USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 19
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than twenty-one went off the night before the army moved from Fort Hamilton.
"I am this moment setting out for the army, which I hope to over- take to-morrow evening, and will write to you again as soon as may be. With great regard and respect, I have the honor to be sir, your very humble servant,
"ARTHUR ST CLAIR."
"Camp, eighty-one miles advanced of Fort Washington, November 1, 1791.
"Sir :- Since I had the honor to write to you on the 21st ult., noth- ing very material has happened, and, indeed, I am at present so un- well, and have been so for some time past that I could ill detail it if it had happened, not that space of time has been entirely barren of incidents, but as few of them have been of the agreeable kind, I beg you to ac- cept a sort of journal account of them, which will be the easiest for me.
"On the 22d the indisposition that had hung about me for some time, appearing as a bilious colic, and sometimes as a rheumatic asthma, to my great satisfaction changed to a gout in the left arm and hand, leaving the breast and stomach perfectly relieved, and the cough, which had been excessive, entirely gone. This day Mr. Ellis, with sixty militia from Kentucky, joined the army, and brought up a quantity of flour and beef.
"23d. Two men taken in the act of deserting to the enemy, and one for shooting another soldier and threatening to kill an officer, were hanged upon the grand parade, the whole army being drawn out. Since the army has halted, the country around this, and ahead for fif- teen miles, has been well examined; it is a country which, had we ar- rived a month sooner in it, and with three times the number of animals, they would have been all fat now.
"24th. Named the fort Jefferson (it lies in latitude 40 degrees, 4 minutes and 32 seconds north), and marched, the same Indian path serving to conduct us about six miles, and encamped on good ground and an excellent position. A rivulet in front, and a very large prairie which would, at the proper season, afford for a thousand horses on the left. So ill this day that I had much difficulty in keeping with the army.
"25th. Very hard rains last, obliged to halt today, on account of provisions; for though the soldiery may be kept pretty easy in camp under the expectations of provisions arriving, they cannot bear to march in advance and take none along with them. Received a letter from Mr. Hodgdon by express; 13,000 pounds flour will arrive the 27th. " 26th. A party of militia sent to reconnoitre, fell in with five In- dians, and suffered them to slip through their fingers in their camp. Articles to the value of $22 were found and divided. The Virginia battalion is melting down very fast, notwithstanding the promises of the men to the officers. Thirteen have been discharged by Col. Darke, today.
" 27th. Gave orders for enlisting the levies, with the condition of
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serving out their time in the present corps. Payomingo arrived in the camp with his warriors. I was so unwell, could only see him and bid him welcome, but entered on no business - considerable dissatis- faction among the levies about their enlistments.
" 28th. Some clothing sent for to Fort Washington for the recruits arrived, was begun to be distributed, and will have a good effect; but the enlisting the levies does not meet with the encouragement that might have been expected. It is not only complained of by the offi- cers, but it is certainly, privately, by some of high rank, and the measure of tempting them with warm clothing, condemned. . Mr. Hodgdon writes me that he is sending forward a quantity of woolen overalls and socks, by Gen. Butler's orders. I have ordered them to be deposited at Fort Jefferson. Some few Indians about us, probably those the militia fell in with a day or two ago. Two of the levies were fired upon, about three miles off; one killed; two of the militia likewise, one of them got in and the other missing, supposed to be taken.
"29th. Payomingo and his people accompanied by Capt. Sparks and four good riflemen, gone on a scout; they do not propose to re- turn under ten days, unless they sooner succeed in taking prisoners. " 30th. The army moved about nine o'clock, and with much difficulty made seven miles, having left a considerable part of the tents by the way. The provision made by the quartermaster was not adequate. Three days' flour issued to them. The Indian road still with us. The course this day north, 25 degrees west.
