USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
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Camp Miami Villages, September 20, 1794 .- Last night it rained violently, and the wind blew from the N. W. harder than I knew here- tofore. Gen. Barber with his command arrived in camp about nine o'clock this morning, with five hundred and fifty-three kegs of flour, each containing one hundred pounds.
Camp Miami Villages, September 21, 1794 .- The commander-in-chief reviewed the legion this day at one o'clock. All the quartermaster's horses set off this morning escorted by the mounted volunteers for Greenville, and are to return as soon as possible; we have not one quart of salt on this ground, which occasions bad and disagreeable living, until the arrival of the next escort.
Camp Miami Villages, September 22, 1794 .- Nothing of consequence took place this day, except that the troops drew no salt with their fresh provisions.
Camp Miami Villages, September 23, 1794 .- Four deserters from the British garrison arrived at our camp; they mention that the Indians are still embodied on the Miami, nine miles below the British fort; that they are somewhat divided in opinion, some are for peace and others for war. ยท
Camp Miami Villages, September 24, 1794 .- This day the work com- menced on the garrison, which I am apprehensive will take some time
to complete it. A keg of whiskey containing ten gallons was purchased this day for eighty dollars, a sheep for ten dollars; three dollars were offered for one pint of salt, but it could not be obtained for less than six.
Camp Miami Villages, September 25, 1794 .- Lieutenant Blue of the dragoons was this day arrested by Ensign Johnson of the 4th S. L., but a number of their friends interfering the dispute was settled upon Lieu- tenant Blue asking Ensign Johnson's pardon.
Camp Miami Villages, September 26, 1794 .- M'Clelland, one of our spies, with a small party came in this evening from Fort 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, September 27, 1794 .- No intelligence of the enemy; the rain fell considerably last night; this morning the wind is S. W.
Camp Miami Villages, September 28, 1794 .- The weather proves colder.
Camp Miami Villages, September 30, 1794 .- Salt and whiskey were drawn by the troops this day, and a number of the soldiery became much intoxicated, they having stolen a quantity of liquor from the quar- termaster.
Camp Miami Villages, October 1, 1794 .- The volunteers appear to be uneasy, and have refused to do duty; they are ordered by the com- mander-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, October 2, 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, October 3, 1794 .- Every officer, noncommis- sioned officer, and soldier belonging 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 commander-in-chief to make the troops.
Camp Miami Villages, October 4, 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, October 5, 1794 .- The weather extremely cold and hard' frosts, the wind N. W .; everything quiet and nothing but har- mony and peace throughout the camp, which is something uncommon.
Camp Miami Villages, October 6, 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 whiskey per man per day; their employment is digging the ditch and filling up the parapet.
Camp Miami Villages, October 7, 1794 .- The volunteers are soon tired of work and have refused to labor any longer; they have stolen and killed seventeen beeves in the course of these two days past.
Camp Miami Villages, October 8, 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, October 9, 1794 .- The volunteers have agreed to build a block-house in front of the garrison.
Camp Miami Villages, October 11, 1794 .- A Canadian (Rozelle) with a flag arrived this evening; his business was to deliver up three prisoners in exchange for his brother, who was taken on the 20th of August; he brings information that the Indians are in council with Girty and M'Kee near the Fort of Detroit; that all the tribes are for peace except the Shawneese, who are determined to prosecute the war.
Camp Miami Villages, October 12, 1794 .- The mounted volunteers of Kentucky marched for Greenville, to be mustered and dismissed the service of the United States army, they being of no further service therein.
Camp Miami Villages, October 13, 1794 .- Captain Gibson marched
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this day, and took with him a number of horses for Fort Recovery to receive supplies of provisions.
Camp Miami Villages, October 14, 1794 .- Nothing particular this day.
Camp Miami Villages, October 15, 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 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, October 26, 1794 .- Nothing new, weather wet and cold, wind from N. W. The troops healthy in general.
Camp Miami Villages, October 17, 1794 .- This day Captain Gibson arrived with a large quantity of flour, beef, and sheep.
