USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 40
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On the 21st the army left Chillicothe on their return to Fort Washington, marching 8 miles, when the scouts, who had been scouring the country, came in and reported that the Indians had re-occupied the "Omee" village, lying in the junction of the St. Joseph and Maumee riv- ers. Harmar, anxious to efface the stigma rest- ing on the American arms in the affair of the 19th, detached Col." Hardin with orders to sur- prize the savages, and bring on an engagement. The party under his orders consisted of 300 mi- litia of which three companies were mounted men, with 60 regulars under command of Major Wyllys.
Col. Hardin arrived at the Omee town early on the morning of the 22d. His force had been divided into two parties, the left division of which was to have formed down the St. Mary's and cross at the ford, after which they were to rest until day light, and cross the St. Joseph, and commencean attack on the Indians in front who had encamped out, near the ruins of their town. The right division under Hardin and Wyllys were to proceed to "Harmar's" ford, on the Maumee, where they were to remain until M'Millan's party had reached the river, and com- menced the attack which was to be the signal for them to cross the Maumee and attack the In- dians in the rear. Owing to the treachery or ignorance of the guides, however, M'Millan's force lost ita way in the thickets through which they had to pass, and although travelling all night, did not reach the ford until day light .- As soon as the Indians, who had been encamp-
As regards the force of the savages, Captain Armstrong who was under no temptation to un- derrate their number, apeaks of them as about one hundred in force. Their strength has been stated, but as I think, without any data by Mar- shall, in his life of Washington at 700. The real strength of the Indians was in a well chosen po- Jing about the ruins of their town, discovered
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His orders of march and encampment with notes of his progress I shall publish in next nmn- ber of the "Advertiser" as a separate statement. It is an original article from the pen of an eye witness. The first day's advance was seven miles, and the encampment for the night, was on a branch of Mill creek, course north-east. Eight miles more were made the second day, on a general course of north-west, the army en- camping on another branch of Mill creek. On the third day a march of fifteen miles was made, the course generally north, and the encamp- ment on the waters of Muddy creek, a tributary of the Little Miami, within one mile of Col. Har- din's command. The next morning, Col. Har- din, with the militia were overtaken and passed, and halting at Turtle creek one mile further on, the whole army encamped for the night.
On the 14th Oct. the army reached and cross- ed the Little Miami, on a north-east course mov- ed up it one mile to a branch called Sugar or Caesars creek, near Waynesville, where they encamped, having accomplished nine miles that day. Next day a march of ten miles, still on a north-east course, brought the army to Glade creek, near where Xenia now stands. On the 6th it reached Chillicothe, an old Indian village, now Oldtown, & crossed again the Little Miami, keeping a north-east course, making nine miles that day. Next day the troops crossed Mad river, then called the Pickaway fork of Great Miami, and made nine miles; their course for the first time becoming west of north. On the 8th, pursuing a north-west course, they crossed Honey creek and made seven miles more. On the next day, they followed the same course, and marching ten miles encamped within two miles of the Great Miami. Next day the army crossed the Miami, keeping still a north-west course, and made ten miles more. On the 11th, by a course west of north it passed the ruins of a Frenchi trading station, marked on Hutchens' map as the Tawixtwes-(Twigtwees.) Encamp- ed after making eleven miles. Next day the army kept a course west of north-west, near Lo- ramie's creek, and across the head waters of the Auglaize. Here they found the remains of a considerable village, some of the houses being still standing; fourteen miles made this day .- On the 13th, marched ten miles, keeping west of north-west, and encamped, being joined by a reinforcement from Cincinnati, with ammuni- tion. Next day, the 14th, Col. Hardin was de- tached with one company of regulars and six hundred militia, in advance of the main body, and being charged with the destruction of the towns in the forks of the Maumee. On the ar- rival of this advance party they found the towns abandoned by the Indians, and the principal one burnt. The main body marching on the | just killed, and pronounced him to be "Captain
14th ten miles, and on the 15th eight more, both days on a north-west course. Next day made nine miles same course, and on the 17th cross- ing the Maumee river to the Indian village, formed a junction ugain with Hardin at the Omee (au Miami Fr.) village. This was the same town burnt and abandoned by the savages.
