OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 590 Today's Topics: #1 VAN WERT COUNTY HISTORY #1 ["Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <000701bedf6a$307a4740$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: VAN WERT COUNTY HISTORY #1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> from History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens Edited and compiled by Thaddeus S. Gilliland Van Wert, Ohio Chapter 1 - Indian Wars in Northwestern Ohio During 1762 a treaty of peace between France and England was signed by which France recognized England's right to what is now included in Northwestern Ohio. As early as 1763 England saw the importance of keeping control of the Maumee and its tributaries, the Auglaize, the St. Mary's and the St. Joseph: and forts were erected at the mouth of the Maumee and also at the head waters at the junction of the St. Mary's and the St. Joseph. The latter was known as Fort Miami and was destined to be the scene of sanguinary strife and bloodshed. These and other forts along the shore of Lake Erie were expected to keep the Indians in check as well as to administer the internal affairs of the country, which were largely placed in the hands of army officers. PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY But about this time a great chief by the name of Pontiac appeared, claiming that he was commissioned by the Great Spirit to gather together all the Indians and drive the British from the country. The French had used all their influence to instill into the minds of the Indians their hatred of the British and told them that, now that the French were compelled to withdraw, the British would oppress them still more. When Pontiac with his great eloquence called upon them to rise in their might and drive the invaders from the land, he told them the Great Spirit said: " Why do you suffer these dogs in red clothing to enter your country and take the lands I have given you? Drive them from it. Drive them. And when you are in distress I will help you." The Mingoes, Shawnees, Delawares, Miamis, Chippewas, Wyandots and Ottawas were carried away by his eloquence and believed that it was a message direct from the Great Spirit with both a command and a promise that was all powerful . And for a time the tribes laid aside their past differences and raised a large army ready for was and anxious to avenge their wrongs, real or fancied, and urged on by the promise of scalps and of plunder. Some Frenchman had sent them a letter, purporting to be from the King of France, promising that if they would drive out the British he would not allow anyone else to come in and molest them. With their enthusiasm aroused, a large army was raised that was irresistible. The Indians gathered in the vicinity of the different posts, Detroit, Maumee, Presque Isle, Niagara, Pittsburg and Ligonier were surrounded by Indians apparently friendly, who were waiting for the signal from their leader to attack. The Indians thus appeared at Fort Miami which they took by strategy. They first lured the commander out of the post and killed him. Then they called upon the post to surrender on their promise that the prisoners would be protected. Following the fall of Fort Miami, nine English posts surrendered only to be massacred. Then followed in rapid succession one of the bloodiest scenes in the annals of the Indian warfare. Age or sex was no protection from the desire for bloodshed and slaughter, which was only stayed when there was none to kill. Detroit was only saved by the timely information given by an Indian woman who was friendly to the commandant of the post. She gave the plans of the Indians, the manner of the signal for the slaughter to commence, so that it was easy to counteract their treacherous plans at the critical moment. The commandant called a council of the head officers, laid the information before them and was advised to pay no attentions to it as it was only the imaginings of an old woman, but he took counsel of caution and laid his plans accordingly.. He had the guards strengthened and the troops called out for drill in front of his quarters when the chiefs called to show their respects to the commandant. He also notified the traders to have arms ready to repel any attempt at plundering. The chiefs came to the conference , and found the whole garrison was under arms. Pontiac asked how it came that the men were armed, and was told that it was their regular drill. The chiefs with Pontiac at their head were conducted to headquarters and proceeded to declare their great friendship for the whites and the commandant in particular, and their desire to live in peace and to trade with his people. But when he came to deliver the belt of wampum, that was to be the signal of slaughter, had noticed that the English officers grasped the hilts of their swords and drew them half from the scabbards, and a company of soldiers halted in front of the door which was left open. Pontiac hesitated , turned pale and finally delivered the belt in the usual manner: his chiefs looked at him in surprise but Pontiac knew that his plot had been discovered. The commandant in his speech charged Pontiac with being a traitor and as proof that he knew their treachery he drew back the blanket of one of the chiefs and disclosed his shortened gun hidden beneath. This convinced the Indians that their plans had failed. The commandant then told Pontiac that as he had given his word that they would not be harmed he would still adhere to his promise and they would be allowed to leave the fort unharmed, but it would be well for them to leave hastily lest some of his men might hear of their treachery and kill them It seems that the proof of their treachery should have been sufficient to absolve the commandant from his promise. Pontiac and his warriors the next day lay siege to the fort and it was kept up from May,1763 until March,1764. During the siege a sailing vessel with provisions and ammunition for the fort was becalmed in the Detroit River along the flats between Detroit and Wyandotte. It was surrounded by a large number of canoes and the Indians clambered up the side of the vessel but the captain was prepared for them. He had had several kegs of powder opened and stood with a lighted torch and told them that the first thing they touched he would blow every one of them to the happy hunting grounds. They scrambled down the side of the vessel as fast as they had come up. Shortly afterward a breeze sprang up and the vessel reached the fort with the much- needed provisions and powder. I am indebted to Col. T. S. Sprague, of Detroit, for much of this information. This ended a time the bloodshed in Northwestern Ohio. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 14:09:23 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <000d01bedf6d$a681b420$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: HISTORY OF VAN WERT #2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> MASSACRE OF THE MORAVIANS About this date or perhaps a little earlier, some Moravian missionaries established missions among the Indians along the Muskingum River and later others joined in the good work and were successful in converting many of the indians and withdrawing them from the more warlike tribes. To these were added Christian Indians from Pennsylvania. But as times became more strained between the whites and the Indians, the Christian Indians became objects of suspicion to both sides. This culminated in their being forcibly removed to Upper Sundusky as prisoners by the Wyandots in September,1781. Their cattle were driven along but were held as trophies of war by the Indians. After suffering for want of food and clothing during the winter, as nearly everything had been stolen by the Indians, in March, 1782, a part of the Moravians were permitted to return to their former homes to gather their corn which had been left in the fields. But about this time an attack had been made on some of the border white settlers. A company of white men under the command of Captain Williamson started out to retaliate and wreaked their vengeance on this innocent Christian Indians and not one was allowed to escape. After they had bound their captives Williamson, their commander, asked if the men, women and children should be taken to Pittsburg or be killed: less than 20 voted to take them to Pittsburg, the rest voting to kill. Forty men , 20 women and 24 children, --defenseless, innocent, fellow Christians ----were murdered in cold blood by 80 or 90 Americans, who were too cowardly to follow up and punish the guilty parties. Another expedition was immediately formed to annihilate the Delawares and Wyandots, no Indian to be spared, friend or foe. The expedition consisted of about 500 or 600 men under the command of Col. William Crawford. They marched to Upper Sandusky carrying a black flag; no quarters were to be given to man, woman, or child. On reaching Upper Sandusky they found the Indians waiting for them nearby. In the battle that followed the whites were defeated with great slaughter and among the prisoners was Colonel Crawford, on whom the Indians wreaked their vengeance by burning him at the stake. At this late day we can have some charity for the untutored savage when the whites were scarcely less barbarous. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 14:10:26 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001301bedf6d$cb348a40$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: HISTORY OF VAN WERT #3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> FIRST LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS ON THE INDIAN QUESTION, The close of the War of the Revolution in 1783 brought the question of dealing with the Indians in Ohio before the thoughtful. It was fraught with great difficulties. Washington urged Congress to pass stringent laws against settling upon or surveying west of a line extending from the mouth of the Great Miami to the Mad River, from there to Fort Miami on the Maumee, and thence north to include Detroit. He pointed out the propriety of excluding Indian agents from all share in the trade with the Indians and of prohibiting all purchasing of land from the Indians except by Congress or the State. On the 22nd day of September, Congress in pursuance of the President's recommendation forbade all purchase of or all settlement on Indian lands and commissioners were instructed to require the delivery of all prisoners; to inform the Indians of the boundaries between the British possessions and the United States; to dwell upon the fact that the Indians had not been faithful to their agreements; to negotiate all lands east of the line proposed by Washington; to learn all they could about the French at Kaskaskia; to hold one convention with all the tribes; to confirm no grants made by Indians to individuals; to look after American stragglers beyond the Ohio; to signify the displeasure of Congress at the invasion of the Indians' lands; and to prevent further intrusion. The following year the boundary line was made to run due north from the lowest point of the falls of the Ohio to the northern limit of the United States. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 14:12:38 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001901bedf6e$19c6ad00$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY #4 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> HARMAR'S EXPEDITION Commissioners were sent out and treaties were made with the Indians, only to be broken. At last the government determined to send an expedition to the Maumee Valley to punish the Indians. A force of about 1,500 regulars and militia were placed under the command of Gen. Josiah Harmar with instructions to chastise the Indians of the Maumee and of Lake Erie. On the 20th of September they set out on the march, passing where Xenia now stands. On the 13th of October, they crossed the head waters of the Auglaize. Here they were joined with reinforcements from Cincinnati with ammunition. On the night of the 17th of October, the Indians succeeded in stealing and driving through the lines from 50 to 100 horses. They had now reached the junction of the St. Mary's and St . Joseph rivers, where they found a number of villages of Maumees, Shawnees and Delawares. They spent the day in searching in the hazel brush for treasure. A large amount of corn was found buried in the earth. They destroyed about 20,000 bushels of corn and burned all the villages that had been abandoned by the Indians. During the night Captains McClure and McClary took a horse some distance down the river and hobbled him; after unloosing the clapper of a bell they had fastened to the animal as a decoy, they secreted themselves near-by with their rifles. An Indian came cautiously up and was untying the hobble when McClure shot him. He proved to be Captain Punk, a noted Delaware chief. His head was cut off and brought into camp Here General Harmar detach 180 militia men and 30 regulars and sent them in pursuit of the Indians that had gone west from their camping ground. When about 12 miles west of Fort Wayne, they discovered a camp; as they had to cross a swamp , they were thrown into some disorder and before they could reform they were fired upon by the Indians from an ambush. The militia broke and fled and could not be rallied, 50 of them being killed in a few moments. The regulars in attempting to