USA > Ohio > The history of the state of Ohio; from the discovery of the great valley, to the present time > Part 28
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Buckongahelas was a war chief of the Delawares. He had been so much under the influence of the Moravian missionaries
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that he might be almost deemed a civilized man. He was en- dowed with unusual native strength of mind, and had been greatly exasperated at the massacre of his unoffending brethren by the infamous Colonel Williamson. He also felt outraged by the fraudulent treaties, through which the white men were nominally purchasing land of Indians, who had no right to dispose of it. In council there was no man who could speak more vehemently or more to the point than he. Mr. B. B. Thatcher says that no Christian knight was ever more scrupulous in performing all his engagements than was Buckongahelas. He had all the qualifica- tions of a hero. His independence was of a noble nature, and all who approached him were impressed by his dignity of char- acter.
Blue Jacket, the leading chief of the Shawanese, had also attained much distinction as a warrior. There are, however, but few particulars of his history recorded. The simple explanation of the defeat of St. Clair is, that he had chieftains arrayed against him who were vastly his superiors in the art of war. He was brave and energetic, with but very little ability to conduct a cam- paign.
Does the question arise, How was it possible for such men as these chieftains are represented to have been, to have allowed such horrible atrocities of barbaric torture as were inflicted upon their victims? It is very difficult to answer this question. Alas for man! Read the history of the Spanish Inquisition and see what civilized and professedly Christian men can do even in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Never did savage atroci- ties surpass those which civilized, educated and nominally relig- ious men have perpetrated upon their brother man. And these Inquisitors were often tender husbands and loving fathers. It would seem as though the fiend and the angel may dwell together in the same human bosom.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CAMPAIGN OF WAYNE.
SKETCH OF ARTHUR ST. CLAIR -EFFECT OF HIS DEFEAT - EXPEDITION OF GENERAL SCOTT-GROWING IMPORTANCE OF CINCINNATI -NEW EXPEDITION - ANTHONY WAYNE- EMPLOYMENT OF SPIES-INCIDENTS-INDIAN DEMANDS- AMERICAN DEFEAT - FORT RECOVERY - POSITION OF FORT DEFIANCE-ITS STRENGTH -PROCLAMATION OF LORD DOR- CHESTER - INSTRUCTIONS OF WASHINGTON -MR. BURNET'S NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF FORT RECOVERY - MODE OF FORTIFICATION - WILLIAM WELLS' ANECDOTE - HENRY MIL- LER, THE SCOUT -CAPTURE OF CHRISTOPHER MILLER.
THE AWFUL disaster which befell the troops under General St. Clair raised a fearful storm of indignation against him. It is admitted by all who knew him, that he was a man of very respect- able abilities, of extensive information, of upright purposes, of genial character and manners which endeared him greatly to his friends. He was plain and simple in his dress and equipage, and equally accessible to all. There can be no question that he was sincerely devoted to the public welfare. Arthur St. Clair was born in Scotland, in the year 1764. After receiving a liberal education in one of the most distinguished universities of his native land, he studied medicine. Being of an adventurous turn of mind, he obtained a subaltern's appointment to accompany General Wolfe, in 1763, to the storming of Quebec.
After the peace he was assigned to the command of Fort Ligo- nier, and receivea a grant of a thousand acres of land. In the conflict with Great Britain he warmly espoused the cause of the colonists. He fought bravely, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier. At Princeton and Trenton he gained new laurels. Subsequently he attained the rank of Major General, and was stationed at Ticonderoga. This post he abandoned upon the approach of Burgoyne's army. For this he was unjustly accused
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of incapacity, cowardice and treachery. A court-martial, after the most careful investigation, declared that Major General St. Clair is acquitted with the highest honor of the charges against him. Afterwards Congress, by a unanimous vote, confirmed this decision. It has been well and truly said that the works were incomplete, and incapable of being defended against the whole British army. By a brave defense St. Clair might have gained much personal renown. But he would have lost many men, and in the end the fort would unquestionably have been taken. This loss would have prevented the subsequent capture of Burgoyne's army. By daring to do an unpopular act, St. Clair exhibited moral courage far superior to that physical daring which often gains a battle.