At this point of the narrative there is consid- erable obscurity with names and places which I must explore as I best can. The Indians had seven villages, it seems, clustering about the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph rivers, which, as is well known, form the river Mau- mee. These were, Ist, the Miami village, so called, after the tribe of that name, corruptly and by contraction Omee from Au Miami, the desig- nation given it by the French traders, who were here resident in great force. This lay in the fork of the St. Joseph and Maumee. 2nd, a vil- lage of the Miamies of 30 houses, Ke Kiogue, now Ft. Wayne-in the fork of the St. Mary's and Maumee. 3d, Chillicothe, a name signify- ing "town" being a village of the Shawnees, down the Maumee on its north bank and of 58 houses. Opposite this was another of the same tribe of 18 houses. The Delawares had their villages, two on the St. Marys, about three miles from its mouth and opposite each other, with 45 houses together, and the other consisting of 36 houses, on the east side of the St. Joseph's, two or three miles from its mouth.
The day of Harmar's junction with Hardin, two Indians were discovered by a scouting par- ty, as they were crossing a prairie; the scouts, pursued them and shot one; the other made his escape. A young man named Johnson, seeing the Indian was not dead, attempted to shoot him again, but his pistol not making fire, the Indian raised his rifle and shot Johnson through the body, which proved fatal. This night the In- dians succeeded in driving through the lines between fifty and one hundred horses, and bore them off, to the no small mortification of the whites.
The same day, October 17th, was employed in searching in the hazel thickets for hidden treasure. Much corn was found buried in the earth. On the evening of this day, Captain M'Clure and a Mr. M'Clary fell upon a strata- gem peculiar to backwoodsmen. They convey- ed a horse a short distance down the river un- discovered, fettered him, unstrapped the bell, and concealed themselves with their rifles. An Indian, attracted by the sound of the bell, eame cautiously up, and began to untie him, when M'Clure shot him. The report of the gun alarmed the camp, and brought many of the troops to the place. A young man taken pris- oner at Loramies was brought to see the Indian
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Hardin's men, they began to rally for the fight, [ He drew them both to the shore, then sat down the alarm spreading, and the Indians rushing in between them, and with fearless, Roman com- posure, awaited the approach of the pursuing foe, who came up and killed him also. Col. Hardin, discovering that unless he crossed immediately he would be compelled to do it in the face of superior numbers, and expecting ev- If there be any generalship, in thus sending out detachment after detachment to be cut up in detail, then General Harmar deserves that dis- tinction. He put the best face on the matter which the nature of the case permitted, and issu- ed the following orders on the 22nd October, the day of the second battle. ery moment to hear the report of M'Millan's men in his rear, gave the order to cross, and by the time two thirds of his force had passed over the battle began. A severe engagement ensu- ed; the desperation of the savages in the con- test surpassed any thing previously known, and the greater part throwing down their arms Camp, 8 miles from the ruins of the Maumee towns, 1790. rushed on the bayonets, tomahawk in hand, thus rendering every thing useless but the rifles of the militia, and carrying rapid destruction every where in their advance. While this at- tack was going on, the rifles of the remaining Indians were fatally employed picking out the officers. Majors Fountain and Wyllys. both val- uable officers, fell directly after the battle be- gan, the former pierced with eighteen bullets. Fifty-one of Wyllys' regulars shared his fate, and the other divisions also suffered severely in both killed and wounded.
Major Mc Millan came up with his force while the battle was raging, but could not turn its tidę, although he succeeded in enabling the discom- fited troops to retire, which they did in compar- atively. good order.
The militia behaved well on this memorable day, and received the thanks of Gen. Harmar for their good conduct. What the carnage in this battle was, may be inferred from the return of 180 killed and wounded, not more than half of those engaged in it escaping unhurt. There is no doubt as respects the second battle, what- ever was the fact in the first, that the savages outnumbered as well as overpowered Hardin's forces, and the disparity was rendered still great- er, by the plan of night attack, which separated M'Millan from the main body when his aid was most needed,
It is alleged by some historians, that the American troops were not defeated, as was pro- ven by their regular retreat, a disorderly flight being the usual concomitant of defcat. But the fact that our troops were obliged to leave the re- mains of the brave soldiers who fell on that oc- casion, to become scalped and lie unburicd, and their bones bleaching on the ground until Wayne's visit, four years afterwards obtained, them decent burial, scouts the idca.
