The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II, Part 6

Author: Cist, Charles, 1792-1868
Publication date: 1845
Publisher: Cincinnati : C. Clark, printer
Number of Pages: 370

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Arthur St. Clair Jr. and Jacob Burnet Esqs., will act as aids de camp to the Commander in Chief on this occasion, and are to be respected and obeyed accordingly.

WM. HENRY HARRISON, Commander in Chief

Militia N. W. Territory.

Will Col. Gano please to fill up the blank in the above order with the hour which he may think most convenient, and let me know the one fixed on. W. H. H.

Lt. COL. J. S. GANO,

Commander First Battalion Hamilton county Militia.

The Battle of Waterloo.

Among other things in a volume recently pub- lished in England, entitled "The Iron Duke," and consisting mainly of sayings and doings of his Grace of Wellington, is the following

laconic letter, written by the Duke to Marshal BERESFORD, giving an account of the Waterloo affair soon after it took place :

"You will have heard of our battle of the 18th. Never did I see such a pounding match. Both were what the boxers call 'gluttons.' Napoleon did not manœuvre at all. He just moved for- ward in the old style, in columns, and was driv- en off in the old style. The only difference was that he mixed cavalry with his infantry, and supported both with an enormous quantity of artillery.

"I had the infantry for some time in squares, and we had the French cavalry walking about as if they had been our own. I never saw the British infantry behave so well."

Shed not a Tear. Shed not a tear, o'er your friends early bier, When I am gone.

Smile when the slow tolling bell you shall hear. Weep not for me, when you stand round my grave ;

Think who has died his beloved to save: Think of the crown all the ransomed shall have, When I am gone.

Plant ye a tree, which may wave over me,, When I am gone.

Sing ye a hymn when my grave ye shall see, Come at the close of a bright summer's day, Come when the sun sheds its last lingering ray, Come and rejoice that I thus past away- When I am gone.

Plant ye a rose that may bloom o'er my head, · When I am gone.

Breathe not a sigh for the blest early dead, Praise ye the Lord, that I am freed from all care: Serve ye the Lord, that my bliss ye may share ; Look up on high and believe I am there,

When I am gone.

Good Breeding.

To be thoroughly well bred, requires educa- tion, early training. and real goodness of heart.

To those who have not had and have not now these advantages, some hints may be of- fered, so far as personal behaviour is concerned, and when we enumerate some of the transgres- sions against good manners, we will perceive they are more common than we might have supposed. Among them, says a good critic is "loud and harsh speaking, making noises in eating or drinking, leaning awkwardly while sitting, rattling knives and forks when at table, starting up suddenly and rushing unceremoni- ously out of a room, tossing any thing away with indifference or contempt, receiving any thing without thanking the giver, standing in the way of any one when there is little room to pass, (a grievous practice in this city,) step- ping before any one who is looking at any ob- ject particularly, pushing or jostling any one without apologizing, taking possession of a seat that belongs to another, intruding opinions where they are not sought, or where they give offence,

leaving acquaintances in the street or in a pri- vate circle without bidding thiem good bye or courteously saluting them, slapping any ore fa- miliarly on the shoulder, interrupting a person who is in conversation, telling long, tedious, or humdrum stories, whispering in company, ma- king remarks on the dress of those about you or upon things in the room where you are, flatly contradicting a person-using slang phrases, (a very common habit,) interlarding our speech with foreign phrases, (well hit off in the new comedy of Fashion ,) repeating the words, says she, you know, and you understand, helping yourself first at the table, using a fork as a tooth- pick , scratching the head, putting the fingers in the ears, cleaning or paring the nails before company, mentioning the price of any thing when it is offered to a guest, asking questions which give pain, and neglecting to answer let- ters."

Clerical Witness.

The London Herald has a rich report of a breach of promise case. The plaintiff was the daughter of a clergyman; the defendant, a cap- tain of one of her Majesty's regiments. One of the witnesses for the plaintiff was Rev. Lu- cius George, who testified that the gallant Cap- tain was a constant visitor in the young lady's family, and was with her in her walks and drives. So marked were the attentions as to attract the "decided notice" of the witness. One day, the latter met Capt. O'Brien at the bar of a hotel , at Cove, the place of the lady's residence, and asked him what brought him there? The latter, in reply, wished to have a talk with the Rev. witness. It seems that O'Brien wished to have some doubts cleared up touching the creed of the girl's father. He had heard, that, though he was a clergyman of the established church, yet he was a papist at heart. During the talk, the Captain partook brandy and water freely; the clergyman, however, declined. At this point the counsel for O'Brien thus cross exam- ined the witness :-

"Cross examined by Mr. Freeman-When did the conversation take place in Cove ?- A- bout the beginning of July.

