Ohio History Journal

THE BATTLES OF THE MAUMEE.   N. B. C. LOVE, D. D.       MOUND BUILDERS. Maumee! Thou art lovely and bright, As if blood had ne'er tinged thy waves, And pre-historic, tawny braves Had wrought no scene of hellish night.

Why not a golden sunset smile, When thy banks are clothed in green, And beauty adorns all the scene, When bathed in mellow light, the while?   Thou art gray in the early morn, And restful thy summer eve- A mirror which cannot deceive, And has not since Time was born.   In ages gone thy bosom bore, Mighty men, who with spear and shield, And ax, which muscles strong could wield Against the foe in battles sore.

They worshiped; how? what and whom? We know not, the sun, or starry sky, Or their dead, where deep shadows lie, Close by many a loved one's tomb!   'Tis said, to expiate their sin, And to appease their gods, unseen, They practiced rites, cruel and obscene, And worshiped idols, with horrid din.   They for ages held thy rich soil, Vast woodlands fit places for dreams, By many thickly shaded streams- And homes of plenty without toil. (228)

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The Battles of the Maumee.                   229

 

They were nature's own, with souls on fire,

Who by their homes and altars stood,

Mighty in muscle, of dreadful ire,

Worthy patriots, royal in blood.

 

Homes, where wives lovingly wrought,

With dear ones at the rustic meal,

And youths were old legends taught,

While hearth-fire made each comfort feel.

 

They wooed and won in youthful days,

They prayed and wept o'er their dead,

And chanted, as now, doleful lays,

Feeling deep Superstition's dread.

 

Were they our brothers, migrating far

Away from Babel's sandy plains,

Or Israel's sons captured in war

Of whom no historic page remains?

 

Or were they from old China, vast,

Or of Hindoo or Tartar race,

Who by cyclonic storms were cast

On Alaska's ice-bound space?

 

These aborigines thy valley filled,

Their works abound from days of old,

Made by this people, strong and bold,

Whose destiny the heavens willed.

 

Why this race extinct? when the end

Of all its multitudinous host

And greatness, pride and boast;

Did Justice some pestilence send?

 

Or did a warrior, savage race,

By cruel strategic strength and skill,

All this people with hatred kill,

And try their greatness to efface?

 

None were left to tell the story,

None, monumental piles to rear,

None, as captives, to serve with fear,

None to boast of deeds of glory.

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230        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

II.

 

INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND WARS.

Maumee's vine-clad and verdant hills,

Flowery plains and wooded lands,

Were now owned by conquering bands,

Dwelling by the murmuring rills.

 

And many were the battles fought

By these native and war-like clans,

Blood failed to satisfy their demands,

And joy by savage tortures sought.

*      *     *

True friends were they, but ghostly foes

When hired by men from lands afar-

*Christians (?) fond of gain and war-

Dealing secret and deadly blows.

*      *     *

 

FRENCH AND ENGLISH.

For the Maumee a contest long

Prevailed, between French and Briton-

While records in blood were written-

A war for gain, not right nor wrong.

*      *     *

THE CONTEST OF 1776 WITH BRITON.

 

The Briton won, the Latin fled,

The former true to king and crown,

Expanded with power and renown,

And became the Backwoodsman's dread.

 

He bought the aid of warriors red,

To war against his kith and kin,

Committing the century's sin-

Fostering savage hate, inbred.

 

HAMILTON'S EXPEDITION AGAINST VINCENNES.

His fleet appeared with its protest-

Freemen stood nor feared to contend,

And their strength and means to lend

To Freedom, throughout the Northwest.

 

Spanish, French and Indians.

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The Battles of the Maumee.

 

The Briton soon crossed the bay,

And up the Maumee's current strong,

And up, and up, the Rapids long,

Across the portage and away.

 

Where a band for liberty stood,

Unconscious of invading foe-

Nor dreamed of Briton's secret blow,

And were captured without loss of blood.

 

Thus Vincennes the Briton held,

Their aid to savage warfare lent,

Wily foes on death's mission sent,

Whom the brave backwoodsmen repelled.

 

Hamilton, leader of this host,

Seemed to feel his work was complete,

And all were safe in this retreat,

And what was won, could not be lost.

*      *     *

The news of the fall of Vincennes,

Stirred the blood of Virginia's son;

George Rogers Clark, the gallant one,

Sought to make the foe make amends.

 

Cold and winter winds, and forests drear,

Frozen streams and snow-drift shrowd,

Caused no Backwoodsman to fear,

Or be the less of freedom proud.

 

The drenching rains and howling blasts,

The swollen floods and dangers thick,

Many weary and other sick,

Were forbidding and a heavy task.

