Butler County, Ohio - The whole text, 1882 (part 1 of 39)

Western Biographical Publishing Company

HERE are few persons who, in reading this book, will not join with the author in wishing it had been executed earlier. The original records of settlement are lost, and those who first braved the trials of the wilderness are now all dead, without transmitting their recollections to a younger and more curious generation. "Who were the original pioneers, what their motives for coming here, why the local names were given as they are, who the families were which were left behind, and by what slow steps an unbroken wilderness was transformed into a peaceful and highly cultivated agricultural region, looking to the eye longer settled than the neighborhood of Plymouth, in Massachusetts, or Jamestown, in Virginia, can never be fully told. We have, fortunately, been able to obtain a portion of the recollections of the older inhabitants in the manuscripts of James McBride, and have been assisted by the letters and memoranda of a few others, but the greater portion of the history of the earlier part of this century and of the last decade of the eighteenth century, is lost beyond recovery. No art known to the writer has been able to charm it within his reach, and no succeeding annalist will be able to supply the missing links. Begun twenty years ago, the fathers of each hamlet might have been consulted; many of the first buildings were preserved, and the printed and written documents to be consulted were more numerous. The causes which render this work to that extent incomplete, are operating in every county in Ohio. The West is passing on to that stage in which there is no recovery of the past, and our heroes, as noble as those mentioned by Winslow, Winthrop, or Smith, are lost to the contemplation of those who in future he desire to know what manner of men they were, and how they made the beginnings of our alth.

of Cincinnati or of Lexington will never be made better known than that of Hamilton. At an age when antiquaries were uncommon, and few facilities were afforded of pursuing their investigations, James McBride was gathering from the recollections of those who preceded him accounts of their adventures with the Indians, in Wayne's and St. Clair's armies, and as settlers along the banks of the Miami. These narratives were minute and full; they were derived from contemporaries who had themselves been concerned in these affairs. They were revised and compared with other relations, and they were set down with a desire to have nothing but the truth exhibited - a quality rare at any age or in any country, but fortunately for us, the distinguishing feature of McBride's mind. Next to these in value were the newspapers preserved by the daughters of C. K. Smith, and those to be found in the auditor's office. Although the files are not complete, they afford a vast repertory of information, extending from 1820 down to the present day. In the records of the county, kept in the various public offices, are documents bearing on many phases of frontier life, and it is to these sources the historian must chiefly resort. Few pamphlets of early times have been preserved, as the great collection which was made of these valuable sheets in the first half of the century were sent to the paper-mill, as is related in the body of this book. Conversations with those living have supplied the chief portion of the remainder of the book.

Iv Preface

her father, and the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, which is the custodian of these invaluable annals of Butler County. Much assistance has been derived from Robert Clarke, the accomplished bibliophilist, in the indication of sources of knowledge, and for permission to make liberal extracts from a previously published work by Mr. McBride; and to John M. Newton, of the Mercantile Library, an enthusiastic student of Ohio's local history. In Hamilton our chief acknowledgnients are due to Major John M. Millikin and Dr. Cyrus Falconer, who have, with unwearied zeal, sought to place the editor in possession of their vast stores of information. To John W. Erwin our obligations are likewise deep. General Ferdinand Van Derveer, Henry L. Morey, James E. Campbell, J. P. MacLean, Henry S. Earhart, Joshua Delaplane, and Ezra Potter have each labored to make this work an authority, and our thanks are due to them. Mrs. Marcella S. Webb kindly placed at our disposal the rich and valuable collection made by her father; and the county officials, particularly Deputy Auditors Richard Brown and T. E. Crider, have spent much time in researches in our favor. In Middletown we must acknowledge the services rendered by John R. Shafor, Joseph Sutphin, and Francis J. Tytus; in Oxford, those of Dr. George W. Keely; in Morgan, those of Evan Evans and Abner Francis, Jr.; and in Westchester, those of Major W. W. Elliott. Besides these, a host of friends have contributed in a lesser degree, but each affording something valuable.

During a residence of more than a year in Butler County, the editor received the kindest assistance from all with whom he was brought in contact. He was freely lent many valuable books, and was aided

Contents Page

COWUMEY Se 92s Foe S30 Oe Bruck, Wiliaia 94°59 a heus d366 Buckeye School-house ...... 472 Buck wheat sees. sss Shee 127 Bubl, Jove Diese 5. nite 556 Building Association. ...... 514 Buildings of the garrison at Fort

Butler Boys, No. 1, 203; No. 2. . 208 Butler County, formation of, 31; se-_ lection of seat of justice for, 32; description of, by Dr. Drake, 56: ih. .Morgan's* fait es 241 Butler County Medical Society .. 197 Butler and Warren County Pioneer Association. «sis ia a ube 642 Butler, General Richard, 6, 32; biography of, 84; death at St. Clair's

Chambers, "Enoch .-a). 4. a 2s ie 480 Charles; & Boardman 's ots, 2 tem. 115 Chase, Valentine. ....,.. 116, 326 Chattanooga, Butler County sol- Gilera' DUTIGG: iy ren ol neds) ars 253 Cratven: Johnie «1 eres oes 531 Chaw Raw le ee eras. sy ke 567 Whe Stan fa. tere > ashe ae eee Vande, ee ee Chestnut. Groves » ' «san eee

Page

Clerk's office, first, 35; second. . . 36 Clerks of the Courts. . is Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, _ and Indianapolis Railroad . 271, 273 Clevenger, Shobal V........ 496 SDA es ee ta eo FEL Ps 627 Clinton, DeWitt, dinner to at Hamilton, 189; letter of on canal. . 137

Ellis, Dr. Anderson N....... 376 Emerson, Joshua B. : Emrick, Charles, 466; Christina . 604 Empson, Daniel Rs eas haere 116 Encampment in Hamilton . Encampments of St. Clair's army. 6 English settlement, first in Ohio. . 1

Falconer, Cyrus, 318; Jerome. . . 245 Fallen Timbers, battle of . 77, 78 -Faries, Isaac C. ode ear ne Ie ee ee Fashionable GUlre.. Nasa arae omen 3138 Fear-motuMiillees 5 soc ee 552

PAGE, Meve-Mile Run. ¢.-. fice se wes 552 Flag presentation to Hamilton GUURIRCH setae: Wend. Moos ca Neer omy md 1 Rlise" Cae Se eo age ek Re pee ee ea 128 PiGMINe Ae Bs en ie FOP ee ee 605 HSMN EL Be COENEN. -s <1 sea) 'Ss ATi Flenner, David, 494; Granville M., 376 ; Rudolph PE epics etter 495 Flood i in Miami River in 1805, 108; in 1847, 110; in 1866 ...... Flowering, date of, 57; trees and SiN eer eee ae ete ho a ae is 57 TGA RER OE Son name co aan cami soak estar ae 491 Foreman, Jacob, suicide of . . 296 HONERG LLCCR career ore tere we vou ce Gy; Fort Hamilton, last commander of, Door diemantune Of oS Th. ss 285 Tahanehres als bts are dn cae women ema 274 Roster, James-Ri. « . .-- . 507 Four-Mile Creek. .... 439, 503, 552 Fourth of July in 1824, 313; in 183 0 315 Fourth Ward School-house ... . . 300 Potts CaWMIel C 4T eee te ee 605 PAWibr CAME «Sos Ge. Ke 137 Francis, Abner, Jr., 434; Jacob . . 605 Frechtling, Henry, Jr., 378; Will-

Heck, Jonas, 606 ; Peter . a OT Henkel, George Re ear, . 651 Henninger, Jonathan. .... . . 385 EROTIO earn. So ee oe ee nee 600 Hensley, Daniel Bo. Ge Cises e+e BBD Herald of Education 118 perro, Henry <6 6 ss ee 572 Pretzler Thomas. sei sme . 651 Hickory Chapel 428

Iseminger, Tol via. Marca lutzi, Dr. 'Joseph, 192; Michael . . 497 Jacoss, Frepertck, 383; Peter. . . 388 Jacoby, F. C., 663; Henry, 617; NEbDRID. ons: "ake Ne Ee coed Jackson Guards... . MIRU Jacksonburg. . . a eth re Mos Jail, subscription 'for, 86; second, 36; PLONCNt -so50 5's tse ey ee Jailer's*resid6noe <- «seid Ce ee

McLean, Jobn, 487; Sylvester . . 587 McMahon, Di dic soca eee 654 McMaken, Jose@ph. J, sus) trae 118, 397 McManus, JObn: O74 Ase as ee ee 255 McMechan, Mrs. Margery. .... 312 Mechanicsburg £5 ea atte tiem 578 Medical 'profession' <°e. ens 179 Medical Society of Butler County, organization of in 1887 ..... 189 Medical Society of the Second Distriette 3s Ae ae ee ee 188 of, 1; 'old valleys of the. . . .-. 278 Miami Heralds i «cs <5, suse eee 11s Miami Intelligencer, beginning of . 111 Miami Medical College ...... 68 Miami: Paper MiG =.) sie aes 326 Miami University, 58; location of,

CUSTOMS Mgmt tact chek vawen legs 38 Pioneers and soldiers. ...... 77 Pipe, Capt., an Indian chief. . . . 445 Se BX OSs a" A Bites 580 Piannett Adam >< 2. 3 a ah. Gehees 558 PCBRAUT IRD | 6 5c 0 Lage A tee 472 Rosaiiawoe ssc « 2) 5 eb) pecueae 598 RCOON, FOUN so do toe tee eee 589 TR Os a eg Pe 427 Political Handbill, 344; campaign

