PIONEER BIOGRAPHY. SKETCHES OF THE Lives of some of the Early Settlers OF BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO. BY JAMES MCBRIDE, of Hamilton. Vol. II. CINCINNATI: ROBERT CLARKE & CO. 1871. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, BY ROBERT CLARKE & CO. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of Ohio. OHIO VALLEY PRESS, ROBERT CLARKE & CO. CINCINNATI. Ohio Valley Historical Series, NUMBER FOUR. McBRIDE'S Pioneer Biography. VOL. II. PREFATORY. IN issuing the concluding volume of these Biographical Sketches, we have little to add to what we prefaced to the first volume. A number of the sketches are of comparatively little importance, historically, containing as they do not much else than private family details ; and, while an apology may be due for admitting them into a Historical Series, yet, they have a certain value as records of some of the oldest pioneer families, which may sufficiently justify their publication. We are not without hope, too, that some Genealogical Society in this Ohio Valley may yet be grateful to us for preserving what we have been tempted to reject. So, trusting in this hope, and not on present appreciation, we give all the sketches which Mr. MC-BRIDE selected for publication, even though some of them are only of local and personal interest. In one case only—the sketch of CAPTAIN JOHN CLEVES SYMMES—have we deemed it proper to omit any considerable portion of Mr. MCBRIDE'S manuscript. He was a firm believer in the " Theory of Concentric Spheres," and most of his sketch was taken up with an argument in its defense. This we have thought entirely unnecessary at this day, and it has therefore vi - Prefatory. been omitted. The genealogy of the SYMMES family has been corrected with the assistance of Rev. FRANCIS M. SYMMES, of Lebanon, Indiana, and some details added. The account of the Captain's own family has been considerably extended with the aid of his son AMERICUS SYMMES. We desire to express our obligations also to Mr. JOHN W. ERWIN and Mr. THOMAS MILLIKIN, of Hamilton, for their ever-ready assistance in supplying dates, names, etc., left blank in the manuscript. CONTENTS.

PIONEER BIOGRAPHY. VIII. Robert McClellan.* WILLIAM, ROBERT and JOHN McCLELLAN were sons of a pioneer farmer, who, at the time of the Revolutionary War, lived in a part of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, which is now embraced in Franklin county, at the base of the Cove or North mountain, near where the town of Mercersburgh now is. Here the boys were schooled in all the arts of woodcraft and inured to all the hardships of frontier life. On reaching a suitable age—an early one, as backwoods boys are precocious in such matters—the boys obtained employment as pack-horse men. The settlement of the country on the Monongahela and in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh (a region known as the "Backwoods" of Pennsylvania), had been but recently commenced. There were no iron-works at that time *The family always wrote their name McClellan. Washington Irving in his Astoria erroneously gives it M'Lellan, and John McDonald, in his Biographical Sketches, McLelland. 8 - Pioneer Biography. west of the mountains, nor had the rich salt springs of the Kanawha and Muskingum been discovered. So that these indispensable articles, and all other stores for the use of the settlers and their guardians, the soldiers at the frontier forts, had to be transported from the towns east of the mountains, to which wagon roads had been made, on pack-horses. Each pack-horse had a pack-saddle, on which the load was lashed with a rope. Two men could manage from ten to fifteen horses, each carrying about two hundred pounds weight, by tying the horses in single file, one man taking charge of the leader and directing the way, the other following with the last and keeping an eye on the proper adjustment of the loads, and urging on any that appeared to lag. In this manner all their merchandise was transported along the narrow, winding paths, through the rocky mountain defiles. All the horses were provided with bells, which, during the day when on the route, were muffled with grass or leaves, except the leader. At night all the bells were unmuffled, hopples made of hickory withs were put on the horses, and they were turned loose into the woods to supplement their scanty supper with what pasturage they could find. In the morning they could easily be found, the sound of the bells indicating their whereabouts. They seldom, however, strayed far from the camp-fires. In this occupation the McClellan boys were engaged for several years after the Revolutionary War. Robert McClellan - 9 In 1790, Robert's restless disposition led him to seek adventures and more congenial ocupation farther west. His personal prowess and skill in woodcraft soon found such occupation for him. He entered the service in the army in the capacity of a spy or ranger at Fort Gower, a stockade fort which had been erected by Governor Dunmore, in 1774, just above the mouth of the Hockhocking, on the Ohio, at that time occupied by troops under General Josiah Harmar. One of his adventures at this time is given by Rev. James B. Finley, in his Autobiography, as related by the venerable General John Sanderson, of Lancaster. We give it in his own language, in full, as a fair specimen of spy-life : As early as the year 1790, the block-house and stockade above the mouth of the Hockhocking river was a frontier post for the hardy pioneers of the North-Western Territory. There nature was in her undisturbed livery of dark and thick forests, interspersed with green and flowing prairies. Then the forest had not heard the sound of the woodman's ax, nor had the plow of the husbandman opened the bosom of the earth. Then the beautiful prairies waved their golden bloom to the God of nature ; and among the most luxuriant of these were those which lay along the Hockhocking valley, and especially that portion of it on which the town of Lancaster now stands. This place, for its beauty, its richness of soil, and picturesque scenery, was selected as a location for an Indian village. This afforded a suitable place for the gambols of the Indian sportsman, as well as a central spot for concentrating the Indian warriors. 10 - Pioneer Biography. Here the tribes of the west and north met to counsel, and from this spot led forth the war-path in different directions. Upon one of these occasions, when the war spirit moved mightily among those sons of nature, and the tomahawk leaped in its scabbard, and the spirits of their friends, who had died on the field of battle, visited the warrior in his night visions and called loudly for revenge, it was ascertained at the garrison above the mouth of the Hockhocking river, that the Indians were gathering in great numbers for the purpose of striking a blow on some post of the frontiers. To meet this crisis, two of the most skilled and indefatigable spies were dispatched to watch their movements and report. White and McClellan, two spirits that never quailed at danger, and as unconquerable as the Lybian lion, in the month of October, and on one of those balmy days of Indian summer, took leave of their fellows and moved on through the thick plum and hazel bushes with the noiseless tread of the panther, armed with their unerring and trusty rifles. They continued their march, skirting the prairies, till they reached that most remarkable prominence, now known by the name of Mount Pleasant, the western termination of which is a perpendicular cliff of rocks of some hundreds feet high, and whose summit, from a western view, towers to the clouds and overlooks the vast plain below. When this point was gained, our hardy spies held a position from which they could see every movement of the Indians below in the valley. Every day added a new accession of warriors to the company. They witnessed their exercises of horse-racing, running foot-races, jumping, throwing the tomahawk, and dancing—the old sachems looking on with their Indian indifference, the squaws engaged in their usual drudgery, and the children in their playful gambols. The arrival of a new war-party was greeted with terrible shouts, Robert McClellan - 11 which, striking the mural face of Mount Pleasant, were driven back in the various indentations of the surrounding hills, producing reverberations and echoes as if ten thousand fiends were gathered at a universal levee. Such yells would have struck terror to the hearts of those unaccustomed to Indian revelry. To our spies this was but martial music—strains which waked their watchfulness, and newly strung their veteran courage. From their early youth they had been always on the frontier, and were well practiced in all the subtility, craft, and cunning of Indian warfare, as well as the ferocity and bloodthirsty nature of these savage warriors. They were, therefore, not likely to be insnared by their cunning, nor without a desperate conflict to fall victims to their scalping-knifes or tomahawks. On several occasions, small parties left the prairie and ascended the mount from the eastern side. On these occasions the spies would hide in the deep fissures of the rocks on the west, and again leave their hiding-places when their uninvited and unwelcome visitors had disappeared. For food they depended on jerked venison and corn bread, with which their knapsacks were well stored. They dare not kindle a fire, and the report of one of their rifles would bring upon them the entire force of the Indians. For drink they depended on some rain-water which still stood in the hollows of some of the rocks; but in a short time this store was exhausted, and McClellan and White must abandon their enterprise or find a new supply. To accomplish this most hazardous enterprise, McClellan, being the oldest, resolved to make the attempt ; and with his trusty rifle in his hand and their two canteens strung across his shoulders, he cautiously descended, by a circuitous route, to the prairie, skirting the hills on the north, and under covert of the hazel thickets he reached the 12 - Pioneer Biography. river, and turning a bold point of a hill, he found a beautiful spring within a few feet of the river, now known by the name of the Cold Spring, on the farm of D. Talmadge, Esq. He filled his canteens and returned in safety to his watchful companion. It was now determined to have a fresh supply of water every day, and this duty was performed alternately. On one of these occasions, after White had filled his canteens, he sat a few minutes watching the limpid element as it came gurgling out of the bosom of the earth, when the light sound of footsteps caught his practiced ear, and upon turning round he saw two squaws within a few feet of him. Upon turning the jut of the hill, the eldest squaw gave one of those far-reaching whoops peculiar to Indians. White at once comprehended his perilous situation. If the alarm should reach the camps or town, he and his companion must inevitably perish. Self-preservation compelled him to inflict a noiseless death on the squaws, and in such a manner as, if possible, to leave no trace behind. Ever rapid in thought and prompt in action, he sprang upon his victims with the rapidity and power of the lion, and grasping the throat of each sprang into the river. He thrust the head of the eldest under the water. While making strong efforts to submerge the younger, who, however, powerfully resisted him, and during the short struggle with this young athlete, to his astonishment she addressed him in his own language, though in almost inarticulate sounds. Releasing his hold she informed him that she had been a prisoner for ten years, and was taken from below Wheeling, and that the Indians had killed all the family, and that her brother and herself were taken prisoners, but he succeeded on the second night in making his escape. During this narrative White had drowned the elder squaw, and had let her float off with the current, where it would not propably be found out Robert McClellan - 13 soon. He now directed the girl to follow him, and with his usual speed and energy pushed for the mount. They had scarcely gone half way when they heard the alarm cry some quarter of a mile down the stream. It was supposed some party of Indians, returning from hunting, struck the river just as the body of the squaw floated past. White and the girl succeeded in reaching the mount, where McClellan had been no indifferent spectator to the sudden commotion among the Indians. The prairie parties of warriors were seen immediately to strike off in every direction, and White and the girl had scarcely arrived before a party of some twenty warriors had reached the eastern acclivity of the mount, and were cautiously and carefully keeping under cover. Soon the spies saw their swarthy foes as they glided from tree to tree, and rock to rock, till their position was surrounded, except on the west perpendicular side, and all hope of escape was cut off. In this perilous condition, nothing was left but to sell their lives as dear as possible, and this they resolved to do, and advised the girl to escape to the Indians and tell them she had been taken prisoner. She said : " No ! death to me, in the presence of my own people, is a thousand times sweeter than captivity and slavery. Furnish me with a gun, and I will show you I can fight as well as die. This place I leave not. Here my bones shall lie bleaching with yours, and should either of you escape you will carry the tidings of my death to my few relations." Remonstrance proved fruitless. The two spies quickly matured their plan of defense, and vigorously commenced the attack from the front, where, from the very narrow backbone of the mount, the savages had to advance in single file, and without any covert. Beyond this neck the warriors availed themselves of the rocks and trees in advancing, but in passing from one to the other they must be 14 - Pioneer Biography. exposed for a short time, and a moment's exposure of their swarthy forms was enough for the unerring rifles of the spies. The Indians being entirely ignorant of how many were in ambuscade, made them the more cautious how they advanced. After bravely maintaining the fight in front and keeping the enemy in check, they discovered a new danger threatening them. The arch foe now made evident preparations to attack them on the flank, which could be most successfully done by reaching an isolated rock lying in one of the ravines on the southern hillside. This rock once gained by the Indians, they could bring the spies under point-blank shot of the rifle without the possibility of escape. Our brave spies saw the hoplessness of their situation, which nothing could avert but a brave companion and an unerring shot. These they had not; but the brave never despair. With this impending fate resting upon them, they continued calm and calculating, and as unwearied as the strongest desire of life and the resistance of a numerous foe could produce. Soon McClellan saw a tall and swarthy figure preparing to spring from a covert so near to the fatal rock that a bound or two would reach it, and all hope of life then was gone. He felt that all depended on one single advantageous shot; and although but an inch or two of the warrior's body was exposed, and that at the distance of eighty or a hundred yards, he resolved to risk all, coolly raised his rifle to his face, and shading the sight with his hand, he drew a bead so sure that he felt conscious it would do the deed. He touched the trigger with his finger ; the hammer came down, but in place of striking fire, it broke his flint into many pieces ; and although he felt that the Indian must reach the rock before he could adjust another flint, he proceeded to the task with the utmost composure. Casting his eye toward the fearful point, suddenly he saw Robert McClellan - 15 the warrior stretching every muscle for the leap ; and with the agility of the panther he made the spring, but instead of reaching the rock, he gave a most hideous yell, and his dark body fell and rolled down the steep into the valley below. He had evidently received a death shot from some unknown hand. A hundred voices re-echoed, from below, the terrible shout. It was evident that they had lost a favorite warrior as well as being disappointed, for a time, of the most important movement. A very few minutes proved that the advantage gained would be of short duration ; for already the spies caught a glimpse of a tall, swarthy warrior cautiously advancing to the covert so recently occupied by his fellow-companion. Now, too, the attack in front was renewed with increased fury, so as to require the incessant fire of both spies to prevent the Indians from gaining the eminence ; and in a short time McClellan saw a warrior making preparations to leap to the fatal rock. The leap was made, and the Indian turning a somersault, his corpse rolled down the hill toward his former companion. Again an unknown agent had interposed in their behalf. This second sacrifice cast dismay into the ranks of the assailants, and just as the sun was disappearing behind the western hills the foe withdrew for a short distance to devise some new mode of attack. This respite came most seasonable to our spies, who had kept their ground and bravely maintained the unequal fight from nearly the middle of the day. Now, for the first time, was the girl missing ; and the spies thought that through terror she had escaped to her former captors, or that she had been killed during the fight ; but they were not long left to conjecture. The girl was seen emerging from behind a rock and coming to them with a rifle in her hand. During the heat of the fight she saw a warrior fall who had 16 - Pioneer Biography. advanced some distance before the rest, and while some of them changed their position she resolved at once, live or die, to possess herself of his gun and ammunition ; and crouching down beneath the underbrush, she crawled to the place and succeeded in her enterprise. Her keen and watchful eye had early noticed the fatal rock, and hers was the mysterious hand by which the two warriors fell ; the last being the most intrepid and bloodthirsty of the Shawnee tribe, and the leader of the company which killed her mother and sister, and took her and her brother prisoners. Now, in the west, arose dark clouds, which soon overspread the whole heavens, and the elements were rent with the peals of thunder. Darkness, deep and gloomy, shrouded the whole heavens ; this darkness