USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 35
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wood. Towards the left flank, this bank of high land widened consi- derably, but became gradually narrower in an opposite direction, and at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards, terminated in an abrupt point.
This was the place selected for an encampment. The two columns of infantry occupied the front and rear of the camp, at the distance of about one hundred and fifty yards from each other on the left, and some- thing more than half that distance on the right flank. The left flank was filled up by two companies of mounted riflemen, under the com- mand of Major General Wells, acting as Major, and the right by a com- pany of mounted riflemen, under the command of Captain Spencer .- The front line was composed of one battalion of United States Infantry, under the command of Major Floyd, flanked on the right and left by three companies of volunteers. The rear line was composed of a bat- talion of United States troops, under the command of Captain Baen, acting as Major, and four companies of volunteer infantry, under Colo- nel Decker. Two companies of cavalry were encamped in rear of the left flank, and one company in rear of the front line. For a night attack, the order of encampment was the order of battle, and each man slept immediately opposite to his post in the line, and the commander-in-chief was prepared to mount his horse on a moment's warning.
On the morning of the seventh of November, the Governor rose fif- teen minutes before four o'clock, and was setting by the fire conversing with some of his officers. The troops were still reposing upon their arms, but orders had already been given to beat the reveille. The moon had risen, but was overshadowed with clouds, from which there was an occasional sprinkling of rain. At this moment the attack commenced. The Indians, in their usual stealthy manner, had crept up to the sentinels, intending to rush upon them and kill them before they could fire ; but being discovered, and the alarm given, they gave a hideous yell, and made a furious charge upon the left flank. The guard in that quarter being panic stricken, gave way, and the first onset was received by Cap- tain Barton's company of United States troops, and Captain Guiger's company of mounted riflemen, forming the left of the rear line. The fire was there severe, but the troops being already prepared, were soon formed, and gallantly opposed the fury of their assailants. The fires of the camp were instantly extinguished, except in front of Barton and Guiger's companies, where the suddenness of the attack prevented this from being done. Upon the first alarm, the Governor mounted his horse and proceeded towards the point of attack, and finding the line
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much weakened there, he ordered two companies from the centre of the rear line, to march up and form across the angle in the rear of Barton's and Guiger's companies. In passing through the camp towards the left of the front line, he met Major Daviess, who informed him that the Indians concealed behind some trees, near the line, were annoying the troops very severely, in that quarter, and requested permission to dis- lodge them. In attempting this exploit, he fell mortally wounded, as did Colonel Isaac White, of Indiana, who acted as a volunteer in his troop.
In the meantime, a fierce attack was made on Spencer's and War- wick's companies, on the right. Captain Spencer and his Lieutenants were all killed, and Captain Warwick was mortally wounded. The Governor, in passing towards that flank, found Captain Robb's com- pany near the centre of the camp. They had fallen back from their post. He led them to the aid of Captain Spencer, where they fought bravely during the action. While engaged in this act, his Aid, Colonel Owen, was killed at his side. This officer was mounted on a white horse, and as the Governor had ridden a grey one the day before, it is probable that Colonel Owen was mistaken for him by one of these Indians, who had devoted themselves to certain destruction, in order to insure victory by killing the commander-in-chief.
Captain Prescott's company of United States Infantry had filled up the vacancy caused by the retreat of Robb's company. Soon after Maj. Daviess fell, Captain Snelling was ordered to charge upon the same Indians. This order was promptly performed, and the savages were dislodged with considerable loss. The battle was now maintained on all sides with desperate valor. The Indians advanced and retreated by a rattling noise made with deer hoofs, and fought with a degree of des- peration seldom equalled. Governor Harrison went along the lines and exhorted the men to hold out until morning, and to keep the lines entire when a general change would be made. Foreseeing that the enemy would make a last desperate effort upon the flanks as soon as the day lawned, Captain Snelling's company, Captain Posey's under Lieute- hant Albright, Captain Scott's and Captain Wilson's, were withdrawn from the rear and formed on the left flank, while Captain Cook's and Captain Baen's companies were ordered to the right. As was anticipa- ed, the Indians made just at daybreak, a desperate assault upon both lanks with a savage fury almost incredible. In the mean time General Wells was ordered to take the command of the troops formed on the left, ind with aid of the dragoons under Lieutenant Wallace, to be ready to
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charge upon the enemy. At the same time Captain Cook and Captain Larrobee's companies with the aid of the riflemen and volunteer infan- · try were ready to charge on the right. Immediately after the tremen- dous assult of the enemy at daylight, both wings of the army were ordered to a general charge ! This was promptly executed and the enemy were driven into a marsh where the cavalry could not follow them. The enemy fled in all directions leaving their dead upon the battle field.
