Allen County, Indiana - Chapter 3: Continued Active Operations in Tiie Indian Depart¬ Ment, 1880 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 3: Continued Active Operations in Tiie Indian Depart¬ Ment

In the mean time, Gen. St. Clair having resigned his office of Major Gen¬ eral after his disastrous expedition, and Gen. Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary officer of some celebrity, been appointed to succeed him, preparations for a con¬ tinuance of military operations against the Indians in this department were not in a passive state, but active, well-timed and deliberate. The experiences of the two preceding campaigns were such as to require a change of method and mate¬ rial ; hence, Gen. Wayne, feeling the importance of the situation and the mag¬ nitude of the issues to be determined by him in the solution of the Indian ques¬ tion, preferred " to make haste slowly," by carefully reviewing the surroundings, and recruiting for, and organizing of, such material as would make success a cer¬ tainty. While he was taking these preliminary steps, the Government of the United States was making efforts to establish treaties of peace and friendship with 1 the hostile tribes of the Northwest. To do this and to acquire the information of the movements and designs of the Indians, messengers, with " talks," were delegated for the purpose, while Commissioners, invested with powers to make treaties, were appointed for different localities. It was enjoined on the Commis¬ sioners and messengers, especially, to assure the Indians, as a means of concil¬ iating them in regard to the question that had occasioned much of the trouble heretofore between them and the white people, growing out of the supposed inten- I tion of the latter to take their lands without their consent and without paying ! for them, by the assurance that their lands should not be taken without compen¬ sation, and by renouncing all claims to any of the Indian lands which had not 1 been ceded by fair treaties made with the Indians. These instructions were to ' be observed strictly, and the assurances given in the strongest and most explicit j terms. " And, for the purpose of informing the Indians of the extent of the claims of the United States, the Commissioners were furnished with copies of

As an agency in the successful execution of these plans, Geu. Wayne was instructed, in April, 1792, to issue a proclamation, which should inform the peo¬ ple along the frontiers of the measures in contemplation, and that their duty in the premises required that they refrain 1'rom any and all offensive movements calculated to occasion distrust or give the Indians any grounds of refusal to accept the proposed terms, until further informed.

Meanwhile, Maj. Hamtramck, in March, 1792, concluded treaties of peace with some bands of the Wea and Eel River tribes, at Vincennes, and dispatched messengers to many of the hostile tribes of the Wabash. Subsequently, on the 7th of April. 1792, Gen. Wilkinson sent two messengers from Fort Washington, with a speech to the Indians on the Maumee. These messengers, from their injudicious' methods of conducting their inquiries, excited the suspicion among the Indians that they were spies, and when within one day's march of the main body of the Indian councils, they were murdered in consequence.

Speaking of the perilous service upon which the spies were sent, he says : " My messengers, Freeman at the head, left this (Fort Washington) on the 7th (of April, 1792), with a 'big talk,' and are ordered to keep Harmar's trace, which will ,be an evidence to the enemy that they have no sinister designs in con¬ templation. If they are received, and are suffered to return, they have my direc¬ tions to come by Fort Jefferson. You must order William May to desert in a day or two, or must cover his departure by putting him iu the way to be taken prisoner, as you may deem best. I consider the first preferable in one point of view, that is, it would guard him effectually against any real desertion which may hereafter take place. It will be exceedingly -difficult, if not impracticable, for him ever to make a second trip with success. However, that will depend, in a great measure, upon the fertility of his own genius.

" He should cross the Miami at or near your post, and keep a due north course - remarking, critically, the distance, ground and water-courses over which he may pass, until he strikes the St. Mary's, the site of the old Miami village, and the first town. Ilis first business will be to find out what has become of my messengers. If they have been received and well treated, he may authenticate the sincerity and good faith which has prescribed their journey. For this pur¬ pose, he must be made acquainted with the departure of the messengers, and the order restraining offensive hostilities. But if they have been killed or made pris¬ oners, and the enemy positively refuse to treat, then, so soon as he clearly ascer¬ tain these facts, he must return to us by the nearest and safest route. If this occasion should not present, he is to continue with the enemy, and is, at all events, to acquire their confidence. To this end, he must shave his head, assume their dress, adopt their habits and manners, and always be ready for the hunt, or for war. His greatest object during his residence with the enemy will be to .find out the names of the nations which compose the confederacy now at war - their num¬ bers, and the situation of their respective towns - as to course and distance from the old Miami village, and the locality of each. He will discover the names, res¬ idence, interests, and influence of all the white men now connected with those savages, and whether the British stimulate, aid or abet them, and in what man¬ ner - whether openly, by the servants of Government, or indirectly by traders. He will labor to develop what are the general determinations of the savages, in case the war is continued and we gain possession of their country. Having made himself master of these points, or as far as may be practicable, he will embrace the first important occasion to come in to us. Such will be the moment when the enemy collectively take the field and advance against our army, or a detachment of it, and have approached it within a day's march.

" Should he execute this mission with integrity and effect, I pledge myself to restore him' to his country, and will use my endeavors to get him some little establishment, to make his old age comfortable." It is subsequently shown that May, who was thus instructed, so far executed the trust reposed in him that he deserted, according to orders, and continue! to reside among the Indians until the latter part of September, 1792, wheu he left them, and arrived at Pittsburgh and made a report to Maj. Gen. Wayne. On the 18th of August, 1794, he was cap¬ tured by the Indians, near the rapids of the Maumee. On the next day he was tied to a tree and shot.

In the latter part of May following, Maj. Trueman and Col. Hardin were delegated to transmit the great " peace talk " of President Washington to the hostile Indians, which was addressed " To all the Sachems and warriors of the tribes inhabiting the Miami River of Lake Erie, and the waters of the Wabash River, the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas. Chippewas. Pottawatomies, and all other tribes residing to the southward of the lakes, east of the Mississippi and to the northwest of the river Ohio." The following extract from that speech well illustrates its tenor : '' Summon, therefore, your utmost powers of attention, and hear the important things which shall be spoken to you concerning your future welfare ; and, after having heard aud well understood all things, invoke the Great Spirit above to give you due deliberation and wisdom, to decide upon a line of conduct that shall best promote your happiness, and the happiness of your chil¬ dren, and perpetuate you and them on the land of your forefathers. Brothers: the President of the United States entertains the opinion that the war which exists is founded in error and mistake on your part ; that you believe the United States wants to deprive you of your lands, and drive you out of the country. Be assured that this is not so ; on the contrary, that we should be greatly gratified with the opportunity of imparting to you all the blessings of civilized life, of teaching you to cultivate the earth and raise corn ; to raise oxen, sheep, and other domestic animals; to build comfortable houses, aud to educate your children so as ever to dwell upon the land."

When Messrs. Trueman and Hardin had fully entered upon their mission, they resolved to follow Uarmur's trace for some distance, and then separate, taking different routes thenceforward. It was agreed that Hardin should go among the tribes in the vicinity of Saudusky, while Trueman was to visit those at the rapids of Maumee. In the execution of this trust, these brave officers sacri¬ ficed their lives, giving themselves as a peace-offering on the altar of their country. The places and circumstances of their death have never beeu fully ascertained, further than those detailed in the deposition made by William May, whose career as a spy in the service of Gen. Wilkinson has already been noticed, on the 11th of October, 1792, upon his return from his perilous expedition. An abstract of that deposition discloses the following facts relative thereto :

" In the latter end of June, 1792, some Indians came on board the vessel" - upon which he had been placed by Capt. Matthew Elliot, his purchaser, after having been captured by the Indians subsequent to his leaving Fort Hamilton (the vessel being used as a transport for provisions, from Detroit to the rapids ot Maumee) - " for provisions, among whom was one who had two scalps upon a stick. One of them he knew to be William Lynch's (Trueman's waiter), with whom he (May) was well acquainted ; he had light hair. That he mentioned at once whose scalp it was. The other they said was Maj. Trueman's ; it was darker than Lynch's. The manner in which Trueman was killed was mentioned by the Indian who killed him, to an Indian who used to go in the vessel with May, in his presence, and immediately interpreted, viz. : This Indian and an Indian boy, having met with Trueman, his waiter, Lynch, and the interpreter, William Smal¬ ley ; that Trueman gave the Indian a belt ; that, after being together three or four hours, the Indians were going to leave them. Trueman inquired the reason from the interpreter, who answered that the Indians were alarmed lest, there being three to two, they might injure them in the night. Upon which, Trueman told them they might tie both his servaut and himself. That this boy, Lynch, was first tied and then Trueman. The moment Trueman was tied, the Indian tomahawked and scalped him, and then the boy. That the papers in possession of Trueman were given to Mr. McKee (Col. Alexander McKee, a storekeeper at the Rapids), who sent them by a Frenchman, called Capt. La Motto, to Detroit, on board the schooner of which he (May) had the charge. That, upon his return from Detroit to the rapids of the Maumee, he saw a scalp said to be Har¬ din's ; that he also saw a flag by the route of Sandusky ; that the hair was dark brown, but don't know by what nation he was killed ; these papers were also sent to Detroit, on board the schooner, by Mr. Elliott (Capt. Elliott, also a storekeeper at the Rapids). That a Capt. Brumley, of the Fifth British regiment, was in the action of the 4th of November, 1791, but did not learn that he took com¬ mand ; that Lieut. Sylvcy, of the same regiment, was on his march with three hundred Indians, but did not get up in time to participate in the action."

