USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 42
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Transcendentalism.
What has become of our "Cincinnati Dental Surgery College?" Or is the science to flourish here as almost every thing else does best, on its own responsibility.
After all that we hear of transcendental sci- ence in Germany or Boston,it is nothing there to transcend dental science in Cincinnati, Profess- ors Kant, Emerson, and Brownson, cannot in this respect, hold candles to Professors Taylor, Cook, and Allen of our City,
DEATHIS.
IN this city, on Saturday the 15th Inst, JOHN NEWTON ELLIOT, aged 19 years.
On Sunday the 16th inst., WILLIAM T. TRUMAN, aged 36 years.
Same day, GEORGE W BOUTELL, aged 2 years.
Same day, SINKON B. STURGESS, aged 43 years, of Con- sumption.
On Monday the 17th inst, ELIZABETH RAMSEY, in the sixth year of her age.
Same day, MARY A. H. RINGOLD, aged 5 years.
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Relics of the War of 1812.
Joseph Carpenter, wbose name is connected with the following documents, was the publish- er of the WESTERN SPY & HAMILTON GAZETTE, the first regularly printed journal, issued in Cin- cinnati. He commenced its publication, May 28th, 1799. He commanded a company during the war of 1812, and after doing duty in that ca- pacity during the campaign of 1813, under the immediate command of Genl. Harrison, he sunk under the severe privations and sufferings endu- red under a forced march from Fort St. Mary's, during mid winter, and was buried in this city, with appropriate military honors, and an unprece- dented attendance of his fellow citizens at the after their times expired, even though (as he call- ed them) they were "my own Kentuckians."
grave.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 24th, 1816.
I do hereby certify that Captain Joseph Car- penter served under my command a six months tour of duty in the service of the United States, in the year 1813 and 1814, and died on his way from Fort Meigs to Urbana, before he was dis- charged from the service. And I do further cer- tify, that the said Captain Carpenter commanded his company with high reputation as an officer. and rendered essential service to his country,- and the officer who inspected his company st Fort Winchester, reported to me that they were as well disciplined as any militia he ever saw in service. The muster rolls &c. in the war office, will be further evidence that the said Captain- Joseph Carpenter, was in the service of the United States.
JOHN S. GANO, Major Gen'!, Commanding Ist. Division Ohio Militia.
Fr. WINCHESTER, Feb. 5, 1813.
DEAR SIR :--
Although I sont you a scrap a few days ago, informing you of my arrival at this place. Yet having an opportunity of convey- ance as far as Ft. Meigs, which seldom occure, and believing it would be satisfaction to you, frequently to hear from the numerous posts un- der your command, that all's well, has induced me to write again.
The Indian Chief of whom I informed' you, came to this place, and after some difficulty pro- ceeded on to Dayton, where I am told a great number from different tribes have gone. The total number of Indians in the neighborhood of this place, to whom I have issued flour, is a little upwards of one hundred, including men, wo men and children- more are daily expected.
As the time for which we were ordered out will soon expire, I beg leave to enquire, is any arrangement made or making to relieve us; the anxiety of the men to get home is such, that I fear, unless they arrive previous to that day, or a
certainty of it in a day or two after, the garrison will be evacuated, (myself and two or three oth- ers excepted)-and there are a very considerable quantity of stores at this place. I am very anx- ious to hear from you on this subject. I had flattered myself that I should be able to per- suade many of them to stay a short time, after theexpiration of six months, but I fear, I am al- most sure I have deceived myself in that res- pect. You know yourself, sir, how militiu have heretofore acted, and can judge from that how they will act in future. Genl. Harrison, with all his influence, added to the promise of addi- tional pay, could induce them not to stay a day
Capt. S. Vance of Cincinnati, is with us where he has spent several days, which has made the time paes off very pleasantly; he desires me to make you his compliments. He has sent out a supply of groceries and other articles, which we much needed, and has paid us four months, which enables us to live like nabobs.
Please remember me te Meek and Vance- and accept, sir, my warmest wishes for your welfare and happiness.
J. CARPENTER, Capt. &c. GENL. JOHN S. GANO, Com'd O. Militia.
Relics of the Past.
