200 - HISTORY OF OHIO Great Miami." Instead, the boundary was to be a line beginning on the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River ; thence running to Fort Recovery ; thence north until it intersected the territorial line between the United States and Canada. This line included within the "eastern division of the territory northwest of the Ohio River" not only Cincinnati but its contiguous populous territory in the triangle west of the present Ohio boundary. The seat of government for the eastern division was fixed at Chillicothe until otherwise ordered by the territorial legislature. St. Clair had advocated the Scioto River as the boundary line, with Marietta as the capital of the easternmost division, Cincinnati of the middle, and Vincennes of the third division. With the inhabitants of the Western Reserve and the original Marietta colony preponderating, the eastern division would then be federalist, and as the territory's population would not warrant statehood for some years to come, St. Clair, it was charged, could in this way prolong his regime. These matters, however, properly belong in the discussion of statehood, which is the subject of another chapter. On May 10, 1800, Congress 'passed what was known as the "Harrison land law," a law which, says the historian, McMaster, "Did far more for the good of his country than his great victory over the Prophet at Tippecanoe,. or his defeat of Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames." Under the law of 1796 the smallest unit of Ohio public lands that could be purchased was 640 acres, at two dollars an acre with credit of one one year on half the purchase. Under the new law, local land offices were to be opened at Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Marietta and Steubenville, and sales were to be made in 'units of half sections or 320 acres, the payment of the purchase price being spread over four years. "The substantial fact remains that under the Harrison law, the United States became the partner of every settler who wished to try his luck upon the public domain, required him to put up 50 cents an acre in advance and took its chance with him as to the success or failure of the enterprise. Whether it was a good system for the country, or a vicious inducement to speculation and evasion of obligations, remained to be seen. * * * It opens a fresh chapter in settlement."8 SECOND SESSION, NOVEMBER 3 TO DECEMBER 9, 1800  In accordance with the act of Congress of May 7, 1800, the second session of the first general assembly of the Northwest Territory convened, at the call of the governor, at Chillicothe, with Edward Tiffin as speaker of the house, and Robert Oliver president of the council. Since Harrison had been made governor of Indiana Territory, a new territorial delegate was elected, William McMillan being chosen for the Congress ending March 4, 1801, while Paul Fearing, the first attorney admitted to the bar in Northwest Territory, was chosen delegate for the two. years following. On the work of this session Chase says : "This was a shorter session than the preceding, and the legislation was less important. The increasing unpopularity of Governor St. Clair was evinced by the debates and votes upon the answer to his speech. An argumentative remonstrance relative to the erection of new counties; and to the mode of exercising the veto power, was presented to him on behalf of both houses, to which he returned a long and labored reply, but conceded nothing. After this the legislature retired from the controversy, but many began to look forward to admission into the Union, as a way of escape from a role which they thought harsh and oppressive." In his address at the opening of the legislature, the governor said : "My term of office will soon expire. It is, indeed, very uncertain whether I shall ever meet another assembly in the character I now hold ; for I well know that the vilest calumnies and greatest falsehoods are 8 - History of the American Frontier," Frederic L. Paxson. AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 201 insidiously circulated among the people with a view to prevent it." The opponents of St. Clair proposed to take advantage of the expected delay following the expiration of his term and the appointment of his successor. Mr. Byrd, the territorial secretary, would, in the interim, succeed to the duties of governor. With the legislature still in session, it would be possible to carry out the program of the anti-St. Clair faction. But the governor on December 2, while Secretary Byrd was in Cincinnati, informed the general assembly by written message that the session would be prorogued December 9, since on that clay his term of office would expire, and, in his opinion, it was not a case provided for by law in which the place of the governor could be supplied by the secretary. 9 While there were conflicting views as to whether the secretary could legally succeed, in this case, to the authority of the governor, the legislature adjourned on the day set. The contest was transferred to Washington, where an effort was made by the enemies of St. Clair to prevent his reappointment. The Federalist President Adams was still in office and on December 22, 1800, he recommended St. Clair's reappointment for the term of three years. At the same time he sent to the senate the protests of those in the territory who opposed the St. Clair administration. On February 3, 1801, the senate confirmed the appointment. SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY SESSION AT CHILLICOTHE, NOVEMBER 23, 1801 TO JANUARY 23, 1802 In October, 1801, the members of the second territorial legislature were elected. Edward Tiffin was again chosen speaker of the house of representatives, with Robert Oliver president of the council. An act of this session, approved January 1, 1802, established the territorial capital at Cincinnati. The governor in his opening address suggested a revision of the criminal laws, which was not however acted upon. Among his recommendations that were carried out were those that the militia law be altered as respected the appointment of general officers, and that those citizens who were conscientiously opposed to war be exempt from military duties and from fines provided for in the militia law, this for the benefit of the Quakers who were settling in the territory in considerable numbers. Acts were passed to incorporate the towns of Cincinnati, Chillicothe and Detroit ; to establish a university in the town of Athens, on land granted for that purpose. Of particular interest was the act approved December 21, 1801, asking the assent of Congress to a change in the boundaries proposed in that instrument for dividing the territory into states. The bill was a restatement of the boundary views expressed by Governor St. Clair in 1800. Under the Ordinance, "the eastern state in particular would be too extensive for the purposes of internal government." The western boundary, proposed by this act, should be the Scioto River to the Indian boundary line as established in the treaty of Greenville, with the north line the Indian boundary to the western extremity of the Connecticut Reserve. That this bill passed is evidence that the second general assembly of the territory was still dominated by St. Clair. The vote for the measure was practically unanimous in the council. But in the house it encountered a strenuous and determined resistance, twelve of the representatives voting for and eight against, the latter including such men as 9 - The law provided only for the succession of the secretary of the territory to the governorship "in case of the death, removal, resignation or necessary absence of the governor." It did not provide for such succession in case of the expiration of the term of the governor. Neither did it provide that the governor should continue in office until his successor was appointed and qualified. It would therefore seem that from December 9, 1800, to February 3, 1801, the territory was without a governor. 202 - HISTORY OF OHIO Massie, Morrow and Worthington. After the bill was passed, a mob composed of advocates of statehood, together with Chillicothe citizens enraged at the proposition to remove the capital, took possession of the town for two nights. The legislators who had voted against the division bill brought in a minority resolution. Petitions for statehood were circulated throughout the territory. A formal list of grievances against Governor St. Clair and a request for his removal were also drawn up. The emissary chosen to present these matters to President Jefferson was Thomas Worthington. A concise statement of the final issue of the matter is found in the words of Chase's Preliminary Sketch "A change in the national government had been recently effected, and the favorers of a state government within the territory were, in general, members of the ascendant party. This circumstance favored the views of Mr. Worthington and his friends. The bill for the alteration of boundaries met with no favor from .Congress ; but, on the contrary, an act was passed (April 30, 1802) , in conformity with the wishes of the opponents of that measure, authorizing the formation of a state government. This act was so framed as to exclude the inhabitants of that part of Michigan east of the line running north from the mouth of the great Miami from all share in framing the new constitution. This arrangement was complained of by many, and with much appearance of reason, as a transgression of the spirit of the Ordinance, and was ascribed to a desire to secure the political influence of the new state for the ascendant party. "The constitution convention assembled at Chillicothe on the first day of November, 1802. All the original opponents of the alteration of boundaries, except two, were present as members, while of those who had advocated that measure in the legislature, but two or three had been successful at the polls. A decided majority of the members belonged to the party in favor of the national administration. On the third day of the session, Governor St. Clair, by permission, addressed the convention. In the course of his remarks he animadverted, with severity, upon the exclusion of Wayne county from representation in convention, and earnestly advised the postponement of the formation of a state government, until the increase in population should entitle the people of the original eastern division to form a constitution and demand admission into the Union under the Ordinance without any curtailment of boundaries. The governor's observations on this occasion were deemed by President Jefferson sufficiently reprehensible to warrant his immediate removal from office ; though the convention was so little affected by them that, when on the same day the question was taken on a resolution declaring it expedient at that time to form a constitution and state government, a single vote only was given in the negative." The humiliation of being removed from an office in which he had served fourteen years was increased by. the manner in which the dismissal was delivered to St. Clair. The secretary of state, James Madison, under date of November 22, 1802, addressed St. Clair the following letter: "The President observing, in an address lately delivered by you to the convention held at Chillicothe, an intemperance and indecorum of language toward the legislature of the United States, and a disorganizing spirit and tendency of very evil example, and grossly violating the rules of conduct enjoined by your public