 

When from forests and Ohio River,

Winter lifted his frosty hand,

They were ready to deliver

The Northwest from old Briton's hand.

 

Down the Ohio they floated fast,

The current strong with spring-time rain -

Up the Wabash - crowned at last -

The victors at Vincennes remain.

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*III.

For more than two decades of years,

Many were the conflicts known.

The sturdy pioneers, with fears

Inured, to daring deeds had grown.

 

The redmen and the white alike,

Were skilled in forest wars and strife,

And sought by craft and guile to strike

A blow and end a human life.

 

Around the camp-fires of the red,

Warriors told of bloody deeds,

And as they the flames with fuel fed,

So fed on thoughts that murder breeds.

 

In the log cabins the winter fires

Glowed, and gave out their warmth and light,

And sitting around, soldier sires

Fought over battles with delight.

 

The mutterings of war were heard,

In the wigwam and cabin home,

All were eager, yet full of dread-

The inevitable having come.

 

The voice for war, for contest sore--

Warriors rampant with passions strong-

Seething sounds which to hell belong,

Echoed along Maumee's wooded shore.

 

The tribes elate with battles won,

Had no ear for the voice of peace,

They purposed that the work begun,

Their combined efforts should increase.

 

 

BATTLE OF "FALLEN TIMBER."

Along the Rapids the red men came,

Equipped, from every village clan,

And Little Turtle known to fame,

To bravely lead, and wisely plan.

 

*      *     *

 

* For two decades of years there were wars with British and Indians. 1776-94.

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The Battles of the Maumee.                233

 

Anthony Wayne, victor before-

Friend of peace by kindness had tried,

Until he could do nothing more,

While the chieftains his power defied.

 

Soldiers hopeful and well drilled,

Quickly down Maumee's banks passed,

And bravely doing whate'er he willed,

They put to rout the foe at last.

 

The red men stoutly fought, then fled,

Nor withstood Wayne's brave rushing host-

Hundreds soon lay wounded or dead -

Their all they staked, the battle lost.

*     *      *

Lost the chieftain and warrior old,

Men of might, natives of the soil--

Men deserving lay dead and cold--

Horrid the sounds of war's turmoil.

 

The night came on, the full moon shone

Bright stars twinkled in the blue,

The wounded moaned, the dead lay prone,

The victors did more than they knew.

 

After the battle, in the homes of the red

Were widows with wailing drear

Over loved ones, missing or dead--

Their wildwood life had lost its cheer.

 

In the moon's pale rays

An Indian mother prays:

O! night wind, hear my cry

My all is gone to-night,

Gone the joy and delight-

O why my brave one die?

Who will bring in the food

From prairie and the wood?

The white men do not care

But drive us everywhere-

0 Great Spirit, hear my cry -

My face I lift to thee,

O Help! my helper be!

*     *      *

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Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

The ardent warriors who braved

The dangers of the bloody fight,

Lay where the rushing waters laved,

Or found shelter in speedy flight.

 

The tribes of the aborigines

Were broken by war's crushing wheel,

And were prostrate upon their knees,

And their defeat were made to feel.

*      *     *

After this carnival of woe,

None were moved to lead the clans

To meet again the redmen's foe,

With gallant hearts and bloody hands.

 

Not Little Turtle,* who had won

And scattered the invading whites,

Not Tecumseh; his race was run,

Valiantly fighting for his rights.

 

Not the tall Crane, the wise Tar-he,

Nor the Delaware, Pee-kee-bund,

Not Grand Glaize King, Teta-boksh-kee,

Nor Buffalo, Kish-ho-pekund.

 

Not the White Loon, Wa-pa-man-gwa,

Not Sha-wa-no-way, Tha-pa-ma,

Nor the brave, Sha-me-kun-me-sa,

Nor Little Fox, The-Acoo-la-tha.

 

 

IV.

WAYNE's TREATY, 1795.

The Sachems and head men of war,

Heard the Great Spirit's warning voice

To end the strife, both near and far,

That all, red and white, might rejoice.

 

The same Great Spirit spake to Wayne,

Who, brave in war, was yet urbane,

Helpful as the summer rain,

And toward fallen foes humane.

 

Tese are among the signers of Wayne's Treaty at Greenville, 179

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The Battles of the Maumee.                   235

 

He invited the tribes to send

Their men of renown to Greenville,

That to a treaty they might lend

Their might, influence and good will.

 

Fort Greenville with palisades strong,

Was manned with soldiers tried and brave,

Who in danger had suffered long,

Nor wished the hatchet in the grave.

