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 13
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"11th. Captain Hart's company were ordered to en- camp in the open ground outside the fort, as the men are very sickly in the barracks.
"23d. Captain Hart, with his company, embarked for Wheeling, with orders to escort and protect the surveyors in the seven ranges.
"September 1st. Captain Tunis, the Indian, came to the fort and reported that the Indians designed to attack our garrison, and that they were bent upon mischief. We were all hands employed in making preparations to receive them; lining the bastions, and clearing away all the weeds and brush within a hundred yards of the fort. We likewise cut up all our corn, and broke down the bean poles, to prevent their having any shelter within rifle shot distance.
"6th. Captain Tunis left the garrison to return to his nation, and bring us further information.
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" 7th. The troops received orders to parade at the alarm post at day break, and continue under arms until after sun rise.
" 12th. Still busy making preparations for the Indians, and expect them every day.
" 19th. Lieutenant Ford and Mr. Cowdry arrived here on express - the particulars kept private.
"29th. The Ohio rose ten feet in five hours-kept the men up several times in the night to secure the boats. It is a singular freshet, as we have had no rain here for ten days.
"21st. Ensign Kingsbury was ordered to take a party of men into the commandant's house, and put it in the best order for defence, and to remain there during the night.
"26th. The troops are again brought to half rations. I went with a party of men after a raft of timber to build our barracks.
"27th. Lieutenant Smith embarked in quest of provi- sions. We are on short allowance, and expect the Indians every day to attack us. Our men are very uneasy, laying various plans to desert, but are so closely watched that it is very difficult for them to escape.
" October 2d, 1786. Lieutenant Smith returned with pro- visions, sufficient only for a short time. We are busily occupied in erecting the barracks.
" 10th. Major Doughty and Captain Strong left here for New England.
"11th. The Indians made us a visit, and stole one of our horses as it was feeding in the woods.
" 16th. Captain Tunis called again at the fort, and says the Indians had repented of their design to attack the garrison.
"21st. Finished shingling our barracks.
" 24th. Sergeant Shamburgh returned from his voyage to Pittsburgh, with Major Doughty and Captain Strong, oc- cupying fourteen days.
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"26th. We this day finished building the chimneys to the barracks.
"27th. Lieutenant Pratt ordered out the men for timber to build him a house. The officers' houses were two stories high, and built in the bastions.
"November 2d. Captain Sheets arrived with a new barge for the colonel, built at Pittsburgh.
"3d. Captain Tunis and a number of Indians, with two squaws, came into the garrison. At night they got very drunk, and threatened the guard with their tomahawks and knives. ·
" 5th. Uling, a trader on the river, arrived with provi- sions.
"9th. The hunters brought in about thirty deer, and a great number of turkeys.
" 24th. There fell a considerable snow.
"25th. Captain Hart's and M'Curdy's companies came in from the survey of the seven ranges. They had a cold, wearisome time-their clothes and shoes worn out, and some of their feet badly frozen.
"December 3d. Uling arrived with twenty kegs of flour and ten kegs of whisky, and some dry goods.
"4th. Major Wyllis was cleared by the court martial, and ordered to resume his command at the rapids of the Ohio.
" 8th. Our rations now consist of a little venison, with- out any bread ; as a substitute we have some corn and po- tatoes. The weather is very cold, and the river full of ice.
" 13th. Lieutenant Pratt embarked in a boat for " Flinn's station,"* distant thirty miles below the garrison, for a load of corn and potatoes. The troops are in great distress for provisions. About twelve miles below they landed on ac- count of the storm, and their boat was carried off by the ice, with a considerable amount of goods in it.
* Since called Bellville.
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"14th. The Ohio has been rising rapidly, and we were obliged to be up several times in the night to secure the boats from the floating ice.
" 16th. A number of boats came floating down in the ice, carried away by the flood. Some of them had rich loads of goods on board.
" 19th. Weather more moderate. Ensign Kingsbury embarked for " Flinn's station," to make another trial for provisions.
" 22d. Ensign Kingsbury returned, with about sixty bushels of corn and twenty of potatoes.
" 24th. We drew for our rations about a peck of frozen potatoes. As Christmas is so near, we are making all the preparation in our power to celebrate it.
"25th. This being Christmas day, the sergeants cele- brated it by a dinner, to which was added a plentiful sup- ply of wine.
" 27th. The men killed a deer, as it was floating down on a cake of ice.
"28th. Uling arrived with a boat load of provision.
