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' 

OR'r    WASHINGTON    at 

j^i^- 

Cincinnati,    Ohio.      A   brief 

d 

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Account   NOW  FOR  THE   FIRST 

1 

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TIME  given  by  Rok.  Ralston 

1? 

Jones. 

Class. 
Book. 


£151 


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Alto-Relievo  OF"  Washington, 

n»    THE    DRAKE!    BOUSK,    ON    THE    SITE    OP    FORT    WASHINOXOM, 
CINCINNATI,    OHIO. 


FORT  -^WASHINGTON 


AT    CINCINNATI,    OHIO. 


ROBT.     RMLSTOM    JONES. 


Published    by    the   Society    of    Colonial    IV  a  r  s 


in    the    State    of    Ohio. 


f  90s  . 


^"4^^^ 


,e  5  3  ^ 


TO    MR.    HERBERT   JENNEY, 

GOVERNOR  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  COI^ONIAL,  WARS 
IN  THE  STATE  OF  OHIO. 

Through  whose  personal  efforts  the  plan  for  marking  the  site  of  Fort 
Washington,  at  Cincinnati,  was  successfully  carried  out,  this  paper  is 
respectfully  dedicated. 

.      ROBT.  RAI,STON  JONES, 

CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  '' \     • 

JUNE    1ST,    1902.  •••"* 

/   </  i"  ■  y     -! 

/o 


ORT  WASHINGTON  at  Cincinnati 
was  designed  primarily  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  settlers  in  the  Miami 
Country,  that  is,  the  region  in 
southwestern  Ohio,  lying  between 
the  Little  Miami  and  Great  Miami 
rivers,  distant  from  each  other,  as 
measured  along  the  meanders  of  the 
Ohio,  about  twenty-seven  miles. 
Two  years  had  not  elapsed  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolution,  before  the  Ohio  valley  wit- 
nessed a  most  remarkable  immigration.  Through 
the  shadows  of  the  tangled  forest,  over  the  dangerous 
mountain  trail,  and  down  past  the  rocks  and  shallows 
of  an  unknown  river,  by  wagon  and  on  foot,  in  rude 
flatboat  and  frail  canoe,  these  pioneers  came  into  the 
valley  of  the  "Beautiful  River."  The  true  story  of 
their  sufferings  has  been  but  imperfectly  recorded ; 
their  achievements,  however,  speak  for  themselves. 
They  vanquished  the  wilderness,  they  built  up  a  free 
state,  they  founded  homes,  not  for  their  children  alone, 
but  for  all  the  oppressed  peoples  of  the  earth.  The 
chief  actors  in  this  drama  could  not  grasp  the  mag- 
nificence of  the  scheme  which  they  unfolded ;  but,  with 
rare  faith  and  courage,  these  simple-hearted  men  and 
women  performed  the  homely  duties  nearest  at  hand  ; 
they  took  the  rifle  and  the  axe,  the  plowshare  and  the 
sword,  and  made  the  wilderness  to  blossom  like  a  rose. 
Settlements  sprang  up  like  the  magic  plants  which  grow 
at  the  bidding  of  an  eastern  juggler;  but,   where  these 


pioneers  of  the  valley  came,  there  also  followed  the 
schoolhouse  and  the  church,  fit  emblems  of  time  and 
immortality. 

A  special  impetus  was  given  immigration  to  the 
region  north  of  the  river  Ohio  by  the  passage  of  the 
Ordinance  of  1787,  which  provided  for  the  erection  of 
the  North-west  Territory. 

The  exodus  to  Ohio  from  the  eastern  states  then 
attained  such  large  proportions,  that  means  were  em- 
ployed to  arrest  it. 

In  Massachusetts,  penny  pamphlets  were  issued, 
filled  with  cartoons  intended  to  ridicule  the  western 
movement. 

One  such  cartoon  gave  the  meeting  of  two  men  on 
horseback;  the  one  "stout,  ruddy,  well  dressed,  on 
a  sleek  fat  horse,"  and  labeled  "I  am  going  to 
Ohio."  The  other  man  was  thin,  scantily  dressed, 
and  bestrode  a  perfect  "crowbait"  of  a  horse.  This  was 
marked  "I  have  been  to  Ohio"  (i).  Ridicule  is  a 
sharp  weapon,  but  in  this  case  it  did  not  suffice  to 
check  the  onward  march  of  emigration. 

The  year  1788  witnessed  the  founding  by  New 
Englanders  of  a  settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mus- 
kingum River,  April  7,  which  v/as  named  Marietta,  in 
honor  of  the  unhappy  Queen  of  France.  This  settle- 
ment, filled  with  a  spirit  of  enlightened  freedom,  recog- 
nizing as  did  the  early  colonies  in  New  England,  the 
benefits  which  come  from  educational  and  religious  ad- 
vancement, flourished  and  grew  to  exert  a  tremendous 
power  for  good  in  all  that  later  transpired  in  the  Terri- 
tory North-west  of  the  river  Ohio. 

In  July  of  the  same  year  a  colony  which  had  been 


(1.)    Discourse  of  Mr.  Timothy  Walker,    Ohio   HisU.  &  Philos.    Soc- 
Trans.  Part  11,  vol.  1,  p.  195. 


JT7DQE3  John  Cleves  Symmes, 

PROPRIETOR  OF  THE   LANDS   ABOUT  FORT   WASHINGTON. 

From  engraving  in  possession  of  his  great  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  Betty  Harrison  Eaton,  of  North  Bend,  Ohio. 

John  Cleves  Symmes,  born  was  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y  ,  July  21,  1742; 
but  removed  to  New  Jersey,  from  which  state  he  entered  the  Revolution- 
ary Army  as  Colonel  of  the  3d.  Battalion  Sussex  County  New  Jersey 
Militia.  Resigned  from  army  to  accept  the  appointment  of  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  New  Jersey.  While  still  holding  position  on  Supreme 
Bench  he  was  delegate  to  Continental  Congress  17H4-.5.  He  had  also  served 
as  I.,ieutenant-Governor  and  member  of  the  Council.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Governor  William  Ivivnngston  of  New  Jersey,  and  resided  at  Newton, 
N.  J.  While  on  the  bench  he  presided  (1782)  at  the  famous  trial  of  James 
Morgan  the  murderer  of  the  patriot,  Reverend  James  Caldwell.  *Judge 
Symmes  obtained  in  August  1787,  a  grant  from  Congress  for  the  purchase 
of  one  million  acres  of  land,  lying  between  the  Miamis  and  bordered  on 
the  south  by  the  Ohio  River.  After  many  complications  and  difficulties, 
this  amount  was  reduced  to  between  three  and  four  hundred  thousand 
acres.  Judge  .Symmes  removed  with  his  family  to  the  Northwest  Territory, 
of  which  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  judges  in  1788.  He  died  in  Cincin- 
nati, February  2<),  1814. 


organized  by  John  Cleves  Symmes  of  New  Jersey 
for  settlement  in  the  Miami  Country,  set  out  from' 
Elizabethtown,  and  proceeded  overland  to  what  was 
then  called  ^'Redstone  Old  Fort,"  now  Brownsville 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  Monongahela  River.  When  the 
expedition  departed  by  river  from  Redstone,  it  num- 
bered about  thirty  persons,  prominent  among  them  be- 
ing Captain  Benjamin  Stites,  to  whom  belongs  the  honor 
of  having  personally  explored  the  valleys  of  the  Little 
and  Great  Miami  rivers,  two  years  before. 

It  was  eminently  fitting  that  Captain  Stites,  hav- 
ing been  the  explorer  of  the  Miami  Country,  and  hav- 
ing first  urged  upon  Judge  Symmes  the  natural 
advantages  of  the  two  valleys,  should  receive  warrant 
No.  I  of  the  Miami  Purchase.  This  warrant,  which 
bore  date  of  December  7,  1787,  called  for  640  acres  of 
land  "  at  the  point  betwixt  the  mouth  of  the  Little 
Miami  and  the  Ohio  in  the  pint." 

The  little  colony  of  Judge  Symmes  sailed  down 
the    Monongahela    and    Ohio    rivers,    landing   about 
August     24    at  Fort  Harmar.     At    this    point    their 
movements  are  noted  in  the  journal  of  a  gallant  young 
ofificer  of  the  garrison,  who  remarks  as  follows:  "Judge 
Symmes,  with  several  boats  and  families,  arrived  on 
their  way  to  his   new  purchase  on  the  Miami.     Has  a 
daughter   (Polly)   along.     They   lodge   with  General 
and   Mrs.  Harmar.     Stay  three  days  and  depart.     If 
not  mistaken.  Miss  Symmes  will  make  a  fine  woman. 
An  amiable    disposition  and    highly  cultivated    mind 
about  to   be    buried    in    the  wilderness"    (2).      The 
writer  of   this    journal,   having  spent  the  winter   of 
1785-86    in    Fort    Finney,  at   the  lower  end  of  the 
Symmes    purchase,    was   well    qualified    to    give    an 

(  2.  )    Military  Journal  of  Major  Ebenezer  Denny. 

3 


opinion  on  the  character  of  the  surroundings  in  which 
Miss  Symmes  would  soon  be  placed. 

The  little  party  of  colonists,  after  a  rest  of  several 
days,  left  Marietta  about  August  27,  and  proceeded  to 
Limestone  (now  Maysville,  Ky.),  where  a  block- 
house had  been  built,  and  a  brisk  little  settlement  had 
sprung  up  four  years  previously.  Limestone  at  this 
time,  and  for  some  years  afterwards,  was  the  port  of 
entry  for  the  country  about  Lexington,  in  the  blue 
grass  region.  Lexington  had  acquired  some  note  as 
early  as  1779,  and  the  road  which  led  out  to  it  from 
Limestone  went  over  an  ancient  "Buffalo  trace," 
remains  of  which  can  still  be  seen. 

Judge  Symmes  after  a  short  stop  at  Limestone, 
where  he  left  his  family,  pushed  on  to  the  present  site 
of  Cincinnati,  arriving  there  on  the  22nd  of  Septem- 
ber (3).  He  at  once  began  the  exploration  of  the  back 
country,  so  far  as  the  northern  line  of  the  fifth 
range  of  townships,  and  extending  westward  to 
the  Great  Miami.  He  even  started  on  the  descent  of 
that  stream,  but  having  been  deserted  by  his  escort, 
was  forced  to  return  to  the  place  of  his  original  disem- 
barkation opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River. 
He  soon  after  returned  to  Limestone,  where  he  re- 
mained for  several  months. 

Captain  Stites,  after  spending  more  than  two 
months  in  preparation  for  building,  by  sawing  out 
lumber  for  the  cabins,  set  out  from  Limestone  on 
November  16,  and  reached  the  locality  mentioned  in 
his  land  warrant  on  November  18,  landing  at  a  point  a 
little  below  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Miami  River.  On 
the  next  day  the  colonists  set  to  work  with  great 
activity,  building  cabins  and  several  blockhouses.    The 

(3.)    lyCtter   from  John  Cleves    Svrames  to  Jonathan  Dayton,  October 
22,  1788. 


location  of  the  first  blockhouse  erected  by  Captain 
Stites's  party  has  been  fully  identified  by  the  writer  as 
being  on  Sec.  29,  Tp.  5.  It  stood  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio  River,  at  a  point  about  one-half  mile  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Little  Miami.  The  blockhouse  was 
about  eighteen  feet  wide  and  twenty-four  feet  long, 
built  of  large  round  logs.  It  survived  the  ravages  of 
time  until  April  25,  1838,  when  it  was  undermined 
during  a  time  of  flood,  by  the  swells  from  passing 
steamers  (4). 

The  low-lying  plain  on  which  the  Columbia  col- 
onists first  established  themselves  was  exceedingly 
fertile,  a  portion  of  it  known  as  Turkey  Bottom  hav- 
ing been  cultivated  for  years  by  the  Indians.  The 
ground  was,  however,  not  well  chosen  for  a  town  site, 
as  it  was  overflowed  in  the  spring  following  the  coming 
of  the  colonists;  and  in  later  years  the  freshets  of  win- 
ter and  spring  have  covered  a  large  portion  of  the  plain. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  scattered  houses,  this 
early  settlement  has  been  crowded  back  upon  the  high- 
er ground  to  the  northwest  of  the  site  originally  se- 
lected. 

In  a  little  more  than  a  month  after  Captain  Stites 
and  his  party  disembarked  near  the  Little  Maimi,  a 
small  party  landed  in  Yeatman's  Cove,  at  what  would 
now  be  the  foot  of  Sycamore  Street  in  Cincinnati. 
This  settlement,  which  took  place  on  the  28th  of  Dec- 
ember, 1788,  was  made  upon  land  which  Matthias 
Denman  of  New  Jersey,  one  of  the  associates  of  Judge 
Symmes,  had  contracted  for  as  his  portion  of  the  Miami 
Purchase. 

The  site  was  well  chosen,  the  higher  banks  rising 
above  the   reach  of  floods  while  a  range  of  lofty  hills 

(  i. )    See  Appendix  I  for  origrinal  narrative  of  Mr.  Thomas  Gregory. 

5 


enclosed  a  large  amphitheater  of  comparatively  level 
ground,  then  covered  by  a  dense  growth  of  timber. 
The  clear  waters  of  Deer  Creek  on  the  east,  and  Mill 
Creek  on  the  west,  flowed  down  to  the  Ohio  through 
beautiful  little  valleys   bordering  the  site  of  the  town. 

The  country  was  dry,  healthful,  and  well  watered, 
while  the  virgin  forest  on  every  side  furnished  a  more 
than  sufficient  supply  of  building  material.  Nearly  op- 
posite the  landing  place  lay  the  mouth  of  a  rapid  little 
stream  (the  Licking), navigable, however, in  high  water, 
which  rose  amid  the  distant  hills  of  central  Kentucky 
then  the  nearest  settled  country  to  the  southward. 

Judge  Symmes  was  obliged  to  remain  at  Lime- 
stone far  longer  than  he  desired.  Christmas  and  New 
Year  had  both  passed  and  still  he  prolonged  his  stay, 
the  weather  meanwhile  growing  more  and  more  in- 
clement, and  the  dangers  of  navigation  becoming  in 
tensified  by  reason  of  the  ice  with  which  the  Ohio 
River  was  filled. 

This  delay  appears  to  have  been  made  in  order  to 
give  time  for  the  conclusion  of  treaties  with  the  Indians, 
then  in  progress  at  Fort  Harmar;  or,  if  the  treaties 
should  fail  of  successful  termination,  then  to  secure 
military  protection  for  the  settlers  on  the  Miami.  On 
the  22nd  of  September,  Lieutenant  Kersey  arrived  at 
Fort  Harmar  with  forty-eight  recruits  from  New  Jer- 
sey. Early  in  December  the  greater  portion  of  this 
force  was  dispatched  to  Limestone,  where  they  arrived 
December  12,  and  where  at  Judge  Symmes's  request,  a 
sergeant  with  eighteen  privates  was  detached  and  sent 
down  to  protect  the  settlement  which  had  been  made 
by  Captain  Stites  at  Columbia.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  same  month,  a  company  of  settlers  from  the  upper 
portion  of  the  Ohio  River  started  from  Limestone,  in- 
tending to  occupy  the   buildings  at   Fort   Finney    near 

6 


the  Great  Miami  River,  This  was  a  work  which  had 
been  erected  by  the  troops  in  1785,  and  later  evacuated 
when  the  fort  near  Jeffersonville  was  erected.  The 
company,  however,  after  great  peril  from  the  ice,  man- 
aged to  land  at  the  Columbia  settlement  and  abandon- 
ed their  original  plans. 

The  treaty  at  Fort  Harmar  was  signed  on  the 
9th  of  January,  1789,  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same 
month  Judge  Symmes  with  his  own  family  and  those 
who  remained  of  the  families  of  other  settlers  who  had 
already  gone  forward,  set  out  with  Lieutenant  Kersey's 
(5)  command  for  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami. 

After  a  long  voyage,  rendered  somewhat  danger- 
ous by  the  ice  in  the  river,  the  party  was  forced  to 
disembark  on  the  2nd  of  February,  at  North  Bend, 
about  six  miles  above  the  spot  originally  chosen  for 
settlement.  At  this  time  the  land  immediately  about 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River  was  covered  by 
the  waters  of  a  winter  freshet. 

Judge  Symmes  who  was  the  original  promoter  of 
the  scheme  for  settling  the  Miami  Country  had  pro- 
jected his  city  upon  a  peninsula  lying  between  the 
Ohio  and  Great  Miami  rivers.  It  was  thus  located 
that  it  might  control  the  commerce  of  the  latter  stream, 
for  Judge  Symmes  mistrusted  that  the  trade  of  the 
Ohio  might  pass  without  halting  at  his  settlement. 
The  first  site  proposed  for  this  city  on  the  Miami  was 
directly  at  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers,  upon  land  as 
low  and  probably  as  fertile  as  that  on  which  Colum- 
bia was  first  built.      When  Judge  Symmes,  soon  after 

(  5. )    Military  Journal  of  Ebenezer  Denny. 

I<ieutenant  (later  Major)  William  Kersey  was  from  New  Jersey,  which 
in  the  first  regiment  organized  for  the  defense  of  the  western  frontier,  had 
contributed  one  company.  In  this  company.  Kersey  was  an  ensign.  He 
had  served  more  than  seven  years  in  the  Continental  Army,  rising  from 
his  position  as  private  in  the  ranks  in  177tt  to  be  captain  at  the  close  of  the 
war  In  the  Army  of  the  United  States  he  rose  from  an  ensigncy  in  nm, 
to  be  lieutenant,  captain,  and  major.  Major  Kersey  died  in  the  service 
March  21,  1800. 


his  arrival  at  North  Bend,  visited  in  a  boat  the  mouth 
of  the  Miami,  he  found  to  his  chagrin,  that  although 
the  flood  had  subsided  some  fifteen  feet  from  its  high- 
est level,  it  still  covered   the  site  he  so  much  coveted. 

It  was  evident,  therefore,  that  a  new  site  must  be 
selected,  and  accordingly  a  plan  was  laid  out  which 
stretched  across  the  neck  of  land,  northwestward  from 
North  Bend  to  the  Great  Miami.  The  general  surface 
of  this  region  was  somewhat  irregular  and  cut  up  by 
ravines  and  small  water  courses,  while  the  portion 
nearest  North  Bend  and  bordering  the  Ohio  was  hem- 
med in  by  high  hills  which  left  but  a  scanty  foothold 
at  their  base. 

When  spring  opened  in  the  year  1789,  there  were, 
as  has  been  shown,  three  small  settlements  stretched 
for  about  twenty-one  miles  along  that  portion  of  the 
Miami  Country  which  fronts  the  Ohio  River  (6). 

The  settlement  at  Columbia,  the  earliest  of  the 
three,  enjoyed  the  protection  of  several  blockhouses; 
but  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  depend  entirely  upon 
their  own  efforts  for  defense  as  the  small  detachment 
of  Lieutenant  Kersey's  command,  which  had  for  a  time 
remained  with  them,  was  withdrawn  when  Judge 
Symmes  arrived  from  Limestone  early  in  February. 

North  Bend,  as  shown  by  the  correspondence  be- 
tween John  Cleves  Symmes  and  Jonathan  Dayton  (7), 
also  had  a  blockhouse  at  this  time,  with  a  guard  of 
twelve  effective  men,  under  command  of  Ensign  Luce 
(8).  This  detachment  included  nominally  eighteen 
privates,  but  some  were  disabled  by  sickness,  besides 
which  there  were  one  or  two  desertions  and  some 
deaths  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 

(  6. )    See  Appendix  II. 

(  7.  )    I,etter  of  John  Cleves  Symmes  to  Jonathan  Dayton,  July  17,  1789. 

(  8.  )  The  name  of  Frans.  Luse  (L,iioe, )  ensign,  is  appended  to  the  treaty 
with  the  Wyandots  at  Fort  Harmar,  January  9,  1799,  as  a  witness  to  that 
document.    He  resigned  from  the  serWce  in  March,  1790. 


Brigadier-Genera!.  Josiah  Harmar 

UI«I>ER    ^FnOJSE    COMMAND    FORT    WTASniNQTON    \FA9    BUILT. 


From  portrait  l)y  Peale. 
Courtesy  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society. 


Josiah  Harmar,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  175'^,  and  educated  at 
the  famous  Quaker  vSchool  of  one  Robert  Proud.  Served  in  Revolutionary 
Army  from  October  27,  177.5  to  November  3,  1783,  retiring  with  rank  of 
brevet  Colonel.  In  following  year  conveyed  dispatches  from  Congress  to 
Paris  announcing  formal  ratification  of  peace.  Appointed  L,ieutenant- 
Colonel  Commandant  of  United  States  Infantry  Regiment.  August  12,  1784, 
and  remained  at  the  head  of  the  Army  until  superseded  by  General  St. 
Clair  in  1791.  Under  his  command  Fort  Washington  was  built.  He  con- 
ducted the  campaign  which  bears  his  name,  in  September  and  October 
1790;  and  owing  to  adverse  criticism  resigned  from  the  service  January  1, 
1792.  Returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  there  served  six  years  as  Adjutant- 
General.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  August  20,  1813,  and  was  buried  with 
military  honors. 


The  blockhouse  at  North  Bend  was  probably  a 
small  and  perhaps  a  rude  structure,  as  Ensign  Luce 
was  illy  supplied  with  even  the  simplest  tools  like  axes 
and  shovels.  Indeed,  Judge  Symmes  was  obliged  to 
lend  him  such  articles.  It  is  said  that  Lieutenant  Ker- 
sey originally  desired  to  locate  his  command  in  the  old 
buildings  which  still  remained  at  Fort  Finney,  but  for 
some  reason  this  was  not  done  (9).  There  can  be  no 
reasonable  doubt,  however,  that  a  blockhouse  was 
erected  at  North  Bend  early  in  the  year  1789,  and  that 
Ensign  Luce  remained  at  his  post, affording  to  the  set- 
tlers the  best  protection  possible  with  his  small  force, 
instead  of  slipping  off  to  Cincinnati  after  a  black-eyed 
beauty,  as  one  respected  historian  has  supposed  (10). 

There  is  no  authentic  record  of  the  existence  of  a 
blockhouse  at  the  Cincinnati  settlement  in  the  spring 
of  1789;  although  one  had  been  built  here  when  the  ex- 
pedition against  the  Shawanees  was  undertaken  by 
George  Rogers  Clark,  nine  years  before  (11). 

When  the  army  of  the  western  frontier  first  took 
station  on  the  Ohio  River,  it  was  at  Fort  Mcintosh;  but, 
as  new  outposts  were  from  time  to  time  erected  further 
to  the  westward,  the  commander  of  the  army  found  it 
necessary  to  move  his  headquarters  to  some  more  cen- 
tral point.  Accordingly  General  Harmar  proceeded 
with  his  family  to  the  fort  which  bore  his  name,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Muskingum.  He  arrived  about  the  mid- 
dle of  July,  1786,  and  still  retained  his  headquarter^ 
at  Fort  Harmar  when  the  building  of  Fort  Washington 
was  begun. 

(  9.  >  Letter  from  John  Cleves  Symmes  to  "Hon.  Captain  Dayton,"  Mav 
18-20,  1789.  J-       -  y 

( 10. )  Burnet's  Notes,  Ed.  1847.  pp.  5J-57.  N.  B.  Judge  Burnet  was  not 
living  in  Cincinnati  at  the  time  in  question  and  wrote  of  the  incident  only 
as  he  had  been  told. 

( 11. )  I<etter  of  John  McCadden,  May  16,  1842,  American  Pioneer,  vol 
I,  p.  377. 


The  question  of  establishing  a  post  in  the 
Miami  Country,  had  evidently  been  discussed  between 
General  Harmar  and  the  War  Department,  before  even 
the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  at  Fort  Harmar.  Under 
date  of  January  22,  1789,  General  Harmar  wrote  to 
Major  Wyllys  as  follows:  "It  is  not  improbable  but 
that  two  companies  will  be  ordered  to  be  stationed  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  not  only  as  a  better 
cover  for  Kentucky,  but  also  to  afford  protection  to 
Judge  Symmes  in  his  intended  settlement  there    * 

*  *  *  .If  the  two  companies  should 
be  ordered  to  take  post  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Miami,  provision  can  be  conveniently  laid  in  and 
forwarded  from  Limestone  by  Lieutenant  Schuy- 
ler." Although  the  claims  of  the  Miami  settle- 
ments for  protection  against  the  Indians  had  been 
strongly  urged  by  Judge  Symmes  and  his  friends  in 
Congress  for  sometime  before,  it  was  not  until  the  last 
of  the  summer  of  1789,  that  the  construction  of  an  ef- 
fective, and  for  the  times,  an  imposing  fortress  was  be- 
gun at  the  Cincinnati  settlement. 


10 


LlEUTElVANT  EbENEZER   DeNNY, 

ADJUTANT    AT    FORT   WASHINGTON,     1700-01. 


Courtesy  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society. 

Ebenezer  Denny  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  March  11,  1701,  being  the 
eldest  child  of  William  Denny  and  Agnes  Parker.  His  mother  was 
the  sister  of  Mr.  Alexander  Parker,  the  original  proprietor  o{  the 
land  on  which  the  city  of  Parkersburg,  W.  Va.,  now  stands.  The 
life  of  Ebenezer  Denny  was  full  of  adventure  and  romance.  When  a 
mere  lad  of  thirteen  years,  he  was  the  trusted  dispatch  bearer  to 
the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Pitt.  During  the  early  part  of  the  Revolu- 
tion he  served  on  an  American  Privateer,  and  later  entering  the  Continen- 
tal Army  as  en.sign,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  having  then  the  rank 
of  lieutenant.  He  was  appointed  en,sign  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States 
in  17M4,  and  .served  up  to  the  time  of  his  resignation  in  the  spring  of  179  , 
leaving  the  army  with  the  rank  of  captain.  Two  years  later  he  was  com- 
rai.s.sioned  by  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  to  protect  the  frontier  at  Ven- 
ango and  Presque  Isle  At  the  former  place  he  built  a  new  work  near  the 
site  of  the  old  French  ajid  Engli.sh  forts.  Lieutenant  Denny  served 
through  the  campaigns  of  Harmar  and  >St  Clair  and  was  the  trusted  aide  to 
both  these  officers.  He  was  several  times  the  bearer  of  important  dis- 
patches from  Harmar  and  .St.  Clair  to  the  War  Department,  traveling 
through  the  well-nigh  unbroken  wilderness  in  the  performance  of  such 
duties.  His  journal  published  by  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  Society  is 
the  most  valuable  record  of  this  period.  Major  Denny  died  on  his  place 
near  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  July  L'l,  IH21'. 


N  THE  EARLY  part  of  August,  1789, 
Captain  David  Strong  (12)  re- 
ceived orders  to  proceed  to  the 
Miami  Country.  Accordingly,  with 
a  full  company  of  seventy  men, 
and  his  two  subalterns,  Lieutenant 
Jacob  Kingsbury  (13)  and  Ensign 
Hartshorn,  (14)  Captain  Strong 
set  out  from  Fort  Harmar  on  the 
9th  of  August  (15).  Two  days 
later  Major  John  Doughty,  an  artillery  officer  of 
great  ability,  and  second  in  command  to  General  Har- 
mar, set  out  for  the  same  region,  "for  the  purpose  of 
selecting  the  site  of  a  fort  intended  to  protect  the  set- 
tlers on  the  Symmes  Purchase"  (16). 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States, 
it  was  not  uncommon  for    officers     in  the   Artillery 

(12.)  Captain  (later  I<ieutenant  Colonel)  David  Strong,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  who  after  faithful  service  in  the  Continental  Army,  from 
which  he  retired  with  rank  of  captain,  entered  the  Army  of  the  United 
States  in  which  he  served  up  to  his  death  at  Fort  Wilkinson,  111.,  August 
19,  1801.  Captain  Strong  took  part  in  at  least  the  preliminary  work  in- 
volved in  the  building  of  Fort  Washington.  He  subsequently  constructed 
Fort  Wilkinson,  twelve  miles  below  Metropolis,  111.,  and  was  in  command 
at  Fort  Jefferson  in  1792,  and  Detroit  lim. 

(13.)  I,ieutenant  (later  Colonel)  Jacob  Kingsbury,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, who  had  served  throughout  the  entire  Revolution  and  was  com- 
missioned l,ieutenant  in  the  First  Reg^iment  of  United  States  Infantrj', 
October  15, 1787.  After  serving  under  successive  commanders  in  the  various 
reorganizations  of  the  Army,  he  was  honorably  discharged  June  15. 181o, 
forty  years  after  his  first  enlistment  as  a  private  in  the  Continental  A!rmy. 
At  the  time  of  his  retirement  he  held  the  rank  of  colonel.  A  year  before 
his  retirement  he  had  been  Inspector-General.  Colonel  Kingsbury  died 
July  1,  1837.  While  Kingsbury  took  part  in  all  the  various  campaigns 
against  the  Indians,  he  is  particularly  associated  with  the  defense  of  Dun- 
laps  Station  on  the  Great  Miami  River  in  January,  1791.  At  this  time  his 
cheery  courage  animated  the  little  garrison  to  hold  out  against  great 
odds,  until  help  was  procured  from  Fort  Washington. 

