150 - Pioneer Biography. tist clergyman, who then lived in Columbia, preached there occasionally. All negotiations to effect a peace with the Indians having failed, Congress, on the 3d of March, 1791, passed an act providing for the defense of the western frontiers, and on the 4th of March, Arthur St. Clair, then governor of the North-west Territory was appointed and commissioned a major-general, and invested with the chief command of the troops then being raised, to be employed against the hostile Indians of the west. General St. Clair was at Philadelphia at that time. He started west on the 28th of March and arrived at Pittsburg on the 16th of April, whence, in order to obtain the assistance of the militia, he went to Lexington, Kentucky, and arrived at Fort Washington, Cincinnati, on the 15th of May, 1791. Brigadier-General Richard Butler was appointed second in command, and was charged with the arrangements necessary for the recruiting service. He established a rendezvous at Baltimore, and several points in Pennsylvania. Those enlisted east of the mountains assembled at Carlisle, where they were disciplined and prepared to march for the west. On the seventh day of August, all the troops that had arrived at Fort Washington, except the artificers and a small garrison for the fort, moved to Ludlow's Station on Mill creek, six miles north of Cincinnati, in order to obtain from the woods forage for the horses, that about Fort Washington being entirely consumed, Thomas Irwin - 151 and to await the arrival of General Butler and the troops which were expected from the east. About the first of September, 1791, Thomas Irwin volunteered and joined the army. He was engaged as one of the wagoners who had charge of the gun-carriages for transporting the cannon. The army moved from Ludlow's Station on the 17th of September, and marched under the command of Colonel William Darke to the Great Miami river, where the town of Hamilton now is. They encamped about half a mile below the present site of the town, at the head of a prairie. All that tract of land lying between the pond and the Miami river, now owned by John Woods and Sigismund Wurmser, was at that time a natural prairie covered with a luxuriant growth of tall grass. There were two companies that had charge of the artillery wagons, Mr. Irwin belonging to one of these companies. They lay at this camp until the fort was built, or, at least, so far completed as to be in condition to receive a garrison. On the 3oth of September two pieces of artillery were placed on the platforms at two angles of the fort ; a salute was fired, and it was named Fort Hamilton, in honor of Alexander Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury. The upper part of the fort was nearly opposite where the upper side of the Miami bridge now is; the lower part about where the Associate Reformed church stands; including the space covered by the present market-house, and the adjacent buildings. 152 - Pioneer Biography. Mr. Irwin said that the side of the fort next the river was built up with half-faced cabins with a high front, furnished with good rooms for quarters for the soldiers. The officers' quarters was a house inside the fort. There were platforms put up on two of the block-houses at the angles of the fort, the floors of which were somewhat higher than the top of the pickets, on which to place cannon to command the surrounding country and the ford of the river. There were also sentry-boxes at the angles of the fort. Mr. Irwin said that one day while encamped here, he went out hunting. He pursued a north-east course from the fort, nearly in the direction of the road to Middletown. He found the undergrowth so thick that he had great difficulty in making his way through it, and as the brush afforded a good ambush for the Indians he concluded it was safest to abandon his hunt. The brush was not so thick east of where they lay in camp. The principal growth of timber was hickory, though there was a mixture of some other kinds. General Richard Butler, second in command, and Captain Denny, aide-de-camp to General St. Clair, joined the army at Fort Hamilton on the 27th of September. On the first and second days of October, the whole army was mustered and reviewed by General St. Clair, and inspected by Colonel Mentgetz, inspector of the army. The whole force amounted to two thousand three hundred non-commissioned officers and privates Thomas Irwin - 153 fit for duty. A small detachment from the army was made, to be left in garrison at Fort Hamilton, which was committed to the command of Captain John Armstrong. On the 2d of October General St. Clair issued an order that the army was to march on the next day, directing the order in which they were to move, to encamp and to form in line of battle in case of an attack. He then returned to Fort Washington in order to organize some militia which had just arrived from Kentucky. On the 4th of October the army was put in motion and commenced their march into the wilderness, being led by General Butler. They crossed the Miami river at a ford opposite the lower part of the town of Hamilton, about where the junction railroad bridge now is. They crossed the river by wading. Caleb Atwater, in his History of Ohio, states that in St. Clair's defeat, at the commencement of the action, there were two hundred and fifty women with the army, of whom fifty-six were killed in the battle. Mr. Irwin thought there was not near that number with the army. At Hamilton, General St. Clair issued an order to prohibit the women from proceeding with the army except a few, some two or three to each company. However, many of the women disregarded the order, and when the men commenced crossing the river, they also plunged into the stream, but the water being deep their progress was considerably obstructed by their clothes. 18 154 - Pioneer Biography. Many of them got out of the water on to the artillery carriages and rode over astride of the cannon. The first day the army marched only one mile and a half to Two-mile creek and encamped on lands afterward owned by William McClellan. The next day, October 5th, they marched two miles over the hill, about where the old Eaton road runs, to Four-mile creek, and encamped in the bottom, near where the Fear-not mill has since been built. On the 6th of October they marched to Seven-mile creek and encamped in the bottom on the east side of the creek. They gave those streams which they crossed, names corresponding with the distance measured from Fort Hamilton to the place where they crossed them. The army continued its march north, passing near where the east line of Milford township, in Butler county, now is. On the 8th of October, General St. Clair arrived at the camp and took command. John S. Gano, afterward general, and for many years clerk of the court of Hamilton county, was the surveyor who preceded the army, taking the courses with a compass and measuring the distance with a chain. Jacob Fowler, who had been a hunter with the army, was appointed an assistant surveyor. On the 13th of October, the army had advanced forty-four miles from Fort Hamilton, where, in the opinion of the General, a suitable position presented for another post of defense. The army halted and encamped in two lines. The artillery and cavalry were divided upon the two flanks, Thomas Irwin - 155 and the riflemen without them at right angles. The outlines of a fort were laid out and the work was commenced, and prosecuted with vigor, so that by the 24th of October, the houses were all covered, the platforms laid in the bastions, and the work so far advanced that it was considered that it might be completed by the troops who were to be left in charge of it. The fort was thirty-five yards square, with four good bastions, one at each corner, and constructed of large hewed timber laid horizontally, the curtains of the work forming the outer walls of the barracks. On the 22d of October, Mr. Ellis, with sixty militia from Kentucky joined the army and brought a quantity of flour and beef. On the 23d of October, two men were discovered in the act of deserting to the enemy. They were taken and convicted, and another man was found guilty of shooting a soldier, and threatening to kill his officer. They were all three hung on the grand parade, the whole army being drawn out. On the 24th of October, two pieces of artillery were placed in the fort, a salute was fired, and it was named Fort Jefferson. A detachment was detailed to garrison the place, which was placed under the command of Captain Shaler of the second regiment. The army was then mustered and found to consist of one thousand seven hundred non-commissioned officers and privates fit for duty. On the next day, October 25th, the army took up their line of march and moved six miles to Greenville creek, and encamped on 156 - Pioneer Biography the bank of the creek where the town of Greenville now is. General St. Clair had been indisposed for some days past with what at times appeared to be a bilious colic, sometimes a rheumatic asthma, and at other times symptoms of the gout. This day he was so ill that it was with much difficulty he kept up with the army. Very heavy rain fell during the night. The army remained in the encampment five days, part of the time