Powell, William A. . . arse sans GOK Prairie at Hamilton, 283 ; Little . - 623 Prather? Dt. s*. bos ae ee ees 191 Preble County, formation of ... 82 eGR EES, 3a" saab ee 449 Pine apanln Gh ha eee Bete 657 Teohies William: ooo i ou ihe Soe 396 Rixendoll, Morton, first pauper. . 433 GD OUN sos 6S oe le NEF ee 313 Roberson, JamesN. ...... 419 Robinson, Captain John, in War of

IVAMIMASILENG Senruain o> de ows aria UREN gO) seid 11 MRED a 200! GONE Gh y ab), oh 8 278 MD VgRCL Eos Wie wa ae os esta 278, 283 WUPEGEN POA MIOLy 520 Ccis- cabr sx ieTtane es 484 Rosemond, Fred L.. . .. . Aetna! HN Ross, 450; Township, erection of,. 34 Ross, Henry ATR te etal Ree ce Ceres 485 Rossman, James, 394; Captain, 211;

St. Clair, General Arthur, biography of, 85; Arthur, Jr., 254; Arthur, third, 254; campaign, 86; defeat, 86; papers, 88; expedition, 4; army, defeat of, 6; erection of fort, 21; Township, erection of, 33; Township, account of, 551

Shafor, John R., 660; Peter, 499; William, 644; Lieutenant William, diary of during War of 1812, 99; trial for sleeping on post, LOD MCOMMIISSION: sm > weet em eens 102

Shroyer, John, 434; Thomas . 484, 424 Shuler, Asa, 401; Christian A. 402 LOS ALIN co ek weratels Ma my eek 609 Simpson, Abraham, 658; Michael . 659 SFOs WIRMeM relia om a fete 559 Bubees PREOG- Eh. £7 no 3: eas a is earee 401 Sixty-ninth Regiment, 230; officers

Noh tat oe siines "a, Seta ee sates 324 Soil of the county... 2.9.1»): 124 Re ea a ca PES seeeoas ONE! Mate Ai ee 277 Soldiers' Aid Fair, 245; from Miami

Stage between Cincinnatiand Dayton, 8145 IRFer sas es ee eee 325 Stahl, Jacl. 11s hc) ee 404 Stahler,C, HiaGces0) », Gee eee 392 Stahlheber, Heng isu. 1s 449 Statistics in 1828, 119; of schools . 124 Stead, Janies se. si 'eke. vies eee 405 Steam QOCtOER) So Se ors ee ee 190 Steinman, Jacobi. as saya 590 aeath 'Olea ss hae » 225 stony River yc 6-220 enahee sees 283 Store dealings ..... . 301 Stout, Mrs. Clara, 665; Tantos F. 573 Straub, SORGPD: 2. oo co eigen ore 402 Strauss, Meyer...) See we 405 Stréams; coursesof 2. scents emia: 276 Strecker, Jed) we soe aot ee eae 400 Sulphur Spritig os... eae eee 594 Sumter,' Wall of a r9s¢ sti. Bee faeces Sunday Morning News...... 118 Supreme Court, first term of in

Thompson, Albert H., 406; Captain, letter from, 239; Freeman B. ¢366 'Timber: trees Vas seh ce ees Timberman, Christopher Titles under Symmes's Purchase . 26 Tobacco

Wayne's army, arrival of at Fort Hamilton, 19; campaign. . . Wayne Township, 611; erection of . 34 Wayne, General Anthony, biogra- GY GAs Soe eins ag sk COs oad 2 an Weaver, Henry, 622; John C., 407; William WY GD AMR AR ee). Bina. Bee aoe 665 Weber, BCLOUC ere en Soyer Fe A 562 Webster, George P., 260; James K.., 116; Taylor, 115, 318; William . . 662

Webster Bag Company sng sera 633 Wehr, Donn G se Se iphone ee 593 Weikle, JAC Bio ceeeeat eee eae 611 Weily, SPex Johiy se aes 187 Weller, Charles L., 115, 350; John

Wicke, Frederick Men ten ok, eee 593 Wickoff, SOROpL. «0 + ee eee 662 Waleox, edward x. << arene ee 561 Wilkinson and Armstrong, correspondence between...... Wilkinson, Gideon, 421; Mrs. Gen- 6ral C0. ae ia eee 9, 19 eA Sen Atte NS Ve Abe Sons ATE Saphire Samah auc Oe SrEEL Porrrair SAA Age ED MN NEVE ES os. er lok dos ass Balhae AS STR ete oe See AE Eat e AWN Teas ket tore eh lam oun anna" wh dalla tier SrTeeL PortrRair

Wayne, Anthony

CORWIN, JESSE FALCONER, CYRUS... FORTIFIED HILL 130.00 an | MMC EGN DSM eo il ks a mee aA " " HAMILTON, FORT HUGHES, J. B. RM MSR AC A test tole. cae eee " '" MARKT, CONSTANTINE ..... Baia Cheers " " MMR. WM Ochoa! g doe 3 %: MOREY "H.-f-.o- CURES S90) See BI SS Webs ee " MoCUUNG. DD. Wie... mae cor ckeas de " " RMON ied) WARN Ra ish hoe ie elke « " 1 EGET ool BM Geng 2 hae Se Aa " '" ISG OC BOSE gel eR ba eae Wetae. RY y « " DET OTH COMERS <chs5 en ae ke eo aes «" «" BEM OWUnR GRORGHCA. 9.05 Sa) oa as " SPPEMEOMORTIOIW tics, oo Pao os eee ae " " ROMNOEENRY. 5 f:.. 2... 0% vos ea '" SECCMWATE ARTHUR «0c as aRee ee " SYMMES GENEALOGICAL TREE. . WAYNE, ANTHONY

White, George Occupation Of The Miami Valley

Ar the beginning of history in the West the lower part of the Miami Valley was deserted. It was in the nominal possession of the Shawnees, but they had no villages upon the ground. Vast herds of elk and deer roamed through the forests; beavers built their dams, and wolves, bears, and foxes preyed upon the weaker animals of the waste. The Indians near the Ohio were in a state of continual conflict, and the epithet of 'dark and_ bloody ground," now appropriated to Kentucky, might well have been extended to two days' journey northward of the Ohio. The French missionaries have left no account of visits to this region, and the only whites, with one or two exceptions, who were here before St. Clair's expedition, were those whose unhappy lot had made them captives to their enemies.

As early as the year 1749, a company of English traders from Pennsylvania established a trading-house among the Twightewee Indians, on the west bank of the Miami River, on the first. high ground below where Loramie's canal empties into the river, which they called Pickawillany. This was the first point of any English settlement in Ohio of which we have any record.

In the fall of the year 1750, the Ohio Land Company * appointed Christopher Gist, of Virginia, an agent to explore the regions west of the mountains. He went to Logstown, on the Ohio River, below Pittsburgh, thence proceeded to the Maumee River, where he found a vil- -lage of the Ottawas, friendly to the French, and a number of Wyandots, divided in sentiment. Thence he met George Croghan, a deputy sent out from Pennsylvania by Sir William Johnson, the British Indian agent.

In concert they held a council with the chiefs, and received assurances of the friendship of the tribe. Next they passed to the Shawnee towns on the Scioto River, and received assurances of friendship from them, and then came to the Miami Valley. They crossed the Great

*This was not the company which purchased land at the mouth of the Muskingum, but a company composed of gentlemen of Virginia and Maryland, who obtained a grant from the crown of Great Britain, in 1745, for half a million of acres, to be taken principally on the south side of the Ohio River, between the Monongahela and Kanawha Rivers.

Miami River, on a raft of logs, in the vicinity of the trading-house, near to where the town of Piqua now is, and there made treaties with the Piquas and representatives of the Wea Indians. Croghan then returned, and Gist descended the Miami River in a canoe, passing by where Hamilton now is, to the mouth; thence down the Ohio River, and returned by way of the Kentucky River and over the high lands of Kentucky to Virginia, where he arrived in May, 1751.

Early in the year 1752, the French having heard of the trading-house on the Miami, sent a party of soldiers from Canada, accompanied by a band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians as allies to the Miami Indians, demanding the surrender of the English traders, as intruders on ° French lands. The Miamians refused, a battle ensued, and after a severe fight, in which fourteen of the Miami Indians were killed and others wounded, the trading-house was taken and burned, and the traders either killed or carried away to Canada. From the appearance of the ground and excavations at this place, when the country afterwards became settled, the establishment must have been of considerable extent. The Province of Pennsylvania afterwards made a gift of condolence to the Miami or Twightewee Indians, in consideration of those slain in defense of the traders.

In the year 1780, Colonel Byrd, an officer in the British service in Canada, with an army of six hundred Indians 4nd Canadians, with two pieces of artillery, made an incursion into Kentucky, and captured Riiddle's and Martin's stations, at the south fork of Licking River. The expedition proceeded principally by water, up the Maumee and St. Mary's Rivers; then crossed to the head waters of the Big Miami, and descended it to the mouth; thence up the Ohio to the mouth of Licking River, and up that stream to the forks. After having accomplished the object of their expedition they returned by the same route. As they appeared before Riiddle's station, on the twenty-second of June, they must have descended the Miami River in the month of May, or early in June.

