USA > Ohio > Pioneer history : being an account of the first examinations of the Ohio valley, and the early settlement of the Northwest territory ; chiefly from original manuscripts > Part 12
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While these preparations were making by Colonel Mor- gan for provisioning the troops, General McIntosh was ap- pointed to the command of the western district, and crossed the mountains in the spring, with a body of five hundred men. Soon after this he directed the building of a fort, on the alluvial plain near the mouth of the Big Beaver creek. It was intended as a covering point, for the formation of
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FORT McINTOSH.
any inroads that might be necessary into the Indian coun- try, and as a protection for the troops in case of a retreat or defeat. It was a regular stockaded work, with four bas- tions, and defended by six pieces of artillery, and was called Fort McIntosh.
Before proceeding with the projected invasion, it was thought prudent to convene the Delaware tribe of Indians, at Pittsburgh, and obtain their consent for marching through their territory. This was accordingly done the 17th of Sep- tember, 1778, by Andrew Lewis and Thomas Lewis, com- missioners on the part of the United States, and signed in presence of Lach. McIntosh, Brigadier General, command- ant of the western department; Daniel Broadhead, Colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania regiment; William Crawford, Col- onel; John Gibson, Colonel 13th Virginia regiment; A. Graham, Brigade Major; Lach. McIntosh, junior, M. Brigade ; Joseph L. Finley, Captain 8th Pennsylvania reg- iment; John Finley, Captain 8th Pennsylvania regiment, with several other gentlemen not in the army.
In the course of the following month, General McIntosh assembled one thousand men at the newly erected fort, at the mouth of the Beaver, and marched into the enemy's country. The season was so far advanced that the troops only proceeded about seventy miles west of Fort M'Intosh, and halted on the west bank of the Tuscarawas river, a little below the mouth of Sandy creek. Here, on an eleva- ted plain, it was concluded to build a stockaded fort, which was named Fort Laurens. It was garrisoned with one hundred and fifty men and left under the command of Col- onel Gibson, and the army returned to Fort Pitt. The other branch of the expedition, intended to be assembled at the mouth of the Big Kenawha, was never collected, although no opposition was made to the progress of the army under General McIntosh, as the hostile Indians were hardly aware of his presence, before he had again retreated ; yet in Jan- uary following, the Shawanees and Wyandots collected a
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SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS.
large body of warriors and invested the fort, cutting off all intercourse with Fort McIntosh, and suffering no one to go in or to come out; watching it so closely that it became very hazardous to procure either wood or water. The blockade was kept up for several weeks, and was only in- termitted for the purpose of procuring food. During its continuance, a number of the garrison were killed, and they suffered a good deal from sickness as well as from a lack of provisions. The distance was so great to pack the sup- plies, and the dangers of the road so imminent, from the attack of the Indians, requiring a large body of men to guard a small number of pack-horses, that the post was finally evacuated in August, 1779, about ten months after it was erected.
The plan of building a fort in the enemy's country, with- out any means or ability to maintain it there, seems to have been an unwise measure. It cost a large sum of money to the country, as well as several useful lives, without produ- cing the least benefit in return.
In January, 1779, provisions became very scarce and dear, west of the mountains. The employing of so many men in the public service required a large supply, and the main portion of it was brought from the east side of the moun- tains on pack-horses. Bacon, at Pittsburgh, was seven and six pence a pound, or one dollar of Pennsylvania money. Many other articles rose in the same proportion. During the winter months, when the roads were at the worst, the carriers demanded and received twenty pounds per hundred weight for the transport of flour from Cumberland to Pitts- burgh. The price of salt, also, rose to sixteen pounds a bushel. It cost, by the quantity, eight dollars a bushel in Maryland, near the sea coast ; but falling into the hands of a private dealer or speculator, it was advanced to this enormous rate. Wheat rose to six dollars a bushel, and in a letter of Colonel Morgan's to Benjamin Kirkendall, a mil- ler on Peter's creek, he says he has forwarded three thou-
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LETTER OF COLONEL MORGAN.
sand dollars to purchase five hundred bushels, at that rate. This is doubtless the actual price, in paper money, as it is estimated at from forty to forty-five shillings, "Pennsyl- vania currency."
