USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 28
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deep ford as well as they could, Major M'Gary still leading the van, closely followed by Majors Harland and M'Bride. No order was given and none obeyed. Nothing had been concerted, and no plan of attack formed. They ascended the hill with precipitation, and moved forward in the utmost disorder, over a surface covered with rocks laid bare by the trampling of the buffalo, and the washing of the rains for ages .- Upon reaching the top of the ridge they pursued their course with the same precipitate ardor. Cols. Todd and Trigg, in the rear, and Maj. M'Gary, Harland, M'Bride, and Colonels Boone in front. No scouts were sent in advance-none explored either flank-officers and soldiers remained alike demented, by the contagious example of a single man, who had no right to command, or lead them, and all struggled forward, horse and foot, as if to outstrip each other in the swift road to destruction.
They had now reached the spot mentioned by Colonel Boone, where the two ravines head, on each side of the ridge, resembling the fatal field of Braddock, upon the Monongahela. Suddenly a terrible volley of musketry poured in upon the unconscious and advancing assemblage, from the Indian ambuscade. M'Gary halted, and his party instantly returned the fire, but the concealment of the enemy prevented its execu- tion. The rifles of the Indians concealed in the ravines on both sides, made dreadful havoc with the troops exposed on the hill between them. They found themselves enclosed, and destitute of shelter, while the enemy were in a great measure protected. Still they maintained their ground, while both officers and men were fast falling around them .- The action became bloody, and the Indians gradually extended their line, turned the right of the whites, and entirely cut off their retreat .-- This was quickly perceived by the loud firing in that quarter, and the rear instantly fell back in disorder, and attempted to rush through the Indian ranks and regain the river. 'The motion quickly communicated itself to the front, and a hurried and disorderly retreat became general. The Indians then instantly in one body emerged from the ravines, and sprang forward in the pursuit, falling upon the disordered fugitives with their tomahawks, made a cruel slaughter. From the battle ground to the river, the spectacle was terrible, and the carnage great. The horse- men generally escaped, but the foot, which had advanced the farthest, and composed the front, were almost totally destroyed. In the mean time, the great mass of the victors and vanquished crowded the northern bank of the Licking, and plunged into the stream. The slaughter was great in the river, and the ford was crowded with horsemen and foot, and Indians all mingled together. Some were compelled to seek a
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passage above by swimming -- some who could not swim, were overta- ken and killed at the edge of the water. Here an instance of coolness and presence of mind, equally noble and unexpected, was exhibited by a man by the name of Netherland. Being well mounted, and among the foremost in the flight, and crossing the Licking with about a dozen horsemen, he gained the farthermost bank, checked his horse, took a back view and saw the savages preparing to rush into the water and cut off a large number, who where struggling to save themselves by flight on foot ; he then cried out with a loud commanding voice, to his com- panions :- " Halt ! fire upon the Indians and protect the men who are still in the stream." The party instantly obeyed- and facing about, poured a fatal discharge of rifles upon the foremost of the pursuers .- The enemy instantly fell back from the opposite bank, and gave time for the harrassed and miserable footmen to cross in safety. The check, however, was but momentary. Indians were seen crossing above and below, and the flight again became general. (1)
After crossing the river, most of the fugitives escaped,-the footmen by leaving the beaten path and taking a circuitous route through the wilderness, and the horsemen, by the fleetness of their horses on the direct route. The Indians, however, continued their pursuit for more than twenty miles.
Late in the evening of the same day, most of the survivors arrived at Bryant's Fort. The melancholy intelligence spread rapidly through the country, and the whole land was covered with mourning. Never had western Virginia, now the State of Kentucky, received so fatal a blow, as that dealt by the Indians at the battle of the BLUE LICKS .- Sixty men, brave men, composed of the flower of the country, were killed in battle, and in flight seven were taken prisoners, and of these some were murdered in captivity. Of the slain, Colonel Todd, Colonel Trigg, Major Harland, Major M'Bride, Captain Bulger, and Captain Gordon, were among the number.
Major McGary, notwithstanding the extreme exposure of his station, as the leader in front, and consequently most deeply involved in the ranks of the enemy, escaped without the slightest injury. He will ever be remembered, as associated with the disaster of which he was the im- mediate, although not the original cause. He has always been repre- sented as a man of violent temper and daring courage, strongly tinctured with ferocity, and unsoftened by any of the humane and gentle qualities
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I. pp. 136-141; and Incidents of Border Life, pp. 307-311.
