USA > Ohio > The history of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
117
THE BATTLE FIELD.
1791.]
troops required, the march was continued to Fort Washington.
Soon after the defeat of St. Clair, Wilkinson, who had succeeded him in the command of Fort Washington, organized an expedition to survey the battle field. The condition of the dead af- forded a mournful spectacle of the cruelty and implacable feelings of the Indians. The bodies were much abused, and stripped of every valua- ble, while those who were so unfortunate as to have been taken alive, appeared to have been subjected to the greatest possible amount of tor- ture, having their limbs torn off, and stakes as thick as a man's arm driven through their bodies. Pits were dug in different parts of the field, and all the slain that were exposed to view, or could be conveniently found, the snow being very deep at the time of search, were interred. In Decem- ber, 1793, a detachment was sent forward by General Wayne, to build a fort on the site of St. Clair's defeat. It arrived there on Christ- mas day. The ground, now free from snow, was covered with remains of the dead. The next day pits were opened, and the bones were reverently buried. Six hundred skulls were found upon the field. After this melancholy duty had been performed, a fortification was built, which was called Fort Recovery.
118
HISTORY OF OHIO. -
[1792.
CHAPTER IX.
The United States attempt negotiations with the Indians- Putnam's mission-Public dinner given to chiefs-Prepara- tions of the settlers for defence-Backwoodsmen and rangers -Adventure of Neil Washburn-Capture and escape of Moses Hewitt-Attack on Fort Jefferson-Captivity and escape of Davis-The blockhouse schools-Amusements of the settlers while confined within the blockhouses-Bird Lockhart.
AFTER the defeat of General St. Clair, the necessity of having an army of men well disci- plined and trained for the peculiar warfare of an Indian campaign became painfully evident. But it was the wish of Washington that, before this army was organized, every effort should be made by peaceful negotiation with the Indians to bring the war to a friendly and honourable termination. No less than five independent cm- bassies, offering peace, were sent to the hostile tribes. Knox, the Secretary of War, himself wrote to Brant, the great Mohawk chieftain, in- viting him to a personal conference, and on the . 20th of June the latter visited Philadelphia, where he was treated with marked respect. Great pains were taken to make him understand the posture of affairs and the wishes of the go-
119
PUTNAM'S TREATY.
1792.]
vernment, in the hope that he would become a powerful auxiliary in behalf of peace. But the victories gained by the Indians had so clated them that they rejected all proposals for a pa- cific adjustment of difficulties. Freeman, who left Fort Washington, April 7th ; Trueman, who left the same place on the 22d of May for the Maumce ; and Colonel Hardin, who started on the same day for Sandusky, were all murdered by the Indians, and nothing remained but to set- tle the question by force of arms.
General Putnam, accompanied by Heckewelder, the Moravian Missionary, was the only commis- sioner appointed by the United States who suc- ceeded in forming a treaty, and this too with only a portion of the Indian tribes. This treaty was never ratified by the Senate, and proved practically of little or no use. The Indians met the commissioners at Fort Vincennes, on the 27th of September, 1792. The following tribes sent chiefs and representatives, viz: The Eel River Indians, Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, Kas- kaskias, Peorias, Musquitoes, Piankeshaws, and the Illinois. By the terms of the treaty these Indian tribes acknowledged themselves to be under the protection of, and agreed to maintain a perpetual peace with, the government of the United States. They agreed to surrender all prisoners. In return they were to possess their hunting grounds in peace, and no part was ever
120
HISTORY OF OHIO.
- [1792.
to be taken from them without their consent, or full and adequate remuneration. This treaty re- ceived the signatures of thirty Indian deputies. At the same time they agreed to send a deputa- tion to see their Great Father, the President of the United States, and fourteen chiefs reached Marietta on the 17th of November, on their journey to Washington.
On the 18th a public dinner was given to this deputation, at the Campus Martius, to which the citizens of Marietta and the officers of the gar- rison were invited. The boat which contained the chiefs was escorted with martial music to the north-east gate of the garrison, and its approach honoured by a salute of fourteen guns. The feast was held in the hall of the north-west blockhouse, in a room twenty-four feet by forty in size, the dinner having been provided by 3, committee of arrangement, aided by the ladies of the garrison. The entertainment was as novel as the scene was interesting. At the close of the entertainment, the chiefs were con- ducted to their boats and again proceeded on their journey.