While residing on his farm at Ligonier, General St. Clair, in 1785, was chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress, and soon was elected president of that honorable body. After the passage of the ordinance for the government of the Northwestern Terri- tory, he was appointed Governor, and continued in the office till the close of the year 1802, when he was removed by President Jefferson.
After his removal from office he returned to the Ligonier Val- ley. He had laid up no money, but was poor, aged and infirm. He was very careless in money matters, and was very unwisely negligent of his own accounts. He had a claim against the gov- ernment for a few thousand dollars, which he neglected to pre- sent until it was forfeited by the statute of limitation. After two years of harrassing troubles and disappointments, he relinquished the pursuit of his claim in despair, and returned to his home a broken-hearted, worn-out man, to dwell with a widowed daughter in abject poverty. The State of Pennsylvania, his adopted state, took pity upon him, and, after some time, voted him an annuity of six hundred and fifty dollars. This gave the gallant old sol- dier a comfortable subsistence for the remainder of his days. He lived, however, but a few years to enjoy this bounty. On the 31st of August, 1818, he died at the age of eighty-four.
The return of St. Clair's routed army to Fort Washington spread consternation and mourning into almost every family. Nearly one-half of the settlers had entered upon this fatal cam- paign. All the settlements in the Miami country, excepting those in the immediate vicinity of the forts, were abandoned. Many
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of the terrified pioneers, retreating with the army, continued their flight across the Ohio River into Kentucky, hoping to find safety in the stronger posts which had been established there. The In- dians, emboldened by their great victory, ventured by night even into the streets of Cincinnati to spy out the exposure of the town, and the best points upon which to make an attack upon Fort Washington.
The country generally was so disheartened that it was proposed in Congress to abandon the whole of the Northwestern Territory to the Indians, and make the Ohio River the northern boundary of the United States. The people east of the mountains were weary of these constantly recurring events of disaster and blood, and were reluctant to make any further appropriations for the conduct of such a war. It was nearly a year before the National Government adopted any decisive measures for the chastisement of the Indians. In the meantime a very cruel and bloody war, with varying success, was surging to and fro all along the frontiers.
A few weeks after the great defeat General Scott dispatched two spies to the scene of the late conflict to reconnoiter the posi- tion and movements of the enemy. A few miles from the fatal spot they discovered a large party of Indians rioting over the plunder they had taken. They were singing, dancing, feasting, and, with great merriment, were riding the bullocks which they had captured.
The men returning with this report, General Scott arranged his troops in three divisions, and by forced marches advanced to attack the Indians by surprise. The expedition was a complete success. He fell furiously upon the bewildered warriors, killed two hundred of them, and put the rest to flight. He also recov- ered the cannon and all the remaining stores which were in the hands of the Indians. This victory was gained with the loss of but six men. General Scott visited the scene of St. Clair's defeat, and gives the following account of the spectacle presented to him there :
"The place had a very melancholy appearance. Within the space of about three hundred and fifty yards lay three hundred skull-bones, which were buried by my men while on the ground. For five miles along the road the woods were strewed with skele- tons, muskets," etc.
Notwithstanding this victory of General Scott, the Indians had
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acquired great confidence in themselves and great contempt for their enemies on the Ohio. Their incursions were daily becom- ing more extended and daring. Very vigilantly they guarded the Ohio River to cut off the boats of the emigrants. Still, in the year 1793, about fifty settlers were added to the population of Cincinnati. Three or four frame houses were erected, besides several log cabins. A substantial but very plain house of worship was built. It was a mere box, without the slightest attempt at ornamentation. But as Cincinnati was the head-quarters of the Territorial Army and the seat of Territorial Government, it as- sumed quite an important air of business. The town was built on what was called the lower terrace, near the river, and con- sisted of a straggling street, mainly of log cabins, intersected by short cross streets which led to the second terrace. This emi- nence was crowned by the massive walls of Fort Washington.
The ax had cut an opening in the gigantic forest for the erec- tion of the town. Some of the rough places were leveled, but stumps and logs were yet seen everywhere. This rustic Presby- terian Church was occupied by its first pastor, James Kemper. He was a man of sincere piety and an eloquent preacher. During the summer a school was opened, which taught simply the ele- ments of reading, writing and arithmetic. It was attended by about thirty boys and girls.
