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Historical Collections of Ohio

By Henry Howe

Vol. II

©1888

 

WYANDOT COUNTY

 

 

Page 885

 

Wyandot County was formed from Crawford, Marion, Hardin and Hancock, Feb. 3, 1845.  The surface is level and soil fertile.  About one-third of it is prairie land, being covered by the Sandusky plains.  These plains are chiefly bounded by the Sandusky, the Little Scioto and the Tyemochte, which last signifies, in the Wyandot language, “around the plains.”  This tract in its natural state is covered with a rank, wild grass several feet in height, and in some parts are interspersed beautiful groves of timber.

 

Area, about 400 square miles.  In 1887 the acres cultivated were 127,700; in pasture, 56,450; woodland, 36,700; lying waste, 1,336; produced in wheat, 453,013 bushel; rye, 5,694; buckwheat, 434; oats, 406,780; barley, 10,747; corn, 1.103,949; meadow hay, 19,776 tons; clover, 4,613 tons; flaxseed, 862 bushels, potatoes, 63,204; tobacco, 200 lbs.; butter, 388,374; cheese, 24,300; sorghum, 1,682; maple syrup, 4,730 gallons; honey, 3,014 lbs.; eggs, 488,210 dozen; grapes, 1,040 lbs.; sweet potatoes, 84 bushels; apples, 10,384; peaches, 1,011; pears, 828; wool, 409,387 lbs.; milch cows owned, 5,160.  School census, 1888, 6,974; teachers, 237.  Miles of railroad track, 89.

 

 

Population of Wyandot in 1860 was 15,956; 1880, 22,395; of whom 17,650 were born in Ohio; 1,475, Pennsylvania; 507, New York; 208, Virginia; 173, Indiana; 28, Kentucky; 1,037, German Empire; 214, Ireland; 116, England and Wales; 43, France; 35, British America; 11, Scotland; and 6, Sweden and Norway.  Census, 1890, 21,722.

 

This county was, from an early day, a favorite residence of the Wyandot Indians.  It is noted for being the scene of CRAWFORD’S defeat in June, 1782, and his subsequent death by the most cruel tortures.

 

The view representing CRAWFORD’S Battle-Ground was taken on the road to Tiffin, three miles north of Upper Sandusky, and one west of the Sandusky river.  The action, it is said, began some distance north of the cabin shown, in the high grass of the prairie in which the Indians were concealed.  The parties afterwards were engaged in the grove or island of timber represented in the view, called at this day “Battle Island,” in which the principal action was fought.  Many of the trees now [1846] bear the marks of the bullets, or rather the scars on their trunks made by the hatchets of the Indians in getting them out after the action.  The large oak on the right of the view has these relics of that unfortunate engagement.  A part of the whites slain were buried in a small swamp about thirty rods south of the spot from whence the drawing was taken.  It is not shown in the view, as the scene is represented to the eye as if looking in a northern direction.

 

The annexed history of Crawford’s Campaign we take from DODDRIDGE’s “Notes:”

 

 

PAGE 886

 

with the Christian Indians at their new establishment on the Sandusky.  The next object was that of destroying the Wyandot towns on the same river.  It was the resolution of all those concerned in this expedition not to spare the life of any Indians that might fall into their hands, whether friends or foes.  It will be seen in the sequel that the result of this campaign was widely different from that of the Moravian campaign the preceding March.

 

It should seem that the long continuance of the Indian war had debased a considerable portion of our population to the savage state of our nature.  Having lost so many relatives by the Indians, and witnessed their horrid murders and other depredations on so extensive a scale, they became subjects of that indiscriminating thirst for revenge which is such a prominent feature in the savage character, and, having had a taste of blood and plunder without risk or loss on their part, they resolved to go on and kill every Indian they could find, whether friend or foe.

 

Preparations for this campaign commenced soon after the return of the Moravian campaign in the month of March, and as it was intended to make what was called at that time “a dash,” that is, an enterprise conducted with secrecy and despatch, the men were all  mounted on the best horses they could procure.  They furnished themselves with all their outfits except some ammunition, which was furnished by the lieutenant-colonel of Washington county [Pennsylvania].

