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Historical Collections of Ohio

By Henry Howe.

Vol. II

©1888

 

Pickaway County 

 

Pickaway County was formed January 12, 1810, from Ross, Fairfield and Franklin; the name is a misspelling of Piqua, the name of the tribe of the Shawanese, for the significance of which see p. 517, Vol. II.  The name was immediately derived from the plains in the county.  The surface is level and the soil is generally very fertile and productive in grain.  In many places the eye will take in at a single glance five hundred acres of corn at one view.  The country has the four varieties of woodland, barren, plain and prairie.  The barrens were originally covered with shrub oak and were at first supposed to be valueless, but proved to be excellent for grass and oats.  The original settlers were mainly from Pennsylvania and Virginia.  The principal productions are corn, wheat, oats, grass, pork, wool and neat cattle. 

 

Area about 480 square miles.  In 1887 the acres cultivated were 144,968; in pasture, 80,135; woodland, 32,053; lying waste, 6,436; produced in wheat, 765,883 bushels; rye, 2,146; buckwheat, 600; oats, 64,584; barley, 11,671; corn, 2,088,965; broom corn, 21,500 lbs. brush; meadow hay, 11,355 tons; clover hay, 4,865; flax, 585 bushels seed; potatoes, 37,483; butter, 416,059 lbs.; sorghum, 611 gallons; maple syrup, 2,326; honey, 4,155 lbs.; eggs, 526,839 dozen; grapes, 9,750 lbs.; wine, 60 gallons; sweet potatoes, 790 bushels; apples, 6,797; peaches, 767; pears, 276; wool, 53,577 lbs.; milch cows owned, 5,465.  School census, 1888, 9,024; teachers, 209.  Miles of railroad track, 62. 

 

 

Page 401

 

Population of Pickaway in 1820 was 18,143; 1830, 15,935; 1840, 20,169; 1860, 23,469; 1880, 27,415, of whom 24,013 were born in Ohio; 861, Virginia; 604, Pennsylvania; 155, New York; 102, Indiana; 88, Kentucky; 471, German Empire; 283, Ireland; 89, England and Wales; 22, France; 20, British America; and 14, Scotland.  Census, 1890, 26,959. 

 

In my first edition of 1847, I stated: "Much of the land on the west side of the Scioto is formed by tenants, who received either a certain proportion of the profits, or pay stated rents.  The further remove the ownership of land from those who cultivate it, the worse it is for the development of the resources of the country.  Slavery is worse than the tenant system and actual ownership the best of all.  Hence it is that the Virginia Military District, much of which is held in large tracts by wealthy men, with tenants under them, does not thrive as well as some other parts of the state having a poor soil, but cultivated by those who both hold a plow and own the land."  Then I quoted from a writer of the time, as follows:

 

Within the county, on the west side of the river, is a territory of about 290 square miles, containing a population of 8,376, averaging a fraction less than thirty to the square mile; while the territory on the east side of the river, within the county, embracing only 209 square miles, sustains a population of 11,349, averaging almost fifty-five to the square mile.  This disparity in the density of population of the territory on the east and west sides of the river arises principally from four causes: 1st, the large surveys on which the land on the west side of the ridge at river was originally located.  This prevented persons of small means from seeking farms there; 2nd, the difficulty of finding a real owner of the surveys, who generally resided in some of the Southern Atlantic states, or Kentucky, and who frequently had no agent here to subdivide, show, or sell the lands; 3rd, the frequent interference of different entries and surveys there with each other, which rendered the titles insecure.  Though only a small portion of the lands were subject to this last difficulty, yet many persons were thereby deterred from purchasing and settling upon them; 4th, the greater disposition in the inhabitants there to engross large tracts of land, instead of purchasing smaller tracts, expending more upon their improvements.  This last continues to be the great obstacle in the way of increase in a population now on those lands. 