In the year 1785 there was a fort built at the mouth of the Great Miami River, called Fort Finney. It was situated on the Ievel flat below the point of the hill, on ground subject to be overflowed at high-water. Judge Symmes states, in his pamphlet of 'Terms of Sale was afterwards one of the judges of the Northwest Territory), were appointed commissioners to hold a treaty with the Indians, at the mouth of the Great Miami River. It was with considerable difficulty that the Indians could be induced to assemble and brought to treat at all. But after some difficulty a treaty was concluded between the commissioners, and signed on the thirty-first day of July, 1786. But the advantages derived from this agreement were transitory. The Indians could not be prevented from

The impression has generally prevailed that Judge John Cleves Symmes and his party were the first white persons who explored the Miami Valley. This idea is incorrect. As early as the year 1785, three years before the landing of Judge Symmes, a portion of the bottom lands of the Great Miami River were explored up as far as Hamilton, and opened, and marks made to designate the most eligible spots for the purpose of establishing preemption rights, by a party from Washington County, Pennsylvania. One of that company, John Hindman, who afterwards lived a short distance from Hillsborough, 'Ohio, gives an account of the expedition, as follows:

'* My father, John Hindman, was a native and resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where I was born in 1760, and at the age of twenty years left that neighborhood for Washington County, where I remained four years. In the month of March, 1785, I left the State of Pennsylvania, taking water at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, with a party consisting of William West, John Simons, John Sept, and old Mr. Carlin and their families. We reached Limestone Point (now Maysville) in safety, where we laid by two weeks. The next landing we made was at the mouth of the Big Miami. We were the first company that had landed at that place. The Indians had left two or three days before we landed. We found two Indians buried, as they were laid on the ground, a pen of poles built around them, and a new blanket spread over each one. The first landing we found was near the mouth of Whitewater.

'"'Soon after we landed the Ohio raised so as to overflow all the bottoms at the mouth of the Big Miami. We went over, therefore, to the Kentucky side, and cleared thirty or forty acres on a claim of a man by the name of Tanner, whose son was killed by the Indians some time afterward, on a creek which now bears his name. Some time in May or June we started to go up the Big Miami, to make what we called improvements, so as to secure a portion of the lands, which we selected out of the best

'"'We started a north course, and came to Whitewater. Supposing it to be the Miami, we proceeded up the ereek ; but Joseph Robinson, who started from the mouth of the Miami with our party, and who knew something of the country, from having been taken prisoner with Colonel Laughery and carried through it, giving it as his opinion that we were not on the main river, we made a raft, and crossed the stream, having the misfortune to lose all our guns in the passage. We proceeded to where Hamilton now is, and made improvements wherever we found bottoms finer than the rest, all the way down to the mouth of the Miami. I then went up the Ohio again to Buffalo, but returned the same Fall, and found Generals Clark, Butler, and Parsons at the mouth of the Big Miami, as commissioners to treat with the Indians." »

This, perhaps, needs some explanation. In the western part of Virginia and the part of the country from which Mr. Hindman and his party came, at an early period of the settlement, land was to be had, as the saying was, for "taking up." A cabin was built, and by raising a crop of corn or grain of any kind, however small, the occupant was entitled to four hundred acres of land and a pre-emption right to one thousand acres more adjoining. There was also an inferior kind of land-title, known as '' Tomahawk right," which was made by deadening a few trees near the head of a spring, and marking the bark of one or more of them with the initials of the name of the person who made the improvement. Mr. Hindman and his party, no doubt, believed that the same rule or custom would prevail in the Miami Valley, and the improvements made by him were probably of the description denominated '' Tomahawk rights."

Opening Of The Northwest Territory

At the close of the Revolutionary war, when the independence of the United States of America had been ac-. knowledged by all nations, several of the States set up exclusive claims to all of the unappropriated territory lying west of the Alleghanies. The most strenuous of these claimants were Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia. The charter. of Virginia, with that uncertainty which is a marked feature of British grants of the seyenteenth century, allowed her western boundary to go as far as the Pacifie Ocean; and so did those of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

New York, with characteristic magnanimity, had previously given to the Union her lands in the Far West, acquired by treaty with the Indians, and sanctioned by England. To Pennsylvania shortly after she gave a port on Lake Erie, and to Massachusetts several millions of

«from Seneca Lake to Lake Erie. Massachusetts yielded up her claims to the Northwestern Territory, though borne out by her charter, and the influence of these examples, combined with the persuasions of the other States, finally and reluctantly wrung from Connecticut and Virginia concessions which rendered the settlement of Ohio possible. These States were bought off; the other States gave their lands away.

Connecticut claimed by virtue of her charter, granted by the crown of Great Britain. The State of Virginia claimed as well under her charter as by the rights of conquest under Colonel George Rogers Clark, in the year 1778, while it remained under the jurisdiction of Great Britain.

The States that had no vacant lands remonstrated against those claims as unjust and inequitable. They contended that, as the war had been sustained, and the independence of the country acquired, by the blood and treasure of all the States generally, everything that had been wrested from the crown of England in the struggle belonged to the United States, in their confederate capacity, as a matter of right, and should be held for their joint and equal benefit. There was considerable excitement on that subject at the time, and propositions were made in some of the newspapers of the day advising the destitute States that had no unappropriated lands within the limits of their charter to seize on portions of these vacant lands for their own use.

To allay the ferment, Congress made strong appeals to the justice and patriotism of the States holding" these claims to make liberal cessions to Congress, for the common benefit of the Union. Congress adopted the following resolution :

'' WHEREAS, Congress, by their resolution of September 6, 1780, having thought it advisable to press upon the States having claims to the Western country a liberal surrender of a portion of their territorial claims ; by that of the 10th of October, in the same year, having fixed conditions to which the Union should be bound on receiving such cessions, and having again proposed the same subject to the States, in their address of April 18, 1783, wherein, stating the national debt, and expressing their celiance for its discharge on the prospect of vacant terri-

' tory in aid of other resources, they, for that purpose, as well as to obviate disagreeable controversies and confusions, included in the same recommendation a renewal of those of September 6 and October 10, 1780, which recommendations have not yet been complied with.

'« Resolved, That the same subject be again presented to the attention of the United States; that they be urged to consider that the war being now brought to a happy termination by the personal services of our soldiers, the supplies of property by our citizens and loans of money by them, as well as from foreigners, these several creditors have a right to expect that funds shall be provided on which they may rely for the indemnification ; that Congress still consider vacant territory as an important resource, and that, therefore, the said States be earnestly pressed, by immediate and liberal cessions, to forward those neccessary ends and to promote the harmony of the Union."*

The requisition of Congress was complied with by the State of Virginia. The Legislature of that State, on the 2d of January, 1781, resolved that they would yield to the Congress of the United States, for the benefit of the State, all their rights and claims to lands northwest of the River Ohio, on certain conditions, mentioned in the act. The Congress by their act of the 13th of September, 1783, agreed to accept the cession on the condition named, and the Legislature of Virginia, by their act of the 20th of October, 1785, authorized their delegates in Congress to make the conveyance on the terms agreed on. ;

Accordingly, on the first day of March, 1784, a deed was executed, by which the State of Virginia ceded to the United States all her right and title to the territory northwest of the River Ohio, reserving the land lying between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers, to satisfy bounties for the Virginia troops upon the continental establishment in the American Revolution, and also a tract at the Falls of the Ohio, reserved as compensation for the services of General George Rogers Clark.

On the 14th of September, 1786,+ the State of Connecticut granted to the United States her claims to Western lands with the reservation of a strip '' beginning at the completion of the forty-first degree of north latitude, one hundred and twenty miles west of the western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by the said Commonwealth, and from thence by a line to be drawn north parallel to, and one hundred and twenty miles west of, the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to continue north until it comes to fortytwo degrees two minutes north latitude." This is the district on Lake Erie known by the name of '' The Connecticut Reserve."

The Congress of the United States established a Board of Treasury, and authorized and empowered them to contract with any person or persons for the sale of public lands. And on the 20th of May, 1785, Congress passed ''An ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of lands in the Western territory," which ordinance directed the public lands to be surveyed and laid off into townships of six miles square, by lines running due north and south, and others crossing these at right angles east and west, and each township to be subdivided into thirty-six sections, of one mile square each. Section number 16 in each township to be reserved and dedicated for the main-

Seven ranges of townships were directed to be surveyed and laid off, extending west from the western boundary line of the State of Pennsylvania.

On the thirteenth day of July, 1787, the Congress of the Confederation adopted the celebrated ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio,* which was the first step towards establishing civil government, and throwing around it the first protection of law and preparing it for social existence. That ordinance affirmed and perpetuated the great principles of liberty, civil and religious, which had been set forth at the Declaration of Independence, reaffirmed in the treaty of 1783, and perpetuated by the Federal Constitution adopted in 1788.

The first sale made by the Board of Treasury, pursuant to the powers vested in them, was a tract of one million five hundred thousand acres at the mouth of the Muskingum River to '' the Ohio Company." It was bounded on the east by the western boundary of the seven ranges, then in the course of being surveyed, and extending down the Ohio River and westwardly for quantity.