station, determines that your commission of governor of the Northwestern Territory shall cease on the receipt of this notification." This letter was enclosed in one directed to Charles Willing Byrd, the secretary of the territory and the open political enemy of St. Clair. To this letter St. Clair made a stinging reply, which is appended to this chapter. In the humiliation of defeat he exhibited his fighting spirit. He went down with colors flying and winged. "a Parthian arrow" at his victorious foes. AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 203 Important events of far-reaching influence are sometimes shaped by the temperament of one person. Had St. Clair been of the type of Edward Tiffin he probably would have been the first governor of Ohio and the state would have been launched under Federalist auspices and not under the banner of the Jeffersonian democracy. The duties of the office of governor, during the few weeks that remained of the territory, developed on Secretary Byrd. "St. Clair lost the satisfaction of carrying to fulfillment the colonial venture over which he had presided from the start. The Virginia democracy finished what New England soldiers had begun."10 Letter of Arthur St. Clair to James Madison, Secretary of State, in answer to a communication notifying him of his dismissal from the office of Governor of the Northwestern Territory : "Cincinnati, December 21st, 1802. "Sir :—Your letter of the 22d of November, notifying me that the President had determined that upon receipt of that letter my commission of governor of the Northwestern Territory should cease, was delivered to me by Mr. Secretary Byrd on the 14th day of this month. "I request you, sir, to present my humble thanks to the President for that favor, as he has thereby discharged me from an office I was heartily tired of about six weeks sooner than I had determined to rid myself of it, as he may have observed from an address—not to the Convention, but—to the people, on the 8th instant. "I cannot, however, agree with the President that in my address to the Convention, which is assigned as a reason for my being dismissed, there was either 'intemperance or indecorum of language towards the Legislature of the United States, or a disorganizing spirit of evil tendency and example,' unless an honest and true representation of facts deserve these epithets, or that 'the rules of conduct enjoined by my public station' were in any way violated, unless it is understood that the rule of conduct is an implicit, blind obedience. "As the Convention, sir, was to meet in pursuance of an act of Congress, whereby the election of the members was to be made according to the law of the Territory that had existed, but had been long repealed, a sense of duty led me to cause the election to be made conformably to the spirit of the act and the existing laws of the Territory, as they could not be made conformably to the words of it ; and when the Convention was met, I had done with it in my public capacity. "Every citizen has a right to address that body, either openly or in writing, and that right was common to me with the rest ; and I believe, sir, it is a paramount duty which every man owes to the community of which he is a member, to give warning, either to the representatives or to the body, when he sees the rights of that community invaded—from whatever quarter the invasion may come—and direct them, if he can, to the means of warding it off or of repelling it ; and I scruple not to say that the violent, hasty and unprecedented intrusion of the Legislature of the United States into the internal concerns of the Northwestern Territory was, at the least, indecorous and inconsistent with its public duty. And I might add that the transferring of about five thousand people, without their knowledge or consent, from a country where they were in possession of self-government, to another where they will be, at least for some time, deprived of that privilege and subjected to many other inconveniences, was something worse than `intemperate and indecorous' ; and that, had it happened in Germany, where such things have happened, no man in America would have hesitated to have used a harsher term. "Degraded as our country is and abject as too many of her sons have become, there is still a vast proportion of them who will be at no loss for the proper term. 10 - Paxson, History of the American Frontier. 204 - HISTORY OF OHIO "Be pleased, sir, to accept my thanks, too, for the peculiar delicacy you observed in committing the delivery of your letter, and furnishing him with a copy of it, to Mr. Byrd, against whom there was in your hands, to be laid before the President, complaints of something more than mere 'indecorum'—the total neglect of, and refusal to perform, his official duty. "It is such strokes as this which serve to develop character and, like the relief in painting, bring out the figure distinctly in its proper place. "It produced, however, no other emotion in me but that kind of derision which physiognomists tell us is the involuntary expression on the countenance of a certain mental sensation which I do not choose to name, and never fails to produce it. 'With due respect, I am, etc., "AR. ST. CLAIR." FIRST CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY Though the Ohio Company colony had been established at the mouth of the Muskingum less than three months, the 4th of July, 1788, was observed by the soldiers and settlers in a manner befitting the occasion anywhere. Hildreth's Pioneer History is the source of the following account. The day opened with the firing of the federal salute, of thirteen guns. at Fort Harmar, on the opposite bank of the Muskingum from Marietta. At half past twelve General Harmar, with the ladies, officers and other gentlemen of the garrison arrived at the city, where were assembled the gentlemen of the Ohio Company and the other people who composed the settlement. A sumptuous dinner was provided by the inhabitants, and eaten under a bowery which stretched along on the bank of the Muskingum. The table was supplied with venison, bear meat, buffalo, and roasted pigs, procured from Williams' settlement (on the Virginia side of the Ohio), with a variety of fish. Many patriotic toasts were drank, as follows: 1. The United States. 2. The Congress. 3. His most Christian Majesty. AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 205 4. The United Netherlands. 5. The Friendly Powers throughout the World. 6. The new Federal Constitution. 7. His Excellency General Washington and the Society of Cincinnati. 8. His Excellency Governor St. Clair and the Western Territory. 9. The memory of those who have nobly fallen in defense of American freedom. 10. Patriots and Heroes. 11. Captain Pipe, chief of the Delawares, and a happy treaty with the natives. 12. Agriculture and Commerce, Arts and Sciences. 13. The amiable partners of our delicate pleasures 14. The Glorious Fourth of July. The celebration occurred five days before the arrival of Governor St. Clair, but one of the judges of the Territory was present, General Varnum, and he delivered the oration, which was the first political address ever made in what is now the state of Ohio. Referring to the promise of stable government under the new constitution, he said : "Every class of citizens will be equally protected by the laws ; and the labor of the industrious will find the reward of peace, plenty and virtuous contentment. Until the new constitution shall have so far operated as to require the possession of Niagara and Detroit, we may possibly meet with some disturbances from the natives ; but it is our duty as well as our interest to conduct toward them with humanity and kindness. We must at the same time be upon our guard, and by no means suffer the progress of our settlement to be checked by too great a degree of confidence. * * * "Many of our associates are distinguished for wealth, education and virtue, and others, for the most part, are reputable, industrious, well informed planters, farmers, tradesmen and mechanics. "We have made provision, among our first institutions, for scholastic and liberal education ; and conscious that our being as well as prosperity depend upon the Supreme Will, we have not neglected the great principles and institutions of religion. "The United States have granted to us, in common with the whole territory, a most excellent constitution for a temporary government ; they have provided for its regular administration, and placed at its head a gentleman of the first character, both for the many amiable virtues of his private life, and for the eminent talents and unshaken fidelity with which he has sustained the most important appointment. We mutually lament that the absence of His Excellency will not permit us, upon this joyous occasion, to make those grateful assurances of sincere attachments which bind us to him by the noblest motives that can animate an enlightened people. May he soon arrive." CHAPTER III GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS COL. WINTHROP SARGENT'S DIARY OF THE CAMPAIGN Much has been written on the ill-fated expedition of Gen. Arthur St. Clair against the Indians in 1791. On March 4 of that year, he was appointed major general of the United States Army. For some time the Indians had been virtually at war with the whites. Attacks were frequently made against settlers, their homes were burned and the border was subjected to the horrors of savage warfare. The Government realized that these depredations must be checked or migration to the West must be abandoned. A military force, designed to punish the Indians for their misdeeds and put an end to their desolating incursions, was assembled and organized at Fort Washington. Considerable difficulty was experienced in preparing for the advance into the Indian country. The levies were slow in assembling. Complaint was made of the character of the militia, especially those from Kentucky who were declared to be "raw and unused to the gun or the woods." 1 General St. Clair was much disappointed with the men from that state, one-half of whom could "certainly serve no other purpose than to swell their number."2 A subordinate officer sarcastically declared, "If the leading patriots of Kentucky don't turn out rascals, then some men that I know are greatly mistaken."3There is on record the further general complaint of the "material" of which "the bulk of the army was composed ; men collected from the streets and prisons of the cities, hurried out into the enemy's country, and with the officers commanding them totally unacquainted with the business in which they were engaged."4 General Harmar, who by rather sad experience had learned the serious and dangerous character of a campaign against the Indians in their forest retreat, refused to accompany the expedition and was surprised to see St. Clair undertake the command under the discouraging conditions that had been manifest since the troops began to assemble at Fort Washington. 5 On September 18 the troops had advanced and commenced building Fort Hamilton on the present site of the City of Hamilton, named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury. Here Here Gen. Richard Butler, second in command, and Capt. Ebenezer Denny, aide-de-camp to General St. Clair, joined the army. The entire force numbered 2,300 noncommissioned officers and privates fit for duty. A detachment was left as a garrison at Fort Hamilton, and the main army proceeded on its northward march. On October 14th the site of a new fort was selected forty-four miles from Fort Hamilton. This was called Fort Jefferson. The site was in the present County of Darke, six miles south of Greenville. It is now marked by a monument. After completing this fort the army continued its march northward. 