USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Upland > The record of the court at Upland, in Pennsylvania, 1676 to 1681, And a military journal, kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795 > Part 18
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5th .- Captain Beatty and Mr. M'Dowell left us, hav- ing been ordered, by Colonel Harmar, to go up imme- diately after the arrival of Mr. Doyle. With Mr. M'Dowell I sent a letter to Doctor M'Dowell, desiring him to ask Colonel Harmar for permission for me to go up, &c.
13th. - Major Finney received a letter from General Clark, informing him that on the 1st of August he in- tended marching into the Indian country, with fifteen hundred men, and requested that the field-piece which I brought up might be sent down against that time.
17th. - Corporal Thompson, Gairy, and two other de- serters, were brought in by three men from Lexington, by whom Major Finney received an account from Col- onel Patterson of orders being arrived from the State of Virginia to the County-Lieutenant of Kentucky country, directing them to plan and put into execution an expe- dition through the Indian country immediately. It is thought General Clark would command.
Captain Armstrong arrived with the boat and men which Major Wyllys -took away. He brought a letter from Colonel Harmar to Major Finney, in which there was an order to send up Ensign Denny, for the purpose of acting as adjutant-to repair to a new fort at the mouth of Muskingum, called Fort Harmar, where the Colonel, with Mrs. Harmar, had arrived.
23d. - Embarked about noon, in a swift boat, with corporal and six choice men ; rowed six oars. River in
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good order. Anxious to make a quick passage. Had provisions for several days cooked, and boat fitted for anchoring in the stream, &c. Reached few miles above Little Miami.
24th .- Met the water rising.
25th .- Reached Limestone about same time of the day we left the Fort; this is coming at rate of forty miles a day. Stayed and cooked.
26th .- Work along. River risen five feet.
27th .- In the evening pass the Scioto river.
28th .- Within a few miles of Sandy. Water falling. 29th .- Pass Sandy and Guyandot.
30th .- Helped forward by a violent storm of wind and rain, directly up the river ; reached Great Kanahwa.
31st .- Lay by drying our things and cooking.
August 1st .- Got within a few miles of Letart's Falls. Water rising rapidly. Met Mr. Le Bere in the evening.
2d .- Passed the Falls and anchored ten miles below Flin's Station.
3d .- Passed the Scotch Settlement and Flin's, and lay in sight of Little Kanahwa.
4th. - In the morning arrived at Muskingum, Fort Harmar, where I met with Colonel Harmar and a number of acquaintances. Here I was received as a brother officer might expect. Though I was ordered up in haste, yet I had some hopes of getting a furlough to go to Philadelphia, as I had not been absent during our service. Having hinted in a letter to Colonel Harmar, be- fore I left the Miami, that a short furlough would be very acceptable and knowing, that if he could with any kind
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of propriety grant it, he would, I deferred asking. Next day after my arrival he proposed a furlough ; I thanked him and accepted it. But as I had no non-commission- ed officer from the Miami, he thought it best to send my boat back under the care of Major North and Captain Beatty, just arrived and on their way to the Miami, and to take a passage to Fort Pitt with Mr. Bradford, who was to start on the 10th instant. Fort Harmar is un- finished. Doughty's company from New York, Heart's and Strong's from Connecticut, are here and at work.
9th .- Major North and E. Beatty got under way.
10th .- Received a furlough for two months ; took pas- sage with Lieutenant Bradford, who was ordered to Pitt for artillery, stores, &c.
16th .- Arrived at the mouth of Little Beaver ; found Mr. Hutchens and the old surveyors encamped there. Hamtramck's company, from New York ; Mercer's, from New Jersey, and M'Curdy's, of Pennsylvania, escorting the surveyors.
17th .- Reached M'Intosh. Captain Ferguson's com- pany here. Here Mr. Bradford had business, which would detain him a day. Major Finney and myself having no time to lose, agreed to walk to Fort Pitt, thir- ty miles distant, knowing that when the boat did move, it would take her two days, as the water was very rapid.
18th. - We breakfasted with my old friend, Captain M'Curdy, and set off for Fort Pitt. I tripped along after Major Finney exceedingly well, for near two-thirds of the way; but having been confined so long to my boat, and not accustomed to walking, I got much
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fatigued ; however, we reached Fort Pitt about two o'clock, P. M., where we refreshed ourselves upon a tol- erable dinner and a glass of claret.
August 22d. - I received my mare, left in care of Mr. Duncan, in miserable order.
