Great American Historical Classics Series History , '^ of the Late War in the Western Country By Robert B. McAfee 1816 Historical Publications Company C. S. Van Tassel, Manager (Home Office) Bowling Green, Ohio * Copynght 1919 by C. S. Van Tassei PUBLISHER'S INTRODUCTION. Considerably over one hundred years have passed since this story of the war of 1812 was written. Peace was pro claimed February 18, 1815. This work came from the press in 1816, and in preparing the manuscript Captain McAfee had the direct assistance of General Harrison, Colonels Croghan and Todd and many others and had access to the journal of Colonel Wood, the engineer who built Fort Meigs and who kept a remarkable diary of an important period of these events as they transpired. With such an array of material and backed by the ability of the author himself to portray events and movements of troops, Captain McAfee has undoubtedly given the most valuable, authentic and close-up narrative, especially of the western operations in this struggle ever written. Franklin would have called it the War of Independence, for it is related that when he heard some one speak of the "War of Inde pendence" (1776) he said, "Sir, you mean the Revolution, the War of Independence is yet to come." It is with a view of perpetuating this valuable work to the people that the publisher is lead to reproduce the same complete, and in full with some explanatory field notes, as the original copies of the book are fast passing out of existence. And while many later historians, per haps nearly all, have used the work as a basis for their writings, historians and readers, we believe, will welcome the complete narrative. In commenting on the same, Dr. Kendric Charles Babcock in his bibliography in Albert Bushnell Hart's "American Nation" puts McAfees's work '4 -"HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR «,*«*;•*•***: - * **•* ,•; •<f.; «**<;; « 4»*a ; in' a'Higti' and' distinct class and says "the History of The Late War In the Western Country is one of the very best accounts of the conditions of the army on the frontier and of the methods of organization, transportation and hand ling of troops during the war." Captain McAfee was a Kentuckian. He was born Feb ruary 17, 1784, and died March 12, 1849. One writer calls him a "soldier, statesman, historian and banker." He enlisted in the service of 1812 along with some of the most prominent citizens and best blood of Kentucky. He was captain of a company in the first battalion of a mounted Kentucky regiment organized by Col. II. M. Johnson under orders of Governor Shelby. Captain McAfee served throughout the campaign with honored distinction and, as stated, writes much of his story from personal knowledge. He was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. 1820-1824 and was connected with one of the first banks at Harrodsburg, Ky., in 1818. PREFACE. The author of the following history will not detain the reader with many prefatory remarks. It was written during those hours of leisure which he was able occa sionally to reserve from other necessary occupations; and he therefore wishes to be regarded, not as advancing any lofty pretensions to literary merit. His object has chiefly been, to give a plain and correct statement of the facts, and to make only such reflections upon them, as they would obviously authorize; and he can conscientiously say, that he has in no case intentionally distorted or concealed anything. He has no private friendships or enmities to gratify- nothing but a rational attachment to his country and hos tility to his enemies according to their deserts. Being a native of Kentucky and having lost many of his friends in the Indian wars, during the first settlement of this country, he has necessarily imbibed an abhorrence of those principles and practices of the savages, and their British allies, by which the western 'settlements have suffered so much in both wars. If any of his expressions should be deemed too acri monious and intemperate for dignified and impartial his tory, the reader will excuse them on this account, together with the consideration that the feelings excited by the occurrences described are still fresh and vigorous in his bosom. He believes, however, that he has said nothing which is not strictly true and just, though perhaps not entirely agreeable to the taste of every reader. In procuring the material for this work, the author is greatly indebted to General Harrison and Governor Shelby, 6 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR (Kentucky) for the many valuable documents they fur nished, particularly their correspondence with the war de partment and with each other. He is also indebted to Governor Edwards for his correspondence but it unfor tunately arrived too late to be used. Colonels Croghan and Todd with many other officers of the northwestern army have also laid him under great obligations by the cheerfulness with which they furnished and assisted him in collecting all the information within their power. To the latter he is indebted to the journal of Colonel Wood of the engineers, who justly attained a lofty character for military genius and service before his untimely but glorious fall. Most of these papers will remain in the possession of Colonel C. S. Todd, subject to be examined by any person who may wish to see the authorities on which any state ment in this history is founded. In preparing this work for the press I have to acknowl edge the assistance I received from Dr. Joseph Buchanan, who first undertook it's publication. He carefully examined and compared all the materials from which it has been compiled, and in fact attentively revised it in every respect. In some instances he has made alterations, on the propriety of which I have differed with him in opinion ; however, there is no material fact which I am not satisfied is correctly stated; and as for reflections, the reader will no doubt judge for himself. In describing the operation against the Creek Indians I have had to rely chiefly on official reports, which, how ever correct, are insufficient for fullness for a complete history. As to the campaign at New Orleans, besides the com mon sources of information I have had recourse to Major Thomas Curry and I acknowledge with pleasure the assist- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 7 ance he has given me. He served in the Kentucky militia in that campaign and was able as an eye witness to furnish important matter. In justice to our late enemies as well as to myself, it may be proper to add that much information with respect to them has unavoidably been very imperfect and hence I may have made erroneous statements respecting them in many instances. Their own official reports which they published are so notoriously false that no reliance can be placed in them and the unofficial anonymous reports which circulated in our public prints concerning them were not much better authority. But with respect to our own opera tions I have authentic documents or the evidence of highly respectable witnesses to substantiate every statement I have made. ROBERT B. MCAFEE. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY VIEWS — CAUSES OF THE WAR BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE At the close of the American revolution, many persons in England entertained an opinion that the American col onies were not irretrievably lost to the mother country. They hoped that Great Britain would be able, at some favor able moment, to regain the sovereignty of these States ; and in this hope it is -highly probable the British ministry participated. From calculations and sentiments like these, as well as from the irritation caused by the failure of their arms, may have proceeded their unjustifiable conduct on the in terior frontiers of the new States. The military posts of Niagara, Detroit, and Mackinaw were detained under various pretences, for many years, in violation of the treaty of peace. The Indian tribes on our borders were at the same 'time supplied with munitions of w^ar, and instigated to commit depredations and hostilities on the frontiers of Kentucky, and the settlements northwest of the Ohio. This fact is fully established by the letters of Colonel M'Kee, the British commandant of Fort Miami at the foot of the Rapids, written previous to the visit of General Wayne to that place in '94, and published during 10 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR the late war in the American journals, the originals having then fallen into the hands of our Government. This unwarrantable interference with the Indians re siding within the limits of the United States was continued by the British from the peace of '83, quite down to the com mencement of the late war. During a great part of that time, they kept the Indians in hostility with our western settlements; and when the probability of a new war be tween the two countries became very strong, they so ex cited the savages, as to make a battle with them the neces sary prelude to general hostilities. Although this interfer ence with the Indians was not an obvious and ostensible cause of the war, yet it may fairly be considered as a very efficient cause. Much of that resentment against the Brit ish, which prevailed so strongly in the western States, the principal advocates for the war, may fairly be attributed to this source. President Washington was apprised of the intrigues of the English agents, and endeavored by negotiation to obtain redress; and nothing but the exhausted state of the country after the revolutionary war, prevented that i^reat man from resorting to arms to punish British per fidy. His policy however was wise; it was consistent with the genius of our government, and the condition of our country. It would certainly have been hazardous, to ven ture on a new war, so soon after we had established our independence, and instituted an untried form of govern ment. Several campaigns, however, were conducted against the Indians northwest of the Ohio. General Harmer commanded one, in the year 1790, against the Miami vil lage, at the junction of the rivers St. Marys and St. Jos ephs, where Fort Wayne was subsequently built. It eventuated in burning the town; and afterwards in the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 11 defeat of several detachments of Iris army, with the loss of many of his men. In the following year another army was conducted in the same direction, from Kentucky and the back parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, by General Arthur St. Clair. The object of this expedition, was to destroy the Miami and ShaAvanoe settlements, on the Auglaize and Miami rivers; but it was late in the season before the necessary arrangements were made, and the Indians having received intelligence of his march, and anticipating his views, advanced and met him near the place where Fort Recovery now stands. On the 7th of November, they attacked his army in its encampment, when a total rout ensued, and the greater part of the army was destroyed. The Indian mode of warfare was not well understood by this general, and the panic produced by the savage yells in the time of action, threw the whole into confusion. F'or several years previous to this disastrous campaign, the people of Kentucky had remonstrated against the manner in which the general government was conducting the war against the Indians; and President Washington had so far regarded their representations, as to authorize certain eminent citizens, Messrs. Scott, Innes, Brown, Logan, and Shelby to send expeditions against the Indians in their own way. Accordingly in the spring and summer preceding the defeat of General St. Clair, two expeditions of volunteer militia from the district of Kentucky, were sent by those gentlemen against the Indians on the Wabash —the first under the command of general Charles Scott, and the other under general James Wilkinson. They were both completely successful. The Indian country was laid waste, many lives were destroyed, and many prisoners were taken, without much loss on the part of the Ken- tuckians. Yet in the autumn of the same year, the old 12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR method of sending regulars, under a general unskilled in savage warfare, was again employed in the case of St. Clair's campaign, with the disastrous consequence of a total defeat. After this disaster, affairs with the Indians wore a gloomy aspect. It was extremely difficult to procure supplies from the scattered settlements of the frontiers, to subsist a regular army sufficient to humble the savages. General Washington hence determined to attempt a negotiation with them; and Colonel Hardin was accord ingly sent to them with a flag. All that is known about him after his departure, is that he was met and massacred by the Indians. A predatory, skirmishing warfare was then continued for several years, without any important and decisive action being fought, until in the year '94 a formidable and successful expedition was conducted against the savages by General Anthony Wayne, a distin guished revolutionary officer from Pennsylvania, who was then commander-in-chief of the American army. He was accompanied by Generals Wilkinson and Scott of the same character from Kentucky. The principal part of the troops were assembled at Cincinnati in the month of June, and thence marched by the way of Forts Hamilton, Greenville, Recovery, Adams, and Defiance, which had been built by the regulars under W'ayne, during several preceding years of preparation for this decisive campaign. In the meantime, the British commandant at Detroit had seized a commanding spot in the American territory on the north side of the Miami of the lakes, below the Rapids, where he had erected a strong fort, from which the Indians were notoriously fed and supplied with ammu nition, under the pretense of paying them annuities. They also were secretly counselled in relation to their manage ment of the war. The following extracts from the letters IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 13 of Colonel M'Kee, the superintendent of Indian affairs for the districts of Detroit and Mackinaw, which were ad dressed from this fort to Colonel England, the military commandant at Detroit, are worthy to be preserved as evidence of the conduct of the British government in this case. The letters were written from one British officer to another, and were endorsed "on his Majesty's service." "Rapids, July 2d, '94 "By the same channel I learn that a large body of troops, supposed to be 3000, with wagons, etc., crossed the Ohio some days ago and marched towards the forts in the Indian country. "I am much pressed for tobacco and ammunition (for the Indians) which I hope I may receive by the return of the boat." "Rapids, July 5th, '94. "Sir — I send this by a party of Saganas, who returned yesterday from Fort Recovery, where the whole body of Indians, except the Delawares, who had gone another route, imprudently attacked the fort on Monday, the 30th of last month, and lost 16 or 17 men, besides a good many wounded. "Everything had been settled, prior to their leaving the Fallen Timber, and it had been agreed upon to confine themselves to taking convoys, and attacking at a distance from the forts, if they should have the address to entice the enemy out; but the impetuosity of the Mackinaw In dians, and their eagerness to begin with the nearest, pre vailed with the others to alter their system, the conse quences of which, from the present appearance of things, may most materially injure the interest of these people; both the Mackinaw and Lake Indians seeming resolved on going home again, having completed the belts they carried with scalps and prisoners, and having no provision there, or at the Glaze to subsist upon; so that his Majesty's post will derive no security from the late great influx of In dians into this part of the country, should they persist in their resolution of returning so soon. 14 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR "Capt. Elliott writes that they are immediately to hold a council at the Glaze, in order to try if they can prevail on the Lake Indians to remain; but without provisions, ammunition, etc., being sent to that place, I conceive it will be extremely difficult to keep them together." "Rapids, August 13th, '94. "Sir — I was honored last night with your letter of the llth, and am extremely glad to find you are making such exertions to supply the Indians with provisions. "Captain Elliott arrived yesterday; what he has brought will greatly relieve us, having been obliged all day y esterday to take the corn and flour which the traders had there. "Scouts are sent up to view the situation of the army, and we now muster 1,000 Indians. All the Lake Indians from Sagana downward, should not lose one moment in joining their brethren, as every accession of strength is an addition to their spirits.' "Camp near Fort Miami, August 30, '94. "Sir — I have been employed several days in endeavoring to fix the Indians, (who have been driven from their vil lages and corn fields ) between the fort and the bay. Swan Creek is generally agreed upon, and will be a very con venient place for the delivery of provisions, etc." As General Wayne advanced, the Indians retired, leav ing their villages and corn, on the Miami and Auglaize rivers, to be burned and destroyed. Through the medium of his spies, the general often tendered them terms of peace, which they as often rejected. They at length determined on making a stand about two miles above the British gar rison to give Wayne battle. An engagement accordingly took place on the 20th of August, '94 — the result was a complete discomforture of the Indians. A number of British Canadians fought with the Indians in this battle. On the next day, the general reconnoitred the British fort, and demanded in peremptory terms the reasons for their intrusion. The British officer commanding, replied that IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 15 he was there by the orders of his government, and would abandon the place as soon as he was ordered to do so by his superiors; and that he hoped the general would not proceed to extremities till their respective governments were consulted. General Wayne then retired up the Miami and erected Fort Wayne. This victory over the Indians laid the foundation of a general peace with them. They had believed, that the British would protect them, but they found themselves deceived, for the gates of the British fort were shut against them as they retreated after the battle. In the following year, '95, General Wayne held a general council, with all the Indians northwest of the Ohio, at Greenville, which eventuated in a treaty, by which they ceded us an extensive tract of country, as an indemnity for past injuries, and in consideration of annuities to be paid to them by the United States. In the year '94, a treaty was also negotiated by Mr. Jay with the British government. It was signed on the 19th of November, a few months after Wayne's battle with the Indians. In pursuance of this treaty, in the year '96, all the military posts, held by the British, on the American side of the lakes, were given up to the American authorities. These treaties and events secured our interior frontiers from the active hostility of the Indians, and promoted the commercial enterprise of our citizens on the ocean. Our western settlements in consequence, rapidly advanced in population and the improvement of their country, while our Atlantic citizens were fast accumulating wealth by their trade with foreign nations. This prosperity, how ever, was not permitted to advance uninterrupted by Brit ish aggressions. The British continued their intercourse with the Indians within our limits, so as to keep them attached to British interests, and hostile in their feelings 16 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR towards the United States. But the evils we experienced on the ocean, were now infinitely more intolerable than those of the interior. The war in Europe, which had originally been insti gated by the British against the revolution in France, continued to rage with unabated violence. England and France, the leading parties in the war, used every species of artifice and violence, to involve all other nations in the contest. Orders and decrees were published, by which the maritime rights of neutral nations were infringed, and extensive coasts declared in a state of blockade, without any adequate means of enforcement. By the British orders in council, our vessels were required, under the penalty of being liable to capture, to call at a British port, on their way to any place belonging to France and her allies. By way of retaliation, Bonaparte decreed, that all vessels which had submitted to this British regulation, should be subject to capture by his cruisers. And thus no vessel of the United States could sail, either to Britain or France, or to any of their allies including all Europe, without being subject to capture by one or the other of the belligerents. At the same time the British naval officers carried on the practice of impressing American seamen, in a manner so extensive and vexatious, as to cause much distress among our seafaring people, and much incon venience and risk to our merchants. An endless course of negotiation was pursued, on these different subjects of complaint, without the prospect of success becoming any brighter. The American govern ment could obtain in this way neither indemnity for the past nor security for the future. No alternative was left, but a resort to arms, to vindicate our honor and our rights, and to protect our interests on the ocean. Our losses by captures and impressments nearly equalled the expenses IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 17 of a war in men and money. A formal declaration of war was accordingly made on the 18th of June, 1812. But previous to this declaration, hostilities had commenced with the Indians, and the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought. A preliminary view of Indian affairs will enable us to understand this commencement of the war. By the com bined counsels and schemes of the British agents, and some of the principal chiefs among the Indians, the seeds of hostility were sown among them soon after the peace of Greenville, and were gradually nurtured into war. At ihat time, Little Turtle and Blue Jacket were the leading chiefs among the northwestern tribes. They had disagreed about the manner of opposing Wayne's army. The plan of Blue Jacket was adopted, and eventuated in the total defeat of the Indians, as predicted by the other. After this event, Little Turtle continued friendly to the United States. He was of opinion, that the Indian tribes were unable to contend against the Americans ; that no material aid would be furnished them by the British; and that would only be the means of their losing more of their lands. Blue Jacket had more confidence in the British ; he thirsted for revenge against the Americans ; and he wished to regain the lands which had been ceded by the treaty of Green ville. His influence increased, whilst the Little Turtle became unpopular. He found in Tecumseh, a Shawanoese Indian, whom he associated with him in his views and projects, an able and persevering coadjutor. The leading principles in their policy were, to combine all the tribes together in one confederacy; to prevent the sale of their lands by any single tribe; and to join the British in the event of war, with a view to revenge and the recovery of their lands. They contended, that by the treaty of Green ville, the United States had acknowledged the right to 18 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR their lands to reside jointly in all tribes; and that of course the United States had no right to purchase lands from any single tribe, without the consent of the others. Blue Jacket did not live to execute his schemes; but they were diligently pursued by Tecumseh, in which he was encouraged and supported by the British agents. The various tribes, who were in the habit of visiting Detroit and Sandwich, were annually subsidized by the British. When the American agent at Detroit gave one dollar by way of annuity, the British agent on the other side of the river, Detroit, would give them ten. This course of iniquity had the intended effect; the Indians were im pressed with a great aversion for the Americans; and disregarding the treaty of Greenville, they desired to recover the lands which they had ceded, and for which they had annually received the stipulated annuity. They wished also to try their strength again with the "Big Knife," as they called the Kentuckians, in order to wipe away the disgrace of their defeat by General Wayne. And they were still promised the aid of the British, in the event of a war between the British and Americans. Their natural temper for war was thus inflamed, and they were held in readiness at any moment to commence the contest. About the year 1804, a Shawanoese Indian, the brother of Tecumseh, proclaimed himself a Prophet, alleging that he had been commanded by the Great Spirit, who made the red people, and who was not the same that made the white people, and whom the latter worshiped, to inform his red children, that the misfortunes which had fallen upon them, proceeded from their having abandoned the mode of life which he had prescribed for them, and adopted the manners and dress of the white people; and that he was commanded to tell them, that they must return to their former habits, leave off the use of whiskey, and as IN THE WESTERN COUNTEY 19 soon as possible clothe themselves in skins instead of blankets. The Prophet fixed himself at Greenville, the spot which had been so noted from the cantonment of General Wayne's army, and from the treaty made by him with the Indian tribes at that place in the year 1795. The fame of the Prophet spread through the surrounding Indian tribes, and he soon found himself at the head of a considerable number of followers, composed principally, however, of the most abandoned of the young men of the Shawanoese, Delawares, Wyandots, Potawatamies, Qttowas, Chippewas, and Kickapoos. Beside these he was visited by an immense concourse of men, women and children from the tribes of the Mississippi and Lake Superior. The most absurd stories were told, and believed by the Indians, of his power to perform miracles, and no fatigue and suffering was thought too great to be endured to get a sight of him. The people of Ohio became much alarmed at the great assem blage of the Indians upon their frontier, and a mission was sent by the governor to insist upon their removal. The United States' agent at Fort W7ayne also joined in the remonstrance, against his forming a permanent settle ment at Greenville, which was within the boundary of the United States. Accordingly, in 1808, he removed to the Wabash, and fixed his residence on the north bank of that river, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe. This land was the property of the Miami tribe, who made strong remon strances against it, but were not strong enough to effect his removal by force, as he had collected around him a considerable body of the most daring and unprincipled young men, of all the neighboring tribes. The chiefs of the latter were almost unanimously opposed to him, as they discovered that he was constantly endeavoring to destroy their influence, or to prevail on the warriors to 20 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR take the authority into their own hands. Several of the most influential chiefs were put to death by the young men, under the pretence of their practicing magic. Teteboxke, the venerable chief of the Delawares, with several of his friends, were condemned to the flames. The loss of their chiefs began, however, to be regretted, and those that sur vived made a common cause, in opposing the extension of the Prophet's influence. He was~ only able to retain about 40 warriors of his own tribe, the chiefs of which hated him most cordially. In the year 1809, he had not more than 250 or 300 warriors with him. They had suf fered much for provisions, and the greater part of them, perhaps, would have perished, if they had not been sup plied with corn by Governor Harrison, of Vincennes. In September, 1809, a treaty was made at Port Wayne, by the governor, as commissioner upon the part of the United States, for the extinguishment of the title to a considerable tract of land, extending about 60 miles up the Wabash above Vincennes. The Delawares, Miamis and Pota- watamies were parties to this treaty ; but the Prophet and his followers were not invited; because, as the governor says in his address to the legislature of Indiana, "it never had been suggested, that they could plead even the title of occupancy to the lands which were then conveyed to the United States/' and it was well known they were the right ful property by the Miamis, who had possessed them from the time of the first arrival of the white people among them. The Shawanoese tribe made no pretensions to those lands. Their principal chief attended the treaty, and recommended to the Miami chiefs to make the cession. About the time that the treaty was made, the affairs of the Prophet were at a low ebb. In the course of the succeed ing winter, however, the intrigues and negotiations of his brother Tecumseh, procured a large accession of strength. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 21 They were joined by a considerable number of Winne- bagoes or Puants, the greater part of the Kickapoo tribe, and some of the Wyandots. Although the affairs were managed in the name of the Prophet, Tecumseh was in fact the director of everything. This extraordinary man had risen into consequence, subsequently to the treaty of Greenville in the year 1795. He had been considered an active warrior in the war which was terminated by that treaty, but possessed no considerable influence. The principal object in his labors, by which he obtained dis tinction, was to unite all the tribes upon the continent in one grand confederacy for the purpose of opposing the encroachments of the whites. Tecumseh was on a mission for this purpose, when the treaty was concluded in 1809. Upon his return, he threatened to kill the chiefs who had signed it, and declared his determination to prevent the lands from being surveyed and settled. Governor Harrison, upon being informed of his pro ceedings, sent him a message, informing him "that any claims he might have to the lands which had been ceded, were not affected by the treaty; that he might come to Vincennes and exhibit his pretensions, and if they were found to be solid, that the land would either be given up, or an ample compensation made for it." Accordingly in the month of August, 1810, he came down to Vincennes, attended by several hundred warriors. A day was ap pointed to hear his statement, which it took him many hours to make. He asserted, that the Great Spirit had made the continent for the use of the Indians exclusively — that the white people had no right to come here, and take it from them — that no particular part of it was given to any tribe, but that the whole was the common property of all ; and that any sale of lands, made without the con sent of all, was not valid. In his answer, the governor 22 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR observed, that the Indians, like the white people, were divided into different tribes or nations and that the Great Spirit never intended that they should form but one nation, or he would not have taught them to speak different lan guages, which put it out of their power to understand each other — and that the Shawanoese, who emigrated from Georgia, could have no claim to the lands on the W abash, which had been occupied far beyond the memory of man by the Miamis. The governor having proceeded thus far, sat down for the purpose of giving the interpreters time to explain what he had said, to the different tribes that were present. As soon as it was interpreted in Shawa noese, Tecumseh interrupted the interpreter, and said that it was all false, and giving a signal to his warriors, they seized their tomahawks and war clubs and sprang upon their feet. For some minutes the governor was in the most immi nent danger. He preserved his presence of mind, however, and, disengaging himself from an arm-chair in which he was sitting, seized his sword to defend himself. A con siderable number of citizens of Viucennes were present, all unarmed. At a little distance, however, there was a guard of a sergeant and 12 men, who were immediately brought up by an officer. The governor then told Tecum seh, that he was a bad man, and he would have no further intercourse with him ; and directed him to retire to his camp and set out immediately on his return home. As the Indians with Tecumseh greatly outnumbered the citizens of the town, and the regular troops there, two companies of militia were brought in during the night, and a large number the next day. Early, however, on the following morning, Tecumseh sent for the interpreter, made an apology for his conduct, and earnestly requested that he might have another conference with the governor. His IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 23 request was at length granted ; but the governor took care to be attended by a number of his friends, well armed, and to have the troops in the town ready for action. In his speech Tecumseh said, that he had been advised by some white persons, to act as he had done ; but that it was not his intention to offer any violence to the governor. The latter then inquired, whether he had any other grounds for claiming the lands, that had been ceded to the United States, but those which he had stated; and he answered in the negative. The governor then observed to him, that so great a warrior should disdain to conceal his intentions, and desired to know whether he really intended to make war upon the United States, if the lately purchased lands were not relinquished by them. He answered that it was decidedly his determination, and that he would never rest, until he brought all the tribes upon the continent, to unite in one confederacy. The activity and perseverance, which he manifested in the prosecution of this scheme, are most wonderful. He visited all the tribes west of the Missis sippi, and on Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie repeatedly, before the year 1811. So sanguine were his followers about this time, and so much were they encouraged by the British agents, that in the event of a war between England and America, they believed the confederated tribes with the aid of the British, would be able to drive the Americans over the Ohio river to the south side, and thus regain all the country on the northwest of that river. And from the sine qua non, advanced by the British commissioners in the negotiation at Ghent, it would appear, that the British ministry had indulged a delusion no much less extravagant. It was the intention of Tecumseh, to avoid hostilities with the whites, until he should effect a combination strong enough to resist them, or until the expected war with Great Britain should commence. Whether the 24 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR British were really the authors of this plan, for forming a general confederacy amongst the tribes, or whether the scheme originated with Blue Jacket and Tecumseh them selves, is not certain; but from the papers found in the baggage of the British army taken on the Thames, it appears more than probable, that the former was the case — at least it is certain, that an intimate communica tion was kept up, between the Prophet and Tecumseh, and the British Indian department, from their first establish ment at Greenville ; and that they were constantly supplied with arms, ammunition and clothing, from the King's stores at Maiden. In the winter and spring of the year 1811, many depredations and several murders were com mitted upon the inhabitants of the frontiers of the Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri territories. The perpetrators were demanded of the respective chiefs, but no satisfaction could be obtained. A militia officer was sent by Governor Har rison to demand the delivery of some horses, that had been stolen from the settlements, and which were discovered with the Indians; no satisfaction was however obtained; and Tecumseh and his brother informed the officer, that they would pay a visit in person to the governor. They were told that they would be well received, provided they came with not more than 30 followers. This was acceded to. The governor, however, caused their motions to be watched, and was soon informed, that they were descend ing the river with several hundred warriors. The same officer was dispatched to meet them, and to forbid their approach to Vincennes with that body. Compliance was again promised, and Tecumseh came on with a few canoes only, but was soon followed by all the rest, who joined and encamped with him a mile from the town of Vincennes. The inhabitants were much alarmed, and there is little doubt, but that it was the intention of the Indians, to sur- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 25 prise and plunder the town. The governor was, however, on his guard. The militia of the town was kept under arms, and some companies were brought in from the country. Tecumseh demanded an interview. The gover nor agreed to it, and asked whether it was the intention of the Indians to come armed to the council. Tecumseh re plied that he would be governed by the conduct of the white people ; if they attended the council armed, his war riors would be armed also, but if the white people would come unarmed, he would come in the same way. The governor informed him, that he would be attended by a troop of dragoons, dismounted, who would have only side arms, and that the Indians might bring their war clubs, tomahawks and knives. The meeting took place in a large arbour, on one side of which were placed the dragoons, 80 in number, seated in rows ; on the other side, the Indians. Besides their swords, the dragoons had their pistols stuck in their belts. The Indians were evidently alarmed, and when the governor, who was seated in front of the front row of dragoons, began to address them, Tecumseh com plained that he could not hear him, and desired him to remove his seat to an open space near himself. The gover nor complied. In his speech he complained of the constant depredations, which were committed by the Indians of Tippecanoe. The refusal on their part to give satisfaction — and the constant accumulation of force at that place, for the avowed purpose of obliging the United States to give up lands, which they had fairly purchased, of the rightful owners. In his answer Tecumseh denied that he had taken the murderers under his protection; but ad mitted his design of forming a grand confederacy of all the nations and tribes of Indians upon the continent, for the purpose of putting a stop to the encroachments of the white people. He said, that "the policy which the United 26 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR States pursued, of purchasing lands from the Indians, he viewed as a mighty water, ready to overflow his people, and that the confederacy which he was forming among the tribes, to prevent any individual tribe from selling without the consent of the others, was the dam he was erecting to resist this mighty water." And he added, "your great father may sit over the mountains and drink his wine, but if he continues this policy, you and I will have to fight it out." He admitted, that he was then on his way to the Creek nation for the purpose of bringing them over to his measures; and he actually did, two days afterwards, set out on this journey with 12 or 15 of his warriors. Having visited the Creeks, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, he crossed the Mississippi and continued his course northwardly, as far as the river Des Monies. Having obtained, it is believed, the promise of assistance from all the tribes in that direction, he returned to the Wabash by land, across the heads of the Illinois river. In his absence his affairs had sustained a sad reverse. His town was consumed, his large deposit of provisions destroyed, his bravest followers killed, and the rest dispersed. Upon his departure to visit the southern Indians, the Prophet, his brother, was left in charge of the temporal as well as spiritual concerns of the establishment. It is believed that he received from Tecumseh, positive instructions to avoid coming to extremities with the white people, and to restrain his followers from committing depredations, which might lead to the commencement of hostilities before his plans were ripe. The Prophet, however, wanted the inclination as well as the authority necessary to follow the direction. Murders and other depredations followed in quick succession ; no redress could be obtained ; the people upon the frontiers became exceedingly alarmed, as well as the citizens of Vincennes, at which place a large meeting IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 27 was held, which passed a number of resolutions indicating their sense of the danger they were in, and warmly appro bating the measures, which had been taken by the governor for their defense. These resolutions, with a strong re monstrance against the propriety of suffering this banditti to continue their depredations, were forwarded to the President of the United States. They produced the de sired effect, and the 4th regiment commanded by Colonel Boyd, which was at that time at Pittsburgh, was ordered to repair immediately to Vincennes, and was placed under the command of Governor Harrison. The governor was also directed to add to them a body of militia, to take measures for the defence of the citizens, and as a last resort to remove the Prophet and his followers by force. As soon as it was known in Kentucky, that Harrison was authorized to march with an army against the Indians, a number of volunteers went over to join his standard. Many of them were men of high standing at home, as mili tary, civil, and literary characters. Of this number were Samuel Wells, a major-general of the militia, who had been an active soldier in former wars with the Indians — Joseph H. Daveiss, Esq., a very eminent attorney, who had great military ambition — Col. Abraham Owen, a veteran in Indian warfare — and Col. Keiger, who raised a small company of young men near Louisville, including among them, Messrs. Croghan, O'Fallon, Shipp, Chum and Ed wards, who afterwards distinguished themselves as officers in the army of the United States. In the latter part of September, the governor com menced his march up the W abash, with a force of about nine hundred effective men, composed of the 4th regiment, a body of militia, and about 130 volunteer dragoons. The fourth regiment had been raised for some time, and was trained and well officered. The militia, too, who were all 28 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR volunteers, had been trained with great assiduity by the governor, in those particular evolutions which had been practised by General Wayne's army, and which had been found useful in a covered country, and operating against Indians. Conformably to his orders from the President, the governor halted within the boundary of the United States, and endeavored by the intervention of the Delaware and Miami tribes, to induce the Prophet to deliver up the murderers and the stolen horses. These messengers of peace were received and treated with great insolence, and the demands made by them rejected with disdain by the Prophet and his council. To put an end to all hopes of accommodation, a small war party was detached for the purpose of commencing hostilities. Finding no stragglers about the camp, they fired upon one of the sentinels, and wounded him severely; the Delaware chiefs informed the governor of the object of the party, and that it was in vain to expect, that anything but force could obtain either satis faction for the injuries done, or security for the future. He learned also from the same source, that the strength of the Prophet was daily increasing by the ardent and giddy young men from every tribe, and particularly from the tribes on and beyond the Illinois river. The governor was at this time busily engaged, in erecting a fort on the southeast side of the Wabash, some miles within the bound ary of the United States, and in preparing ammunition, and disciplining his men for the expected conflict, which from the character of the enemy, he knew would be a desperate one. His little army had been much weakened by sick ness, the effect of fresh food without vegetables and a sufficient quantity of bread. The governor finding his flour growing short, had early in October put the troops upon half allowance of that article — this regulation ex tended to the officers of every rank, and was rigidly con- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 29 formed to in the family of the general. The sick having been deposited in the fort, which the officers, in compliment to their commander, had requested might be called Fort Harrison, and the weak and convalescent being drawn out to form the garrison, the troops on the 29th of October took up the line of march ; the infantry in two columns in single file on each side of the trace, and capable by a single conversion, of being formed into two lines, to receive the enemy on any point he might attack, or of being reduced into a hollow square. The country through which the army passed was occasionally open, beautiful prairie, intersected by thick woods, deep creeks, and ravines. The cavalry and mounted riflemen, of the latter of which there were two companies, covered the advance, the flanks and the rear, and were made to exchange positions with each other, as the ground varied — so as to keep them upon that which best suited the mode of fighting which they respectively practised. The Indians being perfectly master of the art of ambuscading, every precaution was used to guard against surprise, and prevent the army from being attacked in a disadvantageous position. At some distance above Fort Harrison, two routes for approaching the Prophet's town presented themselves to the choice of the governor. The one passing up the south side of the Wabash, was much shorter than the other, but it led through an uneven woody country. To the north of the river, the prairies are very extensive, affording few situations for the kind of war fare peculiar to the savages. To deceive the enemy, the governor caused the route to be reconnoitered on the south side and a wagon road laid out, and having advanced upon it a short distance, he suddenly changed his direction, and gained the right bank of the Wabash, by crossing it above the mouth of Racoon creek. Here the army was 30 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR joined by some of the volunteers from Kentucky, amongst whom were Major-General Wells, and Colonels Owen and Keiger. To General Wells the command of the mounted riflemen was assigned with the rank of major. Colonel Owen was appointed aid-de-camp to the governor; and the rest of the volunteers with a detachment of the Indiana militia under Major Beck were formed into a company, and placed under the command of Colonel Keiger as cap tain. To Colonel Daveiss the command of the dragoons had been given with the rank of major. In passing the large prairies, the army was frequently halted, and made collectively to perform the evolutions, which they had been taught in smaller bodies, during their stay at Fort Har rison, at which place, the governor had manoeuvered the relieving guards every day in person, and had required the attendance of the field officer on those occasions. The Indians not expecting the army on the north side of the river, no signs of them were seen, until it approached Pine creek, a very dangerous pass, where a few men might successfully oppose a whole army. The appearance