Thus terminated one of the most desperate battles ever fought with the Indians. The number of combatants on each side was about equal, but the Indians were protected in front by the bank in the rear, which served as a breast work, while the Americans were exposed to their view upon the ridge upon which they had encamped. The army, with the exception of about three hundred and fifty United States troops under Colonel Boyd, was chiefly composed of volunteers who had never before been in battle.
'Tecumseh was not present, not having returned from the South .- During the time of the contest the Prophet kept himself secure on an adjacent eminence singing a war song. He had told his followers that the Great Spirit would render the army of the Americans unsuccessful, and that their bullets would not hurt the Indians who would have light, while their enemies would be enveloped in darkness. Soon after the battle commenced, he was informed that his men were falling. He told them to fight on, it would soon be as he predicted, and then he began to sing louder. (1)
This decisive victory over the Indians was purchased by the loss of many valuable lives. There were about forty killed and mortally wounded, and about one hundred and ten wounded who survived. Gov- ernor Harrison was shot through the hat and slightly wounded in the hand. Among the slain and those whose wounds were mortal, were Colonel Abraham Owen, Aid-de-Camp of Governor Harrison ; Major Joseph H. Daviess, a distinguished lawyer and eloquent orator of Ken- tucky; Captain Been of the United States fourth regiment; Captain Spencer and both of his Lieutenants, McMahon and Berry, and Captain Warwick. The savages lost a much larger number. Forty were left upon the field of battle, a large number were carried off during the action, and several who had died of their wounds were found in the Prophet's town and in other places of concealment after the battle. (2)
The whole day after the battle, was occupied in fortifying the camp,
(1) McAfee's history of the war.
(2) General Harrison's official report.
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burying the dead, and rendering assistance to the wounded. On the eighth of November, the army marched into the town. It was well for- tified, but totally deserted. A large quantity of corn, all the household utensils, a number of fire-arms, and a considerable amount of ammuni- tion were found there. The town and all it contained was burned, and the gardens, corn fields and orchards destroyed.
On the ninth of November, the army commenced its return. The wounded were put in boats on the Wabash, while the rest of the army continued its march to Vincennes.
The Legislatures of Indiana and Kentucky passed resolutions highly complimentary of Governor Harrison, for his cool, deliberate, skilful and gallant conduct in the battle of Tippecanoe, and his reputation as an able and prudent General, was established on the most solid foundation.
In December, several chiefs came to Vincennes to settle all difficulties, and in March, 1812, others came from all the tribes except the Shawa- nese. This tribe under Tecumseh and the Prophet openly espoused the cause of the British.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN, JUNE EIGHTEENTH, 1812-GOV. HULL ARRIVES AT DETROIT, AT THE HEAD OF 2500 MEN-DETERMINES TO IN- VADE CANADA-COLONEL M'ARTHUR TAKES POSSESSION OF THE VALLEY OF THE THAMES-COLONEL CASS' BATTLE AT AUX CANARDS-ATTACK UPON MAJOR VANHORN, AT BROWNSTOWN-BRILLIANT VICTORY OF COLONEL MIL- LER, AT MAGAGUA-HULL ORDERS FORT CHICAGO TO BE EVACUATED-DEFEAT AND MASSACRE OF THE GARRISON-HE RETREATS TO DETROIT-HIS INGLORI- OUS SURRENDER-AN ARMY RAISED TO RETAKE DETROIT-GENERAL HARRISON APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF-GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON, BY CAPTAIN ZACHARY TAYLOR-EXPEDITION OF GENERAL HOPKINS, AND ITS. FAILURE-THE SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS AND COLO- NEL RUSSEL TO THE PEORIA INDIAN TOWNS-THE SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION OF GENERAL HOPKINS AND COLONEL BUTLER TO THE PROPHET'S TOWN- GENERAL TUPPER'S BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS-THE MISSISSINNEWA EXPE- DITION.
