Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

for the towns of hostile Indians on the Miami of the Lake; at the time now reviewed.

In February, a rumour became general, that the Indians were for peace; and it was probable, there would be no campaign the ensuing summer. Much as the war had been exclaimed against, and cruel as it seemed, this news was by no means received in Kentucky with universal satisfaction. Some felt a strong passion for revenge ungratified; some thought the war made money plenty; and as to the loss of a few lives, either in the field or on the frontiers, it was no more than what the country, no longer in danger of being conquered, was used to, and could bear. There were others, both of the old and of the new faction, to whom General Wayne was particularly obnoxious at the head of the army, and would be still more so in the event of peace with the Indians. Besides, it was hoped that the war would embarrass the general government, and even produce hostilities with Great Britain. There was another event thought by the same men, under the influence of their sinister designs, highly probable, and which they contemplated with no painful anticipation; that was, the defeat of the army, in case it met the enemy. The consequence would, in their estimation, be, to put regular troops out of use; a thing they had been aiming to effect, with much assiduity, and equal solicitude, for several years, in order that the war should be devolved on mounted volunteer militia, of course, to be drawn from Kentucky, and placed under the control of the leaders of the very faction here, which at the time endangered the peace, if not the independence, of the country.

In the mean time, the public prints teemed with inflammatory publications, specimens of which have been exhibited, on the subject of the navigation of the Mississippi; glancing occasionally at the Indian war, the excise, the hostility of Britain, the friendship of France, the mission of Mr. Jay, and whatever else could be tortured into a censure of the executive of the United States. As to the governor of Kentucky, he was suf ficiently compromitted, in all his federal duties, to have the entire approbation of this intriguing faction.

Early in the year, the scouting parties of Indians renewed their incursions, which co-operated with other internal means to inflame, or to sour, the temper of the people.

An adventure of some singularity, occurring in February, will be next in order, and shall have its place.

A man in the Green River settlements, by the name of Jo seph Logsdon, travelling on horseback, was fired on by two Indians, and both himself and horse wounded--the assailants at a small distance, moved rapidly towards him, while he to escape them dismounted on the opposite side of his horse, not able to carry him out of danger, while he, not much injured, attempted to get off by running. But the Indians, whose guns were now empty, set them down, and pursued him, with knives and tomahawks. One of them, being swifter on foot than the other, was all but ready to lay hands on him, when Logsdon turning on him, shot him in the abdomen. This stopped himbut by this time, the other came at him-Logsdon then clubbed his empty gun, and gave the Indian a blow, which occasioned him to retreat-who in his turn was pursued. In running through the brush and weeds, the Indian stumbled, and fell, dropping his tomahawk; which, before he could recover it, Logsdon seized, and with a blow despatched the owner. After this, Logsdon deliberately charged his rifle, and went in search of the wounded Indian; who, in the interim, had recovered his gun, and was setting with it rested on a log which nearly concealed his body. When Logsdon discovered him at a distance looking as if determined on battle, and feeling himself much fatigued, without knowing the condition of the Indian, he prudently declined the combat: when he knew, that by going a few miles, to a settlement, he could get assistance. This he did. On his return with a party, to his great surprise he found the Indian dead of recent wounds he had inflicted on himself. Some knowledge of the Indian character, induced a conjecture, that this man, considering his wound incurable, had despatched himself, to avoid a painful and languishing existence or else, finding himself incapable of moving out of the way of the white men, who he apprehended would find, and of course kill him, he preferred dying by his own hands,

Such has often been the result of the reflections of brave men, reduced to similar situations by the occurrences of war: a conduct highly reprehensible, because it is the duty of all men to cherish life while it lasts; and because, the incidents common to men, often bring to the relief of the unfortunate, Assistance totally unexpected.