23d. - Left Fort Pitt in company with Mr. James Sample. The weather being favorable, we traveled very agreeably together as far as Shippensburg, where we ar- rived on the 28th.
29th .- I got to Carlisle. Time short-staid a few days. Left Carlisle for Philadelphia, at which place I arrived on the 8th September.
Sept. 12th .- Having completed my business, I parted with my friends, James Campbell and several other ac- quaintances, and left Philadelphia, with once more my face turned toward the western country.
13th .- Got to Carlisle.
20th. - Left my friends at Carlisle.
25th. - Arrived at my uncle, John M'Clure's, on the Monongahela, seven miles above Pittsburgh, where I left my mare, saddle and bridle, for further use.
26th. - Went in canoe to Pittsburgh, where I met Major North and Captain Beatty, just arrived from the Falls of Ohio, where they left Major Finney and Captain Ziegler with their companies.
30th. - Left Fort Pitt in the boat in which North and Beatty came, and proceeded to Muskingum, at which place I arrived the 3d of October, in the morning.
FORT HARMAR, Oct. 3d .- John Pratt, formerly Lieu- tenant and Quarter-master in the 4th Pennsylvania reg-
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iment, had originally been of Connecticut, came out now as one of the officers of that State, and appointed Quar- ter-master, myself announced as adjutant. Strong, Pratt and Kingsbury belonged to one company and formed a mess ; I was invited to join them. Very pleasantly fixed.
10th .- Captain Doughty and Captain Strong left us with leave of absence until spring.
15th. - Captain Tunas, a Delaware Indian, arrived with information that the different nations of Indians from the Wabash, who had collected at the Shawanees towns with a determination to visit this country, had returned home ; that one hundred and twenty Shawanees, Mingoes and Cherokees had left Wapotomeky with in- tention to strike the people on the Ohio; that but few of the Shawanees continued ; the greater part of them were in the Kentucky country, scalping and stealing horses. He says Captain Brant, a civilized Indian, had been at Sandusky this summer, but his business was not known. Mr. Johnston, the British agent, had asked all the red people to Niagara; that the Shawanees and a number of other nations had gone, but not any of the Delawares ; that Johnston told them they would be no people in a short time, if they did. not unite. They should all be one people, and what they did, either to make peace or war, would then be strong.
Nov. 13th. - Three men arrived from Limestone, who had been with Colonel Logan against the Shawanee towns. They informed us that Logan left Limestone the 6th of October, marched with eight hundred men in six days, to the Shawanee towns, where he found some men
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and a number of women. The warriors had all set out to meet General Clark, who was marching with fifteen hundred men toward the Wabash, and only a few sachems remained at home with the squaws. Colonel Logan destroyed all their towns, killed and scalped eleven Indians, amongst whom was the king Molunthy, and carried twenty-eight Indian women and children pris- oners to Danville, where they were kept in confinement. The old king was tomahawked after he had delivered himself up. Logan found none but old men, women and children in the towns; they made no resistance; the men were literally murdered.
15th. - Left Fort Harmar in a light boat, a sergeant and twelve men ; arrived at Fort Pitt the 22d.
24th. - Rode to Hannahstown, accompanied by Mr. Brison. Viewed several farms and tracts of land in West- moreland county, belonging to Colonel Harmar, property which he got with Mrs. H.
Dec. 5th .- Was ready to return, but the heavy snows and frost had filled the river with ice.
9th .- Ohio frozen over in many places. Monongahela and Allegheny both passable on the ice.
13th .- Had several days of soft rainy weather. Rivers broke up. The rise of water was sudden. Several boats loaded with goods, &c., carried down with the ice passed Pittsburgh. An attempt made to save them, but fruit- less. We had great difficulty to preserve our boat.
16th .- Ohio pretty clear of ice. Loaded our boat and sailed for Fort Harmar, where we arrived on the 19th, in the morning. In my absence, Lieutenant Pratt, the
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Quarter-master, attended to the ordinary duties of ad- jutant, but much left undone. Regimental book opened, monthly returns of the regiment, &c., to be made out and transmitted to the War Office.
FORT HARMAR, Mouth of Muskingum River, Jan., 1787. -No change of movement of any consequence. Officers and men in close quarters. Officers pass and repass up and down to the several posts. Ferguson's company of artillery at M'Intosh. Hamtramck, M'Curdy and Mer- cer had put up quarters, after the surveying was over, at a place which they called Fort Steuben, about thirty miles below M'Intosh. Doughty, Strong and Heart with their companies at Fort Harmar. Finney and Ziegler's companies had evacuated Fort Finney and erected a small work opposite Louisville. One other company, commanded by Captain Burbeck, of New York, station- ed at West Point.