The battle of Tippecanoe greatly contributed to influence the public mind, and to prepare it for a war with Great Britain. That power had enforced her famous orders in council against our commerce, impressed our seamen, insulted our flag upon the high seas, and continued to pay regular annuities to her savage allies, living within the limits of the Union. (1) The United States, anxious to avoid an appeal to arms with one of the most powerful nations on earth, tried every effort to bring about an honorable adjustment of matters in dispute between the two nations, until the forbearance of the government was construed into pusillanimity, and the name and character of the United States, in con- sequence, degraded in the eyes of every nation in Europe. At length, on the fifth day of June, 1812, President Madison laid before Congress the correspondence between Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State, and the British Minister, near our government. This correspondence seemed to preclude all hope of adjusting the two principal points at issue-the orders in council, and the impressment of our seamen.
President Madison now sent a message to Congress, in which our complaints against Great Britain were enumerated with great force, and an opinion expressed that no remedy-no hope now remained, but in open war. The committee on foreign relations, to whom the message was referred, concurred with the President in recommending the mea- sure. At length, on the eighteenth of June, Congress sitting with closed doors, passed an act declaring war against Great Britain. On the same day it received the sanction of the President, and on the next day, a de- claration of war was publicly proclaimed. Congress, at the same ses-
(1) Atwater's History of Ohio, p. 187.
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sion, authorised the increase of the regular army to thirty-five thousand men, and also authorised the raising of a large volunteer force, for one year.
Governor Hull, of the territory of Michigan, was on his march to Detroit, at the head of two thousand men, with a view of putting an end to Indian hostilities, when he received information of the declara- tion of war. His force consisted of about eight hundred United States troops, and twelve hundred volunteers from the State of Ohio. The Ohio troops were composed of three regiments ; one under Colonel Duncan M'Arthur, one under Colonel James Findlay, and the other un- der Colonel Lewis Cass. The gallant fourth regiment of United States troops, that fought at Tippecanoe, now commanded by Lieutenant Colo- nel James Miller, was added on the march.
This army, now consisting of about twenty-five hundred men, left Urbana, in Ohio, about the middle of June, and commenced its march northward, through the wilderness, still in possession of the Indians, and which separated the inhabited part of Ohio, from the Michigan ter- ritory. From Urbana to the Rapids of the Maumee, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, they passed through heavy timber without roads and abounding with marshes. Through the " black swamp " the army marched, followed by one hundred and six heavy wagons, thirteen of which became fast in the mire, and being scattered along the route of the army, served as guides long afterwards, to show where Hull's army had passed. On the thirteenth day of June, the army reached the Mau- mee, having in two weeks marched one hundred and twenty miles, cut- ting their road through a dense forest, and wading knee deep in mire about forty miles. They now entered an open and romantic country, and proceeding on their march, reached Detroit on the fifth day of July. When at the Maumee, Governor Hull put his baggage on board of a ves- sel for Detroit. This was taken by the British, and his official papers, a full account of his strength, and every information which could be of any value to the enemy, fell into the hands of the British.
This was the favorable opportunity for commencing operations against the Province of Upper Canada ; and as Governor Hull had received dis- cretionary power to act offensively, an immediate invasion was deter- mined on. The British attempted to throw up a breast-work to oppose the landing. This was twice destroyed, but was finally constructed and mounted with seven cannon, and two mortars. On the twelfth of July, the army crossed over into Canada, some distance above the fort, and entered the village of Sandwich. In a few days the whole country
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along the Thames, a beautiful river, whose borders were well settled, was taken possession of, by Colonel M'Arthur, with his regiment of Ohio volunteers, without molestation. Colonel Cass was dispatched in an opposite direction toward Fort Malden, with one hundred and eighty men. Malden is situated thirteen miles south of Detroit, at the junction of the river and the lake. Having reached the river Aux Canards, about four miles from Malden, he found a British detachment in possession of the bridge. Here a battle took place, and the enemy was routed with the loss of eleven killed and wounded.