Colonel Morgan was absent at Philadelphia, on public business, at the time of the treaty with the Delaware tribe, and did not return until the 20th of January, 1779. During this time, the affairs of that department had been under the direction of General McIntosh, in whose hands they became much deranged. In a letter which he wrote on the 25th of January, to the council of inquiry, then sitting at Pittsburgh, who had called on him for information, he says:
"On reference to the proceedings of the late general court martial, for the trial of Colonel Steel, you will find some of the reasons why great part of this flour (eight thousand kegs) has never yet been brought to this place. But the principal reasons, as I apprehend, not only for this disap- pointment, but also the present scarcity of provisions, have been the ignorant, absurd and contradictory conduct and orders of General McIntosh, throughout the whole campaign. When this gentleman's conduct comes to be canvassed be- fore a proper court, I shall afford such lights as may be ne- cessary. Until then, I hope to be excused from being more particular."
In a letter of the 31st January, to Colonel Broadhead, the commander at Fort McIntosh, among other public matters, he speaks of the treaty held in September, and says :
" There never was a conference with the Indians so im- properly or so villainously conducted as the late one at Pittsburgh. I am only surprised it has not had worse effects."
In February, 1779, the Delaware nation were invited to send delegates to Congress, to settle several matters for the mutual interest of their people and the United States of America. In a message to them by Colonel Morgan, he says :
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INDIAN ASSEMBLAGE AT PRINCETON.
"Brothers-I have appointed Captain John Dodge and Mr. Daniel Sullivan to accompany you there, and I shall go before, to prepare matters for your reception. When you arrive at Philadelphia, you are to come immediately to my house, where your horses, &c., shall be taken care of; and I will provide lodgings near to me, that we may constantly see each other during our stay in Philadelphia."
From the tenor of a message sent by Captain Killbuck, one of the principal chiefs of the Delawares, in which he complains of the deceptions practiced upon him by General McIntosh, and the commissioners, at the treaty held at Fort Pitt, in October, 1778, we learn the high estimation in which Colonel Morgan was held by the Indians. After recapitu- lating several articles of the treaty, he says :
" Brother Taimenend-I likewise remember, by examin- ing the last treaty, as if it had been desired by me that Colonel John Gibson should be appointed agent, and in the room of my much beloved Taimenend. This makes me very sorry and uneasy, as my wish always has been, and now is, that I never may be robbed of him; as I am very well convinced that he (brother Taimenend) is the wisest, faithfulest and best man I ever had any thing to do with. He always has dealt honestly and fair with me, which occa- sions the great regard I have for him. I also own that, by the assistance of him and his frequent good messages, I have been kept firm and steady in that which is good. He is the cause of our friendship with the states, which, in working and helping to perform, he has always been very diligent."
The delegates from the Delawares assembled at Prince- ton, New Jersey, on the 10th May, from whence they ad- dressed Congress, in a paper setting forth their friendship and good will for the United States, and stating the relation in which they stood to each other by the articles of former treaties. At the close, they give the boundaries of their country, as then claimed by the nation, as follows, viz :
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BOUNDARIES OF THE DELAWARES.
" From the mouth of the Alleghany river, at Fort Pitt, to Venango; and from thence, up French creek, and by Le Beouf, along the old road to Presque Isle, on the cast. The Ohio river, including all the islands in it from Fort Pitt to the Ouabache, on the south ; thence up the river Ouabache, to that branch, Opecomeecah, and up the same to the head thereof; and from thence to the head waters and springs of the Great Miami, or Rocky river ; thence across to the head waters and springs of the most northwestern branches of the Scioto river; thence to the head westernmost springs of Sandusky river; thence down the said river, including the islands in it, and in the Little Lake, to Lake Erie, on the west and northwest. And Lake Erie, on the north.
" These boundaries contain the cessions of lands made to the Delaware nation, by the Wyandots and other nations, and the country we have seated our grandchildren, the Shawanees, upon, in our laps; and we promise to give to the United States of America such a part of the above de- scribed country as will be convenient to them and us, that they may have room for their children's children to sit down upon."
At the same time they brought and delivered up three of the children of their principal men to Colonel Morgan, for the purpose of being educated at the charge of the United States. The deputies probably visited General Washington, at his camp in Middlebrook, as his answer to them is dated at that place on the 12th of May, 1779. His letter is in the most friendly style, in which he gives them much good ad- vice, and highly commends the encouragement they have given to the missionaries among them, and their support of schools, and attempts at civilization. In a letter to his excellency, John Jay, Esq., President of Congress, dated at Princeton, the 16th May, after stating the progress of the mission, &c., he ceases by saying : "I am satisfied that the Delaware nation are disposed to give Congress such a tract of land, as in my opinion would satisfy the troops of the
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SIEGE OF FORT LAURENS.
