Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-10-21
SIDE LIGHTS
ON
LOCAL HISTORY
By
Sfanbery Alderman

In 1892 st. Clair was in the east
at Philadelphia, Pa, attending tC
business, and we find that on GER
tain Sunday morning, date not Civ
en-, Tobias Lear, who was the pri-
vate SECRETARY to President Wash
ington, wrote note to st. Clair. say
ing 'The president, recollecting an
engagement which he has at ten
O'Clock tomorrow morning. requests
that you be here (at the home of the
president) at eight, instead of nine
O'Clock as was proposed. You
will take breakfast with the presi-
dent
This was previous to March 26,
1892, because on that date st. Clair
wrote note to the president: 'I....
offer my unfeigned thanks for the
honor conferred on me by...appoint-
ment to the command Of the army
OF the United States.... The last cam
paign was unfOrtunate... | am per-
suaded that everything. done
in the course of the last campaign
that could be DONE. (yet) it is de-
MED by some. doubted by many.
(and) known to a few only out of
the army. / owe (it) to myself.
to request..an inquiry into my con-
duct may be instituted. When
over....I hope to resign the commits
sion which / now hold"
Washington did not want St. Clair
to resign even though he was will
ing that ST. Clair be given the op-
portunity to quiet, those talking
against him. On March %, 1892,
knowledge of the country northwest
of the Ohio. induced my nomina-
tion... Your desire of.an exami-
nation is highly laudable... A de-
fciency of officers. .precludes.... :.
gratifying your wishes...' Then be-
low his signature he writes post
script, Il will accept your resigna-
ton. though | regret the occasion
Sincerely"
ST. Clair had been sick and the
arduous duties of his office as gov
ernor and commanderin-c had
about used him up and he was dis
gusted with the political campaign
against him and his officers and
troops. 1t is very plain that Wash
ington was his friend, but circum-
stances were such that he could do
ST. Clair On April z, 1892, he wrote
a letter to the president saying, 81
do,.. now formally resign the ap-
pointment of major general" In
the meantime action had been TAX
en- against ST. Clair and resolu-
tion was adopted in the house of
representatives THAT a committee
causes of the failure of the late ex-
petition under Major General st.
Clair, ETC." / have not looked up
the exact date of this resolution,
but it was about March 27, 1892. !
After taking testimony from Gen.
eral Harmer, Major Zeigler, and
host of others, nearly all Of which
is technical and would be of little
interest to the average reader, the
agreement, "the failure of the late
expedition can, in no respect be i'm
puted to his (St. Clair) conduct,
either at any time before or during
the action; but that. his conduct.
was marked with peculiar ability F
and zeal. GOODNESS and intrepidity."
They brought in supplemental re-
and various mismanagements and
neglects in the quartermaster's and
departments; the late
ness of the season: the want of dis
cipline and experience in the
troops In all, the report fills II
printed pages, and 1 have but men.
toned those matters bearing upon
the resignation of st. Clair.
They had ''sob sisters in those
days as we have them today, and st.
Clair and other officers did not es-
cape them. One wrote "a body of
men, for the purpose of Of
fense against these natives-....a
extremely cruel. in su
preme degree criminal to the pacific
Intentions and pursuits (of the In
dians).'
| wish to digress a minute to
bring to you some evidence on a
subject that was causing a lot of
discussion but two or three years
ago. Among the evidence given
and statements presented we find
one from certain John Strother
the movement of certain
Indians from the south in which he
says "Three hundred Creeks (In
dians) had passed the Tennessee
river with the design to break up
the settlements at the Mussel
etc. He speaks of an ac-
tion taking place on Nov. 4, 1871,
so we can now settle how to spell, !