 

To an observing traveler passing directly through the county from east to west, the contrast is very striking.  While on the one ride he finds the land well improved, with fields of moderate size, well fenced, with a good barn and meet dwelling-house to each adjacent farm; on the other, he finds occasionally baronial mansion, "Like angel's visits, few and far between," with rarely a barn, and each field large enough for two or three good farms.  Between these mansions he will find the old pioneer log dwellings and the slovenly cultivation of the first settlers.  The prices of the same quality of land on the east side are generally about double those on the west side.  A part of this difference in the artificial appearance and cultivation of the country upon the opposite sides of the river results, no doubt, from the different origin of the inhabitants.  Those on the east side originated mostly from Pennsylvania; while those on the west side had their origin generally in the more northern slave States.  Habits brought with the first emigrants cannot be changed at once, though time and the operation of our laws will gradually modify them.  Already, in several neighborhoods west of the river, the plan of smaller farms and better improvements has commenced; and a few years of prosperous industry will produce the neat farm cottage and a well-stored barn, with the productive fields of variegated crops and delicious fruits, which render the pursuits of agriculture so desirable.  These are the blessings designed by a bountiful Benefactor to compensate for the toils, exposures and hardships incident to the pursuit of farming.  Without these comforts it would be the barren drudgery of the toil-worn slave. 

 

The Pickaway Plains. 

 

 

Page 402

 

  

MAP OF THE ANCIENT SHAWANOESE TOWNS, ON THE PICKAWAY

PLAINES.

 

[Explanations,—A. Ancient works on which Circleville now stands.

B. Logan’s cabin at Old Chillicothe, now Westfall, four miles below Circleville;

from this place a trail led through Grenadier Squaw town, and from thence up the

Congo valley, and crossed to the opposite side of the creek, about 1½ miles

from its mouth.

 

C. Black mountain, a short distance west of the old Barr mansion.

 

D. Council house, a short distance northeast of the residence of Wm. Reneck, Jr.

The two parallel lines at the point represent the gauntlet through which prisoners

were forced to run, and O the stake at which they were burnt, which last is on a

commanding elevation.

 

F. The camp of Col. Lewis just south of the residence of Geo. Wolf.  The Logan elm

is about a mile north of the site of the camp of Lewis on Congo creek.

 

E. The point where Lord Dunmore met with and stopped the army of Lewis when on

their way to attack the Indians: it is opposite the mansion of Major John Boggs.

 

G. The residence of Judge Gills, near which is shown the position of Camp Charlotte.]

 

Page 403

 

about a mile west of them.  Their form is elliptical, with the longest diameter from northeast to southwest, being about seven miles by three and a half or four miles.  They were destitute of trees when first visited by the whites.  The fertility was such as to produce one hundred bushels of corn, or fifty of wheat, to the acre for many years, but they are now less productive.  These plains have but few trees or shrubs within reach of the eye, except along the distant borders.  The early settlers in the vicinity procured all their fodder, a coarse, natural grass, from the plains, which grew several feet above a man's head.  It was extremely difficult to break up, requiring the strongest teams.  The cultivation of corn, which grew up to a height of twelve or fifteen feet, weakened their natural fertility.  Originally the plains were adorned with a great variety of beautiful flowers. 

 

The and next map is reduced from one 20 1/2 inches by 17 1/2, made from the survey of P. N. WHITE, for Felix RENICK, of Ross.  The country represented is about seven miles square.  Of all places in the West, this preeminently deserves the name of "Classic Ground."  Here, in olden time, burned the council-fires of the red man; here the affairs of the nation in general council were discussed, and the important questions of peace and war decided.  On these plains the allied tribes marched forth and met General LEWIS, and fought the sanguinary battle at Point Pleasant.  Here it was that LOGAN made his memorable speech, and here, too, that the noted campaign of DUNMORE was brought to a close by a treaty, or rather a truce, at Camp Charlotte. 

