Part 2
“JAMES WINCHESTER, “_Brigadier-General_.”
_26th._ Two white men, and Capt. John (an Indian who was with us), lost their horses. They continued about the camping ground in search of them; they saw two or three Indians exploring our encampment. They took this method, no doubt, to calculate our number. The spies returned to camp this evening, who had discovered many Indian signs in front. Five of the spies who had yesterday started with the view to go to Fort Defiance, were found on the road shot, scalped, and tomahawked by the Indians or British.
_27th._ The spies and Capt. Garrard’s troop started this morning to bury the dead. They were attacked by a party of Indians who were watching the dead. One of the spies got shot in the ankle by an Indian. They fired on the Indians, and with the assistance of Capt. Garrard, they made them run, but not without the loss of some of their savage blood. It was supposed some of them were badly wounded.
Capts. Hickman and Ruddell returned, who had started this morning to reconnoitre Fort Defiance. They reported, that they saw many fresh signs of Indians. As they returned to camp they spied an encampment of Indians; the Indians were talking and laughing merrily. A detachment was sent after dark in order to surprise them. Ruddell, their pilot, got lost before he got far, so that they could not execute their design.
_28th._ The army was alarmed about a mile from camp; we quickly paraded in order of battle, and were anxious to meet the enemy. The alarm proceeded from the spies, who fired at some Indians in front. The spies returned to camp this evening; they saw where a large number of Indians and British had encamped the night before.
_29th._ We continued on the same encampment, five miles from Defiance, and forty-five from Fort Wayne. The spies and horse troop were sent out in order to make discoveries. A party took the back track; they saw where the enemy had wheeled to the right about, and retreated; and fortunately for them they did so. Our industry in fortifying the camp with breastworks, and caution and vigilance with which it was guarded, would have rendered us able to have maintained our ground against a superior force. Wagon tracks were plainly to be seen--it was thought they were going to Fort Wayne with cannon, to take that place.
_30th._ We marched within one mile of Fort Defiance, and searched for a suitable place to encamp on: after every examination it was thought best to continue here, as it was a convenient place for timber. We pitched our tents and built very strong breastworks round the camp, which we had done for five or six nights past; we also slept with our guns in our arms, and paraded an hour before day, and stood under arms till nearly sunrise. From Fort Wayne to Defiance, we travelled on the north-west side of the Maumee River. The country is extremely level and well timbered, but badly watered.
_Oct. 1._ Col. Lewis, with a detachment of three hundred and eighty men, started early this morning to pursue the Indians and British; they crossed the Auglaze River, and proceeded down the Maumee seven or eight miles, but could see nothing more than the appearance of the enemy retreating.
_2d._ Gen. Harrison arrived here with about one hundred mounted troops, and two days’ rations of flour. We have been without bread four days. We were informed Gen. Harrison was appointed commander-in-chief of the North-Western Army; this was pleasing news to their troops, as he was the choice in preference to any other.
_3d._ The troops that were with Gen. Harrison, consisting of mounted riflemen and cavalry, three regiments, came to camp this morning from St. Mary’s, which is 63 miles from Defiance. They came with speed, to assist the troops commanded by Gen. Winchester. Gen. Harrison had received information that all the British and Indian forces of Upper Canada were on their way to meet Gen. Winchester at Defiance.
_4th._ There has been great murmuring in camp, on account of the scarcity of provisions, which threatened a dissolution of this army. Gen. Harrison having paraded the army, addressed them and said, there were twenty-five thousand rations provided for this army at St. Mary’s; this should be conveyed here as soon as possible, part of which would be here to-day; he stated the consequence of such mutinous complaints, and if this army would disperse, where could he get men who would stand? He said every exertion for the supply of this army with provisions and clothing, should be used. He informed us there would be a number of troops from Pennsylvania and Virginia to join us, amounting in all to ten thousand.
_5th._ A fatigue party of two hundred and forty men were employed to rebuild Fort Defiance. There were a few men on the other side of the river opposite to the fort. They discovered a party of Indians, twenty or thirty in number; they took them to be those friendly Indians who were with us; being not on their guard, they got close to them. Four or five of the Indians fired at the same time; they killed and scalped one of the men, and made their escape. The murder was committed not more than three hundred yards from the encampment of the mounted riflemen and cavalry, with Gen. Tupper at the head of them. Those murderers were pursued immediately by two hundred horsemen; they pursued them in scattered order. A small party overtook them five or six miles from camp, and finding the enemy’s force superior they had to retreat.
_7th._ The principal part of the clothing which was left at Piqua, came to camp; it has been greatly needed. A majority of the mounted men who were ordered to the rapids, and drew ten days’ provisions for _that expedition_, refused to march under Gen. Tupper; of course the contemplated expedition failed, and they returned home, as their thirty days were nearly expired.