Gradually the National Government had been gathering its resources and making preparations for a new expedition to the Maumee country. It was deemed very important, for its influ- ence upon the Indians, that the national reputation should be retrieved. The troops were concentrated at the Falls of the Ohio. The little army was entrusted to the leadership of General Anthony Wayne. The impetuosity of his character had given him the sobriquet of Mad Anthony. It was generally supposed that he was much better calculated to head a charge than to con- duct a campaign. His success, however, in this expedition gave him the reputation of being a general as well as a fighter.
General Wayne was born in Eastown, Chester County, Penn- sylvania, on the Ist of January, 1745. His father was a farmer who had served in the Indian wars, and who had taken his seat in the Provincial Legislature. Anthony received a good common school education, though, as a boy, he was much more fond of military amusements than of his books. At eighteen years of age
THOMAS WORTHINGTON Governor 1814 -18.
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he left the Philadelphia Academy and commenced the business of a surveyor.
With all the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of the Revolution, and occupied several posts of political influence at the commencement of the strife. In 1775 he raised a regiment of volunteers and was unanimously chosen its colonel. In many conflicts he served with credit to himself, and in 1777 was pro- moted by Congress to the rank of brigadier general. He com- manded a division at the battle of Brandywine, where both in the fight and the retreat he displayed much gallantry. At the battle of Germantown he was in the thickest of the conflict, and covered the retreat with great ability. In all councils of war he was noted for recommending the most energetic and decisive measures. In the capture of Stony Point, which expedition he led, he acquired much renown. He took a very active part in the final campaign which led to the capture of Cornwallis. In 1792 President Wash- ington appointed him as successor of General St. Clair in com- mand of the army on the western frontier.
For two or three years the Ohio Company had kept six spies constantly employed. They ranged the woods, two and two, for miles around the vicinity of the settlements. It was their purpose to discover if any small parties of Indians were lurking about for scalps or plunder. An alarm gun fired from the fort conveyed the intelligence to all the little cluster of families that danger was near. There was then a general rush to the stockade.
Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky, was the head-quarters from which these rangers explored that region, to guard against marauding bands from the other side of the Ohio. Their employ- ment was perilous indeed, and called for the utmost vigilance and sagacity. Of the four thus engaged in Maysville, one Duncan McArthur subsequently became Governor of Ohio. Another, Nathaniel Beasley, became major general of the militia. Two of them would leave Monday morning, and following along the southern shore of the Ohio River till they reached the mouth of the Big Sandy on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning the other two would leave Limestone for the mouth of the Big Sandy. They would thus meet and pass each other nearly oppo- site the mouth of the Scioto River. By this constant vigilance, the region would be traversed four times each week. Sometimes they would paddle up and down the river in a birch canoe, creeping
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cautiously along the shores. One would paddle the canoe, while the other, a little ahead, would go on foot through the woods. .
Upon one of these tours, two of these spies, Samuel Davis and Duncan McArthur, had encamped at night nearly opposite the mouth of the Scioto. Early the next morning they crossed the river in their canoe, and went a short distance back into the woods, to one of the salt licks, which they knew to be frequented by deer. This lick was about two miles below the present site of Portsmouth, near the house subsequently reared and occupied by Judge John Collins.
ENGACO
THE WARRIOR AT BAY.
It was a beautiful, serene, autumnal morning. A light fog, not yet dispersed by the rising sun, hung over the lowland. With the silent, stealthy tread of the catamount, looking anxiously in every direction to see if any lurking savage were near, they approached the spring. Davis was creeping along through a thicket of wood and brush, when he lifted his head to see if any deer were in sight. At that instant the crack of an Indian's rifle was heard, and a
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bullet whistled by his ear; no foe was visible. The slight smoke of the rifle blended with the fog. The Indian, after a moment, stepped from behind the tree, which concealed him, to see what was the effect of his shot. The quick eye of Davis caught sight of him, and in an instant the savage fell, shot through the heart.
