That Dark and Bloody River

by Allan Eckert

  771. The first regular streets that were laid out in Wheeling by Col. Ebenezer Zane were between present Eighth and Eleventh streets and extending from present Market Street to the Ohio River.

  772. One account states that Brady and all seven of his men shot at the target, all but one hitting the black mark and the one that missed was only “the thickness of a knife blade away from the black.” However, in view of Brady’s remarks about two of his men, both before the contest and afterward, the account that states all eight men shot is apparently in error.

  773. Samuel Ewalt remained sheriff for some years after this trial. He died in 1842 at the age of 90.

  774. In view of the acquittal of Samuel Brady, the charges against Francis McGuire and “other unidentified men of the party” were dropped.

  775. Kyashuta, also often appearing in the records as Guyashuta, Guyashutha and a variety of other spellings, died peacefully in his camp on the Allegheny just below Conewango Creek in 1796.

  776. To the end of her life, Drusilla Van Swearingen Brady referred to her husband’s return and the outpouring of support and joy at his return as one of the most heartfelt and affecting scenes she had ever witnessed.

  777. Benjamin Lincoln and Timothy Pickering were from Massachusetts, Beverley Randolph from Virginia.

  778. This council was being held within the limits of the present city of Toledo, Lucas Co., O.

  779. When he learned of the rejection by the Indians of the United States proposals, which he considered very just and fair, Thomas Jefferson stated that the summerlong negotiations were made “to prove to all our citizens that peace was unattainable on terms which any of them would admit.” The United States was, according to his reasoning, justified in launching Wayne’s army vigorously to smash the Indians for once and for all.

  780. The author is convinced that this unnamed spy was William Wells, also known as Apekonit (and later, Epiconyere), who had been captured by Indians as a boy and adopted by Michikiniqua—Little Turtle—principal chief of the Miamis, of which the Weas are a branch. The essential data about him, as given, in the main fit Wells except that he was three years older at this time than the spy Wayne describes, and he was born in Alexandria, Va., not Pennsylvania. These errors could simply have been a deliberate deception to keep his true identity and the fact of his being a spy secret.

  781. Both Peter Smith and William Fuller were surrendered by the Shawnees at Greenville, O., on December 6, 1795, and subsequently reunited with their families.

  782. This incident with the Indians has a special place in history, since this was the last recorded fight with Indians within Kentucky. At least one account states that the incident took place late in the winter, on March 8, 1794, but the December 2 skirmish appears to be the more reliable date.

  783. The Forty Foot Pitch where the attack occurred was on the site of present Ludlow’s Springs, just east of present Eaton, Preble Co., O.

  784. The stonecutter who hastily made the marker neglected to carve Andrew Van Swearingen’s given name on the stone, perhaps because many people at the time thought his surname was simply Swearingen and Van was his given name.

  785. Gen. Wayne named Fort Greenville after his friend and fellow officer of the Revolution, Gen. Nathanael Greene. It was located at the mouth of present Mud Creek, on the right (south) bank of present Greenville Creek, in the center of the present city of Greenville, Darke Co., O.

  786. Wayne’s army reached the St. Clair Defeat site on Christmas Day.

  787. Site of the present village of Fort Recovery, Mercer Co., O.

  788. Thomas Mann was found shot twice through the chest and scalped; William Mann’s body was recovered a few days later, wedged in some driftwood along the shoreline, shot through the head and stomach but unscalped.

  789. The stretch of ground covered by the fallen timbers extended along the northwest bank of the Maumee from present Turkeyfoot Rock, just over a mile upstream from the present Interstate 475 bridge (this area presently called the Fallen Timbers State Memorial), to the narrow piece of ground between the head of present Silver Lake and the northern bulge of Blue Grass Island, 3,000 feet downstream from that same bridge; the lower (northeasternmost) portion of this Fallen Timbers area being exactly three miles upstream from the present Fort Miamis State Memorial.

  790. The military escort was under the command of Maj. Robert (William in some accounts) McMahon and consisted of 80 riflemen under Capt. Ara Hartshorn and 50 dragoons under Capt. Philip Taylor, plus ten drovers.

  791. The four officers killed at this time were Maj. Robert McMahon, Capts. Philip Taylor and Ara Hartshorn, and Lt. William Craig.