United States ; or if set up to sale, would pay a great pro- portion of our national debt."
Soon after this event, Colonel Morgan resigned his post of Indian agent.
On the frontiers, and especially among the Indians, the value of property was estimated in bucks, instead of dol- lars, or pounds-a buck was valued at one dollar. A copy of the following certificate, recorded in Colonel Mor- gan's journal, among several others of the same tenor, is well worth preserving :
" I do certify, that I am indebted to the bearer, Captain Johnny, seven bucks and one doe, for the use of the states, this 12th April, 1779. Signed, Samuel Sample, as- sistant quarter master. The above is due to him for pork, for the use of the garrison at Fort Laurens.
" (Signed) JOHN GIBSON, Colonel."
Colonel Gibson was commander of this post. These certificates were redeemed at Fort Pitt, by the Indian agent, or the commandant of the place.
At the siege of Fort Laurens, in January, 1779, (it was stated to Colonel Morgan by the Delaware chiefs), the attacking party consisted of one hundred and eighty In- dians, composed of Wyandots, Mingoes, Munsies, and only four Delawares, who were outcasts, or deserters from the tribe. Among them was John Montour and his brother. At the second investment in the summer, the besieging party was composed of forty Shawanees, twenty Mingoes, twenty Wyandots and twenty Delawares, who were chiefly disaffected persons. By the interference of the Delaware chiefs, they were persuaded to abandon the siege, without firing a gun. " It is well known the Delawares saved Fort Laurens."
From the year 1780, down to near the time of the ordi- nance of Congress for the survey of the seven ranges, in
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TABLE OF DISTANCES.
the newly acquired territory, north-west of the river Ohio, the sufferings of the frontier inhabitants from the ravages of the Indians are already before the public, in the works of Doddridge and Withers.
The journals of John Mathews and General Buell, will bring down the events on this frontier to the settlement of the Ohio company, at the mouth of the Muskingum, whose transactions will be fully recorded.
NOTE. The distances of the following posts and stations from Fort Pitt, will be interesting, as taken from the journal of Colonel Morgan :
From Fort Pitt to Venango, by water, 130 miles-by land, 80 miles.
Thence to Le Beouf, by water, 86 miles-by land, 45 miles. Thence to Old Fort Le Beouf, by water, 4 miles-by land, 4 miles. Thence to Presque Isle, - by land, 18 miles.
Thence along the lake to Fort Erie, by water, 80 miles. Thence to Little Niagara Fort, - by water, 18 miles, Thence to the Great Falls, by water, 1 mile.
Thence to Fort Niagara, 0 ยท by water, 9 miles
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
CHAPTER VII.
Journals of Joseph Buell and John Mathews, on the frontiers of the Ohio, from 1785 to 1788 -Cession of the North. West Territory. - Seven Ranges, &c.
EXTRACTS from the journal of Joseph Buell, while acting in the United States service, from September, 1785, to October, 1788.
He was a native of Killingworth, Connecticut, and held the post of orderly sergeant in Capt. Strong's company and Col. Harmar's regiment. These notes, although brief, and written from day to day, for his own satisfaction, and without any expectation of their being useful to any body else, have now become valuable as records of the history of the first attempt of the United States to take possession of the North West Territory; and, with those of Mr. Mathews, will afford a sketch of the events which took place on the western frontiers, from the year 1785 to 1788, in the region of country from Fort McIntosh to Post Vin- cent, on the Wabash. They also contain notices of the weather, the rise and fall of the water, with the closing and breaking up of the ice in the Ohio river.
Mr. Buell had been stationed at West Point since the 6th of October; when, on the 17th of November, Major Wyllis arrived from New York, with orders for the troops to march immediately for the western frontiers. On the 20th they left that post, and reached Fort Pitt the 21st of December, 1785. He speaks of that village as very plea- sant, and more comfortable than he expected to see in the wilderness; but complains of the extravagant prices demanded for merchandise and such articles as they needed. After resting four days, the detachment marched
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
for Fort McIntosh, and reached that post, below the mouth of Big Beaver Creek, on the 26th, at sunset. The weather was severe, and the ground covered with snow.