of this creek forms a singular exception to the other water courses of this country. It runs for the distance of 15 or 20 miles above its mouth, between immense cliffs of rock, upon whose summits are found considerable quantities of pine and red cedar, the former of which is rare, and the latter no where else to be found near the W abash. The ordinary crossing place, to which the trace led that the army was pursuing was represented by the traders, who served as guides, to be extremely difficult, if not impassable for wagons, and that it was no doubt the spot where the In dians would make their attack, if they had determined to meet the army in the field. It had been twice selected by them for that purpose — once in the year 1780, when Gen eral Clark undertook a campaign against the Indians, of IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 31 the Wabash; but their design was then frustrated by a mutiny of a part of his troops TO or 80 miles above Vin- cennes — and a second time in the year 1790, when Colonel Hamtraniack penetrated with a small force as high as the Vermillion, to make a diversion in favor of General Manner's expedition to the Miami of the Lake. The gov ernor had no intention of encountering the enemy in a place like this. He accordingly, in the course of the night preceding his approach to the creek, dispatched Captain Prince, of the Indiana militia, with an escort of forty men, to reconnoitre the creek some miles above, and endeavor to find a better fording. About 10 :00 o'clock next day, this excellent officer met the army in its advance, and in formed the general, that at the distance of six or eight miles, he had found a trace, used by the Illinois Indians in traveling to Tippecanoe, which presented an excellent ford, at a place where the prairie skirted the creek. This prairie which they were now crossing, excited the admira tion and astonishment of the officers and soldiers, who had never been on the northwest side of the Wabash. To the north and west the prospect was unbounded — from the highest eminence no limit was to be seen, and the guides asserted, that the prairie extended to the Illinois river. On the evening of the 5th of November, the army en camped at the distance of nine or ten miles from the Prophet's town. It was ascertained that the approach of the army had been discovered before it crossed Pine creek. The traces of reconnoitering parties were very often seen, but no Indians were discovered until the troops arrived within 5 or 6 miles of the town on the 6th of November. The interpreters were then placed with the advanced guard, to endeavor to open a communication with them. The Indians would, however, return no answer to the invitations that were made to them for that 32 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR purpose, but continued to insult our people by their ges tures. Within about three miles of the town, the ground became broken by ravines and covered with timber. The utmost precaution became necessary, and every difficult pass was examined by the mounted riflemen before the army was permitted to enter it. The ground being unfit for the operation of the squadron of dragoons, they were thrown in the rear. Through the whole march, the pre caution had been used of changing the disposition of the different corps, that each might have the ground best suited to its operations. Within about two miles of the town, the path descended a steep hill, at the bottom of which was a small creek running through a narrow wet prairie, and beyond this a level plain partially covered with oak timber, and without underbrush. Before the crossing of the creek, the woods were very thick and intersected by deep ravines. No place could be better calculated for the savages to attack with a prospect of success, and the governor apprehended that the moment the troops de scended into the hollow, they would be attacked. A dis position was, therefore, made of the infantry, to receive the enemy on the left and rear. A company of mounted riflemen was advanced a considerable distance from the left flank to check the approach of the enemy; and the other two companies were directed to turn the enemy's flanks, should he attack from that direction. The dragoons were ordered to move rapidly from the rear and occupy the plain in advance of the creek, to cover the crossing of the army from an attack in front. In this order the troops were passed over; the dragoons were made to ad vance to give room to the infantry, and the latter having crossed the creek, were formed to receive the enemy in front in one line, with a reserve of three companies — the dragoons flanked by mounted riflemen forming the first IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 33 line. During all this time, Indians were frequently seen in front and on the flanks. The interpreters endeavored in vain to bring them to a parley. Though sufficiently near to hear what was said to them, they would return no answer, but continued by gestures to menace and insult those who addressed them. Being now arrived within a mile and a half of the town, and the situation being favor able for an encampment, the governor determined to re main there and fortify his camp, until he could hear from the friendly chiefs, whom he had dispatched from Fort Harrison, on the day he had left it, for the purpose of making another attempt to prevent the recurrence to hos tilities. Those chiefs were to have met him on the way, but no intelligence was yet received from them. Whilst he was engaged in tracing out the lines of the encampment, Major Daveiss and several other field officers approached him, and urged the propriety of immediately marching upon the town. The governor answered that his instruc tions would not justify his attacking the Indians, as long as there was a probability of their complying with the demands of the government, and that he still hoped to hear some thing in the course of the evening from the friendly Indians, whom he had dispatched from Fort Harrison. To this it was observed, that as the Indians seen hover ing about the army, had been frequently invited to a parley by the interpreters, who had proceeded some distance from the lines for the purpose; and as these overtures had uni versally been answered by menace and insult, it was very evident that it was their intention to tight ; that the troops were in high spirits and full of confidence ; and that advan tage ought to be taken of their ardour to lead them immed iately to the enemy. To this the governor answered, that he was fully sensible of the eagerness of the troops, and admitting the determined hostility of the Indians, and 34 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR :- :£f that their insolence was full evidence of their intention to fight, yet he knew them too well to believe, that they would ever do this, but by surprise, or on ground which was entirely favorable to their mode of fighting. He was, therefore, determined not to advance with the troops, until he knew precisely the situation of the town, and the ground adjacent to it, particularly that which intervened between it and the place where the army then was — that it was their duty to fight when they came in contact with the enemy — it was his, to take care that they should not engage in a situ ation where their valor would be useless, and where a corps upon which he placed great reliance would be unable to act — that the experience of the last two hours ought to convince every officer, that no reliance ought to be placed upon the guides, as to the topography of the country— that relying on their information, the troops had been led into a situation so unfavorable, that but for the celerity with which they changed their position, a few Indians might have destroyed them ; he was, therefore, determined not to advance to the town, until he had previously recon- noitered, either in person, or by some one, on whose judg ment he could rely. Major Daveiss immediately replied, that from the right of the position of the dragoons, which was still in front, the opening made by the low grounds of the Wabash could be seen; that with his adjutant, D. Floyd, he had advanced to the bank, which descends to the low grounds, and had a fair view of the cultivated fields and the houses of the town; and that the open woods, in which the troops then were, continued without interrup tion to the town. Upon this information, the governor said he would advance, provided he could get any proper person to go to the town with a flag. Captain T. Dubois, of Vincennes having offered his services, he was dispatched with an interpreter to the Prophet, desiring to know IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 35 whether he would now comply with the terms, that had been so often proposed to him. The army was moved slowly after in order of battle. In a few moments a mes senger came from Captain Dubois, informing the governor 111 at the Indians were near him in considerable numbers, but that they would return no answer to the interpreter, although they were sufficiently near to hear what was said to them, and that upon his advancing, they constantly endeavored to cut him off from the army. Governor Har rison during this last effort to open a negotiation, which was sufficient to show his wish for an accommodation, resolved no longer to hesitate in treating the Indians as enemies. He, therefore, recalled Captain Dubois, and moved on with a determination to attack them. He had not proceeded far, however, before he was met by three Indians, one of them a principal counsellor to the Prophet. They were sent, they said, to know why the army was advancing upon them — that the Prophet wished, if possible, to avoid hostilities ; that he had sent a pacific message by the Miami and Potawatamie chiefs, who had come to him on the part of the governor — and that those chiefs had unfortunately gone down on the south side of the Wabasli. A suspension of hostilities was accordingly agreed upon ; and a meeting was to take place the next day between Harrison and the chiefs, to agree upon the terms of peace. The governor further informed them, that he would go on to the Wabash, and encamp there for the night. Upon marching a short distance he came in view of the town, which was seen at some distance up the river upon a commanding eminence. Major Daveiss and Adjutant Floyd had mistaken some scattered houses in the fields below, for the town itself. The ground below the town being unfavorable for an encampment, the army marched on in the direction of the town, with a view to obtain a 36 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR better situation beyond it. The troops were in an order of march, calculated by a single conversion of companies, to form the order of battle, which it had last assumed, the dragoons being in front. This corps, however, soon be came entangled in ground, covered with brush and tops of fallen trees. A halt was ordered, and Major Daveiss directed to change position with Spencer's rifle corps, which occupied the open fields adjacent to the river. The Indians seeing this maneuver, at the approach of the troops towards the town, supposed that they intended to attack it, and immediately prepared for defence. Some of them sallied out, and called to the advanced corps to halt. The governor upon this rode forward, and requested some of the Indians to come to him, assured them, that nothing was farther from his thoughts, than to attack them — that the ground below the town on the river — was not calculated for an encampment, and that it was his intention to search for a better one above. He asked if there was any other water convenient beside that which the river afforded ; and an Indian with whom he was well acquainted, answered, that the creek, which had been crossed two miles back, ran through the prairie to the north of the village. A halt was then ordered, and some officers sent back to examine the creek, as well as the river above the town. In half an hour, Brigade-Major Marston Clarke and Major Waller Taylor returned, and reported that they had found on the creek, every thing that could be desirable in an encampment — an elevated spot, nearly surrounded by an open prairie, with water con venient, and a sufficiency of wood for fuel. An idea was propagated by the enemies of Governor Harrison, after the battle of Tippecanoe, that the Indians had forced him to encamp on a place, chosen by them as suitable for the attack they intended. The place, however, was chosen IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 37 by Majors Taylor and Clarke after examining all the environs of the town ; and when the army of General Hop kins was there in the following year, they all united in the opinion, that a better spot to resist Indians, was not to be found in the whole country. The army now marched to the place selected, and en camped late in the evening, on a dry piece of ground, which rose about ten feet above the level of a marshy prairie in front towards the town, and about twice as high above a similar prairie in the rear; through which, near the bank, ran a small stream clothed with willows and brush wood. On the left of the encampment, this bench of land became wider; on the right it gradually narrowed, and terminated in an abrupt point, about 150 yards from the right flank. The two columns of infantry occupied the front and rear. The right flank, being about eighty yards wide, was filled with Captain Spencer's company of eighty men. The left flank, about 150 yards in extent, was com posed of three companies of mounted riflemen, under Major- General Wells, commanding as a major. The front infan try, under the command of Major Floyd, flanked on the right by two companies of militia infantry, and on the left by one company of the same troops. The rear line consisted of a United States infantry, under Captain Baen, com manding, as a major; and four companies of militia infan try, under Lieutenant-Colonel Decker; the regulars being stationed next the riflemen under Wells, and the militia on the other end of the line adjoining Spencer's company. The cavalry under Daveiss were encamped in the rear of the front line and the left flank. The encampment was not more than three-fourths of a mile from the town. The order given to the army, in the event of a night attack, was for each corps to maintain its ground at all hazards till relieved. The dragoons were directed in such 38 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR a case, to parade dismounted, with their swords on and their pistols in their belts, and to wait for orders. The guard for the night consisted of two captains' commands of 42 men and 2 non-commissioned officers each ; and two subalterns' guards of twenty men and non-commisssioned officers — the whole under the command of a field officer of the day. The night was dark and cloudy; the moon rose late, and after midnight there was a drizzling rain. Many of the men appeared to be much dissatisfied; they were anxious for a battle, and the most ardent regretted, that they would have to return without one. The army gener ally had no expectation of an attack; but those who had experience in Indian affairs suspected some treachery. Colonel Daveiss was heard to say, he had no doubt but that an attack would be made before morning. It was the constant practice of Governor Harrison to call up the troops an hour before day, and keep them under arms till it was light. After 4 :00 o'clock in the morning, the governor, General Wells, Colonel Owen and Colonel Daveiss had all risen, and the governor was going to issue his orders for raising the army; when the treacherous Indians had crept up so near the sentries, as to hear them challenge when relieved. They intended to rush upon the sentries and kill them before they could fire; but one of them discovered an Indian creeping towards him in the grass, and fired. This was immediately followed by the Indian yell, and a desperate charge upon the left flank. The guards in that quarter gave way, and abandoned their officer without making any resistance. Captain Barton's company of regulars and Captain Keiger's company of mounted riflemen, forming the left angle of the rear line, received the first onset. The fire there was excessive; but the troops who had lain on their arms, were immediately IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 39 prepared to receive, and gallantly resist the furious savage assailants. The manner of the attack was calculated to discourage and terrify the men ; yet as soon as they could be formed and posted, they maintained their ground with desperate valor, though but very few of them had ever be fore been in battle. The fires in the camp were extin guished immediately, as the light they afforded was more serviceable to the Indians than to our men. As soon as the governor could mount his horse, he pro ceeded towards the point of attack, and finding the line much weakened there, he ordered two companies from the center of the rear line to march up and form across the angle in the rear of Barton's and Keiger's companies. General Wells immediately proceeded to the right of his command ; and Colonel Owen, who was with him, was pro ceeding directly to the point of attack, when he was shot from his horse near the lines, and thus bravely fell among the first victims of savage perfidy. A heavy fire now com menced all along the left flank, upon the whole of the front and right flank, and on a part of the rear line. In passing through the camp, towards the left of the front line, the governor met with Colonel Daveiss and the dragoons. The colonel informed him that the Indians, concealed behind some trees near the line, were annoying the troops very severely in that quarter; and he requested permission to dislodge them, which was granted. He immediately called on the first division of his cavalry to follow him, but the order was not distinctly heard, and but few of his men charged with him. Among those who charged, were two young gentlemen who had gone with him from Kentucky, Messrs. Mead and Sanders, who were afterwards distinguished as captains in the United States' service. They had not proceeded far out of the lines, when Daveiss was mortally wounded by several balls and fell 40 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR His men stood by him, and repulsed the savages several times, till they succeeded in carrying him into camp. In the meantime the attack on Spencer's and Warwick's companies on the right, became very severe, Captain Spen cer and his lieutenants were all killed, and Captain War wick was mortally wounded. The governor in passing towards that flank, found Captain Robb's company near the center of the camp. They had been driven from their post; or rather, had fallen back without orders. He sent them to the aid of Captain Spencer, where they fought very bravely, having seventeen men killed during the battle. Captain Prescott's company of United States' infantry had filled up the vacancy caused by the retreat of Robb's com pany. Soon after Colonel Daveiss was wounded, Captain Snelling at the head of his company charged on the same Indians and dislodged them with considerable loss. The battle was now maintained on all sides with desperate valor. The Indians advanced and retreated by a rattling noise made with deer hoofs ; they fought with enthusiasm, and seemed determined on victory or death. As soon as da3^ight appeared, Captain Snell ing's com pany, Captain Posey's, under Lieutenant Albright, and Captain Scott's were drawn from the front line, and Wilson's from the rear, and formed on the left flank; while Cook's and Baen's companies were ordered to the right. General Wells took command of the corps formed on the left, and with the aid of some dragoons, who were now mounted and commanded by Captain Parke, made a suc cessful charge on the enemy in that direction, driving them into an adjoining swamp through which the cavalry could not pursue them. At the same time Cook's and Lieutenant Larbie's companies, with the aid of the riflemen and militia on the right flank, charged on the Indians and put them to flight in that quarter, which terminated the battle. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 41 During the time of this contest, the Prophet kept him self secure, on an adjacent eminence, singing a war song. He had told his followers, that the Great Spirit, would render the army of the Americans unavailing, and that their bullets would not hurt the Indians, who would have light, while the enemies were involved in thick darkness. Soon after the battle commenced, he was informed that his men were falling. He told them to fight on, it would soon be as he had predicted, and then began to sing louder. Colonel Boyd commanded as a brigadier general in this engagement; and the governor in his letter to the war department, speaks highly of him and his brigade, and of Clarke and Croghan who were his aides. Colonel Decker is also commended for the good order in which he kept his command; and of General Wells, it is said, that he sus tained the fame which he had acquired in almost every campaign since the first settlement of Kentucky. The officers and soldiers generally, performed their duties well. They acted with a degree of coolness, bravery and good order, which was not to be expected from men used to carnage, and in a situation so well calculated to produce terror and confusion. The fortune of war neces sarily put it in the power of some officers and their men, at the expense of danger, wounds and death, to render more service and acquire more honor than others; but to speak of their particular merits, would be to detail again the operations of the conflict. Of Colonels Owen and Daveiss, the governor speaks in the highest terms. Owen joined him as a private in Keiger's company at Fort Harrison, and accepted the place of volunteer aid. He had been a representative in the legislature of Kentucky. His character was that of a good citizen and a brave soldier. He left a wife and a large family of children, to add the poignancy of domestic grief to the public regret for his loss. 42 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR Colonel Daveiss also joined the army as a private and was promoted on the recommendation of the officers of the dragoons; his conduct as their commander fully justified their choice. Never was there an officer possessed of more military ardor, nor more zeal to discharge all his duties with punctilious propriety; and never perhaps did any man, who had not been educated for the profession of arms, possess a richer fund of military 'information at his en trance on a military life. All that books and study could furnish, all the preparation the closet could make for the field, was his. He was a man of great talents — of genius — and indefatigable industry. In Kentucky he stood among the foremost in the profession of the law. His elo cution was singularly attractive and forcible. Wit and energy, acuteness and originality of thought, were the characteristics of his eloquence. But as an orator he was very unequal. Some times he did not rise above medio crity, whilst some of his happiest efforts were never sur passed in America — never perhaps in any age or country. Such at least was the opinion of men, whose talents, ac quirements and taste, had qualified them to judge. He had much eccentricity in his manners and his dress. In his disposition he was generous; and in his friendship he was ardent. His person was about six feet high, well formed and robust — his countenance open and manly. He had acquired fortune and fame by his own exertions— neither his patrimony nor his education having been very ample. Being in the prime of life, and possessing great military ambition and acquirements, he was destined, per haps, had he lived, to become one of the first military characters of America. He died a few hours after the bat tle had closed. As soon as he was informed, that the In dians were repulsed, and the victory was complete, he observed, he could die satisfied — that he had fallen in de fense of his country. He left a wife but no children. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 43 Captain Baen, who fell early in the action, had the character of an able officer and a brave soldier. Captain Spencer was wounded in the head — he exhorted his men to fight on. He Avas then shot through both thighs, and fell — still he continued to encourage his men. He was then raised up, and received a ball through his body which immediately killed him. His lieutenants, M'Mahan and Berry, fell bravely encouraging their men. Warwick was shot through the body, and was taken to the surgery to be dressed ; as soon as it was over, being a man of much bodily strength and still able to walk, he insisted on going back to his post, though it was evident, he had but a few hours to live. Colonel White, formerly United States agent at the Saline, was also killed in the action. The whole number killed, with those who died soon of their wounds, was upwards of fifty; the wounded were about double that number. Governor Harrison himself narrow ly escaped, the hair on his head being cut by a ball. The Indians left 38 warriors dead on the field, and buried several others in the town, which with those who must have died of their wounds, would make their loss at least as great as that of the Americans. The troops under the command of Governor Harrison of every de scription, amounted on the day before the battle, to some thing more than 800. The ordinary force, that had been at the Prophet's town, throughout the preceding summer, was about 450. But they were joined a few days before the action, by all the Kickapoos of the Prairie, and by many bands of Potawatamies from the Illinois river, and the St. Josephs of Lake Michigan. They estimated their number after the battle, to have been 600 ; but the traders who had a good opportunity of knowing, made them at least 800, and some as many as 1000. However, it is certain, that no victorv was ever before obtained over the northern 44 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Indians, where the numbers were anything like equal. The number of killed too was greater, than was ever before known. It is their custom always to avoid a close action, and from their dexterity in hiding themselves, but few of them can be killed, even when they are pouring destruction into the ranks of their enemy. It is believed that there were not ten of them killed at St. Glair's defeat, and still fewer at Braddock's. At Tippecanoe, they rushed up to the bayonets of our men, and in one instance, related by Captain Snelling, an Indian adroitly put the bayonet of a soldier aside, and clove his head with his war club, an instrument on which there is fixed a triangular piece of iron, broad enough to project several inches from the wood. Their conduct on this occasion, so different from what it usually is, was attributed to the confidence of success, with which their prophet had inspired them, and to the distin guished bravery of the Winebago warriors. The Indians did not determine to attack the American camp till late at night. The plan that was formed the evening before, was to meet the governor in council the next day, and agree to the terms he proposed. At the close of the council, the chiefs were to retire to the war riors, who were to be placed at a convenient distance. The governor was then to be killed by two Winebagoes, who had devoted themselves to certain death to accomplish this object. They were to loiter about the camp, after the council had broken up; and their killing the governor and raising the war whoop, was to be the signal for a general attack. The Indians were commanded by White Moon, Stone Eater, and Winemac, a Potawatamie chief, who had been with the governor on his march, and at Fort Harri son, making great professions of friendship. The 4th regiment was about 250 strong, and there were about 60 volunteers from Kentucky in the army. The IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 45 rest of the troops were volunteers from the Indiana militia. Those from the neighborhood of Vincennes had been trained for several years, by the governor, and had become very expert in the maneuvers which he had adopted for fighting the Indians. The greater part of the territorial troops followed him as well from personal attachment as from a sense of duty. Indeed, a greater degree of confi dence and personal attachment has rarely been found in any army towards its commander, than existed in this ; nor has there been many battles in which the dependence of the army on its leader was more distinctly felt. During the whole action the governor was constantly on the lines, and always repaired to the point whicli was most hardly pressed. The reinforcements drawn occasionally from the points most secure, were conducted by himself and formed on the spot, where their services were most wanted. The officers and men who believed that their ultimate success depended on his safety, warmly remonstrated against his so constantly exposing himself. Upon one occasion as he was approaching an angle of the line, against which the Indians were advancing with horrible yells, Lieutenant Emerson of the dragoons seized the bridle of his horse, and earnestly entreated that he would not go there; but the governor putting spurs to his horse, pushed on to the point of attack, where the enemy were received with firmness and driven back. The army remained in camp on the 7th and 8th of November, to bury the dead and dress the wounded; and to make preparations for returning. During this time, General Wells was permitted with the mounted riflemen to visit the town, which he found evacuated by all, except a chief whose leg was broke. The general burnt their houses, destroyed their corn and brass kettles, and re turned to camp unmolested. The town was well prepared 46 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR for an attack, and no doubt but the Indians fully ex pected it; for they had determined to agree to no terms which could be offered. The wounds of the chief being dressed, and provision made for him, he was left with in structions to tell his companions, that if they would abandon the Prophet and return to their respective tribes, they should be forgiven. On the 9th of November the return of the army was commenced. It marched slowly, on account of the wounded, the difficult}- of transportation, and some appre hensions of another attack. As the army had come up the river, a block house had been built on its bank, where some boats and heavy baggage had been left. The wounded were now put in the boats as the army returned, and were taken to Fort Harrison and Vincennes by water. Captain Snelling and his company were left at Fort Harrison ; and the governor arrived at Vincennes on the 18th, having been met and welcomed back by a concourse of two hundred citizens. The battle of Tippecanoe has been the subject of much speculation, both as to its object, and the manner of its execution and final issue. Governor Harrison was cen sured by some, for not making an attack upon the Indians, on the evening of the 6th of November, and for not fortify ing his camp with a breastwork. It was erroneously said by some, that indulging a false security, he had suffered his camp to be surprised. He was also blamed by the friends of Colonel Daveiss, for directing him with his dragoons only, to dislodge the Indians, who were sheltered near the line, and doing much execution in safety. Many other complaints of less magnitude were also made by men, who were wise after the transaction was over. There were indeed more able generals in the United States, who could tell what ought to be done after the battle was fought, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 47 than the governor had soldiers in his army to fight it. Colonel Boyd, who commanded the regulars, wishing to monopolize all the honor to himself and his regiment, con cluded the governor had not sufficiently noticed him in his report ; he therefore made a separate communication to the war department; and also made many round assertions respecting the conduct of the militia — which was promptly explained, and the charges in general disapproved by Gover nor Harrison. Colonel Boyd, however, had his partizans, and some of them still persist in attributing the salvation of the army to him ; though all the troops, regulars as well as militia, with the exception of only three or four indi viduals, united in attributing the victory to the governor. Most of the officers publicly united in attesting his merits. Without intending to impeach Colonel Boyd with any dereliction of duty, we can positively aver, that he did not give a single order, nor perform a single act, that con tributed in any perceptible way to the issue of the contest. All the arrangements and orders before the action and during its continuance, came direct from Governor Har rison. After much alternation, by which the battle of Tippe- canoe was fought over again and fully investigated, in all the public circles of the western country, the public opinion preponderated greatly in favor of the governor. All the material accusations of his enemies were disproved; and after all the testimony had been heard, the common opinion seemed to be, that the army had been conducted with prudence, and that the battle had been fought as well as it could have been by any general, considering the time and manner of the attack. If the governor had made the attack himself on the evening of the 6th, after a chief had informed him that the Indians were desirous of an accom modation, and had sent a messenger three days before to 48 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR meet him for that purpose, his conduct would have had the appearance of rashness and cruelty. His enemies and the opposition in general, would have vilified him and the executive as murderers, who had first provoked, and then massacred those "innocent people" in their own dwellings. Hence a regard for his own character and for the dictates of humanity, required that he should not make an attack while any prospect of accommodation remained. The principal error consisted in not fortifying his camp, when so near the enemy and so likely to be attacked; but this excuses by stating, that the army had scarcely a sufficient number of axes to procure firewood. It is not the object of this history, however, to justify or condemn, but to re late facts1 (Correctly and leave the reader to judge for himself. In December, the month after the battle, the legislature of Kentucky, on the motion of J. H. Hawkins, Esq., went into mourning for the loss of Colonels Daveiss, Owen, and others, who had fallen at Tippecanoe; and in the same session, while this battle was the subject of much discus sion, the following resolution, moved by J. J. Crittenden, Esq., was adopted with only two or three dissenting votes — "Resolved, etc.. That in the late campaign against the Indians on the Wabash, Governor W. H. Harrison, has in the opinion of this legislature, behaved like a hero, a patriot, and a general; and that for his cool, deliberate, skillful and gallant conduct in the late battle of Tippe canoe, he well deserves the warmest thanks of the nation." The veteran soldier, Governor Charles Scott, approved this resolution, which at once gave tone to the popularity of Harrison, effectually turning the tide in his favor, and reducing the clamor of his enemies to private murmurs. ' On the 22nd of November, the annual meeting to the Indians to receive their annunities took place at F'ort Wayne, where several of those who had fought in the battle, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 49 had the effrontery to present themselves and claim their respective portions. They had the address completely to deceive our Indian agent at that place, John Johnson, Esq. They represented, that the Prophet's party had him in confinement and were determined to kill him ; that they blamed him for all their misfortunes ; with many other de ceptive stories, which induced Mr. Johnson to inform the government, that the Indians were all inclined for peace, and that no further hostilities should be committed against them. Yet, at this very time, in most of the nations there assembled, a British faction was boiling to the brim, and ready to overflow on our devoted frontiers, whenever the perfidious British agents might think proper to increase the fire of their hostility. The Prophet instead of being in confinement, was at perfect liberty at Mississineway, a village about TO miles southeast from Fort Wayne. Pre vious to the battle, the Governor General of the Canadas, had given our government information, that some of the Indians were hostile to the United States; but this was evidently done to remove suspicion, and to render the British more secure and successful in their intrigues with the savages. The Indians, assembled at this place, were the chiefs and head men of the Delawares. Miamies, Potawatamies, and Shawanoese. The agent delivered them a speech, in which he explained to them, that the President wished to live in peace and friendship with them, and promised pardon to any of the hostile Indians who would lay down their arms. An answer was returned on the part of all the tribes present, by Black-Hoof, a Shawanoe chief, in which they professed the strongest desire to live in peace and friendship with the United States. The profession was sincere on the part of the Shawanoese, and a greater 4 50 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK majority of the Delawares; but the Potawatamies and Miamies had no intention to be peaceable after receiving their annuities. The Little Turtle of the Miamies, now in the decline of life and of influence, was the strenuous advocate of peace, but the majority of his people followed the counsels of Tecumseh. On the Wabash, after the battle of Tippecanoe, the Indians remained quiet, and in a few days many of them returned to their towns. Before Christmas, Stone Eater, with two Winebagoes, one Kickapoo, and a Piankisshaw, came to Fort Harrison, and delivered a talk to Captain Snelling, in which they professed much contrition for what had happened, with a desire to be at friendship. The same fellow had defended the cause of Tecumseh in a council at Vincennes, shortly before the march of the expedition; and he now wished to go there again, to make deceptions offers of friendship to the governor. He pretended, that the Prophet was despised, and had escaped from them to the Huron Indians. After receiving orders from Governor Harrison, Captain Snelling permitted them to go on to Vin cennes, where they renewed their professions of friendship, and promised to punish the Prophet, or deliver him to the United States, as soon as they could catch him. They returned once more to their own country, determined not to commit hostilities again — till a favorable opportunity should occur. During the winter of 1811-12, a number of Indians from various tribes came to Forts Harrison and Vincennes ; but Tecumseh, the Prophet, and others known to be the most hostile, staid behind — hence little reliance could be placed on the professions of those who came in. After Tecumseh returned from the south, he visited Fort Wayne, and was still haughty, and obstinate in the opinions he had em braced. He matte bitter reproaches against Harrison; IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 51 and at the same time had the presumption to demand ammunition from the commandant, which was refused him. He then said he would go to his British father, who would not deny him — he appeared thoughtful a while, then gave the war whoop and went off. Early in the spring of 1812, Tecumseh and his party began to put their threats into execution. Small parties be gan to commit depredations on the frontiers of the Indiana and Illinois territories, and part of Ohio. Twenty scalps were taken in the Indiana territory alone before the 1st of June. The people were thus compelled to protect them selves by going into forts along the frontiers. Volunteer companies of militia were organized, and the marauders were frequently pursued, but generally without success, as they fled immediately after doing mischief. Governor Harrison requested permission from the war department, to raise a mounted force and penetrate to their towns to chastise them. They occupied Tippecanoe, and had com menced raising corn. But the governor was not permitted to march against them, and the frontiers continued to suffer in every direction. Had a strong mounted army been permitted to scour the Wabash as far as Mississine- way, the settlements of the savages would have been completely destroyed, and their depredations would have ceased. The government appears to have pursued a mis taken policy of forbearance, lest the Indians should join the British in the expected war. But this forbearance only inspired them with a belief, that we were weak and pusillanimous, and tended to ensure their alliance with the British, had anything been necessary for that purpose. By vigorous measures we might easily have beaten them into peaceable deportment and respect. Mr. Secretary Eustis of the war department, thought differently; and Avhile he was attempting to soothe them with good words; 52 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR they were laughing at his credulity. To maintain peace with an Indian, it is necessary to adopt his own principles and punish every aggression promptly, and thus convince him that you are a man and not a squaw. In May, Governor Harrison made considerable ar rangements towards organizing a corps of mounted volun teers, to chastise the Indians on the Wabash. A company of mounted volunteers was raised in Franklin county, Ky., containing about TO gentlemen of respectability, under the command of Capt. John Arnold, and Col. Anthony Crocket, who had distinguished themselves not only in the revolution, but in most of the Indian wars at an early period in Kentucky. This company remained at Vin- cennes only 10 days; during which time several parties made excursions up the Wabash, and protected the inhabi tants while planting their corn. The governor being dis appointed in receiving orders for the expedition from the war department, the company was dismissed; and all measures for offensive operations being abandoned, the Indians pursued their course of robbery and murder on the frontiers unresisted. It will no doubt be interesting to the reader, to con clude the present chapter with the following letter from General Harrison to the war department, respecting the north western Indians. It contains, says tlie general, in a different letter to the secretary : "A sketch of the situation of each of the tribes bordering on this frontier; and an abstract of the policy, which has been pursued in the negotiations, which have been conducted by me, for the extinguishment of their title to lands, since the year 1801 ; and which you could only otherwise obtain, by wading through a most voluminous correspondence in the archives of your office." It will further explain the cause of Indian IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 53 hostility, and enable the reader to understand more cor rectly many parts in the following history : "H. Q., Cincinnati, March 22nd, 1814. "Sir — The tribes of Indians upon this frontier and east of the Mississippi, with whom the United States have been connected by treaty, are the Wyandots, Delawarcs, Shawanoese, Miamies, Potawatamies, Ottawas, Cliippewas, Piankashaws, Kaskaskias, and Saes. All but the two last were in the confederacy, which carried on the former In dian war against the United States, that was terminated Vv the peace of Greenville. The Kaskaskias were parties to the treaty, but they had not been in the war. The Wyandots are admitted by the others to be the leading tribe. They hold the grand calumet, which unites them and kindles the council fire. This tribe is nearly equally divided between the Crane at Sandusky, who is the grand Sachem of the nation, and Walk-in-the-Water at Browns- town near Detroit. They claim the lands, bounded by the settlements of this State, southwardly and eastwardly; and by Lake Erie, the Miami river, and the claim of the Shawanoese upon the Auglaize, a branch of the latter. They also claim the lands they live on near Detroit, but I am ignorant to what extent. "The Wyandots of Sandusky have adhered to us through the war. Their Chief, the Crane, is a venerable, intelligent, and upright man. Within the tract of land claimed by the WTyandots a number of Senecas are settled. They broke off from their own tribe six or eight years ago, but receive a part of the annuity granted that tribe by the United States, by sending a deputation for it to Buffalo. The claim of the Wyandots to the lands they occupy, is not disputed, that I know of, by any other tribe. Their residence on it, however, is not of long standing, and the country was certainly once the property of the Miamies. "Passing westwardly from the Wyandots, we meet with the Shawanoese settlement at Stony creek, a branch of the Big Miami, and at Wapockaunata on the Auglaize. These settlements were made immediately after the treaty of Greenville, and with the consent of the Miamies, whom I 54 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR consider the real owners of those lands. The chiefs of this band of Shawanoese, Blackhoof, Wolf, and Lewis, are attached to us from principle as well as interest — they are all honest men. "The Miamies have their principal settlements at the forks of the Wabash, thirty miles from Fort Wayne; and at Mississineway, thirty miles lower down. A band of them under the name of Weas, have resided on the Wabash sixty miles above Vincennes; and another under the Tur tle on Eel river, a branch of the Wabash, twenty miles northwest of Fort Wayne. By an artifice of the Little Turtle, these three bands were passed on General Wayne as distinct tribes, and an annuity was granted to each. The Eel river and Weas, however, to this day call them selves Miamies, and are recognized as such by the Missis- seneway band. The Miamies, Maumees, or Tewicktovies, are the undoubted proprietors of all that beautiful country which is watered by the Wabash and its branches; and there is as little doubt, that their claim extended at least as far east as the Scioto. They have no tradition of remov ing from any other quarter of the country; whereas all the neighboring tribes, the Pianishaws expected, who are a branch of the Miamies, are either intruders upon them, or have been permitted to settle their country. The Wyan- dots emigrated first from Lake Ontario, and subsequently from Lake Huron — the Delawares, from Pennsylvania and Maryland — the Shawanoese from Georgia — the Kickapoos and Potawatamies from the country between Lake Michi gan and the Mississippi — and the Ottawas and Chippewas from the peninsula formed by the lakes Michigan, Huron, and St. Clair, and the strait connecting the latter with Erie. The claims of the Miamies were bounded on the north by those of the Illinois confederacy, consisting origi nally of five tribes, called Kaskaskias, Cohokias, Peorians, Michiganians, and Temarios, speaking the Miami lan guage, and no doubt branches of that nation. "When I was first appointed Governor of Indiana Ter ritory, these once powerful tribes were reduced to about thirty warriors, of whom twenty-five were Kaskaskias, four Peorians, and a single Michiganian. There was an IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 55 individual lately alive at St. Louis, who saw the enumera tion made of them by the Jesuits in the year 1745, making the number of their wrarriors four thousand. A furious war between them and the Saes and Kickapoos, reduced them to that miserable remnant, which had taken refuge amongst the wliite people of the towns of Kaskaskia and St. Genevieve. The Kickapoos had fixed their principle village at Peoria, upon the south bank of the Illinois river, \vhilst the Saes remained masters of the country to the north. "During the war of our revolution, the Miamies had invited the Kickapoos into their country to assist them against the whites, and a considerable village wras formed by that tribe on the Vermilion river near its junction with the Wabash. After the treaty of Greenville, the Delawares had with the approbation of the Miamies, removed from the mouth of the Auglaize to the head wraters of White river, a large branch of the Wabash — and the Potawa- tamies without their consent had formed two villages upon the latter river, one at Tippecanoe, and the other at Chippoy twenty-five miles below. "The Piankishawrs lived in the neighborhood of Vin- cennes, which was their ancient village, and claimed the lands to the mouth of the Wabash, and to the north and west as far as the Kaskaskians claimed. Such was the situation of the tribes, when I received the instructions of President Jefferson, shortly after his first election, to make efforts for extinguishing the Indian claims upon the Ohio, below the mouth of the Kentucky river, and to such other tracts as were necessary to connect and consolidate our settlements. It was at once determined, that the com munity of interests in the lands amongst the Indian tribes, which seemed to be recognized by the treaty of Greenville, should be objected to ; and that each individual tribe should be protected in every claim that should appear to be founded in reason and justice. But it was also determined, that as a measure of policy and liberality, such tribes as lived upon any tract of land which it would be desirable to purchase, should receive a portion of the compensation, although the title might be exclusively in another tribe. 