Receiving and digesting the monthly returns of the troops at all these different posts, was a business of some trouble. Those from the post commanded by Ham- tramck less difficulty with. Colonel Harmar thinks him one of his best captains.
Feb. 4th. - Mr. M'Dowell arrived on his way to the Rapids of the Ohio. Fortunately there came with him a supply of provisions for the troops at Fort Harmar. For upward of thirty days past they had been on half allowance of flour, with whiskey only one-half their time.
8th .- Major Wyllys and Mr. M'Dowell left us for the Rapids.
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19th. - Captain Heart and Lieutenant Beatty ar- rived from Fort Pitt. The latter brought with him near two months pay and three months subsistence, chiefly in paper money, and likewise part of the annual allowance of clothing for the troops. The money being a particu- lar currency of one State only, the officers at this post (Fort Harmar) objected to receiving it; for though it might answer their present purposes, being in the neigh- borhood of the State, yet it might be setting a precedent for others, which would be very injurious. Several days spent in deliberating upon the receiving this paper money. Sometimes it was in contemplation to send it back; again they would conceive it more to their advan- tage to keep it. However, as the Colonel had some bu- siness up the river, he postponed the payment until (we suppose) he would consult the officers up the river. Ac- cordingly he, Beatty, Pratt and Mr. Spear set off the forenoon of the 25th.
25th .- This afternoon we were agreeably surprised by the arrival of Major Finney from the Rapids, after a passage of seventeen days to this post. The Major be- ing on the way to visit friends down the country, he only tarried until next morning and set off up the river in hopes to overtake Colonel Harmar.
March 6th .- Mr. Lakesang called, being on his way to the Rapids of the Ohio. He continued over night. By Mr. Lakesang I forwarded to Major Wyllys three hun- dred hard dollars, and a receipt for thirteen hundred dollars, left with me by Beatty to be sent by the first
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conveyance (Captain Heart witness). By the same boat, and under Mr. Lakesang's care, I sent the proportion of clothing for the troops at the Rapids, and likewise a new rifle, complete, for Lieutenant Doyle, with a number of letters, &c.
26th .- Our commandant, with his suite, arrived from Fort Pitt, about seven o'clock at night, and disappoint- ed the garrison of a little parade that was intended in receiving him.
27th. - Major Hamtramck arrived, having been di- rected by the commandant to muster the troops.
29th. - Muster and inspection took place, after which a few manœuvres, &c.
April 1st .- The Major left us, bound for Fort Steuben
10th .- Captain Heart ordered to proceed with his com- pany to a place called Venango, on the Allegheny river, about one hundred and fifty miles above Pittsburgh ; there to erect a suitable work. This place had formerly been occupied by French and English troops, but burnt down.
15th .- Colonel Harmar, Lieutenant Beatty and Pratt, left us, bound for the Rapids. Soon after their depar- ture, Major Hamtramck arrived, having been ordered down to command at Muskingum, owing to the Colonel's absence.
May 10th. - At night our Colonel arrived from the Rapids of the Ohio, to no little satisfaction of all the officers at Fort Harmar.
15th. - Major Hamtramck set off, accompanied by Captain Beatty, for Fort Steuben. Captain Beatty goes
7
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on to New York to obtain a settlement for the regiment up to the first of the present year.
17th .- We were surprised with the arrival of Captain Strong, from Connecticut, with dispatches of very con- siderable importance to Colonel Harmar, from the War Office.
25th. - In consequence of the dispatches brought by Captain Strong, Fort Steuben has been ordered to be evacuated; accordingly Lieutenant Kersey, with sixty men, arrived here from that place. Major Hamtramck, with the remainder of the troops, are expected daily. Hamtramck promoted to Major, in room of Fish of New York, who resigned. Lieutenant Smith, captain in place of Hamtramck.
27th. - Captain Strong, with his company, embarked on board keel boats for the Rapids of the Ohio.
June 1st. - Major Hamtramck, with the whole of the troops under his command, arrived safe.
2d. - Captain Mercer, with part of his company, and Lieutenant Kersey, set off for the Rapids, on board two family boats that were passing down. Ensign Spear, with fifty-four men, left us this day for the surveying business.
5th. - Captain Smith, with his company, Ensign Se- dam, with part of Mercer's company, Lieutenant Peters, Doctor Elliot and myself, left Fort Harmar to join the troops at the Rapids.
