Seneca Township (part 1 of 60)

Preface

The object in writing the following pages has been to perpetuate the memory of our oldest settlers, and to rescue from oblivion such as is of interest to our citizens, by giving a faithful narrative of the most important events which have occurred within the limits of the county.

We had at first prepared a limited sketch, which was intended for publication in one of the county papers; but at the suggestion of our very esteemed friend, Mr. James Gray, of Melmore - and as, upon investigation, it was found that much matter might be added which would interest the public, we have produced this volume.

Much of the materials have been furnished us by those who are residents of, or have resided within the county; and while we have sought the homes of early settlers for information, we have been greeted with a frank welcome, characteristic of its inhabitants.

As our pleasant, though arduous task is now finished, we take this opportunity to acknowledge the many obligations due to those who have been pleased to render us assistance, and the work is now respectfully submitted to the public, for their careful and candid perusal. C. W. B.

Introduction

Ohio* derives its name from the river which washes nearly all of its eastern and southern boundary. The name is of Indian origin; and some writers have imagined it to signify handsome river; as, about the middle of the eighteenth century, some French explorers of the country, who found the stream a pleasant one to sail upon, and fine lands along its borders, called it, ^^ la-helle-riviere,^^ or the beautiful river. But that circumstance could have had no influence with the Indians, at an earlier period, in inducing them to give it a name of that signification. Another, and more probable meaning of the word Ohio, is bloody. This was applied by the Indians to the river, from the circumstance of numerous bloody battles having been fought along the shore, by different tribes, in centuries past. This signification is corroborated by the white woman whose history has been given to the world, and which would seem to establish the fact beyond a doubt.

* The SJfiawanese called the Ohio river, Kis, ke, pi,.la Sepe - i. e., Eagle river. Th» Wyandots were in the country generations before the Shawanese, and consequently their name of the river is the primitive one, and should stand in preference to all others. Ohio may be called an improvement on the expression, O, he, zuh, and was, no doubt, adopted by the early French voyagers in their boat songs, and is substantially the same word as used by the Wyandots; the meaning applied by the French, fair and beautiful,, "la belle riviere," being precisely the same as meant by the Indians - great, granii ».Tid fair to look upon. Col.. John lowserQu..

Q Introduction

The present state of Ohio, is a part of that vast region,, formerly claimed by France, between the Alleghany and Rocky mountains, and first known by the general name of Louisiana,. The earliest civilized inhabitants were Frenchmen. As early as the year 1673, two French missionaries penetrated from Canada to the Mississippi, and they may be regarded as the discoverers of that mighty river. Their names were Marquette and Joliet. They commenced their journey of discovery from Quebec, with five men; traversed the rivers, forests and immense inland seas, and arrived at last at Green Bay. From Green Bay, they pursued their course up Fox river, crossed the Portage from its head to that of the Wisconsin; when, with no companions but the two, they embarked upon its bosom and followed its course, unknown whither it would lead them. Solitary they floated along till in seven days they entered, with inexpressible joy, the broad Mississippi. Sailing on their solitary way, the discoverers heard afar, a rush of waters from the west - and soon the vast Missouri came down with its fiercer current, to hasten on the more sluggish Mississippi. They discovered and passed the mouth of the Ohio; nor did they stop till they had descended the river a thousand miles, to its confluence with the Arkansas; and ascertained, as well from its general course as from the information of the Indians, that its mouth must be far west of the English colonies on the Atlantic coast.

The day of the discovery of the Mississippi river, an era which should be so memorable to this country, was June 1.5th, 1673. We can imagine the sensations of these explorers, when they first beheld that broad and beautiful river. We can fancy how their imaginations kindled at the view of the romantic bluffs, the grand forests, the flowering prairies, the tangled grape vines on the trees, the beautiful birds that fluttered among the branches, the swans, sailing in their stateliness on

Marquette and Joliet now retraced their course to the the Illinois; entered and ascended that river and beheld the beautiful fertility of its summer prairies, abounding in game. They visited Chicago, and in September were again at Green Bay.. The next year, Marquette retired for devotion, from the company with which he was journeying, to pray by a rude altar of stones beneath the silent shade. There, half an hour afterwards, his dead body was found. He was buried on the shore of the lake, and the Indians fancy that his spirit still controls the storms.

On the return, Joliet found at Frontenac, M. de la Salle, who was then commandant of the Fort. It may be expected that he did not undervalue their discovery or underrate the beauty of the river and country which he had explored. La Salle at once gave up his imagination and his thoughts to this discovery. He was a man of standing, courage and talent, and well fitted for the enterprise. At the close of the summer of 1679, he had, by the greatest exertions, equipped a small vessel, called the Griffin, at the lower end of Lake Erie, and launched it upon its waters. This was tbe first vessel that ever navigated lake Erie. On his journey across the lakes he was accompanied by father Hennepin, a Jesuit, and forty men. He marked Detroit as a suitable place for a colony; gave name to Lake St. Clair, planted a trading house at Mackinaw, and finally cast anchor in Green Bay. At length, through many discouragements by disaster, treachery and defeat, they reached the great Illinois. Here La Salle sent out a party, under Hennepin, to explore the sources of the Mississippi; while he returned on foot to Frontenac. The next year, having returned to the illinoisj he built a small vessel and sailed down the Mississippi antil he reached its mouth. He also erected forts and established settlements at various points. Fully satisfied of the vast importance of prosecuting the system of colonization thus commenced, he proceeded to France and communicated his ideas to the French government. The minister of the French' king readily entered into a scheme, which not only promised an immense accession of valuable territory, but seemed likely to create a permanent and efficient barrier to the western extension of the English colonies. An expedition was fitted out for the prupose of planting a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and command given to La Salle. This expedition failed, and its illustrious but unfortunate commander perished, a victim to the treachery of his own men.

This expedition did not, however, quench or abate the ardor of the French in the prosecution of their great plan. A second . expedition sailed from France, under the command of M. D'Iberville. This officer explored the Mississippi river for several hundred miles, and permanent settlements were made at different points; and from this time, the French colony west of the Alleghanies, though occasionally harassed by the English and the Spaniards, steadily increased in numbers and. in strength.

Before the^ completion of the first quarter of the eighteenth century the colony had been divided into quarters, each having its local governor or commandant and judge; but all were subject to the superior council-general of Louisiana. One of these quarters was established north-west of the Ohio. Forts had also been erected on the Mississippi, on the Illinois, on the Maumee and on the lakes. Still, however, the communication with Canada was through Lake Michigan, as the nearer route through the Ohio river and Lake Erie had not yet been discovered. This discovery was, however, made soon afterwards. Before the year 1750, a French fort had been fortified at the effectually obeyed. Both flanks of the Indian position were immediately turned, and a rapid and threatening movement upon their front, quickly compelled them to give way. Crawford now took possession of the wood, but scarcely had he done so, when the main body of the enemy hurried up to the assistance of their van, and, out-flanking Crawford, in turn opened a heavy and galling fire upon his men, from which they found it very diflScult to obtain shelter.

. The action now became sharp and serious; Crawford maintaining his ground, and the enemy, (who were hourly increasing in number,) making the most strenuous efforts to regain the wood. From four in the evening until dusk, the firing was very heavy, and the loss considerable. During the whole of this time scarcely an Indian was visible, unless for a moment when shifting his position. Their number could only be ascertained from the many wreaths of smoke v/hich arose from every bush, ti-ee, or tuft of grass within view. At night the enemy drew ofi", and Crawford's party slept upon their arms upon the field of battle. On the next day the attack was renewed, but at more respectful distance. The Indians had apparently sustained some loss on the close firing of the preceding evening, and seemed now determined to await the arrival of additional reinforcements. Occasional shots were fired through the day, on both sides, but without much injury to either. As soon as it was dark, the field officers assembled in council; and, as the numbers of the enemy were evidently increasing every moment, it was unanimously determined to retreat by night, as rapidly as was consistent with order and preservation of the wounded. The resolution was quickly announced to the troops, and the necessary dispositions made for carrying it into, effect. The out-posts were silently withdrawn from the vicinity of the enemy, and as fast as they came in, the troops were formed in three parallel lines, with the wounded borne upon biers in the centre. By nine o'clock at night, all necessary arrangements had been made, and the retreat began in good order.

Unfortunately, they had scarcely moved a hundred paces, when the report of several rifles were heard in the rear, in the direction of the Indian encampment. The troops soon became very unsteady. At length, a solitary voice, in the front rank, called out that their design was discovered and that the Indians would soon be upon them. Nothing more was necessary. The cavalry were instantly broken; and, as usual, each man endeavored to save himself as best he could. A prodigious uproar ensued, which quickly communicated to the enemy that the white men had routed themselves and that they had nothing to do but pick up stragglers. The miserable wounded, notwithstanding the piercing cries with which they supplicated to be taken with them, were abandoned to the mercy of the enemy, and soon put out of pain.