At what time of the day was it ?- about half- past 10 o'clock at night, when I went to get a candle to go to bed.

Well, I suppose with the help of the brandy punch you changed his opinion? I did not take any of it; (laughter.)

Well, but he took two tumblers of brandy punch before he spoke to you on the subject? Not it; he only took one tumbler-but he came up to the mark afterwards.

Yes, he came up to the mark, as you call it. You have the misfortune, like myself, to be a bachelor? I have, if it be a misfortune, (laugh- ter.)

But I wish to have your opinion on it? I would sooner you gave me your own; (laugh- ter.)

Then my opinion is that it is a most misera- ble state, (laughter.)

Mr. Bennett-then I advise you to try matri- mony, (great laughter.)

Mr. Freeman-I believe you are a pretty pleasant companion to the ladies !

Mr. George-I am very glad you think so. Now, are you not a very pleasant man? Why you may say so if you think proper, (laughter.)

Now, did you ever pay attention to a nice young lady in your life ? Really, I do not see what this has to do with Miss Forrest, (laugh- ter.)

Come now did you ever pay attention to a young lady? My lord, are these the usual ques- tions a witness is subject to in the chair.

Mr. Freman -- When we have such a witness and such evidence. they are. Now did you ev- er sit next a girl? I don't think it necessary to answer such a question, (laughter.) If I saw any object but to annoy a person I would an- swer it.

I assure you I have no wish to annoy you. and if I have done so I humbly beg your pardon, but I must put the question and ask you, did you ever sit near a nice girl at dinner? I have no doubt but I did. [laughter.]

And did you not pay her those nice and gen- tie attentions? I suppose I have; but what has this to do with the matter? However, I did not come here to give an account of every transac- tion of my life, [laughter. ]

Court-I may as well relieve you of your em- barrassment by telling you the object of these questions. You have sworn that you saw him pay attentions to the lady, and Mr. Freeman wishes to know what your notion of attention is.

Mr. Freeman-I do not wish to give you the slightest offence, and you need not have called on the court for protection.

Mr.George-Then I will answer you with pleasure ; but I did not see what reference the question had to the matter. I will now bow to the decision of the Court.

Mr. Freeman-Now, don't criminate yourself, [laughter.]

Washington Officials.

In all countries, and under every form of Government, there is a power behind the throne greater than the throne itself. Do you see that boy? said one of the illustrious ministers of France. He is the arbiter of the destinies of Europe. How so? you ask. I will tell you; he governs his mother, his mother governs me, I govern the king my master, and my gracious sovereign governs the whole continent.

Among those of my readers who have visited Washington during the administration of Gen. Jackson, there are individuals who well recol- lect Jemmy Duffy, one of the officials of the White House. I never could make out Jemmy's office exactly, but a very important part of his functions was to stave off a gang of people who had no business with Old Hickory, yet who would have absorbed his whole time to the ex- clusion of his appropriate duties, but for the guardian care of Duffy, whose intuitive knowl- edge taught him who among the crowds of Guths and Vandals in the shape of office seek- ers and loafers, besetting the Capitol, had a claim to be admitted to an audience, It may be readily supposed Jemmy had no sinecure, and that he made ample use of his discretionary

powers. "Faitli" said Jemmy, on one occasion, "they do say I am a thought rough, and may be its thrue, but I don't know how long I may howld my office, and while I do reign, I mane to reign."

When General Jackson left the white house Mr. Duffy left the premises also. "There niver was but one ould Hickory in the world, and no man could be his aqual, and afther being his right hand man for eight years, its not meself that shall keep the doors for the nixt one." So Jemmy abdicated, and Martin Dunnavan succeeded him during the administration of Mr. Van Bu- ren. He also proved well suited for his employ- ment and continued in office until the ides of March, 1841, when, Gen. Harrison came on to take possession of the White House. The palace had been duly vacated by its late tenant, and Dunnavan stood at the door ready to re- ceive the new President, and deliver up the keys of the house. As Harrison entered the dwell- ing. Martin put his best leg foremost, in the attitude of delivering up his trust. And who are you? said the President. Plaze your honor's worship and glory, my name is Dunnavan, I am the last of the Martins, and will I go too? Why, said the kind hearted old man, with a smile, we have a saying in our part of the country, that it is ill luck to drive the martins away from the house, so Ithink you had better stay, Dunnavan.

