Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-26
CHAPTER VIII.
cRAwroRp's cAMpArdN.

niog III OdO HCthS " 49,
least, is to be considered as a soc
ond Noravian campaign, as one of
its objects was that Of finishing the
work OF murder and plunder with
the christian Indians at their new
establishment on the Sandusky.-
The next object was that Of de-
stroying the Wyandot towns on
the same river. 1t was the resO-
luton of all those concerned in
this expedition, not to spare the
| life of any Indians that might fall
into their hands, whether friends
or foes. 1t will be seen in the
sequel that the result of this cam
paign was widely different from
that of the Moravian campaign the
preceding March.
1t should seem that the long
continuance of the Indian war had
debased a considerable portion of
onr population to the savage state
of our nature. Having lost so
many relatives by the Indians, and
witnessed their horrid murders and
other depredations on so extensive
a scale, they became subjects of
that indiscriminate thirst for re-
venge, which is such prominent
feature in the savage character
and having had taste of blood
and plunder, without risk or loss
on their part, they resolved to go
on and killed every Indian they
could find, whether friend or foe.
Preparations for this campaign
commenced soon after the close of
the Moravian campaign, in the
month of March and as it was
intended to make what was called
at that time ga daSh,' that is, an
enterprise conducted with secrecy
and despatch, the men were all
mounted on the best horses they
could procure. They furnished
themselves with all their outfits,
except some ammunition, which
was furnished by the lieutenant
colonel of Washington county.
On the 2jth of May 1852, four
hundred and eighty men mustered
at the old Mingo towns, on the
western side of the Ohio river. They |
were all volunteers from the i'm
mediate neighbOrhood of the Ohio,
with the exception of one company
from Ten Mile, in Washington
county. Here ali election was held
for the office of cOmmander-in-
chief for the expedition, The can
didates were Col Williamson and
Col. Crawford. The latter was
the successful candidate. When
notified of his appointment, it is
said that he accepted it with ap-
parent reluctance.
The army marched along "Wil-
liamson's trail,p as it was then
called, until they arrived at the
upper Morayian town, in the fields
belonging to which there was still
plenty Of corn on the stalks, with
which their horses were plentifully
fed during the night of their Gu
campment there.
Shortly after the army halted at
this place, two Indians were dis.
covered by three men, who had
walked some distance ont of the
camp. Three shots were fired at
one of them, but without hurting
him. As soon as the news of the
discovery Of Indians had reached
the camp, moro than one half of
the men rushed out, without COM
mand, and in the most tumultuous
manner, to see what happened.
| From that time, Col. Crawford felt
a presentiment of the defeat which
| followed.
The truth is, that nothwithstand-
ing tho secrecy and dispatch of the
enterprise, the IDdians were before.
hand with our people. They saw
the rendezvous on the Mingo bot
tom, and knew their number and
destination. They visited every
encampment Immediately on their
leaving it, and saw from their
writing on the trees and scraps Of
paper, that "no quarter was to be
given to any Indian, whether man,
woman, or child"
Nothing material happened dur
ing their march until the 9th of
June, when their guides conducted
them to the site of the Moravian
| villages, on one Of the upper
branches of the Sandusky river;
but here, instead Of meeting with
Indians and plunder, they met
with nothing bnt vestges of desc.
lation. The place was covered
with high grass; and the romans
of few huts alone announced
that the place had been the resi-.
dencs of the people whom they
intended to destroy, but who had
moved Off to Scioto some time be-
| fore.
In this dilemma, what was to be
done 7 The officers held council,
! in which it was determined to
march one day longer in the direc-
\ tion of Upper Sandusky, and if
they should not reach tho town in
the course OF the day, to make
retreat with all speed.
J The march was commenced on
the next morning through the
plaius Of Sandusky, and continued