Life of Tecumseh, and of his Brother
The Prophet with a Historical Sketch of the Shawanoe Indians.
by Benjamin Drake (1794 - 1841)
Cincinnati : H. M. Rulison,Philadelphia : Quaker City Pub. House, 1840
Pages 49 - 60:
SPEMICA-LAWBA—THE HIGH HORN,
generally known as
CAPTAIN LOGAN
IN September, 1786, captain Benjamin
Logan, of Kentucky, led an expedition of mounted men from that state
against the Shawanoes, on the north side of the Ohio, and destroyed the
Machachac towns on the waters of Mad river. Most of the warriors
happened to be absent from the villages when the invading army reached
them. About thirty persons were captured, chiefly women and children.
After the slight resistance which was made by the Indians had ceased,
captain Logan's men were both annoyed and endangered by some arrows,
shot among them by an invisible but not unpractised hand. After
considerable search, in the tall grass around the camp, an Indian youth
was discovered, who with his bow and a quiver of arrows, had concealed
himself in a position from which he could successfully throw his darts
against the enemy: that intrepid boy was Logan, the subject of the
present biographical sketch. He likewise was made prisoner, and with
the others carried to Kentucky. The commander of the expedition was so
much pleased with the bold conduct of this boy, that upon returning
home, he made him a member of his own family, in which he resided some
years, until at length, at a council for the exchange of prisoners,
held on the bank of the Ohio, opposite to Maysville, between some
Shawanoe chiefs and a deputation of citizens from Kentucky, our young
hero was permitted to return to his native land. He was ever afterwards
known by the name of Logan.
Of the family of.this distinguished individual, we have been
enabled to glean but few particulars. In M'Afee's History of the Late
War, and in Butler's History of Kentucky, he is represented to have
been the son of Tecumseh's sister: this is manifestly an error; there
was no relationship between them, either by blood or marriage.
Logan was a member of the Machachac tribe of the Shawanoes, and
was elevated to the rank of a civil chief on account of his many
estimable qualities, both intellectual and moral. He was a married man,
and left behind him a wife and several children—requesting on his death
bed that they might be sent into Kentucky, and placed under the
patronage of his friend, colonel Hardin, who had married the daughter
of his early patron, captain Logan. This, however, was not done, owing
to objections interposed by the wife. The personal appearance of Logan
was remarkably good, being six feet in height, finely formed and
weighing near two hundred pounds.
From the period of his residence in Kentucky, to that of his
death, Logan was the unwavering friend of the United States. He was
extensively and favorably known on the frontier of Ohio, and the
Indiana territory; and, immediately after the declaration of war
against England in 1812, he joined the American service. He acted as
one of the guides of general Hull's army to Detroit; and, prior to the
actual investment of fort Wayne,—an account of which will be presently
given—he was employed by the Indian agent at Piqua, on an important and
delicate mission. The Indians around fort Wayne were giving indications
of a disposition to abandon their neutrality. This rendered it
expedient that the women and children then at that point, should be
removed within the inhabited portions of Ohio. John Johnston, the
Indian agent at Piqua, knowing Logan intimately, and having great
confidence in his judgment as well as his fidelity, selected him to
perform this duty. He was accordingly furnished with a letter to the
commandant of that fort, in which assurances were given, that the
persons about to be removed Blight confidently rely upon the discretion
and enterprise of Logan. He proceeded on his mission, and executed it
successfully: bringing into Piqua—near one hundred miles distant from
fort Wayne—twenty-five women and children; the former, without an
exception, bearing testimony to the uniform delicacy and kindness with
which he treated them. Deeply impressed with the dangerous
responsibility of the office he had assumed, he is said not to have
slept from the time the party left fort Wayne, until it reached Piqua.
We next hear of Logan, in connection with the memorable siege of
fort Wayne. This post, which was erected in 1794, stood at the junction
of the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers, and, although not within the
limits of Ohio, its preservation was all-important to the peace and
safety of our north-western frontier. Having been built of wood, it
was, in 1812, a pile of combustible matter. Immediately after the
surrender of general Hull, in August, 1812, the Indians, to the number
of four or five hundred, closely invested this place. The garrison at
that time, including every description of persons, amounted to less
than one hundred persons, of whom not more than sixty or seventy were
capable of performing military duty. These were commanded by captain
Rhea, an officer who, from several causes, was but ill qualified for
the station. His lieutenants were Philip Ostrander and Daniel Curtis,
both of whom, throughout the siege, discharged their duty in a gallant
manner.