greatly embarrassed the spies in their contemplated night escape, supposing that they might readily lose their way, and accidentally fall on their enemy ; but a short consultation decided the plan ; it was agreed that the girl should go foremost, from her intimate knowledge of the localities, and another advantage might be gained in case they should fall in with any of the parties or outposts. From her knowledge of their language, she might deceive the sentinels, as the sequel proved ; for scarcely had they descended a hundred yards, when a low whist from the girl warned them of their danger. The spies sunk silently to the ground, where, by previous engagement, they were to remain till the signal was given by the girl to move on. Her absence, for the space of a quarter of an hour, began to excite the most serious apprehensions. Again she appeared, and told them she had succeeded in removing two sentinels to a short distance, who were directly in their route. The descent was noiselessly resumed, and the spies followed their intrepid leader for a half mile in the most Robert McClellan - 17 profound silence, when the barking of a dog at a short distance apprised them of new danger. The almost simultaneous click of the spies' rifles was heard by the girl, who stated that they were now in the midst of the Indian camps, and their lives now depended on the most profound silence, and implicitly following her footsteps. A moment afterward the girl was accosted by a squaw from an opening in her wigwam ; she replied in the Indian language, and, without stopping, still pressed forward. In a short time she stopped, and assured the spies that the village was now cleared, and that they had passed the greatest danger. She knew that every leading pass was guarded safely by the Indians, and at once resolved to adopt the bold adventure of passing through the center of the village, as the least hazardous, and the sequel proved the correctness of her judgment. They now steered a course for the Ohio river, and, after three days' travel, arrived safe at the block-house. Their escape and adventure prevented the Indians from their contemplated attack ; and the rescued girl proved to be the sister of the intrepid Corneal Washburn, celebrated in the history of Indian warfare, and as the renowned spy of Captain Simon Kenton's bloody Kentuckians. The following year, 1791, McClellan descended the Ohio to Fort Washington at Cincinnati. We should rather say Cincinnati at Fort Washington, for at that time the fort was larger and more important than the village. In the spring of 1792, he and his brother William first came to Hamilton, and engaged in the commissary department as pack-horse masters, in transporting provisions and stores from Fort Washington to the garrisons in advance. 18 - Pioneer Biography. Captain Robert Benham had command of this department, and was called Pack-horse-master General. He was assisted by John Sutherland, William McClellan, and others, as subordinate captains, each having the care and management of forty horses and the men who had immediate charge of them. This branch of the service was arduous and dangerous. They were often attacked by the Indians, the men killed and captured, and the supplies plundered. For their protection they were generally furnished with a military escort. William McClellan continued in this service during the whole of General Wayne's campaign. Robert's scouting propensities soon obtained for him an appointment among the spies or rangers attached to the army. He was an extraordinarily active man on foot. Many marvelous stories are related of his athletic exploits. While at Fort Hamilton he would frequently leap over the tallest horse without apparent- exertion. In the town of Lexington, Kentucky, when passing along as narrow sidewalk with the late Matthew Heuston, a yoke of large oxen happened to be drawn up on the sidewalk, instead of walking round them as Colonel Heuston did, he, without hesitation, leaped over both at a bound. When with the army at Greenville, at a trial of feats of strength among the soldiers and teamsters, he leaped over a wagon with a covered top, a hight of eight feet and a half. So we might go on indefinitely relating his exploits as told by his companions ; but the above Robert McClellan - 19 reported to me by eye-witnesses are enough to show his extraordinary strength and agility. His exploits and adventures while acting as spy in Wayne's army have been so well told by John McDonald in his sketch of the life of Captain William Wells, that we can do no better than give his statement, which is as follows: General Wayne had a bold, vigilant, and dexterous enemy to contend with. It became indispensable for him to use the utmost caution in his movements, to guard against surprise. To secure his army against the possibility of being ambuscaded, he employed a number of the best woodsmen the frontier afforded, to act as spies or rangers. Captain Ephraim Kibby, one of the first settlers at Columbia, eight miles above Cincinnati, who had distinguished himself as a bold and intrepid soldier, in defending that infant settlement, commanded the principal part of the spies. The writer of this article, and his brother Thomas, were attached to Captain Kibby's company of rangers. This will account for the author's intimate knowledge of the subject of which he is giving a relation. A very effective division of the spies was commanded by Captain William Wells. Captain Wells had been taken prisoner by the Indians when quite a youth ; he grew to manhood with them, and consequently was well acquainted with all their wiles and stratagems. From causes not now remembered, about eighteen months previous to the time of which I am writing, he left the Indians and returned to his relatives and friends in civilized life. Being raised by the Indians, well acquainted with the country which was about to be the theater of action, talking several of their languages 20 - Pioneer Biography. fluently, and, withal, desperately brave, such a soldier was a real, effective acquisition to the army. Captain Wells was the same gentleman named by the Rev. O. M. Spencer, in the narrative of his capture by the Indians, and release from captivity. It was to Captain Wells that Mr.'Spencer was primarily indebted for his liberty. (See Spencer's Narrative, page 105.) I am particular in describing this corps of the army, as they performed more real service than any other. Attached to Captain Wells' command were the following men: Robert McClellan (whose name has been since immortalized by the graphic pen of 'Washington Irving, in his "Astoria") was one of the most athletic and active men on foot that has appeared on this globe. On the grand parade at Fort Greenville, where the ground was very little inclined, to show his activity, he leaped over a road-wagon with the cover stretched over ; the wagon and bows were eight and a half feet high. Next was Henry Miller. He and a younger brother named Christopher had been made captives by the Indians when young, and adopted into an Indian family. Henry Miller lived with them till he was about twenty-four years of age; and, although he had adopted all their manners and customs, he, at that age, began to think of returning to his relatives among the whites. The longer he reflected on the subject the stronger his resolution grew to make an attempt to leave the Indians. He communicated his intention to his brother Christopher, and used every reason he was capable of, to induce his brother to accompany him in his flight. All his arguments were ineffectual. Christopher was young when made captive—he was now a good hunter, an expert woodsman, and, in the full sense of the word, a free and independent Indian. Henry Miller set off alone through the woods, and arrived safe among his friends in Ken- Robert McClellan - 21 tucky. Captain Wells was well acquainted with Miller during his captivity, and knew that he possessed that firm intrepidity which would render him a valuable companion in time of need. To these were added a Mr. Hickman and Mr. Thorp, who were men of tried worth in Indian warfare. Captain Wells and his four companions were confidential and privileged gentlemen in camp, who were only called upon to do duty upon very particular and interesting occasions. They were permitted a carte blanche among the horses of the dragoons, and when upon duty went well mounted ; whilst the spies commanded by Captain Kibby went on foot, and were kept constantly on the alert, scouring the country in every direction. The headquarters of the army being at Fort Greenville, in the month of June, 1794, General Wayne dispatched Captain Wells and his company, with orders to bring into camp an Indian as a prisoner, in order that he could interrogate him as to the future intentions of the enemy. Captain Wells proceeded with cautious steps through the Indian country. He crossed the river St. Mary, and thence to the river Auglaize, without meeting any straggling party of Indians. In passing up the Auglaize they discovered a smoke ; they then dismounted, tied their horses, and proceeded cautiously to reconnoiter the enemy. They found three Indians camped on a high, open piece of ground, clear of brush or any underwood. As it was open woods, they found it would be difficult to approach the camp without being discovered. Whilst they were reconnoitering, they saw not very distant from the camp, a tree which had lately fallen. They returned and went round the camp so as to get the top of the fallen tree between them and the Indians. The tree-top being full of leaves would serve as a shelter to screen them from observation. They went forward upon their hands 22 - Pioneer Biography. and knees, with the noiseless movements of the cat, till they reached the tree-top. They were now within seventy or eighty yards of the camp. The Indians were sitting or standing about the fire, roasting their venison, laughing and making other merry antics, little dreaming that death was about stealing a march upon them. Arrived at the fallen tree their purpose of attack was soon settled ; they determined to kill two of the enemy and make the third prisoner. McClellan, who, it will be remembered, was almost as swift on foot as a deer of the forest, was to catch the Indian, whilst to Wells and Miller was confided the duty of shooting the other two. One of them was to shoot the one on the right, the other the one on the left. Their rifles were in prime order, the muzzles of their guns were placed on the log of the fallen tree, the sights were aimed for the Indians' hearts —whiz went the balls, and both Indians fell. Before the smoke of the burnt powder had risen six feet, McClellan was running at full stretch, with tomahawk in hand, for the Indian. The Indian bounded off at the top of his speed, and made down the river ; but by continuing in that direction he discovered that McClellan would head him. He turned his course and made for the river. The river here had a bluff bank about twenty feet high. When he came to the bank he sprang down into the river, the bottom of which was a soft mud, into which he sunk to the middle. While he was endeavoring to extricate himself out of the mud, McClellan came to the top of the high bank, and, without hesitation, sprang upon him as he was wallowing in the mire. The Indian drew his knife—McClellan raised his tomahawk—told him to throw down his knife, or he would kill him instantly.. He threw down his knife, and surrendered without any further effort at resistance. By the time the scuffle had ceased in the mire, Wells and his Robert McClellan - 23 companions came to the bank, and discovered McClellan and the Indian quietly sticking in the mire. As their prisoner was now secure, they did not think it prudent to take the fearful leap the others had done. They selected a place where the bank was less precipitous, went down and dragged the captive out of the mud and tied him. He was very sulky, and refused to speak either Indian or English. Some of the party went back for their horses, whilst others washed the mud and paint from the prisoner. When washed, he turned out to be a white man, but still refused to speak or give any account of himself. The party scalped the two Indians whom they had shot, and then set off with their prisoner for headquarters. Whilst on their return to Fort Greenville, Henry Miller began to admit the idea that it was possible their prisoner was his brother Christopher, whom he had left with the Indians some years previous. Under this impression he rode alongside of him and called him by his Indian name. At the sound of his name he started, and stared round, and eagerly inquired how he came to know his name. The mystery was soon explained—their prisoner was indeed Christopher Miller ! A mysterious providence appeared to have placed Christopher Miller in a situation in the camp by which his life was preserved. Had he been standing on the right or left he would inevitably have been killed. But that fate which appears to have doomed the Indian race to extinction permitted the white man to live, whilst the Indians were permitted to meet that " fate they can not shun." Captain Wells arrived safely with their prisoner at Fort Greenville. He was placed in the guard house, where General Wayne frequently interrogated him as to what he knew of the future intentions of the Indians. Captain Wells and Henry Miller were almost constantly with Christopher in the guard 24 - Pioneer Biography. house, urging him to leave off the thought of living longer with the Indians, and to join his relatives among the whites. Christopher, for some time, was reserved and sulky, but at length became more cheerful, and agreed, if they would release him from confinement, that he would remain with the whites. Captain Wells and Henry Miller solicited General Wayne for Christopher's liberty. General Wayne could scarcely deny such pleaders any request they could make, and, without hesitation, ordered Christopher Miller to be set at liberty, remarking that should he deceive them and return to the enemy they would be but one the stronger. Christopher was set at liberty, and appeared pleased with his change of situation. He was mounted on a fine horse, and otherwise well equipped for war. He joined the company with Captain Wells and his brother, and fought bravely against the Indians during the continuance of the war. He was true to his word, and upon every occasion proved himself an in• trepid and daring soldier. As soon as Captain Wells and company had rested themselves and recruited their horses, they were anxious for another bout with the red men. Time, without action, was irksome to such stirring spirits. Early in July they left Greenville, their company was then strengthened by the addition of Christopher Miller, their orders were to bring in prisoners. They pushed through the country, always dressed and painted in Indian style ; they passed on, crossing the river St. Mary, and then through the country near to the river Auglaize, where they met a single Indian, and called to him to surrender. This man, notwithstanding that the whites were six against one, refused to surrender. He leveled his rifle, and, as the whites were approaching him on horseback, he fired, but missed his mark, and then took to his heels to effect his escape. The undergrowth of brush Robert McClellan - 25 was so very thick that he gained upon his pursuers. McClellan and Christopher Miller dismounted, and McClellan soon overhauled him. The Indian, finding himself overtaken by his pursuers, turned round and made a blow at McClellan with his rifle, which was parried. As McClellan's intention was not to kill, he kept him at bay till Christopher Miller came up, when they closed in upon him and made him prisoner without receiving any injury. They turned about for headquarters, and arrived safely at Fort Greenville. Their prisoner was reputed to be a Potawotamie chief, whose courage and prowess was scarcely equaled. As Christopher Miller had performed his part on this occasion to the entire satisfaction of the brave spirits with whom he acted, he had, as he merited, their entire confidence. It is not my intention to give a detailed account of the various actions performed by the spies attached to General Wayne's army, although it would be a narrative most interesting to *Western readers. I have selected only a few of the acts performed by Captain Wells and his enterprising followers, to show what kind of men they were.. History, in no age of the world, furnishes so many instances of repeated acts of bravery as were performed by the frontier men of Western Pennsylvania, Western Virginia, and Kentucky ; yet, these acts of apparent desperation were so frequently repeated by numbers, that they were scarcely noticed at the time as being any other than the common occurrences of the day. I have no doubt that, during General Wayne's campaign, Captain Wells and the few men he commanded, brought in not less than twenty prisoners, and killed more than an equal number. Desperate as they were in combat, that bravery was only a part of their merit, is demonstrated by the following circumstance : On one of Captain Wells' peregrinations through the Indian 26 - Pioneer Biography. country, as he came to the bank of the river St. Mary, he discovered a family of Indians coming up the river in a canoe. He dismounted, and concealed his men near the bank of the river, whilst he went himself to the bank, in open view, and called to the Indians to come over. As he was dressed in Indian style, and spoke to them in their own language, the Indians, not expecting an enemy in that part of the country, without any suspicion of danger, went across the river. The moment the canoe struck the shore Wells heard the cocks of his comrades' rifles cry, "nick, nick," as they prepared to shoot the Indians ; but who should be in the canoe but his Indian father and mother, with their children! As his comrades were coming forward with their rifles cocked, ready to pour in the deadly storm upon the devoted Indians, Wells called to them to hold their hands and desist. He then informed them who those Indians were, and solemnly declared, that the man who would attempt to injure one of them, would receive a ball in his head. He said to his men, that " that family had fed him when he was hungry, clothed him when he was naked, and kindly nursed him when sick ; and in every respect were as kind and affectionate to him as they were to their own children." This short, pathetic speech, found its way to the sympathetic hearts of his leather-hunting-shirt comrades. Although they would have made but a shabby appearance on being introduced to a fashionable tea-party, or into a splendid hall-room, amongst polished grandees, or into a ceremonious levee, to pass through unmeaning becks, bows, and courtesies—the present was a scene of nature, and gratitude the motive ; they all, at once, entered into their leader's feelings. I never new a truly brave man, who could hold back the tear of sympathy at the joy, Robert McClellan - 27 grief, or sorrow of his fellow-man: it is the timid coward who is cruel when he has the advantage. Those hardy soldiers approved of the motives of Captain Wells' lenity to the enemy. They threw down their rifles and tomahawks, went to the canoe, and shook hands with the trembling Indians in the most friendly manner. Captain Wells assured them they had nothing to fear from him ; and after talking with them to dispel their fears, he said, " that General Wayne was approaching with an overwhelming force ; that the best thing the Indians could do was to make peace ; that the white men did not wish to continue the war." He urged his Indian father for the future to keep out of the reach of danger. He then bade them farewell: they appeared grateful for his clemency. They then pushed off their canoe, and went down the river as fast as they could propel her. Captain Wells and his comrades, though perfect desperadoes in fight, upon this occasion proved they largely possessed that real gratitude and benevolence of heart, which does honor to human kind. Early in the month of August, when the main army had arrived at the place subsequently designated as Fort Defiance, General Wayne wished to be informed of the intentions of the enemy. For this purpose, Captain Wells was again dispatched to bring in another prisoner. The distance from Fort Defiance to the British fort, at the mouth of the Maumee river, was only forty-five miles, and he would not have to travel far before he would find Indians. As his object was to bring in a prisoner, it became necessary for him to keep out of the way of large parties, and endeavor to fall in with some stragglers, who might be easily subdued and captured. They went cautiously down the river Maumee, till they came 28 - Pioneer Biography. opposite the site on which Fort Meigs was erected by General Harrison, in 1813. This was two miles above the British fort, then called Fort Campbell. On the west bank of the Maumee was an Indian village. 