Ohio History Journal

KENTON'S GAUNTLET AT CHILLICOTHE.

 

 

T. J. BROWN, WAYNESVILLE, OHIO.

The question of the identity of Old Town, near Xenia, with

the "Chillicothe" where Kenton ran the gauntlet the first time,

has been thoroughly discussed in previous issues of the QUAR-

TERLY, and in my opinion the evidence in favor of it is decidedly

satisfactory.

Prof. McFarland's testimony seems conclusive of itself, while

the traditions bearing upon the question reach back to the earliest

settlement of that locality and practically amount to authentic

history.

Tecumseh's home at that time was but a few miles north,

at old Piqua, or Pickaway, on Mad River. He may have been

present on this occasion, or at least he most likely assisted in

Kenton's reception at Piqua, as he passed through on his way

north, during which journey, as history says, he ran the gaunt-

let eight times; but the first time, that at Chillicothe, seems to

have been the most celebrated. Perhaps the fame of the desper-

ate strength and prowess he exhibited on that occasion preceded

him, and there was not such a general turnout of women and

children as at Chillicothe, and even the warriors themselves may

have been somewhat shy of coming in close touch with him, so

that all "gauntlets" but the first may not have been so hotly

contested.

We are told that the women were always among the most

active participants on occasions of the kind, and that he wrested

a club from the hands of one of them during his famous race,

which assisted him very materially in clearing a path to the goal,

and by that means securing a temporary reprieve.

After the destruction of Chillicothe and Piqua, it is likely

Tecumseh's home was in Miami county, at the Indian village

established by the refugees from the villages on the Little Miami

and Mad river, but he was a frequent visitor among the early

(483)

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484       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. white settlers at Old Town, and there is no doubt the Galloways and others received truthful information from him and from other sources. The earliest roads of the white man followed Indian trails. Detroit street, running north and south through Xenia, got its name from a traders' trail to Detroit, which it followed. This trail was doubtless an Indian trail, adopted by the whites and

developed into a road. It is now a well graded and graveled turnpike from Xenia to Old Town, and beyond. According to well authenticated tradition, the Indian coun- cil house stood where now stands the Methodist church at Old Town, and Kenton began the race for his life, or rather for a reprieve, at the foot of the hill just to the right, in the picture, followed the line of the pike and ended at the council house-a

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Kenton's Gauntlet at Chillicothe.          485

 

distance of about half a mile. The property adjoining the road

is now owned by Miss Helen Boyd, of Xenia.

A large tract of prairie reached from the village east to the

low hills, and south for miles. All that space from the council

house to the beginning of the race course must have been free

from obstructions at that time, and afforded the hundreds of

participants an excellent field for the exercise of their skill and

activity.

I am indebted for the picture primarily to the good offices of

Mr. Clark McKay, of Xenia, who secured the able services of

Mr. Frank Baily, also of Xenia, as artist.

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