USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 24
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For several days after the retreat of the army, the Indians were spread over the whole country from the Sandusky to the Muskingum, in pur- suit of the detached parties, most of whom were overtaken and killed on the spot. Some were pursued almost to the Ohio, one man by the name of Mills being killed between where St. Clairsville now stands and Wheeling.
" At the commencement of the retreat, Col. Crawford placed himself at the head of the army, and continued there until they had gone about a quarter of a mile, when missing his son John Crawford, his son-in-law Major Harrison, and his nephews Major Rose and William Crawford, he halted and called for them, as the line passed, but without finding them.(1) After the army had passed him, he was unable to overtake it, owing to the weariness of his horse. Falling in company with Dr. Knight, and two others, they travelled all night, first north, and then to
(1) They were captured and murdered by the Indians by burning .- Incidents of Border Life, p. 142.
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the east to avoid the pursuit of the Indians. They directed their courses by the north star."
On the next day, they fell in with Capt. John Biggs and Lieut. Ash- ley, the latter of whom was wounded. Two others were in company with Biggs and Ashley. They encamped together the succeeding night. On the next day, about noon, they reached the path by which the army had advanced, upon the Indian towns a few days before, and some dis- cussion took place as to the propriety of taking that course homeward. Capt. Biggs and Dr. Knight, insisted upon continuing their course through the woods, and avoiding all paths, but Crawford overruled them, assuring them that the Indians would not urge the pursuit beyond the plains, which were already far behind. Unfortunately the Colonel pre- vailed ; and abandoning their due eastern course, the party pursued the beaten tract. Crawford and Knight moved one hundred and fifty yards in front, Capt. Biggs and his wounded friend, Lieut. Ashley, were in the centre, both on horseback, and the two men on foot brought up the rear.(1)
Scarcely had they proceeded a mile, when several Indians sprung up within twenty yards of Crawford and Knight, presented their guns and in good English ordered them to stop. Knight sprung behind a tree and leveled his gun at the one in front. Crawford ordered him several times not to fire, Knight reluctantly obeyed, and the Indians ran up to Col. Crawford in a friendly manner, shook him by the hand cordially, and asked him how he did. Biggs and Ashley halted, while the two men in the rear prudently took to their heels and escaped. Col. Craw- ford ordered Capt. Biggs, to come up and surrender, but the Captain took aim at one of the Indians, fired, and then with Ashley put spurs to their horses and for the time escaped. They were both overtaken and killed the next day.
On the morning of the tenth of June, Colonel Crawford and Dr. Knight, together with nine more prisoners, were conducted by seventeen Indians to the old Sandusky town, about thirty-three miles distant. The nine prisoners were marched ahead of Crawford and Knight, who were conducted by Pipe and Wingemund, two Delaware Chiefs. All the prisoners, including Colonel Crawford and Dr. Knight, had been pre- viously painted black by Pipe. Four of the prisoners were tomahawked and scalped on the way at different places ; and when the other five ar- rived at the town, the boys and squaws fell upon them and tomahawked them in a moment.
(1) History of the Backwoods, p. 262.
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" As soon as the Colonel arrived they surrounded him, stripped him naked, and compelled him to sit on the ground, near a large fire, around which were about thirty warriors and more than double that number of squaws and boys. They then fell upon him and beat him severely with sticks and their fists. In a few minutes a large stake was fixed in the ground, and piles of hickory poles, of about twelve feet in length, were spread around it ; Colonel Crawford's hands were then tied behind his back ; a strong rope was produced, one end of which was fastened to the ligature, between his wrists, and the other tied to the bottom of the stake. The rope was long enough to permit him to walk around the stake several times and then return. Fire was then applied to the hickory poles, which lay in piles, at the distance of six or seven yards from the stake." (1)
" The Colonel observing these terrible preparations, called to the no- ted Simon Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from the fire, and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. Girty very coolly replied in the affirmative. The Colonel heard the intelli- gence with firmness, merely observing that he would bear it with forti- tude. When the hickory poles had been burnt assunder in the middle, Captain Pipe arose and addressed the crowd in a tone of great energy and animated gestures, pointing frequently to the Colonel, who regarded him with an appearance of unruffled composure. As soon as he had finished, a loud whoop burst from the assembled throng, and they all at once rushed upon the unfortunate Crawford. For several seconds the crowd was so great around him, that Knight could not see what they were doing ; but in a short time they had sufficiently dispersed to give him a view of the Colonel. His ears had been cut off and the blood was streaming down each side of his face. A terrible scene of torture now commenced. The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked body, commencing with the calves of his legs, and continuing to his neck. The boys snatched the burning hickory poles and applied them to his flesh. As fast as he ran around the stake to avoid one party of tormentors, he was promptly met at every turn by others with burning poles, red hot irons, and rifles loaded with powder only ; so that in a few minutes nearly one hundred charges of powder had been shot into his body, which had became black and blistered in a dreadful manner. The squaws would take up a quantity of coals and hot ashes, and throw
(1) M'Clung's Description in the History of the Backwoods, p. 226.
