The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072

USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 26

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Crawford retained his position in the grove during the night, his men meanwhile suffering terribly for lack of water. At daylight on the morn- ing of June 5 (Wednesday), the firing was renewed, but in a desultory man- ner, and at long range only, and so continued throughout the day. Hence little damage was done (the Americans having four more men wounded) and the relative position of the opposing forces remained unchanged. During the day, however, the enemy was re-inforced by a body of white troops, known as " Butler's Rangers," also by about 200 Shawanese Indians. Sav. ages from other quarters also kept gathering in, so that the Americans were surrounded and greatly out-numbered. A council of war was thereupon called, which unanimously decided upon a retreat that night. The move. ment was to commence at 9 o'clock. Just as the hour had arrived for the retreat to begin, the enemy discovered the intentions of the Americans and opened fire from various points. Confusion followed, and some in the front line hurried off, followed by many pushing forward from the rear. The ad- vance, under command of Maj. McClelland, was furiously attacked by the Delawares and Shawanese and suffered severely, he being fatally wounded. The rear division was also attacked and suffered considerable loss. All through the night the retreat was continued, the enemy pursuing in consid- erable force, with more or less vigor and efficiency. The advance of Craw- ford's command arrived at the old town of Upper Sandusky about daybreak of Thursday, June 6, where, after a short time, about 300 of the original force were collected.

It was then ascertained that Col. Crawford was missing. But none knew whether he was killed, captured, or was making his escape on some route other than that taken by the main body of his forces. Dr. Knight and John Slover, one of the pilots, or guides, were also among those unaccounted for. The retreating volunteers were now under the command of Col. Will-

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iamson, who is said to have conducted the movement as skillfully and suc- cessfully as could have been reasonably expected. When well along on the open country or "plains." a large body of mounted Indians and British cavalry came in sight of the retreating troops. The enemy pressed forward so closely upon their flanks and rear that the Pennsylvanians finally halted, formed their lines, and gave battle. This was at 2 o'clock P. M., on Thurs- day, June 6, near the eastern edge of the plains, not far from a small branch of the Olentangy Creek, a tributary of the Scioto, in what is now known as Whetstone Township, Crawford County. The enemy attacked on front, left flank and rear, but seemed glad to retire at the expiration of an hour's fighting. In this action, termed the "Battle of Olentangy," the Ameri- cans lost three men killed and eight wounded. The loss of the enemy was much greater.

The retreat then continued in a chilly, drenching rain, the enemy still pursuing and occasionally firing a shot at a respectable distance in the rear. At night the opposing forces were encamped within a mile of each other. Scarcely had the Americans formed their lines at daybreak of the 7th, when the enemy opened fire from the rear. Here they captured two of the Amer- icans, and it is supposed tomahawked them. But the main body was not pursued further, the last hostile shot having been fired near the present town of Crestline, in Crawford County. On their further retreat they had frequent accessions of stragglers, who had been detached by various means from the main body early in the retrograde movement. The home- ward march was along the trail of the troops when outward bound, as far as the Tuscarawas, which they crossed June 10. From that point to the Ohio River, Williamson's trail was followed. Mingo Bottom was reached on the 13th, where, to their great joy, they found several of their missing comrades, who had arrived before them. But the gallant Crawford was not among them, and about 100 of the 480 men that started with the expedi- tion never returned. Among the unreturned heroes were William Harrison. son-in-law, and William Crawford, the nephew of Col. Crawford. Harrison suffered death at the stake.

John Slover, the guide, was captured by a band of Shawanese within twenty miles of the Tuscarawas River, at a point now within the limits of Wayne County. He was taken back to the Sandusky Plains, and from thence to the Shawanese towns near Mad River, now in Logan County, where he was beaten and made to run the gauntlet. Finally, he was taken to Wapatomica, an Indian village situated near the site of Zanesfield, in Logan County, where a council condemned him to die at the stake. Taken to Mack-a- chack, another Indian village, which stood near the site of the present town of West Liberty, in Logan County, he was bound to a post and a fire kin- dled around him. Soon after the fire began to blaze a heavy rainstorm came on and extinguished it. The savages then postponed the burning un- til the next day. During the night, though bound with cords and guarded, he escaped, and finally reached the settlements, having crossed the Ohio River at Wheeling, July 11, 1782.

