MIAMI COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY [Part 5] (published 1880) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by LeaAnn Rich leaann1@bellsouth.net April 6, 1999 *************************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL. D. "The word Piqua is the name of one of the Shawanese tribes, and signifies, 'a man formed out of the ashes.' The tradition is, that the whole Shawanese tribe, a long time ago, were assembled at their annual feast and thanksgiving. They were all seated around a large fire, which having burned down, a great puffing was observed in the ashes, when behold! a full formed man came up out of the coals and ashes; and this was the first man of the Piqua tribe. After the peace of 1763, the Miami's having removed from the Big Miami river, a body of Shawanese established themselves at Lower and Upper Piqua, which became their great headquarters in Ohio. Here they remained until driven off by the Kentuckians, when they crossed over to St. Mary's and to Wapaghkonetta. The Upper Piqua is said to have contained, at one period, near 4,000 Shawanese. The Shawanese were formerly a numerous people, and very warlike. We can trace their history to the time of their residence on the tide-waters of Florida, and as well as the Delawares, they aver that they originally came from west of the Mississippi. Black Hoof, who died at Wapaghkonetta, at the advanced age of 105 yrs, told me (Col. John Johnston) that he remembered when a boy, bathing in the salt waters of Florida; that his people firmly believed white or civilized people had been in the country before them, having found, in many instances, the marks of iron tools, axes, upon trees and stumps over which the sand had blown. Shawanese means 'the south' or 'people from the south.' Upper Piqua, three miles north of Piqua, on the canal and Miami river, is a locality of much historical interest. It is at present (1846) the residence of Col. John Johnston, shown in the view, and was once a favorite dwelling place of the Piqua tribe of the Shawanese. Col. Johnston, now at an advanced age, has for the greater part of his life resided at the West as an agent of the United States Government over the Indians. His mild and parental care of their interests gave him great influence over them, winning their strongest affections and causing them to regard him in the light of a father. To him we are indebted for many valuable facts scattered through this volume, as well as those which follow respecting this place. Battle at Piqua-- In the French war, which ended with the peace of 1763, a bloody battle was fought on the farm of Col. Johnston at Upper Piqua. At that time the Miami's had their towns here, which are marked on ancient maps, "Tewightewee towns." The Miamis, Wyandots, Ottawas, and other northern tribes adhered to the French, made a stand here and fortified, the Canadian traders and French assisting. The Delawares, Shawanese, Munseys, part of the Senecas residing in Pennsylvania, Cherokees, Catawbas, etc., adhering to the English interest with the English traders, attacked the French and Indians. The siege continued for more than a week; the fort stood out and could not be taken. Many were slain, the assailants suffering most severely. The besieged lost a number, and all their exposed property was burnt and destroyed. The Shawanese chief, Blackhoof, one of the besiegers, informed Col. Johnston that the ground around was strewn with bullets, so that basketfulls could have been gathered. Soon after this contest the Miamis and their allies left this part of the country and retired to the Miami of the Lake, at and near Fort Wayne, and never returned. The Shawanese took their place and gave names to towns in this vicinity. Col. Johnston's place "and the now large and flourishing town of Piqua was called Chillicothe, after the tribe of that name; the site of his farm after the Piqua tribe." Fort Piqua, erected prior to the settlement of the country, stood at Upper Piqua on the west bank of the river, near where the figure is seen in the distance on the right of the engraving. It was designed as a place of deposit for stores for the army of Wayne. The portage from here to Fort Loramie, fourteen miles, thence to St. Mary's, twelve miles, was all the land carriage from the Ohio to Lake Erie. Loaded boats frequently ascended to Fort Loramie, the loading taken out and hauled to St. Mary's, the boats also moved across on wheels, again loaded and launched for Fort Wayne, Defiance and the lake. Sometimes, in very high water, boats from the Ohio approached within six miles of St. Mary's. Before the settlement of the country a large proportion of the army supplies were conveyed up this river. When mill dams were erected the navigation was destroyed and boating ceased. A Massacre-- In 1794 Capt. J.N. Vischer, the last commandment of Fort Piqua, was stationed here. During that year two freighted boats guarded by an officer and twenty three men were attacked by the Indians near the Fort and the men all massacred. Capt. Vischer heard the firing, but from the weakness of his command could render no assistance. The plan of the Indians doubtless was to make the attack in hearing of the fort and thereby induce them to sally out in aid of their countrymen, defeat all and take the fort. The commander was a discreet officer , and aware of the subtleness of the enemy, had the firmness to save the fort. The family of Col. Johnston settled at Upper Piqua in 1811, the previous eleven years having been spent at Fort Wayne. Years after the destruction of the boats and party on the river, fragments of muskets, bayonets and other remains of that disaster were found at low water imbedded in the sand. The track of the pickets, the form of the river bastion, the foundation of chimneys in the block houses still mark the site of Fort Piqua. The plow has leveled the graves of the brave men, for many sleep here, who fell in the service. At his place, Fort Loramie, St. Mary's and Fort Wayne, large numbers of the regulars and militia volunteers were buried in the wars of Wayne, as well as in the last war. Friendly Indians-- In the late