History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 11

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 11

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" Brothers, sisters, read this letter, 'Tis the last you'll have from me ; I must suffer for deserting From the brig Niagara." Though he fought so brave at Erie, Freely bled, and nobly dared- Let his courage plead for mercy, Let his noble life be spared.

Sad and gloomy was the morning, Bird was ordered out to die ; Where's the breast so dead lo pity But for him must heave a sigh ? See him march, and hear his fetters, Harsh they clank upon the car ; Yet his step is firm and manly, For his breast ne'er harbored fear.

See ! he kneels upon his coffin- Sure his death ean do no good. Save him !- Ilark, O God! they've shot him ! Now his bosom streams with blood. Farewell, Bird! farewell, forever ; Friends and home he'll see no more ; For bis mangled corpse lies buried On Lake Erie's distant shore.

James Bird was born in Lucerne County, Penn., and was a young man when the war commenced. He early enlisted in the Army, joining a Company raised by Henry Bucking- ham, whose son Henry was a pioneer Merchant at Norwalk, Ohio, and whose grandson Heury now (1887) resides at Lawrence, Kansas. At the Battle of Lake Erie, Captain Thomas was his commander. Bird was employed by Captain Buckingham in his mill at Kingston, and " Mary," spoken of in the song, was a member of the Captain's family. The two were recognized as lovers, and parted as such. The " Annals of Lucerne County," written by Stewart Pearce, has this mention of Bird's case :

He was from Pittston, and was descended from a most respectable family. He was a man of great bodily strength and activity, and was full of patriotic devotion to the cause of his country, but unfortu- nately his proud spirit boldly rejected many of the restraints imposed by the stern rules of military dis- cipline. He fought like a tiger and when wounded refused to be carried below. News of the intended attack of the enemy on New Orleans had reached the fleet on Lake Erie, and Bird, ambitious to be in the midst of the smoke and fire of battle, one night, when in command of the guard, marched away with sev- eral of his men to join General Jackson. He was pursued and arrested at Pittsburg, from which place he was about to embark with a company of volunteers for the Crescent City. Being arraigned before and tried by a Court Martial, he was sentenced, in accor- dance with the rules of war, to be shot. Had Com- modore Perry received intelligence of the proceedings in time, Bird's life would have been spared.

Bird's remains probably now rest with those of his comrades on Gibraltar Island, Put-in Bay, and said to be under a large willow tree front- ing the Bay, enclosed by a chain fence. The ballad, according to the best information at hand, was written by Charles Miner, who pub- lished the Gleaner, at Wilkesbarre, Penn., from 1801 to 1818, and afterwards was a member of Congress from that State.

Harrison's Army had been patiently, yet anxiously waiting the outcome of Naval operations; meantime receiving reinforce- ments and organizing, with reference to following up Perry's signal success, by an ad- vance upon Canada. September 27th, Harri- son set sail, and soon reached Malden, from which Proctor had retreated to Sandwich, on his way, as rapidly as possible, for a safe point in the interior, via the Thames River. Harri- son reached Sandwich on the 29th, and on the

THE BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

same day MeArthur took possession of Detroit and Michigan. October 2d, the Americans began their pursuit of the retreating British force, which was overtaken on the 5th. Find- ing an engagement unavoidable, Proctor was Jed to post his Army, its left wing resting on the Thames, while the right was defended by a marsh. Without here going into details of the engagement, it will suffice to state, that Harrison's troops consisted of about 120 Regu- lars of the 27th Regiment; five Brigades of Kentucky Militia Infantry, averaging Jess than 500 men, under Governor Isaac Shelby, of that State ; and Colonel Richard M. Johnson's Regiment of Mounted Infantry ; making in all about 3,000 men. The force of the British is not definitely stated, but it was supposed to be something less than that of Harrison's, consti- tuted of British and Indians. The battle was of short duration. The enemy being seriously demoralized, they fought chiefly on the defen- sive, and retreated as fast as the way therefor opened. The most notable incident of the en- gagement, was the killing of the renowned Indian leader, Tecumseh, at the hands, as since pretty well determined, of Colonel Johnson of Kentucky, subsequently (1837-41) Vice Pres- ident of the United States. This fact was for a time in dispute; bui it finally became the generally accepted belief, that the credit of Tecumseh's death is due to Colonel Johnson .*

* Johnson was severely wounded during the en- gagement, and was borne from the field by Captain James Knaggs, of Monroe, and Menard Labadie. In 1853, when the act of killing Tecumseh was yet in dispute, Captain Knaggs, in an athdavit, made the following statement :