Until within a few days, I was not aware that any enumeration of the buildings in Cincinnati prior to 1815 had been made. The following documents brought me from New Orleans serve to shew that the buildings had been counted at an earlier date, and as seems probable by the statistics of population during the census ta- king of 1810. There exists no stronger evi- dence of changos here within 35 years, than the fact that in a community of 388 houses; there were 230 spinning wheels, which, if the number of those buildings were reduced to dwelling houses, would nearly furnish a spin- ning wheel for each family. Where are these wheels? I doubt if there be one in employment, or even existence. Spinning wheels are turned to spinning jennys, and woolen yarn to street yarn .-- Indeed there are more pianos in Cincinnati now than there were spinning wheels in 1810, without much boing gained to tho community by the change, even if we look to the poetry and pictorial bearing alone of the subject, the spinning wheel giving a grace and picturesque outline and effect to female loveliness, which no piano can impart.
But to the documents. Thie appears to be written out on a card being one of several cards to be used in schools in those primitive days when "geographys" werc scarce. These cards or tablets were made out by a schoolmas-
194
ter who once resided here, of the name of Dow, has lately added a new article to the existing a brother of the famous Lorenzo, and equally variety in our Cincinnati manufactures, namely that of IRON SAFES. full of eccentricities. He removed afterwards te New Orleans, in which city he died lately .-- The cards were sent to this place as objects of men as well as familiarised, and indispensible local interest, and are published as such.
Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is a flourishing post town in the State of Ohio. It stands on the North Bank of the Ohio river, opposite the mouth of Licking river, 2} miles South West of Fort Washington ; and about 8 miles westerly of Columbia. Both these towns lie between Great and Little Miami rivers. Cincinnati contained about 300 houses in 1810. It is 80 miles North of Frankfort ; 90 North West of Lexington, and 770 West by South of Philadelphia. Some persons, a short time since in digging a well, on the hill, in this town, at the depth of 90 feet came to the stump of a tree, the roots of which were so sound that they had to be cut away with an axe : at 94 feet. they came to another. which still bore evident marks of the axe; and on its top, there appeared as if some iron tool had been consumed by rust. Cincinnati lies in North Latitude 39 degrees 22, and West Longitude 86 degrees 44'
You all, well remember Master Thomas Fosdick, who used to live in New London. He is now in Cincinnati on the Ohio. Not long since, he sent a Schedule of the Census taken in that town. The following is a copy of it. The number of
Frame houses, ... 242
Log houses,
55
Brick houses,
86
Stone houses,
14
Total 388 houses. Number of looms 31-spinning wheels 230.
Woolen cloth made the year past , 755 yds.
Cotton cloth 2967 yds. Linen cloth 2098 yds. Mixt cloth 685 yds, Total 6480 yds.
Inhabitants under 10 years 387 males
365 females
Over ten and under 16- 167 males
142 females
Over 16 and under 26.
286 males
241 females
Over 26 and under 45. 297 males
217 females
Over 45. 106 males 78 females
Whole number of males .. 1227
Whole number of females-
1043
Whole number of Blacks. 80
Whole number of all 2340
Salamander Safes.
Iron gafes are so well known among business to their use, that I deem it unnecessary to make a detailed description of these, farther than to say, that they are of the kind termed Salaman- ders, being made on the same principle as well as pattern, as the celebrated WILDER N. York Safes. Indeed Mr. Urban has workmen from that very establishment in his employ.
These Salamander safes are made of stout, wrought bar and plate iron, rivited together in the most substantial manner, and lined with a chemical preparation, which is a non-conductor of heat, and is indestructible by fire. The locks which are on the combination principle, not on- ly defy picking, but cannot be opened, even by their own keys, unless in the owner or maker's own hands.
There is one circumstance respecting safes for mercantile use to which it is proper to ad- vert. It is easy to put iron together in closet form, so as to resemble externally a safe, which at the same time, shall furnish not one particle of protection to its contents in case of fire. There is an article of that very description made in Pittsburgh, for sale in this city. The great fire of 1835 in New York tested this matter to its full extent, by the destruction of every safe ex- cept the Salamander. And still later at the fire which destroyed the TRIBUNE office a few days ago, one of the Salamander safes in which were lodged, the books of accounts and papers of value in that establishment, maintained its trust with honor, while the forwarding mail books and other papers of less value, which were deposited in the ordinary safe, were found re- duced to ashes.
The following testimony of the perfect indes- tructibility by fire of the composition with which these safes are lined is from Hunt's Merchants" Magazine, May 1843.