In March, the Indians stole horses in Hardin county; and Captain William Hardin, in pursuit of them, was wounded-but the horses were recovered. A company going through the wilderness, was defeated by Indians on Richland creek, four of the white men killed, and two others wounded, without any loss to the enemy. Four persons were killed, and a family broken up, on the Rolling fork of Salt river. In the neighbourhood of Georgetown, about the same time, a number of horses were stolen, part on Lecompt's run, the rest further on the road towards Cincinnati. In Shelby county, shortly after, two boys were killed; and horses stolen on Brashear's creek. These occurrences began to be considered more of individual, than of state concern; or else, every thing relative to the war was so completely referred to the government of the United States, that it seemed as if what General Wayne could not protect, was left without protection; for certainly, Indian depredation did not excite that sympathy of feeling, or vigilance of repulsion and pursuit, once so remarkable in the country. Had the political state of society, or the intrigue which had already tainted the governor, also extended to, and spread, as a leprosy, among the people?-Or were those feelings, always affected by scenes of savage cruelty, and the apprehension of common danger, left to fret and chafe themselves against the general government, for not furnishing a guard to every fireside? The state authority did little or nothing, for some time--parties were not pursued with former activity. Much speculation was indulged, as to the next campaign and its results. The governor was at length roused, and ordered

out some scouts.

General Wayne had in the progress of the winter, by detachment, reoccupied the ground lost by General St. Clair, and there built fort Recovery; on a stream of the Wabash.

[ocr errors]

Intelligence was brought to him in May, that a party of British and Indians, were posted on the Miami, near the vil lages at the rapids; and then building a fort of considerable dimensions.

The general, determining to open the campaign as early as practicable, again called on Kentucky for aid, in virtue of the president's authority. The call was duly attended to by the governor, whose feelings had been restored to a tolerably correct tone, by the recent depredations in Kentucky; and by the subsiding of the fascination, which had been thrown over him, by the French intrigue, in consequence of its abortion, soon after he had so shamefully committed himself. For Governor Shelby, though a weak man, was never in his own mind, an enemy to his country. He had, previous to the call from General Wayne, put some militia detachments in motion, for internal security, as already mentioned; and to prompt their zeal, had given assurance of pay on the part of the state, should not the United States pay them, for their services: this had a good effect.

In June, fort Recovery was invested by a strong party of Indians, who after a violent assault with small arms, kept up the fire for about twenty-four hours; but sustaining some loss, they withdrew, and abandoned the enterprise.

About the middle of July, General Scott, who commandedthe Kentucky militia, had assembled sixteen hundred volunteers, being the full number called for, or more. It is believed that those Kentuckians who had seen General Wayne's army the year before, gave a very different description of it, from that which had been given of the army of General St. Clair; which had removed much of the reluctance felt the preceding year, to serve or fight, with regulars.

From Georgetown, the general rendezvous, the troops marched for head quarters. On the 26th of the month, the general, with the first division, joined the regular army, at that time consisting of sixteen hundred effectives, well appointed, trained, and disciplined, to the entire satisfaction of their cont mander.

On the 28th, General Wayne put the united forces in motion for fort Recovery, and thence to St. Mary's, by an obscure route, with the view of surprising the Indians; but arriving the 9th of August, he found only deserted villages. The more effectually to ensure the success of his projected coup de main on this place, he had caused two roads to be cleared out from Greenville, in that direction, in order to attract and divide the attention of the enemy, while he marched by neither. All this generalship was, however, rendered of no avail, by Newman, a Kentucky volunteer, who deserted on the march, and conveyed intelligence to the Indians, that the army was approaching; in time for them to evacuate the towns. At this place a fort was built, and named St. Mary's probably; which occupied some days-in the mean time the residue of the Kentucky troops came up. On the 12th of August, several prisoners were brought to the general in chief; from these he learned, that the Indian forces occupied a camp near the British garrison, at the rapids of the Miami. And having in his camp, a man by the name of Miller, who had been long a prisoner with the Indians of those regions, and who very well understanding their languages and customs, General Wayne determined to send to them with a flag, and once more to.. offer them peace, with the friendship and protection of the United States, if they would be at peace; if not, war, and destruction, for which they might prepare themselves.

Miller did not like the mission. It was his opinion, from what he had observed, that the Indians were unalterably determined on war; that they would not respect a flag, but, probably, kill him: in short, he declined being the ambassador. General Wayne however, could think of no other as well qualified; and being anxious to make the experiment, he assured Miller that he would hold the eight prisoners then in his custody, as pledges for his safety, and that he might take with him whoever he desired. Thus encouraged, Miller consented to go, and deliver the message. To attend him, he selected from the prisoners, one of the men, and a squaw. With these

[merged small][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »