The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-02-14

large bodies, apparently burying their
dead, and in reality strengthening them.
selves with reinforcements. The whites
buried their dead also, and burned fires
over their graves to prevent them from
being discovered. By council of war
it was decided they should commence
their retreat during the following night
but the Indians by some means became
apprised of this, and commenced furious
attack about dark, taking them on all
sides except in the direction of Sandusky,
doubtless with the intention of driving
them into terrible ambuscade. The
whites so suspected, at least, but retreated
in that direction about mile, and then
made detour, came round upon their
previous trail, and pushed homeward as
fast as possible. Had they now all re-
manned together, they probably would
have escaped with trifiing loss but, un-
fortunately, about one hundred and fifty
thought it more prudent to break up into
small parties, and each look out for him.
self; and the Indians, learning of this,
also divided and followed them in detail,
killing them as fast as they came up to
them. By this means it is supposed the
loss of the whites was swelled to two hun
dred, or even more, the exact number
never having been definitely aseertained.
Now comes the painful task of record
ing the terrible fate of the unfortunate
Colonel Crawford-an event which crea-
ted a greater sensation throughout the
country at large than that probably of any
one act of which the revengeful savages of
the west have ever been guilty. 1t seems
that Immediately after the commencement
of the retreat in the direction of Sandus-
ky, Colonel Crawford, riding at the head
of his men, missed his son, son-in-law,
and two nephews, and halted for the COM
mand to pass, calling their names as the
whole body of horsemen dashed swiftly
by, but without getting any response
He then, to save himself, rode on after
the main body, but soon discovered that
his horse was too weary to overtake it.
In this manner he was left alone in the rear,
but shortly after he fell in with party of
three, one of whom was DR.. Knight
They travelled all night, to the north and
east, and the next day fell in with another
small party, with whom they encamped
the following night. The second day
they were attacked by Indians, and Col
onel Crawford and DR.. Knight taken pris-
oners--part of the others escaping and
a part being killed.
The Indians were highly elated at Sc
curing the leader of the expedition, and
determined to infiict upon him their most
terrible vengeance. He and DR.. Knight
were taken to a near encampment, where
they found nine more of their companions
in misery. The next day they were
marched to the old Wyandot town, and
the day following, Colonel Crawford was
led out to the stake, all the other prisoners
with the exception of DR.. Knight being
tomahawked and scalped, as species Of
savage amusement.
1t was the intention of the Indians to
make terrible public example of Craw-
ford, both because be was the leader of
the last expedition and in revenge for
the Moravian murders committed by Will
hanson, who had managed to effect his
escape and we feel we cannot do better
than copy the words of his companion,
Doctor Knight, who was an eyewitness
of the horrible affair. -.
s'When we went to the fire. says the
Doctor, "the Colonel was stripped naked,
ordered to sit down by the fire, and then
they beat him with sticks and their fists
Presently was treated in the same man
ner. They then tied rope to the foot
of post about fifteen feet high, bound
IUe SOlOuel ) nttuuS UcIlluu Ills DdCh3 diu
fastened the rope to a ligature between
his wrists. The rope was long enough
for him to sit down, or walk around the
post once or twice, and return the same
way The Colonel then called to Girty,
(this was Simon Girty, the renegade, }
and asked him if they intended to burn
him. Girty answered, yes. The Colo
mel said he would take it patiently. Upon
this Captain Pipe, Delaware Chief, made
a speech to the Indians, viz: about thirty
or forty men, sixty or seventy squaws and
boys. -
"When the speech was finished, they
all yelled hideous and hearty response to
what had been said. The Indian men
then took up their guns and shot powder
into the Coloners body, from his feet, as
far up as his neck. think not less than
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 throug had
dispersed a little, saw the blood running
from both sides of his head in consequence