Stark County, Ohio - Chapter 4 (1 of 2 so headed), 1881

English

PONTIAC, the greatchief of the Ottawas, was now about fifty years old. He had watched the conflict between the nations with a jealous eye, and as he saw the gradual growth of the English people, their encroachment on the lands of the Indians, their gi-eed, and their assumption of the soil, his soul was stirred within him to do something for his people. He had been a true friend of the French, and had led the Indians at the defeat of Braddock. Amid all the tumult, he alone saw the true state of affiiirs. The English would inevitably cru.sh out the Indians. To save his race he saw another alliance with the French was necessary, and a restoration of their power and habits needed. It was the plan of a statesman. It only failed because of the perfidy of the French. Maturing his plans late in the autumn of 17C2, he sent messengers to all the Western and Southern tribes, with the black wampum and red tomahawk, emblems of war, from the great Pontiac. " On a certain day in the next year," said the messenger, "all the tribes are to rise, seize all the English posts, and then attack the whole frontier."

The gxeat council of all the tribes was held at the river Ecorces, on the 27tli of April, 1703. There, before the assembled chiefs, Pontiac delivered a speech, full of eloquence and art. He recounted the injuries and encroachments of the English, and disclosed their designs. The French king was now awake and would aid them. Should they resign their homes and the graves of their fathers without an eScn't? Were their young men no longer brave? Were they squaws? The Great Master of Life had eliided them for their inactivity, and had sent his commands to drive the "Red Dogs" from the earth. The chiefs eagerly accepted the wampum and the tomahawk, and separated to prepare for the coming strife.

The post at Detroit was informed of the plot the evening before it was to occur, by an Ojibway girl of great beauty, the mistress of the commander. Major Gladwin. Pontiac was foiled here, his treacheiy discovered, and he was sternly ordered fi-om the conference. A regular seige followed, but he could not prevail. He exhibited a degree of sagacity unknown in the annals of savage warfare, but all to no purpose ; the English were too strong for him.

At all the other posts, save one, however, the plans of Pontiac were carried out, and atrocities, unheard of before in American hi.story, resulted. The Indians attacked Detroit on the first of 5Iay, and, foiled in tlicir plans-, a siege immediately followed. On the IGtli, a party of Indians appeared before the fort at Sandusky. Seven of them were admitted. Suddenly, while smokinj;, the nia.ssacre begins. All but Ensign PauUi, the commander, fall. He is carried its a trophy to I'ontiac.

At the mouth of the St. Joseph'.s, the missionaries had maintained a mission station over sixty yeai-s. Thej' gave way to an Engli.<li garrison of fourteen soldiers and a few traders. On the morning of May 25, a deputation of Pottawatoraies are allowed to enter. In less than two minutes, all the g'jirrison but the commander are slain. He is sent to Pontiac.

Near the present city of Fort Wayne, Ind., at the junction of the waters, stood Fort Miami, garrisoned by a few men. Holmes, the commander, is asked to visit a sick woman. He is slain on the way, the sergeant following is made prisoner, and the nine soldiei-s surrender.

On the night of the last day of May, the wampum reaches the Indian village below La Fayette, Ind., and near Fort Ouitcnon. The commander of the fort is lured into a cabin, bound, and his gaiTison surrender. Through the clemency of French settlers, they are received into their houses and protected.

At Michilimackinac, a game of ball is projected. Suddenly the ball is thrown through the gate of the stockade. The Indians press in, and, at a signal, almo.st all are slain or made prisoners.

The fort at Presque Isle, now Erie, was the point of communication between Pittsburgh and Niagara and Detroit. It was one of the most tenable, and had a garrison of four and twenty men. On the 22d of June, the commander, to save his forces from total annihilation, surrenders, and all are carried prisoners to Detroit.

The capitulation at Erie left Le Bosnf without hope. He Wius attacked on the ISth, but kept off tlie Indians till midnight, when he made a successful retreat. As they passed Venango, on their way to Fort Pitt, they saw only the ruins of that ganxson. Not one of its immates had been spared.

