USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 2
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The Indians came on a run to meet the. troops. The Americans drove the savages from a grove they had in possession, and from that sheltered position tired upon them until night-fall. This grove is known by the name of "Battle Island," situated three miles north and one-half mile east of the court house in Upper Sandusky. When, in the Summer of 1834, I visited the battle ground, the oak trees were still bearing the marks of the bullets and of the tomahawks the Indians had used to cut out the balls.
When night set in the army built their camp fires and collected as best they could their dead and wounded. There were five killed and nineteen wounded.
On the morning of the fifth the battle was renewed at long range and with but little effeet. The Americans still occupied the island of timber. During this day the Americans lost but four wounded. Plans were now discussed as to the manner of attack on the next day, when suddenly the scene changed. The appearance of Butler's rangers in the rear of the Wyandots struck dismay into the hearts of the army.' Crawford abandoned all ideas of an attack and prepared for defense, when about two hundred Shawnees were discovered supporting the Delawares on the south. "They kept pouring in from all sides" are the words of Rose. At nine o'clock that night a retreat was resolved upon. The killed were buried and fires burnt over their graves to prevent discovery. Stretchers were made to carry the wounded. Just as the army was about to start, an attack was made on the troops, which threw them into great confusion, and two wounded fell into the hands of the enemy. They did not pursue the troops very far, however, not knowing that a retreat had been resolved upon. McClelland was reported killed. Williamson took command. Crawford, his son and son-in-law Harris were amongst the missing. The retreating army was compelled to
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INTRODUCTION.
eut its way through mounted Indians and British cavalry, but reached the edge of the prairie, at two o'clock of the afternoon on the second day, sontli of Bucyrus. They were brought to a stand near Olentangy creek, called "Keen-hong-she-con-se-pung" by the Delawares.
Here a vast number of the enemy overtook the retreating army, but after a short engagement they were repulsed.
A rain storm now swept the plains in great fury. The men were drenched to the skin. The air became chilly. The march was continued while the enemy, following. kept up a constant fire upon them. By night-fall the army reached Leesville, forty miles from the battle ground on Battle Island. where they encamped, leaving the enemy a mile in the rear. The army reached Mingo Bottom on the 13th of June, and were discharged on the next day. The total number of killed and missing did not exceed seventy.
We will now return to follow up the fate of poor Crawford and his fellow sufferers.
It is undoubtedly true, that in the night after the last day's battle near the grove. Crawford was amongst those whose horses got fast in the muck. and while trying to save them, were left behind by the retreating army. He was heard to call for his son Jolm. and for his son-in-law Harris, in the darkness of the night. He also called for Major Rose, and his nephew. William Crawford, but nobody conld come to help him. Dr. Knight, who now came up to Crawford, told him that he believed the others were all ahead of them; but Crawford thought otherwise, and begged of the doctor not to leave him. His horse was useless, and he complained of the troops for thus leaving him. At this time an old man and a boy came up to Crawford, and the doctor and all started on a southwesterly course, and arrived near the cranberry marsh where some of the volunteers were also struggling to get their swamped horses out of the oozy soil. Now Crawford and his party took a northerly course, and reaching a point abont two miles north from the battle ground, they started on a course due east, guided by the North Star. At midnight they reached the Sandusky river near the month of Negro Run. The old man falling behind, several times called for the others to wait. An Indian was heard to halloo, and nothing further was seen of the old man. The party passed on. At two o'clock next afternoon Capt. Biggs overtook the party. After an hour's travel-some on horseback and others on foot. Lieutenant Ashley being wounded. and a drenching rain overtaking them, which made their progress very slow, they camped two miles north of Bucyrus. The next morning they started on a southeasterly course, and found a deer that had recently been killed, and a tomahawk lying close by it. They sliced the flesh from the bones, and wrapping the venison in the skin, took it along. A mile further on they saw a fire, and left the wounded officer in charge of the boy, with orders to remain behind. U'pon examination they came to the conclusion that the fire had been made by their own men the previous day. A most fatal conclusion! They roasted their venison and were about to start on, when a volunteer came up to them and told them that he had killed the deer, and abandoned it when he heard them coming, fearing they were Indians. Now all passed on and soon reached the trail of the retreating army. Knight and Biggs proposed to leave the trail. Crawford opposed the plan. Crawford and Knight were 2
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
afoot; the rest on horseback. When the party were just east of Leesville. three Indians jmuped np, and Dr. Knight took aim at one, but Crawford called to him not to fire. One of the Indians ran up to Crawford and took him by the hand. The other walked up to Knight and called him doctor. took him by the hand and said he had seen him before. The party had fallen into an ambuscade of Delawares, whose chief was Wingenund, (pronounced Win-ge-noond) at camp only half-mile away. Capt. Biggs fired, but hit no one. An Indian told Knight to call his people up or they would all be killed, but the other four got away for that time. Crawford and Knight were captives. The warriors returned to camp with their prisoners and captured horses. There was great joy upon their coming into camp among the savages.