check the Indians had one sergeant and 21 privates killed on the battle-field. The militia were reported to have flung away their arms without firing a shot. General Harmar then concluded to return to Cincinnati. On the 21st the army started on the return and marched eight miles. That evening the scouts reported that the Indians had returned to their burnt homes at the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph. General Harmar, being anxious to efface the stigma resting upon his troops in the affair of the 19th , sent Colonel Hardin with orders to surprise the Indians and bring on an engagement, the force assigned to this work consisting of 300 militia, and 60 regulars under command of Colonel Wyllys. Colonel Hardin arrived at the Miami town early on the he morning of the 22nd. His force was divided into two parties. The left division was to have marched down the St. Mary''s and across the St. Joseph and commence the attack on the Indians in front, who were encamped out near the ruins of their village. The right, under Hardin and Wyllys was to proceed to Harmar's ford on the Maumee, where the detachment was to remain until McMillan's party had reached the river and commenced the attack, which was to be the signal for Hardin to cross the Maumee and attack the Indians in the rear. Owing to the treachery or ignorance of the guides, McMillian's force lost its way in the thickets, through which they had to pass and although traveling all night did not reach the ford until daylight.. As soon as the Indians, who had been encamped about the ruins of their homes, discovered Hardin's men, they began to rally for the fight., the alarm spreading and the Indians rushing in. Colonel Hardin, discovering that unless he crossed immediately he would be compelled to do it in the face of superior numbers, and expecting every moment to hear the report of MCMillian's men in the enemy's rear, gave order to cross. ctnd. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 14:17:05 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001f01bedf6e$b9673d20$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: VAN WERT COUNTY HISTORY #5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> ctnd.. Bu the time two-thirds of his force had passed over, the battle began. The Indians wee desperate, and their bravery surpassed anything before known in Indian warfare. A great portion of them throwing down their guns rushed on the bayonets of the soldiers, tomahawks in hand, thus rendering everything useless but the rifles of the militia, and carrying rapid destruction everywhere in their advance. While this desperate charge was being made, the remaining Indians were picking off the officers with their rifles. Majors Fountain and Wyllys, both valuable officers, fell directly after the battle began, the former pierced with 18 bullets. Fifty-one of Wylly's regulars shared his fate and the other divisions suffered severely in both killed and wounded. Major McMillan came up with his force while the battle was raging, but was not able to do more than enable Hardin's troops to retire in good order. The militia behaved well in this fight, and received the thanks of General Harmar. The loss in this battle was 180 killed and wounded , fully one half of those engaged. General Harmar issued the following order on the 22nd of October, the day of the second battle: "Camp eight miles from the ruins of the Maumee towns,1790. "The General is exceedingly pleased with the behavior of the militia in the action of this morning. They have laid very any of the enemy dead on the spot. Although our loss is great, still it is inconsiderable in comparison to the slaughter among the savages. Every account agrees that upward of one hundred warriors fell in the battle. It is not more than man for man, and we can afford them two for one. The resolution and firm, determined conduct of the militia this morning has effectually retrieved their character, in the opinion of the General. He knows they can and will fight." It was well that he returned to Fort Washington. He had shown his entire incompetence, if not cowardice. He had sent out a small force to be slaughtered while he remained with the army in camp, within eight miles, and had not even the humanity to go back and bury his dead. Or was this cowardice" This ended this disastrous campaign. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #6 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 14:18:29 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <002701bedf6e$eaf0d180$cd4f5f18@columbus.rr.com> Subject: VAN WERT COUNTY HISTORY #6 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Lily" <1whitedove@home.com> ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT In 1791 Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed major general and placed in chief command of the frontier forces, after many delays, on the 17th of September with an army of 2,300men. On the 12th of October he established a fort six miles south of Greenville. From there he marched through the wilderness, harassed by sickness, short rations and desertions, until November 3rd. when he reached a branch of the Wabash, where he remained until the 4th , when he was attacked by the Indians. The militia were encamped a quarter of a mile in advance of the rest of the command. At about half an hour before sunrise, just as the men were dismissed from parade the Indians made an attack and the militia soon gave way, rushing into camp and through Major Butler's battalion and part of Clark's , which they threw into disorder, which those officers were not able to remedy. the Indians wee checked by the heavy firing of the first line. But a heavy attack was commenced all along the line, the heaviest part of it being directed on the center, where the artillery was placed. The men were driven from their pieces frequently with great slaughter. A bayonet charge was ordered. The Indians immediately gave way, but attacked in another quarter. Charge after charge was made,but in every one of them many men were lost. Major Butler was dangerously wounded and every officer in the second regiment fell, except three. The artillery was silenced and all the officers killed, except Captain Ford, who was badly wounded. More than half the army had fallen . A retreat was ordered which was a disgraceful one, the men throwing away their guns, even after the Indians had ceased to pursue, and the rout continued to Fort Jefferson, 29 miles , which was reached a little after sunset. The march was again resumed at 10 o'clock and continued all night. So ended another disastrous campaign. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #590 *******************************************