 

The Rendezvous and March.—On the 25^th of May, 1782, 480 men mustered at the old Mingo town, just below the site of Steubenville, on the western side of the Ohio river.  They were all volunteers from the immediate neighborhood of the Ohio, with the exception of one company from Ten Mile in Washington county.  Here an election was held for the office of commander-in-chief for the expedition.  The candidates were Col. WILLIAMSON and Col. CRAWFORD; the latter was the successful candidate.  When notified of his appointment it is said that he accepted it with apparent reluctance.

 

The army marched along “WILLIAMSON’S trail,” as it was then called, until they arrived at the upper Moravian town, in the fields belonging to which there was still plenty of corn on the stalks, with which their horses were plentifully fed during the night of their encampment there.

 

Shortly after the army halted at this place two Indians were discovered by three men, who had walked some distance out of the camp.  Three shots were fired at one of them, but without hurting him.  As soon as the news of the discovery of Indians had reached the camp more than one-half of the men rushed out, without command, and in the most tumultuous manner, to see what happened.  From that time Col. CRAWFORD felt a presentiment of the defeat which followed.

 

The truth is that, notwithstanding the secrecy and despatch of the enterprise, the Indians were beforehand with our people.  They saw the rendezvous on the Mingo bottom, knew their number and destination.  They visited every encampment immediately on their leaving, and saw from the writing on the trees and scraps of paper that “no quarter was to be given to any Indian, whether man, woman or child.”

 

Nothing material happened during their march until the sixth of June, when their guides conducted them to the site of the Moravian villages on one of the upper branches of the Sandusky river; but here, instead of meeting with Indians and plunder, they met with nothing but vestiges of desolation.  The place was covered with high grass, and the remains of a few huts alone announced that the place had been the residence of the people whom they intended to destroy, but who had moved off to Scioto some time beforehand.

 

In this dilemma what was to be done?  The officers held a council, in which it was determined to march one day longer in the direction of Upper Sandusky, and if they should not reach the town in the course of the day to make a retreat with all speed.

 

The Battle.—The march was commenced the next morning through the plains of Sandusky, and continued until about two o’clock, when the advance guard was attacked and driven in by the Indians, who were discovered in large numbers in the high grass, with which the place was covered.  The Indian army was at that moment about entering a piece of woods, almost entirely surrounded by plains; but in this they were disappointed by a rapid movement of our men.  The battle then commenced by a heavy fire from both sides.  From a partial possession of the woods which they had gained at the onset of the battle, the Indians were soon dislodged.  They then attempted to gain a small skirt of wood on our right flank, but were prevented from doing so by the vigilance and bravery of Maj. LEET, who commanded the right wing of the army at that time.  The firing was incessant and heavy until dark, when it ceased.  Both armies lay on their arms during the night.  Both adopted the policy of kindling large fires along the line of battle, and then retiring some distance in the rear of them to prevent being surprised by a night attack.  During the conflict of the afternoon three of our men were killed and several wounded.

 

In the morning our army occupied the battle ground of the preceding day.  The Indians made no attack during the day, until late in the evening, but were seen in large bodies traversing the plains in various directions.  Some of them appeared to be employed in carrying off their dead and wounded.

 

 

PAGE 887

 

marching directly to Upper Sandusky.  This proposition the commander-in-chief prudently rejected, saying, “I have no doubt but that you would reach the town, but you would find nothing there but empty wigwams, and having taken off so many of our best men, you would leave the rest to be destroyed by the host of Indians with which we are now surrounded, and on your return they would attack and destroy you.  They care nothing about defending their towns; they are worth nothing.  Their squaws, children and property have been removed from them long since.  Our lives and baggage are what they want, and if they can get us divided they will soon have them.  We must stay together and do the best we can.”

 

The Indians Renew the Battle.—During this day preparations were made for a retreat by burying the dead, burning fires over their graves to prevent discovery, and preparing means for carrying off the wounded.  The retreat was to commence in the course of the night.  The Indians, however, became apprized of the intended retreat, and about sundown attacked the army with great force and fury, in every direction, excepting that of Sandusky.

