History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 21

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 21

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1 Pa. Archives, 1779-81, p. 588.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

"The Troops are again without Provisions; my parties in the Country [meaning his foraging parties under Capts. Brady and Springer] are as Industrious as Circumstances will admit, but the Inhabitants dis- appoint them by driving their Cattle into the Moun- tains ; and they now threaten to rise in arms against them whilst others threaten with Writs and Passes, I do not however despair of obtaining a quantity of Flour ; But conceive it will be next to an impossibility to pro- cure any considerable quantity of Beef or Pork on this side the mountains to lay up for the Winter Sea- son, and it is but too likely that the prosecution of compulsory means will be productive of Bloodshed amongst our own citizens.

" The Delaware chiefs with upwards of thirty war- riors are come to aid me upon an Expedition, but as I have neither Bread nor Meat to give them, they will discover that it is not in my power to act offen- sively. They appear much dejected on account of the total want of goods, which they were promised in exchange for their peltry."

Each one of the commandants at Fort Pitt from the time of the commencement of the war-Neville, Hand, McIntosh, and Brodhead-had been especially desirous of retaining for the American cause the friendship of the Delaware tribe of Indians, and had used all available means to accomplish that end. The reason for these efforts to conciliate the Delawares in particular was thus explained by Col. Brodhead :1 " I am not ignorant," he said, in a letter to President Reed, " of the influence of the Delaware Councils over near twenty different Nations, and it is for that rea- son only why so much notice has been taken of them. There are villains amongst them as well as other People, but it must be confest that their Councils have been steady, and their young men serviceable." He was very desirous, and often urged upon the Su- preme Executive Council, that the principal Delaware chiefs should receive commissions in the American forces, just as it was reported the higher chiefs of the Wyandots and other hostile tribes had been commis- sioned to grades below field-officers in the British army. He also recommended, frequently and earn- estly, that liberal amounts of Indian goods, trinkets,

paints, strouds, gay blankets, and watch-coats be promptly sent out to be distributed as presents among the Delawares as the surest way of retaining their friendship and alliance."2

Col. Brodhead was (as is made apparent by his letter of October 17th, already quoted) much encour- aged by the accession of the Delaware war party, embracing nearly forty chiefs and warriors, to his forces, believing that it only needed the distribution of presents among them to insure a continuance of their friendliness to the Americans. But the desired goods were not forthcoming, and this fact had a very depressing influence on the enthusiasm of the Dela- ware chiefs and warriors. Still worse than this was the effect produced by a base attempt on the part of some of the officers and men of the Westmoreland County militia to murder these same Delawares, an outrage which Brodhead reported to President Reed in a letter dated Nov. 2, 1780, as follows :

"In my last I informed you that near forty of the friendly Delaware Indians had come to aid me against the Hostile Tribes. Their number has since exceeded forty, and I believe I could have called out near an hundred. But as upwards of forty men from the neighborhood of Hannah's Town have attempted to destroy them whilst they consider themselves under our Protection, it may not be an easy matter to call them out again, notwithstanding they were prevented from executing their unmanly intention by a guard of regular Soldiers posted for the Indians' protection. I was not a little surprised to find the late Captains Irwin & Jack, Lieu Brownlee & Ensign Guthrey concernª in this base attempt. I suppose the women & children were to suffer an equal Carnage with the men." In other communications Brodhead intimated that a proclamation which had been issued by the au- thorities offering a reward or bounty on Indian scalps3 and prisoners had much to do with the barbarous attempt against the lives of the friendly Delawares, though he had himself advocated the adoption of this measure of retaliation as against the hostile Indians.

Soon after the occurrences above narrated the Del- awares began to give evidence of decided disaffection, a symptom that was more especially manifest when

in execution. I have (as I look upon it my duty, lest any deception should take place) stated the matter truly as I took it from the Officers' Mouths. And now permit me to observe to you that the state of our frontiers is really deplorable, to see helpless Women and Children flying before the ravages of the Sayage, and that even while part of us is en- gaged in burying of our Neighbors [referring to the then recent Indian massacre on Ten-Mile Creek] that have been butchered by them, Others of us falling a sacrifice to their Hellish inventions, those and many other matters that have come under your Cognizance, I hope you will (as a Friend to human nature) state in a proper light to the Board, from the which proper relief can be had. I have the Honor to be, with due re- spect,

" Dr Sir, Yr most Obedt. Hble Servt.