56 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Upon this principle the Delawares, Shawanoese, Potawa- tamies, and Kickapoos were admitted as parties to several of the treaties. Care was taken, however, to place the title to such tracts as it might be desirable to purchase hereafter, upon a footing that would facilitate the procur ing of them, by getting the tribes who had no claim them selves, and who might probably interfere, to recognize the titles of those who were ascertained to possess them. "This was particularly the case with regard to the lands watered by the Wabash, which were declared to be the property of the Miamies, with the exception of the tract occupied by the Delawares on White river, which was to be considered the joint property of them and the Miamies. This arrangement was very much disliked by Tecumseh, and the banditti that he had assembled at Tippecanoe. He complained loudly, as well of the sales that had been made, as of the principle of considering a particular tribe as the exclusive proprietors of any part of the country, which he said the Great Spirit had given to all his red children. Besides the disaffected amongst the neighbor ing tribes, he had brought together a considerable number of Winebagoes and Folsovoins from the neighborhood of Green Bay, Saes from the Mississippi, and some Ottawaa and Chippewas from Abercrosh on Lake Michigan. These people were better pleased with the climate and country of the Wabash, than with that they had left. "The Miamies resisted the pretensions of Tecumseh and his followers for some time, but a system of terror wa» adopted, and the young men were seduced by eternally placing before them a picture of labor, and restriction as to hunting, to which the system adopted would inevitably lead. The Potawatamies and other tribes inhabiting the Illinois river and south of Lake Michigan, had been for a long time approaching gradually towards the Wabash. Their country, which was never abundantly stocked with game, was latterly almost exhausted of it, The fertile regions of the WT abash still afforded it. It was repre sented, that the progressive settlements of the whites upon that river, would soon deprive them of their only resources, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 57 and, indeed would force the Indians of that river upon them, who were already half starved. "It is a fact, that for many years the current of emigra tion, as to the tribes east of the Mississippi, has been from north to south. This is owing to two causes: the diminu tion of those animals from which the Indians procure their support; and the pressure of the two great tribes, the Chippewas and Sioux to the north and west. So long ago as the treaty of Greenville, the Potawatainies gave notice to the Mianiies, that they intended to settle upon the Wabash. They made no pretensions to the country, and their only excuse for the intended aggression, was that "they were tired of eating fish, and wanted meat." It has been already observed that the Saes had extended themselves to the Illinois river, and that the settlement of the Kickapoos at the Peorias was of modern date. Pre viously to the commencement of the present war, a con siderable number had joined their brethren upon the Wabash. The Tawas from the Des Moines river have twice made attempts to get a footing there. "From these facts it will be seen, that it will be nearly impossible to get the Indians south of the Wabash to go beyond the Illinois river. The subject of providing an outlet to such of the tribes as it might be desirable to remove, had been under consideration for many years. There is but one. It was long since discovered by the Indians themselves, and but for the humane policy, which has been pursued by our government, the Delawares, Kick apoos, and Shawanoese would long since have been out of our way. The country claimed by the Osages abounds with everything that is desirable to a savage. The Indians of the tribes above mentioned have occasionally intruded upon them — a war was the consequence, which would soon have given a sufficient opening for emigration. But our government interfered and obliged the hostile tribes to make peace. "I was afterwards instructed to endeavor to get the Delawares to join that part of their tribe, which is settled on the west side of the Mississippi near Cape Girardeau. The attempt was unsuccessful at the time. I have no 58 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR doubt, however, that they could be prevailed on to move; but it ought not in my opinion to be attempted in a general council of the tribe. "The question of the title to the lands south of the Wabash has been thoroughly examined; every opportun ity was afforded to Tecumseh and his party to exhibit their pretensions, and they were found to rest upon no other basis, than that of their being the common property of all the Indians. The Potawatamies and Kickapoos have unequivocally acknowledged the Miami and Delaware title. The latter, as I before observed, can, I think, be in duced to remove. It may take a year or eighteen months to effect it. The Miamies will not be in our way. They are a poor, miserable, drunken set, diminishing every year. Becoming too lazy to hunt, they feel the advantage of their annuity. The fear of the other Indians has alone prevented them from selling their whole claim to the United States ; and as soon as there is peace, or the British can no longer intrigue, they will sell. I know not what inducement can be held out to the Wyandots to remove; they were not formerly under my superintendence, but I am persuaded that a general council could not be the place to attempt it. I have the honor, etc., etc., WM. H. HARRISON/' lion. J. Armstrong, Secretary of War. F'rom this able and interesting review of Indian set tlements, rights, and politics — the result of an intimacy, for 20 years, with those affairs — we are enabled to judge of the justice of the cause advocated by Tecumseh. His scheme of policy was certainly well calculated to secure and promote the best interests of the Indians as savages; but to render it just in theory, and efficient in practice, it was necessary that it should receive the undivided sanction and support of all the tribes concerned. This, all the talents and persevering industry of Tecumseh, aided by the intrigues and bribes of the British, were enabled to IN THE WESTEKiN COUNTRY 59 effect. To form a confederacy out of so many and such various tribes, required a degree of civilization to which the Indians had not attained. If such a union were actually effected, it is improbable that any purchase of lands could ever afterwards be accomplished by the United States. The consent of all the tribes in a general council, to the cession of any part of their country, was considered by the advocates of the scheme as a thing unattainable. On the contrary, while no such confederacy existed in fact, bad our government acknowledged the principle of Tecum- seh, that a community of interest in their lands was a matter of natural right, we should have been subjected to great inconvenience in the extension of our settlements. As soon as one tribe had sold us a parcel of land, other hordes might settle on it in succession, and by the mere temporary occupancy of the soil, compel our government to purchase it again tAventy times over. It is doubtless true, that scarcely any tribe has lands appropriated to itself by exact and special boundaries. Its villages and the lands immediately around them, may be considered as clearly its exclusive property; but the remote wilderness, between the more distant settlements of different tribes, is not partitioned with any precision, except where nature may have done it, by a water course or some such striking limit. The wandering nature of their occupation renders a more exact appropriation impractic able. This vagueness of their claims, however, is no foundation for the doctrine of a common property. The Miamies appear to have been the original occupants and real owners of all the lands northwest of the Ohio; but other tribes have gradually intruded, and formed settle ments with or without their consent, till they are at last reduced to narrow limits and insignificance themselves. CHAPTER II. DECLARATION OF WAR — HULL'S CAMPAIGN. During those transactions with the Indians, which have been described in the preceding chapters, affairs between the United States and Great Britain were fast approach ing to a crisis. In April an embargo was laid by Congress on all the shipping in the ports and harbors of the United States. An act authorizing the President to detach one hundred thousand militia for six months was passed and carried into execution ; several others authorizing a regular army to be raised were also passed ; and the people in gen eral expected that a declaration of war would soon take place. In April the President made a requisition on the State of Ohio for twelve hundred militia, and ordered the 4th regiment from Vincennes to Cincinnati, under the com mand of Colonel Miller, to be joined with the militia. Boyd, in the meantime, having gone to Washington City, had been promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In obedience to the requisition, Governor Meigs, of Ohio, issued orders to the major generals of the middle and western divisions of that State, for their respective pro portions of men, to rendezvous on the 29th of April at Dayton, a town at the mouth of Mad river on the Big Miami. The corps were raised without difficulty — the people of Ohio, with an ardent love of country and zeal for its interests, voluntarily tendered their services to the gov ernment of their choice. In a few days, more than the 61 62 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR number wanted came forward. Citizens of the first re spectability enrolled themselves, and prepared for the dangers of the field, contending with each other who should go first into the service of their country. The troops being collected, they proceeded to choose their field officers, when Duncan M' Arthur was elected colonel of the first regiment, and James Denny and William A. Trimble, majors — for the 2nd regiment, James Findley, colonel, and Thomas Moore and Thos. B. Vanhorne, majors — for the 3rd, Lewis Cass, colonel, and Robert Morrison and J. R. Munson, majors. No accommodations having been prepared for the troops, they were obliged to camp without tents or other equipage; and having been hurried from home very sud denly, they had to encounter many difficulties without being prepared to meet them. Most of them had never been in a camp before, and were entirely unacquainted with the necessary equipments. It was the middle of May be fore blankets and camp equipage arrived from Pittsburgh by the way of Cincinnati. William Hull, Esq., governor of the Michigan Terri tory, having been appointed a brigadier general in the army of the United States, was destined to command these troops. He arrived at Dayton about the 20th of May, and appointed his son, Capt. A. F. Hull, and Robert Wallace, Jr., his aides — Lieut. Thos. S. Jessup, his brigade major — and Doctor Ab. Edwards, his hospital surgeon. General James Taylor, of Kentucky, also accompanied his army as quartermaster general. The organization of the troops into regiments being completed, Governor Meigs proceeded as directed by the Secretary of War, to surrender the command to General Hull. The 25th of May, being selected for this ceremony, the army was formed in close column, and addressed by the governor in a speech full of IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 63 patriotic sentiments and good advice. He congratulated them on being placed under General Hull, a distinguished officer of revolutionary experience; and who, being super intendent of Indian affairs, and governor of the territory to which they were destined, would thence be able more effectually to provide for their comfort and convenience. Colonel Cass also delivered an appropriate address, which was received with much applause. General Hull being invested with command, then addressed the troops in flat tering and animated terms. After commending their patriotism and recommending discipline, he proceeded: "In marching through a wilderness memorable for savage barbarity, you will remember the causes, by which the barbarity had been heretofore excited. In viewing the ground stained with the blood of your fellow citizens, it will be impossible to suppress the feelings of indignation. Passing by the ruins of a fortress, erected in our territory by a foreign nation, in times of profound peace, and for the express purpose of exciting the savages to hostility, and supplying them with the means of conducting a barbarous war, must remind you of that system of oppression and injustice, which that nation had continually practiced, and which the spirit of an indignant people can no longer endure." The delivery of this speech by the general animated every breast, and great expectations were formed of his prowess and abilities. His manners were familiar and his appearance prepossessing. The frost of time had given him a venerable aspect, and the idea of his revolutionary services inspired the troops with confidence. Such were the auspicious circumstances under which General Hull took command of the army. Those who were induced by their discernment, or their intimate acquaintance with the general, to doubt his abilities to lead an invading army, 64 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR hesitated to express their sentiments, and were silent be fore the voice of public admiration. On the first of June, the army marched up the Miami to Staunton, a small village on the east bank. Here they waited for the boats in which the baggage was coming up the river. They intended to ascend Lorimies river 18 miles, then march by Piqua to the Auglaize, and then descend that river. But on the 6th of June, they were informed, that the water was too low for the boats to ascend — they were then ordered by the general to march to Urbana, a village about 30 miles to the east of Staunton. Here they were informed on the morning of the 8th, by a general order, that they would be met that day on parade, by the governor accompanied by many distinguished citizens and some Indian chiefs. On the following day, Governor Meigs and General Hull held a council with 12 chiefs, of the Shawanoe, Mingoe, and Wyandot nations, to obtain leave from them t'o march the army through their territory, and to erect such forts as might be deemed necessary; which was promptly granted by them, and every assistance, which they could give the army in the wilderness was promised. Governor Meigs had held a council with these Indians on the 6th, in which it was agreed to adhere to the treaty of Greenville. At these councils, the just and humane policy of our government, was exhibited in fair-dealing with the Indians, and in exhorting them to peace and neutrality. It forms a striking contrast to the conduct of the British, who were using every insidious means to engage the Indians in their service, and to excite them to massacre our innocent women and children. On the 10th of June, the 4th regiment, with Colonel Miller at its head, arrived at Urbana. They were met about a mile from town, by Colonels M'Arthur, Cass, and IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 65 Findley, at the head of their respective regiments, by whom they were escorted into camp, through a triumphal arch, adorned with an eagle, and inscribed with the words, TIPPECANOE— GLORY. On this occasion the general issued a congratulatory order to his troops to excite their emulation. "H. Q. Urbana, June 10, 1812. "The general congratulates the army on the arrival of the 4th U. S. Regiment. The first army of the State of Ohio will feel a pride in being associated with a regiment so distinguished for its valor and discipline. The general is persuaded, that there will be no other contention in this army, but who will most excel in discipline and bravery. Whatever the rank of the regiment, or to whatever de scription it belongs, it will in reality consider itself the first regiment in the army. The patriots of Ohio, who yield to none in spirit and patriotism, will not be willing to yield to any in discipline and valor. THOS. S. JESSUP, Brig. Major." On the next day General M' Arthur was detached with his regiment, to cut a road for the army as far as the Scioto river, which rises northwest of the head branches of the Big Miami. The whole army having moved as far as King's creek, three miles from Urbana, another general order was issued on the 16th of June, from which the fol lowing are extracts : "In the honor of this army the general feels the deepest interest. He sincerely hopes, that nothing will take place during the campaign, to tarnish the fame it has already acquired; its glory, however, is not yet com plete. Bare professions of patriotism do not establish the character of a patriot. It is necessary for this army to meet with a cheerful and manly fortitude, the fatigues and dangers it may be called to encounter, before it can be entitled to the honorable appellation of a patriotic army. It is easy to boast of patriotism ; it is hard to perform the 5 66 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR duties it requires. The general retains the highest con fidence in the honorable motives of this army, and he assures the officers and soldiers, that while on the one hand he will do all in his power for their comfort and con venience, on the other hand he expects a ready submission to his orders and a punctual discharge of all their duties. On the day this order was issued, Colonel M' Arthur's regiment had opened the road as far as the Scioto, and had begun to build two block houses on the south bank of the river, which is there, but 40 or 50 feet wide. These houses were strengthened by stockades, and in honor of the colonel, the whole was called Fort M? Arthur. At this place, Peter Vassar, a Frenchman, while on guard deliber ately shot a brother sentry by the name of Joseph England, and wounded him badly, but he afterwards recovered and returned home. Vassar was put under guard, and a gen eral order was issued, prohibiting sutlers from selling liquor to any non-commissioned officer or private, without a Avritten permit from his commanding officer. The whole army having arrived here on the 19th, Col onel Findley was ordered to proceed with his regiment on the 21st, and cut the road as far as Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize; and on the 22nd, the wrhole army followed, except a part of Captain Dill's company, which was left to keep the fort and take care of the sick. It now rained for several days excessively, so as to render the road almost impassable for wagons. After marching only 16 miles, the army halted again, in the midst of a swampy country, in which the water courses, both of the Ohio and the lakes, have their sources. A block house was erected here, which was honored with the name of Fort Necessity. The mud was deep, and from every appearance the whole army was likely to stick in the swamps. The horses and oxen were put on short allowance; and every man who could make IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 67 a pack saddle was detailed on that business. The general intended to transport his baggage on pack horses; but as soon as a sufficient number of saddles were made, the order was rescinded, and the}' were deposited in the block house. The general's first order of march was given, it is be lieved, on the 20th of June, at F'ort M' Arthur; but he seems to have entirely forgotten to give his army an order of battle — perhaps he did not deem it necessary, intending .to do all the fighting himself on paper. The following was the order of march : "The 4th United States regiment on the right ; Colonel M' Arthur on the left ; Colonel Pindley on the left of the 4th; and Colonel Cass on the right of M' Arthur; the cavalry .on the right of the whole. In marching, the riflemen of the respective regiments, will form the flank guards, and on the day the army marches, they will be excused from any other duty." When the army was ready to march from Fort Neces sity, they were met by General Robert Lucas and Mr. Win. Deeny, who had been sent by General Hull from Dayton, with dispatches for Mr. Atwater, the acting governor at Detroit. Their report was not the most favorable. Gen eral Lucas had been present at several councils, held by Mr. Atwater with the chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes, and the Wyandots of Brownstown. They all ex pressed a disposition to be friendly, except Walk-in-the- Water, of the Wyandots, who declared that the American Government was acting improperly in sending an army into their country, which would cut off their communica tion with Canada. He said the Indians were their own masters and would trade where they pleased ; and that the disturbance on the Wabash was the fault of Governor Harrison entirely. General Lucas had also ascertained, that the British had collected a considerable body of Indians at Maiden, who were fed and supplied with arms 68 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR and ammunition, and were ready to fight the Americans at the first signal from their employers. It Avas repre sented that Detroit was in a bad state of defense, and that the citizens generally were much elated at the approach of an army for their protection. General Lucas had no opportunity of visiting Fort Maiden ; but from every infor mation, it was believed to be in a much worse situation than Detroit, one side of it being entirely open. The weather having become more favorable, the army at last marched from Fort Necessity, and arrived in three days at Blanehard's Fork, where Colonel Findley had built block houses and stockading on the southwest side, which was called Fort Findley. On the 26th of June, Colonel Dunlap arrived in camp as an express from Chillicothe, with dispatches from the war department for General Hull. They were confidential ; but it was believed, that they con tained certain and official intelligence of the declaration of war against England, as the general ordered all the heavy camp equipage to be left at this fort, and determined to commence a forced march. Colonel Cass was sent with his regiment to cut the remainder of the road to the Rapids ; and the balance of Captain Dill's company being left at the fort, the army proceeded, but not with more speed than usual, and in a few days encamped on the banks of the Miami of the Lake, opposite the battle ground of General Wayne, and in view of a small village at the foot of the rapids. Here the army Avas cheered Avith a vieAV of civi lized habitations, after a tedious inarch through a dreary Avilderness. Having delayed here a day, they marched doAvn through the village in regular order, and encamped just below the ruins of the old British Fort Miami, from which the Indians were supplied by the British, previous to their battle with Wayne on the 20th of August, '94. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 69 At this place, a small schooner, belonging to a Captain Chapin, was employed to carry a quantity of baggage to Detroit, about 30 officers and privates being put on board for its protection. It being the last of the month, com plete muster rolls of every company in the brigade, were made out and deposited in a trunk, which was put on board this vessel. An open boat with the sick, was also sent in company with Captain Chapin. It was here represented to General Hull, by Captain M'Pherson, of Cincinnati, that war must have been declared, and that the schooner would certainly be captured at Maiden. Notwithstanding this suggestion, and the general's own knowledge on the sub ject, he persisted in sending the vessel. Lieutenant Davidson with 25 men being left here to build a block house, the army again marched on the 1st of July, after considerable time spent in preparation as usual. Their route was through an open country, interspersed with thin groves of oak, and scattering settlements of French. When they arrived at the river Raisin, on which there is a handsome village of French inhabitants, infor mation was received, that the schooner, in attempting to pass Maiden with the baggage, had been captured by the British, and the whole crew and passengers made prisoners, the enemy having previously received intelligence of the declaration of war which was made on the 18th of June by the American Government. Though General Hull had cer tainly received some intimation of this act of the govern ment by Colonel Dunlap, yet the troops had not been in formed of it, till the evening before they reached the River Raisin, at which time the baggage had been captured. The colonels having on that evening informed their men of the declaration of war, and that the situation of the army required strict subordination, firmness, and bravery to insure success; and each man being supplied with ten 70 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR rounds of ammunition and an extra flint ; every heart beat warm in the cause of the country, and new life and anima tion beamed in every countenance. A day was spent at the River Raisin; and a day and a half in marching fifteen miles to the River Huron. Here the 4th of July was spent in erecting a bridge over the river, which is but 40 feet wide, but very deep. The road crosses about half a mile from the lake, from which place the army had a full view of the Canada shore below Maiden, and a delightful prospect of Lake Erie to the east. A large vessel, supposed to be the Queen Charlotte, with troops on board, was seen going towards Maiden, where the firing of cannon was distinctly heard. An attack from the British and Indians was expected at this place, and the army anxiously desiring it, was kept under arms the whole day. On the 5th, the army marched early, and having passed the villages of Brownstown and Maguaga, and the rivers DeCorce and Roach, it arrived at Springwells, the lower end of the Detroit settlement, and but two miles from the town. Here is a handsome eminence on the River Detroit, well calculated for a fort, which wrould command the town of Sandwich on the Canada shore, the river being about three quarters of a mile wide. The following extract from a general order issued at this place, will show in what manner General Hull informed the northwestern posts of the declaration of war. "The garrisons of Detroit, Michili- macinac, Chicago, and Fort Wayne, being placed by the President of the United States, under the command of General Hull, the commanding officers of those garrisons are informed, that Congress has declared war against Great Britain; and they will immediately place their gar risons in the best possible state of defense, and make a return to Brigade Major Jessup at Detroit, of the quan- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 73 tity of provisions the contractor has on hand at their re spective posts, the number of officers and men, ordnance and military stores of every kind, and the public property of all kinds." When this general order, containing a variety of other matters trivial and local, had issued from the pen of the general, it was left to find a conveyance to Chicago and Macinaw, in the best way it could, no human means being employed by the general for that purpose. On the morning of the 6th, Colonel Cass was sent with a flag of truce to Maiden, which was commanded at that time by Colonel St. George. The object was to demand the baggage and prisoners captured in the schooner. When he arrived there, he was blind-folded, and his demands were refused ; he then returned to camp with Captain Bur- banks of the British army. In this instance General Hull betrayed his ignorance of military diplomacy, in sending Colonel Cass with a flag to an equal, if not an inferior in rank. But, perhaps, there was some greater object in view than simply to demand the baggage. Five pieces of artillery were brought down from the fort on the 7th and placed on the bank in front of the army, in a situation to annoy the enemy at Sandwich. On the same day the general held a council with the principal chiefs of the Wyandot, Shawanoe, Potawatamie, Seneca and Mohawk nations, which ended in their professing to be our friends. On the next day the general became alarmed, lest the enemy should bombard his camp from the upper side of Sandwich; he, therefore, removed into the rear of Detroit to be out of the reach of danger. The town of Detroit contains about 1 60 houses and 700 inhabitants. It is handsomely situated on the west side of the River Detroit, about nine miles below Lake St. Clair, the opening of which can be seen from the town. Port Detroit stands on an elevated spot of ground, in the 72 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR rear of the town, and about 250 yards from the bank of the river. It is a square, containing nearly two acres of ground. It is surrounded with a double row of pickets, the outside row being set in the ditch, and the other obliquely in the bank, which is thrown up against the walls of the fort, and which is so high, that at some distance from the fort, the interior buildings cannot be seen. The ground gradually declines from the fort in every direction. It is badly situated to command the river; but it is a place of great strength, and could not be injured by any battery on the same side of the river. The inhabitants about Detroit are mostly descendents of the old French settlers, professing the Catholic religion. The Territory can raise betwreen six and seven hundred militia. Preparations were now made for the invasion of Can ada; arms were repaired and carriages made for the cannon; and the officers endeavored to inspire their men with ardor, a willingness to obey, and a determination to avenge the wrrongs of their country, by invading the territories of her enemy. The night of the 10th was appointed for crossing into Canada; but it was prevented by the disorderly conduct of some individuals, who kept firing their guns, by one of whom Major Munson was severely wounded. But few of the enemy were to be seen on the opposite shore ; it was deemed necessary, how ever, to use some precaution in landing. On the evening of the llth, the regiment of Colonel M' Arthur, accom panied by some boats, was marched down to the Spring- wells, to decoy the enemy. The British were thus induced to believe, that a descent would be made from that point; and that an attack would immediately be made upon Mai den; which ought to have been done before this time. They accordingly dreAV all their forces to that place. Next morning the army marched about a mile above IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 73 Detroit, where boats had been taken in the night. The regiments of Colonels Miller and Cass embarked at once, and in fifteen minutes landed on the Canada shore with out opposition. General Hull 'was among the last fco embark, and as his boat reached the shore, he was heard to exclaim, "The critical moment draws near!" The American flag was unfurled, and the Huzzas of the front, were ansAvered by the rear, and the citizens of Detroit. An encampment was formed in the farm of Colonel Baubee, a British officer; the quarters of the general being fixed in a brick house near the centre of the camp, and not far from the bank of the river. On the same day the general issued his famous proclamation, as follows : "By WILLIAM HULL, Brigadier General, command ing the American Northwestern Army. "Inhabitants of Canada! After thirty years of peace and prosperity, the United States have been driven to arms. The injuries and aggression, the insults and indignities of Great Britain, have once more left them no alternative but manly resistance or unconditional submission. The army under my command has invaded your country, and the standard of the union now waves over the Territory of Canada. To the peaceable, unoffending inhabitants, It- brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, not to make them. I come to protect, not injure you — separated by an immense ocean and an extensive wil derness from Great Britain, you have no participation in her councils, no interest in her conduct. You have felt her tyranny; you have seen her injustice; but I do not ask you to avenge the one or to redress the other. The United States are sufficiently powerful to afford every security, consistent with their rights or your expectations. I tender you the invaluable blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, and their necessary results, individual and general prosperity — that liberty which gave decision to our coun sels, and energy to our conduct, in a struggle for independ ence; and which conducted us safely and triumphantly 74 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR through the stormy period of the Revolution — that liberty which has raised us to an elevated rank among the nations of the world ; and which has afforded us a greater measure of peace and security, of wealth and improvement, than ever fell to the lot of any other people. "In the name of my country, and by the authority of my government, I promise you protection to your persons, property and rights. Remain at your homes; pursue your peaceful and customary avocations; raise not your hands against your brethren. Many of your fathers fought for the freedom and independence we now enjoy. Being chil dren, therefore, of the same family with us, and heirs to the same heritage, the arrival of an army of friends, must be hailed by you with a cordial welcome. You will be emancipated from tyranny and oppression, and restored to the dignified station of freedinen. Had I any doubt of eventual success, I might ask your assistance ; but I do not ; I come prepared for every contingency. I have a force, which will look down all opposition ; and that force is but the vanguard of a much greater! If contrary to your own interests and the just epectation of my country, you should take part in the approaching contest, you will be considered and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk before you. If the barbarous and savage policy of Great Britain be pursued, and the savages are let loose to murder our citizens, and butcher our women and children, this war will be a war of exter mination. The first stroke of the tomahawk, that first attempt with the scalping knife, will be the signal for one indiscriminate scene of desolation. No white man found fighting by the side of an Indian will be taken prisoner. Instant destruction will be his lot. If the dictates of rea son, duty, justice and humanity cannot prevent the employ ment of a force which respects no rights or knows no wrongs, it will be prevented by a severe and relentless sys tem of retaliation. I doubt not your courage and firmness ; I will not doubt your attachment to liberty. If you tender your services voluntarily, they will be accepted readily. The United States offers you peace, liberty, and security; your choice lies between these and war. Choose, then, but IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 75 choose wisely — and may He who knows the justice of our cause, and who holds in His hands the fate of nations, guide you to a result the most compatible with your rights and your interests. "WILLIAM HULL." By the general, A. F. Hull, Captain 13th U. S. Regiment and aide. Sandwich, July 12, 1812. This proclamation had a tendency to recall the greater part of the inhabitants of Sandwich and the adjacent country to their dwellings. They had fled to the woods on the approach of the Americans, as if an army of canni bals had invaded their country. The British officers had used every means to induce the people to believe, that the Americans were worse than savages. The Territory of Upper Canada, which was thus invaded by General Hull, is a very extensive country. From south east to north west it is more than 1,000 miles long ; and from Lake Erie northward it is upwards of 500 miles across, but in general its breadth is less than 300 miles. The population in 1806 was estimated at 80,000. On the 13th, Captain Ulry with 40 men was sent down towards Maiden to reconnoitre. At a bridge over Turkey creek, about 9 miles from camp, he discovered w^here a party of nearly 200 Indians had been lying in ambush to cut off any detachment, that might cross the bridge, which had been partly destroyed. A Canadian farmer informed the Captain, that there were a great many Indians in the neighborhood; and not considering it prudent to risk a battle with superior numbers he returned to camp. This information and an alarm, which occurred at night in the camp, induced the general next day to fortify his cainp with a breastwork, except the side next the river which was defended by cannon. 76 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR On the 14th a detachment from Captain Sloan's cavalry was sent up the river to reconnoitre. At 8 :00 o'clock in the evening two of them returned with information, that a body of Indians had gone up the river about sunset. Col onel M' Arthur was ordered to pursue them with 100 men from his own regiment, and a rifle corps from Colonel Findley's. At half after 9:00, he marched without blank ets or provisions, accompanied by the reconnoitering party, which in the meantime had returned. They went but 8 miles that night, expecting to overtake the Indians early next morning in a wood before them. They did not, how ever, come up with the Indians, till they had reached Ruskin river, about twenty-four miles above Sandwich; and here the savages received information of their approach soon enough to escape into the woods, in which the mounted men could not pursue them for logs and brush. Captain Smith, of the Detroit dragoons, now overtook them, with orders for the party to go on to the river Thames or Trench, to procure provisions. Having reached that river, they encamped about half a mile from the mouth, opposite the house of Mr. Isaac Hull, a nephew of the general's, where a corporal and six militia men of the enemy were stationed as a guard to the family. The colonel disarmed them and sent them home on parole. Next day they marched some distance up the river, and on their return collected all the boats they could find, in which they brought off nearly two hundred barrels of flour, 400 blankets, a number of guns, and a considerable quan tity of military stores, most of which was public property, but the colonel gave receipts for all, as if it had been private property, and paid for the provisions they con sumed out of his own funds. They arrived at camp on the evening of the 17th, having penetrated upwards of IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 77 sixty miles into the province unmolested, the inhabitants having received them in a friendly manner. Deserters from Maiden, and inhabitants of the country, now came into the camp daily to obtain protection from the American commander, many of whom were known to return immediately to the fort with all the information they could collect. On the 16th, Colonel Cass and Lieut. - Col. Miller were sent down towards Maiden with a de tachment, the object and the result of which will be under stood from the following report of Colonel Cass : "Sir — In conformity with your instructions, I pro ceeded with a detachment of 280 men to reconnoitre the enemy's advanced posts. We found them in possession of a bridge over the Aux Kanards river, at the distance of 4 miles from Maiden. After examining their position I left one company of riflemen, to conceal themselves near the bridge, and upon our appearance on the opposite side of the river, to commence firing upon the enemy. I then proceeded with the remainder of the detachment about five miles up, to a ford across the Kanards, and down on the southern bank of the river. About sunset we arrived in sight of the enemy. Being entirely destitute of guides, we marched too close to the bank of the river, and found our progress checked by a creek which was impassible. We were then compelled to march a mile up the creek in order to effect a passage. This gave the enemy time to make his arrangements and prepare for defense. On com ing down the creek, we found them formed. They com menced a distant fire of musqetry. The riflemen of our detachment were formed upon the wings, and the two com panies of infantry in the center. The men moved on with great spirit and alacrity. After the first discharge the British retreated. We continued advancing. Three times they formed and as often retreated. We drove them about half a mile, when it became so dark that we were obliged to relinquish the pursuit. Two privates of the 41st reg iment were wounded and taken prisoners. We learned from deserters, that nine or ten were wounded, and some killed. 