" 3Ist. This morning about sixty of the militia deserted. It was at first reported, that about one-half of them had gone off, and that their design was to plunder the convoys, which were upon the road. I detached the first regiment in pursuit of them, with orders to Maj. Hamtramck to send a sufficient guard back with Benham (a commis- sary), whenever he met with him, and follow them about twenty-five miles below Fort Jefferson, or until he met the second convoy, and then return and join the army. Benham arrived last night; and to- day, November Ist, the army is halted to give the road-cutters an opportunity of getting some distance ahead, and that I might write to you. I am this day considerably recovered, and hope that it will turn out, what I at first expected it would be, a friendly fit of the gout, come to relieve me from every other coinplaint.
" Yesterday I was favored with yours of the 28th and 29th of Sep- tember. I have enclosed my communications with the old and new contractors, and their answers. My orders to the post for them are not yet definite; but they will be very soon. In the meantime, I expect they are both at work. With great respect I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
"P. S. Your letters for Gen. Wilkinson and Gen. Scott, Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown, are sent back, and the public thanks in the names of the president, presented to Gen. Wilkinson agreeably to your direc- tions.
"To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Knox, Secretary of War."
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"FORT WASHINGTON, NOV. 9, 1791.
"SIR :- Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army, under my command, got back to this place, and I have now the painful task to give you an account of as warm and unfortunate an action, as almost any which has been fought, in which every corps was engaged and worsted, except the first regiment, that had been detached upon a service I had the honor to inform you of in my last dispatch, and had not joined me.
" On the 3d instant, the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the southward of west, which I believe to have been the river St. Mary, which empties itself into the Miami of the lake .* At the Miami village about four o'clock in the afternoon, hav- ing marched near nine miles, and were encamped upon a very com- manding piece of ground, in two lines, having the above mentioned creek in front. The right wing composed of Butler's, Patterson's and Clarke's battalions, commanded by Major-Gen. Butler, formed the first line, and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger's and Gaither's battalions, and the second regiment commanded by Lieut .- Col. Darke, formed the second line, with an interval between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow. The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a steep bank, and Faulkner's corps; some of the cavalry and their piquets covered the left flank. The militia were thrown over the creek and advanced about one- quarter of a mile, and encamped in the same order. There were a few Indians who appeared on the opposite side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipitation on the advance of the militia. At this place which I judged to be about fifteen miles distant from the Miami village, I had determined to throw up a slight work, the plan of which was concerted that evening with Major Ferguson, wherein to have deposited the men's knapsacks and everything else that was not of absolute necessity, and to have moved on to have attacked the enemy as soon as the first regiment was come up; but they did not permit me to execute either, for on the fourth, about half an hour before sunrise, and when the men had been just dismissed from the parade (for it was a constant practice to have them all under arms a consid- erable time before daylight), an attack was made upon the militia- those gave way in a very little time and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion, which together with part of Clarke's, threw them into considerable disorder, which notwithstanding the exertions of both, and those officers, was never altogether remedied, the In- dians following close at their heels. The fire, however, of the first line checked them, but almost instantly a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second likewise; the great weight of it was directed against the center of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from
* St. Clair was of the opinion that his defeat occurred upon St. Mary, and it is so stated in his official dispatch. It is incorrect. The action took place on a small tributary stream of the Wabash .- MCCLUNG.
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our fire, and confusion beginning to spread, from the great number of men who were falling in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done with the bayonet. Lieut .- Col. Darke was ordered to make a charge with part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy; this was executed with great spirit-the Indians gave way, and were driven back 300 or 400 yards; but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen, to pursue this advantage, they soon re- turned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops that were posted there. Another charge was made here by the second regiment, Butler's and Clarke's battal- ions, with equal effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with success; in all of them many men were lost, and particularly the officers, which, with such raw troops was a loss irremediable. In that just spoke of, made by the second regiment, and Butler's battalion, Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the second regiment fell, except three, one of whom, Mr. Creaton, was shot through the body. Our artillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed, except Capt. Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half the army fallen, being cut off from the road, it became necessary to attempt the regaining it, and to make a retreat if pos- sible; to this purpose the remains of the army were formed as well as circumstances would admit, toward the right of the encampment, from which by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy as if the design as if to turn their right flank, but in fact to gain the road. This was effected, and as soon as it was opened, the militia took along it, followed by the troops, Major Clarke with his battalion covering the rear. The retreat in these circumstances, you may be sure, was a very precipitate one-it was in fact a flight. The camp and the artillery were abandoned; but that was unavoid- able, for not an horse was left alive to have drawn it off, had it other- wise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the business, is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pursuit (which continued about four miles) had ceased. I found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it; for having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself; and the order I sent forward, either to halt the front, or prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattended to.