 

From the "Remarks" appended to this map by Mr. RENICK, we extract of following:

 

Among the circumstances which invest this region with extraordinary interest is the fact that to these towns were brought so many of the truly unfortunate prisoners who were abducted from the neighboring states.  Here they were immolated on the altar of the red man's vengeance, and made to suffer to the death all the tortures savage ingenuity could invent, as a sort of expiation for the aggression of their race.  Strange does it seem that human beings, on whom Nature had bestowed such riches of intellect, could be brought by force of habit, not only to commit, but to delight in committing, such enormous cruelties as they often practiced on many of their helpless victims-acts which had the direct effect of bringing down retaliation, in some form or another, on their own heads.  But that they should contend to the last extremity for so delightful a spot, will not be wondered at by the most common observer on the view of the premises.  For picturesqueness, fertility of soil, and other concomitants to make it desirable for human habitation, it is not surpassed by any other locality in the Western country, or perhaps in the world.  The towns were well supplied with good spring water; some of the adjacent bottom-lands where susceptible of being made to produce, as nature has left them, one hundred bushels of Indian corn to the acre and all of the grains and vegetables in proportion. 

 

The Black Mountain, represented on the map by C (so called by the natives, but why so named tradition hath not informed us), is a ridge somewhat in the shape of an inverted boat, elevated from 130 to 150 feet above the bottom of the prairie immediately in its vicinity, and commands from its summit a full view of the high plains and the country around it to a great extent.  This facility the natives enjoyed, for they were in the practice yearly of burning over the country, which kept down the undergrowth, while the larger growth was so sparse as to not materially intercept the view.  This elevated ridge answered the Indian some valuable purposes.  No enemy could approach in daytime, who could not from its summit be descried at a great distance; and by repairing thither the red man could often have a choice of the game in view, and his sagacity seldom failed him in the endeavor to approach it with success. 

 

The Burning Ground, in the suburbs of Grenadier Squawtown, represented on the map, was also situated on an elevated spot, which commands a full view of all the other towns within the drawing, so that when a victim was at the stake and the flames ascending, all the inhabitants of the other towns who could not be present, might, in a great measure, enjoy the scene by sight and imagination.  The burning-ground at Old Chillicothe was somewhat similar, being in full view of the burning-ground at Squawtown, the Black Mountain and two or three other small towns in other parts of the plains. 

 

The Grenadier Squaw, whose name the above town bore, was a sister to CORNSTALK.  She was represented as being a woman of great muscular strength, and, like her brother, possessed of a superior intellect. 

 

 

Page 404

 

that SLOVER, who was taken prisoner at CRAWFORD'S defeat, in 1782, was brought to suffer a similar death to that which Crawford, his commander, had undergone a few days before, but from which, through providential aid, he was relieved and enabled to make his escape.  The circumstances of his escape have been previously published; but as they seem to be inseparably connected with the history of this spot, I hope to be excused for repeating them here.  After his capture on his way thither, he had been very much abused at the different towns he passed through, beaten with clubs, etc..  On his arrival here he had a similar punishment to undergo.  A council was held over him and he was doomed to die the death that CRAWFORD had suffered.  The day was appointed for the consummation of the horrid deed, and its morning dawned without any unpropitious appearances to mar the anticipated enjoyments of the natives collected from the neighboring towns to witness the scene.  At the appointed time SLOVER was led forth, stripped naked, tied to the fatal stake, and the fire kindled around him. 

 