(14.)  Ensign  (later  Captain)  Asa  Hartshorn,  of  Connecticut,  entered 
the  United  States  Army  in  1787.  After  performing  much  useful  duty  on 
details  to  protect  surveyors  and  the  government  geographer,  he  served 
against  the  Indians  and  was  killed  during  the  Wayne  campaign  June  80, 
1794,  under  the  walls  of  Fort  Recovery.  This  action  was  between  an  escort 
of  150  United  States  troops  and  a  body  of  Indians  probably  assisted  by 
British  agents  and  French  volunteers. 

(15.)    Military  Journal  of  Major  Ebenezer  Denny. 

(16.)    Military  Journal  of  Major  Ebenezer  Denny. 


u 


branch  of  the  service  to  perform  duties  more  strictly 
pertaining  to  the  Engineers,  in  fact  the  two  corps  were 
at  one  time  combined  as  the  "Artillerists  and  En- 
gineers." Major  Doughty  had,  moreover,  established  a 
fine  record  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  sub- 
sequent thereto  was  intrusted  with  various  important 
missions  on  the  western  frontier.  He  was  not  only 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  commanding  officer,  but  by 
others  qualified  to  form  an  opinion.  Major  Doughty(  17) 
too  had  the  advantage  of  experience  in  this  line,  hav- 
ing constructed  Fort  Harmar  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mus- 
kingum, in  1785 — 6.  For  all  these  reasons  he  was 
chosen  by  General  Harmar  as  a  trusted  and  efficient 
officer  to  select  the  site  and  design  the  plan  of  the  pro- 
posed fortress. 

Major  Doughty  after  a  passage  down  the  Ohio, 
which  consumed  a  week's  time,  arrived  in  the  Miami 
Country  on  the  i6th  of  August;  and  five  days  later  he 
sent  a  letter  to  General  Harmar,  which  embodied  a 
report  on  his  expedition.  The  Major  had  spent  three 
days  in  making  a  reconnaissance  of  the  region  between 
the  Miamis,  during  which  time,  he  carefully  weighed 
the  advantages  offered  by  various  localities. 

He  considered  the  matter  of  safety  from  Hoods,  the 
surroundings  of  the  proposed  site  as  affecting  the  health 


(17.)  Major  John  Doughty  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  the  eldest  son  of 
Joseph  Doughty  and  Siche  Wiltsie,  and  was  born  "the  8th  day  of  ye  fith 
month  1757."  He  served  in  the  Continental  Army,  in  the  Artillery,  except 
for  a  short  time  (in  1777)  when  he  was  aide  to  General  Schuyler,  and  re- 
tired at  the  close  of  September  17H;^  with  the  rank  of  brevet  major.  He 
was  appointed  Major  of  the  Artillery  Gattalion.  United  States  Army  iu 
17S4,  resigned  from  the  service  in  17!)l.  but  in  17!tS  reentered  it  as  L,ieuten- 
ant-Colonel  of  the  Second  Kcgiment  of  Artillerists  and  Engineers.  Two 
years  later  he  permanently  retired  from  the  service,  and  died  vSeptember 
16,  l>-26.  Major  Doughty  was  the  designer  and  constructor  of  I"ort  Harmar 
on  the  Muskingum  in  178,5  and  the  designer  of  Kort  Washington  in  17il». 
He  held  command  at  Fort  Mcintosh,  Fort  Harmar  and  Fort  Washington, 
and  in  17fll  executed  a  hazardous  mis.sion  to  the  Indians  of  the  Tenneessee 
from  which  he  narrowly  escaped  with  liis  lif'j.  Major  Doughty  was  an  en- 
thusiastic horticulturist  and  it  is  said  originated  the  famous  Doughty  peach 
which  for  many  years  flourished  about  the  Muskingum  River. 

12 


of  a  garrison,  and  also  looked  into  the  question  of  wa- 
ter supply  for  the  fort. 

Of  all  the  places  examined,  he  considered  that  the 
best  selection  he  could  possibly  make  was  "opposite 
Licking  River,  high  and  healthy,  abounding  in  never 
failing  springs"  (i8). 

Major  Doughty's  report  was  accepted  as  satisfac- 
tory, and  General  Knox,  Secretary  of  War,  was  duly 
informed  thereof  by  General  Harmar. 

The  situation  of  the  fort  having  thus  been  deter- 
mined, it  only  remained  to  carry  out  the  plan  which 
had  been  prepared  by  Major  Doughty.  To  this  end 
about  the  4th  of  September,  Captain  William  Ferguson 
(19)  was  ordered  with  his  company  "to  join  Captain 
Strong  in  erecting  a  fort  near  the  Miami";  and  Lieut- 
enant Pratt,  who  was  then  acting  as  post  Quarter- 
master, was  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  same  point  (20). 

The  work  of  actual  construction  thus  began  very 
promptly,  and  was  carried  on  under  the  personal  su- 
pervision of  Captain  Ferguson  and  Lieutenant  Pratt,(2i ) 
who  performed  their  duties  in  such  satisfactory  man- 

(IS.)  Report  of  General  Harmar  to  General  Knox,  vSecretarv  of  War 
September  12,  1789.  ' 

(19.)  Captain  (later  Major)  William  Ferguson  was  from  Pennsylvania 
and  had  served  m  the  Corps  of  Artillery  during  the  Revolution  He  was 
appointed  Captain  in  the  United  Stales  Army  in  1785.  He  appears  to  have 
been  the  principal  constructor  of  Fort  Washington  at  Cincinnati  in  1789 
and  during  the  preparations  for  the  campaign  two  years  later  he  was 
very  actively  engaged  in  the  repair  and  manufacture  of  arms  'gun  car- 
nages, etc.  He  was  killed  during  the  St.  Clair  campaign,  November  4 
1791.  Major  Ferguson  had  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Maskell  Ewing' 
Secretary  of  the  Grand  I^odge  (Masonic)  of  New  Jersey.  Maskell  Ewing's 
name  appears  as  Secretary  on  the  original  charter  granted  to  the  Nova 
Caesarea  (Harmony)  I^odge  of  Cincinnati,  dated' September  8,  1791  Major 
Ferguson  shortly  before  he  set  out  on  campaigns  of  1791,  purchased  the  lot 
on  S.  W.  corner  of  Broadway  and  Fourth  Street,  opposite  the  upper  end  of 
the  military  reservation  on  which  Fort  Washington  stood. 

(20.)  I,ieutenant  (later  Captain)  John  Pratt  was  a  native  of  Connecticut 
who  had  served  in  the  Continental  Army  from  which  he  retired  with  the 
rank  of  lieutenant.  He  was  appointed  to  the  same  rank  in  the  Army  of 
the  United  States  in  1785,  and  resigned  in  December  17()3  He  was  regimen- 
tal quartermaster  in  1789,  when  Fort  Washington  was  under  construction 
and  in  fact  the  army  li.sts  show  him  carried  as  Acting  Quartermaster- 
General  at  this  time.  * 

(21.)  Report  of  General  Harmar  to  General  Knox,  Secretary  of  War 
January  14, 1790.    See  Appendix  II.  >  j  . 

13 


ner  that  they  were  mentioned  in  a  special  report  to  the 
Secretary  of  War. 

The  various  forts  on  the  western  frontier  were 
very  similar  in  outline  and  the  methods  employed  in 
their  construction  were  almost  identical.  There  were 
of  course  slight  variations  in  the  disposition  of  the 
blockhouses,  and  the  height  of  palisade  work;  but  as  a 
rule,  the  outline  of  each  fort  was  rectangular,  with 
blockhouses,  or  in  military  parlance,  bastions,  located 
at  the  angles.  The  first  step  taken  in  the  building  of  a 
fort  was  the  clearing  of  the  ground  of  all  underbrush 
and  the  cutting  down  of  the  trees,  close  to  the  ground, 
for  a  distance  of  several  hundred  yards  all  about  the 
proposed  site. 

The  blockhouses  were  next  constructed,  being 
sometimes,  as  in  the  case  of  Fort  Steuben  and  Fort 
Harmar,  set  obliquely  to  the  faces  of  the  curtains,  or 
side  walls,  of  the  fort.  Generally,  however,  the  faces 
of  the  blockhouses  were  parallel  to  the  curtains,  but 
projected  about  half  their  width  beyond  them.  This 
arrangement  permitted  of  a  raking  fire  from  the  block- 
houses, along  the  face  of  each  curtain,  and  so  made  the 
scaling  of  the  palisades  by  an  enemy  almost  an  im- 
possibility. The  blockhouses  were  usually  two  stories 
in  height,  with  the  upper  story  projecting  beyond  the 
lower,  and  pierced  with  loop  holes  for  muskets.  The 
blockhouses  which  were  commonly  about  twenty  feet 
square,  were  built  of  heavy  logs  hewed,  at  least  on 
the  upper  and  lower  edges,  in  order  to  bring  them, 
when  laid,  into  close  contact.  The  logs  were  built  up 
in  horizontal  courses  and  notched  together  at  the  cor- 
ner of  the  blockhouse. 

In  the  middle  of  each  curtain,  the  walls  of  the  fort 
were  formed  by  the  barrack  buildings  or  storehouses 
built  also  of  logs  but  without  projection  of  upper  stories. 

14 


Fort  WASHiN«roN^  at  Ci^vcinnati,  Ohio. 

BUII^T    17S0«        DKMOL18HBD    190S. 

From  a  sketch  by  Major  Jonathan  Heart,  U.  S.  A.,  in  1791. 


Jonathan  Heart  was  born  in  Kensington  (now  Berlin),  Con- 
ne  ticut,  in  the  year  1744,  his  father,  Deacon  Ebenezer  Hart,  being  a 
descendant  of  one  ot  tlie  early  settlers  in  the  Colony.  Jonathan  Heart  was 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1708.  After  the  completion  of 
his  collegiate  studies.  Heart  taught  school  in  New  Jersey  but  returned 
to  his  native  state  prior  to  the  Revolution.  He  started  with' the  volunteers 
ot  the  •■I.exington  Alarm,"  was  a  private  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  an  ensign 
at  the  siege  ot  Boston.  After  a  service  of  eight  and  one-half  years  in  the 
Continental  Army,  Heart  retired  at  the  time  of  its  final  dfsbandment, 
November  8,  1783,  with  the  rank  of  brigade-major.  In  lys  Heart  was 
appointed  captain  of  one  of  the  two  companies  which  Co  inecticut  fur- 
nished as  her  quota  to  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  and  he  then  con- 
ducted his  company  across  the  country  from  Connecticut  by  way  of  West 
Point  to  Fort  Pi' t  and  thence  down  to  Fort  Mcintosh,  where  the  company 
went  into  gam  on.  During  Heart's  service  in  the  army  of  the  frontier  he 
performed  much  u.seful  work.  He  was  the  designer  and  constructor  of 
Fort  Franklin  at  French  Creek,  Penna.  Heart  was  promoted  to  be  Major 
of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Infantry  in  1791,  and  arrived  at  Fort  Washing- 
ton on  the  2(lth  of  April.  Between  this  time  and  the  departure  of  the 
troops  on  the  St.  Clair  Campaign  in  the  following  autumn.  Major  Heart 
made  the  sketch  which  is  given  above.  In  the  engagement  of 
November  4, 1791,  Heart  (with  many  of  the  officers  and  men  of  his  regiment) 
was  killed. 


The  spaces  along  the  curtains  which  intervened 
between  the  blockhouses  and  barracks,  were  filled 
with  palisades.  These  palisades  were  formed  by  tree 
trunks  cut  into  such  lengths  that  after  being  placed  up- 
right in  a  trench  about  four  feet  deep,  they  would  rise 
from  ten  to  sixteen  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  The  lower  end  of  the  logs  composing  the  pali- 
sade, were  carefully  squared  off,  and  the  upper  ends 
usually  pointed. 

The  edges  of  the  palisades  where  they  came  in 
contact  with  each  other,  were  slightly  hewed  to  re- 
move any  great  irregularities,  and  the  tightness  of  the 
wall  was  further  insured  by  a  second  row,  the  logs  of 
which  were  placed  behind  the  joints  of  those  in  the 
outer  row.  Horizontal  string  pieces  were  secured  by 
wooden  pins  to  the  upper  ends  of  the  palisades  to  bind 
them  all  firmly  together. 

The  roofs  of  all  buildings  and  the  floors  were 
usually  constructed  of  the  rough  plank  riven  or  sawed 
from  logs,  unless,  as  in  the  case  of  Fort  Washington, 
other  more  suitable  lumber  was  obtainable.  Chim- 
neys were  constructed  of  stone,  or  of  small  sticks  laid 
up  "cob  house"  fashion,  chinked  and  lined  with  clay. 
The  earth  from  the  trench  in  which  the  palisades 
were  erected,  was  replaced  and  carefully  rammed 
about  them;  while  outside  of  the  fort,  ditches  were 
dug,  usually  quite  shallow,  which  provided  for  the  sur- 
face drainage. 

Ordinarily  the  frontier  forts,  as  already  observed, 
were  constructed  wholly  of  the  material  nearest  at 
hand ;  they  were  literally  hewed  out  of  the  forest;  but 
in  the  case  of  the  fort  which  Captain  Ferguson  and 
Lieutenant  Pratt  were  building,  there  was  a  cheap 
supply  of  lighter  and  better  lumber  for  certain  portions 
of  the  structure. 


15 


Contemporary  accounts  of  Fort  Washington  state 
that  its  walls  were  built  from  trees  cut  from  the  forest 
which  then  thickly  covered  the  plateau  round  about. 
The  more  exposed  portions,  the  blockhouses,  barracks, 
and  palisades,  were  doubtless  constructed  of  logs,  as 
the  heaviest  material  obtainable  from  the  small  tlat- 
boats  then  plying  upon  the  Ohio,  would  hardly  prove 
bullet-proof,  hi  fact.  General  Harmar  in  his  report  does 
not  state  that  flatboat  timbers  alone  entered  into  the 
Fort's  construction,  and  we  may  infer  that  of  the  pur- 
chased material,  this  was  the  only  lumber  used,  for  he 
ends  his  remarks  with  the  expression,  "thus  much  for 
the  plank  work."  The  log  work  costing  nothing  be- 
yond the  labor  of  the  soldiers,  which  was  free,  he  did 
not  consider. 

A  sojourn  in  the  wilderness  had  taught  the  sol- 
diers self-reliance  and  ingenuity.  Of  all  the  material 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  fort,  the  Government 
was  put  to  expense  only  for  glass,  nails,  wagon  hire, 
and  such  lumber  as  was  taken  from  the  tlatboats. 
Stone  for  the  mason  work  in  foundations  and  lime,  was 
near  at  hand  in  abundance.  The  soldiers  burned  the 
lime  themselves  and  performed  all  other  necessary 
labor.  The  virgin  forest  all  about  the  fort,  contained 
material  for  the  heavier  portions  of  the  structure;  while 
the  lumber  from  flatboats  furnished  floors,  roofing 
material,  doors,  sentry  boxes,  etc.  These  flatboats 
were  purchased  at  Limestone,  some  40  or  50  in  all,  at 
a  cost  of  from  one  to  two  dollars  each.  They  were  so 
called  Kentucky  flatboats,  which  had  come  down  the 
river  laden  with  emigrants  or  supplies;  and  having 
fuliilled  their  purpose  were  now  of  little  or  no  value 
and  could  be  purchased  very  cheaply.  Indeed  such 
boats  after  having  been  unladen  were  often  cut  adrift 
and  allowed  to  float  down  the  river  in  order  that  room 
might  be  made  for  fresh  arrivals. 

16 


As  to  the  size  of  the  fort,  the  best  authorities  in- 
cluding depositions  and  maps  presented  as  evidence  in 
court,  justify  the  statement  that  the  blockhouses  were 
each  about  twenty  feet  square;  and  that  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  intervened  on  each  side,  be- 
tween the  four  blockhouses  situated  at  the  angles  of 
the  fort.  A  deposition  made  in  the  United  States 
Court  many  years  later  by  one  who  had  been  a  sol- 
dier at  the  fort,  establishes  the  fact  that  the  buildings 
used  as  barracks  were  located,  one  in  the  middle  of 
each  of  the  four  sides,  and  that  the  one  on  the  side 
facing  the  Ohio  River  was  divided  into  six  rooms  of 
twenty  feet  each.  These  rooms  were  arranged  three 
on  each  side  of  the  principal  gateway.  As  this  gate- 
way was  about  twelve  feet  wide,  the  entire  length  of 
the  south,  or  river  side,  barracks,  making  allowance  for 
the  necessary  partitions  between  the  rooms  and  the 
end  walls,  was  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet. 
To  fill  in  the  space  between  the  ends  of  the  barracks 
and  the  blockhouses  at  the  angles  of  the  fort,  would 
require  about  twenty-two  and  one-half  feet  of  palisade 
work  at  each  end  of  the  barrack  buildings.  Accord- 
ing to  the  deposition  already  alluded  to,  there  was  a 
sort  of  triangular  extension  on  the  west  side  of  the  fort, 
terminated  by  a  fifth  blockhouse  which  must  have 
stood  near  the  present  east  line  of  Broadway.  This 
extension  is  not  alluded  to  by  other  deponents,  nor 
was  it  shown  on  the  map  presented  in  Court,  nor 
does  General  Harmar  mention  it  in  his  report  to  the 
Secretary  of  War;  and  it  may  have  been  added  subse- 
quently to  that  time.  Captain  Heart,  however,  shows 
such  an  extension  in  the  sketch  which  he  made  in  1791. 

The    southeast    blockhouse    of  Fort  Washington 
was  used  for  the  transaction  of  official  business. 

In  the   center   of   the    quadrangle  stood   a  flag. 

17 


staff.  As  regards  the  water  supply  for  the  garrison, 
there  was  at  least  one  well  within  the  walls  of  the  fort, 
this  one  having  been  dug  during  the  summer  of  1791, 
by  one  John  Robert  Shaw,  then  an  enlisted  soldier  at 
the  fort  (22). 


(22.)     Xife  &  Travels  of  John  Robert  Shaw,  the  Well  Digger.' 
Pub.  I,exington,  Ky.,  1807. 


IS 


Majur-GtEnekal,  A-Rthctr  St.  Clair, 

GOVERNOR    OP    THB    NORTH-WEST    TERRITORV. 


From  pencil  sketeli  hy  TrumhiiU,  Irving's  Life  of  Washington, 

Edition,  1859. 

Courtesy    G.  P.  Futmiru's  Sons. 


Arthur  St.  Clair  was  born  in  the  town  of  Thurso,  Scotland,  in  the 
year  IT'A.  He  entered  the  University  of  Edinburgh  :md  for  a  short 
tim;:  studied  m  dicine  with  Dr.  Willi  im  Hunter,  of  L,ondon  ;  but  after  his 
mother's  death  in  the  winter  of  17.5(i-7  he  purchased  a  release  from  this  en- 
g  igement  and  procured  a  commission  as  Etisign  in  the  Royal  American 
(Sixtieth)  Regiment  of  Foot.  In  the  following  year  (17.5«)  St.  Clair 
sailed  with  Gi  ticral  Amherst  in  the  fleet  of  Admir.il  Boscawen,  arriving 
b-fore  L,ouisburg  May  28.  For  gallantry  in  the  siege  which  ensued,  St. 
Clair  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  1759,  following  which  he  served 
under  Wolf  at  the  taking  of  Quebce.  In  1760  he  marri  d  a  Miss  Phoebe 
Bayard,  niece  of  Governor  James  Bowden,  resigned  his  commission  two 
years  later,  and  resided  in  Boston  until  17t)4,  when  he  removed  with  his 
accomplished  wife  to  the  wilds  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  The  marriage 
portion  of  his  wife  together  with  his  own  fortune  now  made  St.  Clair  a 
rich  man,  and  he  later  became  the  holder  of  but  little  less  than  eleven 
thousand  acres  of  land.  St.  Clair  served  throughout  the  Revolution,  leav- 
ing the  army  at  its  close  with  the  rank  of  major-general.  The  war  had, 
however,  left  him  a  man  of  broken  fortune.  In  1780  General  St.  Clair  was 
a  delegate  to  Congress  and  the  next  year  was  chosen  President  of  Con- 
gress. Shortly  after  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  which  created  the  North- 
west Territory,  St.  Clair  who  had  been  its  friend,  was  chosen  the  first 
.  Governor.  On  the  9th  of  July,  ITKS,  the  Governor's  party  arrived  at  Mari- 
etta under  the  escort  of  a  body  of  troops  commanded  by  Major  Doughty, 
and  was  received  with  militarj'  honors  including  a  .salute  of  fourteen  guns 
from  Fort  Harmar.  From  this  time  until  1802,  St.  Clair  governed  a  terri- 
tory whose  area  was  greater  than  that  of  the  British  Isles  and  France. 


HE  SHORES  OF  the  Ohio  River  in 
front  of  Fort  Washington,  rose 
rather  steeply  to  a  terrace  about 
55  feet  above  low  water,  which 
extended  for  some  distance  east 
and  west.  This  terrace  was  the 
land  first  built  upon  when  Cin- 
cinnati was  settled,  but  the 
ground  was  not  sufficiently  ele- 
vated to  insure  it  against  overflow 
by  the  freshets  of  winter  and  spring  This  lower  ter  • 
race  extended  back  from  the  top  of  the  river  bank 
about  four  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  being  terminated  on 
the  north  by  a  second  bank  which  rose  precipitously 
some  thirty  feet  higher.  Fort  Washington  stood  upon 
the  second  terrace,  which  extended  back  from  the  up- 
per edge  of  the  second  bank,  at  an  elevation  of  between 
eighty  and  ninety  feet  above  low  water  in  the  Ohio 
River.  The  lower  terrace  was  originally  covered  by  a 
growth  of  white  walnut,  water  maples,  hickory,  and 
ash  trees;  with  a  few  very  large  sycamores.  One  of 
these  sycamores,  situated  near  Deer  Creek  a  little 
above  its  mouth,  was  hollow  and  of  such  a  great  size, 
that  a  woman  who  acted  as  laundress  (about  1796), 
for  the  garrison  at  Fort  Washington,  occupied  it  as  a 
dwelling;  the  broken  end  of  a  hollow  limb  which  pro- 
jected from  the  trunk  being  utilized  as  a  chimney  (23). 
The  second  terrace  was  also  heavily  wooded,  back 
to  the  hillsides  which  on  three  sides  hemmed  it  in. 
There  were  a  few  white  oak  and  poplar  trees,   but  the 

(23.)    Recollections  of  Samuel  Stitt,  Cincinnati  in  lSo9,  by  Charles  Cist, 
p.  145. 


19 


forest  growth  consisted  mostly  of  black  and  red  oaks, 
hickory,  beech,  ash,  and  black  walnut  (24). 

Fort  Washington  standing  there  upon  the  second 
terrace,  quite  above  the  reach  of  the  highest  floods  in 
the  Ohio  River,  looked  down  upon  the  little  hamlet 
which  had  already  begun  to  spread  out  upon  the  lower 
plane.  The  fort  was  sufficiently  removed  from  the 
edge  of  the  upper  bank  to  leave  an  esplanade  from  six- 
ty to  eighty  feet  in  width,  extending  along  its  entire 
front.  The  great  gateway  of  the  fort  opened  upon 
this  esplanade  which  may  have  been  used  as  a 
drilling  ground  for  small  bodies  of  troops.  At  the  edge 
of  bank  a  picket  fence  extended  along  the  esplanade. 

The  ground  surface  of  the  lower  terrace  sloped 
back  from  the  edge  of  the  outer  or  river  bank  to  the 
foot  of  the  second  bank  so  that  the  water  collected  here 
in  the  winter,  forming  a  skating  pond  which  extended 
across  Eastern  Row  (Broadway),  and  for  a  little  dis- 
tance north  of  Pearl  Street. 

The  picture  presented  by  the  fort  from  the  river 
side  must  have  been  quite  imposing,  rising  high  above 
the  river,  with  its  blockhouses  and  barrack  buildings 
two  stories  in  height,  connected  by  lines  of  high  pick- 
ets; the  whole  white  and  glistening  in  the  open  sun- 
light, for  the  forest  trees  had  been  cleared  away  from 
about  the  fort. 

Fort  Washington  was  a  sight  to  gladden  the  heart 
of  a  weary  voyager  descending  the  Ohio,  standing  as 
it  did,  an  emblem  of  the  growing  power  of  a  young  Re- 
public, and  an  earnest  of  that  marvelous  expansion 
through  which  the  country  has  since  passed. 

High  above  all  else,  from  the  mast  within  the 
quadrangle  of  the  fort,  floated    a  flag,  then  but  little 

(.24.)    Judge  Matson  to  Charles  Cist,  1846. 

20 


known  or  Honored  among  nations;  but  now  recognized 
and  respected  throughout  the  world. 

The  construction  of  the  fort  at  Cincinnati  made 
such  progress  that  General  Harmar,  even  before  the 
close  of  September,  began  to  plan  the  removal  of  head- 
quarters to  the  new  station.  To  an  old  friend,  Colonel 
Francis  Johnson,  he  wrote:  "  I  am  shortly  going  to 
make  my  headquarters  down  opposite  Licking  River." 
A  few  days  later  in  another  letter,  he  says:  "Your 
humble  servant  is  a  bird  of  passage.  Sometime  the 
latter  end  of  next  month,  or  beginning  of  November, 
1  shall  move  down  the  river,  bag  and  baggage  (leaving 
Ziegler's  (25)  and  Heart's  companies  at  this  post 
for  the  protection  of  our  New  England  brethren),  and 
shall  fix  up  my  headquarters  opposite  Licking  River. 
1  am  in  hourly  expectation  of  the  Governor"  [General 
St.  Clair]  (26).  General  Harmar  was,  however,  de- 
layed at  the  Muskingum  longer  than  he  anticipated, 
for  in  November  he  wrote  to  General  Mifflin,  as  follows: 
"It  will  afford  me  great  happiness  if  you  could  steal 
three  or  four  months  from  the  Atlantic,  and  spend 
them  with  me.  I  am  now  on  the  wing,  expecting  to 
move  down  the  Ohio  in  a  few  days,  and  to  fix  head- 
quarters opposite  the  mouth  of  Licking  River  about 
three  hundred    miles    below    this    garrison,  where    I 

(25.)  Captain  (later  Major)  David  Ziegler  was  born  in  Heidelbvirg  about 
1748.  He  had  probably  seen  more  extended  military  service  than  any 
officer  in  the  army  of  the  frontier,  having  been  in  the  Saxon  Army,  as  well 
as  the  armies  of  Frederick  the  Great,  and  Russia.  He  served  in  the  Con- 
tinental Army  from  177.5  and  was  once  captured  by  the  British.  In  the 
year  1784,  Ziegler  was  appointed  Captain  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States 
and  was  promoted  Major  in  1790,  but  resigned  March  5,  1792.  While  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Harmar  in  1789  he  married  Miss  Sheffield  of  Marietta,  his 
friend,  I,ieutenant  Denny,  acting  as  best  man  at  the  wedding.  After  his 
retirement  from  the  Army,  Major  Ziegler  engaged  in  business  in  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  died  September  L'l,  1811.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the 
City  Council  after  Cincinnati  had  become  incorporated  in  1802.  In  1804  he 
was  the  first  United  States  Marshal  for  the  District  of  Ohio  and  in  1809  the 
Surveyor  of  the  Port  of  Cincinnati.  Major  Ziegler  was  in  command  of  Fort 
Harmar  in  the  latter  part  of  1789,  and  after  the  St.  Clair  defeat  was  in  com- 
mand of  Fort  Washington  during  the  latter  part  of  December  1791,  also 
January  and  part  of  February,  1792. 

(26.)  I^etterof  General  Harmar  to  General  Richard  Butler,  September 
28,  1789. 

21 


should  be  proud  of  being  honored  with  your  company. 
Venison,  two  or  three  inches  deep  cut  of  fat,  turkeys 
at  one  pence  per  pound,  buffalo  in  abundance,  and  cat 
fish  of  one  hundred  pounds  weight,  are  stories  that  are 
by  no  means  exaggerated.  I  am  going  to  a  country 
where  there  is  a  much  greater  plenty  of  game  than  is 
here  at  present"  (27). 

General  Harmar  left  the  Muskingum  on  the  24th 
of  December  and  after  a  passage  of  four  days  arrived 
at  the  new  fort  opposite  the  mouth  of  Licking  River 
with  a  command  embracing  about  three    hundred  men. 

Now  for  the  first  time  the  fort  received  a  name  in  the 
official  reports.  General  Harmar  writing  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  says:  "On  account  of  its  superior  excel- 
lence, I  have  thought  proper  to  honor  it  with  the  name 
of  Fort  Washington"    (28). 

General  Harmar  and  his  command  carried  with 
them  the  sincere  regrets  of  the  Marietta  Colony.  An 
address  of  thanks  for  the  zeal  he  had  shown  in  pro- 
tecting the  settlement,  and  wishes  for  the  General's 
continued  welfare,  was  forwarded  to  him  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington early  in  January,  1790.  This  address  was 
signed  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  Marietta  by  a  commit- 
tee of  prominent  citizens. 

