USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 67
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APPENDIX-NO. XXIII.
this time, with any tolerable prospect of success. 'The horses of the army were now, by various causes, reduced to two-thirds of their original number, and the remainder so worn down with hard service, as to pre- clude the possibility of reaping much farther benefit from them. I havee not yet received any communication from Major Hamtramck, notwith -. standing the long lapse of time since he was ordered to march.
I would beg leave to suggest in this place the propriety of employing oxen, in any future expedition against Indians, where the march may happen to lie in a country whose face, like that of the late route, is level, and either openly timbered, or having little or no timber at all, as in the prairies. Light ox carts, of small value, might be constructed, to hold! the provisions, stores, and baggage ; and the oxen, as either of the former! were expended, would supply the army with beef. The only loss would be the cart; but that will be deemed a consideration of no impor- tance, when the enormous expense of pack and bat-horses is taken into view, and the great temptation a savage enemy will ever feel to steal them. Besides, every horse that tires on the march proves a dead loss ; and if he return, the hire must be paid, which in an expedition of but: moderate duration, would absorb his whole value. If it be objected. against oxen, that they are too slow of foot, I would answer, that the? progress of an army in this country, can seldom exceed ten or a dozen miles in a day, and oxen are fully competent to this distance.
Kentucky abounds in cattle, and any requisite number of oxen might, doubtless, be obtained thence-but, then, the oxen ought to be well broken, before they are taken, or the end will not be answered ; and Il: conceive it would not be an easy matter, at this time, to procure in Kentucky a sufficient number of trained oxen, for an expedition off consequence.
I beg leave to close this digression with one suggestion more. It has' never yet been the practice to keep up a regular body of horse on the frontiers. Cavalry have emphatically been styled the eyes and feet of an army; such they would certainly prove here. Horses are well adap- ted to scour and cover an extensive country. The rapidity of their movements is such, that the savages would be cautious how they pro- voked a pursuit. Distance could not operate as a security to the Indian towns. They would always be open to surprise-and hence their war- riors would be taught to dread the continuance of a war, in which their wives and children must be momentarily exposed, in common with them- selves. Thus the arm of government might be extended and enforced over regions not otherwise to be protected. I mean in that efficient manner which humanity and the interest of the United States seem to require.
I will now return to those operations which followed the destruction of the Omee towns.
On the 21st of October, the army decamped from Chillicothe, return- ing on the route we had come about eight miles. Here we remained till the morning of the 23d. Finding, in the mean time, that the enemy studiously avoided coming to a general action ; and conceiving it impro- per to leave them in the quiet enjoyment of their late success, I resolved to make an effort to bring on another partial engagement. For this pur-
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GENERAL HARMAR'S LETTER, 1790.
pose I detached, on the 21st, late at night, Col. Hardin and Major Wyl- lys, with three hundred and sixty men, sixty of whom were federal infantry-the rest being militia, from Pennsylvania and Kentucky. I had some time before, mounted a company of militia, and annexed it to the two troops of Kentucky cavalry, giving the command of the whole to Major Fontaine, a brave and deserving officer, at that time serving as my aid-de-camp. The corps made a part of the present command.
I gave orders to find out and fight the enemy at all events, and to be sparing of no means that might tend to lessen the number of the savages, knowing of what importance the life of every warrior is held among them. The detachment reached the confluence of the Omee and St. Mary, early next morning, and filed off in three columns. The left under Col. Hardin and Major Hall, crossed at Kegniogue, and proceeded along the west bank of the St. Joseph. The centre, consisting of the federal troops, under Major Wyllys, having passed the Omee at the French Village, moved up the east bank of the St. Joseph, at some dis- tance from the river, while Major M'Millan led the right column over the heights on Wyllys' right. The enemy now appeared in different quarters, and the columns were soon and severally engaged with various success. A body of the savages having appeared in Wyllys' front, and cherished the idea of an attack there, suddenly gained the unoccupied heights on the right, and turned his flank. At this crisis fell Major Wyllys, an officer whose long and meritorious services claim the grate- ful remembrance of his country. With the talents of a cultivated mind, he united the best virtues of the heart. The little party, unsupported, and overpowered by numbers, now gave way, leaving fifty out of sixty dead upon the field. Free use was made of the bayonet, which the savages experienced to their cost. Lieutenant Frothingham, of my regiment, was killed in the action. I have lost in him an useful officer, and a worthy man. While this part of the business was acting, the militia were not idle, they behaved with the spirit of veterans, and slew numbers of the enemy, who met their fate with uncommon bravery. In short, each side seemed emulous to establish a character over the other. The militia every where gave striking proofs of determined courage. The savages were in no instances behind them, and the slaughter was reciprocal.