Manasseh Cutler and Winthrop Sargent were the agents on behalf of the directors of the company of associates, who negotiated with the Congress of the United States and the Board of Treasury for the purchase of the tract of land, as appears by a communication made by them dated New York, July 26, 1787. However, the agreement was not finally completed and the contract closed until the twenty-seventh day of October, in the same year.t According to the contract, in each township was reserved section number 16 for the maintenance of public-schools ; section number 29, for the support of religion; and sections number 8, 11, 26, for future disposition. There were also given, within the tract, two townships of land for the support of a university, on which the Ohio University has since been established at Athens.

The Ohio Company, however, failing to make full payment for the whole amount due for their lands, consequently received a patent for only as much as they had paid for, being nine hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-five acres, instead of one million and a half.{ However, a donation of one hundred thousand acres to actual settlers was given by Congress, to relieve the company of furnishing the donation entirely from their own lands, as they had proposed to do.||

The second settlement begun in Ohio was the one at Columbia, and from this the other places in Hamilton and Butler Counties are offshoots. Shortly after, a third party landed at Cincinnati, and a fourth at North Bend. These were all on Symmes's purchase, and were settled by men of energy and ability. At Fort Washington, since Cincinnati, a fort was raised for defense of the people, and at the other places block-houses were built. It was soon, however, found to be necessary to have posts in advance, and to this need may be ascribed the building of Fort Hamilton, on the site of the present city of Hamilton. In January, 1790, General Arthur St. Clair, then governor of the Northwest Territory, arrived at Cincinnati.

In the year 1788, a party of men were sent by Judge Symmes to explore the ground between the Miamis. They passed up through the country, from the mouth of the Great Miami River, to near where Middletown now is, thence traversed the country east to the Little Miami River, and down that stream to the Ohio.

Expedition

Tue general government, finding little effect produced on the hostile Indians from the expedition of General Harmar and other previous commands, determined to carry the war into the enemy's country, and attack' the savages in their own fastnesses.

Arthur St. Clair, the governor of the Northwest Territory, was appointed major-general in the United States army on the 4th of March, 1791, and invested with the chief command of the troops to be employed against the hostile Indians.

The army was raised and assembled at Fort Washingtown, where Cincinnati now stands, in the ensuing Sum- On the 7th of August the troops which had arrived, except the artificers and a small garrison for the fort, moved to Ludlow Station, on Mill Creek, five miles from Cincinnati. "On the 17th of September, 1791, a portion of the army was led by Colonel William Darke to the Miami River at Hamilton, which had been previously reconnoitered, and encamped on the prairie about half a mile below where the town now is. In a day or two, General St. Clair, who had been necessarily detained at Fort Washington, arrived, selected and laid out the site and commenced building Fort Hamilton, designed to cover the passage of the river, to serve as a place of deposit for provisions, and to form the first link in the chain of posts of communication between Fort Washington and the object of the campaign. The site selected for the fort was immediately on the bank of the river. The upper part of the fort was nearly opposite to where the east end of the bridge now is, and the lower part where the United Presbyterian meeting-house now stands. The ground was then thickly covered with timber, and the

The Building Of Fort Hamilton

The "ort was aestockade work, the whole circuit of which was about one thousand feet, throughout the whole extent of which a trench about three feet deep was dug to set the pickets in, of which it required about two thousand to inclose the fort. It is not trees taken promiscuously from the forest that will answer for pickets; they must be tall and straight, and from nine to twelve inches in diameter (for those of a larger size are too unmanageable) ; of course, few suitable trees are found without going over a considerable space of woodland. When found, they were cut down, trimmed of their branches, and divided into lengths of about twenty feet. They were then carried to the ground. Although some use was made of oxen in drawing the timber, the woods were so thick and encumbered with underbrush that it was found to be the most expeditious method to carry it. The pickets were then butted, with an ax or cross-cut saw, that they might be placed firm and upright in the trench. Some hewing upon them was also necessary, for there are few trees so straight that the sides of them will come in close contact when set upright. A thin piece of timber, called a ribbon, was run round the whole, near the top of the pickets, to which every one of them was pinned with a strong wooden pin, without which they would have declined from the perpendicular with every blast of wind, some hanging outwards and some inwards, which would have rendered them in a great measure useless. The earth thrown out of the trench was then returned and strongly rammed to keep the pickets firm in their places. About two thousand pickets were also set up on the inside, one between every two of the others, to intercept any balls which might pass between the outer pickets. The work being then inclosed, a shallow trench was dug outside about three feet distant, to carry off the water and prevent the pickets from being moved by the rains.

The fort was situated on the first bank of the river; the second bank, where the court-house now stands, being considerably elevated, and within point-blank shot, rendered it necessary to make the pickets, particularly along the land side, of a height sufficient to prevent an enemy from seeing into the area, and taking the side next the river in reserve. | trunks of trees. One stood at the northeast angle of the fort, in High Street, south of where the post-office now is. On this was raised a high platform, to scour the sec- ond bank with artillery. Another platform, was also raised on the bastion towards the river to command the ford (which was then opposite the lower part of the town) and the river for some distance up and down. | men with a whip-saw. Barracks were then erected inside of the fort for the accommodation of the officers, and for one hundred men. 'Two store-houses, a guard-room, a magazine, and some other necessary buildings were erected. The magazine stood at the southeast of the fort, near It was built of large, squared timber, the sides coming close together, and covered with a hipped roof. It was used as a jail for many years after the organization of Butler County. The officers' mess-room stood near where the rear portion of the Universalist Church is at present. It was a frame building about forty feet long by twenty wide, one story high, weatherboarded with rough plank, and set upon wooden blocks, three feet high. This buildiug was afterwards used as a court-house for many years after the organization of the county.

On the thirtieth day of September, 1791, the fort being nearly completed, so far, at least, as to be in a condition to receive a garrison, two pieces of artillery were placed in it, on the platform; a salute was fired, and it was named Fort Hamilton, in honor of General Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury. General Richard Butler, second in command, and Captain Denny, aid-de-camp to General St. Clair, joined the army at Fort Hamilton on the 27th of September. The whole army was mustered and inspected at Fort Hamilton by Colonel Mentgez, inspector of the army. The whole force numbered two thousand three hundred non-commissioned officers and privates fit for duty. While they lay at Hamilton fifty-seven horses were stolen by the Indians in one drove, and, on the 3d of October, the night before the army marched, twenty-one men deserted. <A detachment of troops was made, to be left in garrison at Fort Hamilton, which was committed to the command of Captain John Armstrong. General St. Clair issued an order directing the manner in which the army was to march, to encamp, and form in order of battle, under various circumstances. The order of march was that the army should be preceded by a small party of riflemen with the surveyor to mark the course of the road; then were to follow the road-cutters, with a party to cover them; then the advanced guard, and after them the army in two columns, with one piece of artillery in front, one in the center, and one in the rear of each column. In the space between the two columns was to march the remaining artillery, designed for the forts that should be erected; then the horses with the tents and provisions, and then the cattle with their proper guard, who were to remove them in case of the enemy appearing. Beyond the columns, at the distance of about one hundred yards, was to march the cavalry in file, and beyond them, at the same distance, a party of riflemen and scouts, for escorts, and then to follow the rear guard at a proper distance. On the 3d of October, General St. Clair returned to Fort Washington to organize some militia which had arrived from Kentucky. On the morning of the 4th, the army was put in motion, and marched at eight o'clock, led by General Butler. They crossed the river at the ford opposite the lower part of Hamilton, and marched a mile and a half to Two Mile Creek, and encamped on the land since owned by Mr. McClelland. General Butler thought fit to change the order of march laid down by General St. Clair so as to march the troops in one line, which required the opening of a road forty feet wide. been through the country before to act as a guide, consequently the geography and topography of the country were utterly unknown to the army.

The next day, October 5th, they marched over the hill to Four Mile Creek, and encamped in the bottom, where the Fearnot mill has since been built. October 6th, the army marched to Seven Mile Creek, and encamped on the east side of the creek, on lands since belonging to Robert Lytle, in the southeast corner of section 24, Milford Township. They gave those streams which they crossed names corresponding with the distance measured from Fort Hamilton to the places where they crossed them.

The army continued their march north, near the eastern line of what is now Milford Township. On the 8th, General St. Clair came up with them. General Butler, the next morning, made an apology to General St. Clair for having changed the order of march and substituting another, giving his reasons for doing so. The reasons assigned did not appear satisfactory to General St. Clair, because he thought that the line of battle could not so easily bé formed from the order of march instituted as from the original one; that the artillery would have a considerable distance to march to their proper places, and that the labor of the troops was greatly increased by it; for that it was much easier to open three roads, ten or twelve feet wide each, if necessary, than one forty feet wide, the quantity of big timber to be cut down increasing in a great proportion as the width of the road increased. But as it had been done, the army might continue to march in the same order for some days, as it might have an ill-effect if the two chief officers should be altering the dispositions made by each other; but that as they advanced into the country, where the enemy was likely to be met with, the original order of march should be resumed.

On the 13th of October, having advanced forty-four miles from Fort Hamilton, and a proper place presenting itself for another post, the army halted, and encamped in two lines, the artillery and cavalry being divided upon the flanks, and the riflemen without them at right angles.

They then began the creation of a new post, which was called Fort Jefferson. This was in the present county of Darke, six miles from Greenville, the county seat. The work was completed on the 24th of October.