Just as his tormentors were about to commence the torture, it seemed that the Great Spirit look down, and said: "No! This horrid deed shall not be done!"  Immediately the heavens were overcast; the forked lightnings in all directions flew; in mighty peals the thunder rolled and seemed to shake the earth to its centre; the rain in copious torrents fell and quenched the threatening flames before they had done the victim much injury - continuing to a late hour.  The natives stood dumbfounded - somewhat fearing that the Great Spirit was not pleased with what they were about to do.  But had they been ever so much inclined, there was not time left that evening to carry out their usual savage observances.  SLOVER was therefore taken from the stake and conducted into an empty house, to the upper log of which he was fastened by a buffalo-tug tied around his neck, and his arms were pinioned behind him by a cord.  Two warriors were set over him as a guard to prevent his escape in the night.  Here again Providence seemed to interfere in favor of SLOVER, by causing a restless sleep to come over his guard.  Until a late hour the Indians sat up, smoking their pipes and talking to SLOVER - using all their ingenuity to tantalize him, asking "How would he like to eat fire," etc.  At length one of them lay down and soon fell asleep.  The other continued smoking and talking to SLOVER some time.  After midnight a deep sleep came upon him.  He also lay down, and soon thought of nothing save in dreams of the anticipated pleasure to be enjoyed in torturing their prisoner next day. 

 

SLOVER then resolved to make an effort to get loose, and soon extricated one of his hands from the cords.  He then tried to unloose the tug around his neck, but without effect.  He had not long been thus engaged before one of the Indians got up and smoked his pipe.  While he was thus engaged SLOVER kept very still for fear of a discovery; but the Indian being again overcome with sleep, again laid down.  SLOVER then renewed his exertions, but for some time without effect, and he resigned himself to his fate.  After resting a while, however, he resolved to make another and a last effort.  He put his hand again to the tug, and, as he related, he slipped it over his head without difficulty.  He then got out of the house as quietly as possible, sprang over a fence into a cornfield.  While passing through the field he came near running over a squaw and her children, who were sleeping under a tree.  To avoid discovery he deviated from a straight track and rapidly hurried to the upper plain, where, as he had expected, he found a number of Indian horses grazing.  Day was then fairly breaking,.  He untied the cord from the other arm, which by this time was very much swelled.  Selecting, as he thought, the best horse he could see, he made a bridle of the cord, mounted him, and rode off at full speed.  About ten o'clock the horse and gave out.  SLOVER then had to travel on foot with all possible speed; and between mosquitos, nettles, brush, briars, thorns, etc., by the time he got home he had more the appearance of a mass of raw flesh than an animated being.  

 

DUNMORE'S Expedition. 

 

The history of the expedition of Lord DUNMORE against these towns on the Scioto, in 1774, we derive from the discourse upon this subject delivered by Charles WHITTLESEY, Esq, before the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, at Columbus, in 1840. 

 

 

Page 405

 

Battle of Point Pleasant. - The plan of the campaign was to form a junction before reaching the Indian villages, and LEWIS accordingly halted at the mouth of the Kenhawa on the 6th of October for communication and orders from the commander-in-chief.  While there he encamped on the ground now occupied by the village of Point Pleasant, without entrenchments or other defenses.  On the morning of the 10th of October he was attacked by 1,000 chosen warriors of the Western Confederacy, who had abandoned their towns on the Pickaway plains to meet the Virginia troops, and gave them battle before the two corps could be united.  The Virginia riflemen occupied a triangular point of land, between the right bank of the Kenhawa and the left bank of the Ohio, accessible only by their rear.  The assault was therefore in this quarter.  Within an hour after the scouts had reported the presence of the Indians a general engagement took place, extending from one bank of one river to the other, half a mile from the point. 

 

Colonel Andrew LEWIS, who seems to have been possessed of military talent, acted with steadiness and decision in this emergency.  He arrayed his forces promptly and advanced to meet the enemy, with force equal to his own.  Col. Charles LEWIS, with 300 men, forming the right of the line, that the Indians at sunrise and sustained the first attack.  Here he was mortally wounded in the onset, and his troops, receiving almost the entire weight of the charge, were broken and gave way.  Col. FLEMING with a portion of the command had advanced along the shore of the Ohio, and in a few moments fell in with the right of the Indian line, which rested on the river. 

