St. Clair's DefeatPublic Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County
History
St. Clair's Defeat
Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County
St. Clair's Campaign, 1791
from Historical Collection of Ohio by Howe.
“At Stillwater Creek, twelve miles from the battleground, the Indians
gave up the pursuit and returned to share the booty. ‘Oh!’ said an old
squaw who died many years ago on the St. Mary’s River, ‘my arm that
night was weary scalping white man.’
“‘Some years ago,’ McDowell said to me (and here his cheeks became
moistened with tears), ‘I was traveling in Kentucky to visit a sister I
had not seen in many years. When I arrived at Georgetown, I entered my
name on the hotel register with the place of my residence—Fort Recovery,
Ohio.
“‘After I had been sitting some time at ease before a comfortable fire,
a gentleman who had noticed the entry of my name and residence opened a
friendly conversation about the place and country. He soon remarked that
he was at the defeat of St. Clair, and that if it had not been for the
assistance of a young man of Butler’s regiment, he would have been there
yet.’
“After a few more questions and replies, both men recognized each other.
The gentleman was the youth who had been shot during the retreat and
whose life had been saved with McDowell’s assistance. At this discovery
their surprise and consequent mutual attachment may be imagined. The
gentleman insisted upon taking McDowell home and introducing him to his
wife and daughters. He had become a wealthy merchant and gave McDowell a
new suit of clothes and other presents which he has carefully preserved
to this day.”
In his SKETCHES OF WESTERN ADVENTURE, John A. McClung relates some
anecdotes which show the heroism and activity of a young man who was in
this action.
“The late William Kennan, of Fleming County, when a young man of
eighteen, was attached to the corps of rangers who accompanied the
regular force. He had long been noted for his strength and activity. In
the course of the march from Fort Washington, he had repeated
opportunities to test his astonishing physical powers; and it was
universally admitted that he was the swiftest runner in the light corps.
On the evening preceding the action, his corps had been advanced a few
hundred yards in front of the first line of infantry in order to give
reasonable notice of the enemy’s approach. Just as day was dawning, he
observed about thirty Indians within one hundred yards of the guards’
fire. They advanced cautiously toward the spot where he stood with about
twenty rangers; the other men were considerably in the rear.
[Illustration: _mounted the young soldier_]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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