employed in building a bridge over the creek; but the principal cause of delay was, waiting for the arrival of provisions. At this time the army had not more than three days' supply of flour with them. They had for several days been on one-half and sometimes one-fourth allowance of that article ; the deficiency of which was made up by increasing the quantity of beef, with which they were plentifully supplied. The officers were restricted to a single ration. One day, during the time the army lay at Greenville, Captain Lemon, of Kentucky, and a party of militia were sent out on a reconnoitering expedition, to see what discoveries they could make. Jacob Fowler, the assistant surveyor, and two trusty scouts were attached to the party. They were directed to proceed north-westerly for about twenty miles, and then return and report what discoveries they had made. Early in the morning the party set out on their expedition. Their route lay over rich, wet land, on which the weeds were near breast high. When they had accomplished nearly their allotted distance, they Thomas Irwin - 157 espied a smoke, and before they were aware came on a small party of Indians, seated around a fire. The high weeds served to conceal the parties from each other. Jacob Fowler and the two scouts crept cautiously up to reconnoiter. Having previously arranged their mode of proceeding, one of the scouts was dispatched back to Captain Lemon with the understanding that as soon as his party heard the scouts who were in advance, fire, they should rush up to their support. The other scout and Fowler concealed themselves behind a large white oak tree not exceeding forty yards from where the Indians were. The tree was five or six feet in diameter, affording ample room for concealment and protection to both. While Fowler and his companion were preparing and steadying their rifles to fire on the Indians, one of the Kentuckians in the rear fired into what he must have judged from the smoke was the place where the Indians were; but the distance was so great as to make it a random shot. The Indians, five in number, disappeared in an instant. The whites pursued as far as they could, but the Indians being unincumbered and running for their lives, made their escape. On examining their camp, they found venison stuck up on sticks all around the fire, roasting; lying round were moccasins, leggings, blankets, and even some of their shot pouches which they had left, upon their springing up, so effectual had been their surprise. The articles captured, valued at more than twenty dollars, 158 - Pioneer Biography. were brought into camp and divided among the party. Several guns were now heard fired in front, which were immediately answered by the firing of a great number of guns. The party concluded that if they wanted to find Indians they need not go a step further, and that if they valued their lives they had not a minute to lose in making their escape as soon as possible. For they were convinced that a large body of Indians, more than a hundred as they judged by the sound and direction of the firing, were just at their elbows. It being now late in the evening, they hastily gathered up the Indians' venison, that was cooking at the fire and commenced a retreat. To have returned by the track which they had made by their way out would have beaten such a trace as would have enabled the Indians to follow them even after dark. They, therefore, took a course due west, which they pursued until ten o'clock at night, when they left six of their party concealed- behind a log to watch if they were pursued by the Indians. The rest of the party went on a short distance further and encamped for the night. The party left in the rear were instructed to maintain their position until midnight, and if by that time they saw or heard nothing to alarm them they should join those in advance, who would have their share of the venison cooked and ready for them. Shortly after midnight the party left in the rear came up, no Indians having made their appearance. They then concluded that the Indians were waiting for Thomas Irwin - 159 daylight in order to be able to follow their trail. As soon as day dawned they pursued their course to the camp of the main army. A short distance from camp they met five Kentucky militia who were going out on a hunting excursion. They advised them to return, alleging that the Indians were in large force, and they did not know how near they might be. They paid no regard to this friendly advice but proceeded on their way. They, however, had not gone far until they were fired on, and four out of the five were killed by the savages. On the 27th of October, Piamingo (or the Mountain Leader), a Cherokee chief, with his band of warriors, arrived in the camp and remained with the army until the 29th; when, accompanied by Captain Sparks, of Major Clark's battalion, and four good riflemen, they went out on a scouting party, not intending to return under ten days, unless they succeeded in taking prisoners. They did not return until after the battle. On the 28th of October, a few Indians were discovered in the neighborhood of the camp. Two privates were fired upon within about three miles from the camp. One was killed, and the other, who was wounded, managed to reach the camp but died afterward. Two militia men who were out in another direction were fired upon by the Indians; one of them escaped and got into camp, the other was taken prisoner. On the 30th of October, at nine o'clock in the morning, the army 160 - Pioneer Biography. left their encampment at Greenville creek and moved forward along an Indian trail. After following it some distance it appeared to bear too much to the north ; they left it and proceeded more to the west. With much difficulty the army marched seven miles this day. On the morning of the 31st of October, it was discovered that sixty of the Kentucky militia had deserted and gone off in a body. Colonel Hamtramck, with the first regiment, was ordered to pursue them for the purpose of bringing them back, and to protect the provisions then on the way to the army. There being no beef killed, Colonel Hamtramck and his command did not march until the evening. The army remained in camp this day. On the 1st of November, the army marched but a short distance and encamped early in the afternoon, in order to give the road-cutters an opportunity of getting some distance ahead. On the 2d of November the army marched seven miles and encamped. Early on the morning of the 3d of November, the army continued their march until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when they arrived at a place which Samuel Hodgdon, quartermaster-general to the army, had marked out for the encampment. It was a situation of which General St. Clair did not approve. A halt was made, and Captain Butler, then acting as assistant-quartermaster, was sent forward to select a more suitable place for the purpose, where there was water. He returned with the information that he had gone forward Thomas Irwin - 161 about three miles and could find none. Mr. Buntin was then ordered to proceed further than Captain Butler had gone, and make a further examination. After he had been absent a considerable time, General St. Clair became uneasy at the delay, and he, accompanied by General Butler, rode forward, that they might themselves judge of the situation of the ground. After proceeding about two miles they met Mr. Buntin returning. He informed them that he had found an excellent situation for a camp, near a creek about a mile and a half further on. They rode on to the place and being perfectly satisfied with it, sent back orders for the troops to move on. The army had then about four miles to march before they came to the place, so that with the delay that had been made, it was after dark when they got their tents pitched and fires kindled. The encampment was on the bank of a creek, twelve yards wide, running in a south-westerly direction. The ground was nearly level and covered with a heavy growth of timber. The stream was then believed by the army to be the head of the St. Mary's river, which empties into the Maumee (the Miami of the Lakes). It was, however, a branch of the head waters of the Wabash river. General St. Clair supposed that they were within about fifteen miles of the Miami towns. In this he was mistaken, as they were more than fifty miles from the Indian towns at the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers. The army was encamped in two lines, having the creek 162 - Pioneer Biography. in front. The right wing, composed of Majors Butler, Clark, and Patterson's battalions, commanded by General Butler, formed the first line. The left wing, consisting of Majors Bedinger and Guthrie's battalions, and the second regiment commanded by Colonel Darke, formed the second line, with a space of about seventy yards between the two lines. There were two rows of fires made of logs between the lines. The whole camp was about three hundred and fifty yards in length. The right flank was protected by the creek which had a steep bank, and by Captain Faulkner's corps. The left flank was covered by some cavalry and their pickets. The Kentucky militia under the command of Colonel Oldham, amounting to about two hundred and seventy, were