Being now fairly on the frontiers, the extracts will com- mence at this point. Many of the details relating to the discipline of the men will be omitted, and only such as throw light on the history of the times be preserved. I may remark that the treatment of the private soldiers was excessively severe, and that flogging the men, to the extent of one and two hundred lashes, was an almost daily occur- rence. Their offences were chiefly drunkenness and deser- tion. They seem to have been selected from the most worthless and depraved remnants of the revolutionary sol- diers; men too lazy and idle to engage in any laborious employments, and as their wages were only three dollars a month, no sober industrious man would engage in the ser- vice. These facts may, in some measure, account for the trials, mortification and defeat of St. Clair, in the campaign of 1791.
" December 25th, 1785. We crossed the Alleghany river, and marched ten miles into the woods, and halted for the night. It snowed, and we made a large fire by the side of an oak tree.
" 26th. Marched at daybreak for Fort McIntosh, and arrived at sunset. Went into the old barracks, which are very ruinous, being without roofs or floors. Here we closed the month of December in repairing our barracks, and trying to make ourselves comfortable for the winter. The troops are raw and unacquainted with duty; the offi- cers very strict, punishing the men for the smallest offences.
" January 1st, 1786. We began the new year with desertion. A man by the name of Alger deserted. A ser- geant and five men were sent to Fort Pitt after him. Of these men only three returned. Court martials are contin- ually sitting, and the men very uneasy.
" 25th. Corporal Davis, John C. Dittman, Joel Guthrie,
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
and Alexander Patterson, crossed the river, on a pass (or with permission). The corporal returned, and reported that the men refused to return with him. They were immediately pursued by Sergeant Fitch and three men, who overtook them, and they surrendered without any resistance, and were brought prisoners into the garrison. Major Wyllis, who commanded the fort, without waiting for the formality of a court martial, ordered out a file of men, and directed them to be shot within one hour after their return."
Mr. Buell remarks, that this order of Major Wyllis was the most inhuman act he ever saw, and moreover, that Sergeant Fitch was ordered to shoot them all to death, the moment he came up with them, but being a humane man, he disobeyed the order. All the three were young men, and the finest soldiers in the company. "Fitch for his disregard of the order, was reduced." The affair was reported to the Secretary of War, and in the course of the summer, a court martial was ordered at Fort Pitt, for the trial of Major Wyllis. The result was his acquittal. In the campaign of 1790, under General Harmer, Wyllis was killed by the In- dians, fighting bravely at the head of his men.
" February, 1786. This month passed without any ex- traordinary events ; court martials still common.
" March 12th. Generals Parsons and Butler arrived here from the treaty at Miami.
" 24th. The winter has been remarkably moderate ; but little snow, not over four inches at any time-the air clear, and troops healthy.
" 27th. The weather warm and pleasant, with the pros- pect of an early spring.
" April 1st. The snow fell upwards of a foot deep.
"3d. Major Wyllis and Captain Hamtramck, with his company, went down the river on command, to disperse the frontier people settling on the Indian shore (or right bank of the Ohio).
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
" 9th. Weather so warm as to be disagreeable standing in the rays of the sun.
" 12th. An express arrived from Fort Pitt, and informed that a number of Indians had come in there the night before; their design unknown. Captain Zeigler set out im- mediately to learn their intentions.
" 14th. Captain Strong discovered a number of Indians with their arms at a little distance from the garrison, but did not speak with them. By their behaviour, we imagined they designed some mischief. They set the woods on fire in several places, and we expected them to fall on the gar- rison in the smoke, and were alarmed lest the fort should take fire; the wind, however, became more calm, and we received no damage. Captain Strong ordered out a party to pursue them, but they had disappeared.
" May 1st. This being May day, is kept by all the wes- tern and southern people with great glee. A pole is erected and decorated with flowers, around which they dance in a circle, with many curious antics, drinking and carousing, and firing guns in honor of St. Tammany, the patron of this festival.
" 4th. Captain Zeigler's and Strong's companies em- barked for Muskingum.
"8th. We arrived at Muskingum, where we encamped in the edge of the woods, a little distance from the fort. " 10th. Captain Zeigler's company embarked for the Miami, and our company moved into the garrison, where we were engaged for several days in making ourselves comfortable.