At the time of the investment of this place, there was a-
considerable body of Ohio troops in the neighborhood of Piqua. These
had been ordered out by governor Meigs, for the relief of Detroit; but,
upon hearing of the surrender of that place, their course was directed
towards fort Wayne. They were, however, almost in a state of
disorganization, and manifested but little ardor in entering upon this
new duty. Perceiving this state of things, and aware that the fort was
in imminent danger, a young man, now major William Oliver, of
Cincinnati, determined upon making an effort to reach the garrison.
Young Oliver was a resident of fort Wayne, and was on his return from a
visit to Cincinnati when, at Piqua, he learned that the place was
besieged. He immediately joined a rifle company of the Ohio militia;
but seeing the tardy movements of the troops, in advancing to the
relief of the fort, he resolved in the first place to return with all
possible expedition, to Cincinnati, for the purpose of inducing colonel
Wells, of the 17th U. S. infantry, to march
his regiment to the relief of the fort; and, in the second place, to
make an effort to reach it in person, that the garrison might be
encouraged to hold out until reinforcements should arrive. When Oliver
arrived in Cincinnati, he found that general Harrison had just crossed
the Ohio, from Kentucky; and assumed the command of the troops
composing the north-western army. He called upon the general, stated
the condition of things on the frontier, and avowed his intention of
passing into the fort in advance of the reinforcements. The general
informed him that the troops then at Cincinnati would be put in motion
that day, and marched with all practicable expedition to the invested
point. This was on the 27th of August; on the
31st Oliver overtook the Ohio militia at the St. Mary's river. Here he
learned that Adrian and Shane, two experienced scouts, had been sent in
the direction of fort Wayne, and had returned with information that the
hostile Indians were in great force on the route to that place. On the
next day, general Thomas Worthington,
of
Chillicothe,
who was then on the frontier as Indian commissioner,
seeing the great importance of communicating with the garrison,
determined to unite with Oliver in the attempt to reach it. These two
enterprising individuals induced sixty-eight of the Ohio troops and
sixteen Shawanoe Indians, among whom was Logan, to accompany them. They
marched eighteen miles that day, and camped for the night at Shane's
crossing.
Next morning they again moved forward, but in the course of the
day, some thirty-six of their party abandoned the hazardous enterprise,
and returned to the main army. The remainder pursued their route, and
encamped that evening within twenty-four miles of fort Wayne. As the
party was not strong enough in its present condition to encounter the
besieging enemy, general Worthington was very reluctantly induced to
remain at this point, while Oliver, with Logan, captain Johnny and
Brighthorn, should make an effort to reach the fort. Being well armed
and mounted, they started at daybreak next morning upon this daring
adventure. Proceeding with great caution, they came within five miles
of the fort, before they observed any fresh Indian signs. At this point
the keen eye of Logan discovered the cunning strategy of the enemy: for
the purpose of concealing their bodies, they had dug holes on either
side of the road, alternately, at such distances as to secure them from
their own fire: these were intended for night watching, in order to cut
off all communication with the fort. Here the party deemed it advisable
to leave the main road, and strike across the country to the Maumee
river, which was reached in safety at a point one and a half miles
below the fort. Having tied their horses in a thicket, the party
proceeded cautiously on foot, to ascertain whether our troops or the
Indians were in possession of the fort. Having satisfied themselves on
this point, they returned, remounted their horses, and taking the main
road, moved rapidly to the fort. Upon reaching the gate of the
esplanade, they found it locked, and were thus compelled to pass down
the river bank, and then ascend it at the northern gate. They were
favored in doing so by the withdrawal of the hostile Indians from this
point, in carrying out a plan, then on the point of consummation, for
taking the fort by an ingenious stratagem. For several days previous to
this time, the hostile chiefs under a flag of truce, had been holding
intercourse with the garrison; and had, it is supposed, discovered the
unsoldier-like condition of the commander. They had accordingly
arranged their warriors in a semicircle, on the west and south sides of
the fort, and at no great distance from it. Five of the chiefs, under
pretence of treating with the officers of the garrison, were to pass
into the fort, and when in council were to assassinate the subaltern
