The Columbian informer, or, Cheshire journal — Keene, N.H., 1794-10-21 00:00:00, page 1

' Important and Official !
°WarfOffice, {Philad.) C&A,
V?+
YESTERDAY afternoon, an
EXPRESS arrived at this Office,
with dispatches from Major-Ge
neral WAYNE, to the 'Secreta
ry,at War, of which the follow
ing are copies.
JOHN STAGGjus. C. C.
Head-Quarters, Grand Glaize, 7
10 AwJo79¥ }°'
fsmß,
IHAVE the honor to inform ycu that
, the ^rmy under my command took
poifeffidnof this very important poll on the
morning of the Sih instant ; the enemy,
ton the preceding - evening, havingabaq
domed all their settlements, towns and
villages, with fich apparent marks of fur
prize and precipitation, as to amount to
a positive proof that bur approachway
r,otdiicovered by them, until a few days
previous to our arrival.
I had made foch demon ftraticns, so, a
" length of time previously to taking up
our line of march, as to induce the fave-'
ges toexpeCt cur advance by the rout of
'the Miami villages to thd left, or towards
Aocbe de^mt.by the fight; Wlifeb'feints
appear to have produced the desired fff/#,
to, drawipg the attention of the enemy to
ihofe points, and gave an opening for the
army 7 to approach undiscovered, i. e. in a
central direction, and which would be im
praaicßble for an army, except in a dty
feefor, fach as then presented.
Thus, Sir, We have gained possession of
the grand emporium of the hostile Indians
of the Weft, without loss of blood. The
vefy extensive and highly cultivated fields,
and gardens; shew the work of man, hands.
The margins of th fe beautiful rivers, the
Mi^niis bf the Lakes and Au Glalze, ap
pear like one continued village for a num
ber of mites, both above and below this
place, norfevcl ever before beheld fach
jmmenfe fields of corn in any-part of A
inerica, Worn Canada to Florida.
• We aid'now employed in completing a
strong stockade forthwith four good b'leck
haufee/hy way ts bastions, ar the conflu
ence of Au gluize, arid the Miami#, which
1 have called Defiance ; another Fort
was,alter created on the bank of the St.
'Mary's, 24 miles advanced if FoYt Re
covery, which was named Adams, and en
dowed with provision,, knd a proper gar
^fon.
Every thingis now prepared for 2 for
ward move to-morrow morning towards
Roche de Boat,or foot of the Rapids,where
the British have a regularfortification, well
' Applied with Artillery and ftroogly gar
riloned ; in the vicinity of which the fate
of the campaigns will probably be decided,
as from the bed and most recent intelli
gence, the enemy are there collected in
~ -force, anu joined by the Militia ofDetroit,
&c. &c. peffeffed by ground very unfa
vourable for cavalry to ad in, yet not
withstanding this unfavorable intelligence,
and unpleasant circumstance of ground, I
do not'defpair of success, from the spirit.
Ind ardor of the troops from the Generals'
down to the Privates, both of the Legion
and Mounted Voltiters. Yet I hive
thought proper to dffer the enemy a left
overture bf peace, arid as they bird eve
ry thing that is dear andinterefiirrg now at
I h<ve reason to expeß that they
listen to the pjopefitien mentioned in the,
htndofed copy of an address, dispatched
yesterday by afpecial ffag, whom I fant
rider chcumflarfta tkatwill infarohia
: [No. 30.- tfVofc IL]
yfiu&fttyftuftvsfral
Columbian Informer;
Or, CHESH I RE JOURNAL.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY k^NRr BLAKE, UCO.mKEENE, New-Hamp^rs.
I.'PO
fafe return, and which may eventually
(pare the effusion of much human -blood, ...
But Should war be their choice, their;
-blood be upon their own heads 1 Ameri
ca fell no longer be infelteq with impu
nity. To an all powerful and just God I
therefore commitmyfelf and gallant army,
and have the honor to be, with every con-
Gderaxion of refpeCt and adeem, year toft
obedient, and very humble fervent.
: ANTHONY W^YNE.
The: Ika. Md, Gen. H. KNOX,
;- : # Secretary es War.
the Delaware/., Shawanefe,
Miami/, and IVyandots, and to
each and every of them; and to
all other nations of Indians
northwest of the Ohio-40 whom
it may concern :
I ANTHONY WAYNE, Major Geq.
