USA > Ohio > The history of the state of Ohio; from the discovery of the great valley, to the present time > Part 24
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General Clarke and his men, half-starved, worked their way back to the Falls, covered with shame and confusion at the unmerited
OTHNIEL LOOKER, Governor 1814.
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disgrace of their arms. The unfortunate general never recovered from the blow. He sunk into profound melancholy, and at length died, aged and poor, having been supported, the latter years of his life, by a pension from the State of Virginia, of four hundred dollars a year.
This unsuccessful invasion of the country of the fierce and vin- dictive Shawanese, upon the Wabash, only exasperated the war- riors. They immediately recommenced, with more vigor than ever, active hostilities along the whole line of the Kentucky fron- tier. During the Winter and the ensuing Spring they were con- tinually crossing the Ohio River, and were assailing all the exposed settlements and farm-houses, even far into the interior of Ken- tucky. The peril became so great that the feebler settlements had to be abandoned, and the pioneers gathered around forts and other fortified stations.
Simon Kenton, who had such grievous wrongs to avenge, assembled three hundred mounted [riflemen, in the Autumn of 1787, and ravaged the country of the Scioto Valley, shooting the Indians, burning their dwellings, and destroying their crops. After a successful raid of ten days he returned, without the loss of a man. These ravages, instead of subduing the tribes, caused a general combination of them against the whites. Special efforts were made to attack the boats descending the river. The wily Indian, from his ambush on the river bank, would seek to strike, with his rifle bullets, any one who incautiously exposed his person above the bulwarks. If the boat touched the shore for fire-wood, the lurking savage was watching, with the hope of obtaining plunder and scalps.
While parties thus waylaid the river banks, others were inces- sant in their roaming incursions through the settlements, way- laying every path, ambuscading every neighborhood, lurking as invisibly as the wolf, near every residence, watching every family spring, ensconced in every corn-field, and near every cross-road, patiently waiting whole days and nights for the approaching victim.
These parties were nearly all Ohio Indians, from the Scioto, the Great and Little Miami, and their tributaries. The following brief narrative of events during four months - from the first of May to the first of August - will show the vigor with which the Indians pursued their work of plunder and death :
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In the County of Jefferson, ten persons were killed, and ten wounded, and twenty horses stolen. In Lincoln County, two were killed, two wounded, and twenty-five horses stolen. In Madison County, one was killed, two wounded, and ten horses stolen. In Bourbon County, two were wounded, and fifteen horses stolen. In Mason County, two were killed, and forty-one horses stolen. In Woodford County, several horses had been stolen, and one boy killed.
The whole frontier region was kept in constant alarm. This state of things continued until checked by the severity of Winter. The same predatory warfare was carried on against the western counties of Virginia and Pennsylvania. The deadly assaults were spread over three hundred miles of exposed frontier.
Between the years 1783 and 1790, the Indians killed, wounded and took captive fifteen hundred men, women and children, be- sides destroying property to the amount of fifty thousand dollars.
By the Treaty of Paris -so called because it was formed in that city - Great Britain renounced all claim to territory south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi. The British Gov- ernment made a great effort to have the Ohio River the northern boundary of the United States, instead of the line of the lakes ; but Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay were inflexible in their demand that the lakes should be the boundary.
It will be remembered that the chiefs of four Indian tribes, the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, and Chippewas, in a council held at Fort McIntosh, in the western part of Pennsylvania, in Janu- ary, 1785, had ceded to the United States a large extent of land in that portion of the Northwestern Territory now known as Ohio. In the Fall of that year the United States took formal possession of these lands by sending a detachment of troops from Fort McIntosh to rear a block-house, and commence a settle- ment on the point of land where the Muskingum River enters the Ohio.