 

When the line of march was formed by the commander-in-chief, and the retreat commenced, our guides prudently took the direction of Sandusky, which afforded the only opening in the Indian lines and the only chance of concealment.  After marching about a mile in this direction, the army wheeled about to the left, and by a circuitous route gained the trail by which they came, before day.  They continued their march the whole of the next day, with a trifling annoyance from the Indians, who fired a few distant shots at the rear guard, which slightly wounded two or three men.  At night they built fires, took their suppers, secured the horses and resigned themselves to repose, without placing a single sentinel or vedette for safety.  In this careless situation, they might have been surprised and cut off by the Indians, who, however, gave them no disturbance during the night, nor afterwards during the whole of their retreat.  The number of those composing the main body in the retreat was supposed to be about three hundred.

 

The Retreat.—Most unfortunately, when a retreat was resolved on, a difference of opinion prevailed concerning the best mode of effecting it.  The greater number thought best to keep in a body and retreat as fast as possible, while a considerable number thought it safest to break off in small parties and make their way home in different directions, avoiding the route by which they came.  Accordingly many attempted to do so, calculating that the whole body of the Indians would follow the main army; in this they were entirely mistaken.  The Indians paid but little attention to the main body of the army, but pursued the small parties with such activity that but very few of those who composed them made their escape.

 

The only successful party which was detached from the main army was that of about forty men under the command of a Captain WILLIAMSON, who, pretty late in the night of the retreat, broke through the Indian lines under a severe fire, and with some loss, and overtook the main army on the morning of the second day of the retreat.

 

For several days after the retreat of our army, the Indians were spread over the whole country, from Sandusky to the Muskingum, in pursuit of the straggling parties, most of whom were killed on the spot.  They even pursued them almost to the banks of the Ohio.  A man of the name of MILLS was killed, two miles to the eastward of the site of St. Clairsville, in the direction of Wheeling from that place.  The number killed in this way must have been very great; the precise amount, however, was never fairly ascertained.

 

Colonel CRAWFORD Captured.—At the commencement of the retreat Colonel CRAWFORD placed himself at the head of the army and continued there until they had gone about a quarter of a mile, when missing his son, John CRAWFORD, his son-in-law, Major HARRISON, and his nephews, Major ROSE and William CRAWFORD, he halted and called for them as the line passed, but without finding them.  After the army had passed him, he was unable to overtake it, owing to the weariness of his horse.  Falling in company with Doctor KNIGHT and two others, they travelled all the night, first north and then to the east, to avoid the pursuit of the Indians.  They directed their courses during the night by the north star.

 

On the next day they fell in with Captain John BIGGS and Lieutenant ASHLEY, the latter of whom was severely wounded.  There were two others in company with BIGGS and ASHLEY.  They encamped together the succeeding night.  On the next day, while on their march, they were attacked by a party of Indians, who made Colonel CRAWFORD and Doctor KNIGHT prisoners.  The other four made their escape, but Captain BIGGS and Lieutenant ASHLEY were killed the next day.

 

Colonel CRAWFORD and Doctor KNIGHT were immediately taken to an Indian encampment at a short distance from the place where they were captured.  Here they found nine fellow prisoners and seventeen Indians.  On the next day they were marched to the old Wyandot town, and on the next morning were paraded, to set off, as they were told, to go to the new town.  But alas! a very different destination awaited these captives! Nine of the prisoners were marched off some distance before the colonel and the doctor, who were conducted by PIPE and WINGENUND, two Delaware chiefs.  Four of the prisoners were tomahawked and scalped on the way, at different places.

 

 

PAGE 888

 

place of execution the remaining five of the nine prisoners were tomahawked and scalped by a number of squaws and boys.  Colonel CRAWFORD’S son and son-in-law were executed at the Shawnese town. . . .

