USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 6
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
"General St. Clair afterward affirmed that, if he had known that the Indians were near and in force, he would have attacked them during the night, under, as he supposed, such circumstances as would insure victory.
"If these statements are true, there was nothing, absolutely nothing, to excuse the abuse and persecution to which St. Clair was afterward subjected."
The record of incidents attending the defeat and retreat of the army are very full. To avoid prolixity, we quote from a few. only, of the many interesting narratives.
McClung, in his "Sketches of Western Adventure," describes the experiences and heroism of William Kennan, of Flemming county, Kentucky. Kennon at that time was a young man of eighteen, and was attached to St. Clair's corps of rangers who accompanied the regular force. "He had long been remarkable for strength and activity. In the course of the march from Fort Washington he had repeated opportunities of testing his aston- ishing powers in that respect, and was universally admitted to
57
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
be the swiftest runner of the light corps. On the evening pre- ceding the action his corps had been advanced, as already ob- served, a few hundred yards in front of the first line of infantry, in order to give seasonable notice of the enemy's approach. Just as day was dawning he observed about thirty Indians within a hundred yards of the guard's fire, advancing cautiously toward the spot where he stood, together with about twenty rangers, the. rest being considerably in the rear.
"Supposing it to be a mere scouting party, as usual, and not: superior in number to the rangers, he sprang forward a few paces in order to shelter himself in a spot of peculiarly rank grass,. and firing with a quick aim upon the foremost Indian, he instantly fell flat upon his face, and proceeded with all possible rapidity to. reload his gun, not doubting for a moment but that the rangers. would maintain their position and support him. The Indians,. however, rushed forward in such overwhelming masses that the rangers were compelled to fly with precipitation, leaving young Kennan in total ignorance of his danger. Fortunately the cap- tain of his company had observed him when he threw himself into the grass, and suddenly shouted aloud, 'Run, Kennan ! or you are a dead man!' He instantly sprang to his feet and beheld Indians within ten feet of him, while his company was already more than a hundred yards in front. Not a moment was to be lost. He darted off with every muscle strained to its utmost, and was pursued by a dozen of the enemy with loud yells. He at first pressed straight forward to the usual fording place in the creek,. which ran between the rangers and the main army; but several Indians who had passed him before he rose from the grass threw themselves in the way and completely cut him off from the rest. By the most powerful exertions he had thrown the whole body of pursuers behind him, with the exception of one chief (probably Messhawa), who displayed a swiftness and perseverance equal to his own. In the circuit which Kennan was obliged to take the race continued for more than four hundred yards. The distance between the two was about eighteen feet, which Kennon could not increase nor his adversary diminish. Each for the time put his whole soul into the race.
"Kennon, as far as he was able, kept his eye upon the mo- tions of his pursuer, lest he should throw his tomahawk, which he held in a menacing attitude, and at length, finding that no other Indian was immediately at hand, he determined to try the mettle of his pursuer in a different manner, and felt for his tomahawk in order to turn at bay. It had escaped from its sheath, however, while he lay in the grass, and his hair almost lifted the cap from his head when he saw himself totally disarmed. As he had slack-
58
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
ened his pace for a moment the Indian was almost in reach of him when he recommenced the race; but the idea of being without arms lent wings to his feet, and, for the first time, he saw himself gaining ground. He had watched the motions of his pursuer too closely, however, to pay proper attention to the nature of the ground before him, and he suddenly found himself in front of a large tree which had been blown down, and upon which brush and other impediments lay to the height of eight or nine feet.
"The Indian (who heretofore had not uttered the slightest sound) now gave a short, quick yell, as if secure of his victim. Kennan had not a moment to deliberate. He must clear the im- pediment at a leap or perish. Putting his whole soul into the effort, lie bounded into the air with a power which astonished himself, and clearing limbs, brush and everything else, alighted in perfect safety upon the other side. A loud yell of astonishment burst from the band of pursuers, not one of whom had the hardi- hood to attempt the same feat. Kennan, as may readily be imag- ined, had no leisure to enjoy his triumph, but dashing into the bed of the creek (upon the banks of which his feat had been per- formed), where the high banks would shield him from the fire of the enemy, he ran up the stream until a convenient place offered for crossing, and rejoined the rangers in the rear of the encamp- ment, panting from the fatigue of exertions which have seldom been surpassed. No breathing time was allowed him, however. The attack instantly commenced, and, as has already been ob- served, was maintained for three hours with unabated fury.