1 - Mayor Ebenezer Denny, "Military Journal," p. 140. 2 - Ibid. 3 - lbid. 4 - lbid, p. 170. 5 - Denny, "Military Journal," p. 170. - 206 - AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 207 General St. Clair was in poor health, suffering from the gout and unable to walk. He realized that his ability to keep the army together depended upon keeping it continually in motion. As they penetrated the Indian country the difficulties and dangers of the expedition became more apparent. On the 30th of October sixty of the militia deserted, intending to plunder the convoys of provisions that were following the army in the rear. Major Hamtranck with 300 men selected from the First United States Regiment followed the deserters to apprehend them if possible and prevent their plundering of the stores on the way to the army. The expedition, considerably reduced in numbers, proceeded to a point twenty-nine miles from Fort Jefferson, ninety-seven miles from Fort Washington and fifteen miles south of the Miami villages, where it encamped November 3 on the banks of a tributary to the Wabash River. It was here on the morning of November 4 before sunrise that the Indians commenced their attack. There are a number of accounts by participants of what followed in this disastrous battle. There is the report of St. Clair under date of November 9, 1791, to the secretary of war and his "Narrative of the Campaign Against the Indians," published in 1812. There are accounts by Maj. Ebenezer Denny in his "Military journal" 6 ; by Benjamin Van Cleve in "The American Pioneer" 7; by Thomas Irwin, in the "Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications" 8; by Maj. Jacob Fowler, in Cists "Advertiser" (1844), reproduced by Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio."9 The following diary of Col. Winthrop Sargent, adjutant general of the army, who was with the expedition from the time it left Fort Washington until its shattered ranks returned, is here given because of his prominence in the early history of the Northwest Territory and his opportunity to know all the details of the campaign. His record of events as he saw them has not, until recently, been generally available to Ohio readers. For this reason it is here reproduced without essential omission. DIARY In this diary (principally intended as a record of meteorological observations) brief memorandums of public transactions in which the author has borne a part or been officially interested are frequently made, and on the 16th of June, being appointed adjutant general of the army operating the Western Indians, the movements and casualties of the troops with all immediately connected circumstances, were minutely detailed in their order to the close of the campaign, and afforded proper documents for a narrative thereof. The unfortunate defeat upon the 4th of November, by involving the loss of all his papers, excepting some loose notes, has put it out of his power to take up even the march of the army with any degree of regularity at an earlier period than the 7th of October. From memorandums of some of the officers, and a reference to the Acts of Congress, the following succinct prefatory statement is made, to perpetuate a right understanding of the commencement, progress and failure of the expedition under Major-General St. Clair, and as a necessary introduction to the writer's minute account of the action upon the 4th of November, 1791. In addition to the First United States Regiment, which, by an act of Congress of April 30, 1790, it was provided should consist of twelve hundred and sixteen non-commissioned officers and privates, a second, 6 - Pp. 165-168. 7 - Vol. II, pp. 150-153. 8 - Vol. X, pp. 378-380. 9 - Vol. II, pp. 226-228. 208 - HISTORY OF OHIO to consist of nine hundred and twelve, was granted by a law passed the 3d of March, 1791 ; authorizing at the same time the President to cause to be enlisted at his discretion any number of men not exceeding two thousand, under the denomination of levies, for the term of six months ; and in case there should be a failure in obtaining the due complement for the First or Second Regiment, to make up the same either of levies or militia,—thus providing for an army of four thousand one hundred and twenty-eight non-commissioned officers, privates and musicians. That a part of this force was destined for the Southern States there can be no doubt. Small garrisons were necessary for Venango, Fort Harmar, Forts Washington, Knox and Steuben ; and the posts necessary to preserve a communication upon our march from Fort Washington, it must have been intended should have been garrisoned from this army also. With the residue the General was to have marched to the site of the Miami towns and there established himself. There was no alternative—his orders were positive. It was not until the 3d of March, as has been observed, that the bill authorizing the raising a second regiment, levies, etc., passed into a law, and so unsuccessful was the recruiting service, and so many obstacles in the way of marching the men to the frontier, that upon the last of May (the time of my arrival at headquarters, Fort Washington) the whole effective strength was little more than one company and the garrisons at the posts before mentioned were small indeed. By memorandums of Mr. Inspector Mentzees, it appears that upon June 13th, Captain Armstrong's company of the First Regiment, and Captain Kirkwood's of the Second, arrived at headquarters. Upon the 14th, Captain M____'s company, of the First Regiment. Upon the 22d, Major Fike's battalion of levies from the territory southeast of the Ohio, not exceeding two companies. Upon the 27th, Major Gaither, with parts of his own Maryland battalion and Patterson's, of Jersey. Upon the 1st of August, General Wilkinson marched from headquarters to the Indian towns with some Kentucky mounted volunteers. General Scott did the same thing before him, and the principal effects of both these expeditions were an enormous public expense. August the 14th, such of the First and Second United States Regiments as had arrived, with Rhea's, Gaither's and Patterson's levies, encamped at Ludlow's Station, upon Mill creek, five miles advance of Cincinnati. This movement, it was expected, by abstracting the men from the debaucheries of the town, would preserve them in better health and condition for service and acquaint them in some degree with camp duties, of which officers as well as men were generally very ignorant. Another advantage in advancing this little army was the opening a road towards the Miami and reconnoitering the proper position whereon to erect a fort of deposit. Upon the 29th, Lieutenant-Colonel Darke arrived with Beddinger's battalion of Virginia levies, some detachments for the Maryland and Jersey levies, together with Beattie's and Doyle's companies of the First United States Regiment. September 5th, Beddinger's battalion marched for Ludlow's Station. Up to this time, the immediate command in camp was with Major Hamtranck, General St. Clair being either stationary at Fort Washington, or in Kentucky, upon the necessary arrangements for the campaign and to make up, if possible, the very great deficiencies of the regular and levy corps by volunteers or draughts from the militia. At this period, or on the 4th, Lieutenant-Colonel Darke assumed the command in camp. Upon the 6th, Captain Bradford moved from Fort Washington with two pieces of field artillery, etc., and upon the same day the troops marched from Ludlow's Station for the Miami ; the distance, about eighteen miles ; a road to be cut the whole way through consid- AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 209 erable woods, and three days elapsed before their arrival. About the 10th the work, now called Fort Hamilton, was commenced ; but the troops were very indifferently supplied with tools. Upon the 8th, Lieutenant-Colonel Gibson arrived with Butler's and Clark's battalions of Pennsylvania levies. With these troops, as well as with Major Gaither, came a considerable number of pack horses and some intended for the dragoons. Hardships and inattention, during a long and tedious water-passage, had unfitted them for the arduous service to which they were devoted. Upon the 10th, General Butler and the quartermaster general arrived, with Major Hart, three companies of the Second United States Regiment, and a company of riflemen, commanded by Captain Faulkner. Upon the 11th, two other companies of the Second United States Regiment, together with a detachment of artillery and five field pieces were put in motion to join the camp. Upon the 18th, I accompanied General St. Clair to camp, and remained stationary with the army during the residue of the campaign. His frequent 'absences from the territory, to this period, by vesting the executive duties of the civil government in me, had made it necessary that my military services should in some degree be dispensed with. From the 20th to the 27th, General St. Clair at Fort Washington, and the command of the army with Major Hamtranck. Large fatigue parties constantly at the works upon the Miami. About the last of September Captain Ford joined the army with five pieces of artillery. From the 1st to the 9th of October, General St. Clair absent from the army, and the command with General Butler. Previous to the General's leaving camp, he was pleased to publish the order of march, battle and encampment. 210 - HISTORY OF OHIO Upon the morning of the 4th of October we beat the General. Some deficiencies of pack horses postponed the march till twelve o'clock, when the army was put in motion by two columns from their encampment at the prairie near Fort Hamilton, crossed the Miami (the fording of which at this time was not deep) and advanced three miles, opening two roads, about two hundred and fifty yards apart, as they marched ; the pack horses and bullocks moving in the center interval of wood, and the artillery in the front, centre and rear of the columns. Upon the 5th, General Butler so far changed the disposition prescribed by the commanding general as to advance the artillery by a single broadcut road of twelve feet. Five pieces in front, and dressing with the heads of columns marching by single files about one hundred yards on right and left ; the ammunition and baggage horses following immediately this artillery, and the five additional pieces bring up the rear, covered by the rear guard et cetera ; the bullocks between the road and the columns. The woods were everywhere so compact as made the opening of a road extremely tedious. Bridges were frequently to be thrown over streams and ravines, and the infantry, though marching by single files, were necessitated to cut their way at every every step. Our progress was consequently slow, and we made only a distance of _____ miles. Upon the 6th, we advanced in the same order and gained____ miles. The march of the 7th and succeeding days to the defeat and return of the army to Fort Washington, with a description of the country we passed over and a particular account of the action upon the 4th of November, 1791, is entered in this diary. Upon the 10th of October Colonel Oldham joined the army with upwards of three hundred Kentucky militia. Upon paper, we now stood respectable in numbers ; the accompanying report of the morning