78 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR We could gain no certain information of the number op posed to us. It consisted of a considerable detachment from the 41st regiment, some militia, and a body of In dians. The guard at the bridge consisted of 50 men. Our riflemen stationed at the bridge, on this side the Kanards, discovered the enemy reinforcing the whole afternoon. There is no doubt but their numbers exceeded ours. Lieut. Colonel Miller conducted himself in a most spirited and able manner. I have every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the whole detachment." Next morning Captain Brown of the 4th United States regiment went down to Maiden, without the knowledge of Colonel Cass; but there is no doubt of his mission being known to General Hull ; the object of it has never yet been developed. Presently a reinforcement of our troops arrived, consisting of the balance of the 4th regiment, and a piece of artillery under the command of Lieutenant Eastman. A council of officers was now convened, a majority of whom insisted on leaving the bridge. Colonel Cass and Captain Snelling, insisted on holding it, as it would be of the utmost importance in inarching the army to Maiden. Their opinion being overruled, and no order to hold the bridge being received from the general, the whole detachment marched back to camp. The abandon ment of this bridge, Avhich had been gained so easy, and which in the possession of the enemy would be the chief obstruction to the advance of the army, was a most fatal error. It was sufficient itself to develop the character of the general; and I can scarcely restrain my indigna tion sufficiently while writing, to mention the event in de liberate terms. The officers from this occurrence began to distrust the views of the general, and their opinion of his abilities began to dwindle into contempt. It was evi dent to every person, that the possession of the bridge was important to the success of the enterprise; and had IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 79 the army marched immediately to Maiden, that fortress must have fallen an easy conquest. The command of the river, and security to the upper country, would have been the consequences. Colonel Cass' orders were, to recon noitre the advance posts of the enemy, but not to hold any position he might conquer. In the evening a report prevailed, that the Queen Char lotte was sailing up the straits, and committing depreda tions on the American side ; and that the British had again occupied the bridge. Colonel Findley in consequence went down to the bridge with a small party to reconnoitre. He found it torn up, and a breastwork of timber erected on the south side, to defend the pass. The Queen Charlotte also occupied a station convenient to aid in its defense. Col onel Findley having returned next day, another small party under Captain Snelling, went down in the evening as a corps of observation. General Hull for his part staid close in his quarters at Sandwich; but to induce his officers to believe, that he really intended to attack Maiden, he issued the following general order, by way of retaliation for the capture of his baggage; the execution of it would have placed our army on a level with the disgraceful conduct of the British. "Whereas the private property, consisting principally of the necessary clothing of the officers and soldiers of this army, has been seized by the British force, and is detained at Maiden or its dependencies, notwithstanding application has been made for the restitution of it. In order to remunerate those officers and soldiers who have suffered, the general directs that all personal property of officers now serving in the British army, at the aforesaid post, shall be taken under special orders from the general, and delivered to the quartermaster general for safe keep ing, until the orders of the government are known on the subject. One hundred and fifty men properly officered, 80 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR will be detached for command to-morrow morning at 5 :00 o'clock from Colonel M' Arthur's regiment. Colonel M' Ar thur will command and will call at headquarters for instructions." In pursuance of this order, Colonel M' Arthur was sent down to relieve Captain Snelling, who was found at the Petit Cote settlement about a mile above the bridge. From this place to the bridge, the country is a dry, level prairie. About 300 yards from the Kanards, there is a small ridge across the road about 8 feet high, which is covered towards the west with small oak and hazle bushes. From the ridge to the river the prairie is somewhat marshy and covered with long grass. The river is about 25 yards wide and very deep, and on the south side a thick wood commences at a short distance from the bridge. Colonel M' Arthur was instructed to ascertain the situation of the bridge and the position of the Queen Charlotte; but not to go within the reach of her guns, nor attempt to pass the bridge. This information the general had already received from the other parties repeatedly, and, of course, was merely amus ing his men and spending time by this conduct. Colonel M' Arthur left his men at the Petit Cote settle ment, and went with Adjutant Put huff and a few riflemen to the top of the ridge to reconnoitre. He found the plank had been torn off the bridge, and that a battery had been erected at the south end of it, near which there were about 60 regulars, 450 Canadian militia, 25 dragoons, and 50 Indians. Some firing occurred between the riflemen and the Indians, some of whom came over the bridge; and, as the colonel rode down to view the Queen Charlotte, he was fired on by a gun boat which accompanied her, and which had approached him unperceived, under the bank of the river. They now all retreated uninjured to the main de tachment; but the colonel not yet being satisfied, returned IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 81 to the ridge again with a few others, to make further ob servations. They \vere there fired on again by some Indians who in the meantime had concealed themselves in the brushwood. The whole detachment immediately came up to their relief, and drove the Indians back over the bridge; but as they retired Tecumseh followed them Avith a considerable force, when a halt was called and another skirmish ensued. Ammunition becoming scarce, the col onel sent an express to camp to inform the general of all the circumstances; and, at the same time concluded to re turn to camp with the detachment. When the express arrived, Colonel Cass pushed down with 150 men, and a six pounder, to reinforce AF Arthur. About sunset they met at Turkey Creek bridge, nine miles from camp, and immediately returned to the Petit Cote settlement where they encamped for the night. Next morning on recon- noitering the enemy, he was found to be considerably rein forced both in men and artillery. At the desire of Colonel Cass, the whole detachment marched down near the bridge, and with the six pounder exchanged a few shot with the battery, The wrhole detachment then marched back to camp, hungry and fatigued, without having effected any thing valuable. TECUMSEH, who was very conspicuous among the Indians for his influence, and for his bravery and skill in Indian warfare, was about this time said to be appointed a brigadier general by the British. The whole army now began to lose all confidence in General Hull. His sending detachments to contend for the bridge, and when it was taken, his failing to hold it, or to march immediately to Maiden, and, afterwards sending party after party to reconnoitre and skirmish, were strong, irresistible proofs of incapacity or of treachery, which must have convinced even the British themselves, that he 82 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR either did not intend to attack their fort, or that he had neither courage nor skill to execute such an enterprise. The distrust of the army was still more confirmed, by his leaving them and going over to Detroit on the 21st of July, where he remained till the 26th under a variety of frivo lous pretexts. While he was thus wasting his time and resources, the government entertained the most favorable opinion of his firmness and ability. His proclamation was read throughout the union, and highly applauded as the production of superior talents ; and great expectations were formed by an admiring and sanguine people. A peace of nearly thirty years duration, under a popular, delibera tive form of government, had accustomed the people to judge the abilities of public men, by the fine things they were able to say; and hence men the best qualified to act, were overlooked and neglected for those who were only qualified to speak and write. The British forces at Maiden were in the meantime daily augmented; and the greatest exertions were made night and day to strengthen that post by entrenchments and picketing. By the absence of General Hull at Detroit, the com mand devolved on Colonel M'Arthur, who immediately dispatched Captain M'Cullough, with the rangers and spies, to examine wh ether a road could not be made, to cross the Kanards above the bridge, so as to avoid the battery, and the guns of the Queen Charlotte. The captain reported, that a road for the artillery was impracticable, on account of swamps and morasses. It being reported, that the Indians came above the Aux Kanards in considerable numbers, Colonel M'Arthur sent Major Denny with three companies of militia, making 117 men, to oppose them. He marched on the night of the 24th with instructions to form an ambuscade at some place IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 83 where the Indians were expected to pass, and thus cut them off, unless they were too powerful; in which case he was to be situated so as to have a retreat in his power. He formed an ambuscade next morning in the Petit Cote set tlement, and caught a Frenchman, with his three sons, who- said he was going to reap his harvest. He proved to be the captain of a company of militia, then in service at Mai den, from which place he had been sent out as a spy. Major Denny then marched his party in view of the enemy, and having again retired, and stopped about noon to rest ii* the shade, a small party of Indians came along very near his men. Having discovered them, he ordered his men to charge and fire well; which they executed so as to kill many of the Indians. The remainder were pursued by some of the men, about a half a mile, before they returned. The fugitives meeting with a strong reinforcement, re turned also to renew the contest. Major Denny endeav ored to gain an advantageous position in a point of woods, but was anticipated by the Indians ; and after a short con flict, a part of his line gave way, and he was obliged to retreat in confusion. He was pursued about two miles and a half by the Indians, till they had reached near Turkey creek bridge. The major endeavored in vain to rally his men before they crossed the bridge and met Gen eral Lucas with a reinforcement. He lost but six killed, and two wounded ; the loss of the British and Indians was • at least double that number. Reports of an unfavorable nature, respecting the con duct of Major Denny in this affair, being circulated in the camp, he requested a court of inquiry, which was granted by Colonel M'Arthur. After full investigation he was honorably acquitted; and the sentence of the court was approved by General Hull. 84 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR On the 28th of July, intelligence was received in camp, that Fort Macinaw had surrendered on the 17th. This event arrested all the offensive operations of General Hull in Upper Canada, nothing more being done by the army after this date, except the building of an inconsiderable fort, in a disadvantageous place about half a mile below camp, around the house of Mr. Gowies. The surrender of Mackinaw alarmed General Hull excessively. He declared, "The whole northern hordes of Indians will be let loose upon us." His anticipations no doubt Avere just; the loss of that fort must have injured our cause very much among the savages; and it is to be recorded with regret, that the. government itself neglected a post so important, in not ordering more men for its defense ; while the officer imme diately in command was perhaps in some degree culpable, in not placing it in the most defensible condition; and General Hull still more so, in neglecting to apprise him of the declaration of war. The general government was certainly well acquainted with the situation and import ance of the place. The legislature of Kentucky had partic ularly called the attention of the war department to this point. In its neglected state, with only a lieutenant to defend it, the enemy found it an easy conquest. The fol lowing is the report of Lieut. P. Hanks, who was its com mander, to General Hull, after his arrival at Detroit, August 4th. "Sir — I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint your excellency, witli the surrender of the garrison of Macinaw, under my command, ,to his Britannic Majesty's forces, under the command of Captain Roberts, on the 17th of July, the particulars of which are as follows : On the 16th I was informed by the Indian interpreter, that he had dis covered from an Indian, that the several nations of In dians, then at St. Josephs (a British garrison distant IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 85 about 40 miles) intended to make an immediate attack on Macinaw. I was inclined from the coolness I had dis covered in some of the principal chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippewa nations, who had but a few days before professed the greatest friendship for the United States, to place con fidence in this report. I immediately called a meeting of the American gentlemen at that time on the Island, in which it was thought proper to dispatch a confidential per son to St. Josephs, to watch the motions of the Indians. Captain Daurman, of the militia was thought the most suitable person for this service. He embarked about sun set, and met the British forces within ten or fifteen miles of the island, by whom he was made a prisoner, and put on his parole of honor. He was landed on the island at day break, with positive instructions to give me no intelli gence whatever. He was also instructed to. take the in habitants of the village indiscriminately to a place on the west side of the island, where their persons an'd property would be protected by a British guard ; but should they go to the fort, they would be subject to a general massacre by the savages, which would be inevitable if the garrison fired a gun. This information I received from Doctor Day, who was passing through the village, when every 'person was flying for refuge to the enemy. Immediately on being in formed of the approach of the enemy, I placed ammunition, etc., in the block houses, and made every preparation for action. About nine o'clock I could discover that the enemy were in possession of the heights that commanded the fort ; with one piece of artillery directed to the most defenseless part of the garrison. The Indians were to be seen at this time in great numbers in the edge of the woods. At half past eleven, the enemy sent in a fla£ of truce, demanding the surrender of the fort and island to his Britannic Majesty's forces. This sir, was the first intimation I had of the declaration of war. I, however, had anticipated it, and was as well prepared to meet such an event, as I pos sibly could have been with the force under my command, amounting to 57 effective men, including officers. The American gentlemen who were prisoners were permitted to accompany the flag. From them I ascertained the strength 86 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR of the enemy to be from 900 to 1,000 men, consisting of reg ular troops, Canadians, and savages; that they had two pieces of artillery, and were provided with ladders and ropes for the purpose of scaling the works if necessary. After I had obtained this information, I consulted my offi cers, and also the American gentlemen present ; the result of which was, that it was impossible for the garrison to hold out against such superior force. In this opinion I fully concurred, from a conviction that it was the only measure that could prevent a general massacre. The fort and garrison were accordingly surrendered." The report concluded with requesting a court of in quiry. By the articles of capitulation the garrison was to march out with the honors of war, and to be paroled and conveyed to the United States; private property was to be held sacred; and all citizens, who would not take the oath of allegiance to the British government, were to depart within a month. The army to which Lieutenant Hanks surrendered, was ascertained after the capitulation, to con sist of 46 regulars, 260 Canadian militia, and 715 Indians, making an army of more than a thousand men. Early in August, an express arrived at the army of General Hull, with information that Captain Henry Brush, with a company of volunteers, was near the river Raisin with provisions for the army ; and that he wanted an escort, as it was ascertained that the British and Indians had crossed on the American side, with a view to intercept the mail and convoys of provisions. The colonels of the Ohio militia applied to General Hull for leave to take a detachment, and open the communication with Captain Brush, and conduct the provisions in safety to Detroit; but the general would not grant their request, and seemed indifferent about the fate of Captain Brush and his pro visions. At length, however, he consented, that Major Vanhorne might go as an escort to the mail and join Cap- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 87 tain Brush at the river Raisin. The major crossed the Detroit river on the 4th of August, and marched that even ing as far as the river De Corce. Here they lay on their arms in the bushes till morning, when they marched again, with four spies before them. Having passed the Maguaga village, Captain McCullough of the spies unfortunately missed his way, and as he was passing 'round a cornfield, was fired on by ten or twelve Indians, who were lying in ambush. He fell, and was tomahawked and scalped by the savages. His loss was severely felt by the army, for he was brave, intrepid and skillful in the department of spies. Soon after the occurrence, a number of mounted militia, and some gentlemen who wished to go to the river Raisin, joined the detachment; and a Frenchman informed Major Vanhorne, that three or four hundred Indians and some British were lying in ambush near Brownstown, for the purpose of intercepting his party. Accustomed to hear false reports from the French he did not sufficiently re spect this information; but marched on with his front guard of 24 men divided into two columns, each preceded by three dragoons, and the main party in the same order, the mail with an escort of horsemen being placed in the center. Where the ground would permit, the columns marched a hundred yards apart. Having arrived near Brownstown, the road passes through a narrow prairie, skirted by thick woods, with the creek, which runs by Brownstown, on the right. The woods on the creek come to a point towards the town, through which point the road passes to the ford. On the left are several small Indian cornfields, and thickets of thorn bushes ; so that the columns of the party had to approach near each other at the creek. As they entered the open ground of the town, the Indians commenced a heavy fire on the right column from the op posite side of the creek, and on the left from the bushes on 88 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR that side. The suddenness of the attack threw the troops into some confusion, and the major, apprehensive that he would be surrounded, immediately ordered a retreat. The detachment was halted several times, and fired on the enemy who pursued them some distance. The retreat was continued to the river De Corce — seventeen killed and sev eral wounded being left behind. Among the killed were Captains ITlry, Gilchrist, Boersler, Lieutenant Pents and Ensign Rubey. The loss of so many officers was caused by their attempting to rally their men. The loss of the enemy was nearly as great as ours. On this occasion the force of the enemy was greatly exaggerated, as it was in many other instances. Major Vanhorne, though a gentleman and a soldier, was certainly not entitled to the praise bestowed upon him by some of his countrymen. Being Avarned of his danger, he should have taken care to prevent a surprise; and had he done so, he would doubtless have been victorious. The enemy had a great advantage in the ground, but in point of numbers he was not superior. I do not wish to detract from the real merits of Major Vanhorne, but at Detroit, in October, 1813, I was informed by an American gentleman of high stand ing, who had made particular inquiry, that the force of the enemy in this case did not exceed forty British and seventy Indians; and this statement is corroborated by the recollec tion, that the main army wras still in Canada, and the Brit ish being in daily expectation of an attack on Maiden, would not send a large detachment to the American side. The practice, so common among the officers in Hull's army, of estimating extravagantly the numbers of British and Indians opposed to them in skirmishes, was calculated to have an injurious effect on our affairs. It had a tendency to discourage their men, to cover their own mismanage- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 89 meiit, and to alarm the general, whose susceptibility of fear, did not require any extraordinary impressions. On the 6th the colonels again solicited leave from the general, to march a detachment of 500 men to Brownstown, for the purpose of burying the dead and attempting again to open a communication with Captain Brush, who had arrived at the river Raisin with the provisions. The gen eral would not permit more than 100 men to go, which was entirely too few, considering the late defeat and the pre vailing opinion of the enemies' numbers. The project was, therefore, abandoned for the want of men. A council being convened at headquarters, consisting of the field officers, with Captain Dyson and Lieutenant East man of the artillery, it was agreed by all except the two last, to make an immediate attack upon Maiden. In con sequence of this decision the following general order was issued : "Sandwich, August 7, 1812. "Doctor Edwards will take charge of the medical and surgical departments until further orders, and will immed iately make every preparation to take the field against the enemy. All the tents and baggage not necessary will be immediately sent to Detroit. The boats not necessary for the movement of the army will be sent to Detroit, An officer and 25 convalescents will be left at the fort at Gowies, with a boat sufficient to carry them across the river if necessary. All the artillery not taken by the army will be sent immediately to Detroit. The army will take seven days' provisions. Three days' provisions will be drawn to-morrow morning and will be cooked, the residue will be taken in wagons. Pork will be drawn for the meat part of the ration. One hundred axes, fifty spades, and twenty pickaxes will be taken for the army; and a raft of timber and plank suitable for bridges, will be prepared and floated down with the batteries. Only one day's whiskey will be drawn each day, and twelve barrels will be taken in wagons. 90 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR All the artificers, and all men on any kind of extra duty, will immediately join their regiments. (Signed) Wm. Hull, Brig. Gen., Com." On the receipt of this order, the army in the hope of making an immediate attack upon Maiden, were animated with new life and activity. Every preparation was indus triously made, and every countenance was bright with joy. But how shall I name with deliberation the order which followed! The whole army was immediately ordered to recross to Detroit and encamp in the rear of the fort, and thus relinquish all offensive operations in Canada! With what deep contempt was this order heard ; with what sullen murmuring was it executed ! A few weeks before, the army had landed triumphantly in the enemy's country ; and now, without any ostensible cause, was ordered to return in the most disgraceful manner. What feelings of indignation filled every true American bosom; and what anguish was felt by a number of the poor inhabitants, who, confiding in General Hull's promises of protection, had made them selves obnoxious to the vengeance of their own government ! The whole army now recrossed the river in sullen pro cession and indignant contempt, and encamped once more behind Fort Detroit. Major Denny was left in the stock ade work at Gowies, with a hundred and thirty convales cents, and Lieutenant Anderson's corps of artillerists. He was ridiculously instructed "to hold possession of this part of Upper Canada, and afford all possible protection to the well disposed inhabitants." He was to defend the post to the last extremity against musquetry ; but if overpowered by artillery he was authorized to retreat. On the same day after the army had recrossed, Colonel Miller, with Majors Vanhorne and Morrison of the Ohio volunteers, was sent with a detachment to make another attempt to open the communication with Captain Brush at IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 91 the river Raisin. The only account of their operations Avhieh has been published, is that by General Hull, which follows : "The main body of the army having recrossed the river Detroit, on the night and morning of the 8th of August, six hundred men were immediately detached under the com mand of Lieut. Col. Miller, to open the communication with the river Raisin and protect the provisions. This detach ment consisted of the 4th U. S. regiment and two small de tachments under the command of Lieutenant Stansbury and Ensign M'Abe, of the 1st regiment; detachments from the Ohio and Michigan volunteers; a corps of artillerists with one six pounder, and a howitzer under the command of Lieutenant Eastman; a part of Captain Smith's and Sloan's cavalry, commanded by Captain Sloan, of the Ohio volunteers. Lieut. Col. Miller marched from Detroit on the afternoon of the 8th of August, and on the 9th in the afternoon about 4 o'clock, the front guard commanded by Captain Snelling of the 4th U. S. regiment, was fired on by an extensive line of British and Indians, about two miles below Maguaga village, where there had been a small open ing on the bank of Detroit river, surrounded with thick brush and white oak timber, and about 14 miles from Detroit. At this time the main body was marching in two lines, and Captain Snelling maintained his position in a most gallant manner, under a very heavy fire, until the line was formed and advanced to the ground he occupied, wThen the whole, except the rear guard was brought into actioii. The enemy were formed behind a temporary breastwork of logs, with the Indians extending in a thick woods on their left. Lieut. Col. Miller ordered his whole line to ad vance, and when within a small distance of the enemy, made a general fire upon them, and immediately followed it up with charged bayonets, when the whole British line and Indians commenced a retreat. They were pursued in a most vigorous manner about two miles, and the pursuit only discontinued on account of the fatigue of the men, the approach of evening, and the necessity of returning to take care of the wounded. The judicious arrangements made 92 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR by Lieut. Col. Miller, and the gallant manner in which they were executed, justly entitles him to the highest honor. From the moment the line commenced the fire, it contin ually moved on, and the enemy maintained their position until forced at the point of the bayonet. The Indians on the left under the command of Tecumseh fought with great obstinacy, but were continually forced, and compelled to retreat, The victory was complete in every part of the line; but the success would have been more brilliant, had the cavalry charged the enemy on their retreat, when a most favorable opportunity presented. Although orders were given for that purpose, unfortunately they were not executed. Majors Vanhorne and Morrison were associated with Colonel Miller as field officers in this command, and were highly distinguished by their exertions in forming the line, and the firm intrepid manner they led their respective commands to action." At the commencement Colonel Miller was thrown from his horse, and remained on foot through the rest of the battle; of course the most active part of the command de volved on Majors Vanhorne and Morrison, who certainly deserve great credit for their conduct in this affair. The officers and men generally behaved very well, with the ex ception only of Captain Sloan of the cavalry, and Capt. A. F. Hull. The 4th regiment lost ten killed and 32 wounded ; the Ohio and Michigan militia, 8 killed and 28 wounded. The British were commanded by Major Muir of the 41st regiment. His force comprised about four hundred regu lars and Canadian militia, with a large body of Indians under Tecumseh. Forty Indians were found dead on the field; fifteen regulars were killed and wounded, and 4 taken prisoners; the loss of the Canadian militia and volunteers, was never ascertained, but as they were in the hottest part of the action, it must have been great. Muir and Tecumseh were both wounded. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 93 Colonel Miller sent an express to General Hull with information of his success, and a request for a supply of provisions. About ten o'clock at night, Colonel M' Arthur was ordered, to take a hundred men from his regiment, and proceed down the river in boats, with 600 rations for Col onel Miller's detachment, and to bring up the wounded to Detroit. Colonel M' Arthur immediately applied to David Baird, the contractor, who was strongly suspected of being a British agent in disguise, but could not prevail on him to issue the rations before 2 :00 o'clock in the morning. As soon as he received them, he embarked in nine boats, and arrived safe at Colonel Miller's encampment two miles above Brownstown. He had to pass the Queen Charlotte and brig Hunter in the river, but in consequence of a heavy rain they did not perceive him. As soon as he could deliver the provisions and place the wounded in his boats, he com menced his return in obedience to his orders; but having permitted as many of his men as desired, to join Colonel Miller, his boats were so poorly manned that he had to row one himself, while it was steered by a wounded soldier. He had but just left the camp, which was not far below the head of the island between Maiden and Brownstown, when signal guns were fired at the former place, and answered by the Queen Charlotte and Hunter. When the boats ar rived near the head of the island, those vessels were seen sailing up, on the other side of the river. The men immed iately put to shore, and all who were able ran across a marsh into the woods, leaving the wounded in the boats. But the energy of the colonel saved them from the enemy ; he followed his men to the woods, and with some difficulty prevailed on them to return to their duty. Having a bar rel of whiskey on board, he invited them to fill their can teens, while he told them the story of the Indian, who stuck to his bottle of rum, while descending the falls of Niagara. 94 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR They now proceeded up to a place, where the woods were nearer to the river, and carried out the wounded, the col onel encouraging the men by his own exertions. The brig Hunter, in the meantime, had anchored above the head of the island, to prevent the boats from ascending the river. An express was immediately sent to Detroit, to inform the general of their situation, and for wagons to carry up the wounded. The colonel, however, having forseen the diffi culties of the voyage, had previously requested Colonel Godfrey and Captains Sibhy and Knaggs of the Michigan militia, to meet him with wagons. They had complied, and the express soon returned with the pleasing intelli gence of their approach. The nearest they could come, was a quarter of a mile above the boats on the bank of the river, which rendered it necessary to re-embark the wounded and carry them up in boats. This was done under a constant, but wholly ineffectual fire from the brig Hunter, which lay opposite the wagons. Colonel Cass who was always ready for any service, met them with a detachment, and has tened down to secure the boats; but the enemy had taken them before he could arrive. Colonel Miller had intended to inarch on to the river Raisin, as soon as he was supplied and relieved of the wounded; but he was prevented by indisposition; and an express was sent to General Hull with this information, and with a request for more provisions. This was a criti cal moment in the enterprise. It is plain, that Colonel Miller should have marched on, even if it had been neces sary to carry him in a litter ; for he was not more than 22 miles from Captain Brush, who had 150 men, and plenty of provisions. If he had been too sick to proceed in any manner, one of the other colonels should have been sent in his place, without waiting for more supplies from Detroit. The detachment having beaten the enemy, could have IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 95 reached the river Raisin with safety in a day, and without suffering much for provisions. When Colonel Cass, sev eral miles below the river De Corce, was informed of Col onel Miller's situation, he addressed this laconic note to General Hull : "Sir, Colonel Miller is sick, may I relieve him? L. Cass." No answer being given to this note, he returned to Detroit; and Colonel Miller had called a coun cil of his officers to deliberate on the course he should take, when an express arrived from the general Avith positive orders for the detachment to return to Detroit. Thus the favorable moment for opening the communication with the river Raisin, was lost for the want of a little energy and decision. The enterprise was made to miscarry, after the principal difficulties to be apprehended, had actually been surmounted. The general is the soul of an army, and if he had not the requisite qualifications, no matter what may be the talents of his officers — they will do but little good. The responsibility of a military commander, like his power, is unlimited — there is no legal excuse for his failures but impossibility. Prom the manner in which our flags had been treated by the enemy, it was expected, that no more would be sent; but to the surprise of the whole army, on the 12th a boat was seen descending with a white flag from Detroit to Sandwich, where it was known that General Brock had arrived with the 41st regiment. Colonels M'Arthur, Cass, and Findley, with some warmth and indignation, immed iately repaired to headquarters, and inquired of the gen eral why a flag of truce had been sent to Sandwich. The general denied having any knowledge of it; and the col onels then expressed their determination to inquire into the affair, and have the offender punished. The general seemed to be somewhat disconcerted, and observed that he would inquire of Captain Hickman, his volunteer aide, whether he 96 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR had authorized any person to take a flag to the enemy's camp. He went to the captain, and after a few minutes returned and said, that Captain Hickman had conversed with Captain Rough on the subject, but did not wish him to consider himself permitted to take a flag, but that the captain had probably considered himself authorized. The colonels then left their general in disgust, and extended their inquiries no farther on the subject, but strongly sus pected his fidelity to the country. He had for several days been an object of general contempt, having frequently been intoxicated, and apparently lost to all sense of humor, and even decency. He was sullen in his deportment and wav ering in his orders. A conversation now took place, between the colonels of the Ohio Volunteers and General J. Taylor, of Kentucky, respecting the abilities and fidelity of the general. They were unanimously of the opinion, that if he continued in the command of the army, it would be surrendered to the enemy. They came, therefore, to a determination to de prive him of the command, and solicited Colonel Miller to assume it. He refused, but declared lie would unite with them in giving it to M' Arthur. A faint hope remaining, that they might yet be relieved from the State of Ohio, the project was abandoned, and Colonel Cass immediately ad dressed the following letter to the governor of Ohio: "Detroit, August 12, 1812. "Dear Sir — From causes not fit to be put on paper, but which I trust I shall live to communicate to you, this army lias been reduced to a critical and alarming situation. We have wholly left the Canadian shore, and have abandoned the miserable inhabitants, who depended on our will and our power to protect them, to their fate. Unfortunately the general and our principal officers could not view our situation and our prospects in the same light. That Mai den might easily have been reduced, I have no doubt. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 97 That the army were in force and in spirits enough to have done it, no one doubts. But the precious opportunity has fled; and, instead of looking back, we must now look for ward. The letter from the secretary of war to you, a copy of which I have seen, authorizes you to preserve and keep open the communication from the State of Ohio to Detroit. It is all important that it should be kept open; our very existence depends upon it. Our supplies must come from our State. This country does not furnish them. In the existing state of things, nothing but a large force of 2,000 men at least, will effect the object. It is the unanimous wish of the army, that you should accompany them. Every exertion that can, must be made. If this reaches you safely by Murray, he will tell you more than I can or ought here to insert. I am, etc., "Lewis Cass." This letter having been written and shown to the other officers, they were induced from the appearance of the British in the meantime at Sandwich, to add the following endorsement : "Since the other side of this letter was written, new circumstances have arisen. The British force is opposite, and our situation has nearly reached its crisis. Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it, however, it may astonish you; as much as if told by one of us. Even a c * * * is talked of by the * * * ! The bearer will sup ply the vacancy. On you we depend. Signed by Cass, Findley, M' Arthur, Taylor and E. Brush. The intention was, if Governor Meigs could arrive in time to relieve them, to divest General Hull of the com mand and confer it on the governor, who had the confidence of the army. Major Denny now evacuated the fortification at Gowies, having previously set fire to the works, which unfortunate ly communicated to the house and burned it down. On the 13th the British were seen marching up from Sandwich 98 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR to a place opposite Fort Detroit, within point-blank shot of our batteries ; yet the general would not suffer Lieuten ants Dalaby and Anderson to fire on them with our 24 pounders, and they were permitted unmolested to erect their batteries opposite Detroit. On the evening of the 14th, a detachment of 300 men, was sent under the command to two colonels, M' Arthur and Cass, to endeavor again by a circuitous route to open the communication Avith the river Raisin. Colonel MJ Ar thur remonstrated against sending them without pro visions; upon which the general promised to send provis ions after them on pack horses, but he failed in the end to do it. This detachment after marching about 24 miles, having passed the rivers Rouge and DeCorce some distance, got into a marsh and could go no farther without pro- visions. Being still a great distance from the river Raisin, on account of their circuitous route, a council of officers were held, which judged it expedient to return. But in the meantime affairs at Detroit had been brought to a crisis. On the morning of the 15th General Hull pitched his marquee in the centre of the camp with red and blue stripes painted on its top. This was the first time he had erected a tent in camp since the 4th of July. It was remarked with astonishment by every person; and about one o'clock two British officers arrived from Sandwich with a, flag of truce, and a letter from General Brock demanding the surrender of Fort Detroit to His Britannic Majesty's forces. The following is a copy: "H. Q. Sandwich, August 15th, 1812. "Sir — The force at my disposal authorizes me to re quire of you the surrender of Fort Detroit, It is far from my inclination to join in a war of extermination ; but you IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 99 must be aware, that the numerous body of Indians, who have attached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest commences. You will find me disposed to enter into such conditions as will sat isfy the most scrupulous sense of honor. Lieut. Col. M'Donnell, and Major Glegg are fully authorized to con clude any arrangement that may prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood. "I have the honor to be your most obedient servant, "Isaac Brock, Maj. Gen." "His excellency, Brig. Gen. Hull, "Commanding at Detroit." The British were at this time engaged in pulling down a house opposite Detroit, behind which they had erected a battery ; and Lieutenants Dalaby and Anderson were bus ily engaged in completing a battery on our side. When the troops were informed, that the British had demanded a surrender of the fort, they laughed at the idea and seemed to be inspired with new vigor. The general, himself, seemed to be actuated by contending passions. At one moment he seemed to be determined to make an obstinate defense, and save his army from disgrace and his Terri tory from invasion; then again he would discover symp toms of the greatest fear and pusillanimity. His conver sation with his officers was of the most dispiriting nature, exaggerating the force of the enemy, etc. The absence of Colonels M7 Arthur and Cass was deeply deplored by the army, and was a cause of increasing the suspicions against the general. The threat of the British commander, to let loose the Indians to massacre and exterminate the peo ple, excited the most indignant contempt towards a nation, which pretending to be civilized, could associate with savages in a war of the most horrible nature. General Hull, after a considerable struggle in his own mind, which 100 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR was observed in the countenance by the British officer, at last returned the following reply to the demand they had brought: "H. Q. Detroit, August 15, 1812. "Sir — I have received your letter of this date. I have no other reply to make, than to inform you that I am ready to meet any force which may be at your disposal, and any consequences which may result from its execution in any way you may think proper to use it. "I avail myself of this opportunity to inform you, that the flag of truce, under the direction of Captain Brown, proceeded contrary to the orders, and without the consent of Colonel Cass, who commanded the troops who attacked your picket near the river Kanard bridge. I likewise take the occasion to inform you, that Gowies house, was set on fire contrary to my orders, and it did not take place till af ter the evacuation of the fort. From the best information I have been able to obtain on the subject, it was set on fire by some of the inhabitants on the other side of the river. "I am very respectfully your excellency's most obed ient servant, Wm. Hull, Brig. Gen., Commanding N. W. Army of the United States. His excellency, Major General Brock, . Commanding His Britanic Majesty's forces in Upper Canada." This letter being written and delivered to the British officers, General Hull immediately retired into the fort with every appearance of alarm; and no sooner had they landed in Sandwich, than the British armed vessels ap peared in sight, and the battery on the opposite shore began to play upon the fort. The fire was returned from our batteries and the fort, and one of the enemy's guns was silenced in a few minutes. As soon as the firing com menced, all the troops, except Colonel Findley's regiment, were crowded into the fort and posts assigned to as many IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 101 as could be employed. Colonel Findley was stationed three hundred yards from the fort on the northwest. Previous to the opening of the batteries, Brigade Major Jessup and Quartermaster Dugan, rode down the river to Springwells to view the enemy at Sandwich ; and from the position of the Queen Charlotte, they condiid-ed: that the enemy intended to effect a landing at that place. Having ascertained a position for a battery, whi<;h ^uld be secure from the fire of her guns, the major returned to headquarters, and requested that a 24-pounder might be sent down to sink that vessel. The general told him, that he had consulted his artillery officers, and they were of opinion, that a bridge over which it must pass, was not strong enough to bear the weight of a 24-pounder. The major informed him that there was plenty of timber near it, to make it stronger; to which remark the general made no reply. Major Jessup then returned to the Springwells, where he found Captain Snelling with a few men and a brass 6-pounder. Observing that the principal part of the British forces were at Sandwich, he returned again to General Hull and requested permission to cross the river with 150 men, and spike the enemy's cannon on the battery opposite Detroit. The general said he could not spare that number. He then asked for one hundred, in which he was joined by Captain Snelling. The general replied "I will think of it." The enemy still kept up a constant fire from the battery; from which they did not desist until 10 o'clock at night; and at daylight next morning, the 16th, they commenced again, but their fire had very little effect. Our batteries returned it with prompti tude till near 11 o'clock, having in the meantime silenced two of their guns. The British had by this time effected a landing at Springwells with their whole force, consisting of about 102 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR thirty royal artillerists, 300 regulars, 400 militia, and about 600 Indians, with three 6, and two 3-pounders. They advanced towards the fort without any opposition, the militia and regulars being on the margin of the river, and the Indians next the woods on the west of the town. When they had arrived within three-quarters of a mile from the fort, two 24-pounders loaded with grape shot, were levelled at them under the direction of Captain Forsythe and Lieutenant Anderson; but just as the artil lerists were applying the matches, Captain Dyson the senior officer of the artillery, came up and drew his sword, and swore that the first man who attempted to fire on the enemy* should be cut to pieces. General Hull had taken refuge on the east side of the fort under the wall, where he was sure the balls of the enemy could not hit him — yet he seemed to be stupified and nearly torpid with fear. A ball from the British battery, which now kept up a constant fire, struck in the fort and killed Captain Hanks, Lieutenant Sibley, and Doc tor Reynolds, and wounded Doctor Blood. Another passed through the gate and killed two soldiers in the barracks. Two men were also killed on the outside. The general had crowded so many men into the fort, together with the women and children, who had come there for protection, that it was almost impossible for a ball to strike in the fort, without killing some person. Very little injury, however, was experienced from the shells of the enemy; though well directed, they generally burst too soon. Under these circumstances, which excited in the gen eral the most terrible apprehensions, an officer of the Michigan militia came into the fort and inquired whether General Hull expected Colonel Brush to defend the city with two or three hundred men? He stated that the British forces were at the lanyard below the town, upon IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 103 which information General Hull stepped into a room in the barracks, and returning in a few minutes, handed a note to his son, who immediately hoisted a white flag on a pike staff, and inquired whether he could say anything in addition to the note — being answered in the negative he went out and proceeded to meet General Brock. When he returned from the enemy, he was accompanied by Col onel M'Donnell and Major Glegg. It was now evident to every person that the general had tendered a capitulation ; and white flags in the meantime being hoisted on the walls in different places, the firing from the British batteries was discontinued. General Hull now called upon General Taylor, of Kentucky, Major Jessup, and several others, to assist in drawing up the articles of capitulation ; but they all indignantly refused their assistance. However, the business was soon arranged between the general and the British officers; who then immediately returned to the tanyard, where the British forces had halted. Our troops in the meantime were ordered to stack their arms; Colonel Findley with his regiment being ordered into the fort for the same purpose. It is impossible to describe the indignation which was felt and expressed by the offi cers on this occasion. The men very generally shed tears, and the common expression as they indignantly dashed down their arms, often breaking them to pieces, was "damn such a general." The Indians soon began their devastations by killing the cattle and sheep in the commons. About 12 o'clock the British forces with General Brock at their head marched into the fort; the Americans were inarched out, and put into an adjoining garden ; the American flag was pulled down, and the British hoisted in its place. The firing of their cannon, with the yelling of the savages, and the discharging of their guns in the air, closed the scene 104 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR and proclaimed their joy at their success. The following are the articles of capitulation : "Camp at Detroit, August 16, 1812. "Capitulation for the surrender of Fort Detroit, en tered into between Major General Brock, commanding His Britannic Majesty's forces on the one part, and Brigadier General Hull, commanding the northwestern army of the United States, on the other part : "1. Fort Detroit with all the troops, regulars as well as militia, will be immediately surrendered to the British forces under the command of Major General Brock, and will be considered prisoners of war, with the exception of such of the militia of the Michigan Territory as have not joined the army. "2. All public stores, arms, and all public documents, including everything else of a public nature, will be im mediately given up. "3. Private persons and property of every description will be respected. "4. His excellency, Brigadier General Hull, having expressed a desire that a detachment from the State of Ohio, on its way to join the army, as well as one sent from Detroit, under the command of Colonel M' Arthur shall be included in the above capitulation, it is accordingly agreed to ; it is, however, to be understood, that such part of the Ohio militia as have not joined the army will be permitted to return to their homes, on condition that they will not serve during the war. Their arms, however, will be delivered up, if belonging to the public. "5. The garrison will march out at the hour of 12 o'clock this day, and the British forces will take imme diate possession of the fort. "J. M'Donnell, Lt. Col. Mil. P. A. D. C. "J. B. Glegg, Maj. A. D. C. "J. Miller, Lt, Col. 4th Regt. U. S. Inft. "E. Brush, Col. 1st Regt. Mich. Mil." "Approved : "Win. Hull, Brig. (Jen. Com. N. W. Army. "Isaac Brock, Maj. Gen." IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 105 To these articles, two additional ones were added, to which General Brock says, "certain considerations induced him to agree." They were not known to the troops at the time. "Detroit, August 16th, 1812. "It is agreed, that the officers and soldiers of the Ohio militia, shall be permitted to proceed to their respective homes, on this condition, that they are not to serve during the present war, unless they are exchanged. "Wm. Hull, Brig. Gen. "Isaac Brock, Maj. Gen." The other additional article places the Michigan mili tia and volunteers under Major Wetherell on the same principles with the Ohio militia. Colonel M' Arthur, with his detachment, being ignorant of these transactions, was hastening back, with all possible dispatch ; having had no provisions except a few green pumpkins and potatoes from Friday morning till Sunday evening, when he arrived within a mile of the fort, he was informed of its surrender, and immediately ordered his men back to the river Rouge. There he found an ox, which being killed and divided among his men was eaten half raw. After some consultation with his officers, he sent Captain Mansfield with a flag of truce to the fort. On his way he was robbed of his horse and his arms by the Indians, and in the evening returned to the detachment, in company with Majors Dixon and Givens of the British army. Captain Elliott arrived about the same time and handed Colonel M' Arthur the articles of capitulation. The colonel struck his sword in the ground and broke it to pieces, while tears of indignation stood in his eyes. The detachment then marched to the fort, and stacked their arms in the citadel. Colonels M' Arthur and Cass both remonstrated against surrendering rifles, which were private property, 106 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR but without success. They then observed, that they had already surrendered the muskets, or they would contend for the rifles. While the troops were stationed in the ordnance yard, the British guard pulled off their knapsacks, and took their knives from their scabbards; the Indians at the same time being employed in robbing the citizens of their prop erty and taking the horses from the dragoons. Several pieces of brass cannon, which had been sur rendered on the 16th of August, '76, by Colonel Baum to the American General Stark, were viewed with the great est pleasure by the British officers, some of whom saluted them with kisses. The troops who had surrendered in the fort, were es corted by the British guards to their vessels, which were lying in the river, and being stowed aboard, they were floated down to Springwells. The Michigan militia were liberated. Colonel M'Arthur's detachment was embarked next morning and they all descended the river, the 4th regiment being destined for Quebec, and the militia for the State of Ohio, in which they were landed at different places on the shores of Lake Erie. They returned home dejected and spiritless, the issue of the campaign having proved so very different from the anticipations with which they commenced it. General Hull being landed from Lake Erie, made the best of his way to Massachusetts, his former place of residence, consigned to eternal infamy, with the curses of his country lowering over his head. To prove that the fort \vas not surrendered for the want of ammunition and provisions, it is only necessary to state the facts, on the authority of private and official informa tion. For the 24-pounders, there \vere six hundred rounds of fixed ammunition, prepared for use, of which two hun dred were grape shot; the same quantity was ready for the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 107 6-pounders, and two hundred rounds for the 4-pounders. The number of shells was very considerable. For the mus kets seventy-five thousand cartridges were made up, be sides twenty-four rounds apiece in each man's box. In the magazine there were sixty barrels of powder, and one hun dred and fifty tons of lead. In the contractor's store there was at least twenty-five day's provisions, and in the Terri tory a considerable quantity of wheat, and a sufficiency of windmills to grind it. To this stock might have been added Captain Brush's escort of one hundred and fifty horse loads of flour, and three hundred beeves at the river Raisin. The whole would have enabled the fort to stand a siege, if the enemy had been strong enough to besiege it, until the governor of Ohio could have relieved them. But cowardice had conspired with fate to produce a different result. There were nearly two thousand four hundred stands of arms surrendered to the enemy, besides those in the arsenal ; and the following is the British official return of the ordnance: Iron Brass 9 24 pounders 3 6 pounders 5 9 ditto 4 2 ditto j*_6 ditto 3 1 ditto 17 iron pieces 1 8-inch howitzer j|2 brass pieces _!