A Journal of Two Campaigns of the Fourth Regiment of U.S. Infantry: In the Michigan and Indiana Territories, Under the Command of Col. John P. Boyd, and Lt. Col. James Miller During the Years 1811, & 12. — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
A Journal of Two Campaigns of the Fourth Regiment of U.S. Infantry: In the Michigan and Indiana Territories, Under the Command of Col. John P. Boyd, and Lt. Col. James Miller During the Years 1811, & 12.
John Stuart Mill · en
On the 3d of September, the Indians made a furious assault on Fort
Harrison. They kept up a brisk fire the whole night, and one time had
actually succeeded in making a breach in the defences of the place.
The roofs of the buildings were several times on fire; one of the
blockhouses was burnt. Captain Taylor, however, succeeded in defending
the post and finally beat them off. The scene was enough to try the
soul of a hero. There were but eighteen effective men in the fort, and
two of them, in a moment of despair, leapt the pickets to escape. The
night was dark--the yelling of several hundred savages, and the cries
of the women, were sufficient to excite terror in the stoutest heart.
On the 4th of September, Gen. Harrison arrived at Urbana and assumed
the command of the north-western army. The rapids of the Miami of the
Lakes were fixed upon as the point of concentration, the several corps
of which were to move in the following directions:--two thousand
Pennsylvania volunteers under General Crooks, were to move from
Pittsburgh along the shores of lake Erie: Gen. Tupper's brigade of
Ohio volunteers were to take Hull's route from Urbana to the Rapids:
fifteen hundred Virginians, under Brigadier Gen. Leftwich, were to
take the same route, whenever they should arrive. Gen. Payne's brigade
of Kentucky volunteers, with the 17th U. States' regiment, Col. Wells,
were to advance to Fort Wayne, and descend the Miami; such was the
disposition of the forces which were to constitute the _new_ army.
A considerable Indian force appeared before Fort Wayne on the 5th.
They invested the place closely for several days; they burnt the U.
States' factory and many other valuable houses. A brother of Gov.
Meigs, and two soldiers were killed near the fort.
Gen. Harrison marched with the brigade of Gen. Payne and the regulars
to relieve fort Wayne--the enemy fled at his approach.
There was now a favorable moment for making the Indians feel the
effects of the war. An expedition was accordingly projected against
several towns within two days march of that place. The whole force was
divided and placed under the command of Gen. Payne and Colonel Wells.
The former was directed to destroy the Miami towns at the forks of the
Wabash; and the latter to go against the Potawatamie villages at Elk
Hart.
The commander in chief accompanied Gen. Payne on the expedition: four
of the Miami villages were burnt, three of which were remarkably
flourishing. All their corn was cut up and piled, in order that it
might rot before the enemy could return to prevent it. Colonel Wells
was equally successful; he destroyed several villages and returned to
camp without loss.