Davis immediately, without moving, commenced reloading his rifle; under such circumstances that was always the first thing to be done. McArthur, hearing the shots, came rushing to him, and, at the same moment, quite a band of Indians sprung forward, in the clear space around the lick. The two rangers were so con- cealed in the rank weeds and underbrush, that they were not perceived by the Indians. They immediately commenced flight at their utmost speed, reached their canoe, crossed the Ohio, and were out of danger.
Not long after this a boat was ascending the river, and when near the mouth of the Scioto, was fired upon by Indians from the Ohio shore. One man was instantly killed and two severely wounded. The remainder of the crew rapidly pushed the boat towards the other shore, and put back to Maysville. A fresh crew was procured, and the four rangers, who chanced to be then in Maysville, were directed to guard the boat as far as the mouth of the Big Sandy. Here, at the mouth of a small creek, on the Kentucky shore, they found a birch canoe concealed. It was large enough for eight men. A party had evidently crossed the Ohio, and were prowling about somewhere in the country. One of the rangers immediately returned to Maysville to give the warning.
The other three, having seen the packet boat to the mouth of the Big Sandy, commenced their return in a light canoe. The obvious danger was, that they might be fired upon by savages, in ambush on the banks. To obviate this peril, while one paddled the canoe, two advanced on foot to reconnoiter. Should there be signs of savages, the rangers could cross to the other shore. Should they be pursued, they could, from behind trees, take deliberate aim at the Indians in their canoe, and shoot them down rapidly.
Encountering no foe, they reached the mouth of the Scioto in safety. Here McArthur went back a little distance, among the: hills for game. He approached the deer lick, of which we have before spoken, and, concealing himself, waited an hour for the
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approach of a deer. At length he saw two Indians coming to the lick; they were so near that it was impossible for him to escape without being discovered. They were burly savages, thoroughly armed with rifles, tomahawks and scalping knives. The situation of McArthur seemed desperate. In their line of approach they would certainly soon catch sight of him. Instantly he decided upon his mode of action.
When the savages were within fourteen paces of him, he fired, and shot one through the heart. He had supposed that the other one, not knowing the number of foes who might be concealed, would instantly take to flight. In this he was mistaken. The Indian did not even dodge, as his companion sank dead by his side. Grasping his rifle, he looked sternly around in search of his invisible foe. McArthur's gun was discharged. The Indian's rifle was loaded. A personal conflict was hopeless. There was no chance for McArthur but in flight; and he was not a fleet runner.
But he broke from his concealment, and was rushing along, at his highest possible speed, when, his feet becoming entangled in the boughs of a fallen tree, he stumbled and fell. At that instant the savage fired, and the ball whistled by him, just singeing his hair. He sprang to his feet and rushed towards the savage, who was now on an equality with him, as both guns were discharged. But at that moment several other Indians came rushing through the thickets, with unearthly yells.
He turned again in his flight, the savages pursuing, like baying bloodhounds, and continually firing upon him. One of their bul- lets struck his powder-horn, and effectually shivered it, scattering all its contents. Terror lent wings to his flight. To his surprise, he gained upon the Indians, and at length they either lost sight of his track, or, for some other reason, relinquished the pursuit. When he reached the banks of the river he found his companions paddling up and down in the canoe, watching for him. They had heard the firing, had rightly judged its cause, and had despair- ingly hoped that their comrade might possibly escape. McArthur was hastily taken on board, and the canoe crossing rapidly to the other side of the river, they all soon found themselves safely in Maysville.
President Washington was well aware of the atrocities which had been perpetrated upon the Indians, and he was anxious to do
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everything in his power to secure friendly relations with them. Congress met in Philadelphia on the 5th of November, 1793. In his speech on that occasion, the President said:
" The reiterated attempts which have been made to effect a pacification with the Indians, have issued only in new and outra- geous proofs of persevering hostility on the part of the tribes with whom we are at war."
In September of this year General Wayne had so organized his army as to be ready to move forward into the Indian country. By rapid marches, he advanced up the Valley of the Great Miami to Fort Jefferson, which was about five miles southwest of the present Town of Sidney. At this spot he established a camp, strongly fortified it, and called the place Greenville. Here he wintered, preparing for the campaign of the next Summer, should all efforts at peace be unavailing. Commissioners in the mean- time, had been sent to confer with the chiefs. Elated with their success, they demanded that all the white settlements should be removed to the other side of the river, and that the Ohio should henceforth and forever be the boundary line between their hunt- ing grounds and the American settlements.