The Delawares lived among the Wyandots by mere permission. The burning of prisoners was kept up among the Delawares when the Wyandots had abandoned it. Their chiefs, "The Pipe" and "Wingenund," therefore were under the necessity of obtaining the consent of the Wyandot chief before they could burn a captive. This consent was secured by a stratagem.
It was now three o'clock Friday afternoon. Jime seventh. On Sunday following the savages brought in the scalps and horses of Ashley and Biggs. The others again escaped. The Delawares had nine other prisoners besides Crawford and Knight. Some of the converted Delawares, who had gone back to heathenism, also brought in scalps of borderers. The chiefs soon knew that Crawford was the "Big Captain." Several of the savages were known to both Crawford and Knight.
On Monday, the 10th of June, the prisoners were ordered to march to Sandusky. the "Half King's" town, thirty-three miles away. Crawford hoped for help by Girty. Meeting him at Sandusky, he offered him one thousand dollars if he would save his life. Girty promised, but without any intention to keep his word. Crawford saw that "The Pipe" was very much enraged against the prisoners.
On Tuesday, June 11. "The Pipe" painted all the faces of the prisoners black, and told Knight to go to the Shawnees town and see his friends. This chief knew Crawford before his tribe joined the enemy, and told him that he would have him shaved, i. e., adopted, but at the same time painted him black also. Then the whole party started for the Wyandot town. eight miles below. A short distance on their way they saw four of their comrades lying near the trail. scalped. At the spring where Upper Sandusky now stands, to their dismay. another trail was taken northwestward to the Delaware town on the Tymochtee.
All ideas of hope for life had now vanished. When they reached Little Tymochtee creek, in what is now Salem township, in Wyandot county. the Indians made the prisoners sit down. Knight was put in the charge of an Indian, to be taken to the Shawnees town.
The sqnaws and boys now tomahawked the other five prisoners. An old squaw ent off the head of Mckinley and kicked it about on the ground. The young Indians then dashed the bloody scalps into the faces of Crawford and Knight several times.
Again they started, and were soon met by Simon Girty and red savages on horseback, who had come to enjoy the scene of torture.
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INTRODUCTION.
Wingenund and The Pipe were the prime movers in alienating the Delawares from their frontier friends and in making them enemies. They were so bitter in their hatred of the Americans that their ernelties knew no bounds. Having now full authority over their prisoners, the only ground for hesitation to commence the process of torture seemed to be to resolve upon how to perform it in the most hellish manner. As the party moved along towards Tymochtee, every Indian they met struck the prisoners. Girty said : "Is that doctor Knight ?" Knight said yes, and offered Girty his hand, which he refused, and said : "Begone; you are a damned raseal !" They now reached Tymochtee creek, and were about three-quarters of a mile from the village, which was further down the creek.
I am now about to record the manner of Crawford's death. The scenes the poor captives had to pass through so far, are of themselves sickening. and calenlated to rouse the sympathies of a heart of stone. The task creates a chill, and the pen moves reluctantly to describe an act so fiendish, brutal and repulsive.
