USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 18
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All the necessary precautions were taken by the commanding officer to prevent surprise, and repel open force, as also to render ineffectual the enemy's fire arrows. He armed all the fighting men, who formed two companies of volunteers, and did duty with the garrison till the arrival of two companies of light infantry, detached as soon as possible from Col. Bouquet's little army.
These two magazines being secured, the Colonel advanced to the remotest verge of our settlements, where he could receive no sort of in- telligence of number, positions, or motions of the enemy. Not even at Fort Bedford, where he arrived with his whole convoy on the 25th of July, for though the Indians did not attempt to attack the fort, they had by this time killed, scalped, and taken eighteen prisoners in that neigh- borhood, and their skulking parties were so spread, that at last no ex- press could escape them. This want of intelligence, was a very embarrassing circumstance in the conduct of a campaign in America. The Indians had better intelligence, and no sooner were they informed of the march of the army, than they broke up the siege of Fort Pitt, and took a route by which they knew the enemy was to proceed, resolved to take advantageous opportunity of an attack on the march.
In this uncertainty of intelligence under which the Colonel labored,
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he marched from Fort Bedford, the 28th of July, and as soon as he reached Fort Ligonier, he determined, prudently, to leave his wagons at that post, and to proceed only with packhorses. Thus disburdened, the army continued their route. Before them lay a dangerous defile at Turtle creek, several miles in length, bounded the whole way by high craggy hills. This defile he intended to have passed the ensuing night, by a double or forced march ; thereby, if possible, to elude the vigilance of so alert an enemy, proposing only to make a short halt in his way, to refresh the troops at Bushy Run .*
When they came within half a mile of that place, about one in the afternoon, August 5th, 1763, after a harassing march of seventeen miles, and just as they were expecting to relax from their fatigue, they were suddenly attacked by the Indians, on their advanced guard ; which being speedily and firmly supported, the enemy was beaten off, and even pursued to a considerable distance.
But the flight of these barbarians must often be considered as a part of the engagement, rather than an abandonment of the field. The mo- ment the pursuit ended, they returned with renewed vigor to the attack, Several other parties, who had been in ambush in some high grounds which lay along the flanks of the army, now started up at once, and falling upon the troops with a resolution equal to that of their compan- ions, galled them with a most obstinate fire.
It was necessary to make a general charge with the whole line, to dislodge them from the heights. This charge succeeded ; but still the success produced no decisive advantage ; for as soon as the savages were driven from one post, they still appeared on another, till by con- stant reinforcements they were at length able to surround the whole de- tachment, and attack the convoy which had been left in the rear,
This manœuver enabled the main body to fall back in order to protect it. The action, which grew every moment hotter, now became general. Our troops were attacked on every side ; the savages supported their spirit throughout ; but the steady behavior of the English troops, who were not thrown into the least confusion by the very dicouraging nature of this service, in the end prevailed; they repulsed the enemy, and drove them from all the posts with fixed bayonets. The engage- ment ended only with the day, having continued from one o'clock with- out intermission.
The ground on which the action ended, was not altogether inconven-
* Bushy Run is tributery to Brush Run, and the latter a branch of Turtle creek, in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county 21 miles from Pittsburg.
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ient for an encampment. The convoy and the wounded were in the middle, and the troops, disposed in a circle, encompassed the whole .- In this manner, and with little repose, they passed an anxious night, obliged to observe the strictest vigilance by an enterprising enemy who had surrounded them.
Those who have only experienced the severities and dangers of a . campaign now, can scarcely form an idea of what was to be endu- red in an Indian war. To act in a country cultivated and inhabited, where roads are made, magazines are established, and hospitals pro- vided ; where there are good towns to retreat to in case of misfortune ; or, at the worst, a generous enemy to yield to, from whom no consola- tion, but the honor of victory, can be wanting ; this may be considered as the exercise of a spirited and adventurous mind, rather than a rigid contest where all is at stake, and mutual destruction the object ; and as a contention between rivals for glory, rather than a real struggle between sanguinary enemies. But in an Indian campaign every thing is peril- ous ; the face of the country, the climate, the enemy. There was no refreshment for the healthy, nor relief for the sick. A vast inhospitable desert, unsafe and treacherous, surrounded them, where victories were not decisive, but defeats ruinous ; and simple was the death and fatal was the least misfortune which happened to them. This formed a service truly critical, in which all the firmness of the body and mind was put to the severest trial ; and all the exertions of courage and address were called out. If the actions of these rude campaigns were of less dignity, the adventures in them are more interesting to the heart, and more amusing to the imagination, than the events of a regular war.