" I was attached to a Company of mounted men, called Rangers, at the battle of the Thames, in IS13. During the battle, we charged into the swamp, where several of our horses mired down, and an order was given to retire to the hard ground in our rear, which we did. The Indians in front, believing that we were retreating, immediately advanced upon us, with Tecumseh at their head. I distinctly heard his voiec, with which I was perfectly familiar. He yelled like a tiger, and urged on his braves to the attack. We were then but a few yards apart. We halted on the bard ground, and continued our fire. After a few minutes of very severe fighting, I discoy- ered Colonel Johnson lying near, on the ground, with one leg confined by the body of his white mare, which had been killed, and had fallen upon him. My friend Menard Labadie was with me. We went up to the Colonel, with whom we were previ- ously acquainted, and found him badly wounded,

In this connection the testimony of as intel- ligent and well-informed witness to the true character of Tecumseh, as was General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, will not be out of place. In a letter to the editor of the Historical Record, under date of Lexington, Ky., October, 1871, that gentleman wrote as follows:

You ask me for a description of the celebrated Indian warrior, Tecumseh, from my personal observa- tion. I answer that I never saw the great chief but onee, and then under rather exciting circumstances, but I have a vivid recollection of him from his appear- ance, and by intereourse with his personal friends I am possessed of accurate knowledge of his character.

I was, as you know, one of the prisoners taken at what is known as Dudley's defeat on the banks of the Maumee River, opposite Fort Meigs, early in May, 1813. Tecumseh had fallen upon our rear, and we were compelled to surrender. We were marched down to the old Fort Miami or Maumee, in squads, where a terrible scene awaited us. The Indians, fully armed with guns, war clubs and tomahawks - to say nothing of scalping knives, had formed them- selves into two lines in front of the gateway between which all of us were bound to pass. Many were killed or wounded in running the gauntlet. Shortly after the prisoners had entered, the Indians rushed over the walls and again surrounded us, and raised the war-whoop, at the same time making unmistak- able demonstrations of violence. We all expected to be massacred, and the small British guard around us were utterly unable to afford protection. They called

lying on his side, with one of his pistols in his hand. I saw Tecumseh at the same time, lying on his face, dead, and about fifteen or twenty feet from the Colonel. He was stretched at full length, and was shot through the body, I think near the heart. The ball went out through his back. He hehl his tomahawk in his right hand (it had a brass pipe on the head of it), his arm was extended as if striking, and the edge of the tomahawk was stuck in the ground. Tecumseh was dressed in red speckled leg- gings, and a fringed hunting shirt; he lay stretched directly towards Colonel Johnson. When we went up to the Colonel we offered to help him. He replied with great animation, 'Knaggs, let me lie here, and push on and take Proctor.' However, we liberated him from his dead horse, took his blanket from his sachlle, placed him in it, and bore him off' the field. I had known Tecumseh from my boybood; we were boys together. There was no other Indian killed immediately around where Colonel Johnson or Te- cumseh lay, although there were many near the Creek, a few rods back of where Tecumseh fell.

" J had no doubt then, and have none now, that Tecumseh fell by the hand of Colonel Johnson."

Captain Knaggs was a gentleman much esteemed at Monroe, and was an active and valuable friend of the American cause throughout the War.

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

loudly for General Proctor and Colonel Elliott to come to our relief. At this critical moment Tecum- sch came rushing in, deeply excited, and denounced the murderers of prisoners as cowards. Thus our lives were spared and we were sent down to the fleet at the month of Swan Creek (now Toledo), and from that place across the end of the Lake to Huron and paroled.

I shall never forget the noble countenance, gallant bearing and sonorous voice of that remarkable man, while addressing his warriors in our behalf. He was then between forty and forty-five years of age. Ilis frame was vigorous and robust, but he was not fat, weighing about one hundred and seventy pounds. Five feet 10 inches was his height; he had a high projecting forehead, and broad, open countenance ; and there was something noble and commanding in all his actions. lle was brave, humane and gener- ous, and never allowed a prisoner to be massacred if he could prevent it. At Fort Miami he saved the lives of all of us who had survived running the gauntlet. Ile afterwards released seven Shawanese belonging to my command, and sent them home on parole. Tecumseh was a Shawanese. His name signified in their language, Shooting Star. At the time when I saw him he held the commission of a Brigadier General in the British Army. I am satis- fied that he deserved all that was said of him by General Cass and Governor Harrison, previous to his death.

The battle of the Thames substantially closed hostilities in the West. Their successive failures at Fort Meigs, at Fort Stephenson, on the Lake and at the Thames, satisfied the British that further attempts in this section would be nseless, and none such were made. This series of important victories by the Amer- ican forces, accomplished all that skill and heroism could do toward retrieving the loss of position and honor in Hull's surrender and Winchester's sad defeat.