The army again took up its march, proceeded one day from Fort Jefferson, and encamped for the night. Although St. Clair had observed ordinary caution, his troops were very new, and the surprise which was meditated by the savages proved completely successful. They attacked the whites in force at about sunrise on the morning of the 4th of November, and easily succeeded in their attempt. The militia were slaughtered. Many fled across the country, and either died of their wounds or were picked up by the enemy, and the remainder retreated in disorder to Forts Jefferson and Hamilton. General St. Clair, although suffering severely from the gout, which prevented his walking, fought bravely ; two horses were shot under him, and had a third been killed he must inevitably have been left as a prisoner. General Butler, after whom this county is named, was mortally wounded, and soon after died. Every thing was in the greatest confusion, and no exact statement of the loss was ever made. The indignation of Washington, on receiving the news of the defeat, was great. He had especially warned St. Clair against surprise, and yet the general had fallen into a trap. After the close of the campaign, however, a committee of Congress investigated the causes of the defeat, and exoncrated the unhappy commander. His troops were undisciplined; they were largely without clothing, their food supply was short, and their arms were bad. He was a victim to causes beyond his control.

The remains of the army encamped this night at Seven Mile Creek, within about seven miles of Fort Hamilton, where they arrived about noon on the 6th of November, and remained during the next day, taking care of the wounded, and resting and recruiting themselves after the fatigue and hardships they had endured.

On their arrival at Fort Hamilton it was ascertained that Major Thomas Butler, who was wounded, had not come in. A party from the garrison was immediately dispatched for the purpose of bringing him on, and to afford relief to any who might have been left on the road unable to proceed. Major Butler came in the next day.

Captain John Armstrong

As is said above, a detachment of troops was detailed and placed in garrison at Fort Hamilton before the army set out, which was committed to the command of Captain John Armstrong, who continued in command until the Spring of 1793. Most of the fortifications and interior buildings at this place were erected under his superintendence; and when the remains of the army returned, after the disastrous defeat, he took charge of the wounded and provided for them until they were able to go forward to Fort Washington. Of his services at this post the letters of General St. Clair are highly complimentary.

Captain Armstrong was a well-tried soldier, a_firstrate woodsman, and familiarly conversant with the Indian habits. At an early age he had entered the service in the Revolutionary army as a private soldier, but was immediately made a sergeant, and, on the 11th of September, 1777, was commissioned as an ensign, in which capacity he served until the close of the war in 1783. On the disbanding of the army he was continued in the service. He was commandant at Wyoming in 1784. He was an officer in the service at Fort Pitt in the years 1785 and

1786, and from the years 1786 to 1790 he was stationed at Fort Finney, at the Falls of the Ohio, which was situated on the Indian bank (at the lower end of what is now known as the old town of Jeffersonville).

In September, 1789, about six years after the close of the war of the Revolution (having continued uninterruptedly in service), he received the appointment of a lieutenant, on the nomination of President Washington, which appointment was confirmed by the Senate in June, 1790; and, having joimed the army under the command of General Josiah Harmar at Fort Washington, marched against the Indians on the 30th of September, 1790, during which campaign he was in the action fought under the command of Colonel Hardin on the 19th of October, west of the Miami village, in what is now the State of Indiana, and a few miles west of where Fort Wayne was afterwards built, suffering severely. The militia having been thrown into disorder, suddenly retreated, leaving Lieutenant Armstrong to contend at the head of a decidedly unequal force. The Indians on this occasion gained a complete victory, having in the whole near one hundred men. Lieutenant Armstrong in this engagement lost one sergeant and twenty-one men out of thirty of his command.

Lieutenant Armstrong and most of his men stood théir ground, anticipating a rally of the militia, in which they were disappointed, when the lieutenant, after shooting an Indian in the act of scalping the last man he had on the field, threw himself into the grass between a large oak stump and a log which had been blown down, where he remained about three hours in daylight. At night the Indians commenced their war-dance, within gun-shot of where he lay. Desiring to sell his life as dearly as possible, he at one time thought of trying to shoot a chief, whom he could distinguish by his dress and trinkets in the light of the fires. Taking his watch and compass from their fobs, he buried them by the side of the log where he lay, saying to himself, ''Some honest fellow tilling the ground, many years hence, may find them, and these rascals sha'n't have them." Finding, however, great uncertainty in drawing a bead by cloudy moonlight and that of the fires at the dance, and thinking it possible that he might escape, in which case his watch and compass would be useful to him, he dug them up, and replaced them in his fobs. Soon after, he was satisfied that there were Indians near him, and was conscious that they would prefer taking him prisoner to shooting him. Should he cock his gun, and on attempting to escape, be discovered, he could wheel and shoot before the Indians would attempt to shoot. , He thereupon cocked his rifle; the Indians near him began to mimic ground-squirrels and perwink. The lieutenant cautiously moved, and on the third step was so distinctly discovered by the Indians that the savage yell was given, when everything was instantly silent at the dance. Armstrong then took to his heels, springing the grass as far as practicable to pre- vent tracking. After running a short distance he discovered a pond 'of water, into which he immediately jumped, thinking there would be no track left there. Seating himself on a tussock of grass, with his gun on his shoulder and the water round his waist, he had not been in the pond for five minutes when the whole troop of Indians, foot and horse, were around the pond, hurrahing for him. expression, '"'Such yells I never heard. I suppose the Indians thought I was a wounded man, that their yells would scare me, and I would run, and they could catch me; but I thought to myself, I would see them damned first. The Indians continued their hunt for several hours, until the moon went down, when they retired to their fires. The ice was frozen to my clothes, and I was very much benumbed. I extricated myself from the pond, broke some sticks, and rubbed my thighs and legs, to circulate the blood, and, with some difficulty at first, slowly made my way through the bush. Believing that the Indians would be traveling between their own and the American camp, I went at right angles from the trace, about two miles, to a piece of rising ground. Thinking to myself, it is a cold night, if there are any Indians here, they will have fire; if I can't see their fire, they can't see mine, and a fire is nécessary for me, I went into a ravine where a large tree had been blown up by the roots, kindled a fire, dried myself, and laid down and took a nap of sleep; in the morning, threw my fire in a puddle of water, and started for camp."

Lieutenant Armstrong being a good woodsman and well acquainted with Indian habits, when he came to open woods, passed round them; in wet ground, walked on logs, and occasionally stepped backwards, to prevent being tracked. About half way from the battle-ground to the American camp, he discovered three Indians coming along the path mecting him; he squatted in the hazel bushes, about twenty steps from the trace, and the Indians passed without discovering him. Mr. Armstrong said: "'T never so much wished for two guns in my life. I felt perfectly cool; could have taken the eye out of either of them, and with two guns should have killed two of them, and the other rascal would have run away, but with one eun thought it best not to make the attack, as the odds would be against me as three to one."

Reaching the vicinity of the ground where he had left the main army the day before, the day being now far spent, he expected soon to meet with those he had left there, but was suddenly arrested in his lonely march by the commencement of a heavy battle, as he supposed, at the encampment. Hesitating for a moment, and then cautiously moving to a position from which he could overlook the camp, instead of seeing there his associates in arms, from whom he had then been separated two days, a different scene was presented. The savages had full possession of the American camp-ground. ''Is it possible," said he, 'that the main army has been cut off?"

Having been two days without eating a mouthful, except the breakfast taken early in the morning of his leaving camp, he began to reflect what should be his future course,

Much exhausted from fatigue, without food, alone in the wilderness, far fromyany settlements, and surrounded by savages, the probability of his escape was indeed slight, but duty to himself and country soon determined him upon the attempt. At this moment the sound of a cannon attracted his attention. He knew it was a signal for the lost men to come in, and taking a circle, passed in the direction from whence the sound came, and arrived safe at the camp. The army had changed position from the time he had left, to a point two miles lower down the ereek, which presented ground more favorable for encampment. The dusk of the evening had arrived when he got to camp, greatly to the surprise of his acquaintances, who had numbered him with the men who had fought their last fight.

Armstrong, in speaking of this engagement, and the heavy loss in his command, always evinced much feeling, saying: ''The men of my command were as brave as ever lived; I could have marched to the mouth of a cannon without their flinching." Armstrong continued to hold the rank of lieutenant until March, 1791, when he was promoted to a captaincy, in which capacity he served until the Spring of 1798, when he resigned and left the army.

When General Anthony Wayne with his army came to the West, he wrote a letter to Captain Armstrong, dated ''Camp Hobson's-choice, May 12, 1793" (now the west part of Cincinnati), in which, referring to his resignation, he stated: ''I sincerely lament the loss of an officer of your known bravery and experience, especially at this crisis, when we are really in want of many such," and adds: 'Could you, or would you, undertake to raise a corps of- mounted volunteers, for a given period, whose pay and emoluments will be as follows: viz.: the noncommissioned officers, one dollar per diem, and the privates seventy-five cents - each person finding his own horse, arms, and accoutrements, at his own risk - and seventy-five cents per diem in lieu of rations and forage; provided he furnishes himself therewith? The President was by law authorized to appoint the officers. That power: he has vested in me; their pay and other emoluments (exclusive of fifty cents per diem for the use and risk of their horses) will be the same as that of officers of corresponding rank in the legion." Having then acquired a family, and his constitution failing from hardships and exposure in the service of his country for a period of seventeen years, Mr. Armstrong declined service in this campaign. Soon after his resignation, Mr. Armstrong received the commission of a colonel of the militia of the Territory, and married a daughter of Judge William Goforth, of Columbia, at the mouth of the Little Miami River, in Hamilton County, where he settled and resided until the Spring of the year 1814. He was many years a magistrate at Columbia, and also served as one of the judges of the court of Hamilton County. He was appointed treasurer of the Northwestern Territory. His first commission as treasurer is dated the thirteenth day of September, 1796. Another commission to the same office was dated the fourteenth day of December, 1799. He lived at Columbia from 1793 to the Spring of

Flats, in Clark County, State of Indiana, and died there on the fourth day of February, 1816, after a confinement of five years and twenty-four days, during all which time he

Correspondence Between Wilkinson And

GENERAL Sr. Cuair resigned the office of major-general on the 7th of January, 1792, and James Wilkinson, lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of the United States Army, succeeded to the command of Fort Washington and the dependencies.