thrown across the creek and advanced about eighty rods in front of the main army. They were also encamped in two lines and had two rows of log fires. The whole force of the army at this time amounted to about one thousand four hundred effective men. There were three or four inches of snow on the ground. It was the constant practice to have the whole army paraded and under arms and the roll called a considerable time before daylight. On the morning of the 4th of November the reveille beat early and the troops were on parade in order of battle two hours before daylight. They had just been dismissed and gone to their tents to prepare their breakfast, when about half an hour before sunrise, the Indians attacked the advance camp of the Kentucky Thomas Irwin - 163 militia with great fury. The drums immediately beat to arms as soon as the firing was heard, and the troops were in a few minutes assembled and drawn up in order of battle. The advance camp of the militia immediately gave way on being attacked. Some of them fired a few shots, the greater number, however, did not fire a gun, but instantly fled, rushing across the creek into the camp of the regulars, with the Indians close at their heels ; Colonel Oldham, under whose command they were, following close in their rear, waving his sword, calling them cowardly rascals, and ordering them to stop. But they paid no attention to his orders. Colonel Oldham was killed early in the action, in the camp of the regulars, near where the artillery stood. When the militia fled before the Indians, they rushed quite through the first line of the regulars and threw Major Butler's and part of Major Clark's battalions into considerable disorder, which, notwithstanding the exertions of those officers, was never altogether remedied. Major Ferguson, who commanded the artillery, fired his cannon on the Indians who were pursuing the flying militia, which, with a fire from the first line, checked them and put them into considerable confusion. But they were soon rallied by their leader, who appeared on horseback dressed in a red coat. A very heavy attack now commenced on the first line. The action became warm, and the enemy passing round the first line, at- 164 - Pioneer Biography. tacked the second line, and in fifteen minutes from the commencement of the attack, the whole army was surrounded by the Indians. They fired from the ground, among the grass, and from every tree and log in the vicinity. They were only seen when dodging from one covert to another. The artillery, near which Thomas Irwin was posted, was in the center of each wing. Against this the great weight of the attack was directed. The enemy, impelled to vigorous exertions by all the motives which operate on the savage mind, rushed up boldly, tomahawks in hand, to the very mouths of the cannon, and fought with the daring courage of men whose trade is war. The artillerymen were driven from their posts with great slaughter, and two pieces of cannon captured by the enemy. While our soldiers were every moment falling by the bullets of the enemy, little impression was made by the fire of the white troops upon the Indians, and confusion evidently beginning to prevail among the soldiers in consequence of their severe loss in men, General St. Clair ordered Colonel Darke, at the head of the second line which he commanded, to charge the enemy with the bayonet, to rouse them from their coverts and endeavor to turn their left flank. The order was instantly obeyed by Colonel Darke with about three hundred men, and executed with great spirit and apparently with great effect. When the charge was made, the Indians gave way. Swarms of dusky bodies were seen rising from Thomas Irwin - 165 the high grass and fleeing before the white man with every mark of consternation. The artillery was retaken and the Indians driven across the creek out of sight, about eighty rods, when the Colonel halted and rallied his men. In the mean time the Indians kept up a fatal fire on the other portions of the army, and had closed up the gap which had been made by the charge. Colonel Darke then rode to the rear and gave the order to march back, which they did through the mass of Indians, those they had driven back following and keeping up a deadly fire in their rear. When they arrived at where the artillery and baggage wagons stood, they found them in the possession of the Indians, and surrounded by them in great numbers. By this time there were not more than thirty or forty of Colonel Darke's command left standing ; the rest had been shot down and were lying around, either killed or wounded. To avoid being all cut down immediately, Colonel Darke waved his sword and ordered the little band he had remaining to charge a second time. Fortunately, at the same time, a charge was made with the bayonet on the other side by the battalions commanded by Majors Thomas Butler, and Clark. This second charge was made with the same impetuosity as the first and with the same success. The artillery was again retaken ; that particular point relieved, for a time, but the principal weight of the fire was transferred to the center of the first line, with such fatal effect that it threatened to 166 - Pioneer Biography. annihilate every thing within its range. General St. Clair ordered up the whole train of artillery, in order to sweep the bushes with grape-shot; but the horses and artillerymen were soon destroyed by the terrible fire of the enemy; before any effect could be produced: and every officer belonging to it killed except Captain Ford, who was badly wounded. The artillery was instantly manned afresh from the infantry, and again swept of its defenders and entirely silenced. When the charges were made with the bayonet, they were always attended with success ; but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to pursue the advantage, the regulars were compelled, in their turn, to give way and return to their position, the Indians pursuing them. There was but one company of riflemen in the army, which was posted on the right, where it kept the enemy in check. Some of the militia were armed with rifles, but they were panic-stricken and did little service. In the second charge, Major Thomas Butler was dangerously wounded by a ball breaking his thigh. He, however, remained on horseback at his post during the action. Every officer of the second regiment fell except three, one of whom, Mr. Creaton, was wounded by a shot through the body. Mr. Irwin stated that during the early part of the action, General St. Clair and General Butler were continually going up and down the lines. As one of them went up one line, the other was going down the other Thomas Irwin - 167 line. About an hour after the charge made by Major Thomas Butler's battalion, General Richard Butler was mortally wounded, when passing on the left of that battalion. Four soldiers put him into a blanket and carried him back to the battalion to have his wounds dressed by a surgeon. They placed him in a sitting position on the blanket, leaning against a tree. He was vomiting blood at the time. Almost immediately afterward, while the surgeon was examining General Butler's wounds, a single Indian who had penetrated the ranks of the regiment, darted forward and tomahawked and scalped the General before his attendants were aware and could interfere. Thomas Irwin, who had frequent opportunities of seeing General St. Clair during the battle, said that he did not wear his uniform on that day. He wore a rough capped blanket coat and a three-cornered hat. He had a long queue and large locks, very gray, flowing beneath his beaver. Early in the action, as he was passing near where the artillery stood, a ball grazed the side of his face and cut of a portion of one of his locks, but did not cut the skin. Of this, Thomas Irwin, who was close by, was an eye-witness. " That was a near go," says Captain Ford, addressing Mr. Irwin. It was said that eight balls passed through General St. Clair's clothes that day, although his body remained untouched. The slaughter had now become prodigious. Four-fifths of the officers and one-half of the men were 168 - Pioneer Biography. either killed or wounded. The fire of the enemy still continued with unabated fury, and the men were falling before it in every part of the camp. The ground was covered with the bodies of the dead and dying, the freshly-scalped heads were reeking with smoke, and in the heavy morning frost (as one who was present expressed himself) looked like so many pumpkins in a corn-field in December. And the little ravine that led to the creek was actually running with blood. The men were evidently disheartened. While the battle raged at one place, at another point might be seen a party of soldiers grouped together around the fires, doing nothing but presenting mere marks for the enemy. They appeared stupefied and bewildered with the danger. At another point the soldiers had broken into the marquees of the officers, and were eating the breakfast from which others had been called into battle. It must be recollected that neither officers nor men had eaten any thing the whole morning. Some of the men were shot down in the very act of eating. Under these circumstances, General St. Clair determined to save the lives of the