Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-20

this the inhabitants had fed, and they
were foilcd. Then these brave cut-throat
scoundrcls went home to boast of their
exploits, and organize iorger expedition,
to venture further, and if possible, do
uorSe.
This new expedition consisting of four
hundred and eighty men, was organized
in the latter part Of May. 1772, little
over two months from the date of the
massacre, and Colonel William Crawford
was elected commandcrin-c chief of the
forces, and the infamous Williamson
lieutenant onel 1t is said that Colonel
Crawford accepted his post of honor with
reluctance. And no wonder! for he was
a man of reputation, principle and hu-
manity, and an intimate friend Of General
Washington, who had passed more than
one night beneath his humble roof in the
western Wilderness. The wonder is that
he accepted the office at all, considering
how many worse than savagcs he must
have in his command. But perhaps he
considered it post where his humanity
might be displayed, and that it he de-
clned a monster might be put in his
place. Alas! poor man, it was woelul
honor to him. for from that moment his
doom was sealed--a horrible doom Of
eXpiation for the sins Of othersl
And yet shall we hold him guiltloss?
Whittier was he going and for what?
That little army had sworn to eXterminatc
the Indians root and branch--to give no
quarter to any Of the race, whether friend
or foe, old or young, man, woman or
child, and he was the commander Of the
expedition.
That expedition too, marched over
"Williamson's S trail" direct to the plum
, dered Moravian towns on the Tuscaraws
: and thence to the other Moravian towns
on the upper branch of the Sandusky,
hoping thus to find more innocent and
harmless victims to plumber and murder.
But theyswere greatly disappointed, for
the harmless Indians had fled, and left
dcsso!ation behind them. Then, for the
first time, it would seem, the thought
occurred to the bold army, that, the peace
able Indians, having departed, they might
possibly meet with hostil warrors pre-
n pared to give them warm reception, an
i idea that they appeared to relish as little
i as any soldiers that ever went into battle
#. Not that wo,would deny there may have
a been brave and generous spirits among
u them, but we think there must have been
a many selfish towards, since no Others
would have been concerned in the wanton
u massacre we have mentioned, or been
f anxious or willing to be foremost i'll an
n other.
It a council Of war having been held, il
- was decided to make one days further
march in quest of Indian towns to des-
70 troy, an if unsuccessful to beat hasty
:. retreat. Fatal resolve The cunning
T. hostile savage had from the very start
60 been secretly watching them, and now
: having got them where they wanted thom,
:, they were prepared to take Il terrible Won
- geancc for the foul murders of their in
nocent brethren, whose cause they had
/ cspouscd though still despising their plin-
ciplc Of peace and duon-rcsialanco,
On this their last days forward march,
$ about two O'Clock in the afternoon, the
- advance guard was attacked on the llains
= of Sandusky, and driven in on the main
= body, when general battle took place,
q lasting till night, both parties fighting
20 desperately. At darl, the hsi"B ceased
on ho,h siloo, ana both lay on their arms
- all night, with fires kindled along tn,
~ whole extent Of the line Of battle, from
,c which each took the prc2aution to draw
a back into the deep shadows to avoid {
ID surprise.
,t The next day the whites occupied tn,
tc ground without molcstation from tn,
! Indians, who were seen moving about il
a, large bodies, apparently burying thei
= dead, and in reality Strcngthing them
W selves with rciuiorccments. The white
a. buried their dead also, and burned fire,
le over their graves to prevent them from
Is being discovered. by council of wa
,t it was decided they should commenc
rv their retreat during the following night
ed but the Indians by some means bccam
,n applised Of this, and commenced iurou
,e- attack about dark, taking them ON al
id sides except in the direction of Sandusky
tn doubtless with the intention of drivin
nor them into n terrible ambuscadc Th
,rn whites so suspected at least, hut rctyeatc
nd in that direction about mile, and the
we madc detour, coming round upon thei
previous trail, and pushed homeward Il
ell fast as possible. Had they now all rC
manned together, they probably woul
ng have escaped with uiliug loss; but III
cI fortunately about one hundred and fit
or. thought it moro prudent to break up int
r., small parties and each look out for hin
,h- self and the Indians, learning of this
md also divided and followed them in detail
,en killing them as fast as they come up I
,ile them. by this means it is supposed ii
,v- loss of the whites was swclled to tw
,ad hundred, or even more, the exact numb,
es. never having been definitely asecrtaino,
In. Now comes the painful task Of rccoG,
al, ing the terrible fate OF the unlortuna
tie Colonel Craw,ord-an event which en-
of ated II greater sensation throughout Il
Of country at large than that probably
l's any one act of which the revengclul sa
ages of the West were ever guilty.
at seems immediately after the commenc
il ment of the retreat in the direction
for Saudusky, Colonel Crawford, riding
oss the head of his men, missed his son, SO
.& in-law and two nephews, and halted f
las the command to pass, calling their nam
". as the whole line of horSemen dashed b