General  Harmar  was  evidently  pleased  with  the 
situation  of  his  new  post,  and  took  measures  to  make 
his  surroundings  still  more  pleasant  by  the  laying  out 
of  gardens  for  his  own  use,  beyond  the  military  re- 
servation. He  wrote  to  Judge  Symmes  early  in  March 
stating  that  he  wished  to  secure  an  acre  or  so  "near 
the  garrison,  on  the  east  side  of  it,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  a  garden.  I  suppose,  by  applying  to  Mr.  Lud- 
low, he  will  be  able  to  stake  off    three  or  four  lots  ac- 

(27.)    I^etter  of  General  Harmar  to  General  Mifflin,  November  9,  17H9. 
(28.)    See  letter  of  General  Harmar  to  General  Knox,  January  14,  17110. 
Appendix  II. 


Lieutenant  (Later  Major)  Erktjries  Beatty, 

PAYMASTER    AT    FORT    WASHINGTON. 


Erkuries  Beatty,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  October  <),  17o9.  During  the 
Revolution  he  served  as  lieutenant,  from  1777  to  the  close  of  the  war;  and 
after  this  he  was  clerk  in  the  War  Department  until  commissioned  a 
lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Infantry  Regiment  in  1784.  After  having 
been  promoted  captain  aud  major,  he  resigned  from  the  army  in  the  fall 
of  1792.  For  several  years  he  was  Paymaster  of  the  Army,  and  to  reach 
the  various  posts,  traveled  through  the  settlements  of  Virginia  and 
Kentucky  bordering  the  Ohio  River.  His  journal  of  this  period  is  valuable 
and  interesting.  Major  Beatty  died  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  February 
•j;{,  1823. 


cordingly.  I  wish  you  to  give  him  the  necessary  di- 
rections"    (29). 

This  garden  was  located  south  of  Third  Street  and 
east  of  Ludlow,  and  the  location  of  a  certain  summer 
house  thereon  became  an  important  point  for  de- 
termination, some  years  later,  when  the  situation  of 
lots  adjoining  the  garrison  became  a  matter  of  litiga- 
tion   (30). 

On  the  2nd  of  January,  1790,  General  Arthur  St. 
Clair,  who  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  the 
North- West  Territory,  arrived  at  Fort  Washington  and 
after  a  brief  stay,  during  which  he  organized  the  coun- 
ty of  Hamilton  and  appointed  judges,  set  out  again  for 
the  Illinois  country  with  an  escort  of  fifty  men  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Doyle  (31).  In  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Jonathan  Williams  of  Philadelphia  General  Har- 
mar  recalls  the  pleasant  hours  spent  with  the  former  in 
Paris,  whither  the  General  had  gone  in  1784  as  the 
official  messenger  of  Congress  to  convey  the  news  of 
the  peace  with  Great  Britian.  He  says:  "Her^  we 
are  delightfully  situated  on  the  most  beautiful  river  in 
the  world,  LaBelle  Riviere,  opposite  tiie  Licking  in 
Kentucky.  You'll  wonder  at  this  when  you  call  to 
mind  the  handsome  meanders  of  the  Seine  at  the  foot 
of  your  old  quarters.     Society,  unless  what  the  military 

(29.)    General  Harmnr  to  John  Clcves  Symmes,  March  7,  1790. 

(30.)    A  case  in  the  United  States  Courts,  later  described  herein. 

(HI.)  General  Harmar's  letter  of  January  14,  1790.  See  Appendix  II. 
Also  Memorandum  of  Benjamin  Van  Cleve.     See  Appendix  XVI. 

Ivieutenant  (later  Major)  Thomas  Doyle  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
had  served  more  than  four  year.s  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  leaving 
the  Continental  Army  at  its  final  disbandment,  November  3,  1788.  Hav- 
ing been  appointed  a  lieutenant  in  the  First  United  States  Infantry  Regi- 
ment in  1784,  he  was  promoted  successively  to  be  captain  and  major.  He 
took  part  in  various  engagements  and  was  honorablv  discharged,  Novem- 
ber I,  1796.  He  died  February  1.5,  ISO.'j.  Major  Doyle' was  a  perfectly  fear- 
less than  as  was  shown  on  more  than  one  occasion.  He  once  traveled  for 
miles  in  the  Indian  country  accompanied  only  by  a  guide,  visiting  the  In- 
dian villages  and  urging  the  chiefs  to  attend  the  treaty  making'  at  Fort 
Finney  in  1780.  At  the  time  of  St.  Clair's  campaign,  having  been  tempo- 
rarily deserted  by  his  command.  Doyle  served  as  a  volunteer  with  the  Ar- 
tillery. Major  Doyle  in  1794  rebuilt  the  old  French  Fort  Massac,  near 
Metropolis,  111. 


affords,  is  entirely  out  of  the  question.  Buffalo,  veni- 
son, turkeys,  and  fish  of  an  enormous  size  (when  the 
season  arrives),  we  have  in  great  abundance.  If  ever 
Miss  Fortune,  the  slippery  jade,  should  direct  your 
course  to  the  westward,  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure 
to  regale  you  with  some  of  our  dainties.  You  shall 
have  a  hearty  soldierly  welcome"    (32). 

It  is  pleasant  to  note  the  part  taken  in  scientific  re- 
search by  the  officers  of  this  frontier  army. 

General  Harmar  himself  took  a  broad  interest  in 
such  matters,  and  closely  occupied  as  he  was  in  per- 
fecting plans  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier,  he  yet 
found  time  to  secure  and  send  eastward,  fragments  of 
the  mastodons  which  had  been  discovered  at  "Big 
Bone"  Creek  in  Kentucky,  forty-four  miles  below  Fort 
Washington.  Later  the  General  arranged  to  send 
down  Doctor  Allison,  (33)  the  surgeon  of  the  post, 
for  a  week's  work  among  the  giant  remains  of  these 
animals,  and  writes  to  a  friend:  "Upon  his  return  I  am 
in  hopes  to  be  able  to  send  you  a  proper  collection  of 
the  bones,  and  worthy  of  your  acceptance,  as  the  Doc- 
tor is  curious  in  these  matters"   (34). 

Early  in  the  year,  1790,  the  Indians  became 
troublesome  upon  the  Ohio  River  above  Fort  Wash- 
ington, attacking  the  stations  of  the  settlers  and  even 
fleets  of  descending  boats. 

General  Harmar  reported  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
the  destruction  of  Kentons  Station,  situated  about  fifty 

("2.)    lyCtter  dated  from  Fort  Washington,  February  25,  1790. 

i'iS.)  Dr  Richard  Allison  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  after  serv- 
ing more  than  five  years  during  the  Revolution,  had  been  ai<pointed 
Surgfon's  Mate  in  the  United  States  Infantry  Regiment  in  1784  and  was 
promoted  Surgeon  in  1788.  He  continued  in  the  Army  until  the  time  of 
his  honorable  discharge  in  1796.  Dr,  Allison  lived  on  the  east  side  of 
I,awren'e  Street  near  its  intersection  with  Third  Street  in  Cincinnati,  that 
is  a  little  east  of  Fort  Washington.  His  fruit  trees  were  so  famous  that  his 
place  was  sometimes  called  "I'each  Grove."  The  house  of  General  I,ytle, 
which  in  IWi  is  still  standing,  was  built  upon  the  Allison  place. 

(34.)  General  Harmar  to  Dr.  Caspar  Wistar,  of  Philadelphia,  April  5, 
1790.  N.  B.  This  promise  was  fulfilled  by  sending  the  bones  of  mastodons 
sometime  prior  to  August  17,  through  I,ieutenant  Ernest,  at  Fort  Pitt. 

24 


miles  above  Limestone,  and  the  death  or  capture  of  all 
the  people  in  the  station,  supposed  to  be  ten  or  twelve. 
About  the  same  time  a  body  of  Indians  supposed  to  be 
Shawanees  attacked  a  fleet  of  descending  boats  near  the 
mouth  of  Scioto  River,  and  secured  plunder  whose  val- 
ue was  estimated  at  ;^4,ooo.  A  member  of  the  Virgin- 
ia Legislature,  Mr.  Buckner  Thruston,  being  upon  one 
of  the  boats  thus  attacked,  made  a  formal  statement 
and  complaint  which  was  forwarded  to  the  War  De- 
partment   (35). 

It  finally  became  necessary  to  place  small  squads 
of  soldiers  on  the  boats  of  the  army  contractors,  in 
order  to  insure  their  safe  passage  down  the  river. 
The  character  of  the  cargoes  brought  down  in  this 
way  was  extremely  heterogeneous,  one  such  boat  con- 
taining clothing  for  the  soldiers,  sheet-iron,  cartridges, 
arid  flints  for  the  muskets    (36). 

(35.)    General  Harmar  to  General  Knox,  Secy,  of  War.  March  24   179' 
Vm  "^  ^''"'■°*'  °^  ^^^°''  S^^'^*^^^  Denny  under  head  olApriin' 

(36.)    General  Harmar  to  Capt.  Ziegler,  April  5,  1790. 


25 


URING  THE  five  years  which  im- 
mediately followed  the  building  of 
Fort  Washington,  that  post  was  an 
important  base  of  operations 
against  the  Indians.  After  the 
Treaty  of  Greenville  August  3, 
1795,  the  importance  of  the  fort  in 
diis  respect,  declined,  and  before 
the  beginning  of  the  War  of  1812, 
the  fort  had  passed  out  of  existence. 
The  first  of  the  retaliatory  campaigns  against  the 
Indians  subsequent  to  the  Fort  Harmar  Treaty  in  1789, 
vvas  sent  out  from  Fort  Washington  about  April  20, 
1790.  This  expedition,  which  included  about  300  men, 
vvas  directed  against  the  Shawanee  villages  on  Paint 
Creek,  whose  warriors  had  committed  many  bold 
depredations  on  the  boats  of  settlers  passing  the  mouth 
of  the  Scioto,  in  which  they  had  secured  much  valuable 
plunder. 

The  Indians,  however,  kept  posted  regarding  the 
movements  of  the  armv,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
villages  deserted  them  before  the  arrival  of  the  troops. 
The  command,  therefor,  after  passing  down  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Scioto  about  May  2,  returned  to  Fort 
Washington,  without  the  accomplishment  of  any  definite 
purpose. 

Soon  after  the  time  that  Governor  St.  Clair  re- 
turned to  Cincinnati  from  the  Illinois  country,  where 
several  months  had  been  spent  in  organizing  Territorial 
Government  (37),  he  held  a  consultation  with  General 
Harmar  with  reference  to  a  fresh  campaign. 


(37. )  Governor  St.  Clair  set  out  from  Fort  Washington  for  the  lUinoi.s 
country  about  January  ,'>,  1790,  and  returned  July  U.  He  had  suffered  a 
long  delay  at  the  "Fall.s"  ( l,ouisville ),  from  the  failure  of  the  army  con- 
tractor to  furnish  provisions. 


William  Henry  Harrison, 

ensign  at  fort  washington,  179i. 

Born  in  Berkley,  Virginia,  February  9,   1773.      Died  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  April  4,  1841. 

DELEGATE    TO  CONGRESS. 

GOVERNOR    OF    THE    NORTH-WEST   TERRITORY. 

MAJOR-GENERAL   U.    S.    A. 

NINTH    PRESIDENT   OF    THE   UNITED   STATES. 


The  original  portrait  hung  on  the  walls  of  the  famous  "Old  lyOg  Cabin" 
at  North  Bend,  Ohio,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1858,  A  copy  of  that 
portrait  of  General  Harrison  has  been  procured  through  the  kindness  of 
his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Betty  Harrison  Eaton. 


This  was  to  be  sent  against  the  Maumee  towns 
near  the  St.  Mary  River,  where,  according  to  advices 
received  by  General  Harmar,  the  Indians  had  deter- 
mined to  assemble,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  descent 
upon  his  troops  (38). 

HARMAR  CAMPAIGN. 

Preparations  for  the  campaign  were  pushed,  so  far 
as  laid  in  the  power  of  General  Harmar  and  his  officers, 
in  the  most  energetic  manner.  Requisitions  for  pack 
horses,  ammunition,  and  supplies  of  all  kinds  were  sent 
in,  and  Captain  Ferguson,  the  artillery  oificer,  was 
soon  busily  engaged  with  his  men  in  overhauling  the 
artillery,  arms,  and  stores.  To  quote  the  adjutant  of 
the  regiment:  "Indeed  every  ofificer  was  busily  em- 
ployed in  something  or  other  necessary  for  the  expedi- 
tion, but  particularly  the  Quartermaster  Pratt  (39). 
No  time  was  lost." 

A  call  for  levees  of  militia  had  been  made  by  Gov- 
ernor St.  Clair,  and  those  from  Kentucky  began  to  as- 
semble at  the  fort  on  the  i8th  of  September,  followed 
soon  after  by  the  detachment  from  Pennsylvania.  The 
militia  as  a  body  were  not  of  the  best  type,  they  were 
not  the  genuine  frontiersmen  who  had  figured  in  the 
border  wars  of  the  Revolution.  Some  had  little  knowl- 
edge of  woodcraft  or  the  use  of  fire  arms,  and  were  in 
many  cases  the  substitutes  for  better  men  who  could 
not  leave  their  improvements.  The  arms  brought  in 
by  the  militia  were  old  and  dilapidated  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  the  artificers  at  the  fort  soon  had  their  hands 
full  in  making  needed  repairs.  Disputes  among  the 
various  officers  of  the  levees,  were  quieted  by  the  ap- 


(38.)  General  Harmar  received  advices  to  this  efifect  from  Major  HamT 
tramck  then  at  Fort  Knox  (Vincennts,  lud. ). 

(39.)  Captain  John  Pratt,  regimental  quartermaster.  Major  John  Belli 
was  also  acting  quartermaster  in  this  campaign. 


27 


pointment  of  Colonel  Hardin  (40)  to  command  all  the 
militia.  The  force  of  regular  troops  was  swelled  by 
two  companies  commanded  respectively  by  Captains 
Ziegler  and  Heart,  which  had  been  in  garrison  at  Fort 
Harmar.  These  companies  arrived  September  25,  and 
the  next  day  Colonel  Hardin  with  his  command  set  out, 
followed  on  September  30  by  the  regular  troops,  with 
General  Harmar  as  Commander  in  Chief  of  the 
expedition. 

The  route  taken  by  General  Harmar,  on  his  march 
to  the  Maumee  towns  came  to  be  called  "Harmar 
Trace"  by  the  early  settlers,  and  for  much  of  its  course 
can  be  located  with  some  defmiteness.  Attention  has 
been  directed  in  the  opening  portion  of  this  article  to 
the  fact  that  the  Indian  war  parties  were  accustomed 
to  cross  the  Ohio  River  into  Kentucky  at  a  point  near- 
ly opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking  River.  Stealthy 
as  was  the  tread  of  the  redman,  long  continued  use  of 
any  given  trail  wore  down  at  last  a  narrow  pathway, 
easily  recognizable  by  the  woodcraft  of  the  frontiersman. 

Three  such  principal  trails  or  traces  led  down  to 
the  Ohio  at  the  point  where  Cincinnati  now  stands, 
and  when  the  early  settlers  of  Kentucky  began  to  ex- 
ecute retaliatory  measures  upon  the  Indians  who  made 

MO.)  Colonel  John  Hardin  was  born  in  Farquar  County,  Va.,  October  1, 
175!! ;  but  alx)ut  twelve  years  later  his  father  removed  from  his  old  homo  to 
the  wilderness  which  then  stretched  along  the  northern  border  of  Vir- 
ginia. John  Hardin  became  such  a  skillful  marksman  that  he  commanded 
both  the  fear  and  hatred  of  the  Indians,  so  that  his  death,  many  years 
later,  has  been  attributed  to  the  feeling  against  him  thus  engendered. 
Hardin  was  an  ensign  in  I,ord  Dunmore's  War  in  1774,  and  during  the  Revo- 
lution was  much  of  the  time  attached  to  the  R'fle  Corps  commanded  by 
General  Daniel  Morg^an.  It  was  to  a  daring  reconnaissance  within  the 
enemy's  lines.raade  hy  Hardin,  that  Gen. Gates  owed  one  of  his  succes.^es  in 
the  Northern  Campaign  ;  but  Wilkinson  then  assumed  the  credit  for  the 
undertaking.  In  the  year  1786,  Hardin  removed  to  Kentucky  and  was  ap- 
pointed lyieutenant-Colonel  of  Militia;  Kentucky  then  forming  part  of 
Augusta  County,  Virginia.  He  served  in  Clark's  expedition  against  the 
Wabash  Indians  and  in  fact  all  the  Indian  campaigns  except  that  of  St. 
Clair.  In  1792,  Colonel  Hardin  was  selected  to  bear  a  letter  from  Washing- 
ton to  the  Indians.  While  performing  this  mis.sion  umler  flag  of  truce, 
Hardin  was  treacherouslv  killed  and  .scalped  by  the  Indians,  on  the  site  of 
the  town  which  bears  his  uaiuc  in  Shelby  Coianty,  Ohio,  a  little  prior  to 
May  ::0. 

28 


raids  upon  their  infant  settlements,  what  was  more 
natural,  than  that  the  white  man  should  follow  back  to 
the  Shawanee  towns  in  the  path  made  by  the  Indian 
himself.  In  this  way  the  expeditions  under  Colonel 
Bowman  in  1779  and  General  Clark  in  1780-2  came  to 
follow  these  ancient  roads  of  the  redman,  and  so  clear 
and  widen  them,  that  they  became  sufficiently  well 
marked  to  be  recognized  for  many  years  thereafter. 
After  the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Greenville  the 
condition  of  the  country  became  settled  and  the  pioneers 
felt  the  necessity  for  better  roads  than  those  offered  by 
these  primitive  trails,  which  were  fit  only  for  pack 
animals.  They  accordingly  set  themselves  to  work 
widening  still  further  these  old  Indian-military  traces, 
and  making  them  fit  for  rude  vehicles ;  so  that  they 
became  the  first  highways  in  the  Miami  Country,  many 
of  them  remaining  in  use  to  this  day.  The  older  road- 
ways in  this  country  between  the  Miamis  were  there- 
fore developed  according  to  the  principles  of  evolution. 
First  perhaps  a  deer  path  or  buffalo  trace,  then  an  In- 
dian trail,  then  the  Indian  trail  widened  a  little  by  Ken- 
tucky frontiersmen  to  allow  the  passage  of  light  artil- 
lery; later  these  trails  widened  still  further  by  the  cam- 
paigns of  1790- 1791  and  1795  ;  until  at  last  the  Ohio 
settlers  seized  upon  them  and  made  them  highways, 
so  preserving  to  this  day  the  trail  of  the  primitive 
savage. 

It  was  over  the  most  easterly  of  the  three  princi- 
pal trails,  that  General  Harmar  set  out  from  Fort 
Washington,  about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon,  on  Sep- 
tember 30,  1790. 

This  course  led,  probably  by  way  of  Main  and 
Sycamore  streets,  up  over  the  hill  now  known  as 
Mount  Auburn,  (41)  and  thence  by  way  of  Auburn  and 

(•11.)  It  was  while  being  borne  down  this  steep  hill,  wounded  and  lyms; 
upon  a  litter,  that  Colonel  McCracken  died,  November  4,  1782,  ar;  the  second 
expedition  of  General  Clark  was  returningtothe  settlements  of  Kentucky. 

29 


East  Auburn  avenues,  trending  to  the  northeast,  north, 
and  east  along  the  ridge  leading  down  to  the  old  Leba- 
non Road  near  Oak  Street  in  Avondale.  The  trace 
then  followed  the  direction  afterwards  covered  by  the 
old  Lebanon  Road,  dipping  down  into  the  little  cross 
valley  leading  from  Mill  Creek  to  the  Little  Miami,  un- 
til at  nightfall  a  camp  was  formed  near  where  Ross  Run 
now  crosses  the  public  highway. 

Lieutenant  Armstrong  (42)  who  has  left  a  journal 
of  this  expedition,  describes  the  first  day's  march  as 
covering  "about  seven  miles  N.  E.  course — hilly  rich 
land,"  and  the  second  days  march,  which  terminated 
on  the  banks  of  a  small  branch  of  Mill  Creek  near  the 
present  town  of  Sharonville.  as  leading  "through  a 
level  rich  country,  watered  by  many  small  branches, 
waters  of  Mill  Creek  *  *  *  about  eight  miles." 
This  was  through  Mill  Creek  Valley.  Continuing 
along  the  general  course  of  the  present  Lebanon  Road 
and  passing  a  little  south  and  east  of  where  the  town  of 
Lebanon  now  stands,  the  trace  turned  over  to  the  Lit- 
tle Miami  River  and  crossed  it  at  a  point  about  one  mile 
below  a  branch  called  Sugar  or  Caesar's  Creek.  From 
here  the  trace  led  along  the  east  side  of  the  Little 
Miami,  generally  in  sight  of  this  river,  as  far  as  Old 
Chillicothe,  an  Indian  village  (now  Oldtown),  and 
there  recrossing  the  Miami,  struck  over  to  the  Mad  and 
Big  Miami  rivers.     On  October  11,  they  came  to  the 

(42  )    Ivieutenant  ( later  Colonel )  John  Armstrong  was  a  native  otJ»ewn-  n 

9ylT««ia,^pom -which -state -he  entered  the  Continental  Army,  in  17/6  as  a  i-v^.^.  »t*~w^' 
non-commissioned  officer  ;  but  he  was  promoted  through  successive  grades  ) 
to  the  rank  of  captain  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  appointed  to  an 
Ensigncy  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  and  retired  in  1793  with  the 
rank  of  major.  His  conduct  in  the  Harmar  campaign  was  illustrative  of 
his  great  tenacity  of  purpose,  when  out  of  a  command  numbering  thirty 
men,  he  lost  twenty-two  before  reluctantly  falling  back  from  the  position 
to  which  he  had  been  assigned.  He  had  held  command  of  Fort  Pitt,  Fort 
Finney  (  or  Steuben  )  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  and  Fort  Hamilton.  After  his 
retirement  from  the  United  States  Army,  he  served  as  Colonel  in  the 
Militia  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  Treasurer  of  the  Territory  and  Judge 
in  the  courts  of  Hamilton  County.  He  had  received  the  confidence  of 
Harmar,  St.  Clair,  Wilkinson,  and  Wayne  to  a  remarkable  degree.  His 
death  occurred  in  1810,  on  his  farm  in  Clark  County,  Indiana. 

30 


old  "French  Store,"  which  Lieutenant  Denny 
estimated  to  be  distant  from  Fort  Washington 
about  one  hundred  and  seven  miles.  The  march 
continued,  some  of  the  time  through  very  swampy 
land,  to  the  junction  of  the  St.  Mary  and  St. 
Joseph  rivers,  where  they  unite  to  form  the  Maumee. 
On  the  igth  of  October  a  severe  engagement  took  place 
at  a  point  about  eight  miles  beyond  the  principal  Miami 
town,  which  was  located  immediately  east  of  the  St. 
Joseph  River.  This  battle  ground  was  about  eleven 
miles  distant  from  the  present  city  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana. 

The  result  of  this  fight,  which  involved  the  advance 
guard  of  about  three  hundred  men  under  Colonel  John 
Hardin,  was  an  entire  defeat  for  the  troops.  Two 
miles  east  of  the  Miami  town  just  described,  and  re- 
moved a  little  to  the  north  of  the  Maumee  River,  was  a 
village  of  the  Shawanees,  which  has  been  called  Chilli- 
cothe.  The  name  is  one  frequently  applied  to  the 
Indian  villages  and  has  no  special  significance.  It  does 
not  mean  the  Chillicothe  (or  village)  upon  the  Scioto 
River,  nor  that  upon  the  Little  Miami  (nowOldtown) 
four  miles  north  of  Xenia.  While  Colonel  Hardin  and 
his  advance  guard  was  giving  battle  to  the  Indians, 
General  Harmar  with  the  main  army  marched  to  this 
Shawanee  Chillicothe,  or  village,  two  miles  from  the 
Miami  town,  and  destroyed  the  Indian  huts  and  their 
corn.  General  Harmar  had  found  it  necessary  to  re- 
prove the  troops  (more  particularly  the  militia),  in 
general  orders  on  the  i8th  and  20th.  About  the  middle 
of  the  forenoon  on  October  21,  the  army  turned  back 
towards  Fort  Washington  and  camped  for  the  night 
about  eight  or  nine  miles  from  the  confluence  of  the  St. 
Mary  and  St,  Joseph  rivers.  Up  to  this  time  the 
troops  had  destroyed  the  principal  Miami  town,  and  five 

31 


scattering  villages  belonging  to  the  Shawanees,  Miamis 
and  Delawares.  Colonel  Harmar  was  now  strongly 
urged  to  permit  a  return  to  the  Indian  towns,  and  take 
by  surprise  the  inhabitants,  who  had  supposedly  re- 
turned to  their  ruined  habitations.  Accordingly  a  picked 
force  of  four  hundred  men,  made  up  of  both  regulars 
and  militia,  set  out  at  midnight,  under  command  of 
Major  Wyllys,  (43)  the  intention  being  to  reach  the 
ruined  villages  about  daybreak  on  October  22  The 
Indians  were,  however,  upon  the  alert  and  succeeded  in 
drawing  the  main  body  of  the  troops  on  a  futile  pursuit 
which  led  up  the  St.  Joseph  River,  leaving  the  rest  of 
force  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle.  This  engagement 
resulted  in  great  loss  of  life  among  the  troops  (44). 

An  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Captain  (after- 
wards Major)  Jonathan  Heart  from  Fort  Harmar.  De- 
cember 3,  1790,  shows  how  stubborn  was  the  fighting 
in  this  engagement  of  October  22.  He  says  :  "A  regu- 
lar soldier  on  the  retreat  near  the  St.  Joseph  River, 
being  surrounded  and  in  the  midst  of  the  Indians,  put 
his  bayonet  through  six  Indians,  knocked  down  the 

(43.)  Major  John  Palsgrave  Wyllys  was  born  in  1754,  being  the  son  of 
George  Wyllys  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  a  direct  descendant  of  that  George 
Wyllys  who  was  governor  of  the  colony  in  lft41-2.  He  was  graduated  from 
Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1773,  and  three  years  later  entered  the  Conti- 
nental Army,  where  his  military  experience  included  the  siege  of  Boston, 
the  campaign  about  New  York  and  the  Hudson,  the  dreary  winter  at  Val- 
ley Korge,  and  the  campaigns  in  Virginia  and  about  Yorktown.  He  was 
appointed  Major  in  the  First  Regiment  of  Infantry,  United  States  Army, 
in  17H5,  and  ni  the  following  year  for  a  time  was  in  command  of  Fort  Fin- 
ney near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River.  In  the  campaign  above 
noted.  Major  Wyllys  commanded  a  detachment  of  regulars  According  to 
Mr.  Urice,  the  local  historian  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Major  Wyllys  with  oth- 
er officers  and  men,  was  buried  not  far  from  the  Maumee  River  near  a 
ford  in  the  vicinity  of  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Coraparet.  In  his  report  to 
the  .Secretary  of  War,  General  Harmar  speaks  of  Major  Wyllysas  one  who 
"united  the  talents  of  a  cultivated  mind  with  the  best  virtues  of  the  heart.' 

(44.)  The  regular  troops  lost  two  officers.  Major  Wyllys  and  lyieutenant 
Frothingham;  and  forty-eight  men.  The  total  killed  and  missing  of  the 
army  was  183;  but  it  was  believed  that  among  the  missing  were  many  de- 
serters. Major  Fontaine  who  led  the  cavalry,  charged  gallantly  against 
the  enemy  ;  but  was  deserted  by  his  men  and  killed.  Captains  Thorp, 
McMurtry,  and  Scott;  L,ieutenants  Clark  and  Rogers;  together  with  F'n- 
signs  Bridges,  Sweet.  Higgins,  and  Thielkield,  all  officers  of  the  militia 
levies,  were  among  the  slain.  (Journals  of  X<ieuteuauts  Ueuny  and 
Armstrong.) 

32 


seventh,  and  the  soldier  himself  made  the  eighth  dead 
man  in  the  heap." 

An  early  writer  who  secured  his  information  from 
those  who  actually  took  part  in  the  Harmar  campaign, 
says  in  regard  to  the  second  engagement:  "Nothing 
could  exceed  the  intrepidity  of  the  savages  on  this  oc- 
casion; the  militia  they  appeared  to  despise,  and  with 
all  the  undauntedness  conceivable,  threw  down  their 
guns,  and  rushed  upon  the  bayonets  of  the  regular 
soldiers;  a  number  of  them  fell,  but  being  so  far  superi- 
or in  numbers,  the  regulars  were  soon  overpowered, 
for  while  the  poor  soldier  had  his  bayonet  in  one  In- 
dian, two  more  would  sink  their  tomahawks  in  his 
head."     (Samuel  L.  Metcalf,  Lexington,  Ky.,  1829.) 