 

Dr. KNIGHT was doomed to be burned at a town about forty miles distant from Sandusky, and committed to the care of a young Indian to be taken there, but escaped.  See Vol. II., page

 

Thus ended this disastrous campaign.  It was the last one which took place in this section of the country during the revolutionary contest of the Americans with the mother country.  It was undertaken with the very worst of views, those of plunder and murder; it was conducted without sufficient means to encounter, with any prospect of success, the large force of Indians opposed to ours in the plains of Sandusky.  It was conducted without that subordination and discipline so requisite to insure success in any hazardous enterprise, and it ended in a total discomfiture.  Never did an enterprise more completely fail of attaining its object.  Never, on any occasion, had the ferocious savages more ample revenge for the murder of their pacific friends, than that which they obtained on this occasion.    

 

Should it be asked what considerations led so great a number of people into this desperate enterprise?  Why with so small a force and such slender means they pushed on so far as the plains of Sandusky?

 

The answer is, that many believed that the Moravian Indians, taking no part in the war, and having given offence to the warriors on several occasions, their belligerent friends would not take up arms in their behalf.  In this conjecture they were sadly mistaken.  They did defend them with all the force at their command, and no wonder, for notwithstanding their Christian and pacific principles, the warriors still regarded the Moravians as their friends, whom it was their duty to defend.

 

We have omitted to copy from the preceding the account of the burning of Colonel CRAWFORD, for the purpose of giving the details more fully.  “The spot where CRAWFORD suffered,” says Col. John JOHNSTONE, “was but a few miles west of Upper Sandusky, on the old trace leading to the Big Spring, Wyandot town.  It was on the right hand of the trace going west, on a low bottom on the east back of the Tyemochte creek.  The Delawares burnt CRAWFORD in satisfaction for the massacre of their people at the Moravian towns on the Muskingum.”  It was at a Delaware town which extended along the Tyemochte.  The precise spot is now [1846] owned by the heirs of Daniel HODGE, and is a beautiful green, with some fine oak trees in its vicinity.

 

The following is from HECKEWELDER, and describes an interview which CRAWFORD had with the Indian chief, WINGENUND, just previous to his death.  Some doubts have been expressed of its truth as the historian HECKEWELDER has often been accused of being fond of romancing, but Colonel JOHNSTONE (good authority here) expresses the opinion that “it is doubtless in the main correct”—that it gives the spirit of what was said.

 

WINGENUND, and Indian Chief, had an interview with Colonel CRAWFORD just before his execution.  He had been known to CRAWFORD some time before, and had been on terms of friendship with him, and kindly entertained by him at his own house, and therefore felt much attached to the colonel.  WINGENUND had retired to his cabin that he might not see the sentence executed; but CRAWFORD sent for him, with the faint hope that he would intercede for and save him.  WINGENUND accordingly soon appeared in presence of CRAWFORD, who was naked and bound to a stake.  WINGENUND commenced the conversation with much embarrassment and agitation, as follows:

     WINGENUND—“Are you not Colonel CRAWFORD?”

       CRAWFORD—“I am.”

     Wingenund, somewhat agitated, ejaculated, “So!—yes!—indeed!”

     CRAWFORD—“Do  you not recollect the friendship that always existed between us, and that we were always glad to see each other?”

     WINGENUND—“Yes! I remember all this, and that we have often drank together, and that you have been kind to me.”

      CRAWFORD—“Then  I hope the same friendship still continues.”

      WINGENUND—“It would, of course, were you where you ought to be, and not here.”

     CRAWFORD—And why not here?  I hope you would not desert a friend in time of need.  Now is the time for you to exert yourself in my behalf, as I should do for you were you in my place.”

      WINGENUND—“Colonel  CRAWFORD! You have placed yourself in a situation which puts it out of my power, and that of others of your fiends, to do anything for you.”

     CRAWFORD—“How so, Captain WINGENUND?”

 

PAGE 889

 

such a number of Moravian Indians, knowing them to be friends; knowing that he ran no risk in murdering a people who would not fight, and whose only business was praying.”

     CRAWFORD—“But I assure you, WINGENUND, that had I been with him at the time this would not have happened.  Not I alone, but all your friends, and all good men, whoever they are, reprobate acts of this kind.”