On the 27th of September following, " Brig. Gen. Rufus Putnam, with John Heckewelder, concluded a treaty of peace and friendship with thirty-one Indians of the Wabash and Illinois tribes."

Article I, of that treaty, provides that " There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between all the citizens of the United Slates of America aud all the individuals, villages and tribes of the said Wabash and Illinois Indians.

" Article II. - The undersigned kings, chiefs and warriors, for themselves and all parts of their villages and tribes, do acknowledge themselves to be under the protection of the United States of America, and stipulate to live in amity and friendship with them.

"Article IY. - The United States solemnly guaranty to the Wabash and Illinois nations or tribes of Indians, all the lands to which they have a just claim, and no part shall ever be taken from them but by a fair purchase, and to their satisfaction. That the lands originally belonged to the Indians; it is theirs and theirs only. That they have a right to sell, and a right to refuse to sell. And that the United States will protect them in their said just rights.

" Article V. - The said kings, chiefs and warriors solemnly promise, on their part, that no future hostilities or depredations shall be committed by them or belonging to the tribe they represent, against the persons or property of any of the citizens of the United States."

This treaty was signed by thirty-one Indians of the Wabash and Illinois tribes. The treaty, however, being unsatisfactory in some particulars, was not ratified by the Senate of the United States.

About the same time, representations of the Miamis, Pottawatomies, Dela¬ wares, Shawanoes, Chippewas, Ottawas and Wyandots, assembled in council at the Maumee Rapids, to consider the situation and their duty in the premises. Certain chiefs of the Six Natious also visited these councils in the interest of the United States. The result of the council was a refusal to make any treaty with the United States which should acknowledge any claim of the latter to lauds iu territory northwest of the Ohio. Under these circumstances, " while offen¬ sive operations against the Northwestern Indians were prohibited by the Govern¬ ment of the United States, small war parties, composed principally of Delawares aud Shawanoes, continued to lurk about the white settlements on the borders of the Ohio, waylaying the paths, capturing horses and cattle, killing some ot the settlers, aud carrying others into captivity." A short engagement on the morn¬ ing of November 6, between a company of Kentucky militia, under Maj. Adair, and a large body of Indians, near Fort St. Clair, resulted in compelling the detach¬ ment to retire within the walls of the fort, with the loss of six men killed and five wounded, the Indian loss being about the same.

In July, 1793, a joint council of Commissioners on the part of the United States, Col. Simcoe, Governor of Upper Canada, a considerable number of civil and military officers, and a deputation of Indians from the Maumee Council, assem¬ bled at Niagara, to confer upon the issues, presented for the determination ot the questions of peace between the United States anti the Indian tribes ot the North¬ west. At this meeting, an explanation was given by the Indians for their failure to agree upon any terms of peace at Maumee, an account of which is given above. The° reason assigned was, there was so much of the appearance of war in that quarter. Capt. Brandt, one of the Indian Representatives, who had attended the Maumee Council, having given the reason, as stated, said: " Brothers! W e have

"ivon She reason lor our not meeting you ; and now wc request a those warlike appearances. Brothers, the people you one here a sent the Indian nations, who own the lands north of the Ohio , property, and who are all of one mind-one heart, Brothers, v sneak to vou for two reasons : One, because your warriors, being hood have prevented our meeting at the appointed place. 1 lie other, to know if you lire properly authorised to run and establish a new boundary line > betwera i the Lids of the United Stales and of tiie Indian nations We are s till d® .iron s of mectin- you at the appointed place. Brothers, we wish you to deliberate we tliis business We have spoken our sentiments tn sincerity, consldei tug outselves in the presence of the Great Spirit, from whom, in times of danger we expect istancc " 'flic Commissioners responded as follows: "Brothels. We have attended to what you l.ave said. Wc will take it into our serious consideration, and ..ive yon an answer to-morrow. We will inform you when we ere ready.

" y ' This was on the 7th of July, 1793. On the following day, the council hav¬ ing been assembled for that purpose, the Commissioners gave the premised ,

J"'W" Brothers: By the appointment of the Great Spirit, we are again met together. We hope He will assist us on both sides to see qnd to do what is right. ItTivos US pleasure that this meeting is in the presence ol our I brothers, the Kmdish. Brothers, now listen to our answer in behalf of the United h.ates. | Brothers, you have mentioned two objects of your coming to meet us at this place. One, to obtain an explanation of the warlike: appearances on the part of the United States, on the northwestern side ot Ohio ; the other, to learn whether we have authority to run and establish a new boundary line between your lands

:mii ""Brothers, on the first point, we can but express our extreme regret that any reports of warlike appearances on the part of the United States should have delayed our meeting at Sandusky. * * * Brothers, we are deputed bv the Great Chief and the Great Councils of the United States to treat you with ueaee- and is it possible that the same Great Chief and lus Great Council could order 'their warriors to make fresh war while we are sitting round the same fire with yon in order to make peace ? * * * Brothers, we think it is

Gen* Washington, has strictly forbidden all hostilities against you, until the event of the proposed treaty at Sandusky shall be known. Here is the procla¬ mation of hi i head warrior, Gen. Wayne, to that effect. _ But, brothers, our great chief is so sincere in his professions for peace, and so desirous or preventing every¬ thin" which could obstruct the treaty and prolong the war, that, besides giving the above orders, to his head warrior, he lias informed the Governors of the sev¬ eral States adjoining the Ohio, of the treaty proposed to he belli at Sandusky, and desired them to unite their power with his to prevent any hostile attempts against the Indians north of the Ohio, until the result of the treaty is made known Those Governors have accordingly issued their orders, strictly forbidding all such hostilities. The proclamations of the Governors of Pennsylvania and \ lrginia we have here in our hands. ^ ^ * ' *

« Brothers, we now come to the second point : Whether we are properly authorized to run and establish a new boundary line between your lands and ours ? Brothers, we answer you explicitly, that we have that authority. Doubt¬ less come concessions must be made on both sides. ome

Cat's Eyes, a Shawanoe chief, answered : "Brothers, the Bostomans, attend We have' heard your words. Our fathers, the English people, have also heard them. We thank God that you have been preserved in peace, and that wc bring uur pipes together. The people of all the different nations here salute you. ihey rejoice to hear your words. It gives us great satisfaction that our fathers, the English, have heard them also." , n

During the progress of the conference on the next day, July J, Uapt. Brandt, in response to the inquiry of the Commissioners as to the names of the nations of the chiefs assembled at the Maumee, said : " When we left it, the fol¬ lowing nations were there, to wit, Five Nations, Wyandots Shawanoes, Dela¬ wares, Munsces, Miamis, Chippewas, Oltawas, Pottawatomies, Mingoes, Cherokees, Nauti'kokies," together with a long list of the names of chiefs. The Commis¬ sioners replied : "Our ears have been open to your speech. It is agreeable to us. We are ready to accompany yua to the place of treaty, where, under the direc¬ tion of the Great Spirit, we hope for a speedy termination of the present war, on terms equally interesting and agreeable to all parties."

After several subsequent conferences and discussions between the Indians and Commissioners, and between the Indians themselves, in which about the same line of thought was presented, it was concluded, finally, on the 13th of August, 1793, at the rapids of the Maumee, in general council of the Wyandots, Miamis, Pottawatomies, Shawanoes and twelve other tribes there assembled, that if the United States should agree that the Ohio River should be and remain the perpet¬ ual boundary between them and the Indians, without being subject to cession or purchase - they were ready to enter into a treaty of peace; otherwise, it would be unnecessary to meet again. The Commissioners then returned the following

" Brothers ; We have just received your answer, dated the 13th instant, to our speech of the 31st of last month, which we delivered to your deputies at this place. You say it was interpreted to all your nations; and we presume it was fully understood. We therein explicitly declared to you that it was now impos¬ sible tu make the river Ohio the boundary between your lands and the lands of the United States. Tour answer amounts to a declaration that you will agr ee to no other boundary than the Ohio. The negotiation is, teri c> '.m i sincerely igret that peace is not the result ; but, knowing the uptight and liberal t of the United States - which, as far as you gave us an

The Commissioner, left tiie next day, and upon their arrival at Fort Eric, yffist 23, they immediately forwarded to Gen. Wayne, at Fmt Washington, the result of their negotiations, as narrated above. The result, while not sat sfactory in terms, was at least effective of much good, in the spirit manifested the progress of the negotiations. . , ,

