|
Clark's Wabash Campaign- 1786. |
236 |
Notes taken of Elijah Farris, Washington Co: Ey- taken in Octr 1844.
Clark's Wabash Campaign.- Col. Barnett, of Lincoln County; Majr James Downey, Majr Anthony Crockett, were among the officers. My informant, Elijah Farris commanded a company of horse. Captured some twenty odd Indians at Vincennes- they were camped there, & would kill the American Settlers; & the Americans had sent word to Clark & others to come to their relief- & one young lady wrote a brief address to young Kentuckians, if they had any regard for helpless females to come to their relief. This induced many to go on the campaign. The Indians mixed in a friendly way with the French, & the few Americans there were cooped up in the fort at Vincennes. The Indians had Killed a good many when straggling away to work in their fields, or hunt for their horses or cattle or for game. The Americans felt greatly relived when Clark & his army arrived.
Went up about eighty miles above Vincennes; got out of provissions, and returned
From Judge Moses Boone Putnam Co: Inda taken in fall of 1846.
Clark's Wabash Campaign, 1786.- Crossed the Ohio at Clarksville- Aquilla Whittaker commanded a company of light-horse, & Moses Boone was in his company. Blaird W. Ballard commanded a company. Provisions were sent up by water- got delayed on the way, & Clark sent Majr Daniel Sullivan with a party of some twenty men ahead to Vincennes, as Clark had
|
Clark's Wabash Campaign- 1786. |
237 |
got undiscovered within three miles of town & encamped; and Sullivan went in after dark,& caught a dozen or fifteen Indians loitering around there. The Americans were cooped up in a Small fort- & the Indians had done mischief. When Clark approached the town next morning, all the leading French inhabitants came out & greeted him. The captured Indians were examined by Clark, and dismissed. These put off & gave notice to the Indians of the approach of Clark's army. The troops camped over the river, opposite to Vincennes.
Dick Burk (who had purchased a pack-saddle containing silver on a previous campaign [1782] auction - he had found a lot of silver trinkets,&stuffed then into the Saddle pad, & put in his saddle into the collection of public plunders, for auction, while them opposed it, as the saddle was too trifling an article; but he would put it in - a poor excuse, & he bid it off, without opposition, for a mere nominal sum- & then opened the pad, & exhibited his treasure, some $40 or $50 worth) was along in 1786- in no company- went & did as he chose. He was an Irishman; they made a butt of him, but he cared not- was fond of drink & joking- lived with Col. Shelby
When Clark & men started up the Wabash above Vincennes- went some two days march. The Lincoln men revolted, & started back- called the "Loganites." A large circle was formed of the remainder of the troops, a general council held; some proposed to go & force back the Lincoln men- others urged a continuance of the campaign with what were left; but it was finally concluded that all had better return. Provisions were nearly gone: went home without any particular regularity. Field officers not recollected.
[Draper, Lyman C.]
Draper Mss., 9J, pp. 239.
239 |
Memo.
Clark's Campaign 1786
Gen Ray's Notes merely speak of the campaign- Ray was himself on Logan's
Expedn
Clark went 80 miles above Vincennes, in 1786- Indns had ambuscaded the rocky banks of Pine Creek for his reception (still above the point at 80 miles); & Clark's men mutined & returned.
See Dawson's Harrison, p. 204.
Capt B. Gaines also says, in his letter, just preceding this, that it was 8O miles above Vincennes- & adds, that it was "a little below the mouth of Vermillion River."
Measuring on the map, it would seem as if Big Vermillion is refered to - some 8 miles above the Little Vermillion. Pine Creek is in Warren Co - on west side of the Wabash, as are the Vermillions; & seems to be abt 25 miles above the Big Vermillion.
Indiana Gazetteer (p. 360) says of Pine Creek: "It has high banks, covered with pine and cedar, and abounding with coal."
[Draper, Lyman C.]
Draper Mss., 9J, pp. 240.
240 |
Gen G. R. Clark's Wabash Campaign-
Aug. 15, 1786.-
Maj. Erkuries Beatty's Diary-
in Magazine of Amn. History,
April, 1877:
"Passed Eighteen Mile Island, which is large and fine; six miles lower down is the Twelve Mile Island, much like the other; and six miles Lower down is the Diamond or Six Mile Island; all these are the Distances from the Falls or Rapids. A little below the Six Mile Island, Louisville appears in view, pretty, as the river is straight and wide.x x x
"Found Louisville situate on a second bank very high; just at the head of the Rapids. It consists of about fifty or sixty houses a good deal scattered, chiefly log, some frame. A good strong fort here during the war now going to decay. Found everybody busy preparing for Genl Clark's expedition against the Indians, as they have been very troublesome to this country lately. This expedition has been ordered by the Government of Virginia, to consist of 1,5OO or 2,000 men, by drafts from the different counties this side of the Mountains, and is to rendezvous here the 10th of September- every part of pro[page 241] visions, horses, &c is impressed from the people for it, and the people take it middling kindly. I imagine the expedition is chiefly designed against the Wabash Indians; but it is very uncertain how far Genl Clark may extend it, as he has discretionary orders, and a perfect command of the country and every thing in it. Suppose they will return the latter end of October or beginning of November.