Dr. Knight, the surgeon of the detachment, was in the rear when the fight commenced, but seeing the necessity of dispatch, he put spurs to his horse and galloped through the woods as fast as the darkness of the night would permit. He had not advanced three hundred yards, when he heard the voice of Colonel Crawford, a short distance in front, calling aloud for his son, John Crawford, his son-in-law, Major Harrison, and his two nephews. Major Rose and William Crawford. Dr. Knight replied, in the same loud tone, that he believed the young men were in front. " Is that you, Doctor ?" asked Crawford, eagerly; for no features could be recognized in the darkness. "Yes, Colonel; I am the hindmost man, I believe." " No, no !" replied Crawford, anxiously; " my son is in the rear yet: I have not been able to hear of him in front ! Do not leave me. Doctor; my horse has almost given out; I can-

Knight assured him that he might rely upon his support in any extremity, and drew up his horse by his side. Colonel Crawford still remained upon the same spot, calling loudly for his son, until the last straggler had passed. He then, in strong language, reprobated the conduct of the militia, in breaking their ranks and abandoning the wounded, but quickly returned to the subject of his son, and appeared deeply agitated at the uncertainty of his fate. Perceiving, however, that further delay must terminate in death or captivity, the party set spurs to their horses and followed the route of the troops. Presently an old man and a lad joined them. Crawford eagerly asked if they had seen his son or nephews 1 They assured him that they had not; upon which he sighed deeply, but made no reply.

At this instant, a heavy fire was heard at the distance- of mile in front, accompanied by yells, screams, and all the usual attendants of battle. Not a doubt was entertained but that the Indians had intercepted the retreat of the main body, and were now engaged with them. Having lost all confidence in his men, Crawford did not choose t-o unite his fortune to theirs, and changed his course to the northward, in such a manner as to leave the combatants upon the right. He continued in this direction for nearly an hour, until he supposed himself out of the immediate line of the enemy's operations, when he again changed his course to the eastward, moving as rapidly as possihie, with an interval of twenty paces between them, and steadily regulating their route by the north star. The boy who accompanied them was brisk md active, but the old man constantly lagged behind, and^ as constantly shouted aloud for them to wait for him.. They often remonstrated with him upon the impropriety of making so much noise, at a time when all'

At length, upon crossing Sandusky creek, the old man found himself once more considerably in the rear, and once moreshouted aloud for them to wait, until he could come up. Before they could reply, a halloo was heard in the rear of their left, and apparently not more than one hundred paces from the spot where the old man stoodl Supposing it to be the cry of an Indian, they remained still and silent for several minutes, looking keenly around them in the expectation of beholding an enemy. Every thing, however, remained silent. The old man was heard no more, and whether he escaped, or was killed, could never be ascertained. The party continued their flight until day-break, when Colonel Crawford's horse and that of the boy, sunk under their riders and were abandoned.

Continuing their journey on foot, they quickly fell in with. Captain Biggs, an expert woodman and gallant officer, who, in the universal scattering, had generously brought off a wounded Omcer, Lieutenant Ashley, upon his own horse, and was now composedly walking by his side, with a rifle in his hand and a knapsack upon his shouldei's. This casual meeting was gratifying to both parties, and they continued their journey with renewed spirits. At three o'clock in the afternoon, a heavy fall of rain compelled them to encamp. A temporary shelter was quickly formed by barking several trees, after the manner of the Indians, and spreading the bark over poles so as to form a roof. A fire was then kindled, and the rain continued to pour down in torrents. They remained here through the night without any accident.

Continuing their route on the following morning, at the distance of three miles from the camp, they found a deer, which had recently been killed and skinned.. The meat was neatly sliced and bundled up in the skiii, and a tomahawk lay near - giving room for suspicion that Indians were in the neighborhood. As the whole party had fasted for thirty-six hours, this was a very acceptable treat, and lifting the skin, with the meat enclosed, from the ground, they carried it with them until they had leisure to cook it. Having advanced a mile farther, they observed a smoke in the woods before them. The party instantly halted, while Colonel Crawford and Dr.. Knight went forward to reconnoiten

Cautiously approaching the fire, they found it burning brightly, but abandoned, from which they inferred that a party had encamped there the preceding night, and had retired a few minutes before their approach. Having carefully examined the bushes around, and discovered no Indian signs, they directed their friends in the rear to come up, a-nd quickly set about preparing breakfast. In a few minutes,, they observed a white man, skulking in the rear, examining the trail and apparently very shy of approaching them. Calling out to him in a friendly tone, they invited him to approach without fear, assuring him that they were countrymen and friends. The man. instantly complied, and informed them that he had killed the deer which they were cooking, but hearing them approach, he had taken them for enemies, and had fled into the bushes for concealment.

Highly pleased at the accession to their strength, the party breakfasted heartily upon the deer and continued their march.. By noon, they had reached the path by which the army had marched, a few days before, in their advance upon the Indian towns, and some discussion took place as to the propriety of taking that road homeward. Biggs and the doctor strenuously insisted upon continuing their course through the woods, and. avoiding all paths; but Crawford overruled them, assuring them that the Indians would not urge their pursuit beyond the plains which were, already far behind.. Unfortunately, the colonel prevailed; and, abandoning their due eastern course, the parlypursued the beaten path. Crawford and Knight moved one hundred and fifty yards in front, Biggs and his vi^ounded friend, Ashley, were in the center, both on horseback, the doctor having lent Biggs his horse, and the two men on foot brought up the rear.

They soon had reason to repent their temerity. Scarcely had they advanced a mile, when several Indians sprung up within twenty yards of Knight and Crawford,, presenting their guns, and in good English ordered them to stop. Knight instantly sprung behind a large black oak, cocked his gun and began to take aim at the foremost. Crawford, however, did not attempt to conceal himself, but calling hastily to Knight, ordered him twice not to fire.

Instantly, the Indian at whom Knight had taken aim, ran up to the colonel with every demonstration of friendship, shook his hand cordially, and asked him how he did. Knight still maintaining a hostile attitude behind the tree, Crawford called to him again, and ordered him to put down his gun, which the doctor very reluctantly obeyed.

Biggs and Ashley, seeing the condition of their friends, halted, while the two men in the rear ve-ry prudently took to their heels and escaped. One of the Indians then told Crawford to order Biggs to come up and surrender, or they would kill him. The colonel complied, but Biggs feeling no inclination to obey his commander in the present instance, very coolly cocked his rifle, took deliberate aim at one of the Indians, and fired, although without effect. He and Ashley then put spurs to their horses, and for the time escaped. The two prisoners were then taken to the Indian camp, which stood within a few miles of the place where- they were taken; and on the next evening, five Delawares came in with the scalps and horses o£

On the morning, which was the 10th of June, Crawford and Knight, together with nine prisoners, were conducted by their captors, seventeen in number, to the old town of Sandusky, about thirty-three miles distant. The main body halted at night, within eight miles of the village, but as Colonel Crawford expressed great anxiety to speak with Simon Girty, who was then at Sandusky, he was permitted to go on that evening, under the care of two Indians. On Tuesday morning, the 11th of June, Colonel Crawford was brought back from Sandusky on purpose to march into town with the other prisoners. Knight eagerly accosted him, and asked if he had seen Girty? The colonel replied in the affirmative; and added that Girty had promised to use his utmost influence for his (the colonel's) safety, but was fearful of the consequences, as the Indians generally, and particularly Captain Pipe, one of the Delaware chiefs, were much incensed against the prisoners, and were endeavoring to have them all burned. The colonel added, that he had heard of his son-in-law, Colonel Harrison, and his nephew, William Crawford, both of whom had been taken by the Shawanese, and admitted to mercy. Shortly after this communication, their capital enemy. Captain Pipe, appeared. His appearance was by no means unprepossessing, and he exhibited none of the ferocity which Knight, from Girty's account, had been led to expect.

On the contrary, his language was flattering and his manners bland. But one ominous circumstance attended his visit. With his own hand he painted every prisoner Hack ! While in the act of painting the doctor, he was as polite as a French valet, assuring him that he should soon go to the Shawanee town and see his friends; and while painting the colonel he told him that his head should be shaved - i. e., he should b© adopted - as soon as he arrived at Wyandot town. As soon as the prisoners were painted, they were conducted towards the town, Captain Pipe walking by the side of Crawford, and treating him with the utmost kindness, while the prisoners, with the exception of Dr. Knight, were pushed on ahead of him. As they advanced, they were shocked at observing the bodies of four of their friends, who had just left them, tomahawked and scalped, with an interval of nearly a mile between each. They had evidently perished in running the gauntlet. This spectacle was regarded as a sad presage of their own fate. In a short time they overtook the five prisoners who remained alive. They were seated on the ground, and appeared much dejected. Nearly seventy squaws and Indian boys surrounded them, menacing them with knives and tomahawks, and exhausting upon them every abusive epithet which their language afforded. Crawford and Knight were compelled to sit down apart from the rest, and immediately afterwards the doctor was given to a Shawanee warrior to be conducted to their town, while the colonel remained stationary.

The boys and squaws then fell upon the other prisoners and tomahawked them in a moment. Among them was Captain McKinley, who had served with reputation throughout the Revolutionary War until the capture of Cornwallis. An old squaw, approaching him and brandishing a long knife, seized him by the hair, instantly cut off his head and kicked it near the spot where Crawford sat in momentary expectation of a similar fate. Another destiny, however, was reserved for him. After having sufficiently exhausted their rage upon the lifeless bodies of the five prisoners, the whole party started up, and driving Crawford before them, marched towards the village.

