Captain Logan Captain Logan ( c . 1774 – ~ 25 November 1812 ) was a scout during the War of 1812 , serving under General William Henry Harrison . There exist two apparently conflicting theories regarding Captain Logan ' s identity : The James theory is relayed by 19th - century descendants of Robert Renick Sr . , who would be Captain Logan ' s grandfather under one theory , or by first - hand acquaintances of Captain Logan . Hence , the James theory would seem to be more direct knowledge . The Johnny theory derives from 20th - century sources who are not biologically related to Captain Logan . Hence , the Johnny theory might be from more - indirect knowledge . The novelist Allan W . Eckert ' s ( partially fictionalized ) novelization of Captain Logan further popularized the Johnny theory by referring to Captain Logan as Captain Johnny . Both of these theories are presented below , because of the conflicting evidence that has become institutionalized by various historians . Once Captain Logan became famous as a scout under General Harrison , the two identities converge without conflict from that point onward . Theory 1 : James Renick - Logan . After murdering Robert Renick on 25 July 1757 , Shawnee warriors shortly thereafter captured Robert Renick ' s home and its occupants : the wife of Robert Renick and her five children — , William , Robert , Thomas , Joshua and , Betsy . This son Robert was approximately 18 months old at the time of the capture . Due to his excessive crying , this son Robert was murdered by the Shawnee . During captivity Mrs . Renick gave birth to her husband ' s son , whom she named again Robert in honor of his slain father and elder brother of the same name . Mrs . Renick with sons William and Robert the younger returned to their home in 1767 , ending their 6 years as hostages . Daughter Betsy in 1767 prior to the return home . Son Joshua instead chose to remain in residence with the Shawnee . Joshua Renick was raised as an adopted step brother of Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa The Prophet Joshua Renick later became chief of the Miami indian s and took an Indian wife . Chief Joshua Renick and his Indian wife gave birth to two sons : James Renick was captured by General Benjamin Logan , who defeated the Shawnee along the banks of the Maumee River during Logan ' s Raid in 1786 . The reason that General Benjamin Logan chose James Renick from among all of the Shawnee ' s European captives is likely because General Benjamin Logan would likely have been a childhood acquaintance of James Renick ' s father , Joshua Renick , as both were baptized by the same minister three years apart in Augusta County , Virginia ( i . e . , 1743 for Benjamin Logan and 1746 for Joshua Renick ) . General Benjamin Logan , after becoming endeared with young James after returning at first to Kentucky and then to Ohio , taught James to read and write English . James Renick took Logan as his name . James Logan then inscribed his initials “ J . L . ” into the bark of many trees in Ohio . During James Logan ' s service in the cavalry , Major James William Mathews wrote about a Captain Logan Renick in a letter dated 9 November 1812 to Dr . John Mathews , an attorney at law in Greenbrier County ( now West ) Virginia , “ I this morning got acquainted with Capt . Logan Renick . He is a very genteel man and speaks the English very well . I am told he is very rich . He lives in the Shawnee Nation , and is very much respected by the white people of this State . It is said he is a man of honor and may be depended upon . He asked very friendly for his relations in Greenbrier . He is very polite . He is very fond of horses and cattle . It is said he carries on a large farm . He desires to be remembered to his uncles in the county . ” Later that month , this Captain Logan Renick lost his life on the banks of the Maumee River in a fight with Indians that were allied with the British . As part of the general goodwill that Hoosiers felt at the time toward their native son General William Henry Harrison who won the near - by Battle of Tippecanoe and because Harrison held Captain Logan in high regard , the then - late Captain James Renick - Logan was commemorated when a settlement along the newly constructed Wabash and Erie Canal renamed itself “ Logan ' s port ” , which is Logansport , Indiana . Theory 2 : Johnny Logan . Captain Logan was a Shawnee who was raised by Benjamin Logan and fought for the United States in the War of 1812 Captain Logan was born in 1774 , the son of Shawnee Chief Moluntha , and named Spenica Lawbe . His father was murdered in violation of orders , and he was captured during Logan ' s Raid in 1786 . Benjamin Logan raised him and gave him his name of Logan . As an adult , he was known as Captain Logan . In 1812 , Captain Logan was sent by John Johnston to evacuate women and children from the Siege of Fort Wayne . Later that year , Captain Logan was sent on a scouting mission to the Maumee River , where he was captured by Chief Winamac . Captain Logan and his two companions made it back to the U . S . camp , but he was shot during their escape . He died from his wound a few days later . General James Winchester reported his death to General William Henry Harrison , and said " More firmness and consummate bravery has seldom appeared in the military theatre . " Captain Logan asked that his children be raised by John Hardin , but his wife instead took the children West . He was buried in his village in Wapakoneta , Ohio . In Spring 2008 , a new grave marker and an Ohio Historical Marker were dedicated to Captain Johnny Logan in Defiance , Ohio .