Meantime, Gen. Wayne had not been idle, but had made rapid advances toward the re-organization of his army for the defense ol the territory northwest of the Ollio Ills success, however, in bringing forward the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, was not what he had desired ; nevertheless, he continued to make the most of the situation, anticipating that, by the opening of .mug, he would be so far menared as to set his army in motion and prevent the further depreda¬ tions of hostile Indians. Early in the winter, therefore, as a precautionary step, he caused Fort Greenville to be erected on the Big Miami, and established there his headquarters. On the 23d of December, he ordered Map Henry Butbeck, with ei'dit. companies of infantry aud a detachment of artillery, tu take possession of the ground on which Gen. St. Clair had been defeated two years before, and erect a fortification there The order was duly executed, and the new post was called Fort Recovery, and was situated on the head-waters of the Wabash

RlVCotomporaneous with some of the incidents already recited occurring in the early part of the year 1793, when the Government of the United States was pressed with the consideration of questions " equally delicate, difficult and disagree¬ able " Mr Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary ot the French Republic, amved in the United States, and was received with many demonstrations ot kindly regard for the noble part bis nation had taken in securing American independence. Seeim- the spirit which actuated the people m those manifestations of esteem, and presuming much on their traetability, lie was vain enough to attempt, in the name of the French Government, by the offer and tender ot commissions m the French army, to induce this people to make common cause with France in the prosecution of wars in which that natiun was engaged. These assumptions were met boldly, and the arrogant Frenchman was made to understand that Ins mission was ill-timed and opposed to the policy of our Government. Persistence how¬ ever on his part, caused military posts and other defenses to be erected as a means of preventing, by force, the execution of his purpose, in disregard ot the le-al authority of the Government ot the United btates, to enlist and trans¬ port American citizens elsewhere as auxiliaries to their military power. His plans failing, he was suddenly recalled.

On the 28th of July, 1794, the regular troops under his command having been joined, two days previously, by Major General Scott, with about sixteen hundred mounted volunteers, from Kentucky, Gen. Wayne, with this united force, commenced his march for the Indian towns on the Maumee River. At a point on the St. Mary's Iiiver about twenty-four miles to the ""'thwest rfTort Recovery, he erected and garrisoned another post, which lie called loit Ail,, s. Moving hence, on the 4th of August, ho arrived at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize on the 8th. The capture of tiie post a; this point is best dosctibed in the language ol Gen. Wayne's report to the Secretary of War, dated August 14.1794. He says: , , ...

" I have the honor to inform you that the army under my command took possession of this very important post on tiie morning .of the 8th instant , the enemy on tiie preceding evening, having abandoned all their settlements, towns and villages, with such apparent marks of surprise and precipitation as to amount to a positive proof that our approach was not discovered by them until the arrival of a Mr. Newman, of the Quartermaster General s Department, who deserted from the army near the St. Mary's. * * 1 ,=" such demonstrations for a length of time previously to taking up out line ot march as to induce the savages to expect our advance by the route of the Mount villages, to the left, or toward Roche de Bout, by the right, which feints appear to have produced lie desired effect, by drawing the attention of the enemy to those points, and gave an opening for the army to approach undiscovered, by a devious, i. in a central direction. Thus, sir, we have gained possession of the -rand emporium of the hostile Indians of the West, without loss of blood Ihe very extensive and highly cultivated fields and gardens show the work ot many hands. The margin df those beautiful rivers, the Miamis of the lake [or Mau¬ mee] and Auglaize appear like one continued milage fur a number of miles both above and below this place; nor have I ever before beheld such immense fields of corn in any part uf America, from Canada to F lorida. i\ e are now emp oye in completing a strong stockade fort, with four good block-houses, by way of bas¬ tions, at tiie confluence of the Auglaize and tiie [Maumee], which I have called Defiance. Everything is now prepared for a forward move, to-morrow morning, toward Roche de Bout, or foot lif the rapids. Yet I have thought propel to offer the enemy a last overture of peace, and as they have everything that is deal ami interesting: now at stake. I have reason to expect that they will listen to the propositions mentioned in the enclosed copy of an address to the Delaware ,

Shawanoes, Miamis and Wyandots, and to each and every one of them, and to all other nations of Indians northwest of the Ohio, whom it may concern, " dis¬ patched yesterday by a special flag [Christopher Miller], whom I sent under cir¬ cumstances that will insure his safe return, and which may eventually spare the effusion of much human blood. But should war be their choice, that blood be upon their own heads. America shall no longer be insulted with impunity. To an all-powerful and just God I therefore commit myself and gallant army."

The dispatch, addressed as above and forwarded, contained this passage : " Brothers - Be no longer deceived or led astray by the false promises and lan¬ guage of the bad white men at the foot of the rapids ; they have neither the power nor inclination to protect you. No longer shut your eyes to your true interest and happiness, nor your ears to this last overture of peace. But. in pity to your innocent women and children', come and prevent the further effusion of your blood. Let them experience the kindness and friendship of the United States of America, and the invaluable blessings of peace and tranquillity." He invited them, also, to meet him without delay between the mouth of the Auglaize and the foot of the rapids of the Maumee, " in order to settle the preliminaries of a lasting peace."

" The bearer of the letter left Fort Defiance at 4 o'clock, P. M., on the 13th of August. On the 16th, he brought an answer from some of the hostile Indians to Gen. Wayne, in which they said, ' that if he waited where he was ten days, and then sent Miller for them, they would treat with him ; but that if he advanced they would give him battle.' " But Gen. Wayne was not thus induced to check his onward march, for on the 15th he had moved his forces from Fort Defiance and directed them toward the British fort at the foot of the Maumee Rapids. Five days later, he had gained a decisive victory over the Indians and their allies almost under the guns of the British fort, on the left bank of the Maumee. The Indians had been as good as their word, but met with a reception not contem¬ plated in their pompous reply to his propositions for peace. They had fought and been disastrously defeated.

The following, from Wayne's official report of his proceedings, addressed to the Secretary of War, and bearing date at Fort Defiance, August 28, 1794, will give the reader an accurate idea of his efforts at conquering a peace :

" Sir - It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you the brilliant success of the Federal army under my command, in a general action with the combined force of the hostile Indians and a considerable number of the volun¬ teers and militia of Detroit, on the 20th instant, on the banks of the Maumee, in the vicinity of tlie British post and garrison, at the foot of the rapids. The army advanced from this place (Fort Defiance), on the 15th, and arrived at Roche ' de Bout on the 18th ; the 19th was employed in making a temporary post (Fort Deposit), for the reception of our stores and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of the enemy, who were encamped behind a thick brushy wood and the British fort.

" At 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 20th, the army again advanced in columns, agreeably to the standing order of march, the legion on the right, its flank covered by the Maumee ; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brig. Gen. Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brig. Gen. Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers moved in front of the legion, commanded by Maj. Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war.

" After advancing about five miles, Maj. Price's corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood, which extended for miles on our left, and for a very consider¬ able distance in front, the grouud being covered 'with old, fallen timber, probably occasioned by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of war¬ fare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles, at right angles with the river. I soon discovered from the weight of the fire and the extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeav¬ oring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first; and directed Maj. Gen. Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the mounted volunteers, by a cir¬ cuitous route ; at the same time, I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and, when up, to deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, fol¬ lowed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again.

" I also ordered Capt. Mis Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promp¬ titude ; but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts in so short a time, that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Gens. Scott, Todd and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action ; the enemy being driven, in the course of one hour, more than two miles through the thick woods already mentioned by less than one-half their numbers. From every account, the enemy amounted to two thousand combatants. The troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns of the British garrison, as you will observe by the inclosed correspondence between Maj. Campbell, the commandant, and myself, upon the occasion.

" The bravery and conduct of every officer belonging to the army, from the Generals down to the ensigns, merit my highest approbation. There were, how¬ ever, some whose rank and situations placed their conduct in a very conspicuous point of view, and which I observed with pleasure and the most lively gratitude. Among whom, I must beg leave to mention Brig. Gen. Wilkinson and Col. Hamtram ck, the commandants of the right and left wings of the legion, whose brave example inspired the troops. To these, I must add the names of my faithful and gallant Aids-de-Camp, Capts. De Butt and T. Lewis ; and Lieut. Harrison, who, with the Adjutant General, Maj. Mills, rendered the most essential service by com¬ municating my orders in every direction, and, by their conduct and bravery, excit¬ ing the troops to press for victory. Lieut. Covington, upon whom the command of the cavalry now devolved, cut down two savages with his own hand ; and Lieut. Webb, one, in turning the enemy's left flank. The wounds received by Capt. Slough and Prior, and Lieut, Campbell Smith, an extra Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Wilkinson, of the legionary infantry, and Capt. Van Rensselaer, of the dragoons, Capt, Rawlins, Lieut. McKenney, and Ensign Duncan, of the mounted volunteers, bear honorable testimony of their bravery and conduct.

" Capts. H. Lewis and Brock, with their companies of light infantry, had to sustain an unequal fire for some time, which they supported with fortitude. In fact, every officer and soldier who had an opportunity to come into action displayed that true bravery which will always insure success. And here permit me to declare that I never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers ; and t am well persuaded that, had the enemy maintained their favorite ground for one-half hour longer, they would have most severely felt the prowess of that corps. But, while I pay this tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave officers, Capt. Mis Campbell, of the dragoons, and Lieut. Fowles, of the light infautry, of the legion who fell in the first charge.