survivors, if possible, and for that purpose collected the remnants of several battalions and formed them into one corps, as well as circumstances would admit, toward the right of the encampment. These were placed under the command of Colonel Darke, and ordered to make a charge upon the enemy in order to regain the road from which they were cut off, and open Thomas Irwin - 169 a passage for the remainder of the army. The order was executed with promptness, and the enemy driven about a quarter of a mile and the road regained. A retreat was then ordered, when the remainder of the army rushed through the opening and gained the road. The militia, pressing like a drove of bullocks, took the way first, followed by the other troops. Major Clark, with the remnant of his battalion, attempted to cover the rear of the retreating army, and keep the Indians in check, but with little success. Thomas Irwin was near the front when the retreat commenced, but for some cause was delayed and fell nearly in the rear. The savages were in full chase and scarce thirty yards behind him. He exerted himself to place a more respectable distance between him and the pursuing foe, although it required considerable caution to avoid the bayonets of the guns which the men had thrown off in their retreat with the sharp points toward the pursuers, great numbers of men having thrown away their arms and ran with all their might. The Indians pursued them about four miles, and even after the pursuit had ceased, many of them threw away their guns in order to facilitate their escape. The Indians, after they would fire upon the retreating soldiers, stopped to load their rifles and then regained lost time by running on afresh. The battle began half an hour before sunrise, and the retreat commenced about ten o'clock. They reached Fort Jefferson a little before dark in miserable plight, 19 170 - Pioneer Biography. having eaten nothing since the day before, and found no provisions in the fort to satisfy their hunger. At ten o'clock they pursued their march for Fort Hamilton, marching all night. On the day before the battle the ground was covered with snow, which had melted and the flat ground was now covered with water frozen over, the ice about an eighth of an inch thick, which made the march, splashing through the water and ice, and among the roots of the trees, in the night, very fatiguing. On the succeeding day, they met the convoy with a quantity of flour, part of which was immediately distributed among the men. A fire was soon kindled and ash cakes prepared and baked, which served to appease their hunger for the time. That night they encamped on Seven-mile creek, and the next day, November 6th, at noon, arrived at Fort Hamilton. The remnants of the army remained at Fort Hamilton that day and the next to have the wounded cared for, and to rest and recruit themselves after the fatigue and hardships they had undergone. On the morning of the 8th of November, they marched for Fort Washington, where they arrived on the evening of the same day. The whole number of effective men under the command of General St. Clair, on the morning of the battle, was about one thousand four hundred. Of these, the number of commissioned officers killed on the battlefield was thirty-eight, and thirty-one commissioned officers were wounded, several of whom afterward died Thomas Irwin - 171 of their wounds. Five hundred and ninety-three noncommissioned officers and privates were killed and two hundred and fourteen wounded, many of whom also died of their wounds. Thomas Irwin was employed with the artillery on the day of the battle, and was consequently exposed in the thickest of the fight, where he remained at his post during the whole of the action, and though that arm of the force lost nearly every man, he escaped without a wound. The Indians pursued the flying troops about four miles, when they returned to the field of battle to glut their vengeance on the bodies of the dead and dying. All the wounded who were yet living, lying on the ground, were immediately tomahawked and scalped. Not a single person was taken prisoner and preserved alive. The following extract from one of several of Mr. Irwin's letters, in which he describes this battle, dated October to, 1844, is here inserted in his own words, as it may be interesting to many : It was the opinion of the General and his officers that the Indians would not attack the army where there were so many cannon with them. There were three six-pounders and three smaller ones. On the day before the battle, about four miles on this side, there was a general halt ; something got wrong. The weather was cold. During the stay, us wagoners in front kindled up a large fire. The General, and a number of officers collected around it to warm themselves. They chatted on several subjects ; one was, our whereabouts. The general opinion 172 - Pioneer Biography. was, that we had passed over the dividing ridge, between the waters of the Miami and St. Mary's, and were then on the waters of the St. Mary's. Colonel Sargeant, who had been in front, came up while they were chatting, and informed them that the advanced guards had chased four or five Indians from a fire out of a thicket, and got a part of a venison at the fire. The chat turned upon the movements of the Indians, as there had been more seen that day than on any day previous. The General observed that he did not think the Indians were watching the army with a view to attack them. The officers present concurred with him in that opinion. We marched from there about two miles, halted to encamp ; an express came up from the front guard, stated that they had got a fine running stream and a good place to encamp at. We started and got there about sunset. I expect it was near eight o'clock before the troops got fixed for lodging and cooking their scanty mess of provisions. There were several guns fired that night by the sentries. Our orders were to have the horses up early in the morning. We had to pass through the sentries. They informed us that the Indians had been around part of the camp nearly all night. We got part of the horses and part were stolen by the Indians. The Kentucky militia, perhaps about three hundred, were encamped about forty rods in advance, on the opposite side of the creek. The army was encamped in a hollow square, on this side of the creek. The three six-pounders were on the left, on the bank of the creek. The two lines were about fifty or sixty yards apart, so that the rear could come to the creek for water. A small ravine put into the creek a short distance on the left from where the six-pounders were. About sunrise on the fourth, one gun was discharged some distance in front of the Kentucky militia ; in two minutes after- Thomas Irwin - 173 ward there were upward of fifty discharged, a yell raised, and charge made on the militia. They retreated into the camp, the Indians in pursuit. When the Indians came within, perhaps, sixty rods of the creek, they wheeled to the right and left with a view to surround the army, which they did in a very short time. After they got around, I think, within one hour and a half, they had killed and wounded every officer and soldier belonging to the artillery. After the artillery was silenced, I think the battle continued another hour and a half. During the time, there were several charges made, but I think neither of them advanced more than forty steps until they returned. A retreat was ordered to be beat, which was done by a drummer, but not understood. George Adams,* who acted so noble a part at Harmar's defeat, was in this campaign, I think, as a spy. St. Clair placed great confidence in him for former services. He was with the General a short time before the army retreated. He came to that part of the line near where the trace was, gave * George Adams was a native of Pennsylvania, and was in the Revolutionary war. He received a deed for one hundred acres of land about a mile and a half south of Hamilton, in the section of land on which Charles Bruce first settled. In his deed, it is stated to be in consideration of services as a drummer in the army of the Revolution. After the treaty of Greenville, when peace was restored with the Indians, he settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he lived for a while. He then removed to Darke county, and built a mill on Greenville creek, six miles below the town of Greenville. He became religious and joined the New Light church. He drew a pension for several years before his death. He was an associate judge of the court of common pleas for Darke county at the time of his death, which happened about the year 1839. 