  792. Accounts of the number of casualties for both sides in this affair are greatly varied, ranging from as few as 14 whites killed to as many as 75; and equally ranging from as few as 17 Indians to as many as 80. The most accurate figures seem to be those given in the journal of William Clark, who states that the Indians had a total of 40 casualties, including 20 killed and 20 wounded, and that the total American casualties were 63, which included 23 killed and 40 wounded. It has been stated in several accounts, evidently generated by a claim made by Gen. William Henry Harrison in a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives in April 1819, that a small number of British took part in the Fort Recovery attack, including Simon Girty as well as a captain and six matrosses (gunner’s mates) clad in Indian clothing, their faces blackened to avoid detection, but these accounts are open to question. In the Western Star, a newspaper published at Stockbridge, Mass., and not particularly noted for its accuracy, an item datelined Philadelphia, November 21, 1794, states: “At Fort Recovery, a great number of British soldiers, with their faces blacked, assisted in the attack. Three British officers kept at a distance behind the assailants and directed the operations. Twenty-two Americans were killed, thirty wounded and three missing. If any circumstance could add to the atrocity of this behavior on the part of our grandam Mother Country, it is that these poor savages were led into the field with the greatest reluctance.”

  793. It has been reported that later it was discovered that the departing Ottawas and Chippewas had come across some Shawnee women working in the fields and robbed and raped them, but the author considers the allegations ill supported and unlikely.

  794. This camp was made on the site of the present village of Wilshire, Van Wert Co., O., on the Indiana border.

  795. Gen. Wayne initially believed this to be merely an accident, but he later became convinced, with ample justification, that it was a very nearly successful attempt on his life engineered by Gen. Wilkinson—an allegation he was never able to prove but that, in view of Wilkinson’s other treacheries, was very probably correct.

  796. Most accounts state that Wayne, when he clashed with the Indians, had a total of 3,500 men (citing 2,000 regulars and 1,500 Kentucky militia), but this is incorrect. Wayne had 2,200 regulars and, initially, 1,600 volunteers, which gave him 3,800 when he left Greenville, and the addition of Col. Barbee’s contingent, which is mainly overlooked, gave him a total of 4,400 troops.

  797. Roche de Boeuf was a collection point for cattle being moved past the 16-mile stretch of rapids on the old Maumee Rapids Trail (now called the Anthony Wayne Trail), located at the upstream edge of the present village of Waterville, Lucas Co., O.

  798. It is from this Fort Defiance that the present city and county of Defiance, O., get their names. The fort was located on the site of the present Old Fort Defiance City Park.

  799. All the sick and lame were left to garrison Fort Defiance under Maj. Hunt. Chief Snake was a minor Shawnee village chief whose village was located on approximately the site of the present village of Florida, Henry Co., O.

  800. The camp on the night of August 16 was on the north bank of the river, at approximately the location where the present U.S. 6 bridge over the Maumee is located in Henry County.

  801. The army encampment on the night of August 17 was at the site of the present town of Grand Rapids, in Lucas Co., O.
, probably where present Metropolitan Park is located.

  802. As nearly as can be determined, the tribal breakdown of warriors taking part in this conflict are as follows: 100 Delawares, 100 Wyandots, 150 Miamis, 150 Ottawas, 200 Potawatomies, 500 Shawnees, 800 Chippewas; so reported Antoine Lanell, a Canadian trader captured by the Americans during the battle.

  803. Some accounts say the Indian loss was in excess of 100. Col. Alexander McKee, in his official report, claimed only 19 Indians had been killed and about the same number wounded. Capt. William Clark, in his journal, said the Americans lost only 24 killed and that the “loss of the enemy not precisely ascertained, but not more than thirty or forty were found dead, and a few Canadians.” Several accounts have the Americans suffering more than 100 killed. Wayne reported, most accurately it appears, that he had 44 men killed and 89 others wounded. He claimed that the Indian loss was about double his own. In actuality, the Indians’ loss, while not certainly known, was very close to the same amount as Wayne’s.

  804. Later, when Chief Kinjoino of the Ottawas was asked to explain why the Indians had been beaten at Fallen Timbers, he replied with a remark that seemed to echo the belief of many of the Indians who participated in the battle: “The Great Spirit was angry and She turned Her face away from Her red children.”