'Wells and his party rode into the village, as if they had just come from the British fort. Being dressed and painted in complete Indian style, they rode through the village, occasionally stopping and talking to the Indians in their own language. No suspicion of who they were was excited, the enemy believing them to be Indians from a distance, coming to take a part in the battle which they all knew was shortly to be fought. After they had passed the village some distance, they fell in with an Indian man and woman on horseback, who were returning to the town from hunting. This man and woman were made captives without resistance. They then set off for Fort Defiance. As they were rapidly proceeding up the Maumee river, a little after dark, they came near a large encampment of Indians, who were merrily amusing themselves around their camp-fires. Their prisoners were ordered to be silent, under pain of instant death. They went round the camp with their prisoners, till they got about half a mile above it, where they halted to consult on their future operations. After consultation, they concluded to gag and tie their prisoners, and ride back to the Indian camp, and give them a rally, in which each should kill his Indiana They deliberately got down, gaged and fastened their prisoners to trees, rode boldly into the Indian encampment, and halted, with their rifles lying across the pummels of their saddles. They inquired when last they had heard of General Wayne, and the movements of his army ; how soon, and where it was expected the battle would be fought. The Indians who were standing around Wells and his desperadoes, were very communicative, answering Robert McClellan - 29 all their interrogatories without suspecting any deceit in their visitors. At length, an Indian, who was sitting some distance from them, said, in an undertone, in another tongue, to some who were near him, that he suspected that these strangers had some mischief in their heads. Wells overheard what he said, and immediately gave the preconcerted signal, and each fired his rifle into the body of an Indian, at not more than six feet distance. The Indian who had suspected them, the moment he made the remark, and a number of others, rose up with their rifles in their hands, but not before Wells and his party had each shot an Indian. As soon as *Wells and his party fired, they put spurs to their horses, laying with their breasts on the horses' necks, so as to lessen the mark for the enemy to fire at. They had not got out of the light of the camp-fire, before the Indians shot at them. As McClellan lay close on his horse's neck, he was shot, the ball passing under his shoulder-blade, and coming out at the top of his shoulder. Captain Wells was shot through the arm on which he carried his rifle; the arm was broken; and his trusty rifle fell. The rest of the party and their party received no injury.* After having performed this act of military supererogation, they rode at full speed to where their captives were confined, *Mr. McDonald is mistaken here. The party who went out on this occasion were Captain Wells, McClellan, May and Mahaffy. On the retreat, May's horse slipped on a smooth rock in crossing the river, and fell ; before he could recover himself, the Indians came upon and took him prisoner. They knew him well, as he had before been a prisoner among them, but had escaped. They took him to the British fort, and the day after their arrival tied him to a burr-oak at the edge of the clearing, made a mark of his breast, and riddled his body with bullets—thus ended poor May. 30 - Pioneer Biography. mounted them on horses, and set off for Fort Defiance. Captain Wells and McClellan were severely wounded ; and to Fort Defiance, a distance of about thirty miles, they had to travel, before they could rest or receive the aid of a surgeon. As their march would be slow and painful, one of the party was dispatched at full speed to Fort Defiance, for a guard and a surgeon. As soon as Captain Wells' messenger arrived at Fort Defiance, with the tidings of the wounds and perilous situation of these heroic and faithful spies, very great sympathy was manifested in the minds of all. General Wayne's feeling for the suffering soldier was at all times quick and sensitive ; we can then imagine how intense was his solicitude, when informed of the sufferings and perils of his confidential and chosen band. Without a moment's delay, he dispatched a surgeon, and a company of the swiftest dragoons, to meet, assist, and guard these brave fellows to headquarters. Suffice it to say, they arrived safely in camp, and the wounded recovered in due course of time. As the battle was fought, and a brilliant victory won, a few days after this affair took place, Captain Wells and his daring comrades, were not engaged in any further acts of hostility, till the war with the Indians was auspiciously concluded by a lasting treaty of peace. This little band of spies performed more real service during the campaign than any other corps of equal numbers. They brought in at different times not less than twenty prisoners, and killed more than their own number, with the loss of but one man.* Robert McClellan remained with the army at Green- *See Appendix, Captain William Wells. Robert McClellan - 31 ville till after General Wayne's treaty with the Indians, in August, 1794, which terminated the Indian war. His brother William married about this time, and opened a house of entertainment in the building at Fort Hamilton, which had been erected by General Wilkinson for the accommodation of the officers of the garrison. The house stood on Main street, about the west end of the present market-house. After the disbanding of the army, Robert McClellan made his home with his brother at Hamilton, and remained with him some years, spending most of his time in hunting, remaining in the woods sometimes days at a time. In one of his excursions he killed an elk, and brought his hide and part of the meat home; this was probably the last elk killed in the Miami country. In the summer of 1799, he went to New Orleans, where he was attacked with yellow fever, but recovered after a lingering illness. On the 28th of August, he sailed for Baltimore, where he arrived on the 12th of October, after having encountered so severe a storm that they were obliged to run into Charleston and remain there twelve days for repairs. His object in going east was to obtain a pension for his services and wounds in Wayne's campaign. He went to Philadelphia, but found General Wilkinson from whom he expected to obtain the necessary certificate, had just gone to New York. He followed him and 32 - Pioneer Biography. obtaining the proper papers, returned to Philadelphia, presented them to the Secretary of War, who sent him to Dr. Shippen, the examining surgeon. He reported that McClellan was entitled to only one-third pension, which, for his rank, lieutenant, was only £26 Pennsylvania currency a year. McClellan who was better acquainted with fighting Indians than with the government mode of transacting business, was greatly exasperated at this light appreciation of his services, used some very strong and not. very complimentary language to the surgeon and clerks of the department expressive of his feelings, and left the office swearing that he would not receive such a pension or have anything more to do with them. James O'Hara, then quartermaster general of the army, having some knowledge of McClellan and his services, hearing of this, sought him out and induced him to accept the pension. He also engaged him at thirty dollars a month and board at some employment connected with his department. In March, 1800, we find him at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where about six hundred soldiers were stationed, and though he had been but an indifferent scribe or accountant, by care and attention he had qualified himself to discharge the duties required of him with so much exactness and promptness, that he gave great satisfaction to the officers over him. In May, 1801, the soldiers were ordered to Harper's ferry, and McClellan was sent on Robert McClellan - 33 business connected with the commissary department to St. Louis, when, after completing his mission, he retired from the service. Early in 1801, General Wilkinson established a post which was called Wilkinsonville, on the north bank of the Ohio river, about twenty miles above its mouth, and erected quite a number of frame and log-houses, which for a time gave the place a thriving appearance. It was, however, found so sickly, that it was abandoned in the fall of the same year, and nothing now remains to mark the spot. Here McClellan, in partnership with a Mr. Morton, commenced trading. When the settlement was abandoned, they wound up their affairs, and Robert wrote his brother William that he expected from six hundred to a thousand dollars as his share of the profits. His success in this adventure gave him a taste for trading, and for some years he made trading trips up the Missouri river with varying success in his dealings, which were principally with the Indians. Captain Clarke in descending the Missouri on their return from the well known Lewis and Clarke Expedition, met McClellan on the 12th of September, 1806, in a large boat with twelve men going up to trade with the Mahas. Captain Clarke, who had served as a lieutenant in Wayne's campaign, recognized the well-known form of the ranger, and halting, he and his companions remained with him till next day, "spending a pleasant eve- 34 - Pioneer Biography. ning in relating their own adventures, and hearing the news of the occurrences in the States during their long absence. The following year (1807) he entered into partnership with Ramsay Crooks, an adventurous young Scotchman, who had gained some experience in Indian traffic, in the employment of the North-West Fur Company. Their object was to carry on a trading business with the Indians on the Missouri river. In this they had to compete with the wealthy French traders of St. Louis, who every year sent large trading parties into the upper waters of the Missouri and Yellowstone for the same purpose. They looked with a jealous eve on the stalwart young traders, and used every means in their power to ruin them and drive them from the country. They knew, however, that they had as good a right as any one else to follow this traffic, and, as McClellan wrote to his brother William, they determined to " strictly observe the letter of the law and fear no d d rascals." In one of their earliest trips, they were made to feel the power and unscrupulousness of their rivals in the use of any means to hinder the success of their enterprise. Irving, in Astoria, gives the following account of the affair : Crooks and McClellan were ascending the river in boats with a party of about forty men, bound on one of their trading expeditions to the upper tribes. In one of the bends of the river, where the channel made a deep curve under impending Robert McClellan - 35 banks, they suddenly heard yells and shouts above them, and beheld the cliffs overhead covered with armed savages. It was a band of Sioux warriors, upward of six hundred strong. They brandished their weapons in a menacing manner, and ordered the boats to turn back and land lower down the river. There was no disputing these commands, for they had the power to shower destruction upon the white men, without risk to themselves. Crooks and McClellan, therefore, turned back with feigned alacrity ; and, landing, had an interview with the Sioux. The latter forbade them, under pain of exterminating hostility, from attempting to proceed up the river, but offered to trade peacefully with them if they would halt where they were. The party, being principally composed of voyageurs, was too weak to contend with so superior a force, and one so easily augmented ; they pretended, therefore, to comply cheerfully with their arbitrary dictation, and immediately proceeded to cut down trees and erect a trading house. The warrior band departed for their village, which was about twenty miles distant, to collect objects of traffic ; they left six or eight of their number, however, to keep watch upon the white men, and scouts were continually passing to and fro with intelligence. Mr. Crooks saw that it would be impossible to prosecute his voyage without the danger of having his boats plundered, and a great part of his men massacred ; he determined, however, not to be entirely frustrated in the objects of his expedition. While he continued, therefore, with great apparent earnestness and assiduity, the construction of the trading house, he dispatched the hunters and trappers of his party in a canoe, to make their way up the river to the original place of destination, there to busy themselves in trapping and collecting peltries, and to await his arrival at some future period. 36 - Pioneer Biography. As soon as the detachment had had sufficient time to ascend beyond the hostile country of the Sioux, Mr. Crooks suddenly broke up his feigned trading establishment, embarked his men and effects, and, after giving the astonished. rear-guard of savages a galling and indignant message to take to their countrymen, pushed down the river with all speed, sparing neither oar nor paddle, day nor night, until fairly beyond the swoop of these river hawks. What increased the irritation of Messrs. Crooks and McClellan at this mortifying check to their gainful enterprise, was the information that a rival trader was at the bottom of it ; the Sioux, it is said, having been instigated to this outrage by Mr. Manual Lisa,* the leading partner and agent of the Missouri Fur Company. This intelligence, whether true or false, so roused the fiery temper of McClellan, that he swore, if ever he he fell in with Lisa in the Indian country, he would shoot him on the spot ; a mode of redress perfectly in unison with the character of the man, and the code of honor prevalent beyond the frontier.—Astoria, pp. 168, 169. *Manual Lisa was a Spaniard by birth, and had been a sea captain, but for some years an Indian trader on the Missouri. " After the return of these celebrated travelers (Lewis and Clarke), several Indian traders were induced to extend the sphere of their enterprise, and one of them, Manual Lisa, ascended the Missouri almost to its source. These enterprising individuals meeting with considerable success, a trading company or association followed, under the name of The Missouri Fur Company, gloried in the hope of carrying on this business more extensively than it had hitherto been practiced, and, in time, of rivaling even British associations in Canada. The company was composed of twelve persons, with a capital of about fifty thousand dollars. The company engaged about two hundred and fifty men, Robert McClellan - 37 Undaunted by this reverse, they continued their trading for several years, with varying success. In 1810 they dissolved partnership, and. McClellan continued the business alone. He had established a trading post on the Missouri about two hundred miles above the mouth of the Nodowa river, by erecting a cabin and store-room, in which to keep his goods and furs. But even here his old enemies, the Sioux, found him out. On the 29th of October, a little before sunset, McClellan took his rifle and went out after deer, leaving three men at the post. On his return at dark, he found a war party of about sixty Sioux from the upper Mississippi had surrounded his cabin, disarmed his men, broken into his store-room with axes, and plundered it of the whole of the contents, about three thousand dollars worth of goods and furs. He went boldly in among them and demanded restoration. Part of them were already off with their plunder, but from those Canadians and Americans ; the first, for the purpose of navigating the boats, but the latter as hunters; for it was their intention to hunt as well as trade."