_9th._ A few days ago, Frederick Jacoby, belonging to the 17th regiment of United States infantry, was tried by a court-martial for sleeping on his post--he was condemned to be shot. The troops paraded and formed in a hollow square in close order, where the Rev. Mr. Shannon delivered a short discourse on the occasion. The square was then displayed, so that the army might witness the awful example of execution. The criminal was marched from the provost guard with solemn music, under a guard of a subaltern, sergeant, corporal, and twenty privates, to the place of execution; there he was blindfolded; the guard stood a few steps from him waiting the hour of execution! This was a solemn scene; a profound silence was kept by all the troops. But fortunately for the criminal, a reprieve arrived for him, just before the time of execution! The General judged him not a man of sound mind.
The spies reported they had killed an Indian, but could not get his scalp on account of other Indians; they stated there must be a large body of Indians near, by their trails.
_10th._ In consequence of the above report of the spies, Colonel Wells started with five hundred men in pursuit of the Indians; he pursued their trails twelve or thirteen miles, but could not see an Indian.
_11th._ The General ordered we should move and encamp near where the fort was building; this was, however, prevented by the inclemency of the weather; it rained and the wind blew all day, which made our situation very unpleasant. A man died in camp last night; he was buried with the honors of war; he was escorted to the grave in solemn order, and, after a short discourse by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, six men fired three rounds over the grave; this was the first scene of the kind witnessed in our camp.
_14th._ We moved to the fort, and received a supply of provisions (salt, flour, and whiskey); we had been without salt ever since the 7th, and without flour two days.
_16th._ A detachment of one hundred men was sent this morning six miles below the fort, to a suitable place of timber to build pirogues.
_18th._ (_Sunday._) The troops marched to the centre, agreeably to a general order, to hear the Rev. Mr. Shannon preach a sermon suited to the times. While he was zealously engaged there were six or seven guns fired down the river in quick succession; this alarmed the whole congregation--every one flew to his arms and left the speaker alone. The alarm originated from a pirogue party, who had just arrived with a pirogue for a supply of provisions.
_19th._ The fort was finished and christened “_Fort Winchester_.” It is composed of four block-houses, a hospital and storehouse, and picketed between each block-house, containing about a quarter of an acre.
_20th._ The General issued an order for the troops to be assembled every morning at 9 o’clock, at such places near the encampment, as the commanding officers might deem convenient, and cause the rolls to be called, and mark all delinquents; and there, until 12 o’clock, practice the manual exercise, and manœuvre according to Smith’s instructions for infantry.
_27th._ In consequence of Gen. Winchester’s receiving information, he issued an order respecting clothing, which will show a flattering prospect of being supplied, an extract of which is as follows:--
“GENERAL ORDERS.--_Fort Winchester, Oct. 27, 1812._
“With great pleasure the General announces to the army the prospect of an early supply of winter clothing, amongst which are the following articles exported from Philadelphia on the 9th of September last, viz. 10,000 pairs of shoes, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 round jackets, 5,000 pairs of pantaloons, woollen cloth, to be made and forwarded to the westward immediately; besides the winter clothing for Col. Wells’s regiment some days before; 1,000 watch-coats, ordered from Philadelphia the 7th of October, 1812. September 24th, 5,000 blankets and 1,000 yards of flannel. 25th, 10,000 pairs of shoes. 29th, 10,000 pairs of woollen hose, 10,000 do. socks.
“Yet a few days and the General consoles himself with the idea of seeing those whom he has the honor to command clad in warm woollen, capable of resisting the _northern blasts of Canada_.
“J. WINCHESTER, “_Brigadier-Gen. Commanding Left Wing N. W. Army_.”
_29th._ A fatigue party, consisting of three captains, three subalterns, three sergeants, three corporals, and one hundred and fifty privates was detached this morning, superintended by Gen. Payne, to clear the way on the opposite side of the river, so as to make the view more extensive from the fort. The spies caught a prisoner fifteen or twenty miles below this place; he said he was just from Detroit; he was suspected as a spy, but he denied it; he said he deserted from the British, who had had him in confinement some time in consequence of his not taking the oath to be true to them.
Fort Winchester is situated near the point between the Maumee and Auglaze rivers, and is a handsome place; it is predicted by some to become in a few years a populous city. The greater part of the land in the adjacent country is rich, and when improved will be equal, if not superior, to any in the western country. The Auglaze River empties into Great Miami, which runs a north course to Fort Winchester, and is navigable a considerable distance.
_November 2._ We moved across the River Maumee, opposite the point; it is a high piece of ground and very level, but in some degree wet and marshy: this movement was in order to get convenient to firewood.
