Part 9
To encourage and animate the men, Colonel Miller himself frequently went into the water to assist at the boats, as did every other officer, and for several successive days, had not the opportunity of a change of dry clothes. It was to this exposure and fatigue that Colonel Miller was probably indebted for the severe illness with which he was subsequently attacked.
The boats, with the troops, reached Vincennes on the 19th and there joined the militia under General Harrison. The combined force immediately commenced drilling for Indian warfare, and on the 27th of September, marched for the Prophet’s town, in the vicinity of the Tippecanoe ground. On the 2d of October, the army reached the spot, seventy miles from Vincennes, where they halted to build Fort Harrison, which was subsequently so bravely and successfully defended against the Indians by Lieutenant, _now_ Major-General Zachary Taylor. The next day after his arrival at this place, Colonel Miller was seized with a violent bilious fever, which at once completely prostrated him, from the effects of which, and the treatment and exposure which he necessarily had to undergo, he has never entirely recovered.
Until the fort was built, he was sheltered in a tent, with a bearskin and blankets for bedding. The weather for the first few days was very warm, and then suddenly changed to cold, with snow and rain; to hasten salivation, the physicians applied mercury very freely externally, as well as administering it internally, with blisters on the neck and limbs.
He had never been confined by sickness for a single day in his life before. He received the kindest attention from General Harrison, Colonel Boyd, and other officers, particularly from Colonel Davis, of the Kentucky dragoons, who was afterwards killed at Tippecanoe.
When the army moved from Fort Harrison, on the 29th of October, Colonel Miller had so far recovered as to be able to walk a few steps with the assistance of a cane, but was utterly unable to accompany the troops. For fifteen days he had been unable to move from his hard bed without being lifted, a tent his only shelter; and the weather suddenly changed from warm to cold, sufficiently to allow the snow to remain on the ground for two days at a time. His regret at being compelled to remain behind, is thus expressed in a letter written some time after:--“I reflected that I had sailed, marched, and rowed in boats, more than two thousand miles in search of, and with the expectation of acquiring, in common with my brothers in arms, some military fame: to be brought to the ‘right about’ and obliged to halt within a few miles of the scene of action and consequent honor acquired by the glorious victory obtained--I thought my lot a hard one.” From the 4th day of May to the 18th of November, he had slept in a house but two nights. Colonel Miller was left in command of Fort Harrison, with the invalids of the army, and although thus debarred from participating in the battle which ensued, and resulted in the victory of Tippecanoe, he was fortunately able to be of essential service after the battle. For when apprised of the result, by express from General Harrison, he dispatched boats up the river, with hay in them for the reception of the wounded, and fresh provisions for the troops, to a point where the army would be likely to strike the river, on their return to Fort Harrison.
When the army left Fort Harrison, on its return to Vincennes, in the following November, although still an invalid, Colonel Miller requested to accompany them, and he was sent in command of the troops and boats, by way of the river: although it was considered the most easy way of traveling, he suffered much from exposure on the journey. He spent the following winter at Vincennes, and during that time became an inmate in the house and family of General Harrison, who with the most affectionate kindness urged this hospitality upon him. In May, 1812, he received orders to proceed with the fourth regiment to Dayton, Ohio, and from thence marched to Detroit, having joined General Hull at Urbana.
The communication with the state of Ohio being completely blocked up, thereby preventing the transportation of supplies of provisions for General Hull’s army, he saw it necessary to turn his attention to that point, and accordingly detached from the army a part of the regular troops, numbering about six hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Miller, of the fourth regiment United States infantry, for this object. Colonel Miller was permitted to take two field pieces with the detachment, one six pounder and one five and a half inch howitzer, with their appendages and ammunition.
The detachment having drawn two days’ provisions, being organized and everything prepared for the march, General Wayne was chosen to lead the spies to reconnoitre the country; these were volunteer citizens of Detroit well acquainted with the route.
At five o’clock P. M., on the 8th of August, 1812, the troops being ready to march, and drawn up in line in the main street of Detroit, Colonel Miller rode to the centre and in front of the line, and addressed the troops in the following words:--“Soldiers, we are going to meet the enemy and to beat them! The blood of your brethren, spilt by savage hands on the 5th, must be avenged by their chastisement, and by the chastisement of the enemy who employs them, more savage than they! I shall lead you--I trust that no man will disgrace himself or me--every man who is seen to leave the ranks, to give way, or fall back without orders, shall instantly be put to death. My brave soldiers! you have once faced the enemy in a hard conflict, and beaten them, and gained glory to yourselves and honor to your country! Let this opportunity be improved to add another victory to that of _Tippecanoe_, and new glory to that which you gained on the _Wabash_. Soldiers, if there are any now in the ranks of this detachment, who are afraid to meet the enemy, they are now permitted to fall out and stay behind.” At which the words, “I’ll not stay,” ran through the ranks with a “huzza.”