officers with pistols and knives, concealed under their blankets; and
then to seize captain Rhea. who, in his trepidation, and under a
promise of personal safety, would, they anticipated, order the gates of
the fort to he thrown open for the admission of the besiegers. The
plan, thus arranged, was in the act of being carried into execution at
the moment when Oliver and his companions reached the gate. In speaking
of the opportune approach of this party, lieutenant Curtis says, " the
safe arrival of Mr. Oliver at that particular juncture, may justly be
considered most miraculous. One hour sooner or one later, would no
doubt have been inevitable destruction both to himself and escort : the
parties of Indians who had been detached to guard the roads and passes
in different directions, having all at that moment been called in, to
aid in carrying the fort. It is generally believed by those acquainted
with the circumstances, that not one hour, for eight days and nights
preceding or following the hour in which Mr. Oliver arrived, would have
afforded an opportunity of any probable safety." Winnemac, Five Medals,
and three other hostile Chiefs, bearing the flag under which they were
to gain admittance to the fort to carry out their treacherous
intentions, were surprised by suddenly meeting at the gate, Oliver and
his companions. Coming from different directions and screened by the
angles of the fort, the parties were not visible to each other until
both were near the gate. On meeting, they shook hands, but it was
apparent that Winnemac was greatly disconcerted; he immediately wheeled
and returned to his camp, satisfied that this accession of strength to
the garrison—the forerunner, in all probability, of a much larger
force—had defeated his scheme. The others of his party entered the
fort, and remained some little time, during which they were given to
understand that Logan and his two Indian companions were to remain with
the garrison. Oliver, in the mean time, having written a hasty letter,
describing the condition of the fort, to general Worthington; and the
Indians being equipped with new rifles from the public stores, they
prepared to leave the fort without delay. Fortunately their movements
were not observed by the enemy, until they had actually stared from the
garrison gate. They now put spurs to their horses and dashed off at
full speed. The hostile Indians were instantly in motion to intercept
them; the race was a severe and perilous one, but Logan and his
companions cleared the enemy's line in safety, and this accomplished,
his loud shout of triumph rose high in the air, and fell like music
upon the ears of the beleaguered garrison. The party reached general
Worthington's camp early the next morning, and delivered Oliver's
letter to him. Notwithstanding the perilous condition of the garrison,
however, the Ohio troops delayed moving for its relief, until they were
overtaken by general Harrison, who, with his reinforcements, was unable
to reach the fort until the twelfth. In the mean time the Indians kept
up an incessant firing, day and night, upon the fort, killing on one
occasion, two of the garrison who passed out of the gate on police
duty. Several times the buildings of the fort were set on fire by the
burning arrows which were shot upon them, but by the vigilance of the
garrison in extinguishing the flames, a general conflagration was
prevented. Some days after the arrival of Oliver, the Indians appeared
to be making preparations for some uncommon movement, and one
afternoon, just before, night-fall, succeeded in getting possession of
one of the trading houses standing near the fort. From this point they
demanded a surrender of the garrison, under a promise of protection;
and with a threat of extermination if they were compelled to carry the
fort by storm : they alleged, further, that they had just been
reinforced by a large number of warriors, some pieces of British
cannon, and artillerists to man them. Their demand being promptly
refused, they immediately closed in upon the fort, yelling hideously,
firing their guns and also a couple of cannon. Every man in the fort
capable of doing duty, now stood at his post, having several stands of
loaded arms by .his side. They were directed by the acting lieutenant,
Curtis [Captain Rhea, by common consent, was suspended for incapacity,
and lieutenant Ostrandcr was on the sick list], not to fire until the
Indians had approached within twenty-five paces of the fort: the fire
was at length opened upon the entire Indian lines, and in a manner so
destructive, that in twenty minutes the enemy retreated with the loss
of eighteen of their warriors, killed. It was discovered, subsequently,
that the cannon used on this occasion by the Indians, had been made of
wood by some British traders who were with them; one of the pieces
burst upon the first, and the other on the second, fire.
