USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 32
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emulation, the rivalry of the different kinds of troops was excited, and the riflemen and infantry strove to excel, and the men soon attained to an accuracy that gave them confidence in their own prowess. On the artillery, the General impressed the importance of that arm of the ser- vice, and by constant practice at the guns they acquired great facility in taking position, loading, discharging at the object of attack, and defend- ing their cannon and batteries. The dragoons he taught to rely on the broad sword, and in furious and impetuous charges upon the enemy, as the best means of personal safety, and as all important to victory. The riflemen were made to see that success only depended upon their cool- ness, quickness, accuracy, and perfect discipline in the hour of battle ; while the infantry were led to place entire confidence in the bayonet, as the certain and irresistable weapon in the hands of brave and disciplined troops, before which savages could not stand. The men were instructed to charge in open order, and each to rely on himself, and to prepare for a personal contact with the enemy. (1) The rapid improvement in dis- cipline, and the confidence inspired by the troops, are frequently men- tioned in the letters of General Wayne, to the Secretary of War, during the summer of 1792.
On the twenty-seventh of November, 1792, General Wayne left Pitts- burgh, at the head of his troops, and proceeding down the Ohio river twenty-two miles, and about seven miles above the mouth of Beaver river, where he encamped for the winter. This place was strongly for- tified and called Legionville. Encamped in a situation, with the enemy almost surrounding it, the officers and men were obliged to be on the alert, and the most vigorous watchfulness was constantly observed .- General Wayne had well drilled his troops before he left Pittsburgh, but he was not yet confident of their bravery before an enemy. He de- sired to inspire them with self-dependence. If he had remained at Pitts- burgh, the winter would have passed away in inactivity. He therefore wisely resolved to occupy a more exposed situation, where his soldiers would be accustomed to watchfulness, and where if an attack had been made, certain success would have inspired the men with confidence.
According to instructions, General Wayne, as soon as established at Legionville, dispatched an invitation to Cornplanter and New Arrow, who were the principal chiefs of the Six Nations, to meet him at the garrison. In March, 1793, these chiefs arrived at his camp, bringing with them Big Tree, and Old Kiyasuta. Cornplanter afterwards pro-
(1) Atkinson's Casket, published in 1830, in Philadelphia.
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ceeded on a mission to the hostile tribes, for the purpose of bringing about a peace. (1.)
About this time, General Wayne received a letter from the Secretary of War, proposing the appointment of commissioners to treat with the Indians, to which the General replied that he desired to be present at the convention, with twenty-five hundred of HIS commissioners, "with nota Quaker among them," and adding that if such were the case, he felt confident an honorable peace would be the result. (2)
The winter having passed away, he broke up his garrison at Legion- ville, on the thirteenth of April, 1793, and embarking on the Ohio, with his whole army, sailed down the river to Fort Washington.
In addition to the regular army raised by the authority of the Con- gress of the United States, Gen. Wayne had been authorized to call upon Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky, for a reinforcement of mounted vol- unteers. This reinforcement was raised with some difficulty, partly in consequence of the terror inspired by the defeats sustained under Har- mar and St. Clair, and partly, in consequence of the prejudices enter- tained against co-operating with regular troops under the command of an officer of the General Government. In consequence of this reluc- tance on the part of the Kentuckians to volunteer, Gen. Wayne, wrote to Gen. Charles Scott, on the twentieth of September, regretting the tardiness of raising the troops, and urging him to advance with those he had collected, by the first of October. To supply the deficiency of volunteers, Gov. Shelby ordered a draft from the militia, when the requisite number of troops was raised, placed under the command of Gen. Scott, and joined the army about the middle of October.(3)
It had been the desire of President Washington, to prevent another battle with the Indians, and to induce them, without another effusion of
(1) About the time Cornplanter left his Nation to proceed on his mission to the hostile tribes, three of his people were travelling through a settlement upon the Genesee, when they stopped at a house to light their pipes. There happened to be several men within, one of whom killed the foremost Indian with an axe, as he stooped to light his pipe. One of the others was badly wounded, with the same weapon, while escaping from the house. They were not pursued, and the other, a boy, escaped unhurt. When Cornplanter learned what had happened, he charged his warriors to remain quiet, and not to seek revenge. He was only heard to say :- " It is hard when I and my people are trying to make peace for the whites, that we should receive such a reward. I can govern my young men and warriors better than the thirteen fires can theirs." What a contrast does the conduct of this noble savage present to that of the monster in human form, who in a gospel land, without provocation, imbrned his hands in blood .- Drake's Indian Biography Book V. Chap. VII. page 97.