"Man's inhumanity to man," it should be remembered, is not an attribute that characterizes exclusively the North American savage. Has not Europe, has not Asia, has not America equal cause to blush when tracing histories of white races? Thousands upon thousands fell beneath the sword of Mohammed for refusing to take the Koran. Europe, dressed in Christian attire, with her churches. her domes. her institutions of learning and refinement, burnt her martyrs at the stake. Her inquisitions, her "bridges of sighs, "her blocks and guillotines glotted the pages of her history with the blood of her religious and political victims, while our own dear America burnt her witches and hung Quakers on Boston Common. Is the difference amongst savages found only in color or race?
About four o'clock in the afternoon on the eleventh day of Jime, the savages planted a stake in the ground near the right bank of Tymochtee creek, to which Crawford was tied. The Indian men then shot powder into Crawford's naked body, from his heels to his head until he was black all over. Not less than seventy shots were fired upon him. They cut off both of his ears, and when occasionally the throng around Crawford would allow Dr. Knight to get sight of him, the blood was running down both sides of his head. They built a ring of fire around the stake and within six or seven yards of it. It was made of small hickory poles and when burnt quite through in the middle, leaving the ends about five feet long, three or four Indians at a time would each take one of these burning sticks and hold the burning part to the naked body of Crawford, already black with powder. They placed themselves on each side of him so that whichever way he would run around the post, they met him with these burning fagots. Some of the sqnaws took broad pieces of chips and bark, with which they threw quantities of hot coals and embers on him, so that in a short time he had to walk over a bed of coals and hot ashes.
In the midst of these extreme tortures Crawford called to Girty and begged of him to shoot him. Receiving no answer, he called again, when Girty tauntingly replied that he had no gun, and turning around to the Indians behind him laughed heartily and seemed delighted at the horrid scene.
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Girty walked up to Dr. Knight and told him to prepare for death also: that he was not to die at that place, but was to be burnt at a Shawnees town.
With a most fearful oath he added that he (the doctor) need not expect to escape death, but that he would suffer it in all its extremities.
He asked Knight whether he had any hopes of escaping it, but the doctor was too much absorbed with the terrible agonies Colonel Crawford was undergoing before his eyes and his own immediate fate harrowing up his sonl. that he made Girty no answer.
Crawford bore his torments with the most manly fortitude. Several times he was heard to call on the Almighty to have mercy on his soul. Thus he continued in all these extremities of pain for more than two hours. as near as Knight could judge, when he laid down on his stomach. The savages then scalped him and repeatedly threw the bloody scalp into poor Knight's face, telling him that was the "Big Captain."
An old squaw, who to Knight looked more like Satan than a human being. took a board and shoveled coals and ashes on Crawford's back and scalped head. The wretched man then raised himself on his feet again and began to walk around the post.
They next held burning sticks to his body as before, and Knight was taken away from the scene.
The Indians had a tradition amongst them that Crawford breathed his last as the sun was going down.
On the next morning when Knight was started off for the Shawnees town and while he was passing the fire place. he saw the remains of Crawford almost burnt to ashes. Then the Indians told Knight that was his fate and gave the "scalp halloo."
The tradition runs-that after Crawford died. the fagots were heaped together. his body placed upon them and that the savagesdanced around the remains for several hours longer.
The Shawnees had great rejoicing when the news reached them, and the poor frontier settlers were filled with gloom and dismay. Crawford was mourned by all who knew him. We will throw the mantle of forgetfulness over the lonely cabin that contained the widow of the Colonel when the sad news reached her ear.
The language used by General Washington on this occasion, shows the deep feeling of his noble heart.
"It is with the greatest sorrow and concern That I have learned the melancholy tidings of Col. Crawford's death. He was known to me as an officer of much care and prudence: brave. experienced and active. The manner of his death was shocking to me, and I have this day communicated lo Congress such papers as I have regarding il."
On the 6th of August he writes to General Irvine. thus: "I lament the failure of the expedition against Sandusky and am partienlarly affected with the disastrous death of Colonel Crawford."
The various narratives of the place of execution and burning of Colonel Crawford were so conflicting. for a time after the white man began his settlements along the Tymochtee, that the best light tradition could throw on the subject fixed the place where now a monument is erected to the memory of Crawford and his sad fate.
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INTRODUCTION.