From the best information the enemy lost in the course of this affair upwards of one hundred of their prime warriors-men who appeared to fear no danger. Not a squaw or a child was seen this day to swell the number of the sfain. The enemy's loss cannot be replaced. Ours, too, was heavy. Major Fontaine, commanding the cavalry, was a young gentleman of the most amiable manners, with a soul formed for enterprise. Years only were wanting to moderate his ardor in the field, and unite, in the accomplished gentleman, the character of a good sol- dier. He fell covered with wounds, in singly charging with his sword about forty of the enemy. Some other officers of the militia were killed, and some few wounded. Our whole loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to one hundred and eighty, including officers .- Upwards of twenty of the wounded were brought off.
Among the officers who survived the slaughter, and distinguished
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APPENDIX-NO. XXIII.
themselves more particularly on this day, I mention, with pleasure, the names of Major M'Millen of Fayette, Major Hall of Bourbon, and bri- gade Major Ormsby of Nelson county, in Kentucky; together with Capt. Gaines of the cavalry. The conduct and personal courage of the first demand my warmest acknowledgments. He slew with his own hand, three of the savages, and the column he led made impressive exer- tions, wherever it appeared. The second, was on all occasions, obedi- dient and brave, and displayed great personal courage. The third sig- nalized himself in a manner that does him honor, by judiciously rallying a broken body of militia, which, in consequence, did great execution under the immediate command of this gallant young officer. Captain Gaines is deserving of great praise, for his soldierly conduct during the whole expedition, and particularly for the intrepidity he displayed in a personal combat of some duration with a mounted savage, whom he at last overcome, bringing off the arms of his antagonist, as trophies of the fact. I am under many obligations to all my field officers, both of the Kentucky and Pennsylvania militia, who gave me uniform proofs of the best disposition to second my endeavors during the expedition, Col. Hardin, who commanded the whole militia, is in a particular manner entitled to my acknowledgments, as well for his cool and determined conduct in action, as for his attention and perseverance in the execution of orders. As to the officers of the several troops under my command, I must, in justice to them, observe that their whole conduct was marked by a strict attention to discipline, a promptitude to obey orders, and alacrity in the execution of them.
After the action of the 22d, the detachment rejoined the army in its encampment ; and at eleven the next morning the troops resumed the route towards fort Washington, which we reached by early marches, on the 3d of November. No interruption whatever was offered by the enemy on our return ; a convincing proof this, of their having received a blow which they felt. I flatter myself good consequences will be the result. We have not, I conceive, lost much more than man for man with the savages. Our loss can be repaired : their's is irreparable.
On my arrival at this port, the pack horses of the line did not exceed one-half of their original number. Many had been shot and stolen on the expedition ; others lost in the woods ; and others again, being worn out with fatigue, were either killed or left behind. The advanced state of the season having deprived us, in a great measure of forage, I ordered them at times, to be tied up all night, and flour to be served out at the rate of three pounds daily to every horse ; hence you will perceive an extraordinary consumption arose of that article.
I detained in confinement here the Shawanee prisoner we had taken, till the 18th instant, when I dismissed him back to his nation ; but in a way I trust, that impressed him with ideas of our superior power, his own insignificance, and our contempt of his brethren. I ordered him a few trinkets, and an escort to see him safely advanced on the road twenty-five miles, least any of our hunters might fall in with him, and use him less tenderly than I wished. He appeared to be thankful, and departed from the garrison with a mixture of sorrow, gratitude and joy.