—H. M. Brackenridge, Voyage up the river Missouri, and Ed. Baltimore, 1816, pp. 1, z. Manual Lisa was " a man of a bold and daring character, with an energy and spirit of enterprise like that of Cortez or Pizarro. There is no one better acquainted with the Indian character and tribes, and few are his equals in persevering indefatigable industry. Possessed of an ardent mind and of a frame capable of sustaining every hardship. I believe there are few persons so completely master of the secret of doing much in a short time."—Ibid, pp. 5, 6. 38 - Pioneer Biography. that remained, who had a wholesome knowledge and fear of his fiery disposition, he compelled a restitution of the goods they had, about five hundred dollars worth. Completely dispirited, he divided what he had among his men, in compensation for their services, and shortly afterward the whole party started to return to St. Louis. When they reached the mouth of the Nodowa, they found encamped an expedition of Astor's American Fur Company, under the charge of Wilson P. Hunt. McClellan was rejoiced to find in the party his old friend Crooks, who had joined the enterprise at Milwaukee, as a partner. It needed but little persuasion to induce McClellan to accept a few shares and become a partner in the expedition. Irving thus describes our hero : " McClellan was a remarkable man. He had been a partisan under General Wayne, in his Indian wars, where he had distinguished himself by his fiery spirit and reckless daring, and marvelous stories were told of his exploits. His appearance answered to his character. His frame was meager, but muscular, showing strength, activity, and iron firmness. His eyes were dark, deep set, and piercing. He was reckless, fearless, but of impetuous and sometimes ungovernable temper. He had been invited by Mr. Hunt to enroll himself as a partner, and gladly consented, being pleased with the thoughts of passing, with a powerful force, through the country of the Sioux, and perhaps having an opportunity of Robert McClellan - 39 avenging himself upon that lawless tribe for their past offenses."—Astoria, p. 138. At this time he wrote to his brother William (loth of December) : Six days ago I arrived at this place from my establishment, which is two hundred miles above on the Missouri. My mare is with you at Hamilton, having two colts. I wish you to give one to brother John, the other to your son James, and the mare to your wife. If I possessed anything more except my gun, at present, I would throw it into the river, or give it away, as I intend to begin the world anew to-morrow. This expedition, under the command of Mr. Hunt, was sent overland to the mouth of Columbia river, on the Pacific coast, by John Jacob Astor, in the interest of the American Fur Company, to establish a settlement and trading-post at that point, in conjunction with an expedition which went by sea, under command of Captain Jonathan Thorn. The latter in his vessel, the Tonquin, left New York on the 8th of September, 181o, with four partners in the company : Messrs. McKay, McDougal, David and Robert Stewart, twelve clerks, a number of artisans, thirteen Canadian " voyaguers," and a crew of twenty men ; with all the stores, ammunition, and merchandise requisite to establish a fortified trading post. Mr. Hunt, to whom was intrusted the more difficult overland expedition, left New York in July, 1810, with Mr. Donald McKenzie, another partner, for Montreal, 40 - Pioneer Biography. there to organize his company, and make preparations in men and stores for his expedition. It is needless to recount the many difficulties he had to encounter and overcome in attaining his object. They will be found detailed with all the charm of Irving's pen in his Astoria, to which I am indebted for most of the subsequent record of McClellan's career. From Montreal they went to Mackinaw, where they had the good fortune to meet Ramsay Crooks, McClellan's old partner, whom they engaged as a partner in the enterprise. Thence, after securing a number of hunters and voyageurs, they went to St. Louis where the expedition was fully organized. Every thing was completed by the 21st of October, on which day they took their departure from St. Louis. They reached the mouth of the Nodowa river, four hundred and fifty miles up the Missouri, on the 16th of November, and went into winter quarters. In the early spring Mr. Hunt returned to St. Louis to obtain additional recruits, and especially an interpreter. He set out on his return to the camp on the the 12th of March (1811), accompanied by Thomas Nuttall, since famous for his works on the ornithology and botany of the United States, and John Bradbury,* an accomplished naturalist, who embraced the oppor- *Mr. Bradbury published an interesting journal of this trip in his " Travels in the Interior of America, in the years 1809, 181o, and 1811, etc." Liverpool, 1817. Robert McClellan - 41 tunny offered them by Mr. Hunt of exploring the Missouri, which had never yet been visited in the interest of their favorite sciences. They reached the winter camp on the 17th of April. The party now consisted of nearly sixty persons, of whom five were partners ;* one, John Reed, was a clerk ; forty were Canadian " voyageurs," or "engages," and there were several hunters. They embarked in four boats, one of which was of large size, mounting a swivel and two howitzers. All were furnished with masts and sails, to be used where the wind was sufficiently favorable and strong to overpower the current of the river.—Astoria, p. 155. On the 21st of April, they broke up their encampment and resumed their course up the Missouri. They had favorable weather for some days and made rapid progress, but the wind changed, and they had to struggle as best they could with oars and poles against both wind and current, sometimes being obliged to stop for a whole day at a time. These delays were of course relished by the naturalists, who availed themselves of the frequent opportunities thus afforded them of extending their excursions in search of plants, birds, minerals, etc. Mr. Hunt and his party, however, grew impatient under the frequent delays, the more so as they knew that their rival, Manual Lisa, was on his *Wilson P. Hunt, Donald M'Kenzie, Joseph Miller, Ramsay Crooks, and Robert McClellan. 42 - Pioneer Biography. way up the river with a much larger force than theirs, and they feared his overtaking and passing them. They knew well that the whole success of their expedition depended on passing through the country of the Sioux, Lisa's friends, before he could reach them and incite them to opposition. They reached the Omaha village, about eight hundred and thirty miles above the mouth of the Missouri, on the loth of May. Here they learned from some friendly Ponca Indians that McClellan and Crooks' old enemies, the Sioux Tetons, had learned of their expedition and were waiting to intercept them higher up the river. Thinking it was best to meet them before Lisa could reach them, they set out from Omaha on the 15th. On the 24th, they were overtaken by a messenger from Lisa, who had arrived at Omaha a few days after they left. The purpose of this letter was to induce Mr. Hunt to wait for him so that the expedition might pass the Sioux territory in company, and thus afford mutual protection. Crooks and McClellan stoutly opposed this, and, in truth, Mr. Hunt remembering the many obstacles Mr. Lisa had thrown in his way in St. Louis, had no relish for his company. So he sent back an evasive answer, and pushed forward with renewed vigor. They pressed forward without opposition and with favorable weather and wind till the 31st of May, when the oft-repeated alarm of the terrified Canadian (who imagined a Sioux in every bush), " Viola les Sioux, Viola les Sioux," be- Robert McClellan - 43 came a reality. This first encounter is thus described by Bradbury : 31st. Before breakfast this morning we discovered two Indians on a bluff on the northeast side of the river, we stopped opposite to them to breakfast, during which they frequently harangued us in a loud tone of voice. After we had breakfasted, Mr. Hunt went over the river to speak to them, and took with him Dorion, the interpreter. We noticed, when he landed, one of the Indians went away, and for a short time disappeared from our sight, but immediately reappeared on horseback, and went at full speed over the bluffs. Mr. Hunt informed us on his return, that these Indians belonged to the Sioux nations ; that three tribes were encamped about a league from us, and had two hundred and eighty lodges. They were the Yangtons Ahnah, the Tetons Bois Brule, and the Tetons Minna-kine-azzo. The Indian informed Mr. Hunt that they had been waiting for us eleven days, with a decided intention of opposing. our progress, as they would suffer no one to trade with the Ricaras, Mandans, and Minaterees, being at war with those nations. It is usual to reckon two warriors to each lodge, we therefore found that we had to oppose near six hundred savages, with the character of whom we were well acquainted ; and it had also been stated by the Indian that they were in daily expectation of being joined by two other tribes, Tetons Okandandas and Tetons Sahone. We proceeded up the river, and passed along an island, which, for about half an hour, intercepted our view of the northeast side of the river. On reaching the upper point we had a view of the bluffs, and saw the Indians pouring down in great numbers, some on horseback, and others on foot. They soon took possession of a point a little above us, 44 - Pioneer Biography. and ranged themselves along the bank of the river. By the help of our glasses, we could perceive that they were all armed and painted for war. Their arms consisted chiefly of bows and arrows, but a few had short carbines ; they were also provided with round shields. We had an ample sufficiency of arms for the whole party, which now consisted of sixty men ; and besides our small arms, we had a swivel and two howitzers. Any attempt to avoid the Indians would have been abortive, inasmuch as a boat, in ascending the Missouri, can only effect it by going along the edges of the river, it being wholly impossible to stem the current ; and as the banks are in many places high and perpendicular, we must inevitably be in their power frequently, as they might several times in the course of a day shower a volley of arrows upon us and retire unseen. Our alternate, therefore, was, as we supposed, either to fight them or return. The former was immediately decided on, and we landed nearly opposite to the main body. Our first care was to put all the arms in complete order: afterward the swivel and howitzers were loaded with powder only, and fired to impress them with ail idea that we were well prepared. They were then heavily loaded, and with as many bullets as it was supposed they would bear, after which we crossed the river. When we arrived within about one hundred yards of them, the boats were stationed, and all seized their arms. The Indians now seemed to be in confusion, and when we rose up to fire, they spread their buffalo robes before them, and moved them from side to side. Our interpreter called out, and desired us not to fire, as the action indicated, on their part, a wish to avoid an engagement, and to come to a parley. We accordingly desisted, and saw about fourteen of the chiefs separate themselves from the crowd who were on the summit of the bank, and descend to Robert McClellan - 45 the edge of the river, where they sat down on the sand, forming themselves into a portion of a circle, in the center of which we could see preparations making to kindle a fire, evidently with a design to smoke the calumet with us, and signs were made, inviting us to land. Mr. Hunt requested that Messrs. Crooks, M'Kenzie, Miller, and McClellan would attend him in his boat, and I accompanied Mr. M'Kenzie. The object was to consider whether it was advisable to place so much confidence in so ferocious and faithless a set as to accept the invitation. It did not require much deliberation, as we found ourselves under the necessity of either fighting or treating with them, it was therefore determined to hazard the experiment of going ashore. The party who remained in the boats were ordered to continue in readiness to fire on the Indians instantly, in case of treachery, and Messrs. Hunt, M'Kenzie, Crooks, Miller, and McClellan, with the interpreter and myself, went ashore. We found the chiefs sitting where they had first placed themselves, as motionless as statues ; and without any hesitation or delay, we sat down on the sand, in such a manner as to complete the circle. When we were all seated, the pipe was brought by an Indian, who seemed to act as priest on this occasion ; he stepped within the circle, and lighted the pipe. The head was made of a red stone, known by mineralogists under the term of killas, and is often found to accompany copper ore ; it is procured on the river St. Peters, one of the principal branches of the Mississippi. The stem of the pipe was at least six feet in length, and highly decorated with tufts of horse-hair, dyed red. After the pipe was lighted, he held it up toward the sun, and afterward pointed it toward the sky in different directions. He then handed it to the great chief, who smoked a few whiffs, and taking the head of the pipe in his hand, commenced by applying the other end 46 - Pioneer Biography. to the lips of Mr. Hunt, and afterward did the same to every one in the circle. When this ceremony was ended, Mr. Hunt rose, and made a speech in French, translated as he proceeded into the Sioux language by Dorion. The purport of the speech was to state, that the object of their voyage up the Mississippi was not to trade ; that several of our brothers had gone to the great salt lake in the west, whom we had not seen for eleven moons. That we had come from the great salt lake in the east, on our way to see our brothers, for whom we had been crying ever since they left us ; and our lives were now become so miserable for the want of our brothers, that we would rather die than not go to them, and would kill every man that should oppose our passage. That we had heard of their design to prevent our passage up the river, but we did not wish to believe it, as we were determined to persist, and were, as they might see, well prepared to effect our purpose ; but as a proof of our pacific intentions, we had brought them a present of tobacco and corn. About fifteen carottes of tobacco, and as many bags of corn, were now brought from the boat, and laid in a heap near the great chief, who then arose and commenced a speech, which was repeated in French by Dorion. He commenced by stating that they were at war with the Ricaras, Mandans, and Gros Ventres or Minaterees, and the injury it would be to them if these nations were furnished with arms and amunition ; but as they found we were only going to our brothers, they would not attempt to stop us. That he also had brothers, at a great distance northward, whom he had not seen for a great many moons, and for whom he also had been crying. He professed himself satisfied with our present, and advised us to encamp on the other side of the river, for fear his young men should be trouble- Robert McClellan - 47 some. When the speech was ended, we all rose, shook hands, and returned to the boats.—Bradbury's Travels, pp. 82-88. The party immediately reembarked and proceeded on their voyage. They reached the Great Bend on the afternoon of the following day (June I), and encamped about five miles above the lower entrance. The alarms of the next two days are thus detailed by Irving: On the succeeding morning, at an early hour, they descried two Indians standing on a high bank of the river, waving and spreading their buffalo robes in signs of amity. They immediately pulled to shore and landed. Oh approaching the savages, however, the latter showed evident symptoms of alarm, spreading out their arms horizontally, according to their mode of supplicating clemency. The reason was soon explained. They proved to be two chiefs of the very war party that had brought Messrs. Crooks and McClellan to a stand two years before, and obliged them to escape down the river. They ran to embrace these gentlemen, as if delighted to meet with them ; yet they evidently feared some retaliation of their past misconduct, nor were they quite at ease until the pipe of peace had been smoked. The two chiefs having smoked their pipe of peace and received a few presents, departed well satisfied. In a little while two others appeared on horseback, and rode up abreast of the boats. They had seen the presents given to their comrades, but were dissatisfied with them, and came after the boats to ask for more. Being somewhat peremptory and insolent in their demands, Mr. Hunt gave them a flat refusal, and threatened, if 48 - Pioneer Biography. they or any of their tribe followed him with similar demands, to treat them as enemies. They turned and rode off in a furious passion. As he was ignorant what force these chiefs might have behind the hills, and as it was very possible they might take advantage of some pass of the river to attack the boats, Mr. Hunt called all stragglers on board and prepared for such emergency. It was agreed that the large boat commanded by Mr. Hunt, should ascend along the northeast side of the river, and the three smaller boats along the south side. By this arrangement each party would command a view of the opposite hights above the heads and out of the sight of their companions, and could give the alarm should they perceive any Indans lurking there. The signal of alarm was to be two shots fired in quick succession. The boats proceeded for the greater part of the day without seeing any signs of an enemy. About four o'clock in the afternoon the large boat, commanded by Mr. Hunt, came to where the river was divided by a long sand-bar, which, apparently, however, left a sufficient channel between it and the shore along which they were advancing. He kept up this channel, therefore, for some distance, until the water proved too shallow for the boat. It was necessary, therefore, to put about, return down the channel, and pull round the lower end of the sand-bar into the main stream. Just as he had given orders to this effect to his men, two signal guns were fired from the boats on the opposite side of the river. At the same moment a file of savage warriors was observed pouring down from the impending bank, and gathering on the shore at the lower end of the bar. They were evidently a war party, being armed with bows and arrows, battle clubs and carbines, and round bucklers of buffalo hide, and their naked bodies were painted with black and white stripes. Robert McClellan - 49 The natural inference was, that they belonged to the two tribes of Sioux which had been expected by the great war party, and that they had been incited to hostility by the two chiefs who had been enraged by the refusal and the menace of Mr. Hunt. Here then was a fearful predicament. Mr. Hunt and his crew seemed caught, as it were, in a trap. The Indians, to the number of about a hundred, had already taken possession of a point near which the boat would have to pass : others kept pouring down the bank, and it was probable that some would remain posted on the top of the hight. The hazardous situation of Mr. Hunt was perceived by those in the other boats, and they hastened to his assistance. They were at some distance above the sand-bar, however, and on the opposite side of the river, and saw, with intense anxiety, the number of savages continually augmenting at the lower end of the channel, so that the boat would be exposed to a fearful attack before they could render it any assistance. Their anxiety increased, as they saw Mr. Hunt and his party descending the channel and dauntlessly approaching the point of danger ; but it suddenly changed into surprise on beholding the boat pass close by the savage horde unmolested, and steer out safely into the broad river. The next moment the whole band of warriors was in motion. They ran along the bank until they were opposite to the boats, then throwing by their weapons and buffalo robes, plunged into the river, waded and swam off to the boats and surrounded them in crowds, seeking to shake hands with every individual on board—for the Indians have long since found this to be the white man's token of amity, and they carry it to an extreme. All uneasiness was now at an end. The Indians proved to be a war party of Arickaras, Mandans and Minnetarees, con- 50 - Pioneer Biography. sisting of three hundred warriors, and bound on a foray against the Sioux. Their war plans were abandoned for the present, and they determined to return to the Arickara town where they hoped to obtain from the white men arms and ammunition that would enable them to take the field with advantage over their enemies. The boats now sought the first convenient place for encamping. The tents were pitched ; the warriors fixed their camp at about a hundred yards distant ; provisions were furnished from the boats sufficient for all parties ;. there was hearty though rude feasting in both camps, and in the evening the red warriors entertained their white friends with dances and songs, that lasted until after midnight.