Camp Miami Villages, October 18, 1794 .- Captains Springer and Brock, with all the pack-horses, marched with the cavalry this morning for Greenville and the infantry for Recovery, the latter to return with the smallest delay with a supply of provisions for this post and Defiance.
Camp Miami Villages, October 19, 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, October 20, 1794 .- An express arrived this day with dispatches to the commander-in-chief; the contents are kept secret.
A court-martial to sit this day for the trial of Lieutenant Charles Hyde.
Camp Miami Villages, October 21, 1794 .- This day were read the pro- ceedings of a general court-martial, held on Lieutenant Charles Hyde (yesterday); was found not guilty of the charges exhibited against him, and was, therefore, acquitted.
Camp Miami Villages, October, 22, 1794 .- This morning at seven o'clock the following companies, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Commandant Hamtramck of the 1st sublegion, took possession of this place, viz .: Captain Kingsbury's Ist; Captain Greaton's 2d; Cap- tain Spark's and Captain Reed's 3d; Captain Preston's 4th ; and Cap- tain Porter's of artillery; and after firing fifteen rounds of cannon Colo- nel Hamtramck gave it the name of Fort Wayne.
Camp Miami Villages, October 23, 1794 .- The general fatigue of the garrison ended this day, and Colonel Hamtramck, with the troopsu nder his command, to furnish it as he may think fit.
All the soldiers' huts are completed except covering, and the weather is favorable for that work.
Camp Miami Villages, October 24, 1794 .- This day the troops drew but half rations of beef and flour, the beef very bad.
Camp Miami Villages, October 25, 1794 .- Nothing extraordinary, the same as yesterday.
This evening Captain Springer with the escort arrived with a supply of flour and salt. A Frenchman and a half Indian came to headquar- ters, but where they are from or their business we cannot learn, but that it is of a secret nature.
Camp Miami Villages, October 26, 1794 .- Nothing occurring to-day except an expectation to march the day after to-morrow.
Camp Miami Villages, October 27, 1794 .- Agreeable to general orders of this day, we will march for Greenville to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.
Camp nine miles from Fort Wayne, October 28, 1794 .- The legion took up the line of march at nine o'clock, and arrived here without any- thing particular occurring.
Camp twenty-one miles from Fort Wayne, October 29, 1794 .- The troops proceeded on their march at sunrise, and arrived on this ground at half past three o'clock; our way was through rich and well-timbered land; the weather cold and much like rain.
Camp southwest side of St. Marys River, October 30, 1794 .- The legion proceeded on their march at seven o'clock, and arrived here at sunset; continual heavy rain all day.
Camp Girtys Town, October 31, 1794 .- The troops took up their line of march at sunrise, and arrived here three hours after night, through heavy rain.
Greenville, November 2, 1794 .- This evening the legion arrived here, where they marched from July 28, 1794.
We were saluted with twenty-four rounds from a six-pounder. Our
absence from this ground amounted to three months and six days. And so ends the expedition of Gen. Wayne's campaign.
This describes the country from Fort Recovery to Big Beaver, and the bridging of that stream about five miles below Celina. This bridge was known to early settlers. Shane's Prairie is accurately described. The fort referred to was built on what is now Sec. 24, Dublin township, on land owned by the Palmers, about one-half mile up the run from the Mercer and Van Wert road. The site is overgrown, but traces of the fort are still visible. It was called Fort Adams, in honor of the Vice- President. At the end of twenty-one miles from Fort Adams the legion was within six miles of one of the Indian towns on the Auglaize, which was supposed to be the Upper Delaware Town; but here the country was "exceedingly fine." This must have been near Fort Jennings. It was also seen that Wayne marched back over " Harmar's road." The camp on the southwest of the St. Marys is Shane's Crossings. The camp at Girtys Town is St. Marys. It is probable the march back from here to Greenville was by way of Loramie. This whole movement was characteristic of Wayne. He knew his enemy and how to contend with him. At the battles of Recovery the savages exhibited courage, secrecy, and skill. Wayne employed the same weapons until he was named the "Black Snake," " Mad Anthony," and "The Wind."