  805. William Beckham survived, but his head wound subsequently caused him to lose his sight in one eye.

  806. The little girl who had been dashed against the tree survived her injuries and years later married settler George Goodrich and subsequently lived out the remainder of her days with him on land he claimed in the area of present Shelbyville, Shelby Co., Ind.

  807. This spot is now within the city limits of Charleston, Kanawha Co., W.Va.

  808. David Spangler was captured on the site of the present city of Jeffersonville, Clark Co., Ind. He was surrendered to Gen. Wayne at Greenville five months later, on May 15, 1795. Joseph Guy’s captivity was shorter, and he was surrendered by the Delawares to Wayne at Greenville on February 11, 1795, nine weeks after being captured.

  809. George and Joe White Eyes were the sons of the Delaware Chief White Eyes who was murdered by Lewis Wetzel during Col. Brodhead’s expedition against Goschachgunk (Coshocton) in April 1781, as he approached Brodhead under a flag of truce. As restitution for the murder, White Eyes’ two sons, George and Joe, were given an education at Princeton by the government. Three years after the peace was established by the Greenville Treaty, George White Eyes visited Washington village on June 7, 1798, and drank too much. In his drunken state he encountered a 15-year-old boy and, for reasons not quite clear, attempted to kill the boy with his tomahawk. The boy was chased to his father’s cabin, where he snatched up his father’s rifle and killed George White Eyes with a single shot. In the hearing that followed, George White Eyes’ own Delaware companions testified that he was at fault for the incident, and the boy, who had acted in self-defense, was exonerated.

  810. This incident occurred four miles upstream from the present village of Cochranton, Crawford Co., Pa. The Samuel Hulings settlement never developed into a town.

  811. James Thompson was held captive for three weeks and then released. He returned safely to the surveying party.

  812. Although the initial grant made in March 1795 was for 24,000 acres, this was increased the following month by 1,200 acres, when the initial grant was found to be not quite enough to supply the demand. Greater details of the fraudulent land sales in France and the formation of the French Grant may be found in the author’s The Frontiersmen.