"When the retreat commenced, Kennan was attached to Ma- jor Clark's battalion, and had the dangerous service of protecting the rear. This corps quickly lost its commander, and was com- pletely disorganized. Kennan was among the hindmost when the flight commenced, but exerting those same powers which had saved him in the morning, he quickly gained the front, passing several horsemen in the flight. Here he beheld a private in his own company, an intimate acquaintance, lying upon the ground with his thigh broken, and in tones of the most pierc- ing distress, implored each horseman who hurried by to take him up behind ham. As soon as he beheld Kennan coming up on foot he stretched out his arms and called aloud upon him to save him. Notwithstanding the imminent peril of the moment, his friend could not reject so passionate an appeal, but seizing him in his arms he placed him upon his back and ran in that manner for sev- eral hundred yards. Horseman after horseman passed them, all of whom refused to relieve him of his burden.
"At length the enemy was gaining upon him so fast that Kennan saw their death was certain unless he relinquished his burden. He accordingly told his friend that he had used every possible exertion to save his life, but in vain ; that he must relax his hold around his neck or they would both perish. The unhappy
59
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
wretch, heedless of every remonstrance, still clung convulsively to his back, and impeded his exertions until the foremost of the ene- · my (armed with tomahawks alone) were within twenty yards of them. Kennan then drew his knife from his sheath and cut the fingers of his companion, thus compelling him to relinquish his hold. The uphappy man rolled upon the ground in utter helpless- ness, and Kennan beheld him tomahawked before he had gone thirty yards. Relieved of his burden, he darted forward with an activity which once more brought him to the van. Here again he was compelled to neglect his own safety in order to attend to that of others. .
"The late Governor Madison, of Kentucky, who afterward commanded the corps which defended themselves so honorably at Raisin, a man who united the most amiable temper to the most unconquerable courage, was at that time a subaltern in St. Clair's army, and being a man of infirm constitution, was totally exhausted by the exertions of the morning and was now sitting down calmly upon a log, awaiting the approach of his enemies. Kennan hastily accosted him and inquired the cause of his delay. Madison, point- ing to a wound which had bled profusely, replied that he was · unable to walk any further, and had no horse. Kennan instantly ran back to a spot where he had seen an exhausted horse grazing, caught him without difficulty, and having assisted Madison to mount, walked by his side until they were out of danger. For- tunately, the pursuit soon ceased, as the plunder of the camp pre- sented irresistible attractions to the enemy. The friendship thus formed between these two young men endured without interrup- tion through life. Mr. Kennan never entirely recovered from the immense exertion which he was compelled to make during the unfortunate expedition. He settled in Flemming county, and con- tinued for many years a leading member of the Baptist church. He died in 1827."
JAMES M'DOWELL'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
The following interview of James McDowell by John S. Houston, of Celina, Ohio, March 20th, 1847, appears originally in "Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio :"
"Mr. McDowell states that on the morning of the battle he and several others had just gone out to look after and guard their horses, when suddenly they heard the most hideous yells from the opposite side of the river, with discharges of musketry. He instantly rushed to camp, found his regiment preparing for action, joined them, and was with the party who so gallantly charged the enemy in the bottom. On the retreat he was among those who defended the rear, and kept the enemy in check for
60
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
several miles. The ground was covered with a slushy snow, which much retarded their progress; and, after a while, many of them were so dispirited and hungry - having eaten no break- fast - that they threw down their arms and made the best of their way, pell-mell, among the retreating crowd.
"About this time Mr. McDowell saw a female carrying her infant, a year old. She was so tired that she was about to fall by the way-side, when he took the child and carried it some distance. Afterward, to save her own life, the woman threw away the child in the snow. The Indians took it up, carried it to the Sandusky towns and raised it. There were two hundred and fifty women in the army, following the fortunes of their husbands, of whom fifty-six were killed in battle, and the remainder were made pris- oners, except a small number who reached Fort Washington.