 

The old forest looked strange and weird,

As thousands native to the soil,

Before, buoyant and brave, now feared

Wayne and his army to embroil.

 

Braves of a dozen tribes each night

Sat in order around each fire,

And discussed, which, peace or fight,

Hold our lands or westward retire?

 

Their prophets and statesmen had learned

That Backwoodsmen who had won,

To them Fate had his favor turned,

And that their efforts were all done.

 

They heard strange sounds in forests deep,

As they lay in their restless sleep,

Ghosts of warriors old, talking low,

"No longer in the warpath go."

 

They were the ghosts of friends and foes,

Who had brought to each other woes,

But now had cancelled all the past,

And had peace, that shall ever last.

*      *     *

Upon the ample camping ground

These noble red men sat around

Their smouldering fires, while the stars of night-

Twinkled brighter with pure delight.

*      *     *

Fort Greenville stood strong in defense,

Sure in the protection given

All within, willing to recompense

The red men, in warfare riven.

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236        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

In it were guns that had stood

In the front, in many a fight,

And vet'rans guarding day and night,

The fortress unstained with blood.

 

Here virgin soil as from the hand

Of God; here former foes, now friends

Meet, and enjoy what friendship sends,

And passed the wampum as its band.

 

Beyond the fort, but in its range,

A council-house with ample space

Stood, assembled a council strange,

Sachems, wise and brave, in their place.

 

Within this rustic house, circling round

A fire which burned both day and night,

Sat these braves, by word of honor bound

To seek the truth, and do the right.

 

Wayne kindled the great council fire,

And kept the embers all aglow,

So that each brave chieftain should know

That the Great Spirit could inspire.

 

And with them were the victors strong,

Who in battle gave blows that told,

But gave what to brave hearts belong,

To the vanquished, kindness untold.

 

Some chieftains claimed the land their own,

Which their fathers held in ages past,

That the harvest they had sown,

Should for them forever last.

 

While around, the white wampum belt

Was passed, silence reigned o'er all-

It was like a funeral pall -

Each for his people's welfare felt.

 

Wayne addressed these Aborigines,

Saying, his desire was for peace,

That cruel war should forever cease,

And this would the Great Spirit please.

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The Battles of the Maumee.                   237

 

Washington, he said, was their friend,

And the Americans the same,

That all should bear this sacred name,

And to help others, efforts lend.

 

His kindly hand they should see,

Filled with blessing and fraught

With good, for which all had fought,

And all should safe and happy be.

 

Fairly had the treaties been kept

By the whites, through all the lands,

Paying fairly the Indian clans,

Who had their golden harvest rept.

 

"For peace" was Blue Jacket and Tarhe

Newcorn, "Keep the hatchet out of sight,"

Massas, "Give us the morning light,

Forever let us brothers be."

 

Thus the strong sons of bravest sires,

Whom Harmar and St. Clair had met,

Meeting Wayne, their sun soon set;

Now are humbled at council fires.

 

No more such a strange scene shall meet

The eyes of soldiers, scouts and spies,

And braves; no brighter sun arise,

Warriors brave, to cheer and greet.

 

The Treaty of Peace received the signs

Of the chiefs of many battles sore,

Pledging to war with whites no more,

And keep to treaty bounds and lines.

 

All who signed were always friends,

And true to every promise given,

And ever proved that honor binds

Those unholy war had riven.

 

Gen. Wayne bade each chieftain good by,

Saying, "These lands to us were ceded

By the English, but we have heeded

Your claims and from you we'll buy,

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238         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

"And fully pay and none defraud,

You, our brothers, shall have your share

Of annuities, and land anywhere,

And none permitted to maraud.

"With this soft white linen* I cleanse

The blood from all your bodies, strong,

And your graves shall be kept among

Us, and we ever live as friends."

Tarhe+ again gave all to see

The pipe of peace; a hatchet took

"To keep in a secluded nook

Until buried beneath the sea."

*      *      *

The Sachems and the braves had gone,

Their great work for peace was done.

The summer wood heard their soft tread

As through shaded ways they were led.

Led by paths through the flowery grove,

Where often they were wont to rove--

When seeking the wild beast's retreat-

With watchful eye and silent feet.

Led by the Maumee and her streams,

The land of beauty, like fairy dreams,

To their wigwams, and villages fair-

Finding their loved ones sheltered there.

*      *      *

 

V.

Dark forebodings of coming war,

And to the third of men ruin dire,

Pestilence, disaster and fire;

+*Above all a burning star.

tThe earth quaking, the hills fall down,

Sulphurous steam, and oozy slime

Burst forth from some lower clime,

And multitudes in waters drown.

