Venice Township (part 1 of 3)

Appendix

THE EARTHQUAKE THE GREAT HURRICANE THE JERKS THE MORMONS SALUTATORY OF THE VAN BURENITE THE OLD STATE HOUSE AND DIRGE OF THE STATE HOUSE BELL THE TIFFIN PAPERS

Introductory

K great and bloody struggle of the Colonies, through a lout; seven 1 years" \var. being over, tlie British Lion retreated growling to liis den and. following the Revolutionary \Varat the Treaty of Paris in ITSo. peace was made with Kngland. in which the Independence of these Colonies was recognized.

For the first time in the history of the human race, the intelligent world saw a young government start on its career with the conscious knowledge and proud proclamation of man's capacity for self-government.

But as the waves of the ocean continue to lash the shore long after the storm has ceased, so the agitation of the frontier, between the settlers and the Indians, continued for many years.

The intense passions and mutual hatred engendered by the conllict were not allayed by the Treaty of Paris. When the British forces withdrew to the Canadas or across the Atlantic, t he Indians, who. long before and during the [{evolutionary struggle, were a source of constant annoyance to the frontier settlers, still remained.

While the settlers were determined to get possession of the lands of the Indians, the Indians \\ere equally determined not to relinquish their ancient hunting groin, ds. The life and property of the frontiersman were constantly in danger, and often at the mercy of the savages- the general government having neither the means nor military to afford protection: thus the frontier settler was left to his fate as before. Since then a century has rolled off into ihe ocean of time, and while still "Westward the course of Kmpire takes its wa\ ." the Indian atrocities upon the frontier settlements continue as of \ort-. and the question calls into requisition the wisest of statesmanship and the best and most vigorous policy of the government to meet it. The indications now are that the Indians must either give up their nationality and savage life, and become citi/.ens of the I'nited States, or be exterminated.

the hanks of tin- Samlu-k) river, of \\hidi I'pper Samlu-kv was tin- leading one. Then- was a con-taut intercommunication kt-pt up between these Iinliaii town.- ami Detroit. This slate of things continued for a Imii; time after the Treats of Paris, ami until tin- British evacuated Detroit, \\lu-n the Indians were hnallv thrown upon their n\\n re-ouice- ami compelled to come to terms.

Kxpedit ion> \\eie ^et on toot against the l'.iiti>h at Detroit ami the Imlians on the Samlu>k\ . during the \\ ar. h\ the < 'oiitinentaH 'oiij,rressaml at'terwanU h\ the irovernmeut o|' the States. Fort 1'itt ua> a small yarrixm in the charire ot (ieneral Irvine. Here all the ear!> e\|>eilit ions were or^anix*-*!. «'oiiL,rress licini; I'lillv a ware of the fart that all the terrihle atrocities alon^r the lion tier weie directed and supported from 1 )etvoit . and in order to hrinir p«-ace to the bonier, ordered (.eneral Lauidilin Mclntosh. from the regular arm> . to mo\»- upon Detroit. He descended the ( )hio river with a force of reirulars and militia to the mouth of Keaver river in October. 177s. where he established the lirst militars post of the l'nite<l States bevoncl the frontier settlements. <'oiiurn'ss. ho\\c\er. reliictantlv snspcndctl the expedition against Detroit for want of means to prosecute it. and ordered (ieneral Mclntosh to proceed upon and destro\ the Indian towns in the vicinity that, in his opinion, would mo^t etl'ect uall> tend to chastise the savages. He thereupon undertook to mo\e upon Saudusk\ and destro\ the \\'\andot tow us. He started with one thousand men. and on reaching the MuskiiiLrum in the present couiit\ of Tnscarawas. he built a fort ami called it Fort Laurence, in honor of tin- President of Congress. Leaving Colonel .lohn (fib-on in charge of this pn-t \\ith iift\ men. he returned uith the rest of his arm > to Fort Pitt. Fort Lau rem-e u as the lirst militarx post established on ( )hio -ciil. In .\iiuru-t tollo\\jim. l-'oit Laurence uas evacuated. Thiended the lir-t expedition. I-'ort Mclntosh \\as al-o abandoned.

The lamentable expedition of Col. Crawford falling into this period and iieinu a part of tin- Ke\ olulionai'v -1 ruu'ule. occiirrini; befoi-e the Treat), of P. in-, and t he sad. terrible com -In -ion of u hich took place -o near the border o| Seneca count) . an abstract re la I ion of the -a me u ill mu In- mil of pi actin the-e pa^es.

The Ilritish directed the operations agaiu.st the frontier from their military post at Detroit, where Ilenrv Hamilton, a vulgar nillian. was in command.

The Wyandots. Seneeas and Sliawnees were the principal tribes enlisted in this murderous warfare. Nearly all the smaller tribes were made allies of these. The Delawares were the peaceable nation amongst them that had not joined in the war upon the frontier, ami even these eventually became enemies.

These elements, thus combined British, savages, lories and desperadoes, were turned loose upon peaceable settlers, upon unarmed men. upon helpless women and children. They extended their atrocities all along the western frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The effect upon the frontier people can better be imagined than described. Their patient endurance became exhausted. It became now a war to the knife. To kill an Indian was a source of pleasure, and at the same time a signal for attack upon the settlement.

In a letter from (ieneral Washington to (ieneral Irvine at Fort Pitt. instructions were given to the latter in these words: "Still continue to keep yourself informed as to the situation at Detroit, and the strength of the enemy at that place." The subject of another expedition against Sandnsky became quite popular, but Irvine hesitated, and at first rather opposed the project, but finally yielded to the popular demand, and even assisted in the enterprise.

The expedition was thoroughly considered and supported by the best of men along the frontier. No one doubted its propriety. Kveryliody saw the necessit). Sandusky was the infernal den from whence came all their trouble. Volunteers (locked in from every side. Then the place for rende/voiis was fixed at Logan-town-at-Mingo. - Mingo IJottom. now in Steuhenville to\\ iiship. .Jefferson county. ( )hio. On the iMth of May. ITsii. the\ met. There were four hundred and eight) in all. William Crawford waselei-ted < 'o]oiiel . a i id Da\ id Williamson. David ( iaddis. .John McClelland anil one IJrinton were elected Field-Marshals.

Kari\ in the morning of the i!">th da\ of May. the arm), under Crawford, began i!> march from Mingo I lot torn, in four columns. It was to lead in the strai^rhtest direction through the woods to Sandusky. a distance of one hundred and lift;, miles. The mute lay through \\hat now constitutes the conntie- of .Jefferson. Harrison. Tuscarawas. Ashland. Holmes. Kichland. Cra \\fonl and near to the center of W\andot. The whole distance was through a den>e. nnliroken forest, except where the) reached the plains.

Nothing of aii\ particular interest occurred except that on the second da) out tuo Indians were disco\ered. The) \\erc shot at. but being missed.

"1'aliner Spring." so-called. Taking a southwesterly course, and receiving several small tributaries, it enters Wyandot county about two miles north of the southeast corner, and pursues that course generally through Wyandot. Seneca and Sandusky to the bay . a distance of eighty miles from its source, along the stream. Its principal tributaries from the right bank are the Mroken Sword and Sycamore, ami from the left the IJttle Sandusky and Tymochtee. in ('raw ford and Wyandot counties.

The army was now approaching the enemy's headquarter*. Slover. the guide, who had been amongst the Wyandots. said to Crawford that they were near the plains. These they reached on the next day. near the month of a small stream entering the Olentangy. or Whetstone.

To most of the volunteers the sight of the prairie, or plains, was a novelty . The islands of timber, the tall, coarse grass, prairie hens, wild geese, ducks, prairie owls. etc.. attracted their attention. Little they thought and less they knew of the sad fate that awaited them.

The Olentangy is on the eastern boundary of Wyandot county. The Tymochtee is on the west. On the south these prairies form the north part of Marion county. Their extreme length, east and west. Ls forty miles; their extreme breadth, twenty miles; the average elevation above lake Krie. three hundred feet.

These were the favored hunting grounds of the savages, and to which they clung with a tenacity that bordered on desperation. The army camped alwMit ten miles from their place of destination.

The next morning, the -Ith of . I line, they started on their march, with great precaution, in a northwesterly direction, and reached the mouth of the Little Sandusky . where they found 1 mlian trails leading in every direction. They crossed the river and followed a trail, but discovered no Indians. Slover. the guide, told ( 'raw ford that a Wyandot town was close by. A little further on they came upon the town 1 mt found it deserted. ( 'raw foul ordered a halt for consultation. The soldiers dismounted and refreshed themselves ami their horses at the spring.

The Samlusky of the Wyandots. as known to Slover and Xane. the guides. was eight miles below . w here the Kilboiini road crosses the ri\ er. Here w as the residence of I'omoacan Half-King as he was called.

( M all the Indian allies of dreal llritain. the Wyandots were the most powerful, because they w ere the most intelligent . caused by their association with the French and British. In their treatment of prisoners they seldom, il e\ er. resorted to torture, which was common with the other t ribes.

Aleut/ De Peyster. the commander at Detroit, had sent IJutler'* rangers to assist the Indians. The night preceding the battle, thesi limits of Seneca county, near the riser in Pleasant lowu-l mounted troop*, and had two field-piece* and a mortar.

The Indians who had watched the pi-ogre--* of Crawford from Mingo I Sot torn to the Samlusky . had marshaled 1 heir hoM and w ere ready for act ion. Their com I lined force* great I \ outnumbered those of Craw ford.

Simon < iirt\ was with the W v andots. lie was an I rish tory and an adopted son of the Seuecas. who had captured him when \ ouni;. and is described as a tierce, cruel and beast 1\ creature. His Indian name was Katepocomen. which, if it means an\ thim;. out,rht to mean iln-fl. He had been liberated, and having returned to the settlements became the friend of Crawford, aspired to otlice in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, failed, voluntarily returned to saxan'e life and 'became the most savage of the savages. His name was a terror alonij the ( )hio river and throughout the northwest. Vet when Simon Kenton was brought to Mac-a-chack town as a captive, under sentence of death. ( i irt\ ,urot him released. and Kenton bcin^ taken to Detroit as a prisoner made his escape. But to return. It was now one o'clock in the afternoon. Crawford determined to pursue the trail to the other town. \\here he expected to lind the enemy. At a point about one mile south of the present I'pper Sandusky. Crawford called a council of war. Rose, the Surtteon. whom General Irvine had sent alony- with the expedition, and Xanc. advised and urired an immediate return, because they feared that the Indians had too many warriors for them. Crawford then acquiesced, but they linalh determined to pursue their inarch that afternoon only and then return. Immediately scouts came hurrying up announcing the discovery of the enemy. This news was received with evident satisfaction, and rapidly everything was put in readiness, and an advance ordered to meet the enemy.