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which awaken affection. In the hour of battle, his presence was in- valuable, but in civil life, the ferocity of his temper rendered him an unpleasant companion.(1)
Col. Boone here witnessed the death of his second son, and very nar- rowly escaped with his own life. He found himself almost entirely surrounded at the commencement of the retreat. Several hundred In- dians were between him and the river to which the fugitives were flying. Being intimately acquainted with the ground, he, together with a few friends, dashed into one of the ravines, which the Indians had occupied, but which most of them had now left, to join in the pursuit. After sustaining one or two heavy fires, and escaping from a party who pur- sued him, he crossed the Licking below the ford by swimming, and entering the woods at a point where there was no pursuit, returned by a circuitous route to Bryant's fort.
A rare and striking instance of magnanimity and self-devotion is re-
(1) Several years after the Battle of the Blue Licks, a gentleman of Kon- tucky, since dead, fell in company with McGary, at one of the Circuit Courts, and the conversation turned upon the battle. McGary frankly acknowledged that he was the immediate cause of the loss of so many lives on that day, and with great beat and energy, assigned his reasons for urging on the battle. He said that in the hurried council, which was held at Bryant's on the 18th, he had strenuously urged Todd and Trigg to halt for twenty-four hours, assuring them that with the aid of Logan, they would be able to follow them even to Chillicothe if necessary, and that their numbers then were too weak to en- counter them alone. He offered, he said, to pledge his head, that the Indians would not return with such precipitation as was supposed, but would afford ample time to collect more force, and give them battle with a prospect of suc- cess. He added, that Colonel Todd scouted his arguments, and declared, that " if a single day was lost, the Indians would never be overtaken, but would cross the Ohio and disperse ; that now was the time to strike them, while they were in a body; that to talk of their numbers was nonsense-the more the merrier !- that for his part he was determined to pursue, without delay, and did not doubt that there were brave men enough on the ground to enable them to attack them with effect." McGary declared, " that he felt somewhat nettled" at the manner in which the advice had been received ; that he thought Todd and Trigg jealous of Logan, who, as senior Colonel, would be entitled to the command upon his arrival ; and that, in their eager- ness to have the honor of the victory to themselves, they were rashly throwing themselves into a condition, which would endanger the safety of the country. "However, sir," continued he, with an air of unamiable triumph, " When I saw the gentlemen so keen for a fight, I gave way, and joined in the pursuit, as willingly as any ; but when we came in sight of the enemy, and the gentle- men began to talk of 'numbers,' 'position,' 'Logan,' and 'waiting,' 1 burst into a passion, called them a set of cowards, who could not be wise until they were scared into it, and swore that since they had come so far for a fight, they should fight, or I would disgrace them forever ! That when I spoke of waiting for Logan on the day before, they had scouted the idea, and hinted something about 'courage,'-that now it would be shown who had courage, or who were cowards, that could talk big when the enemy was at a distance, but turned pale when danger was near. I then dashed into the river, and called upon all who were not cowards to follow !" The gentleman upon whose authority this is given, added that, even then, McGary spoke with bitterness of the deceased colonels, and swore that they had received just what they deserved, and that he for one was glad of it .- Incidents of Border Life, pp. 312-313.
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corded of young Reynolds, who replied with much humor to the sum- mons of Simon Girty, demanding the surrender of Bryant's fort. This young man, after bearing his share in the battle, with distinguished gallantry, was galloping with several other horsemen in order to reach the Licking. The great body of the fugitives had preceded them, and their situation was in the highest degree critical. About half way be- tween the battle ground and the river, the party overtook Capt. Robert Patterson, on foot, exhausted by the rapidity of the flight and ready to yield himself to the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savages. 'The Indians were close behind him and as he was infirm in consequence of former wounds, his fate seemed inevitable. The generous Reynolds coming up with this brave officer, instantly sprung from his horse, aided Patterson to mount upon the saddle, and continued his own flight on foot. Being active and vigorous, he contrived to elude his pursuers, until he reached the opposite bank of the Licking, when he was taken prisoner by a party of the enemy. His arms were taken away from him, and he was compelled to accompany the party in the pursuit. The eagerness to overtake the fugitives induced the party to commit him to the care of a single Indian, who conducted him, leisurely, in the rear. At length the Indian stooped to tie his moccasin, when young Reynolds seized the gun in the hands of the Indian, knocked him down with it, and quickly disappeared in the thicket which surrounded them. For this act of noble generosity Capt. Patterson, gave the young soldier a farm containing two hundred acres of land.