174 - Pioneer Biography. three sharp yells, and said, Boys, let us make for the trace.' He took the lead ; a charge was made ; I was within five or six feet of him ; the Indians gave way ; a few guns were shot from both sides. When we had got about thirty rods, Adams ordered them to halt and form a line. They were then on the trace and could not be stopped. The race continued, perhaps, four or five miles, when they slackened their pace, and arrived at Fort Jefferson a short time after sunset. The first regiment that was there had been sent after deserters and to guard provisions, I expect, on the day of battle. There was no provision on the way—none within fifty miles, and there not much. The wagoners had no guns. While we lay at Jefferson and Greenville, I tried to borrow a rifle to hunt with, could get none. At the time of the battle, I got a musket, bayonet, and cartridge-box, with about twenty cartridges, threw the box away and carried the cartridges in a large side pocket. The troops on that campaign ought to have been drilled about eight or ten months and taught how to handle a gun. I think a number of them had never handled a gun nor shot one. There were two excellent companies of artillery, commanded by Captains Bradford and Ford. If they could have had a good breastwork to shelter themselves, all the Indians that were there could not have faced them. That battle always reminds me of one of those thunder-storms that comes quick and rapidly. The following are the names of part of the officers that I had a knowledge of that were killed : General Butler, Colonel Gibson, Major Ferguson, of the artillery, Captains Hart, Kirkwood, Smith, Darke, and Swearingen ; Lieutenant Spear and Lukens ; Ensign McMichael, and Captain Bradford, of the artillery. Provision was exceedingly scarce nearly all the time we lay Thomas Irwin - 175 at Greenville creek, and until the army was defeated. The men were on half rations, and the beef, part of the time, was not very good. Six spies were sent from Greenville creek two days before the army marched from that point. They went about a northeast course, heard nothing of the battle on the fourth, met with one Indian who informed them the army was defeated. They returned to Jefferson. Four of the spies were Choctaw Indians. They killed the Indian they met. There were six wagoners and one cook with the artillery. Two wagoners and the cook were killed. Captain Ford with the small pieces always encamped on the rear line, right in rear of the large pieces. The officers on that campaign were as good as any that ever carried a musket. Captain Gano, who was afterward a general in Hamilton county, was the surveyor." In the month of December following, Mr. Irwin having received his discharge, left Cincinnati and returned to his father's residence in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he arrived in the January following. In the ensuing April, Mr. Irwin again descended the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and remained a resident of the Miami valley from that time until the time of his decease. In January, 1793, Thomas Irwin was married at Cincinnati by Justice William McMillan to Miss Ann Larimore. He remained there a few years, when he removed and settled upon a tract of land which he had purchased in what is now called Lemon 176 - Pioneer Biography. township, Butler county, about four miles east of the present site of Middletown, where he resided until the time of his death. The country was then new and but sparsely settled, and Mr. Irwin's land being altogether in the woods, consequently his first business was to build a cabin and clear a few acres to plant in corn. Laboring hands being scarce and difficult to be procured, he had to perform nearly all the work of building his cabin and bringing his farm into a state of cultivation with the labor of his own hands. In the war of 1812, Thomas Irwin served a tour of duty of six months as a major in the Ohio militia, under the command of General John S. Gano. The regiment in which Major Irwin served, was commanded by Colonel Henry Tumalt. After the expiration of his term of service, he returned to his home in March, 1814. This closed his military career of active service. However, on his return home he was elected a colonel and commanded a regiment of militia, which gave him the title of colonel, by which he was uniformly called. In October, 1808, Mr. Irwin was elected a member of the state senate of Ohio for the county of Butler, to which office he was successively re-elected until the year 182o, making his term of service in the senate twelve years. In the fall of 1824 he was elected to the lower house of the legislature from Butler county, and served in that body one session. He afterward declined Thomas Irwin - 177 a re-election. In 1823 he was elected a justice of the peace for Lemon township, Butler county, and at the expiration of his term of office was successively reelected until the year 1842, thus filling that office for nineteen years. In the discharge of his duties he was remarkable for his love of peace; always preferring, if possible, to settle the difficulties of those appearing before him without hard feelings and without costs. In all the official stations which Mr. Irwin was called to fill, he discharged the duties with credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His successive elections to different offices proves his popularity with the people. The warm affection of a numerous and highly respectable family for their deceased father amply testify to his exemplary conduce as a parent. While the fact that he lived upward of fifty years in one place without enemies and surrounded by warm friends, is sufficient evidence of his irreproachable and praiseworthy conduct as a private citizen and a neighbor. As a christian, we can pronounce no higher praise upon him than to say that for fifty years he was a consistent follower of the meek and lowly Jesus. He was a member of the Associate Reformed church, and filled the office of elder in that church from the year 1805 until his death. Colonel Thomas Irwin died at his late residence in Lemon township, Butler county, Ohio, on Sunday evening, October 3; 1847, aged 81 years. During his 178 - Pioneer Biography. last sickness he seemed perfectly composed and resigned. He died in the full enjoyment of the christian faith, resting his hope of salvation on the merits of a crucified Savior. On the succeeding Tuesday, his remains were interred with military honors by the Monroe Guards, in the burying-ground of Mount Pleasant meetinghouse, north of Monroe, followed to the grave by a large train of mourning relatives, and the largest concourse of citizens ever assembled in that vicinity on a similar occasion. Thus ended the long and useful career of another of the PIONEERS OF THE WEST. III Joel Collins. THE subject of this sketch was born in Halifax county, Va., on the 16th day of September, 1772. His father, Stephen Collins, with his wife and four children (Joel being the eldest), removed from Virginia in the year 1779, to seek a home in the then wild regions of Kentucky. In the times of which am writing, deerskins formed an important article of trade. They were purchased of the hunters chiefly by a class of men called the Scotch merchants, by whom they were shipped to Scotland, where they went through a process of dressing that gave them the appearance of the finest kind of buff cloth. There were also in this country at the time, skin-dressers who prepared the deerskins in the same manner for use. The skins were neatly and even fancifully made up into garments, and worn by men of all classes. These useful and durable garments have long since been superseded, and with them have disappeared the mechanical arts of the skin-dresser and leather-breeches maker. The demand for deerskins induced certain men, called long-hunters, to 180 - Pioneer Biography. penetrate in their hunting excursions as far westward as the waters of the Kentucky and Licking rivers. These excursions gave them an opportunity of exploring the delightful country watered by those streams, and their description of it, on their return to the settlements in Virginia, induced many persons from Virginia and the Carolinas (some as early as 1776) to visit this newly-discovered region. These persons confirmed the accounts previously given by the hunters of the great fertility of the soil, the lofty canebrakes interspersed with natural groves of stately timber, consisting chiefly of the red and honey locust, black and white walnut, cherry, ash, and other species of timber. Among the timber there was a luxuriant growth of what was called wild rye and buffalo clover. The cane, rye, and clover afforded an ample supply of pasture at all seasons of the year, for the numerous herds of buffalo and other wild game which then ranged through that portion of the country. By these flattering reports an excitement prevailed in the settlements of Virginia somewhat similar to that which we have lately witnessed in relation to Oregon and California. In the fall of 1779, a considerable number of those pioneers removed from Virginia with their families, with the view of making settlements in Kentucky. In this undertaking a journey of some five hundred miles was to be performed, chiefly through an uninhabited country, along a way called the Wilderness trace, on which there Joel Collins - 181 was neither the habitation of man nor a military post, from Powel's Valley in Virginia to English's station in Kentucky. This station was on the waters of Dick's river, a branch of the Kentucky river, and afterward became better known by the name of " Crab Orchard." These enterprises were generally undertaken by men with families, voluntarily formed into small emigrating companies, without the authority of, or any aid from, the government. When they arrived at the place of their