The purpose here has been simply to note the more important events of the War ocenr- ring in this section, and those having a local interest.

The following is a succinct statement of events following the victory of Commodore Perry :

September 10th .- The victory. " We have met the enemy, and they are ours !" Septem- ber 11th .- The American and British officers killed in the action of the 10th, were buried at Put-in Bay, but the bodies of those holding 110 official rank in the fleet, were "in the deep bosom of Ocean buried." This discrimination is not a grateful reminiscence. September 17th .- Governor Shelby of Kentucky, at the

head of 4,000 mounted volunteers arrived at the mouth of Portage River (Port Clinton), flushed with exultation at the events of the week before, and destined to invade Canada. " What shall be done with the horses?" was the first question. A fence was thrown from Sandusky Bay to the nearest point on the Portage River, and thus enclosed in a luxuriant pasture of 10,000 acres, the 5,000 horses were left to range under guard of 500 Kentneky volunteers. September 20th .- General MeAr- thur's Brigade reached the mouth of the Port- age, after a toilsome march from Fort Meigs- the grass often so high and dense, that one man was compelled to mount upon the shoul- ders of another, to determine their line of march. September 21st .- The Army of Can- ada embarked under command of General Wm. H. Harrison. Put-in Bay was their first stage, which was 16 miles from Portage River. Com- modore Perry's vessels were engaged in trans- porting baggage. Great enthusiasm among the troops. September 22d. - The whole Army gained the Island, and were encamped on the margin of the semi-cirenlar Bay (South Bass). The St. Lawrence and the six prize-ships were at anchor within Put-in Bay, and were visited by parties from the shore. September 23d .- Unfavorable winds-the Army at rest at Put- in Bay. September 24th .- A deserter shot. He had deserted three times, and been twice pardoned. Two platoons fired on him at a distance of five paces. The poor fellow fell, riddled like a sieve. September 25th .- Reached East Sister, an Island of only three aeres, with hardly room for the men to sit down. Sep- tember 26th .- Violent storm-fears of inunda- tion. Canadian shore reconnoitered by General Harrison and Commodore Perry. September 27th .- Sixteen ships of war and 100 boats, landed in Canada, three miles below Malden. September 28th. - Marched to Aux Canads. September 29th .- Marched to Sandwich. Sep- tember 30th .- Joined by Colonel R. M. John- son's regiment, which had marched from Fort Meigs to Detroit, and thence to the junction with the main body. October 6th .- Battle of the Thames-British Army routed-Tecumseh killed-the War in the Northwest virtually ended.

Following is a statement of the locations and characters of the several Military Stations of the United States in Northwestern Ohio,

EARLY FORTS.

erected previous to and during the War of 1812-15 ; together with their condition in 1819, as given by Col. James Kilbourne's Gazetteer, of that date :

Fort Amanda-some 20 miles Northeast from Fort St. Mary's-on route from Loramie's to Fort Defiance.

Fort Brown-on Auglaize River, about 20 miles South of Defiance.

Fort Defiance-an important Military Forti- fication, situated on the point of land formed by the junction of Auglaize with Maumee River. During the late War the name was partially changed to that of Winchester; but it seems now very properly resuming its orig- inal appellation.

Fort Ferres-a Station so called, at Upper Sandusky, 40 miles South or up the River from Fort Stephenson.

Fort Finley-a small Post, on the Military Road from Urbana to Fort Meigs.

Fort Greenville-a Military Post, erected during the early settlement of the territory now the State of Ohio. Here was con- cluded the celebrated Indian Treaty in the year 1795, commonly called the Treaty of Greenville, by which the present East and West boundary line between the Ohio people and the Indians was established. A Village has since gradually grown up in its vicinity, called by its name, which is the seat of justice for Darke County.

Fort Jennings-a minor Post, on the Auglaize Road, 18 miles Southerly from Fort Amanda, and 22 miles from Fort Brown.

Fort Loramie-a Post so called from a trad- ing station formerly made by a man of that name, on one of the head waters of the great Miami River, now in Shelby County.

Fort McArthur-a small Post, 24 miles North- erly from Urbana on the Road thence to Fort Meigs.

Fort Manary-a Block-house, situated near the Indian boundary line, North of Urbana, on the Military route to Fort Meigs.

Fort Meigs-a noted Military Fortification, erected in the Winter of 1812-13, on the South- eastern bank of the Maumee River, at the lower Rapids of that River, a few miles from its mouth. Distance, Southerly from Detroit, 70 miles and North westerly 36 miles from Fort Stephenson. It is of an oblong figure, and when first completed enclosed an area of I1 acres.