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GENERAL WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION, 1791.
I have made economy my object, in all matters affecting the expences of this expedition. How far I have succeeded in this respect, and how far the operations of the army deserve your approbation, I submit to your superior judgment.
Lieutenant Armstrong will have the honor to deliver you these des- patches.
I have the honor to be sir,
With perfect esteem and respect, Your obedient humble servant,
JOS. HARMAR,
Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of the 1st regiment of the United States, and Brigadier General by Brevet.
The Hon. Major General KNOX, Secretary for the department of war.
[ NO. XXIV. ]
GENERAL WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION, 1791.
Authentic Report of Lieut. Colonel-Commandant WILKINSON, to his Excellency Gov. St: Clair, containing the particulars of the late Expedition against L'Anguille, and the Indians on the Wabash.
FRANKFORT, ON KENTUCKY, ? August 24, 1791.
SIR :- Having carried into complete effect the enterprize which you . were pleased to direct against L'Anguille, and having done the savages every other damage on the Wabash, to which I conceived my force adequate, I embrace the first moment's recess from active duty, to detail to your Excellency the operations of the expedition entrusted to my conduct.
I left the neighborhood of Fort Washington on the 1st inst., at one o'clock, and agreeably to my original plan, feinted boldly at the Miami villages, by the most direct course the nature of the ground, over which I had to march, would permit; I persevered in this plan until the morn- ing of the 4th inst., and thereby avoided the hunting ground of the enemy, and the paths which lead direct from White River to the Wa- bash, leaving the head waters of the first to my left; I then being about seventy miles advanced of Fort Washington, turned north-west.
I made no discovery until the 5th, about nine o'clock, A. M., when I crossed three much frequented paths within two miles of each other, and all bearing east of north ; my guides were urgent for me to follow these paths, which betrayed their ignorance of the country, and con- vinced me I had to depend on my own judgment only. In the after- noon of that day, I was obliged to cross a deep bog, which injured several of my horses exceedingly, and a few miles beyond I struck a path bearing north by west, marked by the recent footsteps of five or six savages. My guides renewed their application to me to follow this path, but I pursued my course which had been N. 60 W. since two
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APPENDIX-NO. XXIV.
o'clock. I had not got clear of my encampment next morning, before my advance reported an impassable bog in our front, extending several miles on either hand, and the guides asserted that the whole country to the Wabash was cut by such bogs, and that it would be impossible for me to proceed unless I followed the Indian paths, which avoided these. bogs, or led through them at places where they were least difficult .- Although I paid little regard to this information, as delay was dangerous, and every thing depended on the preservation of my horses, I deter- mined to turn to the right, and fall into the path I had passed the even- ing before, which varied in its course from N. by W. to N. E. The country had now become pondy, in every direction, I therefore resolved to pursue this path until noon, in the hope that it would conduct me to better ground, or to some devious trace which might lead to the object sought.
At seven o'clock I crossed an east branch of Calumet River, about forty yards wide, and about noon my advance guard fired on a small party of warriors, and took a prisoner, the rest run off to the eastward. I halted about a mile beyond the spot where this affair happened, and on examining the prisoner found him to be a Delaware, living near the site of the late Miami village, which he informed me was about thirty miles distant ; I immediately retrograded four miles, and filed off by the right over some rising ground which I had observed between the east branch of Calumet river and a creek four or five miles advance of it, taking my course N. 60 W. This measure fortunately extricated me from the bogs and ponds, and soon placed me on firm ground ; late in the after- noon I crossed one path running from N. to S. and shortly after fell into another varying from N. W. to N. by W. I pursued this about two miles, when I encamped-but finding it still inclined northward, I de- termined to abandon it in the morning.