In the mean time, a party of three hundred British troops embarked from St. Joseph's on the sixteenth of July, for an attack upon Fort Michilimackinac. As only fifty six men were in the garrison, this im- portant post was surrendered to the British. The news of the surren- der of this Gibraltar of the Lakes, filled the mind of General Hull with consternation.
Another disaster happened in another quarter. General Hull had or- dered Captain Heald, who commanded at Fort Chicago, to abandon that post, and retreat to Detroit. He accordingly consigned the public pro- perty to some friendly Indians, and with his company of United States troops, numbering about fifty, accompanied by several families that resi- ded near the place, commenced his march. He had proceeded but a short distance along the shore of the Lake, when he was attacked by a large body of Indians. After a severe action, in which he manfully maintained his ground, the Indians gained his rear and cut off his bag- gage. Finding that he would be compelled to yield at last, he at length received protection from an Indian chief. Twenty-six of the regular troops were killed, all the men and a number of women and children in company, were inhumanly murdered. The brave Captain Wells, who was captain of the scouts under General Wayne, was among the slain.
A council of war was called on the first day of August, when it was determined to attack Fort Malden immediately. But after sending a detachment of Ohio volunteers under Major Vanhorn, to escort a con- voy of provisions from the River Raisin, he suddenly gave an order to recross the river Detroit, abandoning the enterprise without any reason, to the great mortification of every officer and soldier under his command. Major Vanhorn was attacked on his second day's march, near Browns .. town, by a large force of British and Indians, and after a desperate re- sistance, made his retreat with the loss of nineteen killed and nine wounded.
Lieut. Col. James Miller, was now sent at the head of five hundred
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men to escort the provisions at the River Raisin, to Detroit, and to chas- tise the enemy, that had attacked Maj. Vanhorn, He commenced his march on the ninth of August, and having arrived in the vicinity of Brownstown, proceeded with great caution. The enemy had thrown up a breast work about four miles from the town, at a place called Ma- gagua, behind which the Indians under Tecumseh were concealed wait. ing the approach of Col. Miller. The whole British and Indian force was commanded by Maj. Muir. The advanced guard of the Americans under Capt. Snelling, approaching the ambuscade of the Indians, was suddenly attacked with great fury. Capt. Snelling kept his ground until the main body approached when the whole Indian force poured a de- structive fire into his ranks. Col. Miller returned the fire, and then charged the enemy with great impetuosity. The British troops gave way and fled, but the Indians under 'Tecumseh, retreating a short distance. into the woods, kept their ground with desperate obstinacy. The Brit- ish regulars being rallied, returned to the contest, and the fight continued for some time, with great fury on both sides. Five hundred savages under Tecumseh, aided by a body of British troops, fought with great desperation. Col. Miller disregarding the musketry of the British and the yells of the savages, repelled their attacks on every side, and by repeated charges, compelled the enemy to retreat. They retired slowly to Brownstown, literally retreating at the point of the bayonet. Here they hastily embarked in boats and crossed the river to Malden. The British loss was fifteen killed and more than thirty wounded, and the Indians left nearly one hundred dead on the field of battle. The Amer- icans had fifteen killed and about sixty wounded.
