USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 34
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That this is a slip either of memory or printing is evident from the fact that he puts the corn-field on the east or north side while every other writer says that it was on the west or south. We repeat here the remark previously made that the course of the Ohio at this point is almost due north, making the banks east and west; but they are generally spoken of as north and south. A careful early writer, referring to the letters of Major Craig to Samuel Hodgdon Q.M. and General Knox, from which we give extracts on page 986, says:
"From all these expressions it seems evident that the understanding sixty years ago was that Logstown was on the same side of the Ohio river, where, we know, Legionville was, that is the north side. Had Logstown been on the opposite side of the river, the three words 'below,' 'near, ' and 'at,' would not have been thus used, and the proper words 'opposite' or nearly 'opposite,' entirely omitted. This understanding of the matter is entirely in agreement with all the old authorities, Croghan excepted. Logstown, I am satisfied, stood on the bank of the Ohio immediately above the run below which it is well known Legionville stood." The History of Pittsburgh, by Neville B. Craig, Pittsburgh, 1851., p. 215.
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the advertisement of Montmorin which appeared in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette, No. 3005, March 12, 1788 1:
This town, laid out at the solicitation of several gentlemen, is de- lightfully situated on the north bank of the Ohio river, on a beautiful plain that is not liable to be overflowed, in a healthy and fertile country, about eighteen miles below Fort Pitt, on the road to Fort McIntosh, in West- moreland County, in the state of Pennsylvania, and at the ancient settle- ment formerly called Logstown, which was abandoned previous to the peace of 1763, where an extensive trade was carried on many years.
The plans for this town were never carried out, but it re- mained for the Harmony Society to partially realize them in the building of Economy.
A full account of the many important transactions of which Logstown was the scene would exceed the limits of space im- posed upon us, but we cannot afford not to give an epitome of this history.
Its beginnings with the Indian occupancy of the place are unrecorded; but in 1749 Captain Louis Bienville de Celeron, a French officer, in command of three hundred men, came to the Ohio, took possession of the country in the name of his king, Louis XV., and deposited at different points on the river and its tributaries leaden plates inscribed with the royal title.ª Cel- eron describes Logstown as "one of the largest villages on the river, consisting of fifty cabins of Iroquois, Shawanese, and Loups; also Iroquois from the Sault St. Louis and Lake of the
1 We give in the text above the first paragraph of this advertisement. Our readers may care to see the following paragraphs:
"Montmorin commands an extensive view of the river; the soil is equal to any on the Ohio, and abounds in coal; the navigation from thence down the river is superior to that from Fort Pitt, as the water is at all seasons much deeper at this place, and where pro- visions, boats etc., may in a little time be as well furnished. It is on the great communi- cation or route from the eastern and middle states to the Muskingum Miami and Kentucky settlements, as well as the Illinois, Mississippi, etc., and will probably become the new county seat; the rapid emigrations to the western country render it a very desirable spot, and afford a flattering prospect of its speedy establishment. The streets are spacious, being sixty-six feet wide, except Great George, Washington, Hancock, and Clinton Streets, which are ninety-nine feet; the squares are divided into twenty lots, each from forty-four to forty-seven feet front, and two hundred and twenty feet in depth, and all the lots are accommodated with lanes-five squares or one hundred lots, as distinguished on the plan, will be vested in trustees for public use, and to accommodate schools and religious societies of every denomination. The town contains seven hundred and forty lots, which will be numbered and arranged by draught to prevent any kind of preference, and to facilitate the settlement they will be sold at the moderate price of ten dollars each, to be paid on the delivery of the certificates of purchase. Those who buy ten town lots will be entitled to a five-acre out lot gratis.
"The appropriation of the lots will be made under the superintendence or direction of the Honorable Thomas Mckean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, Generals Muhlenberg and Hiester, Matthew Clarkson and Richard Bache, esqs., on or before the first of May next: after which, on application, indisputable titles in fee simple, agrecably to the said appro- priation, will be delivered gratis to the purchasers, their agents or attorneys. Certificates for lots sold, and the plan of the town to be seen at the house of Mr. Levy Hollingsworth, Mr. Marsh Wilcox, and Mr. Thomas Bradford, Philadelphia; Mr. John Delafield, New York; Major Isaac Craig, Fort Pitt; and Colonel Stephen Bayard, Elizabeth-town.