I resumed my march on the 6th at four o'clock ; the Calumet being to the westward of me, I was fearful I should strike the Wabash too high up, and perhaps fall in with the small town, which you mentioned to me, at the mouth of the former river. I therefore steered a due West course, and six o'clock, A. M., crossed a road, much used both by horse and foot, bearing due north. I now knew that I was near a Shawanese village, generally supposed to be on the waters of White River, but actually on those of the Calumet, and was sensible that every thing de- pended on the celerity and silence of my movements, as my real object had become manifest. I therefore pushed my march vigorously, leaving an officer and twenty men in ambush, to watch the road, in order to intercept or beat off any party of the enemy which might casually be passing that way, and thereby prevent as long as possible, the discovery of my real intentions.
At eight o'clock I crossed Calumet river, now eighty yards wide, and running down NNW, and pursuing my course, I crossed one path near the western bank of the river, taking the same course, and at six miles distance another bearing to the NE. I was now sensible from my reckoning compared with my own observations, during the late expedi- tion under General Scott, and the information received from your excel- lency and others, that I could not be very distant from L'Anguille. 'The
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GENERAL WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION, 1791.
party left at the road soon fell in with four warriors encamped half a mile from the right of my line of march, killed one and drove off the others to the northward. My situation had now become extremely critical, the whole country to the north being in alarm, which made me greatly anxious to continue my march during the night, but I had no path to direct me, and it was impossible to keep my course, or for horse- men to march through a thick swampy country, in utter darkness. I quitted my camp on the 7th, as soon as I could see my way, crossed one path at three miles distance bearing NE. and at seven miles I fell into another very much used, bearing NW by N. which I at once adopted, as the direct route to my object, and pushed forward with the utmost despatch. I halted at twelve o'clock to refresh the horses and examine the men's arms and ammunition ; marched again at half after one, and at fifteen minutes before five I struck the Wabash, at one and a half leagues above the mouth of Eel River, being the very spot for which I had aimed from the commencement of my march. I crossed the river, and following the path a N by E course ; at the distance of two and a half miles my reconnoitering party announced Eel River in front, and the town on the opposite bank. I dismounted, ran forward and examined the situation of the town as far as was practicable, without exposing myself, but the whole face of the country from the Wabash to the mar- gin of Eel River, being a continued thicket of brambles, black jacks, weeds and shrubs of different kinds, it was impossible for me to get a satisfactory view without endangering a discovery. I immediately de- termined to post two companies near the bank of the river opposite to the town, and above the ground I then occupied, to make a detour with Major Caldwell, and the second battalion, until I fell into the Miami trace, and by that route to cross the river above, and gain the rear of the town, and to leave directions with Major M'Dowell, who oommanded the first battalion, to lie perdue until I commenced the attack, then to dash through the river with his corps and the advanced, and assault the houses in front and upon the left. In the moment that I was about to put this arrangement into execution, word was brought me that the enemy had taken the alarm, and were flying. I instantly ordered a general charge, which was obeyed with alacrity, the men forcing their way over every obstacle, plunged through the river with vast intrepidity. The enemy was unable to make the smallest resistance. Six warriors and (in the hurry and confusion of the charge) two squaws and a child were killed, thirty-four prisoners were taken, and an unfortunate captive released-with the loss of two men killed, and one wounded. I found this town scattered along Eel River for full three miles, on an uneven scrubby oak barren, intersected alternately by bogs almost impassable, and impervious thickets of plumb, hazle and black jackets. Notwith- standing these difficulties, if I may credit the report of the prisoners, very few who were in the town escaped ; expecting a second expedi- tion, their goods were generally packed up or buried. Sixty warriors had crossed the Wabash to watch the paths leading from the Ohio ; the head chief, with all the prisoners, and a number of families, were out digging a root which they substitute in the place of the potatoe, and about one hour before my arrival, all the warriors, except eight, had
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APPENDIX-NO. XXIV.