Major John Doughty was entrusted with the command of this expedition. He gave to the fort which he constructed the name of "Harmar," in honor of the colonel of the regiment to which he belonged. The outline of the fort formed a pentagon, and was built of large timbers, laid horizontally, and enclosing an area of about three-quarters of an acre. Some fine gardens were laid out, in the rear of the works. The fort was on the western side of the-
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Muskingum River, and contained barracks sufficiently capacious to accommodate the soldiers, and also several families of settlers. This was the first military post of the United States in Ohio, if we except a small fort, called Laurens, built in 1778, on the Tus- carawas.
The United States Government was very desirous of securing peace with the Indians. There was nothing to be gained by war. A council of the Shawanese chiefs was assembled at the mouth of the Great Miami, the latter part of January, 1786. Three distin- guished gentlemen of the United States attended as commis- sioners. In the contract here entered into, which was known as the Treaty of the Great Miami, the Shawanese chiefs acknowledged the United States to be the sole and absolute sovereign of all the territory heretofore relinquished to them, by their chiefs, in the Treaty of January 14, 1785. The chiefs also agreed to abstain from all hostilities, to surrender three hostages for the faithful delivery of all the captives they held, to punish such of their young men as should be guilty of murder or robbery against the whites, and to give notice to the United States officers of any incursions they suspected of being in contemplation against the frontiers.
The United States agreed to take the Shawanese under their protection, to allot to them, as their hunting grounds, the territory generally lying west of the Great Miami, and to prevent all intru- sion of white settlements into their regions.
Notwithstanding these treaties, hostile incursions still continued. The British Government had been very desirous of retaining the country between the Great Lakes and the Ohio. Defeated in this, the British traders and agents in Canada sought to prolong their influence over the Northwestern Indians, and their lucrative trade with them, by instigating them to that cruel warfare which would tend to arrest the advance of the American settlements.
"Detroit had long been an important central depot for the British fur traders, with the Northwestern Indians. It was an important place of business, and many Scotch and English capitalists had large investments in the lucrative trade with the natives. To comply with the treaty stipulations would incommode these impor- tant personages, by interrupting their trade, and restricting their influence over the savage tribes south and west of the lakes. A state of hostilities between the Indians and the American people
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of the West would be a sufficient guarantee to them that, for a time, they should be free from interruption. Hence they wished to arrest the advance of emigration across the Ohio River."*
The vast territory lying north and west of the Ohio River, was claimed, by virtue of original charters from the King of England, by the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Vir- ginia. Upon the peace which followed the Revolution, each of these states consented to relinquish its claims to the general government, with the exception of reservations by Connecticut. and Virginia. These two states, embarassed by the expenses of the war, retained a portion of the territory for the purpose of pay- ing their debts to the revolutionary soldiers.
The region thus granted to Connecticut, by Congress, and which was called the Western Reserve, consisted of the country lying north of the 4Ist degree of latitude, and extending from the western boundary of the State of Pennsylvania to the Sandusky River; or rather to the western borders of Sandusky and Seneca Counties. This region, bounded on the north by the lakes, was about fifty miles in breath, and one hundred and twenty miles from east to west.
Virginia retained the lands lying between the Scioto and the Little Miami. This section was called " The Virginia Military District." The remainder of the vast, and as yet almost unknown, region of the Northwest was to be organized into states, so soon as the population should be sufficient. These cessions being completed, the United States Government, in the year 1787, established a territorial government over the whole, and as yet uninhabited, region, extending west to the Mississippi River.
In this ordinance of territorial organization, we find it stated that no man shall be arrested for his mode of worship or his re- ligious sentiments ; that the utmost good faith shall be observed towards the Indians; that their lands shall never be taken from them without their consent, unless in just and lawful war; and that there shall be formed in the said territory not less than three nor more than five states. There was also the all-important pro- vision introduced :
"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; provided, always, that
* The Valley of the Mississippi, by John W. Monette, M.D., Vol. II., p. 226.
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any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed, in any of the original states, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor in service as aforesaid."