The  remainder  of  this  day  was  spent  in  reorganiz- 
ing the  troops  and  making  litters  for  the  wounded.  On 
October  23  the  return  march  was  begun,  and  Fort 
Washington  was  reached  November  3.  At  no  time 
on  this  expedition  did  the  Army  march  over  to  the 
Scioto  River  which  was  many  miles  from  the  scene  of 
conflict ;  yet  certain  writers,  failing  to  follow  the  nar- 
ratives of  those  who  were  actually  present  at  the  fight, 
have  taken  it  for  granted  that  the  name  of  Chillicothe 
applied  to  the  town  of  that  name  on  the  Scioto.  It  is 
possible  that  the  confusion  has  been  heightened  by  the 
fact  that  an  expedition  was  led  out  against  the  Shaw- 
anee  towns  on  Paint  Creek,  not  far  from  Chillicothe 
on  the  Scioto,  some  five  months  prior  to  the  Harmar 
expedition,  as  has  already  been  described  in  these 
pages. 

The  campaign  was  a  disastrous  one,  although  at 
first  it  was  believed  by  Governor  St.  Clair  to  have 
been  a  success  and  was  so  reported  by  him  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  (45).     General   Harmar   was  severely 

(45.)    This  was  directly  after  the  arrival  at  Fort  Washington  of  runners, 
bearing  the  news  of  the  destruction  of  the  Mautnee  village, 

33 


and  probably  unjustly  criticised  for  the  maneuver  be- 
gun on  the  night  of  October  21,  when  Major  Wyllys 
was  sent  back  to  the  Indian  towns  to  surprise  such  of 
the  enemy  as  might  have  returned  to  their  habitation, 
then  destroyed  In  regard  to  this  matter,  Lieutenant 
Denny,  the  Regimental  Adjutant,  then  also  Acting  Ad- 
jutant General,  and  Brigade-Major,  says:  "The  de- 
sign of  sending  back  Major  Wyllys  with  his  command, 
was  evident  to  all  the  army,  and  would  have  answered 
the  fullest  expectation,  provided  due  obedience  had 
been  observed  on  the  part  of  the  militia,  but  owing  to 
their  ungovernable  disposition,  an  excellent  laid  plan 
has  in  some  measure  been  defeated." 

On  returning  to  Fort  Washington,  the  militia  cross- 
ed the  Ohio  to  the  present  site  of  Covington,  where 
they  formed  camp  and  were  promptly  mustered  out. 

Lieutenant  Denny,  carrying  dispatches  from  Gen- 
eral Harmar  to  the  War  Department,  set  out  from  Fort 
Washington,  November  7th,  and  pursuing  his  journey 
on  horseback  by  way  of  Lexington,  Crab  Orchard,  and 
the  Wilderness  Road,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  Decem- 
ber 12,  having  been  thirty-five  days  on  the  way. 
General  Harmar  keenly  sensitive  to  adverse  criticism, 
requested  a  Court  of  Enquiry,  to  pass  upon  his  conduct 
in  the  campaign.  This  Court  of  Enquiry  was  con- 
vened in  the  southeast  blockhouse  of  Fort  Washington 
on  the  15th  day  of  September,  1791,  by  Major  General 
Butler,  (46)  its  President;  the  other   members  of  the 


(46.)  Major-General  Richard  Butler  was  one  of  five  brothers,  all  of 
wlioni  performed  service  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Richard,  the  eldest, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  from  whence  his  parents  removed  prior  to  17»iO,  set- 
tling in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  both  Burgoyn;; 
and  Cornwallis.  Subsequent  to  the  war.  General  Butler  was  Indian  Com- 
mi.«sioiier,  and  with  Generals  Clarke  and  Parsons  concluded  the  treaty  at 
Fort  Finney — near  the  Great  Miami  River — January  ;{1,  1786.  In  the  cam- 
paign under  St.  Clair,  General  Butler  commauded  the  right  wing  of  the 
army  with  the  rank  of  Major-General. 


34 


THE  LOCK  OF  THE  GREAT  GATE  OF 
FORT  >VASHINGT01Nr. 


This  lock  is  constructed  of  wrought  iron  and  wood.  It  is  about  fourteen 
inches  long  and  seven  and  one-quarter  inches  wide.  The  key  i.s  six  and 
one-half  inches  long 

When  Fort  Washington  was  demolished,  Mr.  Joseph  Coppin,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Cincinnati,  secured  the  lock,  and  it  has  been  in  the  possession 
of  his  family  ever  since. 


court  being,  Lieutenant  Colonels  Gibson  (47)  and 
Darke  (48).  The  finding  of  this  court  was  highly- 
favorable  to  General  Harmar,  but  he  resigned  January 
I,  1792,  and  returned  to  private  life. 

In  passing  judgment  upon  the  success  or  failure  of 
the  campaign  projected  by  General  Harmar,  many 
things  which  seriously  affected  his  plans  must  be  taken 
into  account.  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  article  to  ex- 
amine these  matters  in  minute  detail,  but  simply  to  call 
attention  to  the  fact  that  over  the  two  elements  which 
appear  to  have  been  most  prominent  in  defeating  the 
plans  of  the  campaign;  viz.,  the  undisciplined  condition 
of  the  auxiliary  troops,  and  the  wholly  inadequate 
nature  of  the  commissary  department.  General  Harmar 
could  exercise  little  control.  It  is  true  he  might  have 
delayed  his  campaign  until  the  troops  could  be  brought 
into  proper  form,  as  did  General  Wayne,  several  years 
later;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  these  auxiliary  forces 
were  restive  from  the  first  and  began  to  desert  before 
the  march  was  fairly  under  way.  A  strong  pressure 
was  also  brought  to  bear  upon  the  General  to  begin  his 
campaign  without  the  delay  necessary  for  proper  dis- 
ciplinary formation.     The    history  of  all  the  wars  in 

(17.)  I<ieutenaat-Colonel  George  Gibson  was  bom  in  I<ancaster,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  10,  1747.  He  received  an  excellent  education,  and  just 
prior  to  the  American  Revolution  was  employed  as  super-cargo  on  vessels 
engaged  in  trade  with  the  West  Indies.  He  served  in  the  Continental 
Army  from  1776  to  1782  and  after  the  close  of  the  war  was  County  I,ieuten- 
ant  for  the  County  of  Cumberland,  Penna.  He  joined  the  frontier  army  in 
17.^1,  and  in  the  engagement  of  November  4,  1791,  commanded  the  Second 
Regiment  of  lyCvies.  He  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  was  removed  to  Fort 
Jefferson,  where  he  died  on  the  11th  of  the  following  December. 

(48.)  lyieutenant-Colonel  William  Darke  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
17.^;i,  but  four  years  later  his  parents  removed  to  near  Shepherdstown  in 
Jefferson  County.  Virginia.  Darke  served  in  the  French-Indian  war  and 
was  present  at  Braddock's  defeat.  He  joined  the  Continental  Army  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  captured  at  Germantown  ;  but  on  his 
release  he  rejoini  d  the  Army  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  In 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1788,  Colonel  Darke  representing  the 
County  of  Berkeley,  voted  to  adopt  the  Federal  Constitution.  In  the  St. 
Clair  campaign.  Colonel  Darke  commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  army, 
and  in  the  engagement  of  November  4,  he  twice  drove  back  the  Indians  m 
a  gallant  bayonet  charge.  His  only  son.  Captain  Joseph  Darke,  fell  mor- 
tally wounded  in  this  engagement.  Colonel  Darke  was  a  man  of  huge 
size,  and  was  frauk  and  perfectly  fearless  in  his  bearing.  He  died  Nov- 
ember 20, 1801. 

36 


which  this  country  has  been  engaged,  has  shown  the 
absolute  necessity  for  a  careful  and  strict  disciplinary 
probation,  before  troops  could  be  used  for  arduous  and 
long  continued  service.  The  brilliant  but  spasmodic 
exceptions  to  this  rule,  which  have  sometimes  marked 
the  history  of  this  nation's  wars,  do  not  affect  the  gen- 
eral truth. 

RAIDS  AGAINST  THE  WABASH  INDIANS. 
The  campaign  of  General  Harmar  had  been  so  in- 
decisive in  its  results,  that  serious  alarm  was  felt  by 
the  settlers  in  the  Ohio  Valley  lest  the  Indians  combine 
for  a  general  attack  upon  the  whites.  The  Legisla- 
ture of  Virginia  was  asked  to  furnish  temporary  assist- 
ance until  another  campaign  could  be  set  in  motion 
(49),  and  Washington  was  also  appealed  to  for  aid 
(50).  At  this  juncture  a  plan  was  devised  which  it 
was  hoped  might  afford  at  least  temporary  protection, 
and  at  the  same  time  leave  the  regular  troops  in  gar- 
rison until  their  ranks  could  be  refilled  by  recruiting  in 
the  East.  A  local  Board  of  War  was  appointed  by 
the  general  government,  which,  acting  under  the  ad- 
vice of  General  St.  Clair  and  the  Secretary  of  War 
(51),  provided  bodies  of  volunteer  troops  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  raids  into  the  enemy's  own  country, 
and  so  avert  an  attack  upon  the  settlements. 

(49.)  The  l,eg:islature  of  Virginia  was  memorialized  for  temporary  aid 
in  December,  1700,  and  Governor  Randolph  in  the  following  month  noti- 
fied President  Washington  regarding  certain  protective  measures  which 
had  been  taken  by  the  state. 

(50.)  Rufus  Putman,  who  had  been  intimately  associated  with  Wash- 
ington as  his  military  engineer  in  the  compaigns  about  New  York  in  1776, 
made  an  appeal  by  letter  to  the  President,  January  8,  1791,  setting  forth  the 
defenseless  condition  of  the  settlements  on  the  Muskingum  River. 

(51.)  Shown  by  a  letter  of  General  St.  Clair  to  Brig.  Gen.  Scott,  dated 
from  Fort  Wa.shington  May  18,  1791 ;  also  letter  from  Gen.  Knox  to  Brig. 
Gen.  {5cott,  March  ',),  1791.  Gen.  Scott  led  the  first  expedition  consisting  of 
about  eight  himdred  men,  who  crossed  the  Ohio  River  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Kentucky,  May  2-3.  After  inllicting  severe  blows  upon  the  Indians 
whose  towns  were  situated  near  where  l,afayette,  Ind.,  now  stands,  the 
command  returned  to  the  Kentucky  settlements  by  way  of  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio  (I<ouisville),  June  14,  without  the  lo.ss  of  a  single  mau.  (Report  of 
Gen.  Scott  to  Secretary  of  War,  June  28, 1791.) 

36 


During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1791,  two  such 
expeditions  were  sent  out,  both  composed  of  mounted 
volunteers. 

The  second  expedition  made  its  rendezvous  at 
Fort  Washington,  from  which  point  it  set  out  on  the  ist 
of  August,  numbering  about  five  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  men,  under  command  of  James  Willkinson 
holding  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General.  He  first  made 
as  if  to  strike  the  Miami  villages,  but  changing  his 
course  more  to  the  westward,  pushed  over  to  the 
Indian  towns  lying  about  the  confluence  of  the  Eel  and 
Wabash  rivers,  near  the  present  site  of  Logansport, 
Ind.  Besides  destroying  several  towns,  and  killing  or 
taking  prisoners,  many  Indians,  the  growing  corn  was 
cut  down  for  a  second  time  that  season.  But  for  the 
laming  of  a  great  number  of  horses,  the  raid  might  have 
accomplished  even  more  than  it  did.  As  it  was.  Gen- 
eral Wilkinson  felt  obliged  to  turn  back  sooner  than  he 
desired.  This  expedition  was  remarkable  for  the  ce- 
lerity of  its  movements,  (52)  so  that  when  it  returned 
to  the  settlements  by  way  of  the  Falls  of  tlie  Ohio 
(Louisville),  August  21,  a  march  of  about  four  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Washington  had  been  made  in 
the  space  of  twenty-one  days  (53). 

ST.  CLAIR  CAMPAIGN. 

In  the  year  following  the  unfortunate  campaign  of 
General  Harmar,  Fort  Washington  was  the  scene  of 
active  preparations  for  a  second  expedition  into  the 
Indian  country. 

General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  the  Governor  of  the 
North-west  Territory,  had  made  a   brief  visit  to  Fort 

(52.)  The  average  progress  each  day  of  march  was  a  little  more  than 
twenty-one  miles.  This  is  in  marked  contrast  to  later  marches  made  by 
toot  soldiers  where  the  average  progress  each  day  was  less  than  four  miJes. 
Ihe  superiority  of  mounted  troops  in  a  campaign  requiring  rapid  move- 
ments, was  very  clearly  demonstrated  at  this  time  ;  but  the  lesson  was  not 
applied  in  the  subsequent  campaign. 

(53.)    Report  of  Gen.  Wilkinson  to  Governor  St.  Clair,  August  24,  1791. 

37 


/ 


Washington  in  January  1790,  stopping  for  three  days 
only,  while  on  his  way  to  the  Kaskaskia  country  in 
Illinois.  The  Governor  was  absent  until  about  mid- 
summer, but  after  that  time,  much  of  his  correspond- 
ence is  dated  from  the  fort.  He  lived  at  one  time  in 
a  house  on  Front  Street  about  50  yards  west  of  Law- 
rence Street.  The  nearest  way  from  this  house  to  the 
fort,  was  by  way  of  the  "trace,"  as  one  witness  (in  a 
lawsuit  many  years  later),  called  the  shallow  ravine 
which  occupied  the  present  line  of  Ludlow  Street,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  reservation.  One  can  picture  the 
stately  old  Governor,  now  also  Commanding  General 
of  the  Army,  who  as  was  testified  before  the  Congres- 
sional Committee  in  1792,  was  "the  first  up  in  the 
morning,  going  from  shop  to  shop  to  inspect  the  prepar- 
ations"    (54). 

The  powder  was  tested  here  by  Major  Ferguson, 
and  the  various  supplies  inspected.  The  shells  used  in 
the  expedition  "were  fixed  at  the  fort,  also  wheels  for 
the  carriages  and  the  carriages  themselves  and  many 
other  things."  Some  of  this  work  was  done  in  the"Ar- 
tificers'  Yard"  adjoining  the  fort  on  the  west;  and  other 
things,  perhaps  the  heavier  articles  of  wood  and  iron 
were  made  in  the  lower  yard,  on  the  river  bank  direct- 
ly in  front  of  the  fort.  The  quality  of  the  clothing, 
pack  saddles,  powder,  axes,  and  other  articles  supplied 
for  the  campaign,  was  complained  of  in  the  course  of 
the  testimony  taken  by  the  congressional  committee 
already  alluded  to     (55}. 

For  safety  against  the  Indians,  who  had  become 
very  bold  in  their  depredations  and  at  times  stole 
horses  which  had  been  tethered  under  the  very  walls 

(54.)  Testimony  of  Major  Ziegler  before  a  special  committee  of  Con- 
gress, which  was  appointed  March  27,  1792,  to  examine  into  the  failure  of 
the  St.  Clair  expedition. 

(55.)  General  Harmar  and  Major  Ziegler  both  testified  in  regard  to 
these  matters. 

38 


]!ifcCjOR-GE>fERAi.  James  Wir.KiNSON,  U.  S.  A., 

IN    COMMAND    OF    FOKT    WA&UINGTON     1702. 


From  crayon  portrait  lii  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia. 
Courtesy  McUlure's  Magazine.  Copyright,  1902,  S.  S.  MeClure. 

Tames  Wilkinson  was  born  in  Benedict,  Charles  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1757.  He  had  just  completed  his  studies  in  the  medical  pro- 
fession when  the  Revohition  began,  and  he  at  once  joined  the  army  at  the 
siege  of  Boston.  He  served  under  Gates  in  the  Northern  campaign  and 
was  promoted  first  to  a  lieutenant-colonelcy  and  then  to  brevet  rank  of 
brigadier-general,  but  resigned  the  latter  on  account  of  active  opposition 
from  his  fellow  officers.  He  later  served  as  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
War  and  Clothier-General  of  the  Army.  After  the  close  of  the  war.  Gen- 
eral Wilkin-son  removed  to  I^exington,  Ky.,  and  in  1787  engaged  in  trade 
with  the  Spanish  Province  of  Louisiana.  It  was  charged  that  the  General 
then  begun  a  series  of  intrigues  with  the  Spanish  Government  which  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  He  reentered  the  army  as  lieutenant-colonel  in 
1791,  was  promoted  to  be  brigadier-general  in  1792  and  on  the  death  of 
General  Wavne  was  made  commander-in-chief.  In  180.5  he  was  Governor 
of  Louisiana,  and  in  1811  was  court-martialed  for  complicity  in  the  Burr 
conspiracv,  but  he  was  acquitted.  He  was  made  major-general  m  1813, 
but  after  the  failure  of  the  Northern  compaign  was  the  subject  of  a  Court 
of  Enquiry  which  exonerated  him.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  General  Wil- 
kinson received  an  honorable  discharge  a8l6)  and  retired  to  Mexico  where 
he  died  December  28,  1826. 


of  Fort  Washington,  a  small  island  in  the  Ohio  River 
was  used  as  a  corral  for  the  cattle  destined  to  furnish 
the  troops  with  a  supply  of  fresh  beef,  while  on 
the  march.  This  island  is  now  obliterated,  but  it 
formerly  occupied  the  site  of  what  is  now  the  Dayton, 
Ky.  Bar  (56). 

The  army  set  out  early  in  September,  1791, 
and  followed  a  course  which  led  to  the  fording  place  of 
the  Great  Miami  River  at  Fort  Hamilton.  From  Fort 
Hamilton  the  line  of  march  led  up  to  Fort  Jefferson, 
then  in  process  of  building  in  what  is  now  Darke  Coun- 
ty. On  the  4th  of  November,  the  army  lay  encamped  on 
a  branch  of  the  Wabash  River,  distant  from  Fort  Wash- 
ington as  estimated  by  Captain  Denny,  about  ninety- 
eight  miles.  Desertions  from  the  force  of  militia  levies 
had  been  frequent,  on  one  occasion  a  sergeant  and 
twenty-five  men  deserting  in  a  single  night.  The 
march  too  had  been  slow  and  tedious,  averaging  since 
the  army  left  Fort  Washington  less  than  four  miles 
each  day. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  early  in  the  morning  the 
Indians  attacked  in  force  and  with  great  persistence. 
Owing  to  the  conduct  of  the  auxiliary  levies,  the 
brunt  of  the  battle  fell  upon  the  regular  troops  (57)  and 
more  especially  upon  the  artillery  and  the  Second  Reg- 
iment, for  the  First  Regiment  had  been  sent  back  a 
little  way  to  check  desertions. 

Major  General  Butler,  a  soldier  of  three  wars,  here 

(56.)  This  island  figured  in  the  engagement  which  took  place  between 
Colonel  David  Rodgers  and  a  large  body  of  Indians.  Colonel  Rodgers  re- 
turning from  New  Orleans  with  munitions  of  war  purchased  from  the 
Spanish,  here  attempted  to  surprise  the  Indians,  but  was  himself  led  into 
ambush  and  his  command  well-nigh  annihilated       This  was  in  1779, 

(57.)  The  artillery  lost  Major  Ferguson,  Captain  Bradford,  and  I.,ieu- 
tenant  Spear,  killed ;  and  Captain  Ford,  wounded.  In  the  cavalry,  or 
mounted  infantry,  Captain  Freeman,  I,ieutenant  De  Butts,  and  Cornet 
Bhines  were  wounded.  The  First  Regiment  had  Captain  Doyle  wounded  ; 
while  the  Second  Regiment  lost  JIajor  Heart,  Captains  Phelon,  Newman, 
and  Kirkwood,  l,ieutenant  Warren,  and  Ensigns  Balsh  and  Cobb  killed, 
while  I<ieutenaiil  Graton  was  wounded.  The  total  loss  was  thirty-seveu 
officers,  and  five  hundred  and  ninety-three  privates  killed  and  missing ; 
also  fifty  privates  wounded.    (From  records  ot  Captain  Denny.) 

39 


met  his  death.  He  had  been  wounded  in  the  leg 
at  the  beginning  of  the  battle,  and  as  he  could  not  then 
be  moved,  was  made  as  comfortable  as  possible  leaning 
against  a  tree.  He  was  cheerful  and  had  no  fear.  The 
battle  which  for  a  time  had  fallen  away  from  General 
Butler's  resting  place,  now  surged  back  thither  and  he 
was  killed  and  scalped  by  the  enemy.  Colonel  Sar- 
gent and  Viscount  Milartie,  a  volunteer  aide-de-camp 
from  the  French  Settlements  at  Gallipolis,  v/ere  both 
wounded.  The  army  was  beaten  back,  and  was  only 
saved  from  complete  rout  by  the  promptitude  of  IWajor 
Hamtramck  (58)  commanding  the  First  Regiment,  who 
first  occupied  Fort  Jefferson  and  then  sent  out  ail  the 
force  he  could  spare  to  check  desertions  and  rally  the 
fugitives. 

During  the  fight.  General  St.  Clair  had  four  horses 
killed  under  him  and  was  much  of  the  time  on  foot. 
Eight  bullets  passed  through  his  clothes  and  one  grazed 
his  head,  cutting  off  a  lock  of  hair.  He  wore  "a  coarse 
cappo  coat  and  a  three-cornered  hat.  He  had  a  very 
long  cue  and  large  locks,  very  gray,  flowing  beneath 
his  beaver"     (59). 

The  most  harrowing  feature  of  the  battle  of  No- 
vember 4,  1791,  was  the  sufferings  of  the  women  who 
had  accompanied  the  army  to  the  number  of  between 
one  and  two  hundred.  Most  of  these  were  slain  with 
horribly  contrived  tortures,  and  their  bodies  treated 
with  the  greatest  indignities. 

Captain  Denny  was  selected  by  General  St.  Clair 
to  convey  dispatches  containing  the  news  of  defeat   to 

(58.)  Major  John  Francis  Hamtramck  was  a  native  of  Canada  but  en- 
tered the  Continental  Army  from  New  York.  He  was  a  captain  in  177ti 
and  served  to  June  3,  1783.  He  was  appointed  Captain  in  the  First  United 
States  Infantry  in  1785,  and  serving  through  the  various  Indian  campaigns, 
was  promoted  successively  major,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  colonel.  He 
was  a  most  efficient  officer  and  commanded  the  respect  and  trust  of  the 
various  commanders  of  the  Army.  He  died  April  II,  LSO;?,  and  was  buried 
in  the  grounds  of  St.  Amies  Orphan  Asylum,  Detroit. 

(59.)    Narrative  of  St.  Clair  campaign.    St.  Clair  Papers  Vol.  I,  p.  176. 

40 


the  War  Department  at  Philadelphia.  The  journey 
was  begun  November  19.  After  consuming  twenty 
days  in  passage  by  river  to  Wheeling,  and  eleven  days 
more  in  the  saddle  between  Wheeling  and  Philadelphia, 
Captain  Denny  arrived  at  the  latter  place  on  the  19th 
of  December. 

The  awful  scene  of  conflict  v/ith  the  Indians  had 
made  such  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  Captain  Den- 
ny, that  he  said  but  little  on  the  subject.  "To  talk  at 
all,"  he  says,  "is  an  unpleasant  task  to  me."  His  ac- 
count of  his  interview  with  Genera!  Knox  is  very  brief, 
and  he  wrote  that  on  the  day  following  his  arrival  in 
Philadelphia,  he  was  taken  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
breakfast  with  the  President,  who  discussed  the  cam- 
paign very  fully,  asking  many  questions. 

General  St.  Clair  had  proposed  the  erection  of  one 
or  more  military  stations  in  the  Indian  country  as 
early  as  the  campaign  of  General  Harmar,  but  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  did  not  then  favor  their  establishment. 
When,  however,  preparations  for  the  campaign  of  1791 
were  begun,  a  reluctant  assent  was  given  to  a  scheme, 
which  the  year  before  might  have  changed  the  entire 
result.  Nov/  it  was  too  late  to  bring  about  the  advan- 
tages promised  in  1790,  for  the  Indians  had  been  encour- 
aged by  their  successes  and  could  no  longer  be  easily 
overavv'ed  by  the  presence  of  a  military  establishment 
in  their  midst. 

By  the  construction  of  Fort  Hamilton,  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Aliami  River,  Fort  Jefferson  in  Darke  Coun- 
ty, and  Fort  St.  Clair,  near  the  town  of  Eaton,  in 
Preble  County  and  between  forts  Hamilton  and  Jeffer- 
son, a  line  of  communication  had  been  advanced  be- 
tween sixty  and  seventy  miles  from  Fort  Washington, 
towards  the  scene  of  active  operations  in  the  Indian 
country.     While  this  chain   of  forts  did  not  insure  the 


41 


success  of  the  campaign;  for  nothing  could  compensate 
for  the  rawness  and  general  unpreparedness  of  the  sol- 
diery, it  did  greatly  mitigate  the  final  disaster,  by  con- 
verting a  disorderly  rout  into  a  retreat  somewhat  held  in 
check.  What  the  result  might  have  been  without  these 
fortified  halting  places  for  the  calming  and  reassurance 
of  the  panic-stricken  militia  levies,  it  is  hard  to  con- 
jecture. 

To  General  St.  Clair,  the  commander  in  chief,  a 
brave  soldier  of  three  wars,  an  incorruptible  official, 
and  one  who  was  a  long  neglected  creditor  of 
the  nation,  is  due  proper  recognition  for  his 
valuable  services  in  both  military  and  civil  life. 
The  passions  of  political  strife  and  intrigue,  helped 
to  obscure  for  many  years  the  true  conditions  which 
prevailed  during  the  campaign  of  1791.  Happily  since 
then,  time  and  the  moderating  influence  of  calm  inves- 
tigation, have  cleared  the  atmosphere  and  enabled 
later  writers  (60)  to  present  the  facts  as  they  really 
were,  not  as  partisan  friends  or  enemies  have  desired. 
EXPEDITION  UNDER  GENERAL  WILKINSON. 

Setting  out  from  Fort  Washington  on  January 
24,  1792,  General  Wilkinson  conducted  a  small  com- 
mand, made  up  of  regulars  from  the  fort  and  mounted 
militia  from  Kentucky,  to  the  battle  ground  of  the  St. 
Clair  campaign. 

The  object  of  this  expedition  was  to  give  decent 
burial  to  the  bodies  of  the  slain  and  to  recover  if  possi- 
ble the  artillery  which  had  been  abandoned  in  the 
hurried  retreat  of  the  army. 

When  the  troops  marched  from  Fort  Washington, 
a  deep  snow  covered  the  ground,   so  that  the  supplies 

(fiO.)  Mr.  William  Henry  wSmith,  the  able  editor  of  the  St.  Clair  Papers, 
has  presented  calmly  and  dispassionately  all  the  facts  connected  with 
General  St.  Clair's  long  and  useful  life. 

42 


Major-Generat^  Anthoxy  "Wayne. 


From  portrait  by  Trumbull,  Irvliig's  Life  of  Wasliington, 

Edition.  1859. 

Courtesy  G.  P.  Putnanrs  Sons. 


were  drawn  on  sledges.  The  weather  was  excessively 
inclement  and  for  part  of  the  time  snow,  hail,  and  rain 
obstructed  the  march.  The  crust  of  frozen  snow  so 
cut  the  legs  of  the  horses  that  the  trail  was  marked 
for  miles  with  the  blood  of  these  faithful  animals.  The 
scene  of  .  battle  was  reached  on  February  i  and  a 
graphic  picture  of  the  horrors  there  presented  has  been 
given  by  Captain  Robert  Buntin  who  accompanied  the 
expedition    (6i). 

When  the  soldiers  pitched  their  tents,  they  were 
obliged  to  scrape  up  the  bones  of  the  dead  and  remove 
them,  in  order  that  their  blankets  might  be  spread 
upon  the  ground. 

The  troops  under  General  Wilkinson  buried  the 
dead  in  great  pits  and  returned  to  Fort  Washington  in 
safety  bringing  with  them  several  of  the  gun  carriages, 
some  of  the  guns  themselves  being  recovered  at  a  sub- 
sequent period. 

THE  WAYNE  CAMPAIGN. 
When  General  Anthony  Wayne  was  appointed 
commander  of  the  army,  he  began  his  preparations 
with  a  caution  which  was  surprising  to  those  who  knew 
him  only  as  the  dashing  Mad  Anthony  of  Stony  Point, 
the  brave  but  impetuous  and  sometimes  unwise  leader. 
Wayne  was  a  soldier  by  inheritance  of  fighting  blood 
which  had  shown  itself  in  the  wars  of  two  conti- 
nents. His  grandfather,  a  Yorkshireman  by  birth,  had 
emigrated  to  County  Wicklow,  Ireland,  in  1681,  and 
while  there  following  the  peaceful  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, nine  years  later,  entered  the  army  of  William  of 
Orange.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Boyne- 
Water,  and  the  siege  of  Limerick,  and  later  on,  as  if  to 


(61.)    Captain  Buntin  writes  to  Governor  St.  Clair  from  Fort  Washing- 
ton, February  13,  1792. 