Let us glance at the incidents of the battle. At the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers Fort Defiance was built, which became the centre of operations against the savages. From this post Gen. Wayne sent emissaries to invite the hostile nations to negotiate; but the pride and rancor of the Indians prevented any favorable results. The Indian chief, Little Turtle, seemed to forebode the impending storm, and advised the acceptance of the terms offered. How truly did he characterize Gen. Wayne when he said "The Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps-the night and the day are alike to him. Think well of it. There is something whispers to me it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace."
At this time England, in defiance of her treaties with the United States, still maintained possession of various military posts in the west. A strong fort and garrison were established by her on United States territory near the Miami Rapids, and in that vicinity the main body of the Indian warriors, to the number of about two thousand, was en- camped. Above and below the American camp the Miami and Auglaize, according to Gen. Wayne's dispatches, presented for miles the appear- ance of a single village, and rich cornfields spread on either side.
All negotiations proved futile, as the Indians were evidently bent on war, and only favored delay for the purpose of collecting their full force. Wayne, therefore, cautiously proceeded down the Miami, attacked the villages, and on the 20th of August, 1794, a terrible and decisive battle was fought in which the allied tribes were totally defeated and dispersed. The Indians were posted in a wood in front of the British works, which was inaccessible to the cavalry. They were drawn up in their lines so near as to support each other.
Gen. Wayne ordered the front of his army to advance with their bayo- nets, and drive the enemy from their hiding places, and then to deliver their fire, and press the fugitives so vigorously as not to allow them time to load. So rapid was the charge, and so entirely was the enemy broken by it, that in the course of one hour they were driven more than two miles through thick woods to within gunshot of the British fort. The fight terminated, directed by so experienced and skilful a leader as Gen. Wayne, under the guns of the British garrison. The woods were strewn for a considerable distance with the dead bodies of Indians and their white auxiliaries, the latter armed with British muskets and bayonets.
Gen. Wayne remained for three days in front of the field of battle, laying waste the houses and cornfields of the Indians. He then returned to Auglaize and destroyed the villages and corn within fifty miles of the river. He lost in the battle one hundred and seven men killed and wounded; the loss of the Indians is unknown. This decisive victory was the closing of the wars with the Indians at that period in the United States. Other Indian nations became quiet and peaceable, and the power of the United States to restrain and punish their enemies had a decided influence on the future conduct of the Indian nations. By the 1st of January, 1795, the influence of Little Turtle and Buckongehelas, both of whom saw the folly of further resistance to the United States and the
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hopelessness of reliance upon England, commenced negotiations for peace, and on the 3d day of August, 1795, a grand treaty was concluded at Greenville, establishing the celebrated "Greenville Treaty Line." This treaty appears elsewhere in this volume. Gen. Wayne no doubt owed much of his success to the courage, skill, and fidelity of the re- markable force of scouts and spies which he had organized. Among them were famous names, McLean, Captain Wells, and Henry Miller; but chief was Captain Wells, who was taken prisoner by the Indians when young, had lived with them for years, had married the sister of Little Turtle, and was counted the bravest of their brave. He was pre- sent at the defeat of Harmar and St. Clair, but afterward, under an im- pulse to stand among his own people, he left the Miamis and joined the army of Wayne. During the war of 1812 he commanded at Fort Wayne, and fell in a desperate encounter with five hundred Pottawattamies, while marching with the Miamis and a small body of whites to the relief of Fort Dearborn.