The Indians came on a run to meet the troops. The Americans drove the savages from a tf rove they had in possession, and fronrthat sheltered position tired upon them until nitfht-fall. This ,UTOYC is known by the name of "Battle Island." situated three miles north and one-half mile east of the court house in I'pper Sandusky. When, in the Summer of ls;>4. I visited the battle ground, the oak trees were still hearing the marks of the bullets and of the tomahawks the Indians had used to cut out the bails.

When niu'ht set in the arms built their camp tires and collected as best the\ could their dead and wounded. There were live killed and nineteen wounded.

On the mo mini: of the lift h the bait le was renewed at lon.u: rann'e and with lui t little effect. The Americans still occupied the island of timber. I Mirinir thi->da\ the Americans lost but four wounded. Plans were now discussed a> to the manner of attack on the next day. when suddenly the scene changed. The appearance of Butler's rangers in the rear of the Wyandots struck disin;i\ into the hearts of the arm\. Crawford abandoned all ideas of an attack and prepared for defense. \\ hen about two hundred Shawnees were discovered supporting the 1 >ela\\ ares on the south. "The\ kept pouring in from all sides' are the words of Rose. At nine o'clock that ni^ht a ret real was resolved upon. The killed were buried and tires burnt over their L.ria\e- to pievci.t disco\er>. Stretchers were made to earn the wounded. - lu-l a^ the ana\ was about to start, an attack was made on the troops, which Ihreu them into <_rreat confusion, and two wounded fell into the haihU of iheei:em\. The\ didiioi pursue the troops ver\ far. however, not kiio\\inu that a reli'eat had been resolved upon. McClelland was reported killed. William-oil took command. Crawford, his son and son-in-law Harris \\"ie amount the missing. The ret real inn' arm\ was comi>elled to

It is nndoiilitfdh true, that inllif nii/lit attfi the last da> 's liattlt- nt-ai tin- IZTO\ c . < 'i a\\ t'ord u as amongst tliox- \\liosf liorsi's '_.'ol faM in the muck. and wliilf t r> iiiLT to si\ f tin- in. ui- n- left In-hind li\ I hi- n-t n-at iii'_r ai ni> . I It- \\a^ ht-ard to call for his -mi .|ohn. and for his soii-in-la\\ Harris, in tindarkm-ss ,.f thi- nii:lit. !!-- also .-alli-d for Major l{o>.-. and his n.-pht-u. \\'illiani ( 'i au ford, luit nol.odv could conn- to help him. I >r. Kniu'lit. \\ 1m now calm- up to ( 'rau lord, told him thai In- l»flif\i-d the others wen- all ahead of them: hut (rau lord thought other\\ ise. and lifted of the doctor not to lea\f him. His Imr-e uas iisi-less. and he coni|ilained of the troojis foi- thus h-a\inur him. At this time an old man and a l>o\ came up to ( 'raw ford, and the doctor and all started on a sniithu esierlv course, and arrixed near the eranlif rrs marsh whej-e some of the \olunteers \\ere also stni'_rurlim,r to -_ret their s\\ ainjied horses out of theoo/\ ^oil. \o\\ Ci'a \\ford and hi^ paiM\ took a northerl> course, and reaching a j'oint al'ont two milenorth from t he hail If Lrrmind. t In- > stai ted on a course dm- east . guided l>\ tin- North ^lar. At midnight thes readii-d the Sand-iisk\ riser near the mouth ot Neurro Itun. The old man tailing In-hind. si-M-ra! times called for the other-, to \\ait. An Indian \\as heard to halloo, and nothinur further \\a^ seen of the old man. The part) passed on. At tuo o'clock next afternoon < apt . Minus ii\ crtnok ' '"' !'-" ' ) - A fler an hour's t ra\ el some on h< 'fsehack and others on foot . Lie u tenant A side \ In-in^ \\ oundeil. and a di'e iidiinir r;iin o\f rtakiiiL; them, \\hich made their progress \er\ slou. the\ caiii)ied t\\o miles nm'lli of |!ue\riis. The next inorninu; lhe\ started on a southeasterly eoiirsf. and lonml a deer that had recentls In-i-n killed, and a tomahawk i\in'_r close li\ it. The\ slii-ed the lle-h fi'om the 1. ones, and \\ rappiiiL,' tin- \enison in the skin, took it alon^. A mile 1'nrlher on tln-\ sa\\ a lire, and If It the \\oimded oil jeer iii charge of the ho\ . u ith orders to remain In-hind. I 'pmi examination the\ came to the conclusion that the tin- had In-en made l>> I heir ou n men t he pre\ joiis da\ . A mo>t latal conclusion! 'l'he\ roasted t hen \ em -on and \\ ei e a 1 10 ui to start mi . \s ln-n a \ olimteer came up to t IM-III afoot: the rest on horseback. When the party were just east of Leesville. three Indians jumped up. and Dr. Knight took aim at one. but Crawford called to him not to lire. One of the Indians ran up to Crawford and took him hs the hand. The other walked up to Knight and called him doctor, took him by the hand and said he had seen him before. The party had fallen into an ambuscade of Delaware*, whose chief was Wingeiiund. i pronounced \Vin-tfe-iioonil at camp only half-mile away. ('apt. Biggs lired, but hit no one. An Indian told Knight to call his people up or they would all be killed, but the other four got away for that time. Crawford and Knight were capti\'es. The warriors returned to camp with their prisoners and raptured horses. There was great joy upon their coming into camp among the saYages.

The Delawares lived among the Wyandots by mere permission. The burning of prisoners was kept up among the Delawares when the Wyandots had abandoned it. Their chiefs. "The Pipe" and " Wingennnd." therefore were under the necessity of obtaining the consent of the Wyandot chief before they conld burn a captive. This consent was secured by a stratagem.

It was now three o'clock Friday afternoon. June seventh. On Sunday following the savages brought in the scalps and horses of Ashley and Biggs. The others again escaped. The Delawares had nine other prisoners besides Crawford and Knight. Some of the converted Delawares. who had gone back to heathenism, also brought in scalps of borderers. The chiefs soon knew that Crawford was the "Big Captain." Several of the savages were known to both Crawford and Knight.

On Monday, the Kith of .June, the prisoners were ordered to march to Sandusky. the "Half King's" town, thirty-three miles away. Crawford hoped for help by dirty. Meeting him at Sandusky. he offered him one thousand dollars if he would save his life, dirty promised, but without any intention to keep his word. Crawford saw that "The Pipe" was very much enraged against the prisoners.

On Tuesday. June 11. "The Pipe" painted all the fares of the prisoners black, and told Knight to go to the Shawnces town and see his friends. This chief kneu Crawford before his tribe joined the enemy, and told him that he \\oiild have him shaved. /. < .. adopted, but at the same time painted him black also. Then the whole party stalled for the \Vyandot town, eight miles below. A short distance on their way they saw four of their comrades King near the trail. scaip"d. At the spring where I'pper Sandusks now stands, to their dismay, another trail was taken northwestward to the Delaware town on the Tsmochtee.

All ideas of ho)"' for life had now vanished. When they reached Little Tsmnchlee creek, in what is now Salem township, in Wyandot county, the Indians made the prisoners sit down. Knight was put in the charge of an Indian, tn lie taken to the Shawnees town.

The x|iia\\s and boss now tomahawked the other live prisoners. An old sipiau cut .itf the head of McKinles and kicked it about on the ground. The s o'ing | i,dian> then dashed the bloods scalps into the faces of < 'raw ford and Knight several t inies.

U'innenuml and The I'ipe xvere the prime movers in alienating lite Delaxvares from their frontier friends and in making them enemies. Thev were >o bitter in their hatred of the Americans that their cruelties knew no hounds. Having now full authority over their prisoners, the on!) ground upon how to perform it in the most hellish manner. As the part) moved aloiitf towards Tymochtee. everx Indian they met -truck the prisoner*, (iirtx said: -- Is that doctor Knight ?" Knight said xes. and offered (iirty his hand, which he refused, and said : "Heirone: voii are a damned rascal !" The) now reached Tymochtee cn-ek. and were about three-quarter* of a mile from the village, which was further down the creek.

I am now about to record the manner of Crawford's death. The scenes the poor captives had to pa.-., '---ou^h so far. are of theniselxe* sickening, and calculated to rouse the sv mpathies of a heart of stone. The task creates a chill, and the pen moves reluctant!) to describe an act so fiendish, brutal and repulsive.

"Man's inhumanity to man." it should be remembered, is not an attribute that characteri/es exclusix elx the North American savage. Masnot Kurope. has not Asia, has not America equal cause to blush when tracing histories of white races? Thousands upon thousands fell beneath the sword of Mohammed for refusing to take the Koran. Kurope. dressed in Christian attire, with her churches, her domes, her institutions of learning and refinement, burnt her mart) rs at the stake. Mer inquisitions, her "bridges of siLThs." her blocks and guillotines Blotted the paures of her historx w ith the blood of her religious and political victims, while our own dear America I MI rut her witches and hum; I,} i lakers on Boston Common. Is the di lie re nee amongst savages found onlv in color or race?

About four o'clock in the afternoon on the eleventh da) of June, the savages planted a -take in the ground near the ri^ht bank of Tvmochtee creek, to which Crawford was tied. The Indian men then -hot powder into Craxvford's naked hodv . from his heels to his head until lie was black all over. Not less than sexeiitx shots were tired upon him. The) cut of! both of his ears, and when occasional 1) the throng around < 'raw ford w on Id allow I >r. Kmu'ht to u'et -i^ht of him. tin- blood \\a- running down both sides of his In-ad. Thev built a rim:' of tire around the -take ami w it bin -i x or -even vards of it. it wa* made of *mall hickorv poles and when burnt quite through in the middle, leav inur the ends about live feet lonu. three or four Indian- at a lime would each take one of these hiirninu' -lick- and hoid the hurninir parl to the naked hodv of Crawford, alreadv black with powder.

run around the post, the) met him with these burninur fa-^ot-. Some ot the squaws took bmad pieces of chips and hark, with which the) threw quantities of hot coals and ember- on him. so that in a short time he had to walk over a bed of coal- and hot ashes.

In the mid-i ot these extreme tortures Crawford called to dirtx ami hcLT^ed of him to -hoot him. lid-fixing n« an-wer. he called airain. when Ciirtv taiiiitinulv teplidl that he had no ^im. and nnninu aiound to the Indian- behind him laughed hvarti!) and seemed delighted ai the hoiv.d

<tirt\ \\alked up to Dr. Knight and told him to prepare for death also: that he \\as not to die at that place, but \\ as to he burnt at a Shawnees town.