10th. - In the morning we joined our friends at the Falls.
11th .- Our commandant, with Major Hamtramck and
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Mr. Pratt, the Quarter-master, &c., arrived in the barge. They bring accounts that Colonel Todd had returned from the Cherokee town on Paint creek, with three or four scalps and six or seven prisoners.
18th .- Water favorable. We began to send our boats and stores over the Rapids, for fear of low water. Sub- altern's command at landing below the Rapids as guard. Troops wait for a supply of provisions. Some clashing between contractors. Turnbull and Marmie superseded by O'Hara and Duncan. When Bradshaw the agent is at a loss, commanding officer directs the purchase of provisions.
July 2d. - Strong's, Mercer's and Smith's companies cross the Ohio from their encampment opposite Louisville, march down and encamp at the landing below the Falls.
3d. - Finney's and Ziegler's companies crossed and encamped with the others. This evening Ferguson, with his company of artillery, from M'Intosh, and Dan- iel Britt, with a cargo of provisions on account of late contractors, arrived.
6th. - Captain Ziegler, with a command of a lieuten- ant, one sergeant, one corporal and sixty-two privates, embarked with all the cattle and horses and a quantity of flour, on board eight Kentucky boats and two keel boats, with orders to proceed down to Pigeon creek, eight miles above Green river, and there wait for the arrival of the troops.
8th .- Troops embarked for Pigeon creek, one hundred and eighty miles below the Rapids.
10th .- Arrived in the evening at Pigeon creek, where
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we found Captain Ziegler, who had arrived the evening before.
11th .- The cattle, horses and necessary baggage, with fifteen days flour, taken out of the boats, and the boats, with artillery, stores and heavy baggage, under com- mand of Major Hamtramck, proceeded down the Ohio to mouth of Wabash, with orders to ascend that river and meet the troops as soon as possible at Vincennes. Troops took up the following order of march, (see Plan,) and proceeded by the most direct route for Vincennes, agree- ably to the advice of a pilot. Columns regulated in their march by signals from the drum. Weather exceedingly warm and woods close. With heavy packs and not late- ly used to marching, the troops were hard put to. We encamped on a branch of Pigeon creek.
12th. - Marched at daylight. Woods not so thick. Crossed Pigeon creek twice, and encamped on its bank.
13th .- The troops march with more ease-pass through a level open country. Buffalo numerous in these woods. Several seen standing and gazing at the men, appearing to hearken to the drums. Encamped on the head waters of Pigeon creek.
14th .- Marched at the usual time. Fine open country until about twelve o'clock, intercepted by a thicket of plum and rose bushes, which our pilot said reached to a great distance on the right and left. Opened our way through. Some delay and disorder. Columns unable to keep their proper distances. Cattle scattered. Halted until the cattle were collected. Moved on and encamped on bank of Patoka.
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we found Captain Ziegler, who had arrived the evening before.
11th .- The cattle, horses and necessary baggage, with fifteen days flour, taken out of the boats, and the boats, with artillery, stores and heavy baggage, under com- mand of Major Hamtramck, proceeded down the Ohio to mouth of Wabash, with orders to ascend that river and meet the troops as soon as possible at Vincennes. Troops took up the following order of march, (see Plan,) and proceeded by the most direct route for Vincennes, agree- ably to the advice of a pilot. Columns regulated in their march by signals from the drum. Weather exceedingly warm and woods close. With heavy packs and not late- ly used to marching, the troops were hard put to. We encamped on a branch of Pigeon creek.
12th. - Marched at daylight. Woods not so thick. Crossed Pigeon creek twice, and encamped on its bank.
13th .- The troops march with more ease-pass through a level open country. Buffalo numerous in these woods. Several seen standing and gazing at the men, appearing to hearken to the drums. Encamped on the head waters of Pigeon creek.
14th .- Marched at the usual time. Fine open country until about twelve o'clock, intercepted by a thicket of plum and rose bushes, which our pilot said reached to a great distance on the right and left. Opened our way through. Some delay and disorder. Columns unable to keep their proper distances. Cattle scattered. Halted until the cattle were collected. Moved on and encamped on bank of Patoka.
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15th. - Heavy rain over night. Waited till twelve o'clock. Got on tolerably well considering our tents be- ing very heavy with the rain. Encamped on high ground near a branch of Patoka.
16th. - Marched at daylight. Passed through a very fine rich open country, and arrived at White river about twelve: forded, breast high upon the men. Proceeded to the river De Shay, and encamped.