An affecting incident occurred at the place of crossing the river. A young Indian and his fa- ther and brother were crossing, when the ball of a white man passed through his body : he fell. The old man, seeing his boy fall, dropped his rifle, and attempted to raise his fallen son, in order to carry him beyond the reach of the white men, when the other son also fell by his side.
"The general is exceedingly pleased with the behavior of the militia in the action of this mor- ning. They have laid very inany of the enemy dead upon the spot. Although our loss is great, still it is inconsiderable in comparison to the slaughter among the savages. Every account agrees that, upwards of one hundred warriors fell in the battle; it is not more than man for man, and we can afford them two for one. The resolution and firm determined conduct of the militia this morning has effectually retrieved their character in the opinion of the General .- He knows they can and will fight."
It is easy to judge, by the preceeding narra- tive and orders, what kind of fitness Harmar possesses for the service to which he was called. A general who encamps in the neighborhood of the enemy, with a force large enough to exter- minate him, and contents himself with sending out detachments to be destroyed successively, where no adequate reason exists, why the whole force should not have been brought into action, deserves not the name of a military man. Har- mar kept two thirds or three fourthis of his troops eight miles from the battle ground inac- tive, and of as little service as if he had left them at Fort Washington. He appeared to be fully consoled for the loss of the brave officers and soldiers who fell by the savage tomahawk and rifle, by the reflection expressed in the general orders that the American troops could afford to lose twice as many men as the Indians. My un- favorable judgment on this subject is supported by that of the actors of that campaign, who still survive.
The celebrated Indian Chief, Little Turtle, commanded the savages in both battles, with Col. Hardin and his troops, as he did afterwards in St. Clair'sdefeat, as well as bore a conspicu- ous part in the battle with Gen. Wayne at the Fallen Timbers.
Ilarmer returned by easy marches to Fort Washington, where he arrived on the 3d Novem- ber, and which he left soon afterwards for Phil- adelphia, being succeeded in his military com- mand by St. Clair. He resided in comparative obscurity for some years, on the banks of the
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Schuylkill, and died about 1803. I was present at the funeral, which was conducted with great military pomp, his horse being dressed in mourning, and his sword and pistols laid upon his coffin, which was borne on a bier, hearses not being in use in those days.
Revolutionary Recollections.
PLAIN, WOOD COUNTY, April 2d, 1842. J. FRAZER, Esq .:-
Yours of the 18th of March came to hand the 8th of April. My dear sir, when my pension paper was made out, I was in a very low state of health, having been confined to my room, and most of my time to my bed, for about four months. I am now very low, unable to write but a few lines at a time; but fearing I should not be able to make any communica- tion a few days hence, I thought perhaps a short description of Danbury in Connecticut, would be acceptable. But I am so worn out in body and mind, to do justice to the subject, cannot be expected. However, it has been the will of God, who orders the events of war, and of peace, to prolong my life beyond all who were engaged in the sanguinary contest. O, what millions of the aged, and those who had well entered the varied professional business for life, have gone to their final and invisible abode, since the event, about which I write. But my appointed time must be near at hand.
In order to destroy the public stores of Dan- bury, the British, in the forepart May, 1777, landed about 800 men, with two field-pieces, at a place called Compo; and being aided by a tory party, they were directed along an unfre- quented route, and mostly through woods, about 15 miles to the village of Danbury, without alar- ming the people : but how it went like an elec- trical shock to every quarter. Altho' many of our young men were then in the army, there soon collected a formidable company of yeo- manry. The enemy having effected their de- sign in part, in destroying about 1000 bbls. of pork and flour, and after setting the village on fire, began their retreat on a large road leading to White Plains. As they were entering the village of Ridgfield, General Wooster, with a party of Yankee farmers, directly from the place, fell upon their rear with an alarming ef- fect. They left, it was said, about thirty on the ground. I saw a man stripping some of the dead next morning as they lay on the road. General Wooster received a mortal wound.