We now give place to Dr. John Knight's narrative, which, written by him soon after his escape, tells of the march, battle, capture and death of Col. Crawford. It is as follows:

" About the latter end of the month of March or the beginning of April, of the year 1782, the Western Indians began to make incursions upon the frontiers of Ohio County, Va., and Washington and Westmoreland Coun- ties, Penn., which had been their constant practice ever since the commence- ment of the present war between the United States and Great Britain.

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

" In consequence of these predatory invasions, the principal officers of the above-mentioned counties, named Cols. Williamson and Marshall, tried every method in their power to set on foot arr expedition against the Wyan- dot towns, which they could effect in no other way than by giving all possi- ble encouragement to volunteers. The plan proposed was as follows: Every man furnishing himself with a horse, a gun, and one month's provision should be exempt from two tours of militia duty. Likewise that every one who had been plundered by the Indians should, if the plunder could be found at their towns, have it again, proving it to be his property; and all horses lost on the expedition by unavoidable accidents were to be replaced by horses taken in the enemy's country.

" The place appointed for the rendezvous or general meeting of the vol - unteers was fixed on the west side of the Ohio River, about forty miles below Fort Pitt by land, and, I think, about seventy-five by water.

"Col. Crawford was solicited by the general voice of these western coun- ties and districts to command the expedition. He accordingly set out as a volunteer and came to Fort Pitt two days before the time appointed for the assembling of the men. As there was no surgeon yet appointed to go with the expedition, Col. Crawford begged the favor of Gen. Irvine to permit me to accompany him (my consent having been previously asked), to which the General agreed, provided Col. Gibson did not object. Having obtained per- mission of the Colonel, I left Fort Pitt on Tuesday, May 21, and the next day about 1 in the afternoon arrived at the Min . o Bottom. The volunteers did not all cross the river until Friday morning, the 24th; they then dis- tributed themselves into eighteen companies, choosing their Captains by vote. There were chosen also one Colonel commandant, four field Majors and one brigade Major. There were 465 who voted.

" We began our march on Saturday, May 25, making almost a due west course, and on the fourth day reached the old Moravian town upon the river Muskingum, about sixty miles from the river Ohio. Some of the men, hav- ing lost their horses on the night preceding, returned home. Tuesday, the 28th, in the evening, Maj. Brinton and Capt. Bean went some distance from camp to reconnoiter; having gone about one-quarter of a mile, they saw two Indians, upon whom they fired and then returned to camp. This was the first place we were discovered, as we understood afterward. On Tuesday, the 4th of June, which was the eleventh day of our march, about 1 o'clock, we came to the spot where the town of Sandusky formerly stood; the inhabitants had moved eighteen iniles lower down the creek nearer Lower Sandusky; but as neither our guides or any who were with us had known anything of their removal, we began to conjecture there were no Indian towns nearer than Lower Sandusky, which was at least forty miles distant.

" However, after refreshing our horses, we advanced on in search of some of their settlements, but had scarcely got the distance of three or four miles from the old town, when a number of our men expressed their desire to return, some of them alleging that they had only five days' provisions; upon which the field officers and Captains determined in council to proceed that afternoon and no longer. Previous to the calling of this council, a small party of light horse had been sent forward to reconnoiter. Just as the council had ended, an express returned from the above-mentioned party of light horse with the intelligence that they had been about three miles in front, and had seen a large body of Indians running toward them. In a short time we saw the rest of the light horse, who joined us, and having

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gone one mile further met a number of Indians who had partly got posses- sion of a piece of woods before to, whilst we were in the plains, but our men, alighting from their horses and rushing into the woods, soon obliged them to abandon that place.