43 


show  that  his  courage  was  not  chilled  by  age,  emigrat- 
ed to  Pennsylvania  in  1722,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 
Isaac,  the  youngest  son  of  this  old  soldier,  himself  took 
part  in  the  Indian  wars  and  was  a  member  of  the  Co- 
lonial Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  Anthony,  only  son 
of  Isaac  Wayne,  was  born  January  i,  1745,  in  Eas- 
town,  near  Paoli,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.  He 
early  showed  an  inclination  for  military  pursuits. 
His  uncle  who  was  conducting  his  education  once  wrote 
a  complaining  letter  to  Anthony's  father,  in  which  he 
says:  **one  thing  I  am  certain  of,  that  he  will  never 
make  a  scholar.  He  may  make  a  soldier;  he  has  al- 
ready distracted  the  brains  of  two-thirds  of  the  boys 
under  my  direction,  by  rehearsals  of  battles,  and 
sieges;  *  *  *  some,  laid  up  with  broken  heads  and 
others  with  black  eyes.  During  noon,  instead  of  the 
usual  games  and  amusements,  he  has  the  boys  em- 
ployed in  throwing  up  redoubts,  skirmishing,  &c."(62). 
Young  Anthony,  however,  became  more  steady,  and 
did  after  all  become  a  scholar  to  the  extent  of  taking  up 
land  surveying,  astronomy,  and  engineering,  so  that  in 
spite  of  his  natural  impetuosity,  he  could  control  his 
sometimes  rash  impulses.  Anthony  Wayne  was  a 
provincial  deputy  in  Pennsylvania  i-n  1774-5.  His  rec- 
ord in  the  Continental  Army  is  too  well-known  to  re- 
quire mention,  and  when  he  returned  from  the  army  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  with  the  rank  of  Major-General 
he  at  first  resumed  civil  life  in  his  native  state.  Later 
removing  to  Georgia,  he  represented  that  state  in  Con- 
gress during  a  part  of  the  years  1791-92.  He  was  con- 
firmed as  Major-General  in  command  of  the  United 
States  Army,  April  3,  1792,  and  at  once  set  about 
bringing  his  troops  into  fit  condition.     The  apprentice- 

(62.)    From  letter  of  Gilbert  Wayne  to  his  brother  Isaac,  quoted  by  Brice 
In  his  History  of  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

44 


ship  of  his  soldiers  began  on  the  plain  (just  below  Econ- 
omy,    Pa., — the    Logstown    of    Christopher    Gist's 
time)  which  now  bears  the  name  of  Legionville.     Here 
the  molding  and  forging  and    riveting  together  of  his 
victorious  legion  was  begun;  later  it  was  carried    on  at 
'*Hobsons  Choice,"  in  Cincinnati,  some  two  miles  be- 
low Fort  Washington.    When  the  perfected  machine 
was  ready  for  operation,  it  was  advanced  from  point  to 
point  as  the  knights  and  pawns  are  moved  upon  a  chess 
board.    When,  however,  the  time  for  final  action  came, 
then  Wayne  was  the  same  impetuous  commander  as  of 
old,  ready  to  defy  not  the  Indians  alone,  but  if  must  be, 
the  whole  British   Army.    In  his  enthusiasm  he  was 
near  forgetting  that  he  was  not  merely  the  leader  of  a 
company,  but    rather  the  commander  in  chief;  so  that 
his  aide,  Captain  William  Henry  Harrison,  had  to  ask  in 
advance  for  orders  which  he  feared  might  not  be  given, 
once  the  fight  had  begun.    With    this  impulsive  desire 
to  carry  out  his  plans  there  was  a  sober,  prudent  side  to 
General  Wayne,  which  is  shown  in  his  letters  to  the 
army  contractors,   Messrs.  Elliot  and  Williams,  and  to 
Major  John  Belli  the   Deputy  Quartermaster-General 
at  Fort  Washington  (63).      These  letters  throw  some 
light  on  the  secret  of  General  Wayne's  success  where 
other  leaders  had  failed.     He  was  daring  to  a  remark- 
able degree,  as  was  shown  by  his  throwing  down  the 
gage  of  defiance  to  the    British    commander    at   "Fort 
Miami,"  in  1794;  but,  this  daring  quality    of  mind  and 
heart  was  held  in  check  by    prudent  preparations  for 
his  campaign;   by  a  personal  supervision  of  the  little 
details  which  were  so  essential  to  the  carrying  out  of 
his  general  plan.    General  Wayne  did  not  long  survive 

(63.)  See  Appendix  III  for  letters  of  General  Anthony  Wayne  to 
Messers  Elliott  and  Williams,  and  John  Belli,  D.  Q.  M.  G.  From  MSS. 
hitherto  unpublished,  as  believed,  and  now  in  possession  of  Mr.  H.  D. 
Gregory  of  Covington,  Ky. 

45 


his  triumph.  He  died  in  a  rude  log  cabin  at  Presqu' 
Isle  (Erie),  Pennsylvania,  on  the  15th  of  December, 
1796,  and  in  accordance  with  his  own  request  was 
buried  under  the  flagstaff  of  the  fort. 

With  the  successful  termination  of  this  campaign, 
the  importance  of  Fort  Washington  visibly  declined.  It 
was  a  garrison  only,  for  the  Indians  had  at  last  met 
their  master,  and  had  retired  beyond  the  limits  set  by 
the  Treaty  of  Greenville. 


46 


The  Drake  House. 

Built  by  Doctor  Daniel  Drake  in  1S12,  on  the  site  of  the  Southeast  Blockhouse  of 
Fort  Washington. 

The  Alto-relievo  of  Washington  (see  frontispiece)  forms  a  part  of  the 
cornice  in  the  parlor,  on  the  north  wall,  between  the  two  windows  opening  on 
the  balcony,  and  is  said  to  have  been  placed  in  the  house  about  the  year  1815. 

Daniel  Drake  was  born  at  Plainfield,  N  J.,  October  20  1785, 
but  at  an  early  age  removed  with  family  to  Mayslick  Mason  County,  Ky. 
About  the  years  lSOl-2  he  was  engaged  in  the  study  of  medicine  at  Cincin- 
nati living  at  this  time  in  one  o?  the  buildings  within  Fort  Washington. 
Dr  brake's  medical  studies  were  completed  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania bv  lectures  which  he  attended  in  1805  and  again  some  years  later. 
He  became  an  active  promoter  of  medical  education  in  the  West,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  at  I^ouisviUe  and  I^e.xington,  Kentucky.  He  wa.s  also  au 
extensive  writer  on  medical  .subjects.  Dr.  Drake  died  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
November  (i,  1852. 


3- 
4- 

I: 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
II. 
12. 

13. 


N  A  LETTER  from  General  Harmar 
to  Lieutenant  Ernest  then  com 
manding  Fort  Pitt,  is  given  a  list 
of  the  officers  composing  the  gar- 
rison at  Fort  Washington,  on  the 
9th  of  June,  1790. 

1.  General   Harmar   (Josiah    of 
Pa.) 

2.  Captain  Ferguson  (William  of 
Pa.), 

Captain  Strong  (David  of  Conn.), 
Captain  McCurdy  (William  of  Pa.), 
Captain  Beatty  (Erkuries  of  Pa.), 
Lieutenant  Armstrong  (John  of  Pa.), 
Lieutenant  Kersey  (William  of  N.  J.), 
Lieutenant  Ford  (Mahlon  of  N.  J.), 
Lieutenant  Pratt  (John  of  Pa.), 
Lieutenant  Denny  (Ebenezer  of  Pa.), 
Ensign  Suydam  (Cornelius  Ryker  of  N.  J.), 
Ensign  Hartshorn  (Asa  of  Conn.), 
Ensign  Thompson  (Robert  of  Conn.), 
Doctor  Allison  (Richard  of  Pa.). 

out  for  the  information  of  the 


14. 

This  list  was  made 
Quartermaster  or  the  army  contractor  who  had  en- 
gaged to  furnish  the  garrison  at  Fort  Washington  with 
rations  and  other  supplies.  These  returns  were  for- 
warded at  a  time  when  a  number  of  the  officers  belong- 
ing to  the  "First  United  States  Infantry"  were  on  duty 
at  other  posts  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.  Fort  Pitt 
was  still  maintained  as  a  distributing  center  for  supplies; 
Fort  Franklin  (at  Venango,  near  the  site  of  the  old 
French  and  English  forts),  was  also  occupied;  while 
at  Fort  Harmar  on  the  Muskingum;  Fort  Steuben  (often 
called  Fort  Finney),  near  Jeffersonville,  Ind.;  and  Fort 


47 


Knox  at  Vincennes,  Ind.;  small  garrisons  were  held  in 
readiness  for  operations  wherever  most  needed.  Fort 
Mcintosh  at  Beaver,  Pa.;  Fort  Steuben  atSteubenville, 
O.;  and  Fort  Finney  (near  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Miami);  having  outlived  their  usefulness,  had  been 
abandoned.  New  Fort  Massac,  about  i^  miles  above 
the  present  town  of  Metropolis,  111.;  and  Fort  Wilkin- 
son, at  the  head  of  the  Grand  Chain,  about  12^  miles 
below  Metropolis;  were  not  constructed  until  a  later 
period. 

With  but  few  exceptions,  the  officers  of  this,  the 
first  Army  of  the  Republic,  had  served  during  the 
Revolution;  and  an  examination  of  their  individual 
records,  unfolds  an  outline  picture  of  the  War  for  Inde- 
pendence. From  the  first  call,  the  "Lexington  Alarm"; 
down  through  Bunker  Hill  and  the  Siege  of  Boston,  to 
the  campaigns  in  New  York  and  the  Jerseys;  through 
the  sufferings  and  disappointments  of  Valley  Forge, 
Brandywine,  and  Germantown,  or  the  picturesque 
struggle  among  the  clouds  and  crags  of  Stony  Point; 
through  the  stubborn  battles  in  the  Carolinas  and  the 
glorious  successes  of  Saratoga  and  Yorktown;  had  come 
men  who  now  gathered  in  friendly  intercourse  around 
the  mess  table  at  Fort  Washington.  Some  who  had 
passed  unscathed  the  perils  of  battle,  and  the  disease 
and  suffering  of  the  prison  ship;  some  even  who  before 
the  Revolution  had  taken  part  in  the  wars  of  the  col- 
onies; were  now  destined  to  fall  beneath  the  rifle  and 
knife  of  the  western  savage. 

Only  a  fleeting  glance  can  be  given  at  the  life  of 
these  men.  They  were  furnished  with  an  army 
wholly  inadequate  as  regards  size  and,  in  general,  illy 
supplied  with  the  most  common  necessities  of  life;  they 
had  already  served  throughout  a  long,  protracted  war; 
but  now  that  their  services  were  again  required,  they 
cheerfully  entered  anew  upon  a  life  of  privation  and 
danger.  To  them,  the  West  owes  a  debt  of  remem- 
brance and  gratitude. 

The  pay  of  the  soldiers  at  this  time  was  most  nig- 
gardly, varying  from  three  to  five  dollars  per  month, 
as  the  demand  for  recruits  to  engage  in  active  field 
operations  sometimes  made  it  necessary  to  increase  the 


48 


first  named  amount  (64).  Even  this  meager  allowance 
was  often  long  in  arrears,  and  certain  money-lenders 
attempted  to  speculate  upon  the  necessities  of  the  men. 
There  is  a  clear,  manly  ring  in  the  letter  of  the  com- 
manding officer  denouncing  such  practices.  He  says: 
"It  is  in  my  opinion,  a  most  dishonorable  traffic;  by 
God,  my  hands  are  clear  of  it,  and  if  1  find  that  any 
officer  is  concerned  in  it,  he  shall  be  called  to  a  strict 
and  severe  account  for  such  unmilitary  proceedings" 

(65). 

Supplies,  as  once  before,  were  delivered  in  such  an 
irregular  manner,  that  the  garrison  at  Fort  Washing- 
ton was  well-nigh  threatened  with  famine.  At  mid- 
summer the  men  had  been  without  meat  for  some  days 
and  both  flour  and  v/hiskey  had  given  out  (66).  The 
garrison  was  relieved  from  the  danger  of  starvation  by 
the  settlers,  some  of  whom  furnished  corn;  while  two 
hunters  went  down  the  river  in  a  canoe  and  procured 
sufficient  game — buffalo,  bear,  and  deer— to  subsist  the 
soldiers  for  nearly  six  weeks. 

(64.)  On  one  occasion,  a  year  or  two  earlier,  an  expedition  bound  for 
some  point  in  the  region  of  Kaskaskia,  III.,  stopped  en  route  at  "The 
Falls"  (I<ouisville),  and  the  sergeant's  mess  concluded  they  would  have  a 
friendly  bowl  of  punch.  When  the  score  was  paid,  they  found  that  the 
entire  monthly  pay  of  one  man  was  absorbed  by  that  friendly  bov/1  of 
punch.    (Journal  oi  Joseph  Buell.) 

(66.)  General  Harmar  to  Joseph  Howell,  Acting  Paymaster  General, 
U.  S.  A,  June»,  1790. 

(Wi.)    General  Harmar  to  Joseph  Howell,  June  9,  1790. 


40 


O  THE  WEST  of  the  military  reser- 
vation on  which  Fort  Washington 
stood,  two  blocl-cs.  as  we  now 
measure  the  distance,  and  on  the 
street  which  extended  along  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  reser- 
vation, lay  the  little  graveyard 
which  received  the  dead  of  the  gar. 
rison. 

Far  away  from  the  familiar 
scenes  of  childhood,  far  from  the 
storm-lashed  coast  of  New  England  or  the  plains 
and  valleys  of  the  Middle  States,  "after  life's 
fitful  dream  had  ended,"  these  soldiers  of  the  Re- 
public were  received  into  the  bosom  of  Mother  Earth. 
With  muffled  drum  and  drooping  colors,  the  mili- 
tary cortege  was  wont  to  pass  along  the  narrow  trail 
(67)  leading  from  the  garrison  to  the  little  graveyard. 
No  vestige  of  the  graveyard  itself  is  left,  it  has  fallen 
before  man's  greed  for  land;  and  there  remains  only  the 
pathetic  remembrance,  that  here  the  dust  of  the  half- 
forgotten  dead  mingles  with  the  soil,  close  to  the 
bustling  city  thoroughfare. 

^  The  ground  devoted  to  burial  purposes  occupied 
the  southern  portion  of  the  block  bounded  by  Main, 
Walnut,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  streets  in  Cincinnati.  On 
a  portion  of  this  ground  there  now  stands  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  even  this 
comparatively  modern  structure  has  been 
strangely  metamorphosed  by  recent  ad- 
ditions; but  its  slender  spire  is  still  lifted 
skywards  and  literally  points  a  fmger 
toward  a  higher  world. 


((57.)  The  lines  of  the  streets  in  Cincinnati  had  been 
laid  out  by  the  surveyor,  Mr.  Israel  l,udlow,  as  far  as 
Northern  Row  (7th  Street),  during  the  winter  of  178P-90: 
but  the  streets  were  not  entirely  cleared  of  trees  and 
underbrush  until  several  years  alter  that  time. 


60 


The    AlANSi^iELE)    Mouse. 

HuiU  by  Lieutenant-Colonel   .Tared    Manstield,  U.S.A.,  mi  llie  site  of  the 
(ireat  Gateway  ot  l<'ort  Washington. 

Jared  Mansfield  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  2.S,  17.59. 
He  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1777,  and  subsequent 
thereto  acquired  such  a  reputation  as  a  teacher  and  writer  on  scientific 
subjects  that  he  was  appointed  a  Captain  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  Army, 
by  President  Jefferson,  May  '.i,  1802.  He  was  one  of  the  professors  at 
West  Point  Military  Academy  in  1802-.S  and  in  the  fall  of  the  latter 
year  was  assigned  the  duties  of  Survej'or-General  of  the  Northwest 
Territory.  This  office  he  held  until  October  7,  1812,  when  he  resumed  his 
professorship  at  West  Point  and  there  remained  until  he  resigned  from  the 
Army,  August  31,  1828,  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  was  en- 
gaged (1H19)  on  the  boundary  line  commission  between  Niagara  and  De- 
troit;  and  was  consulting  engineer  for  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  Colonel 
Mansfield  married  a  Miss  Pliipps  who  came  of  the  family  of  which  Sir 
William  Phipp.s,  (iovernor  of  Massachu.setts,  was  a  member.  In  182.') 
Colonel  Mansfield  was  honored  by  his  Alma  Mater  with  the  degree  of 
Llv  D.  After  his  resignation  from  the  army  he  retired  to  New  Haven, 
where  he  died  February  3,  1830. 


Tara  Fort  Washington  Monument 

THIRD    STRISEX,    CINCINNATI,    OHIO. 


Erected    igor,    by  the  societies    ok  the;    Mayflower,   coloniai, 

WARS,  colonial  dames,  SONS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION,  SONS  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  REVOLUTION,  DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 
CHILDREN  OF  THE    AMERICAN    REVOLUTION,  WAR   OF     l8l2,  LOYAL    LEGION. 


s^ 

ijijOw 

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^^^^ 

^sE.*'* 

1 

Mj^^JSH 

IK^ 

f 

nl 

p 

<  -■"   ".••i*' 

[HE  ARMY  OF  the  United  States  in 
these  early  days  contained  no  chap- 
lains, so  that  the  officers  and  men 
composing  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Washington,  had  to  depend  upon 
such  religious  services  as  might  be 
held  in  the  straggling,  little  hamlet 
below  the  fort. 

When  Cincinnati  was  first  laid 
out,  certain  lots  were  dedicated  to 
the  use  of  religion  and  education  (68).  The  block  of 
land  already  noted  as  containing  the  little  graveyard 
used  by  the  garrison,  was  also  intended  for  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  church  and  a  school  building.  The  poverty  of 
the  new  settlement  prevented  the  erection  of  a  church 
building  until  1792,  although  a  church  society  (Presby- 
terian) had  been  formed  in  the  preceding  year.  Be- 
tweeri  the  arrival  of  the  first  settled  minister  (69)  and 
the  erection  of  a  church  building,  of  a  Sunday  morning, 
the  people  gathered  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Main  streets  and  listened  to  the  preaching,  seated 
upon  the  fallen  tree  trunks,  their  rifles  within  easy 
reach,  ready  for  instant  use. 

So  great  was  the  apprehension  of  a  sudden  Indian  at- 
tack upon  the  settlement,  that  on  September  18,  1792, 
Winthi op  Sargent,  in  the  absence  of  Governor  St.Clair, 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  on  every  man  enrolled 
in  the  militia,  when  attending  religious  services, 
to  "arm  and  equip  himself  as  though  he  were  marching 
to  engage  the  enemy,  or  in  default  that  he  shall   be 


(68.)    I/3ts  100,  115.  139,  140.  .  ,■       ^f  D„, 

(69  )    Rev  Mr.  James  Kemper,  an  ear  nest,,  pious  man,  a  native  of  Far- 
quier  County,  Va. 


51 


fined  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred  cents"  (70).  At  least 
one  fine  was  imposed  for  failure  to  comply  with  this 
law. 

When  the  weather  proved  too  stormy  for  holding 
these  services  in  the  open  air,  the  congregation  some- 
times assembled  in  the  building  of  a  little  mill  used  for 
grinding  corn,  which  stood  between  Third  and  Fourth 
streets  near  Vine.  Here  were  no  windows  of  stained 
glass,  no  hangings  of  rich  tapestry,  no  strains  of  the 
organ  resounding  amid  the  carved  columns  and  groined 
arches  of  a  lofty  nave  ;  but  only  the  rough  posts  and 
rafters  of  a  frontier  corn  mill,  hung  with  the  dusty  cob- 
webs of  the  week.  Here  with  eager  attention,  the 
audience  listened  to  the  story  of  One  whose  first  temple 
was  a  stable,  whose  attendants  were  the  simple  fisher- 
folk  of  a  Galilean  lake. 

In  June,  1792,  and  again  in  1794,  subscriptions  were 
secured,  first  for  the  original  construction  of  this  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  then  for  its  interior  finish;  as  well 
as  for  a  fence  which  should  surround  both  church  and 
graveyard.  The  list  of  subscribers  contained  the  fol- 
lowing names  of  officers  and  ex-officers  of  the  garrison 
at  Fort  Washington. 

Allison,  Richard  (Surgeon) 

Ford,  Mahlon  (Captain) 

Harrison,  William  Henry    (Lieutenant) 
Mercer,  John  (Captain) 

Peters,  William  (Lieutenant) 

Shaylor,  Joseph  (Captain) 

Wade,  John  (Ensign) 

Wilkinson,  James  (Brigadier-General) 

Ziegler,  David  (Major) 

(70.)    St.  Clair  Papers  Vol.  11,  p.  SOd. 

52 


The  careless  life  of  the  soldier  had  not  obliterated 
the  teachings  of  home;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  note  the 
ready  response  given  by  the  officers  to  this  call  for 
assistance  from  the  first  church  organization  within  a 
reasonable  distance  of  the  garrison    (71). 

(71.)  The  Baptists  had  organized  a  church  at  Columbia  as  early  as  1790 
but  this  was  nearly  five  miles  distant  from  Fort  Washington,  rendering 
attendance  from  Cincinnati  generally  impracticable. 


63 


HERE  WAS  a  serious  side  to  life 
in  the  garrison  during  its  earlier 
years;  i^ut  there  was  also  not 
lacking  amusement  and  relaxa- 
tion. From  the  atmosphere  of 
bustling  activity  about  the  fort, 
went  forth  the  battalions  who 
marched  with  buoyant  step,  the 
scars  of  a  former  campaign  cover- 
ed, if  not  healed,  the  empty  places 
in  the  ranks  filled  with  new  re- 
cruits who  had  no  acquaintance  with  disaster,  fresh 
faces  and  new  uniforms,  hearts  as  yet  untouched  by 
the  sorrow  for  lost  comrades  and  with  no  gloomy  fear 
of  the  future,  for  how  could  they  suffer  defeat.  So  fared 
they  forth;  but  twice  at  least,  within  a  few  weeks  of 
their  departure,  there  hurried  back  to  the  fort's  shelter- 
ing care,  the  broken  remnant  of  an  army,  bruised,  dis- 
heartened, wounded,  and  dying. 

To  the  old  experienced  campaigners,  however, 
those  to  whom  the  hazard  of  life  was  no  new  thing, 
those  who  from  Bunker  Hill  to  Yorktown,  had  wit- 
nessed the  ebb  and  flow  of  fortune,  there 
came  a  settled  philosophy  which  took  things,  good  or 
ill,  with  unruffled  serenity. 

Returning  then  from  the  various  campaigns  into 
the  wilderness  where  even  if  life  were  spared,  there 
had  still  been  much  of  privation  and  suffering,  at  the 
very  least  a  scarcity  of  food  and  fire  and  rooftree;  what 
wonder  that  there  was  dining  and  wining  at  the  quar- 
ters within  the  fort,  a  breaking  of  glasses  to  prevent 
"heeltaps,"  and  a  pledging  of  toasts  in  bumpers. 


54 


Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  fort's  existence 
there  were  theatrical  performances  in  the  old  "yellow 
house"  of  the  Artificers'  Yard  which  stood  on  the  river 
brink  in  front  of  the  fort,  comic  operas  even  ;  and  else- 
where races,  for  which  dazzling  purses  were  offered,  as 
much  as  thirty-five  and  fifty  dollars.  Many  an  "ob- 
long," as  the  three  dollar  bills  of  the  old  Bank  of  the 
United  States  were  locally  called,  changed  hands  at 
these  races,  not  to  mention  the  more  modest  "sharp 
shin"  of  silver,  cut  from  a  Spanish  milled  dollar  to  sup- 
ply the  local  needs. 

In  November  of  1801,  a  much  milder  amusement 
was  provided,  a  singing  school  for  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, where  for  ;^2.oo  for  a  whole  quarter's  lessons, 
the  gay  young  ensigns  and  cadets  of  the  fort  might 
meet  the  eyes  of  demurely  roguish  maidens,  as  the  soft 
modulations  of  Coronation  and  Duke  Street  were  given 
by  the  class. 

Anon  just  before  Christmas  of  that  same  year,  a 
performance  was  advertised  at  the  "Cincinnati 
Theater,"  "THE  POOR  SOLDIER  and  Peeping  Tom 
Coventry."  "Doors  to  be  opened  at  half  past  five 
and  the  performance  to  begin  at  half  past  six  pre- 
cisely." 

For  the  more  serious-minded  of  the  garrison,  there 
was  the  mental  relaxation  afforded  by  books.  The 
officers  had  a  taste  for  reading,  and  some  a  love  for 
especially  fine  books.  One  officer  in  writing  about  a 
certain  encyclopedia  which  had  been  ordered  in  the 
East,  said :  "I  want  the  most  elegant  edition  which 
can  be  procured." 

For  those  who  could  not  afford  the  luxury  of  very 
fine  books,  the  advertisement  of  one  Cincinnati  book- 
seller discloses  such  a  wealth  of  reading  matter  as, 
"Assembly   Catechism,   Abelard  &  Eloise,   American 


55 


Farmer,  Beauties  of  Watts,  Beauties  of  Fielding,  Mrs. 
Moore's  Works,  Philip  Quarle.  Citizen  of  the  World, 
Everyone  his  own  Lawyer,  Butler's  Analogy,  and  Vic- 
ar of  Wakefield."  There  must  have  been  those  who 
scoffed  at  this  modest  mental  pabulum,  and  thought  it 
too  circumscribed,  for  a  month  later  a  meeting  was 
called  to  consider  the  establishment  of  a  library  in 
Cincinnati. 

In  the  year  1800,  and  possibly  a  little  before  that 
time  a  distillery  was  in  operation  within  the  narrow 
confines  of  the  Deer  Creek  Valley  (72).  It  was  the 
one,  lone  building  in  all  that  region,  half  shadowed  by 
the  beetling  sides  of  Mount  Adams  on  the  east,  and 
surrounded  by  the  oaks,  sugar  trees,  and  water  maples, 
which  constituted  the  original  forest  growth. 

Festoons  of  wild  grapevine  hung  from  tree  to  tree, 
and  in  the  days  of  early  autumn,  the  morning-glory 
spread  its  gay  colors  over  the  ruins  of  stump  and  fallen 
tree  top. 

The  two,  well-beaten  trails,  which  led  to  this  dis- 
tillery, one  from  Fort  Washington  and  the  other  from 
the  straggling  little  hamlet  upon  which  the  fort  looked 
down,  offered  mute  testimony  to  the  popularity  of  the 
institution.  The  loneliness  of  its  situation  did  not 
deter  visitors  from  passing  under  the  low  portal,  they 
being  bravely  determined  no  doubt  to  "keep  their 
spirits  up,  by  pouring  spirits  down." 

When  General  Wilkinson,  a  very  polished  man, 
was  stationed  at  Fort  Washington,  about  1796,  he  lived 
in  what  was  considered  very  great  style. 

He  had  the  first  carriage  in  Cincinnati,  so  tradition 
says,  and  a  spanking  team  to  pull  it.     He  entertained 


(72.)    Address  before  the  Cincinnati  Medical  I<ibrary  Assn.,  Jan.  9,  1852, 
by  Dr.  Daniel  Drake. 


in  a  handsome,  almost  lavish  manner,  assisted  by  the 
gracious  lady,  his  wife,  and  the  entertainments  were 
not  confined  to  banquets  and  balls  on  the  land. 

Some  of  his  boat-parties  had  a  flavor  of  the  old 
world  sports  upon  the  Adriatic.  The  gaily  decorated 
barge,  the  boatmen,  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  in 
number,  laboring  with  oar  and  pole  to  propel  the  craft, 
the  music  rolling  over  the  moon-lit  water  to  the  echoing 
hills  beyond,  the  banquet,  the  elegant  costumes  of  the 
guests,  and  the  charming  hospitality  of  the  host,  (73) 
made  the  scene  one  of  bright  coloring,  framed  in  by  the 
sombre-wooded  hillsides  which  rose  from  the  river's 
brink. 

(78.)    Recollections,  by  H.  M.  Brackenridge. 


67 


F  THE  PUBLIC  functions  in  which 
Fort  Washington  and  its  garrison 
took  a  prominent  part,  may  be 
mentioned  two  which  possess  spe- 
cial interest.  One  of  these  was 
the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of 
July,  1799  (74).  The  guns  of  the 
fort  boomed  a  salute  at  daybreak, 
and  after  a  grand  parade,  the  offi- 
cers attended  a  banquet  where  a 
great  many  long  and  formal  toasts 
were  proposed  to  the  memory  of  the  dead  and  the 
health  of  the  living.  In  the  evening  a  brilliant  com- 
pany assembled  at  one  of  the  town  houses,  where,  ac- 
cording to  the  reporter  of  that  day,  "it  is  impossible  to 
describe  the  ecstatic  pleasure  that  appeared  to  be  en- 
joyed by  all  present  at  the  Celebration  of  the  Auspi- 
cious Day,  and  the  scene  closed  in  perfect  harmony" 

(75). 