They began now to feel themselves in some danger, and took the most direct course to reach their shipping. However, night came on, and they were obliged to encamp, about ten miles from the place of landing. The party I was in,
commanded by Lieut. Hall, an officer of the ar my, attacked their rear guard just as they began to descend a very stony road into a valley at Wilton meeting-house, from which there were roads in several directions. There was a wall fence on each side of the road, which made them overshoot our men. We soon rushed for- ward within about eight rods of them, and open- ed our fire ; they stood about three rounds, and ran down the hill. We had five men wounded, one of them mortally. Here the firing ceased for a few moments, and we stood looking to see what course they would take from the Church. They entered with a rolling column into a road leading up a pretty steep ascent, well fenced with wall and bushes on both sides-in about 30 or 40 rods, there was a right-angle completely covered with the fence and bushes. Here Gen- eral Arnold with a small regular force, with a six-pound piece, had taken a stand. As soon as the enemy had well entered the road, Arnold gave them a shot, that spoke loudly-they were prodigiously startled, and shifted their course with a quick step into a road leading to Compo bridge: but Arnold got the bridge and obliged them to ford with some disadvantage. Here the contest became more severe, and their situation more perilous : but about the setting of the sun, they landed from their shipping two or three hundred fresh troops, which, under the advan- tage of the night, enabled them to reembark, having suffered the loss of about forty men.
Some things amusing, happen in perilous cir- cumstances. A little before the party overtook their rear, in passing by a farm house, a stout looking fellow set his gun leaning on a pig house, and jumped in to catch some fowls- there were two stout resolute Yankee girls look- ing out at a window, who saw the fellow jump in, and his gun standing outside; they sprang out, seized his gun, and told him positively, that if he attempted to leave the pen, they would kill him on the spot. They kept him in the pig pen until some of our party released them, and took the fellow into their custody and marched him the other way. The road was strewed in several places with articles of plunder, which they were obliged to throw by.
It seemed to be an object of the enemy, to destroy all they could, even where they had not time to burn. Furniture, for example, as much broken and injured, as their hearty retreat would admit of.
After this severe check, they quit landing parties for plunder in Connecticut.
I think it more probable, this will be my last, than that I shall live, or be able to write again. The invisible realities of another world appear to be near. Here I have lived nearly 86 years; have done much to be accounted for, at
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tino judgment day, when all will stand before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ.
Accept, my dear sir, the sincere regards of your aged friend.
JOSEPH BADGER.
AUGUST 12, 1842.
Extracts from Judge Goforth's Docket. 1790.
Feby. 2. "Took the oath of allegiance to the United States of America, and the oath of office as a Justice of the Peace, for the County of Hamilton."
Feby.4. Joseph Gerard took the oath of allegi- ance to the United States of America, and was qualified as Constable.
Aug. 12. 1790. I received a visit from Esqr. Wells and Mr. Sedam, an officer in the Army who spent most of the day with me, and towards evening as they were going away and I was walking with them to the boat, Esq. Wells introdu- ced a conversation with me respecting the pernicious practice of retailing spirituous liquors to the troops, and in- formed me that General Harmar wished me to write to Cochran and some oth- . ers, in order to prevent such mischiefs as were taking place. I observed to the gentleman, that we had more effect- ual ground to go upon, and that by vir- tue of a statute of the Territory, a special session might be called, and wished Esq. Wells to meet me on the forepart of the 14th of August for that purpose, at Cincinnati.
Aug. 14. On Saturday 14th, I arrived at Cincin- nati with Esq. Gano-waited upon Esq. McMillan who was in a low state of health, but gave me encouragement that he would be able to sit in session. I immediately despatched a messenger to inform Esq. Wells of my arrival, and another to carry the following letter to General Harmar.