" The enemy, being by this time re-inforced, flanked to the right and a part of them coming in our rear quickly made the action more serious. The firing continued very warm on both sides from 4 o'clock until the dark of the evening, each party maintaining their ground. And next morning about 4 o'clock, some guns were discharged at the distance of 200 or 300 yards; which continued till day, doing little or no execution on either side. The field officers then assembled and agreed as the enemy were every moment increasing, and we had already a number wounded, to retreat that night. The whole body was to form into three lines, keeping the wounded in the center. We had four killed and twenty-three wounded, of the latter seven very dangerously, on which account as many biers were got ready to carry them; most of the rest were slightly wounded and none so bad but they could ride on horseback. After dark the officers went on the outposts and brought in all the men as expeditiously as they could. Just as the troops were about to form, several guns were fired by the enemy, upon which some of our men spoke out and said our intention was discovered by the Indians, who were firing alarm guns, upon which some in front hurried off. and the rest immediately followed, leaving the seven men that were dangerously wounded, some of whom, however, got off on horseback by means of some good friends, who waited for and assisted them.

" We had not got a quarter of a mile from the field of action, when I heard Col. Crawford calling for his son, John Crawford, his son-in-law, Maj. Harrison, Maj. Rose, and William Crawford, his nephew, upon which I came up and told him I believed they were before us. He asked, 'Is that the doctor?' I answered, 'yes.' He then replied that they were not in front, and begged of me not to leave him. I promised him I would not. We then waited and continued calling for these men until all of the troops had passed us. The Colonel told me that his horse had almost given out, that he could not keep up with the troops, and wished some of his best friends to remain with him; presently there came two men riding after us, one of them an old man, the other a lad. We inquired if they had seen any of the above persons, and they answered they had not.

" By this time there was a very hot firing before us, and, as we judged, near where our main body must have been. Our course was then nearly south- west, but, changing it, we went north about two miles, the two men remain- ing in company with us. Judging ourselves now out of the enemy's lines, we took a due east course, taking care to keep at the distance of fifteen or twenty yards apart, and directing ourselves by the north star. The old man often lagged behind, and when this was the case he never failed to call for us to halt for him. When we were near the Sandusky River, he fell one hundred yards behind, and bawled out for us to stop, as usual. While we were preparing to reprimand him for making a noise, I heard an Indian halloo, as I thought, 150 yards from the man, and partly behind him. After this we did not hear the man call again, neither did he ever come up to us any more. It was now past midnight, and about daybreak Col. Crawford's and the young man's horses gave out, and they left them. We pursued our journey eastward, and about 1 o'clock fell in with Capt. Biggs, who had carried Lieut. Ashley from the field of action, who had been dangerously wounded.

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"We then went on about the space of an hour, when, a heavy rain coming on, we concluded it was best to encamp, as we were encumbered with the wounded officer. We then barked four or five trees, made an encamp- ment and a fire, and remained there all that night. Next morning we again prosecuted our journey, and having gone about three miles, found a deer which had been recently killed. The meat was sliced from the hams and bundled in the skin, with a tomahawk lying by it. We carried all with us, and, in advancing about one mile further, espied the smoke of a fire. We then gave the wounded officer into the charge of the young man, desiring him to stay behind whilst the Colonel, the Captain and myself walked up as cautiously as we could toward the fire. When we came to it we con- cluded, from several circumstances, some of our people. had encamped there the preceding night. We then went about roasting the venison, and, when about to march, we observed one of our men coming upon our tracks. He seemed at first very shy, but having called to him, he came up and told that he was the person that killed the deer, but, upon hearing us come up, was afraid of Indians, hid in a thicket, and made off. Upon this we gave him some bread and roasted venison, proceeded altogether upon our journey, and about 2 o'clock came upon the paths by which we had gone out. Capt. Biggs and myself did not think it safe to keep the road, but the Colonel said the Indians would not follow the troops further than the plains, which we were then considerably past. As the wounded officer rode Capt. Biggs' horse, I loaned the Captain mine. The Colonel and myself went about one hundred yards in front, the Captain and wounded officer in the center, and the two young men behind. After we had traveled about one mile and a half, several Indians started up within fifteen or twenty steps of the Colonel and me. As we at first discovered only three, I im. mediately got behind a large black oak, made ready my piece, and raised it up to take sight, when the Colonel called to me twice not to fire; upon that, one of the Indians ran up to the Colonel and took him by the hand. The Colonel then told me to put down my gun, which I did. At that instant one of them came up to me whom I had formerly seen very often, calling me Doctor, and took me by the hand. They were Delaware Indians of the Wingenin tribe. Capt. Biggs fired amongst them, but did no execution. They then told us to call these and make them come back, else they would go and kill them, which the Colonel did, but they four got off and escaped for that time.