We shall here introduce some of the correspondence which took place between the commandant at Fort Hamilton and the commandant at Fort Washington, relative to the completion of the defenses of the fort, and tending to give an insight into the state and condition of affairs in and about the fort and vicinity at the tfme.

On the 5th of February, 1792, Colonel Wilkinson gave orders to Captain Armstrong, at Fort Hamilton, to have a second flat or boat built at that place, to facilitate the transportation of horses, men, and provisions across the

'"'Srr, - The public service requires that a public flat or boat, for the transportation of horses, be built with the utmost dispatch at this post to facilitate the passage of the river. . You will, therefore, be pleased to take the necessary measures with your usual promptitude, and believe me, with respect and attachment, sir,

Colonel Wilkinson came to the fort on the 15th of March, and at ten o'clock the next day left. Captain Armstrong thereupon wrote to General St. Clair:

'¢ DEAR GENERAL, - Colonel Wilkinson left this place at ten o'clock yesterday, with about two hundred men, with the intention of establishing an intermediate post between this and Fort Jefferson, now under the command of Captain Strong. On the 15th, my runners returned from the place appointed for the exchange of letters, and, having waited two hours after the appointed time of meeting, returned without any information from Jefferson. As Captain Strong is a punctual officer, some accident must have happened to his express. My young men discoy-~ ered fresh tracks of horses in several places on the road, as many as five in a body; the enemy must, therefore, be watching the trace, and perhaps be concerting a plan of attack on our advanced posts. A small party leave this garrison every morning before day, and reconnoiters the neighboring woods. They have not, as yet, discovered The garrison is now in a perfect state of defense, and for its greater safety | have commenced sinking a well. I beg leave also to observe that due attention is paid to the exercise and discipline of the men. Ete;

''T hope, madam, this letter, although out of the line of etiquette, will not give offense. Unacquainted with the etiquette of addressing a lady, I have hopes the language of my profession will not be offensive to the companion of a brother officer. Be pleased, therefore, madam, to accept the thanks of my family, alias the mess, for your polite attention in sending us garden seeds, etc., and, should we be honored by a visit from the donor, the flowers shall be taught to smile at her approach and droop as she retires. We beg you to accept in return a few venison hams, which will be delivered you by Mr. Hartshorn. They will require a little more pickle and some niter. Joun ARMSTRONG."

Colonel Wilkinson left Fort Hamilton with the intention of establishing an intermediate post between that and Fort Jefferson, then under the command of Captain Strong. And on the 19th March he wrote to Captain Armstrong from camp twenty-five miles in advance of Fort Hamilton, that he had built a fort. This was about half a mile west of where the town of Eaton, in Preble County, now is, and was named Fort St. Clair. He ordered as follows: and are ascendand twelve men to meet them at Dunlap's Station, and escort them to the post under your command. Every thing is safe here, and Charlie may kiss my foot. I built~upon a square of one hundred and twenty feet a four-sided polygon, with regular bastions. The bastions will be com- pleted in two hours. The work substantial and rather handsome. The area, covered yesterday morning by immense oaks, poplars, and beeches, is now clear for parade. Adieu. ''T am your most obedient servant, '« J. WILKINSON."

It was occasionally the practice to take provisions and stores from Fort Washington to Fort Hamilton by water in keel-boats that descended the Ohio River to the mouth of the Miami, and up the stream to Fort Hamilton, which was considered the easiest and safest route, but the greater portion was transported by land on pack-horses.

In a letter of Colonel Wilkinson to Captain Armstrong, dated Fort Washington, March 26, 1792, he directs him that Pack-horse Masters McClellan and Tate are to load at Fort Hamilton, and proceed to Fort St. Clair, accompanied by an escort, for the protection of the brigade, of a subaltern officer, four non-commissioned officers, and thirty men, and as this movement was deemed to be critical, the officer was directed to be extremely cautious. Captain Armstrong was also instructed to construct storehouses, either within the fortress, or immediately under its protection, for the reception of one thousand barrels of provisions.

'« DEAR GENERAL, - An express is this moment arrived from Fort Jefferson. The dispatches accompanying this will give you the news of that place. I have only to add, although the enemy are in the neighborhood of this place, I have, as yet, evaded the execution of their designs, and that, with the assistance of Captain Ford's horse, have, and will on to-morrow have, timber enough in the garrison to finish one of the buildings mentioned in my last. It will contain all the flour now exposed, and what is on board the boats now coming up. I wish they may arrive safe. The express did not touch at St. Clair.

'""DrEar GENERAL, - My letter of last evening, sent by express carrying the dispatches from Fort Jefferson, I hope arrived safely. If the building ordered to be erected here should not be finished as soon as you expected, permit me to observe the fault is not mine. Carpenters were sent forward without tools to work with, or the necessary means of hauling timber. Every exertion in my power has been called forth to complete the business in question. I expect one of the buildings will be finished carly next week, which, when completed, will contain the provisions and I dread the consequence, as my small command will not enable me to furnish a sufficient party to cover the workmen from the enemy, should they appear in force. When the oxen arrive I shall proceed to the completion of this business, and use all the industry and precaution in my power. I hope the steel carpenters' and armorers' tools will be sent forward, as without them your orders can not be carried into execution. You must be tired of the repeated applications made for them. What is become of my former express? I fear he did not reach you. I feel for the party under Major Shaumburgh. Should those Indians mentioned in Captain Shay's letter meet him, his party must be cut off. This is an important suggestion. I wish you might think proper to furnish two good woodsmen for this post, who might carry dispatches without confining themselves to the road. I have no such characters in my command."

There are two references in the annexed letter of General Wilkinson which need explanation. The '' God of War" refers to'General Knox, then Secretary of the War Department, who was deemed unfriendly to the settlement of the West, for private and mercenary reasons. There appears, however, to have been no foundation for these views. The ''Gaines" alluded to was General Edmund P. Gaines, whose promotion from ensign to lieutenant it announces, and whose continuance in the army for nearly sixty years is without a parallel in the United States' service, and has few examples in European military registers. His widow is still living.

General J. Wilkinson To Captain Armstrong

'Dear Sre, - All your letters, except those by Me- Donald, have come safe to hand. I fear these have 'taken the back track, as we have not seen or heard of the man. Please to forward me a duplicate of your letters by him.

"You will find from the inclosed list that little Hodgdon, although always deficient, has not been so much so as you expect. The articles receipted for us by Shaumburgh were expressly for your garrison, and exclusive of those intended for Jefferson. The articles which remain unsupplied will be furnished by the next escort, as far as they can be procured, and you must write to Lieutenant ' Shaumburgh to return you the articles which he improperly carried forward, or such part as may be handily conveyed by your expresses, viz: the chalk-lines, gimlets, stone, compass, saw, and chisel. You ean not be too cautious, for I fear it will be impossible, with all your vigilance, to preserve every man's hair a month longer. You have to combat an enterprising, subtle, persevering enemy, who, to gain an advantage, would think it no hardship to creep a mile upon his belly over a bed of thorns.

"Your regiment is broken all to pieces by promotion. You are now second captain, and if the God of War were not unfriendly to you, you should soon be a major. The organization and discipline of the army is to undergo a great reform. The particulars have not yet been transmitted to me, but I am told it is to be styled the American Legion, commanded by a major-general, and divided into four sub-legions, to be commanded by brigadiers. I infer that the inferior corps will be battalions, commanded by majors, and that regiments are to be done away, as we are to have no more lieutenant-colonels. Zeigler's resignation was accepted, and he struck off the rolls, the fifth of March, long before he had offered his commission to me. Subordination and sobriety are circumstances which the President is determined to enforce at all hazards. I wish you to congratulate Gaines for _me on his promotion, and tell him that it will"depend upon himself, in a great degree, when he may be a captain. My friendship will depend entirely upon his continuing the sober man I formerly knew him to be. I feel some anxiety for Elliott's last convoy by the river. Should it arrive safe, you will return the escort, under cover of the night, to this place. The season approaches when we must not trifle with the enemy. Adieu. "'T am, with sincere regard, yours, '¢ JAMES WILKINSON, " Tieutenant-colonel Commandant.

'"N. B. - You will make up and sign the abstracts of the contractor, in as strict conformity to the order of the 18th February as may be, and in future are to observe it exactly. To this end, all detachments and parties passing you must specify in their returns the respective corps and companies to which they appertain. J. W.

