomahawk and scalping-knife. June 15th they broke camp and marched for Detroit, on their way wading through a swamp knee-deep for over forty miles.
· On Saturday, September 22d, news reached Dayton that Hull had surrendered at Detroit, August 16th. This created intense excite- ment and consternation along the frontier counties, and steps were at once taken to organize the militia. There were over $40,000 worth of stores at Piqua, and the Indians who had assembled there at the grand council were still hanging around. Hand-bills were distributed calling upon all able-bodied citizens to rendezvous with arms at Dayton, immediately, to march to the relief of the
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
frontiers. On Sunday morning before 7 o'clock a company of seventy men was raised, and under marching orders for Piqua in a few hours, led by Captain James Steele. Before the morrow seven other companies were raised from the surrounding country, with Captain Caldwell's troop of horse, and Johnston's rifle com- pany from Warren County, which latter, in company with Davis' battallion, left on Monday. General Benjamin Whiteman, of Greene County, marched with nearly a full brigade. By reference to the muster-roll on a subsequent page, in the absence of tangible data, we can see some of the names of those who most likely par- ticipated in this campaign. The governor gave General Munger command at Piqua, and had the stores removed to Dayton. The whole country was thoroughly aroused to a sense of the imminent danger that threatened the frontiers. Troops were rapidly pushed forward to resist the expected attack of the English and Indians, led by the infamous Proctor and Tecumseh in the main, whose scattering bands were infesting the isolated settlements.
The excitement was intense. All men capable of bearing arms, were scouting or in the army. The women and children were hud- dled together in block-houses. Something must be done with the friendly Indians around the agency at Piqua. About the 20th of June, 1812, General Harrison held a council with the chiefs of the Delawares, Shawanoes, Wyandots, and Senecas, informing them that a crisis had arrived, which required all the tribes who remained neutral, and who were willing to engage in the war, to take a de- cided stand, either for the Americans, or against them; that the president desired no false friends; that the proposal of General Proctor, to exchange the Kentucky militia (his prisoners) for the tribes in our friendship, indicated that he had received some inti- mation of their willingness to take up the tomahawk against the Americans; and to give the United States proof of their disposi- tion, they must either remove, with their families, into the interior, or the warriors must fight with him. To the latter condition, the chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed, saying they had been anx- iously awaiting an invitation to fight for the Americans. Harrison exacted a promise from them to fight as white men, not slay women and children, old men, or defenseless prisoners; for by their con- duct would the British power to restrain Indian ferocity be meas- ured. The general humorously told them that he had been in- formed that Proctor had promised to deliver him (Harrison) into
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INDIAN TREATIES.
the hands of Tecumseh, in case he captured him at Fort Meigs, to be treated as that warrior might think proper. "Now," said he, "If I can capture Proctor, you shall have him for your prisoner, provided you will agree to treat him as squaw, and put petticoats upon him; for he who would kill a defenseless prisoner must be a coward."
The subject having been brought before the government, author- ity was given to enlist them, and the sequel proved that the Indians who fought under the American standard were uniformly distin- guished for their orderly and humane conduct. Thus was the agency at Piqua relieved of a wearisome burden, and the indolent warriors utilized, who, by their military discipline, proved the con- temptible perfidy and cowardice of Proctor.
It is impossible, in this work, to follow General Harrison, through all his campaigns, to Malden, Sandwich, Fort Wayne, Detroit, Fort Meigs, until he practically closes the war by his glorious victory at. Thames, followed, July 22, 1814, by a treaty of peace, at Greenville, between the United States, Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanoes, Senecas, on the one side, and the Miamis, Weas, and Eel River In- dians, and tribes of Pottawatamies, Ottawas, and Kickapoos, by which all these tribes were to aid the Americans, in case of the continuance of war with England, which, fortunately, was also terminated by the treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814. Treaties were subsequently made with all the surrounding tribes, except the Sacs, of Rock River, who, under the celebrated Black Hawk, re- fused to attend the treaty, and acknowledged themselves British subjects, and went to Canada for presents. Thus we observe the germ of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, which, being remote, cre- ated no serious perturbations in this county. So, likewise, with the Mexican war, though participated in by a few of our citizens.