—Astoria, 187-191. The following morning (June 3), while they were distributing presents among the chiefs, an Indian came running up, and announced that a boat was coming up the river. This was anything but pleasing intelligence, as they knew that it must be one of Manual Lisa's boats, and it was useless now to attempt to evade him. The approach of Lisa, while it was regarded with uneasiness by Mr. Hunt, roused the ire of McClellan ; who, calling to mind old grievances, began to look round for his rifle, as if he really intended to carry his threat into execution and shoot him on the spot ; and it was with some difficulty that Mr. Hunt was enabled to restrain his ire, and prevent a scene of outrage and confusion. The meeting between the two leaders, thus mutually distrustful, could not be very cordial ; and as to Messrs. Crooks and McClellan, though they refrained from any outbreak, yet they Robert McClellan - 51 regarded in grim defiance their old rival and underplotter. In truth, a general distrust prevailed throughout the party concerning Lisa and his intentions. They considered him artful and slippery, and secretly anxious for the failure of their expedition. There being now nothing more to be apprehended from the Sioux, they suspected that Lisa would take advantage of his twenty-oared barge to leave them and get first among the Arickaras. As he had traded with those people and possessed great influence over them, it was feared he might make use of it to impede the business of Mr. Hunt and his party. It was resolved, therefore, to keep a sharp look-out upon his movements ; and McClellan swore that if he saw the least sign of treachery on his part, he would instantly put his old threat into execution—Astoria, 192. Mr. Henry M. Brackenridge accompanied Mr. Lisa on this trip, " in the spirit of adventure . . . with the intention of making a summer excursion as a simple hunter." Mr. Bradbury " found him a very amiable and interesting young man." He afterward became well known as a writer, and published a journal of this trip. The two parties now proceeded up the river together, each afraid that the other would steal a march on him and push on to the Arickara village in advance of the other. They had but one positive outbreak, when Lisa tried to induce Mr. Hunt's interpreter, Pierre Dorion, by threats concerning an old whisky debt to desert and join his party. McClellan, of course, took an active part in the affray. Dorion remained faithful, and the 52 - Pioneer Biography. two companies kept on their way together, but without any further personal intercourse, till on the 12th, they arrived at the Arickara village, fourteen hundred and thirty miles above the mouth of the river. They landed on the opposite side. of the river, and encamped near each other. It was arranged that both parties should cross at the same time to meet the Indians in council. Mr. Irving, in Astoria, Chapters XX and XXI, and Mr. Bradbury, in his journal, give interesting accounts of this meeting, and of the Arickara Indians, who proved very friendly. Mr. Hunt's plan was to abandon his boats here and proceed overland. Mr. Lisa intended going further up the river to visit and supply some of his trading posts. The great difficulty Mr. Hunt had to contend with, was the insufficiency of the number of horses he could procure from the Indians for his wants. At length Mr. Lisa offered to purchase-his boat and some of his surplus supplies, and pay for them in horses, if he would wait till he could procure them from one of his posts at a Mandan village one hundred and fifty miles up the river. As there was no alternative, Mr. Hunt accepted the offer, and Mr. Lisa and Mr. Crooks, with a number of men, set off for the post, from which they returned in about two weeks, with the stipulated number. From this village McClellan wrote on the 14th of July, to his brother William, at Hamilton : Robert McClellan - 53 We arrived at this place on the 1 2t h of June last, all in good health. We have been until this period collecting horses from the Arickaras and Mandans for our journey, which we purpose making across the country from this place. We suppose it not more than one thousand miles until we fall in with navigable waters of the Columbia river, where we purpose making pirogues to descend it. Our party consists of sixty-two men. We have procured eighty-two horses, and purpose to augment the number the first opportunity that may offer. In consequence of the scarcity of provisions, we have been obliged to purchase a number of dogs at this place for our men—buffalo being 'scarce near the village. In two days we set out on our journey, when we will soon be among the buffalo. We have running horses for the purpose of taking them. I ride one that can catch the wildest goat, which is swifter than the deer. We are all well armed, and have about a hundred beaver traps which we can employ should we meet with a scarcity of provisions. We have also nets for fishing. On the 17th of July, Mr. Bradbury took leave of our party and returned to St. Louis with Mr. Brackenridge, in the boats which Mr. Lisa dispatched loaded with skins and furs. Mr. Bradbury, in his journal, says : I took leave of my worthy friends whose kindness and attention to me had been such as to render the parting painful ; and I am happy in having this opportunity of testifying my gratitude and respect for them ; throughout the whole voyage every indulgence was given me that was consistent with their duty and general safety. 54 - Pioneer Biography. He did not write in quite so complimentary a style of Mr. Lisa, who, contrary to his express agreement, had instructed Mr. Brackenridge " not on any account to stop in the day, but if possible to go night and day." So that he was compelled to pass, day by day, the numerous plant treasures which he had expected to collect on the return trip. On the 18th of July, Mr. Hunt took up his line of march by land from the Arickara village, leaving Mr. Lisa and Mr. Nut-tall there, where they intended to await the expected arrival of Mr. Henry from the Rocky mountains. With all his exertions, Mr. Hunt had been unable to obtain a sufficient number of horses for the accommodation of all his people. His cavalcade consisted of eighty-two horses, most of them heavily laden with Indian goods, beaver traps, ammunition, Indian corn, cornmeal, and other necessaries. Each of the partners was mounted, and a horse was allotted to the interpreter, Pierre Dorion, for the transportation of his luggage and his two children. His squaw, for the most part of the time, trudged on foot, like the residue of the party ; nor did any of the men show more patience and fortitude than this resolute woman in enduring fatigue and hardship. The veteran trappers and voyageurs of Lisa's party shook their heads as their comrades set out, and took leave of them as of doomed men ; and even Lisa himself, gave it as his opinion, after the travelers had departed, that they would never reach the shores of the Pacific, but would either perish with hunger in the wilderness, or be cut off by the savages. For the narrative of the remainder of this adventur- Robert McClellan - 55 ous and disastrous trip, I am indebted mainly to Irving's Astoria, and the few scattering letters of Robert McClellan to his brother William. The party started in a northeast course, but they soon turned and kept more to the southwest. Their progress was slow for the first few days; some of the men were indisposed; Mr. Crooks, especially, was so unwell, that he could not keep on his horse. A rude kind of litter was prepared for him, consisting of two long poles fixed one on each side of two horses, with a matting between them on which he reclined at full length, and was protected from the sun by a canopy of boughs. In this situation they traveled for five days, having crossed in that time two considerable streams which empty into the Missouri below the Arickara village, when they came to an encampment of Indians calling themselves Shawhays, but known among the whites by the appellation of Cheyennes. They were the same band that had sent a deputation to the Arickaras. They were received by the Indians in a friendly manner and invited to their lodges, which were of dressed buffalo skins sewn together and stretched on tapering pine poles joined at top and radiating at bottom, and were kept cleaner than Indian lodges usually are. The party remained at their encampment in the neigborhood of this place a fortnight to rest and recruit those who were sick, during which time they procured from these people an accession of forty horses. 56 - Pioneer Biography. On the 6th of August, the travelers bid farewell to the friendly band of Cheyennes, and resumed their journey. As they had obtained an additional number of horses, by their recent traffic, a new arrangement was made. The baggage was made up into smaller loads ; a horse was allotted to each of the hunters, and the others, not loaded with baggage, were distributed among the voyageurs, a horse for every two, so that they could ride and walk alternately. Mr. Crooks being still too feeble to mount the saddle was carried on his litter. They now steered their course over the prairies about a west-southwest course; they crossed the small branches of Big river, the Little Missouri above its forks, and several of the tributary streams of Powder river, one of which they followed up until they came to a band of the Upsaroka or Crow Indians, encamped on its banks at the foot of Big Horn mountain. Several of their horses having become lame by traveling on the arid stony ground over which they had to pass, they exchanged them with those Indians for sound ones, by giving some ammunition and other small articles " to-boot." Although this band had been considered by persons who were well acquainted with them, to be by far the best behaved of their tribe, it was only by the unalterable determination of the gentlemen of the party to avoid jeopardizing themselves, without at the same time submitting to intentional insults, that they left Robert McClellan - 57 the camp without coming to blows, although the band of Indians were not of greater force than the whites. The distance from the Arickara village to the Big Horn mountain at this place, is about four hundred and fifty miles; the plains over which they traveled, destitute of trees and even shrubs (insomuch that they had to use the dried dung of buffalo for fuel), by no means furnished a sufficient supply of water; but during the twenty-eight days they were in getting to the base of the mountains, they were only in a few instances without abundance of buffalo meat. Rugged mountains now appeared ahead, and the party wound their way through the wild defiles, and up and down crags and steeps of the mountains for three days, which brought them to the plains of Mad river (the name given to the Big Horn above the mountains). They followed the river for several days to where it was reduced to eighty yards in width, where they left it and crossed over to the banks of the Colorado or Spanish river. They followed the course of this river three days, when they came to where there were large droves of buffalo. Here they encamped and spent a week in killing and drying buffalo meat for the residue of their journey, as in all probability those were the last animals of the kind they would meet with. From this camp, in one day, they crossed over a mountain and pitched their tents on Hoback's fork of Mad river, where it is not more than one hundred and 58 - Pioneer Biography. fifty feet wide, and in eight days more, on the evening of the 8th of October, having passed several stupendous ridges, after a cold, wintry day, with gusts of westerly wind and flurries of snow, they arrived at the post established by Mr. Henry in the fall of 1810, on a stream about one hundred yards wide, bearing the name of that gentleman ; having traveled from where they left the main Missouri river, nine hundred miles in fifty-four days. The post, however, was deserted, for Mr. Henry had left it in the course of the preceding spring. The weary travelers gladly took possession of the deserted log huts which had formed the post. There being abundance of timber here suitable for the construction of canoes, they determined to abandon their horses and proceed by water down the Snake river, which is formed by the junction of Mad river and Henry's fork. By the 18th of October, they had fifteen canoes completed, when, leaving their horses in the care of two Snake Indians who had come to their camp, they embarked in their canoes and prosecuted their voyage down the river about three hundred and forty miles, during which they were impeded by the intervention of numerous rapids. On the 28th of the month, in one of these rapids, the canoe in which Mr. Crooks was, struck upon a rock in the middle of the river, and was wrecked. One man was drowned, and the rest on board with difficulty saved their lives by swimming. Robert McClellan - 59 In attempting to descend the river further, one canoe which they tried to pass down by means of a line, was swept away by the current, with all the weapons and effects of four of the voyageurs. Three other canoes stuck fast among the rocks, so that it was impossible to move them. The river was therefore declared unnavigable. At this place the whole body of the river was compressed into a space of less than thirty feet in width, between two ledges of rocks upward of two hundred feet high, and forming below a whirling and tumultuous vortex so frightfully agitated as to receive the name of " The Caldron Linn." Beyond this fearful abyss, the river kept raging and roaring on until lost to sight among impending precipices. Exploring parties were sent down the river, who, having explored its course for nearly forty miles, returned with the disheartening account that the river as far as they had explored it, ran foaming and roaring along through a deep and narrow channel from twenty to thirty yards wide, with precipices on each side two or three hundred feet high, and rapids and falls in the stream occasionally ten or twenty feet high, so that it was useless to attempt passing the canoes down. The situation of the unfortunate travelers was now gloomy in the extreme. They were in the heart of an unknown wilderness, and the repeated accidents to their canoes had reduced their stock of provisions to barely 60 - Pioneer Biography. five days' allowance, so that there was now every appearance of soon having famine added to their other sufferings. This last circumstance rendered it more perilous to keep together than to separate. Accordingly, after a little anxious and bewildered counsel, it was determined that Mr. Hunt with the majority of the party should remain there, cache their baggage and merchandise preparatory to continuing their march, and that several small detachments should start off in different directions, each headed by one of the partners. Should any of them succeed in falling in with friendly Indians, within a reasonable distance, and obtain a supply of provisions and horses, they were to return to the main body; otherwise, they were to shift for themselves, and shape their course according to circumstances, keeping the mouth of Columbia river as the ultimate point of their wayfaring. Accordingly, these several parties set off from the camp at Caldron Linn in opposite directions. Robert McClellan, accompanied by three men, kept down along the bank of the river. Mr. Crooks, with five other men, directed their steps up the river ; retracing by land the weary course they had made by water, intending, should they not find relief nearer at hand, to keep on until they should reach Henry's fort, where they hoped to