Wayne awaited the arrival of the Indians at Greenville to negotiate a treaty of peace. Little Turtle and the Shawnees, "whose voice was always still for war," came in very slowly. They had more at stake than any other tribe. They had occupied all Southern Ohio-the Scioto, the Great Miami, and Mad River regions. From these beautiful lands they had been driven back and back, and were now likely to lose all that remained to them. They came at length, and the treaty was made by which the Indians ceded certain "pieces of land," among which were one six miles square at or near Loramie's store, one piece two miles square at the head of the navigable water or landing on the St. Marys River near Girtys Town (St. Marys), one piece six miles square at the head of the navigable waters of the Auglaize River, one piece at the confluence of the Auglaize and Miami, six miles square (at Defiance), and one piece where " Fort Wayne now stands six miles square." These were called "posts." It has been observed that Little Turtle and Blue Jacket of the Shawnees came in to Greenville very tardily, but it must be said to their honor they proved true to the treaty to the last hour of their lives.
Little Turtle was a master spirit of the confederate Indians, with headquarters at "the Miami Towns," now Fort Wayne. He commanded the Shawnees at the defeat of Harmar, and was present at the assault upon Recovery. At the peace negotiations he had the double task of controlling the confederate chiefs and dealing with Gen. Wayne. His name occupies prominent rank in the pages of our Indian biography.
Major-General Anthony Wayne.
His grandfather, Anthony Wayne, was a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1681, and removed to Ireland, where he devoted himself to agri- culture for several years. Entering the army of William of Orange against King James the Exile in 1690 he fought at the battle of the Boyne, and took part in the siege of Limerick, making himself quite serviceable to the State, for which he seems never to have been duly rewarded. Hence he became much dissatisfied with the general relations of his adopted country, and at the age of sixty-three he left Ireland for a voyage to America, and settled in Chester County, Pa., in 1722. He was distinguished for his devotion and attachment to the principles of civil and religious liberty, and held a captain's commission at the battle of the Boyne on July 1, 1690, between William III. at the head of the Protestant army, and James II. at the head of a Catholic and French force.
His son Anthony, the subject of this sketch, was born in the township of East Town, Chester County, Pa., January 1, 1745, and was highly re- spected for his talents, his morality, and his devotion to the interests of the colonies. He devoted his time to farming and surveying, and in 1767 married a daughter of Benjamin Primrose, Esq., of Philadelphia, a distinguished merchant in Philadelphia.
In 1774. Anthony Wayne was elected a member of the Legislature, and in 1775 a member of the Committee of Public Safety. His distinguished talents, as well as the decided stand he took as a patriot and statesman, prepared the way for his future usefulness, more especially in advocating the noble stand which Pennsylvania took in the Revolution.
Having resigned his seat in the Legislature in September, 1775, he raised a regiment of volunteers, and on the 3d day of January, 1776, he
received from Congress a colonel's commission, and was elected colonel of the Fourth Regiment raised by order of Congress in Pennsylwania, the other three having been respectively assigned to Col. Arthur St. Clair, Col. John Shee, and Col. Robert Magan.
On March 16, 1776, the Committee of Safety appropriated two thou- sand pounds for the use of Col. Wayne's regiment in the service of the United Colonies.
At the opening of the campaign in 1776 Col. Wayne was ordered with his regiment to New York, and from thence to Canada, where he arrived in the latter part of June. He joined Gen. Sullivan's regiment, which was defeated at Three Rivers July 17, 1776. The command of the Northern army then devolved upon Gen. Gates, who marched to the aid of Gen. Washington, leaving Gen. Wayne in command of the post at Ticonderoga. He was esteemed for his conduct and bravery and was commissioned a brigadier-general.
In the spring of 1777 Gen. Washington called Gen. Wayne to the main army, and on May 15 placed him at the head of a brigade, since
Major-General Anthony Wayne.
which time he was ever the successful leader or actor in every engage- ment, as the subsequent facts will demonstrate.
In June, 1777, after the retreat of the British from Philadelphia, Gen. Wayne's and Morgan's corps were the two successful ones which pursued the enemy, and were complimented by Gen. Washington in his report to Congress.
At the battle of Brandywine Gen. Wayne was assigned the post of honor of leading the American attack.
At the battle of Paoli, September 2, 1777, he was driven from his posi- tion by Gen. Gray's army with fixed bayonets, and by his conduct on that occasion Gen. Wayne proved himself to be a brave, active, and energetic officer. A marble monument has been erected to perpetu- ate the memory of the gallant officers and soldiers who fell on that occasion.