immediately preceding our def eat will show the effectives. The absence of the First Regiment and desertions- from the militia has very much reduced us ; with the residue there was too generally wanting the essential stamina of soldiers. Picked up and recruited from the offscourings of large towns and cities ; enervated by idleness ; debaucheries and every species of vice, it was impossible they .could have been made competent to the arduous duties of Indian warfare. An extraordinary aversion to service was also conspicuous amongst them and demonstrated by the most repeated desertions, in many instances to the very foe we were to combat. The late period at which they had been brought into the field left no leisure or opportunity to attempt to discipline them. They were, moreover, badly clothed, badly paid and badly fed. Their ammunition, powder particularly, was, with sufficient reason, I apprehend, supposed to be of very inferior quality, although some experiments since the campaign have tended to confirm another opinion. That our magazines, however, contained some very bad powder, sent out for the use of the army, and that this powder, in a number of instances, was served out, I am full well convinced. Captain Faulkner and Major Clarke have both made complaints to me upon this subject, and Major Ferguson has very frequently represented to me that the military stores and arms were sent on in most infamous order. The various arrangements in the different departments resting with the commanding general almost altogther, he was worn down by the fatigues before the commencement of the campaign. Early in May he arrived at Fort Washington, and before the army took the field was compelled to make three journeys into Kentucky. It was not until the 10th of September, as had been observed, that the quartermaster general joined the army ; all his arduous duties were therefore with the General to that date. Great delinquencies continued with the contractor, even to the defeat of the army, and were beyond a doubt one amongst the many primary causes of that misfortune. To correct, AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST. TERRITORY - 211 remedy or avert, was the province of the General, and helped to accumulate his difficulties. Friday, the 7th of October, 1791.—Fair weather and strong southwest wind all day. Moved at ten o'clock this morning and marched four and a half .miles ; thirty-seven and a half from -Fort Washington by a direct course, but the necessity of deviation, to avoid fallen timber n d for the advantage of ascending and descending hills, sometimes considerably lengthens the way. The country we have passed over this day has been rougher than in any of the preceding marches, but good wheat-land with much and various sized timber ; many springs and small runs of water ; lime and some sandstone. Saturday, the 8th of October.—Fair and pleasant weather, with moderate southwest wind. The army moved at ten o'clock, and made a march of six and three-fourths miles ; distance from Fort Washington, forty-four and one-fourth miles. The country level or small irregularities only, and upland of good soil and well watered by small runs. A stream of twenty feet meanders in the line of march, which, of course, was several times crossed by troops and upon the banks of which is very rich land. The flank guards fired unsuccessfully upon an Indian this day ; the first we have seen upon our march. Sunday, the 9th of October.—Fair and pleasant weather, with moderate southwest wind. The army moved at ten o'clock, distance four miles, over gently swelling lands, with several small streams ; good soil, and but little underbrush ; timbered with large oak, hickory, ash, walnut, sugartree and a considerable proportion of beech, which seems indeed to abound in lands of every description in this country. Monday, October 10th.—Fair weather and moderate southwest. wind. Moved at eight o'clock this morning ; our march eight miles, and fifty-six miles from Fort Washington. The country level, of good soil and open woods, composed of great variety of timber, with many small runs of water and two streams of fifteen feet, with some large sandstone. We passed an old Indian camp yesterday and several today, „and have observed some fresh tracks. Lieutenant-Colonel Oldham, from Kentucky, with nearly three hundred militia, joined the army. Tuesday, the 11th of October.—Fair weather and light southwest wind. In motion this morning at eight o'clock; distance, six and a quarter miles, and sixty-two and a quarter from Fort Washington. The country rich, level and well watered, though not so plentifully as in the preceding marches ; the woods open and timber good. This day, at one o'clock, we were halted by a swamp or sunken "prairie" in our front, which appears extensive to right and left. One mile in rear of this is a stream of six feet, gliding gently to the westward. Wednesday, October 12th.—Fair weather and light north wind. Last evening and this morning the country was reconnoitered to the right and left, down the swamp. Upon the left and west it was crossed by a single horseman and some foot, though with considerable difficulty, the horse sinking to his belly and the distance being between two and three hundred yards. A mile or two more westerly this party came into a large, well-beaten path, running north and south. Upon the right an old Indian path was discovered, through which the army marched, being put in motion at twelve o'clock. Our distance, five miles, and sixty-seven and a half from Fort Washington. The given course till this day has been .north seventeen degrees west, but in the last five miles we have moved thirty degrees east of north, in order to clear the defile mentioned. The country has been of open woods and young timber, with several small runs from the swamp, upon which the soil is rich, but generally, our way being upon a gentle ridge, the quality of the land is inferior to any we have passed over. We have discovered many Indian tracks this day, with old and new camps of warriors and hunters, and 212 - HISTORY OF OHIO had almost surprised some of them. Our parties were near enough to shoot down a single Indian and seize upon his gun, although he was carried off or concealed near his camp, in which a considerable quantity of fresh peltry was found, and some blankets, and near it four or five horses were taken. Our encampment this evening is in a pretty bottom of good land, with a gentle stream of ten feet passing through it, and, from appearances, almost at the head of the swamp. Thursday, October 13th.—Light northerly wind and fair weather all day. Ice made in shallow vessels one-twentieth of an inch thick last night. The army has advanced one mile this day, and are sixty-eight and a half miles from Fort Washington. Encamped in two lines facing to the front and rear, the militia in the rear of the whole and the horse upon the flanks, covered by Faulkner's company of riflemen. The artillery disposed in the first and second line, in the intervals between the battalion, the whole occupying (from some unevenness in the ground) a length of more than one thousand yards. In the distance from our last encampment, we have passed a ridge of indifferent soil. On this ground we are to halt for some days, to erect a small fort of deposit. Friday, the 14th of October.—Heavy rain for two hours before daylight ; cloudy until ten o'clock, with moderate west wind ; the residue fair and wind strong. Notwithstanding that the orders of the General are very pointed against firing, and a penalty of one hundred lashes is directed to be inflicted for the crime, the militia and the levies are every day guilty of it, and more particularly at the present encampment. Game, it is true, is very plenty and presents a strong temptation, but the consequences are extremely injurious to the service, and tend, amongst other improprieties, to destroy all order in the army. Two hundred men, properly officered, have been this day on duty in clearing the face of the ground for a fort, and laying the foundation. It is a square work, with one-hundred-and-fourteen-feet sides, with four small bastians ; to be built of rough logs, laid horizontally, and the barracks and store rooms to compose the curtains. The situation is a pretty, rising ground, terminating in gentle and low descents to east and west, to a prairie. A continuation of swelling grounds to the north for a considerable distance, and a small prairie near, on the south, with a stream eight feet in that direction and a good spring at less than thirty yards distance. The provision of tools for this work, Fort Hamilton on the Miami, and the great services for which they must be wanted, has been scanty in the extreme. Eighty axes only can be furnished by the quartermaster, and of these, thirteen are borrowed from the troops, who are but ill supplied for this season of the year. Besides the axes, are one saw and one frow. Of spades and mattocks we have sufficient. Saturday, October the 15th.—Rain the latter part of last night and all this day, with moderate northeast wind. The fatigue party of two hundred men at work upon the fort, and to be continued till the business is completed. A detachment, ordered out to surprise an Indian camp discovered by one of the militia yesterday five miles distant, returned without being able to find it. Information received from Fort Washington this day of the arrival of twenty Chickasaw Indians there, upon their way to Congress. Sunday, October the 16th—Rain all last night and until eleven o'clock this day, with northeast wind ; residue fair and mild, with moderate wind from the southwest. Monday, October the 17th.—Rain the latter part of last night and this afternoon, with cloudy weather and moderate northwest wind all day. The army was served with all the flour in the magazines this day, amounting to one day's rations only ; and of liquor there is but sufficient for tomorrow's issue. With the best disciplined troops, the General would at this season have much to apprehend. The roads are becoming very bad, and forage almost exhausted. The resources of the con- AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 213 tractor are so limited that we can not look forward to any considerable supply of rations. The militia discontented, and under no subordination and the time of service for the levies very near expiring. Melancholy considerations, these, to the whole army ; but distressing beyond measure- must they be to the commanding general, whose reputation is to. be hazarded upon events extremely precarious. Two soldiers of the artillery and one of theFirst United States Regiment were apprehended this afternoon, attempting to desert to the enemy. Tuesday, October the 18th.—Rain almost all last night, with some hail ; the morning cloudy, and faint sun at noon, with moderate northwest wind all day. A militia-man was shot through the thigh yesterday by an Indian, five miles from our camp, but was protected by a companion who advanced to his assistance, and after lying concealed all night in the bushes, he was this day brought in. Several Indians have been discovered in our vicinity, and five or six men are missing but whether by desertion, or to the enemy, is uncertain. About six thousand. weight of flour was brought to camp this evening, which, with two hundred and forty bullocks of three hundred weight each, is our whole stock of provisions ; and the daily issues, including for women and retainers, amounts to nearly twenty-seven hundred rations per diem. Wednesday, October the 19th.