,• land Commander in chief of the Fe
deral army no* at Grand Giabe, and
Ccmmiflbner Plenipotentiary cf the Uni
ted States ; of America, for fettling the
terror upon which a permanent and lifting
peace Adi be made with tach and every
of the hostile tribes or nations of Indians
horthweft of the Oric,& ofthe ftid United
States.— Adduced by the purest principles
of humanity, and urged by pity for the
error# iritb which bad and designing men'
'have led_you, from the head* bf the army
now io poffetiion of your .Saddened Villa
ges and fettlementc/dO'Mrtb/ once mote
extend thefriendly hand of pea<;e towards
you and invite each-tad every of the hos
tile tribes of Indians, to appoint depu
ties to meet me and my army, without
delay, between thirplace arid Roche de
Brno in order to fettle the preliminaries
of a lading peace, which may eventually
and soon restore t, you, the Delaware#
Miamis,' bhawahefe, and all inter tribes
and nations lately fettled at this place,
and on the margins of the Miami and Au
glaze river § to your late ground and pof
sessions ; and to preserve you and your
distressed tend helpless women and child
ren from danger arid famine, during the
present fall, and-erifuing winter.
The arm of the United States is strong
and powerful, but they love mercy ate
kindacfs more than war anddefolatioo:
and to remove any doubts or appiehenGon
of danger, to the perfops of the deputies
wham you may.appoint to meet this army,
1 hereby pledge my sacred honor for their
fafety and return, arid fend Christopher
Miller, an adopted Shawdade, and a Sha
wanoe warrior,- whom I took prisoner two
days,go, as a flag, who will advance in
their frontto meet me.
-Mr. Miller was taken ,rifoner b, a par
ty of my Warriors fie moons firice,' and
can teftify to you the kindaefs I have
shewn to your people, my prisoners, that
is, five warriors and two women who arc
all fafe at Grenville.
Buvihouli this invitation be di(regard
ed, and my' flag, Mr. Miller, be detain
ed or injured,! will immediately orderall
those prisoners to be put to death, without
dihihaion, arid fomeof them art known
to belong to the firft families of your na
tion. # ;_ - .
Brothers, be no longer deceived, or led
astray by the filfe promises and language,
of the bad white - ten at the foot "of
the Rapids—They have neither thepower
nor inclination to protest you. No longer
tat your eyes to you! tree interest and
h^ppiftefs, nor yourearsto fhis left over
ture of peace , but in pity to your inno
centwomen and children-^cbme ard pre
vent the further effufion of human blood
let them experience kindifefs and frieod
ffiipbftheUflited Smuvf'America, and
Proclamation.
TUESD^T, October 21, 1794.
qftqfctyfocs^ftQftty^vftwgft
the invaluable bluffing of peace and tran
quility. '
(Signed) ANTHONY WAYNE, &c.
G,and Glaize, i,h Augurt, 1794.
- . Head-Quarters Grand Glaize, )
August 28, 1794. J
SIR,
IT b with infinite pleasure that I' now
Announce to you the brilliant fucccefs
of the Federal army under my Command,
in a general action with the combined
force of the hostile Indians, and a confi
derabte number of the Volunteers and mi-
Ijtia of Detroit, on the zoth inst, on the
banks of the Miami, in the vicinity of the
British post and garkfon at the foot of the
Rapros. *
The army advanced from this place on
-he i„h, and arrived at Roche de Bout
18h The igWWe were employed in
making a temporary post for the reception
ofour lores ana baggage,and in reconnoi
tering the pofitibn of the enemy, who were
encamped behind the thicl tbuffiy wood
and the British fort.
At 3'o'clcck on the morning efthe 20th
the army again advanced in columns, a
grecably to the ttannirg order of march,
the legion on the right, its right flank co
vered by the Miami—one brigade of
mounted Volunteers on the left under bri
gadier-General Todd, and the other in
the rear under brigadier- General Barbee
—A fefeft .battalion of mounted Volun
teers, moved in front of the legion com
manded by Maj. Price, who was directed
,0 keto fufficiendy advanced, and to give
tim+tyteriu for the* treops to form in
rafeof action, it being yet' undetermined
%h&her the Indian's would ottide for peace
or war.
After advancing aboutfive miles, Maj.
Price's corps received so severe a fire from
tke enemy, who were secreted in the woods
and high graft, arto compel them to re
treat.
The legion was immediately formed in
two lines, principally in a tiofe thick
weed which extended for miles on our
left, and for a very considerable distance
in front, the ground being covered with
old fallen timber, probably occasioned by
a tornado, which rendered it impraaica
ble for the cavalry to ad with effe& and
afforded the enemy the mod favorable co
vert for their mode of warfare.