During  the  following  winter,  an  occasion  of  sad- 
ness was  presented  in  the  memorial  funeral  of  the  great 
man  in  whose  honor  the  fort  had  been  named.  Owing 
to  delay  in  the  transmission  of  mails,  the  news  of 
Washington's  death  did  not  reach  Cincinnati  until  late 


(74.)  The  fort  was  at  this  time  commanded  by  Captain  Edward  Miller. 
He  was  born  in  Middlesex  County,  Connecticut,  June  W,  1756,  being  the 
son  of  Tared  Miller  and  Elizabeth  Center.  Edward  Miller  w^as  one  of 
those  who  responded  to  the  first  call  to  arms  in  the  Revolutionary  stnts- 
gle,  serving  as  ensign  in  the  "Lexington  Alarm"  He  was  commissioned 
Reutenant  m  the  Second  Regiment  of  Infantry,  United  States  Army,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  179a.  He  had  married,  October  10,  17K3,  Elizabeth  Rockwell, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Rockwell  and  Abigail  Johnson,  and  brought  his 
family  to  Fort  Washington  in  1798.  After  his  retirement  from  the  army, 
he  resided  for  some  years  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Columbia 
Township,  Hamilton  County,  July  6,  18'23.  As  a  Mason— a  member  of  the 
Army  l,odge — he  is  said  to  have  been  associated  with  Washington  during 
the  Revolution. 

(76.)    Appendix  IV. 


58 


in  the  month  of  January,  1800,  and  the  first  day  of 
February  was  set  apart  for  fitting  memorial  services. 
These  services  included  a  military  funeral,  in  which  the 
troops  from  Fort  Washington  immediately  preceded  the 
horse  "with  saddle,  holsters  and  pistols,  and  boots  re- 
versed," which  represented  that  of  General  Wash- 
ington" (76). 

As  the  echo  of  the  last  volley  of  musketry  died 
away  among  the  hills,  one  might  have  felt  that  the  old 
fort  was  destined  soon  to  pass  away,  even  as  had  its 
great  namesake. 

(76.)    Appendix  V. 


69 


Y  THE  YEAR  1802,  the  fort  was 
shorn  of  most  of  its  military  glory. 
In  the  report  of  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  Congress,  written  in  Dec- 
ember, 1 801;  it  was  proposed  for 
the  year  1802,  to  divide  one  com- 
pany of  infantry  between  Pitts- 
burg and  Cincinnati  {jy),  so  that 
Fort  Washington  would  have  but 
half  a  company. 

In  the  year  1803,  the  United  States 
acquired  title  by  purchase  and  gift,  to  a  tract  of  land, 
some  six  acres  in  all,  in  Newport,  Ky.,  lying  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Licking  and  Ohio  rivers. 

On  this  new  reservation  buildings  were  erected, 
and  when  completed  in  1804,  the  old  flag  was  lowered 
and  Fort  Washington  abandoned;  the  little  garrison 
which  still  occupied  the  old  post  being  transferred  to 
the  Newport  Barracks  (78). 


(77.)  Published  Report  of  the  Sec'y  of  War  in  Western  Spy  &  Hamilton 
Gazette.  Jan.  30,  1802. 

(78.)  Thi.s  post  was  in  active  occupation  during  the  War  of  1812,  the 
Mexican,  and  the  Civil  War.  A  new  post,  Fort  Thomas,  having  been  erect- 
ed on  the  bluffs  overlooking  the  Ohio  River,  7  miles  above  the  I^icking,  in 
1894,  the  Newport  Barracks  were  then  abandoned  after  an  occupation  of 
ninety  years  and  the  buildings  demolished  or  moved  away. 


6C 


COPY    OF    MAP    IN    PLAT,  BOOK    1. 

ICITY    ENGINEEH'S    OFFICE. J 

PLAN 

OF  THE   FIFTEEN   ACRES   OF   PUBLIC    LANDS 
IN  CINCINNATI. 

Certified  this  8th  day  of  July,  1807. 

Signed:  JARED  MANSFIELD, 

Surv.  Qen'l. 


HE     TROOPS,     having   been    re- 
moved to  Newport  Barracks,  it  re- 
mained for  the  general  government 
only    to  dispose  of  the  buildings 
and  the  land  on  which  Fort  Wash- 
ington stood.     Authority  for  such 
disposal  was  conferred  by  an  act  of 
congress  in  1806,  the  title  of  which 
is  as  follows: 
"An  Act 
Authorizing  the  sale  of  a  tract  of  land,  in  the  town 
of  Cincinnati,  and  State  of  Ohio." 

This  act  was  signed  by  Nath.  Macon,  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives;  Geo.  Clinton,  Vice  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States  and  President  of  the  Senate; 
and  was  approved  by  Thomas  Jefferson,  February  28, 
1806  (79). 

Under  the  authority  of  this  act,  Captain  Jared 
Mansfield,  Surveyor  General,  made  a  survey  and  pre- 
pared the  plat  to  which  he  gave  his  certificate  dated 
July  8,  1807  (80). 

The  sale  of  the  land  was  advertised  by  Daniel 
Symmes,  Recorder,  and  James  Findlay,  Receiver,  to 
take  place  on  the  "first  Thursday  of  March  next." 
(March  14,  1808)  (81). 


(79.)  Published  in  I^iberty  Hall  &  Cincinnati  Mercury,  February  22, 
1(^8. 

(80.)  This  certificate  which  is  written  on  the  plat,  reads  as  follows:  "I  do 
hereby  certify  that  agreeably  to  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  I  have  surveyed,  or  caused  to  be  surx'eyed,  and  laid  off  into  lots, 
streets  and  alleys,  the  fifteen  acres  of  land  belonging  to  the  United  Slates 
King  in  the  town  of  Cincinnati,  in  the  form  and  manner  exhibited  in  the 
Plat,  and  the  field  notes  of  the  Survey  are  deposited  in  the  office  of  this  de- 
partment.   Certified  this  8th  day  of  July  1807,  Jared  Mansfield  Surv.  Gen'l." 

(81.)    I,iberty  Hall  &  Cincinnati  Mercury,  January  15,  JS08. 


61 


The  land  embraced  in  the  Military  Reservation 
about  Fort  Washington  having  thus  been  divided  into 
lots  and  sold,  the  incident  was  for  a  time  closed. 

About  20  years  later,  however,  a  controversy  arose 
as  to  the  location  of  certain  lots  adjoining  the  fort,  and 
in  order  to  settle  this  matter  it  became  necessary  to  de- 
termine as  precisely  as  possible  the  original  location  of 
Fort  Washington  itself.  This  controversy  finding  its  way 
at  last  into  the  United  States  Court,  Seventh  Circuit, 
District  of  Ohio,  was  tried  before  the  December  Term 
for  1829.  The  case  is  for  Ejectment,  Lessee  of  Harmer 
Heirs  vs.  David  Gwynne  and  George  Morris.  The  testi- 
mony is  voluminous,  embracing  numerous  depositions 
of  parties  who  had  been  familiar  with  the  original  loca- 
tion or  construction  of  the  fort.  Among  the  depositions 
was  that  of  John  Cleves  Symmes,  made  in  i8og 
(82).  Besides  the  deposition,  a  map  made  by 
Joseph  Gest,  then  city  surveyor  of  Cincinnati, 
was  presented  in  court,  and  the  witnesses  interro- 
gated concerning  it.  The  map  was  identified  by 
the  witnesses  as  a  substantially  true  and  correct 
representation  of  the  situation  of  the  fort  with 
regard  to  street  lines  and  corners.  The  map  itself  bears 
on  its  face  a  certificate  signed  by  Joseph  Gest,  to  the 
effect  that  it  was  prepared, "Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States,  Seventh  Circuit, 
Ohio  District,  of  December  Term  1828,  Monday  29," 
after  the  parties  interested  had  gone  over  the  ground 
with  him(83).  Besides  this  certificate  on  the  map  itself, 
Joseph  Gest  made  deposition  before  one  of  the  Judges 
of  Hamilton  County,  in  which  he  recites  the  manner  of 
making  the  survey  and  the  map(84).  The  certificate  on 


(82.)  Appendix.  VI. 
(83.)  Appendix.  VII. 
(84.)    Appendix.    VIII. 


62 


the  map  and  the  deposition  by  Joseph  Gest,  both  idenr 
tify  the  map  as  the  official  instrument  made  by  order 
of  the  United  States  Court. 

Daniel  Drake,  a  distinguished  physician  of  Cincin- 
nati, was  also  one  of  the  deponents  in  this  case;  having 
doubtless  been  selected  by  reason  of  his  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  Fort  Washington  and  its  surroundings.  He  had 
lived  in  the  garrison  prior  to  its  abandonment;  and  after 
the  land  was  sold  in  1808,  he  purchased  several  lots, 
built  upon  one  of  them,  and  resided  there  for  upwards  of. 
eleven  years. 

The  southeast  blockhouse  of  Fort  Washington  stood, 
upon  the  land  purchased  by  the  doctor,  and  the  locality 
came  to  be  called  "Drake's  Corner." 

Regarding  the  accuracy  of  the  map  prepared  by 
Joseph  Gest,  Doctor  Drake  says:  "I  was  present  on  the 
site  of  Fort  Washington  at  the  time  that  Joseph  Gest,the 
City  Surveyor,  made  a  survey  of  the  foundation  of. 
that  Fort,  a  plat  and  description  of  which  is  now  before 
me,  and  I  believe  that  the  lines  and  angles  are  accurate 
as  it  is  possible  to  fix  them"  (85). 

John  Cleves  Symmes,  at  the  time  of  this  trial  in 
(829,  had  been  dead  some  fifteen  years,  but  a  deposition 
^ade  by  him  in  1809  was  submitted  as  evidence  in  this 
;ase.  Symmes  testifies  to  the  building  of  Fort  Washing- 
ton by  Major  John  Doughty  in  the  fall  of  1789.  He  also 
states,  that,  of  certain  lots  laid  out  to  the  east  of  Fort 
Washington,  eight  had  been  purchased  by  General 
Josiah  Harmar  (86)  at  a  cost  of  thirty-two  pounds, 
Pennsylvania  currency.  William  Berry  (87)  and  Wil-. 
Ham  H.  Orcutt(88)had  been  soldiers  at  Fort  Washington, 


(85.)  Appendix.  IX. 

(86.)  Appendix.  VI. 

(87.)  Appendix.  X. 

(88.)  Appendix.  XI. 


the  first  in  1792,  and  the  other  three  years  earlier  when 
the  ground  was  originally  cleared  for  the  erection 
of  the  blockhouses.  Their  testimony  shows  the  fort  to 
have  had  four  blockhouses,  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
square,  while  westward  of  this  rectangle  was  an  Arti- 
ficers' Yard  (89)  "somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  triangle." 
This  triangular  extension  to  the  main  fort  had  a  block- 
house at  its  western  end. 

The  size  and  number  of  the  rooms  in  the  barracks  is 
also  stated.  Both  witnesses  agree  in  saying  that  Drake's 
Corner  was  the  southwest  corner  of  Third  and  Ludlow, 
and  that  the  southeast  blockhouse  of  Fort  Washington 
stood  on  Drake's  Corner. 

One  David  Lewis,  whom  the  deposition  describes 
as  a  man  "exceeding  the  age  of  sixty  years,''  adds  his 
testimony  to  the  effect  that  Fort  Washington  formed  a 
square,  was  wholly  east  of"Eastern  Row"  (Broadway), 
and  had  its  principal  front  facing  the  river  (90). 

The  testimony  of  Griffin  Yeatman  who  had  come 
to  Cincinnati  in  the  year  1793,  relates  mostly  to  the 
location  of  lots  owned  by  General  Harmar;  but  he  speaks 
of  the  St.  Clair  Cellar  (mentioned  also  in  the  Lewis 
deposition)  which  was  west  of  Major  Ruffin's  (the  early 
Postoffice),  and  he  also  certifies  to  the  general  correct- 
ness of  the  location  given  by  Joseph  Gest's  map   (91). 

The  evidence  in  support  of  the  location  of  Fort 
Washington  as  laid  down  on  the  map   accompanying 
this  paper  includes  then: 
rC*-'^^/  ist.   The  testimony  offered  by  General  Mansfield's 

r'  original  plat  of  the  Military   Reservation  (1807),  which 


(89.)  There  were  two  Artificers'  Yards  in  connection  with  Fort  Wash- 
ington. One  was  on  the  west ;  while  the  other  and  much  larger  yard,  cm- 
bracing  about  two  acres  of  land,  was  situated  upon  the  river  bank  in  front 
sf  the  fort,  and  contained  the  famous  "Yellow  House." 

(90.)    Appendix.    XII. 

(91.)    Appendix.    XIII. 

64 


St 


fixes  the  location  of  the  various  blocks  and  lots  laid  out 
upon  them. 

2nd.  The  map  of  Mr.  Joseph  Gest,  City  Surveyor, 
made  in  compliance  with  an  order  of  the  United  States 
Court,  December  Term  1828;  and  exhibited  in  the  same 
court  during  the  trial  of  the  case  of  Harmer  Heirs  vs. 
David  Gwynne  and  George  Morris,  December  Term, 
1829;  including  with  this,  the  certificate  of  Joseph  Gest, 
written  on  the  face  of  the  map. 

3rd.  The  depositions  of  Joseph  Gest,  Daniel  Drake, 
John  Cleves  Symmes,  William  Berry,  William  H. 
Orcutt.  David  Lewis,  and  Griffin  Yeatman. 

It  may  be  here  noted  that  the  map  of  Joseph  Gest, 
City  Surveyor,  gives  the  location  of  the  various  blocks 
and  lots  in  the  subdivision  of  the  Military  Reservation, 
thus  repeating  General  Mansfield's  map  in  this  respect. 
Gest,  however,  gives  also  the  position  of  the  four 
blockhouses  with  regard  to  the  streets  and  lots.  The 
location  of  the  lots  is  an  important  matter,  as  it  makes 
it  possible  to  examine  the  legal  records  of  each  lot, 
the  original  purchaser,  and  the  transfer,  mortgages,  etc., 
all  of  which  adds  concurrent  testimony  to  that  offered 
in  the  case  under  trial. 

The  only  clash  of  evidence  offered  in  the  deposi- 
tions, appears  in  the  first  part  of  the  testimony  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Orcutt,  where  he  speaks  of  the  Garrison  as 
having  a  width  of  "About  120  feet."  He  then  says : 
"there  were  six  Barrack  rooms  in  each  row  of 
about  20  feet  each"  and  adds  over  his  second  sig- 
nature, that  "there  were  three  Barrack  rooms  on 
each  side  of  the  gate  facing  the  river."  It  is 
evident  that  in  speaking  of  the  width  of  the  "Garri- 
son" as  being  "about  120  feet,"  Mr.  Orcutt  had 
in  mind  the  barrack  buildings  only,  which  were 
located  in  the  middle  of  each  face  of  the  fort  (a  common 

65 


arrangement  in  frontier  forts),  and  not  the  entire  width 
or  length  of  the  fort  itself.  His  after  qualification  as 
to  the  arrangement  of  the  rooms  on  each  side  of  the 
gateway,  would,  allowing  for  the  width  of  the  gateway 
which  was  twelve  feet,  and  the  thickness  of  the  par- 
titions and  end  walls,  make  the  South  Barracks  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  long;  and  to  this  must 
be  added  the  blockhouses  at  the  angles  and  the  pali- 
sade work  connecting  the  ends  of  the  barrack  buildings 
with  the  blockhouses.  This  point  has  thus  been  spe- 
cifically alluded  to,  in  order  to  explain  the  apparent 
conflict  of  testimony  between  William  H.  Orcutt  and 
Daniel  Drake;  Joseph  Gest  having  marked  upon  his 
map,  Orcutt's  location  as  taken  from  the  first  part  of 
his  testimony,  as  well  as  the  location  sworn  to  by 
Daniel  Drake. 

Such  explanation  reconciles  all  apparent  differences, 
and  makes  the  evidence  offered  by  maps  and  deposi- 
tions agree  in  all  essential  particulars.  Not  only  is 
this  the  case,  but  other  valuable  testimony  such  as  that 
offered  by  military  correspondence,  the  description  of 
Fort  Washington  by  Rev.  Oliver  Spencer  (92),  and 
the  sketch  of  the  fort  made  by  Captain  Jonathan 
Heart  in  1791,  bears  out  the  testimony  offered  in  court. 

It  may  be  observed  further,  that  the  records  of  early 
deeds  and  mortgages  in  the  office  of  the  Recorder  of 
Hamilton  County,  mention  the  location  of  the  lots 
purchased  by  Daniel  Drake  on  which  the  map  of 
Joseph  Gest,  City  Surveyor,  as  well  as  the  testimony 
of  Doctor  Drake  and  William  B.  Orcutt,  fixes  the  loca- 


(92.)  A  well  known  Methodist  clergyman,  who  as  a  child  was  captured 
by  the  Indians  at  a  point  between  Kort  Washinpfton  and  Columbia.  The 
only  particular  in  which  Rev.  Mr.  Spencer's  description  (see  Appendix 
XIV.)  fails  to  agree  with  others,  is  in  determining  the  point  of  the  com- 
pass at  which  the  Artificers'  Yard  projected  from  the  main  fort.  This 
matter  is  often  confusing  by  reason  of  the  direction  in  which  certain 
streets  run. 


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fion  of  the  southeast  blockhouse.  The  house  built  by 
Dr.  Drake  on  lot  No.  2,  is  still  standing  (1902),  on  the 
south  side  of  Third  Street,  the  third  house  west  of 
Ludlow  Street,  and  it  is  at  present  numbered  429.  In 
the  cornice  of  the  parlor  of  this  old  house,  there  yet 
remains  a  medallion,  in  high  relief,  of  George 
Washington;  an  eminently  appropriate  tribute  to  the 
great  man  for  whom  the  fort  was  named. 

The  maps  of  Mansfield  and  Gest  fix  the  location 
of  lot  No.  4,  Square  2,  on  which  General  Mansfield 
built  his  home.  This  house,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing (1902)  on  the  south  side  of  Third  Street,  is  the 
sixth  house  west  from  Ludlow  Street,  and  bears  the 
number  423.      Here  stood  the  gateway  of  the  fort. 

The  maps  of  Mansfield  and  Gest  also  determine 
the  location  of  lot  No.  7  of  Square  2,  and  the  latter's 
map  shows  the  situation  thereupon  of  the  southwest 
blockhouse  of  Fort  Washington.  This  lot  was  once 
occupied  by  the  famous  Trollopean  Bazar,  but  the 
land  is  now  covered  by  the  "Lorraine  Building." 


'4:  J 


67 


§-M 


ORTY  YEARS  elapsed  between  the 
building  of  the  blockhouse  and 
the  erection  of  that  "  Greco- 
Moresco  -  Gothic  -  Chinese  -  looking 
building  "  which,  it  was  hoped, 
would  be  the  making  of  the  Trol- 
lope  fortunes  (93).  Less  than 
this  period  of  time  had  sufficed  to 
change  the  primeval  wilderness 
into  a  thriving  and  bustling  little 
city.  Where  the  Indian  had  been  wont  to  prowl  about, 
under  the  very  walls  of  the  fort,  stealing  pack  horses 
and  other  movable  property;  there  had  arisen,  as  if  by 
magic,  buildings  of  frame  and  brick,  churches  and 
schools,  markets,  business  houses,  and  homes. 

A  madness  for  high-sounding  names  seems  to  have 
clung  to  the  very  walls  of  the  old  bazar  through  its 
checkered  fortunes  of  more  than  half  a  century;  for 
what  was  in  1829  a  "  Literary-Athenreum-Bazar," 
after  passing  from  the  hands  of  the  Trollopes,  is 
described  as  the  "Literary-Botanico-Medical-College." 
Only  the  young  and  light-hearted  escaped  the  spell  of 
failure  and  unhappiness  which  lay  upon  the  building. 
In  the  early  thirties  the  young  folks  climbed  the  stair- 
ways, which,  from  either  side  of  the  central  entrance, 
led  to  the  second  story,  to  attend  the  dancing  classes 
there  conducted  by  M.  Guibert ;  while  Tosso  discoursed 
sweet  music  upon  his  violin.  The  measured  tread  of 
the  frontier  sentinel  was  now  exchanged  for  the  fast 
flying  steps  of  the  dancers ;  and  where  once  the  rollick- 
cos.)    Appendix    XV. 


68 


Bazar  Built  by  Madame  Trollope  in  i820 

ON    THE    SITE    OF   TflE    SOUTHWEST    BLOCKHOUSE 
OF    FORT    WASHINOTON. 


ing  song  of  the  camp  fire  had  echoed  from  the  rough 
walls  and  rafters  of  the  frontier  blockhouse,  there  now 
lingered  the  strains  of  "Money  Musk"  and  the  "Arkan- 
sas Traveler,"  or  the  more  stately  measures  of  the 
Cotillion. 

After  a  sad  deterioration  in  manners  and  morals, 
the  old  bazar  was  torn  down  to  make  way  for  the 
present  structure  in  1886. 


69 


BOUT  THE  YEAR  1899,  an  awak- 
ened interest  in  the  early  history 
of  the  western  country,  brought 
about  an  effort  to  relocate  and 
mark  the  site  of  Fort  Washington 
at  Cincinnati,  and  foremost  among 
the  organizations  which  took  part 
in  this  laudable  endeavor,  was  the 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars. 
There  was  not  wanting  literature  of  a  certain  kind 
which  touched  upon  the  fort.  Some  of  the  early  travel- 
ers to  this  region  had  alluded  to  Cincinnati  in  the  ac- 
count of  their  journeys,  and  there  was,  moreover,  a 
limited  cartography  relating  to  the  fort. 

Doctor  Daniel  Drake,  graphic  and  picturesque  m  his 
description  of  this  country  as  it  was  in  the  beginning  of 
the  last  century,  had  depicted  upon  the  map  of  Cincinnati 
which  accompanied  his  "Statistical  View  in  181 5,"  the 
location  of  Fort  Washington.  The  map  was,  however, 
engraved  to  such  a  small  scale  (825  feet  to  i  inch,  or 
5?V^  actual  size)  that  any  attempt  to  enlarge  the  outline 
of  the  fort  and  its  surrounding  streets  must  result,  if 
used  for  the  purpose  of  relocation,  in  magnifying  such 
errors  in  size  and  location  as  inevitably  creep  into  the 
reproduction  of  any  object  to  a  very  small  scale  (94). 
Four  years  after  the  publication  of  the  "Statistical 
View,"  that  is  in  1819,  a  directory  of  Cincinnati  was 


(94. )  Drake  in  the  preface  to  his  work  states  that  the  map  was  drawn 
to  a  scale  of  800  feet  to  one  inch.  This  scale  was,  however,  reduced  in  the 
process  of  reproducing  the  map,  so  that  the  engpraving  .shows  a  scale  of  825 
leet  to  one  inch. 

N.  B.  The  map  prepared  by  Jo.seph  Gest  was  drawn  to  a  scale  of  100  feet 
to  1  inch,  or  eight  times  as  large  as  the  original  from  which  Doctor  Drake's 
map  was  engraved. 


70 


issued  by  Oliver  Farnsworth.  This  directory  also  con- 
tained a  map  of  Cincinnati,  engraved  to  scale  of  tttst  ac- 
tual size,  showing  a  location  of  the  fort  generally  similar 
to  that  given  in  Doctor  Drake's  work. 

Colton's  Atlas  (Ed.  1855),  and  Gray's  Atlas  (Ed. 
1873),  contain  maps  of  Cincinnati  on  which  Fort  Wash- 
ington is  shown.  Both  maps  are  engraved  to  a  scale  of 
itItt  actual  size. 

In  1888,  Doctor  A.  E.  Jones,  an  enthusiastic  archae- 
ologist, wrote  an  interesting  little  volume  on  early  days 
in  Cincinnati,  in  which  he  shows  the  location  of  the  fort 
upon  a  map  drawn  to  a  scale  of  jzhi  actual  size. 
The  location  given  by  Dr.  Jones  appears  to  be  about 
the  same  as  that  given  by  Drake,  Farnsworth,  Colton, 
and  Gray. 

It  was  felt  that  a  relocation,  based  on  these  di- 
minutive representations  of  Fort  Washington,  would  not 
answer  the  demand  for  accurate  work,  and  the  writer 
therefore  began  a  search  for  other  material  upon  which 
to  base  an  authentic  determination  of  the  original  site  of 
the  fort. 

Knowing  that  a  map  of  Fort  Washington  had  been 
made  at  the  time  of  its  construction,  and  that  this  map 
had  been  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  War  (95),  ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  Department,  for  information 
concerning  it. 

A  careful  search  through  the  records  of  the 
Engineer  Department,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  and 
War  Department  at  large,  failed  to  discover  the  much 
desired  map.  The  true  explanation  of  its  disappearance 
is  undoubtedly  that  given  by  the  Adjutant  General's 
Ofifice,  as  follows  :  "It  is  to  be  explained  that  most  of 
the  records  of  the  War  Department  prior  to  i8oo  were 

(95.)    I,etter  of  General  Harmar,  Jan.  14,  1790.    See  Appendix  II. 

71 


consumed  in  a  fire  which  occurred  in  the  War  Depart- 
ment building  during  that  year ;  that  another  fire  con- 
sumed many  records  in  1809,  and  the  greater  portion  of 
such  as  had  accumulated  up  to  that  date  were  either 
burned  or  lost  at  the  time  of  the  visit  of  the  British 
troops  to  the  City  of  Washington  in  1814." 

There  still  remained  a  chance  of  procuring  original 
data.  The  field  notes  of  Surveyor  General  Mansfield, 
which  contained  the  survey  of  the  Reservation  already 
alluded  to,  would,  if  found,  undoubtedly  give  the  desired 
information  concerning  the  location  of  the  fort.  The 
lines  run  by  Mansfield  must  have  crossed  and  recrossed 
many  times  the  area  covered  by  the  fort,  itself,  and,  in 
fact,  must  have  encountered  the  very  walls  of  the  fort 
as  a  resistance  to  further  progress.  A  search  through 
departments  at  Washington  and  the  state  records  at 
Columbus,  O.,  failed  to  find  these  notes. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  the  search  for  authentic 
data  concerning  the  old  fort  was  carried  into  the  offices 
of  the  Recorder  and  Auditor  of  Hamilton  County,  the 
records  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  the  plat- 
books  of  the  City  Engineer's  Office,  and  the  files  of  early 
newspapers. 

This  search  resulted  in  the  finding  of  the  maps  of 
Mansfield  and  Gest  in  the  City  Engineer's  Office  ;  and 
the  depositions  in  the  case  of  Harmer  Heirs  vs.  David 
Gwynne  and  George  Morris,  in  the  United  States  Cir- 
cuit Court  Records,  already  discussed  in  the  case  of  the 
controversy  over  land  adjoining  the  fort.  These  docu- 
ments mutually  supplemented  each  other ;  and  the  old 
newspapersmilitary  correspondence,  and  county  records, 
together  with  a  survey  of  the  locality  about  the  fort, 
added  whatever  else  was  essential. 

The  relocation  of  Fort  Washington  was  now  com- 
pleted and  its  site  marked  by  a  suitable  monument, 

72 


which  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  June 
14,  1901. 

This  monument  is  built  of  native  Ohio  stone,  in  the 
form  of  a  blockhouse  standing  about  nine  feet  above 
the  ground  ;  and  it  is  surrounded  by  a  chain  railing  sup- 
ported by  four  old  cannon. 

The  face  of  the  monument  towards  the  west  carries 
two  bronze  tablets,  the  upper  one  of  these  containing 
the  dedicatory  inscription. 

The  lower  tablet  contains  an  outline  map  of  the 
main  portion  of  the  fort,  together  with  the  streets  wiiich 
intersected  it  or  which  surrounded  the  area  upon  which  it 
stood,  shown  in  boldly  relieved  lines. 


78 


T  THE  FORMAL  dedication  of  the 
monument  which  now  marks  the 
site  of  Fort  Washington,  an  inter- 
esting coincidence  presented  itself. 
In  the  year  1791,  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  hifantry  was  organized  at 
Fort  Washington,  a  little  prior  to 
starting  out  on  the  ill-fated  cam- 
paign of  General  St,  Clair,  when 
Major  Heart,  the  first  commandant 
of  the  regiment,  was  slain,  together  with  many  other 
officers  and  men  of  the  regiment,  on  the  4th  of  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year.  At  the  dedication  of  the  monu- 
ment in  1901,  a  detachment  of  this  Second  Regiment 
was  present  and  took  part  in  the  ceremonies.  The 
trim  blue-clad  soldiers  who  stood  about  the  monument 
in  1901,  were  the  legal  heirs,  so  to  speak,  of  the  old 
Second  Regiment  which  had  gone  forth  to  battle  from 
the  same  spot,  one  hundred  and  ten  years  before. 

Four  buglers  from  the  regiment  stood  at  "Attention" 
by  the  old  guns  which  formed  the  railing  around  the 
the  monument.  At  the  word  of  command,  they  gave 
out  clearly  and  distinctly  the  "'reveille."  The  call  had 
been  sounded  by  the  trumpeters  of  the  old  regiment 
more  than  a  century  before,  waking  the  slumbering 
echoes  of  the  valley  and  startling  the  wild  bird  from 
its  nest,  as  the  silver  notes  rolled  across  the  shimmerin^z 
waters  of  the  Ohio,  or  v/ere  hurled  back  with  increased 
volume  from  the  forest-clad  hills  behind  the  fort. 