The detachment then moved off in order and high spirits, and exhibited so much ardor to engage in the conflict, that the anxious citizens felt perfect confidence in the success of the enterprise. The detachment arrived at the river Rouge, six miles from Detroit, about sunset. There being no bridge and the water very deep, they were conveyed over in scows, and as two only were within reach, it was ten o’clock before the whole had crossed over. The weather being somewhat rainy and very dark, it was determined to encamp there for the night. They therefore stationed their guards and picquets, and permitted the men to rest on their arms till daylight. Accordingly, at daybreak, they commenced their march, with Colonel Miller at the head of a column of cavalry, accompanied by his aids, in the road and in a line with the heads of the columns of musketry. In this order the detachment marched from the encampment, near the river Rouge, on the morning of the 9th. They proceeded through the white settlement, which was about five miles, and entered the woods.
The country, from the river Rouge to Brownstown, is generally flat, and lies a little above the surface of the river Detroit. Indian huts and fields are interspersed through the woods; at that time the fields were covered with corn, which was grown to seven and eight feet high.
When the advanced guard had arrived at the farther edge of this wood, the spies advanced into the Indian opening; they were fired upon by a party of ten Indians, who were on horseback, and had concealed themselves behind the house of the celebrated chief, _Walk-in-the-water_.
The spies fell back. A citizen from Detroit, who accompanied them, was killed, and fell from his horse. The guard advanced quickly towards the house, and the Indians immediately fled without receiving much injury, though the guard fired upon them while they were uncovered by the house. The Indians bore away as a trophy, the citizen’s scalp whom they had shot; and the facility with which the scalp was taken, was astonishing. There scarcely appeared to have been time for the Indian to reach the spot where the man fell, before the guard arrived and found the scalp taken off, and the Indian gone. When the firing was heard by the columns, the order was given by Colonel Miller to march on with haste, but only some scattered Indians were discovered, who had been sent out by the British to watch the movements of the Americans, and to give information of their approach towards Brownstown, where the enemy, as it appeared afterwards, then lay in ambush to receive them. The position which the enemy had chosen, lay in an open oak wood, just at the declivity of a rising ground, over which the Americans had to pass. He had thrown up a breastwork of trees, logs, &c., behind which he lay concealed in force, and in order of battle. His works were thrown up in form of a _courtine_ with two flanks. The line of the _courtine_ lay across the road and perpendicularly to it. The banks formed an angle with the _courtine_ of about one hundred and twenty. The _courtine_ was lined with British regular troops, two deep of the forty-first regiment of foot, under the command of Major Muer of that regiment, who had long been in command at Malden. The flank of the _courtine_, on the enemy’s right, and American left, was lined with Canadian militia and Indians, commanded by _Walk-in-the-water_ and _Marpot_. Most of the militia were dressed and painted like their “brethren in arms,” the savages. The left flank of the courtine was lined entirely by savages, under the command of the celebrated Indian warrior Tecumseh, of the Shawnoese nation.
The number of the British regulars and militia amounted to about three hundred; about two hundred regulars. The Indians amounted to four hundred and fifty, making the enemy’s forces about seven hundred and fifty men. The position and strength of the enemy were entirely unknown to Colonel Miller and to the army at this time.
At twelve o’clock M. the detachment arrived at a large opening which contained four or five Indian houses, gardens, and orchards, and the army halted to take some refreshment, and to bury the man who had been killed; there they lay one hour. The village was deserted, and nothing of any consequence left in the houses.
At one P. M., the troops resumed their march, and soon reached the woods, near Brownstown, where some guns were heard by them. In a few seconds a volley was heard from Captain Snelling’s advance guard, and another instantly returned from a great number of pieces. The troops, by this time, were in preparation for battle, when Colonel Miller rode towards the centre at full speed, halted, and with a firm voice ordered the columns to “form the line of battle,” which was executed with that order, promptness and zeal, which he had expected; after the first volleys, the firing became incessant in front. Captain Snelling stood his ground till the lines were formed, and moved to his relief. He stood within pistol shot of the enemy’s breastworks in a shower of balls from the regular troops in his front, who showed themselves after the first fire, and set up the Indian yell.