" The Colonel and I were then taken to the Indian camp, which was about one-half a mile from the place where we were captured. On Sunday even- ing five Delawares, who had posted themselves at some distance further on the road, brought back to the camp where we lay Capt. Biggs and Lieut. Ashley's scalps, with an Indian scalp, which Capt. Biggs had taken in the field of action. They also brought in Biggs' horse and mine. They told us the other two had got away from them.

" Monday morning, the 10th of June, we were paraded to march to San- dusky about thirty-three miles distant. They had eleven prisoners of us, and four scalps, the Indians being seventeen in number. Col. Crawford was very desirous to see a 'certain Simon Girty,' who lived among the In dians, and was on this account permitted to go to Tarhe the same night, with two warriors to guard him, having orders at the same time to pass by the place where the Colonel had turned out his horse, that they might if possible find him. The rest of us were taken to the old town, which was within eight miles of the new.

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"Tuesday morning, the 11th, Col. Crawford was brought out to us on purpose to be marched in with the prisoners. I asked the Colonel if he had seen Mr. Girty; he told me had, and that Girty had promised to do everything in his power for him, but that the Indians were very much en- raged against the prisoners, particularly Capt. Pipe, one of the chiefs. He likewise told me that Girty had informed him that his son-in-law, Maj. Harrison, and his nephew, William Crawford, were made prisoners by the Shawanese, but had been pardoned. This Capt. Pipe had come from the towns about an hour before Col. Crawford, and had painted all the prison- ers' faces black.

" As he was painting me, he told me that I should go to the Shawanese towns and see my friends. When the Colonel arrived he painted him black, also told him he was glad to see him, and that he would have him shaved when he came to see his friends at the Wyandot town. When we marched the Colonel and I were kept back between Pipe and Wingenin, the two Delaware chiefs, the other nine prisoners were sent forward with an- other party of Indians. As we went along we saw four of the prisoners lying by the path tomahawked and scalped. Some of them were at the dis- tance of half a mile from each other. When we arrived within half a mile of the place where the Colonel was to be executed, we overtook the five prisoners that remained alive. The Indians had caused them to sit down on the ground, as they did, also, the Colonel and me at some distance from them. I was then given in charge of an Indian fellow to be taken to the Shawanese towns.

" In the place where we were made to sit down, there were a number of squaws and boys who fell on the five prisoners and tomahawked them. There was a certain John McKinley among the prisoners, formerly an offi- cer in the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, whose head an old squaw cut off, and the Indians kicked it about on the ground. The young Indian fel- lows came often where the Colonel and I were, and dashed the scalps in our faces. We were then conducted along toward the place where the Col- onel was afterward executed. When we came within about a half mile of it, Simon Girty met us, with several Indians on horseback; he spoke to the Colonel, but I was about 150 yards behind, and could not hear what passed between them. Almost every Indian we met struck us either with sticks or their fists. Girty waited until I was brought up, and asked was that the doctor. I told him yes, and went toward him reaching out my hand, but he bid me be gone, and called me a d -- d rascal; upon which the fellow who had me in charge pulled me along. Girty rode up after me and told me I was to go to the Shawanese towns.

" When we were come to the fire, the Colonel was stripped naked, ordered to sit down by the fire, and then they beat him with sticks and their fists. Presently after, I was treated in the same manner. They then tied a rope to the foot of a post about fifteen feet high, bound the Colonel's hands be- hind his back, and fastened the rope to the ligatures between his wrists. The rope was long enough either for him to sit down or walk around the post once or twice and return the same way. The Colonel then called to Girty and asked him if they intended to burn him. Girty answered yes. The Colonel said he would take it all patiently. Upon this Capt. Pipe, the Delaware chief, made a speech to the Indians, to about thirty or forty men, sixty or seventy squaws and boys. When the speech was finished, they all yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what had been said. The Indian men then took their guns and shot powder into the Colonel's body, from his

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feet as far up as his neck. I think not less than seventeen loads were dis- charged upon his naked body. They then crowded about him and to the best of my observation cut off his ears; when the throng had dispersed a little, I saw the blood running from both sides of his head in consequence thereof.

