Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.

The Obssg,ties of the Mortal Remains Of Gen
Arthur 81. Cair's .irnsy at Fort Recovery
Mercer county, Ohio.
Some readers yet survive who remember tn,
memorable and disastrous defeat of ST. Clair.
army in l79I. In that engagement twenty-five
hundred American soldiers participated, and were
routed and thrown into the widest confusion by
surprise attack Of the Indians of Western Ohio.
ST. CLAIR had encamped upon a knoll or small
hill thirty miles north of Fort Jefferson, ant
eighty-one miles advance of Fort Washington
About sunrise on the morning of the 4th of No
yember the Indians commenced their attack, and in
short time the bodies of seven hundred men were
scattered over the hill, and the ground was soaked
with blood: the whole army fled with great preci-
pitation, casting away their arms nor DID they
cease their flight until they reached Fort Jefferson
so overwhelming the defeat. In January, 1892,
Gen. HARRISON, it is supposed, buried the dead.
But no trace of their bural-place had been found
until within few months ago, when the remains
were found by the merest accident. They were
taken up and preserved with almost religious rev.
erence until the 10Th of September last, when the
people were summoned to attend the funeral rites
Of those bones, upon the very ground which sixty
years before had drank their blood.
Upon that solemn occasion near Ten thousand
people assembled to listen to the eloquent SToRER,
who was the chosen orator of the day. Never be-
fore had the writer witnessed scene so deeply
affecting, and perhaps it will never again be his lot
to celebrate an anniversary so soemnly interesting.
AS the orator. with his peculiar grace and eloquence,
recounted to the multitude the scenes of the day,
and the suferings it may be, of their own parents
upon that ground sixty years before, tears ran down
the furrowed cheeks OF the aged in plentiful drops.
The fount of feeling opened, and none restrain
ed the eugushings OF their hearts. Nor did the
speaker con6ne himself TO elaborate eulogy, nor
recital of affecting and heart-rending scenes
or narrow escapes; for he is not wont to indulge
the appetite for the marvellous. But he abored to
benefit the living, as well render due praise to
the dead; and on that occasion, ii never before,
they learned from the lips of the christian, the man,
and the citizen their duties to their God and their
country and, when the solemn rites were perform
ed, they returned to their homes wiser and a
better people. Loud were their praises Of the
orator, and long will they remember the Hon.
BELLAMY SToRER, of Cincinnati. H. B.
Few are the survivors, we apprehend, who re-
member the circums stance of the Defeat Of Gen. ST.
CLAIR, and the alarm for the frontier which it
spread, not only among the settlers on the frontier,
but in the Councils of the Nation. We have
thought we should render an acceptable service to
great proportion of our readers by reproducing
from the records, in connexion with the above in
astrous conflict:
Copy of Letter from Major General st. Clair
to the Secretary for the Department Of War.
FoRT WAsHIssroS, NovKxBFR 9, 1891.
SIn Yesterday afternoon the remains OF the army under
my command got back to this place, and have the
painful task to give you account Of and
fortunate action almost any that has been fought
which every corps engaged and except the first
regiment that had been detached upon service had the
honor to inform you Of in my last desi ach and bad
j oined me.
On the 81 instant the army had reached creek about
twelve yards wds running the southwark Of west which
believe have been the river St. Mary, that empes
the Miami Of the lake arrived the village about four
O'Clock in the sfernoon having marched nine mil and
Immediately encamped upon very commanding piece
of ground in lines, having the above creek
front the right wing, composed OF Buffers Carkes and
Paersons hatiaions, commanded by Maj Gen. Butler,
formed the first line and the lett wng consisting OF Bedn
gers and Gaitt ers batsons and the second regiment
manded by Colonel Dake, formed the second line, with
interval them Of about seventy yards which all
the ground would allow.
The right flank pretty well secured by the creek
steep bank and Faulkener corps Of the cavalry and
their pIcques the left flank the militia were thrown
creek, and advanced about quarter OF mile and
encamped in the sane order. There few Indians who
appeared the opposite side Of the creek bot fed with the
precipitation the advance Of the militia At this
place, which judged to be about fifteen miles from the Mia
mi village, had determined to throw up slight work. the
plan of which concerted that evening with Msjo Fergu
son, wherein have deposited the mems knapsacks and
every thing else that not of absolute necessity, and TO
have moved to attack the enemy as the first egi-
up; but they did not permit me to execute
either for the 4h about hall hour before SUNRISE and
when the had been just dsmssed from the parade o
constant practice have them all under
siderable time before daygh attack made upon the
militia those gave way in very little time, and rushed in
camp, through Bues battalion, which, together
with part Of Csrk they threw into considerable disorder
and which, notwithstanding the exerions Of both those off
GERS altogether emedied, the Indians following
close at their heels the fire. however, OF the front line
checked he but almost instantly very heavy attack begar
upon that line and in few minutes il extended to tbs
second likewise the great weight of directed asains
the of each where the artillery placed and from
which the repeatedly driven with great slaughter
Finding great effect from fire. and confusion beginning
spread from the great number Of who falling
oil quarters, became to try what could be done BY
the bayonet.
Lieut.. Col. Darke was accordingly ordered make
charge with part of the second line, and to the left
fank Of the my This executed with great spirit
The Indians instantly gave way and driven back three
four hundred yards but, for want Of sufficient number
Of remen pursue this advantage they returned and
they had entered camp by the LEFT flank having
pursued back the troops that were posted there
Another charge made here by the second regiment
Buffers and Ciarks baaons, with equal effect, and il
repeated several times, and always with but in all
OF them many lost and particularly the officers,
which, with troops, loss altogether irremed
able In that just spoke Of made by the second regiment