Presently, Girty appeared on horseback, coming from Sandusky. He stopped for a few moments, and spoke to Crawford, then, passing to the rear of the party, addressed Knight - "Is this the doctor?" inquired he with an insulting smile. " Yes ! Mr. Girty, I am glad to see you !" replied poor Knight, advancing towards him, and anxiously extending his hand. But Girty cursed him in a savage tone, ordered him to be gone, rascal. Upon this the Shawanee warrior who had him in custody, dragged him along by a rope. Girty followed on horseback, and informed him that he was to go to Chillicothe. Presently they came to a spot where there was a large fire, around which about thirty warriors, and more than double that number of squaws and boys were collected.

As soon as the colonel arrived, they surrounded him, stripped him naked, and compelled him to sit on the ground near the fire. They then fell upon him and beat him severely with sticks and their fists. In a few minutes, a large stake was fixed in the ground, and piles of hickory poles, rather thicker than a man's thumb, and about twelve feet in length, were spread around it. Colonel Crawford's hands were then tied behind his back; a strong rope was produced, one end of which was fastened to the ligature between his wrists and the other tied to the bottom of the stake. The rope was long enough to permit him to walk around the stake several times and then return. Fire was then applied to the hickory poles, which lay in piles at the distance of six or seven yards from the stake.

The colonel, observing these terrible preparations, called to Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from the fire, and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. Girty very coolly replied in the affirmative. The colonel heard the intelligence with firmness, merely observing that he would bear it with fortitude. When the hickory poles had been burnt asunder in the middle. Captain Pipe arose and addressed the crowd, in a tone of great energy, and with animated gestures, pointing frequently at the colonel, who regarded him with an appearance of unruffled composure. As soon as he had ended, a loud whoop burst from the assembled throng, and they all rushed at once upon the unfortunate Crawford. For several seconds the crowd was so great that Knight could not see what they were doing; but in a short time, they had dispersed sufficiently to give him a view of the colonel. - His ears had been cut off, and the blood was streaming down each side of his face. A terrible scene of torture now commenced. The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked body, commencing with the calves of his legs and continuing to his neck. The boys snatched the burning hickory poles and applied them to his flesh. As fast as he ran round the stake, to avoid one party of tormentors, he was promptly met at every turn by others, with burning poles, red hot irons, and rifles loaded with powder onl};^; so that in a few minutes nearly one hundred charges of powder had been shot into his bod}'', which had become black and blistered in a terrible manner^ The squaws would take a quantity of coals and hot ashes and throw them upon his body, so that in a few minutes he had nothing but fire to walk upon. In the extremity of his agony, the unhappy colonel called aloud upon Girty, in tones which rang through Knight's brain with maddening effect - " Girty ! Girty ! ! Shoot me through the heart ! Quick! - Quick ! ! Do not refuse me ! !" " Don't you see I have no gun, colonel 1" replied the monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then turning to an Indian beside him, he uttered some brutal jests upon the naked and miserable appearance of the prisoner.

The terrible scene had now lasted nearly two hours, and Crawford had become much exhausted. He walked slowly around the stake, spoke in a low tone, and earnestly besought God to look with compassion upon him and pardon his sins. His nerves had lost much of their sensibility and he no longer shrunk from the fire-brands with which they incessantly touched him. At length he sunk in a fainting fit upoii his face and lay motionless. Instantly an Indian sprung upon his back, knelt lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife upon the crown of his head, and clapping the knife between his teeth, tore the scalp off with both hands ! Scarcely had this been done, when -a withered hag approached with a board full of burning embers, and poured them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the bone ! The colonel groaned deeply, arose, and again walked slowly around the stake ! ! Nature at length could do no more, and at a late hour of the night, death released him from the hand of his cruel tormentors.

The awful torture which Crawford had undergone, made a deep impression upon the mind of Knight. He resolved, if possible, to make his escape, and this he did in a most wonder- I'ul manner, before reaching Shawanee town. The particulars of his last adventure, are omitted for want of room. Thus ended the lamented expedition of Colonel William Crawford; rashly undertaken, injudiciously prosecuted, and terminating with almost unprecedented calamity.

Soon after this, a treaty was concluded with the Wyandots, Delawares, Chippewas and Ottawas, when the United States acquired the title of those tribes to all the land east, west and south of a line drawn from the mouth of Cuyahoga up that river to the Tuscarawas portage, and to the forks of the Tuscarawas above Fort Lawrence; thence to Loramies, thence to the Maumee, and thence with that river to Lake Erie. The territory thus ceded, included about three-fourths of the present state of Ohio. In May, 1785, Congress proceeded to provide by ordinance for the future survey and sale of the public domain in the west. The land was directed to be divided into townships of six miles square, by lines running north and south and intersected by other lines at right angles. These townships were subdivided into sectionSj each containing a square mile, or six hundred and forty acres; and each range was to be numbered from south to north, commencing on the Ohio river. The ranges were to be distinguished by progressive numbers westward, the first resting upon the western boundary of Pennsylvania as a base-line.

In 1786, a company, called the " Ohio Company^'''' was organized in New England, and entered into a contract with Congress for the purchase of a million and a half acres, lying on the Ohio and including the mouth of the Muskingum and the Hockhocking, at the price of one million of dollars. The members of the company were most of them officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary army, who proposed to seek ir the western wilderness, the means of retrieving their shattered fortunes - or at least, a home and a subsistence. The purchase money they intended to pay in continental certificates, with which many of them had been paid for their military services, and which were then much depreciated in value. The contract was executed in November, 1787. The next year, 1788, the first permanent settlement in Ohio was made at Marietta, at the mouth of the Muskingum. Congress then proceeded to form the first territorial government, and General Arthur St. Clair, a citizen of Pennsylvania, who had been a distinguished officer of the Revolutionary army, and enjoyed the full confidence of Washington, was appointed governor and commander-in-chief. Samuel Holden Parsons, James Mitchel Varnum and John Armstrong, were appointed judges; and Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the territory. The first acts of territorial legislation were passed at Marietta, the only American settlement north-west of the Ohio.

In October, 1788, John Cleves Symmes, in behalf of himself and his associates, contracted with Congress for the purchase of a million of acres of land adjoining the Ohio and between the Great and Little Miami; but, in consequence of his failure to make due payments, the greater part of this tract afterwards reverted to Congress. Only 248,540 acres became the property of the contractors. Not long after the completion of his contract, Symmes sold the site of Cincinnati to Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, who entered into a contract with Colonel Patterson and Mr. Filson, of Kentucky, for laying out a town. Filson, however, was killed by the Indians before he entitled himself to any proprietary right under the agreement, and his interest in the contract was transferred to Israel Ludlow.

On the 26th of December, 1788, Patterson and Ludlow with a small party, arrived at the site of the projected settlement. In course of the winter, a town was surveyed and laid out by Colonel Ludlow; and the courses of the streets of the future city were marked on the trees of the primeval forest. The name first given to the place was Losantiville - a barbarous compound, intended to signify " a toion opposite the mouth of the Licking;'''^ but this name was soon after changed to Cincinnati. The site selected, was extremely beautiful. Seen in the summer, it presented avast amphitheatre enclosed on all sides by hills, wooded to their summits. The Ohio - la telle riviere of the French- - came into the valley from the north-east, and, sweeping gracefully around near its southern border, departed to the south-west. From the south, the Licking brought its moderate tribute just opposite to the selected site; and a little to the west. Mill creek flowed silently from the inland country to its confluence with the Ohio. The unaccustomed luxuriance of tlie vegetation, and the majestic size of the forest trees, covered with the thickest foliage, with which the wild grapevine was frequently intermingled, astonished and delighted the eye of the eastern emigrant. Even in winter, when the settlement w^as made, the scene though divested of its summer glories, was far from being unattractive or uninteresting. The climate, it is true, was inclement; but that very inclemency was a protection against savage incursions. Game of everv description abounded in the woods, and the waters teemed with fish. The emigrants, therefore, had little experience of the hardships usually encountered in the first settlement of a wilderness.

On the first of June, 1789, Major Doughty arrived at Cincinnati, with one hundred and forty soldiers. A lot containing fifteen acres, sloping from the upper bank to the river, was selected, on which Fort Washington was built.

At the general pacification of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, there were several stipulations upon both sides, which were not complied with. Great Britain had agreed, as speedily as possible, to evacuate all the north-western posts which lay within the boundaries of the United States; while on the other hand, Congress had stipulated that no legal \ mpediments should be thrown in the way, in order to prevent the collection of debts due to British merchants before the declaration of war. Large importations had been made b}' American merchants, upon credit, in 1773 and 1774; and as civil intercourse between the two countries had ceased until the return of peace, the British creditors were unable to collect their dues. Upon the final ratification of the treaty, the}* naturally became desirous of recovering their property, while their debtors, as naturally, were desirous of avoiding payment. But when Congress recommended the payment of all debts to the legislatures, the legislatures determined that it was inexpedient to comply. The British creditor complained to his government; the government remonstrated with Congress upon so flagrant a breach of one of the articles of pacification; Congress appealed to the legislatures; the legislatures were deaf and obstinate, and there the matter rested. When the question was agitated as to the evacuation of the posts, the British in turn became refractory, and determined to hold them until the acts of the legislatures, preventing the legal collection of debts, were repealed. In the meantime, the Indians were supplied, as usual, by the British agents, and if not openly encouraged, were undoubtedly secretly countenanced, in their repeated depredations upon the frontier inhabitants.