Soon after the fatal battle of the Blue Licks, on the first of Septem- ber, a party of savages surprised Kincheloe's fort, situated on Simpson's creek, in which six or seven families had fled for protection. They entered the fort, broke into the houses in the night, and killed men, wo- men and children. Some were led into captivity, and a few only, fa- vored by the darkness of the night, escaped. (1)
As soon as the intelligence of the battle of the Blue Licks, and the outrages at Kinchloe's fort, reached Colonel George Rogers Clarke, who then resided at the falls of the Ohio, he detrmined to set on foot an ex- pedition against the Indian towns, for the purpose both of avenging the murders committed, and rousing the spirits of the country, which had begun to sink into the deepest dispondency. He invited the superior officers to meet him in council, when he proposed that one thousand men should be raised and rendezvoused at Cincinnati, under the command of their respective officers, where he engaged to meet them at the head of
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. I. p. 144.
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the regiment under his command, with one brass field piece, which was regarded by the Indians with superstitious terror. The offer was em- braced with alacrity ; and instant measures were taken for the collection of a sufficient number of volunteers. (1)
The whole force of the interior was assembled, under the command of Colonel Logan, and descending the Licking in boats, arrived safely at the designated point of union. Here they were joined by Colonel Clarke, at the head of his regiment, accompanied by volunteers from below. No provision had been made for the subsistence of the troops, and the sudden concentration of one thousand men and horses at a sin- gle point, rendered it exceedingly difficult to procure the necessary supplies. The woods abounded in game-but the rapidity and secrecy of their march, which was absolutely essential to the success of the ex- pedition, did not allow them to scatter in search of it. They suffered greatly, therefore, from hunger, as well as fatigue; but all being accus- tomed to privations of every kind, they prosecuted their march with unabated rapadity, and appeared within a mile of one of their largest villages without encountering a single Indian. Here, unfortunately, a stragler observed the approach of the army, and instantly fled to the village, uttering the most thrilling and startling yells of alarm. The troops pressed forward with great dispatch, but on entering the town, found it totally deserted. The houses had evidently been abandoned only a few minutes before their arrival. Fires were burning, meat was upon the roasting sticks, and corn was boiling in their kettles. The provisions were very acceptable to the troops, who were nearly famish- ed, but the escape of their enemies excited deep and universal chagrin.
After refreshing themselves, they burned the village and destroyed the adjoining corn fields, and every means of affording sustenance to the Indians. The army then proceeded from village to village, reducing all to ashes, laying waste the corn fields and leaving only ruin and deso- I lation in the country. Occasionally, a solitary Indian would crawl up within rifle shot, and deliver his fire ; and once a small party, mounted on superb horses, rode up with great audacity, within musket shot, and took a leisurely survey of the whole army, but upon seeing a detach- ment preparing to attack them, they galloped off with a rapidity which baffled pursuit. (2)
Seven prisoners only were taken in this campaign, three of whom were afterwards killed by the captors. Upon approaching a large vil-
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(1) Incidents of Border Warfare, p. 314.
(2) Incidents of Border Warfare, pp. 314-315.
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lage of the Shawanese, from which most of the inhabitants had fled, an old chief named MOLUNTHA, came out to meet them, fantastically dressed, having an old cocked hat set jauntingly upon his head, and a fine shawl thrown over his shoulders. He carried an enormous pipe in one hand, and a quantity of tobacco in the other. He strutted out, with the air of an old French beau, to smoke the pipe of peace with his enemies, whom he found himself unable to meet in battle. Nothing could be more striking, than the fearless confidence with which he walked through the foremost ranks of the army, evidently pleased with his own appearance, and enjoying the admiration, which he supposed his cocked hat and splendid shawl inspired. Many of the officers and soldiers were highly amused at the mixture of dandyism and gallantry which the poor old man exhibited, and shook hands with him very cordially.