—Moderate northerly wind and cloudy weather all day, except two hours of sun at noon. Provisions have become so scarce, and the means of transportation to our camp so uncertain, that the General has redirected nearly three hundred baggage-horses in addition to fifty of the contractor's, to Fort Hamilton, to bring on flour, and ordered that the officers and others entitled to extra rations shall be limited to a single one, and the troops are put to half allowance of bread. Thursday, October 20th.—The morning pleasant, with sunshine ; strong northeast wind and cloudy during the day ; moderate and northwest wind in the evening, clouds dispersing and appearance of fine weather. No appearance of Indians for a day or two last past near our camp and some of the soldiers who were supposed to have been taken by them are come in, after having been lost in the woods. Discontentment and murmuring prevails in the militia camp at being put to half-allowance of flour, notwithstanding they are served with beef for the deficiency, and they talk loudly of returning home. Upon an order for an escort to some provisions from Fort Hamilton this day, the commanding officer assured the General that his men could not be depended on, for they would indisputably all desert, and Captain Faulkner's company of riflemen was put upon this duty, although their services are essential in camp. The militia has never been enrolled in the general roster for duty, because it has been deemed inexpedient, and, indeed, they have rendered no service whatever ; but produce, by their example and general conduct, much disorder and irregularity amongst the soldiery. Friday, October the 21st.—Fair weather and moderate northerly wind till noon ; residue cloudy, with a small flight of snow and strong wind. The troops have this morning been served with one quarter of a ration of flour for the morrow and the whole stock is now expended. Dependence upon the contractor, even while the army halts, has become precarious indeed, and the General has ordered the quartermaster to Fort Washington for the purpose of ascertaining precisely the ultimate resources. In case the contractor should find himself inadequate to our supplies, Mr. Hodgedon is directed to make every exertion, either jointly with him, or independently, to effect the desired purpose. Ice made last night in small vessels around our tent half an inch in thickness. By a single observation of Major Ferguson the -latitude of the fort erecting here is found to be forty degrees, four minutes and twenty-two seconds. 214 - HISTORY OF OHIO Fair weather and moderate northwest wind all this Saturday, the 22d of October, and sixteen thousand pounds of flour has been brought to camp in the course of the day under an escort of sixty militia, which augments the corps to upwards of three hundred and forty only, as a dozen men deserted from them last night. The fatigue for the fort has been reduced to sixty men this day, and one captain, one subaltern, the sick and those unable to march are ordered to remain as a garrison to the work. The army to hold itself in readiness to march at the shortest notice. Sunday, October the 23d.—Fair weather and light northwest wind. The fort, which, in compliment to the secretary of state, has been called Jefferson, being almost completed, Captain Shalor, with nearly ninety men (invalids), took possession of it this morning. Two pieces of artillery are to be left for the defence of the place, and the army, being now without horses, is under the necessity of depositing all its baggage ; the military and ordnance stores must also for the present remain here ; and tents, with entrenching tools, only carried. These will be transported in four-ox teams, which, upon all occasions, we have found very useful ; indeed, they seem better, for a thousand obvious reasons, than packhorses to attend the movements o f a large army. A few horses, indeed, for pushing forward light pieces of artillery, may be necessary, but the great burden of transportation I am more than ever persuaded, from attentive observation, should rest upon oxen. The General has been under the necessity of executing three soldiers today ; one of them for shooting a brother soldier and threatening the life of an officer, and two for desertion. These last mention seem rather unfortunate than extremely criminal, though it appears that their intention was to have robbed their officers and have gone to the enemy, by the information of a third person, whose general character has been extremely infamous, and who is believed by the immediate officers of the condemned to have been the author of the plan. Yet he made oath to a court martial that he was seduced by them into it, and escaped with his life, being sentenced to receive one hundred lashes at five different times. The General's humanity is well known, but desertions have become so prevalent as to be very alarming, and examples (in terrorem) are necessary. It seems indeed to be the opinion of some officers of experience that pardon to deserters under any circumstances encourages very much the crime and is a mistaken clemency, producing, in a course of service, more capital punishment than would probably be necessary if the troops were once assured that death must be the inevitable consequence of abandoning their colours. Monday, October the 24th.—Calm and cloudy, with mild weather ; some small rain towards the evening. The army moved this morning at nine o'clock, marching by the Indian path nearly a north course over rich, level grounds of fine. young white oak, walnut, hickory and ash timber, with some sandstone, and encamped (after a march of five and a half miles, and seventy-four from Fort Washington) upon high ground with open woods at the bank of a handsome stream of forty feet running east, and which, itis supposed, discharges itself into the Great Miami below Tawintwa. We have passed no water in this day's march, though there is no doubt but we might have found it in a short distance either to the right or left. Many new and old camps have been observed near our route and they are very plenty about this encampment. The ashes at some of them were warm upon our arrival, and we are probably now upon the last hunting-grounds of the Indians. The army is disposed of in two lines, with the artillery and cavalry upon the right- and left, and the militia in the .rear and towards the left flank of the army, about half a mile distant, near a considerable wet prairie. Tuesday, October the 25th.—Rain almost all the last night and small showers until four P. M. with light and variable wind ; the AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 215 residue fair, and moderate wind from the northwest. A detachment of fifty men from the militia with the deputy surveyor have marched this morning to explore the country for twenty miles to the northwest, and a party of twenty as an escort for two days to return some horses, on their way to Fort Hamilton. The army halts from the impossibility of being supplied with beef or flour for any forward movement at present. By despatches received this day it appears that no magazines are established at Fort Hamilton, and that our horses sent back must proceed of course to Cincinnati, and even there supplies are precarious. So that any further operations have become doubtful. Small delays alone will render it impracticable for the General to advance, as the time of service for some of the levies is nearly up, and their example of going off, if followed by the militia, will render our force contemptible indeed. Wednesday, October the 26th.—Damp, cloudy day and light northwest wind. The militia were moved across the creek this day up a pretty defensible piece of ground, half a mile in advance. The country to the northwest for nineteen miles has been found by the deputy surveyor to be principally upland, timbered with young white oak and hickory. A large beaten path, running north and south, was crossed by him about ten miles from camp and his party had nearly surprised a camp of five Indians in that distance, the rear of whom were fired upon but escaped into a small swamp and made off, leaving their blankets and some peltry behind them. Parties of observation have been twelve miles upon an east course, and found the stream upon which we are encamped fully eighty feet wide; in about three miles it makes a sudden turn to the northwest, but in a short distance flows in an opposite direction. One of the militia is supposed to have fallen into the hands of the savages the last evening, as he was observed by two of his companions who were out hunting to be pursued by them. Thursday, October the 27th.—Cloudy, and light north wind, with damp weather all day. The twenty Chickasaw Indians mentioned to have been at Fort Washington arrived in camp this day. Piamingo, who is now their king, with Colbert and some other character of distinction, are among the number. These people have the most inveterate animosity to all the Indian tribes northwest of the Ohio, but most particularly to the Kickapoos, and have been at war with the whole of them from time immemorial. We have with us also one of the Cubashe Indians, who was upon a visit to his friends in captivity with us, and who offered his services to the General. I have been expecting that this poor fellow, who is indisposed, would be under some dreadful apprehensions from these guests, as every species of cruelty is mutually practiced by their nations, but he has demeaned himself like a man upon the occasion, and they have politely condescended to take him by the hand, as our friend. This is the day of issuing provisions to the troops and the contractor has it not in his power to serve them with more than a single ration of flour, but we expect such a supply on the morrow as will enable us to move forward for a few marches. Beyond that, our prospects are gloomy ; no magazines established, and even an uncertainty of a supply at Fort Washington, with the difficulties of transportation every day increasing by the season and to become still greater, as we add to our distance, may make events fatal to the whole army. But the General is compelled to move on, as the only chance of continuing our little army. Thirteen men of the Virginia troops have insisted upon their discharges this day ; almost the whole battalion will speedily follow their example, and in a short time the period of enlistments with the other battalions will begin to expire. So that the only prospect of effecting the purpose of the campaign is by immediately marching the army so far into the enemy's country that they may be afraid to return in such detachments as shall from time to time be entitled to claim their discharges. 216 - HISTORY OF OHIO Friday, October the 28th.—The morning and until twelve o'clock cloudy ; residue fair with light northwest wind all day. We had a soldier killed and scalped this morning three miles from camp. He was hunting with another man, who received a shot in his body, but has strength enough to run half a mile and conceal himself in the bushes till night, when he joined the army, and, most probably, will die of his wound. About ten thousand weight of flour was brought to camp this evening. Saturday, October the 29th.