The wall consisted of palisades 14 feet high, sunk four feet into the ground, with embank- ments of earth on each side, taken from a broad ditch, and a deep exterior moat. At suitable distances are regular bastions, mounted with artillery. This Post is remarkable for a siege which it sustained from the British and Indians, in April, 1813, and until the 5th of May, following, when the garrison, together with a reinforcement from Kentucky, made a gallant sortie, driving their enemy in every direction, and compelling them to raise the siege. Since the siege, it has been considerably reduced from its former dimensions, and is now (1816) going to decay.

Fort Necessity-on route from Urbana to Fort Meigs, now in Hardin County.

Fort Portage-a Block-house, sometimes de- nominated a Fort, on Portage or Carrying River, on the route from Fort Finley to Fort Meigs; 18 miles from the latter, and 29 from the former.

Fort Seneca-a Military Post, occupied dur- ing the late War, on the West side of Sandusky River, 10 miles South of Fort Stephenson.

Fort Stephenson-an important Military Post, on the Western bank of Sandusky River, 18 miles from its mouth and 67 North from the Indian boundary [now the North line of Union County ]. It stands on a tract of land ceded by the Indians at the Greenville Treaty to the United States. It is rendered famous by the bravery with which it was successfully de- fended, by an inconsiderable number of Ameri- can troops, against a furious assault made upon it by the British, with vastly superior numbers, in July [August], 1813. This place, together with the settlements in its vicinity, is fre- quently, and perhaps, most generally, called Lower Sandusky, it being situated adjacent to the lower Rapids of Sandusky River.

Fort St. Mary's-a Military Station near the source of St. Mary's River, on the route from Greenville to Fort Defiance, 12 miles from Loramie's Station and 12 from Fort Amanda.

Fort Industry .-- A question having been raised as to the name of the fortification erected by the United States Government at the mouth of Swan Creek about the beginning of the pres- ent century-whether it was Fort Industry or Fort Lawrence-the writer made inquiry of the War Department as to the fact, when

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Adjutant General L. C. Drumm replied as follows :

A stockade Fort was erected about the year 1800, near the mouth of Swan Creek, on the Maumee River, and, as near as can be determined, upon what is now Summit Street, in the City of Toledo, to which was given the name of Fort Industry. It was at this Fort that a treaty was held with the Indians, July 4th, 1805, by which the Indian title to the Fire Lands, [Huron and Eric Counties] was extinguished, and at which were present Mr. Charles Jouett, United States Commissioner, and Chiefs of Ottawa, Chip- pewa, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Muncie and Delaware Indian tribes.

This office has no record of a Fort Lawrence within the limits of the State of Ohio. Fort Laurens-named in honor of the President of the Continental Congress - was built by Gen. MeIntosh, in 1778, on the West bank of the Tuscarawas River, now in Tuscarawas County, and near the Town of Bolivar. This Fort is by some writers spelled Lawrence, but improperly so.

In June. 1870, it having been ascertained by the citizens of Perrysburg and Maumee City, that a party of Veterans of the War of 1812, serving in the Army in this section, proposed to make a visit to the scenes of their service 57 years before that time, preparations were at once begun for a reception worthy of the pro- posed visitors. Meetings of citizens of both Towns were held, and steps taken which re- sulted in very suitable provision for an occasion so interesting to the people of all this region.

June 23d, a committee of citizens of the two places, with Hon. M. R. Waite, at Columbus Grove, met the party, who came in a special car furnished by the Dayton & Michigan Rail- road, which reached Perrysburg at 5 P. M. The following is a list of the Veterans, to wit :

Colonel Charles S. Todd, Aide to General Harrison in the War of 1812, a Minister to Russia from

1841 to 1846. Lived at Owensboro, Ky., and was 79 years old.

Major Jere Duncan, Bourbon Co., Ky., aged 78.

General E. l'endleton, Clark Co., Ky., aged S1.

Colonel William Hamilton, Nicholas Co., Ky., aged 78. A. B. Crawford, Clark Co., Ky., aged 80. Peter Bonta, Bourbon Co., Ky., aged 78. W. T. Foster, Grant Co., Ky., aged 73. Francis MeLeer, Fayette Co., Ky., aged SI. Seward Beall, Clark Co., Ky., aged 74. Nelson Bush, Clark Co., Ky., aged 80. William C. Berry, Clark Co., Ky., aged 80. Thomas Jones, Bourbon Co., Ky., aged S1. Elisha Sturgeon, Grant Co., Ky., aged 84. Henry Gaither, Cincinnati, O., aged 80. Sanford Branham, Scott Co., Ky., aged 78.