Unfortunately he approached Major McGary, whose temper was as much inflamed at the sight of an Indian, as that of a wild bull by the waving of a red flag. Besides Moluntha had been one of the chiefs who commanded at the Blue Licks. Instead of giving him his hand, when offered, McGary scowled upon him and asked him if " he recol- lected the Blue Licks ?" Moluntha smiled and merely repeated the words " Blue Licks !" when McGary, instantly drew his tomahawk, and cleft him to the brain. The old man received the blow without flinching for a second, and fell dead at the feet of his destroyer. Great excitement instantly prevailed in the army. Some called it a ruthless murder, while others justified the act, and declared that an Indian was not to be regard- ed as a human being, but ought to be shot down as a wolf, whenever and wherever he appeared. McGary raved like a madman at the reproach of his countrymen. (1) Col. Clark highly disapproved of the act, but deemed it imprudent to cause the subject to be investigated.(2)
Thus terminated this expedition, by which the savages were taught a lesson which they long remembered. It showed them that the whites were vastly superior, and that their aggressions would at last end in the destruction of their towns, and the reduction of their women and chil- dren to want and hunger.
(1) McClung's Sketches of Western Adventure, p. 118.
(2) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. 1, p. 147.
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CHAPTER XIV.
POPULATION OF VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY INCREASED-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS -TROOPS ORDERED TO PROTECT FRONTIER SETTLEMENTS-SETTLEMENTS AT MIAMI, AND PRESENT SITE OF CINCINNATTI-FORT WASHINGTON BUILT- GENERAL HARMAR ARRIVES THERE-INDIANS COMMIT RENEWED DEPREDA- TIONS-SETTLERS ROUSED TO AVENGE THEMSELVES UPON THE INDIANS- HARMAR'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS-DEFEAT OF HIS ARMY-HAR- MAR RETURNED TO FORT WASHINGTON-REMARKS-EFFECTS OF HARMAR'S DEFEAT-GENERAL CHARLES SCOTT'S EXPEDITION-GENERAL WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION-ADVENTURES OF JOHONNET.
Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, a number of circum- stances conspired to increase the population of the south-western parts of Virginia and Kentucky, and add to the strength of the first settlers to repel the invasion of the savages. Notwithstanding the increase of population and strength of the people to compel the Indians to sue for peace, they continued committing depredations all along the settled parts of the Ohio river. Indeed they often penetrated into the heart of the settlements. Even after treaties (1) had been made with them, they still committed acts of general hostility. The years 1786 and 1787 were distinguished for attacks upon emigrants who went westward to settle lands on the Ohio. This state of things continuing, the Secretary of War in 1787, ordered detachments of troops to be stationed at different points, to protect the frontiers ; and if required, to follow the savages into their own country.
In the fall of 1789, several families from New York, New Jersey, and Redstone, now Brownesville, in Pennsylvania, descended the Ohio river, to the mouth of the Little Miami, and commenced a settlement there. As the Indians were at this time very troublesome, forty soldiers under Lieutenant Kersey, were ordered to the defence of the settlement. They erected at first a single block-house, and soon after added to it three others ; a stockade fort was formed on a position now included within the town of Columbia, about six miles above the city of Cincin- nati. In June, 1789, Major Douglity arrived opposite the mouth of Licking river, with one hundred and forty regular troops, to protect the
(1) By the treaties with the Indians, in 1785-'86, Congress acquired the lands watered by the Muskingum, Scioto, Little and Great Miami rivers. In 1788, another treaty was made, by which the country was purchased, from the mouth of Cuyahoga river to the Wabash, lying south and east of a certain line, mentioned in the treaty.
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settlers there. (1) He put up four block-houses, and soon after erected Fort Washington, (2) where Cincinnati now stands.
'Towards the close of the year, Gen. Harmar arrived with three hundred other regulars, and occupied the fort, as the importance of the place seemed to demand it. It was here that the Indians crossed the Ohio, and ascended the Licking river, to penetrate the heart of Kentucky, to pursue their marauding excursions. Besides this, " The Old War Path " leading from the British garrison at Detroit, to the Maumee, and up that river, and over on the Miamias, passed through this place .- Many Indian paths diverged from the War Path to their several towns.
In the summer of 1790, General Harmar, leaving Majors Doughty and Wyllys at Fort Washington, encamped on the left bank of the Ohio, the present site of Covington. Early in the spring of this year, the Indians committed numerous depredations. A canoe ascending the Ohio, about the last of March, was taken by the Indians near the mouth of the Scioto river, and three men killed. Shortly afterwards, a boat coming down was decoyed by a white man, who feigned distress ; when fifty savages rose from concealment, ran into the boat, killed John May, and a young woman, being the first persons they came to, and took the rest of the people on board prisoners. Soon after this event, for the Indians still continued to infest the river, other boats were taken, and the people killed or taken captive. In the month of April, they attacked three boats on the Ohio, near the confluence of the Scioto ; two being abandoned, fell into the hands of the enemy ; the other being manned by all the people, made its escape by hard rowing.
This continued series of depredations roused the inhabitants of the settlements, and General Scott, of Kentucky, with two hundred and thirty volunteers, crossed the Ohio, at Limestone, now the town of
(1) On the 28th of December, 1788, Israel Ludlow, with about twenty other persons, landed on the right bank of the Ohio, opposite Licking-commenced a settlement, and erected three or four log cabins.
(2) Fort Washington was erected on a lot of fifteen acres, reserved by the United States. The fort was in a square form, built of logs hewed and squared, and was on each side one hundred and eighty feet long, and formed on the in- side into barracks of two stories high. At the corners were four bastions or block-houses, constructed of hewed logs, so placed that cannon withiu them, could rake the walls. On the south side, a gate way, twelve feet wide and ten feet high, secured by strong doors, opened through the barracks into the fort. From its north-east and north-west corners, pallisades extended to a block- house, enclosing a triangular space containing workshops for the accommoda- tion of artificers. In front was a fine esplanade, eighty feet wide, enclosed by a handsome paling on the brow of the bank, which had a sloping descent of thirty feet to the lower bottom. The exterior of the fort was white washed, and at a little distance presented an imposing appearance. The fort was com- plete in November, 1789. On the 29th of December, General Harmar arrived with three hundred men, and took possession of it.
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Maysville, and he was soon joined by General Harmar, with one hun- dred regular troops. They marched for the Scioto country. The In- dians, however, too wily for their pursuers, abandoned their camp, and there was consequently no general action. On the route, a small Indian trail was crossed, and an officer and thirteen men were detached to pur- sue it, who soon came upon four Indians in camp, and killed them at the first fire. (1)
As the Indians afterward, during this summer, still continued their incursions, it was resolved that their frequent depredations on persons and property, made it necessary to march against their towns. Wash- ington, the President of the United States, used all the means in his power, to increase the force under Harmar. 'T'he General was authorised to call on Kentucky to aid him with a portion of her militia, and to carry the war home to the Indians. This call was made, which soon brought to his standard, eleven hundred and thirty-three volunteers, un- der a competent number of officers, at the head of whom was the gallant Colonel John Hardin. Immediately on his arrival at the General's head quarters, on the 26th of September, he was ordered to advance along what was then familiarly known as 'Clark's Old Trace,' for about twenty- five miles ; and then to halt for further orders. (1) The General having completed all his preparations, took up his line of march on the thirtieth of September, and on the third of October, reached Turkey creek. Here he met Colonel Hardin, where preparations were made to ad- vance. The army now amounted to fourteen hundred and forty-three men, of which only three hundred and twenty were regulars. In his course, the general visited the Indian villages on the head waters of the Little Miami. From those towns he struck across the woods, for the Great Miami, where Piqua now stands, and marching forward came to where Lora- mie's* fort has since been erected. Here three Indians were disco- vered early in the morning, viewing his encampment. These were followed by some mounted men; one Indian was taken prisoner, but the other two escaped. Next morning the army crossed the St. Mary's River, and Colonel Hardin and Major James Paul, who was at the head of a battallion from Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, beat up for volunteers, to go to the Indian town, which they supposed to be about forty miles distant. Six hundred volunteers marched under these officers, in advance of the main army, and arrived at the Indian village, on the second day afterwards. The Indians, on the approach of Hardin
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