In this connection, we submit the following interview with Hugh Andrew, an aged and highly esteemed citizen of Xenia :
Hull, who surrendered at Detroit, was commander of all the northwestern armies, except a few companies of rangers, quartered in block-houses. Prior to his defeat, he was encamped at Dayton, and I was then a private. I was on duty during a greater portion of the war, but did not engage in any active battle. My company was encamped, for some time, on the Sandusky River. One night I was detailed for guard duty. Nothing unusual occurred until the dawning of the morning, when I heard the rustling of the thicket, a short distance from my post. Peering through the semi-
19
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
darkness, I saw a dark object approaching; could not discern its features, but concluded, naturally, that they were those of an In- dian. It came yet a little closer, and stopped. I brought my gun to a level, took aim, and fired. A loud report, and all was silent; and when the smoke had cleared away, I perceived that the object had vanished. Upon being relieved, I went to the spot where I had last seen the Indian (as I supposed); saw spots of blood, by which I tracked him to the rear of the guard-house, thence further, beyond the limits of the camp. Here I discovered the carcass of a hog, that had strayed from some settlement. Thus ended my ex- perience in Indian killing.
The announcement of Hull's surrender reached this section on the Sabbath day, while the people were attending worship. They were panic-stricken, as it was considered that we were on the fron- tier, and liable to be invaded by the British armies without a mo- ment's warning. Simultaneously with the news of the surrender, an order was issued, requesting the First Regiment-composed, partly, of Greene County men-to report at Yellow Springs, on the following Monday morning, at 10 o'clock. I was then in my eighteenth year, in the vigor of youth, and mounting my horse, rode to Xenia. Here we equipped ourselves with the necessaries of war, and were on the ground at the appointed time. We did camp duty that night, and on the following day marched to Urbana, where we remained several days. A large concourse of people had been gathered here from all parts of this section, who were ready and willing to answer the country's call. After several days' delay, and a protracted discussion, it was decided that a portion of the First Regiment should proceed northward, while all others should return to their homes, and await further orders.
May, 1813, Fort Meigs was beseiged by the British and Indians. A call was made for a volunteer regiment of mounted militia. I volunteered, with about seven hundred from this county. We were out a short time, and then ordered to go back to Xenia. On our return, we were met by a call for volunteers, to be stationed at Fort McArthur until the arrival of a drafted company. I volunteered again, and at the expiration of twenty-two days, we were relieved by a company in charge of Captain McClelland.
In the month of August, 1813, there was an urgent call for a company of volunteers, to guard a train of provisions, which were being conveyed from Fort McArthur to Fort Finley. Together
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BATTLE OF LOWER SANDUSKY.
with fifty-one others, I answered the call. The train consisted of pack-horses, loaded with bacon, to insure the safe delivery of which it was necessary to provide a strong guard. The service was performed successfully, and the company then voted to join a de- tachment near Upper Sandusky. Upon our arrival, it was whis- pered that the camp was surrounded by Indians. At night the fires were put out, the sentry brought in, and arrangements made to march to an open plain, where we could more successfully defend ourselves, which place was reached in safety. We waded the river, and took possession of Fort Wall, then unoccupied. On the fol- lowing day we marched to Upper Sandusky.
During the battle at Lower. Sandusky, our forces were com- manded by General Corwin. He took possession of the fort, but was ordered by General Harrison to evacuate the same. Harrison was well aware that the enemy far exceeded the American forces in point of numbers, and concluded that the latter must withdraw at once, to avoid overwhelming defeat. Corwin was loth to leave be- hind him the provisions and equipments, and disobeyed orders. Under his direction, a number of men were detailed to strengthen the fort, and dig a trench around the same. On top of the wall was placed a huge cannon, charged with log chains. When the British began to storm the fort, they descended to the ditch. Here they were charged upon, and slain by the hundreds, and ere long, beat a hasty retreat, leaving behind them a number of prisoners. For his gallantry, Corwin was promoted on the spot, and remained in the regular service until the commencement of the civil war, at which time he died at New Orleans.
I was again drafted, in 1814, but participated in no battles, and was discharged on the 5th of April.
Mr. James Scott, an old citizen of this county, still living, while in Pennsylvania took an active part in the war of 1812. He was a member of one of the companies composing a brigade of soldiers, which left Pennsylvania, and started to the scene of action in which Hull and his forces were then engaged. On arriving at Pittsburg, they learned of Hull's surrender, and were ordered to Erie, where Perry was then engaged in building his fleet. At Pittsburg they were first furnished with tents, and other equipments necessary for their comfort, having been obliged to sleep in the open air, sheds, pig-pens, or wherever they could find a place of shelter, until this time. They remained at Erie for a short time, and were then or-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
dered to Buffalo. Here they were detained until late in the spring.