—Fair weather and pleasant with light northwest wind. The Chickasaw Indians, with an officer and five privates, are gone out for a short war excursion. • There appears some little discontent in the party, but resting principally with Piamingo and Colbert, the former of whom came out from his nation expressly to go to Congress, and Colbert for hostility, and therefore, although Piamingo has altered his intention'', yet the other insists he can not yield to him in the field. The division of them might put it out of their power to meet any war parties of Indians upon equal terms, and from this consideration" the chief voluntarily follows. Colbert as his leader. This man had latterly had one brother killed, and another wounded, by the Western Indians. Sunday, October the 30th.—Strong south wind all last night and this day, with warm weather. A fatigue party with one hundred and thirty non-commissioned officers and privates were detached yesterday morning to open a road forward, under cover of two hundred militia. They were to work until three o'clock this day, and then return to the army. This has been the usual strength of our fatigues for this purpose, but they have heretofore been covered by the piquets, and never preceded the army more than three or four hours. The army was put in motion this morning at nine o'clock, and have marched ,seven miles over a level country, with oak, hickory, maple, buckeye and some beech, and have encamped upon a small run of poor water, near the commencement of a very brushy piece of land, eighty-one miles from Fort Washington. One spring and two or three runs of water, issuing from low land or stagnant marshes, and of bad quality, have laid in our route. Monday, October the 31st.—A strong gale the last night from the west northwest, and brisk wind from the same quarter, with fair weather, all day. The impossibility of getting forward with all the baggage of the army, and the expectation of flour, has determined the General to halt this day. Some military stores that were brought on to the last encampment from Fort Jefferson, together with baggage which the officers took the liberty of bringing up, delayed our last movement very much, and so over loaded the wagons and the few packhorses of the troops that in many instances it was found necessary to discharge them in part upon the road, whereby some corps were deprived of their tents. Sixty of the militia have deserted in a body this day, and it has become probable that a considerable part (and perhaps the whole) of the residue may speedily follow. They murmur at the allowance of provisions, and complain that they are not sufficiently clothed for the service at this season. The First United States Regiment is detached upon this occasion ; they are to move back beyond Fort Jefferson, and prevent our provisions which may be upon the way from being rifled by these deserters, and to apprehend them, if it be practicable. This movement may have a further good effect upon the militia that are in camp, and be the means of keeping them to their duty, but however necessary it may be, I have to regret that we are hereby deprived for a time of a corps of three hundred effective men (effective from the experience of the officers, and the opportunities they have had for discipline) which must be estimated as the best in the service. Captain Powers, of the levies, has been ordered in advance today with fifty men, to reconnoitre the country. AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 217 Tuesday, November the 1st.—Cloudy and moderate weather, with light southerly winds all day. Thirty-two thousand weight of flour arrived in camp the last evening, under escort of Faulkner's company of riflemen. The army is ordered to halt this day to give the General time, I imagine, to make up despatches for the war office, as no other cause is obvious. It is very true that we have not the means of trans porting all the tents, and entrenching tools without dismounting some of the cavalry, but the same objections will remain for the morrow. Forty return horses left the camp this afternoon for Fort Hamilton, under the escort of a subaltern and fourteen men of the Second United States Regiment, who are to give them protection to within one day's march of the fort, and rejoin the army. Wednesday, November the 2d.—Light westerly wind, with cloudy, cold weather all day, and some small rain and snow from three to four o'clock P. M. The army in motion at nine this morning, and made a march of eight miles, which increases our whole distance from Fort Washington to eighty-nine miles. The first five miles, and to a creek of almost still water or gently running to the east, is generally very low, level and wet land, with large oak, ash and hickory timber. The residue is also level and moist, and principally of beech timber. The whole distance must be rendered almost impassable in wet weather. Upon the left, but more particularly upon the right, are very extensive swamps. The old Indian path has been our guide through them, deviating from it, however, occasionally, from a half to a whole mile, in order to shorten the road, which has made our course about north thirty degrees west. The encampment is on tolerably good ground, with a small limestone run of water and some bottom land in front, in two lines, east northeast and west southwest, and the artillery equally disposed in the centre of the first and second line. One of our small commands fell upon an Indian camp yesterday and took five horses with a gun and some peltry, but according to general practice, suffered all the. Indians to escape them. We are informed that one of our hunters has lately been killed near Fort Hamilton. Thursday, November the 3rd.—Light northeast wind last night and this day, with a small flight of snow, but not enough to cover the ground. The army has marched eight miles this day, and our distance from Fort Washington is ninety-seven miles by the line which the surveyor has run, the road not very materially deviating' therefrom ; its breadth is almost all the way sufficient for two carriages. In the first three miles of this morning, we passed small, low prairies (extensive to the right and left) and wet, sunken .grounds of woodland, timbered with oak, ash and hickory ; the residue, of gentle, rising grounds, timbered principally with beech, but some oak and hickory ; and small limestone runs, though not abounding with water at this time. Our encampment is on a very handsome piece of rising ground, with a stream of forty feet in front running to the west. The army in two lines, and four pieces of artillery in the centre of each ; Faulkner's company of riflemen upon the right flank with one troop of horse also upon the left. The militia across the stream (which is supposed to be the St. Mary, emptying itself into the Miami of the Lakes) and over a rich bottom of three hundred yards, upon a high extensive fine flat of open woods. Here are an immense number of old and new Indian camps, and it appears to have been a place of their general resort. About fifteen of them, horse and foot, quitted this ground near the time we arrived upon it, as we discovered by their tracks in the banks of the stream. Colonel Oldham, who has long been conversant with Indian affairs, supposes it a party of observation, and the first that has been about us since he joined the army; imagining all the others that have been noticed mere hunters. Friday, November the 4th, 1791.—Moderate northwest wind, serene atmosphere and unclouded sky ; but the fortunes of this day have been 218 - HISTORY OF OHIO as the cruelest tempest to the interests o f the country and this army, and will blacken a full page in the future annals of America. The troops have all been defeated, and though it is impossible at this time to ascertain our loss, yet there can be no manner of doubt that more than one-half of the army are either killed or wounded. The whole amount of our private baggage, with the artillery, military stores, provisions and horses, have fallen into the hands of the enemy, and the shattered remains of our forces are coming into Fort Jefferson this evening, at seven o'clock, after the precipitate flight of twenty-nine miles since nine o'clock in the morning. The detail of this misfortune shall be made out as soon as I am furnished with returns from the different corps in action. Saturday, November the 5th.—Fair weather and fresh northwest wind all day. Upon a consultation last night with the field officers, the General thought proper to move the army at ten o'clock P. M. It appeared that Fort Jefferson was destitute of provision, that flour was near at hand and that there was no prospect of refreshing the troops but from that source. The garrison might be suddenly invested, and, of course, it became a matter of the utmost consequence to throw in supplies as soon as possible. We moved about seven miles during that night, and were obliged to halt from the severe fatigues the troops had undergone. At daylight we resumed our march, and at eight o'clock we met a convoy of flour, and, soon after, a drove of cattle. Two rounds of the former, per man, was served out and the residue, about eighty-five hundred pounds, and the cattle, were immediately sent back for the garrison and wounded, under an escort of fifty men from the First Regiment. We continued our march all day and for a couple of hours in the night, which brought the advance to within thirteen miles from Fort Hamilton, but the men are very much dispersed, and the disorder consequent upon a defeat was perhaps never more conspicuous. Sunday, November the 6th.—Fair weather and light southerly wind. Arrived at Fort Hamilton at nine o'clock this morning. The First Regiment got in generally by. evening, and the lame and wounded of the army have been dropping in singly and by small parties all day. Some of them, and of the militia more particularly, are pushing on to Fort Washington, notwithstanding orders to the contrary. Indeed, very little attention is paid by them to any regulation whatever. The officers appear to have lost almost the shadow of command, and there is scarcely a hope of reducing them to system and obedience short of the fort. Such are the effects of our ignominious flight—for so it must he deemed from the circumstances along of the men's throwing away their arms after they quitted the field of action, and which was very general in every corps engaged. Monday, November the 7th.—Fair weather and light southerly wind all day. The garrison at Fort Hamilton relieved this day by Captain Armstrong and fifty men of the First United States Regiment. The wounded and stragglers of the army are still coming in, and probably will be for a number of days. At twelve o'clock the First Regiment, militia, and such of the other corps as have arrived, were put in motion for Fort Washington, and marched twelve miles before night. Tuesday, November the 8th.—Showery and calm before daylight and till noon ; residue cloudy. In motion at daylight, and arrived at Fort Washington at twelve o'clock. The troops were immediately encamped in its vicinity upon Deer Creek, and every means possible used to make them comfortable; but all the camp equipage being lost in the late action, they are destitute indeed of common necessaries, even axes they have not. The officers finding houses to cover themselves, quit their men, and the consequences are very great disorder. Wednesday, November the 9th.