find the horses they had left there, and return with them to the main body. The third party, headed by M'Kenzie, was composed Robert McClellan - 61 of five men, who struck to the northward, across the desert plains, in hopes of coming upon the main stream of the Columbia river. McClellan and his party, after wandering for several days over rugged mountains, without meeting with Indians or obtaining any supplies, fortuitously met with M'Kenzie and his party among the Snake river mountains, some distance below that disastrous pass or strait which has received the appellation of the Devil's Scuttle Hole. When thus united, the party consisted of McClellan, M'Kenzie, John Reed (a clerk of the company), and eight men, chiefly Canadians, making in all eleven men. Being all in the same predicament, without horses, provisions, or information of any kind that might tend to extricate their companions from their perilous situation, they all agreed that it would be worse than useless to return to Mr. Hunt, and incumber him with so many additional starving men, and that their only course was to extricate themselves as soon as possible from this land of famine and misery, and make the best of their way to Columbia river. They accordingly continued to follow down the course of the Snake river clambering over rocks and mountains, and defying all the difficulties and dangers of that rugged defile, which, subsequently, when the snows had fallen, was found impassible. Though constantly near the borders of the river, 62 - Pioneer Biography. and for a great part of the time within sight of its current, one of their greatest sufferings was thirst, as the country was destitute of brooks or springs, and the river had worn its way in a deep channel through the rocky mountains. Its banks were so high and precipitous, that there was rarely any place where the travelers could get down to drink of its waters. Occasionally they met with rain-water collected in the hollows of the rocks, but more than once they were reduced to the utmost extremity. Their sufferings from hunger were equally severe. They could meet with no game, and subsisted for a time on strips of beaver skins, broiled before the fire. These were doled out in scanty allowances, barely sufficient to keep up existence, and even this at length failed them altogether. Still they went feebly on, scarcely able to drag one limb after another, until a severe snow-storm brought them to a pause. To struggle against it, in their exhausted condition, was impossible. Cowering under an impending rock at the foot of a steep mountain, they prepared themselves for that wretched fate which seemed inevitable. At this critical juncture, when famine stared them in the face, McClellan, casting up his eyes, discovered an Ashsahta, or Big Horn, sheltering itself under a shelving rock on the side of the hill above them. Being in more active plight than any of his comrades, and an excellent marksman, he set off to get within Robert McClellan - 63 shooting distance of the animal, while his companions watched his movements with breathless anxiety, for their lives depended on his success. He took a circuitous route, scrambled up the hill with the utmost silence, and at length arrived unperceived within a proper distance. Here, leveling his rifle, he took so sure an aim that the Big Horn fell dead on the spot—a fortunate circumstance, for to pursue it, if merely wounded, would have been impossible in his emaciated condition. The declivity of the hill enabled him to roll the carcass down to his companions, who were too feeble to climb the rocks. They fell to work to cut it up; yet exerted a remarkable degree of self-denial for men in their starving condition, for they contented themselves for the present with a soup made from the bones, reserving the flesh for future repasts. This providential relief gave them strength to pursue their journey; but they were frequently reduced to almost equal straits, and it was only to the smallness of their party (eleven in number) requiring but a small supply of provisions, that they were enabled to get through this desolate region with their lives. At length, after twenty-one days of toil and suffering, they got through these mountains, and arrived at Mulpot river, a tributary stream of that branch of the Columbia called Lewis river, of which Snake river forms the southern fork. In this neighborhood they 64 - Pioneer Biography. met with wild horses, the first they had seen west of the Rocky mountains. From hence they made their way to Lewis river, where they fell in with a friendly tribe of Indians who freely administered to their necessities. Here they procured two canoes, in which they descended this river to its confluence with the Columbia, and then down that river to Astoria. On New Years' Day (the 1st of January, 1812), the canoe in which McClellan was, was upset in the rapid ; but, by great exertion, he and the men with him clung to the canoe until the others came to their assistance, making their escape with the loss of their rifles and some other small articles which were in the canoe. They arrived at Astoria early in the month of January, haggard, emaciated, and in rags. Mr. Hunt, with the main body of the party, who had been left at Caldron Linn, after all hope of relief was closed from the parties of McClellan and M'Kenzie, set out on foot, struggling forward through the trackless wilderness, arived at Astoria on the 15th of February, 1812, having lost two of their men in consequence of starvation. Mr. Crooks, with five men, who had separated from the party in the mountains, did not reach Astoria until the loth of May. The ship Tonquin, commanded by Captain Thorn, and owned by John Jacob Astor, of New York, arrived at the mouth of the Columbia river in the summer of 1811. She was the first vessel sent there by the Amer- Robert McClellan - 65 ican Fur Company. And, in the month of June of that year, when trading on the coast north of the Columbia, was taken by the Indians, and every soul on board massacred. The news of this disaster had reached Astoria some time before the arrival of McClellan at that place, which struck dismay into the hearts of the Astorians and those engaged in the fur trade. Mr. Hunt had been selected by John Jacob Astor to be his chief agent, and to represent him on the northwest coast. Previous to his arrival, Duncan McDougal, one of the partners, had considered himself at the head of the concern. As the spring opened, after the arrival of Mt. McClellan at Astoria, several important things were to be accomplished. A supply of goods was to be sent to the trading post of Mr. David Stuart, which had been established the preceding autumn on the Oakinagan. The cache or secret deposit made by Mr. Hunt, at the Caldron Linn, was likewise to be visited, and the merchandise and other effects left there, to be brought to Astoria. And a third object of moment was to send dispatches overland to Mr. Astor, at New York, informing him of the state of affairs at the settlement, and the fortunes of the several expeditions. The task of carrying supplies to Oakinagan was assigned to Mr. Robert Stuart, nephew of David Stuart, who had established the post. The dispatches for Mr. Astor, were confided to Mr. John Reed, the clerk of the company. 66 - Pioneer Biography. When the expedition of Reed to the Eastern States was made known, Robert McClellan announced his determination to accompany it. He had for some time been dissatisfied with the smallness of his interest in the co-partnership, and had requested an additional number of shares ; his request not being complied with, he resolved to abandon the company. McClellan was a man singularly self-willed and of decided character, with whom persuasion was useless ; he was permitted, therefore, to take his own course without opposition. On the 22d of March, the three parties set out from Astoria together, in two canoes—they numbered in all seventeen men. They proceeded up the Columbia river till they came to the foot of the falls, where the canoes and goods had to be carried by the men a considerable distance by land to the head of the falls. Here they were surrounded by a band of upward of four hundred Indians, armed with bows and arrows, and war-clubs, who offered to carry the canoes and effects up the portage; but the party mistrusting the friendly disposition of the Indians, their offer was declined, alleging the lateness of the hour ; yet, to keep them in good humor, informed them that if they conducted themselves well, their offered services might probably be accepted in the morning ; in the meanwhile, that they might carry up the canoes. They accordingly set off with the two canoes on their shoulders, accompanied by a guard of eight men well armed. Robert McClellan - 67 When arrived at the head of the falls, the mischievous spirit of the savages broke out, and they were on the point of destroying the canoes, doubtless with a view to impede the white men from carrying forward their goods, and laying them open to further pilfering, and it was with some difficulty they were prevented from committing this outrage by the guard and interference of an old man who appeared to have some authority among them. The whole of the band, with the exception of about fifty, then crossed over to the north side of the river. In the meantime, Mr. Stuart and McClellan, who had remained at the foot of the falls with the goods, and who knew that the proffered assistance of the savages was only for the purpose of having an opportunity to plunder, determined, if possible, to steal a march upon them, and defeat their intentions. Accordingly, at i o'clock in the night, the moon shining brightly, they roused the party, and Mr. Stuart went forward with the first loads and took his station at the head of the portage, while McClellan and John Reed remained at the foot to guard and forward the remainder. The day dawned before the transportation was completed. When some of the Indians who had remained on the south side of the river perceived what was going on, they gave the alarm to those on the opposite side ; upward of an hundred embarked in several large canoes, 68 - Pioneer Biography. and crossed over. No sconer did the canoes touch the shore than they leaped forward to secure their prize. McClellan, who was on the river bank, advanced to guard the goods, when one of the Indians attempted to hoodwink him with his buffalo robe with one hand, and stab him with his knife in the other. McClellan sprang back just far enough to avoid the blow, and raising his rifle shot the Indian through the heart. He fell dead. McClellan discharged a pistol at another Indian, and wounded him severely. In the meantime John Reed received a blow with a war-club that laid him senseless on the ground. In an instant he was stripped of his rifle and pistols, and of the tin case in which he carried the dispatches which had been confided to his care. At this juncture, Mr. Stuart, who had heard the war-whoop, hastened to the scene of action with Ben Jones and seven others of the men. When they arrived, Reed was weltering in his blood, and an Indian standing over him ready to dispatch him with a tomahawk. Stuart gave the word, when Ben Jones leveled his rifle, and shot the Indian on the spot. The men then gave a shout and charged upon the main body of the savages, who took to instant flight. Reed was now raised from the ground, and borne senseless and bleeding to the upper end of the portage. Preparations were made to launch the canoes, and in a Robert McClellan - 69 little while all were embarked, and were continuing their voyage along the southern shore of the river. They then dressed the wounds of Mr. Reed, who had received five severe gashes in the head, and proceeded to the establishment of Mr. Stuart, on the Oakinagan, where they remained several days. The important dispatches for New York having been irretrievably lost, the object of the overland journey was therefore defeated. McClellan and Reed, with the men intended to accompany them over the mountains, returned down the river, passing all the dangerous places without interruption, and arrived safely at Astoria. After their arrival at Astoria, a vessel was descried of the mouth of the Columbia river, which came to anchor outside the bar. McDougal, McClellan, and eight Canadians, embarked in a barge and went to the vessel, piloted her over the bar, and safely anchored her in Baker's bay. She proved to be the ship Beaver, which had sailed from New York on the loth of October, 1811, with supplies for the infant establishment at Astoria. At the Sandwich islands, having heard a rumor of the disastrous fate of the ship Tonquin, they were apprehensive that the settlement of Astoria had met a similar fate, and were cautious of running into the harbor, until assured by McClellan and those with him of the safety of the place. It was again concluded to forward dispatches to Mr. Astor, in place of those which had unfortunately been 70 - Pioneer Biography. lost by Mr. Reed, in order to give him an account of the condition of the establishment, that he might regulate his reinforcements and supplies accordingly. This mission was confided to Mr. Robert Stuart, and four trusty and well-tried men, who had come overland in Mr. Hunt's expedition, were assigned him as guides and hunters. These men were Ben Jones and John Day, the Kentuckians, and Andri Vallar and Francis LeClare, Canadians. Robert McClellan again expressed his determination to take this opportunity of returning to the Atlantic States, and Ramsay Crooks also concluded to accompany them. These men set out from Astoria on the 28th of June, 1812. After ascending the Columbia river about ninety miles, John Day, one of the hunters, became altogether insane, and was sent back to the main establishment, under the charge of some Indians. The remaining six pursued their voyage up the river, about six hundred miles, to the mouth of the Walla-Walla river, where they arrived on the 28th of July. Here they were to leave the river and pursue their perilous journey by land. On the next day a traffic was commenced to procure horses for the journey. Fifteen horses were purchased—some for the saddle and others to transport the baggage. A day or two were spent in arranging the packages and pack-saddles, and in making other preparations for their long and arduous journey. Robert McClellan - 71 On the morning of the 31st of July, all preparations being completed, the little party mounted their horses and set out. 'The course they took was to the southeast, toward the fatal region of the Snake river. At an immense distance rose a chain of craggy mountains, presenting an azure blue tint, which they would have to traverse. They were the same among which they had experienced such suffering from cold the preceding winter. They had not proceeded many days on these great wastes and wilds before they found themselves among naked hills, with a soil composed of sand and clay, baked and brittle, that to all appearance had never been visited by the dews of heaven, not a spring or pool or running stream was to be seen—a burning sky above their heads, a parched desert beneath their feet. Their sufferings from thirst became intense ; a fine young dog, their only companion of the kind, gave out and expired before they came to water to quench their thirst. On the 21st of August, they reached the banks of the Snake river, the scene of so many trials and mishaps which they had previously endured, and on the 29th of the month arrived at Caldron Linn, and found the caches made by Mr. Hunt the previous autumn, intending to take from them such articles as belonged to Mr. McClellan, Crooks, and the Canadians ; but to their disappointment six of them had been opened and rifled of their contents, except a few books which lay 72 - Pioneer Biography. scattered about the vicinity. They had the appearance of having been plundered in the course of the summer. There were tracks of wolves in every direction, to and from the holes, from which it was concluded that the wolves had been first attracted to the place by the smell of the skins contained in the caches, which they had probably torn up, and that their tracks had betrayed the secret to the Indians The three remaining caches had not been molested; they contained a few dry goods, some ammunition, and a number of beaver traps. From these the party took what they needed, and deposited in them all their superfluous baggage, and all the books and papers scattered around. The holes were then carefully closed up, and all traces of them effaced. On the 1st day of September, the party resumed their journey, bending their course eastwardly along the course of Snake river. Having spent a week wandering over barren wastes, where they suffered much from hunger, having to depend on a few fish from the streams, and now and then a little dried salmon, or a dog procured from some forlorn lodge of Shoshonees. On the 7th of the month, they left the banks of Snake river, and, crossing a mountain, came to a stream supposed to be Bear river. Up this river and its branches they kept for two or three days, supporting themselves precariously upon fish. On the 12th of the month, having encamped early, they sallied forth with their Robert McClellan - 73 fishing rods to angle for their supper. On returning, they discovered a number of Indians prowling about their camp, whom, to their infinite disgust, they perceived to be Crows. They soon found they were in a dangerous neighborhood. The Crow Indians behaved with the greatest insolence, and were only prevented from cutting off the whole party, by observing them well armed and constantly on their guard. The Indians, however, pursued their tracks and dogged the party for six days, until on the nineteenth day they succeeded in stealing and driving off every horse belonging to the party. Some idea of the situation of these men may be conceived when we take into consideration that they were now on foot in a wilderness, and had a journey of two thousand miles before them, fifteen hundred of which were entirely unknown, as they intended and prosecuted their route considerably south of that taken by Lewis and Clarke. The impossibility of carrying any considerable quantity of provisions in addition to their ammunition and blankets will occur at first view. The danger to be apprehended from starvation was imminent. They, however, put the best face on their prospects the matter would admit. Their first