When the first line appeared before the breastwork, they received the fire of the whole front and a part of the flanks. At this instant, Colonel Miller discovered that the enemy outflanked him, when the second line and flank guards were brought upon the flanks of the front line of the enemy.
The savages, in unison with the British troops, set up a horrid yell, and a severe conflict ensued.
The incessant firing of individual pieces soon changed to volleys, and while silence prevailed for an instant, the discharge of the six pounder burst upon the ear. At this instant, Colonel Miller was thrown from his horse which took fright at the discharge. He was supposed to be shot; those near him flew to his aid; the savages who saw him fall sprang over the breastwork to take his scalp, but were repulsed. Colonel Miller instantly remounted and returned to continue his orders. The fire from the Indians, who were screened by their breastworks, was deadly.
Another discharge of grape from the six pounder, caused the British line to yield, then to break, and the troops to fly in disorder! Tecumseh, and some Indians under his command, who had leaped over the breastwork in the full assurance of victory, were driven back at the point of the bayonet. The British and some Indians fled directly down the river, and were pursued by Colonel Miller, and that part of the troops which had opposed them. Tecumseh, with his Indians, fled directly from the river westwardly, into the wilderness, and were pursued. After the British had retreated about one mile, they came to an opening, of about half a mile in diameter; here they attempted to rally again, but on the approach of the Americans they again broke and fled into the woods down the river. Colonel Miller immediately ordered the troops to follow in further pursuit of the British.
After following them through the woods for nearly half a mile, they came upon the beach of Lake Erie, and discovered the enemy all in boats, steering towards Malden, and out of reach of their shot. They had concealed their boats at this point, when they came over, for this purpose, if they should be defeated. The troops returned to the battle field, where they met the division which had returned from the pursuit of Tecumseh.
When the troops were formed in line, Colonel Miller rode in front and addressed them in the following words:--“My brave fellows! you have done well! every man has done his duty. I give you my hearty thanks for your conduct on this day; you have gained my highest esteem; you have gained fresh honor to yourselves, and to the American arms; your fellow soldiers in arms will love you, and your country will reward you. You will return to the field of battle, to collect those who have gloriously fallen; your friendly attentions to your wounded companions are required.” Detachments were sent out with wagons to search the woods, and collect all the wounded and dead, and bring them to the ground then occupied by the troops. All the Indian houses, only three or four in number, were prepared to receive them, and the surgeons were industriously employed with them, during the whole night.
The troops encamped on the bank of the river, fronting the woods, the river forming their back. The time from the attack on the vanguard to the time of forming the line on the Indian fields, after the pursuit was finally ended, was two and a half hours. During this sharp conflict the conduct of each individual officer and soldier was so uniformly and strictly military, that the commander was scarcely able to make distinctions in his brief and modest report to General Hull. The physical powers of almost every man were called into action, and severely tried.
The troops then returned to Detroit, where they were apprised of the declaration of war between England and the United States.
Colonel Miller, on hearing the above news, determined to make an attempt to land on the Canada shore, with the fourth regiment, which he still continued to command, accompanied by Colonel, now General Cass, with a regiment of militia, together with a company of artillery, under Captain Dyson; the whole, under the command of Colonel Miller, embarked at a point about a mile above Detroit, crossed the river and landed on the Canada side without opposition. Colonels Miller and Cass had, on this occasion, the honor of planting with their own hands, on the bank of the Detroit river, the first American flag carried into Canada in the last war. After remaining but a short time in Canada, they re-embarked to the American side. Colonel Miller, it appears by official reports, took an active part in nearly all the principal battles of the western frontier. In a dispatch from General Harrison, at Lower Sandusky, he observes, “the detachment led by that brave officer, Colonel Miller, did not exceed three hundred and fifty men, and it is very certain that they defeated two hundred British regulars, one hundred and fifty militia men, and four or five hundred Indians.” Again, in a letter from Major-General Brown to the secretary of war, after the battle of Bridgewater, he says, “to secure the victory, it was necessary to carry this artillery and seize the height; this duty was assigned to Colonel Miller, who advanced steadily and gallantly to his object, and carried the height and the cannon.” He also observes, “from the preceding detail, you have evidence of the distinguished gallantry of that brave officer.” In the battles of Chippewa, Niagara and Erie, he is alike distinguished. After the battle of Chippewa, Colonel Miller was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. Congress presented him with a gold medal (_see_ Plate V.) with the unanimous thanks of that body.