  813. This, of course, was at the site of present downtown Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Ind.

  814. A complete list of all the prisoners surrendered to Wayne is not known by the author to exist, but from an examination of the various reports that have been made, the following list of known information has been constructed by the author. Age, if given, was the individual’s age at the time of capture: Altonton, Mary Ann, captured April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky. Anthony, Elizabeth, captured March 26, 1793, on the Wilderness Road in Kentucky. Armstrong, John, capture date unknown; surrendered by Detroit River Wyandots. Ashby, David, 13, captured August 9, 1790, in Madison Co., Ky; surrendered September 14, 1795, by St. Joseph Potawatomies. Another Ashby, David, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, Enoch, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, John, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, Polly, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, Robert, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, Susannah, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Ashby, Thomas, captured in May 1788 on Ohio River near mouth of Kentucky River. Baldwin, Betsy, captured in Kentucky. Barker, Susannah, captured April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky.; surrendered on February 11, 1795, by Delawares. Beecroft, Benjamin, captured on April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky. Beecroft, Rachael [sic], 14, captured on April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky.; surrendered on May 9, 1795, by Delawares. Bolling, Presley, captured in March 1789, on Brashear’s Run, Brooke Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1785 by Wyandots. Bozarth, Jenny, 40, captured on July 13, 1795, in Randolph Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered on September 9, 1795, by Shawnees. Bozarth, Valentine, 17, captured on July 13, 1795, in Randolph Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered on September 9, 1795, by Shawnees. Bozarth, Zedediah [sic], 14, captured on July 13, 1795, in Randolph Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered on September 9, 1795, by Shawnees. Brice, James, captured on October 20, 1790, by Shawnees at Kekionga when left wounded on field of battle at Harmar’s defeat. Brickell, John, 14, captured on March 9, 1791, at Pittsburgh, Pa.; surrendered on May 9, 1795, by Delawares. Brown, John, captured in 1791 on Ohio side of river near Falls of Ohio. Burge, James, captured in 1791, at Clarksville, Ind. Bush, Daniel, 16, captured in April 1791 on the Monongahela River; surrendered on June 10, 1795, by Delawares. Camp, John, captured in 1778 in Kentucky. Corder, Jenny, 28, captured on March 26, 1793, on the Wilderness Road in Kentucky; surrendered on July 10, 1795, by Wyandots. Cozad, Jacob, 13, captured in July 1794 in Harrison Co., Va.; surrendered on August 22, 1795, by Shawnees. Cozad, William, 14, captured in July 1795 in Harrison Co., Va.; surrendered on September 9, 1795, by Shawnees. Crumb, John, 16; surrendered by Shawnees. Davidson, David, 28, captured on June 3, 1791, in Wythe Co., Va.; surrendered September 6, 1795, by Wyandots. Dawson, Matthias, 17, captured in August 1792 on the Monongahela; surrendered February 6, 1795, by Delawares. Dillow, Rachael, surrendered in 1795 by Detroit River Wyandots. English, Betsey [sic], surrendered in 1795 by Detroit River Wyandots. Everman, Jacob, captured October 20 on Maumee River at Harmar’s defeat; surrendered in 1795 by Miamis. Flaim, Nancy, 16, captured in 1785 at Greenbrier, Va. (W.Va.); surrendered on September 6, 1795, by Wyandots. Ford, Polly, 8, captured in 1786 on the Wilderness Road in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Frazier, Daniel, 15, captured in April 1790 in Powell’s Valley, Ky.; surrendered on June 20, 1795, by British trader Ian McDougall. Fuller, William, 17, captured in September 1793 at North Bend, Ohio; surrendered December 6, 1795, by Shawnees. Gibson, David, 23, captured on December 5, 1790, at Dunlap’s Station, Ky.; surrendered on August 7, 1795, by Wyandots. Glass, Robert, captured in 1779 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Glenn, David, captured in 1783 near Wheeling, Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1795 by Wyandots. Goodnight, Elizabeth; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees at Fort Wayne. Grant, Alexander, 21, captured in 1781 on the Great Kanawha River; surrendered on July 30, 1795, by Wyandots. Green, Betsy, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Green, Polly, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Guy, Joseph, captured on December 17, 1794, near Fort Hamilton, Ohio; surrendered on February 11, 1795, by Delawares. Hart, Elizabeth, 29, captured on May 11, 1790, in Madison Co., Ky.; surrendered on September 14, 1795, by St. Joseph Potawatomies. Hart, Elizabeth and child, captured in 1789 on Salt River in Kentucky; surrendered in 1791 by Shawne
es. Hart, Israel, captured in 1790 at Crab Orchard, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Hogling, Moses, captured in 1778 while fishing in Floyd’s Fork, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Holbrook, Jenny, 14, captured in May 1789 in Madison Co., Ky.; surrendered on September 14, 1795, by St. Joseph Potawatomies. Holbruck, Jane, 10, captured on May 29, 1789, on Brashear’s Run, Brooke Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1785 by Wyandots. Holbruck, Sarah, captured on May 29, 1789, on Brashear’s Run, Brooke Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1785 by Wyandots. Horn, Kitty, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Horn, Peggy, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Horn, Polly, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Johnson, James, captured on July 3, 1794, in Kentucky; surrendered on May 9, 1795, by