While the army was organizing under General Wayne, and before hostilities were resumed, in the month of June, 1792, Colonel Sproat, commander of the garrison at Marietta, re- ceived two boxes, containing twenty-five stands each, of United States muskets with bayonets,
121
RANGERS ENLISTED.
1792.]
new from the factory. These were distributed among the inhabitants and soldiers on their giv- ing a receipt to return them on demand. Abun- dance of ammunition was also prepared and stored in the blockhouse, ready for use in case of emergency. In this manner the people were all armed; and although many of the newly arrived settlers were utterly unacquainted with the use of the rifle, they soon became expert marksmen, well prepared for an encounter with the common enemy. The most skilful in the use of the rifle were enlisted into the United States service, to defend the settlements, under the title of rangers. These men were a hardy and courageous race, well acquainted with the habits of the Indian and his mode of warfare, and always proud of the privilege of imparting their knowledge to others ; and to this plan of employing rangers may be attributed the general safety of the frontier, and the successful occupation of the country. These rangers being constantly en- gaged in hunting, or out with the spies in small parties, it was next to impossible for the most crafty Indian warrior to approach within five miles of a garrison without being detected. The Indians thus closely watched by men who were a match for them in their own mode of warfare, soon grew indifferent to enterprises in which they were more likely to lose than gain the ad- vantage.
11
122
HISTORY OF OHIO. [1792
In the early difficulties with the Indians on the Ohio frontier, Neil Washburn was distinguished for his sagacity and courage. He exhibited from infancy a love for the woods, spending most of his time when a boy in snaring pheasants and wild animals. Having been presented with a rifle by his father, he very soon became expert in its use. In the summer of 1790, Neil and his father crossed the Ohio for the purpose of shoot- ing deer, at a lick near the mouth of Eagle Creek. On entering the creek their attention was ar- rested by a singular hacking sound some distance up the bank. Neil landed, and with gun in hand, cautiously crawling up the banks of the creek, discovered an Indian in a hickory tree, about twenty feet from the ground, busily en- gaged in cutting round the bark to make a canoe, in which he probably anticipated the gratifica- tion of crossing the river and committing depre- dations on the property of the Kentuckians. His meditations and work were, however, soon brought to a close, for the intrepid boy no sooner saw the dusky form of the savage, than he brought his gun to a level with his eye and fired. The Indian fell dead to the earth with a heavy sound. Fearing that there might be other In- dians about, he hastily returned to the canoe, and recrossed the river. Early the next morning Neil guided a party of men to the spot where the Indian had fallen, and having secured the
123
MOSES HEWITT.
1792.]
-
scalp, showed it much elated the same day to the inhabitants of the village where he resided, many of whom presented him with testimonials of their approbation. He afterward was em- ployed as a spy, to watch for such parties of Indians as were in the habit of crossing the Ohio into Kentucky, to plunder and murder the settlers. He joined the army under General Wayne, and fought with his usual prowess.
After St. Clair's defeat, all the plantations on both banks of the Ohio were broken up, and the inhabitants retired to their garrisons for mutual defence. Among them was Moses Hewitt, a sturdy backwoodsman, who joined the company at Neil's station, on the same stream. In the month of May he arose early one morning, and went out about a mile from the garrison in search of a stray horse. While walking leisurely along an obscure cattle-path, he was suddenly made prisoner by three stout Indians, who sprang from behind two large trees on either side of the track. The Indians now moved with their pri- soner in the direction of the Sandusky towns. On their journey they treated him with as little harshness as possible. He was always confined at night by fastening his wrists and ancles to saplings as he lay on his back between two In- dians. By day his limbs were free, but one In- dian guard walked before and two behind him. As they approached the prairies, the Indians
124
HISTORY OF OHIO. [1792.