After the close of the war, General Miller retired to his estate at Peterborough, New Hampshire, where he resided for some time, enjoying the sweets of quietude and the pleasures of agricultural pursuits; subsequently he received the appointment of collector of the port at Salem, Massachusetts, where he is now living in the bosom of his family. Although nearly deprived of the powers of articulation by paralysis, he enjoys his other faculties with comfort to himself and happiness to all around him.
The kindness and affability of General Miller made him a favorite in the field, as well as in the domestic circle. Before his affliction, it was indeed difficult to be long in his society without feeling happier as well as wiser. He was blessed with a great cheerfulness of disposition, which diffused its charms on all around him. He lives, commanding universal veneration and attachment from his illustrious services as a soldier, and his social virtues and generous hospitality as a man.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.
OCCASION.--Battles of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie.
DEVICE.--Bust of General Miller.
LEGEND.--Brigadier-General James Miller.
EXERGUE.--I’ll try.
REVERSE.--Two armies engaged on a hill; troops advancing at a distance.
LEGEND.--Resolution of Congress, November 3d, 1814.
EXERGUE.--Battles of Chippewa, July 5th, 1814; Niagara, July 25th, 1814; Erie, September 17th, 1814.
MAJOR-GEN. JACOB BROWN.
Jacob Brown, the subject of the following memoir, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1775, of a highly respectable family of Quakers. His father inherited a valuable and flourishing estate, but anxious still to increase it, he imprudently embarked in some commercial transactions which proved unfortunate, and his whole property was sacrificed. This happened when our hero was about sixteen years of age, and, it is said, made a great change in his character and conduct; he was determined to devote himself to something that might be a support for himself, and enable him to retrieve the broken fortunes of his family.
At the age of eighteen he took charge of a large and respectable school at Crosswicks, New Jersey; at the same time endeavoring, by close study, to improve his own mind for future labors. At the age of twenty-two, he was employed in surveying and laying out lands, in that section of country now the state of Ohio. He also became agent for M. Le Roy de Chaumont, a distinguished Frenchman, who owned a large tract of that country, and was industrious in obtaining settlers. In 1798 he removed to the city of New York, where, by the urgent solicitations of his friends, he was induced again to take charge of a school; this, after a time, became irksome, and he commenced the study of law, but soon abandoned it as uncongenial with his active and adventurous pursuits. Having acquired a small property by his exertions in Ohio, he made a purchase of some land on the borders of Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, now Jefferson county, in the state of New York. Here he built the first human dwelling within thirty miles of the lake, and after effecting some necessary improvements, he removed his parents to his new abode; and to the close of his life devoted himself to their happiness and comfort.
Brown, through his early life, had much to contend with. Thrown upon his own resources for subsistence and education, and the poverty of his beloved parents on his mind, he was repeatedly discouraged; but his energy never forsook him; his firmness and perseverance seemed to overcome every obstacle that surrounded him. In 1809, he was appointed a colonel of militia; and in the year following, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. At the commencement of the war in 1812, he was appointed to defend the frontier of Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, an extent of coast reaching two hundred miles. He fixed his head-quarters at Ogdensburg, where he was attacked by a British force much superior to his own in numbers; but in this affair no one received the least injury, while the enemy lost several men in killed and wounded. In 1813, General Brown joined Colonel Backus, of the dragoons, stationed at Sacket’s Harbor, a demonstration against the post having been made by a British force from Kingston, under the command of Sir George Prevost and Sir James Yeo. General Brown had hardly time to arrive and dispose his brigade, before the enemy commenced the attack, which for a time was fierce and successful; but after a series of skillful and spirited movements, the British forces were completely vanquished, and retreated precipitately in their boats. The loss of the enemy was four hundred and fifty, while that of the Americans was one hundred and fifty-six. Among the slain was the gallant Backus, who fell while exciting his men by his own bravery. The same year General Brown was appointed a brigadier-general in the regular army of the United States, and soon after planned the expedition against Montreal, which, by a want of concert between the generals of the northern army, was entirely frustrated.
Early in 1814, General Brown was placed in command of the northern division of the army at French Mills, with the rank of major-general. The reputation of the military was at this time rather low; many enterprises had proved abortive, and a feeling of disappointment was fast spreading through the country, and unfavorable impressions against the military capacity of the generals, were gaining ground. General Brown was determined, with the aid of able coadjutors, to endeavor to retrieve the reputation of the army; to these arduous exertions are to be ascribed the brilliant triumphs which were subsequently achieved.
In the Spring of 1814, he crossed the Niagara river and carried Fort Erie, which surrendered without any resistance.