He asked Knit: lit \\ hether lie had any hopes of escaping it. hut the doctor was too much absorbed with the terrible agonies Colonel Crawford was imderiroinir before his eyes and his own immediate fate harrowing up his soul, that he made dirty no answer.

Crawford bore his torments with the most manly fortitude. Several times lie \\as heard to call on the Almighty to have mercy on his soul. Thus he continued in all these extremities of pain for more than two hours, as near as Kniii'ht could judue. when he laid down on his stomach. The savajjcs then scalped him and repeated!) threw the bloody scalp into poor Knight's face, telling him thai was the " 15i^ Captain."

An old si 1 1 law. who to Knight looked more like Satan than a human bein°;. took a hoard and shoveled coals and ashes on Crawford's back and scalped head. The \\retdied man then raised himself on his feet attain and bewail to \\ alk around the post.

( )n the next morning when Kniuht was started off for the Shawnees town and \\hilehewas passing the lire place, he saw the remains of Crawford almost burnt to ashes. Then the Indians told Knight that was his fate and ii'a\ e the "scalp halloo."

The tradition runs that alter Crawford died, the faii'ots were heaped together, his body |>laced upon 1 hem and that the savages danced around the remains for sexeral hours longer.

The Shaunees had .urea I rejoicing uhen the ne\\s reached them, and the poni frontier settlers were lilled with uloom and disiuax. Crawford was i in 'in IK d b\ all \\ ho knew him. \\'e \\ ill 1 hi <>\\ the mantle of forget fulness o\ er i he Ion el \ cabin that eonlaim d the \\ ido\\ of 1 he Colonel \\ hen the sad news reached her ear.

< >n 1 he '-! h of Anu'iisl lie writes to (Jeneral Irxine. thus: "I lament the failure of the exptdition against Sandiisk) and am particularl\ a flee ted \\ it li the disastrous death of Colonel ( 'rau ford."

Tnscarawas county. Hf reached tort 1'itt on the morning of the fourth da\ of .Inly in safety. He afterwards became the surgeon of the Seventh Virginia regiment, lie was married on the 14th day of October. 17S4, and died on the li'lli da\ of March. Ix'ls. tlie fatlier of ten children. Dr. Knight is entitled to the credit of furnishing to history the most truthful relation of this sad expedition.

Slover and his two fello\\ captives were taken to a Shawnees town. The inhabitants came out and beat and abused the prisoners ureatl). They sei/ed the oldest one of Slover's companions. stripped him naked, and painted him black with coal and water.

They sent a messenger to Wapatomica to irct ready for the frolic, as they were comiiiLT. and when the\ approached the town the savages came out with clubs. Julius and tomahawks. They told the prisoners they must run to the ( 'oiineil House, aliout three hundred yards away. The man painted black was the principal object of their sport. They struck him and shot powder into his Mesh: women and children all en^ajjfed in the frolic. >hoiit inn' and beating their drums. Arriving at the door the man was cut ver\ badh and the blood was streaming from the wounds intlicted by the toinahauks and ritle wads. He laid hold of the door, but was pulled back. Slo\ersa\\ him carried away, and the Indians slowly killing him. lie saw his dead hod\ near the ( 'ouncil House, cruelly mangled. Then they cut off the liead ;uid limb- and stuck them on poles outside of town. The same evening he saw the bodies of three others mangled to about the same condition. ( )m- of these was William Harrison, the son-in-law, and the other William Crawford, the nephew, of the Colonel. The Indians also had their hordes.

( >n the next da\ a larire council was held. Slover was examined as to his knowledge of tin frontier. He could speak the lan^uaye of the Miamis. I )elawares and Shawnees. Captain Klliott and .lames Uirty also came and a.-siired the savages that Slover had lied, that Cornwallis was not taken. etc. Hitherto Slovcr had been treated kiudly. Now the\ beiran to abuse him aNo. Tliis council lasted tifteen days. About one hundred warriors were present.

See t he humanit > of i lie liritish commander at Detroit. De I'eyster ! At the close of thi> council a dispatch was broimhl in from that dignitary by a warrior who had just arrived. It was in these words :

Tl'i > put a rope around Slover. stripped him naked and blacked him.took him li\e mile- a\\a\ . t ied him to a tree near a hut and beat him. The\ then t'"'k him about two mile- turther to Mac-a-chack. near West Libert), in 1 ,11 j.i 1 1 ""Unix . Slover \s a- t ied u it h a rope around his neck to a po-t and a

Although the treats of I'aris \\as signed in Septeinl'er. IT-*.'!, the ne\\s did not reach the I'nited Mates for more than one month later, and it \\ as nearl) tuo months later liefore it readied the uestern frontier. Meanwhile the conllict in the \\cst \\as kept up \\itli all its terror. Settlements \\ere at tacked alonii the Ohio ri\ er and abandoned. F \pedi lions wrre orvrani/ed. prosecuted and aliandoned, often in disaster. The stniiftrle to comiuer the Indians and possess the west seemed almost hopeless.

A Mr. l)alton \\as tro\ eminent airent on the \Vahash. I Ie called a council of the chiefs and announced to them the fact that peace was declared in the f<»llo\\ hit; \\ ords : people. Hr hit* sent u- so niueh snow aii'l cold weather us to kill your horses with our own. \Ve un- a pour people. \V« hope that (i.>l will help us. ami thiit tlie I/m^r Knife will have e )inpas.-ion <>ii our women anil ehildreii. Your people who are with us are well. We shall eolleet tlii'iu when they eome ill from hunting. \Velove them, and so do our yonntf women. Some of \oiirpeople mend our 1:1111*. others tell us they e. in make rum out of eorn. They are nou the same a.- we. In one moon after this \ve will take them hack to their friends in Kentueky.

My l-'ather' This lieinc the day of joy to the Wal>a.-h Indians, we ben a little drop of your milk 'rum to let our warrior* see that it fame from your l>rea*t. \\'e were horn and raised in tlieuood-. \\'e <'oiild never leurn to make rum. <iod has made the wliile man master of the world."

Having finished his sp.-ech. 1'iankeshaw presented Mr. Dalton with three strings of \v.iinpiiin as a pledge of peace. Kvery reader must be impressed with the tone of despondency that pervades this address and the melancholy spirit that asks for rum.

In all the various treaties and inU-rcourses for peace with the Indians, the reader is t'ivt|iiently met by the tmu "LonK Knife." By this expression, of course, is meant the "whit;- nrni." or the "general j,ro\ eminent." The way the term came to lie used, is said to have occurred in thiswise: A Colonel ( iibson. while st it ioned at Fort I 'it t. in a certain attack with his troops upon a company of Indians, and i^-Unii; into a hand to hand ti.^ht. cut off the head of an Indian with his sword, in one stroke. This struck terror into the hearts of the other Indians, who lied, and reported to their chiefs that a pale face had cut off the head of an Indian with a "Loii"; Knife."

The British traders in Canada kept up their business with the Indians as before, and. in direct violation of the treaty, replenished the fuel that was still burninir in the hearts of the savages throughout the northwest against the white people.

The vast territory lyiiiu; north of the Ohio river and extending far west to the Mississippi, was claimed, by charters from the Kintf of Kmjland. by Connecticut. Massachusetts and Virginia. Kach of these states now consented to rcliinjiiish its claim to the general jrovernnient with the exception of reser\ ations by Connecticut and Virginia. These two states, embarrassed by the war. retained each a portion of the territory for the purpose of pa\ int,r its debt to the revolutionary soldiers.

The region thus ceded to Connecticut, lyiii"; north of the 41st decree north latitude, and extendinvr from the west line of Pennsylvania to the west line of what is now 1 1 uron coimU . was called the "Western Keser\e"

-- |-'ireland>." l! extends from the lake, south, to what is now known as the "ha^e line." lift\ miles wide and one hundred and twenty miles loiiy from ea>t 1" wc-d.

1!\ lhe>e (----,^in|i> the LTelieral '_r( i\ erillllcllt became |io>sessed of thexast region nf uninhabited terrili>r\ exlendiii"; to the lakes of the north and wol to me M i^^i^--i|i]ii ri\ei-. now torminir the states of Ohio. Indiana. Illinois. U'isc(in>iii and Michigan. By the celebrated ordinance id' 17s7.no le->th;iu three iK>r mure than li\'c >tates \\'ere to be or^ani/.ed in this vast realm a- soon as tin- number of whit- inlialnl nits would warrant. The Federal < iov eminent now established a territorial \f»\ ei iiia-nt over the saint'.

Let us nut forget before leaving this part of our subject mi" beautiful feature in that ureal oi dinance. engrafted up >n il bv -lav,- owm-i-. and which teache- a le--nn for ii)t>ilitati<iii. when tin' passion-. of pnpt> -trife \\ ill ad in it nl' -Mil XT re Meet ion. and iriv e the better part of our nature nobler iiiipulsi's and a larger tield :

--\n man -hall lie arrested I'm- hi- nm !-- of worship or hi- religions seiitimeiits. The utmost yood faith shall li - nb-erv ed toward the Indians: that their lands sliall never lie tak"ii from them witlmui their cnn-.-nt. unless in just and lawful war.

.Now companies lie^an to lie or^.ini/.ed in th" Atlantic state- for the purpose of establishing colonies in this i-rritor>. The ()hio ( 'oiiip.tn> . form -d of ntlii-ers of the arms and s.ildier- of the r,-\ olut ion. located bctw.-en the Muskiiiurmn and the I In -klm 'kiiiLT rivci-s. The ^oveniiuent owed m in\ ot the-e lar^e sum- of IIMIICX and had inHhiiiir to pa> them \\ ith but land. The\ took their land- at one dollar p-r acre, and paid for it in deneral Hufiis I'litnam. with hi- )iart> . settled near the nmuth nf the MuskiiiLCum mi the 7th day of April. ITss. ()ne remarkable feature in all these ear!> settlements is the fact that Ihe enlniiists were L.reiierall\ men of cult nre. refinement and hiirh moral \\orth. The\ lYamcd -imple code- of laws and publi-hed them b\ nailinu them aii'ain.-t tree-.

Vincenue.s. near the western line of Indiana, was also made the county seat of another county, bounded on the south by the Ohio river, on the east b\ the (Treat Miami, ami on the west by the Wabash. larger than several states of the I'liioii. St.Clair proceeded to the Mississippi where a few huts on the left bank formed another settlement. Here he established the count) of St. Clair. embracing nearly the whole of Illinois.

It would be a source of great pleasure to record here some of the very many incidents, of a most thrilling nature, connected witli the early settlements along the Ohio river and along the mouths of the Miami and Muskingum.