"A piece of the composition with which the safes are lined, about six inches square and two in thickness, was laid on a blacksmith's forge, and the full and constant force of the bellows applied to it for the space of about ten minutes, when it was found to have resisted the fire so effectually that we laid our naked hand on it, feeling only a gentle warmth. On turning it over, the part next to the fire did not retain heat enough to burn a card or light a paper; while a bar of iron in the forge about half the time was heated to whiteness. This experiment, simple as it is, must convince every one who may wit- ness it, as it did us at the time, that a safe filled with three or four inches of this material could
Charles Urban of our City, who has been manufacturing Lever locks for some time past, at the corner of Western Row and Third streets, not be heated through at the burning of a store
195
in any possible situation in which it might be placed.
Some of our first merchants have witnessed similar experiments, and have expressed their entire confidence as to the security of this safe. With these facts in view, we cordially commend the article to the attention of merchants and bankers, and to the State and county authorities throughout the Union, who desire to render se- cure the valuable papers committed to their charge.“
Mr. Urban, I learn, sells his safes at low pri- ces compared with the Eastern article, the small- est size not costing more than 70 dollars.
The SALAMANDER SAFES are for sale, I per- ceive, at W. & R. P. Resor's, Main st.
Early Records.
Line of March and Encampment of Gen. Harmar's Army.
ORDER OF MARCH. SPIES AND GUIDES ..
ADVANCE COMPANY.
PIONEERS.
McMULLIN'S BATTALION OF MILITIA.
CAVALRY.
CAVALRY.
AMMUNITION.
MAJ. PAUL'S PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA.
0 0 0 0
0 0
..
.
OFFICERS, BAGGAGE, &C. 0 0. O 0
0 0
0
0 0
FLOUR AND SALT.
0
0
0 0
0 0 0
O
..
CATTLE.
..
MAJ. RAY'S BATTALION MILITIA.
HALL'S BATTALION OF MILITIA.
REAR GUARD.
Order of Encampment .. FRONT GUARD. of 30 Militia.
Cavatry. McMullin's Battalion. Cavalry.
16 Regulars.
Maj. Wyllys' Field Troops.
MILITARY STORES.
24 Regulars.
CI LEFT FLANK. IP
STORES.
STORES.
Maj. Doughty's Bat'n F. T.
DI RIGHT FLANK. IP
30 Militia.
Col. Truby's Pa. Militia.
CATTLE.
Maj. Ray's Bat'n Militia.
30 Militia.
Maj. Hall's Battalion of Militia.
30 Militia.
The daily movements of Harmar's army are recorded in a manuscript journal, kept by Capt. John Armstrong of the regulars as follows.
"September 30, 1790-the army moved from. Fort Washington, at half past 10 o'clock, A. M. marched about seven miles, N. E. course-hilly,. rich land. Encamped on a branch of Mill creek.
October 15th-took up the line of march at half past 8 o'clock-passed through a level rich country, watered by many small branches, wa- ters of Mill Creek. At 2 o'clock halted one hour ;. and at 4 o'clock halted for the evening, on small branch of Mill Creek, having marched about eight miles : general course, a little to the westward of North.
October 2d-moved forty-five minutes after 7 o'clock ; marched about ten miles a north west course. The first five miles of this day's march was over a dry ridge to a lick; then five miles through a low swampy country to a branch of the waters of the Little Miami, where we halted one hour; and forty-five minutes after 1 o'clock moved on for five miles a N. E., £. and S. E. course, and encamped in a rich and extensive bottom, on Muddy Creek a branch of the Little Miami. This day's march, fifteen miles, and one mile from Col. Hardin's command.
October 3d-the army at 8 o'clock, passed Col. Hardin's camp and halted at Turtle Creek, about ten yards wide, where we were joined by Col. Hardin's command. Here the line of march was formed-two miles.
October 4th-The army moved at half past ? o'clock-passed through a rich country (some
FLANK.
..
FLANK.
0
FLOUR, &c.
196
places broken) a N. E. course, and at 3 o'clock crossed the Little Miami, about forty yards wide: moved up it one mile, a north course to a branch calledSugar Creek -- encamped nine miles.
October 5th-the army moved from Sugar Creek forty-five minutes after nine o'clock; marched through a level country a N. E. course up the Little Miami, having it often in view. The latter part of this day's march, through low glades, or marshy land. Halted at 5 o'clock on Glade Creek, a very lively clear stream-ten miles.
October 6th-the army moved ten minutes af- ter 9 o'clock. The first five miles the country was brushy and somewhat broken; reached Chillicothe, an old Indian village; re-crossed the Little Miami; at half past one o'clock hal- ted one hour, and encamped at 4 o'clock on a branch-nine miles a N. E. course.
Oct. 7 -- the army moved at 10 o'clock; the country brushy four miles, and a little broken until we came on the waters of the Great Mi- ami -- passed through several low prairies, and crossed the Pickaway fork or Mad river, which is a clear lively stream, about forty yards wide; the bottom extensive and very rich. Encamped on a small branch one mile from the former; our course the first four miles north, then north- west-nine miles.
- Oct. 8 -- The army at half past nine o'clock ; passed over rich land, in some places a little broken; passed several ponds, and through one small prairie, a N. W. course-seven miles.
Oct. 9th -- the army moved at half past nine o'clock ; passed through a level rich country, well watered; course N. W .; halted half past 4 o'clock, two miles south of the Great Miami- ten miles.
Oct. 10th-the army moved forty-five min- utes after nine o'clock ; crossed the Great Miami; at the crossing there is a handsome high prairie on the S. E. side; the river about forty yards wide two miles further, a N. W. course, passed through a large prairie. Halted on a large branch of the Great Miami at half past three o'clock, the country level and rich; the general course, N. W .-- ten miles.
Oct. 11-the army moved at half past nine o'clock; marched a north-west course, seven miles to a branch where French traders former- ly had a number of trading houses; thence a N. course four miles, to a small branch, and en- camped at 5 o'clock. The country we passed over is very rich and level-eleven miles.
Oct. 12th -- the army moved at half past nine o'clock ; our course a little to the west and north west; crossed a etrcam at seven miles and a half, running north-east, on which there are sev- eral old camps, and much deadened timber, which continues to the river Auglaize, about a
mile. Here has been a considerable village, aomo houses still standing. This stream is 8 branch of the Omi [Maumee] river, and is about 20 yards wide. From this village to our eneamp- ment our course was a little to the north of west. Rich, level land-fourteen miles.
Oct. 13 -- the army moved at 10 c'elock ; just before they marched, a prisoner was brought in, and Mr. Morgan from Fort Washington joined us; we marched to the west of north-west, four miles to a small stream, through low swampy land; then a course a little to the north of west, passing through several small prairies and open woods to an Indian village on a pretty stream .-- Here we were joined by a detachment from Fort Washington, with ammunition-ten miles.
Oct. 14th-At half past ten in the morning, Col. Hardin was detached for the Miami village, with one company of regulars and six hundred Militia, and the army took up its line of march at 11 o'clock ; a north-west course; four miles, a small branch-the country level-many places drowned lands in the winter season-ten miles.
Oct. 15th-the army moved at 8 o'clock, north west course two miles, a small branch; then north a little west, crossing a stream, three miles north-west course. The army halted at half past one o'clock, on a branch running weet --- eight miles.
Oct. 16th-the army moved at forty-five min- utes after 8 o'clock, marched nine miles and halted, fifteen minutes after one o'clock.
Passed over a level country, not very rich .-- Col. Hardin with his commund took possession of the Miamitown yesterday, (15th) at 4 o'clock -the Indians having left it just before -- nine miles.
Oct. 17th-the army moved at fifteen minutes after 8 o'clock, and at 1 o'clock crossed the Maumee river to the village. The river is about seventy yards wide; a fine transparent stream. The river St. Joseph, which forms the point on which the village stood, is about twenty yards wide; and when the waters are high, navigable a great way up it.
On the 18th, I was detached, with thirty men under the command of Col. Trotter. On the 19th Col. Hardin commanded in lieu of Colonel Trotter; attacked about one hundred Indians, fifteen miles west of the Miami village, and from the dastardly conduct of the militia, the troops were obliged to retreat -- I lost one ser- geant, and twenty-one out of thirty men of my command. The Indians on this occasion gain- ed a complete vietory, having killed in the whole, near one hundred men, which was about their own number. Many of the militia threw away their 'arms without firing a shot, ran through the federal troops & threw them in disorder. Many of the Indians must have been killed, as I saw
197
my men bayonet many of them. They fought [ to raise flowers of any description to compete and died hard."
On the morning of the 19th, the main body of the army under Gen. Harmar, having destroyed the Miami village, moved about two miles to a Shawnee village called Chillicothe, where on the 20th, the General published the following order.
"Camp, at Chillicothe, one of the Shawnee towns on the Omee [Maumee] river, October 20th 1790.
The party under the command of Captain Strong, is ordered to burn and destroy every house and wigwam in "this village, together with all the corn, &c., which he can collect. A party of one hundred men, (militia) properly of- ficered, under command of Col. Hardin, is to burn and destroy effectually this afternoon, the Pickaway town with all the corn, &c. which he can find in it and its vicinity.