(2) Burr's Life of Harrison, pp. 40-41.
(3) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. II., pp. 83, 84.
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blood to enter into a treaty of peace. Accordingly after the appoint- ment of Gen. Wayne to the command of the western army, he visited the Indians in western New York, in person, accompanied by the Sec- retary of State, and held councils with them for the purpose of concili- ating and preventing them from joining in the war with the northwestern tribes, as they had done before. Some of them entered into articles of peace, but others joined the enemy against Gen. Wayne.(1) In addi- tion to this, Gen. Wayne had instructions, not to commence hostilities so long as a pacific disposition was manifested by the savages, and Gen. Lincoln, Col. Pickering and Beverly Randolph, were appointed com- missioners to treat with them. Although several murders had been committed, houses burned, and women and children led into captivity, on the frontiers, by predatory bands of Indians, in the winter and spring (2) of 1793, yet Gen. Wayne issued his proclamation stating that the President had ordered a council to be held with the Indians at the Lower Sandusky ; and forbade all hostilities against them, pending ne .. gociations for peace.
In the latter end of the preceding year, before Gen. Wayne had the command, the gallant Col. John Hardin, had been sent by Gen. Wilkin- son, then commanding at Fort Washington, with a white flag, as a mes- senger of peace to the Miami villages. He was there murdered, as well as his interpreter. Gen. Wilkinson had previously dispatched
(1) Atwater's History of Ohio. pp. 144, 145.
(2) Early in the spring of 1793, two boys by the name of Johnson, the one twelve, the other nine years of age, were playing on the banks of Short creek, near the mouth of the Muskingum, and occasionally skipping stones in the water. At a distance, they beheld two men, dressed like ordinary settlers, in hats and coats, who gradually approached them, and from time to time, threw stones into the water in imitation of the children. At length, when within one hundred yards of the boys, they suddenly threw off the mask, and rush- ing rapidly upon them, made them prisoners. They proved to be Indians of the Delaware tribe. Taking the children in their arms, they ran hastily into the woods, and after a rapid march of about six miles, encamped for the night. Having kindled a fire and laid their rifles and tomahawks against an adjoining tree, they lay down to rest, each with a boy in his arms.
The children as may readily be supposed, were too much agitated to sleep. The eldest at length began to move bis limbs cautiously, and finding that the Indian who held him remained fast asleep, he gradually disengaged himself from his arms, and walking to the fire which had burned low, reinained several minutes in suspense as to what was next to be done. Having stirred the fire, and ascertained by its light the exact position of the enemy's arms, be whis- pered softly to his brother to imitate his example, and if possible, extricate himself from his keeper. The little fellow did as his brother directed, and both stood irresolute for several minutes around the fire. At length, the eld- est, who was of a very resolute disposition, proposed that they should kill the sleeping Indians, and return home. The eldest pointed to one of the guns, and assured bis brother that if he would only pull the trigger of that gun af- ter he had placed it in rest, he would answer for the other Indian.
The plan was soon agreed upon. The rifle was levelled with the muzzle resting upon a log which lay near, and having stationed his brother at the
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Major Trueman, an officer of great merit, to another section of hostile Indians, and who shared a similar fate, to that of Col. Hardin. Gen. Wilkinson was highly censured for exposing the lives of these brave officers, and the more so as it was well known that he was at variance with one of them, and supposed to be jealous of the other.(1)
At length the commissioners appointed to treat with the Indians, an- nounced that every effort had been unavailing, and that they refused to make peace. General Wayne then put the army in motion, on Its route to the heads of the Maumee or the Miami of the Lake, and marched six miles beyond Fort Jefferson, a distance of eighty miles from the Ohio. Here he established a camp, fortified it, and called it Fort Green- ville. Here the Kentucky troops were drilled, in conjunction with the regnlar soldiers ; and it was part of the excellent plan of General Wayne to keep them constantly employed, and to allow no past time. But it was now so late in the season, that he judged it prudent to defer any offensive movement until spring.