destination a suitable site was selected, and in building their cabins for the accommodation of their families, they were so arranged as to form a kind of fort for their protection and defense. These places were called stations, and generally received their names from, the leader of the party. The names of some of those stations were Boone's, English's, Logan's, Harrod's, Crow's, and Bowman's stations, on the south side of the Kentucky river; and on the north side were Lexington, Bryant's, Ruddle's, Martin's, McConnel's, Morgan's, Todd's, Stroud's, Hinkston's, and Holder's stations. In the month of October, 1779, Stephen Collins, with four of his brothers and a brother-in-law, each with their families, and also one brother without a family, who was an excellent hunter, constituted one of those emigrating parties. The horse, on those occasions, was compelled to carry on his back what, with much more ease and convenience to himself and owner, can now be conveyed by means of wagons, but the 182 - Pioneer Biography. latter could not be used on the trace at that time. In organizing and fitting out one of these emigrating parties, the first thing necessary to be done, was to apply to a " pack-saddle maker " (a mechanic, who with the artisan in deer leather has been superseded by the improvements of the age). The pack-saddles being procured, the horses were loaded with such articles of household furniture and utensils as were needful for the journey, and for making the necessary improvements in the new country to which they were going. The feather beds were snugly rolled up, each one by itself. Two of these were fastened together by ropes and placed lengthwise on the horse, one on each side; forming something like a cradle immediately over the animal's back, affording quite a convenient place in which to deposit the smaller children. Another mode of conveying the little ones was by swinging across a gentle pack-horse, two large and properly-constructed baskets, in each of which were placed a pair of children, of a size and weight to form a proper balance. In this way they passed safely and comfortably along. Some care was, however, necessary to guard the animals thus loaded from coming in contact with the nests of the yellow-jackets, which were numerous along the trace in the fall of the year. In occasionally coming in contact with those nests, the horse would sometimes relieve himself of a part or the whole of his load, in his exertions to get rid of these tormenting insects. Joel Collins - 183 Although Mr. Collins and his party had been contemplating and preparing for their emigration during the summer, for some cause, unknown to the writer, it was the month of October, 1779, before the party took up their line of march. This delay, together with the, early and severe winter of that year, as will appear hereafter, came near proving fatal to their enterprise. Their company, composed of five families, had with them some twenty or thirty horses, and about fifty head of cattle, with some cows which gave milk. After the melancholy sensations usually produced in the mind on taking leave of our former home and old friends and neighbors had in a measure subsided and worn off, Joel Collins states that, although then but seven years of age, he well recollects the activity and cheerfulness which were exhibited by both men and women in preparing to make an early start. The men engaged in gathering up and packing the horses ; the women in preparing breakfast and fixing up their little ones for the day's journey. On the march the cattle generally moved in front, and after being broken to the road (in driver's phrase) were easily driven by a couple of men or boys. Then followed the pack-horses in single file, in charge of the men on foot, carrying their rifles on their shoulders. The women and small children in the rear on horseback; except when, at times, the timid and tender mother 184 - Pioneer Biography. would be seen on foot walking and leading the horse that carried her small children. Here is a group for the pencil of the painter. The father driving before him the horses packed with his implements of husbandry, followed by the wife and mother leading the horse, across whose back are slung the baskets before mentioned, above the rims of which are seen the smiling faces of the little ones they contain. Fortunately for Mr. Collins and his party, the Indians were not troublesome at that time. This might have been owing to some treaty stipulation; or perhaps their attention was attracted by the war then going on between this country and Great Britain. Be this as it may, they this year permitted the emigrants to pass along this trace unmolested. But while the party thus escaped the calamities of war, they came near losing their lives by cold and starvation. When they had arrived near the middle of the wilderness, the weather became very rainy and unusually cold. Traveling was impeded by heavy rains which raised the creeks, and afterward by snow and severe frost. In the mean time the provisions they had brought with them from the settlements became exhausted. The horses and cattle were declining in flesh and strength; cane, the only food attainable for them at that season of the year, being scarce along the trace. A council was held, at which it was concluded to halt for a few days, in the vain hope Joel Collins - 185 that the weather would become more favorable, and in order to afford time for the men to lay in a supply of meat by hunting. In this, however, they were unsuccessful, the noise made in walking upon the frozen snow and leaves so alarmed the game that none could be taken. Some of the men, in their hunting excursions for game, had discovered a fine brake of cane, about four miles north of the trace, down a stream called Raccoon creek, to which place the encampment was removed the next day. By this time the party were on very short allowance, and the children were crying with hunger. The men, being unable to kill any game, were at length compelled to kill one or two of the cattle, although they had become very lean in flesh. This meat cooked in the best manner it could be, without salt, bread, or seasoning of any kind, was the only food the party had. In this manner they lived, and remained in their encampment some seven or eight weeks. A rain which froze as it fell had covered the leaves of the cane with a thick coat of ice, which rendered it so unwholesome for the cattle and horses that they began to die, and by the time that the weather became sufficiently moderate to travel, all the cattle and many of the horses were dead. The game becoming scarce near the camp, starvation was again likely to threaten the party. It was then determined to store away and leave until spring in some secure and secret place such heavy articles, as they were, in consequence of the loss of horses, 86 - Pioneer Biography. unable to take along with them. This being done, the encampment was broken up and they proceeded on their journey. As they were entirely out of provisions, two of the best hunters were dispatched in advance of the party a sufficient distance to allow them time to make a careful hunt on each side of the trace. On the afternoon of the first day one of the hunters hailed them from the top of a hill near the trace, informing them that he had killed a deer, and desired some one to come after it, as he was on the track of another. Mrs. Collins immediately started on a run up the hill, calling back to the men to strike and kindle a fire and she would bring the deer, being rejoiced at the prospect of having something for her starving children to eat. With the party was a lad—John Kersey—about fourteen years of age, an orphan whom Mr. Collins had taken to raise. With his assistance Mrs. Collins soon had the doe down the hill, and preparations made for a hasty meal. Many of the little children, who were crying because of excessive cold in their feet, were relieved by standing on the entrails of the deer, after the boy John had taken them out. By sticking pieces of the liver on the ends of small sharp sticks, and warming, or rather smoking it, as the fire began to blaze, and then eating it more than half raw, Joel said he well remembered that he and some of the other children were made very sick. Before sunset, the hunters brought in one or two more deer. Joel Collins - 187 The venison, though lean and blue, would still satisfy the demands of nature in the way of food, and was very acceptable to the party. In passing on the next day, the party came to a small fire by the wayside, by which lay a black man so near dead that he was speechless; he had been so badly frozen in his feet and legs that he was unable to travel, and was left in that condition by those with whom he was traveling. Beside him lay a few grains of parched corn and a piece of jerked venison. The party renewed his fire and left with him a portion of their provisions, such as they had. They understood from some horsemen who passed them a day or two afterward that the poor creature was dead. The party traveled on in this manner until they arrived at English's station, about the middle of February, 178o, where they obtained some relief, and then proceeded to Logan's station where they procured some dried buffalo