USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 7
USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 7
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. About the first of June, 1789, Major Doughty arrived with one hundred and forty m'en from Fort Harmar, on the Muskingum, and built four block-houses nearly opposite the mouth of Licking. When these were finished, within a lot of fifteen acres, reserved by the United States, and immediately on the line of Third Street, between Broadway
# It is not possible, amid varying and conflicting testimony, to arrive at certainty as respects this date. Israel Ludlow and Colonel Patterson, in their deposition in a chancery case years afterward, state that they landed opposite the mouth of Licking in the month of January, 1789; while William M'Millen, one of the same party and a very intelligent man, testifies in the same case, " that he was one of those who formed the settlement of Cincinnati on the 28th of December, 1788." Mr. Denman, in the case " Lessee of the city of Cincinnati vs. First Presbyterian Church," speaks of the settlement as having occurred late in December, 1788. It is agreed by all that the party left Limestone on the 24th December; and the fact that the river was full of ice at the time, renders all conclusions founded on probability unavailable.
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and Lawrence Street, he coramenced the construction of Fort Washington. This Luiid- ing, of a square form, was simply a fortification of logs hewed and squared, each side about one hundred and eighty feet in length, formed into barracks two stories high. It was connected at the corners by high pickets, with bastions or block-houses, also of hewed logs, and projecting about ten feet in front of each side of the fort, so that the cannon placed within them could be brought to rake the walls. At the center of the south side or front of the fort was the principal gateway, a passage through this line of barracks about twelve feet wide and ten fect high, secured by strong wooden doors of similar dimensions. As an appendage to the fort, on its north side and inclosed with high palisades extending from its north-east and north-west corners to a block-house, was a small triangular space, in which were shops for the accommodation of the artificers. Extending along the whole front of the fort was a fine esplanade about eighty feet wide, and inclosed with a handsome paling on the brow of the bank, the descent from which, ยท to the lower bottom, was sloping about thirty fect. The exterior of the fort was white- washed, and at a short distance presented a handsome and imposing appearance. On the eastern side were the officers' gardens, finely cultivated, ornamented with handsome summer-houses, and yielding in their season abundance of vegetables. The site of this building is that part of Third Street opposite the Bazaar, now Mechanic's Institute, and extending an average breadth of about sixty feet beyond the line of the street on both sides.
Fort Washington was completed by November. On the 29th of the succeeding month, General Harmar arrived with three hundred men and took possession of it.
In the course of this year, several log-houses and one frame were built, and some of the out lots, north of Seventh Street, cleared. The legal title to the ground on which the town was built being still in John Cleves Symmes, the patentee, all the deeds for the original in and out lots were made in his name. In 1790, the lots on fractional section No. 12 were laid out by Mr. Symmes as an addition to the town plat. Gen- eral Arthur St. Clair, at this time, was the governor of the north-western territory, and, in January, 1790, arrived at the village for the purpose of organizing the county, which, at the suggestion of Mr. Symmes, was called Hamilton, in compliment to the then Secre- tary of the Treasury. This county covered, it is believed, the whole territory west of the Muskingum; and Cincinnati was then, as it ever since has been, its seat of justice. The town had an increase of forty families this year, and about as many cabins were erected; two frame buildings were also added during the same time. Fifteen or twenty
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of the inhabitants were killed by the Indians in the course of 1790. The increase at Columbia, near the Little Miami, was rather greater; and a new station, called Colrain, seventeen miles north-west of Cincinnati, on the Great Miami, was laid out. Four or five other stations around the village, and generally within five or six miles, were also erected. At these places General Harmar stationed a few regulars for their defense. The Indians were constantly prowling around the neighborhood, and those who ven- tured outside their forts did it at the peril of their lives.
