USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 51
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AS MOTHER ! Sweet and holy tie, First known, best loved in infancy ! From her own vilal breath we draw, Iler gentle looks our infant law; Her love our refuge in alarm; Her watchful care our shield from harm; Her tessons the first precepts given
To form for earth and fit for heaven; Her love -- unselfish, ever known To seek our interests, not her own- Through all this changing scene extends: With life begun-with death but ends !
AS DAUGHTER !-- 'T'is upon her laid To be the aged mothers aid; In one the varied ties to blend Of child, companion, helper, friend; Repay in thousand gentle ways, The love that crowned her childish days; From thousand cares of age to save And smooth life's pathway to the grave:
And Heaven's benignest gifts are shed, Ever on such a daughter's bead !
As SISTER !- He who doth not prove
Her kindness, cannot know its worth ! How all unselfish that pure love That in a sister's heart hath birth ! Playmate ! companien up from youth ! ' Gentle and sympathizing friend ! Whose lips like hers, with faithful truth,. . So well can kind persuasion blend? Thou who hast such -- that long on earth She may be spared thee, kneel and pray!
Such too had I-nor knew her worth, Till she was called from earth away!
A pious sister! who can tell How oft to her it may be given,
To save a brother's feet from hell- To lead his wandering steps to heaven!
But more than all 'tis hers, as WIFE' To wield her mightiest influence still To check and temper manhood's strife, . And mould his purpose to ber will : For where is he who does not feel That he could easier burst through steel. Than wound that fond and faithful heart, Of his own more than self, a part -- Or spurn the gentle thraldom known To seek his happiness alone !
O 1 woman hath, in every phase, Controlling influence o'er our ways; But chief. as man's companion high 'Tis hers to guide his destiny : And from that day our parents erst Were driven from Eden's blissful shade --- When both had fallen-yet woman first, Man by her weakness then betrayed- All potent still, for good or ill, Hath been the force of woman's will : And mightier, with each added year, Grows WOMAN'S POWER in WOMAN'S SPHERE !
The Fire at Pittsburgh.
Great calamities, serve to develope the worst as well as the best principles of human nature. The late fire at Pittsburgh, brought into exer- cise to a great extent, a system of plundering, which has filled the jail of that city with dep- redators on property.
It is pleasant to turn to the brighter side of the picture. Contributions of the most liberal character have been poured in for the relief of the sufferers from those who have escaped the visitation, both abroad and at home. Among
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these, the unsolicited gift of several hundred dollars, the accumulated savings for years of a young woman, at service in the family of Rev. Dr. Herron, shines conspicuous. It is the wid- ow's two mites, among the offerings at the treas- ury by the rich. It was her all. And the same judge who characterised that gift, as being of more value than all the rest, will no doubt re- gard this self-sacrificing contribution as a higher exercise of benevolence than that of in- dividuals, who may give thousands out of their abundance.
Diagram.
JOEL WILLIAMS.
JESSE STEWART,
D. SHOEMAKER.
BENJ. DUMONT
MAIN.
189
77
PORTER.
76
LINDSEY.
S. TRAVERSE.
I. FREEMAN.
SYCAMORE.
99
99
LANDING.
The lot you speak of in your paper of April 2nd was one of the thirty in-lots subjected to on the 7th January, 1789, and was drawn by John Porter-as was the adjoining one on the east by Henry Lindsay, who I believe is still living a- bove New Richmond, Ohio. The lot on the cor- ner of Main and Front was conveyed to Col. Thomas Gibson by Judge Symmes 19 April, 17- 98, in consideration of $
The east half of the lot 76 lying east of the alley, was conveyed to D. Achison 20 Dec ., 17- 97, and the West half to J. & A. Hunt 30 Sep. 1796, in consideration of $2.
MR. C. CIST.
Yours. F.
Attack on Bryant's Station.
Sixty-three years ago, almost, a cloud of savr age hostility, long threatened, burst upon this station, at that time one of the most important in Kentucky, under the following circumstan- ces.