This demand, of course, could not be complied with. Both parties prepared to renew the war. On the 17th of October, 1793, Lieutenant Lowry and Ensign Boyd, with about ninety men, were escorting to the camp at Greenville, twenty wagons, loaded with grain and stores. The Indian chief, of whom we have before spoken, Little Turtle, at the head of a party of Indians, attacked them. He had superior numbers, and the battle was fought with great desperation on both sides. The Americans were totally routed, with the loss of fifteen men, including both of the officers in command. The rest of the troops fied, abandoning everything. The Indians, who had begun to despise their opponents, captured seventy horses with all the wagons.
On the 24th of August, General Wayne was reinforced, by the arrival of General Scott from Kentucky, with about sixteen hun- dred mounted volunteers. In December, he moved forward to the battle-field where St. Clair was routed. Here he again erected defensive works, and named them Fort Recovery. They reached the place on Christmas day, and pitched their tents on the battle- ground. One of the party writes : .
"When the men went to lie down in their beds at night, they
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had to scrape the bones together, and carry them out, that they might make their beds. The next day holes were dug, and the bones remaining above ground were buried. Six hundred skulls were found among them. The flesh was entirely off the bones, and in many cases the sinews yet held them together. After this melancholy duty was performed, a fortification was built, and named Fort Recovery, in commemoration of its being recovered from the Indians, who had possession of the ground in 1791. On the completion of the fort, one company of artillery, and one of riflemen were left, while the rest returned to Greenville."
General Wayne then advanced about sixty miles, along the banks of the Auglaise, until he reached its junction with the Maumee. Here he constructed, in the heart of the enemy's country, very strong and scientifically arranged works, which he named, not inappropriately, Fort Defiance. Directly between the junction of the two streams he erected four strong, massive block- houses. These houses were connected by stout palisades, enclos- ing an area of one or two acres. Just outside of the pickets there was a wall of earth, faced with logs. Beyond that, there was a ditch, fifteen feet wide and eight feet deep, fed by water from the Auglaise.
The fort was on the site of a large Indian settlement, which had extended several miles up and down the Maumee River. The situation was very beautiful and commanding. The Indians in this region, having long been in friendly intercourse with the French, were far advanced in civilization. The region around was highly cultivated. Vegetables of almost every kind were in abundance. There were more than a thousand acres waving with corn, and there were also large apple and peach orchards.
Having erected and garrisoned this fort, General Wayne re- turned to Greenville. The whole body of troops under his con- trol, occupying these forts, and ready to march beneath his banners, amounted to about three thousand men. The Indian warriors preparing for battle amounted, so far as General Wayne could ascertain, to two thousand men. Many British officers were associated with them, besides a large number of Canadian troops.
The British authorities in Canada did not disguise the interest they took in the success of the savages. They encouraged them to a vigorous resistance, leading them to hope, as the Indians tes-
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tified, in the co-operation of their arms. Lord Dorchester issued a proclamation to the savages, in which he told them that it was probable that England would soon join them in the war against the United States, and that the Indians, in that case, would be able to select their own boundary line, meaning clearly that the line of the Ohio, which they claimed, should be forced upon the United States. He wrote :
" From the manner in which the people of the United States push forward, and talk, I should not be surprised if we were at war with them in the course of the present year. In that case. a line will have to be drawn by the warriors."
President Washington had given General Wayne very minute instructions respecting the campaign. He suggested the order of march, the way to guard against surprises, the mode of forming speedily in order of battle in the thick woods. The camp at night was always to be in the form of a hollow square, protected by a breastwork of fallen timber or of earth. The cavalry and baggage were to be within the square. The troops were to be kept under the highest possible state of discipline, and to be es- pecially exercised in loading and firing with rapidity and accuracy. Particularly they were to be taught to load while running. The general was entreated not to spare powder or lead in giving the troops skill in these practices, so essential in Indian warfare.
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