"Soon after the woman cast her child aside, McDowell over- took a youth, some eighteen years old, wounded in the leg, hob- bling along, and dispirited. He gave him a drink of spirits and a little bread (he himself had not had time to eat), which refreshed and encouraged him. Soon after a pony came dashing by. This McDowell caught, and mounting the youth upon it, he safely reached the fort.
"At Stillwater creek, twelve miles from the battle-ground, the Indians, who were no longer numerous, left them and returned to share their booty. 'Oh!' said an old squaw who died many years. ago on the St. Mary's, 'my arm was that night so weary scalping white men.'
"Some years ago, said the old man to me - and here his cheeks were moistened with tears - I was traveling in Kentucky to visit a sister I had not seen in many years, when I arrived at Georgetown, and entered my name on the ledger with the place of my residence - Recovery, Ohio.
"After I had been sitting some time at ease before a comfort- able fire, a gentleman who had noticed the entry of my name and residence, opened a friendly conversation about the place and country. He soon remarked that he was at the battle of St. Clair, and that if it had not been for the assistance of a young man of Butler's .regiment, he would have been there yet.
"After a few more questions and replies both parties recog- nized each other. The gentleman was the youth who had been shot, in the retreat, and whose life - as previously stated - was saved by the interposition of McDowell. At this discovery their surprise and consequent mutual attachment may be imagined. The gentleman insisted upon taking him to his house and introducing him to his wife and daughters. He had become wealthy by mer- chandising, and, on parting with McDowell, gave him a new suit of clothes and other presents, which he has carefully preserved to this day."
61
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
The number of Indians engaged in the defeat of St. Clair, according to the best accounts obtainable, did not exceed one thousand. They, however, fought with desperate valor, and from the nature of the ground, they had a great advantage over the scattered and panic-stricken troops of the Americans. They were commanded, too, by Little Turtle, the greatest chieftain of the confederated tribes. Joseph Brant was, also, present with one hundred and fifty Mohawk braves.
Butterfield, in his "History of the Girtys," states that the "Wyandots fought courageously, and none with more bravery than their leader, Simon Girty, who was presented with three of the captured cannon ; but the present proved of no value to him, as he could not remove them. He afterwards told a prisoner (Wil- liam May) that there were twelve hundred Indians of the whole force (?), three hundred of which were not in the battle, but were left in the rear to take care of the horses." It is also known that the old men, women and children of Wapakoneta and Girty's town were sent to a point down the Auglaize river to await the issues of the battle. It was probably the point referred to by Girty.
"Among those who fought with the savages on that occasion were considerable numbers of Canadians, mostly young men, and particularly such as were born of Indian mothers. There were also some refugees present. Girty was not the only one who, on that day, fought against his countrymen. After the action, he found General Butler on the field, writhing from the agony of his wounds. The general spoke to him and requested him to end his misery.
'Girty refused to do this, but turning to one of the Indian warriors, told him the wounded man was a high officer; where- upon the savage planted his tomahawk in his head, and thus ter- minated his sufferings. His scalp was instantly torn from his crown, his heart taken out and divided into as many pieces as there were tribes engaged in the battle."
General Wilkinson visited the battlefield about three months after the action, and reported that "the scene was truly melan- choly. In my opinion, those unfortunate men who fell into the enemy's hands, with life, were used with the greatest torture - having their limbs torn off; and the women have been treated with the utmost indecent cruelty, having stakes as thick as a per- son's arm, driven through their bodies. Believing that the whites.
62
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
for many years, made war merely to acquire land, the Indians crammed clay and sand into the eyes and down the throats of the dying and the dead."
We refrain from a further recital of the horrors of the great defeat, or the consternation that spread throughout the country.
There is a plaintive ballad of the time which long hung on the walls of the log cabins, and serves not only to show the popu- lar grief, but as a specimen of the primitive literature of the West.
SAINCLAIRE'S DEFEAT.
'Twas November the fourth, in the year of ninety-one, We had a sore engagement near to Fort Jefferson ; Sainclaire was our commander, which may remembered be, For there we left nine hundred men in the West'n Ter'tory.