" January 4th, 1847. In the evening a furious tornado tore the roofs from our barracks, and did us considerable damage.
" 7th. The Ohio river rose about thirty feet, to the top of its banks.
"8th. Major Wyllis embarked for the falls of the Ohio.
" 17th. Sergeant Hartshorne embarked for Wheeling, to purchase vegetables for the troops.
"26th. Hartshorne returned with a load of potatoes, &c.
" 27th. A severe cold day.
" 31st. Hamilton Kerr, our hunter, began to build a house on the island a little above the mouth of the Mus- kingum, and some of our men were ordered out as a fatigue party, to assist him, under the command of Lieutenant Pratt.
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"February 11th. The weather has been very fine, and there is a prospect of an early spring.
" 16th. Hamilton Kerr moved his family on to the island.
" 19th. Captain Beaty arrived, with pay and clothing for the troops.
"25th. Colonel Harmar embarked for Pittsburgh, and Major Finney arrived from "the rapids."
" March 8th. Began fencing our gardens, and laying them out very large.
" 15th. Sergeant Judd went with a party of men to as- sist some inhabitants to move their families and settle near the garrison. (Probably from Fish or Grave creek.)
" 18th. Several families are settling on the Virginia shore, opposite the fort.
" 24th. Isaac Williams arrived with his family to settle on the opposite shore of the river. Several others have joined him, which makes our situation in the wilderness much more agreeable.
" 26th. Colonel Harmar returned from Fort Pitt.
"27th. Major Hamtramck arrived from Fort Steuben, in order to muster the troops. The same day some of the hunters brought a buffalo into the fort that was eighteen hands high and weighed one thousand pounds.
"29th. The troops were mustered and paid up to the 1st January, 1787.
" April 1st. The Indians came within twelve miles of the garrison, and killed an old man and took a young boy prisoner.
"3d. We began to lay out the ground in our gardens, and to dig up the earth.
" 5th. Lieutenant Smith went out with a party of men on a scout, and discovered four Indians on a hill within half a mile of the garrison.
" 9th. Ensign Kingsbury went on command with a party to bring in one of our hunters, fifty miles up the Muskin-
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gum, for fear of the Indians, who we hear are bent on mischief.
" 10th. Captain Hart embarked with his company to build a fort at Venango. (This was the name of an old Indian town, situated at the mouth of French creek, on the Alleghany river ; a post was established soon after a few miles below and called Fort Franklin.)
" 12th. Ensign Kingsbury returned from his trip after Hamilton Kerr.
" 15th. Colonel Harmar embarked in his new barge to visit the post at the falls of the Ohio.
" 17th. Major Hamtramck arrived and took the com- mand of the garrison. He is a severe disciplinarian, and turned out the troops twice a day for exercise.
" 25th. One of our men discovered two Indians endeav- oring to steal our horses a little distance from the fort. The weather is now warm and pleasant.
" May Ist. This is St. Tammany's day, and was kept with the festivities usual to the frontiers. All the sergeants in the garrison crossed the Ohio to Mr. Williams's, and par- took of an excellent dinner.
"6th. Thirteen boats bound for Kentucky, landed at the fort, loaded with families, goods, cattle, &c.
"7th. Twenty-one boats passed, on their way to the lower country. They had on board five hundred and nine souls, with many wagons, goods, &c.
"8th. Colonel Harmar returned this evening from the rapids of the Ohio.
" 14th. John Stockley, a fifer in Captain Strong's com- pany, deserted. He was pursued and overtaken twelve miles from the garrison, brought back and ordered to run the gauntlet eleven times through the troops of the gar- rison ; then stripped of his continental clothing and drum- med out of the fort with a halter round his neck; all of which was punctually executed. (The usual punishment for desertion was whipping, from one hundred to several
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hundred lashes ; the same for drunkenness ; and the record of these events is found on almost every page.)
" 15th. Major Hamtramck embarked to return to his post at Steuben, and Captain Beaty for New York, after pay and clothing for the regiment.
" 17th. Captain King arrived with an express from Congress.
"21. This evening I sent a young man, who cooked for me, to Kerr's island, about half a mile above the fort, after some milk ; he was seen to jump into the river, near the shore, when about a third of a mile from the garrison. We supposed some of the people were playing in the water. He did not return that evening, which led me to fear he had lost his canoe. In the morning a party was sent after him. They discovered fresh signs of Indians, and found his hat. They followed the trail but did not find them. We after- wards heard that they killed and scalped him. The Indians were a party of Ottawas.