But. admonished by the fact that too many of our pages are being taken possession of by these reminiscences. I will only describe a few of the expeditions that were organ i/ed from time to time to subdue the savages, because all or nearly all of these had a tendency to rescue the valley of the Sandusky and northwestern Ohio from the owners, who by force of circumstances and without paper title, were the monarchs of the soil. These expeditions are given in the abstract without regard to chronological nicety. For detail, the kind reader will of course peruse more general and extended history.

deneral Clark was a military leader of Kentucky, stationed at the falls. He was a man of great force of character and considerable military ability.

When he heard of the disastrous battle at Blue Licks, he resolved to pursue and punish the Indians. He formed a junction with Colonels Floyd and Logan, which gave him a force of about one thousand men. Colonel Boon joined the arm) as a volunteer. The) crossed the Ohio on the ."Oth of September. 17-U. and commenced their march up the Little Miami. They reached the old town of Chillicothe. where they chastised the Indians terribly and destroyed their town, their goods and their crops, and returned victorious!) .

'all of ITsCi. (icneral Logan organ i/ed another great the savages in Ohio, in which man) prominent men >k part. It was the intention of the deneral to make ic war againM the savages. Colonel "oops again marched on the Indian \ iliaiies on the Scioto. and laid them \\asle.killing man) savages. Simon Kfiiton accompanied thK expedition. All the villages were burnt, and nearl) all the inhabitants were slain or taken captives. A region of forty mile- \\ide and one hundred miles in length. \\a> laid uttcrh desolate. The compap). under the command of Simon Kenlon. took no prisoners. It was

In tin- fall of 17'.»u. (icii. Ilarmar. at the head of three hundred regular troops, and al">ul one thousand militia. \\as ordered to march upon the Indian to\\ us alouu the lake and cha>tise them to siicli a deLCi'ee as to arre-t all future ilepredat ions.

( )n the Jl>t of Septemlier this expedition rende/N'oiised at Fort Wa>liili'_rton. and on the following da\ commenced theii- march upon the Miami villages. Il took them seventeen da\ >' liard mai'diiiiLT over a rou-^li and >\\amp\ coimti'v hefore thev came into the \jcinitv of the eiiem>. Meantime. [iriiv isions liecame searee. The (General I'mind himself miller the nece»itv of -v\ee|iinur the foi'fvt with numerous small detachment^, and as the wood- >vv armed with Indian-, mo-t of these part ie- were cut off.

villages, which he found deserted and in (lames, the Indians themselves having tired their houses. He also found here several hundred acres of corn, which he destroyed. Marching on to the other villages he found them destroyed in the same manner, and he also destroyed the corn near there. Then the arm> commenced its retreat from the Indian country, supposing the Indians to be sullicienth punished.

After a march of about ten miles on the homeward route, the (General received news which led him to suppose that the Indians had returned to their burning villages, and he immediately detached eighty regular troops, with nearly all of the militia, the former under the command of Major Wyllys. and the latter under Col. Hardin. with orders to return to the villages and destroy such of the enenn as presented themselves. The detachment countermarched with all possible speed to the appointed spot, fearful onh that the enemy might have noticed their return and escaped again before they could reach them. The militia, in loose order, took the advance. The regulars brought up the rear. .lust as the troops \\ere Hearing the town, a number of Indians were observed, and a sharp action immediately ensued. Shorth the savages lied and were hotly pursued by the militia, who in the ardor of the chase were drawn into the woods, quit*- a distance from the regulars.

Suddenh several hundred Indians appeared from the opposite quarter, rushing with loud yells upon the regulars, thus unsupported by the militia. Major \V\ llys. a brave and experienced otlicer. formed his men into a square and endeavored to gain a more favorable spot, but was prevented by the impetuous attack of the Indians. In spite of the heavy lire poured in upon them, they rushed upon the bayonets and hurled their tomahawks with fatal accuracy. Putting the ba\onets aside witli their hands, or clogging them with their bodies, they were quickly mingled with the troops, where the\ used their knives with such terrible effect, that in two minutes the blood\ struggle was over. Major \V\llys fell, one lieutenant and seventy-three privates. One captain, one ensign and seven privates, three of whom \\ere wounded, were the sole survivors of this short but desperate encounter. The loss of the I ndians was about equal. The attack was as finely conceived as it was holdh executed. When the militia returned from the pursuit of the thing party it was toe late for help. They soon effected their retreat to I he main bod\ . with a loss of one hundred and eight killed and twenty-eight wounded. This dreadful slaughter so reduced ( Jen. I larmar's arm\ . that In- \\a^ happ\ to return to Fort Washington \\ith the fraction he had left. ha\inu' utterh tailed in his mission.

This disastei was folloued b\ a loud demand for a greater force to form a ne\\ expedition, which \\as also accomplished, as we shall presenlh see.

An ami) »t two thousand men assembled at ex pi -d it ion \\ a-^ or^an i/ed aii'ai list the I ndians on t he Mai mice. A blockhouse wa^ e'ectcd i\\eiit\ miles north of ( 'inciimati. and called Fort Hamilton.

( ten. St. ( 'lair \\as au'ed. inlinn. and siilVerinu irn-atU \\ith u'mit. Smneliod> uas ccrtainls to hlaine for undertaking a canipaiirn at tlii-^ M-a-«>]i under the^e circumstances, and the seipic] \\ill -ho\\ that Ihe> \\ere mit-^eiieraletl li\ Ihe Indian cliiefs. ()nthe third of Noxemher the\ readied a point mie hundred and t\\ent\-!ive miles north of Fort Washington, and still lift\ miles ^oiith of the Indian touns mi the Maumee. uhid: the> \\ere on tinma iv 1 1 to destro\ . It uas a dismal da\ : the ground u as co\ ered \\\\\\ siiou . and tin- feet of the soldiers \\ere s,,aked uith \\ater. Cutting: their \\a> 1 hi on- 1 1 the |>at hles> torcst the\ leached a creek . a con ill lent of the \Val>ash.

ilei'etht-v camped for the niirlit. The militia \\ere sent across the creek, and hi vm lacked in t u o parallel lines. \\ it h a space of a hoi it tu o 1m ml red feet iieiueen them. Soon t he> liad a roarimj; lire in this intermediate space, illnminat im,' t he forest far and u ide. NO scouts \\ ere sent out . for all u ere m-arl> perishing u ith cold and fat i^ue. and there u ere no simis of aii\ foe.

\o\\ the little arni> of les-, than a thousand men ueie huddled to^ethei in terror-stricken confusion, and exposed to a deadl\ lire troine\er\ direction. \o foe to lie seen, except U hell a sa\;c_;e \\oiil.d make ail e\chaill_re of rapidly striking down his men. As Drake drew back his position, the Indians closed in like the waves of the sea. It seems that a large body of sharp-shooters had been detailed especially to attack the artillerymen. In a short time even man at the guns was shot down. Within one hour from the commencement of the attack, one-half of St. ('lair's men were either killed or wounded, and nearly every horse was shot. The Indians killed over nine hundred of St. ( 'lair's army, took seven field-pieces, two hundred oxen, a great man\ horses, but no prisoners. The wounded were tomahawked and scalped on the spot. The Indians lost but sixty-six warriors. For the dovernor's otlicial account of this disaster, see Abb. History of Ohio, page

The Governor was himself not wanting of bravery. He did all he could under the circumstances. Fight bullets passed through his clothes and hat. He had three horses killed under him. The men who tried to bring up the fourth horse fell dead with the animal, and the invalid Governor was compelled to retreat on foot, which he did with wonderful alacrity.

An old. worn-out horse was overtaken and the Governor put upon that. and but for that timely aid he would have been left upon the field to fall into the hands of the savages. Greatly would they have rejoiced at the opportunity to apply the torture of Crawford to another "Big Captain."

We are compelled, for want of space, to omit recording any of the very many thrilling scenes connected with this sad page of frontier history, and will only mention the remarkable fact that amongst the camp followers there were no less than two hundred and fifty women - they, with a great many of the men in the ranks, taking it for granted that there would be no lighting; that the Indians would sue for peace: that garrisons would be established, under whose protection they and their husbands might lind new homes. Fift\-six of these were killed, and tortured even more brutally than the men. Some accounts state that even two hundred of these women fell \ ict ims to savage barbarity. Some time after this disaster an old squaw was heard to say that "her arm got very tired that day scalping white men." The troops never stopped in their retreat until Fort .Jefferson \\as reached, thirl \ miles a wa> .

On reaching the fort and finding the provisions exhausted there, it was thought best to proceed on and meet the wagons loaded with provisions that were expected even da\ . and could not be more than one or twoda\s" marches ;i\\a> . So the arm\ . exhausted and terrified as it was. pressed on at leu o'clock that night and met the wagons the next morning. A part of the ilour \\as immediately distributed, and the balance sent on to the fort. The main bod\ now proceeded to ( 'incinnati and reported at Fort Washington.

Three distinguished Indian chiefs led the battle IJlue .Jacket. 1'iiickoiigaheias and Liule Turtle. These were men of remarkable abilitx. Little Turtle, especially, took great interest in bringing his tribe to adopt civil i/.aiion. He inouired of den. Harrison respecting the organi/.ation of the national L;M\ eminent . lie met Koscinsko in Philadelphia, in lsli'. and -pule ;; \\aim friend-hip sprum_r up heiueen them. Little Turtle li\ed se\ erai \ ears after I he late war. and \\ a- esteemed for his wisdom, courage

Tin1 most simple explanation of tin- defeat of St. ('lair is. that he was out-i;eneraled by chiefs who were his siipei io|-> in Indian warfare.

l.'t us like the Yankee way by asking a question to answer another. Were not the inquisitions, the crusades, tin- Imniinifs at stake can ied on under the preach inir of the glorious ijospe I of »Jesus Christ, pleading for lo\ e to dod and your fellow -man. scenes of atrocity equal to these in all their

St. ( 'lair's defeat raised a fearful storm of indignation airaiiist him. lie was a man greatly esteemed for many manly traits of character. He was sincerely devoted to the public welfare. lie was lioril in 1~:U. He recehed a lilier.il education, studied medicine, joined the army and was with den. Wolf at the storming of (Quebec, in 17>i.",. In the revolutionary war he was appointed Major-) ieneral and stationed at Ticondero-_ra. IJefoie he was appointed ( inventor of the northwestern territory . he w as a ineiuliei of the Continental Congress, and succeeded Hancock as chairman. He continued in otlire as ( iovernor until he was removed in Isn^. by Thomas Jefferson. He died on the :>lst day of August, MV poor in means, at the aire of eighty -four.

Those iii the Miami country were abandoned. Many of the pioneers went with the army across the Ohio river. The Indians crowded their ravages upon the settlements, and liecanii' so hold as to appear in the streets of Cincinnati to spy out a plan for an atl.u-k upon Fort Washington.