 

The effect of the first shock was to stagger the left wing as it had done the right, and its commander, also, was severely wounded at an early stage of the conflict; but his men succeeded in reaching a piece of timber land and maintained their position until the reserve under Col. FIELD reached the ground.  It will be seen by examining LEWIS'S plan of the engagement and the ground on which it was fought, that an advance on his part and the retreat of his opponent necessarily weakened their line by constantly increasing its length, if it extended from river to river, and would eventually force him to break it or leave his flanks unprotected.  Those acquainted with Indian tactics informed us that it is the great point of his generalship to preserve his flanks and over-reach those of his enemy.  They continued, therefore, contrary to their usual practice, to dispute the ground with the pertinacity of veterans along the whole line, retreating slowly from tree to tree, till one o'clock p.m. when they reached a strong position.  Here both parties rested, within rifle-range of each other, and continued a desultory fire along a front of a mile and a quarter, until after sunset. 

 

The desperate nature of this fight may be inferred from the deep-seated animosity of both parties towards each other, the high courage which both possessed and the consequences which hung upon the issue.  The Virginians lost one-half their commissioned officers and fifty-two men killed.  Of the Indians, twenty-one were left on the field, and the loss in killed and wounded is stated at 233.  During the night the Indians retreated and were not pursued. 

 

Having failed in this contest with the troops while they were still divided into parties, they changed their plan and determined at once to save their towns from destruction by offers of peace. 

 

Soon after the battle was over a reinforcement of 300 Fincastle troops, and also an express from Lord DUNMORE arrived, with an order directing this division to advance towards the Shawanese villages without delay.  Notwithstanding the order was given in ignorance of the engagement, and commanded them to enter the enemy's country unsupported, Col. LEWIS and his men were glad to comply with it and thus complete the overthrow of the allied Indians. 

 

 

Page 406

 

respecting the location of the true Old Chillicothe town, and also in regard to the positions of Camp Charlotte and Camp Lewis.  The associations connected with those places have given them an interest which will never decline.  This is probably a sufficient excuse for presenting here, in detail, the evidence upon which the positions of these several points are established. 

 

It was at the Chillicothe towns that LOGAN delivered his famous speech.  It was not made in council, for he refused to attend at Camp Charlotte where the talk was held, and DUNMORE sent a trader, by the name of John GIBSON, to inquire the cause of his absence.  The Indians, as before intimated, had made propositions to the governor for peace, and probably before he was aware of the result of the action at Kenhawa.  When GIBSON arrived at the village LOGAN came to him, and by his (LOGAN'S) request they went into an adjoining would and sat down.  Here, after shedding abundance of tears, the honored chief told his pathetic story.  GIBSON repeated it to the officers, who caused it to be published in the Virginia Gazette of that year.  Mr. JEFFERSON was charged with making improvements and alterations when he published it in his notes on Virginia; but from the concurrent testimony of GIBSON, Lord DUNMORE, and several others, it appears to be as close a representation of the original as could be obtained under the circumstances.  The only versions of the speech that I have seen are here contrasted, in order to show that the substance and sentiments correspond, and that it must be the production of LOGAN, or of John GIBSON, the only white man who heard the original. 

 

Williamsburg, Va., Feb. 4, 1775. 

 

The following is said to be a message from Captain LOGAN, an Indian warrior, to Governor DUNMORE, after the battle in which Colonel Charles LEWIS was slain, delivered at the treaty:

 

"I appeal to any white man to say that he ever entered LOGAN's cabin, but I gave him meat; that he ever came naked, but I clothed him. 

 

"In the course of the last war, LOGAN remained in his cabin an advocate for peace.  I had such an affection for the white people, that I was pointed at by the rest of my nation.  I should have ever lived with them had it not been for Col. CRESAP, who, last year, cut off, in cold blood, all the relations of LOGAN, not sparing my women and children.  There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any human creature.  This called upon me for revenge.  I have sought it.  I have killed many, and fully glutted my revenge.  I am glad there is a prospect of peace on account of the nation; but I beg you will not entertain a thought that anything I have said proceeds from fear.  LOGAN disdains the thought.  He will not turn on his heel to save his life.  Who is there to mourn for LOGAN? No one."