The day before general Harrison reached this place, the Indians
concentrated at a swamp, five miles south of the fort, for the purpose
of giving him battle; but after reconnoitering his force, and finding
it too strong for them, they fell back, passing by the fort in great
disorder, in the hope, it is supposed, of drawing out the garrison,
under a belief that they, (the Indians,) had been defeated by general
Harrison's army. To promote this idea, they had, while lying at the
swamp, kindled extensive fires, that the rising volume of smoke might
be mistaken for that which usually overhangs the field of battle. This
device proving unavailing, the Indians, after a vigorous investment,
running through more than twenty days, withdrew forever from the siege
of fort Wayne.
The enterprise of young Oliver, just related, reflected the
highest credit on his bravery and patriotism: being wholly voluntary on
his part, the moral heroism of the act was only surpassed by its
fortunate results; as it prevented, in all probability, the fall of an
important frontier post, and saved its garrison from the tomahawk and
scalping knife. So hazardous was the effort deemed, indeed, that
experienced frontier's-men endeavored to dissuade him from the
undertaking; and even Logan considered it one of great peril; but when
once resolved upon, he gallantly incurred the hazard of the deed, and
showed himself worthy of the trust reposed in him.
In November of this year, general Harrison directed Logan to
take a small party of his tribe, and reconnoitre the country in the
direction of the Rapids of the Maumee. When near this point, they were
met by a body of the enemy, superior to their own in number, and
compelled to retreat. Logan, captain Johnny and Bright-horn, who
composed the party, effected their escape, to the left wing of the
army, then under the command of general Winchester, who was duly
informed of the circumstances of their adventure. An officer of the
Kentucky troops, general P., the second in command, without the
slightest ground for such a charge, accused Logan of infidelity to our
cause, and of giving intelligence to the enemy. Indignant at this foul
accusation, the noble chief at once resolved to meet it in a manner
that would leave no doubt as to his faithfulness to the United States.
He called on his friend Oliver, and having told him of the imputation
that had been cast upon his reputation, said that he would start from
the camp next morning, and either leave his body bleaching in the
woods, or return with such trophies from the enemy, as would relieve
his character from the suspicion that had been wantonly cast upon it by
an American officer.
Accordingly, on the morning of the 22d he started down the
Maumee, attended by his two faithful companions, captain Johnny and
Bright-horn. About noon, having stopped for the purpose of taking rest,
they were suddenly surprised by a party of seven of the enemy, amongst
whom were young Elliott, a half-breed, holding a commission in the
British service, and the celebrated Potawatamie chief, Winnemac. Logan
made no resistance, but with great presence of mind, extending his hand
to Winnemac, who was an old acquaintance, proceeded to inform him, that
he and his two companions, tired of the American service, were just
leaving general Winchester's army, for the purpose of joining the
British. Winnemac, being familiar with Indian strategy, was not
satisfied with this declaration, but proceeded to disarm Logan and his
comrades, and placing his party around them, so as to prevent their
escape, started for the British camp at the foot of the Rapids. In the
course. of the afternoon, Logan's address was such as to inspire
confidence in his sincerity, and induce Winnemac to restore to him and
his companions their arms. Logan now formed the plan of attacking his
captors on the first favorable opportunity; and whilst marching along,
succeeded in communicating the substance of it to captain Johnny and
Brighthorn. Their guns being already loaded, they had little further
preparation to make, than to put bullets into their mouths, to
facilitate the reloading of their arms. In carrying on this process,
captain Johnny, as he afterwards related, fearing that the man marching
by his side, had observed the operation, adroitly did away the
impression by remarking, "me chaw heap tobac."