Fort Pitt was the mo.st important station west of the Alleghanies. " Escape ! " said Turtle's Heart, a Delaware warrior ; " you will all be .slain. A gi-eat army is coming." "There are three large English armies coming to my aid," said Ecuyer, the commander. " I have enough pro\Tsions and ammunitiou to stand a siege of three years' time." A second and third attempt was made by the savages to capture the post, but all to no avail. Baffled on all .sides here, they destroy Ligonier, a few miles below, and massacre men, women and childnai. Fort Pitt was besieged till the la.st day of July, but withstood all attacks. Of all the outposts, only it and Detroit were left. All had been captured, and the majority of the garrison slain. Along the frontier, the war was waged with fiiry. The Indians were fighting for their homes and their hunting-grounds; and i'or these they fought with the fury and zeal of fanatics.

Detachments sent to aid Detroit arc cut off. The prisonere are burnt, and Pontiac, infusing his zealous and demoniacal sjiirit into all his savage allies, pressed the siege with vigor. The French remained neutral, yet Pontiac made requisitions on them and on their neighbors in Illinois, issuing bills of credit on birch-bark, all of which were faithftdly redeemed. Though these two posts could not be captured, the frontier could be annihilated, and vigorously the Indians pursued their policy. Along the borders of Pennsylvania and Virginia a relentless warfare was waged, sparing no one in its way. Old age, feeble infancy, strong man and gentle woman, fair girl and hopeful boy - all fell before the scalping-knife of the merciless savage. The fi-ontiers were devastated. Thousands were obliged to flee, leaving their possessions to the torch of the Indian.

The colonial government, under Briti.sh direction, was inimical to the borders, and the colonists saw they must depend only upon their own arms for protection. Already the struggle for ft-ecdom was upon them. They could defend only themselves. They must do it, too; for that defense is now needed in a different c;iuse than settling disputes between rival powers. " We have millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute," said they, and time verified the remark.

Gen. Amherst bestirred himself to aid the frontiers. He sent Col. Henry Bouquet, a native of Switzerland, and now an officer in the English Army, to relieve the garrison at Fort l*itt. They followed the route made by (Jen. Forbes, aiul on the way relieved Forts Bedford and Ligonier, both beleaguered by the Indians. About a day's journey beyond Ligonier, he was attacked by a body of Indians at a place called Bushy Hun. For awhile, it seemed that he and all his army would be destroyed ; but Bou(iuet was bold and brave and, under a feint of retreat, routed the savages. He pas.sed on, and relieved the garrison at Fort

The campaign had been disa.strous to the Knglish, but fatal to the jilaus of Fontiac. He could not capture Detroit, and he knew the great scheme must fail. Tlio ])attle of Bushy Run and the relief of Fort Pitt closed the campaign, and all hope of co-operation was at an end. Circumstances were combined against the confederacy, and it was fast falling to pieces. A proclamation was issued to the Indians, explaining to tliem the existing state of affairs, and showing to them the futility of their plans. Pontiac, however, would not give up. Again he renewed the siege of Detroit, and Gen. Gage, now in command of the army in the colonies, resolved to carry the war into their own country. Col. Bradstreet was ordered to lead one army by way of the lakes, against the Northern Indians, while Col. Bouquet was sent against the Indians of the Ohio. Col. Bradstreet went on his way at the head of 1,200 men, but trusting too much to the natives and their promises, his expedition proved largely a failure. He relieved Detroit in August, 1764, which had been confined in the garrison over fifteen months, and dispersed the Indians that yet lay around the fort. But on his way back, he saw how the Indians had duped hiui, and that they were still plundering the settlements. His treaties were annulled by Gage, wlio ordered him to destroy their towns. The sciison was far advanced, liis provisions were getting low, and he was obliged to return to Niagara chagrined and disappointed.

