VAN WERT COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: County history, Chapter 1 - HARMAR'S EXPEDITION (part 4 & 5) *********************************************************************** 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitted by: Email: 1whitedove@home.com Date: August 5, 1999 *********************************************************************** from History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens Edited and compiled by Thaddeus S. Gilliland Van Wert, Ohio 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. 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. *************OH-FOOTSEPS Mailing List***************************