These at length became so serious as to demand the notice of government. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1790, General Harmar was detached, at the head of three hundred regular troops, and more than one thousand militia, with orders to march upon their towns bordering upon the lakes, and inflict upon them such signal chastisement as should deter them from future depredations.

On the 20th of September, the various troops designed for the expedition, rendezvoused at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, and on the following day commenced their march to the Miami villages. The country was rough, swampy, and in many places almost impassable, so that seventeen days were consumed before the main body could come within s+riking distance of the enemy. In the meantime the great scarcity of provisions rendered it necessary for the general to sweep the forest with numerous small detachments, and as the woods swarmed with roving bands of Indians, most of these parties were cut off.

At length, the main body, considerably reduced by this petty warfare, came within a few miles of their towns. Here the general ordered Captain Armstrong, at the head of thirty regulars, and Colonel Hardin, of Kentucky, with one hundred and fifty militia, to advance and r^connoiter. In the execution of this order, they suddenly found themselves in t'he presence of a superior number of Indians, who suddenly arose from the bushes and opened a heavy fire upon them. The militia instantly gave way, while the regulars, accustomed to more rushed upon them, tomahawk in hand, and completely surrounded them. The regulars attempted to open a passage with the bayonet, but in vain. They were all destroyed, with the exception of their captain and one lieutenant.

Captain Armstrong was remarkably stout and active, and succeeded in breaking through the enemy's line, although not without receiving several severe wounds. Finding himself hard pressed, he plunged into a deep and miry swamp, where he lay concealed during the whole night within two hundred yards of the Indian camp, and witnessed the dances and joyous festivity with which they celebrated their victory. The lieutenant (Hartshorn) escaped by accidentally stumbling over a log and falling into a pit, where he lay concealed by the rank grass which grew around him. The loss of the militia was very trifling. Notwithstanding this severe check, Harmar advanced with the main body upon their villages, which he found deserted and in flames, the Indians having fired them with their own hands.

Here he found several hundred acres of corn, which was completely destroyed. He then advanced upon the adjoining villages, which he found deserted and burned, as the first had been. Having destroyed all the corn which he found, the ^rmy commenced its retreat from the Indian country, supposing the enemy sufficiently intimidated.

After marching about ten miles on the homeward route, General Harmar received information which induced him to suppose that a body of Indians had returned and taken possession of the village which he had just left. He detached, therefore, eighty regular troops, under the orders of Major Wyllys, and nearly the whole of his militia, under Colonel Hardin, with orders to return to the village and destroy such of the enemy as presented themselves. The detachment accordingly countermarched, and proceeded with all possible dispatch to the appointed spot, fearful only that the enemy might hear of their movements and escape before they could come up. The militia, in loose order, took the advance; the regulars, moving in a hollow square, brought up the rear. Upon the plain in front of the town a number of Indians were seen, between whom and the militia, a sharp action commenced- After a few rounds, with considerable effect upon both sides, the savages fled in disorder, and were eagerly and impetuously pursued by the militia, who, in the ardor of the chase, were drawn into the woods to a considerable distance from the regulars.

Suddenly, from the opposite quarter, several hundred Indians appeared, rushing with loud yells, upon the unsupported regulars. Major Wyllys, who was a brave and experienced officer, formed his men in a square, and endeavored to gain a more favorable spot of ground, but was prevented by the desperate impetuosity with which the enemy assailed him. Unchecked by the murderous fire which was poured upon them from the different sides of the square, they rushed in masses up to the points of the bayonets, hurled their tomahawks with fatal accuracy, and putting aside the bayonets with their hands, or clogging them with their bodies,' they were quickly mingled with the troops, and handled their long knives with destructive effect. In two minutes, the bloody struggle was over. Major Wyllys fell, together with seventy-three privates, and one lieutenant. One captain, one ensign, and seven privates, three of whom were wounded, were the sole survivors of this short, but desperate encounter.

The Indian loss was nearly equal, as they sustained several heavy fires, which the closeness of their masses rendered very destructive, and as they rushed upon the bayonets of the troop« with the most astonishing disregard to their own safety. Their object was to overwhelm the regulars, before the militia could return to their support, and it was as boldly executed as it had been finely conceived. In a short time, the militia returned from the pursuit of the flying party, which had decoyed them to a distance - ^but it was now too late to retrieve the fortune of the day. After some short skirmishing, they effected their retreat to the main body, with the loss of one hundred and eight killed, and twenty-eight wounded. This dreadful slaughter, so reduced the strength and spirits of Harmar's army that he was happy in being permitted to retreat unmolested to Fort Washington, having totally failed in accomplishing the objects of the expedition.

The failure of Harmar made a deep impression upon tlie American nation, and was followed by a loud demand for a greater force, under the command of a more experienced general. Arthur St. Clair was at that time governor of the North-western Territory, and had a claim to the command of such forces as should be employed within his own limits. This gentleman had uniformly ranked high as an officer of courage and patriotism, but had been more uniformly unsuccessful and unfortunate, than any other officer in the American Revolution. He had commanded at Ticonderoga in the spring of 1777, and had conducted one of the most disastrous retreats which occurred during the war. Notwithstanding his repeated misfortunes, he still commanded the respect of his brother offi-. cers and the undiminished confidence of Washington. He was now selected as the person most capable of restoring the American affairs in the north-west, and was placed at the head of a regular force, amounting to near fifteen hundred men, well furnished with artillery, and was empowered to call out such reinforcements of militia as might be necessary. Oincin-- nati, as usual, was the place of rendezvous.

In October, 1781, an army was assembled at that place, greatly superior in numbers, officers, and equipments, to any which had yet appeared in the west. The regular force was composed of three complete regiments of infantry, two companies of artillery, and one of cavalry. - The militia who joined him at Fort Washington, amounted to upwards of six hundred men, most of whom had long been accustomed to Indian warfare. The general commenced his march from Cincinnati in October, and following the route of Harmar, arrived at Fort Jefferson without material loss. Shortly after leaving Fort Jefferson, one of the militia regiments, with their usual disregard to discipline, determined that it was inexpedient to proceed farther, and detaching themselves from the main body, returned rapidly to the fort, on their way home. This ill-timed mutiny, not only discouraged. the remainder, but compelled the commander to detach the first regiment in pursuit of them, if not to bring them back, at least to prevent them from injuring the stores collected for the use of the army at the fort. With the remainder of the troops, amounting in all to about twelve hundred men, he continued his march to the Great Miami villages.

On the evening of the 3d of November, he encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground, upon the bank of one of the tributaries of the Wabash, where he determined to throw up some slight works for the purpose of protecting their knapsacks and baggage, having to move upon the Miami villages, supposed to be within twelve miles, as soon as the first regiment should rejoin them. The remainder of the evening was employed in concerting the plan of the proposed work with Major Ferguson, of the engineers; and when the sentries were posted at night, every thing was as quiet as could have been desired. The troops were encamped in two lines, with an interval of seventy yards between them, which was all that the nature of the ground would permit. The battalions of Majors Butler, Clarke, and Patterson, composed the front line, the whole under the orders of Major General Butler^ an officer o-f high and merited reputation. The front of the line was covered by a creek, its right flank by the river, and its left by a strong corps of infantry.

The second line was composed of the battalions of Majors Gaither and Bedinger, and the second regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Darke. This line, like the other, was secured upon one flank by the river, and upon the other by the cavalry and pickets. The night passed away without alarm. The sentinels were vigilant, and the officers upon the alert.

A few hours before day, St. Clair caused the reveille to be beaten, and the troops to be paraded under arms, under the expectation that an attack would probably be made. In this situation they continued until day-light, when they were dismissed to their tents. Some were endeavoring to snatch a few minutes' sleep, others were preparing for the expected march, v/hen suddenly the report of a rifle was heard from the militia a few hundred yards in front, which was quickly followed by a sharp, irregular volley in the same direction.

The drums instantly beat to arms, the officers flew in every direction, and in two minutes the troops were formed in order of battle. Presently the militia rushed into camp in the utmost disorder, closely pursued by swarms of Indians, who in many places were mingled with them and were cutting them down with their tomahawks.

Major Butler's battalion received the first shock, and was throw^n into disorder by the tumultuous flight of the militia, who, in their eagerness to escape, bore down every thing befoi^ them. Here Major General Butler had stationed himself, and here St. Clair directed his attention, in order to remedy tlte confusion which began to spread rapidly through the whole line. The Indians pressed forward with great audacity, and many of them were mingled with the troops before their pro- gi'ess could be checked. Major General Butler was wounded at the first fire, and before his wound could be dressed, an Indian, who had penetrated the ranks of the regiment, ran up to the spot where he lay, and tomahawked him before his attendants could interpose. The desperate savage was instantly killed. By great exertions, Butler's battalion was restored to order, and the heavy and sustained fire of the first line, compelled the enemy to pause and shelter themselves.

This interval, however, endured but for a moment. An invisible, but tremendous fire quickly opened upon the whole front of the encampment, which rapidly extended to the rear, and encompassed the troops on both sides. St. Clair, who at that time was worn down by a fever, and unable to mount his horse, nevertheless, as is universally admitted, exerted himself with a courage and presence of mind worthy of a better fate. He instantly directed his litter to the right of the rear line, where the great weight of fire fell, and where the slaughter, particularly of the ofliicers, was terrible. Here Darke commanded, an officer who had been trained to hard service during the Revolutionary War, and who was now gallantly exerting himself to check the consternation which was evidently beginning to prevail. St Clair ordered him to make a rapid charge with the bayonet, and rouse the onemy from their covert.

The order was instantly obeyed, and at first, apparently with great effect. Swarms of dusky bodies arose from the high grass, and fled before the regiment with every mark of consternation. But as the troops were unable to overtake them, they quickly recovered their courage, and kept up so fatal a retreating fire that the exhausted regulars were compelled, in their turn, to give way. This charge, however, relieved that particular point, for some time; but the weight of the fire was transferred to the centre of the first line, where it threatened to annihilate every thing within its range. There, in turn, the unfortunate general was borne by his attendants, and ordered a second ap- ])eal to the bayonet. This second charge was made with the same impetuosity as at first, and with the same momentary success. But the attack was instantly shifted to another point, where the same charge was made, and the same result followed. The Indians would retire before them, still keeping up the most fatal fire, and the continentals were uniformly compelled to retire in turn. St. Clair brouglit up the artillery in order to sweep the bushes with grape, but the horses and artillerymen were destroyed by the terrible fire of the enemy, before any effect could be produced. They were instantly manned afresh from the infantry, and again swept of defenders.

The slaughter had now become prodigious. Four-fifths of the officers and one-half of the men were either killed or wounded. The ground was covered with bodies, and the little ravine which led to the river, was running with blood. The fire of the enemy had not in the least slackened, and the troops were falling in heaps before it, in every part of the camp. To have attempted to maintain his position longer, could only have led to the total destruction of ]iis force, without the possibility of annojdng the enemy, m^Iio never showed themselves, unless when charged, and whose numbers (to judge from the weight and extent of the fire) must have equaled, if not exceeded his own. The men were evidently much disheartened, but the officers, who were chiefly veterans of the Revolution, still maintained a firm countenance, and exerted themselves with unavailing heroism to the Jast. Under these circumstances, St. Clair determined to save the lives of the survivors, if possible, and for that purpose collected the remnants of several battalions into one corps, at the head of whicli he ordered Lieutenant Colonel Darke to make an impetuousi charge upon the enemy, in order to open a passage for the remainder of the army. Darke executed his orders with great spirit, and drove the Indians before him, to the distance of a quarter of a mile. The remainder of the army instantly ruslied through the opening, in order to gain tlie road ! Major Clarlie, with the remnant of his battalion, bringing up the rear, and endeavoring to keep the Indians in check. General St. Clair's horses were killed, as well as those of his aids. He was placed, by a fev/ friends, upon an exhausted pack-horse that could not be urged out of a walk, and in this condition followed in the rear of his troops.

The retreat soon degenerated into a total rout, OfEcers who strove to arrest the panic, only sacrificed themselves. Clarke, the leader of the rear guard, soon fell in this dangerous service, and his corps were totally disorganized. Officers and soldiers were now mingled vv^ithout the slightest regard to discipline, and "devil take the hindmost," was the order of the day. The pursuit, at first, v/as keen, but the temptation afforded by the plunder of the camp, soon brought them back, and the wearied, vi^ounded, and disheartened fugitives, vv'ere permitted to retire from the fieid unmolested. The rout continued as far as Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles from the scene of action. The action _ lasted more than three hours, during the whole of which time, the fire was heavy and incessant.

The loss, in proportion to the number engaged, was enormous, and is unparalleled, except in the affair of Braddock. - Sixty-eight officers were killed upon the spot, and twenty-eight wounded. Out of nine hundred privates, v/ho went into the action, five hundred and fifty were killed, and many were wounded. General St. Clair was untouched, although eight balls passed through his hat and clothes, and several horses were killed under him. The Indian loss was reported by themselves at fifty-eight killed and wounded, which was probably not underrated, as they were never visible after the first attack, until charged with the bayonet. At Fort Jefferson, the fugitives were joined by the first regiment, who, as noticed before, had been detached in pursuit of the deserters. Here a council of war was called, which terminated in the unanimous opinion, that the junction with .the first regiment did not justify an attempt upon the enemy in the present condition of affairs, and that the army should return to Fort Washington without delay. This was done ; and thus ended the second campaign against the Indians.

There was an interval of more than a year between the defeat of St. Clair, and the appointment of his successor. The choice fell upon General Wayne of Pennsylvania, and he lost no time in proceeding to the head-quarters of the western army, and arrived at Fort Washington in the spring of 1793. - Reinforcements of regular troops were constantly arriving, and in addition to the usual complement of cavalry and artillery, ti strong legionary corps was raised upon continental establishment, and placed under his command. In addition to this, he was authorized to call upon the governor of Kentucky, (Shelby,) for as many mounted militia as might be necessary. It was so late in the season, however, before all the various forces could be collected, and all the necessary supplies procured, that he judged it prudent to defer any offensive movement until the spring.

The mounted volunteers were accordingly dismissed, with some flattering encomiums upon their zeal and readiness, while the regular forces were placed in winter quarters. During the winter, Wayne remained at a fort which he had built upon a western fork of the Little Miami, and to which he had given the name of Greenville. By detachments from the regular troops, he was enabled to sweep the country lying between him and the Miami villages, and having taken possession of the ground upon which St. Clair was defeated, he erected a small fort upon it, which he called "Recovery." His orders were positive, to endeavor if possible, to procure peace upon reasonable terms, without resorting to force, and he accordingly opened several conferences with the hostile tribes, during the winter. Many of their chiefs visited him in his camp, and examined his troops, artillery and equipments with great attention, and from time to time made ample professions of a disposition to bury the hatchet ; but nothing definite could be drawn from them, and from the known partiality of Wayne to the decision of the sword, could it be supposed that he pressed the overtures with much eagerness. As the spring approached, the visits of the Indians became more rare, and their professions of friendship waxed fainter. In February, they threw aside the mask at once, and made a bold effort to carry the distant out-post at Fort Recovery, by a coup-de-main. In this, however, they were frustrated by the vigilance and energy of the garrison ; and finding that Wayne was neither to be surprised nor deceived, they employed themselves in collecting their utmost strength with a determination to abide the brunt of battle.

In the spring, the general called upon the governor of Kentucky for a detachment of mounted men, who repaired with great alacrity, to his standard, in two brigades, under Todd and Barbee, the whole commanded by Major General Scott, amounting to more than fifteen hundred men, accustomed to Indian warfare. The regular force, including cavalry and artillery, amounted to about two thousand, so that the general found himself at the head of three thousand men, well provided with every thing, in high spirits, and eager for battle. The Indian force did not exceed two thousand, and was known to have assembled in the neighborhood of the British fort at the rapids of the Miami.

necessity of guarding against surprise, his progress was very leisurely. He continued his march, however, in Order of battle until he arrived within view of the enemy. The regular force formed the centre column, one brigade of mounted volunteers moved upon the left under General Barbee, the other brought up the rear under Brigadier Todd. The right flank was covered by the river, and Major Price, with a select corps of mounted volunteers, was advanced about five miles in front, with orders to feel the enemy's position, and then fall back upon the main body. About noon, the advanced corps received so heavy a fire from a concealed enemy as to compel it to retire v/ith precipitation. The heads of the columns soon reached the hostile ground and had a view of the enem}^ The ground for miles was covered with a thick grov/th of timber ; which rendered the operation of cavalry extremely difficult. The Indians occupied a thick v/ood in front, where an immense number of trees had been blown down by a hurricane, the branches of which Vv'^ere interlocked in such a manner as greatly to impede the exertions of the regulars.

The enemy were formed in three parallel lines, at right angles to the river, and displayed a front of more than two miles. Wayne rode forward to reconnoiter their positions, and perceiving from the weight and extent of the fire that they wei-e in full force, he instantly made dispositions for the attack. The whole of the mounted volunteers were ordered to make a circuit, for the purpose of turning the right fiank of the Indians ; the cavalry v/ere ordered to move up under cover of tlie river bank, and if possible, turn their left; while the regular infantry were formed in a thick wood in front of the " fallen timber," with orders, as soon as the signal was given, to rush forward at full speed without firing a shot, arousing the enemy from their covert at the point of the bayonet, and tJieii to deliver a close fire upon their backs, pressing them so closely as not to permit them to re-load their guns. All these orders were executed with precision. The mounted volunteers moved off rapidly to occupy the designated ground, while the first line of infantry was formed under the eye of the commander, for the perilous charge in front.