< ten. S'.-ott . soon al't'M' the St. Clair disaster. a<-hie\ed a complete victory o\er the Inliaiis. near the river. Imt stitistics of the same are not \er\ accessible, an 1 particulars are wanting.

New trooj is were gathered al t he falls of the ( )h in for another ex ped it inn. under the leadership of Anthony Way ne. w hos.- inipe! uosjty ufa\'- him the iiam.- of -- M;id A n' hony ."

In Si -pi em her. of 17'.<:;. den. \\'a\ m- had so far opjani/ed hi- army as to be reacly to move into the Indian country. He ivacheil I-',. it .letlei-on by rapid marches. This fort was sit uate about t went y -li\ e miles south w est of xji|ue\ . 'he county seat of Shelliy county . lie fortitied the camp well, ainl caiie.l it dreen \ ille. noyy i he -eat ol just ice o| I )arke coi i nt y . 1 1 ere he map IP- w ini-T quarters. Commissioners had been sent to the Inpliaiis. y\ ho lai'e.) to conclude a peace, inasmuch as the Indians deinandeil ilia! ai! the \\hile belong exclusive!) to the Indians. This meant resistance. Hoth sides prepared for war. On the 17th day of October. 17!»:>. Lieutenant Lowry and ensign I5o\ d. \\ ith ninets men. while escorting to camp (ireenville a train of (went) wagons loaded with grain and stores, were attacked by the Indians, under the leadership of Little Turtle. The Americans were totally routed, losing both otlieers. lifteen men. seventy horses and all their wagons.

On the i!lth da\ of August, the (ioveruor of Kentucky had furnished Wa\ne \\itli sixteen hundred mounted volunteers, under the command of (ten. Scott. In December. Wayne moved upon the place where St. ('lair was routed, built a fort and called it Fort Recover). The place is now in Mercer county, and within one mile of the Indiana state line. It was on Christmas da\ when they pitched their tents on the old battle ground, liefore the men could make their beds they had to carry away the bones, which the) buried the next da\ . Amongst these were six hundred skulls. In main cases the sinews still held the bones together. Here one compam of artillen and one of rillemen were left. The rest returned to Fort ue then advanced up the Auglai/e to the Maumee. Here in tliever) heart of the enemy's country, lie constructed a fort and called it " Fort Defiance." a ver\ appropriate name. He put up two block houses direct!) between the junction of the two great streams. Stout palisades enclosed near!) two acres of ground. A wall of earth outside of the pickets \\asfaced\\ith logs. Heyond that a ditch was dug fifteen feet wide, eight feet deep, filled by water from the Auglai/.e.

The Indians in this region were far advanced in civili/.ation. by their intercourse with the French, and the eoiintr) around was well cultivated. More than a thousand acres were in corn. Apple and peach orchards had been started, (ieneral Wa\ne returned to (ireenville. leaving the fort garrisoned. The troops under his command now numbered about three thousand. As far as could well be ascertained, the Indians numbered about two thousand. Mau\ Mritish otlieers and Canadian troops were associated with them, still encouraging the savages to resistance.

The Indians \\atclied all these works closel) and resolved to make a desperate effort to capture the forts. On the "dth of .June. 17M4. some lifteen hundred I nil ia us with several companies of Canadians, with faces blackened and in I ml ian cost nines, led b\ Brit ish otlieers in full uniform, made a furious attack on Fort Keco\er\. Major Mc.Malion was encamped just outside of the works with one hundred and lift) troops. The enemy rushed upon the detachment and assailed the fort from every side, but were repulsed and compelled to abandon the field, where on the 4th da\ of November. 17!»1 . the\ had uaii-ed so urea! a victor) . Major Me Ma lion, lieutenant I >rake and luent) other otlirefs \\ere killed and thirl) wounded. The loss of the eneni) was \t r\ hea\\ : the exact number \\as never ascertained until it uas disejosed at lhe treat) of (ireem ille.

(ien. \\'a\m- had alreads sent his arms on the mari'li and met the messen- L,rers on their return, near Fort Mei^s. The) slated that the Indians \\ere dressril ;md painted for \\ ar.

At -; o'clock of the morniiiLC of tin- 'J'th da\ of August. \\'a\ne adxanccd from F»rt I>epo>it and look position at l'i'esi|iu- Isle. Here the) met and routed the s;i\aurcs ami ISritish forces from l)eti'oit. The \idor\ \\as complete, and amongst the dead enemies \\ere man) \\hite-.. aimed with ]5riti>h muskets and hasoiieis. The American^ encamped for three da\s \\ it hin sj^lit of the I'.rit ish fort . Messages \\ere passed lietueeii ( ien. \\'a\ mand the commander of the fort, as to the rmrht of the ISritish to its occupation. Major < 'ampliell refused to ^j\ e ii|> the fort . \\ hereupon den. \\'a\mcard'ull) inspected tlie \\orks. The I'.i'itish had foiii- hundred and lift) men and ten pieces of artiller). It \\as decided not to attack the fort. den. Harrison, afterwards 1 'resident of the I ' niled Mates. \\ as aid to den. \\'a\ ne in t his campaign. N'o\\ den. \\'a\ ne sent out his ca\ air) . \\ hich laid \\ as|e theuhole \alli') of the Mauiuee for lift) miles. Winter approached, ami the Indians \\ ere dest it me of homes and pn>\ isjons. | n >e|>temlier another fort . tort \ -se\ en mill's from Fort IhTiance. \\as erected, and named alter the dem-ral. I-'ort \\a\ne. I ,ea\ ini_r a irarrison here. ((en. \\a\ue returned

'1'he treat) of dreenville ended fora time the war with the s,i\ a ires east of the M ississippj. This u as m real it v t he end of the war of the re\ olul ion.

retnriiinu from Detroit to the eastern states, he was taken sick in a lo^ calim at I 're si pie Isle, now Krie. I'eiius) |v ania. u Inch at l hat t i me u as a small hamlet in the wilderness, .\fier a shoit illness he died, and at his

According to the Treaty of Paris, in 17.s;>. the British military post at Detroit, and all the other forts within the reco«rni/ed boundaries of the I'nited States, were to ha\e been withdrawn "as soon as convenient." Vet for more than ten years they not only retained these posts, but supplied the savages with munitions of war. and uryed them to. and helped them on. in their atrocities against the frontier settlers. .John .Jay was sent over to KiiLtland. as a special minister, to urye the amicable evacuation of these forts. Fort Mei.u's was one of them . and with much ditliciilty succeeded in obtaining a promise that his re(|iiest should lie complied with before the 1st da\ of .lime. 17!"'>. The posts at Detroit and Maumee were accordingly delivered over to ( Jen. Wa) ne.

Thereiiiion the whole of the northwestern territory was origan i/.ed into live counties. Washington county embraced all the territory between the Musk iii'4uni and the Little Miami, extending from the Ohio river forty miles north, with Marietta the seat of justice. Ail that portion between the Little and (ireat Miami, within forty miles of the Ohio river, was called Hamilton county. Cincinnati the county seal. Kuox county embraced the land bet ween the (ireat Miami and the Wabash. also bordering on the Ohio river, with Vinceiines its county seat, and where den. Harrison, while (iovernor of the territory, built a two-story brick house for a residence, which the writer saw in August. IS7''>. while stumping Indiana for Tilden. The county of St. ('lair included the settlements on the Illinois and Kaskaskia rivers, as well as those on the upper Mississippi, with Kaskaskia for its seat of justice. Waxne county embraced all the Maumee. Raisin and Detroit rivers, with Detroit for its comity seat, taking in the whole of Michigan and a part of Indiana.

This vast region, then embracing but very few and very small settlements of white people, reaching from Fort Pitt to the Mississippi river, over howling forests and oceans of prairies, is now teeming with millions of happy, prosperous and intelligent people. Where once the birch canoe was the onl\ mode of travel over the still waters of the Ohio and Mississippi, the stately steamboat, with its comforts and luxuries, is "queen of all she surveys." while railroads ami telegraph lines cut the country in every direction, furnishing means to interchange both thought and tratlie.

We \\ ill imt undertake a more extended descripl ion of the various settlements made in Ohio after the t real) of ( - reenville. and refer the kind reader to the more elaborate historx of Ohio, eontininn1 ourselves more closely hereafter to e\en!s particular!) tending to affect the subject of our task.

Karl) in the \ear IT'.tii. arrangements were made to establish a colony in that pail of Ohio knounasthe Western Reserve. A surveying part) was sent out. which, coast iny a Ion LI' t lie shores of Lake Krie. landed on the 1th of .In!) at 1 he nioiit li of a little stream called < 'oimeaut . Here the) celebrated their landing da) and the anni\ ersir\ of the birth-day of the republic at the same lime. This company consisted of lifty-two persons, onh two of \\hom \\erc females. Mix. Stile-, and Mr->. (iiiuii. There \\as one child. The next morning !he\ commenced the building of a lar.Li'e blockhouse, which was to be Iheir il\\i Iliun' place and -lore IHMIM' at the same lime, and called it "Stow ( asl le. This lit t |e co|i in) -^u Ib-red \ ei \ 111 1 lc 1 1 from exposure, wa lit of food.

western territory. Forty miles abo\e Chillicothe there \\eiv three or four cabins near the riii'hl bank of t lie Scioto. at Franklinton. now incorporated \\itliin the city ol' Coliiiiilnis. A few vagabond whites, who had -riven up CJN ili/.al ion for barbarism, were scattered amongst tin- Indians, and as the .sett leiuents of tin- pioneers were extended alonur the trails of the Indians, the savages, both white and red. retreated furtlier into the interior. New rounties bewail to lie or^aiii/.ed in proportion as ne\v settlements sprang up in e\ ery direct ion.

For eiirht years Cincinnati had lieen the centre of military preparations. and the sounds of the hii.u'le. the life and druni re\ erberated through her strcet> and alonu' the hills that fringed the beautiful stream.

No\\ all uas peace and order, and the hum of busy life took the place of \\ar and preparations for u ai . Cincinnati started on her ureat mission of commercial greatness.

The strongest tide of emigration Mowed into the valley of the Scioto. so famous for it-, fert ility. its level plains and rich bottom lands. The ( to\ ernor oi'^ani/cd a new count y . called Koss. of which Chillicothe was the seat of justice. Then- \\ ere t hen luit three cabins between this town and the I lock - hockiim ri\er. The counti'v about Lancaster belonged to the \\"yandots. \\ In i c ihe\ had a loun of bai'k huts, emit a in in.^ a po)i illation of about li\ e hundred. \\ lio u'raduallv \\ ithdre\\ to their brethren at I'pper Sandusky.