Whether Martin remained under Tyler, and continues under Polk, I never distinctly learnt but believe to be the fact. If so he has done the honors for four Presidents, in little more than as many years.

St. Clair's Defeat.

I am indebted for the following letter to Judge Matson, of North Bend. The Judge has been a resident of Hamilton county for fifty-four years, and an accurate and intelligent observer of cotemporary events, as well as a sharer in the toils, privations and dangers of western pioneer life. He has promised me further in- teresting notices, on subjects kindred to the present.

"In the month of January, 1792, Gen. Wil- kinson being about to set out to St. Clair's bat- tle ground to bury the dead who had been left there in the disastrous action of the 4th Novem- ber preceding, and bring off valuable public prop erty, reported to be still on the spot, made a call for volunteers to strengthen his force which amounted to merely two hundred regulars .- Some one hundred and fifty men or more from various parts of the county, rendezvoused in Cin- cinnati. The volunteers from North Bend of which I was one, were under the command of Capt. Brice Virgin, and we left that place -- some mounted, but principally on foot, being promis-

ed horses from among those belonging to the United States, which were kept across the river, in Kentucky where Newport now is. There was the heaviest snow on the ground ever known within the memory of the whites, which on the day before we started was increased to two feet in depth. The Ohio had been fro- zen, and so thick was the ice at Cincinnati that all our efforts to open a channel for the flats to bring over the horses proved abortive, and they had to be taken up and crossed above the mouth of the Little Miami, where the ice was found strong enough to bear their weight. As soon as we could be made ready, which was on the 25th, the regulars and volunteers set out, the late Gen. Harrison, then an ensign, and lately arri- ved, being one of the officers. We took the old trace, opened by Gen. St. Clair. The first night we encamped on the hill, near what is now Ca- ry's Academy, this side Mt. Pleasant, and the next arrived at Fort Hamilton. Left Hamilton pretty late in the day, and encamped that night at Seven Mile creek, and next day reached Fort Jefferson, then the outside post. Capt. Shaylor was in command there.

Here Gen. Wilkinson issued a general order to the effect that the severity of the season had compelled him to abandon one object of the ex- pedition, the destruction of an Indian town fif- teen miles below, on a branch of the Wabash, that he would send back the regulars to Fort Washington, and that the mounted men would proceed to the battle ground, with the public sleds to bring off such of the artillery and other property as might be recovered. We encamped next night, eight miles this side of the field of battle, which last spot we reached the succeed- ing morning at 11 o'clock.

On this day's march, and when we were about half way to the battle field, we arrived where the pursuit had ceased, and on counting the number of dead bodies which appeared to have been dragged and mutilated by wild beasts, I made it seventy-eight, between that spot and the battle ground. No doubt there were many more, who finding themselves disabled, crawled into the woods and perished there.

We were ordered to encamp directly where the artillery &c. had been left, I suppose with the view of beating down the snow to facilitate finding what we were in search of. Here we found the artillery dismounted, except one piece, a six-pounder. Some of the carriages had been destroyed as far as they could be with fire. We brought off that piece and two carriages with the irons of the rest, together with several mus- kets. We previously buried the dead by the fatigue parties digging a large pit, into which

as many of the dead were thrown as it would contain. We had not a sufficiency of spades &c. to do justice to the undertaking, and left great numbers unburied, as we worked little more than the residue of that day. The men had been all scalped, and so far as their clothing was of much value, all stripped. Hardly one could be identified, the bodies being blackened by frost and exposure, although there did not ap- pear any signs of decay, the winter having set in early, and proving very severe. One corpse was judged by Gen. Gano and others to have been that of Gen. Richard Butler. They had noticed the spot where he fell during the ac- tion, and entertained little doubt as to his iden- tity. He lay in the thickest of the carnage the bodies on one side actually lying across each other in some instances. The pile in the pit was so numerous that it raised quite a mound of earth above the surface of the ground, when we covered it up, The main body had been en- camped on a large open flat, and the advanced corps of Kentuckians oceupied timbered ground in front, from which they were driven in by a general assault of the savages, who then occupi- ed sheltered ground to pour in a destructive fire on the Americans. Two ravines, one on each side of the main encampment, put down to the creek which were also occupied by the Indians who were thus enabled to creep under shelter of the edges to attack their enemies.