beef, the first of the kind they had seen. They then passed on to a place near Dick's river, located by Colonel Bowman as a suitable site for a station. This gentleman had traveled with them some days in Powel's Valley, when they first set out. It was then agreed that they would settle together when they arrived in Kentucky. Here several cabins were speedily put up in the usual way, and thus Bowman's station was commenced. After the cabins were erected and the families provided in the best manner they could, and the horses that had 188 - Pioneer Biography. survived their journey had been somewhat recruited by the warm weather and spring vegetation, a part of the men returned to the wilderness for the purpose of bringing forward the articles that had been left behind at Raccoon creek. But when they arrived at the place of deposit all were gone. It was afterward ascertained that a band of thieves and tories during that winter (which was a very severe one, and long retained the name of the "hard winter") had made it their business to hunt up and plunder those deposits of their contents, as there were many such made by persons emigrating that season. This was a heavy loss, and for a time banished everything like cheerfulness from the countenances of the people of the station. However, as summer was approaching, warm clothing would not be so much needed, and the women, by patching up and mending the remaining worn and tattered garments of the family, could make them answer the purpose during the summer. One day in June, 1780, when old Mr. Collins and the boy John were engaged not far from the station, clearing a piece of ground in which to plant corn, their attention was attracted by the voice of some one calling to them from the woods in their rear. On looking they discovered a naked man, standing by a tree, who beckoned to them with his hands and said in English, " Come here." Fearful of a decoy, Mr. Collins directed John to run to the station, raise the alarm of " Indians," and bring Joel Collins - 189 him his rifle, while he would remain and watch the motions of the stranger. The men soon had their guns in their hands, and were running to the place pointed out by John. Lieutenant Bryant ordered the men to take trees in open order. The stranger, seeing the disposition taken by the men, and fearful of being shot, concealed himself behind a large tree and cried out at the top of his voice, " Don 't shoot; I am a white man." The lieutenant advanced alone and demanded, "Who are you?" The man replied in substance that the Indians had taken Ruddle's and Martin's stations, and that he alone had escaped. He begged that some clothes might be sent him to put on. Upon this, Lieutenant Bryant ventured up to the tree, and found the man's statement to be true. He had lost all his clothing but a stock, which he had worn around his neck. This he had suspended before him by a piece of hickory bark tied around his waist. He was soon furnished with clothes and taken into the station, where all the inhabitants, men, women, and children gathered around to see him and hear what he had to say. He stated that the day on which the station he lived in was taken, he was in the woods hunting for some cattle that had strayed off; that he heard the firing of cannon and small arms at the station which induced him to return. But on approaching the station he discovered that it was in the possession of the British and Indians. He then made his way for the south side of the Ken- 190 - Pioneer Biography. tucky river. Being but an indifferent swimmer he made a raft on which he attempted to cross the stream, but before he gained the other side his raft upset and his clothes were carried away by the stream, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he made out to save himself by scrambling to the shore. Ruddle's station was established in the year 1779, on the eastern bank of the South fork of Licking river, three miles below the junction of Hinkston's and Stoner's branches of that stream. Martin's station was about five miles higher up, on the same fork. Both were situated within the present limits of Bourbon county. The party of British and Indians who captured the station was commanded by Colonel Byrd. Mr. Collins said that Colonel Byrd was the son of a wealthy man who had resided in Virginia, with whom his father was well acquainted. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, he returned to England and procured for his son a commission in the British army. This expedition was fitted out in Canada, and was said to consist of six hundred men, including Indians and Canadians, with two pieces of artillery. The artillery and baggage were transported by water up the Maumee and St. Mary's rivers, thence by land to the head waters of the Great Miami river, and in large canoes down that stream to the mouth, then up the Ohio to the mouth of Licking river, and up that river to the forks Joel Collins - 191 where Colonel Byrd landed his artillery, stores and baggage and put up some huts to shelter them from the weather. Thence he marched by land a few miles to Ruddle's station, before which he appeared on the 22d day of June, 1780, at the head of his army, which had been augmented, on passing through the Indian country, to one thousand men. The summer of the year 1780 was exceedingly wet, and all the water courses were full. In consequence of this wet weather, which had continued for many days, the men at Ruddle's and Martin's stations, who were accustomed to be in the woods, had all come in, so that Colonel Byrd and his party (although they had been twelve days marching from the Ohio river to Ruddle's station) arrived within gun shot of the fort before they were discovered. The first information the people of the station received of the approach of an enemy was the report from a discharge of a field piece, which sent a six-pound ball over their heads. Byrd sent in a flag and demanded a surrender at discretion, to which demand Captain Ruddle said he would surrender only on certain conditions, one of which was, that the prisoners should be under protection of the British, and not suffered to be prisoners to the Indians. To these terms Colonel Byrd consented, and the gates were immediately opened to him. No sooner was this done, however, than the Indians rushed in and each seized the first person they could lay their hands on, and claimed 192 - Pioneer Biography. them as their own prisoner. In this way the members of each family were separated from each other, the husband from the wife and the parents from their children. The piercing screams of the children when torn from their mothers, the distracted cries of the mothers when forced from their tender offspring, are indescribable. Many of the children and those who were considered by the Indians unable to travel, were tomahawked on the spot. Captain Ruddle remonstrated with Colonel Byrd against this barbarous conduct of the Indians, but to no effect. He confessed that it was out of his power to restrain them, their number being so much greater than that of the troops over which he had control, that he himself was completely in their power. After the people were entirely stripped of all their properly, and the prisoners divided among their captors, the Indians proposed to Colonel Byrd .to attack Martin's station. It is said that Colonel Byrd was so affected by the conduct of the Indians to the prisoners already taken that he peremptorily refused, unless the chiefs would pledge themselves, on behalf of the Indians, that all the prisoners taken should be entirely under his control, and that the Indians should only be entitled to the plunder. Upon these propositions being agreed to by the chiefs, the army marched to Martin's station and took it without opposition. The Indians divided the spoil among themselves, most of the prisoners were Joel Collins - 193 carried to Detroit, whence many of the survivors returned after several years' detention.* The army now commenced their retreat to the forks of Licking, where they had left their boats, and with all possible dispatch got their artillery and military stores on board, put off and returned to the mouth of the Big Miami, where the Indians separated from Byrd and took with them the whole of the prisoners taken at Ruddle's station. The prisoners were loaded with plunder, and such of them as could not support the rapid march which the Indians made (among whom were necessarily most of the women and children (were quickly released from their misery by the tomahawk of their cruel foes. Among the prisoners was Captain * Some of them doubtless never did return, but remained either from choice or necessity with their captors. The following letter was published in the Kentucky Gazette, in 1822, forty-two years after Mrs. Lale and her two daughters were taken captives at this station: " Colchester, Upper Canada, August 7th, 1822. " MY DEAR SON : I was taken at Fort Licking commanded by Captain Ruddle, and was ransomed by Col. Magee, and brought into Upper Canada, near Amherstburgh (Fort Malden), where I now live, after having been sixteen years among the Indians. Your eldest sister is now living in Sandwich, but the youngest I could never hear of Now, my dear son, I would be very glad to see you once more before I die, which I do not think will be long, as I am in a very bad state of health, and have been this great while. I am married to Mr. Jacob Miracle, for whom you can inquire."  