As soon as time had been given for the arrival of the several corps upon their respective points, the order was given to advance, and the infantry, rushing through a tremendous fire of rifles and overleaping every impediment, hastened to close with their concealed enemy and maintain the struggle on equal terms. Although their loss in this desperate charge was by no means inconsiderable, yet the effect was decisive. The enemy rose and fled before them more than two miles with considerable loss, as, owing to the orders of Wayne, they were nearly as much exposed as the regulars. Such was the rapidity of the advance and the precipitation of the retreat, that only a small part of the volunteers could get up in time to share in the action, although there can be no question that their presence and threatening movement contributed equally with the impetuous charge of the infantry, to the success of the day.

The broken remains of the Indian army were pursued under the guns of the British fort, and so keen was the ardor of Wayne's men, and so strong their resentment against the English, that it was with the utmost difficulty they could be restrained from storming the fort upon the spot.

The Indian force being thus completely dispersed, their cornfields cut up, and their houses burned, Wayne drew off his forces from the neighborhood of the British post, and in order to hold the Indians permanently in check, he erected a fort at the junction of the Auglaize and Miami in the very heart of the Indian country, to which he gave the very appropiate name of Defiance. As this was connected with Fort Washington by various intermediate fortifications it could not fail completely

Accordingly, on the 3d of August, 1795, a grand council was held at Greenville, where eleven of the most powerful tribes of the north-west were represented, to whom General Wayne dictated the terms of peace. The treaty thus negotiated, stipulated for the mutual release of prisoners. The boundary established at Fort Mcintosh was confirmed and extended westward from Loramies to Fort Recovery, and thence south-west to the mouth of the Kentucky river. All the territory eastward and southward of the line thus established, was ceded to the United States ; and the Indians solemnly pledged themselves, never again to make those lands or any part of them, a cause or pretense of war or injury to the American people. Upon these conditions, the United States received the Indian nations into their protection, and relinquished all claim to lands, not included within the treaty bound ar3^

A large quantity of goods was likewise delivered on the spot, and perpetual annuities, payable in merchandize or in domestic animals, implements of husbandry, or other convenient utensils at the pleasure of the receivers, were promised to each tribe which became a party to the treaty. This treaty was the foundation of a permanent peace. It was the act of all the tribes who had any claims to the territory of the Wabash, and the observance of its conditions was secured by the expectation of solid benefits as the rewards of good faith ; and by the dread of severe retribution as the consequence of infraction. Its effect upon the improvement and prosperity of the west was immense. Confidence in the ability and disposition of the government to protect the western settlers was universally restored, and the emigrant no longer had the fear of the tomahawk and the scalping knife, of the midnight conflagration and the noon day ambush, before his eyes, when he undertook the conquest of the wilderness. No combination of tribes nor any single tribe again lifted the tomahawk against the United States until just before the breaking out of the war with Great Britain. During this long interim several important events transpired. In the year 1796, settlements were made on the southern shore of Lake Erie, at Cleveland and at Conneaut by settlers from New England. The intermediate coufitries between these settlements of the north and those of the south, was gradually filled up by subsequent emigration of settlers from different quarters of the United States, by their natural increase, and by immigrants from various parts of Europe. From Marietta, settlers spread into the adjoining country. The Virginia Military reservation drew considerable numbers of Revolutionary veterans and others from that state. The region between the Miamies, from the Ohio far up towards the sources of Mad river, became checkered with farms, and abounded in indications of the presence of an active and prosperous population. In 1796, Wayne county was established, including all the north-western part of Ohio, a large tract in the north-eastern part of Indiana, and the whole territory of Michigan. Before the end of the year 1798, the North- Western Territory contained a population of 5000 inhabitants, and eight organized counties. In September, 1799, the first (territorial) legislature, under the ordinance of Congress, of the 13th of July 1786, for the governmiCnt of the territory of the United States, north-west of the Ohio river, convened at Cincinnati. During that session which was appointed for the 16th of September, 1799, but did not open until the 24th, General William Henry Harrison, was elected delegate to Congress, and forty-eight acts were passed by both houses, thirty-seven of which were approved by Governor St. Clair, and eleven were returned by him without signing. The eleven acts vetoed, were principally relating to the erection of new counties and fixing of county-seats ; these

In 1801, the state of Connecticut relinquished her claim of jurisdiction over the Connecticut Western Reserve, and received a title in fee, of the soil, from the United States. The territory was thereupon erected into a county called Trumbull, and the courts of the territory established therein. By an act of Congress of the same year, the territory north-west of the Ohio was divided by a line drawn from the mouth of the Kentucky to Fort Recovery, and thence northward to the territorial line ; and Chillicothe was established as the seat of government of the eastern division, now Ohio. The second session of the territorial legislature was therefore held at Chillicothe. On the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed an act authorizing tlie call of a convention to form a state constitution, for that part of the then North-Western Territory, lying between Lake Erie and the Ohio river ; and east of a meridian drawn due north from the mouth of the great Miami river, and extending easterly to Pennsylvania. On the first of November following, pursuant thereto, the convention met at Chillicothe and formed our present state constitution.

The formation of the constitution was the work of little more than three weeks. On the 27th of November, it was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, and on the 29th, was ratified and signed by the members of the convention. It was never referred to the people for their approbation, but became the fundamental law of the state by the act of the convention ^lone. Besides forming the constitution, the convention had another duty to perform. The act of Congress providing for the admission of the new state into the Union, offered certain propositions to the people. These were, firsty that section sixteen, in each township, or where that section had been disposed ofj other contiguous and equivalent lands should be gran- teJ to the inhabitants for the use of schools ; second^ that thirtyeight sections of land v/here salt springs had been found, of which one toY/nship wa3 nituated on the Scicto, one section on the Muskingum, and one section in the United States Military tract, should be granted to the state, never however, to be sold or leased for a longer terra than ton years ; and tJdi'd, that one-twentieth of the proceeds of public lands, sold within tho state, should be applied to the construction of roads from the Atlantic, to and through the same. These propositions were offered, on the condition that the convention should provide by ordinance, that all lands sold by the United States after the thirtieth day of June, 1802, should be ezieinpt from taxation by the state for five years after the sale.

The ordinance of 1785, had already provided for tliQ appropriation of section sixteen to the support of schools in every township sold by the United Gtates, and the appropriation thus became a condition of the sale and settlement of the v/estern country. It was a condition cITerod to induce purchases of public lands, at a time when the treasury was well nigh empty; and this source of revenue was much relied upon. It extended to every township of land v/ithin the territory, except those in the Virginia Military reservation ; and wherever the reserved section had been disposed of, after the passage of the ordinance Congress v/as bound to make other equivalent provisions for the same object. The reservation of section sixteen, therefore, could not in 1802, be properly made the object of a new bargain between the United States and the state ; and many thought that the salt reservations and the twentieth of the proceeds of the public lands, were very inadequate equivalents for the proposed surrender of the right to tax. The convention however determined to accept the propositions of Congress, on their being so far modified and enlarged, as to vest in the state for the use of schools, section sixteen in each township sold by tlie United States, and three other tracts of land, equal in quantity, respectively, to one thirty-sixth of the Virginia reservation, of the United States Military tract, and of the Connecticut Reserve, and to give three per centum of the proceeds of tl^ public lands sold within the state, to be applied under the direction of the legislature, to roads in Ohio. Congress assented to the proposed modification and thus completed the compact.

Ohio was now a state and a member of the Federal Union. Tlie constitution which was first adopted, has never since been altered in any respect. It makes the usual distribution of governmental power into three great departments ; legislative, judicial and executive. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected biennially by the people. \_See Appendix.'] His authority is very limited. The veto power, that anomaly in a republican government, is not recognized in the constiution of Ohio. It is the duty of the governor to communicate such information and recommend such measures to the legislature as he may think expedient ; on extraordinary occasions he may convene the general assembly ; and in case of disagreement between the two houses, as to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them ; but with the business of legislation, he has nothing to do. He is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the state, except in case of impeachment ; he may grant reprieves and pardons ; all commissions are to be made out by him under the great seal ; and he may fill vacancies which occur during the recess of the general assembly, in offices of legislative appointment, by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of the next session.

On the 1st day of March, 1803, the general assembly convened at Chillicothe. Their first care, of course was, to adapt the state laws of the territory to the new state of things introduced by the constitution. With this view, several laws were passed. The state courts were organized, their jurisdiction defined and their practice in some degree, regulated. Judges o£ the new courts were appointed agreeably to the constitution, and the courts of the territory^ the general court, the circuit courts, the courts of common pleas and the courts of general quarter sessions, were all abolished. Most of the powers exercised by the courts of quarter sessions, formerly, in establishing highways, erecting public buildings, granting licenses, &c., were transfered to the associate judges of the court of common pleas.

Provision was made for the election of justices, and for the transfer to them of the unfinished business of the territorial magistrates. The tax laws of the territory were slightly modified and continued in force. A secretary, an auditor and a treasurer of state were appointed, and appropriate functions assigned to each. In addition to his other duties, the latter officer was charged with the receipt of the three per cent, of the proceeds of the public lands to be paid by the United States agreeably to the compact. Laws were passed for leasing the school lands and salt reservations. Senators were elected to the national Congress and provision was made by law for the election of representatives.