"DEAR GENERAL, - I was honored with your -letter of yesterday by the express, which gave me great relief, as my apprehension with respect to his safety had given me painful sensations. McDonald, whom I sent to headquarters on the 23d of April, carrying the- dispatches of Jefferson and St. Clair, is either killed or taken. I am anxious for the safety of this, but conceive it my duty, until you order it otherwise, to send forward those letters from the outposts, be the danger ever so great. I have as yet lost no men, although the enemy have been frequently seen around us.

"The building .I have already begun will, when finished, contain all the flour now here. Shall I proceed to erect one of the other bastions? Those buildings add much to the strength of the garrison, but getting up the timber will be attended with some danger. Captain Cushing's men arrived yesterday, and, with those sent forward on the 20th, will return this evening. When they left St. Clair those from Jefferson had not arrived, although expected the day before,

I am fearful we shall lose many of our men. I wish it might occur to you as proper to have two woodsmen at each post for that purpose. The proceedings of the courtmartial, whereof Captain Ford was president, were forwarded by McDonald, and from the presumption that the president did not take a copy I have directed the judge-advocate to forward one to Captain Ford by this express. Please to inform me if Major Zeigler's resignation is accepted."

' Srr, - A disappointment on the part of the contractor prevents my dispatching the heavy escort, so soon as my last letter mentioned, and the party which now goes on is to endeavor to join Fort St. Clair under cover of night. They are to halt with you the day they may arrive, and you are to cross thence over the river, on the evening of that day after sunset, taking the necessary precaution to prevent the enemy from discovering their numbers. You will give the corporal orders to reach St. Clair in the course of*the night on which you dispatch him. His safety and the safety of the little convoy depend on the strict observance of this order. Captain Peters, with an efficient escort, waits the arrival of a drove of bullocks which have been injudiciously halted at Craig's, and will not reach this place until the 8th inst. By him you will receive a volume from Yours, truly,

The expeditions sent from one post to the other were invariably accompanied with danger. Ambuscades were always to be dreaded. Captain Armstrong writes:

"DEAR Str, - On the evening of the 5th inst., your letter was handed me by the corporal conducting the escort. As Indians had shown themselves on the opposite shore for three succeeding days, I detained the escort until the evening of the 6th, and in the interim detached Lieutenant Gaines, with twenty men, five miles on the road leading to St. Clair, with directions to recross Joseph's Creek, and to form in ambuscade until the same party pass him, which promises an ample reward. If there was nothing improper in the request I would solicit their continuance here until the opening of the campaign.

seven o'clock. Sergeant Brooks, who brought the dispatches, says he saw, and was within two rods of, an Indian about half a mile from this post. The savage was endeavoring to shoot a deer with an arrow, and, on discovering the party, he gave a yell, which was answered at no great distance by three or four others. A raft on which three or four might have crossed the river floated past the fort about two o'clock. The horse upon which McDonald was sent express on the 23d of April has returned to the garrison; the rider must, therefore, have been killed."

''Drar Srr, - Your letter of the 8th came to hand in due season. I thank you for the precautions taken for the security of the convoy to St. Clair. I love a man who thinks; too few do so, and none else should command. All the tools which can be procured here will be delivered you by Captain Peters - I mean of those you have required. The balance of Kersey's company, one sergeant and three privates, will join you with this escort. You may make the exchange proposed for a man at Dunlap's Station, but must send an orderly good soldier to take the place of the sawyer.

'" Your monthly rations are in future to be regulated by the inclosed form, and they must be delivered at this post (as practicable) on the 4th of each successive month. The couriers will, in future, leave Jefferson on the first day of the month, and every twelve or fifteen days after. You may rest satisfied that the command of Fort Hamilton shall not be changed whilst I have influence, in any instance, until some general movement takes place. ' Let him who wins wear, he who woos enjoy,' will, I believe, be the motto of my colors. Mr. Hartshorn must be here by the 25th, to take command of the horse. Hamilton will be up by the same day, I expect. I rest mueh upon the enterprise and perseverance of these young men; I hope they may distinguish themselves. I will furnish you another officer the moment the state of this garrison permits.

'For the safety of our communications, to save the troops, to assist in guarding the cattle, and for the purpose of scouting and reconnoitering, | have determined to annex to each of the outposts two confidential woodsmen, to be subject to the orders of the respective commandants, agreeably to the inclosed articles. The whole party are to accompany the convoy out, and, on Captain Peters's return, Resin Baily and Joseph Shepperd are in the first instance to be stationed with you; but, to proportion the duty of these men fairly, there must be a rotation. The party, then, which leaves Fort Jefferson, will deliver the dispatches from that post and St. Clair to you; your men are to run with them, and, on their return, are to go forward to St. Clair, where they will continue, and the party at St. Clair will carry forward the dispatches to Jefferson, where they will take post until remanded by Major Strong, and will proceed in this manner until other regulations may be deemed expedient. Nevertheless, on extraordinary occasions extraordinary messengers are to be dispatched.

"You will receive by this escort ten fat bullocks, which are to be killed and issued before you touch a ration of the bacon other than what may be necessary to your own mess. The grazing of these cattle and saving the guard harmless will, I know, be extremely hazardous, but rely on your genius and resources.

'The cattle must be penned inside of the walls of the garrison every night. Should any men desert you, the scouts are to take the track, pursue, overtake, and make prisoners of them, and for every one so apprehended and brought back you may engage them twenty dollars. If the deserter is discovered making for the enemy it will be well for the scout to shoot him and bring his head to you, for which allow forty dollars. One head lopped off in this way and set upon a pole on the parade might do lasting good in the way of deterring others.

'My Drar Frirenp, - Your letters of the 29th of April and 11th May came duly to hand. Captain Peters, with his convoy, marched this morning, and I am extremely happy you mentioned the circumstance of the troops returning from St. Clair being detained on the opposite shore all night, as it gives me an opportunity of communicating to you the cause why they were so detained, and trust my motives will justify the measure, and convince you that in doing so I did my duty. Those troops arrived at sunset, the large flat being rendered useless by a neglect in the men of Lieutenant Shaumburgh's command. The river was high. Having the small flat only to effect the crossing, it would have taken the greater part of the night, and from the height of the water and darkness of the weather, I conceived would be attended with much danger, and perhaps the loss of sev: eral lives,

'"'T sincerely thank you for your friendly advice respecting the exercise of the law martial against a citizen, and shall adhere strictly thereto.

"Sure I am, the circumstance of having confined one of the contractor's men must have been improperly and partially represented to you. Contempt of an order of the commanding officer of a post would be unjustifiable in a citizen, much more so in one that is, in some measure, connected with the army, and, agreeable to the customs established in the last war, subject to be punished by martial law (see section 13, article 23, of the articles of war). Men employed by the contractor as an aid to the quartermaster are indulged with an idea that they were not subject to the martial law. Figure to yourself what would be the situation of an officer commanding one of our recruits! That they are subject thereto I have never heard disputed. Should those characters be impressed with a different idea, and supported therein, fatal would be the consequences produced in the army. I shall at all times give a negative to the establishment of so bad a precedent. In the return you inclosed from the quartermaster he has committed an error. The company book mentioned therein, it seems, was intended for, and is appropriated, with the wafers, quills, and greater part of the paper, to the use of his department. The oil-stone is also missing. My surveyors.remain idle for want of files. On further inquiry I find the surveyor mentioned in my last is at Covault's Station, instead of Dunlap's. I wish you could, for a time, spare me the cooper belonging to Captain Kersey's company, and now at Fort Washington, to be employed in making canteens. I have a quantity of cedar collected for that purpose. A part of each of the unfinished buildings in the bastions is raised two stories high, and may hereafter: be converted into soldiers' barracks and officers' quarters. I intend finishing the upper story in each, so that when you honor us with a visit, a cool, comfortable room will be at your service. The articles mentioned in the inclosed returns are actually wanted, and I hope you will think proper to order them furnished.

'Captain Peters's detachment marched yesterday morning, and in the evening the savages tomahawked a man employed by the quartermaster to drive the public team, about four hundred yards from the fort, where he had strolled without arms and contrary to the order of 5th April. It appears that the fellow was sitting down at the root of a tree, and perhaps asleep.

'"'T employ as a guard to the cattle a non-commissioned officer and eight men, who have orders to confine themselves to some thicket near the drove, and be seen as seldom as possible. Permit me here to observe, the contractor ought to have one or two men to drive the bullocks, covered by the guard.

'"« Your orders respecting the bacon, etc., shall be strictly attended to. I have signed the abstracts up to the first of May, and confess to you I can't see any way of executing them agreeable to the copy from the War Office. You will please to observe there is no column for artificers, wagoners, pack-horsemen, or for any extra rations whatever. I would thank you to point out the mode of bringing those in, with a strict uniformity to the returns sent forward, referred to in your orders. I kept no copy of my letter by McDonald, as it contained nothing material. Our regiment is broken, indeed, and not benefited much by the commanding officer's being at so great a distance, who, I presume, would reduce some companies to. fill others, and send the supernumerary officers on the recruiting service.

each post will be the means of saving many of our best men, who are generally employed on the service undertaken by them. Your partisan corps will have much in their power, and I trust, do honor to themselves; it is the handsomest command in the army. I am sorry the God of War has formed any unjust prejudices against me. I will not suffer him to do me injustice, and ask no favors. The person who made the representation to you must be young in service, and possessed of more passion than judgment. To have crossed the troop and left neat a hundred horses without a guard would, in my opinion, have been very improper.