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them upon his body, so that in a few minutes, he had nothing but fire to walk upon." (1)
" In this extremity of his agony, the unhappy Colonel called aloud upon Girty, in tones that rang through Knight's brain with maddening effect : "Girty ! Girty !! shoot me through the heart ! ! Quick ! Quick !! Do not refuse me ! ! " " Don't you see I have no gun, Colonel !" replied the monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then turning to an Indian beside him, he uttered some brutal jests upon the naked and miserable appearance of the prisoner."
"'The terrible scene had now lasted more than two hours, and Craw- ford had become much exhausted. He walked slowly around the stake, spoke in a low tone, and earnestly besought God to look with compas- sion upon him, and pardon his sins. His nerves had lost much of their sensibility, and he no longer shrunk from the fire-brands, with which they incessantly touched him. At length he sunk in a fainting fit upon his face, and lay motionless. Instantly an Indian sprung upon his back, knelt lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife upon the crown of his head, and clapping the knife between his teeth, tore the scalp off with both hands. Scarcely had this been done, when a withered hag approached with a board full of burning embers, and poured them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the bone .- The Colonel groaned deeply, arose and again walked slowly around the stake ! But why continue a description so horrible ? Nature, at length could endure no more, and at a late hour in the night, he was released by death, from the hands of his tormentors." (2)
Dr. Knight was doomed to be burned at a Shawanese town, about forty miles distant from Sandusky, and committed to the care of a young Indian, to be taken there. The first day they travelled about twenty-five miles, and encamped for the night. In the morning, the gnats being very troublesome, the Doctor requested the Indian to untie him, that he might help him to make a fire to keep them off. With this request the Indian complied. While the Indian was on his knees and elbows, blow- ing the fire, the Doctor caught up the end of a stick which had been burned in two, about eighteen inches long, with which he struck the In- dian on his head with all his might, so as to knock him forward into the fire. Rising up instantly, he ran off with great rapidity, howling most dismally. Knight seized the Indian's rifle and pursued him, but draw- ing back the lock too violently, he broke the main spring, and relin-
(1) M'Clung's description, History of the Backwoods, p. 266, 267.
(2) M'Clung's description in the History of the Backwoods, p. 268.
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quished the pursuit. Dr. Knight then made the best of his way home, and reached Fort M'Intosh on the twenty-second day, nearly famished. During his journey he subsisted on roots, a few young birds and berries.
John Slover, who had been a prisoner among the Indians, and was one of the pilots of the army, was also with two others taken prisoner, and sent to one of the Shawanese towns on the Scioto. One of his fellow prisoners was murdered on the way ; being first painted black, and then obliged to run the gauntlet, when they cut him with toma- hawks, shot his body black with loads of powder blowed into him, and burnt holes into it with hot irons. His surviving companion was sent to another town to be burned, soon after they arrived at the council house. After keeping Slover a few days, for the purpose of examining him concerning the condition and number of the American troops, which they could do in their own language, as he understood the Miami, Shawanese and Delaware languages, a council of the chiefs was called, and Slover was condemned to be burned.