On October 4, 1777, Gen. Wayne signalized himself at the battle of Germantown by leading his men into action. He had one horse shot . under him and another as he was mounting. So intrepid and daring was he that he received the appellation of MAD ANTHONY, and is familiarly known as such.
Gen. Wayne's army did noble duty by removing the British under Gen. Clinton from Philadelphia June 28, 1778, who retreated in the dead
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of night, leaving Gen. Wayne's army to bury two hundred and forty- five of his soldiers, besides taking charge of a large number of the wounded.
July 15, 1779, Gen. Washington resolved to attack Stony Point, and committed the issue to Gen. Wayne. The fort was garrisoned by six hundred men, principally Highlanders, under Lieut .- Col. Johnson. The brave and intrepid Wayne at the head of his troops, with their muskets unloaded and fixed bayonets, surprised and took the garrison, numbering five hundred and fifty-three prisoners.
Congress presented him with a gold medal, emblematical of this glori- ous victory-for the wisdom and magnanimity which he displayed in conducting so wonderful a military enterprise. While Congress thus rewarded their. General, the soldiers were not forgotten for their bravery, for the stores which were taken at the garrison were divided among them.
On October 17, 1781, when Lord Cornwallis and his army surrendered at Yorktown, Gen. Wayne assisted by his strategetical genius, which never failed him in the most untoward situation.
Gen. Washington, after Cornwallis's surrender, sent Gen. Wayne to Georgia, and so awe-inspiring were his record and his acts, that the enemy's forces succumbed, and he succeeded in establishing peace, se- curity, and order. For his valuable services the State of Georgia pre- sented him with a valuable farm in their State.
Gen. Wayne's regiment also did noble duty May 20, 1782, when he defeated the Creek Indians at Ogechee.
In July, 1783, after an absence of seven years, Gen. Wayne returned to his native State and to civil life, crowned, as he well deserved, with the blessings of the nation, and in 1784 was elected a member of the General Assembly from Chester County, and served for two sessions. He again retired to private life, but in 1789 he was brought before the public, but not as a soldier; he was elected a member of the Council of Censors, and afterwards of the Pennsylvania Convention, and advo- cated the adoption of the Federal Constitution, in which duties he ac- quitted himself with marked ability and to the entire satisfaction of the people.
Gen. Wayne was nominated by President Washington, in the month of April, 1792, to the command of the army of the United States, and thereby succeeded Gen. St. Clair. Gen. Wayne waited patiently at Pittsburgh, his headquarters, from 1792 to August, 1793, for negotia- tions to take place with the Indians; but every effort failed, and about September 1, 1793, he formed an encampment on the banks of the Ohio River between Mill Creek and the then village of Cincinnati, where the troops were drilled and instructed in military duties adapted to the peculiar service they were about to encounter.
Congress increased the army under Gen. Wayne with five thousand men, and with this increased force he set out on his march August 8, 1793, and advanced from his headquarters at "Hobson's Choice," near Fort Washington, on October 6, 1793, to the southwest branch of the Great Miami, within six miles of Fort Jefferson, and about a month sub- sequently established his headquarters at Fort Greenville, in the vicinity of what is now the town of Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, which fort was built by him about the period of his arrival at that point. Here with his fort properly fortified, and devoting his time and attention to the military instruction of his officers and men, he remained till the mid- summer of 1794. While thus engaged a body of sixteen hundred mounted volunteers, on July 26, 1794, from Kentucky, arrived, under the command of Maj .- Gen. Scott. We now retrace our history to the 23d of December, 1793, when Gen. Wayne gave orders for the erection of a fort on the site of St. Clair's defeat in 1791, and for that purpose ordered Major Henry Burbeck, with eight companies of infantry and a detachment of artillery, to proceed to the ground, whither the soldiers arrived, executed the order of Gen. Wayne, and the fort was appropriately called "Fort Recovery."
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