Colonel Wilkinson was appointed a brigadier-general in May, 1792, and on the twenty-sixth of that month he writes to Captain Armstrong, from Fort Washington:

''T applaud the plan and progress of your buildings, and wish you to extend and complete. them, because I shall spend much of my idle time with you after our chief arrives. You should contrive some place for cooling wine and preserving fresh meat and butter, milk, etc. The contractor must find men to drive his cattle, in my opinion, and that point is now before the executive for their decision."

He also adds, in the same letter: '' Hardin and Freeman left us day before yesterday, the former for Sandusky, the latter for Maumee. I think it equivocal what may be the event, but do expect they will return."

'' DEAR Str, - Your letter of the 24th of May came duly to hand. I am pleased with the idea of having much of your company this Summer. I have happily anticipated your wishes. I have a cellar adjoining the well, and in part of it a cistern that contains about four hundred gallons, which I fill with water once every day, which serves to keep the cellar cool, and answers the purpose of a fish pond. The pleasing idea of being received into the arms of friendship in Philadelphia must, in some measure, lessen the fatigues of the long journey your lady is about to undertake. pleasant and safe passage.

'Will you come and eat strawberries with us? If we had a cow you should have cream also. Green peas we have in abundance. If you could spare some radish seeds, their produce would hereafter serve to ornament your table. Four of the cattle left for the supply of this post broke from the drove some days since, took the road for Fort Washington, and could not be overtaken by the party on foot who pursued them as far as Pleasant Run. One other this morning swam across the river, and is so wild that Mr. Ewing has crossed to shoot him. There is, therefore, only one bullock remaining; he will give the garrison about four days' provision.

"You will no doubt receive by this express a letter from Lieutenant Gaines, inclosing two orders relative to the affairs of this garrison. Should he inclose you the orders of the 25th and 31st of May, anything that may appear ambiguous therein will be explained by the following relation: I had filled the cistern already spoken of in the evening, in order to give the water the night to settle for the use of the troops next day. Mr. Gaines drew the plug and emptied it. As the drawing of three 'or four hundred gallons of water is attended with much fatigue, by the way of reprimand, I observed to Lieutenant Gaines that, if directing him to attend the filling and emptying it would have any other effect than to hurt his feclings, I would direct his attention thereto for a month. His reply was that he would disobey such an order, the issuing of which will be the cause of a complaint. He is young in service, and will learn better. I have read him this part of my letter, and referred him to the eighteenth chapter of the baron's instructions.

"From the list of appointments accompanying your list, I see there are but three brigadiers appointed. I think the law says four, and, I hope, means yourself.

"Dear Sir, - Bailey and Clawson left this on the night of the 7th, which was the evening of the day they arrived. They report that, two miles on the other side the Seventeen Mile Creek, about half-past five o'clock P. M., they saw three Indians standing in the road, with their faces towards St. Clair, and about one hundred and fifty yards in their front. They took to the left of the road in order to make the fort for which they were bound. A foot from the road, in crossing a branch, they saw two watching at a lick; in running down the bank their belts broke, and they lost their packets, after which, at a little distance, they saw two more Indians, who pursued them. They say they heard the savages in pursuit until yesterday ten o'clock, when they struck a creek, the center of which they took and kept until they struck the river - I suppose ten miles.

'Dear Sir, - lI this morning received your letter of last evening, and regret the accident which has befallen my last dispatches, though I think it as fifty to one the enemy have not got them, for it is probable they were not in view when the papers were dropped, and if they were, their attention would have been too much engaged to regard the packet.

'"' By this conveyance you will receive the iron, hemp, and two scythes, ete. I have ordered Hodgson to send out the window-glass, and every other article which has not been heretofore furnished, and to strengthen your garrison I send you the fragment of Pratt's company at this place. .One-half the scythes, fairly assorted, must be.sent forward to Fort Jefferson, and I must flatter myself that you will employ your utmost exertions to procure the largest quantity of hay profitable in your neighborhood. This is, indeed, an object of great magnitude. When the grass is finally secured, it is my purpose to throw a small quantity of salt among it, in order to render it palatable and nutritious. In this momentous business you shall command every requisite aid, and must duly notify me of every want.

"The lieutenants stationed with you and at St. Clair are to accompany Lieutenant Hartshorn to Fort Jefferson, where they are to continue for the security of the bullock and grass guards at the post. The regular transport of provisions which are now about to commence will furnish frequent opportunities of writing, and, as the horse will make their head-quarters with you, you can at any time employ a party to come on to this post. I expect one hundred mounted riflemen from Kentucky in six or seven days, engaged for three months to ply on the communication to Jefferson.

'"N. B. - You must consider the order restraining the movements of the commanding officers of posts as done away, and are to exercise your discretion. The cavalry are to receive your orders after they return from Jefferson.

z "Fort HAmILton, June 21, 1792. 'DEAR GENERAL, - Agreeable to the directions contained in your letter of the 11th instant, five of the scythes were sent forward to Major Strong, and with the remaining six I commenced work on Monday, and have already cured five cocks of hay, which, in my opinion, is little inferior to timothy. It is so warm on the prairie, that it is cut, cured, and cocked the same day, consequently can lose none of its juices. An additional number of scythes will be necessary, in order to procure the quantity you want. I can find no sand as a substitute for whetstones ; perhaps some might be procured among the citizens. One, two, or three, if more can not be had, would be a great relief. 'The window-glass, iron, and hemp came forward, but none of the other articles wrote for. ''T have allowed the mowers one and a half rations per day, and both them and the hay-makers half a pint of whisky each. This, I hope, will meet your approbation. I have also promised to use my endeavors to pro- cure them extra wages. As the contract price of whisky is about sixteen shillings per gallon, and this extra liquor can not be considered as part of the ration, would it not be well to furnish it as well as the salt in the quartermaster's department? I am sure you will conceive that men laboring hard in the hot sun require an extra allowance, and it may be bought here at fifteen shillings cost and carriage. Lieutenant Hartshorn returned last evening with his command, and will, no doubt, report to you. He is of opinion that there is a camp of Indians not far distant from this, on the west side of the river. I shall employ his company asa covering party to' the haymakers, ete., which will make the duty of the infantry lighter - the many objects we have to attend to makes their duty very hard. The want of camp-kettles to cook their meat in is a great inconvenience. Inclosed you have a return for articles we can not well do without. The want of clothing for the men is also a subject of complaint. Iam told there are a number of pairs of linen overalls in store at headquarters. I wish you would think proper to send them here, with some shirts, to cover our nakedness. Indeed, I should feel much relieved by a visit from you. Permit

"The officers of the Second Regiment contend with me for rank, and, I believe, are about to make a representation to the President on the subject. As I filled Captain Mercer's vacancy, and was myself the bearer of his commission, and being appointed by a different act of Congress, I feel no uneasiness with respect to their claims. But the want of my commission may be some inconvenience. J addressed General Knox on this subject in March last; having received no answer, I fear, from the multiplicity of business in your office at that time, he overlooked my request, and have therefore to solicit your influence with him for a copy of my commission, to support my claims.

The tract of land about a mile south of Fort Hamilton, between where the pond was and the Miami River, comprehending five or six hundred acres, was, at the time of which we are writing, a beautiful natural prairie, covered with a luxuriant growth of grass. the grass was cut and hay made.

'"" Drar GenEeRAL, - I feel myself in some measure relieved from the visit you have paid this post. As the important duties imposed on my command have come within your own observation any remarks with respect to my apprehensions from the enemy become unnecessary. Every force you may please to put under my command shall be employed to the utmost advantage my ability and exertions may be adequate to. to be an object of great-attention. Perhaps one or more public teams may be had at head-quarters. The use of them here would effect your wish. Fifty pairs of shoes, if more can not be spared, would be a great relief. Ten cartridge and ten bayonet belts, also, would enable me to parade my company in uniform. To serve me in this instance I am sure would give you pleasure. I well know they are in store, but perhaps claimed by some officers who have not men to wear them. Ten men will complete my company ; perhaps you may think proper to increase my command by sending them forward. The whip-saw I have received is not calculated for my wants; perhaps a better one might be procured. The scythes are subject. to be broken, and, some of them be'ng good for naught, more may be thought necessary. The whip-saw, file, and whetstones, as soon as they can be had, will serve to forward the business you have ordered. Two or more noncommissioned officers would add to the safety of my small parties.

John Armstrong

"Fort WASHINGTON, July 6, 1792. ''DraR Sir, - I have only time to tell you that you must forward by the convoy, if it has not reached you, the inclosed letter, or if it has, by two of. your runners, it being of moment. Keep a good look out for 'Poor,

'"'T send out to apprise you that this day, about noon, a party of savages fired on a party consisting of two men, a woman, and Colonel Spencer's son, about one and a half miles above this, and on this side of the river. One man was killed, the other wounded, but not mortally, and poor little Spencer carried off a prisoner. I sent out a party, who fell in with their trail in General Harmar's trace, about six miles from this, and followed it on the path, about two miles farther, when the men failing with fatigue, the sergeant was obliged to return. Master Spencer's trail was upon the path. This is a farther answer to the pacific overtures, and makes me tremble for your hay. I pray you, if possible, to redouble your vigilance, and on Monday morning early Captain Peters will march with his company and six wagons to your assistance. Send me twenty horses the moment Peters reaches you, and I will be with you next day; in the mean time, your cavalry should scout on both sides of the river, and your riflemen be kept constantly in motion."