At Bunker's Hill and Quebec, there many a hero fell, Likewise at Long Island (it is I the truth can tell), But such a dreadful carnage may I never see again As hap'ned near St. Mary's, upon the river plain.
Our army was attacked just as the day did dawn, And soon were overpowered and driven from the lawn. They killed Major Ouldham, Levin and Briggs likewise, And horrid yells of sav'ges resounded through the skies.
Major Butler was wounded the very second fire; His manly bosom swell'd with rage when forc'd to retire; And as he lay in anguish, nor scarcely could he see, Exclaimed, "Ye hounds of hell! Oh revenged I will be."
We had not been long broken when General Butler found Himself so badly wounded, was forced to quit the ground; "My God!" says he, "what shall we do? we're wounded every man; Go charge them, valiant heroes, and beat them if you can."
He leaned his back against a tree, and there resigned his breath, And like a valiant soldier sunk in the arms of death; When blessed angels did await his spirit to convey, And unto the celestial fields he quickly bent his way.
We charg'd again with courage firm, but soon again gave ground; The war-whoop then redoubled, as did the foes around. They killed Major Ferguson, which caused his men to cry, "Our only safety is in flight, or fighting here to die."
63
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
"Stand to your guns," says valiant Ford; "let's die upon them here, Before we let the sav'ges know we ever harbored fear !"
Our cannon-balls exhausted, and artill'ry-men all slain,
. Obliged were our musket-men the en'my to sustain.
Yet three hours more we fought them, and then were forc'd to yield, When three hundred warriors lay stretched upon the field. .
Says Colonel Gibson to his men, "My boys, be not dismayed ;
I'm sure that true Virginians were never yet afraid.
"Ten thousand deaths I'd rather die than they should gain the field." With that he got a fatal shot, which caused him to yield.
Says Major Clarke, "My heroes. I can here no longer stand ;
We'll strive to form in order, and retreat the best we can."
The word "Retreat" being passed around, there was a dismal cry, Then helter-skelter through the woods like wolves and sheep they fly. This well-appointed army, who but a day before
Defied and braved all danger, had like a cloud passed o'er.
Alas, the dying and wounded, how dreadful was the thought! To the tomahawk and scalping-knife in mis'ry are brought.
Some had a thigh and some an arm broke on the field that day,
Who writhed in torments at the stake to close the dire affray.
To mention our brave officers, is what I wish to do; No sons of Mars e'er fought more brave, or with more courage true. To Captain Bradford I belonged, in his artillery,
He fell that day amongst the slain, a valiant man was he.
On the eighth of November the remnant of St. Clair's army reached Fort Washington, in a demoralized condition. On the ninth of December General St. Clair transmitted his report of the campaign to the Secretary of War; and on the twelfth of Decem- ber, the report was communicated to Congress. The essentials of the report have already been given in the preceding pages.
St. Clair requested President Washington to appoint a court of inquiry to investigate the causes of his defeat, and expressed a wish to be permitted to surrender his post as commander of the western forces, at the conclusion of the investigation by the court of inquiry.
President Washington, in reply to the request, informed him that "it was neither possible to grant him the trial he desired, nor allow him to retain his position. Washington's refusal to grant
64
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
the request was based on the fact that there were no officers of a rank high enough to try him.
In conformity to the reply of the President General St. Clair tendered his resignation as commander of the western army. Late in the session of 1792, Congress appointed a committee to investi- gate the cause of St. Clair's defeat. After the examination of written reports, and the oral evidence of many participants in the battle, General St. Clair was honorably acquitted.
REBURIAL OF THE HEROES OF FORT RECOVERY.
On the seventh of July, 1851, Judge David R. Roop, of Fort Recovery, discovered a human skull, partly covered, in one of the streets of the village, and adjacent to the ground upon which the old fort of that name was erected. The recent heavy rains had washed off the earth. The discovery led to a search, which re- sulted in the discovery of the skeletons of some sixty persons, mostly in a good state of preservation. The burial 'place of the soldiers who perished in St. Clair's defeat was not marked by General Winchester at the time of their interment, and their rest- ing place was unknown. As soon as the discovery of the remains became known to the citizens of Mercer county, meetings were held at Fort Recovery and Celina, and a general invitation ex- tended to the surviving soldiers of Ohio and other states, who had participated in the campaigns of Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne, to join them in the funeral ceremonies of a final inter- ment in the cemetery, on the tenth of September, 1851.