" 12th. Began to make our gardens, and had a very dis- agreeable spell of weather, which continued for twenty- two days, raining in succession. (The fort was at this time under the command of Major Doughty).
"25th. Ingraham, of Captain Hart's company, died ; which is the first man we have lost by sickness.
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
" 31st. Employed in working my garden, which begins to be pretty forward.
" June 5th. Major Fish arrived here from New York, with an.order to arrest Major Wyllis for shooting the three men, without trial, at Fort McIntosh.
"7th. Major Fish and Hamtramck, left here for McIn- tosh.
"9th. Two boats arrived from Miami and report that the Indians had murdered several inhabitants this spring. We are getting short in meat for the troops.
" 10th. Five frontier men came here to hunt for the gar- rison, and brought with them a quantity of venison.
" 19th. News arrived that the Indians had killed four or five women and children, at Fish Creek, about thirty miles from this garrison.
"23d. Lieutenants Bradford and Tratt, arrived from Fort Pitt, and brought with them Captain Tunis, an Indian tra- der. They report the arrival of the commandant at Pitts- burgh, together with Captains Furguson and McCardy's companies, and that twenty men had deserted from each company.
"26th. Major Wyllis arrived here from the Miami.
"29th. Major Wyllis and Captain Strong embarked for Pittsburgh, where he is to be tried by a court martial.
"July 4th. The great day of American independence was commemorated by the discharge of thirteen guns; after which the troops were served with extra rations of liquor, and allowed to get drunk as much as they pleased. "
"9th. We discovered some Indians crossing the Ohio in a canoe, below the garrison, and sent a party after them, but could not overtake them.
"8th. We are brought to half rations, and have sent out a party of men to hunt. They returned without much suc- cess, although game is plenty in the woods. Sergeant Munsell came near drowning, by the upsetting of his canoe, in crossing the Ohio. He could not swim; and, after sinking
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
two or three times, accidentally caught hold of the side of the canoe, and was saved.
" 10th. Ensign Kingsbury, with a party of men, embarked for Wheeling, in quest of provisions.
"12th. Captain Strong arrived from Fort Pitt.
"16th. We were visited by a party of Indians, who en- camped at a little distance from the garrison, and appear to be very friendly. They were treated kindly by the offi- cers, who gave them some wine, and the best the garrison afforded.
"17th. Our men took up a stray canoe, on the river. It contained a pair of shoes, two axes, and some corn. We suppose the owners were killed by the Indians. Same day, Lieutenant Kingsbury returned, with only a supply of food for six or seven days.
"18th. Captain Strong's company began to build their range of barracks, to make ourselves comfortable for winter. It contains six rooms, under one roof, and forms one of the five curtains or sides of the fort, between the bastions.
"19th. This day buried the fifer to Captain Hart's com- pany. Our funerals are conducted in the following manner. The men are all paraded without arms, and march by files in the rear of the corpse. The guard, with arms, march in front, with their pieces reversed ; and the music in the rear of the guard, just in front of the coffin, playing some mournful tune. After the dead is buried, they return in the same order, playing some lively march.
"21st. A boat arrived from Fort Pitt with intelligence of a drove of cattle being at Wheeling for this garrison.
"22d. Lieutenant Pratt, with a party of men, went up by land to bring down the cattle.
"23d. Colonel Harmer arrived at the garrison. The troops paraded to receive him, and fired a salute of nine guns.
"26th. Captain Hart went with a party of men to guard the Indians up the Muskingum.
10 )
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JOURNAL OF JOSEPH BUELL.
"27th. Lieutenant Pratt arrived with ten head of cattle, which revived our spirits, as we had been without provisions for several days.
" 29th. Three hunters came into the fort and informed that they had seen a party of Indians lying in the woods. We sent out some men, but discovered nothing.
" August 2d. Our garrison was alarmed. Captain Hart was walking on the bank of the river and said he saw In- dians on the other side of the Ohio, and saw them shoot one of our men, who was out hunting, and beheld him fall. Colonel Harmer immediately sent the captain, with a party of men, after them. They crossed the river, and found one man asleep on the ground, and another had been shooting at a mark. They had seen no Indians.
"4th. Ensign Denny arrived from the Miami and reports that their men desert very much.
" 5th. Major North arrived from New York with pay for the troops.
"10th. Lieutenant Bradford embarked for Fort Pitt, to bring down two field pieces for the defence of this garrison.
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