All his preparations for a northern campaign having now become completed, Gen- eral Harmar commenced his march from Fort Washington on the 30th September, with three hundred and twenty regulars, and eight hundred and thirty-three militia from Kentucky and Pennsylvania. In four days the army reached the Indian town Chilli- cothe, on the Little Miami, sixty miles from Cincinnati. The principal object of Gen- eral Harmar was to destroy the Maumee fort and village at the confluence of the St. Mary and St. Joseph's; and, learning that the enemy had concentrated their forces at this post, dispatched Colonel Todd to Kentucky for a further supply of troops. In a few days, six hundred volunteers joined the army. Harmar then proceeded to Fort Loramie, about fifty miles, and marched within a few miles of the Maumee fort. Here he encamped, sending forward Colonel Hardin with a detachment of four hundred and eighty men, with orders to surprise the enemy by night and storm the fort. When the detachment arrived, they found the fort and village abandoned. These they set on fire. The main body arriving, they pushed on to another Indian post on the St. Mary's, three miles distan . Colonel Hardin moved forward with his corps to reconnoiter, and the Indians, who were lying in covert near the borders of a prairie, through which the troops had to pass, suddenly attacked the detachment with such impetuosity as to break its ranks. Great numbers were killed in the action, and also in their retreat to the main body. General Harmar, next morning, gave orders for the army to return to Fort Washington, and, after a march of eight miles, halted for the night. Here Colonel Hardin, desirous of retrieving the misfortunes of the day, solicited and obtained per- mission of the commander-in-chief once more to give the enemy battle. He returned next day to the site of Maumee town with six hundred militia and sixty regulars. On their approach, the Indians retreated. A severe battle ensued, in which the enemy was driven across the St. Joseph Major Fountain, pierced with eighteen balls, and Colonel Willis, two brave officers, were among the slain. The detachment then returned to the main body, and the next morning the army resumed its march. The Indians
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followed in sight of the army, almost to Fort Washington, without, however, committing any serious depredations.
On the 8th of January, 1791, John S. Wallace, Jolin Sloane, Abner Hunt, and a Mr. Cunningham, who were exploring the county west of the Great Miami, fell in with a large body of Indians. Cunningham was killed and Hunt taken; the other two escaped to the station at Colrain. This station consisted of fourteen inhabitants, under the protection of Col. Kingsbury, with a detachment of eighteen regulars. On the morning of the roth the Indians, about three hundred in number, made their appear- ance before the station and demanded a surrender, which was promptly refused. A fire was instantly commenced from the garrison and returned by the Indians. An express was sent to Cincinnati for a re-enforcement. Captain Truman, with thirty regulars and thirty-three volunteers, reached the station next morning about ro o'clock, but before he arrived the Indians, who had continued the attack until about 9 o'clock of the same day, had departed. Hunt, who had three days before been taken by the Indians, was found a short distance from the station. with his legs and arms extended and fastened to the ground, his head scalped, his body mangled, and a blazing fire-brand placed in his bowels. During the attack, the bullets in the garrison being expended, the women sup- plied the deficiency by melting their spoons and plates and casting them into balls.
Various attempts to negotiate with the Indians were resorted to, but having all failed, another body of troops, under the command of General St. Clair, was raised for the defense of the frontiers. St. Clair, after repairing to Lexington to obtain the assistance of the Kentucky militia, reached Cincinnati on the 15th of May, 1791. His expedition against che Indians was protracted till late in the season by the slowness with which recruits were raised, their delay in descending the Ohio in consequence of low water, and, as it was alleged, an unpardonable negligence of the quartermaster and commissary departments. On the 7th of August all the troops which had arrived, except the artificers and a small garrison for the fort, moved to Ludlow's Station, six miles north of Cincinnati, in order to obtain forage from the woods, which was entirely consumed about Fort Washington, and to await the arrival of the troops which were expected. The army, amounting to 2, 300 non-commissioned officers and privates, moved from Ludlow's Station on the 17th of September to the Great Miami, where they erected Fort Hamilton. Having placed a small garrison in the fort, the army then proceeded on its march, and, by the 12th of October, reached the site, where they built Fort Jefferson, about forty miles north of Fort Hamilton. These posts were intended as places of deposit and of security either
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for convoys of provisions which might follow the army, or for the army itself, should any disaster befall it.