"The rout continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles, which was reached at a little after sun-setting. The action began about half an hour before sunrise, and the retreat was attempted about half an hour after 9 o'clock.
"I have not been able to get returns of the killed and wounded, but Maj .- Gen. Butler, Lieut .- Col. Oldham, of the militia, Majors Ferguson, Heart and Clarke, are among the former; Col. Sargent, my adjutant general, Lieut .- Col. Darke, Lieut .- Col. Gibson, Major Butler, and the Viscount Malartie, who served me as an aid-de-camp,
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are among the latter, and a great number of captains and subalterns in both.
" I have now, sir, finished my melancholy tale - a tale that will be felt sensibly by every one that has sympathy for private distress, or for public misfortune.
"I have nothing, sir, to lay to the charge of the troops but their want of discipline, which from the short time they had been in service it was impossible they should have acquired, and which rendered it very difficult, when they were thrown into confusion, to reduce them again to order, and is one reason why the loss has fallen so heavily upon the officers, who did everything in their power to effect it; neither were my own exertions wanting, but worn down with illness and suffering with a painful disease, unable either to mount or dis- mount a horse, without assistance, they were not so great as they otherwise would, and perhaps ought to have been. We were over- powered by numbers; but it is no more than justice to observe, that though composed of so many different species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during the campaign.
" At Fort Jefferson I found the First regiment, which had returned from the service they had been sent upon, without either overtaking the deserters or meeting the convoy of provisions. I am not certain, sir, whether I ought to consider the absence of this regiment, from the field of action, as fortunate or otherwise. I incline to think it was fortunate, for I very much doubt whether, had it been in the action, the fortune of the day had been turned; and if it had not the triumph of the enemy would have been more complete, and the country would have been destitute of every means of defense.
"Taking a view of the situation of our broken troops at Fort Jeffer- son, and that there were no provisions in the fort, I called upon the field officers, viz .: Lieut .- Col. Darke, Major Hamtramck, Major Zeig- ler and Major Gaither, together with the adjutant general, for their advice, what would be proper, further to be done, and it was their unanimous opinion, that the addition of the First regiment, unbroken as it was, did not put the army on as respectable a footing as it was in the morning, because a great part of it was now unarmed, that it had been then found unequal to the enemy, and should they come on, which was probable, would be found so again; that the troops could not be thrown into the fort, both because it was so small, and that there were no provisions in it; that provisions were known to be upon the road at the distance of one or at most two marches; that, therefore, it would be proper to move, without loss of time, to meet the provisions, when the men might have the sooner an opportunity for refreshments, and that a proper detachment might be sent back with it to have it safely deposited in the fort. This advice was accepted, and the army put in motion again at 10 o'clock and marched all night, and the suc- ceeding day met with a quantity of flour, part of it was distributed immediately, part taken back to supply the army on the march to Fort Hamilton, and the remainder (about fifty horse loads) sent forward to Fort Jefferson; the next day a drove of cattle was met with for the
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same place, and I have information that both got in. The wounded, who had been left at that place, were ordered to be brought here by the return horses.
" I have said, sir, in a former part of this letter, that we were over- powered by numbers; of that, however, I have no other evidence than the weight of the fire, which was always a most deadly one, and gen- erally delivered from the ground, few of the enemy showing them- selves on foot, except when they were charged; and that in a few minutes our whole camp, which extended above three hundred and fifty yards in length, was entirely surrounded, and attacked on all quarters.
