EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN OHIO.

285

nearly at the same time, and built some cabins along the bank of the river near it. And during the following winter lots were laid off and built upon, and the village called Losantville. Immediately afterwards General St. Clair being appointed Governor of the North Western Territory, arrived and changed the name to Cin

cinnati.

In 1790 settlements were commenced on the waters of the Muskingum, at some distance from the mouth.

These are among the earliest settlements made in Ohio. What a change has been wrought in that beautiful section of country since. There is perhaps no portion of the west that has kept pace with it in the march of improvement. Its settlement being commenced at a period which was soon followed by a remission of Indian hostilities; but few impediments were presented to its progress, while the great fertility of its soil, and healthfulness of climate, secured for it at once an unpar alleled emigration, and its forests by magic, as it were, disappeared.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Settlements of Ohio-Harmar's campaign-His defeat and return—St. Clair's expedition-His defeat-Settlements on the Allegheny-Brodhead and Brady-Forts erected on the Allegheny-Massy HarbisonSettlements north-west of the Allegheny-Freeport laid off.

The rapid approach of the settlements into Ohio was again the signal for a resolute attack upon the whites. Many of the most daring and determined assaults made by the savages we find to have been on account of the encroachments of the frontiers; and when viewed in this light, as enkindled by their patriotism, they fought bravely for the soil which they but too justly claimed, we are apt involuntarily to sympathise with them, and for a time justify their efforts to defend their rights and independence as a people. Yet, a doomed race, their history has ever been a series, finally, of defeats, and a further retirement into the forests, while the increasing wave of white population rolled fast in the wake.

Depredations now on the frontiers became common; and as but little could be done to arrest them without marching at once into the heart of the Indian settlements, this was early determined upon.

66 Accordingly, in the autumn of 1790, General Harmer was detached at the head of three hundred regular troops, and more than one thousand militia, with orders. to march upon their towns bordering upon the lakes, and inflict upon them such signal chastisement as should deter them from future depredations. On the 20th of

HARMAR'S CAMPAIGN.

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September, the various troops designed for the expedition rendezvoused at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, and on the following day commenced their march to the Miami villages. The country was rough, swampy, and in many places almost impassable, so that seventeen days were consumed before the main body could come within striking distance of the enemy. In the mean time the great scarcity of provisions rendered it necessary for the General to sweep the forest with numerous small detachments, and as the woods swarmed with roving bands of Indians, most of these parties were cut off.

"At length the main body, considerably reduced by this petty warfare, came within a few miles of their towns. Here the General ordered Captain Armstrong, at the head of thirty regulars, and Colonel Hardin of Kentucky, with one hundred and fifty militia, to advance and reconnoiter. In the execution of this order they suddenly found themselves in the presence of a superior number of Indians, who suddenly arose from the bushes and opened a heavy fire upon them. The militia instantly gave way, while the regulars, accustomed to more orderly movements, attempted a regular retreat. The enemy rushed upon them tomahawk in hand, and completely surrounded them. The regulars attempted to open a passage with the bayonet, but in vain. They were all destroyed with the exception of their captain and one lieutenant.

"Captain Armstrong was remarkably stout and active, and succeeded in breaking through the enemy's line, although not without receiving several severe wounds. Finding himself hard pressed, he plunged into a deep and miry swamp, where he lay concealed during the whole night within two hundred yards of the Indian

camp, and witnessed the dances and joyous festivity with which they celebrated their victory. The lieutenant (Haitshorn) escaped by accidently stumbling over a log and falling into a pit, where he lay concealed by the rank grass which grew around him. The loss of the militia was very trifling. Notwithstanding this severe check, Harmer advanced with the main body upon their villages, which he found deserted and in flames, the Indians having fired them with their own hands. Here he found several hundred acres of corn, which was completely destroyed. He then advanced upon the adjoining villages, which he found deserted and burned as the first had been. Having destroyed all the corn which he found, the army commenced its retreat from the Indian country, supposing the enemy sufficiently intimidated.

"After marching about ten miles on the homeward route, General Harmer received information which induced him to suppose that a body of Indians had returned and taken possession of the village which he had just left. He detached, therefore, eighty regular troops under the orders of Major Wyllys, and nearly the whole of his militia under Colonel Harden, with orders to return to the village and destroy such of the enemy as presented themselves. The detachment accordingly countermarched and proceeded with all possible despatch to the appointed spot, fearful only that the enemy might hear of their movement and escape before they could come up. The militia in loose order took the advance; the regulars moving in a hollow square brought up the rear. Upon the plain in front of the town, a number of Indians were seen, between whom and the militia a sharp action commenced. After a few rounds, with considerable effect upon both sides, the

savages fled in disorder, and were eagerly and impetuously pursued by the militia, who in the ardor of the chase were drawn into the woods to a considerable distance from the regulars.

66

Suddenly from the opposite quarter several hundred Indians appeared, rushing with loud yells upon the unsupported regulars. Major Wyllys, who was a brave and experienced officer, formed his men in a square, and endeavored to gain a more favorable spot of ground, but was prevented by the desperate impetuosity with which the enemy assailed him. Unchecked by the murderous fire which was poured upon them from the different sides of the square, they rushed in masses up to the points of the bayonets, hurled their tomahawks with fatal accuracy, and putting aside the bayonets with their hands, or clogging them with their bodies, they were quickly mingled with the troops, and handled their long knives with destructive effect. In two minutes the bloody struggle was over. Major Wyllys fell, together with seventy-three privates and one lieutenant. One captain, one ensign, and seven privates, three of whom were wounded, were the sole survivors of this short but desperate encounter.

"The Indian loss was nearly equal, as they sustained several heavy fires which the closeness of their masses rendered very destructive, and as they rushed upon the bayonets of the troops with the most astonishing disregard to their own safety. Their object was to overwhelm the regulars before the militia could return to their support, and it was boldly executed as it had been finely conceived. In a short time the militia returned from the pursuit of the flying party which had decoyed them to a distance; but it was now too late to retrieve the fortune of the day. After some sharp skirmishing,