The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-09-02
TURKEY-FOOT ROCK.
A LEGEND OF THE MAUMEE.
By q. II. MANNING.

turbid Maumee empties into tho bosom of
Lake Erie, q large rock protrudes itself
some six or eight feet above the surface OF
| the water which, in commemoration Of an
incident that occurred upon it during the
! troublesome times with the natives, about
the year 1890, received the name of "Tur-
key-Foot Rock"
The reader, convcrsant with the history
of his country, needs not be told of the
sufferings of the most unprotected inhabi-
tants of the. West, at that period But even
history does not dwell upon it in proper
! ton 10 their sufferings. The revengeful
savages there had space and opportunity
to slake their thirst for carnage aud blood.
! The industrious farmer saw his promising
crops prey to the red mans fury his
buildings razed to the ground, and his goods
and chattels destroyed by the denolishing
fire-brand and, not unfrequently, his plead
| ing remonstrance had cost him his life. The
village merchant saw his merchandise d
tributed for trinkcts, and his store and
home reduced to ashes. The father and
mother mourned the loss OF son or daugh.
ter, who was carried into cap tivity, there
perhaps to suffer an ignominious death by
torture, or to die from over-fatigue aud eX.
posure. And not unfrequently, whole set.
J
left to tell the tale of woe.
Congress, at last, hearing of these bar
barities, dispatched q large force to their
relief; but arriving in the vicinity of their
destination, they were surprised and but
a few escaped to carry the news Of their
defeat.
In l79I another force was raised and
the command given to st. Clair but he
also suffered shameful defeat, and re.
turned without accomplishing any other
object than rendering the natives more des-
peratc and eXasperated. As Il last resort
! Wayne was placed at the head of about five
thousand men, and sent upon an expedition
that had proved fatal to so many. After n
long and tedious march. he at last arrived
at Defiance, at which place he stopped to
refresh his weary troops, and to reconnoi-
ter the position and strength Of the enemy,
for which purpose he dispatched scouts in
advance.
After an absence of five days they re-
turned, and reported that the enemy, about
eight thousand strong, and commanded by
Turkey Foot" Il desperate chiefof the Mi
amis, were encamped upon the Southern
bank of the Maumee, about fifteen miles
from its mouth, and about forty miles dis
taut from Sandusky.
The next morning, at sunrise, Wayne, or
dered march but, on account of the
roughness of the roads, he did not reach \
y until after dark, when he again halted
for refreshments. About twelve o'clock of
the same night he assembled his troops,
and in an impressive address he pointed out
to them the responsibility which rested up
on them if they failed in accomplishing tho
mission for which they had come so far. and
Il Il IA, Ia toll fbo,
of the wrongs that their friends had suffered
from the natives, and also, what would be
the increase of those sulferinGs if they
failed to conquer them now.
" But five miles," said he in conclusion
"now Intervene between us and our foe ;
and before the light Of another sun, we
must be placed in Il position that will give
us the advantage, for our enemies Outnum-
ber us almost two to one. Let each ones
arm strike deep for justice, and with Gods
blessing we will put an end to this savage
slaughter Now, prepare for marching, for
we must away :"
Three hearty cheers told the sentiments
of his followers, and within the hour they
were marching forward with buoyant spir.
its, some, alas never to return.
AS they neared the murdcrous encmy's
camp, Wayne divided his men into three
separate divisions. The first he ordered to
take position at the cast of the camp.
The other he directed to the southern posi-
ton, while with the remainder he took a
circuitous route and closed the only open
space to the west, the river forming a bar
rier to the north. Each company was di-
rected to act independent of the other, af-
ter the first discharge, and to keep under
cover OF the trees, the more effectually to
guard them from the fire of the natives.
Scarcely had each one obtained a secure
position, when the golden streaks in the
east betokened the speedy approach of day.
And shortly after, the unsuspecting Indians
one by one, aroused from their dreams of
ity of their vague fears. Wayne, perciev-
ing that the time had come, gave the word
Fire." to his trusty followers and, as the
report echoed and re-echoed over the deep
waters of the Maumee, the whole massive
body of the savages sprang to their feet
but to behold about twenty of their num-
Der stretched bleeding upon the forest
leaves. But no time was left to comment
for another volley from different direction
sealed the fate of not few more, and
warned the living to look to their own
safety. With a wild cry of terror they
seized their rifles aud simultaneously sprang
behind tho nearest trees. But as they
were firing at their hidden foe in eae direc-
tion, volley from the rear dropped them
as wheat before the cleaners sickle. o, it
was sickening to behold them fall, to see
the blood gush from their shattered bodies
and limbs, to hear the groaus of the wounded
and dying.
Disheartened by the fall of their COM
rades, they fed in disorder to the brink of
the river, while Wayne, thinking that they
might have means of conveyance across,
gave orders fer pursuit.
But no sooner did the Indians draw them
from their covers, than they formed in or
der of battle, and desperate and sanguin-
AIRY engagement took place. Many fell on
both sides, but the whites had gained an
ascendency, and they fought with coolness
and bravery, while the Indians, attacked
from all sides, began TO waVer.
The whites, perceiving their advantage,
gave vent to their enthusiasm in three
cheers for Anthony Wayne. But, o, the
magic of that name AS the lamb shrinks
from the fetocious wolf that has come to it
il in sleeps clothing; as the diminutve
bird shrinks from the destructive fangs of
the ferocious vulture, so shrank these blood
thirsty red men at the name of the Indian
hunter, Anthony Wayne. In broken disor.
der and dismay they shrew down their arms
and betook themselves to the river while
the name of Mad Anthony Wayne -
" Mad Anthony Wayne !" was shrieked as
loud as their terrified reasons would
permit.
But few reached the opposite shore, for