After this brilliant victory at Magagua, Col. Miller was unable to proceed to the River Raisin, and Col. Cass and Col. M'Arthur were despatched with about four hundred men, to escort the provisions to Detroit. In the meantime, the British had taken a position opposite Detroit, and erected fortifications. On the fifteenth of August, a flag of truce was sent from Gen. Brock, the British commandant, to Gov. Hull, demanding a surrender of Detroit. 'To this summons an answer was returned that the place would be defended to the last extremity. The British immediately opened their batteries, and continued to throw shells during the night. The fire was returned, but with little effect on either side. In the morning, it was discovered that the British were landing on the American shore, at a place called Spring Wells, under the cover of their ships. The enemy having landed about ten o'clock, advanced towards the fort in close column, and twelve deep. The American force
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was judiciously posted to prevent their advance. The Volunteers oc- cupied the town or were posted behind pickets, from which they could · annoy the enemy's flanks ; the regular troops defended the fort, and two twenty-four pounders were posted on an eminence charged with grape, and could sweep the whole line of the enemy as it advanced. All was now silent expectation. The daring foe still moved slowly for- ward, apparently regardless, or unconscious of their danger-for their destruction must have been certain-had they not been impressed with contempt for a commander, whose treachery or pusillanimity they knew. The hearts of the Americans beat high, at the near prospect of victory and triumph. But who can describe the chagrin and mortification of these troops, when at the very moment it was thought the British were deliberately advancing to certain destruction, the artillery were ordered not to fire ! and the whole force was ordered to retire into the fort. Here the troops were ordered to stack their arms, and to the astonishment of every one, a white flag, in token of submission was suspended from the walls ! A British officer rode up to ascertain the cause. A capitulation was agreed upon, without even stipulating the terms. Thus without firing a gun, did this pusillanimous commander, surrender an army of about seventeen hundred brave men, well provided with provisions and the requisite munitions of war, to an infirm force of about seven hun- dred British soldiers and Canadian militia, and six hundred Indians. The British took immediate possession of the fort, containing forty bar- rels of powder, four hundred rounds of twenty-four pound shot, one hundred thousand ball cartridges, two thousand five hundred stand of arms, twenty-five pieces of iron and eight brass cannon, a great number of which had been captured by the Americans during the war of the revolution. The detachments under Colonels Cass and M'Arthur, and the whole territory, was surrendered to the British.
The disgraceful surrender of Hull, aroused the public mind to the necessity of retrieving the lost honor of the nation by a vigorous prose- cution of the war. In every part of the west, the most animated scenes of preparation prevailed, Civil pursuits were almost forgotten. Ohio, Kentucky, 'Tennessee, Western Pennsylvania and Western Virginia, were animated by an enthusiasm seldom surpassed. Volunteer compa- nies were raised, and equipped in a day, and on their march for the frontier. So numerous were the volunteers, that many com- panies were not received and compelled to return. The command of the Kentucky volunteers was assigned to Gen. Payne. Those from Ohio, marched under the command of Gen. Tupper. Those from
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Pennsylvania, under Gen. Crooks, and those from Virginia, under Gen. Leftwitch. Thus in a few weeks upwards of four thousand men, were drawn from their homes, completely equipped, and ready for the field.
The command of this army was given to Maj. Gen. Harrison, who was well known to the people of the western country, and whose recent conduct at Tippecanoe had raised him high in public estimation.(1) In order to secure him this rank he was appointed by Charles Scott, Gov- ernor of Kentucky, a Major General in the Kentucky militia. On his way from Cincinnati to the army, on the thirtieth of August, Gen. Har- rison overtook the Kentucky troops near Dayton, and as he passed them from rear to front, they gave him three hearty cheers of welcome. He received also at this time the commission of Brigadier General in the army of the United States, and at the request of the army was soon afterwards appointed by the President, Major General and Commander- in-Chief of the northwestern army, with orders to retake Detroit as soon as practicable.
The first step taken by General Harrison, was to relieve the frontier posts-Fort Harrison on the Wabash, and Fort Wayne on the Maumee.
Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, was defended by one company of about twenty-five effective men, under the command of Captain ZACHARY TAYLOR, now Major-General Taylor, the Hero of the Rio Grande. This fort was infested by a large Indian force, some of whom pretended to be friendly. On the third of September, 1812, two men were killed near the fort, and on the next day a party from the Prophet's town ap- peared with a white flag, and announced to Captain Taylor their inten- tion of having a conference in the morning. Captain Taylor, expecting an attack that night, examined the arms of his men, provided them with ammunition, and put every thing in the best possible state of defence, that the weakness of the garrison, and the weak fortifications would admit. About eleven o'clock at night, the attack commenced. Captain Taylor was aroused by the firing of the sentinels, and immediately sprung up and ordered the men to their posts. The fire was now brisk on both sides, when it was discovered that the Indians had set fire to one of the block-houses, unperceived. Every effort to extinguish the flames proved abortive. A quantity of whiskey, belonging to a contractor, took fire, and blazing up, immediately enveloped the whole building in a con- flagration. The situation of the fort became desperate,-the yells of the Indians-the shrieks of a number of women and children, who had sought shelter in the fort, added to the discharge of musketry, and the
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