We then travelled to Cincinnati where the public horses were given up, and the troops dis- persed home, many of the volunteers being frost bitten on the route.

Most of the pieces of artillery had been car- ried off, and of course escaped our search at the time. Several were afterwards found in the bed of the creek. One piece, a six-pounder, was ploughed up a number of years after, on the bat- tle ground, by some person who occupied the field, and taken down to Cincinnati and sold for sixty dollars to a Capt. Joseph Jenkinson who commanded a volunteer artillery corps in the place. I suppose it to be the same piece which Governor Meigs ordered to Urbana in 1812, in the letter you published lately in the "Advertiser " Perhaps some of your readers can shed light on this part of the subject.

Yours,

J. MATSON.

North Bend, June 16th, 1845.

Infirmity of Purpose.

Cruel as the spectacle may appear, yet one may derive a moral lesson even at a Spanish Bull Fight. The Plaza de Toros, with its fierce encounters and ghastly wounds, is not perhaps exactly the place at which one would reason to Ilearn philosophy; but still the reflecting obser-

ver cannot fail to see that the reason why the bull, with his untamed strength and desperate courage, does not triumph completely over his puny foes, is because he lacks a determined pur- pose. The mounted picadore (lancer) gocs down horse and man, before the impetuous charge of the infuriated bull-the horse is pierced through and through, and the rider lies helpless and crushed beneath his struggling steed. One would suppose, indeed that there was no hope, and that another thrust from those blood-stained horns must silence the foe forever. But it is rarely so. As the Bull gathers strength for a fresh attack upon the prostrate mass before him, an espad -- a little fellow, attired like the Figaro of the stage -- adroitly intervenes, flashing a scar- let mantle before the dazzled eyes of the raging creature., Cunning combats against force -- the impetuous monarch of the Andalusian plains hesitates irresolute, and then dashes after the new annoyance, leaving the bruised picadore to the rescuing care of the attendants. And it is upon this principle that the combat is mainly conducted. When any one of the quadrilla of bull fighters is too hard pressed. another calls off the attention of the bull by ready interfer- ence, and thus, while many horses perish, but few of the biped combatants are slain.

The bull lacks a determined purpose --- he has power enough and more than enough ; but he suffers his attention to be distracted by a multi- plicity of objects; and it is often even so with men. An iron will must triumph over obsta- cles ; but if we lack perseverance and concen- trativeness, running first to the right hand and then to the left, after any thing that may catch the eye or please the fancy, the probabilities are that we shall fail in every endeavour. It is the faculty of having a determined purpose, fixed and inflexible, which for the most part consti- tutes greatness among men. They pursue a straight line, and are not to be called off by the fitting by of gaudy colours : and in every pur- suit, this is the main element of success. Mark out your object then-do you seek fame or for- tune-would you excel in science or gather re- nown in literature-have you a thirst for dis- tinction-would you traverse distant lands ? No matter what your intend, set it clear before you and press onward towards it unfalteringly. This is the grand secret of a triumphant life; and it will be found that many of those who stumblc and fall down by the wayside, are like the bull of the Plaza de Toros, deluded victims to idle streamers and flaunting flags.

Habits of Sheep.

Dr. Anderson relates the subjoined anecdote, which shows how perseveringly these animals will follow their leader, an amusing fact in illus- tration of natural history,

"A butcher's boy was driving about twenty fat wethers through the town of Liverpool, but they ran down a street along which he did not want them to go. He observed a scavenger at work with his broom a little way before them, and called loudly for him to stop the sheep .--- The man did accordingly what he could to turn them back, running from side to side, and flour- ishing his broorn with great dexterity; but the sheep much agitated pressed onward ; and at last one of them came right up to the man, who fear. ing it might jump over his head, while he was stooping, grasped the broomstick in both hands.

and held it over his head. He stood for a few seconds in this position, when the sheep made a spring and jumped fairly over him without touching the broom. The first had no sooner clear- ed his impediment than another and another, in so quick succession, that the man, perfectly con- foundcd, seemed to lose all recollection, and stood in the same attitude till the whole jumped over him : not one of them attempted to pass on either side, though the street was quite clear."

Shoulder Arms!