Col. Bouquet knew well the character of the Indians, and shaped his plans accordingly. He had an army of 1,500 men, 500 regulars and 1,000 volunteers. They had had experience in fighting the savages, and could be depended on. At Fort Loudon, he heard of Bradstreet's ill luck, and saw through the deception practiced by the Indians. He arrived at Fort Pitt the 17th of September, where he an'csted a deputation of chiefs, who met him with the same promises that had deceived Bradstreet. He sent one of their number back, threatening to put to death the chiefs unless they allowed his messengers to safely pass through their country to Detroit. The decisive tone of his words convinced them of the fate that awaited tlieni unless they complied. On the 3d of October the army left Fort Pitt, marched down the river to and across the Tuscarawas, arriving in the vicinity of Fredrick Post's late mission on the 17th. There a conference was held with the assembled tribes. Bouquet sternly rebuked them i'or their i'aithlessness, and when told by the chiefs they could not restrain their young men, lie as sternly told them they were responsible for their acts. He told them he would trust them no longer. If they delivered up all their prisoners within twelve days they might hope for peace, otherwise there would be no mercy shown them. They were completely humbled, and, separating hastily, gathered their captives. On the 25th, the army proceeded down to the Tuscarawas, to the junction with White Woman lliver, near the town of Coshocton, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and there made jireparations for the reception of the captives. There they remained until the 18th of November; from day to day prisoners were brought in - men, women and children - and delivered to their friends. JIany were the touching scenes enacted during this time. The separated husband and wife met, the latter often carrying a child born in captivity. Brothers and sisters, separated in youth, met ; lovers rushed into each other's arms ; children found their parents, mothers their sons, fathers their daughters, and neighbors those from whom they had been separated many years. Yet, there were many distressing scenes. Some looked in vain for long-lost relatives and friends, that never should return. Others, that had been captured in their infiiuey, would not leave their savage friends, and when force was used some fled away. One mother looked in vain for a child she had lost years before. Day by day, she anxiously watched, but no daughter's voice reached her ears. One, clad in savage attire, was brought before her. It could not be her daughter, slie was grown. So was the maiden before her. " Can not you remember some mark'?" asked Bouquet, whose sympathies were aroused in this case. "There is none," said the anxious and sorrowful mother. "Sing a song you sang over her cradle, she may remember," suggested the commander. One is sung by her mother. As the song of childhood floats out among the trees the maiden stops and listens, then approaches. Yes, she remembers. Blother and daughter are held in a close embrace, and the stern Bouquet wipes away a tear at the scene.

On the IStli, the army broke up its encampment and started on its homeward march. Bouquet kept six principal Indians as hostages, and returned to the homes of the captives. The Indians kept their promises faithftilly, and the next year representatives of all the Western tribes met Sir William Johnson, at the German Flats, and made a treaty of peace. A tract of land in the Indian country wius ceded to the wliites for the benefit of those who liad suffered in the late war. The Indians desired to make a treaty with Joliuson, wlurelpy the Alleirliaiiy Kivcr .should be the we.stern boundary of the Knglish, but he excused himself on the ground of [troper power.

Not long after this the Illinois settlement!?, too remote to know much of the .struggle or of any of the great event.s that had convulsed an empire, and changed the destiny of a nation, were brought under the English rule. There were five villages at this date: Ka.skaskia, Cahokia, St. Philip, Vincennes and Prairie du Kocher, ne:ir Fort Chartrcs, the military headquartei's of these Fnncli possessions. They were under the control or command of M. de_ Abadie, at New Orleans. They had also ext-ended explorations west of the MissLssippi, and made a few settlements in what was Spanish territory. The country had been, however, ceded to France, and in February, lT<i4. the country was formally taken possession of and the present city of St. Jjouis laid out.

As soon a.s the French knew of the change of government, many of them went to the west side of the river, and took up their residence there. They were protected in their religion and civil rights by the terms of the treaty, but preferred the rule of their own King.

The British took possession of this country early in ITG.T. Gen. Gage sent Capt. Stirling, of the English Army, who arrived before summer, and to whom St. Ange, the nominal commandant, surrendered the authority. The British, through a succession of commanders, retiiined control ofthecountry until deU^ated by George Rogers Clarke, and his "nigged \'irginia militia."

After a short time, the French again ceded the country west of the Mississippi to Spain, and relimiuislird forever their control of all the West in the New World.

The population of Western Louisiana, when the exchange of governments occurred, was estimated to be 13,588, of which 891 were in the Illinois country - as it was called - west of the MissLssippi. Eitst of the river, and before the French crossed into Spanish country, the population was estimated to be about 3,000. All the.se had grown into communities of a peculiar character. Indeed, that peculiarity, as ha.s beim observed, never changed until a gradual amalgamation with the American people effected it, and that took more than a century of time to accomplish.