The evening being now at hand, the British Indians determined to
encamp on the bank of Turkeyfoot creek, about twenty miles from fort
Winchester. Confiding in the idea that Logan had really deserted the
American service, a part of his captors rambled around the place of
their encampment, in search of blackhaws. They were no sooner out of
sight, than Logan gave the signal of attack upon those who remained
behind; they fired and two of the enemy fell dead—the third, being only
wounded, required a second shot to despatch him; and in the mean time,
the remainder of the party, who were near by, returned the fire, and
all of them "treed." There being four of the enemy, and only three of
Logan's party, the latter could not watch all the movements of their
antagonists. Thus circumstanced, and during an active fight, the fourth
man of the enemy passed round until Logan was uncovered by his tree,
and shot him through the body. By this time Logan's party had wounded
two of the surviving four, which caused them to fall back. Taking
advantage of this state of things, captain Johnny mounted Logan—now
suffering the pain of a mortal wound— and Bright-horn—also wounded—on
two of the enemy's horses, and started them for Winchester's camp,
which they reached about midnight. Captain Johnny, having already
secured the scalp of Winnemac, followed immediately on foot, and gained
the same point early on the following morning. It was subsequently
ascertained that the two Indians of the British party, who were last
wounded, died of their wounds, making in all five out of the seven, who
were slain by Logan and his companions.
When the news of this gallant affair had spread through the
camp, and especially after it was known that Logan was mortally
wounded, it created a deep and mournful sensation. No one, it is
believed, more deeply regretted the fatal catastrophe, than the author
of the charge upon Logan's integrity, which had led to this unhappy
result.
Logan's popularity was very great; indeed he was almost
universally esteemed in the army, for his fidelity to our cause, his
unquestioned bravery, and the nobleness of his nature. He lived two or
three days after reaching the camp, but in extreme bodily agony; he was
buried by the officers of the army, at fort Winchester, with the honors
of war. Previous to his death, he related the particulars of this fatal
enterprise to his friend Oliver, declaring to him that he prized his
honor more than life; and, having now vindicated his reputation from
the imputation cast upon it, he died satisfied. In the course of this
interview, and while writhing with pain, he was observed to smile; upon
being questioned as to the cause, he replied, that when he recalled to
his mind the manner in which captain Johnny took off the scalp of
Winnemac, while at the same time dexterously watching the movements of
the enemy, he could not refrain from laughing—an incident in savage
life, which shows the "ruling passion strong in death." It would
perhaps be difficult in the history of savage warfare, to point out an
enterprise the execution of which reflects higher credit upon the
address and daring conduct of its authors, than this does upon Logan
and his two companions. Indeed a spirit even less indomitable, a sense
of honor less acute, and a patriotic devotion to a good cause less
active, than were manifested by this gallant chieftain of the woods,
might, under other circumstances, have well conferred immortality upon
his name.
The Shawanoe nation has produced a number of distinguished
individuals, besides those who have been noticed in this brief sketch
of that people. The plan of our work does not permit a more extended
enumeration of them. When a full and faithful history of this tribe
shall be written, it will be found, we think, that no tribe of
aborigines on this continent, has given birth to so many men,
remarkable for their talents, energy of character, and military
prowess, as the Shawanoe.
Under a treaty held at the rapids of the Miami of the lakes, in
1817, by Duncan McArthur and Lewis Cass, commissioners on the part of
the United States, for extinguishing Indian titles to lands in Ohio,
the Shawanoes ceded to the government the principal portion of their
lands within the limits of this state. After this period they resided
principally on the reserve made by them at and around Wapakanotta, on
the Auglaize river. Here the greater part of them remained, until
within a few years past, when, yielding to the pressing appeals of the
government, they sold their reserved lands to the United States, and
removed west of the Mississippi.
For a number of years prior to their final departure from Ohio,
the society of Friends, with their characteristic philanthropy towards
the Indians, maintained a mission at Wapakanotta, for the purpose of
giving instruction to the Shawanoe children, and inducing the adults to
turn their attention to agricultural pursuits. Notwithstanding the
wandering and warlike character of this tribe, such was the success
attending this effort of active benevolence, that the Friends composing
the Yearly Meetings of Baltimore, Ohio and Indiana, still continue a
similar agency among the Shawanoes, although they are now the occupants
of the territory lying beyond the distant Arkansas.
Whether the new position west of the Mississippi, in which the
Indian tribes have been placed, will tend to promote their
civilization, arrest their deterioration in morals, or their decline in
numbers, we think extremely problematical. Should such, however, be the
happy result, it may be anticipated that the tribe which has produced a
Logan, a Cornstalk and a Tecumseh, will be among the first to rise
above the moral degradation in which it is shrouded, and foremost to
exhibit the renovating influences of christian civilization.