_ 5 J do. do. 29 total 12 brass pieces Prom this account of the arms surrendered; from the preceding statement of the British force, and from the de scription of troops which composed each army, it is abund antly evident, that the American force under General Hull, was at least doubly as efficient as that to which he surren dered; and in addition to this great superiority of force, he had the advantage of a strong fortress which might have been defended against numbers vastly superior. 108 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR If General Hull had made a bold and vigorous attack upon Maiden, when he first crossed into Canada, though he had even then lost much precious time, there cannot be a doubt, but that the fort would have surrendered without much loss on our part, and all the British forces in that quarter would have fallen into our hands. But it is doubt ful whether the British, having the command of the Lake, would not have soon compelled him to abandon it. Fortifi cations might have been erected on the island of Bois Blanc opposite Maiden, which would have commanded the river Detroit still more effectually ; but it would have been very expensive to maintain an army there, sufficient with these advantages only, to hold the country against the com mand of the lake, the importance of which had been duly appreciated by the British government. The fall of Mai den, however, would doubtless have awed the savages, into a temporary neutrality at least, which would have greatly relieved our frontier settlements. The administration of the general government exhibited great want of foresight in sending General Hull to Canada, without having taken the necessary measures to obtain the command of Lake Erie: and, unless it had been determined to hold Upper Canada, during the war at least, and thus to cut off all communication between the British and In dians, the invasion of that territory was wholly unneces sary and improper. Although the foregoing account of the operations of General Hull, clearly proves his incapacity to conduct any species of warfare, yet we ought not to con ceal the errors of others in relation to the affairs he had to manage. It is a fact that General Hull, while governor of Michigan, previous to his being appointed a brigadier in the army, and as early as the 6th of March, 1812, in a memorial which he laid before the war department, did sug gest the propriety of having a superior naval force on Lake IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 109 Erie, as an auxiliary in the reduction of Upper Canada, without which it would be impossible to effect that object; and he pointed out the various difficulties which must at tend a different course. In another communication on the llth of April, after he had received his appointment in the army, he recommended in strong and explicit terms, the erection of a navy on the lakes. The United States had then but one old transport vessel on Lake Erie, which was repairing, and was not even launched for a month after the declaration of war. He represented to the government, that unless the northwestern army was strengthened by addition to its numbers, and followed by detachments to keep open the communication, and insure supplies from the State of Ohio ; and without the aid of a superior naval force on Lake Erie, it would be impossible for that army to carry on offensive operations in Upper Canada, or even to main tain its position at Detroit. But the war department dis regarded these suggestions, and expected General Hull to get command of the lakes, with the forces placed at his dis posal. Nothing could be more chimerical, unless General Dearborn had been ready to co-operate with a powerful army on the Niagara strait. By the capture of Maiden, with all the British forces in that quarter, and by an effi cient invasion at the same time from Niagara so as to cut off the communication of the British with Lake Erie and the upper country, the objects of the government might have been effected, without the expense of a navy on Lake Erie. But General Dearborn was not even ready to make an attempt at invasion, before the unfortunate affair at Queenstown on the 12th of October. While Hull was in vading Upper Canada he was lying at his ease at Green- bush, and on the 9th of August he concluded an armistice with the governor-general of the Canadas, wThich was not to extend above Fort Erie on the Niagara. This measure 110 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR was proposed by Governor Prevost, in consequences of in telligence that the orders in council were repealed. By excluding General Hull from the benefit of this arrange ment, his opponent, General Brock, would have been able in a short time to bring all the British forces against him. This forms no excuse, however, for the surrender of Detroit, for the armistice below was unknown to General Hull, till he was informed of it after the capitulation by General Brock. In this instance General Dearborn acted very im prudently, in suffering himself to be lulled by an armis tice, which was disapproved by the President, when it was his duty to co-operate with the northwestern army, by threatening an invasion at least, which would prevent Gen eral Brock from pressing with all his force against Hull. Thus, in the catalogue of our early failures, we discover many blunders and causes of miscarriage, besides those for which the commander of the northwestern army has to answer. No sooner was General Brock in full possession of De troit, than he issued the following proclamation: "Whereas, the Territory of Michigan was this day ceded by capitulation to the arms of His Britannic Majesty, with out any other condition than the protection of private prop erty, and wishing to give an early proof of the moderation and justice of the government, I do hereby announce to all the inhabitants of the said Territory, that the laws hereto fore in existence shall continue in force, until His Majesty's pleasure be known or so long as the peace and safety of the said territory will admit thereof. And I do hereby also declare and make known to the inhabitants, that they shall be protected in the full exercise and enjoyment of their religion, of which all persons both civil and military will take notice, and govern themselves accordingly. All per sons having in their possession, or having any knowledge of any public property, shall forthwith deliver in the same. Officers of the militia will be held responsible that all arms IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 111 in the possession of the militiamen, be immediately deliv ered up, and all individuals whatever, who have in their possession arms of any kind, will deliver them up without delay. Given under my hand at Detroit, 16th of August, 1812, and in the 52nd year of His Majesty's reign. "Isaac Brock, G. C." This proclamation was executed in a few days, by the delivery or seizure of all the arms in the hands of the citi zens, whether public or private property. Having garri soned Detroit with 250 men, the general left it under the command of Colonel Proctor, and retired to Maiden, where he learned that the President of the United States had dis approved of the armistice negotiated with General Dear born, and that preparations would be made to invade Canada on the Niagara strait. The greater part of his troops were in consequence sent down to Forts George and Erie, to which places he soon followed them, having prev iously planned an expedition to be conducted by Major Muir against Fort Wayne. In concluding nay account of this disastrous campaign, it may not be amiss to state the final result in relation to General Hull. He requested an investigation of his con duct, and a court-martial was ordered by the Executive of the United States, of which General Dearborn was presi dent. This court met on the 3rd of January, 1814, in the city of Albany, New York, before which General Hull ap peared, and was charged witli two crimes: 1st, Treason; 2nd, Cowardice. He plead not guilty. The court after a patient and impartial investigation finally pronounced their decision on the 26th of March. They acquitted him on the charge of treason, as not properly coming before them; but found him guilty of cowardice, and sentenced him to be shot to death ; at the same time they recommended him to the mercy of the President, on account of his age and 112 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR his revolutionary services. The President approved the sentence on the 25th of April, and remitted its execution. On the same day the following general order was issued : "Washington City, April 25th, 1814. "The rolls of the army are to be no longer disgraced by having upon them the name of Brigadier General Win. Hull. The general court martial, of which General Dear born is president, is hereby dissolved. "By order of "J. B. Walbaeh, Adjt. Gen." CHAPTER III. PROCEEDINGS AT CHICAGO — ORGANIZATION AND MARCH OF TROOPS FROM KENTUCKY AND OHIO — SIEGE AND RELIEF OF FORT WAYNE — MOUNTED EX PEDITIONS, ETC. General Hull being warned by the fate of Mackinaw, thought proper about the last of July, to send an express by way of Fort Wayne to Captain Heald, who commanded at Fort Dearborn, near the mouth of Chicago river, at the southwest extremity at Lake Michigan, with orders to dis mantle the fort, and deliver to the Indians in that neigh borhood, all the public property of his possession, which he could not bring away. Captain Wells, who lived at Fort Wayne, volunteered his services, with the aid of about fifty Miami Indians, to bring away the garrison with the women and children. He set out from Fort Wayne about the 3rd, and arrived at Chicago on the 12th of August. For several days a large number of Potawatamies, and Winebagoes had been encamped round the fort, but most of them professed to be friendly. Tecumseh and the Brit ish kept up a regular correspondence by runners with those Indians, who were waiting to hear the result of the con test about Maiden before they would join either side. On the 14th, Captain Heald distributed the public stores among the different tribes, with which they were much pleased. In the evening of the same day, Mr. Griffith, who acted as an interpreter and trader at the fort, was informed by a chief whose name was Black Patridge, that "leaden 113 114 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR birds had been singing in Ids ears," and that they ought to be careful on the march they were going to take. From his suggestion, it was evident that the Indians had been holding councils on the subject of commencing hostilities. Their number in the neighborhood of the fort now amounted to five or six hundred. On the morning of the 15th at sunrise, the troops, con sisting of about seventy men, with some women and chil dren, marched from the fort, with the pack horses in the centre, and Captain Wells with his Indians in the rear. They had proceeded about a mile from the fort, when the front guard was fired on by the savages, who were posted behind a sandbank on the margin of the lake, and in a skirt of woods which the party was approaching, the rest of the country around them being an open prairie. At the same time they saw a body of Indians passing to their rear, to cut off their retreat to the fort. The firing now became general, and the troops seeing nothing but death and mas sacre before them, formed in line of battle, and returned the fire of the enemy with much bravery and success, as they slowly retreated into the prairie. The Indians made several desperate efforts to rush up and tomahawk them; but every charge was repulsed by the firmness of the troops, who fought with desperation, determined to sell their live& as dear as possible. Captain Wells being killed, his In dians retired from the party and joined the others. Sev eral women and children were also killed ; and our ranks were at last so reduced, as scarcely to exceed 20 effective men, yet they continued resolute, and stuck together, re solved to fight while one remained able to fire. But the Indians now withdrew some distance, and sent a small French boy to demand a surrender. The boy Avas Captain Heald's interpreter, who had run off to the Indians at the commencement of the action. He advanced cautiously, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 115 and Mr. Griffith, who was aftenvards a lieutenant in a com pany of spies, in Colonel Johnson's regiment from Ken tucky, advanced to meet him, intending to kill him for his perfidy. But the boy declared that it was the only way he had to save his life, and appeared sorry that he had been obliged to act in that manner. He then made known his business; the Indians proposed to spare the lives of our men, provided they would surrender. The proposal being made known to the surviving soldiers, they unanimously determined to reject it. The boy returned with this answer to the Indians, but in a short time he came back and en treated Mr. Griffith to use his influence with Captain Heald, to make him surrender, as the Indians were very numerous. The captain, his lady, and Mr. Griffith were all wounded. He at last consented to surrender, and the troops having laid down their arms, the Indians advanced to receive them ; and, notwithstanding their promises they now perfidiously tomahawked three or four of the men. One Indian Avith the fury of a demon in his countenance, advanced to Mrs. Heald with his tomahawk drawn. She had been accustomed to danger; and, knowing the temper of the Indians, with great presence of mind, she looked him in the face, and smiling, said : "Surely you will not kill a squaw." His arm fell nerveless ; the conciliating smile of an inno cent female, appealing to the magnanimity of a warrior, reached the heart of the savage and subdued the barbarity of his soul. He immediately took the lady under his pro tection. She was the daughter of General Samuel Wells, of Kentucky. The head of Captain Wells was cut off; and his heart was cut out and eaten by the savages. The Indians having divided their prisoners as usual in such cases, it was the fate of Captain Heald, his1 lady and Mr. Griffith, to be taken by the Ottawas on the lake beyond 116 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR the mouth of the river St. Joseph. Their wounds being severe, they looked upon destruction as inevitable; but heaven often smiles when we least expect it. Griffith had observed a canoe, which was large enough to carry them ; and they contrived to escape in it by night. In this frail bark they traversed the lake 200 miles to Mackinaw, where the British commander afforded them the means of return ing to the United States. The attack on the garrison of Chicago was caused by intelligence received from Tecumseh. On the night prev ious to the evacuation of the fort, a runner had arrived with information from Tecumseh, that Major Vanhorne had been defeated at Brownstown, that the army under Hull had returned to Detroit, and that there was every prospect of success. This intelligence decided the Indians in that quarter to join the British side, and they resolved to remain no longer inactive. After reading the above narrative, which is a plain, un varnished statement of facts, furnished by an eye witness, what must we think of the British government and its agents, who could thus instigate the sanguinary savage of the forest to deeds of ingratitude, perfidy, and murder? How low must we estimate the civilization of those, who could court the alliance of these barbarians in war, at the same time knowing, encouraging, and proclaiming to the world, their ruthless mode of warfare, and paying them a graduated price for the scalps of men, women, and chil dren? I appeal to my countrymen and to the world to say, whether the vengeance of the American people ought not to be hurled alike against these fiends of the forest and their British associates and instigators? And what kind of an American is he, let me ask, who can defend and justify the conduct of the British government, when all these transac tions are known and well authenticated to him? IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 117 The various advantages now gained by the allies, includ ing their capture of the whole army at Detroit, completely fixed nearly all the Indians in the British interest. Very few remained friendly towards the United States; and those who did, were threatened with war and extermina tion. Our old friend, the Little Turtle, had died in the summer, and most of his nation had joined the enemy. The plans of Tecumseli appeared to be in a successful train of completion, and the siege of Forts Wayne and Harrison at the same moment, as the principal remaining obstacles, in the way of driving the white inhabitants over the Ohio river, were resolved on by his followers. The Potawa- taniies and Ottawas were to be assisted in the siege of Fort Wayne by the British under Major Muir ; while the Wine- bagoes and that part of the Mianiies who had determined on hostility, were to take Fort Harrison if possible by stratagem. The first of September was as early as they could be ready for action ; and about that time they agreed to make simultaneous attacks on those forts, which they ac cordingly carried into execution; but fortunately, Tecum seli and the British were delayed at Maiden till the 115th of September, before they could march to join the party at Fort Wayne. In the meantime the most active preparations were making in the States of Ohio and Kentucky to prosecute the war Avith renewed vigor. The governor of Ohio, as soon as he had been informed of the dangerous situation of Hull's army, had immediately ordered the remaining portion of the detached militia of his State, amounting to twelve hundred men, to be embodied and inarched to Urbana under the command of Brigadier General Tupper. The secretary of war had also previously called on Gover nor Scott of Kentucky for fifteen hundred men, including the regulars enlisted in that State, to reinforce the north- 118 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR western army. Early in May the governor of Kentucky, in obedience to instructions from the war department, had organized ten regiments, amounting to five thousand five hundred men, as the quota of that State, under the act of Congress for detaching one hundred thousand militia for the service of the United States. All of these regiments had been filled by volunteering, the citizens of Kentucky having eagerly joined the standard of their country as soon as she called for men. The regiments of volunteers, which had been organized on the north side of Kentucky river, under the command of Colonels John M. Scott, Wm. Lewis and John Allen were ordered into service, under the requisition made by the war department. The 17th United States' regiment, under Col onel Samuel Wells, late General Wells of the militia, who had fought in the battle of Tippecanoe, was to march with this detachment. They were ordered to rendezvous at Georgetown, in Scott county, on the 15th of August, where Brigadier General John Payne, of Scott, was to receive the command. When the whole assembled, they amounted to more than 2,000 men, there having been a regiment of vol unteers ordered to march, above the number required by the government. The patriotic zeal of the citizens of Ken tucky was never more conspicuous than on this occasion. The ranks were filled with the most respectable citizens; the most promising young men in the country, the most intelligent, the most wealthy, had eagerly enrolled them selves for service. Many of the officers were men of the highest standing for talents and integrity. Colonel John Allen, who commanded a rifle regiment, was surpassed by none, in his qualifications as an attorney at the bar of Kentucky, and in his estimable qualities and virtues as a private citizen. Major Martin D. Hardin of the same reg iment, the intimate friend of the colonel, stood also in the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 119 first ranks as a lawyer and a private citizen. He was shortly afterwards appointed Secretary of State by Gov ernor Shelby, who succeeded Governor Scott, in the latter part of this month. Major George Madison was Auditor of Public Accounts, and was held in the highest estimation by his countrymen. He had fought and bled in St. Claire's defeat, and had served his country in many other expe ditions against the Indians. Colonels Scott and Lewis were also experienced officers in Indian warfare, and high ly esteemed as private citizens. John Simpson, Esq., a captain in the rifle regiment, had been speaker of the house of representatives in Kentucky, and was now elected a rep resentative in Congress. There was indeed no part of this corps of volunteers, in which citizens of the first respec tability were not to be found — all ready to meet the hazards and privations of an arduous and perilous campaign, in defense of their country's rights. In noticing individuals in this place, I must not, however, pass by the Reverend Samuel Shannon, who accompanied Colonel Scott's regi ment as chaplain. This venerable divine, in the early part of the revolution, had left Princeton college, where he was then a student, to enter as a lieutenant into the revolu tionary army, in which he served, except when a prisoner, to the termination of the war. At an advanced age, he now stepped forward again in defense of his country. He in structed the young soldier in his duties, and animated him by his own zeal, and by placing before him the former in dignities of the British, and the many heroic achievements of the revolution. He was a plain old gentleman, but his piety, his patriotism, and his politics, were of the most genuine description. Early on the 16th of August, the troops were paraded and reviewed by Governor Scott, whose appearance alone was sufficient to inspire them with sentiments of courage 120 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR and patriotism. The remembrance of his revolutionary ser vices, and his former campaigns against the Indians, to gether with the dignity of his appearance and his venerable age, spoke more to the feelings of these intelligent men, than the most eloquent language could have conveyed. After ten o'clock they were paraded again, and ad dressed by the Reverend James Blythe, principal of the Transylvania University, in a short and appropriate ser mon. The honorable Henry Clay then addressed them with his usual eloquence, and painted in lively colours, the honor which belongs to the volunteer soldier, fighting to defend the rights of his injured country. At the very moment, when General Hull was on this day capitulating in the most disgraceful manner in Detroit, Mr. Clay was in this address anticipating the fall of Maiden and the con quest of Upper Canada. How much at variance, the treacherous, dastardly deeds of the general, and the ani mating, patriotic anticipations of the orator ! On the 17th the troops were inspected by Brigade Major Garrard, an officer well versed in military tactics and dis cipline; and on the next day they drew two months pay in advance. They had been induced to expect sixteen dol lars more in advance, in lieu of the clothing to which they were entitled ; and some of them expressed dissatisfaction at riot receiving it. Major Gano, of Colonel Scott's regi ment paraded his battalion, and to try their patriotism pro posed to his men, either to go without, and trust to the jus tice of the government to furnish the clothing hereafter, or to return home. Six men volunteered to return; they were furnished with an escort to guard them out of camp and through the town with appropriate music. This was a disgrace, which no man of any honor or feeling could have endured. When arrived at home, some of them were IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 121 treated with so much contempt by their wives, that they returned to the army and continued to discharge their duty. While the troops lay at Georgetown, an appropriate address from the general was circulated in camp, and on the 19th they marched for Newport and Cincinnati. The weather was rainy and the roads were deep ; but the men were in high spirits, expecting to join General Hull at Maiden or Detroit, and acquire laurels in the conquest of Upper Canada. On the 24th, they reached Newport, where the unwelcome news of the surrender of Detroit and the Michigan territory was received. At first no person could believe the intelligence. It was so wholly unexpected, that the highest evidence was required to confirm it. Such evi dence was soon afterwards received. The effect on the minds of the men was very dispiriting ; instead of reaping laurels in Canada, it was now evident, they would have to contend, with an inferior force, against the progress of the allies in our own territory. But their ardor and their spirits soon revived with the idea and the resolution of acting a conspicuous part in the front of danger. Having drawn arms and camp equipage on the 25th and 26th, they crossed the Ohio on the 27th to Cincinnati. When the news of the surrender of Detroit, spread through the States of Ohio and Kentucky, it created an ex citement and indignation as great as the catastrophe was unexpected. But one sentiment, indeed, pervaded the western country. Every citizen seemed animated with a desire to wipe off the disgrace, with which our arms had been stained ; and to avert the desolation which menaced the frontiers of Ohio and the western territories. It was well known, that most of the savage tribes, who had not previously joined the British standard, but were watching the course of events, in order to determine what side it would be best to take, would consider our reverses at Mac- 122 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR inaw, Detroit, and Chicago, as entitling the British arms to a decided preference, and that they would immediately commence their depredations on the frontiers which were exposed at every point. In the meantime the balance of the detached militia in Kentucky had been ordered into service. Governor Harri son, who had fought the battle of Tippecanoe, had been authorized to take command of all the troops of the In diana and Illinois Territories, and carry on the war in that quarter against the Indians; and had also been empowered by the war department to call on the governor of Kentucky, for any portion of the contingent of that State which was not in service. Under this authority he had repaired to Kentucky, and called for the balance of her troops after the above regiments had been selected for the northwestern army, intending to carry an expedition against the hostile tribes on the Illinois river. He was at Frankfort making arrangements for their march, when the intelligence was received that the army under Hull was in a critical sit uation. A few days before the actual attack on Detroit by Gen eral Brock, an express had been sent by General Hull, to hasten the reinforcement which had been ordered to join him from Kentucky. By this conveyance several of the principal officers of the army had written to their friends in Cincinnati, as well as to the governor of Kentucky, stat ing their entire want of confidence in their commander, and their apprehensions of some fatal disaster from his miser able arrangements and apparent imbecility and cowardice. These letters also declared it to be the common wish of the army, that Governor Harrison should accompany the ex pected reinforcements He was also very popular in Ken tucky, and was anxiously desired as their commander by the troops marching from that State to the northwestern IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 123 army. But the authority with which lie had been invested by the President, did not entitle him to command any corps, which was not intended for operations in the west ern territories. The question of giving Harrison the command of the detachment on the march from Kentucky for Detroit, pre sented great difficulties to the mind of Governor Scott, The motives to make the appointment were numerous. He had ample testimony of its being the wish of the army at Detroit, The 4th United States regiment in particular, which had acquired so much fame at Tippecanoe, under the command of Harrison, he was assured by an officer of that corps, were eager to see their old commander again placed over them. The same desire was felt by the Kentucky militia; and the citizens echoed their sentiments in every part of the State. To these may be added his own ardent attachment to Governor Harrison, and entire confidence in his fitness for the command. The obstacles in the way of the appointment were, that Harrison was not a citizen of Kentucky, the laws of which would not sanction the appointment of any other to an office in the militia, and that a major general had already been appointed for the detached militia, one only being required and admissible in that corps. Had Governor Scott been capable of shrink ing from his duty and the responsibility of the occasion, he might have easily evaded this delicate business, as the day on which he was deliberating upon it, was the last but one that he had to remain in office. That he might, however, neither act unadvisedly, nor appear to assume too much, in this situation, he determined to ask the advice of the gove**- nor elect, and such members of Congress, and officers of the general and State governments, as could be conveniently collected. At this caucus, composed of Governor Shelby, the honorable H. Clay, speaker of the house of representa- 124 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR tives in Congress, the honorable Thomas Todd, judge of the Federal circuit court, etc., it was unanimously resolved to recomment to Governor Scott, to give Harrison a brevet commission of major general in the Kentucky militia, apd authorize him to take command of the detachment now marching to Detroit; and to reinforce it with another reg iment which he had called into service, and an additional body of mounted volunteer riflemen. The governor con ferred the appointment agreeably to their advice, which received: the general approbation of the people, and was hailed by the troops at Cincinnati with the most enthus iastic joy. The regiment commanded by Colonel Barbour, when ordered into service at the call of Governor Harrison was directed to rendezvous at the Red Banks, with a view of marching to the aid of Governor Edwards at Kaskaskia in the Illinois Territory. The regiments of Colonels Wilcox and Miller were ordered to rendezvous at Louisville, and on the Ohio below, for the purpose of marching to Vin- cennes to protect the Indiana Territory. Colonels Barbee and Jennings were at first ordered to the same place; but in consequence of the perilous situation of the northwestern army, they were now directed by express to rendezvous at Georgetown on the 1st of September, and pursue the other regiments by the way of Newport and Cincinnati for the northwestern frontiers. In the regiment of Colonel Jen nings, the honorable Samuel M'Kee and Thomas Mont gomery, members of Congress, were serving as privates in the ranks. They were ready to execute by their personal sendees in the humblest station, the measures which they advocated in the Legislature of the Union. The regiment of Colonel Poague was ordered to rendezvous at Newport, on its way to the northwestern army; and a regiment of IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 125 dragoons under Colonel Simrall was likewise, directed to proceed for the same destination. About this time also, the secretary of war ordered fif teen hundred men from the back parts of the State of Vir ginia, who were organized and placed by the governor of that State under the command of General Leftwich. TAVO thousand men were likewise ordered from the back parts of Pennsylvania, who were placed by the choice of their officers under the command of General Crooks. A com pany of twelve month's volunteers, called the Pittsburgh blues, and another of Petersburg!! volunteers in Virginia, were also received into service — the whole from those States being destined for the northwestern army. General Harrison appointed the honorable R. M. John- son, Win. S. Hunter, and John Logan. Esq., his aides, and made some other preparatory arrangements before he pro ceeded to Cincinnati to enter on his command. Informa tion of these proceedings was also transmitted to the war department, with a request that he might be confirmed in the command which he had received from the governor of Kentucky. About the 25th of August, he published an address to the people of that State, accompanied by another from Governor Scott, in which they called for a corps of five hundred mounted volunteers, to proceed to the north west without delay. An address was also published on the same subject by the honorable R. M. Johnson, wjio had previously distinguished himself in Congress, by his zeal in the cause of his country. He was directed by General Harrison to remain a few days at Georgetown, and bring on such mounted troops as might be raised by the 1st of Sep tember. Captain John Arnold, who had marched a com pany to Vincennes in May to aid Governor Harrison, and who had commanded a spy company, and been in the ad vance guard, in Wayne's battle with the Indians in '94, now 126 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR raised a company of mounted riflemen, seventy-six strong, in five days, and rendezvoused on the 1st of September at Georgetown. Captain James Johnson raised a similar company in the counties of Scott and Harrison, and went on two days in advance of the troops who rendezvoused on the 1st of September. In consequence of some of the regiments, which had been intended for Indians, being ordered to the northwest, Gen eral Harrison thought it advisable, to raise an additional force for that Territory. In compliance with his request, Governor Shelby issued a proclamation early in September, for raising a large corps of mounted volunteers, to repair immediately to Vincennes. The whole of the Kentucky troops destined for that quarter were placed under the im mediate command of General Samuel Hopkins, a venerable revolutionary officer, who was at this time a member of Congress. In obedience to the proclamation of the gover nor, the citizens crowded again to the standard of their country. To sum up the occurrences of the times in a few words, it may be said, that the whole State of Kentucky, was for several weeks a constant scene of military parade. The most ardent zeal and patriotism prevailed in every breast. Every person seemed willing to march for the de fense of the frontiers — the question was not, who will go —it was, who will stay? Kentucky thus sent upwards of seven thousand of her citizens into the field — while they are marching to their places of destination, to form the armies under Harrison and Hopkins ; and before we proceed to detail their opera tions, it will be proper to notice some other transactions by the executives of Kentucky and the Union. The government of the United States, being well apprised of the means taken by the British agents from Canada, to sway the Indians in their favor, made an attempt as soon as war was declared IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 127 to allay the rising storm. The various tribes of Indians bordering on our frontiers were invited to a general council to be held at Piqua on the 15th of August. They were re quested to bring their families, and kindle a great council fire; and the most beneficial results were anticipated. Governor Meigs, Thomas Worthington and Jeremiah Mor row, Esq., were appointed commissioners. They repaired to Piqua at the time appointed ; but our disasters and the intrigues of the British completely defeated the plans of the government. The Shawanoese brought their families, the Wyandots of Sandusky, the Mingoes, some Delawares and Ottawas, and a few Miamies attended. A large body of Miamies came five miles on this side of Fort Wayne, where they halted till they received information of the massacre of the garrison of Chicago, and the surrender of Mackinaw and Detroit, when they returned and aided the Potawatamies in the siege of Fort Wayne. Those who at tended professed great friendship ; but little reliance, how ever, was placed in many of them, except the Shawanoese and Wyandots, who still possessed some integrity. They had been induced to believe that the Americans by inviting them to bring their women and children, intended to get them all in their power, and then massacre the whole, A measure of much greater importance and practicabil ity than negotiating with the Indians, was now proposed from another source. Governor Shelby being installed as the executive of Kentucky, hastened to communicate to the war department, his views respecting the military affairs of the western country. Having had much experience in the revolution and in former Indian wars in this quarter, he foresaw the disasters which must result from the plan of having every movement ordered or sanctioned by the war department before its adoption. He, therefore, recom mended the appointment of a Board of War, in the western 128 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR country. His advice was not entirely disregarded on this occasion, and will deserve to be seriously considered by war ministers in future, who may be disposed to think they can direct operations on the frontiers, better than the com manding general, or a Board of War sitting near the scenes of action. In any war in which the United States may en gage, if the secretary undertakes to control the general in minor movements and plans, on a distant frontier, defeats, disasters, and disgrace will inevitably ensue. The follow ing is the communication of Governor Shelby : "Frankfort, Ky., September 5th, 1812. "Sir — In a government possessing the same extent of territory as that of the United States, with her inhabitants scattered and detached, and organized as it is, that energy cannot be exercised as in governments more compact. "Impressed with the truth of the preceeding fact, and being called by my fellow citizens to fill the executive de partment of the government of this State, and having en tered on the duties of the important station, I feel it a duty incumbent on me, to state to you sir, my ideas on the sub ject of war measures northwest of the Ohio river. "When the northwestern army, commanded by General Hull, marched, all western America Avas flattered with the hope of success; too soon have we experienced a reverse, and that hope which beamed in every countenance a few days since, is now followed by astonishment, by mortifica tion and anxiety, arising from a rapid succession of mis fortunes, unknown in the annals of our historical events. The surrender of the fort of Michilimacana and its garrison —Detroit and the army commanded by General Hull — the evacuation of Chicago, and the murder of the garrison, on the way from thence to Fort Wayne, by the Indians, are distressing facts. "The Indians, thus elated with success, encouraged and supported by the British from Canada, will now endeavor to extend their savage and barbarous devastations along the extensive frontier of the State of Ohio, and the several Territories unless checked bv the detachment of militia IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 129 lately ordered from this State by my predecessor, and the regular troops who have marched under Colonel Wells. It is believed from information received from various sources, that the Indians are collecting in force, at several points from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, with the intent to make vigorous attacks on both the Indiana and Illinois Territories; and should they be successful in a direction towards Vincennes, we shall, I fear, for a time have the Ohio river for a barrier, from the mouth of Ken tucky to the Junction of Ohio and the Mississippi. "To regain possession of the posts on the waters of the Lakes will require time; but, in the meanwhile, to stop the invasion of the enemy is all important to the welfare of our common country. It is expected that the troops which have marched, and are now marching from this State, the State of Ohio and Indiana Territory, will be so arranged by Governor Harrison, in whom they have great confidence, as to protect the great extent of frontier, and to act offen sively likewise, if properly supplied with the provisions and other necessaries. "It is not to be expected from the success our Indian enemy have met with, and the aid they will receive from the British, that they will be subdued this campaign ; they are elated and will act with more vigor, and be more deter mined than usual. To subdue them is the important que^ tion. The time of the present detachment of militia now in service, will expire next February; to keep the enemy in check, it is conjectured their places will be supplied by troops of a similar description, ready to take the field next spring at as early a period, as the nature of the country in which they will have to act, and other circumstances will justify the measure. "To march an army at a critical moment to act offen sively, is an object ever to be desired, and on such move ments the success of the campaign often depends. So re mote is the scene of war in western America from the seat of the general government, and so various are the measures to be pursued, which are to guide an army to honor and success, against a subtle, wary enemy, it appears to me impossible for the President to adopt with certainty, a line 9 130 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR of operations to be observed by any officer, appointed to command in this section of the United States, however skillful the commander, and however judicious the arrange ments may be at the moment when made, circumstances often occur which render a change necessary. On an emergency of this kind, to be compelled to have recourse to the war department, forward a statement of facts, and receive an answer, will not only greatly retard the move ments of an army, but may wholly defeat the desired object. "From the same source other causes may arise, which will often delay the marching of an army, perplex both officers and soldiers, have a tendency to disgust men with the service, and in a long tedious war render it difficult for the government to call forth those resources, which the exigency of the case may require. "The cases here alluded to, will arise from occurrences which it will be impossible for you to correct in due tinib, and which have come within my own observation in times past. Inattention, or any other misconduct, in quarter masters, contractors, commissaries and paymasters, or either of them, in the western country, so distant from you, may produce irremediable misfortune. "The circumstances which lead me to these reflections, arise from the delay which took place in marching the first detachment of the militia from this State, under General Payne. Notwithstanding the emergency of the case re quired the utmost promptitude, being intended to succour General Hull; yet everything necessary for their equip ment, except arms and ammunition, was purchased and pre pared after marching orders were issued ; and the dispatch at last is greatly to be attributed to the exertion of indi viduals ; nay, even the patriotic spirit of the ladies in mak ing markees and tents. Although it would have been im possible for this army, under any arrangement, to have reached Detroit, in time to have relieved General Hull — yet, if it had not been detained at Georgetown and Newport, waiting for the necessary supplies at both places, possibly by forced marches, the garrison at Chicago might have been saved. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 131 "I am not disposed to find fault with any arrangement which has been made, nor with any officer of any depart ment of the government, yet, when important facts occur they ought to be made known, and the evil in future pre vented. When the orders issued for calling into actual service, three regiments of this State's quota of the 100,000 militia, they were promised two month's pay at the place of rendezvous. This I am informed was complied with. In two or three days after these regiments marched from Georgetown, a requisition was made for the residue of this State's quota; three regiments of infantry and about 300 cavalry have marched to join General Payne; and three other regiments have crossed the Ohio below into the In diana and Illinois Territories. These troops are certainly entitled to every compensation and equipment, which those first ordered into service received — yet, I am induced to believe, they have not received the two month's pay in ad vance, nor scarcely any other article of equipment to make them comfortable, and protect them from the inclemency of the weather, nor hospital stores. Such is the fact as respected two regiments and the cavalry, that passed this place. Men who engage for so long a tour as six month*, are compelled to expend money for necessary articles of clothing, and the cavalry in considerable addition to that of the infantry. Many thousand dollars of debts have been contracted, under a confidence that two months pay in ad vance would be made to the whole of the militia, when called into actual service. Both debtors and creditors have been disappointed, except as to the three first regi ments, which has occasioned murmurings and discontent — a circumstance to be regretted, not only as it respects the soldiers and their creditors, but as to the effect it may have on a future call of the militia. "To aid the great objects of the government in arrang ing and carrying on the necessary war measures, is the duty of every American citizen ; but more especially is it the duty of those characters who are selected in the several States, to carry into effect the executive departments thereof. Since coming into my present office, I have seriously re flected on the present situation of our northwestern fron- 132 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR tiers, and am induced to believe, that unless some change of measures is adopted, the object of the President as con templated at present, will be defeated, however wisely planned — much blood be spilt unnecessarily — immense sums of money improperly spent — and, what I most appre hend and dread, a dissatisfaction among our citizens to the great cause, from some of the reasons heretofore assigned. "To remedy the mischiefs apprehended, I Avill take the liberty of suggesting to the President, the propriety of ap pointing a board of respectable characters, resident in the western country, responsible to him, in any way which it shall be his pleasure to direct, with power to call into ser vice, under the laws of Congress, the militia which may be required, from time to time, from the States of Kentucky, Ohio, and the Territories of Indiana and Illinois, to direct their operations either of offense or defense — to require from the war department all the munitions of war neces sary for the supply of the troops, and all necessary equip ments — to have the control over the subordinate agents of the war department, within the district assigned, and to make it the duty of the board to report to the department of war, from time to time, the measures by them adopted. "A board thus organized, would not fail of success in all the war measures in this section of the United States; characters properly selected to such an office, would feel a prompt desire to promote our common cause; from their knowledge of the country, they would be able to direct the necessary operations against the enemy, and whenever necessary, being in the vicinity of the army, give their ad vice to the officer commanding, and order out detachments to his aid, or divert the enemy so as certainly to insure suc cess in the main enterprise, and secure our frontiers from savage cruelty and devastation. "If such a board was now organized, and had the con trol of the present armament, I would pledge myself the Indians would have cause to lament this campaign, and their temerity in joining the British, and deserting the friendship of the United States. This is not a singular or novel idea — it is one formerly entertained and practiced by General Washington, when President of the United IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 133 States, and still adhered to by all men of experience in this country. "While I am writing this letter, I have received a dis patch from Governor Harrison, dated at Piqua, of the sec ond instant, to which he informs me that General Win chester is ordered on to take command of the detachment sent from this State for the relief of General Hull. This arrangement at once divides the army under Governor Harrison, and renders either part unequal to any object of importance, and ruins the fairest prospects of the expedi tion. It shows, however, in the strongest point of view, the utility of the plan that I propose, of forming a board of war measures in the western country, who would have a clear knowledge of the whole ground before them, and could project plans against the enemy, which might with cer tainty be carried into complete effect. Notwithstanding our late ill-fortune on the lakes, I made great calculations upon the army under Governor Harrison — had they pro ceeded rapidly on, it is more than probable he could, with the force he had, have retaken Detroit with very little loss. In his army, were many of the most influential and re spectable citizens of this State, from whom everything was to be expected, which possibly could be achieved by any set of men on earth. And I believe had his march not been interrupted, in a very short time, we should have seen the flag of the United States, again waving on the bank of Lake Erie. "Before I had concluded this letter, information was received, that a number of families had been killed by the Indians, on the waters of White river, twelve or fifteen miles from the Ohio in the Indiana Territory ; and that the inhabitants thereof, are crossing to this State by hundreds. Should the Indians attack the Territories of Indiana and Illinois, in that force which the present situation of our affairs, as relates to the war against Canada, seems almost to invite them to, there is no power here to order men out of this State to their assistance, nor is there the smallest provision made of arms or ammunition for an expedition, should it be expedient to carry one into the Indian towns, to draw them from our frontiers into their own country. 134 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR "I have written yon a long letter; the happiness and welfare of my country have prompted me to it, and will, I trust, be a sufficient apology. "I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, "Isaac Shelby." "The Hon Win. Eustis, Secretary of WTar." The following is the answer of Mr. Secretary Eustis to the preceding letter. It indicates the extent of the discre tionary powers with which General Harrison was en trusted. "War Department, September 17, 1812. "Sir — Your excellency's letter of the 5th inst. has been received and laid before the President. The intelligence and patriotism which have dictated the useful information wrhich you have been pleased to communicate is duly ap preciated. "The embarrassments attending the organization, direc tion, and supplies of any force, with the difficulty of deter mining the amount, and time which exigencies may require, at so distant a point from the seat of government have been sensibly felt. To find an adequate remedy, has engaged much of the attention of the executive. "From a board of intelligent, influential, and patriotic citizens, much useful information, and other essential ad vantages might be derived. Whether they could be clothed with the powers suggested, is a question requiring consid eration. To meet existing emergencies, after consulting the lawful authority vested in the President, it has been de termined to vest the command of all the forces on the western and northwestern frontier in an officer, whose military character and knowledge of the country, appear to be combined with the public confidence. General Har rison has accordingly been appointed to the chief command, with authority to employ officers, and to draw from the pub lic stores, and every other practical source, all the means of effecting the object of his command. "In the great and unexpected demands created by the late disasters, it will necessarily happen that deficiences in IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 135 the supplies will be experienced. Every exertion, however, is making to provide for the troops, the munitions which they require. "I have the honor to enclose a copy of requisition made on Governor Scott — should requisitions be made beyond the quota assigned to the State of Kentucky, the President is assured of a prompt co-operation on the part of the execu tive, under the act of February, 1795. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, "Wm. Eustis." "His excellency, Governor Shelby." "P. S. — In addition to the supplies ordered from Pitts burgh, ten thousand pair of shoes, five thousand blankets, tents, camp equipage, and quartermaster's stores, are on their way from Philadelphia for the northwestern army. A part of them at least are on their way, and will be fol lowed by the remainder without loss of time." We will now proceed with the operations of the north western army under Harrison. When he arrived at Cin cinnati, and took command of the first regiments which had marched from Kentucky, he immediately issued the fol lowing general order, whicli will give an idea of the kind of discipline and tactics, that were practiced on this campaign. "Headquarters, August 28, 1 812. "The troops will continue their march in the direction of Dayton by way of Lebanon, at an early hour on to-mor row morning. "The commandants of the several corps will at every convenient opportunity commence drilling their men to the performance of the evolutions, contemplated by the com- mander-in-chief for the order of march and battle. The principal feature in all these evolutions, is that of a battal ion changing its direction, by swinging round on its centre. This, however, is not to be done by wheeling, which by a large body in the woods, is impracticable. It is to be per formed thus: The battalion being on its march in a single rank, and its centre being ascertained, the front division 136 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR comes to the right about, excepting the man in the rear of that division, who steps two feet to the right; at the same time the front man of the second division, takes a position about six feet to the left of the man in the rear of the front division, and dresses with him in a line at right angles to the line of march. These two men acting as markers or guides for the formation of the new alignment, at the word — 'form the new alignment — march' ; the men of the front, file round their guide and form in succession on his right. At the same time the men of the rear division, file up in suc cession to the left of the guide, and dress in a line with him and the guide of the front division. This manaeuvre may be performed by any number of men — by company and platoon as well as by battalion. "Wm. H. Harrison, "Maj. Gen. Commanding." On the next day the troops marched very early, and on the morning of the 31st, after they had passed Lebanon a few miles, and were about 40 from Cincinnati, the general who had been detained overtook them. To give him an evidence of their esteem and confidence, as he passed from rear to front, they saluted him with three cheers. This re ception was gratifying, as it proved that they would cheer fully fight under his command ; and such was the ardor of these volunteers, and their confidence in their general, that they would have beaten any equal number of the best British regulars. With the officers of their choice to com mand them, they would have preferred death on the field of battle to an ignominious retreat or surrender. On the 1st of September they arrived at Dayton; and on the next day as they were marching for Piqua, General Harrison was overtaken by an express, with a communi cation from the war department, which informed him, that he had been appointed a brigadier general in the army of the United States, on the 22nd of August, and assigned to the command of all the forces in the Indiana and Illinois IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 137 Territories, with instructions to consult and co-operate with General Hull, and with Governor Howard of the Mis souri Territory. In answer to this communication he de clined accepting the appointment, until he could hear the determination of the government, after the surrender of Detroit, and the character in which he was then acting, had been known at the war department. He also wished to know how far his acceptance would make him subor dinate to General Winchester, who was to command the northwestern army, in the main design of regaining our lost Territory and taking Maiden. He gave it as his opin ion, that there was a necessity for having one head in the western country to direct all the military movements ; and with regard to the selection of a suitable person, he re spectfully suggested the advantages which he possessed over Winchester, in his personal influence in the western States, and in his perfect knowledge of the country, in which he had risen from the youngest ensign in the United States regiment. The importance of possessing the confi dence of the militia troops, and the impossibility of obtain ing a correct knowledge of the country from the existing maps, were also briefly noticed in his answer. On the 3rd the troops arrived at Piqua, 80 miles from Cincinnati, and only three from the outside settlements. Piqua is the Indian name for this place, which is called Washington by the people of Ohio. It is a little village, situated on the west bank of the Great Miami. The general having now ascertained, that Port Wayne was invested by the neighboring Indians, detached from this place, Colonel Allen's regiment with two companies from Lewis and one from Scott's regiments, with instructions to make forced marches for its relief. A regiment of TOO mounted men, under the command of Colonel Adams, had also advanced with the same view, as far as Shane's crossing of the St. 138 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Marys. This corps was composed of the citizens of Ohio, of all ages and conditions, who had, unsolicited by the gov ernment, volunteered and organized themselves for the pro tection of the frontiers, and the relief of Fort Wayne. Many gentlemen, who held important offices in the State, and not a few of the most wealthy and respectable citizens of Cincinnati, were to be found in this regiment. Such, indeed was the ardor of the citizens to serve in this way, that every road to the frontiers was crowded with unso licited volunteers. Their zeal was highly honorable to themselves, but in the end it proved disadvantageous to the cause; for they consumed much of the provisions, which had been accumulated at the outposts by the orders ot General Hull, the want of which was afterwards severely felt. On the evening of the 4th, General Harrison received further intelligence, that a British and Indian force had left Maiden on the 18th of August, to join the Indians al ready at the siege. Having previously been advised that General Winchester was ordered by the war department, to take command of the troops destined to reinforce the northwestern army, he had intended to resign them to him at Piqua, for which purpose he had written to Winchester to come on to that place ; but on learning the critical situa tion of Fort Wayne, lie determined not to wait for Win chester, but to retain the command till he had relieved the fort, Early next day, the 5th of September, he paraded the remainder of the troops, and delivered them a speech, in which he stated, that Fort Wayne was in imminent danger, and tli at it was absolutely necessary to make forced marches to relieve it. He read several articles of war, pre scribing the duty of soldiers, and explained the necessity for such regulations. He then observed, that if there was IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 139 any person, who would not submit to such regulations, or who was afraid to risk his life in defense of his country, he might return home, as he did not wish to have any person with him who was afraid to fight or unwilling to discharge his duties. One man only said he wished to return, and his friends having obtained leave as usual to escort him on his way, he was hoisted on a rail and carried to the Big Miami, in the w^aters of which they absolved him from the obliga tions of courage and patriotism, and then gave him leave of absence. The troops were detained here till the 6th for want of flints, a very small, yet indispensable article. On that day they marched, leaving the greater part of their clothes aiid heavy baggage at Piqua, and overtook Colonel Allen's regi ment early on the 8th at St. Mary's river, where an express from the general had overtaken him with orders to halt and build some block houses, for the security of provisions and the protection of the sick. This place is commonly known by the name of Girty's town. The men were here put ou half rations, but any one who did not like such fare had leave to remain at the block houses. Major R. M. Johnson arrived on the evening of the same day, with a corps of mounted volunteers, consisting of the companies of Cap tains Arnold and Johnson, and a company from Mason county, under the command of Captain Ward. The army was now about two thousand two hundred men strong. While the troops were at Piqua, Mr. Johnson the Indian agent, at the request of General Harrison, had procured some Shawanoe Indians to go down to the mouth of the Anglaize, the site of old Fort Defiance, and examine whether any British force had passed up to the siege of Fort Wayne. A Shawanoe half blood, by the name of Logan, who had received his name in consequence of his having been taken prisoner when a boy, by General Logan, 140 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR in an excursion from Kentucky, had also been sent by the agent, to ascertain the situation of the fort. He was an Indian of great merit, and a chief warrior in his tribe. He was about six feet high and robust, with broad shoulders and a prominent forehead. He was much attached to Gen eral Harrison and a warm friend to our cause, which he promoted by acting as a guide and a spy for our army. On his trip to Fort Wayne, he eluded all the vigilance of the enemy, got into the fort, and returned with the information of its being beseiged. He also brought intelligence, that Stephen Johnson, a brother to the Indian agent, had been killed in sight of the fort, while attempting to escape as an express, and that the Indians had tried every stratagem to get possession of the fort. This information was import ant, as well as the report of the Indians from the Auglaize, that there was no appearance of a British army having gone up the Miami of the Lakes. The hostile Indians were taking similar measures to obtain information of Harri son's movements. On the night of the 8th, while the army lay in tolerable open order, at the St. Marys, the besiegers at Fort Wayne sent their spies to examine it. They did not get round the camp before daylight, and returned with a report, that "Kentucky was coming as numerous as tlie trees." Early next morning the army inarched for Fort Wayne, except the mounted volunteers, who remained till 12 o'clock, to rest their horses, and elect a major to command the corps. R. M. Johnson was chosen for this office, and Benjamin S. Chambers was appointed quartermaster, and the reverend James Suggette, adjutant to his battalion. The army arrived in the evening at the camp of Colonel Adams, at Shane's crossing of the St. Marys; and Major Johnson came up in the night, and encamped half a mile above the main army. On the morning of the 10th, some IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 141 delay was caused by repairing broken wagons and making other necessary arrangements. General Harrison was un remitting in the discharge of his duties. Every department underwent his personal inspection; and the temper and condition of every corps in the army was known to him. The delay this morning was not spent idly by the officers and men. Most of the different corps were paraded and drilled. Major Johnson's battalion was drilled on horse back, by Captain James Johnson, whose zeal and military information was surpassed by few men of his age and opportunities. In the following general order, which was issued at this place, the reader will find the system of tactics pursued by the general in forming his troops for fighting in the woods. "H. Q. Second Crossing of St. Marys, "September 10, 1812. "The signal for a general charge will be beating the roll. At night the officers and men will lie upon their arms and their clothes. Two or more guns firing in succession will constitute an alarm, at which the whole army will parade in the order of the encampment, which will be a hollow square, unless otherwise directed. When a sentinel dis charges his gun in the night, ascertain the cause; and should he have sufficient reason to believe on examination, that an enemy is near, he will cause two guns to be fired in quick succession. Should the firing proceed from an insuf ficient cause to give an alarm, the officer of the guard will immediately call out "all is well," which will be repeated through the army. The same shall take place upon an accidental firing in the day time. The order of battle, for a rear attack in the day time, while the army are on the march, will be so far attended to, with respect to the rear line, that the rear battalions of Colonels Lewis and Allen's regiments only are to turn upon their centres, while the heads of the front battalions are to close up to the front lines, then facing from the centre, gmarch out until they respectively gain the flanks of the front line. Should the 142 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR attack be in front, the senior officer nearest the flank bat talion, will judge of the propriety of bringing up that bat talion to form on the flank of the front line. The 2nd battalions of Colonels Lewis and Allen's regiments, will in all cases close up, as the leading battalions shall advance and make room for them. Captain Garrard's troop form ing guard will also close up and act as circumstances may require. "Wm. H. Harrison, Maj. Gen. Com/' The army now marched in the following order. The 17th United States' regiment, Colonel Wells, and the rifle regiment, Colonel Allen, formed the right column, at the distance of two hundred yards from the road; Colonels Lewis and Scott's regiment, the left column, at the same distance from the road on the left. The wagons and pack horses were on the road in the centre. The horsemen from Ohio, under Colonel Adams formed the right flank, and the mounted riflemen from Kentucky, under Major Johnson, the left. A battalion from the former, commanded by Gen eral Lytle, acting as major, constituted the advance, while Captain Garrard's troop of horse from Kentucky, formed the rear guard. Spies were placed from half a mile to a mile in front, and also beyond the right and left flanks. The progress of the army now was slow, and there was very little water on their route. On the llth, Lieutenant Suggette, adjutant of Johnson's battalion, was sent with twenty men from that battalion to reconnoitre in advance. Logan and two other Shawanoes went with them as guides. They fell in with a party of Indians, who fled immediately, leaving a young Potawatamie chief mortally wounded. In the evening they returned to the army, and their little en counter, being the first that had occurred, had some effect in raising the spirits of the troops. As soon as the army had encamped this evening, the general, with his aides and the officer of the day, Colonel Allen, was careful to ride IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 143 round to examine the ground and inspect the whole en campment, which without delay was strongly fortified \vjtli a breast work of logs, and the underbrush was cleared away for thirty paces on the outside. The mounted men en camped within the lines. During the night there were a number of alarms, caused by the Indians attempting to approach and examine the camp. The army was now with in twenty miles of Fort Wayne, at which it would be able to arrive the next day. Very early in the morning the whole were in motion, every man being prepared for action, and expecting to meet the Indians at a well-known swamp, about five miles on this side of the fort. As the army approached it, the horse men under Johnson and Adams were sent round it to the right and left. It was about a mile long, and three hun dred yards wide, except where the road crossed it, at which place it was not more than 100 yards wide. At this season, it was tolerably dry, and no enemy was to be seen, nor any appearance of one except a recent encampment, immed iately beyond the swamp. About a mile farther a single Indian was seen and fired upon, which caused the army to form the line of battle, but no others appearing the march was resumed, and about two hours before sunset, the troops arrived at 'the fort. Their arrival was the source of no little joy to the garrison, and the people who had taken refuge in the fort, The Indians had fled, most of them on the evening before, and some only a few minutes before the appearance of the army. They were pursued by the Ohio horsemen, but without success. The fort had been closely invested for ten or twelve days by the Indians, who had made several pieces of wooden cannon, by boring out pieces of timber, and strengthening them with iron hoops. The army encamped round the fort, where a feAV days previous there had been a handsome little village ; but it was now in 144 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR ruins, having been burnt down by the Indians, together with the United States' factory, which had been erected to furnish the ungrateful wretches with farming utensils. Until the 1st of September, the savages about the fort had professed friendship, with a view to get possession of it by some stratagem. Captain Rhea, who commanded, was addicted to intoxication, for which and his other miscon duct he was arrested by General Harrison; but on account of his age he was permitted to resign. The fort was \vell prepared to resist a siege by Indians, as it had plenty of provisions and water, and about seventy men with four small field pieces. It is delightfully situated on an emi nence on the south bank of the Miami of the Lake, immed iately below the formation of that river by the junction of the St. Marys from the southwest with the St. Josephs from the north. It is well constructed of block houses and picketing, but could not resist a British force, as there are several eminences on the south side, from which it could be commanded by a six or nine pounder. This is the place, where the Miami Indians formerly had their principal town; and here many an unfortunate prisoner suffered death by burning at the stake. It was here also, that General Harmer suffered his army to be cut up and defeated in detachments after he had burnt the town in the fall of the year 1700. F'or more than a century be fore that time, it had been the principal place of rendez vous between the Indians of the lakes, and those of the Wabash and Illinois, and had been much resorted about the year 756 and previously, by French traders from Canada. The Miami is navigable for boats from this place to the Lake, and the portage to the nearest navigable branch of the Wabash, is but seven or eight miles, through a level marshy prairie, from which the water runs both to the Wabash and Sfc. Marys. A canal at some future day will IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 145 unite these rivers, and thus render a town at Fort as formerly, the most considerable place in all that country. The corn which had been cultivated in the fields by the villagers, was nearly all destroyed by the Indians ; the re mains served as forage for the mounted corps. Captain Wells, who was massacred at Chicago, had a handsome farm in the forks of the river, with some good buildings, which were all destroyed in the general devastation. On the day after the arrival of the army, reconnoitering parties were sent out in every direction, and at the same time a council of field officers was convened, in which it was determined, agreeably to plans submitted by General Harrison, to divide the army into two divisions, and march on the next day in quest of the Indians and their towns. The first division was composed of the regiments of Lewis and Allen, and Captain Garrard's troops of horse, under General Payne and accompanied by General Harrison. They were to destroy the Miami villages at the forks of the W abash, about thirty miles from the fort. The other division was to destroy the Potawatamie village on the Elk Hart river, a branch of the St. Josephs of Lake Michigan. It was to be commanded by Colonel Wells, and to consist of one battalion under Johnson, and the mounted men from Ohio, under Adams. The greater part of the latter corps, however, returned home next morning. They had left their homes in the expectation of remaining but a short period in service, and had already exceeded the time which they had allowed themselves for the excursion. When General Harrison was informed of the intention of the corps to return, he addressed them in a public speech, in which he requested them to remain with him, and march on the intended expedition. General Lytle and Major Dunlap with 150 men determined to stay — all the others adhered to their determination to return. The main ob- 10 146 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR ject, which the general expected to accomplish by the pro posed expeditions, was to destroy the corn of the Indians so that they could not find the means of subsistence for making another attack on the fort. The party under Payne, having traversed a fine region of country, arrived on the 15th at the village in the forks, which was abandoned by the Indians. They encamped in the town, destroyed all its huts and cabins, and cut up the corn and other vegetables in the fields. Next day the spies discovered several other deserted villages lower down, which w^ere all in like manner destroyed. The toinb of a chief, built of logs and daubed with clay, was found in one of these villages. He was laid on his blanket, with his gun and his pipe by his side, and a small tin pan on his breast, containing a wooden spoon, and a number of earrings and broaches — all deemed necessary no doubt on his journey to the other world. On the 18th they arrived again at the fort, without having lost a man or seen a living Indian. The party under Wells had to march about sixty miles to the village against which they were sent. Captain Audrain, who was son-in-law, and Mr. Wells, who was son to the colonel, went with them as guides; and Captain Arnold's company marched at the distance of near a mile in front to act as spies. On the 16th, having crossed the Elk Hart river, above the village about three miles, the line of battle was formed on a plain, thinly timbered. Major Johnson's mounted battalion was placed in front on the left flank, and Major Dunlap's mounted men on the right in front; with orders to advance to the right and left of the town and surround it. The infantry were formed in line of battle, then broke off by heads of companies, and fol lowed the others in rapid motion. In a few minutes the mounted men were in the rear of the village, but to the regret of every person it was found destitute of inhabitants, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 147 the Indians having fled two days previous. They had left a considerable quantity of corn, gathered and laid on scaf folds to dry, with abundance of beans, potatoes and other vegetables, which furnished ample store of provisions for the men and forage for the horses. This village was called Five Medals, from a chief of that name who made it his residence. On a pole before the door of that chief, a red flag was hung, with a broom tied above it, and on another pole at the tomb of an old woman, a white flag was flying. The body of the old woman Avas entire, sitting upright with her face towards the east, and a basket beside her, contain ing trinkets, such as owl and hawk bills and claws, a variety of bones, and bunches of roots tied together ; all of which indicated that she had been revered as a sorceress, and probably a doctress. In one of the huts was found a morning report of one of Hull's captains — also a Liberty Hall newspaper, printed at Cincinnati, containing an account of General Harrison's army. Several coarse bags, which appeared to have con tained shot, and pieces of boxes with London and Maiden printed on them, were also picked up in the cabins, which proved that these Indians were intimately connected with the British, and had been furnished with information by some traitor in our own country. The village with about seventy acres of corn was totally destroyed, and on the same evening the army returned as far as the Elk Hart river. Next morning they marched rapidly toward the fort, Captain Arnold's company being thrown in the rear, to act as a guard, and to bring up the weak, the sick, and the lame. This was an arduous task, for the men having marched very hard, and having been very scarce of pro visions, except the green vegetables taken in the village, were exceedingly fatigued, and many of them were taken sick, one of whom died on the return. When the foot 148 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR troops gave out through fatigue, they were aided by the horsemen, who cheerfully dismounted to assist their fellow soldiers. On the 18th the main body arrived at the fort a few hours after the party under Payne. In the meantime Colonel Simrall had arrived at the fort on the 17th, with his regiment of dragoons, armed with muskets, 320 strong, (and a company of mounted riflemen under Colonel Farrow, from Montgomery county, Ken tucky). General Harrison sent them on the evening of the 18th to the town of Little Turtle, about twenty miles to the northwest, with orders to destroy it all, except the buildings erected by the United States for the Little Turtle, whose friendship for the Americans after the treaty of Greenville, had contributed greatly to tbe perservation of peace. Colonel Simrall executed his orders with a degree of promptness and dispatch, which indicated the true sol dier, and on the 19th he returned in the evening to the Fort. Captain Farrow's company was now placed under Major Johnson, whose battalion was thus rendered about 250 strong. Brigadier General James Winchester now arrived to take command of the first troops, which had marched from Kentucky to reinforce the northwestern army. He, too, had been a revolutionary officer, and was now advanced in years. He was a wealthy citizen of Tennessee, where he had lived many years in a degree of elegant luxury and ease, which was not calculated to season him for a northern campaign in the forest. His arrival produced much un easiness among the troops, being a regular officer, with whom they were unacquainted, many of the militia seemed disposed not to be commanded by him; and General Har rison with the field officers had to exert all their influence to reconcile the army to the change. The troops had con fidently expected, that General Harrison would be con- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 149 firmed in the command, and by this time he had completely secured the confidence of every soldier in the army. He was affable and courteous in his manners, and indefatig able in his attention to every branch of business. His sol diers seemed to anticipate the wishes of their general ; it was only necessary to be known that he wished something done, and all were anxious to risk their lives in its accom plishment. His men would have fought better and suffered more with him, than with any other general in America; and whatever might have been the merits of General Win chester, it was certainly an unfortunate arrangement which transferred the command to him at this moment. It is ab solutely necessary that militia soldiers should have great confidence in their general, if they are required, either to obey with promptness, or to fight with bravery. The men were at last reconciled to march under Winchester, but with a confident belief, that Harrison would yet be rein stated in the command; and which accordingly was done, as soon as the war department was informed of his appoint ment in the Kentucky troops, and his popularity in the western country. On the 19th the command of the troops at the Fort was transferred by a general order to Winchester; and at the same time he was informed by General Harrison that any other part of the infantry which he might deem necessary to the execution of his plans, should be placed at his dis posal. On the same evening, General Harrison turned back to take command of the forces collecting in the rear ; and to prepare for a mounted expedition against Detroit. He intended to make a coup de main on that place, with a mounted force which would march by an unfrequented route from Fort Wayne, up the St. Josephs to the head waters of the river Raisin. The troops collecting in the rear, were the three regiments from Kentucky, under Bar- 150 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR bee, Poague and Jennings ; and three companies of mounted riflemen from the same State, under Captains Roper, Bacon and Clarke; and also a corps of mounted men from Ohio, who was rendezvoused at Dayton on the 15th, in pursuance of a previous call by Meigs and Harrison, which had been made early in September, with a view to employ them in an expedition against some of the Indian towns. This corps was commanded by Colonel Findley, who had entered the service again, after being surrendered by Hull. The mounted men and the regiment of Jennings had arrived at St. Marys, where General Harrison met them on the 20th, the rest of the infantry being still farther in the rear. The general had left orders at Fort Wayne for Johnson's bat talion, and Colonel Simrall's dragoons, which corps were not included in Winchester's command, to return to St. Marys as soon as possible. Major Johnson had according ly marched early on the morning of the 20th, and when he had travelled about twenty miles was met by orders from Harrison to return to the fort, and wait with the dragoons for further orders, which was promptly done, with the exception of Ensign William Holton, and about 25 men, of Captain Ward's company. They refused to obey the order to return, and manfully proceeded home to Kentucky. The battalion arrived at the fort in the evening next day, from which in the meantime General Winchester had removed his camp into the forks of the river, and early on the 22nd he marched down the river on the north side, following very nearly the route in which Wayne's army returned after the battle of '94. His object was to go as far as the old fort Defiance, at the mouth of the Auglaize, and wait there to form a junction with the infantry in the rear, who were to come down that river from St. Marys. The following order was issued by the general, which will serve as a speci men of his tactics and police : IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 151 "The front guard in three lines, two deep in the road, and in Indian files on the flanks at distance of fifty and one hundred yards, as the ground will admit. A fatigue party to consist of one captain, one ensign, two sergeants, and two corporals with fifty men, will follow the front guard for the purpose of opening the road. The remainder of the infantry to march on the flanks in the following or der: Colonels Wells and Allen's regiments on the right, and Lewis and Scott's on the left. The general and brigade baggage, commissaries and quartermaster's stores, immed iately in the rear of the fatigue party. The cavalry in the following order: Captain Garrard and twenty men to pre cede the guard in front, and equally divided at the head of each line; the lieutenant and eighteen men in the rear of the whole army and baggage ; the balance of the cavalry equally divided on the flanks or the flank lines. The regimental baggage wagons will fall according to the respective ranks of the commanding officers. The officers commanding corps previous to their marching will examine carefully the arms and ammunition of their respective corps, and see that they are in good order. They will also be particularly careful, that the men do not waste their cartridges. No loaded muskets are to be put in the wagons. One-half of the fatigue party is to work at a time and the others will carry their arms. The wagon master will attend to loading the wagons, and see that articles are put in, in good order, and that each wagon and' team carry a reasonable load. The hour of march will be 9 :00 o'clock this morning. The officer of the day is charged with this order. The line of battle will be the same as that of General Harrison in his last march to Fort Wayne. "James Winchester, Brig. Gen." As great caution was observed on the march, and. the camp strongly fortified every night, the army advanced very slowly, not exceeding five or six miles a day. Some Indians were seen, and there was considerable appearance of more being in the country around. A volunteer com pany of spies had been organized under Captain Ballard, and Lieutenant Harrison Munday of the rifle regiment, 152 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR and Ensign Liggett of the 17th United States' infantry. They generally marched in advance to reconnoitre the country. On the 25th Ensign Liggett obtained permis sion from his captain, to proceed as far as old Fort De fiance, at the mouth of the Auglaize on the south side of the Miami. Four men of M'Cracken's company from Woodford, Kentucky, went with him. Late in the evening, while preparing something to eat, they were discovered by a Frenchman and eight Indians, who crept up and sur prised them with a call to surrender. They were positive ly assured, that they would not be hurt, and would be per mitted to wear their arms till they entered the British camp. On these conditions they surrendered; but the Indians and Frenchman, as they marched on, concerted in their own language, and executed the following plan, for their destruction. Five of the Indians, each having marked his victim, walked behind and on one side of the men, and at a given signal fired upon them. Four of them fell dead — Liggett only escaped the first fire ; he sprung to a tree but wasi shot also while raising his gun to his face. Next day Captain Ballard, with a part of his company being in advance, discovered the dead bodies, and a party of Indians watching near them. He formed his men for action, with the Miami on his right; but not liking his position, and perceiving that the Indians were too strong for him, he fell back 200 yards, and formed in a stronger position. The enemy supposing he had fled, filed off from their right flank, intending to surround him on his left, and cut off his retreat. He heard them pass by on his left without discovering him, and then filed off by the left in their rear, and by a circuitous roiite arrived safe at the camp. Lieutenant Munday, with another part of the spies presently happened at the same place, and discovering IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 153 some Indians, who still remained there, formed his men and charged upon them, at the same time saluting them with their own yell. They fled precipitately, and Munday on discovering their superior numbers, took advantage of their panic to retreat himself. Next morning, the 27th, Captain Ballard, with the spies and Captain Garrard's troop of horse, accompanied by Major Woolfor, aide to the general, and some other volunteers, went forward to bury the dead. The Indians were still in ambush, but Captain Ballard expecting it, approached them in a dif ferent direction, so as to disconcert their plans. He attacked them with a brisk fire, and Captain Garrard im mediately ordered a charge, on which they lied in every direction, leaving trails of blood from their killed and wounded. These Indians were the advance of an army destined to attack Fort Wayne, and consisting of 200 regulars under Major Muir, witli four pieces of artillery, and about 1,000 Indians, commanded by Elliott. They had brought their baggage and artillery by water to the old Fort Defiance, at the mouth of the Auglaize, where they had left their boats and were advancing up the south side of the Miami towards Fort Wayne. About the time that Liggett's party was massacred, quartermaster sergeant McCoy, of Scott's regiment, was taken by the Indians and carried to the British camp. He represented the strength of the army under Winchester much above the truth, and in formed them that another army as strong was expected clown immediately to join Winchester. Major Muir on receiving this intelligence, which agreed pretty well as to Winchester's force, with the reports of his spies, consid ered his situation as critical ; and on the defeat of his ad vance by Captain Ballard, in the morning of the 27th, he immediately retreated from his position twelve miles 154 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR above the Auglaize, to the boats he had left at its mouth, and reembarked his baggage and artillery the same day. He then determined to give Winchester battle, relying if defeated on effecting a retreat in his boats. He selected an advantageous place for an attack, where Wayne's old trace crosses a creek on the north side of the Miami, about four miles above Defiance. But on inarching to the ground on the morning of the 28th, he found that about three- fourths of the Indians had abandoned the project. The news of another army coming down the Auglaize, and the leaving of the artillery in the boats, had frightened them to this conduct. Major Muir then immediately retreated down the river, to the distance of twenty miles the same day, leaving some mounted Indians to watch the move ments of his enemies. General Winchester had all this time received no cer tain information of the army thus opposed to him. On the morning of the 26th, Captain Hickman had volun teered to go on horseback with Riddle, an intelligent spy, well versed in Indian affairs, and reconnoitre the country down the river. They crossed the Miami to the south side, then crossed the country to the Auglaize, and des cended on the east side of that river to the Miami, which they recrossed about tAVO miles below the mouth of the former, and returned up the north side to the army. In this route, they had surrounded the enemy without having discovered him. In the first instance they had crossed the Miami above the army of the allies, and where they re- crossed it below, the Indians having traveled in a beaten path, and the regulars by water, the traces of a large force were not discoverable. However, the Indian sign which they had seen, combined with the conduct of the skirmish ing parties, convinced those experienced in such affairs, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 155 that a large body of the enemy was somewhere in the neighborhood. The camp was, therefore, strongly fortified on the night of the 27th, and the march was resumed next day under the expectation of meeting the enemy and having a battle. Presently the spies from each army met and fired at each other ; the line of battle was immediately formed ; but the enemy having disappeared, the march was again resumed. When the army had arrived within a few miles of the creek, at which Major Muir had prepared that morning to give it battle, a halt was called by General Winchester. He had learned that the passage of that creek would be an advantageous place, for the enemy to make an attack, and he determined to cross to the south side of the Miami. A ford being found, the army crossed over, and immediate ly the trail of the enemy with his artillery was discovered on the south side. An advantageous piece of ground was chosen for a camp, which was well fortified as usual. Spies were sent down to reconnoitre at the mouth of the Auglaize, but they returned without much information. They stated, that the brush was so thick about that place, and the sign of Indians so abundant, that it was unsafe for spies on foot to penetrate to the old fort. A council of war was now held. Some of the officers were for sending a detachment in purusit of the enemy, but a large majority were of opinion, that the enemy must have obtained correct information of the strength of the army, and have taken a decisive course, that if he intended to give us battle, he would do it without our forces being divided; and that if. he was unable to do this, he had no doubt retreated too far already to be overtaken. The general was of this opinion, and the council decided that several mounted parties should be sent out in different directions to search for the enemy ; and that an express at 156 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR the same time should be sent to General Harrison to acquaint him with the situation of the army, and that its provisions were nearly exhausted. These measures were executed next morning. An express was sent to General Harrison, and four parties of spies were sent to recon noitre in different directions. The spies all returned in the course of the day, and from their reports no doubt re mained, but that the enemy had retreated. On the next day, the 30th of September, General Winchester moved his camp down the river, within a mile of Defiance, where he fortified himself again on a high bank of the Miami, and remained there several days, so destitute of provisions, that the men had to subsist on a very short allowance of the most indifferent beef. They continued, however, to do their duty as soldiers with promptitude and cheerful ness. On the first of October Colonel Lewis was detached with 380 men 'to discover with more certainty, whether the enemy had retreated quite out of the country. He crossed the Auglaize, and went down on the south side of the Miami seven or eight miles, and then crossed to the north side of that river, where he saw sufficient appear ances of a precipitate retreat, to convince him that the enemy was entirely gone. We must now recur to the operations of the troops col lecting in the rear. We left General Harrison on the 20th September, with the mounted men and Jenning's regiment at St. Marys, the balance of the infantry having not then arrived. The regiments of Colonels Barbee, Poague, and Jennings arrived at Newport early in September, with Colonel SimralFs dragoons, but they were detained some time before they could draw their arms, ammunition, and two month's pay in advance. The dragoons were obliged to arm themselves witli muskets, no swords and pistols having arrived. The government had ordered the neces- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 157 sary supplies, but their agents were inattentive and dila tory. Many articles of the first necessity had not yet left Philadelphia, from which place even the tent poles for the army were to be brought, so improvident were some of the arrangements for supplying and conducting the troops on the frontiers. One man only in Colonel SimralPs reg iment, and he was a substitute, refused to be armed with a musket. His comrades invited him to the water as usual, and having initiated him by baptism into the Legion of dishonor, he was permitted to retire from the toils of war. The foot regiments, having at last completed their arrange ments, proceeded to their destination, and had all arrived on the frontiers about the 20th of September. On the 21st, Colonel Jennings was ordered to proceed with his regiment across the St. Marys and down the Auglaize towards Defiance, to establish an intermediate post, and escort provisions to General Winchester. Hav ing advanced about 30 miles, he met writh considerable signs of Indians, and his spies having advanced to Fort Defiance and discovered the enemy there, he halted on the Auglaize, and commenced the building of block houses. Colonel Findley was sent with his mounted regiment, 350 strong, to destroy the Ottawa towns on Blanch ard's fork of the Auglaize. About this time General Harrison re ceived a dispatch from the Avar department, directing him to join General Winchester with a part of the troops under his command. This order had been issued on the sup position, that Harrison had accepted the previous appoint ment, and was still in Kentucky. In his present situation he could not comply; but in order to further the views of the secretary, he immediately determined to place the regiments of Barbee and Jennings, and the quota of Ohio troops then in service, at the disposal of General Win chester. 