It is related of Captain Robert McClelland, that while he was in command of Fort McArthur, on one occasion one of his men left the fort a short distance, to peel some elm bark, and while so en- gaged, was shot twice through the body by two Indians, concealed near by, the report of whose guns was so nearly simultaneous that but one sound was heard. Upon receiving the shots, he uttered an agonizing scream, and ran at the top of his speed for the fort, but fell before he reached the gates. The alarm instantly aroused the entire garrison, as it was supposed this was the signal for a mo- mentarily expected general attack. So far from closing the gates, and standing upon the defensive, however, the brave but reckless McClelland seized his rifle, and calling upon his comrades to follow, which was almost unheeded, rushed to the supposed place of am- bush, and scoured the vicinity in every direction; but the wily foe had effected a silent and instantaneous retreat.
DESERTER.
One night, as Nimrod Haddox was returning from mill, he ob- served, when near his house, a man carrying something on a pole. The next day, Cox came to him and said some one had stolen his bee- hive last night. They were in their stocking feet, and the tracks made in the mud were traced to a house occupied by a notorious character named Powers. It appears that about a year prior to this, Powers had stolen a mare from Cox, and gone to Virginia ; had sold the animal in the neighborhood of Paint, and she had returned to her former owner. Powers, learning that Nimrod Haddox had ac- cused him of stealing the mare, sued him for slander. In the mean- time, Cox's barn and wheat were burned, and suspicion rested heavily upon Powers' wife. Cox swore out a warrant for her arrest. John Haddox went with the constable, and when he made the arrest, he, and those who went with him, observed that Mrs. Powers' ankles were scratched and bleeding, on account of passing through a brier patch near the barn. We are not informed as to whether she was convicted, but this, in connection with the bee-hive, and the mare and slander suit generated bad blood. A verdict was rendered in the slander suit against Nimrod Haddox, for $250.00. It appearing that Powers' wife, and a girl living with them, had stolen the bee- hive, John Haddox, foreseeing the impossibility of his father's paying
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DESERTER.
the damage, determined to appeal the case, and use this girl as a witness against him. To this end, he began.to "shine" around her, and pretended to make love to her; and finally she confessed to having assisted in stealing the bee-hive, and furthermore, said the dead bees could be found under Powers' house. This, in conjunction with other testimony of a more relevant nature, reduced the damages to one cent.
About this time, Powers enlisted at Cincinnati, got his bounty, deserted, and re-enlisted four or five times until he was advertised, but could not be found. At a military gathering soon after, some one, in a drunken frenzy, was heard to yell for Hull. His name then was held in execration. A band of Kentuckians seized him, and, lo, it was the inevitable Powers. They put him under the water, but every time he came up he would yell for Hull. He was releas- ed, and made his escape to the woods, in the seclusion of which he had built a cabin, and in which he and his wife remained.
A reward of $50.00 was offered for him, dead or alive, and par- ties started in pursuit, among whom was John Haddox. The party watched the house all night, and towards morning Haddox crawled to a large log near the shanty, and looked in, but could not see him. A light snow had fallen during the evening, but no tracks could be seen leading from the cabin. Soon Powers' wife opened the door cautiously, looked around, then came out to look for tracks. Not finding signs of the enemy, she gave two or three violent raps on a bucket, and presently Powers came sneaking out of the woods. Seeing the coast clear, he took up an ax and began splitting wood. While his back was to them, they rushed upon him, and Haddox seizing him by the shoulders, said, "Powers you're my prisoner." Brandishing a large knife, he broke loose, jumped to the loft, seized his gun, and swore he'd shoot the whole d-d crowd. All took to their heels but Haddox, who presented his gun, but it flashed ; he then fled, but slipping, fell ; Powers was immediately upon him, but regaining his feet his antagonist fled through a corn-field. Haddox called to him to stop, and at the same time fired. Mc- ran from behind a stump, and fired ; Philip Hoosier also fired at him, one of which took effect below the shoulder blade. Powers jumped the fence, the party in hot pursuit ; finally he brought up on a log and crying out, "Boys! you've killed me!" surrendered. The party re- ported that he was shot, and the recruiting officer at Xenia said, " D-n him, bring him in, dead or alive." They went to his cabin,
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