"WM. MCCLEERY."

-Penn. Arch., 1779-81, pp. 583-85.

1 Pennsylvania Archives, 1779-81, p. 250.

2 " The Indian captains appointed by the British commandant at De- troit," said Brodhead, in a letter to the Council, "are clothed in the most elegant manner, and have many valuable presents made to them. The Captains I have Commissioned by authority of Congress are naked, and receive nothing but a little whiskey, for which they are reviled by the Indians in general. So that, unless a change of System is introduced, I must expect to see all Indians in favor of Britain, in spite of every ad- dress in my power."

3 The president of the Supreme Executive Council, in a lotter to Brod- head, dated Philadelphia, April 29, 1780, says,-

" After many Consultations & much Deliberation we have concluded to offer a Reward for Scalps, & hope it will serve as an Inducement to the young Fellows of the County & others to turn out against the In- dians. I herewith send you several of them. We are sensible it may be attended with Inconveniences, but it occurred to us as a Measure of Necessity & the only effectual Weapon against the Savages ; we hope it is so guarded that many abuses will not happen."-Penn. Archives, 1779-81, p. 218.

THE REVOLUTION.

they were under the influence of the liquor which was dealt out to them at the fort. "Two Delaware Indians who in their cups spoke contemptuously of our service," said Brodhead in a letter to Gen. Wash- ington, "I have them confined in irons, but am at a loss what further to do with them until I see what number join us, and hear what their general conduct has been." His allusion to the number of Delawares who might join him had reference to an order which had been sent to their towns west of the Ohio re- quiring all Delawares disposed to continue friendly to remove without loss of time to the vicinity of Fort Pitt, where they could be kept under the eye of the commandant.1 This order brought the matter to a conclusion, and, together with the other causes which have been noticed, resulted soon after in an open espousal of the British cause by the Delawares, though a few of them still continued friendly to the Ameri- cans.

On learning of the final defection of the Delawares, Col. Brodhead determined to push forward his expe- dition into the Indian country immediately and at all : provisions, and reported in person to Col. Brodhead hazards. Being unable to obtain any troops by draft from the militia of Westmoreland County,2 he called for volunteers, and the call was responded to, princi- pally by men from the territory of the newly-erected (though not organized) county of Washington. The force amounted to a little over three hundred men, of whom about one-half were volunteers. From the place of rendezvous at Wheeling (Fort Henry) they

1 " A number of Delaware Indians from Coochocking have been here since my last, and appear to be as friendly as ever. I am persnaded that a few are well affected, but they are now put to the trial by being ordered to remove hither without loss of time and remain under our protection, where their daily transactions will be seen and known."-Letter of Col. Brodhead to Gen. Washington, dated Fort Pitt, March 27, 1781 ; Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 39.

2 The county lieutenant of Westmoreland, Col. Archibald Lochry, in a letter to Col. Brodhead, dated Twelve-Mile Run, April 2, 1781, said, " I collected the principal officers of the county together to send the an- swer you requested of me. . I was not able to attend their meeting, but - requested Col. Cook to send an express to you, with what encouragement you might depend on, which I hope you have received by this time. I am just returned from burying a man killed and scalped by the Indians at Col. Pomeroy's house; one other man is missing and all Pomeroy's | town, called Indaochaie, was also destroyed, its site effects carried off. I have been attempting to get some Militia to cover our Frontier until some other succour arrives, which I hope will be soon. I am afraid from the Disposition of the people you have little to expect from us. If the Cumberland Militia arrive in time for our intended Expedition they shall go with you, and your humble servant to Boot."

On the same date James Perry, sub-lieutenant of Westmoreland, wrote to Brodhead, saying, " We sent instructions to the Second and Third Battalions of Westmoreland Militia, agreeable to your orders, to raise volunteers for the Expedition. The Major of the Third Battalion came to me on Saturday last and informed me that he could not raise one vol- unteer for the Expedition. The Second has made no return yet, but I am doubtful they have done nothing.

" I have not yet heard what Col. Lochry has done in the First Battal- ion; but, upon the whole, I believe you need not depend on any men from this county, as the people in the interior part of the county live in a state of indifferent security, and the froutiers dare not well leave their families."-Pa. Arch., 1781, pp. 51-52.

