Joseph Buell (afterward one of the prominent early settlers at Marietta) was on the frontier for nearly a period of three years, dating from the latter part of December, 1785, and he spent a considerable portion of his time at Fort Harmar. His journal affords some interesting glimpses of life in the garrison and affairs in the western country during the years immediately preceding its settlement. Much is said in the beginning of the hardships of army life, the depravity of the troops, and the severity of the punishments inflicted for various offences. Drunkenness and desertion were prevalent evils. The punishment for the former and other venal misdemeanors was not infrequently flogging to the extent of one hundred or even two hundred lashes, and the death penalty, without the process of court-martial, was inflicted upon deserters. The pay of the soldiers at that time guarding the frontier was only three dollars per month. On the 4th of May, 1786, Captain Zeigler’s and Strong’s companies embarked for Muskingum, and from this date forward the entries in the journal relate to occurrences at Fort Harmar. May 8th. We arrived at Muskingum, where we encamped in the edge of the woods a little distance from the fort. 10th. Captain Zeigler’s company embarked for the Miami, and our company moved into the garrison, where we were engaged several days in making ourselves comfortable. 12th. Began to make our gardens, and had a very disagreeable spell of weather, which continued for twenty-two days raining in succession. June 9th. Two boats arrived from Miami, and report that the Indians had murdered several inhabitants this spring. We are getting short of meat for the troops. 10th. Five frontiersmen came here to hunt for the garrison, and brought with them a quantity of venison. 19th. News arrived here that the Indians had killed four or five women and children at Fish creek, about thirty miles northeast from this garrison. July 4th. The great day of American independence was commemorated by the discharge of thirteen guns, after which the troops were served with extra rations of liquor, and allowed to get as drunk as they pleased. 8th. We are brought down to half rations, and have sent out a party of men to hunt. They returned without much success, although game is plenty in the woods. 9th. We discovered some Indians crossing the Ohio in a canoe, below the garrison, and sent a party after them, but could not overtake them. 10th. Ensign Kingsbury, with a party of nine, embarked for Wheeling in quest of provisions. 12th. Captain Strong arrived from Fort Pike. 16th. We were visited by a party of Indians, who encamped at a little distance from the garrison, and appeared to be very friendly. They were treated kindly by the officers, who gave them some wine and the best the garrison afforded.