Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-02-26
frrom rcieso ysuruslI
BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERs.
Indian Account orthe big Fight
As Told by Kin-Jo -a-no In His wigwau
Trusting In the Great Spirit
Scouts In Wayne's Army.
By COL. n. W. A. HOWARD
PART Nv.
THE FALLEN TINBERs.

tltnc UuCU Vi tile ItdNN Odk llIHpeT.
which originally covered it. had been
blown down by severe wind storm
some years previous. and a thick un
dergrowth Of young timber sprInging
up. the size of mans arm and larger.
These young ssppliDg had, just pre-
vious to the hattie. been Topped. cnr
partly of about bresst high AMI tn
ends of the timbers cut off and lef
sharp, forming with the fallen timber
An sbsttis or complete haricsde
through and under which lay the
painted warriors in ambush by the
hundreds, armed with muskets an the
more deadly tomahawks, waiting for
the imoetuous onset.
wAYNEs ADVANCE.
Wayne lef, his secure and well-pro-
tecled camp of che night, at the mouth
of Turkevfoot Creek. at an early hour
and after a hard days march OF six.
teen miles, camped at the hid rocky
bluff on the bank of the river at
"Rache de Boult." about one mil,
, above the present little village of Wa
tervilIe. Here he threw up s!igh'
hreastworks, and having one side Sc
curely guarded against attack bv a
perpendicular rocky bluff and the riv
er. the Indian scouts reportet to their
Chiefs the impregnablity Of his posi-
zion, which warned them at once thai
their stand must be made at the
"Presque Isle, and the great strug
gls was to take place within verr
few hours at the Fallen Tlmbers, y
Consequently every preparation posi-
hle was hastily made.
The women and children and horses
we're sent to Fort Miami and beyond
70 their settlements on the Raisin; al.
|itional ambnscades were ordered
which, with the thick undergro With
surrounding most of the encampnent.
formed. With the Topped sapllngs, a
formidable barrier to be surmoupted
by our army.
WAYNE arrived at Roche de Boult on
the evening of the 18th of August, aud
remained there preparing safe depot
for his surplus supplies until the Gosh,
when at daybreak memorable 20th Of
August, 1794) his sleeping camp was
aroused and hastily put in readiness
for the coming conflict, almost certain
to take place before the sun set. Just
before the donned
A DRIzzLING RAIN
commenced to fall, rendering it
gloomy and dark, and an i'll omen for
superstitious ssvages The predlc-
tons of Little Turtle Chat the Great
Spirit might hide mis- face in a cloudy
we're likely to be verified. which would
greatly tend to dishearten the Indians,
and make victory douhly sure to the
intrepid Wayne and his heroic Ken.
tuckians. The woods and thlckets
Immediately about WayLe's encamp
ment, at Roche de B,ult. swarmei
with the lurking foe in ambush and
at the very commencement of the
march, the hidden scouts we're driven
from their hiding places by the al
vanceing army and
THE BATTLE WAS COMMENCED.
The Indians hoped that advantage
to their arms might be gained by some
unlocked for accident, or ill advised
movement upon the part of Wayne
previous to reaching their main strong
hold at the hill and swamp of Presqua
Isle, but as the shrewd savage Kin-go-
an-o stated. He Wayne was like the
fox, always on the watch; his eyes and
ears Were always open; he saw and
heard everything before anyone, and
was never found with his ewes shut"
While much firing and skirmishing
had taken place during the early morn
ing, but little injury to either armv
had been the result, hut as the dark
and gloomy morning advanced, ami
Presque Isle was neared, the fighting
became more severe, and the duskv
warriors were driven from their hli
ing places at every step ny Wayne
Every bush, and tree. and rock con
ceaIed a painted savage, and the hat
tie soon became general 1t was from
this time on to the rout Of the Indians
at Turkeyfoo' rock, hand to hand
contest, the bayonet on one side, and
the knife and tomahawk on the other.
The Indians were routed from their
defences
AT THE POINT OF THE BAYoNEr,
and, as my informant expressed it,
awe were driven by the sharp ends
of the guns OF the Long Knives, and
We threw away our rifles and fought
with our knives and tomahawks
The Indian, continuing his narrative
of the battle, said: Oar greatest
numbers lay in the thickets and fallen
timber on the hill, and in the grass
and willows in 'he swamp on the
north. We knew the cavalry could
not reach US here, and we were sure
our warriors were many more than
the Long Knives and with the toma-
hawk and knife we must drive them
back. Bat the Great Spirit was in
the clouds and was