Then  came  the  final  "  taps,"  always  of  mournful 
association,  as  the  last  [tribute  of  the  living  to  the 
memory  of  the  dead;  and  in  this  case,  as  it  seemed,  a 


fitting  conclusion  to  the  obsequies  of  those  who  had 
passed  for  the  last  time  the  frowning  portal  of  old 
Fort  Washington. 


fs 


*  J  J'  fl 


75 


APPENDIX   I— Narrative  of   Thomas   Gregory 

OF  Cincinnati,  O.— My  grandfather,  Jonathan  Gregory, 
came  to  the  West  under  General  St.  Clair.  Although  he  was 
two  years  younger  than  the  required  age,  and  had  no  queue 
(which  was  one  of  the  requirements  of  the  enlisted  men)  ;  his 
sister  cut  off  her  braid  and  supplied  that  portion  of  the  outfit, 
that  he  might  go. 

He  reached  Columbia,  the  settlement  of  Hezekiah  Stites,  on 
the  night  of  the  fight  between  the  settlers  and  the  Indians,  the 
latter  being  whipped  and  routed  back  on  to  what  is  now  called 
Bold  Hill.  The  victory  was  so  complete  (the  Indians  losing  all 
their  corn  in  addition  to  the  fight)  that  the  settlers  had  a  great 
jollification,  at  which  some  of  the  participants  indulged  too  freely, 
resulting  in  a  fight  among  themselves. 

My  grandfather  and  his  brother,  who  had  preceded  him  down 
the  river,  afterwards  went  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  where  they  assist- 
ed in  erecting  the  first  houses  of  that  settlement,  and  returned 
again  to  Northern  Kentucky  opposite  the  Stites  settlement,  or 
Columbia,  on  the  Ohio  River,  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Lit- 
tle Miami  River,  where  my  father  and  I  were  born. 

These  early  settlers  had  a  local  "  league  "  or  understanding 
that  at  the  conclusion  of  the  annual  Harvest,  they  were  to  meet 
at  the  ''  Congo  Tree"  on  Crawfish,  at  about  the  present  site  of 
Wortman's  Corner  (Delta  and  Eastern  Avenues)  where  there 
was  a  magnificent  spring  to  furnish  water,  and  there  celebrate 
the  Harvest  Home  with  three  weeks  dancing  and  feasting.  My 
sister  Ellen  and  I  were  privileged  to  carry  the  breakfast,  dinner, 
and  supper  daily  to  my  father,  who  was  an  enthusiastic  attend- 
ant at  these  occasions. 

My  father,  Thomas  Gregory,  lived  in  Campbell  County, 
Kentucky,  on  the  hill  back  of  what  is  now  "  Hartvvegs  Land- 
ing," a  mile  or  so  below  the  present  Newport  Water  Works. 

Near  the  edge  of  the  high  river  bank  on  the  Ohio  side  of  the 
river,  at  a  point  about  one-half  mile  below  the  mouth  of  the  Lit- 
tle Miami  River,  there  stood  a  blockhouse  which  in  1832  was 
occupied  by  a  family  named  Hart,  but  owned  by  Athan  Stites,  a 
son  of  Hezekiah  Stites  and  nephew  of  Captain  Benjamin  Stites 
who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Columbia  in  1788. 

This  blockhouse  was  occupied  in  1832  as  a  dwelling  house, 
by  a  family  consisting  of  two  young  women,  Catherine  and 
Mary  Hart,  and  their  brother,  Jacob,  a  lad  of  about  my  own  age, 

76 


(9  years).  The  oldest  daughter  afterward  married  Athan  Stites. 
One  day  in  the  year  1832  one  of  the  young  women  alluded  to 
(Catherine)  crossed  the  river  in  a  boat  and  coming  to  my  father's 
house  requested  as  a  favor  that  1  might  be  allowed  to  come  and 
live  at  their  house  (the  blockhouse)  so  as  to  be  company  for 
their  young  brother  Jacob. 

My  father  granted  the  request  and  I  accordingly  went  to 
live  with  the  family  in  the  blockhouse,  remaining  there  about 
three  years. 

During  those  three  years,  say  1832-1834  inclusive,  1  lived  in 
the  blockhouse  and  have  a  clear  idea  of  its  size  and  location,  in 
part  from  the  fact  that  a  brick  house  of  Athan  Stites,which  is  still 
standing,  was  built  at  some  time  within  the  three  years  I  mention, 
and  this  brick  house  was  constructed  facing  the  river  at  a  point 
about  100  feet  back  of  the  blockhouse  and  had  its  western  end  at 
about  the  center  of  the  blockhouse. 

I  am  led  to  remember  the  relative  position  of  the  brick  house, 
and  the  blockhouse  in  which  I  lived,  from  the  circumstance  that 
with  the  other  lad,  Jacob  Hart,  I  assisted  in  carrying  brick  to  the 
mason  who  was  employed  to  build  the  house.  We  each  piled 
up  a  few  bricks  on  a  short  board  and  thus  carried  them  to  where 
he  was  at  work. 

The  blockhouse  was  about  eighteen  feet  wide  and  twenty- 
four  feet  long  with  the  gable  end  towards  the  Ohio  River  and 
very  close  to  the  edge  of  the  bank. 

The  building  was  constructed  of  round  logs  about  the  size  of 
a  man's  body,  unhewed,  but  notched  together  at  the  corners.  It 
contained  two  rooms  divided  by  a  rough  partition  of  split  logs, 
afterwards  changed  to  a  board  partition,  and  above  the  first  story 
was  a  high  garret  or  attic.  The  roof  was  covered  with  split  logs 
secured  by  wooden  pins,  afterwards  replaced  by  clap-boards. 
There  was  a  puncheon  floor,  later  removed  for  a  more  modern 
substitute.  The  attic  projected  over  the  lower  story  and  was 
provided  with  port  or  loop  holes  for  rifles.  A  large  stone 
chimney  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  gable  end  farthest  from  the 
river.  This  chimney  was  built  outside  of  the  logwork,  but  the 
fireplace  opened  into  the  lower  room.  This  fireplace  was  large 
enough  to  take  in  logs  about  four  feet  in  length  and  at  night  it 
furnished  our  light,  for  lamps  of  any  kind  were  very  scarce. 

The  front  of  tlie  liouse,  facing  the  Ohio  River,  had  a  win- 
dow and  door  in  the  lower  story  and  a  small  window  in  attic. 

77 


There  was  a  window  opening  on  each  side  of  the  house  in  the 
back  room  and  anotlier  small  window  in  the  attic  facing  away 
from  the  river.  The  door  was  a  heavy  one  secured  by  a  bar,  and 
the  windows  were  protected  by  sohd  plank  shutters. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1838  during  a  high  stage  of  the  river, 
two  steamboats  were  passing  the  blockhouse  at  about  the  same 
time,  and  the  swells  from  these  boats  caused  the  bank  to  cave 
away  and  the  old  blockhouse  to  fall  into  the  river. 

The  day  on  which  this  accident  occurred  was  the  same  as 
that  on  which  the  boilers  of  the  Steamer  Moselle  exploded,  at 
Fulton,  (April  25,  1838). 

The  above  is  a  true  statement,  as  I  remember  the  events  of 
the  old  blockhouse,  which  was  said  to  have  been  built  soon  after 
the  landing  of  Benjamin  Stites  and  his  brother  Hezekiah,  with 
other  settlers,  just  below  the  Little  Miami  River,  on  Novem- 
ber 18, 1788. 

THOMAS  GREGORY. 

The  above  account  of  the  Stites  blockhouse  at  Columbia  on 
Sec.  29— Tp.  5 — F.  R.  I,  was  given  in  my  presence  and  I  hereby 
bear  witness  to  it  and  to  ,the  signature  of  Thomas  Gregory  the 
narrator. 

FRANK  C.  STOUT. 

Sworn  to  and  Subscribed  in  my  presence  this  the  i5lh  day  of 
January,  1902. 
(SEAL.)  Walter  Stone, 

Notary  Public,  Hamilton  County,  O. 


78 


APPENDIX    Il.-LETTER     FROM     GENERAL    HARMAk    TO 

GENERAL  KNOX. 
HEADQUARTERS, 

Fort  Washington,  January  14, 1790. 

SIR:— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  29th  October  last,  to  which  1  shall  now  particularly 
reply. 

The  Governor  of  the  Western  Territory  arrived  at  this  post 
on  the  2d  instant,  and  departed  from  hence  on  the  5th  for  the 
Illinois  country.  I  furnished  him,  agreeable  to  his  request,  with 
an  escort  of  fifty  chosen  men  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Lieut.  Doyle.  Major  Wyllys  accompanies  him  on  this  tour.  1 
did  not  leave  the  Muskingum  until  the  24th  ult,  being  detained 
so  long  waiting  for  his  and  the  Pay-master's  arrival  there.  We 
were  four  days  upon  our  passage.  The  distance  from  thence  to 
this  garrison  (which  is  directly  opposite  the  mouth  of  Licking 
River),  is  about  three  hundred  miles.  Major  Doughty  is  left  to 
command  at  Fort  Harmar. 

This  will  be  one  of  the  most  solid,  substantial  wooden  for- 
tresses, when  finished,  of  any  in  the  Western  Territory.  It  is 
built  of  hewn  timber,  a  perfect  square,  two  stories  high,  with  four 
blockhouses  at  the  angles.  I  am  particularly  indebted  to  Cap- 
tain Ferguson  and  Lieutenant  Pratt,  for  their  indefatigable  in- 
dustry and  attention  in  forwarding  the  work  thus  far.  The  plan 
is  Major  Doughty's.  On  account  of  its  superior  excellence,  I 
have  thought  proper  to  honor  it  with  the  name  of  Fort  IVash- 
ington.  The  public  ought  to  be  benefited  by  the  sale  of  these 
buildings  whenever  we  evacuate  them,  although  they  will  cost 
them  but  little. 

About  forty  or  fifty  Kentucky  boats  have  begun,  and  will 
complete  it.  Limestone  is  the  grand  mart  of  Kentucky  ;  when- 
ever boats  arrive  there  tliey  are  scarcely  of  any  value  to  the 
owners ;  they  are  frequently  set  adrift  in  order  to  make  room  for 
the  arrival  of  others.  I  have  contracted  for  the  above  number  for 
the  moderate  price  of  from  one  to  two  dollars  each ;  thus  much 
for  the  plank  work.  All  other  expenses  (wagon  hire,  nails,  and 
some  glass  excepted),  are  to  be  charged  to  the  labor  of  the 
troops.  The  lime  we  have  burned  ourselves,  and  the  stone  is  at 
hand.  Be  pleased  to  receive  the  inclosed  plan  of  the  fort.  The 
distance  between  the  Little  and  Great  Miami  is  twenty-eight 
measured  miles.    Near  the  Little  Miami  there  is  a  settlement 

79 


called  Columbia;  here  (seven  miles  distance  from  Columbia), 
there  is  another  named  Losanteville.  but  lately  changed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, and  Judge  Symmes  himself  resides  at  the  other,  about 
fifteen  miles  from  hence,  called  the  Miami  City,  at  the  north  bend 
of  the  Ohio  river.  They  are,  in  general,  but  small  cabins,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  poorer  class  of  people. 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  Creek  nation,  under  Mr. 
AVGillivray,  may  be  troublesome  on  the  frontiers  of  Georgia. 
&c.,  during  the  ensuing  summer,  and  especially  as  you  inform  me 
that  the  commissioners  who  were  appointed  to  hold  a  treaty  with 
them,  returned  from  the  Omee  river  unsuccessful. 

1  observe  that  tlie  Governor  of  the  Western  Territory  is  em- 
powered by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  case  the  hos- 
tilities of  the  Indians  should  render  the  measure  inevitable,  to 
call  on  the  nearest  counties  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  for 
militia — not  exceeding,  in  the  whole,  fifteen  hundred — to  act  in 
conjunction  with  the  federal  troops,  in  such  operations,  offensive 
and  defensive,  as  the  said  Governor  and  the  commanding  officer 
of  tlie  troops,  conjointly,  shall  judge  necessary  for  the  public 
service,  and  protection  of  the  inhabitants  and  posts.  You  may 
rest  assured,  sir,  that  in  all  these  cases,  the  most  f>erfect  harmony 
will  ever  subsist  between  the  Governor  and  myself. 

By  this  time  it  is  presumed  Congress  is  convened,  and  that 
inste:\d  of  a  temporary,  a  permanent  establishment  of  the  troops 
will  be  made. 

Lieutenant  .Armstrong,  1  see,  has  been  writing  to  the  War 
Office  about  brevet  rank.  He  is  a  valuable  officer,  but  instead  of 
troubling  you  upon  the  occasion,  it  is  my  opinion  he  should  have 
represented  his  grievances,  if  any  there  were,  unto  his  command- 
ing officer. 

By  the  latest  advices  from  Major  Hamtramck  he  writes  roe 
that  he  had  manoeuvred  in  such  a  manner  as  to  divide  the  Weea 
Indians,  and  that  eighty  of  tlieir  warriors  had  come  into  Post 
Vincennes,  and  put  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the 
United  States.  This  may  be  considered  as  a  very  favorable  cir- 
cumstance, provided  these  yellow  gentry  adhere  to  their  alle- 
giance. 

The  difficulty  of  forwarding  my  disp.itches  from  this  post  to 
the  War  Office,  is  great.  Up  tiie  river,  from  here  to  Fort  Pitt,  is 
about  five  hundred  miles  ;  it  is  too  fatiguing  to  be  monthly  send- 
ing a  boat  against  tiie  stream  for  the  purpose,  unless  an  extra- 

80 


ordinary  occasion  should  require  it.  I  am  therefore  making  ar- 
rangements to  send  my  letters  to  Danville,  in  Kentucky,  from 
thence  to  be  forwarded  through  the  wilderness  and  deposited  in 
the  postoffice  at  Richmond,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  most  expe- 
ditious conveyance. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c., 

Jos.  harmar. 

The  Honorable  Major — General  Knox,  Secretary  at  War, 
New  York. 


81 


APPENDIX  III —LETTERS  FROM  GENERAL  WAYNE. 
HEADQUARTERS, 

GREENVILLE,  8th  June  1794. 
MESSRS.  ELLIOT  &  WILLIAMS, 

GENTLEMEN :— Having  fully  and  confidentially  communi- 
cated to  your  Robt.  Elliot  the  orders  that  I  have  received  from 
the  Executive  &  the  critical  situation  of  America  &  of  this 
Legion  threatened  with  an  immediate  attack  from  a  heterogenous 
Army  composed  of  British  troops,  the  AAilitia  of  Detroit  &  all 
the  hostile  Savage  tribes  under  the  conduct  of  the  famous  Gov- 
ernor Simcoe  from  the  West,  &  by  some  European  powers  on 
the  ocean  &  Atlantic  States.— 

I  have  now  to  desire  you  to  make  every  possible  exertion  to 
send  forward  every  supply  of  provision  &  to  load  all  the  horses 
belonging  to  your  own  &  the  Q.  M.  Generals  department  with 
the  flour  now  at  Fort  Hamilton;  the  articles  of  Salt,Soap  and  Vine- 
gar are  also  essentially  necessary  at  this  crisis  ;  as  it  is  more  timn 
probable  that  the  enemy  will  direct  their  attention  in  force  against 
our  Convoys,  this  will  be  the  last  trip  of  the  waggons  from  Fort 
Washington  to  the  head  of  the  line  for  a  length  of  time.  Nor 
can  we  count  upon  more  than  two  trips  of  the  Pack  Horses 
between  this  &  Fort  Hamilton,  as  the  period  of  offensive  is  not 
more  than  three  weeks  distant,  when  every  arrangement  must  be 
perfected  for  a:forward  move,  or  to  repel  the  attacks  of  the 
Enemy. 

You  will  therefore  proceed  at  Reveille  tomorrow  morning  with 
the  Escort  to  make  the  necessary  &  final  arangements  in  your 
department  on  the  present  momentous  occasion. 

With  a  full  reliance  upon  your  exertions  &  cordial  co-oper- 
ation in  sending  forward  the  required  supplies 

I  am  Gentlemen  your  Most  Obdt.  Hum.  servt. 

(COPY)  ANTY  WAYNE. 


JOHN  BELLI,  ESQR.,  D.  Q.  M.   G. 

HEADQUARTERS, 

GREENVILLE,  8  June,  1794. 

SIR:  — I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the 
30th  ultimo. — I  am  much  pleased  to  hear  that  you  have  succeeded 
so  well  in  the  purchase  of  cattle  &  that  in    your  opinion  the 

£2 


contractors  will  be  able  to  supply  the  troops  in  the  future;  but 
this  will  require  at  least  three  hundred  head  per  month  independ- 
ent of  accident,  which  number  the  Contractors  have  promised  to 
supply. — 

You  may  therefore  for  the  present  desist  in  any  further  pur- 
chases of  cattle  than  those  already  made,  which  I  wish  you  to 
forward  with  the  first  escort. — at  present  we  have  not  more  than 
about  three  weeks  supply  of  the  meat  kind  for  the  Legion,  nor 
can  I  think  of  advancing  with  less  than  from  six  to  eight  hundred 
head  of  cattle,  which  would  not  be  more  than  ten  weeks  supply 
in  advance,  should  they  all  arrive  safe.— 

The  waggons  will  set  out  from  Fort  Jefferson  tomorrow  morn- 
ing for  Fort  Washington  under  a  good  escort  commanded  by 
Maj.  Hughes  they  are  not  to  be  delayed  at  that  place  more 
than  48  hours  if  possibly  to  be  avoided, — and  to  be'loaded  with  all 
the  tents,  intrenching  tools  &  axes,— such  hospital  &  ordnance 
stores  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  heads  of  those  departmts., 
together  with  all  the  hunting  shirts,  &  shirts  and  shoes  that 
may  be  in  your  possession,  also  all  my  own  private  stores  under 
the  care  of  a  select  guard  which  you  will  request  Major  Hughes 
to  furnish  from  his  detachment— You  will  likewise  forward  every 
other  necessary  article  in  the  line  of  your  departmt  for  the  use 
of  the  Legion. — 

Capt  Pierce  is  directed  to  divide  the  detachment  lately  ar- 
rived under  Ens:  McClane  into  two  equal  divisions,  as  escorts 
to  ply  between  Forts  Washington  &  Hamilton — say  40  at  each 
place :  you  will  therefore  make  use  of  as  many  private  teams  as 
can  be  procured  which  with  the  use  of  the  water  transport  when 
a  favorable  rise  may  happen  in  the  Miami  will  enable  you  to  for- 
ward the  grain  to  Fort  Hamilton  the  quantity  of  which,  from  the 
enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Secry.  of  War  to  the  Q.  M. 
Genl  you  will  find  to  be  considerably  increased.— it  will  also 
tend  to  shew  you  that  there  is  not  a  single  moment  to  be  lost  in 
mounting  the  Dragoons  &  furnishing  all  the  necessary  ac- 
coutrements that  may  be  wanted  for  them — such  as  saddles,  bri- 
dles, &c.,  &c. 

It's  probable  that  Colo.  O'Hara  may  arrive  at  Fort  Wash- 
ington by  the  time  you  receive  this  ;  who  will  undoubtedly  come 
forward  prepared  with  Cash.— if  not  the  paymaster  Gen.  will 
furnish  you  with  two  thousand  dollars  in  specie  &  8000  in  good 
bank  bills  to  be  replaced  by  your  department. 

63 


You  are  clearly  &  decidedly  to  understand  that  every  ar- 
rangement must  be  made  in  your  department  for  a  forward  move 
from  this  post  on  about  the  ist  of  July,  agreeably  to  the  enclosed 
copy  of  a  letter  to  the  Contractors  of  this  date,  with  whom  you 
will  cordially  co-operate  in  the  transport— of  flour  &c.,  the  trans- 
port to  be  paid  for  or  repaid  as  circumstances  may  hereafter  suit . — 
hence  you  will  see  the  necessity  of  keeping  an  exact  account  of 
all  you  have  already  made  or  that  you  may  occassionally  make 
on  their  account. — 

Wishing  you  perfect  success  in  your  purchases  &  supplies 
of  every  nature  in  the  line  of  your  department, 

I  am  Sir,  your  most  obedt.  humble  servt. 

ANTY  Wayne. 


84 


APPENDIX  IV.— FOURTH  OF  JULY  CELEBRATION  1799. 
^Frota  the  Western  Spy  &  Hamilton  Gazette,  Tuesday  July  9,  1799) 

"  Last  Thursday  being  the  fourth  of  July,  it  was  celebrated 
by  the  citizens  of  this  town  in  a  manner  which  does  credit  to  its 
inhabitants,  and  testifies  that  they  hold  in  just  estimation  the 
DAY  which  gave  BIRTH  to  our  NATIONAL  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  The  morning  was  ushered  in  by  a  Federal  Salute  from  Fort 
Washington,  the  ist  Battalion  of  Hamilton  Militia  paraded  at 
the  muster  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place,  and  went  through 
the  customary  evolutions  and  firings. — As  to  their  performance, we 
only  need  refer  our  Readers  to  the  Governors  General  Orders. — 
After  the  Battalion  was  dismissed,  the  Governor,  the  Federal 
Officers  from  Fort  Washington,  the  officers  of  Militia,  and  a 
large  number  of  respectable  citizens  dined  under  a  bower  pre- 
pared for  that  purpose. — Capt.  Miller  having  furnished  a  piece  of 
Artillery,  which  with  Capt.  Smith's  company  of  Militia,  accom- 
panied by  martial  music  made  the  woods  resound  to  each  of  the 
following  : 

TOASTS. 

1.  The  PRESIDENT  of  the  UNITED  STATES  of  AMERICA.— 
May  the  display  of  his  firmness  and  Patriotic  Spirit,  endear  him 
to  all  who  live  under  his  administration. 

2.  GENERAL  WASHINGTON,the  Father  and  Friend  of  his 
country. 

3.  The  ANNIVERSARY  we  celebrate  ;  May  every  year  im- 
press on  our  minds  a  stronger  sense  of  its  consequence -and 
blesssing. 

4.  The  Memory  of  those  who  fought  and  bled  to  establish 
AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE ;  May  they  never  be  forgotten. 

5.  Our  INFANT  NAVY;  May  it  add  to  the  Nation's  honor 
and  wealth  and  confound  her  enemies. 

6.  The  Army  of  the  UNITED  STATES.  May  they  stand 
and  be  ever  ready  to  guard  our  rights  and  support  our  Govern- 
ment. 

7.  Our  Foreign  Ministers.  May  they  be  respected  as  the 
representatives  of  a  great,  free  and  independent  people. 

8.  PEACE  throughout  all  the  world  on  just  principles. 

9.  The  OFFICERS  of  the  different  Departments  in  the 
General  Government— May  they  be  faithful  in  executing  the 
duties  of  their  important  stations, 

85 


10.  Ihe  NORTH  WESTERN  TERRITORY. 

11.  The  Fair  sex  of  America.— May  their  influence  lead 
to  the  happiness  of  the  nation. 

12.  Agriculture  and  Commerce. — May  we  feel  their  happy 
effects  like  the  SUN  from  East  to  West  making  a  plentiful  har- 
vest. 

13.  The  Old  Patriots  of  Seventy-six;  May  they  retain 
their  energy  and  hand  down  their  principles  to  the  latest  pos- 
terity.— 

14.  Confusion  and  Reformation  to  all  designing  Bad  Men, 
who  are  endeavoring  to  mar  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  our 
country. 

15.  May  the  American  eagle  soar  triumphantly  when 
danger  approaches. 

"  In  the  evening  the  Gentlemen  joined  a  brilliant  Assembly 
of  Ladies  at  Mr.  Yeatman's  in  Town,  and  it  is  impossible  to  de- 
scribe the  ecstatic  pleasure  that  appeared  to  be  enjoyed  by  all 
present  at  the  Celebration  of  the  Auspicious  Day,  and  the 
scene  closed  in  perfect  harmony." 


86 


APPENDIX  v.— MEMORIAL  FUNERAL  FOR  WASHING- 
TON :— "  At  12  o'clock  the  troops  formed  on  the  flat  in  front  of 
the  garrison  (then  under  command  of  Capt.  Miller),  where  they 
were  joined  by  Captain  Findlays  (and  Capt.  Browns)  troop  of 
horse,  the  Masonic  brethern  and  a  large  concourse  of  citizens,  all 
eager  to  testify  their  high  veneration  for  the  character  of  the 
deceased.  The  bier  was  received  by  the  troops  formed  in  lines, 
with  presented  arms,  officers,  drums  and  colors  saluting. 

"The  procession  than  moved  on  in  the  following  order- 
Minute  guns  firing  from  the  garrison  and  the  music  performing  a 
solemn  dirge. 

Cavalry 
Regular  Troops 
Horse,  representing  that  of  the  General,  with  saddle,  holsters 
and  pistols,  and  boots  reversed 

Rev.  Mr.  Wallace 
Pall  Bearers 
To  the  left  of  Bier  To  the  right  of  Bier 

Dr.  Sellman  Dr.  Elliott 

Capt.  Prince  Maj.  Ziegler 

Col.  Spencer  Major  Goforth 

His  excellency  the  Governor  and  the  Attorney  General  as 
Mourners 

Masonic  Brethern 
Militia  Officers  in  Uniform 
Citizens. 
"  Having  proceeded  through  different  streets,  and  arrived  at 
the  place  representing  that  of  interment,  the  military  halted,  and 
opening  their  lines,  formed  an  avenue  for  the  bier  and  those  im- 
mediately attendant  on  it  to  pass  through,  the  troops  leaning  on 
reversed  arms. 

"The  coffin  having  been  deposited  in  the  grave,  a  prayer 
suitable  to  the  occasion  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wallace, 
after  which  the  Masonic  Brethern  performed  their  ceremony. 

"  Three  discharges  of  musketry  over  the  grave  concluded 
the  ceremonies."    Western  Spy  &  Gazette  of  Feb.  5,  1800. 


S7 


APPENDIX    VI.— DEPOSITION  OF  JOHN  CLEVES  SYMMES. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 
DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 

December  Term  1829. 

Lessee  op  Hakmer  Heirs      ) 

vs.  >         Ejectment. 

GWYNNE  AND  MORRIS.  ) 

(^.268.) 

"Be  it  remembered  that  on  this  seventeenth  day  of  February 
in  the  year  1809  (pursuant  to  due  notice  given  him),  personally 
appeared  before  us  the  subscribing  two  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  James 
Silvers  and  John  Matson,  the  underwritten  deponent,  John 
Cleves  Symmes,  who  being  examined  on  oath  in  the  premises, 
in  order  to  perpetuate  testimony  between  Josiah  Harmer,  Esquire, 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Ethan  Stone,  Esquire,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, in  the  State  of  Ohio,  of  and  concerning  the  purchase  of 
eight  small  lots,  commonly  called  in-lots,  lying  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Town  of  Cincinnati,  and  between  the  creek  or  branch 
of  water  called  Deer  Creek  and  the  body  of  the  Town  of  Cin- 
cinnati, or  rather  the  ground  heretofore  used  for  a  Parade  in  front 
of  the  late  Fort  Washington.  This  deponent,  the  said  John 
Cleves  Symmes,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
1789,  Major  John  Doughty  arrived  at  Cincinnati  with  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
Fort  Washington  in  Cincinnati,  that  very  early  in  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1790,  at  the  special  request  of  many  of  the  officers 
of  the  Garrison  at  that  time  stationed  in  Fort  Washington,  this 
deponent  was  induced  to  lay  out  into  small  lots  of  sixty  square 
Rods  each,  a  portion  of  land  between  said  Fort  Washington,  and 
the  aforesaid  Parade  on  the  West  and  the  before  mentioned  Deer 
Creek  on  the  East — this  deponent  further  saith  that  soon  after 
the  laying  out  of  the  aforesaid  small  lots,  he  sold  eight  of  the 
said  lots  to  General  Josiah  Harmer,  at  that  time  Commandant 
of  the  Garrison  in  said  Fort  Washington,  at  the  price  of  Thirty- 
two  pounds,  Pennsylvania  Currency,  which  sum  of  Thirty-two 
pounds  this  deponent  declares  was  fully  paid  and  satisfied  unto 
him  by  the  said  purchaser,  General  Josiah  Harmer,  the  greater 
part  thereof  in  cash,  and  fifteen  dollars  thereof  by  the  acceptance 
of  an  order  in  favor  of  Abner  Hunt,  drawn  by  this  deponent  in 


April,  1790,  on  said  General  Harmer,  and  by  said  Josiah  Harmer. 
Paid  to  said  Abner  Hunt  in  full  of  said  Order  for  said  fifteen  dol- 
lars, which  closed  the  account  of  this  deponent  against  the  said 
Josiah  Harmer  for  the  purchase  money  of  said  Eight  Lots,  which 
eight  lots  are  particularly  described  and  set  forth  in  a  deed  of 
conveyance  of  the  said  eight  lots,  made  sealed  and  delivered  by 
the  said  John  Cleves  Symmes  to  the  said  General  Josiah  Har- 
mer by  which  deed  of  transfer  the  title  to  the  said  Eight  Lots  as 
this  deponant  believes  and  fully  intended  in  the  month  of  May, 
in  the  year  1791,  (the  date  of  said  deed)  became  vested  in  the 
said  Josiah  Harmer.  This  deponent  further  saith  that  from  the 
time  of  the  sale  of  said  Eight  Lots  to  the  said  Josiah  Harmer,  he, 
this  deponent,  hath  never  entertained  any  idea  that  the  said 
Eight  Lots,  as  described  in  said  deed,  was  in  any  degree  his  prop- 
erty, or  that  he  had  any  control  over  them,  the  said  General 
Harmer  forthwith  taking  them  into  his  immediate  possession  and 
occupancy.  Question  by  Mr.  Stone  :  Was  the  deed  dated  and 
executed  on  the  day  it  purports  to  have  been,  to-wit,  on  the  day 
and  year  therein  specified?  Ans.:  I  verily  believe  it  was.  Ques- 
tion by  Mr.  Stone :  Was  the  deed  at  that  time  delivered  to  Gen- 
eral Harmer?  Answer:  1  verily  believe  it  was.  And  further 
this  deponent  saith  not. 