158 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR General Harrison now proceeded to Piqua to expedite the supplies for the army, and mature his arrangements for the coup de main on Detroit. But there on the even ing of the 24th, he received another communication from the war department, dated on the 17th of September, which assigned him the command of the 8th military dis trict including the northwestern army. He was at the same time instructed, to provide for the security of the western frontiers, to retake Detroit with a view to the conquest of Upper Canada, to penetrate that country as far as the force under his command would justify him to proceed. He was advised, that every exertion was being made by the government, to furnish him with a train of artillery from Pittsburgh, and all other necessary supplies. The forces now under his command by order of the gov ernment, were estimated at ten thousand strong, including the whole in the State of Ohio and the different territories. The real number was much greater, in consequence of many mounted volunteers having entered the service for short periods unauthorized by the war department. But the services which he was required to perform, were in the opinion of old, experienced, and able officers, the most extensive and arduous, that ever had been required from any military commander in America. The endless num ber of posts and scattered settlements, which he was obliged to maintain and protect, against numerous and scattered bands of Indians, while he was contending with the difficulties almost insurmountable in the main expe dition against the enemy at Maiden, were sufficient to employ all the time, and talents, and resources, of th€ greatest military genius at the head of a well appointed army. His forces, however, were raw, undisciplined militia, which nothing but his address or Jackson's energy could render efficient. Chaos and misconduct reigned in IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 159 every department, and particularly in that of the supplies, in which the best organization and arrangements were necessary, to meet the inconceivable difficulties which were to be surmounted in that line. He had excellent materials for an army in the Kentucky militia, bufc he had no time to spend in preparing them for the field — the season for action was drawing to a close — not a moment was to be lost in pushing on the campaign. He immediately digested the following plan for the march of the army towards Detroit, viz : the right column, to be composed of the Virginia and Pennsylvania troops, to rendezvous at Wooster, and proceed thence by Upper Sandusky to the rapids of the Miami ; the middle column, to consist of twelve hundred Ohio militia, to march from Urbana where they now were, by Fort M' Arthur on Gen eral Hull's route to the Rapids; the left column, to be composed of the regulars under Wells, and four regiments of Kentucky volunteers, to proceed down the Auglaize and Miami from St. Marys and Defiance to the Rapids. The mounted men, under a proper officer selected to com mand them, were to proceed on the route, by which he had intended to make the coup de main on Detroit. That in tention, however, was now abandoned; for if they should take Detroit, as the infantry could not be ready to support them in it, they must leave it again to the aggravated fury of the Indians. The object, therefore, at present, was to sweep the western side of the strait and lake of the Indians, who were scattered from Brownstown to the Rapids, riot ing on the plunder of the farms which had been abandoned by their owners. The attention of the general was at the same time directed to the important subject of the supplies, the most difficult part of his business in the present campaign. On the 27th he dispatched an express to Pittsburgh, to order 160 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR the artillery and supplies from that place to proceed to Georgetown on the Ohio, and thence by New Lisbon and Canton to Wooster. Such as the State of Ohio could fur nish cheaply, he preferred to procure in that country, as being the most convenient for a land transportation towards Detroit. The troops were nearly destitute of winter clothing; and as the prospect of obtaining an ade quate supply from the government, in due time, was not very flattering, an appeal had already been made on this subject by Shelby and Harrison, to the patriotism of the people of Kentucky, for voluntary contributions of cloth ing to the militia of that S'tate. In the plan of the campaign, the rapids of the Miami were considered as the first object, upon which the forces were to advance from a military base, drawn along the hither edge of the swampy district from Upper Sandusky to St. Marys, by three lines of operations, commencing at St. Marys, Fort M' Arthur, and Upper Sandusky, which places were to be the principal points of concentration and deposit, preparatory to a general advance and combination at the Rapids. "This, says Colonel Wood, of the engineers, was an ex cellent plan ; for by sending the corps different routes, with a view of concentrating somewhere in the neighbor hood of the enemy, the march of the army would not only be expedited, but the frontiers much more effectually pro tected." St. Marys was intended to be the principal depot for provisions, and Upper Sandusky for the artillery and mili tary stores. That portion of the left wing which was now at Defiance, was to serve as a corps of observation ; and at that place provisions were also to be accumulated, pre paratory to the advance of that corps to occupy the Rapids, which was to take place when the artillery had reached IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 161 Upper Sandusky, and the other military base ; and its arrival at the Rapids was to be the signal for a general advance with, the supplies on all the lines of operation. A corps of observation was also to be placed at Lower Sandusky, which with Defiance would form the extremi ties of a second base when the Rapids were occupied. By these arrangements the greater part of the troops would be kept within the bounds of the local contractors, con suming provisions brought forward at their expense, whilst all the energies of the quartermaster's department would be. employed in accumulating provisions at the principal depots, and providing the means to transport them through the swampy country to the positions taken in advance, and particularly to the Rapids of the Miami. Having digested these plans, General Harrison re turned again to St. Marys and dispatched Captain Hite to Fort Wayne, with orders for the horsemen under Col onel Simrall, and Major Johnson, to come to St. Marys as soon as possible. With such promptitude and celerity were these orders obeyed and executed, that the front of Johnson's battalion arrived at the St. Marys, a distance of 63 miles, about 13 hours after the orders were received. While Simrall and Johnson were lying at Fort Wayne, on the 23d of September, six Miami Indians, headed by the Stone Eater and a nephew of Little Turtle's, and a French man named Langly, came to the fort, pretending that they wished to treat for peace. They said all the Miamies had collected at Mississiniway ; that they had searched for General Harrison towards Vincennes, and that hearing of his march to Fort Wayne, they had come there to meet him. Five of them were detained as hostages, and on the 26th the Stone Eater and Langly went to bring in the other chiefs of the tribe, which they promised to do in four days. 11 162 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR The forces now at St. Marys amounted to near 3,000 men. On the morning of the 30th, the companies of Cap tains Roper, Clarke and Bacon, were ordered to elect a major and form a battalion ; which associated with John son's would constitute a regiment and elect a colonel. Roper was elected major by the battalion, and R. M. John son was elected colonel by the regiment. Captain Arnold was elected major in the place of Johnson, and Lieutenant Ellison was elected to command Arnold's company. This new regiment, with Colonel Findley's from Ohio, now formed a brigade, which was placed under the command of Brigadier General Tupper, of Ohio, a gentleman about fifty years of age, of a respectable, soldierly appearance, who had been called into service with the balance of the detached militia of Ohio, which he had left at Urbana. This brigade was intended to march in a few days, on the expedition up the St. Josephs, to scour the country towards Detroit. But a few hours after it was organized, about 12 o'clock the same day, the express from General Win chester arrived, with the intelligence that his march had been much impeded by the Indians; and that on arriving near Defiance he discovered, that they were accompanied by British troops with some pieces of artillery. A few minutes afterwards an express arrived from Governor Meigs, with a letter from General Kelso, commanding a detachment of Pennsylvania troops on Lake Erie, contain ing information that on the 16th of September, 2,000 Indians with some regulars and militia, and two pieces of artillery, had left Maiden on an expedition against Fort Wayne. Orders were immediately issued for a forced march, three days provision were drawn, with ammunition and other necessaries, and in three hours all the forces at St. Marys were in motion to join Winchester, who was sup- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 163 posed to have met all the forces, which the allies could raise in Upper Canada. Early next day, the 1st of October, it began to rain very heavy, which soon made the roads very deep, and rendered the march uncomfortable and fatiguing. The horsemen at first marched on the flanks; but when the foot troops halted for dinner, the horsemen were pushed forward in front, and in the evening passed the camp of Colonel Jennings, where he had built a block house. The rain continued very heavy all night, the weather was very cold for that season, and as the troops had no tents, their situation was extremely disagreeable. General Harrison and his staff were similarly situated, and his patience and fortitude served as an example to encour age his men. Beech brush was the substitute for a bed, and answered the purpose of keeping the men out of the mud and water. The foot troops were halted at Fort Jennings; and General Harrison having met another express from Win chester on the evening of the 2nd, with information that the enemy had retreated, sent orders for Colonel Barbee to return with his regiment to St. Marys, and Colonel Poague to cut a road from Fort Jennings to Defiance. The mounted troops had continued their march in five lines. Their number was upwards of one thousand, which made a grand appearance in the woods. The information of the retreat of the enemy, had a very dispiriting effect on the minds of many of the men, who were anxious for a battle before their discharge, which could not be very dis tant now, as their terms of service would soon expire, and forage could not be procured much longer for so many horse. The general himself was not well pleased, when he discovered, that the intelligence sent to him had been much more alarming, that was authorized by the circum stances. He arrived in the evening at Winchester's camp; 164 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR and the troops, having lain all night within three miles of the same place, proceeded early in the morning past the carnp, and went down to the point at the mouth of the Auglaize, where they encamped round the ruins of the old fort. A few pack horses, loaded with flour, arrived at Win chester's camp with General Harrison, which with the intelligence of his confirmation in the command was very gratifying to the troops. Their sufferings, however, had become so great, as to threaten serious consequences to the service, if they could not speedily be relieved. With a view to allay the uneasiness prevailing among them, on the next day after his arrival, he had all the troops paraded, when Colonel Allen and Major Hardin addressed them in very effecting terms, and portrayed in a lively manner, the confidence and expectations which this army had ex cited; and exhorted them to bear their privations with patience and fortitude. General Harrison then addressed them himself, as a father would his children. He ob served that his fame then theirs were identified ; and then proceeded to flatter their pride as Kentuckians. He affectingly asked them: "If you fellow soldiers from Kentucky, so famed for patriotism, refuse to bear the hardships incident to war, and to defend the rights of your insulted country, where shall I look for men who will go with me?" He then told them, that immense supplies were lying at St. Marys, to which was a direct opening, that rations would be forwarded with speed, that in the evening he expected a hundred beeves with more flour, that the gov ernment was doing its best to supply them, and that rein forcements were coming from Virginia and Pennsylvania, which would render the army very powerful. General IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 165 Harrison was a very eloquent speaker, and on this occa sion his speech had a powerful effect on the troops. When it was finished, they rent the air with shouts of applause, and harmony with content again prevailed in the camp. General Harrison now selected a position for a new fort, about 80 yards up the Auglaize, above the ruins of the old one. A fatigue party of 250 men were detailed and placed under the command of Major Joseph Robb, for the pur pose of cutting timber for the necessary buildings. Gen eral Winchester also moved his camp from the Miami to the Auglaize about a mile from its mouth; and General Harrison, accompanied by Colonel Johnson, and his original battalion, composed of Johnson's, Ward's, and Ellison's companies, returned to St. Marys, where these troops were honorably discharged on^the 7th of October. Poague's regiment was directed, after cutting the road to Defiance, to return to the Ottawa old towns on the Aug laize, about twelve miles from St. Marys, and erect a fort at that place. The command of the left wing was now confided to General Winchester, who accepted it on the solicitation of General Harrison. His principal employment for the present was to be the transportation of supplies to De fiance for the main expedition. He was also instructed to occupy the Miami Rapids as speedily as possible for the purpose of securing a large quantity of corn, which had been raised at that place by the inhabitants, who had now fled to other settlements for safety. When this instruction was given, General Harrison expected he would be able in two weeks to complete the necessary supplies for advanc ing against Detroit, and with a view to hasten that result, he soon afterwards recommended to General Winchester, instead of going to the Rapids, to send two of his regiments back within the bounds of the contractors' engagements, to 166 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR prevent them from consuming the provisions carried in advance. Before General Harrison left Defiance on the evening of the 4th, he ordered General Tupper to take the whole of the mounted men, who were now about 800 in number, and proceed next morning down the Miami as far as the Rapids, and still farther if he should there find it neces sary to disperse collections of the enemy, who were said to be rioting on the relics of General Hull's provisions, and on the corn of the citizens who had fled to the settlements for safety. He was to return by Defiance or Tawa towns on Blanchard's fork to St. Marys. When this order was issued, General Tupper's command was immediately sup plied with rations for 8 days, consisting chiefly of beef, but including all the flour in camp, which was cheerfully surrendered by the infantry in the hope, that on the in tended expedition the mounted men would do something valuable. An application afterwards made by Tupper to General Winchester for more ammunition, could not, how ever, be complied with. In the morning the march was not commenced according to orders, and about 12 o'clock a party of Indians fired on three men immediately on the op posite bank of the Miami, one of whom they killed and scalped and then fled. The camp was considerably alarmed for a moment, and the troops were formed in order of bat tle. Presently small parties of horsemen began to cross the river to reconnoitre and pursue the enemy. Most of the horses were at grass up the Auglaize, and as fast as the owners could get them, these parties were formed and crossed over to engage in the pursuit. As no general orders were given, some confusion prevailed, every little squad pursuing its own views. Eight or ten different par ties had gone, mostly from Colonel SimralPs regiment, in one of whicli was the colonel himself, and Major M'Dowell, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 167 of the same regiment, was ready to cross with fifty men, when General Tupper thought proper to order, that no more should leave the camp. He was apprehensive from the boldness of the Indians, that a large body might be lying near in ambush, who would attack the camp from some other quarter. Captain Young with only nine or ten men overtook the Indians, about 50 in number, having fired upon them he retreated, and meeting with no rein forcements, returned to camp. It was then too late in the evening to pursue them again with a stronger force. In the morning General Tupper sent Logan with six other In dians down the river to reconnoitre; Colonel Simrall in the meantime had prepared a strong party to renew the chase, and not long afterwards General Winchester ordered Tupper to commence his expedition towards the Rapids by pursuing those Indians. General Tupper alleged that he was waiting till his Indian spies should return, with infor mation of the route which the hostile Indians had taken. In the evening those spies arrived, with information that they had seen a party of the enemy, about 50 strong, ten miles down the river. General Winchester now sent for Tupper, and urged him again to proceed in the morning and disperse those Indians in his route. General Tupper replied, that he would prefer to go by the Ottawa towns, which had been destroyed by Colonel Findley, and follow the trace from that place to the Rapids. On this day about three hundred of the mounted riflemen, whose terms of service had expired, left the camp and returned home, dis satisfied with the conduct of Tupper, and alleging that their horses were unfit for the expedition. Next morning after an interview with Tupper, General Winchester di rected the regiment of Colonel Simrall to return to the set tlements in Ohio, for the purpose of recruiting their horses, and positive orders were then given to General Tupper to 168 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR proceed on the expedition. Colonel Simrall, being con vinced that Tupper would still find some pretext to evade the execution of the order in a proper manner, now willing ly returned to the settlemens, having first given all his am munition to the other mounted men, by which their supply was rendered fully adequate to the service. The dragoons were six-month's men, and reliance being placed on them for services in a subsequent part of the campaign, it was thought best to let them retire and hold themselves in read iness to march, when the main expedition should be ready to move. The other mounted men had) volunteered for short periods, and were therefore ordered for the expedition under Tupper, as the only service they would have an op portunity to perform. But discontent and insubordination now began to be manifest among them. Some of the Ken- tuckians were not inclined to march under Tupper, unless accompanied by some field officer from Winchester's com mand. Colonel Allen, therefore, tendered his services to accompany general Tupper in any capacity he might choose to receive him. The offer was accepted — but General Win chester, having misunderstood the nature of the arrange ment between them, issued an order directing Colonel Allen to take the command and march towards the Rapids. This caused a serious misunderstanding between the two gen erals. Colonel Allen, however, having informed General Winchester correctly on the subject, the order was imme diately rescinded. The greater part of the men having by this time refused to proceed directly to the Rapids, General Tupper marched them over the Auglaize, and proceeded to the Ottawa towns, where he professed to expect reinforce ments from Ohio. The whole of his troops, except about 200, now refused to march towards the Rapids : he therefore proceeded by the most direct route to Urbana, and honor- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 169 ably discharged those only, who had been willing at all times to obey. Charges were soon afterwards exhibited against Tupper by General Winchester, for his conduct on this occasion, in consequence of which an arrest was ordered by General Harrison. The Ohio brigade, under Tupper, in the mean time had been advanced to Fort M' Arthur on Hull's road, and when the officer went to serve the arrest, the general was- gone on an expedition of his own to the Rapids — and as there was no officer in his brigade, who was qualified to succeed him in the command, it was deemed most prudent by the commander-in-chief to stay the prosecution for the present. A court of inquiry was afterwards demanded by General Tupper at Fort Meigs, when no person acquainted with these transactions was there — he was, of course, hon orably acquitted. The failure, however, appears to have been caused chiefly by his want of energy and decision, and in some measure by the insubordination of the troops, pro ceeding from a want of confidence in their general, which will always produce this effect among militia. As General Harrison was returning from Defiance to St. Marys, he was informed by an express from Fort Wayne, that the Indians were collecting again at that place, and when he arrived at St. Marys, he found a corps of 500 niounjted volunteers, who had come /there to join the mounted expedition to Detroit. They were commanded by Colonel Allen Trimble, and were dispatched to Fort Wayne with instructions to proceed again from that post against the White Pigeon's town, a Potawatamie village about (>0 miles distant, on the headwaters of the St. Josephs of the Lake. When the colonel arrived at Fort Wayne, nearly one-half of his command refused to advance any farther — he proceeded, however, with the balance, and destroyed two villages, and would have killed and captured the inhabi- 170 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR tants, but for the treachery of one of his guides, who in tentionally apprised them of their danger. The Indian messengers, who had been sent from Fort Wayne to bring in the Miami chiefs from Mississiniway to hold a council, were now at St. Marys with a number of those chiefs. They came prepared either to deny or to pal liate their hostility, as circumstances might dictate. Find ing the general well informed respecting their conduct, they threw themselves on the mercy of the government, and agreed to abide the decision of the president. Five chiefs were named by General Harrison, which they agreed to send in to Piqua as hostages, till the pleasure of the presi dent could be known. General Harrison now proceeded by Piqua to Urbana, where some of the Ohio troops under General Tupper were stationed, and from that place to Franklinton, mak ing arrangements for expediting the march of the troops, and for hastening the requisite supplies and artillery. The troops under Winchester were now employed for some weeks in completing the new fort, which in honor of their commander was called F'ort Winchester, and in making perogues and canoes 5 or 6 miles down the Miami. The regiment under Barbee, at St. Marys, completed a fort at that place and called it Fort Barbee. Poague's regiment built Fort Amanda on the Auglaize, about 12 miles from the former, and Colonel Jennings completed the fort at his encampment. These regiments were at the same time em ployed in constructing boats and canoes, and in escorting provisions to Defiance. General Harrison kept his head quarters for some time at Franklinton, forwarding provi sions and military stores towards Fort M' Arthur and Up per Sandusky. To the former the Ohio troops at Urbana removed in the latter part of this month. The most dili gent exertions were thus making in every quarter to get ready for the main expedition against Maiden. CHAPTER IV. ATTACK ON FORT HARRISON — MASSACRE OF PIGEON ROOST — EXPEDITIONS OF HOPKINS — OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS AND COLONEL RUSSELL — DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORTATION — —EXPEDITION TO THE RAPIDS — TO MISSISSINIWAY — VIEWS AND PLANS OF THE GENERAL,, AND PROSPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. We must leave the northwestern troops for a moment, making preparations for their advance towards Detroit to regain our lost territory, whilst we take a rapid glance at the military operations in the western territories. On the 3rd of September, a body of Indians, Kickapoos and Winebagoes, comprising men, women and children, assembled at Fort Harrison, where Captain Zachary Tay lor had the command. They wished to be admitted into the fort under the pretence of holding a council — they also pretended to be in great want of provisions. Captain Taylor gave them something to eat, but as two young men had been killed on the preceding evening near the fort, he suspected their treachery and refused to admit them. They loitered about the fort, still professing to be friendly, till in the night of the 4th, when they set fire to one of the block houses. At the same time a large body of warriors, who had been lying in ambush, commenced a brisk fire, which was promptly returned by the garrison. As the house burned down, the Indians fired over the ruins into the fort, while Captain Taylor with great presence of mind, pulled down a cabin, and with its materials constructed a 171 172 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR breastwork across the opening produced by the fire. The Indians made several desperate charges, in which they at tempted to fire the fort in other places, and to enter by the breach, but they were repulsed and defeated in every at tempt. So critical and alarming, however, was the situa tion of the garrison, that two of the men jumped over the picketting, preferring the chance to escape through .the ranks of the enemy, to the prospect of being burnt or mas sacred in the fort. One of them was killed and the other retreated back to the walls of the fort after being wounded, and concealed himself behind some old barrels till morn ing. At daylight the Indians retreated, but still hovered round the fort for seven or eight days. Captain Taylor then strengthened the work where the blockhouse had stood, and prepared himself for a regular siege. He had lost in this affair, but three killed and three or four wounded — bat he had sustained a serious loss in the burn ing of the blockhouse. It contained his provisions, the loss of which now exposed his men to great sufferance for the want of food. Some corn which had been cultivated near the fort, was their only subsistence for several days. He immediately attempted to send an express to Vincennes with intelligence of the event, but it was several days be fore any person could escape through the Indians, and the messenger at last had to pass their encampment in the night. Captain Taylor merited and received much applause for the defence he made. His force did not exceed 50 men, one third of whom were sick, while the number of the enemy was comparatively very great, comprising all the forces they could raise in that quarter of the country. They had assembled with a determination to take the fort either by stratagem or force, and Captain Taylor, for his gallant resistance, was immediately brevetted a major. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 173 Exasperated to madness by the failure of their attempt on Fort Harrison, a considerable party of Indians now made an eruption into., the settlements on the Pigeon Roost fork of White river, where they barbarously mas sacred 21 of the inhabitants, many of them women and children. The children had their brains knocked out against trees, and one woman who was pregnant, was ripped open, and her unborn infant taken from her, and its brains knocked out. However, this was but a small mat ter — "it amounted to no essential injury — it was all for the best, as it was done by the disciples of the Wabash Prophet, who was in a close and holy alliance with George the Third, defender of the faith, and legitimate sovereign of Bible Society nation, which is the bulwark of our most holy reli gion." Yet it excited the indignation of the uncivilized republican infidels in the neighboring settlements of In diana and Kentucky, and several hundred men were col lected, and arrived at that place on the second day after the occurrence. The Indians by this time had fled beyond the reach of pursuit. Colonel Keiger, of Kentucky, how ever, with a small party who volunteered to go with him, followed their trail about sixty miles towards the Delaware towns at the head of White River. The regiments of Colonels Wilcox, Miller, and B arbour, of the Kentucky militia, were now on their march to Yin- cennes, but they did not arrive in time to meet the Indiana at Fort Harrison. Colonel Russell, being advised of its critical situation, collected some companies of rangers and Indiana militia, and by forced marches arrived there on the 13th, to the great joy of the garrison, who were in a starving condition. Several wagons with provisions were now ordered up to the fort, under an escort of 13 men commanded by Lieutenant Fairbanks, of the regulars. After Colonel Russell had met and passed this party on 174 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR his return, they were surprised and literally cut to pieces by the Indians, two or three only escaping. Major M'Gary with a battalion of Colonel Barbour's regiment, was at the same time on his way with provisions for the garrison, and being reinforced with some companies of Russell's rangers, they arrived in safety at the fort, having buried the man gled remains of the regulars on their way. In the Illinois and Missouri territories, many depreda tions had also been committed by the Indians. Governor Edwards, of the Illinois territory, had been very attentive to these matters. He had sent spies into the Indian coun try, by whom he had ascertained that they were greatly elated with their success and the prospect of driving the white people over the Ohio River, and were determined to carry on a desperate war against the frontiers in the month of September. To meet the emergency, he had called, under authority from the war department, on the governor of Kentucky, for a regiment of men, and Colonel Barbour's regiment had been ordered by Governor Shelby to march to Kaskaskia, but General Gibson, the acting Governor of Indiana, ordered it to Vincennes when F'ort Harrison was in danger, conceiving that he was authorized to take such a step, as the lieutenant of Governor Harrison, who was commander-in-chief of all the forces in those territories. Governor Edwards, though deprived of this aid, made vigorous exertions to defend his settlements. He embodied a portion of the militia, which he held in readiness to act whenever danger might present. Several companies of rangers were also encamped on the Mississippi above St. Louis, and on the Illinois River. These troops served to keep the savages in check in those regions. The troops already mentioned, not having been deemed sufficient to prosecute the war in the western territories, IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 175 the following address by Governor Shelby was published early in this month : "Frankfort, September 8, 1812. "Fellow-Citizens of Kentucky : "I have received information from his excellency, Gov ernor Harrison, commanding the army northwest of the Ohio, dated the 5th inst. at Piqua, that the British and In dians had besieged Fort Wayne and perhaps had taken it : that it was the object of the enemy to push on to Fort Har rison and Vincennes — and he has required of me to leave nothing undone to relieve those places. In addition to this, information is also received, that the Indians have murdered twentj^-one persons not more than twenty miles north of the Ohio: and that a very extensive combination of savages, aided by the British from Canada, are momently expected on the frontier of Indiana and Illinois territories. "With this information before us — and the requisition of Governor Harrison, that a number of mounted volun teers, be requested to march to the aid of our suffering fel low-citizens, it is hoped that it will rouse the spirit and in dignation of the freemen of Kentucky, and induce a suffi cient number of them to give their services to their coun try for a short period on this interesting occasion. "It is proposed to accept the service of such a number of mounted volunteers as may be adequate to the defence of the said territories: and if necessary, follow the enemy, and carry offensive war into their country, and lay waste their towns. "The volunteers will rendezvous at Louisville on the 18th day of this month, with at least thirty days provi sions. The whole will be commanded by Major General Samuel Hopkins, an officer of great merit and experience. Should any company of volunteers not be able to rendez vous on the day appointed, they can follow on and join the army on their march. "Kentuckians : ever pre-eminent for their patriotism, bravery and good conduct, will, I am persuaded, on this occasion, give to the world a new evidence of their love for their country, and a determination, at every hazard, to 176 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR rescue their fellowmen from the murders and devastations of a cruel and barbarous enemy. "Isaac Shelby." In compliance with this address, upwards of two thou sand mounted volunteers repaired to Louisville, the Red Banks, and other points of the Ohio, on their way to Vin- cennes. Such indeed was the excess of numbers that the governor turned back several hundreds at Louisville, and two companies from Bath and Montgomery under Cap tains Manifee and Coope, were stopped at Frankfort. At Louisville an old veteran, a volunteer in one of the com panies turned back after fretting a little at Ids fate, was heard to say by way of consolation : "Well, well, Kentucky has often glutted the market with hemp, flour, and tobacco, and now she had done it with volunteers." These troops began to arrive at Vincennes about the 21st, and continued daily to arrive until the 2nd of Octo ber. Some difficulty was experienced in organizing them, in consequence of their arriving in this irregular manner. Four regiments, however, were formed, to be commanded by Colonels Samuel Caldwell, John Thomas, James Allen and Young Ewing. These regiments constituted two bri gades, the first to be commanded by General James Ray, of Mercer, an early adventurer, and the other to be com manded by General Jonathan Ramsey, of Livingston, Ken tucky. And a few days after these arrangements were made, another regiment was added under Colonel Samuel South, of Madison, George Walker, Esq., was appointed judge advocate; P. Butler, adjutant general; Majors Wil liam Trigg and WT. A. Lee, aides to General Hopkins; J. C. Breckinridge, secretary; and William Blair and Joseph Weisiger acted as volunteer aids. While the troops were IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 177 collecting, General Hopkins was too unwell to attend to business in person, but his aides, and his quartermaster general, Colonel R. Taylor, of Frankfort, Kentucky, were indefatigable in their attention and exertions. A corps of 2,000 volunteer mounted riflemen being thus organized, and every practicable preparation for their march being made, the general-in-chief preceded to lead them earl}7 in October against the enemy. He marched up to Fort Harrison, where some delay took place in perfect ing his arrangements, particularly in relation to the nec essary supplies, which were still very inadequate. Orders were given for drawing ten days' rations, but many of the men did not get more flour than would last two days, though beef and bacon were plentiful. The army then crossed the Wabash and encamped a few miles from the river, where a council of all the officers was held, and the general informed them of his intention to march against the principal Kickapoo village situated on the waters of the Illinois River. His guides were examined in the council, and stated the distance to the village to be 85 miles in a northwest direction. The plan of the general then received the unanimous approbation of his officers. The march was resumed, and after proceeding about 25 miles to the northwest, a trail of Indians was discovered in the prairie, which led to' the north. The army pursued it, and continued their march in that direction, and even northeast, for several days, frequently crossing trails of Indians which led to the westward. The want of provi sions and forage began to be severely felt by the men and their horses; and a strong suspicion began to prevail among the troops, that the guides either from ignorance or treachery were leading them astray. Some Indian huts and a council house were at last discovered, from which there were fresh trails leading to the west. But the guides 12 178 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR still went to the north, averring that they knew the country well, and were now near the villages. Presently one of them announced that he had discovered a town with his spy-glass — but on coming nearer, it proved to be nothing but a fire in the prairie. This produced chagrin and des pondence in the men, and greatly increased their suspicion of the guides. The general then turned their march to the west, declaring that he would act as guide himself. Next morning a council was called to consider the condition of the troops and the policy of further pursuit. After mature consideration, the council was unanimous, that in the present starving situation of both men and horses, with a very uncertain prospect of finding the enemy soon, it was most proper to abandon the pursuit and return. This de cision being made known through the camp, the men warm ly approved it and prepared for its execution. The gen eral, however, thought proper to issue an order, or at least a request, that the army should follow him one day longer in search of the enemy ; but when ready to march the men unanimously took the direction to Vincennes, notwith standing the remonstrances of their general officers. It has since been ascertained that the village was still 60 or 70 miles further west. And thus through the lateness of the season, the scarcity of provisions, and the mistakes of the guides, the expedition entirely failed to its principal object, but by exhibiting a formidable force at a greater distance in the Indian country than any former army had proceeded, a serviceable impression was made on the fears of the enemy. Much crimination and recrimination hav ing passed between the general, his men and the citizens, in consequence of this failure, a court of inquiry was held on the general at his request which reported that not one of the charges or their specifications were supported by evi dence ; the greater number being expressly negatived by the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 179 evidence adduced on the part of the prosecution, and the whole of the charges clearly and fully refuted. The Court, therefore, acquitted the general, and gave as their opinion that his conduct merited the applause rather than the censure of his country. After the mounted men were discharged, and had left the frontiers, General Hopkins determined to conduct an expedition of infantry from Fort Harrison against the In dians on the Wabash. A corps of 1,250 men were accord ingly prepared for this service, consisting of the regiments of Kentucky militia, commanded by Colonels Barbour, Miller, and Wilcox, a small party of regulars under Major Z. Taylor, and about 50 rangers and spies on horseback, under Captains Beckers and Washburn. On the llth of November the march was commenced from Fort Harrison, and conducted with much caution up the east side of the Wabash. As the enemy had now been long apprised, and well informed, of the intended operations against them, it was deemed extremely probable that they would attempt to surprise the detachment, and to defeat it on its march, and that their arrangements for this would be chiefly made on the west side of the river, where the ground was the most favorable for such a scheme; hence, the route on the east side was preferred and cautiously pursued. The pro visions, forage, and military stores were embarked in seven boats, which were placed under the command of Colonel Barbour with a battalion of his regiment. The boats and the troops on land, generally encamped together at night, with a view to greater security. A rise of water in the Wabash from late rains, rendered the progress of the de tachment very slow, so that it was the 19th before they arrived at the Prophet's town. Several days were then spent in reconnoitering the country, and in destroying the neighboring evacuated villages, together with the corn and 180 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR other resources which had been left about them. The Prophet's town containing at this time about 40 cabins; a Winebago village, four miles lower down, on Ponce Pas- su Creek, and near the W abash on the east side, containing about 40 houses also ; and a Kickapoo village on the west side, containing about 160 cabins; were all completely de stroyed. On the 21st a small party of Indians were dis covered on Ponce Passu Creek, seven miles east of the Prophet's town, who fired on a reconnoitering party and killed one soldier. On the next day Colonels Miller and Wilcox went out with a party of 60 mounted men, with a view to bury the man who had been killed, and to obtain more complete information respecting the enemy, but they fell into an ambuscade and lost 18 of their men in killed, wounded and missing. It was ascertained, however, that the Indians were encamped on the creek in considerable force. The general now determined to march against them in the morning, but a violent snow storm with an extreme degree of cold, which commenced in the night and contin ued till the evening of the next day, prevented him from moving until the morning of the 24th. On arriving at the creek it was found that the enemy had fled before the fall of snow. The position they had evacuated was as strong as nature could make it. Their camp was secured on the rear and flanks by a deep rapid stream, which run round them in a semi-circle; while their front was rendered in accessible by a bluff 100 feet high and nearly perpendicu lar, and which could be ascended at three places only by steep and difficult ravines. As the enemy would not de fend themselves in this place, it was evident they had de termined not to fight ; any further search for them in the wilderness by foot troops at this inclement season was therefore perfectly negatory. The general had determined IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 181 to spend another week, at least, in endeavoring to find their camps, but this occurrence, together with "the shoeless, shirtless condition of the troops, now clad in the remnants of their summer clothes; a river full of ice; hills covered with snow; a rigid climate, and no cer tain point to which he could further direct his operations ;" now induced him with the unanimous advice of his officers, to return immediately to Vincennes. On this expedition the whole detachment behaved with the greatest propriety —performing all their duties with promptitude and alac rity, and enduring many privations and hardships with cheerfulness and fortitude. Not a murmur nor complaint was heard. If the conduct and issue of the mounted ex pedition was disgraceful in some degree to our militia, their character for exemplary devotion to the common cause was retrieved by the good conduct of the infantry on this occasion. Another and more successful enterprise had also in the meantime been conducted against the In dians by Governor Edwards and Colonel Russell. About the time General Hopkins marched from Vin cennes with his mounted troops, Colonel Russell went with some rangers, and joined Governor Edwards with a party of regulars and militia, making altogether about 400 men, with which they penetrated into the Indian country still further to the northwest, intending to co-operate with Gen eral Hopkins on the Illinois River at Peoria, to which place the latter intended to conduct his expedition against the Kickapoos. They could hear nothing of the general, how ever, in that quarter, and being too weak to continue long by themselves at such a distance in the country of the ene my, they were obliged to make a stroke and retire. They accordingly proceeded against a considerable village of the enemy, about 20 miles above Peoria, and immediately at the head of the Peoria Lake. They succeeded in sur- 182 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR prising its inhabitants, who immediately fled into a swamp, which lay between the town and the river. Our men pur sued them with impetuosity about three miles, frequently up to the waist in mud and water, nor ceased from pursuit until they had driven them over the Illinois River. Their loss was very great: upwards of 20 warriors were found dead, and many others must have been killed and over looked in the swamp, beside those who fell in the river and were carried away by the current. Our loss was four wounded — none of them mortal. The town together with a large quantity of corn and other plunder was destroyed, and about 80 horses brought away by the retiring con querors. We must now recur to the movements and transactions of the northwestern army, under the more immediate direc tion of the commander-in-chief. The troops moving on the line of operations, which passed from Delaware by Upper to Lower Sandusky, composed of the brigades from Vir ginia and Pennsylvania, and that of Perkins from Ohio, were now designated in general orders and commonly known as the right wing of the army: Tuppers brigade moving on Hull's road formed the centre division, and the Kentuckians under Winchester were styled the left wing. General Harrison continued his headquarters at Frank- linton and Delaware, and was chiefly employed in superin tending the supplies. Notwithstanding the failure of the intended expedition to the Rapids under Tupper, he still placed a high degree of confidence in the militia volun teers, of which his army was composed; but fearing that the extreme hardships and difficulties of the campaign might shake their firmness and evaporate their zeal, he thought it important to collect a body of men on whom he could fully rely in the most desperate circumstances. He therefore ordered, early in October, all the recruits of the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 183 regular army in the western States, to be marched to the frontiers. Those in Ohio to be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, and those of Tennessee by Colonel An derson, or some field officer of his regiment. The different corps of the army were now chiefly em ployed, for several months, in forwarding supplies on the different routes on which they had marched, or were des tined to march. The Virginia and Pennsylvania troops were employed in escorting the artillery and military stores towards Upper Sandusky; the Ohio troops conveyed pro visions from Manary's blockhouse, near the head of the Big Miami, twenty miles north of Urbana, to Forts McArthur and Finley on Hull's road; while the Kentuckians were traversing the swamps of St. Marys and the Auglaize, and descending those rivers in small craft, to carry provisions to Fort Winchester and the left wing. The difficulties of this business cannot be adequately exhibited in a cursory statement. The letters of the commander-in-chief, to the war department, at this period, were constantly filled with details on this subject. On the 22nd of October, he thus addressed the government: "I am not able to fix any period for the advance of the troops to Detroit. It is pretty evident that it cannot be done on proper principles, until the frost shall become so severe as to enable us to use the rivers and the margin of the lake for the transportation of the baggage on the ice. To get supplies forward, through a swampy wilderness of nearly 200 miles in wagons or on packhorses, which are to carry their own provisions, is absolutely impossible. "The object, however, can be accomplished by using the margin of the lake as above mentioned, if the troops are provided with warm clothing, and the winter is such as it commonly is in this climate. — No species of supplies are calculated on being found in the Michigan territory. The farms upon the river Raisin, which might have afforded a quantity of forage, are nearly all broken up and destroyed. 