frequently halted to search for honey, the wild bee being found in every hollow tree, and often beneath decayed roots in the ground in astonish- ing numbers. This afforded them many luscious repasts, of which their prisoner was allowed to partake. While the Indians were occupied in these searches, Hewitt watched his opportunity for escape, but the savages were equally vigilant. As they receded, however, from the danger of pursuit, they became less hurried in their march, and often stopped to hunt and amuse themselves. The level prairie afforded fine ground for one of their favourite amusements, the foot-race, and Hewitt was invited to join them. He soon found that he could outrun two of them, and that the other Indian could outrun him, which discouraged him from an attempt to escape until a more favourable opportunity presented itself. The Indians treated him familiariy, and were much pleased with his lively and cheerful man- ners. They were now within one or two days' march of their village, when they made a halt for a hunt, and Hewitt complained of sickness. They therefore left their prisoner in the camp, although they had usually taken him with them; but to secure him, they confined his wrists with stout thongs of raw-hide to saplings, and fast- ened his legs, at a considerable clevation, to a small tree. As soon as the Indians had gone, Hewitt sought to liberate himself, and after long
125
ESCAPE OF HEWITT.
1792.]
and violent exertions succeeded in freeing his limbs from their fastenings, but not without se- verely laccrating the skin. Taking with him two small pieces of jerked venison, not more than sufficient for a single meal, with his body nearly naked, and not even a knife or a tomahawk to assist him in procuring food, he started, in the direction of a favourite Indian trail or war-path, for the settlements on the Muskingum.
Soon after his departure the Indians returned to the camp, and finding their captive gone, im- mediately commenced a pursuit. That night, as Hewitt was cautiously traversing the forest, he heard the crackling of a breaking twig behind him. Couching silently, he saw his three pur- suers on one side of him at a distance of only a few yards, but they did not perceive him. As soon as they had disappeared he altered his course, and saw no more of them. After a toilsome march of nine days duration, in which he suffer- ed every thing but death from the exhausting effects of hunger and fatigue, he arrived on the banks of the Big Muskingum, and approached the garrison at Wolf Creek Mills. With the cx- ception of the two small pieces of venison, he had lived only on roots and the bark of the slippery elm, so that he was so weak as to be Snable to halloo for assistance or even stand ; tnd as he was almost entirely naked, and his Vody completely disfigured, torn and bloody with
11*
126
HISTORY OF OHIO.
[1792.
the briers and bushes of the forest, he thought it imprudent to show himself, lest he should be shot by the sentries as an Indian. In this forlorn state he remained until the approach of evening, when he crawled silently to the gateway, which was open, and crept in before any one was aware of his presence. The light of the fire falling on his face he was instantly recognised by a young man, who exclaimed, " Here is Hewitt !" He was immediately supplied with food and clothing, and possessing a fine constitution, speedily re- gained his health.
In the summer of 1792, a large body of Indians surrounded Fort Jefferson, secreting themselves among the undergrowth of the vi- cinity. Knowing that Captain Shaylor, the com- mandant, was passionately fond of hunting, they imitated the notes of turkeys, in order to decoy him from the fort. Their stratagem was success- ful, for hearing the noise he hastened out with his son, fully expecting to return loaded with game. As he approached the cover, the Indians arose and fired, and his son, a promising lad, fell mortally wounded. The captain immediately turned and fled to the fort, followed by the In- dians in close pursuit, who calculated either to make him prisoner, or to enter the fort with him when the gate was opened for his admission. In this they were disappointed, although close be- hind him ; he entered, and the gate was immedi-
127
CAPTURE OF DAVIS.
1792.]
ately shut, effectually preventing their entrance. In his retreat he was severely wounded in the back by an arrow.
In the fall of 1792, when the spies and rangers were discharged, Mr. Samuel Davis, who had been employed by the governor of Kentucky in that capacity to watch the Ohio Indians, concluded to go on a winter's hunt up the Big Sandy River. Having prepared traps, ammunition, and a light canoe, he and Mr. William Campbell commenced their excursion. Beaver and other furs being abundant all along the banks of the stream, they hunted and trapped, with a success quite equal to their anticipations, until the commencement of wintry weather admonished them to return. They accordingly descended the river, and al- though no signs indicating the presence of In- dians had been detected by them, they were cir- cumspect in their movements, carefully conceal- ing their canoe, when they had occasion to leave it, among the willows which grew along the mar- gin of the stream, and sleeping out on the hills at night without a fire. After floating down the river for several days, they landed on a small island in the stream, where they discovered signs of beaver. They immediately set their traps, and having kindled a small fire, cooked their supper and lay down to sleep without putting out their fire, as they thought it impossible for the light from it to be seen through the thick willow
£
£
128
HISTORY OF OHIO. [1792.