This \ear 17. is . as >!IONN n b\ the census taken at thi-~ time, the population of the lerritot'N amounted to UN c thousand free \\hite males. The people \N en- therefore ent it led. b\ the ordinance of ITsT. to NN hat NN as called a second Li'rade of territorial ;jo\ eminent . ( ION . St. Clair accord inyly issued a jiroelamat i« -)! oi'deriim" an election to lie held in the several counties on the third MoiidaN of December, following, to elect twenlN representat i\ es to ser\ e a> a LONN er I IOIIM- o|' l he Territorial I,e^i>lat lire.

The men elected N\ e re i^en t leineii of the lii'st order of intelligence and pal rioi i-^m. and NNere unsurpas>ed li\ aiiN legislative bod\ that has met in

< >hio al aiiN iime hitherto. The) met at Cincinnati on the tirst Monday in |-'ebruar> . ITM'.i. l-jl NN ard Tit! in was one of them. lie NNas after Nvards elected

< .o\ ernor. as we sliall presently see. This Territorial I.e^islat lire nominated t'-n men to the President of the 1'nited States to ser\e as a Legislative

The lirst regular session of the Legislature was to he held at Cincinnati nil the ]r,tli. but did no! or^rani/.e until the jotli of September, and continued for nearly three months. It is said that the address of the (icivernor \vas remarkable for its polished diction. ('apt. William II. Harrison, subsequently President of the I nited States, was elected lirst delegate to < 'on stress.

Congress, in order to pre\ent lar.Lfe bodies of land from fallinir into the hand-- of ^peculators N\ho uoiild check emigration by ^really advaiieinii Ihe price. deN is'-d a mode of survey and sale, by which the public lands .-1 Id be laid off into snudl I racis and held open for sale to any indi\ idiial.

'The cniist itut ion created three departments of LTO\ eminent e\eciiti\e. let,ri>lat i\ e and judicial. The le^islatin'e was composed of a senate and house of representatives. The jndiciar> department was \ested in the supreme court . circuit courts, and justices of the peace. The judges \\ ere elected li\ Joint 1. allot nf both houses of the legislature, for a period of se\en \ear>. The justices of the peace \\ere Heeled b\ the people nf each lo\\n>hip I'nr three \ears.as nn\\. St. ( 'lair, as a candidate for (io\ernor. received but feu voles. |-'.d \\ard Titlinuas almost the unanimous choice. The boundaries nf the Mate \\ere lived as the\ nn\\ are.

for t he use of schools. The salt springs \\ ere reser\ ed to the state, and three per cent, of the prnceeds of the sale of the public lands \\as to be Used fill'

The lifst legislature nr^aili/ed seven lie\\ enmities. There \\ere linvv lifteen. The whnle imrt h \\ es| crii part. beinur more than one-half of the state. \\as in the possession of Indians.

The I'u st emir! in ( - reene count > \\ as held in a IOLT cabin. (Jen. i >en jam in \Vliitluan \\ as the presidi i iir j in I ire. 1 1 e had a friend b\ t he name ot I >,t\ is \\ ho had a mill near \<\ . While the court \\ as in session . 1 >a\ is and aimt hPr man. \\ Imm I >a\ is had accused nf stealing his hn^ had a liuht . and 1 >a\ is uhipped him. \\ ith his hair and clothes badlv disheveled and bruises on his face, he came into court, and approaching the table where the iud:,re sat. addressed his neighbor t Inis : -- |',eii.. I ha\ e whipped that cussed hov; t hief. \\'hat's the damage y What's to pav '.' 'I'here's m\ purse. Take u hat's riirht ." He put down his purse and shaking his clenched I'M at the judu'e. con I in ned : "Den., if v on'd steal mv lm^ I'll be handed if I v\ mi Id n't whip von ton." l-;i^ht dollars paid line and costs.

Jiid^'e 'i'a}>i>aii uas mi the bench in some county in the Miami valley. The ronrt was lield in a lo»- rahin and a stable close by \vas used as a jail. A trial had just been closed and the jnd^e was char^in^ the jury. The defendant in the case was a man who had an enemy in the crowd. This man spoke out occasional!) and approvingly o!' what the jud^e said, lie was an old -friend of Judsje Tappan and felt perfectly at liberty in speaking to the jud^e at any time, as he pleased. -Indue Tappan was near-sighted, and when this man in the crowd would repeat his interruptions by saying. "That's ri.^ht ! Ljive it to him jud.ye." "(iive it to him old gimlet eye." etc.. the jud^e stopped ill his charge to the jury, and asked : "Who is that man making this disturbance?" The man spoke up and said: "It's this old horse, jnd^e!" Jud^e Tappan then spoke up (jiiickly and saidr --SherilT ! take thai old horse to the stable and feed him on bread and water twenty-four hours!" The order was promptly executed and the court proceeded.

There was neither a pleasure carriage nor a bridge in the state at this time. Men wore homespun and buckskin clothes. Women wore linsey woolsey; and Max. hemp and wool were all the materials from which clothing was constructed for Sunday wear, spun by the family and woven by the family oral the loom of some neighbor. Settlers were compelled to keep doLjs for the protection of their calves, sheep, ho.t^s and poultry.

The first le^islat lire met at Chillicothe on the lirst day of March. IM).1;. The territorial laws were, so far as was thought practicable, embraced in the new state laws. .Indies were elected, courts or^ani/ed. the practice rcLTiilaleil and provisions made for the election of justices of the peace. A secretary, an auditor and a treasurer of state were appointed and their duties prescribed. Law- were passed for leasing school lands and salt reservations. Senators were elected to Congress and laws passed for the election of members to ihe House of Representatives.

The second* icnera I Assembly met in Chillicothe in December. I so;:. At this session l;iw> were passed enabling aliens to hold title to lands: to make appropriations of the three per cent, fund for roads, to improve the revenue system, to regulate the duties of justices and constables, to regulate the common law and chancery practice of tlir state. In |so;i-pi the laws were re\ised. (ten. Lew is Cass was the iirsl person admitted to practice law in

Aboul this lime ihe Indians, who had beha\ed well from the time of the treaty of dreenxille. beuan to resist the tide of emigration setting in westward. The celebrated Tecuniseh. aided and encouraged by llritish inlluence and supported by his brut her. "The Piophet ." soon made it e\ ident thai the we>t was a^ain about to experience a repetition of savage warfare. In Isll i, en. Harrison, dovernor of the Indian Territory, residing at Vincennes. marcheil against the town of "The Prophet." upon the Wabash.

ami arrived at Tippecatioe on the >'-tli of No\eml>ei . This was their principal town. Il» re In- w as an I l.\ Indian messenger- with whom an agreement was niailt- tliat hostilities should not take place lie fore tin- m-M iimrniii'_' ami that then an .iinicaMe conference -hould In- ht-lil. .In-l heloie da\-hieak. how e\ IT. the sa\ aur'-v in \ iolat i"ii of theii eii-_ML,rement . made a sudden and fnrioiis attack n|nin the troop- in their encampment. Nothing hut the precaution of sleeping in order of battle, on their arin>. sa\ed the troop-,

The Indian name of Teciim.-eh means "( 'nuiehin^ 1'anther." The name of "The I'ropliet " wa> --( Mliuachica." The\ were twin l>rotheix of the Siiawnee> tiilie. "The 1'iopliet" wa> an orator of urreal I'eiiow n and a reliuioii-- teacher. Teeiim-i h. from his al>ilitie> as a warrioi' and >tate>man. would ha\e attained t mint lice in an> nation <>\ the urlol.e. The\ were l.orn near ( 'hillici >t he/ summoned Hull 1" surrender. This hein.u1 refused, they commenced to lioinliiinl and stnnu the fort. The Mritisli force consisted of seven hundred regulars and six hundred savau'es.

The Americans, except their commander, \\ere anxious and ready for battle. Their numbers exceeded that of the enem\ b\ two to one. When e\ er\ soldier in the foil was waiting f»>r the order to lire. they were ordered to la\ down their arms, which they reluctanth obeyed and a white llaj; was raised on the fort .

"\Vitlioiit shedding a drop of blood." says At water, without tiring a single LTUII. the fort witli all its cannons, taken with M unjoin at Saratoga from tlie Mrilish. with a vast amount of powder, lead, cannon balls and all munitions of war. all. all were unconditionally surrendered to the enemy. Let us see: J.">(Ki men with all their arms; il."> pieces of iron cannon, and s brass ones; 4(1 barrels of powder all were surrendered to about 1, (MM) militia and a few Indians, ('ass and McArthur were amongst the prisoners.

Two years thereafter (Jen. Hull was tried before a court martial and sentenced to be shot for cowardice, but President .Madison remitted the sentence.

After the disaster of (Jen. Winchester. ( Jen. Harrison withdrew his forces I rom the Maumee to the Sandusky. Farly in February lie returned to the Maumee. however, and established his extreme advance post at the left bank and built Fort Mei^s.

I Ie had a force of I'.IKHI men. In early spring I'roctor moved upon this fort with .'i.joii men. 1. son of whom were Indians under Tecnmseh. I'roctor was certain of success and promised Tecumseh to deliver (Jen. Harrison over to him as a captive. After four days' tiring from his batteries. I'roctor demanded the surrender of the fort. This was refused. Harrison having anticipated the attack had -cut messengers to the (Jovernors of Ohio and Kentucky for aid. The call was promptly responded to. and troops were sent forward immediately. M\ this time the Indians had completely invested the fort. Twelve hundred Kentiickians were nou Hearing the fort and received orders from (Jen. Harrison to land on the opposite side of the river, and spike the uiins of the Mritisli battery. (Jen. Clay landed his Kent uckians as ordered. Col. Diidlex led the attack on the batteries and drove the Mritisli from the'u'iins and spiked them. Hail den. Harrison's orders been prompt 1) obe\ed and had the KentllckiailS returned to the fort as the\ were ordered, all would ha\e been \\ell; but the troops were so determined to finish the \\ork. that instead of returninjj. tlie\ disobeyed and followed a band of lndian> who led them into an ambush. (Jen. Harrison and his ollicers shouted to them from the fort, to return, but they persisted in their piisii it when, on a sudden, twice t heir number of I ndians rose up and cut off their retreat. The\ opened a severe lire upon the troops and those I ha! were not slaughtered were taken capt i ves. and made to run the trail nt let . As soon as Tecumseh heard of this butcher), he ran up and slopped the carnage.

In the niurht following, the savages were cooking their meal in a larire kettle over the lire, close b\ their camp. The\ had strings tied to each ration. ( )n >ome of t hcse st I'inys \\ as the ilesli of A me ri cans 1 he\ had slain.