The border war between the whites and In- dians, had for many years prior to 1782 bcen waged by small parties, at least so far as the ab- origines were concerned. This best suited the temper and mode of life of the savages, whose supplies for themselves and families lasted usu- ally but for a few days, and constantly required replenishing. It accorded, besides, little with their character and spirit to assemble in large masses, which are moved slowly, and must al- ways depend for success upon a thorough and prolonged co-operation of its various elements. But as fort by fort become established in the country north of the Ohio, and the whites were steadily spreading over Kentucky, it soon be- came apparent to the Indians that they must ei- ther prepare to abandon their favorite hunting grounds south of the Ohio, or by one concen- trated and general effort to drive the whites from these settlements.
Accordingly, early in August, 1782, a grand council of the savages was held at Chillicothe. the great head quarters of the Shawanese, a few miles from the present town of Xenia, at which besides that tribe, the Wyandots, Mingoes, Ot- towas, Potowotamics, Miamies, and less impor- tant bands of Indians assisted or were represen- ted. Girtv and M'Kee, the one a renegade white. the other a British agent were present, and ac- tively engaged in fanning to a flame the hostile feeling of the savages toward their pioneer neigh- bors. It was urged by these men who were more bitter enemies to the whites than the In- dians themselves, that the American war was now over, and the whole forces of Western Penn- sylvania and Virginia, were ready to be let loose to crush them at once. They were reminded of the gradual encroachments of the whites, of the beauty of Kentucky, and its value to them as an hunting ground. They were warned that they must combine their scattered strength if they did not mean to be driven from the wigwams they and their fathers had occupied for thousands of moons past, and if they were not beforehand in striking a blow at the whites, they would soon be deprived of every means of buying blankets to warm their bodies, and rum to cheer their souls. Such was the inflammatory harangue of Simon Girty. It fell like turpentine poured up- on coals of fire. The council resolved to gath- er the whole disposable force of the tribes which as far as it could be assembled for immediate service, was not far from one thousand warriors. Of these it was determined that six hundred
237
should make an irruption into the Kentucky set- tlements, while the rest were to follow the route higher up the river Ohio, which should enable them to fall upon the various settlements in the region of Wheeling, Virginia. These move- ments were accordingly carried into effect .
I shall confine my narrative to the detacliment which moved against the Kentucky settlers, and which having reached Bryant's station on the 15th August, 1782, placed themselves in ambush around it, ready to take whatever advantage might present itself, not doubting their ability to take it by storm on the first assault. The lapse of sixty-three years, has laid in the dark and si- lent grave, nearly all the actors in that memo- rable attack, but there are three or four Ken- tuckians who still survive, all in the full vigor of mind and body, and it is from the statements of one of those whose voices rise, whose eye kin- dles, and whose tongue becomes eloquent on this subject that I compile my narrative, incor- porating with it well attested circumstances re- corded elsewhere, which in the nature of the case were to him unknown. Mr. Ellison E. Will- iams, my informant, was born in Surry county, N. C. on the 19th April, 1770. He is of course now seventy-five years of age. His father set- tled at Bryant's station, having planted a crop of,corn that same spring, and in the autumn re- moved his family out to Kentucky. When the attack was made, young Williams was over twelve years of age, a period of life when labor was expected from and performed by the boys of those days, which in modern times would hard- ly be devolved upon youths of eighteen or nine- teen.
A brief description of the fort will render the narrative more easy to comprehend.
Bryant's station had been settled by William Bryant, brother-in-law to Daniel Boone, and was about 5 miles distant from Lexington on the present road from Maysville to that city, and on the South bank of Elkhorn. Bryant, who was well fitted to take charge of the interest of this settlement, had been unfortunately surprised and killed by Indians near the mouth of Cane Run. Many of the original settlers had return- ed to North Carolina, and a new set from Vir- ginia, among whom was Robert Johnson, father of Col. R. M. Johnson, late Vice President of the United States, occupied their places. These were far from being familiar with the charac- ter of the Indians, and the danger to which their inexperience exposed them on this account .- The fort itself contained about forty cabins pla- ced in parallel lines, connected by strong pali- sades, and garrisoned by forty or fifty men. It was a parallelogram of thirty rods in length by twenty in breadth, forming an enclosure of near-
ly four acres, which was protected by digging a trench four or five feet deep in which strong and heavy pickets were planted by ramming. the earth well down against them. These wero twelve fect out of the ground, being formed of hard durable timber, at least a foot in diameter. Such a wall it must be obvious defied climbing or leaping, and indeed any means of attack, can- non excepted. At the angles were small squares or block houses, which projected beyond the palisades, and served to impart additional- strength at the corners, as well as permitted the besieged to pour a raking fire across the advan- ced party of the assailants. Two folding gates. in front and rear, swinging on prodigious wood- en hinges sufficient for the passage in and out of men or wagons in times of security. These. were of couse provided with suitable bars.