And now companies began . to be organized upon the Atlantic sea-board for the establishment of colonies in this northwestern territory. The Ohio Company sent agents to Congress to purchase a large extent of land between the Muskingum and the Hocking Rivers, bounded on the east by the Ohio; for in that region the: river line runs nearly north and south.
The Ohio Company was formed of officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army. They had resolved to move West to retrieve: their exhausted fortunes. Many of them held large claims upon the Government, the payment of which they could obtain only in land. The purchase was made at one dollar an acre, payable in. land scrip, or any other evidences of debt for revolutionary ser- vices. The purchase, including the mouths of the Muskingum: and the Hocking Rivers, embraced between one and two million acres.
Soon after this John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, purchased. six thousand acres, between the Great and Little Miami. His; northern border was the Ohio River. For this land he paid sixty -- six cents an acre. In the Autumn of 1787, General Rufus Put- nam, a son of General Israel Putnam, of revolutionary renown,. set out with a party of forty-seven persons, mainly from New England, to commence a colony at the mouth of the Muskingum, on the eastern bank, opposite Fort Harmar.
For nearly eight weeks this band of emigrants toiled painfully along through the rugged and almost pathless defiles of the Alle- ghany Mountains. The course they took was what was called. Braddock's Road. It was the same route which was subsequently adopted by the national turnpike from Cumberland westward. At: length they reached what was called Simrel's Ferry, on the Yohi- ogany, one of the tributaries of the Alleghany River. Here the: severity of the Winter detained them for some time.
They built at this place a large covered barge, which they named. the Mayflower, in remembrance of their pilgrim ancestors. It. was bullet-proof, so as to defy the rifles of the Indians. It is said that the boat was well adapted to transport the families and their effects to their ultimate destination, and to serve as a floating resi ---
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dence, while more permanent ones were being erected on the land.
The latter part of March, 1788, the Mayflower, freighted with its precious colony, commenced its voyage, to float down the Yohiogany, the Alleghany, and the Ohio, to the mouth of the Muskingum. On the 7th of April the emigrants took possession of their purchase. Better materials for a colony were probably never before brought together. The colonists were generally men of science and refinement, and of high moral worth. For their internal security they framed a simple code of laws, which were published by being nailed to a tree. It is a remarkable proof of the moral habits of the people that for three months there was but a single infraction of these laws. General Washington pays the following tribute to the character of these pioneers :
" No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which was commenced at the Muskingum. Infor- mation, prosperity and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of the settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community."
The ordinance which organized the Territorial Government was placed in the hands of a governor and three judges.
There was a drizzling rain, accompanied with fog, as the May- flower drifted by the mouth of the Muskingum. The colonists did not perceive that they had reached their destination until the massive white-washed walls of Fort Harmar loomed up upon them through the mist, upon the right bank of the stream. They immediately entered the river, where they found pleasant accomo- dations for their boat. . In the meantime the rain had ceased, the fog was dispersed, and the sun shone forth in all its glory. A scene of surpassing loveliness was opened before them. It was one of the most serene and balmy of spring mornings. The very air they breathed was exhilarating. The meadows were green with verdure; the forest luxuriant with foliage. Birds filled the air; and all were alike delighted with their new home which they had found.
The garrison at Fort Harmar gave them a very warm welcome, while its strong walls promised them security against any hostile attacks. It will be remembered that the Americans were nomin- ally at peace with all the tribes. The outrages which were per- petrated were the deeds of vagabonds who perhaps could be no
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ENG CD
MOUND AT MARIETTA.
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more controlled than can thieves or murderers be restrained under more civilized governments. There were seventy Indians at the fort, engaged in traffic. Their chief came forward with the greatest cordiality to welcome the strangers. All was peace, prosperity and happiness. Joy inspired the industry of these for- tunate pioneers.
General Putnam had a splendid marquèe, which was soon pitched on the green sward. Boards were landed and temporary huts rose as by magic. Streets were laid out for a rapidly grow- ing city, judiciously retaining extensive portions for public squares. Scattered around the beautiful delta formed by the junction of the Muskingum with the Ohio, there were many very remarkable mili- tary remains. These must have been reared by some unknown people, who possessed the land long before the present tribes of Indians. The savages had no tradition even of their origin. These interesting relics were carefully preserved.