"SiR I have just received yours of yesterday. 10 o'clock p. in., ordering me to destroy this place and make good my retreat. It came too late to he carried into execution. \Ve have determined to maintain this place, and. by Heavens, we can!"

Cien. Harrison immediately sent Colonels \Vells and Hall, supported by a corps of dragoons, with a very severe reprimand to Major ( 'roghan. and relieving him ot duty, putting Col. \Yells in command. Major Croghan returned to Fort Seneca with the dragoons as a prisoner.

den. Harrison was fully satisfied with the major's explanation and immediately restored him to his command, with instructions. Soon the scouts reported the advance of the Hritish. while the Indians began to show themselves on the opposite side of the river. The Hritish gunboats came in sight and landed troops one mile below the fort. The Indians, four thousand strong, displayed themselves in all direction-. The Hritish placed in position a live and a halt inch howit/er to open fire upon the fort. (ien. Proctor sent Major Chambers with a (lag to summon a surrender. Major Croghan dispatched ensign Shipp out of the gates to meet him. After the usual ceremonies. Major Chambers said :

To this, ensign Shipp replied that the commander would defend the fort to the last extremity, etc.. and that if the fort should be taken there would be none left to massacre.

The eneim then opened lire with their six-pounders from the boat-, and the howit/er on shore, which was continued through the night with very little effect. Maj. ('roghan reserved his fire. He. however. orrasionallv tired his gun from different points to make it appear a- it he hail several pieces at his command.

The tort was surrounded b\ a dry ditch, nine feet wide and six feet deep. < )u the middle of the north line of the fort there was a bloi k hou-e from which this ditch could be raked in either direction, bv artillerv. Here the piece was placed, loaded with slugs and _;rape shot. Now. the artillery of the Hritish was placed on the shore about two hundred and fittv vards from the fort.

^ignal. When the Indian arrived near the tort, and to make himself agreeable to the British and tlie Indians, lie cursed the Americans in the most approved style.

\\'hen he saw that the coas' was clear and that he was himself unobserved, he approached the tort, peeped through the pickets, wrapped the paper, with his handkerchief, into a ball and threw it over the pickets into the yard. Lounging around under the bushes a little while, he observed his handkerchief, in the same form, ily over the pickets again, tailing outside. It contained an answer from Major Croghan to (ieii. Harrison. \\'ith this Wipingstick made his \va\ through the forest to Fort Seneca, and reported to (leu. Harrison tinsame niulit. This was the evening before the battle, which was fought on the jd day of August. iSi^.

Wipingstick was a Seneca chief, then about thirty years old. and h.ul a wife and one child. lie was a man possessed of main noble traits i >\ character, truthnil. hospitable, triendly and honorable. lie was live feet tour inches high, scpiarelv and compactly built, very muscular and active. He had a pleasant, open face, pleasing voice and was very l.dkative. At the war-dances he was the leader, and carried a war-club about eighteen inches long, with a ball at the end of the handle and a swell at the other end. This club was cut full of hieroglyphics and was painted red. He danced with the club in his hands. swinging it. selling and whooping, which he kept up for a long time, and until tin sweat would drop trom his tace.

He attended Mr. Montgomery's funeral, and seemed very much affected by the loss of his old friend. The families of Montgomery and \Vipingstick were very intimate.

< >n the next day. alter the battle of l-'ort Stevenson, (icii. Harrison came down, but the Indians had lied across the > ouiitry in the direction of I-'ort Mei^'s. and the Mritish down the river.

\<>w both parties made vigorous preparations for a naval battle, to dei :de as to who should be master of the lake and its shore-. hetroit was still in the hands of the British. In a few month- the government hail nine vessels readv tor service. carrxiiiL: tiltv lour guns, and manin-d i>\ abou! -i\ hundrei! sailors and marines. The licet anchored iu-t off the mouth of Sanduskv ba\'. and s.-i iled fr< un I In -re lo

Commodore Barclay, who had lost an arm at Trafalgar, now lost the other also, and received a severe wound in the hip beside. The loss on the American ships in all, killed and wounded, was one hundred and twenty-tour. The loss of the British was over two hundred, killed and wi.unded. and six hundred were taken prisoners. I-'. very British vessel was taken. Commodore Perry sent word to (leu, Harrison, at Fort Meigs. saying: "We have met the enemy and they are ours.1' The next day the funeral obsequies of the fallen officers, on both sides, took place near the margin of the bay, in an appropriate manner. The rrews from both fleets united in the ceremony. What a lesson! Ye>- terday both parties were engaged in deadly strife: to-day they join their sympathies, associate as brothers to pay the last tribute of respect to their fallen companions.

On the j<)th of September den. Harrison took possession of Detroit, there being no force there to resist him. and again the whole peninsula was thus restored to the I'nited Suites.

(len. Proctor, with his army and disheartened Indians, was on a rapid retreat into the heart of Canada. The river Thames, which empties into lake St. ('lair, then ran through a wild, unbroken forest. Proctor was pressing his retreat along its valley.

(len. Harrison left Detroit on the 2d day of October, to pursue the toe. with a force of over 3.000 men. The mounted intantr\ were com manded bv Col. Johnson, of Kentucky. Proctor was overtaken on the sth. at a point where the Thames protected one flank of his army, and a great marsh the other. The Indians were stationed in the tores' bevond the swamp. This spot was about eighty miles northeast of the mouth of the river. Prortor had under his command one thousand British regulars and eighteen hundred Indians, under the command ot Tecumseh.

Tlie British were routed and ran away. Ceil. Harrison then turned upon the Indians, routing and killing them. Proctor's loss was sixty nine, killed and wounded, and six hundred prisoners. The Indianleft one hundred and fifty dead upon the battle-field. Tecumseh amongst them.

This Col. lohiison here mentioned was Col. Richard M. Johnson, ot Kentucky, who afterwards, in i.S^6. was elected Vice- President of the Cnited States. The reader, who remembers the wonderful presidential campaign of iX.jo. will also remember how hard the Democrats tried to pro\c that ('oh lohiison himself killed Te< Mmse-li. and how equaiU hard ill'- Whi-s tried to prove that it was not true. The question is still .n1 Miscttled one. Mr. Abbott, in his histor\ of < )hio. proves the

Chafer 11

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION ON PUT-IN-BAY ORGANIZATION OF A MONUMENTAL ASSOCIATION - CELEBRATION OF PERRY'S VICTORY LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE SPEECH OF ELUTHERUS COOK SPEECH OF DR. PARSONS AND THE OTHER THREE SURVIVORS OF PERRY S FLEET.

RKCl RRI.M. again to tin- incidents of the battle of lake F.rie. the author hopes that a description ot subsequent events, inaugurated to erect a suitable monument to the memory ot Commodore 1'erry and his braves, on I'ut-in-Hav. may not be considered out of place here. Fearing that the occurrences I am about to describe may become lost to history, and conscious ot the tact that the reader will find, in the addresses ot" the Hon. Klutherus Cook and Dr. Parsons, the best description of that eventful scene. I have no apology tor giving them a place in these' pages, and especially because certain citi/ens from Seneca county took a very active part in the movement.

An effort was put on foot amongst very many distinguished and patriotic men. in a number of counties bordering on lake Krie, to erect a monument on (iibraltar rock, I'ut in Hay. to the memory ot Commo dore 1'crry.

* apt. M<Mcen-> was chosen commander tor the occasion. The ightful. The green and rock\ fringe around the ba\ : lake: the pr< -.cm e ot a ho-,t ot' happx men. women g martial appearance and stric \ di->< ipime ot passing in irranii re\ ieu be I ore (ieii, Kaa< \

Some ot Perry's old veterans were there, old men who had heard the firing during the battle, statesmen, soldiers, women, children --all animated and inspired with the soul-stirring scene.

To -imthe the "mad -pint" uf Kin- to r,--t. And h-nd their M" in lit form- to the rau'e ot the ->-,i To -heller the -torm-to--ed ill -Meet iii n '_r lee ; ( )l. like -elitiliel-. -eeln to he pointing the w;i\ To t he liarliorimj; arm- of liold " 1 'nt - i n- Ha\ ."

(io\ernor ( ha^e. the chairman, opened the meeting with a lew brief remarks ot welcome. Thereupon. Mr. \\ . S. Pierson. chairman of the committee, reported the loilo\\in^ HM ot permanent officer* of the association, \ i/ :

\'i( e - President* - - I Ion. l>aac Toucc\ . of ( 'onneclicul : l>r. Ishcr ParMin~.. of Rhode Island;- Sidney l!ro<>k*. of Rhode Island: Thoma* Urownell. I . S. N.: (iov. Lli-dia Dyer. Rhode Uland; \\in. Wetmore. LM|.. Rhode Island: lion. Kdward Lscrett. Massachu-.elt>: lion. \\ . II. Seuard. New \ ork : August llelmont, Ks<|., New York; Hon. Millard Killmore. New \'ork: ('apt. Stephen ('hamplin. New York; (io\. \V. ]-'. Packer. Pennsylvania: \\ m. (i. Moorehead. K-MJ.. Pennsylvania: (lo\. S. P. Chase. ( >hio; S. Starkweather. Cleveland. ( )hio; Kluthcnis Cook. Sandn-skv. < )hio; 1.. Collin-,. Toledo. Ohio: R-.-,, \\ilkins. Detroit. Michigan: |ohn Owen. Detroit, Michigan: Col. Todd. Kentucky: Col. John o'I;allon. St. I..oni*. Mo.: |. \'. Scammer. l^i].. ('hica^o. Illinoi>: lion. John \\entworth. ('hica^'o. Illinois; ('apt. ]. P. McKinstry. I . S. N.. Commodore |o^. l.anman. I . S. N.: I ,ient.-( ien. \\inlield Scott, I . S. A.

I)KAI; Sn;: Voiir in\ itati<m to me. to form out- of tin- iinmrrons asscmhl;!'j,T which \\ ill inert at Pnt-in-P»ay on the loth inst.. has just been received, an I. \\hilf I thank \oii for reiuemberiii;^ me in connection with that in! -resting occasion. I regret that it will he out of m\ power to avail m\self <it' voiir kimliu'ss. us I shall he necessarily detained here I >y my public duties. lint though absent . I shall not the le>s part iei pate in the feelings of u'l'at it inle an 1 exultation \\hicli the e\ent.\oii propose to commemorate, is so well calculated to Inspire in even American breast. '1'he vietoi-\ of Perrs IIJIOM Lake Krie. not far from the place of \oiir con\ ocat ion. on tbc Hull o|' > -pteiuber. 1^1:1. \\a> one nf the mo>t glorious, as \\ell as one of the most important achie\ ements I'econlcd in our militarx annals.