This was the stato of things as respects the means of defence at Bryant's station on the mor- ning of the 16th Angust, 1782 while the sava- ges lay concealed in the thick weeds around it, which in those days grew so abundantly and tall, as would have sufficed to hide mounted horsemen. They waited for daylight, and the. opening of the gates for the garrison to get wa- ter for tho day's supply from an adjacent spring before they should commence the work of car- nage.
It seems that the garrison here were rather ta- ken off their guard. Some of the palisade work had not been secured as permanently as possi- ble, and the original party which built the fort had been tempted in the hurry of constructing, and their fewness of hands to restrict its extent, so as not to include a spring of water within its limits. Great as were these disadvantages, they were on the eve of exposure to a still great- er one, for had the attack been delayed a few hours, the garrison would have been found dis -. abled by sending off a reinforcement to a neigh- boring station-Holder's settlement -- on an un- founded alarmı that it was attacked by a party of savages. As it was, no sooner had a few of the men made their appearance outside of the gate than they were fired on, and compelled to regain the inside.
According to custom, the Indians resorted to stratagem for success. A detachment of one hundred warriors attacked the south-east angle of the station, calculating to draw the entire body of the besieged to that quarter to repel the attack, and thus enable the residue of the as- sailants five hundred strong, who were on tho opposite side, to take advantage of its un- protected situation, when the whole force of the defence should be drawn off to resist the assault at the south-east. Their purpose however was comprehended inside, and instead of returning
238
the fire at the smaller party, they secretly des- patched an express to Lexington for assistance, and began to repair the palisades, and otherwise to put themselves in the best possible posture of defence. They were aware that the Indians were posted near the spring, but believing they were not disposed at this stage of the siege, to unmask a fire in that direction upon any small party, the women were sent to bring in water for the use of the garrison. The event fulfilled their expectations. The Indians forbore to fire, being unwilling, as it appeared, that their pres- ence in that direction should become known at that moment.
When an ample supply of water had been thus obtained, and the neglected defences com- pleted, a party of thirteen men sallied out in the direction in which the assault had been made .- They were fired on by the savages, and driven again within the palisades, but without sustain- ing any loss of life. Immediately the five hun- dred on the opposite side, rushed to the assault of what they deemed the unprotected side of the fort, without entertaining any doubts of their success. A well directed fire, however, put them promptly to flight. Some of the more daring and desperate approached near enongh with burning arrows to fire the houses, one or two of which were burned, but a favorable wind drove the flames away from the mass of the buildings, and the station escaped the danger threatened from this source. A second assault from the great body of the Indians, was repelled with the same vigor and success with the first.
Disappointed of their object thus far, the as- sailants retreated, and concealed themselves under the bank of the creek to await and inter- cept the arrival of the assistance which they were well aware was on its way from Lexing- ton. The express from Bryant's station reach- ed that town without difficulty, but found its male inhabitants had left there, to aid in the de- fence of Holder's station, which was reported to be attacked, as already statcd. Following their route, he overtook them at Boonesborough, and sixteen mounted men, with thirty on foot immediately retraced their steps for the relief of the besieged at Bryant's. When this re-enforce- ment approached the fort, the firing had entire- ly ceased, no enemy was visible, and the party advanced in reckless confidence, that it was ei- ther a false alarm, or that the Indians had aban- doned the siege. Their avenue to the garrison was a lane between two cornfields, which grow- ing rank and thick formed an effectnal hiding place to the Indians cven at the distance of a few yards. The line of ambush extended on both sides nearly six hundred yards. Providen- tially it was in the heat of midsummer, and dry accordingly, and the approach of the horsemen
raised a cloud of dust so thick as to compel the cnemy to fire at random, and the whites happi- ly escaped without losing a man. The footmen on hearing the firing in front, dispersed amidst the corn, in hopes of reaching the garrison un- observed. Here they were intercepted by the savages who threw themselves between them and the fort, and but for the luxuriant growth of corn they must all have been shot down. As. it was two men were killed and four wounded. of the party on foot before it succeeded in ma- king its way into the fort.