"23d. Captain Strong was ordered to get his company ready to embark for the rapids at a minute's warning.
" 25th. Lieutenant Kersey arrived with a part of Cap- tain Mercer's and Smith's companies.
"26th. Captain Strong with his company embarked at ten o'clock, A. M., on board of two keelboats, for the falls, with a warm sunshine and pleasant breeze.
"27th. At six in the morning reached the mouth of Big Kenawha, one hundred and twelve miles, where we landed and took breakfast at Colonel Lewis's. Here the men bought liquor, got drunk, and refused to be silent when ordered - whereupon I was forced to give several of them a severe whipping, which produced quiet, and we proceeded on our passage.
" 28th. We arrived at Limestone, one hundred and sev- enty-five miles below Kenawha, at four o'clock, P. M., and passed the night. This is the main landing for the Kentucky emigrants.
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" 29th. In the morning resumed our passage. About twenty miles below Limestone discovered an elegant horse on the Indian shore. The captain was apprehensive of danger, and would not suffer the men to land and take it. We remained all the night on the river. In the morning there was quite a storm of wind and rain.
"30th. Arrived at Kentucky river about three o'clock, P. M. Made a short halt and pursued our course.
"31st. Arrived at Fort Finney, at the falls of the Ohio, at ten o'clock, A. M., distance five hundred and thirty-three miles from Muskingum. Here we landed our men and marched up to the fort, forming our camp a little distance from it. This garrison is pleasantly situated on the Indian shore, opposite a beautiful town called Louisville.
"June Ist. Nothing worth notice happened, except our troops moved into the fort.
" 5th. Made a visit to Louisville, in company with Ser- geant Wilcox. We drank two bowls of punch and paid two dollars ; which I then thought extravagant, but they were reasonable people when compared with the inhabitants of Post Vincent.
" 6th. An express arrived at the garrison, with informa- tion that the Indians had cut off a boat's crew fifteen miles below the falls. A command was immediately sent after them, who found the dead bodies, all scalped, but did not discover the Indians.
"9th. Captain Mercer arrived with his company, from Muskingum, in the evening.
" 10th. Captain Smith arrived with his company.
" 11th. Colonel Harmer and Major Hamtramck landed at the fort.
" 18th. The military stores were guarded over the falls, so that we expect a movement soon.
" 19th. All the keelboats were piloted over the falls.
"20th. The two soldiers, who were discharged on the 4th instant, returned to the falls, and reported that the
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Indians attacked their boat near the mouth of the Miami ; that they fought them for some time, but were worsted and obliged to return.
"July 2d. The second battallion were ordered to em- bark and encamp below the falls.
" 3d. The first battallion joined us early in the morning.
"4th. The day of independence. Nothing was done worth notice. We were busy preparing to embark for the Post Vincent. The troops had an extra gill of liquor served out to them.
" Sth. Our regiment embarked at six o'clock, A. M., on board of boats, with their baggage, horses, and cattle. I tarried at the rapids until afternoon, to bring on one of the contractor's boats. We floated all night, and overtook the fleet the next day about ten o'clock, A. M.
" 10th. We arrived at Pigeon Creek, one hundred and eighty miles below the falls, at one o'clock, P. M. Sent off our boats with an escort of one hundred men, to transport the baggage up the Wabash river. In the mean time, we were busy in making preparation to march through the wilderness. Here the troops drew sixteen pounds of flour to each man, and have to transport it on their backs, in ad- dition to their arms, &c., through the woods.
" 11th. Commenced our march early in the morning. The weather is extremely hot, and the men weary and faint. Many of them threw away their flour. During the first day, I carried my load of flour ; but after that put it on a pack · horse. We were seven days on the march, and had a fatiguing, tedious tour of it-suffering much for the want of water. The troops marched in four columns, in the most perfect order, with a drummer at the head of each; to give and answer signals for the halting and forward movements of the divisions.
" 19th. We arrived at Post Vincent, distant sixty miles from the place of landing. Marched through the town and encamped near the old fort.
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" 20th. A command was sent to meet the boats, and the regiment moved up the Wabash about half a mile and en- camped on the bank of the river, at a very pleasant spot.
" 25th. Major Hamtramck arrived, with the boats and baggage. One man was drowned on the passage, and a package of two hundred shirts sunk in the river.
"26th. Lieutenant Armstrong embarked with a party of men, to bring up some baggage that was left at the mouth of the Wabash.