"We remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee in front of the field of battle, during which time all the houses and cornfields were con¬ sumed and destroyed for a considerable distance both above and below Fort Miami as well as within pistol-shot of the garrison, who were compelled to remain tacit spectators to this general destruction and conflagration, among which were the houses, stores and property of Col. McKee, the British Indian agent and principal stimulator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages.

"The army returned to this place (Fort Defiance) on the 27th, by easy marches, laying waste the villages and cornfields for fifty miles on each side of the Maumee. There remain yet a great number of villages and a great quantity of corn to be consumed or destroyed upon Auglaize and the Maumee about this place, which will be effected in the course of a few days. In the interim, we shall improve Fort Defiance ; and, as soon as the escort returns with the neces¬ sary supplies from Greenville and Fort Recovery, the army will proceed to the Miami villages in order to accomplish the object of the campaign. It is, how¬ ever, not improbable that the enemy, may make one desperate effort against the army, as it is said that a re-enforcement was hourly expected at Fort Miami from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margin and islands of the lakes. This is a business rather to be wished for than dreaded while the army remains in force. Their numbers will only tend to confuse the savages and the victory will be the more complete and decisive, and which may eventually insure a permanent and happy peace."

The exact number of Indians engaged in this action has of course never been accurately ascertained, but from the best information at hand, there were about four hundred and fifty Delawares, one hundred and seventy-five Miamis, two hundred and seventy-five Shawanoes, two hundred and twenty-five Ottawas, two hundred and seventy-five Wyandots and a small number of Senecas, Pottawatomies and Chippewas, in all from fifteen to eighteen hundred warriors, not including about one hundred Canadians from Detroit under command of Capt. Caldwell. The loss of the Indians can only be estimated by the number of dead left on the field, and upon that basis it would be 3afe to fix the number of killed at little less than eighty killed and about two hundred wounded, for when the battle was ended and the Indians had withdrawn, forty of their dead remained on the field in addition to the large number necessarily taken off the field during the progress of the engagement, according to their universal usage, until their compulsory retirement. The wounded being more than double their death loss. According to the official report of Gen. Wayne in the War Department, his loss was twenty-six regulars and seven Kentucky volunteers killed, while of the wounded there were eighty-seven regulars and thirteen volunteers. Subsequently, nine regulars and two volunteers died from the effect of their wounds, at the date of the report, August 28, 1794.

Gen. Wayne, with his army,- remained at Fort Defiance, whither he had marched after the battle of the 20th, until the 14th of September, when, leaying that point, he moved up the Maumee in the direction of the English fort at the juncture of St. Joseph's and St. Mary's. Prior to his departure from Fort Defiance, and after his engagement at the foot of the rapids, being in the vicinity of Fort Miami, then under the command of Maj. Campbell, of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, in the service of the King of Great Britain - from some technical objection growing out of the apparent disposition on the part of Gen. Wayne to hold his position in the vicinity of the British fort, the Com¬ mandant challenged his right to remain there in hostile attitude. The result was a short but spicy correspondence between the two officers, in which the Briton, while endeavoring to establish the right of his sovereign to occupy the territory by right of anterior possession, admitted that his situation there was totally mili¬ tary. However, Gen. Wayne, in the name of the President of the United States, desired and demanded that he " immediately desist from any further act of hostility or aggressiou, by forbearing to fortify, and by withdrawing the troops, artillery aud stores under your (his) orders and direction forthwith, and removing to the nearest post occupied by his Britannic Majesty's troops at the peace of 1783." This advice was subsequently taken by Maj. Campbell, and the fort Americanized.

Departing, for the moment, from a narrative of succeeding events, the read¬ er's attention is directed to some incidents preceding but intimately related to the decisive engagement of the 20th of August, 1794, at the rapids of the Maumee.

Gen. Wayne, as has been already stated, had come to a halt about seven miles above the British fort (Miami), which stood on the northwestern bank of the Maumee, near where Maumee City now stands, on the 18th of August, and on the following day had erected a temporary garrison, designed especially for the reception of stores, baggage, also for the additional purpose of better reconuoitering the enemy's ground lying " behind a thick bushy wood," adjacent to the British fort, calling it Fort Deposit.

In anticipation of the presence and purpose of Gen. Wayne, in case of their failure to accept his proposals and have peace, the Miarnis were wavering and undecided as to the policy of attacking him, in consequence, no doubt, of the recent determination of Capt. Wells, the warm friend and son-in-law of Little Turtle, to leave their nation and return to his own people. The circumstances surrounding this incident are of particular interest, and deserve to be recorded here. Wells, at the age of twelve years, had been captured in' Kentucky by the Miarnis, had lived to manhood and raised a family among them, having married the daughter of Little Turtle, the great war-chief of that nation. About the time of the advance of Wayne's army, his mind began to be impressed with reminis¬ cences of his childhood and youth, renewing those early memories and picturing the scenes of parental anxiety at the period of his separation from the home fire¬ side, the hours of anguish suffered by those who gave him life - the vacant chair at the old kitchen table - his relation to some of those very people against whom lie, with his adopted people, was about to raise the war-cry and hurl the deadly tomahawk. With those ever-present memories persistently claiming dominion, he finally resolved to sever his connection with the savage race in their warlike enterprises, and henceforth give his allegiance to the white people. " In this state of mind, with much of the Indian characteristics, inviting the war-chief of the Miarnis - Little Turtle - to accompany him to a point on the Maumee about two miles east of Fort Wayne, at what was long known as the ' Big Elm,' whither they at once repaired, Wells told the chief his purpose. ' I now leave your nation,' said he, ' for my own people. We have long been friends. We are friends yet, uutil the sun reaches a certain height (which was named). From that time we are enemies. Then, if you wish to kill me you may. If I want to kill you, I may.' When the time indicated had come, Capt. Wells crossed the river, and was soon lost to the view of his old friend and chieftain, Little Turtle. Moving in an easterly course, with a view to striking the trail of Wayne's forces, he was successful in obtaining an interview with the General, and ever thereafter proved the fast friend of the Americans. The resolute movement of Wells was a severe blow upon the Miarnis. To Little Turtle's mind it seemed to have been an unmistakable forebodiog of sure and speedy defeat to the confederated tribes of the Northwest. * * * At a general council of the confederated tribes, held on the 19th of August, Little Turtle was most earnest in his endeav¬ ors to persuade a peace with Gen. Wayne. Said he, 'We have beaten the enemy twice under different circumstances. We cannot expect the same good fortune to attend us always. The Americans are now led by a chief that never sleeps. The nights and the days are alike to him, and during all the time he has been march¬ ing on our villages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. Think well of it. There is something whis¬ pers me, it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace.' But his words of wisdom were but little regarded. One of the chiefs of the council even went so . far as to charge him with cowardice, which he readily enough spurned, for there were none braver or more ready to act, where a victory was to be won or a defense required, than Little Turtle ; and so, without further parley, the council broke up, and Little Turtle, at the head of his braves, took his stand to meet and give battle to the advancing army." [Hist. Fort Wayne, pp. 47, 48.]

The sequel showed the wisdom and foresight of Little Turtle, and well had it been if the counsel of the sagacious chief been heeded. But destiny willed it otherwise, and the Indians paid dearly for their temerity.

Final Abandonment

That the junction of the St. Joseph's of the lakes with the St. Mary's, form¬ ing the Maumee, is a strategic point of more than ordinary consequence, the experiences of the past two centuries sufficiently demonstrates. The first knowl¬ edge of the locality obtained by Europeans, of which we have information, embodies descriptions of its importance in a commercial as well as in a military point of view. The statement is additionally established by the consequence attached to it by the aborigines themselves, as ascertained through their traditions handed down from generation to generation in regular succession. But the object of this article is not so much to record the opinions entertained by its prim¬ itive inhabitants and their immediate followers, as to show what the more modern conception of it has brought forth. The contemplated expedition of George Rogers Clarke, in 1779, of La Balme, in 1780, followed by that of Harmar and St. Clair, in 1790 and 1791, foreshadow the operations of succeeding years, and determine the motives which induced Gen. Wayne to guard the point by the erection of substantial and permanent works for its defense by the military power of the Government. Accordingly, having defeated its combined Indian forces at the rapids of the Maumee, and almost under the guns of the British Fort Miami, au account of which has already been given, his army took ud its line of march for the Miami villages at the junction of the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's, on the 14th of September, 1794, arriving at the destined point on the 17th, and on the 18th selected the site for a fortification, afterward known by his name.