The mounted volunteers were accordingly dismissed, with some flat- tering encomiums upon their zeal and readiness, and their advancement in military discipline, while the regular forces were placed in winter quarters. The course pursued by General Wayne, in enforcing order
breach, with positive directions not to touch the trigger until he gave the word, he seized a tomahawk and advanced cautiously to the other sleeper. Such was the agitation of the younger brother, however, that he touched the trigger too soon, and the report of his gun awakened the other Indian before his brother was quite prepared. He struck the blow, however, with firmness, although, in the hurry of the act, it was done with the blunt part of the hatchet, and only stunned his antagonist. Quickly repeating the blow, how- ever, with the edge, he inflicted a deep wound upon the Indian's head, and after repeated strokes, left him lifeless upon the spot. The younger, fright- ened at the explosion of his own gun, had already taken to his heels, and was with difficulty overtaken by his brother. Having regained the road by which they had advanced, the elder fixed his hat upon a bush in order to mark the spot, and by daylight they had regained their home.
They found their mother in agony of grief for their loss, and ignorant whether they had been drowned or taken by the Indians. Their tale was heard with astonishment, not unmingled with incredulity, and a few of the neighbors insisted upon accompanying them instantly to the spot, where so extraordinary a rencontre had occurred. The place was soon found, and the truth of the boy's story placed beyond doubt. The tomahawked Indian lay in his blood, where he fell, but the one who had been shot was not to be found. A broad trail of blood, however, enabled them to trace his footsteps, and he was at length overtaken. His appearance was most ghastly. His under jaw had been entirely shot away, and his hands and breast were covered with clotted blood. Although evidently much exhausted, he still kept his pursuers at bay, and faced them from time to time with an air of resolution. Either his gory appearance, or the apprehension that more were in the neighborhood, had such an effect upon his pursuers, that notwithstanding their numbers, he was permitted to escape. Whether he survived or perished in the wilderness, could never be ascertained, but from the severity of the wound, the latter supposition is most probable.
(1) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. II, pp. 41, 42.
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and discipline, and in the improvement of his men in military science, had impressed the Kentucky forces with the highest respect for his energy, perseverance and courage ; and they returned home with an ex- alted idea of the efficiency of the regular force, marshalled by this inde- fatigable commander, and with sanguine expectations of a favorable result. The rapid succession of disasters which had heretofore attended the operations of the regular troops in conjunction with the volunteers, had created a strong prejudice against this species of force, and it was with great difficulty that a sufficient number of mounted men could be procured for co-operation. But the army of General Wayne, was a dif- ferent body from the armies of Harmar and St. Clair. They had now witnessed the diligence and sleepless energy of the Commander-in-chief, and the confidence with which he had inspired all under his command, and their disrelish to co-operate with the regular troops vanished, so that in the following spring, the volunteers repaired to the standard of Gen- eral Wayre with great promptitude.
But General Wayne was not idle during the winter, in his encamp- ment. By detachments from the regular troops, he was enabled to sweep the country between him and the Miami villages ; and having · taken possession of the ground upon which General St. Clair was de- feated, he erected a fort upon the site, which he called Fort Recovery. He also advanced to the ground where General Harmar was defeated, and erected a work of defence, and called it Fort Wayne. It is situated at the head of the Maumee river, at the confluence of the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers. His orders were positive, to endeavor, if possi- ble, to procure peace upon reasonable terms, without resorting to forcel; and accordingly, he held several conferences with the hostile tribes dur- ing the winter.
Many of the chiefs visited him in his camp, and examined his troops, artillery, and equipments, with great attention, and from time to time made ample professions of a disposition to enter into a treaty of peace; but nothing definite could be drawn from them ; and after hold- ing some idle talks, their visits became more rare, and their professions of friendship waxed fainter, when they suddenly disappeared without making any proposals. In February they threw of the mask, and in the following spring renewed their depredations upon the frontiers .- Finding that General Wayne was neither to be surprised nor deceived, they then exerted themselves in uniting their strength and concentrating all their forces, with a determination to abide the decision of a battle.