Philadelphia, February 5th, 1787.
ISAAC MELCHER."
' See vol. i., p. 41.
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Two Mountains, with some Nippissinques, Abenakis, and Otta- was." The arrival of the French was viewed with alarm by the English authorities, and in the year 1748 the Colonial Council had sent Conrad Weiser, with Andrew Montour as in- terpreter, and a large present of goods under convoy of George Croghan, the celebrated Indian trader, with instructions to examine the situation, and to seek to draw the Indians away from the French to the English. This Conrad Weiser was a truly great man, who rendered for over a quarter of a century inestimable services to Pennsylvania and the country. His de- scendants, such as the Muhlenbergs, have been among the most useful and distinguished people in the State. He was born in Germany, November 2, 1696, was brought by his father to America in 1710, and settled with his wife and five children in Berks County, Pa., in 1729. His story of adventure, priva- tions, and hardships in his many missions to the Indians is one of the most interesting in the early history of the country. Fitted by nature and training for peculiarly delicate and diffi- cult undertakings which he carried out with the utmost fidelity, he well deserves to be esteemed one of the makers of the nation.
Weiser arrived at Logstown, August 27, 1748, and was greeted with cordiality by the Indians. His account of the con- ference which followed is very full, and makes interesting reading, but we can only summarize it here. Following his in- structions he ascertained from the Deputies in Council the num- ber of the fighting men of all the nations settled on the Ohio, which was done by each deputy giving him "so many little sticks tied up in a bundle." The count showed, he says: Sene- cas, 163; Shawanese, 162; Owandats, 100; Tisagechroan, 40; Mohawks, 74; Mohicans, 15; Onondagas, 35; Cayugas, 20; Oneidas, 15; Delawares, 165-in all, 789. We remark in pass- ing that this number will seem small to those who have enter- tained exaggerated ideas concerning the strength of the Indians in this country, but it is in harmony with the views upon the subject which we have previously expressed (see vol. i., pp. 21- 22 and notes thereon).
Some of Weiser's party went from Logstown to Kuskuskee,1 a
1 This name is variously spelled. It is placed on Hutchin's map on the west side of the Big Beaver, about one mile below where the Mahoning and the Shenango unite, and on M. Robert's Atlas Universel, Paris, 1755, at the same point, but on the east side of the Big Beaver. See also note vol. i., p. 15.
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large Indian town thirty miles off, and he says of his own move- ments:
August 30th .- I went to Beaver Creek, an Indian town, eight miles off; chiefly Delawares; the rest Mohawks, to have some belts of wampum made. This afternoon rainy weather set in, which lasted above a week. Andrew Montour came back from Coscosky, with a message from the Indians there, to desire of me, that the ensuing council might be held at their town. We both lodged at this town, at George Croghan's Trading house.I
Weiser felt himself bound by his instructions to Logstown, and the council was accordingly held there. The goods under convoy of Croghan were delayed, but finally arrived and were distributed to the tribes, which, through their deputies, Weiser addressed separately in the name of the president and council of Pennsylvania. The result was what was designed by his visit and the presents: the Indians were bound more closely to the English. As some of their chiefs expressed it in an ad- dress to Weiser:
We have heard what you have said to us. . Our brethren have indeed tied our hearts to theirs. We at present can but return thanks with an empty hand, till another opportunity serves to do it sufficiently. We must call a great council, and do everything regularly; in the mean time, look upon us as your true brothers.
Weiser's journal says: "The same day I set out for Penn- sylvania, in rainy weather, and arrived at George Croghan's on the 28th instant" (September, 1748). The reader will remem- ber that this region was then considered by many to be Virginia territory.