But to return to the party of English, who were left in the woods .- At the first dawn of light the savages began to show themselves all about the camp, at the distance of about five hundred yards ; and by shouting and yelling in the most horrid manner, quite around the exten- sive circumferance, endeavored to strike terror by an ostentation of their numbers and their ferocity.
After this alarming preparation, they attacked the forces, and under the favor of an incessant fire, made several bold efforts to penetrate into the camp. They were repulsed in every attempt, but by no means dis- couraged from new ones. The troops, continually victorious, were con- stantly in danger. They were besides extremely fatigued with a long march, and with the equally long action of the preceding day ; and they were distressed to the last degree by a total want of water, much more intolerable than the evening's fire.
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Tied to their convoy, they could not lose sight of it for a moment, without exposing, not only that interesting object, but their wounded men, to fall a prey to the savages, who pressed them on every side. - To move was impracticable. Many of the horses were lost, and many of the drivers, stupified by their fears, hid themselves in bushes, and were incapable of hearing or obeying orders.
Their situation became extremely critical and perplexing, having ex- perienced that the most lively efforts made no impressions upon an enemy who always gave way when pressed ; but who, the moment the pursuit was over, returned with as much alacrity as ever to the attack. Besieged rather than engaged; attacked without interruption, and with- out decision ; able neither to advance nor retreat, they saw before them the most melancholy prospect of crumbling away by degrees, and en- tirely perishing without revenge or honor, in the midst of those dreadful deserts. The fate of Braddock was every moment before their eyes; but they were more ably conducted. The commander was sensible that every thing depended upon bringing the savages to a close engage- ment, and to stand their ground when attacked. Their audaciousness, which was increased with their success, seemed favorable to this de- sign. He endeavored, therefore, to increase their confidence as much as possible.
For that purpose he contrived the following stratagem. Our troops were posted on an eminence, and formed a circle round their convoy from the preceding night, which order they still retained. Colonel Bouquet gave directions that two companies of troops, who had been posted in the most advanced situations, should fall within the circle; the troops on the right and left immediately opened their files, and filled up the vacant space, that they might seem to cover their retreat. Another company of light infantry, with one of grenadiers, were ordered to lie in an ambuscade, to support the two first companies of grenadiers, who moved on the feigned retreat, and were intended to begin the real attack. The dispositions were well made, and the plan executed without the least confusion. (1)
The savages were led completely into the snare. The thin line of troops which took possession of the ground which the two companies of light troops had left, being brought nearer to the centre of the circle, the barbarians mistook those motions for a retreat, abandoned the wood which covered them, hurried headlong on,-advancing with the most daring
(1)See plan of the engagement.
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intrepidity, and galled the Eaglish troops with their heavy fire. But at the moment when, certain of success, they thought themselves masters of the camp, the two first companies made a sudden turn, and sallying out from a part of the hill which could not be observed, fell furiously upon their right flank.
'The savages, though they found themselves disappointed and exposed, preserved their recollection, and resolutely returned the fire which they had received. Then it was the superiority of combined strength and discipline appeared. On the second charge they could no longer sus- tain the irresistible shock of regular troops, who rushing upon them, killed many, and put the rest to flight.
At the instant when the savages betook themselves to flight, the other two companies, which had been ordered to support the first, rose from the ambuscade, marched to the enemy, and gave them their full fire. This accomplished their defeat. The four companies now united, did not give the enemy time to look behind them, but pursued them till they were totally dispersed.