Thus reinforced, the garrison felt assured of safety, while in the same measure the assailing party began to despair of success.
One expedient remained, which was resorted to for the purpose of intimidating the brave spir- its who were gathered for the defence of their wives and little ones. As the shades of even- ing approached, Girty who commanded the par- ty, addressed the inmates of the fort. Mounting a stump from which he could be distinctly heard, with a demand for the surrender of the place, he assured the garrison that a reinforcement with cannon would arrive that night, that the station must fall, that he could assure them of protection if they surrendered, but could not re- strain the Indians if they carried the fort by storm; adding, he supposed they knew who it was that thus addressed them. A young man, named Reynolds, fearing the effect which the threat of cannon might have on the minds of the defending party, with the fate of Martin's and Ruddle's stations fresh in their memories, lett no opportunity for conference, by replying in- stantly, that he knew him well, and held him in such contempt that he had called a good for no- thing dog he had by the name of Simon Girty. "Know you!" added he, "we all know you, for a renegade cowardly villain, that delights in murdering women and children. Wait till morn- ing and you will find on what side the reinforce- ments are. We expect to leave not one of your cowardly souls alive, and if you are caught our women shall whip you to death with hickory switches. Clear out, you cut throat villain." Some of the Kentuckians shouted out, "Shoot the d- rascal!" and Girty was glad to retreat out of the range of their rifles lest some one of the garrison might be tempted to adopt the ad- vicc.
Before morning, however, the whole force of savages decamped, taking the route to the Blue- licks, where three days afterwards, they decoyed the whites into the disastrous ambush and bat- tle of that name.
Before retiring they wreaked that injury which they could not inflict upon the: garrison, upon the cattle and other domestic animals belonging
239
to its inmates, wantonly slaughtering all within their reach.
My friend Williams, then but twelve years of age, was stationed with others, as young as him- self, and even younger, to the number el twelve or fifteen on the roof of the cabins to get hold and throw off the arrows which the Indians were shooting there. The bullets occasionally whistled by them, but did no harm. Col. Cave Johnson and Maj. Craig of Boone county, Ken- tucky, are the only survivers within his knowl- edge of the men engaged in that memorable defence. Col. Johnson is ninety-one years of age, and the Major is probably eight years younger. A few vears must consign these gal- lant relics of the past to the grave, and the early history of Kentucky cease from the living lips of its early pioneers.
Improvement in Tanning.
A new process in tanning, which converts skins and hides into leather in a few days or wecks, has been lately discovered and put into operation at Dayton, by Mr. Simon Snyder o that place. It is easy to comprehend what a revolution this must produce in leather, one of the heaviest and most expensive raw materials in manufactures.
The following letter on the subject speaks for itself. It is from Mr. Schenck, member of Con- gress from the Dayton district, to Mr. John H. Wood of our city .
DAYTON, April 13th, 1845.
DEAR SIR : -
My absence from home the past week has prevented an earlier reply to your letter inquiring as to Mr. Snyder's Patent for the improved method of tanning .
There has been published in the newspapers a fuller account of the discovery or invention, than I have time to attempt. The principle of the system, is the speedy and thorough penetration of the hide or skins by the tanning, by means of punctures or perforations made in a certain stage in the ordinary process. But any person wanting to purchase a right should come here and examine for himself and to his own thorough satisfaction. An opportunity will be given to see the operation in all its stages. Many a scof- fer or doubter of this paradoxical plan of making good sound impervious leather by first filling it with holes, has become a convert from the eviden- ces of his own senses; and that is the proof we offer.
There is now at Mr. R. Green's shop in this city, some beautiful leather manufactured by this new process.
Respectfully yours, ROBT. C. SCHENCK.
MR. JOHN H. WOOD, Cincinnati.
Brass and Iron Moulders' Society.
This society instituted for the benefit of tho operatives which confer their name upon it, held its anniversary Wednesday last at the assembly rooms, Pearl street, commemorating it with an oration by one of themselves, and a supper which the members partook with several invited guests, principally of the bar and the press. Every thing went off pleasantly, and it might be a mooted question whether more good things were said or swallowed in the course of a four hour's session at the table.