intention was to select from their baggage such articles as were indispensable for their journey, to make them up into convenient packs, and deposit the residue in caches. The whole day was consumed in 74 - Pioneer Biography. these occupations. At night they made a scanty meal of their remaining provisions, and lay down to sleep with heavy hearts. In the morning they were up and about at an early hour, and began to prepare their knapsacks for a march, while Ben Jones repaired to an old beaver trap which he had set in the river bank a short distance from the camp. He was rejoiced to find a beaver in his trap sufficient for a morning's meal for himself and hungry companions. On his way back to camp he observed two heads peering over the edge of an impending cliff several hundred feet high, which he at first supposed to be a couple of wolves. As he proceeded, he now and then cast his eyes up—the heads were still there, looking down with fixed and watchful gaze. A suspicion now flashed across his mind that they might be Indian scouts; and had they not been far above the reach of his rifle, he would doubtless have tested his suspicions by a shot. On arriving at the camp, he directed the attention of his comrades to what he had observed. The same idea was at first entertained, that they were wolves ; but their immovable position and watchfulness soon satisfied every one that they were Indians watching the movements of the party, to discover their place of concealment of such articles as they would be compelled to leave behind. There was no likelihood that the caches would escape the search of such keen eyes. The idea was intolerable that any booty should fall into Robert McClellan - 75 their hands ; therefore, to disappoint them, the travelers stripped the caches of the articles deposited there, and collected together everything that they could not carry away with them, made a bonfire of all that would burn, and threw the rest into the river. There was a forlorn satisfaction in thus balking the expectations of the Crow Indians, by the destruction of their own property, and having thus gratified their pique, they shouldered their packs about ten o'clock in the morning, and set out on their pedestrian wayfaring. The route they took was down along the banks of Mad river, which stream makes its way through the defiles of the mountains, into the plain below Henry's fort, where it terminates in Snake river. It was the hope of the party to meet with some encampment of Snake Indians on the plain, where they might procure a couple of horses to transport their baggage, in which case it was their intention to resume their eastern course across the mountains. After two days of toilsome travel, during which they had made but eighteen miles, they stopped on the 21st of the month to build two rafts on which to cross to the north side of the river. On these they embarked the following morning and pushed boldly from the shore. Finding the rafts sufficiently firm and steady to withstand the rough and rapid water, they changed their minds and instead of crossing, ventured to float down with the current. 76 - Pioneer Biography. In this way they kept down the river for three days, drifting with the current and encamping on the land at night, where they drew up their rafts on shore. Toward the evening of the third day, they came to a small island on which was a gang of elk. Ben Jones landed and was fortunate to wound one, which immediately took to the water, but being unable to stem the current, drifted above a mile, when it was overtaken and drawn to shore. They now encamped on the bank of the river, where they remained all the next day, sheltering themselves as well as they could, from a storm of cold rain, hail and snow, affording them a sharp foretaste of the approaching winter. During their encampment, they employed themselves in jerking the flesh cf the elk for future supply. They again embarked, and for three days more continued to navigate the river with their rafts. They had now floated down about ninety miles, when finding the mountains on the right diminish to moderate sized hills, they landed, and prepared to resume their journey on foot. Accordingly, having spent a day in preparations, making moccasins and parceling out their jerked meat, in packs of about twenty pounds to each man, they turned their backs upon the river, on the 29th of September, and struck off to the northeast, keeping along the southern skirt of the mountain on which Henry's fort was situated. Their march was slow and toilsome, part of the time Robert McClellan - 77 through an alluvial bottom, thickly overgrown with cottonwood, hawthorn, and willows, and part of the time over rough hills. Discovering by certain signs that they were on the border of the country infected by the Blackfeet Indians, a consultation was held as to their course; should they continue round the skirt of the mountain, they would be in danger of falling in with scattering parties of the Indians who were probably hunting on the plain. It was thought most advisable, therefore, to strike directly across the mountain, since the route, though rugged a- nd difficult, would be more secure. This counsel was indignantly derided by McClellan as pusillanimous. Hot headed and impatient at all times, he was now rendered more irascible by the fatigues of the journey, and the condition of his feet, which were chafed and sore. He could not endure the idea of encountering the difficulties of the mountain, and swore he would rather face all the Blackfeet in the country. He was overruled however, and the party began to ascend the mountain, striving with the ardor and emulation of young men who should be the first up. McClellan, who was double the age of some of his companions, soon began to lose breath and fall in the rear. In the distribution of burdens, it was his turn to carry the old beaver trap. Piqued and irritated, he suddenly came to a halt, swore he would not carry it any farther, and jerked it half way down the hill. He 78 - Pioneer Biography. was offered in place of it a package of dried meat, but this he scornfully threw upon the ground. They might carry it, he said, who needed it, for his part he could provide his daily food with his rifle. He concluded by turning off from the party, and keeping along the skirt of the mountain, leaving those, he said, to climb rocks who were afraid to face Indians. It was in vain Mr. Stuart represented to him the rashness of his conduct and the dangers to which he exposed himself. He rejected such counsel as craven. It was equally useless to represent the dangers to which he subjected his companions; as he could be discovered at a great distance on those naked plains, and the Indians, seeing him, would know that there must be other white men within reach. McClellan turned a deaf ear to every remonstrance, and kept on his willful way. It seems a strange instance of perverseness in this man, thus to fling himself off alone in a savage region, where solitude itself was dismal, but every encounter with his fellow-man was full of peril ; such, however, is the hardness of spirit and the insensibility to danger that grow upon men in the wilderness. McClellan, moreover, was a man of peculiar temperament, ungovernable in his will, of a courage that absolutely knew no fear, and somewhat of a braggart spirit that took a pride in doing desperate and hairbrained things. This was the 1st day of October. Mr. Stuart and his party pursued their course; when on the mountain Robert McClellan - 79 they descried McClellan at a distance in advance traversing the plain. Whether he saw them or not, he showed no disposition to rejoin them, but pursued his sullen and solitary way. The travelers were now in a dangerous neighborhood, where the report of a rifle might bring the savages upon them—they had to depend on their old beaver trap for subsistence. Their journey became more tiresome daily, and their sufferings more severe as they advanced. Scarcely any game came in their path, and hunger was added to their other sufferings. On the 11th of October, they encamped on a small stream near the foot of the Spanish river mountain. Here they met with traces of McClellan, who was still keeping ahead of them through those lonely mountains. He had encamped the night before on this scream. They found the embers of the fire by which he had slept, and the remains of a miserable wolf on which he had supped. It was evident he had suffered like themselves the pangs of hunger, though he had fared better at this encampment, for they had not a mouthful to eat. The next day the famishing wanderers resumed their march, and in the evening when they halted, perceived a large smoke at some distance to the southwest. The sight was hailed with joy, for they trusted it might rise from some Indian camp where they could procure something to eat, for the dread of starvation" had now 80 - Pioneer Biography. overcome the terror of the Blackfeet. LeClare, one of the Canadians, was dispatched to reconnoiter; but not returning they lay down supperless to sleep. At daybreak they resumed their journey, but had not gone far when they perceived LeClare approaching at a distance. They hastened to meet him in hopes of tidings of good cheer. He had none to give them, but news of that strange wanderer, McClellan. The smoke had risen from his encampment which had taken fire while he was a little distance from it fishing. LeClare found him in a forlorn condition. His fishing had been unsuccessful. During twelve days that he had been wandering alone through these savage mountains, he had found scarce anything to eat. He had been ill, wayworn, sick at heart, still he kept forward ; but now his stubbornness and strength were exhausted. He expressed his satisfaction at hearing that the rest of his party were so near, and said he would wait at his camp for their arrival, in hopes they would give him something to eat, for without food he declared he should not be able to proceed much further. When the party reached the place, they found McClellan lying on a parcel of withered grass wasted to a mere skeleton, and so feeble that he could scarcely raise his head to speak. The presence of his old comrades seemed to revive him ; but they had no food to give him, for they themselves were starving. They urged him to rise and Robert McClellan - 81 accompany them, but he shook his head. It was all in vain, he said, there was no prospect of their getting speedy relief, and without it he should perish by the way ; he might as well stay and die where he was. At length, after much persuasion, they got him upon his legs ; his rifle and other effects were shared among them, and he was cheered and aided forward. In this way they proceeded seventeen miles over a level plain of sand, until seeing a few antelopes in the distance, they encamped on the margin of a small stream. All those capable of exertion turned out to hunt, but returned without success. As they were preparing to lie down to sleep, LeClare, gaunt and wild with hunger, approached Mr. Stuart with his gun in his hand. " It was all in vain," he said, " to attempt to proceed further without food—they had a barren plain before them, three or four days' journey in extent, on which nothing was to be procured. They must all perish before they could get to the end of it. It was better, therefore, that one should die to save the rest." He proposed, therefore, that they should cast lots, adding, as an inducement for Mr. Stuart to assent to the proposition, that he, as leader of the party, should be exempted. Mr. Stuart was shocked at the horrible proposal, and endeavored to reason with the man, but his words were unavailing. At length, snatching up his rifle, he threatened to shoot him on the spot if he persisted in 82 - Pioneer Biography. the proposition. The man was cowed, begged pardon, and promised never again to offend by making such a suggestion. Quiet was restored to the encampment, but they spent a sleepless night. The next day, after traveling about nine miles, they discovered "an old, run-down buffalo bull," which they succeeded in killing. This seasonable supply stayed their hunger for a time. On the 18th of October, after crossing a mountain ridge and traversing a plain, they waded one of the branches of Spanish river, and, ascending its bank, met with about one hundred and thirty Snake Indians. They were friendly in their demeanor, conducted them to their encampment, made the hungry strangers welcome to their wigwams, and treated them with the utmost hospitality. A few trinkets procured for them a supply of buffalo meat and some leather for moccasins, of which the party were greatly in need. The most valuable prize obtained from them was a horse. It was a sorry old animal in truth, but it was the only one that remained to the poor fellows after the fell swoop which the Crows had made on them a few days previous. Yet this they were prevailed upon to part with to their guests for a pistol, an ax, a knife, and a few other trifling articles. By sunrise on the following morning, the 19th of October, the travelers had loaded their old horse with buffalo meat sufficient for five days' provisions, and Robert McClellan - 83 taking leave of their new allies, the poor but hospitable Snakes, set forth in somewhat better spirits, though the increasing cold of the weather, and the sight of the snowy mountains which they had yet to traverse, were enough to chill their very hearts. The snow, which had fallen in the night, made it late next morning before the party loaded their solitary pack-horse, and resumed their march. Their course was about southeast, having the main chain of mountains on the left, and a considerably elevated ridge on the right. In the evening they encamped on the banks of a small stream in an open prairie. The northeast wind was keen and cutting. They had nothing wherewith to make a fire but a scanty growth of sage or wormwood, and were fain to wrap themselves up in their blankets, and huddle themselves in their "nests" at an early. hour. In the course of the evening, McClellan, who had now regained his strength, killed a buffalo; but, as it was some distance from the camp, they postponed supplying themselves from the carcass until the following morning. The next day, the 21st of October, the cold continued, accompanied by snow. They set forward on their bleak and toilsome way, traversing rugged and sterile mountains, until the 26th of the month, when they came to a wooded ravine in a mountain, at a small distance from the base of which they discovered a stream of water running between willow banks. Here they halted 84 - Pioneer Biography. for the night, and having luckily trapped a beaver and killed two buffalo bulls, they remained all the next day encamped, feasting and reposing, and allowing their jaded horse to rest from his labors. The stream on which they encamped was one of the head waters of the Platte river, which flows into the Missouri. They pursued the course of this stream several days. The increasing rigor of the season, which makes itself felt in these regions, however, brought them to a pause and serious deliberation. All were convinced that it was in vain to attempt to accomplish their journey on foot at this inclement season. They had still many hundred miles to traverse before they could reach the main course of the Missouri river, and their route lay over immense prairies, naked and bleak, and destitute of fuel. The question was, where to choose their wintering place. On the 2d day of November, they came to a place that appeared to present everything requisite for their comfort. It was on a fine bend of the river, just below where it issued from among a ridge of mountains, and bent toward the northeast. Here was a beautiful low point of land covered with cotton-wood, and surrounded by a thick growth of willow, so as to yield both shelter and fuel, as well as materials for building. The river swept by, in a strong current, about one hundred and fifty yards wide. To the southeast and on the north, were mountains of moderate height, Robert McClellan - 85 the nearest about two miles off, covered with thick forests of pine, cedar, and other timber—their rocky recesses and butting cliffs affording retreats for flocks of the big-horn, while their woody summits and ravines abounded with bears and black-tailed deer. These, with the numerous herds of buffalo that ranged the lower grounds along the river, promised the travelers abundant cheer in their winter quarters. Here, therefore, they concluded to pitch their camp for the winter. Their first thought was to obtain a supply of provisions. For this purpose they sallied out to hunt, leaving but one to watch the camp. Their hunting was uncommonly successful; in the course of two days, they killed thirty-two buffaloes, and collected their meat on the margin of a small brook about a mile distant. Fortunately, a severe frost froze the river, so that the meat was easily transported to the encampment. On a succeeding day, a herd of buffalo came trampling through the woody bottom on the river bank, near their encampment, and fifteen more were killed. As the slaughter of so many buffalo had provided the party with meat for the winter, in case they met with no further supply, they now set to work, heart and hand, to build a comfortable cabin. Trees were cut down for the purpose, and by the second evening it was completed. It was eighteen feet long by eight feet wide. The walls were six feet high, and the whole covered by buffalo skins. The fireplace was in the center, and the smoke found its way out by a hole in the roof. 86 - Pioneer Biography. The hunters were next sent out to procure deer skins for garments, moccasins, and other purposes. They made the mountains echo with their rifles, and, in the course of two days' hunting, killed twenty-eight bighorns and black-tailed deer. The party being now abundantly provided for, enjoyed repose for several weeks, until one morning at daybreak, when they were startled by a savage yelp, repeated several times; cautiously peeping out, they beheld several Indian warriors among the trees, all armed and painted in warlike style. McClellan, who had taken his gun to pieces the evening before, put it together in all haste. He proposed that they should break out the clay from between the logs of the cabin, so as to be able to fire upon the enemy. Not a word was uttered by the rest of the party, but they silently slung their powder-horns and ball-pouches, and prepared for battle. It was suggested, however, that a parley ought first to be held, and Mr. Stuart and one Canadian went out; the rest remained in the garrison to keep the savages in check. Stuart advanced, holding his rifle in one hand and extending the other to the savage who appeared to be the chief. The Indian stepped forward and took it, his men followed his example, and all shook hands with Mr. Stuart in token of friendship. It now appeared they were a war party of Arapahays. Their village lay on a stream several days' journey to Robert McClellan - 87 the eastward. It had been attacked and ravaged during their absence by a band of Crows, who had carried off several of their women and most of their horses. They were now in pursuit in quest of vengeance. Mr. Stuart invited the chief and another, who appeared to be his lieutenant, into the hut, but made signs that no one else was to enter. The rest halted at the door; others came straggling up, until the whole party, to the number of twenty-three, were gathered before the hut. They were armed with bows and arrows, tomahawks and scalping knives, and some few with guns; all were painted and dressed for war, and had a wild and fierce appearance. The party of the Arapahays were liberally feasted by the white men during two days which they remained, and when prepared to depart were supplied with provisions to aid them on their way. However, their friendship being doubted, they were carefully watched during their stay. No sooner were they out of hearing than the luckless travelers held council together. They were between two fires. On one side were their old enemies, the Crows; on the other side, the Arapahays, no less dangerous freebooters. The security of their cabin was at an end, and with it all their dreams of a quiet and cosy winter. It was determined, therefore, not to await the return of the Arapahays, but to abandon, with all speed, this dangerous neighborhood. 