The other bodies of the savages attempted nothing. They were kept in awe during the engagement by the rest of the British troops, who were so posted, as to be ready to fall on them upon the least motion. Having been witness to the defeat of their companions, without any effort to support or assist them, they at length followed their example, and fled.
This judicious and successful manœuvre, rescued the party from the most immediate danger. The victory secured the field, and cleared all the adjacent woods. But still the march was so difficult, and the army had suffered so much, and so many horses were lost, that before they were able to proceed, they were reluctantly obliged to destroy such part of their convoy of provisions as they could not carry with them, for want of horses. Being lightened by this sacrifice, they- proceeded to Bushy Run, where finding water, they encamped.
The enemy lost about sixty men on this occasion, some of them their chief warriors ; which they reputed a very severe stroke. They like- wise had many wounded in the pursuit. The English lost about fifty men, and had about sixty wounded.
The savages thus signally defeated in all their attempts to cut off this reinforcement upon its march, began to retreat with the utmost precipi- tation to their remote settlements, wholly giving up their designs against Fort Pitt, at which place Col. Bouquet arrived safe with his convoy, four days after the action ; receiving no further molestation on the road,
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except a few scattered shot from a disheartened and flying enemy.
Here the Colonel was obliged to put an end to the operations of this campaign, not having a sufficient force to pursue the enemy beyond the Ohio, and take advantage of the victory obtained over them ; nor having any reason to expect a timely reinforcement from the provinces in their distressed situation. He was therefore, forced to content himself with supplying Fort Pitt, and other places on the communication, with pro- vissions, ammunition and stores ; stationing his small army to the best advantage he could against the approach of winter.(1)
Thus terminated the successful campaign of 1763. The signal vic- tory gained over the Indians by Col. Bouquet, at Brush creek, had so dismayed them, that they not only gave up all designs against Fort Pitt, but withdrew from the frontiers, " retreating far beyond the Ohio, and abandoning all the country between Presque Isle and Sandusky ; not thinking themselves safe till they arrived at the Muskingum."
(1) Hutchinson's Account of Bouquet's Expedition of 1763.
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CHAPTER IX.
INDIAN BARBARITIES AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE YEAR 1764-COL. BRAD- STREET'S EXPEDITION TO THE UPPER LAKES-COL. BOUQUET'S SECOND EX- PEDITION-HIS ADVANCE TO THE INDIAN TOWNS ON THE MUSKINGUM-THE SUBMISSION OF THE SAVAGES-THE DELIVERY OF THE CAPTIVES TO THE WHITES-THE FINAL TREATY OF PEACE.
During the winter of 1764, there was a cessation of hostilities on the part of the Indians. Stricken with terror at the defeat and slaughter of their warriors at the battle of Brush creek, in Western Pennsylvania, by the army under Col. Bouquet, they retired farther into the forests and abandoned their usual haunts east of the Muskingum. But they retired only to prepare themselves for a renewal of hostilities in the en- suing year. The inhabitants on the frontiers being lulled into fancied security, by the stillness that reigned in the Indian camps during the winter, were awakened in the spring by the terrors of the war-whoop to all the horrors of savage barbarity. In several and distinct places they fell upon the border settlements, and wherever they went desolation and blood marked their trails. Alarm and suffering were again abroad among the inhabitants, and the whole frontier was the theatre of mur- dered families and burning dwellings .*
* February 10, 1764-Indians to the number of fifty, attacked the farm of James Russell, Northampton county, near Stroudsburg, burnt his barn, and killed one of his sons. Feb. 22-Six Indians attacked a party from the garri- son at Pitt, out cutting wood, killed one, wounded another. The wounded man drove from him three Indians and escaped into the fort. Feb. 26-John Russell, brother of the lads above- mentioned, was attacked by three Indians. He took to a tree, received three fires from each, returned as many and drove them off. He was slightly wounded. March 19-The Indians carried off five persons from within nine miles of Shippensburg, and shot one man through the body. The enemy, supposed to be eleven in numbbr, were pursued suc- cessfully by about one hundred provincials. The houses of John Stewart, Adam Sims, James McCammon, Wm. Baird, James Kelly, Stephen Caldwell and John Boyd, were burnt. These people lost all their grain, which they had threshed out with the intention to send it for safety further down among the inhabitants.