 

New York, Feb. 16, 1775. 

Extract of a letter from Virginia:

 

"I make no doubt the following specimen of Indian eloquence and mistaken valor will please you, but you must make allowances for the unskillfulness of the interpreter. 

 

"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered LOGAN's a cabin hungry and I gave him not meat; if ever he came cold or naked and I gave him not clothing. 

 

"During the course of the last long and bloody war, LOGAN remained in his tent an advocate for peace.  Nay, such was my love for the whites, that those of my own country pointed at me as they passed by and said 'LOGAN is the friend of white men.' I had even thought to live with you, but for the injuries of one man.  Colonel CRESAP, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, cut off all the relatives of Logan; not sparing even my women and children; there runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any human creature.  This called on me for revenge.  I have sought it.  I have killed many.  I have fully glutted my vengeance.  For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace.  Yet, do not harbor the thought that mine is the joy of fear.  LOGAN never felt fear.  He will not turn on his heel to save his life.  Who is there to mourn for LOGAN? Not one."

 

The right hand translation is literally the same as the copy given in Jefferson's Notes, page 124, and is doubtless the version given out by himself at the time. 

 

 

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place where it was delivered can never be forgotten so long as touching eloquence is admired by men. 

 

Camp Charlotte was situated on the southwest quarter of section 12, town 10, range 21, upon a pleasant piece of ground in view of the Pickaway plains.  It was without permanent defenses, or, at least, there are no remains of entrenchments, and is accessible on all sides.  The creek in front formed no impediment to approach from that quarter, and the country is level in the rear.  Camp Lewis is said to be upon more defensible ground on the northeast corner of Section 30, same township and range.  The two encampments have often been confounded with each other. 

 

Before Lord DUNMORE reached the vicinity of the Indian towns, he was met by a flag of truce, born of by a white man named ELLIOTT, desiring a halt on the part of the troops, and requesting for the chiefs and interpreter with whom they could communicate.  To this his lordship, who, according to the Virginians, had an aversion to fighting, readily assented.  They furthermore charged him with the design of forming an alliance with the Confederacy, to assist Great Britain against the colonies in the crisis of the revolution, which everyone foresaw.  He, however, moved forward to Camp Charlotte, which was established rather as a convenient council ground, than as a place of security or defense.  The Virginia militia came here for the purpose of fighting, and their dissatisfaction and disappointment at the result amounted almost to mutiny.  Lewis refused to obey the order for a halt, considering the enemy as already with his grasp, and of inferior numbers to his own.  DUNMORE, as we have seen, went in person to enforce his orders, and it is said drew his sword upon Colonel Lewis, threatening him with instant death if he persisted in further disobedience. 

 

The troops were concentrated at Camp Charlotte, numbering about 2,500 men.  The principal chiefs of the Scioto tribes had been assembled, and some days were spent in negotiations.  A compact or treaty was at length concluded, and four hostages put in possession of the Governor to be taken to Virginia.  We know very little of the precise terms of this treaty, nor even of the tribes who gave it their assent, it is said the Indians agreed to make the Ohio their boundary, and the whites stipulated not to pass beyond that river.  An agreement was entered into for a talk at Pittsburg in the following spring, where a more full treaty was to be made; but the revolutionary movements prevented. 

 

When the army returned, they took the route by Fort Gower, at the mouth of the Hocking, in what is now Athens county, where, on the 5th of November, and 10 days after the arrival of LEWIS at Camp Charlotte, the officers held a meeting "for the purpose of considering the grievances of British America: an officer present addressed the meeting in the following words:"

 