The cause of the detachment being worsted yesterday, was entirely owing to the shameful, cowardly conduct of the Militia who ran away, and threw down their arms without firing scarce- ly a single gun. In returning to Fort Wash- ington, if any officer or men shall presume to quit the ranks, or not to march in the form that they are ordered, the General will, most assured- ly order the artillery to fire on them. He hopes the check they received yesterday will make them in future obedient to orders."
JOSIAH HARMAR,
Brig. Gen.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
The Hydrangea -- Hydrangea Hortensea.
BY T. WINTER.
This is another of our universal favorite flow- ers, which is to be found in the humble dwell- ing of the poor, as well as the mansion of the wealthy aristocrat. This much esteemed flow- er waa first introduced into the King of Eng- land's garden at Kew, about sixty years since, and was imported from China by Sir J. Banks. The flower of this perennial rooted plant in its primitive state, is of azure blue, but cultivation has wrought a change in their colour. It does not fall to our lot to see them of their natural col- or, which necessarily incapacitates us to judge correctly, if their culture be in reality an im- provement or not. The circumstances of its turning blue so seldom makes one of that cast truly desirable. The first I have seen in this country. was at Mr. Jackson's establishment sev- eral years since, and no doubt the composition he used, was what is usually found in the ravines.] in the woods, the free country air combined had the desirable effect in causing his plants to ap- pear so magnificent; this is not attainable with us in this city, consequently no one need expect
with nurserymen in the country. I am inclined to believe that plants raised in the city, will do better with us than those procured from the country. I am more fully convinced of this as I have procured several plants at different times of Mr. Barnard, and with the greatest difficulty, could get them to live, as some would dwindle away and finally die; and I have heard others complain of the same thing. I do not mention this to injure nurserymen in the country, but would feel much pleased in being corrected if my theory be not correct,-I have tried several compositions to change the color of the hydran- gea, but without effect. The hydrangea is one of the few that appears to thrive, even when no care is taken of them, still I would not advise or advocate such looseness in any person that has the least pretention to the culture of flowers. I recollect an anecdote of an nurseryman in London, that was celebrated for selling bluc hydrangeas which commanded a great price for several years, but all at once his stock run out, he had none but pink colored ones. It appear- ed in the sequel, that he had purchased several loads of peat soil with which he potted his plants, little suspecting the effect the quality of soil would produce in his flowers. When the bloom- ing season arrived he was agrceably surprised at the effect; this induced him to keep the bal- ance expressly for that purpose, and so long as any of his soil lasted he could meet all demands. To his mortification he could not find the man he purchased of, neither could he get any soil to produce the same effect. consequently he was like Othello, "his occupation gone." I have no doubt, from the plant being succulent, that soil procured from marshy grounds, dried and sifted would be good. It is said that iron filings will turn the color of the flowers; if such be the case, why would not a yellow sandy loam of redish cast be good, which contains a certain portion of iron? This is easily to be obtained from the brick yards. Turf laid by for a year to rot is a good composition mixed with rotten leaves. In short the plant will grow in almost any soil, but the color is difficult to change .- The hydrangea is of easy culture, and will strike root at any time with the exception of when in a state of rest, this is from the time the leaf begins to drop until the buds swell in the spring. The best time to pot the plants, is the beginning of March, and instead of shaking the soil from the roots as with most plants; take a large knife and cut the roots off, leaving a ball in the centre containing the main body to the size of the large apple, then take your compost and fill the pot, placing the ball with the plant in the centre. I would not advise a large pot, as it would be better in the month of June to
.
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shift the plant without disturbing the root into a pot larger. By adopting this plan your plant will become thrifty and bloom more beautifully with a larger head of flowers, a desideratum ev- ery way to lovers of good flowers. I would al- so recommend those plants from their possessing such a desire for water in the summer, to stand them in pans made on purpose, and fill them ev- ery day and keep them in the shade for the sun will make them flag. The beginning of Octo- ber take the plants out of the pans and water them sparingly until the middle of November, then place them in a cellar, and water a little once in two weeks until March, when you may bring them forward to give air, and re-pot them, giving every encouragement to grow, but you must keep them away from the frost. The hy- drangea is hardy and will stand out all the win- ter with a slight protection, but will flower bet- ter if kept in the house. Mr. Longworth has a great many planted round his house, and stands the winter with a slight protection, and after a mild winter will flower vigorously. This plant is injured more by the sun than by frost, but will be more judicious in avoiding either. In case your plant should get frosted in the spring through neglect put it in a box and exclude the light until the frost be well out of your plant, then no ill affect will result from it.
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