"27th. An express arrived, and informed us that the Indians had attacked one of our boats, and killed one man of Captain Zeigler's company and a number of the inhabi- tants.
"28th. Two canoes of Indians came down the river with their flag flying, landed on the opposite shore, fired their guns, whooped and yelled a few times, and went into the town.
"29th. Went into the village with Sergeant Wilcox, and spent the day. Found all kinds of goods and liquors very dear.
" August 2d. Old Mr. Owens came an express here through the wilderness. The weather is very hot, and we have had no rain for a long time. The men begin to be sickly, and although this is called a healthy place, we ex- pect the troops will suffer a good deal, as the climate is very different from that in which they have formerly lived. Post Vincent is a beautiful place, was it settled with respectable people ; but they are a mixture of all nations. The prin- cipal inhabitants are French, intermarried with Indians, and pay but little regard to religion or law. They are under the guidance of an old Roman Catholic friar, who keeps them in ignorance as much as he can, and fills them full of superstition. The people give themselves up to all kinds of vice, and are as indolent and idle a community as ever composed one town. They might live in affluence if they were industrious. The town has been settled longer
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than Philadelphia, and one half of their dwelling houses are yet covered with bark like Indian wigwams. The in- habitants are quite numerous, and people from all parts of the United States are emigrating to this place.
" 4th. In the evening a party of men were ordered out to disperse a band of Indians, who were lying in ambush to attack our boats as they ascended the river.
" 5th. The party returned without seeing any Indians.
"7th. Two canoes came down the river from Detroit, loaded with peltry and Indian goods, which we thought to make a prize of.
"9th. Colonel Harmer left here attended by a strong guard, for Kaskaskia ; distant one hundred miles from the post.
" 11th. The troops began to erect batteries on the flanks of our encampment.
" 19th. There was a violent storm of rain, which broke down our boweries and much incommoded the encampment.
"23d. Several men have died, and Captain Strong was carried into town sick of a fever.
"27th. At this time our troops are very sickly ; nearly half of them are down.
"September 3d. Colonel Harmer returned from Kas- kaskia.
" 5th. The Pyankesha Indians came down the river in canoes, with their white flag hoisted. When they were within a mile of our encampment, they began a running fire, and continued until quite near it. A guard was ordered out and fired three vollies as a welcome. They landed and came up to our camp, when the music were ordered to play them a salute. They were painted in fine style ; some black with streaks of white, others red and eyes white. To us they seemed hideous, but in their own estimation no doubt very fine. They made but a short visit, when they embarked in their canoes, returning our parting salute with a running fire as before, and went into the town.
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" 7th. The Indians visited our camp to drink whisky. The music saluted them as they came in and went out.
"9th. The Indians came again to our camp. A band of warriors marched in front painted for battle, and per- fectly naked, except their breech clouts, and commenced a dance round our flag staff. Their music consisted of a drum made of a small keg, covered at one end with a skin, and beat upon with a stick. After performing their antics for some time round the flag staff, they went to the Colo- nel's marque, and danced in the hot sun, drinking whisky at the same time, until all were as drunk as they could be and stand on their feet. They then staggered into town, where I saw them fighting and dragging each other through the mud and dirt of the streets.
" 11th. Sergeants Fitch and Hartshorne were sent to the hospital : three of my messmates are now in town sick with the fever, and there are only two of us left.
"12th. The Indians left Post Vincent to return to their towns.
" 14th. Sergeant Fitch, my messmate, died ; which I la- ment greatly, as he was my most intimate friend.
" 15th. Mr. Britt, the contractor, arrived from the Illi- nois, and reported that one of our men had left him and gone to the Spaniards. Mr. Bradshaw arrived with a drove of cattle from the falls of Ohio.
" 26th. Several of the sick have recovered and returned to duty.
" October 1st. Captain Zeigler's and Strong's companies marched at eleven o clock A. M., for the rapids of the Ohio, through the wilderness. The tour was much more pleasant than in July.
" 4th. In our march to day, came across five buffaloes. They tried to force a passage through our column. The general ordered the men to fire on them. Three were kil- led, and the others wounded.
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" 7th. We arrived at the rapids a little before sunset, after a fatiguing march.
'"22d. Major Wyllis came in with Captain Finney's and Mercer's companies, from " the post."
" 25th. Captain Zeigler's and Strong's companies re- ceived orders to be in readiness to embark for Muskingum.