Gentlemen: - having now concluded the campaign, by the assistance of Providence, with honor and advantage to the Colony and ourselves, it only remains that we should give our country the stronger assurance that we are ready at all times to the utmost of our power, to maintain and defend her just rights and privileges.  We have lived about three months in the woods, without any intelligence from Boston, or from the delegates at Philadelphia.  It is possible, from the groundless reports of designing men, that our countrymen may be jealous of the use such a body would make of arms in their hands at this critical juncture.  That we are a respectable body is certain, when it is considered that we can live weeks without bread or salt; that we can sleep in the open air without any covering but that of the canopy of heaven; and that we can march and shoot with any in the known world.  Blessed with these talents, let us solemnly engage to one another, and our country in particular, that we will use them for no purpose but for the honor and advantage of America and of Virginia in particular.  It behooves us, then, for the satisfaction of our country, that we should give them our real sentiments by way of revolves, at this very alarming crisis. 

 

Whereupon the meeting made choice of a committee to draw up and prepare resolves for their further consideration; who immediately withdrew, and after some time spent therein, reported that they had agreed to and prepared the following revolves, which were read, maturely considered, and agreed to nem. con. by the meeting, and ordered to be published in the Virginia Gazette:

 

 

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American liberty, and for the support of her just rights and privileges, not in any precipitous, riotous, or tumultuous manner, but when regularly called forth by unanimous voice of our countrymen. 

 

Resolved, That we entertain the greatest respect for his excellency the Rt. Hon. Lord DUNMORE, who commanded the expedition against the Shawanese, and who, we are confident, underwent the great fatigue of this singular campaign from no other motive than the true interests of the country. 

 

Signed by order and in behalf of the whole corps. 

Benjamin ASHBY, clerk. 

 

Notwithstanding the evidence above produced, derived from the American Archives, it is said that the troops, who had wished to give an efficient blow, reached Virginia highly dissatisfied with the governor and the treaty: the conduct of the governor could not be well explained by them, "except by supposing him to act with reference to the expected contest with England and her colonies - a motive for which the colonist regarded as little less than treasonable." - Perkin's Annals. 

 

Of the feeling in camp towards DUNMORE at the time of the treaty, we have some evidence in the statement of the late venerable Abrm. THOMAS, one of the early settlers of Miami County, published in the Troy Times, in 1839. 

 

We (Dunmore's army) lay at the mouth of the Hocking for some time.  One day, as I was going down to the boats, I met DUNMORE just leaving them.  He expressed his fears that General LEWIS was attacked by the Indians.  The men had noticed DUNMORE for several days with his ear close to the water, but did not suspect the reason.  He told me he thought he heard roaring of guns upon the water, and requested me to put my ear to it, and although it was 10 or 12 [28] miles distant, I distinctly heard their roar of musketry.  The next day we took up the line of march for Chillicothe, up the Hockhocking.  On the second or third day, some Indians came running into the camp, beseeching DUNMORE to stop LEWIS's division, which had crossed the Ohio and was in full pursuit of the Indians; to use their own words, "Like so many devils, that would kill them all."  This was the first certain information our men had of that battle.  On the solicitation of the savages, DUNMORE twice sent orders to check the progress of LEWIS, but he refused to obey them, until DUNMORE himself took command of the division and led them back to the Ohio.  The troops were indignant at the conduct of DUNMORE, and believed his object was to give up both divisions of the army to the Indians.  It was thought he knew the attack would be made at Point Pleasant about the time it took place, calculated on the defeat of LEWIS, and lead our army into the defiles of the Hocking, that they might the more easily become the prey of the infuriated savages, flushed with recent victory.  An incident occurred here, showing the state of feeling among the men.  At the time the Indians who came into the camp were sitting with DUNMORE in his tent, a backwoodsman passing observe them and stepped around the tent.  When he thought he had them in range, he discharged his rifle through the canvas, with the intention of killing the three at once.  It was a close cut - it missed: the man escaped through the crowd and no one knew who did it.  From this time until he left the camp, DUNMORE tried to conciliate what he could by indulgence and talking; but this would not have availed him had he not taken other precautions, for many in the camp believed him the enemy of their country and the betrayer of the army.  