While this legislature was in session, the treaty for the purdiase of Louisiana was concluded with France. This acquisition was of immense importance to the western country, it secured the free navigation of the Mississippi, at that time the only outlet for western produce, and put an end to the vexatious impositions and restrictions, to which the American trader had been subjected at New Orleans, by the Spanish authorities. In December, 1803, the second general assembly convened agreeably to the provisions of the constitution. Further alterations and improvements were introduced into the statutes. The militia laws on that subject, were all repealed. To encourage immigration, a law was passed at this session^ and has ever since remained in force, to enable nliens to acquire and hold land within the state. ProvisIonG were also made for the appropriation of the three per cent, fund, to the construction and improvement of roadrj. The plan vvas to divide the fund into small sums, to be spplied in diiierent parts of the state, under the direction of road commicsioners, and this plan has ever since fceen persisted in.

At the session of 1808-4, also, the revenue syctem of the state was simplified and impro\ ed. The main reliance for revenue continued to be upon Isnids. The burden of this tax was borne, in a great measure, by non-re&idents who had no other property of any kind in the state. The collectors of the tax were veqaired to pay tvv'o-thirds of the proceeds into the state trea'm'y, and one-thitd iuto the several county treasuries. The administration of jusiice was improved by the enactment of laws, deTiningthe duties and authorities of justices and constables and regulating the common law and chancery practice of the courts.

The Indians, who since the treaty of Greenville, had remained quiet, now began to commit aggressions upon the inhabitants of the west. The celebrated Tecum.seh, aided and encourdged by British influence, was conspicuously active, in his elToris to unite the native tribes against the Americans and to arrest the farther extension of the settlements. His proceedings and those of his bi'other, " The ProjjJict,'^ soon made it evident that the west was about io experience the calamities of another Indian war, and it was resolved to anticipate the movements of the savages. In 1811, General Vvilliam Henry Harrison, then governor of Indiana territory, marched against the town of " the Prophet," upon the Wabash. On the 6th of November, he arrived at Tippecanoe, their principal town, where he was met by Indian messengers, with whom an agreement was made, that hostilities should not take place until the next morning, and that then an amicable conference should be held. Just before day-break, the savages, in violation of their engagement, made a sudden and furious attack upon the troops in their encampment. Nothing but the precaution of sleeping in order of battle, on their arms, saved them from total defeat.

A dreadful slaughter was made, but the savages were finally repulsed, dispersed, and their town laid waste. In the same year, occurred an event of more monientous consequence to the west, than the issues of a thousand battles. This was the voyage, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, of the first steam boat ever launched upon the western waters.

In June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain. Of this war, the west was a principal theatre. Defeat, disaster, and disgrace marked its opening scenes ; but the latter events of the contest were a series of splendid achievements.

Colonel Crogban's gallant and successful defense of Fort Stephenson, was among the most brilliant. He was in the 22d year of his age, when left by General Harrison, in command of 160 m.en, and v/ith one six-pounder at Fort Stephenson. On the evening of the first of August, the British and Indians, who had come up the Sandusky river, from the bay, commenced from their boats a heavy cannonading upon the fort, and threw in a great number of shells from their batteries. They continued their operations without success, until the evening of the second, when, after throwing a great number of balls from a six-pounder, at the north-west angle of the fort, for the purpose of making a breach, a column under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Short, advanced to the point on which the artillery had been played, with the intention of storming, but the judicious management of Colonel Croghan, foiled the enemy .in about eight feet wide, and of equal depth. This the enemy had to enter before they could approach the pickets, which had a bayonet driven through the top of each, in a horizontal direction. While in this situation, a six-pounder which was masked in a block-house, poured upon them a tremendous shower of musket balls, which did terrible execution. This so confounded the assailants, that Lieutenant Colonel Short, who had previously ordered his men to scale the pickets and show the d - d Yankee rascals no quarters, now exhibited a white handkerchief as a signal of distress, evincing a disposition to have quarters shown him, after he had proclaimed that the garrison should be murdered. It was, however, too late ; the next discharge proved fatal ; he fell, and Lieutenant Gordon, of the 29th regiment, died by his side. This was near two hours before sunset. The firing from the block/'house, was principally directed at the enemy, who had taken refuge in the direction of the ravine, the slaughter there was immense, and General Proctor, who commanded in person, ordered the allied armies to retreat to their boats. The greater part of the night, was occupied in carrying off the dead and wounded ; and from the number of trails, it was evident, that no less then fifty of the dead were dragged away. About thirty killed, including the two officers just mentioned, were left in the ditch and ravine, and thirty prisoners, eighteen severely wounded, which General Proctor in his hurry, left behind, were afterwards brought into the fort. Major Croghan had but one man killed, and seven slightly wounded. The brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, was conferred by the President of the United States, upon Major Croghan, and the ladies of Chillicothe, presented him with a sword, and a flattering address.

Croghan's gallant defense of Fort;Stephenson, Perry's victory upon Lake Erie, the total defeat, by Harrison, of the allied British and savages, under Proctor and Tecumseh, on the

Thames, and the great closing triumph of Jackson at New Orleans - all reflected the most brilliant lustre upon the American arms. In every vicissitude of this contest, the conduct oi Ohio, was eminently patriotic and honorable. Her sons volunteered with alacrity their services in the field ; and no troops more patiently endured hardships, or performed better service. Hardly a battle was fought on the western frontier, in which some of these brave citizen soldiers, did not seal their devotion to their country with their blood.

In 1816, the seat of the state government was removed to Columbus, and the year following, the first white settler located himself within the present limits of this county.

Chapter

Aborigines - War between the Wyandots and Senecas - Naval fight - Tb« Wyandots settle upon the Sandusky - Treaty with the Indians - Grant of land to the Senecas - Seneca Indians - Their removal to the west - An execution for witch-craft.

The country, watered by the Sandusky and its tributaries, was originally inhabited by a powerful and war-like tribe of Indians, known as the Wyandot or Huron tribe.

According to a tradition of this nation, their home was once, on the north side of the river St. Lawrence, down to Coon lake, and from thence, up the Utiwas. Their name for it, was Curione-tat-tia. The Senecas, who were blood relations of the Wyandots, owned the opposite side of the river, and the island on which Montreal now stands. They were both large tribes, consisting of many thousands.

A war originated between the two tribes, in this way: A man of the Wyandots wanted a certain woman for his wife ; but she objected and said he was no warrior ; he had never taken any scalps. To accomplish his object, he raised a small war-party, and in their scout, fell upon a party of the Seneca hunters and killed and scalped a number of them. This caused a war between the nations, that lasted more than a century, which they supposed was fully a hundred winters, before the French

They say they were the first instigators in the war, and were generally beaten in the contest. Both tribes became greatly wasted in the conflict. They often made peace ; but the first opportunity the Senecas could get an advantage against them, they would destroy all they could, men, women, and children.

The Wyandots, finding they were in danger of being exterminated, concluded to leave their country and go far to the west. With their canoes, the whole nation made their escape to the upper lakes, and settled in the vicinity of Green bay, in several villages ; but after a few years, the Senecas made up a war-party, and followed them to their new settlements, fell on one of their villages, killed a number, and returned. - Through this long period, they had no instruments of war but bows, arrows, and the war-club.

Soon after this, the French came to Quebec, and began trading with the Indians, and supplied them with fire-arms, and various other implements. The Senecas having got supplied with guns, and learned the use of them, made out a war-party the second time, against the Wyandots, came upon them in the night, fired into their huts and terrified them exceedingly: they thought at first, it was thunder and lightning. The Senecas did not succeed so well as they expected. After a few years, they made up a third war party, and fell upon the Wyandot villages and took nearly all of them ; but it so happened at this time, that nearly all the young men had gone to war with the Fox tribe of Indians, living on the Mississippi.

Those few, that escaped the massacre by the Senecas, agreed to give up, and go back with them, and become one people ; but requested of the Senecas, to have two days to collect what they had, and make ready their canoes, and join them on the morning of the third day, at a certain point, where they had gone to wait for them, and hold a great dance through the night.

The Wyandots sent directly to their other two villages, which the Senecas had not disturbed, and got all their old men and women, and such as could fight, to consult on what measures to take. They came to the resolution to equip themselves in the best manner they could, and go down in perfect stillness, so near the enemy as to hear them. They found them engaged in a dance and feasting on two Wyandot men they had killed and roasted, as they said, ^^for their Jee/'," and as they danced, they shouted their victory and told how good their Wyandot beef was. They continued their dance until the latter part of the night, and being tired, they all laid down and soon fell into a sound sleep. A little before day, the AVyandot party fell on them and cut them all off; not one was left to carry back the tidings. Thus ended the war, for a great number of years.

Soon after this, the Wyandots procured guns from the French traders, and began to grow formidable. The Indians, who owned the country where they had resided for a long time, proposed to them to go back to their own country. They agreed to return, and having proposed themselves as a war-party, they returned - came down to where Detroit now stands, and agreed to settle in two villages, one at the place above mentioned, and the other, where the British fort, Maiden, now stands.