A rope was then put around his neck-his arms were fastened behind him-he was stripped naked, and blackened in the usual manner. He was tied to the fatal post, and the flames were now kindled. Just as the savages were about commencing the torture, there suddenly came on a heavy thunder storm. The wind blew a hurricane,-the rain fell vio- lently, and the fire already kindled, was instantly extinguished. The savages stood amazed, and were a long time silent. At last one said, " We will let him alone until morning, and take a whole day in burning him." Slover was then loosed from the stake, and made to sit down, when they danced around him until eleven o'clock at night, beating him, and wounding him, with tomahawks and clubs. When they ceased, he was taken to an empty house, where a rope was fastened around his neck, and tied to a beam of the house. His arms were also pinioned behind him with a cord. In this situation he was suffered to lie down on a board, guarded by three warriors. They frequently asked him how he liked eating fire to-morrow. They continued talking and smok- ing until after midnight, when they laid down and went to sleep. Slo- ver then resolved to make an effort to get loose if possible, and soon extracted his arms from the cord which bound them. One of the war- riors then got up and stirred the fire. He then was apprehensive that he was lost, and lay still for fear of being examined. The Indian soon laid himself down again, and his hopes revived. He then attempted to "unloose the rope around his neck, and tried to bite it with his teeth, but in vain, as it was large and very hard, being made of the hide of a buf-
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falo. He began to despair, and resigned himself to his fate. At this time, the day began to break. He at length resolved to make another and last effort, and by pulling the rope, by putting his fingers between it and. his neck, to his surprise it easily untied, and he slipped it over his head. He then stepped over the warriors as they lay, looked back to see if he had disturbed them, and sprang over the fence into a cornfield. He had not gone far, before he came across a squaw with four children, sleeping under a tree. He then changed his course for part of the commons of the town, on which was a number of horses feeding, and having caught one, and taking the cord from his arm, with which he had been tied, he used it for a halter, and a piece of an old quilt which he had found near, for a saddle, he mounted and rode off at full speed. It was now day- light; but the horse being strong and swift, and the country open and level, he crossed the Scioto about fifty miles distant by ten o'clock .- Having travelled about twenty miles further, his horse gave out, when he instantly left him, and run on foot about twenty miles further, making in the whole distance, about ninety miles. Being perfectly acquainted with the route, he reached Wheeling on the third day, nearly famished with hunger, and exhausted with fatigue. (1)
Thus ended this disastrous campaign. It was the last one which took place in this section of the country during the war of the revolu- tion. It was undertaken with the very worst views-those of murder and plunder. It was conducted without sufficient means to encounter, with any prospect of success, the large Indian forces, upon the plains of Sandusky. There was not that subordination and discipline which is always necessary to success ; and it ended in total discomfiture, and an awful sacrifice of life. Never did any enterprise more signally fail, and never was a deed of blood more terribly revenged, than the murder of the Christian Indians at the Moravian towns.
" The enlightened historian must view the whole Indian war, from the murder of Cornstalk, Ellinipsico and Red Hawk, at the commence- ment of the war, to the inhuman burning of Colonel Crawford, in no other light than a succession of the most wonton murders of all ages, from helpless infancy to decrepid old age, and of both sexes : without object and without effect. It was a war of mutual but unavailing slaugh- ter, devastation and revenge, over whose record humanity still drops a tear of regret, but that tear cannot efface its disgraceful history."(2)
(1) Incidents of Border Life, p. 145-46-47.
(2) Dodridge's Notes, p. 280-281.
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CHAPTER XII.
CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA, AND OTHER BRITISH POSTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI IN 1778, BY COLONEL GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE-HIS SURPRISE OF VINCENNES, AND ITS SURRENDER BY GOVERNOR HAMILTON TO THE AMERICAN COMMAN- DER-THE FOUNDING OF LOUISVILLE-THE DARING EXPLOITS OF SIMON KEN- TON, HIS CAPTIVITY, SUFFERINGS, AND ESCAPE-COLONEL DANIEL BOONE'S EXPEDITION TO AN INDIAN TOWN ON PAINT CREEK-HIS DEFENCE OF BOONES- BORO' AGAINST 500 INDIANS UNDER DU QUESNE, A BRITISH OFFICER.
