OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: The War of 1812 in Ohio [8] 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
September 04, 1999
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Historical Collections of Ohio
The Kelley Family Collections
Newspaper article, Plains Dealer
compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925
And Then They Went West
by Darlene E. Kelley  1998
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Ohio in War of 1812--Part 8

The Fort Dearborn Massacre--
Letter from Capt Heald to the Sec of War  William Eustis, Esqr.

On the 9th of August last, I received orders from Gen Hull to evacuate
the post and proceed with my command to Detroit by land, leaving it to
my discretion to dispose of the public property as I thought proper. The
neighboring Indians got the information as early as I did, and came in
from all quarters in order to receive the goods in the factory store,
which they understood were to be given them.  On the 13th, Capt Wells,
of Ft Wayne, arrived with about 30 Miamies, for the purpose of escorting
us in, by the request of Gen Hull. On the 14th, I delivered all the
goods in the factory store, and a considerable quantity of provisions
which we could not take away with us. The surplus arms and ammunition, I
thought proper to destroy, fearing they would make bad use it if put
into their possession. I also destroyed all the liquor on hand soon as
they began to collect. The collection was unusally large for that place,
but they conducted themselves with the strictest propriety till after I
left the fort. On the 15th, at nine in the morning we commenced our
march; part of the Miamies were detached in front, and the remainder in
our rear, as guards, under the direction of Capt Wells. The situation of
the country rendered it necessary for us to take the beach, with the
lake on or left, and a high sand bank on our right, at about 100 yards
distance. We had proceeded about a mile and a half, when I discovered
the Indians were prepared to attack us from behind the bank. I
immediately marched up with the company to the top of the bank, when the
action commenced. After firing one round, we charged and the Indians
gave way in front and joined those on our flanks. In about 15 minutes,
they got possession of all our horses, provisions, and baggage of every
description, and finding the Miamies did not assist us, I drew off the
few men I had left, and took possession of a small elevation in the open
prairies, out of shot of the bank or any other cover. The Indians did
not follow me, but assembled in a body on te top of the bank, and, after
some consultation among themselves, made signs for me to approach them.
i advanced towards them alone, and was met by one of the Potawatamie
chiefs, called the Black Bird, with an interpreter. Afer shaking hands,
he requested me to surrender, promising to spare the lives of all the
prisoners, althougth I did not put entire confidence in his promise.
After delivering up our arms, we were taken back to their encampment
near the fort, and distributed among the different tribes. The next
morning they set fire to the fort and left the place, taking the
prisoners with them. Their number of warriors was between four and five
hundred, mostly of the Potawatamie nation, and their loss, from the best
information I could get was, about 15. Our strength was 54 regulars and
12 militia, out of which 26 regulars and all the militia were killed in
the action, with two women and 12 children. Ensign George Romen and Dr.
Isaac D. Van Voorhis of my company, with Capt Wells, of Fort Wayne, are
to my sorrow, numbered among the dead. Lt Lina D.T.Helm, with 25
non-commisioned officers and privates, and 11 women and children, were
prisoners when we separated. Mrs.Heald and myself were taken to the
mouth of the river St Joseph, and both being badly wounded, were
permitted to reside with Mr. Burnett, an Indian trader. In a few days
after our arrival there, the Indians all went off o take Ft Wayne, and
in their absence I engaged a Frenchman to take us to Michillimacinac by
water, when I gave myself up as a prisoner of war, with one of my
Seargents. The commanding officer, Capt Roberts, offered me every
assistance in his power to render our situation comfortable while we
remained there, and to enable us to proceed on our journey. To him I
gave my parole of honour, and came on to Detroit, and reported myself to
Col Procter, who gave us passage to Buffaloe; from that place by way of
Presque Isle and arrived here yesterday.--- Your Humble Servent,  Capt.
Heald Pittsburg, 23 October, 1812

Letter from William Henry Harrison to Sec of War Willim Eustis, Esqr.

