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
The Indians continued a brisk fire from the margin of the swamp and
made some impression on a line of Kentucky volunteers, but Gov. Shelby
brought up a regiment to its support--the fire soon became too warm
for the enemy. A part of Johnson's men having gained the rear of a
part of the Indian line the rout became general. A small part of the
Indians attempted to gain the village by running up the narrow strip
of dry land; they were soon overtaken and cut down. The Indians fought
bravely and sustained a severe loss in killed and wounded. The death
of Tecumseh was an irreparable loss.
The American army had fifteen killed and thirty wounded. Among the
slain was Colonel Whitley, of the Kentucky volunteers, a man of
seventy years of age, and a soldier of the revolution. He was in easy
circumstances at home, and possessed an excellent character.
Among the trophies of the day were six brass field pieces, which had
been surrendered by Hull--I read on two of them this pleasing motto:
"Surrendered by Burgoyne at Saratoga."
The day after the battle a part of the army took possession of the
Moravian town, where we found most kinds of vegetables in
abundance--these were acceptable to men who had for several days
subsisted on fresh beef, without bread or salt. We found plenty of
green corn; the fields were extensive and our horses had an excellent
range.
The town was deserted; so panic struck were some of the women in their
flight, that they are said to have thrown their children into the
Thames, to prevent their being butchered by the Americans!
This village is situated on the right bank of the Thames, about forty
miles from its entrance into lake St. Clair. The town was built by
emigrants from Muskingum, and contained at the time of the battle
nearly 100 houses, mostly well built. The Rev. John Scoll, from
Bethlehem, (Penn.) was established here as a missionary. Many of the
inhabitants speak English--there was a school house and a chapel. The
gardens were luxuriant and cultivated with taste.
The town was destroyed as well as the cornfields in its vicinity, by
the troops previous to their leaving it. Among other reasons assigned
to justify the measure, it was alleged that these Indians had been
among the foremost in massacring our men at the river Raisin, and that
the town, if it was spared, would afford a convenient shelter for the
British allies during the winter, and from which they could easily
pass into the Michigan territory to rob and murder the inhabitants.
I have yet to learn, that it is either good policy or justice, for the
American troops, in every instance, to burn the Indian towns that fall
into their power. Are the Indians to be reclaimed by fire?