On the 14th the army, consisting of 1, 700 non commissioned officers and privates fit for duty, again commenced its march, with not more than three days' supply of flour. Many of the horses died for want of forage, and on the 3ist sixty of the Kentucky militia deserted in a body.
On the 3d of November the army reached a creek, fifty miles from the Miami villages, and encamped on a commanding piece of ground in two lines, having the creek in front. The right wing, composed of Butler's, Clark's, and Patterson's battalions, commanded by General Butler, formed the first line; the left, consisting of Bedinger's and Guthrie's battalions and the Second Regiment, commanded by Colonel Darke, formed the second line. The right flank was supposed to be secured by the creck, by a steep . bank, and a small corps of troops. Some of their cavalry and their pickets covered the left flank. The militia were placed over the creek about a quarter of a mile in advance, and encamped in the same order. At this place the General determined to throw up a slight work for the security of the baggage, and, when joined by Major Hamtramck, who had been detached to protect the convoys of provisions and prevent further desertion, to proceed immediately to the Miami villages. But both these designs were defeated, for next morning, about half an hour before sunrise, an attack was made upon the militia, who very soon gave way, and, rushing into the camp through Major Butler's battalion, threw it into great confusion. The greatest exertions of the officers were ineffectual to restore order. The Indians pursued the flying militia and attacked the right wing with great fury. The fire, however of the first line for a few minutes checked them, but almost instantly a much heavier attack began upon that line, and shortly was extended to the second. 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 the fire, and confusion beginning to spread from the great numbers falling in every quarter, it became necessary to try the effect of the bayonet. Accordingly, Col. Darke, with part of the second line, was ordered to charge the left flank of the enemy, which he executed with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back three or four hundred yards; but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to pursue this advantage, Col. Darke soon returned, and, in turn, was obliged to give way. At that moment the enemy entered the camp by the left flank, having pushed back the troops that were posted there. Several charges were then made
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with uniform success; but in all of them great numbers were killed, particularly the officers. Major-General Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the Second Regiment, except three, fell. The artillery being silenced, and all their officers killed except Captain Ford, who was badly wounded, and half the army fallen, it became necessary to retreat, which was done very precipitately. The camp and artillery werc necessarily abandoned. The Indians pursued the remnant of the army about four miles, when, fortunately, they returned to the field to divide the spoils. The troops continued their retreat to Fort Jefferson, where they found Major Hamtramck with the First Regi- ment. As this regiment was far from restoring the strength of the morning, it was determined not to attempt to retrieve the fortune of the day. Leaving the wounded at Fort Jefferson, the army continued its retreat to Fort Washington. In this unfortunate battle, which lasted three hours and fourteen minutes, thirty-eight commissioned officers were killed upon the field, and five hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers and privates were killed and . missing. The wounded amounted to two hundred and fourteen.
General St. Clair, on his arrival at Cincinnati, gave Major Ziegler the command of Fort Washington, and repaired to Philadelphia. Soon after, Col. Wilkinson succeeded Major Ziegler, and, with the regulars under his command, and about one hundred and seventy militia under Major Gano, marched to the field of battle and buried the dead. Great numbers of the slain were found upon the road near the battle-ground. After. interring the dead in the best manner possible, Col. Wilkinson returned to Cincinnati, with nearly one thousand stand of arms and one piece of artillery, which the enemy had not taken from the field.
. This year Cincinnati had little increase in its population. About one-half of the inhabitants were attached to the army and many of them killed. The unfortunate event of the campaign not only alarmed the citizens for their safety, but so discouraged several of them from persevering to make their settlements, that they removed to Kentucky. No new manufactories were established, except a horse-mill for grinding corn.
