Boys' Book of Indian Warriors and Heroic Indian WomenSabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
History
Boys' Book of Indian Warriors and Heroic Indian Women
Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
Indians of North America -- Biography; Indians of North America -- Wars
In the spring of 1793 he moved down to Fort Washington at Cincinnati.
On August 8, he marched north, with two thousand troops the equal of
any troops in the world, to invade the country of the Miamis.
Meanwhile there had been fighting, but the warriors of Little Turtle
showed no signs of letting up. A message from the British had told
them that war with the United States was due this year, and that the
Indians were expected to hold their ground.
Now the great warrior "Mad Anthony" was advancing. Him, the Indians
much respected. His reputation was known. They had named him "Black
Snake," and "Big Wind" or "Whirlwind." From the methods with which he
made his marches--his men deployed in open order, his dragoons sweeping
the flanks, his scouts before, and every night's camp pitched early and
surrounded by a log breast-works--they saw that he was wise.
He established more forts. He erected a new one near the site of Fort
Jefferson at Greenville, Ohio; and spent the winter there. He built
Fort Recovery on the skull-dotted field where General Saint Clair had
been routed. There the Wayne men defeated the Little Turtle men. The
Indians spent two nights in carrying off their dead and wounded. But
the British from Detroit had come southward and built another fort for
themselves--Fort Maumee--at the Maumee River Rapids, in northwestern
Ohio, south of modern Toledo.
That was a rallying-place for the allied Indians, and encouraged them.
The "Big Wind" continued, laying waste the villages and fields. He
built Fort Defiance in the very heart of the Miami country, and
proceeded down the Maumee River toward the British fort.
Within seven miles of the British fort he built Fort Deposit. He had
two thousand Legionaries, and eleven hundred mounted Kentucky riflemen;
Little Turtle's army was being driven back upon the British fort, and
must fight or quit.
So far, the "Big Wind" had proved himself the master.
By this time Little Turtle had lost his brother-in-law, "Black Snake"
or William Wells, whose blood was the white blood, and who could no
longer fire upon his race.
When he had heard that another American army was on its way, he had led
Little Turtle apart.
"I now leave your nation for my own people," he had said. "We have
been friends. We are friends yet until the sun is an hour higher.
From that time we are enemies. Then if you wish to kill me, you may.
If I want to kill you, I may."
William Wells plunged into the forest, and found General Wayne. He
became a valuable scout with the United States column.
From Fort Deposit General Wayne sent word to the Miamis that they must
make peace at once, or be attacked. Little Turtle called a council.
Some of his men were dubious.
"It is no use fighting that man. His eye is never shut," they
complained.
Little Turtle himself was dubious. The council debated upon whether to
try another "Saint Clair" surprise, or to choose their ground, and wait.
Blue-jacket the Shawnee was for fighting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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