The monument stands on the farm once owned by Daniel Hodge. in Crawford township, Wyandot county, near Crawfordsville. and a short distance from Carey on the Cincinnati, Saudusky & Cleveland railroad. Colonel William Crawford was born in the year 1732. in Orange county, Virginia, of Scotch-Irish parents.
When General Washington was employed by Lord Fairfax to survey the large tracts of lands he had in the west of Virginia, the young surveyor often stopped at the house of Crawford's parents, when he made the acquaintance of William Crawford.
They became warm friends and their attachment lasted through life. They were both about the same age.
Crawford learned from Washington the art of surveying. Both served under Braddock at Fort Du Quesne. They were then in . the prime of life and vigor. Crawford was with Washington at the crossing of the Delaware, at Trenton, and Princeton in 1777. He was sent by Washington to take charge of Fort Pitt under instructions from Congress. From thence forward his services were devoted to the frontier, where he displayed the highest qualities of military genius. The expedition against Sandusky was a favorite scheme with him, and was to have been the crowning achievement of his life, after having served in the war of the revolution six full years.
We will close this part of our work by simply relating. in a short way, the wonderful escape of Slover, the guide, and of doctor Knight.
DOCTOR KNIGHT.
On the morning of the 12th of June, the doctor was again painted black, and put in the charge of a Delaware savage, a rough-looking enss by the name of Tutelu. Then they started for the Shawnees town, some forty miles away, Tuteln on horseback driving the doctor before him. The doctor tried to make the Indian believe that he felt cheerful, and spoke of living with him in the same house, etc., which seemed to please the savage. They traveled abont twenty-five miles that day and camped. In the morning Tutelu fixed np the fire. The doctor asked Tuteln to fix up a fire behind him to keep the mosquitos away. When the savage turned his back the doctor strnek him with a stick on the head and the Indian fell forward with both hands into the fire. He soon recovered and ran off howling. Knight seized the Indian's gun, but pulling back the cock, broke the mainspring. This occurred near the Scioto in Hardin county, a short distance down the river from Kenton. Knight then took the Indian's blanket, a pair of new moccasins, powder horn and gim, and started in a northeasterly direction. Shortly before sundown he reached the plains. Here he hid himself until night-fall, when he proceeded on and reached the woods on the other side by daylight. He avoided the track taken by the army outward as much as possible. On the second day of his escape he reached a point in Richland county, where "Spring Mills" are situate. about noon. In the evening he began to be very faint. During the six days of his imprisonment he was nearly starved. He had thrown away the gun as useless, and was now compelled to live on green gooseberries and herbs. The blow he had received with the back of a tomahawk still hurt him very much. He crossed the Muskingum near the month of the Conotten, an eastern affluent. in
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Tuscarawas county. He reached fort Pitt on the morning of the fourth day of July in safety. He afterwards became the surgeon of the Seventh Virginia regiment. He was married on the 14th day of October, 1784, and died on the 12th day of March, 1838, the father of ten children. Dr. Knight is entitled to the credit of furnishing to history the most truthful relation of this sad expedition.
SLOVER.
Slover and his two fellow captives were taken to a Shawnees town. The inhabitants came out and beat and abused the prisoners greatly. They seized the oldest one of Slover's companions, stripped him naked, and painted him black with coal and water.
They sent a messenger to Wapatomica to get ready for the frolic, as they were coming, and when they approached the town the savages came out with clubs, guns and tomahawks. They told the prisoners they must run to the Council House, about three hundred yards away. The man painted black was the principal object of their sport. They struck him and shot powder into his flesh; women and children all engaged in the frolic. shouting and beating their drums. Arriving at the door the man was ent very badly and the blood was streaming from the wounds inflicted by the tomahawks and rifle wads. He laid hold of the door, but was pulled back. Slover saw him carried away, and the Indians slowly killing him. He saw his dead body near the Council House, cruelly mangled. Then they ent off the head and limbs and stuck them on poles outside of town. The same evening he saw the bodies of three others mangled to about the same condition. One of these was William Harrison, the son-in-law, and the other William Crawford, the nephew, of the Colonel. The Indians also had their horses.