Another important council was held at Logstown, and a treaty made between George Croghan and the Indians on the 28th of May, 1751. Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Wyandots, and Twightwees were present, Andrew Montour was interpreter for the province of Pennsylvania, Toanohiscoe for the Six Nations. The following English traders were also present: Thomas Kinton, Samuel Cuzzens, Jacob Pyatt, John Owens, Thomas Ward, Joseph Nellson, James Brown, Dennis Sullivan, Paul Pearce, and Caleb Lamb. The customary speech-making, exchange of wampum belts, etc., were gone through with, and then the present from the English was
1 Sec note on George Croghan, vol. i., p. 38.
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given. Monsieur Joncœur (Joncaire), the representative of the Canadian government, was in Logstown at this time, but was told plainly by the Indians that they would have nothing to do with the French.
Logstown had also an interesting connection with the first public service of George Washington. Intelligence having been received from time to time by the Virginia authorities of the encroachments of the French upon the territory of the Ohio, which was supposed to be within the limits of Virginia, various efforts had been made to get reliable reports of the strength and plans of the invaders, but without success. Finally Governor Robert Dinwiddie determined to send one in whom trust could be placed to secure definite information, and for this difficult and dangerous task he selected Washington, whose knowledge of forest life, acquired during his experience as a surveyor, thor- ough understanding of the Indian character, and strong per- sonal traits specially fitted him for the undertaking.
Washington's journal is full of interest. He relates his set- ting out and taking up Jacob Vanbraam at Fredericksburg to be his French interpreter, and Mr. Gist at Winchester with four servitors. At the forks of the Ohio (Pittsburg) he carefully noted the lay of the land, and thought it "extremely well situ- ated for a fort." At the mouth of Chartiers Creek he visited Shingiss, the King of the Delawares, and invited him to attend the council at Logstown, and, accompanied by the latter, he arrived at Logstown "between sunsetting and dark the twenty- fifth day after he had left Williamsburg." He sometimes speaks of this place as "the Logstown." Washington's business here was to learn what he could of the movements of the French, and to arrange for his journey through the wilderness to their nearest fort. His journal says:
As soon as I came into town, I went to Monakatoocha (as the Half- King was out at his hunting cabin on the Little Beaver creek, about fifteen miles off), and informed him by John Davidson, my Indian inter- preter, that I was sent a messenger to the French general; and was ordered to call upon the sachems of the Six Nations to acquaint them with it. I gave him a string of wampum and a twist of tobacco, and de- sired him to send for the Half-King, which he promised to by a runner in the morning, and for other sachems. I invited him and the other great men present, to my tent, where they stayed about an hour and returned.
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The next day the Half-King arrived. This was Tanacharison, a faithful friend of the English, whose death, October 4, 1754, was a great loss to them. From him Washington learned the best route to the French forts, and was told of his encounter with the late commandant there, who had received the Half- King very roughly. After several days' conferences and delay, Washington, with the Half-King, Jeskakake, White Thunder, and the Hunter, left Logstown for Venango, about seventy miles distant by the route they followed, and for Fort Le Bœuf, on the present site of Waterford, Erie County, Pa. We need not speak of his mission further, but so much as we have given is, we think, pertinent to our history as showing the importance of Logstown as a place of trade and for holding councils with the strong Indian tribes. It is to be remembered that at this time the forks of the Ohio were still an undisturbed wilderness, Fort Du Quesne not being built until the next year, 1754. The decline of Logstown's importance began with the construction of that fort.
Two visits to Logstown were made by Christian Frederick Post in 1758, on missions to the Ohio River Indians. We have already made slight references to these. His journals contain interesting notices of Logstown. We gave in a former chapter and in the early part of this some account of Bouquet's passage through the place. The last mention of Logstown which pos- sesses any interest is that made by Washington, who, in 1770, again passed down the river and stopped there for breakfast. As the Indians had abandoned Logstown in 1758, the inhabi- tants at that time must have been whites.
LEGIONVILLE
The importance of this place belongs wholly to its past; it being now only a small flag-station and post-office on the Pitts- burg & Fort Wayne Railroad, about twenty-two miles from Pittsburg. It is in the extreme northwestern corner of Harmony township, on the right bank of the Ohio River, and in a beauti- ful location. As stated in the early part of this history, the name Legionville has its origin in the fact that on this ground was the site of the encampment, during the winter of 1792-93, of "Mad Anthony" Wayne's army, known as "The Legion of the
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United States."1 Here he went into winter quarters, and until the following spring was engaged in disciplining the force with which he won his brilliant and epoch-making victory over the Indians of the Miami Confederation in the battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794. The camp at Legionville was strongly fortified, and the most vigorous watchfulness was con- stantly maintained; and although General Wayne had thor- oughly drilled his troops before he left Pittsburg, he kept up the same severe discipline here.
So far as we are aware, no detailed account of Wayne's stay at Legionville has ever been written. We do not possess all the materials necessary for the task, but having lately had access to the original manuscript letters and orderly books of Wayne owned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and, through the courtesy of Mr. John W. Jordan, the librarian of that society, having been permitted to copy some of them, in whole or in part, we are much gratified to be able, by means of these excerpts, to give to our readers some glimpses at least into that interesting period.
The Legion, as previously stated, was assembled at Pitts- burg during the summer ? and fall of 1792, at Fort Fayette,3
' In The Pennsylvania Magasine of History, vol. xvi., will be found a full roster of the officers of the Legion.
Like many other great commanders, Wayne was fond of neatness in dress, and had earnestly advocated a brilliant uniform for the officers and men of the Revolutionary army. One of the nicknames which were affectionately bestowed upon him by his soldiers was "Dandy." This love of brilliancy in military dress is shown in the distinctive marks which he ordered for the Sub-Legions. His directions for these marks are given in the following, which we have copied from his Orderly Book
"HEAD QUARTERS PITTSBURGH 11th Sept., 1792.
"General_Orders Parole Johnson C. Sign Knowles
"The officers being arranged to the four Sub Legions, it now becomes expedient to give those Legions distinctive Marks. which are to be as follows viz't
"The first Sub Legion-white binding upon their caps, with white plumes, and Black Hair --
"The second Sub Legion-Red binding to their caps, red plumes with White Hair-
"The third Sub Legion-Yellow binding to their caps, yellow plumes and Black Hair --
"The fourth Sub-Legion-Green binding to their caps, with green plumes & white hair." A later order says:
"The officers will wear plain cock'd Hatts with no other Distinctive marks but the plumes of their respective Sub Legions, except in actual Service or action when they will wear the same caps with the non Commissioned officers and Privates of the respective Sub Legions."
" A letter from Major Isaac Craig to Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, dated June 15, 1792, says: "Gen. Wayne arrived here yesterday."
" May 18, 1792, Craig wrote to Knox: "Capt. Hughes, with his detachment, has oc- cupied the barracks in the new fort since the Ist instant. Two of the six-pounders are very well mounted in the second story of one of the block-houses. The others will be mounted in a few days. The work, if you have no objections, I will name Fort La Fayette." This name was approved by the Secretary. See History of Pittsburgh, Craig, p. 214. VOL. 11 .- 24.
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the erection of which was begun in the winter of 1791, and which stood within about one hundred yards of the Allegheny River and about a quarter of a mile higher up than old Fort Pitt. This fort, the last of the three built at the "forks of the Ohio," was, we may note, purely American, as Fort Pitt was British and Fort Duquesne French. While still at Pittsburg Wayne began the measures of strict discipline which he always maintained, and constant practice in the use of arms and in manœuvring was given to the troops. From his manuscript orderly book (signed by Henry De Butts, aide-de-camp) we ex- tract the following order for one of these manœuvers, which will serve to illustrate the manner in which they were in general performed:
HEAD QUARTERS PITTSBURGH Aug. 15th, 1792.
Order of March
The army will march in one column by the centre in half platoons, flanked by Ensign Lee's Riflemen, one half on the Right, the other half on the left column, which is to be preceded by a Van Guard two hundred yards in front, the Dragoons will be formed into eight squads four with the column i.e., one in front between the Head of the column and Pioneers-one on each flank between the Rifle flankers and column and one in the rear-two pieces of artillery will move at the head of the column-
Lieut. Price's Infantry with the other four squads of Dragoons and one piece of artillery will form the reserve, and move two hundred yards in the rear of the column-always preserving that distance, the dragoons will march in front, flanks, and rear as directed for those with the column -the piece of artillery between the Infantry and rear squad of Dragoons.
In case of an attack in front, the column will display-upon beating the retreat the Dragoons will wheel to the right and left and form in the rear of the line-the front Guard and flankers will also fall back and form in the rear, the artillery will take post on the right and left of the line-the pioneers will throw up a fletch to cover them.
In case of an attack in front and right flank (the left being covered by the river) the head of the column will stand fast-the left will form to the left fronting up the river, the right will wheel by platoons to the right in which posture they will be ready for action.
The flankers and Van Guard must sustain the force of the Enemies fire until called in by beating the Retreat-the horse will form in the rear of the line of the front and right flank, one piece of artillery on the front, the other to the right of the right flank.
On beating the General the firing will commence from the line and will cease upon beating the retreat-the officers will take care that the men form in open order and level well.
Should the Infantry or horse be ordered to charge they must be very
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careful not to do any injury or pursue one foot further upon the signal of retreat.
The Troops must preserve the utmost order and coolness-The reserve will halt upon having the first fire & wait eventual orders .- The savages ceasing to resist are to be spared and no insult or injury offered them- A General from the Fort will be the signal for moving forward.
HENRY DE BUTTS Aid de Camp.I
There is nothing in the original manuscript to indicate whether this was merely a sham battle, or was a movement made in anticipation of an actual attack of the enemy. That there were, in fact, alarms at this time and place is shown by a letter from Wayne to the Secretary of War, General Knox, written five days before this order was issued, in which he says:
Desertions have been frequent and alarming. Two nights since, upon a report that a large body of Indians were close in our front, I ordered the troops to form for action, and rode along the line to inspire them with confidence. I then gave a charge to those in the redoubts, which I had recently thrown up in our front, and on the right flank, to maintain their posts at any expense of blood, until I could gain the enemy's rear with the dragoons.
So great was the power of the Indian name to strike terror to the hearts of the men, however, that one third deserted from their posts, leaving the most important points exposed. But as will be seen from the correspondence which immediately follows, Wayne himself seemed incredulous of Indians being in his neighborhood, while at the same time he took no chances of a surprise, and made his position strong enough to resist any force that might come against him. He was never caught nap- ping.2 From the blockhouse on the Beaver Creek, at what is now New Brighton, which was at this time commanded by
1 Wayne's Orderly Book, in library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
" He was called "Mad Anthony," but there was always method in his madness: no commander exceeded him in apparently reckless bravery (thence the epithet "mad"). nor did any exceed him in caution. A good illustration of his wariness (strikingly sugges- tive also of the dangers attending the navigation of the Ohio in that day) is the following order to Lieut. W. A. Lee, dated " Head Quarters, Pittsburgh, 7th Nov., 1792":
"You are to descend the Ohio tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock, with the Detachment of Dragoons under your command for Fort Washington, your boat being light, & your men being well armed & provided with a liberal supply of ammunition & provisions, you must make your way through every Obstacle-
"Shou'd you have occasion to land during your passage let it be on the south side of the river & then but for a short space of time, & not without having first well reconnoitred the spot, nor will you suffer any man to leave the boat 20 yds. upon any pretext whatever- You will always anchor in the middle of the river, shou'd it be dangerous to proceed by night, but never attempt to touch the shore after sun down." Extract from manuscript letter in the Wayne collection owned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
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Ensign John Steele, there had gone to Wayne at Pittsburg the report which called forth the following letter:
HEAD QUARTERS, PITTSBURGH 26th Nov. 1793.
SIR :-
I am favour'd with yours of the 24th Instant, in which you inform me that there have some Indians been discovered in the vicinity of the Block House-it may possibly be the case, but I rather think it is a false alarm-or tricks play'd by some of the hunters, or designing people for some sinister views,-be that as it may, I have order'd a Detachment, under the command of Major Clark, to examine into this business, & whose orders you are to obey.
Shou'd they turn out to be Indians, he is directed to pursue & chastise them, shou'd it be a false alarm, he is instructed to punish in the most exemplary manner, those who occasioned it, or to bring them under guard to Legion Ville.
You will therefore use your utmost endeavors to assist in the discovery, -to the end that they may be punished-whether Indians or White Villains. I am Sir Your must Humb'l Ser't ANT'Y WAYNE.I
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