184 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR This article then, as well as the provisions for the men, is to be taken from this State — a circumstance which must at once put to rest every idea for a land conveyance at this season — since it would require at least two wagons with forage for each one that is loaded with provisions and other articles. "My present plan is, to occupy Sandusky and accumu late at that place as much provision and forage as possible, to be taken from thence upon slides to the river Raisin. At Defiance, Fort Jennings and St. Marys, boats and slides are preparing to take advantage of a rise of water or a fall of snow." He further states that lie had kept the troops from ad vancing, with a view to save the expense of supplying them at a greater distance, until the whole should be ready to move on the main expedition; and that the contractors had as yet done little or nothing toward making the de posits which he had urged them to accomplish. The prin ciple contractor had let out his contract for the northwest ern part of the State at a rate so low, that the subcontrac tors were unable to furnish the supplies — and some of them, too, were characters on whom no reliance could be placed. The principle contractor, it was said, would make |100,000 by his contract for that State; yet lie was not disposed to make the least sacrifice of his own interests for the public good. The general proceeds to state in the same letter, that on account of the troops being kept in the interior, "Depredations by small parties of Indians may and will be made, but it is impossible that any considerable body can advance against the settlements, without being in danger of being intercepted on their retreat. I am per suaded that the Indians have done less mischief on the frontiers since the declaration of war than they did in the same time preceding it. It was suggested to me a feAv days ago by a member of Congress, that the possession of De- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 185 troit by the enemy would probably be the most effectual bar to the attainment of peace. If this was really the case, I would undertake to recover it with a detachment of the army at any time. A few hundred packhorses, with a drove of beeves, without artillery and heavy baggage, would sub sist the 1,500 or 2,000 men, which I would select for the purpose, until the balance of the army could arrive. But having in view offensive operations from Detroit, an ad vance of this sort would be premature and ultimately dis advantageous." A few days after the letter was written, from which the above extracts are made, Harrison was informed by Gen erals Perkins and Beall, belonging to a detachment of Ohio militia under General Wads worth, in the northwestern parts of the State, that the opening of a road from a point near Mansfield to Lower Sandusky, in which they had been engaged by the orders of Governor Meigs, was forbidden by General Wadsworth; and that a road from Sandusky to the Rapids would be impassable unless causewayed for a distance of 15 miles. This information induced the gen eral to set out immediately to make a personal examination into the state of affairs in that quarter. He found Major General Wadsworth commanding 800 men, near the mouth of the river Huron, and 500 more under Brigadier General Beall near Mansfield. The two corps were consolidated, and placed under Brigadier General Perkins with orders to proceed to Lower Sandusky, and open a road thence to the Rapids, making the causeways required by the state of the country. He returned to his headquarters early in November; and about the 15th of the month, the Pennsyl vania troops with the artillery passed Mansfield, destined to meet the Virginia troops at Upper Sandusky. On the 15th of November General Harrison informed the war department that he did not think it safe to move from the Rapids until one million of rations had been ac- 186 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR cumulated at that place. Considerable progress had now been made — but he adds : "You can scarcely form an idea, sir, of the difficulty with which land transportation is effected north of the fortieth degree of latitude in this country. The country beyond that, is almost a continued swamp to the lakes. Where the streams run favorable to your course, a small strip of better ground is generally found, but in crossing from one river to another, the greater part of the way at this season is covered with water. Such is actually the situation of that space between the Sandusky and the Miami Rapids ; and from the best information I could ac quire, whilst I was at Huron, the road over it must be causewayed at least half the way." He further stated, that in the opinion of the quarter master it would require two teams, loaded with forage for their own subsistence, for every one employed in carrying the other articles from F'ranklinton to Upper Sandusky, at which place it was necessary to accumulate, not only provisions for the men, but forage to serve at least two thousand horses and oxen, to be employed in advancing on the main expedition. The expenses of such transportation must, of course, be enormous. The intention of employing the dragoons on that expedition was for this reason abandoned. About this time Major Hardin had passed between the left wing at Fort Winchester and the headquarters of the general — while on the journey he wrote confidentially to Governor Shelby: "The late rains have rendered the roads desperate. I learn that this route is considered the best of the three, along which provisions are to be conveyed — if so, I am cer tain that it is morally impossible to provision the army at Detroit by land. Indeed, such is the state of the road, that no wagon can take its own forage from Piqua to the IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 187 Rapids. As for a water carriage, we could have it to the Rapids; but while the enenry commands the lake, we are there cut short. I therefore deem it impracticable to pene trate Canada from this quarter this season. "I know that it will be mortifying to Kentucky for this army to return without doing any thing — but it is better to do that, than to attempt impossibilities. 1 wish to God the public mind were informed of our difficulties, and grad ually prepared for this course * * * . In my opinion, we should in this quarter disband all, but those sufficient for a strong frontier guard, and for convoys etc., and prepare for the next season." Having thus exhibited the inglorious labors and diffi culties, which this army had to encounter in procuring supplies, we will now with more pleasure recount some of its military movements and exploits. Early in November, General Tupper, who had previously marched his command from Urbana to the frontiers on Hull's road, sent his spy company, under Captain Hinkston, to reconnoitre at the Rapids. The Captain concealed his men on the southeast side of the river, where he had discovered a British and Indian encampment in the opposite bottom, which was an open prairie. Presently a British officer with a few In dians came over the river, and when they had advanced some distance from their boat, Captain Hinkston fired up on them, and took the officer prisoner. He was a captain by the name of Clarke. Having returned with him to Gen eral Tuppers camp, he informed the general that there were three or four hundred Indians and about 75 British at the Rapids, where they had come to carry off the corn, of which a considerable quantity still remained. General Tupper immediately prepared a strong detachment consist ing of six hundred and fifty men, who volunteered to go against the enemy. He notified General Winchester of the intended movement, and marched on the 10th from Fort 188 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR M' Arthur, with a light six pounder, and 5 days' provisions, in the knapsacks of his men. The badness of the road obliged him to leave the six pounder at Hull's packsaddle blockhouse; and when he arrived at Portage River, 20 miles from the Rapids, he sent his spies in advance to re connoitre. They met him in the evening, five miles on their return, with information that the enemy remained in the same position near the foot of the Rapids. The detach ment was now halted till near sunset, to avoid being dis covered by the allies, and then marched to a ford about two and a half miles above them. Here spies were again sent to ascertain their precise situation, who returned about nine o'clock, with information that they were en camped in close order, and employed in singing and danc ing. Orders were now given to cross the river, with a view to attack them at the dawn of day. Colonel Stafford com manded a battalion on the left flank in single files ; Colonel Miller's regiment composed the right ; and Major Galloway commanded a battalion in reserve. In this order they in tended to cross the river and surround the enemy's camp. Special instructions were given to each officer, and every soldier, who did not feel willing to cross, had permission to shift for himself. The men were much fatigued, and the weather was very cold. General Tupper pushed into the water and crossed at the head of the first section. Th<* others attempted to cross in double files, with their arms locked together, and when nearly two hundred had gone over, the greater part of one section were washed off their feet, and lost their guns. The water was waist deep, and ran very swift. The few horses belonging to the detach ment were sent immediately to save the men, and happily succeeded in getting out the whole. An attempt was next made to cross on horses, but they being weak were also washed down, and the riders plunged into the current. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 189 Finding it impracticable to get the detachment over at this place, those who had succeeded recrossed, and the whole retired to the woods and encamped. Next morning, the 14th, General Tupper dispatched an express to General Winchester, stating his situation, and suggesting the propriety of a reinforcement, if one had not already been sent; at the same time remarking that he could not remain there longer than another day, unless he could receive a supply of provisions. He then sent his spies down the river in view of the enemy, with a design to decoy them over, but the Indians were not to be caught in this way. Only a few crossed, and they would not venture far on shore, which was open ground for half a mile. Fail ing in this project, the general marched the whole of his troops down in the woods, and showed the heads of his columns in the open ground. This alarmed the enemy con siderably. The squaws ran to the woods — the British ran to their boats and escaped — the Indians more brave than their allies, paraded and fired across the river, but without effect. The general then fell back, in hopes to entice them over, but he could neither induce them to cross nor scare them off without a fight like the British. At last he marched back towards his camp. Some Indians were seen, in the meantime, to mount their horses and ride up the river, and some of Tupper 's men imprudently pursued a gang of hogs about half a mile from the main body, while some others went into an adjoining corn field to gather corn. The mounted Indians, having crossed the river, came upon the latter party and killed four of them, and then boldly charged on the left flank, but were repulsed. A large body at the same time crossed opposite the head of the column, where they were met by Major Bentley's bat talion, and driven back with some loss. A noted chief by the name of Split-Log was their commander. 190 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Late in the evening the detachment retreated, leaving accidentally in the camp a sick man who was unable to march, and who fell a prey to the tomahawk and scalping knife. On the next morning, the 15th, the express arrived at Winchester's camp, with Tuppers request for a reinforce ment. A detachment of 450 men had already been organ ized, and marched that morning under the command of Colonel Lewis, to whom the information in Tupper's des patch was immediately forwarded. The colonel proceeded all day in a forced march down the north side of the river, and in the night dispatched Ensign Todd, quartermaster to the advance of the left wing, accompanied by five guides with instructions to proceed to General T upper on the other side of the river, and agree on some point, for a junc tion of the detachments on the north side early in the morning, with a view to attack the Indians in their en campment. At twelve o'clock in the night, Todd reached Tupper's camp, and found that it had been abandoned, ap parently with much precipitation, as the fires were extinct, and two men were lying there tomahawked and scalped. He recrossed the river immediately and joined Colonel Lewis before day, who then retreated to Winchester's camp, under the impression that Tupper had been defeated. This movement to the Rapids by Tupper was sufficient ly bold and hazardous for a spirited soldier, but his conduct after his failure in attempting to cross the river is not to be commended. He should doubtless have retreated up the river to a place where he could cross, and have waited there for the reinforcement under Lewis. After sending for that reinforcement, he was surely blamable in breaking up his camp and retreating, without communicating to it any in telligence of such a movement. His men, however, behaved well, having acted bravely in every instance, except in re- IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 191 treating, and having performed a severe march, 160 miles in all, on a road which was then a continued swamp the whole way. Though but little execution was done on this excursion, it frightened off the British without the corn they had come for, and alarmed the Indians sufficiently to induce them to fall back to the river Raisin. It probably had the effect, too, of saving the people of that place from massacre. These Indians had previously sent them the following mes sage, committed to writing by a British pen : "The Hurons and other tribes of Indians, assembled at the Miami Rapids, to the inhabitants of the river Raisin — "Friends, listen — you have always told us that you would give us any assistance in your power. We, therefore, as the enemy is approaching us within 25 miles, call upon you all to rise up and come here immediately, bringing your arms along with you. Should you fail at this time, we will not consider you in future as friends; and the con sequences may be very unpleasant. We are well convinced that you have no writing forbidding you to assist us. "We are your friends at present, "(Signed) Round Head, Walk-In-The-Water." The appearance of Tupper's detachment, having sepa rated them from their British instigators, and alarmed them for their own safety, may have deterred them from the hostility threatened in this message. Shortly after this expedition by General Tupper to the Miami Rapids, a tragical adventure occurred in the left wing of the army, which merits to be minutely recorded. Captain James Logan, the Shawanoe chief, by the orders of General Harrison, proceeded with a small party of his tribe to reconnoitre in the direction of the Rapids. He met with a superior force of the enemy near that place, by which he was so closely pursued that his men were obliged to dis- 192 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR perse for safety in their retreat. Logan, with two of his companions, Captain John and Bright Horn, arrived at General Winchester's camp, where he faithfully reported the incidents of the excursion. But there were certain per sons in the army who suspected his fidelity, and reproached him with being friendly, and with communicating intelli gence, to the enemy. The noble spirit of Logan could not endure the ungenerous charge. With the sensibility of a genuine soldier, he felt that his honor and fidelity should not only be pure and firm, but unsuspected. He did not, however, demand a court of inquiry — following the natural dictates of a bold and generous spirit, he determined to prove by unequivocal deeds of valor and fidelity, that he was calumniated by his accusers. On the 22nd of November he proceeded the second time, accompanied only by the two persons named above, firmly resolved either to bring in a prisoner or a scalp, or to perish himself in the attempt. When he had gone about ten miles down the north side of the Miami, he met with a British officer, the eldest son of Colonel Elliot, accompan ied by 5 Indians. As the party was too strong for him, and he had no chance to escape, four of them being on horseback, he determined them under the disguise of friend ship for the British. He advanced with confident boldness, and a friendly deportment to the enemy — but unfortunately one of them was Winemac, a celebrated Potawatamie chief, to whom the person and character of Captain Logan were perfectly well known. He persisted, however, in his first determination, and told them he was going to the Rapids to give information to the British. After conversing some time, he proceeded on his way, and Winemac with all his companions, turned and went with him. As they travelled on together, Winemac and his party closely watched the others, and when they had proceeded about 8 miles, he IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 193 proposed to the British officer to seize them and tie them. The officer replied that they were completely in his power ; that if they attempted to run, they would be shot ; or fail ing in that, the horses could easily run them down. The consulation was overheard by Logan; he had previously intended to go on peaceably till night, then make his es cape, but he now formed the bold design of extricating himself by a combat with double his number. Having signified his resolution to his men, he com menced the attack by shooting down Winemac himself. The action lasted till they had. fired three rounds apiece, during which time Logan and his brave companions drove the enemy some distance, and separated them from their horses. By the first fire, both Winemac and Elliott fell; by the second a young Ottawa chief lost his life; and an other of the enemy was mortally wounded about the con clusion of the combat, at which time Logan himself, as he was stooping down, received a ball just below the breast bone; it ranged downwards and lodged under the skin on his back. In the meantime, Bright Horn was also wounded by a ball which passed through his thigh. As soon as Logan was shot, he ordered a retreat ; himself and Bright Horn, wounded as they were, jumped on the horses of the enemy and rode to Winchester's camp, a distance of 20 miles, in 5 hours. Captain John taking the scalp of the Ottawa chief, also retreated in safety and arrived at the camp next morning. Logan had now rescued his character, as a brave and faithful soldier, from the obloquy, which had unjustly been thrown upon him. But he preserved his honor, at the ex pense of the next best gift of Heaven — his life. His wound proved mortal. He lived two days in agony, which he bore with uncommon fortitude, and died with the utmost com posure and resignation. 13 194 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR "More firmness and consummate bravery has seldom appeared on the military theatre/' says Winchester, in his letter to the commanding general. "He was buried with all the honors due to his rank, and with sorrow as sincerely and generally displayed, as I ever witnessed/' says Major Hardin, in a letter to Governor Shelby. His physiognomy was formed on the best model, and ex hibited the strongest marks of courage, intelligence, good humor and sincerity. It was said by the Indians that the British had offered one hundred and fifty dollars for his scalp. He had been very serviceable to our cause by acting as a guide and a spy. He had gone with General Hull to Detroit, and with the first Kentucky troops, who marched to the relief of Fort Wayne. Captain Logan had been taken prisoner by General Logan, of Kentucky, in the year of 1786, when he was a youth. The general on parting with him, had given him his name, which he retained to the end of his life. Before the treaty of Greenville, he had distinguished himself as a warrior, though still very young. His mother was a sister to the celebrated Tecumseh and the Prophet, He stated that in the summer, preceding his death, he had talked one whole night with Tecumseh, and endeavored to persuade him to remain at peace, while Tecumseh on the contrary endeavored to engage him in the war on the side of the British. His wife, when she was young, had also been taken prisoner by Colonel Hardin in 1789, and had re mained in the family till the treaty of Greenville. In the army he had formed an attachment for Major Hardin, the son of the colonel, and son-in-law of General Logan, and now requested him to see that the money due for his serv ices was faithfully paid to his family. He also requested that his family might be removed immediately to Kentucky and his children educated and brought up in the manner IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 195 of the white people. He observed that he had killed a great chief, that the hostile Indians knew where his family lived, and that when he was gone, a few base fellows might creep up and destroy them. Major Hardin, having promised to do everything in his power, to have the wishes of his friend fulfilled, imme diately obtained permission the general, to proceed with Logan's little corps of Indians, to the village of Wapogh- conata, where his family resided. When they reached near the village, the scalp of the Ottawa chief was tied to a pole to be carried in triumph to the council house ; and Captain John, when they came in sight of the town, ordered the guns of the party to be fired in quick succession, on account of the death of Logan. A council of the chiefs was pres ently held, in which after consulting two or three days, they decided against sending the family of their departed hero to Kentucky. They appeared, however, to be fully sensible of the loss they had sustained, and were sincerely grieved for his death. About the time that Tupper's expedition to the Rapids was in execution, General Harrison determined to send an expedition of horsemen against the Miamies, assembled in the towns on the Mississiniway River, a branch of the Wabash. The reader will recollect that a deputation of chiefs from those Indians met General Harrison at St. Marys in October and sued for peace — that they agreed to abide by the decision of the president, and in the meantime to send in five chiefs to be held as hostages. The president replied to the communication of the general on this sub ject, that as the disposition of the several tribes would be known best by himself, he must treat them as their conduct and the public interest might in his judgment require. The hostages were never sent in, and further information of their intended hostility was obtained. At the time of their 196 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR peace mission, they were alarmed by the successful move ments, which had been made against other tribes from Fort Wayne, and by the formidable expedition which was pene trating their country under General Hopkins. But the failure of that expedition was soon afterwards known to them, and they determined to continue hostile. A white man by the name of William Conner, who had resided many years with the Delawares, and had a wife among them, but who was firmly attached to our cause in this war, was sent to the towns to watch the movements of the Mianiies. He visited the villages on the Mississiniway River, and was present at several of their councils. The question of war with the United States and union with the British was warmly debated, and there was much division among the chiefs, but the war party at last prevailed. The presence and intrigues of Tecumseh, and afterwards the retreat of General Hopkins, rendered them nearly unani mous for war. To avert the evils of their hostility was the object of the expedition against Mississiniway. "The situation of this town, as it regards one line of operations, even if the hostility of the inhabitants was less equivocal, would render a measure of this kind highly proper; but from the circumstance of General Hopkin's failure, it becomes indispensable. Relieved from the fears excited by the invasion of their country, the Indians from the upper part of the Illinois River, and to the south of Lake Michigan, will direct all their efforts against Fort Wayne, and the convoys which are to follow the left wing of the army. Mississiniway will be their rendezvous, where they will receive provisions and every assistance they may require for any hostile enterprise. From that place they can by their runners ascertain the period, at which every convoy may set out from St. Marys, and with certainty in tercept it on its way to the Miami Rapids. But that place being broken up, and the provisions destroyed, there will IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 197 be nothing to subsist any body of Indians, nearer than the Potawatamie towns on the waters of the St. Josephs of the Lake." — Harrison. The detachment was placed under the command of Lieu tenant Colonel Campbell, of the 19th regiment, and con sisted of Colonel Simrall's dragoons, a squadron of cavalry under Major Ball, Elliott's company of United States' in fantry, Alexander's 12 months volunteer riflemen, and Butler's company of Pittsburgh volunteers — all mounted and armed with muskets and rifles, and forming together a corps of 600 men. They inarched from Franklinton on the 25th of November, by the way of Dayton, to Greenville, which place they left on the 14th of December for the In dian town, distant about 80 miles; each man carrying ten days' rations and as much forage as he could with con venience. The weather was extremely cold, and the ground hard frozen and covered with snow. On the evening of the third day, when the party was about 20 miles from their destination, a halt was called to take some refreshment and hold a council. It was determined in the council to march all night, and to attack the villages very early in the morn ing. When they had arrived in the night, within three miles of the first village, as the guides supposed, they halted again and waited till daylight, when the march was again resumed. Their progress was delayed a little by a difficult swamp, of which the guides were ignorant. Presently the front guard observed four Indians on horseback, who were pursued, and in a few minutes the first village was sur rounded. But many of the Indians had already escaped over the river, on which the village was built — some who remained made a little resistance, but the greater part surrendered immediately. Those who had fled were pur sued by Captain Johnston, some of them killed and seven or eight captured. The result of the whole was eight war- 198 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR riors killed and forty-two prisoners taken, consisting of men, women, and children. Colonel Campbell lost two men killed. In advancing upon the town, Colonel Simrall's regiment formed the left column, Major Ball's squadron the right, and the infantry the centre. The prisoners be ing placed under the infantry as a guard, and the huts be ing fired, the dragoons proceeded down the river three miles to the village of Silver Heels, and two other small towns ; which had all been abandoned by their inhabitants in confused precipitation. The towns were burnt, and all the property destroyed or brought away. When the dra goons returned to the first village, as the whole detachment was much fatigued, having been thirty-six hours on horse back, with little intermission, they determined to encamp till next day. Very little corn had been obtained, the greater part having been already consumed by the Indians, or hid in the ground. The encampment for the night was formed on the bank of the Mississiniway River, about 200 yards square. The infantry and riflemen were posted on the bank; Colonel SimralPs dragoons formed the left and half the rear line ; Major Ball's squadron formed the right and the rest of the rear. Major Ball being officer of the day, caused strong guards to be placed out, with small redoubts at each angle, at the distance of sixty yards, where a captain's guard with two sub-alterns were stationed. Beyond these at a similar distance, the sentinels were placed. During the night, the sentinels reported that they could perceive Indians round the camp examining it. A fire was also discovered down the river. From these appearances an attack was antici pated, and the men were raised and directed to have their arms in their hands, two hours before daylight. Reveille was beat, and Adjutant Payne summoned the field officers and captains to headquarters to consult about the future IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 199 operations against the principal village, which was 12 miles lower down the river. While the officers were in council, about half an hour before day, the Indians made a violent attack upon the rear right angle. The officers went to their posts, and in a moment the lines were formed and the fire of the enemy returned with effect. Captain Pierce, who commanded at the redoubt where the attack was made, bravely maintained his post till he was shot and toma hawked. His guard then retreated to the lines. The angle attacked was composed of Captain Garrard's right, and the left of Captain Hopkin's company, who resisted the onset with great firmness. In a few minutes the action became general along the right flank and a part of the rear. The spies together with the Pittsburgh Blues promptly rein forced the point assailed, and took their station on the left of Captain Hopkins. The action continued near an hour, and was gallantly supported by Major Ball's squadron, the reinforcements above named, and some of Captain Elliott's company. At daylight a gallant charge was made by Captain Trotter at the head of his troop, from the left of Ball's squadron, and by Captain Johnston with his company from the right, with a view to take the Indians in their flanks and rear. Captain Trotter's command attacked and dispersed a superior number of Indians, killing several of them in the encounter. During the attack the enem> several times advanced close to the lines, apparently deter mined to rescue the captives or perish in the attempt, but when daylight appeared and they were charged from the lines, they despaired of success and fled in every direction. They left about fifteen dead on the ground, besides what were thrown into the river and carried away. The loss on the part of the detachment was eight killed and 48 wounded, several of whom afterwards died. Captain Trotter and Lieutenant Hedges, Basey and Hickman were among the 200 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR wounded. Lieutenant Waltz, of Markle's company of vol unteers, was killed — like the gallant Spencer in the battle of Tippccanoe, he could not be induced to leave his post after he had received two wounds, one of which threatened the loss of his arm, but was mounting his horse to make a charge, when he was shot through the head. All the offi cers and soldiers engaged, with very few exceptions, be haved with great firmness and gallantry. Colonel Simrall was afterwards particularly commended in a general order for the excellent discipline of his regiment, which was deemed equal to that of any other in America. Colonel Campbell and Majors Ball and M'Dowell were also ap plauded as excellent officers, besides many others of less rank. As soon after the battle as the wounded could be dressed and litters made to carry them, the detachment commenced their return. Colonel Campbell had learned from a pris oner, that Tecumseh with six hundred warriors was but 18 miles beloAv him; of course, it was not prudent to re main any longer, in the condition in which the battle had left him. Many of his men were already very much frost bitten ; and in the wilderness through which he had to re turn, there were many creeks and swamps, which would be rendered impassable by a thaw. His march was very slow- on account of the wounded and sick, and provisions soon became very scarce. But Captain Hite had been sent ex press to headquarters on the day after the battle, and a reinforcement of 90 men with provisions was immediately sent to meet the detachment. A strong breastwork was erected every night, and one-third of the men were placed on guard. When they arrived at Greenville, about 300 were rendered unfit for duty by frost, sickness, and wounds. They deserve great credit for the firmness with which they IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 201 endured such extraordinary hardships, as well as for their bravery and good conduct in battle. "But the character of this gallant detachment, exhibit ing as it did, perseverance, fortitude, and bravery, would, however, be incomplete, if in the midst of victory they had forgotten the feelings of humanity. It is with the sincer- est pleasure that the general has heard that the most punc tual obedience was paid at his orders in now only saving all the women and children, but in sparing all the warriors who ceased to resist; and that, even Avhen vigorously at tacked by the enemy, the claims of mercy prevailed over every sense of their own danger, and this heroic band re spected the lives of their prisoners. Let an account of murdered innocence be opened in the records of Heaven, against our enemies alone. The American soldier will fol low the example of his government, and the sword of the one will not be raised against the fallen and the helpless, nor the gold of the other be paid for the scalps of a mas sacred enemy.'' — Harrison. The good effects of the expedition were soon felt. It let us know distinctly who were our friends and who were our enemies among the Indians. The Delaware tribe from White River and all others who were determined to remain at peace immediately accepted the invitation which had previously been given by the government, to come within the limits of the American frontiers. They were settled by the proper authority, about half way between Piqua and the Shawanoe village of Wapoghconata on the Auglaize. Soon after the return of the detachment to Dayton, so many of Colonel SimralFs regiment were found to be unfit for immediate service, and the intention of employing dragoons on the main expedition was so entirely abandoned that the general determined to disband them immediately — they were accordingly discharged on the 10th day of January, and returned home from a service which had been hard in deed, but to them not less glorious than severe. 202 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR We must now recur again to the toilsome preparations for the main expedition against Maiden, and the inglorious war which our troops were doomed to wage with the ele ments which opposed their progress with all the powers and majesty of mud. The troops composing the left wing under Winchester, when the season became severe, were exposed to many and great privations. They had left the greater part of their clothing in the first instance at Piqua, when marching to the relief of Fort Wayne, and suffered considerably before they received it again. But as the winter came, an addi tional supply of winter clothing became necessary. The government had ordered large supplies of this kind — but there was in this stage of the war an immense difference between the ordering of supplies and delivering them on the frontiers. Harrison and Shelby had also appealed to the patriotism of the people of Kentucky for voluntary contributions, and a considerable quantity of clothing was in this way collected under the superintendence of Gover nor Shelby. The ladies of Kentucky were not wanting in such patriotic services as they had it in their power to render. Of the clothing thus collected, however, but very little reached the army before Christmas, and much of it was entirely lost, owing to the misconduct of wagoners and wagonmasters, and the insuperable difficulties of trans portation. Soon after Fort Winchester was finished, the left wing moved over the river and encamped on the north bank, for the convenience of firewood. The situation being wet and disagreeable, they presently moved down to a second, and then to a third camp, six miles below the Auglaize. About the first of November they became extremely sickly. The typhus fever raged with violence, so that three or four Avould sometimes die in one day. Upwards of 300 were IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 203 daily on the sick list, and so discouraging was the prospect of advancing, that about the first of December they were ordered to build huts for their accommodation. Many were so entirely destitute of shoes and other clothing that they must have frozen, if they had been obliged to march any distance. And sometimes the whole army would be for many days entirely without flour. All these privations were caused in a great measure by the difficulties of transportation. The roads were bad be yond description; none but those who have actually seen the state of the country seem ever to have formed a correct estimate of the difficulties to be encountered. The road from Loramie's blockhouse to the St. Marys, and thence to Defiance, was one continued swamp, kneedeep to the pack- horses and up to the hubs of the wagons. It was found impossible in some instances to get even the empty wagons along, and many were left sticking in the mire and ravines, the wagoners being glad to get off with the horses alive. Sometimes the quartermaster, taking advantage of a tem porary freeze, would send off a convoy of provisions, which would be swamped by a thaw before it reached its destina tion. These natural difficulties were also increased by a great deficiency of funds, and inadequacy of the other re sources which were requisite in the quartermaster's de partment. The only persons who could be procured to act as packhorse drivers, were generally the most worthless creatures in society, who took care neither of the horses nor the goods with which they were entrusted. The horses, of course, were soon broken down, and many of the packs lost. The teams hired to haul were also commonly valued so high on coming into service, that the owners were will ing to drive them to deviltry and death, with a view to get ting the price. In addition to this, no bills of lading were used, or accounts kept with the wagoners — of course, each 204 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR one had an opportunity to plunder the public without much risk of detection. We are, hence, not to wonder when such were the difficulties and the means of surmounting them, that supplies were not more rapidly accumulated at the various places of deposit. The following account will exhibit the difficulties of water transportation. About the first of December, Major Bodley, an enterprising officer, who was quartermaster of the Kentucky troops, made an attempt to send nearly 200 barrels of flour down the St. Marys in perogues to the left wing below Defiance. Previous to this time the water had rarely been high enough to venture on a voyage in those small streams. The flour was now shipped in 15 or 20 perogues and canoes, and placed under the command of Captain Jordon and Lieutenant Cardwell, with upwards 20 men. They descended the river and arrived about a week afterwards at Shane's crossing, upwards of one hun dred miles by water, but only twenty by land from the place where they started. The river was so narrow, crooked, full of logs, and trees overhanging the banks that it was with great difficulty they could make any progress. And now in one freezing night they were completely icebound. Lieutenant Cardwell waded back through the ice and swamps to Fort Barbee, with intelligence of their situa tion. Major Bodley returned with him to the flour and of fered the men extra wages to cut through the ice and push forward; but having gained only one mile by two days' labor, the project was abandoned, and a guard left with the flour. A few days before Christmas a temporary thaw took place, which enabled them with much difficulty and suffering to reach within a few miles of Fort Wayne, where they were again frozen up. They now abandoned the voy age and made sleds on which the men hauled the flour to the fort and left it there. IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY 205 In the meantime General Winchester's wing was suffer ing the greatest privations. Trusting to this attempt to convey supplies by water, the exertions by land were re laxed. From the 10th to the 22nd of this month, the camp was without flour, and for some time before they had only half rations. Poor beef and hickory roots were their whole subsistence. At the same time fevers and other diseases raged in almost every tent, in which the sick were exposed, not only to hunger, but to the inclemency of the season. The necessary vigilance of the general induced him to send out reconnoitering parties very frequently, which still fur ther exposed the men. Yet they disdained to murmur, OP to utter a thought derogaton7 to the honor of their country. About the first of this month General Harrison had thought his supplies in such a state of forwardness that he could very soon concentrate his forces at the Rapids ; and had in structed General Winchester to proceed to that place as soon as he had provisions for a few weeks on hand — but in the circumstances above described, his condition was very different from that which would authorize him to advance. The other divisions of the army had not been pushed out so far as the left wing, and, of course, had not to encounter such great privations. Their sufferings,