mounted their horses and rode up the river to a French store, to pur- chase ammunition. This ammunition had arrived from the Miami vil- lage that very day, and the squaws informed me was stored about two miles from the town. I detached Major Caldwell in quest of it, but he failed to make any discovery, although he scoured the country for seven or eight miles up the river. I encamped in the town that night, and the next morning cut up the corn scarcely in the milk, burnt the cabins, and mounted my young warriors, squaws and children in the best manner in my power, and leaving two infirm squaws and a child with a short talk (a copy of which I have the honor to enclose you) I commenced my march for the Kickapoo town in the prairie. I felt my prisoners a vast incumbrance, but I was not in force to justify a detachment, having barely five hundred and twenty-three, rank and file, and being then in the bosom of the Ouiattanon country, one hundred and eighty miles removed from succour, and not more than one and a half days forced march from the Potawattamies, Shawanese and Delawares.
Not being able to discover any path in the direct course to the Kicka- poo towns, I marched by the road leading to Tippecanoe, in the hope of finding some diverging trace which might favor my design. I encamped that evening about six miles from Kenapacomaqua, the Indian name for the town I had destroyed, and marched next morning at four o'clock. My course continued west till nine o'clock, when I turned to the north-west on a small hunting path, and at a short distance I launched into the boundless prairies of the west, with the intention to pursue that course, until I could strike a road which leads from the Pattawattainees of Lake Michigan, immediately to the town I sought. With this view I pushed forward, through bog after bog, to the saddle skirts in mud and water, and after persevering for eight hours, I found myself environed on all sides with morasses which forbade my advancing, and at the same time rendered it difficult for me to extricate my little army. The way by which we had entered was so much beat and softened by the horses, that it was almost impossible to return by that route, and my guides pronounced the morass in front impassible. A chain of thin groves extending in the direction to the Wabash, at this time presented to my left; it was necessary I should gain these groves, and for this purpose I dismounted, went forward, and leading my horse through a bog to the arm pits in mud and water, with great difficulty and fatigue I accomp- lished my object, and changing my course to S. by W., I regained the Tippecanoe road at five o'clock, and encamped on it at seven o'clock, after a march of thirty miles, which broke down several of my horses.
I am the more minute in detailing the occurrences of this day, because they produce the most unfavorable effect. I was in motion at four next morning, and at eight o'clock my advanced guard made some discove- ries, which induced me to believe we were near an Indian town. I im- mediately pushed that body forward on a trot, and followed with Major Caldwell and the 2d battalion, leaving Major M'Dowell to take charge of the prisoners. I reached Tippecanoe at twelve o'clock, which had been occupied by the enemy, who watched my motions and abandoned the place that morning. After the destruction of this town in June
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last, the enemy had returned and cultivated their corn and pulse, which I found in high perfection, and in much greater quantity than at L'Anguille.
To refresh my horses and give time to cut down the corn, I deter- mined to halt until the next morning, and then to resume my march to the Kickapoo town, in the prarie, by the road which leads from Oniat- tanon to that place. In the course of the day, I had discovered some murmurings and discontent among the men, which I found on enquiry to proceed from their reluctance to advance farther into the enemy's country ; this induced me to call for a state of the horses and provi- sions, when, to my great mortification, two hundred and seventy horses were returned lame and tired, with barely five days provisions for the men.
Under these circumstances, I was compelled to abandon my designs upon the Kickapoos of the prarie; and with a degree of anguish not to be comprehended but by those who have experienced similar disap- pointments, I marched forward to a town of the same nation, situate about three leagues west of Ouiattanon. As I advanced to that town, the enemy made some shew of fighting me, but vanished at my ap- proach. I destroyed this town, consisting of thirty houses, with a con- siderable quantity of corn in the mills, and the same day I moved on to Ouiattanon, where I forded the Wabash, and proceeded to the site of the villages on the margin of the prarie, where I encamped at seven o'clock. At this town and the villages destroyed by Gen. Scott, in June, we found the corn had been replanted, and was now in high culti- vation, several fields being well ploughed, all which we destroyed. On the 12th I resumed my march, and falling into Gen. Scott's return trace, I arrived without any material incident at the Rapids of Ohio, on the 21st inst., after a march by accurate computation of four hundred and fifty-one miles from Fort Washington.
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