*Wayne took a large white handkerchief and passing slowly around touched

the head of each.

+ Tarhe with hatchet and pipe of peace followed Wayne.

+*Great comet hung in the sky for weeks.

t Earthquake in Mississippi valley - felt all over the Northwest and South.

Destruction of life and property.

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The Battles of the Maumee.                   239

 

Consternation and general gloom

O'erspread valleys of the lakes,

**Reaching afar, to southern brakes,

°With fears of coming judgment doom.

 

Again by the Maumee the campfires gleamed

In ravines, hiding their flickering light,

From Indian prowlers of the dreary night,

Who only of bloody deads planned and dreamed.

 

The bold backwoodsmen, equipped, northward came,

Up the streams, across portage-swamps and down

To the Miami, of old and great renown,

Their country's rights and honor to reclaim.

 

¶Northward to the River of eventide,

Where their leader, without a soldier's pride,

§Gained to himself ignominious fame,

And a name forever covered with shame.

 

The cry "To arms," rang from every mouth;

From Lakes of the North to Gulf of the South;

From states in the East where often before

The broad fields had been drenched with gore.

*      *     *

Of the heroes of a hundred years ago,

None, to-day, stands higher than Harrison,

As organizer, commander, gifted one,

Whose plans Proctor failed to overthrow.

 

He quickly found a familiar forest

Of noble trees, standing high, and far out

A promontory, where had hid his scout,

Who scanned eastward, northward and the west.

 

The soldier woodmen's axes of shining steel

A thousand strong, rhythmic music made

Along the ice-bound forest's dreary glade,

Prophetic of the blows their foes should feel.

 

**Premonition of the war of 1812. Theater burned in Baltimore, 75 burned.

°General religious fanaticism  and excitement. This year general uprising

of Indians.

P Detroit River.

§ Gen. Hull. Gen. Hull's surrender.

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240        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

The frozen earth yielded to pick and spade,

Deep trenches dug, and embankments strong,

And high traverse through the fort along,

And bastions, and bomb proof deeply laid.

 

Brave, patriotic defenders of our land,

Within Ft. Meigs made a firm and valiant stand.

Not Proctor's demands nor Tecumseh's bands,

With midnight whoop and bloody hands

Could intimidate. No patriots ever fought

More bravely, and more fully the welfare sought

Of Freedom from a tyrant's kingly sway,

And that they might be the nation's strength and stay;

They came from the homes of the Central West,

Where they had been with wholesome lessons blest,

By parents used to toil and anxious care,

Provident, helpful, living on plainest fare.

Into the warp and woof of their being was laid,

The strength of generations which had made

Their lives famous in defense of liberty,

Both at home, and in lands beyond the sea.

 

Proctor's men had fought where thousands fell,

Briton cause and laws with them fared well;

As soldiers excelling in the battle's throes,

Solid, fearless before whate'er might oppose.

 

To Ft. Meigs succor came, and sad defeat-

A part who fought victors first, then retreat

And capture by red allied savage foes

Whom Proctor approved, when Tecumseh arose

And to the cruel commander gave rebuke,

Because he his unarmed pris'ners forsook.

 

*      *     *

The savage tribes gloomily hied away,

And Proctor too, no longer dared to stay.

While very soon at the battle of the Thames

Harrison and his men won honored names.

 

*     *      *

The old world soldiers slain, their graves unknown,

How shall their nation their fate bemoan?

And a shaft erect and deeds of valor tell,

And who strew fragrant flowers when they fell?

 

*     *      *

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The Battles of the Maumee.                  241   And the Aborigines whose modes of strife, Barbarous forms of taking human life, E'en to them the unprejudiced must give, In this fair land, the fullest right to live. Why not, this was their home and hunting ground. Where their droves of roaming cattle were found, And gentle deer in herds, and lonely bear, And useful beasts and birds ev'rywhere. They in childhood walked in paths where feet Ages past had run, friends or foes to meet; Fain would we gather the ashes of the men Who, though savage, yet were kind when Compared to many, though white, yet were cruel, Whose hate to their deeds of blood added fuel. We know there were good men in all the tribes, Whom naught could change, not even costly bribes. *      *     * In this age when we boast of love and peace, And pray that all wars may ever cease, Living on the soil enriched by the blood Of the valiant soldiers who have stood Arrayed in the panoply of war, and strong, Fighting, each for the right, not the wrong- Should not we, who look to-day upon this scene, Rejoice that a monumental pile* shall screen Their memory from the dust, once for all, And in coming years their valor recall?   The monument to be erected at Ft. Meigs by legislative appropriation, 1906.

Vol. XVI -16.

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