—Rainy morning and until twelve o'clock ; the residue fair, with moderate southwest wind. Every house AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 219 in this town is filled with drunken soldiers and there seems one continued scene of confusion. The General's indisposition prevents much of his own attention to the army at this time ; he has been suffering under a most painful fit of the gout since the 23rd ultimo, and was not able to mount his horse on the morning-of the action without assistance. But no efforts have been wanting to prevent abuses and disorder, as well as to afford comfort and convenience to the soldiers and to obtain hospitals and all proper provisions for the wounded, whose situation is truly distressing at this time. Thursday, November 10th.—Heavy showers of rain with much thunder, before day ; light and wet weather and until nine o'clock ; the residue of this day fair weather, with a strong west wind. A detachment of fifty men as an escort to some provisions has marched for Fort Jefferson this day. Friday, November the 11th.—Fair and cold weather, with moderate northwest wind. Major Zeigler, with upwards of one hundred men of the First United States Regiment, marched this day as a reinforcement to the escort for Fort Jefferson. Piamingo, Colbert and the other Chickasaws, with the white people mentioned to have gone out from our camp on the 29th ultimo, have returned with five scalps, having been twenty miles beyond the Miami towns on the road to Detroit. Here they fell in with an Indian, who, mistaking them for friends, gave so vaunting an account of the late unfortunate action and defeat, that before he had completed his narrative they shot him through the body. He told them that they had but seven hundred warriors engaged, and that his "own arm was quite weary with tomahawking." Saturday, November the 12th.—Cloudy, cold morning, with appearances of snow ; the day fair, and moderate west wind. Sunday, November the 13th.—Cloudy and moderate weather, with light southerly wind. Monday, November the 14th.—Very heavy rain from three o'clock this morning and through the day, with strong south wind. Twenty more Chickasaws have arrived under the Elder Colbert, who appears a clever, intelligent fellow, and had intended to have joined the army. Tuesday, November the 15th.—Snow the latter part of last night and in small flights during the day, with moderate west wind and mild weather. Wednesday, November the 16th.—Overcast and calm all day. The last of Beddinger's battalion of levies discharged. Thursday, November the 17th.—Calm, fair and warm weather all day. The whole country is just whitened by a small snow last night. Friday, November the 18th.—Fair weather and calm. Piamingo had his audience of leave from the General this day, and condoled with him upon the misfortunes of the campaign. He took occasion to observe that the armies of Britain had been formerly opposed to his nation and that the officers were at first distinguishable among the soldiery, as among our troops, by cocked hats, plumes, etc., and were soon killed—whereupon confusion ensued and the men fell easy victims of their prey. But grown wiser by experience, they dressed their forces all alike and became victorious. He recommended strongly to the General to fight the Indians in their own way from behind logs and trees, and be continually changing the ground in time of action. This is their manner and they seldom fire twice from under the same cover, but, as soon as they have discharged their pieces from behind one tree, shift themselves to another ; so that it is almost impossible to find them out, or to know whither to direct your fire. Saturday, November the 19th.—Fair and pleasant weather, with light southwest wind. By intelligence from Fort Jefferson, we are informed that the first escort with provisions had safely arrived, that the wounded and missing of the army had got in there in considerable numbers and had exhausted all the supplies that were forwarded upon 220 - HISTORY OF OHIO the 5th, and the last of them reduced to the necessity of receiving horseflesh and green hides for their support ; but we know this state of affairs can not have existed long, as Major Zeigler must have arrived with ample stores before this time. Lieutenant Dennie, aide-de-camp to the General, was dispatched this evening for Philadelphia by way of the Ohio River, with the particulars of the action and losses upon the 4th and the General himself proposes soon to follow. A NARRATIVE OF THE UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR OF FRIDAY, WITH THE DISPOSITION OF THE ARMY, ETC. Upon the Thursday evening of November the 3d, at four o'clock, the army, having marched eight miles, and ninety-seven from Fort Washington, and being by estimation about twenty miles from the Miami towns, were immediately encamped in two lines on a small rising ground descending gradually in front to a stream of fifty feet, fordable at this time, and which is supposed to empty itself into the Miami of Lake Erie. Patterson's, Clarke's and Butler's battalions composed the first line, Patterson on the right, and four pieces of artillery upon the right of Butler. The Second United States Regiment, with Gaither's and Beddinger's battalions, formed the rear line; Beddinger on the right (in a rear face) and four pieces of artillery upon the left of his battalion. One troop of horse, commanded by Captain Truman, and a company of riflemen, under Captain Faulkner, were encamped upon the right flank, and occupied a front of about seventy yards, which was the whole distance between the lines, the length of them being nearly four hundred, the rear somewhat more and the front line somewhat less. Snowden's troop of horse was on the left. The encampment, very defensible against regular troops, was found on experience to be feeble to an Indian attack. Descending, as has been observed, to the front, though in some places the stream was more than a hundred yards distant, yet in others it approached within twenty-five. And immediately over it was a close wood, with much underbrush and fallen timber. Upon the left also were many old logs, and an unfortunate ravine. From various other parts of our encampment was excellent cover for Indian fighting ; and from the rear and flanks of the position the whole grounds were descending, in some places very irregularly and upon the right and in advance of the left of the 2(1 U. S. Regiment, to small swamps. This deprived us of proper distance in length and between the lines—which inconvenience we felt as a very great misfortune in action, as it compelled the troops to too close order, and gave effect to the enemy's fire quite across our encampment. A camp-guard of a captain, subaltern, and fifty-four men ; one piquet of a captain and thirty men, and four flank guards of one subaltern officer and fifteen privates each, posted from about 100 to 150 yards from our camp, according to the nature of the ground, formed a chain of sentinels around the camp, at the distance of fifty paces apart, and constituted the principal security against a surprise. A piquet of one captain and thirty men was also posted immediately on the road the army had marched in front of and 250 yards from Beddinger's battalion—the whole as delineated in the annexed plan. The militia were advanced across a piece of bottom land, and possessed a fine high flat, and open wood, 300 yards from the stream before mentioned, and mounting two small piquets from their right and left 150 yards in front, for the security of their camp. At their arrival upon this ground very recent tracks of fifteen horse and footmen AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 221 were discovered, and Lieutenant Colonel Oldham, their commanding officer, seemed to be convinced that this was a party of observation. He was directed to make two detachments that evening, and to send out three or four active, enterprising officers, with twenty men each, by daylight the next morning, to explore the country and acquire information of the enemy. Although the Colonel seemed fully impressed with the necessity of these measures and was also soldier enough to pay implicit obedience to orders, yet his command was of a very different complexion, and there is no manner of doubt that upon any order disagreeable and repugnant to their caprice, they would have faced to the right about ; and of this disposition we had the fullest testimony from Colonel Oldham's evidence and the conduct of the men. Those detachments were never made, and the militia complaining of being too much fatigued for the purpose in the evening and the attack commencing at an early hour in the morning—though not so soon but that they might have gone out and done us most essential service by discovering the movements of the enemy. For I was in their camp after the troops had been under arms and dismissed, and long enough to express my surprise to Colonel Oldham that these parties had not been sent out, and to receive assurance that they should instantly be attended to. The militia were not enrolled for any of the common duties of camp, and the only services demanded of them has been for small escorts and the usual purpose of reconnoitering, for which, being woodsmen, they seem better calculated than any other part of the army. But it was not often that they could be commanded, even in this way, though, except in this present instance, their refusal was always signified and no opportunity given to perform such service by detail from the line. Captain Stough of the levies, with a detachment of upwards of twenty men (volunteers), was ordered in advance during the evening, to come in by a detour upon the Indian path at the distance of a couple of miles, for the purpose of intercepting any small parties of Indians that might be returning from stealing our horses. For we were under the necessity of either turning them out to feed or suffering them to 'starve, and there was no doubt but that some of them must be taken away. This detachment soon found itself surrounded by the enemy, and, after exchanging a few shot, escaped under cover of the night and returned to camp about twelve o'clock. But no report was made to headquarters, though the commanding officer assures me he waited on General Butler and Lieutenant-Colonel Gibson, and requested them to communicate that he had fallen in with very great number of Indians. In the course of the night, about fifty shot were fired, principally by our own sentinels, sometimes, no doubt, at the enemy, but oftener, probably, without any object whatever. This, however, as it exceeded much our usual practice, induced the General, in addition to his orders for the men to be prepared at all times for immediate service, to direct that the troops should lay upon their arms with all their accoutrements on. And upon the morning of the 4th they were turned out somewhat earlier than common, and continued upon the parade until objects could be distinctly seen at the distance of at least three hundred yards. In the common order of duty the troops had been paraded every morning ten minutes before daylight, and continued under arms till near sunrise, but for the purpose of collecting the horses which were to be sent back to Fort Jefferson for ammunition and stores, and to refresh the men who were to be put generally on duty in erecting some works of deposit at this place, they were dismissed at an earlier hour than usual. It was in this opportunity that I visited the militia camp and was informed that the parties to have been ordered out had been altogether neglected. Colonel Oldham mentioned to me the loss of 222 - HISTORY OF OHIO his own horses, and the apprehension that we must have suffered much in this way, but gave me no reason to suppose that he had made any discoveries which might lead him to suppose the enemy were in force to fight us. Immediately upon my return to headquarters, and about