"The loss, sir, the public has sustained by the fall of so many brave officers, particularly Gen. Butler and Maj. Ferguson, can not be too much regretted; but it is a circumstance that will alleviate the mis- fortune in some measure, that all of them fell most gallantly doing their duty. I have had very particular obligations to many of them, as well as to the survivors, but to none more than to Col. Sargent. He has discharged the various duties of his office with zeal, with exact- ness and with intelligence, and on all occasions, afforded me every assistance in his power; which I have also experienced from my aid- de-camp, Lieut. Denny, and the Viscount Malartie, who served with me in that station, as a volunteer.
" With every sentiment of respect and regard, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
" ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.
"To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Knox, secretary of war.
" P. S. Some orders that had been given to Col. Oldham, over night, and which were of much consequence, were not executed; and some very material intelligence was communicated by Capt. Slough to Gen. Butler in the course of the night before the action, which was never imparted to me, nor did I hear of it until after my arrival here."
PHILADELPHIA, December 23. '
"Last Wednesday evening, Lieut. Denny, aid-de-camp to Maj .- Gen. St. Clair, arrived with dispatches for the secretary of war, dated Fort Washington, the 17th of November. The garrison at Fort Jefferson was intended to be continued, and was not conceived to be in any danger; it was supplied with provisions, provided with artillery, and commanded by Capt. Shailer of the Second regiment. Most of the wounded had arrived at Fort Washing- ton from Fort Jefferson. Piomingo, the Chickasaw chief, had returned safe with his warriors, and Capt. Sparks, of Clarke's bat- talion, bringing with them five scalps. The Kentucky militia, under Gens. Scott and Wilkinson, all mounted and furnished with twenty days' provision, will probably arrive at Fort Washington about the 20th of November. It was expected that the dispersed situation of the Indians would afford a good opportunity for the militia to make an important stroke yet this winter.'
The brave Maj. Clarke (who covered their retreat with some sol- diers) supposed to be killed, had arrived safe at Fort Washington.
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The levies were generally discharged, excepting those who had enlisted in the regular service."
This was accompanied with an authentic list of the killed and wounded in the army of the United States . (regular troops). The list embraces by name, only officers. But the whole number of non- commissioned officers and privates killed and missing amounted to 593, wounded, 214. Among the list of officers killed, was Capt. Kirk- wood, an account of the attack upon whose cabin we have given in the chapter preceding this.
Here ends our account of the Indian campaigns in which the settlers of the upper Ohio valley were directly concerned, but not the last before peace was secured. The disastrous defeat of the unfortunate St. Clair, made it necessary for the protection of the frontiers, and for the retrieving of the honor of the nation, to organize and send another army to punish the savages and reduce them to submission. But it is not our purpose to go into a detailed account which would be foreign to the end in view, that of confining ourselves to the relation of events and incidents as connected with the history of that section of which we have undertaken.
But as a matter of general history we may remark that this last campaign which was conducted by Gen. Anthony Wayne, ended in the complete overthrow of the Indian forces and the glorious tri- umph of the American arms. The results of this victory were secured by the treaty subsequently entered into at Greenville, on the 3d of August, A. D. 1795, by which among other things as the price of peace the Indians gave up an extensive tract of country south of the lakes and west of the Ohio, comprehending in all about four-fifths of the present state of Ohio. This was not only the close of the Indian wars, but was really the close of our war for independence, as now for the first time the country really enjoyed independence and peace.
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CHAPTER VIII.
CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION - THEIR POVERTY - MODE OF EMIGRATION TO THE WEST - THE FORTITUDE OF FEMALES -THE ERECTION OF THE CABIN - PERILS AND DANGERS TO WHICH THE PIONEER WAS EXPOSED- A MORAL AND INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN THE MAIN - THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP - EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG - - RECREATIONS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS - IMITATIVE
SOUNDS ANIMALS AND BIRDS -THROWING THE TOMAHAWK -
ATHLETIC SPORTS - DANCING - SHOOTING AT MARK - DRAMATIC NARRATIONS -SINGING - DESCRIPTION OF THE MODE OF BUILDING - FURNITURE OF THE CABIN -THE DRESS OF THE, SETTLERS - EMPLOY- MENT OF THE FEMALES-THEFTS AND PUNISHMENTS - HOSPITALITY OF THE PEOPLE - THEIR SENSE OF HONOR-SINGLE COMBATS - THE FAMINE YEAR.
ONTRASTS in the character of the early settlers and that of the population of the present day is one of striking dif- ference. The advantages of the former were exceedingly limited in all the relations of life. Possessing none of the comforts and conveniences which are so abundantly multi- plied to the people of to-day, they were compelled by force of circumstances to be satisfied with the rudest implements of husbandry, a circumscribed fare, and roughly constructed furniture, such as native ingenuity suggested and was able to fashion.
The revolution had withdrawn the labor of the country from agri- culture and manufactures. The trying scenes and the dangerous perils through which the country had passed during the continuance had paralyzed commerce and trade, of which, at the close of the revolution there were none. Of money, there was none of any con- sequence. The continental money was worthless. The country at large could not even furnish necessary clothing. The dream of the fighting, starving, and freezing soldier led him to look forward to the future for compensation and comfort; and in the midst of his many trials and hardships he never for a moment doubted but that his hard earned services would be amply rewarded, and he be remembered with gratitude and thankfulness by his torn and bleeding country.
But when discharged from the service he was paid off in worthless continental scrip, hundreds of dollars of which would scarceful suffice to secure for him a respectable meal. Thus he was compelled to re- turn to his poverty-stricken family, without the means to provide for their comfort, himself often but a mere wreck of what he was, fre- quently broken down with sickness or carrying within his system the. germs of disease implanted there by want, exposure and fatigue con-
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sequent upon his arduous and heavy duties as a soldier and patriot. Under the excitements of war with its pomp and parade he had been sustained, but these were now at an end. Is it any wonder that these brave men who had been ready and foremost in the hour of conflict and who held not their lives dear in the cause of humanity and their country under these circumstances should become depressed and dis- couraged and lack the courage to face the stern poverty with which they had to contend. Hence many were prompted to look to the unsettled and western portions of our country where land was cheap, and nature was as yet unsubdued. Their journey to this El Dorado of their hopes and desires was one which was full of perils, dangers and hardships, yet with resigned purpose, they gathered together their household goods, and with their families set out for the then far away and unknown country, consuming weeks in accomplishing what now can be accomplished in a few hours, comparatively speaking.
At this time the mode of communication was either by means of a long and tedious journey on foot, or by pack horses which- afforded the necessary transportation of the period. One horse would be devoted to carrying the mother of the family, who often traveled with an infant in her arms, her animal being encumbered with the cooking utensils of the family and such table furniture as was necessary for the use of the members. Another horse would pack the family pro- visions and the various implements of husbandry which it was neces- sary should be brought with them as none such could be obtained in the new country. Again, where there were young children of too tender an age to walk and undergo the fatigue incident to physical effort, two large creels made of hiccory withes would be thrown across the back of the horse, resembling in size and shape our crates- one on each side of the horse, in which was packed the beds and necessary bed clothes for the same, together with the apparel for the family. In the center of these creels the young children would occupy a space in a depression of the bedding, which were secured by lacing in such a manner as to hold and keep them in their positions, and as the ani- mal moved along, their heads, only, which were above, were to be seen bobbing up and down with every motion of the beast as it walked along with measured pace. As the early settlers greatly depended on milk, one-or more cows invariably brought up the rear of this unique cavalcade. The children depended on the lacteal fluid they furnished for their morning and evening meal, and the surplus, if any, was used by the older persons during the day with which to refresh themselves.
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