Delawares. Johnson, John, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Johnson, Joseph, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Johnson, Patty, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Johnson, Peggy, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Keer, John, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Kesine, Sarah, captured in September 1790 on Brashear’s Run, Brooke Co., Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1785 by Wyandots. Love, Timothy, captured in May 1792, at head of Big Benson Creek in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Lusk, Samuel, 18, captured in 1793 at head of Big Sandy; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Martin, Thomas, captured in 1790 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. McCarty, James, captured in 1790 on Ohio River above mouth of Green River; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. McKeever, Betsey [sic], captured in 1783 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Detroit River Wyandots. McKensie, Betsy, captured in 1792 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. McKensie, Nancy, captured in 1792 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Mitchell, Mary, captured in 1774 on the Wilderness Road in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Ottawas. Mitchell, James Hughes, captured in 1787 on Ohio River near mouth of Great Miami River; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Mitchell, Sally, 17, captured in October 1790 in Kentucky wilderness; surrendered on July 30, 1795, by Mingoes. Parsain, Sarah, 14, captured on August 9, 1790, in Madison Co., Ky.; surrendered on September 14, 1795, by St. Joseph Potawatomies. Patton, James, 41, captured on January 2, 1791, on the Muskingum River in Ohio; surrendered on February 6, 1795, by Delawares. Peek, Robert, captured in 1792 on Mill Creek near Cincinnati, O.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Peek, Thomas, captured in 1792 on Mill Creek near Cincinnati, O.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Porter, John, 28, captured on October 8, 1794, at Fort Defiance; surrendered on September 6, 1795, by Tuscaroras. Purdy, Ramona, captured in 1792 near Wheeling, Va. (W.Va.); surrendered in 1795 by Wyandots. Raughley, Victor, captured on April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Rhea, Joseph, 20, captured in 1783 in Runell Co., Va.; surrendered on June 10, 1795, by Miamis. Rigil, Kissey, captured in 1792 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Riley, Margaret, captured in 1790 on shore of Ohio River just above Wheeling Creek; surrendered in 1795 by Mingoes. Riley, Peggy, captured in 1790 on shore of Ohio River just above Wheeling Creek; surrendered in 1795 by Mingoes. Riley, Ruth, captured in 1790 on shore of Ohio River just above Wheeling Creek; surrendered in 1795 by Mingoes. Romine, Isaac, captured in 1786, near Lee’s Town, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Ruddell, Abram, captured on June 22, 1780, at Ruddell’s Station, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Ruddell, Stephen, 10, captured on June 22, 1780, at Ruddell’s Station, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Samuel, Robert, captured in April 1794 on Ohio River just below mouth of Salt River in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Potawatomies. Scott, Merritt T., captured on October 20, 1790, at Kekionga, when left wounded on battlefield at Harmar’s Defeat; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Sharp, Mary, captured in 1786 near McAfee’s Station in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Shaw, John, captured in April 1792 near head of Beargrass Creek in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Shaw, William, captured in April 1792 near head of Beargrass Creek in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Sloane, John, 16, captured in February 1791 near Pittsburgh, Pa.; surrendered on July 20, 1794, by Delawares. Smith, Peter, captured in 1793 near Falls of Ohio; surrendered in 1795 by Potawatomies. Smock, John, captured in March 1794 on Brashear’s Creek, Ky.; surrendered June 10, 1795, by Potawatomies. Smock, Peter, Jr., 14, captured in March 1794 on Brashear’s Creek, Ky.; surrendered June 10, 1795, by Potawatomies. Spangler, David, 22, captured on December 9, 1774, at Falls of Ohio; surrendered on May 15, 1795, by Potawatomies. Stephenson, Jenny, 19, captured on August 11, 1792, in Madison Co., Ky.; surrendered on September 14, 1795, by Shawnees. Stephenson, Jane, captured in 1792 at Paint Lick, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Suddreth, Thomas, captured on October 20, 1790, at Kekionga when left wounded on field of battle at Harmar’s Defeat; surrendered in 1795 by Miamis. Sykes, Christiana, 26, and six infant children, captured in 1779 on the Monongahela; surrendered July 20, 1795, by Delawares. Symmes, Sarah, 30, captured in 1785 near Wheeling, Va. (W.Va.); surrendered on December 2, 1795 by Miamis. Tackett, Elizabeth (Betsy), captured in October 1790 on Great Kanawha River; surrendered on July 20, 1795, by Shawnees. Tackett, Samuel, 16, captured in October 1790 on Great Kanawha River; surrendered on July 20, 1795, by Shawnees. Thorn, Samuel, Jr., 20, captured in March 1790 at Falls of Ohio; surrendered on June 5, 1795, by Potawatomies. Thorn, Samuel, Sr., captured in 1789 on Brashear’s Creek, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Van Bibber, Joseph, captured in 1792 in Kentucky; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees. Van Cleve, Samuel, captured in February 1794 on Brashear’s Creek, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Potawatomies. Waggoner, Betsy, 16, captured in May 1793 on Monongahela; surrendered on October 20, 1795, by Shawnees. Waggoner, Mary, 14, captured in May 1793 on Monongahela; surrendered on October 20, 1795, by Shawnees. Whelan, Michael, 30, captured November 4, 1791, at St. Clair’s Defeat; surrendered on September 6, 1795, by Wyandots. Young, Elizabeth, and one child, captured on April 1, 1793, at Morgan’s Station, Ky.; surrendered in 1795 by Shawnees.