half an hour before sun-rising, the attack commenced upon the militia. Their position appeared to me (and I had reconnoitered it well) to have been a very defensible one. For four hundred yards in front the wood was open and afforded no cover to the enemy ; it could hardly be supposed an attempt would be made upon their rear, for in that case the Indians must have been exposed to two fires—a situation they extremely dread —and besides, the bottom land in that direction, and which was just at the back of their tents, fell suddenly to near thirty feet, and men stepping off only a little distance from it must have put themselves under good cover. I regretted to the General upon the preceding evening that we could not occupy this ground, but the troops, much fatigued, had at that time got their camp, and it was too late to alter their disposition. The firing of the enemy was preceded for about five minutes by the Indian yell, the first I ever heard ; not terrible, as has been represented, but more resembling an infinitude of horse-bells suddenly opening to you than any other sound I could compare it to. The resistance of the militia deserves not the name of defense, but should be branded as the most ignominious flight. Except a very faint and feeble fire from their small guards, I can not learn that there was any opposition, or even a show of it. But dashing "helter skelter" into our camp, they threw the battalions, not then quite formed, into some confusion. And not conceiving even this a place of sufficient security, they broke through the second line, carrying with them a few men of Gaither's, and but for a fire they received from the enemy and which drove them back, there is no doubt but they would have been off. During the whole action their conduct was cowardly in the most shameful degree, a few instances to the contrary excepted. Close upon the heels of the flying militia followed the Indians, who for a moment seemed as if determined to enter our camp with them ; but the complexion of the troops, drawn up in tolerable order and-with fixed bayonets, cooled their ardor a little, and they were fain to cover themselves behind logs and bushes at the distance of about seventy yards. From the very early attack upon the left of the front, and through the whole of the second line, there can be little doubt but that we were completely surrounded at the time of the first onset upon the militia. And though it may be impossible to ascertain with precision the numbers of the enemy, yet if we estimate them at upwards of a thousand, I am persuaded we shall not overrate them. Taking this for granted, and when it is known that our whole force (the militia excepted) amounted only to thirteen hundred and eighty men—eighty of whom were officers' servants, who are very seldom, if ever, brought into action—and that the various guards, equal to two hundred and twenty by being made up in the general detail from the corps, and dispersed in the suddenness of the attack (never after to be effectually collected), reducing our efficient numbers to one thousand eighty of raw and undisciplined troops, ignorant totally of the Indian and indeed all other mode of fighting—for the whole army was constituted by new raised troops, engaged only for six months, the Second Regiment excepted, and this also was but of the moment, just brought into the field, without time for instruction and never having fired even a blank cartridge—whoever, I say, shall be acquainted with all these circumstances must acknowledge that we entertained an unequaled war and long maintained the contest, too soon rendered doubtful by the superiority of the Indian mode of fighting. For though very early in the action we lost considerable number of officers, yet it was not AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY - 223 until a severe service of more than two hours than a retreat was thought of. The Second United States Regiment, Butler's and Beddinger's battalions, the artillery and the cavalry were the principal sufferers ; and Gaither's battalion also experienced great loss. Clarke's battalion, being advantageously posted and acquainted with this kind of fighting, lost but few men, and a company of riflemen posted on the right flank scarcely any. Whether it was that the Indians respected and stood aloof from men fighting in some measure after the manner of themselves or from some other cause, I know not ; but it is certain that those corps suffered less than any others, excepting Patterson's, which was always drawn up between them and which shared little in the misfortunes of this day. The great weight of the enemy's attack and fire seemed to commence with the artillery of the first line, and to continue along Butler's battalion to the left and through the whole of the second. This battalion charged the enemy with very great spirit ; and the artillery, if not well served, was bravely fought and every officer and more than two-thirds of the men killed or wounded. Concealed as the Indians were, it was almost impossible to discover them and aim the pieces to advantage ; but a large quantity of cannister and some round shot were, however, thrown in amongst them. The Second United States Regiment made three successive and successful charges, the enemy giving ground to the powerful effect of their bayonets—but not till they had felt its force. In those arduous services, however, the regiment was cut up, two officers only being left alive, and one of them wounded. Our whole loss of regular troops and levies, in non-commissioned officers and privates, amounted to five hundred and fifty killed and two hundred wounded ; and of commissioned officers, out of ninety-five whom we had in the field, thirty-one were killed and twenty-four wounded. The militia 10 had four officers killed and five wounded, and of non-commissioned officers and privates, thirty-eight killed and twenty-nine wounded. Fourteen artificers and ten pack-horse men were also killed, and thirteen wounded. The Indians, in more than one or two instances, during the engagement pushed with a very daring spirit upon the artillery of the front line and on the left flank of the army, and twice gained' our camp, plundering the tents and scalping the dead and dying—but at both times they were driven back. It happened unfortunately that this part of. our encampment was feeble through the day, for the troops ordered there, being made up of detachments from different battalions, displayed not that spirit which may be expected from complete corps, where every man fights under the eye of his own immediate officer, and in the presence of those comrades, who will mark his more minute action and forever censure or applaud in proportion to the merit of his particular exertions. And it appears very extraordinary that a knowledge of the amazing powers of this stimulus does not at least induce all honorary duties of the soldier to be performed in this order. There was not, however, under these circumstances, and scarcely upon any occasion, a want of bravery observable amongst the troops. At the close of the action, indeed, and after they had been engaged warmly for more than two hours, disorder and confusion seemed to pervade the greatest part of them. They were very much depressed in spirits by the loss of their officers, and huddled together in crowded parties in various parts of the encampment where every shot from the enemy took effect. It was in vain that their surviving leaders used 10 - By the return of the militia upon the morning of the 3rd, they had twenty-nine commissioned officers and two hundred and ninety non-commissioned officers and privates present. 224 - HISTORY OF OHIO threats and entreaties, and almost every other means that could be devised, to reduce them to the appearance of order. In this desperate situation of affairs, when even hope, that last consolation of the wretched, had failed the army, that the General took the resolution of abandoning his camp and attempting a retreat. There was a mere possibility that some of the troops might be brought off, though it could not be counted on among the probabilities. But there was no alternative. The men must either retreat, or be sacrificed without resistance, as the enemy were shooting them down at pleasure from behind trees and the most secure covers, whilst they could scarcely be led to discharge a single gun with effect. Upon this occasion very extraordinary exertions were made to draw together men sufficient to give the appearance of efficiency. Feints were made in various directions and different parts of the encampment, and whilst they served in some measure to produce the first effect, they operated to deceive the enemy. Having thus collected in one body the greatest part of the troops and such of our wounded as could possibly hobble along with us, we pushed out from the left of the rear line, sacrificing our artillery and baggage ; and with them, we were compelled to leave some of our wounded. In about one mile and a half, we gained the road, the enemy scarcely pursuing beyond that distance, and annoying us very little on our retreat. There can be no doubt they had it in their power to have cut us off, almost to a man ; it is probable, however, that they might have been suspicious of the movement, and therefore thought it most eligible to embrace the opportunity to plunder, before possibly it could be snatched from them. Those unfortunate men also whom we were compelled to leave behind must for a time have engaged their attention. Although there were but a very few of them—all that were able to walk being brought off, and some of the officers on horses—yet the sympathy for those few is sufficient to torture the mind of sensibility. The soldier who has not been compelled to sacrifice his brave companion to all the torments which the most infernal invention can devise, knows not the extent of military sufferings, and is happily a stranger to the most agonizing motives of vengeance. But the determined resolution of our unfortunate friends (incapacitated from wounds to quit the field, yet who, as soon as the fate of the day became uncertain, charged their pieces with a coolness and deliberation that reflects the highest honor upon their memory) and the firing of musketry in camp after we quitted it, leaves us very little room for doubt that their latest efforts were professionally brave and that where they could pull a trigger they avenged themselves. It is not probable that many of the Indians fell this day, though there are persons who pretend to have seen great numbers dead. I had myself an opportunity of making observations, but they were not correspondent with this assertion. The conduct of the army after quitting the ground was in a most supreme degree disgraceful. Arms, ammunition and accoutrements were almost all thrown away, and even the officers in some instances divested themselves of their fusees and C , exemplifying by this conduct a kind of authority for the most precipitate and ignominious flight. It was half an hour past nine o'clock when we quitted the field of action, and by seven in the evening we had reached Fort Jefferson, a distance of twenty-nine miles. Here vie met the First United States Regiment, and upon the counsel of the field officers and myself, the General ordered the march to be resumed at ten o'clock, with that corps. the remains of the artillery, cavalry, Second United States Regiment and such of the militia and levies as could be collected. They were extremely fatigued, but no refreshments could be obtained for