On the second of July, the streets of the city having been laid out with great regularity, the associates all met to give a name to their new home. These Revolutionary officers and soldiers were not unmindful of our nation's obligation to France, in achieving its Independence. They therefore named their infant town Mari- etta, in honor of Maria Antoinette, the unhappy Queen of Louis XVI.
A square was also set apart for the construction of a very important fort, which was designed to be so strong that no Indian bands would think of assailing it. On the fourth of July they had a great celebration, with the usual oration, the roar of cannon from Fort Harmar, and all the usual accompaniments of public joy. Their happiness was much increased by the arrival, two days before, of forty persons, many of them heads of families, from Worcester, Massachusetts. These emigrants had spent nine weeks on their journey. They came in large four-horse wagons, sheltered with canvas covering from the wind and rain. Their journey had been taken in a mild season of the year, and in it they had encountered no disasters. Every night they formed their regular encampment, which, with its busy scenes and glaring fires, presented a very attractive spectacle. Their canvas-top wagons formed as it were a village of movable tents. When they reached Wheeling, on the Ohio, about eighty miles above their point or destination, they procured a large Kentucky flat-boat, sufficiently
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capacious to contain all the colonists with their personal effects. In two days the current floated them down to the mouth of the Muskingum, and they moored their craft by the side of the May- flower.
The men composing this colony, as we have mentioned, were well adapted to lay the foundations of a powerful state. One of their first objects was to make provision for the education of their children, and for the support of public worship. The Worcester colonists brought with them a young minister, Rev. Daniel Story. He was a man of fervent piety and of fine abilities.
On the ninth of July, the Governor, General Arthur St. Clair, arrived. He immediately formed his executive council, and organ- ized the government. The whole country north of the Ohio River, between the Muskingum and the Hockhocking Rivers, was designated as the County of Washington, and Marietta was, of course, the seat of justice. As there were many indications that difficulties might eventually arise with the Indians, it was deemed expedient to push forward as rapidly as possible the construction of their fort, to which they gave the appropriate, classical name of Campus Martius. It will be remembered that while Marietta was on the eastern bank of the Muskingum, Fort Harmar, erected by the government, was on the western side of the stream. Should the citizens be compelled by an attack from the Indians to flee for protection across the river to Fort Harmar, they would have to abandon their dwellings and their property to the savages. There- fore Campus Martius became to them a necessity. This very im- portant fortress, which subsequently proved so useful in a civil and military point of view, demands more special mention.
It was constructed under the superintendence of General Rufus Putnam, and was admirably adapted to the purposes for which it was reared. It consisted in fact of an immense structure whose walls were dwelling houses, forming a square whose sides were one hun- dred and eighty feet in length. Each corner was protected by a strong, projecting block-house, surmounted by a sentry box. These block houses were two stories high, the lower story being twenty feet square, and the upper story twenty-four. These corner houses projected six feet, so that from the port-holes they could rake the sides with musketry, should any foe approach. The walls of the dwelling houses were constructed of solid timber, bullet-proof, and hewn so as to fit closely together. Each dwelling house
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occupied a space of fifteen by thirty feet. They would all accom- modate about fifty families. Indeed, in time of the Indian war, three hundred persons took refuge in them.
These dwelling house walls enclosed an arca, or court-yard, one hundred and fifty-four feet square, which was often used as a parade ground. In the center there was a well which would afford an unfailing supply of water in case of siege. Port-holes were cut through for musketry, and two pieces of artillery were mounted -- the one on the northeast and the other on the southwest bastion. These bastions were erected on the corner of each block-house. They stood on four stout timbers, were built of thick plank, and were a little above the lower story. Along the whole breadth of the block-houses, there was a row of palisades, sloping outwards and resting on stout rails. In addition to this, there was at a distance of twenty feet from the houses a row of very strong and large pickets, planted firmly in the earth and about twelve feet high. And as a still further precaution, at a short distance from the pickets there was a range of abattis, constructed of strong branches of trees placed thickly together, sharpened and pointed outwards so as to render it almost impossible for an enemy with- out cannon to reach even the outer palisades.