Your affectionate mother, " MARY MIRACLE. " TO PETER LALE, Kentucky." 21 194 - Pioneer Biography. John Hinkston, a brave man and an experienced hunter and woodsman. The second night after leaving the forks of Licking the Indians encamped near the river ; everything was very wet, in consequence of which it was very difficult to kindle a fire, and before one could be made it was quite dark. A guard was placed over the prisoners, and while a fire was being kindled, Hinkston, sprang from among them and was immediately out of sight. An alarm was instantly given, and the Indians ran in every direction, not being able to ascertain what course he had taken. Hinkston ran but a short distance, before he lay down by the side of a log under the dark shade of a large beech tree, where he remained until the stir occasioned by his escape had subsided, when he moved off as silently as possible. The night was already cloudy and very dark, so that he had no mark to steer by. After traveling some time toward Lexington, as he thought, he found himself close to the camp from which he had just before made his escape. In this dilemma he was obliged to tax his skill as a woodsman, to devise a method by which he should be enabled to 'steer his course, without light enough to see the moss on the trees, and without the aid of the sun, moon, or stars. Captain Hinkston ultimately adopted this expedient: He dipped his hand in the water (which then covered almost the whole country) and holding it upright above his head he instantly felt one side of his hand cold. He immediately knew that from that Joel Collins - 195 point the wind came. He therefore steered the residue of the night to the cold side of his hand, that being from the west he knew, and the course best suited to his purpose. After traveling for several hours, he sat down at the root of a tree and fell asleep. A few hours before day, there came on a very heavy dense fog so that a man could not be seen at twenty yards distance. This circumstance was of infinite advantage to Hinkston, for as soon as daylight appeared, the howling of wolves, the gobbling of turkeys, the bleating of fawns, the cry of owls and every other wild animal was heard in almost every direction. Hinkston was too well acquainted with the customs of the Indians not to know that it was Indians and not beasts or birds that made these sounds. He therefore avoided approaching the places where he heard them, and notwithstanding he was several times within a few yards of them, under cover of the fog he escaped and arrived safe at Lexington on the eighth day after Ruddle's station was taken, and brought them the first news of that event. At that time General George Rogers Clark, who had his headquarters at Fort Nelson, at the falls of the Ohio river, was invested with the command of the military force in the west. He was looked up to by the people of the settlement as their only hope. His counsel and advice were received as coming from an oracle. Some time in the summer of 178o, General Clark issued an order, commanding every man in Kentucky on the 196 - Pioneer Biography. militia roll, capable of bearing arms, to march forthwith to the mouth of Licking on the Ohio river where he would meet them on a certain day named. And if a sufficiently strong force were gathered he would advance upon the enemy in their own country, and if possible, recover the prisoners taken and otherwise chastise the Indians for their inhuman conduct. Taking up every man to make up this war party was a heavy draft, and operated particularly hard upon men having families. There were about the stations and throughout the country numbers of persons that were not encumbered with families, single horsemen on exploring tours, with a view of securing titles to land in that desirable region. Many of these in order to evade the service mounted their horses and returned to the old settlements, leaving the married men to form Clark's army. Those who had horses were required to take them along, in order to assist in packing provisions, which consisted only of buffalo beef and venison, dried or jerked, for on those occasions there was neither commissary to issue rations nor quartermaster to find camp equipage or furnish transportation. The use of the rifle among the wild game was their main means of support. But it may be inquired, what was to become of all the women and children while all the effective men were engaged in this enterprise? The game had been somewhat hunted out in the neighborhood of the stations on Joel Collins - 197 the south side of the Kentucky river. The men having to depart on a notice so short, that many of them, old Mr. Collins among the number, were unable to provide what was necessary to sustain their families in their absence. It was, however, at a season of the year when the earth was covered with a great variety of green herbage, which the rich soil of the country produced in abundance. Some of these, it is well known, make an agreeable salad or greens when cooked with meat and dressed in a proper manner. Mr. Collins states that during this time the support of the family consisted chiefly of young nettle tops, boiled alone in water without any seasoning whatever, not even salt. In this manner many of the families had to subsist until the campaign was over and the men returned. Among the first items of news received at the station from the army after its departure was that Lieutenant Bryant of the station was killed. This was a sad stroke. And Mr. Collins says he well remembers how his youthful sensibilities were affected at the wailings of the women and children, especially of the wife of the deceased, when the sad intelligence was communicated. This expedition under the command of General Clark, consisted of two regiments ; the one commanded by Colonel Benjamin Logan, which assembled at Bryant's spring, about eight miles from Lexington, and marched down the Licking river to the mouth ; the other from 198 - Pioneer Biography. Jefferson under the command of Colonel William Linn assembled at the falls and marched up the Ohio river to the mouth of Licking. As soon as it was decided that an expedition should be carried on against the Indians, General Clark ordered a number of small boats or skiffs to be built at Louisville, capable of carrying fifteen or twenty men each, in which the artillery, provisions, and military stores were transported from Louisville to the mouth of Licking. These vessels were under the direction of Colonel George Slaughter, who commanded about one hundred and fifty troops, raised by him in Virginia for the western service. In ascending the river it was necessary to keep the vessels close to the shore, some of them were on one side of the river and some on the other. It happened that while one of these skiffs was near the north side of the river, a party of Indians ran down to the water's edge, fired into the boat, and killed and wounded several of the men before assistance could be obtained from the other boats. The whole force when all assembled at the mouth of Licking river amounted .to nearly one thousand men. The army having crossed the Ohio river, to where the city of Cincinnati now stands, on the 2d of August, 178o, took up their line of march for the Indian towns. They had with them a mounted piece of ordnance (a six-pounder) for the transportation of which, a way through the forest had to be opened. On the 6th of August Joe Collins - 199 they reached Chillicothe,* an Indian town on the waters of the Little Miami river. They found the town abandoned by the Indians and still burning, having been set fire to that morning. The army then marched to Piqua, another Indian town on the north side of Mad river, where they arrived on the 8th of August, and had a pretty severe engagement with the Indians, whom they defeated, burned their town, and destroyed their growing corn. There is one circumstance connected with the expedition, which Mr. Collins says he often heard mentioned by his father, which I have not seen noticed in any history of the campaign, General Clark and his army remained on the ground two days. On the evening of the second day he called a council of his officers and submitted the question: "Will it be prudent for us to return by the same route that we came?" An almost unanimous vote was in the affirmative. The General dissented, but advised them all to think of it till morn- * This name signifies "the chief town" in the Shawanoese language, and being a general term was applied at various times to several of their towns in Ohio. The principal ones mentioned in early narratives are, 1st. The one named in the text, on the Little Miami river in Xenia township, Greene county, about three miles north of the present town of Xenia. It is sometimes mentioned under the name of Old Chillicothe or Oldtown. 2d. One on the site of the town of Frankfort in Concord township, Ross county ; this was also sometimes called Old-town and was twelve miles north-east of the 3d, which was on the site of the present city of Chillicothe in Scioto township, Ross county.