trees by which they were surrounded. They were, however, speedily undeceived, for a war party of Indians, returning up the stream from an unsuccessful attack on a blockhouse in the vicinity, catching a glimpse of the fire, landed, and approaching the spot, found Davis and Campbell fast asleep. The exclamation in broken English, " Come, come-get up, get up !" awaken- ed the hunters, who were greatly surprised to find themselves surrounded, and several uplifted tomahawks threatening them with instant death. As it was useless to resist under such circum- stances, they immediately submitted to their captors.
When the prisoners were securely fastened in . their own canoe, the Indians, who had already plundered them of their rifles, traps, and the proceeds of their successful hunt, continued their retreat up the stream, the main body of warriors travelling along its margin. Early the next day they entered the Ohio. Their wounded and prisoners were first taken across the stream, and left on the shore with a guard, they then return- ed for their horses, which they had great difficulty in getting across. The guard left the prisoners for a moment, to have a better view of the dif- ficulty with the horses; and Davis, who possessed in an eminent degree both courage and presence of mind, proposed to seize the arms which the Indians had stacked against a tree, kill them,
1
129
MARCHI WITH THE INDIANS.
1792.]
-
and make their escape. His companion, however, faltered, and in the midst of this hesitation, to the chagrin of Davis, the guard resumed their position and their weapons.
The opportunity of escape being thus lost, Davis brooded over his captivity in sullen silence. He knew that the Indians not unfrequently roasted their captives alive over slow fires, or tortured them to death in a variety of ways, and sleeping or awake the terrible image of such a scene was continually floating before his eyes. He therefore resolved to effect his escape at all hazards, and without consulting his companion any more as to the chances of failure or success.
The Indians now left the Ohio and pushed across the country in the direction of Sandusky. As they were much encumbered with their wounded and baggage, there being no road or path, they travelled necessarily very slowly, not more than ten or twelve miles each day. At night the prisoners were secured in the following manner. A thong, made of the raw hide of the buffalo or the elk, was attached to the waist of each, and each end of the thong was fastened to the waist of an Indian, so that neither of them could stir without his guards being apprized of the movement. In this uncomfortable position the prisoners lay until the Indians thought pro- per to rise, when they were untied and menaced
130
HISTORY OF OHIO. [1792.
with instant death if they attempted to break the line of march.
One morning just before daybreak, Davis roused one of the Indians to whom he was fasten- ed, and requested to be untied. The Indian raised his head and finding it still dark, and none of the Indians about their fires, gave Davis a severe blow with his fist, and told him to lie still. The condition of the unfortunate captive was now desperate; and as the day began to dawn he awoke his other Indian guard, to whom he complained that the thong hurt him. The Indian perceiving it to be getting light, and that some of the warriors were already making their fires, got up and loosed the bonds of his prisoner. Davis rose to his feet, determined to escape. Standing for a moment betwee former guards, he saw at a glance the position of those surrounding him. The Indians had cut two forks, which were stuck into the ground; a pole was laid across these forks, and all their rifles were leaning against this pole. These rifles were in a position intended to be between him and the Indians. He saw at a glance that if he started with his back to the Indians, their rifles would be before them, and they would have nothing to do but to catch them up and fire as they ran; if, on the contrary, he boldly faced them, and made a dash through the encampment, they would have to turn back for their rifles, and
131
ESCAPE OF DAVIS.
1792.]