An unexpectedly touching scene was presen- ted to the French Academy of Sciences very lately. The new invention of Van Petersen was to be exhibited -- an artificial arm, by which, if the wearer has but a third of the shoulder re- maining, he can pick up a pin, lift a glass of wine to his lips, hold a newspaper, etc. A com- mittee had been appointed by the academy to decide on its merits, and an old soldier from the Hospital of Invalids was the subject of ex- periment. Hc had been for many years depri- ved of both arms at the shoulder, and when the substitutes were attached. he performed all that was set down by the inventor, with the greatest ease-taking a glass of wine, etc. But half an hour of these restored functions had moved the heart to the old militaire. As the arms were detached, his breast heaved with emotion diffi- cult to be suppressed-' 'harder to bear," he murmurcd, "than the first loss, when he did not know their value." The Academy sat a few moments in breathless silence, all present evi- dently affected.

"Well!" exclaimed M. Arago, at last, " has no one any thing to propose? Are we to let this brave old man go back mutilated, when we can relieve him? How much do they cost ?" "Five hundred francs each !"'

"Ah! it would be costly to re-furnish all the maimed soldiers of the Hospital, but the others have not been reminded of their loss. We will subscribe the thousand francs for this one."

The proposition was received with acclama- tion, and the veteran walked away gesticula- ting with new arms.

Pharmacy in Questions and Answers.

What is Pharmacy? The science of con- cealing how little can be done to assist nature.

What is the best method to procure bark ?- Throw physic to the dogs.

When may a cold be said to be caught ?__ When your nose runs after it.

What would you call a slight attack of the fe- ver and ague? No great shakes.

What is phlebotomy ? Skilful bleeding.

State the most effectual time to bleed. The moment your patient becomes convalescent, then put in your bill; delay is dangerous, and health ungrateful.

What would you call a violent outbreak ?- Rash !

What is the usual result of affection of the - heart ? Increase of sighs.

Can the patient get assistance ? Yes. How ? By ringing the belle. How is the heart enlarged ? At the expense of the corporation.

Where is the best place to examine diseases? At a magistrate's office.

Why? Because there they lodge all com- plaints.

First Settlement on the Miami.

The impression that John Cleves Symmes, and those who purchased from him were the first settlers on the banks of the Miami, has ex- tended so generally as to leave no doubt of the fact in the public mind. It will probable there- fore surprise the community as it did me to learn that in 1785, sixty years ago and four years prior to the landing of Symmes, the whole Miami bottom was explored as far up as Ham- ilton and openings made at the best spots for the purpose of establishing pre-emption rights, by a party from Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. One of the company, John Hindman is yet living and resides a few miles from Hills- borough Ohio. I add his narrative as given to me in his own words.

"My father, John Hindman was a native and resident of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where I was born in 1760, and at the age of 20 left that neighborhood for Washington county, where I remained four years. In the month of March, 1785, I left the State of Pennsylvania, taking water at the mouth of Buffalo creek with a party, consisting of William West, John Sim- ons, John Seft, and old Mr. Carlin and their families. We reached Limestone point, now Maysville, in safety, where we laid by two weeks. The next landing we made was at the mouth of the Big Miami. We were the first ) ments of races are apt to attract his notice.

company that had landed at that place. The In- dians had left two or three days before we lan- ded. We found two Indians buried as they were laid on the ground. a pen of poles built around them, and a new blanket spread over each one. The first we found was near the bank of the Ohio, and the second near the mouth of White Water. Soon after we landed, the Ohio raised so as to overflow all the bottoms at the mouth of the Big Miami. We went over there- fore to the Kentucky side, and cleared thirty or forty acres on a claim of a man by the name of Tanner, whose son was killed by the Indians some time afterwards on a creek which now bears his name. Some time in May or June we started to go up the Big Miami, to make what we called improvements, so as to secure a por- tion of the lands which we selected out of the best and broadest bottoms between the mouth of the river and where Hamilton now stands .- Westarted a north course and came to White Water, supposing it to be the Miami; we pro- ceeded up the creek, but Joseph Robinson who started from the mouth of the Miami with our party, and who knew something of the country from having been taken prisoner with Col. Laughery and carried through it, giving it as his opinion, that we were not at the main river,

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The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II, Part 6

Author: Cist, Charles, 1792-1868 Publication date: 1845 Publisher: Cincinnati : C. Clark, printer Number of Pages: 370

Author: Cist, Charles, 1792-1868
Publication date: 1845
Publisher: Cincinnati : C. Clark, printer
Number of Pages: 370