DEAR SIR : -
It has been intimated to me that the persons sanctioned in May term last, to keep public houses of entertainment for the accom- modation of strangers and travelers, have abu- sed that indulgence in a way that must eventu- ally be detrimental to the public service, by, de- bauching the troops under your command with spirituous liquors. I have, therefore, convencd a special session on the occasion, which are now met and ready to proceed on that business, and would therefore, thank General Harmar to be so. kind as to furnish the session with suchi evidence as may be an effectual clue to go into a thorough investigation of the matter; and as the session
are now convened, your compliance as speedily as may be with conveniency to yourself, will greatly oblige,
Sir, your most obedient
humble servant, WILLIAM GOFORTH.
HON. GEN. HARMAR.
Cincinnati, 14th Aug. 1790.
The court being opened, present William Goforth, William Wells, Will- ian McMillan, John S. Gano,
Captain Ferguson, Captain Pratt, Captain Strong, and several other officers appeared agree- able to Gen. Harmar's orders, and informed the court, that in consequence of the troops being debauched by spirituous liquors, punishment had become frequent in the army, and that the men were sickening fast, and that the sickness in the opinion of the Doctors was in a great degree, brought on by excessive hard drinking, and the officers complained of three houses which had retailed to the troops, to wit: Thomas Cochran, Matthew Winton and John Scott. These char- ges were supported by evidence, and Thomas Cochran, and Matthew Winton, each with a se- curity were bound by their recognizance at the next general quarter sessions of the peace, to be holden at Cincinnati, for the county of Hamil- ton on the first Tuesday in November next, in the sum of two hundred dollars, and in the mean time to refrain from retailing spirituous liquors to the troops without a written permission from their officers. And John Scott, in the sum of thirty dollars. The Court being adjourned with- out day.
Chair Factories.
It is not easy in every respect to point out the reasons, why Cincinnati mechanics should ex- cel most others, in cheapness or in quality, in any given article of manufacture, and yet, our superiority over other places is at times, forci- bly impressed on me, by what I see almost eve- ry day in the factories of this place. I believe the general fact to be that men prepare them- selves to better advantage and more thoroughly for carrying on business of this description here, than elsewhere, as a general rule.
Where, for instance, out of Cincinnati, could a building six stories, basement included -- as large too as 28 feet by 100 feet-be found, de- voted to carrying on the manufacture of chairs. Think what immense space such sized floors must afford for the various operations, particu- larly as the work is all blocked out in the coun- try, and the sawing and turning all done before the chairs reach the factory. Notwithstanding this, every foot of space throughout tho building, not occupied as gangways, is taken up by the manufactured article, in its various stages of fin-
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ishing, framing, fitting, veneering, polishing, caning, painting, and varnishing, and by the workmen employed in the establishment.
The factory to which I refer is that of Mr. John Geyer on East Fourth street. A few chair factories in the United States may turn out more work, but nowhere in our republic, are operations in this line so extensively carried on, within the limits of the establishment itself, or conducted so systematically. I hold it a sound axiom in political economy, that our banking facilities and business patronage should be be- stowed upon those manufacturing products in which the raw material bought elsewhere, bears the lightest proportion to the cost of labor, in the aggregate value. There are industrial pur- suits in Cincinnati, in which the raw material forms 85 per cent. of the manufactured article; as there are others in which almost the entire value of the product, is created by the skill or labor of the artificer. Apply this rule to the manufacture of chairs, and we shall find it a valuable department of productive industry ; fif- tecn per cent being the full proportion of the raw materials.
There are five important establishments in this line of business in Cincinnati ; John Geyer, Wm. H. Ross, Jno. Pfaff, Jonathan Mullen, and Robt. Mitchell & Co., besides twelve or fifteen operating on a smaller scale, and in fact in a dif- ferent line, making low-priced and plain chairs only. In these five establishments, there are one hundred and twenty-five hands employed in the various processes : in the others, perhaps seventy-five more. The aggregate sales of chairs, settees &c. in Cincinnati, for the year 1844 were 120,000 dollars, being a greatly in- creased extent of goods sold, although at a less price than the sales of 1840, which amounted to 131,000 dollars. The present prices of chairs under the influence of increased skill, improved facilities for manufacture, fall in raw materials and the reduction of business generally to a cash basis, being but two thirds of those of 1840 .--- Within that period the increase of hands has been at least fifty per cent. Under these cir- cumstances there is no place in the United States where chairs are sold on as favorable terms.
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