March 20-Agnes Davidson, and her child, of a year old, Andrew Sims, fourteen years old, Margareta Stephens, twelve years old, and Jos. Mitchell. three years old, were made prisoners. Seven houses were burnt down on the 21st, and a great number of horses, cows, sheep and hogs, were killed. On the 22d a barn was burnt in Path Valley. About twelve Indians carried off the captives, and seven or eight tarried behind, and did considerable damage. April 19-David Owens, a deserter from the regulars, who lived some years among the Indians, returned to one of the out-posts, bringing with him five fresh Indian scalps, and a white boy, who was prisoner among the Indians. July 22d, two or three Indians were seen near Fort Loudon. On the 25th, a woman with a child, named Cunningham, passing to a neighbor's house was met by savages, scalped and murdered, and her belly ripped open, and the child left beside ber. Another woman named Jamieson, was missing supposed to be
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It was therefore resolved that a decisive blow should be struck, and the merciless depredators be awed into silence and subjection. It was proposed to attack them at two different points, and " carry the war in the heart of their own country."
With this view, Col. Bradstreet was sent, with a body of troops, to act against the Wyandotts, Ottawas, Chippewas, and other nations living in the vicinity of the Lakes ; while Colonel Bouquet should pass an army through Pennsylvania into Ohio, and attack the Delawares, Shawanese, Mingoes, Mohicans, and other nations between the Ohio and the Lakes.
These two divisions of the army were to act in concert. Colonel Bradstreet was to proceed to Detroit, and Michilimackinac, in the first place, and on his return he was ordered to encamp and remain at San- dusky, to awe and hold in check the numerous north-western tribes, so as to prevent them from sending any assistance to the Ohio Indians, while Colonel Bouquet should march from Fort Pitt, and attack them in their settlements upon the Muskingum.
Active measures were taken to raise the requisite number of troops for the expedition of Colonel Bouquet. A part of two regiments of the regular army, to be joined by the troops of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and two hundred friendly Indians, were to compose the army under Colonel Bouquet.
The Indians never came, and the depredations of the savages upon the frontier of Virginia, employed all her troops for the defence of her own frontier. In Pennsylvania, the Assembly passed a bill for raising one thousand men, which received the sanction of the Governor on the thirtieth of May ; but the compliment of forces was not obtained until the beginning of August. On the fifth of that month, the troops assembled at Carlisle, under their officers, Colonel Reid, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis, and Lieutenant-Colonel Clayton. Colonel Bouquet, accompanied by Governor John Penn, having arrived and taken the command, the Governor addressed the Pennsylvania battalions, with a view to inspirit the soldiery, and to deter them from desertion. He adverted to the propriety of chastising the Indians, for their repeated and unprovoked barbarities on the inhabitants of the province : a just
carried off.(1) Wednesday 26, in the forenoon three Indians killed a Mr. Brown, school master, and the whole school except one lad.(2) August 17-a young woman, daughter of James Dysart, going home from sermon at Big Spring, Cumberland county, was murdered and scalped. August 22d, a party of thirty or forty Indians killed one Isaac Stimble, near Bedford.(3)
(1) Gordon's Hist. of Penna., 624-25.
(2) See Appendix, 153-54.
(3) Hist. of Cumberland county, 151, and Appendix, 152.
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resentment of which, added to the courage of our provincial troops on former occasions, would, he did not doubt, animate them to do honor to their country. He told them, that they were to be united to the same regular troops and under the same able, commander, who had on that very day, the memorable fifth of August, in the preceding year, sustained the repeated attacks of the savages, and obtained over them a complete victory. He concluded by reminding them of the exemplary punish- ment that would be inflicted for desertion, should any one, forgetting the duty which he owed the country and the solemn oath he had taken, be guilty of the crime.
The army then commenced its march, and on the thirteenth of August reached Fort Loudon. After all the precaution to prevent desertion, it was found that not less than three hundred of the Pennsylvania troops were missing. Application was immediately made to the Governor to replace the number by enlistment. The Governor gave the order, but the men were never raised. An application to the Governor of Virginia was more successful, and the requisite number joined Colonel Bouquet at Fort Pitt, in the latter end of September.