One of the most extraordinary expeditions during the war of the revolu- tion, was that of Colonel GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE, in 1778, against Kas. kaskia and Vincennes, then in possession of the British. These places supplied the Indians with munitions of war, and enabled them to harrass the frontier settlements of Virginia, now the State of Kentucky. (1)- The capture of these posts was deemed so important, that the Legisla- ture of Virginia voted to raise a regiment of State troops for the pur- pose. The command was given to Colonel Clarke, who planned the expedition, and who possessed great courage, uncommon energy of character and capacity for Indian warfare. He was a man of extraordi- nary talents, and possesed a military genius which enabled him to plan with consummate wisdom, and to execute his designs with decision and promptitude. Having visited the western settlements the preceding year, he was satisfied, that in order to curb the Indians effectually, it was necessary to strike at the powerful, though distant allies, by whom they were encouraged and supported. His great mind readily compre- hended the situation of the country ; he made himself acquainted with the topography of the whole region, as far as it was then known ; with the localities of the enemy's posts, and the strength of their forces. His representations induced the Legislature of Virginia to enter with vigor into his plan, and such was the confidence he inspired into the public mind, that a regiment consisting of nearly three hundred men, were raised without delay, and placed under his command. (2) He was duly authorized to act against the British posts on the Mississippi and the Wabash ; yet the object of the expedition was kept a profound secret. (3)
With this force, he left Virginia, crossed the mountains to the Monon- gahela, embarked in boats, and descended to the falls of the Ohio, where he was joined by some volunteers from Kentucky, then western Virgi- nia. At this place he left thirteen families, who had descended the Ohio
(1) Kentucky was separated from Virginia in 1786, after which it was a ter- ritorial government, until 1792, when it was admitted into the Union.
(2) Hall's Sketches of the West, Vol. II. p. 118.
(3) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I. p. 66.
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with him for the purpose of making a permanent settlement in that country. No such settlement had yet been made at the Falls, where Louisville now stands ; and so exposed was the situation, that they built their first houses on the island in the river. (1)
Having halted a few days to refresh his men, he proceeded down the Ohio, to a point about sixty miles above its mouth, where he landed and hid his boats to prevent their discovery by the Indians. He was now distant from Kaskaskia, about one hundred and thirty miles, and the in- tervening country must have been, at that period, when in a state of nature, almost impassable. His route led through a low, flat region, in- tersected by numerous streams and ponds of water, and entirely covered with a most luxuriant vegetation, which must have greatly impeded the march of the troops. Through this dreary region, the intrepid leader marched on foot, at the head of his gallant band, with his rifle on his shoulder, and his provisions upon his back. After wading through ponds, which could not be avoided, crossing creeks by such methods as could hastily be adopted, and sustaining two days march after the pro- visions had been exhausted, he arrived in the night before the town of Kaskaskia. Having halted and formed his regiment, he consulted his officers, and made a brief speech to his men, containing only the pithy sentiment, that " the town was to be taken at all events," when he led them direct to the attack. The town contained about two hundred and fifty houses, and was sufficiently fortified to have resisted a much more formidable army, had the garrison been apprised of its approach. But the distance from any known foe, having excluded all apprehension of danger, confidence superceded all precautions against surprise. The approaches of Colonel Clarke had been so si'ent, and rapid, that the assault gave the first intelligence of his arrival. Not a scattering hun- ter had espied his march ; not a roving Indian had seen his trail ; the watchman was sleeping in fancied security ; the inhabitants of the town were resting from their labors, and the garrison of the fort was not alarmed, until the citidel was taken, and the flag of stars and stripes was proudly waving upon its battlements.
The astonishment and mortification of the vanquished, were equal to their negligence. Col. Clark, required the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and the Fort at Kaskaskia, became his head quarters. The right of property was not molested, and no pillage was permitted or attempted; on the contrary the humane and friendly treatment of the people, and the security afforded to their per-
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I. p. 67.