On the 24th, work commenced on the garrison, and, considering the state of the weather and the surroundings, proceeded toward completion with proper rapidity, occupying the time until the 18th of October, just one month from the selection of the site. On the 17th of October, the day preceding the completion and dedication of the work, Gen. Wayne forwarded to the War Department a dispatch containing a description and plan of the new fort. It was constructed of logs, and not very safe, but deemed to be sufficiently so for the time and purpose contemplated in its erection, commanding the Maumee for a half-mile below the junction, and the mouth of the St. Joseph's and of the St. Mary's. The follow¬ ing extracts from the daily journal of the campaign, giving a better idea of the proceedings and casualties than can be elsewhere ascertained, is inserted here as a part of the account.

" September 20. Last night it rained violently, and the wind blew from the N. W. harder than I knew heretofore. Gen. Barbour, with his command, arrived in camp about 9 o'clock this morning, with 553 kegs of flour, each containing 100 pounds.

" September 23. Four deserters from the British garrison arrived at our camp ; they mention that the Indians are still embodied on the Miami, nine miles below the British fort ; that they are somewhat divided in opinion - some are for peace, and others for war.

" September 24. This day work commenced on the garrison, which, I am apprehensive, will take some time to complete it. A keg of whisky, containing ten gallons, was purchased this day for eight dollars, a sheep for ten dollars ; three dollars was offered for one pint of salt, but it could not be obtained for less than six.

" September 25. Lieut. Blue, of the dragoons, was this day arrested by Ensiuu Johnson, of the 4th S. L., but a number of their friends interfering, the dispute was settled upon Lieut. Blue asking Johnson's pardon.

" September 26. McClelland, one of our spies, with a small party, came in this evening from Fort Defiance, who brings information that the enemy are troublesome about the garrison, and that they have killed some of our men under the walls of the fort. Sixteen Indians were seen to-day near this place ; a small party went in pursuit of them. I have not heard what discoveries they have made.

" September 30. Salt and whisky were drawn by the troops this day, and a number of the soldiers became much intoxicated, they having stolen a quantity of liquor from the Quartermaster.

" October 4. This morning, we had the hardest frost I ever saw in the middle of December ; it was like small snow ; there was ice in our camp-kettles 5 of an inch thick ; the fatigues go on with velocity, considering the rations the troops are obliged to live on.

" October 5. The weather extremely cold and hard frosts, the wind N. W.; everything quiet and nothing but harmony and peace throughout the camp, which is something uncommon.

" October 6. Plenty and quietness, the same as yesterday ; the volunteers engaged in work on the garrison, for which they are to receive three gills of whisky per man, per day; their employment is digging the ditch and filling up the parapet.

" October 8. The troops drew but half-rations of flour this day. The cav¬ alry and other horses die very fast, not less than four or five per day.

" October 11. A Canadian (Rozelie) with a flag arrived this evening; his business was to deliver up three prisoners in exchange for his brother, who was taken on the 20tli of August ; he brings information that the Indians are in council with Girty and McKee near the fort of Detroit; that all the tribes are for peace except the Shawanoes, who are determined to prosecute the war.

" October 20. An express arrived this day with dispatches to the Com¬ mander-in-chief ; the contents are kept secret. A court-martial to sit this day for the trial of Charles Hyde.

"October 21. This day were read the proceedings of a court-martial held on Lieut. Charles Hyde (yesterday) ; was found not guilty of tjie charges exhib¬ ited against him, and was therefore acquitted."

On the morning of the following day, October 22, 1794, the new fort having been fully completed and ready for occupancy, passed the ordeal of a formal dedication to the god of war, with the usual ceremonies. Gen. Wayne then invested Lieut. Col. John F. Hamtramck with the command of the Post, who, upon assuming the position, placed the following officers in command of sub¬ legions; Capt. Kingsbury, First; Capt. Greaton, Second; Capts. Sparks and Reed, Third ; Capt. Preston, Fourth, with Capt. Porter of the Artillery.

The garrison being thus completely officered, a final salute of fifteen rounds of artillery was fired and the Stars and Stripes were flung to the breeze, there¬ after to float over the ramparts, indicative of the invincible character of the works as manifested in the appropriate and significant name of Fort Wayne.

The fort having been completed and officered, with a garrison equal to the demands for defense, Gen. Wayne left the post on the 28th of October, and took up his line of march for Fort Greenville, reaching that point on the 2d day of November, with the main body of his regular troops. During the succeeding two years, Col. Hamtramck continued in command of the new fort, watching the movements of the Indians, who were still numerous in the vicinity, reporting, from time to time, to his superior officers the condition of the garrison, as well as the disposition manifested by the leading spirits among the Indians - whether for peace or war.

Among other things, he experienced much annoyance from a propensity to larceny, manifested by many of the soldiers, for which they were necessarily placed in confinement, " the economic allowance of one hundred lashes," prescribed by the regulations, offering insufficient inducements to practice honesty. What the result of this species of tactics was, history does not inform us.

In a note to Gen. Wayne, dated December 29, 1794, he conveyed the in¬ formation that a number of the chiefs of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Sacs and Pottawatomies, had arrived the day previous, who seemed to apprehend that they would be compelled, from force of circumstances, to' follow the example of other Indians, and accept conditions of peace foreshadowed in the proposed treaty of Greenville ; but that some of the Shawanoes, Delawares and Miamis, who, unable to release themselves from the influence of Col. McKee, the British Agent on the Maumee, were in doubt what to do. A subsequent note, however, of the same date, gave a more encouraging view of the situation, so far as the Miamis were concerned, two war chiefs of that nation having arrived with the information that their people would, in a few days, be on their way to Greenville, and that the remaining tribes would follow their lead in the measures for peace. The Miamis and other tribes entertaining and manifesting a similar disposition, true to their promise, repaired early to the treaty-grounds at Greenville, and participated in the council proceedings.

Aside from what has already been stated, little of importance took place while Col. II. remained in command, and he retired from duty at this point, on the 17th of May, 1796. Then passing down the Maumee to Lake Erie, he was afterward placed in command of the post at Detroit. When Col. Hamtramck had departed, the command of the fort devolved upon Col. Thomas Hunt, with the First Regi¬ ment of United States Infantry as a garrison, who held the position during the succeeding two years.

The size and strength of this fort proving insufficient for the purpose con¬ templated in its original constrnction, it was torn down about the year 1804, and another, larger, and better adapted to the wants of the time, erected on nearly the same site, which is now Lot No. 40 in Taber's Addition to Fort Wayne. * This new fort was built under the supervision of Col. Hunt, then commandant. In 1815, this fort, proving insufficient, was taken down also, and a new one reared in its place by Maj. Whistler, in a more substantial manner. From the best information at hand, it " inclosed an area of about one hundred and fifty feet square, in pickets ten feet high and set in the ground, with a block- house at the southeast and northwest corners, two stories high and rising above the second floor, which projected and formed a bastion in 'each when the guns were rigged, that on the southeast commanding the south and east sides of the fort, and that on the northwest, the north and west sides. The officers' quarters, commissary department and other buildings, located on the different sides, formed a part of the walls, and in the center stood the liberty-pole, on which was placed a metal American eagle, and over that floated the stars and stripes of the United States. The plaza in the inclosure was smooth and gravelly. The roofs of the houses all inclined within the inclosure, after the shed fashion, and to prevent the enemy from setting it on fire, and if fired, to protect the men in putting it out ; and the water which fell within was led, in nicely-made wooden troughs, just below the surface of the ground, to the flag-staff, and thence, by a sluiceway, to the Maumee.

" It is thought that it left out a small portion of the old ground, for it is definitely known that the southwest corner of the new fort was exactly at the southwest corner of Lot 40, the pickets running south of east toward John Brown's blacksmith shop, and near where the shop now stands [1860], and where was one of tlie forts [corners] ; the east side ran to a point on the north bank of the canal, the west, to the second fort, and thence to the place of beginning.

" The stone curbing of the old well may yet be seen in the edge of the south bank of the canal, and near the northwest corner of the fort. The canal cut off the north end of the ground, by which the pickets were removed and this ancient relic invaded, about 1833.

" After the death of the commanding officer, Col. Hamtramck, in about 1799, Thomas Hunt was promoted to the colonelcy of the old First Regiment, and ordered to Fort Wayne from Detroit." Connected with the execution of this order is the following incident :

" As Col. Thomas Hunt was on his way, with his family and regiment, from Detroit to Bellefontaine, coming up the Maumee, A. D. 1803, in fifty Montreal batteaux, and approaching Fort Wayne, the commanding officer, Capt. Whipple, was standing beside the Surgeon's mate, Dr. Edwards, when Dr. E. remarked to Capt. Whipple, of a daughter of Col. Hunt, ' That's a fine-looking girl ; ' and, as a coincidence, the girl remarked at the same time, to her mother, ' That's a good-looking young man.' This mutual attachment resulted in a marriage of Dr. Edwards and Miss Hunt, in ten days, at which wedding the celebrated Indian chief, Five Medals (whose town was on Turkey Creek Prairie, now Elkbarkly), was present, at his own solicitation, and was very highly pleased."