While at Fort Loudon, Colonel Bouquet received dispatches from Colonel Bradstreet, dated August fourteenth, informing him that a treaty of peace had been concluded by him with the Delawares and Shawa- nese ; but as these savages continued their murders and depredations, Colonel Bouquet placed no confidence in their sincerity, and resolved to prosecute his enterprise, and to force, if possible, the savages from the frontiers. The propriety of his course, was soon obvious. The ex- press sent to Colonel Bradstreet, from Fort Pitt, with the answer to his communication, was murdered, and his head placed on a pole in the middle of the road.(1) 'The treaty entered into by the Indians, was merely to gain time to remove their families.(2)
Colonel Bouquet arrived at Fort Pitt on the fifteenth day of Septem- ber. Shortly afterwards, ten Indians appeared on the opposite side of the Allegheny river, and desired a conference. It was apprehended that it was a stratagem to learn the strength of the fort. They were re- quested to come over the river, but seemed unwilling. Three of the party, at length, crossed over. But giving no satisfactory reason for their visit, they were detained as spies and their associates fled back to their towns.
On the twentieth of September, one of the Indians, detained at the fort, was sent to the towns on the Muskingum with the following message :
(1) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 435.
(2) Penn. Gazette, 1764.
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"I have received an account from Colonel Bradstreet that your na- tions had begged for peace, which he had consented to grant, upon as- surance that you had recalled all your warriors from the frontiers ; and in consequence thereof, I would not proceed against your towns, if I had not heard that, in open violation of your engagements, you have since murdered several of our people. As soon as the rest of the army joins me, which I expect immediately, I was therefore determined to have attacked you, as a people whose promises can no more be relied upon. But I will put it once more in your power to save yourselves and your families from total destruction, by giving us satisfaction for the hostili- ties against us. And, first, you are to leave the path open for my ex- presses, from hence to Detroit ; and as I am now to send two men with despatches to Colonel Bradstreet, who commands on the Lakes, I desire to know whether you will send two of your people with them to con- duct them safe back with an answer? And if they receive any injury either going or coming, or if the letters are taken from them, I will im- mediately put the Indians now in my power to death, and will show no mercy in future to any of your nation that may fall into my hands. I allow you ten days to have my letters delivered at Detroit, and ten days to bring back an answer."(1)
About this time two Indians, an Onondago and an Oneida, came to Fort Pitt, with many professions of ancient friendship for the English, and endeavored to persuade Colonel Bouquet to abandon his design of marching against the Ohio Indians. They represented the expedition as dangerous, on account of the powerful and numerous tribes living in that region that would be arrayed against him. They recommended the dismissal of the two Indians detained at the fort, and gave assurances that if no hostile movements were made, the Indians would come and make peace. But these assurances being looked upon as a scheme to delay the march of the troops, till the lateness of the season would pre- vent them from proceeding, Colonel Bouquet answered that dependence could no longer be placed upon their promises, and that he would pro- ceed to Tuscarawas, and either meet them in battle, or have a treaty permanently ratified.
On the third day of October, Colonel Bouquet, with fifteen hundred men, departed from Fort Pitt, marched about a mile and a half over a rich level country, and encamped for the night. The next morning the army proceeding about two miles, came to the Ohio, at the beginning of the narrows, and then followed the course of the river along the beach.
(1) Appendix, p. 143-'4.
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The next day they passed through Logstown, seventeen miles and a half from Fort Pitt.
This place was noted for many years for the great trade carried on with the Indians, by the English and French. The Delawares and Shawanese abandoned it in 1750, and it was taken possession of by the Mingoes. It was deserted by the Mingoes after the battle of Brush Creek. The lower town extended about sixty perches over a rich bot- tom to the foot of a low steep ridge, on the summit of which, near the declivity, stood the upper town, commanding a most agreeable prospect over the lower town, and quite across the Ohio, which, by its majestic, easy current, added much to the beauty of the place.
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