New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-10-29

| vi Ills pIcllcCcSSOIS VI Cue u6CCSSlCN
of moving with great caution, Wayn,
did not leave Fort Recovery,-th,
post where his command render
voused, until his preparations wer'
complete, not only to strike de
cisive blow, but to retain possession
Of whatever he might conquer. I
was the 9th of August, therefore
before he reached the confluence O.
the Au.Glaize and the Miamis of thu
Lakes, in which vicinity was situat
ed the most important towns anc
villages of the hostile tribes. In the
neighborhood Of the rapids, and fif
ty miles within the prescribed boun
dairy between the United States ano
the British possessions, Governor
Sincoe, of Upper Canada, had erect
ed fortress, around which had as
sembled a body Of upwards of two
thousand Indian warriors of the
following nations, viz: Miamis, Wv.
andots, Pottawattemies, Delewares,
Shawanese, Chippewas, Ottawas,
and Senecas. Wayne,-or Black
Snake, as he had been called by the
1ndians,-determined to surprise
their villages, and for this purpose
he commenced cutting, or rattle,
opening two old roads in different
direction, to mislead the Indians.
His stratagem was foiled, however,
by the desertion of a villain by the
name Of Newman, who deserted to
the enemy, informing them not on.
ly Of Wayne's design, but of the
strength and disposition of the
American forces. Little Turtle, the
leader of the Indian tribes, thereup.
on withdrew to the vicinity of the
fort, and made dispositions for Civ.
ing battle to his opponent. Find.
ing his scheme for surprising them
thwarted, and anxious still to hold
out the olive branch of Peace,
Wayne, sent Christian Miller, who
had been brought up among the In.
dams, and spoke their language with
huency, to offer them terms of &C.
commodation. Miller was 10th tc
undertake the hazardous enterprise,
but upon the assurance that the pris.
oners then in the hands of WAYNE
should be held as hostages until his
return, he at lenght consented tc
60. He was received with a very i'll
grace, and his life threatened. As.
surfing them, however, that every
prisoner in theAmerican army would
be sacrificed if he should not return
before the 18th, they sent him back
with message to Wayne. to the eff.
feet, that if he would wait where
he was for ten ten days, they would
then decide. Wayne had, however,
already taken up his line of march,
and met Miller on his return, and
rightly Judging that the message he
bore was only intended to gain time,
he pushed on until he found himself
on the 10Th Of August, in close prox,
unity to the enemy, who were drawn
up in three columns, extending from
the river some miles into the coun.
try, alright angles with the. stream
Inc position selected was admirabl,
adapted to their mode of warfare,
and presented serious obstacles to
the attacking forces. A tornado had
swept over the ground at a remote
period, leveling large trees in its
course, which, with the underbrusl
that had grown up around them
formed a natural breastwork, impen
etrable to cavalry, and almost mac
cessible to the infantry.
Throwing up small field work a:
protection to his magazines, thu
commander advanced to the attach
on the morning of the Goth, in tn,
following order, as taken from
Wayne's own report Of the battle.
8*The legion was on the right, it.
flank covered by the Maumee; one
brigade of mounted volunteers or
the left, and the other in the rear
A select battalion of mounted men
under Maj. Price, moved in front t,
give timely notice for the troops t,
form in case of action, it being We
undetermined whether the Indian
would decide for peace or war.
"After advancing about five miles
Maj. Price received so brisk a fir
from the enemy, secreted in tn
woods and tall grass, as to force hin
to fall back. The legion was imme
diately formed in two lines, princi
pally in close. thick wood, which
extended for miles on our left. an,
tor a very considerable distance il
front. The savages wer
formed in three lines, within sup
ported distance of each other, an,
tending for nearly two miles from
the river. soon discovered, flon
the weight Of the fire and the ex
tent Of their lines, that the en- EN-,
were in full force in front, in pos
session of their favorite ground, an
endeavoring to turn our left flank
| therefore gave orders tor the sec
ond line to advance and support til
first; and directed Maj. Gen. Scot
to gain and turn the right flank q
the savages with the whole force .
the mounted volunteers, by a eli
cuitous route; at the same time
ordered the front line to advance an
charge with trailed arms, rouse tn
Indians from their co7erts at til,
point OF the bayonet, and whe
up, to deliver close and well al
rected fire in their backs followe
by a brisk charge, SO as not to DIV
them time to load again. I ais
ordered Capt. Campbell, who CON
n1anded the !. legionary cavalry, t
turn the left flank Of the enemy
4 novt tho S,sun,. NJ ,,,b vs.. II - a