 

The chief, CORNSTALK, whose town is shown on the map, was a man of true nobility of soul and a brave warrior. 

 

At the battle of Point Pleasant he commanded the Indians with consummate skill, and if at any time his warriors were believed to waver, his voice could be heard above the din of battle, explaining in his native tongue, "Be strong! Be strong!"  When he returned to the Pickaway towns, after the battle, he called a council of the nation to consult what should be done, and upbraided them in not suffering him to make peace, as he desired, on the evening before the battle.  "What," said he, "will you do now? The Big Knife is coming on us, and we shall all be killed.  Now you must fight or we are done."  But no one answering, he said, "Then let's kill all our women and children, and go and fight until we die."  But no answer was made, when, rising, he struck his tomahawk in a post of the council house and exclaimed, "I'll go and make peace," to which all the warriors grunted "Ough! ough!" and runners were instantly despatched to DUNMORE to solicit peace. 

 

 

Page 409

 

 

THE LOGAN ELM.

 

     The above is a view of the Logan Elm commonly called the Treaty Elm as

photographed by J. H. Nugent of Chillicothe in 1876.  It is on the farm of

James Boggs, about six miles south of Circleville, two and a half miles east of

the Scioto, and one mile west of the Scioto Valley Railroad.

     Congo Creek is shown in the foreground.  James Boggs stands on the left and

Nelson Kellenberger on the right.  The cabin on the left, it is said, was built

in 1798 and was the residence of the Boggs family, and when taken down, about

1882, had been in use as a tool house.  Dimensions of the tree are: girth, 20 feet

height, 79 feet, spread of brances, in diameter, 120 feet.

 

Page 410

 

above had sent him there to be killed and die with him.  As the men advanced to the door, the CORNSTALK rose up and met them: they fired, and seven or eight bullets went through him.  So fell the great CORNSTALK warrior - whose name was bestowed upon him by the consent of the nation, as their great strength and support. "Had he lived, it is believed that he would have been friendly with the Americans, as he had come over to visit the garrison at Point Pleasant to communicate the design of the Indians of uniting with the British.  His grave is to be seen at Point Pleasant to the present day. 

 

The last years of LOGAN were truly melancholy.  He wandered about from tribe to tribe, a solitary and lonely man; dejected and broken hearted by the loss of his friends and the decay of his tribe, he resorted to the stimulus of strong drink to drown his sorrow.  He was at last murdered, in Michigan, near Detroit.  He was, at the time, sitting with his blanket over his head before a campfire, his elbows resting on his knees and his head upon his hands, buried in profound reflection, when an Indian, who had taken some offense, stole behind him and buried his tomahawk in his brains.  Thus perished the immortal LOGAN, the last of his race.  These foregoing facts were given to me by Henry C. BRISH, of Tiffin, who had been an Indian agent.  He had them from the "Good Hunter," an aged Mingo chief and a familiar acquaintance with LOGAN. 

 

In view of the question of authenticity of LOGAN's celebrated speech we append the following extract from BUTTERFIELD's History of the Girtys, published in 1890, by Robert Clark & Co.:

 

"His lordship (Lord DUNMORE) was met, before he reached the Indian villages by a messenger (a white man) from the enemy, anxious for an accommodation.  DUNMORE sent back the messenger with John GIBSON and Simon GIRTY."  (The latter was then a scout for Lord DUNMORE and had not yet commenced is notorious renegade career.)

 

"The two soon brought an answer to his lordship from the Shawanese.  GIBSON, nearly twenty-six years after, in relating the affair, ignores the presence of GIRTY entirely.  But his memory was certainly at fault, for a number of persons present afterward declared that he was accompanied by GIRTY. 

 

"While negotiations were going forward, the Mingo chief, LOGAN, held himself aloof.  'Two or three days before the treaty,' says an eye witness, 'When I was on the outguard, Simon GIRTY, who was passing by, stopped me and conversed; he said he was going after Logan, but he did not like his business, for he was a surly fellow.  He, however