The Savages were formed in three lines
within supporting distance of each other,
and extending for near two miles at right
angels with the* river. I soon discovered
from the weight of the fire, and extent of
their lines, that the enemy were in full
force in front, in possession of their fa
vourite ground, and endeavoured to turn
our left slink f I therefore gave orders for
the fecondlire to advance to Support the
rift, and directed MJ. Gen. Scott to
gain andturn the right flank, of the Sava
ges, with the whole of the, mounted Vo
lunteers, by a circuitous route, at the
fame time I ordered the front line to ad
vance and charge with trailed arms, and
rouse the Indians' from their coverts, at
the point of. the bayonet, and when up to
deliver a close and well directed fire on the
backs followed by a brisk charge, so as
not to give them time to load again.
I also ordered Capt. Campbell, who
commanded the Legionary Cav. 'ry, to
turn the left flank of the enemy next the
river, and which afforded a favourable field
for that corps to a& in. All those orders
teetedheyed with fpmtand promptitude,
but such was the im,effrfi;y of the charge,
by the firft line of infantry, that the In
dians and Canadian militia and Volunteers
were drove from all their coverts in so
short a time, that although every poffiblc
exertion was used by the officers of the
second line of the legion and by Generals
Scbtt, Todd, Barbee, of the mounted Vo
lunteers, to gain their proper portions,
but pare of each could got up in feifoa to
From every account the enemy amount
ed te 2000 combatants ; the troops adual
l, engaged agaioft them were short of 900.
This horde of Ravages, with their allies, a
bandoaed themselves to flight; and disper
sed with terror and dismay, leaving our
victorious army in full and quiet pofleffiou
of the field of battle, which terminated un
der the influence of the guns of the Bri
tilh garrison, as you will observe by the
enclosed correspondence between Major
Campbell, the commandant, and myftlh
upon the occasion.
The bravery and conduct of every of
ficer belonging to the army, frem the
Generals down to the Eofgus, merit my
highest approbation....
There Were however feme whefe rank
and filtration placed their conded in a ve
ry conspicuous point of view, and which
I observed with pleasure and the null
lively gratitude, ercong whom Irnnft beg
leave to mention Brigadier-General Wil
k:njon and Col. Hamtiamzk, the command
ants of the right and left wings of theMe
gion, whole brave example inspired the
troops :'To those I mull add the namei of
my faithful and. gallant Aids de Camps
-Captains De Butts and Thomas Liscis and
Lieut. Harri Jen, who, with the Adjutant-
General Major Mills, rendered the tioft
effentfal (ervice, by communicating my *
orders in every direction, and by their
conduct and bravery exciting she troops to
press for victory.
Lient. C<roixgm, open whom the com
mand of the cavalry now devolved cut
down two lavages with his own hand,
Lieut. Wdl one, in turning the enemy's
left flank.
participate in the adion, the enemy be
ing drove in the course of an hour, more
.haa two miles through the thick woods al,
ready mentioned; by less than one half
their number.
The wounds received by Captains
Stokgb and Prior, and Lieut. Campbell
Smith, an extra Aid de Camp to Gen.
Wilkinfou, of the Legionary infantry, and
Captain Van Renjdlaer of the dragoons,
Captain RauLns, Lieut. M'Km,b&d.
Ehfign Duncan, of the mounted volun
teers, bear honorable testimony of their
bravery and conduct.
Captains Howel, Lewis; and Broeb, with
their companies of light infantry, had to
fuftsin an unequal fire for foane time,
which they fuppurted with fortitude. * 1#
fad, every officer and soldier who had an
opportunity to come into aftion, difplay
cd that true bravery which will always in
fore faccefs, and permit me to declare,
that I never difeovered more true spirit
and anxiety for action than appeared te
pervade the whole of the mounted volun
teers, and I am perfaded, that had the
enemy maintained their favorite ground
for one half hour longer, they would have
mrtft severely felt the prewef# of that corp,.
But whilfl I pay this just tribute to the
living, I must not negled the gallant'
dead, among whom we have to lament,
the early death of those worthy and bpive
office's, Captain Ms. Cam, belief the dra
goons; and Lieut, Towles of the light in
fantry of the legion, who fell in the firft ,
charge.
Endofed is a particular return of the
killed arid wounded—the lots of the CTc
my was raore than double to that bfche
federal arm, —the woods were fleewed for
a considerable diOance with the dead,bo-™
dies of the Indian's and their white aux
iliaries, the latter armed with British'<nuf- .
kets and bayonets. „ • .
We remained three days and nights, on
the banks of the Mismis, in front of the
field bfbattle dating which time all the
houses and corn fields were confirmed ard
destroyed for a cur fiderable difoce both
above and below Fort Miami#, as well a*
within pistol mot of the Garritysy&l
were com,tiled to remain taci^ foarora
to this -general dtvMU@ a^ €%&&• .
[Whole No. 82]