The failure of Brodhead to obtain any troops from the militia of West- moreland County appears to have been the result of ill feeling (amount- ing to a quarrel) between him and County Lieutenant Lochry, aa is evi- dent from an examination of the correspondence between them, and between each and the president of the Council, in 1780-81. 7

crossed the Ohio, and marched as rapidly as possible and by the most direct route to the principal village of the hostile Delawares, which was located on the Muskingum River, on the lower part of the site of the present town of Coshocton, Ohio.

When the expedition reached a point near to Salem, which was one of the three principal vil- lages of the peaceful Moravian Indians, some of the undiscriminating volunteers manifested the same murderous spirit which afterwards accomplished its bloody purpose in the campaign of Col. Williamson. They seemed determined to move upon the town and destroy it, but were finally prevented from doing 80 by the efforts of the officers, chiefly by Col. Brodhead. The commander sent forward a message to the Rev. John Heckewelder (a Moravian missionary who re- sided with the Indians in the town), informing him of the object of the expedition, and requesting him to send a small supply of provisions, and also to accom- pany the messenger on his return to the camp. The old missionary complied with the request, sent the

at the camp. The colonel inquired of him if any of his Christian Indians were away from the village, engaged in hunting or other business in the country lying on his line of march, as in that case the troops might do them injury, not being able to distinguish between them and hostile Indians, a result which he was most anxious to prevent. Heckewelder assured him that none of his people were out, and thereupon the force was again put in motion, and the missionary returned to his village after receiving the thanks of the commander.

Brodhead's expedition reached its first objective point, the Delaware village of "Coochocking," in the evening of the 19th of April, and effected a complete surprise of the place, as the Indians had not heard of the march of any white force against them. The town was destroyed, fifteen warriors killed, about twenty prisoners taken, and all the crops planted by the Indians in the vicinity devastated. Another being about two and a half miles below that of the other villages and on the east bank of the Muskin- gum River. After accomplishing these results the expeditionary force marched up the valley to a half- deserted village called Newcomers' Town (at or near the site of the present village of that name in Ohio), where there were a few Delawares who still remained friendly. These placed themselves under protection of Col. Brodhead, and the force then took up its line of march on the return to Fort Pitt. The official report of the campaign, made by Col. Brodhead in a communication to the president of the Council, was as follows: 3

" PHILA., May 22d, 1781. "SIR,-In the last letter I had the Honor to ad- dress to your Excellency I mentioned my intention

3 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 161.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to carry an expedition against the revolted Delaware Towns. I have now the pleasure to inform you that with about three hundred men (nearly half the number Volunteers from the country) I surprised the Towns of Cooshasking and Indaochaie, killed fifteen Warriors, and took upwards of twenty old men, women, and children. About four miles above the Town I detached a party to cross the river Mus- kingum and destroy a party of about forty warriors who had just before (as I learnt by an Indian whom the advanced Guard took prisoner) crossed over with some prisoners and Scalps and were drunk, but ex- cessive hard rains having swell'd the river bank high it was found impracticable. After destroying the Towns with great quantities of poultry and other stores, and killing about forty head of Cattle, I marched up the River about seven miles with a view to send for some craft from the Moravian Towns and cross the river to pursue the Indians. But when I proposed my plan to the Volunteers I found they conceived they had done enough, and were deter- mined to return, wherefore I marched to Newcomers' Town, where a few Indians who remained in our Interest had withdrawn themselves not exceeding thirty men. The Troops experienced great kindness from the Moravian Indians and those at Newcomers' Town, and obtained a sufficient supply of meat and Corn to subsist the men and Horses to the Ohio River. Captain Killbuck and Captain Luzerne, upon hearing of our Troops being on the Muskingum, im- mediately pursued the Warriors, killed one of the greatest Villains and brought his scalp to me. The plunder brought in by the Troops sold for about eighty Thousand pounds1 at Fort Henry. I had upon this Expedition Captains Mantour [Montour] and Wilson and three other faithful Indians, who contributed greatly to the success. The troops be- haved with great Spirit, and although there was con- siderable firing between them and the Indians, I had not a man killed or wounded, and only one horse shot." 2

1 Of course Col. Brodhead here has reference to Continental money, which at that time was nearly at its lowest point of depreciation.