"The fire was about six or seven yards from the post to which the Colonel was tied. It was made of small hickory poles, each about six feet long. Three or four Indians, by turns, would take up, individually, one of these burning pieces of wood, and apply it to his naked body, already burned black with the powder. These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him so that whichever way he ran around the post they met him with burning faggots and poles. Some of the squaws took wide boards upon which they would put a quantity of burning coals and hot embers, and throw on him, so that in a short time he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon. In the midst of these extreme torments and tor- tures he called to Simon Girty, and begged of him to shoot him, but Girty making no answer, he called to him again Girty by way of derision told the Colonel he had no gun, at the same time turning about to an Indian who was behind him, laughed heartily, and by all his gestures seemed de- lighted at the horrid scene.

" Girty then came up to me and bade me prepare for death. He said, however, I was not to die at this place, but to be burned at the Shawanese town. He swore by G-d, I need not expect to escape death, but should suffer it in all its extremities. He then observed that some prisoners had given him to understand that if our people had him they would not hurt him; for his part, he said, he did not believe it, but desired to know my opinion of the matter. Being at that time in great anguish and distress for the torments the Colonel was suffering before my eyes, as well as the expectation of underging the same fate in two days, I made little or no reply. He expressed a great deal of ill will for Col. Gibson, and said he was one of his greatest enemies, and more to the same purpose, to all of which I paid very little attention. Col. Crawford, at this period of his sufferings, besought the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and bore his torments with the most manly fortitude. He continued in all the extremities of pain for an hour and three-quarters or two hours, as near as I can judge, when at last, being almost spent, he lay down on his belly. They then scalped him, and repeatedly threw the scalp in my face, telling me 'that was my Captain.' An old squaw (whose appearance every way answered the idea the people entertain of the devil) got a board, took a parcel of coals and ashes, and laid them on his back and head after he had been scalped; he then raised himself upon his feet and began to walk around the post; they next put a burning stick to him as usual, but he seemed more insensible of pain than before.

"The Indian fellow who had me in charge now took me away to Capt. Pipe's house, about three-quarters of a mile from the place of the Colonel's execution. I was bound all night, and thus prevented from seeing the last of the horrid spectacle. Next morning, being June 12, the Indian un- tied me, painted me black, and we set off for the Shawanese town, which he told me was somewhat less than forty miles from that place. We soon came to the spot where the Colonel had been burnt, as it was partly in our way. I saw his bones lying among the remains of the fire, almost burnt to ashes. I suppose after he was dead they had laid his body on the fire.

The Indian told me that was my 'Big Captain,' and gave the scalp-

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halloo. He was on horseback and drove me before him. I pretended to this Indian I was ignorant of the death I was to die at the Shawanese town; affected as cheerful a countenance as possible, and asked him if we were not to live together as brothers in one house when we should get to the town. He seemed well pleased, and said yes. He then asked me if I could make wigwams. I told him I could; he then seemed more friend- ly. We went that day, as near as I can judge, about twenty-five miles, the course partly southwest. The Indian told me we should the next day come to the town, the sun being in such a direction, pointing nearly south. At night, when we went to rest, I attempted very often to untie myself. but the Indian was extremely vigilant and scarce ever shut his eyes that night. About daybreak, he got up and untied me. He next began to mend the fire, and as the gnats were troublesome, I asked him if I could make a smoke behind him. He said yes. I then took the end of a dogwood fork, which had been burnt down to about eighteen inches long; it was the longest stick I could find, yet too small for the purpose I had in view; then I picked up another smaller stick, and taking a coal of fire between them, went behind him, then turning suddenly about, I* struck him on the head with all the force I was master of, which so stunned him that he fell forward with both his hands in the fire.

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The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway Number of Pages: 1072

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072