     WINGENUND—“That my be; yet these friends, these good men, did not prevent him from going out again to kill the remainder of these inoffensive, yet foolish Moravian Indians.  I say foolish, because they believed the whites in preference to us.  We had often told them they would be one day so treated by those people who called themselves their friends!  We told them there was no faith to be placed in what the white man said; that their fair promises were only intended to allure us that they might the more easily kill us, as they had done many Indians before these Moravians.”

      CRAWFORD—“I am sorry to hear you speak thus; as to WILLIAMSON’s going out again, when it was known he was determined on it, I went out with him to prevent his committing fresh murders.”

      WINGENUND—“This the Indians would not believe, were even I to tell them so.”

      CRAWFORD—“Why would they not believe?”

      WINGENUND—“Because it would have been out of your power to have prevented his doing what he pleased.”

     CRAWFORD—“Out of my power!  Have any Moravian Indians been killed or hurt since we came out?”

     WINGENUND—“None; but you first went to their town, and finding it deserted, you turned on the path towards us.  If you had been is search of warriors only, you would not have gone thither.  Our spies watched you closely.  They saw you while you were embodying yourselves on the other side of the Ohio.  They saw you cross the river—they saw where you encamped for the night—they saw you turn off from the path to the deserted Moravian town—they knew you were going out of your way—your steps were constantly watched, and you were suffered quietly to proceed until you reached the spot where you were attacked.”

     CRAWFORD felt that with this sentence ended his last ray of hope, and now asked, with emotion, “What do they intend to do with me?”

     WINGEMUND—“I tell you with grief.  As WILLIAMSON, with his whole cowardly host, ran off in the night at the whistling of our warriors’ balls, being satisfied that now he had no Moravians to deal with, but men who could fight, and with such he did not wish to have anything to do—I say, as they have escaped and taken you, they will take revenge on you in his stead.”

     CRAWFORD—“And is there no possibility of preventing this?  Can you devise no way of getting me off?  You shall, my friend, be well rewarded if you are instrumental in saving my life.”

     WINGENUND—“Had WILLIAMSON been taken with you, I and some friends, by making use of what you have told me, might perhaps have succeeded in saving you; but as the matter now stands, no man would dare to interfere in your behalf.  The king of England himself, were he to come on to this spot, with all his wealth and treasure, could not effect this purpose.  The blood of the innocent Moravians, more than half of them women and children, cruelly and wantonly murdered, calls loudly for revenge.  The relatives of the slain who are among us cry out and stand ready for revenge.  The nation to which they belonged will have revenge.  The Shawanese, our grandchildren, have asked for your fellow-prisoner; on him they will take revenge.  All the nations connected with us cry out, Revenge! revenge!  The Moravians whom you went to destroy, having fled, instead of avenging their brethren, the offence is become national, and the nation itself is bound to take revenge!”

     CRAWFORD—“My fate is then fixed, and I must prepare to meet death in its worst form.”

     WINGENUND—“I am sorry for it, but cannot do anything for you.  Had you attended to the Indian principle, that as good and evil cannot dwell together in the same heart, so a good man ought not to go into evil company, you would not be in this lamentable situation.  You see now, when it is too late, after WILLIAMSON has deserted you, what a bad man he must be.  Nothing now remains for you but to meet your fate like a brave man.  Farewell, Colonel CRAWFORD!—they are coming.  I will retire to a solitary spot.”

 

The savages then fell upon CRAWFORD.  WINGENUND, it is said, retired, shedding tears, and ever after, when the circumstance was alluded to, was sensibly affected.

 

The account of the Burning of Colonel Crawford is related in the works of Dr. KNIGHT, his companion, and an eye-witness of this tragic scene:

 

 

PAGE 890

 

When the speech was finished, they all yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what had been said.  The Indian men then took up their guns and shot powder into the colonel’s body, from his feet as far up as his neck.  I think that not less then seventy loads were discharged upon his naked body.  They then crowded about him, and to the best of my observation cut off his ears; when the throng had dispersed a little, I saw the blood running from both sides of his head in consequence thereof.