2 Withers, in his " Chronicles of Border Warfare," pp. 220-21, relates as follows in reference to the alleged slaughter of prisoners by Brod- head's men after the destruction of the town. In his narrative (which by comparison with Col. Brodhead's report seems to be purely a fabrica- tion) he says, "It remained then to dispose of the prisoners. Sixteen warriors particularly obnoxious for their diabolical deeds were pointed out by Pekillon [a friendly Delaware chief who accompanied Col. Brodhead] as fit subjects of retributive justice and taken into close cus- tody. A council of war was then held to determine their fate, and which doumed them to death. They were taken some distance from town, dispatched with tomahawks and spears and then scalped. The other captives were committed to the care of the militia to be conducted to Fort Pitt,

" On the morning after the taking of Coshocton, an Indian making his appearance on the opposite bank of the river called out for the ' Big Captain.' Col. Brodhead demanded what he wished. 'I want peace,' replied the savage. 'Then send over some of your chiefs,' said the col- onel. 'May be you kill,' responded the Indian. 'No,' said Brodhead ; 'they shall not be killed.' One of the chiefs, a fine-looking fellow, then came over, and while he and Col. Brodhead were engaged in conversation

While Brodhead's campaign against the Delaware towns on the Muskingum was in progress, another and a more formidable expedition was being raised and organized, having for its object the capture of the British post of Detroit and the destruction of the Wyandot towns on the Sandusky River. The expedi- tion was to be composed of infantry, cavalry, and ar- tillery, and to be led by Gen. George Rogers Clarke, who had achieved considerable renown by his suc- ce-sful campaign against the British posts in the Illi- nois country in 1778, as has been mentioned. The expedition which he was now to command against Detroit was to be organized principally at Fort Pitt, to rendezvous at Fort Henry (Wheeling), and to pro- ceed thence down the Ohio River to the Great Falls (at Louisville, Ky.), and from there to march north- wardly through the wilderness to its objective-points.

The project seems to have been originated by the government of Virginia, although it afterwards re- ceived the sanction of Gen. Washington for the United States, and was also promoted by the Executive Council of Pennsylvania. As early as Jan. 22, 1781, Col. Brodhead, in a letter written at Fort Pitt and addressed to President Reed, of the Pennsylvania Council,8 said, " I sincerely wish there was no occa- sion to trouble you with a 'further tale of misfortune. But as the United States in general, and our State in particular, are immediately interested in retaining in this District all the Grain that has been raised in it, it might appear criminal in me were I to remain silent re- specting certain Instructions lately sent by Governor Jefferson (of Virginia) for the purchase of 200,000 Ra- tions on this side the mountains, for the use of the Troops under Col. Clark ; for which purpose he has already advanced 300,000 pounds, and promises to furnish, upon the first notice, any further Sum that may be necessary to compleat the payment of that purchase. Because this contract, together with the Consumption of multitudes of emigrants arrived and expected in this District (chiefly to avoid militia Duty and Taxes), will scarcely leave a pound of flour for the Regular or other Troops which it may be necessary to employ, either offensively or defensively, against the Enemy for the Defence of this part of the Frontier Settle- ments.

" It seems the State of Virginia is now prepar- ing to acquire more extensive territory by send- ing a great body of men under Col. (whom they in- tend to raise to the rank of Brigadier) Clark to at- tempt the reduction of Detroit. I have hitherto been encouraged to flatter myself that I should sooner or

a militiaman came up, and with a tomahawk which he had concealed in the bosom of his hunting-shirt struck him a severe blow on the hinder part of his head. The poor Indian fell and immediately expired. " This savage deed was the precursor of other and equally atrocious enormities. The army on its return had not proceeded more than half a mile from Coshocton when the militia guarding the prisoners com- menced murdering them. In a short space of time a few women and children alone remained alive. These were taken to Fort Pitt, and after awhile exchanged for an equal number of white captives." 8 Pa. Archives, 1779-81, p. 707.

THE REVOLUTION.

later be enabled to reduce that place. But it seems the United States cannot furnish either Troops or resources for the purpose, but the State of Virginia can."