" 28th. General Harmer left here for Muskingum.
" 29th. The two companies embarked at eleven o' clock A. M., for Fort Harmer.
" 31st. Reached Kentucky river, and encamped on the Indian shore.
" November 1st. We continue on our passage, and make about fifteen or twenty miles a day up stream. Every night we encamp on the shore, and embark early in the morning.
"3d. Reached the Big Miami, and encamped on the Kentucky side. 1
" 4th. We killed two buffaloes, as they were crossing the river.
" 5th. Passed the Little Miami, with a fine breeze.
" 7th. Came within five miles of Limestone and en- camped.
" 8th. Reached Limestone, and tarried until three o'- clock, P. M., then pursued our voyage and encamped.
" 11th. Passed the mouth of Scioto river.
" 13th. Passed Big Sandy.
" 14th. Passed the Guyandot.
" 16th. Reached the Big Kenawha, and tarried all night.
" 18th. The hunters killed several buffaloes. Passed " Letart," or " Little Falls."
" 19th. Came to Bellville and passed the night. Bought a quantity of vegetables for the winter.
"20th. Reached the Little Kenawha, and encamped on the Indian shore. Had a stormy night.
"21st. We had a fine breeze, and reached Muskingum at ten o'clock A. M., and took possession of our old
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quarters. The upward voyage was accomplished in twenty- four days. The downward one in five days. The distance is five hundred and thirty-three miles.
" December 7th, 1787. Captain Mercer and Ashden em- barked for the falls of the Ohio.
" 8th. Captain Beaty left here for New York, after mo- ney and clothing for the regiment.
" 12th. Mr. Melcher, a cadet, came here from Phila- delphia.
"22d. Information was received that the contractor's boat had grounded at Middle island.
"23d. Sergeant Pratt, with a party of men, left here in a severe storm to assist the boat.
"25th. Christmas day. We passed this day in a melan- choly mood, having but little either to eat or drink.
" 28th. Lieutenant Kingsbury returned with provision.
"31st. Two men arrived from Venango.
"January 3d, 1788. Mr. Cochrane left here for Pitts- burgh, and General Harmer for Venango. The weather is extremely cold, and the Ohio frozen over so as to afford good crossing on the ice.
" 10th. The weather at this time is fifteen degrees below extreme cold.
" 15th. The recruiting officers received orders for enlist- ing soldiers.
" 16th. Weather moderate, with rain, and a prospect of the ice breaking in the Ohio.
" 17th. Weather clear and cold.
" 20th. The ice gave way in the Ohio, and came down with great force.
" 22d. A detachment of pack horses came in with pro- visions.
"24th. There fell a great body of snow.
" February Ist. Fine, moderate weather.
" 4th and 5th. Quite cold, and fourteen degrees below extreme cold ; and very variable. Our provisions very poor.
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" 10th. More moderate. The ice broke up in the Mus- kingum. Two Indians and a white man arrived from San- dusky. Their object is to get permission to trade with the garrison. They remained some time, and were supplied with rations.
"15th. News arrived that Ulin's boat, loaded with pro- visions for the fort, was stove at the islands called the " Three Brothers."
"16th. Lieutenant Schuyler, with a party of men, went up with a boat to bring down Ulin's cargo.
" 18th. The Lieutenant returned with the provisions.
"25th. The larger portion of the soldiers, whose time had expired, have re-enlisted again.
" March Ist. Cold weather. The Ohio river has again frozen over.
"8th. Captain Pipes, the chief of the Delaware nation, made us a visit, with some of his tribe.
"11th. The Indian warriors held a war dance in Captain Strong's room, and made a noise like so many devils.
" 12th. The Indians left the fort for their camp up the Muskingum.
"23. The contractor's large boat arrived, with provisions and whisky.
" 30th. A number of Indians came into the fort with furs to trade.
" April 6th. General Harmer embarked in his barge for Venango. Day stormy.
" 7th. General Putnam arrived at this place with fifty men, to begin a settlement on the east side of the Muskin- gum. They commenced with great spirit, and there is a prospect of it becoming a flourishing place in a short time.
" 8th. Captain M'Curdy's company went on scout in the woods after some frontier men, who were said to be lying in the woods for the purpose of attacking the Indians as they returned from the garrison to their towns. They re- turned without finding them.
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" 11th. The Indians left us to return to their hunting grounds.
" 12th. Colonel Meigs arrived from Connecticut; and Captain Ziegler's company went on scout into the woods.
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