11 Fort Wayne was commanded by Maj. Whipple, after Col. Hunt. Maj. Whipple died at Detroit; afterward, Capt. Ray was in command, till it was besieged in 1812 by the Indians. Capt. Ray was allowed to resign rather than have charges preferred against him."* Upon the acceptance of the resignation of Capt. Ray, Capt. Hugh Moore was appointed his successor. In 1813, he was superseded by Joseph Jenkinson, who in turn was succeeded by Maj. Whistler, in the spring of 1814, under whose supervision the fort was rebuilt, as we have already seen. After '.he completion of the fort, in 1815, Maj. J. H. Vose assumed command, and continued to occupy the post until it was abandoned, in 1819. Subsequently, the reservation and public grounds around the fort were made subject to sale as other public lands, and the particular site occupied by the fort and adjacent buildings was purchased by a land company .at New Haven, Conn., and was placed under the control of Hon. F. P. Randall. At a later date, the property came into the possession of Hon. Cyrus Taber, who laid out the addition known by his name. Allen County, also, laid out another addition on a part of the same grounds.

The following additional matter, pertinent to the current history of Wayne's Fort, and thought to be of sufficient value to justify its preservation, is appended in this connection :

"At the close of the struggles in 1814," says Mr. Brice, in his " History of Fort Wayne,' "soon after the arrival of Maj. Whistler to assume command here, it was feared that the Indians might again make an effort to capture the post, and, being much out of repair, and most uncomfortable for the garrison in many respects, Maj. Whistler applied to the War Department for permission to rebuild it, which was granted by Gen. Armstrong, and the main structure was replaced by new pickets and other necessary timber for the rebuilding of the officers' and other quarters within the inclosure.

"Though many Indians continued, for several years after the war of 1812, to congregate here for purposes of trade, to receive their annuity, and also from a feeling of sympathy and attraction for the scene of their old home and gatheringplace, aside from some petty quarrels among themselves, in which they would often kill each other, nothing of a warlike nature was ever again manifest between the Indians and the whites.

" During 1818, a year remarkable for the congregation of many Indians here, the red men are referred to as presenting a general spirit of order and love of peace, not surpassed by many of the whites of that time, and well worthy of emulation in many instances. It was no uncommon thing, in their visits to Ke-ki-ong-a, seeing a new hut, to inquire whether the new-comer was quiet - if he ' make no trouble for Injuns,' etc. And their intuition and close observation were presented very often in the most striking and remarkable light.

" On one occasion, about this period, an elderly Miami had come to the village to trade a little. Soon meeting his old friend, James Peltier, the inter¬ preter, his observing eye, in looking about the place, soon fell upon a hut near, that had been but recently built. 'Ugh!' ejaculated the Indian, 'new wigwam!' He now became more anxious to know if the white man was peaceable - whether he came to make trouble for Injun? The two now soon entered the hut of the new-comers and shook hands with the inmates. The Indian at once began to !ook about him and to inquire bow many warriors (children) they had, etc. Eyeing the matron of the house, or squaw, as the Indian called her, and observ¬ ing that she was quite sad, the Indian became anxious to know what was the matter with her - be was sure she was sick. The woman averred that she was not sick. But the Indian knew she was. Turning to his old friend P. again, after looking at the woman and striking his hand upon his breast, exclaimed, ' white squaw sick at heart ; ' and was anxious to know if she had not loft some¬ thing behind at the settlement from which they came to Fort Wayne. In response to this, the woman quickly replied that she had left her only son by her first husband, at Piqua, and that she was anxious to have him with her, but her present husband did not want him to come. ' Didn't I tell you white squaw sick at heart ! ' replied the Indian, much elated ; and he at once proposed to go to Piqua and bring her son to her, if Mr. P. would give him a blanket - which was readily agreed to. Receiving a note from the mother, the next morning early, with two Indian ponies, the generous red man was on the road to Piqua; and in five days from that time, returned with the boy ! The woman's heart was eased, and the faithful Indian gazed upon the happy meeting of the mother and the son, his heart warmed within him, and, turning to his friend Peltier, he cxcluimed, ' Isn't that good medicine for the white squaw ? '

" The Indian now became the faithful protector and friend of the woman and her son, assuming the special guardianship of the latter - telling the husband that if he ever heard a word of complaint either from the son or mother, as to ill treatment, he would have his hide, if he had to lay in the Maumee River until the moss had grown six inches on his back.' For six or seven years, the Indian continued his visits to the hut of the new-comers, always bringing them supplies in the form of venison and animals of different kinds, and the boy very often accompanied his kind benefactor to the forest in pursuit of game." [Hist. Fort Wayne, pp. 201-2].

" Attached to the fort, and extending west of it to about where the 1 Old Fort House ' afterward stood, and embracing about one acre of land, was a wellcultivated garden, belonging to the commanding officer, always filled, in season, with the choicest vegetables. West of this was the company's garden, extend¬ ing to about where the Hedekin House afterward stood. This was also well tilled, affording suitable labor for the soldiers, when military discipline was slackened. The main thoroughfare, in those days, extended westward from the fort, along what is now the canal.

" Not far to the south of the fort, in what is now known as ' Taber's Addi¬ tion,' was located the burial-ground of the garrison, and where, also, were deposited others who died, not immediately connected with the garrison. Lieut Ostrander, who had one day unthoughtedly fired upon a flock of birds passing over the fort, had been reprimanded by Capt. Rhea, and, because of his refusal to be tried by a court-martiaL was confined in a small room in the garrison, where lie subsequently died, and was among the number buried in this old place of interment. Another place of burial, where also a number of Indians were interred, extended along the northwest corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, and to the adjoin¬ ing block. Many bones were removed from ibis point, some years ago, in digging cellars and laying foundations of buildings." [Tuttle's Hist. Ind., 351.]

Siege Of Fort Wayne

As early as 1808, after Tccumseh and bis prophet-brother, having obtained the right to locate their principal town on the Tippecanoe River, near its entrance into the Wabash, began to exert an influence among the neighboring tribes, the ultimate purpose of which was to make war upon the frontier settlements, and prevent the further advance of emigration of the white people to territory claimed as belonging to the Indians in common. The Prophet's town, as it was called, very soon became the headquarters of all the disaffected spirits from the several tribes of the Northwest, that could be induced to accept the policy of the proposed confederation. Filled with a desire to develop his cherished purpose, in the spring of 1809, Tecumseh attended a council of numerous Indian tribes at Sandusky, and attempted there to exact a promise from the Wyandots and Senecas to join his embryo settlement on the Tippecanoe. The suggestion was not received with favor, and some of the old Wyandot chiefs so informed him. His ill success in this direction, however, did not discourage him, but only induced greater activity and vigilance. In other fields he was more successfid, and, in proportion to his accessions of new adherents, he became more bold and aggress¬ ive in his movements. Subsequent conferences with Gov. Harrison at Vincennes and elsewhere, were demonstrative of this fact.

Not accomplishing all that was desired in adjacent territory, he visited tribes inhabiting remote districts, seeking to gain their confidence and co-operation, by his persuasive eloquence and consequential demeanor. Meanwhile the Prophet, arrogating to himself the management of plans he was not qualified to execute in the absence of Tecumseh, precipitated an engagement with the army of Gov. Har¬ rison, at Tippecanoe, on the 7th of November, 1811, the result of which was disastrous, not only to his prophetic ambition but to the unmatured plans of his brother as well. Tecumseh, upon his return, in view of the situation, was less aggressive and hopeful, yet still determined in the advocacy and maintenance of his opinions. Thus situated, he sought an alliance with the British army as a means, in part at least, of compensating for his loss of prestige as the champion of an Indian confederacy.

The seed sown by Tecumseh, in his teachings and the influence of his exam¬ ple, gave impulse to the savage ambition of numerous warriors of the circumjacent tribes, and slight pretexts often induced exhibitions of the greatest cruelty. In the month of January, 1812, Little Turtle, a distinguished chief of the Miami nation, living at his village near Fort Wayne, having been an observer of the movements incident to the alliance of the Indians with the British, sent a mes¬ senger to Gov. Harrison, detailing some of the manifestations of an approaching war with Great Britain, and the probabilities of an Indian alliance, expressing, also, the strong attachment of the people of his nation generally, for the Governernment of the United States. The Delawares, too, gave expression of friend¬ ship ; " but it became clearly evident, early in the year 1812, that the Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, Winnebagoes, and some other Northwestern tribes, were not disposed to remain at peace with the pioneer settlers of the West. On the 6th of April, two white men were killed by Indians at a cabin that stood almost in view of a small military post at Chicago. On the 11th of April, at a settlement on the western side of the Wabash River, about thirty-five miles above Vincennes, Mr. Hutson, his wife, four of his children, and a man employed in his service, were killed by Indians ; and on the 22d of April, Mr. Haryman, his wife and five children, were killed by a party of Indians near the mouth of' Embarrass Creek, at a point about five miles distant from Vincennes."