_3d._ This late place of encampment is found not to answer a good purpose; therefore the General thought it expedient to move from this to a piece of ground one-half mile lower down the river. As there were only a few wagons, one regiment moved at a time--from 12 o’clock till after sunset before the last arrived at the place of destination. This last place appears to be very marshy, but not so much so as the former. It is very difficult to get a good place for an encampment at this time, as we have had several rainy days.
_4th._ The troops have been engaged in fortifying this late place of encampment with breastworks, so that we may be prepared for our enemies, should they think proper to pay us a visit; the weather is very rainy, which makes our situation extremely unpleasant, though not more so than we could expect from the climate and season. Four of this army have gone to the silent tomb to-day, never more to visit their friends in Kentucky; the fever is very prevalent in camp; nearly every day there is one or more buried.
_7th._ We received information from Kentucky by passengers, of a quantity of clothing coming out for the volunteers. By every account from that quarter, the roads are almost impassable. Major Garrard, and six of the spies, started to the Rapids this morning. This river abounds greatly with fish; large quantities have been caught with traps, and also with hooks and lines.
_9th._ Major Garrard, and those men with him, returned from the Rapids. They made discoveries of a large quantity of corn, and some hogs, and cattle, and a few Indians.
_10th._ The army moved six miles down the river, in order to be better accommodated with suitable ground for camping, and to build more pirogues. This encampment is the dryest we have been at for some time; the land and timber are not inferior to any. I trust this country was designed for a more noble purpose than to be a harbor for those rapacious savages, whose manners and deportment are not more elevated than the ravenous beasts of the forest. I view the time not far distant, when this country will be interspersed with elegant farms and flourishing towns, and be inhabited by a free and independent people, under an auspicious republic.
_15th._ A detachment of six captains, six subalterns, six sergeants, six corporals, and three hundred and eighty-six privates, started with six days’ provision, this morning, at reveille beating, to the Rapids, under the command of Col. Lewis.
_17th._ Col. Lewis, with his detachment, returned about twelve o’clock, after a laborious march of sixty miles. About eighteen miles below this place, he was overtaken by an express from Gen. Winchester, who had received intelligence of Gen. Tupper, with five hundred men, being at the Rapids, who had discovered a body of Indians, six or seven hundred in number, drinking and dancing. Gen. Tupper, thinking this a good opportunity to attack them, attempted to cross the river, two miles above; he and two hundred of his men effected this, through great difficulty; in wading across some fell in the water and lost their guns, which discouraged the rest, so that Gen. Tupper could not execute his design. This intelligence animated the troops commanded by Col. Lewis, so that they wanted to continue on that night, without stopping, and attack the enemy before day. Col. Lewis thought proper to halt, and send an express to Gen. Tupper, for both parties to meet at Roche de Baut,[D] six miles above the Indian encampment, and unite their forces, and surprise the enemy.
The express returned at three o’clock in the morning, and reported, he had been at Gen. Tupper’s encampment; at the entrance of which, he saw a man, dead, scalped, and stripped. He concluded that Gen. Tupper was defeated. This news changed the course of Col. Lewis, not knowing their force. The General has thought proper to have this place strongly fortified with breastworks, four and a half feet high.
_18th._ One of the sentinels of the bullock guard discharged the contents of his gun at an Indian, as he thought, a few miles below camp, where the bullocks were grazing; the guard deserted the bullocks, and retreated to camp. A party was immediately sent in pursuit of the Indians, and behold! they found Michael Paul cutting a bee-tree.
_20th._ Ruddell returned, who was sent on the _17th_ to reconnoitre the Rapids, and Tupper’s encampment. He discovered a large body of Indians at the Rapids. He was through Tupper’s encampment, where it was supposed he was defeated He saw the man that was scalped and stripped, and he thought Tupper had retreated, instead of being defeated.
_22d._ Smith and his party of spies had a little skirmish near Wolftown. Early in the morning they were eating their breakfasts; one of them started to get a drink of water; he had only got a few steps when an Indian fired and wounded him, but not mortally. After snapping twice, he fired and wounded an Indian. Several guns were fired by the Indians afterwards, but no injury was sustained. In returning to camp the wounded man was sent on some distance before, while part of them remained in the rear as a guard.
Capt. Logan, Capt. John, and another Indian, started to the Rapids with the determination to establish their characters (for they were suspected by some to be traitors). Between this and the Rapids, as they were rising a bank, they met seven Indians and a British officer, who took them prisoners, but let them carry their own guns. After taking them some considerable distance, they were determined to liberate themselves or fall a sacrifice. They succeeded in killing at the same time, the British officer[E] and two of the Indians; they stated Logan killed the second, but he got badly wounded through the body; one of the other Indians that were with him got wounded, but not mortally. The two wounded got on two horses that belonged to the dead and rode to camp, leaving Capt. John to take scalps.