In February following, Gen. Washington issued orders to Gen. Clarke to proceed in the raising and organizing of his force for the purpose mentioned; and on the 25th of that month Gen. Brodhead re- ported to President Reed :1 "I have just received instructions from his Excellency the commander-in- chief directing me to detach all the field-pieces, Howit- zers, and train, also a part of my small force, under Col. Clark, who I am told is to drive all before him by a supposed unbounded influence he has amongst the in- habitants of the Western country. I sincerely wish his Excellency's expectations may be fully answered ... . " Again, on the 10th of March, he wrote the presi- dent of the Council : 2 "I have likewise received in- structions from his Excellency the Commander-in- Chief to order the Maryland Corps to Richmond in Virginia, and to detach with the artillery and field- pieces under Brig .- Gen. Clark a major or Capt's Com- mand from my small remaining number of Troops. . .. Gen1. Clark is come over the mountain, and his commissaries are purchasing great quantities of flour and Indian corn; but he appears to be doubtful of carrying his grand object, and I shall not be surprised to see his Expedition fall through, for it is clear to me that wise men at a great distance view things in the Western country very differently from those who are more immediately acquainted with circumstances and situations."

Although Clarke was a Virginian officer and had entirely favored the claims of that State in its territo- rial controversy with Pennsylvania, he was not averse to enlisting men from the latter State to make up the force necessary for his expedition, and accordingly he at once entered into correspondence with the Ex- ecutive Council to obtain its consent to the project. The letter which he addressed to President Reed 3 on the subject was as follows :

" March 23, 1781.

" D. SIR,-Though unacquainted, I take the liberty of writing to your Excellency on a subject I hope will Consern you so much as to Honour my propo- sition. I make no doubt but that you are fully ac- quainted with the design of the enterprise. I am order'd to Comª of the greatest consequence to the Frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, if our Re- sources should not be such as to Inable us to Remain in the Indian Country during the fair season, I am in hopes they will be sufficient to Visit the Shaw- anees, Delawares, and Sandusky Town, defeating the Enemy and laying those Cuntrees waste, would give great Ease to the Frontiers of both States, whom I think equally Interested. But Sir nothing great can be expected without the assistance of numbers of

men from the Country on this side of the Lawrell Hill, many living within the boundary of Pennsyl- vania are willing to go on the Expedition, many more would go if it was not for a timid, simple disposition, fearing it would disoblige y" Excellency & Councill, at least they make use of such arguments as an Ex- cuse, others alternately shifting from one state to the other, to screen themselves from any Military Duty that might be Required of them, but as I am Con- fident from the nature of the intended Expedition ; you would wish to give it every aid in your power, I hope sir that you will inform the Inhabitants on this side of the M' that such is your sentiments. They are fully able to spare five hund men, I don't think they could be better imployed to the advantage of themselves or Country, I should have solicited yª governor of Virga to have made this Request of you, but the want of time for it to go through that Chan- nel, and Confident of its meeting with your approba- tion Induced me to do it myself. I hope SF that you will Honour me with an immediate answer P' Ex- press, as it is of the greatest Consequence to us & that the fate of the Indians at present appears to depend on the Resolutions you may take.

" With esteem I beg leave to subscribe myself,

Y' very Ob. Serv", " G. CLARK, Brig. G."

To this communication of Gen. Clarke President Reed replied under date of May 15th as follows : '

"SIR,-I received your Letter of the 23d March & considerable Time after its Date. The Enterprise you refer to has never been officially communicated to us, but from common Report we learn that an Expe- dition under your Command is destined ag Detroit. We are very sensible of its Importance to this State as well as Virginia, & there is no Gentleman in whose Abilities & good Conduct we have more Confidence on such an occasion. After this it seems unnecessary to add that it will give us great Satisfaction if the Inhabitants of this State cheerfully concur in it; & we authorize you to declare that so far from giving Offence to their Government, we shall consider their Service with you as highly meritorious. At the same Time we must add that from the exhausted State of our Treasury-from the great Demands made upon us by the Congress & Gen. Washington and other Contingencies, we are in no condition to answer any Demands of a pecuniary kind, and therefore do not mean, by any Thing we have said, to raise an Ex- pectation which we cannot answer. We have above two Months ago wrote to Col. Brodhead, most earn- estly requesting him to forward your Views, inform- ing him that they are highly approved by us-we shall be most concerned if we should be disappointed in this respect. We have had a correspondence with Gov" Jefferson on the Subject & explained our Sen- timents to him very fully. We have also sent for-

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 21

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216