JOHN  Cleves  Symmes. 
Sworn  and  subscribed  to  the  day  and  year  first  written  be- 
fore us. 

JAMES  SILVERS, 
JOHN  MATSON. 


89 


APPENDIX  VII.— Certificate  of  Joseph  Gest. 

(From  Book  of  vSuia-eys  in  Cincinnati,  1833.) 
James  Jackson  ex  dem.  Josiah  Harmers  Heirs,  Plaintiff,  ) 

vs.  V  Ejectment. 

George  Morris  and  David  Gwynne,  Defendants.        ) 

"Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States,  seventh  circuit,  Ohio  District,  of  December  Term,  1828. 
Monday  29.  The  undersigned  surveyor,  of  the  City  of  Cin- 
cinnati, did  on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1829,  a  day  fixed  by  the 
Plaintiff,  (David  Gwynne,  one  of  the  Defendants  being  sick 
and  unable  to  attend)  and  on  the  i6th  day  of  April,  inst.,  a  day 
fixed  on  by  the  Defendants,  the  Plaintiff  attending  proceeded  to 
the  premises  in  controversy  and  surveyed  the  claims  of  the 
different  parties  and  examined  such and  objects  as  sup- 
posed to  have  a  bearing  to  prove  their  respective  claims  as 
pointed  out  or  suggested  by  the  parties,  1  find  the  ground  in  con- 
troversy or ed  by  Plaintiff  to  be  sixty  feet  three  inches 

on  Front  Street,  running  back  nortliwarJly, Ilel  to  Law- 
rence Street,  twenty  poles  or  three  hundred  and  thirty  feet  to  the 
second  street  from  the  River,  called  Congress  Street. 

Said   claim    lays    immediately   westward    of  and lots 

Number  three  and  twenty-two,  of  John  Cleves  Symmes'  map,  as 
may  be  fully  seen  by  the  annexed  map,  showing  the  connection 
and  interference  of  the  U.  S.  Subdivision,  Cincinnati,  April  27, 
1829. 

Joseph  Gest,  City  Surveyor." 

N.  B.    The  incomplete  words  occurred  in  margin  which  was  torn. 


90 


APPENDIX  VIII.— Deposition  of  Joseph  Gest. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 
DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 
December  Term,  1829. 
Lessee  of  Harmer  Heirs  ) 

vs.  >  EjECTMEHT. 

GWYNNB    AND    MORRIS.      J 

{p.  291.) 

"Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  seventh  day  of  July  1829  at 
the  office  of  Charles  Hammond  Esquire  in  Cincinnati  between 
the  hours  of  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  and  seven  o'clock  P.  M.  person- 
ally came  before  me  Enos  Woodruff  an  Associate  Judge  of  the 
County  of  Hamilton  aforesaid,  Joseph  Gest  who  being  first 
carefully  examined  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the  whole 
truth  to  be  read  in  evidence  in  the  above  entitled  cause,  does 
depose  and  say 

That  the  annexed  plat  was  made  by  him  as  City  Surveyor  in 
pursuance  of  an  order  of  Court  for  that  purpose  and  is  a  correct 
copy  of  that  returned  to  Court.  Deponent  says  that  he  was 
called  upon  by  G-  W.  Jones  to  lay  out  Harmers  lots  according  to 
a  decree  of  Court  as  he  understood  as  well  as  he  recollects.  Mr. 
Jones  said  they  could  not  make  a  better  of  it  than  to  take  Ethan 
Stones  Statement  of  the  boundaries,  and  that  Mr.  Stone  would  be 
on  the  ground  for  that  purpose,  he  also  referred  me  to  Mr.  Este, 
for  the  same  purpose,  who  told  me  about  the  same,  and  that  Mr. 
Stone  did  come  upon  the  ground  and  designated  the  boundaries, 
and  the  survey  was  made  accordingly  and  is  described  on  the  map 
by  light  blue  lines  and  the  letters  1.  K.  N.  L.  D.  M. 

At  a  subsequent  period  he  was  called  upon  by  G.  W.  Jones  or 
Josiah  Harmer  to  fix  the  point  for  building  the  brick  house  marked 
S.  on  the  plat  at  the  intersection  of  Front  and  Ludlow  Streets 
and  he  fixed  the  corner  where  the  house  is  now  built.  He 
believes  the  house  was  built  by  or  for  the  heirs  of  Harmer.  Sub- 
sequently to  the  time  of  fixing  the  corner,  Deponent  further  says 
that  Mr.  Jones  went  with  him  on  the  ground  in  company  with 
Mr.  Stone  but  is  not  certain  that  he  was  there  when  the 
survey  was  made.  He  recollects  no  difference  between  Mr.  Jones 
and  Mr.  Stone  at  the  time  as  to  the  situation  of  the  ground.  Mr. 
Jones  did  not  pretend  to  have  any  personal  knowledge  of  the 
situation  of  the  lots.  After  the  survey  according  to  the  blue 
lines  was  made  in  pursuance  to  the  decree  he  handed  it  to  Mr. 
Jones  while  standing  on  the  steps  of  the  U.  States  Bank. 

JOSEPH  GEST," 

91 


APPENDIX   IX.— DEPOSITION  OF  DANIEL   DRAKE. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 

DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 

December  Term,  1829. 

Lessee  of  Harmer   Heirs  ) 

vs  >         Ejectment. 

GwrNNE  AND  Morris.     \ 
(p.  291.) 

"Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  seventh  day  of  July  1829  at 
the  office  of  Charles  Hammond  Esquire  in  Cincinnati  between  the 
hours  of  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  and  seven  o'clock  P.  M.  personally 
came  before  me  Enos  Woodruff  as  Associate  Judge  of  the 
County  of  Hamilton  aforesaid,  Joseph  Gest  who  being  first  care- 
fully examined  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the  whole  truth  to 
be  read  in  evidence  in  the  above  entitled  cause,  does  depose  and 
say."  »•»**** 

(p.m.) 

"Same  time  and  place  came  Daniel  Drake,  who  likewise 
being  carefully  examined  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the 
whole  truth  does  depose  and  say.  I  was  present  on  the  scite  of  old 
Fort  Washington  at  the  time  that  Joseph  Gest  the  City  Sur\'ey- 
or  made  a  survey  of  the  foundation  of  that  Fort  a  plat  and 
description  of  which  is  now  before  me,  and  I  believe  that  the  line 
and  angles  of  said  Fort  as  laid  down  by  him  are  accurate  as  it  is 
possible  to  fix  them,  Question.  How  is  it  that  you  are  able  to  tes- 
tify to  this  fact?  Answer.  1  once  lived  in  the  rooms  that  were  occu- 
pied by  the  Commander  of  the  Garrison,  this  was  in  1802  or  3,  and 
afterward  in  1808  when  the  reserve  was  sold  by  the  Govern- 
ment, I  purchased  several  lots  which  included  the  S.  E  Angle 
and  Block  house  and  built  upon  the  same,  where  I  resided,  from 
1812  to  1823,  during  which  period  the  foundations  of  the  Fort 
were  everywhere  to  be  seen  and  could  be  compared  with  the  lines 
and  corners  of  the  lots  and  streets,  finally  in  preparing  a  plat  of 
the  town,  for  the  picture  of  Cincinnati  in  1814  I  took  great  care 
and  pains  to  lay  down  the  scite  of  the  Fort  correctly  and  find  that 
the  plat  made  by  Mr.  Gest  corresponds  almost  exactly  with  it. 
Question  by  the  Defendants.  How  did  Fort  Washington  front 
and  where  was  the  principal  Gateway?  Answer.  It  fronted  lo 
the  South,  a  little  inclining  to  the  east.  The  whole  Soutli  Front 
was  on  the  South  side  of  Front  street,  but  not  exactly  parallel  to 
it.  The  South  West  Block-house  was  farther  from  the  street 
than  the  South  East.  The  Great  Gate  was  I  believe  in  tlie 
centre  of  the  South  line  of  Block-houses.  Question  by  the  Defend- 
ants. What  would  be  the  location  of  four  lots,  the  calls  for 
which  were  lying  directly  in  front  of  Fort  Washington  ?  Answer. 
They  must  all  be  between  Ludlow  Street  and  Broadway,  that  is 
West  of  Ludlow  Street. 

DANIEL  DRAKE." 

92 


APPENDIX  X.— DEPOSITION   OF  WILLIAM  BERRY. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 
DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 

December  Term,  1829. 

Lessee  of  Harmer   Heirs) 

vs.  |-       Ejectment, 

GWYNNE  AND  MORRIS.       ) 

(/.  876.) 

"Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  31st.  day  of  March,  1829, 
before  me,  Enos  Woodruff,  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Hamilton  County,  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  came  Christopher  Cary." 


(A  S77.) 

"Same  time  came  William  Berry,  who  in  like  manner,  being 
carefully  examined,  cautioned  and  sworn,  deposeth  and  saith : 
That  he  came  to  Cincinnati  the  spring  after  St.  Clairs  defeat 
with  a  detachment  of  troops,  and  was  put  in  the  Garrison  and 
stayed  there  for  about  one  year.  Understood  there  were  lots  on 
the  bottom  called  General  Harmer 's  lots.  They  lay  the  upper 
side  of  what  is  now  called  Ludlow  Street.  Question  by  Plain- 
tiff's counsel :  Will  you  state  whether  you  were  acquainted  where 
Ludlow  Street  now  runs?  Answer:  I  do.  1  helped  make  it. 
Question  by  same :  Will  you  state  if  you  can  what  number  of 
lots  situated  on  the  bottom  you  understood  belonged  to  General 
Harmer?  Answer :  I  cannot  say  how  many,  but  understood  he 
had  lots  there.  Witness  says  as  early  as  1795  or  thereabouts  he 
was  acquainted  with  an  old  cellar  not  a  great  way  beiow  Ruffins 
Corner,  between  the  Columbia  road  and  the  River — was  acquaint- 
ed with  the  situation  of  the  summer  house  on  the  hill,  thinks  it 
stood  on  Strongs  lot — has  been  on  the  ground  to-day  and  meas- 
ured the  distance  from  the  town  blockhouse  near  Drakes  Corner 
to  where  he  believes  the  summer  house  stood— the  distance  is 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  eastwardly.  Drakes  Corner 
is  the  corner  of  Third  and  Ludlow  Street — said  blockhouse  stood 
on  Drakes  Corner.  Q.  by  Defendants :  Did  you  ever  see 
the  lots  on  the  bottom  called  Harmers  lots  surveyed?  Ans- 
wer :  No,  I  never  did.  Question :  How  then  do  you  know 
that  Harmers  lots  on  the  bottom  were  located  above  or  east- 
wardly of  what  is  now  called  Ludlow  street  ?  Answer :  I  never 
knew  where  they  were  located  except  by  hearsay  from  other 
people. 

his 
WILLIAM  X  Berry." 

mark 
93 


APPENDIX  XI.— Deposition  of  William  H.  Orcutt. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UN'ITED  STATES  FOR  THE 
DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 
December  Term,  1829. 
Lessee  of  Harmer  Heirs  ) 

vs.  V         Ejectment. 

Gwynne  and  Morris.     ) 

"  Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  31st  day  of  Mnrch  1S29,  be- 
fore me  Enos  Woodruff  one  of  the  Associate  Judj^es  of  tiie 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Hamilton  County  in  the  Slate  of 
Ohio  came  Christopher  Cary." 

»-x-  #»■»•*«* 

(p.  S77.) 

"  Same  time  and  place  came  William  H.  Orcutt  who  also 
was  carefully  examined  and  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the 
whole  truth  deposes  and  says  :  He  came  to  Cincinnati  in  the 
year  1789  in  the  month  of  August  with  other  troops.  Soon  after 
they  proceed  to  clear  the  ground  and  build  the  blockhouses, 
in  Fort  Washington.  Staid  in  Cincinnati  3  or  4  months,  was 
then  sent  off  on  command  and  staid  8  months  and  then  re- 
turned to  Cincinnati.  Was  well  acquainted  with  the  situation 
of  the  Garrison  and  the  blockhouses ;  there  were  four  block- 
houses in  the  Garrison  one  at  each  corner  and  one  in  the  Artifi- 
cers yard ;  have  this  day  been  on  the  ground  where  the  Gar- 
rison stood  and  was  in  my  own  mind  able  to  fix  the  corners. 
The  Southeast  blockhouse  stood  on  Drakes  Corner  at  the  junc- 
tion of  Ludlow  and  Third  street.  There  was  a  kind  of  trace 
coming  up  from  the  river  on  the  the  east  side  of  the  Garrison. 
VVitnqss  further  says  that  when  on  the  ground  this  day  he 
pointed  out  to  Air.  Gest  where  the  Summer  house  stood.  -  There 
was  a  place  on  the  river  called  the  iStone  Landing  10  or  15  rods 
below  Ruffins  Corner,  was  acquainted  with  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Jones  who  was  about  the  Garrison  who  cultivated  a  garden 
near  the  Summer  house  for  General  Harmer  and  had  free  access 
to  the  Garrison.  Question  by  Defendants  Counsel.  What  was 
the  position  of  the  blockhouse  in  the  Artificers  yard,  in  relation 
to  the  Garrison?  Answer.  It  was  to  the  west  of  Garrison. 
The  Artificers  yard  was  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  triangle  and 
the  blockhouse  was  on  the  western  corner  of  the  triangle. 
Q.  by  same.  What  width  do  you  estimate  the  Garrison  to  have 
been?  Answer.  About  120  feet,  there  were  six  barrack  rooms 
in  each  rov/,  of  about  20  feet  each.  Q.  by  same.  How  long 
since  you  have  been  on  the  ground  before  last  week  ?  Answer. 
About  30  years,  and  further  saith  not. 

WM.  H.  ORCUTT. 

Mr.  Orcutt  further  states  that  there  were  three  barrack 
rooms  on  each  side  of  the  gate  fronting  the  river 

WM.  H.  ORCUTT. 

94 


APPENDIX  XII.— DEPOSITION  OF  DAVID  LEWIS. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 

DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 

December  Term,  1829. 

Lessee  of  Warmer  Heirs) 

vs  V  Ejectment, 

GWYNNE    AND  MoRRIS.       ) 

(/.  S74.) 

"  Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  31st  day  of  March  1829  at 
the  office  of  Casewell  and  Starr  in  Cincinnati  before  me  Enos 
Woodruff  an  Associate  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
of  the  County  of  Hamilton  and  State  of  Ohio,  came  David 
Lewis  exceeding  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  after  being  carefully 
examined  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the  whole  truth, 
deposeth  and  saith. 


(/>.  275.) 

"  Question  by  same  :  Was  the  front  of  Fort  Washington 
between  Broadway  and  the  first  street  east  of  Broadway  and 
running  parallel  to  it?  Answer:  Fort  Washington  fronted  the 
river  and  was  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway.  Question  by 
Plaintiff's  Counsel.  A  map  is  now  shown  you  with  the  name 
of  Thomas  Henderson  on  it,  have  you  examined  that 
map  and  does  it  correctly  denote  the  situation  of  the  block- 
house, Ruffins  Corner  and  other  objects  according  to  your 
recollection  when  you  first  knew  their  situation.  Answer.  I 
have  examined  the  map  and  it  does  denote  the  situation  of 
the  four  blockhouses.  Ruffms  Corner,  the  cellar  and  the  summer 
house  agreeably  to  my  memory  and  recollections.  Question  by 
same.  Will  you  state  whether  within  a  day  or  two  past  you 
have  been  upon  the  ground  to  point  out  the  former  situation  of 
those  objects  according  to  your  recollection.  Answer.  I  was. 
Question  by  same.  Will  you  state  whether  you  were  able  in 
your  own  mind  to  fix  upon  those  objects  as  you  believe 
them  to  have  been  without  consulting  others?  Answer.  Yes  I 
was.  I  pointed  out  their  situation  without  consulting  others. 
Quesiion  by  Defts.  Counsel.  Did  not  the  four  blockhouses 
that  originally  stood  in  the  four  corners  of  the  Garrison 
form  accordins  to  the  best  of  your  recollection  a  square?  Answer. 
They  appeared  so.  Question  by  same.  Was  not  the  two  West 
blockhouses  on  aline  of  what  was  then  called  Eastern  Row? 
Answer.  They  both  stood  on  the  east  side  of  what  was  called 
the  Eastern  Row  and  some  distance  from  it. 

**«***f* 

David  Lewis." 

96 


APPENDIX  xill.— Deposition  of  Griffin  yeatman. 

CIRCUIT  court  of  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE 
DISTRICT  OF  OHIO. 
December  Term,  1829. 
Lessee  of   Harmer  Heirs  i 

vs.  >  Ejectment. 

GWYNNE  AND  MORRIS.        ) 

(/.  t78.) 

"Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1820  before 
me  Enos  Woodruff  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  the  County  of  Hamilton  and  State  of  Ohio, 
came  Jacob  White." 
(/.  280.) 

"Same  time  and  place  came  Griffin  Yeatman  who  being  first 
carefully  examined  cautioned  and  sworn  to  testify  the  whole 
truth  does  depose  and  say.  Question.  Who  was  the  reputed 
owner  of  the  lots  on  half  block  directly  west  of  Ruffins  Corner 
situated  on  Front  and  Lawrence  Street  in  the  year  1791  or  about 
that  time?  I  came  to  Cincinnati  in  the  year  1793  and  in  that 
year  1  understood  that  General  Josiah  Harmer  was  the  owner 
of  lots  lying  west  of  what  is  called  Ruffins  Corner.  Ques- 
tion by  same.  Did  you  understand  that  General  Harmers  lots 
lay  immediately  west  and  near  to  Ruffins  Corner,  or  did  they 
belong  to  some  one  else,  and  if  to  any  other  person  to  whom 
did  they  belong?  There  was  a  cellar  dug  on  the  lots  west 
of  Ruffins  Corner  called  St.  Clairs  Cellar,  but  never  heard 
of  any  one  owning  lots  here  but  General  Harmer,  the  cellar  is 
laid  down  upon  the  map  of  Mr.  Gest  which  is  now  before  me. 
and  agreeable  to  my  impression  it  is  correct  or  nearly  so  as  to  its 
east  and  west  position.  GRIFFIN  YEATMAN." 

The  United  States  of  America, 
Southern  District  of  Ohio, 
Western  Division. 
1,  BENJAMIN  R.  COWEN,  CLERK  of  the  CIRCUIT  COURT 

of  the  United  states  of  America,  within  and  for  the  Dis- 
trict and  DIVISION  aforesaid,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  fore- 
5oing  Entries,  being  the  sworn  statements,  respectively,  of 
ohn  Cleves  Symmes,  February  17,  1809  [Appendix  VI];  Joseph 
Gest,  July  7,  1829  [Appendix  Vlll];  Daniel  Drake,  July  7,  1829 
[Appendix  IX];  William  Berry,  March  31,  1820  [Appendix  X]; 
Wm.  H.  Orcutt,  March  31,  1829  [Appendix  Xl];  David  Lewis, 
March  31,  1829  [Appendix  XII];  and  Griffin  Yeatman,  May  i, 
1829  [Appendix  XIll];  all  presented  in  this  Court  at  the  Decem- 
ber Term,  1829,  are  truly  taken  and  correctly  copied  from  the 
Journal  of  said  Court. 

IN  TESTIMONY  WHEREOF.  1  have  hereunto  set  my  Hand 
and  affixed  the  seal  of  said  Court  at  the  city  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  this261h  day  of  May.  A.  D.  1902,  and  in 
[SEAL]  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-sixth  year  of  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America. 

B.  R.  COWEN,  CLERK. 
96 


APPENDIX     XIV. —  EARLY    CINCINNATI     AND     FORT 
WASHINGTON: — "Between  Eastern-row  (a  narrow  street  now 
enlarged     into    Broadway)    and    Main-Street,    on    Front  and 
Columbia  Streets,  there  were  about  twenty  log  houses;  and  on 
Sycamore  and  Main,  principally  on  the  second  bank,  or  hill,  as  it 
was  called,  there  were  scattered  about  fifteen  cabins  more.    At 
the  foot  of  this  bank,  extending  across  Broadway  and   Main 
Streets,  were  large  ponds,  on  which  as  lately  as  the  winter  of 
1798,  I  have  seen  boys  skating.     All  the  ground  from  the  foot  of 
the  second  bank  to  the  river,  between  Lawrence-Street  and 
Broadway,  and  appropriated  to  the  Fort,  was  an  open  space,  on 
which,  although  no  trees  were  left  standing,  most  of  their  large 
trunks  were  still  lying.    On  the  top,  and  about  eighty  feet  dis- 
tant from  the  brow  of  the  second  bank,  facing  the  river,  stood 
Fort  Washington,  occupying  nearly  all  the  ground    between 
Third  and  Fourth    Streets,  and  between  Ludlow— Street  and 
Broadway.    This  fort,  of  nearly  a  square  form,  was  simply  a 
wooden  fortification,  whose  four  sides  or  walls,  each  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  long,  were  constructed  of  hewed  logs, 
erected  into  barracks  two  stories  high,  connected  at  the  corners 
by  high  pickets,  with  bastions  or  blockhouses,  also  of  hewed  logs, 
and  projecting  about  ten  feet  in  front  of  each  side  of  tlie  fort, 
so  that  the  cannon  placed  within  them  could  be  brought  to  rake 
its  walls.    Through  the  centre  of  the  south  side,  or  front  of  the 
fort,  was  the  principal  gateway,  a  passage  through  this  line  of 
barracks,  about  twelve  feet  wide  and  ten  feet  high,  secured  by 
strong  wooden  doors  of  the  same  dimensions.    Appended  to  the 
fort  on  its  north  side,  and  enclosed  with  high  palisades  extending 
from  its  north-east  and  north-west  corners  to  a  blockhouse,  was  a 
small  triangular  space,  in  which  were  constructed  shops  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  artificers.    [This  Artificers'  Yard,  as  was 
established  by  testimony  offered  in  the  United  States  Court  in 
1829,  was  on  the  west,  not  north,  side.]    Extending  along  the 
whole  front  of  the  fort,  was  a  fine  esplanade,  about  eighty 
feet  wide  and  enclosed  with  a  handsome  paling  on  the  brow  of 
the  bank;  the  descent  from  which,  to  the  lower  bottom,  was  slop- 
ing, about  thirty  feet." 

(From  "A  True  Narrative  of  the  Capture  of  Rev.  O.  M.  Speucer  by 
the  Indians,"  p.  27.) 


97 


APPENDIX  XV.— THE  TROLLOPE  FAMILY  IN  AMERICA. 
— Mrs.  Trollope,  with  her  two  daughters  and  a  son,  sailed  from 
London  on  the  4th  of  November,  1827.  After  a  tedious  voyage 
extending  over  fifty-one  days,  the  ship  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  on  Christmas  Day,  and  in  the  following  February 
the  party  reached  Cincinnati. 

Of  the  plans  then  formed,  Mr.  Thomas  Adolphus  Trollope 
wrote:  "It  was  determined,  by  the  advice  of  what  Cincinnati 
friends  I  know  not,  that  he  (Henry  Trollope)  should  join  my 
mother  there,  and  undertake  the  establishment  and  conduct  of 
an  institution  which,  so  far  as  I  was  able  to  understand  the  plan, 
was  to  combine  the  specialties  of  an  Athenaeum,  a  lecture  hall, 
and  bazaar ;  and  it  was  when  this  enterprise  had  been  decided 
upon,  but  before  any  steps  had  been  taken  for  the  realizing  of  it, 
that  I  accompanied  my  father  on  a  visit  to  America."  According 
to  this  arrangement,  Mr.  Thomas  Anthony  Trollope,  Barrister-at- 
Law,  and  his  son,  Thomas  Adolphus,  taking  steerage  passage  in 
the  ship  Corinthian,  sailed  from  England  in  September,  1828,  and 
joined  the  other  members  of  the  family  in  Cincinnati. 

The  deed  which  conveyed  the  land  upon  which  the  bazaar 
was  built,  reads  as  follows :  "This  indenture,  made  the  twenty- 
first  (21)  day  of  January,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  by  and  between  Jared  Mansfield, 
Esq.,  of  the  City  of  Cincinnati  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  Eliza- 
beth, his  wife  of  the  first  part,  and  Thomas  Anthony  Trollope  of 
the  Middle  Temple,  London,  Barrister-at-Law,  of  the  second 
part."  The  consideration  named  in  the  deed  is  $1,655.00,  and 
the  conveyance  is  for  "All  that  plat,  piece  or  parcel  of  ground 
situate  on  the  south  side  of  Third  Street  near  Broadway  in  the 
city  of  Cincinnati  aforesaid,  being  lot  number  seven  of  square 
number  two." 

Anthony  Trollope  wrote  of  the  building:  "And  the  bazaar 
was  built,  I  have  seen  it  since  in  the  town  of  Cincinnati — a  sorry 
building."  This,  however,  was  after  the  enterprise  had  been 
overtalcen  by  misfortune,  which  indeed  came  quickly  enough. 
On  the  i8th  of  November.  182Q,  a  mortgage  was  recorded  against 
the  building  by  a  firm  which  had  furnished  hardware  and  other 
material,  set  forth  in  their  bill  in  sums  ranging  from  ten  cents 
upvvard.  As  a  foil  to  the  "pins,  pocket-knives  and  pepper 
boxes"  of  which  Anthony  Trollope  wrote  so  derisively,  we  find 
the  family  sternly  confronted  with  a  demand  for  the  payment  of 


a  bill  for  nails,  sand  paper  and  screws.  These  little  insignificant 
details  of  house  construction  were  likely  to  prove  the  ruin  of  the 
grand  enterprise,  but  somehow  the  financial  difficulties  were 
temporarily  tided  over  and  the  building  was  completed. 

The  bazar  was  of  brick  and  stone,  about  thirty-four  feet  in 
width,  as  shown  by  the  old  records,  and  in  depth,  covering  the 
greater  portion  of  lot  "number  seven,"  now  occupied  by  the 
western  part  of  "The  Lorraine,"  on  the  south  side  of  Third 
Street  a  little  east  of  Broadway. 

The  Trollopes  had  some  warm  friends  in  Cincinnati,  and 
while  embittered  by  pecuniary  losses,  one  of  the  family  wrote 
with  interest  of  meeting  local  celebrities — Hiram  Powers,  the 
sculptor,  and  Nicholas  Long  worth,  as  well  as  of  the  private  the- 
atricals at  the  house  of  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Price.  The  grand 
scheme  for  making  the  family  fortunes  was  destined  to  fail 
because  of  want  of  capital,  and  a  total  lack  of  experience  in  con- 
ducting business  affairs.  Mrs.  Trollope  wrote,  in  1832:  "We 
quitted  Cincinnati  in  the  beginning  of  March,  1830,  and  I  believe 
there  was  not  one  of  our  party  who  did  not  experience  a  sensation 
of  pleasure  in  leaving  it." 


99 


APPENDIX  XVI.— ARRIVAL  OF  GOVERNOR  ST.  CLAIR 
AT  Cincinnati.— On  the  3rd  of  January,  1790,  a  party  of  set- 
tlers landed  at  Cincinnati,among  whom  was  Benjamin  Van  Cleve 
one  of  the  founders  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  states  that  on  the  pre- 
ceding day  (January  2)  General  St  Clair,  the  Governor,  had 
arrived.  Having  issued  a  proclamation  erecting  the  County  of 
Hamilton,  he  appointed  judges  and  justices  of  the  peace  for  the 
county.  The  building  of  Fort  Washington  was  still  in  progress, 
but  it  was  already  occupied  by  four  companies  of  infantry  com- 
manded respectively  by  Strong,  Pratt,  Kersey,  and  Kingsbury, 
and  by  Fords  company  of  Artillery^ 

Memorandum— Benj,  Van  Cleve,  Amer.  Pioneer,  Vol.  2,  p  148. 


100