Cincinnati, 28th August, 1812

IMPORTANT

Sir,
Before this reaches you a dispatch from the Gov of Kentucky to yourself
and another from the Hon Mr. Clay to the Sec of State will have arrived
at Washington communicating the circumstance which occasions my having
the Honor to write you from this place. Being at Frankfort on the 24th
Inst. making arrangemets for the eventful march of the residue of the
Kentucky Quota for the Indians and Michigan Territories, an express
arrived at that place with dispatches for Gov Scott containing
information of Gov Hulls being shut up in Detroit and the probability of
his being obliged to surrender unless immediately relieved. Upon a
consultation with Gov Scott it was thought advisable as he was the next
day to go out of office, to wait the arrival of his successor, Col
Shelby, and to request the advice and assistance of all the public
characters in the State within reach and expresse were sent to solicit
their attendance on the next day. The meeting accordingly took place,
consisting of Gov Shelby, the former Gov Greenup, the speaker of the
House of Representatives of the United States, and several other Members
of Congress, the Judges of the United States and of the Supreme Court of
the State, Gen Hopkins, the Major Gen of the Kenucky Quota and it was
unanimously recommended by Gov Scott to order another detachment of the
State Quota to follow the one marched under Gen [ illeg] to request me
to take the command of the whole and for the purpose of removing all
differences, to give me the Commission of Maj Gen, by Brevet of the
Kentucky Militia. I could not permit myself to hesitate, when urged by
an authority so highly respectable, especially when assured by the large
Concourse of the Citizens from all parts of the State, which had
collected on the account of the inauguration of the new Governor, that
it was the unanimous wish of the people of Kentucky, that I should do
so.  Before I left Frankfort, Gov Shelby urged the propriety of sending
one regiment more to New Port than was first intended, and hearing of
the fall of Detroit, a few miles from that place I sent back and
recommended still another. My Command then consists of three regiments
of Kentucky troops, Col Wells's Detachment and a troop of twelve months
volunteers, making an aggregate of about 2100 at this place, and three
regiments of Infantry, five troops of Dragoons and 500 Mounted Volunteer
riflemen, on ther way to join me. Those that first arrive will not,
however, be here before the 30th Inst. and will be impossible to get
them from here for some days after.

Until this day, I had some hope, that the fall of Detroit was not true,
but a letter that was received a few hours ago, from Messrs Worthington
and Meiggs to Col Wells leaves no longer room for doubt. Three persons
of the Quarter Master Dept have returned to Piqua, who were in Detroit,
when it was surrenderd.  The object of the letter from Messrs Worthinton
and Meiggs was  to request Col Wells to hasten his march and to take the
route to Dayton and Piqua rather than the direct one to Urbana for the
purpose of relieving Fort Wayne which was said to be in danger of
immediate attack. By a Gentleman who has this momment arrived from
Piqua, the taking of Chicago and the massacre of the garrison is also
put beyond doubt. Poor Wells has also perished in edeavouring to save
Capt Heald with his company.
I shall march tomorrow morning with the troops that I have here taking
the route  to Dayton and Piqua. The relief of Fort Wayne will be my
first objective and my operations will be governed by cicumstance, until
I receive your directions.
Considering my command as merely provisional, I shall cheerfully conform
to any other arrangement which the Government may think proper to make.
The troops which I have with me and those which are coming on from
Kentucky are perhaps the best materials for froming an army that the
world has produced. But no equal number of men were ever collected who
knew so little of Military discipline, nor have I any assistance that
can give me the least aid if ever there were a time for it, but Capt
[illeg] of the 4th regiment, who was left here sick and whom I have
appointed Deputy Adj General until the pleasure of the President can be
known. He is well qualified and I hope the appointment will be
confirmed. You may rely upon my utmost exertions, but the confusion
which exists in every department connected with the army is such as can
only be expected from men who are perfectly new to the business they are
engaged in.No arms for Calvery have arrived at New Port and I shall be
forced to put muskets in the hands of all the Dragoons. I have written
to the Quarter Master at Pittsburgh to request him to forward all the
supplies of arms equipment and quarter master stores as soon as
possible. I have also requested him to send down a few pieces of
Artillery without waiting your order and wait your instructions as to
further numbers. There is but one piece of Artillery, an iron four
pounder, any where that I can hear of in this country. If it is intended
to retake the posts we have lost and reduce Malden this season, the
artillery must be sent on as soon as possible. There is no longer a
possiblity of getting money for drafts in this country as the Pay Master
Gen [Taylors Deputy] still continues to act.. and I have been obliged to
agree with the bank here called the Miami Exporting Company the the
United States shall be at the expense and risk of sending on the specie
for the drafts that are now given for the pay of the troops that are due
by the Quarter Masters Department. I think it proper however, to state
that until very lately Gen Taylor has made the bank pay a premium of one
and one half percent on all his bills. I will obtain a particular
statement from the bank in order that he maybe charged with it. Permit
me to recommend that the monies received here by the receiver of the
land office be deposited in the bank of the Miami Exporting Company. It
is now sent to Lexington and the bank here is quite as safe as tha of
Lexington. I herewith enclose a receipt of the Surgeon and another of
the quatermaster of the regiment which is gone to Vincennes for supplies
furnished them. The bonds given by the paymaster and quartermaster were
found after they came into my possession, not to have been witnessed.
They were sent on to Vincennes to have the mistake rectified ad will be
forwarded to the War Office. I wrote this sir, under the inconvenience
of considerable interruption, when I advanced a few days, I will do
myself the honor to communicate all the information which I receive. My
opinion of the State of affairs and submit the result of my reflections
as to the course to be pursued.
I have the Honor to be;

William Henry Harrison
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To be continued in part 9.