But previously to making any settlement, they sent out in canoes, the best war-party they could make, to go down the lake some distance, to see if there was an enemy on that side of the water. They went down to Long Point, landed, and sent three men across to see if they could make any discovery. They found a party of Senecas bending their course around the Point, and returned with the intelligence to their party. The head chief ordered his men, in each canoe, to strike fire and offer some of their tobacco to the Great Spirit, and prepare for action.

The chief had his son, a small boy, with him ; he covered the boy in the bottom of his canoe. He determined to fight his enemy on the water. They put out into the open lake - the Senecas came on. Both parties took the best advantage" they could, and fought with a determination to conquer or sink in the lake. At length the Wyandots saw the last man of the Senecas fall ; but they had lost a great proportion of their own men, and were so wounded and cut to pieces, that they could take no advantage of the victory, but only gain the shore as f )on as possible, and leave the enemy's canoes to float or sink among the waves. Thus ended the war between the two na- 'ons, forever.

The Wyandots afterward settled in this country, and their principal town was upon the Sandusky. But little was known of them or their country prior to the war of the Revolution. During this conflict, they became extremely troublesome to the back counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia ; particularly to those of Washington, Youghiogany and Westmoreland.

In the early part of the year 1782, these irregular excursions became so galling, that the ill-timed, and melancholy expedition of the unfortunate Crawford, was concerted against tliem, particulars of which, have already been given in the Introduction. After this defeat, which stands upon record, as one of the most calamitous and disastrous expeditions that ever stained the American arms, the aggressions of the savages were much more frequent. The frontiers were continually harassed by them, indiscriminately murdering those of every age or sex; or hurrying them captives to the wilderness, to be tortured with all the cruelty which savage ingenuity could devise.

The fury of the Indians of north-western Ohio, was not checked, until they were aroused from their coverts by the victorious Wayne. In 1794, he dictated to many of the northern tribes, the terms of peace. From this event, down to the renewal of the war, under the auspices of Tecumseh and th(. Prophet,* they remained comparatively tranquil. The deatl of their chief, and their total defeat by Harrison, destroy e(> forever their power in the north-west.

On the 29th of September, 1817, a treaty was held at th-' foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, between Lewi' Cass, and Duncan McArthur, commissioners of the United States, on the one part, and the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawanee, Patawatima, Ottt^- wa, and Chippewa tribes of Indians, when all their lands withi-i the limits of Ohio, were ceded to the United States, forever. - ^ At this time, there was not a single white settler within the pre sent limits of Seneca couaty.

At the treaty just mentioned, the United States granted t > Takawraadoaw, Captain Harris, Isahowmasaw, Joseph, Tawg you. Captain Smith, Coffeehouse, Running-about, and Wi| ~ ingstick, who were chiefs of the Seneca tribe of Indians, a tract of land, containing thirty thousand acres, lying upon the eaist side of, and adjoining the Sandusky river, and mostly within the present limits of this county. There was an addition of ten thousand acres, lying south of this tract, granted to the Senecas, by the United States, on the 17th of September, 1816; at which time, a treaty was held, supplementary to the treaty o; tlie Miami of Lake Erie. The whole tract, consisting of forij thousand acres, has since been known as the " Seneca Resc' vation."

Although this nation was called the " Seneca tribe of Ii dians," there was not, in reality, a Seneca among them. The were chiefly Cayugas ; with a few Mohawks, Onondaga Tuscarawas, Wyandots and Oneidas. But the Mingoes wei originally, Cayugas, and their chief was the celebrated Logar

After the murder of his family, of which he speaks in his masterly speech, sent to the governor of Virginia, the Mingoes were scattered in bands, over the territory north west of the Ohio.

Their hunting grounds, were principally, upon the Scioto, and Olentang}'- ; and as one of the Seneca chiefs very significantly remarked, " their children were raised upon their backs," indicating that they had no particular home. At the time of the treaty, they had concentrated upon the Sandusky, and it is a fact worthy of notice, which has been attested by a Seneca chief who knew him well, that upon its banks, were spent some of the last days of Logan, the Mingo chief.

The Senecas lived upon their grant, until their removal to the west, which was agreed upon at a treaty held at Washington city, on the 29th of February, 1831. This treaty was made between James B. Gardiner, commissioner on the part of the United States, and Comstock, Seneca Steel, Captain Good-hunter, Hard-hickory and Small-cloud-Spicer, chiefs of the Seneca tribe. George Herrin, acted as interpreter ; and Henry C. Brish, as sub-agent. The whole of their grant of forty thousand acres of land, was ceded to the United States, giving them full authority to sell the same ; and the proceeds were to be placed in funded stock, at five per cent, interest ; which was to be paid to the Indians as an annuity, after deducting the cost of building for the latter, a saw and grist mill. The United States also gave them seventy-six thousand acres of land, lying upon the Neosho and Cowskin rivers, north-west of the state of Arkansas, and ninety miles above Fort Gibson.

In the fall of 1831, this tribe to the number of five hundred and ten, started for their new home in the west. A part undertook their journey by land, and after experiencing numerous hardships, and meeting with many accidents, finally succeeded in reaching Missouri by the next spring. The division

They finally all met on the 26th of April, above St. Louis, and arrived at their new homes, the 4th of July, following. - Twenty-eight of their number died on the road.

The home of the Senecas is in a beautiful country, which, it is feared, will not remain long in their possession. The desti'oyer is among them, and their number has already greatly decreased. On the 26th of August, 1845, they numbered, in all, including men, women, and children, but one hundred and ffty-three. The last two years have proved fatal to many. - The survivors live in comfortable houses, generally, and raise good crops of the coarser grains.

Their idea of education, is too ingenious to be overlooked ; "for," say they, "it may perhaps be reconciled to the consciences of white men, who have a great many laws, contracts, &c., loritten upon paper, and education is necessary to evade them. But we have but few, and they are written in the heartP^

The following highly interesting narrative, of the execution for witch-craft, of one of these Indians, named Seneca John, is from the pen of Henry C. Brish, a resident of Clinton township, in this county.

"About the year 1825, Coonstick, Steel, and Cracked Hoof, left the reservation, for the double purpose of a three years hunting and trapping excursion, and to seek a location for a new home for the tribe, in the far west.

" At the time of their starting, Comstock, the brother of the two first, was the principal chief of the tribe. On their return in 1828, richly laden with furs and horses, they found Seneca John, their fourth brother, chief, in place of Comstock, who had died during their absence.

craft. John denied the charge, in a strain of eloquence, rarely equaled. Said he, ' I loved my brother Comstock, more than 1 loved the green earth I stand upon. I would give up myself, limb by limb, piecemeal by piecemeal ; I would shed my blood, drop by drop, to restore him to life.' But all his protestations of innocence, and aifection for his brother Comstock, were of no avail. His two other brothers pronounced him guilty, and declared their determination to be his executioners.

"John replied that he wac willing to die, and only wished to live until the next morning, to see the sun rise once more. - This request being granted, John told them that he should sleep that night on Hard-hickory's porch, v/hicli fronted the east, where they v/ould find him at sunrise. He chose that place because he did not wish to be killed in the presence of his wife, and desired that the chief, Hard-hickory, should witness that lie died like a hrave man.

" Coonstick and Steel, retired for the night, to an old cabin near by. In the morning, in company with Shane, another Indian, they proceeded to the house of Hard-hickory.

" A little after sunrise, Hard-hickory heard their footsteps upon the porch, and opened the door just enough to see out. He saw John asleep upon his blanket, and they standing around him. At length one of them awoke him. He aroce upon his feet, and took off a large handkerchief which W"i3 around his head, letting his unusually long hair fall upon his dioulders. - This being-done, he looked around upon the landscape, and at the rising sun, to take a farewell look of a scene that he was never again to behold, and then told them he was ready to die.

" Shane and Coonstick, each took him by the arm, and Steel walked behind. In this vv^ay, they led him about ten steps from the porch, when Steel struck him v/ith a tomrihav/ii on the back of his head, and he fell to the ground, bleeding freely. Supposing this blow sufficient to kill him, they dragged him under a peach tree near by. In a short time, however, he revived - the blow having been broken by the great mass of hair upon his head. Knowing that it was Steel who struck the blow, John, as he lay, turned his head towards Coonstick, and said, * Now, brother, do you take your revenge.'

" This so operated upon the feelings of Coonstick, that he interfered to save him ; but it enraged Steel to such a degree, that he drew his knife, and cut John's throat from ear to ear ; and the next day he was buried with the usual Indian ceremonies, not more than twenty feet from where he fell.

" Steel was arrested, and tried for the murder, in Sandusky county, and acquitted. The grave of Seneca John was surrounded by a small picket enclosure. Three years after when I was preparing to move them to the west - says Mr. Brish - I saw Coonstick and Steel remove the picket-fence and level the ground, so that no vestige of the grave remained."

Chapter Ii

Simon Girty - His character - Attack on Fort Henrj' - Girty's harangue - Attack upon Bryant's station - Girty's speech - Answer of Reynolds - Girty's cruelty to Crawford corroborated - His death - Seneca Indians sacrificing' two dogs to the Great Spirit.