On the 5th of March, 1792, Congress passed another law, making further and more effectual provision for the protection of the frontiers of the United States. This Act directed that the battalion of artillery should be completed according to its establishment; that both the two regiments of infantry in service should be filled up to the number of nine hundred and sixty; and that three additional regiments should be raised, for a for a time not exceeding three years. A discretion, however, was given the President
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to raise the whole or part of the three regiments, and to discharge them at pleasure. On the 7th of April General St. Clair resigned the command of the army, and Anthony Wayne was appointed to succeed him.
The recruiting service was commenced and carried on with much activity. Com- missioners were again sent to treat with the Indians, and, if possible, to bring them to an amicable negotiation ; but they treated every offer with disdain, and cruelly massacred all but one of the commissioners. Such a flagrant outrage called upon the nation for redress by the most exemplary exertion of its power.
The enemy frequently attacked convoys of provisions, and killed great numbers. The troops at Fort Jefferson, under the command of Captain Shaler, and of Major Adair, who succeeded him. had several skirmishes with the enemy, in which many were slain.
About fifty persons were added by emigration this year to the population of Cincin- nati. Several cabins, three or four frames, and a Presbyterian house of worship, were erected. This building stood on: Main Street, near the site of the present First Presby- terian Church, and is still in existence, although removed to Vine, below Fifth Street. It is now occupied as a place of worship by a society of German Methodists.
The 'troops, which had been recruited for Wayne's army, assembled at Pittsburg during the Summer and Autumn of 1792, and encamped for the Winter on the Chio, about twenty miles below that place. They descended the river the next Spring (1793), under the command of General Wayne, and landed at Cincinnati. Here the general made an encampment, where he remained for two or three months, and then marched to the spot where he established Fort Greenville. The army remained at the fort dur- ing the Winter, and until July following. In the Fall of this year, soon after the army left. Cincinnati, the small-pox broke out among the soldiers in Fort Washington, and spread through the town with such malignity that nearly one-third of the soldiers and citizens fell victims to its ravages.
In July, 1794, the army left Fort Greenville, and built Fort Adams, Fort Defiance, and Fort Deposit. At the latter place the heavy baggage of the army was deposited, as a general engagement with the enemy was shortly expected. Accordingly, on the morning of the 20th of August, the army advanced to meet the enemy, and, after . marching about four miles, the Indians, who were secreted behind fallen trees and high grass, made a sudden attack upon the mounted volunteers under Major Price, who were compelled to retreat to the main body. The army was immediately formed in order of battle, having the Miami on the right, a thick wood on the left, and the fallen
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timber, among which the Indians were secreted, in front. The savages were formed in three lines, within suppor ing distance of each other, and extending nearly two miles at right angles with the river. It was soon discovered, from the weight of the enemy's fire and the extent of their lines, that they were endeavoring to turn the left flank of the American army. The second line, therefore, was ordered to advance with trailed arms and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and, as soon as that was effected, to deliver a close fire upon their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again. Major Campbell was ordered to turn the left flank of the enemy near the river. The orders of the commander-in-chief were promptly obeyed; and such was the -impetuosity of the charge of the first line, that the enemy, consisting of Indians, Canadian militia and volunteers, were driven from their coverts in so short a time that, notwithstanding every exertion was used by the second line and Generals Scott, Todd, and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper position, only part of each could get up to participate in the action ; the enemy being driven, in the course of an hour, more than two miles. From the best accounts the enemy amounted to two thousand, while the American troops actually en- gaged against them were less than nine hundred. The savages, with their allies, aban- doned themselves to flight, and left the Americans in quiet possession of the field of battle.
The army remained several days near the battle-ground, during which time they destroyed all the houses and corn-fields for a considerable distance above and below Fort Miami. In this decisive battle thirty-three American officers and privates were killed, and one hundred wounded. On the 28th the army commenced its return to the Auglaize, by easy marches, destroying in its route all the villages and corn-fields within fifty miles of the river; from thence up the Miami to the junction of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's, where they erected Fort Wayne. They then proceeded to Loramie Stores, seventy miles south-east from Fort Wayne, and erected Fort Loramie, and marched from thence to Greenville, which they reached about the zoth of November, and went into Winter-quarters.