_23d._ Capt. John came in camp this morning with a scalp; he said it was the scalp of a Pottowatomie chief (Wynemack); he broke his knife in scalping him, which prevented him from scalping the others.
_24th._ Logan died, and was much lamented by the men generally, believing him to be true to the United States, and a brave soldier.
_December 1._ The troops are engaged in building huts, which are far preferable to tents.
_2d._ The General has issued an order for the camp to be picketed, which is three-quarters of a mile round. It is on the north side of the river, and is composed of three lines. Col. Wells’s regiment on the right, Col. Scott’s, Lewis’s, and part of Allen’s in front, the remaining part of Allen’s on the left, the river in the rear. The pickets were nearly completed in one day, two feet in the ground and eight feet above.
_10th._ The General has given orders to the commanding officers of regiments to cause each of their companies to be provided with a good pirogue sufficient to carry its own baggage, and cause all those who are without shoes to make themselves moccasons out of green hides.
There are many who have not shoes and clothes sufficient to keep them from freezing, should we move from here while they are in this condition; the clothes that the General flattered us with the expectation, and the clothes subscribed by the Kentuckians being not yet received, except a small part of the latter.
_13th._ Smith and his party returned from the Rapids, who started two days ago in a canoe; they did not go far before they left the canoe, on account of the ice, and travelled by land; some of them were dangerously frostbitten.
_14th._ An express arrived in camp, certifying that the boats which started from St. Mary’s on the 4th, laden with flour and clothing, were frozen up in St. Mary’s River, and the escort was building a house to store the loading in.
_15th._ Capt. Hickman started this morning to forward flour and clothing immediately on packhorses.
_16th._ We have drawn no flour since the 10th, in consequence of which there was a letter handed to the General last night secretly, which stated that the volunteers in two days, except flour came before that time, would start and go to it; and they would carry their camp equipage to the fort if the General required it. This news was soon circulated through camp. The officers used every argument to suppress the appearance of a mutiny. A court-martial was held at Capt. Williams’s marquee to try John Hoggard, a private in Capt. Price’s company, for some misdemeanor. He was condemned to be drummed out of camp. Col. Lewis paraded his regiment, and had him escorted with the fife and drum from one end of his line to the other. So he was legally discharged from the army. The most common punishment in camp for criminals is that of _riding the wooden horse_, or being put _under guard on half rations_. All the beef and pork was issued to the troops this evening; our dependence for the next ration is on a drove of hogs that has been expected several days!
_17th._ Three hundred head of hogs arrived to our relief.
_20th._ The weather is excessively cold; the ice has stopped the navigation of the river, so that the plan of going to the Rapids by water is entirely frustrated; we had prepared about sixty pirogues for the voyage, which will be left here for our successors.
_21st._ The General has ordered the commandants of regiments to cause each company to be provided with a sufficient number of sleds to convey their baggage to the Rapids. It is said these sleds are to be pulled by the men, as we have not a horse in camp able to pull an empty sled.
_22d._ A little flour came to camp once more; quarter-rations of that article were issued, which was welcomed by rejoicing throughout camp:
_24th._ Capt. Hickman returned with joyful news--that we should in a short time be supplied with flour. The deficiency of this article had produced serious consequences in the army. We have here been exposed to numberless difficulties, as well as deprived of the common necessaries of life; and what made these things operate more severely was, all hopes of obtaining any conquest was entirely abandoned. Obstacles had emerged in the path to victory, which must have appeared insurmountable to every person endowed with common sense. The distance to Canada, the unpreparedness of the army, the scarcity of provisions, and the badness of the weather, show that Malden cannot be taken in the remaining part of our time. And would it not have been better if this army had been disbanded? Our sufferings at this place have been greater than if we had been in a severe battle. More than one hundred lives have been lost, owing to our bad accommodations! The sufferings of about three hundred sick at a time, who are exposed to the cold ground and deprived of every nourishment, are sufficient proofs of our wretched condition! The camp has become a loathsome place. The hope of being one day relieved from these unnecessary sufferings affords some relief. We received this evening a supply of flour, and have been delivered from a state of starvation. It being Christmas eve, just after dark, a number of guns were fired in quick succession; the whole army was ordered to parade in order of battle; strict orders were given to suppress the firing. About an hour before day the firing commenced again; the army was again paraded and strict orders given, threatening to punish the offenders.
_27th._ Part of the clothing arrived from Kentucky.
_29th._ We are now about commencing one of the most serious marches ever performed by the Americans. Destitute, in a measure, of clothes, shoes, and provisions, the most essential articles necessary for the existence and preservation of the human species in this world, and more particularly in this cold climate. Three sleds are prepared for each company, each to be pulled by a packhorse, which has been without food for two weeks, except brush, and will not be better fed while in our service; probably the most of these horses never had harness on, but the presumption is they will be too tame; we have prepared harness out of green hides.