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In the spring, two brigades of mounted men from Kentucky, under General Todd and General Barber, the whole commanded by Major General Scott, amounting to more than fifteen hundred men, accustomed to Indian warfare, repaired to his standard. 'The regular force, includ- ing cavalry and artillery, amounted to about two thousand, so that the General found himself at the head of more than three thousand men, well provided with every thing necessary for sustenance or attack, in high spirits, and eager for battle. The Indian force did not exceed two thousand, and was known to have assembled in the neighborhood of the British fort near the rapids of the Maumee. (1)
On the thirteenth of June, 1794, the Indians undertook to carry an important outpost by a coupe-de-main. They made a furious attack upon an escort of riflemen, under the command of Major M'Mahon, and failing in their object of surprising him, they made a general assault upon Fort Recovery. A large number of British officers and soldiers were mingled with the Indians in this engagement, aiding and directing the movements of attack. The onset was repeatedly renewed, and the as- sailants were as often driven back in disorder and confusion. The whole force of the British and Indians numbered about fifteen hundred strong. 'The fight was destructive, but the enemy was finally, completely routed, and compelled to retire with great loss.
Having all things in readiness, General Wayne put the united forces in motion on the eighth of July, and commenced his march from Green- ville, for Fort Recovery. Arriving at this place, he extended his march, and on the eighth of August, with his whole army, reached the mouth of the Au Glaize, a tributary of the Maumee. 'This place is nearly equi-distant from Fort Wayne and the British fort at the foot of the rapids, being about forty-five miles from each. Here in the forks of the Au Glaize and the Maumee, General Wayne erected a fortress with strong military defences, which he called Fort Defiance. (2) Being then fully prepared for action, and ready at any moment to commence offen- sive operations, he resolved to give the Indians still another opportunity to abandon their hostilities. He therefore determined to send a messen- ger charged with the last offer of peace and friendship, which he inten- ded to make. For this dangerous office, he selected a private volunteer. named Miller, who had formerly been a prisoner among the Indians, and had lived many years upon the banks of the Maumee. Miller ob- jected to undertaking so hazardous an enterprise, strongly remonstrated
) Incidents of Border Life, pp. 449-150.
1 Atwater's History of Ohio, p. 147.
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against the performance of the duty, and promptly refused to act as an ambassador to the savages. He declared that the mission would be use- less to the army as well as destructive to himself. It was his decided . opinion, that the Indians were unalterably determined on war, and reso- lutely bent on battle. He said that he well knew then, and was satisfied that they would not respect his white flag, but would put him to death, with the most cruel tortures. General Wayne, being anxious to make one more overture for peace, more to satisfy the President than himself, assured Miller that he would hold eight prisoners then in his custody, as hostages for his safe return, and that he might take with him whoever he desired. He added, that if a hair of his head was injured, he would instantly put every savage to death, now in his power, and give no quar- ter to any of them hereafter. He concluded with an assurance, that the Indians, when informed of his determination to put to instant death the hostages, in case of their committing any violations upon his person, would dismiss him in perfect safety, for the purpose of saving the lives of their own friends now in his power.
Reluctantly, and with many dark prophecies of the fate which awaited him, he at length consented to go upon the mission. Then selecting from the Indian prisoners a man and a woman to accompany him, he took leave of his friends, and set off on the thirteenth of August, at four o'clock in the afternoon, at a rapid pace, for the Indian camp. The next morning at daybreak, he reached the tents of the hostile Indians, with his attendants, without being previously discovered. Knowing that the boldest was the safest course, he marched boldly forward, dis- played his white flag, and declared himself a messenger from General Wayne. Immediately he was assailed on all sides, with hideous yells, brandished tomahawks, and loud cries of " kill the messenger ! kill the spy ! kill the runaway !" Miller, who well understood their language, immediately explained to them the nature of his mission, and the con- tents of General Wayne's letter, which he translated into their own lan- guage. This held out the olive branch of peace, and was declared to be the last effort at conciliation. But if war was their choice, the blood of the slain would rest upon their own heads. He now gave them the last notice that the United States would no longer be insulted with im- punity, and thus to a powerful and just God he committed himself and his gallant army, . In conclusion, he gave his positive assurance, that if they did not send back the bearer of the white flag to him, by the six- teenth of the month, he would on that day at sun set, cause every Indian
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prisoner in his camp, to be put to death. Miller was then closely con- fined, and a council was called by the chiefs. (1)
In this council the proposals were rejected, although LITTLE TURTLE, who had planned and led the attack at the defeat of General St. Clair, urged the Indians to embrace the opportunity to make peace. After a masterly speech of considerable length, he concluded as follows :
" We have beaten the enemy twice under separate commanders. We can not expect the same good fortune to attend us always. The white men are now led by a chief who never sleeps; the night and the day are alike to him, and during all the time he has been marching upon our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. Think well of it. There is some- thing whispers me, it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace." (2)
The counsels of the Little Turtle were disregarded, and on the fif- teenth of August, Miller was liberated and sent back to General Wayne with the following evasive answer, calculated only to gain time and con- centrate their forces. The answer was, that "if General Wayne re- mained where he was fourteen days, and then sent Miller back to them, they would come and treat with him, but that if he advanced with his army, they would give him battle." Miller arrived at the camp of Gene- ral Wayne on the sixteenth, and delivered the answer of the Indians. General Wayne had already advanced from his position and was in full march upon the enemy. Miller stated, that there was no doubt of the Indians being bent upon hostilities, as war parties were constantly arriv- ing, and that the whole force was painted and dressedl for battle. Gene- ral Wayne continued his march down the Maumee, his right being cov- ered by the river, and on the eighteenth halted, and built Fort Deposite, about seven miles from the British garrison at the foot of the rapids, to protect his baggage. He then reconnoitered the enemy and found them advantageously posted in front of the British fort. (3)
On the twentieth of August, at eight o'clock in the morning, the army advanced in columns, and in the order of battle, the legion of regular troops on the right flank, covered by the Maumee-General Todd's brigade of mounted volunteers on the left flank, and General Barbee's brigade of mounted men in the rear. A select battalion of mounted volunteers, under Major Price, was ordered to move in front, so as to
(1) Marshall's history of Kentucky. Vol. II. pp. 137-138. McClung's sketches of Western Adventure, pp. 267-268.
(2) Drake's Indian Biography Book V., Chap. IV., p. 55.
(3) Marshall's History of Kentucky, Vol. II., p. 138.
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give timely notice for the troops to form, in case of an attack. After advancing about five miles, the advance battalion of mounted men under Major Price, received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. (1)
The enemy had formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, in a windfall, their front extending from the west bank of the Maumee westwardly about two miles. This prostrated forest extended five miles west of the river, in which the Indians were posted in their lines. They could not have been better protected from such a mounted force as General Wayne had under his command, than they were in this position, where an immense number of trees prostrated by a tornado presented an almost impassable barrier to troops of any kind, and quite impenetrable to cavalry.
General Wayne soon discovered from the weight of the fire of the enemy and the extent of their line, that they were in full force in front, in pos- session of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn his right flank. He therefore gave orders for his second line to advance to the support of the first, and directed Major General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers by a cir- cuitous route. At the same time he ordered Captain Campbell, who commanded the cavalry belonging to the regular army to turn the left flank of the enemy next to the river. He then directed the front line, composed of regular soldiers, to advance with trailed arms, and with great speed, to rouse the savages from their coverts, with the bayonet, and then to deliver a close and well-directed fire upon their backs, fol- lowed by an instantaneous and brisk charge, so as not to allow them time to reload their muskets. All these orders were obeyed with that spirit and promptitude which General Wayne expected from his well- drilled and disciplined troops. Such was the impetuosity of the charge of the first line of infantry, through a tremendous fire of rifles, that the Indians and their British allies rose from their places of concealment, and fled before the charge for more than two miles, with great loss.(2)
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