August 16- Genl Clark paid us a visit in our camp (found him old Way); seemed to insist for our going over the Rapids and taking post at Clarksville on this side, four miles below here, which Major Finney did not seem to approve of. However, Gen. Clark, Maj. Finney, Maj.North, Capt. Ziegler and myself got into a barge with six good oars, and a pilot, to go over the Fall, which at this stage of the water is very dangerous; were obliged to keep near the N.W. shore, as the water is too low to go on the other side; and by hard rowing, dashing, and several times crossing the current, got safe over and landed at Clarksville,
[Draper, Lyman C.]
Draper Mss., 9J, pp. 242.
242 |
just at the lower end of the Rapids N. W. side, on a pretty bank; about fifteen log houses.
From the beginning of the Rapids to the lower end is about two miles, and the whole Fall Gen. Clark say is twenty eight feet. In the present state of the water, it is almost impossible for any loaded boat to ass them; but when the water is high, it is not the least dangerous for any kind of boat to pass. The river just in the Rapids takes a turn to the westward. Close under S.E. Shore, and just beginning the Rapids, is a small Island, they say never overflowed; there are two rocky Islands about the middle of the Falls; and towards the lower end, which is generally bare great quantities of geese sit on them. According to my idea, the Rapids and two villages lie in this Manner. [Blank in Ms.]
The current seems to run in all directions in the Rapids, sometimes crossing from shore to shore, and a great many counter currents which run up almost as rapid as the other part [243] of the river runs down. Some very pretty cascades formed by the water just flowing over a rock six or eight feet perpendicular; but when the water is high, that does not appear. We returned by land to the camp, and the men found great difficulty in dragging up the boat again; it took them better than a day. Major North and I walked all along up shore, and found a great many petrefactions, such an roots, shells, nuts, acorns, &c.
x x x x x x x x
August 25 - Dined to day with Genl Clark, in Louisville; a number of gentlemen at table; had a very elegant dinner, and were treated politely. x x
A few evenings ago some horses were stolen within two or three miles of town; immediately a party raised, crossed the river, and went in pursuit of them: They this day returned, and report that they were Six Indians, and had with them five horses (the number missing), and that they followed their trail upwards of fifty miles towards the Shawanese town, and suppose them to be of that Nation; but they went so fast, they could not possibly be overtaken though every exertion was used."
[Draper, Lyman C.]
Draper Mss., 9J, pp. 244.
244 |
Clark's & Logan's Campaign of 1786.
|
Viney Groves Octr 23, 1786 |
Dear Sir,
Tomorrow I purpose to go over to the place I am settling in Fayette, and leave this Line to be sent to Colo. Logan who I hear purposes to set out for Richmond next Monday. The Colo. will inform you more particularly than I can do by Letter of the Success of two Expeditions which have been lately made from This District into the Indian Country. I have not yet had an Opportunity of seeing any Person of Intelligence who was with either Party: I have only learnt that the Division under the command of Genl Clark proceeded about 60 Miles above St Vincennes where a Mutiny happened and the whole returned without effecting any thing, but the Consumption of a large quantity of Beef and Flour. The other under the Command of Colo. Logan have burnt all the Shawnee Towns, killed about 10 Indians and taken about 30 Prisoners But have lost a good deal of Credit by Murdering the Indian Chief or King some Hours after he had surrendered himself a Prisoner. As the Indians from the Lakes to the Floridays seem to have entered into a Combination against our Western Frontiers and are no doubt well supplied by the English and Spaniards, (if not encouraged thereto) it is to be feared that Next Summer will be very bloody, unless Congress will adopt more spirited Measures than heretofore they have done
[page 2441] Mrs Christian's Family and my own are in Health and have for some Time been expecting to hear from you and our other Friends in Botetouit, but no Letters have lately come to Hand. Inclosed is a Line for Mr Thomas Madison to hasten the recovery of the £53.10 Bond on Cholson and after deducting the £27.10 with Interest which I owe Miss Susannah Smith to pay the Balance to you. I have not heard whether the Lgo Bond is yet put into suit. If any of my money should come into your Hands it will greatly oblige me if you will forward it by some Acquaintance who may be travelling this way, or if a suitable opportunity does not offer please to advise me of the Sum that I may draw on you with Certainty therefor. I have five or Six hundred Acres of Land now Pattented in Cluleys Gap for which I requested Mr Leonard L Fleming to pay the Taxes and put money into his hand for the Purpose. I shall thank you to remind him not to neglect it.
With the most respectful and Affectionate Regards to Mrs Christian Mrs Fleming and the Rest of your Family, I am
|
|
Dear Sir
|
Continue to
Dft. Ex. 105.
Return
to Docket 317 Table of Contents
Return to Ohio Valley -
Great Lakes Ethnohistory Archive Menu
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home
Last updated: 28
September 2000
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1997, Glen Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University.