The effect of such proceedings was to alarm the frontier settlers and cause them to prepare for the punishment of the depredators, first protecting the settle¬ ments from the assaults of marauding parties of Indians who were known to infest the territory. With a view to making these preparations effectual, on the 16th of April, 1812, Gov. Harrison directed the officers of the Territorial militia to put their forces " in the best possible state for active service," suggesting, also,. " the expediency of erecting block-houses or picketed forts, on the frontiers of Knox County, on the two branches of White River, eastward of Vincennes, and in the county of Harrison. The propriety of erecting similar posts of defense on the frontiers of Clarke, Jefferson, Dearborn, Franklin and Wayne Counties, was to be determined by the disposition of the Delaware Indians.'' Inasmuch as the Delawares had performed with punctuality and good faith all their obliga¬ tions with the United States, the exercise of forbearance toward them was recom¬ mended, no reason for doubting their fidelity having been manifested.

In the general orders before referred to, the following instructions were con¬ tained : " When mischief is done by the Indians, in any of the settlements, they must be pursued ; and the officer nearest to the spot (if the number of men under his command is not inferior to the supposed number of the enemy) is to com¬ mence it as soon as he can collect his men. If his force should be too small, he is to send for aid to the next officer to him ; and in the mean time take a position capable of being defended, or watch the motions of the enemy, as circumstances may require. The pursuit must be 'conducted with vigor, and the officer com¬ manding will be held responsible for making every exertion in his power to over¬ take the enemy."

About the middle of May following, a great Indian council was held at a village on the M ississinewa River, at which the Wyandots, Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Delawares, Miamis, Eel Rivers, Weas, Piankeshaws, Winneba¬ goes, Shawanoes and Kickapoos were represented. In this council the situation was generally discussed, and a free interchange of opinion and purpose was indulged in. The current of expression was in favor of peace, Tecumseh, and a few' others in his interest, only, dissenting. To the adverse propositions, the Delawares replied thus tartly : " We have not met at this place to listen to such words. The red people have been killing the whites. The just resentment of the latter is raised against the former. Our white brothers are on their feet - their guns in their hands. There is no time to tell each other ' You have done this, and you have done that.' If there was, we could tell the Prophet that both red and white people have felt the bad effects of his counsel. Let us all join our hearts and hands together and proclaim peace through the land of the red people, and rely on the justice of our white brethren."

" We feel that we all appear to be inclined for peace ; that we all see that it would be our immediate ruin to go to war with the white people. We, the Miamis, have not hurt our white brethren since the treaty of Greenville. We would be glad if all other nations present could say the same. We will cheer¬ fully join our brethren for peace, but we will not join you for war against the white people. We hope our brethren, the Pottowatomies, Kickapoos and Winneba¬ goes, will keep their warriors in good order, and learn them to pay more respect to their women and children than they have done, by going and murdering the innocent white people."

" We have not two faces, and we despise those who have. The peace we have made with Gov. Harrison we will strictly adhere to, and trouble no person, and hope none will trouble us."

Tecumseh was not satisfied with the result of this conference, nor were the representations of the Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes, and Kickapoos true expres¬ sions of the sentiments entertained by these tribes toward the white people. Imme¬ diately the consequences of disaffection and discomfiture began to manifest them¬ selves in the movements of the Indians. From the time of Tecumseh's departure from Fort Wayne, a few days subsequent to the Mississinewa council, he had been restless and vindictive, exerting himself with great activity in inciting the Indians to acts of hostility toward the white people ; and when war was declared by the United States against Great Britain, he allied himself to the cause of the latter, taking an active part with them.

Upon the formal declaration of war, Gen. Hull, in command of the North¬ western army, conceived the idea of invading Canada, as a means calculated to give him an advantage in maintaining his defense of the frontier. With that idea in view, he stationed his army in British territory and issued a proclamation declaring to the Canadian people that " he cameto find enemies, not tomakethem," to protect, not to injure them.

It was the province of Gen. Hull, as such commander, to notify the garri¬ sons in his jurisdiction that war had been declared by the United States against Great Britain. This notice, which purported to have issued on the 5th of July, from some unexplained cause, did not reach many of those points proper to be informed of the condition of affairs. Because of this failure, they were not pre¬ pared for defensive operations, especially since the British and Indians in con¬ junction were ready to take advantage of these conditions. An immediate con¬ sequence of this failure was the surrender of the post at Mackinac on the 17th of July, to a largely superior force, less than one week after the issue of his proc¬ lamation to the people of Canada, nearly two weeks having elapsed after notice should have been received at the garrison. However, the posts at Detroit, Michilimackanac, Fort Wayne and Chicago, had been notified of the fact, and the com¬ manding officers at these points were ordered to place their garrisons in the best possible state of defense" without delay, and to make a return to Brigade Major Jessup, at Detroit, of the quantity of provisions the contractors had on hand at their respective posts ; the number of officers and men, ord'nance and military stores of every kind, and the public property of all kinds " - yet the commandant at Fort Dearborn had not been thus notified until the last of July, nearly a month after the information should have been received. About the same time, feeling that he had been less vigilant than duty demanded, he sent a messenger to Fort Wayne with instructions to the officer in command, to send immediate relief to the garrison at Chicago. The same messenger also brought a request from Gen. Hull to Maj. Stickney, Indian Agent at Fort Wayne, to see that all the information and assist¬ ance at his disposal be forwarded to Capt. Heald, then surrounded by a large body of Indians operating under the instructions of Tecumseh.

Accordingly, Maj. Stickney, with as much despatch as possible, sent Capt. Wells, his sub-agent, a brother-in-law of Little Turtle and thoroughly versed in Indian strategy from a lifelong intercourse with them, with a small force to aid the beleaguered garrison. In the mean time, however, on the 9th of August, Capt. Heald received orders from Gen. Hull to evacuate the post at Chicago and move to Detroit. Three days later, Capt. Wells, with thirty picked and trusty warriors, fully equipped, arrived at Fort Dearborn (Chicago), when he was informed by Capt. Heald of the condition of affairs, and that, after receiving the order of Gen. Hull, he had a conference with the Indians of the neighborhood and agreed upon terms of evacuation. These terms, among other things, embraced an agreement " to deliver up to the Indians the fort with all its contents, except some ammunition and provisions necessary for their march," in consideration for which he was to be permitted to pass unmo¬ lested. Capt. Wells thought such an arrangement ill advised, for the reason that the ammunition and whisky especially were dangerous elements to place at the disposal of a horde of treacherous savages, who, when under the influence of the whisky, which they were sure to become, would not for a moment regard the terms of the agreement entered into. The truth of this opinion soon became mani¬ fest, when the Indians, being made acquainted with the fact of the presence of fire-water among the articles obtainable by a ready disregard of their agreement, determined at once to attack the garrison. Capt. Wells, being cognizant of their movements, took in the situation at a glance. He was not mistaken, for informa¬ tion had even then been communicated to Mr. Kinzie of the proceedings and intentions of the Pottawatomies engaged as an escort for them.

The troops under the command of Capt. Heald consisted of fifty-four regu¬ lars and twelve militia. These, on the morning of the 15th of August, marched out from the fort to the tune of the "Dead March," as if some Invisible force had impelled them to chant their own funeral dirge. Capt. Wells, too, as if conscious of his impending fate, marched in front at the head of his little band of faithful warriors with his face blackened.

After passing outside the walls of the fort, the garrison, with Capt. Wells' band and the escort of Pottawatomies, took up the line of march alons the mar¬ gin of the lake, in the direction of Fort Wayne. When the sand hills separating the prairie and lake had been reached, the escort, consisting of some five hundred Pottawatomies, instead of pursuing the regular route, kept along the plain to the right of the sand ridge, and had thus marched something more than a mile and a half, when Capt. Wells, having in the mean time watched these movements closely, and satisfied himself fully as to their purpose, and that an attack was contem¬ plated, he communicated the result of his observations to the men, and directed a charge upon the assailants. At this period a volley was fired from behind the sand hills. The troops were then hastily formed into line, and charged rapidly up the bank. " A veteran of some seventy years was the first to fall. Capt. Wells soon fell, pierced with many balls, and, in the words of one of the party, (Mrs. Kinzie), ' Pee-so-tum * * * held dangling in his hand a scalp' which, by the black ribbon around the queue, I recognized as that of Capt. Wells.' Their leader now being killed, the Miamis fled ; one of their chiefs, however, before leaving the scene of disaster, riding up to the Pottawatomies, and exclaim¬ ing to them in pretty strong terms: 1 You have deceived the Americans and us. You have done a bad action, and (brandishing his tomahawk), I will be the first to head a party of Americans to return and punish your treachery ; ' and then galloped away over the prairie in pursuit of his companions, who were rapidly making their way back toward Fort Wayne."

After a desperate conflict the troops were compelled to surrender, only to be subjected to the barbarous inflictions of the tomahawk and scalping knife at the hands of the treacherous savages. The result of this massacre was twenty-six regulars killed with all the militia, two women and twelve children. Twenty-ei"ht only were taken prisoners. One of the incidents related by Maj. Stickney" is characteristic of Indian warfare : " As the character of Capt. Wells was unequaled for bravery, after his death, his head was severed from his body, and the Indians took out his heart, cooked it, and divided it among themselves in very small pieces. They religiously believed that each one who ate of it would thereby become as brave as he from whom it was taken."