In the forenoon of the day appointed for the ceremonies, the bones were placed in thirteen walnut coffins. "While the coffins were being filled the people were permitted to examine the re- mains, many of which bore marks of the bullet and tomahawk. It was evident that a number had been perforated by a bullet, 'and also had a gash smoothly cut by the tomahawk, and in dif- ferent places, marks made by a sharp instrument were discernable, said by old soldiers present to have been produced by the scalp- ing knife.
The committee of arrangements appointed officers of the day, and a procession was formed under the direction of General James Watson Riley, assisted by several aids; one hundred and four pall bearers, selected from the different counties represented.
65
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
headed the procession in charge of the coffins, and were followed by the soldiers present, ladies and citizens, which formed a column a mile long, and marched to the stand erected on the south side of the village, in full view of the battle ground, where an oration was pronounced by Hon. Bellamy Storer, of Cincinnati, who was invited for the occasion.
The following extract from his address was published in the Western Standard (Celina, September 18, 1851) :
"The speaker's introductory referred to the scenes enacted on that very ground, on the fourth of November, 1791 - con- trasting the then horrible wilderness with the present civilized, cultivated, and flourishing appearance of the country. He dwelt on the position of St. Clair's army at the time of the attack; the position of the enemy - their advantages, and the fatal results of the conflict,- paying a merited tribute to the brave, though unfortunate commander, and his more unfortunate men. The speaker made a beautiful allusion to the thirteen coffins. They did not contain the bones of the people of Massachusetts, or Ken- tucky, or Pennsylvania, or Maryland, or the Carolinas, or any other particular section, but were the representatives of the WHOLE UNION, engaged in a common conflict in defense of the rights of the AMERICAN COMPACT. Their names and locality are un- known. Heaven's register alone can record their deeds of valor and patriotism, and show where and to whom they belonged. They died a common, and a martyr's death for the Union we live to enjoy, and which it is our duty to protect, and our highest honor to cling to and perpetuate. Under it, man may be independ- ent of everything but his God. Not so in the old world. There confusion and commotion prevail ; political and religious tyranny reign; and the American mission is to infuse the principles of Liberty into the masses of Europe, by living up to our privileges as Americans - every man being independent of everything but his God - preventing everything that has a tendency towards disunion, or the mitigation of a single stripe or star on our national flag. Universal education, and the advancement of science, are the sure foundations, of our perpetuity.
Judge Storer was followed by General Bell, President of the day, in a short patriotic speech.
General Haines, from the Committee on Resolutions, re-
5 HAC
66
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
ported a series urging Congress to appropriate money to erect a monument at Fort Recovery, and one at Greenville. Commit- tees, composed of citizens of the different counties represented, were appointed to solicit contributions for furtherance of that object. Messrs. Benjamin Linzee, J. W. Riley, H. F. Junemann, and two others were appointed on the part of Mercer county.
The procession was then reformed in the order it came to the stand, and moved to the cemetery on the south side of the village, and the coffins were deposited in one grave, divided off with boards, each division or vault containing two coffins.
The last act being performed, the people left the burial ground, each one feeling that he had performed a patriotic duty.
General Lewis Cass, General Butler, and George E. Pugh, Esq., had been invited to speak on the occasion. Circumstances. prevented the attendance of General Butler and Mr. Pugh. Gen- eral Cass was also unable to attend, but sent the following letter to W. L. Blocher, Esq., which fully explains itself :
MR. W. L. BLOCHER :
DETROIT, August 19th, 1851.
DEAR SIR - I have received your letter, and assure you it would give me great pleasure to attend the interesting ceremony of the interment of the remains of the soldiers who fell at the battle of Fort Recovery, if it were in my power. But other engage- ments will not permit me to be there, and I must content myself with thanking you for the invitation, and expressing my gratifi- cation at this patriotic tribute to the gallant men who sacrificed their lives for their country in the days of her weakness, and are now honorably remembered in the days of her power.
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.