All the ground beyond within rifle shot was cleared of every thing which could afford an assailing foe protection. A very sub- stantial wharf was built on the shore of the river near the fort where the Mayflower, a fine cedar barge for twelve rowers, and quite a number of light canoes were moored. Thus was com- menced the first regular town by white men within the present State of Ohio. This was but eighty-six years ago. The state now contains a population approaching three millions. During the Summer and Autumn, emigrants were constantly arriving, so that houses could not be built fast enough for their accommoda- tion. All were busy. Peace, health and prosperity smiled upon the infant settlement. The laws were obeyed. The Gospel was preached. The Sabbath was revered, and a high tone of morals prevailed. Gamblers and inebriates avoided a place where there was no room for the gratification of their degrading and ruinous tastes. Fields were plowed, seed was sown, and gardens bloomed.
The first civil court ever held in the Northwestern Territory was convened on the second day of September, 1788, in the great hall of the Campus Martius. The important event was attended with
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appropriate and imposing ceremonies. A procession was formed at the little village, now rapidly rising, at a short distance from the fort. The sheriff, with a drawn sword, took the lead. He was- followed by the citizens, the officers of the garrison at Fort Har- mar, the members of the bar, the judges of the Supreme Court, the Governor, and a venerable clergyman, Rev. Dr. Cutler, and. the judges of the newly organized Court of Common Pleas. When the procession reached the Campus Martius, it was counter- marched so that the newly appointed judges, Rufus Putnam and . General Tupper, entered the hall first, followed by the Governor and Rev. Dr. Cutler.
The judges took their seats upon the bench. The audience reverently filled the room. The divine benediction was invoked by Dr. Cutler. Then the sheriff, Ebenezer Sproat, arose, and, probably ignorant of the French signification of the words, oyer, oyer, (hear, hear), cried out as has become the invariable custom, "O yes! O yes! a court is open for the administration of even- handed justice to the poor and to the rich, to the guilty and the innocent, without respect of persons; none to be punished with- out trial by their peers, and in pursuance of the laws and evidence in the case."
There was a large encampment of Indians near by. Hundreds of these untutored children of the forest and the prairie witnessed these ceremonies, with probably a very faint conception of their significance.
During the Autumn and the Winter, new colonists were still con- stantly arriving, and early in the following Spring it was thought best to commence some new settlements. About twelve miles below Marietta, there was a beautiful meadow, holding out very attractive promise to the husbandman. On the eleventh of April, 1789, General Putnam, with a number of families, descended the river to this spot and commenced a settlement, which they called Belpre. But the menaces from the Indians were such that they deemed it prudent first to erect a block-house, where they could find refuge in case of an attack. This was called " The Farmer's Castle." Soon after, another party commenced a settlement ten miles still farther down the river, and called their little station Newburg. Other settlements were made along the banks of the Muskingum River, where the rich lands promised easy tillage and abundant harvests.
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Many of these settlers encountered pretty severe privations. One of them communicates the following facts in reference to the inconveniences of their forest homes :
" The inhabitants had among them but few of what we consider the necessaries and conveniences of life. Brittle ware, such as earthen and glass, were wholly unknown, and but little of the manufactures of steel and iron, both of which were exceedingly dear. Iron and salt were procured in exchange for ginseng and peltries, and carried on horses from Fort Cumberland or Chambers- burg. It was no uncommon thing for the garrison to be wholly without salt for months, subsisting upon fresh meat, milk and veg- etables, and bread made of corn pounded in a mortar. They did not yet indulge in the luxury of the hand-mill.
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