Thus far, the plan of Teeumseh had been a success, the result at Chicago being in full accord with his desire to obtain, revenge for the ill success of his recent efforts in behalf of an Indian confederacy. While it is true that many of the tribes from whom he had expected support were disposed to withhold their allegiance, his bold activity in the development of his schemes brought about him a class of warriors wholly unscrupulous in the execution of his orders. Such of them as were induced, from motives of friendship toward the United States, to refuse an alliance with him, were threatened with extermination by his deluded followers. Seeing, however, that his influence was growing less effective, his scheme for an alliance with the British now commanded his attention and con¬ trolled all his energies. Possessing an excellent memory, and being so well acquainted with the situation of every important position in the whole Northwest, his services soon became essentially valuable as an auxiliary in the British army.

Having attached himself to the army of Great Britain, he was often called upon by the officers in command to impart such information as the occasion required. His connection with the British naturally induced many of his former followers to unite their energies with his in inflicting on his enemies the penalty of his perturbed ambition. At this time, the siege of Fort Wayne and the mas¬ sacre of the garrison seemed be a part of the plan most claiming precedence in execution. With this motive uppermost, he set about the work methodically, and, as a means to that end, he secured the co-operation of the Pottawatomies, Ottawas and a portion of the Miamis, participants in the butchery at Fort Dear¬ born. The leading spirits of these several bands, in the interest of the British, were to be the chief executors of this important enterprise. For this purpose, they were assembled in council by British emissaries, at their respective villages* on the St. Joseph's and on Lake Michigan. The result of this council was a well matured determination to simultaneously attack Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison, aid being promised by the British agents engaged in the movement. The plan in detail was that, in case the Indians would besiege these forts and prevent their evacuation by the garrisons occupying them, they should be joined, in one moon, by a large force from Malden and Detroit, with artillery, sufficient to demolish the works, thus opening the way for an indiscriminate slaughter of the garrison at the hands of these accomplished operators with the tomahawk and scalpingknife.

This was late in the month of August, 1812, after the massacre at Chicago, and but a few days remained before the plan for the demolition of Fort Wa>ne was to be put in execution. All was activity among those charged with the momentous trust, but the activity was of a character not likely to excite suspi¬ cion, exceptto those familiar with the diplomacy of Indian warfare. Their schemes, nevertheless, became gradually apparent as their movements were less reserved There were, too, members of some of the confederated tribes not in full accord with the proposed plan of operations. As the details of the plan began to develop, there were observers skilled in the interpretation of them who had interests in common with the white people.

" At this time, there was qn Indian trader residing near Fort Wayne, of French extraction, by the name of Antoine Boudie. He was about fifty years | of age, and had lived among the Indians from the time lie was twelve years old. He was an extraordinary character. At one time, he would appear to be brave and geuerous, at another, meanly selfish. He was recognized by the Miamis as one of their tribe - married one of their squaws and conformed to their habits and mode of life. The hostile Pottawatomies, desirous of saving him from the destruction which they contemplated for the garrison, sent Metea, chief of their tribe, to inform him of their intentions and his danger. Metea went to his cabin in the night, and, under au injunction of great secrecy, informed him of all that had transpired in relation to the contemplated siege of the two forts. He offered to come for Boudie and his family before the siege was commenced, with a suffi¬ cient number of pack-horses to remove them and their movable property to a place of safety. Boudie did not decline the offer."

On the following morning, Boudie, with Charles Peltier, a French interpieter, visited the agent, Maj. Stickney, at an early hour, and quietly disclosed the whole plot, enjoining the agent to strictest secrecy as to his informants. In doubt whether the import of these disclosures was what it appeared to be, he was at a loss, for a time, to know how best to apply the information most advanta¬ geously. Some doubt had been expressed touching the veracity of his informants, by the commanding officer at the fort, Capt. Rhea, whose habits of intoxication were such as to disqualify him as a safe adviser. Under the circumstances, having duly considered the situation, he acted upon his own judgment in the premises, and at once dispatched messengers to Gov. Harrison and Gov. Meigs, and another to the Commandant at Fort Harrison, informing him of the contemplated siege. Active preparations for defense were at once commenced, and not a moment too soon, for scarcely had the messengers left when the Indians had drawn their guard lines around the fort to cut off all means of communica¬ tion.

Shortly after the messengers had been dispatched to Gov. Harrison, request¬ ing the presence of an additional military force such as the critical condition of affairs demanded, and it was uncertain as to the time when those re-enforcements might reasonably be expected, much anxiety was manifested in reference to the possible contingencies in the premises. Their anxiety wa$ occasioned in part by the drunkenness and incapacity of Capt. Rhea, who had command of the garri¬ son. Hence it was desirable that some information be obtained from the troops detailed for the relief of the fort.

Stephen Johnston Killed

left the fort, going out on the east side, next the Maumee River, and then passing up on the table land, a short distance south of what is now known as the Hanna homestead, near the corner of Lewes and Francis streets, was shot dead and scalped by Pottawatomie Indians. His two companions escaped unhurt into the fort. The command of the fort was at that time under Capt, Bhea, whose habits were intemperate, and Mr. Johnston, having no confidence in his integrity, started in company with Oliver and Mangen to urge forward the military then supposed, or perhaps known, to be on the way to the relief of the fort. It was in this character, and not as an express sent by Capt. Rhea, that he left the fort, as stated by McAfee. The fact of the Captain's subsequent arrest by Gen. Harri¬ son, shows that Johnston had good grounds for the course he took, however disastrous to himself."*

Mr. Johnston, for some time previously, had been employed in the manage¬ ment in the United States factory store, erected near the fort, designed to supply the Indians with agricultural implements and other necessaries. He was the brother of Col. John Johnston, Indian Agent at Fort Wayne from 1809 to 1812, who employed him as chief clerk, and placed him in charge of the Government property. A few days previous to his death, in a letter addressed to his wife, bearing date August 24, 1812, he says : " We have about four hundred Indians here. Their intentions are very suspicious. I have moved all the public goods into the garrison, so that I am now unincumbered by the business, and if it was not for Mr. Stickney's illness, and having to attend to his department, I would leave the place for the present, as the trading establishment is at an end for the time being." At this time, Maj. Stickney had been in charge of the agency but a short time, having been the successor of Col. Johnston, and was just recovering from a severe illness, to which Stephen refers in the extract from his letter above cited.

Gov. Harrison, having been informed of the perilous situation of the garri¬ son, besieged by a large body of hostile Indians, was preparing, as rapidly as pos¬ sible, to send forward re-enforcements for its relief. The progress made by him is thus stated by Capt. McAfee, in his " History of the Late War in the Western Country," published at Frankfort, Ky., in 1816:

" On the 1st of September they (the Kentucky troops under Gen. Harri¬ son) arrived at Dayton, and on the 3d, at Piqua, eighty miles from Cincinnati, aud only three miles from the outside settlements.- * * * The

General, having now ascertained that Fort Wayne was invaded by the neighbor¬ ing Indians,' detached Col. Allen's regiment, with ten companies from Lewes' aud one from Scott's regiment, with orders to make forced marches for its relief. A regiment of 700 mounted men, under Col. Adams, had also advanced with the same view as far as Shane's (Tossing of the St. Mary's. This corps was composed of citizens of Ohio, of all ages and conditions, who had, unsolicited by the Govu-nment, volunteered for the protection of the frontier and the relief of Fort Wayne.

further intelligence that a British and Indian force had left Malden on the 18th of August, to join the Indians already at the siege, having previously learned that

Gen. Winchester had been ordered by the War Department to take command of the Northwestern army. Gen. Harrison had intended to resign the command to him at l'inua, and had written to him to come on to that place ; but, on learning the critical situation of Fort Wayne, he determined not to wait for Winchester, hut to retain the command until he had relieved the fort.

U ],'ar]y the next day, the 5th of September, he paraded tile remainder of the troops and delivered them a speech, in which he stated that Port Wayne was in imminent danger, artel that it was absolutely necessary to make forced marches for want of flints. On that day they marched, leaving the greater part of then clothes and baggage at Piqua, and overtook Col. Allen's regiment early on the ^tp ,t St Mary's River, where it had been halted by express from the general, to build block-houses. » * * Maj. R. M Johnson arrived on the evcniniT of the same day with a corps of mounted volunteers, lhe army was now about two thousand strong. While the troops were at Piqua, Mr. Johnston, the Indian Agent, at the request of Gen. Harrison, procured some Shawanon Indians to go down to the Auglaize to the site of old Port Defiance, to examine whether any British force had passed up to the siege of Port Wayne. A Shawanon half-blood, by the name of Bogan, who had received his name from having been taken prisoner when a boy by Gen Logan in an excursion from Kentucky, had also been sent by the Agent to learn the. situation of the Port. Ho was an Indian of groat merit, and a chief warrior of his tribe, and