17th. - Took up the order of march, not until nine o'clock ; moved on near to Vincennes. Met by some of the inhabitants. Halted and formed battalion, marched into the village with colors, &c., and encamped close to the American fort, Clark's block-house.
18th. - Moved our encampment about a quarter of a mile up the Wabash, for the sake of good water. Here we found a number of Cherokee Indians, who had fled to the French for refuge. The people on Cumberland, joined by the Chickasaws, had lately made an expedi- tion to their towns and totally defeated them. The Cherokees were very shy of us, but being told by the French that we intended no hostilities, they rejoiced ; were thankful and claimed protection.
21st .- The French inhabitants prepared and treated the officers to a very pretty entertainment.
25th. - This day Major Hamtramck, with the boats and baggage, arrived safe, excepting some few articles which could not be brought on, owing to the water being so shoal, and were left at the mouth of Wabash, guarded by Ensign Sedam and a small party of troops. This was a pleasant sight to us, as on leaving the boats we 20
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had divested ourselves of everything not indispensably necessary. The six companies having now all assembled, they made a handsome parade. Men well clothed and well disciplined. The order and regularity observed. gave the people of Vincennes a very favorable opinion of us. Our little camp, formed agreeably, in every respect, to the regulations, with the company of artillery divided on the right and left ; tents new, &c., made no indifferent show. The inhabitants of Vincennes all French, except a few Americans, who found their way here since the war; but few speak English. Had on several occasions been visited by militia from Kentucky, who rather served to alienate and estrange them. They viewed us as belonging to another nation; called us the real Amer- icans.
26th. - Lieutenant Armstrong and forty-five privates were detached with craft, to join Ensign Sedam, and as- sist in bringing up the whole of the stores from the mouth of the Wabash.
27th. - Several persons came in who had been with a party that were defeated coming up the Wabash. They informed us that the day before, just at the Grand Rapids, a party of Indians, about fifteen in number, at- tacked three perogues, killed three men and took four prisoners, two of whom were French, who were liberated immediately. Among the killed was a soldier of Cap- tain Ziegler's company. One of those who made their es- cape, informed us that Daniel Britt, with whom we had left six soldiers at the Falls (to help him on, expecting he would overtake our fleet before it would get to the
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Wabash), had passed the Wabash unknowingly, and was as low down as Cherokee river; that two of the sol- diers had come up from the boat in a canoe, and being satisfied of the mistake, returned. Craft has been sent for Britt's cargo, and is supposed will proceed until they find him.
28th .- Two large canoes bearing white flags, appeared coming down the Wabash; they proved to be Pianke- shaws, who inhabit the upper waters. Had been invited by Colonel Le Gras to come and see their friends the true Americans. Mr. Le Gras appears to be the chief magistrate here; sort of little governor among the French ; is looked up to, and has great influence among the neighboring Indians. The Piankeshaws were timor- ous, having considered the Americans as their enemies. Indeed it was but last year that a formidable expedition went from Kentucky against their towns (but the princi- pal officers, jealous of Clark, who had the command, excited a dissatisfaction among the corps, and when within a day or two's march of the Indians, broke up their camp and returned home). Some pains taken to conciliate and dispel their fear. They seemed to rejoice at their reception, expressed great satisfaction ; said we were different Americans from any they had seen. They presented Colonel Harmar with an elegant calumet, and departed, intending to return and bring with them all the chiefs of the Wabash nation.
Aug. 4th. - A Mr. Vigo, a gentleman of Post Vin- cennes, gave the officers of our corps an entertainment. In the evening three Indian men came in, who had
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been down the Wabash with Lieutenant Armstrong. They brought information that forty Piankeshaws were lying in wait, at the Grand Rapids, for Lieutenant Armstrong's fleet; in consequence of which informa- tion, Major Hamtramck, with a captain, one subaltern and fifty-eight men, set out in three keel boats to meet the fleet.
5th .- The whole of our boat stores arrived.
VINCENNES, 9th. - Colonel Harmar had informed us of his intention to visit Kaskaskia and the settlements on the Mississippi, and had directed me to detail a sub- altern and twenty-eight men to accompany him. I felt a desire to see the Mississippi, and offered myself for the command. This the first time I solicited any service ; others might do it, but this soliciting service was a busi- ness I disapproved. Was living with the Colonel at the time. However, he chose that I should not go. Ensign M'Dowell was ordered in his turn for this pleasant tour. They set out early this morning, accompanied by a very
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