Thomas Lindsey, Fayette Co., Ky., aged 81. William C. Keas, Mt. Sterling, Ky., aged 75. Dr. Alva Curtis, Cincinnati, O., aged 73. Joseph Quinn, Grant Co., Ky., aged 74. R. P. Menifee, Kenton Co., Ky., aged SI. George Williams, Grant Co., Ky., aged 80. John Jolley, Campbell Co., Ky., aged 82. T. A. Grimes, Bourbon Co., Ky., aged 73. William B. Davis, McArthur, O., aged 79. Il. W. Davis, MeConnellsville, O., aged 77. William Shaffer, Middletown, O., aged 87. Samuel Bownell, Middletown, O., aged 74. Joseph Barnett, Middletown, O., aged 76. David MeChessney, Middletown, O., aged 77. John Stine, Pendleton Co., Ky .. aged 74. Samuel Dewese, Wood Co., O., aged 78. David Lamb, Toledo, O., aged 83.

Michael Morgan, Wood Co., O., aged 89.

Peter Navarre, Toledo, O., aged Số. John Moore, Wood Co., O., aged 75.

J. L. Jolly, Napoleon, O., aged 80. David Deal, Fremont, O., aged 86. John Ross, Wood Co., O., aged 77. David Johnson, Wood Co, O., aged 83. Samuel Kuder, Wood Co., O., aged 81. John Noel, Wood Co., O., aged 79. Horace Thacher, Toledo, O., aged 69.

The Kentucky Veterans had for some years held annual re-unions, and at their meeting, at Paris, in that State, June 22d, with 80 present, it was decided that as many as conkl undertake the trip, join in the visit to the Maumee, when it was found that about one-half of those present joined the movement.

On the morning of the 24th, Mayor William Kraus, the City Council, a delegation from the Police force and many citizens of Toledo, went to Perrysburg by the Steamer Cora Locke, to participate in the exercises. At that place a procession was formed, which marched to Fort Meigs, where the Veterans and citizens spent some time in passing around the premises, the former seeking points specially reminding them of the events of 1813. The assemblage was called to order by Mayor J. R. Tyler of Perrys- burg. Rev. George A. Adams of that place offered prayer; and the Veterans and citizens Were entertained by Mayor Tyler. The spokes- man of the old soldiers in response was Colonel Todd. He said, that though not present at the time of the siege by the British and Indians, he yet helped to build the Fort, and was with General Harrison before the siege and through - out the war after that event. Previous to that, he bore dispatches from Harrison to General Winchester. He was Acting Quartermaster.

REUNIONS OF VETERANS OF 1812.

He had no wagons for transportation through the Black Swamp, bnt carried provisions and other supplies on horseback. In the winter they might have used sleds, but had no har- ness, except what he constructed of green hides, which answered while it remained dry. At times the horses would give out, when the men took their places and drew the loads, some- times for 30 miles. Colonel Todd referred to the battle of the Thames, and stated that after the capture of General Proctor's forces, they found the General was missing ; when he (Col. T.) and Major Wood, with a Company of men, started in pursuit. The men giving out, these two officers pushed on and finally overtook Proctor's carriage, but found its occupant had escaped on the back of one of the horses. In the carriage they found all of Proctor's papers, including the speech of Tecumseh, the great Indian leader, in which he severely rebuked his British associate commanders for allowing the Indians to murder helpless prisoners, say- ing among other things : " 1 conquer to save ; but you to murder." Again, he said, " Father, listen ! In the Revolutionary War, we tried to assist you; but our Great Father was thrown on his back. In the last War we could not think of defending men who lived like ground- hogs." Colonel Todd regarded the War of 1812, as but the continuation of the War of the Revolution-the British made peace; but their Indian allies did not. The defeat of Dudley was due to inconsiderate valor. General Har- rison had said, the misfortune of Kentuckians was, that " they were too brave." Colonel Todd in strong terms thanked the people of the Maumee Valley for the grand reception given the Veterans, concluding with the words : " We thank you, and thank you, and thank you!" At the conclusion of his remarks, he exhibited the flag which was carried at Fort Meigs, and which bore the rents made in it by British balls. From the Fort, the Veterans crossed the River to Maumee City, where prep- arations had been made for them. A dinner was served at the American House, after which the visitors and citizens assembled in a grove, where Mr. George W. Reynolds presided ; prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Swan ; and an address delivered by Rev. Mr. Richardson, re- sponded to by Colonel Todd. Remarks were made by Dr. Gaither of Cincinnati, Lieutenant- Governor J. C. Lee and M. R. Waite, the latter

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 11

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408