88 - Pioneer Biography. Accordingly, on the 13th of December, they bade adieu, with many a regret, to their comfortable quarters, where, for five weeks, they had been indulging the sweet repose of plenty and fancied security, and resumed their toilsome journey. They were still accompanied by their venerable pack-horse, which the Arapahays had omitted to steal, probably because they did not think him worth stealing. The snow lay deep and was slightly frozen on the surface, but not sufficiently to bear their weight. Their feet became sore by breaking through the crust, and their limbs weary by floundering on without firm foothold, yet they kept steadily on for fourteen days, making a distance of about three hundred and thirty miles. During the three last days of their fortnight's travel, the face of the country changed. The timber gradually diminished, until they could scarcely find fuel enough to cook their scanty meals. The game grew more and more scarce, and finally none was to be seen but a few miserable, broken-down buffalo bulls not worth killing. The snow lay fifteen inches deep, which made the traveling grievously painful and toilsome. At length they came to an immense plain, where no vestige of timber was to be seen, nor a single living animal to enliven the desolate landscape. Here, then, their hearts failed them, and they held another consultation. The river on which they were, was upward of a mile wide, extremely shallow, and abounding in quick- Robert McClellan - 89 sands, which induced them to come to the correct conclusion that they were on the banks of the Platte, or shallow river. What were they to do? pursue its course to the Missouri? To go on at this season of the year seemed dangerous in the extreme. There was no prospect of obtaining either food or fuel. The weather was threatening a change; a snow-storm in these boundless wastes might prove fatal. After much dreary deliberation, it was at length determined to retrace their last three days' journey of seventy-seven miles, to a place where they had observed a sheltering growth of timber, and a country abounding in game. Accordingly, on the 27th day of December, they faced about, retraced their steps, and on the 3oth regained the part of the river in question. Here the alluvial bottom was from one to two miles wide and thickly covered with a forest of cotton-wood trees, some of which were large enough for canoes. Herds of buffalo were scattered about the neighboring prairie, several of which soon fell beneath their rifles. Here they put up a shed for immediate shelter, and afterward proceeded to erect a but for their more comfortable accommodation. They soon killed an abundance of buffalo, and again laid up a stock of winter provisions. The party Were more fortunate in this their second cantonment, than they had been in the former. The winter passed away without any Indian visitors, and 90 - Pioneer Biography. the game continued to be plentiful in the neighborhood, They felled two large trees, and shaped and dug them out into canoes ; and, as the spring opened and a thaw of several days' continuance melted the ice in the river, they made preparation for embarking. On the 8th of March, they launched forth in their canoes, but soon found that the river had not sufficient depth even for such slender barks. It expanded into a wide but extremely shallow stream, with many sandbars and occasionally various channels. They got one of their canoes a few miles down the river with extreme difficulty, sometimes wading and dragging it over the shoals. At length they had to abandon the attempt, and resume their journey on foot, aided by their faithful old pack-horse which had recruited strength during the repose of the winter. The weather, having suddenly become more severe than it had been at any time during the winter, delayed them a few days ; but on the loth of March, they were again on their journey. In two days they arrived at the vast naked prairie, the wintry aspect of which had caused them in December to pause and turn back. It was now clothed in the early verdure of spring and plentifully stocked with game. Still, as they were obliged to bivouac on the bare surface without any shelter, and by a scanty fire of dried buffalo dung, they found the night blasts piercing cold. On one occasion, a herd of buffalo straying near their evening camp, they Robert McClellan - 91 killed three of them merely for their hides, wherewith to make a shelter for the night. They continued on for upward of a hundred miles, with vast prairies extended before them as they advanced, sometimes diversified by undulating hills, but destitute of trees. In one place they saw a large gang of wild horses—but as to buffaloes, they seemed absolutely to cover the country. Wild geese abounded, and they passed extensive swamps that were alive with innumerable flocks of water-fowl, among which were a few swans and an endless variety of ducks. The first landmark by which the travelers were enabled to conjecture their position with any degree of confidence, was an island about seventy miles in length in the river, which they presumed to be Grand Island. If so, they were within one hundred and forty miles of the Missouri river. They therefore kept on with renewed spirit, and at the end of three days met with an Otto Indian, who conducted them to his village, situated a short distance from the banks of the Platte. Here they met with two white men, Messrs. Dornin and Roi, Indian traders, recently from St. Louis. Of these they had a thousand inquiries to make concerning all affairs, foreign and domestic, during their year of sepulture in the wilderness. From them they learned for the first time that war existed between the United States and England, although, in fact, it had existed for near a whole year, during which time they had been 92 - Pioneer Biography. beyond the reach of all knowledge of the affairs of the civilized world. They now prepared to abandon their weary travel by land, and to embark upon the water. A bargain was made with Mr. Dornin, who engaged to furnish them with a canoe and provisions for the voyage, in exchange for their venerable and well-tried fellow-traveler, the old Snake horse. Accordingly, in a couple of days the Indians employed by Mr. Dornin constructed for them a canoe twenty feet long, four feet wide, and eighteen inches deep. The frame was of poles and willow twigs, on which were stretched five elk and buffalo hides, sewed together with sinews, and the seams filled with unctuous mud. In this they embarked at an early hour on the 16th of April, and drifted down ten miles with the current, when, the wind being high, they encamped, and set to work to make oars, which they had not been able to procure at the Indian village. Once more afloat, they went merrily down the stream, and after making thirty-five miles emerged in the broad turbid current of the Missouri. Here they were borne along briskly by the rapid stream, though by the time their fragile bark had floated a couple of hundred miles, its frame began to show the effects of the voyage. Luckily they came to the deserted wintering place of a hunting party, where they found two old wooden canoes. Taking possession of the larger, they again Robert McClellan - 93 committed themselves to the current, and after dropping down fifty-five miles further they arrived safely at Fort Osage. Here they found Lieutenant Bronson still in command—the same officer who had given the expedition a hospitable reception on its way up the river. He received this remnant of the party with a cordial welcome, and endeavored in every way to promote their comfort and enjoyment during their sojourn at the fort. The greatest luxury they met with on their return to the abode of civilization was bread, not having tasted any for nearly a year. Their stay at Fort Osage was but short. On re-embarking, they were furnished with an ample supply of provisions by the kindness of Lieutenant Bronson, and performed the rest of their voyage without meeting with any adverse circumstances. On the 30th of April, 1813, they arrived in perfect health and spirits at St. Louis, having been ten months performing their toilsome and perilous expedition from Astoria. Their return caused quite a sensation in St. Louis. They brought the first intelligence of the fortune of Mr. Hunt and his party in their adventurous expedition across the Rocky mountains, and of the new establishment on the shores of the Pacific. On the 1st day of May, the day after their arrival at St. Louis, Robert McClellan wrote to his brother William, at Hamilton, Ohio, giving him an account of 94 - Pioneer Biography. his journey from the Pacific ocean, and by another letter dated Cape Girardeau, of July 14, 1814, he wrote that he had been furnished with a stock of goods by Risdon H. Price, of St. Louis, which he had opened at Cape Girardeau, in the month of January previous, where he had sold a great many goods, but principally on credit. He writes that his health had been very bad for several months (no doubt in consequence of his constitution being impaired by the extreme hardships to which he had been exposed), and that he was about closing his business with an intention of returning to St. Louis. The health of McClellan continued to decline until the time of his death, which happened sometime in the latter part of that year, at Cape Girardeau, where he lies buried. This closed all the adventures and wanderings of Robert McClellan. With a short notice of McClellan's brothers, we closes this narrative : John, the youngest of the three brothers, at the commencement of this narrative, remained at the paternal residence near Mercersburgh, and pursued the business of packing over the mountains, from the Conecocheague valley, to the Backwoods, as the country around Pittsburg and Red Stone Old Fort (Brownsville) was then called, until about the year 1800, when he came to the western country. Being a single man, he lived Robert McClellan - 95 with his brother William, who kept a house of entertainment in the town of Hamilton. John McClellan occasionally engaged in trading with the Indians ; taking goods, and such articles as were suitable for the Indian trade, on pack-horses from Hamilton to the Indian towns on the headwaters of the Wabash river, and other villages in the direction of Detroit. He pursued this business for several years. In the month of August, 1814, he loaded a number of pack-horses at Hamilton, with goods for the Indian trade, and set out on a trading expedition for the Indian towns on the headwaters of the Wabash. On the 13th of August, he left Greenville early in the morning, and pursued his route toward Fort Recovery. He was altogether alone. When he had advanced nine and a half miles beyond Greenville he was waylaid and shot by some Indians, who it is presumed had seen him at Greenville and watched his movements. Their object was the plunder of the goods he carried. They carried off his horses and goods, and were never heard of afterward. His body was not discovered until two or three days afterward, when it was found by some hunters and buried in the woods where he fell. John McClellan was in stature upward of six feet high, of great strength and muscular powers, but by no means endowed with the activity which his brother Robert possessed. In disposition he was mild and 96 - Pioneer Biography. accommodating. He would, intentionally, give offense to no human being. William, the oldest of the three brothers, continued in the employ of the quartermaster's department of the army as captain or pack-horse master, during the campaign of General Wayne against the Indians, and until after the treaty of peace concluded at Greenville, in August, 1795. Soon after this he married Miss Mary Sterret, of Mercersburgh, Pennsylvania, and settled in Hamilton, where he took possession of the building in Fort Hamilton, which had been erected for the accommodation of the officers of the army. The house stood near the center of High street, about where the west end of the market-house now is. It was a frame building, fifty feet long by twenty feet wide, and two stories high. It had a heavy stone chimney in the center of the building, which divided each story into two rooms, affording a fireplace in each room. On the west, even with the second story, was a porch or piazza the whole length of the building, from which was a fine view up and down the Miami river. On the north was a kitchen of logs, with a fine wide space or hall between the kitchen and the house. Here William McClellan lived and opened a tavern, which was the principal place of entertainment and resort of travelers in 'Hamilton for many years. The county of Butler having been established and Robert McClellan - 97 organized in the year 1803, William McClellan was elected sheriff of the county in October of that year, and at the expiration of two years was again elected for a second term, at the expiration of which, having served in the office four years, and being according to the constitution of the State of Ohio, ineligible to the same office, John Wingate was elected to succeed him in October, 1807. At the expiration of the term of two years of Mr. Wingate, Wm. McClellan again became a candidate in October, 1809, and was elected. At the expiration of his first term of two years, he was re-elected for a second term and served until October, 1813, making eight years which he had served as sheriff of Butler county. In the year 1811, he removed from the town of Hamilton, and settled on his farm, on Two-Mile creek, west of the Great Miami river and a mile northwest of Rossville. However, he still kept an office in Hamilton, and a deputy to attend to his business. After the expiration of his term of office as sheriff he remained in private life, employing himself in cultivating and attending to his farm and other domestic concerns, until the time of his death, which took place on the 2d of October, 1827. His body lies interred in the old Hamilton burying-ground, where a plain head-stone marks the spot in which his remains are deposited. William McClellan was sixty years old at the time of his death. 98 - Pioneer Biography. In person, William McClellan was about six feet in hight, sparely made, but muscular and active ; in his friendship he was warm and ardent ; in disposition, kind and accommodating, possessing a great portion of the milk of human kindness. None of his friends ever called on him for a favor, which was not granted, if possibly within his power. One peculiar trait of his character was, that he could never say no to any friend who solicited him for a favor. Hence he was one of the most popular men of his day in the county of Butler. His widow survived him several years—she died on the loth of November, 1842, aged 71 years, and lies buried beside her husband in the old Hamilton burying-ground. They had two sons and three daughters who inherited the estate. James, the oldest son, sold his possession, and moved to the State of Iowa in the year 1851. William, the younger son, owns the homestead and still lives. The daughters, Maria, Martha Ann, and Isabella, have married, and all gone with their husbands to live in the State of Indiana. Appendix—Captain William Wells - 99 APPENDIX. Captain, William Wells. Of Captain William Wells' birth and parentage we have no record. He was captured at the age of twelve years, when he was an inmate of the family of Hon. Nathaniel Pope, in Kentucky, by the Miami tribe, and going through the formal adoption, lived to manhood among them. His Indian name was Black Snake. He became quite an influential man among them, and married a sister of the celebrated chief Little Turtle. He fought by the side of his chief in the contests with Generals Harmar and St. Clair. " Afterward, in times of calm reflection, with dim memories still of his childhood home, of brothers and playmates, he seems to have been harassed with the thought that among the slain, by his own hand, may have been his kindred. The approach of Wayne's army, in 1794, stirred anew conflicting emotions, based upon indistinct recollections of early ties, of country and kindred on the one hand, and existing attachments of wife and children on the other. He resolved to make his history known. With true Indian characteristics the secret purpose of leaving his adopted nation was, according to reliable tradition, made known in this manner : Taking with him the war-chief, Little Turtle, to a favorite spot on the banks of the Maumee, Wells said : I now leave your nation for my