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sons and property, effected a speedy reconciliation to the new order of things. The utmost care was taken that none should escape to spread the news, while detachments were sent out, that captured the open set- tlements and villages in the vicinity, without the least resistance. In the meantime, a portion of the army mounted on the horses of the coun- try, left Kaskaskia for the purpose of taking by surprise the villages higher up the Mississippi. These all fell into the hands of the invaders by an unresisted and easy conquest. Thus fell the power of Great Britain, upon the banks of the Mississippi; and this fertile and exten- sive valley, which will one day be the centre of population of this great Republic passed from under her authority forever.
'The success of this expedition had the happiest effect upon the In- dians. Struck with fear and astonishment on seeing a victorious enemy in the country, without knowing whence, or how they came, they fled to their hiding places in the wilderness, or to their distant towns for safety ; or else repaired to Vincennes, a post on the Wabash, still in possession of the British, for protection.(1)
This bold and brilliant military achievement of Col. Clarke, was suc- ceeded by one still bolder, more difficult, and quite as successful. Kas- kaskia was not very strongly fortified; and no attack in so remote a spot could reasonably be apprehended. But. Vincennes, situated in nearly a direct line between Kaskaskia and the falls of the Ohio, dis- tant one hundred and sixty miles from the former place and two hun- dred miles from the latter, had been considered within the reach of an attack from the American settlements, and was strongly fortified. It was well garrisoned with British troops, commanded by Gov. Hamil- ton, in person, an experienced officer, who was quickly apprized of the capture of the ports on the Mississippi, in his rear, and prepared to ex- pect an attack from Col. Clarke, at the head of his victorious troops.(2) His regular force, was greatly superior to that of the American comman- der, both in numbers and equipment, and in addition, he had under his command six hundred Indian warriors.
With this force Gov. Hamilton, determined to retake Kaskaskia, and regain the posts on the Mississippi. But Col. Clarke, sent a party to reconnoitre Gov. Hamilton's position, and make observations. The intelligence received from the detachment on its return determined him, immediately to attempt to take Vincennes, as the best means of defend- ing himself, notwithstanding its strength and the force stationed for its
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I, p. 68-69.
(2) Hall's Sketches of the West, Vol. II, p. 120.
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defence. In the meantime, he took measures to strengthen the defences of Kaskaskia, and resolved to maintain the possession at all hazards. While he was digesting the plan of his future operations, he received undoubted information, from a Spanish merchant, who had recently left Vincennes, that Gov. Hamilton, reposing on the security which the superiority of his force afforded, contemplated leisurely, the execution of his projects. These were, in the first place, to retake Kaskaskia ; in the next, to cut off the inhabitants residing upon the Ohio, up to Fort Pitt ; after which he intended to desolate the remaining frontiers of Vir- ginia. In addition to these projects, arrangements were made to destroy the frontier settlements of New York and Pennsylvania, by a combined force of British troops, and Indians of the northern tribes. He also learned from the same source, that the approach of winter, had induced a post- ponement of the campaign till the opening of the next spring-and that in the meantime, the Governor to keep his Indian auxiliaries employed, had sent them to obstruct the passage of the Ohio, and to harrass the frontiers of Western Virginia, while the regular soldiers, were kept in garrison under his immediate command.
Col. Clarke, at once perceived that his own situation was most criti- cal. He was too remote from the Atlantic border, to receive any as- sistance from that quarter ; and the western settlements were invaded by the savages. He knew that his force was too weak, to maintain his present position against the British army under Gov. Hamilton, sup- ported by the whole body of Indian warriors, from the Lakes to the Mississippi, by whom he was to be attacked on the return of spring. In this emergency what was to be done ? The Indians were now rav- aging the frontiers, and Gov. Hamilton and the British troops, were ilone at Vincennes. He instantly determined to capture Vincennes, or perish in the attempt. The resolve had been made,-the blow was how to be struck-and although the winter had now set in, no time was to be lost, as the Indians might return, and the British commander, night awake from his dream of security.
He then fitted up a small galley which lay in the Mississippi for de- ensive purposes, and put on board a large quantity of provisions. This essel was armed with a few pieces of cannon, manned by a company of soldiers, and the captain ordered to proceed down the river, to the nouth of the Ohio, and then to ascend it to the mouth of the Wabash. Iere he was directe.l to disregard every difficulty, and force his vessel
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