war the far greater number of Indians who remained friendly and claimed and received protection from the United States were placed under the care of Col. Johnston at Piqua. These were the Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandots in part, Ottawas in part, part of the Senecas, all the Munseys and Mohicans; a small number remained at Zanesfield, and some at Upper Sandusky, under Maj. B.F. Stickney, now (1846) of Toledo. The number here amounted at one period, to six thousand, and were doubtless the best protection to the frontier. With a view of detaching the Indians here from American interest and taking them off to the enemy, and knowing that so long as Col. Johnston lived this could not be accomplished, several plots were contrived to assassinate him. His life was in the utmost danger. He arose many mornings with but little hope of living until night, and the friendly chiefs often warned him of his danger, but he was planted at the post; duty, honor and the safety of the frontier forbade his abandoning it. His faithful wife stayed by him; the rest of his family, papers and valuable effects were removed to a place of greater security. Escape from Assassins-- On one occasion his escape seemed miraculous. Near the house, at the road side, by which he daily several times passed in visiting the Indian camp was a cluster of wild plum bushes. No one would have suspected hostile Indians to secrete themselves there; yet, there the intended assassins waited to murder him, which they must have soon accomplished had they not been discovered by some Delaware women, who gave the alarm. The Indians, three in number, fled; a party pursued, but lost the trail. It afterwards appeared that they went up the river some distance, crossed to the east side, and passing down nearly opposite his residence, determined in being foiled of their chief prize not to return empty handed. They killed Mr. Dilbone and his wife, who were in a field pulling flax; their children, who were with them, escaped by secreting themselves in the weeds. From thence, the Indians went lower down, three miles, to Loss Creek, where they killed David Garrard, who was at work a short distance from his house. The leader of the party, Pash-e-towa, was noted for his cold blooded cruelty, and a short time previous was the chief actor in destroying upwards of twenty persons, mostly women and children, at a place called Pigeon Roost, Indiana. He was killed after the war by one of his own people, in satisfaction for the numerous cruelties he had committed on unoffending persons. Management of Indians-- In the war of 1812 nothing was more embarrassing to the public agents than the management of the Indians on the frontier. President Madison, from a noble principle, which does his memory high honor, positively refused to employ them in the war, and this was a cause of all the losses in the country adjacent to the upper lakes. Having their families in possession, the agents could have placed implicit confidence in the fidelity of the warriors. As it was, they had to manage them as they best could. Col. Johnston frequently furnished them with white flags with suitable mottoes, to enable them to pass out posts and scouts in safety. On one occasion the militia basely fired on one of these parties bearing a flag hoisted in full view. They killed tow Indians, wounded a third, took the survivors prisoners, and after robbing them of all they possessed conveyed them to the garrison at Greenville, to which post the party belonged. On reflection, they were convinced they had committed an unjustifiable act and became alarmed for the consequences. They brought the prisoners to Upper Piqua and delivered them to Col. Johnston. He took them, wishing to do the best in his power for the Indians, and on deliberation decided to conduct them back to Greenville and restore them, with their property, to their people. Hazardous Errand-- Application was made by Col. Johnston to the officer commanding at Piqua, for a guard on the journey. These were Ohio militia, of whom not a man or officer dared to go. He then told the commander if he would accompany him he would go at all hazards, the distance being twenty five miles, the road entirely uninhabited and known to be infested with Indians, who had recently killed two girls near Greenville. But he alike refused. All his appeals to the pride and patriotism of officers and men proving unavailing he decided to go alone, it being a case that required the promptest action to prevent evil impressions spreading among the Indians. He got his horse ready, bade farewell to his wife, scarcely ever expecting to see her again, and reached Greenville in safety; procured nearly all the items taken from the Indians and delivered them back, made them a speech, dismissed them, and then springing on his horse started back alone, and reached his home in safety, to the surprise of all, particularly the militia, who, dastardly fellows, scarce expected to see him alive, and made many apologies for their cowardice. Indian Faithfulness-- During the war Col. Johnston had many proofs of the fidelity of some of the friendly Indians. After the surrender of Detroit the frontier of Ohio was thrown into the greatest terror and confusion. A large body of Indians still resided within its limits accessible to the British. In the garrison of Fort Wayne, which was threatened, were many women and children, who, in case of attack, would have been detrimental to its defense, and it therefore became necessary to have them speedily removed. Col. Johnston assembled the Shawanese chiefs, and stating the case requested volunteers to bring the women and children at Fort Wayne to Piqua. Logan (see pge 352) immediately rose and offered his services and soon started with a party of mounted Indians, all volunteers. They reached the post, received their interesting and helpless charge and safely brought them to the settlements; through a country infested with marauding bands of hostile savages. The women spoke in the highest terms of the vigilance, care and delicacy of their faithful conductors. ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====