In this battle the Indians received a chastisement so severe, and lost so many of their leading warriors, that they began to fear the American power, and to exhibit a disposition favorable to peace. This disposition was promptly reciprocated by our Gov- ernment, and, accordingly, on the 3d of August, 1795, a treaty was made by General Anthony Wayne at Fort Greenville with all the warlike tribes, which put an end to their unprovoked, protracted, and sanguinary hostilities.
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This event was hailed by the infant settlements as the era of peace and security. They now looked forward to an exemption from ravage, danger, and distress, and all the horrors of savage warfare. The return of peace gave them new ambition and new hopes. They removed from their forts into the adjacent country, selected farms, built cabins, and began to subdue the forest. They were soon joined by other emigrants, who, upon the news of peace, began to flock across the mountains in great numbers.
In 1799, the legislative power of the governor and judges was superseded by that of a General Assembly, composed of a House of Representatives, elected by the people, and a Legislative Council, appointed by .Congress. By this General Assembly, a dele- gate was chosen to represent the territory in the National Legislature. A division of the territory was made, and the boundaries of Ohio determined in 1802, when Congress passed a law enabling the people of the State to form a constitution; and, in 1803, the State Government went into operation. In January of the year preceding, the Terri- torial Legislature incorporated the town of Cincinnati.
The whole Miami country, with the exception of Cincinnati and its vicinity, at the time of Wayne's treaty, was one interminable forest. In 1795 the town contained ninety-four cabins, ten frame houses, and about five hundred inhabitants. In 1805 the population was estimated at seven hundred and fifty, and, in 1805, at nine hundred and sixty only. This period of ten years has exhibited the least proportional increase of any equal term of years since the settlement of the place. This was owing to the fact that the recent treaty afforded peace and security to settlers, who preferred spreading them- selves over a newer country, where land could be obtained more cheaply.
From this period, Cincinnati has proceeded with a steady and rapid growth to its present population and improvement.
In 1808, the United States reservation around Fort Washington was sold by direc- tion of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The war with Great Britain, declared in 1812, by paralyzing the enterprise of the Atlantic United States, sent out vast numbers to the West; and, though that section of the Union suffered in many respects by the immediate consequences of that rupture, yet it was the means, to a great extent, of filling the country with population and money disbursements, which developed more rapidly its natural wealth and resources. But the most important event in the history of the West was the introduction of steam- boats on its waters. At once the vast interior of Ohio became a competitor, in market, with older and less productive regions. Of all these advantages, as the outlet for the
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Miami country, Cincinnati had its full share, and an impulse was given to commercial and manufacturing enterprise, which is even yet felt.
In ISIg a charter was obtained from the State Legislature, by which Cincinnati was incorporated as a city. This charter, since repeatedly amended and altered, forms the basis of its present municipal authority.
EARLY ANNALS OF CINCINNATI. -
These extracts, compiled from the early newspaper press by Charles Cist, commence with the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette, reaching as far back as the origin of that press in 1799; Mr. Joseph Carpenter, the editor and proprietor, commencing it as a weekly print, and issuing the first number on May 28th of that year. This was not, however, the first newspaper published in Cincinnati, Freeman's Journal and Maxwell's Gazette having successively preceded it. I have not been able to obtain either of those prints thus far, although they are believed, at least in scattered numbers, still to exist; but except as curiosities, they are probably of little value. They were both published very irregularly, and neither lasted for any length of time. The Spy itself, although published in what may be termed a more advanced state of society, was occasionally intermitted in its publication, as the mails-then once a week at oftenest --- failed in their arrivals, or a supply of printing paper run out, or the proprietors had a job of public printing on hand. How little had newspapers, in that day, approximated their present importance and interest, which renders thousands so dependent on them as to feel the failure of the morning news a privation as great as the loss of their breakfast.
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