The English now owned the Northwest. True, they did not yet occupy but a small part of it, but traders were ag;iin crossing the mountains, explorers fur lands were on the Ohio, and families for settlement were beginning to look upon the West a.s their future home. Companies were again forming to purchase large tracts in the Ohio country, and open them for emigration. One thing yet stood in the way - a definite boundary line. That line, however, was between the English and the Indians, and not, as had heretofore been the case, between rival European Powers. It was necessary to arrange some definite boundary before land companies, who wore now actively pushing their claims, could safely survey and locate their lands.

Sir William Johnson, who had at previous times been instrumental in securing treaties, wrote repeatedly to the Board of Trade, who controlled the greater part of the commercial tran.sactions in the colonies - and who were the first to ext-laim against extending English settlements beyond a limit whereby they would need manufactures, and thereby become independent of the Mother Country - urging upun them, and through them the Crown, the necessity i>f a fixed bcjundiLrv, else another Indian war was prubul)le. The Indians found themselves gradually hemmed in by the growing power of tlu; whites, and began to exhibit hostile ieelings. The irritation became so great that in the summer of 1767, Giige wrote to the Governor of Pennsylvania concerning it. The Governor communicated his letter to the General Assembly, who sent representatives to England, to urge the immediate settlement of the question. In com|)liance with these requests, and the letters of prominent citizens, Franklin among the number, instructions were sent to Johnson, ordering him to complete the purchase from the Six Nations, and settle all differences. He sent word to all the Western tribes to meet him at Fort Stanwix, in October, 17(i8. The conference Wiis held on the 24th of that month, and was attended by colonial representatives, and by Indians from all parts of the Northwest. It was determined that the line .should begin on the Ohio, at the mouth of the Ciienikee (Tennes.see), thence up the river to the Alleghany and on to Kittanning, and thence across to the Susquehanna. By this line, the whole country south of the Ohio and Alleghany, to which the Six Nations liad any claim, was transferred. Part of this land was made to compensate twenty-two traders, whose goods had been stolen in 1703. The deeds made, were upon the express agreement that no claims should ever be based on the treaties of Lancaster, Logstown, etc., and were signed by the chiefs of the Six Nations for themselves, their allies and dependents, and the Sliawanees, Delawares, Mingoes of Ohio, and others; though the Shawanees and Delaware deputies did not sign them. On this treaty, in a great me;isure, rests the title by purchase to Kentucky, Western Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The rights of the Chcrokces were purchased by Col. Donaldson, either for the King, Virginia, or for himself, it is impossible to say which.

The grant of the northern confederacy was now made. The white man could go in and possess these lands, and know that an army would protect him if necessary. Under such a guarantee, West^ ern lands came rapidly into market. In addition to companies already in existence for the purchase of land, others, the most notable of these being the "Walpole" and the "Mississippi" Land Companies, were formed. This latter had among its organizers such men ;is Francis Lightfoot Lee, Kichard Henry Lee, George Washington and Arthur Lee. Before any of these companies, some of whom absorbed the Ohio Company, could do anything, the Revolution came on, and all land transactions were at an end. Atler its close. Congress would not sanction their claims, and they fell through. This did not deter settlers, however, from crossing the mountains, and settling in the Ohio country. In spite of troubles with the Indians - some of whom regarded the treaties with the Six Nations as unlawful, and were disposed to complain at the rapid influx of whites - and the failure of the land companies, settlers came steadily during the decade from 17G8 to 1778, so that by the close of that time, there was a large population south of the Ohio River ; while scattered along the northern banks, extending many miles into the wilderness, were hardy adventurers, who were carving out homes in the magnificent forests everywhere covering the country.

Among the foremost speculators in Western lands, was George Washington. As early as 17G3, he employed Col. Crawford, aflerward the leader in " Crawford's campaign," to purchase lands for him. In 1770, lie crossed the mountains in company with several gentlemen, and examined the country along the Ohio, down which stream he passsed to the mouth of the Great Kanawha, where he shot some buffalo, then plenty, camped out a few nights, and returned, fully convinced, it seems, that one day the West would be the best part of the New- World. He owned, altogether, nearly fifty thousand acres in the West, which he valued at §3.33 per acre. Had not the war of the Revolution just then broken out, he might have been a resident of the West, and would have been, of course, one of its most prominent citizens.