 

The fire was about six or seven yards from the post to which the colonel was tied; it was made of small hickory poles, burnt quite through in the middle, each end of the poles remaining about six feet in length.  Three or four Indians by turns would take up, individually, one of these burning pieces of wood, and apply it to his naked body, already burnt black with the powder.  These tormentors presented themselves on every side of him with the burning fagots and poles.  Some of the squaws took broad boards, upon which they would carry a quantity of burning coals and hot embers, and throw on him, so that in a short time he had nothing but coals of fire and hot ashes to walk upon.

 

In the midst of these extreme tortures he called to Simon GIRTY and begged of him to shoot him; but GIRTY making no answer, he called to him again.  GIRTY then, by way of derision, told the colonel he had no gun, at the same time turning about to an Indian who was behind him, laughed heartily, and by all his gestures seemed delighted at the horrid scene.

 

GIRTY then came up and bade me prepare for death.  He said, however, I was not to die at that place, but to be burnt at the Shawanese towns.  He swore by G—d I need not expect to escape death, but should suffer it in all its extremities.

 

Colonel CRAWFORD, at this point of his sufferings, besought the Almighty to have mercy on his soul, spoke very low, and bore his torments with the most manly fortitude.  He continued in all the extremities of pain for an hour and three-quarters or two hours longer, as near as I can judge, when at last, being almost exhausted, he lay down on his belly, they then scalped him, and repeatedly threw the scalp in my face, telling me, that “that was my great captain.”  An old squaw (whose appearance every way answered the ideas people entertain of the devil) got a board, took a parcel of coals and ashes and laid them on his back and head, after he had been scalped; he then raised himself upon his feet and began to walk round the post; they next put a burning stick to him, as usual, but he seemed more insensible to pain than before.

 

The Indian fellow who had me in charge now took me away to Capt. PIPE’s house, about three-quarters of a mile from the place of the colonel’s execution.  I was bound all night, and thus prevented from seeing the last of the horrid spectacle.  Next morning, being June 12, the Indian untied me, painted me black, and we set off for the Shawanese town, which he told me was somewhat less than forty miles distant from that place.  We soon came to the spot where the colonel had been burnt, as it was partly in our way:  I saw his bones lying among the remains of the fire, almost burnt to ashes; I suppose, after he was dead, they laid his body on the fire.  The Indian told me that was my big captain, and gave the scalp halloo.

 

The following extract from an article in the American Pioneer, by Joseph M’CUTCHEN, Esq., contains some items respecting the death of CRAWFORD, and GIRTY’s interference in his behalf, never before published.  He derived them from the Wyandot Indians, who resided in the county, some of whom were quite intelligent:

 

As I have it, the story respecting the battle is, that if CRAWFORD had rushed on when he first came among the Indians, they would have given way and made but little or no fight; but they had a talk with him three days previous to the fight, and asked him to give them three days to collect in their chiefs and head men of the different tribes, and they would then make a treaty of peace with him.  The three days were therefore given; and during that time all their forces were gathered together that could be raised as fighting men, and the next morning CRAWFORD was attacked, some two or three miles north of the island where the main battle was fought.  The Indians then gave back in a south direction, until they got into an island of timber which suited their purpose, which was in a large plain, now well known as Sandusky plains.  There the battle continued until night.  The Indians then ceased firing; and, it is said, immediately afterwards a man came near to the army with a white flag.  Col. CRAWFORD sent an officer to him.  The man said he wanted to talk with Col. CRAWFORD, and that he did not want CRAWFORD to come nearer to him than twenty steps, as he (GIRTY) wanted to converse with CRAWFORD, and might be of vast benefit to him.  CRAWFORD accordingly went out as requested.

 

 

PAGE 891

                                                                                    Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846.                                         CRAWFORD’S MONUMENT 
                                                                                    Crawford's Battle-Ground

                                                                                                                           

                      

PAGE 892

 

to-morrow morning, when they intend to commence the fight; and as they are three times as strong as you are, they will be able to cut you all off.  To-night the Indians will surround your army, and when that arrangement is fully made, you will hear some guns fire all around the ring.  But there is a large swamp or very wet piece of ground on the east side of you, where there will be a vacancy; that gap you can learn by the firing, and in the night you had better march your men through and make your escape in an east direction.”