-
as it was only twilight, he might possibly get so far in advance of them as to render their fire uncertain. He knew that if he failed, a certain and cruel death would be promptly awarded him. For an instant his heart fluttered and his sight grew dim; the next moment he had hurled a powerful Indian into the fire he had just kindled, and was speeding with the velocity of the wind through the encampment. In an instant the Indians were yelling after him in pursuit. As he had anticipated, not a rifle was discharged. For some time it was a doubtful race, the force- most Indian being so near that Davis sometimes fancied that he felt his grasp. Soon he gained ground-the breaking and rustling of the under- growth behind him became fainter, and at last these sounds of immediate and dangerous prox- imity ceased altogether. Davis slackened his pace, and looking back, saw with infinite plea- sure, from an elevated piece of ground, there was no one in pursuit. He now discovered, for the first time, that his feet had been dreadfully gashed and bruised by the sharp stones over which he had passed in his headlong and indis- criminate flight. He therefore stripped himself of his waistcoat, and tearing it in two pieces, made mocassins for his feet. He then made for the river Ohio, and succeeded in reaching its banks, after travelling three days and two nights
132
HISTORY OF OHIO.
[1792.
without food, fire, or shelter from the storms of winter.
It was about the first of January when he gained the Ohio; and while looking around for some dry logs with which to construct a raft, he beheld a Kentucky boat slowly gliding with the current. The boatmen at first refused to take him on board, fearing it to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy them on shore; but when Davis plunged into the freezing water and swam toward them, their suspicions gave way, and they in- stantly exerted themselves to save him. Touched with pity for his complete exhaustion, the boat- men did every thing in their power to revive and relieve him, and finally landed him in the midst of his former friends and associates at Massie Station, where he was speedily restored to his wonted vigour.
Notwithstanding the poverty and privations of the people, education was not neglected during the Indian War, but schools were taught in the blockhouses, and the children of the settlers in- structed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. During the long and tedious confinement of the inhabitants within the blockhouses, various amuse- ments were devised to make the time pass as happily as possible. The sports of the young men and boys consisted of games at ball, foot- races, leaping, and wrestling. Foot-races were especially encouraged, as tending to give them
123
1793.] AMUSEMENTS OF THE SETTLERS.
an advantage in their contests with the Indians. Dancing, accompanied with music, was a recrea- tion frequently indulged in. Parties of young people from Campus Martius and Fort Harmer came down by water to Farmer's Castle, at Bel- pré, attended by a guard of soldiers, and ac- companied by musicians attached to the differ- ent military stations as often as four or five times in the year, where they would spend the time in rifle shooting, athletic sports, and dancing. Some- times the young girls would steal out of the castle on a pleasant moonlight summer evening, and taking a canoe, would sail on the calm clear surface of the Ohio, delighting with song and laughter the listeners on shore. At such times, too, the graver settlers would be gathered in cheerful groups at each other's dwellings, chatting on their own affairs, or listening to the news of the day, brought by passing boats, or by the rangers in their visits to other garrisons. The Fourth of July was regularly celebrated. There were usually present, on this occasion, some of the old soldiers of the Revolution, who would recount their hardships and adventures over a bowl of whiskey punch, while each patriotic toast was accompanied by a discharge from the guns of the fort.
In the year 1793 General Wayne was busily engaged in collecting troops, provisions, and erecting forts, prior to invading the Indian terri-
1%
134
HISTORY OF OHIO. [1793.
tory. These movements occupied the attention of the savages, and prevented them from making many hostile attacks on the settlements. In the autumn of this year Bird Lockhart, a celebrated ranger and hunter encountered two Indian war- riors, in the neighbourhood of Farmer's Castle, under the following circumstances. Isaac Wil- liams, one of the settlers, had been sick and was slowly recovering. Feeling his appetite return- ing, he thought he should gain strength more speedily if he could obtain some venison, and ap- plied to Lockhart to go into the woods and kill a deer. Lockhart readily consented, although it was in the midst of the Indian War, and a very hazardous venture. He soon killed two fine deer, and having dressed the venison, placed it on the back of his horse, and started for the garrison. As he was riding leisurely along, late in the afternoon, he suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, met two Indian warriors in the path, only a few rods before him. The Indians were as much sur- prised as himself, and both parties immediately sprang behind trees. One of the Indians took to a tree too small to cover him, and as the side hip presented a fair mark, Lockhart instantly fired, and completely disabled him. The other Indian, who was behind a larger tree, and at a considerable distance, seeing that Lockhart's rifle was now empty, rushed up to shoot him. As he approached, Lockhart had just re-loaded
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.