M v I >KA i; Si i:: In answer to your favor of the L'lst nil., on the subject of the erection of a monument on the little Island of ( iibraltar. I have to say : That if said monument be to the memory of < '01 in nod ore Perry .as I suppose it is. I will he too happy to contribute to it. not only by the free jrit't of the land requisite, but by procuring subscriptions in New York and one or two other places, which I think I can do. I accordingly hereby confer upon you and my friend. Simon Fox. power to jjraiit a sntlicienl part of said Island of (iihraltar. in perpetuity, for the erection of said monument, with such reservation as you may deem necessary to present any sort of injury to my property in the .u'roiip of islands. It would please me if I and my successors after me uere appointed keepers of the ground ceiled, and of the monument.

I rise as the origan of the executive committee to bid you \\ eleome to these classic shores, immortali/ed by American valor and rich in the associations of a nation's ulory . Mut how can I lind lanirua.ue suitably to express my conuTat ulat ions of the assembled thousands \vlio surround me. and whose presence this day n'ivesthe lie to the reproach that "Republics knou not how to be Liratefnly" If I could hope to lie heard by an audience so immense. I would t hank y on in the name of our common country for ha\ hi". come up in such \ast numbers from the beautiful cities of the lake and the interior, to thi- patriotic consecration. Mm \\ith a \oice impaired by the wasting power of many years. I hope to say but little else than to offer up my fervent thank-L:iv im: to Almighty (iod foi- those e\ idences of enthusiastic u'rati tude and patriotic devotion uhich the occasion has inspired, and which your presence this day proclaim-.

We ha\c met to commemorate one of tho-e rare and signal events, which, considering the va-i intere-t it in\ol\ed. the u'lory it achieved and 1 he benefits conferred, has feu parallel- in hi-torv . \\"e shall lind it ditlicult. however, justly lo appreciate the importance of Perry s victory, \\~itliont calliiiLr t" mind, for a moment, the peculiar condition o| oui' country which preceded and foPoued it- achievement-. A -aiiLHiiiiary war had for more than a yea)1 be. MI '-airing bet ween ( i real Mrilain and the I'liited Slates. llo\\ it was sii-tained on the land and on the ocean, history has recorded. I: must be admitted. ho\\ ever, that its commencement on the Niagara am! in the norlh-ue-Ni \\ a- cliaractei'i/ed by defeat, disaster and disgrace. Whetheithe iiiLiloi'ioi;- -nrrender of the fortress of Detroit and the coiise(|ur-nt uncontrolled |«o-->es^ion of the \a-l norlh-u estern lei-riloi-\ by the enemy, were chai'LTeable to treachery ori-owardice. it i- not mm nece--arv to ini|iiire.

un the other hand. ttiat of Hit- British was fully armed - furnished with men who had encountered many conflicts on the ocean, and commanded by the experienced and veteran Commander l>arcla\ . who had won rich laurels under Nelson, at the immortal battle of Trafalgar.

Such was the tremendous contrast between the opposing forces. Shut now the volume that records the event, and tell me. thoii man of naval and militan science, upon what principle of human probability can the triumph of our arms, in a conllicl so unequal, be predicted?

The contrast was urrcat. hut to the dauntless I'erry b\ no means appalling. After the line of battle had been set and all was made ready, an hour a silent hour was occupied in advancing to the conllict; an hour in which the lives of the M|iiadron. the fate of the north-west and the honor of the nation were suspended upon the talents ami collected valor of one man. How appalling the responsibility! II<>\\ terrible the probation! llou vast the interest involved! How intense the u'.i/e of millions upon the issue! At such a moment, men of the present generation, picture to yourselves the solemn spectacle, the sublime pageantry of two hostile armies \\atchin.u the movements from the opposite shores of the lake: of defenceless thousands throughout the unprotected region of the north-west, whose lives and homes were at stake: yea. of millions of two threat nations, whose tinal triumph hung upon the issue all. all awaiting with breathless anxiety, the result of the conllict. and tell me if it was not an hour in which the stoutest heart of the hero, charged with such a battle, miifht have justly trembled. Yet the heroic Perr\ remained unayitated. unshaken and invincible. He had no fear but for the safely and honor of his countn : no ambition but to conquer or die in her defence.

A quarter before 1-! o'clock the solemn suspense was broken and the conllicl beiran. At '-> o'clock the battle ended. Its thunders were hushed. Their echoes had died away upon the distant shore of the lake, and the deep --silence of nature" succeeded, broken only by the cries of the wounded and the dyimj;. AS the smoke of battle rolled awa\ . it revealed a victory, which shed undying glon upon the Republic, and ijave immortal renown to the victors: a victors which wiped from our escutcheon the disgrace of Hull's surrender, avenged the insulted honor of our lla^r. and dissolved forever tinspell of boasted Piritish maratine invincibility. Tin-: rrrn. <>K \KIXIN had struck to the youthful Pem.and the countrs rany with acclamations

In est imalimj; the immediate and momentous results of this victory, it si HI u Id not lie forgot lei i I hat it at once opened a pathwas for ( Jen. Harrison. In the siibjunat ion of Maiden, to the re-coin pies; uf 1 >et mit . to the restoration of peace and safet\ of otir whole extended fj'ont ier. and to the crowning ^-lor\ of his campaign. l>\ the ea]itiire of the entire Ilritish arms. at the Thame->. It chanu'ed at once the entire tin at re of the war in and transferred it. \\itli all iN dread pageant r\ of deal li and from our u\\n soil to that of the bewildered, astonished and the ricli rc\v;inl of their labor ami perils, in the affections and benedictions i>t their countr) men: and four of these have kindl) yielded to the earnest jii\ itation of the committee, and are now present, to receive an expression

Fortunate should we esteem ourselves that we have been permitted to behold this spectacle; a spectacle, the like of which in thrilling interest and imposing .grandeur, was never before vouchsafed to the present generation. Happy indeed that (iod has granted us the sight of these veteran survivor* under circumstances so no\ el and affecting. Soon. alas, too soon, shall we M-ek in vain for one survivor, and the last of the heroic hand will be seen - >n earth no more forever. Let us then briny; fresh honors, this da\ Jto those \\lio still remain to link the living with the dead, 'ere the grave shall have closed upon them forever.

( iallant an 1 \ "en -rable nr-ii! with gral"ful hearts we bid you welcom -. thrice welcome to these island shores, and to these bright scenes of your earl) glorv. \\'e thank tlie(iodof mercy for having prolonged your lives that we might thus greet vou. and that you might behold this deeply earne*t deinon*tration of vour grateful countr) men.

( )n revisiting tin- memorable spot where von linked forever vour own fame \\ith the glorv of vour country, after the absence of nearl) half a centurv. it is not strange that the stirring incidents of the victor) in which v on so honorahl) shared, should come down upon your memory like an avalanche from the past, and agitate you with conflicting emotions.

How changed the scene since last \oiir eves beheld these lovely shores ! True, the same lake which \ou then sa\\ wreathed in smoke of battle and cue rim soi icd \vit h t he blood of your companions, still cont in ues its ceaseless funeral \\ail over the slumbers of the buried brave, or chants its loud anthems to the prai*e of vour gallant deeds. The same sun. v\ Inch then looked do v\ n from it* mid-da) t hrone and tired \ our young hearts to deeds of glorious daring. *t ill smile* upon v our return to this reno\\ ned i heater of \oiir youthful courage and patrioti*m. Hut in other respects ho\s ureatthc channel Tin- hau^lit) foe i* u'one the din of \\ar is hushed, and instead of the thunder* of hostile cannon, and the shrieks of your dyiim' comrades. Mm have heard lo-dav the shouts of a new generation, uho have come out from all the boriler* of the lovelv land vou defended, to n'reet \on with the loud acclaim of an overflowing and universal ural it ude.

Forever, hereafter. I'M'' loth of September. 1*1:'.. shall be sacred to our hearts, as it ha^ lon.u' been glorious to our count r\ . 1 1 \\ a* \ our good fort line, most hoiiorabl) . to par! ici pate in t he danger* of t hat <\;\\ . I mini lie nt \\ ere the perih \ou encountered: u'loi'ioii* the deed* vou performed, and great ihe ^acriticu* v on made for v our coiinl r\ . I u ill not attempt t heir eu log) . The) have alreadv toimd their place with tho^e of voiir dejiarled compatriot*. amoiiLT the *o]emn archives of t)iir country, where the) can nev er die; and thehi>tor) which record* them is but an imperi*hable t i-an*cri|>( of \oiir i-laim^ upon our grat it ude.

patriotism and bravery at the battle ot lake Krie. The old hero was :oo much affected to say one word, but amidst a storm of applause acknowledged the kindness slumn him b\ a modest bow and a tlow ot '.ears.

Thomas Hrownell. of Newport. K. I., was then next introduced. He i ommanded the schooner Ariel in the battle. He was greeted with rousing cheers, and responded by thanking the crowd tor the Mattering and cordial expression of teeling. and assured them that it was all gratefully appreciated by him.

l)r. I'sher 1'arsons. ot Providence. 1\. I., the surgeon ot thetlag-ship Lawrence at the time of the battle, was then introduced, and gave, a detailed and thrilling account of the engagement. His address walistened to with the most intense interest, and was frequently interrupted with cheers that made the welkin ring. I >r. Parsons said:

The survivors dt' the battle of Lake Krie here present have listened with intense interest to the eloquent address just delivered, and thank you most -ineerely for the cordial reception you have given to its friendh and complimentary allusion to our services on the da\ we are now assembled to commemorate.

Fort\ -five years ago we were here as spectators and participants in the battle, and now. in advanced years, are invited to join a vast number ot patriotic cit i/ens. gathered from the beautiful and lion rish ing cities bordering this lake, to eel el irate the \ idory then gained by our squadron.

We have come hither. m\ friends, to honor the memor\ of those who t'ell in that glorious conllict. and are sleeping under fche soil near where we arc no\\ gathered. We ha\e come. also, to pay a grateful tribute of respect t<> 1 In memory of < 'oiiiniodore Perr\ . and his associates in the battle, who ha\ <- since passed aw a\ in the ordinary course of human life. And \ou. cit i/ens of the lake sh'iiv. have sought out and invited here a little remnant u| siir\ i\ors to bless <>;ir e\es with evidences of \oiir prosjieritx and !iap|iines~,. and to \\ai'in our hearts witli tokens of assurance that our toil and peril oi life on that eventful da\ are not forgotten. Would to (Jod that more had lieen spared to participate with us in these L^'IHTOUS demonstrations ot gratitude ami respect. lint the\ have passed awa>. and in a ver\ liriet pei'iod n| 1 ime no spectator will lie left to tell t he stor\ i if -- Perry's Vie ton ."