Among the speakers were Messrs. Collins, C. H. & J. Brough, Campbell of the bar and the press, and Messrs. R. C. Philips and Gatchell of the craft. A continued corruscation and scin- tillation of wit like summer lightning, and New Jersey champaigne was kept up from the deliv- ery of the oration until the hour of adjournment. Among these the reference to the Messrs. Broughs, brothers thus far through life, and now brothers in law, alluding to the admission to the bar that morning of Mr. J. Brough, Mr. B's. own spicy caricature of his legal examination, and above all, Mr. Phillips after expressing his inability to do justice to the bar in his remarks. being desired to say what he could in good con- science in their favor, drily remarking, That WAS the difficulty. This sarcasm was received with a roar of laughter, in which all-lawyers included joined, that shook, in a sense, the build- ing "from floor to canopy."
The oration by Mr. John Goodin, one of the society was apt and appropriate, full of sound thought and manly spirit, and was itself the best illustration of the value of such associa- tions in stimulating their members in the great pursuit of mental and moral improvement. I copy Mr. B's. examination, as alluded to in the Enquirer of Saturday last.
Fancy Names.
Few things are more remarkable as well as universal, than the tendency to supply fancy or nick names to individuals or States, unless it be the tenacity with which these appellations ad- here, and the extent to which they displace the proper title. I have known individuals who have been so long and so generally known by nick names, as to be at times unconscious who was meant, when called by their true names. I saw an instance of this one day in a court house, where the sheriff called repeatedly the name of a person present, bearing a fancy name, that was not made aware he was referred to, until remin- ded of it by an acquaintance. Mad Anthony and Old Hickory, are names more familiar to the community at large than those of Genl's, Wayne and Jackson who were hardly known by any other appellations than these in the region of
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their exploits. John Bull, the world over is the | designation of England, as Jean Crapeau is that of France.
"Suppose you don't know what law je ?? "No."
"Have you any notion about Equity ?"
"Can't tell ; have heard said, law was mystifi-
I have compiled the flash or fancy names of | cation, and equity, simple justice, but have my the States, or rather of the inhabitants of our doubts!" respective State sovereignties, known as the U. "Can one man make a riot ?" States of America. I believe it to be the only complete list over published.
"S'pose he can, if he has enough to help. "י! him
"That'll do ;- I've examined you on each of the three subjects of Law, Equity and Criminal Jurisprudence, and shall certify to the Court that you are fully qualified. You may go in and be sworn."
Living Man-traps.
Over the garden fence of a ladies' seminary, in the neighborhood of London, there is painted in large characters-
"Man-traps set on these premises." A wag, who was passing, chalked beneath the notice -- "Vir Gins " Whereupon he was taken before a magistrate by a police officer. Being put up- on his defence for thus defacing the wall of a respectable establishment, he argued "that Vir was the Latin for Man, and Gin the English for Trap; ergo, that Virgin was only another word for Man trap; though the fact might be that it was a highly inappropriate term, and ought not to be used." The magi was posed, and the man was sent about his business, with a hint to beware lost he should be caught in his own de- scription of trap, as he might expect no mercy if he were.
Proportion of Alchohol in Wines, &c.
Marsala,
25 p. ct. Syracuse,
25 p. ct.
Madeira,
Sauterne.
14
Sherry. 19 . Burgundy, 14 "
Teneriffe, 10 . Rhine, 12
Lachryma Christi, 10 " Champagne, 12 4
Constantia 19
Lisbon
18
Vın de Grave
12
Malaga
18
.6 Frontignac
12
Red Madeira
20
.. Currant Wine 11
..
Cape "
20
Orange " 11
Cape Muscat
19
Tokay
9
Grape Wine
18
Cider
9
Vidonia
10
Perry
9
Metheglin
7
06
Wht. H'mitage 17
Roussillon
18
Ale
6
Claret
15
Strong Beer
Schiras
15
London Porter
4
Brandy
53
Rum
53
Gin
51
Whiskey
54
MARRIAGES.
On the 18th inst. by The Rev. G. W. Walker. WM. H. THOMPSON to HARRIET N., daughter of Dr. J. Darl.
On Tuesday. 22d inst. by the Rev. J. H. Perkins, Dr. A. ADDAMS, of Dresden, O, to Miss CATHARINE A. MOF- FETT, of this city.
On the 241h inst. by Rev. A. Drury, JACOB BURNET Jr 10 Miss MARY S. daughter of the Rev. Dr. LYND.
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