On the next day a large council was held. Slover was examined as to his knowledge of the frontier. He could speak the language of the Miamis. Delawares and Shawnees. Captain Elliott and James Girty also came and assured the savages that Slover had lied, that Cornwallis was not taken, etc. Hitherto Slover had been treated kindly. Now they began to abuse him also. This council lasted fifteen days. Abont one hundred warriors were present.
See the humanity of the British commander at Detroit. De Peyster! At the close of this conneil a dispatch was brought in from that dignitary by a warrior who had just arrived. It was in these words :
"My children, provisions are scarce. When prisoners are brought in we are obliged to maintain them, and some of them run away and carry lidings of our affairs. When any of your people fall into the hands of the rebels, they show no merey; why, then, should you take prisoners? Take no more prisoners, my children, of any sort-man, woman, or child."
The Ottawas. Chippewas. Wyandots, Mingoes, Delawares, Shawnees. Monseys and Cherokees participated in this council. They laid plans for Lonisville and Wheeling. All prisoners thereafter were to be put to death. They put a rope around Slover, stripped him naked and blacked him. took him five miles away, tied him to a tree near a hint and beat him. They then took him about two miles further to Mac-a-chack, near West Liberty, in Logan county. Slover was tied with a rope around his neck to a post and a
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INTRODUCTION.
tire built around him. A rain coming up put out the fire, and the burning was postponed until next day. They danced around him until late into the night. striking and wounding him. They then took him to a block house anul tied him. Three Indians watched him. Near morning the Indians were all asleep, and Slover, succeeding in untying his rope, ran away into a corn field. He found a horse close by, used his rope for a halter and put off. On the third day out the horse gave out and was abandoned. Slover traveled on foot and in his naked condition reached the Ohio near Wheeling. Ile returned to Fort Pitt on the 11th of July. The last straggler had returned. THE ORDINANCE OF 1758-SETTLEMENTS OF OHIO-PIANKESHAW'S SPEECH -TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION-CLARK'S CAMPAIGN.
Although the treaty of Paris was signed in September, 1783. the news did not reach the United States for more than one month later, and it was nearly two months later before it reached the western frontier. Meanwhile the conflict in the west was kept up with all its terror. Settlements were attacked along the Ohio river and abandoned. Expeditions were organized. prosecuted and abandoned, often in disaster. The struggle to conquer the Indians and possess the west seemed almost hopeless.
Now came the tidings of peace and a new life seemed to spread over the land like the dawn of day following a night of storm.
A Mr. Dalton was government agent on the Wabash. He called a council of the chiefs and announced to them the fact that peace was declared in the following words :
"My children ! What I have often told you has now come to pass. This day I received news from my great chief at the falls of Ohio. Peace is made with the enemies of America. The tomahawk is buried. The Shawnees, the Delawares, the Chicasaws, and the Cherokees have taken the Long Knife by the hand. They have given up the captives they had taken. My children of the Wabash, open your ears, and let what I tell you sink deep into your heart». You know me. Kear twenty years I have been among you. The Long Knife is my nation : I know their hearts. Peace they carry in one hand and war in the other. Consider now which you will choose. We never beg peace of our enemies. If you love your women and children, receive the belt of wampum I present you. Return to me the captives you have in your villages, and the horses you stole from my people in Kentucky. Your corn fields were never disturbed by the Long Knife while your warriors were robbing my people."
Mr. Dalton presented the chief with a belt of blue and white wampum. There were several tribes represented on the occasion. but Piankeshaw was recognized as the head chief of the most powerful tribe. He accepted the emblem of peace, and then with much dignity of marmer, replied :
"My Great Father, the Long Knife: Yon have been many years amongst us; you have suffered by us. We still hope you will have pity and compassion upon ns. on our women and children ; the sun shines on ns, and the good news of peace appears in our faces. This is the dey of joy to the Wabash Indians. With one tor gne we now speak. We accept your peace belt.
We received the tomahawk from the English. Poverty forced us to It. We were followed by other tribes. We are sorry for it. To-day we collect the scattered boues of our friends and bury them in one grave. Here is the pipe that gives us joy: smoke of it. We have buried the tomahawk : have formed friendships never to be broken, and now we smoke out of your pipe.
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